Date:21/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/21/stories/2003012101702100.htm

Sport - Athletics

Delhi pips Calicut in 4x100m relay

GULBARGA Jan. 20. Delhi University emerged winner of the 4x100m relay for men edging out Calicut in a photo finish on the penultimate day of the 63rd All-India inter-varsity athletic championship at the Gulbarga University open air stadium here today.

In an exciting race, Delhi and Calicut finished together and it was left to the camera to decide the winner by a margin of millimeters. Officially both teams were timed 42.37 seconds. Last year's winner Kerala came third.

In the women's 4x100m relay, Mahatma Gandhi University bagged the gold, quelling the challenge of University of Kannur. Calicut girls ended third.

Last year's overall champion, Mahatma Gandhi marched towards another crown, coming up with an improved display on the fourth day, to tally 37 points. Mahatma Gandhi is closely followed by Calicut and Madras, with 31 and 29 respectively.

Today, Madras added one more gold while Mahatma Gandhi won three gold, five silver and two bronze. Calicut had three gold and the same number of silver and bronze.

Manoj of Maharshi Dayanand University (Rohtak) claimed the gold in 20-km walk, clocking one hour 36 minutes and 24.6 seconds. Vikramjit and Balvinder Singh of GNDU bagged the silver and bronze respectively.

In 400m hurdles, Diljotsingh of Punjab University and Vijaala of Calicut bagged the gold medals in the men's and women's sections respectively. Srinivas of Madras and Calicut's Sinimol Paulose took the gold in 1,500m for men and women.

The triple jump crown for men was won by Mumbai University's B. Sushant who leapt to a distance of 15.22m. Mathew of Mahatma Gandhi and Gajendra Singh of CCSU (Meerut) clinched the silver and bronze medals.

Birkaran Singh of Punjabi University (Patiala) established a new meet record in hammer throw, clearing 62.88m. He erased the two year old record held by Rakeshkumar of CCSU (Meerut). Pargat Singh of Punjab University (Chandigarh) and Vinod Kumar of MJP Rohilkund won the silver and bronze medals.

In the individual championship, S. Geeta of Andhra University (13 points) was ahead in the women's category while Vilas Nilgund of Bangalore and Navin Choudhary of MJP Rohilkhand University, with 11 points each, had a close race.

The results:

Men: 4x100m relay: 1. Delhi 42.30s, 2 Calicut, 3. Kerala; 400m hurdles: 1. Diljot Singh (Punjab) 53.55s, 2. Harinder Singh (GNDU), 3. M.S. Patil (Shivaji); 1,500m: 1. A. Srinivas (Madras) 3:59.31s, 2. A.D. Halwade (Shivaji), 3. Navin Choudhary (MJP); 20-km: 1. Manoj (MDU) 1h 36:34.6s, 2. Vikramjit Singh (GNDU), 3. Balvindher Singh (GNDU); Triple jump: 1. B. Sushant (Mumbai) 50.22m, 2. B.B. Mathew (MGU), 3. Gajendra Singh (CCSU); Hammer throw: 1. Birkaran Singh (Punjabi) 62.88m (NMR), 2. Pargat Singh (Punjab), 3. Vinod Kumar (MJP, Rohilkhund).

Women: 4x100m relay: 1. MGU Kottayam 48.15s, 2. Kannur, 3. Calicut; 400m hurdles: 1. Vijaala (Calicut) 1:01.22s, 2. Vijayalaxmi (Mangalore), 3. Kudachar Daya (Karnatak); 1,500m: 1. Sinimol Paulose (Calicut) 4:41.03s, 2. Shanti (Bharatidasan), 3. V.B. Mini (MGU).