Day 11, Tokyo Olympics LIVE: India to Play for Bronze Medal, Tajinderpal Ousted
2021 Tokyo Olympics Day 11 LIVE Updates: India lost 5-2 to Belgium, will play bronze medal match on 5 August.
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All Eyes on Men's Hockey Team
The Indian men's hockey team will face Belgium in the second semi-final of the Tokyo Olympics at 7 am. The Indian men have been in good form, winning their last four matches, scoring 14 goals. The men-in-blue had finished second in Group A, with four wins from five matches.
Belgium had a similar outing in Group B but had topped the group and had a better goal difference than India. Both teams posted 3-1 victories over Great Britain and Spain in their respective quarter-final matches on Sunday and will go into the semi-final full of confidence.
The difference between the two teams, however, would be their attacking capacity. Belgium scored 26 goals in the group stage alone, while India managed 15. The pressure will be on the Indian defence, which will surely be tested by the Belgian attack. The fact that they will be playing in an Olympic semi-final match after 49 years and have not won an Olympic medal in 41 years will add pressure on the Indian team. Never mind the hopes of a billion people eagerly watching the match back home.
Annu Rani will be seen in action in the Women's Javelin Throw Qualification Round at 5.50 am IST. Also, wrestler Sonam Malik's will compete in the Women's Freestyle 62kg 1/8 Final at 9.12 am IST. Later in the afternoon, Tajinderpal Singh Toor will participate in the Men's Shot Put Qualification Round at 3.45 pm IST.
Good morning and welcome to The Quint's live coverage of Day 11 of the Tokyo Olympics. It's a big day for the men's hockey team, who will take on Belgium in the semi-final. Needless to say, the whole country will be watching and hoping for a spot in the final.
Athletics: Annu Rani, the national record holder, is currently in action in the Women's Javelin Throw Qualification Round. Each athlete will get three attempts each. The qualifying mark is 63. Those who meet that mark or at least the 12 best performers will advance to the final.
Athletics: Annu Rani fails to make it to the Javelin Throw final. Finishes last (14th) in the qualification round. Managed a 50.35m, 53.19m and 54.04m (her best) in her three attempts. It's way below her personal best of 63.24m.
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The much awaited semi-final clash between India and Belgium. Less than 10 minutes to go.
Hockey: The players are out. Time for the national anthems. What a beautiful and historic moment!
Hockey: Hardik started well but the Belgian defenders stopped his attack. First PC of the game. For Belgium. And it's a goal for Belgium. Loick Fanny Luypaert smashes that dragflick in into the bottom left corner of the goal. Belgium go 1-0 up.
Hockey: Still early minutes in the game. Plenty of time left. Though it has been an aggressive start by Belgium. A freehit for them. Building the pressure. Wave of attacks going on. The Indian team needs to compose itself. Seem a bit rattled after that early first goal.
Hockey: It's a referral from India. And it's a PC for India. Can they equalise?
A variation. A reverse shot and a second PC for India.
AND GOAL!!!! HARMANPREET LEVELS THIS GAME. 1-1. Smashes it in into the bottom corner. Game on!
Hockey: GOAL!!!! INDIA TAKE THE LEAD. A BRILLIANT GOAL BY MANDEEP SINGH WITH A REVERSE TOMAHAWK. A quick referral to check it. A goal it is. Scored two goals in two minutes. What a match! Now the pressure is on Belgium.
Hockey: Another PC for India. Rupinder Pal Singh's on the pitch for this one. But the Belgian goalkeeper saves it. If only if it was a little lower. A sensational comeback by India. Belgium feeling the pressure. Less than two minutes left.
Hockey: Belgium on the run. But good defending by India. Free hit for Belgium. Hooter goes off. End of Q1. That has been India's quarter. A superb comeback by the Indian team to first equalise and then go 2-1 up. That too in a span of two minutes.
Hockey: Q2 begins. 2-1 lead for India. A win would assure India of a medal. Hopefully, a gold after 41-years!
And as we write this, it's a PC for Belgium. That shot hit the Indian defender's leg. Another PC for Belgium. Catches his own player. And now another PC for Belgium. The shot gets deflected and the Belgian players hits it over the post. Counter-attack by India. Going for their 3rd.
Hockey: Another PC for Belgium. Belgium equalise. 2-2. Alexander Hendrickx it is. Smashes it low down to Sreejesh's right. His 12th goal of the tournament. Belgium back in the game and in their flow now.
