Friday, April 25, 2025 ਪੰਜਾਬੀ हिंदी

Sports

Alcaraz pulls out of Madrid Open due to injury

Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Madrid Open, an ATP 1000 masters event, due to the adductor injury sustained in Barcelona and a separate injury in his left foot.

The 21-year-old announced the decision during his pre-tournament press conference on Thursday. "We have decided to not take risks, to not worsen the situation for the future and to listen to my body. We have to take difficult decisions, but we have made the right one. I will try to rest, recover and be back on the court as soon as possible," Alcaraz said.

The Spaniard received treatment on his upper right leg during his defeat to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final last week. Alcaraz was hoping to be fit to play at the ATP Masters 1000 event but feels that the tournament has come too soon.

La Liga: Real Madrid win, Athletic Bilbao strengthens grip on top-4

Arda Guler's first-half goal kept Real Madrid in the hunt for the La Liga title with a 1-0 win away to Getafe at the Coliseum.

The Coliseum observed a minute of silence before the start of the match between Getafe and Real Madrid , corresponding to matchday 33 of La Liga , in memory of Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88.

The Turkey international fired home from the edge of the penalty area after Getafe goalkeeper David Soria had saved from Brahim Diaz, who also started in a much-changed Madrid starting 11.

Soria made several other important saves, while Getafe worked hard but failed to seriously test Thibaut Courtois in the Madrid goal, reports.

Arsenal held by Palace to leave Liverpool one point from Premier League title

William Saliba's costly error saw Arsenal slip to a 2-2 draw at home to Crystal Palace, leaving Liverpool a point away from Premier League glory.

First-half goals from Jakub Kiwior and Leandro Trossard were not enough to beat Crystal Palace, as the visitors twice came from behind to claim a point at Emirates Stadium.

Only a Palace victory at the Emirates Stadium would have secured Liverpool their 20th top-flight crown without kicking a ball, but Liverpool can wrap up the title if they do not lose to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Kiwior put Arsenal ahead within the opening three minutes with an excellent header, only for Palace to level through an Eberechi Eze volley from a corner.

ISL clubs condemn Pahalgam terror attack, BFC to wear black armband against Inter Kashi

On what is truly a sad day for the country, football clubs from all parts of India took to social media to express their grief following a devastating terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

Bengaluru FC confirmed that they will be observing a minute’s silence and wear black armbands as a mark of respect during their clash against Inter Kashi on Wednesday in the Round of 16 of the Kalinga Super Cup.

"Bengaluru FC stands in solidarity with the victims, their families, and all those affected in the #PahalgamAttack. A minute's silence will be observed ahead of today's #KalingaSuperCup fixture, where the Blues will wear black armbands as a mark of respect," posted BFC.

The terror attack took place in the Baisaran Valley, a scenic meadow situated in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination about 30 miles southeast of Srinagar on Tuesday, sending shockwaves throughout the country.

IPL 2025: Effort to promote Miller was to see if things could change, says LSG coach Dahiya

Vijay Dahiya, the assistant coach of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) defended the move of promoting David Miller to number five batting spot during their eight-wicket defeat to Delhi Capitals (DC), citing it as a way to reverse the team’s declining run-rate following three quick dismissals.

At the BRSABV Ekana Stadium, Miller came out to bat after Abdul Samad’s promotion didn’t yield anything substantial. But Miller could only make 14 off 15 balls as impact player Ayush Badoni slammed a quick 21-ball 36, as LSG made 159/6, which DC chased down in 17.5 overs.

Miller’s promotion also meant that skipper Rishabh Pant came out to bat at seven, and made just a two-ball duck. "I think in the T20 format, there is only one plan, and that is to have a lot of plans. Nothing is decided in this game. You try to understand how the game is going and how you will try to ride I”

Ligue 1: PSG make history with unbeaten streak in draw against Nantes

Paris Saint-Germain made history with their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 with a 1-1 draw against FC Nantes at Stade de la Beaujoire

PSG have not lost any of their last 39 away matches in Ligue 1 (30 wins, nine draws), marking the longest unbeaten away streak by any club in the history of the top five European leagues, surpassing AC Milan's run of 38 from 1991 to 1993.

