September 29, 2023 – https://bhartiyanews24x7.com

29Sep

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Cricket World Cup warm-up match | Bangladesh openers make merry, injury scare for Kusal Perera

Unfortunate: Kusal Perera leaves the field after being injured during the warm-up match against Bangladesh. | Photo Credit: AP It turned out to be a contrasting day for the opening batters for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as the Tigers roared past the islanders in the opening warm-up fixture of the Men’s Cricket World Cup on Friday.Just when Perera and Pathum Nissanka were set to make the most of the warm-up fixture at the Assam Cricket Association stadium, Perera felt pain in his right shoulder. It was the 10th over of the game and considering Perera’s surgery on the same shoulder last year and the left-handed batter’s importance for Sri Lanka’s campaign, he returned to the dressing room retired hurt. It was later understood that the decision was only as a precautionary measure. But Perer...

29Sep

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Cricket World Cup warm-up match | Ravindra leads Kiwis’ charge in successful chase of big target

In top gear: Ravindra set the tone for a rollicking chase with a stroke-filled 97. | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL New Zealand began the preparations for the World Cup in style with a five-wicket win over Pakistan in a warm-up game at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Friday.Southpaw and opener Rachin Ravindra (97, 72b, 16x4, 1x6) was the surprise packet for the Kiwis, chasing 346 to win, with some brilliant strokes on either side of the wicket. Later, the experienced Kane Williamson, who surprised many with his strokeplay and swift running between the wickets after being earlier ruled out of the World Cup opener, and Daryl Mitchell scored half-centuries before retiring. In the final overs, the big-hitting Mark Chapman and James Neesham proved too good for the Pakistan bowling attack whic...

29Sep

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Rachin Ravindra shines as opener, Kane Williamson all class on comeback as NZ outbat Pakistan in WC warm-up

Kane Williamson showed his class in his first competitive outing in six months while Rachin Ravindra sizzled at the top of the order as New Zealand gunned down a 346-run target in their opening World Cup warm-up game against Pakistan here on Friday.New Zealand won the game by five wickets. Barring the openers, Pakistan batters including Mohammad Rizwan (103 retired hurt off 91), Babar Azam (80 off 84) and Saud Shaukeel (75 off 53) had a good hit in the middle, helping their team post a daunting 345 for five in 50 overs. New Zealand cruised to the target in 43.4 overs with contributions from Ravindra (97 off 72), Williamson (54 off 50), Daryl Mitchell (59 retired hurt off 57) and Mark Chapman (65 not out off 41). What a run chase! 👌 New Zealand start their #CWC23 preparations with a stu...

29Sep

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Asian Games: Contending with wind hazard and reduction in 120 shots to 60, help 3-Position shooters

A team gold in both the men’s and women’s 50m three position rifle event, with an individual gold and silver for the women and an individual silver for the men has underlined the strength in depth that India now holds in an event where it has been historically weak. While Sift Kaur Samra’s world record effort has been the best performance among all Indian shooters at this Asian Games, yesterday Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar’s silver medal and Swapnil Kusale’s 4th position after a poor 7.6 dropped him from the leading spot to outside the medal positions, reiterated how Indians have grown at the discipline, with less than a year to go for the Paris Olympics. While the 10m air rifle and air pistol events take place in indoor halls, the 50m events take place in open halls and that means that ...

29Sep

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Bas de Leede: out to add to his family’s and the Netherlands’ cricketing history

Bas de Leede of Netherlands hits a six during the 2nd One Day International between Netherlands and England at VRA Cricket Ground. | Photo Credit: Getty Images De Leede is a noted surname in Dutch cricket. Tim, the father, played three World Cups for the Netherlands — in 1996, 2003 and 2007 — and was part of the only two match victories at the quadrennial extravaganza. Twenty-seven years after Tim first journeyed to India, son Bas is here to add to both his family’s and country’s cricketing history.“Just being here and feeling the energy is pretty cool,” Bas told The Hindu during the Netherlands’ preparatory camp here. “When I speak to my dad, he loves looking back. Obviously, the Dutch don’t have a great record in the tournament. We’re hoping to change that.”Going by his team’s perfo...

