Women’s handball team loses to Kazakhstan in opening match

JAKARTA: The Indian women’s handball team began its Asian Games campaign on a losing note as it suffered a 19-36 defeat to Kazakhstan in their preliminary round match on Tuesday.

The Indian team gave a tough fight in the first period, trailing 13-19 but was outplayed 6-17 by its opponents in the second period of the Group A match.

For India, Rimpi was the highest scorer with eight goals from just nine shots while Maninder Kaur netted three. Nidhi Sharma and Ritu scored two goals each.

For Kazakhstan, Dana Abilda scored eight goals while Olga Tankita got six.

The difference in class between the two sides was evident as Kazakhstan got as many as 54 shots at goals as against 36 for India.

India will next play Korea in their second group match on August 16.

The Indian men’s handball team had lost to Chinese Taipei 28-38 in its first group match on Monday.

HAKAM SINGH DEAD

CHANDIGARH: Asian Games gold medallist athlete Hakam Singh on Tuesday passed away at a private hospital in Sangrur, Punjab.

He had been ailing for some time and was undergoing treatment for liver and kidney ailments. He was 64.

Singh won gold in 20 km race walk event during the 1978 Asiad at Bangkok. The Dhyan Chand awardee had also served as Havaldar in the 6 Sikh regiment.

Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore had sanctioned financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the athlete, while Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh helped him with Rs 5 lakh.

Punjab Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi expressed profound grief over the demise of Singh.

Condoling the demise of the athlete, Rana Sodhi said that both Punjab as well as the country would remember the glorious achievements of Singh in the sporting arena.