New Delhi: Legendary boxer MC Mary Kom has stepped down as Chef-de-Mission of the Indian contingent for the Paris 2024 Olympics Games citing personal reasons. Confirming the development, Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha said a replacement would be named after appropriate consultations.
PT Usha acknowledged the receipt of a letter from Mary Kom asking to be relieved from her position. Olympic Games will take place from July 26 to August 11. "We are sad that Olympic medal-winning boxer and Chairperson of the IOA Athletes Commission Mary Kom has stepped down citing personal reasons. We respect her decision and her privacy. I shall make the appropriate consultations and soon make an announcement about the replacement for Mary Kom," Usha said in a statement released by IOA.
Usha said she had a conversation with Mary Kom upon receipt of the letter. "I completely understand her request and respect her decision. I have also conveyed to her that she will always have my own support and that of IOA. I also request everyone to respect the legendary boxer's privacy," she said.  In her letter to the IOA President, Mary Kom said she was grateful to the Indian Olympic Association for placing its faith in her to serve as Chef de Mission in Paris 2024. "I consider it an honour to serve my country in every way possible, and I was mentally prepared for it. However, I regret that I will not be able to uphold the prestigious responsibility and would like to resign, owing to personal reasons. It is embarrassing to retreat from a commitment, which I seldom do, but I am left with no choice. I am there to cheer on my country and the athletes competing in this Olympic Games, with great expectations," she wrote. Mary Kom was named as Chef-de-Mission last month and ace table tennis player Sharath Kamal as Indian team's flagbearer for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Mary Kom is the first female boxer in boxing history to have captured six world titles. The five-time Asian champion was the first female boxer from India to take home a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games.
—ANI

Mary Kom steps down as Chef-de-Mission for Paris 2024 Olympics due to personal reasons, confirmed by IOA President PT Usha.

Mary Kom steps down as Chef-de-Mission of Indian contingent for Paris Olympics

New Delhi: World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat on Friday accused the Wrestling Federation of India president Sanjay Singh of trying to stop her from competing in the Olympic Qualifiers by creating logistical hurdles for her support staff, saying she is also fearful of being trapped in a doping case.
The 29-year-old Phogat, who won 53kg bronze medals in the 2019 and 2022 World Championships besides a gold in the 2018 Asian Games (in 50kg), would be eyeing an Olympic quota in the 50kg category in the Asian qualifying tournament next week in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.  At the selection trials in Patiala, she had also competed in the 53kg category after the authorities allowed her but lost in the semifinals.  "Brij Bhushan and his dummy Sanjay Singh are trying in every way to stop me from playing in the Olympics. All the coaches who have been appointed with the team are the favourites of Brij Bhushan and his team, so it cannot be denied that they may mix something in my water and make me drink it during my match?" Phogat said in lengthy post on his 'X' page.
Watch: <a href="https://twitter.com/Phogat_Vinesh/status/1778647953932198361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1778647953932198361%7Ctwgr%5E50acc5aedd6478b430357e4c58ac66c4920b4cca%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.deccanherald.com%2Fsports%2Fother-sports%2Fbrij-bhushan-his-dummy-wfi-chief-sanjay-singh-trying-to-stop-me-from-playing-olympics-alleges-vinesh-phogat-2975216" target="_self">https://twitter.com/Phogat_Vinesh/status/1778647953932198361?</a>
"If I say that there could be a conspiracy to trap me in doping, then it will not be wrong.'' Phogat alleged that her personal coach and physio were being denied accreditation for the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament starting April 19.  ''For the past one month, I have been requesting the Government of India (SAI, TOPS) for the accreditation of my coach and physio. Without accreditation, it is not possible for my coach and physio to accompany me to the competition arena,'' she said.  ''But despite repeated requests, I am not getting any concrete answer from anywhere. No one is ready to help. Will the future of players always be played with like this? No stone is being left unturned to mentally harass us. How far is it justified to torture us like this before such an important competition?'' she asked.
Phogat was one of the three top wrestlers of the country who led a protracted protest against former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexually harassing women wrestlers.  After a case was filed against Brij Bhushan by Delhi Police, a local court granted him bail in July.
She wondered if the difficulties she is facing now are due to the protest she led alongside Olympic bronze medal winners Bjarnag Punia and Sakshi Malik.  "Will we face politics even before we go to play for the country because we raised our voice against sexual harassment? Is this the punishment for raising voice against wrong in our country? I hope we will get justice before we go to play for the country."
—PTI

Vinesh Phogat accuses Wrestling Federation president of obstructing Olympic journey. Controversy arises over logistical hurdles and doping fears.

