JOIN USIndia’s Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa set up a much-expected quarterfinal match against each other in the women’s singles squash competition of the Asian Games.
While Joshna vanquished South Korean Song Sunmi 11-9, 11-7, 11-7, Dipika defeated Gu Jinyue of China 11-6, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4 as the India were assured of one semifinal spot.In the men’s singles pre-quarterfinal, Saurav Ghosal crushed Alsaraj Ahmed of Jordan 11-2, 11-4, 11-3 but Harpinder Pal Singh fell to Abdullah Kh Kh 11-4, 11-6, 11-2.
Results: Men: Singles, pre-quarterfinals: Saurav Ghosal (Ind) bt Alsaraj Ahmed (Jor) 11-2, 11-4, 11-3; Abdullah Kh Kh (Kuw) bt Harpinder Pal Singh (Ind) 11-4, 11-6, 11-2. Women: Singles, pre-quarterfinals: Joshna Chinappa (Ind) bt Song Sunmi (Kor) 11-9, 11-7, 11-7; Dipika Pallikal (Ind) bt Gu Jinyue 11-6, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4.
Lifters disappoint
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Saikhom Mirabhai Chanu finished ninth in the women’s 48kg weightlifting competition.
She managed a total lift of 171 kg, managing 75kg in the snatch and 96 kg in clean and jerk.
Sukhen Dey also failed to fire, ending 12th after amassing 242 (106+136) in the men’s 56 kg.
Olympic champion Om Yun-Chol broke his own world record for the clean and jerk on his way to North Korea’s first gold medal in the 56kg category.
Om lifted 170kg in clean and jerk and also set a games record with a combined total of 298kg.
The London Olympics winner received a rapturous ovation from South Korean fans as, having already lifted a Games record 166kg with his second attempt to secure gold, he then raised the bar into uncharted territory. In doing so Om, one of only five lifters in the history of the sport to lift more than three times his own weight, then became one of only four to have achieved it on multiple occasions.
Spikers sparkle
The Indian men’s volleyball team made a promising start, defeating Hong Kong 23-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-21 in their Group C encounter.
The women’s team were, however, were blanked 25-5, 25-12, 25-13 in just 56 minutes by hosts South Korea.