Sports
IPL 2024: Marcus Stoinis fared half-century lifts Lucknow to 163 for 5 against Gujarat
Lucknow, April 7 (IANS) Marcus Stoinis 58 off 43 deliveries and late fire by Nicholas Pooran lifted Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to 163 for 5 in 20 overs against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the match 21 of the Indian Premier Legaue (IPL) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, here.
Batting first on their home ground, Lucknow suffered an early setback as opener Quinton de Kock got out after opening his account with a six to Umesh Yadav. In an attempt for another six to a short of a length delivery, de Kock skewed it to the third man’s hand and walked back to the pavilion. Not a start that Lucknow would have thought of as Umesh was all over the Lucknow batters in the powerplay.
Devdutt Padikkal, who came to bat at number three, was the second wicket of Yadav. Umesh bowled a back of a length delivery in the channel nipping away with the angle and Padikkal was enticed into wafting at it. Padikkal got a thick outside edge and Shankar snaffled it up at wide slip, low to his left. Padikkal got out after scoring 7 runs in 7 deliveries.
Lucknow after the end of two overs were reeling on 18 for two as all-rounder Marcus Stoinis joined skipper KL Rahul who was toiling hard on the other end. Rahul struck back-to-back boundaries to Spencer Johnson in his second over and got the pressure relieved from LSG. LSG batters collected thirteen runs in Johnson’s second over and it was the most expensive over in the powerplay. LSG ended on 47 for 2 after the end of the powerplay as Stoinis and Rahul started building the inning.
Titans came with an attacking bowling plan on a damp pitch which saw an uneven bounce right from the start of the match. They bowled on the hard length and kept the ball away from both batters. Rahul, who loves to play cut and drive shots suffered difficulties in scoring against Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad. Mohit Sharma on the other hand mixed his pace well without giving much room to score. It was a good display of bowling from the Titans’ bowlers as LSG after the end of ten overs scored 74 for two with Rahul and Stoinis found difficulties in scoring boundaries.
From 18 for 2 in the third over, the third-wicket pairing of Rahul and Stoinis had bolted together a stocky partnership worth 73 from 62 balls – but LSG’s skipper departed trying to take on Darshan Nalkande, brought on at fourth change by Titans. Rahul was looking to hit down the ground but it didn’t come on to the bat and he was well held by Rahul Tewatia several yards in from the rope at long-on. A score of 33 off 31, with only three boundaries with a strike rate of 106.45.
It was a big wicket for the Titans’ as the big partnership ended courtesy of a poor shot selection from Rahul. Mohit Sharma and Noor Ahmad for the Titans’ were exceptional with the ball as they made it difficult for LSG to score runs in the middle overs.
Nalkande bowling his second over of the day was welcomed with a six and the fourth went the same way with another clean swing across the line by Stoinis who started changing his gear and scored his first IPL 2024 half-century in 40 deliveries. Nalkande stuck to his guns, however, and made his second breakthrough of the night as Stoinis top-edged a hoick straight up and departed scoring 58 off 43 deliveries. Titans successfully kept a lid on things. It was the second-slowest inning by Stoinis in all the IPL matches in which he has scored 50 or 50 plus.
Noor Ahmed conceded just one boundary from his four overs, which cost 22 runs – he should have had a wicket, too, with Stoinis dropped off a mishit on 43. At the end of 15 overs, LSG were 114 for four and with two new batters in the crease (Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni) it was difficult to reach a good total for LSG. Mohit Sharma conceded 17 runs in his second last over of the spell courtesy of a six by Poorand and back-to-back boundaries by Badoni.
It was Rashid Khan’s first wicket of the evening as after hitting two fours from Mohit Sharma in the previous over, Ayush Badoni attempted a slog-sweep but was only able to pick out deep midwicket. However, as Krunal Pandya was off strike, Pooran was able to finally lay a hand on the champion legspinner for the Titans, delivering a huge blow over the leg side. If Sai Sudharsan hadn’t done a great job with the long-on rope, he could have also scored another boundary against Rashid. LSG raised their 150 with an over to go.
Gujarat Titans will need to score 164 runs to win in Lucknow thanks to a superb final over from Spencer Johnson, who gave up just eight runs while getting smashed for six by Pooran on the second ball. The positive news from the host team is that they have won 12 out of 12 while defending scores of 160 or more in the IPL.
Brief Score:
Lucknow Super Giants 163 for 5 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 58, KL Rahul 33; Darshan Nalkande 2-21, Umesh Yadav 2-22)
–IANS
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Sports
Winning Olympic medal not only transforms the lives of athletes, but also of their families and villages: Sakshi Malik
Mumbai, July 6 (IANS) Star Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik said winning Olympic medal not only transforms the lives of athletes, but also of their families and villages
India will be sending a contingent of close to 120 sportspersons to the Olympics, including an Athletics team led by the defending champion in the men’s javelin Neeraj Chopra, a 21-member shooting team and a 16- member men’s hockey squad.
