GNDU takes lead, PU close second

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 24

Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, and Panjab University were locked in a keen battle in the inaugural Khelo India University Games in Bhubaneswar, with the former occupying the top slot with six gold and the latter riding high on 16 medals, including five gold.

GNDU fencers cornered all six gold medals in the men’s epee and sabre competition with well deserved victories over Kolhapur’s Shivaji University on Monday to put their side ahead.

Panjab University was fired by its swimmers with Anurag Dagar adding a second gold to his kitty to match teammate Siddhant Sejwal.

Having led the 4x100m freestyle relay team to victory, Dagar returned to claim the 200m backstroke crown.

Panjab University added another gold medal to its tally in the women’s foil. The senior women’s team defeated Sardar Patel University, Gujarat, 45-41 in the final.

The team of Kusum, Kajal and Simran, with Chhavi Kohli in reserve, triumphed over Khushi Sameja, Divya Zala and Kajal Choudhary. Ritu Chaudhary was in reserve for Sardar Patel University.

It was Punjab University’s Kajal who was exceptional in the final round as she helped her team recover from a three-point deficit at 34-37 by producing 11 touches and win the tie 45-41.

“It was a hard-fought bout between the two finalists, but I believed in my abilities and got the better of their fencer. I just wanted to be calm and stick to my basics and managed to get 11 touches in the last round, so I’m really happy to have helped the team win the gold,” said Kajal.

GNDU fencers shine

GNDU’s first medal came in the men’s epee. The team of Nekpreet Singh, Udaivir Singh, Shubham and Prashar Rajan defeated Shivaji University from Kohlapur.

In the men’s sabre final, it was the team of Amit Chib, Sehajpreet Singh, Prince and Javed Choudhary from GNDU that humbled Shivaji University 45-33.

“It is a really proud moment for us to be representing our university at the national level and winning the gold medal. It was an interesting bout, but our team was really professional and finished the tie with a good difference,” said Nekpreet Singh.

“I think we were very consistent throughout and that is visible when you go through the scores as we earned five points in every round. It was good for me to get involved as well in the latter stages and I am very pleased to have helped my team win the gold medal,” added Javed Choudhary.

Priyanka pips Komolika

Meanwhile, there was a major upset in the archery field at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, with Priyanka Thakran of Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, edging out world cadet recurve champion Komolika Bari (Kolhan University) in the semifinals.

On a breezy and over-cast morning, Priyanka held her nerve through a gripping contest. She stayed abreast of Komolika, splitting points in the first two sets (26-26 27-27) before forging ahead with a 28-26 win in the third set.

Komolika shot a 10 to open the fourth set with zest but an eight with the third arrow let a consistent Priyanka split points. The world champion though forced the single arrow shoot-off by winning the fifth set 28-26.

“I rushed through my shot in the shoot-off and should have taken time. It is a lesson that I will carry with me,” said Komolika moments after losing the shoot-off 8-9.

Priyanka, who had finished fourth in the ranking round, composed herself before releasing the arrow that secured her a place in the final against Prarthana Solanki of Sant Gadge Baba Amaravati University.

The hosts, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, was delighted when Ranjit Naik made his way to the men’s recurve final, stunning top-ranked Satyam Patil 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

Naik will meet Utkarsh from Punjabi University, Patiala, in the title round on Wednesday. Utkarsh surprised second-ranked Gaurav Lambe of Savitribai Phule Pune University 6-2 in the semifinals.

Final results

Basketball Men University of Madras 104 bt University of Mumbai 91

Fencing Men’s Epee Udaivir Singh (GNDU) bt Athokpam Lenin Meetei (Lovely Professional University) Team GNDU bt Shivaji University 45-22 Men’s Sabre Aditya (Shivaji University) bt Mandeep (PU) Team GNDU bt Shivaji University 45-33 Women’s Foil Team PU bt Sardar Patel University 45-41 Women’s Sabre Jagmeet (GNDU) bt Sanya (PU) Team GNDU bt PU 45-38

Swimming Men 1500m Freestyle 1. Shaunak Prasade (Maharashtra University of Health Sciences) 2. Anmol Jindal (PU) 3. D Prakyath (Bangalore University) 50m Butterfly 1. Mihir Ambre (Savitribai Phule Pune University) 2. Sameer Sejwal (Delhi University) 200m Butterfly 1. Vinayak Parihar (Delhi University) 2. Suhas Maheshbabu (Visvesvaraya Technological University) 3. Bhargav Sailor (Veer Narmad South Gujarat University) 50m Breaststroke 1. Ansh Arora (Delhi University) 2. Shwejal Mankar (Savitribai Phule Pune University) 3. Rudransh Mishra (University of Mumbai) 200m Backstroke 1. Anurag Dagar (PU) 2. Thirumaran Sethumanickavel (Manonmaniam Sundaranar University) 3. Prasad Kandul (Savitribai Phule Pune University) 4x100m Freestyle Relay 1. PU 2. Veer Narmad South Gujarat University 3. Shivaji University Women 200m Backstroke 1. Damini Gowda (Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences) 2. Nariti S Vyas (Maharaja Ganga Singh University) 3. Yugandhara Shirke (Shivaji University) 50m Butterfly 1. Aarya Rajguru (Savitribai Phule Pune University) 2. Sadhvi Dhuri (Savitribai Phule Pune University) 3. Dolphi Sarang (Veer Narmad South Gujarat University) 50m Breaststroke

1. Aarti Patil (University of Mumbai) 2. Riddhi Bohra (Christ University) 3. Jyoti Patil (University of Mumbai)