Glimpses from the events that Indian athletes took part in on Day 6. (PTI)Asian Games 2023 Day 6 Highlights: Indians claimed eight medals on Friday at Hangzhou 2023, with two golds and two silvers coming from the shooting ranges and a silver coming from the tennis courts. The teenage duo of Palak and Esha Singh claimed a gold and silver in the women’s 10m air pistol event after they had combined with Divya TS for a silver in the 10m air pistol women’s team event earlier in the day.
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Swapnil Kusale, Akhil Sheoran shattered the world record by eight points to claim a team gold. In the men’s doubles final, it was Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan who lost in the final to bring home silver. Meanwhile, Kiran Baliyan won bronze in the women’s shot put event while the Indian women’s squash team also finished with bronze.
Vinayakk Mohanarangan along side Amit Kamath will be on the blog today with our man on the ground in Hangzhou, Mihir Vasavda, sending us updates as well. You can read all of our top stories by clicking on this link.
Follow highlights from Day 6 at 2023 Asian Games below
India's Naorem Roshibina Devi with her silver medal poses for photographs during presentation ceremony of the Women's 60 kg Wushu event at the 19th Asian Games, in Hangzhou, China, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (PTI Photo)
The host nation of Hangzhou 2023 has crossed 100 gold medals at the ongoing Asian Games. As we come to an end of Day 6, China has 105 golds and 200 medals overall.
“I was looking to get the Olympic quota. Now I have got it, finally, I am looking forward to winning that gold medal. I’m really happy to have won this quarter-final and achieve the Olympic quota. I’m happy with the way I have performed in the Asian Games so far. I have more bouts to come, I will do my best in those,” boxer Nikhat Zareen said after her win.
When Kiran Baliyan won a bronze medal in the women’s shot put event, it was the first time a woman from India had medalled in the discipline at the Asian Games since the inaugural Asiad in 1951.
The woman who had won that medal back in 1951 was Barbara Webster. At the Delhi Asian Games, Barbara won not just the bronze medal in shot put, she also claimed a bronze in the women’s javelin throw. Very rare combination these days.
What makes her even more remarkable is that newspaper reports from the early 1950s note that she had won gold medals in three events at the National Track & Field Meet held at Ludhiana: shot put, javelin and discus throw! Fascinating black and white photographs of her competing back in those days show her in pristine white gown heaving the discus into the distance.
While some reports claim she was from Mysore, others identify her as an Anglo-Indian from Bombay.
One Indian eye was firmly on the other side of the team event draw, and after Shi Yuqi's imploding, China steadied themselves with Li Shifeng and their two doubles - Liu-Ou and Liang-Wang - dragging the hosts into the semis defeating Chinese Taipei. A reverse result would've been quite the scandal in China, who after losing the Olympics men's doubles final to Taiwan, cut off the broadcast for the medal ceremony to avoid listening to the flag anthem of Plum Blossoms. But they are on track...
...on track to meet their arch rivals, Japan in the semis.
Kenta Nishimoto is having quite the Games and calmed Japanese nerves stubbing out Ng ka long Angus of Hong Kong after young Kodai Naraoka lost his opener. Nishimoto had beaten Loh Kean Yew to drub Singapore 3-0 on Thursday. Japan's two doubles prevailed in straight games, and will be received with cackles and hoots when China - Japan face off in semis in what is a fiery rivalry on the badminton courts.
The men's team event at Asiad in badminton has always been fiercely contested by the five top countries China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia. Welcome India to baddy's big cauldron.
In the race between the footballer namesakes, India's Ronaldo Singh has managed to finish ahead of David Beckham in the men's keirin cycling race at the CSC Velodrome. Ronaldo is 10th overall after his fourth place finish in the classification race for the 7-12 places. Beckham was 11th.
The story behind David Beckham's name
And if you're probably wondering if there's a story behind David Beckham the Indian cyclist getting named that, here it is.
The tale goes that the cyclist's father, who was a footballer back in the day, named him in honour of the England football star.
'My father was a footballer in the national team, and he was a huge fan of David Beckham. When I was born in the hospital, they told my mum: if it's a boy, then it's David Beckham,' he recently recalled.
In his early days, he used to play football, like his more popular namesake, but now has now switched to cycling. 'Before, I (used to) play football when I was young, 14 years old. I switched to cycling in 2017, and I started my professional cycling (career) in Delhi five years ago, and now I’m in the professional league properly.'
