Tag: Asian Games

  • How squash helped Abhay Singh drop 26 kilos in a yr as a teen, and propelled him to stardom after Asian Games

    Despite the towering glass partitions of the cage surrounding him, Abhay Singh managed to deposit his racquet into the gang with an almighty heave. In the times since that second — which sealed the lads’s squash group’s gold medal on the recently-concluded Asian Games with a win over Pakistan — Abhay has replayed it a good few instances courtesy of clips on the web.

    He admits now that he can not keep in mind an excessive amount of of what occurred throughout that adrenaline-soaked, testy remaining in opposition to Noor Zaman.

    “I lost myself (in that moment) which is why I chucked my racquet into the crowd. I didn’t know what was happening. I was really feeling a lot of emotion. Even after everything had settled there was too much going on. So many emotions,” Abhay recollected to The Indian Express on a Twitter Space earlier this month. “It’s the first time I have thrown my racquet into the crowd. It went flying. There is a video on Twitter which I watch over and over. It’s funny how different people react to that moment.”

    It was the form of gripping match that individuals speak about a long time later. The destiny of the gold medal rested on Abhay’s match in opposition to Noor Zaman after Mahesh Mangaonkar misplaced to Nasir Iqbal, and Saurav Ghosal defeated Muhammad Asim Khan. Just just a few days earlier than the ultimate, each groups had met in one other conflict, the place India had misplaced. This one too appeared destined to finish the identical means with Noor two factors away from the title.

    The India vs Pakistan remaining had an additional edge. Not that an India-Pakistan recreation wants one. But after Pakistan had received the group stage encounter, a member of the Pakistani contingent posted a video on how that they had crushed their neighbours on social media which the Indians deemed disrespectful.

    “Before that video, we wanted the clash to be cordial. But after seeing that, it became a bit more personal. Me being the young, hot-headed one, I took it differently to the other three. They were like let it go. I was like, ‘Inko hum dikhayenge.’ I took it personally. Maybe it was a lack of maturity in these situations.”

    While Abhay was enjoying in opposition to Pakistan, again house, his mom wasn’t watching. She was as a substitute taking a nap.

    Indian squash gamers Abhay Singh, Mahesh Mangaonkar and Harinder Pal Sandhu have a good time after profitable the gold medal within the Men’s Team squash occasion on the nineteenth Asian Games, in Hangzhou, China, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. India beat Pakistan 2-1 within the remaining. (PTI )Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)(PTI09_30_2023_000249A)

    “My mum is a heart patient so she can’t watch me play. She can’t deal with the nerves. Usually what happens when I play is that my dad is watching on TV. And he gets pretty excited and starts shouting. And my mum will be in another room where she can figure out what’s happening in the match thanks to my dad who is quite vocal. During the Pakistan game, my dad was at work and my mom was home. Their phones started blowing up with messages after the result. That’s when they found out I had won.”

    For Abhay, that second was an indication that he had made the suitable determination two years again when he contemplated quitting the game.

    “Pre-COVID, I was playing the best squash of my life. But during the pandemic, as an athlete I wasn’t able to compete. It was a weird situation. Post-COVID, getting back to sport was not that easy. I struggled with a few results. It just got to a point where I was like if I have given so much to the sport, the least the sport could do was make me happy. And it didn’t. Maybe at that point, if I had walked away it would not have been forever. Maybe at some point I would have tried to come back,” he mentioned.

    “One of the options would have been becoming an assistant coach. It would have been something to do with sport. Maybe I would have pursued an undergrad degree in the UK.”

    As he ruminated over that call, he obtained the e-mail in January 2022 from the squash federation in regards to the trials for the Commonwealth Games in April 2022. That e-mail modified the course of his profession.

    Peak health

    At the Asian Games in Hangzhou, Abhay performed 13 matches over the house of 10 days. After serving to the lads’s group to a gold medal, he partnered teenager Anahat Singh to say bronze. It was the form of factor that required him to be in peak health.

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    “I have put in a lot of work in the summer, to be in the shape and conditioning that it is in now,” mentioned Abhay. “On the day I won that game to seal India’s gold, I was with the physio till 1:30 am in the morning. My body was busted. I had two very tough matches. The next morning I had to start mixed doubles. I had two matches the next day,” he mentioned.

    This conditioning is in sharp distinction to when he began enjoying as a young person on the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai.

    “When I was 15 years old, I was quite overweight. Must have been about 96 kilos. I remember thinking I needed to shed this weight. So I thought playing squash would help. Within months, I not only went into the top 4 in India, but also lost 26 kilos in the span of a year to drop to 70 kg,” he mentioned.

  • Odisha showers money awards on hockey staff for gold medal, Rohidas to get 1.5 crore rupees

    By PTI

    BHUBANESWAR: A day after the Odisha authorities introduced a money award of Rs 5 lakh every to gamers and workers members of the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday stated Odia defender Amit Rohidas will even be given a further Rs 1.5 crore for his function in nation’s historic gold win on the nineteenth Asian Games in Hangzhou.

    Congratulating the Indian males’s hockey staff for successful gold on the Asian Games, Patnaik expressed his heartfelt congratulations to Amit Rohidas, acknowledging his excellent efficiency and calling him an “inspiration” for children not solely throughout Odisha but additionally all through India.

    “Amit Rohidas’ remarkable achievements exemplify the spirit of perseverance and excellence. He has become a symbol of hope and pride for aspiring athletes in our state and beyond. His success story resonates with every individual striving to achieve greatness, and we are immensely proud of his accomplishments,” Patnaik stated in a press release.

    Describing Amit Rohidas as a “true son of the soil” from the hockey-rich area of Sundergarh in Odisha, Patnaik stated he (Rohidas) had proudly earned himself an Olympic Bronze Medal on the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

    Amit Rohidas, a product of Odisha’s wealthy sporting tradition, honed his distinctive expertise on the Panposh Sports Hostel in Rourkela.

    With a formidable monitor file of over 150 caps, Rohidas emerged as an integral cog in India’s marketing campaign in Hangzhou, serving as the primary rusher and displaying exceptional strategic acumen.

