The Hindu : Rehan, Sivaranjini brook no competition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 26, 2003

Sport

Sport - Swimming

Rehan, Sivaranjini brook no competition

By Our Sports Reporter

Karnataka's Rehan Poncha on way to creating a new senior National record in the 400m individual medley in the junior National aquatic championship in New Delhi on Wednesday. Right: V. Sivaranjani who won the 400m individual medley in the girls' section.

NEW DELHI JUNE 25. Rehan Poncha is on a record binge. The 17-year-old Karnataka swimmer equalled the best Indian performance in 400 metre individual medley as he won the race in 4 minutes 42.57 seconds, in the 30th junior National swimming championship at the Talkatora Complex here on Wednesday.

Just as the records seemed secure as the age groupings were reduced by one year, Poncha came up with a splendid performance. His three months in Perth, Australia, definitely has to do with it.

"The intensity and quality of work is different out there,'' said Poncha. "There, I have had been practicing with 30-odd swimmers who clock faster timings than me. That really helps, while in India such competition cannot be expected,'' he added.

In the course, Poncha also broke the junior National record, which was held by Abhijith J. (4:46.82). Incidentally, the eight-year-old senior National record, which Poncha equalled, also stood in the name of Abhijith.

Poncha had no competition, virtually in the boys Group I section. He completed 100m butterfly in 1:03.56 and then backstroke in 1:12.04. Another 1:22.80 he consumed for the breaststroke before he went out flat in the freestyle. When Poncha touched the pad, second-placed Srinand Srinivas was more than 20 metres behind.

Adding to Karnataka's brilliant performance was V. Sivaranjini, who struck her third gold medal. Sivaranjini is one of the four Indian swimmers so far qualified for the July World championships in Barcelona. Shikha Tandon, Richa Mishra and Poncha are the other swimmers headed for Spain.

Sivaranjini, who won gold medal in the 200m individual medley on the opening day, added 800m freestyle title this morning. In the evening session, Sivaranjini was again at her pet individual medley event.

Sivaranjini, who has qualified in 200m individual medley, 400m freestyle and 100m breaststroke for the upcoming Barcelona WC, clocked 5:31.43 to win the Group I girls 400m individual medley here. Trailing her at the second place was Delhi's Meenakshi Tokas (5:49.53) and Maharashtra's Anagha Walimbe (5:52.34).

As a matter of fact, her good performance has won her a scholarship from the Sports Authority of India (SAI). After the World championships Sivaranjini will head for Perth for a three-month training session.

Overall, Karnataka maintained its dominance, winning 13 off 16 gold medals on offer, on the second day. Tamil Nadu had two and Maharashtra one.

The results: Swimming: Boys: Group I: 800m freestyle: 1. Chetan Sharma (Kar) 9:09.71; 2. Srinand Srinivas (Kar) 9:18.54; 3. Merwyn Chen (Del) 9:20.30; 100m backstroke: 1. Abhiram N. S. (Kar) 1:04.77; 2. Parikshit Shetty (Mah) 1:05.61; 3. Rohit Barve (Mah) 1:07.66; 400m Individual medley: 1. Rehan Poncha (Kar) 4:42.57 NMR (old 4:46.82); 2. Srinand Srinivas (Kar) 5:01.77; 3. Merwyn Chen (Del) 5:02.97; 4x100m freestyle relay: 1. Karnataka 3:51.92; 2. Maharashtra 3:52.08; 3. Bengal 3:58.10.

Group II: 1500m freestyle: 1. Rohith R. Hawaldar (Kar) 18:26.90; 2. S. Suresh Kumar (TN) 18:49.68; 3. Sandeep N. A. (Kar) 19:17.71; 100m backstroke: 1. Sushanth Krishna (TN) 1:07.24; 2. Dhaval Bhartikar (Mah) 1:07.99; 3. Sandeep N. A. (Kar) 1:09.31; 400m Individual medley: 1. Arjun J. P. (Kar) 5:10.90; 2. Aditya Sangwekar (Mah) 5:13.31; 3. J. Agnishwar (TN) 5:18.91; 4x100m freestyle relay: 1. Tamil Nadu 4:05.95; 2. Karnataka 4:07.12; 3. Maharashtra 4:09.46.

Girls: Group I: 800m freestyle: 1. V. Sivaranjini (Kar) 9:46.23; 2. Chandini K. (Kar) 10:36.86; 3. Pratibha Joglekar (Mah) 10:38.14; 100m backstroke: 1. Komal Athare (Mah) 1:10.53; 2. Sony Cyriac (Ker) 1:11.61; 3. Amrapali Das Gupta (Ben) 1:14.35; 400m Individual medley: 1. V. Sivaranjini (Kar) 5:31.43; 2. Meenakshi Tokas (Del) 5:49.53; 3. Anagha Walimbe (Mah) 5:52.34; 4x100m freestyle relay: 1. Karnataka 4:23.57; 2. Maharashtra 4:33.74; 3. Kerala 4:35.24.

Group II: 1500m freestyle: 1. Shubha C. (Kar) 20:32.97; 2. Amritha R. Kumar (Kar) 20:52.42; 3. Shaloka Joshi (Del) 21:10.45; 100m backstroke: 1. Niveditha M. S. (Kar) 1:17.99; 2. Aishwarya R. (TN) 1:18.07; 3. Bhargovi Gogoi (Asm) 1:18.15; 400m Individual medley: 1. Niveditha M. S. (Kar) 5:41.28; 2. Tejaswini V. (Kar) 5:43.96; 3. B. Harika Reddy (TN) 6:10.23; 4x100m freestyle relay: 1. Karnataka 4:32.20; 2. Maharashtra 4:43.09; 3. Tamil Nadu 4:43.16.

Water polo (league): Boys: Bengal bt Punjab 14-0; Maharashtra bt Delhi 14-1; Karnataka bt Madhya Pradesh 12-5; Kerala bt Manipur 13-4.

Girls: Maharashtra bt Manipur 13-4; Bengal bt Karnataka 5-4.

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