20/10/2026

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MEDAL TALLY G S B COUNTRY 2026 ASIAN PARA GAMES Ttl 1. China 14 14 14 42 2. Uzbekistan 6 8 6 20 3. Japan 5 2 9 16 4. Kazakhstan 3 3 6 12 5. South Korea 3 3 4 10 6. India 2 3 1 6 7. Iran 2 2 2 6 8. Indonesia 1 1 6 8 9. Mongolia 1 1 1 3 10. Malaysia 1 0 1 2 Record breaker National para track cyclist Zuhairie Ahmad Tarmizi poses with his gold medal in the men’s 1,000-metre time trial yesterday. The 36-year-old delivered Malaysia’s first gold para track cyclist Zuhairie armizi poses with his gold the men’s 1,000-metre yesterday. The ld delivered first gold 26 Asian Para BERNAMAPIC Story in the 2026 Asian Para Games. – BERNAMAPIC

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- on page 31

- Story on page 29

Gunners leave it late A decisive late strike secured three points for Arsenal after Forest frustrated them for much of the match M ODERN football is a game of two parts: the first hour or so, dictated by carefully curated gameplans and training ground patterns; and the Once again he made a triple substitution on 65 minutes, sending on Jurrien Timber, Mikel Merino and Viktor Gyokeres, and once again a stubborn defence was worn gles like they did for the majority of this game, strength in depth may prove the difference between the champions and the rest. highest level. It’s great to have that type of compe tition, you know on the bench you’re ready to have an impact.”

Arteta added: “Some of them played three days ago and some of them will start the next game, and they know that everyone has to be at it. If you are needed after 60 minutes, 45 minutes and sometimes two minutes, we have a squad now that can deliver in moments and we have to use that.” It had been a desperate game. For those who rail against the hegemony of positional football, who say it’s shackling ingenuity and entertain ment, this first half was exhibit A. Arsenal had 74% possession and no shots on target. Gabriel would pass the ball out to Eze on the touchline who would recycle it back into the middle, rinse and repeat. “Arsenal have been the better team,” said Roy Keane at halftime, and he was right, in the sense that they are literally the better team. But better at what, exactly? Better at keeping the ball away from opposition’s prying toes, perhaps, better at that square pass Declan Rice makes to a centre back after deciding against a forward ball. Arteta added: “We knew today we wouldn’t score in the first 20, 30 minutes. We were going to face a different Forest because they are extremely well coached, they put like a Christmas tree [formation], there is no space to play. “You have to be so neat and tidy. You have to generate a lot of chaos in the box, whether that is an open play or with set pieces. “At the end I had the belief that the physical level [of Forest] was going to drop, the spaces will be a little bit bigger, more time to be more efficient. And the finishers delivered.” – The Independent/AFP

“If you look at the quality of our starting XI and bench, it’s absurd,” said Madueke, after a game in which fel low substitutes Max Dowman, Martin Zubimendi and Myles Lewis-Skelly weren’t needed. “We know that we’re going to start some [games] and finish some, and for me it’s the same mentality every time: I just want to create or score. “All 20

down in the final stages. No Premier League side has generated more goals and assists from the bench since the start of last season. “We had to earn it until the last second,” Arteta told the BBC . “They are a well coached team and hard to break down. “We had to take risks, they are a dangerous team. We had to manage the emotional part really well. We stayed focused and the finishers made a huge impact.” Forest remain third from bot tom after a third successive defeat, and their wait for a first home goal of the sea son goes on. Arsenal, meanwhile, stay second, three points behind Man City and two ahead of Brighton. Second might be enough for first when City are eventually sanctioned. And even if Arsenal endure more strug Arsenal’s Noni Madueke celebrates after scoring against Nottingham Forest in Sunday’s Premier League match at the City Ground. – REUTERSPIC

final half hour when a flurry of substitutes come on, rigid structures fade away and a match opens at the seams. Arsenal were dire for most of this game at the City Ground, shut out by Nottingham Forest’s red wall. But yet again the power of Mikel Arteta’s “finishers” decided a match. The Gunners struck late to beat Forest 1-0 and keep the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday. Noni Madueke was sent on at halftime for Eberechi Eze, who had been statuesque at his station on the left touchline, which, in fairness, is not his position. With the clock ticking towards 80 minutes, Madueke did what Eze hadn’t and drove at Forest’s defence before unleashing a shot, which took a fortunate deflection off Jair Cunha on its way past the helpless Matz Sels. It went down as Arsenal’s only shot on target, and in truth it might have been curling wide. “He’s a special character,” Arteta said of Madueke. “He’s someone who everyone loves in and around the dressing room with the way he connects and talks to people. “I think I saw an interview where they were asking our players, ‘Who would you call if you have a problem?’ and some of them said, ‘Noni,’ which I was surprised at. But I think it’s a massive credit and explains the kind of character that he is.” This was the third game in a row in which Arteta rang the changes in the second half as his team struggled to click, after Leeds last weekend and Lille in midweek.

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