Category: Sports

Formula One’s parent company, Liberty Media, has made headlines with its recent announcement of acquiring MotoGP’s parent company, Dorna, in a significant deal valued at $4.53 billion.

According to a statement released by MotoGP on Monday, Liberty Media will gain control of approximately 86% of Dorna, while the existing management will maintain a 14% equity stake. The acquisition is estimated to value Dorna/MotoGP at €4.2 billion ($4.53 billion) in terms of enterprise value, with an equity value of €3.5 billion.

Liberty Media’s President and CEO, Greg Maffei, expressed the company’s excitement about adding MotoGP to its roster of leading live sports and entertainment properties in a statement. Similarly, Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna, also welcomed the acquisition as a significant milestone for MotoGP and racing enthusiasts globally.

However, the acquisition is subject to regulatory clearances and approvals, with an expected completion timeline by the end of the year. The deal might attract regulatory scrutiny, given the historical conditions associated with Dorna’s ownership. In the past, CVC Capital Partners’ acquisition of Formula One in 2006, has faced similar regulatory checks.

India’s badminton chances at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris seem bright, and the country is predicted to send its largest-ever team. The top-seeded pair of Satwik and Chirag are considered India’s main competitors after showcasing their abilities at the French Open, which was recently held at the Olympic stadium.  Their coach, Pullela Gopichand, expresses confidence in their abilities.

Lakshya Sen’s comeback in the men’s singles has inspired hope thanks to his noteworthy wins at the All England and French Open. Sen, who is under Vimal Kumar’s coaching, is in good physical and mental health, which might help him perform well in Paris. Despite Prannoy’s early health problems in 2024, Gopichand’s guarantees indicate that he is recovering and preparing for future competitions.

Prakash Padukone is mentoring Sindhu, and she is improving, especially in terms of her physical conditioning and resilience. Padukone highlights that, to succeed in Paris, she must strengthen her mental toughness. Furthermore, Tanisha and Ashwini’s doubles partnership adds depth to India’s lineup, as Ashwini’s background and Tanisha’s chemistry maximise their potential.

India looks to have more promising badminton possibilities than ever before, with athletes peaking at the right time and a strong contingent set to compete.

Carlos Alcaraz, a Spaniard, claimed his second consecutive Indian Wells ATP title by defeating Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (7/5), 6-1. This marked his return to form after a slow start to the season, including an early exit at the Australian Open and an ankle injury in February’s Rio de Janeiro tournament.

Alcaraz, 20, initially had doubts about entering the tournament, given his longest title drought since winning the 2022 US Open. Notably, Alcaraz prevented Medvedev from claiming the only ATP Masters 1000 title missing from his collection. Alcaraz overcame a beehive of opponents to upset Jannik Sinner, the winner of the Australian Open, and advance past Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals.

Reflecting on his victory, Alcaraz acknowledged the significance of winning a Masters 1000 tournament, boosting his motivation and confidence for upcoming events, notably the Miami tournament. His win also solidified his place alongside Rafael Nadal as one of the few players to win five Masters 1000 titles before turning 21.

Despite Medvedev’s strong start, Alcaraz rallied back in the first set, eventually dominating the tiebreaker and securing control of the match. With entertaining rallies showcasing his skills, Alcaraz sealed his victory with a remarkable forehand passing shot, captivating the audience and solidifying his status as a rising star in tennis.

Cricket Australia (CA) has unveiled the schedule for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25, featuring five Tests between India and Australia. The series will start on November 22 with a high-stakes match at Perth Stadium. In early December, there will be a day-night pink-ball test at Adelaide Oval. India will play their second day-night Test match against Australia since 2020 and their fifth overall. 

Australia and India will play a five-match series as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 1991–1992, allowing both teams to secure their spots in the ICC World Test Championship final.

A three-match ODI and T20I series will follow Pakistan’s visit, which will mark the start of Australia’s domestic summer. India’s women’s team will also tour Australia, playing three ODIs in December.

Australia will play three one-day internationals (ODIs) against New Zealand after the Women’s T20 World Cup, and then on December 5, they will play against India in Brisbane and Perth. The Women’s Ashes series against England, which consists of three ODIs, three T20Is, and a historic day-night Test at the MCG in January, will thereafter take the front stage.

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has secured the television and digital broadcasting rights for all New Zealand-based men’s (blackcaps) and women’s (white Ferns) matches in India and related territories for the next seven years. From May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2031, this agreement will cover India’s summer tours to New Zealand in 2026–27 and 2030–31, as well as bilateral Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

All matches will be live telecast on SPNI’s sports channels and streamed on Sony LIV. The deal, valued between $90 million and $100 million (Rs 749-Rs 833 crore), enhances SPNI’s sports portfolio. Additionally, it already includes agreements with the ECB and SLC.

Sony Pictures Networks India’s managing director and CEO, NP Singh, expressed excitement about the partnership, highlighting New Zealand’s esteemed cricket team and its passionate fan base in India. NZC CEO Scott Weenink emphasised the shared values between the two organisations, while NZC GM Commercial Chris Smith highlighted India’s significance as a key market and the substantial nature of the partnership.

The deal allows Indian cricket enthusiasts to witness matches against top teams like India, Australia, England, and Pakistan until 2031. Furthermore, SPNI’s digital rights in India will be co-exclusive with Amazon Prime for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons.

