Months before the world was introduced to Rafael Nadal the professional tennis player, Rafael Nadal the fighter was already on show. Wimbledon champion Pat Cash was to play Boris Becker for an exhibition match in the Spanish island of Mallorca in 2001. Becker had to withdraw, and a 14-year-old local player was summoned as a last-minute scramble.
Let’s not bulldoze the kid, Cash thought. The kid beat the 36-year-old Aussie.
The only way Nadal knew to play tennis — no matter as a 14-year-old turning up for an exhibition — was to fight for every point, sprint from side to side, hustle from the baseline to the net and back. The only way Nadal knew to play tennis was to not give up at any point and for any point — not at 40-0 in the first game of the first set, not at 0-40 in the last game of the final set; not as a rising teen taking his first steps to greatness, not as a greying great well into his late-thirties.
But on Thursday, October 10, at age 38, Nadal, one of the greatest players to have graced the sport, decided that he no longer has it in him to play professional tennis.
In a video message posted on his social media, the Spaniard announced that he will retire after turning up one last time for his country at the Davis Cup Finals next month.
Yes, the King of Clay has called it a day, after all. The raging bull has decided to halt.
“It’s obviously a difficult decision, which has taken me a long time to make,” Nadal said in the video, speaking in Spanish. “I think it’s the appropriate time to put an end to what has been a long and much more successful career than I could have ever imagined.”
Playing a physically brutal style that made many wonder about his sustainability, Nadal will sign off with 22 Grand Slams, second only to Novak Djokovic’s 24, in the all-time list. He pocketed 92 ATP titles, spent 209 weeks as the world No.1, and is a two-time Olympic gold medallist. His record 14 French Open titles are certain to stand the test of time, and a 112-4 win-loss record on the clay courts of Roland Garros a jaw-dropping testament to his unmatched superiority on a surface that is most demanding on the body.
It’s almost fitting that his last Grand Slam triumph would be at the French Open in 2022, yet perhaps not that his final French Open outing would be a first-round defeat (to Alexander Zverev this year). Nadal’s recent physical troubles, though, overpowered his seemingly undying mental resolve to play on. Hampered by multiple injuries over the last couple of years, he spent a large part of his time away from the sport — Nadal competed in only seven tournaments this year — and admitted last year that 2024 could possibly be his final sighting on the tour.
Tag: Sports
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22 Slams later, Rafa, who never gave up, bids adieu
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ICC Women’s T20 World Cup : India skims past Sri Lanka to stay in the hunt for a last 4 berth
By Prabhjot Singh A strokeful unbeaten 52 off 27 balls by skipper Harmanpreet and a 98-run opening wicket partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Madhana helped India to defeat Sri Lanka by 82 runs for its biggest ever win the women’s T20 World Cup. India’s previous best win was against Bangladesh in the 2014 T20 World Cup, winning by 79 runs.
It was India’s second win in three games, putting it in the number two spot in the pool behind the defending champions Australia. With this loss, Sri Lanka has gone out of contention for a place in the knockout round with three defeats in as many matches.After suffering a humiliating loss in its opener against New Zealand, India had to record a win by a minimum of 45 runs to stay in the run for a semi-final berth from its pool. India did it by dominating its continental rivals in all departments – batting, bowling, and fielding.
“It was a total team effort. We batted well, bowled well, and fielded well. This is a great morale-boosting win for us ahead of our crucial game against the defending champions Australia,” said Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur who also got the Player of the Match award.
After winning the toss, India elected to bat first. The opening pair of Shafali Verma and Smriti Madhana started well maintaining a good average of six runs an over before escalating the run rate after the eighth over. Smriti, who was a little slow in the beginning opened up and smashed six and four boundaries while completing her first 50 of the tournament. She faced 38 balls and was unluckily run out while trying to steal a single in the 13th over. On the very next ball, her partner, Shafali, who also batted well for her score of 43 made from 40 balls with four hits to the fence, departed on the next ball making India 98 for two.
This brought skipper Harmanpreet and Jemnich Rodrigues together. They continued their offensive against the Sri Lankan bowlers. Rodrigues left after contributing 16 from 10 balls. It was at this stage that skipper Harmanpreet went all out as she smashed Sri Lankan bowlers for eight boundaries and a towering six to complete her fifty from 27 balls. Her unbeaten knock helped India to amass its biggest total of the tournament. India put up a huge challenge to Sri Lanka of scoring 173 runs for a win.
Indian bowlers were quick to strike back as Renuka Singh and S. Patel brought initial luck to the team. Except for a 34-run stand between Kavisha Dilhari (21) and Anushka Sanjeewani (20) and some lusty hitting by Ama Kanchana, the Sri Lankans could manage to each 90 before being bowled out in 19.5 overs thus giving full two points. Arundhati Reddy and Asha Sobhana were the main wreckers of the Sri Lankan innings with three wickets apiece, each conceding 19 runs in four overs each bowled by them. Renuka Singh ended with two for 16 while S. Patil (1 for 15) and Deepti Sharma (1 for 16) were the other successful bowlers for India.
(Prabhjot Singh is a senior journalist. He writes with equal aplomb on sports and politics. He can be reached at Prabhjot416@gmail.com) -
US Cricket targets a million players by 2028 Olympic Games
By Prabhjot Singh Imagine one million cricket players in the US by the time Los Angeles hosts its third summer Olympic Games in 2028! This is a target the US cricket has set for itself to mark 100 days of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 legacy since the final of the mega event that the US and West Indies jointly organized early this year.
