Carlos Alcaraz has admitted to being starstruck when he first faced Rafael Nadal, saying that facing the 22-time Grand Slam champion was “kind of a nightmare.” Speaking in Berlin on Thursday ahead of the Laver Cup, the 21-year-old Alcaraz reflected on his on-court battles with fellow Spaniard Nadal. “It was a huge thing when I played him for the first time,” said the World No. 3. “The other times for me were kind of a nightmare.” Also Read: Gauff splits with coach Gilbert Alcaraz already has four Grand Slam titles, winning his first at the 2022 US Open in the same year Nadal won his most recent major at the French Open. Nadal, 38, was set to take the court alongside Alcaraz in Berlin, but pulled out due to his continued struggles with injury. “Playing against Rafa is always tough. Every time for me it was a privilege to share the court,” added Alcaraz. “Every time I faced him, I tried to be a good enough player to beat him.” There was speculation Nadal may retire from the sport at the Laver Cup, as great rival Roger Federer had done two years ago, but he is set to continue. Alcaraz will play doubles alongside German Alexander Zverev for Team Europe, with their first clash coming against Americans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton for Team World. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 September,2024 08:09 AM IST | Berlin | AFPCoco Gauff, last year’s US Open champion, and coach Brad Gilbert announced on Wednesday they have split after 14 months together. The move comes after the 20-year-old American was ousted in the round of 16 at Wimbledon, the Paris Olympics, the WTA Toronto event and the US Open and in her first match at Cincinnati in her last Open tuneup. Also Read: McLaren’s Norris on C’ship race: It’s Verstappen’s title to lose “Thank you @bgtennisnation ! We had an incredible run and I wish you all the best in the future!” Gauff posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Sixth-ranked Gauff won last year at Washington and Cincinnati before capturing her first Grand Slam title at the US Open, becoming the first teen champion in New York since Serena Williams in 1999. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 September,2024 08:07 AM IST | New York | AFPLando Norris declared Thursday he has “nothing to lose” as he aims to close the Formula One world title gap on Max Verstappen at this week’s Singapore Grand Prix. McLaren driver Norris, who carved his way past Verstappen to fourth place after starting 15th on the grid at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last week, is hunting down Red Bull’s triple world champion at the top of the drivers’ standings. Also Read: Shuttler Bansod storms into maiden Super 1000 quarter-finals Verstappen’s lead has been cut to 59 points with seven grands prix and three sprints to go, leaving a maximum of 207 points up for grabs. McLaren are the new favourites for the team title, having opened up a 20-point lead on Red Bull, but Norris believes the drivers’ championship is still in Verstappen’s hands. “It’s still for him [Verstappen] to lose, not for me,” Englishman Norris told reporters in the paddock ahead of Sunday’s Singapore night race. “I’m still the one who has got nothing to lose.” Dutchman Verstappen won seven of the first 10 races this season but he has not triumphed in the last seven as McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes have all taken race wins. “If you go back to the beginning of the year, Red Bull were still dominant,” noted Norris. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 September,2024 08:05 AM IST | Singapore | AFPYoung India shuttler Malvika Bansod continued her fine form as she cruised to her maiden Super 1000 quarter-final after eking out a hard-fought victory against higher-ranked Kristy Gilmour in the China Open here on Thursday. Also Read: Nagal demanded fee of Rs 45 lakh to play for India: AITA Malvika, ranked 43rd, toiled hard for one hour and five minutes before pulling off a 21-17, 19-21, 21-16 win over the two-time Commonwealth Games medallist and World No. 25 from Scotland. “This is the first time I will play a quarter-final of a Super 1000 tournament so it is a dream come true,” Malvika said after the match. “I dreamt about this before the tournament that how would it be if I reached the quarters and now I’m top 8, so it’s great,” she added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 September,2024 08:02 AM IST | Changzhou (China) | PTIThe All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Thursday claimed that Sumit Nagal demanded an annual fee of USD 50,000 (approx Rs 45 lakh) to play Davis Cup ties for India, but the country’s top singles player defended himself, saying it is “standard practice” for athletes to be paid for their services. Nagal had opted out of the recent Davis Cup tie against Sweden, citing a back strain that also forced him out of the US Open men’s doubles competition last month. It was India’s best chance to beat Sweden in their own backyard but competing without a singles specialist, the team received a 0-4 hammering. Packed with doubles players and debutants, the team could not even win a set in the World Group I tie. Also Read: Travis Head steers Australia to seven-wicket win over England in 1st ODI AITA, on Tuesday, made its displeasure clear by saying that the country’s top players, including Nagal, Yuki Bhambri and Sasikumar Mukund, refused national duty. Nagal had entered the ATP 250 Hangzhou Open and was scheduled to play on Thursday but withdrew citing the same back issue. “You tell me why should a player be asking for money to play for the country. This is a big question. He had demanded an annual fee of USD 50,000 [approx R45 lakh] and said if he is not paid, he will not play,” Anil Dhupar told PTI. