Rio Olympics: How India performed on Day 1 of biggest sporting extravaganza
NEW DELHI: With Jitu Rai competing in men’s 10 metre Air Pistol event, a good start from th Indian contingent was expected at the 2016 Rio Olympics.But the Games debutant failed to impress. His failure summed up India’s sagging fortunes at the world greatest sporting spectacle.
The Army man was joined in the casualty ward of Indian sports by Saikhom Mirabai Chanu. The Manipuri weightlifter even failed to register a lift in the clean and jerk round after a disappointing snatch (82kg) round in women`s 48kg category.
Jitu finished a lowly eighth, and disappointment was the order of the day for India. India’s other shooters Ayonika Paul and Apurvi Chandela also failed to impress, both even failing to qualify for the finals in women’s 10m air rifle event.India’s medal hopes from tennis took a telling blow as both the men’s and women’s doubles teams suffered defeats in the first round itself.
Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna were beaten by Polish rivals Marcin Matkowski and Lukasz Kubot, losing 4-6 6-7 (6-8).Women’s double team of Sania Mirza and Prarthana Thombare went down fighting to Shuai Peng and Shuai Zhang of China 6-7 (6), 7-5, 5-7 in first round.
India’s Table Tennis campaign ended on day 1 of competition itself, with all four players losing their respective singles matches.The Indian quartet of Achanta Sharath Kamal, Soumyajit Ghosh, Mouma Das and Manika Batra combined could last only 139 minutes (2 hrs and 19 minutes) in Rio.
But men’s hockey team registered a fighting 3-2 win over Ireland in their opening match, thus breaking 12-year Olympics — their opening group league encounter. Army rower Dattu Baban Bhokanal was the other lone bright spot for India. He qualified for the quarter finals by finishing third in his heat in men’s singles sculls.
