P.S. Madhu of SSCB stole the thunder from other accomplished swimmers to become the standout performer on the penultimate day of swimming competitions of the 35th National Games at the Mihir Sen Plaza here on Friday.
The Services swimmer set two meet records on the day that saw Sajan Prakash court joy and disappointment at the same time and Richa Mishra and Maana Patel adding gold medals to their kitty.
However, the day belonged to national champion Madhu who put Kerala’s golden boy Sajan Prakash in his place with a commanding win in 200m IM that saw the Services swimmer set a new Games record. Taking the lead in the breaststroke leg, Madhu pulled ahead to finish in 2:08.98s which broke Virdhawal Khade’s old mark (2:11.78) set in 2011. M. Arvind (2:09.49) and Sandeep Sejwal (2:10.78) who finished second and third respectively, also came under the existing mark. For only the second time in this meet, Sajan finished outside the medals bracket as he finished fifth.
Crowning moment Madhu’s crowning moment came in 50mback stroke in which he beat Khade to win gold in a new record. Madhu, who set the meet record in the heats, won the final in 0:27.02s ahead of Rohit Imoliya and M. Arvind.
Earlier, Sajan Prakash once again got better of Saurabh Sangvekar in 400m freestyle to win his sixth gold medal of the meet with a new Games record. As usual, it was Saurabh who led for major part of the race with Sajan prakash closely trailing him. The Kerala swimmer made his move in the penultimate lap and took the lead at the turn. After taking the lead, Sajan powered his way to gold and finished two seconds ahead of Saurabh in 3:57.16 which bettered A.P. Gagan’s old mark (4:04.01) set in 2011. Sangvekar (3:59.70) also came under the existing record while Kerala’s A.S. Anand picked up the bronze medal.
Aakanksha Vora of Maharashtra came back from behind to win women’s 400m freestyle event in a new Games record of 4:32.50. Aakansha trailed Malavika (Karnataka) in the first half of the race and took the lead towards the end of the sixth lap. Aakansha consolidated her lead in last 50metres and finished well ahead of Malavika in4:32.50 which bettered Richa Mishra's 13-year-old record (4:35.11) set in 2003.V. Malavika also broke the existing record after finishing in 4:35.07. Ironically Richa Mishra, the existing record-holder, finished third.
However, Richa left her mark by winning the 200m IM in which she pipped young A.V. Jayaveena after taking the lead in the breaststroke leg. Richa clocked 2:25.72 to erase her own record (2:26.90) set in 2011. This was Richa’s fourth gold and eighth medal of this meet.
Maana Patel won her third gold medal of the meet in 50m backstroke with a new Games record. Maana, who had broken Shika Tandon’s eight-year old record in the heats, improved it further, by winning the gold in 0:30.68 seconds.
The results:
Diving: 1m springboard: 1. Hrutika Shriram (Mah) (187.35, NGR; OR - 183.35, Hrutika Shriram, Maharashtra, 2007), 2. Simran Rajani (Mah) (187.15), 3. Tanuka Dhara (Ben) (142.25).
Water polo: Men (semifinals): SSCB bt Maharashtra 18-6; Kerala bt Bengal 6-5.
Women (league): Maharashtra bt Karnataka 6-3.
Swimming: Men: 400m freestyle: 1. Sajan Prakash (Ker) (3:57.16, NGR; OR - 4:04.01, A.P. Gagan, Karnataka, 2011), 2. Saurabh Sangvekar (Mah) (3:59.70), 3. A.S. Anand (Ker) (4:03.97).
200m IM: 1. P.S. Madhu (SSCB) (2:08.98, NGR; OR - 2:11.74, Virdhawal Khade, Maharashtra, 2011), 2. M. Arvind (Kar) (2:09.49), 3. Sandeep Sejwal (MP) (2:10.78).
50m backstroke: 1. P.S. Madhu (SSCB) (0:27.02, NGR; OR - 0:27.38, P.S. Madhu, SSCB, 2015), 2. Rohit Imoliya (MP) (0:27.22), 3. M. Arvind (Kar) (0:27.26).
Women: 400m freestyle: 1. Aakanksha Vora (Mah) (4:32.50, NGR; OR - 4:35.11, Richa Mishra, Andhra Pradesh, 2002), 2. V. Malavika (Kar) (4:35.07), 3. Richa Mishra (4:39.45).
200m IM: 1. Richa Mishra (MP) (2:25.78, NGR; OR - 2:26.90, Richa Mishra, 2011), 2. A.V. Jayaveena (TN) (2:26.10), 3. Damini K. Gowda (Kar) (2:29.34).
50m backstroke: 1. Maana Patel (Guj) (0:30.68, NGR; OR - 30.94, Maana Patel, Gujarat, 2015), 2. Jyotsna Panasare (Mah) (0:31.36), 3. Vaania Kapoor Achuthan (Kar) (0:31.40).
