A brittle defence let India down and led to their 0-3 loss to Japan in women's hockey at the Asian Games here on Tuesday.
Japan outclassed an unimpressive India in the first half, scoring two field goals through captain Miyuki Nakagawa (10th minute) and Chiba Kaori (31). The Japanese withstood India's sporadic moves to score in the second half but Arai Mazuki (69) sneaked in one more goal at the stroke of the hooter.
The loss pushed India to fourth place in the seven-team competition, with three points in two matches.
Shooters off target
After their glory in the CWG, the Indian shooters drew a blank for the second day running with the pistol markswomen way off target. The women's trio of Rahi Sarnobat, Annu Raj Singh and Anisa Sayyed flopped in the 25-m pistol event and failed to qualify for the final in individual, finishing a disappointing seventh in the team competition.
Jwala, Ashwini lose
CWG gold medallists Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa lost to second-seeded Chinese Tian Qin and Zhao Yunlei 10-21, 5-21 in the women's doubles pre-quarterfinals. Jwala and Ponappa advanced to the last 16 stage beating Thailand's Savitree Amitrapai and P. Munkitchokecharoen. Even Aparna Balan and Prajakta Sawant lost to Malaysians N.G. Marylen Poauleng and Khe Wei Woon 17-21, 7-21. In women's singles, Aditi Mutatkar beat Thilini Jayasinghe 21-11, 21-19 in first round.
More losses
PTI adds: Prince Herbert Sara Hylem was the lone Indian cyclist to go some distance but his effort was still way short of medal contention as he crashed out in the second round of the men's Keirin repechage here.
Even in pool and carombole India disappointed after Dharmender Lilly lost to Japan’s Joji Kai. In 9-ball pool, Manan Chandra and Alok Kumar lost their respective matches.
More losses
PTI adds: Prince Herbert Sara Hylem was the lone Indian cyclist to go some distance but his effort was still way short of medal contention as he crashed out in the second round of the men's Keirin repechage here.
Even in pool and carombole India disappointed after Dharmender Lilly lost to Japan’s Joji Kai. In 9-ball pool, Manan Chandra and Alok Kumar lost their respective matches.
...but wushu team assures medals
Guangzhou: Indian wushu players had a good day in office at the Asian Games with Bimoljit Singh Mayanglambam winning the bronze and Sandhyarani Devi Wangkhem assuring India of at least a silver in the men's and women's Sanshou 60kg events respectively on Tuesday.
Bimoljit lost his semifinal bout to Mohsen Mohammadseifi of Iran 0-2 but still bagged a bronze at the Nansha Gymnasium here.
The 27-year-old Indian had knocked out Valasith Bouapha of Laos in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinal.
Sandhyarani Devi Wangkhem, meanwhile, beat Paloy Barckkham of Lao 2-0 in the semifinals of the women's sanshou 60 kg event to assure India for a silver. She will next face Azadpour Khadijeh of Iran in the summit clash.
The Indian had beaten Moria Manalu 2-0 in the quarterfinals on Monday. PTI