sports.ndtv.com - US Open 2024: Defending Champions Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff Headline Day 1

US Open 2024: Defending Champions Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff Headline Day 1

Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff launch their US Open title defences on Monday, Serbian superstar Djokovic aiming to follow up his emotional Paris Olympics triumph with his first Grand Slam title of 2024. Djokovic, seeded second behind world number one Jannik Sinner, is vying to become the first man to repeat in New York since Roger Federer won five straight US Opens from 2004-2008. "Hopefully that changes this year," Djokovic said. "That's the goal." It's been an erratic year for Djokovic, who was hindered by a knee injury and for the first time since 2017 is looking at the prospect of a year without a Grand Slam title.

14-Year-Old Smashes 100m Age Group World Record, Refreshes Usain Bolt Memories

Nigeria-born British athlete Divine Iheme looks ready for the grand stage, having impressed one and all with his breathtaking speed on the track. Iheme could be a name that fans would be singing for a long time, after the 14-year-old ran the 100m in a stunning 10.30 seconds at Lee Valley Athletics Centre, breaking the previous record of 10.51 seconds set by Jamaican speedster Sachin Dennis. Only two years ago, when he was aged 12, Iheme was covering the 100m distance in 11.3 seconds. The teenager has made significant progress, to clock 10.30 seconds, breaking the 'world record' in that age group.

Krishan Bahadur Pathak Named India Goalkeeper In Asian Champions Trophy Squad

Krishan Bahadur Pathak, on expected lines, was on Wednesday named the main goalkeeper after the retirement of PR Sreejesh in the Harmanpreet Singh-led 18-member Indian team for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy. The tournament will see defending champions India vie for top honours alongside Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan and hosts China at Hulunbuir from September 8-17. Sreejesh announced his retirement after India won a second successive Olympic bronze medal in Paris earlier this month. Pathak, who was India's standby goalkeeper at the Paris Olympics and in many tournaments prior to that, will now be the man in charge at the post, while Suraj Karkera will be the reserve custodian.

Afghanistan's Taliban Government Bans 'Violent' Mixed Martial Arts

Afghanistan's Taliban government has banned mixed martial arts (MMA), believing it to be un-Islamic, its sports authority said in a statement on Wednesday. The order was passed down by Afghanistan's morality police in the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice after an investigation into the sport's compliance with Islamic law, or sharia, the statement and local media said. "It was found that the sport is problematic with respect to sharia and it has many aspects which are contradictory to the teachings of Islam," the Taliban government sports authority said in a statement sent to AFP.

Paralympics 2024 Declared Open With Mesmerising Opening Ceremony In Paris

The 2024 Paralympics were opened in Paris on Thursday (IST) by French President Emmanuel Macron, firing the starting gun on 11 days of competition in a city still riding the wave of the successful Olympics. Macron declared the Games open during an exuberant and colourful opening ceremony in a balmy Place de la Concorde in central Paris -- the first time a Paralympic opening ceremony has taken place away from the main stadium.

3-Tiebreakers In 5-Setter: US Open Sees Longest Match Ever In Its History

Daniel Evans rallied from 0-4 down in the final set to beat Karen Khachanov in the longest match in US Open history on Tuesday, a five-hour, 35-minute epic on court six. In front of a lively crowd, Britain's Evans beat the 23rd seed from Russia 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-4. "It was a long, long battle," Evans said. "I thought I played pretty well for the majority of the match. Obviously I was struggling physically, but so was he. "It was sort of who could last the longest in the end."

Paralympics 2024 Officially Open; Sumit Antil, Bhagyashree Jadhav Lead Indian Contingent

Paralympics 2024 Opening Ceremony Highlights: French President Emmanuel Macron declared the 2024 Paralympics open on Wednesday during a colourful ceremony in the heart of Paris. A total of 4,400 Paralympians, representing 167 nations, marched from Champs-Elysees to Place de la Concorde. In a moment of pride for India, para-athletes Sumit Antil and Bhagyashri Jadhav led the Indian contingent, which is the largest ever in the nation's Paralympic history with 84 athletes in 12 different sports. The opening ceremony itself was a spectacular celebration of diversity, resilience, and the spirit of competition, featuring breathtaking performances that highlighted French culture and the Paralympic values of determination and equality.

Uruguay's Darwin Nunez Banned For Five Games Over Copa America Incidents

Liverpool's Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez has been banned for five matches and fined by South American confederation CONMEBOL after his role in a mass brawl in the Copa America semi-final. Four other players have been suspended, with 11 sanctioned overall, as a result of the investigation into the violence at the end of the clash between Uruguay and Colombia in Charlotte. Nunez was among the players who waded into the stands at the Bank of America Stadium and exchanged punches with fighting fans during a chaotic end to the game.

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Sports.ndtv.com Sport News

US Open 2024: Defending Champions Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff Headline Day 1

14-Year-Old Smashes 100m Age Group World Record, Refreshes Usain Bolt Memories

Krishan Bahadur Pathak Named India Goalkeeper In Asian Champions Trophy Squad

Afghanistan's Taliban Government Bans 'Violent' Mixed Martial Arts

Paralympics 2024 Declared Open With Mesmerising Opening Ceremony In Paris

3-Tiebreakers In 5-Setter: US Open Sees Longest Match Ever In Its History

Paralympics 2024 Officially Open; Sumit Antil, Bhagyashree Jadhav Lead Indian Contingent

Uruguay's Darwin Nunez Banned For Five Games Over Copa America Incidents