Dharun Ayyasamy fails, MP Jabir makes semis of 400m hurdles at IAAF World Championships

CHENNAI: It wasn’t the start Indian athletes were expecting as the World Athletics Championships kicked off in Doha on Friday evening, as it proved to be a day to forget for Tamil Nadu sprinter Dharun Ayyasamy, who bowed out in the opening round of the men's 400 m hurdles.
Dharun ended up in the sixth place in Heat 5, clocking 50.55 seconds. He was returning to the track after a long injury layoff and didn’t look in the best of form, finishing 27th out of the 39 runners who competed in the event.
This was the 22-year-old Dharun's first event since making a mark in the Federation Cup held in Patiala back in March this year.He won gold there with a timing of 48.80 seconds, which was a new National and meet record and earned him a place at the IAAF World Championships.
Subsequently, the quarter-miler was ruled out of the Asian Championships in Doha in April this year as he was suffering from a shin-bone stress fracture. The Tamil Nadu sprinter had suffered a similar injury during the 2016-17 season as well.
While Dharun missed out, India’s MP Jabir made the cut for the semifinals of the competition after he clocked 49.62 to be placed third in the first heat held earlier in the evening.
Jabir’s timing was the 11th quickest in the heats. The semifinals of the men’s 400m hurdles are scheduled to be held on Saturday.