Sports Updates: French Open - Aryna Sabalenka Defeats Best friend Paula Badosa; DK Bids Adieu To Cricket Via Social Media

Sports News June 1, 2024: June 2024 began with bumper sporting action from all around the world. In cricket, India defeated Bangladesh by 60 runs in a T20 World Cup warm-up match, and the UEFA Champions League 2023-24 action culminated with Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund taking on each other in the final. In badminton, Treesa-Gayatri's Singapore Open dreams were shattered after they lost in the semi-final. In the French Open, Aryna Sabalenka defeated her best friend Paula Badosa. Followed all the scores and updates from sports around the world here

The Al Hilal FC won the Saudi Kings Cup title to complete the domestic double with a 5-4 on penalties victory against Al Nassr, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo in tears on the ground.

As the spotlights on sports shift toward the Americas for the ICC T20 World Cup, the Americans who have grown up playing, and watching baseball, soccer, rugby, and never encountered cricket, wonder what exactly cricket is. Given the similar elements like a bat-like stick, a ball, a batter, someone who balls, and the fielders to prevent the ball from reaching the boundary or beyond, is the ICC's marque event, nothing but a different version of MLB? Let's find out

The two men's doubles pairings involving an Indian each had contrasting results on Friday at the French Open 2024 with N Sriram Balaji earning his maiden win at the Roland Garros and Yuki Bhambri's tournament coming to an end in the opening round. 

Balaji, who is the frontrunner to join Rohan Bopanna in the Indian men's doubles team for Paris Olympics, combined well with Mexicao's Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela Martinez for a 6-3 6-4 victory over American Reese Stalder and Dutch Sem Verbeek.

Soccer's international governing body is implementing new measures designed to further support the well-being of players and coaches during pregnancy and after the birth of their children.

The FIFA protocols give both players and coaches a minimum of 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, and a minimum of eight weeks paid leave for those who adopt a child younger than 2. There is also a minimum eight weeks paid for women who are non-biological parents of newborns. (AP)

England pacer Brydon Carse is suffering from a 16-month ban, of which a 13 months passed. He was charged with placing 303 bets on various cricket matches for more than two years. He will now be eligible to play from August 28, 2024.

Carse will be suspended from playing in any cricket between 28 May 2024 and 28 August 2024. Provided Carse does not commit any further offences contrary to the anti-corruption rules over the next two years. he will not face any further penalties. There was no evidence to suggest any wider integrity concerns from Carse's actions," said the cricket regulators.

The dream run of the of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand came to screeching halt in the semifinal of the women's doubles of the Singapore Open 2024 on Saturday as the duo went down against the world No 4 Japanese pair of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida.

The Indian pair started well to lose a close first game but totally faltered in the second game to bow out from the competition.

The final scoreline read 23-21, 21-11 in the favour of the Japanese duo.

In sole lead with a comfortable advantage of 2.5 points, Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali will take on Tingjie Lei of China in the fifth round of the Norway chess tournament in Stavanger.

Having amassed 8.5 points from the first four rounds, Vaishali is ahead of women's world champion Wenjun Ju of China and Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine in the USD 1,61,000 prize money tournament. (PTI)

Dasun Shanaka produced a solid all-round performance, including bowling figures of 4/23, as former champions Sri Lanka overcame some jittery moments to down Ireland by 41 runs in their T20 World Cup warm-up game in Lauderhill.

Put in to bat at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground here on Friday, Sri Lanka saw their batting misfire in the initial phases of the game.

They lost half of their side for 82 runs in 11 overs before managing to post a respectable 163/8. (PTI)

The former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes that the mastermind behind Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL success Gautam Gambhir would be a "good coach" for the national cricket team, only if he applies for the job.

"...has he applied? I really don't know because first he has to apply and then only he will get the job...I think (May) 27th was the last date of application," Ganguly said in his recent media interaction.

"Obviously, BCCI has the right to extend it (the deadline) as well. If he applies and if he wants it, and I say if he applies and if he wants it, he will be a very good candidate," he said.

Talking to ICC's official website for the T20 World Cup, the Indian fast bowling spearhead revealed that he never tries to "over-teach" the younger lot and steps in to help only when asked, to avoid burdening them with information.

"You don't try to over-teach. That is something that I have learned," Bumrah told the ICC's official website for the T20 World Cup.

India's DP Manu clinched the gold medal in men's javelin throw event at the Taiwan Open 2024 with a throw of 81.58m in Taipei on Saturday.

The Asian Athletics Championship silver medallist registered his best throw in his last attempt. Taiwan Open is is a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze-level meet and awards crucial ranking points. (PTI)

Both the No.2 seed, Aryna Sabalenka, and the No.4 seed, Elena Rybakina, staged comebacks from early break deficits to advance to the second week of Roland Garros (French Open) for the second time each. Sabalenka rallied from 5-3 down in the first set to secure a 7-5, 6-1 victory against Paula Badosa in 77 minutes. Similarly, Rybakina overcame a challenge, defeating the No.25 seed, Elise Mertens, with a score of 6-4, 6-2 in just 67 minutes.

Monday, May 27

Canada vs Nepal, 1st Warm Up Match at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas. Canada won by 63 runs.

Papua New Guinea vs Oman, 2nd Match at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad Oman won by three wickets.

Uganda vs Namibia, 3rd Match at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad Namibia won by five wickets.

Tuesday, May 28

Netherlands vs Sri Lanka, 4th Match at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida. Netherlands won by 20 runs.

Bangladesh vs United States, 5th Match at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas. The match got abandoned.

Namibia vs Australia, 6th Match at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad. Australia won by seven wickets.

Wednesday, May 29

Oman vs Afghanistan, 7th Match at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad. There was no result.

Thursday, May 30

United States vs Nepal, 8th Match at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas. The match got abandoned without a ball bowled post toss.

Uganda vs Scotland, 9th Match at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad. The match got to no result - due to rain.

Netherlands vs Canada, 10th Match at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas. The match got abandoned without a ball bowled (no toss).

Papua New Guinea vs Namibia, 11th Match at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad. Namibia won by three runs (DLS method).

West Indies vs Australia, 12th Match at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad. West Indies won by 35 runs.

Friday, May 31

Sri Lanka vs Ireland, 13th Match at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida. Sri Lanka won by 41 runs.

Afghanistan vs Scotland, 14th Match at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad. Afghanistan won by 55 runs.

Fenerbahce have reportedly "started negotiations" with Jose Mourinho about their head coach role. Mourinho, 61, has been out of work since being sacked by Roma in January.

The Women's Selection Committee on Saturday announced the Board President XI squad which will face the touring South Africa side. The one-day game will be played on June 13, 2024 in Bengaluru ahead of the three-match ODI series, starting on June 16, 2024.

Board President XI Squad: Jemimah Rodrigues, Minnu Mani, Priya Punia, Shubha Satheesh, Shweta Sehrawat, Uma Chetry (WK), Shipra Giri (WK), Sajana Sajeevan, Kiran Navgire, Tanuja Kanwar, Mannat Kashyap, Priya Mishra, Shabnam Shakil, Saima Thakor, Sayali Satghare

Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy, Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr.

Subs: Lunin, Kepa, Militao, Alaba, Modrid, Joselu, Vazquez, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Garcia, Ibahim, Guler.

That's all for the day. We'll see you all tomorrow with more exciting sports updates. Till then Bye Bye!