TIL Desk Sports/ Swapna Barman created history by winning the women’s heptathlon title while Arpinder Singh ended India’s 48-year wait for men’s triple jump gold at the 18th Asian Games yesterday. Experienced sprinter Dutee Chand grabbed her second silver medal at this year’s Asiad in the women’s 200 metres event.
Barman’s triumph in the women’s heptathlon is the first ever gold for India in the event at the Asiad. Barman posted a score of 6026 points. Wang Qingling of China scored 5954 to take silver while Japan’s Yuki Yamasaki produced her personal best of 5873 to bag the bronze medal.
In men’s triple jump, Arpinder won gold with an effort of 16.77 metres. He pipped Uzbekistan’s Ruslan Kurbanov, who took the silver medal with a personal best jump of 16.62 metres. The bronze medal went to China’s Cao Shuo, who jumped 16.56 metres.
Before the 25-year-old Arpinder, the previous Indian champion at the Asiad was Mohinder Singh Gill in 1970 with an effort of 16.11m. Arpinder flopped in his first attempt. After the invalid jump, he came back strong with a jump of 16.58 metres in the second attempt which made him the leader after the first two attempts.
