CWG gold-winning boxer Manoj Kumar retires to take up coaching
NEW DELHI, Jan 30: Former Commonwealth Games gold-winning boxer Manoj Kumar, who dominated the light welterweight (64kg) division in India at his prime, announced his retirement on Thursday to begin a career in coaching.The 39-year-old, who won his first and only CWG gold in the 2010 Delhi Games, is also a two-time Asian Championships bronze-medallist. His second and last CWG medal, a bronze, came in the 2018 Gold Coast Games.He is also a two-time Olympian, having competed in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, finishing as a pre-quarterfinalist in both editions.“It’s a carefully thought out decision because once I turn 40, I can anyway not compete in amateur events as per international rules. I am retiring as a content man after representing my country to the best of my ability,” Manoj, who hails from Kaithal in Haryana, told PTI.“I have just gratitude for the opportunities I got,” he added.Injuries and a dispute with the national federation on selection issues hampered his India career after the Gold Coast games and he was not seen in any international event after that.He now intends to devote time to his academy that he set up with elder brother and long-time personal coach Rajesh Kumar in Kurukshetra. (PTI)
Raducanu gets wildcard for Abu Dhabi Open qualifiers
ABU DHABI, Jan 30: British tennis star Emma Raducanu receiving a wildcard for the preliminary stage of the Abu Dhabi Open and is set to enter a qualifying draw for the first time since her historic 2021 US Open victory.The 22-year-old, who became the first qualifier in history to win a Grand Slam, will begin her campaign on Saturday when qualifying for the WTA 500 event begins.Raducanu, currently ranked world number 56, is looking to regain momentum after a mixed start to her 2024 season. She reached the third round of the Australian Open but suffered a tough three-hour first-round loss to Cristina Bucsa at the Singapore Open earlier this week.Now, she faces another test in Abu Dhabi, featuring many of the world’s best female players. Elena Rybakina will defend her title, while Bencic plays in Abu Dhabi for the first time since winning the inaugural event in 2023.The field also includes Kasatkina, Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, Spain’s Paula Badosa, and Tunisia’s Jabeur, who is expected to receive strong support from local fans.Adding to her challenges, Raducanu is entering the tournament without a full-time coach following Nick Cavaday’s departure due to health reasons. She is currently traveling with fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura but has yet to announce a new coaching appointment.Since her stunning victory in New York four years ago, where she won ten consecutive matches—including three in qualifying—without dropping a set, Raducanu has experienced fluctuating form and injuries. (IANS)
Former Wimbledon star Maria Tatjana to headline Mumbai Open
MUMBAI, Jan 30: Former Wimbledon semifinalist and World No. 73 Maria Tatjana will headline the main draw of the fourth edition of the Mumbai Open WTA Tour event, which was launched at the iconic Cricket Club of India (CCI), here on Thursday. The WTA 125 tournament, will commence on February 1 with the qualifying rounds, while the main draw of the event will begin on February 3 with the final scheduled for February 9.Some of the most talented players from across the globe will battle it out for top honours in the event, whilst the Indian contingent has been given wild cards for the Mumbai Open.The main draw will be headlined by Tatjana Maria, who is ranked 73 in the world and will be looking to clinch her fourth singles title in her career. The right-handed Tatjana, who has achieved a career-high ranking of 42, reached a Wimbledon semifinal as the sixth female player in the Open Era over the age of 34 in 2022. Also in the fray will be defending champion Latvian Darja Semenistaja and one of the brightest young players in the game. (IANS)