National record holder 100m hurdler Jyothi Yarraji won gold at the Harry Schulting Games at Vught, the Netherlands, as she achieved success in the first outdoor competition of the season on Thursday. Also Read: It’s Leverkusen v Atalanta in Europa Cup finale! Yarraji, 24, who won silver at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, clocked 12.87 seconds—her fourth career best—to win gold in the World Athletics category E event. Yarraji is on course to qualify for the Paris Olympics on the basis of world rankings. 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
11 May,2024 07:46 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIOlympic medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia has claimed that he refused to provide urine samples during the selection trials in Sonepat in March because the dope control officials failed to furnish adequate proof that they were carrying proper equipment to conduct the tests. Also Read: Framing of charges ordered against Brij “This is to clarify that, I have at no stage refused to give my sample for doping control. On 10 March 2024, when I was approached by alleged doping control officials, I merely reminded them that the last two times they came to collect my sample, they had gotten expired kits once,” Bajrang wrote on ‘X’ on Friday. 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
11 May,2024 07:38 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIA Delhi court on Friday ordered framing of charges against former Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case lodged by six female wrestlers. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot also discharged Singh in a complaint filed by one of the six women wrestlers. Also Read: Kushi slams unbeaten 83 in DY Patil’s win The court ordered framing of charge for criminal intimidation against Singh. It will formally frame the charges on May 21. It also ordered framing of charges against co-accused and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the case. The Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet in the case against Singh, a six-time MP, on June 15 under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. 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
11 May,2024 07:37 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIOlympic medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia has claimed that he refused to provide urine samples during the selection trials in Sonepat in March because the dope control officials failed to furnish adequate proof that they were carrying proper equipment to conduct the tests. The Tokyo Olympic Games bronze medallist said he had only demanded an explanation from the officials as on one of the two previous occasions, they (NADA officials) had come with expired kits while during other time, they appeared with only one testing kit as opposed to the mandatory three. Bajrang, one of the country's most successful wrestlers, was suspended by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on April 23 after being served a whereabouts failure notice on April 18. On Thursday, wrestling's world governing body UWW also suspended him till the end of this year following NADA's decision to hand him a provisional suspension for refusing to undergo a dope test on March 10 in Sonepat. "This is to clarify that, I have at no stage refused to give my sample for doping control. On 10 March 2024, when I was approached by alleged doping control officials, I merely reminded them that the last two times they came to collect my sample, they had gotten expired kits once," wrote Bajrang Punia on 'X' on Friday. "...and on the other instance, they had approached me with a single testing kit as opposed to the three testing kits," added Bajrang, who has been at the forefront of a protracted agitation against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The grappler, who competes in the 65 kg category, said he had sought an answer from the Dope Control Officers (DCO) on March 10 on why NADA was not responding to his queries regarding two previous lapses, but he got no explanation. "I then sought an answer from them (DCOs) as the NADA did not provide an answer to any of my communications demanding an explanation for the same and informed them that I would give my sample upon receiving such explanation from them. "Not only did the doping control officials refuse to provide an explanation, they did not provide me any proof on this instance of them carrying proper equipment and merely left from the venue where I was at, claiming it to be a refusal from my end," added Bajrang. Also Read: Asian Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers: Greco-roman wrestlers fail to win quota Bajrang added that contrary to reports that he left the venue immediately, he was present for almost one hour after the dope control officials had approached him for the sample. "I continued to be at the venue as I had another bout scheduled for 3/4 position. After my semifinal bout, I met the SAI (Sports Authority of India) doctor at the venue for treatment regarding a knee injury suffered during the semifinals of the Wrestling Trials. I only left the venue about an hour after the alleged doping control officials approached me, contrary to how it has been portrayed that I left immediately," added Bajrang. He also alleged that the DCOs had not followed the norms which mandated them to stay till such time a wrestler submits his medical report to the competition manager. "The dope controlling officer should have accompanied me till I submitted my medical report to the competition manager as per protocol, rather than leaving in a hurry in middle of the trials, to record my refusal. "Even if this incident is treated as refusal, the fact that it was due to NADA using expired kits and not providing an explanation for using them, or giving me comfort, that they had not carried expired kits again, should be considered as a compelling justification. "I took such a stance solely because of the NADAs actions in the past, which, in the absence an explanation, could continue a dangerous trend of the use of expired kits or non-compliance with doping control protocol. It is my moral obligation towards the wrestling community and particularly the younger wrestlers, that I exercised here," he added. (With agency inputs)
