Hanzhou(China): Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale have ensured at least a silver medal for India in the mixed doubles by entering the final of the Asian Games in the mixed doubles event here on Friday. The duo piped Chinese Taipei pair Hsu Yu-Hsiou and Chan Hao-ching with a scoreline of 6-1, 3-6, 10-4 in the semi-final to get an entry pass into the gold medal match.
The Indian team got a solid start getting an early break in the first set. With some quality strokeplay, the Indian pair got a lead of 2-1 in the opening set just after the conclusion of three games. Further, they consolidated the lead with a double break which steered the Indian duo to a 4-1 lead. Bopanna and Bhosale made a mockery of the opposition with their superior gameplay and wrapped up the first set in just 26 minutes with a scoreline of 6-1.
The second set was a comeback story for Hsu Yu-Hsiou and Chan Hao-ching as they were determined to avoid being beaten in two straight sets. The pair broke serve from their Indian rivals taking a lead by 4-3. Hsu Yu-Hsiou and Chan Hao-ching kept on producing some quality tennis to pocked the second set by 6-3 and level the terms with their opponents.
With both teams winning one set each, the contest entered into a deciding tiebreak. Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale stepped up to the occasion and won the tiebreak by 10-4. As a result of winning the thrilling encounter, the Indian pair have assured India of a silver medal.
They will now face another duo from Chinese Taipei - Liang En-shuo and Huang Tsung-hao to secure the first gold medal in Tennis for India in the ongoing Asian Games.
