Day 8, Tokyo Olympics LIVE: Sindhu Loses SF, Bronze Match Tomorrow
2020 Tokyo Olympics: Kamalpreet Kaur reaches discus final. Women's hockey team in contention for the quarterfinals.
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PV Sindhu Faces Stern Test in Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying
All eyes will be on PV Sindhu when she takes on Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying in the women's semi-finals today at 3.20 pm. Sindhu stormed into her second successive Olympics semi-final on Friday after a thrilling 21-13, 22-20 victory over fourth seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan.
Sindhu will be eyeing the much-coveted gold medal but will face a stern test in Tzu-Ying, ranked No.1 in the world, who also has a competitive advantage over Sindhu, leading their head-to-head count 13-5. The last time the two players met was in BWF Tour Finals in 2020, where Sindhu lost the match 21-19, 12-21, 17-21.
Sindhu, who has won all her games in straight sets so far, had reached the finals in 2016 but had lost to Spain's Carolina Marin and had to settle for silver. Marin had opted out of the games due to an ACL injury.
Archer Atanu Das will face Japan's Takaharu Furukawa in his Round of 16 match at 7.18 am. Das had stunned Korean great and London Olympic gold medalist Oh Jinhyek in his last match.
Boxer Pooja Rani will face Qian Li of China in the Women's Middle (69-75 kg) Quarter-final match at 3.36 pm. Meanwhile, Amit Panghal will take on Colombia's Yuberjen Herney Martinez Rivas in the Men's Fly (48-52kg) Round of 16 match at 7.30 am.
The women's hockey team will face South Africa in their last group match at 8.45 am and still have a chance of making it to the quarter-final.
Shooters Tejaswini Sawant and Anjum Moudgil will be in action in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women's Qualification round at 8.30 am.
Day 8 Live
Very good morning to all. Welcome to The Quint's live coverage of Day 8 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Athletics: Seema Punia is 6th in the Women's Discus Throw Qualification Group A round. 64.00 is the qualifying mark to make the final. Her first attempt was a foul throw. In the second attempt, she recorded 60.57m. Her third attempt finished at 58.93. The top 12 from the two groups make it to final. Kamalpreet Kaur set to begin.
Archery: Atanu Das's Round of 16 match against Japan's Takaharu Furukawa begins.
Das will the 1st shot. Fires a 9. Furukawa too starts with a 9. An 8 for Das in his 2nd. Furukawa records 9. Another 8 for Das. Finishes Set 1 at 25. 3rd 9 for Furukawa. Finishes at 27.
Wins Set 1 27-25. Goes 2-0 up.
Archery: Atanu to begin Set 2. Starts with a solid 10. Furukawa answers with a 9. A 9 for Das in his 2nd shot as Deepika cheers him on from the stands. A 9 for Furukawa as well. Das fires a 9 in his 3rd shot. Furukawa finishes with a 10. It's a tie. 28-28. A point each for both. Furukawa in the lead 3-1.
Archery: Das begins Set 3 with a 10. A low 8 for Furukawa. Another 10 for Das. A 10 for Furukawa this time around. An 8 for Das in his 3rd shot. Furukawa manages a 9. Das wins Set 3 28-27. Score is at 3-3.
Archery: Das fires a 9 in his 1st shot. Furukawa too fires a 9. A 10 for Das in his 2nd. Furukawa too fires a 10. Das finishes with a 9. Furukawa too fires a 9. Another tied set. 28-28. A point each for both. 4-4 as we go into Set 5. What an intense match!
Archery: Das starts with a 9. A 9 for Furukawa as well. An 8 for Das in his 2nd shot. Furukawa takes the lead with a 10. Das finishes Set 5 with a 9 at 26. Furukawa fires an 8. Finishes at 27.
Wins the set 27-26 and the match 6-4. Das' journey ends. Furukawa advances to the quarter-finals.
Boxing: Amit Panghal is facing Colombia's Yuberjen Herney Martinez Rivas in the Men's Fly (48-52kg) Round of 16 match. Amit, in red, won the first round 4-1 on split decision. Round 2 is currently going on.
Boxing: Panghal seems to be in trouble in Round 2. Four of the five judges award the round to Rivas.
