PV Sindhu pours her heart out after Asian Games loss, gives example of Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka’s struggles
Until not so long ago, India’s most decorated badminton player, a serial winner and the ultimate big-game performer couldn’t be defeated.
Now, she can’t win.
“This is the period when you go low at times. You don’t know what to do, what’s happening,” PV Sindhu says.
On Thursday, Sindhu lost again. A tame, straight-game defeat to China’s He Bingjiao in the quarterfinals brought the curtains down on her Asian Games campaign. A year ago, the manner of her surrender would have raised eyebrows. This time, nobody batted an eyelid. Not even Sindhu. (READ MORE)
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How intimidating is it to play Fan Zhendong, the Virat Kohli of table tennis, in China?
On the last day of action for the Indian contingent at the Asian Games, we are set for a medal-filled day once again, with plenty of finals to look forward. Theer's cricket, wrestling, badminton and kabaddi where Indians could win golds on Saturday.
Read about Indians in action on Saturday by clicking here.
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* Of the 95 medals so far in 20 sports, 44 came from men, 41 from women, and 9 in mixed events.
* The country has won 22 gold medals, again the most ever. Shooting has the most gold medallists – 7.
* 51 medals came just from two sports – athletics (29) and shooting (22).
* 30 athletes have so far won more than one medal, with rifleman Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and pistol shooter Esha Singh winning the most medals by a single athlete – 4 each.
* On October 1, the team won the most medals in a single day – 15 – and there hasn’t been a single day without any medal.
“We came here with the target of 100 medals but didn’t imagine our dream would come true,” said India’s chef de mission, Bhupinder Singh Bajwa. “Now, we will achieve it easily tomorrow. I congratulate all the players, along with the coaches and support staff, for reaching the target we set out to achieve.”
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Neeraj Chopra on Sony Sports Network says he was mentally disturbed by the non-measurement of first throw, his body had cooled down for retake. Neeraj also adds that next few throws he was kinda going through the motions, not really feeling that great. And then that Kishore throw to go top actually gave him the boost also to go big for that 88.88m. Once again, Neeraj full of praise for Kishore.
Satwik-Chirag haven't lost too many finals in their life. They've won all the 3 they played this year. That gold will be precious should they go past Koreans. And to top it all there might even be the ..... !!!! (But we'll wait for those numbers).
Korean doubles is a genre of its own. They are a different proposition at Games and team events, even their second best pairing. But the Indians look un.stoppable.
Men's Doubles, Semifinal: You know what they say about buses? You wait so long for one, and then two come along in no time. Chirag and Satwik lost 8 matches on the trot against Chia and Soh, including a World Championships semifinal heartbreak. But now they have come up with 2 wins for two of their biggest career results.
Satwik-Chirag beat Aaron-Soh 21-17, 21-12
Just how dominating has been this win. Indians have played intelligently, and like Vinayakk pointed out, used full court. They went on a run of points and guarded leads zealously. Aaron into the net for 20-10, and Chirag's fourth smash dunks and buries into floor. A warm, long hug for this emotional win. And then the hop racquet twirl to celebrate. Satwik-Chirag match PV Sindhu to march into Asiad Finals. This is massive.
They play Koreans Kim-Choi. (From Shivani Naik)
Satwik-Chirag 21-17, 17-9
Mathias Boe always looks like he's playing Wii-badminton sitting there and shadow-playing, wincing on the misses, his shoulder jumping as if to smash
Men's Doubles, Semifinal: Don't rule out a turnaround in men's doubles badminton at this level, but this is not quite a scoreline you could have predicted at the start. Just after the mid-game interval, a yellow card for Soh as well. Not quite sure what happened there.
