Sangrur (Punjab): V K Vismaya stunned her fancied opponents, M R Poovamma and Hima Das, to win the gold medal in the women’s 400m race at the Indian Grand Prix-3 here Saturday. Vismaya, who had won a team gold in 4x400m at the 2018 Asian Games, has only been competing in international tournaments since last year, but she managed to get the better of two-time Asian Games gold medallist Poovamma and world junior champion and national record holder Hima.
Timings and efforts were on the lower side as athletes competed in chilly conditions at the War Heroes Stadium. However, that did little to deter the 22-year-old Vismaya, who recorded a time of 53.80. She was 0.26 seconds faster than Poovamma who clocked a time of 54.06. The bronze medal was claimed by Prachi of Uttar Pradesh who recorded a time of 54.49. Prachi though managed to keep Hima off the podium. Das, who holds the national record of 50.79 in her name, was well off her best as she recorded a time of 55.19. The time was the slowest of her career.