Mangalore: In the 400 metres race held at 51st National Open Athletics Championship organized in Kolkatta in Sunday, Mangalorean girl M.R.Poovamma, also an Olympian, won the gold medal clocking 53.87 seconds.
Delhi’s Alka Rani with 55.53 seconds and ONGC’s employee Anu Marian Jose (55.70 seconds) were beaten to second and third places.
Machettira Raju Poovamma, a girl from Kodagu in origin, represented India in Beijing Olympics in 2008.
She is training presently in a Patiala (Punjab) camp, to participate in 2012 London Olympics, with Vasanthkumar as her school coach earlier.