Indian Grand Prix 2023: star sprinter Hima Das bagged gold but failed to make the Asian Games cut

Star sprinter Hima Das won the gold in the 200m race at the Indian Grand Prix 2023 with an ease of 23.79 seconds in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on Sunday. However, despite her victory, Das's performance was bittersweet, as she had failed to make the cut for the upcoming Asian Games. Hima Das registered a time of 23.79 seconds, 0.36s short of the Asian Games qualification standard for the women's 200m sprint event set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

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Meanwhile, in the long jump event at the Indian Grand Prix 2023, Ancy Sojan won the first position with a throw of 6.49m. She also crossed the Asian Games qualifying mark of 6.45. However, many star athletes are not participating in these events of the Indian Grand Prix 2023. Only two athletes competed in the women's high jump and the men's triple jump.

Similarly, there were only three participants in the women's shot put, 800 meters, and 5000 meters races. Krishan Kumar of Haryana won the 800m race with a timing of 1:47.26. This was his second personal best performance. He also crossed the Asian Games qualifying standard of 1:49.05.

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In the men's 5000m race, three Uttar Pradesh athletes come home inside the Asian Games qualifying mark of 14:00.00. Abhishek Pal clocked 13:51.14, while Gulveer Singh clocked his personal best time of 14:02.50, and Mohammed Nur Hasan 13:52.26 on his 5,000m debut. Meanwhile, Odisha's javelin thrower Kishore Kumar clocked a personal best of 81.05m. His previous best was 78.93. DP Manu, who threw 80 meters twice, finished second. Both went past the Asian Games qualifying mark set by AFI.

The first Indian Grand Prix 2023 featured a total of 18 events, 10 for men and eight for women. The second Indian Grand Prix 2023 will be held on March 27 in Thiruvananthapuram. While the third and fourth legs will take place on April 2 and April 10, respectively, in Bengaluru, Karnataka.