Monica rewrites discuss record

By Our Sports Reporter

KANPUR, OCT. 1. Monica Joon achieved more than what she had expected on Monday. For the 15-year old discus thrower, who could not train in the New Delhi's Nehru Stadium due to the preparatory work for the Afro-Asian Games there, a National record in the under-18 category in the inter-zonal athletic championship here, exceeded her goal of crossing her personal best.

Except for Monica's effort of 41.01 metres, it was a rather insipid opening day at the IIT Campus here. Not even a meet record came in the other 31 events on the opening day.

Two of the main attractions expected for this meet did not turn up. Seema Antil and Asian junior shot put winner Amit Tyagi played truant.

Monica had only hoped for bettering her personal best of 40.38 metres, a National record in the under-16 category, which she managed in the inter-State championship in Bangalore in January this year.

In her first attempt of 37.72 metres, Monica erased Hina Das' meet record of 36.88. Though she improved with the next two throws, Monica could only muster 38.63 till her penultimate throw. But Monica eventually surprised herself and her coach S. S. Rai to better the previous mark by 91 centimetres. The decade old earlier record was held by Punjab's Swaranjit Kaur.

``I was not confident at all. I had practised without the circle being available at the stadium. So, I was not expecting much. But my coach supported me throughout and I am very happy,'' said Monica.

Only in her first season in the under-18 category, Monica has sustained her knack of creating National records. ``This is the third time I have set a National record in discus event and once I had held the record in shot put as well.''

Monica has now her eyes set on Tuesday's shot put event. The record is held by Seema Antil at 12.27. Monica had thrown 12.22 in the Delhi State championship earlier.

About the absence of some of the top athletes, the UP Amateur Athletics Association Secretary, Mr. P. K. Srivastava said, ``Punjab and Maharashtra opted out due to the recent disturbances in Lucknow. But I had received confirmation from Vijay Gehlot (walker) and shot putters Amit Tyagi and Ranvijay Singh. I will report this to the AAFI.'' The sprinters from South Zone S. Alex and K. N. Priya, too, did not turn up, opting for the University meet.

The chief coach for the juniors, Mr. J. S. Saini said, ``I had written in my report after the Asian juniors that the participation in the zonal and National meets should be made compulsory. This matter has to be discussed with the AAFI secretary.'' The official version regarding Seema Antil's absence was that she was nursing a shoulder injury.

Three events - 4x400m relays in the girls under-20 and boys under-18 categories, and the girls under-20 discus event - were not held due to lack of entries. The boys under-18 shot put results were not disclosed and will be announced after age verification.

The results:

Junior men (under-20): 100m: 1. M. Prasanna (South) 10.94, 2. Ramneek Singh (North) 11.07, 3. Lakhvir Singh (North) 11.11; 800m: 1. K. S. Ashoka (South) 1:56.70, 2. Bhupinder Singh (West) 1:57.23, 3. Anini (North) 1:57.53; 5000m: 1. Mukesh Kumar Yadav (North) 15:11.37, 2. Mahesh L. Bhosle (South) 15:45.85, 3. Ram Lal Hemram (East) 15:51.02; pole vault: 1. Deepchand (North) 3.85, 2. B. Ram (North) and Maharana (East) 3.70; high jump: 1. Nikhiljeet (East) 1.95, 2. P. J. Victor Jeb (South) 1.95, 3. Randhir Singh (North) 1.90; shot put: 1. Babu K. Singh (East) 14.97, 2. Dolu Gogoi (East) 12.61, 3. L. Venkateshwar (South) 12.24; 4x400m: 1. North 3:22.75, 2. East 3:25.72, 3. West 3:47.18.

