Thaindian News

Ranchi, Feb 21 (IANS) Asian Games medallist Kavita Raut of Maharashtra and Kerala’s Soji Mathew respectively won the women’s and men’s 5,000 metres events in the 34th National Games at the Birsa Munda Athletic Stadium here Monday.Kavita, who won silver and bronze in the Asian Games, covered the distance in a record time of 15 minutes 54.20 seconds, leaving behind statemate Preeja Sreedharan, who had beaten Kavita for the gold in the 10,000 metres in the Asian Games.

It was Kavita’s second medal at the ongoing National Games, having won gold in 10,000 metres Sunday.

In the men’s category, Mathew won the gold, clocking 14 mins 11.99sec while Rahul Kumar Pal (14:14.35sec) of Maharashtra and Mohammad Yunus (14:15.26) of Services settled for the silver and bronze, respectively.

Earlier in the 200 metre race, SSCB’s Nitin Kumar won the gold medal with a timing of 21.74 seconds while Manikandaraj Murugiah (21.74 sec) and Abdul Qureshi (21.75), both from Tamil Nadu, won silver and bronze.

In the women’s 200 metre sprint, Monica Gaddam of Andhra Pradesh won gold, clocking 24.05 sec. Jyothi Manjunath (24.27 sec) of Karnatka and V. Santhini Vallikad (24.73) of Kerala took the silver and bronze.

In the women’s hammer throw, Rajasthan’s Manju Bala bagged the gold medal with a distance of 56.73 metres. Anitha Abrham of Kerala won silver (55.77 metre). Gunjan Singh of Uttar Praesh won bronze with a throw of 54.97 metre.