Indian Athletics – News – Indian Inter-State championships (day-4) – Kerala become overall champions in Inter-State championships – By / Ram. Murali Krishnan /

Bangalore, 14 June 2011 – Kerala become overall champions in the National Senior Inter-State Athletics Championships which concluded at Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Tuesday evening.   Kerala State also won the men’s and women’s team title and garnered a total 13 gold, 7 silver and an equal number of bronze medals for the overall honours.

Sudha Singh eclipsed steeple meet mark

Asian Games gold medallist Sudha Singh (Uttar Pradesh) ran a solo race in women’s 3,000m steeplechase.   Former national record-holder and defending champion O.P. Jaisha (Punjab) expected to provide her the required challenge.  However Sudha increased her pace after three laps and the gap between the two started widening thereafter.  With no one to push her in the final phase of the race Sudha slowed down and thus missed an opportunity to improve her national record of 9:55.67 which she set while winning the Asiad at Guangzhou last year.  However she had the satisfaction of posting a new meet mark in 10:01.24.  Her teammate Priyanka Singh Patel was second in 10:21.37 while a tired Jaisha finished third in 10:25.10.

Amritpal annexed long jump gold

A galaxy of the country’s star jumpers, including national record holder Amritpal Singh, made the line-up.  Ankit Sharma, who had a triumphant return after winning the prestigious Barrientos memorial meet at Havana (Cuba) two weeks ago, made a big leap of 7.74m on his opening try.  It for However his one jump was enough to bring the silver medal to him.  Amritpal, started with a paltry 7.33m went on to register 7.81m on his second try and thus pockets the gold.  Haryana’s Sudhir managed to make a podium finish with 7.70m.   It could have been quite interesting if Ankit

Tintu made a glorious return

 The country’s leading middle distance runner Tintu Luka returns to track on a big stage after a lay-off of eight months.   Naturally everyone anticipated a good race from her and she did not disappoint the audience.  In her usual style she led the race right from the beginning and clocked a moderate 2:05.32 at the end.  State-mate S.R. Bindu made it a 1-2 for Kerala, exactly five seconds later. 

Kerala got another gold medal in this event through Sajeesh Joseph as he prevents Ghamanda Ram taking a double in the men’s race.  The Rajasthan runner recently garnered three silver medals in the Asian Grand Prix series in China and hence a pre-race favourite to win the event.  However he was a wee bit earlier shown the victory sign and thus lost to Sajeesh at the post.  Sajeesh won the event in 1:47.34, three-hundredths of a second faster than that of Ghamanda Ram, and adjudged the “best athlete” among men.   The honour in women’s division also went to another Keralite–long jumper Mayookha Johny.    

Kashinath, Joseph made the hosts happier

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Kashinath Naik hurled the spear to 73.77m to win the men’s javelin throw.  A spirited crowd cheered him all the way to victory. 

Earlier in men’s 200m, local star M.G. Joseph ran the race of his life to edge fancied Manikanda Arumugam of Tamil Nadu to win in 21.82 secs.   Andhra Pradesh’s K. Mrudula (24.93s) was the winner in the women’s division.

Tamil Nadu’s Surendhar and Kerala girl M.M. Anchu had overcome the barriers to win the high hurdles races for men and women respectively.  Surendhar timed 14.62 secs for his victory from Krish Beethovan, another TN athlete running under Manipur colours here, in men’s 110m hurdles.  Anchu was too good to her TN rival Kalaivani as she clocked 13.90 secs to take the women’s 100m hurdles.

/ Ram. Murali Krishnan /