India thump Sri Lanka, will face Pakistan for Asian Games cricket gold

Nagoya, Japan: World champions India will face arch-rivals Pakistan for the Asian Games cricket men's gold medal after both won their semi-finals with ease on Thursday. mchezo.life

India hammered Sri Lanka by 124 runs after Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets to set up a mouth-watering final on Saturday at the Korogi Athletic Park Stadium in Nagoya.

India posted an above par 169-7 on a sharply turning pitch after being asked to bat.

Sri Lanka lost two wickets without a run on the board and they crumbled to 45 all out in less than 10 overs of chaos that included three run-outs.

It was Sri Lanka's lowest total in a men's T20 international, far below the 77 they scored against South Africa in New York in 2024, their previous worst.

Sri Lanka opted to field and were given an early taste of the power of 15-year-old opening bat Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on his Asian Games debut.

The fearless teenager, who topped the IPL batting charts this year, smoked a whirlwind 38 off 21 balls with six fours and two enormous sixes before falling to a thick edge caught at backward point.

Ishan Kishan was India's mainstay with a crafted 80 not out, including five sixes.

When Sri Lanka batted, pace bowling great Jasprit Bumrah ripped out two wickets in his first over and from then on it was a question of how long Sri Lanka might last in their chase of 170.

They were 18-5 by the end of the fourth over, with spinner Axar Patel taking two wickets, and there was also a needless run out.

Nuwanidu Fernando decided he would not wait around for a slow death and smacked two sixes off Washington Sundar only to run himself out for 15 two balls later, Sri Lanka's only batsman to get more than 10.

Sri Lanka were 33-7 after five overs, in total disarray, and the end came rapidly with the last three wickets falling in three balls.

The first was yet another run out, then Abishek Sharma mopped up the last two off two balls.

Picture: Asian Cricket Council / X

Smashing Samad

Earlier Abdul Samad smashed an unbeaten 30 off 15 balls as Pakistan thumped Bangladesh by six wickets with nine balls to spare in a semi-final reduced to 13 overs by a wet outfield.

"To be honest, we don't really care about who will win and who will reach the final," said Pakistan batsman Saim Ayub, who scored 21 of his side's 112-4 after Bangladesh posted 111-7.

"All we care about is winning the final, no matter who we are playing against," he said of the prospect of facing India.

Under clear blue skies, Pakistan soon had Bangladesh reeling at 21-3 and then 45-4 in the sixth over.

Towhid Hridoy led a recovery with 42 off 25 balls with two fours and four sixes as Bangladesh reached 111-7.

Pakistan lost some early wickets but once Samad and Hasan Nawaz (27 not out) came together at 53-4 in the seventh over the result never looked in doubt.

The pair posted an unbroken stand of 59 in 32 balls as they raced to their target.

Samad put Pakistan in complete control in the 10th over, bowled by Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman.

Nawaz prodded a single off to third man off the first ball.

Samad then launched a towering six over long on and four fours off consecutive deliveries to leave Pakistan needing only 13 from 18 balls and they cantered home.

Bangladesh will play Sri Lanka for the bronze medal, also on Saturday.

Nagoya, Japan: Philippines tennis star Alexandra Eala saw her bid for Asian Games gold end in Thursday's semi-finals after a stunning 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss to China's world number 85 Wang Xiyu.

Top seed and world number 18 Eala, who skipped the prestigious China Open to play in Nagoya, was looking to become the first woman from the Philippines to win the title.

The 21-year-old will instead go home with only a bronze medal.

Eala played two matches the previous evening but showed no sign of fatigue as she raced into a 5-0 first-set lead.

Wang then began showing signs of life and went on to level the match in the second set before breaking Eala's serve early in the third.

Eala could find no way back as Wang closed out the match to set up an all-Chinese final against world number 57 Zhang Shuai.

Eala was eliminated from the women's doubles competition after she and partner Shaira Rivera lost in the second round.

Eala last month became the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour title.

She has become wildly popular in the Philippines, her every match followed by large numbers of cheering fans.

Doha, Qatar: The Longines Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour begins its 10th season today, with a packed opening round at the indoor arena of the Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation and high hopes for another competitive campaign.

The opening round runs until October 3, marking a decade of a championship that has played a key role in developing show jumping and dressage and expanding the base of male and female riders in Qatar.

Veterinary inspections for participating horses were held yesterday in morning and evening sessions, while riders also had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the arena courses ahead of the competitions.

The three-day opening round features competitions across several categories.

Action begins today with the Amateur Class (100cm) at 5pm, followed by the Silver Tour (130cm) at 7pm. Tomorrow, the Future Riders (aged 6-12) will compete over 70cm fences at 4pm, followed by the Open Class (110cm) at 5:30pm.

The day concludes with the Gold Tour, featuring individual and team competitions at 110cm, at 8pm.

The opening round concludes on Saturday with the Future Riders (aged 12-16) over 90cm fences at 4pm, followed by the Bronze Tour, featuring individual and team competitions at 120cm, at 5:30pm. The Diamond Tour (150cm) at 8pm will bring the first round to a close.

Secretary-General of the Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation Sheikh Ahmed bin Nouh Al Thani also the Chairman of the Longines Hathab Organizing Committee, said reaching the 10th season reflected the tour’s success and longevity.

“The tenth season marks a significant milestone in the journey of the Longines Hathab series. Over the past decade, the series has successfully established itself as a consistent competitive platform for male and female riders in Qatar, offering a regular schedule that meets international standards.”

“It has fostered an environment conducive to enhancing the technical and physical readiness of both riders and horses, adhering to organizational and technical criteria that align with the requirements of international competitions.”

He said the new season’s calendar was designed with a progressive technical approach, allowing sufficient time for preparation and competition.

