India's double Olympic medalist shuttler PV Sindhu will sign a four-year deal with a leading sports equipment brand for four years, worth Rs 4 crore per year, according to sources. The sources also mentioned that Sindhu is currently in talks with two leading global brands of technical equipment, which have offered her Rs 4 crore per year for four years. Her existing endorsement deal with Li-Ning, as an ambassador, has come to an end. PV Sindhu has had a mixed run in recent competitions on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour circuit. Also Read: Rohit Sharma named skipper of ICC men's T20I team of the year dominated by Indian players While she did break her title drought of over two years in the Syed Modi India International in December last year by capturing the women's title by beating China's Wu Luo Yu, she started the new year with a quarterfinal finish in the India Open in Lucknow and a disappointing first-round exit in the Indonesia Masters held this month, losing to Vietnam's Nguyen Thuy Linh. Sindhu, along with Paris Olympics semi-finalist Lakshya Sen, will lead a 14-member strong Indian team at the upcoming Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships, to be held in Qingdao, China, from February 11-16, 2025. India won the bronze medal in the last edition of the championships, held in Dubai in 2023, and will aim to improve on that performance this time. The national selectors have taken into account the world rankings and current form of the players while selecting the squad, which will include HS Prannoy and Malvika Bansod as the second men's and women's singles players, respectively. India also boasts a strong doubles lineup, with the former world No. 1 combination of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty leading the men's doubles charge. The women's doubles duties will be shared by Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly or Olympians Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto. Tanisha will also compete in mixed doubles alongside Dhruv Kapila, with Sathish Kumar K and Adya Variyath forming the second mixed doubles combination in the squad.India Squad for Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships: Men: Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Dhruv Kapila, MR Arjun, Sathish Kumar K Women: PV Sindhu, Malvika Bansod, Gayatri Gopichand, Treesa Jolly, Ashwini Ponnappa, Tanisha Crasto, Adya Variyath. 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
25 January,2025 06:00 PM IST | New Delhi | ANISaurav Ghoshal and Shameena Riaz, both representing Tamil Nadu, emerged the men’s and women’s champions respectively in the four-star Willingdon Sports Club Squash Classic Open 2025 on Friday. Also Read: Taekwondo workshop in Dongri Ghoshal dispatched Suraj Chand of Jindal Squash Academy, Vashind, 11-3, 11-2, 11-2. In the women’s final, Shamima got the better of Maharashtra’s Akanksha Gupta 11-7, 11-8, 11-4. Tamil Nadu had further success, with Sandesh PR and Shiven Agarwal winning the Boys U-19 and U-17 titles respectively.
25 January,2025 08:02 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe International Progressive Taekwondo Federation (IPTF) and the World Khan Do Kwan Federation (WKF) headed by USA-based Taekwondo fighter Javed Khan, will conduct a workshop at Jaffery Sports Club in Dongri on January 27. Khan has also developed specialised defence programs for women. Also Read: It’s Anvisha v Rudra and Aditya v Mayank at Thakkar Memorial For details, contact Farooq Mistry on 9004052352 or Muslim Chitalwala on 9667533752.
25 January,2025 08:00 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentUnseeded Anvisha Ghorpade got the better of second seed Imaan Motorwala to enter the Girls U-15 singles final of the Gautam Thakkar Memorial Maharashtra State Junior Badminton Championships at Bombay Gymkhana on Friday morning. Also Read: U-14 glory for AVM, St Anthony Anvisha won a close encounter 21-18, 21-18 to set up a title clash with top seed Rudra Gawde, who got the better of Anishka Karthik 21-14, 21-17. Rudra kept herself in line for a double when she partnered Imaan Motorwala to defeat Anaaya Parikh and Jahnvi Vora 21-1, 21-2, to make the final round. In the Boys U-15 semi-final, Aditya Prasad Padwal got the better of Kaavya Parmar 21-9, 21-5 while Mayank Rajput saw off Vikrant Singh Negi 21-17, 21-14.
