World number one Jannik Sinner lifted his third ATP Masters trophy as the world number one beat Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 and won the Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio, the US.
Cincinnati is the fifth trophy of 2024 for the 23-year-old Italian, who began the season with an Australian Open crown in Melbourne.
Aug 18, 2024
Nothing Changes for R. Praggnanandhaa
Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa could not really change his fortunes for the better and remained in the last spot going into the final day of the Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz chess tournament in the US. Praggnanandhaa scored two wins at the expense of pre-event favourites Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia and Hikaru Nakamura of Russia besides a lone draw with tournament leader Alireza Firouzja of France but lost the remaining six games in the first leg of blitz.
Aug 17, 2024
Vinesh's Petition Dismissed by CAS
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed the petition from wrestler Vinesh Phogat to be awarded a joint silver medal at the Paris Olympics. This move came just a day after the CAS had bought itself more time to decide the fate of Vinesh Phogat's silver medal.
After she was heartbreakingly disqualified from competing in the final of the 50kg weight class for being 100 grams over the permissible limit, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from sport. But not before deciding to fight for her medal, this time in the court: assisted by the Indian Olympic Association, Vinesh Phogat knocked on the doors of the CAS to be awarded a shared silver medal.
Aug 16, 2024
Morne Morkel India's New Bowling Coach
Morne Morkel, former South Africa speedster, was appointed as India's men's cricket team's bowling coach. Morkel's appointment completes trio suggested by the new head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Morkel, after having been Gambhir's teammate at the Indian Premier League franchisee Kolkata Knight Riders, was roped in as the bowling coach by Lucknow Super Giants during Gambhir's stint as the mentor.
Besides his experience as bowling coach in franchise cricket across the globe, Morkel also worked as the bowling coach of Pakistan men's team during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
Zeeshan Ali Resigns as India's Davis Cup Coach
Zeeshan Ali announced his resignation as India coach, insisting that it was time to focus on the development of the National Tennis Centre (NTC). Zeeshan had replaced Nandan Bal as India's Davis Cup coach in 2013 when the country's top players had revolted against AITA, demanding better playing conditions, and refused to play against South Korea in New Delhi.
Zeeshan captained the country in the historic tie against Pakistan, which India won in Islamabad early this year (2024) with regular skipper Rohit Rajpal missing the assignment due to personal reasons.
During his tenure, Zeeshan worked with S. P. Mishra, Mahesh Bhupathi, Anand Amritraj and current captain Rohit Rajpal.
Prasar Bharati-BCL Sign Landmark Deal to Promote Cricket
The Big Cricket League (BCL) is set to make its debut, in September 2024 in Lucknow, on the Indian cricket landscape, promising a unique blend of local talent and cricketing legends. This franchise-based T20 event is poised to offer aspiring players an unprecedented opportunity to showcase their skills alongside established stars, potentially reshaping the future of Indian cricket.
The BCL forged a long-term partnership with Prasar Bharati, India's national public broadcaster. This collaboration marks a crucial step in ensuring the league's visibility and accessibility across the country.
The league will feature the following six teams, each representing different regions of India: Awadh Lions, Northern Challengers, Rajasthan Kings, Mumbai Marines, Southern Spartans and Bengal Rhinos.
Aug 15, 2024
Para Shuttler Pramod Bhagat Suspended for Breaching Anti Doping Regulations (15)
Para shuttler Pramod Bhagat was suspended by the Badminton World Federation for a period of 18 months for breaching the anti-doping regulations. Now, Pramod will miss the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The Federation announced that Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medal winner Pramod Bhagat was suspended on account of where about failure.
Pramod Bhagat (born 4 June 1988) is an Indian professional Para-badminton player from Vaishali district, Bihar. He is currently ranked world number 2 in para-badminton men's singles SL3, and won a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Men's singles SL3.
P. R. Sreejesh New Head Coach of India's Junior Men's Hockey Team (15)
Hockey India (HI) officially announced that retiring goalkeeper P. R. Sreejesh is the new head coach for the Indian junior men's hockey team. This decision follows India's bronze medal victory at the 2024 Olympics.
Sreejesh had previously announced his retirement, emphasising his commitment to coaching. He reflected on his extensive experience with various coaches and his role as a communicator and organizer on the field. He expressed a deep passion for coaching and a desire to leverage his vast experience in this new role.