Chandigarh, February 22 Punjab athlete Sahil defeated his more fancied rivals to win the gold medal in the men's half marathon on the final day of the Indian Open Race Walk Competition here on Sunday.
In a thrilling finish at the picturesque Sukha Lake course, the 24-year-old Sahil had enough stamina to hold off the challenge of experienced Servin Sebastian of Tamil Nadu over the 21km distance and emerge as the winner with a time of 1 hour 25 minutes and 48 seconds.
Sebastian settled for silver with a time of 1:25:50.00, while the bronze went to Haryana's Hardeep, who clocked 1:26:03.00.
Paramjeet Singh Bisht, representing Uttarakhand, finished fourth (1:26:07.00).
Akshdeep Singh of Punjab, an Olympian and national record holder in the 20km race walk, finished seventh with a time of 1:27:37.00.
Another prominent athlete, Vikash Singh from Delhi, finished 10th. He clocked 1:30:41.00. Suraj Panwar of Uttarakhand did not finish the race.
The women's 21km title went to Haryana's experienced race walker Ravina.
The 29-year-old edged past her two younger rivals – 24-year-old Munita Prajapati of Uttar Pradesh and 23-year-old Manis Negi of Uttarakhand – to take home the gold medal with a time of 1:39:15.00.
Prajapati took silver with a time of 1:39:26.00. The bronze went to Mansi Negi, who clocked 1:42:58.00.
Haryana's promising teenager and World U20 medallist, Aarti, who has moved to the senior level, finished fourth with a time of 1:43:15.00.
The competition was equally exciting in the U20 men's and women's groups.
Tushar Panwar of Uttarakhand, winner of the gold medal in the men's U20 5km, clocked 19:59.00, improving his own U20 national record of 20:07.00 set last year.
Manisha of Rajasthan was the winner in the women's U20 5km event. Her winning time was 23:24.00.
Results:
Men: 21km half marathon: Sahil (Punjab) 1:25:48.00, Servin Sebastian (Tamil Nadu) 1:25:50.00, Hardeep (Haryana) 1:26:03.00.
Women: 21km half marathon: Ravina (Haryana) 1:39:15.00, Munita Prajapati (Uttar Pradesh) 1:39:26.00, Mansi Negi (Uttarakhand) 1:42:58.00.
Men U20: 5km: Tushar Panwar (Uttarakhand) 19:59.00 (improved his own U20 national record of 20:07.00 set last year), Himanshu Panwar (Uttarakhand) 20:08.00, Praveen (Rajasthan) 20:12.00.
Women U20: 5km: Manisha (Rajasthan) 23:24.00, Yogita (Haryana) 23:49.00, Simran Gusain (Uttarakhand) 23:58.00.
