BRIDGETOWN

Mitchell Starc’s three-wicket haul and Matthew Wade’s unbeaten 51-run knock helped Australia defeat West Indies by six wickets in the third and final ODI at the Kensington Oval. With this win, Australia won the three-match series 2-1.

Chasing 153, Australia got off to a bad start as the visitors lost two wickets with just 27 runs on the board. Josh Philippe (10) and Moises Henriques (1) failed to leave a mark with the bat. Alex Carey and Mitchell Marsh then put on 38 runs for the third wicket, but this stand came to an end in the 14th over as Sheldon Cottrell sent Marsh (29) back to the pavilion, reducing Australia to 65/3.

Matthew Wade then joined Carey in the middle and the duo scored runs at a brisk pace, and West Indies seemingly had no answers. The duo put on 34 runs, but as soon as Australia started to look firm favourites, West Indies came back as Hayden Walsh dismissed Carey (35).

In the end, Ashton Agar (19*) along with Wade (51*) took Australia over the line by six wickets and 117 balls to spare.

Earlier, a spirited bowling performance helped Australia bundle out West Indies for just 152 inside 46 overs. Mitchell Starc scalped three wickets while Josh Hazlewood, Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa took two wickets each.

No West Indies batter was able to stay at the crease for a long time and it was just Evin Lewis who showed some fight with the bat as he registered a knock of 55 runs with the help of five 4s and three 6s.

Brief Scores: West Indies 152 all out (Evin Lewis 55, Darren Bravo 18, Mitchell Starc 3-43); Australia 153/4 (Matthew Wade 51*, Alex Carey 35, Alzarri Joseph 1-14).

TOKYO

The India men’s hockey team defeated Spain 3-0 in their third Group A game in the Tokyo Olympics at the Oi Hockey Stadium South Pitch, in Tokyo on Tuesday.

This result comes two days after the team was subjected to a 1-7 thrashing at the hands of Australia on Sunday. In the first quarter, India took the lead as Simranjeet Singh scored the goal and the early nerves for the Manpreet Singh-led side eased a bit. Soon after Rupinder Pal Singh scored as well, giving India a 2-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.

No goals were scored in the second and third quarters, and India held on to the 2-0 lead. However, Spain was looking good while making attacking moves, and India had a tough task in holding them off.

In the fourth quarter, Rupinder scored one more goal as he successfully converted from a penalty corner, and hence India gained a 3-0 lead. In the end, India managed to hold on and walked away with a victory.

Before the match against Spain, India had defeated New Zealand but lost to Australia.

COLOMBO

The second T20I between India and Sri Lanka will be played on 28 July, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Tuesday.

All-rounder Krunal Pandya has tested positive following the Rapid Antigen Tests conducted ahead of the match on Tuesday morning. “The second T20I between Sri Lanka and India originally scheduled to be played on July 27 has been pushed forward by a day and will now take place on Wednesday, July 28,” BCCI said in a statement.

“Following the Rapid Antigen Tests conducted ahead of the match on Tuesday morning, Team India all-rounder Krunal Pandya was found to be positive. The Medical Teams have identified eight members as close contacts. The entire contingent is undergoing RT-PCR tests today to ascertain any further outbreak in the squad,” it added.

The third T20I between both sides will go ahead as scheduled on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, ANI had reported that Krunal has tested Covid-19 positive and that forced the two teams to go into isolation till reports come in of the rest of the players.

“Krunal has tested positive and the T20I on Tuesday has been postponed and will happen on Wednesday if all the others test negative. The players are currently isolating,” the source said.

This puts a question mark on opener Prithvi Shaw as well as Suryakumar Yadav as they were set to travel to England as a replacement for the Test series against England.

The BCCI on Monday informed that the All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav as replacements for the upcoming Test series against England as all-rounder Washington Sundar, batsman Shubman Gill and pacer Avesh Khan have been ruled out of the tour due to injuries.

As per the release, Sundar had taken an injection on his right-hand bowling finger during the three-day practice game against County Select XI. However, his recovery will take longer than expected and he is not bowling-fit. As a result, the spinner has been ruled out of the remainder of the England tour.

Fast bowler Avesh Khan suffered a blow to his left thumb on Day 1 of the warm-up game. He was taken for an X-Ray and the result confirmed a fracture. A specialist was consulted for further management of his injury. He is ruled out of India’s Tour of England.

NEW DELHI

Dedicating her victory to the prayers and love of Indians, Olympic silver medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu said that her hard work, along with encouragement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, helped her win in Tokyo.

“I was able to win this medal because of the prayers and love of the people of India. I wish all young people especially girls who have entered sports to make the country proud. I dedicate my medal to the people of the country. I thank the prime minister and sports minister for encouraging me,” said Chanu after returning to India on Monday.

Recalling her journey after Rio Olympics, Chanu said, “All my hopes and dreams were shattered after failing to win a medal in Rio Olympics. I had to make a comeback in weightlifting again. But later I realised that I can still do something for India. I worked hard, dealt with injuries and other difficulties and focused on my training. Because of all the hard work, today I reached this point.”