Captivating the glory of the revival of cricket in the Americas, the US cricket has initiated a strong “Playground to Podium” programme to get one million school children playing the bat and ball game in the country by the time the summer Olympic Games return to Los Angeles for the third time in the history.
The ambitious programme opens numerous avenues for budding cricket players and those who have expertise in training and coaching new inductions with basic skills of the game.
Cricket took not only the US but also Canada by storm early this year when the World’s top teams, including the new champions India, Australia, England, Pakistan, New Zealand, West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and South Africa, descended on the US soil to showcase some of the top batters, including Rohit Sharma, Jos Butler and Babar Azam, and the bowlers like Jaspreet Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.
Till then, the Americans had New York Yankers slogger Aaron Judge as a hero batter in baseball. Now focus has started moving from baseball to cricket, especially in the younger generation of the South Asian migrant community.
It was not only a first-time host of the mega event of the latest and shortest version of cricket, but also the stunning display of its team that shocked the likes of Pakistan in the tournament that captivated the nation.
Just as important was the impact off the field in engaging the next generation and the legacy of the competition would continue to be rolled out in the coming months and years.
In a recent Press communique, the ICC held that the Playground to Podium initiative aims to ensure one million school children are playing cricket by the time the sport returns to the Olympic programme at LA 2028, and over 4500 youngsters are already participating following various activations across the summer, showcasing the importance of this year’s World Cup.
The ICC’s entry-level programme, criiio has partnered with over 200 elementary, middle and high schools to target over 4000 students and educators across Men’s T20 World Cup host locations, Dallas, New York, and Florida. Schools have incorporated criiio into their Physical Education sessions, fostering a new generation of cricket enthusiasts and integrating the sport into the youth’s sporting experience. Criiio cricket festivals have also been delivered throughout summer camps in Dallas and Florida, giving a fun, first experience to more than 500 youngsters, including participants working on their throwing, catching and ball striking skills.
Upskilling teachers to provide essential knowledge and skills to introduce and sustain cricket activities within their schools has been identified as a key area of legacy in the USA. Over 260 teachers participated in ICC criiio teacher training days where they were equipped with a comprehensive criiio curriculum and toolkits, ensuring effective delivery of cricket sessions.
The development of coaches and umpires is important to the sustainability of the game and the introduction of ICC Training and Education programmes, resulting in an increase in over 100 qualified coaches and umpires through various Level 1 and Tutor Level certification programmes.
There has also been a focus on supporting an equipment drive by DP World where cricket kits have been delivered to hundreds of aspiring cricketers, resulting in breaking down barriers to participation and ensuring all children have access to the sport.
The World Cup has also boosted the sport further across the Americas region with a series of High-Performance and Development workshops attended by representatives from the USA, Bermuda, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, and Belize. The workshops focused on key topics like high-performance ecosystems, talent identification, and team culture. Workshops were conducted by ex-cricketers Lisa Sthalekar and Robin Singh.
ICC General Manager, Development, William Glenwright said: “The success of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup legacy project in the first 100 days has exceeded our expectations, as we continue to use the event as a catalyst to deliver transformative growth in the USA – with our eyes now firmly on maintaining this momentum in partnership with USA Cricket as we head towards cricket’s Olympic return at LA 2028.
“The launch of the criiio programme in the USA has got off to a strong start with cricket rolled out in over 200 schools with more than 260 teachers trained and over 4,000 students participating in cricket for the first time. Further online and face-to-face training is being delivered to 1,700 additional teachers between now and the end of the year. Together with the hosting of various coach and umpire education courses, our focus on cricket in schools is not only introducing thousands of new kids in the USA to cricket but also improving the playing experience by enhancing the standard of coaching and umpiring in the USA and the wider Americas Region.
“We are excited to see how this progresses in collaboration with USA Cricket in making our game more accessible and encouraging more people to pick up a bat and ball and enjoy the game of cricket.”
The ambitious programme of a million cricket players also offers numerous opportunities for those who can impart training to budding players. The programme would boost the Indian sports goods industry by supplying cricket playing equipment to the Americas. -
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
India beaten in opener as Pak, Bangladesh make a winning start
By Prabhjot Singh Dubai (TIP)- The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 has started on a mixed note for the Asian teams as India was humbled in its opener while Pakistan and Bangladesh made winning starts in the tournament that got underway in UAE after it was shifted from strife-torn Bangladesh.India, who lost to New Zealand by 58 runs, will have to come back strongly in its next assignment against Pakistan to stay in the hunt for a place in the knockout round. New Zealand, buoyed by this win will enter with a lot of confidence against six-time champion Australia in its next encounter.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 31 runs while Bangladesh recorded its first-ever win in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup since 2014 defeating Scotland by 16 runs. In another match, South Africa recorded an impressive 10-wicket win over West Indies.
After opting to bat first, the Kiwis started strong, with openers Bates and Plimmer laying a solid foundation in the first six overs. They played cautiously yet effectively, setting the stage for a competitive total. However, the game’s momentum shifted when India claimed a couple of quick wickets, turning the match into a tactical contest. India’s spinners took control, effectively slowing the run rate during the middle overs. Despite these challenges, New Zealand forced its way back in the death overs. Sophie Devine’s unbeaten half-century, along with crucial partnerships with Kerr and Halliday, propelled the team forward. The Kiwis finished strong, scoring 51 runs in the final five overs and posting a challenging total for India to chase. Following an impressive performance by its batters, New Zealand bowlers, too, stepped in capitalizing on the advantages with no apparent dew and the ball moving both in the air and off the pitch. Their disciplined attack yielded quick wickets in the early stages, effectively tearing apart the Indian batting order. Young Eden Carson delivered an impressive performance, while the seasoned Lea Tahuhu claimed three wickets but it was Rosemary Mair who chipped in with a spectacular 4-fer. The Kiwi bowlers worked together effectively, thwarting any potential partnerships from flourishing. Their disciplined bowling was complemented by outstanding fielding, leaving no Indian batter able to score more than 20 runs. To make matters worse, no partnership managed to exceed 20 runs either.
