PHOTO: PTI

The Indian Chef de Mission Rangeel Singh receives the South Asian Games trophy from Sri Lankan Sports Minister Jeewan Kumaranatunga.

COLOMBO: India won the volleyball gold medals in the men's and women's sections of the South Asian Games, beating host Sri Lanka in both finals at the Sugathadasa indoor stadium here on Sunday.

While the women won in straight games 27-25, 25-20, 25-20, the men conceded a game for the first time in the tournament before emerging a 25-15, 21-25, 25-21, 25-19 winner. However, the scoreline will hardly convey the struggle the women and men went through.

It was not only a test of skill but also patience in the midst of the home spectators, beating drums and blowing trumpets while rooting for their team. The indoor complex was fully packed and the Indian players would have found it nerve-wracking.

Rattled

Initially, the women looked rattled with mispasses and wayward smashing taking a toll on their confidence. Even Ashwini, easily the side's best spiker, proved no exception. Somehow, the team clung on and helped by an opposition which was inconsistent, except for Wasanthi, Chandima and Dinesha, ensured that it was ahead right through.

The men took a more complicated route. Steady to start with, the Indians wilted under Sri Lanka's persistent success in winning points through smashes. Kalika, Sameera and Peremasiri consistently beat Subba Rao and Tom Joseph's net blocks. Sameera bamboozled the Indians with his fast jump serves and there was a time when Tom lost focus. That was when Sri Lanka neutralised its opening game loss.

At this stage, Indian coach Augusto replaced Vikram with Sanjay Kumar and the latter proved the trump card. Strong and lanky, Sanjay took control of net blocks and it was his withering smashes from both close and far from the net that pegged the host back. All the shouting and cheering could not help Sri Lanka's cause and it lost in four games. The bronze medal in the men's section went to Pakistan, which beat Bangladesh 25-11, 25-15, 25-17. In the women's section, Nepal defeated Maldives 25-17, 25-19, 16-25, 25-23 to take the third spot.

Pakistan triumphs

Late on Saturday night, in the football final, Pakistan edged out Sri Lanka in the gold medal clash. Adeel Ahmed's goal in the 45th minute was the all-important moment of the match.

The Indian judokas reaped a rich harvest of five gold medals on the final day. Laishram Bembem Devi (48-kg) and Anita Chanu (52-kg) were the winners in the women's categories while Navjot Chana (60-kg), Parvinder Singh (66-kg) and Virender Singh (73-kg) were the men's winners.

In marathon, run early on Sunday, India's L. Binning could manage only a bronze. India finished with 15 gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze medals in the athletics event.

In the final competition of the Games on Monday, India picked up a silver and a bronze in the men's section in karate.

It was a colourful and emotional finale to the South Asian Games 2006 as sportspersons from eight nations parted with a message that they would meet in Bangladesh after two years.

Tight security

The high security at the Sugathadasa Stadium did not deter thousands of sports lovers from coming well in advance to the venue for the programme. The Speaker of the Sri Lanka parliament, W.J.M. Lokubandara, was the chief guest.

Bands, folk dance and songs in Sinhalese, Tamil and English came in turns. A huge podium, many times the size of a boxing ring, formed an additional stage and became the centre of the day's programme, which depicted the cultural heritage of the island nation. A touch of repetitiveness from the opening ceremony could be spotted, but that did not take away anything from the splendour.

With many sportspersons having left, the remaining men mingled together, reflecting a touch of emotion and extending the theme of "friendship without borders."

At the end of the first phase came the official proceedings, the lowering of the South Asian Games flag, with Mr. Lokubandara declaring "the Games closed." The Games flame on the far side dimmed and disappeared as music played in the background. The SAG flag was then handed over to a Bangladeshi delegation and that was the official confirmation that the 2008 edition would be hosted by that country. A dance number from Bangladesh preceded it.

The song-filled evening resumed and went on, as dusk gave way to night. More dance, more music flowed as the five-hour programme culminated with a dazzling display of fireworks.

For India, SAG 2006 had a special significance. It collected a record 118 gold medals bettering the earlier high of 106 gold medals in Chennai in 1995.

The results:

Athletics: Marathon: 1. A.M. Ajith Bandara (SL), 2:25:40; 2. B. Arjun Kumar (Nep), 2:28:10; 3. L. Binning (Ind), 2:29:16.

Karate: Men: 50-kg: 1. V.C. Gunarathna (SL); 2. T. Mahmood (Pak); 3. R. Dhahal (Nep) and Md. S. Osman (SL); 55-kg: 1. Saadi Abbas (Pak); 2. Ram Limmbu (Nep), 3. D. Syngkon (Ind) and U.G. Rajakaruna (SL); Plus-80: 1. F. Ahamad (Pak); 2. Anup Dethe (Ind); 3. M. Hossain (Ban) and R.S. Twati (Nep).

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