By Jennifer Schuessler, Alan Blinder and Anemona Hartocollis from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/afKyVU1
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Here’s what to know about Claudine Gay’s resignation.
By Jennifer Schuessler, Alan Blinder and Anemona Hartocollis from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/afKyVU1
"Injury Can Happen To" Jasprit Bumrah: Ex-India Star On Need For Depth
India must focus on increasing the bench strength of their pace attack in 2024 as the Centurion Test exposed chinks in that department, reckons former pacer Irfan Pathan. Mohammed Shami's absence was felt badly in the heavy loss to South Africa in the opening Test of the two-match series in the Rainbow Nation last week.
Jasprit Bumrah, who did not get the support from the likes of Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna in the first Test, is also injury prone. Speaking to Star Sports on areas India need to improve in the new year, Pathan said: "India need to prepare a good fast bowling unit in 2024. We saw what happened in South Africa, the back ups were not ready. Shami was missed.
"If god forbid, something happens to Bumrah as we have seen in the past, injury can happen to him. If we don't prepare a big pool, we won't get quality pacers like them (Bumrah, Shami). You need to have 7-8 pacers ready for the highest level," he said.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar wants the Indian team to have the right blend of youth and experience.
"The biggest focus should be on having a good blend of youth and experience. Because that is always something that comes in handy. You need to have a wise cool head to temper the excitement of the younger blood," said Gavaskar.
India must also prepare leaders to take over from Rohit Sharma in due time, added Pathan.
"Leadership is another area we need to focus on. We need to have 2-3 leaders ready as this year we can see many changes. India did very well under Kohli in Test cricket for five years. He led from the front.
"Same with Rohit who led us to the World Cup final and we won Asia Cup under him. We need to groom leaders like them," added Pathan.
from NDTV Sports-Latest https://ift.tt/wZ9TcvG
Monday, January 1, 2024
Pope Raises Concerns About Church in Nicaragua

By Elisabetta Povoledo from NYT World https://ift.tt/KqNJAPE
Don't Recognise ad-Hoc Panel And Ministry Suspension: Sanjay Singh
Indian wrestling teetered on the edge of a deeper crisis with Sanjay Singh, President of the suspended WFI, on Monday declaring that they will soon organise the national championships and insisting that they neither recognise the suspension of their newly-elected body by Sports Ministry nor the ad-hoc panel. Three days after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) held its polls, the ministry suspended the sports body citing several violations of rules on December 24. On the request of the government, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) then formed a three-member panel, headed by Bhupender Singh Bajwa, to manage the day-to-day affairs of the body. The other members of the committee are former hockey player M M Somaya and ex-shuttler Manjusha Kanwar.
The ad-hoc panel announced that it will host the senior national championships in Jaipur from February 2-5.
Sanjay, though, remained combative and said they will not co-operate with the ad-hoc panel and will organise the Nationals.
"We got elected democratically. The Returning Officer had signed the papers, how do they ignore that. We do not recognise this ad-hoc panel," Sanjay told PTI.
Asked how will they organise they Nationals, he said, "We do not recognise this suspension. The WFI is working smoothly, we are on the job." "How will they (ad-hoc panel) organise Nationals if our state associations will not send the teams. We will organise our National Championship soon. We are soon calling the Executive Committee meeting. The notice of the EC meeting will be sent in a day or two and we will have the Nationals organised before they do it." If the WFI goes on to organise its own Nationals the crisis will take a turn for the worst.
"We had sent our explanation to the ministry that we have not flouted any rules. We are still awaiting a reply. We will wait for a day or two. If they do not want to engage with us, we are not also not interested then.
"Our federation does not recognise this suspension." Indian wrestling has witnessed unprecedented power struggle in the last one year. In protest against Sanjay, who is a close aide of sexual harassment accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, becoming WFI president Bajrang Punia returned his Padma Shri and Vinesh Phogat returned her Arjuna Award and Khel Ratna.
Sakshi Malik had quit wrestling the day Sanjay won the WFI president's election. PTI AT AT AH AH
from NDTV Sports-Latest https://ift.tt/nk8heiS
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Netanyahu remains dependent on far-right allies, analysts say.

By Isabel Kershner from NYT World https://ift.tt/iajX1sv
Premier League: Arsenal Falter Once More At Fulham, Spurs Close On Top 4
Arsenal's Premier League title challenge suffered another blow in a 2-1 defeat at Fulham on Sunday, as Tottenham beat Bournemouth 3-1 to close in on their north London rivals. The Gunners' high hopes of a first league title in 20 years have been rocked by two damaging defeats in four days. Mikel Arteta was looking for a response after losing 2-0 at home to West Ham on Thursday and the visitors started brightly at Craven Cottage.
Bukayo Saka pounced to tap home his first goal in six games after Bernd Leno parried Gabriel Martinelli's initial effort.
