Over 500 cleared for Asian Games

NEW DELHI: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has cleared 514 athletes for the upcoming Asian Games but the contingent is likely to be smaller than the last edition in Incheon, where 541 players competed. The IOA is expected to release the list on Monday but there is a possibility that a few more names could be added to the list. “We have approved approximately 514 athletes and we are working out the final list,” an IOA official told PTI.THE IOA had fixed June 30 deadline to all the National Sports Federations to send their final list. This time, the IOA had set strict criteria to clear the country’s participants — top six performance of the last Asian Games in individual events and top eight in team events. This led to teams like football and handball to be left out. MANCHESTER: Warm-up part of the tour finished without breaking much sweat against Ireland, India kicked off their preparation for a tough England series with a high-intensity training session at the Old Trafford ground on Sunday.

Making the most of the sunny weather, Virat Kohli led his team to practice early and flex muscles in preparation for the opening Twenty20 International on Tuesday. Hitting the nets first, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL

Rahul and Kohli all looked in fine rhythm with their timing and quality of strokeplay.

After the top-order, MS Dhoni took guard in the spinners’ net. His control and body position while playing forward defence to the first few balls showed Dhoni’s Indian Premier League touch was very much intact.

There was no exaggerated backlift or heavy heaves. He was getting into the position early, looking to maintain shape and bringing into play his powerful wrists. Against Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, Dhoni gave an exhibition in the art of batting, moving about in the crease like a boxer, dancing in the ring and toying with the opponent. Chahal had him edging once when an intended drive didn’t come off a flighted delivery but that remained the only false shot of the day.

One of the face-offs everyone is eagerly waiting for in this limited overs series is Dhoni versus Jos Buttler.

With superlative displays against Australia this summer, the England wicketkeeper-batsman has set up the battle against Dhoni to crown the best in the business.

Sunday’s nets indicated that Buttler will have to come up with something really special to outshine Dhoni. With one year left for the next World Cup, this series will set the tone for that final

battle.