Hangzhou, China: Veteran Rohan Bopanna and debutant Rutuja Bhosale clinched India’s first gold medal in tennis at the 2023 Asian Games through winning the blended doubles very last here on Saturday.
- The unseeded Indian pair defeated the Chinese Taipei duo of Hsieh Cheng-Peng and Latisha Chan 6-3, 6-4 in a one-hour and 12-minute healthful.
- Bopanna, who turn out to be gambling in his fifth Asian Games, had formerly won a silver medal within the men’s doubles occasion in 2010. Bhosale, however, grow to be making her Asian Games debut.
- The Indian pair started out the healthy on a robust observe, breaking their fighters’ serve in the 1/3 recreation to take a 2-1 lead. They held on to their serve quite certainly and received the first set 6-3.
- In the second set, Bopanna and Bhosale continued to dominate, breaking their fighters’ serve within the very first endeavor. They hung on to their serve effects and took a four-1 lead.
- The Chinese Taipei duo, but, fought lower returned and obtained 3 consecutive video video games to degree the rating at four-four. Bopanna and Bhosale then hung on to their serve and broke their opponents’ serve inside the 10th recreation to win the match 6-three, 6-4.
- This is India’s first gold medal in tennis at the Asian Games thinking about Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes gained the guys’s doubles name in 1998.
Rohan Bopanna’s reaction:
“It feels extraordinary to win the gold medal. I were playing inside the Asian Games for a long term, and that is my fifth time here. I actually have won a silver medal inside the beyond, but that is my first gold medal. It is a unique 2nd for me, and I am very happy,” Bopanna said after the match.
Rutuja Bhosale’s response:
“I am very satisfied to win the gold medal in my debut Asian Games. It is a dream come real for me. I need to thank Rohan for his guidance and help. I additionally want to thank my family and pals for his or her guide,” Bhosale stated.
Conclusion:
Bopanna and Bhosale’s gold medal is a splendid achievement for Indian tennis. It suggests that India is capable of producing pinnacle-class tennis game enthusiasts who can compete with the top notch inside the worldwide.