India tops medal tally for first time in Asian Athletics Championships

India have topped the medal tally for first time in the history of Asian Athletics Championships. In a stunning show of dominance on the fourth and final day of competitions in Bhubaneshwar yesterday, India clinched five gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze. With that, the hosts ended the championships on top with a haul of 29 medals which included 12 gold, 5 silver and 12 bronze. 

India's earlier best came way back in the 1985 Jakarta edition where they had won 22 medals which included 10 gold, 5 silver, seven bronze. With their most successful campaign in the continental flagship event, India pushed China to second spot.

China ended this edition with a tally of 8 gold, 7 silver, 5 bronze. Kazakhstan finished third with 4 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze while Iran ended on fourth with 4 gold and 1 bronze.

The host country, however, suffered a huge setback as their 800 metre runner Archana Adhav was disqualified, after being initially declared as the gold medal winner, for pushing Sri Lankan rival Nimali Waliwarsha Konda from behind near the finishing



line. Sri Lanka won their protest and the gold medal was awarded to their athlete Konda. 

Heptathlete Swapna Barman gave India the first gold of the day as she collected a total of 5942 points from the seven events. Japan's Meg Hemphill was second, while another Indian Purnima Hembram was third in the event.

Lakhsmanan Govindan grabbed his second gold of the championships by winning the men's 10,000 metre event in 29 minute and 55.87 seconds. His Indian compatriot Gopi Thonkanal won the silver winner. Lakhsmanan had already won a gold in the 5000 metre race on the opening day. 

World junior record holder javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra clinched the gold with a final throw of 85.23 metres. Devinder Singh Kang came third in the event.India fittingly wrapped up the championships by winning gold in the men's and women's 4x400 metre relay races to send the packed crowd to wild celebrations. 

In men's 800 metre race, India won a bronze through Jinson Johnson.