Gold for Jinson, Women’s 4x400 Relay, silver for Men’s 4x400 Relay & bronze to Punia, Chitra

Jakarta: Indian athlete Jinson Johnson in Men’s 1500m finals and Women’s 4x400 Relay team bagged gold for the country, but Men’s 4x400 Relay team had to settle with silver while Seema Punia won bronze in Women’s discus throw and P Chitra took bronze in Women’s 1500m finals at the Asian Games here on Thursday.

Johnson, who won the silver in 800m, took gold taking 3 minute 44.72 seconds while Amir Moradi of Iran won silver with time 3 minute 45.62 seconds and bronze went to Bahrain’s Mohammed Tiouali with 3 minute 45.88 seconds.

While another Indian Manjit Singh, who took the gold in 800m, finished fourth taking 3 minute 46.57 seconds.

Hima Das gave India the lead at first and the other three racers maintained it right throughout to win the gold medal. Hima, MR Poovamma, SL Gayakwad and V Koroth take the first place with a timing of 3:28:72 while Bahrain took silver with 3 minute 30.61 seconds and Vietnam won bronze taking 3 minute 33.23 seconds.

In Men’s 4x400 Relay India won silver as Qatar set the Asian record with a timing of 3:00:56. India finished with timing  of 3:01:85. The four Indian athletes who participated are Mohammed Puthanpurakkal, Dharun Ayyasamy, Muhammad Anas and Rajiv Arokia. Japan secured bronze with Japan taking time 3:01.94.

In women’s discus Yang Chen of China took gold with 65.12m while silver also went to another Chinese Bin Feng 64.25m and Seema Punia of India had to settle with bronze threw 62.26m while another Indian Kumari Sandeep stood at 5th spot with 54.61m.

In women’s 1500m finals India’s P Chitra won bronze with time of 4:12:56 to end as the third best athlete in the race. Bahrain’s Kalkidan and Tigist finsihed at first and second respectively in the race.

India are now placed at 8th spot with 13 gold, 21 silver and 25 bronze taking total medal tally to 59. (UNI)