Luka runs mediocre race in UK as Indians seek Rio berth

Olympics-bound Tintu Luka ran a mediocre 800m race to finish fourth in England as Indians continued their efforts to qualify for the Rio Games at various venues in Europe.
Reigning Asian champion and national record holder Luka clocked 2 minutes and 2.79 seconds to finish at fourth place at the British Milers Club Grand Prix 2016 at Watford, near London.
The 27-year-old Luka, who has a personal best of 1:59.17 which she did in 2010, had qualified for the Olympics last year during the World Championships in Beijing. She ran 2:01.84 during the Federation Cup National Athletics Championships here last month.

Meanwhile, 2014 Asian Games bronze winner Annu Rani bagged the gold in women's javelin throw with an effort of 54.61m at Putbosstadion in Belgium. The Rio Games qualification standard in this event is 62.00m.
In men's javelin, 19-year-old Neeraj Chopra won the silver with a throw of of 75.52m while Shivpal Singh finished third with an effort of 73.42m. National record-holder Rajender Singh was fifth with a throw of 71.22m.
The Rio Games qualification standard in this event is 83.00m.

Punjab's Tejinderpal Singh, who upset Inderjeet in the
Federation Cup, could do only 19.21m to finish second. His state-mate Jasdeep Singh went home with the bronze in 18.48m, whereas national record-holder Om Prakash Singh Karhana finished outside the podium (18.39m).

Odisha's Purnima Hembram, former Asian junior heptathlon champion, pocketed the gold in women's 400m hurdles, clocking 59.27 secs. Ayana Thomas, representing Delhi, was a close second in 59.63s.
In men's 3000m steeplechase, Haryana's Naveen completed a 'hat-trick' of victories with a time of 8:44.33 while Parul Chaudhary (Uttar Pradesh) took the top spot in the women's division in 10:46.92.
Haryana bagged another gold through Ankit Saini, who garnered 6,807 points to win the gruelling decathlon event.
In the morning session, B Sowmya, representing Delhi, made the most out of the absence of top athletes by bagging the gold in women's 20km walk, posting a personal best of 1 hour 42 minutes 55.24 seconds that improved her previous best by more than nine minutes.

Uttar Pradesh walkers Priyanka (1:45:43.60) and Rani Yadav (1:49:19.75) took the silver and bronze respectively.
In men's pole vault, Tamil Nadu's Subramaniam Siva, the reigning national junior champion, scaled to 4.90m to pocket the gold while defending champion Parveen Kumar (Haryana) and national record holder K P Bimin (Kerala) got the silver and bronze with efforts of 4.80 and 4.70 respectively.