Dominant Naveen John retains time trial gold

Bengaluru: Karnataka’s Naveen John retained his Individual Time Trial gold medal in the road cycling competition of the 37th National Games in Panaji on Wednesday.The 37-year-old, also the reigning National champion in ITT, finished in an impressive time of 55 minutes, 19.32 seconds at an average speed of 44.47kmph for a hat-trick of National Games gold. He won the gold in the ITT in the 35th edition in Thiruvananthapuram in 2015 and retained that in Gandhinagar last year.Tamil Nadu’s Sreenath Lakshmikanth was over a minute and 13 seconds behind in second place, while Maharashtra’s Chimay V Kewalramani took the bronze medal in a time of 57:30.11.Results: Men: 41km ITT: 1. Naveen John (Kar, 55:19.32); 2. Sreenath L (TN, 56:32.04); 3. Chinmay VK (Mah, 57:30.11).KARNATAKA END UPRUNNERS-UP IN HOCKEYResurgent Haryana dethroned defending champions Karnataka in the men’s hockey event on Wednesday. In a high-scoring encounter, Karnataka broke into the lead with the in-form Sheshe Gowda finding the mark in the 20th over. But Haryana hit back with Sanjay striking a fine brace. The holders bounced back in the final quarter with VR Raghunath (48th minute) converting a penalty stroke and Mohd Raheel adding one in the 56th minute. But Haryana were unfazed with Somjeet and Deepak steering their team the title.Result: Karnataka 3 (Sheshe Gowda 20, VR Raghunath 48, Mohd Raheel 56) lost to Haryana: 5 (Sanjay 28, 37, Abhishek 39, Somjeet 53, Deepak 60).YAJAT WINS SILVERKarntaka’s Yajat Aiyappa won the silver in the triathlon event. In this event, which comprises 750m swim followed by 20km of cycling and five km of running, the 17-year-old finished in a time of 1:02.43.WOMEN WIN BRONZE MEDAL IN KHO-KHOThe Karnataka women's kho-kho team finished with a bronze, defeating Kerala 30-10.YASHAS STAYS AHEADKarnataka’s Yashas Chandra MS shot four-under 68 to stay two shots ahead of the field after the third round of the golf event in Delhi on Wednesday. He took his three-day tally to 13-under 203.The Mysuru pro was two shots ahead of Om Prakash Chouhan (67). Karnataka’s M Dharma, who was third overnight, slipped to the tied fourth spot with a round of one-over 73. He was one behind amateur Shaurya Bhattacharya (71), who had a 54-hole total of five-under 211.In the women’s event, Vidhatri Urs (75) was seventh with a total of nine-over 225 and Saanvi Somu (76) was two shots further back on 227. Keerthana Rajeev Nair (77) was in tenth spot on 229. Women were in the hunt for a team medal. Scores (Karnataka only, after 54 holes): Men: Individual: 203: Yashas Chandra (65, 70, 68, 1st); 212: M Dharma (68, 71, 73, T-4); 220: Sumit Kotwal (75, 73, 72, T-9); 224: Jaiveer (72, 80, 72), Aryan Roopa Anand (74, 76, 74, T-16). Team: 448: Karnataka (T-6 -- Jaiveer – 72, 80, 72; Aryan – 74, 76, 74). Women: Individual: 225: Vidhatri Urs (71, 79, 75, 7th); 227: Saanvi Somu (76, 75, 76, 9th); 229: Keerthana Rajeev Nair (77, 75, 77, T-10). Team: 452: Karnataka (3rd – Vidhatri – 71, 79, 75; Saanvi – 76, 75, 76).