Cricket included in Asiad

Cricket and chess will be played for the first time at the Asian Games during the 2006 meet in Doha in keeping with the sport's growing popularity in the continent.

Cricket and chess will be played for the first time at the Asian Games during the 2006 meet in Doha in keeping with the sport's growing popularity in the continent.

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Limited-overs cricket will be one of the 40 disciplines to be contested at the December 1-15 Games, IOA and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) secretary general Randhir Singh said here.

"Many countries, especially the West Asian ones, were keen that cricket be played at the Asian Games and the OCA accepted the proposal at its meeting held in Doha on July 1," Randhir said.

There are four Test-playing nations in Asia - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - and cricket is played in almost all Asian countries, including China.

Bid for Asian Games

After bagging the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Indian Olympic Association has now set its eyes on bringing the 2014 Asian Games to the national capital.