Month: October 2023

Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury should be next on the list of boxing’s biggest fights to make, according to Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn.
Hearn, the chairman of Matchroom Boxing and one of the sport’s leading promoters, has been campaigning for a clash between the two Brits for several years.
Having labeled a potential clash between Joshua and Fury as the biggest fight in British boxing history, Hearn recently stated that the time to organize the heavyweight bout was now.
In the wake of Fury’s controversial win over Francis Ngannou, Eddie Hearn shared with Boxing Social his thoughts on a possible fight between Joshua and ‘The Gypsy King’:
“I don’t know what the Wilder fight took out of [Fury], but I’m telling you now and I’ve told you before, and people will laugh at me, [Anthony Joshua] beats Tyson Fury every day of the week, and twice on a Sunday. He will knock him out inside six rounds. And we’re in danger of not getting that fight. So, I’ll tell you what, just scrap everything and make AJ against Fury now. And I’m telling you now, AJ will beat him comfortably and he will stop him and he will finish his career.”
Watch the video below from 2:00:
During an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour in August, Eddie Hearn was bursting with confidence about the likelihood of Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder taking place either this year or in early 2024.
Hearn credited the involvement of Saudi Arabia as the main reason for his confidence. However, it now appears that the potential clash is off the table.
Deontay Wilder has not competed since October 2022, where he KO’d Robert Helenius in the first round, and fans are no doubt eager to see ‘The Bronze Bomber’ back in action.
Anthony Joshua has been more active than Wilder, and bounced back from defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022 with a decision win over Jermaine Franklin in April before knocking out Robert Helenius in August.
During an interview with Seconds Out, Eddie Hearn shared an update on the fallout of Joshua vs. Wilder, saying:
“We agreed the deal! So did Wilder. And because we’ve done a couple of fights with [Saudi Arabia] before, I felt it was a done deal. But unfortunately it wasn’t, so we have to look for an alternative venue. There are discussions still going on with Saudi Arabia.”
Watch the video below from 7:00:

WC: Rohit, Shami shine as India hammer woeful England

Sarah Waris was amongst the crowd at Ekana to witness arguably Rohit Sharmas best ODI innings on a hot and sweltering day in Lucknow.
You could sense the excitement around Indias first World Cup game in Lucknow. The stadium had become a famous selfie zone for excited supporters, who came from far and wide with their young children. Most could not procure tickets but clicking photographs with the blazing Ekana floodlights in the background a day before the game allowed them to be a part of history.
Uber and Ola drivers could not stop discussing the massive traffic diversions with fellow colleagues on the phones loudspeakers, disrupting any attempts at catching a nap on the long cab ride in the midst of a hectic World Cup schedule. The match day had everyone buzzing, with fans lining up at least three hours before the start of play.
It was not merely out of passion but also to escape the traffic that would make getting to the stadium, located on the busy Shaheed Path, a bypass on the outskirts of the city, challenging. With a number of restrictions in place for personal vehicles, supporters had to walk nearly three kilometres to reach their respective entry gates. Getting to their seats was another long trek, but the sight of the green outfield and the goosebumps-inducing national anthem made it all worth it.
Batting first for the first time in the tournament, Rohit played off a rare maiden but switched to the aggressive approach he has consciously adopted in the tournament, racing away to 17 in 11, leaving the fans ecstatic. 18 runs came off David Willeys second over, and just when a big score was expected the conditions bared their true selves.
As the sun peaked out and shone a little too brightly on the city, the track became slower for the batters. It was soon all about survival as India lost three quick wickets, with Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer falling to expansive shots. The game plan needed to change, with Rohit now having to play cautiously against the slower bowlers in particular.
Around him, fans had to grapple with the changes themselves: With no cloud cover and no roof covering the stands on the lower blocks, the initial tinge of exhilaration gave way to the realisation that energy had to be conserved to last the entirety of the match in the heat. With food fast running out, you were left with soggy bhel and a glass of Thumbs Up diluted with water, costing INR 200, to see you through.
It took 71 balls for the first top-order failure in the World Cup for India. Hardik Pandyas injury meant India just had five bowlers, which meant they had to put on a big score. It was here that Rohit brought forth his exceptional mental toughness, the same that was on display during the second Test in Chennai against England in 2021 and in Nagpur against Australia this year. They were knocks that cemented his place as an all-condition Test beast after his rocky start in the format, while his 101-ball 87 in Lucknow further added to his legacy in ODI cricket.
Related Story: Rohit Sharma: Shubman Gill is ’99 percent’ available for Pakistan clash | CWC 2023
Rohit was not perturbed by the pacers, playing his classic pull against Willey or using his feet exceptionally against the dangerous-looking Chris Woakes as he danced down the track. He swivel-flicked a 146.4kmph delivery by Mark Wood on 49 and flicked a slightly short ball over the ropes soon off him moments after getting to his slowest 50 of the World Cup.
His biggest test was against the spinners, against whom he had excelled previously in the World Cup with a strike rate of 106 after the first four games. But this was not a track where he could go after them, so he relied on playing with swift hands instead. He played an inside-out shot, a late cut, a reverse sweep and then played the shot of the tournament against Liam Livingstone in the 29th over when he danced down and once again played a flick, his most productive shot of the evening, before it turned. A delivery earlier, the ball had spun massively away from the opener, who then tried to minimise the turn by stepping out.
There were times when Rohit was undone by sharp spin, and failed to get bat on the ball before he was rapped on the pads. He had a control percentage of 78, lower than Suryakumar Yadav, who played a knock of 49 that was reminiscent of Suresh Raina’s innings in the 2011 World Cup semifinal – impactful and under the radar- but he hung around, much like the crowd, in a tough environment, ensuring a magical end to a sultry day.
Rohit was out skying one to deep mid-wicket, which led to plenty of conversation, with many arguing the shot was unnecessary as he neared his eighth World Cup ton. The skipper himself admitted the team fell short of a par score and that his dismissal came at the wrong time, but the intention of the hit cannot be faulted.
As he walked back to thunderous applause you knew it was not an innings you came in for but one you would remember fondly as it made its way into the annals of World Cup classics. No other batter in the game faced more than 60 balls and no one else got a fifty, which further shows just how patient he was.
It was the kind of day that sapped you dry, leaving you dehydrated with a heat-inducing migraine that forced you to take Monday off to recover. All of that makes Rohits innings even more memorable, for he not only had to survive the demanding red soil track but also beat the scorching weather en route to a match-winning show.
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Ayman Ahamed to Mohammad Kamran Atta, Four, Four !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump, Mohammad Kamran Atta hangs in the crease, plays inside out shot in the air to long off. Ball finds the ropes for four.

