India’s shooters beat China en route to world record, gold medal
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(From left) India's Divyansh Singh Panwar, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Rudrankksh Patil celebrating their men's 10m air rifle team win.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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HANGZHOU – India’s shooters enjoyed another strong day at the Asian Games on Friday, with their men’s 50m rifle team breaking the world record en route to beating China for gold on the sixth day of competition in Hangzhou.
The trio of Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Swapnil Suresh Kusale and Akhil Sheoran secured victory with a total of 1,769 points, six more than China and eight more than the previous record set by the United States in November 2022.
Kusale, 28, said that it was a “great experience” with a “great team”.
“We are like brothers,” he said. “We help each other and stick together.”
Their achievement, one of six golds for India in shooting in Hangzhou, also earned praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“A stupendous win, prestigious gold and a world record,” he posted to his 92 million followers on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. “They have shown exceptional determination and teamwork.”
In tennis, 2023 US Open quarter-finalist Zheng Qinwen beat her fellow Chinese Zhu Lin 6-2, 6-4 to win the women’s singles and secure a quota spot for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“The feeling was incredible,” she said. “I’m really happy about that. That was not an easy match.
“As you can see, there’s a lot of emotion on the court for both of us.”
The win caps a breakthrough year for Zheng, who beat world No. 7 Ons Jabeur en route to the last eight at Flushing Meadows earlier in September, before losing to the top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.
In May, the 20-year-old reached a career-high of 19th in the world and two months later won her first WTA title.
Now under the wing of Naomi Osaka’s former coach Wim Fissette, Zheng’s power and precision proved decisive against Zhu in a final between the two top seeds.
Zheng Qinwen celebrating after winning the women’s singles final tennis match on Sept 29.
PHOTO: AFP
The match was not without controversy, however, with the ball appearing to bounce twice on her side of the net at 4-4, deuce in the second set – a crucial point that Zheng won on her way to a break.
Zhu was convinced the ball did bounce twice, but was overruled by the umpire.
“I’m disappointed, obviously, because it’s a really important point. But I respect the decision of the umpire,” she said.
As expected, Thailand dominated in sepak takraw, winning both the men and women’s team regu.
Popular in South-east Asia, sepak takraw is like volleyball but players use their feet, knees, chest, shoulders and heads instead of their hands, often delivering acrobatic, flying kicks.
Thailand’s Varayut Jantarasena (foreground) kicking the ball against the defence of Malaysia’s Mohamad Azlan Alias in the men’s sepak takraw team final on Sept 29.
PHOTO: AFP
“I love Lionel Messi,” said Thailand’s men’s team player, Pattarapong Yupadee, 39.
“And I hope that this sport (sepak takraw) will spread throughout the world and that every continent can play this sport, because I think it’s a very charming sport.”
In other news, Afghan boxer Mohammad Khaibar Nooristani has been provisionally suspended after failing an anti-doping test, the International Testing Agency said.
He is the first athlete at the Asian Games to be announced as having failed a drugs test.
The 37-year-old, who had been set to compete in the men’s 63.5-71kg category, has been informed of the case.
He can request the analysis of the B-sample.
Another athlete not competing at the Games is Li Wenwen, after China’s Olympic weightlifting champion and world record holder pulled out due to an elbow injury, Games organisers said.
Li was withdrawn from the competition, which is due to run from Saturday until Oct 7, after suffering an injury during the recent World Championships in Riyadh, they added. REUTERS, AFP
