No handshakes yet again as India edges Pakistan to win cricket gold

Gold medalists, Indian team members, pose on the podium after the medal ceremony for cricket at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. (AP)

NAGOYA, Japan, Oct 3 (AP): Defending champion India continued its T20 dominance over archrival Pakistan with a 19-run victory to win the gold medal at the Asian Games men’s cricket event, with players again avoiding customary handshakes Saturday.

Half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma (61) and Tilak Varma (51 not out) propelled India to its highest-ever total of 211-6 against its traditional rival in the T20 format.

Pakistan's batting cracked against disciplined Indian bowling and was restricted to 192-6.

Hasan Nawaz, who was dropped early in his innings, showed plenty of flair with a knock of 96 off 51 balls before getting caught behind on the final ball as India retained its gold.

It was India’s seventh straight win over Pakistan in T20s and the fifth consecutive men’s game between the two bitter rivals where players didn’t shake hands - both before and after the game.

Left-handed Sharma struck a 20-ball half-century despite 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi getting out for 15 as Saim Ayub mocked the youngster with a "baby in the cradle” gesture after the dismissal.

Sooryavanshi tried to reverse sweep Ayub but was caught by wicketkeeper Usman Khan, who bobbled twice before completing the catch.

Pakistan, which went with five specialized bowlers plus Ayub’s off-spin, surprisingly went with the option of part-timer Saad Masood in the second over, which allowed Sharma to break free by smacking three sixes and a boundary in the 24-run over.

Pakistan was untidy in the field too, with Sharma getting dropped twice, and he should have been run out before completing his half-century, while captain Shreyas Iyer also got a life when Ayub missed his second catch.

South Korean golfer Tom Kim got what he came for by winning the men's singles on Saturday at the Asian Games: a gold medal and an exemption from military service back home.

He shot a 6-under 64 in Saturday's final round for a four-day total of 18-under 262. Three golfers were three back and faced a playoff, with Kazuki Higa of Japan taking silver and Thailand's Sadom Kaewkanjana earning bronze.

Tom Kim made a special effort to win in Japan, flying across the Pacific when the Presidents Cup competition ended last weekend.

Asked about the exemption, he took the gold-medal approach.

Most able-bodied men in South Korea must serve about 18 months in uniform, but a medal of any color at the Olympics - or gold in the Asian Games - provides an out.

However, South Korea failed to win the team competition. That means that S.H. Kim, who played on the team with Tom Kim, did not get the exemption. He closed with a 73, and the third team member, 35-year-old Mun Do-yeob, shot a 70. Mun had already served and did not need the exemption.

Kim Joo-hyung goes by Tom Kim when he plays on the PGA Tour, and Kim Seong-hyeon goes by S.H. Kim when he plays abroad.

China won the team event with silver for South Korea and bronze for Japan.

The military exemption in South Korea also applies to classical and traditional musicians, dancers, and other artists who are viewed as enhancing national pride.