Sadhvi powers Pune varsity to top, PU 2nd

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 25

Swimmer Sadhvi Dhuri lapped up double gold while Mihir Ambre won his second title in the Khelo India University Games 2020 today to steer Savitribai Phule Pune University to the top of the tally with 14 medals, including seven gold.

Panjab University picked up a gold medal late in the afternoon through Siddhanth Sejwal to be in the second spot with six gold and 18 medals in total. Jain University, Bengaluru, and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, follow in third and fourth places, respectively, with six gold medals each but a fewer silver and bronze medals. Punjabi University, Patiala, jumped to the fifth place with three gold medals in archery.

Sangampreet stunned

On a rain-hit day, Punjabi University suffered a big blow with top-ranked Sangampreet Singh Bisla losing to University of Rajasthan’s Mukul Sharma in the compound final.

Bisla held a two-point lead after each of the first two sets, but Sharma clawed his way back in the third set with three 10s. He repeated the feat under pressure in the fifth set to overcome the one-point advantage that his rival had gained in the fourth set. While Bisla managed an eight in the shoot-off, Sharma landed an X to seal the victory.

“I told myself not to be over-awed by the presence of a renowned archer and yet, when I stepped up, I was quite nervous. But once I overcame the initial hesitation and calmed my nerves, I was able to shoot better,” said Sharma.

Just as Sharma beat World Youth Championship medallist Bisla, unheralded Kritika Sharma did the star turn for the University of Rajasthan in the women’s final by defeating World Youth Championship medallist and favourite Raginee Markoo of Rani Dugrawati Vishwavidyalaya.

Sensational Sadhvi

The 19-year-old Sadhvi was the toast of the swimming competitions on Tuesday, winning the 200m freestyle in 2:14.99s and the 100m butterfly after a close battle with Damini Gowda of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.

In one of the most exciting races, Sadhvi won by a 0.60s margin. The two wins increased her tally of gold medals to three.

Siddhant shines for PU

Siddhant Sejwal picked up Panjab University’s lone gold of the day by winning the 200m freestyle competition in 2:01.28s to add to the 50m backstroke and 4x100m freestyle relay crowns.

He has three events lined up on Wednesday and is hoping to edge out Mihir Ambre and the others as the most successful swimmer.

Final results

Swimming Men 200m Freestyle 1. Siddhant Sejwal (PU) 2. Harshal Sarang (Veer Narmad South Gujarat University) 3. M Vasuram (University of Kerala) 100m Butterfly Mihir Ambre (Pune University) 2. Sameer Sejwal (Delhi University) 3. Bhargav Sailor (Veer Narmad South Gujarat University) 400m Individual Medley 1. Siva Sridhar (Jain University) 2. T Sethumanickavel (Manonmianiam Sundaranar University) 3. Prasad Kandul (Pune University) 4x100m Medley Relay 1. Delhi University 2. Panjab University 3. Pune University Women 200m Freestyle 1. Sadhvi Dhuri (Pune University) 2. Rutuja Talegaonknar (RTM Nagpur University) 3. SV Nikitha (Jain University) 800m Freestyle 1. SV Nikitha (Jain University) 2. Dhruti Muralidhar (Jain University) 3. Rutuja Talengaokar (Nagpur University)