Indian Sports Highlights, January 20: Satwik-Chirag into final of India Open

India Open: Satwik-Chirag storms into final

Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty beat Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Wooi Yik Soh 21-18 21-14 to make finals of the India Open Super 750 tournament.. Satwik and Chirag will also rise to World Rank no. 1 next week by virtue of making the final.

India Open: Prannoy loses in semifinal

India's HS Prannoy loses in semifinals of India Open Super 750 badminton tournament agaisnt Shi Yuqi of China by 15-21, 5-21

Asia Olympic Qualification: Anant Jeet Singh Naruka wins Paris Olympics quota in skeet

Ananat Jeet Singh Naruka wins Silver and Paris Olympics quota in Skeet event at the Asia Olympic Qualification Shotgun in Kuwait. This is India's 19th Paris Olympics quota in shooting.

Asia Olympic Qualification: Raiza Dhillon wins Paris Olympics quota in skeet

Raiza Dhillon wins Silver and Paris Olympics quota in Skeet event at the Asia Olympic Qualification Shotgun in Kuwait. Maheshwari Chauhan gets Bronze and Ganemat Sekhon finished 4th. The trio also won team gold medal for India.

Asia Olympic Qualification: Anant Jeet Singh Naruka into final of skeet

Indian Shooter Anant Jeet Singh Naruka qualify for final with 121/125 in skeet at ongoing Asia Olympic Qualification Shotgun in Kuwait city.

Asia Olympic Qualification: Three Indian women into final of skeet

Three Indian women Ganemat Sekhon 117/125, Raiza Dhillion 115/125 and Maheshwari Chauhan 115/125 qualify for final in skeet at ongoing Asia Olympic Qualification Shotgun in Kuwait city.

Sania Mirza's ex-husband Shoaib Malik announces third marriage

Former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Shoaib Malik, revealed on Saturday that he has tied the knot for the third time. The renowned cricketer, who was previously married to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, confirmed his new marriage to popular Pakistani actor Sana Javed in Karachi. This comes after Malik's reported divorce from Sania Mirza.

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Olympics are the biggest target for Satwik-Chirag: Coach Mathias Boe

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have been in phenomenal form. After two years of remarkable performances when they won the Thomas Cup, several World Tour titles and Asian Championships and Asian Games gold, the world no. 2 Indian duo made a rollicking start to a fresh season in 2024, the year of the Olympics, by making a runner-up finish at the Malaysia Open Super 1000.

Satwik and Chirag are now on the brink of reaching back-to-back finals at the India Open Super 750. When they play the semifinal in New Delhi on Saturday against their arch-nemesis Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia, the Indian pair will not only be in contention for a place in the final but stands a chance to reclaim the world no. 1 rank from China's Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang.

As the expectations grew manifold, there were crucial questions of handling the pressure. Satwik and Chirag's coach Mathias Boe, the man who guided and oversaw the rise of the Indian pair, downplays it.

REPORT

Symphony of Silence: End of Olympic Dream for Indian Women's Hockey Team

As goalkeeper and captain Savita Punia trudged back after the final hooter, the packed Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Stadium in Ranchi watched in silence the anticlimax of the Indian women's hockey team's hope of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday.

It was the shattering of dreams that sounded like - deafening silence. Japan ended the Olympic dreams of the Indian women's hockey team by beating the hosts 1-0 in the third-place playoff of the Olympic Qualifiers.

From a fourth-place finish in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 to not qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Indian team's journey has been pleasing.

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What to expect today?

In the India Open Super 750, HS Prannoy in men's singles and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty in men's doubles will be in action in their respective semifinals. The matches are likely to start at 6 PM.

In the Kalinga Super Cup, Jamshedpur FC takes on Shillong Lajong at 2 PM IST, while Kerala Blasters will face NorthEast United at 7:30 PM IST. 

PKL matches continue.