Category: Sport

Star badminton players Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap have withdrawn from the Denmark Open. The Super 750 tournament, which is expected to signal the restart of the sport’s international calendar, is set to played from October 13 to 18 in Odense.

“Yes, we have pulled out of the tournament,” Kashyap, husband of Saina, told IANS. Saina pulling out of the tournament means that there would be no Indian participation in the women’s singles event, as reigning world champion PV Sindhu had pulled out in September.

The Indian squad for the Denmark Open now comprises former world No.1 Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen, Ajay Jayaram, and Shubhankar Dey.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) had earlier intended the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup team events to mark the restart of the badminton calendar, but the tournaments were cancelled after several countries pulled out due to safety concerns arising out of the Covid pandemic. The BWF also cancelled the Denmark Masters, which was set to start two days after the end of the Denmark Open.

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Over 200 member associations across all confederations have signed up for FIFA’s first-ever Talent Development Programme. The list comprises, among others, the current men’s and women’s world champions, France and the USA respectively, as well as member associations that have never qualified for a FIFA tournament.

Launched in January 2020 by FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger, the programme aims to provide member associations with a thorough analysis of their high-performance ecosystem in both men’s and women’s football, including all national teams, domestic leagues, scouting projects and academies.

“The success of the programme will be based on good communication and a precise analysis of the needs of every member association so that we can deliver a report and provide tailor-made support,” said Wenger.

“We also want to create opportunities, for example through best practice models, in which member associations can learn from each other and have the possibility to think outside of the box and their own environment,” the legendary former Arsenal manager added.

According to FIFA, a group of 30 FIFA experts, including former USA women’s national team coach April Heinrichs, ex-England manager Steve McClaren and former Premier League Director of Football Development Ged Roddy, have been replacing their on-site visits with remote assessments and – based on online surveys and interviews – will produce a report for each of the member associations, thus mapping their technical ecosystems.

In 2021, FIFA will focus on the implementation of tailor-made technical programmes for each member association with a view to tackling potential challenges and maximising the comparative advantages that each association possesses.

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Mumbai Indians (MI) on Tuesday beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 57 runs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Suryakumar Yadav (79 not out) and Jasprit Bumrah (4/20) starred with bat and ball as MI scored 193/4 wkts in 20 overs and then dismissed RR for 136 in 18.1 overs.

Trent Boult struck with the second ball of the RR innings, swinging the ball away from Yashasvi Jaiswal and getting a nick off him as it flew to wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock. Bumrah then dismissed RR captain Steve Smith for six and Boult then sent back the dangerous Sanju Samson for a duck to reduce MI to 12/3 in the third over.

Mahipal Lomror and Jos Buttler then ensured that RR lost no more wickets in the powerplay. But the former was dismissed in the ninth over, thanks to a screamer of a catch from substitute fielder Anukul Roy.

Jos Buttler kept RR in the chase before he departed for another stunning catch, this time by Kieron Pollard in the 14th over. RR were 98/5 at the time and they crumbled in the next four overs.

Earlier, 30-year-old Suryakumar Yadav hit 11 fours and two sixes, one of which was off Jofra Archer after he was hit in the head by a bouncer off the previous delivery by the English bowler.

MI were buoyed by a good start provided by openers Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock before the latter became Kartik Tyagi’s debut IPL wicket in the fifth over. The opening partnership produced 49 runs.

Suryakumar then anchored the innings but MI kept losing wickets at the other end. Hardik Pandya, however, stuck with him and the pair blazed 76 runs in just 38 balls to propel MI close to the 200-run mark. He smashed 76 runs in just 38 balls to propel MI close to the 200-run mark.

Brief scores: MI 193/4 wkts in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 79 not out, Rohit Sharma 35; Shreyas Gopal 2/28) beat RR 136 all out in 18.1 overs (Jos Buttler 70, Jofra Archer 24; Jasprit Bumrah 4/20) by 57 runs

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Premier League club Manchester United have announced the signing of striker Edinson Cavani and Facundo Pellistri.

While Cavani has joined the club on a one-year contract with the option to extend for a further year, Pellistri has signed a five-year contract with United, with an option to extend for a another 12 months.

