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Osaka (Japan), Sep 2 (IANS) Olympic champion Chen Yufei will face two-time reigning world titlist, Akane Yamaguchi, in the semifinals of the Japan Open on Saturday in a rematch of last Sunday's world championships women's singles final.

Chen beat Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia 21-17, 21-6 to set up a showdown with the Japanese star, who ousted Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand 21-18, 21-18.

Yamaguchi won a three-set thriller five days ago to record her fourth straight victory over Chen, who lost 14 times in their 22 meetings.

"I feel no pressure since I just lost to her last week," Chen said. "I will try not to make the same mistakes and do my best."

Yamaguchi said that she has been playing "her best badminton" of her career, but Chen said that her best days have not come.

"I still have a lot of space to improve," she said.

The other semifinal will be played between the second seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei and the third seed An Seyoung of South Korea.

Tai defeated eighth seed Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand 21-19, 21-18 while An upset three-time world champion Carolina Marin of Spain 21-18, 13-21, 21-17.

In the men's section, China's Shi Yuqi, playing his second tournament after coming out of a 10-month suspension, cruised past Kantaphon Wangcharoen of Thailand 21-6, 21-13.

The 2018 world silver medallist will next play fourth seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei, who fought off a hard challenge from India's H.S. Prannoy to win 21-17, 15-21, 22-20.

The other semifinal pits Japan's Kenta Nishimoto against third seed Anders Antonsen of Denmark.

Nishimoto beat Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo of Indonesia 14-21, 21-17, 21-18 and Antonsen routed Japan's Kanta Tsuneyama 21-11, 21-12.

--IANS

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Dubai, Sep 2 (IANS) The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named left-arm spinner-all-rounder Axar Patel as a like-for-like replacement for injured all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for the rest of India's campaign in the ongoing Asia Cup in the UAE.

Jadeja had played in India's both Group A matches against Pakistan and Hong Kong in Dubai. Against Pakistan, after 0/11 with two overs of left-arm spin, he was promoted to batting at number four and made a crucial 35 off 29 balls and shared a 52-run stand with Hardik Pandya (33 not out off 17 balls) to see India home in a chase of 148.

Though Jadeja didn't get to bat against Hong Kong, he had outstanding figures of 1/15 in his four overs at an economy rate of 3.75, effectively applying brakes on the scoring rate in defence of 192.

"Jadeja has sustained a right knee injury and is ruled out of the tournament. He is currently under the supervision of the BCCI medical team. His replacement, Axar Patel was earlier named as one of the standbys in the squad and will join the team in Dubai soon," said the BCCI in an official statement.

It's not the first time this year that Jadeja has been troubled by a right knee injury. A similar injury had forced him to give a miss to India's ODI leg of the tour of the West Indies in July, with Patel featuring in all three matches as his like-for-like replacement. In 25 T20Is, Patel has scored 147 runs and picked 21 wickets.

After topping Group A in Asia Cup 2022 by winning matches against Pakistan and Hong Kong, India have progressed to the Super Four stage and are now scheduled to play their next match on Sunday.

India's squad for Asia Cup: Rohit Sharma (captain), K.L Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan

--IANS

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Dubai, Sep 2 (IANS) The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named left-arm spin all-rounder Axar Patel as the replacement for senior left-arm spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in the ongoing Asia Cup in the UAE.

"Jadeja has sustained a right knee injury and is ruled out of the tournament. He is currently under the supervision of the BCCI medical team. His replacement, Axar Patel was earlier named as one of the standbys in the squad and will join the team in Dubai soon," said the BCCI in an official statement.

"India's squad for Asia Cup: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan


--IANS
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Osaka (Japan), Sep 2 (IANS) India's campaign at the Japan Open 2022 badminton tournament came to an end on Friday after HS Prannoy lost to Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen in the men's singles quarter-finals, here.

Up against an in-form Chen, the fourth seed and bronze medallist from the BWF World Championships held last month, Prannoy put up a gritty fight but eventually lost 21-17, 15-21, 22-20 in a marathon clash that stretched for one hour and 21 minutes.

