Manpreet, Laxmanan win gold at Asian athletics meet (Lead)

Bhubaneswar July 6 (IANS) Manpreet Kaur and Govindan Laxmanan won gold in their respective events as India registered an impressive start to their campaiugn at the Asian Athletics Championships at the Kalinga Stadium here on Thursday.

Manpreet won gold in the women s shotput while Laxmanan emerged triumphant in the men s 5 000 metres.

Manpreet dominated her event with a best throw of 18.28 metres to register the first gold for India in the event.

Guan Quayin China took silver with 17.91.

Laxmanan on the other hand had to struggle hard for his gold medal.

He was trailing the leading four runners towards the end of the second last lap but he produced a stunning sprint finish over the final 300 metres to win by a handsome margin.

The experienced Vikas Gowda took bronze in the men s discuss to boost the Indian tally.

Mohammad Samimi of Iran took the gold in the men s discuss while Malaysian Mohd Irfan Shamsuddin ended up with the bronze.

--IANS
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