World Champion P V Sindhu was on Wednesday unveiled as one of the ambassadors for Badminton World Federation (BWF)'s 'i am badminton' awareness campaign.
The campaign provides a platform for players to express their love and respect for badminton by advocating and committing to clean and honest play.
Sindhu, an Olympic silver medallist, said playing clean and honest is very important in any sport.
"This message starts with one voice. If we as ambassadors can highlight this, then I think this will spread to more players," said the 24-year-old Indian.
"You are playing the sport for yourself. You need to be happy about it. You have to play it very clean and that is very important to me."
It has been five years since BWF's Integrity Unit was formed and this time the campaign has been at the forefront of the governing body's efforts to communicate its approach towards integrity.
Besides Sindhu, other ambassadors include Canada's Michelle Li, Chinese duo of Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong, .

BWF names Sindhu as an ambassador for its 'i am badminton' campaign

PTI Automatic

The time spent away from cricket while serving a  doping ban was nothing short of "torture" for him but young India batsman Prithvi Shaw said it also made him hungrier or runs.
The talented 20-year-old was suspended by the BCCI in July last year until November 15 for "inadvertently" ingesting a prohibited substance, commonly found in cough syrups.
"It was a mistake. And the period away from cricket was a torture," Shaw said while interacting with fans during an Instagram Live session on his IPL franchise Delhi Capitals' official handle.
"Doubts and questions arise, but I kept the faith and belief. I spent some time in London where I was working on my fitness, as I wasn't allowed to bat anywhere. When the ban got over, and I returned to domestic cricket, I was hungrier than before.
"I picked up my bat and realised I hadn't lost my touch at all. If anything, that time off made me a more determined person," he said.
Talking about the importance of mental health during the unprecedented ..

Period away from cricket was like torture: Prithvi Shaw

Ace Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh on Wednesday said that the COVID-19 pandemic-forced lockdown and suspension of tournaments will be "tough" on the young players whose careers are still at nascent stage.
The coronavirus outbreak, which has killed over 1.5 lakh people and infected more than 2.5 million globally, has brought all sports, including golf, to a halt.
In India, nearly 600 people have died so far and over 19,000 infected, forcing the suspension of the Professional Tour of India.
"It will be toughest for the players who are starting off because they are waiting to prove themselves, they want to win tournaments, they want to make a livelihood," Jeev, a four-time European Tour champion, told PTI.
"These young golfers who have just turned professionals want to make money, want to be on tours but they don't have an opportunity to do that. We have already played for many years and even now going to the senior tour but for players who are in their 20s, they are not able to ...

COVID-19 pandemic tough on young golfers: Jeev

German football authorities are set to announce plans on Thursday for Bundesliga matches to restart in empty stadiums on May 9, but the potential first return of a major European league in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic is meeting some opposition.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's government is slowly easing nationwide restrictions and the resumption of the Bundesliga, which was halted on March 13, would boost morale in football-mad Germany.
It would also make the Bundesliga the first top-flight European league to begin playing again.
Large public events are banned in Germany until August 31, yet football could resume without spectators -- known as "ghost games" in a country that has more testing capacity than other in Europe and players could be tested regularly.
The 18 clubs have been back in training for three weeks, albeit in small groups with social distancing observed even on the pitch.
Having already been given signs of encouragement by politicians, the German Football League ..

German football eyes May return but debate rages

Over the years Ajinkya Rahane has faced several bowlers on different surfaces across the globe, but playing against England speedster James Anderson in his home country has been the most challenging task for the India Test vice-captain.
While insisting that every bowler in international cricket is challenging, facing Anderson in English conditions was the toughest for Rahane by his own admission.
"(But) especially talking about one particular bowler - James Anderson in England is really challenging. He knows the conditions well. He (Anderson) is the one," said Rahane on an Instachat live chat orgainsed by his employer 'Indian Oil' on Tuesday.
Rahane, who has amassed over 4000 runs in Test cricket and has a century in England, the West Indies apart from India, emphasised on the need to be mentally fit during the coronavirus-forced lockdown period.
"(At) this point of time, it is important to be positive mentally. Mentally, I'm visualising my cricketing stuff, batting. As an ...

