Woman runner flops, but wins over crowd

SUMAIRA ZAHOOR has seldom had the experience of running in front of more than a few hundred spectators during an impressive career at the national and South Asian level. On Tuesday night she ran in front of more than 50,000 people at a place that is currently at the centre of the world’s attention – the Athens Olympic Stadium.

She, not unexpectedly, finished last in the women’s 1500m first round heat but her courage and determination to actually the finish the race after falling way behind the pack earned her applause from the majority of the sports fans present at the spectacular stadium situated in the heart of the Athens Olympic Complex…