Sports Mania: June 2021

चेन्नई बीते 19 साल से रूस के सर्गेई कर्जाकिन के नाम दुनिया के सबसे युवा ग्रैडमास्टर का रेकॉर्ड था, लेकिन अब यह ताज अभिमन्यु मिश्रा ने छीन लिया है। भारतीय मूल के इस अमेरिकन बच्चे ने बुधवार रात यह उपलब्धि अपने नाम की। 12 साल, चार माह और 25 दिन की उम्र में दुनिया के सबसे युवा ग्रैंडमास्टर बनने वाले अभिमन्यु ने भारत के जीएम लियोन को हराया। इससे पहले नवंबर 2019 में अभिमन्यु ने 10 साल 9 महीने और 3 दिन की उम्र में दुनिया के सबसे युवा अंतरराष्ट्रीय मास्टर बने थे, तब उन्होंने भारत के आर प्रग्गानंधा का विश्व रेकॉर्ड तोड़ा था। ग्रैंड मास्टर प्रग्गानंधा ने 30 मई 2016 को 10 महीने 9 महीने और 20 दिन की उम्र में यह उपलब्धि हासिल की थी। हमारे सहयोगी टाइम्स ऑफ इंडिया से खास बातचीत में अभिमन्यु ने कहा, 'लियोन के खिलाफ मैच मुश्किल था, लेकिन उसकी ओर से एक गलती और मैंने मील का पत्थर पार कर लिया। मैं इस उपलब्धि को हासिल करके राहत और खुशी दोनों महसूस कर रहा हूं।' कोविड -19 महामारी के चलते अभिमन्यु ने बीते कई माह से ओवर-द-बोर्ड कोई इवेंट नहीं खेला था। स्थिति धीरे-धीरे सामान्य होने के साथ, अभिमन्यु ने कुछ टूर्नामेंटों में भाग लेना शुरू कर दिया और इस साल मार्च में उनकी ईएलओ रेटिंग 2400 को पार कर गई, उनके पिता हेमंत, जो न्यूजर्सी में एक सॉफ्टवेयर इंजीनियर हैं, ने कर्जाकिन के रेकॉर्ड को तोड़ने के लिए यूरोप जाने और टूर्नामेंट खेलने का साहसिक कदम उठाया। अभिमन्यु के पिता हेमंत कहते हैं, 'हम जानते थे कि यूरोप में टूर्नामेंट में हमारे लिए बड़ा मौका था। हमारे पास एकतरफा टिकट थे और एक के बाद एक टूर्नामेंट खेलने के लिए अप्रैल के पहले सप्ताह में बुडापेस्ट पहुंचे। यह एक सपना था जिसे मैंने, मेरी पत्नी स्वाति और अभिमन्यु ने साझा किया और इस भावना का वर्णन करने के लिए कोई शब्द नहीं हैं।'

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मिताली, अश्विन और छेत्री खेल रत्न की दौड़ में, जानें किस अवॉर्ड के लिए कौन-कौन है नामित

नई दिल्लीभारतीय क्रिकेट कंट्रोल बोर्ड (BCCI) ने ऑफ स्पिनर रविचंद्रन अश्विन और महिला टीम की कप्तान मिताली राज को देश के सर्वोच्च खेल सम्मान राजीव गांधी खेल रत्न अवॉर्ड के लिए नामित किया है। इस रेस में अन्य खेलों के खिलाड़ी भी शामिल हैं। फुटबॉल व ऐथलेटिक्स से क्रमश: सुनील छेत्री और नीरज चोपड़ा जैसे सितारों को नामित किया गया है। दूसरी ओर, अर्जुन अवॉर्ड, ध्यानचंद अवॉर्ड, द्रोणाचार्य अवॉर्ड के लिए भी नाम सामने आए हैं। आइए जानते हैं बुधवार को नामित स्पोर्ट्स स्टार्स के नामों के बारे में...

क्रिकेट: खेल रत्न-मिताली और रविचंद्रन अश्विन, अर्जुन अवॉर्ड- शिखर धवन, लोकेश राहुल और जसप्रीत बुमराह।
शूटिंग: खेल रत्न-अंकुर मित्तल और अंजुम मौद्गिल, अर्जुन अवॉर्ड- इलावेनिल वलारिवान, अभिषेक वर्मा, ओम प्रकाश मिठरवाल।
टेबल टेनिस: खेल रत्न- अचंता शरत कमल, अर्जुन अवॉर्ड-सुर्तिथा मुखर्जी, अयहिका मुखर्जी और मानव ठक्कर।
कुश्ती: अर्जुन अवॉर्ड-रवि दाहिया, दीपक पूनिया और अंशु मलिक, ध्यानचंद अवॉर्ड-सज्जन सिंह, जय प्रकाश और दुष्यंत शर्मा।
फुटबॉल: खेल रत्न- सुनील छेत्री, अर्जुन अवॉर्ड-बाला देवी।
ऐथलेटिक्स: खेल रत्न-नीरज चोपड़ा, दुती चंद।
गोल्फ: खेल रत्न- शुभंकर शर्मा, अर्जुन अवॉर्ड-उद्यन माने, राशिद खान, दीक्षा डागर।
आर्चरी: खेल रत्न-ज्योति, द्रोणाचार्य अवॉर्ड: लिंबा राम, लोकेश चंद पाल, अर्जुन अवॉर्ड-मुस्कान किरार।

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Tour de France 2021: Tadej Pogacar stamps authority by dominating time-trial, Mathieu van der Poel flies in yellow

Laval: Defending champion Tadej Pogacar fired out a defiant warning to would-be Tour de France title contenders by storming the individual time-trial on Wednesday while Mathieu van der Poel clung on to the overall lead after stage five.

Van der Poel kept hold of his yellow jersey by just eight seconds while Ineos pair Geraint Thomas and Richard Carapaz lost more than a minute on Slovenia's ever-improving Pogacar, who is now second in the overall standings.

Ahead of the 27.2km time-trial, Pogacar described the stage as critical to his chances of defending the title he won in 2020 and the manner in which he raced Wednesday backed up that statement.

Pogacar won last year's Tour de France by overturning compatriot Primoz Roglic's comfortable lead in a time-trial on the penultimate day, and here he appeared to do at least as well as that fateful day on the feted La Planche des Belles Filles slopes where he clinched the Tour on his rookie appearance.

"It couldn't really have gone any better today," said the 22-year-old UAE rider. "With so many fans along the route it was really emotional and I rate this as one of my best days in the saddle.

"I have changed my riding position, it's less aerodynamic but allows me a stronger push," added Pogacar after timing 32 minutes exactly over the 27.2km course, clocking an average of 51km/h (32mph).

His time was 44sec faster than that of Roglic, who fell heavily on Monday, and 1min 18sec quicker than 2018 champion Thomas, who dislocated his shoulder before managing to pick himself up and finish the same crash-marred stage.

Pogacar's phenomenal ride didn't quite give him the overall lead but it leaves him in the driving seat for the title, 1min 44sec ahead of Carapaz, with Roglic and Thomas four and 10sec further adrift respectively.

"There are still some tricky stages, even an easy looking day, you never know what can happen," said Pogacar. "I'm further ahead now and attacks will come every day."

Welshman Thomas said he had been feeling poorly, and had mixed feelings after the stage.

"I got the pacing right, but lacked a bit of power. I woke up feeling dreadful, and only loosened up out on the road," he said

Richard Carapaz said he was glad the test was behind him, while Richie Porte suggested it was far from over saying 'we have a good tactical card to play, it was a good performance."

Yellow jersey 'gave me wings'

Van der Poel had vowed to defend the yellow jersey, but this was only the second time he had raced a time-trial at the top level, and he reached beyond expectations to hold the lead on his debut Tour.

"He's a true champion, he deserves his yellow, and he put on a great show, didn't he," Pogacar said of Van der Poel.

The raw emotions that accompanied Van der Poel taking yellow on stage two, avenging his recently deceased grandfather and former cyclist Raymond Poulidor, who never wore yellow despite winning seven stages, made way to a lighter-hearted side of 'VDP', as fans call him.

"The jersey gave me wings, I'm really proud of this achievement, it's one I'll remember," said the 26-year-old who was cheered wildly by French fans packed tightly along the course.

On a day when a spectator who caused a mass crash of riders on stage one was arrested by French police, there were tens of thousands of roadside fans infringing onto the route as the tension mounted towards the finish line.

"This was the best day of my career, we didn't think I could keep the jersey today, but we worked well past midnight last night in preparing it all," said Van der Poel, who had a tailored yellow one-piece suit on.

Van der Poel will likely keep the overall lead a few days longer, with two flat stages to come.

Another happy man was veteran Mark Cavendish, who kept hold of the green jersey for best sprinter.

"I held back a bit today because there are two flat stages coming up and I'll need my energy to sprint," said the Isle of Man rider.

The Briton won Tuesday's bunch sprint finish to take his Tour de France tally to 31 and close in on the all-time stage record of 34 held by Belgian great Eddy Merckx.

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Wimbledon open 2021: जोकोविच तीसरे दौर में, बियांका पहले दौर में हारीं

लंदन सर्बियाई स्टार नोवाक जोकोविच बुधवार को केविन एंडरसन पर 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 से जीत दर्ज कर विंबलडन टेनिस ग्रैंडस्लैम के तीसरे दौर में पहुंच गए। जोकोविच कई बार विंबलडन के घसियाले कोर्ट पर फिसले और लड़खड़ाए भी, लेकिन उन्हें एक भी ब्रेक प्वाइंट का सामना नहीं करना पड़ा और उन्होंने केवल छह सहज गलतियां कीं, लेकिन टूर्नामेंट के तीसरे दिन फिर उन्हें पैरों से दिक्कत जारी रही और कई बार फिसलने से उन्हें परेशानी भी हुई जैसा कि अन्य मैचों में अन्य खिलाड़ियों के साथ भी हुआ। विश्व की 58वें नंबर की खिलाड़ी फ्रांस की एलिजे कोर्नेट ने बड़ा उलटफेर करते हुए सातवें रैंकिंग की खिलाड़ी कनाडा की बियांका आंद्रेस्कू को विंबलडन टेनिस टूर्नामेंट के पहले दौर में हरा दिया। कोर्नेट ने एक घंटे 22 मिनट तक चले मुकाबले में बियांका को लगातार सेटों में 6-2, 6-1 से हराया। यह तीन सप्ताह में दूसरी बार है जब कोर्नेट ने पांचवीं सीड बियांका को हराया है। कोर्नेट का अगले दौर में मुकाबला बेल्जियम की ग्रीट मिनर और ऑस्ट्रेलिया के अल्जा टॉमजानोविच के बीच मैच की विजेता खिलाड़ी से होगा। 31 वर्षीय कोर्नेट जो अपना 14वां विंबलडन खेल रहीं है, उन्होंने 2007 से सभी मुख्य ड्रॉ में मुकाबले खेले हैं जबकि बियांका का यह तीसरा विंबलडन टूर्नामेंट है। इस बीच, 16वीं सीड रूस की अनासतासिया पावलिउचेंकोवा ने रोमानिया की एना बोगदान को 6-2, 6-2 से हराया जबकि चेक गणराज्य की कैरोलिना मुचोवा ने चीन की झांग शुआई को 6-3, 6-3 से हराया। सेरेना चोट के कारण पहले दौर से हटींसात बार की चैंपियन सेरेना विलियम्स को मंगलवार को फिसलने के बाद पैर में चोट के कारण पहले दौर के मैच से हटना पड़ा। वहीं रोजर फेडरर के प्रतिद्वंद्वी एड्रियन मनारिनो को गिरने के बाद घुटना मुड़ने के कारण हटना पड़ा। खेल के पहले दो दिनों तक हुई लगातार बारिश के कारण कोर्ट पर फिसलन हो गई। मौसम के कारण कार्यक्रम उथल-पुथलपहले दौर के 27 मैच बुधवार तक खिसक गए। छठे और लगातार तीसरे विंबलडन खिताब की कोशिश में जुटे जोकोविच को एंडरसन से इतनी परेशानी नहीं हुई जितनी फिसलन भरे कोर्ट से हुई जिसमें एक बार तो वह निराशा में बड़बड़ाते हुए खड़े हुए। जोकोविच अगर इस बार विंबलडन खिताब जीत जाते हैं तो वह फेडरर और राफेल नडाल के 20 मेजर ट्रॉफियों के रेकॉर्ड की बराबरी कर लेंगे। फ्रेंच ओपन उप विजेता और 16वीं वरीय अनास्तासिया पावलुचेंकोवा ने अना बोगडान पर एक घंटे में 6-2 6-2 की जीत से दूसरे दौर में प्रवेश किया। कैमिलिया जियोर्जी और 19वीं वरीय कैरोलिना मुचोवा भी दूसरे दौर में पहुंच गयी हैं। पुरूषों के अन्य मुकाबले में योशिहितो निशियोका ने जॉन इस्नर पर 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-4 से जीत दर्ज की। क्वींस क्लब टूर्नामेंट के चैंपियन माटियो बेरेटिनी ने गुइडो पेला को 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 से हराया। अमेरिका के सैम कुरे ने 11वें नंबर के खिलाड़ी पाब्लो कारेनो बुस्टा को 7-6 (6), 6-4, 7-5 से हराकर उलटफेर किया। पूर्व अमेरिकी ओपन उप विजेता केई निशिकोरी ने एलेक्सेई पापीरिन को 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 से हराकर अपने 100वें ग्रैंडस्लैम मैच में जीत हासिल की। पाब्लो एंदुजार के चोट के कारण हटने से 10वें नंबर के डेनिस शापोवालोव तीसरे दौर में पहुंच गए।