    His pivotal purpose within the semi-final in opposition to South Korea propelled the Indian staff in the direction of the ultimate and the coveted gold medal, a senior sports activities division official stated.

    After Kishore Jena’s historic feat in javelin throw the place he gained a silver medal, Amit Rohidas turns into the second Odia to complete on the rostrum at this version of the Asian Games.

    Jena was additionally rewarded with a money prize of Rs 1.5 crore for his achievement.

    In regards to the money award for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, the official stated that the reward will likely be given in recognition of their stellar efficiency to win the coveted gold medal and seal a berth within the Paris Olympics 2024.

    The chief minister additionally spoke to the staff over video name after the medal ceremony on Friday.

    “My heartiest congratulations to the victorious Indian men’s hockey team. Their unwavering dedication and hard work have once again proven that hockey is truly India’s game, embodying our nation’s unyielding spirit,” Patnaik stated.

    “In Odisha, where hockey holds a special place in our hearts, this historic day will forever be etched in our memories as a momentous triumph for our beloved sport and our nation. I wish the Indian team the very best as they prepare for the Paris Olympic Games,” he added.

    Skipper Harmanpreet Singh led admirably because the Indian males’s hockey staff mauled defending champions Japan 5-1 to reclaim the Asian Games gold in Hangzhou, China, their fourth within the continental showpiece, after 9 years.

    The Odisha authorities has been the sponsor for the Indian hockey groups since 2018 and it’ll proceed until 2033.

    The state authorities on Saturday issued full-page commercials in native and nationwide newspapers to congratulate the Indian Men’s Hockey staff for the Gold medal within the nineteenth Asian video games.

    BHUBANESWAR: A day after the Odisha authorities introduced a money award of Rs 5 lakh every to gamers and workers members of the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday stated Odia defender Amit Rohidas will even be given a further Rs 1.5 crore for his function in nation’s historic gold win on the nineteenth Asian Games in Hangzhou.

    Congratulating the Indian males’s hockey staff for successful gold on the Asian Games, Patnaik expressed his heartfelt congratulations to Amit Rohidas, acknowledging his excellent efficiency and calling him an “inspiration” for children not solely throughout Odisha but additionally all through India.

    “Amit Rohidas’ remarkable achievements exemplify the spirit of perseverance and excellence. He has become a symbol of hope and pride for aspiring athletes in our state and beyond. His success story resonates with every individual striving to achieve greatness, and we are immensely proud of his accomplishments,” Patnaik stated in a press release.googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    Describing Amit Rohidas as a “true son of the soil” from the hockey-rich area of Sundergarh in Odisha, Patnaik stated he (Rohidas) had proudly earned himself an Olympic Bronze Medal on the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

    Amit Rohidas, a product of Odisha’s wealthy sporting tradition, honed his distinctive expertise on the Panposh Sports Hostel in Rourkela.

    With a formidable monitor file of over 150 caps, Rohidas emerged as an integral cog in India’s marketing campaign in Hangzhou, serving as the primary rusher and displaying exceptional strategic acumen.

    His pivotal purpose within the semi-final in opposition to South Korea propelled the Indian staff in the direction of the ultimate and the coveted gold medal, a senior sports activities division official stated.

    After Kishore Jena’s historic feat in javelin throw the place he gained a silver medal, Amit Rohidas turns into the second Odia to complete on the rostrum at this version of the Asian Games.

    Jena was additionally rewarded with a money prize of Rs 1.5 crore for his achievement.

    In regards to the money award for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, the official stated that the reward will likely be given in recognition of their stellar efficiency to win the coveted gold medal and seal a berth within the Paris Olympics 2024.

    The chief minister additionally spoke to the staff over video name after the medal ceremony on Friday.

    “My heartiest congratulations to the victorious Indian men’s hockey team. Their unwavering dedication and hard work have once again proven that hockey is truly India’s game, embodying our nation’s unyielding spirit,” Patnaik stated.

    “In Odisha, where hockey holds a special place in our hearts, this historic day will forever be etched in our memories as a momentous triumph for our beloved sport and our nation. I wish the Indian team the very best as they prepare for the Paris Olympic Games,” he added.

    Skipper Harmanpreet Singh led admirably because the Indian males’s hockey staff mauled defending champions Japan 5-1 to reclaim the Asian Games gold in Hangzhou, China, their fourth within the continental showpiece, after 9 years.

    The Odisha authorities has been the sponsor for the Indian hockey groups since 2018 and it’ll proceed until 2033.

    The state authorities on Saturday issued full-page commercials in native and nationwide newspapers to congratulate the Indian Men’s Hockey staff for the Gold medal within the nineteenth Asian video games.

  • Asian Games, badminton: Satwik-Chirag one win away from greatest title of their careers

    The rise of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty has been badminton’s equal of India launching its first-ever sounding rocket, that quantum soar for launch automobiles 60 years in the past. This story of the 2 towering shuttlers has all of the trial-and-error processes, all of the amateurish determining of what works and what doesn’t, and all of the skilled experience from completely different nations pieced collectively little by little, to lastly assemble an indigenous marvel.

    On Saturday, Satwik-Chirag play the largest last but of their careers – the Asian Games summit conflict, and several other eyes will probably be glued to TV units and cellular screens to look at if their golden dream is realised. They reached there beating the Malaysia duo of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-17, 21-12.

    The World No. 1 chart-topping eventuality will comply with in subsequent Tuesday’s rankings, however the eminently watchable doubles pair would need to win a title, a gold medal at Asia’s greatest Games, to stamp their supremacy slightly than a mere totalling of 5 digit factors. Chirag was 2, and Satwik simply born when the Leander Paes-Mahesh Bhupathi wave swept by way of to exhilarate Indians in a distinct racquet sport. The Asiad gold can do the identical for badminton.

    Watching this on loop 🔁🥳pic.twitter.com/yCOdBShKUV

    — BAI Media (@BAI_Media) October 6, 2023

    India doesn’t have a convention of world-beaters in doubles badminton, although Jwala Gutta-Ashwini Ponappa did win a Worlds bronze in 2011. Indian badminton’s greatest newsmakers for a very long time have been two girls in singles, and males’s badminton wanted a Thomas Cup in 2022 to get observed, the unassuming pairing a step behind the celebrities in singles.

