Kingpin: Grappler Ravi Dahiya pins Sanayev to assure 4th medal, Neeraj’s performance broadens smiles

Tokyo, August 4

Ravi Dahiya’s charge into the final assured India of a fourth Olympics medal as wrestlers sent the country’s hopes soaring, while javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra scripted history on a day when most things went spectacularly well for the contingent save for the heartbreak in hockey and boxing. While Dahiya will fight for gold tomorrow, Chopra will stake his claim for India’s maiden track and field medal on Saturday.

The Panipat lad etched his name in history books in the qualification round itself when he became the first javelin thrower to qualify for the finals and also the first to top the charts with an impressive 86.65m effort.

But it was another 23-year-old, Dahiya, who emerged as the undisputed star of the day. Dahiya is now the second wrestler after double Olympics medallist Sushil Kumar to reach the final. He will be up against reigning world champion Zavur Uguev of Russia. Others in medal contention are Deepak Punia (86kg) and Anshu Malik (women’s 57kg). While Punia lost in the semis to get direct entry into the bronze medal playoffs, Malik has made the repechage round after European champion Irina Kurachikina, who beat her in the opening round, made the finals.

Bronze for Lovlina

In the boxing ring, Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) signed off with a bronze after her showdown against reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey ended in a crushing 5-0 loss. Borgohain became the third Indian boxer to fetch an Olympics medal after Vijender Singh (2008) and MC Mary Kom (2012). “I worked hard for a gold medal so it is a bit disappointing,” Borgohain said.

Same story for women

A day after the men lost in the semifinals, the Rani Rampal-led women’s hockey team lost 2-1 to Argentina in the last-4 but stayed in the hunt for a medal. They will play Great Britain on Friday for the bronze.

India fought valiantly and gave Argentina a tough time by taking the lead in the second minute through a penalty corner conversion by Gurjit Kaur. But the four-time Olympics medallists bounced back strongly with skipper Maria Barrionuevo’s (18th, 36th minutes) strikes from penalty corners to secure the win. “We came here to win a medal and still there’s one (available). It’s now about recovery, about the mindset,” India coach Sjoerd Marijne said.

Aditi quick off the blocks

On the golf course, Aditi Ashok got off to a brilliant start, carding a 4-under 67 in the opening round for a share of the second spot. Diksha Dagar (76), however, had a rough start as she made five bogeys to lie T-56. — PTI

Indians in action

LIVE ON SONY TEN, Doordarshan

Athletics: KT Irfan, Rahul Rohilla & Sandeep Kumar in men’s 20km race-walk 1:00pm

Golf: Aditi Ashok & Diksha Dagar in women’s Round 2 4:00am

Hockey: India vs Germany in men’s bronze medal match 7:00am

Wrestling: Vinesh Phogat vs Sofia Magdalena Mattsson (Sweden) in women’s freestyle 53kg 8:00am

Anshu Malik vs Valeria Koblova (ROC) in women’s freestyle 57kg repechage 2nd bout after 7:30am start

Ravi Dahiya vs Zavur Uguev (ROC) in men’s freestyle 57kg final 9th bout after 2:45pm Start

Deepak Punia in men’s freestyle 86kg bronze medal match 11th bout after 2:45pm IST start