Nashra Sandhu’s six-wicket haul powers Pakistan into the semi-finals

Pakistan secured their place in the semi-finals of the Women’s Asia Cup with a 72-run victory over Hong Kong, China at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday. Nashra Sandhu bagged a six-wicket haul in what was Muneeba Ali’s 100th T20I appearance.

The Fatima Sana-led team came into the game second in Group A with two points from two matches, behind unbeaten India, while Hong Kong, China were fourth without a point. The result took Pakistan to four points and confirmed their place in the top two alongside India. raccoongame.org

Having won the toss, Pakistan opted to bat first. Muneeba opened alongside Gull Feroza, making her 100th T20I appearance. The left-handed batter had a poor outing, as she was dismissed for six by Iqra Sahar. Feroza also got out cheaply inside the powerplay.

Ayesha Zafar and Shawaal Zulfiqar then steadied Pakistan’s innings with a 47-run partnership. Shawaal was dismissed for 47, while Sadaf Shamas and Eyman Fatima also fell cheaply. Kary Chan later dismissed Tuba Hassan for 14 off 13 as Pakistan finished on 143/8 after 20 overs.
Hong Kong, China’s chase got off to a difficult start as Fatima bowled Mariko Hill for a duck. Sadia Iqbal also picked up a wicket and bowled a maiden over.

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Kary Chan offered resistance with a 47-ball 30, but Ayesha Zafar dismissed her for the eighth wicket. Sandhu then ran through the lower order, taking six wickets for just seven runs, helping Pakistan bowl Hong Kong, China out for 71 in 19 overs and complete a 72-run victory.

Hong Kong, China captain Natasha Miles reflected on her team’s campaign, saying, “It’s been super. Always playing this standard of cricket is going to test you and it’s going to get you to learn more about your game, about yourselves. It’s been a really fun campaign, exciting, and hopefully we get to come and do this a few more times.”

Miles added, “We come in as underdogs… Can we put these teams to the test? Can we cause an upset? And can we enjoy ourselves while doing it? That’s the most important thing.”

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India will be among the favourites to retain their Asian Games cricket gold medal under captain Shreyas Iyer in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan (September 19 to October 4), but former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes the T20 format makes the competition unpredictable.

“With the kind of team that we have and the experience our boys have in T20 cricket, we should be pretty much a leading contender. But because it’s a T20 tournament, where the match can turn around in an over or so, it is difficult to say we are certain to win [Asian Games gold],” Gavaskar told mid-day during a select media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network.

Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar identified Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Pakistan as India’s main challengers. “There are some very good teams there. Bangladesh have been playing good cricket recently. Sri Lanka are always a good T20 team. Afghanistan are around, and Pakistan too. These are the contenders. So, it’s not going to be easy. It’ll probably be one of the most riveting and competitive Asian Games cricket competitions,” he said.

India’s poor fielding during their recent UK tour was a major concern, and Gavaskar stressed the importance of being sharp in the field, particularly in T20 cricket. “Fielding is extremely important in all forms of the game, but possibly more so in T20 because sometimes the margin of victory or defeat is just a couple of runs. India will have to be at its very best,” he said.

Sunil Gavaskar added that Iyer’s captaincy would benefit from having a strong fielding unit. “The captain’s job becomes a lot easier if he doesn’t have to hide any fielders. The moment he has players who may be good with the bat or ball, but have to be hidden in the field, that is handicapping the team. That is something the Indian team will really have to look at,” he explained.

Iyer, who led India to a 2-0 series win over Zimbabwe last July, should not feel added pressure at the Asian Games, according to Gavaskar. “He’s very experienced as a captain. We’ve seen him when he was captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings. He’s got the experience, so there shouldn’t be any further pressure on him for these Games,” Gavaskar said.

Sooryavanshi is very smart, we must be patient with him: SMG

Batting icon Sunil Gavaskar insists attacking India T20 opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a ‘very smart’ cricketer and we need to be more patient with him. “He’s [Sooryavanshi] only 15-years-old. So, he will, as he plays a lot more, get a lot more experience. I think he will use that experience because from whatever little interaction one has had with him, he looks like a very smart cricketer, somebody who learns fast. And we saw that [in the IPL] from 2025 to 2026. In 2025, he was predominantly a straight and an on-side hitter. In the 2026 IPL, he was hitting over long-off and extra cover, he was cutting the ball over deep cover, deep point for sixes. So, he had gone that one step higher. Therefore, with him, we need to be a little more patient,” said Gavaskar.

For Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, the biggest question in Shenzhen was not whether they could win the China Masters. It was whether their bodies could hold up.

After a difficult phase that included a disappointing World Championships campaign and a long injury break, the Indian men’s doubles pair needed more than a title. They needed proof that their fitness, game and confidence were coming together at the right time.

