Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz split the four Grand Slams between them in 2024, confirming their status as the brightest stars in the new golden generation. Also Read: Deadline approaching for appeal to CAS On Sunday Sinner added the US Open to his Australian Open triumph in January. He became the first man since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same season. It’s a feat that eluded Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. Alcaraz, two years Sinner’s junior, won the French Open and defended his Wimbledon title in 2024 and already has won four Grand Slam titles. Sinner, 23, has six titles this year while Alcaraz has three. Alcaraz is making Grand Slam history faster than the Big Three of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. None of the three managed to win four majors before the age of 22. Djokovic did not win his fourth Slam till the 2011 US Open, when he was 24. Nadal was 22 when he won his fourth (2008 French Open) while Federer was 23 when he collected a fourth major at the 2004 US Open. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 September,2024 08:05 PM IST | New York | AFPSukhjeet Singh struck a brace as defending champions India thrashed Japan 5-1 in a league match to notch up their second consecutive win in the men’s Hero Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Monday. Sukhjeet scored in the second and 60th minutes while Abhishek (3rd), Sanjay (17th) and Uttam Singh (54th) were the other Indian goal getters. Matsumoto Kazumasa pulled one back for Japan in the 41st minute. Also Read: Syria rout india 3-0 Four-time champions India got two penalty corners as against five of Japan. India were quick to get the lead with Sukhjeet scoring a brilliant field goal in the second minute of the match itself. It was Sanjay, hovering on the right side of the circle, lobbed in a cross that was swiftly deflected by Sukhjeet. India extended the lead to 2-0 in the next minute with Abhishek dribbling past several Japanese defenders before rounding off the goalkeeper to score.The onslaught continued in the second quarter with Sanjay converting a splendid penalty corner in the 17th minute. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 September,2024 08:27 AM IST | Hulunbuir (China) | PTITime is running out for appeals to be filed in the case that exonerated new US Open champion Jannik Sinner from doping. The World Anti-Doping Agency and Nado Italia, Italy’s anti-doping agency, likely have only one more day to challenge the decision announced by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on August 20. Also Read: I let a lot of people down: Taylor Fritz on US Open final defeat There is a 21-day appeal window which began when the parties received the decision. Any appeal would be filed to Switzerland’s Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Sinner tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March, but was not suspended as the ITIA said the drug entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist. The case was kept secret till last month. An appeal could jeopardise his US Open title. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 September,2024 08:01 AM IST | Rome | AP | PTITaylor Fritz believes he “let a lot of people down” after failing in his dream to become the first American man in 21 years to capture a Grand Slam title. Fritz was outclassed by World No.1 Jannik Sinner 3-6, 4-6, 5-7 in Sunday’s US Open final. Andy Roddick, in New York in 2003, remains the last US man to win a Grand Slam title. “I’m pretty upset with how I played. I feel like I almost let a lot of people down,” admitted Fritz, 26. Also Read: ‘Not easy, but I tried to focus’ “I’m pretty just disappointed in how I played, how I hit certain shots. It sucks. I just would have liked to have played better and given myself a better chance. It’s really disappointing right now. I feel like American fans have been wanting a men’s champion for a long time.” Fritz was always chasing this final, even when he served for the third set as Sinner went on to claim his second Grand Slam of the year after his maiden triumph in Australia. Fritz was the US first man since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009 to reach a Grand Slam final, seeing off higher-ranked former runners-up Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev en route. He had beaten Sinner in their first meeting at Indian Wells in 2021. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 September,2024 07:58 AM IST | New York | AFPNewly-crowned US Open champion Jannik Sinner admitted on Sunday that the controversy over his two failed drugs tests “was and is still on my mind”. Italian Sinner, 23, defeated Taylor Fritz in straight sets to win his second Grand Slam title to add to his first in Australia in January. However, his path to victory was accompanied by questions over him twice testing positive for the banned substance clostebol in March. He escaped a lengthy ban when the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found he was not guilty of wrongdoing after he had been inadvertently contaminated by his physio. The Italian sacked physio Giacomo Naldi and trainer Umberto Ferrara, citing a loss of confidence in them. The decision to clear the Italian was met with scepticism by some players in the locker room, who suggested that Sinner had benefitted from preferential treatment due to his status in the sport. “It was and