Sports

Monza (Italy), Sep 9 (IANS) Ferrari's Charles Leclerc topped the first practice session ahead of Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz in the Italian Grand Prix as championship leader Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished fifth here on Friday.

George Russell finished the session in third place while his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton was fourth with a lap of 1:22.831 that left him 0.421 off Leclerc.

It was also revealed that the Red Bull driver Verstappen will take an engine-related grid penalty on Sunday in Monza.

At the start of the opening practice session, Verstappen quickly moved to the top of the order with a lap of 1: 25.830 set on hard tyres. His Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez then took the top spot with a hard-tyre time of 1:25.026s before Alpine's Fernando Alonso stole P1 by 0.091s.

Verstappen improved over his hard tyres run, however, and after reclaiming the top spot with a lap of 1:23.449, he eventually worked his way down to 1:22.853 before drivers began to switch to soft tyres.

Leclerc, on the red-walled rubber, immediately took the top spot from Verstappen with a 1:22.410. Verstappen looked on course to beat that time, but the Dutchman encountered traffic in the final sector and he would end up fifth overall.

Verstappen finished fifth and 0.430 off the pace and it was revealed that the World Championship leader will incur a five-place grid drop for taking a new internal combustion engine.

Sixth place went to Alpine's Esteban Ocon with teammate Alonso seventh ahead of AlphaTauri's Yuki Tsunoda, and Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas. The tenth spot went to 2021 Monza winner Daniel Ricciardo, with teammate Lando Norris down in 16th in the second McLaren.

There were two FP1 cameos in the session with former Alfa Romeo driver Antonio Giovinazzi finishing 18th in an outing with Haas and Nyck de Vries 19th for Aston Martin.

--IANS

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Dubai, Sep 9 (IANS) Star India batsman Virat Kohli on Thursday not only broke multiple records but also gave the side a much-needed relief after scoring his maiden T20I hundred.

Kohli's international ton came after an extended period of nearly three years as he had made his 70th century in November 2019.

Kohli unleashed an array of shots against Afghanistan on Thursday as he zoomed past the 100-figure mark in 53 balls with a stylish six taking India towards a daunting total of 212/2 in the allotted 20 overs.

The star cricketer thanked his fans and followers for all the love and support in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022.

"Thank you for all the love and support throughout the Asia Cup campaign. We will get better and come back stronger. Untill next time," Kohli said on Koo app.

Kohli's century didn't stop cricketers and former players from showering praises on the him. Former India opener Robin Uthappa lauded Kohli for ending a century drought and entertaining his fans with beautiful strokeplay

"I'd say the gorilla is off the back. What a knock and what an apt celebration after he broke the 100 drought!! Well done @virat.kohli Amazing stuff," Uthappa said on the Koo app.

With this century, Kohli equalled the record of scoring the second most international tons with former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting. Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar has scored the most centuries (100) in international cricket.

Kohli also completed 3500 runs in men's T20I and became the second player to achieve the feat after India skipper Rohit Sharma.

Kohli smashed 122 not out which is the highest score by an Indian player in T20I cricket. This is also recorded as the highest score in T20Is in UAE.

India defeated Afghanistan by 101 runs to end their campaign on a high.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have qualified for the finals of the Asia Cup and will face off against each other on Sunday in the summit clash.

The two teams will also play on Friday, a dead rubber, in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Sep 9 (IANS) Proud wife Anushka Sharma has promised her star cricketer husband Virat Kohli, who completed his 71st century in international cricket on Thursday in the Asia Cup 2022, that she is "forever" with him "through any and everything."

Anushka took to Instagram, where she posted a slew of pictures of Virat from the match.

She wrote: "Forever with you through any and everything (heart and infinity emojis)."

Replying to the post, Virat dropped red-heart emojis.

Virat Kohli ended his drought of not scoring a century in international cricket for 1020 days with a sensational career-best 122 off just 61 balls to power India to 212/2 against Afghanistan in a dead-rubber of Super Four stage in Asia Cup 2022 at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.

Anushka on the acting front, will next appear in 'Chakda Xpress', directed by Prosit Roy.

--IANS
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By Mukesh Sharma
Doha, Sep 9 (IANS) Ticket holders to FIFA World Cup Qatar matches will be able to bring in three family members or friends who do not own tickets, on the basis of the Hayya card, a mandatory document to enter stadiums, organisers said in Doha on Thursday.


The Director General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Yasir Al Jamal, told a press conference: "We are only weeks away from the biggest sporting event ever to be held in our country and region. We are delighted with ticket sales so far and look forward to welcoming fans from across the globe for a celebration of the beautiful game. Fans will experience Qatar's warm hospitality while they enjoy exciting action on the pitch and numerous entertainment options off it. This will truly be a World Cup to remember - and a game-changer for Qatar, the Middle East and Arab world."

More than 2.45 million tickets have already been sold for the tournament and the next phase of sale begins later this month with over-the-counter sales set to begin later. More than 500,000 tickets were snapped up during the most recent sales phase in July and August.

It will be the first edition of the tournament to be held in the Middle East and Arab world - and excitement across the region is palpable. Qatar is set to host the most compact edition of the tournament in modern history. Fans, players and officials will always be in the thick of the action - with the longest distance between stadiums just 75 km.

Organisers said that during the tournament, ticketed fans will be able to invite up to three non-ticketed fans to Qatar, with a minimal entry charge for non-ticketed persons aged 12 and over. This feature will be launched together with the Last-Minute Ticket Sales period.

Nasser Al Khater, CEO, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, said: "Thanks to the compact nature of this tournament, fans will never be far from a stadium or activation. They will also - uniquely in the modern history of the tournament - have the chance to attend more than one match per day during the early stages of the event. Fans and players will love our state-of-the-art stadiums, including the FIFA Fan Festival, which will cater to thousands of fans at the beautiful Al Bidda Park."

*Key information for fans attending the World Cup in Qatar-

Hayya

Fans travelling to Qatar for the tournament, which will take place from 20 November to 18 December, must apply for the mandatory Hayya Card. All ticket holders (both residents and visitors) must obtain Hayya in order to attend matches. Hayyawill also act as an entry permit to Qatar for international fans.

Accommodation

Organisers have reminded fans to book their accommodation as soon as possible. The widest range of options, including cruise ship cabins, apartments, villas, hotels and fan villages, are available to book via the Qatar Accommodation Agency (QAA). Prices start from $ 80 per night, based on two-person occupancy.

From next week, the QAA will contain a third-party booking feature, which will allow fans to successfully apply for Hayyaafter booking accommodation from a source other than the QAA or staying with family/friends.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) The Road Safety World Series announced recently will feature legends from India, New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh, and England.

Among the legends who will play for India is Sachin Tendulkar, who is the captain of the Indian team. Others include Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan. The league announced the addition of Harbhajan Singh.

In his first appearance in a tournament after playing in the IPL, Harbhajan Singh stated, "Road safety is the cause I am playing for and I am fully devoted to creating awareness for saving lives. I'm looking forward to playing with Sachin, Yuvraj and Irfan Pathan, and others in the team."

The RSWS is supported by the Government of India's Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Information and Technology, and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.


--IANS
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Dubai, Sep 8 (IANS) Pacer Deepak Chahar on Thursday was officially named as fellow fast bowler Avesh Khan's replacement in India's Asia Cup squad ahead of their final Super Four match against Afghanistan at the Dubai International Stadium.

Avesh was earlier ruled out of India's Super Four match against Pakistan on Sunday after complaining of illness. India head coach Rahul Dravid had expected him to be available for later matches in the tournament. Avesh had also missed India's Super Four match against Sri Lanka.

"The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Deepak Chahar as replacement for Avesh Khan for Team India's final fixture of the Asia Cup 2022. Avesh Khan is recovering from an illness and has been advised rest by the BCCI Medical Team," said the BCCI in an official update.