Boxing: Round 3 begins. Rivas at his attacking best. Moving confidently on his feet. Almost knocks out Panghal. Match halted as Panghal needs medical attention. A barrage of attacks on Panghal. Panghal ducks. Less than a minute left. Rivas raises his hands at the finish. He knows he has won. He brought out his best in Round 3. As expected, wins Round 3 and the match on split decision, 4-1.
BREAKING: Simone Biles withdraws from Sunday’s individual event finals in vault and uneven bars. She is yet to decide if she will participate in Monday’s final in floor and Tuesday’s in beam.
Athletics: Kamalpreet Kaur records 60.29 in her first attempt in the Women's Discus Throw Qualification Group B round. Currently on her second attempt. Record 63.97m in her second attempt. Is currently ranked 2nd. 64.00 is the qualifying mark to make the final. The top 12 from the two groups will make it to the final.
Golf Update: India's Anirban Lahiri finished Round 2, ranked T21, at 3-under par with the total score of 139. Udayan Mane finished Tied-56th 3-over par overall with a total score of 145. He had a much better round 2 of 2-under. Round 3 is currently underway.
Athletics: Kamalpreet Kaur qualifies for the final in the Women's Discus Throw event. Records an exact 64.0m in her third attempt. She had recorded a 63.97m in her second attempt, which was slightly below the qualifying mark of 64.00. The final is scheduled for Monday, 4.30pm IST.
Earlier, Seema Punia finished with 60.57m and is officially out of contention for the final.
Athletics: An impressive performance by Kamalpreet Kaur. Only the second person today to meet or cross the 64.0m qualification mark.
Shooting: Tejaswini Sawant and Anjum Moudgil will be in action in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women's Qualification round. There will be four series of 10 shots each in three positions: Kneeling, Prone and Standing. The top 8 will qualify to the final, scheduled later in the day. The qualification round has to be completed within a total of 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Shooting: Sawant starts Series 1 of Kneeling position with 3 9s, 5 10s, a 9 and 2 10s. Finishes with a 97.
Moudgil starts with 3 10s, a 9 in the 4th, 6 10s in a row for her. Finishes with a strong 99.
Hockey: Indian women's final group stage match against South Africa begins. And a PC for India in the very first minute. Gurjit Kaur takes the aerial Drag-Flick route but the shot is saved. 0-0. A video referral. India might have another PC and they do. Gurjit again. Hits the South African defender's foot. Another referral. 3rd in two minutes. An attacking start by India.
Hockey: India still has a chance of making it to the quarter-finals. All to play for. Referral still going on. No advice possible. A long corner for India. Goal for India. Take the lead 1-0. Great attacking play. It's Vandana Katariya from a close range.
Hockey: India have started the game really well. Clearly on the front foot. India need a good win here, which will put pressure on Ireland, for a place in the quarter-finals. South Africa coming back in the game.
Shooting: Moudgil finishes Series 2 with a 98, comprising 8 10s and 2 9s. Moudgil finishes Series 3 with a 96 - 10, 10, 9, 9, 10, 10, 9, 9, 10, 10 and Series 4 with a 97 - 9, 10, 10, 10, 9, 10, 10, 10, 9, 10. Moudgil finishes Kneeling position with a total score of 390. Is currently ranked 19th.
Sawant manages a 92 in Series 2 with 3 10s, 6 9s and 1 8. A better performance by Sawant in Series 3. Finishes with 98 - five 10s in a row, a 9, two 10s, a 9 and 2 10s. Sawant scores a 97 in Series 4 with 8 10s and 3 9s. Finishes with a total score of 384. Is placed 34th.
Hockey: A long corner for South Africa and they have scored through Tarryn Glasby's deflection. However, it is an umpire's referral. It's a goal. 1-1. Just 30 seconds left in Q1. A PC for India now. 4.5 seconds left. Gurjit Kaur takes the shot but it is saved by the defender. The hooter goes off. Plenty of drama and action in Q1.
Hockey: Q2 begins. India need an emphatic win. Slim chance for them to make it to the quarters. A fourth PC for India. India's conversion rate has been poor in the tournament. But this time it is a GOALLL! India score. Vandana Katariya it is again. India back in front. But another review. The goal stands. 2-1.
