India’s Jemimah Rodrigues on Monday urged the lads’s crew to purpose for the gold after the ladies’s crew created historical past within the last of the Asian Games 2023. India Women’s aspect beat Sri Lanka by 19 runs within the last to clinch the gold medal right here on their maiden look. Batting first, India posted 116 for seven on a troublesome batting monitor earlier than the Titas Sadhu-led bowling assault restricted Sri Lanka to 97 for eight in 20 overs. “We have spoken to the men’s team. We have told them that we are bringing the gold; you guys also bring it,” an elated Rodrigues instructed reporters.
“(It) feels great. Just to win the gold is special, and being the first Indian cricket side to win the gold will make people go back in history and see that this was the team that actually won the first-ever gold in cricket in the Asian Games. It’s an amazing feeling,” she added.
Rodrigues stated it was a proud feeling so as to add to India’s medals tally on the Games.
“It is a very different experience, wearing this India jersey is a (matter of) different pride. Also, we can add a medal to India as a sporting nation,” she said.
Talking about the gold medal contest on a challenging surface, Rodrigues said the contest had its own challenges.
“It wasn’t simple as Sri Lanka gave us an excellent battle. Their bowlers bowled spot-on, and we actually needed to apply ourselves. Very happy with the women, and the best way we performed at this time shows our character,” she stated.
“It was an important partnership between me and Smriti (Mandhana) because the Sri Lankan bowlers were at the top of their game.
“We are glad the way we played and built the partnership, along with the other girls coming in and chipping in,” said Rodrigues (42), who added 73 runs with Mandhana (46) for the second wicket in a low-scoring contest.
Rodrigues said the team had to adapt to different surfaces for every match. “We truthfully didn’t know what to anticipate once we came to visit right here,” she stated.
“We knew that we had to be ready for any condition, and in all three matches we had different kinds of wickets that we had to adapt to, which is the best part of our team’s performance,” Rodrigues added.
“It’s been a great experience in general, the way everyone has welcomed us in China.” “It’s not been easy since the communication has been a problem. But, they (the organisers) went out of their way to make us feel comfortable and make our stay easy,” she added.
India coach and former worldwide Hrishikesh Kanitkar too was delighted to have added to the nation’s tally.
“We rank this gold right up there because it adds to the country’s tally of gold medals. So, I think it’s very, very important that we directly contribute to the country,” he said.
Kanitkar termed India’s total as a ‘decent score’ owing to conditions.
“We had been aiming for 120, however reaching it a few overs early would have certainly allowed us to go for 140… the character of the soil and situations matter. But, we ended up with a good rating,” he stated.
“The girls responded very well. We are always open to improving, and even though we have won the gold, we are open to improving more.” Despite being outplayed, the Indian coach credited Sri Lanka for his or her show. “They (Lankans) bowled really well, but I feel our batters batted well in the starting and the middle phases. But, credit to them (Lanka) for how they played this game.” Kanitkar additionally praised Rodrigues for her intent through the sport. “(It was an) ultimate knock. Not so much of big-hitting, but using the mind, and I think that’s very mature,” he stated.
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Source web site: sports activities.ndtv.com
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