Indian rowing Men’s team members Sawarn Singh, Bhokanal Dattu, Om Prakash and S Singh won the gold in Men’s Quadruple Sculls. (Source: PTI) Indian rowing Men’s team members Sawarn Singh, Bhokanal Dattu, Om Prakash and S Singh won the gold in Men’s Quadruple Sculls. (Source: PTI) India enjoyed their most productive day at the 18th Asian Games Jakarta Palembang 2018, in Indonesia on Friday. Gold rush continued in rowing and tennis. The rowing quarter secured a historic gold in Quadruple Sculls. In tennis, Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan added to the tally by clinching the doubles gold in tennis. The quadruple sculls gold Indian rowers Sawarn Singh/Dattu Bhokanal/Om Prakash/Sukhmeet Singh triumph was only India’s second gold medal in rowing at the Asian Games. “Yesterday we had a bad day but (as) soldiers we never give up. I told my teammates that we will go for the gold and we will give it all. It was about karo ya maro (do or die). And we did it,” PTI quoted the senior most member of the gold-winning quadruple sculls team Sawarn Singh as saying. The women’s kabaddi team grabbed silver while more good news followed when India beat Pakistan 28-27 in men’s Handball main round, group 3 match. At the end of an eventful day seven medals were added on Day 6 of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta to take their medal tally to 25 (including 6 gold, 5 silver, 14 bronze). Earlier in the day, Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan beat the Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev in a 6-3, 6-4 win. The tennis gold was India’s sixth Gold and 22nd medal in the competition. Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan beat the Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev in a 6-3, 6-4 win. (Source: File) Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan beat the Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev in a 6-3, 6-4 win. (Source: File) Meanwhile, Heena Sidhu added to the medals tally at the Asian Games 2018 with a bronze medal in 10m Air pistol. 16-year-old Manu Bhaker finished fifth in the final. The India women’s kabaddi team suffered massive disappointment as they lost 24-27 to Iran in the final to settle for a silver. India ended the day with a comfortable 8-0 victory against Japan in the preliminary round of men’s tournament Pool A game. Disappointments- Gymnast Dipa Karmakar could only manage a fifth spot in women’s balance team final. In Pencak Silat, Naorem Boynao Singh loses 0-5 to Dumaan Dines In Sport Climbing, the trio of Bharath Stephen, Pereira Kamath and Shreya Sanjay Nankar failed to secure a position in the top 3 of their respective events. In swimming (men’s 4 x 100m medley relay), India failed to qualify for final. While weightlifter Rakhi Halder did not finish her lift in women’s 63kg category.-<doc-sep>TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian contingent won one gold medal and one silver medal on the first day of the 2018 Asian Games, which made Indonesia ranked 6th in the medal acquisition. Indonesia won a gold medal from the Tae Kwon Do by Defia Rosmaniar from the women’s individual poomsae, while the silver medal was obtained by Edgar Xavier Marvelo from the Wushu, men's changquan. China topped the 2018 Asian Games temporary medal acquisition after winning 7 gold medals, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals on Sunday, the first day. Chinese contingent won a third of the medals contested yesterday. China’s dominance was seen in the swimming, which had contributed 4 gold medals, 2 silver and 4 bronzes yesterday. The second rank was occupied by Japan who won 3 gold medals, 6 silver and 5 bronze medals. The following is a list of medal acquisition for the 2018 Asian Games: TEMPO.CO<doc-sep>Badminton promises to be a good challenge for India at the Asian Games. (Source: Reuters) Badminton promises to be a good challenge for India at the Asian Games. (Source: Reuters) A trial by fire for the youngsters and a battle to stay relevant for some ageing superstars but above all, the 18th Asian Games will be a reality check for India’s athletes after the Commonwealth Games high. The build-up has been signature chaos with complaints and even court cases about selection matters, usual controversies over the size of the contingent which came to 804 — athletes and officials combined, and not to forget, the credentials of the travelling officials. But as has been the case with Indian sports for the past several decades, the athletes would try to ensure that focus remains firmly on the results once the competition gets underway after the customary opening ceremony on Saturday. There was quite literally a gold rush at Gold Coast CWG where India notched up their second best medal tally of all time. But most athletes and their coaches have already acknowledged that the Asiad is going to be a different ball game given the presence of powerhouses such as