Indian women athletes, shooters help country retain No.2 position in CWG on Day-9

NEW DELHI - India remained firm on the second position on Day-9, as Indian women helped it keep its head held high by winning a historic Gold medal in the women’s 4×400m relay in the evening following the shooters Annuraj Singh and Heena Sidhu who did the country proud by winning Gold in the morning here on Tuesday at the Commonwealth Games.

Indian women runners made Tuesday an unforgettable Golden Day, as they stunned all by winning Gold medal in the 4×400m relay in the evening.

Roared on by a passionate home crowd, India led virtually for the whole race with Manjeet Kaur handing over just ahead of England on the first leg, and Sini Jose and Ashwini Akkunji holding the advantage over the second and third legs.

It was left to Mandeep Kaur to hold off Nigeria’s 400m hurdles gold medallist Muizat Odumosu and Nadine Okyere of England on the final stretch.

She was never threatened, however, and India took the top honours in 3:27.77 seconds, to Nigeria’s 3:28.72 and England’s 3:29.51.

The Indian quartet of Manjeet Kaur, Sini Jose, Ashwini Chidananda Akkunji and Mandeep Kaur came first clocking three minutes, 27. 77 seconds to clinch the honour Nigeria took a took the Silver in the event and England settled for the bronze.

In Badminton, World No.3 Saina Nehwal advanced into the finals, as she defeated Scotland’s Susan Egelstaff 21-10, 21-17 to reach the final in front of a capacity crowd on Tuesday.

Top seeded Saina will now meet Malaysian Mew Choo Wong in the final.

On the ninth day of the games, the shooters were bang on targets in their respective categories. The medal haul they won include one gold and two Silver. Annuraj Singh and Heena Sidhu won the Gold.

Samresh Jung and Chandrasekhar won silver in 25 metre pairs standard pistol event while Tejaswini Sawant bagged added another silver in 50 metre rifle prone singles event.

In men’s hockey semi-finals, India defeated England by 5-4 in the penalty shoot out. Both the teams were three at the end of the regultion period and extra-time.

India will take on Australia in the final tomorrow. The Aussies had earlier beaten New Zealand 6-2 in the first semi-final. In another encounter in Men’s Hockey, South Africa defeated a 10-man Pakistan 3-2 in a classification match for the fifth-sixth position.

India have scaled new peak by winning 32 golds in the Commonwealth Games. Earlier, it had won 30 golds in the Manchester edition eight years ago. India continue to remain in the second spot firmly. Australia lead the table with a rich haul of 64 Gold.

In Table Tennis, India’s Soumyadeep Roy has entered the semi-final of the Men’s Singles event. In Men’s Doubles, the duo of Sharad Kamal and Shubhajit Saha also made it to last four stage.

Indians will be seen in action in Badminton, where Saina Nehwal is looking to secure the final berth in the women’s Singles later tonight. In the medals tally, India are standing second at 32 gold, 25 silver and 32 bronze. Australia retain their top spot with 67 gold, 45 silver and 40 bronze. England who are standing third, have a haul of 30 Gold, 50 Silver and 38 bronze.

One of the Delhi’s suburbs, Noida, will get to experience the excitement of Commonwealth Games first hand tomorrow. The Women’s 29 km and the Men’s 40 km Individual Time Trial cycling points race will be held at the magnificent Greater Noida expressway.

Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa will be the Guest of Honour during the closing ceremony of the 19th Commonwealth Games on Thursday. His Foreign Minister, G L Peiris will accompany him on his visit to India.

On Day-9 of the competition at Commonwealth Games, India was well-placed with 32 Gold, 25 Silver, 32 Bronze medals in its total medal tally of 89 medals.

England remained on third position with 30 Gold, 50 Silver, 41 Bronze in its total medal tally of 121.

Australia remained on top in the overall medal tally with at a total 153 medals comprising 68 Gold, 45 Silver, 40 Bronze medals. (ANI)