Paarl Royals’ spinners continue to dominate at their Boland Park fortress to propel team to the top of the Betway SA20 standings. The Royals quartet of Bjorn Fortuin, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Joe Root and Dunith Wellalage spun a web around the Joburg Super Kings batting unit to restrict the visitors to 146/6. Fortuin (2/22) started the JSK slide with two wickets in the Powerplay that set the tone for Mujeeb (1/28) and the rest to follow. “Very delighted, nice to get over the line. It was one of the wickets where we went with the spin and it worked out. I had too many options at one point which was great,” Royals captain David Miller said. “We had them by the throat, but the last two overs let us down but that is the nature of the game. I thought it was a par score.” It would have been a lot less were it not for England’s double World Cup winner Jonny Bairstow (60 off 40 balls, 2x4, 3x6) and Donovan Ferreira’s unbeaten 32 off 19 balls that saw the Super Kings add 65 runs in the last five overs. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: No Virat, no Rohit, Kamran Akmal names the player without whom India is incomplete “I thought we had a competitive score, after they took wickets early on with their bowlers put us on the back foot and fair play to them,” Bairstow said. “If you go a bit too early, then you might be 5-6 down early, but if you are brave enough to keep wickets in the back end, to exploit the shorter side then you get rewards at the end. If you’re brave enough to take it to the end, and having myself and Don with a bit of firepower to exploit the shorter side was great, but maybe 15-20 short.” But even after the Super Kings’ late onslaught, the Royals still had little trouble in completing a comfortable run-chase as the home team strolled home with six wickets intact. It was the Royals’ third win in succession. The competition’s leading run-scorer Lhuan-dre Pretorius certainly enjoys batting at his new home ground with the teenage opener adding another breezy 27 off 14 balls (4x4, 1x6) to his two half-centuries at this picturesque venue. “The guys at the top batted really well and got us off to a good start which got us ahead of the game,” Miller added. There was a slight hiccup when seamer Hardus Viljoen (2/23) removed both Pretorius and Joe Root in quick succession, but the Royals were always in control of the run chase. Miller has performed his 'finisher' role to perfection this season and partnered up with Mitchell van Buuren (44 off 45 balls) for a 71-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Miller completed the job in fine style by smashing Lutho Sipamla for a massive maximum that has placed the Royals in prime position to secure a playoff spot. “We’ve got an adaptable squad and we play according to the condition and the last two years we started really well and finished badly, and that is something we keep in mind and we have all bases covered for now,” he said. 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.
21 January,2025 09:58 AM IST | Paarl | mid-day online correspondentIga Swiatek showed no mercy as she ended “lucky loser” Eva Lys’s historic run at the Australian Open on Monday, the World No. 2 marching into the quarter-finals 6-0, 6-1. There was to be no happy ending to Lys’s incredible story against the ruthless five-time Grand Slam champion from Poland for a place in the semi-finals. “There’s a lot to improve. I don’t feel like I’m in my peak yet,” said Swiatek, who has dropped only two games in her last two matches. Also Read: MCA missed a chance to pay tribute to Solkar “For sure, matches like that give me confidence and I feel like I’m playing a good game.” Swiatek has a patchy record in Melbourne, only reaching the semi-finals once, in 2022, but warned she was in the mood this year. “I usually didn’t feel comfortable at the Australian Open with my game,” she said. “But this year it’s a bit better. So I’m just enjoying being on the court and off the court as well. Because for sure I have an amazing time here, and hopefully it’s gonna last even longer.” Lys fleetingly threatened another shock when she created two break points in the opening game, but Swiatek stepped up her pace to save both. From then on the result was inevitable and the former World No. 1 showed the gulf in class as she flattened the German in an hour. WADA won’t appeal in Iga doping case The World Anti-Doping Agency said on Monday it will not appeal in the case of Iga Swiatek. Last year she accepted a one-month ban after testing positive for a banned substance. 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
21 January,2025 08:06 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPA family that took an oath of secrecy, a national federation that kept mum and close friends kept in the dark — that’s how India’s javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra got married in complete secrecy at a time when even mildly popular celebrities struggle to keep things private. Two-time Olympic medallist Chopra left the country wonder-struck on Sunday night and this time his sporting prowess had nothing to do with it. It was all about how easily he managed to dodge the constant glare to complete an important life event. He eventually dropped the news to the world at a time of his choosing, which was a good 48 hours after solemnising his union with US-based tennis player and coach Himani Mor. Also Read: City ‘best’, United ‘worst’ Chopra, 27, shared photos from the ceremony that featured only the two families, and sought the world’s blessings. They landed in heaps on social media, but most of his 10 million-plus social media followers are left wondering, “just how did he do it?” His paternal uncle Bhim Chopra had some answers. “Neeraj aur Himani pehle se ek dusre ko jaante the [Both knew each other for a while]. It happened around two years ago through some friends. Both families have also known each other,” he told PTI. The wedding preparations had been on for the last few months, but none of the build-up reached the media. “Only the members of both families attended the marriage. Neeraj and both families wanted it that way. The couple have now left the country,” added Bhim Chopra. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) claimed it knew what was brewing but complied with the athlete’s wish for privacy. “Yes. He informed the AFI about his marriage. He wanted to do it in private. He will celebrate it with all after this season is over,” a top AFI official said. The ceremony did not happen at his sprawling home in Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana but somewhere in Himachal Pradesh. 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
21 January,2025 07:51 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIBen Shelton ground down French veteran Gael Monfils on Monday to set up an Australian Open quarter-final against Lorenzo Sonego. The 22-year-old Shelton went toe-to-toe with the Frenchman, 16 years his senior, until Monfils pulled the plug exhausted in the fourth set. Shelton won 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/2), 1-0 with each of the first three sets lasting almost an hour. Also Read: Tony Jones apologises to Novak Djokovic over ‘insulting comments’ Gael Monfils “At 38 years old I hope I’m still walking without crutches,” Shelton, who matched his 2023 run to the last eight at Melbourne Park, said of Monfils. “To push me the way he did the way he did today and entertain everyone is so impressive.” 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
21 January,2025 07:44 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPA leading TV presenter apologised on air Monday to Novak Djokovic after mocking the 24-time Grand Slam winner and Serbian fans at the Australian Open, with Elon Musk and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese among those wading into the row. The 37-year-old tennis great on Sunday refused to do a routine on-court interview after beating Jiri Lehecka to set up a quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz in Melbourne. Afterwards Djokovic said it was in protest at Tony Jones, a top sports presenter with host broadcaster Channel Nine, who he accused of “insulting and offensive comments” towards him and Serbian fans. Also Read: Net gains for dizzy Sinner Jones had labelled Djokovic a “has-been” and said “kick him out” in apparent reference to his 2022 deportation. Jones said in his apology it was “banter”. Hours later Djokovic “acknowledged the apology has been given in public as requested and is now moving on and focusing on his next match”, organisers Tennis Australia said in a statement. Djokovic had said he would boycott interviews with the TV station until he got an apology. He also released a short video on X to explain his stance and it has been viewed more than 60 million times, and caught the attention of the site’s owner Musk. “It’s way better just to talk to the public directly than go through the negativity filter of legacy media,” Musk posted in response, with Djokovic replying: “Indeed.” Tennis names including former World No. 1 Boris Becker, Australian Nick Kyrgios, Jannik Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill and Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka spoke out in support of Djokovic. 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
21 January,2025 07:41 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPDefending champion Jannik Sinner battled dizzy spells on Monday in energy-sapping heat to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals, admitting a long interruption when he accidentally broke the net was “big, big luck”. The World No. 1 again dropped a set before coming home 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 against Danish 13th seed Holger Rune on Rod Laver Arena with both men needing medical attention. Medical timeout Sinner struggled in the muggy conditions, his hand visibly shaking and his heart rate taken in the third set before he left court for a medical timeout. Rune needed attention to a sore right knee in the same set. They then had a bizarre 20-minute delay when Sinner demolished the metal brace that secures the net to the floor with a thunderous serve early in set four. Holger Rune Also Read: Sonego ends teen Tien’s fairytale run “I was not feeling really well. You know, I think we saw that today I was struggling physically,” said Sinner, 23, who is bidding to become the first Italian man to win three Grand Slam crowns. He refused to say exactly what was wrong with him, only that he was “not there health-wise” and had been “a bit dizzy at times”. “I don’t want to go into details. I think it was, you know, then also with the pressure and everything, it was not easy.” ‘It was helpful’ He admitted that the time off court in air-conditioning while officials repaired the net helped him refresh. “I was lucky today that... 20 minutes off court, you know, trying to get back physically, putting some cold water in my head, it was very helpful. It was big, big luck to me today.” Ground staff repair the net that was damaged by Jannik Sinner during his match against Holger Rune yesterday. Pic/AFP The win put him into a clash against Australia’s big hope, eighth seed Alex de Minaur, or young American Alex Michelsen. The Italian is bidding to defend a Grand Slam title for the first time after winning the first of his two majors in Melbourne last year, beating Daniil Medvedev in the final. 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.
