India's best bet in women's long jump, Neena Varakil, won a silver medal in the event with a mark of 6.51m at the ongoing Asian Games in Jakarta on Monday. Thi Thu Thao Bui of Vietnam inched ahead, winning gold with a jump of 6.55m.
Neena recorded her best jump of 6.51m in the fourth attempt and settled for the silver. She becomes the first Indian to bag a medal in long jump since Anju Bobby George in 2006
Though Thi Thu Thao Bui of Vietnam bettered Neena's strategies to win the gold with a season’s best jump of 6.55, we must praise the Indian who put up a stellar show. Xiaoling Xu of China won the bronze with an effort of 6.50.
A commendable effort by our 28yr-old long jumper #TOPSAthlete #NeenaVarakil!
— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) August 27, 2018
Grabbing a SILVER medal in women’s long jump event with a mark of 6.51m at the #AsianGames2018,she has certainly made us proud.🥈
Many congratulations! #IndiaAtAsianGames #Athletics #KheloIndia🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/TrYDTdgkOw
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Earlier at the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships, the Kerala girl Neena took home the silver. Also last year, Neena shone brilliantly after winning a gold at the Asian Grand Prix. She stole the limelight and bagged the gold in women's long jump as India won six medals.
She had also won a silver in women's long jump in the first leg at another Chinese city of Jinhua in the same year with an effort of 6.46m. Her personal best is 6.66m, which she recorded in 2016.
Unfortunately, the 27-year-old ace long jumper couldn't put up a good show at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast in April this year. She finished 10th with a best jump of 6.19m.
#Athletics
— The Field (@thefield_in) August 27, 2018
A proud moment for Neena Varakil! A silver that India will be proud of. Very consistent jumping throughout the Long Jump competition.#AsianGames2018 Live updates: https://t.co/gMoxiZ7Gld pic.twitter.com/QEenmFF3sx
Congratulations Neena Varakil on winning Silver Medal for #India in Women's Long Jump at #AsianGames2018 You have made all of us proud.
— Rajat Sharma (@RajatSharmaLive) August 27, 2018
SheThePeople.TV congratulates Neena!
Feature Image Credit: AFP