Manjit bags glory in 1500m, Anas claims 400m silver

Deepankar Sharda 

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 6

Usually calm and composed, Asian Games gold medallist Manjit Singh was gripped by extreme joy after winning the 1500m gold medal in the fourth leg of the Indian Grand Prix at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Sector 3, here today.

“The timing is more important than winning the gold medal,” said Haryana’s Manjit, who clocked 3 minutes, 45.37 seconds to claim the top position.

“It’s a good time and also a good sign of improvement. I have been focusing on my stride and hopefully I am on the right track,” added the reigning Asian Games champion in 800m. Last year, during the Federation Cup in Patiala, he had improved his personal best by almost seven seconds to clock 3:42.24 and qualify for the Asian Games. However, at the Asian Games, he finished fourth in 1500m, clocking 3:46.57.

Uttar Pradesh’s Ajay Kumar Saroj (3:45.75) and Rahul (3:48.63) finished second and third, respectively.

Shot putter Inderjeet Singh also got a much-needed confidence boost by clinching the gold medal with a throw of 18.70 metres. Another Haryana thrower, Parveen (17.52m), claimed the silver medal, while Chandigarh’s Paramjeet Singh (17.48m) finished third.

In the 200m, Rajiv Arokia of Tamil Nadu clocked 20.74 seconds to claim the top position. Muhammed Anas, the 400m silver medallist at the Asian Games in Jakarta, claimed the silver medal in 21.15s. Anas had won the 400m silver in the third leg of the Indian Grand Prix in Sangrur recently. Lovepreet Singh of Punjab claimed the third position in 21.59.

Jeevan KS won the 400m gold by clocking 46.81 seconds. Kerala’s Jithu Baby (46.93s) finished second and Noah Nirmal Tom (47.68s) finished third.

Jabir of Kerala won the 400m hurdles gold by clocking 50.60 seconds, while Jashanjot Singh of Punjab bagged the silver in 51.28s. Karnataka’s Jagdeesh Chandr clocked 51.44s to finish third.

Chetan of Karnataka bagged the gold medal in the high jump event by clearing 2.16 metres. Maharashtra’s Sarvesh (2.10m) finished second and Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakolapu (2m) claimed the third spot. SN Mohammed Salahuddin of Tamil Nadu claimed the triple jump gold with an effort of 16.06 metres. Navkot Singh (15.60m) of Punjab and Rakesh (15.23m) of Kerala finished second and third, respectively.

In javelin throw, Abhishek Singh of Uttar Pradesh claimed the top position with a throw of 75.57 metres, while Abhishek Drall of Delhi finished second with throw of 74.95m

Navjeet wins discus gold 

Punjab’s Navjeet Kaur won the gold medal in the women’s discus throw with an effort of 56.03 metres. Parbati Sethi (41.40m) of Odisha claimed the second position.

Kumari Sharmila (56.03m) of Haryana claimed the gold medal in javelin throw, while Prabhdeep Kaur (38.12m) of Punjab finished second.

Kachnar Chaudhary (13.94m) of Rajasthan won the shot put gold. Renu of Haryana bagged the triple jump gold with 13.41m. Anusha G (13.04m) of Karnataka and Niharika Vashisht (13.02m) of Punjab claimed the second and third positions, respectively.

In the women’s 200m, Kerala’s Vismaya claimed the top position in 23.80 seconds. Inchara NS of Karnataka finished second in 24.05s, while Anjali Devi of Haryana finished third in 24.35s.

MR Poovamma of Karnataka won the 400m gold in 53.73s, followed by Saritaben Gayakwad (53.77s) of Gujarat in second and Jisna Mathew (54.17s) of Kerala in third.

Promising runner Lili Das from West Bengal lived up to her current form and claimed the women’s 1500m gold in 4.13:53. PU Chitra (4.13:58) of Kerala finished second and Usha Sharma (5.03:00) of Haryana finished third. Arpitha of Karnataka won the women’s 400m hurdles by clocking 57.93s, while Punjab duo Veepal Kaur (1:00.61) and Neha (1:12.19) claimed the second and third positions, respectively.