***********Rio Olympics 2016******************

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Vikas Krishan ousted, Indian boxers sign off without a medal at Rio 2016 Olympics

Vikas Krishan took a pounding from Bektemir Melikuziev in the quarters to bow out, ending India's boxing challenge without a medal in Rio Olympics.

 

Former Asian Games gold-medallist Vikas Krishan (75kg) took a pounding from second seed Bektemir Melikuziev in the quarterfinals to bow out of the Olympic Games here, ending India’s boxing challenge without a medal for the first time in eight years.

With Shiva Thapa (56kg) and Manoj Kumar (64kg) already out of contention, Vikas’ loss drew the curtains on the Indian boxing challenge in the Games.

In fact, it is the second successive time that the male boxers failed to secure a medal given that the 2012 bronze had come through M C Mary Kom (51kg). Vijender Singh (75kg) thus remains the first and only Indian male boxer to have secured an Olympic medal (a bronze in 2008 Beijing Games).

In the quarterfinal contest last night, the seventh-seeded Vikas was simply no match for the world No.3, a World Championships silver-medallist and the reigning Asian champion, a title he won after beating Vikas in the final last year.

The overtly cautious Indian hesitated in opening an attack for most part of the first round while Melikuziev scored at will with his lethal left hand.

The second round was even worse for the Indian as Melikuziev gained firm control of the bout, also using his right jab to good effect.

In fact, one such blow led to Vikas spitting his gum-shield out and even before he could recover, a left hook from Melikuziev had left him dazed.

Such was the power and precision of Melikuziev’s hitting, that two of the judges ruled 10-8 in his favour in the second
round.

Vikas, a former World Championships bronze-medallist, completely lost the plot in the final three minutes, struggling to keep his balance after the pounding he took in the first two rounds.

In the end it was a stroll for the 20-year-old Melikuziev, who was hitting at will against a near stationary Vikas.

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Rio 2016: Wrestler Ravinder Khatri Loses in Men's 85kg Greco-Roman

 

Rio de Janeiro: India's Ravinder Khatri lost to Hungary's Viktor Lorincz by technical superiority in men's Greco-Roman 85kg 1/8 finals on Monday.

The 24-year-old Indian failed to provide any resistance during a 0-9 loss to the World Championship bronze medallist at the Carioca Arena 2 - WR Mat B.

 

Khatri started the first round poorly as he had no answers to the 26-year-old's moves. Leading 4-0, the Hungarian took one more point to seal the first round in two minutes and 55 seconds.

Lorincz then sealed his place at the 1/4 finals, effecting a huge take-down to gain four more points.

Wrestling rules state that if a point gap of 8 or more is established between a grappler and the opponent, the leading contestant wins the bout by technical superiority.

[Kool_SRG]

India’s Day 11 schedule, August 16 in IST, India time: PV Sindhu, Hardeep Singh to be in action

Two Indians will be in action on Day 11 of the Rio 2016 Olympics on Tuesday. Find out what else is in store for you.

 

Day 11 at Rio 2016 Olympics will not feature many Indian athletes. The only two to be in action are PV Sindhu, who will compete in the badminton women’s singles quarter-finals, and Hardeep Singh, who is the lone Indian Greco-Roman wrestler remaining. 

Wrestling Men’s Greco-Roman 98kg

18:30: Hardeep Singh, who won gold at the 2013 Commonwealth Championships, is the lone Indian Greco-Roman wrestler remaining.

 

The Indian contingent’s schedule at the Rio Olympics today:

Wrestling:

Hardeep Singh qualification round in Greco-Roman 98kg - 1830 hours

Badminton:

P.V. Sindhu vs. Wang Yihan (China) in women’s singles quarterfinal - 0325hrs on August 17

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Hardeep Singh

 

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Wrestler Narsingh Yadav's Rio Olympics Campaign Hits Roadblock Again

Narsingh Yadav was given a clean chit by the National Anti-Doping Agency ahead of the Rio Olympics 2016. He will now face a World Anti-Doping Agency hearing on August 18.

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

• 1Narsingh was given permission by NADA to travel to Rio on August 2
• 2Narsingh is India's only entry in 64-kg freestyle wrestling
• 3Narsingh's hearing will be conducted on August 18

Narsingh Yadav's National Anti-Doping Agency clean chit is being reviewed by the World Anti-Doping Agency in Rio. Narsingh is India's only entry in the 64-kg freestyle category in the Summer Games.

