Glasgow: Omkar Otari continued India’s power-packed performance in the weightlifting arena, clinching a bronze in the 69kg category to take the country’s medal tally in the sport to six on the third day of the 20th Commonwealth Games here on Saturday.
Rajwinder Kaur also bagged a bronze in the women’s +78kg judo competition to add to the three medals that India have won in that sport.
Among other Indians in the fray, star squash player Saurav Ghosal notched a hard-fought 3-2 win over New Zealand’s Campbell Grayson to enter the semi-finals of the men’s singles, but it was curtains for Dipika Pallikal in the women’s singles.
Fourth seed Ghosal produced a gritty performance as he rallied from two games down to eke out a difficult 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 win over the 12th seed.
Ghosal thus became the first Indian to reach the singles semi-finals since the sport was introduced in the Games programme in 1998.
“I knew it would be a tough match. I surely did not see myself going 0-2 and then winning 3-2. Really happy that I won,” Ghosal said.
“He played some very good stuff in the first two games — I thought I deserved at least one of them. In my head and my heart, I kept telling myself I need one game on board.
“He came out firing in the fourth, going 5-0 up — and in the fifth it was neck and neck. There were some tense moments, but I got the job done in the end,” he added.
Ghosal said he is looking forward to a contest against England’s James Willstrop in the semi-finals.
“I’m really happy to be able to back up yesterday’s 86-minute match with this one. I’m so focused on trying to win that maybe I’m missing the chance to appreciate the setting and the crowd. It’s the first time I’ve played on this court and I’m looking forward to coming back,” he said.
“Yes, I know his [Willstrop’s] game but he knows mine too! We’re very good friends on and off the court and our matches are played in the right spirit. But I want to win and will be doing my best to do so.”
