New record by Sejwal, Indians bag four golds

Mirpur: Olympian Sandeep Sejwal improved meet record in the 100m breaststroke as Indians further swelled

their medal tally by adding four gold, one silver and a bronze on third day of the aquatics events at the 11th South Asian Games here today. After today`s events at the National Swimming Complex, India now have a total of 20 aquatics medals -- 12 gold, six silver and two bronze -- in their kitty. Sejwal, who had earlier bettered the 200m breaststroke record, today clocked 1:05.01 to finish the 100m breaststroke competition and shattered the previous one of 1:07.73. Sejwal was followed by compatriot Puneet Rana (1:06.74), while Local lad Mohammad Kamal Hossain (1:07.32) took away the bronze. Balkrishnan Melkote Badrinath timed 27.63 to clinch gold in 50m backstroke, while compatriot Rohit Havaldar (28.35) bagged the bronze. Sri Lanka`s Heshan Bandara Unamboowe (27.93) claimed the silver. India`s third gold came in 100m butterfly event when Arjun Muralidharan (56.86) finished way ahead of Sri Lankan Conrad Anthony Francis (58.44). Local lad Mohammad Jewel Ahmed Sr (58.54) pocketed the bronze medal. In women`s 50m backstroke, Fariha Zaman clocked 33.00 en route to the gold medal as Sri Lanka`s Walakanda Kankanamge (34.56) and Pakistan`s Kiran Khan (34.89) bagged the silver and bronze, respectively. Indians, however, returned empty handed in the women`s 100m breaststroke, which was won by Sri Lankan Minak Sashmini Natasha Karunarathne (1:18.60). Bangladesh bagged both the silver and bronze through Mahafuza Khatun (1:18.76) and Doli Akhter (1:19.39), respectively. India`s Gauri Desai managed a fourth place finish with a timing of 1:20.24. PTI