Luka breaks Wilson’s 800m record

Only eight athletes took part in the race in Croatia — season’s top two each from four continental groupings of Asia Pacific,Americas,Africa and Europe. Luka,a protege of legendary athlete P T Usha,was the leading athlete in Asia this season.

This was also Luka’s first sub two minute performance in her career,bettering her earlier personal best of 2:00.79 which she set while finishing eighth in the final leg of the Diamond League series in Brussels,Belgium on September 24.

Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei of Kenya,representing Africa,won the race in 1:57.88,while Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica (representing Americas) was second in 1:58.16. Mariya Savinova of Russia (representing Europe) was third in 1:58.27 while Jennifer Meadows of Great Britain,who was also representing Europe,was fourth in 1:58.88.

Archers win gold in Shanghai

On a highly successful day for India,the trio of Jayanta Talukdar,Tarundeep Rai and Rahul Banerjee clinched gold in the men’s recurve before Deepika Kumari settled for a silver medal and Talukdar claimed bronze in the individual recurve at the Archery World Cup Stage IV in Shanghai.

The Indian men’s recurve team beat Japan’s combination of Ryota Amano,Takaharu Furukawa,Hidekl Kikuchi 224-220. Deepika,playing her maiden senior final,though had to be content with a silver as she lost the summit clash 27-29,27-27,28-28,27-30 to Korea’s Bo Bae Ki. Talukdar came from behind to beat the Italian Marco Galiazzo 28-29,30-26,28-28,29-27,28-27.