Asian Games 2023 Highlights, September 30: Day of comebacks as Squash team, Bopanna/Rutuja script historic comeback to win Gold Medals

Asian Games 2023 Highlights, September 30: Tennis, Hockey Squash and Badminton were in the spotlight as India secured some terrific, nail-biting wins on Day 7. Follow Sportskeeda for Asian Games 2023 live Score updates on September 30.

That's all from our side for today! Join us back tomorrow as India marches on towards it's attempted 100-medal tally! Until then, this is Team Sportskeeda bidding you adieu! Good night!

ASIAN GAMES DAY 6 - A day of comebacks and glory

Whew! It's been quite a day, hasn't it? We've had it all - action, drama and entertainment! Started off with Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale and the Indian squash team making historic comebacks to win Gold, and the duo of birthday boy Sarabjot Singh and Divya winning silver. Indians achieving the top positions in the Golf followed ahead of the final round tomorrow.

Athletics added a couple of medals in the 10000m Men's race too! In what came as a surprise, Ayhika and Sutirtha Mukherjee eked out the World Rank 2 Chinese paddlers to advance to the semifinals, following which Kidambi Shrikanth held his nerve to take India into the final of the badminton men's team event! Overall, an eventful day for India, and fans and players alike will have plenty to cherish

HOCKEY

Meanwhile, India have comprehensively beaten Pakistan in Hockey by a large margin! To go over the detailed coverage and play-by-play of how the match unfolded click here.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

India was assured a medal in this event but now they will have a chance to take gold when they face China. On a side note, this is India's first medal in Men's Team Badminton at the Asian Games since 1986 when they won bronze.

The final result was:

INDIA 3:2 REPUBLIC OF KOREA

HS Prannoy 2:1 Jeon Heyokjin
Shetty/Rankireddy 0:2 Seo/Kang
Lakshya Sen 2:0 Yungyu Lee
Madathil/Kapila 0:2 Wonho/Sungseung
Kidambi Srikanth 2:1 Cho Geonyeop

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 3: Kidambi Srikanth 21-14 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 2-1 (12-21) (21-16) (21-14)
Tie Score: India 3-2 Korea

WHAT A MATCH WE'VE HAD! India's old guard and their youngest star come good when it matters most in the end. May be a little exaggerated to say old guard but their experience came through when it mattered most. This badminton team had their fans worried at multiple occasions over the course of this tie but they've done it in the end.

Prannoy went a game down, and fought back to take the lead. Srikanth went a game down, and fought back to finish the tie. The never-say-die attitude of this side helps them make history. They're in the gold medal match of men's team badminton event at the Asian Games for the first time ever.

It's the singles stars that pull off a massive win. And now, they will face China in what could prove to be a bit of an uphill task against the hosts in a final. But this team has shown they're here for the biggest of games. They're here to scale the highest of peaks. And we, at Sportskeeda, are here to bring you all of that mouth-watering action. Stay with us!

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 3: Kidambi Srikanth 21-14 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 2-1 (12-21) (21-16) (21-14)
Tie Score: India 3-2 Korea

Srikanth wins!! India wins!!. India etches history as they reach the final for the first time at the Asian Games. A historic comeback by Kidambi Srikanth ensures that India will take on China in the gold-winning match.It was a shaky start for India but they managed to claw back into the game and now will have a chance to win their first ever gold in this event.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 3: Kidambi Srikanth 19-14 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 1-1 (12-21) (21-16)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

The experience of Kidambi Srikanth is showing as he is much more comfortable in this pressure moment. Srikanth is now just two points away from taking India into a historic final.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 3: Kidambi Srikanth 17-13 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 1-1 (12-21) (21-16)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

The Korean makes a couple of mistakes that allows Srikanth to create a cushion for himself. This is the perfect time to build this lead as Indian looks to make history by getting into the gold medal match.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 3: Kidambi Srikanth 14-12 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 1-1 (12-21) (21-16)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Kidambi Srikanth at his finest. Takes a two-point lead as we head to the business end of this game.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 3: Kidambi Srikanth 11-9 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 1-1 (12-21) (21-16)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Both shuttlers giving their absolute all. The barest of margins have separated them.The Indian leads by two at the halfway mark of the deciding game.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 3: Kidambi Srikanth 8-6 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 1-1 (12-21) (21-16)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Srikanth on the charge. Ultra aggression being shown by the former World No.1 but he is being made to work really hard by Cho Geonyeop.The crowd is rallying behind the Indian now.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 3: Kidambi Srikanth 4-1 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 1-1 (12-21) (21-16)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Srikanth leads early in this deciding set against the World No.163.Aggression by the Indian who is not letting the Korean settle in this deciding set.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 21-16 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 0-1 (12-21)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Kidambi Srikanth strikes back!! He takes the Korean to the third game. It all comes down now to this deciding set on who goes to the final of the Men's Team event here at the Asian Games.On a side note the winner of this contest will face China in the final as they have beaten Japan in the other semi-final.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 19-16 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 0-1 (12-21)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Cho Geonyeop is throwing everything now at Kidambi Srikanth. He has reduced the deficit to three points.Nervous moment for Srikanth and India.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 18-12 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 0-1 (12-21)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Three points away from forcing the decider.This tie has gone all the way and it seems to be heading to the last game of the match.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 15-11 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 0-1 (12-21)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Srikanth holds the lead but the Korean is piling on the pressure. He has reduced the lead to four points.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 12-7 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 0-1 (12-21)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Cho Geonyeop is stitching a great passage of play. He has won four points on the trot now.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 11-3 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 0-1 (12-21)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

