Gold for Neena, Neeraj books London ticket
Long jumper Neena Varakil stole the limelight from her more fancied competitors to clinch gold as India won a total of six medals in the second leg of the Asian Grand Prix athletics meet in Jiaxing, China, on Thursday.
World junior javelin record holder Neeraj Chopra qualified for the IAAF World Championships in London though he took a silver on the day, the same colour of medal he won in the first leg on April 24.
Neena produced a best jump of 6.37 metres in the sixth and final round to seal the gold. China’s Xu Xiao Ling also had a best effort of 6.37m but had to settle for silver on countback.
Neena’s best three jumps were 6.37m, 6.32m and 6.32m while Ling had 6.37m. 6.32m and 6.22m.
The 25-year-old Neena from Kerala had finished with a silver in the first leg, with 6.46m. Her personal best is 6.66m.
Besides Neena’s gold, India bagged four silver medals through Manpreet Kaur (women’s shot put), Neeraj (javelin), Dutee Chand (women’s 100m) and Tintu Luka (women’s 800m), and a bronze via Om Prakash Karhana (men’s shot put).
First leg gold medallist Manpreet had to settle for silver this time, as she could only throw the iron ball to a distance of 17.46m today. The gold in this event was won by China’s Bian Ka (18.03m).
Manpreet set a national record and world-leading effort of 18.86m while winning gold in the first leg. She had qualified for the World Championships with that effort.
Neeraj also qualified for the World Championships as he threw the iron spear to a distance of 83.32m.
The entry mark for the men’s javelin event for the World Championships stands at 83m.
Chinese Taipei’s ChaoTsun Cheng took gold with 86.92m. This was Chen’s second gold as he had also won the event in the first leg with an effort of 84.72m.
Dutee Chand also did better than the first leg — 11.59secs — as she clinched silver in the women’s 100m in 11.57secs.
India had won seven medals (1 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze) in the first leg. The third leg will be held in Chinese Taipei on April 30.