India’s shooter Lakshay Sheoran won the silver medal by finishing second, while compatriot Manavjit Singh Sandhu finished fifth in the men’s trap final at the 2018 Asian Games here on Monday.

The 20-year-old, who had finished fourth in the qualification round, got 43 points to finish second behind Chinese Taipei’s Kunpi Yang, who equalled the world record score of 48.

AHN Daemyeong of South Korea won the bronze medal with 30 points, four ahead of Indian veteran Manavjit who had topped the two-phased qualification.

Daemyeong went out of the competition after 40 shots, getting 30 points, while till then Lakshay and Kunpi headed into the final 10-pointer round with 34 and 38 respectively.

However, it was likely that Kunpi would go on to win the gold medal having a four-point gap over the Indian.

Kunpi, 20, didn’t miss any shot as he charged his way to the title with a joint world record score, while Lakshay missed a shot in the 49th spot.

The Indian missed the first stroke. But he made a strong comeback to hit 17 strokes in a row. But he fumbled in the 19th, 21st and 22nd shots to blow his chances.

He then got back his momentum and was spot on for nine consecutive strikes before flunking the 32nd and 33rd which proved to be costly.

Kunpi, who was sixth to make it to the six-man final, produced a stunning final performance during which he missed only two shots — 13th and 23rd.

Eum Jiwon of South Korea and Hagen Alexander Topacio finished fifth and sixth respectively in the six-man final.

Lakshay’s medal was India’s fourth medal at the Games. Of the other three, one has come from wrestling and two from shooting.

India’s Vinesh Phogat, Pooja Dhanda and Sakshi Malik ensured a medal each after registering comprehensive wins to advance to the semi-finals of their respective weight categories in women’s freestyle wrestling at the 2018 Asian Games here on Monday.

Vinesh registered a comfortable 11-0 victory over South Korea’s Kim Hyungjoo in the 50 kilogram event in the quarter-finals, before Pooja booked her berth in the semi-finals after thrashing Esenbaeva Nabira of Uzbekistan 12-1 in the 57kg category.

Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi then entered the last four after thrashing Kazakhstan’s Ayaulym Kassymova by technical superiority (10-0).

Vinesh had earlier defeated China’s Sun Yanan by technical superiority 8-2 in the 50kg 1/8 finals while Sakshi needed less than two minutes to emerge victorious over Thailand’s Salinee Srisombat 10-0 in the 62kg 1/8 finals.

Pooja came to the semi-finals on the back of a dominant 10-0 thrashing of Thailand’s Orasa Sookdongyor in the 57kg 1/8 finals.

Meanwhile, it was heartbreak for the other Indian wrestlers — Pinki and Sumit Malik — who lost their respective 1/8 finals.

In women’s 53kg, Pinki was thrashed by technical superiority (0-10) by Mongolian Sumiya Erdenechimeg while in the men’s 125kg 1/8 finals, Sumit suffered a similar fate (0-10) against Parviz Hadibasmanj of Iran.

The Indian women’s kabaddi team registered their second win at the ongoing 2018 Asian Games as they defeated Thailand 33-23 here on Monday.

Led by raider Payel Chaudhari, the Indian eves rode on their attack to lead the first half 12-10.

They also dominated the second half as their raiders were successful in breaking the opponent’s weak defence and the team finished the game 33-23.

India had earlier crushed Japan 43-12 in their campaign opener on Sunday.

[IANS]

India’s women’s hockey team began its 18th Asian Games campaign in an emphatic fashion, flooring hosts Indonesia 8-0 in a Pool A contest at the Gelora Bung Karno Hockey Field here on Sunday.

Drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur scored a hat-trick in the 17th, 22nd and 57th minutes, while striker Vandana Katariya (14th and 28th), Navneet Kaur (25th and 50th) and Udita (nint) scored the goals for India.

For Indonesia, it was a tough debut in the Asian Games for their women’s hockey team as it came up against the continent’s top-ranked side which had claimed a bronze medal at the 2014 Asiad.

India started the first quarter by winning three consecutive penalty corners in the first six minutes, but the Indonesian defence did well to block the first two attempts and the third attempt saw Gurjit force a save by the Indonesian goalkeeper Selly Amalia Florentina.