29Sep

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Asian Games, athletics: Kiran Baliyan, daughter of a traffic cop, left javelin throw to end India’s long drought for a women’s shot put medal

While 24-year-old Kiran Baliyan was becoming the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games shot put medal in 72 years, her father Satish was managing traffic near Ghaziabad. The senior Baliyan works as a head constable with the Uttar Pradesh traffic police, and hence couldn’t watch his daughter’s best throw of 17.36m in Hangzhou on Friday. But when he came to know about Kiran’s winning a historic bronze for India, the policeman got some ladoos packed for home as well to distribute among passers-by. Kiran finished behind the Chinese duo of Gong Lijiao (19.58m) and Song Jiayuan (18.92m). “While I spend my days managing traffic, my daughter is doing India proud,” an emotional Baliyan told The Indian Express before heading back to his home in Meerut. Support from government and federation m...

29Sep

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Shooter Palak Gulia’s journey from reluctant young shooter to Asian Games gold winner

In a sport that demands stillness, Palak Gulia had to slow down before she could race ahead in the fast lane.The shooter, only 17 and who started shooting seriously just a couple of years ago, led India to an unexpected gold-silver finish in an event where the Chinese were tipped to dominate. She shared the podium on Friday with her roommate at the Athletes’ Village, Esha Singh, who returns home with a cool four-medal haul herself. Together, Palak and Esha have feasted on the KFCs available freely at the Village and the make-your-own ramen bowls over the last week. But a couple of days before her 10m air pistol event, Palak slipped into competition mode. Esha Singh – 4⃣Palak Gulia – 2⃣ Just the number of medals these two girls have added to #TeamIndia‘s tally 🙌 Humare athletes hai zidd...

29Sep

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Litton, Tanzid and Mehidy star as Bangladesh down Sri Lanka in World Cup warm-up | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh handed Sri Lanka a seven-wicket defeat in their first warm-up match of the ICC ODI World Cup in Guwahati on Friday to make a winning start.Chasing 264, Bangladesh rode on half-centuries from top-order batters Tanzid Hasan (84), Litton Das (61) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (67 not out) to romp home in 42 overs at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Sri Lanka got off to a fine start with the openers adding 64 before Kusal Perera retired hurt on 34, suffering a shoulder injury.His partner Pathum Nissanka pushed on to make 68 from 64 balls, including eight fours and six, before becoming the first of three victims for off-spinner Mahedi Hasan.Mahedi went on to remove Sadeera Samarawickrama (2) and Charith Asalanka (18) to finish wit...

29Sep

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ODI World Cup: New Zealand warm up with a five-wicket win over Pakistan | Cricket News – Times of India

HYDERABAD: The eerie silence in the stands was quite unnerving as one has got used to huge crowds, especially in the sub-continent, rooting for their favourite team and players. All the drama and noise were missing on Friday as the World Cup warm-up match between Pakistan and New Zealand was played behind closed doors at the RGIC Stadium, here.But the willow, as is usual at this ground, made all the necessary noise as batters from both teams enjoyed their stay on the pitch. After Pakistan made a competitive 345, New Zealand, runners-up in the last edition of the World Cup, powered their way to 346 for five, on way to a five-wicket victory.Rachin Ravindra, who opened the innings with Devon Conway, and regular skipper Kane Williamson set up the win with a 137-run stand for the second wick...

29Sep

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Hangzhou Asian Games: Full India schedule on September 30; live updates, live streaming details | Asian Games 2023 News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale are set to compete in the mixed doubles tennis final on the seventh day of the Hangzhou Asian Games. Additionally, India will face Pakistan in the men's squash final, and the men's hockey team will go head-to-head with Pakistan in a pool match.Follow Timesofindia.com's live blog to catch all the action and live updates straight away from Hangzhou. Following is India's Day 7 schedule at the Asian Games on September 30:Golf4 AM: Avani Prashanth, Pranavi Sharath Urs, Aditi Ashok in Women's Individual Round 3Avani Prashanth, Pranavi Sharath Urs, Aditi Ashok in Women's Team Round 37:30 AM: Anirban Lahiri, SSP Chawrasia, Khalin Joshi, Shubhankar Sharma - Men's Individual & Team Round 3Equestrian5:30 AM: Vikas Kumar, Apurva Kishor Dabhade, Ashish...

