Bhubaneswar July 6 (IANS) Govindan Laxmanan clinched the first gold for India at the Asian Athletics Championships by emerging triumphant in the men s 5 000 metres at the Kalinga Stadium here on Thursday.
Laxmanan was trailing the leading four runners towards the end of the second last lap but he produced a stunning sprint finish over the final 300 metres to win by a handsome margin.
The experienced Vikas Gowda took bronze in the men s discuss to boost the Indian tally.
Mohammad Samimi of Iran took the gold in the men s discuss while Malaysian Mohd Irfan Shamsuddin ended up with the bronze.
--IANS
ajb/vt
Lxmanan wins gold at Asian athletics meet
