Showing posts with label Asian Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asian Games. Show all posts

Asian Games: A historic table tennis bronze that was 20 years in the making

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Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee's giant-slaying run ended with a historic bronze medal at the Asian Games after the Indian duo lost the closely-fought women's doubles semifinal 3-4 to North Korea in Hangzhou on Monday.

Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee (AFP Photo)

HANGZHOU: Coming to China and not soaking in the ping pong, or table tennis atmosphere is like visiting India and not watching cricket. The Mukherjees, Ayhika and Sutirtha, started making those plans two decades ago as kids in West Bengal's Naihati.

The Indian pair realised their dream of playing at the Asian Games in style at the 19th Asian Games with a bronze medal in women's doubles the country's maiden podium finish in the category at the Games.

Two days before losing in the semifinals, the Mukherjees had hushed a capacity crowd at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium by defeating China's reigning world champions Chen Meng and Yidi Wang in their last-eight match to create a massive stir in China - a country that virtually worships its TT stars.


There was a beeline to get their thoughts after the win over the world champion team. The same surname of two Indian girls foxed some of the foreign journalists into believing that they are sisters.

"We are not sisters, but we share the same surname. We have known each other and played together since childhood, so it is very easy to understand each other," Ayhika had said then.

"I can read her mind and she can read mine. And we really have fun on the table, no matter if we are losing or are playing against the world's best."

The semifinal entry assured them a medal. But the last-four clash against the North Koreans Cha Suyong and Pak Sugyong on Monday ended in an agonising defeat that travelled the distance in the best-of-seven match.


The Koreans won 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 11-2 for a place in the gold-medal match.

"They (Ayhika & Sutirtha) started in the same club," said coach Mamta Prabhu.
"Their friendship goes back more than 20 years. They know each other really well, know the ins and outs of each other. That's why the bonding is really strong."

The Mukherjees didn't start well, but kept throwing punches to come back, but then lost the fourth and fifth games, facing a must-win situation in the next game. They won it to make it 3-3 and take the match into the decider.

"I think the North Koreans had a few points where they played really fantastic and they (Indian team) were totally out of rhythm then. Not a happy day for us, I can say."

The crowd wasn't as much a factor on Monday as in the quarterfinal, but the locals still backed the Koreans.

"We are used to it. In the last match (quarter-final) we played against China. There were more cheers than this. This time the crowd was in favour of North Korea but we are used to it," said Mamta.

Sutirtha and Ayhika, childhood friends from Naihati, are happy, though the disappointment of not going past the semi-finals was also evident in their words.

Asian Games 2023 Live Updates: Indian men's hockey team looks to finish group stage on top

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Sunday, October 1 turned out to be the most productive day for India in its Asian Games history as it yielded a total of 15 medals. October 2 will present another opportunity for the Indian contingent to build on that momentum and aim for more medals in athletics and table tennis.

Image Source : PTI

Asian Games 2023 Live Updates: Indian men's hockey team looks to finish group stage on top

After a high-flying Sunday (October 1) that saw India bag the most medals ever in its history of the Asian Games, it is now time for the Indian athletes to look for more as the continental event in Hangzhou moves into its ninth day. India finished day eight of the Games with 13 gold, 21 silver and 19 bronze medals - a total of 53 medals.

Monday, October 2 has plenty of action in store for the Indian fans but the match that has already made enough headlines is the women's doubles semifinal of table tennis that will witness Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee's battle against Suyong Cha and Sugyong Pak.

The Indian duo has already confirmed a medal but if it wins the semis then India will be assured a silver - the country's first-ever in the history of the Asian Games. In athletics, Amlan Borgohain will be the centre of attraction in the men's 200 m race.

Men's hockey team from India departs for the Asian Games

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NEW DELHI: The Indian men's hockey team is prepared to continue its remarkable run when they compete in the next Asian Games, which get underway on September 23 in Hangzhou.

On September 24, India launches their offensive against Uzbekistan. India is in Pool A of the event, along with strong opponents like Pakistan, Japan, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Uzbekistan. Korea, Malaysia, China, Oman, Thailand, and Indonesia make up Pool B in the meantime.

The semifinal round of the tournament will feature the top two teams from each pool, which heightens the tension and rivalry of the event.

Harmanpreet Singh will serve as the team's captain, and Hardik will be his assistant. Performances by the squad, particularly in the just finished Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai, have demonstrated how diligently they have prepared. They now want to keep performing at that level and place on the podium at the Asian Games.


Before the squad's trip to Hangzhou, Indian team captain Harmanpreet Singh expressed his sentiments, saying, "The team has been working hard to be ready for the Asian Games, and we did well at the just-completed Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai. Now we want to keep up that level of play. Although we have some challenging competition in our Pool, we are confident in our preparedness and intend to place highly."

Goalkeepers PR Sreejesh and Krishan Pathak are on the team's roster, and Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, and Sanjay will handle the defence. Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Sumit, and Shamsher Singh will form the backbone of the midfield. Abhishek, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay will lead the offensive line.

Hardik Singh, the vice captain, emphasised his confidence by saying, "We are in the best physical and mental preparation to go to Hangzhou, and we are anticipating the intense competition within our team. The objective is to maintain our recent level of performance and leave China with a medal."

On September 26, 28, and 30, respectively, Singapore, Japan, and Pakistan will be the opponents in India's group stage games. Bangladesh will be the last opponent on October 2. The Indian hockey team will want to stand out in the competition and become a serious contender in the Asian Games in Hangzhou.

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