Harmilan, who on Thursday shattered the 19-year-old record in women’s 1500m added the 800m title on the penultimate day. The 23-year-old proved once more that she is the undisputed queen over the middle distance events in the country following her wins in the National Inter-State Championships in Patiala organised before the Tokyo Olympics.

KM Chand of Delhi gave Harmilan a tough time but only for a brief time before the Punjab girl drew on her stamina and speed to show why she became the champion for the fourth successive time this season.

She ran well within herself today, once again keeping ahead of a resilient Chanda. @HarmilanBains @afiindia #NOAC2021 pic.twitter.com/KT1oazKaKf

— Anand Datla (@SportASmile) September 18, 2021

Less than 24 hours after her performance in the long jump which won with a leap of 6.52m, the best this season, Aishwarya also claimed a golden double by winning the women’s triple jump event with an effort of 13.42m edging Renu Grewal of Haryana by 4cm

Renu, whose season-best is 13.39m, led the competition with an effort of 13.42m in her third attempt. Aishwarya, whose best in the first three jumps was 13.31m, responded with two jumps past that mark, logging 13.49m and 13.55m for a new personal best. In her final and sixth attempt, Renu managed to leap to 13.51m.

Meanwhile, in the men’s pole vault S Siva of Services improved on his own meet record to 5.12m from 5.10m he set in the 2019 Ranchi meet.

T Santhosh Kumar of Tamil Nadu, who also represented India in 2018 Asiad, won the men’s 400m hurdles with a season-best timing of 50.79s which is also third-best behind Tokyo Olympian MP Jabir and Dharun Ayyasamy.

Mohammed Afsal of Services showed why is best in the men’s 800m event by retaining the gold medal ahead of Ankesh Chaudhary and Krishan Kumar.

Earlier in the morning during qualification rounds, 2018 Jakarta Asian Games gold medallist and national record holder at 17.17m, Arpinder Singh sneaked in as the last qualifier, with a 15.51m effort in the men’s triple jump. National junior champion Praveen Chithravel of Tamil Nadu (16.61m) led the 12 qualifiers which included Abdulla Aboobacker and Karthik Unnikrishnan of Services who also crossed 16m-mark.

In men’s 200m qualifying, Amlan Borgohain of Assam clocked a personal best of 21.00s from his previous one of 21.99s and became the fastest Indian in the event this season.

RESULTS

MEN

800m: Mohammed Afsal (Services, 1:48.39s), Ankesh Chaudhary (Ser, 1:48.58s), Krishan Kumar (Ser, 1:48.77)

400m hurdles: T Santhosh Kumar (TN, 50.79s), Jashanjot Singh (Rlys, 51.32s), Dhaval Mahesh Utekar (Ser, 51.49s)

Pole vault: S Siva (Ser, 5.12m NMR, OMR 5.10m by Siva in 2019 Ranchi meet), Parshant Singh Kanhaiya (Har, 4.95m), Sakthi Mahendran (TN, 4.70m)

Discus throw: Kirpal Singh (ONGC, 59.58m), Gagandeep Singh (Ser, 58.32m), Abhinav (Har, 56.18)

50km race walk: Resham Midhun (Ser, 4hr 29 min 47.00s), Sanabam Damen Singh (Ser, 4:33:32.00s), Anjani Kumar Singh (Ser, 4:35:29.00s)

WOMEN

800m: Harmilan Bains (Punjab, 2:03.82s), Chanda (Delhi, 2:05.35s), Rachna (Har, 2:07.00s)

400m hurdles: R Vithya Ramaraj (TN, 58.47s), Nanhi (Har, 1:00.06s), Ayana Thomas (Police, 1:00.08s)

Triple jump: B Aishwarya (Rlys, 13.55m), Rebu Grewal (Har, 13.51s), Bhairabi Roy (Rlys, 13.12s)

Javelin throw: Sharmila Kumari (Rlys, 51.80m), K Rashmi (Rlys, 50.36m), Shilpa Rani (Har, 47.83m)

Heptathlon: Akshatha (Karnataka, 4939 points {100mH: 14.74s; HJ: 1.52m; SP: 9.25m; 200m: 25.47s; LJ: 5.88m; JT: 32.89m; 800m: 2:25.46s}); 2. Sowmiya Murugan (Rlys, 4893pts), Sonu Kumari (Har, 4889)