Ishaan-Tanisha advance to Round 2 of Taipei Open
Taipei, July 19: India’s mixed doubles pair of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto advanced to the second round of the Taipei Open 2022 badminton championship after beating the Israeli pair of Misha Zilberman and Svetlana Zilberman here, on Tuesday. The Indian duo, 47th in the badminton world rankings, registered a formidable 21-15, 21-8 win over the world No. 95 Israeli pair of Misha Zilberman and Svetlana Zilberman. Saina Nehwal, seeded fourth in the women’s singles, withdrew from the event. (IANS)
Naomi Osaka gets wild card entry for San Jose event
San Jose (California), July 19: Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka will play her first event since the French Open when she competes at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose, California early next month. The four-time major champion has received a wild card into a field that includes Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, world No.5 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, American teenager Coco Gauff and 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu. The Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic begins on August 1 at San Jose State University. With her wild-card entry, Osaka is set to return to where it all began. Osaka made her WTA main-draw debut at the tournament in 2014 when the event was held at Stanford University. (IANS)
Los Angeles Summer Olympics 2028 dates announced
Los Angeles, July 19: The Opening Ceremony of the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympic Games is set for July 14, 2028, with the Games running through July 30, organisers of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic events announced on Monday. In addition, the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games will kick off August 15, 2028, and close August 27, said LA28, the Los Angeles Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028. Organisers said the LA28 Games will use existing world-class stadiums and sports venues across the Los Angeles region, ensuring a sustainable and fiscally responsible event. The LA28 Games will feature over 3,000 hours of live sport across 800 events in more than 40 sports. 15,000 athletes are expected to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. (IANS)
Asian Games to take place in Hangzhou from Sept 23, 2023
Beijing, July 19: The 2022 Asian Games, which were postponed due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation in China, will now take place in Hangzhou from September 23 to October 8, 2023. The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) took the decision on the new dates on Tuesday in Kuwait. The OCA said it is looking forward to celebrating the “best Asian Games ever in Hangzhou in September 2023.” Interestingly, the 2024 Paris Olympic Games will take place less than 10 months after the Asian Games. (IANS)
Dortmund striker Sébastien Haller out after tumor found
Bad Ragaz (Switzerland), July 19: Borussia Dortmund striker Sébastien Haller has a testicular tumor and has left his new club’s preseason training camp, Dortmund said. Dortmund said the 28-year-old Ivory Coast international complained of feeling unwell at training on Monday and the tumor was found during a medical examination. “This news today came as a shock to Sebastien Haller and everyone else,” sporting director Sebastian Kehl said in a statement. “The entire (Dortmund) family hopes that Sebastien makes a full recovery as soon as possible and that we can give him a hug again soon. We’ll do everything in our power to ensure that he receives the best possible treatment.” (AP)
Lewandowski passes medical, set for Barcelona journey
MIAMI, July 19: Robert Lewandowski passed his medical on Monday and said he’s ready to help put Barcelona back at the top in European football. The striker was set to sign his contract and be officially introduced by Barcelona in Miami on Tuesday ahead of the team’s US tour. “It was very easy to decide to come to Barça,” the Poland player said after joining his teammates in Florida. “Barça is back. I think I can help to put the team back at the top of European football.” Barcelona this weekend reached an agreement with Bayern Munich to acquire Lewandowski in a deal expected to reach nearly 50 million euros ($50.5 million). (AP)
Ibrahimović to keep playing for Milan until the age of 41
MILAN, July 19: Zlatan Ibrahimović will still be playing for AC Milan when he’s 41 after renewing his contract for another year, giving the forward another tilt at the Champions League. Ibrahimović missed large portions of Milan’s Serie A-winning campaign with injury and won’t even be able to return to the field until the end of the year – two months after his 41st birthday – after undergoing knee surgery in May. Milan released a brief statement on Monday announcing that Ibrahimović’s contract was renewed to June 30, 2023. “In life you must always want to do more,” Ibrahimović said. “One who is satisfied lies on the sofa and relaxes. “I do not want this. I want to stand on my toes and walk on fire. Because like this I feel alive.” (AP)
Oly champ Hanyu of Japan to retire from competitive skating
Tokyo, July 19: Two-time Olympic gold-medal figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu is expected to step away from competitive figure skating. He was expected to confirm his plans late on Tuesday at a news conference in Tokyo. His management company announced the event but did not confirm more details. Japan’s Kyodo news agency cited unnamed sources “close to the matter” in reporting Hanyu’s decision. He won back-to-back gold medals in 2014 in Sochi and in 2018 in Pyeongchang. (AP)