Asian Games 2014 Day 9 Highlights: Yogeshwar Wrestles to Gold; Sania in Mixed Doubles Final
India started Day 9 with 28 medals and in the 11th position. The flurry of medals continued from the previous day and the nation finished with another gold courtesy Yogeshwar Dutt. Here are the highlights from Sunday.
India broke into the top-10 in medal tally with Yogeshwar Dutt's gold, a flurry of bronze and promise of more medals in the fresh week. Here are the highlights from Asian Games 2014 on Sunday. (MEDALS TALLY)
What do you feel about India's performance at the Asian Games so far? Write in at myvoice@ndtv.com. Best entries will feature here in our live blog.
18:15 (IST): Exclusive - Speaking to NDTV, Yogeshwar said he dedicates his gold to his father who had passed away before the 2006 Asian Games - an event in which he had won bronze.
17:56 (IST):The challenge from the Indian contingent ends for the day. Asian Games action though continues as superstars from other countries continue to vie for glory.
17: 54 (IST): Siddhanth Thingalaya finishes 5th in men's 110m hurdles Round 1 Heat.
17:48 (IST: Athletics - Susmita Roy Singha, Swapna Barman finish 3rd in Women's Heptathlon 200m Heats.
17:40 (IST): Two athletic events involving India remain today - men's 100m hurdles Rd 1 heat and women's heptathlon 200m heats. After these, India's overall Asian Games campaign for Sunday will end.
17:18 (IST): Tennis - Sania and Myneni storm into mixed doubles final. They beat Jie Zheng and Ze Zhang of China 6-1, 6-3.
17:05 (IST): The biggest news so far today has been Yogeshwar's historic gold. Read full report here.
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16:59 (IST): Athletics - Rajiv Arokia wins bronze in men's 400m.
16:52 (IST): Boxing - India's Laishram Devendro defeats Laos' Bounphone by technical knockout in men's light fly boxing.
16:49 (IST): Babita unable to get a medal - bronze - for India. She loses to China's Zhong.
16:45 (IST): Wrestling - India's Babita Kumari fights China's Xuechun Zhong and is trailing her 2-6 after first period. She looks determined to not let her opponent have a bronze easily but is running out of ideas.
16:34 (IST):Tennis - Sania Mirza's mixed doubles semi match with partner Saketh Myneni against the Chinese has been delayed by rain. The Indian won the first set 6-1. (Update: Indians in mixed doubles final)
16:25 (IST): Another bronze for India. This time, it is Manju Bala who finishes third in women's hammer throw (60.47m). (Full report here)
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16:06 (IST): Athletics - Machettira Poovamma Raju wins bronze after finishing third in women's 400m final. (Read full report here)
16:05 (IST): Kadian surrenders to Ibragimov, loses chance to win India a bronze.
16:00 (IST): Kadian in action now in the 97kg category event for bronze. He battles Mamed Ibragimov of Kazakhstan.
15:55 (IST): Yogeshwar Dutt WINS GOLD! He beats Zalimkhan Yusupov in 65kg freestyle wrestling bout. This is India's fourth in the edition and first Asian Games wrestling gold in 28 years (overall)!
What a star Yogeshwar is! Perhaps been a bit under the shadow of Sushil Kumar, so here is a clear moment in the sun! #AsianGames
- Vikram Chandra (@vikramchandra) September 28, 2014
15:46 (IST): Yogeshwar takes on Zalimkhan in 65kg freestyle wrestling. Takes the early lead against his opponent from Tajakistan (1-0).
15:35 (IST): Wrestling bouts for medals coming up - Yogeshwar for gold, Kadian and Babita for bronze.
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15:18 (IST): Heartbreak for India as Chung and Lim hold on to defeat Bhambri and Sharan in the super tie-break. The Indians settle for bronze and the Koreans will face another Indian pair for the gold in men's doubles tennis event.
15:14 (IST): From leading 5-0 in the super tie-break, Indians squander it all and are level at 9-9 vs Korea.
15:00 (IST): Bhambri and Sharan lose second set 6-7. This is turning out to be a riveting contest even as local fans cheer their two heroes Chung and Lim. Match to be decided now in a super tie-break.
14:48 (IST): Tennis: Second set goes into a tie-breaker too. Bhambri and Sharan taking the fight to the local favourites. In the end, it should come down to stamina and endurance.
Indian fans remain hopeful. Nadirsha Nachu (nadirshanachu@gmail.com) writes:
"Here , i expect indian final in mens doubles tennis , come on bhambri and sharan !!!"
14:37 (IST): Wrestling update: Yogeshwar Dutt will face Zalim Khan in the final.
