By SUNIL Sonkar

Guangzhou, November 25 — The Indian track squad turned miraculous. Men’s and women’s 400m hurdles brings gold medal for the country in the 16th Asian Games 2010 in Guangzhou, China. Joseph Abraham and Ashwini Akkunji crates history.

23-year-old Akkunji won the title in the women’s 400m hurdles with a timing of 56.15 seconds. She was a part of the team in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi that won gold medal. This is the 9th gold for India.

She started running 44m hurdle in May and she became the third Indian to win gold in the category after MD Valsamma and PT Usha. Valsamma won in 1982 New Delhi Asiad and Usha in 1986 at Seoul. This is Ashwini’s first international individual gold medal.

Ashwini’s compatriot Jauna Murmu missed her bronze today by a whisker after clocking personal best of 56.88 seconds. She was behind Satomi Kubokura of Japan by just 0.05 points. Silver was won by Chinese Wang Xing.

Earlier today, in women’s 800m event Tintu Luka claimed bronze. She, finishing in 2:01.36 seconds, couldn’t keep pace in the last 50 metres. Margarita Matsko of Kazhakstan grabbed gold and silver medal was claimed by Truong Thanh Hang of China. Sinimole Paulose, Tintu’s compatriot finished seventh.

The 10th gold was claimed by boxer Vikas Krishnan in the 60kg category.

Indian men’s hockey team missed the final berth and settled down for bronze after defeating South Korea, the four-time champions.