Tintu eases through to finals

Her challenge there will come mainly from a trio of Kenyans who have qualified for the final,including the winner of Saturdays 1,500 metres,Nancy Jebet Langat. The reigning 1,500m Olympic and African champion,Langat won a tactical race,flanked by compatriots Irene Jelagat and Viola Kibiwott,to set a new Commonwealth Games record on Saturday,and will once again have support from her team mates. Luka,meanwhile,will be out on her own after Sinimole Paulose finished fourth in the third heat and failed to qualify.

For Usha,though,all these achievements are mere stepping stones to the big event training Tintu for an Olympic gold. Tintu had a good race today. I am happy with her performance. She is in good form. I dont want to talk much about the final and put unnecessary pressure on Tintu. It is a very competitive field, Usha said after Tintu finished her race.

With India bagging three medals in as many days in track and field,when Tintu readies to run in the final at 7.45 pm on Monday,the home crowd will expect medal No.4 in athletics.