Track cycling 101: What's keirin?
It's a cycling event held in a velodrome over six laps, with the speed controlled by a motorised pacer for the first three laps. It's usually contested by six or seven riders in each race.
As mentioned on the official commentary, that is India's first women's shot put medal since 1951! End of a 72-year-old wait.
Women's Shot Put, final: Bronze for Kiran Baliyan. India wins its 33rd medal at the Asian Games as Baliyan's 17.36m put never looked to be threatened by those below her. Manpreet Kaur finishes fifth.
It's another one-two for China, as Gong Lijiao put daylight between her and the rest of the field with a 19.58m put and went on to win gold. Her compatriot, Song Jiayuan, was only able to get to 18.92m to get silver.
Sajan Prakash clocked 1:57.44 to be amongst India's better finishers in swimming finals, as he came 4.29 behind Japan's Tomoru Honda who set a Games record for the 200m-fly of 1:53.15. India had a lot of swimmers make the finals, but made the rear of the field mostly. Sajan was mid-pack though he couldn't go past the Chinese who took 3rd and 4th place.
Indore swimmer Advait Page finished 7th in the 200-backstroke with a timing of 2:02.67 improving upon his heats timings. Yet, he was 7.30 behind China's gold medallist Xu Jiayu who won with 1:55.37.
At the end of the men's 2nd round, Anirban Lahiri is the highest placed Indian, continuing to stay tied 9th. The Indian team are joint 6th in the collective standings.
Women's Shot Put, final: While Manpreet Kaur has fallen away, Kiran Baliyan's 17.36m put has made her a shoo-in for the bronze. Chinese Taipei's Chen-Xin Jian gets a personal best to make it to fourth, but three of Baliyan's five puts would beat that. Another medal looks like it is a lock for India
As the men's 100m sprint heats start, here's a finish that would leave even VAR confused.
It will be Korea vs India in the men's team semifinals after Indonesia were ousted 3-1 by Koreans. Not particularly greatly ranked, Korea's singles players tend to come prepared for team events at Games and rely on unfamiliarity to stun rivals. India's Thomas Cup royalty - Prannoy, Sen and Srikanth will need to be wary of the lesser known names, Jeon Hyeok Jin and Lee Yung Yu who beat Christie. India start strong favourites in singles though, given Prannoy and Sen's ability to think on their feet, analyse opponents in opening set and improvise. Their doubles teams are beasts in team events, not to mention them being brand new World champions in men's doubles.
Exciting semis ahead.
Women's Shot Put, final: Baliyan further consolidates her bronze medal position with a third attempt that hit 17.36m. Kaur's attempt did not count but she is still in fourth place with 16.25m. So far, it's an Indian battle for bronze, but Korea's Lee Soojung is on Kaur's heels after her third put of 16.21m.
India lose 30-37 to China
India scored a commendable 18-19 against China in the second half to finish with a 30-37 loss against the hosts in women's Handball. Menika, Sushma and Bhawana raided the Chinese citadel repeatedly post the break, but were fended off by Chinese goalkeepers Yang and Hu. China kept their fast break count high, which remained the main difference between the two sides.
India had started with a 41-13 drubbing by Japan, then tied 26-26 with Hong Kong and will play Nepal in their last game.
An India-Pakistan final to look forward to on Saturday then, scheduled for 1.00 pm IST. The two teams met each other in the group stage and Pakistan won what was often a rather feisty contest. Can the Indians get one back when it matters? That should be fascinating to watch.
Women's Shot Put, final: A very strong put of 16.84m has Kiran Baliyan in the bronze medal position after two attempts. Kaur is right behind in fourth.
Saurav Ghosal yo-yoed Eain along the diagonal of the back court and the fore, and finished with a reflex whack off the front wall as Ghosal wins 11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 11-3.
Ghosal will try to reclaim the team gold he last won in 2014. Pakistan stand in the way. Last year he won a precious CWG bronze in individual. The Kolkatan though is only playing better each passing season and will look to cap the Asiad with a team gold.
Pakistan has Noor Zaman, Muhammad Asim Khan and Nasir Iqbal. Khan is top ranked at 65.
Women's Shot Put, final: After their first attempts, both Kaur (16.25) and Baliyan (15.42) remain in the medal conversation but are substantially behind the Chinese leaders, who have are in and around the 18m mark.