Brij Bhushan & his dummy WFI chief Sanjay Singh trying to stop me from playing Olympics: Vinesh Phogat

Ningbo: Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu fought valiantly but was outperformed by sixth seed Han Yue of China in a gruelling pre-quarterfinal at the Badminton Asia Championships here on Thursday.
Sindhu, who is desperately seeking to rediscover her form ahead of the Paris Olympics, fought hard for an hour and nine minutes before losing 18-21, 21-13, 17-21 against Yue, against whom she had a flawless 5-0 record before Thursday's contest.
In other Indian results, the women's doubles combination of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa also lost in the pre-quarterfinals, going down 17-21, 12-21 against third seeded Japanese pair of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida.  Sindhu vs Yue  The Indian started on a bright note in the first game and used her experience to race to a 8-4 lead, which she increased to 14-8 before the Chinese made a gallant comeback as errors started to creep up in Sindhu's game.  The Chinese engaged Sindhu in long rallies, tiring her up to draw level at 15-15.  With the momentum on her side, Yue never looked back from there on, keeping control of the proceedings to wrap up the first game in her favour.  A jolted Sindhu was in attacking mode in the next game and played aggressively, using her reach and experience to good effect to race to a 16-8 lead.  Although Yue tried her best to claw her way back into the contest, Sindhu didn't give any chance to her opponent and pocketed the second game comfortably to level the contest.  But Sindhu let the momentum slip from her hand after a good start in the decider, in which she led 8-4 initially.  The Chinese played aggressively and indulged the Indian in long rallies to tire her, and it led to errors.  From 10-10, Yue raced to 17-10 before Sindhu pocketed a few points to reduce the margin to 20-17.  Sindhu saved two game points but eventually her Chinese opponent shut the door on the celebrated Indian shuttler.
—PTI

PV Sindhu battles fiercely but faces defeat against Han Yue at the Badminton Asia Championships, impacting her Paris Olympics preparations.

PV Sindhu crashes out in pre-quarters of Badminton Asia Championships

New Delhi: Ahead of the clash against five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) opener Virat Kohli opened up about his biggest fear in a viral video. Virat is currently participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, representing the Bangalore-based franchise. With the T20 World Cup starting from June 1 onwards, this tournament is his chance to prove that his slightly more conservative approach to T20 cricket, which mixes aggressive hitting with anchoring skills, is still a great model to follow these days when batters are going big from ball one. The former RCB skipper asserted that whenever there is bad turbulence, he is the first one to hold the sides of the seat.
"I am very scared of turbulence. Oh my god, I look so stupid and like a fool. Whenever there is a bad turbulence, I am the first guy to hold the sides of the seat. So I feel like, I am the gone," Kohli said in the RCB Podcast Trailer. Kohli has been in remarkable form ongoing 17th edition of the IPL. The right-hand batter has already has a century to his name and has struck 316 runs in 5 matches at an average of 105.33. Virat's team RCB is off to a poor start in the IPL this year, having won only one out of their five matches so far. Their next challenge will be the contest against five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. RCB squad for IPL 2024: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik(w), Saurav Chauhan, Reece Topley, Mayank Dagar, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal, Himanshu Sharma, Suyash Prabhudessai, Mahipal Lomror, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Swapnil Singh, Karn Sharma, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Alzarri Joseph, Will Jacks, Anuj Rawat, Manoj Bhandage, Akash Deep, Rajan Kumar.
—ANI

Virat Kohli opens up about his fear in a candid video ahead of RCB's IPL 2024 match against MI, despite his strong performance and a century this season.

"I am very scared of turbulence": Virat Kohli opens up on his biggest fear

Mumbai: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Saturday reprehended the fans booing Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya, saying it is not the fault of the player if he has replaced much-loved Rohit Sharma, who shepherded the team in previous seasons.
Pandya has been at the receiving end of the fans' anger ever since Mumbai Indians announced that he will captain the five-time champions.  The India all-rounder was booed in the first game that he played as MI skipper upon his return at the home ground of his previous franchise Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.  The trend continued when Pandya went to Hyderabad to face the Sunrisers Hyderabad and much to the surprise of many, the 29-year-old was booed when Mumbai Indians played their first home match of the season against Rajasthan Royals.
"I don't think they should boo Hardik Pandya. It's not correct," Ganguly told the media here during Delhi Capitals’ training session at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.  "It's not correct. The franchisee has appointed him as captain. That's what happens in sport. Whether you captain India or you captain a state or whether you captain your franchise, you are appointed as captain."  "He's (been) appointed captain. Obviously, with Rohit Sharma, he's a different class. His performance for this franchise, his performance for India has been at a different level as captain and as a player," the Director of Cricket for Delhi Capitals said.  "But then it's not Hardik's fault that he's been appointed as captain. All of us need to understand that," he added.  Mumbai Indians will take on Delhi Capitals on Sunday afternoon here.
—PTI

Ganguly addresses the backlash against Hardik Pandya as Mumbai Indians' new captain, emphasizing respect and understanding over the shift from Rohit Sharma's leadership.