WADA has taken Narsingh to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). There will be a hearing on August 18, exactly a day before Narsingh begins his Rio campaign. It has put Narsingh's participation in jeopardy.

On August 2, NADA gave the dope-tainted wrestler a clean chit to travel to Rio. There was a hearing at the Games Village on Tuesday. It was attended by members of the Indian contingent and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

Narsingh had returned positive for methandienone - a banned anabolic steroid, following which the wrestler cried foul, claiming that the entire episode was a conspiracy against him.

NADA Director General Navin Agarwal read out a statement clearing Narsingh, leading to wild celebrations among his supporters.

"We kept in mind that in the past, till June 2, none of his samples were positive. It was inconceivable that one-time ingestion would be of benefit. Therefore, the panel is of the view that the one-time ingestion was not intentional," Agarwal said.

"The panel concludes that the athlete deserves the benefit of article 10.4 of the NADA's anti-doping code. Keeping in view that he was victim of a sabotage, the panel exonerates the athlete from charges of anti-doping rules of NADA," he added.

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Hardeep Singh loses his Greco Roman bout; waits for repechage result

Hardeep Singh will still have a chance in the repechage if Cenk makes it to the final.

 

India’s Greco Roman wrestler Hardeep Singh lost his opening round bout in the 98 kg category by technical points to Turkey’s Ildem Cenk at the Rio Olympics, here today.

The Turkish wrestler won the bout 2-1 despite a stiff resistance from the 25-year-old Indian. Hardeep will still have a chance in the repechage if Cenk makes it to the final.

The opening round was fought well by Hardeep and he, in fact, was given an advantage by the referee due to passive fighting from the Turk.

While Hardeep pinned his rival to the ground, he failed to do the required flip which would have earned him technical points.

To his horror, in the very next round, it was the Turk’s turn to get an advantage and he did the flip effectively to get the required two points.

In the final round, Hardeep did pull a point back but it wasn’t enough and the 20-year-old opponent came up trumps.

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Cenk İldem Turkey	3
Hardeep Singh India	1

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Artur Aleksanyan Armenia	4
Cenk İldem Turkey	0

 

 Cenk Ildem lost in SF so no chance for Hardeep via Repechage system...Hardeep out of Rio olympics.

[Dustbin]

 

#Hockey: Argentina (World No. 7) storms into Final as they thrash Germany (World No. 3) 5-2 in Semis #Olympics

[k2s]

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PV Sindhu stuns world No.2 Wang Yihan of China, a win away from assuring India a medal

 

India’s P V Sindhu showed remarkable skills to upset world number two Wang Yihan of China in the badminton women’s singles quarter-finals to enter the semi-finals of the Rio 2016 Olympics. Sindhu won the a thrilling, but tiring, match in straight sets (22-20, 21-19) dominating her opponent with attacking play.

With the win Sindhu became only the second Indian women’s player to reach the semi-final of Olympic Games after Saina Nehwal at the 2012 London Games. The tenth seeded Indian displayed a great combination of aggression and defence as Wang tried to gain the upper hand with net play. Sindhu was up to the task and returned most of Wang’s drops and smashes.

The first set was dominated by Wang in the first half as she went into the break leading 11-8, but Sindhu came back stronger and made it 14-14 before running away to a lead of 20-17. Wang made a late comeback to tie it 20-20 but Sindhu kept her cool to win it 22-20. Both players showed great skills and made use of their long reach and height. It was neck-to-neck in the first set. Wang looked a better player, but the momentum shifted in Sindhu’s favour at the end of that set.

Sindhu carried that momentum in the second set and raced to a 8-3 lead and at the break she led 11-8 before Wang showed great defence which frustrated Sindhu. The score was tied 13-13 when Sindhu opened up a five-point advantage. She was running away with the set and led her opponent 18-13 with some brilliant cross-court smashes. Wang was up for a fight and she scored six consecutive points to lead 19-18. That was the last point she scored.

Sindhu directed three shots at Wang’s body and the Chinese netted two of them to give Sindhu the match. Wang’s cross-court drop attempt found the net and Sindhu collapsed to the ground, celebrating the win, and semis berth.

Sindhu is now a win away from assuring India a medal in the women’s singles category. If she wins her semi-final, she plays the gold medal match, which assures at least a silver for India. If she loses, she would have to play a bronze medal play-off with the loser of other semi-final. She plays her semi-final against Nozomi Okuhara of Japan on Thursday.

