National record-holder Siddhanth Thingalaya defeated Australia’s former World junior silver medallist Nicholas Hough and won the men’s 110m hurdles at the Lotto de Nivelles international athletics meet at Nivelles (Belgium) on Saturday. However, his time of 13.66s was slower than the Rio Olympics qualification standard of 13.47s.
Sajeesh Joseph was fourth in the men’s 800m with 1:53.45s (Rio entry time 1:46.00) while former Asian champion Sini A. Markose (formerly Sinimol Paulose) was eighth in the women’s two-lapper in 2:05.38s (Oly. qual. 2:01.50).
Meanwhile at the Tatiana Kolpakova athletics meet at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Saturday, Indian men clocked a mediocre 39.92s while winning the 4x100m relay. The women’s 4x100m relay teamfinished second in 44.45s while Dutee Chand clocked 11.47s to finish runner-up in the individual 100m. Dutee had clocked a faster 11.41s in heats earlier.The chances of both the sprint relay teams making the Rio grade look slim at this stage.