it’s still on my mind. It’s not that it’s gone, but when I’m on court, I try to focus about the game, I try to handle the situation the best possible way, communication with the team, in the practice courts,” said the World No. 1. “It was not easy, that’s for sure, but I tried to stay focused, with which I guess I’ve done a great job.” Also Read: Kane to get gold cap for 100th match Support from fans Sinner admitted that the case had cast a cloud over him, but believes that fans and most players have been supportive. “Obviously, it was very difficult for me to enjoy certain moments. Also, how I behaved or how I walked on the court in certain tournaments before, it was not the same as I used to be, so whoever knows me better, they know that something was wrong. But during this tournament, slowly I restarted to feel a little bit more how I am as a person. Doesn’t really matter how or what the result was. So this tournament, for sure, helped me a little bit.” Stellar season Despite the controversy, Sinner is enjoying a stellar season. He has captured six titles, racking up 55 wins against just five losses. Sinner rated Sunday’s win in New York as more impactful for him than his Australian Open breakthrough. “Melbourne was kind of a relief because you never know if you can win one Grand Slam or not, but when you win one, you know that you can do it. Here it was difficult because also the pre-tournament circumstances weren’t easy. I felt like I’ve grown match by match and that my confidence level went higher and higher at some point. It was different because I had more pressure this time than in Australia. I’m happy how I handled this one. Yeah, I’m just excited to have this trophy with me.” Rs 30crJannik Sinner’s prize money (USD 3.6 million) This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 September,2024 07:55 AM IST | New York | AFP
August, 2016. Picture this: Your lifelong aspiration is to snag a gymnastics medal at the Olympics in Rio. After years of relentless training, you've taken your dedication to a new level of obsession. Every day, you’re locked in a marathon of repetitive drills, obsessively perfecting every facet of your routines. You push yourself to the brink, devoting a gruelling six hours to an endless cycle of tumbling, leaping, somersaulting, and defying gravity. Truly, what’s life without a little daily self-flagellation in the name of Olympic glory? You have just conjured up the daily grind of Dipa Karmakar, hailing from Tripura’s Agartala, who’s also India's most successful gymnast of all time. Watching Karmakar execute the ‘Produnova’, the so-called ‘vault of death’, led the best of us to question whether Newton ever truly understood gravity. Her leaps were so astonishing they practically made us wonder if she had figured out a way to sidestep the laws of physics altogether. Her Rio performance, although Karmakar returned medalless, was a striking blend of gruelling athleticism, breathtaking grace, and a show of seemingly effortless perfection that was almost annoyingly flawless. Also Read: Nishad Kumar: Losing a hand, regaining a life! As she thundered towards the vaulting table, one couldn’t help but wonder how much she weighed, given the way she catapulted into a series of twists before sticking the landing. She maintained her concerned expression right up until her second vault, the ‘Produnova’, an act that apparently went on to make her a household name. “I was always ready to do the Produnova vault. I did not have any inhibitions. I always want to try difficult vaults. I was ready to put in the effort and worked continuously on my fitness and speed. I learned from the original routine of Elena Produnova by watching her videos. I was enthusiastic about executing the vault on the world stage. There was no element of fear. I am lucky that I got a coach like Nandi Sir and he is a big reason why I was able to perform the vault. My family supported me too. The journey was really tough but I have made it till here only because of their support. Today, people know me because of the Produnova vault,” Karmakar told Sunday Guardian. Karmakar was still in the medal race until Russia’s Maria Paseka made her final vault, her score not only eclipsed Karmakar’s but also surpassed Swiss gymnast Giulia Steingruber’s, leaving only USA’s Simone Biles to complete her routine. At that point, it was almost comical to speculate on the outcome: Biles, with her collection of three golds and a bronze, seemed to defy the very limits of human capability. On that night, Biles didn’t just compete, she decimated her rivals with such an impressive margin that it was as if she were operating on a different plane of existence. As for Karmakar, after executing two remarkable vaults in the final, she was left waiting for her score while the cameras hovered, capturing every moment of her anticipation. Her earlier wide-eyed anxiety had vanished. Instead, she wore a confident smile and offered a casual wave to the cameras, exuding a mild air of swagger. It was clear she had delivered a performance worth noting, despite eventually finishing second and then fourth. The contrast between her nerves and her composed demeanour post-performance was striking. But how fate played its usual charming tricks on her and India! In the end, it wasn’t just about the final standings but the sheer audacity and skill she displayed. It’s all that matters, really. Cut to present. Now 30, Karmakar has amassed a rich collection of life’s little inconveniences. She has navigated two career-threatening ACL tears, undergone not one but two surgeries, weathered the bitter experience of a doping ban, and missed out on Olympic qualification for the second consecutive time (first Tokyo, then Paris). Of course, there’s no guarantee that she will snag a spot on the Olympic team in Los Angeles. Her training marches on, but she’s up against a veritable army of elite Indian gymnasts. But Karmakar, I tell you, is known to laugh in the face of fear. In the grand scheme of things, it is just a minor obstacle course to navigate before she can bask in Olympic glory.
