Mayookha leads India's domination in athletics

Jumper Mayookha Johny led India's domination in track and field events with her second title as the home athletes grabbed as many as 10 gold medals in the 12th South Asian Games here today.
Mayookha, who had won women's long jump event yesterday, added another gold to her kitty by clinching the triple jump today with an effort of 13.85m to steal the limelight at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium.
Other gold winners for India on the second day of athletics competitions were M R Poovamma (women's 400m), Neeraj Chopra (men's javelin throw), Arokya Rajiv (men's 400m), Arjun (discus throw), J Surendhar (men's 110m hurdles), Gayathry (women's 100m hurdles), Ankit Sharma (men's long jump) and Sahana Kumari (women's high jump) and T Gopi (men's 10000m).

India also won nine silver and four bronze to have a total medal haul of 23 from athletics today. Sri Lanka took four gold (men's and women's 4x100m relay, men's pole vault and men's 800m).
Most of the Indian winners came up with below-par performances though the full athletics season is yet to start. The best among the lot was teenager javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra who won the gold with a creditable Games record effort of 82.23m. Neeraj's effort set a new Asian junior record in javelin throw.
In women's 400m race, top quartermiler Poovamma won the gold but disappointed with her timing as she clocked 54.1 seconds, well outside her personal best of 51.73 seconds.

In men's 400m, Arokya Rajiv did much better as he won the gold in 46.23 secs while his compatriot Kunhi Mohammed got the silver in 46.73 secs. Sri Lanka's H Dilip won the bronze in 47.30 secs.

Men's long jump was one event which had India's two top athletes. Ultimately, Ankit Sharma came up with a creditable 7.89m, which he cleared in his sixth and final attempt, to win the gold. National record holder Prem Kumar was second with a jump of 7.62m while Amila Jayasiri was third in 7.46m.
In the men's 110m hurdles, Indians bagged a gold and silver with J Surendhar winning the event in a time of 14.13 seconds ahead of compatriot Prem Kumar who clocked 14.18 secs. Mohsin Ali of Pakistan got the bronze in 14.26 secs.

In women's 100m hurdles, Gayathry got the bronze in 13.18 seconds ahead of another Indian K V Sajitha who clocked 14.26secs. R Rajasinghe of Sri Lanka took the bronze in 14.37 seconds.
In men's pole vault, India's Sonu Saini finished second as he cleared 4.80m. Sri Lanka's M Sandaruwan bagged the gold by clearing 4.90m.
In discus throw, India's Arjun threw the iron disc to a distance of 57.21m to bag the gold while compatriot Kripal Singh was second with an effort of 56.59m. K Jayawardana was third with 53.52m.
National record holder Sahana Kumari bagged the women's high jump gold by clearing 1.78m. L Vinodani bagged the silver with a height of 1,75m while India's Swapna Burman was third with an effort of identical 1.75m.