Barshim wins Asian indoor gold, India's Dasan clinches 60M bronze

Tehran, February 2: World high jump champion Mutaz Essa Barshim started the new season in style by winning the gold at the 8th Asian Indoor Championships in Tehran with a world leading 2.38M while Elakiya Dasan did India proud by clinching the bronze in the 60M.

اول بطولة في الموسم والحمدلله بطل اسيا داخل الصالات للمرة الخامسة على التوالي ورقم جديد للبطولة ٢.٣٨م ، بداية طيبة وان شاءالله اول الغيث #يلا_قطر 🇶🇦
justdoit# #givesyouwings #aspire #richardmille #redbull #nike#WHATGRAVITY 👐🏾 pic.twitter.com/tdmZy79ZUK

— معتز برشم ♕Barshim (@mutazbarshim) February 2, 2018

After opening at 2.15M, the ace Qatari topped 2.20M to wrap up the competition before forging on with another first attempt clearance at 2.23M. Continuing what turned out to be an exhibition, he had the bar raised to 2.30M, a height which required a second try before he sailed clear.

IAAF world athlete of the year @mutazbarshim has won the Asian indoor high jump title with 2.38m.https://t.co/u70zvZI4Am

— IAAF (@iaaforg) February 1, 2018

He then added first attempt clearances at 2.33M, 2.36M and 2.38M before bowing out with three tries at 2.40M. All in all, the 2017 World Male Athlete of the Year was pleased with his first outing in 2018.

"It was my first competition and I didn't know what to expect," Barshim was quoted as saying in the IAAF website.

"I just said 'I'm jumping, let's see what's going to happen'. So I'm really happy. It's my best opening ever, a championship record and a world lead. I can't complain," added the 26-year-old.

لاعبنا البطل العالمي معتز برشم يحقق ذهبية البطولة الآسيوية لألعاب القوى داخل الصالات والتي تقام حالياً في طهران حيث اجتاز ارتفاع ٢.٣٨ بنجاح@mutazbarshim @qatarathletics pic.twitter.com/XgZAwy74rP

— Team Qatar (@qatar_olympic) February 1, 2018

Other major highlight on the opening day of the three-day meet at the Iranian capital included local favourite Hassan Taftian's triumph in the men's 60M.

The 24-year-old, last year's Asian 100M champion, dominated the race with his 6.51 run, knocking 0.04 from the national record he set last September in Ashgabat.
Qatar's Tosin Ogunode finished second in 6.63M while Dasan took the bronze medal in 6.67.

In the women's competition, Irina Ektova of Kazakhtan won the triple jump gold with 13.79M. Nadiya Dusanova of Uzbekistan clinched the high jump with a leap of 1.87M and On the track, China's Wang Chunyu won a tactical 800M race in 2:09.30.

The Asian indoors owes much significance this time as it is the final tune-up event for most of the athletes ahead of the World Indoor Championships to be held from March 1 to 4 at Birmingham, UK.

(With IAAF Media inputs)