Djokovic confirms US Open entry
PARIS: Novak Djokovic confirmed on Thursday he will play at the US Open, the world No 1 ending speculation about his presence at the first Grand Slam since the season restarted following the coronavirus-enforced shutdown.
“I’m happy to confirm that I’ll participate at #Cincytennis and #Usopen this year,” the 33-yearold Serbian star tweeted. “It was not an easy decision to make with all the obstacles and challenges on many sides, but the prospect of competing again makes me really excited,” added Djokovic.
The US Open gets underway in New York on August 31, with Djokovic arriving in the US on Saturday for tune up event.
KARUN RECOVERS FROM COVID-19, READY FOR IPL NEW DELHI: India and Kings XI Punjab batsman Karun Nair tested positive for Covid-19 last month but has now recovered and will travel to the UAE for the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting September 19. According to a cricket website, Nair “went into self-isolation for more than two weeks” before testing negative for the dreaded virus.
The franchise did not comment on the report but a BCCI source told PTI that Nair returned a negative test on August 8 at the end of his quarantine. He will now have to clear three more tests like the rest of the contingent to be able to fly out to the UAE on August 20.
BULKED-UP STARC TO GO FOR 160KPH MARK MELBOURNE: Mitchell Starc remains wary of injuries from bowling too fast but the Australia paceman hopes to push the 160 km per hour mark in the coming home summer after adding five kg to his frame during a long offseason. The left-armer is one of only a handful of bowlers to have recorded a delivery over that mark, sending down a sizzling 160.4 kph yorker during the second Test against New Zealand at the WACA in 2015.
“It would be nice but at the same time the two occasions I’ve been up around that (160 kph) mark I’ve snapped my foot,” he said told Cricket Australia’s website. “Hopefully that’s not the case but when everything is going well, that rhythm is happening and conditions suit, then I can get that speed gun up.”
ARCHERY CAMP TO RESUME ON AUGUST 25 NEW DELHI: The national archery camp for Olympic hopefuls will resume at the Army Sports Institute in Pune on August 25, the Sports Authority of India said on Thursday. The camp was called off midway in March.a total of 16 recurve archers—eight men and as many women, along with four coaches and two support staff will report for the camp on August 25.
COMPLAINT AGAINST GANGULY, SHAH
MUMBAI: A complaint has been lodged against BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah with the Board’s ombudsman DK Jain against the two of them continuing in the office despite the end of their terms.
The complaint was lodged by Naresh Makani of the Jharkhand State Cricket Association. Makani has also lodged a plea in the Supreme Court on the same matter.