HWL Semi-Final: High-voltage India-Pakistan clash ends in 2-2 draw

June 27, 2015

Antwerp, Jun 27: The much-anticipated Hockey World League (HWL) Semi-Final Pool A clash between traditional rivals India and Pakistan ended in a 2-2 stalemate at the Brasschaat Municipal Park here on Friday.

India-HockeyRamandeep Singh (13th and 39th) scored for world No.9 India while his brace was matched by world No.10 Pakistan captain Muhammad Imran, who converted a penalty stroke and a penalty corner in the 23rd and 37th minutes respectively.

India were the better team at the start with the players combining and coordinating well. They got the more of the ball possession in the first quarter as Pakistan took time to get into a rhythm.

Pakistan got a great chance of going ahead as Shakeel Ammad set up Muhammad Waqas only for the latter to waste it.

However, India got the crucial 1-0 lead in the 13th minute as Gurmail Singh drove the ball inside the Pakistan circle in a blistering speed and Ramandeep, lurking in front of the goal, made full commitment and threw his body to deflect the ball in.

In the second quarter, Pakistan regrouped and bounced back strongly to make lethal circle penetrations and threatening Indian goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh every time. The best part of Pakistan was the way they managed the space in the field while it seemed India, after getting the lead, were more focused on keeping their lead.

Sparks flew thick and fast between the two Asian giants -- with a bitter history between the two countries -- didn't allow each other free space.

Pakistan got a penalty corner in the 23rd minute and skipper Muhammad Imran's flick was saved on the goalline by Devindar Sunil Walmiki with a backstick, leading to a penalty stroke. Seasoned Imran stepped up to convert it to a goal even if Sreejesh correctly dived to his right.

India responded well and were rewarded with a penalty corner that was wasted by a lethargic strike from Manpreet Singh and both the teams went to the half-time 1-1.

Continuing their ascendancy, Pakistan played a fluent game as India played with 10 members as Satbir Singh sat outside following a yellow card.

Pakistan earned a penalty corner in the 37th minute that was converted successfully as Imran flicked high into the net, easily beating Indian custodian Sreejesh.

India responded two minutes later as Devindar got a pass from skipper Sardar Singh and surged into the rival circle to set it up for Ramandeep, who lifted the ball high into the net for his brace.

With the game still 2-2, India and Pakistan both wasted a penalty corner each in the fourth quarter as their stoppers failed to properly check the balls after the push.

India, especially, missed the absence of a penalty corner expert as their top artist V.R. Raghunath is in India due to injury and Rupinder Pal Singh is yet to fully recover from an injury sustained during a warm-up game here.

The responsibility was on Manpreet and in this match filled with pressure, it was a demand too much for the youngster as the rival goalkeeper Imran Butt had a very good day in the office.

Butt showed very good reflexes as he dived twice in one minute to keep India at bay and ultimately both the teams tried in vain in search of the winner.

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Agencies
May 9,2020

Tokyo, May 9: As the world continues to grapple with coronavirus pandemic, the organisers of Tokyo Game Show have cancelled 2020 showpiece event.

TGS 2020 was slated to be played from September 24 to September 27 at the Makuhari Messe convention center. However, there now talks going on for holding an online event instead.

According to the Verge, this is the first time that TGS has ever been cancelled since it started in 1996.

TGS 2020 gained more attention because of its status as the last major trade show before the launch of the upcoming next-gen consoles, the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.

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News Network
June 3,2020

Colorado, Jun 3: Formula One boss Chase Carey has said that races will go ahead even if a driver tests positive for coronavirus.

His remarks come as organisers revealed a revised 2020 calendar and the schedule for the first eight races was put in the public domain.

"An individual having been found with a positive infection will not lead to a cancellation of a race. We encourage teams to have procedures in place so if an individual has to be put in quarantine, we have the ability to quarantine them at a hotel and to replace that individual," the official website of Formula One quoted Carey as saying.

"Some things we'd have to talk through and work through. The array of 'what ifs' are too wide to play out every one of them, but a team not being able to race would not cancel the race. I do not think I could sit here and lay out the consequences," he said.

Carey added the organisers will be having the necessary procedures in place so that the race does not get cancelled if a driver ends up testing positive for coronavirus.

"But we will have a procedure in place that finding infection will not lead to a cancellation. If a driver has an infection, teams have reserve drivers available," Carey said.

"We would not be going forward if we were not highly confident we have necessary procedures and expertise and capabilities to provide a safe environment and manage whatever issues arrive," he added.

The Formula One 2020 season will be beginning with the Austrian Grand Prix in July.

F1 currently expects the opening races to be closed events but hopes that fans will be able to attend again when it is safe to do so.

The season will kick off with the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on July 5, followed a week later by a second race on the same track.

The Hungarian Grand Prix will follow a week after that, before a break. There will be then two back to back races at Silverstone, followed by the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

The Belgian Grand Prix will follow that, with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza a week later on September 6.

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News Network
January 18,2020

Hobart, Jan 18: In a dream start to her second innings after a two-year break, Sania Mirza lifted the WTA Hobart International trophy with partner Nadiia Kichenok after edging out Shaui Peng and Shuai Zhang in the final, here on Saturday.

The unseeded Indo-Ukrainian pair pipped the second seed Chinese team 6-4, 6-4 in one hour 21 minutes.

Playing her first tournament after giving birth to son Izhaan, the 33-year-old Sania has begun well in the Olympic year as she warmed up for the Australian Open in style.

It is Sania's 42nd WTA doubles title and first since Brisbane International trophy in 2007 with American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Sania did not compete on the WTA circuit in the entire 2018 and 2019 seasons to start a family with Pakistani cricketer husband Shoaib Malik.

Sania and Nadiia began by breaking the Chinese players in the very first game of the match but only to drop serve in the next.

The two pairs played close games towards the end and at 4-4, 40-all, Sania and Nadiia got the crucial break, earning the opportunity to serve out the set.

There was no twist in 10th game with Sania and Nadiia comfortably pocketing the first set.

The second set could not have started better for them as they broke the Chinese rivals to take early lead and consolidated the break with an easy hold.

The game of the Chinese was falling apart as they dropped serve again in the third but broke back immediately to repair some damage.

Sania and Nadiia were now feeling the heat at 0-30 in the sixth game but Peng and Zhang let them hold serve for a 4-2 lead. The Chinese though kept fighting and made it 4-4 with another break in the eighth game.

The Indo-Ukraine team raised its game when it mattered as it broke Peng and Zhang for one final time in the ninth and served out the match in the next game.

Sania and Nadiia split USD 13580 as prize money and eared 280 ranking points each for their winning effort.

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