Sports News Highlights June 15: Switzerland, Spain Collect Wins; Sumit Nagal Makes Perugia ATP Challenger Final

The Euro 2024 saw the likes of Switzerland and Spain collect wins against Hungary and Croatia, respectively. Meanwhile, India's tennis star Sumit Nagal beat Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the Perugia Challengers semi-finals 7-6, 1-6, 6-2 to make the final. Check the highlights from the sports world on Saturday, June 15, 2024 right here

The Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal has advanced to the semifinals of Perugia Challengers after a resounding 6-4, 7-5 win over Maks Kasnikowski of Poland.

Host Germany kicked off the 2024 UEFA European Championship with a confidence-boosting 5-1 win over 10-man Scotland on Friday night.

Both the 21-year old duo Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala became the youngest goal scorers in history as they helped Germany to gain control within 20 minutes of the game.

New Zealand, already eliminated, registered their first win of the ongoing T20 World Cup, as they defeated Uganda (eliminated) by nine wickets in Tarouba, Trinidad.

The Kiwis put up a complete bowling performance to dismiss Uganda for a paltry 40 before chasing down the target in only 5.2 overs with opener Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra remaining unbeaten on 22 and 1 respectively.

As the United States reached the Super Eights from Group A after India, the Babar Azam-led Pakistan faced elimination from the ongoing T20 World Cup. The team played only three matches, cliamed victory in one.

Nepal came within a whisker of achieving its best-ever win in cricket, losing by one run to powerhouse South Africa in Kingstown, St Vincent.

Nepal needed two runs from the last ball of the match to win, one run to match South Africa’s modest total of 115-7 and force a Super Over. But teenager Ghulsan Jha was run out at the non-striker’s end attempting a single from the final ball and South Africa held on to win a thrilling match. (AP)

Off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to a finger injury with batter Hazratullah Zazai replacing him in the Afghanistan squad.

The 23-year-old Mujeeb, who has injured his right index finger, has played only one of Afghanistan's three games in the tournament so far, at Gros Islet in the opening fixture against Uganda. (PTI)

Luka Doncic scored 25 of his 29 points in a dominant first half and the Dallas Mavericks rolled to a 122-84 rout of the Boston Celtics to avoid a sweep in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night.

Kyrie Irving added 21 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. scored all 15 of his in the fourth quarter for the Mavericks, who forced the series back to Boston for Game 5 on Monday night. (Stats Perform)

The Hockey India On Saturday announced a 40-player core probable group for a 63-day junior men's national coaching camp to be held at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) from June 16.

Goalkeepers: Prince Deep Singh, Bikramjit Singh, Ashwani Yadav, Adarsh G, Ali Khan

Defenders: Sharda Nand Tiwari, Sukhvinder, Amir Ali, Rohit, Yogember Rawat, Manoj Yadav, Anmol Ekka, Prashant Barla, Akash Sorong, Sundaram Rajawat, Anand Y, Talem Priyo Barta

Midfielders: Ankit Pal, Rosan Kujur, Thounaojam Ingalemba Luwang, Mukesh Toppo, Thokchom Kingson Singh, Ritik Kujur, Ankush, Jeetpal, Chandan Yadav, Manmeet Singh , Vachan HA, Govind Nag, Bipin Billavara Ravi

Forwards: Mohit Karma, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Gurjot Singh, Mohd. Konain Dad, Prabhdeep Singh, Dilraj Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Zaid Khan, Gursewak Singh.

Heavy rainfall threatens India's T20 World Cup match against Canada in Florida. However, this will offer Rohit Sharma's team a break before the Super 8 in the Caribbean.

"Speaking on behalf of myself, this will be my last T20 World Cup. That's all I have to say," Trent Boult said at the press conference after New Zealand's nine-wicket win over Uganda.

Veteran sports journalist Harpal Singh Bedi, who covered several highs and lows of Indian sports in a career spanning over four decades, served as the national Olympic contingent's press attache in 2012 and charmed the media box with his inimitable wit and warmth, died after prolonged illness here on Saturday. He was 72 and is survived by his wife Revathi and daughter Pallavi. (PTI)

Montenegrin footballer Matija Sarkic last played for his country in a 2-0 friendly defeat by Belgium on 5 June, 2024. Today the Montenegro Football Association (FSCG) announced that Sarkic died, local media reported that he collapsed at his apartment in Budva.

Sri Lanka Women won the toss against West Indies women in the first ODI match and opted to bowl first, at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota.

West Indies set the target of 196 runs posting 195/10 in 47.1 overs.

Sri Lanka is at 144/3 in 25 overs.

