By IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lankan swimmers swept all the gold medals in the life-saving event at the first South Asian Beach Games allowing the hosts to almost catch up with regional giants India.
The hosts narrowed the gap to only one gold behind India at the end of the fifth day Wednesday of the tournament being held in Hambantota, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka.
The life savers of Sri Lanka, who had collected three golds at the end of the fourth day, managed to secure three golds, Xinhua reported.
However, India, who topped the medals tally at the end of the fourth day with seven golds, as many silvers and a bronze, managed only to take one more gold, a silver and four bronze Wednesday.
The only gold collected for India was in the equestrian event – Lance and Sword (pairs) by Krishan Yadav and Jaswinder Singh Bhatt. Nepal and Pakistan won the silver and bronze, respectively.
Thursday will be decisive for both India and Sri Lanka in the finals of the men’s handball and men’s and women’s volleyball competitions.
A total of 359 athletes from eight South Asian nations are competing for 26 gold medals. The hosts Sri Lanka have the biggest contingent with 110 sportspersons while India have the second highest with 93.