There are some really unique and unusual facts about sports players and the game of All sports. Player Facts, Interesting Facts about sports players
For some of India’s top stars, 2023 was the year when they had to pause, reflect and reboot. In some cases, to recover from injuries; in a few others, to rediscover lost form. All in the hope that when the big day comes, they’ll be ready and recharged for the challengeIn Odisha at the World Cup in January, after India lost the shootout against New Zealand to fall short of the quarterfinals, Manpreet Singh was on his knees, staring down at the turf in disbelief. It wasn’t supposed to end this way, for the team that won bronze at Tokyo Olympics. It was, to put it mildly, a disaster to go out that early.In Hangzhou at the Asian Games in October, when the final was deadlocked 0-0 against Japan with five minutes left to go in the first half, India were getting a bit desperate for the opening goal. As a rebound fell to him at the edge of the circle, Manpreet Singh unleashed a powerful reverse flick that flew into the roof of the net. He was on his knees again. Only this time, his teammates were mobbing him as he celebrated a rare and significant goal. India would go on to win the match 5-1.“Kya bolein yaar, I score only rarely,” Manpreet tells with a big smile. “When the ball came to me, I was only thinking of hitting the target. The coach tells me when I get into the circle, ‘you don’t shoot enough. So when you get a chance, go for it, your reverse hit is brilliant.’ That’s all I had in mind. And it flew well off my stick.”Indeed, 2023 was one of two halves for the Indian men’s hockey team. At a home World Cup, a chance to end the 48-year-old wait for a medal went begging. But as the year drew to a close, they clinched the title at the Asian Champions Trophy and the gold medal at Hangzhou Asian Games, which also sealed their place at the Paris Olympics.And Manpreet personified that arc better than any.The 2012 Olympic Games campaign was a nadir in Indian hockey as they lost all six matches to finish last, but for a 20-year-old Manpreet it was personally harrowing too. There were reports of cliques in the squad and of Manpreet being targeted. So when Manpreet says the disappointment of the 2023 World Cup was alongside that of London 2012 for him, it says a whole lot.“We were all quite disappointed. In the match against New Zealand, we didn’t play well at all. In a crucial match, we were not able to do our best. We will forever remember that we didn’t step up that day,” the 31-year-old says.But if 2012 was a campaign of chaos, 2023 hurt because there was a general sentiment that this team was really good and capable of a podium finish. “Handling the pressure of crucial matches, dealing with the presence of home crowd… that match against NZ, we should have done better, because there was confidence in us from the nation. We were confident too, but it will always remain hurtful that we couldn’t deliver,” Manpreet says.Siddharth Pandey, hockey commentator and FIH Level 2 certified coach is someone who has kept a close eye on this Indian team in recent years as a broadcaster. “What happened with Manpreet at the World Cup was in line with what happened with the rest of the team, where multiple things went wrong,” Pandey tells this daily. “Crucially, Hardik Singh’s injury had a huge impact on the team and Manpreet lost a crucial supporting act in the midfield. Then there was the pressure of playing in front of family and thousands of fans. We are usually good away from home these days.”For someone who has achieved quite a lot in Indian hockey, as a player and leader, the World Cup disaster could potentially have been seen as a stopping point. But Manpreet went back to the drawing board. After a few Pro League matches, the team got a break and Manpreet was driven to bounce back. As Rohit Sharma said after the men’s cricket team’s home World Cup heartbreak, it wasn’t easy to move on but athletes have to find a way.“Spending time with the family definitely helped,” Manpreet, a doting father to a girl now, says. “Like Rohit said about how even going out and meeting people was difficult, such a disappointment is huge. We athletes put in all our efforts for years and years, for that one big day in a tournament. When you don’t succeed, you feel despondent. It takes a while to heal. But then you have to start thinking… what next? We can only change what happens in the future.”It started with fitness. Though he was on a break, Manpreet told his family that he’d not be indulging in his diet. One of the fittest athletes there is, Manpreet went about focussing on staying in the best shape possible. “I definitely had to reboot. And when we returned to the camp, the senior players got together and said ‘Whatever has happened, we can’t change. But we can learn. The mistakes we made at the World Cup shouldn’t be repeated’.”Adding a new dimensionWhile he is no longer the team captain, Manpreet – unsurprisingly – doesn’t add much weightage to it, insisting that the likes of himself and PR Sreejesh are there to share the burden with Harmanpreet Singh. Pandey goes to the extent of saying that being a leader without being the captain has liberated him.