Sports

Spain were superb on the wings and played a close-knit game to crush India 4-1 in a pool match of the FIH junior men's hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

Spain are leading Pool C with six points from two wins, while Korea are ahead of India on goal difference, with both sides having three points each.  The fourth team in the pool, Canada, are yet to open their account after two losses.

India will play their last pool match against Canada on Saturday.

In what can be termed as a broadcasting blunder, racist word ‘Paki’ was used to show Pakistan team on live score ticker by Fox Cricket during a warm-up game against Prime Minister XI.

‘Paki’ is considered to be a contemptuous term for a person from Pakistan or South Asia by birth or descent. The TV grab was posted on X by an Australian journalist on the opening day of the match at the Manuka Oval on Wednesday.

The error was later rectified and Cricket Australia reportedly apologised for the error. Journalist Daany Saeed, whose post on X drew the attention to the error, said, “The graphic was an automatic feed from a data provider which had not been used previously for a Pakistan game. This was obviously regrettable, and the error we corrected manually as soon as it came to light.”  

Will Jacks’ impressive innings of 73 runs and Sam Curran’s effective bowling figures of 3-33 propelled England to a six-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second ODI at Antigua, evening out the series.

The West Indies, initially struggling at 23-4, managed to rally to 152, thanks to Shai Hope’s spirited 68 off an equal number of deliveries. However, England’s bowlers, Liam Livingstone (3-39) and Rehan Ahmed (2-40), ensured the West Indies were all out for 202. In the chase, Jacks’ composed performance set the stage, while Harry Brook (43 not out) and Jos Buttler (58 not out) carried England past the target comfortably, with over 17 overs remaining.

The series is poised for an exciting finale with the third and decisive ODI scheduled to take place in Bridgetown, Barbados, this Saturday.

Former No.1 Caroline Woniacki has been awarded one of the first wild cards for the 2024 Australian Open. The 2018 Australian Open women’s champion, and six Australian players were granted the first batch of wild cards.

The 33-year-old plans on bringing her two young children to the scene of her biggest Grand Slam triumph where she returns after four years. “I can’t wait to share it with my family and my kids," she said. The Australian Open is going to see three former champions return to the year’s first Grand Slam after maternity leave. This includes Naomi Osaka, Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber.

The Australian Open will be held from January 14-28, with Aryna Sabalenka defending the women’s title and Novak Djokovic the men’s.

In the first T20I of the series, India suffered a 38-run defeat to England. Despite Renuka Singh’s 3/27, India allowed England to score 197/6. India’s chase fell short at 159/6, with Shafali Verma scoring 52. England’s Sophie Ecclestone took 3/15, impacting India’s top scorers.

Early wickets of Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues set India back, and despite a brief fightback, the required rate proved too high. England’s fielding was solid, contrasting with India’s earlier errors. Danni Wyatt (75) and Natalie Sciver-Brunt (77) led England’s batting, setting a record 138-run partnership after India’s initial bowling success. India’s fielding and bowling faltered, missing opportunities to capitalise on early wickets.

Wyatt’s third fifty against India and Sciver-Brunt’s powerful hitting dominated the innings, despite India’s Renuka Singh’s early strikes.