Credit: X
Caroline Wozniacki objected to Simona Halep’s comeback at the 2024 Miami Open by criticising players with a history of doping bans receiving wild cards. Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen jumped five places in the latest BWF world rankings on Tuesday to grab the 13th spot in the men’s singles category.
Read below to learn major updates on the sporting world in the last 24 hours.
Badminton
Lakshya Sen jumps five places in the latest BWF world rankings
Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen jumped five places in the latest BWF world rankings on Tuesday to grab the 13th spot in the men’s singles category. It came after his semifinal appearances in two consecutive tournaments, the French Open Super 750 and the All England Open badminton championships. In the last two weeks, Sen delivered remarkable performances and took down much higher-ranked players including the former world champion Loh Kean Yew, world number 4 Li Shi Feng, and more.
Wrestling
The Prime Minister is a spin master: Vinesh Phogat to Indian PM as WFI resumes
Indian Olympic Association gave administrative control to the WFI and decided to dissolve the ad-hoc committee. Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat urged the Prime Minister to take some action to oust Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh from the wrestling fraternity. Phogat wrote on X, "The Prime Minister is a spin master, knows how to spin the issue by invoking ‘women power’ to counter the speeches of his rivals. Narendra Modi ji, let us also know the real truth of women's power. Brij Bhushan, who exploited women wrestlers, has again taken over wrestling. It is hoped that you (PM) will not just use women as shields, but will also do something to oust such oppressors from the sports institutions of the country."
Tennis
Jannik Sinner would be the champion, I'd be chasing the balls: Roger Federer on facing Jannik Sinner
Roger Federer talked about what would happen if he faced Jannik Sinner. The former world number said, "Well right now it would be not fair. He would be the big champion, you know. Me, I would be chasing the balls. He's doing amazing, and I'm very very happy for him. What he did in Australia was incredible.” Earlier, the Italian said that he grew up idolising Roger Federer and said that Federer inspired him through his behaviour on and off the court. Sinner said, "When I was younger, I think the biggest inspiration was always Roger Federer because of the way he behaves on the courts, the way he treats people off the court.”
Sumit Nagal fails to qualify for the Miami Open main draw
Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal failed to make the main draw for the Miami Open on debut. He lost the qualifying round match to Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong 6-3, 1-6, 5-7. Earlier, he defeated France’ Hugo Gaston 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in the first qualifying round. Nagal made it to the world’s top 100 last month after winning the Chennai Open. He is most likely to attain a new ranking and reach the 92nd spot, a new career-high ranking. Earlier, Nagal lost to Milos Raonic in Indian Wells after qualifying for the main draw.
If you want to come back, work your way up from the bottom: Caroline Wozniacki on Simona Halep’s wildcard entry
Caroline Wozniacki objected to Simona Halep’s comeback at the 2024 Miami Open by criticising players with a history of doping bans receiving wild cards. She said, "Again, this is not directly at Simona, but if someone purposely cheats if someone has tested positive for doping... I understand why a tournament wants a big star in the tournament, but it's my personal belief, and it's not a knock on anyone, it's my personal belief that I don't think people should be awarded wild cards afterwards. If you want to come back, and it's been a mistake, I understand, you should work your way up from the bottom. That's my personal opinion upon things.”
Football
Mumbai City clinch 3-0 win against Jamshedpur in ISL
Mumbai City regained their top position in the ISL standings by registering a 3-0 win against Jamshedpur FC. The decision was communicated after the league upheld their protest. With this, Mumbai is now at 41 points after 19 rounds, followed by Mohun Bagan Super Giant with 39 points. After the 1-1 draw between Jamshedpur FC on March 8, Mumbai City FC protested that the team ended the game with six Indian players instead of seven. The decision was taken as per law 4.2.10 of ISL10, which states that each team must have seen Indian players on the pitch at all times except when being shown a red card.
Erling Haaland and John Cena announce Manchester City’s pre-season USA tour in hilarious collaboration
Manchester City star Erling Haaland and WWE superstar John Cena came together to promote Man City’s pre-season USA tour. The duo was seen promoting the tour in a hilarious video posted by the official handle of the football club. In the video, Haaland was seen taking a call from a secret super fan, on answering the call he realised that it was from the 16-time world champion.
Cena replied with his landmark phrase “You can’t see me?” and then penned the camera down to reveal himself having donned a blonde wig to resemble Haaland. Then the wrestler asked about the forthcoming tour of Manchester City, “What this I hear about a US tour?” The 23-year-old then went on to confirm that the football club will be touring the USA. He said, “Yeah, we are coming to the US this pre-season.”
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka launches his ‘PERi-PERi Saka Sauce’ with Nando’s
England and Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has collaborated with the leading restaurant chain Nando’s Sauce to launch his own ‘PERi-PERi’ sauce. The Arsenal forward has opted to bring his ferocity and style to his newly launched flavour. The sauce will be available in all the restaurants in England shortly. In his new ‘PERi-PERi Saka special’, the winger chose his favourite flavour smoky BBQ and tomato sauce that also includes the Nando’s original PERi-PERi taste. The taste of the Saka special will be sweet with a fiery kick which makes it one of a kind, the signature taste of Nando is much spicier than the Saka version.
You have to be serious: Cristiano Ronaldo to Ana Maria Markovic
Cristiano Ronaldo faced Croatian footballer Ana Maria Markovic in one of the recent collaborations with Binance in a game of foosball. Although the full video of the Ronaldo and Ana Maria collaboration has not been released yet, some video clips have been leaked showing the two football icons' interaction as the Portuguese exhibited his winning approach. In the video, the Croatian footballer said into the camera, “He is so serious, should I also be serious.” The five-time Ballon d’Or winner then responded “When you play a game you have to be serious.”
Major Football Results
Algeria-Ligue 1
USM Alger 2-0 ES Setif
Argentina-Copa de la Liga Professional
Argentinos Juniors 3-0 Rosario Central
England-League Two
Bradford 0-3 Notts County
England-Isthmian Premier Division
Bognor Regis Town 2-2 Whitehawk
