Mayookha bettered meet mark in long jump – / By Ram. Murali Krishnan / Indian Inter-State Championships (day-1)

Bangalore, 11 June 2011 – The opening day's proceedings in National Senior Inter-State Athletics Championships witnessed a shower of blessings from the sky as the meet was inaugurated by R. Ashok, the Hon'ble Minister for Home and Transport, Government of Karnataka, on Saturday evening.

Of the seven finals on the card, two events caught the eyes of the spectators, both from women's division in long jump and 10000m.

Mayookha Johny, who recently become the first Indian woman to cross the 14m mark in triple jump, was back in action at the long jump pit.  Her state-mate from Kerala, M.A. Prajusha, add colour to the contest as the duo promised to provide an exciting contest from the beginning.  Mayookha, who had an incredible 6.64m while winning last year's Asian All-Stars Athletics Meet at New Delhi, was trying to attain the World championship qualifying norm of 6.65m here.  She started her campaign with a 6.63m opening jump, which eventually bettered Anju Bobby George's five year old meet mark by 10 cm, and fetch her gold medal today.  Compatriot Prajusha was second with 6.47m while Delhi's Shalu Chaudhry took the bronze in 6.24m.

It was only the second competition in this event for Mayookha this year, who earlier become the National Games champion with a modest 6.26m jump at Ranchi this February.  "I feel very good.  I wanted to forget the bitter memories of not winning a major medal last season" Mayookha told after the event.  She was sixth at the Commonwealth Games and seventh in the Asian Games last year.  It was the second time she missed the World's qualifying mark in long jump, but optimistic about making it at the Asian championship in Kobe, next month.  Mayookha is going for a double as she takes part in triple jump on Monday.

A sweat revenge for Preeja

In yet another exciting contest, Preeja Sreedharan pips training partner Kavita Raut from Maharashtra in the 10,000m for women.  The Kerala girl avenged her defeat to Kavita at the national games.  Kavita had a golden double at Ranchi.  Preeja is the national record holder in both 5000 and 10000m run.  She clocked 34:33.48 for the evening's win while Kavita was just 0.16 secs slower for the silver medal.  Tamil Nadu runner Surya Loganathan was a distant third in 35:27.1

Tamil Nadu got its first gold of the day through javelin thrower S. Saraswathy.  She outclassed the fancied Suman Devi.  Saraswathy sent the spear to 52m while Suman's best of the day measured to 48.95m only.

With the country's top rung discus thrower Vikas Gowda is busy competing at the elite meets in the United States, young Delhi boy Arjun annexed the men's crown with a modest 53.56m.  Arjun was the Asian Youth Games champion in this event.  Two days ago at Chula Vista, California, Vikas hurled the discus to a season's best 64.91m, which was just 5 cm short of his national mark he sets fou

Rajasthan's Manju Bala had the top honours in women's hammer throw.  Her 55.94m throw outclassed the 54.88m mark registered by the leading Kerala thrower Anitha Abraham.    Rajasthan got the second gold of the day as distance runner Kheta Ram become the newest champion in men's 10000m with a time of 29:20.35.  Uttar Pradesh junior Suresh Kumar Patel was a close second in 29:25.42.

/ Ram. Murali Krishnan /

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