Sunday, September 22, 2024, marked a day etched in the annals of Indian chess history. The Indian men’s team, led by a formidable trio of young prodigies, clinched the coveted gold medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad, a feat that had eluded the nation for decades.

The architects of this historic triumph were D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R. Praggnanadhaa. These three young Grandmasters, each with their unique style and strategic acumen, formed the backbone of the Indian team. Their performances throughout the tournament were nothing short of exceptional, showcasing a level of chess that belied their age.

The final round against Slovenia was a tense affair, but it was the Indian team that emerged victorious. Gukesh, Erigaisi, and Praggnanadhaa delivered decisive victories on their respective boards, securing a 3-0 win and sealing India’s gold medal. Their performances were marked by a combination of tactical brilliance, strategic depth, and nerves of steel.

This victory was a culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and talent. It was a testament to the strength of Indian chess, a sport that has seen a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years. The Indian team’s success has inspired a new generation of chess players, and it is hoped that this victory will serve as a catalyst for even greater achievements in the future.

Beyond the individual brilliance of Gukesh, Erigaisi, and Praggnanadhaa, the Indian team’s success was also a product of excellent teamwork and support. The team’s captain, Srinath Narayanan, provided invaluable leadership, while the coaching staff played a crucial role in preparing the players for the tournament.

India’s gold medal at the Chess Olympiad is a moment to cherish. It is a testament to the country’s growing stature in the world of sports and a source of immense pride for chess enthusiasts everywhere. As the Indian team celebrates this historic achievement, the chess world eagerly awaits to see what the future holds for these young talents.

The cricket team from Pakistan arrived in India on Wednesday under heavy security as it gets ready to compete in the next, seven-week World Cup. Pakistan is travelling to India for the first time since 2016, and as the team’s captain Babar Azam and other players arrived at the airport in Hyderabad, large groups of enthusiastic fans shouted and chanted their names while being restrained by security agents. On October 5, the ODI competition is set to begin, and Pakistan will play their first match the following day.

Political difficulties between India and Pakistan have a long history, hence the two countries’ international matches are mainly limited to regional and global competitions. However, Pakistan was given a warm welcome in India on Wednesday, and the players posted about it on their official social media account. Babar Azam, the team’s captain, Shaheen Afridi, and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan were among the players to express gratitude to the Indian government and crowd on social media.

The World Cup will consist of 48 games played over 46 days at 10 different venues, with the championship game taking place on November 19. Pakistan will play two exhibition games, one on September 29 against New Zealand and the other on October 3 against Australia, both in Hyderabad. After evaluating the security measures for a significant festival that day, the game against New Zealand will be played behind closed doors.

Babar added that the sid is not under any pressure but will miss its fans when it plays the World Cup matches in India during his pre-departure press conference in Pakistan.

“We’re all happy of the World Cup trip we took. We haven’t played in India before, but we don’t feel any pressure. We’ve done our investigation, and we’ve heard that the circumstances are comparable to those in other Asian nations. Being the captain this time around is an honour, and I sincerely hope we return with a trophy.

We shall regrettably be without the supporters. We will play in crowded stadiums since, as far as I know, all of the games are sold out. Even though they won’t be present, our followers will still show their support by posting on social media. Although I have not personally witnessed it yet, I have heard that Indian fans also display their devotion, which makes me want to play there as well.

https://mumbaiuncensored.com/2023/07/06/eat-like-punjabi-restaurant/

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/babar-azam-overwhelmed-mohammad-rizwan-shaheen-afridi-react-to-amazing-welcome-in-india-ahead-of-2023-world-cup-101695869516090.html

Bishamber Yadav,6 september 2023

Tuesday night, Sri Lanka narrowly advanced to the Asia Cup Super 4 stage with a thrilling two-run triumph. Tuesday’s last group game was dramatic as Afghanistan’s quest of a difficult goal took an unexpected turn. Based on estimations of the net run rate, Afghanistan briefly appeared to be in position to eliminate Sri Lanka from the competition; for them to join Bangladesh in moving out of Group B, they needed to reach a daunting 292-run mark in 37.1 overs. Afghanistan, however, didn’t appear to be aware of a critical calculation: they might have still advanced to the Super 4 by scoring 295 runs in the following three deliveries.

The 11th batter, Fazalhaq Farooqi, held off the following two balls from the part-time spinner de Silva in an exciting turn of events. Rashid Khan was unfortunately left stranded at the non-striker’s end as he was called out for a leg before wicket on the third delivery. As a result, Afghanistan’s innings was ended after 289 runs in 37.4 overs, falling just short of the necessary total and giving Sri Lanka a dramatic victory.

Afghanistan’s ability to reach the Super Fours

If they had been able to hit certain run targets at crucial times, they might have been able to surpass Sri Lanka in terms of net run rate. Here are several crucial run targets:

after 37.2 overs, 37.3 overs, 37.5 overs, 296 over 38 overs, or 297 over 38.1.

They needed their No. 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi to do the feats of valour in order to accomplish this. He had the opportunity to reach these goals by hitting a four on the first ball of the 38th over, a six on the third, fourth, or fifth delivery, or even by taking a single to give Rashid, who was batting at 27 runs off 16 balls, the chance to try and win the match on his own. The game was on the verge of being decided by a single run, but Sri Lanka eventually maintained composure to win handily.

It’s interesting to note that Jonathan Trott, the head coach of Afghanistan, said that the side had not been informed of all the specifics of the various target situations. Trott claims that Afghanistan was only aware that they needed to reach the mark in 37.1 overs.

Due to Afghanistan’s elimination from the group stage, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka joined Group A’s India and Pakistan in making it to the Super Fours stage of the Asia Cup. Bangladesh had recently thrashed Afghanistan in Lahore by a commanding 89-run margin.

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