Ranked 3rd globally, India enters as favorites, fresh off their record 8th Asia Cup win. But Japan, ranked 39th, aren’t pushovers; they’ve claimed bronze before and now host the games. It’s knockout from the start; lose, and it’s over. Meanwhile, India’s soft tennis and teqball teams also hit the court today, making Friday a packed, high-stakes day. The real story? A gold-medal defense begins with zero margin for error; and against the hosts, no less.