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 September,2024 08:00 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIComplete squad analysis of Bengaluru Bulls ahead of Pro Kabaddi League Season 11. Know the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the Bulls in PKL 11. Excerpt: PKL 11 will see the Bulls continue with head coach Randhir Singh Sehrawat, who has been with the team since Season 1 and is the league’s longest-serving coach. Buoyed by an arsenal of seasoned raiders, Bengaluru Bulls seek a return to the playoffs in PKL 11 Champions of Season 6 of the Pro Kabaddi League, Bengaluru Bulls will be keen to once again get their hands on the PKL title after missing out in the last four campaigns. They made the playoffs in three of the last four seasons but missed out on a berth in the Playoffs in Season 10. Bengaluru Bulls, in fact, have reached the Playoffs in six out of the 10 PKL seasons so far. Their sole PKL triumph came in Season 6, while they’ve also finished runners-up in Season 2 once, besides making four other Playoff appearances. Season 11 will see Bengaluru Bulls continue with head coach Randhir Singh Sehrawat, who has been with the franchise since the inaugural edition of PKL and is the league’s longest-serving coach. Also Read: IN PHOTOS: Afghanistan script history with first ever win over South Africa Active at the Season 11 Player Auction table, Bengaluru Bulls finished the two-day event with a squad that has plenty of exciting talents. Their new-look raiding unit, in particular, will strike fear in opposition defensive units and here we take a closer look at their squad, assessing their strengths and weaknesses ahead of the new campaign. Strengths The Bulls purchased Pardeep Narwal for INR 70 lakhs and Ajinkya Pawar for INR 1.107 crores at the Season 11 Player Auction, strengthening the team’s raiding unit. While Pardeep Narwal is the highest-scoring raider in PKL history with 1,690 raid points, Ajinkya Pawar has accumulated 454 raid points over the years. Pardeep Narwal, who made his PKL debut with the Bulls in Season 2, will be hoping to return to his best after a few underwhelming seasons. He can expect solid support from Ajinkya Pawar, who was the seventh most-expensive player in the Season 11 Player Auction and has averaged more than 100 raid points in the last three seasons. Raider Jai Bhagwan is another exciting attacking addition to the Bulls’ squad after being bought for INR 63 lakhs. He has managed 122 raid points in two seasons and will be eager to make an impact with the Bulls in the upcoming campaign. Furthermore, their retained raiders like Sushil and Akshit enhance their attacking depth. While Sushil managed 100 raid points last season, Akshit scored 61 raid points. Weaknesses It will be interesting to see how Bengaluru Bulls’ defence rises to the challenge in Season 11. Captain Surabh Nandal is the only established defender in the Bengaluru Bulls squad and he will be entrusted to lead the defence from the front in the new campaign. However, Saurabh Nandal, who has managed 246 tackle points in his PKL career, will need defensive support from what seems to be an inexperienced defensive unit on paper. The likes of Parteek, Arulnanthababu and Rohit Kumar have all competed in one season of PKL and have collectively accumulated 46 tackle points. Needless to say, the aforementioned defensive trio will need to raise their game in Season 11 along with Ponparthiban Subramanian, who has scored 40 tackle points over four seasons. Opportunities After missing out on Season 10 due to injury, the upcoming campaign will serve as the perfect opportunity for all-rounder Nitin Rawal to make up for lost time. An explosive player who can be a menace on both ends of the mat on his day, Nitin Rawal has amassed 142 raid points and 94 tackle points in his PKL career. His defensive ability will be crucial to the fortunes of Bengaluru Bulls as they seem slightly short in defence. Bought for INR 13 lacs at the Player Auction, how Nitin Rawal fares alongside fellow all-rounder Chandranaik M will go a long way in determining how the Bulls’ season progresses. Known to be a robust tackler, Chandranaik M’s defensive contributions could prove to be vital for the Bulls. Threats A lot of how the Bengaluru Bulls’ season unfolds could also depend on Pardeep Narwal’s form. The Dubki King hasn’t enjoyed the best of outings in his last few campaigns but will be hoping to turn things around under the tutelage of head coach Randhir Singh Sehrawat, who gave Pardeep his PKL debut. If Pardeep does rediscover his form, the Bulls can expect a solid season. However, should Pardeep struggle, the lack of a distinct main raider in the team might be a concern, as none of Ajinkya Pawar, Jai Bhagwan, Sushil, or Akshit have the experience of consistently being a lead raider or the know-how to handle the expectations and pressure associated with that role. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
