India lose to Pakistan after scuffle

The police had to interfere after a scuffle broke out during the India-Pakistan final at the South Asian Games in Dhaka on Sunday. With 12 minutes left for the break, players from the two teams got involved in a fight after Amit Kumar Prabhakar hit a Pakistan player. Both captains — Pakistan’s Sabtain Raja and Ajitesh Roy of India — were sent off and Prabhakar was suspended for six minutes. India had to settle for a silver as Dharamvir Singh and Varinderjeet Singh misfired in the tie-breaker, with the team going 5-4 down. The score was 1-1 after normal time and 30 minutes of extra time.

Meanwhile, Surendra Singh Rathod scored 1172 in 50m rifle three position for an individual gold as Indian shooters clinched both the gold medals up for grabs, apart from one bronze. Rathod also contributed in the team gold, with India totalling 3455 points. The swimmers won four gold, besides a new meet record by Sandeep Sejwal in 100m breaststroke (1:05.01). They also won a silver and a bronze. Track and field gave India three gold, five silver and four bronze, with Bibin Mathew (men’s 400m), Kashinath Naik (men’s javelin throw), G Gayathry (women’s 100m hurdle) winning gold.

The men’s football team, however, lost to Maldives 3-1 in the bronze-medal match.

In taekwondo, India won a gold and a bronze, while the wrestlers also won two silver. In table tennis, India were assured of a gold and a silver with Soumyadeep Roy/Shamini Kumaresan and Amalraj/Madhurika Phatkar making it an all-Indian affair in the mixed doubles final.