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LaLiga: Atletico Madrid to begin title defense against Celta Vigo, Barcelona to host Real Sociedad on opening weekend

Madrid: Atletico Madrid will begin the defence of their La Liga title with a trip to Celta Vigo on the weekend of 14-15 August as the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced the 2021-22 season schedule on Wednesday.

Real Madrid will open their campaign by heading to Alaves and Barca will welcome Real Sociedad in a season which will include fixtures on Fridays and Mondays.

The first 'Clasico' between Barca and Real of the campaign will take place on 24-25 October with the second fixture on 20-21 March.

Sync your team's #LaLigaSantander fixtures to your calendar NOW! 📅📲

— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) June 30, 2021

The Madrid derbies will be held on 12-13 December and 8-9 May, three rounds before the end of the season.

There will be a Christmas break in the Spanish top-flight between 20-30 December.

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FIFA bid process allowing Qatar to host World Cup is 'wrong,' says Denmark's Culture Minister

Copenhagen: Denmark’s culture minister criticized FIFA's bid process that allowed Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup, saying Wednesday it was “wrong" and raised questions of corruption in international sports organizations.

Joy Mogensen said it “undermines the values and integrity of the beautiful sport that binds the world together.”

In a statement after a virtual meeting of the Nordic culture ministers that she hosted, Mogensen said the five nations — Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland — “share a similar view of the problem.”

“Closeness and corruption is something we must get rid of in top sports,” she said, adding that the Nordic countries must work together “if we want to get anywhere."

In 2010, Qatar won the right to host the World Cup in a contentious FIFA vote that sparked corruption investigations into the entire bidding process. Evidence was not found by FIFA to warrant stripping Qatar of the hosting rights.

The natural gas-rich emirate has spent tens of billions of dollars to build hotels, a new transport system and lavish stadiums to cope with staging one of the biggest sporting events.

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Tokyo Olympics 2020: World 400m champion Salwa Eid Naser to miss Games due to two-year doping ban

Lausanne: World 400m champion Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain was banned for two years for doping on Wednesday in a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Sport's top court upheld an appeal by World Athletics against a ruling by the federation's own disciplinary tribunal which had cleared Nigerian-born Naser of missing doping tests.

The ruling means she will be unable to take part in the Tokyo Olympics that begin next month.

Naser, 23, stunned the athletics world when she powered to the third-fastest 400m in history to take the world title in Doha in 2019.

Her time of 48.14sec has only been bettered by Marita Koch of the then-East Germany and the Czech Republic's Jarmila Kratochvilova in the 1980s.

Naser was initially charged with breaking rules governing her availability to undergo anti-doping testing and provisionally suspended in June last year.

But the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) disciplinary tribunal ruled in October that Naser had not violated anti-doping rules in relation to both missing tests and providing information relating to those tests.

CAS overturned that decision and ruled that the two-year ban should begin on Wednesday.

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Premier League: Rafael Benitez appointed Everton boss despite fan protests

London: Everton confirmed the appointment of Rafael Benitez as their new manager on Wednesday despite fan protests against the Premier League club's move for the former Liverpool boss.

Benitez has agreed a three-year contract with Everton and succeeds Carlo Ancelotti, who left Goodison Park to join Real Madrid at the start of June.

The Spaniard is the first man to manage both Merseyside teams since William Edward Barclay in the 1890s.

"I am delighted to be joining Everton," said Benitez. "Throughout this process I have been greatly impressed by the ambition shown by the senior representatives at the club and their desire to bring success to this historic club.

"I believe this is a club that is going places. I'm determined to play a big part in helping this great club achieve its ambitions."

Benitez's appointment will antagonise a significant section of Everton's fan base after he criticised the Toffees during his time at Liverpool.

Everton supporters' animosity towards Benitez was raised above the usual level reserved for a Reds boss ever since his "small club" jibe after a 2007 Merseyside derby.

Benitez has since sought to clarify he was referring to what he believed was a "small-team" mentality from Everton in the game rather than as a club.

On Monday, police confirmed they were investigating the placing of a "threatening" banner with the words "We know where you live. Don't sign" hung over a garden wall close to Benitez's home, which is near Liverpool.

Offensive banners have previously been put up at the stadium.

Farhad Moshiri, Everton's major shareholder, ignored the dissenting voices to pursue "proven winner" Benitez, who won the Champions League and FA Cup during his six-year Liverpool reign, which ended in 2010.

'Proven winner'

"Rafa impressed us greatly with his knowledge and experience but, above all, the passion and hunger he showed to join our club," Moshiri said.

"We are appointing Rafa because we believe he will bring success to our club and to Evertonians."

Former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo was the early favourite to join Everton but he is now reported to be Tottenham's latest choice in their prolonged managerial search.

Instead, it is Benitez who will run the gauntlet at Everton, with his first Premier League match in charge coming at home to Southampton on 14 August.

Ancelotti was unable to secure qualification for Europe last season despite the prolific form of striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Benitez takes over a squad that needs improvement.

But he will be under pressure to make a fast start to win over Everton's angry fans.

His first eagerly anticipated showdown with Liverpool is scheduled for November 30 at Goodison Park, while the Anfield meeting is in April next year.

Benitez will start work at Everton's Finch Farm training headquarters on 5 July, with assistant manager Duncan Ferguson and goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly remaining at the club.

The Everton job will be the fourth Premier League stint for Benitez, who had a rocky three-year stay at Newcastle that ended in 2019 before a spell in China.

The 61-year-old won the Europa League with Chelsea during his spell as interim boss in 2012/13 before joining Napoli.

Benitez has also managed Valencia, Inter Milan and Real Madrid in a well-travelled career.

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FIH Rankings: Australia men's team move into first place, India men's, women's sides remain in 4th, 10th

Lausanne: The Indian men's and women's hockey teams remained unchanged at fourth and 10th spot respectively in the FIH rankings released on Wednesday.

Australia moved to the top of the men's world rankings with 2513.67 points after a string of victories over New Zealand, both in the FIH Hockey Pro League and an FIH sanctioned test series.

The Kookaburras dethroned Belgium (2449.67 points) from the top spot with the European side dropping to the second position after taking the bronze medal in the EuroHockey Championships in Amstelveen.

The Netherlands' European title victory in Amstelveen has seen them strengthen their hold on third place, moving onto 2355.13 points.

India remain fourth (2223.45), with fifth-placed Germany (2163.57) having closed the gap on them thanks to a fine silver medal-winning performance at the Euros.

The top ten is completed by England (6th 2007.49), Argentina (7th 1923.42), New Zealand (8th 1655.99), Spain (9th 1546.86) and Canada (10th 1509.19), who all retain their positions from the previous update at the beginning of June.

There is no change at the top of the women's world rankings, with the Netherlands extending their lead over second-ranked Argentina to almost 600 points.

A successful defence of their European title has moved the Netherlands onto 2805.66 points, with Las Leonas having 2235.59.

Germany's silver medal at the Euros has seen them climb from fifth to third place with 2183.79 points, with Australia (2130.40) and England (2082.40) in fourth and fifth place respectively.

New Zealand (1903.35) and Spain (1770.90) retain the sixth and seventh positions, while Belgium's strong performance at the European Championships has seen them climb from 12th to eighth place with 1700.75 points.

The women's top ten is completed by ninth-placed Ireland (1681.88) and India (1643.00), who are in tenth position.

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Tuesday, June 29, 2021

पूर्व दिग्गज खिलाड़ी की टीम इंडिया को बड़ी सलाह, इस मन्त्र से जीत सकेंगे बड़े टूर्नामेंट का सेमीफाइनल और फाइनल

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कप्तान केन विलियमसन ने ICC टेस्ट मेस को लेकर कही मजेदार बात

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8 WWE रेसलर्स जिन्हें रेसलिंग के बाहर भी अवॉर्ड मिल चुके हैं

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BCCI ने शेयर किया भारतीय महिला टीम का सफ़र, दूसरे ODI के लिए पहुंची टांटन

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'मैं अभी भी खेल सकता हूँ लेकिन फिटनेस टेस्ट पास नहीं कर पाऊंगा' दिग्गज खिलाड़ी का बड़ा बयान

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पाकिस्तानी गेंदबाज ने इंग्लैंड के खिलाफ सीरीज के लिए दिया बड़ा बयान

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सस्पेंड होने के बाद श्रीलंकाई खिलाड़ी लौटे स्वदेश, मामले की होगी जांच

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5 सबसे जबरदस्त मुकाबले जो 2021 में अबतक हुए WWE पीपीवी में देखने को मिले हैं

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'रोहित शर्मा सबसे बेहतरीन पुल शॉट खेलते हैं,' इंग्लैंड से आया बयान

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'भारत के पास मौजूदा समय में बेहतरीन तेज गेंदबाजी आक्रमण है'

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राशिद खान ने अपनी बेहतरीन गेंदबाजी का श्रेय IPL को दिया

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बीयर की शर्त हार गए जर्मन विदेश मंत्री, यूरो कप में इंग्लैंड के खिलाफ लगाया था दांव

