Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen asserted her dominance by securing a 5-0 victory over Vietnam's Thi Tam Nguyen in the women's 50kg category at the Asian Games. Despite not receiving a first-round bye, Zareen showcased her exceptional skills, controlling the match with precise punches and earning three eight-counts for her opponent. Her remarkable footwork in the final rounds sealed the victory.
Meanwhile, another talented Indian boxer, Preeti Pawar (54kg), advanced to the quarter-finals with a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) win over Jordan's Silina Alhasanat, further bolstering India's boxing contingent at the games.
In other sporting events, the Indian men's volleyball team faced disappointment as they were defeated by Japan, effectively ending their medal hopes in the Asian Games. Japan's fluent performance resulted in a convincing 25-16, 25-18, 25-17 win, propelling them into the semi-finals, where they will face China. India, on the other hand, will compete against either Pakistan or Qatar in a fifth-sixth place classification match.
Indian Grandmaster Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, considered one of the top players in the field, experienced an unexpected setback in the men's individual chess event, suffering a shock defeat to Kazakhstan's IM Kazybek Nogerbek. However, Indian women players Koneru Humpy and D. Harika provided a silver lining with victories in their respective matches.
In the swimming arena, star swimmer Srihari Nataraj and the Indian women's 4x100m freestyle relay team showcased their skills. Srihari secured a commendable sixth-place finish in the finals of the men's 100m backstroke, recording a time of 54.48 seconds. However, he fell short of the gold medal, which was claimed by China's Xu Jiayu with a time of 52.23 seconds. The Indian women's relay team, comprising Olympian Maana Patel, Dhinidhi Desinghu, Janvi Choudhary, and Shivangi Sarma, clinched seventh place in the 4x100m freestyle relay finals with a time of 3:54.66.
On the tennis court, Sumit Nagal showcased his prowess by advancing to the men's singles pre-quarterfinals. He delivered a commanding performance, thrashing Macau's Ho Tin Marco Leung with a decisive 6-0, 6-0 victory. In the men's doubles, the second-seeded Indian pair of Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan outplayed Nepal's Abhishek Bastola and Pradip Khadka, securing a 6-2, 6-3 victory in their opening-round match.
As the Asian Games continue to unfold, Indian athletes are displaying their talent and determination across various sports, aiming to make their mark on this prestigious international stage.
