Pahal makes confident comeback at Indian Open Athletics in Patna

Time of India

2 days ago

Kiran Pahal
made a successful return to competition at the Indian Open Athletics at Patliputra Sports Complex winning her 400m heats at ease as Bihar's Shatakshi Rai was the overall winner in the women's 100m in Kanker Bagh, Patna, on Saturday.
Competing for the first time since the Paris Olympics, Pahal ran 54.93 seconds to not only come first in her race but also emerge the overall winner. Shivkanya Mukati (55.29s) and Nofisa Khatun (55.42s) finished second and third respectively. It was nowhere near Pahal's personal best of 50.92 seconds but she was more than relieved with the fact she did not feel any pain during the race.
"I was worried about how my body would react because my doctors had told me that exerting too much force can cause an injury again," said Pahal, who had a third grade meniscus tear on her right knee post the Paris Games.
"But the good thing is I did not feel any pain and will work on increasing the strength on my hamstring, knees, calves and quads in the coming days. Also, I will try to compete in as many events as possible to make sure the fear of injury is completely gone."
Pahal has also been struggling to take care of her mother, whose health has deteriorated over the years following an accident a long time back.
"It was right after I joined camp in May that my mother's health worsened.
She suffers from severe back pain that radiates down to her legs, and I have to take her for treatment twice a week. She is doing better now, but I will need to continue the treatment for a few more months," added the 24-year-old, who lost her father three years back.
Meanwhile, Bihar's Piyush Raj and Setu Mishra finished second and third in the men's 400m with timings of 47.73s and 47.84s respectively as Brajesh Singh of MP grabbed the top spot as he crossed the finish line in 47.68s.
In other major results, Odisha's Srabani Nanda won her 100m heat with a time of 12.05 seconds. However, it was Bihar's Shatakshi who was the overall winner after she won Race A with a time of 12.04 seconds. It was quite a good run from Shatakshi, who has PB of 11.91 seconds achieved during the Indian Grand Prix 2 held at Trivandrum in May, to bag the top spot. The overall third place went jointly to Prakruthi Roopa Rao and Teena Pareek — both of whom ran 12.11 seconds.
In the men's 100m, it was Yernena Balavardhan of Chhattisgarh who was the overall winner with a timing of 10.66 seconds. Odisha's Abhinash Sahu and Amiya Kumar Mallick were second and third respectively with timings of 10.71s and 10.76s.
In another major result for the hosts, Nitu Kumari came second in 1500m with a time of 4:39.16 just behind Odisha's Laxmipriya Kisan, who ran 4:37.90. Mahima Choudhary of Rajasthan was third with a time of 4:57.39. Kritika Kumari also came second in women's discus with a throw of 41.40m behind MP's Amera Shah 47.77m.