    Satwik comes from Amalapuram in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, Chirag from Mumbai’s western suburb of Malad, and it was Malaysian coach Tan Kim Her who introduced them collectively. Danish doubles nice Mathias Boe introduced his always-ticking strategising mind and thorough sporting ardour to the combo, to show the tall duo into world-class shuttlers. Their physios and trainers are coping with a primary era of ravaging accidents and aches, typical to the doubles power-speed sport, and nonetheless studying a number of restoration and strengthening hacks alongside the way in which.

    They run into pedigreed Koreans within the finals, and India’s first males to make the Asiad last are up in opposition to a compulsive history-making nation.

    Opponent Choi Sol-gyu received the world juniors coming by way of a doubles system that has thrown up champions for greater than 70 years. Kim Won-ho’s mom is Gil Young-ah, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics blended doubles gold medallist, and the primary Korean girl to be head coach of knowledgeable workforce. When Kim tells the media after his semis, “Now we have one last game left, I want to win the gold medal no matter what,” he speaks bolstered by a legacy of profitable that runs by way of their blood.

    Another Korean pairing beat Satwik-Chirag within the workforce occasion, and although unseeded, Choi-Kim could have the complete may of an assembly-line system that scythed by way of rankings to win the World Championship title final month.

    Unstoppable power

    What the Koreans may run into is dizzying ambition and dazzling functionality in power-packed badminton, the fierce delight in trendsetting that the 2 Indians treasure and an unbridled fashion of attacking play that’s the envy of most doubles staples. Satwik-Chirag have been on an unstoppable smashathon after they received the Korea Open earlier within the yr, raining down energy hits and making retrieving inconceivable for opponents. The two have the world’s two quickest smashes, measured at a shuttle laboratory, and in matchplay.

    They received Indonesia, Korea and the Asian Championships, enjoying completely different types. When they thumped Aaron-Soh, the previous world champions in Friday’s semis, it was all geometric incisions with angles and placement in gaps, exploring the empty proper flank of the Malaysians. Satwik’s defence was compact within the entrance, and Chirag stomped with laser-beam precision thwacks from the back-court – they normally play in reverse positions.

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    The Malaysians have been left cribbing in regards to the Indian serve and time taken in reception, and have been slapped with a yellow card for the prattle. The Indians unfold out their assault to the entire courtroom and have been removed from predictable and resorting to slam-bang. Make no mistake, they ace the slams and bangs, however didn’t have to on the day, as a result of their racquet work struck lengths that pushed Aaron-Soh into awkward defending contortions.

    The Indians negated Aaron’s deft forearm, and annoyed Soh by swishing the shuttle previous his nostril. At one level, the Indians discovered themselves on the identical aspect of the courtroom, however Chirag sprinted throughout to cowl the opposite flank and discover a winner. Both bent low for the steep defence, and Satwik had a ‘tweener in a frenzied rally. He stood his floor when a string got here undone, ready to make use of his racquet body if required. The Indians received on pure geometry while not having to hit fifth gear of power-hitting.

    The Koreans will come armed with tactical nous chiselled over many years. The Indians will wind up realizing that regardless of being their nation’s first era of doubles professionals, they’re second to none

  • Naveen Patnaik proclaims Rs 1.5 crore for javelin star Kishore Jena

    By Express News Service

    BHUBANESWAR: With Kishore Jena bagging a historic silver medal on the nineteenth Asian Games, the Odisha authorities introduced a money award of Rs 1.5 crore for the javelin star. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik mentioned the reward was in recognition of his stellar efficiency, perseverance and willpower.

    “I congratulate him on his win at the Asian Games and also qualifying for the Paris Olympics. Kishore’s triumph not only reflects personal excellence but also serves as an inspiration for budding athletes across the country,” he mentioned. The Odisha CM assured all assist for Kishore for his preparation for the Olympics subsequent 12 months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur congratulated Kishore for his medal-winning achievement.  

    Earlier within the day, the star athlete’s household was tense. “We held a puja. As the event started, our family and relatives gathered in one room and watched the telecast,” mentioned his sister Itishree Sundara. She mentioned the household was extraordinarily joyful and proud. “Our family is missing him a lot due to his preparation for the Asian Games. He has not visited his home for the last two years. In our family, he is the only athlete. We are eagerly waiting to welcome him to the village,” she added.    

    Coach Samarjit Singh Malhi is ready to congratulate his pupil too. Speaking to The New Indian Express, he mentioned “Today, I am eagerly waiting to congratulate Kishore for the first time. He has proved that he is a true fighter, with the mental strength to overcome any odds,” Malhi mentioned. In the final week of his coaching, he mentioned, Kishore suffered a hamstring damage which was a matter of concern. But he overcame and made the nation proud, mentioned a beaming Malhi.

    BHUBANESWAR: With Kishore Jena bagging a historic silver medal on the nineteenth Asian Games, the Odisha authorities introduced a money award of Rs 1.5 crore for the javelin star. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik mentioned the reward was in recognition of his stellar efficiency, perseverance and willpower.

    “I congratulate him on his win at the Asian Games and also qualifying for the Paris Olympics. Kishore’s triumph not only reflects personal excellence but also serves as an inspiration for budding athletes across the country,” he mentioned. The Odisha CM assured all assist for Kishore for his preparation for the Olympics subsequent 12 months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur congratulated Kishore for his medal-winning achievement.  

    Earlier within the day, the star athlete’s household was tense. “We held a puja. As the event started, our family and relatives gathered in one room and watched the telecast,” mentioned his sister Itishree Sundara. She mentioned the household was extraordinarily joyful and proud. “Our family is missing him a lot due to his preparation for the Asian Games. He has not visited his home for the last two years. In our family, he is the only athlete. We are eagerly waiting to welcome him to the village,” she added.    googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    Coach Samarjit Singh Malhi is ready to congratulate his pupil too. Speaking to The New Indian Express, he mentioned “Today, I am eagerly waiting to congratulate Kishore for the first time. He has proved that he is a true fighter, with the mental strength to overcome any odds,” Malhi mentioned. In the final week of his coaching, he mentioned, Kishore suffered a hamstring damage which was a matter of concern. But he overcame and made the nation proud, mentioned a beaming Malhi.

