ALICE DEARING has urged young black swimmers not to get discouraged from taking part in competitions following a decision to ban specialist swim caps designed to protect natural black hair from being worn at the Olympics.
Dearing, 24, confirmed her place in Team GB last week and will participate in the 10km open water marathon at Tokyo Games, starting later this month. She is also the first black female swimmer to represent Britain at the Olympics.
The specialist headwear are made by the brand Soul Cap, whith whom Dearing had partnered last year. However, for the Tokyo Games, they have been by the International Swimming Federation (FINA), because the caps do not fit "the natural form of the head", with the body currently reviewing the product.
Dearing is a co-founder of the Black Swimming Association, and she feels this move will put off many young swimmers from ethnic minority backgrounds.
She told Sky Sports News: "The issue with this story is I don't want little black girls and little black boys to look at elite swimming and think it is not open to them because that is completely the wrong idea.
"It is open to them, I really hope that with it being under review that some agreement will come about, I'm sure it will.
"But I don't want people to look at elite level swimming and think: 'It's not open for me, I can't wear my hair the way I want to and I'll go and find another sport', because that's not what we want.
"Change is happening at least, Soul Cap has been made and even something as simple as that wasn't around when I started out swimming.
"My mum used to have to relax my hair and then braid it to make sure it would fit into a cap and make our lives easier and it's only when I've got older that I could find ways to manage it in its natural form.
"It's brilliant to see so many people passionate about this and wanting to make sure that swimming is open and available to everyone because that is the goal. I'm really hoping to see that this story would have a happy ending and I'm pretty sure it will.
"The issue of black people in swimming is a heavy topic so I'm happy to be the person to speak about it because I want to make people aware that these stereotypes aren't acceptable and black people should feel comfortable at swimming pools.
"They shouldn't feel subjugated or discriminated against in any way, so if I can help in any way to make that better and leave the sport one day where I can look back on it and see the difference I've made then that's what I want to do."
'No barriers'
In a statement, FINA has told Sky Sports News that it is committed to ensuring there are "no barriers to participation in swimming".
The statement read: "FINA acknowledges the comments and reactions concerning the use of 'Soul Cap' swim caps in FINA competition.
"FINA is committed to ensuring that all aquatics athletes have access to appropriate swimwear for competition where this swimwear does not confer a competitive advantage.
"FINA is currently reviewing the situation with regards to 'Soul Cap' and similar products, understanding the importance of inclusivity and representation.
"There is no restriction on 'Soul Cap' swim caps for recreational and teaching purposes. FINA appreciates the efforts of 'Soul Cap' and other suppliers to ensure everyone has the chance to enjoy the water. FINA will also speak with the manufacturer of the 'Soul Cap' about utilising their products through the FINA Development Centres.
"FINA expects to make its consideration of 'Soul Cap' and similar products part of wider initiatives aimed at ensuring there are no barriers to participation in swimming, which is both a sport and a vital life skill."
India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in their first meeting since the May conflict.
Indian players left the field without handshakes, citing alignment with government and BCCI.
Pakistan lodged a protest over the post-match conduct.
Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the win to the armed forces.
INDIA defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in the Asia Cup T20 in Dubai on Sunday. It was the first meeting between the two sides since their military conflict in May.
After the match, Indian players left the field without shaking hands with their Pakistan counterparts.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav said the team’s decision was in line with the government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India. "We are aligned with the government and Board of Control for Cricket in India," he told reporters.
India had resisted calls to boycott the fixture. The two nations have not played a bilateral Test series since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which India blamed on Pakistan-based militants.
Background of tensions
In April, an attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir killed civilians.
India accused Pakistan of backing the attackers, which Islamabad denies.
The incident triggered the May conflict that killed more than 70 people in missile, drone and artillery exchanges before a ceasefire.
Pakistan’s response
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said he was disappointed by India’s move. "We were ready to shake hands at the end of the game," he said.
"We went over there and they were already gone to the changing room, so that was obviously a disappointing way to finish the match."
Pakistan’s team management later said they had lodged a protest with match referee Andy Pycroft.
"The behaviour of Indian players was against the spirit of sportsmanship," their statement said. "That is why skipper Salman Agha was not sent to the post match ceremony."
India dedicate win to army
At the post-match presentation, Suryakumar said India treated the fixture as "just another game" and dedicated the win to the armed forces.
"We stand with the victims of the families of the Pahalgam terror attack and we express our solidarity. We want to dedicate today's win to the armed forces," he said.
Indian spinners dominate
On the field, Pakistan were restricted to 127-9 in 20 overs. Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 40, while Shaheen Shah Afridi hit an unbeaten 33 off 16 balls with four sixes.
