In the shot put competition at the Asian Games, Kiran Baliyan became the first Indian woman in 72 years to take home a medal.
On the first day of events in Hangzhou on Friday, Kiran Baliyan won bronze, becoming the first Indian woman to do so in the shot put event in 72 years. For her best effort of the day, 24-year-old Baliyan threw the iron ball 17.36 metres on her third attempt to start India’s medal count. Thus, after Barbara Webster, an Anglo-Indian from then-Bombay, won a bronze medal at the first Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951, Baliyan became just the second Indian to do so in the women’s shot put event.
Having placed second in the Indian Grand Prix 5 in Chandigarh on September 10, Baliyan has a season’s best and a personal best of 17.92 metres.
“I didn’t know the history (of the first Indian woman to win a medal in the shot put at the Asian Games after 1951). My focus was to produce my best performance. I am unhappy with how I performed because I am unable to achieve that. But I got a medal, and I’m really delighted about it,” she added later.
As a result of her name being accidentally entered in a junior competition nine years ago, Baliyan, the daughter of a Meerut traffic police chief constable, became an accident shot putter.
Himanshi Malik, who placed sixth in her heat and was unable to advance to the finals in the women’s 400m race, raced an agonisingly slow race for the second time in less than three weeks.
Even worse than his time of 57.59 seconds at the Indian Grand Prix 5 in Chandigarh on September 10 was the 21-year-old Malik’s time of 57.82 seconds in heat number three.
She competed in the race at the “Big Lotus” stadium in this city while wearing a knee brace, confirming the rumour that she was hurt and might not make the Asian Games team.
Her timing on the first day of competition in the sport of athletics was more than six minutes slower than both her season’s best and her personal best of 51.76 seconds, which she had recorded in June while placing second in the National Inter-State Championships.
Fascinatingly, Malik claimed to be prepared for the race in a video that the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had published earlier in the day.
In the video, she remarked, “Today I am running my 400m race at the Asian Games and hopefully I will do well.”
Aishwraya Mishra, the other competing Indian, finished second in heat one with a time that set a new season best of 52.73 seconds, advancing her to the final round.
Muhammed Ajmal, who placed second in his heat in the 400-meter race for men, qualified for the finals with a time of 45.76 seconds, however Muhammed Anas Yahiya, who finished third in his heat with a time of 46.29, did not.
In each of the three heats, the top two finishers and the next two fastest individuals progress to the final.
Tanya Chaudhary and Rachna Kumari, with throws of 60.50 metres and 58.13 metres, respectively, placed seventh and ninth in the women’s hammer throw final.
National record holder Priyanka Goswami placed fifth in the women’s 20km race walk in the morning with a timing of 1 hour 43 minutes and 7 seconds, which was much slower than her personal best of 1:28:45 and season best of 1:28:50.
Vikash Singh, who was added to the team after national record holder Akshdeep Singh got hurt, also placed sixth in the men’s 20km race with a time of 1:27:33. His personal best and season best are both 1:20:05.
Sandeep Singh, the other competing Indian, was eliminated during the competition.
China defeats India’s men in basketball.
The Indian men’s team lost to China on Friday in a 3×3 basketball group stage match 15-18, but the women’s team defeated Mongolia in a 5×5 competition at the Asian Games. India managed to place second in Pool C and will play Iran on Saturday in the quarterfinal playoff.
The only team to receive a direct berth into the quarterfinals is the winning club from each group.
India suffered its first setback against the tournament’s hosts and gold medalist China; the team had previously triumphed over Malaysia (20-16) and Macau (21-12).
India’s women’s team in Shaoxing did well to defeat Mongolia in a preliminary round Group A 5×5 match. The Indians won by a score of 68-62 despite the Mongolian team making them battle hard for their victory.
The women’s team had earlier defeated Indonesia 66-46 in their opening game.
The top eight teams from each of the three groups of 12 teams will advance to the quarterfinals, and the Indian Women’s team will play its final group stage match against China on Sunday.
India suffered its first setback against the tournament’s hosts and gold medalist China; the team had previously triumphed over Malaysia (20-16) and Macau (21-12).
India’s women’s team in Shaoxing did well to defeat Mongolia in a preliminary round Group A 5×5 match. The Indians won by a score of 68-62 despite the Mongolian team making them battle hard for their victory.
The women’s team had earlier defeated Indonesia 66-46 in their opening game.
The top eight teams from each of the three groups of 12 teams will advance to the quarterfinals, and the Indian Women’s team will play its final group stage match against China on Sunday.
