England batsman Jonny Bairstow said he has run out of “superlatives” to describe skipper Joe Root’s achievements in the longest format of the game.Root on Saturday became the second England batsman to hit 9000 runs in Test cricket after former skipper Alastair Cook. “He is in second place in the leaderboard among run-scorers in the history of the English game. It is very special to pass 9,000 Test runs in this game. It’s extremely special to score another 180 not out at Lord’s,” said Bairstow in the virtual press conference after the end of the third day’s play.

“I’ve run out of superlatives there, and to see him in the form that he is, playing the way he is, it’s awesome to be out there with him. “It’s awesome to be out there putting on partnerships with him and enjoying every single moment of it as I’ve done over many years,” he added. England were bundled out for 391 in the first innings. Root was left stranded on 180* as James Anderson was dismissed on the final ball of day three. Prior to that Bairstow had helped his captain by hitting crucial 57 runs. “Joe and I, when we were walking out, we were just smiling at each other. How good is it to walk out on a Saturday at Lord’s, with one of your best mates?” said Bairstow.

“That’s exactly what it was. Our partnership was about having fun while we were out there, and to have a full crowd back at Lord’s, with the new stand, with family and friends, was really special. That Lord’s buzz, or hum, or however you want to phrase it, was most definitely back,” he added.England lead by 27 runs and India will come out to bat on Sunday in the second innings. Bairstow however remains skeptical as to who has the advantage in the match going into fourth day.

“I’m not a bookie; I don’t think I’ll ever be one. Let’s see how tomorrow goes. We’ve got a new ball in our hands. We saw it was tough and challenging when they got their second new ball today,” said Bairstow. “We come in tomorrow all fired up; we’ve got guys we’re able to challenge in every way possible. We’ve got the pace of Woody we’ve got the swing of Jimmy we’ve got the nip of Ollie Rob. ‘Not to mention Sammy Curran. It’s going to be a really challenging day hopefully, for the Indians. We’ll be looking to make sure we challenge every part of their game,’ he added.

Grappler Vinesh Phogat has apologised to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) after the body temporarily suspended her over disciplinary issues at the recently-concluded Tokyo Olympics.

“She has sent an e-mail, the committee will see her response and it depends whether they are satisfied with it or not. The disciplinary committee will take the call,” sources within the WFI told ANI. The WFI had handed a temporary suspension to grappler Vinesh Phogat over her behaviour at the Tokyo Olympics. The federation was then awaiting a reply from the grappler.“Yes, a temporary suspension has been given, we are waiting for her reply and then we will decide further course of action,” sources within the know of developments had told. The grappler had travelled to Tokyo from Hungary where she was training with coach Woller Akos. Upon arriving, she refused to stay at the Games Village and train with the other Indian team members. Grappler Vinesh Phogat’s hopes of winning a bronze medal were dashed in the Games as her quarter-final opponent Vanesa Kaladzinskaya of Belarus lost in the semi-final of the Tokyo Olympics. Last week, Vinesh Phogat lost in the quarterfinals of the women’s Freestyle 53kg event at the Tokyo Olympics after going down against Belarus’ Vanesa at the Makuhari Messe Hall A Mat B.

Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, India’s first-ever Gold Medallist in track and field said it was an honour for him to attend the 75th Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort on Sunday. Olympians, including Neeraj, PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu along with two officials of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) attended the 75th Independence Day celebrations. “It was an honour to attend the Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort today. As an athlete and a soldier, my heart is full of emotion when I see the national flag flying high. Jai Hind,” Neeraj Chopra tweeted.

Indian men’s hockey player Mandeep Singh said he witnessed the best Independence Day celebrations on Sunday. “Special day to remember witnessed the best Independence Day celebration,” Mandeep tweeted.Star boxer Maty Kom extended greeting from the Red Fort to her followers.

“My warm greetings to all on the occasion of 75th Independence Day,” Mary Kom tweeted. Sprinter Dutee Chand shared a picture from the event and said it is always a pride to stand near the National Flag. “It always a pride to stand near to National Flag. Today is very memorable day for me as I am at Red fort attending the 75th Independence Day of India with Honorable PM and all esteemed Guests. Wish you all Happy Independence Day,” Dutee Chand tweeted.

PM Modi in his Independence Day Speech applauded the Indian contingent at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and said the country was proud of them for bringing glory to the nation.

In the Post Covid era this year, football, the most favorite sport of the globe gave the world the first set of mega sporting spectacles- Copa America and the Euros that rattled and dazzled not only Americas or Europe but the entire world earlier this year. The year 2021 proved to be a year to remember for Lionel Messi as he found redemption guiding the La Albiceleste to their first title in almost two decades beating rivals Brazil by a solitary goal in the finals of the Copa America.

Their last World Cup glory came way back in Mexico 1986 and more recently in Rio 2014 Argentina finished runner up courtesy Mario Götze’s extra time goal that helped Germany claim their fourth World Title. The Blue and White brigade had last won the Copa America in 1993 at Ecuador while finishing Runner up 2004, 2007, 2015 and 2016 in the recent past. This was Messi’s first Winners Trophy for his beloved Argentina.

The world was slowly finding its way back to the post-pandemic way of life, when the news that Messi was parting ways with Barcelona, shook the entire world. Football fans across the globe, believed that Barca and Messi were inseparable. The blow was close to the hearts of the 250 million fans who follow Barcelona FC – the second most popular Club in the World. Lionel Messi had joined Barcelona in 2003 in his early teens and since then won a record Six Ballon d’Or Awards, Six European Gold Shoes, Ten La Liga Titles, and for the club 35 trophies which include Seven Copa del Ray and Four European Champions League Crowns. The 5’7” maestro found the opposition net 672 times in 778 appearances for Barca, and scored over 750 senior career goals for club and country -the most goals ever by a player for a single club.

