THE MIZORAM POST AIZAWL 6 SPORTS TUESDAY 29 JUNE 2021 Deepika reclaims world no.1 Belgium down Portugal 1-0 ranking after hat-trick of gold medals at WC Stage 3 to reach Euro 2020 quarterfinals , JUNE 28 Star Indian archer Deepika SEVILLE, JUNE 28 (AGENCIES) "We're very disappointed; we Kumari on Monday regained Thorgan Hazard's first-half goal fired thought we could win this the number one position in Belgium into the European tournament again after 2016. Some global rankings following her Championships quarterfinals as the of my boys are crying in the changing hat-trick of gold medals at the current world No. 1 team overcame room. All of Portugal should be Stage 3. The 27- defending champions Portugal 1-0 in a proud of what they did today." year-old from Ranchi, who had heavyweight clash here. The Dortmund Belgium, who are striving for their achieved the top spot for the attacking midfielder scored in the 42nd first major title, benefited from an first time in 2012, on Sunday minute on Sunday when he got the ball extra 48 hours' rest after easily claimed gold medals in three just outside the box and fired a superb winning Group B with three straight recurve events — women’s shot into the bottom right, reports wins, while Portugal arrived in the individual, team and mixed Xinhua. knock-out stage with only one win pair. fourth individual World Cup "It was a nice goal and we beat the from their group matches -- a 3-0 “This is going to take gold medal. Overall, she has holders," said the 28-year-old, who was verdict over in the opener. Deepika to the number one nine gold, 12 silver and seven named the Player of the Match. Roberto They then lost to 2-4 and spot in the world rankings on bronze medals in the World Martinez's side will next face , who drew with 2-2 to advance Monday,” World Archery had Cup. “This is the first time I’ve are the only other team having won from the tough Group F as one of the tweeted on its official handle won all three medals in a every game so far in the tournament, in best third-placed teams. Portugal's after Deepika’s gold rush. World Cup. I’m really happy on July 2. "Today was like a superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who Deepika first combined with but at the same time, I’ve to final...and Italy is also a complicated attracted most of the attention, failed Ankita Bhakat and Komalika continue improving as we have game," Thorgan Hazard added. to extend his scoring streak and Bari to notch up the women’s some very, very important But some injuries that happened in stayed on 109 international goals to recurve team gold with a competitions lined up,” the match have cast some shadow on share the men's record with former comfortable win over Mexico. Deepika had told PTI after her Belgium's victory as playmaker Kevin Iran's striker Ali Daei. She then paired up with triumphs. De Bruyne limped off early in the The 36-year-old veteran has already husband Atanu Das and the Deepika had become only second half because of an injury after broken some records after registering couple from a 0-2 deficit to the second Indian woman after being tackled from behind by five goals from the three group matches down the Netherland’s Sjef van Dola Banerjee to grab the Portuguese Joao Phlhinha. The Red -- breaking the tie with Michel Platini den Berg and Gabriela numero uno status in June, Devils suffered another injury in the "Portugal made it really hard for hard in the second half as Ruben Dias' accuracy and also some luck to earn to become the sole all-time best scorer Schloesser 5-3 for the gold 2012 after claiming her first closing period as Real Madrid star us. We had to really stay focused. It header was punched away by Thibaut them a victory. "I think it's an unfair of the tournament with 14 goals. medal. individual recurve World Cup Eden Hazard was replaced by Yannick has cost us a lot of energy, but we have Courtois and Raphael Guerreiro's result, but they scored and we didn't," Ronaldo also surpassed Germany's The Ranchi archer then gold medal at Antalya, Turkey. Carrasco after straining his hamstring. some time to recover and now we are attempt hit the post. The title holders said Santos. "We came back and Miroslav Klose in the record for most blanked 17th ranked Russian She will be the only Indian "Looking at that second half, we looking forward to the game against enjoyed 56 per cent ball possession thought we could turn it around. My goals scored by a European player (21 Elena Osipova 6-0 to cap a woman archer to represent are lucky to win," Belgium defender Italy." and made 24 attempts, four times than players tried their best, but the ball goals) in major events (Euros and perfect three out of three in the the country at the Thomas Vermaelen said. Fernando Santos' team pushed their rivals, but lacked efficiency, wouldn't go in, that's football." World Cups combined). recurve women’s section, her Olympics next month. Inability to rotate strike worries Mithali after ODI loss to England Rani, Vandana have helped BRISTOL, JUNE 28 (AGENCIES) Both Tammy and Natalie added get us the runs," Mithali, who are more comfortable chasing take us to 200 or 210, but that's women's team skipper 117 for the third wicket against an became only the second cricketer them. not something we'd want," she Mithali Raj was clearly not happy insipid Indian bowling attack. While after Sachin Tendulkar to complete "Over the years, I've seen that said. achieve my goal: Forward Udita with the players' inability to rotate opener Tammy hammered 12 fours 22 years in ODI cricket, told we, the Indian team, are far more Mithali said the defeat will the country, said it was a "dream-come- the strike and the high number of and a six, Natalie hit 10 fours and ESPNcricinfo. comfortable chasing a target have to be analysed threadbare true moment" for her when she was dot balls in the opening match of one six as Indians struggled to make "We also need to understand because we know how