“He’s a father now, he’s in a good space personally. The Manpreet of 6-7 years ago was still very disciplined on the pitch every time he played, but was quite outgoing,” Pandey says, adding he saw a version of Manpreet at ACT who was enjoying his game, and took up attacking responsibilities that weren’t quite his forte earlier.New head coach Craig Fulton came in and initially had Manpreet playing in the defence. But it wasn’t new to him, he started his national journey as a defender on the left side. “His fundamentals were sensational, that’s why we had the nickname ‘Korean’ for him,” Pandey recalls. “Then he transitioned into being a wonderful central defensive midfielder across coaches. And now he has added a dimension that not a lot of people thought he had, which is shining as a central attacking midfielder.”Graham Reid’s era saw Manpreet evolve into one of the best guarding midfielders in the game, who was terrific at ball retrieval and starting transitions by receiving the ball into space. Fulton, after the initial shift, brought him back to midfield and gave him the freedom to go forward too. It was evident in Chennai, where Manpreet was player of the match in two of India’s matches, driving masterfully through the midfield.“He can now be the extra man creating overloads in the circle as he was when he scored the opening goal in the Asian Games final. You can see the number of aerials he receives at the baseline, making runs from deep. Under Reid, he was a ball retriever and he was the guard responsible for counter control, and was brilliant at it. Now Fulton has entrusted something new with him, and he is delivering. He is now a 3-dimensional hockey player, and to do that at 31 is quite impressive, and to add to that he is supremely fit,” Pandey says.At the Asian Games, one of the standout features of India’s play was assists for players at the second post and the number of 1-2 passes they made to open up scoring opportunities. Fulton’s philosophy is built on control and a defend-to-win mantra but within that, he is enabling the attackers to dovetail with each other, something the Manpreet-Hardik-Vivek axis is crucial for.“I found joy in going forward, I have a lot of freedom. My understanding has gotten better with other players, when Hardik goes forward I know I have to focus on counter control. And vice versa. Craig also believes that whenever we get the chance we have to use our Indian skills. Our ability to beat players is one of the best in the world, so whenever we can, we must use that ‘Indian masala’,” he adds with a smile.As Indian hockey looks ahead to 2024, Manpreet might not be the captain, but he is leading the way by evolving and setting high benchmarks that youngsters must aspire to. As Pandey says, “For him to have started his journey at a damaging event like London 2012 to now be months away from a fourth Olympics appearance, that’s an incredible career graph. Whatever happens in Paris, Manpreet goes down as an all-time great.”What 2023 taught, what 2024 meansFor someone who has seen many highs and lows in the constantly dramatic world of Indian hockey, Manpreet – and the rest of the Indian team – got a rude reality check at the Odisha World Cup. The defeat against New Zealand was a tough pill to swallow and outgoing coach Graham Reid called for the need to have a mental conditioning coach.In came Paddy Upton, to join new head coach Craig Fulton, who has plenty of experience working with Indian athletes. While Manpreet was aware of the need to reboot personally, there was an acknowledgment that India needed help in handling high-pressure situations.“When Paddy came in, the conversations were about focussing on the controllables. You can’t control the weather, you can’t control the fans turning up at a venue… don’t worry about the result, focus on the steps to get there. To remain stable ahead of a big match, when the pressure is on,” Manpreet says, about moving on from the World Cup heartbreak.Unlike in 2018, the qualification for Paris 2024 has been taken care of early and the Indian men’s team can now fully focus on fine-tuning their game. It would involve using the Pro League matches to full effect. Their dominance at the Asian level is not in doubt still, but there are bigger targets to check off for Fulton, Harmanpreet, Manpreet, and Co. Lessons must be learned from Odisha 2023 as they look ahead. Also Read: Upcoming games 2024 for console and PC
