Sports News Highlights: Novak Djokovic Beats Tallon Griekspoor, Enters Geneva Open Semis

Before the big-ticket events come up on the weekend, Thursday was relatively light for sports fans. In the Europa League final, Bayer Leverkusen were handed their first loss of the season by Atalanta, who lifted the trophy. The anticipation for IPL's Qualifier 2 between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals ripened. At the Geneva Open, Novak Djokovic defeated Tallon Griekspoor to enter the semi-finals, where he will face Czech Republic's Tomas Machac. Meanwhile, PV Sindhu and Ashmita Chaliha stormed into the Malaysia Masters badminton quarter-finals. Catch the highlights of all the sports news and updates on May 23, 2024 right here.

Team Delhi won the inaugural Swami Vivekananda U-20 Men's National Football Championship, handing a 4-3 defeat to Karnataka on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw after extra time in Narainpur at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground.

The tournament spanned 40 days and involved a total of 32 teams participated.

The star Indian shuttler PV Sindhu will be in action at the Malaysia Masters BWF Super 500 badminton tournament round of 16 against South Korea's Sim Yu Jin.

In a dramatic showdown, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost their eliminator match of the 2024 Indian Premier League against Rajasthan Royals by 4 wickets. Once again, the grasp of championship glory slipped through the hands of Faf Du Plessis' team. And with that, the final chapter of the illustrious cricket career of the great Dinesh Karthik marked the end. DK is retired! it was visible at the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 22, Wednesday amidst the warm hugs exchanges with fellow players. 

Novak Djokovic celebrated his 37th birthday by securing a quarter-final spot at the Geneva Open handing a 6-3, 6-3 defeat to the unseeded Yannick Hanfmann. It was the 1,100th victory for the World No. 1 at ATP tournaments.

The Indian men's and women's junior hockey teams suffered defeats in their respective matches against Belgium in Breda in their ongoing tour of Europe.

Both the teams lost 2-3 to their Belgian counterparts. While Binima Dhan (49', 58') scored a brace for the women's team, captain Rohit (44', 57') scored a brace for the men's team.

Indian weightlifter Preetismita Bhoi clinched gold in the women's 40kg category at the IWF World Youth Championships in Lima, Peru. In addition, the 15-year-old improved her existing record of 75kg by 1kg.

She lifted 57kg for a total effort of 133kg, finishing within 2kg of the youth world standard on total on the opening day of the competition

PV Sindhu takes a 1-0 lead in the round of 16 with a 1-21-11 in the first set against South Korea's Sim Yu Jin 0-13-16 at the Malaysia Masters BWF Super 500 badminton tournament.

PV Sindhu enters the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Masters BWF Super 500 badminton tournament by beating Sim Yu-Jin of South Korea 2-1 (21-13, 12-21, 21-14).

Indian shuttlers Lakshya Sen and P V Sindhu will train in France and Germany respectively as part of their Olympic preparations after the Sports Ministry's Mission Olympic Cell approved financial assistance to cover the cost for both of them according to PTI reports.

Sen had sought financial assistance for a 12-day training session in Marseille, France. Sen, who will compete in the men's singles event in Paris, will train at The Halle des Sports Parsemain with his coach and support staff from July 8 to 21 ahead of the Olympic Games.

IPL's best power-hitters Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma are gearing up for the second qualifiers match of SunRisers Hyderabad who will face a very different challenge in wily spin twins of Rajasthan Royals, Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin in Chennai on Friday.

'Travishek' as the duo is affectionately called by the fans have taken power-hitting to a new level. Head (533 runs at 199.62) and Abhishek (470 at 207.04) have hit 72 sixes apart from 96 boundaries between them. (PTI)

In the ever-growing Twenty20 cricket landscape, India boasts the richest and most-watched league in the world. Yet, all that investment and attention hasn't translated into international success for India's national team.

Rohit Sharma's India squad travels to the T20 World Cup in the United States and Caribbean, hunting a second title to end a long drought.