  • Asian Games: India at unprecedented excessive on medal desk after archers, athletes style gold

    The day started with an arrow piercing the morning chill. It ended with a spear floating throughout the night time sky. And each yielded comparable outcomes: a gold medal.

    The archers ensured India’s best-ever total medal tally on the Asian Games when the compound blended group received the gold. The athletes made certain the gold depend, too, can be greater than ever earlier than.

    The observe and subject athletes, who received seven medals on Wednesday and have a complete haul of 29, took India’s medal depend to 81 – 11 greater than that on the 2018 Games. The 18 gold medals, too, are two greater than the earlier version in Jakarta with javelin and relay offering the ultimate push.

    𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐁𝐔𝐌𝐏𝐒 ❤️❤️❤️ 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲🥇🥇🥇

    Witness India’s INCREDIBLE record-breaking moments as we soar greater than EVER on the Asian Games!

    81 Medals and COUNTING! Our spirit echoes. Our flag flies excessive. We are unstoppable!

    Join the… pic.twitter.com/6UnVuZxJVM

    — Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) October 4, 2023

    “When we finished our events and posed for photos,” javelin gold medallist Neeraj Chopra mentioned, “(silver medal winner Kishore) Jena told me, ‘aaj sab taraf apna flag dikh raha hai (our flag is everywhere)’.”

    While the duo have been navigating by means of a controversial closing, Neeraj and Jena noticed the Tricolour being hoisted 4 occasions. The 35km blended stroll group was the primary to be handed their bronze medals after a punishing race within the morning. Harmilan Bains then claimed the silver within the 800m adopted by Avinash Sable’s battling silver medal within the 5,000m and the ladies’s 4x400m relay group’s second-place end.

    Then, as Jena and Neeraj launched into a lap of honour with the flag draped round their shoulders, they noticed 4 smiling faces on the other finish of the sphere. “I looked up and saw the relay team was celebrating their win,” Jena mentioned.

    Like Mother, Like Daughter 🏃‍♀️👏

    21 years after her mom received the Women’s 800m on the Asiad, @HarmilanBains takes silver in the identical competitors 💙#SonySportsNetwork #Cheer4India #Hangzhou2022 #Athletics #HarmilanBains #WorkforceIndia | @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/c7yv8INbgV

    — Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) October 4, 2023

    India’s 4x400m quartet introduced the curtain down on the observe occasions in some fashion to win the gold medal. For a short second, it regarded past their attain – similar to it did with the ladies, who couldn’t retain the title they’ve held each time because the Busan Asiad.

    Mohammad Anas, who ran the opening leg, began effectively and was quickest among the many 4 Indians. But the oldest man of the group, at 28, was nonetheless fifth finest within the subject. On the ultimate stretch, he ran out of steam and from pushing for first place, he completed far behind the remainder of the pack with a timing of 43.60 seconds.

    𝐒 for Sable, 𝐒 for Silver 🥈@avinash3000m took house his second medal for #WorkforceIndia displaying yet one more magical efficiency on the nineteenth #AsianGames 🏃#SonySportsNetwork #AsianGames #Cheer4India #Hangzhou2022 #AvinashSable #Athletics #WorkforceIndia | @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/VJSkDJsUwQ

    — Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) October 4, 2023

    India’s baton alternate was clean and Amoj Jacob took off. He coated the hole inside the primary 200m, overtook Sri Lanka’s Kaushika Dewage and Qatar’s Ashraf Osman and as he got here out from the curve, Jacob prolonged the hole between him and the second-placed Sri Lankan by almost a second.

    Muhammed Ajmal, together with his lengthy strides and endless vitality, didn’t let the lead slip regardless of coming below growing stress from Qatar’s Ismail Abakar, who ran a quicker leg. But the cushion supplied by Jacob got here in helpful as India have been nonetheless in pole place going into the anchor leg.

    And Rajesh Ramesh, the youngest of the lot aged 23, didn’t let it burn up. India completed the race in 3 minutes, 1.58 seconds forward of Qatar (3:02.05) and Sri Lanka (3:02.55).

    As he crossed the end line, Ramesh kissed the baton and held his arms vast open. From the opposite aspect, Jena and Neeraj watched because the 4 males embraced one another.

    Comeback tales

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    Asian Games 2023, Day 11 Highlights: Neeraj Chopra wins gold with 88.88m throw, Jena finishes with silver in javelin closing; Indian males’s hockey group, Saurav Ghosal attain closing

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    Behind the smiling faces have been tales of candy redemption for a quartet that hasn’t been in one of the best of kind in recent times. Anas has struggled and was nearly written off. Ramesh’s prospects light after a promising begin to his profession after accidents, work commitments and the pandemic almost ended his profession in 2020. Until lately, the Tamil Nadu runner labored full-time as a ticket checker at Trichy railway station.

    The golden boy and the brand new star within the making get 🥇 & 🥈for 🇮🇳@Neeraj_chopra1 secured the highest spot and defended his #AsianGames title with a MASSIVE throw of 88.88 m whereas @Kishore78473748 took the silver passing his personal private finest twice 😮💙#SonySportsNetwork… pic.twitter.com/VjHsdIny4f

    — Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) October 4, 2023

    Jacob, too, contemplated quitting the game after being slowed down by accidents whereas Ajmal became a quarter-miler solely a 12 months in the past.

    The upturn in fortunes was evident on the World Championships in Budapest, the place they challenged the mighty Americans within the heats to qualify for the ultimate. The relay gold, India’s first because the 1962 Asiad, has now stoked Olympic ambitions.

    “Overall, it feels good that we won gold, so happy,” Jacob mentioned. “We tried for a new record but gold without a record is also fine. A record without gold will not feel good. Aim fulfilled for this season, now let’s focus on the Olympics.”

  • Asian Games 2023: Neeraj Chopra retakes first throw after confusion and chaos in males’s javelin closing

    India’s Neeraj Chopra was caught in a bizarre state of affairs within the Asian Games 2023. Chopra, whereas collaborating within the males’s javelin throw closing, noticed his first throw getting wiped off the system. Chopra had walked again into the remaining space after a authorized try.

