India finish 2nd in Asia Archery C’ship
Kolkata: India clinched one gold and one bronze in the recurve section to finish second behind Korea with six medals in the Asian Archery Championship that concluded in Taiwan on Saturday. According to information received here, the mixed pair of Jayanta Talukdar and Deepika Kumari defeated world champions Korea 146-141 in a one-sided affair to clinch the gold medal in the mixed event. Laishram Bombayla Devi won the bronze medal, beating another Korean, Joo Hyun Jung, in the women’s individual section as India rode on a superlative show in the compound section to finish with three gold, one silver and two bronze medals. Korea topped the medals tally with three gold, four silver and three bronze medals. Olympians Dola Banerjee and Deepika Kumari had a poor outing in the individual section, making last eight exits. However Deepika had some solace in the mixed event as she along with Talukdar beat the Mongolians (150-141 before ousting hosts Taiwan 153-144 to set up a final showdown against Koreans). In the men’s individual section, the archers had a disastrous show as Asian silver medalist Tarundeep Rai and World Cup final bronze medalist Talukdar were ousted in the last 32 round, while Rahul Banerjee could not go beyond first round. (PTI)
India lose 0-2 to China in Asian CT hockey
New Delhi: A young Indian side went down 0-2 against China in their opening match of the third Asian Men Champions Trophy hockey tournament at Kakamigahara, Japan on Saturday. The Indian team, made up mainly of junior players, let in two second half goals – in the 50th and 55th minutes – to begin their campaign on a losing note at. The Manpreet Singh-led India play hosts Japan on Sunday. India had picked 13 juniors in their squad of 18 in view of the Junior World Cup to be held here next month.
Indian women stun China 4-2
Meanwhile, Poonam Rani struck twice as India scored an upset victory over higher-ranked China 4-2 in their opening match of the third Asian Women Champions Trophy hockey tournament, also at Kakamigahara. Rani gave India the lead in the eighth minute by converting a penalty corner. Five minutes later, Amandeep Kaur scored a field goal on her debut international match. In the 59th minute, Rani scored her second – a field goal – off a pass from Namita Toppo. The fourth goal for India came in the 61st minute when Vandana deflected the ball into the net. India play their next match against Malaysia on November 4. (PTI)
Indian challenge ends in badminton worlds
New Delhi: India’s challenge in the BWF world badminton championship in Bangkok came to an end on Saturday as Ruthvika Shivani and Rituparna Das went down fighting against higher-ranked opponents. Both Ruthvika and Rituparna had an uphill task in the pre-quarterfinals and despite the two girls putting up a gallant show, their efforts were not enough to register an upset win. Ruthvika, who faced world number 84 and third seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, went down 21-10 21-15, while Rituparna lost 21-13 21-8 to Singapore’s Xiaoyu Liang. (PTI)
Ferrer ousts Nadal, faces Djoker in Paris
PARIS: David Ferrer produced one of his finest performances to edge world number one and compatriot Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-5 in the Paris Masters semifinal on Saturday and keep alive his hope of retaining his crown. Third seed Ferrer, who won his first Masters Series title in Paris last year, will face Novak Djokovic in the final of the indoor event on Sunday after the Serb earlier subdued Roger Federer 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the battle of the former world number ones. Ferrer, who entered his match with a 4-20 win-loss record against Nadal but had won their previous encounter on hard courts, at the 2011 Australian Open, dominated from the first point to the last. “That might have been my best performance of the season,” Ferrer told Spanish television broadcaster Teledeporte. (AFP)