Rower Dattu powers his way into quarters
RIO DE JANEIRO : Dattu Bhokanal gave India's Rio Olympics campaign a rousing start as he reached the quarterfinals of the men's single sculls rowing after finishing third here on Saturday.
In the first heat of the day, Bhokanal finished the 2000 metres in seven minutes and 21.67 seconds at the Lagoa Stadium here.
The 25-year-old is the sole Indian in the event. He was in second place for the first 500 metres of the race but started to lag behind once the Mexican in lane 2 picked up the pace around the 700 metres mark.
Cuba's Angel Fournier Rodriguez finished first clocking 7:06.89 followed by Mexico's Juan Carlos (7:08.27). at the event.
Germany's Barbara Engleder took the second spot with 420.3 while Iran's Elaheh Ahmadi was third with 417.8
Apart from the top three, a Russian, two Americans, a Croatian and another Chinese shooter completed the top eight line-up.
Meanwhile, with three established though squabbling players of the professional tennis circuit in its ranks, India hopes to bag at least a medal in this discipline at the Rio Olympics.
India's biggest so far contingent to Olympics this year is raising expectations of the largest medals haul at the summer Games -- and tennis will naturally be keenly followed back home with expectations of podium finishes.
India will compete in three categories -- Leander Paes-Rohan Bopanna in the men's doubles, Sania Mirza-Prarthana Thombare in the women's doubles, and Bopanna-Sania in the mixed doubles.
India won six medals at the London Games in 2012, their best haul so far at the Olympics, but none in tennis. India's overall unimpressive record at the Olympics is in sync with its poor haul in tennis of just an individual bronze (by Paes in singles at Atlanta 1996). IANS