Category: SPORTS

Novak Djokovic on Friday continued his quest for a record seventh Australian Open crown by swatting aside French 28th seed Lucas Pouille 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 to set up a final against Rafael Nadal.It was a flawless display on Rod Laver Arena by the world number one who moves into a first Melbourne decider since 2016.”It is definitely one of the best matches I’ve ever had on this court, definitely,” said Djokovic, who hit 24 winners and had just five unforced errors.”You know, everything worked the way I imagined it before…

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Cricketers from India and New Zealand should be tough enough to deal with a “bit of sun in their eyes”, said Napier’s Mayor Bill Dalton and wondered if players would have walk off if a similar situation arose in India.The first ODI between India and New Zealand here on Wednesday was halted for about half an hour due to players being blinded by a setting sun, a bizarre first in international cricket which is otherwise no stranger to rain-related interruptions.”I wonder if in India they go off the field because…

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The International Weightlifting Federation has revoked the provisional suspension on weightlifter K Sanjita Chanu for a failed dope test, a major reprieve for the two-time Commonwealth Games gold-medallist who has claimed innocence.In a case that has dragged on for almost a year and has been marred by an “administrative” goof-up in Sanjita’s sample number, the IWF informed that a final decision on the matter is expected in the coming days. “On the basis of the information at its disposal, the IWF has decided that the provisional suspension of the athlete…

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Stubborn by her own admission, trailblazing Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat doesn’t mind being called arrogant for it since the attitude comes in handy to intimidate rivals on the mat. Speaking to DIN in an exclusive interview, India’s first woman wrestler to claim an Asian Games gold medal dwelled on the perceptions about her, life after marriage to fellow grappler Somvir Rathee and her Olympic dreams. “I am very stubborn, since childhood. If I feel something is right, even if that is wrong, I will be very stubborn about that and…

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Indian tennis player Ankita Raina on Sunday won her first singles title of the 2019 season and eighth overall after trampling top seed Arantxa Rus in straight sets in the final of the USD 25,000 event in Singapore.Coming into the tournament after competing at the Australian Open Qualifiers, Ankita demolished world number 122 and the Dutch top seed 6-3 6-2 in one hour and 23 minutes. Ankita toppled four seeded players in the tournament starting with Dutch eighth seed Lesley Kerkhove in the second round. The gritty 25-year-old followed that up…

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BCCI acting President C K Khanna Saturday urged the Committee of Administrators (CoA) to lift the suspension on Hardik Pandya and K L Rahul for their much-criticised sexist remarks and refused to convene a Special General Meeting on the matter.Khanna said calling the SGM to appoint an ombudsman to investigate the two players’ conduct, as demanded by Board officials, wouldn’t be right as the Supreme Court is due to take up the issue next week.Pandya and Rahul have been suspended pending an inquiry for their sexist comments on a TV…

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Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan Thursday said suspended fast-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya is “crucial” for the team’s balance but rejected suggestions that the side was struggling for a fifth bowler in the ongoing ODI series against Australia.India take on Australia in the series-deciding third and final one-dayer here on Friday. There are bound to be changes to the team composition in the light of Khaleel Ahmed and Mohammed Siraj failing to impress in the first two matches.Dhawan came out in support of the two young pacers, but added that the presence…

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 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the “historic leadership” of Palestine which assumed the chairmanship of G77, the global body’s largest intergovernmental organisation of developing countries including India.Egypt was the previous Chair of the Group of 77 (G77), a coalition of 134 members, along with China which aligns itself with the bloc.India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin Tuesday wished Palestine success, saying “India is privileged to stand up for the global South’s quest for greater equity and justice”.In his remarks at the annual ceremony for handover of the…

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India captain Virat Kohli called it an “MS classic” after Mahendra Singh Dhoni, with sixes that reminded of his heydays, hammered home the point that the finisher in him is still alive.Dhoni slammed an unbeaten 55 off 54 balls after Kohli laid the foundation for India’s series-levelling six-wicket victory over Australia in the second ODI with a fluent century.”There is no doubt that he should be a part of this team. Tonight was MS classic. He calculates the game so well. He takes the game till the end, when only…

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Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s inability to set the pace during middle overs will remain a major cause of concern when India take on Australia in a do-or-die second ODI on Tuesday in their bid to keep the three-match series alive. Hardik Pandya’s sudden suspension on disciplinary grounds has badly affected the balance of the batting order, which was apparent during team’s 34-run defeat in the opening match despite vice-captain Rohit Sharma’s 22nd hundred in 50-over format.Dhoni’s 51 off 96 balls and failing to rotate the strike has brought to focus the…

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