19 September,2024 02:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Indian hockey team extended its dominance over the Asian Champions Trophy by winning it for a record fifth time, beating China in the final at Hulunbuir, China, on Tuesday. India began the tournament beating China 3-0 after which they routed Japan 5-1 and hammered Malaysia 8-1. They then beat South Korea 3-1 followed by a 2-1 win over Pakistan. In the semi-finals too, Harmanpreet Singh & Co were dominant and bagged a 3-1 victory over South Korea. However, the same can’t be said about the final. Also Read: Harmalkar wins MCA Apex Council seat India skipper Harmanpreet Singh with the Asian Champions Trophy and his Player of the Tournament award. Pic/Harmanpreet@Instagram In fact, World No. 5 India, the defending champions and reigning Olympic bronze medallists, were far from dominant against World No. 23 China in the summit clash. With the forwardline comprising Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Uttam Singh and Araijeet Singh Hundal found wanting, the Indian defence stepped in to do the goal-scoring job. And fortunately for the visitors, with just nine minutes left for the final whistle, Harmanpreet found his deep defence partner Jugraj Singh inside the Chinese danger area and the latter scored the tournament-winning goal. Harmanpreet, who was adjudged Player of the Tournament for his seven goals and astute leadership, admitted that the Chinese players made things tough in the final for his visiting side. “China surprised us in the final. They played extremely well. They defended very well too, and they were extremely quick in their counter-attacks as well. They also made it harder for our forwards to enter their striking circle, with three-four defenders marking each player closely. I must congratulate them,” Harmanpreet, who has been shortlisted for FIH’s Player-of-the-Year Award for scoring 10 goals at the Paris Olympics, told mid-day on Wednesday. The skipper mentioned two more factors that may have contributed to the Chinese team performing as well as they did. “The crowd support here would have definitely motivated them. It was a full house and the match was befitting of a final. It was really intense. The Chinese players were breathing down our necks throughout. Their coach Jin Jin Seung, who is from Korea, has done very well with this this team in a very short period of time,” added Harmanpreet.
19 September,2024 08:00 AM IST | China | Ashwin FerroIndian weightlifters have delivered an extraordinary performance at the 2024 Youth, Junior, and Senior (Men & Women) Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships, securing an impressive tally of 11 gold and three silver medals to date. This remarkable achievement underscores the nation’s growing prowess in the sport and highlights the dedication and talent of its athletes. Among the standout performers, Babulal Hembrom has etched his name in history by establishing both a Commonwealth and national record in the 49kg Youth Men’s category. His exceptional lift of 114kg in the clean-and-jerk segment not only demonstrates his remarkable strength but also sets a new benchmark for future competitors. Mina Santa has also made waves in the championships, shattering the national record in the 55kg Youth Women’s category. Her outstanding performance includes an impressive 81kg lift in the snatch and a 99kg effort in the clean-and-jerk, culminating in a total aggregate of 180kg. This achievement not only showcases her individual talent but also reinforces the potential of Indian athletes on the international stage. Similarly, Bedabarat Bharali has distinguished himself by setting national records in both the snatch and clean-and-jerk within the 73kg Youth Men’s category. His combined efforts resulted in an aggregate lift of 200kg, further exemplifying the high standards that Indian weightlifters are reaching. Among the gold medalists, a host of talented athletes have emerged, including Jyoshna Sabar, Akanksha Vyavahare, Ashmita Dhone, Bhargavi B, A Maharajan, V Kishor, T Madhavan, and Bolo Yalam, to name a few. Each of these athletes has contributed to the country’s impressive medal tally, highlighting the depth of talent within the Indian weightlifting community. Also Read: No lift kara do for these girls As the championships continue, the excitement surrounding these young athletes is palpable. Their success not only brings pride to their families and coaches but also inspires the next generation of weightlifters in India. The dedication, perseverance, and hard work that these athletes have demonstrated serve as a testament to the rigorous training and support systems in place. The championship is set to conclude on September 21, and with the momentum that Indian weightlifters have gained, there is anticipation that more records may be broken and additional medals may be secured in the final days of competition. The determination of these athletes reflects a bright future for Indian weightlifting on both the Commonwealth and global stages. In summary, the 2024 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships have provided a platform for Indian athletes to shine. Their achievements, marked by record-breaking lifts and a significant medal haul, underscore the nation’s growing prominence in the sport. As we look forward to the conclusion of this event, there is no doubt that the remarkable performances witnessed thus far will inspire countless others to pursue excellence in weightlifting. (With agency inputs)