China, Japan and Korea. However, that has dampened neither the excitement nor the expectations. India had equalled their best performance in terms of medals won in the 2014 Asiad with a total of 57, including 11 gold, and the contingent of 572 athletes this time would be hoping to better that. The contenders range from a a 16-year-old schoolgirl from Haryana in Manu Bhaker (shooting) to the proven-but-struggling Sushil Kumar (wrestling) to the in-form and consistently rising to new heights, Neeraj Chopra (Javelin Throw). Then there are the likes of Hima Das, a sprint sensation who has raised hopes by becoming the first Indian woman to claim a world championships gold, albeit in the under-20 competition. The daughter of a rice farmer in Assam has captured the nation’s imagination and her profile is only expected to rise should she finish on the podium in Jakarta. There is no denying the fact that she will among the favourites at the Games in Jakarta. India’s track-and-field stars have historically done well at the Asiad, delivering 282 medals so far, 74 of them gold. And it is not expected to be any different this time. On to the badminton court where PV Sindhu would be hoping to break her final jinx. But once again a strong field will stand in the way given that shuttlers from traditional power-centres China, Thailand, and Japan will be in action. Saina Nehwal’s grit and ability to bring her A game to the table on the big stage can never be discounted but it remains to be seen how her body responds to what has been a gruelling season so far. Along with K Srikkanth and HS Prannoy, they are among those expected to contribute to India’s medal tally. India can also hope for a good show on the wrestling mat where the inf-rom duo of Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat are being seen as sure-shot medal hopes. Punia not only won a gold at CWG but also emerged champion at Tbilisi Grand Prix and Yasar Dogu International in the run-up to the Jakarta Games. However, it’s redemption time for a few struggling stars. Olympic medallists Sushil Kumar and Sakshi Malik are not in the best of form. Sushil recently lost his first bout in four years at the Tbilisi GP in Georgia and Sakshi failed to reach the medal round at Yasar Dogu in Istanbul. Their reputations are at stake and nothing less than a gold will be able to redeem those. The men’s hockey team will be aiming for a gold and a direct entry into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The team, which recently ended runner-up to Australia at the Champions Trophy, does not have many tough nuts to crack and it will only be a disaster if it returns without gold. The women’s team missed out on a historic place in the world cup semifinals but the Rani Rampal-led side is expected to fare better and improve upon its bronze-medal show in Incheon. At the shooting ranges of Palembang, Manu will hold centrestage and given her form, it would be a surprise if she lets the spotlight shift anywhere else. The boxing arena will have some strong Indian presence too with the likes of Vikas Krishan, Shiva Thapa and the fast-rising Gaurav Solanki presenting India’s men’s challenge. Among the women, world silver-medallist Sarjubala Devi will be a medal hope. The tennis contingent is already grappling with the kind of drama that has become its trademark at every major event. The last-minute pull-out by Leander Paes for not getting a “specialist” men’s doubles partner means that coach-cum-captain Zeeshan Ali has to re-work combinations in men’s and mixed doubles. How this move by the veteran star affects the campaign will be interesting to see. In the absence of world champion Mirabai Chanu, India’s challenge has weakened in weightlifting. In Table Tennis, Manika Batra would be aiming for an encore of her golden run at the CWG but it would be easier said than done given Chinese and Japanese presence in the draw. Among the men Veteran A Sharath Kamal would be the one to watch out for again. Dipa Karmakar would be continuing her spirited return from injury in the gymnastics arena and it would be interesting what she attempts on the vault. There will be some interesting sports to track too in pencak silat, an Indonesian indigenous martial arts form, and bridge. India will be there to contest but medal prospects are not too clear. In all, close to 11,000 athletes from 45 countries will be in action at the Games, which will conclude on September 2.<doc-sep>READ ALSO: JAKARTA: The big question on the eve of the opening of Asian Games here is: Can India improve upon its best-ever gold tally at the continental event? Despite competing in every single Asian Games since its inception in 1951, India has never won more than 15 gold medals in a single Games in the 17 editions of the competition so far.India's best - 15 gold - came in the first edition 67 years back when it ushered in the Games by hosting it in Delhi at the National Stadium. Since then, Indians have struggled to come near that mark, the exceptions being the 2010 Guangzhou Games where the country won 14 gold medals and the 1982 Games at home, where it won 13 gold.Over the years, India has won more gold medals at the Asiad in athletics than any other discipline. The athletes have earned 72 top-place finishes so far. This time too, India would be eyeing a few athletics gold medals. Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra , arguably Asia's best at the moment, will spearhead the challenge at the historic Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, which was the venue of the Games in 1962 as well. Giving him support will be shot putter Tajinder Pal Singh and the women's relay team.The shooters have been India's best medal winners in the last few years but in the absence of several top performers, including the mercurial Jitu Rai , the focus would be on youngsters who have done admirably well in recent times. All eyes would be on Anish Bhanwala and Manu Bhaker who stole the limelight at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year in Gold Coast.Wrestling would look to old war horse Sushil Kumar to deliver, though Bajrang would be India's best bet for a gold medal in this discipline. Sushil, a two-time Olympic medallist, has a surprisingly modest record at the Asian Games, winning just a bronze - in 2006 in Doha. He would be eager to set the record straight in what's likely to be his last Asiad. In women's wrestling, Vinesh Phogat is India's best bet. She won bronze at the Incheon Games four years ago. Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu will lead the shuttlers in the company of Kidambi Srikanth, who despite a dip in form can spring a surprise on his day. India can also claim top-place finishes in kabaddi with both the men's and women's teams expected to win gold without facing much resistance. The men's team has an outstanding record in the sport, winning gold in all the seven editions so far, while the women have won the both the gold since the introduction of the game in Asiad in 2010.Men's hockey team is a firm favourite to retain the title it won four years back, while the women's team, spurred by its their recent march to the quarterfinals in the World Cup, would be looking to secure its maiden Asiad title ahead of the likes of China, Japan and South Korea. Then there are other hopefuls like Dipa Karmakar in gymnastics, Atanu Das in archery, Manika Batra in table tennis, men's and women's squash teams and the boxers.<doc-sep>
The 18th edition of the Asian Games is underway in Indonesia. India have sent a 572-athlete strong contingent, who will be participating in 18 different events. Indian athletes have already clinched six gold medals at the event and would be looking to better their tally from the 2014 Incheon Games, where India won 11 gold medals. Here are the gold medal medal winners for India at Asian Games 2018 so far: Bajrang Punia, wrestling Wrestler Bajrang won India's its first gold medal at the games in the 65kg freestyle category. An in-form Bajrang outclassed Uzbekistan's Sirojiddin Khasanov (13-3), Tajikistan's Fayziev Abdulqosim (12-2) and Mongolia's N Batmagnai Batchuluu (10-0) to storm into the gold medal bout. In the final, he was tested by Japan's Takatani Daichi but the Haryana grappler held his nerve to prevail 10-8 in an exciting battle. Vinesh Phogat, wrestling Vinesh created hsitory after she won the 50kg category final. Vinesh is the first Indian female wrestler to win gold at the Games. Vinesh defeated Japan's Irie Yuki 6-2 in the final to bag the top prize. Saurabh Chaudhary, shooting Saurabh, clinched the top prize in men's 10m air pistol event with Games record of 240.7. The 16-year-old, son of a farmer, became the youngest Indian shooter to strike gold at the games. Rahi Sarnobat, shooting Rahi scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to win a gold medal at the Asian Games as she prevailed in a nervy shoot-off in the 25m pistol event. The 27-year-old got the better of Thailand's Naphaswan Yangpaiboon in a shoot-off after both shot a Games record score of 34 in the finals. Indian rowing team The Indian rowing team clinched the gold medal in the men's Quadruple Sculls final. The Indian rowing team comprising of Sawarn Singh, Dattu Bhokanal, Om Prakash and Sukhmeet Singh crossed the finish line in first place with a time of 6:17.13 to bag the yellow medal. Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan, tennis Bopanna and Sharan won the gold medal in the men's doubles tennis event at the ongoing 18th Asian Games 2018 in the twin cities of Jakarta and Palembang by winning the gold medal match against Kazakhstan's men's doubles pair. Bopanna and Sharan, who were the top seeds in the event, played to their billing throughout the tournament and beat Kazakhstan's Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev 6-3, 6-4 to scoop the top prize in the event.