Life-size statue of Tendulkar to come up at Wankhede
MUMBAI, Feb 28: In his own words, life has come full circle for Sachin Tendulkar, who is set to be honoured with a life-size statue at the Wankhede Stadium, the place where it all began for him.The cricket icon’s journey started here under childhood coach Ramakant Achrekar, and it was at this very venue that he won the World Cup with India in 2011.He also bid adieu to cricket at the same ground, by playing in his landmark 200th Test against the West Indies in 2013.The statue is expected to be unveiled when he turns 50 on April 24.“I started my cricketing journey representing Mumbai. India winning the World Cup in 2011 remains the biggest moment in my life. My last match representing India, was very memorable, and that happened in Mumbai as well,” Tendulkar told PTI.“Life has come a full circle for me at Wankhede, which has been witness to some very special moments. When the Mumbai Cricket Association suggested about my statue at Wankhede, I was pleasantly surprised.“I’ve always taken a lot of pride in representing Mumbai cricket, and my wonderful association with the MCA continues today as well. I’m very grateful to them for this kind of gesture,” he added.The announcement was earlier done by Mumbai Cricket Association president Amol Kale on the sidelines of Tendulkar’s visit to the Wankhede on Tuesday. (PTI)
Officials probe rape accusation against Hakimi
PARIS, Feb 28: French prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into a rape accusation against Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, a judicial official said on Monday.The investigation is being led by the prosecutor’s office in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, the official said.The official would not provide details about the accusation or comment on media reports about what allegedly happened. The official was not authorized to be publicly named speaking about an ongoing investigation.PSG officials did not respond to requests for comment, and Hakimi has not publicly responded to the accusation. (PTI)
Argentina extend Scaloni’s contract to 2026 WC
BUENOS AIRES, Feb 28: World Cup winner Lionel Scaloni will remain as coach of Argentina to the end of the 2026 World Cup.The Argentine Football Association and Scaloni confirmed the deal on Monday. They didn’t elaborate.The 44-year-old Scaloni and AFA president Claudio Tapia met in Paris before the FIFA awards late Monday, when Scaloni was named men’s world coach of the year.“When trust is high, communication is clear and effective,” Tapia said on Twitter in a post with himself and Scaloni smiling and drinking tea in the French capital. “We continue to trust our project of national teams to Lionel Scaloni, the World Cup winning coach.” Scaloni’s contract expired after Argentina won the World Cup in Qatar on Dec. 18. Long negotiations followed. (PTI)
Rublev wins opening match of Dubai title defence
DUBAI, Feb 28: Andrey Rublev began his Dubai Championships title defence by spoiling Filip Krajinovic’s birthday when he won 7-5, 6-2.Krajinovic, who turned 31, raced 5-2 ahead on Monday. The second-seeded Rublev then reeled off 11 of the next 13 games.Rublev next faces Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who beat Malek Jaziri in straight sets in the Tunisian’s last pro match.Also, Alexander Zverev beat Jiri Lehecka 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.Lehecka won their first matchup in January in Sydney, and beat Rublev in Doha last week before blowing five match points against Andy Murray.Zverev is still waiting to win consecutive matches this year in hiscomeback from an ankle injury. (PTI)
Chelsea’s Silva suffers knee ligament damage
LONDON, Feb 28: Chelsea centre-back Thiago Silva has suffered damage to his knee ligaments, the club have confirmed.Silva was substituted after just 19 minutes in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Tottenham.The Blues did not commit to a timeframe of recovery, though reports have suggested the 38-year-old Brazilian could be absent for up to six weeks.“Having sustained a knee injury during the first half of Sunday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur, Thiago underwent further assessment and a scan on his return to the training centre on Monday,” a club statement read. (Agencies)
Lewandowski set to miss Copa ‘clasico’ because of strain
BARCELONA, Feb 28: Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has a hamstring strain and is likely to miss the “clasico” against Real Madrid in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey on Thursday.Lewandowski picked up the left-leg injury in Barcelona’s 1-0 loss at Almeria in the Spanish league on Sunday, a result that allowed Madrid to cut the Catalan club’s lead to seven points.Barcelona did not give a timetable for Lewandowski’s recovery, but he is not expected to be fit for the first leg of the Copa semifinals at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.Barcelona will face Madrid two more times in the next few weeks, in the second leg of the Copa semifinals and in the Spanish league.(AP)
Toor, Karanveer key attractions in national throws competition
BENGALURU, Feb 28: National record-holder shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Karanveer Singh and triple jumper Eldhose Paul will be the star attractions in the second AFI National Throws Competition, beginning here from Wednesday.Toor and Karanveer claimed the gold and silver medals, respectively, in the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Nur-Sultan earlier this month, and will fancy their chances of winning at the Inspire Institute of Sports.The tournament will mark the beginning of the outdoor season, which includes the World Athletics Championships and the Asian Games, and the 28-year-old Toor will be hoping to hit peak form before heading to these marquee events.Toor leads the all-time Indian shot put list with 21.49m, which he set in Patiala in June 2021, while Karanveer will want to rise from the eighth spot, which he achieved with 20.10m in Bengaluru last year. The field in triple jump promises to make it the most hotly-contested of the 16 events. (PTI)