10 May,2024 07:41 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, who will be seeking his first trophy of the year, discussed the possibility of Rafael Nadal making his final participation at the French Open 2024 and said facing the Spaniard in Roland-Garros is "really a paramount challenge." With 14 Claycourt Slam titles under his belt, the Spaniard owns the record for most crowns at the French Open. Before starting his campaign on May 10 at the Italian Open, Djokovic spoke to the media in Rome, stating that facing Nadal at Roland-Garros would be "one of the biggest challenges" in tennis due to the Spaniard's impressive record. "It's probably one of the biggest challenges that you can have in the tennis tour, playing Rafa at Roland-Garros. We know his records there. I played him probably more than any other player has played him on that court," Djokovic said in a pre-tournament press conference. "It's really a paramount challenge to play him in Roland-Garros. He's an incredible athlete. The tenacity and intensity he brings on the court, particularly there, is something that was very rarely seen, I think, in the history of this sport," he added. When asked about the likelihood of this year's Paris Major being Nadal's final appearance in the tournament, Djokovic said it would be "emotional" for the Spanish legend. "I'm sure that it's going to be very emotional tournament for him, as it probably was in Madrid and here. But there in particular because of the records he has," the Serb said. Nadal has consistently stated that this season could be his last on the professional tour. However, he has not said if the decision is final or subject to change. "Now is my third week on the tour almost in a row, so... It's a good moment, even if the results are not what used to be. But I am increasing my feeling, my level. Let's see. Yeah, I want to keep going," the 22-time Grand Slam champion said of his retirement during a pre-tournament press conference at the 2024 Italian Open. Nadal will face Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs in the first round of the Italian Open on May 9. Meanwhile, Djokovic will begin his campaign against either a qualifier or Roman Safiullin in the second round on Friday. 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 May,2024 04:54 PM IST | Rome | ANIFor a brief stretch on Thursday, Rafael Nadal looked every bit of a weary 37-year-old player nearing retirement. Struggling to produce pace off both sides with his groundstrokes, committing an uncharacteristically high number of unforced errors and unable to stay in rallies, Nadal dropped the first set of his first-round match at the Italian Open against Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs. Then the fist-pumping, virtually-unbeatable-on-clay, 22-time Grand Slam champion version of Nadal emerged and the Spaniard rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory before an adoring crowd in what will likely be his final tournament at the Foro Italico. Nadal was playing only his 10th match this year after missing nearly all of 2023 with a hip injury that required surgery. He's hoping to be competitive one last time at the French Open, where he is the record 14-time champion. "That was not my best match. I was practicing better than how I played today, without a doubt. But I found a way to win," Nadal said. "My game is more unpredictable than before. I didn't play much tennis for the last two years. So I'm up and down, on and off, but I think I can do it much better than what I did today." Rome, where he is a record 10-time champion, is Nadal's last big warmup tournament before Roland Garros starts on May 26. Nadal noted that after overcoming his hip and abdominal issues, the time has come "to prove myself if I am able to push my body to the limit that I need to push to feel myself ready for what's coming." "I am not talking only about Roland Garros. I am talking about the next match. I need to lose this fear," Nadal said. "Matches like today help. Some moments I was moving faster. Some moments not. I need to get used to that, to take that risk. " I feel more ready to try it than before." During his 70th win in the Italian capital, the Campo Centrale crowd serenaded Nadal with chants of: "Ole, Ole, Ole, Na-dal, Na-dal." "I've always been emotional to play here, these kind of events are the most important events in my tennis career," Nadal said. "The crowd has been always amazing with me, supporting me since the beginning of my tennis career. So I'm super excited to be able to play one more time here." Nadal was coming off a straight-set loss to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round of the Madrid Open. But he has never lost consecutive matches on clay in his entire career and now that impressive statistic remains intact during what he has indicated is his final season on tour. Nadal got out to a strong start, unleashing a 95 mph (153 kph) forehand winner en route to an early break and a 3-1 lead in the first set. But he gave the break right back in the next game when he missed three weak groundstrokes into the net. Then at 4-4, Nadal double-faulted twice and was broken again to give the 108th-ranked Bergs a 5-4 lead and a chance to serve out the set. In the first set, Nadal committed 16 unforced errors to Bergs' 10. During the first game of the second set, the match was briefly suspended when a spectator in the stands required medical treatment. That allowed Nadal to chat with Carlos Moya, his coach. After the 10-minute suspension of play, Nadal raced out to a 3-0 lead in the second set as he upped the power on his shots and became more aggressive. During the third set, Nadal managed to win a point after he fell to the red clay, quickly getting up to resume the rally and then producing a delicate drop-shot winner. Then he blasted a forehand cross-court winner to break for a 3-1 lead and unleashed a double-clutch fist pump. There were more fist pumps when Nadal rallied from 0-40 on his serve to hold for a 4-2 lead in the third. Nadal's mother and sister sitting behind the court shouted encouragement and his 1-year-old son was also court-side " sitting on the lap of Nadal's father. The Nadal family can now look forward to a second-round matchup with seventh-seeded Hubert Hurkacz. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic is on the opposite side of the draw, while second-ranked Jannik Sinner and third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz both withdrew because of injuries. In other matches, Serbian qualifier Hamad Medjedovic beat Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-2; Thiago Seboth Wild defeated French qualifier Gregoire Barrere 6-4, 6-2; and Dominik Koepfer eliminated Andrea Vavassori 6-4, 6-3. Two former top-ranked women eliminated seeded players. Naomi Osaka beat 19th-seeded Marta Kostyuk 6-3, 6-2 in a match that was suspended for about an hour because of rain, and Angelique Kerber ousted 17th-seeded Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-0. 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 May,2024 04:46 PM IST | Rome | AP | PTIIndian athlete Jyothi Yarraji won the women's 100m hurdles event at the Harry Schulting Games 2024 athletics meet in Vught, Netherlands on Thursday. However, she was unlucky to miss the qualification mark for the Paris Olympic Games by one-tenth of a second. In her first event of the outdoor season in Europe, Asian Games silver medallist Jyothi clocked 12.87 seconds to win the gold medal, finishing ahead of Dutch hurdler Mira Groot, who ended second in 13.67 seconds with another Dutch runner Hanna van Baast who finished in 13.84 seconds. In finishing first and clocking 12.87, Yarraji missed the entry standard for the Olympics, set at 12.77s, by o.10 seconds. Earlier in the day, Jyothi had qualified for the final of the 100m hurdles by clocking 13.04 seconds. This is the second time that Jyothi, who trains at the Reliance Foundation High-Performance Centre in Bhubaneswar, after falling short of the qualifying mark by one-hundredth of a second when she set the national record of 12.78 for a bronze medal at the World University Games in Chengdu, China. Jyothi, who had done well in the Asian Indoor season earlier in the year, will be participating in five more events during the Olympic qualifying period which will end on June 30 this year. Meanwhile, Indian male hurdler Tejas Shirse won the 110m hurdles in the same meet with a personal best timing of 13.56 seconds, finishing ahead of local Dutch athlete Joas van Hellemondt (13.80 secs) and Jamie Sesay (13.92 secs). Amlan Borgohain, the national record holder in the men’s 200m, was also slated to compete in Vught on Thursday but did not turn up for the event. 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 May,2024 04:41 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSIndia’s Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra on Thursday said he was hoping to break the elusive 90-metres mark at the Doha Diamond League as he warms up for the Paris Games. Chopra added a second Asian Games gold in Hangzhou last year to his Olympic and world titles. And while he has achieved stardom in India, winning the nation of 1.4 billion’s first Olympic athletics gold at Tokyo 2020, membership of the elite 90m club has so far escaped him. “I really want to break this barrier,” Chopra told a news conference, a day before the Diamond League meeting in the Qatari capital. A throw of 90m would still leave the Indian athlete well short of Jan Zelezny’s world record of 98.48m set in 1996. Chopra said questions over the landmark had followed him since he threw 88.06 at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, not least because of the elbow surgery which forced him to miss the 2019 season. “I am stuck between 88 and 90 metres,” said Chopra. 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 May,2024 04:59 AM IST | Doha | AFPDon Bosco (Matunga) and St Stanislaus (Bandra) stormed into the U-15 final of the Joe Fernandis Memorial Rink Hockey tournament at Astro Park, Bandra, on Thursday. In the first semi-final, Parth Chintal scored a fine hat-trick as the Bosco boys blanked Children’s Academy (Malad) 3-0. In the second semi-final, St Stanislaus got the better of Dr Antonio D’Silva (Dadar) 3-1. Zidane Fernandes, Fuzail Shah and Lamb Michael netted a goal each for the Bandra side, while Priyadarshin scored for the Dadar school.
10 May,2024 04:57 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentNamita Mehta, representing MCA-BKC, stunned top seed Ajita Ravindran Vijayakar of New Badminton Association to win the women’s singles 45 title 21-14, 21-11 on Thursday in the GD Birla Memorial Masters badminton tournament, organised by Badminton 45, managed by Badminton Gurukul and hosted by Bombay Gymkhana. Top seed Manoj Nachanekar and second seed Premal Mankar won their respective round-of-16 singles encounters. While Nachanekar beat Aatish Annapurne 30-14, Mankar defeated Sanket More 30-13.
10 May,2024 04:55 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentManika Batra’s giant-killing run at the Grand Smash tournament here ended in the women’s singles quarter-finals on Thursday as she lost to Japan’s Hina Hayata 1-4, having become the first Indian woman table tennis player to enter the last eight stage of an elite WTT event. The Indian ace was coming off victory over World No. 14 Nina Mittelham. After stunning World No. 2 Wang Manyu in the second round, Batra extended her red hot form in Saudi Arabia with a 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 win over her German rival in just 22 minutes on Wednesday. However, she could not stretch the run against World No. 5 Hayata, losing 11-7, 6-11, 4-11, 11-13, 2-11. Earlier, Batra recorded first win over Mittelham in four attempts to set up a meeting with another formidable rival in Hayata. The Indian entered the quarter-finals, backing herself to put it past Hayata as she had upset the Japanese to win a historic bronze in the Asia Cup back in 2022. 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 May,2024 04:10 AM IST | Jeddah | PTIADVERTISEMENT
