Avinash, Shriya shine

Avinash Mani and Shriya R Bhat emerged individual champions as the swimming competitions at the State Games came to an end here on Thursday.

Avinash, who enjoyed a good outing on the first two days, extended his fine form on the final day to win gold in 400M freestyle and 200M butterfly. The 18-year-old Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre (BAC) trainee logged 52 points to be adjudged as the best swimmer.

It turned out to be a close race in the women’s section for the individual honour and BAC’s Shriya, who triumphed in the 50M breaststroke on Thusday, finished with 39 points from eight events to pip team-mate Mayuri Lingaraj (38) for the crown. Khushi Dinesh, who bagged five gold medals in all her five events, was third at 35 points.

In the day’s first event, the 400M freestyle, Avinash clocked 4:30.34 to finish first. BAC’s Rayan Mohammed Meccai came second in 4:33.42, while Om Kumar TH, also from BAC, completed the podium in 4:34.03.

Later in the evening, Avinash won the 200M butterfly in 2:13.01 to cap off a fine tournament.

Khushi Dinesh, meanwhile, clinched her fifth gold of the meet with a fine swim in the 400M freestyle final.

The 23-year-old swimmer clocked 4:48.44 for the yellow metal.

The biggest winner of the day though was Mayuri, who bagged three gold medals. Mayuri first annexed the 200M butterfly title in 2:37.38, pipping BAC’s Nikitha SV (2:38.98). The bronze went to Smruthi Mahalingam, also from BAC, who touched the pad in 2:39.40.

Mayuri then succeeded in 100M freestyle in 1:02.98 and later clinched the 50M butterfly in 31.09 seconds.

In the women’s 50M breaststroke, Shriya prevailed in 33.77 seconds for her third gold of the Games. Bhoomika R Kesarkar of Dolphin Aquatics finished a distant second in 34.98 seconds while BAC’s Vaishnavi P settled for bronze in 35.71 seconds. Swimmers from BAC dominated the competition by winning 90 medals, which included 31 gold, 33 silver and 26 bronze.

Results:

Men: 100M freestyle: Gaurav Yadav KA (DA) 54.44, 1; Avinash Mani (BAC) 55.55, 2; Prithvi M (BAC) 55.59, 3.
400M freestyle: Avinash Mani (BAC) 4:30.34, 1; Rayan Mohammed Meccai (BAC) 4:33.42, 2; Om Kumar TH (BAC) 4:34.03, 3.
50M backstroke: Arvind Mani (BAC) 27.79, 1; Saurabh Venekar (BAC) 30­.79, 2; Nishant Kumar (GSC) 31.02, 3.
200M butterfly: Avinash Mani (BAC) 2:13.01, 1; Prasidha Krishna PA (GSC) 2:14.42, 2; Om Kumar TH (BAC) 2:23.97, 3.
50M butterfly: Prithvi M (BAC) 26.92, 1; Avinash Mani (BAC) 27.02, 2; Arvind M (BAC) 27.46, 3.
4x100M medley: BAC ‘A’ (4:46.64), 1; BAC ‘B’ (4:55.69), 2; Nettakallappa Aquatic Centre (5:27.07), 3.
Women: 100M freestyle: Mayuri Lingaraj (BAC) 1:02.98, 1; Sneha T (BAC) 1:03.18, 2; Preksha HM (BAC) 1:05.28, 3.
400M freestyle: Khushi Dinesh (BAC) 4:48.44, 1; Nikitha SV (BAC) 4:56.43, 2; Preksha HM (BAC) 4:58.84, 3.
50M backstroke: Shriya R Bhat (BAC) 33.77, 1; Bhoomika R Kesarkar (DA) 34.98, 2; Vaishnavi P (BAC) 35.71, 3.
200M butterfly: Mayuri Lingaraj (BAC) 2:37.38, 1; Nikitha SV (BAC) 2:37.98, 2; Smruthi Mahalingam (BAC) 2:39.40, 3.
50M butterfly: Mayuri Lingaraj (BAC) 31.09, 1; Sneha T (BAC) 32.60, 2; Smruthi Mahalingam (32.97), 3.
4x100M medley: BAC ‘A’ (5:17.38), 1; BAC ‘B’ (5:32.46), 2; Nettakallappa Aquatic Centre (8:24.97), 3.
Individual honours: Best swimmer: Men: Avinash Mani. 
Women: Shriya R Bhat
Water polo: Men: Final: BAC: 8 bt Nettakallappa Aquatic Centre: 4.