Quad strain forces Rudisha out
David Rudisha, 800m world-record holder, has pulled out of the forthcoming World Athletics Championships with a quad muscle strain, the Kenyan announced on his Twitter feed. Rudisha, reigning world and Olympic champion, is the first and only person to ever run under 1:41 for the event. He was to have been one of the star names at the August 4-13 event in London.
Man United sign midfielder Matic from Chelsea
Manchester United have signed Serbia international Nemanja Matic from Premier League champions Chelsea on three-year contract with an option to extend for a further year, both clubs said. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but British media reported that United paid between 40 million pounds ($52.48 million) and 50 million pounds to reunite the 28-year-old midfielder with manager Jose Mourinho. He signed Matic when he was in charge of Chelsea in 2014. Matic, who originally joined Chelsea in 2009 before moving to Benfica in 2011, became an influential part of Chelsea's title-winning side under Mourinho in 2014-15.
Ronaldo leaves Spain court after testimony on alleged tax fraud
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo left a court near the Spanish capital after giving a 90-minute testimony in response to a state prosecution accusation that he has defrauded the tax office of 14 million euros ($16.42m). The Real Madrid superstar entered the courthouse in the upscale town of Pozuelo de Alarcon, just outside of Madrid, shortly before 11am and began giving his testimony at 11:30am. An hour and a half later, Ronaldo concluded the testimony he gave before Judge Monica Gomez Ferrer and in the presence of his lawyer. Ronaldo left the court through the garage door, the same way he entered, to avoid the media scrum gathered outside the court. Ronaldo is under investigation for four alleged crimes against the public treasury committed between 2011 and 2014.
Kerala HC asks AFI to explain why order was not implemented
The Kerala High Court, which had ordered the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), to include Kerala athlete P.U. Chitra in the squad for the World Athletics Championship, adopted a tough stance after the athlete filed a contempt petition that she has not been selected. The court asked the AFI for an explanation on why their order was not implemented and how another athlete Sudha Singh was included at a later stage and posted the case for Tuesday. The court directed the AFI to explain the manner in which Singh (a steeplechase athlete) was able to travel to London when her name did not figure in the national squad which was released on July 24, which was the last date. Chitra had won gold in the women's 1,500 metres event at the Asian Athletics Championship 2017.
Harikrishna beats Chinese GM at Biel chess meet
Indian Grand Master Pentala Harikrishna defeated former three-time Womens World Champion and Chinese Grand Master Hou Yifan in an enthralling sixth-round encounter at the 50th Biel International Chess Festival. The World No. 20 Indian, playing with white pieces, started the game here late on Sunday night wary of his opponent's attacking prowess. At the end of six rounds, Harikrishna has registered two wins and four draws to remain undefeated and move up to joint second with four points, half a point away from Frenchman Etienne Bacrot who acquired the first position currently. Harikrishna will be up against top seed David Navara in the seventh round.
Moeen Ali notches hat-trick as England take 2-1 lead over Proteas
Moeen Ali scalped a hat-trick as England wrapped up a huge 239-run win over South Africa on the fifth day of the third Test at the Oval to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series. Chasing a daunting target of 491 runs to win, opener Dean Elgar waged a lone battle as he smashed 20 boundaries in his blistering 136-run knock to make England sweat for victory. Off-spinner Ali was at his menacing best on the final day as after Elgar, he took a hat-trick of Chris Morris (24), Kagiso Rabada (duck) and Morne Morkel (duck) to bundle out the Faf du Plessis-led side for 252 runs. He finished with the overall figures of four for 45. Meanwhile, Toby Roland-Jones, who bagged a brilliant five-wicket haul in the South Africa's first innings, took three more wickets in the visitors' second innings. Earlier, Jonny Bairstow (63), skipper Joe Root (50), Tom Westley (59) and Keaton Jennings (48) all contributed with the bat as England declared their second innings at 313-8. The fourth Test will start at the Old Trafford from August 4.
Manu Bhaker, Heena Sidhu clinch gold at KSS shooting meet
Indian pistol shooter Manu Bhaker registered a sterling double even as Olympian and former world number one Heena Sidhu won the Women's event with consummate ease at the XVII Kumar Surendra Singh (KSS) Memorial Shooting Championship. The 15-year-old from Haryana, on either side of Heena's gold medal, posted victories in both the Women's 10m Air Pistol Youth and Junior competitions. The XVII KSS Memorial Shooting Championship 2017 will conclude on Tuesday, following which the rifle and pistol shooters move on to the third and fourth selection trials of the year, which will help select the Indian team for the Commonwealth Shooting Championship scheduled for October-November this year in Australia.
PKL: Telugu face UP, Delhi take on Gujarat
Hosts Telugu Titans will look to avoiding a third consecutive defeat when they face debutants UP Yoddha, while Dabang Delhi will meet debutants Gujarat Fortunegiants on the fourth day of the fifth edition of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) on Tuesday. After defeating U Mumba in the tournament opener on Friday, Telugu fell to double defending champions and Bengaluru Bulls in their next two Zone B matches at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium. Another new team, Gujarat, too will make their debut on Tuesday. They will face Delhi, who stunned everyone with their remarkable comeback against inaugural champions Jaipur Pink Panthers in a Zone A clash on Saturday. Meanwhile, former champions U Mumba overcame debutants Haryana Steelers 29-28 in a gripping encounter.
Novak Djokovic drops from top-four in ATP rankings
Serbian tennis maestro Novak Djokovic has slipped by one place to move outside top four in the latest ATP Tour rankings for the first time since 2007. The former world number one, who had earlier this month announced that he would not play again this season due to an elbow injury, is now standing at the fifth spot while Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka moved up to the fourth place. Meanwhile, the biggest move is made by Alexander Zverev as he broke into the top 10 for the first time. The German tennis player climbed up by three places to the eighth spot. Britain tennis maestro Andy Murray continues to remain at the top spot and maintains the lead of just 285 points ahead of 15-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.
Chinese products don't last long: Vijender trolls Zulpikar
Ahead of his double title fight with China's number one boxer and WBO Oriental Super Middleweight Champion Zulpikar Maimaitali, Indian boxing superstar Virender Sehwag has trolled his opponent and said that he would try to finish the bout as soon as possible as "Chinese product don't last long". In the mega fight of Asia to be held this Saturday, both the boxers will put their respective WBO titles at stake. Whoever wins the bout takes home his defended title along with his opponent's title. Zulpikar is nine years younger to Vijender.
SBL: Delhi Gladiator to face Maratha Yoddhas in first semifinal
Delhi Gladiators will take on runners-up Maratha Yoddhas in the first semifinal clash on August 5 while North East Tigers will face Haryana Warriors a day later to book their place in the finals of the ongoing Super Boxing League (SBL). The last round of fixtures in the league stage of the SBL determined the four teams who have qualified for the semifinals as Delhi Gladiators and North East Tigers won their respective matches to top Group A and Group B respectively. It has been an exciting four weeks of boxing action here at Siri Fort Squash and Badminton Stadium which has also seen Haryana Warriors and Maratha Yoddhas register their berths in the semifinals of the inaugural edition of the league.
Falcons TTC emerge as champions in inaugural UTT
Falcons TTC emerged champions of the inaugural Ultimate Table Tennis ( UTT) after beating Shaze Challengers 14-9 in the final at the NSCI in Mumbai. According to the tournament rules, in the knockout stage the team that secures 14 points first is declared winner.
