Men's doubles tennis 18th Asian Games Jakarta Palembang 2018

18th  Asian Games Jakarta

Palembang 2018

India Wins Gold In Men's doubles tennis

In

Asian Games 2018

Antara/Palembang/ Jakarta

The Indian men's doubles tennis team overpowered Kazakhstan in the final match at Jakabaring Sport City (JSC), Palembang, South Sumatra, on Friday.

The Indian pair of Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan bested Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev of Kazakhstan in a 52-minute match of two sets 6-3, 6-4.

The victory was special for the Indian pair because this event is their first time participating in the Asian Games.

"It's very special because we had been used to playing in regular tournaments and now we are playing for the country. Getting something like this [gold medal] is very meaningful," Sharan said after the match.

The key to their success in the final, according to Bopanna, was good understanding of one another.

"Coming here as a seeded pair, we used it as capital to be consistent and strive to win. However, the key is fighting together as a team," Bopanna said.

In the match, Bopanna admitted he and his partner had the support of other India athletes who were not only from tennis, but also other sports.

"We have got the support of other Indian athletes and that is very beautiful, because it doesn't usually happen, so we are very happy and thank you all for coming to support us not only today but since yesterday [Thursday]. Therefore, I also want to present this medal to those who have been supportive in the face of various difficulties," he said.

Although they had proven to be compatible and cohesive, Bopanna, who was once ranked third in world’s men’s doubles, admitted that he still did not know whether they would continue to pair up in regular tournaments.

"We don't know what the future will be like. Today it looks like we are compatible and I can say why not if there is another opportunity to play as a pair. But we don't know what the future holds," Bopanna said.

With this result, Bopanna and Sharan have added to the gold collection of the Indian national team.

With the loss, Kazakhstan men’s double tennis must settle for a silver medal. The two bronze medals were won by two pairs from Japan, namely Sho Shimabukuro - Kaito Uesugi and Yuya Ito - Yosuke Watanuki.