Malik speaking at the panel discussion ‘An Olympic Dream: Sport in India,’ hosted by the JSW Group, Asia Society India Centre, and the Consulate General of France in Mumbai, three of India’s most prominent athletes shared their inspiring journeys and reflections on the transformative power of Olympic dreams.
Sakshi Malik, an Olympic bronze medallist in wrestling narrated her story of triumph and the ripple effects of her success. “An Olympic dream is not just an athlete’s dream; it’s the dream of an entire family,” said Malik emphasizing how her victory had brought about profound changes not only in her life but also in her community.
After her historic medal win, the Chhotu Ram Stadium in Rohtak, where she trained, was transformed from having a tin roof to becoming an air-conditioned hall. A stadium named after her was even built in her village.
Malik spoke passionately about the surge in popularity of wrestling among girls in Haryana. “Everywhere you go, there’s a stadium every ten minutes, and you’ll find girls training in each one. The old mindset that girls couldn’t wrestle has changed dramatically.”
For the first time, five girls are going to the Olympics for wrestling while only one boy is going. Girls, who were once suppressed, are now boldly stepping forward and excelling in wrestling,” she added.
Dipa Karmakar, India’s pioneering gymnast, reflected on the bittersweet experience of finishing fourth at the Rio Olympics. “As an athlete, the fourth place can be the worst place to be in. Not just for me, any athlete who finishes in fourth place can never sleep,” she shared.
Despite the heartbreak, Karmakar emphasized the importance of resilience and learning from setbacks. Her journey has spurred a cultural shift in Tripura, where gymnastics is now embraced with renewed enthusiasm. The 2016 Olympics led to significant infrastructure improvements, including the installation of crucial equipment like foam pits, which were previously unavailable.
Karmakar also highlighted the critical need for funding and support at the grassroots level. “Until we are successful, we don’t get anything as athletes. Gymnastics was such a sport where people didn’t know much about it, and girls were underestimated,” she said.
If this was done earlier, our Olympic medal count would have been in double digits. But I believe it’s going to happen in the upcoming Paris Olympics,” Karmakar predicted, expressing hope and encouragement for the future.
Priya Mohan, a rising star in athletics, shared her perspective on the journey of an athlete and the importance of perseverance. “I believe that every athlete has their own timeline for success. Most athletes peak around 24 or 25 years old,” she stated, drawing inspiration from competitors like Alison Phillips.
Mohan underscored the influence of Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal win, which she witnessed while training for the World Junior Championship. “That Olympic gold, along with India’s record haul of three medals, transformed our mindset. It showed us that achieving such success is possible for us too,” she said.
Parth Jindal, founder of JSW sports further elaborated about Neeraj Chopra, “Neeraj Chopra’s story is a remarkable testament to talent identification and resilience. We discovered Neeraj in 2015 through our sports excellence program, and in 2016, he shattered the World Junior Championship record and won a gold medal in Poland with an 86.48-meter throw. Had he achieved that throw at the Rio Olympics, he would have secured a bronze medal. His journey only became more compelling from there.
–IANS
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Sports
Copa America 2024: Brazil head coach Dorival believes Vinicius suspension could be ‘Endrick’s moment’
Las Vegas, July 6 (IANS) Brazil and Uruguay are all set for what could turn out to be the match of the tournament in the quarterfinals of Copa America at the Allegiant Stadium.
A lot of conversation on this match surrounds how Brazil will cope without their star player Vinicius Junior who has been suspended for the game after picking his second yellow card of the tournament against Colombia.
Ahead of the game against Uruguay, Brazil head coach Dorival Junior confirmed that 17-year old Endrick will be starting for the nine-time Copa America winners.
“Endrick. It will be Raphinha, Rodrygo and Endrick. We lost an important player, but we gained another searching for his chance. Who knows, this could be Endrick’s moment,” said Dorival Jr to reports in the pre-game press conference.
The Selecao have been struggling in recent outings and finished second in Group D behind Colombia setting up the game against Uruguay in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
The Real Madrid forward is Brazil’s highest goalscorer at the tournament with two to his name and will be missed in the duel against the record champions.
“He’s not specifically a fixed No 9, a reference point, who prefers to basically plays as a pivot. He’s a player who drops in and out and has this movement,”added the Brazil head coach.
–IANS
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Wimbledon: 'I'm enjoying every moment', says Ons Jabeur
New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) Last year’s runners-up Ona Jabeur is enjoying her time at Wimbledon so far after reaching the third round of the tournament with successive straight wins in the opening matches.
Tunisian tennis player said her playing style suits grass courts and she hopes to do well in the ongoing Grand Slam.