25 January,2025 07:57 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentBritish tennis player Emma Raducanu is searching for another coach after her partnership with Nick Cavaday came to an end because of his health issues.Cavaday was the sixth coach of the 22-year-old Raducanu’s short career. Also Read: Sabalenka eyes hat-trick of crowns in Keys clash In their 14 months together, Cavaday helped Raducanu return to the top 60 in the world following operations on both wrists and one ankle. “It’s important for me to spend some more time at home and prioritise getting back to full health, which is hard to do with the extensive calendar,” Cavaday said 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
25 January,2025 07:44 AM IST | London | AP | PTIThe irresistible force of Aryna Sabalenka meets the unbreakable spirit of Madison Keys in an Australian Open women’s singles final on Saturday that promises to be a thunderous slugfest. Defending champion Sabalenka was hailed by beaten semi-finalist Paula Badosa as being so good it was “like she’s playing a PlayStation” after dishing out a merciless straight-sets bludgeoning to her good friend. The never-say-die American Keys, who will turn 30 next month, saved eight break points and a match point in a nerve-shredding final set against Iga Swiatek that went all the way to a 10-point tiebreak. Also Read: ‘Stop blaming Novak’ “Definitely some big-hitting. I think that is going to happen,” the powerful 19th seed Keys predicted of the final. “Not a lot of long points.” Keys and Sabalenka have met five times previously, with the Belarusian winning four of them, most recently on the Beijing hard courts last year. Keys’s sole win came on grass in Berlin in 2021. “She’s playing incredible tennis,” said Sabalenka. “She’s a very aggressive player, serving well, moving well. She’s in a great shape. It’s going to be a great battle.” Sabalenka, the modern day queen of Melbourne Park, has won 20 straight matches on the famous blue hard courts. If she makes it 21 it will see her complete a treble not witnessed this century. 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
25 January,2025 07:41 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPAlexander Zverev defended Novak Djokovic for pulling out of their Australian Open semi-final with injury Friday, after the 24-time Grand Slam champion was booed by some spectators as he left court. The 37-year-old Serb retired after losing the opener 7-6 (7/5) to put the German World No. 2 into the Melbourne decider for the first time. Some in the crowd jeered Djokovic, annoyed that they didn’t get their money’s worth. But Zverev said the nature of the injury — a muscle tear — meant playing on for two or three more hours was unrealistic. Lot of play time left “He knew probably to beat me after the first set he would have had to play probably at least three more hours, and that’s very difficult to do if you have a tear or if you have a muscle injury,” he said. Also Read: Got to go above and beyond to succeed: Brook Jannik Sinner returns to Ben Shelton during their semi-final in Melbourne yesterday. Pic/AFP “So, I think we should stop blaming Novak. Novak has done absolutely everything he could on the tennis court in the last 20 years,” he added. “He’s won this tournament with an abdominal tear where most players can’t even continue playing. He’s won this tournament with a hamstring tear. He’s a 10-time champion [in Melbourne]. I think we should all just respect that in a way because there’s nobody in this sport’s history who has won and who has done as much as him.” Djokovic’s pain was Zverev’s gain with the 27-year-old handed the chance to again win a maiden Grand Slam after being runner-up at the US Open in 2020 and at Roland Garros last year. He came into the season on a high after ending 2024 as World No. 2, winning more matches than anyone bar Jannik Sinner and back to his best after a horrific ankle injury. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner played down any injury fears after suffering from cramp in his Australian Open semi-final win, saying physical struggles were all part of getting through two-week-long Grand Slams. The World No. 1 blasted past Ben Shelton, admitting he was relieved to come through in straight sets. Sinner suffered from leg cramps in the third set of his 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-2 win against the American 21st seed and had to have the trainer on to massage his thighs near the end. Cramps trouble Sinner “I had some tension today, slightly cramps,” said Sinner, who had dizzy spells during his match in the fourth round. “You know, these matches can go very, very long. For three sets, two and a half hours is quite a time. So, I’m happy to finish today in three.” The Italian said physical suffering was to be expected because it was his first tournament of the season. “Without playing any tournaments before, you never know what’s happening,” he said. “Then you try to raise your level day-by-day. All of us who go deep in tournaments have some days where they struggle a little bit more.” 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
