Asian GP: Indian athletes clinch 12 medals in 3rd leg

Indian athletes ended their campaign in the three-leg Asian Grand Prix with an impressive 12-medal haul -- including five gold -- in the final meet, in Colombo on Sunday.

Woman quartermiler M R Poovamma stole the limelight as she bagged her third gold of the series in 400m while her male counterpart Rajiv Arokia grabbed his second gold on Sunday.

The Indians had won 12 medals (four gold, five silver, three silver) in the first leg in Bangkok on May 4, 10 medals (four gold, three silver, three bronze) at Chonburi on May 8 before today's 12 medals (five gold, two silver, five bronze).

Besides Poovamma and Rajiv, other gold winners were Arpinder Singh (men's triple jump), Siddhanth Thingalaya (men's 110m hurdles) and Nitendra Singh (men's 5000m).

After winning a gold each in the first two legs of the series, Jithin Thomas ended up with a silver on Sunday in the men's high jump with an effort of 2.21m. Another Indian, Nikil Chitrasu cleared the same height of 2.21m but had to settle for a bronze as he did that in more attempts. Chitrasu had won a silver in the first leg.

Kheta Ram bagged the only other silver for India as he finished second behind Nitendra in 500m race.

Ace woman discus thrower Krishna Poonia continued her below-par performance and only managed to bag a bronze with an effort of 55.41m.

Poonia, who holds the national record of 64.76m, had come with her season's best of 59.43m to win a silver in the second leg.

Another national record holder, Renjith Maheswary also ended up with a bronze in the men's triple jump event, which was won by compatriot Arpinder, with an effort of 16.41m.

The two other bronze came from Sahana Kumari (women's high jump) and Anu Mariam Jose (women's 400m).

Sahana, who had won a gold in the first leg with 1.86m, was third on Sunday with an effort of 1.79m. On the other hand, today's bronze was the third for Jose in the series.

Poovamma continued with her fine show in the competition as she clocked 53.30s today to remain unbeaten in the three legs. She had clocked 52.97s and 53.57s in the first and second legs respectively.

It was, however, yet another disappointment for national record holder shot putter Om Prakash Karhana as he finished fourth with an effort of 18.20m. Sunday’s effort was his best in the series after 17.68m and 17.64m in the first and second legs. Om Prakash's national record stands at 20.69m.