वेम्बली यूरो कप 2020 में मंगलवार रात दो जबरदस्त टीमों की टक्कर हुई। आमने-सामने थे इंग्लैंड और जर्मनी। मैदान पर भले ही खिलाड़ियों के बीच घमासान था, लेकिन फिल्ड के बाहर दांव पर लगी थी आदरणीयों की प्रतिष्ठा। दरअसल, दोनों ही देशों के विदेश मंत्रियों ने अपनी-अपनी टीम की जीत पर बीयर की शर्त लगा ली थी। हालांकि चुनौती देने वाले जर्मन विदेश मंत्री हेइको पास को निराशा हाथ लगी, क्योंकि उनके देश की टीम ने 0-2 से यह नॉकआउट मुकाबला गंवाया। शिखर सम्मेलन में थे दोनोंदक्षिणी इतालवी शहर मटेरा में एकदिवसीय शिखर सम्मेलन का आयोजन किया गया था, जहां दुनियाभर की 20 प्रमुख अर्थव्यवस्था के विदेश मंत्रियों ने शिरकत की थी। जर्मनी से हेइको पास तो इंग्लैंड से डोमिनिक राब यहां पहुंचे थे। दोनों ही देशों में फुटबॉल की जबरदस्त दीवानगी है। प्रमुख राजनयिक बातचीत के बीच जर्मनी के फॉरेन मिनिस्टर राब ने ट्वीट किया, 'मेरे यूनाइटेड किंगडम के सहयोगी और मैं अंतरराष्ट्रीय मामलों में लगभग हर मामले पर सहमत हैं, लेकिन इस बात पर नहीं कि आज रात वेम्बली में कौन जीतेगा। तो, थोड़ा दांव कैसा रहेगा। जीतने वाले को बीयर की एक कैरेट मिलेगी। जर्मनी ने वेम्बली में अपने पिछले सात मैच नहीं गंवाए।' ब्रिटिश मंत्री ने डोमिनिक राब ने भी चुनौती स्वीकार करते हुए जवाब दिया था। मैच खत्म होने के बाद हेइको पास ने एक और ट्वीट करते हुए न सिर्फ इंग्लैंड को जीत की बधाई दी बल्कि बीयर भी पिलाने का आश्वासन दिया। कोच साउथगेट का भरा घावइंग्लैंड की फुटबॉल टीम के मौजूदा कोच गारेथ साउथगेट 25 साल पहले यूरो के सेमीफाइनल में एक खिलाड़ी के तौर पर मैदान में थे। तब जर्मनी के खिलाफ हुए उस मुकाबले में वह एक पेनल्टी चूक गए थे और उनकी टीम बाहर हो गई थी। साउथगेट का 1996 का घाव अब जाकर भरा है जब उनकी कोचिंग में इंग्लिश टीम ने अपने चिर प्रतिद्वंद्वी जर्मनी को 2-0 से शिकस्त देकर यूरो 2020 के क्वॉर्टर फाइनल में जगह बनाई। दूसरे हाफ में आए दोनों गोलवेम्बली स्टेडियम में दर्शकों की मौजूदगी में खेले गए इस मैच में पहला हाफ गोलरहित छूटने के बाद दूसरे हाफ में 75वें मिनट में रहीम स्टर्लिंग ने इंग्लैंड के लिए खाता खोला। इसके 11 मिनट बाद कैप्टन हैरी केन ने एक और गोल दागकर अपनी टीम की जीत लगभग पक्की कर दी। इस जीत के साथ इंग्लिश टीम लगातार 10वें मैच में अजेय रही। इंग्लिश टीम के खिलाफ पिछले 540 मिनट के खेल में कोई गोल नहीं हो सका है।

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Wimbledon 2021: 'Lucky' Roger Federer survives scare from Adrian Mannarino to reach second round

London: Roger Federer survived a huge Wimbledon scare on Tuesday when French opponent Adrian Mannarino was forced to retire injured at the start of the fifth set of their first round tie with the Swiss great admitting: "I got lucky".

Eight-time champion Federer was level at 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 3-6, 6-2 when Mannarino called it quits after just one point in the decider.

The Frenchman, celebrating his 33rd birthday, suffered a bad fall on the Centre Court grass in the seventh game of the fourth set.

Despite taking treatment from the trainer, he was hardly able to move and, grimacing in pain, had to retire.

"It's awful and shows one shot can change the outcome of a match, season, career and I wish him all the best and hope we see him back quickly," said Federer.

"He was the better player, he could have won, I got a bit lucky.

"That's how it goes sometimes, you don't get many walkovers and try not to have it happen to yourself.

"It's a reminder how quickly it goes but I am obviously happy I can get another match here -- I enjoyed myself today and it was great fun until the end."

Just five weeks shy of his 40th birthday, Federer faces either Richard Gasquet of France or Japan's Yuichi Sugita for a place in the last 32.

Federer fired 16 aces and 54 winners on Tuesday but will be concerned by committing 45 unforced errors.

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Tour de France 2021: With 'fire in eyes' Mark Cavendish grabs first stage win in five years

Fougères (France): Mark Cavendish broke down and wept after sprinting to his first Tour de France stage victory in five years on Tuesday, taking his tally of wins to 31 on the world's greatest bike race.

Cavendish only made the Deceuninck Tour de France roster after Irish sprinter Sam Bennett pulled out at the last minute and was generous in his praise of the team's crucial role in his return to the top.

The signs looked good early on in the fourth stage when Cavendish won the intermediate sprint, his maximum 70-point gain on the day handing him the green jersey awarded to the sprint points leader.

In the sprint on this relatively short stage Cavendish showed all his savvy, biding his time to edge ahead with 50 metres to go and eventually finishing ahead of French sprinter Nacer Bouhanni.

Known as the "Manx Missile", the rider from the Isle of Man shook his head in disbelief as he pulled on the green jersey.

"It's been five years too long," said Cavendish, inching closer to Belgian cycling legend Eddie Merckx's record of 34 individual stage wins between 1969-75.

"There has been a lot of talk about my condition and I hope this gives hope to people in my condition," said the 36-year-old who was diagnosed in 2017 with the Epstein-Barr virus, which can cause persistent fatigue.

Conversely there was heartbreak for Belgian rookie Brent Van Moer as the 23-year-old Lotto rider was caught just 150 metres from the finish line after leading an escape for the majority of the attack.

'I had fire in my eyes'

Cavendish hailed world champion Julian Alaphilippe, from whom he inherits the green jersey, after the Frenchman gave everything to get Cavendish into position.

"I didn't think we were going to catch him," Cavendish admitted.

"The GC (overall standings) guys were ahead blocking the road and we couldn't get them going.

"But I had fire in my eyes," said an emotional Cavendish.

"It's not easy winning a Tour de France stage, the hardest thing has been people not understanding how hard it was to win those stages," he said of the years when his career seemed to have stalled.

"It's not about proving anyone wrong. I knew I could do it, I just need someone to believe in me and that was Patrick Lefevere, and my wife at home, those are the people I wanted to believe."

Cavendish was out of contract in December but was taken 'home' to Deceuninck Quick-Step, who call themselves 'the Wolfpack', by maverick Belgian team boss Lefevere, a larger-than-life character Cavendish has always trusted and believed in.

Lefevere sent Cavendish to the level two Tour of Turkey in April and when he won four stages there, the foundation stone for a return to the top had been laid.

"I know why I'm good or bad, and I need a happy place, a team that functions as team, a bike that fitted me, that's why I came back to Quick Step (Deceuninck) for the happiest time of my life," said the stocky sprinter.

"The Wolfpack thing is not just the face of wolf on a t-shirt, look at Julian Alaphilippe today giving all that, I feel privileged," Cavendish said.

Alaphilippe won stage one to take the yellow jersey before losing it to Mathieu van der Poel on Sunday, but on Wednesday's time-trial the French rider, on paper at least, has a good chance of winning it back.

The 2020 champion, Tadej Pogacar, is also gunning for a win on Wednesday.

"Yes tomorrow is critical," the Slovene said. "I've been thinking about it since I got here."

Dutch rookie Van der Poel, who shed his own tears in memory of his cycling grandfather on Sunday, said he felt he would lose the overall lead on the stage five time-trial.

"We'll be trying to get another stage victory somewhere else, it'll be too tough for us tomorrow," he said.

Alaphilippe has worn the yellow jersey 18 times and trails Van der Poel by just eight seconds, with Pogacar in sixth overall, a further 30 seconds down on his chief threat ahead of Wednesday's 27km test.

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LIVE Football Score, Euro 2020, Sweden vs Ukraine: In-form Swedes aim to continue unbeaten run

Click here to follow all the live action from the Round of 16 clash between Sweden and Ukraine

Preview: The Sweden defender was a frequent visitor — and winner — at Hampden Park in a successful eight seasons at Celtic until leaving in 2019.

“It’s amazing. I haven’t been back since I left,” Lustig said ahead of returning to the city and a stadium where he won four Scottish Cup finals. “All my friends in Glasgow, be there!”

Lustig is in rare company for the last scheduled game in the Round of 16 at Euro 2020.

Sweden last played at Hampden Park 40 years ago, one month before Zlatan Ibrahimovic was born, in a World Cup qualifying match. Ukraine has made only one trip, 14 years ago for a Euro 2008 qualifier, in nearly three decades as an independent football nation.

Both teams lost those games against Scotland but one will leave Glasgow with their nation's first win in the knockout round of a European Championship — and set up a match against either England or Germany in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Rome.

About 10,000 fans are expected at the storied 52,000-capacity stadium in Glasgow but few will be able to travel from the two nations because of quarantine rules required by Scottish authorities.

“My view is that it’s a wrong decision,” Sweden coach Janne Andersson said through a translator on Monday. “I think it’s really weird that they decided to host the game where our supporters are not allowed to join and watch the game.”

Lustig was more optimistic, saying “there are many Swedes in the UK I hope they get there.”

“I have many friends in Glasgow who can solve it,” said the 34-year-old defender, who won eight straight league titles with Celtic and now plays for AIK Stockholm.

Ukraine coach Andriy Shevchenko looked toward "a very big Ukrainian diaspora in the UK and we hope that they will come to support us.”

Lustig shares a little history with Shevchenko, the greatest player of his nation’s modern football's history.

Shevchenko scored in that 3-1 loss to Scotland in 2007, and also got both goals in the only previous competitive game between Ukraine and Sweden — a 2-1 win for co-host Ukraine at Euro 2012.

Lustig and current Sweden captain Sebastian Larsson both started that game, as did Andriy Yarmolenko, who is now the captain of Ukraine.

Since then, Yarmolenko has played in all of Ukraine's eight games at European Championships. The only victory was beating North Macedonia 2-1 on 17 June, a result which put Ukraine into the Round of 16 with the worst record of the advancing teams — three points and a negative goal difference.

Sweden won their group ahead of Spain to match coach Janne Andersson’s achievement from the 2018 World Cup of leading an underestimated team to first place in a tough group.

Spain looked as if they would win the group until Sweden scored in stoppage time to beat Poland 3-2. Had the Poles won, they would have advanced instead of Ukraine.

“In the end, fate gave us a second chance,” Ukraine midfielder Oleksandr Zubkov said, “and it is a sin not to use them.”

With inputs from AP

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Euro 2020: Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane propel England to quarters as 55-year German curse ends

London: Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane fired England into the Euro 2020 quarter-finals as they sealed a 2-0 win against Germany that ended decades of hurt at the hands of their bitter rivals on Tuesday.