“Manchester United is one of the greatest clubs in the world, so it is a real honour to be here. I’ve worked really hard during the time off and I feel eager to compete and represent this incredible club,” Cavani was quoted as saying by the club’s official website.

Cavani, who has won the Golden Boot in both Ligue 1 and Serie A, has scored 341 goals at club level since moving to Europe in 2007, including 35 in the UEFA Champions League. The forward won six league titles with Paris Saint-Germain and, with 200 goals, is their all-time leading scorer. Internationally, Cavani won the Copa America in 2011 and has found the net 50 times in 116 appearances for Uruguay.

Pellistri, on the other hand, has already featured 37 times for the Uruguayan Primera Division club’s first team –Atletico Penarol.

“I am coming into a squad full of great players who I will learn from every day. Everyone knows that Manchester United is a club that gives young players an opportunity and I am ready to work hard every day to earn those chances and prove myself in England,” the 18-year-old said.

Manchester United are currently placed at the 16th spot in the ongoing season and are slated next to take on Newcastle United on October 17.

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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Wasim Khan says that India-Pakistan bilateral cricket is not likely to restart in the near future. He also said that Pakistan cricket has a lot to look forward to without worrying about playing India.

“My message to fans and followers of Pakistan cricket is that we have achieved a lot so far and there is still a lot of hard work ahead, but Pakistan cricket has a lot to look forward to without worrying about playing India [in bilateral series],” Khan told PakPassion.net in an interview.

“The BCCI have to get government of India’s permission before they play Pakistan and that’s a fact. So, based on that and the current regime in power, their outlook on life and their opinions on certain matters, including their views on Pakistan, it is highly unlikely that in the near future Pakistan will play India,” he said.

Khan said that the PCB was looking to become self-sustainable without worrying about a bilateral series against India and the recent deal it signed with PTV is a step in that direction.

“We just signed a deal with PTV and cable operators which will generate $200m over the next three years and it’s very important that we as a Board become self-sustainable and that is something we are working on, so that the PCB is in a position to invest in the right areas,” he said.

“We will continue to play India in ICC tournaments but in terms of bilateral cricket I don’t think it’s going to happen any time soon. We have got a lot to look forward to in the next two years and I think we need to focus on the amount of cricket which is coming up. We also have three World Cups in the next three years, and we have four of the biggest cricket nations coming to play in Pakistan.”

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South African speedster Kagiso Rabada picked four wickets for 24 runs to bowl Delhi Capitals (DC) to a 59-run win over Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and move the team to the top of the points table here on Monday.

DC now have eight points from five games, ahead of Mumbai Indians and RCB who are on six points each.

Rabada’s haul included the wicket of Kohli (43), who was the lone man fighting after RCB had lost the rest of the top-order that struggled to increase to keep the scoring rate high in chase of 197.

Apart from Rabada, pace bowler Anrich Nortje and left-arm spinner Axar Patel took two wickets each.

Earlier, Marcus Stoinis’s quick half century helped DC post a challenging 196 for four wickets in 20 overs.

Stoinis (53 off 26 balls) put on 89 runs with Rishabh Pant for the fourth wicket in 6.5 overs as the duo took charge after RCB had claimed quick wickets to peg DC back following a strong start provided by Prithvi Shaw (42 off 23 balls) and Shikhar Dhawan (32 off 28 balls).

Shaw and Dhawan put on 68 in just over six overs for the first wicket. However, three wickets over the next 30 balls with the addition of just 22 runs brought RCB back.

Stoinis survived an early chance with bowler Yuzvendra Chahal dropping him off his own bowling. After that he clobbered the RCB bowlers, hitting six fours and two sixes. Between the 13th and 17th overs, RCB scored 59 runs.

Brief scores:

Delhi Capitals 196/4 wkts in 20 overs (M Stoinis 53 not out, P Shaw 42, R Pant 37, M Siraj 2/34) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 137/9 in 20 overs (V Kohli 43, K Rabada 4/24, A Patel 2/18, A Nortje 2/22)

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Delhi Capitals’ experienced leg-spinner Amit Mishra has been ruled out for the rest of the IPL season due to an injury to his bowling hand.