Satwik-Chirag 21-17, 11-3
Parallel play with Malaysians means a permanent semi-squat, low bent stance in receiving. Satwik has been BRILL today - he's bending, he's playing the flats to Malaysian faces and torso, and he's bossing the front court, pulling out the Big Boom smash only pickily. (From Shivani Naik)
Satwik-Chirag lead 21-17
Placement over power for Indians. They are lasering in the gaps and holding steady on the flat exchanges. Chirag's angles = top class. Satwik forward defense = reliable. Malaysians got 3 points back, but it was that right open court (left for Indians) again where the set was sealed. (From Shivani Naik)
After five-time world championship medallist and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia lost the bronze medal playoff, Vinesh Phogat tweeted in his defence. Bajrang had made the cut for the Asian Games after being given an exemption from trials.
"Bajrang was always a champion, still is a champ and always will be one. What he did for women wrestlers was never even imagined by anyone till date. We are grateful to you, Bajrang. A real athlete is one who stands up every time. Neither victory nor defeat is final," tweeted Vinesh offering an impassioned defence of Bajrang.
Satwik-Chirag 19-13
Tweener from Satwik was sensational, but racquets clashed and Chirag had to shout out Aage to get organised. (From Shivani Naik)
Men's Doubles, Semifinal: From 10-10, to 17-10. What a run of points after the mid-game interval for the Indians.
Satwik-Chirag 11-10 ahead
The fuschia tapes on Aaron Chia's arm and shoulder might be one reason why he's being peppered. Not that his smash isn't stinging. Malaysians not letting Indians attack downward, but Chirag can work the rally around. And Satwik gets an opening on the empty left flank, moments after Chirag's evasive backhand lands on the line there. (From Shivani Naik)
The Indian men's team on top of the podium and with their ticket (well, not the actual one) to Paris. Photo via Hockey India.
Men's Doubles, Semifinal: The rally to make it 5-5! A sensational exchange from all four players. An early idea of what we can expect from this match. Fast, furious, mostly flat.
Satwik-Chirag 3-4
Early eye-pop: Indians going for it, they are targeting Aaron Chia, the mentally stronger of the two Malaysians.
Men's Doubles, Semifinal: After their win in the Indonesia Open, Mathias Boe had said that the key to finally getting that win was to avoid playing the shuttle into Chia/Soh's racket and use the full court to spread play.
Badminton Individual event update
All-China final in Men's singles.
Li Shifeng vs Shi Yuqi.
It's happened before in 1974, 1986, 1990 and 2014. (From Shivani Naik)
Men's Doubles, Semifinal: Here's a look at the H2H between Chirag / Satwik and Chia / Soh. It's 8-1 in favour of the MAS pair but the contests are rarely one-sided. Expect a cracking contest.
Badminton Individual event update
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty next vs Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik
All of the past 9 meetings will be irrelevant. Malaysians had won 8, India 1. At their biggest title, Indonesian Open. But this is bigger at the Asian Games. The Malaysians have cost Indians a world's final once when the score read 0-8. Good time to pull one back. Malaysians can be put under pressure at big events. (From Shivani Naik)
A moment of pride for hockey fans
Trailing overnight by 41 International Match Points, India lost both the fourth and fifth set as HK won 229-152. The team comprised Ajay Khare, Raju Tolani, Jaggy Shivdasani , Sandeep Thakral, Rajeshwar Tewari and Sumit Mukherjee. (By Shivani Naik)
ICYMI, the Indian men's kabaddi team claimed a win over Pakistan in kabaddi to set up a mouth-watering finale against iran. India's Pawan Kumar spoke after the victory:
"My feeling is good, we are happy we are going to the final. We have been preparing for this (for the) past five months."
On playing against good friends Fazel Atrachali and Mohammadesmaeil Nabinaksh from Iran in the final he said: "In the match they are my opponents, they are not (my) friends. Out of the match they are my friends."
"An unprecedented achievement for India! Assured of 100 medals at the Asian Games, it's a moment of immense pride for every Indian. The dedication and hard work of our athletes is truly commendable. A big salute to the sports federations, coaches, support staff, and the vision of our government with its impactful schemes. Together, we rise. Well done, Team India!" tweets Bindra, who was India's first-ever gold medallist at the Olympics.
Former India player Viren Rasquinha enjoyed that win!
