Discus gold for Vikas

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Pune: China stamped their authority in the 100m event wining a grand double in both the men’s and women’s category but there was plenty to cheer for India on Day Two of the 20th Asian Athletics Championships as the hosts finished with a gold, silver and bronze at the Balewadi Sports Complex here on Thursday. Seasoned discus thrower and top seed Vikas Gowda earned India their first gold while quartermiler M.R. Poovamma secured a silver and the 10,000m runner Rati Ram Saini capped off a rewarding day with a bronze medal.
Gowda, one of the brightest medal prospects from India, showed no signs of pressure and claimed the first medal in the discus throw event after Krishna Poonia and Seema Antil had failed on Wednesday.
Emerging star M.R. Poovamma, who had won three straight golds in the Asian Grand Prix, put up a credible show on the big stage with a silver in the women’s 400m, clocking 53.37 sec. The gold was secured by China’s Zo Yanmin. In a close finish, Gretta Taslakian from Lebanon piped India’s Anu Mariam Jose for bronze after clocking 53.43 to 53.49 in the same event.
It looked like the Indians would excel in the 10,000m race, when home long distance runners led initially but the Bahrain duo outdid the Indians in the end with a 1-2 finish. Rati Ram Saini (29:35.42) secured a bronze, while Kheta Ram finished fourth with a timing of 29:35.72.
There was some more joy for the hosts as hurdlers Siddhanth Thingalaya (men’s 110m) and Gayathry Hemasree (women’s 100m) advanced to the finals to be held on Friday.