Three cheers for Sandeep Sejwal

Madhu leads India to a 1-2 in the men’s 100m backstroke

February 08, 2016 11:55 pm | Updated 11:55 pm IST - GUWAHATI:

India's 17-year-old V. Malavika took the 800m freestyle gold and setting a new mark en route to victory. Photo K Murali Kumar

India's 17-year-old V. Malavika took the 800m freestyle gold and setting a new mark en route to victory. Photo K Murali Kumar

India’s Sandeep Sejwal was the cynosure of all eyes for the third day running at the Dr. Zakir Hussain swimming pool here on Monday.

The 27-year-old from Delhi, who took the gold in the men’s 100m and 200m breaststroke over the last two days, proved unbeatable once again as he clinched his third gold medal of the 12th South Asian Games.

The day was also marked by good performances from P.S. Madhu — who led India to a 1-2 in the men’s 100m backstroke — and V. Malavika, winner in the women’s 800m freestyle with a record timing.

Sri Lanka picked up three of the four remaining golds which were decided this evening, while Bangladesh took the other through Mahfuza Khatun who won the women’s 50m breaststroke — her second in as many days.

Sri Lanka’s Komiko Raheem won two golds in a little over an hour — the women’s 100m backstroke and the 50m freestyle, the second one at the expense of elder sister Machiko.

Matthew Abeysinghe had a day of mixed fortunes as he picked up his fifth gold of the meet finishing ahead of India’s Sanu Debnath in the 400m individual medley but later found his glorious run being stopped as he could only finish fourth in the 100m backstroke final.

In the one-lapper, Sejwal led from the start to finish. He was a bit slow off the blocks but was into the lead straightaway and stayed right on top to finish in a record time of 28.79s. Puneet Rana picked up his second silver finishing in 29.11s pushing Md. Shajahan Ali to third.

The Thiruvananthapuram-born Madhu was not too bothered about having Abeysinghe to his right in the 100m backstroke final.

He took off with the gong, stroking powerfully to return home with a superb timing of 57.94s. Sethu Manickavel made it another Indian 1-2 bagging silver in 59.47s even as Syed Muhammad (Pakistan) pushed Abeysinghe out to take the bronze.

In the women’s section, Malavika was the only Indian on top of the podium today. The 17-year-old was well in control through the 16-lap race and the extent of the ease with which she won could be gauged by the fact that Malavika lapped all but one of the five in the fray.

The one avoiding the shame was Ishani Senanayake who, however, finished in 9:48.62 compared to the new meet mark of 9:19.48 set by Malavika.

The race also marked the first medal for Maldives at these Games when Aminath Shajan finished third for the bronze.

The results:

Men: 100m backstroke: 1. P.S. Madhu 57.94s ( NGR ; OR: 58.98s), 2. Sethu Manickavel (59.47s), 3. Syed Muhammad (Pak), 1:01.04. 50m breaststroke: 1. Sandeep Sejwal 28.79s, ( NGR ; OR: 29.17s), 2. Puneet Rana 29.11s, 3. Md. Shajahan Ali (Ban), 30.41s.

400m individual medley: 1. Matthew Abeysinghe (SL), 4:40.27, 2. Sanu Debnath 4:40.85, 3. Md. Juwel Ahmed (Ban), 4:52.50.

Women: 50m freestyle: 1. Komiko Raheem (SL), 26.49s, ( NGR ; OR: 27.70s), 2. Machoko Raheem (SL), 27.40s, 3. Maana Patel 27.44s.

800m freestyle: 1. V. Malavika 9:19.48 ( NGR ; OR: 9:31.96), 2. Ishani Senanayake (SL), 9:48.62, 3. Aminath Shajan (Mal), 10:41.41.

100m backstroke: 1. Kimiko Raheem (SL), 1:03.78 ( NGR ; OR: 1:06.06), 2. Maana Patel 1:06.00, 3. Gaurika Singh (Nep), 1:07.31. 50m breaststroke: 1. Mahfuza Khatun (Ban), 38.44s ( NGR ; OR: 34.97), 2. Hasanthi Nugawela (SL), 35.69s, 3. Ramudi Samarakoon (SL), 35.99s.

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