A day of heartbreaks for the Indian contingent at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. Indian women’s hockey team campaign, so full of heart, ends in heartbreak. They lost the bronze medal match against Great Britain. India’s strong gold medal contender, Bajrang Punia lost his semi-final bout and will wrestle in his bronze medal game on Saturday. Golfer Aditi Ashok kept the medal hopes alive and on the cusp of making history on Saturday.
Wrestling
Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia lost to three-time world champion Haji Aliyev 12-5 in the semifinal of the 65kg category. Bajrang won against Kyrgyzstan’s Ernazar Akmataliev in his first bout and then defeated Iran’s Morteza Cheka Ghiasi with a win by fall at the very death of their quarterfinal bout.
“Tomorrow is a new day and Bajrang has an even more important match. You are assured of at least a silver medal when you go into a final, but you have nothing if you lose tomorrow,” said Bajrang’s coach Shako Bendinitis
Seema Bisla lost 1-3 to Tunisia’s Sarra Hamdi in her 50kg opening clash on Friday. Seema couldn’t able to qualify for the repechage round as Hamdi lost her semifinal round and with this, her campaign at Tokyo came to an end.
Golf
Aditi Ashok continues her incredible run at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing the third round on Friday in the second spot. She shot five birdies against two bogeys and moved to 12-under to take the sole second spot. She is just three strokes behind No.1 Nelly Korda of the USA. Aditi will play her Round 4 on Saturday. There is a high possibility of heavy rain on Saturday. So if Round 4 gets canceled, Aditi will clinch the silver medal.
“I went back for a couple reasons. One was to get a couple visas done and my passport was stuck in the consulate. So that’s why I missed Lake Merced (LPGA Mediheal Championship). I wanted to come back out for Pure Silk and I tested positive, so I was stuck for a couple weeks. And then I tested negative and it was all good,” Aditi Ashok said (To PTI)
“I do think it took a little bit of strength out of me. I was never this short and was always short, but not like 50 (yards) behind Nelly, at least 15 (yards behind) with the driver. With the irons 5 behind. But with the driver it’s about 15 carry, at least 15 carry,” the 23-year-old said after the day’s play.
Hockey
Indian women’s hockey team has made the whole of India proud with their valiant efforts at the Tokyo Olympics. Rani Rampal led side lost the Bronze Medal match 3-4 to Great Britain at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo on Friday. Gurjit Kaur (2) and Vandana Kataria (1) were the goal scorers for India.
India put up a courageous display and was soo close to winning the medal against the Rio Olympic champions. Indian Hockey team has already exceeded their expectations at the Tokyo Olympics. They scripted history by becoming the first women’s hockey team from the country to make it to the semi-final.
Before the start of the Tokyo Olympics, nobody gave them a chance that they’ll qualify for the semis. After finishing last at the Rio Olympics and then qualifying for the semifinals here is huge progress. The team started with three straight losses in the pool stage, made a great comeback by beating Ireland and SouthAfrica. And then they put up a gutsy play, showed great character, and stunned the mighty Australians in the quarterfinal. The Indian women’s hockey team lost out on a medal but won a billion hearts.
Athletics
The Indian men’s relay team broke the Asian Record in the 4x400m heat but still couldn’t make the cut for the final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Friday. The earlier Asian record was in the name of Qatar which had clocked 3:00.56 while winning the gold in the 2018 Asian Games.
The Indian team of Amoj Jacob, Naganathan Pandi, Nirmal Noah Tom and Muhammad Anas Yahiya set a new Asian record with their time of 3:00.25. They finished fourth in Heat 2 behind Poland (2:58.55), Jamaica (2:59.29) and Belgium (2:59.37).