This pressure to accelerate certainly got the better of them as Jemimah Rodrigues too fell early in her innings in an attempt to counterattack. In stark contrast to their opponents, the Indian innings got off to a disastrous start. The Powerplay proved brutal as it lost its top three batters – Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Harmanpreet Kaur – cheaply. With the score at a precarious 43/3 in 6 overs, India found itself in deep trouble already.
As a result, with too many wickets down, India crawled through the mid-overs and could only get to 63 at the halfway stage versus New Zealand 72/2 at this very stage. They never found the momentum and the asking rate zoomed up massively and it was a matter of time before a procession of wickets which further depleted their hopes. And in the end, they were bowled out with an over to spare.
New Zealand 160 for four in 20 overs (Sophie Devine 57 not out, Georgia Plimmer 34; Renuka Singh Thakur 2/27)
India 102 all out in 19 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 15, Jemimah Rodrigues 13; Rosemary Mair 4/19, Lea Tahuhu 3/15)
New Zealand won by 58 runs.
(Prabhjot Singh, is a Toronto-based award-winning independent journalist, He was celebrated by AIPS, the international body of sports journalists, for covering ten Olympics at its centennial celebrations held at UNESCO Centre in Paris during the 2024 Olympic Games. Besides, he has written extensively about business and the financial markets, the health industry, the public and private sectors, and aviation. He has worked as a political reporter besides covering Sikh and Punjab politics. He is particularly interested in Indian Diaspora and Sikh Diaspora in particular. His work has also appeared in various international and national newspapers, magazines and journals.) -
Alcaraz bounces back to outlast Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz roared back from a set down to beat world number one Jannik Sinner in a thriller and win his first China Open title on October 2. The four-time Grand Slam champion from Spain edged a captivating final 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) for his fourth ATP crown of the year and 16th overall.
Alcaraz, who is set to return to number two in the world behind Sinner, was 3-0 down in the final-set tie break only to fight back and win in three hours, 21 minutes. The dramatic triumph ended Sinner’s run of 14 victories in a row and saw him deposed as the Beijing champion after an almighty fight.
In front of a packed house in Beijing, the early exchanges were nervy with both players under immediate pressure on their service games. Sinner, 23, was the first to blink, with second-seeded Alcaraz breaking for a 3-1 lead and celebrating with a pump of the fist. The Spaniard held easily for 4-1 and had his opponent uncharacteristically rattled. -
Bumrah back on top in Test ranking, Yashasvi Jaiswal up to No. 3
India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is back at the summit of the ICC Test bowling rankings following his match haul of six wickets in the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur.
The 30-year-old replaced his India team-mate Ravichandran Ashwin – Player of the Series against Bangladesh – at the top of the chart. Spinner Ravindra Jadeja maintained his sixth place, while fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav stayed in 16th.
In batting, Player of the Match from the Kanpur Test, Yashasvi Jaiswal, moved to a career-high third position after just 11 Tests. Jaiswal played scintillating knocks of 72 and 51 and helped India win the rain-marred match by seven wickets.
With 792 rating points, the 22-year-old is behind second-placed Kane Williamson (829) and Joe Root (899).
Also, veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli is back in the top 10, gaining six places to rise to the sixth position after knocks of 47 and 29 in Kanpur.
Rishabh Pant, too, remained in the top 10, dropping three spots to ninth, with skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill on 15th and 16th, respectively. Source: PTI -
India defeat Bangladesh, make clean sweep of two-Test series
Kanpur (TIP)- Yashasvi Jaiswal scored another half-century as India defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets in the weather-hit second Test to make a clean sweep of the two-Test series.
India, after dismissing Bangladesh for 146 runs in the second innings, thanks to three-wicket hauls by Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah, achieved the victory target of 95 runs in 17.2 overs, with Jaiswal and Kohli scoring 51 and unbeaten 29 runs, respectively.
Earlier, Ashwin (3/50), Jadeja (3/34) and Bumrah (3/17) broke the back of Bangladesh batting, allowing them an addition of just 120 runs to their overnight total of 26/2.
Overnight batter Shadman Islam was the highest scorer for Bangladesh in the second innings, scoring 50 runs.The lunch session was extended by nearly an hour to complete Bangladesh’s innings. Bangladesh were bundled out for 233 in their first innings before India scored a quick-fire 285/9 and declared their innings on Monday in a match in which two days were completely lost due to a wet outfield. -
Chess Olympiad: Indian teams seal seventh successive wins
Budapest (TIP)- Grandmaster R Vaishali and Vantika Agrawal came up with splendid efforts to down Lela Javakhishvili and Bella Khotenashvili, respectively, as Indian women’s team continued its unbeaten run with a thumping 3-1 victory over Georgia at the 45th Chess Olympiad here on Wednesday, September 18. The Indian women have now all their seven rounds.
On a day that saw D Harika settling for a draw with Nana Dzagnidze, Divya Deshmukh held by Nino Batsiashvili from a better position, it was Vantika who handled her time pressure extremely well to play almost 20 moves with just about a minute on her clock to win her game. It was finally left to Vaishali to record a fine technical win. The Indian women took their tally to 14 points and stayed ahead of nearest rival Poland.