Indonesia and Korea are still at it. Korea 2-1 ahead
After Lee Yung Yu beat reigning individual champ Jojo Christie and world champions Seo-Kang pulled back from the brink to defeat Alfian-Adrianto, Korea's second doubles of Kim-Na led Carnando Marthin 16-13 in the second after winning the first.
India wait for the winners in semis
Eain Yow pulls out great stroke making to pull one back. Ghosal leads 2-1.
That rally belonged to the Malaysian with Eain's 'tweener from the middle of the court and a nifty finish at 5-7. But Ghosal responded with a fantastic wristy swipe shot of his own and a stroke later led 9-6. Two points away from a win, Ghosal made Eain scurry all over, but the Malaysian had the perfect finish to go 7-9. Match point later, Eain offered his defiant fight to go to 9-10, and levelled moments later. A good finish at the forecourt gave the Malaysian 11-10 lead, and Ghosal tinned it in the end to allow Eain a toe in the door. 12-10 to Eain.
Quality shotmaking, but too early to say if momentum has turned
Women's Shot Put, final: Kiran Baliyan and Manpreet Kaur to lead the Indian charge. Both are medal hopefuls, given only two other athletes are higher ranked than them in the final.
Athletics Women's Hammer Throw Final: Tanya Chaudhary and Rachna Kumari finish 7th & 9th respectively.
A wild swing of the racquet as Eain hits the tin and Ghosal takes the second 11-6. There was a lovely three wall boast from Eain, but his deft low winners were few and far in between Ghosal's clinical finishes.
Pakistan await in what can be a sumptuous avenging final
Saurav Ghosal has shown he can frustrate Eain with long rallies and trap him on that backhand front corner. The Ghosal backhand slice and its many variations are yielding several points. Ghosal 8-4 up in the second now
Eain Yow was caught on the forecourt backhand corner after a long rally at 6-3. But the Malaysian tucked his wrists to wrong foot Ghosal soon after with a drop. Two tins brought Eain close at 6-7, but the Indian pulled things back for 9-7. But a low winner from Eain made it 8-9. Ghosal had game point when Eain smashed into the tin, and took the 11-8 opener a few moments later
India will next take on Korea on 1st October, who have also won two out of two so far. A likely contest for the top spot in the pool, that one.
It's a 6-0 win for India against Malaysia. A strong statement being made Janneke Schopman and Co. In heavy rain today, the Indian team had six different scorers and showed a good attacking variety. The second half was a bit tepid but the conditions and scoreline meant India didn't have to push too much.
The Malaysians have taken a fair few painful blows here. This has been a tough, tough night for them. India are seeing this out comfortably.
Saurav Ghosal, ranked 19th on PSA next takes on Eain Yow Ng, ranked just a spot above him at No 18 in the semifinal. He's 37 and alongwith Joshna Chinappa they are the faces of squash in India. 1-0 up in the team evet, he will look to seal this for India.
GOAL, INDIA. A sixth goal eventually does come for India. Lalremsiami makes it a sixth different goalscorer, more good work by young Vaishnavi.
Backhand drive winner gives Abhay Singh an opening 3-1 win over Addeen Idrakie to put India 1-0 ahead against defending champions Malaysia in the semifinals. Abhay wins 11-3, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6 in 53 minutes
Tanya Chaudhary back in the medal conversation. A 60.5m throw puts her in third place with three attempts remaining. Looked lke she surprised herself with that one.
India have had some chances to increase their lead. A cancelled goal, a few PCs not converted etc. It remains 5-0 there, with 12 mins to go in the match.
Sharath Kamal goes down against world No 28 Chuang. The Indian fought back from 0-2 down and took the match to the distance. End of Achanta Sharath Kamal's campaign in Hangzhou as well.
Md Anas will not join Md Ajmal in the 400m men's final in Hangzhou. His 46.29s finish beaten by two others in the second heat itself.
After their first two attempts, India's Rachna Kumari and Tanya Chaudhary look a reasonable distance off a medal at the moment, standing eigth and ninth after sub-59m throws.
India's Md Ajmal is through to the final.
On the pace from the start, he led much of this heat before Japan's Kentaro Sato took the win from his at the end by less than two-tenths of a second.
Deepika looks to have scored a terrific solo goal but the goal is ruled out as it is deemed to have been taken from just outside the circle.
