Picture Credit: X
In the world of football, Xavi decided to leave the managerial role at Barca after they suffered a shock 5-3 loss to Villarreal at home. 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic congratulated Aryna Sabalenka on her second Australian Open win. Newly crowned Australian Open men’s doubles champion Rohan Bopanna revealed the life-changing advice after winning the title.
Read below to learn details about these top stories and other happenings in the sporting world in the last 24 hours.
Football
Xavi to step down as Barcelona manager at the end of 2023-24 season
After a shock defeat against Villarreal by 5-3 at home, Barcelona manager Xavi has announced his intention to step down from his position at the club at the end of 2023-24 season. In the post-match press conference, the 44-year-old was quoted as saying, “I think the club needs a change of dynamic. For the good of the players, I believe that they will free themselves. We play with a lot of tension. For the good of the board of directors, it is best that I leave. I will give my best. I think all of that will help the dynamic change. This is the message I would like to give. I think I am doing the right thing.”
Non-league Maidstone United shock Ipswich Town in FA Cup
In the fourth round of the FA Cup, the non-league club Maidstone United stunned one of the top teams in the Championship, Ipswich Town by 2-1 at the Portman Road. Lamar Reynolds put Maidstone United in the lead in the first half, but Jeremy Sarmiento levelled it for Ipswich Town at 1-1 in the early stages of the second half before Sam Corne got the winner in the 66th minute for the visitors.
Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise prefers move to Manchester United over Chelsea interest: Reports
As per the report from Football.London, Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing the Crystal Palace midfielder Michael Olise in the summer, but he is preferring a move to Manchester United instead. Notably, the 22-year-old was a part of Chelsea’s academy from the age of 7 to 14, but despite that, he has supported Manchester United as a fan, which could eventually lead to his move at the club in the next transfer window.
Some major results in football are as under:
AFCON 2023
Angola 3-0 Namibia
Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon
FA Cup 2023-24
Ipswich Town 1-2 Maidstone United
Everton 1-2 Luton Town
Sheffield United 2-5 Brighton
Fulham 0-2 Newcastle United
La Liga 2023-24
Las Palmas 1-2 Real Madrid
Barcelona 3-5 Villarreal
Real Sociedad 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
Mallorca 0-1 Real Betis
Serie A 2023-24
Atalanta 2-0 Udinese
Juventus 1-1 Empoli
AC Milan 2-2 Bologna
Ligue 1 2023-24
Marseille 2-2 Monaco
Eredivisie 2023-24
PSV Eindhoven 2-0 Almere City FC
Heracles Almelo 2-4 Ajax
Tennis
Jannik Sinner wins maiden Grand Slam at Australian Open after defeating Daniil Medvedev
Jannik Sinner of Italy has won the first Grand Slam of his career at the Australian Open after defeating the Russian Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. The 22-year-old lost the first two sets in the final before making an epic comeback to take the next three sets, securing the Australian Open men’s singles trophy with a scoreline of 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
Novak Djokovic congratulates Aryna Sabalenka on winning Australian Open 2024
24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic congratulated Aryna Sabalenka on her second Australian Open win. Sabalenka defeated 12th seed Zheng Qinwen of China 6-3, 6-2 in the final match of the year’s first Grand Slam. Djokovic posted a picture of Sabalenka on his Instagram story and wrote, “Congratulations.” Sabalenka responded to the Serb’s story and wrote, ‘Thank you’. Not only this, but Djokovic also shared an encouraging message for the runner-up by posting her story and writing, “Amazing tournament. More to come.”
I didn't want to be that player who wins it and then disappears: Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka, who reclaimed her Australian Open throne by defeating 12th seed Zheng Qinwen of China 6-3, 6-2 in the final, said that wanted to prove her consistency by winning the second AO title. In the press conference, the 25-year-old said, "It's been on my mind that I didn't want to be that player who wins it and then disappears. I just wanted to show that I'm able to be consistently there and I'm able to win another one.” She added, "I really hope that more, [I win] more than two [Grand Slams] right now, but for me [it] was really important. That's why, no matter what the result, win or lose, we are always working hard, we always looking for things to improve in my game.”
Rohan Bopanna reveals life-changing advice after winning Australian Open 2024
Newly crowned Australian Open men’s doubles champion Rohan Bopanna revealed the life-changing advice after winning the title. Bopanna said, "My wife said it beautifully one day, 'When you change limitations to opportunities, everything changes.' We are always told at 25 this has to happen, by 30 this has to happen, at 40 this will happen. It's a thing that is told to us constantly, whether it is sport or life, whether it is marriage, having kids, whatever it may be. But when you change that into opportunities, then the limitations go away.”
Hockey
India lose to Netherlands in FIH Hockey5s Women’s World Cup final
The Indian women’s hockey team finished as runners-up after losing the FIH Hockey5s Women’s World Cup final to the Netherlands. Indian women lost the summit clash of the tournament 7-2 in Muscat on Saturday. The Dutch team opened their account with Janneke van de Venne’s second-minute goal. Bente van der Veldt scored twice in the next six minutes and took the lead to 3-0. The next goals came from Lana Kalse, Sosha Benninga, and Van De Venne as the Netherlands soon gained a 6-0 lead. India tried to make a comeback and scored twice in the second half, courtesy of Jyoti Chhatri’s 20th-minute goal and Rutaja Dadaso Pisal’s 23rd-minute goal. However, Lana Kalse’s final goal before the final hooter sealed the deal for the Dutch.
Shooting
Trap shooter Preeti Rajak becomes Indian Army’s first woman Subedar
Indian trap shooter Havildar Preeti Rajak, currently ranked 6th in the world, was promoted to the rank of Subedar by the Indian Army. With this, she became the first woman in the Indian Army to hold the rank. Based on her recent performances, including a silver at the 19th Asian Games 2022 in trap shooting, Rajak was given the promotion. In a statement, the Army said, “Based on her extraordinary performance, she was awarded the first out-of-turn promotion to Subedar, and Lieutenant General Gajendra Joshi, commandant, Infantry School, chaired the pipping ceremony and hailed the shooter for her excellent performance.”