But Arsenal failed to build on their early advantage and Fulham hit back to snap a three-game losing run in the Premier League without even scoring a goal.
Raul Jimenez was badly missed during his three-game ban for a red card at Newcastle and the Mexican kickstarted the Fulham fightback with his fourth goal in as many games.
Former Arsenal winger Willian sent Tom Cairney free down the left and his dangerous low cross was swept home by Jimenez at the back post.
Martinelli was inches away from restoring Arsenal's lead before the break.
But it was Fulham who were the better side in the second half and they got their reward just before the hour mark.
Arsenal failed to clear a corner and the ball broke kindly for Bobby De Cordova-Reid to smash home from close range.
Only a fine save from David Raya to deny Cairney and the crossbar from Andreas Pereira's free-kick prevented Arsenal from suffering further punishment in the pouring rain in west London.
But enough damage may have been done to their title aspirations over the past week.
Arsenal remain in fourth, two points behind leaders Liverpool and level on 40 points with Manchester City, but having played a game more than both their title rivals.
Son's parting gift
Arteta's men could even be outside the top four by the time they are next in league action in three weeks' time as Tottenham closed to within a point of the Champions League places.
Ange Postecoglou's men shrugged off a mounting injury crisis to inflict Bournemouth's first defeat in eight games.
Pape Sarr's precise finish into the bottom corner opened the scoring after just nine minutes.
But the Senegalese midfielder left the field in tears midway through the first half with an injury that puts his participation in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in doubt.
Bournemouth will feel they should have been level before the break as the in-form Dominic Solanke hit the bar amid a flurry of chances.
Instead, the visitors were picked off in the second half.
Son Heung-min is also set to depart for a few weeks to lead South Korea at the Asia Cup.
The Spurs captain signed off in style with a thumping finish from a narrow angle before Richarlison made it 3-0.
Alex Scott pulled a goal back six minutes from time, but it was too little, too late for the Cherries, who remain in 12th.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
from NDTV Sports-Latest https://ift.tt/LBZm09F
United Cup: Defending Champions USA Beat Battling Britain
Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz had to fight through a deciding doubles match to conclude a 2-1 defeat of Britain on Sunday for the United States to stay in title contention at the United Cup. The defending champions, who won the trophy last January over Italy, earned a 1-6, 7-6 (7/5), 10-7 mixed doubles win to claim victory in Perth after the sides split the singles. "We have a team energy from last year here, we don't want to take a loss and let it die," said Fritz, who was broken twice in the opening set.
World number five Pegula added: "To get a win in this fashion after such a long day (on court) brings back a lot of memories.
"It was a big win today, especially after losing such a tough singles match."
Britain, who beat Australia to open their tournament account, took a 1-0 lead when Pegula crashed 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to Katie Boulter in the singles.
It was Boulter's first win over a top-five player on her seventh attempt after she bounced back from a set and double-break down.
"This was a very hard match for both of us," said the 56th-ranked Boulter. "I play my best tennis when I'm smiling and having fun.
"I kept trying to get over the line. I thrive in a team atmosphere... so many tennis heads giving information. It helps you to think clearly."
Pegula's 10th-ranked teammate Fritz kept the tie alive despite a thigh strain he blamed on over-training, defeating Cameron Norrie 7-6 (5), 6-4.
"I strained something but got through it," said Fritz. "Cam and I have played so many times (14). It's always a battle, always close."
World number one Novak Djokovic opens his season for Serbia later against China's Zhang Zhizhen, with the Chinese team on a high after beating the Czech Republic 3-0.
In Sydney, Leylah Fernandez led Canada to a fighting victory over Chile with the former US Open finalist winning her singles rubber and then backing up in a decisive mixed doubles.
The 35th-ranked Fernandez got Canada off to a perfect start, cruising past Chile's Daniela Seguel 6-2, 6-3 in 73 minutes.
With Canadian number one Felix Auger-Aliassime sitting out the men's singles, 314th-ranked Steven Diez stepped up but was toppled by world number 19 Nicolas Jarry 7-5, 6-4.
It set up a deciding mixed doubles, with Fernandez teaming with Diez to battle past Seguel and Tomas Barrios Vera 7-5, 4-6, 10-8.
"I'm extremely happy with the way I played," said Fernandez, who was part of the Canadian team that won the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time this year.
The 21-year-old broke five times in her singles clash against a player in her first WTA Tour-level singles match in nearly two years, using the serve-and-volley tactic well.
"First match of the season so had some nerves, but happy with the way I was able to handle it," she said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
from NDTV Sports-Latest https://ift.tt/Y5QoBOR
Sachin Tendulkar Sends Special Message To Families Affected By Nepal Floods
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday expressed his support for families affected by the devastating floods in Nepal and prayed...
-
By BY THE NEW YORK TIMES from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2JDppgp
-
By BY ERIC GRODE from NYT Theater https://ift.tt/32KJU7H