to up our before the second ODI and named in the 16-member Olympic the One-day International series, breakthroughs after an early wicket that the England bowlers are very run rate," Raj said. "But when it corrective measures taken. squad. The Haryana player, who was also which England won by eight within the first five overs. experienced; the seamers comes to posting a target, I guess "So, yes, as a batting unit, along part of the silver medal-winning team at wickets here. Mithali's 72, that The inability to rotate the strike especially, (more so) than the there's something we need to with the batting coach, we need the 2018 Asian Games in , spoke took India to 201/8 in 50 overs, was Mithali's main focus after the seamers we have. They are bowling work on when and how we get to to sit down to find a way where, if about how she switched to hockey from went in vain as home batters match. "Clearly, yes, we need to in their conditions; they know how 250 because we can't be going we bat first, how we could try to handball. Tammy Beaumont (87 off 87) and look into that aspect and work on to bowl in their conditions, and bang, bang and then lose wickets put a total of 250 on the board and "It's amazing where life takes you. I Natalie Sciver (74 off 74) took rotating the strike. Having said they really bowled well today." in the top order and you have the where we need to put on the only started playing hockey six years ago. England to a 1-0 lead in the three- that, we require at least another Mithali conceded that India are lower order to score those runs, acceleration and how we get our Before that, I was busy playing handball. match series on Sunday. top-order batter, in the top five, to bad at posting targets, while they like how we did today. That will innings to do that," said Mithali. But life had other plans for me. My handball coach was absent for three consecutive days and led me to choose moved hockey as an alternative sport. And the Rahi wins gold in 25m pistol event at World Cup choice to play hockey changed my life," Mathilde Lamolle of France shot 31 to Finland, World Tour said Udita. Udita, who made her senior in the final to win silver while team debut in 2017, added that she feels 's Vitalina Batsarashkina took Finals to Indonesia fortunate to have had the chance to play for the Indian team in some of the home bronze with a total of 28. KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 28 (AGENCIES) In the qualification round of the The Sudirman Cup Finals 2021 and the BWF World Tour biggest sporting events. women's 50m 3-position rifle event, Finals, two key badminton tournaments this year which "I was selected for the junior national India's Tejaswin Sawant shot 1168 were originally planned to take place in , have now camp in 2015 after some impressive out of 1200. The 50m 3-position been moved to Vantaa, Finland and Bali, Indonesia BENGALURU, JUNE 28 (AGENCIES) performances in domestic tournaments. rifle competition is considered to be respectively, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said Indian women's hockey team forward Then, I made my debut for the junior team the most gruelling event. The on Monday. Udita said on Monday that training with in 2016. I later went on to lead the junior competitors have to shoot 40 shots Announcing an updated tournament calendar for the experienced players such as captain Rani India squad that won bronze at the U-18 each in kneeling, prone and remainder of 2021 after the Tokyo Olympics, BWF said Rampal and Vandana Katariya have taught Asia Cup in 2016. I have been fortunate standing, in that order. Tejaswin shot the Covid-19 restrictions have hampered efforts to conduct her the finer nuances of the game and that to have got the opportunity to play for 390 out of 400 in the kneeling tournaments in China this year, including the Sudirman the team was geared up for the Tokyo India in some of the biggest events like position and scored 397 in prone. Cup Finals in Suzhou and the BWF World Tour Finals 2021 Olympics. the Asian Games and the World Cup in OSIJEK, JUNE 28 (AGENCIES) pistol final to win the first gold for In standing position, she could only in , reports Xinhua. Alternatively, Vantaa, The 23-year-old, who is a member of where we had some significant India's won gold India in the ongoing World Cup. manage 381 for an aggregate total Finland is the new host of the Sudirman Cup Finals 2021 the Tokyo-bound squad said, "Training performances." medal in women's 25 metres pistol , the other Indian in of 1168. from September 26 to October 3, followed by the Thomas with Rani (Rampal) and Vandana has On the Indian team's preparations event at the International Shooting fray, finished seventh in the eight- Anjum Moudgil, the second and Finals 2020 in Aarhus, Denmark which had taught me a lot of things. They have played for the Olympics, Udita said, "The Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup competitor final. Indian shooter in the event, shot been postponed last year. Three consecutive BWF World nearly 500 games for India between them Indian team only has one focus right here on Monday. Rahi, 30, started on a positive 1162. She had a series of 389 in Tour events will then follow in Europe. and share a very good rapport. They are now, which is Tokyo. There is no doubt "This gives me the assurance that note and continued to dominate as kneeling, 391 in prone and 382 in In November, the BWF World Tour will move to Asia, very experienced players and have always that the next few weeks are going to be I am on the right track and I have to the final progressed. Earlier in the standing. With average scores, with Indonesia hosting a three-tournament Asian Leg in supported me during my time with the the most crucial days of our lives. keep working on this up till the preliminary round, Rahi had shot Tejaswin and Anjum might not make Bali, including the BWF World Tour Finals. The final team. I am very lucky to have seniors like Everything we do now, we will do with Olympics," Rahi said after her victory. 