Manju Bala gets silver medal after Chinese gold medallist in hammer throw is disqualified

The Asian Games hammer throw bronze won by India’s Manju Bala has been upgraded to silver after one of the two Chinese competitors who finished ahead of her in the women’s final, returned positive for dope test.

“Manju Bala’s medal has been upgraded as one of the two Chinese athletes who finished above her has turned in a positive dope test,” said a source within the Indian contingent in Incheon who has been informed by one of the athletics technical officials.

Manju threw the chain and ball to 60.47m, considerably shorter than gold medal winner Zhang Weinxiu – who set a new Games mark of 77.33m – and silver winner Wang Zheng (74.16m), both from China on September 28.

Rajasthan’s 25-year-old Manju had come to Incheon with a season’s best of 62.74m that she threw in the inter-state meet at Lucknow in June.

An official announcement on this matter is expected sometime later.

This is the first dope offence in these Games which has affected the result of an Indian competitor.

PTI