Boys: under-18: 100m: 1. Mohit Sharma (North) 11.14, 2. Surendra Singh (North) 11.33, 3. Chitranjan Singh (East) 11.39; 800m: 1. Brijendra Singh (East) 1:58.22, 2. Kuldeep Singh (North) 1:58.25, 3. Sunni Sharma P. (South) 1:58.35; high jump: 1. Anil Kumar (North) 1.89, 2. Vinod (North) 1.89, 3. S. K. Nisar (East) 1.86; pole vault: 1. Vijay Yadav (North) 4.05, 2. Naseem (North) 3.90. javelin: 1. Purander P. J. (South) 57.72, 2. Don John (South) 57.69, 3. Avtar Singh (North) 57.52; 10,000m walk: 1. K. Somendro Singh (East) 49:11.74; 2. Madan Gopal (North) 51:44.60; 3. Manoj (North) 52.26.48.

Under-16: 100m: 1. S. K. Prabhuraj (South) 11.50, 2. Sandeep Singh (North) 11.64, 3. A. R. Prasan Kumar (South) 11.69; 800m: 1. Appa Rao (South) 2:00.20, 2. Vashistha Kumar Rai (North) 2:00.50, 3. R. Bangariah (South) 2:02.42; high jump: 1. S. Bharat (North) 1.78, 2. S. R. Hari (East) 1.78, 3. B. Gagan (East) 1.79; shot put: 1. Harinder Singh (North) 13.85, 2. Murlidharan (South) 13.27, 3. Santosh Kumar (East) 12.34; javelin: 1. Vinay (North) 50.13, 2. N. T. Singh (East) 47.32, 3. Bharath Kumar (South) 43.75.

Junior women (under-20): 200m: 1. Parmita Sarkar (East) 24.95, 2. Parmita Gookar (West) 25.50, 3. Ipstia Sahu (East) 26.01; 800m: 1. Tharini (South) 2:16.01; 2. Pavitra Chaudhary (North) 2:17.61, 3. Ruma Biswas (East) 2:22.93; 5000m: 1. N. Chuba Chanu (East) 18:32.10, 2. Rupender (North) 18:38.98, 3. Shalini (North) 19:03.19; long jump: 1. Sachitha Monnappa (South) 5.68m, 2. Nayan Nair (South) 5.27, 3. Pumpa Mahapatra (East) 5.18; javelin: 1. Sheena P. J. (South) 32.63, 2. C. Sampa Gogoi (East) 32.26, 3. Namita Dhinga (East) 30.96.

Girls: Under-18: 200m: 1. Mini Suvarna (West) 26.18, 2. Swaroopa (South) 26.21, 3. Pavneet (North) 26.25; 800m: 1. Sujata Samant (East) 2:21.17, 2. Harini Chandrashekhar (South) 2:22.53, 3. Seena Joy (South) 2:23.90; long jump: 1. Nabnitha Ghosh (East) 5.51, 2. A. Amudha (South) 5.43, 3. Anjali Shee (East) 4.95; discus: 1. Monica Joon (North) 41.01 (NR, old, Swaranjit Kaur, 40.10, 1991), 2. Mukesh Kumari (North) 35.26, 3. Bhavna Kaur (West) 33.0; javelin: 1. Sanjoo (North) 33.0, 2. Sabita Mandal (East) 31.41, 3. C. H. Indu (South) 28.59; 4x400m: 1. South 4:05.67, 2. East 4:17.58, 3. North 4:35.03.

Under-16: 800m: 1. Amanjeet Kaur (North) 2:28.42, 2. Arpita Sinha (East) 2:29.39, 3. I. Bengoubi Devi (East) 2:29.76; long jump: 1. T. Bindu (South) 5.34, 2. K. Revathi (South) 5.26, 3. Jasminra Khatoon (East) 4.79; discus: 1. Indu Bala (North) 35.88, 2. Arpita Ray (South) 34.68, 3. Deepali Ghosh (East) 26.48; javelin: 1. Alpesh (North) 30.87, 2. Ranjeeta Shes (East) 29.48, 3. Sonu (North) 28.50.

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