Priyanka Goswami made history on Saturday by becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in race walking, bagging silver in the 10,000m event at the Commonwealth Games. Goswami finished second with a personal best time of 43:38.83s after Australia’s Jemima Montag (42:34.30). and Kenya’s Emily Wamusyi Ngii (43:50.86) won bronze.
Interestingly, Bhawna Jat finished eighth and last with a personal best time of 47:14.13, whereas Harminder Singh was the first Indian to win a medal in race walk — bronze — in the 20km event at the 2010 CWG in Delhi. In addition, Indian boxer Amit Panghal (51kg) demonstrated his class by reaching his second straight Commonwealth Games final, while Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) remained on track for gold in her debut here on Saturday.
Priyanka led comfortably from the start until the 4km mark when she was passed by Australia’s Montag and Kenya’s Emily Wamusyi Ngii. Priyank trailed the two ladies and was in the third position until the 8km mark when she pushed herself in the final 2000 meters and gave them a run for their money. Priyanka overtook Emily, but Australia’s Montag had built up too large a lead to be contested and finished first, while the Indian athlete was a minute late.
Priyanka, a Railways Office Superintendent, finished 17th in the 20km race walking event at the Tokyo Olympics last year and entered the CWG as one of the main candidates. Not only Priyanka, but another Indian athlete, Bhawna Jat, competed in the race, however she placed last in the 8-woman competition after setting a personal best of 47 minutes and 14 seconds.
PM Modi took it to Twitter to congratulate the athlete
This was India’s ninth silver medal and 27th overall, comprising nine gold and the same number of bronze.
Also Read: Commonwealth Games 2022: Three Golds in wrestling
