PUNE, July 17: The exciting finishes by the junior swimmers more than matched the record-breaking ways of the sub-juniors' opening day four day ago, as the 24th junior national aquatic championship got underway at the Mhalunge Balewadi Sports Complex here today.The National Games champions Karnataka, despite the absence of their star swimmers Sajini Shetty and J Abhijit, lived up to their reputation picking up seven golds and five silvers, with their arch rivals Maharashtra just to get into the winning ways.It was Karnataka's duo of Abhinaya Shetty and S H Hakimuddin who led their state's charge with two gold medals apiece, but not before thrilling finishes.Abhinaya Shetty made it with gold medals in the 400m free style and 200m individual medely while the ill Hakimuddin was victor in the 400m free style and 200m individual medely.Shreesh Reddy of Karnataka did look like taking the first event of the day, 400m freestyle, but his charge was just in the first 100 meters, as Hakimuddin who took the lead from the 175m mark preserved the same till the finish pipping Shreesh by just .7 seconds in the second place.The St Joseph's Science College Pre-University Course lad timed 4:33.80 and Shreesh clocked 4:34.91. Vimal Kumar was third with a time of 4:36.57.Abhinaya Shetty got off to a fine start in the same event and was the first to complete the 100m stretch.But Naina Sen of Delhi came in strongly in the 150m mark to keep adrift from the Karnataka challengers Abhinaya and K Chitra until they turned back for the last 100 meters, as Abhinaya leaped ahead of Naina in the 350 meter mark with her teammate K Chitra too following her in the second place.Abhinaya timed 4:50.65 and K Chitra took 4:52.87.Akbar Ali Mir of Bengal who was leading all through the race was astonished by the hosts challenger Amol Borkar who finished .29 seconds ahead of Mir, and Mario Johnson who had the best heat time of 2:12.83, who also was among the first three till the last 50 meters, finished a poor fourth.NATIONAL JUNIOR AQUATICS RESULTSBoys: 400m free-style (Group I): 1. SH Hakimuddin (Ktk), 2. Shreesh Reddy (Ktk), 3. P Vimal Kumar (Ker). Tim: 4.33.80 mins; 200 mts free style (Group II): 1. Amol Borkar (Mah), 2. Akbar Ali Mir (Ben), 3. R Rajit Kumar (Ker). Tim: 2.11.21 mins; 100mBreast stroke (Group I): 1. R Veeramani (TN), 2. Subhanikar Sheetri (Ben), 3. Manish Jaiswal (Mah). Tim: 1.15.29 mins; 200m individual medley (Group II): 1. Mario Johnson (Ktk), 2. R Raj Kumar (Ker), 3. Akbar Ali Mir (Ben). Tim: 2.25.31 mins; 200m Individual medley (Group I): 1. SH Hakimuddin (Ktk), 2. Elvis Ali Hazarika (Asm), 3. Surjit Ganguly (Ben) Tim: 2.21.85 mins; 100m breast stroke (Group II): 1. B Vinay (Ktk), 2. Rajbir Sokeen (Del), 3. Sandeep Verma (Mah) Tim: 1.15.34 mins.Girls 400m free style (Group I): 1. Abhinaya Shetty (Ktk), 2. K Chitra (Ktk), 3. Naina Sen (Del) Tim: 4.50.65 mins; 200m free style (Group II): 1. Merino Thomas (Ktk), 2. Sonia Jose (Kar), 3. Richa Mishra (Del) Tim: 2.20.71 mins;100m breast stroke (Group I)1. Manushi Jain (Mah), 2. Kavya Sunderraj (Ktk), 3. Chaitali Ghosh (Ben) Tim: 1.23.46 mins; 200 mts ind medley (u-15): 1. Richa Mishra (Del), 2. Charu Mishra (Del), 3. Nanita Khurana (Mah) Tim: 2.39.06 mins; 200m ind medley: (u-18): 1. Abhinaya Shetty (Ktk), 2. K Chitra (Kar), 3. Naina Sen (Del) Tim: 2.36.23 mins; 100m breast stroke (u-15): 1. Radhika Lakhani (Mah), 2. Zeba Wabia (Mah), 3. Charu Mishra (Del) Tim: 1.25.29 mins.
