AJAI MASAND

JAKARTA: Some of the best and most enduring moments were witnessed this week as Indian athletes, high on energy, gave it their all, as the six-day athletics programme concluded with a strong message being sent out — that India was not willing to accept defeat anymore.

The 4x400m women’s relay quartet was a bundle of joy. Dead tired and sweating profusely, had someone told them to do 10 victory laps, Hima Das, MR Poovamma, Sarita Gayakwad and VK Vismaya would have obliged. After clinching India’s fifth consecutive Asian Games relay title in a row in 3:28.72 secs — and dealing a crushing blow on Bahrain’s imported athletes — they celebrated as if there was no tomorrow.

Kerala boy Jinson Johnson made it look so simple in the end in 1500m, it seemed as if he was drawing energy from the huge crowd gathered at the GBK Stadium. With a time of 3:44.72, he was a good one second ahead of silver-medallist from Iran, Amir Moradi.

SILVER FOR MEN’S TEAM

The Indian men’s 4x400m relay quartet of Dharun Ayyasamy, P Kunhu Muhammed, Muhammed Anas and Rajiv Arokia used the last reserves of their energy to win silver with a time of 3:01.85 min.

Discus thrower Seema Antil, all keyed up to defend her title at the Games, was, however, let down by a spur in her right foot which has been troubling her since the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Unfortunately, the tempo was lost after her poor first throw of 58.51 and following that she couldn’t do much against the menacing Chinese competitors, Chen Yang (65.12 metres) and Feng Bin (64.25), who finished first and second