Category: sports

Rayalaseema Kings go down against Vizag Warriors in their second game

Vizag, 03rd July 2024: Rayalaseema Kings went down by 8 wickets to Vizag Warriors in their second game of the Andhra Premier League today at the Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vizag today. Put into bat by Vizag Warriors, Kings got off to a slow start and lost their opening batter DB Prasanth Kumar in the 3rd over. K Haneesh Reddy and P Roshan Kumar then put on a 30 run stand for the second wicket and steadied the ship.

But 2 wickets in the last over of the powerplay put the Kings on the back foot. Gavvala Mallikarjuna bowled well in the middle overs and bagged 3 wickets in his quota of 4 overs. Gutta Rohit came in as an impact player for the Kings and played a cameo of 21 runs off 11 balls to help post a score of 130 runs. Shaik Kamaruddin also played a cameo of 19 runs in 12 balls.

Chasing 130, the Kings had a great start with Bandaru Sujhan falling for just a single. However, Ashwin Hebbar and Srikar Bharat led the charge for the Vizag Warriors and helped them ace the chase. In the end came Muvvala Yuvan who made a small partnership with Bharat as he scored 18 from only 6 balls.

The Kings have a lot to improve from today, especially their fielding which needs to improve by leaps and bounds. They face Godavari Titans at 6:30 PM IST tomorrow at the same venue.

Scorecard:

Round: Group Fixtures – Match 4

Rayalaseema Kings (RK) vs Vizag Warriors(VZW)

VZW won by 8 wickets

RK – 130-9 in 20 overs (K Haneesh Reddy- 22, Gutta Rohit – 21)

VZW bowlers: K Sudharshan 4-1-17-3, G Mallikarjuna 4-0-15-3

VZW – 131-2 in 14.5 overs (Ashwin Hebbar – 56, Srikar Bharat – 47*)

RK bowlers: G Reddy 3-0-35-1, S Kamaruddin 2-0-18-1

Rayalaseema Kings start their defence of the Andhra Premier League crown in style

Vizag, 02nd July 2024: Last season’s Andhra Premier League champions Rayalaseema Kings won by 7 wickets in their opener against last year’s finalists Coastal Riders at the Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vizag.

Coastal Riders set a target of 150, having scored 149/7 in their allocated 20 overs. Captain Shaik Rasheed’s unbeaten knock of 87 helped them get past the 125-run mark, as the rest of the team looked brittle. For Rayalaseema Kings, Satyanarayana Raju and Bodhala Vinay Kumar picked up 2 wickets each while Shaik Mohhamad Rafi, Anjaneyulu and Shaik Kamaruddin each picked up 1 wicket.

Coming out to bat, Rayalaseema Kings looked unfazed as KH Veera Reddy and vice captain DB Prashanth Kumar both gave them a solid start. Roshan Kumar’s 47 off 24 ensured the momentum carried on despite the openers getting out for 23 and 38 respectively. T Vamsi Krishna and TV Sai Sravan eventually ensured the inevitable win, with 5 overs to spare.

Speaking about the win, captain Girinath Reddy stated,” We are delighted to start off with a win. Our strategy was to make sure we restrict Coastal to below 150, and our bowlers executed that perfectly. Roshan’s knock was the icing on the cake for us.”

Vinay’s spell of 2-0-13-2 saw him be crowned as the APL Game Changer while Roshan Kumar’s 47 from 24 helped him stake his claim as the R.V.V.R Super Striker.

Rayalaseema Kings next play the Vizag Warriors on 2nd June from 2:00 PM IST at the same venue.

India Triumphs in Historic Bilateral International Deaf Cricket Series Against England

New Delhi, July 01st, 2024: In a thrilling display of skill and determination, the Indian Deaf Cricket Team emerged victorious at the County Ground, Leicester in the bilateral series against England, showcasing their prowess and resilience on the international stage. Indian team was invited & hosted by England & South Wales Cricket Board.

