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1Oct

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Mihir Vasavda at Asian Games: Avinash Sable leads from start to finish, wins steeplechase by a country mile

THE EUPHORIC wave, he knew, wasn’t for him. Avinash Sable saw himself on the big screen, heard the roar that echoed inside the giant bowl that the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre is, and glanced towards Jianan Wang, the Chinese long jumper for whom the packed stands cheered.As he waited for his race to begin, Sable was in no illusion about his fame. But he was self-assured about his prowess. “I knew I was faster than all my competitors, and I wanted to run a fast race,” he said. And fast he was. By a country mile. The Indian steeplechaser ran a Games record time of 8 minutes, 19.5 seconds to win India’s first athletics gold medal of the Hangzhou Asiad, a staggering 4.25 seconds faster than the second-placed Japanese Aoki Ryoma. Sunehra Pal 🟰 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐀 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐋🥇@Avinash3000m, take a Bow 🫡🇮🇳#T...

1Oct

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Mihir Vasavda at Asian Games: Jyothi Yarraji, 100 metre hurdles silver medalist on dramatic disqualification before winning medal: I had to stand up for myself

Jyothi Yarraji might not have noticed it, but on an evening where she was involved in an almighty battle against the Chinese sprinters, successfully protested the decision to reinstate the home-favourite and faced a barrage of questions from the state media over the controversy, the young Indian sprinter got support from the unlikeliest of sources – the gold medal winner from China, Lin Yuwei.In an auditorium brimming with Chinese journalists, Yarraji was pressed about her decision to challenge the technical officials’ call to disqualify her from the 100m hurdles final for an alleged false start. They even probed her about the protest that followed, which saw the fastest hurdler in the line-up and gold medal favourite Yanni Wu getting disqualified after the race finished. #AsianGames #...

1Oct

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Asian Games, boxing: Nikhat Zareen’s long winning streak ends with bronze as Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat neutralises her attacking weapons

A long winning streak, that made Nikhat Zareen feel almost invincible in the 50kg weight category at one point, came to an end on Sunday when the two-time World Champion finished on the wrong side of a 2-3 decision against Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Though Zareen finished with a bronze medal, the overriding feeling would be of a gold lost. Coming into this Olympic qualifying tournament, Zareen was the clear favourite for the gold having won two back-to-back World Championships. But on Sunday, she fell prey to an opponent she had barely escaped from in New Delhi during the Worlds earlier this year. Raksat is crafty, to say the least. One may not get pulsating combinations from her but she’s quick enough to land that first jab and then clinch immediately. It’...

30Sep

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India win squash gold in thriller with Pak, stun China in table tennis doubles

“12-10 in the fifth, in the decider of the Asian Games gold medal match, India vs Pakistan, how do you write it!” gasped Abhay Singh. “How do you write it?”India’s man of the moment, who nearly quit the sport two years ago, captured the emotions best. Where to even begin to describe the relentless drama, the unbearable tension and the astonishing fightback that ultimately led to a squash gold medal with a 11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10 victory? With the bickering start to what turned out to be one of the all-time classic India-Pakistan matches? Or the cold-blooded, thoroughly professional exhibition by veteran Sourav Ghosal, which brought India back into the mix? Perhaps, it’s best to start at the end of this titanic clash that transformed from ugly to sublime to compelling. With the hy...

30Sep

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Asian Games, badminton: Kidambi Srikanth finds his game in the nick of time to beat Korea and take India into men’s team final

HS Prannoy played like a seasoned Top Ten who lifts his level and brings out the assertive smashes when closing out a game against a lower-ranked opponent. Lakshya Sen played like a fearless sophomore with an impressive freshman year behind him, who he can stub out an upstart and pack him back to oblivion with a searingly one-sided scoreline.Kidambi Srikanth played like Kidambi Srikanth – the genre involves a generous chunk of errors, an ashen coaching bench that has horror writ large on their faces, a legion of followers questioning their life-choices, cursing their favourite shuttle player and in poor cardiac health. And it involves Srikanth playing some of badminton’s most beautiful strokes as if none of these things are happening around him, that make the whole torture endurable. On...

