Reigning Asian champion Govindan Lakshmanan of Services cruised to victory in the men’s 5000 metre race on the opening day of the 57th National Open Athletics Championships at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Monday, PTI reported.

Lakshmanan, fresh from winning a gold in the 3,000m event at the Asian Indoor Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, clocked a time of 14 minutes, 4.21 seconds to emerge victorious.

Abhishek Pal of Railways came in second, clocking a time of 14 minute 8.38 seconds. Mann Singh of Services took the bronze with a time of 14:08.87.

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It was way below Lakshmanan’s personal best (of 13:35.69), which he achieved during the Worlds in London.

In the 5000m women’s race, L Surya won in a time of 16 minutes, 2.85 seconds to lead a Railways one-two ahead of Chinta Yadav (16:40.45). Saigeeta Naik of All India Police took the third place.

Incidentally, Surya is the daughter of Lakshmanan’s long-time coach S Loganathan.

Tejinder comes up top

In the men’s shot put, Tejinder Pal Singh of Services pipped former national record holder Om Prakash Singh to the gold by hurling the iron ball to 18.86 metres.

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Tejinder sealed the first place with his final throw after trailing Om Prakash for most part of the competition.

Railways’ Jasdeep Singh claimed the bronze medal in the event.

Sarita P Singh of Railways won the women’s hammer throw with an effort of 60.54m.

Davinder Singh Kang, who reached the final round of men’s javelin throw in the World Athletics Championship in London last month, qualified for the final, scheduled to be held on Tuesday.

Results (All finals):

5,000m (men): 1. G Lakshmanan (Services) 14:04.21; 2. Abhishek Pal (Railways) 14:08.38; 3. Mann Singh (Services) 14:08.87.
5,000m (women): 1. L Suriya (Railways) 16:02.85; 2. Chinta Yadav (Railways) 16:40.45; 3. Saigeeta Naik (All-India Police) 16:53.97.
Shot Put (men): 1 Tejinder Pal Toor (Services) 18.86m; 2. Om Prakash Singh (ONGC) 18.80m; 3. Jasdeep Singh (Railways) 18.51m.
Hammer Throw (women): 1. Sarita P Singh (Railways) 60.54m; 2. Gunjan Singh (Railways) 59.10m; 3. Jyoti (Haryana) 57.07m.