Poncha, Mandal win gold: Asian jr swimming

Rehan Poncha struck gold in the 400 metres individual medley for boys' 13 to 14 yrs while Mamoni Mandal regined supreme in the girls' platform diving Group A as Indian juniors won 11 medals in the Asian Age-Group aquatics championships which concluded in Hong Kong on Sunday.

Poncha won with a timing of 4.47.95 seconds while Mandal scored 270.9 points to emerge on top.

India won four silver medals through Poncha, in the 200 metres backstroke; V Shivaranjani, in 100 metres butterfly (12 and below); Rahul Batra, in 50 metres boys' (15-17 yrs) and one from the water polo (boys') event, after India went down fighting to Saudi Arabia 10-11 in the final.

Earlier, India had thrashed hosts Hong Kong 17-3 in the semis, a statement from the Swimming Federation of India said.

India also won five bronze medals, including one in diving, through Kailash Nath, in the 400 metres individual medley (boys' 18-plus); Richa Mishra, in 200 metres butterfly girls' (15-17 years); Akbar Ali Mir, in the 100 metres butterfly (boys' 15-17) and Sayali Raikar, in the girls' platform diving Group C.

The fifith bronze came from the 4 x 100 medley relay in the boys' 15 to 17 years' category.