India had a comparatively quieter outing on day two of the ongoing Asian Games.
In the 10 meter Air pistol shooting, Indian team of Jitu Rai, Samresh Jung and Prakash Nanjappa won a bronze in the Team Event. While they scored same points as China with 1743 points, China beat them by barest of margin - 65 to 64 on bull's eye shoots - to win silver medal.
Jitu Rai who won gold in 50m air pistol and who was a gold prospect in his pet 10 meter air pistol event, finished a poor fifth. He could not repeat his yesterday's performance.
India has some of the best Trap shooting experts in the world like former champion Manvajit Singh Sandhu, Mansher Singh and former junior world champion Chenai. Somehow it looked it was their off day and they did not manage to even win a team medal though much was expected by them. Their combined score of 341 did not do justice to their talent. China won gold with 357 followed by Kuwait getting silver with 354 and South Korea a bronze with 345.
In a case of hard-luck story of sorts, compatriots Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa had to face each other in Women's Singles squash quarterfinals. Dipika beat Joshna in a five-setter - 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 15-17, 11-9 - to enter the semifinals assuring herself of at least a bronze, as both losing semifinalists get a bronze each in squash.
In the Men's squash event, Saurav Ghosal beat Pakistan's Iqbal Nasir 11-6, 9-11, 11-2, 11-9 and will get a bronze for certain now.
Indian hockey team beat Sri Lanka 8-0 in a match in which India should have scored at least double of what they scored - probably it was due to first match of a new format of 15 minute each with 4 quarters played for the first time. India bungled a lot of goal-mouth chances and their trapping was rusty. India will have to pick themselves quickly as they will face far tougher opponents ahead.
In men's basketball, India lost 67-73 to Saudi Arabia in a closely contested. In women's football, Thailand swamped India 10 -0. And in handball, India's men lost 39-19 to South Korea while the women fought tooth and nail and drew the match 26 -26 against Thailand.
In track event of cycling, India's Deborah and Mohan Mahitha finished 9th and 11th after finishing fifth in their heats.
In tennis, the Indian men's team beat Nepal 3-0 to reach the quarterfinals.
In women's badminton semifinals, South Korea beat India 3- 1. Only Saina Nehwal won her match against Jin Yuin 21-12, 10-21, 21-9. In the second match PV Sindhu lost to Bae 21-14, 18 -21, 13 -21. In the doubles match India's Reddy and Pradnya lost to Kimand Chang 16 -21, 17-21. Thulasi lost her match to Kim Hiomyn 12-21, 8-21. Thus India has to settle for a bronze in women's badminton when much more was expected in the event.
Overall on day 2, India remained comparatively getting a bronze, making sure of another two to three bronze medals. Had India fared well in shooting events, they could have got a silver or even gold.
India, despite having some very talented shooters, are unable to repeat their individual performances - thus depriving their team of medals. This is true of both men and women's team events. This is something that their coaches will have to address.
Finally, yesterday's 10m air pistol bronze medal winner Shweta Chadhary complained about not getting her gear for her shooting event in which event she had to use a substitute weapon. Probably that was the reason she couldn't go on to claim gold or silver. But it would be far better to discuss these issues after the event as it unnecessarily adds additional pressure on the players when the events are still underway.
And India will have to pick themselves up and come out with better performance in days to come. Hopefully they will do that.
(E R Ramachandran is a sport writer based in Mysore. He will be analyzing Asian Games for ibnlive.com)
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