Asian Games 2026: Baranica Elangovan wins India’s first-ever pole vault medal
Nagoya: Indian athlete Baranica Elangovan created history by securing the bronze medal in the women's pole vault at the Asian Games on Friday, becoming India's first-ever medallist in the discipline at the continental games.
The 29-year-old from Tamil Nadu cleared a height of 4.15 metres to finish joint-third alongside Kazakhstan's Polina Ivanova. Both competitors cleared 4.15m and recorded identical attempt counts before failing to clear 4.25m.
With both athletes level on maximum height and attempts, Baranica and Ivanova shared the bronze medal.
The performance marks a landmark accomplishment for Indian athletics, establishing Baranica as the nation's inaugural Asian Games medallist in pole vault across both men's and women's competitions.
Baranica Elangovan’s bronze medal raised India’s total medal tally to 23, comprising two gold, nine silver, and 12 bronze medals.
Earlier in the day, distance runner Gulveer produced a strong performance, recording 28:29.38 to comfortably finish second in the men’s 10,000m event and claim silver for India.
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Manpreet Kaur added a bronze medal in the women’s shot put. She recorded her best mark of 17.17 metres on her fourth attempt to guarantee a podium position.
In shooting, Kamaljeet and Suruchi Inder Singh captured gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, while Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudrankksh Patil, and Niraj Kumar secured silver in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event.
In table tennis, Manush Shah and Diya Chitale earned bronze in mixed doubles after advancing to the semi-finals, where they lost to China’s Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha.
India’s squash mixed doubles pairing of Joshana Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar guaranteed the country a medal by progressing to the semi-finals. Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh likewise advanced to their respective singles semi-finals.
The Indian men’s and women’s kabaddi teams also secured berths in the finals following semi-final victories against Thailand and Nepal.
ALSO READ: Indian Men's and Women's Kabaddi Teams Reach Asian Games Final
In hockey, the Indian women’s team defeated Japan 3-1 in their Pool B fixture.
Elsewhere, swimmer Rishabh Das placed sixth in the men’s 200m backstroke final, while weightlifter Seram Nirupama Devi finished seventh in the women’s 61kg category. Boxer Preeti was eliminated in the round of 16 after suffering a 0-5 defeat against North Korea’s Pang Chol Mi.
PTI