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Bajrang settles for Asian silver, Dahiya gets gold

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Almaty (Kazakhstan), April 17

Haryana wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya retained his Asian Championship title with an impressive performance but Bajrang Punia settled for silver after withdrawing from the much-awaited final against Japan’s Takuto Otoguro due to an elbow injury today.

Bajrang later said he did not want to aggravate the injury in his right elbow. He had started feeling the pain in the elbow during the quarterfinal against Korean Yongseok Jeong.

“When I was pulling the Korean, the pain in my right elbow resurfaced. It’s the same elbow that I had injured during the World Championship. The coaches advised that I must not take risk so close to the Olympics, so I withdrew,” Bajrang said.

Bajrang did not look his usual self but did not face much competition en route the 65kg category final.

Bajrang had lost the 2018 World Championship title clash and last year’s Asian Championship final to the Otoguro and could have tested himself against the Japanese.

Dahiya’s gold

Dahiya, though, gave India the first men’s freestyle gold of this edition with a commanding show. His stamina and relentless attacking prowess were too good for his opponents in the 57kg category as he returned to the mat after a year in style.

He was slow off the blocks but comfortably beat Uzbekistan’s Nodirjon Safarov in the opening bout before defeating Palestine’s Ali MM Aburumaila on technical superiority.

His title clash against Iran’s Alireza Nosratolah Sarlak was expected to be a close affair, but Dahiya only got better and better as the fast-paced final progressed. There were attacks from both the wrestlers but Dahiya’s superiority was obvious as he won 9-4.

Karan bagged the 70kg bronze medal after winning 3-1 against Korea’s Seungbong Lee.

Also reaching the medal round were Narsingh Pancham Yadav (74kg) and Satywart Kadian (97kg), who will fight for bronze after losing their respective semifinals. — TNS, agencies

Ankit, Manish in pre-quarters

New Delhi, April 17

Asian silver-medallist Ankit Narwal (64kg) and Manish (75kg) advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of boxing’s Youth World Championships in Kielce, Poland, today. Narwal defeated Uzbekistan’s Akhmadjon Akhmedov 5-0 and Manish got the better of Israel’s Daniel Ilyushonok 4-1.

In the women’s section, 2019 Asian Youth champion Babyrojisana Chanu (51kg) defeated Diana Gorisnaja of Estonia to each the quarterfinals. The Manipuri pugilist, who recently won gold at Adriatic Pearl tournament, was dominant from the word go with her speed and skill, scarcely putting a foot wrong through the bout. She was so dominant that the referee had to stop the contest in the third round.

Chanu is the seventh Indian woman boxer to enter the quarterfinals, and the seven are just one win away from ensuring at least a bronze for themselves. The other six Indian women boxers in the quarterfinals are Poonam (57kg), Vinka (60kg), Arundhati (69kg), Sanamacha Thokchom (75kg), Khushi (81kg) and Alfiya (+81kg). — TNS

India back in Asia/Oceania Group after loss to Latvia

New Delhi, April 17

Ankita Raina’s gallant fight ended in defeat again as she went down to world No. 47 Anastasija Sevastova in India’s must-win playoffs match against Latvia in the Billie Jean King Cup today.

After her phenomenal battle against 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko on Friday, the India No. 1 again showed stomach for a fight but Sevastova sealed the match 6-0 7-6 to give Latvia an unassailable 3-0 lead.

India had earned promotion to the World Group Play-offs for the first time in the history of the tournament but with this loss they are back in the Asia/Oceania Group.

Ankita was thrashed in the first set but fought back hard to go 5-2 in the second. She had two set points but failed to convert them, and after that, Sevastova reeled off four games in a row and then ran away with the match in the tie-breaker.

The fourth singles match, to be played between Karman Kaur Thandi and Ostapenko, was cancelled.

Tsitsipas vs Rublev in Monte Carlo

Monaco, April 17

Fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas swatted aside unseeded Dan Evans 6-2 6-1 today to reach the Monte Carlo Masters final for the first time, and stay on course for a first title this year.

The big-serving Greek faces sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev in the final, the Russian getting there with a 6-3 7-5 win over unseeded Norwegian Casper Ruud.

Evans beat top-ranked Novak Djokovic in the third round, but he failed to threaten Tsitsipas.

Rublev, who had beaten Rafael Nadal 6-2 4-6 6-2 in the quarterfinals, did not face much trouble against Rudd, dominating through 76% point won on his first serve.

Hamilton takes pole at Imola

Imola (Italy), April 17

World champion Lewis Hamilton edged out the Red Bull duo to claim pole position for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix today. It was Hamilton’s 99th career pole and although there is a Red Bull directly behind the Mercedes driver, it will be Sergio Perez rather than Max Verstappen.

Hamilton edged Perez by .039 seconds and was .087 faster than Verstappen, who is expected to be his main challenger this season. “I didn’t expect to be ahead of two Red Bulls, they’ve been so quick this weekend,” Hamilton said. “The car is feeling much better, I want to thank the team for their hard work. I love the challenge, having two Red Bulls will definitely make strategy harder.”

Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas had a scrappy final lap and will start from eighth on the grid after finishing .487 slower. — Agencies