    He waited for his distance to replicate on the board however regardless of giving it a number of minutes, it didn’t come by. Neeraj walked as much as the referees whereas the occasion was halted for a short second. India’s javelin star stood confused because the referees tried to clarify what had occurred. After a number of minutes of deliberation, Neeraj was requested to take a contemporary throw as soon as it was confirmed that the tools had didn’t calculate the gap of his throw.

    Asian Games, Day 11: Live

    Neeraj, on his contemporary first try, hit 82.38m after which 84.49m on his second throw.

    This was not the one glitch that occurred within the males’s javelin occasion. India’s second athlete within the occasion – Kishore Jena’s second try was referred to as a foul, regardless of him not touching the road. Jena stared on the umpires as properly and later his throw was marked as a authorized try.

    In the 12 months 2023, Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra showcased commendable performances in each the Diamond League and the World Athletics Championships.

    At the Diamond League 2023, held in Eugene, Oregon, Chopra secured the second place within the males’s javelin throw occasion. His finest throw was recorded at 83.80 meters, which he achieved on a Saturday. Despite his spectacular efficiency, he fell in need of defending his title from the earlier 12 months when he turned the primary Indian to win a Diamond League Trophy. The trophy for the 2023 Diamond League was clinched by Jakub Vadlejch from the Czech Republic, who registered one of the best throw of 84.24 meters.

    Chopra’s efficiency within the Zurich Diamond League, held on August 31, 2023, was additionally noteworthy. He completed second with a throw of 85.71 meters, simply behind Vadlejch’s profitable throw of 85.86 meters. Despite not securing the highest spot, Chopra’s efforts have been lauded as he had lately been topped the world champion.

    In the World Athletics Championships 2023, held in Budapest, Chopra made historical past by changing into the first-ever Indian world champion. He gained the gold medal within the males’s javelin throw occasion with an excellent throw of 88.17 meters. This achievement marked a big milestone in Chopra’s profession and in Indian athletics.

    Edited By:

    Kingshuk Kusari

    Published On:

    Oct 4, 2023

  • Asian Games 2023, Day 10 schedule: Indian begin marketing campaign in males’s cricket, athletics and boxing in focus

    The Indian contingent have had an excellent weekend on the Asian Games, taking the medal tally to 60. India are at present positioned on the fourth rank within the medal tally after successful 7 medals on Monday, October 2.

    On Monday, will probably be enterprise as normal for India within the Asian Games, with athletes both competing in medal rounds or enjoying in rounds that can guarantee them a medal.

    Day 9 Highlights

    India didn’t win a Gold medal on Monday however there have been some spectacular displaying on the monitor and subject with Ancy Sojan Edippally outclassing favourites within the ladies’s lengthy bounce closing and Parul Chaudhary residing as much as the popularity in ladies’s 3000m steeplechase. It was a dominating present from India within the steeplechase occasion as Priti received bronze within the ladies’s 3000m occasion following up from Avinash Sable’s Gold within the males’s occasion on Sunday.

    Yarraji’s Tribute for late pal

    Meanwhile, the India males’s hockey group hammered Bangladesh 12-0 to guarantee themselves a spot within the semi-finals whereas their arch-rivals and 8-time Gold medalists Pakistan missed out on a spot within the final 4 for the primary time in Asian Games historical past.

    Day 10 Outlook

    The Indian cricket group would be the prime deal with Day 10 of the Asian Games the place they tackle Nepal. Nepal are coming into the sport after a record-shattering win in opposition to Mongolia, however are usually not anticipated to pose an actual hazard to the Ruturaj Gaikwad group.

    Preeti, Lovlina, Narender and Sachin have an opportunity to both win or guarantee medals on Day 10 and the boxing contingent could be raring to go after Nikhat Zareen’s bronze end.

    EVENT-WISE SCHEDULE FOR INDIA AT ASIAN GAMES – October 3

    Medal occasions in Bold

    1. Aquatics – Diving

    Siddharth Pardeshi & London Singh – M 3m Springboard – Preliminary – 10:30 IST
    Siddharth Pardeshi & London Singh – M 3m Springboard – Final (if certified)- 17:00 IST

    2. Archery

    Jyothi Surekha Vs ZHEXENBINOVA Adel (KAZ) – W Compound Individual Quarter Final – 06:10 IST
    Aditi GS Vs COJUANGCO (PHI) – W Compound Individual Quarter Final – 06:30 IST
    Abhishek Verma Vs TYUTYUN Andrey (KAZ) – M Compound Individual Quarter Final – 07:50 IST
    Ojas Pravin Deotale Vs KARABAYEV Akbarali (KAZ) – M Compound Individual Quarter Final – 08:10 IST
    Atanu Vs X. Qi (CHN) – M Recurve Individual Quarter Final – 12:10 IST
    Dhiraj Vs I. Abdullin (KAZ) – M Recurve Individual Quarter Final – 12:30 IST
    Jyothi Surekha Vs TBD – W Compound Individual Semi Final (If Qualified) – 08:50 IST Onwards
    Aditi GS Vs TBD – W Compound Individual Semi Final (If Qualified) – 08:50 IST Onwards
    Abhishek Verma TBD – M Compound Individual Semi Final (If Qualified) – 09:30 IST Onwards
    Ojas Pravin Deotale Vs TBD – M Compound Individual Semi Final (If Qualified) – 09:30 IST Onwards
    Atanu Vs X. TBD – M Recurve Individual Semi Final (If Qualified) – 13:50 IST Onwards
    Dhiraj Vs TBD- M Recurve Individual Semi Final If Qualified) – 13:50 IST Onwards