18 September,2024 07:20 PM IST | Suva (Fiji) | mid-day online correspondentThe All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Tuesday suggested that the country's top player Sumit Nagal perhaps deliberately missed the Davis Cup tie against Sweden last week, claiming that he was injured but is now set to play an ATP tournament in China. India were hammered 0-4 by Sweden and AITA secretary Anil Dhupar said absence of top players like Nagal and Yuki Bhambri in the squad hurt the national team's chances of doing well in the World Group I contest in Stockholm. Skipper Rohit Rajpal fielded doubles players N Sriram Balaji in the opening singles. Ramkumar Ramanathan was the only experienced player in the squad and two of the other three -- Aryan Shah and Siddharth Vishwakarma -- were debutants. Niki Pooancha, who is just one-tie old, also largely focusses on doubles. So effectively, India had just one singles player. Nagal had opted out of the tie saying that he had some back issue while Yuki did not specify why he chose not to play. Nagal has entered the ATP250 event in Hangzhou and is drawn to meet a Qualifier in his opening round. "Definitely if Sumit and Yuki had played, we would have had far better chances. They questioned the management of AITA, the captain and team. Sumit Nagal said he had some back problem, but (is) that problem okay (now)? He is playing a tournament in China, so somebody has to make people understand the right thing," Dhupar said. Asked Mukund Sasikumar was already suspended by the AITA, Dhupar said despite that, captain Rajpal made efforts to get him on the team. "The captain called 10 times and that he will request the executive committee to revoke the decision (suspension). It's time for you to play. If there is a decision against you, he will request the executive committee. But he refused." After India's crushing defeat, Nagal and former players Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja had questioned the way AITA functions. Nagal had also questioned why AITA officials were standing in the front row while the players were in the back row ahead of the tie against Sweden. Also Read: Davis Cup: Sumit Nagal sustains back injury, pulls out of tie vs Sweden AITA also released a statement on its twitter handle, saying that Davis Cup is more than just tennis. "Representing India in Davis Cup is more than just tennis -- it's about honour, national pride and inspiring the next generation of athletes. Players like Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri and Mukund Sasikumar refused to play for country even though they were participating in other tournaments elsewhere. "AITA management, including the captain of the Davis Cup team, tried to convince each of them to play for country, but they simply refused," the tennis body said in its statement. PTI reached out to Nagal, Bhambri and Mukund but all three refused to comment. AITA also released a list of its work, saying it conducted as many as 829 tournaments for the benefit of the players in 2023 season. It also said that it conducted several courses to develop new coaches and that 130 new coaches had registered with the sports body in the 2024 season. Asked what point AITA was trying to make with this statement, Dhupar said, "I'm not trying to make any point. I'm trying that there are few things we have done. "There is one point that people should know. Number two, Davis Cup is definitely a very important. It's more than a tournament, every player who is an Indian should participate if selected. So why not? "He (Nagal) said that he had a back injury and now he has entered this Hangzhou Open. He has become alright. My good wishes to him. Let the country decide. Let the people of India decide," Dhupar said. "And it is not the first time that Mukund refused, three times before. Let the people decide, the players decide what can we do? We tried our best to bring these people on board. If they are not available, what to do?" Dhupar said that AITA was facing "unnecessary" criticism for the loss against Sweden. "The new committee is going to be coming in the first week of October. They will decide what is to be done." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 September,2024 09:38 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIDefending champions India eked out a fighting 1-0 win over hosts China to claim their fifth Hero Asian Champions Trophy hockey title here on Tuesday. Also Read: "It's our duty to bring best out of him": Rohit Sharma backs KL Rahul It was not easy for the favourites and Paris Olympics bronze medallist as they failed to break the Chinese defence in the first three quarters. Eventually, defender Jugraj Singh broke the deadlock as he scored a rare field goal in the 51st minute to hand his team the title. Earlier in the day, Pakistan defeated Korea 5-2 to claim the third spot in the six-team competition. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
17 September,2024 05:38 PM IST | Hulunbuir | PTIThe Scottish capital of Glasgow is set to be announced as the host city of a “scaled down” Commonwealth Games in 2026, a year after Australian state Victoria pulled out due to ballooning costs, according to reports. Also Read: Britain lose to Canada 1-2 The 2026 Commonwealth Games were to be held in multiple cities across Victoria but the Australian state made a shock announcement in July 2023 that it has pulled out of the multi-sport event citing a steep rise in expenditure. “Glasgow, which hosted the games in 2014, is now close to confirming a scaled down event featuring fewer sports,” the BBC reported. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 September,2024 08:23 AM IST | London | PTIADVERTISEMENT
