BHUBANESWAR 12-Oct-2010 304
Orissa tasted another success in the 19th Commonwealth Games when sprinter Srabani Nanda helped India win the bronze medal in women`s 4x100 metre relay event in 45.25 seconds at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi today. England bagged the gold with a timing of 44.19 seconds, while Ghana pipped India on photo finish to grab the silver in 45.24 seconds.
A trainee of Government Sports Hostel here, Srabani put the Indian quartet in a strong position by running the second leg with scorching speed. However, India squandered the lead in the last leg and settled for the third position.
This was the second medal bagged by a sportsperson from Orissa in the Delhi Commonwealth Games, the first being the gold, which was claimed by weightlifter K Ravi Kumar in 69kg weight class.
Congratulating Srabani for the achievement, her coach Nila Madhab Deo said: ``I had faith on her ability and she lived up to it.`` According to Government coach Deo, by winning the bronze medal Srabani had secured a place in the India camp for this year`s Asian Games in China.
Born on July 5, 1991, Srabani had won the 4x100 metre relay gold in the Youth Commonwealth Games at Pune in 2008 and a bronze medal each in 100 and 200 meter sprint events of the SAF Games in Colombo three years ago. Her personal best in 100m sprint remains 12.00 seconds. She, however, has clocked 11.7 in practice and trial camps.
Orissa Olympic Association and Orissa Athletic Association secretary Asirbad Behera expressed joy over Srabani`s achievement and announced cash rewards of Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively for the athlete on behalf of OOA and OAA respectively.
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PHOTO: Srabani Nanda (2nd from right) and her teammates celebrate after winning the CWG bronze medal in Delhi on October 12, 2010.