ECB played the perfect host and the team was delighted to get this unique opportunity to play in 5 cricket grounds & prove their mettle each time. The Indian Deaf Cricket Team’s success in the bilateral series against England is a moment of celebration for the entire nation, as it marks another milestone in the journey of Indian cricket. As they continue to inspire and uplift through their achievements, they undoubtedly pave the way for future generations of deaf cricketers to dream big and aim high.

The series witnessed an intense battle between India and England, with both teams demonstrating exceptional cricketing talent. However, it was the Indian team that dominated throughout, securing a commendable series win by defeating the hosts by 6 wickets in the seventh and final match of the series.

Match Details:
Abhishek Singh was awarded the title of Man of the Match while Sai Akash was referred to as Man of the Series.
Captain Virender Singh took the maximum wickets.

Speaking on this monumental achievement for India, Sumit Jain, President, IDCA, said, “The victory in this bilateral series against England is not just a win on the field but a testament to the perseverance and skill of our hearing impaired players. It marks a significant milestone for deaf cricket in India, showcasing our capability to compete and succeed at the highest levels of the sport. We are thrilled to see our team’s hard work and determination pay off, and we look forward to continuing our journey of excellence in deaf cricket.”

He credited the hard work and dedication of every team member, as well as the unwavering support from fans and stakeholders.

This series win not only reaffirms India’s dominance in deaf cricket but also underscores the growing talent and potential within the deaf cricketing community. It serves as a testament to the inclusivity and diversity of sports in India, showcasing how determination and skill can overcome any challenge.

Ms. Roma Balwani, CEO, IDCA, said, “I am delighted by India’s historic triumph against England in the bilateral series. This victory underscores our team’s resilience and commitment to excellence in cricket. It gives me immense pride in highlighting the power of sports to unite and inspire, showcasing the immense talent within our country. We are proud of our players and their dedication, and this win is remarkable as the team played in a new environment & succeeded with immense guidance from their coaches & skipper Virender Singh.The team was delighted to be hosted by ECB in England.

Grateful to our support partners – Serum Institute of India, KFC India, Hero MotoCorp Ltd., APL Apollo Tubes Ltd., Shiv Naresh Sports Pvt. Ltd., Impact Measurement and Kaizzen.

Roshn Saudi League 2023/24: A Game-Changing Season

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 31st May 2024: In a new era for Saudi Arabia football, the 2023/24 Roshn Saudi League proved a game-changing season – with more goals, interest and growth for the league than ever before.

Omar Mugharbel, Saudi Pro League CEO, said: “The 2023/24 Roshn Saudi League season will be remembered as a milestone moment in the growth of elite football in Saudi Arabia. Some of the best players in the world chose the Roshn Saudi League to showcase their incredible talents alongside the next generation of young Saudi talent. Their arrival amplified even further the huge interest in the league from fans, broadcasters and sponsors. It is impossible to overstate how much of a game-changing season 2023/24 has been.”

On the pitch, champions Al Hilal created football history, and global headlines, by setting a world, top-flight record for the number of successive victories – winning 34 games in a row across all competitions in an unbeaten campaign.

Cristiano Ronaldo built on his success in calendar year 2023, where he netted the most club goals in the world with 54 in 59 appearances and also set a record for most goals scored in a season. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who made his Al Nassr debut in January 2023, scored an incredible 35 goals from 31 Roshn Saudi League matches in the 2023/24 campaign. In the most entertaining season of the modern era a total of 909 goals were scored – an increase of 40% from last year’s campaign.

The season began with major internationals signings such as Karim Benzema, Neymar, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, N’Golo Kante, Georgino Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves attracting 156 players from 54 countries that have been part Roshn Saudi League. With a focus on developing young Saudi talent to excel on the global stage, the age eligibility for young players was reduced from 18 to 16 years old with the average age of players season dropping to 27.5 years old.

