By Prarthana Mitra
On Day 13 in Jakarta, Indian women’s hockey team wins silver at Asian Games 2018, after losing 1-2 to Japan in the final. Indian sailors also clinched crucial medals to add to the tally, while boxer Amit Panghal entered the finals to battle it out for the coveted gold medal.
India's best ever GOLD medal tally ( in 1951 #AsianGames): 15
India's GOLD medal tally at #AsianGames2018 so far: 13
Can they add to this on the final day of action?
Here's the schedule for Saturday: https://t.co/j37XFvZ73c pic.twitter.com/GxnYzNkpbn
— The Field (@thefield_in) August 31, 2018
With gold in sight, women’s hockey makes do with silver
Although the women of Indian hockey delivered an impressive performance in the final, the turnovers in the third and fourth quarter cost them the midfield dominance, which Japanese players took full advantage of. Neha Goyal dexterously pulled the team back in the running for gold but their opponents played ruthlessly. Nevertheless, this is the first time a women’s team from India has entered Asiad hockey finals in 20 years, which makes this a historic silver.
#AsianGames2018: India women's hockey team loses to Japan in final, take home silver#AsianGames #HockeyFinal #INDvJPN #Hockey
READ: https://t.co/9grR1O6HPw pic.twitter.com/nSfdfGzKww
— NDTV Sports (@Sports_NDTV) August 31, 2018
Smooth sailing
In sailing, India’s crew comprising Ashok Thakkar and KC Ganapathy won the 15th and final race under pressure to claim the bronze medal ahead of Oman in the 49er Men’s sailing event. Prior to this, Oman’s protest had got India disqualified in the 14th race which landed India is hot water for a while. In the women;s equivalent event, sailors Varsha Gautham and Shweta Shevegar won silver medal for India, while Harshita Tomar won bronze in the Open Laser 4.7.
Panghal prepares for an epic final face-off
Boxer Amit Panghal beat Philippines’ Carlo Paalam with grace and style, to enter the final of the Men’s Light Fly 49kg edition. With a balanced display of aggression and defensive strategies, Panghal managed to overpower his opponent and cruised into the final. He faces Olympic gold medallist, Hasanboy Dusmatov of Uzbekistan in the final on Saturday.
Panghal is the only Indian in a boxing final at the Asian Games. He will face the Olympic gold medallist, Hasanboy Dusmatov of Uzbekistan in the final. They will face off in the final at 12.30 PM IST, September 1.#AsianGames2018 Live updates: https://t.co/2WZ4plyDA8 pic.twitter.com/mFDMPjJguD
— The Field (@thefield_in) August 31, 2018
The Indian men’s hockey team failed to reach the final are conceding a loss to Malaysia in a dramatic penalty shoot-out on Thursday. Ranked fifth in the world, defending champions India were favourites to retain the Asian Games title and they looked invincible in their campaign for the gold, after an unbeaten pool campaign with a record of 76 goals. They will have to acquiesce with facing Pakistan in their bronze medal clash on Saturday.
India did not fare well in soft tennis and squash on Friday, although the kayaking duo Prakant Sharma and Oinam Jamesboy Singh have entered the finals. Although Day 13 brought no gold for India, but a total of six medals were added to the medal tally which now stands at 65 total medals including 13 gold, 23 silver and 29 bronze.
Prarthana Mitra is a staff writer at Qrius
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