Pune, Jan 7 (PTI) Tallon Griekspoor prevailed in a high-voltage three-set final against Benjamin Bonzi to win his maiden ATP World Tour title as the first-time finalists dished out a gripping game of tennis here Saturday. The Netherlands’ Griekspoor won the intense Tata Open Maharashtra title clash 4-6 7-5 6-3 against his dogged French rival in two hours and 16 minutes. The two players put on show before a packed centre court at Balewadi Stadium, entertaining the fans with their breathtaking shot-making and perseverance. High-quality tennis opened the match, befitting a finale, with the first nine games going on serve,…
Author: Team Spogonews
Nagpur, Jan 7 (PTI) Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha on Saturday emphasised on the need to increase the number of out-of-competition tests to address the doping menace. Usha was speaking ahead of the inaugural ‘Khasdar Krida Mahotsav’. To a query on weeding out doping, Usha called it a major issue. “We want more people to be tested in off-season. Out-of-competition tests should be increased. Besides, awareness classes are being given but still they are doing. “I think more out-of-competition tests are needed and they should increase at national level,” opined Usha. India is looking to host the 2036…
New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) Chetan Sharma was on Saturday reappointed as the chairman of the senior selection committee, exactly two months after his entire panel was disbanded by the BCCI for the Indian team’s semifinal exit in the T20 World Cup. Chetan’s new team, though, would have entirely new faces with junior chairman of selectors S Sharath of South Zone being promoted. The others in the panel are former seamer Subroto Banerjee from East Zone, Salil Ankola from West Zone and Test opener Shiv Sunder Das from the Central zone. Das qualified from Central for being a former Vidarbha…
Rajkot, Jan 7 (PTI) India skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bat against Sri Lanka in the series-deciding third T20 International here on Saturday. India are fielding an unchanged side, but the visitors made one change, replacing Bhanuka Rajapaksa with Avishka Fernando. Teams: India: Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya (capt), Axar Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Avishka Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka. Source: PTI…
New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) His “amazing athleticism” has left even the iconic Michael Johnson in awe recently and India’s Neeraj Chopra has now set himself a target in the new year: breach the 90-metre mark with his javelin. After the historic gold in Tokyo, the 24-year-old Olympic champion javelin thrower has continued to raise expectations with a silver at the World Championships, before adding another feather in his cap by winning the Diamond League Finals gold. However, despite his superlative shows, the magical 90m mark continues to elude him. “In this new year, I hope I will put an…
Mumbai, Jan 7 (PTI) India batting sensation Suryakumar Yadav is in awe of Dewald Bravis for his power-hitting abilities, saying he wants to learn the “no-look” shots from the South African when they share the Mumbai Indians dressing room in the upcoming IPL. “I am just trying to copy you (Brevis) sometimes. The way you bat. You have to teach me one thing, how do you that no-look shot, no-look six? I just want to learn that from you,” Surya said in a one-on-one interaction with Brevis posted on MI TV. Brevis responded: “I would be an honour, but I…
Bhubaneswar, Jan 7 (PTI) Two-time champions Germany’s first goal is to reach the semifinals of the upcoming FIH men’s Hockey World Cup but their ultimate aim is to win their third world title, said head coach Andre Henning on Saturday. Germany, who have won the title twice in the past in 2002 and 2006, finished fifth in the last edition of the tournament here in 2018. But this time around, Hanning said they are eager to go much deeper into the tournament. “We had a strong year as we won 13 FIH Pro League matches and were between 5th and…
Chetan Sharma retained as chairman of BCCI senior selection committee. Source: PTI News
Sualkuchi (Assam), Jan 7 (PTI) Heavyweights Services men and Railways women will enter as favourites as a challenging course awaits the 669 competitors in the National Cross Country Championships in the historical handloom town in Assam’s Kamrup district here from Sunday. Among the aspirants who have entered the championships are 286 female athletes. The men and women’s 10km events have drawn 161 and 109 entries each. The men’s U20 8km has 130 entrants and the women’s U20 6km will see 96 competitors. Boys U18 (6km) and U16 (2km) and Girls U18 (4km) and U16 (2km) will have 48, 44, 43…
Chandigarh, Jan 7 (PTI) The Sports portfolio which was given up by Haryana Minister Sandeep Singh following allegations of sexual harassment against him by a woman coach, will now be held by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya on Saturday allocated the portfolio of Sports and Youth Affairs to Khattar in addition to his existing portfolios with immediate effect, according to an official notification. It added that Singh will cease to hold the portfolio of Sports and Youth Affairs. “The Governor of Haryana, on the advice of the Chief Minister…is pleased to allocate, with immediate effect, the…