Jinson adds 1,500m gold to his haul

Indian takes the title ahead of Moradi and Tiouali

India’s Jinson Johnson added a gold to his tally by winning the men’s 1,500m with a timing of 3:44.72 in the 18th Asian Games yesterday. Johnson earlier won a silver in the 800m event.

The silver was bagged by Iran’s Amir Moradi, who clocked his season’s best of 3:45.62. The bronze went to Bahrain’s Mohammad Tiouali with a timing of 3:45.88.

“I’m very happy. This is my first major gold,” said a jubilant Johnson.

“First time I’m doing two events, so I am very happy. I am dedicating this to all Indians. I am happy with the 800m silver, though all expected me to win the gold. So I had to get the gold in the 1,500m. In the last race, my last 80m was weak, this time I focused on the last part of the race and won.”

As the curtain came down on the athletics events, India finished with seven gold and 10 silvers and two bronze. Finishing third in the medal’s tally behind China and Bahrain. This was their best performance at the Games ever.

China finished with 12 gold, 12 silver and nine bronze while Bahrain with 25 medals12 gold, six silver and seven bronze.

Earlier, women 4x400m relay team provide India with another gold. The team comprising of Hima Das, Saritaben Gayakwad, VK Vismaya and MR Poovama cruised to the gold. With that result, the women’s relay team has now won the gold at every Asian Games since 2002.

Their timing of 3:28.72 more than enough to stave off the challenge from Bahrain and Vietnam.

Strong start

Hima, starting from lane six, gave India a strong start and with Poovama maintained that advantage before handing over the baton to Saritaben, who also kept the edge for Vismaya to ease through to the line without being troubled.

India’s Chitra Unnikrishnan Palakeezh pocketed a bronze in the women’s 1,500 metre with a time of 4:12.56. The gold and silver went to Bahrain’s Kalkidan Befkadu and Tigist Belay respectively.

Defending champion Seema Punia also settled for a bronze in the women’s discus throw with a distance of 62.26m.

Asian champion Chen Yang of China claimed gold with 65.12m on her last attempt while her compatriot Feng Bin settled for silver with 64.25m, which also came in her last attempt.

“My target instructed by my coach was to hit the first throw. I took too much pressure and that cause the up and down in performance. I will now concentrate on the Asian Championship,” said a delighted Punia.