Harmeet Desai of Surat, G. Sathian and Sharath Kamal gave India a very good start
Harmeet Desai
Harmeet Desai of Surat, G. Sathian and Sharath Kamal gave India a very good start. India won 3-0 against Yemen and 3-1 against Singapore. Harmeet won the match against both the countries and Sathian also won both the matches. However, veteran player Sharath had to lose against the Singaporean competitor after winning against the Yemeni rival. India also had a good day in women’s table tennis. The Indian team consisting of Manika Batra, Ahika Mukherjee and Srija Akula defeated the Singaporean team 3-2.
India’s volleyball team can win a historic medal
India last won a medal in volleyball at the Asian Games in 1986 and it could be a repeat of 37 years now. Yesterday, the Indian men’s team kept their medal hopes alive by defeating Chinese Taipei 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-21). It was the third consecutive win for the Indian team in the knockout round. Before yesterday, the Indian team defeated Cambodia 3-0 and South Korea 3-2. Both these rival countries of India had earlier won medals in the Asian Games.
Two Afghan teams: one with only men, the other with women
Two Afghanistan teams are coming to China for the Asian Games. A team is being sent by the ruling Taliban, consisting of only male athletes, as the Taliban has banned women from sports. 130 male athletes will compete in cricket, judo, wrestling, volleyball etc. Another Afghan team, which was ousted by the Taliban in 2021, will fly under the flag of an elected government and its athletes are arriving in China from various countries, including a women’s volleyball team. The women’s volleyball team is coming from Iran, the cyclists team from Italy and the athletics team from Australia.
India’s first match against Bangladesh in the Under-19 Men’s World Cup
India won the Under-19 Men’s World Cup in 2022 and in the next World Cup in 2024, the defending champion Indian team’s first match will be against Bangladesh. The tournament will start on January 13 in West Indies. Group ‘A’ also includes Ireland and USA. Group ‘B’ includes England, Scotland, South Africa, West Indies and Group ‘C’ includes Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Group ‘D’ includes Pakistan, Afghanistan, New Zealand and Nepal. The top six teams from the league round will advance to the Super-Six.
Redfern will become the first woman umpire in men’s cricket in England
Sue Redfern will become the first female umpire in men’s first-class cricket in England and Wales. He will be umpiring the opening match between Glamorgan and Derbyshire on Tuesday. Redfern played 21 matches for England during 1995-1999. She was the first of all women umpires given full-time contracts by England last year.