Star boxer Vijender Singh packed a punch while assuring himself of a medal in what proved to be a good outing for Indian pugilists after the country’s wrestlers continued to excel winning four silver and a bronze on the seventh day of competitions in the 20th Commonwealth Games here on Wednesday.
Satyawart Kadian (men’s 97kg freestyle), Bajrang (men’s 61kg), Lalita Sehrawat (women’s 53kg) and Sakshi Malik (women’s 58kg) won a silver each while Navjot Kaur bagged a bronze in women’s 69kg.
In the ring, Vijender outclassed Trinidad and Tobago’s Aaron Prince in men’s 75kg category. The 2008 Olympic bronze medallist won 3-0 on points in a unanimous decision of the three judges.
In boxing, experienced Laishram Sarita Devi and young Pinki Jangra reached the semifinals of the women’s light (57-60kg) and 51kg respectively.
World No. 3 L Devendro Singh outclassed Aqeel Ahmed of Scotland to advance to the medal round and so did Mandeep Jangra.
Sarita Devi, the 32-year-old from Manipur, came from behind to outsmart Charlene Jones of Wales 3-1 in a hard-fought quarterfinal bout.
She will next take on Mozambique’s Maria Machongua in the semifinals on Friday.
Athletics: Gowda puts up an impressive show In athletics, Vikas Gowda put up an impressive show and finished on top in the qualifying to seal his place in discus throw final while Sahana Nagaraj also made it to the final round in women’s high jump event.
Gowda, who is India’s first ever CWG medallist in discus throw, managed a distance of 64.32m in his first attempt and was way ahead of second-placed Apostolos Parellis (61.91m) from Cyprus and Jamaica’s Chad Wright (61.08m).
In women’s javelin throw final, India’s Annu Rani finished eighth in a field of 12 with a best effort of 56.37m, well below the season’s best of 58.83m.
Paddlers make it to the quarters India's mixed doubles table tennis pair of Sharath Kamal and Shamini Kumaresan advanced to the quarter-finals on Thursday.
The Indian duo recorded a hard fought 11-6, 8-11, 4-11, 13-11, 11-7 win over Australian pair David Powell and Jian Fang Lay in the Round of 16.
In squash, after her giant-killing act against World No.1 Nicol David and her partner in women’s doubles, India’s Dipika Pallikal teamed up with Sourav Ghosal to notch up a straight-game win over Canada’s Sam Cornett and Shawn Delierre in a mixed doubles Pool E match.
The 22-year-old Pallikal and Ghosal thrashed the 12th seeds from Canada 11-3, 11-2 to top pool E, which also has Sri Lanka.
Earlier in the day, Pallikal and Joshana Chinappa beat the mighty Malaysian pair of Nicol David and Low Wee Wern 11-8, 11-5 in the women’s doubles.
