Asian Games: India strike gold, silver in men's 800m

India on Tuesday clinched two medals, one gold and one silver, in the men's 800m athletics event of the ongoing 18th edition of the Asian Games.

While Indian athlete Manjit Singh bagged the gold medal with a clock timing of 1:46.15, his fellow tracker Jinson Johnson settled for a silver medal after clocking 1:46.35 in the finals of the event.

Reflecting on his podium finish, Johnson said that the medal holds a special significance as this is his first at the Asian Games. He dedicated his victory to all the Kerala people who did the rescue work during the floods.

Speaking to ANI, Johnson said, "I am very happy. This is a major medal in my career. I have already won a silver and bronze in Asian Championship but this one is my first in Asian Games."

"I would like to dedicate this medal to all the Kerala people who worked against flood," he added.

The third spot in the event was claimed by Abubaker Abdalla of Qatar as he settled for the bronze with a clock timing of 1:46.38.

In Kurash, Pincky Balhara and Malaprabha Yallappa Jadhav handed India another two medals as they won silver and bronze, respectively, in women's 52 kg event.

While Balhara lost to Uzbekistan's Gulnor Sulaymanova 0-10 in the final round, Jadhav had conceded a 0-10 defeat to the same opponent in the semi-final of the event.

India's total medal tally at the prestigious tournament now stands at 49-- nine gold, eighteen silver and twenty-two bronze.