The opening goal of the contest came midway in the 33rd minute with Vitinha breaking the scoreless deadlock. Vitinha played the ball out to the right for Ousmane Dembélé, who accelerated and found Kang-in Lee in the middle.

After a touch to control it, the South Korean managed to play a first-time pass to his left for Vitinha, despite a challenge from Nathan Zeze that left him on the ground. The Portuguese midfielder charged into the box and fired with his left foot, sending the ball into the back of the net, Ligue 1 reports.

Olmo strike sends Barcelona seven clear in La Liga

Dani Olmo's second-half goal allowed FC Barcelona to extend its lead at the top of La Liga to seven points over Real Madrid with a 1-0 win at home to Mallorca.

Barcelona dominated the game, but was denied time after time by a magnificent display from Mallorca goalkeeper Leo Roman, who made a string of excellent saves.

With the Copa del Rey final on Saturday and Robert Lewandowski injured, Barca coach Hansi Flick brought Hector Fort into defense, while Eric Garcia started in midfield, and there was a rare appearance for Ansu Fati in the starting 11, reports.

With a slightly makeshift defense, Barcelona looked slightly vulnerable in the opening minutes but quickly took control, with Pedri controlling everything in midfield.

Bundesliga: St. Pauli all but end Leverkusen's title hopes with 1-1 draw

Bayer Leverkusen's grasp on the Bundesliga trophy loosened further after Carlo Boukhalfa's late equaliser for St. Pauli cancelled out Patrik Schick's opener in a battling 1-1 draw at the Millerntor.

The home side started brightly, putting pressure on the champions and creating several early chances. However, it was Patrik Schick who broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute. The Czech striker rose highest to meet Alejandro Grimaldo's free-kick, nodding home to give Leverkusen the lead.

Despite St. Pauli's efforts, including a powerful shot from Carlo Boukhalfa that forced a save from Lukas Hradecky, the visitors held their advantage going into the break, Bundesliga reports.

The second half saw tensions rise while St. Pauli's persistence nearly paid off in the 74th minute when Morgan Guilavogui found the net. That effort would be ruled out for handball, however.

Neymar suffers new leg injury, confirms Santos

Santos forward Neymar has been diagnosed with a new leg muscle injury, the club confirmed Friday, marking the latest setback in his protracted struggle to regain full fitness.

The 33-year-old was forced off in the 34th minute of Santos' 2-0 victory over Atletico Mineiro on Wednesday and subsequent tests identified damage to the semimembranosus, one of the hamstring muscles, reports.

"It's still too early to give any definitive answer, we don't have a diagnosis yet," said Santos coach Cesar Sampaio. "Now we really have to pray that it's not something that will keep him out for a long time."

In a statement on its official website, Santos said the latest injury was not a reoccurrence of a previous problem.

Newcastle can rely on Murphy amidst push for UCL qualification: Tindall

Jason Tindall says Newcastle United can 'rely' on the in-form Jacob Murphy after the winger bagged his ninth goal and 13th assist of the campaign in Wednesday's 5-0 win over Crystal Palace.

The Magpies head to Aston Villa on Saturday on the back of six successive wins - a run of form that has lifted them to third in the Premier League table - and Murphy's superb form has helped sustain United's push for Champions League qualification.

Assistant head coach Tindall, who again stood in for Howe at Friday morning's media briefing, along with Graeme Jones will lead the team once again at Villa Park this weekend as Howe continues to recover from pneumonia.

Trent Alexander Arnold could return to Liverpool squad vs Leicester, says Slot

Trent Alexander-Arnold is nearing a return to full fitness and could be part of the Liverpool squad at Leicester City this weekend. The Reds full-back has been sidelined since sustaining an injury during the Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on March 11.

But Alexander-Arnold is due to rejoin team training on Friday and may be ready to take a spot on the bench at King Power Stadium on Sunday.

Asked about the right-back and how close he is to featuring again, head coach Arne Slot said although he is not ready to start, but given his training sessions go alright, Arnold could return to the bench.

Bayern facing scrutiny after Champions League exit

UEFA Champions League finals on home soil continue to haunt Bayern Munich and this season's early exit has raised tough questions about the club's future, squad structure and financial strategy.