In the open section, the Indian men drew on the last three boards after some intense games and World Championship finalist D Gukesh won a drawn endgame against Wei Yi of China to give the team its seventh successive victory.
Speculation was rife about a possible clash between Gukesh and Ding Liren — the two contestants in the next World Championship — but the Chinese think tank decided to rest the reigning world champion. R Praggnanandhaa played out a quick draw as black against Yangyi Yu of China while P Harikrishna pressed for some time before the position petered out to be equal in the ensuing rook and pawns endgame against Wang Yue. Earlier, Arjun went for the kill against an alert Bu Xiangzhi and the latter found a nice piece sacrifice to force a draw through repetition. -
India beat China 1-0 in Asian Champions Trophy final to claim record 5th title
Hulunbuir (TIP)- India edged past hosts China and registered a narrow 1-0 win to win a record-extending fifth Asian Champions Trophy title on Tuesday. The Indian team fought hard in the summit clash against a spirited Chinese side who put everything on the line to make a statement. Jugraj Singh, who entered the field as a substitute player, broke the Chinese deadlock in the final quarter to help India prove their supremacy in Asia. Although a rare field goal, Jugraj finding the back of the net came at a crucial time when the other Indian stars were finding it tough to get past China’s goalkeeper Wang Weihao.
Meanwhile, China, ranked 23rd, put up an incredible fight against India, the top-ranked Asian team. The players didn’t disappoint the home fans and produced solid defensive efforts to keep India at bay for the first three quarters. China showed immense promise and dominated the possession, but failed to get past the Indian defensive line.
China looked a bit shaky in the initial minutes of the match, but India couldn’t take advantage of it. The home crowd also put some pressure on Harmanpreet Singh and Co. as the fans came in big numbers to support the hosts. However, as the clock ticked, China started to look more comfortable with the ball, even though they lacked the intensity off the ball and allowed the Indian players to breach their defence and take shots at the goalkeeper. Sumit took the first clear aim on target in the sixth minute but was denied a goal by Weihao.
India’s first penalty corner came in the 10th minute of the match, but Harmanpreet Singh failed to breach the Chinese defence. As the ball hit the defender’s foot, India and Harmanpreet were awarded another PC, only this time for the ball to fly wide of the post. The Indian team got another chance to open the scoring in the 14th minute, but Weihao made another sensational save, leaving Sukhjeet stunned. The Chinese goalkeeper stood tall as a rock-solid wall for his side to deny India a goal in the first quarter.
India continued to play with a high-line press in the second quarter and took control of the possession to frustrate the Chinese players. Jarmanpreet Singh did make a couple of in-behind runs to exploit the defensive line, but China remained compact and didn’t give much space. Skipper Harmanpreet, who scored a brace against South Korea in the semi-final, missed opportunities to score from penalty corners in the first half. He was very close to putting India ahead in the final minutes of the second-half but the closest he came was hitting the goalpost. -
Champions League: Mbappe leads Real to victory
Kylian Mbappe renewed his quest to win a European title by scoring for Real Madrid in his first Champions League match with the club. Mbappe found the open net after a cross by Rodrygo just seconds into the second half of Madrid’s 3-1 win over Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
“It was a great night,” Mbappe said. “It was a tough match, as they always are in the Champions League, but it was important to start with the win at home.”
Mbappe celebrated with a gesture in which he appeared to blow candles and sending a kiss. Spanish media said it was to honor his mother’s 50th birthday.
The goal gave defending champions Madrid a 1-0 lead before Stuttgart equalised with Deniz Undav in the 68th. Antonio Rudiger put Madrid back in front in the 83rd and substitute Endrick closed the scoring deep into stoppage time to seal the victory for the defending champions.
It was Mbappe’s 49th Champions League goal, putting him in the top-10 of top scorers all time in the competition. He has scored in three consecutive matches and has five goals in seven games with Madrid so far in all competitions.
Ponting joins Punjab Kings as head coach
Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain, has signed a deal with Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League.
Punjab Kings have been searching for a new coach and a fresh direction after parting ways with Trevor Bayliss. With a mega IPL auction on the horizon, the franchise, which has struggled to find consistency in the league, has been looking for a leader/mentor/head coach who can guide them in this new cycle and help shape their future.
“I am grateful to Punjab Kings for presenting me with the opportunity to be the new Head Coach. I am excited to take up the new challenge. I had great conversations with the owners and the management about the way forward and was truly elated to see the alignment of our visions for the team. We all want to repay the fans who have stayed with the franchise over the years and we promise that they will see a much different Punjab Kings going forward,” Ponting was quoted as saying in a media release. -
PM meets India’s Paralympic medallists, congratulates them on record haul
New Delh i(TIP)- Prime Minister Narendra Modi met India’s trailblazing Paralympians at his residence on Thursday, September 12, to congratulate them for their record-smashing haul of 29 medals at the recently-concluded Paris Games.
In a 43-second video shared by the Sports Ministry, the PM can be seen congratulating the medal winners before an interaction with them.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) head Devendra Jhajharia were also present during this interaction.
Wheelchair-bound shooter Avani Lekhara, who won a second successive Paralympic gold in women’s 10m air rifle (SH1) and visually-impaired judoka Kapil Parmar, India’s first Paralympic medal-winner in the sport, were among those who were seen posing with the PM. Parmar could be seen getting his medal signed by Modi.
