GOLD COAST: Neeraj Chopra became India’s first javelin champion at the Commonwealth Games and joined the country’s small band of athletics gold medallists with a mighty throw of 86.47m on Saturday.
The 20-year-old said staying relaxed was the key after he won by nearly four meters from Australia’s Hamish Peacock, after Kenya’s ex-world champion Julius Yego failed to make the final.
With his surprise win, Chopra becomes only the third Indian man to win athletics gold at the Commonwealths, after Milkha “Flying Sikh” Singh in 1958 and Vikas Gowda in 2014.
“I don’t remember which throw it was. I tried to get my personal best but I got my season best,” he said, after falling just 1cm short of his best throw yet.
“I’ve tried to enjoy myself here and not focus on any negatives, like ‘I don’t like this and I don’t like that’. You definitely get distracted by that,” added Chopra.
Chopra’s gold was among a number of Indian successes on the final day of full competition, following Mary Kom’s boxing win and Sanjeev Rajput’s victory in the 50m rifle three positions.
“I’ve been totally relaxed here, I’ve enjoyed myself. Most of the time people put too much pressure on themselves before the competition, thinking about food and sleeping and what not,” said Chopra.
“I tried to be natural because I was completely confident in how I’ve prepared myself.”
As competition continued on Saturday, India had 21 gold medals to lie third on the overall table, behind hosts Australia and England.
Neeraj Chopra makes history for India by landing Commonwealth Games javelin gold
Neeraj Chopra makes history for India by landing Commonwealth Games javelin gold
- The 20-year-old wins it with a throw of 86.47m
- He becomes only the third Indian man to win athletics gold at the Commonwealths
Struggling Medvedev suffers early exit in Miami
The Russian made 32 unforced errors
MIAMI, United States: Daniil Medvedev crashed out of the Miami Open in the second round on Friday after suffering a 6-2, 6-3 upset defeat to Spain’s 56th-ranked Jaume Munar.
Medvedev, the 2023 winner in Miami, showed his frustration, hurling his racket on several occasions as the Mallorca-born 27-year-old picked up his third career win against a top 10 opponent.
The Russian made 32 unforced errors and although he gave himself a chance of a comeback in the final game, he couldn’t convert on two break points.
Karen Khachanov ensured the Nick Kyrgios comeback trail was cut short with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-0 win.
Australian Kyrgios, who has struggled since wrist surgery, defeated Mackenzie McDonald in the first round to earn his first tour-level win since October 2022 but was unable to overcome Khachanov, who reached the semis in Miami in 2023.
In the women’s draw, world number two Iga Swiatek advanced into the third round after surviving a second set dip to beat France’s Caroline Garcia 6-2, 7-5.
Swiatek had beaten Garcia with ease at the same stage at Indian Wells earlier this month but she faced a little more resistance at Hard Rock Stadium.
Swiatek was 3-1 down in the second set and had to save a set point, when serving at 5-4 down before rallying to win the last three games.
“My energy level got down really fast. So I tried to wake myself up, keep the intensity from the first set, follow through and go for it,” Swiatek said.
Swiatek lost to Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals at Indian Wells, with the 17-year-old Russian going on to win the title.
Andreeva is in action later on Friday when she takes on fellow-Russian Veronika Kudermetova.
In the men’s draw, fourth-seed Novak Djokovic faces Australian Rinky Hijikata while second-seed Carlos Alcaraz launches his bid against Belgian David Goffin.
Man City launch Ramadan Esports Football Cup in MENA region
- Competition will engage participants from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Algeria
- Leading players from each regional qualifier will advance to the semifinal stage on April 4
ABU DHABI: Manchester City announced on Friday the launching of Ramadan Esports Football Cup, a regional tournament spanning the Middle East and North Africa.
The competition will engage participants from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Algeria, the Emirates News Agency reported.
Tournament regulations stipulate that on entering national qualifying rounds, participants are allotted a five-hour window to complete a maximum of ten matches against regional competitors.
Leading players from each regional qualifier will advance to the semifinal stage, scheduled for April 4 at 13:00 (local time). Winners of those semifinal matches will then proceed to the grand final held later that day.
Finalists will be awarded a selection of prizes, including an exclusive one-on-one match with a Manchester City esports professional player and an official Manchester City jersey, autographed by the entire team.
