Guangzhou :Indian women gave the country's medal chase a huge boost by picking up two gold medals on the opening night of track and field of the 16th Asian Games here last night.
Preeja Sreedharan and Kavita Raut gave India a fine one-two finish in the women's 10,000 metres and then Sudha Singh capped a perfect night with a final lunge to win the women's 3,000 metres steeplechase at a packed Aoti Stadium.
On a day that saw China adding two more gold medals to their tally in the men's 20km walk and the women's shot put through Wang Hao and Li Ling respectively, it was India hogging the limelight with an equal number of gold medals.
The tiny Kingdom of Bahrain took a little bit of the honour with Ali Hassan Mahboob winning the men's 5,000 metres ahead of the chasing Qatari duo of James Kurui and Felix Kibore.
But the night belonged to the Indian pair in the women's 10,000 metres as they played a wait and watch game by staying in the front pack throughout.
Best times
And then Sreedharan broke free on the final curve to power past Bahrain's Ethiopian runner Shitaya Eshete Habtegebrel who was pushed into third by Raut. All three recorded their best personal best times with Sreedharan finishing in 31:50:47 minutes.
"This is what we have been training for," Sreedharan gushed after the race.
"We just followed the instructions of our coach and raced our own race by staying with the front pack of runners," she said.
The 28-year-old Indian had finished fifth in both the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres at the 2006 Doha Asian Games with her personal best being 32:04:41 recorded at the Watford Championships in June 2008.
"I feel proud with what we have achieved. This is an emotional moment for both of us especially after ‘didi' (sister) had fever during the Commonwealth Games," added Raut, a bronze medallist at last month's event in New Delhi.
But there was no such hiccup before a packed Aoti Stadium last night. "There was no strategy and the plan was simple. We wanted to stay in the front pack and make our move at the end, and that is exactly what we did," Sreedharan related.
Crucial day
UAE sprinter Ahmad Juma Al Za'abi powered himself into the men's 100 metres semi-finals with a time of 10.75secs, well below his personal best of 10.68secs, in the fifth and final heat that was won by Oman's Barakat Al Harthi in 10.26secs.
"I am glad to achieve this time, but I know I can do better tomorrow," Al Za'abi told Gulf News.
"We have set a target and for the time-being we have taken the next step. Tomorrow is a crucial day and he will be there in the final," said UAE Athletics Association President Ahmad Al Kamali.
Also winning gold on the opening day of the track and field was Dilshod Nazarov of Tajikistan with a heave of 76.44 metres in the men's hammer throw.
