Bengaluru, April 28 (Agency) Olympian Srihari Nataraj on Thursday bagged three gold medals as hosts Jain University are leading the medals list at the ongoing Khelo India University Games. Jain University has garnered 24 medals so far with 16 gold medals, five silver and three bronze medals. Out of 16 gold medals, Jain University bagged 14 in pool events and two in badminton competition. Panjab University is second in the medals tally with 9 gold, 5 silver and 13 silver, taking the total tally to 27 medals. Maximum gold medals came in the shooting events. They won 3 gold medals. Mumbai University is placed third with 6 golds and as many silver. They also won 4 bronze medals. For Jain University, Nataraj won the 100m freestyle in 50.98 seconds, surpassing 53.01s set by Rudransh Mishra in the 2020 edition.
The silver and bronze medals were claimed by Heer Shah of Mumbai University who clocked 52.78s, while Adhithya Dinesh of Anna University clocked 52.79s. In the 50m backstroke, Nataraj clocked 26.10s, while the silver and bronze medals were won by Siva Sridhar of Jain University by clocking 27.10s and Siddhant Sejwal of Panjab University clocking 27.69s. Nataraj then clinched the 4x200m freestyle relay for Jain University, teaming up with Sanjay Jayakrishnan, Siva Sridhar and Raj Relekar. The team set a new record timing of 8:06.87s. Siva Sridhar also has been a blessing for Jain University who pocketed seven gold and two silver medals. Savitribai Phule Pune University won the silver clocking 8:22.17s, while University of Mumbai bagged the bronze with a timing of 8:28.57s. The 100m backstroke was clinched by Danush Suresh of Anna University (1:03.36s), while the silver and bronze were claimed by Jay Ekbote of University of Mumbai (1:06.33s) and Kritayush Singh of Adamas University (1:07.16s).
In archery, there were far too many upsets on the first day of commencement of the event. Muskan Kirar of Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya tasted defeat in the compound women’s singles. Kirar had topped the qualification round, but failed to make a mark further as she lost to Sneh Rana of Guru Nanak Dev University 135-139, who was the last place qualifier. Raginee Markoo too made early inroads but fell apart in the semifinals as the last year’s silver medalist lost to Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University’s Madhura Dhamangaonkar 140-146. A total of 25 boxing medals (12 women, 13 men) were decided on Thursday, concluding the event at the Games. On Friday, 10 medals are up for grabs at the Games, six in judo and four in shooting.