India’s bowlers set up the victory. Hardik Pandya removed opener Saim Ayub for a golden duck in the first over, and Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Mohammad Haris for three.
Axar Patel struck twice, getting Fakhar Zaman (17) and captain Agha (3), while Kuldeep Yadav removed Hasan Nawaz (5) and Mohammad Nawaz (0) off successive balls.
Suryakumar finishes chase
In reply, Abhishek Sharma gave India a rapid start with 31 off 13 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes, before falling to spinner Saim Ayub.
Suryakumar Yadav led the chase with an unbeaten 47 and sealed the win with a six. India reached the target with 25 balls to spare.
With this victory, India have won both their matches and are close to qualifying for the Super Fours stage. Pakistan next face the UAE on Wednesday, while India play Oman on Friday.
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Cricket fans with their bodies painted in the colours of the Indian and Pakistani national flags pose for photographs ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 match between India and Pakistan, in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo)
INDIA and Pakistan face off on Sunday (14) in their first T20 International in more than 15 months, a contest carrying both sporting and political weight.
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has urged his players to put emotions aside after recent cross-border tensions, stressing that focus must remain on cricket.
“It’s a very sensitive issue and I’ve got no doubt the players share the compassion and feeling of the vast majority of the Indian public,” Ten Doeschate said. “But the team has to put those sentiments behind and focus on the 120 balls with bat and ball.”
The Asia Cup group-stage clash is being played under a new sports policy that allows India to face Pakistan in multinational events but not in bilateral series.
The two sides last met in June 2024. India, the reigning T20 world champions, have won 18 of their 21 matches since then and crushed hosts UAE in their opening fixture. Pakistan, under new captain Salman Ali Agha, began their campaign with a convincing win over Oman after a recent tri-series triumph in Sharjah. India began their campaign with a nine-wicket win against the UAE, bowling them out for 57 in 13.1 overs before chasing the target in just 27 balls last Thursday (11).
Suryakumar Yadav (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images) Getty Images
With both teams likely to progress to the Super Four stage – and possibly meet again in the final on September 28– Sunday’s game is seen as the first of several high-intensity encounters.
India start as favourites, but Pakistan’s fresh line-up without Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan has shown promise under coach Mike Hesson.
Five match-ups to watch
Shubman Gill vs Shaheen Shah Afridi Gill, India’s vice-captain, faces Afridi for the first time in a T20 International. Afridi’s early movement remains a threat, but Gill’s strong record against left-arm seamers could make this a fascinating battle.
Jasprit Bumrah vs Saim Ayub Ayub’s fearless hitting, including his trademark ‘No Look Six’, will be tested against Bumrah’s pace and movement. How the young batter responds could shape Pakistan’s innings.
Kuldeep Yadav vs Fakhar Zaman The duel between India’s left-arm wrist-spinner and Pakistan’s aggressive opener may determine momentum. Fakhar has faced few bowlers of Kuldeep’s type in his career, making this contest especially intriguing.
Salman Ali Agha (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Abhishek Sharma vs Abrar Ahmed India’s in-form southpaw has dominated leg-spinners in recent years, scoring at a strike rate near 300. Pakistan will need to use Abrar carefully if Abhishek settles in beyond the Powerplay.
Hasan Nawaz vs Varun Chakravarthy Nawaz, Pakistan’s rising star, has a reputation for fast scoring but struggles against wrist spin. Chakravarthy’s deceptive variations may prove difficult to read.
For both sides, the game goes beyond cricket. As Doeschate said, “India do start as favourites tomorrow, but in games like this, anything can happen.”
(Agencies)
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India began their campaign with a nine-wicket win against the UAE, bowling them out for 57 in 13.1 overs before chasing the target in just 27 balls on Thursday. (Photo: Getty Images)
AN INDIA-PAKISTAN cricket match always draws attention, and emotions are set to run high when the two teams meet on Sunday in the Asia Cup. The contest comes months after the neighbours engaged in a four-day military conflict in May.
Bilateral cricket ties between the two countries have been suspended for years, and the arch-rivals now face each other only in multi-nation tournaments. The upcoming Group A fixture will be their first meeting since the May clashes, which nearly escalated into a full-scale war.
Political relations have worsened since then, with some former Indian cricketers calling on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to boycott the match. The boycott call has been set aside, and both teams have said they will not ease up on aggression when they meet.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan counterpart Salman Agha have made clear they want their teams to play hard. India, the current 20-overs world champions, are also looking to defend their Asia Cup title.
"Once the BCCI said they are aligned with the government, we are here to play," India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said on Friday. "Once we are here to play, I think players are focused on playing cricket. I personally don't think they have anything in mind apart from playing cricket and that's what we focus on."
