NEW DELHI: India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra predictably won gold in his first competition at home in three years, but he refused to read too much into his below-par 82.27 meter throw as he prepares to defend his Olympic title in Paris.
Chopra began his season with a second place finish at the Diamond League meeting in Doha on Friday and immediately dashed home to compete in the Federation Cup in the east Indian city of Bhubaneswar.
Chopra sealed top of the podium with his forth attempt and did not take the final two throws in his first home event since winning India’s first athletics gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
“I came here after competing in Doha and there was not much recovery time,” Chopra told reporters on Wednesday.
“I competed in this kind of weather after a while. I was not feeling that good ... so I decided to stop after four throws.”
“Let’s not talk about the throw, it was not up to the mark. This one is not my consistent type of throw.”
Asked about his chances of hitting the 90-meter mark, Chopra, who has a personal best of 89.94 meters, said it would come at the right time and at the right place.
The 26-year-old was the center of attention at the home meet.
He did not start the press conference until another event was over, and hung around later to greet fellow athletes and enquire about their training and oblige selfie-seekers.
“It felt great to compete in India after a long time with so many people turning up to support me,” he said.
Chopra is scheduled to compete in the Czech Republic and Finland before defending his Olympic title in Paris.
“It’s going to be really tough competition in Paris,” he said.
“In Doha too, the competition was intense. I have a couple of more events before the Olympics, and will try to throw better.”
India’s Chopra picks up javelin gold in home appearance
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India’s Chopra picks up javelin gold in home appearance
- Chopra began his season with a second-place finish at Diamond League meeting in Doha on Friday
- Chopra scheduled to compete in Czech Republic and Finland before defending Olympic title in Paris
Cappellini plots Team Abu Dhabi fightback in Italy
- Racing legend says Al-Qemzi, Comparato are in the mood to start recovery in Sardinia
SARDINIA: Team Abu Dhabi manager Guido Cappellini says multiple world titlists Thani Al-Qemzi and Alberto Comparato are ready to launch a fightback at this weekend’s Regione Sardegna Grand Prix of Italy.
Cappellini believes three days of testing in San Nazzaro, in similar conditions to those that lie ahead in Olbia, have put veteran Al-Qemzi and young Italian teammate Comparato in the mood to recover from a difficult start to the 2024 UIM F1H2O World Championship.
“We’ve been working hard to make sure that we get better results in round three,” said the Italian racing legend, who has guided Team Abu Dhabi to 17 world championship titles since taking charge in 2015.
“Thani won in Sardinia two years ago on a circuit which is demanding in a particular way, and we have tried to test in the same kind of conditions in San Nazzaro to increase his confidence. He is working well with Alberto, they are supporting each other, so we hope this will pay off.”
The F1H2O series returns after an 11-week break since round two in Vietnam.
The Victory Team’s Erik Stark holds an eight-point lead in the drivers’ title race from Team Vietnam’s defending world champions and rankings leaders Jonas Andersson and Estonia’s Stefan Arand.
Al-Qemzi has vast experience, having recorded 10 Grand Prix victories and 45 podium finishes since his debut in 2000.
The Emirati driver will be eager to give himself a fighting chance in Saturday’s qualifying sessions, after taking his career points haul in the championship past the 1,000 mark with a battling sixth-place finish in Vietnam.
Comparato is equally determined to reignite his first season with Team Abu Dhabi and will draw inspiration from 10-time world champion Cappellini who had great success in Sardinia and knows race conditions.
Japan beat US 2-0 in men’s Olympic football warmup match
- The US will open against hosts France on July 24, then meet New Zealand and Guinea
- Men’s Olympic soccer is limited to players under 23, with each team’s 18-man roster allowed three players over the age limit
KANSAS CITY, Kansas: The US head to their first men’s Olympic football tournament since 2008 off a performance they would rather forget.
Shota Fujio converted a penalty kick in the sixth minute, Mao Hosoya added a goal in the 69th and Japan won 2-0 in an under-23 game on Tuesday night in the Americans’ last warmup match.
“Since we started this process eight months ago, this was I would say the lowest performance by far that we had,” US coach Marko Mitrovic said. “I strongly believe that this group can do much better than they showed today.”
Japan were awarded the penalty kick when Koki Saito flicked the ball off the right arm of defender Bryan Reynolds at the edge of the penalty area. Fujio sent the penalty kick to Patrick Schulte’s right as the goalkeeper jumped to the left.
Japan scored their second goal after intercepting John Tolkin’s throw-in. Shunsuke Mito dribbled toward the goal and his pass deflected off defender Jonathan Tomkinson and Schulte, and Hosoya tapped in the rebound from 4 yards.
“Obviously, it wasn’t the game that we wanted to end kind of this journey on going into the Olympics,” said midfielder Paxten Aaronson, the younger brother of national team midfielder Brenden Aaronson. “The guys know that one game doesn’t define us.”
Japan midfielder Rihito Yamamoto was stretchered off in the 24th minute after getting hit flush in the face with a shot.
Schulte started in goal, with Reynolds at right back, Walker Zimmerman and Tomkinson in central defense and Caleb Wiley at left back. Tanner Tessmann, Aaronson, Duncan McGuire, Johan Gomez and Griffin Yow were in midfield and Taylor Booth headed the attack.
Midfielder Gianluca Busio didn’t play after hurting an ankle while playing for Venezia in their playoff against Cremonese on June 2, when they earned promotion to Serie A.
The US will open against hosts France on July 24, then meet New Zealand and Guinea. Japan play Paraguay, Mali and Israel.
Men’s Olympic football is limited to players under 23, with each team’s 18-man roster allowed three players over the age limit. The 31-year-old Zimmerman captained the US and was the only overage American player to dress.
Rosters of two goalkeepers and 16 outfield players must be submitted by July 3, and each team will designate up to four standbys, including one goalkeeper.
“The US has never brought home a medal and I think this team can do that,” Tessmann said.
Players spent part of their leadup to the match in a challenging experience.
“We did a lot of escape rooms, to be honest,” Aaronson said. “Walker was kind of the team leader in that. We completed all of them — all six. So, yeah, it was crazy: six in two days, so our brains were working.”
Celtics’ Porzingis has rare tendon issue in lower left leg, is questionable for Game 3 of NBA Finals
Celtics’ Porzingis has rare tendon issue in lower left leg, is questionable for Game 3 of NBA Finals
- The team said Tuesday that he was day-to-day, and Porzingis said he will do everything he can to play Wednesday night
- Porzingis was wearing slides instead of sneakers when he spoke with reporters before practice
DALLAS: Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t played a game in Dallas since the Mavericks traded him nearly 2 1/2 years ago, and now it is uncertain if he will play there in Game 3 of the NBA Finals for the Boston Celtics.
Porzingis has a rare tendon injury in his lower left leg, which occurred in the third quarter of Boston’s 105-98 victory for a 2-0 series lead. The team said Tuesday that he was day-to-day, and Porzingis said he will do everything he can to play Wednesday night.
Asked if it was a pain-tolerance issue or if he could do more damage, Porzingis said he didn’t know the specifics.
“That’s something I’ll leave in the medical staff’s hands to determine whether I can go or not,” he said. “Nothing is going to stop me unless I’m told I’m not to, or not allowed to play. That’s the only reason I would not be out there.”
The 7-foot-2 Latvian center has a tear in tissue that holds tendons in place. The Celtics said it was unrelated to the right calf strain that sidelined him for 10 consecutive playoff games before he returned last Thursday for the start of the NBA Finals.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla described it as a “serious injury” and said the team wouldn’t put Porzingis in any bad situations. Porzingis is listed as questionable.
“We’ve taken the decision to play out of his hands because the importance of him,” Mazzulla said. “He’s going to do everything he can to play. We’re going to leave it up to our medical team. That’s really it.”
Porzingis was wearing slides instead of sneakers when he spoke with reporters before practice. He walked with a slight limp and had a black sleeve covering his lower left leg on the off day.
Without elaborating, he said he was having treatment all day and doing whatever the medical staff told him. He wasn’t on the court for the open portion of practice.
“I can’t trick them into allowing me to play,” he said.
Porzingis said he felt something after bumping knees Sunday night with Dallas center Dereck Lively II but kept playing. He left the game in the final minute of the third quarter and played only about 3 1/2 minutes in the fourth.
After the game, Porzingis downplayed any injury concern, saying he was optimistic and would “die out there if we need.”
