Sumit Nagal attains career-high ATP ranking of 95
LONDON, April 1: Ace Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal on Monday achieved a career-high ranking of 95 in the ATP singles chart, following impressive results in recent times.His previous best was 97 in February, which he had attained after winning the Chennai Open, an ATP Challenger series event.Nagal made headlines in January after he made it to the main draw of the Australian Open and also became the first Indian to beat a seeded player (AlexanderBublik of Kazakhstan) in the same before bowing out in the second round after losing to Shang Juncheng of China.After his Chennai Open triumph, he played two more Challenger tournaments, along with an ATP 500 competition (Dubai Championship) and a couple of ATP 1000 Masters (Indian Wells and Miami). But, his best performance at this time was restricted to a semi-final finish in the Bengaluru Challenger.Currently, Nagal is preparing for Grand Prix Hassan II, an ATP 250 event in Marrakesh, Morocco, where he will be taking on Corentin Moutet of France in the opening round. (PTI)
Premier League club Everton announce $112M losses
LIVERPOOL, April 1: Everton reported losses of 89.1 million pounds ($112.5 million) in its latest accounts.Its losses for the 2022-23 season went up from 44.7 million pounds in the previous campaign.The Merseyside club was docked six points earlier this season for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules and is waiting to learn if it will face more punishment for further breaches. Everton is 16th in the 20-team EPL, three points above the relegation zone.In a statement Everton pointed to the “indefinite suspension of key commercial partnerships” as a factor in the accounts.In 2022 Everton halted its major sponsorship with companies belonging to Alisher Usmanov, the Russian metals tycoon who has been sanctioned by the European Union. The move came in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The latest losses came despite Everton’s accounts showing it made 47.5 million pounds ($60 million) profit on player transfers.Net debt increased to 330.6 million pounds ($417 million) because of “significant investment” in a new stadium, Everton said.Turnover was 172.2 million pounds. (PTI)
Man United-supported five-a-side event to be played in India
CHENNAI, April 1: The second edition of ‘Road to Old Trafford’, a five-a-side football competition, supported by English football giant Manchester United, will be held across India, with the Chennai leg to be held on April 6.Footballers will earn themselves a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Manchester, England, for an all-expenses paid trip and play at United’s home ground in Old Trafford, a press release said here on Monday.The grand finale of the event will also happen at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ (United’s Old Trafford home ground) on May 31.The second edition has a bigger format, with the initial round happening in six cities – Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Kochi, the release said.The city leg winners will face off in the national finale, also being played here on Sunday (April 7).The previous edition of the tournament (in 2023) was won by Mumbai-based Kalina Rangers, also the champion of the competition’s India leg.‘Road to Old Trafford’ initiative by Apollo Tyres is supported by Manchester United. (PTI)
