Swimmers' splash to records in National Games, lead medals' tally

Guwahati, Feb 16 (UNI) Karnataka's Rehan Poncha clinched nine Gold to emerge as not just most successful swimmer but most valuable participant in the 33rd National Games as well.

Richa Mishra of Delhi, was a close second with eight Gold the third place saw Maharashtra's Veerdhaval Khade and Karnataka's Shikha Tandon, each with six Gold.

The pool also registered the most number of meet records, with as many as 22 records.

Karnataka emerged as the most successful state, winning 19 yellow medals, 13 Silver and 14 Bronze.

The second position in the tally in swimming was clinched by Delhi, with 10 Gold, four Silver and seven Bronze.

Maharashtra notched nine Golds, 10 Silver and nine Bronze.

Host Asom and Punjab also clinched one Gold each on the last day of aquatics meet today to figure in the Gold winners' list of swimming events.

Asom also won two Silver and one Bronze, with all medals coming from Fariha Zaman.

While Rehan led the medal's tally in men's events, with nine Gold, three Silver and two Bronze. The second position was clinched by Veerdhaval Khade of Maharashtra, with five Gold, two Silver and one Bronze. Rohith R Havaldar of Karnataka was placed third among men in swimming events with five Gold and two Silver.

In the women's events, Richa emerged the winner with eight Gold, three Silver and one Bronze. Karnataka's Shikha Tandon is in the second place, with six Golds and one each of Silver and Bronze.

Pooja R Alva of Karnataka won three medals -- one Gold, Silver and Bronze.

Maharashtra's Lekha Kamath also won three Golds, four Silvers and two Bronze.

In the records' tally, Karnataka's Rehan led the brigade with five individual records and also featured in the state teams which set three meet records in relay events.

Rehan set National Games records in 400 mt individual medley, 200 mt backstroke, 200 mt individual medley, 100 mt backstroke and 50 mt backstroke events.

He was part of the Karnataka men's team which set meet records in 4x100 mt freestlye, 4x100 mt medley and 4x200 mt freestyle.

Maharashtra's Veerdhaval Khade set the only national record in the swimming events, when he clocked 1.54.18 minute in the 200 mt freestyle for men. He also set meet's record in 50 mt freestyle, 100 mt freestyle, 50 mt butterfly and 40 mt freestyle.

Rohith R Havaldar of Karnataka also set three new meet's record in 1500 mt freestyle, 200 mt backstroke and 800 mt freestyle events.

Delhi's Sandeep Sejwal too had a new meet's record to his name in the 200 mt breaststroke event.

In the women's category, Karnataka's Shikha Tandon set meet records in 50 mt freestyle and 50 mt backstroke.

Delhi's Richa had one record to her credit in the 200 mt backstroke, while Surabhi Tipre of Maharashtra set another in 800 mt freestyle.

Maharashtra's Lekha Kamath also set a meet record in the 50 mt butterfly stroke for women.

UNI