Facing Anderson in England is really challenging, says Rahane

He has spent the better part of last three years in Ukraine getting battle-ready for the 2020 Paralympics but with the COVID-19 pandemic causing a postponement, accomplished Indian high jumper Sharad Kumar is grappling with the anxiety of "starting from the scratch" again.
Kumar has been training in Ukraine since 2017 in his bid to win a medal at the Tokyo Paralympics, postponed to next year due to the pandemic.
A double Asian Para Games high jump champion and a world silver-medallist, Kumar said the thought of having to wait for another year is making him uneasy.
"I have done meticulous planning and hard training in last three years with the sole aim of a medal in Paralympics. Now I  am not doing any training," Kumar told PTI fro Ukraine.
"...there will be no competition this year and so I have to start from the scratch next year," he said.
"Naturally I am disappointed but what can I do. The world is in crisis now. Sports is secondary at present. Athletes are human beings also and I .

After giving 3 years to Paralympic preparations in Ukraine, high-jumper Sharad anxious about future

Indian men's hockey team was already in good shape and will now strive to become an ever better side, striker Simranjeet Singh said on Wednesday, promising to utilise the time in hand due to postponement of the Tokyo Olympics.
Simranjeet said the eight-time champions have got more time to analyse their game.
"It's disappointing that the Olympics have been postponed to next year. We have been in fantastic rhythm since last year and the team was building up well for the Olympics. But, the well-being of the people is more important than anything else and the best decision has been taken," he said.
"We should certainly utilise the next year to become an even better side. We will ensure that we work harder and produce great results on the field."
Members of the Indian men's hockey team are stuck at the SAI centre in Bengaluru due to the nationwide lockdown, imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19.
"I miss home and it would have been great to stay with family during this time, but then I .

We were in good rhythm, will get even better: Simranjeet

Star Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has decided to auction the bat he used during the 2019 ODI World Cup to help raise money for the fight against deadly coronavirus pandemic.
Shakib, who is currently serving a two-year ban from all forms of cricket -- one of which is suspended -- for not reporting corrupt approaches, is the second Bangladeshi cricketer after wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim to auction a personal cricketing gear to raise money for the cause.
"I had said before that I want to put up a bat for auction. I have decided to auction the bat I used in the 2019 World Cup. It's a favourite bat of mine," Shakib said during a Facebook live session.
The 33-year-old all-rounder had a hugely successful World Cup in England last year, scoring 606 runs in eight matches at an average of 86.57, which included two centuries and five fifties.
Besides, he also picked up 11 wickets in the tournament and became the only cricketer to score 600 plus runs and scalp 10 wickets in a .

Shakib to auction 2019 WC bat to raise COVID-19 fund

Seasoned Indian boxers Vijender Singh and Manoj Kumar have stepped forward to raise funds for Asian Games gold-winning former pugilist Dingko Singh, who is battling liver cancer and will be flown to the national capital on April 25 for radiation therapy.
The duo and some other boxers and coaches have connected over a WhatsApp group to raise over Rs 1 lakh, transferred directly to Dingko's account through online payment modes.
"We have a whatsapp group, 'hum mein hai dum', Manoj posted about Dingko on it. We got his bank details and all of us have been chipping in with whatever we can manage," Vijender, who now plies his trade in the professional circuit, told PTI.
The "mission" started on Tuesday evening once Dingko's bank details were established. The contributions have ranged from Rs 1,000 to Rs 25,000 so far and are still coming in.
"...we have raised over Rs 1 lakh, the money is continuing to go to his account. I put in Rs 25,000, likewise, everyone else has been giving what they .

Vijender, Manoj help raise funds for ailing Dingko Singh

A staff member of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee has tested positive for COVID-19.
Tokyo organizers issued a statement Wednesday saying it was a male employee in his 30s who worked at the headquarters building in a part of Tokyo known as Harumi.
Organizers said he was in quarantine at home and gave no further details.
The Tokyo Olympics were postponed last month until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The committee employs about 3,500 people, and organizers say about 90% have been working from home for the last several weeks.
Organizers said the area in which he worked would be disinfected, and people who worked nearby have been told to stay home.
The Olympics are scheduled to open on July 23, 2021, but questions persist if that will be possible in light of the pandemic.

