Better than ever before

Returning from injury,AC Ashwini takes 400m gold with a personal best

Sunday marked the return of two star women athletes,both of whom have suffered different kinds of injuries and havent participated in a competition since the Guangzhou Asian Games in November.

Both were apprehensive about their comebacks. Womens discus throw Commonwealth Games champion Krishna Poonia had strapped her left knee,one that kept her out of for nearly six months,while double gold medallist at the Asian Games,quarter-miler AC Ashwini was only participating in the 400 metres and had decided to skip the hurdles at the National Inter-state Athletic meet. Ashwini had broken her right wrist in January after tripping on a hurdle while training in Bangalore.

On Sunday,Karnatakas Ashwini overcame the challenge by her 4215;400 relay team mates,Punjabs Mandeep Kaur and Keralas Sini Jose who in fact failed to finish to better her personal best in the event by over half a second. Ashwini stopped the clock at 52.82 secs,removing any apprehensions she haboured of a successful comeback.

She was well ahead of Mandeep,who clocked 53.21. The improved timing Ashwini achieved in the 400,her pet event before she switched to the 400 hurdles,and her seemingly effortless show in her first race since the Asian Games provided the athlete a much-needed shot of confidence. Ashwinibroke in to broad smile when she heard that she had lowered her personal best,and it was a sign of relief.

Poonia passes comeback test

Poonia didnt go all out on Sunday as her left-knee is where her entire body weight rests during release. She had started throwing only 10 days ago and wasnt sure if the strapped knee would be able to take the rigours of competition. She delivered only three throws,the first a foul,before pulling out as a precaution,with a best of 55.45m,a distance good enough for second place. Harwant Kaur,the bronze-medal winner at the CWG,took gold with 58.78m.

There was no disappointment expressed by Poonia about failing to win gold. Rather,she was delighted that her left knee was pain-free and withstood the demands of her first competition this season. I can say confidently that I have passed the test. I was apprehensive about possible pain in my knee. Thankfully,I feel fit. If I make steady progress I am confident of qualifying for the Olympics at the World Championships, Poonia said.

Ashwini said that she had tired a bit towards the last 100 metres as she saw off the final challenge from Mandeep. I didnt expect to do so well in the 400 as I am only slowly returning to competition and havent been able to train properly. But beating my personal best is a bonus. Ill run the 400 at the Asian Championships,too,and in the 400 hurdles and the 4215;400 relay at the World Championship, a relieved Ashwini said.

Story continues below this ad

Meanwhile,Tamil Nadus Renjith Maheswary,the national record holder in the triple jump was battling it out with up-and-coming jumper Arpinder Singh of Punjab. Like the two women,Maheswary also made a comeback following recovery from overuse injury of his knees. He has also adopted the single-arm technique over the double-arm technique. Being rusty and still learning the nuances of the new technique resulted in Maheswary producing a below par 15.96 metres. Arpinders best was measured at 16.32m.

Bharatinder breaks NR

The first national record at this meet was set when Bharatinder Singh of Haryana scored 7,658 points to better Jora Singhs five- year-old mark of 7502 pts in the mens decathlon. Rahul Kumar of Rajasthan was second with 6,599 and Uttar Pradeshs Chadrahas Kushwaha was third with 6,537.

Meanwhile,Rama Chandran of Tamil Nadu rewrote the meet record in the 3000 metre steeplechase with a timing of 8:42.58.