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India inched closer to the 100-medal mark after winning three gold along with a silver and bronze on Thursday at the Asian Games.
India completed a double in the men’s and women’s compound archery team events and also had a similar result in the squash mixed team event.
India nearly made it four gold medals on the 12th day of competitions, with the veteran Saurav Ghoshal falling narrowly short in the squash men’s singles event.
India’s final medal of the day came in wrestling, where rising star Antim Panghal clinched bronze in her maiden appearance in the continental event.
India remained at the fourth spot on the Asian Games points table at the conclusion of events on Thursday, stretching their medal count to 86 — 21 gold, 32 silver and 33 bronze — surging ahead of Uzbekistan and Chinese Taipei though they still are a long way off from China, Japan and South Korea.
Here’s a recap of the medals won and other key highlights from the day:
Indian archers strike gold
India women’s compound archery team of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Aditi Gopichand and Parneet Kaur bagged India’s 19th gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Thursday. India beat Chinese Taipei 230-229 in the final that was ultimately decided in the last three arrows.
The top-seeded reigning world champion trio of Jyothi, Aditi and Parneet shot 60 out of 60 in a perfect final end to overcome their third-seeded rivals in the last three arrows and seal the country’s fifth medal in archery and second gold medal in the sport.
Prathamesh Jawkar, Abhishek Verma and Ojas Deotale pose with the gold medals that they won in the Asian Games archery men’s compound team final. Image credit: Screengrab of live telecast on SonyLIVIndia’s previous gold medal in archery had come in compound mixed team event courtesy Jyothi and Ojas Deotale.
India would also clinched the yellow metal in the men’s compound team final with the trio of Deotale, Abhishek Verma and Prathamesh Jawkar defeated South Korea’s Jaehoon Joo, Jaewon Yang and Jongho Kim 235-230 to ensure India collected a third gold in archery in Hangzhou.
Dipika-Harinder win gold, Ghoshal collects silver
Veterans Dipika Pallikal and Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu survived some anxious moments to clinch the mixed doubles gold, but Saurav Ghosal settled for singles silver on Thursday as Indian squash players recorded their best-ever performance at the Asian Games.
Dipika and Harinder eked out a 11-10 11-10 win over Malaysian duo of Aifa Binti Azman and Mohammad Syafiq Bin Mohd Kamal in a tense 35 minute final to fetch India’s second gold medal in squash at the ongoing event.
“I don’t always remember what happens on court. It’s a blur for both of us. We only remember the last point. We are more than happy. We are very proud of the fact we are here and won gold,” Dipika said after the win.
“Myself and Harinder have worked really, really hard to be here at this moment, to be part of this team and to win the gold. We are very humbled to be in this position that we are right now,” she said.
Dipika Pallikal and Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu pose with the gold medals that they won in the squash mixed doubles event at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. APHowever, it was disappointment for India’s top player Ghosal as he lost to Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng 11-9, 9-11, 5-11, 7-11 in a little over an hour.
Ghosal, who did not drop a game in this Games till the final, started the match trailing the Malaysian who built an 8-6 lead.
However, Ghosal played some fine forehands to make it 8-8 and eventually won the game.
But the Malaysian turned the table in the second game winning it 11-9, and it seemed to have affected the concentration of Ghosal.
Saurav Ghoshal ended his campaign in the Hangzhou Games with a silver in the men’s singles event. Image credit: Screengrab of live telecast on SonylivIn the third and fourth games, Ghosal hardly produced any fight and his backhand completely deserted him, with the Indian making a slew of errors.
Ghosal also found himself out of position several times in these two games, and lost points through obstruction.
Ghosal said his opponent was simply better on the day.
“I think I played pretty alright for the most part. In the second game a few things didn’t go my way. Credit to Yow, as he played really well. He imposed his game better for the most part.
“I didn’t play well, but I can be really proud of the effort I put in,” said the Indian after the match.
Antim wins bronze
Teen sensation Antim Panghal humbled Tokyo Olympics medallist Bolortuya Bat-Ochir 3-1 to win a bronze medal but other Indian wrestlers struggled badly at the Asian Games here on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Antim bounced back after losing to two-time Japanese world champion Akari Fujinami in the quarterfinals in a superb manner as she did not let the Mongolian attack much in the women’s 53kg bronze play-off.
Antim saved the day for the Indian contingent which badly needed a medal after Narinder Cheema (Greco-Roman 97kg), Naveen (Greco Roman 130kg) and Pooja Gehlot (women’s 50kg) were ousted.
Pooja was outplayed 2-9 in the bronze medal bout by Aktenge Keunimjaeva, the Asian championship bronze winner.
A lot was expected from Mansi Ahlawat (women’s 57kg) too but she ended up losing her bronze play-off ‘by fall’ to Uzbekistan’s Laylokhon Sobirova, who needed just 70 seconds to win the contest.
Antim was included in the Indian contingent for the Asian Games after Vinesh Phogat pulled out due to an injury. She had challenged her decorated compatriot for a trial bout but Vinesh accepted a direct entry.
Later Vinesh injured her knee and underwent a surgery, opening the door for Antim.
Prannoy, Satwik-Chirag assured of medals; Sindhu bows out
HS Prannoy battled his way to the semifinals, becoming only the first Indian in 41 years to win a badminton medal in men’s singles at the Asian Games, but it was curtains for PV Sindhu in women’s singles.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty then progressed to the last four, becoming the second Indian men’s doubles pair to secure a medal after Leroy D’sa and Pradeep Gandhe won a bronze in 1982.
Playing with a taping on his lower back and a belt under his shirt, Prannoy battled severe back spasm to dish out a performance for the ages, outshining Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia 21-16 21-23 22-20 in the quarterfinals to assure India a second badminton medal at the ongoing Games.
India had won a silver in men’s team championships last Sunday.
Prannoy will face home favourite China’s Li Shi Feng for a spot in the final.
Satwik and Chirag then claimed a men’s doubles medal after 41 years with an easy 21-7 21-9 win over Singapore’s Nge Joo Jie and Johann Prajogo in the quarterfinals to set up a clash with Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Sooh Wooi Yik on Friday.
However, Sindhu had to endure the pain of returning without a medal for the first time in nine years after she lost 16-21 12-21 to world No.5 Chinese He Bingjiao in 47 minutes to bow out of the competition.
With inputs from PTI
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