21 January,2025 07:37 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPTeenage qualifier Learner Tien’s Australian Open fairytale ended on Monday as Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego blasted into his first Grand Slam quarter-final on his 26th attempt. Also Read: Australian Open: Navarro, Svitolina enter quarters The seasoned 29-year-old proved a bridge too far for the 19-year-old American, who stunned fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in round two. Against the World No. 55, Tien wilted on a hot and humid day in Melbourne, succumbing 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 with a right thigh problem not helping. It brought the curtain down on a breakthrough debut tournament for Tien, who was bidding to become the youngest man to reach the quarter-finals since Goran Ivanisevic in 1989. 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
21 January,2025 07:33 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPEmma Navarro said she was just “staying alive” after winning a fourth consecutive three-set marathon to set up an Australian Open quarter-final against Iga Swiatek. The American eighth seed eventually beat Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 in 2hr 40min after blowing three match points in the second set. “They played that song that goes ‘staying alive’ at 5-4 in the third set,” said Navarro, who created an astonishing 25 break points only to see her Russian opponent save 16 of them. “And I kind of felt like that was really appropriate this whole tournament,” added Navarro. Also Read: "You won’t have a huge bank balance, but you’ll get genuine respect": Sanjay Manjrekar on Test cricket Meanwhile, Elina Svitolina delivered a stunning first-set comeback before overwhelming Veronika Kudermetova to reach the quarter-finals, but the Ukrainian did not shake hands with her Russian opponent. Svitolina, the 28th seed, followed up her shock win over World No. 4 Jasmine Paolini in the third round with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over the World No. 75 on Rod Laver Arena. It put her into the last eight at Melbourne Park for a third time, but her first since 2019. 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
21 January,2025 07:31 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPThe TATA Mumbai Marathon 2025 kicked off with an overwhelming response, with thousands of runners, including professionals, amateurs, senior citizens, and differently-abled participants, gathering at the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) early Sunday morning. At 5:00 am, the marathon officially began, with the Marathon Amateurs race starting from CSMT, followed by the Half Marathon and Police Cup at Mahim Reti Bundar. The event saw over 25,000 participants in various categories, including a notable 13,000 in the first race. 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Ganpati Bappa Morya' slogans echoed through the crowd early morning. A participant expressed concerns about the lack of post-race refreshments. When asked about the facilities at the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025, Digambar Jha, a full marathon participant, said, "Post-race refreshments were not provided, which is disappointing. Water could be served in glasses instead of Bisleri bottles to minimise plastic waste." Amol Korgaonkar, who participated in the 20 km 'Half Marathon and Police Cup,' completed the race in an impressive two hours and 20 minutes. This marked his seventh medal at the Mumbai Marathon, and he expressed his pride in participating in one of Asia's biggest marathons. Event ambassador and legendary runner Mo Farah was spotted at the marathon, interacting with fans and inspiring participants. Participants were cheered on by vibrant performances, including a band performance by the 15th Battalion of the Assam Regiment's Military Pipe Band, while a group of bike riders added further energy to the marathon's atmosphere. Athletes with special abilities were also present, highlighting incredible determination. The marathon also saw inspiring participation from senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, proving that determination knows no age or ability. From seasoned athletes to first-time runners, the 20th edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon featured multiple categories to suit all abilities; WATCH VIDEO: A Mumbaikar, Angad Singh Duggal, who doctors predicted would be bedridden for life, defied the odds and also made it to the marathon. The men's Elite Race saw Anish Thapa Magar clinch the first spot, followed by Man Singh and Gopi Thonakal in second and third, respectively. On the women's side, Nirma Ben Thakur emerged victorious, with Sonika Parmar and Sonam securing second and third place. The TATA Mumbai Marathon 2025 highlighted the collective spirit of Mumbai, with citizens from all walks of life coming together to celebrate fitness and sportsmanship.