Because we love drama and I also believe all the players should have equal playing conditions. The personal lounge is not the issue here but the easy access to a computer in between the games is one serious inequity,” tweeted Vachier Lagrave. Even Kramnik, who is not competing at the event, but has been very vocal since starting his Twitter account recently, could not resist weighing in. Top grandmasters claimed Carlsen alone has been provided a private lounge for World Rapid and Blitz Championship at Samarkand by organisers. The current FIDE Rapid and Blitz Championship in Samarkand has become embroiled in controversy, as several participating grandmasters have expressed their dissatisfaction on social media, alleging preferential treatment given to former world champion Magnus Carlsen by FIDE.Prominent players such as Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier Lagrave, and Pentala Harikrishna took to Twitter to express their concerns about Carlsen receiving additional facilities, including a private lounge between games. Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik also joined the voices criticizing FIDE for the perceived favoritism.It is learnt that Carlsen has been provided a private lounge since 2016 at every edition of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz championship. Compared to the World Chess Championship, the World Rapid and Blitz event happens yearly. Players compete in multiple games in a day: in the open section players competed in five rounds on Day 1 (Tuesday) and will compete on four games each on Wednesday and Thursday. The blitz portion of the Championship will start from Saturday with players playing 12 games on Day 1 and nine rounds on the final day."Dear FIDE and organizers of the Championship! As it is known, all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. Is it fair to provide Magnus Carlsen with a personal lounge where he can rest and prepare for the game using a laptop, while nobody else has such an opportunity?" tweeted Russian grandmaster Nepomniachtchi, who had previously faced Magnus Carlsen in a World Chess Championship match in 2021 and lost.“Can’t be stressed more that everyone should play under the same conditions,” added US grandmaster Caruana, who also had lost a World Chess Championship battle against Carlsen in 2018."I agree with Yan, not that Magnus shouldn’t get such a space of course, but maybe at least few others must have a comfortable rest room to rest and prepare between rounds, very important in such a long and tiring event," the Russian tweeted.When asked about the controversy, Magnus Carlsen's father, Henrik, told a Norwegian channel that his son doesn’t have access to a laptop between games.However, the rising number of tweets from players forced FIDE to tweet a clarification."To make it clear, none of the participants of the Rapid and Blitz championship have been granted special conditions. Even if, in between rounds, any of the players has been provided access to external premises as per the invitation of FIDE officials, full fair play control has been provided. Furthermore, everyone is allowed to use their gadgets in between the rounds according to the rules," FIDE posted on X.Also Read: Gukesh wins in Chennai, one step closer to Candidates
Having experienced the major game releases of 2023, we now turn our gaze towards the future, anticipating a fantastic couple of years for gamers. From the highly awaited Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth to the much-anticipated GTA 6, there's a plethora of games on the horizon for both console and PC players. While some are closer to release than others, the gaming landscape for 2024 and beyond looks promising. Below, we've compiled release dates and windows for the most significant confirmed games slated for 2024 and beyond. Whether you're a PC gamer or prefer consoles, there's likely at least one game on this list that will pique your interest. Get ready for the upcoming games in 2024 and beyond!Upcoming games 2024: this year’s biggest gamesPalword (Early Access) - January 2024 (PC)Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown - January 18, 2024 (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Switch)Another Code: Recollection - January 19, 2024 (Switch)Tekken 8 – January 26 (PS5, PC, XSX|S)Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League - February 2, 2024 (PS5, XSX|S, PC)Helldivers 2 - February 9, 2024 (PS5, PC)Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered - February 14, 2024 (Switch)Mario Vs Donkey Kong - February 16, 2024 (Switch)Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth - February 29, 2024 (PS5)Princess Peach: Showtime - March 22, 2024 (Switch)Battlecrush - Spring 2024 (Switch)Contra: Operation Galuga - Early 2024 (Switch)Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door - TBC 2024 (Switch)Avowed - TBC 2024 (XSX|S, PC)Replaced - TBC 2024 (PC, XBO, XSX|S)Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy - Early 2024Penny's Big Breakaway - Early 2024Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon - TBC 2024Princess Peach - TBC 2024Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga - TBC 2024 (XSX|S, PC)Earthblade - TBC 2024 (PC)Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Early 2024 (PS5, PC, XSX|S)Rise of the Ronin - TBC 2024 (PS5)Neva - TBC 2024 (PS5, PC)Cat Quest: Pirates of the Purribean - TBC 2024 (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Switch)Towers of Aghasba - TBC 2024 (PS5, PC)Ultros - TBC 2024 (PS5, PS4, PC)Baby Steps - TBC 2024Concord - TBC 2024 (PS5, PS4, PC)John Carpenter's Toxic Commando - TBC 2024 (XSX|S, PS5, PC)Star Wars Outlaws - TBC 2024 (PS5, XSX|S, PC)The Plucky Squire - TBC 2024 (PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S, Switch)TBCFinally, here's a list of games that have been announced, but don't even have so much as a release year attached to them yet. For now, they're simply TBC, but once each game does receive a release date, this page will be updated.GTA 6 - 2025Assassin's Creed Infinity: Codename Hexe – TBC (PS5, PC, XSX|S)Assassin's Creed Infinity: Codename Red – TBC (PS5, PC, XSX|S)Beyond Good and Evil 2 - TBCBioShock 4 - TBC Death Stranding 2 - TBC (PS5)Dragon's Dogma 2 - TBC (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)DokeV - TBC (PC, PS5, XSX|S, PS4, XBO)Dragon Age: Dreadwolf - TBCDune: Awakening - TBC (PS5, XSX|S, PC)Everwild - TBC (XSX|S, PC)Fable - TBC (XSX|S, PC)Fallout 5 - TBCGTA 6 - TBCHades 2 - TBC (PC)Haunted Chocolatier - TBCHollow Knight: Silksong - TBC (PS5, XSX|S, PS4, XBO, PC, Switch)Indiana Jones - TBCMarvel's Wolverine - TBC (PS5)Kingdom Hearts 4 - TBC Mass Effect 5 - TBCFairgame$ - TBC (PS5, PC)Foamstars - TBC (PS5, PS4)Marathon - TBC (PS5, PC)Metroid Prime 4 - TBC (Switch)Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater - TBC (PS5)Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake - TBC (PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX|S, PC) Phantom Blade 0 - TBC (PS5)Project 007 - TBCProject Mara - TBC (XSX|S, PC)Revenant Hill - TBC (PS5, PS4)Skull and Bones - TBC (PS5, PC, XSX|S)Splinter Cell remake - TBC Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake - TBC (PS5)Star Wars Eclipse - TBCState of Decay 3 - TBC (XSX|S, PC)The Elder Scrolls 6 - TBCThe Outer Worlds 2 - TBC (PC, XSX|S)The Sims 5 - TBC The Witcher 4 - TBCWonder Woman - TBCAlso Read: Gaming Extravaganza: The Top 20 New Latest Games in Market 2023
The 17-year-old edged past compatriot Arjun Erigaisi on tie-breaks after both Indians finished on 4.5 points after the completion of the seventh and final roundIndian Grandmaster D Gukesh took a significant step towards earning a spot in the prestigious Candidates tournament next year by winning the Chennai Grand Masters 2023 chess tournament in Chennai on Thursday.Local boy Gukesh, 17, edged past compatriot Arjun Erigaisi on tie-breaks after both Indians finished on 4.5 points after the completion of the seventh and final round. Another Indian Grandmaster P Harikrishna, whom Gukesh drew with in the final round on Thursday, finished third on the leaderboard with 4 points.Going into the final round of the eight-player tournament, Gukesh needed only a draw in his clash with Harikrishna with black pieces. Erigaisi made things rather interesting by defeating Russian-born Hungarian Grandmaster Sanan Sjugirov in the final round. Gukesh and Erigaisi were equal on points and on par in terms of head-to-head but the former came out triumphant on the basis of a superior tie-break score.The tournament victory gives Gukesh — who in September this year had surpassed Viswanathan Anand as the top-ranked Indian player in the FIDE charts — a great chance of booking a seat in next year's Candidates tournament in Toronto in April through the FIDE Circuit route.With six of the eight spots already taken (including those by Indians R Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi), two remain up for grabs via the 2023 FIDE Circuit (for one player who achieves the highest results during the eligible tournaments in 2023) and the FIDE rating route. By winning the tournament in Chennai, Gukesh has put himself on top of the FIDE Circuit leaderboard and will be in a battle with Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri to finish on top with one more tournament to go.The FIDE Circuit