Posts by BirSaNN

Roger Federer kept world number 12 Alexander Zverev on his toes and earned a second break point with some deft volleying, which he pounced on to race through the first set in 24 minutes.

World number five Roger Federer clinched a record ninth Halle Open title on Sunday, crushing last year’s finalist Alexander Zverev 6-1 6-3 to lay down a marker in the lead-up to Wimbledon.

The 18-times grand slam champion, who skipped the clay court season after winning the Australian Open and titles in Indian Wells and Miami, to prepare for the grass, is in ominous form and won in Halle without dropping a single set all week.

The 35-year-old, defeated in his first comeback match in Stuttgart last week, was aggressive from the start, breaking in the first game to take control. Federer kept world number 12 Zverev on his toes and earned a second break point with some deft volleying, which he pounced on to race through the first set in 24 minutes.

Zverev, who beat the Swiss in last year’s semi-final, had a chance to break at the start of the second set. Federer, however, was a class above even as his opponent attempted to mix up his game by forcing the Swiss to come to the net more often.

A dropshot put Federer 5-2 ahead and he sealed victory two games later on his first match point with a cross-court volley.

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Kidambi Srikanth defeated reigning Olympic champion Chen Long 22-20, 21-16 in the final of the Australia Open Super Series to win his second title in two weeks. Pullela Gopichand said that he did not discuss any strategy with Srikanth.

Indian badminton has been in a rich run of form this year. PV Sindhu got the ball rolling by winning the India Open Super Series, B Sai Praneeth won in Singapore over Kidambi Srikanth and now Srikanth won two consecutive super series titles in Indonesia and Australia. The form of Indian badminton players has got praise from national coach Pullela Gopichand.

“It has been a truly memorable performance to beat someone like Chen Long and glad that Srikanth showed he had the game to beat anyone on his day. The best part of his win being Srikanth showed the composure, net play and aggression from the back of the court,” he said.

Srikanth defeated reigning Olympic champion Chen Long 22-20, 21-16 in the final of the Australia Open Super Series to win his second title in two weeks. Gopichand said that he did not discuss any strategy with Srikanth for the final.

“This win should also mean his evolution to the next level as a world-class player, fully matured now with the desired consistency. I was also pleased when he had to change the strategy half way through the second game and he did that in style.

“I did talk to him yesterday (Saturday) but frankly did not discuss about the strategy part for the final for the Indonesian coach (Mulyo) is there doing a great job. I just spoke to him about recovery and stay away from the phone,” he said.

Gopichand was elated that four Indian players won four super series titles in as many weeks and hailed it as a fantastic show.

“It is a great achievement to see Indians win four Super Series titles in four weeks. Honestly, this trio of Sai, Srikanth and Prannoy have done a great job,” Gopichand said. “Honestly , I was expecting a couple of Super Series titles for India but this has been a fantastic show. Yes, hoping one of the girls to win one of the titles.”

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Along with Lionel Messi's skills, his style and looks have also changed over the years. From Messi's messy look to clean shaven boyish looks, the Argentinian captain has tried it all. The Barcelona great started his career with long hair in 2015.

From 2005-2017, Lionel Messi has become one of the greatest football legends ever to have ever played on this planet. Some even call him ‘alien’ to imply that his skills are simply not human.

Along with Barcelona legend’s skills, his style and looks have also changed over the years. From Messi’s messy look to clean shaven boyish looks, the Argentinian captain has tried it all. Messi started his career with long hair which have now turned blond.

On his 30th birthday, FC Barcelona shared a video showing the changes in looks that a boyish Messi back in 2015 has gone through till now.

Video : http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/how-lionel-messis-look-has-changed-over-the-years-watch-video-4721564/

The five-times Ballon d’Or winner, who is set to marry his childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo on June 30, celebrated his 30th with his family. He posted a picture with his to-be-wife and son and a Barcelona-themed-cake in front of them from his official Instagram account.

Under the picture, he wrote in the caption, “Ending the birthday. Many thanks to everyone for the greetings.”

Messi has had a spectacular career, winning almost all there is to win with Spanish giants Barcelona. He has won the UEFA Champions League four times, the La Liga as many as eight times. Messi has won the Copa del Ray five times, the Spanish Super Cup seven times, the FIFA Club World Cup three times and the UEFA Super Cup three times.

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Ankush Dahiya (60 kg) won gold at the Ulaanbaatar Cup in Mongolia on Sunday as Devendro Singh (52 kg) clinched silver. While Devendro lost against Aldoms Suguro in the final, 19-year old Ankush beat Man Choe Chol of Korea to emerge as champion.

Teenager Ankush Dahiya (60 kg) won gold at the Ulaanbaatar Cup in Mongolia on Sunday as fellow Indian boxer Devendro Singh (52 kg) clinched silver. While Commonwealth Games silver-medallist Devendro lost against Aldoms Suguro in the final, 19-year old Ankush beat Man Choe Chol of Korea to win the tournament in his category on the final day.

However, K Shyam Kumar in the 49 weight category, Mohammed Hussamuddin in the 56 kg category and Priyanka Chaudhary in the 60 kg category lost their respective semifinal bouts. The three Indians are going to return with bronze medals.

King’s Cup gold-medallist Shyam Kumar lost against Rogen Ladon of Philippines through a split verdict. Hussamuddin went down against Bat-Ochir Tumurkhuyag of Mongolia. Priyanka lost her semifinal bout to Korea’s Hye Song Choe, who booked her set to the final in the 60 kg category.

India finished their Mongolia tournament campaign with a gold, silver and three bronze medals. While Devendro had earlier beaten Mongolia’s Gandulam Mungun-Erdene to reach the semifinals, former Asian silver-medallist Ankush took down Radna Tsibikov of Russia in the semifinals.

The 25-year-old Devendro tried to put his best foot forward as he faced the Indonesian in the final bout. Devendro has worked on his fitness, which has reflected on his performances in the course of the tournament so far. The 19-year-old, who is appearing for his second international tournament, will hope to make it big and return with the gold medal. He was promoted from youth to elite level last year.

The 19-year-old Ankush, who made his second international tournament appearance, helped his country return with at least one gold medal. He was promoted from youth to elite level last year.

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The relaid pitch at the St Petersburg stadium was criticised again on Saturday, this time by Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Fernando Santos after their 4-0 win over New Zealand in the Confederations Cup.

The relaid pitch at the St Petersburg stadium was criticised again on Saturday, this time by Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Fernando Santos after their 4-0 win over New Zealand in the Confederations Cup.

The 68,000-seat stadium, the home of Russian football powerhouse Zenit, will be a flagship venue at the 2018 World Cup. It will also host the final of the current tournament next Sunday.

The pitch had to be hastily relaid after severe criticism from football officials when it cut up badly during the inaugural match there in April.

It appeared to survive the previous Confederations Cup games between Russia and New Zealand and Cameroon and Australia, but Ronaldo reopened the wounds on Saturday, complaining that the grass was too long.

“It was a difficult pitch where the grass was somewhat too long and it was almost impossible to play better than we did,” he told Portuguese media after picking up his third successive man-of-the-match award.

Coach Fernando Santos said the teams were prevented from training on it the day before the game.

“It’s an excellent stadium but it’s a shame the pitch has problems,” he told reporters.

“FIFA know about this and I hope that in a week’s time it will be better.”

“I hope they can get the pitch in better condition because it’s always important for the quality of the match, especially where you have teams which are technically strong and fast.”

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