Omega Devi pedals to glory

PATIALA, Jan 21: That Omega Devi is a cut above the rest was apparent today in the 51st Avon Senior, Junior and Sub-Junior National Cycling ...

PATIALA, Jan 21: That Omega Devi is a cut above the rest was apparent today in the 51st Avon Senior, Junior and Sub-Junior National Cycling championships here at the Punjabi University velodrome. On the penultimate day of the meet, the Railway international marked her strong presence by clinching her second gold medal — apart from a silver — in the championships. After guiding her team to a winning performance in the 1000m Team Trial a couple of days earlier, Omega Devi set the track ablaze with her sterling show in the 3000 metres Individual Pursuit for women, today. By the time she finished her race, clocking 4:36.41 secs, she had a lead of well over 200 metres over her opponent Rameshwari Devi (Manipur- 4:45.60 secs) who picked up the silver. Anita Andrews of Kerala was third with a timing of 4:54.05 secs.

Chandigarh cyclists bagged both, the gold and the silver in 1000m Individual Pursuit for boys (u-14) as Harsimran Brar, who clocked 1:28.94 secs, prevailed over Indiver Sharda (1:30.00 secs). Pickingup the consolation bronze was Ramandeep Singh (Haryana- 1:31.45 secs).

If Railway dominated the women’s section, Manipur girls simply ruled in their category. Fancied O Bina Kumari put another gold in Manipur’s overall kitty, with a facile win in the 1000 metres Individual Pursuit (sub-junior girls u-16). She had a superb start and gave Sonali (Haryana) no chance at all. Bina clocked 3:14.73 secs to Sonali’s 3:16.63 secs. M Usha Rani clocked a relatively poor 3:25.95 secs, yet lack of participants in the category saw her picking up the bronze.

Story continues below this ad

Meanwhile, the semi final rounds of various events were also held today. The most keenly waited race in tomorrow’s final will be the 1000 metres Sprint for men, pitting Kirpal Singh and A R Sajji Kumar, both Railway, against each other, while Varmeet Singh and Pradeep Singh, both Punjab Police will battle it out in the 4000 metres Individual Pursuit for men.

Results: Seniors: Women: 3000m Individual Pursuit: 1 Omega Devi 4:36.41 secs (Rly), 2 Rameshwari Devi 4:45.60 secs (Mnp), 3 Anita Andrews 4:45.05 secs (Ker). 10 km Point Race: 1 K Mumbai Devi 24 pts (Rly), 2 Shweta Choudhary 23 pts (Rly), 3 Anita Andrews 18 pts (Ker).

Sub-juniors: Girls (u-16): 1 O Bina Kumari 3:14.73 secs (Mnp), 2 Sonali 3:16.63 secs (Har), 3 M Usha Rani 3:25.95 secs (Mnp). Under-14: 1000m Individual Pursuit: 1 Y Ranjana Devi 1:40.26 secs (Mnp), 2 Soumiya T V 1:44.85 secs (Ker), 3 Deepali Nikkam 1:56.05 secs (Mah).

outside the RJD party office in Patna on Friday. Partners of the alliance filed nomination papers for all 121 seats going to polls in the first phase – the total strength of the Bihar House is 243 – while talks continued to end the deadlock over seats.

Mahagathbandhan parties fail to seal Bihar pact, field own candidates for Phase 1

Political Pulse2 hr ago

Opposition Mahagathbandhan in Bihar failed to announce a seat-sharing pact as nominations closed for the first phase of Assembly elections. Talks are ongoing to end the deadlock over seats, with over a dozen constituencies still in dispute. The alliance has released lists of candidates, with RJD reportedly contesting 130-135 seats and Congress around 60.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS