Wrestlers Deepak Punia, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia pose with their gold medals during the medal ceremony, at the Commonwealth Games 2022. (PTI)Commonwealth Games 2022, Day 8: Bajrang Punia was a class apart while defending his title before Sakshi Malik produced a sensational gold medal winning effort as Indian wrestlers grabbed six medals, including three gold, at the Commonwealth Games here on Friday.
Deepak Punia also contributed in swelling India’s medal tally by winning the men’s free style 86kg gold but birthday girl Anshu Malik (57kg) had to be content with a silver medal in her maiden CWG appearance.
Divya Kakran clinched a bronze in 68kg, winning the play-off in just 26 seconds against Tonga’s Tiger Lily. Mohit Grewal then ensured that India had a medal to show in all categories on Friday, winning the 125kg bronze play-off to cap a successful day in style.
Meanwhile, India women’s hockey team had to endure heartbreak as they lost to Australia in penalty shootout. They will now play New Zealand for the Bronze medal next.
Follow all the highlights of Day 8 below
Sreeshankar went big on his fourth attempt, after lying sixth in the field with a best of 7.84m after his first three jumps.
"I can only say that it is tough for us but it's part of the game." ~Savita Punia on the shootout retake
It was heartbreak for the Indian women's hockey team in the semi-finals at Birmingham as they lost by 3-0 against Australia in a penalty shootout after the match ended with both the team levelled at 1-1 in regulation time. However, Indian captain Savita Punia was denied a save off the first shot by Australian Rosie Malone as the umpire informed that the clock did not start with Indian striker Lalremsiami ready to take India's first shot. Malone scored in a re-take to hand a 1-0 lead before Lalremsiami missed her shot. Kaitlin Nobbs then scored for Australia off the second shot before Jocelyn Bartram made a save off Neha Goel. Amy Lawton then scored the third goal for Australia and with India requiring to convert to have a chance, Navneet Kaur missed the chance to score off the third shot to hand Australia the win.
In regulation time, Rebecca Greiner scored for Australia in the tenth minute before Vandana Katariya scored the equaliser in the 49th minute of the match.
Australia 3-0 India in the shootout and the journey for Women in blue comes to an end at the CWG. Australia to play England in the final. India will feel robbed here and rightly so.
Savita Punia's initial save in the shootout isn't counted because the clock wasn't started. Australia score from the retake.
PEEP, PEEP, PEEEEEEEEP!
What a semifinal we've had here. And we are not done yet. India against Australia at a multi sports event doesn't disappoint again. Australia 1-1 India. Shootout time!
Three saves in a row from Savita Punia and co. off the PC, WE CAN BARELY BREATH WATCHING THIS MATCH!!
Australia win a PC with just a minute left in this quarter.
Five minutes left in this one, it's still 1-1. THIS MATCH!
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INDIA SCORE!
Sushila Chanu serves the ball in for Vandana Katariya who deflects the ball in to equalise. Her fourth goal at these Games and what an important one. Australia 1-1 India.
Indian squash veterans, Dipika Pallikal and Saurav Ghosal in action now against Australia’s Rachael Grinham and Alexander Zac in the Mixed Doubles quarterfinals.
The buzzer rings for the third quarter. Still 1-0, Australia. THIS GAME IS FAR FROM OVER!
The all important fourth quarter coming up.
The Indian captain has been the busier of the two goalkeepers today, and just as we post this, she has made another couple saves from PC.
Screengrab: CWG website
SAVE-ITa Punia!
A Keeper!
Why don't we use these puns more often!? WHY?
The Indian captain with yet another big save to keep the scoreline at 1-0. India still very much in it.
Third quarter underway in this Women's Hockey semifinal between India and Australia. The Hockeyroos lead 1-0. India have been putting the pressure on Australia but need to score a goal as soon as possible to have a chance at winning this.
End of the second quarter. Australia 1-0 India. India have been knocking in the opposition half but they haven't quite pushed the knob for the door to open.
India miss from another penalty corner, their fourth so far in the match. Will these chances hurt them in the end? The scoreboard still reads 1-0 in the favor of Australia.
Sanil Shetty rounds up the Table Tennis action for India on day 8 at the CWG. A 2-4 win for the Indian in the Men's Singles Round of 16.
Screengrab: CWG website
Hima Das fails to qualify for women's 200m final. She finishes third in semi-final 2 with a timing of 23.42 seconds