By IANS,
New Delhi : India’s badminton pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won the gold in the women’s doubles event and the men’s hockey team settled for a silver taking the country’s overall medal count tantalisingly close to 100 on the final day of the Commonwealth Games here Thursday.
While the Indian women’s pair just took 39 minutes to pack off Singapore’s top-seeded duo Yao Lei and Sari Shinta Mulia 21-16, 21-19, the men’s hockey squad were thrashed by world champion Australia in the final of the event 0-8.
The Indian gold count at 1300 hours IST was 37. With 27 silver and 34 bronze the overall total was 98.
India are in the running for another gold from Saina Nehwal in the badminton singles before the curtain comes down on the sporting extravaganza that began with a spectacular opening ceremony Oct 3.
Hours before the end of the Games, India and England were in close race for the second spot on the medals table as both had 37 gold. England, however, have more silver — 57 to India’s 27 — and 45 bronze.
Jwala and Ashwini received a standing ovation from the packed hall at the Siri Fort Complex for their splendid showing in the finals.
However, the men’s hockey team were no match to Australia who scored four goals in the first half and an equal number in the second.
The Indian men could not score a single goal despite the thousands of spectators — led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself — at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium cheering them on.
Singh was at the stadium at the start of the match and was seated in the VIP enclosure along with many hockey greats.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and CWG Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi were also present at the venue.
The curtain comes down on the Games later Thursday with a spectacular laser show. While the opening ceremony showcased cultural diversity, the closing will highlight contemporary India.