29Sep

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Veteran spinner Ashwin toils to switch to World Cup mode | Cricket News – Times of India

GUWAHATI: As India embarked on final preparation for their ODI World Cup journey with a three-hour long optional practice session far from the madding crowd at the Amingaon Cricket Ground on Friday, the latest entrant into the final 15-member squad, Ravichandran Ashwin, was the busiest among all.The off-spinner was in the first batch of players to arrive in the city well before officially replacing left-arm spinner Axar Patel late on the deadline day for making any changes in the squad.And ahead of their first warm-up game against England at Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Saturday, Ashwin — along with Shardul Thakur, Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan — practised at the picturesque Amingaon ground, which is about 30 km from the main city.The England team simultaneously practiced at the ground ...

29Sep

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Cricket World Cup preview | South Africa has the talent, experience and form to realise its potential and get rid off the ‘choker’ tag

Impact player: The explosive Klaasen is capable of swinging the fortunes of a contest. | Photo Credit: REUTERS Until South Africa began to crumble consistently at cricket’s big moments, the word ‘choker’ would bring to the mind an image of a necklace worn tightly around a woman’s neck. The tag chokers has clung tightly to the South African team for a long time. And they have lived up to that tag, more often than not. For all their talent and superstars, the Proteas haven’t yet won a World Cup, in any format. They haven’t even made a final, in fact. They have reached the semifinals four times, though. The most memorable of them was in 1999 at Edgbaston, which ended in a tie despite an incredible 16-ball 31 not out by Lance Klusener, who had an incredible tournament.In 2015 at Auckland, ...

29Sep

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Zaka Ashraf does volte-face on controversial ‘Dushman Mulk’ comment, calls Indian reception ‘fantastic’ | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: PCB chief Zaka Ashraf, in an effort to rectify his earlier comment, indirectly labeling India as an 'enemy nation', said the warm reception that the Pakistan cricket team received upon their arrival in India, highlights the deep affection fans on both sides of the border hold for the players.Pakistan arrived in Hyderabad on Wednesday in their first visit to India in seven years. On the same day, the PCB announced an increase in pay for its players. Following the announcement, Ashraf stated that the raise in central contracts would offer added motivation to the players as they head into the World Cup in 'enemy country'.The millionaire banker's loose comments went viral and it certainly didn't go down well with the bigwigs of BCCI and on Friday, he clarified his stance."Chairma...

29Sep

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Mihir Vasavda at Asian Games: War room where India’s shooting heist was planned

INDIA’S TEENAGE army of shooters continued to strike gold in Hangzhou, with 17-year-old Palak Gulia adding a sixth gold medal to the country’s kitty on Friday. The seed of this golden harvest, after the medal famine at the last two Olympics, were sown in a tiny room in Delhi’s Tughlakabad.In a cramped space, TV monitors and projectors are used to recreate the look and feel of a competition range and simulate match situations, and hi-tech devices attached to a shooter’s body analyse every muscle twitch, activities of the brain cells, pulse rate and breathing patterns. “It helps us find our most balanced state. I had a lot of sessions there,” said Palak, the surprise winner of the 10m air pistol gold medal. “That helped a lot,” said 19-year-old Esha Singh, who won four medals in the pisto...

29Sep

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PM Narendra Modi lauds Asian Games medal winners | Asian Games 2023 News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated the India's medal winners at the Asian Games, especially lauding the country's shooters for their remarkable achievements and podium finishes in multiple events.Congratulating Palak Gulia on winning the gold in the women's 10m air pistol event, Modi said her "precision and focus have brought immense pride to our nation"."Another special moment for India in shooting," he said on X.The unprecedented success of Indian marksmen continued in the 50m rifle arena as well with the men's 3-positions team, comprising the young trio of Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (591), Swapnil Kusale (591) and Akhil Sheoran (587), overcoming the Chinese challenge with a world record score of 1769 to take the top podium finish.Lauding the feat, Modi s...