Virat Kohli made history by notching his 100th fifty-plus score in T20 cricket, a feat unmatched by any other Indian player and achieved by only two others globally. During the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli’s outstanding 77 off 49 balls, including 11 boundaries and two sixes, highlighted his return to form after a previous disappointing performance.

Throughout his brilliant 378-match T20 career, Kohli has accumulated 12,092 runs at an average of 41.26, adorned with eight hundred and 92 fifties. His best score to date is an undefeated 122. Australia’s David Warner (109) and the West Indies’ Chris Gayle (110) are two of the finest players with the most fifty-plus scores.

Batting first, PBKS failed to build on their beginnings and finished at 176/6. Glenn Maxwell (2/29) and Mohammed Siraj (2/26), of the RCB bowling team, made significant strides. Kohli’s starring performance and late-inning heroics from Dinesh Karthik (28*) and Mahipal Lomror (17*) saw RCB secure a four-wicket victory with four balls remaining, despite mistakes in their chase.

Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna, alongside his Australian partner Matthew Ebden, showcased their skill at the Miami Open, securing a hard-fought victory against Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski, propelling them into the men’s doubles quarterfinals. The formidable duo endured a challenging battle lasting one hour and thirty-nine minutes before clinching a 7-5, 7-6 (3) win over Monaco’s Nys and Poland’s Zielinski in the ATP Masters 1000 event on Monday night.

Despite facing formidable opposition, the 43-year-old Bopanna and Ebden exhibited remarkable resilience and skill throughout the match. With four aces and 84% first serve points won their partnership demonstrated their dominance on the court, highlighting their daunting presence in the men’s doubles circuit.

It was Bopanna and Ebden who seized a crucial opportunity, breaking Nys and Zielinski in the 11th game to claim a pivotal lead and subsequently secure the opening set. In the second set, neither team yielded serve until the match reached a climactic tiebreaker. A double blunder by Nys and Zielinski proved costly at an important point, allowing the Indo-Australian pair to take advantage of the mistake and win the set and the match.

John Patrick Smith of Australia and Sem Verbeek of the Netherlands will be their next opponents.

Dinesh Karthik has distinguished himself as one of the most effective finishers in the IPL, particularly in the crucial death-over phase. During IPL 2024, representing RCB, Karthik showcased his strength yet again, elevating himself to the esteemed position of the second-highest run scorer in the death overs since 2022.

In a gripping encounter against PBKS in Bengaluru, Karthik played a crucial role in RCB’s thrilling victory. His blistering cameo, characterised by an unbeaten 28 runs from a mere 10 deliveries, adorned with three boundaries and two towering sixes, highlighted his ability to accelerate the scoring rate under pressure. This remarkable inning escalated Karthik to a staggering strike rate of 280, solidifying his reputation as a formidable force in the late stages of innings.

Karthik’s cumulative tally of 372 runs in the death overs at an impressive strike rate of 203.27 firmly establishes his credentials among the elite in IPL cricket. While he currently trails behind the Rajasthan Royals’ Shimron Hetmyer, the slender margin reflects Karthik’s consistency and impact in crunch situations. Beyond his personal achievements, Karthik was beneficial in ensuring that RCB defeated PBKS by four wickets.

Virat Kohli’s exceptional performance earned him the Player of the Match accolade, yet Karthik’s invaluable contribution cannot be understated.

On Friday, Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto made history in Montreal by clinching her third consecutive figure skating world title, a feat not seen since Peggy Fleming’s achievement in 1968. Despite starting in fourth place after the short programme, Sakamoto’s captivating free skate, set to music by Lauryn Hill, escalated her to victory with an impressive score of 222.96 points.

American skater Isabeau Levito secured the silver medal, while South Korea’s Chaeyeon Kim claimed bronze. Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx, initially leading, finished fourth after a fall during her routine.

In the ice dance competition, Madison Chock and Evan Bates from the United States performed an enthralling rhythm dance number that put them one step closer to winning a second straight global title. Their performance, which scored 90.08, impressed the audience with its smooth and charismatic performance. Following closely behind were Italy’s Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri in second place, with Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier in third.

Chock and Bates, who relocated to Montreal after the 2018 Olympics, expressed their joy at participating in their 11th world championship and emphasised their love for the sport. Their previous victories include winning the world championship in Japan in 2023 and claiming their first Grand Prix Final title in December.

Chennai is all set to host its first IPL final in 12 years at Chepauk on May 26, with the stadium having hosted finals in 2011 and 2012. The city will also host the second qualifier on May 24. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad will host the first qualifier on May 21 and the eliminator on May 22.

The second phase of IPL 2024 is scheduled to begin on April 8, with CSK playing the Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai. All playoff matches will be evening games. The ten teams are split into two groups, playing a mix of intra and inter-group matches.

CSK’s group includes the Gujarat Titans, RCB, Sunrisers, and Punjab Kings, while the other comprises the Mumbai Indians, KKR, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants. The league phase will have 11 double-header days.

Initially, a partial schedule for 21 matches was released from March 22 to April 7, awaiting the announcement of general election dates. Apart from home grounds, matches will be held in Visakhapatnam, Dharamsala, and Guwahati, where Guwahati is set to host the final league match between the Royals and KKR on May 19.

The IPL this year is clashing with the elections, which are scheduled to be held between April 19 and June 1.