Indian women win maiden South Asian swimming title

Karachi, Sept 06: India's women swimmers won the first-ever South Asian swimming and Water Polo Championship claiming a rich haul of 27 gold medals here.Pakistan secured second position with one gold, five silver and 13 bronze medals while Sri Lanka was third with two gold, four silver and seven bronze medals in the three-day event organised by the Pakistan Swimming Federation, The 'Dawn' reported. India's Kshipra Mahajan won the gold medal in the 400-metre freestyle open category in four minutes and 47.86 seconds. She was followed by her compatriot Pooja Ragaave, who covered the distance in four minutes and 48.47 seconds on the final day of the competition. Pakistan's Kiran Khan won the bronze by clocking 4:59.43 seconds. Results: 400m freestyle (open): 1 Kshipra Mahajan (India) 4:47.86; 2 Pooja Ragaave (India) 4:48.47; 3 Kiran Khan (Pakistan) 4:59.43. 50m breaststroke (age group): 1 Shehani Dinali (Sri Lanka) 37.70; 2 Poorva Shetye (India) 37.74; 3 Venpa Murugaperuma (India) 38.57. 50m breaststroke (open): 1 Mineka S N (Sri Lanka) 36.0; 2 Monalisa Mondaz (India) 38.01; 3 Bibidha Rimal (Nepal) 40.67. 200m breaststroke (open): 1 Sameeksha Alva (India) 2:35.94; 2 Madhavi Giri (India) 2:38.99; 3 Kiran Khan (Pakistan) 2:47.48. 50m breaststroke (age group): 1 Shehani Dinali (Sri Lanka) 37.70; 2 Poorva Shetye (India) 37.74; 3 Venpa Murugaperuma (India) 38.57. 100m breaststroke (age group): 1 Jyotsna Pansare (India) 1:13.19; 2 Kavya Bhandekar (India) 1:14.97; 3 Sunethra A. Wijeratne (Sri Lanka) 1:19.05. 50m butterfly (age group): 1 Arhata Maghavi (India) 31.09; 2 Vandita Yogesh (India) 32.42; 3 Eesha Khan (Pakistan) 35.00. Bureau Report