SPORTS
A year in which Covid's long shadow paused sports events globally
Apart from the problems with holding the qualifiers, international travel restrictions and different levels of restriction on movements around the world left the organisers with little choice but to take up the unprecedented step of postponing the Olympics. The Tokyo Games will now be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021.
4th Asian Youth Athletics Championships postponed
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) said on Wednesday that the AAA has also informed member federations of the cancellation of the Asian Race Walking Championships scheduled for March 21 in Nomi, Japan.
Men's hockey team finish decade with highest-ever ranking
They made an emphatic start, beating Olympic silver medallists the Netherlands 5-2 and 3-3 (3-1) and following that up with a 2-1 win over reigning world champions Belgium before losing 3-4 in the second leg of the tie. They then fell to a 3-4 loss to Australia, but then went on to beat them 2-2 (3-1) in the second leg.
India second in ICC World Test Championship points table
Australia lead the points table with 76.6 % (Percentage of points or PCT) while India are second with 72.2% following their victory in the second Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. New Zealand, meanwhile, cemented their position at third and moved a bit closer to India with 66.7%. England (No. 4 with 60.8%), Pakistan (No. 5 with 34.6%) and South Africa (No. 6 with 28%) follow the top three.
Australia Test stars in bio-bubble, can play BBL after India series: Cricket Australia
The last 16 matches of BBL, including the play-offs and final, will be played after the last Test of India-Australia series ends in Brisbane on January 19. BBL regulars Moises Henriques (Sydney Sixers), Michael Neser (Adelaide Strikers), Mitchell Swepson (Brisbane Heat), James Pattinson and Marcus Harris (Melbourne Renegades) are part of Australia's Test squad for India Tests and have played little cricket over the past month.
Australia to field only one spinner on Sydney Cricket Ground's spin-friendly track
With the SCG helping spin bowlers more than any other Australian surface, visiting teams are often tempted to go in with two spinners. However, the presence of Marnus Labuschagne, who also bowls leg-spin, as an option may prompt the Aussies to field the same bowling attack that they have fielded in the first two Tests.
NZ Vs Pak: New Zealand stave off resilient Pakistan to win first Test
Pakistan entered the final day in quite a hopeless situation at 71 for three, needing 302 to win with seven wickets in hand. The Kiwis' strong bowling line-up looked favourites to topple Pakistan in the 90 overs they had at their disposal on the last day. New Zealand got rid of overnight batsman Azhar Ali in just the second over of the day with pace bowler Trent Boult removing him for 38.
David Warner returns to Australia Test squad
Warner was excluded from the squad that featured in the first two Tests, in Adelaide and Melbourne, following a groin injury he suffered during the second One-day International in Sydney last month. "David has made strong progress in his recovery from injury and will be given every chance to play in Sydney with another seven days until the match," said selector Trevor Hohns in a statement released by Cricket Australia.
In limited sports action in 2020, Indian boxers delivered knockout punch
It was in March that the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Covid-19 as a pandemic and by the end of the month, the Tokyo Olympics, which was scheduled to start from July 24, was postponed to July 23, 2021. India declared a nationwide lockdown on March 25 which brought the sports calendar to a grinding halt and so, most of the highlights happened before that month.
Most Bengal players have experience of living in bio-bubble: VVS Laxman
"It's a different experience being in the bio-bubble. Luckily for the Bengal boys, they have experienced it while playing the Bengal T20 meet. I think the most important part of this is to be disciplined, follow the guidelines, and protocols because it's for the safety and well being of the players and everyone involved. It is important that the players understand that and show discipline," Laxman was quoted as saying in a press release of the Cricket Association of Bengal.
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