Sports News June 28 Highlights: Shafali Verma Hits Tons In IND-W Vs SA-W In One-Off Test; NADA Suspends Javelin Thrower DP Manu

It was a calm yet overwhelming Friday! The India national women's cricket team set multiple records against South Africa in a One-Off Test. Shafali Verma achieved a historic double century, leading the team to their highest-ever total of 524/4. In Formula 1's Austrian Grand Prix free practice sessions, Max Verstappen excelled at Red Bull's home circuit, facing strong competition from Ferrari and McLaren. Meanwhile, DP Manu, the Indian Olympic-bound javelin thrower, received a provisional suspension from the National Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for an anabolic steroid. Check all the highlights from June 28, Friday 2024 in the world of sports here

Bronny James — the oldest son of the NBA’s all-time scoring leader and four-time champion — was drafted Thursday by the Los Angeles Lakers, the team that his father has played for since 2018. Bronny James was taken with the No. 55 overall pick, deep in the second round and with only three picks remaining in this year’s draft. (AP)

Harmanpreet Kaur's India take on South Africa women in a one-off Test match at Chepauk starting with day one today.

The Copa America 2024, Group C encounter between Uruguay and Bolivia saw the former register a 5-0 win.

Teams:

South Africa Women (Playing XI): Laura Wolvaardt(c), Sune Luus, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Delmi Tucker, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta(w), Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune

India Women (Playing XI): Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Shubha Satheesh, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Renuka Thakur Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad

India openers, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana are off to a cautious start in this one-off Test against South Africa women in Chepauk. IND-W's score after 5 overs was 9-0.

Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana are going on nicely in the Test, with an unbeaten fifty-plus opening stand. India's score after 15 overs was 56-0.

At lunch, India are 130/0 (28 overs). Openers Smriti Mandhana (64 not out) and Shafali Verma (65 not out) have counter-attacked the SA bowlers on a placid wicket at the Chepauk.

Javelin thrower DP Manu has been asked to stay away from competitions by the Athletics Federation of India on the instructions of the National Anti-Doping Agency as the Olympic hopeful is suspected to have been caught in the dope net.

The 24-year-old Manu, who won a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Championships, was more or less certain to qualify for the Olympics through world ranking quota but is set to miss the Paris bus after the latest development. (PTI)

Tim Weah and other members of the U.S. national team were targeted with racist abuse on social media after the Americans were beaten 2-1 by Panama in the Copa America on Thursday night.

The U.S. Soccer Federation issued a statement saying it was “deeply disturbed with the racist comments made online.” (AP)

Indian opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma recorded the highest opening partnership in Women’s Tests during the one-off Test against South Africa in Chennai on Friday. The duo have beat the previous record of 241 runs scored by Pakistan’s Kiran Baluch and Sajjida Shah against West Indies in Karachi in 2004.

India women's cricket team are 334/2 at tea against South Africa women's on day one of the one-off Test match in Chennai.

Shafali Verma scores double-hundred! The opening batter was finally dismissed on 205 that included 23 fours and 8 sixes. At the end of 78 overs, IND-W are 416/3.

Dashing India opener Shafali Verma smashed the fastest double-century in the history of women's Test cricket, eclipsing Annabel Sutherland of Australia during the one-off Test against South Africa at Chepauk on Friday.

Shafali, 20, scored her double ton off just 194 balls, bettering Sutherland's feat, which came off 248 balls against South Africa earlier this year. (PTI)

In the ongoing India-w vs South Africa one-off Test, India women amassed India at 525/4 at end of Day 2. And this, is the new high in women's Test cricket.

India's top singles player Sumit Nagal is set to make his maiden appearance in the men's singles main draw of the Wimbledon and he will be up against higher-ranked Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia in the first round in London. (PTI)

However, World No. 72 Nagal has a tough road ahead as he is placed in the same section of the draw as top seed and World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and could face the Italian in the third round if he makes it that far.

"It's a special moment for me and I will savour it as a precious treasure for the rest of my life. It is my second favourite knock after the U-19 (T20) World Cup (title win).

"I couldn't convert the starts I gained in the ODIs (vs SA in Bengaluru). Today, my plan was to take my time as the ball was moving initially, and they were also bowling well," Shafali Verma said in the post-day press meet.

Indian Javelin thrower DP Manu, who was supposed to shine at the Olympic games, has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for an anabolic steroid.

A source privy to the development confirmed to PTI that Manu's positive test came during the Indian Grand Prix in April this year.

Olympic-bound Kiran Pahal of Haryana once again stole the limelight with her sheer pace as she won the women's 400m race gold in 50.92 seconds -- the same time with which she had qualified for the Paris Games in the semifinals -- on the second day of the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Panchkula on Friday. (PTI)

Georgia's soccer team is in line for an unexpected payday at Euro 2024 after a billionaire former prime minister promised to pay out more than USD 10 million following its surprise win over Portugal.

The Georgian team can double its money with another win over Spain on Sunday in the pre-quarterfinals.

Bidzina Ivanishvili, who founded the ruling Georgian Dream party and is now its honorary chairman, initially offered the payment of 30 million Georgian lari (USD 10.7 million) before the tournament on the condition that Georgia reached the knockout stages. (AP)