At the ongoing Asian Games, the Indian tennis contingent showcased stellar performances on September 28. Doubles pair, Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni stormed into the men's doubles gold medal match, while the mixed doubles duo of Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale clinched a guaranteed medal spot.
The formidable second-seeded duo of Ramkumar and Myneni demonstrated resilience and skill, overcoming the tenacious Korean combination of Seongchan Hong and Soonwoo Kwon with scores of 6-1, 6-7(8), and 10-0. This victory sets Myneni on the path to securing his second Asian Games gold; he previously clinched the mixed doubles title alongside Sania Mirza in 2014. For Ramkumar, the anticipation runs high as he eyes his inaugural Games medal.
Despite a shaky start, the Koreans showed their mettle, staging a comeback in the second set. However, their efforts were quashed as the Indian pair dominated the Super Tie break, setting a championship clash against Chinese Taipei, who previously bested Thailand.
India will be looking to replicate their success from the previous edition in Indonesia, where Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan bagged the men's doubles title.
The mixed doubles arena witnessed another triumph for India. The second-seeded pair, Bopanna and Bhosale, demonstrated finesse, securing their semifinal berth with a convincing 7-5, 6-3 win against Kazakhstan's contenders, Zhibek Kulambayeva and Grigoriy Lomakin. The initial set posed a challenge, nearing a tie-break, but the Kazakh player Kulambayeva faltered, allowing India the upper hand. The subsequent set saw the Indian pair dominate, sealing their victory.
Veteran player Bopanna, competing in what might be his final Asian Games at 43, ensures he doesn't leave empty-handed. However, his journey in the men's doubles came to an end alongside partner Yuki Bhambri.
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