The veteran cricketer, who has played in all 13 seasons and has a tally of 160 wickets, the second highest in league history, sustained a flexor tendon injury to the right finger of his right hand while attempting to take a return catch of Kolkata Knight Riders’ Nitish Rana on Saturday.

Mishra, who has three hat-tricks in IPL, has played three games this season, picking up three wickets. He could bowl just two overs in the game against KKR due to the injury.

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Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich have announced the signing of midfielder Marc Roca from Espanyol. The 23-year-old has joined on a contract until 2025.

“We’re very happy to have signed Marc Roca. He’s an outstanding fit for our team both as a player and a person, and will continue to develop here with us. We’re sure he’ll add great value to our team,” said board member for sport Hasan Salihamidzic in a statement on Sunday.

Roca made 121 competitive appearances for Spanish side Espanyol, scoring three goals. In summer 2019, he won the U21 Euros with Spain. He will wear the number 22 for Bayern.

“I’m very happy. This is a dream come true for me. I think FC Bayern is the best club in the world and has strong tradition. I’m really looking forward to wearing the colours of this great club,” said Roca.

Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski ensured Bayern defeated a resilient Hertha Berlin 4-3 on Sunday evening in the closing game of the third round in the ongoing Bundesliga season. Bayern took the lead twice, but Hertha never gave up and rallied back before Lewandowski’s fourth goal of the game secured all three points at home.

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Experienced defender Rupinder Pal Singh feels the COVID-19 induced lockdown period helped the Indian men’s hockey team develop their technical knowledge about the game and also up their skill.

“I always like to see positive side to any scenario and I truly feel the series of lockdowns helped us develop our technical knowledge base. We would watch a lot of videos, analyse matches, discuss video referrals etc while we remained indoors with no hockey allowed,” Rupinder said.

“We have also studied our opponents during this period and all these aspects will be beneficial for us in our preparations for the Olympic Games,” he added.

He further stated that going back to basics when activities resumed in the national coaching camp has helped perfect their skills.

“We have paid a lot of attention to basics when we resumed activities in SAI, Bengaluru. I believe this has helped the entire group perfect our skills. We will be increasing intensity this month onwards and we have built a solid base to take greater work load in the coming months,” said Rupinder.

One of the other factors that Rupinder believes has helped the men’s team in particular is having events in India.

“I feel Hockey India hosting back-to-back events in India has also been a contributing factor to our performance. Playing in front of home crowd is not just an incredible feeling but there’s also a lot of pressure to perform,” explained the drag flicker who has been part of some of India’s significant victories such as the 2014 Asian Games, Asian Champions Trophy in 2011 and 2016.

“This exposure obviously helps us face greater challenges when we play abroad. Playing in India also increases our fan-base, gets newer spectators to watch the sport and people end up following us when we travel abroad too,” he added.

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Six of the world’s oldest footraces have been awarded the Heritage Plaque by World Athletics.

The road races are Around the Bay Road Race, Hamilton, Ontario- founded 1894, YMCA Turkey Trot, Buffalo, New York – founded 1896, Bechovice 10k, Prague – founded 1897, Giro Podistico di Castelbuono, Castelbuono, Sicily – founded 1912, Kosice Peace Marathon, Kosice – founded 1924 and Fukuoka International Open Marathon Championship, Fukuoka – founded 1947.

These road races join a list of 54 other recipients which had previously been awarded the plaque since the honour was inaugurated on December 2, 2018.

The World Athletics Heritage Plaque is a location-based recognition, awarded for “an outstanding contribution to the worldwide history and development of the sport of track and field athletics and of out-of-stadia athletics disciplines such as cross country, mountain, road, trail and ultra-running, and race walking”.

“These six footraces represent some of the oldest sports events, let alone running races, in the world,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.

“Together these races ooze athletics history. They represent what running is truly about: the record-breaking feats of the many great champions and the personal triumphs of the countless recreational and charity runners. We should also not forget the dedication and hard work of the officials and volunteers of the local clubs and organising committees which have kept these historic events on the roads for decades,” he added.

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