'Not his fault for replacing Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians captain': Ganguly reprehends fans for booing Hardik Pandya

Mumbai: In a boost to the beleaguered Mumbai Indians, which is yet to post a win in the ongoing IPL season under new captain Hardik Pandya, number one ranked T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav joined MI camp ahead of his team's clash against Delhi Capitals (DC) at home scheduled for Sunday. In a video posted by MI's official handle, SKY, as he is known to his fans, made a grand entry to Wankhede by unleashing his signature 'Supla Shot', a stroke hit behind the wicketkeeper.
"clears throat SUPLAAA SHOTTT #MumbaiMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians | @surya_14kumar," tweeted the official handle of MI.
Watch: <a href="https://twitter.com/i/status/1776298528886665454" target="_self">https://twitter.com/i/status/1776298528886665454</a>&nbsp;
Mumbai Indians is at the bottom of the table, having lost all their matches against Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals. The captaincy of Hardik Pandya has not been received well by fans, with the skipper being booed in every stadium so far and receiving trolling from fans on social media as well. A match-winning performance will be important for Pandya and with Suryakumar having recovered from an ankle injury sustained in a match against South Africa last year, MI looks a lot stronger. Suryakumar was the sixth-highest run-getter last time, scoring 605 runs in 16 matches at an average of 43.21 and a strike rate of over 181, with a century and five fifties. His best score was 103*.  In 139 IPL matches, Suryakumar has scored 3,249 runs at an average of 32.17 and a strike rate of over 143, with a century and 21 fifties. His best score is 103*. Mumbai Indians squad: Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Tim David, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Jasprit Bumrah, Kwena Maphaka, Dewald Brevis, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Nehal Wadhera, Shams Mulani, Mohammad Nabi, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Gopal, Luke Wood, Vishnu Vinod, Arjun Tendulkar, Kumar Kartikeya, Shivalik Sharma, Anshul Kamboj.
—ANI

Suryakumar Yadav returns to Mumbai Indians, enhancing hopes for their first win in IPL 2024 under Hardik Pandya's captaincy against Delhi Capitals.

IPL 2024: Boost for Mumbai ahead of Delhi clash as Suryakumar Yadav joins camp, unleashes 'Supla' shot

Suryakumar Yadav returns to Mumbai Indians, enhancing hopes for their first win in IPL 2024 under Hardik Pandya's captaincy against Delhi Capitals.


New Delhi: Bilquis Mir from Jammu and Kashmir is set to become the first woman from India to represent the country as a jury member at this year's Summer Olympics, which is to be hosted by Paris from July 26 to August 11. Gir's appointment as a jury member for the Paris Games was official conveyed through a letter from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
"Bilquis Mir, water sports promoter, developer, athlete, jury member of Indian Kayaking and Canoeing association has been nominated as the member of the jury to officiate at the Paris Olympics games. She is the first person from India to be appointed as a jury member at the Paris Olympics," the IOA stated in the letter to the Jammu and Kashmir administration. Chuffed to bits at her appointment as a jury member for the Summer Olympics, which is considered the pinnacle of sports, Bilquis said it was a like a dream coming true for her as the Olympics is the 'ultimate destination' not just for athletes but for sport promoters like herself.  Sharing her thoughts to ANI on her appointment as a jury member for the Summer Games, Bilquis said she started her journey as a canoeist from Dal Lake in 1998 and went on to represent the country in the country. She said she is the former coach of the women's canoeing team that will represent India at the Paris Games this year, adding that she was also a jury member at last year's Asian Games at Hangzhou, China. Recalling the days prior to the revocation of the constitutional privileges in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, she said it was very difficult for a Kashmiri girl to take up sports back in the day but she took up canoeing in earnest, negotiating and overcoming the many challenges that came along the way. She said she found her true calling as a canoeist, which was a sport virtually unheard of in Jammu and Kashmir at the time, and went on to represent the country at the world championships. "This is a proud moment not just for me or the UT of Jammu and Kashmir but the entire country. I consider it an honour to represent my country as a member of the pretigious jury at the Paris Olympics. I was also a jury member at the Hangzhou Asian Games. This isn't just a moment of trimuph for me but all girls or women who aspire to excel in sports. Only two jury members from Asia has been picked this time (for the Summer Games), with the other being from Japan," Bilquis told ANI.  She cleared the exam for being a jury member at top sporting events in 2008 and earned praise for her conduct and performance in the panel at last year's Hangzhou Asian Games. Thanking her parents, family members and well-wishers, who supported her along the way, Bilquis said, "I started my career as a canoeist in 1998 from Dal Lake, when it was a challenge for a girl to even wear a tracksuit. I represented the UT at national events for 12 years before featuring for my country in the world championships. I was even the coach of the (women's) national team for 10 years. I qualified for this exam in 2008, in Germany, where I was selected as the second-best judge."
—ANI

Bilquis Mir sets a historic precedent as the first Indian woman to serve as a jury member at the Paris Olympics, embodying women's empowerment and sports development in India.

Paris Olympics: Bilquis Mir from J-K becomes first woman to represent India as jury member, calls it "proud moment"

Inter Miami, playing without Lionel Messi, went a man down and then finished a goal down after the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal series on Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
After getting an 89th-minute winner from Jorge Rodriguez, Monterrey take a 2-1 lead into the second and final leg of the total-goal series on April 10 in Guadalupe, Mexico.  Messi was ruled out pregame due to a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since mid-March.
Even without the superstar, Miami went up 1-0 on a 19th-minute goal from Tomas Aviles.  The Herons were still on top when they lost midfielder David Ruiz to a second yellow card in the 65th minute. Monterrey pulled level four minutes later on a goal from Maximiliano Meza, then jumped on top in the waning minutes.  The decisive tally was set up by an Inter Miami giveaway at the edge of the penalty area. Meza laid the ball off to Rodriguez, who set the ball up with his first touch, then fired a 20-yard, right-footed shot into the far top corner.
—Reuters

Inter Miami narrowly trails Monterrey in the Champions Cup quarterfinals after a dramatic finish, despite playing without Messi.