30Sep

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Asian Games, Hockey: India overwhelm Pakistan but 10-2 scoreline reflects no contest between men vs boys

Pakistan’s 7-1 victory over India in the men’s hockey final of the 1982 Delhi Asian Games is considered a seminal moment in the storied rivalry between the two neighbours. It shows how far the team from across the border has fallen in the sport that they once dominated for decades that the 10-2 hammering they suffered at Hangzhou on Saturday won’t necessarily be talked about in those terms.It was India’s biggest win over Pakistan, but it almost seemed routine, such has been the one-sided nature of the rivalry in recent times. On several occasions during the contest, if at all it could be called that, it played out as men versus boys. India seemingly able to score whenever they ventured into the opposition circle, earning penalty corners and even penalty strokes whenever they wished. For...

30Sep

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Army-trained Kartik Kumar’s journey from burning leather off his shoes on village grounds to Asian Games silver

Veer Singh still remembers how his second-eldest son, Kartik Kumar, would run at the 200m sand track at the Maharana Pratap Inter College grounds at their village Shimlana, 30 km from Saharanpur, to prepare for the Army recruitment rallies in 2015. While Kumar would not be eligible for the recruitment due to his young age, he would run 40 laps of the 200m track along with other army aspirants. On Saturday evening, 24-year-old Kartik ran his personal best with a timing of 28 minutes and 15.38 seconds followed by his teammate, 25-year-old Gulveer Singh, who clocked his personal best with a timing of 28 minutes and 17.21 seconds to hand India a historic silver in the men’s 10,000m at the Hangzhou Olympics Centre Stadium at the Asian Games. It was India’s first medal in men’s 10,000m since ...

30Sep

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Mihir Vasavda at Asian Games, Weightlifting: No luck in China, but will the Paris Olympics lift Mirabai Chanu’s spirits?

Mirabai Chanu came to China hoping to win the only medal missing from her cabinet. She returns to India in ‘deep pain’, another injury and more questions than answers over her Paris Olympics prospects.With only two successful lifts in her six attempts, the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist finished fourth with a total of 191 kg (83 kg in snatch, 108 kg in clean and jerk). Chanu can take heart from the fact that she went for a medal despite an injury. But that’s the only takeaway. The Asian Games weightlifting competition offered a new hierarchy in the 49 kg weight class, one in which the Chinese aren’t at the top and where Chanu isn’t in the top three. India’s Mirabai Chanu Saikhom reacts in pain after she got injured while competing in the women’s 49kg Group A weightlifting final at 19t...

30Sep

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Premier League: Early twist in title race as Manchester City go down to Wolves as Arsenal hammer Bournemouth, Manchester United lose

Hwang Hee-chan scored the winner as Wolverhampton Wanderers ended champions Manchester City’s perfect start to the Premier League season with a shock 2-1 home win on Saturday. The defeat at Molineux was City’s second loss in five days, after Newcastle United dumped them out of the League Cup, and dashed the leaders’ hopes of stretching their season-opening run to seven league wins in a row. A Ruben Dias own goal sent Wolves 1-0 up in the 13th minute, Pedro Neto’s shot deflected in off the Portuguese player’s knee, but Julian Alvarez levelled the score with a bending free kick in the 58th. Thanks for your support, City fans 🩵 🐺 2-1 ⚪️ #ManCity pic.twitter.com/79h8gabDFq — Manchester City (@ManCity) September 30, 2023 Hwang restored the home side’s lead against the run of play in the 66t...

30Sep

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The pitches in India are doctored for Ashwin in Test matches: Laxman Sivaramakrisnan goes on a tirade against Indian spinner

Former Indian leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrisnan has taken a jibe at the current Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin through his X (formerly known as Twitter). Sivaramakrisnan was critical of Ashwin’s bowling and questioned his ability to pick wickets in SENA countries. “Indian batsman are struggling against spin because the pitches in India are doctored for Ashwin in Test matches. Look at his record in SENA Countries,” Sivaramakrisnan wrote. He further called him “selfish stats player”.Most Read 1 India vs England Live Score, World Cup 2023 Warm-Up Match: Game has been called off in Guwahati 2 India my motherland, Canada my adopted country, both important and I’m optimistic: McGill University V-C Deep Saini See More ...

30Sep

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ICC unveils names of World Cup mascots as Blaze and Tonk after fan vote

The International Cricket Council on Saturday announced that their two World Cup 2023 mascots will be known as ‘Blaze’ and ‘Tonk’ after majority of fans voted for these two names. The duo were unveiled back in August and fans from around the globe were asked to help name them, with Blaze and Tonk emerging as the winners. Most Read 1 India my motherland, Canada my adopted country, both important and I’m optimistic: McGill University V-C Deep Saini 2 Jawan box office collection day 23: Shah Rukh Khan’s blockbuster beats Pathaan’s worldwide record, mints Rs 1055 crore to become second-biggest Bollywood film ever See More The female mascot will be called ‘Blaze’, who according to the ICC press release stated, “will...

