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Bopanna reaches maiden Australian Open men’s doubles final

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On Thursday, at Rod Laver Arena, the second-seeded Indo-Aussie duo triumphed over Zhizhen and Machac with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) victory.

Updated On – 25 January 2024, 10:54 AM


Bopanna reaches maiden Australian Open men’s doubles final


Melbourne: A day after assuring the world no.1 rankings, Indian veteran tennis player Rohan Bopanna, partnering Australian Matthew Ebden, sailed into the Australian Open men’s doubles final after a win over Czech-Chinese pair of Tomas Machac and Zhizhen Zhang.

The second-seed Indo-Aussie pair defeated Zhizhen and Machac 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) at the Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.

In his 17th Australian Open appearance, the 43-year-old Indian has advanced to the men’s doubles finals at Melbourne Park for the first time. He had never previously progressed beyond the third round in a men’s doubles draw at the tournament.

Notably, Bopanna and Ebden reached their second consecutive Grand Slam final as a pair.

Bopanna and Ebden on Wednesday scored a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) quarterfinal victory against sixth-seeded Argentines Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni on Wednesday.

The triumph guarantees that Bopanna will rise to the top of the ATP Tour doubles rankings after the tournament, making him the oldest first-time world No.1 in history.

He will become the fourth Indian tennis player to reach world No. 1 in doubles after Olympic bronze medallist Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza.

Last year the Indian ace became the oldest man to qualify for a grand slam final in the Open era, when he and Ebden reached the US Open final. Bopanna additionally boasts the distinction of being the oldest player to clinch a men’s doubles title at a Masters event. This achievement was accomplished last year at the age of 43 when he, along with Ebden, emerged victorious at Indian Wells.

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Feels ‘amazing and incredible’ as World No. 1 in men’s doubles: Rohan Bopanna

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Bopanna secured a quarter-final victory on Wednesday, ensuring he becomes the oldest World No. 1 in ATP men’s doubles after the tournament.

Updated On – 25 January 2024, 09:50 AM


Feels ‘amazing and incredible’ as World No. 1 in men’s doubles: Rohan Bopanna


New Delhi: The Australian Open 2024 has been a remarkable tournament so far for Rohan Bopanna due to his exceptional form. Pairing with Matthew Ebden, the 43-year-old has reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time in his prolonged career.

To add to his extraordinary accolades, the quarter-final win over Argentinian duo Maximo Gonzalez & Andres Molteni on Wednesday assured Bopanna of becoming the oldest World No 1 in the ATP men’s doubles rankings after the end of the tournament.

In an interview with Sony Sports Network, Bopanna said that after being there in the sport, it was “absolutely amazing.” He added that Indian tennis needed this win.

“It feels absolutely amazing and incredible to be where I am today, especially after 20 years of being in the sport and constantly trying to achieve at the highest level. Indian tennis needed this. While watching sports, you always had idols growing up and someone who inspired you. I hope my reaching the No 1 position inspires someone back home. With all the support I have received in the last two decades, this is something I have to give back to the entire nation,” Bopanna said.

Earlier, India’s No 1 singles star Sumit Nagal was also on an inspiring run, which saw him reach the second round of the Australian Open 2024, ending the country’s 34-year wait to beat a seeded player in the singles main draw. Now that Bopanna is rewriting history in men’s doubles by reaching the No 1 position for the first time, Indian tennis fans have more than a reason to celebrate and cherish the tournament.
He further added that tennis is a sport with talented youngsters who need support to shine in the future.

“I think every fan deserves the credit. Indian tennis deserves a lot more credit. It’s a sport with a lot of talented youngsters who need support to make it to the big stage. Today is a wonderful day to start this journey and I hope lots and lots of Indian players reach the highest level in tennis,” he added.

The Bopanna-Ebden duo will lock horns against Zhang Zhizhen and Tomas Machac in the Australian Open 2024 semi-final at the Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.

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I have not announced retirement: Mary Kom

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Reports earlier quoted her as saying that due to the age cut off of 40 years for amateur boxers, she has been forced to retire.

Updated On – 25 January 2024, 09:55 AM


I have not announced retirement: Mary Kom

Mary Kom. Source: IANS

New Delhi: Olympic bronze-medallist and six-time boxing world champion M C Mary Kom on Thursday refuted reports that she has announced retirement.

The 41-year-old, who is already past the age eligibility to compete on the amateur circuit, said she still hasn’t made any formal announcement of calling it quits.