The 30-year-old Indian, who had ousted the 2021 world champion, Loh Kean Yew of Singapore, in the pre-quarters on Thursday, made a good start and raced to an 11-7 lead in the first game. However, world No. 6 Chen came back into the game after the break and went on to take the all-important lead.

The second game saw the world No. 18 Prannoy go on the offensive as Chen spent most of his time on the back foot. The Indian shuttler easily won the game and stretched the match into a decider.

The tide seemed to change again in game three, as Chen looked comfortably placed with a handy 11-5 lead at the break. Prannoy, though, came roaring back and managed to level the game at 20-all.

However, as the match entered its final phases, Prannoy's exertion was visible after the long struggle and unforced errors kept creeping into his game. Chen eventually edged out the decider 22-20 to secure his fourth win over Prannoy in seven head-to-head meetings.

--IANS

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Dubai, Sep 1 (IANS) After India's innings against Hong Kong at Asia Cup 2022 wrapped at 192-2, talismanic batter Virat Kohli bowed down in front of Suryakumar Yadav after the latter slammed a blistering 68 off just 26 balls and said "kya hai yeh" (what is this, dude?).

Kohli's reaction summed up the feelings of fans at Dubai International Stadium and of cricket watchers watching around the world as Suryakumar single-handedly changed the complexion of India's innings.

At 94-2 in 13 overs, when KL Rahul's struggle ended at 36 off 39 balls, Suryakumar brought out his drives, slashes, scoops and sweeps apart from audacious wrist play sending the ball all over the park, hitting six fours and as many sixes at a strike-rate of 261.53 to get a 40-run win over Hong Kong and seal their spot in Super Four stage.

"It was a heartwarming gesture from Virat Kohli as I hadn't seen that before. But I was wondering why he wasn't walking ahead and then when I realised, I asked him to walk together. He is much more experienced than me. After the first innings and match ended, I said to him all the time that it was enjoyable batting alongside you."

"The plan was clear and we were talking a lot on what to do after two-three balls. Having experienced people there was very necessary as I haven't featured in as many T20I as he's played. But from inside, enjoyed a lot," said Suryakumar in the post-match press conference.

Suryakumar also shared a 98-run stand off just 42 balls with Kohli, who made 59 in 44 balls, hitting four and three sixes in his 31st T20I fifty and brought out some shots in the end as India fetched 78 runs in the last five overs to score a daunting 192-2, something which was a far possibility at the half-way mark score of 70-1.

"Situation was such that I had to bat like that. At the start, the wicket was a touch slow, but out in the middle, Virat bhai asked me to go and express myself. I had a very clear game plan on how I had to bat and the knock was very enjoyable," added the right-handed batter.

Suryakumar further remarked that India have got enough in their batting stocks to get a good total while batting first in T20Is. "Batting first is definitely a tad challenging. But we are working on the ideal target which would be fine while batting first. During the match, we kept assessing what would be a good total, how the tempo should be like and how we should go about business at the back end."

"It helps when the role for each batter is well defined. Even if I hadn't fired, one of Rishabh (Pant) or DK bhai (Dinesh Karthik) or Jaddu bhai (Ravindra Jadeja) would have done the job for the side. There is enough firepower in the unit to post very good first innings totals. It will happen."

Suryakumar signed off by appreciating Hong Kong, who had some good displays with bat and ball despite falling 40 runs short at the end. "We tried our best to widen the winning margin. But I think they (Hong Kong) showed very good fight at the end. They have also done some things right to qualify for the Asia Cup and play against us."

"They played really well and in the second innings, the wicket also became a little easier to bat. Of course, credit goes to them. But very happy with the win."



--IANS
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Dubai, Sep 1 (IANS) India's star cricketer Virat Kohli hailed stylish batter, Suryakumar Yadav, for a "special knock" against Hong Kong in the ongoing Asia Cup on Wednesday.