After the heartbreak of losing the 2012 final to Chelsea at the Allianz Arena, Bayern's 2025 Champions League hopes were dashed once more - this time in the quarterfinals by a disciplined Inter Milan side. The loss marked the German champion's fourth quarterfinal exit in the past five seasons.

"Business as usual is no option," Germany's Kicker magazine commented, urging a comprehensive squad overhaul and a more decisive direction from club leadership

Europa League: Amorim draws inspiration from Man United's 1999 treble for comeback vs Lyon

Ruben Amorim revealed that Manchester United's comeback against Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final second leg was inspired by the famous 1999 Champions League final win.

Manchester United booked their place in the semi-final of the Europa League in an Old Trafford battle for the ages, edging out Lyon 7-6 on aggregate in the final seconds of extra-time.

"I was watching again the '99, the documentary (when we completed the Treble by beating Bayern Munich with two late goals in the Nou Camp), so to have some inspiration for this moment. But, was a great night. I think the team was tired, and you feel it during the game, and then 4-2 with one more player and, in the end, you think it's over. But here, it’s never over," Amorim told TNT Sports.

The first nine-goal game in Europa League history saw Manchester United let a two-goal lead slip, as ten-man Lyon came from behind to lead 3-2; but late goals in extra time from Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire sealed a memorable 5-4 victory (7-6 on aggregate) for the hosts.

Man Utd win in extra-time thriller to seal Europa Cup SF spot

Manchester United booked their place in the semifinal of the Europa League, edging out Lyon 7-6 on aggregate in the quarterfinals.

Ten-man Lyon came from behind to lead 3-2; but late goals in extra time from Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire sealed a memorable 5-4 victory (7-6 on aggregate) for the hosts, who will face Athletic Club in the semifinals.

Man United started on the front foot and took the lead after ten minutes, when Alejandro Garnacho cut back to Manuel Ugarte inside the Lyon box and the Uruguayan midfielder sent a shot flying past visiting goalkeeper Lucas Perri.

Spurs edge Frankfurt to enter Europa League semifinals

Dominic Solanke's first-half penalty proved decisive as Tottenham Hotspur booked a place in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals with a 1-0 (2-1 aggregate) win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Frankfurt, buoyed by a 1-1 draw in London, started brightly. Hugo Ekitike went close early on, while Mario Gotze saw a promising effort go just wide. However, the hosts were dealt a blow in the 17th minute when Gotze limped off with a thigh problem, forcing an early tactical reshuffle.

Frankfurt maintained control but lacked the cutting edge as Spurs grew into the game. James Maddison had a shot saved before winning a penalty a few minutes later when he was brought down by goalkeeper Kaua Santos. Solanke converted from the spot just before the break, reports.

Frankfurt pushed forward after the restart. Fares Chaibi tested Guglielmo Vicario with a powerful free-kick and the keeper was again called into action to deny the Algerian from close range. The rebound fell to Rasmus Kristensen, but the right-back shot wide.

Calance Open: Tapendra Ghai takes four-shot lead in Round 3

Gurugram's Tapendra Ghai produced the day’s best score of eight-under 62 to build an imposing four-shot lead in round three of the Rs 1 crore Calance Open being played at the Qutab Golf Course.

The 29-year-old Ghai (64-67-62), who won his only title on the PGTI in 2018, took his total to 17-under 193 after his penultimate round that helped him gain three spots from his overnight tied fourth place.

Delhi’s Honey Baisoya (67), Ludhiana’s Pukhraj Singh Gill (68) and Chandigarh’s Yuvraj Sandhu (69), were all tied for second place with matching totals of 13-under 197.

Ghai, who was the first-round leader before he slipped three shots behind the lead in round two, was in terrific form with the putter on a day when everyone else struggled with the short putts. He made single putts on his first eight holes where he sank three birdies and came up with a few outstanding par-saves.

Inter edge Bayern to seal Champions League SF spot

Goals from Lautaro Martinez and Benjamin Pavard helped Inter reach the Champions League semifinal for the second time in three seasons with 5-4 aggregate win over Bayern Munich.

