#kohlscreiber

India had 3 chances of winning gold medal on penultimate day of Asian Games. It was in Boxing, Squash and Bridge. In Boxing, Amit Panghal was up against reigning Olympic champion and world championships silver-medalist Hasanboy Dusmatov of Uzbekistan in finals. He shocked everybody to win the bot 3-2 to grab gold medal. This was epic news for Indian sports fans. He could be serious contender in Tokyo Olympics. Amit’s defense was brilliant which helped in him winning the gold. Considering Amit is just 22, his achievement is even more amazing. In Squash, Indian women settled for silver as they lost to Hong Kong 2-0. India has won 4 bronze and 1 silver in Squash which is a fabulous achievement. In bridge, 60 year old Pranab Bardhan and 56 year old Shibnath Sarkar won for India their 15th gold medal. In hockey bronze medal match, India won 2-1. India went ahead in 3rd minute thanks to goal by Akashdeep. At half time, India maintained the lead. Pakistan equalized in final quarter. But India bounced back by converting a penalty corner. India won the match 2-1 and thereby a bronze medal. In all 420 minutes of field play in Asian games, India never conceded lead which is a great achievement. Over defense strategy in final quarter in SF would haunt them for long time. In men’s hockey finals, Malaysia was leading 5-2 with 11 minutes to play. Japan equalized. Malaysia led again 6-5. Japan equalized again. It was a bit of sloppy hockey. Match went to shootout which Japan won 3-1.  Japan did to Malaysia what Malaysia did to India in SF.  India have won 69 medals with 15 gold in this year’s Asian games. This is by far the best Asian games India has had. India had won 65 medals in 2010 and 57 in 2014.

England started day on a cautious note. They negotiated Ashwin well. Kohli got back Bumrah who dismissed Cook in his very first over. Rahul caught a catch on 3rd attempt. England 24-1. England sent Ali ahead of Root. Plan didn’t work as Ishant dismissed him. Rahul caught a very sharp low catch. This was his 11th catch of the series. Dravid held record for similar number of catches in 2005 against Australia. Root and Jennings then very little troubled. Pitch was getting easier. Kohli’s tactics to use Ashwin as frontline didn’t yield benefits as England were comfortable against him. Ashwin tried too much if he doesn’t get wicket early on. These 2 batsman had 50 plus stand. Just when it looked like England would reach lunch 2 down, Shami got one to nip back. Jennings was caught plumb in the last over before lunch. Post lunch, Baristow was castled of very first ball. England 92-4 with lead of 65. Root and Stokes then rebuilt England innings. India bowled tightly and didn’t give any loose balls. They took England past score of hundred. Against the run of play, Shami ran Root out for 48 with a direct hit. England 122-5. Lead was still less than hundred. Butler joined Stokes. He looked in good touch. He edged early on which fell short of Kohli at slip. But he was timing the ball well. Butler and Stokes had 50 plus stand before Ashwin finally had a wicket. Ashwin dismissed Stokes. England 178-6. Curran and conquered Indian bowling again. H and Butler took the lead beyond 200 with another 50 plus stand. India dismissed Butler and Rashid in the last over with the new ball. England ended day at 160-8, a lead of 233. This match is well beyond India now. England would set a target of about 280 for India. England could well wrap up the series on 4th day. India relied too much on Ashwin. Ashwin was bowling too slowly for this track. He had to zip it up a bit. That what Moeen did. He hurried up batsmen. If India lose this series, 3 main moments lead to it. 2 of them were Curran’s innings in Edgabston and in first innings here and other being Moeen running through Indian middle order.

In US open, Serena Williams crushed Venus Williams 6-1 6-2. Later Serena told that this is best she has played since return from maternity. It is a bad sign for rest of women’s players. Nadal had never lost a set against Khachanov so far in his career. But Khachanov’s serve was tough to deal with on a hard court surface. He shocked Nadal by going set and break up. Nadal broke back in 2nd set. But Khachanov broke back and served for the set at 5-4. Major upset was on cards. Nadal broke back though. That’s when there was minor intermission due to rain. It allowed Nadal to rethink on strategy. He came back pumped. He won next 2 games. In 3rd set, it went to tiebreaker. Both players had chances. Khachanov served 4 double faults in tiebreaker including on Nadal’s set point. Nadal went up 2-1 sets and won final set in tiebreaker too. He won the match in 4 sets which lasted 263 minutes. Nadal was tested which could help in later rounds. He had knee problem in the match too and was attended by trainer. Would be interesting to see if it was anything serious. He has history of knee problems. Stephens beat Azarenka in straight sets. Delpotro showed he is man in form as he outclassed Verdasco in straight sets. Anderson beat Shapovalov in 5 set thriller. Raonic shocked Wawrinka in straight sets. Thiem, Isner, Coric, Kanepi and Sevastova all went through to 4th round.  Keys came back to win in 3 sets. Sharapova thrashed Ostapenko in straight sets. Cibulkova shocked Wimbledon champion in 3 sets. With this, none of the 2018 slam champions have made it to 2nd week in US open. It is Serena’s slam to lose. Federer gave a tennis lesson to Kyrgios in 3rd round with a 6-4 6-1 7-5 win. Kohlscreiber shocked Zverev in 4 sets. Next gen players have again disappointed in slams as most have not managed to reach 2nd week. This has been big question mark in mens tennis in last 3 years. Baring Thiem in French open, none have raised their hands and demonstrated skills to make in roads in slams. Zverev has reached slam QF only once which is shocking for a player of his class. He has been in top 10 for more than a year now Nishikori cruised to 4th round too.