Gowda wins first gold for India

Pune (PTI): Ace discus thrower Vikas Gowda clinched the first gold for India as the home team won three medals on the second day to make their presence felt in the 20th Asian Athletics Championships, here on Thursday. Gowda, who turns 30 tomorrow, threw the iron disc to a creditable 64.90m in his fourth attempt to win his first gold of the Asian Championships in his fifth appearances. He had won a silver each in the 2005 and 2011 editions. With this win, Gowda has booked a berth for next month's World Championships in Moscow as each of the winner in the ongoing Asian meet automatically qualifies for the global mega event. After two days, China leads the medal tally with five gold, two silver and one bronze while India are in fourth position. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are second and third respectively with two gold each. The United States-based Gowda bought his win in a remarkable fashion after trailing to silver winner Mohammad Samimi of Iran (61.93m) till the third round. Gowda then changed shoes as his feet slipped in the second attempt in which he threw the disc into the side net before coming up with his winning throw in the fourth attempt, much to the wild celebration of the crowd which listened to the National Anthem being played for the first time in the Championships. India had hopes of winning gold in the women's 400m but Poovamma, running on a big stage for the first time, finished second in 53.37 seconds. China's Zhao Yanmin won the gold in 52.49 seconds while Taslakian Gretta of Lebanon got the bronze in 53.43 secs. Another Indian Anu Mariam Jose was fourth in 53.49secs. Poovamma, who ran below her persoanl best of 52.75secs, later expressed satisfaction with her performance. In men's 400m, Kunhi Mohammed and Rajiv Arokia came fifth and sixth respectively with timings of 46.61secs and 46.63secs in the event won by Yousef Ahmed Masrahi of Saudi Arabia in 46.35secs. In men's 10,000m race, the Indians led the field in the initial stages but at the end, Bahrain duo Alemu Bekele (28:47.26) and Bilisuma Shugi (28:58.67) were 1-2 while Ratiram Saini (29:35.42) sprinted out fellow Indian Kheta Ram (29:35.72) for the bronze.