NEW DELHI: India's tennis prowess shone brightly as Rutuja Bhosale and seasoned veteran Rohan Bopanna orchestrated a remarkable comeback to secure the gold medal in mixed doubles at the Asian Games on Saturday.
In a riveting encounter, the second-seeded Indian pair fought back from a set down to triumph with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-3, 10-4 against the formidable Chinese Taipei duo of Tsung-hao Huang and En-shuo Liang.
The victory not only sealed a gold medal for India but also provided a glimmer of hope in what had otherwise been a somewhat disappointing tennis campaign for the country at the Asian Games. India had managed to secure only two medals throughout the tournament, with the men's doubles team earning silver being the other achievement.
This two-medal performance at the Asian Games marked India's weakest showing in the event since the beginning of the century. In contrast, India had returned with more substantial medal hauls in previous editions, including four medals in 2002 (Busan), four in 2006 (Doha), five in 2010 (Guangzhou), five in 2014 (Incheon), and three in 2018 (Indonesia).
Despite the silver lining in tennis, Indian singles players, including Sumit Nagal and Ankita Raina, couldn't make it to the medal rounds and exited the competition early in the tournament.
The Indian tennis contingent also faced challenges in other team events, with a major setback being the unexpected early exit of medal favourites Rohan Bopanna and Yuki Bhambri in the men's doubles category.
While India's overall performance at the Asian Games may have left much to be desired, Rutuja Bhosale and Rohan Bopanna's gold medal victory in mixed doubles serves as a beacon of success.
(With inputs from PTI)
