Rio Olympics Day 7: Men’s Hockey Team Advances; Jwala-Ashwini Bow Out

The Indian men’s hockey team advanced to the quarterfinals after a 2-2 draw against Canada at the Rio Olympics on Friday.

The game was expected to be a dead rubber between the two teams who already knew their fate. However, it proved otherwise after India battled off a spirited performance from Canada.

Akashdeep Singh opened the score for India but Canada was in the game within three minutes. India grabbed the lead once again through Ramadeep Singh but Canadian skipper Tupper helped draw the match.

The match saw Indian captain PR Sreejesh being substituted as India, in search of a winner, threw in an extra player on the field.

India will now most likely play Spain in the quarterfinals.

Athletes Put on a Miserable Show

Indian athletes put up a series of poor performances, failing to qualify in their respective events on Day 7.

Vikas Gowda, who has been carrying a shoulder injury concern all through the season, was eliminated after failing to qualify in the men’s discus throw competition. None of the three attempts made by Gowda could even touch the 60 metre mark as he finished 28th among 35 participants.

Manpreet Kaur too couldn’t go past the qualification stage of the women’s shot put event. She only managed a throw of 17.06 metres and finished 23rd overall in a competition consisting of 36 athletes.

Jinson Johnson’s campaign at the Rio Olympics ended after the Kerala runner finished fifth in the Heat 3 of the qualifying round of the men’s 800m track running event. Overall, he finished 25th with a timing of 1:47.27 minutes.

In the women’s 100m track running event, Dutee Chand finished 50th with a time of 11.69 seconds, failing to qualify for the semi finals of the event.

Muhammad Anas Yahiya finished 31st with a timing of 45.95 seconds in the men’s 400m track running. He too failed to qualify for the semi finals.

The men’s long jump event, saw Ankit Sharma’s failure to leap into the final as he was eliminated in the qualifying stages after finishing 24th having jumped a distance of 7.67 metres.

Manish Singh clocked a time of 1:21:21 as he finished 13th in the men’s 20km walk at the Rio Olympics. He was just above 2 minutes slower than the gold medal winner Wang Zhen of China.

Atanu Das’ Run at Rio Halted

Atanu Das, who surprised critics, by single-handedly carrying India’s medal hopes in archery was defeated in the Round of 16 of the men’s individual archery event. A close contested game saw Das’ South Korean opponent Lee Seung-yun victorious 6-4.

Despite losing the first set, Das came back strongly, winning the second. The third set was tied after Lee shot a 10 in his last arrow to win it. Eventually, Atanu tied the fifth set, which he had to win in order to advance.

With this loss, India’s archery campaign at the Rio Olympics comes to an end.

Women’s Doubles Shuttlers go Out Fighting

Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa were knocked out of the women’s doubles badminton tournament after they lost their second group game 16-21, 21-16, 17-21 to their Dutch opponents Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek.

In a must win game, the Indian duo gave away the first set unconvincingly. However, they bounced back winning the second set. The third set ended with Jwala Gutta making an unforced error that ended the match, which lasted over an hour.

In the men’s doubles, Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy crashed out of the Rio Olympics after they lost their second group game against China’s Chai Biao and Hong Wei 13-21, 15-21. The duo lost the match in 32 minutes without even putting up a fight.

The duo will now go up against Team Japan in their final group game, that bears no relevance with qualification berths already decided.

Shooters Campaign in Despair

Gagan Narang’s disappointing campaign at the Rio Olympics continued after the veteran Indian shooter was unable to qualify for the finals of the men’s 50m rifle prone event.

Narang started brilliantly in the initial rounds however a steep collapse in his scores followed. He finished with a total score of 623.1 ranked 13th.

Chain Singh, who was the second Indian name in the 50m rifle prone event finished 36th with a score of 619.6.

While it was the end of the Olympic road for Chain Singh, Narang will have one final chance for redemption at the men’s 50m Rifle 3 event.

In the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol shooting, Gurpreet Singh stood at 10th with a score of 289 after the end of Stage one of the event. The event will continue with its Stage two today.

Mairaj Ahmad Khan too stood 10th with 72 points at the end of Day 1 of the men’s skeet shooting qualifying round.

Yadav Punches his way to the Quarterfinals

Vikas Krishnan Yadav continued to showcase his impressive boxing abilities as he overpowered his Turkish opponent Önder Sipal in the men’s 75kg middleweight boxing competition.

Yadav advanced to the quarterfinals after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over his opponent. Yadav’s pacy dominance was clearly visible as Sipal had to be treated for bleeding before even the end of the first round.

Yadav, just one win shy of a medal, will now face Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev, who has previously beaten the Indian at the Asian games.

Mirza-Bopanna Stun in Mixed Doubles

Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna scored an unexpected victory as the duo stunned their British opponents Andy Murray and Heather Watson in the quarterfinals of the mixed doubles tennis tournament.

The pairing advanced to the semi finals winning comfortably in straight sets by 6-4, 6-4.

The first set saw some counter breaking of serves however that was the only challenge posed by the British pair as it was pretty much a straightforward win for Mirza-Bopanna from there on.

They will now go up against United States’ Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram in their semi-final today. One more victory will guarantee the Indians a medal.

Day 8 Heads Up

4 pm IST-- The Round 3 of the men’s individual golf event will continue today with Indian golfers Shiv Chawrasia and Anirban Lahiri in teeing action.

5:30 pm IST-- Gurpreet Singh will look to better his day one performance in the stage 2 of the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol shooting.

6 pm IST-- Mairaj Ahmad Khan will be involved in the day 2 of the men’s skeet shooting competition.

6:20 pm IST-- Dattu Baban Bhokanal will be competing for world rankings in the Final-C of the men’s singles sculls event. Yesterday, he finished second in the semi-final C/D.

6:30 pm IST-- Indian women’s hockey team will look to add a consolatory victory as they go up against Argentina in their Group B game of the women’s field hockey tournament.

6:35 pm IST-- Lalita Babar and Sudha Singh will be running for glory in the women’s 3000m steeplechase event.

7:15 pm IST-- Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa will too play for honour against Indonesia’s Puttita Supajirakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachal in their final group game.

7:30 pm IST-- Nirmala Sheoran will be in the round one of the women’s 400m track running event, hoping to qualify for the semi-finals.

11:30 pm IST-- Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna will look to secure India’s first medal this Olympics as they go up against USA’s Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram in the semi final of the mixed doubles tennis event.

4:25 am IST (14 Aug)-- Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Attri will hope to salvage some pride in their last group game of the men’s doubles badminton against H. Endo and K. Hayakawa of Japan.

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