{"id":12251,"date":"2023-10-08T22:38:06","date_gmt":"2023-10-08T22:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/cricket-cracker-to-hammer-blow-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-10-08T22:38:06","modified_gmt":"2023-10-08T22:38:06","slug":"cricket-cracker-to-hammer-blow-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/cricket-cracker-to-hammer-blow-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Cricket cracker to hammer blow | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nCHINA:
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The Asian Games<\/a> wrapped up on Sunday after two weeks of thrilling sporting highs and lows in Hangzhou.<\/p>\n

AFP Sport highlights five memorable moments from the Olympic-sized event, which features 12,000 athletes in 40 sports across 54 venues:<\/p>\n

Nepal became the first men’s team to score more than 300 runs in T20 international cricket as they rewrote the record books against part-timers Mongolia.<\/p>\n

They bludgeoned 314-3 in their 20 overs, beating the previous highest of 278-3 by Afghanistan against Ireland in 2019.<\/p>\n

Teenager Kushal Malla crashed the fastest T20 international century, off 34 balls, and ended up 137 not out off 50.<\/p>\n

Dipendra Singh Airee finished the innings in ridiculous fashion. He raced to his fifty off nine balls, another T20 world record, with eight sixes.<\/p>\n

Nepal’s 26 sixes were also the most scored in a T20 innings.<\/p>\n

ESports made its debut as a medal event at the Asian Games — a key step that could lead to inclusion in the Olympics.<\/p>\n

Audiences of overwhelmingly young spectators packed out a 4,500-capacity arena in the hope of catching one of their heroes, with the most popular undoubtedly South Korea’s Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok.<\/p>\n

China made history with the first eSports gold, beating Malaysia in the smartphone game Arena of Valor.<\/p>\n

“The audience who loves eSports and the veterans in the eSports industry have been looking forward to this for a long time,” said China’s captain Luo Siyuan.<\/p>\n

South Korea’s red-faced rollerskater Jung Cheol-won had nowhere to hide after coasting into an early celebration, a “big mistake” that cost gold.<\/p>\n

As Jung, the anchor in the 3,000m relay, raised his arms to celebrate, Taiwan’s Huang Yu-lin lunged his skate forward to cross the line first by one-hundredth of a second for what he called a “miracle” victory.<\/p>\n

“While you were celebrating, I was still fighting,” said Huang.<\/p>\n

“I made a rather big mistake,” said a sheepish Jung. “I am very sorry. I apologise to my teammates and to our fans who supported us. It’s all my fault.”<\/p>\n

China’s Wu Yanni went into the women’s 100m hurdles final as one of the favourites in front of a packed home stadium on the country’s national day.<\/p>\n

But a false start earned her a red card that she furiously protested, along with India’s Jyothi Yarraji, who was also ejected for reacting to Wu and moving before the gun.<\/p>\n

Both hurdlers were eventually allowed to race, with Wu finishing second behind teammate Lin Yuwei and Yarraji coming third.<\/p>\n

Wu was then disqualified long after the celebrations in the stadium had ended, with Yarraji upgraded to silver.<\/p>\n

“It’s completely messy,” said Yarraji.<\/p>\n

An athletics official suffered a broken leg after being hit by a hammer hurled during competition by Kuwait’s Ali Zankawi.<\/p>\n

Huang Qinghua was sitting on a chair outside the throwing circle when Zankawi aborted his attempt, with his 7.26kg (16lb) hammer flying into the protective netting and smashing into the official’s right leg.<\/p>\n

Huang was carried out of the arena on a stretcher and had surgery in hospital.<\/p>\n

Zankawi visited the unfortunate Huang the next day in hospital to apologise.<\/p>\n

“Thank god the hammer hit the ground before it hit his leg,” told AFP.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n