Mahan, Pinki eye hat-trick; Anju looks to improve in Asian GP

Pune, May 25 (UNI) Middle distance runner Pinki Pramanik and long jumper Mahan Singh will set their sights on completing a hat-trick of gold medals, while Anju Bobby George and Seema Antil would look to put injuries and poor past performances behind them in the third leg of the Asian Grand Prix to be held here tomorrow.

Anju would look to avenge her defeat against Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan in the second leg in Banglore on Monday, while Commonwealth silver medalist Seema Antil also needs to re-produce her earlier form for a podium finish.

Meanwhile, Mahan Singh and Pinki Pramanik would be eyeing a hat-trick at the Pune leg after winning their events in Bangkok and Bangalore earlier.

The other athletes in line for a hat-trick are Asian Games Bronze Medallist Rohan Pradeep Fernando of Sri lanka, who dominated the men's 400 meters run both at Bangkok and Bangalore, and Feng Yun of China in 100 meters hurdles.

Anju, who finished a disappointing seventh in the Qatar Super Grand Prix (GP), pulled out of the Bangkok GP held on May 18 due to a heel injury. She, however, returned in the Bangalore leg on Monday but had to be content with a silver.

In contrast, Seema, who was laid low due to a back injury missed the meet in Bangkok and managed a bronze in Bangalore, will be seen in action in Pune according to Asian Athletic Association (AAA) President Suresh Kalmadi.

Although, the level of competition is not that high considering that most of the athletes from Asia have decided to stay away from the meets, there will be some keen contest on the cards.

For starters, the men's 400 meters dash will be an event to watch. Busan Asian Games gold medalist Fawzi Al Shammani of Kuwait, who finished last in Bangkok, will be looking to regain his form ahead of the world championship and the Asian Games later this year.

Seema will face a stiff challenge from the Asian Games silver medallist Song Aimin of China.

Punjab-lad Mahan was all charged up and raring to go in a bid to better his performances in Bangkok and Bangalore.

''I will be looking to improve my performance here,'' he said.

On the other hand Pinki said though she would try to complete a hat-trick in Pune ''but my aim is to earn a medal at the ensuing Asian Games to be held in Doha, Qatar in December.'' Both Mahan and Pinki said the newly laid synthetic track in Pune would serve the athletes well.

In the men's 400 meteres hurdles P Shankar will coming back after an year's gap but was optimistic about his chances.

''For the past one year I was trying to improve my performance in the 400 meters event but now I will be back in 400 meters hurdles event as well,'' he said.

The final leg in Pune assumes importance as it would serve as the basis to select the Indian men and women 4x100 relay quartet to take part in the Asian Games.

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