Hungary vs Switzerland - 6:30pm IST

Spain vs Croatia - 9:30pm IST

Italy vs Albania - 12:30am IST

Indian men's recurve archery team of Tarundeep Rai, Dhiraj Bommadevara and Pravin Jadhav entered the 24-team elimination round as the top seed in the Final Olympic Qualifier in Antalya, Turkey on Saturday. The trio shot a total of 2018 points to claim the pole position in the leaderboard ahead of Chinese Taipei (2008) and Germany (1998). The top 24 made the cut for the elimination round which is a draw of 32. A total of 46 teams competed.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved 14 athletes from Russia and 11 athletes from Belarus to compete at the Paris Olympics 2024. These athletes will be competing under a neutral status. The first list of approved athletes from some sports was published on Saturday. A vetting panel from the International Olympic Committee assessed athletes from five sports in the first round of decisions. It's important to note that the sports reviewed did not include tennis, swimming, or judo.

Hungary are entering in the marquee championship for the fifth time (third in a row) this year. They are emerging as a formidable force, growing, spreading, and topping the lists in the football world. Under the guidance of the Italian coach Marco Rossi, the team finished first in their qualifying group with 18 points from eight matches.

Live Streaming Details - HERE

The 2023-24 ISL champions, Mumbai City FC, announced on Saturday that they have signed Kerala forward, Noufal PN, on a three-year contract extending until the end of the 2027 season. The 23-year-old started his footballing career with Basco FC before moving to his hometown club, Gokulam Kerala FC, in 2022.

Switzerland XI: Sommer, Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez, Aebischer, Freuler, Xhaka, Ndoye, Widmer, Vargas, Duah.

Substitutes: Mvogo, Kobel, Stergiou, Elvedi, Embolo, Okafor, Steffen, Zesiger, Sierro, Shaqiri, Jashari, Amdouni, Rieder.

A simple pass is played behind the defence, and Duah slots the ball past Peter Gulasci. The offside flag is raised quickly, but replays show that it's a very close call! The goal is given! This marks Duah's first international goal, and it's a dream start for the Swiss in Cologne. He currently plays for Ludogorets Razgrad in Bulgaria, and he took that chance as confidently as a player with 50 caps, despite having only one before today. Hungary are stunned.

Switzerland was initially forced back after a good move, but then they passed the ball to Aebischer on the edge of the box. Although it seemed like his chance to shoot was gone, he managed to curl the ball right into the bottom corner. Peter Gulasci threw himself to his left, but still couldn't get a finger on it. This goal marked Aebischer's first international goal. What a first half for the Swiss!

The T20 World Cup match between India and Canada has been delayed due to a wet outfield. The toss was supposed to happen at 10 AM local time (7:30 PM IST), but it has been rescheduled for an inspection at 10:30 AM local time (8 PM IST). India has already qualified for the Super Eight from Group A with three wins from as many matches, while Canada has been eliminated.

India won their first medal at the ongoing BRICS Games in Kazan. The women's table tennis team, comprising Poymantee Baisya, Moumita Dutta, and Yashini Sivasankar, secured a bronze medal. The Indian women's TT team lost to China 1-3 in the semi-final and settled for a bronze in the Russian city on Friday. Yashini won the first game 11-7, 4-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-2, but China came back strongly to win the remaining three rubbers and advance to the final.

The T20 World Cup match between India and Canada was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to a wet outfield in Florida on Saturday. The umpires decided to abandon the match after an inspection at 11:30 AM local time (9 PM IST). Earlier, there were initial inspections held at 10 AM local time (7:30 PM IST) and 10:30 AM local time (8 PM IST).

Midfielder Muhammed Nemil has extended his contract with FC Goa for three more years, the club announced on Saturday. Nemil joined the ISL club in 2020 and was later sent to FE Grama in Spain for a season-long loan. The Indian player made his senior professional debut in the Tercera División (Fourth Division) during his loan spell but failed to score in his lone match.

Spain: Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Nacho, Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Williams.

Croatia: Livakovic; Stanisic, Pongracic, Sutalo, Gvardiol; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Majer; Kramaric, Budimir.

Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz score to take Spain 2-0 up in 32 minutes.

Daniel Carvajal makes it three before half-time for Spain.

La Roja open their UEFA Euro 2024 account with all three points thanks to Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz, and Daniel Carvajal. Spain will next face Italy, while Croatia with work to be done, will meet Albania.

Italy: Vicario, Meret, Buongiorno, Raspadori, Darmian, Bellanova, Cristante, Mancini, Retegui, Zaccagni, Fagioli, El Shaarawy, Cambiaso, Folorunsho

Albania: E. Berisha, Kastrati, Balliu, Manaj, Gjasula, Mihaj, Laci, M. Berisha, Muci, Ismajli, Daku, Abrashi, Kumbulla, Aliji, Hoxha