25 January,2025 07:38 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPIt could be tempting to write off Novak Djokovic at this point, to think he might be closer than ever to being done competing for Grand Slam titles and closer than ever to retirement, where his greatest on-court rivals " Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray " already reside. Perhaps those sorts of thoughts are natural in the immediate aftermath of Djokovic's exit from the Australian Open semifinals on Friday with a torn leg muscle. He was booed off the court when he quit right after dropping the first set against Alexander Zverev, an abrupt end to Djokovic's pursuit of an 11th trophy at Melbourne Park and an unprecedented 25th major championship overall. It was the second time in the past four Slams that Djokovic needed to abandon his spot in the latter stages of the bracket. At last year's French Open, he tore the meniscus in his right knee during a fourth-round victory and withdrew before the quarterfinals, then needed surgery. Also relevant to the conversation: Djokovic will turn 38 before this year's next major, which begins at Roland Garros in late May. That was Nadal's age when he closed his career in November. Murray, a week older than Djokovic, stopped playing last August (and coached Djokovic in Melbourne ). Federer's last Grand Slam match came when he was 39, although he didn't announce he was done until the following year. "How much of a worry is it? I don't know. It's not like I'm worrying, (when) approaching every Grand Slam now, whether I'm going to get injured or not. But statistics are against me in a way in the last couple of years," he acknowledged. "So it is true that (I've been) getting injured quite a bit the last few years. I don't know what exactly is the reason for that. Maybe several different factors." What Djokovic said next is sure to make his fans happy and opponents wary. "I'll keep going. I'll keep striving to win more Slams," Djokovic said. "And as long as I feel that I want to put up with all of this, I'll be around." Keep in mind that Djokovic got hurt late in the first set of his previous match, against 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time major champ who's been ranked No. 1. Despite that, Djokovic played well enough to erase a deficit and overcome Alcaraz in four sets. Keep this in mind, too: Less than 1 1/2 months after last season's operation on his knee, Djokovic made it all the way to the final at Wimbledon, where he lost to Alcaraz. Three weeks after that, Djokovic made it all the way to the final at the Paris Olympics, where he beat Alcaraz to finally collect the gold medal he'd long wanted to bring home to Serbia. Djokovic wasn't able to give a timeline Friday for how long he'll be sidelined now. He wasn't quite prepared to commit to returning to the Australian Open, either, when asked if this might have been his last appearance, saying: "There is a chance. Who knows? I'll just have to see how the season goes. ... If I'm fit, healthy, motivated, I don't see a reason why I wouldn't come." There is plenty of evidence that it is a mistake to consider Djokovic done. Still, there are going to be those who have doubts about Djokovic's health and longevity. There already were such questions in some quarters, actually, no matter how nonsensical: On-air remarks by a commentator working for the host broadcaster about Djokovic being overrated and a has-been caused a stir during Week 1 of this Australian Open. No one who knows anything about Djokovic or tennis would use those terms. "Novak has done absolutely everything he could on the tennis court in the last 20 years," said Zverev, who will be seeking his first Grand Slam title when he meets defending champion Jannik Sinner in Sunday's final at Rod Laver Arena. "He's won this tournament with an abdominal tear, where most players can't even continue playing. He's won this tournament with a hamstring tear," Zverev said. "He's a 10-time champion. We should all just respect that, in a way, because there's nobody in this sport's history who has won, and who has done, as much as him." (With AP inputs)
24 January,2025 09:20 PM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentNovak Djokovic retired injured from his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev on Friday and left the court to boos, with defending champion Jannik Sinner to face the German for the title. Top-ranked Sinner blew past Ben Shelton 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-2 in the second semi-final in Melbourne to set up a meeting between the Italian and second seed Zverev. The Rod Laver Arena crowd jeered Djokovic, who played with a heavily taped leg, when he called it a day after losing a gruelling first set against Zverev, leaving his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam crown in tatters. Zverev on some of the crowd booing Djokovic after retiring from Australian Open“Please guys don’t boo a player when he goes out with injury. I know everyone paid for tickets.. but Novak has given everything of his life to the sport the last 20 years”pic.twitter.com/faY33oKgk5 — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 24, 2025 The 37-year-old Serbian great shook hands after going down 7-6 (7/5) and said he had been hampered by a muscle tear. Djokovic hinted that he may have played his last Australian Open. "There is a chance. Who knows?" Djokovic said when asked if he may have graced the Melbourne Park courts for a last time. "I normally like to come to Australia to play. I've had the biggest success in my career here. So if I'm fit, healthy, motivated, I don't see a reason why I wouldn't come," he added. Djokovic has now gone five Grand Slams without winning the title he needs to surpass Margaret Court's 24 and become the all-time leader. In the other