ends with the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from December 26-30. Gukesh, though, was quoted as saying by chess.com after his tournament win that he was still "50-50" about participating in the World Rapid and Blitz.Gukesh remained unbeaten through the seven rounds in Chennai, notching up wins against Russian-born Serbian Grandmaster Alexandr Predke and Sjugirov in the fourth and fifth round, respectively, to go with the five draws. The win over Sjugirov with black pieces on Tuesday had put Gukesh in the sole lead."It was really good. I finally managed to enjoy myself in a tournament," Gukesh told chess.com. "Obviously, the last few months have been very stressful."Erigaisi had an impressively strong finish to the tournament (with three wins overall). He defeated Sjugirov on Thursday and Parham Maghsoodloo, the Iranian GM who was the top seed in Chennai, with black in the penultimate round. However, his opening-round defeat to compatriot Harikrishna proved to be the difference in the end. The 20-year-old Grandmaster needed to win this tournament to stand a chance of qualifying for the Candidates via FIDE Circuit.Harikrishna, the 37-year-old from Guntur, meanwhile also remained unbeaten with six draws that followed the win over Erigaisi. Top-seeded Maghsoodloo, another competitor who was in contention for the Candidates through a triumph in Chennai, could not quite live up to his billing and finished sixth with 3.5 points and a couple of defeats.ASlso Read: European Court of Justice rules FIFA, UEFA breached EU Law over Super League ban
Asian Games 2023: The men's 10m air pistol team continued India's success story at the Asian Games, winning gold with two marksmen also making it to the individual finals. The team of Sarabjot Singh, Arjun Singh Cheema and Shiva Narwal narrowly beat the Chinese team to take the top podium and earn India its fourth gold medal from the shooting ranges. India's Naorem Roshibina Devi signed off with a silver medal after a 0-2 defeat against local heavyweight Wu Xiaowei in the women's 60kg wushu sanda final. The Indian found the going tough against Wu Xiaowei, the reigning champions in the category, allowing the Chinese to get off to a strong start. Wu was declared winners by the judges after two rounds. Trying to get her opponent off the mat, the local favourite had an aggressive first round and began with a splendid take down of Roshibina. The Manipuri athlete tried to bounce back and got her hold of Wu's leg to push her out to the edges but was unsuccessful as round one belonged to the Chinese who had a 1-0 lead. A watchful Wu sealed the issue with an attack on Roshibina Devi's torso in the second round. Roshibina had won a bronze in the 2018 edition at Jakarta. India's Anush Agarwalla, in a splendid display of equestrian prowess, secured a well-deserved bronze medal in the individual dressage event at the Asian Games.
Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games, massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), first-person shooter games, and battle royale games represent various genres within the realm of online gaming. These types of games demand a stable internet connection and often involve direct player-to-player interaction. Through features like voice chat or in-game messaging, participants can engage with one another, either in competitive confrontations or cooperative endeavors, depending on the specific game's design.While certain online games offer in-game purchases or small-scale transactions, many of them are accessible to play for free. Online gaming has witnessed a surge in popularity, with millions of players engaging in virtual worlds, collaborating and competing with one another. This surge has also given rise to the professional gaming scene, with gamers now vying in tournaments for substantial financial prizes, contributing to the growth of a competitive gaming industry.Most played Online Games in the World Here are the top 5 most played online games in the world right now:PUBGAround the world, PUBG has a strong fan base. The popular battle royal game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) was created and released by PUBG Corporation. In the game, 100 players are thrown onto an island where they must scrounge for tools and weapons while competing to remain alive. Players can play either individually or in teams, and the game offers both a first-person and third-person perspective option. Since its 2017 release, PUBG has amassed a sizable player population and served as an inspiration for numerous other battle royal games. Popular features include its challenging gameplay, realistic weapons and equipment, and a big, open world that promotes exploration and planning.MinecraftMinecraft, the