Triple jumper Arpinder Singh on Sunday created history by becoming the first Indian to win a medal in the IAAF Continental Cup as he clinched a Bronze but star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra finished sixth with a below-par show here.
Arpinder, who had won a Gold in the Asian Games in Jakarta, cleared a modest 16.59m in the first of his three jumps to be in the four-man semifinals. He could only clear a 16.33m jump in his next attempt to miss out on the two-man final jump. Nonetheless, he collected a Bronze.
The 25-year-old Arpinder was representing the Asia-Pacific team in the meet, held once every four years. He had jumped 16.77m in Jakarta and has a personal best of 17.17m which he recorded in 2014.
No Indian has ever won a medal in the Continental Cup which was known as the IAAF World Cup before 2010. Two top athletes from the four regions of Europe, Americas, Africa and Asia-Pacific were taking part in each of the 36 events in men and women sections taken together.
Reigning Olympic and world champion Christian Taylor of the United States easily took the Gold with a jump of 17.59m, which is one metre more than the best effort of Arpinder.
In men's javelin throw, reigning Commonwealth Games and Asian Games champion Chopra finished a disappointing sixth in the eight-man field with a best of 80.24m from his three throws.
Chopra began with 80.24m and then could only clear 79.76m in his second attempt. His third throw was a foul attempt. This was Chopra's worst international performance this season. He had a 80.81m in the Eugene leg of the Diamond League Series.
In men's 400m, national record holder Mohd. Anas ran with a good timing of 45.72 seconds but that was enough for a fifth-place finish. His Asia-Pacific team-mate Abdalelah Haroun of Qatar won the Gold in 44.72.
Haroun had won Gold in the Asian Games in 44.89 while Anas had settled for a Silver with a timing of 45.69m.
In men's 1500m race, Jinson Johnson finished sixth, clocking 3 minute 41.72 seconds. Johnson had also competed in the 800m race on Saturday, finishing seventh in an eight-man field.
Sudha Singh, meanwhile, did not finish her women's 3000m steeplechase event. She had won a Silver in the Asiad.