14-time Olympic medalist Emma McKeon retires from swimming
SYDNEY, Nov 25: Emma McKeon, Australia’s most decorated Olympian, announced her retirement from competitive swimming on Monday.McKeon holds the Australian record of 14 Olympic medals – six of them gold – won over three Summer Olympics, while her seven-medal haul at Tokyo 2020 is the most ever by a female swimmer at a single Games and equal most for any female athlete from any sport at a single Olympics.The 30-year-old McKeon had previously hinted that the 2024 Paris Games – where she won gold in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay – would be her final Olympics, but she had not said whether she would continue to swim competitively.“I am proud of myself for giving my swimming career absolutely everything, both physically and mentally. I wanted to see what I was capable of, and I did,” McKeon said on social media.“Swimming has given me so much. From the dream igniting at 5 years old, right through to my third Olympic games – I have so many lessons, experiences, friendships and memories that I am so thankful for.” McKeon’s 14 medals came across the Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games, with six Olympic gold, three silver and five bronze.She’s second only to Katie Ledecky in terms of Olympic swimming gold medals won. The American has won nine across four Olympics in her tally of 14. (PTI)
Hockey great Ashok Kumar suffers heart attack, condition stable
NEW DELHI, Nov 25: Former India hockey player and son of legendary Major Dhyan Chand, Ashok Kumar suffered a heart attack after being hospitalised here for discomfort in chest but is now stable and out of danger, sources in his family said on Monday.The 74-year-old will undergo an angioplasty later on Monday.“He (Ashok Kumar) felt discomfort in chest yesterday (Sunday) evening. He was then taken to Escorts Hospital where angiography was performed. The angiography results showed there were a few blockages. The doctors will implant stents today,” family sources said.“He is out of danger and in a stable condition.” The former inside-right player, who was known for his ball control, was a member of the Indian team that won the 1975 World Cup under Ajit Pal Singh. He was also a member of Indian team that won a bronze medal in the 1972 Munich Olympics.He became a recipient of the Arjuna Award in 1974 and, in 1975, scored the winning goal against Pakistan to achieve India’s only win in the World Cup. Kumar was awarded the Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year. (PTI)
Ivory Coast skittled for seven in lowest men’s T20I score
LAGOS, Nov 25: Ivory Coast have achieved an ignominious milestone by posting the lowest-ever total in men’s T20Is after they were dismissed for just seven runs in their ICC T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier Group C match against Nigeria.In response to Nigeria’s 271 for 4 after the hosts elected to bat, Ivory Coast folded in 7.3 overs on Sunday to also record the first instance of a single-digit team total in a men’s T20I.The previous record for the lowest T20I total was 10, a mark that had been set twice — during the Mongolia vs Singapore match two months ago, and also when the Isle of Man took on Spain last year.Batting first, the hosts looked in command as they put up a 250 plus score with opener Selim Salau playing a laudable knock of 112 before retiring out.He was also supported by his opening partner Sulaimon Runsewe (50), while Isaac Okpe later played a cameo of a 23-ball unbeaten 65.In response, the visitors managed to bat only until the eighth over, with opener OK Mohamed being the top scorer for his side, having made 4 runs off 6 balls.For Nigeria, Isaac Danladi and Prosper Useni claimed three wickets each, with Peter Aho bagging a couple and Sylvester Okpe scalping one.Nigeria thus secured a commanding 264-run victory, marking the third-largest margin of victory in T20I history. This win follows Nepal’s 273-run triumph over Mongolia and Zimbabwe’s 290-run defeat of Gambia last month.Meanwhile, Nigeria stays atop its group table, victorious in both matches so far, while Ivory Coast is placed at the bottom of the six-team table. (PTI)