India scored 211 for six and held Pakistan to 192 for six in the men's T20 final in Nisshin, keeping the Asian Games cricket title. The Games close on Sunday in Nagoya after two remaining equestrian golds in Tokyo.
India beat Pakistan by 19 runs on Saturday to retain the men's cricket gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. India made 211 for six, with Abhishek Sharma scoring 61 and Tilak Varma 51 not out, and Pakistan finished on 192 for six. Hasan Nawaz scored 96 for Pakistan, The Guardian reported.
The final was played at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, on a ground converted from a baseball field, Reuters said. Captain Shreyas Iyer called it a huge occasion because the match was against Pakistan and the country was watching. The Guardian reported that the captains did not shake hands before the match, in line with the political limit that the sides meet only in tournaments on neutral ground.
Sri Lanka took bronze by beating Bangladesh by 63 runs in the third-place playoff. India's women had already won gold, beating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in their final on 22 September.
Elsewhere on Saturday, South Korean golfer Tom Kim won the men's golf gold and, with it, an exemption from military service, Reuters reported. Hosts Japan were on course for a record medal haul.
Two equestrian gold medals remained to be decided in Tokyo on Sunday before the closing ceremony at Nagoya's Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. The Olympic Council of Asia lists 4 October as the closing date of the Games, which opened on 19 September.
People Sentiments Positive
- Shreyas Iyer said the Pakistan final carried pressure because the whole country was watching
- The captains refused the usual pre-match handshake, The Guardian reported