Vinesh Phogat on Monday created history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold medal at the Asian Games, brushing aside her rivals with remarkable ease in the 50kg category. Vinesh was a medal-favourite in her category and was likely to face stiff competition from Japan’s Yuki Irie whom she outplayed 6-2 in the final. It is surely a ground-breaking achievement for the 23-year-old firebrand Haryana wrestler.
Putting behind her heart-breaking loss at the Olympics two years ago, Vinesh began her victorious campaign with a revenge win against Chinese Yanan Sun against whom she had suffered that terrible leg injury which cut short her journey in Rio.
Indian shooter Deepak Kumar claimed the silver medal in men’s 10m air rifle event after producing excellent scores at crucial junctures, pipping fancied team-mate Ravi Kumar at the 18th Asian Games here on Monday. Deepak shot 247.7 to finish second on the podium behind China’s Haoran Yang, who won the top prize with a Games record.
Meanwhile, Young Indian shooter Lakshay claimed the silver medal in the men’s trap event. The 19-year-old Lakshay shot 39 out of 45 to finish second on the podium. Taipei’s Kunpi Yang won the gold medal while equalling the Games record.
Manavjit Singh Sandhu, who topped the qualification, finished fourth in the final with 26 after 30 shots, having stayed on course for a while.
The Indian Men’s Hockey Team cruise past hosts Indonesia in their first game at the 3 players register hat-tricks during a remarkable 17-0 victory.