Hockey: Another PC for India. Off the foot of the defender. Two good saves by the goalkeeper. Another PC for India. Good save again. A long corner for India now. Still 2-1. India on the attack again. Neha shoots at goal. Good save again by the goalkeeper. Should have been 3-1 though.
Hockey: There have been 6 PCs for India in the game so far. And now a first PC for South Africa. Chance for them to equalise. And they have. 2-2. Erin Hunter puts it in after a deflection. Hooter goes off. Half-time.
Shooting: Prone Series going on currently. A 98 for Moudgil in series 1 with 8 10s and 2 9s. Sawant starts Series 1 on a strong note as well with a score of 99, consisting of 9 10s and one 9.
Hockey: Q3 begins. Can India manage a big win? South Africa have come from behind twice. 2-2. A clash of heads and South Africa no. 28 Bobbs is down. Is walking off the field. A PC has been won by India. South Africa have asked for a referral. SA lose referral. No change in decision. PC stands.
Hockey: GOALLLL! 3-2 lead for India. The ball is passed to Neha who deflects it home.
A green card for Lalremsiami. Out for two minutes.
Hockey: 3-3 now. South Africa have equalised again. Marizen Marais with the goal. They have comeback from behind for the 3rd time. A green card for Monika now. She is out for two minutes. After an attacking start, India has allowed South Africa to be back in the game thrice! Disappointing!
Anyway, a green card for Bobbs. Advantage for India.
Hockey: South Africa on the attack again. A green card for Lilian du Plessis now. Final 20 seconds of Q3. Hooter goes off. 3-3.
India is placed 4th in Group A, behind Ireland, who like India, has won one match and lost three. India has a poor goal difference though of -8. That's why they need a win here by a handsome margin. Ireland still has a game left. If this game ends in a draw, India will move to fourth place with 4 points. Then only an Ireland loss will guarantee a QF spot for India.
Hockey: Q4 begins. A PC for South Africa. They fail to convert. Another PC for South Africa. Well blocked by Nisha. A PC for India now. Saved. India have asked for a referral. Referral has been kept. Another PC for India.
Hockey: GOALLLL! India take the lead for the fourth time. 4-3. It is Vandana Katariya again. Three goals for her. Gurjit takes the drag-flick and Vandana deflects it in.
Hockey: Great run by Sharmila Devi. But the defender saves it. India on the attack again. A PC for India again. Still 4-3. A PC for South Africa now. Being checked. India keep the referral. PC not given. Free hit for India.
Hockey: Less than a minute left now. India surging forward. Leading 4-3. Hooter goes off. INDIA WIN 4-3. Vandana with a hat-trick - the first hat-trick ever for the Indian women's hockey team in the Olympics. Good show by South Africa as well. Came back thrice in the match.
Hockey: India move to fourth spot with six points. Now they must wait for the result of the Ireland vs Great Britain match. A draw or loss for Ireland will help India reach the quarter-finals. A win for Ireland will see India being knocked-out of the tournament as Ireland has a better goal difference.
Shooting update: Both Anjum Moudgil and Tejaswini Sawant have finished the Prone Series.
Moudgil started with a 98 in series one, posted a perfect 100 in series 2, and followed it up with 98 and 98 in series 3 and 4. Finishes with a total score of 395 in the prone series. Had scored 390 in the kneeling position.
Her total score is 869 after the first two positions and she is currently placed 10.
Sawant finished the prone series with a total score of 394 - 99, 98, 99, 98. She had managed a 384 in kneeling position. Her total score is 880 and she is currently placed 27th.
The top eight shooters will qualify to the final.
Shooting: Moudgil finishes series one of the standing position with a 94. Her first shot is a poor 8. Follows it up with 2 9s, 4 10s, a 9 and a 10.
Sawant too finishes series with a 94 - 9, 10, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 9, 10.
Shooting: Moudgil finishes series two of the standing position with a score of 96 - 9, 10, 9, 10, 10, 10, 9, 9, 10, 10. Currently on series 3.
Sawant finishes series two with a disappointing 93 - 8, 10, 9, 10, 8, 9, 10, 10, 10, 9.
Equestrian Update: India's Fouaad Mirza and his horse Seigneur Medicott stand tied 9th in the rankings following the end of all Equestrian Dressage sessions. They will be in action tomorrow in the Individual Cross Country event.
