Poland’s Maja Chwalinska reacts after winning the semifinal match against Russia’s Diana Shnaider. (AP Photo) Maja Chwalinska’s fairytale run at Roland Garros reached unprecedented heights on Thursday as the Polish player became the first qualifier to reach the French Open women’s singles final and only the second player in the Open Era to make a…
D Gukesh vs R Praggnanandhaa (Photo by Michal Walusza for Norway Chess) NEW DELHI: Alireza Firouzja. Magnus Carlsen. Dommaraju Gukesh. These were the names of the opponents Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa faced, or, more accurately, outsmarted, over his last three rounds. Three consecutive wins, each in the classical format, have put the 20-year-old right in the running…
Marta Kostyuk-Mirra Andreeva semi-final sparks controversy (Screengrab) There was no handshake between Marta Kostyuk and Mirra Andreeva after their French Open semifinal, a scene that has become common whenever the Ukrainian player faces Russian opponents. The decision was expected, as Kostyuk has consistently refused post-match handshakes with Russian and Belarusian players since Russia’s invasion of…
Shashi Tharoor, Lalit Modi Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has made fresh allegations about the controversy surrounding the Kochi Tuskers Kerala franchise in 2010, claiming political pressure was exerted on him when he questioned the ownership structure of the team and the role of Sunanda Pushkar.In an interview with news agency ANI, Lalit Modi alleged…
Aryna Sabalenka (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: Aryna Sabalenka’s dream of winning her first French Open title ended in dramatic fashion as the world No. 1 suffered a stunning quarterfinal defeat after throwing away a commanding lead.Sabalenka looked firmly in control against Diana Shnaider, winning the first set and moving 4-1 ahead in the second. She…
Vidarbha’s Harsh Dubey (PTI Photo) India’s preparations for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan have generated significant interest, particularly because several emerging domestic performers have earned opportunities at the highest level. With senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja unavailable for the match in New Chandigarh, the spotlight has shifted towards a new generation of spin-bowling talent hoping…
Joe Root and Ben Stokes (AP Photo) England’s batting collapse against New Zealand in the opening Test at Lord’s drew plenty of criticism on social media, but one of the sharpest reactions came from the Iceland Cricket account, which could not resist taking a swipe at the struggling hosts.After England were bundled out for just…
India and Pakistan flags (PTI Photo) Pakistan will not send its fencing team to the Asian Senior Fencing Championships in New Delhi later this month, despite receiving an official invitation from the organisers. India is hosting the continental event for the first time, with athletes from more than 30 countries across Asia and Oceania expected…
Ritshi Choden’s dismissal Bhutan cricketer Ritshi Choden made history for an unfortunate reason after becoming the first woman batter to be timed out in international cricket. The incident happened during Bhutan’s run chase against Nepal in the ACC Premier Cup in Malaysia.After opener Ngawang Choden was dismissed on the very first ball, Ritshi Choden took…
Serena Williams (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: After nearly four years away from professional tennis, Serena Williams is set to return to the court. The 44-year-old tennis legend will compete in doubles at the Queen’s Club tournament in London next week, partnering with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, who is 19 years old, 25 years younger than…
