Indian contingent started their campaign on a positive note at the fifth Asian Youth Athletics Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Thursday by winning four medals, one of them gold
While Aarti set the ball rolling, she won a bronze in the girls 5km race walk event in the morning session, Indian athletes won gold and silver in the 1500m track race in the evening session, according to information reaching here. India also won a bronze in the girls long jump event.
It was 1-2 for the Indian middle distance runner in boys 1500m. The day’s honour however went to Priyanshu as he outsprinted compatriot Rahul in the home straight.
Both Rahul and Priyanshu dominated the 1500m race. As the race progressed 14 competitors strung out as the Indian duo pushed hard and weren’t even challenged by their rivals in the last lap. “I tried hard to catch up to Priyanshu but he was better on the given day and won gold,” Rahul said after winning silver in the 1500m. Priyanshu’s gold winning time was 3 minutes 57.37 seconds, while Rahul’s time was 3 minutes 59.43 seconds.
In the girls 1500m, India’s Sejalbel Katara lost the race for the bronze medal in the home straight to eventually finish fourth.
India’s second bronze of the day came in the jumping arena. Mubassina Mohammed recorded a jump of 5.90m to swell India’s medal tally to four.
The girls 5km race was dominated by Chinese athletes. Yang Xizhen clinched the gold medal with a time of 22 minutes 32.61 seconds, while compatriot Liu Biling won silver with a time of 22 minutes 56.30 seconds. Aarti’s bronze medal winning time was 24 minutes 29.14 seconds.
Khushbu Yadav, the second Indian in the race, was fourth in the field of seven athletes.
Aarti said her main goal in Tashkent was to repeat her personal best of 24.19 seconds, but three official warnings and a 30 seconds penalty due to loss of contact with the ground spoiled her chances of breaking the 24 minutes barrier.
In the 5km race walk event after the third warning the athlete faces a penalty of 30 seconds. In Aarti’s case the 30 seconds penalty was imposed in the last 100m of the 5km race.
“I need to focus more on my race walking technique in near future,” Aarti said of her future plans.
Neha Yadav finished fourth in the girls hammer throw. Her best efforts were 52.91m.
India’s Rezoana Mallick Heena emerged fastest female runner in the 400m heats. Rezoana’s preliminary round time of 53.65 seconds indicate she would be a comfortable winner in the final on Friday.
In the boys 400m, Navpreet Singh and Sharan Meghavarnam advanced to the final.
