Sports News
India beat Pakistan by 19 runs for Asian Games gold, then a medal ceremony raises questions
India beat Pakistan by 19 runs to win the men's cricket gold at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday, October 3. The Guardian said India, the T20 world champions, made 211 for six, with Abhishek Sharma scoring 61 and Tilak Varma 51 not out, before Hasan Nawaz's 96 left Pakistan on 192 for six. The win completed a golden double for India in the tournament's cricket.
The match was played on a converted baseball field at the Korogi Park Athletic Stadium. Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hit back-to-back sixes early before falling for 15, and Abhishek reached his fifty off 20 balls. The captains refused the usual handshakes before the match, a reminder that the neighbours meet only in tournaments and on neutral ground.
Al Jazeera reported that the medal ceremony was substantially delayed, and that ICC chairman Jay Shah presented medals only to the Indian players, while Pakistan and bronze medallists Sri Lanka received theirs from Asian Games officials. It said no reason was given and that it had asked organisers for comment.
How each outlet framed it
- The Guardian — a match report: the sixes, the dropped catches and India's late surge past 200.
- Al Jazeera — the same result, plus the ceremony and the absence of handshakes at the end.
- Free Press Journal — India's view: a gold won in an 'epic rivalry clash'.
- Arab News Pakistan — carried the result for Pakistani readers, with India as 'arch-rivals'.
What we don't know yet: Why the ceremony was changed. Al Jazeera said organisers had not explained the delay or who would present the medals.