Guangzhou, Nov 19 (IANS) Pratima Puhana and Pramila Prava Minz became the first Indian women rowers to win an Asian Games medal after they finished third in the women's pair rowing event at the Asian Games here Friday.

Pratima and Prava Pramila clocked seven minutes 47.50 seconds to win the gold behind winners China and Kazakshtan in the 2000 metres race at the International Rowing Center.

Chinese duo Sun Zhengping and Ling Hong clocked seven minutes 22.06 seconds for the gold and Kazakh girls Oxana Nazarova and Svetlana Germanovich had a timing of seven minutes 35.13 secs for the silver.

The bronze came after Bajrang Lal Takhar won maiden gold medal for India in rowing at the Asian Games by winning the men's singles sculls competition.

An inspired Pratima and Pramila, starting from the fourth lane, covered the first 500m in one minute 54.21 secs to be fourth, but covered the half-way mark in three minites 51.40 seconds to move to the third place. The girls held their position for the rest 1000 metres to win the bronze.

In the women's lightweight quadruple, India missed a medal after the trio of Amusana Devi Morerangthem, Dittymol Varghese and Tharakurian Priyachanga Mayum finished fourth with a timing of six minutes 57.73sec.