KATHMANDU, DEC 22 - National record holder Yam Sajan Sunar made up for his 100m false start to claim the men’s 200m title during the third Golden Sprint Meet here at the Dashrath Stadium tracks on Sunday.

Sunar was thrown out of the 100m race for a false start but made most of the setback by easing to the 200m triumph. The Tribhuvan Army Club athlete, who holds the 100m national record of 10.3, won the 200m metre in 21.6 seconds. Fellow Armyman Min Bahadur Chaudhary (22.3) and Ashish Chaudhary of Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club completed the men’s 200m podium places.

APF athlete Ashish Chaudhary benefited from the absence of Sunar to win the men’s 100m title in 10.8 ahead of TAC duo Min Bahadur Chaudhary (10.9) and Chhabilal Chaudhary (11.0).  Krishna Chaudhary of TAC won the women’s 100m sprint in 12.9 followed by Manamati Bista (13.1) of Nepal Police Club (NPC) and Saraswoti Chaudhary (13.1) of APF.

Dil Maya Karki of APF, who opted out of 100m sprint, completed a double win. Karki was a runaway winner in 200m, claiming the title in 26.00 which equalled her personal best timings in the event. Krishna Chaudhary (26.6) took silver and Manamati Bista bronze medal.  Karki earlier won her favourite 400m event far ahead of her competitors but way behind her national record of 58.5. Karki finished the course in 61.6 and was followed by Saraswoti Bhattarai (64.0) of TAC and Fulmati Rana (66.6) of APF.

Armyman Himal KC claimed the men’s 400m gold in 50.1 sec ahead of fellow TAC athlete Mukti Khadka (50.6) and Khem Raj Chaudhary (50.6) of NPC. TAC clean swept the 400m hurdles with Mahabir Bhujel winning gold in 57.1, Padam Karki silver in 58.0 and Ashok Kunwar bronze in 58.6. APF athlete Sabita Chaudhary struck the women’s 400m hurdles gold with the timings of 68.5. Sabita was followed in the podium by Manamati (71.3) and Shila Chaudhary (73.1) of APF.

Dhirendra Chaudhary of NPC pipped Bishesh Mahato of TAC to win the men’s 110m hurdles gold medal. Both the athletes finished on 15.9 but the former edged the latter on mini-seconds. Shova Kanta Mahato took bronze in 16.3. Keshari Chaudhary, who has represented Nepal in various international cricket tournament, claimed the women’s 100m hurdles gold. Keshari timed 16.8 while Sabita Chaudhary finished in silver position with the timings of 16.9. Shila Chaudhary ended up third clocking 18.7.

APF athletes Dil Maya and Ashish Chaudhary were adjudged the best players of the meet and received Rs 10,000 each. Additionally top three athletes in each of the events earned Rs 5,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively. None of the 10 events produced national record in the one-day meet.

Senior national and APF coach Sushil Narshinga Rana pointed out athlete’s lengthy competitive break as well as the chilly weather contributed to runners’ inability to improve on their timings. “Since the Asian Games (September 19-October 4) athletes have been idle,” said Rana. “Another reason for the slow pace is the weather. The meet was originally scheduled for October but had to be pushed until now due to Asian Games.” Rana believed that had the meet been held during October, some national records would have been broken for sure.