Rahul Kadam of Gupta Sports Academy grabbed all the attention as he erased the one lap record set by Sabino Fernandes 35 years ago. A determined Kadam strode to victory in winning the men’s 400 metres gold in the 43rd Bombay YMCA State-Level Annual Athletic Meet 2019, organized under the auspices of the MCDAAA by the Bombay YMCA Physical Education Department, at the University Pavilion, Marine Lines on Saturday afternoon.
Rahul Kadam (centre) of Gupta’s Sports Academy is seen with Sabino Fernandes (left) and coach Harish. Rahul broke the 35-year-old meet record set by Sabino in winning the Men’s 400 metres gold in the 43rd Bombay YMCA State-Level Annual Athletic Meet 2019
The 20-year-old Rahul was slow off the blocks and lagged behind his teammate Omkar Dalvi. But at the halfway stage of the race Rahul produced a solid kick and accelerated ahead at full speed and overtook Omkar to charge into the lead which he managed to maintain before crossing the finish line in a time of 47.9 seconds and bettered the old timing of 49.0secs set by Fernandes, who is still active with athletics as an official.
“It’s nice to win by breaking the record, but I was not aware that I had broken a very old record. Now, I feel like being on top of the world and I hope to continue working hard and will try to improve my performances,” an elated Rahul said as he walked off the tracks.
Omkar collected the silver in a time of 48.9secs, which was also better than the previous time, while the bronze went to Akshay Shetty of Infinity Sports Club in 49.3s.
Pearl D’Souza was another athlete from the Gupta’s Sports Academy, who soaked in all the adulation as she powered her way to winning the girls’ under-12 shot put gold and bettered the meet record. The 11-year-old Pearl, a student of St. Francis ICSE, Borivali, heaved the iron sphere to a new distance of 9.94 metres which was more the previous best of 9.65m. Pearl’s effort is also better than the state record of 9.72m, but she will have to wait for the MAAA to ratify the new mark.
Results (all finals): Girls’ Under-12 – Shot put: 1. Pearl D’Souza (Gupta’s Sports Academy) – 9.94 mts (NSR, NMR), 2. Purva Chavarkar (Goenka & Associates Educational Trust) 8.91m, 3. Freya Irani (J.B. Petit) – 7.99m.
Girls’ Under-16 – 200m: 1. Sanika Nate (Achievers SC) – 26.2secs (EMR). 2. Shanaya Irani (Cathedral & John Connon School) – 26.5, 3. Reshma Gore (Track & Field Masters – 26.7s.
Girls’ Under-18 – 1500m: 1. Akanksha Shelar (Spandan EF) – 5:04.1 secs (NMR), 2. Vishakha Salunkhe (Spandan EF) – 5:11.8s (BMR), 3. Pallavi Jha (JSW Sports, Vasind) – 5:42.5s.
200m: 1. Shreya Mulik (Shree Sidheshwar SC, Satara) – 26.0 secs, 2. Michelle Fernandes (Holy Cross) – 26.3s, 3. Sai Sawant (Agnel Gymkhana) – 27.6s.
Boys’ Under-18 – 1500m: 1. Sushant Jedhe (Spandan EF) – 4:14.5secs, 2. Balu Pukale (Spandan EF) – 4:16.1s, 3. Vishnu Lavhale (Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji School, Nanded) – 4:15.2s.
Boys’ Under-18 – 800m: 1. Sushant Jedhe (Spandan EF) – 2:07.6secs, 2. Balu Pukale (Spandan EF) – 2:08.4s, 3. Sahil Jadhav (Agnel Gymkhana) – 2:09.4s.
200m: 1. Himanshu Singh (Track & Field Masters) – 22.5secs, 2. Harshwardhan Pathak (Somaiya Sports Academy) – 22.9s, 3. Gautam Solanki (Pro Athletes Academy) – 23.1s.
Women – 5000m: 1. Snehal Hirave (Spandan Eco Foundation) – 20:03.7 secs, 2. Akshaya Jadyar (Seven Star Sports Academy) – 20:05.4s, 3. Reva DeSa (Rising Star SC) – 20:27.6s.
Men – 400m: 1. Rahul Kadam (Gupta Sports Academy) – 47.9 secs (NMR), 2. Omkar Dalvi (Gupta Sports Academy) – 48.9s, 3 (BMR). Akshay Shetty – 49.3s.