Bhubaneswar: India got off to a flying start on the second day of the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships at Kalinga Stadium here on Friday with national record holder Muhammed Anas easing into the final of the men’s 400m. For the women, South Asian Games gold medallist Jauna Murmu qualified for the final as she finished second in Heat 2 of the same race.
India had a major setback in the men’s 4X100m relay where the team was disqualified as it overshot the baton exchange zone in the final turn. The frustration of athlete Amiya Kumar Mallick was evident after he actually outran his Korean counterpart despite the error in an inspired last sprint.
The cloudy and overcast sky did little to dampen the spirit of the athletes with India’s Arpita M also qualifying for the final from Heat 1 of the women’s 400m hurdles along with Anu R, who finished third in Heat 2 of the same event.
In the men’s decathlon that kick started the proceedings today, Guo Qi of China took an early lead in the 110m hurdles of the event. India’s Abhishek Shetty finished fifth in the same event, but quickly turned his fortunes around in the discus throw by grabbing the third position.
The evening session on Day 2 looks promising for the Indian squad as national record holder in the recently-concluded Indian Grand Prix Athletics meet Muhammed Anas will be expected to continue his winning ways in the final of the men’s 400m. He will also be joined by Incheon Games bronze medallist Arokia Rajiv in the same event. Olympic hammer throw champion Dilshod Nazarov of Tajikistan look to dominate the field in the evening session as well.
India currently leads the medal tally with a total of seven in its kitty with two gold, one silver and four bronze medals.
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