Indian wushu team enjoyed a successful outing yesterday with three players, including 2014 bronze medallist Narender Grewal, progressing to the men’s sanda quarterfinals at the 18th Asian Games, here.
The 24-year-old Narender (65kg) saw off Phillipines’ Clemente Jr Tabugara 2-1 in men’s sanda round of 16 to set up a clash with Uzbekistan’s Rakhimov Akmal.
Besides Narender, Surya Bhanu Partap Singh beat Indonesia’s Abdul Haris Sofyan 2-1 in another match. He will face Phillipines’ Jean Claude Saclag.
Santosh Kumar also registered a 2-0 win over Zaid Ali Wazea of Yemen to set up a last eight meeting against Thailand’s Phithak Paokrathok.
In men’s sanda 70kg round of 16 match, Pardeep Kumar had defeated Mirzodalerkhon Khurshedzoda 2-0 to make it to the quarterfinals. If the Indians manage to enter the semi-finals, they be will assured of medal.
Wushu Sanda is a martial art which combines full-contact kickboxing, including close range punches and kicks, with wrestling, take downs, throws, sweeps and kick catches.