CONCACAF Champions Cup: Monterrey edge Lionel Messi-less Miami

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Titans defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets in their Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Set a target of 163, GT completed the chase with five balls remaining. Sai Sudharsan top-scored with 45, while David Miller and Shubman Gill chipped in with knocks of 44 and 36 respectively. After Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat, most of their batters got starts but failed to convert them into big scores, as the team was stopped at 162/8.
Heinrich Klaasen blasted 24 off 13 balls before missing a straighter one from leg-spinner Rashid Khan to be bowled at a crucial juncture.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/ipl-2024:-mohit's-spell-helps-gt-restrict-srh-to-1628" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/ipl-2024:-mohit's-spell-helps-gt-restrict-srh-to-1628</a> Abhishek Sharma got 29 in 20 balls. Abdul Samad (29 off 14 balls) struck a few useful boundaries to prop up SRH, having gone after the GT bowlers from the outset. Mohit Sharma (3/25) picked up two wickets in two balls in the last over from which only three runs came. Brief scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad: 162/8 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 29, Abdul Samad 29; Mohit Sharma 3/25). Gujarat Titans: 168/3 in 19.1 overs (Sai Sudharsan 45, David Miller 44 not out).
—PTI

Gujarat Titans beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 7 wickets in an IPL 2024 clash. Sudharsan, Miller, and Gill shine in the chase, with Mohit Sharma's bowling sealing the deal.

IPL 2024: Gujarat Titans beat SRH by seven wickets

Ahemdabad (Gujarat): Riding on veteran India seamer Mohit Sharma's bowling exploits, Gujarat Titans restricted the free-scoring SunRisers Hyderabad to 162/8 in their innings in the first of the IPL's weekend double-headers at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. Electing to bat first after winning the toss, openers Travis Head and Mayank Aggarwal got the Pat Cummins-led Sunrisers off to a brisk start. They raised an opening stand of 34 runs off 4.2 overs before Mayank holed out to the deep for a personal score of 16.
At the fall of his wicket, the star from the last match, Abhishek Sharma, came out all guns blazing as he did against the Mumbai Indians. The Sunrisers brought up their 50 off just 5.2 overs as Abhishek slammed a six off the bowling of leg spinner Rashid Khan. The second wicket fell on the fourth ball of the seventh over when the team score was 58. Head was dismissed after scoring 19 runs with the help of three fours. He was sent packing by left-arm spinner Noor Ahmed. After Head's wicket, Aiden Markra came out to the field. Markram along with Abhishek were able to add only 16 runs as the latter was dismissed after scoring 29 runs which was laced with two fours and two sixes in the innings.
After the Abhishek's wicket, the wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen came out to bat. The Hyderabad-based franchise crossed the 100-run mark on the fourth ball of the 13 over as Klaasen smashed a maximum on the bowling of Noor.
After completing 100 runs, the franchise first lost the wicket of Klaasen in the in the 14th over when the team score was 108 after scoring 24 runs in just 13 balls which was laced by two sixes and a four and then at 114 when Markram went back to the dressing room after scoring 17 runs in the 15th over. After the two quick wickets Abdul Samad and Shabaz Ahmed were on the crease. The SRH team completed 150 runs as Samad pushed the ball for a double on the second ball of the penultimate over of the inning bowled by Darshan Nalkande.  The hosts lost three wickets in the last over. Two were grabbed by Mohit and one came through a run out. SRH finished the first innings at 162/8. The pick of the bowlers for the last year's finalist was Mohit who snapped three wickets in his spell of four overs where he conceded 25 runs. One wicket was bagged by Azmatullah Omarzai, Umesh Yadav, Rashid, and Noor in their spells where they conceded 24, 28, 33, and 32 runs respectively.
 Brief Score: SunRisers Hyderabad 162/8 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 29, Abdul Samad 29, Mohit Sharma 3/25) vs Gujarat Titans.
—ANI

Gujarat Titans restrict SunRisers Hyderabad to 162/8 in a gripping IPL match, thanks to Mohit Sharma's bowling.

