Arpinder, Asha shine at Nationals

Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Renjith Maheshwari bit the dust even as his employers Railways continued their surge to defend the overall championship title in the 51st National Open Athletics Championships in Kolkata on Sunday.

Punjab's Arpinder Singh and local girl Asha Roy clinched their maiden gold medals at the senior level on the second day of the meet being held simultaneously at Yuba Bharati Krirangan and adjoining SAI complex at the Saltlake.

Riding on a stupendous performance by their women contestants, defending champions Railways led the overall medal standings with six gold, nine silver and six bronze medals, followed by ONGC who have 3-1-1.

Railways had a clean sweep in women's 1500m with O P Jaisha (4:15.88), Jhuma Khatun (4:17.89) and Bindu S R (4:20.51) taking the top three places. But the Services dominated the men's section with two gold, four silver and five bronze medals, while Railways ruled the roost in the women's section with 4-7-4.

Arpinder Singh, 19, bagged the gold medal with a jump of 16.63m, while triple jump national record holder, Maheshwari, slipped to fourth position after failing to get his rhythm right at the SAI Complex.

The Punjab youngster had his best jump on the final and sixth attempt, while Beijing Olympian Maheswari had a jump of 15.99 to cap a poor outing at the meet.

However, it was the sprint event at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan that became the highlight of the second day's proceedings as two youngsters defied all odds to clinch the top honours.

Daughter of a vegetable vendor in Singur, 21-year-old Asha became the cynosure of all eyes when she took the 100m gold in her second senior-level competition.

Asha, who had a silver medal finish in the National Senior Inter-State in Bangalore, clocked 11.85 for the gold medal.

With loud cheers from the backdrop, Asha took the lead in the last 10 metres, pushing National Inter-State gold medalist Priya P K to third place. Vinita Sahani of the Railways bagged the silver.

In the 100m field boasting national record holder Abdul Najeeb Qureshi and Rahamutalla Molla, 19-year-old Manish of Haryana emerged fastest with a timing of 10.60. Railways B G Nagraj (10.67) and Karnataka's G N Bopanna (10.67) bagged the silver and bronze medals respectively.

It was a flop show in the women's discus throw event that lacked sheen with the pulling out of Commonwealth Games gold medallist Krishna Poonia and national record holder Seema Antil. In absence of the duo, ONGC's Harwant Kaur clinched the gold with a hurl of 53.59, while Parmila of the Railways had a poor show of 46.70 but it was enough for her to bag a silver. Railways also had the bronze courtesy Amanpreet Kaur (45.39).

 Results:

Men: 100m: 1 Manish (Har; 10.60); 2 B G Nagraj (Rlys; 10.67); 3 G N Bopanna (Kar; 10.67).

400m: 1 Khunu Mohammad (SSCB; 47.09); 2 Jithin Paul (Rlys; 47.48) 3 Jibin S (SSCB; 47.90).

1500m: 1 Sajesh Joseph (Rlys; 3:54.59); 2 Sandeep Karan (SSCB; 3:54.71); 3 Chatoli Hamza (SSCB; 3:54.75).

Triple jump: 1 Arpinder Singh (Pun; 16.63); 2 Saurav Singh (Pol; 16.22); 3 Bibu Matthew (SSCB; 16.06).

3000m steeplechase: 1 R Ramachandran (TN; 8:45.70); 2 Jaiveer Singh (SSCB; 8:46.80); 3 Sanjit Luang (SSCB; 8:48.70).

Triple jump: 1 Arpinder Singh (Pun; 16.63); 2 Saurav Singh (Pol; 16.22); 3 Bibu Matthew (SSCB; 16.06).

Decathlon: 1 Vijay Kumar (Har; 7106); 2 Rahul Kumar (Raj; 6562); 3 Raneesh V V (Ker; 6435)

Women: 100m: 1 Asha Roy (Ben; 11.85); 2 Vinita Sahani (Rlys; 11.99); 3 Priya P K (Rlys; 12.04).

400m: 1 Poovamma M R (Kar; 53.87); 2 Alka Rani (Del; 55.53); Anu Mariyam Jose (ONGC; 55.70).

1500m: 1 O P Jaisha (Rlys; 4:15.88); 2 Jhuma Khatun (Rlys; 4:17.89); 3 Bindu S R (Rlys; 4:20.51).

20km walk: 1 Khushbir Kaur (Pun; 1::45:38.18); 2 L Deepmala Devi (Rlys; 1::47:33.34); Gourav Kumari (MP; 1::52:08.45).

Discus: 1 Harwant Kaur (ONGC; 53.59); 2 Parmila (Rlys; 46.70); 3 Amanpreet Kaur (Rlys; 45.39).