(AFP)
30 September 1999, Kathmandu - India reigned supreme here Thursday beating off a challenge from Sri Lanka to scoop 22 out of the 35 gold medals up for grabs in the athletics section of the South Asian Federation Games (SAF).
India's Sunita Rani dominated the middle and long distance running.
But a dazzling performance by Sri Lanka's Damayanthi Darsha netted her country three golds as she set new SAF Games records of 11.19sec, 22.68sec and 52.11sec in the 100m, 200m and 400m sprints respectively.
The 11.19sec bettered the Asian Games 100m record of 11.27sec set by Liu Xuemei of China. But her record will not be recognised as there is no wind gauge at Dashrath stadium in the Nepalese capital.
On the final day alone seven athletics records were smashed in nine events - meaning a total of 18 new SAF athletics records were set during the five days of athletics competition.
India's PT Usha brushed off her defeats in the 100m and 200m with a gold in 4x100m relay.
While Sunita Rani shone, streaking past the winning post in the 10,000m, 5,000m and 1,500m, to show off her hard work.
In the 10,000m she sliced more than a minute off the previous record to set new one of 34min 36.72sec.
There were also new games records in men's javelin, women's long jump, men's 400m hurdles, and all four relay races for men and women.
India clinched golds in the men and women's 4x100m relay but lost out to Sri Lanka who snatched the 4x400m men's relay title to break the Indian stranglehold on the event.
In the field events, India's also dominated. Jagdish Kumar broke the previous mark with a throw of 78.01m, while GG Pramila smashed the women's long jump record with a powerful leap of 6.37m.
