For the men’s team, it’ll all be in the mind. Great Britain might not induce the same level of fear in the Indian camp as, say, Germany or the Netherlands, but the Indian men’s team will have to produce an error-free performance to guarantee their first Olympic semifinal since the 1980 Games.
In the last few years, India has found itself on the cusp of a pathbreaking win several times. But on each occasion, one error at an inopportune time or a silly foul leading to a temporary suspension has left them frustrated and disappointed. For instance, in the quarterfinal of the 2018 World Cup, a yellow card to defender Amit Rohidas gave the Netherlands an advantage, which they made full use of. The same year, at the Asian Games, former captain Sardar Singh’s poor tackle led to a card that eventually helped Malaysia claw their way back into the match, before winning it.
So when India take on Britain in Sunday’s quarterfinal, it’ll all boil down to how the players handle the crunch moments. Coach Graham Reid had laid extra emphasis on this aspect during the national camp. He’s improved India’s ability to be strong on the ball under pressure and remain patient when the opponents pack their ‘D’ with defenders, a strategy Britain are likely to adopt. (Read Full Story)
Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela set a world record with her final attempt Sunday to win the women's triple jump gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Rojas already had the gold medal assured when she took the last of her six attempts, finishing with a mark of 15.67 meters to break a record set in 1995. Inessa Kravets of Ukraine held the record at 15.50.
Marcell Jacobs won the men's Olympic 100-meter race Sunday night, crossing the line in 9.8 seconds to bring the marquee sprint gold to Italy for the first time. Even in a race with no clear favorites, Jacobs was a surprise. He topped America's Fred Kerley and Canada's Andre DeGrasse to take the spot held for the past 13 years by the now-retired Usain Bolt.
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India showed resilience and defensive resolve to first withstand the pressure and then putting the game to bed with a lightning counter-attack goal from Hardik. (Read More)
India scored three field goals through Dilpreet Singh (7th minute), Gurjant Singh (16th) and Hardik Singh (57th) to seal the win. But goalkeeper PR Shreejesh was in top form saving as many as 7 penalty scorers.
India 3-1 Great Britain | The Indian men's hockey team are into the semi-finals where they will meet world champions Belgium! What a performance and what a game! Singh, Dilpreet Singh & Gurjant Singh are the goal scorers for India - #RememberTheNames
GOAL!!!!!!!!! After being down to 10 men, India take a 3-1 lead after relentless pressure from Great Britian | Hardik Singh, on the wrong foot, shoots and scores and effectively has booked a spot in the semi-final for Team India. Surely India can't lose this
Yellow card + Penalty Corner! India loses their captain Manpreet Singh. So India will be a man down for the next 5 mins. This means the men in blue can play with 11 men only for a min.
Penalty Corner! 7th of the game for GBR courtesy of a referral! But India's goalkeeper Shreejesh saves with his left-leg and keeps the Brits at bay. Great Britain are dominating the game and the Indians seem under pressure.
Great Britain hit back towards the end of Q3! Will TeamIndia hold their lead in Q4? This game remains completely open!. A test of nerves and a thrilling finale coming up
Penalty corner for GBR again! Manpreet concedes this one. Saved yet again but there is a referral from Britain. They win their 4th Penalty corner for GBR in this game. But once again India's defense comes to the rescue. But wait! Another PC for GBR! A variation from Britain and a GOAAAALL! Samuel Ian Ward scores. The ball hits Surinder and goalkeeper Sreejesh and then goes into the net! End of Q3. India 2-1 GBR
Penalty corner for GBR! Just before the end of Q3. Jack Wallance proving to be the dangerous man. And a good save from Surinder at the post. Pressure is released and the danger is waved off for now.
39' Another good save from PR Sreejesh as he denies Great Britain yet again. How good has he been?
Green card for Rupinder Pal Singh (IND) and another Green card for Liam Ansell (GBR). That means GBR are down to 10 men for the next 2 minutes.
The second half begins with a lovely run from Mandeep down the middle. Nice out ball to Simranjeet but nothing comes out of it. India 2-0 GBR
The men in blue are in the lead at half-time with one goal scored in each quarter, thanks to strikes from Dilpreet and Gurjan. While England have had 56 percent possession in the match so far but India have the lead and they have been mostly in control.
21' Dilpreet gets a Green Card. He will have to sit out of the game for two minutes.
GBR stunned! India strikes right at the start of the second quarter. Hardik Singh steals the ball and Gurjant, twisting and turning, sends it swiftly into the opponent's net. India 2-0 GBR
India have got a third assured medal at Tokyo 2020! Which is already one more than Rio 2016.
