Wouldn't Term Australia A Big Team: Smriti Mandhana Ahead Of Commonwealth Games

22.07.2022 - 12:11 sports.ndtv.com

Nemesis Australia await India in their Commonwealth Games opener but senior batter Smriti Mandhana is in no mood to lose sleep over that and make their rivals "feel good about it".

Days before women's cricket makes its debut at the multi-sport event, Mandhana refused to call the five-time T20 world champions a big team.

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will open its campaign against Australia on July 29, and Mandhana said they have their plans in place for each opposition. "We have played them (Australia) in the openers in quite a lot of tournaments. "In a T20 tournament, any team can beat any team.

I wouldn't term Australia as a big team and make them feel good about that. Definitely in our heads, Australia, Pakistan and Barbados matches are important.

cricket India Women Australia Women Neeraj Chopra Smriti Mandhana Australia Tokyo India Sri Lanka Birmingham Pakistan Barbados Kuala Lumpur

CWG medal rush is another step in the right direction after the high of Tokyo OlympicsBIRMINGHAM: After the Tokyo Olympics, where India won an unprecedented seven medals, expectations from the country's 2022 Commonwealth Games contingent were naturally high. Traditionally, India wins truckloads of medals at the CWG. Before Birmingham 2022, anticipation of medals was there, but not a deluge.

Commonwealth Games 2022: Sable Soars, Paul Leaps, Sharath Sizzles To Script India's Success Story

Slipping out of the usual top-five was seen as a real possibility in absence of shooting but phenomenal success in athletics and lawn bowls propelled India to a commendable fourth place finish at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games. About 25 percent of India's 66 medals came from the shooting range in the previous edition and not many believed that India will be able to touch even 50 but the country ended up with 61, courtesy unprecedented success in track and field events that delivered eight medals, the highest for India in a CWG edition overseas.

Neeraj Chopra Congratulates Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem On Winning Commonwealth Games Javelin Throw Gold

Arshad Nadeem gave Pakistan its first javelin throw gold with a Commonwealth Games record mark of 90.18m. With the feat, Arshad, who was wearing a strapping around his right arm, beat Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra's Tokyo Olympic throw of 87.58m, which helped him win gold, and the World Athletics Championship throw of 88.13m, which helped the Indian athlete win silver. Neeraj had to pull out of the Commonwealth Games due to an injury which he suffered during the recently-concluded World Athletics Championships. Arshad beat a field that had two-time world champion Anderson Peters.

Commonwealth Games: Javelin Thrower Annu Rani Wins Bronze

Annu Rani became the first Indian female javelin thrower to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games on the penultimate day on Sunday. Rani sent the spear to a distance of 60m in her fourth attempt to win a bronze medal for the country.

Watch: Absolute Scenes As India Reach Maiden Cricket Final In Commonwealth Games

Spinner Sneh Rana held her own in the final over as she defended 14 runs to help Harmanpreet Kaur-led Team India defeat England in the semi-finals to progress to the gold medal match at the ongoing Commonwealth Games. By the time Rana was to deliver the final over, the fate of the match was almost sealed with England needing 11 runs. And India knew they had won with one delivery to spare, with the equation down to 11 off 1 ball. The final delivery was hit for a six by Sophie Ecclestone, but it did not matter, as Team India sealed the contest and the players were absolutely chuffed at having ensured themselves at least a silver medal.