The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Final Grand Prix tomorrow

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Wednesday, May 13, 2009
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Final Grand Prix tomorrow

CHENNAI: Light breeze and temperatures at comfortable levels made the setting at the Nehru stadium quite likeable for a summer evening. And for the leading Indian athletes wanting to sign off the Indian Grand Prix on an encouraging note nothing could have been more inspiring. With two days to go for the competition, the third and final leg, it was time for some keen workouts on the track and the field.

In short the arena was a busy area with Krishna Poonia on one side stretching her arms to tone up her discus throw and there was the 400m ace Bipin Mathew all set to test the new synthetic track, re-laid recently. The smiles on their faces mirrored the confidence level.

“This was the venue which brought the best in me in the 800m in the junior National about four years ago. I have of course switched to 400m thereafter. It is a fast track and I hope to do a better run than the 46.47 s clocked at Coimbatore,” Bipin said.

Of course he was quite aware that he has in K.M. Binu a redoubtable opponent and national record holder. Giving him support were the two coaches Harbans Singh and Paramjit Singh. “It is a slow build up and I am happy with the way Bipin is coming up. He should do well,” Harbans said.

On the other side, Poonia, who like Bipin has had a wonderful run and is improving with each competition, is aiming for the 60m mark. Her best, she says, is 63.41m achieved last year but for various reasons she could not sustain that level.

Still, aiming a big jump from the 58.95m mark spoke of her chin up approach. Poonia is not too bothered that two noted rivals Seema Antil and Harwant Kaur would also be seeking to make amends for the none-too-inspiring run thus far.

“I do not allow such things to cloud my mind,” Poonia said and hopes to surge further ahead in Chennai before returning to the Patiala camp.

“Watch out for some exciting fare,” said chief coach Bahadur Singh.

The prize money for all the three meets, the first and second meets were held in Kochi and Coimbatore respectively, will be given away at the end of the Chennai competition, according to a press release from W.I. Davaram, President, TNAA. — Special Correspondent

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