semi-final, Sinner had to save two set points in a tight opening act that lasted a marathon 71 minutes and he suffered in the latter stages after long rallies against his high-octane American opponent. "I had some tension today, slightly cramps," Sinner admitted. "But he was also suffering today a little bit in his legs. "So I tried to move him around, tried to stay a little bit more aggressive which today helped a lot." Once Sinner grittily snared the opening set on a tiebreak he took only another 85 minutes to win the next two sets against 22-year-old Shelton. "For three sets. Two and a half hours is quite a time. So happy to finish today in three," the Italian said. "But, you know, as I said, I'm very happy to be back in the finals and then we see what is coming Sunday." It is unclear what the immediate future holds for Djokovic, a 10-time Melbourne champion who had been ominously warming to the task before injury struck. "I actually thought I played really well, as well as I played the last 12 months," he said of his run to the last four. "I liked my chances if I was physically fit and ready to battle." Sinner is on the cusp of a first successful Grand Slam title defence after winning his maiden major crown in Melbourne last year. He had won the last four of his five career meetings with Shelton. The Italian was not at his best in the opening set, dropping his serve twice and having to dig deep to save two set points with Shelton serving at 6-5. But the 23-year-old easily took control of the tiebreak to move a set ahead. He broke Shelton right at the start of the second and ran away with it. The American raised himself for one last effort in the third, lashing running forehand winners in an attempt to turn the tide. Sinner was not moving freely by now, but he saved two break points and when Shelton then dropped his serve to go 3-2 down, the Italian upped the ante and sprinted to the finish line on the back of some unreturnable ground strokes. The final will be a battle of the top two seeds with Zverev in his first Australian Open final. The German has been a Grand Slam runner-up twice before, at last year's French Open and the 2020 US Open, but has never lifted one of the big four majors. (With AFP inputs)
24 January,2025 06:14 PM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentIn a country like India, where cricket is considered a religion, other sports rarely get the attention they deserve. While athletes competing in different sports merit the same hype and praise as cricketers, this is often not the case. Thanks to social media, sports like tennis are now garnering immense interest. However, a disparity remains, as many Indian tennis stars still struggle to gain recognition. However, 15-year-old Maaya Rajeshwaran has already made a mark at a young age. A budding Indian tennis sensation, Maaya aims to raise the tricolour high on the world stage of the racket sport. She shares something in common with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar: both made their debuts at a young age and went on to make the country proud on several occasions. Also Read: "You should never seek for my autograph...": Former Team India captain Kapil Dev The teen has already achieved the number one ranking in India and holds the 56th position in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior world rankings. Maaya Rajeshwaran has also triumphed in the New Delhi J300, an ITF event held for juniors. Maaya Rajeshwaran But that’s not all. She is the first and only Indian female tennis player to be selected for the Grand Slam Player Development Program. Additionally, she is the first Indian to be picked for the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy. When asked about how she developed an interest in tennis, the teenager candidly shared that it started as a simple extracurricular activity after school. "When I was a kid, I started playing tennis merely as an extra activity after school. But in a very short period, I grew quite fond of the sport, and I have always loved to compete. So I decided to pursue tennis professionally," Maaya told mid-day. Rafa Nadal Academy journey awaits On her selection to one of the most renowned tennis academies in the world at such a young age, Maaya said excitedly, "I have always wanted a base in Europe. I'm so glad that the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy took me in. It really means a lot to me, and I'm looking forward to a wonderful journey with Team RNA." She also shared her experience of seeing the King of Clay in person. "I did get to see Rafa playing for a couple of days when he was preparing for the Davis Cup. It's just so inspiring to see a person who has achieved so much still being hungry for more. He is truly a legend, and I really hope that someday, I’ll get to have a conversation with him," the teen sensation said. Speaking about her contract with the academy, Maaya stated that both parties will continue working together as long as they are happy with her progress. Smashing the challenges Like many Indian athletes, Maaya has faced her share of challenges. "One of the main challenges is the funds. Many talented tennis players are not receiving the amount of funding they need to travel out of the country to play tournaments," she explained. Behind the success of the Coimbatore girl, her parents also played a huge role. Her mother took her on a journey across Europe and made sure that Maaya Rajeshwaran was trained under the best coaches and in academies.