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14:27 (IST): After trailing 1-4 in the second set, Bhambri and Sharan make it 4-4 against their Korean opponents in the doubles semi. A win here will assure India of a gold.
14:01 (IST): Bhambri had to earlier settle for bronze in men's singles event. He seems in no mood to settle for another in the doubles. Koreans though lead 3-0 in second set.
13:52 (IST): Sharan and Bhambri win the 1st set (7-6)! Fantastic effort against the Korean pair who had three set points but failed to convert.
13:44 (IST): Absolutely no questioning the commitment being shown right now by Sharan and Bhambri. Despite resounding support for their Korean opponents, they are battling hard to win the 1st set. Koreans have had three set points but have been repeatedly thwarted by the Indians.
13:30 (IST): Even as Sharan and Bhambri battle their Korean opponents, some Indian fans question the enthusiasm shown by India's Sania Mirza during her doubles match. She and Prarthana Thombare had to settle for bronze after losing to their Chinese Taipei opponents. Anooj Koushik (anooj_koushik@yahoo.com) writes:
"Anyone who watched last night's QF mixed doubles game played by Sania Mirza would have seen a completely lax attitude. Laughter at missed strokes, multiple unforced errors, complete lack of communication with her partner. Your play should show your zest for that coveted Gold. The result came out very clearly in the women's doubles by losing out to some nameless Chinese Taipei players. It not enough if you just turn up at the Asian games unlike the other players who wanted to improve personal rankings. Yes, we know about the singles rankings of those players. Asian games is one tournament where 5 Gold medals would have been assured had we had our complete A list play. While doubles would have been an absolute cake walk, this tournament would have been quite easy even in singles. I am sure no one will question our players who opted out in tennis. Sad to watch us not walking with 5 gold as well as silver at this event."
Srinivas Tata (tatabuchi@hotmail.com) agrees with the views expressed above and writes:
"I agree with comments about Sania's lackadaisical attitude. It was Saketh who bailed out the team in the mixed doubles match. When you play for India you have to give your all."
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There is the counter opinion too. Victor Maity (maityvictor@gmail.com) writes:
"Can not agree with tata on this. We had all our players in last asiad and own only one gold. If you wish that all Indian players to play in asiad then why not your opponent ? Could somdev beat Nishikori ? The tai pei women's double team has at least one of the best doubles players of current times in Hsieh. She is a far accomplished player in doubles than Mirza. So better stop daydreaming and saying groundless things and appreciate what you have..."
Agrees Nitin Prasad (nitinpprasad@gmail.com):
"I didnt think she (Sania) played that badly in the mixed doubles. She already had played a women's doubles match and its not easy playing two matches a day.
And about the doubles loss, they lost to a higher seeded team. Hsieh was a former world number 1 in doubles and has won so many titles this year including Grandslams with her regular partner Peng (from China who also choose to skip the Asiad). So i dont think you can blame Indians for the loss. Yes, they had their chances, but they couldn't get through. To question someones commitment because they lost one match is outrageous. Remember she is still Indias most successful women's tennis player."
That Sania chose to play Asian Games for India has also impressed her fans. Vishvendra Kharub (vbhanu.thapar@gmail.com) writes:
"It is very sad to see that people are again questioning Sania'a intention to play for our country and her dedication to win medals for India, despite she being the only top player(actually she is the best tennis player currently we have in India, ranked No. 5) who chose Asian Games over important WTA events which would have given her great ranking points and lot more money..."
13:24 (IST): Tennis - India's Divij Sharan and Yuji Bhambri are in action right now against Hyeon Chung and Yongkyu Lim of South Korea in doubles semis. Winners here will face India's Sanam Singh and Saketh Myneni.
13:15 (IST): Boxing: India's Pooja Rani completely dominates Dara Flora Shen (TPE) to storm into the women's middleweight semis. All three women boxers - Pooja, Mary Kom and Sarita Devi - are now in semis.
13:13 (IST):Boxing: Dominant performance from Pooja. She takes the third round as well.
13:12 (IST): Wrestling: Kadian Satywart of India wins Men's Freestyle 97 kg wrestling repechage bout against Pak's Bilal Hussain. He will now face Kazakhstan's Ibragimov Mamed in bronze medal bout.
13:08 (IST): Shen fights hard in the second round but Pooja continues to dominate and takes the second round as well.
13:05 (IST):Boxing: Lot's of support and cheer for Pooja as she boxes against Taipei's Shen. Quiet an aggressive approach from the Indian. She gets two solid right hooks on her opponent and takes the first round.
13:04 (IST): Boxing: India's Pooja Rani in action vs Dara Flora Shen in women's middleweight quarters.
12:52 (IST): Volleyball, Men's Playoff Group E: South Korea beat India 3-0.
What a bout Yogeshwar dutt!!! Amazing comeback Yogi, flattening the Chinese, proud of u.
- Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) September 28, 2014
12:45 (IST): Sania Mirza-Prarthana Thombare lose 6-7, 6-2, 4-10 to Taipei's Hsieh/Chan in women's doubles semis, get bronze.
and thats how you do it! Just when it looked all over, Yogeshwar pulls it back to win & advance to the final #AsianGames2014
- Yash Chawla (@chawla_yash) September 28, 2014
12:37 (IST): Wrestling: Yogeshwar comes back fabulously to beat China's Yeerlanbieke in men's freestyle 65kg semis. Yogeshwar was trailing 7-5 but pinned his Chinese opponent in the end. Gold or silver assured.
12:35 (IST): Wrestling: Yogeshwar Dutt struggling against China's Yeerlanbieke in men's freestyle 65kg semis.
12:31 (IST): Wrestling: Yogeshwar Dutt in action now in his semifinal bout.
12:29 (IST): Babita Kumari loses to Japan's Saori Yoshida by a fall in freestyle 55kg wrestling semis.
12:25 (IST): Wrestling, Women's Freestyle 55kg: Babita Kumari in action now vs Saori Yoshida of Japan in semis.
12:09 (IST): Handball, Women's Classification 5-8: Uzbekistan beat India 44-26.
12:05 (IST): Kabaddi, Men's Team Preliminary Group A: India thrash Bangladesh 30-15.
another medal assured, Sarita Devi in semis in Boxing #AsianGames2014
- Yash Chawla (@chawla_yash) September 28, 2014
12:00 (IST): Tennis, Women's Doubles: Sania Mirza-Prarthana Thombare have lost 1st set 7-6 vs 2nd seeds Hsieh/Chan of Taipei in semis.
11:58 (IST): Tennis, Men's Doubles: Sanam Singh-Saketh Myneni are through to the finals, silver or gold assured.
11:53 (IST): Boxing, Women's Lightweight (57-60kg): Sarita Devi is cruising after two rounds vs Oyungerel of Mongolia in quarters.
11:40 (IST): Wrestling, Men's Freestyle 97kg: Satywart Kadian loses to Magomed Musaev of Kyrgyzstan in quarters.
#AsianGames.Yes, India has fewer golds which is a concern. But there are medals in new categories which is most encouraging.
- Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 28, 2014
11:36 (IST): Wrestling, Men's Freestyle 97kg: Satywart Kadian in action now vs Magomed Musaev of Kyrgyzstan in quarters.
#Yogeshwar through to the semis... Medal assured now but surely he wants more.... #AsianGames2014
- Yash Chawla (@chawla_yash) September 28, 2014
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11:14 (IST): Wrestling, Men's Freestyle 65kg: Yogeshwar Dutt now in action vs Jinhyok Kang of North Korea in quarters.
11:09 (IST): Women's Basketball Quarterfinals: India go down 70-37 vs Japan.
10:56 (IST): Boxing, Women's Fly (48-51kg): Mary Kom beats Si Haijuan of China to reach semis, assured of a medal. (Read full report here)
10:53 (IST): Boxing, Women's Fly (48-51kg): Mary Kom loses Round 3 vs Si Haijuan after winning first two in quarters.
10:50 (IST): Boxing, Women's Fly (48-51kg): Mary Kom wins the first two rounds vs Si Haijuan in quarters.
#AsianGames Amazing Indian support for MC Mary Kom as she walks in for her quarterfinal bout http://t.co/aKgA4u6s44 pic.twitter.com/MsqWYSjntq
- NDTV Sports (@Sports_NDTV) September 28, 2014
Babita in 55kg freestyle semis... What a win! last 1 minute changed the outcome of the bout #AsianGames2014
- Yash Chawla (@chawla_yash) September 28, 2014
10:42 (IST): Wrestling, Women's 55kg Freestyle: Babita Kumari beats Kazakhstan's Aiym Abdildina to reach semis.
10:31 (IST): Yuki Bhambri loses 6-3, 2-6, 1-6 to Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka in tennis men's singles semis, gets bronze.
10:26 (IST): Wrestling, Women's Freestyle 75kg: Jyoti loses to Mongolia's Burmaa Ochirbat in quarters.
10:16 (IST): BREAKING! Bahrain's 3000m steeplechase athlete Ruth Jebet regains gold after a battle over disqualification. India's Lalita Babar gets bronze. Sudha Singh ends 4th.
10:05 (IST): Tennis, Men's Singles Semis: Nishioka holds his serve in 1st game of the deciding set vs Yuki Bhambri.
09:55 (IST): India's women recurve archers lost their bronze playoff match against Japan earlier today. (Read more)
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09:50 (IST): Table Tennis, Men's Team Preliminary Round Group B: South Korea thrash India 3-0.
09:45 (IST): Table Tennis, Women's Team Preliminary Round Group A: China thrash India 3-0.
09:41 (IST): Wrestling, Women's Freestyle 55kg: Babita Kumari thrashes Dorn of Cambodia to reach quarters.
Sunday morning & first medal for India today. Khusbir Kaur wins Silver in Women's 20 km race walk #AsianGames2014
- Yash Chawla (@chawla_yash) September 28, 2014
09:39 (IST): Wrestling, Women's Freestyle 55kg: Babita Kumari is now taking on Dorn of Cambodia in pre-quarters.
09:36 (IST): Women's Basketball: India is taking on Japan in the quarterfinals.
09:18 (IST): Did you know? Khushbir Kaur became the first Indian woman to win a medal in the Asian Race Championship this year. She won bronze in 20km race walk in Nomi, Japan. (Read report here)
09:10 (IST): GREAT NEWS FROM ATHLETICS! Khushbir Kaur wins silver in women's 20km Race Walk.
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08:58 (IST): Athletics, Women's 20m Race Walk: Khushbir Kaur moves to second after 18kms in the competition.
08:38 (IST): Tennis, Men's Singles: Fourth seed Yuki Bhambri will now be in action in his semifinal match vs Nishioka of Japan.
08:27 (IST): Athletics, Women's 20m Race Walk: Khushbir Kaur is third after 12 kms.
08:21 (IST): And here's a picture of the silver-winning women's squash team and the gold-winning men's squash team tweeted by Dipika Pallikal. Great time for Indian squash at the Asian Games!
Unbelievable effort by the boys today. Unfortunately we girls had to settle for silver. Great week for Indian Squash! pic.twitter.com/dnaahMElFk
- Dipika Pallikal (@DipikaPallikal) September 27, 2014
08:11 (IST): Men's Handball: India lose 32-25 to UAE, finish 14th in the competition.
07:59 (IST): Did you know? India won their first-ever gold medal in squash yesterday when the men's team beat Malaysia 2-0 in the final. Here's what an ecstatic Saurav Ghosal tweeted after the match.
So happy to win 2-0 today!!! @sandhu_harinder played so well to win 3-1 & I managed to win 3-2!!! Gold medal it is! BOOM!!! So happy!
- Saurav Ghosal (@SauravGhosal) September 27, 2014
07:58 (IST): Athletics, Women's 20km Race Walk: India's Khushbir Kaur is currently third.
07:43 (IST): Men's Handball, 13-14th Place Playoff: India trail UAE 26-20.
07:19 (IST): Kabaddi, Women's Team Preliminary Group A: India beat Bangladesh 29-18.
07:08 (IST): Men's Handball, 13-14th Place Playoff: India trailing 17-13 vs UAE in the first half.
07:02 (IST): Archery, Women's Recurve Team: India lose 5-4 to Japan in bronze medal match.
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After a highly successful Saturday, India will aim to add to their medals tally and move into the top-10. Team India's women's team will face the mighty Japanese at the Gyeyang Asiad Archery field for the team bronze medal.
Indian athletes were off to a good start with one silver and one bronze on Saturday for Lalita Babar and Sudha Singh. India's Poovamma Raju and Mandeep Kaur will compete in the women's 400m final. In the men's 400m final category, Akoria Rajiv and Kunhu Muhammad will vie for a medal.
In the boxing ring, all eyes will be on world champion and London Olympics bronze medallist Mary Kom will take on China's Si Hiajuan in the women's fly (48-51 kg) quarters. Boxers Laishram Devi and Pooja Rani will also be in action in the women's light (57-60kg) quarters and women's middle (69-75kg) quarters respectively. In the men's light fly (46-49kg) round of 16 clash, Devendro Singh will be in action.
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On the tennis court, Sania Mirza will attract all the attention with a chance to claim two medals. In the women's doubles semifinals, Sania and Prarthana Gulabrao take on Chinese Taipei's duo of Chan Chin Wei-Hsieh Su Wei. In mixed doubles semis, Sania pairs up with Saketh Myneni to take on China's Zheng Jie and Zhang Ze.
In the men's singles category, Yuki Bhambri will face Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka in the semis. In doubles, Saketh Myneni-Sanam Singh take on Thailand's Sanchai Ratiwatana-Sonchat Ratiwatana.
Indian wrestlers Yogeshwar Dutt and Satywart Kadian will feature in Men's freestyle 65kg and 97kg quarters respectively while Babita Kumari will fight Cambodia's Srey Mao in the women's freestyle 55kg pre-quarters.