Nirmala qualifies for semifinals in 400m race in World Athletics Championships

In World Athletics Championship, Indian quarter miler Nirmala Sheoran has qualified for semi-final of the women's 400m race. The 22-year-old Nirmala clocked 52.01 seconds to finish fourth in her heat in the women's 400 meter first round. She took the last spot among the six best finishers. The Haryana girl will have to come up with a performance better than her personal best of 51.20 seconds in the semifinals tomorrow if she wants to qualify for the final. 

Yesterday was yet another disappointing day for India. In the men's marathon, T Gopi finished a



poor 28th while Siddhanth Thingalaya crashed out in the heats, finishing seventh in the 110m hurdles.

In women's heptathlon, Asian champion Swapna Barman was lying at 27th among 28 contestants with just one event to go.She now has 4610 points from six events. She finished 16th in javelin throw and 29th in long jump today.

India has taken part in every championships since the first one in 1983 but legendary long jumper Anju Bobby George's bronze in Paris 2003 has been the lone medal at this global stage.