China emerge champions

Yasaratne GAMAGE Reporting from the Sugathadasa Stadium

Sri Lanka's women's relay team after winning the siver medal in the women's 4x400 relay finals yesterday at the Sugathadasa Stadium. (from left) Subodhi Kumari, E B Hansani, Shiwanthi Kumari, Nadeeshani Henderson Pictures by Ranjith Asanka

The 15 Asian Junior Athletic Championship concluded on a grand note yesterday at the Sugathadasa Stadium , Colombo with China emerging champions by securing a tally of 16 medals including 10 golds, five silver and one bronze. Six new meet records were set up including an Asian Junior record.

Chinese Taipei was placed second with six golds, three silver and four bronze medals. Qatar went back with five medals, four golds, and one bronze. Sri Lanka secured five medals including two golds, one silver and two bronze.

It was a tremendous final day for China as it has been for them so far where they went on to add another five gold medals and two bronze to their medal tally. India was more competent yesterday and won three more gold medals.

Japan won the last gold medal of the event when they clocked 3:09.64 seconds to finish men's 4x400 gold. Saudi Arabia clocked 3:10.63 to win the silver and India won the bronze when they finished the race in 3:11.12 seconds. Sri Lanka for somehow lost hopes for a medal when they finished fourth .

Hembram Purnima of India collected 4979 points to win the gold medal in the women's heptathlon while Sunisa Khotseemueang bagged the silver with 4902 points. Nadezhda Kirnos of Kazakhstan won the bronze by securing 4585 points. The event included 100 metre hurdles, high jump, shot putt, 200 metres, long jump , javelin throw and 800 metres.

India's Pal Rahul Kumar who bagged two gold medals in the men's 10000 metres and 5000 metres finishing the men's 5000 metres event. Murayama Kota of Japan finished second ( left )

Teng Haining of China set up the solitary new meet record on the final day of the 15 Asian Junior Athletic Championships when he clocked 1:46.56 seconds to finish men's 800 metres. Driouch Hamza of Qatar finished fractions behind Teng and secured the silver by clocking 1:46.72 seconds. Japan satisfied with the bronze where Kozuma Shota clocked 1:49.37 seconds.

Sri Lanka lasses who changed the baton in 4 x 400 women's relay quenched the thirst of local fans by winning the silver medal in the event which was the only medal for the hosts on the final day. Shiwanthi Kumari , Nadeeshani Henderson , Subodhi Kumari and E B Hansani together clocked 3:46.76 seconds. Kazakhstan won the gold by clocking 3:43.49 seconds. India who finished the event in 3:49.09 seconds won the bronze.

India's Kuldeep Singh bagged the first gold medal on the final day when he finished men's 10 km race walk in 45:01.43 seconds yesterday at the Sugathadasa Stadium in the 15 Asian Junior Athletic Championships.

Japanese Matsunaga Dalsuke who came behind him reached the finish line 2.42 seconds to secure the silver. Zhang Zhi of China won the bronze by clocking 45:05.27 seconds. Meanwhile proving their dominance in long distance Rahul Kumar Pal of India bagged his second gold medal in the championship when he finished men's 5000 metres in 14:33.60 seconds. Earlier on the third day he won the gold in men's 10000 metres . Murayama Kota of Japan recorded a timing of 14:33.67 to win the silver while his teammate Nakatani Keisuke clocked 14:58.23 seconds to win the bronze.