India duo post Asian records to win gold at IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championships

India enjoyed success on the third day of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics Asia-Oceania Championships as Anandan Gunasekaran and Ramkaran Singh earned golds in Dubai.

Singh stormed to victory in the men’s T13 5,000 metres event, the 25-year-old taking 15 seconds of the Asian record as he finished in 16min 15.47sec.

Iran’s Ali Elahi earned the silver medal, ending 47 seconds adrift in 17:02.12.

Gunasekaran ensured it would be a double celebration for India by breaking the Asian record in the men’s T44 400m.

He won 54.67sec, with Sri Lanka’s Ajith Hettiarachchi and fellow Indian Manoj Baskar joining him on the podium, posting times of 56.46 and 59.48 respectively.

“I feel very good, and very proud to get a gold medal for India,” said Gunasekaran, whose time was a qualifying mark for this year's Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“I will give an even better performance at the Paralympic Games now.

“I felt very well before this competition and I believe I will perform very well at my next competitions too.”

“I will try to get under 50 seconds.”

Malaysia’s world and Asian Games champion Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi delivered home success in the men’s T36 100m.

He held off the challenge of China’s Yifei Yang and Hong Kong’s Wing Sum Chan to win in 12.45.

After three days of competition the Indian team currently share joint top spot with Iran, who earned two more gold medals in field events.

Asian Para Games gold medal winner Mahnaz Amini Nogourani sealed their first success of the day, producing an Asian record throw of 8.10 metres in the women’s F57 shot put.

Mongolia’s Tsogtgerel Gendendarjaa was some way adrift of the mark with 6.73m.

Nour Mohammad Arekhi earned Iran’s second title of the day in the F11 discus.

She threw 35.16m, with Chinese Taipei’s Chih-Chung Chiang finishing narrowly adrift on 35.10m.

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