India in 20th Asian Athletics Championship

Discus thrower Krishna Poonia was the flag-bearer for the Indian contingent at opening ceremony of the 20th Asian athletics championships (Pune). Forty-three nations took part in the march past at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex athletics arena at Balewadi. Preeja Sreedharan, India’s distance runner took the oath on behalf of the athletes from the competing countries.

Athletics Federation of India president Adille Sumariwala addressed the gathering after the formal ceremony, followed by cultural programmes. Former

Asian Athletics Association president Suresh Kalmadi was absent as some of the best Asian athletes assembled in his home city, Pune. This is the second time India is hosting the event. Delhi hosted it in 1989. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan inaugurated the championship.

 Doping issue:-

On the eve of the Asian athletics championship, India had its share of embarrassment as one of its top athletes, woman shot-putter                 Ms. P. Udayalaxmi of Andhra Pradesh, tested positive for banned substance methylhexaneamine. The National Anti-Doping Agency had collected 153 samples from the 53rd National inter-State athletics championship held in Chennai early last month and received the results of 151, of which the sample of Ms. Udayalaxmi tested positive.               Ms. Udayalaxmi had thrown the iron ball to a distance of 13.68m to claim the gold medal in Chennai. Because of her performance, 39-year-old Ms. Udayalaxmi was an automatic choice for the Indian team in the Asian athletics championship, started in Pune.

 India’s performance in 2013 Asian Athletics Championships:-

India’s performance in 2013 Asian Athletics Championships
Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
2	6	9	17

Gold Medals

(1) Mr. Vikas Gowda (Discus throw)

(2) 4 * 400m relay Women (Ms. Nirmala, Ms. Tintu Luka, Ms. Anu Mariam Jose and Ms. M. R. Poovamma)

Silver Medals

(1)  Ms. M R Poovamma (Women 400m)

(2) Mr. K. Prem Kumar (Long Jump)

(3) Ms. Sudha Singh (3000m Steeplechase)

(4) Mr. Jitin C. Thomas (High jump)

(5) Mr. Renjith Maheswary (Triple jump)

(6) Ms. Asha Roy (Women 200m)

Bronze Medals

(1) Mr. Raitram Saini (Men 10000m)

(2) Mr. Samarjit Singh (Javelin Throw)

(3) Ms. J. hemashree (100m Hurdles)

(4) Mr. Satinder Singh (400m Hurdles)

(5) Mr. Arpinder Singh (Triple Jump)

(6) Mr. Om Prakash Singh (Men Shot put)

(7) Ms. Dutee Chand (Women 200m)

(8) Ms. Tintu Luka (Women 800m)

(9) Ms. Mayookha Johny (Women Long jump)

Related Link:-

2013 Asian Athletics Championships