They got all three.

Just days before heading to Japan to defend the men’s doubles gold they won in Hangzhou in 2023, Satwik and Chirag ended another long wait by winning the China Masters for the first time. The Super 750 title was also their second of the season after their Singapore Open triumph. More importantly, it came after a tournament in which they repeatedly had to test their bodies and their ability to stay patient under pressure.

For Satwik and Chirag, the China Masters was less about breaking a jinx and more about proving to themselves that their bodies, game and confidence were coming together at the right time.

The World Championships had left the pair frustrated. After returning to competition following almost three months away from the game, they did not have enough court time before being thrown into a demanding quarter-final against the world No. 3 Chinese pair of Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang.

They lost that match, but the tournament had also given them something more valuable – confidence that they could still compete at the highest level even when they were not physically at their best.

“Even without our A weapons, we kind of played at a high level. So that was a very good point for us,” Satwik said in a virtual media interaction on Monday. “I think even though I wasn’t able to smash 100%, still, we are playing quarter-finals and [against] the top players. I think that gave us a lot of confidence.”

The difference in Shenzhen was the preparation.

The pair had another week of training after the World Championships, allowing them to enter the China Masters better prepared for the demands of a Super 750 tournament.

“And I think we got another week of practice going towards the China Masters,” Chirag explained. “And I think that really helped us to do well at the China Masters.”

That extra preparation showed in positive results.

They played five matches in Shenzhen, four of which went to three games. Instead of struggling as the tournament progressed, they felt physically stronger by the end. That was more important than the title itself.

The pair had already established a frustrating relationship with the China Masters. They had reached the final twice before but had never crossed the final hurdle.

But this time, they finally did it, fighting back in the final to beat China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu 11-21, 21-13, 21-17.

Satwik, however, was not looking at the tournament through the disappointment of the two previous defeats.

He said: “We haven’t been thinking about the fact that we lost the two times. We are happy that we played two finals there.”

There was something about Shenzhen that had consistently worked for them, particularly when they were trying to find their rhythm after injury.

“Shenzhen has given us a lot of confidence,” said Satwik. “We came back from injury. We are playing like we want that confidence.”

However, this time, the biggest concern throughout the week was not their opponents. It was their own bodies.Reflecting on his shoulder injury, Satwik said: “Yeah, like pretty much fine. Nothing so serious.”

For him, the China Masters was also an opportunity to test whether his body could take the kind of workload that awaits them in Japan.

“Because Asian Games, you have to play almost 10 days,” explained Satwik. “You will play team events, then individuals. So I think it was a good test for us.”

The injuries are still part of the equation

The China Masters triumph did not mean every physical concern had disappeared.

Chirag was seen wearing a belt around his lower back during the tournament. It has become part of his routine since the injury he suffered at the All England Championships in 2025.

“Yes, I have been wearing one for almost a year and a half now, post the injury at All England last year,” hesaid. “So I think if I get a period of one month, I think probably in December is when I can actually have a good one month of practice leading up to a tournament… until then, I am not too confident as yet to play without a belt.”

Satwik, on the other hand, has had to manage a shoulder issue that kept him away from the circuit earlier in the season.

The China Masters therefore became more than another tournament. It became a physical examination.

More than five hours of badminton across the tournament offered a demanding question.

They answered with a Super 750 title, and that matters because the Asian Games will ask even more of them.

In Hangzhou, Satwik and Chirag were chasing their first historic Asian Games gold. This time, they will enter Japan as defending champions and also as a pair their opponents will be preparing specifically to beat.

However, the pressure is not something they believe will change the way they approach the tournament.

“This is going to be our third Asian Games,” said Chirag. “But I think pressure is always there. For each and every tournament that you play, that’s how you are able to cope with it and handle it.”

Their focus will remain on the process rather than the expectations surrounding them.

“We just want to go out there and have as much fun as we normally do on a badminton court,” Chirag said.

Their attacking style is one of their biggest weapons, but their defensive improvements have become increasingly important.

For them, the World Championships had reinforced the value of patience, especially when their attacking game is not at its sharpest.

“I think one of the major things that we incorporated from the World Championship is to be patient while we are attacking and to trust our defence,” Chirag said.

That approach proved valuable in Shenzhen, where they repeatedly had to fight through difficult moments rather than trying to end rallies too quickly.

Their tactics also depend on the opposition.

Against pairs who do not possess the same level of attacking power, they can extend rallies and wait for the right opportunity. Against strong hitters, they are prepared to challenge them at the front of the court.

The game not only depends on Satwik’s power but also on Chirag’s ability to create the openings that allow his partner to finish.