On Tuesday, he said, “I’m living by those words. ... I mean I hope not, but if it comes to that to win, I guess.”
In his return during Game 1, his first career game beyond the first round, Porzingis jump-started the Celtics with 11 points and two blocks in the first quarter of the 107-89 win while finishing with 20 points, three blocks and six rebounds. He scored 12 points in 23 minutes of Game 2.
“We’re just so much of a better team when we have him. 7-4 unicorn, right? He’s as talented as they come,” Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said. “Yes, we’ve had success and found ways to win without him. Obviously, we’re better when he’s on the team, when he’s out there playing with us.”
The 28-year-old Porzingis was the fourth overall pick by the New York Knicks in 2015, and was an All-Star before a torn ACL forced him to miss all of 2018-19. They traded him to Dallas in January 2019, a deal involving seven players and two first-round draft picks.
Dallas traded Porzingis to Washington on Feb. 10, 2022, and the Wizards sent him to Boston in a three-team trade last summer.
When the Wizards played at Dallas in January 2023, Porzingis was inactive after playing in 12 of their previous 13 games. He also didn’t play for the Celtics this past January, when they visited American Airlines Center the night after he had 32 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots in Houston.
“The first time I came back, I was not playing that game, I was with Washington, and I had a warm welcome here. They even did a tribute video, which was very unexpected for me, but that was very nice,” Porzingis said. “I think the organization, the people on the inside appreciated my time here, and that was very nice. ... No bad feeling about this place. I love this city, love the fans, and it just didn’t work out.”
Pakistan finally gets first win at T20 World Cup, beats Canada by 7 wickets
WESTBURY, N.Y.: Canada’s inexperienced batters crumbled against pace for yet another low score at the Twenty20 World Cup as Pakistan finally registered its first win.
The four-pronged Pakistan pace attack, led by Mohammad Amir’s figures of 2-13, contained Canada to 106-7 with only opening batter Aaron Johnson showing aggression in his 44-ball knock of 52.
Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 53 anchored Pakistan, which lost to fiece cricket rival India on Sunday, to 107-3 in 17.3 overs for a seven-wicket win.
“Good for us, we needed this win,” Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said. “We started well with the bowling, in the first six overs (and) we know we had to be up to the mark.”
A washout in Florida meant former champion Sri Lanka and Nepal had to share the competition points in an outcome that ensured South Africa secured a spot in the playoffs and put the Sri Lankans on the brink of a group-stage exit.
Heavy rain in Lauderhill meant there was no play possible in the Group D match, leaving Sri Lanka without a win in three games.
At North Sound, Antigua, 2021 champion Australia dismissed Namibia for 72, with wrist spinner Adam Zampa taking four wickets for 12 runs and pace bowler Josh Hazlewood returning 2-18,
The Namibians struggled against Australia’s fast bowlers early, with Hazlewood striking in the third and fifth overs to have the African lineup in trouble at 15-3.
Zampa’s spin troubled the middle and lower order, helping him increase his career haul to 100 wickets in T20 internationals.
Skipper Gerhard Erasmus accounted for half of Namibia’s runs, with his 36 coming off 43 balls.
The Australians have had wins over defending champion England and Oman. A run of three would secure them a place in the Super 8s.
Pakistan had a tough start to the tournament and Johnson sent early tremors into the former champions with his back-to-back boundaries off Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first two balls of the match.
But Amir, who came out of retirement for the World Cup, hit the right areas straight away and buckled the batters as wickets continued to fall.
Johnson, who was dropped on 44 by Fakhar Zaman at mid-wicket, hit four boundaries and raised his half-century with his fourth six before he too was finally undone by Naseem Shah in the 14th over.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf became the third quickest bowler to complete 100 wickets in T20 internationals when he had Shreyas Movva (2) caught behind and then found the edge of Ravinderpal Singh’s bat in the same over to finish with 2-26.
“Definitely, it was a bit disappointing,” Pakistan-born Canada skipper Saad Bin Zafar said. “We wanted to play a positive brand of cricket and I think the wicket was not very helpful. It was difficult to bat early on and not a good toss to lose. We were about 25 to 30 runs short.”
Pakistan’s experiment with Saim Ayub as an opener in the World Cup for the first time didn’t work out as the left-hander struggled to score 6 off 12 balls before he edged Dillon Heyliger (2-18) to wicketkeeper inside the batting power play.
