Shot putter Samardeep Singh Gill, triple jumper Praveen Chithravel and hurdlers P. Yashas and T. Santhosh Kumar earned Commonwealth Games qualification on the concluding day of the Federation athletics meet at the Birsa Munda Stadium (Morabadi), here on Monday.
At his lucky venue where he had landed gold at the National Open and South Asian meets last year, Samardeep crossed 20m for the first time as he upset his idol Tajinderpal Toor with a throw of 20.46m in his third attempt to win gold. Samardeep went past 20m in his last three attempts while Toor managed 20m-plus throws in his first (20.07m) and last (20.06m) efforts.
Close win: Yashas, left, pipped Santhosh in a keenly-contested 400m hurdles final. | Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR
“It’s all about the mindset. Once I crossed 20m, I felt a lot better,” said Samardeep.
National record-holder Chithravel overcame a foul in his first attempt to record 17.08m in his third effort and ensure victory over Commonwealth Games medallist Abdulla Aboobacker (16.63m).
“I want to go step by step and achieve good results abroad,” said Chithravel.
Dominant: Praveen recorded 17.08m to ensure victory over Aboobacker (16.63). | Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR
Yashas (49.00) and Santhosh (49.06) clinched the top two spots respectively in a keenly-contested 400m hurdles final.
Another National mark owner, Animesh Kujur (20.64) gave a good account of himself but missed the CWG qualifying mark (20.61) by a whisker.
A consistent Shivam Lohakare unleashed the winning throw of 81.71m in his sixth attempt in javelin. Asian Championships silver medallist Sachin Yadav finished fifth (79.07m).
Shivaji Parashuram, who was disqualified for a lane infringement after finishing second in 10,000m, bounced back to take the men’s 5,000m title in 14:14.43.
The results (finals): Men: 200m (CWG Q mark 20.61): 1. Animesh Kujur (Odi) 20.64, 2. P.K. Jishnu Prasad (Ker) 20.98, 3. Abhay Singh (Rel) 21.01; 800m (CWG Q mark 1:45.00): 1. Krishan Kumar (Har) 1:47.68, 2. Prathamesh Deore (Mah) 1:47.97, 3. Satyajeet Pujari (Mah) 1:48.40; 5,000m (CWG Q mark 13:19.64): 1. Shivaji Parashuram (Kar) 14:14.43, 2. Vinod Singh (MP) 14:15.50, 3. Deepak Bhatt (Utk) 14:17.18; 400m hurdles (CWG Q mark 50.27): 1. P. Yashas (Kar) 49.00, 2. T. Santhosh Kumar (NCOE Thiruvananthapuram) 49.06, 3. Murad Sirman (Guj) 50.90; Triple jump (CWG Q mark 16.89m): 1. Praveen Chithravel (JSW) 17.08m, 2. Abdulla Aboobacker (Air Force) 16.61m, 3. Gailey Venister (TN) 16.37m; Shot put (CWG Q mark 20.36m): 1. Samardeep Singh Gill (MP) 20.46m, 2. Tajinderpal Toor (Pun) 20.07m, 3. Karanveer Singh (Pun) 19.38m; Javelin (CWG Q mark 82.61m): 1. Shivam Lohakare (Mah) 81.71m, 2. Yashvir Singh (Raj) 80.80m, 3. Rohit Yadav (Rly) 80.40m.
Women: 200m (CWG Q mark 23.06): 1. Kusum Thakur (HP) 23.94, 2. Tamanna (Har) 24.06, 3. Sudeshna Shivankar (Mah) 24.07; 800m (CWG Q mark 1:57.88): 1. Pooja (JSW) 2:02.42, 2. Huidrom Bhumeshwori Devi (IOCL) 2:05.56, 3. Thota Sankeertana (IOCL) 2:05.74; 5,000m (CWG Q mark 14:56.60): 1. Seema (Rel) 16:04.83, 2. Ravina Gayakwad (Mah) 16:46.21, 3. Sonam Parmar (IOCL) 16:48.11; 400m hurdles (CWG Q mark 54.67): 1. R. Vithya Ramraj (TN) 56.61, 2. Sinchal Kaveramma (NCOE Bengaluru) 57.77, 3. Shravani Sangle (Mah) 59.73; High jump (CWG Q mark 1.92m): 1. Khyati Mathur (UP) 1.82m, 2. Manshi (Rly) 1.80m, 3. Abhinaya Shetty (JSW) 1.73m; Heptathlon (CWG Q mark 6095): 1. K.A. Anamika (Ker) 5685, 2. Pooja (JSW) 5632, 3. Khushi (Har) 5435.