Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz says he has recovered from a disappointing loss at Queen’s Club and is prepared to begin his title defense on Monday. The 21-year-old Spaniard has focused on adapting his game to grass in the days since his defeat, and is confident in his readiness for the tournament.
Avinash Sable, the national record holder in 3000m steeplechase, secured a comfortable victory at the 63rd Inter-State Athletics Championships in a time of 8:31.75s, setting a new meet record. Despite a slow pace, Sable expressed satisfaction with his performance, emphasizing his strategic approach towards peaking at the right time for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Other highlights include Sarvesh Kushare’s impressive high jump performance and Tajinderpal Singh Toor’s victory in shot put.
Germany, having topped their group with the nation’s support, faces a challenging decision-making process before their crucial Euro 2024 Round of 16 match against Denmark. Denmark, though yet to reach their full potential, has shown signs of a simmering threat in the tournament. The match, taking place at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, is set to be an exciting encounter.
Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh equalled the record for the most wickets taken in a single T20 World Cup tournament during the final against South Africa. He achieved the feat by dismissing Quinton de Kock, taking his 17th wicket of the tournament and matching the record set by Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Quinton de Kock has surpassed Jacques Kallis’ record for the most runs by a South African batter in a single T20 World Cup edition. De Kock achieved this milestone during the 2024 final against India in Barbados, surpassing Kallis’s 238 runs from the 2009 tournament.
Romain Bardet took the first yellow jersey of his career with a bold move on the opening stage of the Tour de France, winning the race by five seconds after attacking 50 kilometers from the finish line. His teammate Frank van den Broek played a crucial role in the victory, sacrificing himself to ensure Bardet’s success.
Sneh Rana, a seasoned Indian off-spinner, delivered a crucial spell on the first day of the one-off Test against South Africa in Chennai. Her wickets were vital in slowing down the Proteas, especially Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch. Despite a relatively flat pitch, Rana’s variations and strategic bowling kept the South African batters on their toes, showcasing her valuable contribution to the Indian team.
Jasprit Bumrah provided a crucial early wicket for India in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa, dismissing Reeza Hendricks with a brilliant delivery. The dismissal gave India the early advantage as they defended their target of 176 runs to claim their second T20 World Cup title.
South Africa needs 177 runs to win the T20 World Cup final against India, a target that would be the highest successful chase in the history of the tournament. If they succeed, they will surpass Australia’s 2021 chase of 172 runs against New Zealand.
Defending champions Italy faced a familiar challenge in the Euro 2024 round of 16, trailing early to Switzerland. This setback brought back memories of their Euro 2020 final defeat, where they also conceded first. Italy’s ability to recover from behind, previously showcased in group stage matches, will be crucial for their hopes of advancing in the tournament.