Sterling struck with 15 minutes left in a tense last 16 tie at Wembley before Kane clinched England's first knockout stage victory over Germany since 1966.

In the 55 years since England beat the Germans in the World Cup final, the Three Lions had endured a painful litany of defeats against Die Mannschaft when the stakes were highest.

England were eliminated from the 1970, 1990 and 2010 World Cups by Germany, who also beat them in the Euro 96 semi-finals at Wembley.

But Gareth Southgate's side have finally exorcised the ghosts of Paul Gascoigne's tears and their own manager's penalty miss 25 years ago.

England produced a gritty display capped by clinical finishes from Sterling, who now has three goals in the tournament, and Kane — who finally bagged his first of the competition.

England, yet to concede a goal in the tournament, head to Rome on Saturday for a quarter-final against the winners of Tuesday's other last 16 tie between Sweden and Ukraine.

Chasing a first major international trophy since 1966, England's side of the draw looks wide open, with a potential semi-final against Denmark or the Czech Republic unlikely to strike fear into their hearts.

It was only England's second knockout stage win in the history of the European Championship and their first victory over Germany at Wembley since 1975.

For Germany manager Joachim Loew, it was an agonising end to his reign as he prepares to step down after the tournament.

Always keen to deflect attention, Southgate will have relished his moment of redemption, especially since his decision to switch to a three-man defence to match up with the German formation paid off.

With the vast majority of the 40,000 crowd supporting England, the players walked out to a wall of sound that included a hostile reception for the German national anthem.

Knockout blow

England needed a tone-setting moment to ease their visible anxiety early on and Sterling provided it as he drove forward for a 25-yard blast that forced a fine save from Manuel Neuer.

With Harry Maguire winning a series of thunderous headers and tackles and Bukayo Saka probing intelligently on the right flank, England gradually took control.

However, Germany almost snatched the lead as Kai Havertz played an inch-perfect pass to Timo Werner inside the England area.

But Werner endured a dismal first season in front of goal for Chelsea and once again he was unable to produce a precise finish as he shot straight at Jordan Pickford.

A misplaced pass from Thomas Mueller sent Sterling scampering through the Germany defence on the stroke of half-time.

Yet when the ball ran to Kane, he was too slow to apply the finishing touch as he rounded Neuer and Mats Hummels' tackle snuffed out the danger.

Havertz's blistering half-volley forced a superb tip over from Pickford soon after the interval.

It was Saka who made way when Southgate made his first change, sending on Jack Grealish in a game-defining moment.

Grealish's presence immediately brought more energy to England and in the 75th minute they finally delivered the knockout blow.

Grealish worked the ball wide to Luke Shaw and his low cross reached Sterling, who pounced with a clinical close-range finish to send Wembley into ecstasy.

Mueller should have equalised when Havertz's pass sent him clean through, but the Bayern Munich star rolled his shot wide and fell to the turf in dismay.

Kane made Mueller pay in the 86th minute as he finished off a lethal England counter-attack with a diving header past Neuer from Grealish's cross.

During the first day of England's Euro camp at St George's Park, Southgate showed his squad a motivational video featuring some of the team's greatest victories.

Now they have added their own chapter to the list of England's finest moments.

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England vs Sri Lanka: Chris Woakes’s 4/18, Joe Root’s 79 not out help hosts start ODI series with five-wicket win

Chester-le-Street, United Kingdom: Chris Woakes set up a comfortable five-wicket win finished by Joe Root as England again proved too strong for Sri Lanka in the opening one-day international at the Riverside on Tuesday to go 1-0 up in a three-match series.

Woakes, in only his third international in over nine months, finished with excellent figures of 4-18 from his full 10 overs as 50-over world champions England dismissed Sri Lanka for a meagre 185 at Durham's headquarters.

Root, in his 150th match at this level, then made 79 not out as England cantered home with more than 15 overs to spare after a brief wobble.

'Felt good'

Warwickshire all-rounder Woakes, named player of the match, told BBC Radio: "I felt good today, it is always nice to get a couple (of wickets) early.

"I try to assess conditions early, and work out what it is best to do on the wicket, while taking wickets. I just try and make it as hard as possible for the batter on that wicket."

Sri Lanka's batting had faltered repeatedly during a preceding 3-0 T20 series loss to England and it was no great surprise to see them dismissed cheaply after England captain Eoin Morgan won the toss.

Chris Woakes in action during the first ODI between England and Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street. AP

The tourists were missing three senior players after Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka were all sent home following a breach of team Covid-19 regulations.

Sri Lanka captain Kusal Perera made a valuable 73 for a Sri Lanka side featuring three debutants.

Together with Wanindu Hasaranga (54) he shared a stand of 99.

Perera and Hasaranga kept England at bay, the former with stylish top-order and the latter aggressively taking 22 in boundaries off fellow leg-spinner Adil Rashid.

Woakes' return ended the partnership, with Hasaranga holing out in the deep.

That was the start of a collapse that saw seven wickets lost for 40 runs, with left-arm quick Willey removing Perera on his way to 3-44.

Jonny Bairstow hit the first two balls of England's reply for four before he played on to paceman Binura Fernando for 43.

Morgan and Sam Billings both fell cheaply to fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera.

But Sri Lanka, defending such a low total, needed every chance to go to hand if they were to achieve an improbable victory.

ROOOOOOOT 5⃣0⃣

Scorecard/clips: https://t.co/1qUI0cauCt

#ENGvSL @IGcom pic.twitter.com/r6EDL89waG

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 29, 2021

Instead wicketkeeper Perera dropped Moeen Ali first ball. Had he clung on, England would have been 80-5 — by the time Moeen was out for 28 they had all but won the game at 171-5.

Test captain Root batted serenely, hitting just two fours in a 58-ball fifty, before Sam Curran struck the winning runs.

"Joe Root is one of the best in the world in most situations," said Morgan. "Today he showed his class."

Such are the demands upon Root, he has been left out of England's T20 side in recent times as much as to help give him a break from the demands of Test and ODI cricket as much as on form grounds.

But Morgan, speaking on a day where it was confirmed the Twenty20 World Cup starting in October had been moved from India to the United Arab Emirates and Oman because of Covid-19 concerns, said of Root: "You can't rule him out of the T20 World Cup. He went a long way to getting us to the final in 2016."

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Highlights, Euro 2020, England vs Germany: Stirling, Kane propel Three Lions into quarters

Click here to follow all the live action from the round of 16 clash between England and Germany.

Preview: When you train on the Sir Bobby Charlton Pitch, it’s hard to escape the burden of past glory.

And when Gareth Southgate is your coach, it’s even harder for the England players to escape the anguish that can come from playing Germany at a tournament.

It was Southgate’s penalty miss in a shootout against Germany that prevented England from reaching the 1996 European Championship final at the old Wembley Stadium.

There had already been the loss to Germany on penalties at the 1990 World Cup. Twenty years later came more World Cup agony against Germany, laced with the injustice of a wrongly disallowed goal.

No wonder the renewal of the rivalry with Germany on Tuesday in the round of 16 at this year's European Championship is rousing so many memories of past meetings in England.

But it can seem to be a lopsided rivalry.

There’s little sense in Germany about righting any wrongs of the past, despite the still inconclusive debate over whether Geoff Hurst’s decisive goal really did cross the line before Charlton and Co. lifted the World Cup in 1966 at Wembley. Even though Uwe Seeler did say ahead of Tuesday's 33rd England-Germany match “this wound will always be there" from the 1966 team he captained.

That final produced what remains England’s only major international trophy and a reference point in the history of the nation, beyond sports. Germany had already won the World Cup by that point -- in 1954 — and has won another three titles since then pre- and post-unification. Add a trio of European Championship wins on top of that and you see that Germany has many glory-filled memories, while England clings to the nostalgia of 1966 and the subsequent heartache often inflicted by its foe.

But it can seem largely former players and fans feeling the weight of history.

“We’ve got boys born into the 2000s, which is obviously scary,” Southgate said. “It’s of no consequence to them … what happened in 1990 and so on. Of course, they’re watching that stuff.”

Southgate played the squad clips of him missing that penalty in the Euro ’96 semifinals when they met up for this European Championship.

“It isn’t nice for him but it is nice to get the experience from your coach,” England midfielder Kalvin Phillips said. “You don’t really want to talk too much about it to Gareth in case it is too much of a touchy subject.”

Like Phillips, Germany wing back Robin Gosens wasn't born in 1996.

“I obviously heard a lot about it,” he said. “Thinking about it gives you a good feeling and we want to repeat that.”

Ask many current England players about their first memories of a match against Germany and it’s the 2010 World Cup when Frank Lampard’s shot crossed the line but was ruled out, sparking the introduction of goal-line technology.

Thomas Müller scored twice in Germany’s eventual 4-1 victory and the forward is part of Germany’s old guard of 2014 World Cup champions still part of the squad at Euro 2020.

"That has nothing to do with Tuesday’s game,” Müller said. “Some people will be able to draw some motivation from that.”

There's much more familiarity between England and Germany these days in the club game. There are German coaches in the Premier League with Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool and Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea, who have been quickly embraced in England for their tactical intelligence and affable public engagement in English.

“The charisma he has got, a lot of people love him even if you’re a neutral fan," England midfielder Jordan Henderson said of Klopp, his coach at Liverpool. “He’s had a big part in English football.”

Six of Germany's European Championship squad play in the Premier League, including Chelsea's recent Champions League-winning duo Kai Havertz and Timo Werner. Another member of Joachim Löw's squad, Bayern Munich teenager Jamal Musiala, only switched his national eligibility this year after playing for both Germany and England youth teams.

“A lot of focus is placed on technical training at a young age in England,” Musiala said. “We did special skills exercises at least once a week. When I came to Germany, it was more about beating your competition and winning.”

In Germany, they wonder about the Bundesliga player in Southgate's squad not starting. Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho's only appearance so far was as a late substitute in the group-stage win over the Czech Republic.

“When I get my chance to play,” he said. “I’ll show everyone what I can do. I know quite a lot of the players in Germany. I play against them week in, week out.”

