Vaishnavi Adkar Shines: India's Historic Bronze in World University Games

Vaishnavi Adkar wins India's first women's singles bronze in the World University Games. The archery teams excel, securing gold medal opportunities, while track athletes reach finals despite India's overall disappointing performance compared to the previous Games where India won 26 medals.

Vaishnavi Adkar has etched her name in history, becoming the first Indian woman to secure a singles bronze medal at the World University Games. Her incredible achievement comes alongside a commendable performance from India's archers who have made it to the compound men's and mixed teams' gold medal rounds.

Despite a determined effort, Adkar lost her semifinals match against Slovakia's Eszter Meri in a nail-biting encounter, concluding her journey with a 6-2, 4-6, 4-6 loss. Notably, this makes Vaishnavi only the second Indian ever to medal in tennis at these Games, following Nandal Bal's silver in 1979.

The compound team, with standout performances from Kushal Dalal and others, assured India of two silver medals. Meanwhile, on the track, the mixed 4x400m relay and other athletes qualified for finals. However, contrasting this success, India's overall performance fell short compared to past triumphs, reflecting a challenging competition year.

(With inputs from agencies.)