Asian Games 2023: India end shooting campaign with three more medals, Aditi Ashok bags silver in golf

Aditi Ashok on Sunday clinched a historic silver in women’s golf at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. This was India’s first ever medal in women’s golf at the Asian Games.

Earlier, coming into the final day with a commanding seven-stroke lead, Aditi saw the advantage evaporate as she stumbled upon four bogeys and a double bogey against a lone birdie to slip to the second position.

The 25-year-old ended her campaign with a four-day aggregate of 17-under 271 as Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol held her nerves to produce her week’s best card of 64 and claim the coveted gold medal.

Korea’s Hyunjo Yoo, too, carded an improved 65 to win a bronze.

India’s other two players, Pranavi Urs and Avani Prashanth, too struggled to bring home cards of 75 and 76 as the Indian women’s team ended its campaign at the fourth place.

While the gold slipped out of her hands, it was still a creditable performance from the two-time Olympian from Bangalore, who had missed a medal by a whisker at the Tokyo Games after finishing fourth.

It was India’s fourth individual medal in golf with Lakshman Singh and Shiv Kapur winning the gold in the 1982 and 2002 editions and Rajiv Mohta claiming a silver in New Delhi.

An Indian squad comprising Lakshman, Rajiv, Rishi Narain and Amit Luthra had won the team gold in 1982, while the country also won two team silver medals in 2006 and 2010 editions at Doha and Guangzhou.

Despite winning silver, Aditi felt she played badly. “It wasn’t a good day. I played bad. There’s no way around saying it. But overall if I look at my four-day score it’s pretty good. Seventeen under; at the start of the week I would have taken that. It’s just that when you shoot five over on the last day it doesn’t feel as good,” she said, speaking to the media after the tournament.

Women’s trap team win silver, men’s trap team clinch gold

The Indian women’s trap team comprising of Rajeshwari Kumari, Manisha Keer and Preeti Rajak clinched silver in the shooting event at the 2023 Asian Games on Sunday.

The trio finished behind LI Qingnian, Wu Cuicui and Zhang Xinqiu with a total score of 337. The Chinese won gold with a total score of 357.

Mariya Dmitriyenko, Aizhan Dosmagambetoa and Anastassiya Prilepina of Kazkhstan clinched bronze with a score of 336.

In the men’s trap event, the trio of Prithviraj Tondaiman, Zoravar Singh Sandhu and Kynan Darius Chenai clinched gold medal with a score of 361 points.

In the men’s trap individual event, Kynan Darius Chenai clinched bronze medal with a score of 32, behind gold medallist Qi Ying of China and Talal Alrashidi of Kuwait, who won silver.

This was India’s 22nd, and last medal in shooting at this year’s Asian Games

Jasmine knock out in boxing 

In boxing, India’s Jasmine took on Ungyong Won of North Korea in the quarter-finals of the women’s 60kg category. While the Indian had won the opening round, Won scripted a comeback in the second round with some attacking moves.

Jasmine eventually faltered to defeat, as a result of Won’s clinical display, and the North Korean won the bout by a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) verdict.

Amlan Borgohain in semi-finals 

Amlan Borgohain had an outing to remember earlier on Sunday after he reached the semi-finals of the men’s 200m race. The athlete from Assam finished with a timing of 21.08 seconds to qualify.

However, it was a disappointing end for javelin thrower Swapna Barman. She finished fifth, with a throw of 45.13m =, whereas Nandini Agasara ended in ninth place, with a throw of 39.88m.

With inputs from PTI