Asian Games: Bajrang Punia wins 1st gold medal for India

A dominating Bajrang Punia opened India's gold medal account by defeating Japan's Daichi Takatani 11-8 in the final of Men's Freestyle 65 kg. category. This brought relief to the Indian camp which was jolted by the early exit of star wrestler Sushil Kumar yesterday.  Sushil lost his qualification bout 3-5 to Bahrain's Adam Batirov in the 74 kg. category. 

India opened its medal account  with a bronze by Apurvi Chandela and Ravi Kumar in rifle mixed team shooting event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Bajrang Punia for winning the first Gold for India at the Games and wished him future success. The Prime Minister also congratulated Indian shooters, Apurvi Chandela and Ravi Kumar, for winning the country its first medal in the Asian Games. In women's Hockey, India beat Indonesia 8-nil to start off on a superb note. Men's team will be in action against Indonesia today.

In Kabaddi, the Indian Men's and Women's teams also began their campaigns on a winning note.  The Men's team beat Bangladesh



50-21 in the morning and humbled Sri Lanka 44-28 in the evening. The Indian eves defeated Japan 43-12.

 In Swimming, Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj qualified to their respective Finals. In Rowing, Om Prakash and Sawarn Singh qualified to the Men's Double Sculls Finals with a first place finish in the heats. Malkeet Singh and Gurinder Singh also qualified to the Final in Men's Pair event. In Badminton, the Indian Men's team, led by world number eight Kidambi Srikanth, defeated the Maldives, 3-0 to enter the quarter-finals.In Tennis, Divij Sharan and Karman Kaur Thandi won  6-4, 6-4 over Capadocia and Lim of Philippines. However, India lost in women's basketball, volleyball ,  handball and Sepaktakraw.

China tops the medals tally with 16, including 7 gold. Japan is second in the tally with 13 medals, including 3 gold. Korea getting 8 medals, including 2 gold , is at third spot.  India is in sixth position with 2 medals, including one gold.