India had its best day of the Asian Games so far as compound archers won all three team gold medals, while shooters Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai also finished on top in the mixed trap event.Three bronze medals in boxing and wrestling took India’s overall tally to 60 medals – 10 gold, 21 silver and 29 bronze. India also moved up to eighth place from 10th on Tuesday.
Compound archers complete gold sweep
The compound archers were the stars of the day, successfully defending all three team titles.Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha and Prithika Pradeep started the gold rush by winning the women’s team event. They beat China’s Wunier, Yue Wang and Fangyao Wei 238-234. The Indian score equalled the world record.Chikitha and Sahil Jadhav then won the mixed team gold. They held their nerve against Korea’s Jungyoon Park and Choi Eun Gyu to win 158-157 after a shoot-off.The victory also helped India secure an Olympic quota place. India became the first country to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics mixed team compound event, which will make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles.The men’s team of Kushal Dalal, Sahil and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru completed the clean sweep. They beat China’s Jiahao Liao, Jinyi Liu and Jingyu Shi 238-237 in the final.Chikitha and Sahil finished the day with two gold medals each.
Neeru, Kynan overcome early setback
At the shooting range, Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai recovered from a difficult start to win the mixed trap gold.The Indian pair finished with a score of 34, setting an Asian and Games record.It was Neeru’s second gold of the Games. She had earlier won the individual trap gold and also played a key role in India’s silver medal-winning women’s trap team.With two golds and a silver, Neeru became the most successful Indian athlete at the ongoing Games.
India women reach hockey final
The Indian women’s hockey team also had a strong day, beating Korea 2-0 in the semifinal to reach the final.The victory assured India of at least a silver medal and improved on the bronze they won at the previous Asian Games.
Boxers shine
India’s boxers have already bettered their medal tally from the previous edition. They won four medals in Hangzhou, while six medals are assured this time.Lovlina Borgohain reached the women’s 75kg final after edging Kazakhstan’s Natalya Bogdanova, the reigning 70kg world champion, 3-2.However, Asian Games debutant Priya Ghanghas lost 1-4 to former world champion Yang Chengyu of China in the 60kg semifinal.Another debutant, Kapil, also lost 1-4 to Uzbekistan’s reigning world champion Turabek Khabibullaev in the 90kg semifinal.India will have three boxers fighting for gold on Friday — Lovlina, Parveen Hooda (65kg) and Ankush Panghal (80kg).Priya, Kapil and super-heavyweight boxer Narender Berwal will return home with bronze medals.
Sunil gives India wrestling bronze
Sunil Kumar became the first Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to win two Asian Games medals after securing bronze in the men’s 87kg category.Sunil defeated the Philippines’ Roberts Callum Johnston 9-0 by technical superiority to secure a place on the podium.He had also won bronze at the Hangzhou Games, ending India’s 13-year wait for a Greco-Roman wrestling medal.Nisha Dahiya, however, finished without a medal in the women’s 68kg category.
India secure medals in squash
Both Indian squash teams booked their places in the semifinals and assured themselves of medals.The men’s team, the top seeds and defending champions, beat Kuwait 2-0 in the quarterfinals.Veer Chotrani defeated Bader Almogghrebi 12-10, 8-11, 11-0, 11-5, before Abhay Singh sealed the tie with an 11-3, 11-4, 11-8 win over Ammar Altamimi.The women’s team also won 2-0 against Singapore.Tanvi Khanna beat Au Yeong Wai Iynn 11-6, 4-11, 15-13, 11-1, while 18-year-old Anahat Singh defeated Au Yeong Wai Yhann 11-7, 11-3, 11-4.Veteran Joshna Chinappa did not need to play.
Nagal advances in tennis
Sumit Nagal was the only Indian to progress in the men’s singles, beating Uzbekistan’s Sergey Fomin 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals.He will next face third seed Yibing Wu of China.Dhakshineswar Suresh lost 3-6, 4-6 to Chinese Taipei’s Chun-Hsin Tseng in the third round.India’s men’s doubles campaign also ended after N Sriram Balaji and Anirudh Chandrasekar lost to China’s Fumin Chiang and Tianhui Ziang 7-6(4), 6-7(7), 8-10.Yuki Bhambri and Dhakshineswar also lost their quarterfinal, going down 6-7(5), 3-6 to Chinese Taipei’s Yu-Hsiou Hsu and Chenjui Ho.
Tough day in other sports
India had a difficult day in canoeing, esports, sepaktakraw and cycling, with none of the Indian participants progressing beyond the preliminary stages.
