Indian Gladiators at the Asian Athletics Championship

India finished with five medals on the final day of Asian Athletic Championship in Wuhan, China. India secured four gold medals, five silver medals and four bronze in the championship. The first place was hauled by China with 15 Gold, 13 Silver, 13 bronze whereas the second position was acquired by Qatar with 7 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze. This is believed to be India’s best finish after the 2007 Asian Athletic Championship where India finished second (Amman, Jordan).

Tintu Luka

 National record holder Tintu Luka performed her season best i.e. 2:01.53s to win the gold in the women’s 800m final at the Wuhan Sports Centre. This medal has a special importance in her life, as it is her very first gold medal in an international event. This victory had now qualified her for the Beijing World Championship in August. Tintu Luka is yet to qualify for Rio Olympics of 2016.

Vikas Gowda

In men’s 800m, Jinson Johnson bagged the silver medal. He achieved this, with a time of 1:49:69s in the race. Dharambir Singh in men’s 200m and Srabani Nanda in women’s 200mwon bronze medal each. In the 4*400relay India bagged the second place. China won the first place pushing India to the second position. In the year 2013 India’s quartet had made all the Indian’s proud by winning the gold medal in the 4*400 relay race.

Vikas Gowda and Lalita Babar won the gold medal each. Vikas, cleared 62.03 metres of discus throw to bag his second consecutive gold at the Asian Championships. Lalita Babar topped the women’s 3,000m steeplechase in 9:34.13s which is a competition record. Steeplechase is a tough race of hurdles considered in Athletics. It is played on the track used for 400m race. In this race the athlete has to complete seven rounds to the track. Here the athlete has to jump 28 times (four in each round) over the hurdles. Near the fourth hurdle of the track there is a pool of water which the athlete has to jump off. So total 7 hurdles the athlete has to run over in this race.

Liksy Joseph

In men’s 10,000m race G. Laxmanan bagged the silver medal with a time of 29:42.81s.  He also won the Bronze medal in the men’s 5000m race. This race recorded his personal best of 13:36.62s.  India’s quarter-miler Machettira Raju Povammaa won silver while heptathlete Liksy Joseph who could not do well in Javelin throw won the 800m race bringing India another silver medal. Former Asian Junior Champion, Purnima Hembram won the bronze medal in the Asian Athetics Championship. In men’s shot put Indrajeet Singh won the gold medal. This 27 year old athlete has already qualified for Rio Olympics became only eighth Indian shot putter to win a gold medal in the Asian Championships.