With inputs from The Associated Press

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UEFA EURO 2020: जर्मनी को टूर्नामेंट से बाहर कर इंग्लैंड ने कटाया क्वार्टर फाइनल का टिकट

वेम्बली रहीम स्टर्लिंग और कप्तान हैरी कैन के दूसरे हाफ में किए गए गोल की बदौलत इंग्लैंड ने पुराने प्रतिद्वंद्वी जर्मनी को 2-0 से हराकर यूरो कप 2020 के क्वार्टर फाइनल में जगह बनाई। मंगलवार को लंदन के वेम्बली स्टेडियम में हुए इस मुकाबले में हार के साथ ही दो बार की चैंपियन जर्मनी टूर्नामेंट से बाहर हो गई। स्टर्लिंग ने मैच के 75वें मिनट में गोल किया वहीं केन ने 86वें मिनट में हेडर से गोल कर अपनी टीम को जीत दिलाई। यूरोपियन चैंपियनशिप में सिर्फ दूसरी बार इंग्लैंड की टीम ने नॉकआउट में कोई मैच जीता है। 1966 के वर्ल्ड कप फाइनल की तरह इंग्लैंड ने मंगलवार को जर्मनी को 2-0 से हराया। इंग्लैंड के लिए रहीम का नाम एक बार फिर स्कोरशीट पर दर्ज हो गया। इंग्लैंड ने ग्रुप स्टेज पर दो मैच जीते थे और दोनों में रहीम ने गोल किया था। यूरो 2020 के इस राउंड ऑफ 16 के इस मैच में इंग्लैंड ने पहली बार एक से ज्यादा गोल किए। कप्तान हैरी कैन ने गोल कर अपने कंधों पर पड़ा दबाव कम किया। उन्होंने जैक ग्रीलिश के क्रॉस पर हेडर से गोल कर इंग्लैंड को यूरोपियन चैंपियनशिप के नॉक आउट में सिर्फ दूसरी बार जीत दिलाने में अहम किरदार निभाया। इससे पहले यूरो 96 में इंग्लैंड ने स्पेन को हराया था। तब जर्मनी ने इसी वेम्बली मैदान पर उसे हराकर फाइनल में जगह बनाई थी।

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Wimbledon 2021: अगले दौर में फेडरर, वीनस ने 90वें ग्रैंडस्लैम में दर्ज की 90वीं जीत

लंदन महान टेनिस खिलाड़ी रोजर फेडरर ने विबंलडन ओपन के दूसरे दौर में जगह बनाई। अमेरिकी धुरंधर टेनिस खिलाड़ी वीनस विलियम्स ने अपने करियर के 90वें ग्रैंडस्लैम टूर्नामेंट में 90वीं जीत दर्ज करते हुए विंबलडन के अगले दौर में प्रवेश कर लिया। पांच बार की चैंपियन 41 बरस की वीनस ने 2018 के बाद विंबलडन में पहला मैच जीता है, उन्होंने रोमानिया की मिहाएला बुजार्नेस्कू को 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 से हराया। दुनिया की पूर्व नंबर एक खिलाड़ी वीनस इस सप्ताह रैंकिंगमें 111वें स्थान पर थी और पिछले आठ ग्रैंडस्लैम में पहले या दूसरे दौर में ही हार गई थी। दूसरे दिन का खेल भी बारिश के कारण बाधित रहा और 18 मैच स्थगित हो गए। पुरूष वर्ग में अमेरिका के सेबेस्टियन कोरडा ने 15वीं रैंकिंग वाले एलेक्स डि मिनाउर को 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 से हराया। चौथी रैंकिंग वाले अलेक्जेंडर ज्वेरेव, नौवीं रैंकिंग वाले डिएगो श्वार्त्जमैन ओर 26वीं रैकिंग वाले फेबियो फोगनिनी भी अगले दौर में पहुंच गए। बार्टी, प्लीसकोवा भी दूसरे दौर मेंविश्व की नंबर-1 महिला टेनिस खिलाड़ी एश्ले बार्टी और 13वें नंबर की खिलाड़ी कैरोलिना प्लीसकोवा ने भी दूसरे दौर में जगह बना ली है। एश्ले ने जहां कार्ला सुआरेज नवारो को 6-1, 6-7(1), 6-1 से हराया, वहीं आठवीं वरीयता प्राप्त कैरोलिना ने स्लोवेनिया की फ्रेंच ओपन सेमीफाइनलिस्ट तमारा जिदानसेक को 7-5, 6-4 से हराया। एश्ले ने मुकाबले के दौरान 37 विनर्स लगाए जबकि कार्ला 12 विनर्स ही लगा सकीं। इसी तरह प्लीसकोवा ने 10 एस लगाए और अफने 82 फीसदी अंक पहले सर्विस से हासिल किए। 21वीं वरीयता प्राप्त ट्यूनीशिया की ओन्स जाबेउर जो इस महीने बमिंर्घम क्लासिक जीतने में सफल रहीं थीं और डब्ल्यूटीए टूर खिताब जीतने वाली पहली अरब महिला बनीं थीं, ने स्वीडन की रेबेका पीटरसन को केवल एक घंटे में 6-2, 6-1 से हराया।

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LIVE Cricket Score, West Indies vs South Africa, 3rd T20I in Grenada

Toggle between the tabs above to switch between quick scorecard, full scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary

Toss report: West Indies won the toss, and chose to field as they hope to regain the series lead in the third T20I against South Africa at the National Cricket Stadium in St George's, Grenada.

Both teams made changes to their XIs for the third game. For the West Indies, veteran hard-hitting batsman Chris Gayle missed out along with opener Andre Fletcher, with Shimron Hetmyer and Lendl Simmons taking their places in the top order. The Proteas, who bounced back in the T20I leg of the tour of the Caribbean with a 16-run win in the second match, replaced Aiden Markram with Heinrich Klaasen in their middle order.

West Indies captain Kieron Pollard flips the coin during toss while his South African counterpart Temba Bavuma looks on. Image credit: Twitter/@OfficialCSA

West Indies had begun the five-T20I series, crucial to both teams in their preparation for the T20 World Cup in the UAE later this year, on a strong note after the mauling at the hands of the South Africans in the Test series earlier this month. Opting to field in that game as well, Fabian Allen led the way among the bowlers with 2/18 to restrict the visitors to 160/6 before Evin Lewis (71 off 35 balls) went berserk in the run-chase to setup a comfortable eight-wicket win.

South Africa, however, pulled level in the very next game. Put in to bat once again, South Africa got off to a flying start thanks to openers Reeza Hendicks and Quinton de Kock, the pair adding 73 runs, with skipper Temba Bavuma also chipping in with a valuable 46. While the South Africans couldn't make the most of the strong start as they ended up a total that was just six runs more than what they had managed in the series opener, the bowlers were far more disciplined this time around as Kagiso Rabada (3/37) and George Linde (2/19) led the way to setup a 16-run series-levelling win.

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Tokyo Olympics 2020: Veteran discus thrower Seema Punia seals Olympic quota in Nationals; Hima Das set to miss Games

Patiala: Veteran discus thrower Seema Punia on Tuesday qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a gold-wining effort of 63.72m on the final day of the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Patiala.

The 37-year-old Punia, who had won a silver in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a bronze in the 2018 Asian Games, breached the Olympic qualifying mark of 63.50m.

She became the 12th individual Indian athlete to qualify for the Tokyo Games.

Punia had reached Patiala from Minsk, where she had taken part in Belarus Open Championship last week, in the wee hours on Sunday.

She went past the 60m mark on four of her five legal throws and found the power to breach the Olympic qualifying mark in her fourth try.

She will be taking part in her fourth Olympics after the 2004, 2012 and 2016 editions of the Games.

Without a world ranking since she was nursing a glutes (muscles of buttocks) injury, Punia was taking part in only her third competition since the 2018 Asian Games.

She threw 62.64m in the Federation Cup in Patiala in March and after managing 58.62 in Minsk on 25 June, she secured her ticket to Tokyo Games with her first throws of over 63m since August 2004 in Kiev.

"I know I can throw farther with my training but I was wary of aggravating the issue with my glutes muscles. I have worked hard over the last two-and-half years since the Asian Games and am happy that I could secure qualification today," Punia said.

"I will consult the Athletics Federation of India and draw up my training programme for the Olympic Games," she added.

Punia will be the second Indian woman to take part in the event in the Tokyo Olympics after national record holder Kamalpreet Kaur, who threw the iron disc to a distance of 66.59m in the Indian Grand Prix 4 on Monday last.

Kaur did not start in the event on Tuesday, though her name was there initially.

Star sprinter Hima Das, who sustained a hamstring injury on Saturday while running 100m heats, is set to miss the Tokyo Olympics as the women's 4x100m of which she was a part earlier clocked 44.15 seconds, well outside the targeted time of 43.03 seconds.

Indian athlete Hima Das is part of 4x100m women's relay team. AP

Hima also tried to compete in the women's 200m final, chasing 22.80 seconds to qualify for Olympics, but finished fifth in 25.03 seconds. PD Anjali (Kerala) and Lovepreet Singh (Punjab) were the winners of the women's and men's 200m sprints in 24.01 seconds and 21.04 seconds respectively.

Besides the 4x400m mixed relay squad, Avinash Sable (men's 3000m Steeplechase), Tajinder Pal Singh Toor (men's shot put), Neeraj Chopra and Shivpal Singh (men's javelin throw), M Sreeshankar (men's long jump), Kamalpreet Kaur (women's discus Throw) and 20km race walkers KT Irfan, Sandeep Kumar and Rahul Rohila (men) and Bhawna Jat and Priyanka Goswami (women) have already qualified for the Olympics.

There is expectation that some others like MP Jabir (men's 400m hurdles), Dutee Chand (women's 100m and 200m), Annu Rani (women's javelin throw) will make it to Olympics on the basis of their world ranking.

Moreover, the men's and women's relay teams, currently ranked 13th and 16th on the Road to Tokyo list, may raise the size of the Indian athletics team.

Tuesday midnight is the deadline of the Olympic qualification period and World Athletics will publish the list of qualified athletes for the Tokyo Games on Thursday.

The Athletics Federation of India's selection committee will meet on Saturday to pick the Indian team for the Olympics.

With World Athletics responding positively to AFI's request to consider the 3:01.89 clocked in the 4x400m heats on Friday, the men's team's 13th place was restored ahead of Germany, Poland and Czech Republic.

Running with a changed combination after Das pulled out, the Indian women's 4x100m relay quartet of AK Daneshwari, Archana Suseendran, S Dhanalakshmi and Chand clocked a time of 44.15 seconds which was a meet record but well short of its target (43.03 seconds) that could have earned the team a berth in the Olympic Games.

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Wimbledon 2021: Ashleigh Barty overcomes Carla Suarez Navarro as rain hits tournament again

London: Australia's Ashleigh Barty overcame a mid-match wobble to reach the second round at Wimbledon as rain once again halted play on the outside courts on Tuesday.

Barty came through 6-1, 6-7 (1/7), 6-1 against Carla Suarez Navarro in a match filled with emotion on Centre Court, whose roof ensured the match could be finished.

Play was due to get underway again at 5:00pm local time (1600GMT) the same time as kick-off in the Euro 2020 last 16 tie between England and old foes Germany at Wembley.

However, 18 first round matches were pushed back to Wednesday with men's doubles matches cut to best-of-three sets in the first two rounds in an effort to make up the backlog.

Barty's Spanish opponent made sure her 11th and final appearance at The Championships went the distance just months after returning from a winning fight against cancer.

Barty is bidding to add the senior singles Wimbledon title to her 2011 junior crown on the 50th anniversary of her fellow indigenous Australian's Evonne Goolagong Cawley's first title.

Goolagong Cawley was 29 when she won her second singles title in 1980 — 10 years younger than two legends due to commence their campaigns later on Tuesday

Roger Federer and his fellow 39-year-old Serena Williams will be hoping to follow Venus Williams, two years older than them, into the second round.

Federer faces talented Frenchman Adrian Mannarino while Serena follows him onto Centre Court and plays Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus.

Venus had some worrying moments in her match against Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania.

However, the five-time Wimbledon singles champion, playing in her 90th Grand Slam, eventually came through 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

Federer says he is pumped up and excited for this year's Championships despite a disappointing second round exit at his traditional warm-up event Halle earlier this month.

With two knee operations behind him, Federer says a lot depends on how he performs at Wimbledon including whether he tries to win a first ever Olympic singles title in Tokyo.

Serena may have lost the psychological edge over her opponents but she is still in the top 10 in the world.

With no 2019 champion Simona Halep or Naomi Osaka, Williams's chances of equalling the controversial Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam titles on her favourite surface have improved considerably.