Shooting: Moudgil finishes series three of the standing position with a score of 95 - 9, 9, 10, 9, 10, 10, 10, 9, 9, 10.
Sawant also posts a score of 95 in series three - 9, 9, 9, 10, 9, 10, 9, 10, 10, 10. Just series four left now.
Shooting: Moudgil starts series four with six 10s in a row, follows it up a low 8, two 10s and a final 9. Finishes at 97. Takes her total score in the standing position to 382. Finishes the kneeling (390), prone (395) and standing (382) positions with a total of 1167. Is currently at 15th place.
Meanwhile, Sawant finished her series four with a 94. Manages a total of 376 in standing position. Her final score after the three positions (384, 394, 376) is 1154. Currently placed 33rd.
The top 8 will qualify to the final.
Shooting: India's Anjum Moudgil and Tejaswini Sawant have failed to make it to the 50 m Rifle 3 Position Women's final.
Moudgil finished 15th with a total score of 1167- kneeling position (390), prone position (395) and standing position (382).
Sawant finished 33rd with a final score of 1154 (384, 394, 376).
The top eight shooters qualified to the final.
Live Updates from Day 8 to Continue at 3.20 pm With PV Sindhu's Semifinal Match
We will be back for PV Sindhu's semi-final match against Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying at 3.20 pm. A win would guarantee a medal, India's third, for Sindhu.
That will be followed by Boxer Pooja Rani's quarter-final match against Qian Li of China in the Women's Middle (69-75 kg) category at 3.36 pm.
The men's long jump event will start at 3.40 pm where India's M Sreeshankar will be in action.
Round three of men's golf and race 10 of the men's skiff 49er event are currently going on.
No Bronze for Djokovic in Singles
The Serbian Novak Djokovic misses out on a Bronze medal after being beaten 4-6, 7-6, 3-6 by Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain in the Men's singles event. Djokovic was also knocked out of the mixed doubles semi-finals yesterday.
Sailing: India's KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar finish the men's skiff 49-er event in 17th place. They had finished 16th in race 10, 9th in race 11 and 14th in race 12.
Up Next:
PV Sindhu's women's singles semi-final match against Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying. World No. 1 Tai Tzu Ying has a competitive advantage over Sindhu, leading their head-to-head count 13-5. The last time the two players had met was in BWF Tour Finals in 2020, where Sindhu lost the match 21-19, 12-21, 17-21.
Sindhu, who has won all her games in straight sets so far, had reached the finals in 2016 but had lost to Spain's Carolina Marin and had to settle for silver. Marin had to opt out of the Tokyo games due to an ACL injury.
Badminton: PV Sindhu's match will begin after the first semi-final match between Chen Yu Fei and He Bing Jiao, which is currently in its third game. Both have won a game each, with Chen leading the third 9-5.
If Sindhu wins her match, she will become the third player after Bang Soo-Hyun of Korea and Zhang Ning of China to play back to back finals.
Boxing: Boxer Pooja Rani's quarter-final match against Qian Li of China in the Women's Middle (69-75 kg) category will begin soon.
Athletics: India's M Sreeshankar is currently in action in the Men's Long Jump Qualification - Group B. The qualifying mark is 8.15. The athletes will get three attempts each.
Boxing: Pooja Rani's quarter-final match against Qian Li, the 2018 world champion, in the Women's Middle (69-75 kg) category begins. Pooja is in red. The winner is assured a medal. Good start by Pooja. Swift footwork by Li though. Li gets in a couple of punches. Pooja too responds with one. End of Round 1. The judges unanimously award the round to Li.
Boxing: Round 2 begins. Li seems to be in full control. Pooja needs to up her game. Gets in a couple of body punches. Li though is dominating the fight. A barrage of punches by Li. Her accuracy is amazing. Result seems inevitable. Pooja Rani seems to have no answer. Judges unanimously award Round 2 to Li as well. It was expected.
Boxing: Round 3 begins. Li moving briskly on her feet. Pooja gets in a couple of punches. Li responds with a sharp punch. It is a one-sided affair. End of Round 3 and the match. A 5-0 win for Li. It wasn't a close match.
