Asian Athletics: Sudha settles for silver

India grabbed a silver and bronze through Sudha Singh and Tintu Luka respectively on the final day to end their Asian Athletics Championships campaign with just one gold, two silver and seven bronze medals in Kobe.

Sudha, who was bidding to become the first woman to win both Asian Games and Asian Championships, clocked 10:08.52sec, in 3000m steeplechase -- well below her national record timing of 10:10.77secs which she clocked at Guangzhou last year.

A 38-year-old Minori Hayakari of Japan won the gold with a new championship record timing of 9:52.42sec. Thi Phuong Nguyen of Vietnam took bronze in 10:14.94s.

It was yet again a case of Luka failing to win gold in a big international event as she finished third in 800m race with a timing of 2:02.55secs -- well below her national record timing of 1:59.17 which she set last year.

Luka, who had won a bronze in the Asian Games also, made a strong challenge to eventual gold and silver winners Thanh Hang Truong (2:01.41s) of Vietnam and Margarita Matsko (2:02.46) of Kazakhstan towards the end of the race but that was not enough.

Ghamanda Ram gave India a bronze in men's 800m as he finally managed to live up to his potential of being among the best in Asia by winning his maiden Asian Championship medal in personal best timing of 1:46.36s.

Mohamed Mutlak Al-Azimi of Kuwait won the gold in 1:46.15secs to become the only athlete to win both 800 and 1500m at the same Asian Championship.

Al-Azimi, who is in tremendous form this season, beat defending champion Sajad Moradi of Iran who finished on the second place with 1:46.35s.