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Asian Athletics Championships and Asian Youth Games
Anjana Thamke
The Asian Athletics Championships saw hosts India take home two gold medals, six silvers and nine bronze medals, as the country finished sixth in the medals tally.
Vikas Gowda took gold in discus throw while the Indian women’s 4x400m relay team of Nirmala, Tintu Luka, Anu Mariam Jose and Poovamma MR also finished top.
At the Youth Asian Games, the Indian athletes participated under the Olympics flag as the Indian Olympic Association remains suspended.
Anjana Thamke provided the biggest surprise by winning the girls’ 800m run. Born in extreme poverty, Thamke has now become a ray of light in Indian athletics, which has been mired in controversy. Her home has neither an internet connection nor a television, and her parents live in a mud hut, which make her efforts all the more incredible.
In addition, Kush Kumar won gold in the boys’ squash final and Venkat Rahul Ragala took top honours in weightlifting (77kg category).
India overall claimed three gold, four silver and seven bronze medals at the Youth Games, to finish 10th in the standings.