20 January,2025 12:22 PM IST | Mumbai | Jyoti ShuklaThe Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025, one of Asia’s largest running events, kicked off early Sunday morning at the historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Drawing over 25,000 participants, the marathon buzzed with energy and enthusiasm, showcasing Mumbai’s unparalleled vibe and its love for fitness. Among the many voices, Manish Katyal described the event as the "Kumbh Mela of marathons." Speaking about his experience, he said, “I’ve never seen such an incredible marathon anywhere in India. The coordination, the route, and the fact that runners come from all over the world, it’s truly like the Kumbh Mela of marathons." Sanjay Mundhra, another participant, echoed similar sentiments. “This is our third Mumbai Marathon. During my first marathon three years ago, I decided that every time I run, I will come to Mumbai. It’s the vibe of the city that motivates me.” Encouraging others to experience the event, he said, “Feel the vibes here—you’re missing out!” The duo travel across India for marathons and have participated in marathons in Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur. "Wherever we feel comfortable and find a good place to run, we go,” said Katyal. This is their third Mumbai Marathon. When asked about their motivation, Mundhra said, "It's the vibe of Mumbai. On my first marathon three years ago, I decided that every time I run, I will come to Mumbai." The marathon also saw inspiring participation from senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, proving that determination knows no age or ability. From seasoned athletes to first-time runners, the 20th edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon featured multiple categories to suit all abilities; WATCH VIDEO: A Mumbaikar, Angad Singh Duggal, who doctors predicted would be bedridden for life, defied the odds and also made it to the marathon. Harjeet Singh, 55, from Chandigarh, who has participated in marathons across the country, shared his excitement, and said he loves participating in marathons and will also be running the full marathon in Bangalore. "I am very active in participating in marathons across the country and I love it," he added. Harjeet Singh, 55, from Chandigarh, shares his excitement at the Mumbai Marathon 2025Via: @sujay_shivalkar #MumbaiMarathon #Runner #News #Sports pic.twitter.com/cDEmxBB3Uu — Mid Day (@mid_day) January 19, 2025 Participants were cheered on by vibrant performances, including a band performance by the 15th Battalion of the Assam Regiment's Military Pipe Band, while a group of bike riders added further energy to the marathon's atmosphere. The TATA Mumbai Marathon 2025 highlighted the collective spirit of Mumbai, with citizens from all walks of life coming together to celebrate fitness and sportsmanship.
20 January,2025 12:12 PM IST | Mumbai | Jyoti ShuklaNirmaben Thakor put on a masterclass in endurance to successfully defend her crown in the Indian women’s elite category at the Tata Mumbai Marathon on Sunday. She blitzed her way, clocking 2:50:06, a good 49 seconds quicker than her closest combatant, Sonika Parmar (2:50:55), who bagged the silver medal. Twenty-year-old Sonam, making her full marathon debut, crossed the line third with a timing of 2:55:45. Thakor, who was in second place for most part of the first half of the race, made an expertly timed late charge to emerge fastest. However, despite being the only elite category athlete to defend her title on the day, Thakor bemoaned the lack of hydration along the gruelling course. Also Read: Enter, Eritrea! Not happy despite win “Even though I finished first, I’m not very happy. I wasn’t provided water frequently on the route. Secondly, throughout the race, there were two bikes and/or cycles alongside the leader for support, but I did not see anyone near us [the trailing group]. We were running alone. It felt like we had no value,” she said. While there is one main lead vehicle that is always in front of the international men’s elite runners, there are some support vehicles [motorbikes or cycles] that accompany other lead groups like the Indian men’s elite or Indian women’s elite groups. While these vehicles indicate to runners that they are leading, they also provide other nutritional or technical support, if needed. Sonam also echoed her senior compatriot’s thoughts. “It was difficult to know what position we were in because there was no one [support bike or cycle] around us. Afterwards, when I felt my body get tighter, there was no one to offer any [muscle relaxant] spray or gel during the race. If we had a cycle or two accompanying us, it would give us that much more confidence. Also, in the last five kilometres, I didn’t get water when that is the time you require water the most,” said Sonam. Parmar exhausted Meanwhile, second-placed Parmar, who managed to stay ahead of Thakor in the initial stages of the race before eventually falling behind, blamed it on exhaustion. “I participated in a lot of competitions recently. I ran a 42km race on December 31, then a national cross-country race as well, so my body did not get a chance to recover fully,” said Parmar.
20 January,2025 08:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Ronan CarvalhoADVERTISEMENT