Since the advent of IPL, though, India hasn't lifted the World Cup trophy. After winning the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007, India has only reached one more final — losing to Sri Lanka in 2014. (AP)

The three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray and Daniel Evans have been granted a wild card to play together in men's doubles at the French Open according to reports. Given this, they become the first ever non-French pair to be awarded a wild card in men's doubles competition at Roland Garros in 20 years.

India's Ashmita Chaliha beats the World No.10 Beiwen Zhang to enter the quarter-finals of the Malaysia masters 2-1 (12-19, 16-21, 21-12). This is biggest win of Ashmita's badminton career so far.

In the ongoing match between Ireland and Scotland in the Tri-Nation Series, Scotland won the toss and elected to bat. As of the 8.1 overs mark, Scotland has reached a score of 66/4.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of planning an attack on the Olympic torch relay in Bordeaux, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin stated. He gave few details but praised police for ensuring security during Thursday's relay.

World number five Jessica Pegula has pulled out of the French Open because of ongoing neck and back injuries. The 30-year-old has not played since winning her two matches to help the United States beat Belgium in their Billie Jean King Cup qualifier in April.

The West Indies is all set to host South Africa for a 3-match T20I series starting from Friday, May 24 at the Sabina Park in Jamaica. This three match series will serve as the practice sessions for the two teams.

The first match of the series will be played at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica on May 24 and the remaining two games will also be set at the same venue.

Novak Djokovic and world number 27 Tallon Griekspoor are all set to go head to head.

It is official. Rafael Nadal will compete in the French Open 2024 men's singles main draw, unseeded. The clay court giant faces a challenging first-round match at Roland Garros against German fourth seed Alexander Zverev on Sunday (May 26). Another clash of two stalwarts is in store first up, as British veteran Andy Murray will be up against former world number 3 Stanislas Wawrinka.

After their sparkling wins in the round of 16, India's singles spearhead PV Sindhu and the rising Ashmita Chaliha are gearing up for their quarter-finals at the Malaysia Masters. The fixtures are out for tomorrow, and Sindhu will face China's Han Yue at 6:30am IST on Court 1. Ashmita will take on another Chinese, Zhang Yi Man, at 8am IST on Court 2.

Sachin Siwach, national champion and 2024 Strandja Memorial gold medallist, will kick off India’s quest for Paris Olympic berths when he takes on New Zealand’s Alex Mukuka in the men’s 57kg weight category in the 2nd Boxing World Qualifiers in Bangkok on Friday. India has fielded 10 boxers, seven men and three women, featuring among a total of 579 pugilists from 133 countries participating in the qualifying event, which will see a total of 51 Olympic quotas up for grabs.

Harry Maguire has been ruled out of Manchester United's FA Cup final clash against Manchester City. The defender hasn't played since April 27 after a muscle injury in training and was always considered a doubt for Saturday's final at Wembley Stadium.

While football faithfuls are still processing the news of Sunil Chhetri's imminent retirement from the international scene, India head coach Igor Stimac has named a 27-member squad for Chhetri's farewell match - the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier against Kuwait on June 6 in Kolkata.

India Squad

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Vishal Kaith.

Defenders: Amey Ranawade, Anwar Ali, Jay Gupta, Lalchungnunga, Mehtab Singh, Narender, Nikhil Poojary, Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose.

Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Edmund Lalrindika, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nandhakumar Sekar, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh Wangjam.

Forwards: David Lalhlansanga, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri, Vikram Partap Singh.

Novak Djokovic is warming up for French Open in right earnest. The Serbian world number 1 has entered the semi-finals of Geneva Open, beating Tallon Griekspoor 7-5, 6-1. The 37-year-old Djokovic will next face Czech Republic's Tomas Machac in the last-four stage.

That's it from us tonight. Our coverage of the latest sports news and events will continue tomorrow morning (Friday, May 24). Until then, goodbye.