591 out of 600 while Manu scored the cut for the final in women's 50m tournament of the calendar year will be the World them around." the aim to produce the best results at Rahi shot 39 out of 50 in the 25m 588 in the qualification round. 3-position competition. Championships in Huelva, Spain in mid-December. Udita, who has played 32 matches for the Tokyo Olympics." Ex-WI pacer Winston Benjamin's son Rai almost breaks 400m hurdles mark EUGENE, JUNE 28 (AGENCIES) world record. some more things. I can run so much seconds and had won silver medal at West Indies cricket may be sputtering On Saturday night at the US faster. I know it. I can feel it," the World Championships in in but its athletics is blossoming not just Olympic trials, Benjamin junior Benjamin said after the race. 2019. in the Caribbean nations like Jamaica clocked 46.83, only .05 off American He said that coming so close to the Between 2013 and 2015, he had but also in the United States of America Kevin Young's time of 46.78 in 1992. world record will add "just more fuel represented Antigua and Barbuda in (USA). Rai Benjamin, son of former The 23-year-old is now the favourite for the fire". Saturday's time helped international events but has West Indies pace bowler Winston to win gold for the United States at the him push 's Karsten Warholm represented USA since 2019. Father Benjamin, who hasn't taken up cricket Tokyo Olympic Games that begin next down to No. 3 in the list of athletes Winston had played 21 Tests between like father and is instead scorching the month. He could also knock off the with best timings. Warholm clocked 1987 and 1995, picking 61 wickets. track in 400-metre hurdles, has come world record. "I know it (world 46.87. Benjamin junior had earlier He also played 85 ODIs between 1986 close to breaking the three-decade old record) is there. I just have to tweak held the third-fastest time of 46.98 and 1995, picking 100 wickets. Max Verstappen dominates Second seed Aryna opens Wimbledon with easy win over qualifier Styrian GP for his 4th win of F1 season LONDON, JUNE 28 (AGENCIES) SPIELBERG, JUNE 28 Belarusian No.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka began her Wimbledon title quest Formula One championship with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph over Romanian qualifier Monica Niculescu in leader Max Verstappen the first match that got completed under the No.1 Court roof here on dominated the Styrian Grand Monday. Aryna, who is the second seed in the absence of 's Naomi Prix on Sunday to win back-to- Osaka and Romania's Simona Halep, took one hour and 15 minutes to back races for the first time in demolish her Romanian rival and make it to the second round. his career. With a clean start The result was Aryna's only second main-draw win at Wimbledon, from pole, the Red Bull driver and first since defeating Irina Khromacheva of Russia on her 2017 debut. denied Lewis Hamilton an early On her last visit in 2019, the Belarusian crashed out in the first round to attack and he remained ahead the grass-court exponent Magdalena Rybarikova of . for the entire race, beating his On Monday, the 23-year-old Aryna was in imperious form, slamming Mercedes rival by more than 35 47 winners. The Romanian's serve, which averaged just 129 kmph, seconds. became target practice for Aryna. The Belarusian hit 15 clean return Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri winners off it, and the third game of the second set saw a desperate Bottas finished third ahead of Monica send down an underarm serve. Monica, 33, had last beaten a Sergio Perez as Red Bull and Left with no chance to Racing on its home track in top-10 player in 2017 (Britain's Johanna Konta in ), and had lost Mercedes occupied the top four overtake Verstappen, Hamilton the Austrian Alps, Red Bull her first eight matches of 2021. places for the second pitted again in the penultimate stretched its winning streak to consecutive time. “The car was lap and successfully beat the four races, as Hamilton’s wait for fastest lap time held by Perez at his 99th career victory reached on fire,” Verstappen said over that time, earning him a bonus the seven-week mark. the team radio after crossing the point though the deficit to The last time Hamilton went finish line. Verstappen won a few Verstappen grew to over half a without a win in four straight tenths from Hamilton in most of minute. “It was a bit of a lonely races came more than three the laps and was already more race, really. I was trying to keep years ago, spanning the last three than three seconds ahead of up with those guys but the speed races of 2017 and the first three Hamilton after 10 laps. they have… They obviously of the following season. “Straight away I felt good made some big improvements Red Bull squandered a balance in the car,” he said. “It over the last couple of races,” potential 1-3 finish with a slow was good to manage the tires Hamilton said. pit stop for Perez, which lasted basically from the start. We just “It was impossible to keep for nearly five seconds due to an kept on going, trying to hit our up. I don’t know where we are issue with the left-rear tire. lap times and that worked really losing all this time.” Losing 0.25 Williams driver George well today.” It was Verstappen’s seconds on Verstappen on the Russell, who is a candidate for 14th career win and fourth of the straights left Hamilton with few Mercedes from 2022 if Bottas season, increasing his lead over options. He pushed and reduced were to leave the team, had to the seven-time world champion the deficit on some laps, but then retire after two-thirds of the race in the drivers’ standings to 18 had to be more cautious on with a power-unit issue. The points after eight races. A race others to protect his tires from Austrian GP on the same track win is worth 25 points. overheating. is scheduled for next Sunday.