    3. Athletics

    Tejaswin Shanker – M Decathlon
    o 100 m Hurdles – 06:30 IST
    o Discuss Throw – 07:00 IST
    o Pole Vault – 08:10 IST
    o Javelin Throw – 16:35 IST
    o 1500m – 18:10 IST
    KM Chanda & Harmilan Bains – W 800m Heat 1 – 06:40 IST
    Men’s Team – M 4X400m RelayHeat 1 – 07:10 IST
    Rubina Yadav, Pooja – W High Jump Final – 16:30 IST
    Abdulla Aboobacker, Praveen Chithravel – M Triple Jump Final – 16:40 IST
    Vithya Ramaraj – W 400m Hurdles Final – 16:50 IST
    Santhosh Kumar, Yashas Palaksha – M 400m Hurdles Final – 17:05 IST
    Parul Chaudhary , Ankita – W 5000m Final – 17:20 IST
    Annu Rani – W Javelin Throw Final – 17:40 IST
    Krishan Kumar, Muhammed Afsal – M 800m Final – 17:55 IST

    4. Badminton

    HS Prannoy Vs B. Munkhbat (MGL) – Men’ Singles Round of 32 – 08:10 IST
    PV Sindhu Vs W. C. Hsu (TPE) – Women’s Singles Round of 32 – 08:50 IST
    Ashmita Chaliha Vs GM Tunjumg (INA) – Women’s Singles Round of 32 – 10:50 IST
    Treesa/ Gayatri Vs Abdul. Abdul (MDV) – Women’s Doubles Round of 32 – 12:50 IST
    Tanisha/Ashwini Vs Ismail/Rasheed (MDV) – Women’s Doubles Round of 32 – 14:10 IST
    Srikanth Vs Y. Lee (KOR) – Men’ Singles Round of 32 – 14:10 IST

    5. Boxing

    Preeti Vs Chang Y (CHN) – W 54 Kg Semi Final – 11:30 IST
    Lovlina Borgohain Vs Maneekon B (THA) – W 75 Kg Semi Final – 12:00 IST
    Sachin Vs Ping Lyu (CHN) – M 57 Kg Quarter-Final – 17:15 IST
    Narender Vs Kunkanbeyev Ok (KAZ) – M +92 Kg Semi Final – 18:30 IST

    6. Bridge

    Jaggy Shivdasani, Sandeep Thakral, Rajeshwar Tiwari, Sumit Mukherjee, Raju Tolani, Ajay Khare- Men Team Semi-final rounds 1-3 – 06:30 IST Onwards

    7. Chess

    Vidit Gujarathi, Gukesh D., Arjun Erigais, R. Praggnanandhaa- Men’s Team
    Round 5 – 12:30 IST

    Koneru Humpy, Vantika Agrawal, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Savitha Sri Baskar – Women’s Team Round 5 – 12:30 IST

    8. Cricket

    Indian Men’s group Vs Nepal – M T20 Quarter-Final – 06:30 IST

    9. Kabaddi

    Men’s Team Vs Bangladesh – M Kabaddi Preliminary Round – 06:00 IST
    Women’s Team Vs South Korea – W Kabaddi Preliminary Round – 13:30 IST

    10. Kayaking & Canoeing

    Soniya Devi – W K1 500m – Final – 07:45 IST
    Arjun Singh & Sunil Singh Salam – M C2 – 1000m Final – 08:20 IST
    Binita Chanu Oinam, Parvathy Geeta, Dimita Devi Toijam& Soniya Devi Phairembam – W- K4 – 500m Final – 09:15 IST
    Kaveri & Neha Devi Leichondam – W C2 200m Final – 09:30 IST

    11. Hockey

    Women’s Team Vs Hong Kong – preliminary pool match – 07:45 IST

    12. Sepaktakraw

    Team India Vs South Korea – Men’s Quadrant Group Stage – 06:30 IST

    13. Soft Tennis

    Team India Vs Thailand – MTeam Preliminary Round – 07:30 IST
    Team India Vs Mongolia – WTeam Preliminary Round – 07:30 IST
    Team India Vs Japan – WTeam Preliminary Round – 09:00 IST
    Team India Vs Cambodia – MTeam Preliminary Round – 11:00 IST
    Team India Vs Vietnam – WTeam Preliminary Round – 11:00 IST
    Team India Vs South Korea – MTeam Preliminary Round – 12:45 IST
    Team India Vs Chinese Taipei – MTeam Preliminary Round – 14:30 IST
    Team India Vs China – WTeam Preliminary Round – 14:45 IST

    14. Sport Climbing

    Anisha Verma, Shivpreet Pannu – W Speed Qualification – 09:00 IST
    Aman Verma, Dhiraj Dinkar Birajdar – M Speed Qualification – 09:40 IST
    Anisha Verma, Shivpreet Pannu – W Speed Final (If Qualified) – 18:24 IST
    Aman Verma, Dhiraj Dinkar Birajdar – M Speed Final (If Qualified) – 18:28 IST

    15. Squash

    Harinder & Dipika Vs Japan – Mixed Doubles Pool Match – 08:30 IST
    Abhay & Anahat Vs Hong Kong – Mixed Doubles Pool Match – 10:00 IST
    Tanvi Khanna vs S. Watanabi (JPN) – Women’s Singles Quarter Final – 14:30 IST
    Harinder & Dipika Vs TBD – Mixed Doubles Quarter Final (If Qualified) – 14:30 IST Onwards
    Abhay & Anahat Vs TBD – Mixed Doubles Quarter Final (If Qualified) – 14:30 IST Onwards
    Saurav Ghosal Vs R. Tsukue (JPN) – Men’s Singles Quarter Final(If Qualified)- 15:30 IST.

    Edited By:

    Kingshuk Kusari

    Published On:

    Oct 2, 2023

  • Mihir Vasavda at Asian Games: Avinash Sable leads from begin to end, wins steeplechase by a rustic mile

    THE EUPHORIC wave, he knew, wasn’t for him. Avinash Sable noticed himself on the massive display, heard the roar that echoed inside the large bowl that the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre is, and glanced in the direction of Jianan Wang, the Chinese lengthy jumper for whom the packed stands cheered.

    As he waited for his race to start, Sable was in no phantasm about his fame. But he was confident about his prowess. “I knew I was faster than all my competitors, and I wanted to run a fast race,” he stated.

    And quick he was. By a rustic mile.

    The Indian steeplechaser ran a Games document time of 8 minutes, 19.5 seconds to win India’s first athletics gold medal of the Hangzhou Asiad, a staggering 4.25 seconds sooner than the second-placed Japanese Aoki Ryoma.

    Sunehra Pal 🟰 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐀 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐋🥇@Avinash3000m, take a Bow 🫡🇮🇳#StaffIndia #Cheer4India #Hangzhou2022 #Hockey #AsianGames #IssBaar100Paar | @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/nznpixvOpz

    — Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) October 1, 2023

    Sable’s gold was the primary of a busy – but wonderful – night the place Indian athletes completed on the rostrum in every of the 8 medal occasions that passed off.

    Track and subject on a Games night time is like an orchestra the place the sounds of devices, every sounding so totally different, mix superbly to type the right symphony. Rich, expressive and stuffed with feelings.

    The stage for this musical is the sprawling subject of play. The devices, athletes. Jumpers stretching their limbs and lunging in a single nook; throwers rolling their arms; distance runners and sprinters jogging up and down the observe. All warming up for his or her act to start.

    On China’s National Day, the Indian anthem performed twice as shot putter Tajinder Toor defended the title he gained 5 years in the past with some flourish.

    “My wife asked me to bring her gold,” he laughed. “Only gold.”

    He very almost couldn’t. Outright favorite to win the title, Toor had a wobbly begin. The 6’4” big couldn’t land a authorized throw in his first two makes an attempt, as Bahrain’s Mahmoud Abdelrehman raced into the lead with a primary throw of 19.67m.

    When Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed Daouda Tolo and China’s Liu Yang managed greater marks of 19.93m and 19.97m of their third and fourth makes an attempt, respectively, it regarded sport over for Toor, particularly after he fouled his fifth throw.

    𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗦𝗛 𝗦𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 – Remember the identify. He is destined for 𝙂𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙉𝙀𝙎𝙎 🫶 🇮🇳

    The phenomenal athlete smashed the #AsianGames document with a timing of 8:19:50s to clinch #StaffIndia‘s first 𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗 in Track & Field 🏃🏽@avinash3000m #SonySportsNetwork #Cheer4India… pic.twitter.com/sUKQwuzMVx

    — Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) October 1, 2023

    But in his final try, he mustered all of the energy he may to hurl the iron ball an enormous 20.36m away to run away with the gold medal.

    India clinching the primary two gold medals of the night obtained the Chinese spectators stressed and their athletes responded to stress, successful 4 titles – in males’s lengthy leap, ladies’s discus throw, heptathlon and ladies’s 100m hurdles.

    The Indians made their rivals work additional onerous. Murali Sreeshankar, who like Toor was gradual off the blocks, recorded a leap of 8m or extra in every of his 4 legitimate makes an attempt to maintain pushing Jianan Wang earlier than in the end settling for a silver.

    India’s Avinash Mukund Sable celebrates after successful the lads’s 3000-meter steeplechase closing occasion on the nineteenth Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023. (PTI Photo)

    In discus, Seema Punia completed behind two Chinese throwers who have been a category aside, particularly gold medallist Feng Bin, who threw a Games document 67.93m, almost 10m greater than Punia whose greatest was 58.62m.

    As the motion stored alternating between observe occasions and subject, Ajay Saroj exploded within the closing 200m of an exhilarating 1,500m run to beat his teammate Jinson Johnson within the race for a silver medal. Saroj lay flat on the observe after his dash to the end line because the Indian duo managed a silver-bronze end.

    Like Saroj, Harmilan Bains shifted gears in the direction of the top to assert the 1,500m ladies’s silver whereas Nandini Agasara gained the heptathlon bronze. The night time ended with Jyothi Yarraji’s controversial however scintillating run to clinch the 100m hurdles silver.

    Few, although, dominated their occasion from begin to end as strongly as Sable.

    Often falling into the entice of working the race arrange by his opponents when it comes to tempo and technique, and with the World Championship failure nonetheless haunting him, Sable course-corrected in a subject the place he was the tallest determine.

    Moments after the race started, he went across the exterior to overhaul the pack and ran the race on his phrases.

    “I did not want to repeat the same things I had done before,” he stated. And so, he took off. By the half-way stage of the 7-lap race, Sable had opened up nearly a 200m hole between him and the remainder.

    He realised how far he’d run forward of the others solely when he regarded on the big display after 5 laps. “I noticed I had a big lead. That’s when I relaxed a little,” Sable stated.

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    He strolled previous the end line with a time that was method beneath his nationwide document of 8 minutes, 11.40 seconds. But Sable wasn’t obsessive about that mark.

    He got here into the race with the straightforward purpose of successful it, timing being secondary. As he crossed the tape, the mantra, ‘Indo, Jiayou!’ – ‘Come on, India!’ reverberated across the stadium.

    He regarded on the huge display. The euphoric wave, he knew, was for him.

  • Asian Games 2023, Hockey: India ladies’s staff held to 1-1 draw towards South Korea in Pool A

    India ladies’s hockey staff was held to a 1-1 draw towards South Korea in a Pool A encounter on the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Stadium within the ongoing Asian Games 2023.

    Asian Games 2023: Full Coverage

    The spotlight was Navneet Kaur’s Forty fourth-minute equaliser for India, offsetting the lead earlier given to South Korea by attacker Cho Hyejin.

    This draw ensures India will preserve their main place on the prime of the Pool A factors desk for now, having performed three matches and demonstrating a better aim distinction. The format dictates that solely the highest two groups after 4 group video games would achieve entry to the high-stakes semi-finals.

    As the sport commenced, each India and South Korea set a high-intensity tone with their aggressive, attacking play. South Korea virtually bought an early lead with Cho Hyejin’s precocious aim try, however Indian defender Deep Grace Ekka confirmed tenacity in fending off the risk.

    However, India countered, creating quite a few scoring alternatives. They have been, nevertheless, let down by their forwards’ lack of precision in entrance of aim. Consequently, South Korea discovered themselves main by a goal-to-nil on the finish of the primary interval.
    Undeterred, India performed with elevated power within the second interval, successful a number of penalty corners. Yet, none resulted in objectives, leaving South Korea with the benefit on the half-time mark.

