CWG: India win 4 medals on Day 1, no gold yet

Mangalore Today News Network

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: New Delhi India won its first medals in the 48 kilogram women’s weightlifting category, as Soniya Chanu clinched the silver medal and Sandhya Rani Devi won bronze at the XIXth Commonwealth Games Delhi on Monday.

Weightlifting continued to be a happy hunting ground for India in the Commonwealth Games with men lifters Sukhen Dey and Srinivasa Rao winning silver and bronze medals respectively in 56kg category, after Soniya Chanu and Sandhya Devi Rani’s identical feats earlier on Monday.

Dey gave a stiff competition to Games record holder Hamizan Amirul Ibrahim of Malaysia before settling for a silver at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium five kgs short of the winner’s effort. Ibrahim cleared 257kg and Rao lifted 248kg for the bronze medal.

Ibrahim, in the process, claimed the first gold medal for his country while also setting a new Games record of 116kg in the snatch, surpassing his personal best of 115. He lifted 141 in clean and jerk.

The 21-year-old Dey, however, was the surprise element in the event with his career best of 112 in snatch and 140 in clean and jerk.

 

Although Dey fouled his third attempt in clean and jerk, favourite Ibrahim held his nerve after failing twice to come out trumps in the end.

Earlier, India opened their medal account in the Games when women lifters Chanu bagged a silver medal and Sandhya clinched a bronze in the women’s 48 kg class.

Chanu cleared 167 kg to stand second in the event behind Nigerian woman Augustina Nwaokolo who hoisted 175 kg to win the contest. She also created a new Games record. Sandhya took the bronze with a total clearance of 165 kg.

Chanu and Nwaokolo were tied with the same clearance of 94 kg in the snatch competition but the latter, who weighed marginally less than the Indian woman, settled the issue in the clean and jerk category by clearing 8 kgs more.

Earlier in the day, the Indian men’s relay swimming squad created history by reaching the finals for the first time.

The quartet of Virdhawal Khade, Anshul Kothari, Arjun Jayaprakash and Aaron D’Souza had finished sixth in the morning heats to make the evening final in 4x100m freestyle relay. India also qualified for the semifinals when Badrinath Melkote (men\’s 50m backstroke) and Shubha Chittaranjan (women\’s 50m butterfly) finished 14th and 16th in their respective events.

Hailing the quartet\’s epoch-making feat, national chief coach S Pradeep Kumar added the team, however, did not stand a chance to attain a podium finish.

"Our timing is not good enough to earn a podium finish. It will be difficult in the final. However, we should aim for a fourth-place finish, which will be good for the relay team."

But all other swimmers sunk without making a splash. Surabhi Tipre and Arti Ghorpade finished a disappointing 22nd and 24th in women\’s 200m freestyle.

In men\’s 400m freestyle heats, Mandar Divase and Ullalmath Gangan finished distant 17th and 18th respectively. Other Indians to bow out on day one included Beijing Olympian Rehan Poncha and Tarun Tokas (men\’s 200m butterfly); Priyanka Priyadarshini, Poorva Shetye and Mankiran Kaur (women\’s 50m breaststroke) and Pooja Alva (women\’s 200m IM).

Poncha was 17th while Tokas finished a lowly 20th in heats. Priyanka (35.43s) was the best among the Indian trio in women\’s 50m breaststroke, despite a disappointing 21st-place finish. Her teammates Poorva and Mankiran finished 24th and 25th respectively.

In table tennis, Mouma Das paved the way with a 11-4 11-5 11-4 demolition of Ishara Madurangi Darshika 11-4 11-5 11-4 before Shamini Kumareshan put the hosts 2-0 ahead by outclassing Nuwani Navodya 11-9 11-9 11-7.

Reigning national champion Poulomi Ghatak then wrapped up the tie by edging past Kavindi Rukmali 11-8 11-8 11-7. The Indian eves have to play New Zealand next with Ghana as their other opponents in the group.

Bopanna wins first round

Bopanna opened India’s account with an effortless 6-1, 6-4 win over Uganda’s Rober Buyinza in the first round of the men’s singles while Chakravarthi demolished Lesotho’s Pinki Agnes Montlha 6-0, 6-1 in the women’ singles.

However, there was heartbreak for India as well as mixed doubles pair of Bopanna and Nirupama Sanjeev went down fighting 3-6, 6-3, 3-6 to top seeded Australian duo of Paul Hanley and Anastasia Rodionova.

Nirupama, who is coming out of retirement, supported Bopanna well and raised the hopes of an upset by clinching the second set but could not continue with the momentum.

An early break of Bopanna’s serve in the decisive set handed the Australians 3-0 lead and although the Indians kept coming hard at their much-fancied opponents, the top seeded pair got points at crucial junctures to ensure they do not become a first day casualty.

Bopanna and Nirupama made a stunning comeback from a set down. They put up a spirited show under pressure, creating a big 5-0 lead by breaking both Hanley and Rodionova early in the second set. Hanley prevented a whitewash by holding his serve in the sixth game. A smashing overhead volley by Rodionova earned the Australians their first break off Nirupama’s serve but Bopanna drew parity by holding the ninth game. However, the Australians justified the top billing as Hanley closed the match in their favour with an ace. Nirupama is still in contention as she has teamed up with Poojashree Venkatesh for the women’s doubles. Before this match, Rushmi needed just 41 minutes to sent packing her rival.

While early in the morning, Bopanna was too hot for a player, who has just one ranking point in the ATP charts, as he completed the win in just one hour and two minutes.

Bopanna today dropped 114 places in the ranking chart to be at 587 but he was coming into the event after playing a crucial role in the Davis Cup tie against Brazil and was hardly troubled by the African player. With two break of serves, Bopanna raced to a comfortable 5-1 lead in the opening set and pocketed the opening set in just 21 minutes. Buyinza, ranked 1601, overcame the initial jitters and started to serve well in the second set but unforced errors cost him dearly. After missing four break points, Bopanna converted the fifth to get his first break  - in the fifth game - to go up 3-2 in second set. He had a chance to close the set in the ninth game but Buyinza played his best tennis to save that point but he could not stop the Indian to serve out the match in the next game.

Poojashree and the mixed doubles pair of Sania Mirza and Leander Paes are scheduled to play in the evening session.

Saina advances to second round
India’s ace shuttler Saina Nehwal has won her first round singles match against Kenya’s Mercy Joseph at the Commonwealth Games.

 

Saina defeated Mercy in straight games 21-11, 21-4. Saina is the top seed in the women’s singles event.

In men’s singles event, Chetan Anand defeated Victor Munga from Kenya.