Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day 7 Highlights: Lovlina secures medal for India; Sindhu moves into semis

China back on top

China edge past neighbours and hosts Japan on the seventh day of competitions in the ongoing Games to finish the day at the top of the table with 38 medals, 18 of which are gold. Japan are second with 16 gold, four silver and seven bronze while the United States, the table toppers in London 2012 and Rio 2016, are third with 14 gold, 16 silver and 11 bronze.

Mixed 4x400m relay: Round 1 Heat 2

Muhammad Anas Yahiya, Revathi Veeramani, Subha Venkatesan and Rajiv Arokia are out of the event after finishing last among the eight teams in their heat, in which Poland finish first with a time of 3:10:44, followed by Netherlands and Jamaica. The United States will not be among the teams competing in the finals as they have been disqualified.

Men’s Hockey — Full time: India 5 – Japan 3

Murata’s second goal is a tad too late to mount a rescue for the hosts as India finish with a two-goal lead to register a third win on the trot, and continue their fightback in the men’s campaign after a devastating loss to Australia to enter the quarters with momentum on their side.

Men’s Hockey – India 5 – Japan 3

Already quite the high-scoring encounter, Murata nets his second after firing the ball into the empty goalpost, the Indian custodian Sreejesh having lunged to his right to take the ball out of Tanaka’s possession.

Men’s Hockey – India 5 – Japan 2

This is becoming rather one-sided in the dying minutes of the game, as Gurjant redirects a wide shot from Varun after the Indians are awarded a penalty corner halfway through the final quarter.

Men’s Hockey – India 4 – Japan 2

Nilakanta Sharma enters the scoring sheets, guiding home a cross from Surender Singh, as India bolster their lead over the home team in Q4!

Men’s Hockey – India 3 – Japan 2

End of Quarter 3, with India holding on to their lead at the end of the 45th minute. India were awarded a PC in the dying minutes of the quarter, but fired it wide of the Japanese keeper.

Men’s Hockey – India 3 – Japan 2

India regain their lead almost instantly, as Shamsher gets a deflection through his stick to put the ball safely past the goalkeeper with Nilakanta providing the assist! India back on winning track right now!

Men’s Hockey – India 2- Japan 2

Japan get the equaliser and are back in the game! Kota Watanabe fires into the Indian goal after a spirited attack, breaking through the Indian defence. Despite putting the ball into the goalpost, the referees initially award a PC and upon a second look, confirm that the ball had indeed hit the back of the net and give Japan their second goal instead.

Men’s Hockey – India 2- Japan 1

Quarter 3 is underway with the home team hoping to mount a comeback and edge past the Indians. Just two minutes after start of play, Tanaka’s stick goes flying out of his hand while attempting a shot at the Indian goalpost.

Men’s Hockey – India 2- Japan 1- End of Q2!

Sreejesh makes a good stop to stop Japan from scoring the equaliser, Murata entered the D and had almost pulled off the equaliser. The scorelines is still 2-1 in favour of India at end of second quarter.

Djokovic knocked out!

Novak Djokovic’s hope of becoming the first men’s player to complete a golden slam and only the second since Steffi Graf since 1988 as Alexander Zverev bounced back from a set down to win the semi-final 1-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Zverev will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Karen Khachanov and Pablo Carreno Busta. Djokovic, meanwhile, is still not done with the Games as he will appear in the mixed-doubles semi-final alongside Nina Stojanovic, facing Russians Aslan Karatsev and Elena Vesnina.

Men’s Hockey – India 2- Japan 1

Japan looking to attack in the second quarter, looking for equaliser now after opening account. Murata especially has been running hard, more circle penetrations in this quarter.

Hockey: India 2 – Japan 1

Lovely run there by Tanaka whose hit beats Birender Lakra and the outstretched leg of Sreejesh. Excellent field goal.

Hockey – India 2- Japan 0

Second quarter underway, and India’s relentless pressing has seen them score again! Lovely interplay between Simranjeet and Gurjant, and the latter scores.