The tournament is open to players of all levels and is available across a range of different platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X and PC.
Mexican club Leon banned from FIFA Club World Cup
- Leon expressed their “anger and indignation” on social media, saying the decision “goes against the spirit of fair competition” and aim to appeal
- “The club to be admitted as a replacement to be announced in due course,” FIFA said
PARIS: Club Leon from Mexico were incensed Friday after they were banned from the June-July Club World Cup in the United States for violating rules on multi-ownership, FIFA announced Friday.
Leon expressed their “anger and indignation” on social media, saying the decision “goes against the spirit of fair competition” and aim to appeal.
A FIFA appeals committee, responding to a complaint by Costa Rican club Alajuelense, ruled that Leon and another club from Mexico, Pachuca, failed to meet tournament regulations on multi-club ownership. Both sides are owned by Grupo Pachuca.
Leon, the winners of the 2023 CONCACAF regions Champions Cup, were thrown out of the World Club Cup. Pachuca, CONCACAF champions in 2024, were allowed to remain.
“Club Leon will be removed from the competition, with the club to be admitted as a replacement to be announced in due course,” FIFA said in a statement.
Article 10.1 of the tournament regulations states that no participating club can directly or indirectly hold or deal in the securities or shares of any other club in the competition.
“We are an independent, autonomous and sovereign team. Let there be no doubt,” Leon protested on social media, adding that they “won the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League title with fairness and professionalism.”
The club condemned “a measure that is cruel, unfair, which we do not endorse and we do not know who it benefits, but who it harms: our fans.”
“Club Leon will appeal this decision and we will go to the ultimate lengths to defend the place we attained in the Club World Cup.”
Leon had been drawn to face English giants Chelsea on June 16 in Atlanta before playing Brazil’s Flamengo and Esperance of Tunisia.
The 32-team event takes place from June 14 to July 13 in the United States.
Alajuelense was knocked out in the round of 16 in the CONCACAF Champions League by clubs from the United States the last two seasons.
Liverpool’s Alisson returns early from Brazil duty with suspected concussion
- The 32-year-old collided with opposing defender Davinson Sanchez in Brazil’s 2-1 win against Colombia
- “Alisson, who suffered a head knock, is fine and has no medical complaints,” a CBF statement read
BRASILIA: Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker has returned early to his club Liverpool after suffering a bang to the head while on international duty, the Brazilian football federation (CBF) announced Friday.
The 32-year-old collided with opposing defender Davinson Sanchez in Brazil’s 2-1 win against Colombia in South American 2026 World Cup qualifying action on Thursday.
Under FIFA’s concussion protocol, Alisson left the field in the 78th minute and must take a break, meaning he will miss out on Brazil’s clash with Argentina.
“Alisson, who suffered a head knock, is fine and has no medical complaints,” a CBF statement read.
“However, he needs to follow FIFA’s concussion protocol...(and) will return to (his) club to continue the recovery process.”
Alisson joins a mounting list of injuries in the Liverpool squad, with defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley already on the treatment table.
Another concern for manager Arne Slot is midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who withdrew from the Netherlands squad on Wednesday with a fitness issue.
Liverpool sit 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League and are next in action on April 2 when they host local rivals Everton.
Saudi team arrive in Japan ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier
- The Green Falcons will hold a closed training session tomorrow
- The Saudi team arrived in Japan a day after beating China 1-0
SAITAMA, Japan: Saudi Arabia’s national football team arrived in Saitama, Japan, on Friday evening, where they will face their hosts on Tuesday in the seventh round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
The Green Falcons are expected to hold a closed training session on Mar. 22 at 7 p.m. at the sub-field of Saitama Stadium 2002 in preparation for their match against Japan.
The Saudi Arabian team arrived in Japan a day after beating 10-man China 1-0 in Riyadh to get their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign back on track.
Upon arriving at Narita International Airport, the Saudi delegation was welcomed by Anas Al-Nuwaiser, the Kingdom’s deputy ambassador to Japan, Ahmed Al-Fadhel, head of consular affairs, and Adel Al-Kunhail, head of protocol and relations, as well as members of the embassy staff.
The secretary-general of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Ibrahim Al-Qassem, expressed his thanks to the Saudi Embassy for their warm welcome and the support provided to the delegation upon arrival.
The national team left Riyadh earlier on Friday from King Khalid International Airport.
