Asian Games 2018: Tears of joy, as Swapna Barman creates magic, wins historic Gold for India
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XtraTime Web Desk: India's pride Swapna Barman wins first ever GOLD MEDAL for India in Heptathlon at Asian Games & she is only the Fifth Women to cross 6000 points.
Swapna Barman scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to win gold in the heptathlon event the Asian Games. Purnima Hembram, who was the other Indian in action, narrowly missed out on a medal after finishing fourth with 5837 points. Barman ended the competition with 6026 points.
India's previous best display in the heptathlon event had come through Soma Dutta, who had won silver in the 2002 and 2006 Asian Games. China's Qingling Wang won silver with 5954 points while Japan's Yuki Yamasaki won bronze with a tally of 5873 points.
Barman hails from Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal and often has the toughest time in finding competition shoes that fit. Born with six toes in both feet, Barman's primary worry ahead of major competitions is about getting the right footwear, particularly for jump events. The extra width of her feet makes landing painful and shoes wear out quickly. On her debut at the Asian Games as teenager four years ago, she had finished fifth with total of 5178 points.
Barman, who won gold at the Asian Athletics championships last year, hasn't had the most comfortable years growing up. Her father, a rickshaw puller has been bedridden for the last few years, and she had to pull through some tough times to make it to her second Games appearance.