Both teams were heavily involved in the opening exchanges. Thomas Muller forced the first save six minutes in with a skidding drive following a neat turn on the edge of the area after collecting Michael Olise's pass, while Dimarco was unable to add the finish to a sweeping move from the hosts, drilling his low effort straight at Jonas Urbig.

The 35-year-old Müller was in the thick of the action again as Bayern aimed to breach a Nerazzurri defence that had conceded just once on home soil in this season's competition, the visitors stepping up the pressure following a Hakan Çalhanoğlu curler that flew narrowly wide, UEFA reports.

Champions League: Arsenal oust holders Madrid to qualify for semis after 16 years

Arsenal completed a 5-1 aggregate win over holders Real Madrid to end their 16-year wait for a Champions League semifinal appearance, setting up a match against high-flying French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Bukayo Saka missed an early penalty that would have handed us a virtually unassailable four-goal aggregate lead, but he redeemed himself on 65 minutes by finishing off a fine move to make it 4-0 on aggregate.

Two minutes later Vinicius Jr pounced on some defensive hesitation to get one back, but in second half stoppage time Gabriel Martinelli raced clear to win the game as we became the first English side to win twice at the Bernabeu and stretch our unbeaten European run to eight matches - our longest run since reaching the final in 2006.

Jharkhand, Punjab FC crowned DSC 2025 champions

RAIA Sports Ground played host to the grand finale of the Dream Sports Championship Football 2025 National Final. The tournament saw Jharkhand FA triumph in the girls' category while Punjab FC successfully defended their title in the boys' category.

The Girls National Finals produced a thrilling contest between Jharkhand FA and Odisha FA, with Jharkhand emerging victorious after securing a narrow 1-0 win. Anamika Sanga proved to be the hero for Jharkhand, scoring the match's only goal in the 20th minute. Despite Odisha's best efforts to equalise, Jharkhand's defence, led by skipper Chandani Kumari, held firm till the end.

"Winning the championship was crucial for our team. Our strategy to keep the ball forward protected our narrow lead," said Chandani, skipper of Jharkhand, after her team's victory.

Tennis: Paolini, Navarro move into Stuttgart second round

Jasmine Paolini and Emma Navarro lived up to their seeded billing at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Tuesday evening, quickly picking up first-round wins at the WTA 500 indoor-clay event in Stuttgart, Germany.

No. 5 seed Paolini of Italy needed only 1 hour and 4 minutes to dismiss Eva Lys 6-2, 6-1 amd moved a a step closer to matching her quarterfinal run from last year, WTA reports.

Paolini won a whopping 73 percent of points returning the Lys first serve, and the Italian was rewarded with a 6-for-8 break point conversion success rate. She improved to 2-0 against Lys (4-0 in sets).

World No. 6 Paolini will take on a German wild card for a second match in a row when she meets Jule Niemeier in the second round.

Shooting: Suruchi stuns Manu to win back-to-back World Cup gold

The Jhajjar girls Suruchi and Manu Bhaker, were on the rampage at the Las Palmas shooting range, the former picking up back-to-back World Cup golds stunning the double Olympic medallist pistol shooter Manu, who took the silver.

Taking aim on competition day one of the year’s second International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun stage, Suruchi tallied 243.6 in the 24-shot 10m air pistol women’s final, to leave her senior double Olympic medal-winning compatriot 1.3 behind in the chase. China’s Yao Qianxun took bronze.

Suruchi and Manu’s 1-2 finish in the women’s air pistol meant that India collected one medal of each colour on the day, with Saurabh Chaudhary earlier winning a bronze in the men’s event. That took them on top of the standings for now, with China, which had won the men’s air pistol gold, in second.

Matthews, Nigar and Prendergast make big stride in women's rankings

As the race for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 intensifies through the ongoing Qualifier, several standout performers have been rewarded with significant leaps in the latest ICC Women’s ODI Rankings — a testament to their match-winning contributions on the big stage.

Leading the pack is West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews, who continues to stake a strong claim for the No.1 all-rounder spot currently held by Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner. Matthews has been in imperious form in Pakistan, smashing an unbeaten century and picking up 10 wickets in her first three games.