India gave its best-ever performance in the Paralympic Games by winning 29 medals, including an unprecedented seven gold, nine silver and 13 bronze medals. The 84-strong contingent surpassed the previous best of 19 medals that was achieved in the Tokyo Games three years ago. The stupendous performance included many firsts such as medals in track events of athletics, and a gold in archery (through Harvinder Singh). Source: PTI -
Hockey Asian Champions Trophy: India beat Korea 3-1 to continue unbeaten run
Hulunbuir (TIP)- Defending champions India remained unbeaten in the Asian Champions Trophy as it registered its fourth consecutive victory with a 3-1 win against Korea here at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbuir, China on Thursday, September 12.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh (9’, 43’) scored a brace in India’s win while Araijeet Singh Hundal (8’) gave an early lead in the team’s win.
Having already booked a place in the semifinals, India looked to continue its winning ways against Korea in the penultimate league-stage match. The defending champions showcased this intent very early in the match with the eighth minute goal by Araijeet Singh Hundal. It was a fierce cross pass by Vivek Sagar Prasad that was picked up by Hundal from the top of the circle to scoop it in. In the following minute, Harmanpreet scored from a penalty corner to extend India’s lead to 2-0. This was Harmanpreet’s 200th international goal.
South Korea, who registered a fantastic 3-2 win against hosts China to climb up to second spot in the points table, was not going to let India have it easy. After shaking off the nerves in the first quarter, Korea bounced back with tactical defence curbing Indian attackers from keeping the ball possession.
In the last seven minutes of the second quarter, Korea punished India with interjections and counter attacks, eventually setting up a PC in the 30th minute of the match. Jihun Yang, who had scored a goal in its win against China on September 11, came up with a fine PC execution to narrow India’s lead to 2-1.
The third quarter saw both India and Korea trade equal number of PCs with each earning four. However, only India could successfully put one in the net with Harmanpreet coming up with a powerful dragflick to fetch his team a strong 3-1 lead. India played this quarter patiently, and constructed a compact attack to stay ahead of a tactful Korea. Meanwhile, Krishan Pathak held sway at the goalpost to keep Korea from scoring. The final quarter saw India do well as they dominated with ball possession, and resorted to half-press that led to potential counter attacks. Though Korea made ambitious attempts to score, Suraj Karkera did well in the goalpost to ensure India don’t concede a goal. India will take on arch nemesis Pakistan in their next encounter.
On September 11, young striker Raj Kumar Pal struck a hat-trick as title-holder India sealed a semifinal spot after thrashing Malaysia 8-1 for its third consecutive win in the Hero Asian Champions Trophy. Apart from Raj Kumar (3rd, 25th and 33rd minute), Araijeet Singh Hundal (6th and 39th minute), Jugraj Singh (7th minute), skipper Harmanpreet Singh (22nd minute), and Uttam Singh (40th minute) sounded the board for India. -
Ronaldo creates history, becomes first to breach one billion barrier on social media
Since his career began, Cristiano Ronaldo has been known to break records on and off the field. The Portugal star has once again scripted history, becoming the first individual to reach one billion followers on all social media channels.
Ronaldo is the most followed individual on Instagram, and recently started his YouTube channel ‘UR. Cristiano.’ The channel registered 50 million subscribers under one week, and also it took him only 90 minutes to break one million subscribers.
The Al Nassr star announced the news on social media. Taking to X, he wrote, “We’ve made history — 1 BILLION followers! This is more than just a number – it’s a testament to our shared passion, drive, and love for the game and beyond.”
“From the streets of Madeira to the biggest stages in the world, I’ve always played for my family and for you, and now 1 billion of us stand together.
“You’ve been with me every step of the way, through all the highs and the lows. This journey is our journey, and together, we’ve shown that there are no limits to what we can achieve.
“Thank you for believing in me, for your support, and for being part of my life. The best is yet to come, and we’ll keep pushing, winning, and making history together.”
Ronaldo recently appeared on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast, where he revealed that he was happy with the way the club was being run by its administrators, led by INEOS boss Jim Ratcliffe. He also had some advice for manager Erik Ten Hag, urging him to use former United teammate Ruud van Nistelrooy properly, with the Dutchman being hired as an assistant coach.
The social media record comes just after Ronaldo created another record, becoming the first-ever football player to score 900 career goals. He also bagged the feat by scoring the winner in Portugal’s Nations League encounter vs Croatia. Source: HT -
Bangladesh make history, sweep Test series in Pak
Bangladesh cruised to a six-wicket victory in the second Test against Pakistan to complete a 2-0 series sweep and provide a healing touch to a nation recovering from a political upheaval.
Chasing 185 for victory, Bangladesh rode a string of cameos to seal their third Test series victory away from home with more than one session left. Opener Zakir Hasan (40), skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (38) and Mominul Haq (34) chipped in with useful cameos. Veterans Mushfiqur Rahim (22) and Shakib Al Hasan (21) combined to guide the visitors to a memorable victory. “It means a lot, I can’t express it in words,” an emotional Shanto said. “We were looking to win here and I’m very happy with the way everyone has done their job.”
All-rounder Mehedy Hasan Miraz dedicated his Player of the Series award to a victim of the recent anti-government protests in Bangladesh, which culminated with ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fleeing to India last month. The country’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus called Shanto to congratulate the team on their series victory.
Bangladesh arrived last month having failed to beat Pakistan in a Test match in their previous 13 attempts and then went on to win two in a row. -
Messi left off list of contenders for Ballon d’Or
Lionel Messi may be considered by many as the greatest soccer player of all time, but the Argentina star was omitted from the list of nominations to win this year’s Ballon d’Or award — the sport’s most prized individual honor. The record eight-time winner and holder of the trophy did not feature Wednesday in a list of 30 players in the running for the award, which will be presented Oct. 28. Also excluded was Messi’s great rival, five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo. It was the first time since 2003 that neither player made the list.
