Hyderabad, Oct 30: Asian champion Nisha Millet's new national mark in women's 200m backstroke was the highlight of India's performance on the final day of aquatics competition at the inaugural Afro-Asian Games here today which saw the hosts finish ninth, without a gold, winning 19 medals. The hosts' attempt to grab their first gold medal in the competition failed to take shape though Akbar Ali Mir came close in the men's 200m backstroke. But in the end, Mir settled for a silver.
Shikha Tandon, who won a bronze medal in women's 100m freestyle, missed the Olympic quota by a whisker, finishing just 0.25 seconds outside the qualification mark.
She has already booked a place in Athens Olympics in the 50m freestyle.
Shikha, who started well surging ahead of others by the half-way mark, failed to maintain her lead till the end.
"I was really feeling tired. I very well knew till the 80m mark that I was ahead. But somehow I just got tired and finished third. It is really disappointing," she told reporters.
Bureau Report