Sports Updates Highlights: Nethra Kumanan Secures India's 2nd Paris Olympics Quota In Sailing

Sports Updates Highlights: Welcome to our coverage of all the sporting action from across the globe on Friday, April 26, 2024. In cricket and the Indian Premier League, Punjab Kings recorded highest run-chase in T20 history, as they won by eight wickets. Elsewhere in football, Arne Slot has confirmed his talks with Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp's successor next season. In tennis, reactions trickle in to Rafael Nadal's first-round win at Madrid Open. Deepika outshines Korean rival to make semis of Archery World Cup. Indian para-shooter Mona Agarwal claimed a gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle event at World Shooting Para Sport Tournament. Nico Hulkenberg to leave Haas, join Sauber in 2025. Nethra Kumanan secures India's second Paris Olympics quota In Sailing. Stay tuned for all the highlights and coverage today, right here

A series of group games have concluded in Copa Libertadores across South America. Top club teams from the region are locking horns in the CONMEBOL competition, with Paraguay's Cerro Porteno playing a goalless draw with Brazil's Fluminense and Ecuador's Barcelona SC losing 0-2 to Brazil's Sao Paulo.

The opening day of National Football League (NFL) Draft 2024 is currently ongoing, with 19 of the 32 first-round picks done and dusted. Los Angeles Rams have selected Jared Verse for pick 19, and an overall trend is the prioritisation of quarterbacks, as six of the first 12 picks were from that trade. The draft is being held around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan, and will continue over the weekend, up till Sunday.

World number one Iga Swiatek has easily overcome Wang Xiyu to advance to the third round of the Madrid Open. Swiatek has yet to win the title in Madrid, which is the only clay-court European event at which the Pole has not triumphed, but she has gotten off to a flying start with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Xiyu. Next up for the 22-year-old is a third-round tie against 27th seed Sorana Cirstea

India's Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Abhishek Verma have entered the compound mixed team final at Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Shanghai, confirming the nation's fourth medal at the event.

Brazilian football hero Romario has returned to training at age 58, almost two decades after he retired from the sport. He has showed that he continues to possess the goal-scoring talent of yore, needing just a few minutes to net two goals while practising with much younger players at struggling Rio de Janeiro club America, of which the 1994 World Cup winner-turned politician is the president.

The club will play in Rio state's second division championship this year. Romarinho, one of the sons of the former Barcelona star, is in its squad.

Grace Kim has shot a 7-under 64 at the Wilshire Country Club to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Tour's JM Eagle LA Championship. Playing in the morning session, the 23-year-old Australian capped her bogey-free round with a chip-in birdie on the par-3 18th. Maja Stark of Sweden, Sei Young Kim of South Korea and Chanettee Wannasaen of Thailand were a stroke back at 65.

Kolkata Knight Riders are set to lock horns with Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens in match 42 of Indian Premier League 2024 tonight. KKR are at the second spot in the points table with five wins in seven games, while PBKS are second-last in the table with two wins in eight matches.

Before the match begins, check out three key player battles worth watching out for in our report here.

Enzo Fernandez has undergone surgery and will miss the remainder of Chelsea's season. The English Premier League club has posted an injury update on social media, saying the 23-year-old midfielder “has undergone successful surgery on a groin issue and will now begin a period of rehabilitation.”

The compound mixed team of Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Abhishek Verma assured India of a fourth medal in the ongoing Archery World Cup, advancing into the final in Shanghai on Friday.

Former world number one Deepika Kumari, continuing her spirited progress after motherhood, defeated Korean Jeon Hunyoung to advance to the semifinals. Additionally, Indian compound archers continued to shine, ensuring India of a fourth medal in the World Cup Stage 1 on Friday.

Indian para-shooter Mona Agarwal claimed a gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle event, while Army man Amir Ahmed Bhatt secured a silver in the 25m pistol event at the World Shooting Para Sport tournament in Changwon, Korea.

It was her second World Cup title of the year following her win in the same event at the World Cup in New Delhi last month, when she sealed a Paralympic quota. Slovakia’s Verónica Vadovicova won the silver and Swedish shooter Anna Benson won a bronze medal.

Marta, Brazil’s all-time top scorer in women’s football, announced her retirement from internationals this year, the 38-year-old striker revealed ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Indian golfer Aditi Ashok had a disappointing start with a 2-over 73 in the opening round to be placed T-82 at the LPGA Tour's JM Eagle LA Championship. (PTI)

Nico Hulkenberg to Join Sauber for 2025 Season Ahead of Transition to Factory Audi Team in 2026.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Sam Curran won the toss and elected to bowl against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 42 of the IPL 2024 at Eden Gardens on Friday. 

In-form Elena Rybakina has moved into the last 32 of the Madrid Open after a straight sets victory over Italian Lucia Bronzetti.

Nethra Kumanan on Friday secured India's second Paris Olympics quota in sailing, claiming it under the Emerging Nations Program banner at the Last Chance Regatta, an Olympic qualifier, in Hyeres, France.

England will have to win their individual battles to overcome France in their Women's Six Nations Grand Slam decider on Saturday.

Cricket is turning into baseball," Punjab Kings skipper Sam Curran aptly summed up his team's T20 world record run chase of 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL on Friday. Led by Jonny Bairstow's incredible hundred, Punjab Kings set the new world record for the highest run chase in the history of T20 cricket as they went past KKR's 261/6 with eight wickets and eight balls to spare.

That's all from us. Good night!