Soma sets for Italy, with Doha gold on mind

Kolkata, Apr 03 (UNI) Beijing Asian Games heptathelon silver medalist Soma Biswas in her bid to do one better in Doha version of the meet wants to take part in the maximum number of World Combined Meets for exposure and peaking her form.

Talking to the media after being felicitated by CII, Soma said, ''I am heading for Desenzano in Italy for the Multistars Meet. Here some of the best heptathalists and decathelists come to take part.'' The World Combined Meet in Italy will be held on May 13 and 14.

The last time she participated in the event she came 10th. This time she would like to improve on it.

''I am aiming for gold in Doha Asian Games and for that I need to participate in the maximum number of combined meets as possible. But for now I am getting this Italy meet. After that I will participate in individual Grand Prix in Pune, Bangalore and Bangkok,'' she said.

''I want to attain 5900 points consistently then before Doha I can peak to 6100 points,'' she said.

Soma added, ''I am getting some four weeks' practice before the Italy meet. I think that will be good time to prepare for the event.

I will have to improve on a couple of disciplines and I am working hard on those.'' Accepting that she had not expected the Commonwealth Games to be so tough, the lanky lass from Nadia said, ''I had done poorly in 200 mts and long jump. Now I am convcentrating in all the seven disciplines.'' CII will sponsor the flight tickets to Italy and back for the meet. However, CII Chairman Ravi Poddar gave no such assurances that she would get their backing for the future meets.

Soma hopes to take part in next World Combined Meet at Gotzis in Austria from May 27.

The three other World Combined Meets before the Doha Asian Games in December are International d'Arles in Arles, France, 9th Ruhrgas DLV Mehrkamfmeet Ratingen in Germany and European Cup Combined Events Super League in Arles in France.

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