24 January,2025 03:15 PM IST | Mumbai | Sujay ShivalkarDilli Dillwale, the dynamic and star-studded Delhi Franchise of the prestigious World Pickleball League (WPL), proudly announce that Former Indian cricketer and global sports icon, Sunil Gavaskar along with Former Indian Cricketer and commentator Rohan Gavaskar have joined the Delhi franchise as Co-Owners, bringing unparalleled legacy, leadership, and passion for sports to the world of pickleball. The Dilli Dillwale team is composed of an elite lineup of eight world-class athletes from across the globe, boasting an impressive combined tally of 60 gold medals in international competitions. The team’s roster includes champions hailing from the United States, Taiwan, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, India, and Japan, making it a truly global powerhouse in the fast-growing sport of pickleball. Commenting on his association with Dilli Dillwale, Sunil Gavaskar shared his excitement: "Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting journey with Dilli Dillwale. The team embodies the spirit of resilience, teamwork, and global unity – values that resonate deeply with me. I am looking forward to the team adding to the 60 gold medals they already have in what promises to be a truly rip roaring tournament" Also Read: "Great effort to get ahead of strong teams in world": Jonty Rhodes on South Africa reaching maiden WTC final With Gavaskar’s involvement, Dilli Dillwale aims to elevate the profile of pickleball in India and beyond, fostering a new era of opportunities for athletes and enthusiasts alike. His deep-rooted passion for sports, coupled with his legendary status in cricket, will provide invaluable inspiration and leadership to the team as they prepare for an action-packed season in the WPL. Ankiti Bose, Founding Partner at Terra-Invest, Team Owners of Dilli Dillwale, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: "Having the Gavaskars join our team as Co-Owners is a momentous occasion for Smashers and Dilli Dillwale. Their presence adds incredible value, vision and sports legacy that will help us achieve new heights in the World Pickleball League and grow the sport across India." Welcoming the Gavaskars to the league, Gaurav Natekar – Co-Founder and CEO of the World Pickleball League said, “We are honoured to welcome Sunil Gavaskar and Rohan Gavaskar to the WPBL family as co-owners of the Dilli Dillwale. Our families go back a long way, and Mr. Sunil Gavaskar is a true-blue legend of Indian sport. His legendary status adds immense credibility and stature to the World Pickleball League, and his co-ownership underscores the value, potential and promise of the league.” The World Pickleball League, which is rapidly gaining traction across international markets, brings together the finest players from around the world, competing at the highest level with an electrifying mix of skill, strategy, and sportsmanship. Other team owners in the league include Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Film Director Atlee, Riteish Deshmukh and Swiggy Founder Sriharsha Majety. About Dilli Dillwale Dilli Dillwale is a the official Delhi Franchise in the World Pickleball League, featuring a diverse roster of top-tier international athletes with an impressive medal tally of 60 golds. Committed to excellence, the team aims to promote the sport of pickleball and inspire the next generation of players. 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.
24 January,2025 03:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT