Asian Athletics GP: Inderjeet, Jinson strike gold; India bag eight medals in first leg

Inderjeet Singh won gold in the shot put throw event

Bangkok, June 22 (IANS)

The Indian athletics team won eight medals – two golds, one silver and five bronzes – in their first outing at the Asian Grand Prix Series here on Monday. Altogether there were 14 events held in the first leg of the Asian GP.

Jinson Johnson won gold in the men's 800m, clocking 1 minute 48.52 seconds, while reigning Asian champion shotputter Inderjit Singh added the second gold with a throw of 19.83 metres.

Long Jumper Ankit Sharma won silver with an effort of 7.78m.

The other medal winners in the Indian team were M.R. Poovamma, who won bronze in the women's 400m race, clocking 53.51 seconds, while compatriot Anilda Thomas finished fourth, clocking 54 seconds.

Asian Games 2014 bronze medallist Arokya Rajiv claimed bronze in 400m with a timing of 46.86 seconds while sprinter Srabani Nanda clinched third spot with a timing of 11.58 seconds in the women's 100m.

In the women's 100m hurdles race, India's Gayathry Govindraj bagged bronze with a timing of 13.72 seconds, while M. Gomathi also won bronze in the women's 800m, clocking 2:07.48.

Relay teams fail to finish; Rajinder injured

In other events, India's triple jumper Sheena N.V. finished seventh with a jump of 12.22 metres while discus thrower Navjeet Kaur Dhillon produced a best throw of 52.04m to finish fifth.

In relay races, both the men and women's 4x100m teams could not finish their efforts.

In the men's javelin throw event, Davinder Singh finished sixth with 69.58m while compatriot Rajinder Singh hurt himself during his third throw after managing 70.58m in his second attempt. The Indian team management had to rush Rajinder Singh to the hospital for treatment.