Seema Punia and Navjeet Dhillon Win Silver and Bronze Medals in Women's Discus Throw for India at CWG 2018

Indian athletes Seema Punia and Navjeet Dhillon clinched silver and bronze medals in Women's Discus Throw Final in Commonwealth Games 2018. The duo won the first medals for India in athletics on day eight of Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games after wrestlers Sushil Kumar and Rahul Aware won the gold along with wrestler Babita Kumari Phogat and shooter Tejaswini Sawant winning silver medals. With these two medals, India’s medal tally soars up to 31 including 14 gold, 7 silver and confirms third-place standing in CWG 2018 medal table.

Seema Punia and Navjeet Dhillon finished behind Australia’s Dani Stevens who made Commonwealth Games record with a throw of 68.26. Seema Punia’s result was 60.41 while Dhillon’s result mark reads 57.43. The event took place at the Carrara Stadium Discus/Hammer. This is an exciting result for Indian athletics team of 28 members.

For Seema, this is the fourth consecutive medal in Commonwealth Games for her after winning it previously in Melbourne 2006 (silver medal), Delhi 2010 (bronze medal) and Glasgow 2014 (silver medal). She had also won a gold medal in Incheon 2014 Asian Games. For 23-year-old Navneet Dhillon from Amritsar, this is her first medal in Commonwealth Games.

In other big takeaways in athletics, Muhammed Anas Yahiya broke the national record to register fourth-place finish in 400m final. It was the first time that an Indian was competing in the 400m final at the CWG since the legendary Milkha Singh in 1958. Nevertheless, Anas' effort was not enough for a medal, falling short by just 0.2 seconds, finishing behind winner Isaac Makwala (44.35), Baboloki Thebe (45.09) and Javon Francis (45.11) but he along with entire nation was proud of him!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 12, 2018 05:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).