IPL 2024: Mohit's spell helps GT restrict SRH to 162/8

Bengaluru: Star shuttler Saina Nehwal on Saturday lashed out at Shamanur Shivashankarappa, veteran Congress leader from the state, for making 'sexist jibe' at Gayatri Siddeshwara, a BJP candidate from the Davangere constituency.
Shivashankarappa, a 92-year-old sitting MLA from Davangere South, had said that Gayatri, wife of former Union Minister and incumbent MP Siddeshwara GM, 'belonged to the kitchen'.  Taking exception to his remark, Nehwal posted on her X account: "Women should be restricted to the kitchen – this is what a top Karnataka leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa ji has said. The sexist jibe at @bjp4india candidate from Davanagere, Gayatri Siddeshwara ji is least expected from a party that says Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon."
<a href="https://twitter.com/NSaina/status/1773980739916493132?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1773980739916493132%7Ctwgr%5E08aab9573dea1eac23730782f646983c963aa19a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.deccanherald.com%2Findia%2Fkarnataka%2Fsaina-nehwal-lashes-out-at-anti-woman-remarks-by-congress-leader-2958483" target="_self">https://twitter.com/NSaina/status/1773980739916493132?</a>
The 34-year-old Nehwal, who had won the bronze medal during the 2012 London Olympics, said such misogynistic remarks were upsetting when women in the country are aspiring to leave their mark in every field.  "When I won medals for Bharat on the play field what would Congress party have preferred, I should have done? Why say like that when all the girls and women dream of achieving big in any field."
"On one hand we are doing Nari Shakti ko Vandan. The Women’s Reservation Bill has been passed under leadership of our PM Modi sir and on the other hand Nari Shakti ka apman &amp; misogynistic people…really upsetting,” wrote Nehwal.  Shivashankarappa made the controversial remark while addressing Congress party workers at Bunts Bhavan in the district recently.  "She (Gayathri) does not even know how to speak properly. She is fit to cook food at home," said Shivashankarappa, who once owned a franchise, Davanagere Diamonds, in the erstwhile Karnataka Premier League (KPL).
—PTI

Saina Nehwal criticizes Karnataka leader's sexist jibe at BJP's Gayatri Siddeshwara, advocating for women's respect and empowerment.

Saina Nehwal lashes out at anti-woman remarks by Congress leader

Miami [US]: World number 14 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova continued her fabulous form at the Miami Open, entering the semifinal with a superb 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 upset of No.5 seed Jessica Pegula at the WTA 1000 event. Alexandrova will face American Danielle Collins in Friday's semifinal clash.
"It was extremely difficult for me because [Pegula] played amazing. In the third set, there were sometimes the kind of rallies where I couldn't understand how it was possible to return that ball, but it always [came] back," Alexandrova said afterwards as quoted by WTA. "I just tried to play every single point [like] I knew she was going to be everywhere, so I need to do something, and I was trying to wait and use any opportunities that I got," she added.
In the first set, Pegula was nearly faultless with her first delivery, winning 13 of 14 first-serve points (92 percent). Alexandrova's power game, on the other hand, sprang into high gear in the second set, when she won 15 to Pegula's 4.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/bopanna-ebden-reach-miami-open-semifinals" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/bopanna-ebden-reach-miami-open-semifinals</a> Alexandrova double-faulted an early breakaway in the deciding third set, leaving the score at 3-3. The Russian, on the other hand, capitalised on another opportunity two games later, breaking Pegula 5-4 with powerful returns and forecourt finishes. Alexandrova then converted her second match point to complete the comeback triumph. Alexandrova's victory over a Top 10 player after losing the first set is the first of her career.
Alexandrova defeated top five women in back-to-back matches for the first time in her career, after shocking World No.1 Iga Swiatek in the previous round. Alexandrova attributed her recent success against Top 5 players to "trying to be more consistent on the baseline, not rushing things, and just playing the points." "Try to use the possibilities, and not be like, 'OK, like, it's so easy, I'm just going to hit a winner right now, right from the first one.' You need to wait and wait and wait, and then something's going to come and you need to use it. So I think it's helping me right now," Alexandrova said.
—ANI

Ekaterina Alexandrova advances to Miami Open semifinals after a stunning victory over Jessica Pegula. Catch up on the intense match highlights here!

Ekaterina Alexandrova upsets Jessica Pegula, reaches Miami semifinal

Miami Gardens: Indian tennis stalwart Rohan Bopanna and his Australian teammate Matthew Ebden advanced to their third men's doubles semi-final this year, defeating Dutchman Sem Verbeek and Aussie John-Patrick Smith at the Miami Open here.
The duo, who had won the Australian Open earlier this year, overcame several unforced errors in the first set to win the gruelling quarterfinal 3-6 7-6 (4) 10-7.  The victory for the 44-year-old Bopanna, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, will help him stay in the in top-10 in the ATP doubles ranking and ensure direct qualification for the Paris Olympics in July-August.
The cut-off date for rankings to be considered for direct Paris qualification is June 10.  The Bopanna-Ebden pair, seeded No.1 here, didn't enjoy a dominant first and second-serve percentage but came up with breaks at crucial junctures in the second set to take the match into the tie-breaker before winning it and drawing level.  Bopanna, who won his maiden grand slam at the Australian Open this year, had attained a career-high world No. 1 ranking following the success but has slipped to second spot after a quarterfinal loss at the Dubai Championships and a round-of-32 exit at the Indian Wells Masters.  The Indo-Australian pair will meet the winners of the match between Marcel Granollers (Spain)/Horacio Zeballos (Argentina) and Lloyd Glasspool (UK)/Jean-Julien Rojer (Netherlands) in the last-four.  Bopanna and Ebden had also reached the semifinal of the Adelaide Open in January this year and made the title round before losing to Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (UK).  The American-British duo, though, will not meet the Indio-Australian pair in the semifinals here after they lost in the quarterfinals.
—PTI

Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden clinch Miami Open men's doubles semifinal, eyeing Paris Olympics qualification amid a competitive season.