immensely popular sandbox video game developed by Mojang Studios, immerses players in a block-based virtual world where they can freely explore, construct, and unleash their creativity. One of Minecraft's defining features is its absence of predefined objectives, granting players complete freedom to pursue their visions and ideas. Renowned for its open-ended gameplay, the game encourages players to use their imaginations to craft whatever their hearts desire. Additionally, Minecraft boasts a robust player community, allowing users to interact with and appreciate each other's creations.The game offers multiple distinct modes, including survival mode, creative mode, and adventure mode, each offering unique challenges and experiences. Minecraft is accessible on various platforms, including personal computers, gaming consoles, and mobile devices. While it does offer in-game purchases and microtransactions, there is also a free-to-play aspect to it. With its extensive and dedicated user base, Minecraft remains a beloved sandbox game that provides players with the opportunity to explore, build, and create within a virtual realm.Apex LegendsApex Legends was developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts. On an island, 60 players must scavenge for tools and weapons while competing to be the last team standing in the game. Players can select which of the game’s cast of distinctive characters they want to play as. Each character has their own skills and play styles. Fast-paced gameplay, distinctive character skills, and responsive controls make Apex Legends popular. Additionally, it has a sizable player base and a strong competitive scene with many events and tournaments. Although it features in-game purchases and micro-transactions, Apex Legends is playable for free on consoles and personal computers. The winning team is the one with the most players. One of the top superhero video games of 2022 is rumored to be Apex Legends.Fortnite Battle RoyaleFortnite, the widely acclaimed battle royale game, is the creation of Epic Games. This game thrusts 100 players onto an island where their survival hinges on scavenging for tools and weapons while fending off opponents. An interesting facet of Fortnite is its creative mode, which empowers players to construct structures and craft their own virtual worlds. The game's popularity can be attributed to its fast-paced action, intricate building mechanics, and a substantial player community. Notably, Fortnite has transcended the gaming realm to become a cultural phenomenon, with numerous celebrities and professional athletes actively participating in and streaming the game.Furthermore, Fortnite has established a robust competitive scene, featuring various competitions and tournaments offering substantial cash prizes.Call of DutyThe first-person shooter video game series Call of Duty was developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision. The most recent main game in the series, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, was released in 2020. The series consists of 16 main titles and various spin-off games. Players take on the role of soldiers and other military personnel as they engage in combat and perform various tasks in the Call of Duty games, which are set in a variety of historical eras, including World War II, the Cold War, and present times. The games are renowned for their action-packed game-play, lifelike visuals, and numerous multiplayer options that let players engage in online competition. The Call of Duty franchise has been highly successful, with many of the games selling millions of copies and becoming some of the best-selling video games of all time.FAQsQ1. Are Online Games free to Play?Ans: Some online games can be played for free, while others need to be purchased or require a subscription. Free-to-play games frequently make money from in-game micro-transactions, where users can pay real money to buy in-game currency or things.Q2. Are Online Games Safe to Play?Ans: The majority of online games have safeguards in place to safeguard users, including filters to prohibit abusive conversation and reporting mechanisms to identify players who are acting inappropriately. Players should exercise caution and be aware of online safety when engaging with other users, though.Q3. Can Online Games be played on a Mobile Device?Ans: Many online games are available on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. These games can be downloaded from app stores and played on the go.Q4. Is it Possible to Play Online Games with Friends?Ans: Many online games allow players to play with or against their friends online. Players can join the same game or team and communicate with each other through in-game chat or voice chat.
