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Indian swimmers make waves

Spearheaded by Rakhi Mehra and M. Usha, who clinched a gold each, India struck it rich on the second and penultimate day of the 13th Asia-Pacific Swimming and Diving championships today, bagging 20 medals. In the process the home team swelled its medal tally to 34.

Chinese Taipei maintained its relentless surge and finished the day with an overall tally of 87 medals, including 28 gold, to lead the field.

Thailand, with 26 medals - including 14 gold - were lying in second place. China, with 24 medals - including 11 gold - were third, while Hong Kong, with 28 medals - including 10 gold - were fourth. India were placed seventh.

It was in the morning session that India struck gold twice, through Delhi girl Rakhi Mehra and Kerala's M Usha. Mehra gave India its first gold medal, winning the 100 metres breaststroke in 1:29.28 seconds, while Usha increased the tally by winning the 100 metres butterflystroke in 1:13.80 seconds.

The hosts picked up nine medals in the first session and 11 in the second half of the day's programme. Out of the 20 medals, six were from the diving competition.

National champion Nisha Millet, who won a silver from the 200 metres breaststroke in the morning, struck again in the evening, winning the silver in the 200m freestyle in Group-1. She improved upon her own National Games mark of 2:30.82 seconds, which she had set at Bangalore in 1997. Today she clocked 2:09.03 seconds. The 17-year-old Bangalore girl has so far won four individual medals - bagging three silvers and a bronze.

Thailand's C Tanatpor took the gold in 2:08.30 seconds, while Hong Kong's Tsai Hiu Wai was third in 2:10.26. Another Indian girl in the fray K Chitra finished 11th in 2:18.45 seconds.

Another Bangalore girl Shikha Tandon won her second silver when she finished second in the 200 metres freestyle (Group-2). She timed 2:10.25 seconds. Korea's Baek Il Joo won the gold clocking 2:06.76 and Thailand's Chorkeam Choompol took the third place with a timing of 2:10.95.

UNI