Jabeshwari, Neelam create National records

Neelam continued to improve in great strides in her pet event. Last year, in Thiruvananthapuram, she hurled the discus to a distance of 60.28m. Today she killed all competition with her very first throw that measured 61.37 m.

Two events, the 400m for men and women, of the one-day meet was cancelled as the athletes were hesitant to run on the mud track which was made worse by two days of rain.

While track and field events failed, throwers enlivened the proceedings with two records. There was some confusion when the Manipuri girl Jabeshwari stunned the crowd by hurling the hammer to a new distance of 57.86 metres in her first attempt. She erased her old record of 56.56m which she set in Hisar. Since the event was held along with the men8217;s event, won by national record holder Ishtiaque Ahmed, it was considered a mixed event and in so records would not be ratified. The doubts were however put to rest by Dr Kripal Singh, chairman, technical committee, Amateur Athletic Federation of India. He clarified that the record will be ratified after the Inter-State Championships to be held in Chennai later this month.

As the throwers held centrestage, Gulab Singh rallied splendidly to win the 3000m. Upcoming Gojen Singh took the lead before the half way mark and maintained it till the final round. But experienced Gulab outpaced the youngster at the last bend pushing Gojen to second place. National record holder Bahadur Singh failed to complete the event pulling out with only 400m to go.

The absence of Sunita Rani and KM Beenamol took away the sheen from the meet. Beenamol was around to cheer her brother KM Binu who won the 800m and later told this newspaper that she did not participate due to a 8220;hamstring injury8221;.

Shakti Singh performed a double winning both the shot put and discus events. In the shot put event there was keen fight between the National record holder and Bahadur Singh. While in discus, his throw of 55.62 metres fetched him the second gold.

Sanjay K Rai and G G Prameela won the long jump events, while Jagdish Bishnoi and Gurmeet Kaur took gold in javelin throw.

Results: Women: Hammer throw: 1. K Jabeshwari devi Rlys 57.86 NR, OR 56.56 by Jabeshwari in Hisar; 100m: Rachita Mistry Rlys, 11.70s, Long jump: G G Prameela Rlys, 6.19m, 1500m: Geetha Manral CRPF, 4.42:30s. Discus throw: Neelam J Singh Rlys, 61,37, NR, OR Neelam 60.28m in Tvm; Javelin: Gurmeet Singh Rlys, 46.28m.

Men: Hammer: Ishtiaque Ahmed UP, 66.68m; 100m: Anil Kumar Services, 10.76s; 100m B8217;: Paramjit Singh Police, 11.05s; Long jump: Sanjay K Rai 7.39m; Discus: Shakti Singh Rlys, 55.62m; 800m: Binu KM Ker, 1:55.71s; Shot put: Shakti Singh Rlys, 19.84m; Javelin: Satvir Singh Police, 76.74m; 3000m: Gulab Chand UP, 8.28:71s.