(Image source from: Indian athlete qualifies for Rio Olypic 2016})
In the World Athletics Championships, Tintu Luka crashed out in the first round heats of the women’s 800m race. Although it was a disappointing seventh-place finish, athlete qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. This was her season-best effort of two minutes 0.95 seconds on the fifth day of World Athletics Championships.
In the first of the six heats, the 26-year-old athlete clocked her season’s best to finish second last failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Three top finishers in each of the six heats and the next six fastest timers will qualify for the semi-finals.
Tintu was an Asian champion and national record holder with a personal best of 1:59.17 struck by her in 2010. She got the consolation of crossing 2:01.00, the Rio Olympics qualification time.
Leading the eight-woman field in the opening lap with a fast 57.06secs time, Luka ran out of steam during final push. In the last 200 meters, six runners ran past Luka. This was a repeat scenario in somany of her races at the international stage.
Tintu who was a semi-finalist at Daegu, South Korea in 2011 appeared second time in the World Championships.
The qualification chart was led by European champion Marina Arzamasova of Belarus (1:58.69) followed by Great Britain’s Lynsey Sharp (1:58.98) and South Africa’s Caster Semenya (1:59.59).
-Sumana