Bopanna-Ebden reach Miami Open semifinals

Jaipur (Rajasthan): Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson's magnificent innings of 82 runs and his 93-run partnership with Riyan Parag guided his side to a total of 193 runs for the loss of four wickets against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Sunday. Samson won the toss and elected to bat first at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
Both the openers, Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal started off the innings. The two batters were able to add just 13 runs when Buttler was sent back to the pavilion after scoring 11 runs off 9 balls with the help of two fours. Samson came into bat next and built a quickfire partnership of 36 runs from just 18 balls with Jaiswal before the opener was dismissed after scoring 24 runs which was laced with three boundaries and a maximum in his innings when the team score was 49 runs. RR scored their fifty on the first ball of the sixth over as the skipper took a single on the bowling of left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya.
Samson along with Riyan Parag built a partnership of 50 runs on the fourth ball of the 11th over as the former slammed a six on the bowling of leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. With this hit, it brought the team's 100 runs as well.
The wicketkeeper-batter completed his half-century in the 13th over as he smashed a six on the bowling of Bishnoi. Parag was dismissed after scoring 43 runs in 29 balls which included three sixes and a four in his innings. The batter was dismissed by the right-arm seamer Naveen-ul-haq. He along with the Rajasthan franchise's skipper put on a partnership of 93 runs in 59 balls. The Royals touched the 150-mark on the first ball of the 17th over as Samson took a single on the bowling of Bishnoi.
Shimron Hetmyer was dismissed at the score of 150 after scoring just 5 runs. Then Dhruv Jurel joined the skipper. Samson built an unbeaten partnership of 43 runs with Dhruv Jurel who scored 20 runs in 12 balls with one four and six each. Samson scored 82* runs off 52 balls which was laced with six maximums and three fours in the innings. For LSG, the pick of the bowlers was Naven who snapped two wickets in his spell of four overs where he conceded 41 runs. One wicket each was grabbed by Mohsin Khan and Bishnoi in their respective spells.
 Brief Score: Rajasthan Royals 193/4 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 82*, Riyan Parag 43, Naveen-ul-haq 2/41) vs Lucknow Super Giants.
—ANI

IPL 2024: Sanju Samson's electrifying 82* powers Rajasthan Royals to 193/4 against LSG. A high-octane partnership with Riyan Parag highlights the match at Jaipur.

IPL 2024: Sanju Samson's magnificent 82* guides RR to 193/4 against LSG

In the 4th match of the 2024 Indian Premier League season, Rajasthan Royals' captain Sanju Samson decided to bat after winning the toss against the Lucknow Super Giants.
More to follow
Rajasthan Royals Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c &amp; wk), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal
Lucknow Super Giants Squad: KL Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Yash Thakur

Sanju Samson leads Rajasthan Royals to bat first in IPL 2024's electrifying opener against Lucknow Super Giants.

Rajasthan Royals win toss against LSG, opt to bat first 

Chandigarh (Punjab): Young Abhishek Porel's blistering knock helped Delhi Capitals (DC) post a total of 174 runs with the loss of nine wickets, despite Punjab Kings (PBKS) bowlers outstanding performance in the first innings of their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match here on Saturday. PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur here. Two Australian batters, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh opened the innings for the Delhi Capitals. Both batters started off very aggressively and registered a quick 39-run partnership.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/ipl-2024:-dc-skipper-rishabh-pant's-comeback-knock-a-dissapointing-one-scores-18-runs" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/ipl-2024:-dc-skipper-rishabh-pant's-comeback-knock-a-dissapointing-one-scores-18-runs</a>&nbsp;
The first wicket to fall was of Marsh. He was dismissed in the fourth over on the bowling of Harshal Patel after scoring 20 runs off 12 balls with the help of two fours and two sixes each.
The star West Indies wicketkeeper-batter came next and played a small but a crucial innings for the side. The right-hand batter scored 33 runs from 25 balls which were laced with two boundaries and two sixes each in his inning. DC skipper Rishabh Pant came after the fall of the second wicket and score only 18 runs in the match, with two fours. Notably, Pant missed the last season because of injuries he sustained during the life-threatening car accident in December 2022.
Star India all-rounder Axar Patel scored crucial 21 runs in 13 balls with two fours and a six. In the end, the visitors brought in Porel as an impact player in place of Ricky Bhui. Porel played an unbeaten quickfire knock of 32 runs off just 10 balls which came at a strike rate of 320 with the help of four boundaries and two sixes. For the hosts, two wickets each were snapped by Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel in their spell of four overs, where they conceded 28 runs and 47 runs, respectively. One wicket each was grabbed by Kagiso Rabada, Harpreet and Rahul Chahar in their respective spells.
Brief Score: Delhi Capitals 174/9 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 33, Abhishek Porel 32*, Arshdeep Singh 2/28) vs Punjab Kings.
—ANI

Young Abhishek Porel's rapid-fire 32* boosts Delhi Capitals to 174/9 against Punjab Kings in IPL 2024 clash.

