10 (6)

Picture Credit: Twitter

Dutee Chand completed a 100m sprint in 11.44 seconds to register a win in the Indian Grand Prix II at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports on Thursday. In the 200m, Hima Das won the race completing it in 23.31 seconds. While Dutee is hoping to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics by meeting the 11.15 seconds standard, Hima has clocked a better timing only three times before.

In addition to the Olympic standard of timing, Dutee can also confirm a place among the 56 starters in Tokyo taking into account her ranking. The 25-year-old is currently World number 33. Hima, who made use of lack of competition at the event to clinch a win, had better timings twice in the year 2018- a timing 23.10 seconds in the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Guwahati, another of 23.22 in Gliwic Grand Prix in Poland. She had also clocked a time of 23.25 in Velká cena Tábora in Tabor, Czech Republic in 2019.

Amoj Jacob wins men's 400m, betters own timing

Earlier, Amoj Jacob had a personal best timing of 46.00 seconds to win the men’s 400m race. In the process, he went on to better his own record of 46.26 which he clocked in June 2017. Two of his relay squad team-mates, Arokia Rajiv and Muhammed Anas Yahiya competed against each other in the 200m sprint and produced a tough contest with Arokia emerging winner over national record holder Anas by 0.20 seconds.

Impressive performance from javelin thrower Annu Rani

Meanwhile, M Sreeshankar, who competed in his first national-level long jump competition since October 2018, had a best jump of 8.05 on his sixth try in a great start to the season. Although Tajinderpal Singh opening 19.49m was good for gold, he wouldn't be too pleased with his other throws. Javelin Thrower Annu Rani eyeing an Olympic berth with a 64.00m throw, delivered a 61.22m opening effort coupled with two more throws of 60m plus. She would be looking to seal a qualification in her future attempts rather than being dependent on her ranking at world number 12.