Her all-round brilliance has elevated her to 432 rating points, narrowing the gap on South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp (444) and Gardner (470), and firmly placing her ahead of England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt (375), who sits fourth.

Rider registration for ISRL Season 2 mega auction opens

The Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL), the world’s first franchise-based Supercross league, Season 2 kicks off with the opening of rider registration on April 24, promising new international faces, and the return of celebrated talent from across the globe.

The rider registration process covers four competitive categories: 450cc International Riders, 250cc International Riders, 250cc India-Asia Mix and 85cc Junior Class.

Riders can register to be part of the mega auction, where teams will build their dream squads for the 2025 season. Registration does not guarantee participation, it is the first step in joining the official rider pool for team selection during the auction process.

Bournemouth beat Fulham to end six-match winless run

Antoine Semenyo’s first-minute goal proved decisive as AFC Bournemouth boosted their European hopes with a 1-0 victory over Fulham at the Vitality Stadium.

Semenyo’s eighth Premier League goal of the season was enough to snap a run of six top-flight matches without a win for the Cherries.

Bournemouth, who pegged Fulham back to a 2-2 draw late on in the reverse fixture in December, had to hold onto their lead for all but the opening 53 seconds of Monday’s encounter.

The victory takes Bournemouth up into eighth, a place above Fulham and right back in the mix for European qualification, while the Cottagers’ slim hopes of pushing for a UEFA Champions League place have likely been extinguished.

Indian Grandmasters Nihal Sarin, Aravindh Chithambaram to compete at Esports World Cup

India’s top-ranked grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram will compete at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, as the duo is named in S8UL's chess roster, the franchise said.

Making its debut at this year’s edition of the EWC, Chess will feature a total prize pool of USD 1.5 million (approximately Rs 12.9 crore), with Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen joining as the Global Ambassador.

The format will follow a rapid 10+0 time control, where each player will have 10 minutes per game with no increment. Players will qualify through the Champions Chess Tour’s February and May events, while a Last Chance Qualifier in Riyadh will determine the final four competitors.

Sarin, a 20-year-old chess prodigy from Thrissur, Kerala, is widely regarded as one of the brightest young talents on the global chess circuit. He began playing at the age of six and rose to prominence after winning the World Youth Chess Championship in the under-10 category in Durban. Since then, he has delivered strong international performances, including a runner-up finish in the Chess dot com Global Championship in 2022.

IPL 2025: 'We're still hanging on to', says Hussey on CSK's playoffs hopes

Chennai Super Kings batting coach Mike Hussey is still hopeful of change of fortunes for the five-time champions in the IPL 2025 season and making to the playoffs despite losing five matches in a row.

CSK are enduring their worst IPL campaign as it is the first time they lost five games on the trot in the tournament's history. Adding to it, the eight-wicket defeat against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday was their third in a row at Chepauk in a season - which has also happened for the first time.

"We are certainly not putting the white flag up just yet. You only have to get in to scrape into that fourth place. And a big, long tournament like the IPL, it is about momentum," Hussey said in the post-match press conference.

Salah was convinced Liverpool are heading in right direction: Slot

After months of rumours and speculations, Liverpool fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Mohamed Salah has put pen to paper on a new deal that will keep him at the club till 2027.

When asked what role he had in Salah’s extension, head coach Arne Slot revealed that Salah’s decision had to do with him having belief the club will continue to fight for titles.

"I am part of that process but I don't think I deserve the compliment. First of all, it's Mo's choice and his agent's choice what he wants. And second of all, the club, FSG, Richard (Hughes) and (chief executive) Michael Edwards all put in a lot of effort for him to extend.

Badminton Asia C'ships: Dhruv-Tanisha exit in quarters as Indian challenge ends

Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, India’s last remaining players at the Badminton Asia Championships 2025, bowed out in the mixed doubles quarterfinals.

The Indian duo suffered a 22-20, 21-13 loss at the hands of Hong Kong’s fifth-seeded Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet on Friday.

The duo registered a comeback 12-21, 21-16, 21-18 win over Chinese Taipei’s Ye Hong Wei and Nicole Chan at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium on Thursday. After dropping the opening game 12-21, the Indian duo fought back to take the second 21-16 and edged a tense decider 21-18.