In the 9th minute though, Namita Toppo’s shot from the edge of the circle was stopped by the Florentina but Udita put the rebound into the back of the net to give India the lead.

India continued to dominate the possession in the later stages of the first period and extended their lead in the 14th minute as Vandana played a one-two with Navjot Kaur inside the striking circle before producing a fine finish to make it 2-0 for India.

Gurjit then joined the party by converting two penalty corners in the 17th and 22nd minute to make it 4-0.

The Indian team kept thriving forward and the fifth goal arrived soon when Navneet wriggled past two Indonesian defenders and got a reverse shot away, which made its way into the back of net in the 25th minute.

Three minutes later, Vandana converted from a penalty corner to mark India’s sixth goal inside the half-time.

The Indian team earned two more penalty corners in the early stages of the third quarter, but the Indonesian defence held firm to keep out the Indians.

In the 37th minute, captain Rani Rampal forced the Indonesian goalkeeper to make a double save, and then earn her team another penalty corner. However, Rani’s resulting shot was well saved by Florentina again.

A minute later, India won another penalty corner which was taken by Gurjit Kaur but hit the first rusher’s body and was deemed dangerous by the umpire.

The start of the fourth quarter saw India win four consecutive penalty corners in the 49th minute as they kept the pressure on their opponents, but the visitors could not make the most of their opportunities as Indonesia defended well.

However, it was Navneet who scored her second goal in the 50th minute as she deflected Monika’s pass from the right flank into the back of the net.

Gurjit then completed her hat-trick in the 57th minute to end India’s scoring in the match as Sjoerd Marijne-coached side eased to an 8-0 triumph.

[IANS]

The Indian women badminton team is out of the medal race in the 2018 Asian Games as they lost 1-3 to Japan in the Women’s Team quarterfinal event here on Monday.

Out of the four games, only P.V. Sindhu was able to win as she defeated Akane Yamaguchi 21-18, 21-19.

In two other women’s double affair, Sikki Reddy, who teamed up with Arathi Sara, went down in straight games to Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hiroto 15-21, 6-21.

The other pair comprising P.V. Sindhu and Ashwini Ponnappa lost 13-21, 12-21 to Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahasi.

In another single, Nozomi Okuhara beat Saina Nehwal 21-11, 23-25, 21-16 as Japan advanced to the semifinals.

After enduring a disappointing Commonwealth Games (CWG) singles campaign, India’s top-ranked squash player Saurav Ghosal feels he has recovered from the setback and is ready to put his best foot forward at the upcoming Asian Games.

Ghosal suffered a shock ouster from the second round in singles at Gold Coast earlier this year.

Although he made amends by winning his first CWG medal, a silver in mixed doubles with Dipika Pallikal, it was some controversial refereeing in the final that left both the players high and dry.

“Over the summer I have done a few things which are new to my game. I have gone to David Palmer (coach). So it’s helping me stay invested,” Ghosal told IANS in an interview.

“It’s like a mini-challenge whenever I go on to court, trying to execute stuff I am working on. So I am happy with my enthusiasm now, and if I can do that then I think it puts me in a good position to win matches. That’s what you really want to do,” he said.

The Asian Games gold has always eluded Ghosal. He came close to winning it in the previous three editions of the quadrennial event but had to eventually settle for bronze at the 2006 Doha and 2010 Guangzhou Games.

Ghosal’s best chance was at the Incheon Games four years back. In the end, he settled for a historic silver.

In the men’s team event in 2014, Ghosal led India to gold.

“I have done what I have done in the last three Asian games and that is always going to stay with me. There is a lot to be proud of,” said Ghosal who reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 14 in February this year.

About the team’s chances, Ghosal said there are a lot of in-form players in the ranks and that should hold India in good stead.

“Winning the team title last time was not easy but we won it. Defending it is also not going to be easy.

“We have a strong team, but I don’t think we are going to be seeded No. 1. We are probably going to be seeded 2 or 3. Hong Kong will be seeded one. All the players in our team right now are really strong but it’s a question of them showing up in that week and playing to their potential.”