Hockey: Smacked in towards the Belgian circle by India. Searching for their third. On the attack. Goalkeeper Vanasch has been brilliant so far. A long corner for India. Chance for India. Mandeep Singh gives a back pass but Dilpreet can't reach the ball. That was close.
India ask for a referral after Mandeep is on the ground. He claims a push. Denied. A long corner for India. They are not very happy with that. Over five minutes remaining in Q2.
Hockey: Belgium on the attack. Hits the Indian defender's foot. A PC for Belgium. No referral left for India. Hendrickx again. Another PC for Belgium. Amit Rohidas smacked hard on the knee. PC denied. Belgium controlling the possession now. 90 seconds remaining in the first half. India on the attack. PC for India. Belgium have not challenged it though.
Hockey: Harmanpreet sends it wide of the target. Still 2-2. Belgium shoot at goal but the shot is high and goes over the post. Or was it a save by Sreejesh? Anyway, the hooter goes off. Half-time. There have been 11 PCs in the match so far, 4 for India and 7 for Belgium. India has had the better of possession though.
Hockey: Q3 begins. All to play for. Opportunity for Belgium but the ball goes to the right of the post. That was close. A long aerial pass by Rupinderpal Singh. Finds the Indian player. That was beautiful! 14 circle penetrations for India as compared to Belgium's 10. Under 10 minutes left in Q3.
Hockey: A less energetic quarter as compared to the first two. It's hot and humid out there. India on the attack now. A PC for India now. Belgium ask for a referral. Still going on. PC stands. Harmanpreet's shot is saved and cleared by the defender. Still 2-2. Five minutes left now.
Hockey: Free Hit for Belgium. Looks like a good attack but the ball is out and wide. Belgium enjoying a bit of territory here. And the hooter goes off. End of Q3.
Hockey: Up next are the most important 15 minutes of the Indian players' life. The players look a little exhausted though. Conditions seem to be harsh. Too hot and humid. And Q4 begins.
India trying to create something here. Nothing comes off it. A green card for captain Manpreet Singh. Belgium have the advantage. Good play in the circle by Belgium. And a PC for them.
Hockey: Hendrickx takes the shot. Another PC for Belgium. Good save by Sreejesh. The ball is still in play. Another PC for Belgium. Goal. Belgium go 3-2 up. Fires it in to the right of Sreejesh. Hendrickx it is. Who else? 13th goal of the tournament for him. Over 10 minutes left. Can India come back?
Hockey: 18 circle penetrations each for India and Belgium. Most of India's came in the first half. Another PC for Belgium. Variation now. Another PC for Belgium. Hendrickx again and Sreejesh saves the day again. Good save. Another PC for Belgium. The Indian players look fatigued. Belgium seem to have lifted their game. And another PC for Belgium. 13th for them. And yet another PC. An umpire referral now. Surnder Kumar was hit on his knew. Still going on. A penlaty stroke it is and Sreejesh looks upset. Goal. Belgium go 4-2 up. Third goal for Hendrickx. 14th goal of the tournament for him.
Hockey: The Indian team needs to raise its game now. Less than 7 minutes left. Momentum is with Belgium. Belgium on the attack again but nothing comes off it. That was close. They are looking for more goals. The Indian team seems a different unit from the first half. Struggling for possession. Belgium again. Sreejesh saves it again. Less than three minutes to go now.
Hockey: Less than two minutes left. India trailing 4-2. Need two quick goals. Last minute now. India going for an attack. Harmanpreet shoots from the left but Vanasch saves it with his legs. And a 5th goal for Belgium. Oh, this is heartbreaking. The Indian player misses the long pass which goes directly to the Belgian player. He passes it to John John Domen who hits it in the empty net as Sreejesh was off. India had an extra onfield player. And the hooter goes off. Belgium win 5-2.
Hockey: Fatigue? Pressure? Mindset? Whatever it was, the Indian team looked like a completely different team from the one in the first half. Lost 5-2 to Belgium. Belgium upped their game and dominated in the last quarter. Had 14 PCs in the game. The game looked even in the first half.
India will now play in the bronze medal match against the loser of the Australia-Germany match on Thursday, 5 August.
Women’s wrestling: Sonam Malik begins India’s campaign against Mongolia's Bolortuya Khurelkhuu from Mongolia.
