S Dhanalakshmi breaks PT Usha’s Federation Cup meet record in 200 meters

S Dhanalakshmi breaks PT Usha’s Federation Cup meet record in 200 meters

S Dhanalakshmi

Tamil Nadu sprinter S Dhanalakshmi continued to go strong as she finished the 200 meters event at the Federation Cup with a meet record timing of 23.26 seconds at the semi-final. Just two days after pipping Dutee Chand in the 100 meters event despite the latter being the overwhelming favorite to clinch gold, Dhanalakshmi has achieved another incredible feat and looks set to clinch gold here as well.

Dhanalakshmi came ahead of Hima Das who clocked 24.39 seconds in the semi-final. With the same, the Tamil Nadu sprinter broke into the top 10 sprinters of all time in India with her timing. Meanwhile, another Tamil Nadu sprinter Archana Suseendran came first in her heat by clocking 24.07 seconds. It is noteworthy that both Das and Suseendran have better record timings that Dhanalakshmi.

Krishan Kumar wins men’s 800 meters event

S Dhanalakshmi
S Dhanalakshmi

In the men’s 800 meters event, it was Krishan Kumar of Haryana who came up trumps as he shrugged off competition from Ankesh Chaudhary who came up with a late surge. Krishan Kumar looked to have slowed down by the end and just as he was about to be overtaken, he picked the pace up and finished first. Ankesh had seemed to be coming full force towards him but in the end just couldn’t enough.

In the women’s 800 meters event, it was Chana representing Delhi who came up with a run of 2 minutes and 2 seconds to win it. It is worth noting that it was India’s fastest timing since the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 when Tintu Luka clocked 2 minutes and 0.58 seconds.

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