At the other end of the age scale, Venus's conqueror from 2019 Wimbledon, the then 15-year-old Coco Gauff makes her return and plays British wildcard Francesca Jones.

Barty opened on Centre Court — an honour usually given to the defending champion — due to Halep having withdrawn through injury.

The 25-year-old lost focus when serving for the match in the second set but dominated the third to go through.

However, she joined in the standing ovation for Suarez Navarro as the 32-year-old left the court with the Spaniard's mother Maria wiping away a tear.

"She is a fighter, an incredible competitor and lovely person and I cannot find one bad word to say about her," said Barty of her opponent.

"She is a genuine champion and will be sorely missed."

'Stop wasting our time'

Australian men's No 1 Alex de Minaur lost in four sets to Sebastian Korda, two days after the victor's sister Nelly won her first golf major.

Barty's fiery and entertaining compatriot Nick Kyrgios is scheduled to start his campaign later on Tuesday against Frenchman Ugo Humbert.

The Australian beat Humbert in a five set thriller in the Australian Open earlier this year but the Frenchman has shown his class on grass with victory at Halle.

Humbert's compatriot Benoit Paire did not escape the ire of the match umpire in his 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 defeat by Diego Schwartzman.

He received a warning from the umpire for not trying as two sets down overnight he lost the third 6-0 in just 15 minutes.

One spectator was moved to shout at the disinterested Frenchman "Stop wasting our time."

The umpire Mohamed Lahyani warned Paire to try harder but Paire was unrepentant.

"I have the right to miss two returns in a row. I think it's ridiculous."

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Monday, June 28, 2021

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WTC FINAL हारने के बाद इंग्लैंड में परिवार संग पिकनिक मना रहे भारतीय खिलाड़ी

लंदन न्यूजीलैंड से विश्व टेस्ट चैंपियनशिप का फाइनल गंवाने के बाद भारतीय टीम का अगला इम्तिहान इंग्लिश टीम लेगी। डब्ल्यूटीसी फाइनल और इंग्लैंड के खिलाफ पहले टेस्ट के बीच छह हफ्ते का अंतर है इसलिए खिलाड़ी ब्रिटेन के भीतर ही घूम-फिर कर अपनी थकान मिटा रहे हैं, इससे उन्हें WTC फाइनल की कड़वी यादों से उबरने का भी समय मिलेगा। बीसीसीआई ने इंग्लैंड दौरे पर भारतीय क्रिकेटर्स के परिवार को भी अनुमति दी है। जैविक रूप से सुरक्षित माहौल में लंबे समय तक रहने के कारण मानसिक थकान की आशंका को देखते हुए यह फैसला लिया गया है। इस दौरान विराट कोहली अपनी पत्नी अनुष्का शर्मा के साथ। रोहित शर्मा, मयंक अग्रवाल, अजिंक्य रहाणे और ईशांत शर्मा अपनी-अपनी पत्नियों के साथ घूमते-फिरते नजर आए। अजिंक्य रहाणे ने जो तस्वीर इंस्टाग्राम पर शेयर की उसमें उनके साथ हिटमैन का परिवार भी नजर आ रहा है। मयंक अग्रवाल की फोटो में उनके साथ ईशांत शर्मा का परिवार है। वही भारतीय कप्तान विराट कोहली भी एक कॉपी शॉप में अपनी एक्ट्रेस पत्नी के साथ क्वालिटी टाइम स्पेंट करते दिखे। टीम को मिली है 20 दिन की छुट्टीभारतीय खिलाड़ियों को लगभग तीन हफ्ते (20 दिन) का ब्रेक मिला है और वे 14 जुलाई को दोबारा एकत्रित होकर इंग्लैंड के खिालफ चार अगस्त से नॉटिंघम में शुरू होने वाली पांच मैचों की टेस्ट श्रृंखला की तैयारी करेंगे। वर्षाबाधित रहा था फाइनल मुकाबला18 से 23 जून तक खेला गया ऐतिहासिक फाइनल वर्षाबाधित रहा था। पहले और चौथे दिन तो एक बॉल नहीं फेंकी जा सकी। खराब मौसम के चलते दूसरे और तीसरे दिन के खेल को भी जल्‍दी खत्म करना पड़ा था। मुकाबले का नतीजा छठे यानी रिजर्व डे पर आया। भारत द्वारा दिए गए 139 रन के मामूली लक्ष्य को न्यूजीलैंड ने आठ विकेट रहते पा लिया। पेसर काइल जैमीसन मैन ऑफ द मैच रहे।

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Euro 2020: England's Harry Kane to don rainbow armband in Germany clash in support of LGBTQ community

London: England captain Harry Kane will wear a rainbow armband in support of the LGBTQ communities during Tuesday's Euro 2020 last-16 tie against Germany.

It will be the first time Tottenham striker Kane will wear the rainbow armband while playing for England.

Germany skipper Manuel Neuer has worn the rainbow armband in every match his side have played in June in honour of Pride Month.

The goalkeeper first wore the rainbow armband against Latvia on 7 June and then during his country's three group matches against France, Portugal and Hungary.

UEFA investigated whether it could be viewed as a political statement before concluding there would be no disciplinary proceedings, given Neuer was "promoting a good cause".

European football's governing body caused controversy when they denied a request by Munich mayor Dieter Reiter for the Allianz Arena to be lit up in rainbow colours when Germany played Hungary in the group stage on Wednesday.

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Wimbledon 2021: Novak Djokovic slides to victory; Tsitsipas crashes as Wimbledon makes soggy return

London: Novak Djokovic overcame an early wobble before getting his bid for a sixth Wimbledon and record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title off to a winning start on Monday and then saw potential semi-final opponent Stefanos Tsitsipas crash out.

One year after the 2020 tournament was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, defending champion and World No 1 Djokovic claimed a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win over Britain's 253rd-ranked Jack Draper.

Third seed Tsitsipas, however, beaten by Djokovic in the French Open final just two weeks ago, slumped to his third first round defeat in four visits to the tournament.

America's Frances Tiafoe, ranked 57, stunned the Greek star 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

Djokovic, 34, struggled on the slippery Centre Court surface with the roof closed above it due to the rain which had delayed play on outside courts for five hours.

Left-handed Draper, playing just his fifth match on the main tour, saved seven of seven break points in the opener to stun the top seed.

But Djokovic soon snuffed out any danger of him becoming only the third defending champion to lose in the first round, by sweeping through the remainder of the tie.

He finished with an impressive 25 aces and 47 winners as his 19-year-old opponent, who grew up just six miles (9.5km) from the All England Club, wilted.

"I probably had one of the best serving performances that I can recall on any surface," said Djokovic who fired 25 aces and 47 winners.

'It sounds good'

With the Australian and French Open titles under his belt, the Serb is bidding to become only the third man in history to claim a calendar Grand Slam.

His match was preceded by a standing ovation for Professor Sarah Gilbert, one of the key scientists behind the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine who was a special guest in the Royal Box.

Tiafoe won a second-tier grass court Challenger event in Nottingham this month before making the quarter-finals at Queen's Club.

On Monday, he made that match hardness pay against Tsitsipas, playing only his 16th match on grass.

It was the first time in 12 attempts that 23-year-old Tiafoe had beaten a player ranked in the top five.

"It sounds pretty damn good," said Tiafoe.

Wimbledon looks very different this year with Covid-19 protocols in place and a 50% capacity until finals day, but one familiar feature was the summer rain.

Play on the outside courts started so late that 16 of the day's scheduled 64 matches were cancelled until Tuesday.

Belarus second seed Aryna Sabalenka had the honour of being the first winner at the tournament in two years when she downed Romanian qualifier Monica Niculescu 6-1, 6-4 under the roof of Court One.

Sabalenka fired 48 winners past Niculescu.

"I was nervous a little bit because I haven't played on the show courts at Wimbledon," said Sabalenka who has yet to make the last-eight of a major.

Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens knocked out Czech 10th seed Petra Kvitova, the 2011 and 2014 champion, 6-3, 6-4.

Garbine Muguruza, the 2017 winner, needed just under an hour to see off France's Fiona Ferro 6-0, 6-1.

Two-time champion Andy Murray is back on Centre Court against Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili, a semi-finalist in Halle.

Hotel bubble

Murray, now ranked at 118, is playing his first singles match at Wimbledon since 2017 after a lengthy battle with hip and groin injuries.

Players are confined to a hotel 'bubble' in central London this year.

However, there have already been two virus-related withdrawals.

Britain's Johanna Konta was identified as a close contact of a positive coronavirus case and will have to self-isolate.

The world number 31, a semi-finalist at the tournament in 2017, had been drawn to face Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic.

The 30-year-old's place will be taken by 123rd-ranked lucky loser Wang Yafan of China.

On Saturday, former men's doubles champion Frederik Nielsen was forced to withdraw after also being identified as a close contact.

"This is not unexpected," said All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton.

"It's terribly sad for the players but it's something we plan for. We have protocols in place."

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Highlights, Euro 2020, Croatia vs Spain: Spain edge Croatia out in high-scoring thriller at Parken

Click here to follow all the live action from the Round of 16 match between Spain and Croatia

Preview: Dani Olmo will be lining up against some familiar opponents when Spain face Croatia in the round of 16 at the European Championship.

In fact, he easily could have been lining up for Croatia instead of Spain at Euro 2020.

The attacking midfielder turned down overtures from Croatia’s national team after moving to Dinamo Zagreb from Barcelona’s academy as a 16-year-old and spending six seasons at the club.

Olmo has never played senior club soccer in Spain — he moved to RB Leipzig in 2020 — but doesn’t regret his decision to stick to his home country.

“There was interest from Croatia, but I always preferred to play for Spain,” Olmo said.

The 23-year-old Olmo is part of a group of young players who have been given leading roles in Luis Enrique’s new-look Spain team. Against Croatia, he has the added role of being the in-house expert on the opposing players.

However, Croatia will be without one of their best players for the game in Copenhagen after forward Ivan Perisic tested positive for COVID-19. Perisic, who scored two goals during the group stage, will have to self-isolate for 10 days.

Spain and Croatia both seem to be peaking at the right time after slow starts to the tournament. Spain beat Slovakia 5-0 in their final group game to advance, while Croatia defeated Scotland 3-1 to finish second behind England in Group D.

Both also have strong tournament pedigree, although their recent trajectories have gone in opposite directions. Croatia reached the 2018 World Cup final before losing to France, and 13 of those players are still in the squad.

Spain won three straight major tournaments between 2008-2012 but lost in the round of 16 at both Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Russia. What’s more, only seven players in the Spain squad had played at a previous major tournament.

One of those veterans, Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets, gave the team a massive lift when he returned for the Slovakia game after testing positive for coronavirus before the tournament.

Luis Enrique has continued Spain’s traditional possession-based approach but the team’s attacking play looked laboured in the first two draws against defensive-minded Sweden and Poland.

Croatia, though, won’t sit back to let Spain dominate possession.

”We have players who can show their quality through possession as well, and that’s where I see our chance," Croatia defender Duje Caleta-Car said. "They haven’t experienced that yet, that someone takes the ball from them.”

Croatia midfielder Nikola Vlasic also warned against giving Spain too much time on the ball.

”We certainly must prevent them from feeling comfortable and playing their football,” Vlasic said. ”That would be deadly for us, because they’re really excellent technically.”

Croatia veteran Luka Modric showed with his goal against Scotland that he remains a formidable force at 35 and will be the player trying to dictate the game.

