Jaisha strikes second gold, Luka named best woman athlete

Asian Games bronze medallist O P Jaisha won the women's 1500m race to grab her second gold on the fourth and final day of the 54th National Open Athletics Championships here today.
Railway woman Jaisha clocked 4:17.80 in a mediocre field, well below her meet record timing of 4:11.83 to win gold, ahead of ONGC women Sini Markose (4:21.89) and Sakshi (4:22.15) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
31-year-old Jaisha, who bagged a bronze in women's 1500m race in the Incheon Asian Games, had also won the 5000m gold here on the opening day on Sunday.
"I am happy to end the season with this performance. This will give me confidence for the next season. I will take part in the National Games and also have a foreign training stint in China next year," she said after her race.

Asian Games silver medallist Tintu Luka, representing Railways, also grabbed her second gold after she anchored the Railways 4x400m quartet to top spot in 3:47.77, ahead of ONGC (3:49.93) and Kerala (3:56.40).
Luka, who also won gold in women's 800m, was adjudged the best woman athlete of the Championships while Ankit Sharma, who set a new meet record in men's long jump (7.87m), was named best man athlete.

Manikanda Arumugam, also of Railways, was the third athlete to run away with two gold from the Championships as he won the men's 200m race today in 20.98secs. He bagged both the sprint gold as he had won the 100m dash on the second day on Monday.

In men's triple jump, former national record holder Renjith Maheswary, representing Railways, finally had something to cheer in an otherwise disappointing season as he won the gold with an effort of 16.09m.
Current national record holder and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Arpinder Singh of ONGC finished third with an effort of 15.89m while U Karthik of Services was second with 15.95m.