Asian Athletics GP: Mayookha sets new Indian record

Triple jumper Mayookha Johny on Sunday became the first Indian woman to breach 14m mark while creating a new national record en-route to winning bronze in the third and final leg of the Asian Athletics Grand Prix in Wujiang, China.

Mayookha produced a big leap of 14.02m to finish third behind two Chinese Xie Limei (14.16m) and Li Yanmei (14.05m). She bettered Kerala state-mate M A Prajusha's earlier national record of 13.72m set in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi last year.

Mayookha, who had a disappointing season last year after improving Anju Bobby George's 2002 national record of 13.67m by just 1 cm at Patiala, since lost the national record to Prajusha (13.72m) at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

She had two identical 13.71m jumps, which was 1 cm short of Prajusha's best, in the first two legs of the Asian Grand Prix at Jiaxing (May 22) and Kunshan (May 26) while finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

On Sunday, a determined Mayookha leapt a national record 13.97m in her first try-out of the evening which ensured a medal for her. She lost rhythm in her next four attempts leaving no mark behind as each time she overstepped the take-off board.

However, her sixth and final jump was perfect and she had become the first Indian woman to go beyond the magical 14m mark by registered her personal best 14.02m.

Seema Antil made it to the podium for the third successive time with yet another bronze medal in women's discus throw. Her sixth round throw of 51.45m, her best out of three GPs, put her in to third place again.

Chinese duo of Yang Fei (59.45m) and Lin Xiaojing (56.16m) took gold and silver.

Ghamanda Ram won his third successive silver in men's 800m race with an effort of 1:49.45. Compatriot Sajeesh Joseph (1:49.74) garnered the bronze. Iranian Sajad Moradi made a clean sweep of gold in all the three legs of Asian GP in a time of 1:49.27.

Sunday's three medals took India's tally in the three legs of the Asian GP to seven.

Ghamanda Ram and Seema Antil had won two silver and two bronze each respectively in the earlier tow legs on May 22 and May 26.

Other Indian Results:

Men: Sameer Mon (100m: 6th-10.83s), Kunhu Muhammed (400m: 6th-48.25s), Harishankar Roy (high jump: 8th-2.05m), Jithin Thomas (high jump: 10th-2.0m), Maha Singh (long jump: 7th-7.35m), Arpinder Singh (triple jump: 7th- 16.10m), Vikas Punia (discus throw: 6th-50.92m).

Women: Devashree Majumdar (400m: 5th-57.38s), Suman Devi (javelin throw: 5th-48.67m).