India’s number one ranked women’s singles tennis player Ankita Raina settled for a bronze medal at the Asian Games after fighting a seasoned campaigner in China’s Zhang Shuai in the women’s singles semifinal in Palembang.
Ankita lost 4-6, 6-7 (6) in a gruelling contest that lasted for 2 hours and 7 minutes but she entered the history books by becoming the second Indian women’s singles player after Sania Mirza to win a medal at the Asian Games. Mirza, who could not participate in the ongoing Asian Games following maternal leave won the silver medal in 2006 Asian games in women’s singles. She followed it up with a bronze in 2010 edition.
Ankita sustained an injury in the first set when she was 4-5 down in the humid conditions. She was brave enough to step back onto the court and put up a fight against a higher ranked opponent.
Another Indian in fray was Prajnesh Gunneswaran who also went past the quarter final hurdle to ensure himself a bronze medal in men’s singles.