PV Sindhu is the first Indian woman to win two Olympics medals. A silver in Rio 2016. A bronze in Tokyo 2020.
Here's what India's only gold medallist has to say about Sindhu, as she gets herself well into the discussion for the G.O.A.T Indian athlete!
Well left. 1 point away.... And she's done it!
PV Sindhu wins Bronze in Badminton Singles, beats China's He Bingjao 21-13, 21-15 | LIVE
Badminton: A marvelous spinning shot from Sindhu which Bingjao has no reply to. 18! 3 points away....
Hockey: A brilliant save from Sreejesh to deny GBR towards the end of the first quarter. The referee blows the whistle. Meanwhile, India have lost their referral. End of the first quarter. India 1-0 GBR
Wonderful disguise from Bingjao. Trickery does Sindhu in again. She had no answers against TTY's subtleties, and again she looks in a bit of trouble as Bingjao plays yet another disguised shot. Sindhu leaves. It lands in. Sindhu wins a point after a series of points to the Chinese. Clenched fist! 5 points away...
The Chinese dragon roars back! We are at 11-11, this the first time in the second game we have been level. And just as it looked like the Chinese gets a foot in, it's Sindhu who smashes the door right back on it! Power and placement! Smashed cross court. No reply from Bingjao. 2 points to Sindhu.
Badminton: Sindhu leads at the halfway point in the 2nd game too. Just like the first! Exact scoreline at the halfway point. She leads 11-8. Bronze! We can sense it! A second Olympic medal...okay don't want to jinx anything.
Hockey: 7' GOOAAAAALLLL!! Dilpreet strikes for India Simranjeet Singh with the assist. India 1-0 GBR
The rallies begin to pick much more momentum. Bingjao, not having much luck at the net, is now going back to the strategy of long points. Sindhu crashes a cross court forehand, which leaves the Chinese momentarily floored. Now the Chines hits back! Fantastic maneouvring of the court from her. Now Sindhu is floored.
Hockey: Early chance for India in Q1! Britain lose the ball in the middle but quickly defend in numbers to stop India from securing an early lead. Moments later, GBR wins a penalty corner. But no harm done.
It's Sindhu continuing to dictate the play in the second game too. Bingjao gets two points on the trot. Her coach breaks out in thunderous applause. Not out of it yet.
Meanwhile, it's time for the other big action of the day. Hockey quarterfinals!
Hockey: Both the teams are on the field and it is for the time national anthems. India's first followed by Great Britain's.
The second game begins. Sindhu one game away from what will be a historic bronze. Bingjao sends another one long. She's missing her shots by the thinnest of margins, but it's good enough for the Indian. And there's another. Bingjao looks to her coach for advice. Needs to hold on now. Cannot lose sight of Sindhu.
A smash from the Chinese goes wide even as she looks to attack a lot more. The first game is won by the defending World champion. Sindhu one game away from a historic 2nd Olympic medal.
It's Sindhu all the way still! Still, it;s the Chinese player who has to do most of the running around. Sindhu stands tall at the net. A strong smash from He Bingjao now. Can she turn the momentum of the match around? We saw a wild swing of momentum at around this point in her match against TTY yesterday.
Sindhu in control for now, closes in on 1st game
Sindhu resumes the game where she had left at the break. A few straight points to the Indian as the game restarts after a short break. Sindhu dictates the rallies again. Bingjao not being allowed to attack much. A run of 5 points comes to an end for Sindhu with one shot hit into the net - catching the tape, rather.
Listen to her roar!
Sindhu takes a couple of points to go take back the lead. Bingjao plays a shot slightly off-balance. Sindhu has a 2-point lead again. Frantic instructions heard from the Chinese corner. A straight smash to settle a long rally from Sindhu. Clinical! Sindhu leads 10-8. Thre's the straight smash again! She leads 11-8 at the halfway point for the first game.
Super shot from Bingjao. Sindhu leaves it, hoping it will go long. It doesn't and the Chinese corner breaks out in applause again. She's fighting back. From 0-4 down, she takes us to 5-5. A great contest at the net, which Bingjao wins as well. Takes the lead for the first time in the match!
Applause from the Chinese corner as Bingjao gets her first point. 1-4 down, but on the board. Sindhu looking to set the pace, using the ;length of the court. pushing her opponent back and forth. Longest rally of the match so far. It's a net point clinched by Bingjao.
Meanwhile, a big match coming up in hockey in another few minutes.
This is the 16th meeting between Bingjao and Sindhu. Bingjao has a head-to-head advantage over Sindhu but the last meeting was won by Sindhu. It's the Indian who gets the first point. Both players just limbering up into their full rhythms. Bingjao burns her first challenge on the second point itself. The first roar of the game as Sindhu takes the 3rd point on the trot.
