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In a stunning upset, China has defeated Pakistan 2-0 (1-1) in a shootout to advance to the final of the Asian Champions Trophy. This marks the first time China has reached the title round of the tournament, while Pakistan, a two-time champion, will play for the bronze medal.China's goalkeeper, Caiyu Wang, was the hero of the shootout, making several key saves. Benhai Chen and Chanliang Lin scored for China in the shootout.Earlier in the match, Yuanlin Lu had given China an early 1-0 lead in the 18th minute with a powerful dragflick. Pakistan equalized in the 37th minute through Ahmed Nadeem, but China held on to force a shootout.China's victory was a testament to their grit and determination. They dominated the ball possession and created early chances, buoyed by the support of a large home crowd.Pakistan, on the other hand, struggled to create scoring opportunities. They had several penalty corners but were unable to breach the Chinese defense.China's head coach, Jin Seung Yoo, praised his team's performance. "It's an important game for us and we are totally charged up," he said before the match. "This is the first time China is playing the semifinal of such a prestigious event in front of home crowd."China's victory is a major upset and a sign of their growing strength in international hockey. They will now face the winner of the second semifinal between India and Korea in the final.

Defending world chess champion Ding Liren has conceded that his Indian challenger, D Gukesh, is the favorite to win their upcoming title showdown in November. Liren's admission comes as Gukesh has been in impressive form at the ongoing 45th Chess Olympiad, leading the Indian team to five consecutive victories."I can see my opponent (Gukesh) playing extremely well in this tournament. Maybe he is a favorite in the World Championship Match. He also has a higher rating than me," Liren said in an interview with the International Chess Federation (FIDE).Liren, who won the world crown in May 2022, has struggled for form in the past year. He took a break from the game due to depression and returned to action earlier this year at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, finishing ninth.Gukesh, on the other hand, has been on a meteoric rise. He became the youngest challenger to the world title at the age of 17 after winning the Candidates tournament in April.The two will clash in Singapore from November 20 to December 15 for the coveted title and a prize fund of USD 2.50 million. Should Gukesh prevail, he would become the first Indian after Viswanathan Anand to claim the title.Liren acknowledged the possibility of a close battle between India and China for the gold medal in the Olympiad. "We are two very strong teams. We have a chance to fight for the gold medal," he said.Gukesh, however, remained cautious, saying that all participating teams are strong. "All countries are strong, we have to come everyday with the right spirit...We have a nice mood in the team, it's enjoyable," he said.

The Indian men's chess team continued their impressive run at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, securing a 2.5-1.5 victory over Azerbaijan in the fifth round. The win was spearheaded by in-form stars D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, who extended their unbeaten streak in the tournament.Gukesh, playing with white pieces on board one, outplayed Aydin Sulemanli in a quick and decisive game. Erigaisi, on board three, also showcased his dominance, overpowering Rauf Mamedov with a similar efficiency.Praggnanandhaa, on board two, played another draw, but his contribution was crucial in ensuring India's victory, regardless of the outcome of Vidit Gujrathi's game against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.With this victory, the Indian men's team maintained their perfect record, scoring ten points from five matches. They are now joined by Vietnam, who also continued their impressive performance with a 2.5-1.5 win over Poland.In the women's section, Grandmaster D Harika suffered a surprising defeat against Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan, giving the latter an early lead. However, Vantika Agarwal played a strong game on board four, securing a clean victory with white pieces against Alua Nurman. Xeniya Balabayeva and Divya Deshmukh shared the point on board five.Grandmaster R Vaishali came close to securing a second win for India, but ultimately settled for a draw.With this result, the Indian women's team is likely to join Armenia and Mongolia in the lead with ten points.

