Commonwealth Games: Indians draw a blank in swimming

Indians returned empty-handed, while the Australians ruled the pool as the six-day swimming competition concluded in the 19th Commonwealth Games that saw 24 records and five-gold medal achievement by Alicia Coutts.

The day also saw Australians Leisel Jones won her 10th Commonwealth career medal, while Emily Seebohm clinched a total of eight medals.

On the last day at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Aquatics Complex here at Talkatora, Indians figured in four finals but none of them could make a mark, the best finish being by the men's relay team who took the sixth spot in the 4x100m medley relay.

The Indian foursome of Badrinath Melkote, Sandeep Sejwal, Virdhawal Khade and Aaron D'Souza clocked 3:47.23.

Women's relay team also made the final in the 4x100m medley relay but only to take the wooden-spoon.

Jyotsna Pansare, Poorva Shetye, Pooja Alva and Talasha Prabhu clocked 4:37.97 in the disappointing finish.

The other two finals were in para-swimming.

Chetan Raut (1:05.27) and Rimo Saha (1:07.80) took the last two spots in the men's 100m freestyle S10.

In the women's 100m butterfly S9, Kiran Tak (1:53.00) finished last as the Indian swimmers ended their campaign on a disappointing note.

Queenslander Coutts, 23, picked up her fifth gold medal of the Games and breaststroke star Leisel Jones won the 10th of her Commonwealth career after Australia's women romped to relay victory.

The quartet won the 4x100m medley relay in 3:56.99 --nearly four seconds ahead of England -- with Canada in bronze.

The result was a repeat of the final four years ago in Melbourne and was Australia's sixth straight title.

"I think I did pretty well, but coming here tonight on the bus, I felt like dozing off."

Coutts said she would celebrate the achievement with friends and family.

Having on eight medals, Seebohm joked, "I hope they let me on the plane with 40 kilos. I am going home with a stack of medals."

The 10th career CWG gold medal placed her alongside Susie O'Niell and Ian Thorpe in the elite list of the most career CWG gold medals: "It is very special. Susie was here and saw the race and she was very gracious."

Asked whether she would participate in the Commonwealth Games again the 25-year-old said, "I don't know about that. It is a lot of fun but my main competition is not really here."