Dipa Karmakar shines in national gymnastics
BHUBANESHWAR, Jan 4: Olympian Dipa Karmakar topped the all-around performance with a total of 49.55 points as she hogged the limelight on day 2 of the Senior Artistic Gymnastics National Championship 2024.Railways emerged champions in the women’s team category with 182.60 points.Maharashtra finished in second position with 169.95, while West Bengal finished third with 166.80 points in the women’s category on the second day at the Gymnastics Centre in Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar. The hosts Odisha finished fourth with 164.65 points. Dipa, who is representing Tripura, cumulated a total of 49.55. She recorded 13.40 on Vault, 10.65 on Uneven Bars, 13.10 on Balance Beam and 12.40 on Floor Exercise. Expressing her delight at topping the all-around category, Dipa stated, “I’m competing in Senior Nationals after eight years, I feel great about it, and I am really happy with my today’s performance. I’ll try to do well tomorrow as well, there will be competition on individual apparatus.”“It’s really great to see the Gymnastics Centre here, and I’m sure it will produce a lot of Olympic and Asian Games Gymnasts. I would also like to thank the Odisha Government for building this Centre and creating that sports culture for the athletes.” Railways’ Pranati Das (47.00) and Swastika Ganguly (45.30) finished second and third positions respectively in the all-around. Pranati recorded 12.80 on Vault, 10.60 on Uneven Bars, 11.50 on Balance Beam and 12.10 on Floor Exercise, while her teammate Swastika bagged 12.80 on Vault, 9.15 on Uneven Bars, 11.70 on Balance Beam and 11.65 on Floor Exercise. (IANS)
Man United return on-loan Reguilon to Spurs
MANCHESTER, Jan 4: Manchester United ended its loan deal for Tottenham defender Sergio Reguilon on Thursday.The Spanish left back moved to Old Trafford in August on a season-long loan. But United has exercised a break clause in the contract and Reguilon will return to Spurs.“With fewer games in the second half of the season and injured players returning, there will be less opportunity for Sergio to play,” United said. “It was decided it was in the best interests of all parties for Reguilon to return to Spurs.” The 27-year-old Reguilon was signed to cover injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia at the start of the season. He made 12 appearances in all competitions.Shaw has since returned and Malacia is close to recovery. (PTI)
Ivan Hasek returns as Czech Republic football coach
PRAGUE, Jan 4: Ivan Hasek was appointed as the Czech Republic’s new coach for the European Championship on Thursday.Hasek was hired to November 2025 with an option to extend his contract to the 2026 World Cup if the team qualifies, said Petr Fousek, the Czech Football Association head.“It’s a great honor for me,” Hasek said.He returns as coach after taking charge for five games in 2009-10.Hasek, aged 60, replaces Jaroslav Silhavý, who resigned on Nov. 20 after the final game in Euro 2024 qualifying, a 3-0 victory over Moldova. The result secured an eighth straight qualification for the Euros for the Czechs.Silhavý took over as coach in 2018 but was under fire for the team’s poor performances in qualifying. The Czechs completed Group E in second place behind Albania.Under Silhavý, the Czechs reached the quarterfinals of the 2020 European Championship.Hasek was a midfielder who played 56 times for the Czechs from 1984-94. He coached in France, Japan and the Middle East. His last job was managing Lebanon until 2022. “He was coaching abroad for a long time, which is a bonus,” Fousek said. The Czechs open Euro 2024 in Germany on June 18 against Portugal in Leipzig before facing Turkey and a team from the playoffs, which will be known in March, in Group F. (PTI)