Uzbek gymnasts rule roost

CHANDIGARH, DECEMBER 24: Uzbek gymnasts claimed the second day’s honours in the Central South Asia gymnastics championship, winning the men’s artistic title and sweeping the women’s event here today.

In the men’s competition, Valeev Ildar scored 52.95 points out of a possible 60 to outperform India’s Vikas Pandey (49.20) and Rajinder (47.90), who stood second and third respectively.

Ildar, a bronze medallist in the Atlanta Olympics, notched up 9.5 in vaulting horse, 9.00 in uneven bars and 8.95 in floor exercises. Pandey came close to Ildar only in pommel horse, scoring 8.40 points. Gordeeva Alexandra aggregated 36.45 out of 40 to win the women’s title. Compatriots Prajatanova Botakoz (36.437) and Boboeva Saida (35.512) finished second and third respectively.