Bronze for Dutee at Asian athletics

Jinhua (China), April 24: Indian shot putter Manpreet Kaur on Monday clinched a gold in the first leg of the Asian Grand Prix Athletics Meet with a national record and world season–leading effort here.

Manpreet came up with a best throw of 18.86m in the season-opening international event for the Indians, which was nearly one meter more than her earlier national record of 17.96m that she had set in 2015.

The 26-year-old from Punjab began with a modest 16.69m and then tossed the iron ball to 18.03m in her third round before achieving the big one in the fourth throw.

Though it is very early days in the international season but Manpreet’s 18.86m is the leading mark so far in the world.

With this performance, Manpreet also qualified for the IAAF World Championships to be held in August in London. The entry standard for women’s shot put in the World Championships stands at 17.75m.

Bian Song of China finished at a distant second with 17.96m.

Meanwhile, Dutee Chand bagged bronze in the 100 metre as the Indian camp took their medals tally at seven — one gold, four silver and two bronze.

Dutee Chand clocked 11.59 seconds along with Kazakhstan’s Olga Safranova who also finished at the 11.59 seconds. However, the former girl was awarded with bronze. Meanwhile, Duo Biktoriya Zyabkina clinched gold (11.44 seconds).

Neeraj Chopra (men’s javeline), Tintu Luka (women’s 800m), Neena Varakil (women’s long jump) and Jinson Johnson (men’s 800m) won a silver each while Dutee Chand (women’s 100m) and Om Prakash Karhana (men’s shot put) bagged a bronze each.

It was a disappointment for junior world record holder Chopra as he had to settle for a silver with a modest effort of 82.11m. He had thrown the discus to a distance of 86.48m to win the gold in the Junior World Championships last year.

Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Chao won the gold in men’s javelin throw with an effort of 84.72m.

Luka, who holds the national record in her event, was second after clocking 2:03.50 in women’s 800m race.

Johnson, meanwhile, clocked 1.50.71 to clinch the silver in the men’s 800m.

In women’s long jump, Neena leaped to a distance of 6.46m in her second round to win the silver. Vietnam’s Bu Thi Thu Thao won the gold.

Former national record holder Karhana took the bronze in men’s shot put with an effort of 18.41m.