Ghosal, who celebrated his 32nd birthday recently, is not sure whether this would be his last Asian Games or not, but added laying a hand on the yellow metal has been the aim since the 2010 Asian Games.

“Of course I want to win the gold. Especially in the last two (Games), 2010 and 2014… that was the aim with which I went in.

“It’s no different this time around. I think I need to focus on the things I want to do and the way I want to do them. I need to take care of the process and the end result will take care of itself.”

After the personal low at the CWG, Ghosal has now decided to not just focus on doing well at the Asian Games but also for the rest of the season on the Tour.

“I think I can have a good crack at the PSA season moving forward. So I am quite excited about doing that as well. Hopefully, the results will come with the level of performance I think I can produce,” Ghosal signed off on way to Chennai.

The Indian team is to assemble in Chennai for a small camp before leaving for Indonesia which is hosting the continental games in Jakarta and Palembang.

Men: Saurav Ghosal, Harinder Pal Sandhu, Ramit Tandon and Mahesh Mangaonkar

He may be a relative newcomer at the international level, but emerging Indian shot put star Tejinder Pal Singh Toor is exuding loads of confidence as he heads into his maiden Asian Games.

“I am a sure contender for a medal. Of course, I will aim for gold. That is the biggest prize any athlete strives for. But even if I miss the gold, I am almost certain that I will finish on the podium,” Toor told IANS.

“Any medal is valuable, but a gold is a gold,” he added.

The tall, burly athlete from Punjab has enough reasons to be confident. The 23-year-old is one of the best proponents of the shot put in Asia and took the silver medal at the continental championships last year.

“This will be my first appearance at the Asian Games. But I am totally confident. There is no pressure or nervousness. I am confident of doing well. I am among the best in Asia and it will not be easy to beat me,” Toor asserted.

This year, however, has been a difficult one for Toor. He had a poor outing at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, where he ended up at a disappointing eighth position.

Toor, however, prefers to look at the bright side and is determined to make amends at the Asian Games.

“I faced a lot of disappointment at the Commonwealth Games. But there were a lot of positives as well. The competition there was really tough and the experience will help me a lot in future tournaments. The confidence and self-belief that an athlete gets after competing against such a tough field is really invaluable,” he said.

“The overall standards of the athletes at the Commonwealth Games is higher than the Asian Games. So the experience of competing there a few months before the Asiad will definitely help me a lot,” he added.

Unlike several of his peers, Toor opted not to go for a training stint abroad, preferring instead to train at high altitude in Dharamsala.

“Practice is going well. I am happy with my preparations. I have shifted my training base to Dharamsala and it has helped me a lot,” he said.

“I opted not to train abroad. The climate in Dharamsala is really good and I have trained well over the past few months,” he added.

The Indian U-15 womens team progressed to the final of the SAFF U-15 Championship after defeating Nepal 2-1 in the semi-finals at the Changlimithang Stadium here on Thursday.

Lynda Kom’s 31st minute strike followed by Kritina Devi’s 58th minute goal led the Indian Women to a hard fought win over a determined Nepalese side, after the opponents had found the net in 37th minute through Rajani Thokar.

The Indians had the chance to take the lead in the first minute itself but Avika Singh’s shot crept inches past the goal. Nepal recuperated after the nervy start and despite focusing on counter-attacks to test the Indian defence, could not give the U-15 Women a scare.

In the 25th minute, Avika Singh had another opportunity to give India the lead but this time her shot rattled the bar and went out after Shilky Devi had found her in the box with some crafty play. A minute later, Sunita Munda hit the Nepal sidenetting as India upped the ante.

The breakthrough came in the 31st minute when Lynda Kom was found inside the box by a cross from Sunita Munda and Kom slotted the ball home with sheer acumen to give the Indian Women a solitary goal lead.

However in the 37th minute, Nepal equalized their deficit when goalkeeper Manish made a howler of a routine save and Rajani Thokar latched on to find the net for the opponents as the scoreline read 1-1.