When it comes to Spain’s attack, much of the focus will again be on Alvaro Morata. The Spain striker received a torrent of online abuse after missing a penalty against Slovakia and was also heavily criticized after the first two games, despite scoring against Poland.

When it comes to penalties, though, he's not the only one struggling. Spain have missed their last five spot kicks overall — including two at Euro 2020.

But with the possibility of a penalty shootout deciding Monday's game, Spain captain Koke Resurreccion said the whole team has been practicing spot kicks every day.

”We have some great penalty takers, we have players with the necessary character to take them," Koke said. "So I’m not worried about that issue… I’m sure if we do get one, we’ll stick it away.”

With inputs from AP

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Wimbledon 2021 update: दूसरे राउंड में पहुंचे जोकोविच, सितसिपास के साथ उलटफेर

विश्व के नंबर 1 खिलाड़ी सर्बिया के नोवाक जोकोविच, जो विश्व रिकॉर्ड की बराबरी करने वाले 20वें ग्रैंड स्लैम खिताब पर नजर गड़ाए हुए हैं, ने स्थानीय खिलाड़ी जैक ड्रेपर को 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 से हराकर विंबलडन अभियान की शुरूआत जीत के साथ की। जोकोविच, जिन्होंने 19 ग्रैंड स्लैम खिताब जीते हैं, पहला सेट 19 वर्षीय से हार गए, लेकिन अपने अनुभव का उपयोग कर शेष तीन सेट जीतकर आगे का सफर जारी रखने में सफल रहे। टियाफो ने सितसिपास को हरायाअमेरिका के फ्रांसेस टियाफो ने पहले दिन बड़ी जीत के साथ दूसरे दौर में प्रवेश किया। टियाफो ने इस साल के फ्रेंच ओपन फाइनलिस्ट ग्रीस के स्टेफानोस सितसिपास को 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 से हराया। टियाफो, जो दुनिया में रैंकिंग में 57वें स्थान पर हैं, ने अपने करियर में पहली बार किसी शीर्ष -5 खिलाड़ी को हराने के क्रम में एक भी अपनी सर्विस नहीं गंवाई। 23 वर्षीय अमेरिकी ने 7 एस लगाए जबकि सितसिपास ने 15 एस लगाए। यही नहीं, टियाफो ने 3 डबल फॉल्ट किए जबकि सितसिपास ने 1 बार ही डबल फॉल्ट किया। तीसरी वरीयता प्राप्त सितसिपास इस महीने की शुरूआत में फाइनल में सर्बिया के नोवाक जोकोविच से फ्रेंच ओपन हार गए थे। जोकोविच अगले दौर में दुनिया के पांचवें नंबर के खिलाड़ी केविन एंडरसन से भिड़ सकते हैं, जिनका सामना चिली के क्वालीफायर मासेर्लो टॉमस बैरियोस वेरा से होगा। जोकोविच ने मैच के बाद कहा, 'हर किसी को देखकर और शायद दुनिया के सबसे खास, सबसे पवित्र टेनिस कोर्ट पर वापस आकर बहुत अच्छा लगता है। जाहिर है, कई अन्य खिलाड़ियों के साथ, मैं पिछले साल बहुत दुखी था कि विंबलडन रद्द कर दिया गया था।' दूसरी सीड सबालेंका ने हासिल की आसान जीतदूसरी सीड बेलारूस की एरिना सबालेंका ने रोमानिया की क्वालीफायर मोनिका निकुलेस्कु को हराया। मैच एक घंटे 15 मिनट तक चला, जिसका फैसला 6-1, 6-4 से हुआ। सबालेंका की विंबलडन के मुख्य ड्रॉ में यह दूसरी जीत है, इससे पहले उन्होंने 2017 में अपने डेब्यू में रूस की इरिना खरोमाचेवा को हराया था। 2019 में सबालेंका को पहले राउंड में स्लोवाकिया की मागदालेना रिबारिकोवा के हाथों हार का सामना करना पड़ा था। 33 वर्षीय मोनिका ने शीर्ष-10 की खिलाड़ी को आखिरी बार 2017 में हराया था जब उन्होंने ब्रटेन की जोहाना कोंटा को मात दी थी। हालांकि, उन्हें 2021 में पहले राउंड में आठ बार हार मिली है। सालभर के ब्रेक के बाद विंबलडन में लौटे फैंसकोरोना वायरस महामारी के कारण पिछले साल स्थगित हुए विंबलडन की वापसी के साथ स्टेडियम में प्रशंसकों की भी वापसी हुई। आसमान में बादल और बूंदा-बांदी के बीच मैच का लुत्फ उठाने के लिए फैंस मास्क लगाकर पहुंचे। आयोजकों ने शुरूआत में सीमित संख्या में दर्शकों को अनुमति दी है, लेकिन उनकी योजना दो सप्ताह बाद होने वाले पुरुष और महिला एकल के फाइनल में सेंटर कोर्ट की क्षमता के मुताबिक 15,000 दर्शकों को आने की अनुमति देने की है।

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Tour de France 2021: Tim Merlier wins drama-filled stage three as crashes continue to disrupt premier event

Pontivy, France: Race favourites Primoz Roglic and Geraint Thomas, as well as ace sprinters Peter Sagan and Caleb Ewan were all involved in nasty crashes before Tim Merlier won a drama-filled stage three of the Tour de France on Monday, with one manager making a passionate plea for new safety measures.

Merlier's teammate Mathieu van der Poel kept hold of the overall lead on a brutal day of racing peppered with falls on the rain-slick, narrow winding roads in Brittany with Thomas dislocating a shoulder and 2020 runner-up Roglic losing valuable time and crossing the line with his kit in tatters.

Lotto's Ewan was taken to hospital and the Australian subsequently withdrew from the Tour with a broken clavicle. Sagan had cuts and bruises but was quickly back in the saddle.

Jack Haig of Bahrain Victorious and Robert Gesink of Jumbo also pulled out injured.

Yellow jersey wearer Van der Poel cut a dour figure compared to the tear-filled elation he experienced after winning Sunday's stage two.

"It was a very fast, technical run-in with all the general classification guys racing for their places, it's difficult to say anything now," said Van Der Poel.

"It's a big race, (in the) overall standings guys fighting against sprinters, for sure it's a dangerous sport," said the Dutch Alpecin rider in muted celebrations after he not only retained the yellow jersey but also led out Merlier's sprint train.

Will mothers let their kids cycle?

With two mass pile-ups marring stage one and an ensuing hunt for the mystery culprit French police have vowed to catch up with, followed by the thrill and raw emotion of Van der Poel winning one for his illustrious cycling family on stage two, drama was always likely to be coming round the next corner.

And so it proved on the seafront at the Plage de Testel, 2018 champion Thomas losing his concentration and hitting the ground so hard he dislocated a shoulder before making it back to the peloton with the help of three teammates.

Scenes of Thomas shaking his legs when having his shoulder put back in by medics will live long in the memory.

"Hats off to him, he was in pain but managed well," said Ineos sprts director Gabriel Rasch, who revealed Thomas would go for a scan.

Slovenia's Roglic then hit the tarmac hip first with 10km to go and while shaken he also limited his losses with the help of teammates. Although his Tour is not finished, he now has time to make up on Tadej Pogacar and Thomas.

The worst fall came in the home straight with Caleb Ewan hitting Merlier's back wheel at over 80kph and taking Slovak sprint specialist Sagan down with him, the pair sliding for tens of metres on the tarmac.

Ewan's main sprint rival from FDJ, Arnaud Demare, had also fallen on a bend just outside Pontivy and his manager Marc Madiot was furious.

"Kids, families, mothers are watching this, will mothers want their kids to cycle? We have been speaking about this for years, this isn't cycling, what condition is Ewan in," said an impassioned Madiot.

Ineos' Carapaz into third

In the chaos of all the crashes, Ineos' Ecuadorian rider Richard Carapaz was the overall title contender ending the day with relatively good news as he climbed to third in the overall standings.

Van der Poel enjoys an eight-second lead over stage one winner Julian Alaphilippe, with Carapaz in third at 31sec along with Wout van Aert of Jumbo.

But Pogacar and Thomas both lost 26sec Monday while a grazed Roglic crossed the line 1min 20sec down, having rallied heroically to save his Tour.

Jerseys after Stage 3
Maillots après l’étape 3

💛 @mathieuvdpoel
💚 @alafpolak1
🔴 @Ideschelling
👶 @tamaupogi #TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/vkuosVWmLl

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) June 28, 2021

"That wasn't a nice day, some rivals lost time but you don't want to see that," said Pogacar.

Frenchman Alaphilippe had to swerve to avoid Ewan and Sagan in the run-in.

"That was a mentally shattering day, I'm glad it's over," he said.

As for the mystery woman in yellow who caused the first crash on day one with her sign held up in front of the pack, French authorities are still actively looking for her, a high-ranking gendarme told AFP Monday.

"We don't know who she is, if she's German or Franco-German or whatever. But don't worry we'll find her," the gendarme said.

"She isn't at risk of much more than a fine, the ASO (race organisers) are making this move more as a warning to fans on the roadside."

There were massed ranks of fans again Monday, but none of the falls was their fault.

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LIVE Football Score, Euro 2020, France vs Switzerland: World champions France eye quarter-final berth

Click here to follow all the live action from the Round of 16 match between France and Switzerland

Preview: Winning the toughest group at the European Championship wasn’t really a big surprise for the World Cup champions. Winning only one match in that group was, though.

Regardless, it was still enough for France to finish first in Group F and set up a match against Switzerland on Monday in the round of 16.

“It's a different context," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "Now, it's like a final.”

With Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema, Deschamps has enough attacking power to deliver back-to-back major titles, something that would match the country’s achievement in 1998 and 2000.

Benzema and Mbappe swap quick passes and switch positions high up the field, with the quick-thinking and skillful Griezmann operating behind them. But none of them were able to score in the opening 1-0 win over Germany, a match decided by Mats Hummels’ own-goal.

Griezmann did get on the scoreboard in the 1-1 draw against Hungary, while Benzema scored both in the 2-2 draw against Portugal after rejoining the national squad following an exile of almost six years.

Benzema is coming off a season in which he had 30 goals for Real Madrid, and one of his previous best performances for France came in a 5-2 win over the Swiss at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He scored one, set up another and had yet another disallowed because it crossed the line just after the final whistle.

The 22-year-old Mbappe, who scored a career-high 42 goals for Paris Saint-Germain this season, excelled at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, scoring four goals on the way to helping France win its second title at the tournament. He netted one of those goals in the 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final.

Deschamps does have some injury worries, however. He said defenders Lucas Digne and Jules Kounde, and forward Marcus Thuram “won’t be available probably.” Defender Lucas Hernández has recovered in time from a knee injury.

Switzerland have their own battle with history to deal with. The Swiss are hoping to end a run of three consecutive exits in the round of 16 at major tournaments.

Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka said it's “now or never.”

“Tomorrow is a big match, for us, for the whole Switzerland," Xhaka said. "The team is ready to write history.”

The Swiss have not won a match in a knockout stage at any major tournament in 67 years.

Switzerland finished third in Group A with four points, advancing as one of the four best third-place teams. After a 1-1 draw with Wales and a 3-0 loss to Italy, Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic was under fire for what critics saw as negative tactics and a lack of creativity.

The team turned things around in the final group game, a 3-1 victory over Turkey. Xherdan Shaqiri scored two goals and Haris Seferovic added the other. Winger Steven Zuber assisted on all three Switzerland goals.