Hockey, Men's Final, IND 5-1 JPN
Lovely scenes at the end there as Harmanpreet Singh and his teammates console the sobbing Japan goalkeeper Kitagawa.
Hockey Men's Final, IND 5-1 JPN
1966, 1998, 2014, 2022.
Indian men's hockey team are Asian Games gold medallists once again.
Hockey, Men's Final, IND 5-1 JPN
Harmanpreet Singh scores so much these days and you rarely see him celebrate that much. This goal means a lot to him.
Hockey, Men's Final, IND 4-1 JPN: With two minutes left the return to the top of podium looks assured for India. But that nasty looking hamstring injury to Mandeep Singh is a bit of a downer.
Wrestling Men's Freestyle 65Kg Bronze Medal Match
Kaiki Yamaguchi, 2019 junior world champion in 61kg, has just beaten Bajrang – multiple Worlds medallist – by technical superiority. The semifinal defeat against Amouzadkhalili could be explained but this was a tough one to watch. Bajrang didn't seem to have a chance against a young, speedier opponent.
Japan have scored!! Maybe too late. But with just about 8 minutes to go in the final, India have a three-goal cushion.
Men's Freestyle 65Kg Bronze Medal Match
Well, in trouble is an understatement now. Another brilliant 2-pointer for the former junior world champion, a lightning counter follows and Bajrang is 0-8 down..
Men's Freestyle 65Kg Bronze Medal Match: Bajrang in trouble. A couple of pushouts early on. And then a 2-pointer. The Indian trails 0-2 and has 3 mins to turn this around.
As the Indian men's team claimed a silver medal in the sport of bridge, here's how the sport works: A bridge game is played between two pairs. Teams earn points through ‘tricks’, in which each player plays a card from their hand, with the highest card, determined by value and suit, winning the trick. In total, 13 tricks are played to empty each player’s hand of cards. At the end of a hand bonus points can be awarded depending on the number of tricks won.
Four players take part in a game of bridge, made up of two partnerships. Partners sit opposite each other at the table, each referring to a compass point [north, east, south, west]. The game is played using a standard deck of 52 playing cards. Some tournaments may use screens set diagonally across the table to prevent partners from communicating unauthorised information with each other, including through gestures and expressions. Screens will have a cutout at the bottom where cards are played within view of all players.
Hockey, Men's Final, IND 3-0 JPN
End of Q3 and that gold medal is very much in India's sight now. Will take an extraordinary slip from here to miss out.
A silver medal coming in from bridge. It's the men's team of Raju Tolani, Ajay Prabhakar Khare, Sumit Mukherjee, Rajeshwar Tewari, Jaggy Shivdasani and Sandeep Thakral have won the silver medal!!!
Men's Final, IND 3-0 JPN
For a while now, Indian hockey fans have been calling out for a viable 2nd alternative to Harmanpreet Singh from PCs. India have tried a few in recent past but in Amit Rohidas they have a veteran stepping up in Hangzhou. He has shown a tendency to go high over the goalkeeper while Harmanpreet goes low and hard. Nightmare for opposition defence.
Hockey, Men's Final, IND 3-0 JPN
After Harmanpreet Singh's goal from the PC, it's Amit Rohidas who dispatches his dragflick into the goal. Still more than 8 minutes left in Q3! But India have a cushion now in this final!
If they win, it's not just a gold medal that awaits them. There's also a quota place at the Paris Olympics.
Hockey, Men's Final, IND 2-0 JPN
And just as we hyped the Japanese PC defence at ACT recently, Harmanpreet Singh finds the right ankle. 3 straight PCs, Japan defend 2, Harmanpreet says third time is the charm.
Men's Final, IND 1-0 JPN
The 2nd half is underway. Worth remembering that in Chennai, the Japanese defence (especially from PCs) frustrated India immensely. In Hangzhou too, India's defence have come under pressure in a couple of matches. They need to put some cushion between themselves and Japan here.