In the 55th minute, Lynda Kom was once again provided with an opportunity to find the net, but this time, an onrushing custodian saved her shot. Three minutes later, Kritina Devi chipped the Nepalese custodian from distance and found the back of the net to give India the lead as the scoreline read 2-1.

Sunita Munda’s speed down the middle of the pitch proved to be threat for the Nepalese defence line and in the 66th minute, she found Shilky Devi, whose shot was saved by the opposition custodian.

Although Nepal attacked with numbers in the dying embers of the match, the Indian Women committed bodies in defence and matched blow to blow. The full-time scoreline read 2-1 as India defeated Nepal in the semi-finals.

The final is slated for Saturday and India will face the winners of the second semi-final clash between hosts Bhutan and Bangladesh.

The Indian cricket team and the BCCI joined the nation in mourning the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away on Thursday after battling ill health. He was 93.

“The Indian cricket team and BCCI condoles the sad demise of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Atalji dedicated his life in service of the nation,” the BCCI said in a statement.

Vajpayee, the first non-Congress Prime Minister to complete a full term in office, died here on Thursday after a prolonged illness.

Several former and current India cricketers also took to Twitter to condole the demise of the former Prime Minister.

Former India captain and coach Anil Kumble wrote: “A sad day for the country, as we lose one of our greatest leaders. #AtalBihariVajpayee contributed so much for the betterment of the country. May his soul rest in peace.”

“It’s been a sad week, the demise of one of India’s finest leaders “Mr. Vajpayee” is heartbreaking,” India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin wrote.

India opener Shikhar Dhawan wrote: “My deepest condolences on the passing of our former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji. One of the few politicians I always respected for his honesty and devotion to the national cause. May his soul rest in peace.”

India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara in his message wrote: “Deeply saddened to hear about the loss of Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji. His values and ideologies will be remembered forever.”

Vajpayee, who was honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 2014, was undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

His condition worsened on Wednesday evening with leaders from across the political spectrum thronging the hospital and enquiring about his health.

A 22-member India U-23 football team will travel to Australia on Friday as part of their preparation for the forthcoming SAFF Suzuki Cup. The squad has been camping here since July 28.

India will be based at the Valentine Sports Park in Sydney for another 16-day long preparatory camp before they eventually leave for Dhaka on September 1, according to a statement.

“The exposure trip was planned before the Asian Games but unfortunately, we were barred from taking part in the Games. We didn’t see any reason to cancel the trip and had to postpone it prior to the SAFF Tournament,” head coach Stephen Constantine said.

Apart from the 22 players, two players have been kept in reserve who might get a call-up to join the contingent in Australia if circumstances demand so; 20 boys will eventually travel for the SAFF Suzuki Cup.

Constantine also thanked the clubs for releasing the players from their club commitments for national duty.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the clubs for letting the players join the more-than-a-month long National Team Camp. We need such support from them until the AFC Asian Cup 2019. It’s good for the country as well as the clubs. I appreciate that”, he added.

“Although we didn’t qualify for the AFC U23 Championship, these boys showed good signs in Qatar last year. A few new boys have come and they’re putting in an effort to integrate with the other boys.”

“It’s a group of talented youngsters and I believe a good number of players will graduate to the senior team in time,” the coach said.

On being asked whether the U-23 boys will be under pressure against the senior teams in the SAFF Suzuki Cup, he explained: “I take it as a challenge for us. If the senior boys compete in the SAFF Tournament, these young boys won’t get the opportunity to play anytime soon. I think this tournament should be treated as a platform to give more exposure to the U23 boys which will be beneficial for India in future.”

The list of 22 players along with 2 reserves is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Vishal Kaith, Kamaljit Singh, Sukhdev Patil.

Defenders: Davinder Singh, Salam Ranjan Singh, Sarthak Golui, Subhasish Bose, Mohd. Sajid Dhot, Jerry Lalrinzuala.

Midfielders: Nikhil Poojary, Isaac Vanmalswama, Nandha Kumar, Vinit Rai, Germanpreet Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Ashique Kuruniyan, Vignesh D.

Forwards: Sumit Passi, Hitesh Sharma, Manvir Singh, Farukh Choudhary.

Reserves: Lalruatthara, Rohit Kumar.