Gold Coast Day 5: Michelle Ahye, Akani Simbine are the fastest runners at Commonwealth Games 2018

YOHAN BLAKE PUT BEHIND BY AKANI SIMBINE

Yohan Blake who is regarded as the successor of Usain Bolt suffered a shock defeat in Men’s 100m final at Gold Coast. The Jamaican had to settle for a bronze behind Akani Simbine and Henricho Bruintjies of South Africa.

Simbine took gold in 10.03sec and Henricho Bruintjies claimed silver in 10.17. Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye took the Women’s 100m gold in 11.14. Jamaican duo Christania Williams and Gayon Evans took the silver and bronze respectively. By winning the gold, Michelle-Lee Ahye became the first woman from Trinidad and Tobago to win 100m Commonwealth Games gold. She also became the nation’s first gold medallist since Ato Bolden won the Men’s 100m race in 1998.

SHOT PUT RECORD IN THE QUALIFYING ROUND

Tom Walsh of New Zealand recorded a throw of 22.45m in the qualifying round, the longest throw ever recorded in a qualifying round of a major championships. His throw was almost a metre more than the previous record of 21.61m held by Jamaica’s reigning champion O’Dayne Richards.

COOK ISLAND’S AND VANUATU’S FIRST COMMONWEALTH MEDAL

Cook Island, a small self-governing island country, got its first Commonwealth medal when Aidan Zittersteijn and Taiki Paniani won bronze in the Lawn Bowls Men’s Pair competition. Australia ended their 12 year drought in Lawn Bowls when they won the women’s fours by 18-16 against South Africa.

Friana Kwevira of Vanuatu won bronze in the women’s F46 javelin throw, securing her country’s first ever Commonwealth Games medal.

WEIGHTLIFTING COMPETITION COMPLETED

The curtains came down on the Weightlifting competitions with 18-year-old Eileen Cikamatana winning gold for Fiji

in the women’s 90kg category and Feagaiga Stowers of Samoa winning in the women’s +90kg. Laurel Hubbard of New Zealand, the favourite to win gold in Women’s 90+kg category, had to retire due to an injured elbow. Hubbard, the first transgender athlete to compete at a Commonwealth Games, she praised the crowd and weightlifting community for their support. 

Samoa’s Sanele Mao lifted a personal best total of 360kg to win gold over the Indian favourite Pardeep Singh in the men’s 105kg class and New Zealand’s David Liti won gold in the men’s +105kg class. India ruled the Weightlifting arena with 5 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze.

AUSTRALIA’S DREAM RUN IN THE POOL CONTINUES

The host nation Australia won four of the nine gold medals in swimming on Day 5. Mitch Larkin became the first backstroker to complete the 50/100/200m treble when he won the 200m backstroke final. Overall Australia won 15 out of 27 swimming medals.

JOLLE KING CAME BACK WITH GOLD

Joelle King became New Zealand’s first Commonwealth Games Individual Squash gold medallist. King was out of action due to Achilles injury in 2014. She was also dropped to No 57 in the ranking. But the New Zealander returned to the top five in the world for the first time in four years this April. King defeated English No.4 seed Sarah-Jane Perry 3-2.

INDIAN BADMINTON AND TABLE TENNIS GOLD

India beat favourites Malayasia in the Mixed Team Badminton by 3-1. It 12-year hold on the competition. On the other hand the Men’s Table Tennis Team followed their female counterpart and won gold by defeating Nigeria by 3-0.

SHOOTING GLORY FOR INDIA

India’s ace shooter Jitu Rai won gold in Men’s 10m Air Pistol event while Om Mitharval won the ronze. In the Women’s 10m Air Rifle, 17-year old Mehuli Ghosh lost the gold in the final shoot-off and had to settle for a silver. Apurvi Chandela won the bronze in the same event.

MEDAL STANDING