    Post-half-time, India’s relentless pursuit of an equalizer lastly bore fruit when Navneet Kaur proficiently manoeuvred Deep Grace Ekka’s go into the Korean aim following a penalty nook. With this tying the rating at 1-1 on the finish of the third quarter, each groups battled within the last interval to safe a win however to no avail.

    Adding a twist to the story, Cho Hyejin managed to attain a penalty shot after being stick-checked by India’s Udita. The stage has now been set for India’s Tuesday’s last group match towards Hong Kong China.

    Edited By:

    Rounaq Sehrawat

    Published On:

    Oct 1, 2023

  • India win squash gold in thriller with Pak, stun China in desk 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 second, who almost stop the game two years in the past, captured the feelings finest.

    Where to even start to explain the relentless drama, the insufferable stress and the astonishing fightback that in the end led to a squash gold medal with a 11-7, September 11, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10 victory? With the bickering begin to what turned out to be one of many all-time basic India-Pakistan matches? Or the cold-blooded, completely skilled exhibition by veteran Sourav Ghosal, which introduced India again into the combo?

    Perhaps, it’s finest to begin on the finish of this titanic conflict that reworked from ugly to elegant to driving. With the hysterical scenes on the finish of an adrenaline-fuelled gold medal match. A rhapsodic Abhay flinging his racquet up to now into the packed stands that it landed within the row in entrance of the referee’s desk; his opponent, Pakistan’s Noor Zaman, burying his head in his palms and bolting out of the world, unable to fathom what had simply occurred; his teammate Harinder Pal Sandhu, unable to manage his feelings, climbing to the highest of the court docket.

    Seconds in the past, Abhay and Zaman had been locked contained in the cage like prizefighters because the capability crowd roared in delight and shock, taking turns to chant names of each the international locations. And the 25-year-old Indian, on whose shoulders rested the gold medal hopes, seemed useless and buried.

    Down two match factors within the deciding sport, Abhay’s shoulders dropped, the Indian bench went silent and the momentum was firmly with Pakistan. “In your head, you have lost,” Abhay mentioned.

    From that hopeless place, Abhay resurrected himself with brave stroke-play to win 4 consecutive factors, clinch the tie and lead India to an exciting 2-1 win over Pakistan, an erstwhile squash powerhouse, and declare the group gold medal.

    It was India’s second gold medal of the day, after Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale received the tennis blended doubles title, and simply earlier than the historic triumph of the ladies’s doubles desk tennis group of Suthirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee gorgeous Chinese world champions and world quantity 2 pair Chen Meng and Yidi Wang to enter the semifinals and guarantee themselves a medal.

    But on a day when India’s athletes received large throughout sports activities — from tennis to desk tennis to trace and subject — the squash gold is not going to be forgotten any time quickly for its unrelenting drama and the sensational comeback.

    The victory was even sweeter for India as this was a grudge match, having misplaced to Pakistan within the preliminary spherical simply three days in the past. And extra so for Abhay, who had suffered a humbling defeat by the hands of Zaman.

    Sparks flew all through this three-match tie, similar to it did when the 2 groups met Wednesday. After India misplaced that encounter 2-1, veteran participant Ghosal obtained his youthful teammates, Abhay and Mahesh Mangaonkar, collectively for a briefing.

    “Both Abhay and Mahesh got very, very emotionally charged. It’s my belief that’s not the way to play them (Pakistan),” Ghosal mentioned. “I told them yesterday you almost have to be robots. Literally, like no emotions. No emotion is more powerful than any other outward thing you can show.”

    No love misplaced

    If staying bereft of feelings was the sport plan, India didn’t start nicely. The opening match between Mangaonkar and Nasir Iqbal changed into an disagreeable brawl with each gamers colliding into one another — typically inadvertently, at occasions strategically — after which complaining always to the umpire, alleging interference.

    The antics appeared to backfire on the Indian, who obtained more and more annoyed when the referee didn’t hearken to his pleas. Mangaonkar was dropping the psychological sport in addition to the technical one as Iqbal made him transfer everywhere in the court docket, discovering the appropriate angles, top and placement to maintain the ball away from the Indian, particularly on the far facet of the forehand.

    Iqbal received the opener in straight video games, placing the onus on Ghosal — India’s No. 1 participant for 860 consecutive weeks. The man who has saved the nation’s flag flying ensured it didn’t bow out tepidly on this tie.

    Digging into his many years of expertise and displaying impenetrable calmness, Ghosal made quick work of Muhammad Asim Khan, permitting the Pakistani participant simply 9 factors throughout three video games to power the gold medal match right into a decider.

    Ghosal might have wrapped up his contest in precisely half an hour however he was deeply concerned all by the 2 hours the tie lasted. The 37-year-old was the chief cheerleader from the bench, shouted phrases of recommendation and warning in between factors and went into breathless monologues throughout sport intervals, giving directions to his teammates.

    Before the all-important match between Abhay and Zaman, each Ghosal and coach Christopher Walker sat Abhay down and went over the technique. “It was quite cold so we just had to be very careful hitting the ball back,” Walker mentioned. “We made sure he’s covering the front very well since when the ball doesn’t bounce much when you take it to the front and play the drop shots. The drop shots become a bigger weapon as the match goes on.”

    These phrases ringing in his ears, Abhay entered the court docket to play what turned out to be a match of nice deception, artistry and gamesmanship. He appeared to be heading for a simple win after wrapping up the primary sport inside no time, and racing to a 7-4 lead within the second.

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    But then, the tide turned and Zaman made a robust comeback with a flurry of cross-court hits, pinning Abhay to the backcourt and utilizing the drop photographs with lethal accuracy.

    Abhay stayed alive within the match along with his unimaginable athleticism and stubbornness to not give in regardless of being put underneath relentless stress. Eventually, he did simply sufficient to disclaim Pakistan what, at a number of factors, felt like an assured gold.

    Especially when Zaman had two match factors to seal the gold medal and had the group vociferously backing him. “The only thing I was thinking at 10-8 was how did I get here but I had all the confidence in myself,” Abhay mentioned. “There was a lot of talk from the other team three nights ago, some on social media… Well, I am looking forward to some tonight.”