SPORTS
Spain to allow fans in some stadia during La Liga
Spain's Minister for Culture and Sport, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes on Wednesday confirmed that supporters would be able to attend games in stadia for the first time since the start of March 2020. But they will have to follow strict protocols, which include wearing masks and the banning of smoking and eating in grounds, reports Xinhua.
Italian Open: Nadal, Djokovic enter quarter-finals
While Nadal struggled to win 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) in a three-and-a-half hour epic against 13th seed Denis Shapovalov, Djokovic cruised past Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-2, 6-1. Nadal, the nine-time champion, trailed 0-4 in the opening set, 0-3 in the second and saved two match points late in the third set as Shapovalov took control in their third-round clash.
Irfan Pathan reacts to Kangana's jibe: My tweets are either for humanity or countrymen
"All My tweets are either 4 humanity or countrymen, from a point of view of a guy who has represented India at d highest level. On d contrary counters I get from ppl like Kangna who's account get dismissed by spreading hate n some other paid accounts are only about hate. #planned," Pathan tweeted.
Former Manchester United defender Valencia retires
The 35-year-old Valencia made the decision after playing just 15 matches in almost six months for Mexican side Queretaro. "It is a tough decision. I feel mentally strong, I feel good, but there is something that is not right with my body, and that's my knee," he told a virtual news conference, Xinhua reports.
India better than Aussies at identifying talent: Greg Chappell
"India have got their act together and that's large because [India's National Cricket Academy chief and former Test captain] Rahul Dravid has picked our brains, seen what we're doing and replicated it in India and with their much larger [population] base," Chappell told cricket.com.au.
Would support Steve Smith if he becomes Aus captain again: Tim Paine
"I think so. Obviously, I don't make that decision but the time I played with Steve as captain he was excellent. Certainly tactically he is as good as you get," Paine said while speaking at a function for the Chappell Foundation at the SCG on Wednesday night. Paine said that he saw similarities in Smith's situation when the latter was first made captain to when he was captain of Tasmani.
India retain top spot in ICC Test rankings
The ICC said that the latest update eliminates the results of 2017/18. It rates all matches played since May 2020 at 100 per cent and those of the previous two years at 50 per cent "India's 2-1 win over Australia and 3-1 win over England over the past year and New Zealand's 2-0 series wins over the West Indies and Pakistan have helped them keep ahead of the pack," said the ICC.
India very good at making distractions during a series: Paine
"Part of the challenge of playing against India is they're very good at niggling you and trying to distract you with stuff that doesn't really matter and there were times in that series where we fell for that," Paine said while speaking at a function for the Chappell Foundation at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Wednesday night, according to news.com.au.
French Open to welcome spectators, night session to debut
Organisers said that a little more than 5,000 fans would be allowed on the Roland Garros grounds on the first 10 days, 1,000 on each of the three show courts and the others on outside courts, reports DPA. The remaining five days, with play only on the show courts, would see 5,000 fans allowed per court. The French Open was pushed back by a week owing to the coronavirus and is scheduled for May 30-June 13.
Italian Open: Karatsev demolishes third seed Medvedev, Zverev advances
"I'm super happy," Karatsev said after the match. "It was a really tough match. Against Medvedev you never know, he's a big server. It's tough to return, but I managed it well." Madrid Open champion Alexander Zverev of Germany picked up from where he had left off in his Italian Open opener, racing past qualifier Hugo Dellien 6-2, 6-2.
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