Anurag Thakur replaces Rijiju as new Sports Minister

New Delhi: Anurag Thakur today replaced Kiren Rijiju as the country’s Sports Minister with just over two weeks left for the Tokyo Olympics. The 46-year-old former BCCI president was given charge of sports along with the information and broadcasting ministry after he took oath as a cabinet minister.

Mixed fortunes for Anand in Croatia grand tour event

Zagreb: Former world champion Viswanathan Anand started with a fluent win over Dutch Grandmaster Jorden van Foreest before faltering against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the second round of the rapid event in the Croatia Grand Chess Tour tournament which began today. Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi leads the standings after two rounds with as many wins and four points. The tournament will see the 10 elite Grandmasters competing over 9 rounds of rapid chess (to be played from July 7 to 9) and 18 rounds of blitz chess (to be played on July 10 and 11) for a total prize fund of $150,000.

Japan considers ban on Olympics spectators

Tokyo: Japan is considering banning all spectators from the Olympics, several sources told Reuters today, with authorities expected to declare a state of emergency for Tokyo to contain coronavirus infections 16 days before the Games begin. Authorities have struggled to stamp out persistent clusters of infections, particularly in and around Tokyo, which reported 920 new daily cases today, the highest since May 13. Agencies

Shafali nominated for player of month award

Dubai: India’s teen batting sensation Shafali Verma and all-rounder Sneh Rana were today nominated for the ICC women’s player of the month award for June following their standout performances in the ongoing tour of England. Shafali became the first Indian woman and fourth from any country to score half-centuries in both innings of a debut Test.

Sri Lanka players sign India tour contracts

COLOMBO: All-rounder Angelo Mathews has taken an indefinite break from national duties but his Sri Lanka teammates have signed tour contracts ahead of the limited-overs series against India. The players have rejected new annual contracts which offer lower base salaries and more performance-based incentives but played in Bangladesh and England after signing tour contracts. Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed the same arrangement would continue for the home series against India beginning July 13.

Ashwin to play county game before England Tests? London: Star India spinner R Ashwin could play a First-Class game for Surrey ahead of next month’s Test series against England if he is able to get his work visa in time. If he is able to get the visa for Surrey’s game against Somerset starting July 11, Ashwin will get valuable match practice before the series

Black Caps to stage WTC trophy tour

Wellington: New Zealand cricket fans will get the chance to celebrate the Black Caps’ World Test Championship triumph with some of the players after the country’s board said today it will stage a week-long trophy tour this month. Kane Williamson’s team won the inaugural WTC title with an eight-wicket victory against Virat Kohli’s India last month. Agencies

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