A native of Rawat Khera village, Kiran Bishnoi started wrestling at her maternal village Kali Rawan in 2009. The wrestler, whose father is a clerk in District Commissioner office in Hisar, won bronze in junior nationals, Jammu in 2011 and became the junior champion in 67 kg category in 2012 apart from winning a bronze medal in Junior Asian Championships in Kazakhstan in 2013. A knee injury in 2014 meant that Kiran missed the 2014 Commonwealth Games and remained away from the sport for more than 18 months before becoming the senior national champion in 2015.
“When I started wrestling on the insistence of my maternal grandfather Ram Swarup, I knew nothing about the sport. Wrestling ka koi idea hi nahi tha. It was the same time when Sushil sir won the bronze medal in Beijing Olympics and I would watch his technical moves for practice. Later I joined Mahavir Stadium in Hisar under coach Vishnu Das and we would train with boys. No Indian female wrestler has won a medal at CWG in 76 Kg category and when I won the medal, Sushil sir congratulated me and it means a lot for me. My grandfather died in 2010 but if he was alive today, he would have been proud of the medal,” Kiran had told Express from Gold Coast, Australia in 2018 after becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win a medal in the freestyle 76 Kg category at Commonwealth Games
.
India lead at the halfway mark in the men's hockey final. That stinging goal from Manpreet was the highlight of the first 30 minutes. But they don't have too much of a cushion with two more quarters coming up. India missed many chances before that goal.
Japan have had their chances as well. So, India will really want to double their lead as soon as they can in the third quarter.
Wrestling Men's Freestyle 57Kg: Aman Sehrawat does it, with time to spare; he defeats China's Liu Minghu 11-0 for a win by Technical Superiority. That was a strong win, but barely a smile from Aman. Maybe it's 57kg thing.
Men's Freestyle 57Kg, Bronze Medal Match: It's a 5-0 lead for Aman at the end of the first period. Some incredible defensive work by the Indian in the closing seconds of the period to avoid a big takedown. Could easily have conceded 4 there.
Men's Final, IND 1-0 JPN
What a strike. Abhishek with a fabulous piece of skill to draw a save but Manpreet unleashes a powerful reverse hit strike from the edge of the box. Some delay in confirming the goal. But it is given! The ball just flew into the goal. Unstoppable.
Men's Freestyle 57Kg, Bronze Medal Match: Time for Aman Sehrawat's bronze medal match. He had a stunning QF win against IRI and now takes on China's Liu Minghu.
Men's Final, IND 0-0 JPN
Though it is goalless here, India have a good recent record against Japan in men's hockey. But there was that one frustrating draw in Chennai too. (via TMS)
Men's Final, IND 0-0 JPN
Oh big chance! PC for India, Harmanpreet Singh and Co try a lovely variation, Amit Rohidas gets the chance to take a shot away but it is too high.
Men's Final, IND 0-0 JPN
Oh, India thought they have the lead. But the whistle has gone before the ball hit into the net. India do get a PC, and Harmanpreet Singh's drag flick is saved well by Kitagawa.
Hockey, Men's Final, IND vs JPN: 0-0 in Q1. No goals in the first quarter of the gold medal match between the favourites India and 2018 gold medallists Japan.
“To qualify for Paris by winning the Asian Games is our number one priority,” was how Craig Fulton put it in his first press conference in May after taking over as Indian men’s hockey team head coach. “To be Asia No 1 is definitely one of the goals that we want to achieve and be that consistently,” he added.
Wrestling, Women's Freestyle 76Kg: India's Kiran adds to the country's tally as she defeats Mongolia's Ganbat Ariunjargal 6-3.
Women's Freestyle 76Kg Bronze Medal match: Ganbat closes the gap with a couple of minutes left but Kiran makes it 5-2. It's 6-2 with 45 seconds to go. Looking good for the Indian.
Women's Freestyle 76Kg Bronze Medal match: Kiran takes a 3-0 lead into the half-time. A pushout followed by a 2-pointer.
Women's Freestyle 76Kg Bronze Medal Match: Kiran on the mat now against Ganbat Ariunjargal of Mongolia.