Abhishek Porel's blistering knock helps DC to 174/9 against PBKS in IPL 2024

Jaipur: The focus will be on K L Rahul's form and fitness when he returns from a quadriceps injury to lead the Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL opener against Rajasthan Royals here on Sunday.
Rahul missed the last four Tests against England due to pain in his right quadriceps. He was out for four months last year after undergoing a thigh surgery.  LSG captain will look to hit top gear not only as a batter but also as a leader, especially after guiding the team to successive playoffs in the first two seasons.  Rahul is likely to play purely as a batter, at least in the initial phase of IPL, but the additional burden of keeping strengthen his chances of making the T20 World Cup squad.  His opposite number on Sunday, Sanju Samson, is also a candidate for the wicket-keepers' role in the India squad for the ICC event and he too will be keen to find his rhythm right from the start.  RR had come tantalisingly close to clinching a second title before Gujarat Titans broke their heart in the final in 2022. They looked good in the initial stages even last season but slipped to fifth place in the end.  Both the teams will have some tough calls to make as they figure out their best XI.
RR have a solid batting line-up, boosting of the likes of in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, besides skipper Sansom. They also have a finisher in Dhruv Jurel, who made an impressive India debut in the recent five-match Test series against England.  But Samson may look to strength the middle-order by bringing in West Indies' Rovman Powell to go with countrymate Shimron Hetmyer.  LSG, on the other hand, would depend on Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stonis and Nicholas Pooran to do bulk of the scoring apart from skipper Rahul.  It is going to be an interesting battle as they will have to contend with spin wizards -- Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, who can run through any batting line-up on a given day.  Lucknow too have a shrewd customer in leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who would be itching to put up a good show to put himself in line for a place in the T20 World Cup squad. Also the 41-year-old veteran leg-break bowler Amit Mishra is always in the thick of things.  But their pace battery wears a dim look, especially after foreign recruits Mark Wood and David Willey were ruled out and the Indian talents like tearaway quick Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan plagued by fitness issues.  Also the inexperience of pacer Yash Thakur and lack of game time for Shivam Mavi means LSG might hand the responsibility to experienced Naveen ul Haq and West Indies sensation Shamar Joseph.  It will also be interesting to see how Justin Langer goes about his business in his first IPL assignment as coach of LSG.  Squads  Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (c), Jos Buttler, Shubham Dubey, Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Riyan Parag, Rovman Powell, Kunal Singh Rathore, Ravichandran Ashwin, Donovan Ferreira, Avesh Khan, Trent Boult, Nandre Burger, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna, Navdeep Saini, Sandeep Sharma, Kuldeep Sen, Abid Mushtaq, Tanush Kotian.  Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Krunal Pandya, Yudhvir Singh, Prerak Mankad, Yash Thakur, Amit Mishra, Shamar Joseph, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, K. Gowtham, Shivam Mavi, Arshin Kulkarni, M. Siddharth, Ashton Turner, David Willey, Mohd. Arshad Khan.
Match starts 3.30 PM IST.
—PTI

K L Rahul returns from injury to lead Lucknow Super Giants in IPL opener against Rajasthan Royals.

IPL 2024: Focus on 'fit again' K L Rahul as Lucknow Super Giants face Rajasthan Royals

Mullanpur (Punjab): Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper and star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant's comeback knock during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match against the Punjab Kings on Saturday proved to be a short one, as he could score just 18 runs off 13 deliveries. Pant's walk to the crease was his first since December 22, 2022. After this Test match against Bangladesh, Pant was involved in a life-threatening car accident towards the end of the year. Though Pant made it out alive, he sustained injuries serious enough to cause him to miss the IPL 2023 and India's ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 run in India in late 2023, in which India ended up as runners up to Australia.
Pant's first delivery was a dot ball. The left-handed player did take his time to settle down, smashing Harshal Patel for his first boundary on his seventh ball, which was soon followed by a classy cover drive to Harshal. Just when Pant was finally finding some groove, he gave a soft catch to Jonny Bairstow at a backward point while attempting a ramp shot over the keeper. Harshal got the last laugh as he dismissed Pant.
Though his first outing might have left fans asking for more, there will be plenty of 'Pantastic' action in store for DC fans, no doubt as there are 13 more games left. Will the crowds in Delhi get to see the vintage Rishabh? Only time will tell. Punjab Kings skipper Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and opted to field against Delhi Capitals in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Saturday at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (w), Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, and Shashank Singh
Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Ricky Bhui, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Sumit Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, and Ishant Sharma.
—ANI

Rishabh Pant returns to IPL 2024 post-accident, scores 18 runs for Delhi Capitals against Punjab Kings. Despite a brief knock, his comeback hints at a thrilling season ahead.

IPL 2024: DC skipper Rishabh Pant's comeback knock a dissapointing one, scores 18 runs

Mohali (Punjab): Punjab Kings skipper Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and opted to field against Delhi Capitals in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Saturday at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Rishabh Pant is finally making his much-awaited return ending the 14-month wait. Both teams have enough firepower to push each other to their limits. Pant would be looking to make his return and begin it on a positive note.
Punjab Kings skipper Shikhar Dhawan said after winning the toss, "We are gonna field first. It is a new pitch. We will look to come up with new strategies. We have made some changes. We are used to this ground now. We had a practice match. We will look for some luck on this venue. Our four foreign players are Bairstow, Livingstone, Curran and Rabada."
Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant during the toss said, "We would have batted first. The wicket looks a little on the slower side. Really emotional time for me. Just want to enjoy the moment. Not thinking much. I think not worried about last season. Really exciting times. We have been preparing well. Four overseas batters for us. Hope, Marsh, Warner, Stubbs." 
Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan(c), Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w), Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Shashank Singh
Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ricky Bhui, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Sumit Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Ishant Sharma.
—ANI

PBKS opt to field in IPL 2024 against DC, marking Rishabh Pant's return. Dhawan and Pant share their strategies and line-ups for this thrilling encounter.

