Chitra strikes Gold as India end Asian Athletic Championships with 17 medals!

After finishing the day three with thirteen medals, India went on to win four more to finish with seventeen medals.

India’s P U Chitra defended her Gold successfully in the 1500m race despite the Bahrain challenge. The Bahrain racers tried to lock her in but she was smart enough to overcome the challenge.

“Got a bit nervous towards the end as I was next to Gashaw. She had beaten me in the Asian Games where I finished third. I had to really push hard in the end,” said Chitra.

Probably inspired by the tactics of Chitra, India’s Ajay Kumar Saroj followed the same tactics and overcame the challenge to grab silver in the 1500m men’s race.

Once again, India defeated the Bahrain’s challenge and this time it was India’s Prachi, M.R. Poovamma, Saritaben Gayakwad and V.K. Vismaya, who won the women’s 4x400m relay silver in a season-best 3:32.21s.

India missed out on their 18th medal as The men’s mile relay team of Kunhu Mohammed, K.S. Jeevan, Muhammed Anas and Arokia Rajiv were disqualified under the rule of 163.2 (impeding an athlete). If not, India would have finished with 18 medals.

India will return home with three Golds, seven Silvers and seven Bronze medals.