Solanki did not falter and pinned down his Irani rival, Jamshidi Amin as India B belied all pre-tournament notions to win the championship. The Japanese judoka Sawada Akira did win a gold in the Open category later which put Japan's tally also to three gold medals but with no other medals for them, as compared to India B's four bronze medals, they were relegated to the second spot and Iran, with one gold, three silvers and one bronze were third.

Taking into account the two silver and one bronze medals which India A also won, the Indianperformance was highly creditable. Jatinder Handa had won a gold in the below 60 kg yesterday and it added up to India's dominance in the lower weight categories. India could have made a clean sweep but for Rakesh Kumar's loss to the Iranian Mireshmaelli in the below 66 kg final yesterday.

Coach Rameshwar Dutt was ecstatic. ``It was difficult, though not impossible. Full credit to the boys for not being overawed by the strong Japanese and Irani threat. Their mental strength made all the difference,'' he said.

The Solanki-Jamshidi fight was by far the best of the two-day championship. Jamshidi had an impressive run up to the final with convincing wins over the Lankan Attanayake Susantha and the Uzbek Dalimov Oybck in the earlier rounds.

Solanki, on the other hand was a picture of confidence. He started the final on the offensive, scoring a Wazari. Jamshidi pulled the half-point Wazari back but a Koka in the final few seconds turned Solanki's dream into a reality.

It was gold-silver for the Indians inthe 50 kg category as Madan Lal (India B) won on points against Ajay Dhir (India A). Madan had earlier downed the Lankan Mohinudeen Moh on Ippon and Ajay prevailed over Mohseen Chafair on points in the semifinals.

Sawada Akira (Japan) was simply too good for his rivals in the Open category. His final fight with Thailand's Sutthiphun Tharalat lasted barely seconds, so did the semifinal fight with India A's D D Adarsh.

India B's Hisar lad Munish Riat won the bronze.

The Punjab Governor, lt gen (retd) B K N Chibber gave away the gliterring Cup to the winners.

Results

50 kg (FInal):

Madan Lal (India B) bt Ajay Dhir (India A) on points. Semifinals:

Madan (Ind B) bt Mohinudeen Moh (Sri Lanka) on points; Ajay Dhir (Ind A) bt Mohseen Chafair (Iran) on points. (1 Madan Lal (Ind B), 2 Ajay Dhir (Ind A), Mohseen Chafair (Iran) and Choklap Thawatchai (Thailand).

55 kg (final):

Vikram Solanki (India B) bt Jamshidi Amin (Iran). Semifinals:

Vikram Solanki (Ind B) bt RustamovShukurulla (Uzbekistan) on points; Jamshidi (Iran) bt Dalimov Oybck (Uzbekistan) on points. (1 Vikram Solanki (India B), 2 Jamshidi Amin (Iran), 3 Dalimov Oybck (Uzbek) and Rustamov Shukurulla (Uzbek)).

Open (final):

Sawada Akira (Japan) bt Sutthiphun Tharat (Thailand) on Ippon (throwing technique). Semifinals:

Sawada Akira (Japan) bt DD Adarsh (India A) on Ippon (throwing technique); Sutthiphun Tharalat (Thailand) bt Munish Riat (India B) on points. (1 Sawada Akira (Japan), 2 Sutthiphun Tharalat (Thailand), 3 Munish Riat (India B) and Abdulaa Tangriev (Uzbek).