Gulveer Singh Eyes Third Medal as Athletics, Boxing Headline Day 10
India's Gulveer Singh targets a third medal in the 5000m final as athletics and boxing take center stage on Day 10 of the Asian Games.
India's quest for glory at the Asian Games intensifies as the campaign enters its tenth day. All eyes are on Gulveer Singh, who is poised to chase a third podium finish, while several boxers aim to secure their spots in the finals. With a packed schedule spanning athletics, boxing, shooting, and more, the Indian contingent is looking to significantly boost its medal tally.
Athletics: The Hunt for Glory on the Track
The athletics schedule is headlined by the men's 5000m final, where Gulveer Singh will compete for gold. Having already secured silver medals in the 1500m and 10,000m events, Singh is in prime form to add another medal to his collection. He will be joined in this high-stakes race by compatriot Avinash Sable, who is looking for redemption after narrowly missing the podium in the steeplechase.
The track and field events offer a wide array of opportunities for Indian athletes:
- Pole Vault: Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar will battle in the men's final at 2:50 PM.
- High Jump: Pooja Singh and Supriya Sindigere Basavaraju will compete in the women's final at 3:35 PM.
- Hammer Throw: Tanya Chaudhary and Anushka Yadav will represent India in the women's final.
- 800m Sprints: Pooja will feature in the women's final, while Mohammed Afsal Pulikkalakath contests the men's 800m final.
Relay races also promise high drama, with three Indian teams set to compete in the mixed 4x100m, women's 4x400m, and men's 4x400m finals.
Boxing: Semifinal Showdowns
In the boxing ring, India has already guaranteed at least three bronze medals, but the focus now shifts to securing places in the finals. The matchups are formidable:
- Parveen Hooda faces China's Li Shu in the women's 65kg semifinal at 10:15 AM.
- Ankush Panghal takes on the reigning 75kg world champion, Fazliddin Erkinboev of Uzbekistan, in the men's 80kg semifinal at 11 AM.
- Narender Berwal will challenge Kazakhstan's world champion Aibek Oralbay in the men's +90kg semifinal at 11:30 AM.
Shooting and Team Sports
The shooting range remains a critical battleground. In the women's trap individual final, Neeru Dhanda, Manisha Keer, and Aashima Ahlawat will vie for medals at 10:30 AM. The men's trap final will follow at noon, featuring Kynan Chenai, Ahvar Rizvi, and Shapath Bharadwaj.
In team disciplines, the women's squash team continues its Pool C campaign against Iran, while the men's volleyball team faces a crucial match against Qatar that could determine the leader of Pool C.
Other Key Contests
India's presence is felt across various other arenas:
- Archery: Dhiraj Bommadevara and Neeraj Chauhan begin their men's recurve individual campaigns in the round of 16.
- Tennis: Sumit Nagal and Dhakshineswar Suresh will play their second-round singles matches.
- Surfing: Kishore Kumar Anbarasu seeks to advance to the semifinals following his quarterfinal clash with the Philippines.
As of the end of Day 9, India sits at 12th in the medal standings with a total of 4 gold, 20 silver, and 21 bronze medals. The momentum from Day 10 could be the catalyst for a significant climb in the rankings.