CWG: Mixed day for India, first dope case hits Games (Evening Lead)

NEW DELHI - India missed out on the gold in boxing and shooting but Saina Nehwal led a host of shuttlers into

the quarterfinals of the badminton event at the Commonwealth Games Monday, on a day when the first dope case hit the event.

Nigerian Osayemi Oludamola, who won the gold in the women’s 100 metre sprint after Australian Sally Pearson was disqualified for a false start, has tested positive for a banned stimulant, Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell announced.

“I regret to announce that a positive dope case has come out. Nigeria’s Osayemi Oludamola has tested positive for methylhexaneamine and under the anti-doping rules of the Games, she has been handed a provisional suspension,” Fennell told reporters here.

“Under anti-doping procedures, she has been notified and she has requested for a ‘B’ sample testing. The ‘B’ sample testing will be done today (Monday) and her hearing will also be held today,” he added.

On her gold medal, Fennell said: “At the moment, no decision has been taken about the medal. She has been put under provisional suspension.”

India’s hopes of a slew of gold medals in boxing were dashed as Commonwealth Championships gold medallist Amandeep Singh (49kg), Asian Championships silver medallist Jai Bhagwan (60kg) and nine-time national champion Dilbag Singh (69kg) lost their semifinal bouts. The trio will get a bronze each as both semifinalists are given a bronze in boxing.

In shooting too, India lost a gold narrowly in the women’s 50 metres rifle prone event.

Tejaswini Sawant, a world champion in the event, shot 583 and Meena Kumari 585 for a total of 1,168 points, one less than Scotland’s Jen McIntosh (591) and Kay Copland (578) and English girls Michelle Smith (590) and Sharon Lee (579) who tied on points.

Jen and Gay took the gold on the basis of 60 perfect 10s to the 52 of Michelle and Shaon.

It was good news from the badminton courts.

Led by world No.3 Saina Nehwal, a host of Indian players moved into the quarterfinals of the individual event, raising hopes of multiple medals.

Top seeded Saina spanked Caroline Black of Northern Ireland 21-0, 21-2 to set up a clash with sixth seeded Canadian Anna Rice, whom the Indian beat in the quarterfinals of the mixed team event.

Aditi Mutatkar also moved into the women’s singles quarterfinal with a 21-11, 21-17 victory over Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour. But the Indian now faces second seeded Malaysian Mew Choo Wong.

Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa pulled off a fine victory against Malaysian Eei Hui Chin and Woon Khe Wei 15-21, 21-10, 21-16 to advance to the last eight of the women’s doubles.

In the men’s singles, Parupalli Kashyap got the better of Kieran Merrilees of Scotland 21-12, 21-5. Kashyap, too, will have a difficult opponent in fourth seeded Mohammad Hafiz Hashim in the quarterfinals.

Top ranked Indian and third seed Chetan Anand defeated Jamie Van Hooijdonk of Wales 21-8, 21-2 in another third round match.

In the mixed doubles, second seeds Jwala Gutta and V. Diju defeated compatriots Rupesh Kumar and Ashwini Ponnappa 15-21, 21-18, 21-16.