Joseph, Latha give India gold

India began their campaign in the track and field events at the SAF Games by grabbing two of the four gold medals that were decided on the first day of competition in Islamabad on Friday.

Jetty C Joseph won the women's long jump while N. Latha took the honours in the women's shot put.

A silver and bronze also came India's way through Gurmeet Kaur and Suman Devi respectively in the women's javelin.

Chaitali Paul (shot put - silver) and Pooja Ahlawat (long jump - bronze) were India's other medals winners.

In the lone men's event, the  5000m, India's Sunil Kumar (14.56.52 secs) and Mukesh Kumar Yadav (15.21.68 secs) finished fourth and sixth respectively. 

The event was won by Noushad Khan of Pakistan in 14.39.47 secs. Rajendra Bahadur (Nepal-14.42.63 secs) and Kathan Sandiras (Sri Lanka-14.42.68 secs) took silver and bronze respectively.

The Javelin gold was claimed by Sri Lanka's Anne Maheshi with an effort of 51.37 metres. She made a last-ditch effort for the gold after trailing behind both Gurmeet Kaur and Suman Devi till her fifth attempt. 

In the shot put, Latha, who started with 14.29 metres, improved upon it to return a distance of 15.36 metres in her third try and claim the gold. However, the effort was well below her personal best of 15.87m.

Chaitali Paul's throw of 14.48 metres in her second attempt was good enough for the silver.

Pakistan's Zeenat Parveen (13.47m) took the bronze. 

The long jump event for women evoked greater interest as Jetty was expected to achieve the Olympic grade mark of 6.50 metres. The Kerala-based athlete fouled in her first three attempts but managed to equal her personal best of 6.30 metres in her fourth attempt. Her fifth and sixth attempts were also fouls.

Foujia Huda of Bangladesh (6.07m) and Pooja Ahlawat 5.82m collected the silver and bronze respectively.

Following are the final results:

Men:

5000m: 1. Moushad Khan (Pak) 14:39.47 secs; 2. Rajendra Bahadur (Nep) 14:42.63 secs; 3. Kathan Sandiras (Sri) 14:42.68 secs.

Women:

Javelin: 1. Anne Maheshi (Sri) 51.37 metres, 2. Gurmeet Kaur (Ind) 51.27m and 3. Suman Devi (Ind) 50.58m.

Shot Put: 1. N Latha (Ind) 15.36m, 2. Chaitali Paul (Ind) 14.48m and 3. Zeenat Parveen (Pak) 13.47m.

Long Jump: 1. Jetty Joseph (Ind) 6.30m, 2. Fouji Huda (Bangla) 6.07m and 3. Pooja Ahlawat (Ind) 5.82m.