Picture Credit: Twitter
The scenarios in the global sports industry were full of thrill and excitement in the last 24 hours. While the Indian badminton star HS Prannoy settled for bronze in the BWF World Championship 2023, football great Lionel Messi scored a goal on his MLS debut for Inter Miami. Not only this, but the Indian men’s 4x400 m relay team made it to the final of the World Athletics Championships 2023.
A lot more happened in the last 24 hours; to know more, keep reading.
Indian team becomes Asia’s fastest to run men’s 4x400m relay; enter World Athletics Championships final
The Indian quartet of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi and Rajesh Ramesh etched history as they became the fastest team in Asia to run the 4x400m relay. The Indian men’s team clocked 2-minute 59.05 seconds to finish second and qualify for the finals of the World Athletics Championships 2023. Additionally, this marked the first time that the Indian men’s team has entered the World Athletics Championships final.
Lionel Messi scores stunning goal in his MLS debut
Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami thumped New York Red Bulls in a nail-biting thriller of Major League Soccer on August 27, Sunday. Apart from leading his side to a resounding victory against the Bulls, the Argentina international scored his first goal in his MLS debut. With a stunning 89th minute goal, the FIFA World Cup 2022 winner led his side to a 2-0 victory against their rivals.
Messi made his MLS debut in the 60th minute of the game, after he replaced Leonardo Campana. After Diego Gomez opened the account for his side in the 37th minute of the game, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner scored another in the 89th minute, to extend the score tally to 2-0.
Novak Djokovic plays with spatula in exhibition match ahead of US Open 2023
World No. 2 Novak Djokovic is one of the greatest tennis players alongside retired Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He has proved himself at various stages and boasts of all-time 23 Grand Slam wins to his name. The Serbian, who is currently in New York City ahead of the US Open, traded his racquet with a spatula during an exhibition match.
The 36-year-old during an exhibition match at US Open Kids Day, played a rally, winning it just in point. He also celebrated this point with a lap as he was seen playing with several other unconventional objects, namely a baseball bat, a frying pan, a plan of wood.
Manchester United fans organise anti-Glazers protest before Nottingham Forest game
The sale of Manchester United seems to be going on forever now, as according to the most recent reports, Sheikh Jassim is leading the race to become the new owner of United in a £6 billion deal that is set to close in October. The fans are getting impatient, as they have organised multiple protests in the past months and are again protesting against the owners before the Red Devils play Nottingham Forest on August 26.
FIFA suspends Luis Rubiales for kissing Spain's Jenni Hermoso after FIFA Women’s World Cup Final
On August 26, Saturday, the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) provisionally suspended Luis Rubiales after he kissed the reigning Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso on the lips. At Stadium Australia, the incident happened during the trophy presentation, after Spain defeated England 1-0 in the grand finale of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Luis Rubiales, the President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) refused to stand down from the post after the scandalous incident. The 46-year-old believed that the kiss was consensual while stating that the governing body of the sport is sticking by him, with a threat of legal action against Jenni Hermoso, who had said, "did not enjoy it (the kiss).”
BWF World Championships 2023: HS Prannoy loses semi-final clash; settles for bronze
On August 26, Saturday, the world number nine from India, HS Prannoy, lost the semi-final of the BWF World Championship 2023 men’s singles competition, against the third seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in three pulsating games by 18-21, 21-13, 21-14.
The 31-year-old had registered a famous win against the defending champion and the home favourite Viktor Axelsen in the quarter-final, after three grueling games in Copenhagen, Denmark, to secure a medal for his country.
