Asian Games: Chitra Unnikrishnan Clinches Bronze in 1500m Event

Chitra Unnikrishnan won her first-ever Asian Games medal after clinching a bronze in the 1500m event on Thursday.

• Chitra Unnikrishnan clinched her first-ever Asian Games medal after winning a bronze in the 1500m event.
  
• This Asian Games medal is a terrific way to answer the Athletics Federation of India, who had excluded Chitra from the World Championships squad in 2017.
  

Chitra Unnikrishnan clinched her first-ever Asian Games medal after winning a bronze in the 1500m event on Thursday, 30 August. The 23-year-old, who has a South Asian Games gold and an Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games gold under her belt, clocked a timing of 4:12.56 minutes.

Bahrain’s Kalkidan Befkadu won gold with a timing of 4:07.88 and compatriot Tigist Belay settled for a silver after finishing the race in 4:09.12 minutes.

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Chitra entered into the race as an Asian leader this season but had to settle for a bronze with a timing of 4 minute and 12.56 seconds. The Kerala athlete had won gold in the 2017 Asian Championships with a timing of 4:17.92.

This Asian Games medal is a terrific way to answer the Athletics Federation of India, who had excluded Chitra from the World Championships squad in 2017.

After the runner wasn’t named in the World Championships squad, Chitra filed a petition in the Kerala High Court against the decision by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

In her plea, Chitra said her gold medal performance at the Asian Athletics Championships made her an automatic pick for the World Championships.

Then the Kerala High Court had directed the central government to ensure participation of Chitra in the World Athletics Championships in London in August 2017. After which the AFI had to budge and request the IAAF to include Chitra in the squad.

However, the IAAF rejected the Athletics Federation of India’s request to include PU Chitra in the Indian squad for the upcoming World Championships

According to International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) standards, Chitra’s gold medal effort at the Asian Athletics Championships wasn’t good enough for her to have a chance to participate in the World Championships.

(With inputs from PTI)