Vinicius Junior, Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane are among the names nominated. Messi, who left European soccer behind when moving from Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami last year, is still delivering at a high level and helped Argentina win the Copa America in July. The 37-year-old beat Manchester City striker Haaland to the award last year, but will not defend his title.
Messi won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 — the start of a four-year streak of taking the top prize. He was first nominated in 2006.
Messi and Ronaldo turned the competition into a near-two-way contest during the peak of their careers — winning it a combined 13 times from 2008.
Ronaldo’s first nomination was 2004. Their omission from the list of nominations is likely due to leaving top-flight European club soccer, with Ronaldo having moved to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
A new generation of talent has emerged in the form of Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, Bellingham and Haaland. Emerging teenage star Lamine Yamal of Spain was also nominated.
While City striker Haaland was runner-up to Messi last year, the favorites to be crowned Ballon d’Or winner this time around include Real Madrid pair Vinicius Junior and Bellingham, as well as City and Spain midfielder Rodri.
Messi was also left off the list in 2022, but powered back to inspire Argentina to the World Cup title later that year and won his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023.
However, at the latter end of his career and now playing in MLS, he may find it harder to hold off the challenge of his younger rivals for the title of the game’s best.
It is also notable that he was omitted despite winning a major international honor with Argentina this year. Source: AP -
Paris Paralympics: India hit 25-medal mark with judoka Kapil Parmar’s bronze
Kapil Parmar, a visually impaired judo athlete, made history by becoming India’s first Paralympic medallist in judo, securing a bronze in the men’s 60kg (J1) category. Parmar, 24, dominated his opponent, Brazil’s Elielton de Oliveira, with a decisive 10-0 victory in the bronze medal play-off, marking a memorable Paralympic debut.
This triumph brought India’s medal tally at the Games to 25, including five gold, nine silver, and 11 bronze medals. The Paralympic Committee of India had set a target of winning at least 25 medals, a goal that the country’s inspiring para-athletes successfully achieved with more opportunities still ahead.
Close misses for India on Day 8
Individual gold medallist Harvinder Singh, along with partner Pooja Jatyan, came close to securing a bronze in the mixed team recurve open event but narrowly lost in a shoot-off to Slovenia’s Ziva Lavrinc and Dejan Fabcic, 4-5, in the play-off.
After making history by becoming India’s first archery gold medallist, Harvinder was poised for another podium finish. The Indian pair led 4-2 going into the final set, but the Slovenian duo fought back to level the score. In the decisive shoot-off, Lavrinc and Fabcic clinched the victory, leaving Harvinder and Pooja just short of a second medal.
India’s Simran Sharma narrowly missed out on a medal in the women’s 100m T12 final at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, finishing fourth with a time of 12.31 seconds. Accompanied by her guide Abhay Singh, the 24-year-old fell just short of the podium in a closely contested race.
Cuba’s Omara Durand Elias, running with guide Yuniol Kindelan, claimed gold with a dominant time of 11.81 seconds. Ukraine’s Oksana Boturchuk, alongside guide Mykata Barabanov, won silver in 12.17 seconds, while Germany’s Katrin Mueller and her guide Noel-Phillippe Fiener secured the bronze with a time of 12.26 seconds, just edging out Simran for the final podium spot. In Chateauroux, Indian shooters Mona Agarwal and Sidhartha Babu fell short of reaching the final in the mixed 50m rifle prone (SH1) competition. Mona Agarwal, a bronze medallist in the 10m air rifle (SH1) event earlier at the Games, finished 30th with a total score of 610.5 over six series. Meanwhile, Sidhartha Babu, who had previously placed 28th in the mixed 10m air rifle prone (SH1) qualification, also struggled to improve his performance, finishing 22nd with an aggregate score of 615.8.
India made a disappointing finish to the day after Aravind finished sixth in the men’s shot put F35 event with a season’s best throw of 13.01. India are currently 16th in the medal’s tally with 25 medals, including five gold, nine silver and 11 bronze. -
Why did India return from Paris with 16 and not 18 hockey Olympians?
By Prabhjot Singh While fervor, gaiety, celebrations, and felicitations to mark back-to-back bronze medal triumphs in the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games are almost nearing their end, at least two members of the Indian hockey squad must have been left wondering why they did not return home as “Olympians” with bronze medals hanging down their necks.
This million-rupee question probably did not agitate the minds of officials of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Hockey India (HI), who were part of the official entourage to the Paris Olympic Games.
When the medal ceremony was held after the gold medal match, there were 18 players each of the new champions, the Netherlands, and the runners-up Germany, on the podium, and India, the winner of the bronze medal, had only 16 players. After the conventional ritual was gone through, three of the Indian players – Krishan Bahadur Pathak (goalkeeper), deep defender and drag-flicker Jugraj Singh and midfielder Neelkanta – who watched all the games from the stands, joined their colleagues on the ground to celebrate the bronze medal triumph. The Indian hockey team’s bronze medal win at the Paris Olympic Games was a moment of triumph, but two reserve players, Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Jugraj Singh, were left wondering why they didn’t receive medals.
Despite being part of the team throughout the tournament, they were not included in the medal ceremony as they did not take the field of play. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) clarified that only athletes who participate in a match can be considered Olympians and receive medals. India did not utilize the Alternate Athlete (Ap) rule, which allows teams to swap in reserve players during the tournament. In contrast, other teams, including the Netherlands and Germany, used this rule to give more players the opportunity to participate and receive medals. The Indian team management’s decision not to invoke this provision has left the reserve players feeling disappointed and wondering what could have been.
