<p>Services’ pole vaulter Kundan set the lone meet record on the opening day of the 54th Open National Athletics Championships at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Sunday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Kundan sailed past the bar at 5.06 metres to win the gold medal. He rewrote the mark of 5.05 set by V V Geesh Kumar in 2005. <br /><br />There was none to challenge Kundan who was way ahead of the second-placed Praveen Kumar of ONGC. Praveen’s challenge ended after he had cleared 4.90 metres.<br /><br />Nitender Singh of Services and O P Jaisha of Railways struck gold in the 5000M races.Nitender edged out his Services team-mate Kheta Ram in a close contest, timing 14:16.28 to 14:16.67.<br /><br />Jaisha warded off her Indian Railways’ team-mate Surya Loganathan for the gold medal. The Asian Games double medallist clocked 16:13.61 while Surya claimed the silver at 16:19.99. Gunjan Singh won the women’s hammer throw with an effort of 58.38 metres. <br /><br />As expected, Railways dominated the opening day, claiming four gold medals. <br /><br />Results: Men: 5000M: Nitender Singh (SSCB) 14:16.28, 1; Kheta Ram (SSCB) 14:16.67, 2; Man Singh (SSCB) 14:17.39, 3.<br /><br />Pole vault: Kundan (Services) 5.06 metres (NMR. Old: 5.05, Geesh Kumar, 2005), 1; Praveen Kumar (ONGC) 4.90, 2; Bala Krishna (Railways) 4.85, 3.<br /><br />20000M walk: Manish Singh Rawat (UK) 1:33:17, 1; Chandan Singh (SSCB) 1:34:36, 2; Gurmeet Singh (UK) 1:35:01, 3. <br /><br />Women: 5000M: OP Jaisha (RSPB) 16:13.61, 1; L Surya (RSPB) 16:19.99, 2; Kavita Raut (ONGC) 16:32.03, 3. <br /><br />20000M walk: Sapna (Pol) 1:49:58, 1; Rani Yadav (RSPB) 1:52:29, 2; Rajni (Pol) 1:5248, 3. <br /><br />Shot put: Manpreet Kaur (RSPB) 16.39M, 1; Navjeet Kaur Dhillon (ONGC) 15.22M, 2; Neha Singh (Pol) 13.48M, 3. <br /><br />Hammer throw: Gunjan Singh (RSPB) 58.38M, 1; Ritu Dhiman (UP) 56.26M, 2; Sarita P Singh (RSPB) 55.65M, 3.</p>
<p>Services’ pole vaulter Kundan set the lone meet record on the opening day of the 54th Open National Athletics Championships at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Sunday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Kundan sailed past the bar at 5.06 metres to win the gold medal. He rewrote the mark of 5.05 set by V V Geesh Kumar in 2005. <br /><br />There was none to challenge Kundan who was way ahead of the second-placed Praveen Kumar of ONGC. Praveen’s challenge ended after he had cleared 4.90 metres.<br /><br />Nitender Singh of Services and O P Jaisha of Railways struck gold in the 5000M races.Nitender edged out his Services team-mate Kheta Ram in a close contest, timing 14:16.28 to 14:16.67.<br /><br />Jaisha warded off her Indian Railways’ team-mate Surya Loganathan for the gold medal. The Asian Games double medallist clocked 16:13.61 while Surya claimed the silver at 16:19.99. Gunjan Singh won the women’s hammer throw with an effort of 58.38 metres. <br /><br />As expected, Railways dominated the opening day, claiming four gold medals. <br /><br />Results: Men: 5000M: Nitender Singh (SSCB) 14:16.28, 1; Kheta Ram (SSCB) 14:16.67, 2; Man Singh (SSCB) 14:17.39, 3.<br /><br />Pole vault: Kundan (Services) 5.06 metres (NMR. Old: 5.05, Geesh Kumar, 2005), 1; Praveen Kumar (ONGC) 4.90, 2; Bala Krishna (Railways) 4.85, 3.<br /><br />20000M walk: Manish Singh Rawat (UK) 1:33:17, 1; Chandan Singh (SSCB) 1:34:36, 2; Gurmeet Singh (UK) 1:35:01, 3. <br /><br />Women: 5000M: OP Jaisha (RSPB) 16:13.61, 1; L Surya (RSPB) 16:19.99, 2; Kavita Raut (ONGC) 16:32.03, 3. <br /><br />20000M walk: Sapna (Pol) 1:49:58, 1; Rani Yadav (RSPB) 1:52:29, 2; Rajni (Pol) 1:5248, 3. <br /><br />Shot put: Manpreet Kaur (RSPB) 16.39M, 1; Navjeet Kaur Dhillon (ONGC) 15.22M, 2; Neha Singh (Pol) 13.48M, 3. <br /><br />Hammer throw: Gunjan Singh (RSPB) 58.38M, 1; Ritu Dhiman (UP) 56.26M, 2; Sarita P Singh (RSPB) 55.65M, 3.</p>
