Ganesh Mani Ratnam beats Sahil Jadhav to enter archery quarterfinals
Ganesh Mani Ratnam defeats Sahil Jadhav in an all-Indian clash to reach the compound archery quarterfinals at the Asian Games.
In a high-stakes all-Indian showdown at the Asian Games, Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru emerged victorious over compatriot Sahil Jadhav to secure his spot in the men’s compound individual quarterfinals. The intense battle in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, saw both archers push each other to the absolute limit before Ratnam clinched a narrow 149-148 win.
A nail-biting all-Indian clash
The round of 16 contest was a test of nerves and precision. Both athletes displayed exceptional accuracy throughout the match, keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats. However, it was Ratnam who showed superior composure in the final stages to edge out Jadhav. This victory marks a significant milestone for the archer, who previously advanced to this stage by defeating Indonesia’s Sostar Andaru Rinaldi with a score of 144-142 in the round of 32.
Sahil Jadhav’s journey in the individual competition ends here, though he had a strong start to the tournament by defeating Mongolia’s Jamiyangombo Purevdorj 149-137 in the earlier rounds. With Jadhav's exit, Ganesh Mani Ratnam now stands as the sole Indian representative remaining in the men's individual compound draw.
Upcoming challenges and Indian dominance
Ratnam’s quest for glory continues on October 1, where he will face Chen Chieh-lun from Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals. His progression comes amidst a period of strong performance for the Indian archery contingent. Earlier on Sunday, all five Indian teams—including the men's and women's recurve and compound teams, as well as the mixed recurve team—successfully advanced to the semifinals.
Other major action on Day 9
As the games intensify, several other Indian athletes are vying for medals across various disciplines:
- Cricket: The Indian men's cricket team faces Afghanistan in a crucial quarterfinal as they aim to defend their 2023 Hangzhou gold.
- Athletics: High-profile contests include Avinash Sable in the 3000m steeplechase, Murali Sreeshankar in the long jump, Yash Vir Singh and Rohit Yadav in the javelin throw, and Gulveer Singh in the 1500m.
- Boxing: Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain faces South Korea's Seong Suyeon in the women's 75kg quarterfinals.
- Shooting: Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Rahi Sarnobat are competing in the women's 25m pistol qualification.
In other results, India's Sivaraj Babu was eliminated from the men's shortboard surfing competition after a 7.83-11.50 loss to the Philippines' Alciso Jayuard.