MS Dhoni’s wittiness was yet again seen when he caught Bangladesh team unaware by understanding their mother tongue Bengali MS Dhoni’s wit, quirkiness, street smartness, and game plan are always second to none. While the opposition team may think the CSK captain is immune to their game plan, Dhoni always outsmarts them. One such old video of the 42-year-old went viral when he narrated a story of how he outsmarted the Bangladesh team by knowing Bengali very well. The Men in Green thought they would get a wicket of Dhoni by speaking Bengali.
However, the Bangladesh team did not know that the legendary wicketkeeper batter knew Bengali. Dhoni not only understood what Bangladeshis were trying to do, but he also knew what the bowler would bowl next ball. In a viral video, Dhoni said,
“While I was working in Kharagpur, I used to speak Bengali very well. Now also I will speak, but not that fluently. But I understand Bengali very well. If you speak the language in front of me, I can understand it very well.
Interestingly, we were playing against Bangladesh, and I came to bat. Now, they did not know that I could understand Bengali. The keeper was suggesting some game plan to the bowler, I understood beforehand only what the bowler would bowl. So when the match ended, and the players were discussing something, I was laughing. One of their players said hey he understands Bengali.
All eyes will be on Dhoni yet again when IPL 2024 commences. Currently, the CSK skipper is in Ranchi and is busy riding his vintage cars and bikes. He also underwent knee surgery in June. Dhoni is optimistic about playing yet another IPL season for CSK. However, the 42-year-old made it very clear that for that to happen his knee should completely recover.
By November 15 we will get a clear picture of Dhoni playing IPL 2024 season for CSK as the franchises have to submit a retention players list.

Real Madrid has officially announced the contract extension of Brazilian attacker Vinicius Junior. The 23-year-olds new deal will keep him at the club until the summer of 2027. This move comes as no surprise, as Vinicius has established himself as one of the best attackers in world football in recent years.
According to reports in the Spanish press, both parties had reached an agreement on the extension well in advance, with the club choosing to make it public today. The contract extension also includes a significant salary raise for Vinicius, who had been earning the same amount as when he first signed for Real Madrid.
While already considered one of the best attackers in the world, Vinicius still has room for improvement. As he continues to gain experience and adapts to new positions on the field, such as playing through the center, his potential for growth remains promising.
This contract extension solidifies Real Madrids commitment to the talented Brazilian attacker and highlights their belief in his future contributions to the teams success. Fans can expect to see more electrifying performances from Vinicius in the years to come as he continues to showcase his skills on the pitch.

The Indian womens hockey team registered a thrilling 2-1 victory in their third match of the ongoing Jharkhand Womens Asian Champions Trophy 2023. Deepika (15) and Salima Tete (26) netted a goal each for India, while Chinas lone goal came from Jiaqi Zhong (41). 
India quickly established a fluid passing tempo, asserting their dominance over China in the opening quarter. They commanded the lions share of possession, continuously making circle entries and subjecting Chinas defense to a series of rigorous tests. Indian squads offensive strength was on full display as they managed to secure a penalty corner in the dying moments of the first quarter.
However, they couldnt make the most of this opportunity. Nevertheless, shortly thereafter, the home team earned a penalty stroke, which Deepika (15) expertly converted with a precise shot into the bottom corner, granting India a well-earned 1-0 advantage. 
Trailing 1-0, China launched the second quarter with an offensive approach, coming very close to levelling the score. However, Indian captain Savita displayed her brilliance with a remarkable save, preserving Indias lead. Simultaneously, India intensified their offensive onslaught to maintain pressure on China, a tactic that paid off when Salima Tete (26), left unguarded, unleashed a well-placed and forceful shot from the circles edge, notching Indias second goal.
In the closing moments of the second quarter, China earned a penalty corner, but Indias resolute defense stood firm, ensuring they entered halftime with a 2-0 advantage. 
The third quarter kicked off with India resuming their offensive efforts, securing an early penalty corner that Chinas defense successfully thwarted, denying the hosts a chance to widen their lead. Nevertheless, India persisted in their relentless attack, keeping China on the defensive.
Meanwhile, China adjusted their strategy by prioritizing possession and counter-attacks, a tactic that paid off when Jiaqi Zhong (41) capitalized on a penalty corner, narrowing the gap and rekindling their hopes. However, no more goals were scored in the penultimate quarter as it concluded with the score at 2-1 in favour of India. 
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Even with a narrow lead, India remained committed to their offensive style of play in the last quarter. China, on the other hand, displayed shrewd possession control and secured a couple of penalty corners, although they couldnt capitalize on these opportunities.
As the clock ticked down, China escalated their offensive efforts in pursuit of an equalizer, but Indias defense stood resolute to maintain their lead and secure a 2-1 victory in the match. 
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