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson also stressed focus, though he acknowledged the intensity of the occasion.
"Being part of a highly-charged event is going to be exciting," Hesson said this week.
"From my perspective ... it is about keeping everybody focused on the job at hand. That will be no different.
"We know India are obviously hugely confident and rightfully so. But we are very much focused on improving as a team day-by-day and not getting ahead of ourselves."
India look the strongest side in the eight-team event, bolstered by the return of pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah and batter Shubman Gill. They began their campaign with a nine-wicket win against the United Arab Emirates, bowling them out for 57 in 13.1 overs before chasing the target in just 27 balls on Thursday.
Pakistan started with a win against Oman but their batting has been inconsistent. They are without former captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan but recently won a T20 tri-series in the UAE that also featured Afghanistan.
"We have been playing good cricket in the last two-three months and we just have to play good cricket," Pakistan captain Salman said on Friday. "If we can execute our plans for a long enough period, we are good enough to beat any team."
(With inputs from agencies)
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Bangladesh lost two early wickets in their chase, but Litton built a 95-run stand with Towhid Hridoy, who remained unbeaten on 35, to take the team to 144-3 in 17.4 overs. (Photo: c
CAPTAIN Litton Das scored 59 to guide Bangladesh to a seven-wicket win over Hong Kong in their opening Asia Cup match on Thursday.
Invited to bat first in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong made 143-7 with Nizakat Khan top-scoring on 42.
Bangladesh lost two early wickets in their chase, but Litton built a 95-run stand with Towhid Hridoy, who remained unbeaten on 35, to take the team to 144-3 in 17.4 overs. Litton reached his half-century in 33 balls before being dismissed by medium-pacer Ateeq Iqbal. Towhid then hit the winning run.
"Very important to win the first game," said Litton, who was named player of the match. "Last couple of series, we have played good cricket. But in Asia Cup, little bit of pressure comes automatically."
This was Bangladesh’s first T20 win over Hong Kong, who had beaten them in their only previous meeting in 2014.
Hong Kong suffered their second loss in Group B, which also features Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan beat Hong Kong by 94 runs in the tournament opener.
In their innings, Hong Kong lost two quick wickets before Nizakat added 41 with Zeeshan Ali, who made 30. He then put on 46 with captain Yasim Murtaza, who scored 28 off 19 balls. Murtaza was run out and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain struck twice in the next over, including Nizakat’s wicket.
"I am happy with the way our batters scored," said Murtaza. "But I will be happier if we got 160-170 plus -- that would be a different total."
Tanzim Hasan Sakib impressed with 2-21 in four overs, while Taskin Ahmed and Rishad also claimed two wickets each.
Bangladesh slipped to 47-2 in reply but Litton and Towhid steadied the chase.
Pakistan face Oman on Friday in Dubai. The Asia Cup is also a build-up to the T20 World Cup scheduled in India and Sri Lanka in February-March.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Kuldeep picked three wickets in one over with his left-arm wrist spin as India bowled out UAE for 57 in 13.1 overs after choosing to field.
KULDEEP YADAV took 4-7 as India began their Asia Cup campaign with a nine-wicket win over hosts United Arab Emirates in Dubai on Wednesday.
Kuldeep picked three wickets in one over with his left-arm wrist spin as India bowled out UAE for 57 in 13.1 overs after choosing to field.
India chased down the target in 4.3 overs. Left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma hit 30 off 16 balls, while vice-captain Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 20.
The bowlers set up the win for India, with medium-pacer Shivam Dube taking three wickets before Kuldeep finished the innings.
"Clinical performance from the boys," captain Suryakumar Yadav said. "Wanted good energy and attitude in the field and that carried over into the batting."
UAE opener Alishan Sharafu scored 22 off 17 balls before falling to Jasprit Bumrah. Captain Muhammad Waseem made 19 and was the only other batter to reach double figures.
Kuldeep dismissed Waseem in his second over, claiming three wickets in total in that spell. He was named player of the match and said it was the "perfect" return in his first T20 outing for India since the World Cup win in Barbados last year.
Chasing 58, world number one T20 batter Sharma attacked spinner Haider Ali for a six and a four, hitting two more sixes before being dismissed by Junaid Siddique. Gill completed the win with a boundary, while Suryakumar remained unbeaten on seven.
"We can say that they (India) are a brilliant team and are bowling really well," Waseem said. "They executed their plan for every batter. That is why they are the number one team. As a team, we have to come back stronger and we have to learn from these mistakes."
India, who won the last Asia Cup in the 50-over format in 2023, will next play Pakistan on Sunday.