#rupinder

Day 8 started with India winning 29 medals and 2 assured medals in Bridge. In bridge, India won 2 bronze as they lost in SF. The six-member men's team comprised of Jaggy Shivdasani, Rajeshwar Tewari, Ajay Khare, Raju Tolani,Debabrata Majumder and Sumit Mukherjee. The mixed team is made up of Kiran Nadar, Hema Deora, Himani Khandelwal, Bachiraju Satyanarayana, Gopinath Manna and Rajeev Khandelwal. In badminton, Saina came down from 3-11 down in first set against world number 4 Intanon to win 21-18 21-16 to move to SF. She is assured of bronze medal.  She would meet world number 1 TaiTzuying in SF. PV Sindhu lead by a set and 11-8 against Jindapol. But she lost focus to lose 2nd set. She went down 4-7 in final set but came back to win 21-14.  Sindhu would clash with Yamaguchi in SF. Should Saina and Sindhu win SF, it will be an all Indian final which would be a brilliant achievement should it happen. Govindan Lakhshaman had got Bronze medal in 10,000 m race but was disqualified later as he had stepped outside track marginally.

Archery has been disappointing for India in this Asian games with no medal to show. Compund team archery has been one form where India excelled. Men’s team had won gold 4 years back beating Korea. Indian men’s team beat Qatar 227-213. In SF, India beat Philipines 227-226 in QF. India needed 26 to win in final set. It came down to Rajat needing 9 in final arrow and he got it bag on. India faced fancied Chinese Taipei in SF. It was a thrilling contest which India won 231-227. India are assured of Silver medal and in this form could even got for Gold. But against Korea, it will be tough. Rajat played like a champion in QF and SF. Women’s team also reached finals and are assured of a Silver medals well. They also would face Korea in finals as well. They beat in form team Indonesia 229-224 to reach SF where they beat Chinese Taipei.

In Boxing, Manoj Kumar and Shiva Thapa lost in round of 16 and QF respectively. Sarjubala Devi reached QF though in women’s category. In men’s 400m hurdles, Dharun marginally missed bronze as he came 4th. Hima Das had gained everybody’s attention when she won medal in U20 world championship. She continued great run as she won silver in 400m women’s race. Nirmala came 4th. This is brilliant start to Hima Das. She is real deal and we can expect more medals from her. Salwa won the gold in this race.In men’s 400m too, India had a winner and it was Mohammed Anas who won silver. He had timing of 45.3 but just managed to complete in 45.69 but it was still enough for silver. Rajiv came 4th. Abdalelah won gold. In women’s 100m, all of India were eagerly watching Dutee Chand and she ran like a hare. She won silver with timing of 11.32s. Gold medalist Edidiong had timing of 11.3s. Dutee Chand missed gold by .02s. That’s how close it was. Yongli won bronze with timing of 11.33s. Stunning race. Bingtian won men’s 100m race with timing of 9.92 which was great to see.  This timing could even win a gold medal now that Bolt is not in picture !!.

Surprise event of all was Equesterian. India had won gold in 1982 games when it was introduced. India won silver in men’s Eventing team and also in men’s Eventing individual. Mirza Fouaad won both the medals. In Mens team, other than Mirza, Rakesh, Ashish and Jitender were the athletes. It’s a brilliant achievement considering 3 of these 4 players are from Indian Army.

India faced Korea in men’s Hockey event. India got a penalty stroke in very first minute which Rupinder converted. India never looked back after that. They went ahead 3-0 by half time. Chinglensana scored both the goals. Korea came back to reduce the lead to one. Indian team of 3 years old would have handed lead back to Korea. But not this team. This new team shows aggression and it showed. India won the match 5-2. Mandeep and Akashdeep were goal scorers. Indian goal card as of now is 56-3. Stunning to see Indian team with this form and attitude. Hope they don’t get complacent and get India a gold medal.

Rupinder and Akashdeep return – SPORT

Rupinder Pal Singh and Akashdeep Singh returned to the side as India named its men’s hockey squad for the Asian Games.

Fine form

Rupinder, who had been rested for the Champions Trophy, was in fine form in the practice games against Bangladesh at the SAI here.

Akashdeep had missed the trip to Breda with a niggle.

However, the team will be without Ramandeep Singh, who sustained a knee injury…