India, the bronze medallists at the Paris Olympics, have maintained their impressive form in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament, securing a spot in the semifinals after registering five consecutive wins in the league stage.The Harmanpreet Singh-led side began their campaign with a 3-0 victory over hosts China, followed by dominant wins over Japan (5-1) and Malaysia (8-1). India then defeated Korea 3-1 before edging out arch-rivals Pakistan 2-1 in a closely contested match.India's performances have been characterized by their excellence in all departments. The forwardline, comprising young talents like Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Uttam Singh, Gurjot Singh, and Araijeet Singh Hundal, has exceeded expectations by scoring crucial field goals. Midfielder Raj Kumar Pal has also shone brightly, contributing with some fine field goals.The experienced trio of Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, and Nilakanta Sharma have been instrumental in controlling the midfield, while the Indian defense has been equally impressive, conceding just four goals. Goalkeepers Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Suraj Karkera have filled the void left by the retirement of PR Sreejesh with aplomb.Harmanpreet Singh, one of the world's top drag-flickers, has led from the front, converting five penalty corners and providing a steady source of goals. He has been ably supported by young Jugraj Singh, who is known for his lightning-fast drag-flicks.However, the knockout stage presents a new challenge for India, and they cannot afford to take Korea lightly. The Koreans are known for their unpredictable style of play and their ability to spring surprises. India's defense will need to be cautious about conceding penalty corners, as Korea possesses a potent drag-flicker in Jihun Yang, the tournament's leading scorer with seven goals.In the other semifinal, Pakistan will face hosts China. The final is scheduled for Tuesday.Harmanpreet Singh has warned his teammates against complacency, despite India's impressive run so far. "We came into this tournament with very little rest or preparations after our Olympic campaign. Despite that, I am happy with how the team has done to progress into the semifinal stage," he said."Korea is a tough team, they defend very well and can counter attack fast and skillfully," added Harmanpreet.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri emerged victorious in a thrilling Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday, holding off pole-sitter Charles Leclerc's Ferrari to secure his second career win. The Australian driver's triumph marked a significant moment for McLaren, as they overtook Red Bull in the constructor's championship title race.Piastri's victory was hard-fought, as he engaged in a fierce battle with Leclerc throughout the race. After Leclerc held the lead for the first 20 laps, Piastri seized the opportunity to overtake him and maintain his position until the checkered flag.Behind the top two, Mercedes' George Russell secured a podium finish in third place, while Piastri's teammate Lando Norris finished fourth. Norris's performance was particularly impressive, as he earned an extra point for setting the fastest lap of the race.The race was not without its drama, as a late collision between Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Sergio Perez (Red Bull) forced the race to end under a virtual safety car. The incident prevented any further changes in the standings, leaving Piastri as the victor.Piastri's win has significantly impacted the championship standings. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who has not won in seven races, still leads the drivers' standings with 313 points. However, Norris's strong performance has reduced Verstappen's lead to 59 points with seven races and three sprints remaining.In the constructor's championship, McLaren's victory has propelled them ahead of Red Bull. McLaren now holds 394 points, while Red Bull has 389 points. The battle for the title is expected to remain intense in the upcoming races.

Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh continued his impressive form, scoring two penalty corners to lead India to a 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in their final league match of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024.The match was a tense affair, with both teams playing with intensity and determination. Pakistan took the lead in the 8th minute through Ahmad Nadeem, but Harmanpreet equalized just five minutes later with a powerful drag-flick. He then gave India the lead in the 19th minute with another penalty corner conversion.Pakistan fought back in the second half, but India's defense held firm. The Indians also had chances to extend their lead, but they were unable to convert their penalty corners.The match was marred by a heated encounter between Harmanpreet and Pakistan's Ashraf Waheed Rana in the third quarter. Rana shouldered Jugraj Singh inside the Indian circle, prompting Harmanpreet and Jarmanpreet Singh to confront him. The on-field umpires and Pakistan captain Ammad Butt intervened to control the situation, and Rana was shown a yellow card.India's victory was their fifth consecutive in the six-team round-robin competition. They will now face South Korea in the semifinals on Sunday.

Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra revealed that he competed in the Diamond League Final despite sustaining a hand injury during training. The injury, a fractured fourth metacarpal in his left hand, was sustained on Monday, just days before the competition.Despite the setback, Chopra was determined to participate in the event, which was the final competition of the season. He explained that he wanted to end his season on the track, even if he couldn't meet his own expectations.Chopra's performance in Brussels was impressive, considering his injury. He threw 87.86m, finishing just one centimeter behind the winner, Anderson Peters of Grenada. It was the second consecutive year that Chopra finished as runner-up in the Diamond League Final.Reflecting on his season, Chopra acknowledged the challenges he faced, including the groin injury that has affected him all season. He expressed his determination to return fully fit and ready to go in 2025.Chopra's season has been a rollercoaster of emotions. After winning a historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, he added a silver medal to his tally at the Paris Olympics. However, he has also faced setbacks, including injuries and the inability to reach the elusive 90m mark.Despite the challenges, Chopra remains optimistic about the future. He believes that the 2024 season has made him a better athlete and person. He thanked his supporters for their encouragement and expressed his excitement for the 2025 season.

Indian Formula 2 driver Kush Maini endured a harrowing crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix F2 feature race on Sunday. Starting fifth on the grid, Maini's car malfunctioned at the start, leaving him stranded on the grid. As the race commenced, several cars managed to avoid Maini, but a car from behind collided with his stalled vehicle, triggering a massive crash that brought out the red flag.Thankfully, Maini and all the drivers involved in the incident emerged unscathed. Maini, representing Invicta Racing, had qualified a promising fifth for the feature race. After failing to score points in the sprint race on Saturday, the Indian driver was eager to redeem himself. However, his race was cut short by the catastrophic incident, which saw cars flipping upside down.Spanish driver Pepe Marti and Danish-German driver Oliver Goethe were also significantly impacted by the crash. However, they too managed to escape without serious injuries. The fact that all drivers remained unharmed underscores the advancements in motorsport safety.Maini is currently in his second season in Formula 2 and is part of the Alpine F1 Team's driver academy, alongside Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon. However, Ocon will be replaced by Australian rookie Jack Doohan in 2025. Maini is vying for a reserve driver role at Alpine for next season.After a strong start to the 2024 F2 season, Maini's performance plateaued mid-season, and he currently sits 11th in the Driver's Championship standings. His teammate, Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto, leads the championship.Following the restart, the Azerbaijan GP feature race was won by Dutch driver Richard Verschoor, followed by France's Victor Martins and Italy's Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli is set to succeed Lewis Hamilton at Formula 1 team Mercedes in 2025.

Navdeep Singh's triumph at the Paris Paralympic Games, where he clinched the gold medal in the men's javelin throw F41 category, is a testament to his indomitable spirit and the power of perseverance. Born with dwarfism, Navdeep faced relentless taunts and discrimination throughout his life. However, he refused to let these challenges define him.Driven by an unwavering determination, Navdeep sought solace in sports. He discovered his passion for javelin throw and dedicated himself to honing his skills. Despite the lack of support and resources, he trained tirelessly, often facing ridicule and skepticism.Navdeep's journey to the Paralympics was marked by both triumph and adversity. He endured countless setbacks and injuries, but his resolve never wavered. His father, a constant source of encouragement, stood by him through thick and thin.In the lead-up to the Paris Games, Navdeep faced a particularly heartbreaking moment. He was told that he was a burden and that he should end his life. These cruel words only fueled his determination to prove his worth.At the Paralympics, Navdeep faced stiff competition. However, he remained focused and delivered a stunning performance, throwing a distance of 47.32 meters to secure the gold medal. His victory not only brought glory to India but also shattered the stigma surrounding dwarfism.Navdeep's triumph is a beacon of hope for countless individuals who face discrimination and adversity. It is a reminder that with determination and support, anything is possible. His story is a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the power of sports to transform lives.