Asian Games 2018: Four Indian Wushu athletes reach semi-finals to assure more medals

India was assured of four more medals after three athletes from the country reached the semi-final of the Wushu event at the 18^th Asian Games in Jakarta, in Indonesia on Tuesday.

All five Indians who had taken the field in the different categories of Sanda event, won their respective groups to reach the semi-finals. But while Pardeep Kumar lost to be knocked out, Narender Grewal, Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh, Naorem Roshibini Devi and Santosh Kumar progressed to the last four stage and assured themselves at least a bronze each.

Among them, Roshibini Devi was the first to book a semi-final berth after defeating Mubarsha of Pakistan 2-0 in the women’s Sanda 60kg category quarters. Devi will face Chinese Cai Yingying on Wednesday.

Santosh then followed with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Phithak Paokrathok of Thailand in the men’s 56kg Sanda category and be certain of at least of a bronze medal. Santosh will next face Truong Giang Bui of Vietnam.

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Narender were the final two athletes to enter the semi-finals, which will be contested on Wednesday. While Surya beat Jean Claude Saclag of Philippines 2-0 in the 6okg category, Narender overcame Uzbekistan’s Akmal Rakhimov 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the 65kg category and seal the semi-final berth.

Surya and Narender will take on Erfan Ahangarian and Sem Foroud Zafari of Iran in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Pardeep was the lone Indian to be knocked out after losing 1-2 against Puja Riyaya in the 70kg quarterfinals.

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16-year-old Saurabh Chaudhary won the gold in the men’s 10m Air pistol event, while Abhishek Verma clinched the silver. They were well supported by shooter Sanjeev Rajput won also won a silver in the men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions event.

It was also a historical day for the India men’s Sepaktakraw team who won a historical bronze after losing to Thailand – in the Team Regu semi-finals.