Ecstasy and agony for Lakshmanan
He was stripped of bronze medal in 10,000m for track violation.
He was stripped of bronze medal in 10,000m for track violation.
He was stripped of bronze medal in 10,000m for track violation.
Jakarta: It was a case of ecstasy and agony for G Lakshmanan at the Asian Games here on Sunday as he was stripped of bronze medal in 10,000m for track violation.
The 28-year-old from Tamil Nadu clocked 29:44.91 and had ended third. But the officials ruled that he had stepped out of the track during one of the laps and disqualified him.
Bahrain's Hassan Chani (28:35.34) won the gold, while compatriot Abraham Cheroben (29.00.29) took the silver. China’s Changhong Zhao (30:07.49) got the lucky break as he won the bronze, thanks to Lakshmanan’s error.
“I was eyeing a bronze medal only in this event as I know I could stretch my rivals in 5,000m. The high-altitude training at Bhutan helped me,” Lakshmanan had told mediapersons before he was disqualified.
Lakshmanan, who bagged a double in 5000m and 10,000m at the Asian Championships in Bhubaneswar last year, will have a chance to redeem himself in the 5,000m on Thursday.