Suryakumar Yadav's stylish 68 not out and Kohli's unbeaten 59, helped India secure a spot in to the Super Four round of Asia Cup 2022 after defeating Hong Kong by 40 runs here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Following Suryakumar's blistering knock, Kohli made a sweet gesture as he bowed down to the batter after the innings.

After India's win, Kohli again appreciated Suryakumar as he posted a picture with 'SKY' on homegrown social media, Koo app.

"Good win today. A special knock by SKY. We'll keep going," Kohli said on the Koo app.

Meanwhile, Suryakumar was totally flabbergasted by Kohli's gesture on the field.

"It was a very heartwarming gesture. I never saw something like that. I was looking at him and I was like, "why isn't he going ahead?" Then I came to him and urged him to walk together. He is so experienced," said Suryakumar.

India opener KL Rahul scored 36 off 39 balls, however, his two impeccable sixes showed that he isn't in bad touch as of now.

KL Rahul also posted his picture on the Koo app after India's win.

India outplayed Hong Kong in all departments and also became the second team to qualify for the Super four.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will today lock horns in the Group B match and the winner will secure a spot in the super four stage.

Pakistan and Hong Kong will meet for the same scenario on Friday. The super Four round of the Asia Cup 2022 will begin from Saturday.


--IANS
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Johannesburg, Aug 31 (IANS) Cricket South Africa's (CSA) new T20 franchise league has been named as 'SA20'. In a virtual press conference, league commissioner and former South Africa captain Graeme Smith also said that the player auction for the inaugural season of SA20 will be held on September 19.

The player registrations for the SA20 player auction closed on Sunday evening with a positive show of interest from players around the world and from established as well as young South African talent.

All the six teams, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Pretoria Capitals, Paarl Royals, MI Cape Town, Johannesburg Super Kings and Durban franchise, owned by IPL franchises, have already signed up to five players apiece (four by Paarl, two each by Pretoria and Eastern Cape) through a direct-acquisition process.

The franchises have an overall purse of US$2 million, with the maximum squad strength set at 17. The six teams can acquire services of seven international cricketers and ten South African players, with the playing eleven to follow the IPL path of four internationals and seven local players.

"Today is another significant day as we officially unveil the SA20. We selected a name for its simplicity and something that can be uniquely ours as we enter this new and exciting phase of cricket in South Africa. Dropping the T in T20 cricket shows our intention to be different. We want to change the game for our players and for our fans, and most importantly, create a League that all South Africans can be a part of," said Smith.

The SA20 has attracted some of T20 cricket's biggest names like England's Liam Livingstone, Jos Buttler, and Moeen Ali apart from West Indies' Jason Holder and Afghanistan's Rashid Khan apart from the world-class contracted Proteas players.

"The countdown to January 2023 gets more thrilling with each major milestone that we cross and today is another step towards that first ball being bowled. We hope fans will be able to relate to our brand as we work towards making the SA20 a world-class tournament South Africans can be proud of," added Smith.

SA20 will be in a direct clash with UAE's ILT20, also scheduled to begin from January next year. Both leagues will be operating in the time when Australia's Big Bash League (BBL) and Bangladesh's Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) will be on.

SA20 will be the third time South Africa would be attempting to launch a franchise T20 league in the country. In its previous attempts, the attempt to start Global League T20 failed to happen in 2017.

Its replacement, the Mzansi Super League was held in 2018 and 2019 but didn't get the big broadcast rights, with the free-to-air South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) getting broadcast rights for a much smaller sum. The league hasn't been played since 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic and will now make way for the SA20.

--IANS
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Dubai, Aug 31 (IANS) India and Pakistan have been fined 40 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate in their Group A match of the Asia Cup 2022, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Wednesday.

Jeff Crowe of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanctions after Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam's sides were ruled to be two overs short of their respective targets during Sunday's match after time allowances were taken into consideration.

"In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 percent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time," the ICC said in a statement.

Both captains pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Masudur Rahman and Ruchira Pilliyaguruge, third umpire Raveendra Wimalasiri and fourth umpire Gazi Sohel levelled the charges.