With bronze medals hanging around their necks, 16 Indian players were busy greeting each other besides acknowledging compliments from their accompanying family members, friends and well-wishers, Indian reserve players looked heartbroken as their opportunity to return home as Olympians with a similar bronze medal hanging down their necks had slipped away without any fault of theirs. They were with the team throughout, discharging their roles as well as they could.
They wondered why reserve players of other teams, including new champions, the Netherlands, and the silver medalist Germany, had blooded 18 players each during the Games, they were denied a legitimate chance of sharing the same honors.Understandably such questions are seldom asked as they have their future in sport at stake.
When contacted, Nicolas Maingot, Senior Communications Manager of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), said that the IOC rules state that to become an Olympian, and to be awarded a medal, an athlete needs to take the field of play. Any athlete who does not, even if they are named as a reserve, is neither an Olympian nor can they be awarded a medal. This is true of all sports.
Therefore, for hockey, only those athletes from the medal-winning teams who were named in a matchday squad of 16 and took the field of play during a match, were awarded medals.
The Netherlands and Germany both used the new Ap athlete rules in place during Paris to swap in their Ap athletes during different matches in the tournament and, therefore 18 athletes received medals. Neither reserve goalkeeper did, however. India did not make any changes during the tournament to their matchday 16 and therefore only 16 medals were awarded and their 3 Ap athletes are not considered Olympians or medalists for Paris as they did not play at any stage.
What is the Ap rule?
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) circulates rules and guidelines for all participating National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and their affiliates National Sports Federations (NSFs) for their teams and players participating in the Olympic Games. It notified the Alternate athlete (Ap) as follows:
Alternate athlete (Ap)
As per the “Accreditation at the Olympic games – Detailed applications” NOCs can activate alternate athlete (Ap) in the following sports and disciplines: Artistic swimming, Athletics, Cycling – BMX racing, Cycling – Track, Equestrian, Fencing, Handball, Hockey, Football, Rowing, Rugby, Table Tennis, Volleyball and Water Polo (TBD).
All Ap athletes need to be identified at the time of the final Entries Submission. In addition, before the sport-specific deadlines set in the Late Athlete Replacement Detailed Annex by Discipline, the NOCs can either activate their Ap athlete(s) or to use a replacement from the long list and be in a position to appoint another Ap athlete. To replace an Ap athlete the LAR process using the e-LAR process using the e-LAR tool as described above is applicable.
Once competition has started, the activation of the Ap athlete has to follow the same e-LAR process as above and adhere to the timelines stipulated in the Late Athlete Replacement Detailed Annex by discipline.
Why did India decide not to make use of the Ap rule?
The Indian team management in its prudence may have decided not to invoke this provision so as not to upset the rhythm of the team. There could be other reasons, including some technical aspects which are not out in the public domain.
Statistically speaking, India needed to use this rule more than other teams as it was the only team to be given a red card and that too at the beginning of the second quarter of a crucial quarterfinal match against Great Britain. Losing a dependable deep defender and an alternate drag flicker with a semi-final against the defending world champions Germany in hand, India needed reinforcements to tighten its defense line. It was available under the Ap rules. India had the option to bring in Jugraj Singh.
Though the Indian team played the semi-final against Germany without Amit Rohidas by using former captain and midfielder Manpreet Singh as a deep defender, it did affect two positions, one at which Manpreet plays originally and the second at the position he played in the semi-final. Had Jugraj been there, it would have come as a blessing for he would have come in deep defense and allowed Manpreet to play at his natural position.
Though Amit Rohidas was the only player to get a red card and two-match suspension, Germany had landed in a similar but a little less severe situation after its opening game against France. Christopher Rueher, one of their most experienced players, was shown a yellow card during the game. After the game, a one-match ban was imposed on him for arguing with the umpire.
Germany managed the challenge and used the Ap rule. It was not only Germany but almost all teams that made use of the Ap rule. Interestingly, none of the teams used it for bringing in their reserve goalkeepers.
Rest, all is history.(Prabhjot Singh is a senior journalist. He writes with equal aplomb on sports and politics. He can be reached at Prabhjot416@gmail.com)
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Shiv Chanderpaul-A batsman for all seasons
- By Albert Baldeo
“Chanderpaul, eyes focused like a laser on the ball from run up to the moment he demolishes it with his trademark pull/sweep, raises his bat, and kisses the pitch as the ball ricochets back off the boundary. The “Tiger” has reached yet another half century, this one the most important of all.” That was a few days ago, as Guyanese and Caribbean cricket legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul, former captain of the West Indies team, ICC’s Hall of Fame inductee, West Indian hero, and one of cricket’s most celebrated players, attained 50 years old.
Deserving appreciations for this unsung hero from Unity village, Guyana, who was denied the chance to become the leading test scorer in West Indies cricket, and “forced to retire,” when his career was unceremoniously derailed by Dave Cameron’s and the WICB’s whimsical and spiteful actions, poured in, not least in “Little Guyana,” where he is revered. The left-handed batsman scored 11,867 runs at an average of 51, with 30 centuries in an illustrious career of 164 Tests to end at the second place in the list of all-time West Indies run scorers, 86 runs short of legendary Brian Lara with 11,953 runs.