Hockey

India’s quarter this. A number of circle entries resulting in a solitary PC that India convert. India came close to doubling their lead, but the Japanese goalkeeper stood tall. Still, India 1 – Japan 0

Hockey

PC for India and Harmanpreet scores! Gurjant with a fine pass inside the D that finds a Japanese defender. India get a PC and Harmanpreet strikes.

Hockey

Chance for Japan, but Tanaka shoots wide. Good, accurate passing finds Tanaka in the D and he lets a reverse hit go. Wide of post though as India breathe easy. 

0-0.

Hockey

Some slick passing by India as they storm the Japanese circle, but their defence holds up. PC coming?

Hockey

India men’s hockey team is up against hosts Japan. The first quarter is underway! Stay tuned for updates

Badminton, Sindhu beats Yamaguchi 21-13, 22-20

Sindhu is through to the semi-final of women’s singles. Yamaguchi tried to take the match to the third game and made a good comeback from a five-point deficit to earning two game points. But Sindhu had other plans. She won four consecutive points to take the second game. 

Some brilliant rallies between both players today.

Badminton, Sindhu (2) vs Yamaguchi (0)

PV Sindhu takes the second game and wins the match 21-13, 22-20!

Badminton, Sindhu (1) vs Yamaguchi (0)

Another powerful half-smash and it’s a match point for Sindhu. 21-20.

Badminton, Sindhu (1) vs Yamaguchi (0)

Powerful finish from Sindhu to make it 20-20.

Badminton, Sindhu (1) vs Yamaguchi (0)

Yamaguchi one point away from winning the game. Terrific play from the Japanese.

Badminton, Sindhu (1) vs Yamaguchi (0)

From 9-14 down to leading the game 17-16. Yamaguchi is giving her all to take this match to the decider. Sindhu needs to regain composure and control.

Badminton, Sindhu (1) vs Yamaguchi (0)

A sensational rally and Yamaguchi wins the point to make it 14-15. Both players need a breather and a reset. It’s a 54-shot rally!

Is the comeback on from Yamaguchi?

Badminton, Sindhu (1) vs Yamaguchi (0)

Superb point by Sindhu. Goes for the smash but she makes a last-second adjustment to a drop shot and Yamaguchi has no chance. 14-9 to Sindhu in the second game.

Badminton, Sindhu (1) vs Yamaguchi (0)

Sindhu racing away from her opponent. Yamaguchi is down and disappointed as she heads to the mid-game break with a five-point deficit in the second game.

Badminton, Sindhu (1) vs Yamaguchi (0)

What a shot! Sindhu hits the smash on Yamaguchi’s side of the court but still she can’t reach it. The Rio Games silver medallist leading the second game 6-4.

Badminton, Sindhu (1) vs Yamaguchi (0)

Fantastic cross-court smash from Sindhu as Yamaguchi tries to lift the return but hits the net. The Japanese shuttler then tries a drop shot but again net comes in the way. 3-2 to Sindhu in the second game.

Badminton, Sindhu vs Yamaguchi 

Opening game to PV Sindhu! 

Yamaguchi goes long as Sindhu wins the game 21-13 in 23 minutes. 

Badminton, Sindhu vs Yamaguchi 

Cross-court smash by Yamaguchi win the point but Sindhu challenges and she’s right. It’s out. Sindhu now two points away from sealing the game. 

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Badminton, Sindhu vs Yamaguchi 

Oh what a rally! Yamaguchi with a full stretch dive to return a shot but Sindhu ultimately wins the point to make it 17-11 in the first game.

Badminton, Sindhu vs Yamaguchi 

The roar is out from Sindhu. The Indian leads the first game 14-9. The drop shot from Yamaguchi hits the net and she’s not impressed with herself.

Badminton, Sindhu vs Yamaguchi 

Two super smashes from Sindhu to make it 11-7 in the first game. She will look to continue the momentum after the mid-game break.

Badminton, Sindhu vs Yamaguchi 

Sindhu ahead 8-6 in first game. A 18 stroke rally results in a point for Sindhu with Yamaguchi going long twice.

Badminton, Sindhu vs Yamaguchi 

Yamaguchi makes Sindhu work. A solid smash to take a 3-2 lead and later comes up a nice drop shot to make it 5-3.