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If Rio medal happens it will be dream come true: Sania Mirza

November 3, 2015

Mumbai, Nov 3: Winning a medal in next year's Rio Olympics would be a dream come true, but if it did not happen it won't be the end of the world, said India's woman tennis star Sania Mirza today.

sania copy"It's just a hope, right. If we (she and Leander Paes) win (a medal in mixed doubles), it will be a dream come true. If we don't, life goes on. It's not the end of the world," said the joint world no.1 in women's doubles at a promotional event here.

The Hyderabad-based star was responding to a question about former Davis Cup star Ramesh Krishnan's recent statement that mixed doubles provided veteran Paes, winner of a singles bronze medal in the 1996 Games at Atlanta, his best chance to win his second Olympic medal (with Sania as partner) in Rio.

Krishnan felt India have a good chance to win a medal at Rio in mixed doubles but it would be a great challenge for an ageing Paes to win his second medal at the Olympics.

"He's (Paes) talking about one more Olympics but with each passing day it is getting difficult. I am sure he is hoping and we are also hoping for one last push. The only thing is you can prepare yourself well. You never know what will happen. Mixed doubles is the best option," he said.

Sania, who returned last night from Singapore after winning the women's doubles title with her Swiss partner and joint world no. 1 Martina Hingis in the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore, and India football captain Sunil Chhetri were launched as brand ambassadors by pain reliever brand, 'Volini'.

Sania was also very pleased about tennis legend Martina Navrotilova's description in a tweet about her performance in Singapore after presenting the winner's trophy to top seeds Sania and Martina Hingis.

"It's a great honour and I am humbled. She told me I am seeing the ball like a football," said India's best-ever female tennis player about the all-time great's comments after she and the other star Martina won their ninth title of the season with their 22nd consecutive match win.

"@WTA @mhingis @MirzaSania what a dominating performance from the world #1 team but particularly Sania-just awesome!" Navratilova had tweeted.

The Indo-Swiss pair beat the Spanish pair of Garbine Muguruza and Carla Suarez Navarro in straight sets in the summit clash to clinch the WTA Finals women's doubles crown on Sunday last in Singapore.

Before the WTA crown, Sania and Martina had won eight titles - Indian Wells, Miami, Charleston, Wimbledon, US Open, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Beijing - and finished runner-up just once (Rome).

Meanwhile, Chhetri expressed optimism that India would do better than what they have done so far in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Guam in Bengaluru on November 12.

"We will try our best against Guam at Bengaluru," said the diminutive striker.

India had lost 1-2 to the tiny country in the Western Pacific, in the away first leg clash.

A winless India are already out of reckoning for a final round berth as they have lost all the five matches they have played so far in Group D.

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Agencies
June 23,2020

Belgrade, June 23: Novak Djokovic tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday after taking part in a tennis exhibition series he organized in Serbia and Croatia.

The top-ranked Serb is the fourth player to test positive for the virus after first playing in Belgrade and then again last weekend in Zadar, Croatia.

His wife also tested positive. “The moment we arrived in Belgrade we went to be tested. My result is positive, just as Jelena's, while the results of our children are negative," Djokovic said in a statement.

Djokovic has been criticized for organizing the tournament and bringing in players from other countries amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Viktor Troicki said Tuesday that he and his pregnant wife have both been diagnosed with the virus, while Grigor Dimitrov, a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist from Bulgaria, said Sunday he tested positive.

Borna Coric played Dimitrov on Saturday in Zadar and said Monday he has also tested positive. There were no social distancing measures observed at the matches in either country and Djokovic and other players were seen hugging each other and partying in night clubs and restaurants after the matches.

 “Everything we did in the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions,” Djokovic said.

“Our tournament meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region.” Djokovic, who has previously said he was against taking a vaccine for the virus even if it became mandatory to travel, was the face behind the Adria Tour, a series of exhibition events that started in the Serbian capital and then moved to Zadar.

He left Croatia after the final was canceled and was tested in Belgrade. The statement said Djokovic was showing no symptoms.

Despite the positive test, Djokovic defended the exhibition series. “It was all born with a philanthropic idea, to direct all raised funds towards people in need and it warmed my heart to see how everybody strongly responded to this,” Djokovic said.

"We organized the tournament at the moment when the virus has weakened, believing that the conditions for hosting the Tour had been met. “Unfortunately, this virus is still present, and it is a new reality that we are still learning to cope and live with.”

Djokovic said he will remain in self-isolation for 14 days and also apologized to anyone who became infected as a result of the series. Organizers of the Adria Tour said the third stage of the event, scheduled to held next week in Bosnia, has been cancelled.

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Agencies
August 5,2020

New Delhi, Aug 5: Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Harmanpreet Kaur were on Wednesday appointed as the global brand ambassadors of the WTF Sports.

Raina is also joining the brand as a Strategic Partner. WTF Sports, a fantasy sports gaming platform, was today formally launched in India and globally.

The announcement was made through a web conference with prominent cricket host, Vikram Sathaye moderating and hosting the webinar and Vinit Bhatia, Manit Parikh and Yash Kadakia Co-Founders - India and Global, WTF Sports introducing the cricketers as the Global Brand Ambassadors.

Kaur said it was a perfect fit for her and she can use her strategy and experience while playing.
"WTF Sports was the perfect fit with me, I can use strategy and my experience while playing, I've actually learnt to strategize better as I've played along. Additionally, when we were under lockdown and I couldn't really practice, it was fun to come on the platform and feel like I'm still playing," Kaur said in a statement.

On the other hand, Raina said, "It is exciting to be a part of a fantasy sports platform like WTF Sports not just as an ambassador but also as the strategic partner, it is everything that I embody and what I believe in, it's fierce, fun and competitive."

The app currently hosts three major sports, multiple playing modes, and exciting contests, ensuring that sports fans can get more skillful by letting them strategize and use their sports knowledge into rewarding behaviour.

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News Network
May 2,2020

Melbourne, May 2: After becoming the number one side in Test cricket, Australia's head coach Justin Langer has said that his team has won back the respect of the country.

Australia dethroned India from the top spot in Tests and now the Men in Blue are in the third place.

Langer came in as the coach of Australia after the 2018 ball-tampering scandal and it took him some time to get the side back to winning ways.

Ever since the return of David Warner and Steve Smith, Australia went on to become a commendable side and the results reflect that.

"We have got lots of work to do to become the team we want to be. But over the last couple of years, not only have we performed well on the field, we have performed well off it. We have earned some respect back from other teams around the world but also from Australia," Langer said in an official statement.

"When we started on this journey, there had been a lot of talk about Australia wanting to be No. 1 in the world in all three forms of the game.

We took a different approach. Not once did we talk about being No. 1 ranked in the world. We wanted to be No.1 in our values and process. That is what I am most proud of," he added.

In the latest ICC rankings update, that rates all matches played since May 2019 at 100 per cent and those of the previous two years at 50 per cent, Australia (116) have taken over from India as the top-ranked side in the ICC men's Test team rankings with New Zealand (115) remaining in second place.

India is now third with 114 points. With only two points separating them, this is the second closest the top three teams have been since the Test rankings were launched in 2003.

The closest for the top three teams were in January 2016, when India had led Australia and South Africa by a single point.

Australia has also moved to the top spot in the T20I rankings for the first time in the format.

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