INDIA AT OLYMPICS, DAY 11 REPORT.

WOMEN’S JAVELIN THROW QUALIFIER Indian Javelin thrower Annu Rani failed to qualify for the finals after finishing 14th in the rankings. Playing in Group A, Rani in her first attempt registered a throw of 50.35m and was positioned ninth, in her second attempt she registered a throw of 53.19m and slipped to 14th spot in the rankings, her final and 3rd attempt was a throw of 54.04m and finished ranked 14th. Annu Rani looked completely off colour not that she normally averages 51 odd but wasn’t at her best today as she rewrote her national record early this year with a throw of 63.24m.

HOCKEY MEN’S SEMI-FINAL Indian Hockey Men’s team hunt for Gold continues as they lose 2-5 against Belgium in the semi-final and progress for the Bronze medal match. Less than 2 minutes of play and Belgium had their first goal as Loick Luypaert gave Belgium an early lead in the game however, India didn’t drop shoulders as Harmanpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh within a few minutes scored two goals in quick succession and the first quarter ends 2-1. In second quarter Belgium switched gears, got a bit more intensity in and Alexander Hendrickx through a penalty corner converted the opportunity and scored the equaliser to end the first half. No goals were scored in the third quarter and the intensity had dropped in the scorching Tokyo heat and it was down to the final 15 minutes of 4th quarter and Belgium were in with some different intensity knowing it’s matter of a goal to take the lead. It was that man Alexander again with the goal who gave his side a 3-2 lead, Indian captain was given a green card and India were down to 10 players for 2 minutes and exactly that time Belgium get a shoot-off and Alexander successfully nets and has a hat-trick in a semi-final to his name and the lead was 4-2 and the game was slipping away from India with 7 odd minutes left. India remove their goalkeeper in the dying minutes to get in an extra player and doesn’t work India’s way as Belgium score a goal and end the match 5-3 to play the Gold medal match. India will face Germany for the Bronze medal match.

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE WRESTLING Indian wrestler Sonam Malik on debut was impressive but fails to proceed after losing to Mongolia’s Bolortuya Khurelkhuu in 1/8 finals. Sonam had a point in the first period and with a minute left in second period she got her second point and was 2-0 up, with a fantastic move in the dying seconds of match the Mongolian had the lead in a single move as she kept Sonam on ground for 5 seconds and levelled it 2-2. Had the 19 Y/O held on for a few more seconds she would have progressed to 1/4 finals. Sonam did have a chance of comeback through repechage but doesn’t happen as Bolortuya loses and that’s the end for Sonam on a impressive debut.

MEN’S SHOT PUT QUALIFICATION Tajinderpal Singh Toor playing in group A for qualification finished ranked 13th after his 3 attempts. Tajinderpal Singh started with a throw of 19.99m and had two foul throws in his remaining 2 attempts. Not at his best today but that’s the end as he fails to qualify and has to head back.

That is it on India’s schedule for the day at Olympics. Couple of semi-finals and a couple more events on India’s schedule tomorrow, stay tuned !