Showing posts with label SPORTS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SPORTS. Show all posts

Saturday, 21 August 2021

First-ever Turkmen Olympic medallist gifted car, apartment, cash

First-ever Turkmen Olympic medallist gifted car, apartment, cash


ASHGABAT, AUG 21: Turkmenistan’s first-ever Olympic medallist, weightlifter Polina Guryeva, was gifted an apartment, a car and $50,000 in cash for her exploits at a ceremony in the Central Asian country’s capital Ashgabat on Saturday.

Guryeva, 21, won silver for Turkmenistan at this summer’s Games in Tokyo in the women’s 59 kg weightlifting competition. It was the ex-Soviet country’s only medal at the Games and the first in its history.

Turkmen shooter Marat Niyazov previously won a silver medal representing the Soviet Union at the 1960 Games in Rome.

The celebrations of Guryeva’s victory were led by Honoured Coach of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdymukhamedov, the 39-year-old son of the country’s hardline leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.

At the ceremony in Ashgabat, the younger Berdymukhamedov handed Guryeva, who is ethnic Russian, three white-lacquered wooden boxes.

One contained keys to a three-room apartment in the capital city, the second held keys to a white Lexus SUV and the third $50,000 in cash.

“I cordially congratulate you on this significant event, testifying to the growth of the authority of independent Turkmenistan in the international sporting space,” Berdymukhamedov told Guryeva.

He said her victory “increased the world fame, prestige and authority of the sovereign homeland and the Turkmen people.”

“I dedicate this medal to our president and the Turkmen people in honour of the 30th anniversary of the independence of Turkmenistan,” Guryeva said.

Turkmenistan, a gas-rich nation of around six million people famous for its outlandish displays, gained independence from former master Moscow in 1991.

The secretive country is regularly cited by rights groups as one of the world’s worst abusers of civic, religious and press freedoms.

The younger Berdymukhamedov has received a number of promotions this year making him the second most powerful figure in the country after his father and fuelling speculation he will eventually replace the elder as leader of the autocratic country.

--------------------------------------------------






COURTESY Anews

-----------

Thursday, 19 August 2021

'Taliban love cricket': No change in Pak-Afghan ODI series, says ACB CEO

 

'Taliban love cricket': No change in Pak-Afghan ODI series, says ACB CEO

  • The three-match ODI series against Pakistan would be played as per schedule, says Afghanistan Cricket Board.
  • Taliban love cricket and they are supporting their team. Our ODI series against Pakistan will go as per schedule, says ACB CEO.
  • Afghanistan will host Pakistan for three ODIs in the first week of September in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.   


LAHORE: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has said that the three-match ODI series against Pakistan would be played as per schedule, The News reported.

In a statement, the Afghanistan’s cricket board said that the ODI series against Pakistan would not be affected by the change of government in the country.

“Taliban love cricket and they are supporting their team. Our ODI series against Pakistan will go as per schedule in Sri Lanka. After two days’ gap due to the current situation in the country, the training camp of the national team will resume tomorrow,” ACB CEO Hamid Shinwari said.

Afghanistan will host Pakistan for three ODIs in the first week of September in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.

Earlier, officials of the Sri Lankan cricket board were unable to guarantee whether the T20 match series between Afghanistan and Pakistan will start on September 1 after the Taliban came into power.

Sri Lanka's cricket board had announced on Monday that it will go ahead with arrangements to host a T20 series between Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to AFP.

Afghanistan's cricket team was also scheduled to play in the T20 World Cup to be held in the United Arab Emirates in October which is also in doubt.

Most national players are in Afghanistan

"Efforts are being made to check their [Afghan cricket players] whereabouts," said an international cricket official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Sri Lanka's cricket board said it was still hoping to host Afghanistan and Pakistan for the three matches in an empty stadium at Hambantota.

The series was originally set to take place in Dubai but was shifted to Sri Lanka because it clashed with the Indian Premier League which also starts in September in the UAE.

