Vikas throw strikes silver note

Indian discus champion finishes behind Iran’s Ehsan Hadadi; Tintu, Ashwini enter final.

India’s Vikas Gowda struggled to produce his best against the current best in the continent, managing to bag the discus throw silver at the 17th Asian Games here on Tuesday.

Seemingly in trouble following a shoulder injury he suffered just two weeks ago that put his plans of competing here in jeopardy, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold medallist could only hurl a throw of 62.58 metres on a cold evening at the Asiad Main Stadium.

Iranian Ehsan Hadadi, who lost 15 kilos in the recent months following a viral illness but decided to make the trip to Incheon in hopes of reviving good memories of the port city, did so by nailing his third straight Asian Games gold, hurling the discus a good 65.11 metres.

“I struggled with my technique today,” Gowda said. “I just couldn’t get into any sort of rhythm. It happens when you are trying to throw really fast. It’s one of those days when you struggle despite trying your best. I just could not settle down.”

Gowda began with a throw of 59.52 metres, seizing pole position and setting the stage for a cracking battle with Hadadi, the 2011 World Championship bronze medallist and 2012 London Olympics silver medallist.

However, things didn’t look good for Vikas soon after when Hadadi responded with 65.11 metres in his second attempt. Vikas did manage a 60.77 on his third attempt but struggling with his technique that ruined his rhythm as well, Vikas fouled his final three attempts.

That gave the gold on a platter to Hadadi, who after a foul on his third try, managed 64.89, 63.77 and 64.47 in his subsequent attempts. Hadadi thus capped a glorious return to Incheon, a place where he won the gold in the 2005 Asian Championship with a throw of 65.25 metres.

Despite the defeat, Vikas failed to blame the injury for a silver medal finish. “I hurt the tendon in my right shoulder just two weeks ago. It did hamper my training but when I reached here on Friday and trained on Saturday, I didn’t feel much pain. I felt good and I was confident. Had I thrown my season’s best, I could have clinched the gold. The technique just let me down totally,” said a disappointed Vikas as he brought curtain down on his season.

Ashwini Akkunji and Jithin Paul qualified for the women’s and men’s 400M hurdles finals while Tintu Luka and Sushma Devi the made the cut for the women’s 800M finale with fine performances in their respective heats.

Defending champion Joseph Abhraham, however, was left disappointed, after failing to make the 400M hurdles final. The 31-year-old finished third in his heats but his timing of 51.04 was better than Jithin’s 51.76.

Ashwini was second her heats, clocking 57.67 while Tintu and Sushma were first and third in their respective qualifying races, with timings of 2:04.28 and 2:03.54. Sajeesh Joseph also booked his berth in the men’s 800M final.

Meanwhile, China’s Li Ling equalled the 12-year Games record to triumph in the women’s pole vault. She leapt 4.35 metres to match her compatriot Gao Shuying’s feat set in 2002. Tomomi Abiko of Japan won silver with a leap of 4.25 metres while Korea’s Lim Eunji took silver with a jump of 4.15.

Chinese took gold in the men’s 110M hurdles and long jump as well. While Xie Wenjun crossed the line first in a timing of 13.36 seconds in the hurdles, Li Jinzhe managed a jump of just 8.01 metres but still went with gold around his neck. India’s Siddanth Thingalaya was sixth in the hurdles in 13.76 seconds.



Results: Men: 110M hurdles: Xie Wenjun (Chn) 13.36, 1; Kim Byoungjun (Kor) 13.43, 2; Jamras Rittidet (Tha) 13.61, 3. Siddhanth Thingalaya (Ind) 13.73, 6.

Long jump: Li Jinzhe (Chn) 8.01 metres, 1; Kim Deokhyeon (Kor) 7.90, 2; Gao Xinglong (7,86) 3.

Discus throw: Ehsan Hadadi (Iri) 65.11 metres, 1; Vikas Gowda (Ind) 62.58, 2; Mohammed Dheeb (Qat) 61.25, 3.

Women: Pole vault: Li Ling (Chn) 4.35 metres (Equal GR; Gao Shuying, Chn, 2002) 1; Tomomi Abiko (Jpn) 4.25, 2; Lim Eunji (4.15) 3.