India's Archana Adhav was stripped of her gold medal after complaints of infringement from Sri Lanka's Nimali Waliwarsha Konda, who was declared winner of women's 800m race at the 22nd Asian Athletics Championship in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
Pune girl Archana, who will turn 22 on July 14, was adjudged the winner in the half mile distance with her personal best time of 2 minutes and 2 seconds but Nimali later protested that the Indian had pushed her from behind before overtaking near the finish line.
Archana was disqualified and Nimali (2:05:23) was awarded the gold medal, while another Sri Lankan Gayanthika Thushari (2:05:27) took the silver. Japan’s Fumika Omori ()2:06:50 won the bronze.
India then applied to reconsider the decision but the jury of technical delegates refused saying that it was an unanimous decision.
Till recently, Archana was competing at the junior level and she had won a bronze in 800m in Asian Junior Championship in 2014 and she also used to run in 4x400m relay race.
Archana came as a surprise winner in Women's 800m after Defending Champion & Favourite Tintu Luka did not finished the race & it proved out to be a nightmare as she was clear favourite to win the event, she even finished on top in the qualifications.
Later her coach P T Usha stated that national champion Tintu Luka had fever and back pain but still ran the race.