Para cyclist Lisha Das finishes last in 4,000m individual pursuit qualification

Teenage Indian para cyclist Lisha Das bowed out after finishing sixth and last in the women’s C4-C5 4,000m individual pursuit qualifying event at the Commonwealth Games here on Thursday.

The 16-year-old, the youngest athlete in India’s contingent and the country’s only para-track cyclist to qualify for the Games, clocked 6:58.000 in the qualification round, averaging 34.450 kmph. Her time was well off the pace set by the leading contenders.

Australia’s Tara Neyland topped the qualification standings in 4:45.796, while England’s Morgan Newberry secured the second spot in 5:06.470 to book a place in the gold medal race.

New Zealand’s Nicole Murray (5:06.878) and Australia’s Erin Normoyle (5:294.264) qualified for the bronze medal contest. Under the event’s qualification format, the two fastest riders advance to the gold medal race, while the third and fourth fastest riders compete for bronze.

The gulf in performance was evident in the average speeds. Neyland, the fastest qualifier, averaged 49.716 kmph compared to Lisha’s 34.450 kmph.

Before departing for Glasgow, Lisha, who hails from Assam, had voiced concerns after neither her personal coach nor a female support staff member was initially included in the Indian contingent.