BHUBANESWAR 07-Jul-2017
There was plenty to cheer for fans at the Kalinga Stadium as India’s athletes clinched the 400m and 1500m gold medals in both the men’s and women’s categories on the second day of the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships here today. Heavy showers disrupted the proceedings of the evening session, but it could not stop the fans from cheering for the Indian athletes who responded in style on a day where 10 medal events were at stake, even as a major upset came about at the end of the evening in the men’s 100m final.
India’s lead in the medal standings stayed put as they won four gold, two silver and two bronze medals to add to their tally of two gold, one silver and four bronze on Day 1. The hosts now have six gold, three silver and six bronze medals overall.
Nirmala Sheoran broke into the lead at the last turn and stayed there until the end under the unrelenting rain to take gold with a time of 52.01 seconds in the women’s 400m. Compatriot Jisna Mathew took the bronze, while 2015 Asian Championships silver winner and Asian Games bronze medalist MR Poovamma finished just outside the medal standings.