India got their Asia Cup campaign off to a positive start with a five-wicket win over Pakistan, courtesy an all-round effort from Hardik Pandya as well as vital contributions from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli.

--IANS

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Lucknow, Aug 31 (IANS) A case of rape has been registered against Anandeshwar Pandey, general secretary of the UP Olympic Association, at Bhiwadi police station in Rajasthan.

A handball player has lodged an FIR against Pandey, also the treasurer of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), alleging sexual assault.

Seema Sharma, a former national-level handball player of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), has filed the complaint against Pandey, who was also the secretary general of the Handball Federation of India (HFI) from 2013 to 2020.

The FIR was registered at the Mahila Police Station at Bhiwadi in Rajasthan on Sunday under IPC section of 376 (rape), 511 (attempt to commit an offence) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

In her complaint, Sharma has accused Pandey of trying to rape her at the UPOA's office in Lucknow in March this year. The zero FIR has now been transferred to Lucknow's Hazratganj police station.

"It was a zero FIR and has the sections of sexual assault. The case was transferred to Lucknow on Monday," said SHO of Mahila Police Station Bhiwadi.

Sharma, a constable in the 4th battalion of SSB in Mohanlalganj here, had also sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 31, detailing the incident and calling for his intervention in the matter.

As per the complaint, 28-year-old Sharma said she met Pandey during the selection trials for the National Women Handball Championships.

The trials were organised at the K.D. Singh Babu Stadium on March 12. She said she made it to the camp and before the final selection on March 26, she was asked to go to Pandey's office by her coach, where he allegedly misbehaved and molested her, according to the FIR.

Sharma wrote in her complaint that she resisted his advances during which her jersey got torn. "He then threatened me with dire consequences and said he is very powerful and will end my playing career," she said in her complaint.

"I informed my higher officials about this incident," said Sharma, who has represented Uttar Pradesh in sub-junior, junior and senior level national championships.

Sharma alleged that Pandey is a repeat offender and has finished the careers of many handball players but nobody dared to report against him because he is "powerful and well connected."

Pandey was also in the news last week as pictures of him in compromising positions with different women went viral on social media. Pandey had alleged "political conspiracy" in the whole issue, and said he had filed a complaint with the Lucknow Police cyber cell about the pictures.

A former national-level runner, Pandey started his career as a handball player and first represented Uttar Pradesh in the nationals in 1977-78.

He is also chairman of the Coordination Committee for the upcoming National Games set to be held in Ahmedabad from September 27.

--IANS
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Sharjah, Aug 31 (IANS) Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan has risen to No.2 in the men's T20I bowling charts following his superb spell of 3/22 in the Asia Cup Group B match, which saw the side crush Bangladesh by seven wickets here on Tuesday night.

This was Afghanistan's second successive win in the tournament following their victory against Sri Lanka in the opening game.

Rashid Khan also went past New Zealand pace bowler Tim Southee to become the second-highest wicket-taker in men's T20Is during the win over Bangladesh. The leg-spinner, who had started the match with 112 scalps in the format, picked up the wickets of Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain and Mahmudullah, to go to 115 wickets, according to ICC.

Southee was second in the wicket-takers' list with 114 wickets before the match. Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan holds on to his record with 122 wickets, the most by anyone in the men's game, and the second best in all T20Is, behind West Indies woman cricketer Anisa Mohammed.

Rashid, 23, has had a remarkable T20I career so far, averaging 13.73 and clocking an economy rate of 6.16 after 68 matches in the format. He has six hauls of four or more wickets in T20Is, which is again the joint-most in the men's game.

Rashid's spell, which followed an impressive three-wicket haul from Mujeeb ur Rahman, helped Afghanistan restrict Bangladesh to 127/7 in 20 overs. However, it still took a remarkable 17-ball 43 not out from Najibullah Zadran for Afghanistan to seal a win and establish their position at the top of Group B in Asia Cup 2022 and ensure qualification to the next round.

--IANS

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