Sahil clinches gold in Indian Open Race Walk

Punjab athlete Sahil upset his more fancied rivals to clinch the gold in the men’s half-marathon on the final day of the Indian Open Race Walk Competition on Sunday. In a thrilling finish at the picturesque Sukha Lake course, the 24-year-old Sahil had enough in the tank to hold off the challenge of experienced Servin Sebastian of Tamil Nadu over the 21km distance and emerge winner with a time of 1 hour 25 minutes 48 seconds.

Sebastian settled for silver with a time of 1:25:50.00, while the bronze went to Haryana’s Hardeep, who clocked 1:26:03.00. Paris Olympian Paramjeet Singh Bisht, representing Uttarakhand, finished fourth (1:26:07.00). Olympian and national record holder over 20km race walk, Akshdeep Singh of Punjab, finished seventh with a time of 1:27:37.00.

Another prominent athlete, Vikash Singh from Delhi, finished 10th. He clocked 1:30:41.00. Suraj Panwar of Uttarakhand didn’t finish the race. The women’s 21km title went to Haryana’s experienced race walker Ravina. The 29-year-old edged past her two younger rivals — 24-year-old Munita Prajapati of Uttar Pradesh and 23-year-old Manis Negi of Uttarakhand to take home the gold medal with a time of 1:39:15.00.

Prajapati took silver with a time of 1:39:26.00. The bronze went to Mansi Negi, who clocked 1:42:58.00. Haryana’s promising teenager and World U20 medallist, Aarti, who has graduated to the senior level, finished fourth with a time of 1:43:15.00. The competition was equally exciting in the U20 men’s and women’s groups. Tushar Panwar of Uttarakhand, winner of gold in men’s U20 5km, clocked 19:59.00 to better his own U20 national record of 20:07.00 set last year. Rajasthan’s Manisha was the winner in the women’s U20 5km event. Her winning time was 23:24.00.

Results:

Men: 21km half marathon: Sahil (Punjab) 1:25:48.00, Servin Sebastian (Tamil Nadu) 1:25:50.00, Hardeep (Haryana) 1:26:03.00.

Women: 21km half marathon: Ravina (Haryana) 1:39:15.00, Munita Prajapati (Uttar Pradesh) 1:39:26.00, Mansi Negi (Uttarakhand) 1:42:58.00.

Men U20: 5km: Tushar Panwar (Uttarakhand) 19:59.00 (improved his own U20 national record of 20:07.00 set last year), Himanshu Panwar (Uttarakhand) 20:08.00, Praveen  (Rajasthan) 20:12.00.

Women U20: 5km: Manisha (Rajasthan) 23:24.00, Yogita (Haryana) 23:49.00, Simran Gusain (Uttarakhand) 23:58.00.