In a wider national context, it was Shiv’s batting that lifted our spirits, exemplifying our collective strength and resilience we must all endeavor to espouse as a people, united in our duty never to surrender an inch of our republic to Venezuela, or our oil resources, to anyone. Regional political integration has its genesis in the exploits of sports champions like Chanderpaul, whose achievements helped foster a unifying and defining force. Test captain Kraigg Braithwaite, of Barbados, a country which has produced batsmen of the ilk of Garry Sobers, Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes, Clyde Walcott, Conrad Hunte, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes and other stalwarts, idolizes Chanderpaul and his batting style.
After all, Shiv was the man who personified longevity and tenacity and survived while 519 Test batsmen perished at the other end, and sharing a record 771 different partnerships in Tests, worthy world records that speak volumes about his singular durability and dependability. Rahul Dravid, the Indian “Wall”, is next, but quite some distance behind at 453 Test dismissals at the other wicket, and 738 partnerships. Yet, Chanderpaul has rarely been given deserving accolades, like Dravid and Tendulkar. “That guy with the most Test matches for the West Indies, playing for over 20 years, I don’t think people in the West Indies understand exactly his contribution,” the Brian Lara acknowledges, reminding us that Shiv was instrumental in his many batting feats, even conceding that his compatriot deserved to go past his record for the most Test runs by a West Indian.
Many cricket connoisseurs have told me that if their lives depended on the professional application and dedication of a batsman to combat, survive the best bowling, including the most hostile, and keep his wicket intact, they would choose Shiv Chanderpaul. Indeed, Shiv famously faced 1,051 deliveries against India in 2002 without being dismissed, batting for 1,513 minutes. He was the consummate professional, blessed with the heart of a lion. Brett Lee knocked him out cold where he “could not feel anything, and could not stand or move any limb,” with a fast, vicious bouncer, yet Chanderpaul refused the stretcher, and was up and running in a few minutes and even went on to score a brave century. Like another Guyanese icon, David Martins, reminds us, “Where are your heroes, Caribbean…show them to me…”
Such was his dedication to his craft, that he is the only notable international batsman who used dark stickers below his eyes, as anti-glare patches used to reduce light entering the peripheral area of the eyes so that he could bat and field without being affected by the sun’s glare. Such attention to minute detail in his improvement and comfort as a cricketer, defines the man appropriately called “Tiger.”
Shiv has been the rock and anchor of the West Indies since 1994, a veritable Atlas, and has been one of the Caribbean’s most accomplished, yet overlooked heroes. His premature retirement severely diminished the West Indies team. Chanderpaul’s first Test century came in his 19th match, a testimony to his application and determination, after scoring as many as 15 half centuries in the previous 18 matches. From the small fishing village in Guyana, Shiv became the people’s hero of David vs. Goliath vintage, and became a lone warrior after Hooper’s, Lara’s and Sarwan’s retirements. He soldiered on as the people’s champion, whose struggles and ultimate successes reflected their daily struggles to overcome the odds, the proverbial underdog defeating social and economic barriers that suppressed them.
The paucity of the team’s batting in his career caused him to curtail his aggression. He became the proverbial Rock of Gibraltar, while supposedly better talents than him perished meekly at the other end. His detractors fail to appreciate that he honed his technique to make the very best of what God gave him and made up for deficits overwhelmingly in other areas. It is this single-minded dedication and adaptability that made him the champion and master he became.
Shiv did not have the genius of Rohan Kanhai or Sir Gary Sobers, the power of Sir Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge or Clive Lloyd, the dominance of Roy Fredericks, the technique of Alvin Kallicharran or the finesse of Carl Hooper, Lawrence Rowe or Ramnaresh Sarwan, but the statistical achievements he accumulated that determines how a batsman is measured-runs, centuries, averages-surpassed theirs. This is not to say he was better in the wider context by which batsmen are assessed, but it ensures that one cannot deny his status amongst the greats of the game. The ICC stamp is the imprimatur of greatness that puts Shiv in the top tier of cricket’s immortals.
Those who are critical of his doggedness fail to appreciate that he was often the lone warrior in many lost causes at a time when West Indian cricket sank to unfathomable depths, and responsibility forced him to eschew glamor and style for dependability, audacity for attrition. Like all the great players, the breadth and depth of his achievements provide sound rebuttals, considering that Chanderpaul has the record for the 4th fastest Test century, off just 67 balls against the worthy visiting Australians in 2002. In 2008, he hit a four and a six against the bowling of Chaminda Vaas, with 10 needed off two balls to win a One-Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka.
He also created history with Sarwan when they monumentally combined to help West Indies chase down a 418-run target at Antigua in 2003 against Australia, scoring 105 and 104 runs each. He was named the captain of the team to face the visiting South Africans in 2005 and celebrated it by becoming only the second player to make a double century on debut as a Test captain, scoring an unbeaten 200 in Guyana. Another absolutely stunning record Chanderpaul holds is that of being stumped for the first time after having batted in 266 innings, while batting with as many as 82 different Test partners.
When I interviewed him about the reason for his longevity and success, he told me that, “I have an immense skill and unique gift – concentration, a divine gift bestowed by Lord Shiva” I marveled at him, then in 2005, and he cemented that belief to all, subsequently. There is no doubt that he must have a divine connection when you survey his immense accomplishments, longevity and humility. Ian Bishop, now an international cricket commentator, said it best, in tribute to Chanderpaul, 2008 Wisden Cricketer of the Year, “I played several Test series with him (Shiv), and have seen more esteemed team-mates shrink in the face of the fastest bowling, but never Chanderpaul…That no other West Indian managed a score of more than 60 in the Tests speaks of the yawning gap between his skill, commitment and experience – and theirs.”
See other interviews and tributes here: https://caribbeancricket.com/news/xxxx/xx/xx/1076