The spark and intensity seems to be back in Srikanth. He has been much more aggressive and determined as we reach the half way mark of game 2.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 8-3 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 0-1 (12-21)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Now this is the Srikanth we know. Much more aggressive and much more deceptive with his shots, Kidambi is using all of that experience against Cho Geonyeop.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Kidambi Srikanth 5-2 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 0-1 (12-21)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Srikanth leads early into this game.He looks more determined and is more aggressive.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 1: Kidambi Srikanth 12-21 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 0-0
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Pressure piles on Kidambi Srikanth.He has been dominated by the Korean in this game.India must hope that Srikanth now delves deep into his experience playing at the international circuit - something which his Korean counterpart does not have as much of.

HEPTATHLON - Women's 200m Heat

Right, so in the grand scheme of things, here's how it all stands for Indian athletes after 4 out of the 7 events are completed:

Nandini Agasara stands fourth with 3328 points
Swapna Barman stands sixth with 3312 points

The further Heptathlon events will continue tomorrow, where the medal will be awarded to the athlete with the most points.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 1: Kidambi Srikanth 12-18 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 0-0
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Powerful and Precise from the Korean. He is the underdog and is playing with no pressure at all. So far he has completely outclassed the World No.21

HEPTATHLON - Women's 200m Heat

In the 200m Heat Round of Women's Heptathlon, India did not have the best of results.

In Heat 1:
Swapna Barman finishes fourth with a time of 26.16 seconds.

In Heat 2:
Nandini Agasara finishes first with a time of 24.47 seconds!

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 1: Kidambi Srikanth 6-16 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 0-0
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Kidambi Srikanth continues to struggle against Cho Geonyeop. He has created a 10-point cushion and it's a worrying sign for India.

BOXING - Men's 71kg Quarterfinal

Nishant Dev vs Sewon Okazawa: Round 3

Okazawa's experience came to the fore in that round. While Nishant may have done some damage in that final round, it was never going to be good enough to overcome the Japanese boxer's performance. That's the end for Nishant Dev at the Asian Games.

BOXING - Men's 71kg Quarterfinal

Nishant Dev vs Sewon Okazawa: Round 2

Aggressive boxing from both Okazawa and Nishant Dev in that round. This was much better from Nishant, who landed a couple of big punches in that round. But that may just not be good enough as 4 judges rule in Okazawa's favour. As of now, 4 judges have score the first two rounds 20-18 to Okazawa while the tie is level on the final judge's card.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 1: Kidambi Srikanth 5-11 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 0-0
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

The Korean leads by six points at the halfway point of the first game. He is handling the pressure much better than his Indian counterpart.

WEIGHTLIFTING - Women's 55kg Final

Bindyarani Devi finishes fifth. Korea's Pyongyang Kang finishes with a World Record in Snatch, Clean & Jerk and Total points!

1. (PDR Korea) Hyongyong Kang: 103 (WR/AR/AGR) in Snatch, 130 (WR/AR/AGR) in Clean & Jerk, 233 (WR/AR/AGR) in Total
2. (PDR Korea) Suyon Ri: 96 in Snatch, 126 in Clean & Jerk, 222 in Total
3. (China) Zhihui Hou: 95 in Snatch, 115 in Clean & Jerk, 210 in Total
..
5. (India) Bindyarani Devi: 83 in Snatch, 113 in Clean & Jerk, 196 in Total.

BOXING - Men's 71kg Quarterfinal

Nishant Dev vs Sewon Okazawa: Round 1

Okazawa spent that round showing off his quickness for most part. He landed a few punches, and has looked the better boxer so far. As you'd expect, all 5 judges have ruled 10-9 in the Japanese boxer's favour.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 1: Kidambi Srikanth 4-8 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 0-0
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

It's getting a little nervy here for Srikanth and India.The Korean seems to be unfazed despite the huge ranking difference and leads the game comfortably.

ATHLETICS - Men's 10000m Race Final

MEDALS ALERT! It's a double medal haul for India in the Men's 10000m Race as Kartik Kumar claims Silver and Gulveer Singh claims Bronze! Whew! What an excellent performance by the duo! They have delivered on the big stage and earned India their first medals in Athletics at Asian Games 2023! Both put in a personal best performance and finish with times of 28:15.38 and 28:17.21 respectively!