When asked what she would like to do for youth, especially young girls from northeast India, the Olympics medallist said she would help in training the upcoming athletes.

“People of Northeast India know very little about sports right now. I will work to give recognition to the small state of Manipur by training youth, especially young girls,” she added.

Chanu’s Silver Medal could get upgraded. According to sources, China’s gold medal winner Hou Zhihui is being tested by the anti-doping authorities. If Zhihui fails, Chanu could become the first Indian woman to win a Gold medal in weightlifting at Olympics.

After winning the Silver medal, Chanu returned to India on Monday, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw felicitated her. He also announced a reward of Rs 2 crore and promotion in her job in the Railways. Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur also felicitated Chanu.

Union Minister for Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju and Union Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of North-Eastern region Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Minister for AYUSH, Sarbananda Sonowal and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Nisith Pramanik were also present.

TOKYO

National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Raninder Singh Sodhi on Tuesday said he is deliberating on overhauling the coaching staff as shooters have not been able to perform on expected lines at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.

“Yes, definitely the performances have not been on expected lines and I have spoken of an overhaul of the coaching staff as I feel something is lacking in getting our shooters prepared for these big occasions because clearly the talent is there and we have seen it here as well,” Raninder told ANI. “Let’s continue to back the team and I am sure we’ll get results. Post-mortems can wait till after the Games,” he added.

Heading into the Olympics, it was the shooting contingent that was favourite to bring back medals for India. However, the going has been disappointing, to say the least. Pair of Saurabh Chaudhary and Manu Bhaker failed to qualify for the medal match in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event after finishing the Qualification stage 2 at the seventh spot here at the Asaka Shooting—10m Range on Tuesday. Chaudhary and Bhaker shot a total of 380 in Qualification stage 2 and hence they bowed out of the Olympics in the mixed event.

Saurabh and Manu Bhaker had progressed to Qualification stage 2 of the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event after registering a total score of 582 in Qualification stage 1. Earlier, ace shooters Deepak Kumar and Divyansh Singh Panwar failed to qualify for the medal round in the men’s 10m Air Rifle Qualification. Both Elavenil Valarivan and Apurvi Chandela failed to qualify for the medal round after finishing 16th and 36th respectively in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Qualification. Saurabh had failed to rise to the challenge in the finals of the men’s 10m Air Rifle event as he finished seventh. Both Manu Bhaker and Yashaswini Singh Deswal had failed to qualify for the medal round after finishing 12th and 13th respectively in the women’s 10m Air Pistol Qualification.

India’s teams of Elavenil Valarivan/Divyansh Singh Panwar and Deepak Kumar/Anjum Moudgil failed to make the Qualification stage 2 in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event here at the Asaka Shooting—10m Range on Tuesday.

While Elavenil/Divyansh registered a total score of 626.5, finishing in the 12th spot in the Qualification stage 1, Deepak/Anjum had the same fate as they also failed to qualify after finishing at the 18th spot with a total score of 623.8. In series 1, Elavenil shot 105 while Divyansh registered a score of 103.6, but it was not enough to hand them a place within the top eight. Elavenil and Divyansh shot 104 and 104.1 in the second series, but they were trailing by the time the third series came, and in the end, they missed out on qualification.

Deepak and Anjum also had an underwhelming performance in series 1 and they were also trailing and their qualification for stage 2 looked difficult. In the end, Deepak and Anjum also failed to qualify for the next stage, and India’s disappointing show in the shooting event continued.

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur on Monday felicitated India’s first medal winner at the Tokyo Olympics Saikhom Mirabai Chanu.

Union Minister for Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju and Union Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of North-Eastern region Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways & Minister for AYUSH, Sarbananda Sonowal and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Nisith Pramanik were also present. Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and her coach Vijay Sharma on Monday returned to India after a sensational show in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Chanu received a warm welcome as the staff at the Delhi airport cheered for her upon her arrival.

This was the first time Chanu, who won a silver medal in women’s 49 kg weightlifting had come to India, after flying out to the USA on May 1 for a stint with renowned strength and conditioning coach Dr Aaron Horschig.

The government had swiftly arranged for Chanu to fly out at short notice with a travel ban to the USA for people coming from India set to be imposed within a few days due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.

An overjoyed Chanu said, “This is a dream come true for me. I have been training for this moment for years and I am glad that it all came right for me at the biggest stage of them all, the Olympic Games.”

“The trip to the USA last year to address issues related to my shoulder was instrumental in my journey to this medal. I am grateful for all the support extended by the government towards me, without which this journey to an Olympic medal would not have been possible. I would also like to say that the ‘Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) had boosted my career and medal prospects,” she said.

Anurag Singh Thakur congratulated Chanu saying, “Mirabai Chanu’s victory is the victory of 130 crore Indians, who were filled with pride when India’s flag was unfurled and the national anthem played at the medal ceremony in Tokyo.