Indian athletes finished on the podium in both the Men and the Women 1500m final at the Asian Games. Harmilan Bains secured the silver medal in the Women’s category. Ajay Kumar Saroj and Jinson Johnson made it a double podium finish in the Men’s race on Sunday, 1st October 2023.
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Harmilan Bains ends 41-year old wait
Harmilan Bains finished second in the race with a timing of 4:12.74s to win her maiden medal at the Asian Games.
With the performance, the 25-year became the first Indian woman in 45 years to win a medal in the event at the Asiad. Geeta Zutshi was the last Indian to win a medal in Women’s 1500m. She bagged the silver medal at the 1982 edition in New Delhi.
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Defending Asian Games champion bags bronze
In the Men’s 1500m, defending champion Johnson finished on the podium with a time of 3.39.74. He however had to be content with only a bronze medal this time. His compatriot Ajay Kumar Saroj meanwhile had the biggest result of his career.
He clocked a timing of 3.38.94, which is shy of his personal best of 3.38.24. He recorded it at the World Championships last month. Both the Indians finished behind Qatar’s Mohamad Algarni, who clocked 3.38.36 to win the gold medal.
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