Devaj Parekh, Keona Asher clinch 200m gold

Devaj Parekh (left) and Keona Asher during their respective MSSA 200m finals at the University Sports Pavilion. Pics/Shadab Khan

Devaj Parekh of Pawar Public School (Kandivli) came up with a late burst to clinch a tight race against arch-rival Yug Nanda of Kapol Vidyanidhi International (Kandivli), winning via a photo-finish in the boys' U-12 200metres final of the 128th MSSA Annual Inter-School Athletics Championship at the Mumbai University Ground, Marine Lines on Tuesday.

Devaj, who finished a close second in the 100m dash on Monday, losing to Yug, did not get a good start and trailed in the second position for most part of the race. However, as the field was approaching the finish line, he pushed hard with a last-ditch kick and managed to finish first in a time of 27.796 seconds, just 2000th-of-a-second faster than Yug, who had to settle for silver. Branson Fernandes (28.72 secs) of St Dominic Savio (Andheri) claimed the bronze.

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In the girls' U-12 200m final, Keona Asher of Cathedral & John Connon (Fort) comfortably clinched the gold, clocking 29.77 seconds. Asmi Joshi of Lakshdham High School (Goregaon), who had beaten Keona in the 100m dash a day earlier, finished second this time, clocking 30.87 seconds. Avni Shetty (31.04 seconds) of St Gregorios High School (Chembur) won the bronze.