Asian Games, Live Updates, Day 9: Saina And Sindhu Looking to Book Finals Berth, Athletics in Focus

1.3 billion wishes are there with you!👍

"I have lot of hopes;let it be a historic day for Indian Badminton"says first ever Asiad medal winner, #DineshKhanna, member of the🥉medal winning team in 1974 in Tehran for 🇮🇳#SainaNehwal #PVSindhu #AsianGame2018 #IndiaontheRise pic.twitter.com/O9WbiuVzKe

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 27, 2018

Canoeing: India have finished second in the repechage of the men's TBR 1000m event, and will now take part in the semi-final.

Sepak Takraw: That was a straightforward victory for the Indian team, as they trump Nepal 21-5, 21-15 in the men's team regu event.

Sepak Takraw: India currently one set up against Nepal. Lead the second set 12-11.

On the other hand, PV Sindhu had beaten Akane Yamaguchi as recently as the team event at the Asian Games, but knows what to expect whenever she plays agianst the Japanese ace:

"(You have to be) prepared for long matches.... When you play rallies against or Yamaguchi, it can go to 40 strokes, 50 strokes, and I think at that time you have to be consistent yourself. Sometime you lose your mind and hit out. You have to be there all the time."

Badminton: Saina Nehwal lost to world no 1 Tai Tzu Ying in the final of the Asian Badminton Championships earlier this year, and had to say the following after her loss:

"I think it was just a matter of the last two points where she was more aggressive and I was caught off guard. That’s what happened in both the games. I was leading both the games and I should have been more alert. I really wanted to win the match. Because somehow I was playing really good and moving well."

It promises to be a close encounter between the two once again. Can Saina get one over her at the Asian Games?

Sepak Takraw: India taking on Nepal in the men's preliminary group B tie.

India's timing in the canoeing heats:

Canoeing: In the men's TBR 1000m event, the Indian team finished in the fifth position in heat 2, but will have a shot at redemption as they enter into the repechage.

Equestrian: India currently fourth in jumping team qualification. But Kaevaan Setalvad, Nukala Chetan Reddy and Zahan Setalvad sit in the 20th, 37th and 55th positions respectively in the individual jumping qualification.

Senior Journalist, Suprita Das:

In the second semi-final, it's the battle of the World No. 2 and 3. Sindhu beat Akane Yamaguchi in the team event recently at the Asian Games, but will have plenty of work cut out for her if one has to go by her form yesterday.

Senior Journalist, Suprita Das: 

India's javelin star Neeraj Chopra will be in action this evening.His best throw of 87.47m is about 4 metres less than Cheng Chaotsun on Chinese Taipei. But the good news for Neeraj and us is that Cheng isn't in the best form and his SB is 81.69m. 

But, but, but... before that, two tough semi-finals for India's shuttle queens Saina and Sindhu in a couple of hours from now. Saina is up against the tricky World No. 1 Tai Tzu of Chinese Taipei who has a 11-5 head to head against her. Saina last beat her in 2015, but now Tai Tzu is a different player altogether!

The karate results are in. India's Jayendran Sharath Kumar goes down 1-0 to Kim Muil of South Korea.

All four semi-finalists are in the top ten of the world rankings. Expect the encounters to be fiery!

Remember, Saina Nehwal takes on world no 1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei at IST 10:30 am, and PV Sindhu will take on world no 2 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan right after that.

Karate: South Korea's Kim Muil is currently in the lead against India's Jayendran Sharath Kumar in the men's 75kg 1/16th final.

Here's a quick look at the medals tally. India currently sit in ninth position with 7 golds, 10 silver and 19 bronze medals.

Karate: Two Indians will be in the fray, with Sharath Kumar Jayendran involvement in the men's -75kg 1/16 final expected to be around 9:45am IST, and Vishal's participation in the men's -84kg quarterfinal after that.

And Muhammed Anas' performance certainly did not go amiss.

MUHAMMED ANAS WINS A SILVER!

In a remarkable performance, Muhammed Anas gets a Silver in men's 400 m! The 23-year old athlete has made the country proud! #KheloIndia #AsianGames2018 #IndiaAtAsianGames pic.twitter.com/GKcS0bslUK

— Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) August 26, 2018

Dutee Chand's silver drew plaudits as well.

What a day for India in athletics!

In a Magnificent run, India’s Dutee Chand won SILVER medal in Women's 100 m with a timing of 11.32sec.

KUDOS to you Champion! #AsianGames2018 #KheloIndia #IndiaAtAsianGames pic.twitter.com/GI6ZH8o4Tm

— Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) August 26, 2018

A little throwback to yesterday's track and field glory - it was a truly splendid performance by Hima Das, who broke the national record en-route to her silver in the women's 400m final.

It was wonderful moment for me winning silver medal for my country in the Asian Games. Thankyou everyone for your support. Looking forward to my other events.🇮🇳
Love you alll 😘😘😘 pic.twitter.com/GHXLR56kwS

— Hima Das (@HimaDas8) August 26, 2018

Equestrian: After Fouaad Mirza won India its first individual equestrian medal since 1982 on day 8, the jumping team and jumping individual events are underway this morning with India's Kaevaan Setalvad, Kevic Setalvad and Nukala Chetan Reddy in action.

Hello and welcome to our live blog on day 9 of the Asian Games, where we will be bringing you all the updates from Jakarta and Palembang. After yesterday's medals in track and field where Hima Das, Muhammed Anas and Dutee Chand won the silver medals in their respective events, we have India's Neeraj Chopra to look forward to in javelin today in the evening.

Also in action in the first part of the day will be Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu in the semi-finals of the women's singles badminton event. They are both already assured of bronze, but can they go ahead and fight for the gold? There's a lot in store on day 9 of the Asian Games!