Indian Track and Field athletes will look to continue their superb run at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia today when they compete in six medal events. Men’s 800 metres Gold and Silver medalists Manjit Singh and Jinson Johnson will vie for top honours in the 1,500 metres Final.
Chitra Unnikrishnan and Monika Chaudhary will figure in the Women’s section. Lakshmanan Govindan will aim for Gold in the Men’s 5,000 metres. India will also be in action in the Men’s and Women’s 4X400 metres Relay Finals. Besides, all eyes will be on Discus Thrower Seema Punia who, along with Sandeep Kumari, will be looking to make the country proud.
Of the total 54 medals bagged so far, India has won the most in Athletics, that is 14 – 5 Gold and 9 Silver. In the last edition of the Games in 2014, the athletes had won 13 medals, that included just 2 Gold.
Meanwhile, in Men’s Hockey, India will clash with Malaysia in the semi-finals. All India Radio will broadcast live commentary on the game from 3:55 PM onwards. The Women’s team yesterday made it to the Gold medal match after 20 years when they defeated China, 1-0.
The Singles events in Table Tennis are being held today. Mouma Das has crashed out in the opening round. Three other Indian paddlers – Manika Batra, Achanta Sharath Kamal and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran – are yet to begin their campaigns.
In Squash, the Indian Women’s team is playing Hong Kong in a group match.It was disappointing day in Cycling as many Indians failed to qualify to their respective Finals.
Judo, Kurash, Canoe, Sepaktakraw, Bridge, Equestrian and Diving are also witnessing the Indian participation today. India currently has 11 Gold, 20 Silver and 23 Bronze in its kitty and it continues to be 9th in the table. China maintains its massive lead at the top, with Japan second and South Korea third.
