Asian Games 2018 | Ankita Raina brings bronze in women’s tennis
Ankita Raina has clinched a bronze medal in the ongoing Asian Games after she lost her semi-final 6-4, 6-7(6) to China's Shuai Zhang. Raina has become only the second Indian tennis star to win a singles medal at the Asiad after Sania Mirza, who has won at least a medal in every Games since 2006.
Raina, who is ranked 189 in the world lost to world number 34 in straight sets in the semi encounter. Raina started off well in the initial exchanges with her performance in the second game of the match where she broke Zhang. The Chinese managed to win the first set after 54 minutes of the commencement of the encounter.
The second set was equally exciting and went into the tie-breaker. In the tiebreak, Raina managed to save two match points at 6-4 including one with a running forehand scoop. But a couple of netted backhanders gave the Chinese player another match point and the battle finished with Raina settling down for a bronze.
The 24-year-old is certainly having her best year so far. Earlier, in March, she won the $25,000 ITF tournament in Gwalior - her first singles title in over three years. In the very next month, she became just the fifth Indian female player to move into the top 200 of world rankings. Raina will also be in action with Rohan Bopanna in mixed doubles quarterfinals.
Prior to Raina’s medal today, ace tennis star Sania Mirza had won a silver in 2006 and a bronze medal in 2010 Asian games for India as a woman tennis player in individual events.