September 28 schedule: Manu Bhaker, Avinash Sable and cricket in focus

India head into September 28 12th on the Asian Games medal table with 37 medals, including four gold, 16 silver and 17 bronze. September 27 brought seven medals through athletics and squash, but no gold, leaving India to slip from 10th to 12th in the standings.

Athletics led the way with five medals. Ancy Sojan and Sarvesh Kushare won silver, while Parul Chaudhary, Tejaswin Shankar and Harita Bhadra took bronze, with Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh adding silver medals in squash. Three Indian boxers, Ankush Panghal, Parveen Hooda and Narender Berwal, also assured themselves of medals by reaching the semi-finals.

Manu Bhaker now returns to the spotlight with a chance to change the tone of her Games. She finished fifth in the 10m air pistol final, while India also missed out on a medal in the women's team event, adding to a frustrating campaign so far for the shooting contingent, which has not quite matched expectations in several marquee pistol and rifle events.

There is also a bigger test ahead for the men's cricket team. India survived a difficult rain-hit five-over warm-up against Japan, winning by just two runs after being restricted to 32/4 before holding Japan to 30/3. It was useful preparation, but the real challenge begins now, with Afghanistan waiting in the quarter-final.

Bhaker's next opportunity comes in the women's 25m pistol, where she is the defending Asian Games champion. She, Esha Singh and Rahi Sarnobat will compete in the rapid stage from 6:10 AM IST, with the individual final scheduled for 10:45 AM, subject to qualification.

The event gives Bhaker a chance to move past the disappointment of the 10m pistol. She qualified third for that final but finished fifth, while India's women's team finished fourth after being tied with Vietnam on points.

Esha and Rahi will also be chasing another shooting medal, while Neeru, Manisha Keer and Aashima Ahlawat compete in women's trap and Kynan Chenai, Ahvar Rizvi and Shapath Bharadwaj feature in men's trap qualification.SABLE RETURNS TO THE SPOTLIGHT

For Avinash Sable, September 28 marks a return to the Asian Games event he won in 2023. His 3000m steeplechase final at 4:17 PM IST comes after a serious knee injury and a long break from steeplechase racing.

Sable will not be the only Indian athlete under the spotlight. Murali Sreeshankar competes in the men's long jump final at 4:30 PM, while Parul Chaudhary returns for the women's 5000m final at 5:13 PM after winning bronze in the 3000m steeplechase on September 27.

The evening also features the men's 1500m, javelin, women's 800m and the men's 4x400m and women's 4x100m relays, giving athletics another substantial opportunity to add to India's medal tally.MEN'S CRICKET FACES A BIGGER TEST

India's men begin their Asian Games campaign with a quarter-final against Afghanistan at 10 AM IST. The women's team have already secured gold after beating Sri Lanka, but the men are only now entering the competition proper.

The Japan warm-up offered little room for complacency. Rain reduced the match to five overs per side, India managed only 32/4 and Japan came within two runs of an upset before finishing on 30/3. The result went India's way, but Afghanistan presents a considerably bigger test with a semi-final place at stake.

A defeat ends India's campaign, while a win keeps their gold-medal push alive. Beyond cricket, Lovlina Borgohain begins her boxing campaign in the women's 75kg quarter-finals, while the men's hockey team face Bangladesh and India also have important fixtures in squash, tennis, volleyball and sepak takraw.INDIA'S FULL SEPTEMBER 28 SCHEDULE

All timings are in IST and are based on the official India schedule.