Off the pitch, the transformation of the league generated even wider global attention. These were reflected in major milestones achieved across metrics such as broadcast deals, sponsorship agreements, and social media reach. More than 160 countries broadcast the Roshn Saudi League on 38 global platforms taking the league to more football fans than ever before. Digitally the Roshn Saudi League social media channels grew with 6.72 million new followers, representing a 141% increase from the start of the season.

Mugharbel added: “As we progress to full preparations for next season, there is no doubt that the league will continue to grow from strength to strength. What is crucial now is enhancing the offering for all stakeholders across the Roshn Saudi League to ensure that we deliver a product on and off the field that is truly and consistently world class across all metrics. These are hugely exciting times for football in Saudi Arabia and we look forward immensely to the Roshn Saudi League season 2024/25.”

Roshn Saudi League 2023/24 in numbers:

Players

There were 156 players from 54 countries
The age eligibility for young players was reduced from 18 to 16 years old
The average age of players this season fell by 1.5 years from 29 to 27.5 years old

Goals

A total of 909 goals were scored this season from 306 games – an increase of 40% from last season
By netting 35 goals, Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo set a new record for goals scored in a top-flight Saudi league season. The Portuguese legend’s achievement overtook Abderrazak Hamdallah’s mark of 34 in 2018/19. Ronaldo has scored 64 goals in 69 games for Al Nassr in all competitions since joining the club in late December 2022
A record was set for the most the hat-tricks in a season, with a total of 17 hat-tricks scored

Stadiums

Eight Roshn Saudi League clubs moved into new stadiums this year: Al Hilal, Al Shabab, Al Ettifaq, Al Fateh, Al Taawoun, Al Raed, Al Hazem, and Damac

Top five attendances

Week 2: Al Hilal v Al Fayha, 59,600
Week 9: Al Ittihad v Al Ahli, 55,764
Week 24: Al Ahli v Al Nassr, 52,037
Week 11: Al Hilal v Al Ahli, 50,986
Week 26: Al Ahli v Al Ittihad, 50,633

Awards

The Roshn Saudi League winners for season 2023/24 were Al Hilal, who claimed the title under the management of Jorge Jesus. Al Hilal finished the season unbeaten – winning 31 of their 34 games – on 96 points. They finished 14 points ahead of second-placed Al Nassr

Al Hilal created top-flight world football history earlier in the campaign by winning 34 matches in succession across all competitions. This incredible achievement saw them overtake Welsh club The News Saints’ winning streak of 27 games in season 2016-17. Prior to that, the record stood for 44 years following Dutch giants Ajax’s 26-game winning run between 1971 and 1972

The Roshn Saudi League 2023/24 Manager of the Season award was won by Jorge Jesus of Al Hilal after he won five Manager of the Month awards during the campaign

The Roshn Saudi League 2023/24 Top Goalscorer award was won by Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nasr after he netted 35 goals during the campaign

The Roshn Saudi League 2023/24 Goalkeeper of the Season award was won by Yassine Bounou of Al Hilal after earning 15 clean sheets and conceding the least amount of goals

Broadcast

More than 160 countries broadcast the Roshn Saudi League on 38 global platforms, representing an increase of around 30% on the more than 125 countries who secured the rights to broadcast the league last campaign

Sponsorship

Sponsors increased from three last season to 11 this season – a 267% increase
The number of international sponsors trebled to three this season from one last season, a 200% increase

Social Media and Fantasy Football

Roshn Saudi League social media channels grew by 6.72 million new followers, representing a 141% increase from the start of the season

There are now over 11 million followers combined on all Roshn Saudi League social media channels

League pages were also launched on Chinese social media platforms Weibo and Douyin

There are over 2 million followers on each of the league’s X (Twitter) Arabic, Instagram Arabic and

TikTok accounts

The number of impressions across all social media channels totalled 1.5billion, a 315% increase from last season

RSL Fantasy League launched on November 12 and gained 100,000 users within the first week. Currently at 181,000 users from 50 countries, the top five RSL fantasy players come from the following nations: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Sudan.