Tokyo Olympic staffer tests positive for coronavirus

It's "not ideal" but fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has suggested that the entire Border-Gavaskar Trophy be held at one venue -- Adelaide Oval -- as Cricket Australia is exploring options to save next summer's Test series against India.
Most of the countries are under lockdown due to COVID-19 and it has wreaked havoc on sporting calendar across the world.
A financially-weakened CA is desperate to host India to save the broadcast revenue from the contest.
"The bowlers and batters would probably be happy with that, it's (Adelaide Oval) probably been the best cricket wicket the last four or five years," Hazlewood was quoted as saying by the Australian media.
"It gives a bit to both batting and bowling, I wouldn't mind it. It's not ideal though. We want to get around to all parts of Australia and challenge ourselves on all those different wickets."
India are scheduled to play four Tests, three ODIs and three Twenty20 International on their tour.
The T20 series will be played ahead of the T20 .

Adelaide Oval is Hazlewood's choice if Ind-Oz series is held at one venue

Cricket Australia has approached supermarket giant and one of its sponsors Woolworths to help with temporary jobs for its staff laid off until the end of June due to a financial crunch caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Cricket Australia is currently not eligible for the federal government's JobKeeper support program having lost no major revenue streams from cancelled matches.
"I wrote to Brad Banducci the CEO of Woolworths given that Woolworths is among organisations that need more staff at the moment," CA chief executive Kevin Roberts was quoted as saying by 'SEN Radio' here.
"Our people and culture team are also working with other organisations who are in the habit of placing people in organisations and industries that have a temporary need for more people."
Roberts also said that a home international season played without crowds would hit their revenues.
"Our revenue from ticket sales you could put a ring around 40-50 million Australian dollars depending on the season. So that is 

Cricket Australia finding temporary jobs for laid off staff at supermarket

Spain called off the Running of the Bulls in July, the U.S. scrapped the national spelling bee in June and Germany canceled Oktoberfest five months away, making it clear that the effort to beat back the coronavirus and return to normal could be a long and dispiriting process.
Amid growing impatience over the shutdowns that have thrown tens of millions out of work, European countries continued to reopen in stages, while in the U.S., one state after another  mostly ones led by Republican governors  began taking steps to get back to business.
Business owners in the U.S. who got the go-ahead weighed whether to reopen, and some hesitated, in a sign that commerce won't necessarily bounce back right away.
Mark Lebos, owner of Strong Gym in Savannah, Georgia, where Gov. Brian Kemp announced that gyms and salons can reopen this week, said it would be professional negligence to do so right now.
"We are not going to be a vector of death and suffering," he said.
With deaths and infections still ..

Virus cancels world events; divided opinions on reopening

Martin Fuchs was dreaming of celebrating Olympic showjumping gold on his grey gelding Clooney 51, soaking up the atmosphere in the Japanese heat as the Swiss flag was raised.
Instead, the 27-year-old rider, who competed in Rio four years ago, has been forced to play a waiting game by the global coronavirus pandemic.
The European champion and world silver medallist began the year as world number one ahead of compatriot Steve Guerdat and was gunning for Olympic gold in Tokyo.
But Fuchs is confident that his horse will be up to the challenge at the postponed Games next year, and is enjoying aspects of the enforced break from his usual relentless schedule.
"It is obviously a disappointment as I was very excited and looking forward to the Olympics this year," he told AFP by phone from his stables in Wangi, Switzerland.
"But I think even next year Clooney will still be in a good shape as he won't be doing much this year because there is not much happening."
Fuchs hails from a family whose ..

Swiss showjumper takes stock after Olympic delay

Players ejected from football games for targeting will be allowed to remain on the sidelines, the NCAA has announced.
The Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the rules change no longer requiring players to head to the locker room after targeting is confirmed.
All other aspects of the rule discouraging above-the-shoulders contact remain the same.
The panel also approved a pace-of-play guideline for instant replay officials to complete video reviews in less than two minutes. Reviews that are exceptionally complicated or involve end-of-game issues should be completed as efficiently as possible without a stated time limit.
A clock rule regarding instant replay also was approved. If the game clock expires at the end of a half and replay determines there was time remaining and the clock should start on the referee's signal, there must be at least 3 seconds left, when the ball should have been declared dead, to restore time.
If less than 3 seconds remain on the game clock, the half is ...

