Athlete Poovamma qualifies for semis, Sharadha, Karhana out

Glasgow, July 27 (IANS) Poovamma Machettira qualified for the women's 400 metre semi-final after setting a time of 54.01 seconds in the heat at the Commonwealth Games here Sunday.

However, it was disappointment for 100m sprinter Narayana Sharadha and shot putter Om Parkash Singh Karhana who were knocked out of the Games in the qualifiers being held at the Hampden Park Stadium.

Poovamma, 24, was third and last of the eight competitors to reach the semis. Chandrika Subashini Rasnayaka Mudiyanselage of Sri Lanka topped the heat with 53.75 seconds and Nigerian Regina George came in second, clocking 53.92.

The semi-finals, followed by the final, will be held Sunday.

Earlier, Sharadha failed to qualify for the women's 100 metre semi-final after finishing fifth out of eight competitors in the heat.

Jamaica's Schillonie Calvert, Sheniqua Ferguson of Bahamas and Canadian Crystal Carly-Kristen Emmanuel qualified for the semis. While Schillonie topped the heat clocking 11.29 seconds, the 27-year-old Chennai woman finished the race in 11.81 seconds.

Then Karhana failed to reach the men's shot put finals, finishing fifth in his Group B qualification.

Jamaica's O'Dayne Richards and South Africa's Orazio Cremona qualified from the group for the finals, to be played Monday, with throws of 20.24m and 20.03m.

Karhana, who hails from Gurgaon, threw a best of 18.98m on his third and final attempt. His first two throws went for 17.67m and 18.54m, respectively.