Saudi and African Football Federations Conclude Women’s Football Workshop

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 20 May 2024: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has concluded a five-day educational workshop focusing on women’s football. The workshop’s purpose was to develop and empower coaches from Saudi Arabia and Africa. In partnership with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Riyadh-based workshop ran from 14 – 18 May with a total of 32 coaches, 16 African coaches from 13 CAF member associations participating alongside 16 coaches from local sports clubs, regional training centers, and the Saudi Arabian Women’s National Teams.

Lamia Bahaian, Vice President of SAFF, said: “The success of this event demonstrates our commitment to fostering the growth and development of women’s football both in Saudi Arabia and across Africa.

“Through these collaborative efforts, we aim to create a strong network of coaches who can share their experiences, support one another, and contribute to the global advancement of women’s football. The enthusiasm and dedication shown by the participants have been truly inspiring, and we are confident that their influence will be felt on and off the field.”

Tailored towards enhancing participants’ coaching capabilities and expertise, the SAFF-CAF workshop included a variety of panel discussions, practical lessons, and theoretical sessions. Key football-related topics covered in the workshop spanned data analytics, female health and injury prevention, leadership and communication, how to build your team, and more.

Lluís Cortés, head coach of the Saudi Arabia Women’s National Team, led the workshop. The workshop also featured Aalia AlRasheed, head of the Women’s Football Department at SAFF, elite international women’s football experts and prominent CAF officials, including the Director of Development, Head of Women’s Football, and Women’s Football Officer.

The latest illustration of their ongoing commitment to foster mutual cooperation and advance football development, the workshop stemmed from the SAFF-CAF collaboration agreement signed in 2023. The CAF member associations represented in Riyadh included Botswana, Burundi, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.

To conclude their time in Saudi Arabia, the participants attended the Roshn Saudi League match between Al Nassr and recently-crowned champions Al Hilal at Al Awwal Park Stadium on Friday.

THORLO and Pickleball Athlete Allyce Jones Announce New Partnership

Statesville, NC, April 086, 2024 – THORLO, a leading engineer in cushioned performance socks, is pleased to announce its latest partnership with Pickleball champion Allyce Jones. By collaborating with Allyce Jones, THORLO further strengthens its position as a trusted ally for Pickleball players worldwide.

Allyce’s athletic journey is notable for its impressive achievements, beginning with her success in Volleyball at Utah Valley University, where she earned awards such as UVU Female Athlete of the Year. Following her college career, she transitioned into coaching, securing four state championships, and receiving the NFHS Coach of the Year award for the West Region of the USA.

In 2020, Allyce discovered her passion for Pickleball, leveraging her exceptional work ethic and athletic background to swiftly ascend as a touring professional on the PPA tour, currently holding a top position among female players. “Allyce Jones’s outstanding journey embodies the spirit of dedication and perseverance that we value at THORLO.” said Martin Lieberman, CEO of Lamour Group, the parent company of the THORLO brand.

With its reputation for engineering socks specifically tailored for Pickleball, THORLO understands the impact of the sport on foot health and aims to raise awareness about the importance of quality foot protection to optimize performance on the court. THORLO socks offer essential protection against the rapid stops and movements inherent in Pickleball, ensuring that athletes like Allyce can perform at their peak without compromise.

As a brand dedicated to supporting athletes in their pursuit of excellence, THORLO is delighted to stand alongside Allyce as she continues to push boundaries in Pickleball and inspires athletes of all levels to prioritize foot protection, empowering them to pursue their passions with confidence.