29Sep

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Cricket World Cup 2023 | Focus on Ashwin and Shardul in training session ahead of India’s warm-up game against England

Ashwin having a word with Rahul Dravid before net practice ahead of its warm-up match against England in Guwahati. | Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR Till last week, aficionados and connoisseurs alike, were busy discussing whether Axar Patel was better suited to be India’s No. 8 in the forthcoming Men’s Cricket World Cup or would Shardul Thakur be more useful in the same role.The personnel may have changed but the debate rages on. From the Indian management’s perspective, however, the option is simple. Or so it looked during India’s first official nets session, an optional one, for the World Cup. Considering the travel and workload that the team has been through over the last month and lying ahead for the next two, it wasn’t surprising that only four players joined the support staff for a...

29Sep

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Shot putter Kiran Baliyan wins India’s first athletics medal in Asian Games | Asian Games 2023 News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Kiran Baliyan on Friday achieved a historic feat, becoming the first Indian woman in 72 years to secure an Asian Games medal in the shot-put event on the opening day of the athletics competitions in Hangzhou.In her third attempt, the 24-year-old launched the shot put to an impressive distance of 17.36 meters, securing a well-deserved bronze and inaugurating India's medal tally.Baliyan thus became only the second Indian to win a medal in women's shot put in Asian Games after Barbara Webster, an Anglo-Indian from then Bombay, won a bronze in the inaugural edition in New Delhi in 1951.Baliyan has a season's as well as personal best of 17.92m which she had produced while finishing second in the Indian Grand Prix 5 in Chandigarh on September 10."I did not know the history (first I...

29Sep

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World Cup warm-up game: Chance for India bowlers to test themselves against England’s master blasters | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Indian team management will look to maintain a discreet approach and evaluate the batting strength of defending champions England as the two giants meet in their first World Cup warm-up match in Guwahati on Saturday.Warm-up matches hold no official status and allow both the teams to use as many players they want and gauge their performances under varying match situations.However neither side will be inclined to reveal their tactical plans during the match.But with England's philosophy across formats undergoing a sea-change over the last few years and a batting line-up comprising Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali sending shivers down the spine of any opposition, the home team bowlers will get a chance to test ...

29Sep

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Cricket teams and their No. 4 conundrum during World Cup

A blueprint that worked: The modern No. 4 role has perhaps been best embodied by former England captain Eoin Morgan. | Photo credit: Getty Images Two-in-one: Many of this era’s No. 4s also perform a secondary role — most commonly that of the wicketkeeper. Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan and Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim are two who have found success in the demanding double act. | Photo credit: Getty Images India captain Rohit Sharma recently observed that the No. 4 position in the ODI batting order had been a problem for the team since Yuvraj Singh’s retirement. If we consider the frequency of appearances, India has had four mainstays at No. 4 in its ODI history: Dilip Vengsarkar in the 1980s, Mohammad Azharuddin in the 1990s, Rahul Dravid in the 2000s, and Yuvraj in the 2010s. In the 2023 W...

29Sep

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Why the No. 4 conundrum isn’t India-specific

A blueprint that worked: The modern No. 4 role has perhaps been best embodied by former England captain Eoin Morgan. | Photo credit: Getty Images Two-in-one: Many of this era’s No. 4s also perform a secondary role — most commonly that of the wicketkeeper. Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan and Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim are two who have found success in the demanding double act. | Photo credit: Getty Images India captain Rohit Sharma recently observed that the No. 4 position in the ODI batting order had been a problem for the team since Yuvraj Singh’s retirement. If we consider the frequency of appearances, India has had four mainstays at No. 4 in its ODI history: Dilip Vengsarkar in the 1980s, Mohammad Azharuddin in the 1990s, Rahul Dravid in the 2000s, and Yuvraj in the 2010s. In the 2023...