Rizwan and Babar (33) then had a 63-run stand before the Pakistan skipper banged his bat on the wicket in anger when he tried to guide Heyliger to third man but couldn’t beat the wicketkeeper. Rizwan’s run-a-ball half-century saw Pakistan over the line.
Pakistan, the 2022 runner-up, needs to beat Ireland in its last game and also hope co-host US lose both its remaining games against India and Ireland to have a chance of advancing to the Super 8s on superior net run-rate.
The United States made a history by beating Pakistan in a Super Over tiebreaker in Dallas after it had defeated Canada in a high-scoring opening game of the tournament it is jointly co-hosting with the West Indies.
Tamberi puts on a show in Rome to win another European high jump title
- Tamberi: I pretended to be injured and hid springs in my shoes. I think some people fell for it. I did great things. Now it’s time for the Olympics
- Warholm of Norway and Bol of the Netherlands won the men’s and women’s 400 hurdles by large margins — with both setting championship records
- The championships end Wednesday when Armand Duplantis could make another attempt at extending his pole vault world record
ROME: Gianmarco Tamberi bowed to Italy’s president before and during the competition. Then came an embrace in the stands with his country’s leader when the charismatic Olympic high jump champion clinched another European title and sealed his status as a favorite to defend gold at the Paris Games.
Tamberi, styled in his preferred half-shaved beard, had already won the competition before he cleared a championship-record 2.37 meters on his first attempt to add more luster to his third title at the European athletics championships on Tuesday.
“I knew I was in a superb shape and I proved it,” Tamberi said. “I pretended to be injured and hid springs in my shoes. I think some people fell for it. I did great things. Now it’s time for the Olympics.”
Two Ukrainians, Vladyslav Lavskyy (2.29) and Oleh Doroshchuk (2.26), took silver and bronze, respectively.
Up next for Tamberi, who shared gold with his good friend Mutaz Barshim at the Tokyo Games, is another meeting on Thursday with Italy President Sergio Mattarella to officially be handed the country’s flag that he and fencer Arianna Errigo will carry at the Paris opening ceremony on July 26.
Tamberi is also the captain of Italy’s rapidly improving athletics team, who are leading the medals table at the Euros with a national record 10 golds and 20 medals overall.
Karsten Warholm of Norway and Femke Bol of the Netherlands won the men’s and women’s 400 hurdles, respectively, by large margins — with both setting championship records.
Warholm clocked 46.98 — more than a second off his world record of 45.94 set at the Tokyo Olympics.
Bol won in 52.49 to shave 0.18 off her championship record from two years ago and reclaim the season lead from American standout Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who ran 52.70 on May 31.
Bol finished nearly two seconds ahead of silver medalist Louise Maraval of France, while her Dutch teammate Cathelijn Peeters took bronze.
So how does Bol keep going when she’s so far ahead of the rest of the field?
“I visualize I’m running toward someone. It always helps me a lot,” she said. “But when you have an atmosphere like this, it also helps a lot. You hear the crowd and you just want to do well for them. … They were already applauding for Gianmarco. It was something crazy.”
Warholm established a big lead but then silver medalist Alessandro Sibilio made up some ground during the final meters.
“I was testing the pace a little bit in the beginning, going out super hard and then coming up on the home stretch, testing a little bit the same stride pattern as yesterday,” Warholm said. “It was a little bit of a stutter step there. But I felt strong coming off hurdle 10 and I was in control.
“For Paris there will be some more (speed). … This is a good step on the road. But this is more to build confidence, and of course to get the gold medal. But in Paris everything will be as sharp as possible.”
There was also a championship record in the triple jump, when Jordan Diaz of Spain leaped 18.18 to improve on Jonathan Edwards’ mark of 17.99 from more than a quarter century ago.
Silver medalist Pedro Pichardo of Portugal, the Cuban-born Olympic champion, also beat Edwards’ mark with 18.04, while Thomas Gogois of France took bronze with 17.38.
Along with the long jump, the triple jump was held on a raised platform right next to the Stadio Olimpico stands that competitors said provided more “bounce.”
The championships end Wednesday when Armand Duplantis could make another attempt at extending his pole vault world record. Also, Marcell Jacobs and Olympic champion Italy will have the home crowd behind them in the 4x100 relay.
