Athletics: Preeja Sreedharan brings laurels for India

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Amman, July 26: National record holder Preeja Sreedharan fetched the first medal for India, winning a silver in women's 10000m race, in the Asian Athletics Championship here.

Sreedharan (36:04.54s) was, though, much below her record 33:19.71s effort in the Federation Cup in Kolkata in May this year and finished behind Kareema Saleh Jasmin of Bahrain (34:26.39s) on the first day of the continental event.

North Korea's Mi Gyong Kim was third with a time of 38:29.90s.

In men's 1500m race, Chatholi Hamza (3:49.11s) missed a podium finish to Abubaker Ali Kamal of Qatar who won the bronze with a time of 3:47.22s. Hamza was also way off his season's best mark of 3:40.19s which he clocked in Bangkok leg of Asian Grand Prix in January.

Hamza's compatriot Sajeesh Joseph also ran well below his season's best of 3:42.57s (Guwahati leg of Asian GP last month) to finish sixth with a time of 3:53.89s.

Saudi Arabia's Otmman H Shaween won the race, clocking 3:46.85s while Sajad Moradi of Iran came second with 3:47.01s.

In men's high jump, Hari Shankar Roy cleared 2.18m but had to settle fifth in the 16-strong field. His effort was also below his national record of 2.25m set in 2004 as well as his season's best of 2.21m in the Federation Cup in Kolkata.

Hup Wei Lee of Malaysia won the gold in the event with a jump of 2.24m.

In the men's hammer throw final, Nirbay Singh came seventh in 10-athlete field with an effort of 62.54m, way off the leaders.

Ali Zinkawi of Kuwait grabbed the gold with a throw of 75.71m.

Tajikistan's Dilshod Nazarov was second with 75.70m while the bronze went to Hiroaki Doi of Japan who threw the iron ball to 70.74m.

Four events of women's heptathlon were held and two Indians -- Sushmita Singha Roy ans Shobha Jagdisha Javur came out with mixed results.

Singha Roy won 200m race with 25.21s, came third in 100m hurdles (14.94s) and high jump (1.69m) and fourth in shot put with an effort of 10.54m.

Shobha was second in 100m hurdles (14.66s) and shot put (12.56m), third in 200m (25.32s) and fourth in high jump (1.60m).

Shobha has 3179 points to her kitty and she is second behind Irina Naumenko of Kazakhstan who had collected 3,506 while Shobha is third with 3125.

UNI