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 1: Kidambi Srikanth 1-4 Cho Geonyeop
Match Score: 0-0
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

Rapid start by the Korean. He seems to be getting the better of the Indian veteran in the early stages of this game.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Madathil/Kapila 11-21 Wonho/ Sungseung
Match Score: 0-2 (16-21) (11-21)
Tie Score: India 2-2 Korea

The Koreans make a comeback for the second time in this tie. The Indian pair weren't really able to give a challenge in this match as they succumbed to the constant pressure exerted on them by the Korean pair. Madathil and Kapila were outclassed throughout this match and had no real answer to their opponent. It's upto Kidambi Srikanth in the fifth match if India wants to head to the gold-winning match.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Madathil/Kapila 10-19 Wonho/ Sungseung
Match Score: 0-1 (16-21)
Tie Score: India 2-1 Korea

Constant pressure by Wonho/Sungseung, they not giving anything to the Indians to claw back into the game.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Madathil/Kapila 10-16 Wonho/ Sungseung
Match Score: 0-1 (16-21)
Tie Score: India 2-1 Korea

India is hanging on by a thread here. Still 6 points adrift but they have not given up yet.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Madathil/Kapila 6-13 Wonho/ Sungseung
Match Score: 0-1 (16-21)
Tie Score: India 2-1 Korea

The Koreans seem to have all the answers. They have maintained a strong defense and never really allowed the Indian pair to get momentum going in this match.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Madathil/Kapila 6-11 Wonho/ Sungseung
Match Score: 0-1 (16-21)
Tie Score: India 2-1 Korea

The Indian pair need to get aggressive if they want to get back into the game.They trail by 5 in the halfway mark of this second game.

WEIGHTLIFTING - Women's 55kg Final

Bindyarani Devi stands fifth currently! After finishing the Snatch section with a score of 83, she has been successful in lifting 109 in the first and then 113kg in the third round! She will be waiting for the other lifters to finish their rounds, including Korea's Kang, who set a new World Record in the Snatch category. However, a medal looks unlikely for her.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Madathil/Kapila 3-8 Wonho/ Sungseung
Match Score: 0-1 (16-21)
Tie Score: India 2-1 Korea

The Koreans are relying on the same tactic as the first set.Quick shots and not engaging in rallies with the Indian pair.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 2: Madathil/Kapila 1-5 Wonho/ Sungseung
Match Score: 0-1 (16-21)
Tie Score: India 2-1 Korea

The same slow start by the Indians as in the first set.The Korean pair looks much more settled with their gameplan.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 1: Madathil/Kapila 16-21 Wonho/ Sungseung
Match Score: 0-1
Tie Score: India 2-1 Korea

The first game goes to the Koreans. They had no answer to Korea's tactics of engaging in quick points and not rallies.The pair will have to come back with a plan in this second set.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 1: Madathil/Kapila 15-19 Wonho/ Sungseung
Match Score: 0-0
Tie Score: India 2-1 Korea

Korea has relied on the same tactic of aiming the shuttle close to the body of the Indian pair. The Indians have largely been unable to counter this throughout this game.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 1: Madathil/Kapila 12-17 Wonho/ Sungseung
Match Score: 0-0
Tie Score: India 2-1 Korea

The Indian pair slowly coming back into the game.They are slowing the game down and engaging in more rallies which they weren't doing in the first half of this game.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 1: Madathil/Kapila 7-15 Wonho/ Sungseung
Match Score: 0-0
Tie Score: India 2-1 Korea

The Indian pair needs to defend better.The Korean's are exploiting there weakness to return close shots and are running away with the game.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 1: Madathil/Kapila 5-11 Wonho/ Sungseung
Match Score: 0-0
Tie Score: India 2-1 Korea

The Koreans look more settled at the games half way mark.Little bit of lack of game experience can be seen in the Indian pair as they are missing easy points.

BADMINTON - Men's Team Semifinal

Game 1: Madathil/Kapila 3-7 Wonho/ Sungseung
Match Score: 0-0
Tie Score: India 2-1 Korea

The duo of Madathil and Kapila start slow. They already have an unsuccessful review. To be noted this is the pairs first time on the court in this tournament.

ATHLETICS - Men's 400m Final

India's Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi was in action at the Men's 400m Race Final. He finishes fifth and there will be no medal for India. While the gold medal time was 45.55 seconds, Muhammed finishes with a time of 45.97 seconds.

Diving - Men's Synchronised 3m Springboard

India finish last in the Diving medal event! They could manage a score of 279.87 from six rounds, which was well lower than fifth placed Uzbekistan's 357.06. China takes Gold with a score of 422.55 here. Heartbreak for London Singh and Siddharth Pardeshi.

ATHLETICS - Women's 400m Final

NEARLY! Aishwarya Kailash Mishra misses out on a bronze medal by less than a second's time in the Women's 400m Final! The Bahrain athletes finish first and second while the Malaysian Vallabouy Shereen is third with a time of 52.58. Aishwarya finishes with a time of 53.50 and will rue the missed opportunity.