“It’s an honour for me, representing my country and my continent. Obviously, there’s a bit of pressure, but it’s a good pressure, a good responsibility to send a positive message. I hope I’m doing it well. I will continue doing that. I hope I can inspire more and more and see more players from my country and my continent being here. I am enjoying every moment, and I love playing on grass so much that my game really suits this beautiful court. I’m just trying to be here, enjoy every moment, enjoy the crowd, the love of the crowd, and prepare like I prepared for the other years,” Jabeur told Star Sports.
Talking about her wish to visit India soon, she said, “I need just 2 million more Indian fans, please, follow me. I need to go, seriously, I need to go to India. I’ve never been there. This is one of the items on my bucket list. My fans in India, I’m looking forward to coming one day. I really love the country and I want to discover it more and more. So when I have time, I really want to go and enjoy it there. It’s coming from the heart, really. And Sania (Mirza) will be there.”
American tennis player and current world no.2 Coco Gauff shared her thoughts on dealing with emotions and expectations coming into Wimbledon.
“Just treating it and enjoying it, honestly. I think there’s always going to be expectations put on me, but I take it as an honour. I think if people expect big things from you, that means you’re doing something right, so hopefully I can continue to do things right,” she said.
Reflecting on her US Open win and aspirations for Wimbledon, she added, “It would mean a lot, especially here at Wimbledon; it’s probably the most prestigious tournament we have, and it would be an honour to maybe hold that trophy. But if not, I would love to at least win another slam to get that feeling again.”
Jabeur will take on Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the third-round clash on Saturday while Gauff will lock horns with countrymate Emma Navarro in the round of 16 match on Saturday.
–IANS
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Sports
'This time I'll send…': Neeraj Chopra's mother responds to PM Modi's 'churma' request
Panipat, July 6 (IANS) Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra’s mother Saroj Devi said she will send a special ‘churma’ (a popular delicacy from Haryana and Rajasthan) for Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the latter requested for it during a recent interaction with the athlete.
“We wish that Neeraj wins the gold medal again and get the opportunity to meet PM Modi again. Yes, this time I’ll send special churma made with ‘desi ghee’, ‘shakkar’ and ‘khand’,” Saroj Devi told IANS.
On Thursday, PM Modi hosted Paris Olympic-bound athletes at his residence to have a conversation with them. During such a chat with Neeraj, PM asked the javelin thrower to bring homemade ‘churma’ for him prepared by his mother.
Neeraj casually greeted the PM, saying, “Namaskar sir, kaise hain?” (Hello sir, how are you?) To which PM Modi replied with a chuckle, “Mai vaisa hi hu” (I am just the same).
PM Modi then joked, “Mera choorma abhi tak aaya nahi” (I haven’t received my churma yet), sparking laughter all around.
With a shy smile, Neeraj replied, “Is baar Haryana wala choorma khilayenge sir, pichli baar Delhi ka cheeni wala khaya tha” (This time I will treat you with churma from Haryana; last time we had the sugary one from Delhi).
The PM eagerly expressed his craving for homemade churma, saying, “Mujhe tumhari maa ke haath ka choorma khana hai” (I want to savour churma made by your mother).
After their humorous banter, PM Modi wished Neeraj all the best for the Paris Olympics, urging him to stay fit and injury-free.
Neeraj’s father Satish Kumar said his son detailed his training and preparations for the Olympics to PM Modi.
“Neeraj told PM that his training is going well and he’ll give his all to clinch the second gold medal for the country,” he said.
“He has missed some of the events in the past due to groin injury but now he has recovered and wants to focus on the Olympics. He wants to better his previous record and win a medal. He is currently training for 6-8 hours daily under the guidance of his coach and physio,” Satish added.
–IANS
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Sports
Euro 2024: Switzerland ‘will cause England problems’ in quarters, says head coach Yakin
Dusseldorf, July 6 (IANS) Switzerland have perhaps been the best team in the 2024 European Championship after Spain and Germany. The team has proved that they are up for a challenge as they defeated defending champions Italy in the Round of 16.
Ahead of their matchup with England, head coach Murat Yakin has promised that side ‘will cause England problems.’
“England have a lot of quality. We don’t know what they plan to do but we have shown already that we can mix it against big teams – against the defending champions [Italy] and the hosts [Germany]. We will cause England problems,” said Yakin to reporters in the post game press conference.
Switzerland were in Group A and their impressive outing saw them finish with seven points and finish second on goal difference. The side then went on to dominate Italy in their first knockout game with a 2-0 victory.
“I assume that England has enough quality to play well in a quarter-final but we are in good shape and have shown that we are ready to upset big teams. Why not give big England a problem and play our game and see what happens?,” added the Swiss head coach.
Switzerland will be playing their fifth ever major tournament quarter-final. They have been eliminated at this stage in all four of their previous attempts, this is the most any European nation has featured in quarter-finals of major tournaments without ever participating in a semi-final.
The winner of the tie will be facing the winner of the Netherlands vs Turkey quarter-final.
“Everyone is working towards a common goal. We’re happy to be here, living the moment. The mood in the camp is very good. We are developing together,” concluded the 49-year old.
–IANS
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