“I haven’t announced retirement yet and I have been misquoted. I will personally come in front of media whenever I want to announce it. I have gone through some media reports stating that I have announced retirement and this is not true,” the Manipuri flyweight (51kg) category boxer asserted in a statement to PTI.

Reports earlier quoted her as saying that due to the age cut off of 40 years for amateur boxers, she has been forced to retire.

“I was attending a school in event in Dibrugarh (Assam) on 24 January 2024 wherein I was motivating children and I said ‘I still have hunger of achieving in sports but age limit in Olympics doesn’t allow me to participate though I can carry on with my sport’,” she said.

“I am still focusing on my fitness and whenever I will announce retirement I will inform everyone. Please do correct this,” she added.

Mary Kom has not been seen in action since her pre-quarterfinal loss in the Tokyo Olympics, which was her last appearance at the quadrennial showpiece.

Her future has been intensely speculated ever since given that she has refrained from taking the professional plunge where there is no age bar.

She is unarguably one of the most decorated Indian sportspersons of all time with six asian titles along with her half a dozen world gold medals.

The mother of four is a Khel Ratna awardee and also served as a Rajya Sabha MP.

She was bestowed with the country’s second highest civillian award — the Padma Vibhushan — in 2020.

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England chooses to bat first after winning toss in 1st Test against India

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Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, has already mentioned that they are not concerned about the way England plays. However, he emphasized that the narrative of the five-match series will revolve around ‘Bazball’ against spin.

Published Date – 25 January 2024, 09:40 AM


England chooses to bat first after winning toss in 1st Test against India


Hyderabad: Ben Stokes’ England won the toss and decided to bat first against Rohit Sharma-led India in the first Test match of the five-game series at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday.

India skipper Rohit Sharma already stated that the way England plays isn’t their concern but the story of the five-match series will be ‘Bazball’ against spin.

The last time England ended with a series win on Indian soil was in 2012 when Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen batted to perfection but the series fell in the visitors’ favour because of Monty Panesar, Graeme Swann and James Anderson’s heroics with the ball.

Since then only Australia managed to almost draw a Test series on Indian soil in 2016/17. While the spin against ‘Bazball’ will unfold, India batter Shubman Gill will find himself in the spotlight as he looks to establish himself in the No. 3 spot, which belonged to Cheteshwar Pujara till 2023.

“We are gonna have a bat. It’s typical conditions in India. The preparation has been really good. We know the challenge, India is a successful side. We have Hartley making his debut, Rehan has played only one side, but they have a good leader in Leach. Woody is that X-factor bowler,” Stokes said at the toss.

On the other hand, Rohit said, “We would have batted as well. Looks dry. Whether we bowl or bat first, we have the skills and we got the guys to do the job. A good series, I am playing for the first time a five-match series. We have played in these conditions before. We know what to do, it’s all about executing your skills. We’ve got three spinners and two seamers. It was a tough one (to leave Kuldeep Yadav) Axar has done well and bats really well in these conditions. Probably the reason we went with Axar.”

England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes (Wk), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, Jack Leach.

India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikar Bharat (Wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

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Australian Open: Novak Djokovic posts hilarious post praising Bopanna

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Novak Djokovic praising the veteran wrote on Instagaram, ‘Amazing effort. And to do it as such young age even more impressive.”

Published Date – 24 January 2024, 11:30 PM


Australian Open: Novak Djokovic posts hilarious post praising Bopanna


New Delhi: 10-time Australian Champion Novak Djokovic praised Indian veteran Rohan Bopanna who on Wednesday became the oldest World No. 1 men;s doubles with his partner Matt Ebden, at the age of 43 when the latest ATP rankings update will be released on Monday after the conclusion of the grand slam tournament.

Novak Djokovic praising the veteran wrote on Instagaram, ‘Amazing effort. And to do it as such young age even more impressive.”

The second-seed Indo-Aussie pair defeated the sixth-seed Argentine duo Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) at the Margret Court Arena to advance to semis of the Australian Open 2024.

The quarterfinal win propels Bopanna ahead of the current World No. 1, USA’s Austin Krajicek, in the ATP Rankings. Krajicek, alongside his Croatian partner Ivan Dodig, were bowed out in the second round.

Bopanna and Ebden will next take on the Czech-Chinese pair of Tomas Machac and Zhizhen Zhang in the semifinals. Previously on Tuesday, Novak Djokovic, the defending champion, endured a four-hour test in the scorching Melbourne heat, eventually overcoming Taylor Fritz 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Djokovic’s victory marked his 33rd consecutive Australian Open win, equalling Monica Seles’s record, and secured his spot in a staggering 48th Grand Slam semifinal.