Chahar was named as one of the standbys in the squad and had travelled to Dubai with the Indian team for the tournament, where he was seen putting the hard yards in practice sessions.

Chahar made a comeback to international cricket after a gap of six months caused by quadriceps tear and then a back injury, with India's ODI tour of Zimbabwe in August. He featured two of the three matches, picking five wickets, including 3/27 in his comeback match at Harare.

Avesh featured in both of India's Group A matches in Asia Cup 2022 but proved expensive and far from impressive. He conceded 72 runs across six overs in the two matches he was a part of playing eleven, including 1/53 in the 40-run victory over Hong Kong.

With India unable to make the Asia Cup 2022 final after Pakistan got a breath-taking one-wicket win over Afghanistan on Wednesday, Thursday's match against Afghanistan in Dubai will be their final match of the tournament.

India will next be seen in action during a three-match series at home against reigning Men's T20 World Cup champions Australia, starting from September 20 in Mohali.



--IANS

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Mumbai, Sep 8 (IANS) The high-octane marquee clash between India and Pakistan on August 28 in Group A of Asia Cup 2022 has become the most watched T20I ever, outside of World Cups.

The viewership numbers further said that 176 million viewers tuned in to watch the first six games of Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE.

As per the BARC data combining the urban and rural numbers seen from Star Sports and DD Sports broadcast in the country, the India-Pakistan league match in Asia Cup 2022 recorded a cumulative reach of 133 million and registered 13.6 billion minutes, registering a growth of almost 30 per cent compared to the match between these two teams in Asia Cup 2016.

In Sunday's marquee clash against Pakistan in Group A of Asia Cup 2022, dubbed as the greatest rivalry in world cricket, Hardik Pandya's all-round skills were the driving force behind India sealing a five-wicket win in an engrossing match.

With the ball, Pandya used his short ball to good effect and got extra bounce as well on a two-paced pitch to break Pakistan's innings mid-way with his spell of 3-25. Then, after Pakistan were bowled out for 147, India were in a scenario where 59 runs were needed off the last six overs.

From there, Pandya (33 not out off 17 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (35 off 29 balls) shared a stand of 52 runs off just 29 balls. Even though the left-handed Jadeja fell in the final over, Pandya finished off things with a six over long-on off left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz to take India over the line and add another thrilling chapter in the history of India-Pakistan clashes.

"The record-breaking viewership for Asia Cup 2022 demonstrates Cricket's unparalleled power to aggregate fans across platforms, enhanced by Disney Star's focus on audience expansion. We were focused on elevating the stature of Asia Cup as a marquee tournament and expanding the appeal of Ind vs Pak as the unmissable 'Greatest Rivalry'."

"Our high decibel marketing campaign combined with focus on lead-up programming and regional coverage has resulted in the Ind vs Pak league match becoming the highest rated T20I ever (outside of World Cup matches). This is an ideal start to the festival of Cricket which entails bilateral series vs Australia & South Africa and is followed by the ICC T20 World Cup," said Sanjog Gupta, Head - Sports, Disney Star.

With India unable to make the Asia Cup 2022 final after Pakistan got a breath-taking one-wicket win over Afghanistan on Wednesday, Thursday's match against Afghanistan in Dubai will be their final match of the tournament.

India's next home series will be against reigning Men's T20 World Cup champions Australia in a three-match series, starting from September 20 in Mohali.


--IANS
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Sharjah, Sep 8 (IANS) After a close loss to Pakistan in the Asia Cup, Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi admitted that his team didn't hold the nerves and wasn't able to finish well, adding that they didn't leave the game at any stage.

Pakistan survived a scare and held their nerves to beat Afghanistan by one wicket in a thrilling Super Four match to reach the final of the Asia Cup 2022 and knock India out of the tournament at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

After this win, Pakistan will now face Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup. On the other hand, it was curtains for Afghanistan and India - as both teams lost their two consecutive Super Four matches and will now face each other in a dead rubber on Thursday.