Abhay Singh, world rank 69, starts for India against PSA ranked 64 Muhammad Addeen Idrakie Bin Bahtiar. The Chennai player, almost 6 feet, will be a considerable presence on the court against the shorter Addeen Idrakie, but is a step slower than the Malaysian.
After a false start disruption, it is a solid outing for India's Md Anas, who could not make it to the final automatically after finishing third, but his 46.29s finish might put him in the conversation to make it through the timing cut off.
With her rapid quarterfinal win, Nikhat not only guarantees an Indian medal at the Asiad but also confirms India's first boxing quota for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 50kg category.
In the semifinal, Zareen will next face Thailand's Raksat, a boxer she had struggled against at the World Championships in New Delhi. Then, the scores were 3-2 and the judges had scored it 5-2 after IBA's two extra judges ruled the bout in her favour.
Wow both boxers start so strong. But after a flurry of exchanges, Nassar is rocked back and is handed a standing eight count.
A few moments later, another standing count followed by yet another one. Three standing counts and the bout is stopped in the first round itself.
That was quick! Nikhat Zareen is in the semifinals of the Asian Games. She guarantees herself of a bronze medal.
Despite being the fastest woman of this hear on paper, India's Himanshi Malik was well off the pace. Not only did she not make it to the top 2, but also failed to make it through the timing cut off after finishing at 57.82s - six seconds slower than her personal best this year.
Aishwarya Mishra - who put in a season best performance in the first heat - will be the only Indian in the 400m women's final in Hangzhou.
India 23-30 China in ongoing second half.
20 year old Bhawana went on a goal-scoring spree in the second half, knocking in two 6 metre bottom goals from left centre, three breakthrough strikes to the bottom right and a bottom left centre 9m goal to bring India within 23-30 of China in the second half. India's efficiency improved from 44 % to 58 % and they tallied 7/10 on breakthroughs.
Nikhat Zareen up next against Jordan's Nassar Hanan for a place in the Boxing 50kg semifinals. A win now would guarantee a bronze medal.
India lead 5-0 at half time. Not sure Janneke Schopman could ask for much more from her side. That was clinical, composed, lots of flair.
GOAL INDIA! Five goals for India, five different goalscorers. Sangita Kumari the latest to get onto the scoresheet.
India's Defense of the Ancients (DOTA2) team lost against both Kyrgyzstan and Philippines 1-0 to exit the competition.
Led by skipper Darshan Bata (A35), India's DOTA 2 unit comprised Krish Gupta (Krish-), Abhishek Yadav (Abhi-), Ketan Goyal (Evil-Ash), and Shubham Goli (Madness), but struggled to advance to the next stage.
India's Aishwarya Mishra qualifies for the medal event, coming second to Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser. There was a small battle between the two - who put a huge distance between them and the rest to make it to the final - but Naser calmly kept her lead to win the heat by 0.21s.
Things are about to get busy. Here's a look at today's afternoon session:
Women’s Hammer Throw - Tanya Chaudhary,, Rachna Kumari (4:40 pm, medal event)
Women’s shot put - Kiran Baliyan, Manpreet Kaur (6:15 pm, medal event)
Women’s 400m - Aishwarya Mishra, Himanshi Malik (4:30 pm, heats)
Men’s 400m - Md Anas, Md Ajmal (4:55 pm, heats)
Can Saurav Ghosal and Co make it to the final? They take on Malaysia, the 2018 gold medallists. Abhay Singh, Saurav Ghosal and Mahesh Mangaonkar are the players in action for India.
GOAL INDIA. Oh that is another lovely variation from the short corner routine. Neha takes the hit this time and Vaishnavi, the injector, makes the move towards goal to deflect it from the post. Four goals, four different goalscorers. End of the opening quarter.
GOAL INDIA! Two in quick succession. We have seen Deep Grace Ekka take hits from short corners, but she is now starting to drag flick as well. Recall seeing one against Singapore too. This is superbly taken and clearly something India have been working on.
GOAL INDIA! Well deserved after the start they made. Great work down the right from the likes of Udita, Navneet and Siami. Monika with the finishing touch.
At the end of the first half, India are trailing 12-18 against China, who have scored prolifically from fast breaks - converting 10 out of their 12 as against just the one/1 from India.
India had 27 shots at goal, 8 from 6 metres and 5 from 9 metres and equal number from 7 metres, but scored 12/27. China went 18/29.
A penalty corner in the very first minute for India after good work by Salima. Deepika's drag flick is pushed out wide.