South Asian Games 2019 Medal Tally: India's Karthik Unnikrishnan takes the gold medal in Men's Triple Jump 

What's the story?

India has extended its lead over host nation Nepal in the South Asian Games 2019 Medal Tally as Karthik Unnikrishnan won the Men's Triple Jump event. Mohammad Salahuddin from India claimed the silver medal in this event.

In the women's triple jump event, Bhairabi Roy won the bronze medal for India while Shivvabarasi M missed out on the third position by 0.19 meters.

The background

Nepal had ruled the first three days of South Asian Games 2019 as they established themselves as a credible competitor to India. They stayed at the top of the medal tally for a while however, India dethroned them as the No.1 country on day four.

India has already won multiple medals in athletics and India's medal count increased by three after the triple jump competition.

The heart of the matter

In the men's event, Karthik Unnikrishnan broke the all-time South Asian Games record by executing a 16.47 meters long triple jump. The previous record holder Renjit Maheswary had completed a triple jump of 16.45 meters in SAG 2016. Sri Lanka's Safreen Ahmed N took the bronze medal home with a jump of 15.95 meters.

Sri Lanka's female athletes reigned supreme in the women's triple jump event as they won both, the gold and the silver medal. Hashini Prabodh finished first with a jump of 13.21 meters and Vidusha Lakshan took the silver medal home with a 13.14 meters jump. India's Bhairabi Roy covered a distance of 12.77 meters to finish third.

Besides, Priya Habbathan had won the silver medal in the Women's 400 meters race, finishing right behind Sri Lanka's Dilshi Maheesha.

What's next?

India's gold medal count crossed 50 today. With five more days of action remaining in the South Asian Games 2019, expect India's medal tally to cross 100 gold medals.