Pinki and Manjeet Kaur qualify for 400m finals

Doha, Dec 9 (UNI) Quarter-milers Pinki Parmanik and Manjeet Kaur qualified for the finals of the women's 400m race, finishing second in their respective heats in the Athletics competition of the Asian Games here today.

Pinki, who had given impressive performances through the Asian Grand Prix series in May, timed 53.90 to be placed behind leader Olga Threshkova of Kazaksthan who led the heat by clocking 53.30.

The Indian's personal best in this event is 51.50.

Manjeet Kaur, Asia champion in Incheon, Korea last year, timed 53.95 to finish second behind Asami Tanno of Japan, who returned 53.94 to lead heat two.

The 24-year-old Indian had timed 53.21 in the Delhi trials prior to the departure for Muscat for a training programme in the run-up to the games.

UNI HSB PM BD1510