The Hindu : Richa disappoints; Arun bags silver

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 27, 2003

Sport

Sport - Afro-Asian Games

Richa disappoints; Arun bags silver

By Our Sports Reporter

Genki Imamura of Japan exults after winning the gold in the 100 metre breaststroke at the Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad on Sunday. — Photo: K. R. Deepak

HYDERABAD OCT. 26. Even as star swimmer Richa Misra disappointed with a fourth-placing in the 200 m women's butterfly event, Arun Venkatraman provided the brightest spot for India by clinching it's only silver of the day in the 50 m backstroke on the second day in the Afro-Asian Games swimming competition at the Swarnandhra Pradesh Sports Complex swimming pool here this evening.

The focus was on Richa, for the local crowd had high expectations of her before this meet. She had set the pool ablaze during the 32nd National Games last November reaping a rich harvest of medals. But things were different today as she finished fourth in the 200 m butterfly. The gold and the silver went to Koreans Park Hyung Hwa (2:15.90) and Shin Bo Mi (2:19.91) while South African Chanella Van Wyk (2:20.92) settled for bronze. That the Indian girl clocked 2:21.10 was a sorry reflection of a dismal outing she had.

However, there was something to cheer about from women's section for the hosts as Reshma Millet picked the bronze in the 50 m backstroke with a timing of 0:32.06 and Nisha Millet too took the bronze in the 200 m freestyle with an effort of 2:07.56.

But the day's best performance for India came in men's section from Arun Venkatraman who won the silver in the 50 m backstroke (0:28.20) while, Mizuki Wakabayashi of Japan (0:26.05) and Michael Mars Danilo of Phillipines (0:29.12) were the gold and bronze medallists.

South African Ingrid Gail Haiden timed 1:12.40 in the 100 m breaststroke to clinch the gold while Hiroka Sakamoto of Japan (1:13.29) and Ziada Jardine of South Africa (1:13.47) settled for silver and bronze respectively.

In the 200 m men's butterfly event, Rehan Poncha put up a creditable bronze medal performance with a timing of 2:07.90. Yohei Kato of Japan (2:03.96) and Aghiles Slimani of Algeria (2:05.92) finished first and third respectively.

The results: 100 m breaststroke: Men: 1. Genki Imamura (Jap 1:03.40), 2. Sofiane Daid (Alg 1:03.67), 3. Malik Fall (Sen 1:05.04); Women: 1. Ingrid Gail Haiden (SA 1:12.40), 2. Horoka Sakamoto (Jap 1:13.29), 3. Ziada Jardine (SA 1:13.47).

200 m butterfly: Men: 1. Yohei Kato (Jap 2:03.96), 2. Aghiles Slimani (Alg 2:05.92), 3. Rehan Poncha (Ind 2:07.90); Women: 1. Park Kyung Hwa (Kor 2:15.90), 2. Shin Bo Mi (Kor 2:19.91), 3. Chanella Van Wyk (SA 2:20.92).

200 m freestyle: Men: 1. Takamitsu Kojima (Jap 1:54.10), 2. Mahrez Mebarek (Alg 1:55.29), 3. Nicholas Rupert Wilson (SA 1:55.69); Women: 1. Yingwen Zhu (Chi 2:06.45), 2. Christine Zwiegers (SA 2:06.72), 3. Nisha Millet (Ind 2:07.56).

50 m back stroke: Men: 1. Mizuki Wakabayashi (Jap 0:26.05), 2. Arun Venkatraman (Ind 0:28.20), 3. Michael Mars Danilo (Phi 0:29.12); Women: 1. Inyenginikabo Obia (Nig 0:31.68), 2. Lianne Marice Marquiz (Phi 0:31.92), 3. Reshma Millet (Ind 0:32.06).

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