Sports Round-Up August 20 to 26: India at Asian Games 2018, Prithvi Shaw in Test Squad, Cristiano Ronaldo Misses Goal for Juventus Top Highlights This Past Week
The coming week sees the closure of the Asian Games and also the fourth test between England and India which starts on the 30th.
The 18th Asian Games, Jakarta Palembang 2018 Asian Games dominated much of the limelight in the world of sports last week where the Indian contingent has been climbing up the medals ladder. Rowing and Athletics brought huge cheers for India where India grinded out path-breaking victories. While there were disappointments too most notably in Kabaddi, it is evident with a competition of such grand nature. The Asian Games 2018 along with action from the world of football, cricket and tennis dominate sporting review.
Football
Arsenal register first win of the season: Unai Emery finally got off the mark as he saw his Arsenal comeback from a being a goal down to register a 3-1 home win over fellow London side West Ham United. Mesut Ozil was left out of which raised quite a few, but it was late confirmed the playmaker was down with the fever. Marko Arnautovic goal was cancelled out Nacho Monreal in the first half, and the game had to wait till the 70th minute when Issa Diop put the ball in his own net to give the Gunners the lead. The result was put beyond doubt by Danny Welbeck who took his chance in the dying moments.
Manchester City drop points against Wolves: Wolverhampton Wanderers were repaid for their attacking verve displayed against reigning champions Manchester City as they snatched a point of them. For large parts of the game, there was no clear dominating side which gives a ray of hope for other teams when they take on Pep Guardiola’s men. Willy Boly’s diving header gave Wolves the lead in the 57th minute while Aymeric Laporte snatched the equaliser for City.
Cristiano Ronaldo misses sitter as Juventus beat Lazio 2-0: Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating home debut and also missed a sitter which turned out to be a comical assist for Mario Mandzukic as he saw his Juventus team win 2-0 against Lazio. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star is yet to score for his team but would care for little as till his side notch up the wins. Super Mario and a wonderful volley by Miralem Pjanic the goal scorers for the Turn club.
Barcelona and Real Madrid register routine wins in La Liga: Both Barcelona and Real Madrid maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with wins over Valladolid and Girona. Ousmane Dembele was the star for the Catalonians, but VAR too played an integral role in the win. While for Madrid, Gareth Bale looks set to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo as he rakes up goal after goal.
Jakarta Palembang 2018 Asian Games
Tennis: Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan got India a gold in men ’s doubles with a 6-3,6-4 win over Bulbik-Yevseyev pairing of Kazakhstan. The match which lasted 52 minutes brought great joy to the Indian duo, and it was particularly crucial for Bopanna who has endured a serious injury in Wimbledon, and it was only at the last moment that he decided to go ahead with the participation. Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan Wins GOLD Medal in Men's Doubles Finals at Asian Games 2018.
Rowing: The Indian rowing team came up with three medals, one gold and two bronze in the ten final it was part of although it did little to get the Rowing Federation of India excited. The federation had set a target of six medals in Indonesia which it fell woefully short of, and a review of the performance of the coach will be taken shortly. Dattu Bhokanal-led Indian Rowing Team Wins GOLD Medal in Men’s Quadruple Sculls at Asian Games 2018.
Badminton: India had not won a medal in the individual event in Badminton at the Asiad’s for the past 36 years, but that is going to change with the performance of PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal. PV Sindhu beat Jindapol Nitchaon 21-10, 16-21, 21-24 while her compatriot Saina Nehwal needed two set to overcome Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon 21-18,21-16. There is a great prospect of both the Indian women being in the final and what a great moment it will be for India.
Equestrian: Fouaad Mirza became the first Indian to win an individual medal in Equestrian since the 1982 Asian Games when he bagged a silver. India also won a silver in the team event in Equestrian with a combined score of 121.30 which mean a double delight for India. Fouaad Mirza Wins India’s First Individual Medal in Equestrian Since the 1982 Asian Games, Bags Silver.
Track and Field: Hima Das continued her excellent form at the world stage when she came second in the 400m race and in the process also broke the national record. Hima clocked 50.59 seconds to win silver as she finished behind Bahrain’s Salwa Naser who won gold with a record time of 50.09. Muhammad Anas also clinched as silver in the 400m as well as while Tejinderpal Singh Toor won gold in men’s shot put event. Sprinter Dutee Chand who won the hyperandrogenism case against the IAAF won silver in the 100m event to mark one of the good show by the Indians in the track and field games. Asian Games 2018 Highlights Day 8: Hima Das, Dutee Chand, Muhammed Anas Win Silver.
Cricket
Mohammad Irfan breaks T20 record: Lanky Pakistani paceman Mohammad Irfan broke the record for the most economical bowling figures in the history of T20 matches when he bowled four overs for just a run in the Caribbean Premier League. Playing for the Barbados Tridents against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, the 7feet tall bowler also scalped the wickets of Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis but still ended on the losing side. CPL 2018: Mohammad Irfan Dishes Out Most Economical Spell in T20 History, Concedes Just One Run and Bowls 23 Dot Balls.
Prithvi Shaw makes it to the Indian Test team: Prithvi Shaw’s meteoric rise in cricket continued when the selection committee decided to get the under 19-star batsmen on board the Indian squad for the last two tests in England. His string of good performances for the A side went in his favour as he looks set to be the backup opener for the remaining games in England. Prithvi Shaw Selected in Indian Squad: Sachin Tendulkar Had Predicted The Young Cricketer To Represent India 10 Years Ago.
Tennis
Serena Williams in a dress controversy: The French Open organisers saw themselves embroiled in controversy when it banned a figure-hugging black catsuit won by legendary tennis player Serena Williams in this year's event. This led to widespread criticism of the officials who called the dress policing absurd and demanded an apology from the officials. Serena Williams was quick to dismiss any problems with the French Open committee trying to end the controversy. Serena Williams Banned by French Open From Wearing Black Panther-Inspired ‘Superhero’ Catsuit, Twitterati Call It Racism Under the Guise of ‘Dress Code’.
These were the newsmakers from the world of sport in the past week. The coming week sees the closure of the Asian Games and also the fourth test between England and India which starts on the 30th. We will bring you all the happenings from the sports around the globe.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 27, 2018 11:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).