LIC fest: South emerge champs

Bhopal, Jan 12 (UNI) Bagging 18 golds, the South Zone emerged overall champions in the Life Insurance Corporation Sports Festival 2006-07, that concluded here today.

The North Zone was runners-up with 9 gold medals while West took third spot with 5.

LIC Managing Director Thomas Matthew awarded the prizes. South's S Jaichandran and South-Central's Vasanthi Vijoor were adjudged the fastest runners while special prizes went to P Nirmala (carrom), Swati Ghate (chess), S Apurva, Shilpa, Bhartiya Narayan and M Maithili. A record was set by A Shridhar in the 110 m hurdles.

In today's 800 m race, P S Pramesh (South), Bhoopendra Singh (Central) and M K Venyu (South) took the top three positions respectively while Abhishek Pandey (North-Central), P F Merenda (West) and B Shivhari (South-Central) took the honours in the 400 m hurdles.

The final medals tally Gold Silver Bronze South 18 4 5 North 9 2 3 West 5 9 6 North-Central 5 5 5 South-Central 3 9 14 Central 2 8 4 East 1 4 1 UNI