Chennai: Reigning Asian champion Govindan Lakshmanan of Services cruised to victory in the men’s 5,000 metres race on the opening day of the 57th National Open Athletics Championships at the Nehru Stadium here Monday.
Lakshmanan, fresh from winning gold in the 3,000m event at the Asian Indoor Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, clocked a time of 14:4.21 seconds to emerge winner. Abhishek Pal of Railways came in second, clocking a time of 14:8.38 seconds while Mann Singh of Services took bronze with a time of 14:08.87. However, Lakshmanan’s time was way below his personal best of 13:35.69s , which he achieved during the London Worlds.
In the 5000m women’s race, L Surya won in a time of 16:2.85 seconds to lead a Railways one-two ahead of Chinta Yadav (16:40.45s) and Saigeeta Naik (16:53.97s) of All India Police. Incidentally, Surya is the daughter of Lakshmanan’s long-time coach S Loganathan.
In the men’s shot put, Tejinder Pal Singh of Services pipped former national record holder Om Prakash Singh to the gold by hurling the iron ball to 18.86 metres. Tejinder sealed the first place with his final throw after trailing Om Prakash for most part of the competition. Railways’ Jasdeep Singh claimed the bronze medal in the event.
Sarita P Singh of Railways won the women’s hammer throw with an effort of 60.54m.
Press Trust of India
