Favourites who faltered

DETHRONED IN KABADDI

Winners of seven gold medals in kabaddi, the Indian men’s team, led by Ajay Thakur, suffered a humiliation at the continental games as they finished with a bronze. After losing to South Korea in the league phase and by virtue of finishing second in the pool, they met Iran in the semi-finals but shockingly lost. The women’s team also lost to Iran in the final.

MANU OFF TARGET

Teenage pistol shooter, Manu

Bhaker, who has been shooting down medals this year and won gold in 10m air pistol in Commonwealth Games, disappointed in all three events — 10m air pistol mixed team, 10m air pistol women and 25m pistol — the 16-year-old competed in. Another youngster Anish Bhanwala was also off-colour in 25m rapid fire air pistol. The absence of support staff — especially physios — for the entire Indian shooting team only compounded the problem.

HEARTBREAK IN HOCKEY

The PR Sreejesh-led men’s hockey team’s loss in the semi-final to Malaysia would go down as the most disappointing result. They beat Pakistan in the bronze-medal match, but lost chance to win an 2020 Olympics berth.

SEEMA PUNIA FALLS SHORT

Defending champion in discus throw,

Seema Punia’s

sub-par showing and finishing behind the Chinese duo of Chen Yang and Feng Bin would certainly have disappointed her fans. Her throw of 62.26 won her bronze.

SUSHIL FLOORED

India’s two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar made a guest appearance, losing to Bahraini import Adam Batirov in the first round. After all the hullaballo over his participation, the champion wrestler was back in India in no time. Sushil, however, said he is not over yet.