Sports World, January 13, 2024: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty Enter Malaysia Open Final; India Lose To Australia In AFC Asian Cup - As It Happened

India's ace pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty beat South Korea's Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae in the BWF Malaysia Open 2024 men's doubles semi-finals in the morning. Later in the evening, the Indian men's football team lost to Australia in their opening match of the AFC Asian Cup 2023. That was soon followed by the national women's hockey team meeting the United States in their FIH Olympic Qualifiers opener in Ranchi - a game they lost 1-0. Meanwhile, the build-up to January and the rest of the year's other big-ticket events will continue, with just days left to go before the beginning of the Africa Cup of Nations, the U-19 Cricket World Cup, and more. Read through all the highlights from January 13, 2024, world of sports here. (Cricket News | Football News)

12:00 am: What's Coming Next? 

Plenty of action to come in football over the next few days, with the Premier League, the Spanish Super Cup, The Best FIFA Football Awards, and other European leagues! Key among them is the bout between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona that will take place on Monday 12:30 am IST in the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. A day later, Lionel Messi will go up against Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland for The Best FIFA Men's Football Award for 2023. 

Exciting few days ahead for football fans! 

11:00 pm: Catch Of The Year Already? 

A brilliant joint effort from Troy Johnson and Nick Kelly in the Dream11 Super Smash instantly became the talk of the town in the cricketing fraternity, with many even calling it the best catch taken in the sport. The pair combined to remove Will Young from the pitch, with Johnson acrobatically catching the ball by the boundary and tossing it back to Kelly, who had the awareness to follow him closely. 

Watch the video here. 

10:00 pm: India Women Go Down To USA In Hockey

The Indian women's hockey team began their FIH Olympic Qualifiers tournament with a loss against the United States of America in Ranchi. The 24th-ranked USA beat sixth-ranked India 1-0, courtesy of a goal from Abigail Tanner in the 16th minute. India will need to qualify out of the group and then finish in one of the top three spots in the tournament to play at the Paris Olympics later this year. 

8:40 pm: Chelsea Beat Fulham In Premier League 

Mauricio Pochettino had reasons to be pleased as his Chelsea side beat rivals Fulham in a closely-contest West London encounter. Chelsea scored on the cusp of half-time through Cole Palmer, the Englishman converting his fifth penalty of the season for his ninth goal. They, then, hit the post twice in the second half and survived a late Fulham onslaught to collect their fourth straight home win. 

7:35 pm: India Women's Hockey Team In Action Vs USA 

The Indian women's hockey team will commence their FIH Olympic Qualifiers Tournament with a clash against the United States of America in Ranchi today, with the match already underway. The top three teams from the contest will qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024. 

7:30 pm: India Go Down To Australia 

Two second half goals were enough to take Australia to the three points, despite India battling valiantly throughout the contest. Jackson Irvine and substitute Jordan Bos scored a goal each in the second period, as Australia dominated India in terms of the share of the ball and its use. 

6:00 pm: IND Vs AUS - AFC Asian Cup 2023 

Half-Time 0-0
Australia had 12 corners in the first half and still game ended at 0-0 in the first half. Sunil Chhetri had a chance when his header was not guided properly towards the goalpost and went left of that. Australia's best chance was by Boyle but the midfielder blazed his volley over the bar. Australia were dominant but Indian defence was also commendable.

5:01 pm: Satwik-Chirag Win!

They have done it. The pioneering, all-conquering pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have again gone where no Indian has before. The world number 2 men's doubles duo have become the first from the country to enter the final of the Malaysia Open BWF badminton tournament in Kuala Lumpur. Down 14-20 in the second game, Satwik and Chirag saved six game points and converted their first match point to emerge victors 21-18, 22-20 against South Korea's Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-Jae.

4:52 pm: IND Vs AUS Coming Up

Indian football's big test against Australia in the AFC Asian Cup is coming up very soon. The match begins at 5 pm. Head over to our live blog for all the updates here.

