Page 33 - Sports

LTA fined $1 million by ATP over ban of Russian players from summer events

The Lawn Tennis Association was fined $1 million by the ATP men's professional tour on Wednesday for banning players from Russia and Belarus from its grass-court events this summer. The governing body of British tennis banned the players from five Wimbledon warm-up tournaments following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The ATP, which oversees men's tennis outside of the Grand Slams, also warned the LTA it could lose its membership in the organization if it repeats the ban. We stand by our original position on this matter, that unilateral decision-making by members of the ATP Tour threatens our ability to operate as a global sport," the ATP said in a statement. "We believe that the measures taken protect the long-term future of our game and its commitment to merit-based participation, without discrimination, for individual athletes. We have no further comment. The LTA said it deeply disappointed with the tour's action. The ATP, in its finding, has shown no recognition of the exceptio

Novak Djokovic to start 2023 in Adelaide ahead of Australian Open

Novak Djokovic will open his 2023 campaign in Adelaide as he prepares for a shot at a 10th Australian Open crown a year after having his visa revoked on the eve of his title defense. The 21-time major winner has been granted a visa by the Australian government and has been listed to play at the Adelaide International, which starts Jan. 1. Serbia isn't contesting the inaugural United Cup team competition, leaving Djokovic free to play regular warmup tournaments head of the Jan. 16-29 Australian Open. He'll be joined in the men's draw at Adelaide by Russians Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada and Andy Murray. Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka will headline the women's draw. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles last month confirmed Djokovic had been granted a visa to compete in Australia in January. The 35-year-old Serbian had been facing a possible three-year ban after being deported last January over his stance against COVID-19 vaccination. Djokovic has won

IOC denies to lift boxing body's suspension; writes letter listing concerns

The International Olympic Committee has decided not to lift the suspension of the International Boxing Association's recognition and involve it in conducting boxing competitions at the Paris Olympics

Blind World Cup: Pakistan gets visa clearance, set to compete in India

Decks have been cleared for the Pakistan blind cricket team to take part in the ongoing Blind Cricket World Cup in India after the Union home ministry's visa clearance to 34 players and officials of the neighbouring country. After its nod, the Ministry of External Affairs will issue the Visas to the Pakistani players and officials so that they can travel to India for the December 5-17 tournament. The home ministry has given clearance for issuance of visa to 34 Pakistani players and officials to take part in the Blind Cricket World Cup, a ministry official said. Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) had claimed in a statement that its team could not get clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs in India. This unfortunate incident has left the Pakistan blind cricket team in the lurch, the PBCC had said in a statement. The PBCC said "it strongly condemns this discriminating act of India as sports should be above regional politics". Pakistan finished sec

Fifa World Cup: A migration story of players shooting beyond boundaries

There are over 50 Africa-born or African-origin players in 11 teams; only 4 of 32 teams have all players born in their own country - Argentina, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea

Deepika Padukone will be unveiling the Fifa World Cup trophy during finals

Deepika Padukone is expected to unveil the World Cup trophy on December 18, at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar, according to sources close to her team

What's the future of Qatar's stadiums once the Fifa World Cup is over

The World Cup stadium was designed to leave a minimal footprint in the Qatari sand. It's now due to be dismantled. Stadium 974 played host to seven matches, the last of which was Brazil's 4-1 win over South Korea in the round of 16 on Monday. The Qataris say the stadium will disappear, but it isn't clear when that will happen. The Gulf country will soon stage an Asian Cup, the multi-sport Asian Games and maybe even an Olympics. A look at FIFA requirements for World Cup stadiums and what happens next for Qatar's venues. WHAT DID QATAR NEED? FIFA has clear specifications for a World Cup host's venues plan. A main stadium holding at least 80,000 people to stage the final, at least one more of 60,000 capacity that must host a semifinal, and several more of at least 40,000 though FIFA let Russia have two that dipped below 35,000 four years ago. Qatar had a 12-stadium plan when it bid for and won the hosting rights in 2010. About three years into its long preparations for the 2022 .

AFC Asian Cup 2027: India withdraws bid, to focus on grassroots development

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has officially withdrawn its bid to host the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in India, the AIFF and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) jointly notified on Monday

Croatia beats Japan 3-1 in penalty round to enter World Cup quarterfinals

Croatia is going deep at another World Cup, and the team is taking the long route once again. Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved three penalty kicks Monday in Croatia's 3-1 win over Japan in a shootout, securing a return to the quarterfinals for the runner-up in the 2018 tournament. On its run to the final four years ago, Croatia needed extra time in each round in the knockout stage and twice came through a penalty shootout. This time, Mario Pasalic converted the clinching penalty for Croatia after the teams were tied at 1-1 after extra time. Livakovic saved penalties from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitomo and Maya Yoshida, and it was the Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper who took most of the acclaim from the jubilant Croatia team after the shootout. Japan had been looking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time but fell short again, just like in 2002, 2010 and 2018. The Asian team lost to Paraguay in a penalty shootout in the round of 16 in 2010. Croatia, which also reached the semifi

Eye on the ball & on players, tech takes centre stage at FIFA World Cup

From video assistant referees to match ball that sends signals to FIFA officials

Nick Bollettieri, man who coached Agassi, Courier, Sharapova, passes away

In 2014 Bollettieri was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and in 2015, he became the first white man to be inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame

Brazil waits for Neymar's return ahead of World Cup match against S Korea

Whether Neymar is in the lineup, on the bench or resting for a third consecutive game will depend on how he performs in Brazil's last training session ahead of the team's match against South Korea on Monday in the round of 16 at the World Cup. The Brazil forward missed two group matches after injuring his right ankle in the team's opening win over Serbia. He was back training with teammates on Saturday, but it remains unclear whether he's fit enough to play against South Korea. He will train this afternoon, and if he trains well, he will play, Brazil coach Tite said ahead of the team's practice session on Sunday. Tite said he planned to use Neymar from the opening whistle instead of as a substitute if he's healthy enough to play. I prefer to use my best player from the start, Tite said. It's the coach who has to make that decision and take on that responsibility. Brazil struggled without the playmaker but still won its group despite a loss to Cameroon in the last match. Obviously

Netherlands eliminates US by 3-1 to enter Fifa World Cup quarterfinals

Memphis Depay and Daley Blind scored in the first half and Denzil Dumfries added a late goal as the Netherlands eliminated the United States from the World Cup with a 3-1 victory Saturday that advanced the Dutch to the quarterfinals. Second-half subsitute Haji Wright cut the U.S. deficit to 2-1 in the 76th minute when Christian Pulisic's cross hit his trailing foot and popped over goalkeeper Andries Noppert and into the net. But Dumfries, who assisted on the first two goals, scored on a volley in the 81st. Runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010, the Oranje extended their unbeaten streak to 19 games and face Argentina or Australia on Friday.

Australia beat India 5-1 in fourth match to lead hockey series by 3-1

India made a promising start by taking a first-half lead but its defence fell apart later as the team lost the fourth hockey Test 1-5 to Australia and conceded an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series, here on Saturday. The final match of the series will be played on Sunday. India had won the third match after losing the first two contests. Comeback man Dilpreet Singh (25th) struck early to give India the lead after a resolute defensive display by Harmanpreet and Co. in a goalless first quarter. But India's defence crumbled towards the fag end of second quarter with Jeremy Hayward (29th) and Jake Whetton (30th) scoring in space of 50 seconds. Tom Wickham (34th) extended the Kookaburras lead, before Hayward completed his brace (41st) . Matt Dawson entered the scoresheet in the 54th minute with a low volley strike that went past Krishan Pathak. Pathak, who came in place of the seasoned Sreejesh, however made some creditable saves to save India from more humiliation. On a s

Stephanie Frappart to make World Cup history as first woman referee

French referee Stphanie Frappart will become the first woman to take charge of a men's World Cup game when she handles Germany vs. Costa Rica on Thursday in Qatar. FIFA also picked two women as assistants to Frappart Neuza Back of Brazil and Mexico's Karen Diaz Medina to complete an all-female refereeing team on the field. A fourth woman match official FIFA picked for this World Cup, Kathryn Nesbitt of the United States, will also be working at the Al Bayt Stadium as the offside specialist in the video review team. Two other women, Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda and Yoshimi Yamashita of Japan, are also on the FIFA list to referee games in Qatar. FIFA made the historic appointments for the 44th of the 64 games being played in Qatar. Frappart previously was picked for fourth official duties. The 38-year-old Frenchwoman has been promoted in the men's game by European soccer body UEFA and in her home country. She was refereed men's games in World Cup qualifying and the Champions Leagu

Worker deaths for Fifa world cup between 400 and 500: Qatar official

During an interview with a British journalist, a top official of Qatar involved in the courtry's World Cup organization has put the number of worker deaths for the tournament between 400 and 500

FIFA World Cup 2022: Substitute Vincent Aboubakar saves Cameroon in 3-3 tie

Substitute Vincent Aboubakar scored one goal and created another as Cameroon rallied from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Serbia at the World Cup on Monday. He lobbed goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in the 64th minute and then set up striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting two minutes later. The thrilling draw was the first game at the World Cup in Qatar in which both teams gave up a lead. But the result suited neither side. They each have one point after two Group G matches and either Brazil or Switzerland can qualify with a win when they meet later Monday. Cameroon led through central defender Jean-Charles Castelletto's 29th minute tap-in but also conceded twice in quick succession. Strahinja Pavlovic scored the equalizer on a header in the first minute of first-half stoppage time and, two minutes later, midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic struck from 20 meters. Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic made it 3-1 in the 53rd at Al Janoub Stadium. Cameroon coach Rigobert Song dropped goalkeeper Andre

Kudus scores 2, Ghana beats South Korea 3-2 at FIFA World Cup 2022

Mohammed Kudus scored twice, including the go-ahead goal after South Korea evened the match in the second half, and Ghana staved off elimination at the World Cup with a 3-2 victory on Monday. Mohammed Salisu also scored for the Black Stars, who lost their opening match against Portugal and were in need of points for a chance to reach the knockout round in Qatar. Down 2-0, Cho Geu-sung scored both of South Korea's goals about three minutes apart early in the second half to even the game at 2-2. But Kudus' low left-footed goal in the 68th minute sailed out of the reach of goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu to give the Black Stars back the lead. Goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi preserved the victory with a leaping save off Cho's attempt in stoppage time. South Korea forward Son Heung-min remained without a goal in Qatar. The Tottenham forward wore a mask to protect a broken left eye socket he sustained in a Champions League game against Marseille earlier this month. South Korea coach Paulo Bento w

Legendary sprinter P T Usha becomes first woman president of IOA

P T Usha will be the first woman president of the Indian Olympic Association in its 95-year history and the first Olympian and an international medalist to head the national Olympics committee

Paralympic medallist Lekhara receives Para Sports Person of Year award

At the Turf 2022 and India Sports Awards of FICCI, former Ranji cricketer Sarkar Talwar was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement of the Year award on Saturday