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Pro Kabaddi League: Tamil Thalaivas dominate with 54-29 win over Telugu Titans

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Tamil Thalaivas’ Ajinkya Pawar and Narender continued their fine form collecting 11 and nine points respectively as captain Sagar amassed eight tackle points

Published Date – 24 January 2024, 11:25 PM


Pro Kabaddi League: Tamil Thalaivas dominate with 54-29 win over Telugu Titans

Players from Tamil Thalaivas and Telugu Titans in action.

Hyderabad: Tamil Thalaivas dished out a strong show in raiding and defending to clinch a 54-29 win over Telugu Titans on the last day of the Hyderabad leg of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 at Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Thalaivas’ Ajinkya Pawar and Narender continued their fine form collecting 11 and nine points respectively as captain Sagar amassed eight tackle points. The start of the game saw Titans skipper Pawan Sehrawat in the line-up anticipating ‘all good’ between coach Srinivas Reddy and himself after their last game fallout. The home side started the game slow but soon grabbed the first point by grounding in form Narender to open their account. Pawan collected a super raid to make it 4-3 for the Titans in the initial minutes.

The game was in balance in the opening 10 minutes with the score stood with the visitors leading by a point in a 7-6. But soon Titans crumbled and endured their first All Out with six minutes to interval and trailed 11-20 after the first half.

The home side found it hard to get going with a second All Out after six minutes into the second half as the visitors now lead 28-14. The disastrous night continued for Titans and as they endured another All Out with a score of 38-18 in the visitors’ favour.

The writing was on the wall for the Titans but Pawan collected a Super 10 in an embarrassing 25-point loss. The road ahead looks tough for the Hyderabad franchise as they ended the home leg with three defeats and one win languishing at bottom in the table.

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Need to play our best to stay unbeaten at home: Rohit Sharma

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I don’t think we are unbeatable. We don’t want to think like that. But whatever past records that we have over the last decade or so, do not guarantee that we will come out on top in this series, said Rohit

Published Date – 24 January 2024, 11:15 PM


Need to play our best to stay unbeaten at home: Rohit Sharma

Team India Captain Rohit Sharma speaking on the eve of the first Test match against England in Hyderabad. (Photo: Anand Dharmana)

Hyderabad: Captain Rohit Sharma is aware of the fact that India haven’t lost a Test series in the last 12 years at home but he says they need to play their best cricket to stay unbeaten against a quality side like England.

Speaking on the eve of the first Test, Rohit said that England are a very good side and pose a serious challenge. “I don’t think we are unbeatable. We don’t want to think like that. But whatever past records that we have over the last decade or so, do not guarantee that we will come out on top in this series. We have to play well to win this series,” said Rohit on Wednesday.

He also felt that the victory in their last Test against South Africa in Cape Town keeps the team in good stead. “The Cape Town win was good but this match is in Hyderabad. It is different conditions, different opposition. But yeah, that win has given us a lot of confidence and we can take that into this series.”

He also lauded the spin duo Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja who are set to play key role in India’s chances in the five-match series. “Ashwin is a champion bowler. He has performed for India in different conditions. He always puts the team ahead. He improved every time he stepped on to the field,” he added.

With Ashwin and Jadeja being the first two spinners, the third spinner slot is between Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav and the captain felt that it is a good headache to have. “Kuldeep gives that x-factor bowling in these conditions. He has improved a lot in recent times. He has good variations and has matured as a bowler. He is a tempting option. But Axar has also done well with his all-round abilities and has been performing consistently. It is a good headache to have,” he explained.

According to the Mumbaikar, the absence of Virat Kohli will give opportunities to youngsters who have been performing well in these conditions.

Meanwhile, England captain Ben Stokes felt that India are a very strong side in these conditions and they have all the bases covered. However, Stokes is not ready to go into the match with any preconceived notions about the pitch.

“We don’t want to go into the Test match with any preconceived ideas about the pitches. We have to adapt to the given conditions. As a captain I am pretty clear. Trying to exploit different situations. How to make the best use of the bowling attack I have. Having multiple options is always good,” Stokes said about his bowling attack.

“Any team that comes to India has a tougher challenge. We understand India’s strength but we look for opportunities, we have to take every opportunity head on, give ourselves the best chance to win the games,” Stokes explained.

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Nawaz Sharif claims Pak entered crisis following his removal from office

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Sharif pledged to bring about positive change in Nankana Sahib, outlining plans to transform the city into a model with the establishment of a boy’s degree college and a state-of-the-art cricket stadium.