Meanwhile, India's campaign in the singles was ended on Thursday when ace shuttler PV Sindhu, Priyanshu Rajawat and Kiran George lost their respective second-round matches.

Chelsea ease past Legia Warsaw in UEFA Conference League QF first leg

Chelsea moved a step closer to the UEFA Conference League semifinals with a convincing 3-0 win over Polish side Legia Warsaw in the first leg of their quarterfinal.

Despite dominating possession in the first half, the visitors were unable to break through. Legia goalkeeper Kacper Tobiasz made key saves to keep the match scoreless at the break, stopping a long-range effort from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and denying Cole Palmer in the box.

Chelsea broke the deadlock early in the second half. Tyrique George pounced on a rebound in the 49th minute after Tobiasz had saved a shot from Reece James, giving the Premier League side the lead, reports.

Former Real Madrid, Netherlands coach Beenhakker dies at 82

Leo Beenhakker, the esteemed Dutch soccer coach renowned for his successful stints with top European clubs and national teams, passed away Thursday afternoon at the age of 82, his family confirmed to Dutch national broadcaster NOS

Born in Rotterdam, Beenhakker began his managerial career with SC Veendam in 1968. He later managed SC Cambuur and Go Ahead Eagles before joining Ajax Amsterdam's coaching staff in 1978. Promoted to head coach in 1979, he led Ajax to the Eredivisie title in the 1979-80 season. He returned to Ajax in 1989, securing another league championship in 1989-90.

"The Dutch football world bids farewell to an icon. A warm football animal, whose humour and eloquence have also enriched the football vocabulary... The KNVB wishes all family, friends and other people involved with Leo Beenhakker much strength in bearing this great loss," Netherlands football said.

IPL 2025: KKR's Ramandeep, Vaibhav, Angkrish share friendly banter during cooking session

While playing a long tournament like Indian Premier League (IPL), having old friends and familiar faces around creating a family-like atmosphere in the team has a calming affect on players.

It also helps players off-field as they can relax and spend time with friends, making up for being away from their family.

The vibrant camaraderie among Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) players was on full display during a recent cooking session where teammates Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi joined to prepare a traditional dish called ‘Dim Torka’.

The friendly banter and playful interactions revealed the strong bond that has developed among these cricketers.

During the latest episode of the ‘Knight Bite’ – KKR's special cooking IP in association with TKK Prestige, the players expressed their longing for Punjabi food, with Ramandeep Singh jokingly lamenting, “What to do? We can't find Punjabi food anywhere.”

South Africa Test skipper Bavuma suffers elbow injury ahead of WTC final

South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma has sustained an elbow injury two months before the World Test Championship final.

Bavuma was expected to feature for the Lions against the Titans in the Cricket SA Four-Day Series first-class final, which begins at the Wanderers on Thursday. But, he did not arrive in Johannesburg. The Lions found out late on Wednesday that Bavuma could not play the match because of the niggle, acccording to ESPNcricinfo report.

Since the conclusion of the Champions Trophy, Bavuma has not participated in any competitive cricket. However, he was part of the Lions’ squad for last week’s match against the Knights in Bloemfontein, which was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

LA 2028: Cricket will feature six teams each in men’s and women’s events

Cricket at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will be played in the T20 format, with six teams competing in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, the Organisers said.

The event programme and athlete quotas for LA 2028 was approved by the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday.

The organisers said that a total of 90 athlete quotas have been allocated for each gender, allowing every team to name a 15-member squad.

The cricket venues for LA28 are yet to be confirmed.

Inclusion of mixed team event at LA28 enhances Olympic table tennis: ITTF

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has said the introduction of the mixed team event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games "significantly enhances the Olympic table tennis program."

The decision was made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the men's and women's doubles events are set to replace the men's and women's team events. The number of table tennis events at LA28 will be increased to six - men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, mixed doubles, and mixed team.

"This historic development significantly enhances the Olympic table tennis program," read a statement from the ITTF.

The mixed team event was first launched at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup held in Chengdu, China, in December 2023. For the ITTF, this innovative format brings men's and women's players together in combined teams, highlighting the sport's strong commitment to gender equality, integration, and teamwork.