-----------------------------------------------







COURTESY GEO NEWS

-------

Tuesday, 10 August 2021

Cricket In Olympics 2028: ICC begins formal efforts to push for cricket’s inclusion

Cricket In Olympics 2028: ICC begins formal efforts to push for cricket’s inclusion


DUBAI, AUG 10: The International Cricket Council (ICC) says it is preparing a bid for the game’s inclusion to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Cricket was last featured in the Olympics in 1900 in Paris when only two teams competed at the event – the Great Britain and hosts France.

“A Working Group has also been formed to lead the bid,” according to ICC statement.

The ICC Olympic Working Group will be chaired by England and Wales Cricket Board Chair Ian Watmore. He will be joined by ICC Independent Director Indra Nooyi, Chair of Zimbabwe Cricket Tavengwa Mukuhlani, ICC associate member director and Vice President of the Asian Cricket Council Mahinda Vallipuram and Chair of USA Cricket, Parag Marathe.

Pakistan doesn’t have any representation in the ICC Working Group.

Cricket will feature in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games next year, which, according to ICC, shapes as a perfect showcase for what the sport can bring to the Olympics.

“Our sport is united behind this bid, and we see the Olympics as a part of cricket’s long-term future. We have more than a billion fans globally and almost 90 per cent of them want to see cricket at the Olympics,” ICC Chair Greg Barclay said in a statement.

Barclay said the addition of cricket to the Olympic Games would be beneficial to both the sport and the Games themselves.

As many as 30 million cricket fans live in the USA, making LA 2028 the ideal Games for cricket to make its return to Olympic competition, the statement says.

Barclay added: “Clearly cricket has a strong and passionate fanbase, particularly in South Asia where 92pc of our fans come from whilst there are also 30m cricket fans in the USA. The opportunity for those fans to see their heroes competing for an Olympic medal is tantalising.”

The ICC representative said “We believe cricket would be a great addition to the Olympic Games, but we know it won’t be easy to secure our inclusion as there are so many other great sports out there wanting to do the same.”

Chair of USA Cricket Parag Marathe said the time was now for cricket to make its long-awaited return to the Olympics.

“USA Cricket is thrilled to be able to support cricket’s bid for inclusion in the Olympics, the timing of which aligns perfectly with our continuing plans to develop the sport in the USA,” he said.

“With so many passionate cricket fans and players already in the USA, and a huge global audience and following for the sport around the world, we believe that cricket’s inclusion will add great value to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and help us to achieve our own vision for establishing cricket as a mainstream sport in this country,” he added.

--------------------------------------------------








COURTESY DAWN NEWS

----------

Sunday, 8 August 2021

Tokyo Olympics: Ambassador MATSUDA greets Arshad Nadeem in javelin throw

Tokyo Olympics: Ambassador MATSUDA greets Arshad Nadeem in javelin throw


ISLAMABAD, AUG 8: Ambassador MATSUDA Kuninori has extended congratulations to Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s premier javelin thrower, for showing his great talent by winning 5th place in the final of men’s javelin throw competition in the Tokyo Olympics and conveys best wishes for his future endeavors.

“Though, unfortunately, you could not win a place on the medal winning podium but, I believe, you have won many hearts back home for your brilliant performance in the world’s mega event. I congratulate you for having the honor of competing in the final round played for the medals.

Keep up your efforts with fresh zeal and I am sure, the day is not far when you will be on victory stand”, said the Ambassador.

-----------------------------------------------------------


Wednesday, 4 August 2021

Tokyo Olympics: Twitter erupts in praise for Arshad Nadeem

Tokyo Olympics: Twitter erupts in praise for Arshad Nadeem


TOKYO, AUG 4: Fans, officials, as well as athletes, have praised javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem for producing an outstanding performance in the qualifying round.

The 24-year-old topped his group with a throw of 85.16 metres, just behind India’s Neeraj Chopra (86.65) and Germany’s Johannes Vetter (85.64).

That performance earned him a place in the medal round which will take place on August 7.

Soon after his impressive show on the field, praised pour in for Nadeem who is now the only hope for Pakistan to secure a medal in the Tokyo Olympics.

Previously, the Khanewal-born has won a bronze medal for Pakistan in the 2018 Asian Games which were organised in Indonesia with a throw of 80.75 metres.

---------------------------------------------





COURTESY SAMAA NEWS

-----------