Badminton: PV Sindhu's women's singles semi-final match against Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying begins. Tai wins the first point. Sindhu responds with a lovely smash. Leading 3-2 thanks to errors from Tai. Excellent start by Sindhu. Slowly widening the lead. Sindhu's places a cross-court smash, which leaves Tai diving sideways. 5-2.
Badminton: Tai loses five consecutive points. A superb body-smash by Sindhu. 7-3. Errors continue for Tai. 8-4. Sindhu leading 8-5 now. A good backhand by Tai. Fantastic placement. Out of Sindhu's reach. Excellent net work by Tai. It's 11-8 in favour of Sindhu at the first mid-game break.
Badminton: Clever smash by Tai. All about the angle. Slowly coming back in the game. 11-11. Three straight points for Tai. Tai's wristwork at the net has been impeccable. Sindhu needs to attack a little more. Tai seems to have the momentum right now. Sindhu equalises. 13-13 and let's out a loud scream.
Badminton: A body smash by Tai. 14-14. An extremely tight match. Sindhu guides it cross-court. Good pace by her. Takes the lead. 15-14.
Another crosscourt shot by Tai. Sindhu stretches but is unable to reach it. Intelligent play. Attacking play by Tai. Sindhu does well to get to it but Tai finishes it off with a smash. 18-18 now. Tai takes the lead with an excellent drop shot. Game point for Tai now. Wins the first game with a smash. 21-18. Goes 1-0 up.
Badminton: Game 2 begins. A couple of smashes for Sindhu. Goes up 2-1. An aggressive start. Tai smashes to make it 2-2. Sindhu smash goes out of the court. But manages to take back the lead. Three drop shots in a row by Tai.
A challenge by Sindhu. Loses it. Sindhu smashes it out again. Four straight points for Tai. Leading 7-4. What a superb reply by Sindhu. Smashes it out of Tai's reach. Cross-court smash. 7-5. Too many unforced errors from Sindhu. Tai widening the leading. 10-6. It's 11-7 in Tai's favour at the second mid-game break.
Badminton: What a smash by Tai. Widens the lead to six points. An aggressive Sindhu replies with a smash of her own which is too good for Tai. A cross-court smash from Tai now. Using the angles well. A body smash followed by a clear. An 8-point gap between the two. Tai leading 16-8. An error by Tai followed by a nice return by Sindhu. But Tai returns with a drop shot. A crosscourt clear makes it 18-10. An error by Tai. 18-11. An unforced error by Sindhu. 20-12. And Tai finishes it off with a cross court smash. Tai Tzu Ying wins it 21-18, 21-12. A straight set loss for her.
Badminton: PV Sindhu will now fight for bronze tomorrow against China's He Bing Jiao at 5pm.
Athletics: Sreeshankar finishes 13th in the Men's Long Jump Qualification round. He managed a 7.69 in his first attempt, a 7.51 in his second and a 7.43 in his third. His best of 7.69 is not enough to qualify for the final. The qualification mark was 8.15.
Kamalpreet Kaur, Women's Hockey Team Only Ones To Advance on a Disappointing Day for India
Overall, it was a disappointing Day 8 for India. Kamalpreet Kaur stole the show today by qualifying for the women's discus final with a throw of 64.0m. The only other success came from the women's hockey team, who won 4-3 against South Africa and still have a chance of making it to the quarter-finals.
Archer Atanu Das was knocked-out in the round-of-16. Boxer Pooja Rani was ousted in the quarter-final, while Amit Panghal too lost his round-of-16 match. Shooters Tejaswini Sawant and Anjum Moudgil failed to make it to the 50m rifle 3 positions final. Long-jumper M Sreeshankar finished 13th in the long jump qualifications event.
Archer Atanu Das loses Round of 16 match 6-4
Boxer Amit Panghal's knocked out in Round of 16 match
Kamalpreet Kaur qualifies for women's discus throw final, to be in action next on Monday at 4.30pm IST
Shooters Tejaswini Sawant, Anjum Moudgil fail to make it to final
Women's hockey team win 4-3 vs SA, QF spot depends on Ireland vs GBR result
Boxer Pooja Rani's loses quarter-final match
Long-jumper Sreeshankar fails to qualify for the final
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