“Chirag makes my job pretty much easier,” said Satwik. “He creates so much chances for me to finish.”

That statement captures the essence of their partnership.

Satwik’s power is the obvious weapon. But Chirag’s work at the front, his ability to create opportunities and his defensive contribution are what allow the pair to create chances.

The China Masters victory has therefore arrived at an important moment.

The title ended a long wait in Shenzhen. It gave them their second Super 750 title of the season.

But most importantly, it showed them that their bodies could take the demands of a long tournament again.

There is little time to celebrate.

The pair returned to India on Monday morning and will have around 10 days before travelling to Japan. After a recovery day, they planned to return to training and use the final stretch to address the areas that still need improvement.

They will revisit the shortcomings from the World Championships, continue working on their fitness and sharpen their tactical game against different types of opponents.

After the China Masters breakthrough, the defending Asian Games champions will enter Japan with greater confidence and greater attention. But Satwik and Chirag’s equation remains simple – stay healthy, trust their game, take one match at a time and enjoy being on court.

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With the curtains barely down on Glasgow, attention turns to a bigger stage.

Indian boxing has long been a medal mainstay at the Asian Games, with 61 medals making it the sport’s fourth-biggest contributor to India’s overall tally, behind athletics, shooting and wrestling.

The Asian Games will be a different test, with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan leading a strong Central Asian challenge alongside China, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Mongolia and Chinese Taipei.

Women’s Squad

Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg): An Asian Games debutant, Sakshi enters Japan as one of India’s leading medal prospects after defeating 48kg world champion Minakshi Hooda in the 51kg trials and edging out Nikhat Zareen.

Preeti Pawar (54kg): Commonwealth gold medallist and a 2023 Asian Games bronze medallist.

Priya Ghanghas (60kg): Commonwealth gold medallist and Asian Games debutant. Glasgow provided the 60kg boxer with a major confidence boost as she steps onto the continental stage for the first time.

Parveen Hooda (65kg): A 2023 Asian Games bronze medallist at 57kg, she arrives after a narrow 3-2 quarter-final defeat at the Commonwealth Games. Her previous Asian Games medal and experience of securing an Olympic quota for Paris 2024 make her a genuine dark-horse contender at 65kg.

Lovlina Borgohain (75kg): The squad’s most decorated boxer, with an Olympic bronze, a world title and a 2023 Asian Games silver to her name. She added another silver in Glasgow, losing 4-1 to Australia’s Emma-Sue Greentree, and will be among India’s strongest medal hopes in Aichi-Nagoya.

Men’s Squad

Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (55kg): Commonwealth silver medallist, losing 5-0 to Australia’s Jye Dixon in the final. The Asian Games debutant will look to turn that Glasgow run into a first continental medal.

Sachin Siwach (60kg): Commonwealth gold medallist and one of India’s leading men’s prospects.

Sumit Kundu (70kg): Exited the Commonwealth Games in the round of 16 via split decision. An Asian Games debutant, Kundu will be looking for a deeper run in Japan after an early Glasgow exit.

Ankush Panghal (80kg): Commonwealth gold medallist and another of India’s strongest men’s medal prospects. His Glasgow title gives the Asian Games debutant plenty of momentum heading into Aichi-Nagoya.

Kapil Pokhariya (90kg): Reached the Commonwealth quarter-finals before losing to Scotland’s Robert McNulty. The Asian Games debutant now gets another opportunity to make an impact on the continental stage.

Narender Berwal (+90kg): Commonwealth silver medallist and India’s lone male boxing medallist at Hangzhou 2023, where he won bronze in the +92kg category. His combination of recent form and Asian Games experience makes him one of India’s key medal prospects.

The Hangzhou Benchmark

At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, India’s 13-member boxing contingent returned with five medals: one silver and four bronze.

Lovlina won silver in the women’s 75kg category, while Nikhat (50kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Parveen Hooda (57kg) and Narender Berwal (+92kg) claimed bronze.

That five-medal haul is the mark this squad will now look to better.

Potential Medal Contenders

Strongest gold contenders: Sachin Siwach, Ankush Panghal, Sakshi Chaudhary, Priya Ghanghas and Preeti Pawar all arrive as Commonwealth champions. Preeti has the added advantage of an Asian Games bronze from 2023, giving her both recent form and continental experience.

Ones to watch:

Jadumani Singh and Narender Berwal both left Glasgow with silver and will be looking to go one better.

Berwal, in particular, brings valuable Asian Games experience after his bronze in Hangzhou. Sumit and Kapil will be aiming to bounce back from their Commonwealth exits, while Parveen remains a potential dark horse given her previous Asian Games medal and international pedigree.

The challenge now is to carry that Glasgow momentum onto the Asian stage and better the five-medal haul from Hangzhou 2023.

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