“This strategy serves the various categories of riders and maximizes the technical benefits derived from the events. We deeply value our ongoing partnerships with the championship’s sponsors and look forward to a season filled with fierce competition and outstanding performances, reflecting the continued growth of equestrian sports in Qatar.”

The 2026-27 season features 14 rounds of show jumping and dressage, alternating between the indoor and outdoor arenas.

Following the opening round, October will feature three more rounds, including show jumping and dressage competitions, while November will have three rounds. The first phase concludes in December with three further rounds.

The tour will then take a break of around four months while the 10-leg Doha Equestrian Tour 2026 takes place, before returning in May 2027.

The 11th round will be held from May 6 to 8, followed by the 12th from May 27 to 29. The final two rounds will take place in June, from June 3 to 5 and June 10 to 12, with the latter bringing the 10th season to a close and crowning champions and top-ranked competitors across the various categories.

Paris: As the prestigious Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend, under the long-standing sponsorship of the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC), prepares to anchor the global racing community in Paris, today’s opening fixture takes place at Saint-Cloud.

The annual Purebred Arabian Horse Sale, orchestrated by Arqana in association with the French Purebred Arabian Racehorse Association (AFAC), officially serves as the curtain-raiser for this landmark weekend.

Staging this premier bloodstock auction at the vanguard of the meeting highlights the robust international demand and bloodstock momentum surrounding elite Arabian lines.

This deep-rooted emphasis on Purebred Arabians stands as one of the defining triumphs of Qatar’s enduring partnership with the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend. Qatar’s extensive backing of Arabian racing spans the entire season in France, launching with early opportunities for uncapped prospects before escalating across a nine-race black-type ladder.

الأخبارناصر الخليفي: الإنجاز يمثل مصدر فخر للرياضة القطرية استقبال حافل لبعثة أدعم البادل بعد ذهبية آيتشي-ناغوياحظيت بعثة المنتخب القطري للبادل باستقبال حافل لدى وصولها إلى الدوحة، عقب تتويجها بالميدالية الذهبية لمنافسات الرجال في دورة الألعاب الآسيوية /‏‏آيتشي-ناغويا 2026/‏‏ باليابان، في...فتح →

This domestic campaign culminates in the Gr. 1 PA Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon on the Qatar Arc Trials Day, which serves as the definitive final prep for contenders targeting the Gr.1 PA Qatar Arabian World Cup. Beyond French borders, this international commitment is further anchored by the Gr. 1 PA Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood - the opening leg of the prestigious Doha Triple Crown, which continues in Paris with the Qatar Arabian World Cup and reaches its climax with the Gr. 1 PA
H H The Amir Sword in Doha.

With such a comprehensive racing programme catering to every tier of the sport, it is entirely logical that Arqana’s Purebred Arabian flagship renewal has climbed to such a position of global eminence.

The newly minted catalogue gathers a diverse, multi-generational collection from the world’s foremost consignors. The index encompasses a total of 89 lots, which are broadly distributed between 56 two-year-olds, 6 yearlings, 16 active horses-in-training (including 5 wild cards), and 11 premium breeding stock

To capture the very latest racing and breeding developments, Arqana incorporates a dynamic “Wild Card” system. This mechanism gives major international operations the flexibility to supplement recent stakes performers or elite broodmares into the index up until the final days before the auctioneer takes the stand. These late entries are seamlessly appended to the end of their respective catalogue sections, broadening the options for prospective buyers.

The 2025 renewal demonstrated a highly dynamic market, with 85 per cent of the catalogue changing hands. The running order spanned 97 total lots, comprising 36 two-year-olds, two yearlings, 31 horses-in-training, and 28 breeding stock entries. This robust demand drove aggregate turnover to a record-breaking nearly €4 million (up 10 per cent), while the average price climbed nearly 15 per cent to €53,986.

Nagoya, Japan: Doha Asian Games organisers "are ready" if the continent's premier sporting event is moved back a year to 2031 in a major shake-up to the calendar, a top official said Thursday.

The Games, currently ongoing in Japan, are typically held every four years and on even years.

Doha is the next host and according to the current cycle, the Qatari capital would stage the Games in 2030.

However, reports in April said that the executive board of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) had approved the idea of reshaping the calendar so that future Games double up as qualifying and preparation for the Olympics.

That would mean the Doha Games taking place in 2031, months before the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

"We are working closely with the OCA. For us, it's 2030," Ahmad Abdulla Al-Buenain, chief executive of the Doha 2030 Asian Games organising committee, told AFP in current host Nagoya.

"But if it needs to be changed either one year earlier or postponed year for some specific reason, we need to make sure as the LOC (local organising committee) that we are ready, that the venues are ready, all the operation plans are going on."

He said that any change will be "between the OCA and the IOC", referring to the International Olympic Committee.

"Yes, LOC as a host country needs to be engaged. But again, it's not a solo decision.

"We need to work closely in the upcoming days to make sure that everyone is satisfied about the date, about the duration, and when it will be, where it will be located and when."

The Aichi-Nagoya Games have faced accusations of organisational failures, especially with athlete accommodation and transport.

Qatar, which in the past 20 years has staged a growing number of major sports events, culminating in the men's 2022 FIFA World Cup, already has all the venues in place.

Doha also staged the Asian Games in 2006.

"Qatar is ready. Whenever it comes to Qatar, Qatar is ready," said Al-Buenain.

One of the major challenges for Japanese organisers has been the ballooning number of participants.

More than 17,000 athletes and officials -- more than the Olympics -- descended on Aichi-Nagoya.

Some teams said there was a shortage of beds.

Al-Buenain said it was "too early to discuss numbers".

But he told reporters: "There is no limit up to this point."