Asian Para Games: Shuttlers add two bronze to India’s medal tally on Day 3

Hangzhou [China]: The flurry of medals continued on Day 3 as Indian shuttlers performed exceptionally to clinch two bronze medals in the mixed doubles event in the ongoing 4th Asian Para Games on Wednesday.

The Indian pair of Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramdass secured a bronze medal after bowing out in the semi-finals of the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 event. Indonesia’s Leani Ratri and Hikmat Ramdani sealed their place in the final with a 2-0 victory over the Indian duo.

The first set was a closely fought affair but the Indonesian pair edged past to go one up in the match. The second set saw the Indonesian pair clinch a comfortable victory with a scoreline of 21-14 to storm into the final.

On the other hand, the Indian pair of Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan also crashed out in the semi-finals of the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 semi-finals.

The Indonesian duo of Fredy Setiawan and Khalimatus Sadiyah clinched a comfortable straight-set victory (2-0).

The Indian pair posed a threat in the first set but their opponents shifted through gears to take advantage with a 21-17 victory.

In the second set, the Indian pair failed to match the intensity and lost by a scoreline of 21-12.

Earlier in the day, Sumit Antil and Pushpendra Singh dominated the podium standings by clinching gold and bronze medals respectively in the men’s Javelin Throw-F64 final.

Sumit broke the Asian Para Games record, World record and Asian record in the event with a throw of 73.29m. He reached the mark in his third attempt of the day and clinched a gold medal.

This time India has sent 303 athletes – 191 men and 112 women – to the fourth edition of the Asian Para Games which is the largest contingent to the continental event.

At the 2018 Asian Para Games, India sent a total of 190 athletes and returned with 72 medals, including 15 gold, for their best performance at the quadrennial event.