"Yes the bowling and the fielding was brilliant, but we didn't finish well and we didn't hold our nerves. We didn't leave the game at any stage.The boys fought on every ball. Again, it was the end, both with the bat and with the ball," said Nabi at the post-match presentation.

As per Afghan skipper, he knew that chasing 130 wasn't going to be easy on that pitch.

"We thought that we chased well against Bangladesh. We knew it would be tough chasing 130 here, and that's why we looked to bowl dot balls. We didn't give easy singles," he said.

Fazalhaq Farooqi, Afghanistan's most impressive bowler of the night before the start of the last over, crumbled under pressure as Naseem Shah hit back to back sixes off the first two balls and led Pakistan to a thrilling one wicket win, with four balls to spare.

Asked about the plan on the last two deliveries, Nabi said he suggested the bowler to use either slower bouncers or yorkers.

"The plan on the last two deliveries was to bowl slower bouncers or bowl yorkers, but he (Farooqi) didn't execute his plans. We will try our best to play the last game with the same energy. We have a game tomorrow now. Thanks for the support, it was lovely from the fans here," he said.


--IANS
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New York, Sep 6 (IANS) No. 8 seed American Jessica Pegula won six games in a row in the second set to beat two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in straight sets and storm into the women's singles quarterfinals at the Arthur Ashe Stadium here on Monday.

Down 0-2 in the second set after winning the first easily. Pegula stormed back to take control of the match and won six games in a row in their fourth-round clash halted once by rain on Monday.

The 28-year-old American won the match 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 13 minutes to make the quarterfinals for the first time in the US Open.

Pegula capitalised on her solid returns -- 27/44 points won on return (61 percent) as compared to Kvitova who claimed 22/53 points (42 percent). She also made fewer unforced errors -- 13 as against 24 by Kvitova and won six of the seven break points that ame her way whereas Kvitova could manage to win only two of the six chances she bagged. Though Kvitova had 18 winners as against seven by her American opponent, the 32-year-old from Czech Republic served five double faults to none by Pegula.

Pegula, who had reached the quarterfinals both at the Australian Open and at Roland Garros, lost in the third round at Wimbledon.

Coco Gauff and Caroline Garcia had advanced to their first US Open quarterfinals on Sunday.


--IANS

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Mumbai, Sep 5 (IANS) India's fastest female ice speed-skater, Shruti Kotwal has emphasized on the importance of maintaining a healthy mental balance for women in sports.

Shruti, who is currently training in the United States for the upcoming Dessert Classic and America Cup, said the championships are scheduled to be held later this month and athletes from all over the world are training physically and mentally to win a place on the podium in their respective categories.

Shruti, who moved out of the comfort of her home in India early in life to get access to world-class training facilities and faced challenges like homesickness, loneliness, and culture shocks, said besides physical training and nutrition, there is an equal need to keep one's mental health in check, informed a release on Monday.

Commenting on this aspect of a sportsperson, especially a woman's life, Shruti said, "Mental health is as important as physical health. Lack of knowledge and not having enough awareness about mental health in my younger days hampered my physical health too and naturally affected my performance."

"Now I take care of my mental health by trying to maintain a balance between my personal and professional life. Taking breaks to recharge and regularly do little things in my day-to-day life like pursuing stress-busting hobbies. Trying to have a little social life and making friends outside the world of sports can be restful and a good change for the mind," she said.

"A healthy balance between work and life will increase the shelf life of an athlete! Enjoying the sport sounds cliché but it is imperative," Shruti added.

Shruti has consciously inculcated yoga and breathing exercises in her schedule. "In ice speed-skating, you are racing against the clock. You are trying to beat your own timing so your biggest competitor is yourself. Getting faster with each race means getting better timing and that is a personal accomplishment each time you get a personal best. This can take a toll on the minds of a lot of athletes and they end up living in a lot of anxiety and nervousness most of the time," she said.

She added, "I try to incorporate yoga into my week as and when I get time. It helps relax my mind as well as my body. If I am exhausted after really hard workouts, I ensure practicing breathing exercises and meditation to calm down and increase my lung capacity."


--IANS
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