Sindhu steps out in blue. He Bingjao steps out in red. It's India vs China for the Bronze medal in the Badminton Women's Singles.It's time. Can Sindhu win a medal and become the first Indian woman to win 2 Olympic medals? Sushil Kumar is the only Indian with that distinction so far.
The players begin their warm-ups.
At 5:30 pm, India men's hockey team will take on Great Britain in the quarter-final clash. Manpreet Singh's men have a rare chance of qualifying for the semi-final berth in the Olympics after a long wait of 49 years. The 1980 Games did not have semis because of pull-outs by Western nations. It will also be a big boom for hockey in India after they finished last in Rio Olympics.
PV Sindhu takes on He Bingjao for Bronze. That's coming up in the next few minutes.
On Saturday, Australian Rohan Browning beat Yohan Blake, the second fastest man in history after Usain Bolt, in their 100 meter dash heats. Even though the Jamaican qualified for the semifinals, the 31 year old was beaten by Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya on Sunday. Blake is out then. Will Bolt's record stay intact?
Meanwhile, there's a big athletics barrier having been broken by an Asian. Su Bingtian runs a 9.83 to win semifinal three in the men's 100m.
Yohan Blake fails to qualify for the men's 100m final after finishing outside first five in the first semifinal.
The thrill of athletics! It's here! The tracks are sizzling in Tokyo!
Over the past year, Alexander Zverev has been embroiled in more off-court controversy than on-court success. A former girlfriend announced she was pregnant with his child a day before another former girlfriend accused the German of domestic violence.
With regards to his tennis, former coaches Ivan Lendl and Juan Carlos Ferrero parted ways with him citing his work ethic.
Having said that, the 24-year-old did reach the US Open final last year. And on Sunday, he became the first German men's singles player, and first singles player from his country since Steffi Graf in 1988, to win an Olympic gold. He beat Russian player Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-1 in the final, after coming from behind to beat World No 1 Novak Djokovic in the semi-final.
When Flamengo FC players lined up for a Copa do Brazil game against ABC on Thursday, they wore a common name on the back of their jerseys—Rebecca Andrade, Brazil’s first-ever medal winner in gymnastics, who also trains at the same club.
The goalkeeper Diego Ribas had her name printed on the front of his jersey, and said after the match: “This shirt is to honour Rebeca, for the medal she got, for the history, she has of overcoming difficulties, for representing us, Flamengo's athlete. We dedicate this victory (a crushing 6-0 win) to her.”
Andrade, then, went on to hunt down gold in artistic gymnastics, the first-ever Brazilian woman to the feat. Rest assured that they will wear the same jersey for the return leg against ABC on Monday.
Alexander Zverev defeats Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-1 to claim Germany second singles gold medal in tennis, 33 years after Steffi Graf at Seoul 1988! ROC's Khachanov takes silver. Spain's Carreno Busta takes bronze. No mention of Serbia anywhere.
It could be a historic hour for India at the Olympics in a couple of hours more. Sindhu's match is at 5 pm. Manpreet's men have their tryst with destiny at 5:30 pm. Scroll down for our detailed previews.
Czech Republic win women's doubles gold. Meanwhile, Zverev is leading Khachanov in men's singles final, having won the first set 6-3.
If you thought the Olympics were all about making your country proud and reaching the zenith of your physical abilities, think again. Here's diving legend Tom Daley doing some knitting while watching the action.
"Great Britain might not induce the same level of fear in the Indian camp as, say, Germany or the Netherlands, but the Indian men’s team will have to produce an error-free performance to guarantee their first Olympic semifinal since 1972," writes Mihir Vasavda.
'There’s a million reasons to wake up on Sunday shiny, new and bright. India doesn’t have a surfeit of medals, so PV Sindhu really can’t afford to mope over lost gold when there’s a bronze to be won. She has a chance to become the first Indian woman with two Olympic medals,' writes Shivani Naik.
What to say about our boxing campaign so far! Our male boxers have had a largely disappointing show. Amit Panghal topping the disappointment charts. Vikas Krishan, while not much was expected from him, a little bit more of a fight on what should be his Olympic swansong could have been expected. Our female boxers have done better on the whole. All eyes now on Lovlina Borgohain. Will it be a gold, silver or bronze for her?
While it is indeed a HUGE day for Indian hockey, Viren Rasquinha is slightly mistaken here. India did not play the Semifinal in 1980 either. There was no semifinal held in the 1980 Games. The last time India played a semifinal was in 1972 Munich.
"On Tuesday on the highest stage, Melnikova needing 10.535 on the floor, for Russia to seal their gold, stuck her landing, beat her closed fist against her heart and won the country its first team gold since disintegration of the Soviet Union." ... Shivani Naik dissects where Russia pipped USA in the Team finals.
Xander Schauffele, who won gold in golf, was born and bred in California. But he is familiar with Japan as his mother and her parents, who are Taiwanese, stay in Japan. When Xander was only two, his mother returned to Japan and had remained there since. Schauffele makes it a point to visit mother and grandparents at least once in year. “I am a frequent flyer to Japan and likes its culture and food a lot,” he had once said.
But the sporting genes are from his father’s side. His father was a promising decathlete, who dreamed of being a member of the “Aufbaukader,” the famed German national decathlon team, before a drunk driver rammed his vehicle into his bike when he was only 18, days before a national championship. He lost an eye and therefore was forced to quit the sport.
Xander’s great-grandfather was a celebrated Austrian footballer who had won league titles in France, Austria and Denmark. Xander’s grandfather was a throw expert, with close to 50 titles in shot put, discus and javelin, and at one point had all the German throw records to his name. And he found adequate time to turn up as a burly centre back for German club VfB Stuttgart.
India's TT contingent is heading home. It was quite a historic TT campaign for India in Tokyo, even though one of the biggest hopes, Sathiyan, had to face a very tough draw and faced an early exit in Tokyo. Sutirtha showed great heart to beat her higher-ranked opponent in the first round. Manika Batra went further in the Olympics this time than any Indian woman has in TT ever. And Sharath Kamal... what do we say about Sharath Kamal! In future years, if and when India becomes a sporting powerhouse, Sharath Kamal will be remembered for being one of the originals. Like a Vijay Merchant or a CK Nayudu in Indian cricket history. Hats off, champ! Hope to see you in Paris!
A statement from the FEI, the world equestrian federation, reads: "It is with great sadness that we announce that the Swiss horse Jet Set, ridden by Robin Godel has had to be euthanised... Sadly, ultrasound scans revealed an irreparable ligament rupture in the lower right limb, just above the hoof, and on humane grounds and with the agreement of the owners and athlete, the decision was taken to put the horse to sleep."
Ghana’s Samuel Takyi is now guaranteed a medal as he booked a semi-final spot in the men’s featherweight boxing event. A first medal for the country in 29 years.
Heavyweights Australia and Germany will meet in the semifinals of the men's hockey competition at the Tokyo Olympics after winning their respective last-eight matches on a thrilling Sunday morning here.
Pool B runners up Germany booked their fifth successive semifinal appearance with a fine win over Rio 2016 gold medallists Argentina, with exquisite penalty corner goals from Lukas Windfeder (2) and Timm Herzbruch proving to be enough as Die Honamas continue their quest for a fifth Olympic title in men's hockey.
Germany's opponents in the semi-finals -- which will be played on August 3 -- will be Pool A winners Australia, who were pushed all the way by the Netherlands, who finished fourth in Pool B, before winning a shoot-out in a dramatic second semifinal.
The two remaining men's quarter-finals -- Belgium versus Spain and India against Great Britain -- will take place this evening.
There was a time, not so long ago, when Usain Bolt's void at the Tokyo Olympics was expected to be filled by a bunch of other stupendously fast humans — in the women’s 100 metres.
Alen Hadzic, an alternate on the U.S. Olympic fencing team who is accused of sexual misconduct, has been ostracized in Tokyo and prevented from staying in the Olympic Village.
On Friday, his teammates protested his presence face to face — or, more precisely, mask to mask. During introductions for the team épée competition, three U.S. fencers wore pink masks, apparently in support of sexual assault victims, while Hadzic was left wearing a black one. A photograph of the unsettled team showed the fencers standing in stark contrast.
Now that men's golf is over, action will shift to women's individual event. Aditi Ashok was India's only woman golfer before India’s golf challenge at the ongoing Olympics got a boost with Diksha Dagar being given a late entry into the women’s golf competition beginning August 4.
Anirban Lahiri finishes with 1-over 72 in the final round and an overall score of 5-under. The Indian golfer finishes tied-43rd, bettering his Rio Olympics performance where he finished 57th.
Meanwhile, it's a thrilling battle at the top for the gold. Rory Sabbatini of Slovakia and Xander Schauffele of the USA are tied on 17 under.
Great Britain might not induce the same level of fear in the Indian camp as, say, Germany or the Netherlands, but the Indian men’s team will have to produce an error-free performance to guarantee their first Olympic semifinal since the 1980 Games. (Read Full Story)
Olympic organisers were on Sunday investigating after a group of athletes was found drinking together at the Village, while Tokyo sizzled in scorching temperatures as Tokyo 2020 lurched into day nine.