Tintu Luka’s family camp in Kannur following flood

KANNUR: Keralite Tintu Luka, who qualified for the semi-final berth of the women's 800 metres at the 2012 London Olympics yesterday gave a moment to celebrate to all the Indians when her mother and sister were camping in Kannur town as water flooded in their small house at Valamthode-Karikottakari near Iritty. Tintu's mother and sister reached Talap in Kannur town, the house of Grace, who is Tintu's mother Lizy Luka's sister and an employee of Keltron in Kannur. Tintu's mother and her sister Angel Luka, who is a student in Kannur sports division school here, had left their house two days ago, as heavy rains and landslides lashed Iritty and nearby areas on August 6. Due to power failure, Tintu's family could not watch the TV there. So they came to the town. They camped at Kannur town to watch the performance of Tintu at the Olympics. Her father is working in Gulf.

After the end of the event, Lizy Luka told newspersons that her daughter's performance is the result of the prayers of the people of India and she is expecting that Tintu would win a medal for India in the London Olympics. Her coach Olympian P T Usha had lost a medal 28 years back, that loss would be compensated by Tintu. She ran very well in first few laps, but at last stage her performance was not so good, however, she qualified for the semi-final as third in the second heat. Her sister Angel said she enjoyed watching Tintu's performance and is expecting a medal for India.