IPL 2024: Rishabh Pant returns as Punjab Kings put Delhi Capitals to bat

Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Fine knocks by Rachin Ravindra and Shivam Dube and a fiery four-wicket haul by Mustafizur Rahman helped defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) start their Ruturaj Gaikwad era with a six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign opener on Friday. In the chase of 174 runs, CSK was off to a fine start as skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad smacked Mohammed Siraj for two boundaries in the first over itself. Kiwi youngster Rachin Ravindra, who was at the other end, played some delightful strokes against pace.
However, the opening partnership was cut short at 38 runs, with Ruturaj caught by Cameron Green for 15 in 15 balls (with three fours). CSK was 38/1 in 4 overs. Ajinkya Rahane was next up on the crease and with the help of a classy six, he helped CSK reach the 50-run mark in 5.3 overs. Rachin was looking threatening at the other end. However, spinner Karn Sharma had the last laugh, getting him caught at deep backward square leg by Rajat Patidar for 37 in 15 balls, with three fours and three sixes. CSK was 71/2 in seven overs.
Halfway through the innings, CSK was 92/2 in 10 overs, with Rahane (21*) and Daryl Mitchell (17*) staying unbeaten. RCB got another wicket just when they entered the second half of the innings, with Glenn Maxwell taking a fine catch near the boundary. Rahane was dismissed for 27 in 19 balls, with two sixes. Cameron Green got his debut IPL wicket. CSK was 99/3 in 10.3 overs. CSK reached the 100-run mark in 10.3 overs. The visitors seemed to be making a brief comeback in the game, hitting Shivam Dube with some short balls and finally getting the wicket of Mitchell using this tactic. His pull shot lacked power and found Patidar at long-on. Green got his second wicket for 22 in 18 balls, with two sixes. CSK was 110/4 in 12.3 overs. RCB managed to restrict CSK's run flow a bit with some exceptional ground fielding. At the end of 15 overs, CSK was 128/4 in 15 overs, needing 46 in the final five overs. Shivam Dube finally let his arms free in the next over, scoring his first boundary, reducing the deficit to 34 runs in 24 balls.
In the next over, a boundary by Dube and some extras by Alzarri Joseph cut down the deficit to 18 runs in 18 balls. The match was snatched from RCB in the next over as Dube smashed Siraj for two boundaries and Alzarri for a six. CSK ended their innings at 176/4, with Dube (34* in 28 balls, with five fours and a six) and Jadeja (25* in 17 balls, with a six) unbeaten. CSK had eight balls to spare. Earlier, Anuj Rawat and Dinesh Karthik's late brisk partnership of 95-run helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru post 173/6 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after Mustafizur Rahman produced a rampant spell to dismantle RCB's batting order with his irresistible 4-wicket haul in the blockbuster opening clash of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 here at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday. Rawat scored the highest for CSK with 48 runs off 25 while Dinesh Karthik played a crucial knock of 38 off 26 deliveries. Debutant Mustafizur sizzled in Chepauk with his four-wicket haul, claiming wickets of Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, Rajat Patidar and Cameron Green. Opted to bat first, openers Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis gave RCB a solid start as the captain hammered Deepak Chahar and Tushar Deshpande early in the innings. Chahar became the prey of Du Plessis'in red-hot form in the third over, as the RCB captain smoked CSK bowler for four boundaries, gathering 17 runs. The visitors finally got the best of Du Plessis as the RCB captain played a shot towards the deep backward point where debutant Rachin Ravindra completed a brilliant catch of Mustafizur Rahman's delivery in the fifth over. In the same over, Mustafizur struck again as he removed Rajat Patidar. Chahar then joined the wicket-taking party as his length ball delivery sent Glenn Maxwell packing in the 6th over.
Mustafizur's ruthless form continued as he removed well-set batter Kohli (21) and Cameron Green (18) in the 12th over. Dinesh Karthik and Anuj Rawat then joined hands as the duo kept piling runs for RCB, slamming boundaries at regular intervals. Karthik, playing at his home ground and Rawat, trusted to be RCB's extra-batter in this game, though broke ranks, took the ones and twos and then ruthlessly attacked CSK's pacers towards the end. Karthik and Rawat then thumped Deshpande for a huge 25 runs with the help of three maximums in the 18th over. Rawat stitched a 95-run stand off 50 deliveries with Karthik at a breakneck pace to guide RCB to 173/6 in 20 overs. Brief score: Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 173/6 (Anuj Rawat 48, Dinesh Karthik 38*; Mustafizur Rahman 4-29) vs Chennai Super Kings: 176/4 (Rachin Ravindra 37, Shivam Dube 34*, Cameron Green 2/27).
—ANI

CSK starts the IPL 2024 with a win under Ruturaj Gaikwad. Mustafizur's 4 wickets and knocks by Ravindra and Dube highlight the thrilling opener against RCB.

IPL 2024: All-round CSK start campaign with six-wicket win over RCB, Mustafizur shines with four-fer

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