CRICKET
Sharma retires from Tests
India captain Rohit Sharma on Wednesday announced his retirement from Test cricket ahead of a tour of England. The 38-year-old Sharma said that he would continue to represent India in limited-overs cricket. “It’s been an absolute honor to represent my country in whites,” he wrote on Instagram. “Thank you for all the love and support over the years.” Sharma scored 4,301 runs in 67 Tests at an average of 40.57 with 12 centuries. He replaced Virat Kohli as captain in March 2022 and guided India to 12 wins, nine losses and three draws.
Photo: AFP
TENNIS
Taiwan’s Tseng exits
Taiwan’s Tseng Chun-hsin on Wednesday exited at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, beaten in the first round of the men’s singles by Francesco Passaro. The Italian won 6-0, 2-6, 6-3, sending Tseng out in the round of 128 after he had won two qualifiers — 6-2, 6-4 against Gabriele Pirain of Italy on Sunday and 6-2, 6-4 over Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina on Monday — to reach the main draw at the Foro Italico in Rome.
RUGBY UNION
NZR reports loss
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) reported a loss in yearly accounts released yesterday, with NZR chief executive officer Mark Robinson saying the governing body’s commercial model was “not sustainable” despite a private equity cash injection. Robinson pointed to high fixed costs, which include player wages, as the governing body booked losses of NZ$19.5 million (US$11.6 million) in its report for last year. Robinson said that there was “much work to do to get the shape of our game right.” Sponsorship deals and broadcast rights helped to put US$170 million in the body’s coffers last year, the accounts showed, which was a “record level of income,” but foreign exchange turbulence and investment in other areas of the business turned this into a loss.
RUGBY LEAGUE
NRL to add Perth Bears
Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) is to expand westward in the 2027 season with the addition of an 18th club, the Perth Bears, the league and the Western Australian government announced yesterday. The state government said that it had agreed to fund the new team to the tune of A$65.6 million (US$42.36 million) over seven years, ensuring the return of professional rugby league to the state for the first time since the demise of the Western Reds in 1997. “Western Australians love sport and now they have the opportunity to get behind a Perth-based rugby league club that will capture the hearts and minds of fans across the country,” Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys said in a statement. The new team’s name honors the heritage of the North Sydney Bears, one of the nine clubs that founded Australia’s first league in 1908 and which played in the top flight until 1999.
Carlos Alcaraz on Monday powered into the French Open second round with a resounding win to start his title defense, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and three-time defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek also progressed at Roland Garros. Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz struck 31 winners in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri and is to face Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in round two. Alcaraz is now on an eight-match winning streak at the French Open and also took Olympic silver at Roland Garros last year, losing the final to Novak Djokovic. “The first round is never
SSC Napoli coach Antonio Conte has dragged the team back from disaster and restored them to the top of Italian Serie A, but his future at the Scudetto winners is in doubt even after a triumphant season. The fiery 55-year-old has exceeded preseason expectations and bolstered his reputation as a serial winner by guiding Napoli to their fourth Scudetto, and second in three seasons. However, he might well be on his way in the summer after just one season at the helm as his charged relationship with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has simmered throughout the campaign. Conte has said
‘HELLA ENERGY’: Minnesota’s 42-point victory set a club record for points in a playoff game, but the team have to keep up their momentum to stay in the series, Edwards said Anthony Edwards on Saturday night scored 30 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves overwhelmed Oklahoma City 143-101 to tighten their NBA playoff series. Edwards added nine rebounds and six assists. while shooting 12-of-17 from the floor and 5-of-8 from three-point range as the hosts Timberwolves pulled a game back to be 2-1 behind in the best-of-seven Western Conference Finals. However, moments after the 42-point win, Minnesota were determined to forget all about it. Such is life in the NBA playoffs. “You’ve got to erase this one,” Edwards said. “This one is over. I know everyone is happy about this one, but we know OKC is
The horn sounded on Wednesday night to signal a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, as the Florida Panthers celebrated merely by hopping over the boards and several heading over to congratulate goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. It was a subdued celebration seemingly more befitting a regular-season win for the reigning Cup champs. “I remember a few years ago, it felt like such an accomplishment from where we were at one point,” forward Matthew Tkachuk said, adding: “It’s all business and we’ve got a bigger goal in mind.” The Panthers closed out the Carolina Hurricanes in five games, with a 5-3 victory in
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