sports.ndtv.com - Ayhika Mukherjee Assures Indian Women First-Ever Medal At Asian Table Tennis Championships

Ayhika Mukherjee Assures Indian Women First-Ever Medal At Asian Table Tennis Championships

The Indian women's table tennis team assured itself of a first ever medal at the Asian Championships with a stunning 3-2 win over Paris Olympics bronze medallists South Korea in the quarterfinals in Astana on Tuesday. World number 92 Ayhika Mukherjee was the architect of the famous victory as she beat world number 8 Shin Yubin and world number 16 Jeon Jihee in the rubber. Ayhika and Manika Batra had given India an unexpected 2-0 lead before the South Koreans made it 2-2. Ayhika held her nerve against Jihee to seal the win in the deciding contest.

1st Test: England 96-1 After Agha Salman's Century Lifts Pakistan To 556

England finished the second day of the first Test in Multan on a solid 96-1 on Tuesday in reply to Pakistan's mammoth 556 that was boosted by a fiery century from Agha Salman. The tourists lost stand-in skipper Ollie Pope for a second-ball duck before Zak Crawley and Joe Root steadied the innings with 64 and 32 respectively at stumps. It was another tough day for bowlers as an unbeaten 104 from Salman and 82 by Saud Shakeel swelled Pakistan's total, which was set up by Shan Masood's 151 and Abdullah Shafique's 102 on Monday.

Joe Root Just One Step Away From Matching Sachin Tendulkar Big World Record

England's vibrant batter Joe Root took a step closer to matching Sachin Tendulkar's elusive record for 1000-plus Test runs in most calendar years. After Pakistan slammed a mammoth 556-run total on the back of centuries from Salman Ali Agha (104*), Abdullah Shafique (102) and skipper Shan Masood (151). Root stepped up to steady visitors ship after England lost stand-in skipper Ollie Pope to Naseem Shah early in the first innings. He approached each delivery that came his way with caution to ensure that England didn't lose further wickets after losing Pope.

Paula Badosa Withdraws From Wuhan Open Amid Racism Row

Former world number two Paula Badosa has withdrawn from this week's Wuhan Open, organisers said on Tuesday, amid a racism row over an online photo. Tournament organisers said the Spaniard had pulled out of the WTA 1000 tournament, citing a gastrointestinal illness, hours before her first round match against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic. Media outlets including Britain's The Telegraph newspaper reported earlier that Badosa had posted a photo on Instagram in which she appeared to imitate a Chinese face by placing chopsticks on the corners of her eyes. The photo was taken last week in a restaurant in Beijing, where she reached the semi-finals of the China Open, and was posted online by her coach Pol Toledo.

National Cricket League: Robin Uthappa, Michael Leask Star As Chicago Defeat Texas Gladiators

National Cricket League: Robin Uthappa-led Chicago CC defeated Texas Gladiators by a huge 41-run margin in the NCL Sixty Strikes. Batting first, Chicago posted a total of 173/2 in 10 overs. In reply, Texas Gladiators could manage only 132.6 in 10 overs. The main architects of Chicago's win were India star Uthappa, Chris Lynn and Michael Leask. Uthappa and Lynn gave Chicago a great opening stand that dented the Wahab Riyaz-led Gladiators hard. Both cricketer notched their half-centuries in style.

Ex-Barcelona And Spain Great Andres Iniesta Retires Aged 40

Former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, who won two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup with an all-conquering Spain team, announced his retirement from football on Tuesday at the age of 40. "Being on the pitch is over," a visibly emotional Iniesta told reporters at a news conference in Barcelona while reflecting on a professional career that began with the Catalan giants in 2002. "I can't stay away from football, it's my life and will continue to be my life. Now I need to continue educating myself, I'm in the process of doing my coaching diploma and that's the next step." "I will try to come back and do a great job. However it won't be running after the ball, but from another place," he added.

Ruthless Coco Gauff Beats Karolina Muchova In Straight Sets To Win China Open

Coco Gauff overpowered Karolina Muchova in straight sets to win the China Open on Sunday for her second title of the year and eighth overall. The 20-year-old American and last year's US Open champion stormed to victory 6-1, 6-3 in one hour, 16 minutes in Beijing. After a disappointing few months by her standards, including surrendering her New York crown in the last 16, Gauff adds the China Open to her triumph in Auckland in January. The sixth-ranked Gauff, under a new coaching team in the Chinese capital after splitting with Brad Gilbert last month, wiped away tears at the end.

India vs India A: BCCI's 'Quality' Plan To Shock Australia, Reveals Report

The Indian cricket team is expected to leave for Australia at least two weeks prior to the first Test starting November 22 in Perth and will be playing one or two intra-squad matches against their 'A' team colleagues as a tune-up to the opening fixture. The Indian senior team's home Test series against New Zealand will end on November 5 in Mumbai if the third match goes into the final day. It is understood that the Test squad will be leaving from Mumbai few days after the series and just like it happened during the last tour of South Africa, the BCCI could have a four-day game between India and India A, which people in the know of things feel will provide Rohit Sharma's men with quality match simulation.

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Ayhika Mukherjee Assures Indian Women First-Ever Medal At Asian Table Tennis Championships

1st Test: England 96-1 After Agha Salman's Century Lifts Pakistan To 556

Joe Root Just One Step Away From Matching Sachin Tendulkar Big World Record

Paula Badosa Withdraws From Wuhan Open Amid Racism Row

National Cricket League: Robin Uthappa, Michael Leask Star As Chicago Defeat Texas Gladiators

Ex-Barcelona And Spain Great Andres Iniesta Retires Aged 40

Ruthless Coco Gauff Beats Karolina Muchova In Straight Sets To Win China Open

India vs India A: BCCI's 'Quality' Plan To Shock Australia, Reveals Report