Shuttlers led India's yet another stupendous show as the country widened the gap at the top by clinching 41 medals, including 19 Gold, on Day 5 of the 13th South Asian Games here on Friday.
India grabbed another 18 Silver and 4 Bronze to take the total tally to 165 medals (81 Gold, 59 Silver, 25 Bronze) and leave second-placed Nepal (41 Gold, 27 Silver, 48 Bronze), who won 116 medals in aggregate, behind.
Sri Lanka are third with a total of 134 medals (23 Gold, 42 Silver, 69 Bronze).
The shuttlers won the maximum Gold medals — four — for India on Friday. They completely dominated the discipline by winning four Golds and two Silver in the day.
Former world junior championships Silver medallist Siril Verma lived up to his top seeding as he rallied from a game down to outwit compatriot Aryaman Tandon 17-21, 23-21, 21-13 in an all-Indian men’s singles final.
In the women’s singles final, Ashmita Chaliha overcame a late surge from fellow Indian Gayatri Gopichand to finish off with a 21-18, 25-23.
In doubles, there was double delight for Dhruv who emerged victorious in both men’s and mixed doubles. He paired up with Krishna Prasad Garaga to win the men’s doubles title 21-19, 19-21, 21-18 against Sri Lanka’s Sachin Dias and Buwaneka.
In mixed doubles, top seeds Dhruv and Meghana Jakkampudi eased past second seeds Sachin Dias and Thilini Pramodika Hendehewe of Sri Lanka 21-16, 21-14 in the final.
Track and field athletes, who were leading the Indian charge in the past few days, fetched the maximum 12 medals but just two of them were Gold. The two Gold were won in men’s and women’s shot put events.
The country’s fencers also made their presence felt in the South Asian Games by clinching three Gold and as many Silver.
In table tennis also, the Indians won the Gold and Silver in both the men's and women’s singles.
India weightlifters also continued their impressive run in the regional multi-sporting event by claiming three Gold and a Silver.
Achinta Sheuli opened the Gold account as he finished on top of podium in men’s 73kg with a total lift of 300kg.
Rakhi Halder added another Gold in women’s 64kg with a total effort of 200 kg while Manpreet Kaur won the third in women’s 71kg category with a total lift of 192kg.
Indian cyclists also opened their Gold medal account on Friday.
Elangbam Chaoba Devi finished on the top of podium in women’s elite race while John Naveen Thomas and Arvind Panwar bagged a Gold and Silver respectively in the men’s elite event.