09 September,2024 12:24 PM IST | Mumbai | Srijanee MajumdarVeteran sports administrator Randhir Singh on Sunday became the first Indian to be elected as the president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) during the 44th General Assembly of the continental body here. A five-time Olympic shooter, Randhir was the lone eligible candidate for the OCA president’s post. His tenure will run from 2024 till 2028, and his election was unanimous. Also Read: Folks, This is for you! Meanwhile, India’s ancient sport, yogasana was included as a demonstration event at the 2026 Asian Games to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Yogasana’s inclusion in the Asian Games calendar as a demonstration sport was unanimously passed at the 44th General Assembly of OCA. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 September,2024 07:41 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIAryna Sabalenka dedicated her US Open title to her family who “never gave up on my dream” after a third Grand Slam title was achieved in a year of personal torment. World No. 2 Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 to add a maiden New York crown to her back-to-back Australian Open titles. This US Open was the first Grand Slam she had won since the death of her former boyfriend in March—she only made the last-eight at the French Open and missed Wimbledon with injury. Personal tragedies quelled USA’s Jessica Pegula Ice hockey player Konstantin Koltsov, once a star of the NHL, died from apparent suicide at the age of 42. Five years ago, Sabalenka’s father Sergiy passed away from meningitis at just 43. “After I lost my father, it has always been my goal to put our family name in the history of tennis,” said the 26-year-old Belarusian. “Every time I see my name on that trophy, I’m so proud of myself, I’m proud of my family that they never gave up on my dream and that they were doing everything they could to keep me going. I had this opportunity in life so it really means a lot. It has always been my dream.” On Saturday, Sabalenka summoned her familiar weapons of super-charged serve and brutal groundstrokes to defeat sixth-ranked Pegula. Also Read: Khan lands final blow Third fastest serve Her 40 winners took her tournament total to 205 with 36 aces. She boasted the third fastest serve of the competition of 191.5 km/h (119 mph). “I know that I have to go for it. That’s the only way it works for me,” said Sabalenka. “Every time I stop my arms and the ball flies in the stands, so a long time ago I decided for myself in those important moments I just have to go for it, I have to swing.” Saturday’s defeat, meanwhile, came during a rollercoaster year for former World No. 3 Pegula. After complaining of feeling burnt-out after the Australian Open, she was laid low by a rib injury which forced her to sit out the European clay court swing, including the French Open. She marked her return to action by winning the grass-court title in Berlin. After second-round losses at Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics, Pegula raced to the Toronto title and finished runner-up to Sabalenka in Cincinnati. She ended the US summer hardcourt season with 15 wins in 17 matches. Pegula had lost in Grand Slam quarter-finals six times before finally breaking through to this year’s US Open championship match. Four of those losses came against the eventual champions. “I’ve lost again to a really good player today. I will take a lot of confidence from this,” she said on Saturday. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 September,2024 07:38 AM IST | New York | AFPBraving all odds with a steely resolve, India’s Simran Sharma won the bronze medal in the women’s 200m T12 final here on Saturday, living up to the expectations of a podium finish after missing it by a whisker in the 100m dash. Reigning world champion Simran finished third onthe podium with a personal best time of 24.75 seconds in what was a culmination of a journey that was fraught with obstacles right from the day she was born. Cuba’s Omara Durand Elias claimed gold with 23.62, while Venezuela’s Paola Alejandra Perez Lopez bagged silver with an effort of 24.19. The T12 classification in the Paralympics is for athletes with visual impairments. Also Read: Canada beat USA at home for first time since 1957 Born prematurely The 24-year-old Simran was born prematurely and spent the next 10 weeks in an incubator, where it was discovered that she is visually impaired. With the race for the gold medal becoming a contest between Omara and Paola, Simran was engaged in a battle for the bronze with Iran’s Hajar Safarzadeh, who had a better reaction time than the Indian sprinter. The final surge However, Simran gave it her all in the final stretch and crossed the line before Hajar, who finished with a timing of 24.91. She had earlier finished fourth in the 100m event. After the disappointment in the 100m competition two nights ago, the 200m race offered Simran a chance at redemption, and helped by her guide Abhay Singh, the athlete went all out to stand on the podium, and succeeded too in her endeavour. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 September,2024 07:31 AM IST | Paris | PTIThe Indian men’s hockey team launched its title defence with a commanding 3-0 win over hosts China in the Asian Champions Trophy here on Sunday. Sukhjeet Singh (14th minute), Uttam, Singh (27th) and Abhishek (32nd) were the goal-scorer for India, while China drew a blank. Also Read: Paris Paralympics 2024 | "Humein bhi utna darja milna chahiye": Navdeep Singh after clinching gold medal Coming into the tournament after securing a second successive bronze at the Olympics, India looked the more enterprising side as they grabbed the opportunities up front and was rock solid in defence to emerge winners. Sukhjeet put India ahead at the stroke of the first quarter before Uttam Singh doubled the lead just three minutes before the end of the second quarter as India went 2-0 up at the half time. Just two minutes after resumption, Abhishek found the back of the net with a spectacular reverse hit. India will play Japan in their second pool one match on Monday. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 September,2024 07:25 AM IST | Hulunbuir | PTINavdeep Singh, who suffered from dwarfism, endured not just the usual rigours of training, but cruel taunts from onlookers while growing up in his village in Haryana’s Panipat district. On Saturday, having turned those taunts into his biggest triumph on sport’s grandest stage, the four feet four inches tall para athlete expressed his concerns with the indignities visited upon people whose bodies don’t fit the usual moulds, and demanded “same respect” for them. ‘I too have brought glory’ The 23-year-old Indian javelin thrower won an unparalleled gold in the F41 classification at the Paris Paralympic Games. “Humein bhi utna darja milna chahiye, maine bhi desh ka naam roshan kiya hai [We deserve the same respect, I too have brought glory to the country],” Navdeep said, flashing his gold medal in a video shared by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI). “My aim is to educate society that we also exist in this world and nobody should make fun of us, which is often the case. We also can make our country proud. “There were a lot of hurdles initially, but I kept at it and strengthened myself, which led to good results. This is the biggest moment of my life, I feel proud to sign off with a gold medal,” he added. As the track and field competitions concluded at the Paris Games, Navdeep’s golden throw in the final ensured the hallowed Stade de France echoed with the Indian national anthem. His personal best effort of 47.32m initially placed him in second position, but it was upgraded to gold after the top finisher, Iran’s Sadegh Beit Sayah, was disqualified for repeatedly displaying an objectionable flag. It was a defining moment for Navdeep, who silenced all his doubters. Born prematurely in 2000, Navdeep’s struggles began from the start. It wasn’t until he was two years old that his parents realised their son had dwarfism, setting the stage for a life filled with both struggles and triumphs. Motivating dad His father, Dalbir Singh, a national-level wrestler, kept motivating him and saw his son as an extension of his own aspirations. Navdeep started his athletic journey at the age of 10, dabbling in wrestling and sprinting before finding his true calling in javelin throw after being inspired by national icon Neeraj Chopra. Also Read: Injured Ibrahim Zadran doubtful for Test against New Zealand “The first thing that comes to my mind is my dad [Dalbir Singh]. I really miss my family now. Initially, it felt like a burden. I wondered why I couldn’t enjoy life like others — go to school and have fun. “But he [dad] kept me motivated and on track. In this journey, I can’t credit just one person. Champions are made with support, so my coach, my family, the government — all contributed to our success, taking our medal tally beyond the expectation of 25, reaching 29 already,” he added. Jhajharia’s big tip proved crucial for Navdeep A “small yet powerful advice” from India’s celebrated javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia proved to be crucial for Navdeep Singh, who clinched a historic gold medal at the Paris Paralympics. “Sir has loads of experience, he always finds a way to win difficult matches, so I discussed my problems with him,” Navdeep recalled their conversation in a video shared by the Paralympics Committee of India. “He gave me a simple piece of advice that ultimately proved to be very effective. It turned out to be a crucial insight.” PCI president Jhajharia, a double Paralympic gold medallist, explained to Navdeep that while many believe the javelin is thrown primarily with the hands, the real power comes from the legs. “I told him just one thing: Remember, while people say you throw the javelin with your hands, it’s actually driven by your legs. “I instructed him to fully engage his right leg to release power from the ground. “This technique helps generate force from the ground, which is then transferred through the throw, resulting in greater power and accuracy.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 September,2024 07:20 AM IST | Paris | PTI