Barca trounce Dortmund in Champions League QF first leg

FC Barcelona hit top gear and all but ensured its place in the Champions League semifinal with a 4-0 win at home to Borussia Dortmund in their quarterfinal first-leg tie.

Apart from a short period at the end of the first half, Hansi Flick's side dominated proceedings with the attacking trio of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, with Pedri pulling the strings in midfield, tearing their rivals apart.

Barcelona was fast out of the blocks with Yamal cutting inside from the right and seeing a shot saved by Gregor Kobel.

Raphinha then worked his way along the touchline and flashed the ball across the face of goal. The Brazilian turned his side's positive start into a goal in the 25th minute, sliding in to score from very close range after Pau Cubarsi had turned Inigo Martinez's header goalwards.

ICC Rankings: New Zealand allrounder Bracewell moves into top 5, Gill remains top ODI batter

New Zealand stand-in skipper Michael Bracewell has moved up in the top five of the ICC Men's All-Rounder Rankings following victory in the third ODI against Pakistan.

The 34-year-old, who contributed 85 runs with the bat, including a superb half-century in the final ODI in New Zealand's 3-0 series sweep over Pakistan, rose two spots to be placed fifth in the all-rounder list with 246 rating points, becoming highest ranked Kiwi in the category with compatriot Mitchell Santner sitting sixth.

In the final ODI, walking in at 6, the all-rounder's rampant 40-ball 59-run knock, including a four and six maximums, powered the Black Caps' charge as they posted 264/8 on the board from their 42 overs.

Champions League: Rice free-kicks inspire Arsenal to QF first leg win over Madrid

Two sensational Declan Rice free-kicks and a fine Mikel Merino finish saw Arsenal demolish Real Madrid 3-0 in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Arsenal controlled the early exchanges, and came close twice in quick succession in the 13th minute, Declan Rice having an effort blocked by Raul Asencio before Thibaut Courtois parried Thomas Partey’s low strike.

The tempo only increased as the half went on and decisive goalkeeping interventions were required at either end, David Raya saving from Kylian Mbappé at close range and Courtois keeping out a Rice header and a Gabriel Martinelli follow-up with an eye-catching double save, UEFA reports.

Will Pucovski retires from professional cricket due to concussion

Former Australia Test opener Will Pucovski has retired from all levels of cricket with immediate effect due to concussion.

Pucovski has been forced to retire from professional cricket following a recommendation from a panel of experts. The batter faced a series of incidents where he was hit on the head, causing him concussions, during his career.

The latest episode of concussion happened in March 2024. Pucovski was forced to retire hurt when a delivery hit him on the helmet during a Sheffield Shield match. It sidelined him for the remainder of the Australian summer and led him to withdraw his contract with Leicestershire for the English summer of 2024, ICC reports.

The 27-year-old exclusively revealed the news on SEN's Whateley on Tuesday morning

Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk reveals ‘progress’ on contract extension talks

Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk has revealed there has been ‘progress’ in terms of his talks with the Merseyside club regarding a new contract as his current deal runs out at the end of the season.

Van Dijk, alongside Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been integral cogs of Liverpool’s success in the past few years and all three are out of a contract this year putting fans on red alert.

“There is progress, yeah. I don’t know, we’ll see. Listen, these are internal discussions and we’ll see. I love the club, I love the fans and they were there for us again and we wanted to reward them. But I want them to be there Sunday again (at home to West Ham United) and make the stadium an amazing venue like always for us,” Van Dijk was quoted saying by The Athletic.

Harry Brook succeeds Jos Buttler as England's new men’s white-ball captain

Right-handed batter Harry Brook has been appointed as the new captain of the England men’s white-ball teams. Brook succeeds Jos Buttler, who stepped down from the role following England’s early exit from 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Brook had stood in for an injured Buttler as the England captain when the side played an ODI series against Australia in September last year. Brook had also captained England at the 2018 ICC Under-19 Men’s World Cup in New Zealand.

"It’s a real honour to be named England’s white-ball captain. Ever since I was a kid playing cricket at Burley in Wharfedale, I dreamed of representing Yorkshire, playing for England, and maybe one day leading the team.”

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