Athletes close the show with record 19 medals including seven gold
Harpal Singh Bedi in Jakarta
Gold medal winning performance by Jinson Johnson and the women’s 4x400m relay team lifted the gloom which had engulfed the Indian camp after hockey, as track and field stars kept country’s medal telly swelling in te Asian Games here on Thursday.
On the last day of competition , Indian won five medals, two gold, a silver and two bronze. They ended the meet with a haul of 19 medals-& gold, 10 Silver and two bronze.
This is perhaps one of the best showing by India in track and field events in the Asian Games. Last time at Incheon Indian tally was 13 medals, 2 Gold, four silver and 7 bronze.
First to bring cheers for India was Jinson Johnson who race to the 1500m gold medal in 3:44.72 minutes. In the process he became d Indian to achieve this landmark in the Indonesian capital after 56 years.
It was in 1962 at Jakarta Mohinder Singh had won a gold in this event.
Soon after Johnson’s golden show it was the turn of the relay team, comprising of Hima Das, Saritaben Gayakwad, VK Vismaya and MR Poovama, to take the yellow medal clocking 3:28.72 warding off Bahrain and Vietnam’s challenge..
In the men’s 4x400m relay the Indian quartet of Kunhu Muhammed Puthanpurakkal, Dharun Ayyasamy, Muhammed Anas and Rajiv Arokia finished in 3:01.85, for a silver behind Qatar, who went on to set a Games record.
Earliery, PU Chitra and Seema Punia won a bronze each in the women’s 1500m and discus throw events respectively.
Chitra finished third in the 1500m event with a timing of 4:12.56, behind Bahrain’s Kalkidan Befkadu and Tigist Belay. Seema, meanwhile, won her bronze with a throw of 62.26m.
Johnson, who bagged silver in the 800m event on Tuesday, started the race well ll, keeping pace with the leaders throughout. He increased the pace around the home stretch running past Iran’s Amir Moradi and Bahrain’s Tiouali Mohamed to claim the title.
Other Indian in the fray, Manjit Singh, winner of 800 m gold, finished fourth with 3:46.57 ..
Johnson had emerged a strong contender for an Asiad medal following his strong display at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year, where he broke Bahadur Prasad’s national record in the 1500m event, finishing his run at 3:37.86.
In the women’s relay India, who are the Games record holders, got off to a good start because o Hima, who powered to the lead on lane six.
Poovama stayed ahead at first exchange, making things easier Saritaben and Vismaya . The women’s relay team has now won the gold at every Asian Games since 2002.
“It is fantastic feeling to win a gold and that two after 56 years in the same city for India” Johnson said adding :I am proud of my performances winning silver (800m) and now gold”
“I think we did fairly well in this competition and most of my team mates were among medal winners” he sdaid.
Hima Das was equally happy to have led the charge in relay to retain the title. “ I am proud of this performance.We have been able to extend our hold on this event”Our performance has been very good”