Women's Wrestling: Sonam starts with a point for pushing Khurelkhuu out of bounds. Leading 1-0 after the first round. Gets a drive out again in the second round. Sonam takes the lead 2-0. Less than a minute to go. Just 20 seconds left now. The Mongolian manages a 2-pointer and is in the winning position. Khurelkhuu wins on countback. She had scored the highest score through one move. Sonam can still be in contention for a bronze medal in the repechage round later. Slim chances of that happening though. And it's official. No repechage round for Sonam, which means it's all over for her on her Olympic debut.
A record-breaking race!
Athletics: Norway's Karsten Warholm smashed his own world record, clocking 45.94 in the men's 400m hurdles final.
USA's Benjamin Rai, who won a silver medal, beat Warholm's old record of 46.70 and created a North American record of 46.17.
Brazil's Alison dos Santos won bronze and created a South American record 46.72.
British Virgin Islands' Kyron McMaster (4th) created a national record of 47.08.
Qatar's Abderrahman Samba (5th) clocked his season best timing of 47.12.
Turkey's Yasmani Copello (6th) equalled the national record with 47.81, while Estonia's Rasmus Magi (7th) created a new national record as well, clocking 48.11.
Up Next:
Tajinderpal Singh Toor will compete in the men's shot put qualification at 3.45 pm IST.
PM Modi to Invite Indian Olympic Contingent to Red Fort on Independence Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will invite the Indian Olympics contingent as special guests at the Red Fort on Independence Day. The prime minister will also invite all the Olympic participants to his residence for an interaction, in addition to the programme at Red Fort, news agency ANI reported.
Simone Biles Wins Bronze
Artistic Gymnastics: USA's Simone Biles, with a score of 14.000, has won a bronze medal in the women's balance beam event. China's Tang Xijing won the silver medal and her fellow athlete Guan Chenchen won the gold medal. Biles had withdrawn from several competitions last week to focus on her mental health.
Men's Shot Put: Tajinderpal Singh Toor to start first. His personal best, which also happens to be his season best and the Indian national record, is 21.49m. A qualifying performance 21.20m or the 12 best performers in both the groups will advance to the final.
Men's Shot Put: The athletes are warming-up at the moment. 26-year-old Tajinderpal Singh Toor just about ready to get going. He starts with 19.99m in his first attempt. Two more attempts to go.
Seven athletes are done with their first throws. Tajinderpal Singh Toor is currently second on the table with a throw of 19.99m.
Men's Shot Put: Tajinderpal Singh Toor moves to no.3 after Brazil's Darlan Romani registers a score of 21.00. Four more athletes are left with their first attempts.
Men's Shot Put: All athletes have finished their first attempts. Tajinderpal Singh Toor is currently 6th with a throw of 19.99m.
He is now getting ready for his second attempt. It's much shorter than his previous attempt. In fact, it is an invalid attempt. Just one more attempt left for him.
Reminder: 21.20m is the qualifying mark. So far no athlete has managed to cross it. Brazil's Darlan Romani tops the table with a throw of 21.00m.
Tajinderpal moves further down the table. Is 9th now.
Men's Shot Put: Brazil's Darlan Romani becomes the first athlete to qualify for the final. He registers a 21.31m in his second attempt. Tajinderpal is 11th now.
Second attempts are over. Tajinderpal singh Toor is currently 12th on the table. Eleven athletes have registered a better score than Tajinderpal's 19.99m and have crossed 20.0m. A qualification in the final looks extremely difficult for him now.
Men's Shot Put: Tajinderpal Singh Toor getting ready for his third attempt. It is an illegal throw. His best throw, which was his only valid throw, is 19.99m. Disappointing. Is 13th on the table. And his Olympic journey has come to an end.
Disappointing Day 11 for India
Tuesday, 3 August, was a disappointing day for India. The biggest heartbreak came in the form of men's hockey team's 5-2 loss against Belgium in their semi-final match. However, they still have chance at the bronze medal tomorrow, when they take on the loser of the Australia-Germany match.
Earlier, Annu Rani failed to enter the Women's Javelin Throw final. Wrestler Sonam Malik also lost her Freestyle 62kg Round of 16 match. Later in the day, Tajinderpal Singh Toor failed to make the Men's Shot Put final by finishing 13th.
Annu Rani fails to make the Women's Javelin Throw final
India lose 5-2 to Belgium in SFs, to play for Bronze on 5 August
Wrestler Sonam Malik loses Freestyle 62kg Rd of 16 match
Tajinderpal Singh Toor finishes 13th, fails to make the Men's Shot Put final
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