The Indian men’s hockey team’s dream of entering the Olympics final after 49 years was shattered on Tuesday with a 5-2 loss to Belgium. However, the Indians still have the chance to win a medal as they will play Germany for the third place on Thursday.
Loick Luypaert gave Belgium an early lead as he scored in the starting minutes of the first quarter and as a result, India were put on the back foot straight away. However, India struck back as Harmanpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh scored in quick succession, and as a result, India gained a 2-1 lead in the first quarter. However, eventually they lost 2-5.
In athletics, Tajinderpal Singh failed to qualify for the men’s shot put final after finishing 13th in Group A qualification. Javelin thrower Annu Rani also failed to qualify for the women’s final after an underwhelming show in the women’s long throws qualification — Group A. She registered a throw of 54.04m in her third and final throw and was placed at the 14th spot when the qualification Group A ended.
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India’s wrestling campaign began on a low note as Sonam Malik lost her 62kg freestyle pre-quarterfinal. Sonam scored one technical point each in the first and second periods but Mongolian wrestler Khürelkhüügiin Bolortuyaa was awarded the win based on the ‘highest scoring point’ rule.
Indians in Action on 4th August
Golf – Women’s Individual Stroke Play Round 1 – Aditi Ashok, Diksha Dagar
Athletics – Men’s Javelin Throw Qualification -Group A – Neeraj Chopra
Men’s Javelin Throw Qualification – Group B – Shivpal Singh
Boxing – Women’s Welter (64-69kg) semifinal 1 – Lovlina Borgohain vs Busena Surmeneli (Turkey)
Hockey – Women’s semifinal – Argentina vs India
Wrestling – Men’s Freestyle 57kg 1/8 final – Ravi Kumar vs Urbano Tigreros (Colombia), Women’s Freestyle 57kg 1/8 Final – Anshu Malik vs Iryna Kurachkina (Belarus), Men’s Freestyle 86kg 1/8 Final – Deepak Punia vs Ekerekeme Agiomor (Nigeria)
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