Picture Credit: Twitter
As the 19th season of the Asian Games progressed to another thrilling day, the Indian squash stars Dipika Pallikal-Harinder Sandhu ensured another medal for India. On the other hand, Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain registered her spot in the 75kg final, and with it, booked her Paris Olympics 2024 quota. The Indian 4x400m mixed relay team's bronze got upgraded to a silver after the Sri Lanka team got disqualified due to lane infringement.
There was a lot going on in the sporting world around the globe, and we have covered major headlines in our today's sports wrap.
Two Indian pairs breeze into squash mixed doubles quarterfinals of Asian Games 2023
The Indian pairs of Dipika Pallikal and Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu, along with Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh made it to the quarterfinals of the continental tournament. While Pallikal-Sandhu defeated Japan's Risa Sugimoto and Tomotaka Endo 2-0 (11-5 11-5) in the Pool A match, the second Indian pair defeated Hong Kong's Tsz Wing Tong and Ming Hong Tang in 2-0 (11-10 11-8) in Pool D.
Lovlina Borgohain makes it to final of 75kg event; ensures India either of gold or silver medal
Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain made it to the finale of the women's boxing's 75kg event and ensured India atleast another silver medal in the 2023 season of the tournament. The Indian pugilist recorded a win over Thailand’s Baison Maneekon on Tuesday, October 3. Borgohain won her bout 5-0 to assure India of another medal. With her win, Lovlina has also secured the Paris Olympics 2024 quota in the 75kg category.
Preeti Pawar wins bronze in women's 54 kg event in Asian Games 2023
Indian boxer Preeti Pawar clinched bronze in the women's 54 kg event in the Asian Games 2023 on Tuesday, October 3. Preeti's medal came after facing defeat in semifinal against China’s Yuan Chang. Her opponent made it to the final by defeating the Indian 5-0 in a lopsided match right from the beginning.
Ojas Pravin Deotale, Abhishek Verma, Jyothi Surekha Vennam reach final in archery
The Indian archers Ojas Pravin Deotale, Abhishek Verma, Jyothi Surekha Vennam continued their winning streak and ensured India three more medals by making to the finale of men's and women's compound archery events on October 3. It will be an all-Indian final in the men's event, while Jyothi be eyeing her first Asian Games gold by taking down So Chaewon of South Korea in the final.
To make it to the summit clash, Vennam defeated her own compatriot, the reigning world champion Aditi Gopichand Swami.
Arjun Singh and Sunil Singh Salam finish third in Canoe Men's Double 1000m
The Indian duo of Arjun Singh and Sunil Singh Salam won another bronze for India after finishing third in men's canoe double 1000m final. The Indian pair clocked the time of 3:53.329 to find third podium finish in Hangzhou, the Republic of China. This was India's second medal in canoeing after Johnny Rommel and Siji Kumar Sadanandan last won a bronze in the same event in Hiroshima 1994.
Indian 4x400m relay team's bronze upgraded to silver after Sri Lanka gets disqualified
India's bronze medal in the 4x400m relay event got upgraded to silver after Sri Lanka got qualified in the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, due to lane infringement. The Indian team consisting of Muhammed Ajmal, R. Vithya Ramraj, Rajesh Ramesh and Subha Venkatesan clocked 3:14.34s to guide India to third-podium finish. Sri Lanka, who had taken home a silver with 3:14.25s were later qualified due to lane infringement, and with it, India's medal got upgraded.
We were clearly the better team: Jamshedpur FC’s head coach after loss against Kerala FC
The head coach of Jamshedpur FC, Scott Cooper, said that they were a better team and hence, didn't deserve to lose against Kerala Blasters FC. Jamshedpur FC faced a narrow defeated against their opponents in the Indian Super League after Adrian Luna’s precise strike in the 74th minute.
After the defeat, Cooper addressed the media and said, “We were clearly the better team. There’s no doubt about that. They had a good 15-minute spell in the second half. But in the first half, they could do absolutely nothing. They couldn’t play out of the press. They couldn’t make three passes in the first half to break out of the press that too at their home stadium and in front of their own fans. So, I have to be really pleased with my team’s performance. I’m proud of the press and our possession."
Sumit Nagal becomes most expensive player at Tennis Premier League Season 5 auction
The current top-ranked Indian tennis icon Sumit Nagal emerged as the most expensive player at the auction of Tennis Premier League Season 5. Nagal, who is ranked on top of All-India Tennis Association (AITA) in the men’s singles category, was sold for a whopping INR 18.5 lakh in the bid. The 26-year-old was acquired by the Ramgur Patgir-owned Gujarat Panthers for the upcoming season of the tennis league. Apart from Nagal, Panthers acquired the three singles ITF titles holder Karman Kaur Thandi for INR 8.5 lakh as well as Mukund Sasikumar.
Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev sail into semifinals of China Open 2023
World Number 2 tennis star Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev made it to the semifinals of China Open 2023 on October 2, Monday. Alcaraz booked his spot in the 12th semifinal of the season by registering a 6-4, 6-2 win over seventh-seeded Casper Ruud.
On the other hand, World Number 3 player Daniil Medvedev sailed to the semifinal by defeating Frenchwoman Ugo Humbert 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
I’m not better than Djokovic, because I played less: Rafael Nadal
Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal explained the reason behind his less number of wins in Grand Slams and said that he is not better than the Serbian star Novak Djokovic because his lesser number of matches.
Nadal was in a conversation with Movistar+, where he said, "I missed four and a half years of Grand Slams due to injury, this is the reality. But that’s also sport. That’s why I’m not better than Djokovic, because I played less. He had a physique and a way of playing that allowed him to compete more than me. I have no choice but to recognize this, I did what I could. Sometimes I come back and win three Grand Slams, but it’s unlikely."