The 2024 British Hillclimb Championship – Presented By Nova Motorsport

Nova Motorsport Commercial and Technical HQ, Holt, UK, 29 March 2024 – Nova Motorsport is proud to announce the signing of a landmark five-year strategic partnership with the prestigious Motorsport UK British Hillclimb Championship. The agreement delivers security of tyre supply for the championship and ensures the future of British hillclimbing.

Nova Motorsport is a new brand inspired by heritage and dedicated to technical excellence. Having acquired the assets of Avon Motorsport from Cooper Tire, Nova Motorsport builds on the rich legacy established by Avon Motorsport with the BHC – becoming the title sponsor of the championship. The series will be renamed the ‘Motorsport UK British Hillclimb Championship presented by Nova Motorsport.’

Hillclimbing represents a key pillar of Nova Motorsport’s future strategy. The partnership further solidifies Nova Motorsport’s dedication to multiple categories in global motorsport, including classic and historic endurance racing and rallycross – emphasising the brand’s resolve to deliver top-tier products and services to the racing community.

Nova Motorsport will be supported by BMTR, a long-standing partner of Avon Motorsport and now Nova Motorsport, as the official service provider and supplier of Avon Motorsport / Nova Motorsport tyres to the BHC.

Nova Motorsport’s commitment to the Motorsport UK British Hillclimb Championship extends beyond sponsorship. The brand is also dedicated to supplying Avon Motorsport products to the BHC and developing new products for future release. Building upon the relationship established between British hillclimbing and Avon Motorsport more than 35 years ago, Nova Motorsport is poised to continue the legacy of designing, developing, and manufacturing championship-winning hillclimb tyres.

A highly experienced contingent of former Avon Motorsport personnel with significant expertise in the BHC and developing hillclimb tyres has joined Nova Motorsport. This includes Jack Price, who served as Avon Motorsport Design Engineer and Design Manager for 12 years, and now becomes Nova Motorsport Product Category Manager.

Under the leadership of Nova Motorsport Commercial Director James Weekley, Price will spearhead Nova Motorsport’s product development and support within the BHC. His extensive experience in the championship will be instrumental in driving innovation and meeting competitors’ evolving needs. The 30-round ‘Motorsport UK British Hillclimb Championship presented by Nova Motorsport’ commences at Prescott on April 20/21, 2024.

Jack Price, Product Category Manager at Nova Motorsport, commented: “Hillclimbing holds a very special place in the hearts of everyone at Nova Motorsport. We are honoured to uphold the legacy of Avon Motorsport and continue its support for the Motorsport UK British Hillclimb Championship with the announcement of Nova Motorsport as the title sponsor of the series for five years.

“This partnership not only reaffirms Nova Motorsport’s dedication to the sport; it also underscores our mission to provide the highest quality products and services to drivers and teams competing at the highest level.”

Tim Wilson, Championship Co-ordinator of the Motorsport UK British Hillclimb Championship, commented: “Nova Motorsport’s commitment to the Motorsport UK British Hillclimb Championship is instrumental in helping us to drive towards a bright future for the sport. We are delighted to collaborate with a company that shares our passion for excellence and innovation.”

Nova Motorsport aims to quickly establish its presence in global motorsport and the racing community. By concentrating exclusively on the historic and contemporary motorsport and specialist tyre sectors, the brand will leverage its extensive knowledge and expertise to create tyres to deliver success in ultra-demanding motorsport conditions.

The new company’s expertise will enable tailored tyre offerings to meet the specific needs of diverse racing categories. In addition, the brand is committed to substantial investments in research and development to ensure Nova Motorsport continues to supply exceptional products for those competing in disciplines such as hillclimbing, rallycross and historical and classic motorsport.

The Nova Motorsport team will attend the first round of the Motorsport UK British Hillclimb Championship presented by Nova Motorsport at Prescott on April 20/21, 2024. Look out for the 1960 Nova Motorsport AEC Routemaster bus and come along to say hello.

In the coming weeks, further announcements will be made detailing the brand’s products and partnerships.