4:40 pm: Satwik-Chirag Win First Game

India's ace pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have won the first game against South Korea's Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae 21-18 in the BWF Malaysia Open 2024 men's doubles semi-finals. They are one game away from making history as the first Indian players to reach the summit clash of the tournament.

3:43 pm: FIH Olympic Qualifiers Begin!

Pre-tournament favourites Germany produced a power-packed outing to defeat lower-ranked Chile 3-0 to open their campaign on a rousing note in the FIH Women's Olympic Qualifier in Ranchi, PTI reports. Selin Oruz (7th minute), Jette Flescutz (10th) and Lisa Nolte (38th) were the goal-scorers for Germany. The world number 5 side are the highest-ranked at the FIH Women's Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 and one rung above hosts India.

2:46 pm: IND Vs AFG - Three Key Battles

After a comprehensive victory in the first T20I, India are now headed to Indore for the second game against Afghanistan. Senior pro-Virat Kohli is back, and the team will be eyeing a series-clinching victory. Check out three key player battles expected in tomorrow's match in our report here. 

2:12 pm: Who Is Dhruv Jurel?

Among the 16 players selected for the first two Tests against England in the upcoming home series, was the name of one Dhruv Jurel. The name was possibly new for many, but for those involved in the Indian domestic and Under-19 cricket circuit, the selection was not entirely a surprise. Read our profile here to know all about the 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter.

1:20 pm: Coming Up Tomorrow...

India will play their second T20I in the three-match series against Afghanistan on Sunday, January 14, 2024, in Indore. The match will mark the return of Virat Kohli to the format and will see the hosts eyeing a series-clinching victory. Here is a preview.

12:04 pm: Spanish League Update

Alaves scored three goals for only the third time this season, with a last-gasp strike giving the visitors a dramatic 3-2 win over Sevilla in the Spanish League, reports the Associated Press. Centre half Nahuel Tenaglia put Alaves 1-0 up from a corner after 26 minutes and Kike Garcia doubled the visitors lead five minutes before halftime, his shot taking a deflection on its way past Marko Dmitrovic. Former Wolverhampton and Nottingham Forest striker Rafa Mir got a goal back for Sevilla in the 70th, and Lucas Ocampos' equalizer from the penalty spot 10 minutes later set up a tense finale. But the visitors roared back to claim their first league win since November thanks to Ruben Duarte's 90th-minute header from a corner kick.

11:20 am: BCB Prez Hasan To Quit

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is set to have a new president after the incumbent Nazmul Hasan was entrusted with the responsibility of the Ministry of Youth and Sports following his win in the general elections, PTI reports. Hasan, who has been at the helm of BCB since 2012, won from the Kishoreganj-6 constituency in the January 7 polls and four days later he replaced Zahid Ahsan Russel in the ministry and he's likely to step down from his present post.

10:10 am: Haaland To Miss 9th Straight Game

Erling Haaland has been ruled out of Manchester City's Premier League game at Newcastle on Saturday because of a foot injury, and he is likely to be out until the end of January, Associated Press reports. The Norway striker has missed the past eight games in all competitions though he's still the co-leading scorer in the league with 14 goals. Haaland hasn't played since a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa on December 6. 

9:31 am: Premier League Update

Carlton Morris scored a controversial late goal to give Luton a 1-1 draw at Burnley in the English Premier League. Morris headed home a cross from Alfie Doughty in the second minute of second-half stoppage time after Zeki Amdouni had put the home side ahead in the first half. Burnley claimed their goalkeeper James Trafford was fouled but the video review allowed Morris' goal to stand, reports Associated Press. 

8:30 am: Bundesliga Returns

Bayern Munich paid tribute to football great Franz Beckenbauer ahead of their 3-0 win over Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga as Jamal Musiala scored twice and Harry Kane started 2024 with a goal. From the towering “Thank you, Franz” in lights on the outside of the stadium to the same message on the front of Bayern players’ jerseys, the game was all about Beckenbauer, who died on Sunday at the age of 78, reports Associated Press.