 

 

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P V Sindhu in to Semis 

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PVSINDHU Beats World #2 & Into Semis Best Wishes For 18th PVSindhu RIO2016 #badminton

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All eyes on shuttler Kidambi Srikanth after PV Sindhu’s inspiring win

Kidambi Srikanth has beaten Lin Dan famously once to win the China Open two years ago, but the Chinese ace has looked unstoppable in past Olympics.

 

Kidambi Srikanth, the centre of attention in the Rio Olympics on Wednesday, can take heart from Hyderabad city mate P V Sindhu for his men’s singles quarterfinal clash against Chinese badminton icon Lin Dan.

Sindhu’s stunning straight-game victory over formidable Chinese shuttler Wang Yihan on day 11 to reach the semis is the ideal morale boost for Srikanth as he confronts two-time Olympic champion Dan. With the memorable win, Sindhu became the second Indian badminton player to reach an Olympic semifinal after Saina Nehwal achieved the feat four years ago.

Sindhu’s highly inspirational 22-20 21-19 victory over the current world no 2 and silver medal winner in London four years ago has boosted the country’s sagging hopes of a medal from the Games.

The 21-year-old Indian now stands just a win away from assuring India an elusive medal at the Games.

However, the task for Srikanth against Dan is formidable as national coach P Gopichand said. “It’s going to be a tough match and he (Srikanth) will give his best. Let’s see how it goes. All past records have no significance. It’s about keeping the momentum,” said Gopi after guiding Sindhu past Wang.

Srikanth has beaten Dan famously once to win the China Open two years ago, but the Chinese ace has looked unstoppable in past Olympics.

Indian athletes, including P T Usha’s protégé Tintu Luka (women’s 800m) and lone woman golfer Aditi Ashok are still in the fray, but India’s receding medal chances now rest mainly on badminton and wrestling.

Tintu would be running in round one of the women’s two-lap race while Aditi will start her campaign in the four-day stroke play golf competition. Also in action are women freestyle grapplers Vinesh Phogat (48kg) and Sakshi Malik (58 kg).

The country’s campaign in the Olympics has been beset by a series of disappointments and controversies.

In fact Sindhu’s superb show against Wang in 54 minutes overshadowed wrestler Narsingh Yadav’s Olympic participation, which was put in doubt after the clean chit given to him by the National Anti-Doping Agency in the dope scandal back home was challenged by world body WADA in the Court of Appeal for Sports.

“WADA has appealed against the NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency) clearance in Court of Arbitration (CAS). Now the hearing is on and the IOA Secretary General (Rajeev Mehta) is there with WADA officials,” Indian contingent’s chef-de-mission Rakesh Gupta told PTI.

If CAS upholds WADA’s appeal Narsingh tomorrow he will not only be able to take part in the 74 kg freestyle competition here but could also face a career-threatening four-year ban. Enduring a disastrous campaign thus far, the medal-less Indian contingent has been pinning its hopes mainly on shuttlers Sindhu and Srikanth, besides its wrestlers – including world championship bronze medal winner Narsingh, to end the drought before the disheartening development.

Eleven days of action has failed to bring India, which won a record six medals in London four years ago, a single podium finish and there’s growing desperation to end this poor run. India’s campaign now has been reduced to four disciplines – track and field, badminton, women’s golf and wrestling – after the flop show put up by the contingent in other sports.

Its woes continued on day 11 today when Hardeep Singh lost 1-2 in his opening encounter against Turkey’s Ildem Cenk in the Greco-Roman 98kg category before Sindhu brought cheer to the camp.

 

 

[Kool_SRG]

India’s schedule in Rio Olympics today Aug 17th

 

K. Srikanth will take on two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan in men's singles quarterfinals

India’s campaign now has been reduced to four disciplines — track and field, badminton, women’s golf and wrestling — after the flop show put up by the contingent in other sports. India’s schedule on Day 12 at the Rio Olympics (all times in IST):

Golf

Women's individual (Aditi Ashok) at 4.00 p.m.

Badminton

Quarterfinals of men's singles (K. Srikanth) at 5.00 p.m.

Wrestling

Women's freestyle 58 kg qualification (Sakshi Malik) at 6.38 p.m.

Women's freestyle 48 kg Round of 16 (Vinesh Phogat) at 6.46 p.m.

Athletics

Women's 800m Round 1 (Tintu Lukka) at 7.39 p.m.