Picture Credit: Twitter
As the 19th season of the Asian Games progresses, the Indian s continue their brilliant run and added several medals to the medal tally. As of 3:30 pm (IST), India stood fourth in the standings with a total of 32 medals, including eight gold and 12 silver and bronze medals each. Speaking of individual events, the Indian men and women's squash teams made it to semifinals of the respective events on September 28, Thursday.
Our today's sports wrap gives an insight into the ongoing continental showpiece event while talking about other happenings of the sporting world. Read on.
Asian Games 2023
Indian women's squash team wins bronze; men's team sails into semis
The Indian women's squash team won bronze medal at the 19th edition of the Asian Games 2023. Apart from them, the men's team also stormed into the semifinals of their event in the tournament. In the semifinal, the women's team consisting of Joshna Chinappa, rising star Anahat Singh, and Tanvi Khanna locked horns with Hong Kong and settled for bronze after losing 1-2 from their rivals.
On the other hand, the men's team defeated Nepal 3-0 and finished second in the Pool A standings. The semifinals of the squash events are to be played on Friday, September 29, at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Squash Court.
Indian men's badminton team reaches semifinals; confirms historic medal
The Indian men's badminton team sailed to the semifinals of the ongoing Asian Games 2023. The Indian shuttlers recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Nepal in the quarterfinal tie on Friday, September 29. With their win, they secured a historic medal for India in the tournament for the first time since 1986. In the final four, they will lock horns with either of Indonesia or South Korea.
IOC slams Asian Games 2023 organisers for denying visas to Arunachal Pradesh players
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) slammed the Asian Games 2023 organisers and reminded them that the players should have "free access to sports competitions, regardless of their nationality and passport they hold." Notably, three wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh were denied visas by the organisers.
James Macleod, Director of NOC Relations, Olympic Solidarity and Olympism365 said, "We, as the IOC, will continuously uphold this principle. In this case we're aware of the situation. It is a matter for the Olympic Council of Asia and we know that there are discussions between the OCA and the hosts of the Asian Games to hopefully try and resolve this situation."
Gymnast Pranati Nayak misses medal after finishing 8th in vault final
Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak missed a medal after she finished eighth in final of women's vault in artistic gymnastics on Thursday, September 28. Notably, Nayak was the only gymnast in the competition representing India.
The gold medal was won by North Korea's An Chango with a total score of 14.090 while Kim Sonhyang clinched silver by scoring 13.600.
I had to sell my house for the honour of the flag: Divyakirti Singh Rathore's father on daughter's Asiad gold
Divyakiriti Singh Rathore, member of the team who created history by securing a gold for India in the Asian Games 2023 after 41 years, underwent training in Europe for the tournament. Her father, Vikram Singh Rathore, an ex-Army man, opened up on daughter's struggles and revealed that he sold his house for her training.
Rathore told India Today, "I served in the army for 9 years and then set up a small business. I had to sell my house and here for the honour of the flag and for the honour of the nation, I have done it. No one put a gun to my head and asked me to do it. I did it for my daughter and my country and I will do it 20 more times and I have no regrets."
Indian men's 4x100m freestyle relay team rewrites history at the Asiad
The Indian men's 4x100m freestyle relay team created history and clocked a national record time during their heat. The team comprising Tanish George Mathew, Vishal Grewal, Anand AS, and Srihari Nataraj clocked time of 3:21.22 and secured their berth in the final of the event.
Football
We are wolves and we go to win: Juan Pedro Benali ahead of game against Chennaiyin FC
NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali heaped praise on his side after their marginal defeat from Mumbai City FC as they take on Chennaiyin FC next. Benali said, “We don’t go for a draw. Bengaluru FC went for a draw yesterday and lost. Either we win or don’t win. We are wolves and we go to win. This is our mentality, and this is NorthEast’s mentality. We go to win for the supporters and everyone.”
FC Goa announce 25-member squad for ISL 2023-24 campaign
FC Goa announced their 25-member squad for the Indian Super League 2023-24. The squad is as follows:
Head Coach: Manolo Marquez
Goalkeepers: Dheeraj Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Hrithik Tiwari
Defenders: Sanson Pereira, Sandesh Jhingan, Carl McHugh, Narayan Das, Leander D’Cunha, Odei Onaindia, Boris Singh, Seriton Fernandes, Saviour Gama, Jay Gupta
Midfielders: Raynier Fernandes, Brandon Fernandes, Ayush Chhetri, Udanta Singh, Rowllin Borges, Paulo Retre, Victor Rodriguez, Brison Fernandes, Muhammed Nemil
Forwards: Noah Sadaoui, Carlos Martinez, Devendra Murgaokar
Hockey
Oman to host hockey qualifiers after FIH withdrew tournament from Pakistan
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced that Oman will host the Olympic qualifiers after the regulating body withdrew the event from Pakistan.
The official statement read, "Following FIH's decision to withdraw the hosting of one of the Men's FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers from Pakistan due to the recent developments in the governance situation of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, this event will now be hosted by another Asian nation, namely Oman, which had already expressed an interest to bid at an early stage, during the bidding phase."
Tennis
Novak Djokovic wishes to play against Carlos Alcaraz as against Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray
The 24 Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic opened up on his rivalry with the modern-day tennis icon Carlos Alcaraz and said that he wants to play as many games against him as he played against others.
Djokovic was in a conversation with Sky Sports, where he said, "I think it’s great for our sport there are more rivalries happening but obviously rivalries with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal particularly and also with Andy Murray are right up there for me."
He added, "Carlos, I have just played him 3-4 times. Hopefully I’ll play him as many times as I played the other guys and that will mean I’ll be playing for years to come. I doubt that, let’s see how it goes."
