NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Krishna Poonia ended India’s 52-year wait for a Commonwealth Games gold medal when she led the home nation in a clean sweep of the women’s discus yesterday.
Roared on by a sizeable crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Poonia won the first athletics gold for India since Milkha Singh’s golden run in the 440 yards in Cardiff in 1958, when the event was known as the Empire Games.
“It’s amazing. I dedicate this medal to all the Indians,” said Poonia, who won with her first throw of 61.51 metres. “With this I think we wiped out everything bad that was happening before the Games.”
Harwant Kaur took the silver medal and Seema Antil the bronze.
Australian Dani Samuels, the discus world champion, pulled out of the Delhi Games last month because of security and health concerns.
Construction problems, dirty accommodation and security fears plagued the run-up to the Games, which close on Thursday.
