New Delhi: In the shooting arena, Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh have taken significant steps toward securing another medal for India. The duo has qualified for the bronze medal match in the 10m air pistol mixed event. Their impressive score of 580 puts them in contention. To clinch the medal, they will face Oh Yi Jin and Lee Wonho of Korea in the showdown on Tuesday.
Arjun Babuta’s Near Miss in 10m Air Rifle
Arjun Babuta came agonizingly close to winning a medal in the men’s 10m air rifle event. Unfortunately, he finished fourth, missing out on the podium by a narrow margin. Babuta scored 208.4, but it was Croatia’s Miran Maricic who secured the bronze with a stellar 10.7 shot. Meanwhile, Ramita Jindal represented India in the women’s 10m air rifle final, finishing seventh with a score of 145.3.
Hockey Drama: India Escapes Defeat Against Argentina
The Indian men’s hockey team faced a nail-biting encounter against Rio Olympic champions Argentina. Captain Harmanpreet Singh’s goal, scored just a minute before the final whistle, secured a 1-1 draw. India earned ten penalty corners during the match. In their previous game, India defeated New Zealand 3-2, thanks to Harmanpreet’s penalty stroke in the 59th minute. Despite not being in top form, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalists fought hard. Argentina took the lead in the 22nd minute, but India’s strategic move—substituting goalkeeper PR Sreejesh for an extra outfield player—paid off, resulting in the equalizing goal in the 59th minute.
Lakshya Sen Triumphs in Badminton
In men’s singles badminton, Lakshya Sen made a strong comeback after a slow start. He defeated Belgium’s Julian Caregi in straight games (21-19, 21-14) in Group L. Although Lakshya had previously beaten Kevin Cordon, the latter’s results were invalidated due to an elbow injury. With only three players left in Group L, Lakshya faces world number three player Jonathan Christie of Indonesia in his final group match on July 31.
Ponnappa-Crasto’s Struggles Continue
Unfortunately, the Indian pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto faced another defeat in the women’s doubles badminton. Japan’s Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida defeated them 21-11, 21-12 in a 48-minute match. Earlier, Ponnappa-Crasto lost to the South Korean pair of Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong (18-21, 10-21) on Sunday.
Archery Disappointment: India’s Men’s Team Falls Short
After the women’s archery team, India’s men’s archery team also suffered defeat. The trio of Tarundeep Rai, Dheeraj Bommadevara, and Praveen Jadhav lost 2-6 to Turkiye in the quarter-finals of the men’s team event. Although they made a valiant comeback in the third set, the Turkish archers secured their place in the semi-finals by winning the fourth set. India’s final scores were 53-57, 52-55, 55-54, 54-58. Earlier, the women’s trio of Bhajan Kaur, Ankita Bhakat, and Deepika Kumari were eliminated by the Netherlands after a 6-0 defeat.
