Susanthika leads Lanka's domination on track

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka asserted their rising supremacy in the track and field events by picking the gold in the blue riband 100m men's and women's events in the South Asian Games on Saturday.

Comeback star Susanthika Jayasinghe picked her third gold of the meet when she won the 100m, albeit with a forgettable timing of 11.32 seconds.

The men's athletic showpiece event saw RDUS Surendra leave the rest of the field behind to claim the gold, clocking 10.51 seconds.

An under-strength India was not to be left behind as its runners picked up gold in both 800m men's and women's competition.

Francis Sagairaj finished atop the podium with an effort of 1 minute 50.23 seconds while Sri Lanka's S Abeynayaka and WGAK Weliwita bagged the silver (1:50.30) and the bronze (1:50.36) respectively.

In women's 800m, Pinki Pramanik confirmed her status as the athlete to watch out for in Asian Games after snatching the gold with a time of 2:03.81 seconds.

Winner of the Asian Grand Prix meets in Bangalore and Pune, Pramanik had won the 400m gold on Friday.

S Shanthi won the silver with an effort of 2:04.77 while Bushra Parveen of Pakistan took home the bronze (2:08.04).

Susanthika, making a comeback to the international stage after a two-year hiatus, added to the two gold she won in 200m and 4X100m relay to become the toast of the island nation once again.

"I am proud of my achievement," gushed the athlete, holding aloft the Sri Lankan flag amidst deafening cheers from the vociferous home crowd at the Sugathadasa Outdoor Stadium.

In her hour of glory, Susanthika did not forget her rival and compatriot Damayanti Darsha, the Games record holder in 100m with a time of 11.19.

"Had she competed here, she would have registered a better time," she said of Darsha who pulled out of the Games at the last minute citing an injury.

Participating in perhaps her last international event on home soil, Susanthika thanked her coach, family and all those who supported in her quest to make a comeback.

"I have to improve my timings, I am looking to do that at the Asian Games," the Sydney Games bronze medallist said.

The silver in 100m women's event was won by Sri Lanka's HJCC de Silva while the bronze was taken by Pakistan's Sadaf Siddiqui.

De Silva clocked 11.76 while Siddiqui made it to the finishing line in 12.07 seconds.

India took the silver and bronze in the men's 400m, Anil Kumar coming second in 10.53s followed by Jagdish Basak in 10.61s.

Anil must have been disappointed with his performance as he holds the Games record of 10.37 seconds achieved in 1999, Kathmandu.

India had to be content with silver in men's discus throw which was won by Pakistan's Basharat Ali who hurled the disc to a distance of 55.10m in his second effort.

Amrit Pal Singh could register a best effort of 52.89m in his third attempt to pick the silver.

The bronze too belonged to India, Harpreet Singh taking the final podium place with a distance of 52.26m.

There was another silver-bronze finish for India in the men's 3000m steeplechase which was won by Nepal's Rajendra Bhawdari in 8 minute and 51.76 seconds.

Om Prakash returned a time of 9 minute and 00.99s and Rama Bahadur Subba 9 9 minute and 02.15s for second and third place.

The men's triple jump was won by S D C Sampath Weerasinghe of Sri Lanka with an effort of 16.26m.

The silver was clinched by Pakistan's Waseem Khan (15.85m) while the bronze went to India's Binu Mathew (15.82m).

The men's high jump saw Sri Lanka's W P Manjula Kumara clear 2.19m in his first attempt.

India's Benedict Sterley also cleared the same height but in his second attempt and had to be content with the silver. The bronze was grabbed by A D Nalin Priyantha (2.16m).

India picked the gold in women's 4X400m relay with Poovamma, Sinijose, S Shanthi and Pinki Pramanik clocking 3:38.01 seconds. The silver was won by Sri Lanka (3:39.48) and the bronze by Pakistan (3:44.81).

In the men's 4X400m relay, Sri Lanka relied on golden boy Rohana Pradeep Kumara to take the honours with a time of 3:09.25. India won the silver (3:10.47) and Pakistan bagged the bronze (3:11.35).