Switzerland have never beaten France in a competitive game.

“We have to go beyond our limits and give 120%, hoping that France won’t show their 100%,” Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic said. “We will try to show that on the pitch tomorrow, and everything else is not important.”

In their previous encounter at Euro 2016, the Swiss held host France to a 0-0 draw in a group match.

“The pressure will be on them,” Switzerland defender Loris Benito said. “We’ll remain positive.”

With inputs from AP

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Tokyo Olympics 2020: Shot putter Tajinder Pal Singh Toor continues impressive form with 21.10m throw

Patiala: Olympic-bound shot putter Tajinder Pal Singh Toor continued his impressive form as he produced yet another big throw while winning gold on the fourth and penultimate day of the National Inter-State Athletics Championships on Monday.

Toor, who booked an Olympic ticket on last Monday with a national record throw of 21.49m during the Indian Grand Prix 4, came up with a best effort of 21.10m to win the gold in the event.

The Olympics direct qualifying mark is 21.10m, exactly the same distance he cleared on Monday, which meant that the Punjab shot putter has produced 21m-plus throw twice in a week.

Five of Toor's six throws were above 20m mark while one was foul. His series read 20.42, 20.63, 20.92, 20.96, NM, 21.10.

Karanveer Singh, also from Punjab, was a distant second with a best throw of 19.33m while Vanam Sharma of Rajasthan took the bronze with an effort of 18.33m.

In the women's javelin throw, national record holder Annu Rani failed in her final bid to breach the Olympics qualification mark as she could produce a best effort of 62.83m to win the gold.

Annu, who had won a silver in the 2019 Asian Championships besides a bronze in the 2014 Asian Games, began with 62.83m throw but all her remaining five attempts were fouls.

The Olympics automatic qualification mark is 64m.

The 28-year-old Punjab athlete is, however, expected to make to the Tokyo Olympics on the basis of world rankings.

She is currently sitting pretty at 19th spot in the Road to Tokyo list with 32 athletes set to take part in the Olympics women's javelin throw event.

Her national record stands at 63.24m, which she had achieved in March at the Federation Cup here.
It was the 10th time in her last 11 competitions, dating back to August 2019 that Annu went past 60m mark. More importantly, she had won all the five competitions at home this year.

In the absence of Olympic-bound M Sreeshankar, Kerala's Muhammed Anees Yahiya won the gold in men's long jump with an effort of 7.76m, ahead of two Uttar Pradesh athletes — Yugant Shekhar Singh (7.63m) and Rishabh Rishishwar (7.54m).

Sri Lanka's Kalinga Kumarage and Karnataka's Priya Habbanathahally won the men and women's 400m events.

Kumarage found the pace to clock a personal best time of 45.73 seconds, improving on the 45.99 had he clocked in the 2018 Asian Games.

The final day of the championships on Tuesday is expected to see veteran discus thrower Seema Punia trying to breach the Olympic qualifying mark of 63.50m.

Apart from that, the men's 4x400m and the women's 4x100m relay squads would make their last attempts for Tokyo Olympics qualification.

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Tokyo Olympics 2020: Kevin Durant named in Team USA squad missing LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Steph Curry

Los Angeles: Kevin Durant will spearhead a powerful United States basketball team chasing a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal after being named in the squad for next month's Tokyo Games on Monday.

Brooklyn Nets star Durant was included in a 12-man roster which will be led by San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich with assistant coaches Steve Kerr, Lloyd Pierce and Jay Wright.

Several notable NBA stars are not part of the squad, including LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Steph Curry.

James had indicated after the Los Angeles Lakers' playoff exit that he planned to concentrate on his fitness, along with teammate Anthony Davis, who spent large parts of last season dealing with injuries.

Golden State Warrior star Steph Curry is also skipping the Olympics after previously indicating an interest in playing Tokyo.

The squad contains only three players — Phoenix's Devin Booker and Milwaukee duo Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday — currently playing in the NBA playoffs.

The NBA finals are scheduled to finish on 22 July — a day before the Olympics open in Tokyo on July 23.

"I'm happy for the selected players and looking forward to having the opportunity to work with this wonderful group when practice gets under way on July 6 in Las Vegas," said Popovich.

"I'm excited to represent the United States in our quest to earn a gold medal in Tokyo."

USA men's team managing director Jerry Colangelo said the disruption caused by the pandemic, which forced the 2020-2021 NBA season to run later than usual, had made selection of the team "challenging".

"We are excited about the 12 players who have been selected to represent the United States in the Tokyo Olympics," said Colangelo.

"This was an unusually challenging selection process for many reasons, including the year postponement of the Olympics and the issues related to the timing of the NBA regular season and playoffs.

"We also believe we have excellent leadership which is a necessity in order to develop the needed chemistry.

"We still have a lot of challenges in front of us, but I believe these players will become a team that all Americans will be proud of."

Durant, a member of the 2012 and 2016 gold medal-winning US teams, is just the fourth US male basketball player named to three or more Olympic teams, joining Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and David Robinson.

US Olympic basketball squad: Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets), Jerami Grant (Detroit Pistons), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks), Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls), Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)

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Sajan Prakash to get Rs 5 lakh cash reward from Swimming Federation of India for breaching 'A' standard time

New Delhi: Swimming Federation of India on Monday announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for Sajan Prakash who scripted history by becoming the first swimmer from the country to earn a direct qualification for the Olympics.

Prakash qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games on Saturday by breaching the 'A' standard time, clocking 1:56:38 seconds in the men's 200m butterfly event at the Sette Colli Trophy in Rome, Italy.

"SFI president Shri RN Jayaprakash announced a personal cash award of Rs 5 lac to Sajan Prakash, who is the first Indian to achieve the Olympic 'A' qualification time in 200m butterfly event at the Sette Colli Trophy in Rome," SFI said in a statement.

"Mr. Jayaprakash lauds the youngster's achievement and has termed this as a watershed moment for Indian Swimming," it added.

The Tokyo Games will be the Kerala swimmer's second Olympics participation, having competed in Rio 2016 through a Universality quota.

A day after Prakash's feat, Srihari Nataraj breached the elusive 'A' standard time by clocking 53.77s in the men's 100m backstroke at the same event.

However, since his effort came at a time trial, his participation in the Olympics will be confirmed only if FINA approves the timing.

If Nataraj's time is confirmed, the Tokyo Games will mark the first time two Indian swimmers take part in the Olympics through direct qualification.

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Sunday, June 27, 2021

WWE में छाई गम की लहर, रोमन रेंस के खतरनाक मैच का हुआ ऐलान, शील्ड के पूर्व सदस्य का फूटा गुस्सा

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ब्रेन मलेरिया के लक्षण: Brain Malaria Ke Lakshan

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पाकिस्तान के कप्तान बाबर आजम ने फैन्स के लिए लिखा 'Open Letter'

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सचिन तेंदुलकर के मुताबिक WTC Final का फैसला इतने कम समय में हो गया था

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बीसीसीआई IPL के नए कार्यक्रम का ऐलान सोमवार को कर सकती है

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'पृथ्वी शॉ के अलावा कई खिलाड़ियों के लिए श्रीलंका दौरा अहम है'

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राहुल द्रविड़ ने कोचिंग की जिम्मेदारी को लेकर कही बड़ी बात

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3 भारतीय खिलाड़ी जिन्हें WTC में सिर्फ एक मैच खेलने का मौका मिला

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LIVE Score, Euro 2020, Belgium vs Portugal: Eden Hazard starts as Belgium aim to beat Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal

Click here to follow all the live action from the Round of 16 match between Belgium and Portugal.

Team Report: Eden Hazard was picked to start for Belgium in their Euro 2020 last-16 clash with holders Portugal on Sunday.

Hazard played 90 minutes against Finland on Monday and has said the plan is to hit peak fitness for the tournament's knock-out stages.

Thomas Vermaelen continues in Belgium's back three while Axel Witsel also starts again after recovering from his Achilles tendon injury.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos makes two changes as Diogo Dalot comes in for Nelson Semedo at right back and Joao Palhinha replaces Danilo Pereira in midfield.

Cristiano Ronaldo leads the line up front, with the 36-year-old one goal away from breaking the record of 109 international goals scored by Iran's Ali Daei.

Starting line-ups:

Belgium (3-4-3)

Thibaut Courtois; Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Vermaelen; Thomas Meunier, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel, Thorgan Hazard; Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard (capt)

Coach: Roberto Martinez (ESP)

Portugal (4-3-3)

Rui Patricio; Diogo Dalot, Ruben Dias, Pepe, Raphael Guerreiro; Joao Moutinho, Joao Palhinha, Renato Sanches; Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo (capt), Diogo Jota

Coach: Fernando Santos (POR)

Referee: Felix Brych (GER)

With inputs from AFP.

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Euro 2020: Patrik Schick, Tomas Holes score as Czech Republic knock out 10-man Netherlands

Budapest: The Czech Republic reached the Euro 2020 quarter-finals Sunday after shocking 10-man Netherlands 2-0 in their last-16 tie in Budapest thanks to second-half strikes by Tomas Holes and Patrik Schick.

A header by Holes and a clinical finish by Schick came after Matthijs de Ligt was sent off in the 55th minute, securing the efficient Czechs a deserved berth in the last eight against Denmark in Baku on 3 July.

Having emerged as Group C winners with a 100 percent record after playing all three of their games in Amsterdam, Frank de Boer's fancied Netherlands were on the road for the first time in the tournament.

Roared on by boisterous ranks of orange-clad fans in a packed Puskas Arena, the only Euro 2020 venue not to limit stadium capacity as an anti-coronavirus precaution, it was the livelier Dutch who dominated the opening exchanges.

On eight minutes a floated cross by Danny Blind evaded Tomas Vaclik in the Czech goal but De Ligt's header across the goalmouth was sliced well wide by Memphis Depay.

Then Denzel Dumfries, raiding on both wings, was released on the left soon after but, with Vaclik again flailing, couldn't direct his header into the open goal.

But after soaking up the early pressure Jaroslav Silhavy's well-organised side, who qualified as one of the four best third-placed sides, began posing threats of their own with a series of dangerous counter-attacks.

Tomas Soucek, who took over the captain's armband from the injured Vladimir Darida, glanced a dangerous header just wide at full stretch midway through the period.

Then Antonin Barak, fed by Lukas Masopust, blasted a left-footed effort high and wide when through on goal approaching the break.

Early in the second period the advantage swung decisively the Czechs way when De Ligt was sent off by the Russian referee Sergei Karasev after a VAR review.

Bayer Leverkusen striker Schick, scorer of all three Czech goals in the group stage, put De Ligt under pressure, prompting the Juventus defender to blatantly knock the ball away with his hand to deny a goalscoring opportunity.

Midway through the half, with the Czechs scenting blood, Pavel Kaderabek should have got the opener while in space in the area but saw his shot blocked.

Then 68 minutes in a curled free-kick from the right by Barak was headed across goal by Tomas Kalas to the unmarked Holes who had time to place his header and spark bedlam among the Czech fans.

Ten minutes from the end Schick sealed the win with his fourth goal of Euro 2020, slotting home with his left foot at the near post after the rampant Holes pounced on a loose ball and laid on a clever cut-back.

In truth, a man down, the hapless Dutch never looked like catching the Czechs who were comfortable at the end, chalking up their fourth straight win over the Oranje in front of jubilant fans.

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