30Sep

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This could be my last World Cup for India: Ravichandran Ashwin

Ahead of the warm-up game against England on Saturday, Ravichandran Ashwin hinted that this could be his last World Cup for his country. “I have kept saying this, this could be my last World Cup for India,” the 37-year-old said while speaking to Dinesh Karthik. Ashwin replaced injured Axar Patel in the 2023 World Cup squad. The veteran bowler had missed out on the 2019 World Cup squad but was part of 2011 and 2015 squad where he played a key role for the side. R Ashwin replaces injured Axar Patel in the 15-member squad. We wish Axar a speedy recovery 👍 👍#TeamIndia's final squad for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is here 🙌#CWC23 pic.twitter.com/aejYhJJQrT — BCCI (@BCCI) September 28, 2023 When Ashwin was included for the three ODIs against Australia, it was evident that India were...

30Sep

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Asian Games 2023 Live Updates, Day 7: India vs China for gold medal in shooting, Sreeshankar & Jyothi Yarraji qualify for finals

Indian gold medalist shooter Palak poses with the medal after the finals of women's 10m air pistol (individual) event at the 19th Asian Games, in Hangzhou, China, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. (PTI Photo) 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...

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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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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Roshanara Club, where Virat Kohli’s red-ball career blossomed, sealed by Delhi Development Authority

Virat Kohli’s childhood mentor and coach, Raj Kumar Sharma says it was at the Roshanara Club ground where the former India captain played a coming-of-age-knock in 2009 in a Ranji Trophy match against Maharashtra. “It was at this ground where I saw Virat playing one of his finest knocks in the longer format. It was against Maharashtra and we were set for an outright win, but for bonus (points) we needed a 10-wicket win. Virat, who was captain of the Delhi team, walked out to open with Mithun Manhas, and we chased down the total without losing any wicket,” Sharma told The Indian Express. Kohli scored an unbeaten 67. Delhi were set a target of 112 and the ball was seaming even on a Day 4 wicket, typical of the tracks rolled out at the Roshanara Club grounds. The iconic Roshanara Club, wher...

29Sep

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World Cup 2023: How Kanpur shaped the cunning Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav

As the World Cup caravan is set to roll across the length and breath of India, a pertinent question arises: how does a place and its social milieu shape a cricketer and influence their game? Could Virat Kohli have been the same man and player were he born in Guwahati East and not in West Delhi? Or what would have happened to Kuldeep Yadav had he been from Colaba in Mumbai? We find out over the next seven days.Well-known political cartoonist Manjul is in the business of unpeeling complex national issues to their basic core with subtle and cutting humour. He left the place of his birth, Kanpur, in the 1990s. But despite the parting, distance and the decades, the chaotic city with an unfair share of comics and wry one-liners continues to influence his work. Manjul likes to talk about his c...

28Sep

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Mihir Vasavda at Asian Games: After silver, wushu player Naorem Roshibina Devi from Manipur breaks down, dedicates medal to state

MINUTES AFTER winning a wushu silver, tears flowed down Naorem Roshibina Devi’s face. These, however, weren’t tears of joy.While in Hangzhou, her mind was on the ethnic violence back home in Manipur. Hailing from Bishnupur district, one of the epicentres of ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities that have kept the state on the boil for months now, Devi, a Meitei, said she’s spent sleepless nights worrying about her parents. “I dedicate this medal to Manipur,” she said, flashing the silver minutes after going down to China’s Wu Xiaowei in the final. “I want to dedicate this medal to those who have been protecting and fighting for us.” The silver was an improvement on the bronze she won five years ago in Jakarta. And when she stepped off the podium at the Xiaoshan Guali Sp...

28Sep

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Ravichandran Ashwin’s route-map to WC: Axar Patel’s injury, experience, tricks, and being an off-spinner

Ravichandran Ashwin has replaced Axar Patel in India’s World Cup squad as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sent its updated list of players to the International Cricket Council on Thursday. The Indian Express understands that Axar, who suffered a quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup, will take another couple of weeks before he resumes bowling and following discussions with the team management, the selectors decided to include Ashwin, who alongside Virat Kohli, will play his second World Cup on home soil and third overall.Although the injury to Axar has made the switch easy, India have been keeping their tabs open on Ashwin. Even when the selectors met the team management that includes skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid before naming the squads for Asia Cup...