Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (RJP)
Mangaluru, Nov 4: Mangalorean Asian Games champion runner M. Poovamma led the charge on the second day of the 54th National Open Athletics Championships by winning gold in the women's 400 metre race at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.
Poovamma representing Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), led from the start and had little difficulty in claiming the top spot in 53.59 seconds ahead of Arpitha M of Karnataka (54.70 seconds) and Anu Mriyam Jo (55.28 seconds) of Life Insurance Corporation's (LIC).
Poovamma, who had clinched the 4x400m women's relay gold in Asiad games in Incheon, had also won the bronze in 400m women’s category. She is currently ranked second in Asia in the 400m category.
Poovamma had received the Rajyotsava award from Karnataka government last week.