While many indicated how Messi’s good friend Luis Suárez was made to feel at the Barcelona and as a result he left to join Atlético Madrid, these were early signs that things were going to be different. In August 2020, Messi had tried to leave Barcelona making a formal request for an exit after a breakdown in his relationship with then-president Josep Maria Bartomeu but his successor Joan Laporta, had convinced him to stay.

This time when the contract had run out, and Messi and Barcelona wanted to renew their contracts, economic, structural and legal issues were cited to force the two to part ways. Barcelona maintained that Messi wanted to stay with the club even if it meant a 50% reduction in his wages but La Liga’s Financial Fair Play regulations would not permit the club to incur any further debt. Javier Tebas, Chief, La Liga was reported saying that Barcelona, which has a total debt of more than 1 billion euros equivalent to $1.18 billion, would not be shown any leniency when it comes to obeying the league’s strict financial control rules.

In 2013, La Liga had introduced financial measures of controlling that determined the maximum amount of money each club could spend on its teams, which was conditioned by their income. This included the amount a club could spend as paying wages to the playing squad and coaching staff each season. According to the 2021 Deloitte Money League, Barcelona has the highest revenues in world football, although the club’s income fell drastically by 125 million euros last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the income plummeted, the big salaries have definitely been a burgeoning liability on the Catalan giants. Desperate attempts to offload a couple of high-wage players and talks about reducing salaries of players they wanted to retain, things did not actually pan out as planned.

Messi who also captains Argentina and is considered by many to be one of the greatest players to play the game would have had many lucrative offers. Many expected him to move to Manchester City and reunite with his former manager Pep Guardiola but Paris Saint-Germain’s Mauricio Pochettino sealed the deal. Reports state that Messi’s two-year contract with PSG gives him a $41 million annual net salary, including bonuses. There is more on the table like a near $30-million signing bonus, while reports are rumored that Argentine will also get a share of player image rights, including jersey sales, which could potentially take his salary up to the $75 million range. PSG said in a statement that Messi will also have a share in the cryptocurrency or fan tokens included in his “welcome package”, or signing on fee. The contract also has an option for extending into a possible third year.

Indian vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara were resolute on Day 4 as they kept visitors in-game after eventually losing their wickets to clinical English bowlers of the ongoing second Test here at the Lord’s Cricket Ground on Sunday.

At stumps, India’s score read 181/6 after 82 overs in the second innings, leading the hosts by 154 runs. India’s maverick wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant (14 off 29) and Ishant Sharma (4 off 10) are currently unbeaten at the crease ahead of the final day of the Test. Resuming from 105/3, Rahane was dropped on 31 after the right-hander cut one from Moeen hard and it went low to point. Bairstow had both his hands to it but the ball eventually spilled out.

In the 72nd over of the innings, Mark Wood again did the trick for England as he removed formidable Pujara with an absolutely unplayable delivery. Pujara added 100 runs for the 4th wicket with Rahane as he walked back after an epic 45 off 206.

Soon, Ali’s persistence paid off as he got Ajinkaya Rahane after an edge leads the ball to the keeper. Indian vice-captain departed for 61 off 146 balls with the match turned on its head.

Jadeja’s stay at the crease was shortened by Ali after the off-spinner beat the outside edge and just pinged off stump.

After plenty of chat from players of both sides about the state of the light at Lord’s play for Day 4 was eventually called off. Before the wicketless second session, England had a flying start to the day as pacer Mark Wood dismissed India opening batters Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul while Sam Curran sent Virat Kohli back to the pavilion as the visitors were put on the back foot. Indian openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma put on 18 runs for the first wicket, but the partnership was broken in the 10th over as Mark Wood sent Rahul (5) back to the pavilion.

Rohit Sharma (21) might have dispatched Mark Wood for a six while playing a pull shot, but the same led to his dismissal in the very same over and India was reduced to 27/2. Later, Sam Curran sent Kohli (20) back to the pavilion.

Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has said it was his dream to fulfill the wish of legend Milkha Singh and win a medal for India at the Olympics in track and field.

Taking to Twitter, Neeraj replied to a message posted by Kiren Rijiju and wrote: “Thank you, sir. Mera bhi sapna tha ki Milkha Singh ji ki wish puri kar paun. Bas yehi umeed hai ki woh jahan bhi hai, ye dekh kar khush hue honge. (It was my dream to fulfill Milkha Singh ji’s wish. Hoping he will be happy to see me win the medal).” Rijiju had tweeted moments after Neeraj won the gold medal. “History has been made, Milkha Singh Ji’s wish is fulfilled as India wins first-ever Olympic medal in Athletics! A golden moment 4 India as Neeraj Chopra won Olympic Gold medal for India at #Tokyo2020 Congratulations @Neeraj_chopra1 on this historic achievement! #Cheer4India.” Neeraj’s historic golden throw in the Olympics has been listed as one of the 10 magical moments of athletics (track and field) in the Tokyo Olympics by World Athletics.

The 23-year-old created history on Saturday as he became the first from the country to win a gold in track and field in the Olympics. He threw the javelin to a distance of 87.58m to pick the yellow metal at the Tokyo Games.“Most keen followers of the sport had heard of Neeraj Chopra before the Olympic Games. But after winning the javelin in Tokyo, and in the process becoming India’s first athletics gold medallist in Olympic history, Chopra’s profile sky-rocketed,” the World Athletics website read.

“Still processing this feeling,” Neeraj recently posted. “To all of India and beyond, thank you so much for your support and blessings that have helped me reach this stage. This moment will live with me forever.”