KERALA :

Jabir finished third in Heat 1 with a timing of 49.62 seconds to qualify for the semi-finals to be held on Saturday.

Long jumper M Sreeshankar failed to reach the final after a disappointing performance while 400m hurdler M P Jabir made it to the semifinals on the opening day of the World Athletics Championships here on Friday.

Another 400m hurdler Dharun Ayyasamy, the national record holder, tumbled after the last hurdle in his heat and failed to qualify for the semifinals.

Kicking off India’s campaign, 20-year-old Sreeshankar could only produce a best jump of 7.62m from his three attempts in the qualification B to finish 22nd overall. His effort was well below his season’s best of 8.00m, which he had produced only last month in Patiala.

Later in the day, Jabir finished third in Heat 1 and 11th overall in men’s 400m hurdle with a time of 49.62 seconds to qualify for the semifinals to be held on Saturday. He has a season’s and personal best of 49.13.

Ayyasamy could only clock 50.55 as he lost precious time after hitting the final hurdle. He finished sixth in Heat 5 and 27th overall to miss out of the semifinals.

Ayyasamy, who had recovered from an injury recently, has a personal and season’s best of 48.80.

The first four in each of the five heats and the next four fastest qualify for the 400m hurdles semifinals.

source: http://www.scroll.in / Scroll.in / Home> World Athletics / by Press Trust of India / September 27th, 2019