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Asian Games: President Murmu congratulates Indian archers, shooters for winning gold medals

New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) President Droupadi Murmu congratulated India’s compound archery and trap mixed team gold medallists at the Asian Games 2026, lauding Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru, Kushal Dalal, Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai for their precision, consistency and teamwork.

She also hailed Indian archery’s clean sweep of gold medals across all three compound team events.

“Heartiest congratulations to Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru and Kushal Dalal on winning the Gold Medal in the Compound Men’s Team event at the Asian Games 2026! Completing a clean sweep of Gold across all three Compound Team events, Indian archery has achieved a remarkable feat. Your precision, consistency and teamwork have made this a memorable campaign for India. My best wishes to you for many more achievements ahead,” the President posted on X.

India completed a hat-trick of compound gold medals after the men’s team registered a 238-237 comeback win over China in the final.

Earlier in the day, the women’s team of Chikitha Taniparthi, Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam beat China 238-234 to successfully defend the gold medal, followed by a mixed team gold by Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil, which also secured an LA 2028 Olympic quota place for India.

In the men’s team final, China scored a perfect 60 from their first six arrows, while India posted 58, trailing by two points heading into the second end.

Both teams shot perfect 10s on the six arrows in the End-2. Notably, China appeared to have dropped a point when one arrow was initially marked nine, but after an umpire check while the arrows were being pulled, it was upgraded to 10. China therefore remained perfect with 120, while India trailed 118-120 after two ends.

China finally dropped a point in the third end, while India shot perfect 10s to reduce the deficit to one point after three ends, 178-179.

End 4 saw a dramatic turnaround as China hit eight on the first shot, followed by two 10s, while India shot perfect 10s on their first three shots to take an unassailable one-point lead, as China lost despite hitting perfect 10s on their last three arrows.

“I extend my warmest congratulations to Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai on winning the Gold Medal in the Trap Mixed Team event at the Asian Games 2026. Your remarkable precision and teamwork have made every target count, delivering a memorable triumph for India. My best wishes to both of you for many more successes,” the President posted on X.

India secured gold in the trap mixed team event as Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai got the better of top-seeded Qatar in a tense summit clash, adding another medal to what has been a landmark Asian Games for Indian shooting.

Neeru and Kynan squeezed into the four-team final in fourth place, posting 136 in qualification behind China, Qatar, and Iran. It was far from the dominant form Neeru had shown in her individual events on Tuesday, but the pair’s composure under pressure in the knockout stages more than made up for a modest start.

–IANS

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Women’s ODI Tri-Series: Smriti hits 116 as India post imposing 342/7 against Sri Lanka

Colombo, May 11 (IANS) Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana led a terrific Indian batting effort through a magnificent 116 off 101 balls and helped the visitors post a mammoth 342/7 in their 50 overs against in the women’s ODI tri-series final at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

On a pitch which was initially slow and got better to bat on as the innings progressed, Smriti was at the forefront of a brilliant batting day for India by slamming her 11th ODI hundred and oozing absolute elegance in her stroke-play. Her efforts led the way for India posting the highest total made in a women’s ODI game in Sri Lanka.

After being dropped on 21 off Inoka Ranaweera’s bowling, Smriti never put a foot wrong in her knock as she reached her century off 92 balls via three consecutive fours off skipper Chamari Athapaththu in the 31st over.

Smriti, who incidentally hit her first ODI hundred against Sri Lanka, was also helped by the fact that each of the other top six Indian batters made or went beyond 30. She shared a 70-run opening stand with Pratika Rawal (30) before joining forces with Harleen Deol (47) for a 120-run partnership for the second wicket.

After that, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues made 41 and 44 respectively, before cameos from Deepti Sharma (20 not out) and Amanjot Kaur (18) ensured India went past the 340-mark. For Sri Lanka, it was a day to forget with the ball and field as they were unable to keep the Indian scoring rate down in the middle overs.

Though Sugandika Kumari, Malki Madara and Dewmi Vihanga bagged two wickets each, the Sri Lankan bowling attack lacked any serious penetration and control. There wasn’t any visible effort to put pressure back on India, especially with missed catches and run-outs playing their part too, as India managed to make 90 runs in the last four overs and gave the hosts a very uphill mountain to climb if they are to win the tri-series title clash.

Previously, India handed a debut to seam-bowling all-rounder Kranti Goud, who was included in the playing eleven of left-arm spinner Shuchi Upadhyay. Kranti being handed an ODI debut also means all four uncapped players India picked for the ongoing tour have made international cricket appearances.

Kranti came into the limelight via her performances for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket and for UP Warriorz in the 2025 WPL. She joined the Indian team in Colombo after seam-bowling all-rounder Kashvee Gautam was ruled out due to a leg injury sustained while playing in the league stage game against South Africa.

Brief scores: India 342/7 in 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 116, Harleen Deol 47; Sugandika Kumari 2-59, Dewmi Vihanga 2-69) against Sri Lanka.

–IANS

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Khaled Mahmud returns to BCB as consultant for age-group cricket

New Delhi, July 23 (IANS) Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud has rejoined the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), taking up a new role focused on developing the country’s next generation of cricketers after being appointed consultant for age-group cricket on a two-year contract.

Mahmud’s return marks another chapter in his long association with Bangladesh cricket administration and coaching. Having previously overseen the BCB’s Game Development programme, the 54-year-old will now concentrate on strengthening the pathway for emerging players at the junior level.

Speaking after his appointment, Mahmud said working with young cricketers has always been his preferred area and revealed discussions over the role had been ongoing with BCB president Tamim.

“I was discussing this (working with age-level cricket) with Tamim (BCB president) for quite a while now. I have been given a two-year deal. This is work I like doing. I have spent most of my coaching life in development and age-group cricket. When I was chairman of the BCB development committee, I tried my best to develop cricketers at that level,” Mahmud was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

“We won the Youth World Cup as well. After leaving the board, I mostly worked as a coach with age-group cricketers. The new role is an ideal one for me. I hope I will be able to do something good in these two years,” he added.

Mahmud played a key administrative role during one of Bangladesh’s landmark achievements in international cricket, serving as head of the Game Development Unit when the country’s Under-19 team captured the ICC Under-19 World Cup title in South Africa in 2020.

The BCB is understood to have identified Mahmud’s extensive experience in youth development as a major factor behind his reappointment, with officials believing his expertise can help nurture promising talent and strengthen the grassroots structure.

Over the past two decades, Mahmud has worn several hats within Bangladesh cricket. Soon after retiring from international cricket in 2006, he became the national team’s manager before taking over as assistant coach under Jamie Siddons in 2009. He was elected as a BCB director in 2013 while simultaneously remaining active as a coach in domestic competitions, including the Bangladesh Premier League and Dhaka Premier League.

His responsibilities expanded further after returning as Bangladesh team manager in 2015. A year later, he joined the national selection panel before assuming the role of technical director following Chandika Hathurusinghe’s departure in 2017, effectively overseeing the senior side during the early part of 2018.

Mahmud later guided Bangladesh as interim head coach during the ODI series in Sri Lanka in 2019 and subsequently continued as team director through the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. During that period, he publicly voiced his dissatisfaction with the nature of the team director’s responsibilities.

He stepped down from his position as a BCB director in September 2024 but now returns with a clear mandate to help shape Bangladesh’s future by overseeing the progress of its age-group cricketers.

–IANS

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