Indian women's cricket team made history in the Asian Games 2023, clinching the gold medal in their first-ever participation at the quadrennial event.The Indian women's cricket team made history in the Asian Games 2023 on Monday as Harmapreet Kaur & Co. defeated Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the final. In what was the Indian cricket team's first-ever participation in the Asian Games' cricketing events, the women's team claimed the top podium spot after producing a fine all-round effort. Though cricket has been a part of the Asian Games in 2010 and 2014, neither the men's nor the women's Indian team had participated in the event.Batting first, Harmanpreet's girls put 116 runs on the board for the loss of 7 wickets. With the ball, India put a stunning display on the 22-yard strip, restricting Sri Lanka to just 87/8. Titas Sadhu was the pick of the bowlers for India, bagging 3 wickets for just 6 runs in 4 overs.As for the match, the Indian team elected to bat first after winning the toss, that marked the return of Harmanpreet Kaur after 2-match suspension. After the early dismissal of Shafali Verma, opener Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues rebuilt the innings.Inoka Ranaweera gave SL the much-needed breakthrough, getting rid of Smriti for 46 off 45 balls with four boundaries and a six. India was 89/2 in 14.5 overs and the 73-run stand between Mandhana-Rodrigues was over.That wicket caused a collapse in the Indian innings as except for Rodrigues, who scored 42 in 40 balls with five fours, no other batter could stand tall against the Lankan side. India ended their innings at 116/7 in 20 overs.Kumari (2/30), Ranaweera (2/21) and Udeshika Prabodhani (2/16) were among the wickets for Sri Lanka.In the chase of 117 runs, Sri Lanka was troubled by medium-pacer Titas Sandhu, who dismissed the top order consisting of skipper Chamari Athapaththu (12), Anushka Sanjeewani (1) and Vishmi Gunaratne (0), reducing SL to 14/3 in 4.2 overs.Hasini Perera and Nilakshi de Silva had started to rebuild the Lankan innings, helping them cross the 50-run mark in 9.3 overs. But Rajeshwari Gayakwad turned the tide in India's favour by removing Hasini for 25 off 22 balls, with four boundaries and a six. SL was 50/4 in 9.5 overs.From then on, the road to gold got tougher for SL, as spinners Deepti Sharma and Devika Vaidya restricted the run flow. But Nilakshi and Oshadi Ranasinghe fought back with some boundaries, leaving SL with 43 to get in the final five overs.But Pooja Vastrakar, India's star in the semifinal with the ball, removed Nilakshi for 23 off 34 balls, ending a fighting 28-run partnership. SL was 78/5 in 16.1 overs.Deepti also removed Ranasinghe, who played a fighting knock of 19 in 26 balls. SL was 86/6 in 17.4 overs.
India dropped four regular members for the first two matches against AustraliaIndia now looks ahead to their last and final practice for the ODI World Cup at home as they take on five-time champions Australia in a three-match series beginning September 22 after their perfectly timed Asia Cup title haul in Colombo on Sunday, where they defeated Sri Lanka by 10 wickets. The selection committee made up to four changes, when most people would have anticipated India to remain the same save for that one injury issue involving Axar Patel.Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector for the BCCI, read out the roster for the three-match home series against Pat Cummins' team virtually the day after India's Asia Cup victory. India selected a 15-member team for the opening two games and a 17-member team for the championship match.India lost four regular players for the first two games in Baroda on September 27, while the selectors only recruited two additional players to their 15-member World Cup team for the final match. The squad was without Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma for the first two games.Responding to a question from the press, Agarkar revealed: "Few of the players have been given a breather. Rohit has taken a break.""Luckily we got a fair amount of cricket at the Asia Cup," Agarkar added. "If not, we would've looked at it some other way. More than physical, sometimes guys need a mental break, which isn't a bad thing leading into a tournament like the World Cup."For the third game, everyone will be available. We will play our World Cup squad. This [squad for the first two ODIs] gives us a chance to give guys sitting outside a chance. It's still a strong squad. Like I said, if we hadn't got a lot of cricket at the Asia Cup, who knows, we may have thought differently."Rohit and Kohli had both been rested for the West Indies ODI series and had only returned to the set-up in the Asia Cup. In a bid to test India's bench strength, both had relinquished their original batting spot in the first ODI match against West Indies before being rested for the second and third game. They had later missed the T20I contest and the tour of Ireland as well.In fact, Hardik led India in place of Rohit in the last two ODIs. Hardik has participated in every ODI match against the West Indies. While both were resting for the Ireland tour, Kuldeep also participated in the competition.In the first two games against Australia, KL Rahul will serve as the captain and Ravindra Jadeja as his backup. Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad have been chosen for the first two games, and they will both be heading the Indian team at the Asian Games later this month.Also Read: Top 10 fantasy cricket websites in india
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