Published Date – 24 January 2024, 10:39 PM


Nawaz Sharif claims Pak entered crisis following his removal from office

File photo

Nankana Sahib: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif asserted that Pakistan faced a crisis following his ouster from the prime minister’s office, ARY News reported.

In a public gathering at Nankana Sahib, Sharif questioned the rationale behind imprisoning a prime minister who played a pivotal role in making Pakistan a nuclear state. He alleged that five judges removed him from office for not accepting a salary from his son, leading to subsequent economic challenges in the country, as reported by ARY News.

Sharif pledged to bring about positive change in Nankana Sahib, outlining plans to transform the city into a model with the establishment of a boy’s degree college and a state-of-the-art cricket stadium.

Earlier on January 16th, Maryam Nawaz, another prominent figure in PML-N, promised to revive halted development projects in Lahore once the party assumed power. Speaking at a public rally in PP-159 Gajomata, where she is contesting the election, Maryam assured the public that the interrupted development initiatives under Nawaz Sharif’s leadership would be reinstated.

Maryam urged voters not to support candidates who contributed to the pause in development projects. The PML-N released its final list of candidates for the upcoming general elections, fielding contenders for 212 National Assembly seats while refraining from contesting 51 seats.

Notably, the Pak election campaigns are in full swing with leaders such as Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz, and other PML-N representatives actively engaging with the public. Meanwhile, PML-N officially announced that its party manifesto would be revealed on January 27.

The manifesto, developed by a committee led by Senator Irfan Siddique, aims to articulate the party’s vision for the nation, ARY News reported.

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WPL: Season 2 to kick off on February 23 in Bengaluru

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This season, the WPL 2024 promises an electrifying lineup of single-header matches, all set to kick off at 7:30 PM IST, providing fans with prime-time cricket entertainment.

Published Date – 24 January 2024, 10:16 PM


WPL: Season 2 to kick off on February 23 in Bengaluru


Mumbai: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the full schedule for the much-anticipated second season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024. With Bengaluru and Delhi stepping up as the host cities, the league will start from February 23 to March 17, 2024, for a thrilling cricket extravaganza.

The battleground for the initial 11 games will be Bengaluru’s iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where teams will lock horns in fierce competition. Subsequently, the action will shift to the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, which will host the remaining nine league encounters along with the two crucial playoff clashes.

This season, the WPL 2024 promises an electrifying lineup of single-header matches, all set to kick off at 7:30 PM IST, providing fans with prime-time cricket entertainment.

The league will witness five formidable teams battling it out for supremacy, each eager to secure their spot in the highly anticipated final.

The opening clash on February 23 will set the tone for the season as the reigning champions, Mumbai Indians, square off against the formidable runners-up from the previous campaign, Delhi Capitals.

The cricketing spectacle continues with Royal Challengers Bangalore making their home debut at Chinnaswamy Stadium, facing off against the UP Warriorz. Adding to the intrigue, the Gujarat Giants will commence their campaign against the formidable Mumbai Indians in the third match of the season.

As the action unfolds in Delhi from March 5, the home side, Delhi Capitals, will take on the Mumbai Indians, offering fans an opportunity to witness their favorites in action at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Delhi will witness daily clashes until March 13, marking the culmination of the league phase of the tournament.

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Rashmikaa-Vaidehi enter quarterfinals of Women World Tennis Tour

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Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty and her partner Vaidehi Choudhari fought hard to beat Victoria Moravayova of Slovakia and Tina Nadine Smith of Australia 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 to enter into quarterfinals

Published Date – 24 January 2024, 09:00 PM


Rashmikaa-Vaidehi enter quarterfinals of Women World Tennis Tour

Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty and her partner Vaidehi Choudhari in action in Pune on Wednesday.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad tennis player Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty and her partner Vaidehi Choudhari marched into quarterfinals of the Women World Tennis Tour W50 Pune NECC-DECCAN $40K Women’s Tournament in Pune on Wednesday.

In the pre-quarterfinal clash, the duo fought hard to beat Victoria Moravayova of Slovakia and Tina Nadine Smith of Australia 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 to enter into the last eight stage of the competition.

In the opening round of the singles clash, Rashmikaa eased past Eri Shimizu of Japan 6-3, 6-2 to move into the second round.

Results: Double’s pre-quarterfinals: Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty/Vaidehi Choudhari bt Victoria Moravayova (SVK) & Tina Nadine Smith (AUS) 6-3, 5-7 , 10-8

Singles first round: Shrivalli Rashmikaa bt Eri Shimizu (JPN) 6-3, 6-2.