Olympics: Indian Women Keep Alive Dream Of More Medals; Hockey Team Disappoints

Tokyo: Four days have passed since Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal, but India is yet to celebrate another podium finish at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.

And though the Indian women’s hockey team suffered a 1-4 loss against Britain on Wednesday – their third straight defeat – to all but destroy hopes of making the knockout rounds – it’s the eves who are making their presence felt more than the men in various disciplines.

Badminton star PV Sindhu, who won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, outclassed Hong Kong’s NY Cheung 21-9, 21-16 in group J match to qualify for the pre-quarterfinals.

World No. 1 archer Deepika Kumari brushed aside the disappointment of mixed team loss by reaching the quarter finals of the women’s individual competition.

Deepika started her campaign with a comprehensive 6-0 win over Bhutan’s Karma before veing made to sweat in the round of 16. Deepika took the lead before young American Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez fought back spiritedly. She forced a fifth set which Deepika bagged to clinch a 6-4 verdict.

There was good news from the boxing ring, too, as Pooja Rani out-punched Algeria’s Ichrak Chaib to book a place in the women’s 75 kg category.

Competing in her maiden Olympics, two-time Asian champion Pooja dominated her rival from the word go to claim a unanimous 5-0 verdict.

The 30-year-old Indian boxer will next face Olympic bronze-medallist and former world champion Li Qian of China on July 31.

Six-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist MC Mary Kom has made the pre-quarterfinals of women’s 51 kg boxing event, and will fight against Colombia’s Ingrit Valencia on Thursday.