Swimmers smash five Games records

Guwahati, Feb 12 (UNI) Delhi's Richa Mishra continued to rule the pool by adding two more gold to her kitty, even as five new Games records tumbled in the swimming competitions of the 33rd National Games here today.

Richa clinched gold in women's 200 m backstroke with a new Games record of 2.29.34 minute. She bettered Shikha Tandon's (Karnataka) mark of 2.30.32 minute, set in the 2002 edition.

Richa won her second gold of the day in 400m individual medley, with a timing of 5.12.65 minute.

Karnataka's Shikha Tandon bettered her own record in 50m freestyle, clocking 0.27.34 to clinch gold.

Maharashtra's Veerdhaval Khade continued his fine form to grab the gold in men's 50m freestyle, clocking 0.23.82 to erase Kerela swimmer Sabestain Xavier's 1997 record of 0.01.45 minute in the process.

In the 400m individual medley for men, Rehan Poncha (Karnataka) came first, clocking 4.44.32 minute, to smash previous meet record of 4.47.94 minute in the name of Karnataka's J Abhijith.

The men's 200m backstroke also saw new meet record being set by Rehan Poncha and Rohith Havaldar, both of Karnataka, clocking an identical 2.11.65 minute, bettering Delhi swimmer Bhanu Sachdev's mark by 0.00.91 minute.

Karnataka added four more gold to win maximum number of nine from swimming. Delhi are placed second with seven golds while Maharashtra are third with three golds.

Meanwhile, Maharastra continued to dominate the diving events, adding another gold to the two they bagged yesterday.

The lone gold medal in diving event for the day, high board diving for women, was won by Maharashtra's Yogita Walunj.

UNI