NCAA: Players ejected for targeting can remain on sidelines

German football authorities are set to announce plans on Thursday for Bundesliga matches to restart on May 9 in empty stadiums, but the potential return in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic is meeting some opposition.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's government is slowly easing nationwide restrictions and the resumption of the Bundesliga, which was halted on March 13, would boost morale in football-mad Germany.
It would also make the Bundesliga the first top-flight European league to begin playing again.
Large public events are banned in Germany until August 31, yet football could resume without spectators -- known as "ghost games" in German. Germany has more testing capacity than other European countries and players could be tested regularly.
The 18 clubs have been back in training for three weeks, albeit in small groups with social distancing observed even on the pitch.
Having already been given signs of encouragement by politicians, the German Football League (DFL) is set to iron out 

German football plans May return but debate rages

A pair of fans in New York sued Major League Baseball, Commissioner Rob Manfred and the 30 teams, asking for their money back for tickets and for certification of class-action status.
The lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles by Matthew Ajzenman, who said he bought a partial season plan for more than 20 Mets games; and Susan Terry-Bazer, who said she purchased six tickets for a May 9 game at Yankee Stadium against Boston.
"Baseball fans are stuck with expensive and unusable tickets for unplayable games in the midst of this economic crisis, the lawsuit said.
"Under the pretext of 'postponing' games, at the directive of MLB, teams and ticket merchants are refusing to issue refunds for games which are not going to be played as scheduled -- if ever."
Ajzenman said his Mets plan cost $1,730 and he made a first payment to the team of about $317 last year. Terry-Bazer said she paid $926 to Ticketmaster and planned to take her grandson to the Red Sox-Yankees ...

Fans sue MLB, teams over ticket money, ask for class action

World number one Rory McIlroy has added his voice to the chorus of players opposed to the idea of playing this year's Ryder Cup without spectators.
With the global golf season in chaos due to the coronavirus pandemic, the game's administrators are running through a range of possible scenarios as they attempt to plot a path back to competition.
For organizers of the Ryder Cup, which is due to take place at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin from September 25-27, that has included studying whether the tournament could be played without fans.
PGA chief executive Seth Waugh revealed earlier this week that officials had looked at the possibility of creating a "virtual fan experience" for the fiercely competitive team clash between Europe and the United States.
Waugh however acknowledged that a Ryder Cup without spectators was "hard to imagine," noting they were an integral part of the raucous and often febrile golfing spectacle.
McIlroy, speaking during an Instagram live event for sponsors ...

McIlroy against fan-less Ryder Cup

The Dutch football federation (KNVB) has announced that its intention to call an end to the season, subject to discussions with UEFA, following the government's decision to extend a ban on large gatherings until September due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"The professional football committee intends to not continue playing the 2019/20 competition. The KNVB will consult UEFA, after which a decision will be taken," the federation said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The KNVB has not yet definitively cancelled competitions because of financial difficulties in the football industry due to the coronavirus crisis."
Clubs and other stakeholders will meet Friday to discuss the consequences of the decision.
There are eight rounds of matches left in the Eredivisie, with defending champions Ajax ahead of AZ Alkmaar on goal difference. The Dutch Cup final had been scheduled for April 19.
According to the KNVB, matches behind closed doors will not be possible as they are considered events which require 

Dutch top flight likely over after government extends ban

The South Korean baseball league announced it will start its delayed season on May 5, and wasted no time getting preseason games going.
It was a distinctly quiet start on Tuesday to two weeks of exhibition games and training for the 10 teams of the top-flight Korean Baseball Organization, with no fans allowed in the stadiums.
In one of the five games on Tuesday, the LG Twins beat defending Korean Series champion Doosan Bears 5-2 in an echoing stadium in Seoul, with more than 20,000 empty seats.
Umpires wore masks and gloves, and some coaches and team staff wore masks in the dugouts.
Some of the players and a coach wore messages on their caps that read "Corona 19 Out." The initial preseason from March 14-24 and opening day, originally scheduled for March 28, were pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has virtually shut down top-level sports around the world.
The KBO's decision to restart comes with a catch, though. Fans will only be able to see early regular season ...

South Korean baseball preseason underway in empty stadiums

UEFA remains committed to completing the suspended football season in Europe despite the coronavirus pandemic after making "a strong recommendation" on Tuesday that leagues across the continent be played to a conclusion.
"There was a strong recommendation given to finish domestic top division and cup competitions," European football's governing body said in a statement after holding a videoconference with its 55 member associations.
However, it added that "some special cases will be heard once guidelines concerning participation to European competitions -- in case of a cancelled league -- have been developed."
That could be of particular interest to Belgium and Scotland, whose top flights appear to have been awaiting a green light from UEFA to call an end to their seasons now.
UEFA said any decisions would be announced after its Executive Committee meets on Thursday. Before that it is due to meet with the powerful European Club Association (ECA) and the European Leagues grouping, ...

Page 83 -