This is India’s first tennis gold in the current edition of Asian Games and overall second medal in the sport. On Thursday, Ankit Raina had bagged bronze medal in women's singles
Palembang: Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan gave India its sixth gold in the ongoing Asian Games in Indonesia.
Rohan-Divij pair defeated Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev 6-3, 6-4 in the men’s doubles tennis final to win gold at Jakabaring Tennis Centre in Palembang on Friday. They took the first set in 25 minutes and the second in 27 minutes.
This is India’s first tennis gold in the current edition of Asian Games and overall second medal in the sport.
GOLD!!!! 💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿
— Mahesh Bhupathi (@Maheshbhupathi)Yesterday, Ankita Raina had settled for bronze in women’s singles after losing her semi-final contest to China’s Zhang Shui.
Overall, this is India's fifth gold in men's doubles at Asian Games. Leander Paes-Mahesh Bhupathi had won back-to-back finals in 2002 and 2006 editions. In 2010, Somdev Devvarman and Sanam Singh topped while India's first doubles gold came in 1994 when Gaurav Natekar and Paes won.
This year, Paes shocked the Indian contingent when he pulled out of the Games saying that he did not get a "specialist" doubles partner.
"It is with a heavy heart that I have to say that I will not be playing the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia," the 45-year-old said in a statement, two days before the start of the Games.
"Despite my repeated requests, from so many weeks in advance, it is sad that we have not been able to put a doubles specialist in the team for a credible second doubles pairing for the Asian Games," he added.
Earlier today, Indian rowers won one gold and two bronze medals.
Meanwhile, in shooting, India's Heena Sidhu took bronze with a score of 219.2 in women's 10m air pistol event. Manu Bhaker finished fifth. China's Qian Wang won gold with a Games record of 240.3. Korea's Minjung Kim clinched silver with a score of 237.6.
Marvellous shooting by !
Making a brilliant come back in the finals, she secures a 🥉medal in 10 m Air pistol event in ! pic.twitter.com/xglLvuBpBY
So far, India has claimed 23 medals with six gold, four silver and 13 bronze. The nation is in seventh place in the medals table.
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