‘Star is born’: From homeless to Test hero for India’s Jaiswal

‘Star is born’: From homeless to Test hero for India’s Jaiswal
India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal acknowledges the crowd as he leaves the field after losing his wicket on the third day of the first cricket test between Australia and India in Perth on November 24, 2024. (AP)
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Updated 24 November 2024
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‘Star is born’: From homeless to Test hero for India’s Jaiswal

‘Star is born’: From homeless to Test hero for India’s Jaiswal
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal, 22, put India in driving seat against Australia in Perth with stellar century 
  • A young, homeless Jaiswal used to sell snacks on the streets to finance cricketing ambitions 

NEW DELHI: India’s Perth Test hero Yashasvi Jaiswal, who hit a stunning century on Sunday, rose to stardom from being homeless and selling snacks on the streets to finance his cricketing ambitions.
The 22-year-old opening batsman turned an overnight 90 into 161 on day three in the opening match of the five-Test series against Australia.
It was his fourth ton in his 15th Test.
He hit 171 last year on his debut against the West Indies, off a grueling 387 deliveries over more than eight hours at the crease in Dominica.
He smacked two double centuries against visiting England earlier this year.
The attacking left-handed batsman burst into the consciousness of cricket-mad India with a stellar showing in the Indian Premier League last year.
He was snapped up by Rajasthan Royals in the 2019 IPL auction and last season made one half of a fearsome opening pair with England’s white-ball captain Jos Buttler, amassing 625 runs with a strike rate of more than 163.
After his latest heroics, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said it was all the more special because he had “come the hard way.”
The batting great called Jaiswal a “wonderful role model for those who come from the villages to the cities,” showing how if “you work hard, you’re dedicated, you have a dream, you can fulfil it.”
“This boy is a man,” Gavaskar said in his commentary show.
English commentator Mark Nicholas said:
 “This innings will announce him as a star is really born.”
Jaiswal dreamed of playing for India and moved to the financial capital Mumbai at just 11 years old, leaving his parents back home in their village.
“I used to sleep in a dairy and then stayed at my uncle’s place, but it wasn’t big enough and he asked me to find a different place,” Jaiswal told AFP in an interview in 2020.
“I then started to stay in a tent near Azad Maidan” — a field considered the birthplace of cricket in India — “and would play cricket there during the day.”
In between he sold popular street snacks to make enough money to pay for his own meals, supplementing a side hustle in cricket scoring and ball fetching in club games.
Jaiswal eventually won a place in the Mumbai state team in 2019 and became the youngest batsman, at 17 years and 292 days, to score a domestic one-day double century.


French taxi drivers threaten airports, French Open tennis in standoff

French taxi drivers threaten airports, French Open tennis in standoff
Updated 1 min 21 sec ago
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French taxi drivers threaten airports, French Open tennis in standoff

French taxi drivers threaten airports, French Open tennis in standoff
French taxi drivers have over the last week blocked roads at points across the country
“From Monday,” in the absence of progress, Paris international airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, “will be blocked by taxis, and we will also take care of Roland Garros,” said Cordier

PARIS: French taxi drivers will next week step up protest actions, including paralysing access to Paris airports and the French Open tennis championship, in an increasingly acrimonious standoff with the government, their main federation said on Saturday.

French taxi drivers have over the last week blocked roads at points across the country in a row with the government about payments for transporting patients which for many cab drivers form a major part of their businesses.

Meanwhile grievances against ride-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt have been aired again, with taxi drivers seeing them as a poorly-regulated threat to their livelihood.

Sector representatives are due to attend a crunch meeting at the ministry of transport from 1500 GMT Saturday which, in a sign of the seriousness of the situation, will also be attended by Prime Minister Francois Bayrou.

Their chief demand is the wholesale withdrawal of new rules coming into force in October on the transportation of patients to harmonize prices nationwide, which the taxi drivers say will severely erode their income.

“We are calling for the immediate withdrawal of this agreement and for a return to the negotiating table,” Emmanuelle Cordier, president of the National Taxi Federation (FNDT), told France Info radio.

“From Monday,” in the absence of progress, Paris international airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, “will be blocked by taxis, and we will also take care of Roland Garros,” said Cordier, referring to the two-week French Open tennis which starts on Sunday.

In such actions, taxi drivers usually park their vehicles to block car access, requiring people to walk long distances.

But the government has no plans to drop the new rules which it said are needed, after health transport expenditure reached 6.74 billion euros in 2024, including 3.07 billion for licensed taxis.

“We will have to continue to show our discontent peacefully, but with increasingly tough blockades,” said Noel, a 60-year-old driver from Lyon, who has spent 21 years as a taxi driver.

FIFA president cites ‘discussions’ for Ronaldo to play in Club World Cup

FIFA president cites ‘discussions’ for Ronaldo to play in Club World Cup
Updated 53 min 8 sec ago
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FIFA president cites ‘discussions’ for Ronaldo to play in Club World Cup

FIFA president cites ‘discussions’ for Ronaldo to play in Club World Cup
  • Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr did not qualify for the tournament
  • Infantino suggested that the Portugal star could switch to one of the 32 teams playing in the competition

GENEVA: FIFA president Gianni Infantino says Cristiano Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup because of a unique transfer window.

Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr did not qualify for the tournament, but Infantino suggested that the Portugal star could switch to one of the 32 teams playing in the competition in the United States starting next month.

“Cristiano Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup,” Infantino told online streamer IShowSpeed, whose YouTube channel has more than 39 million subscribers. “There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club are watching and are interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup, who knows. Still a few weeks time, will be fun.”

FIFA confirmed Wednesday that last-minute transfer signings are open to all teams going to tournament, which fueled more speculation that one of them will try to sign the 40-year-old Ronaldo on a short-term deal, potentially a loan.

Such a move would be unprecedented in modern soccer though could appeal to FIFA by boosting the profile and ticket sales of an inaugural tournament being played in 11 US cities.

A transfer for Ronaldo also would reunite him and Lionel Messi in the same competition for the first time since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Last October, FIFA invited Messi’s Inter Miami to enter the tournament in the slot that was expected to be reserved for the host nation’s champion. Inter Miami were eliminated in the MLS Cup playoffs.

Speculative reports have linked Ronaldo to the one Saudi club that qualified, Al Hilal, the Brazilian club Palmeiras and Wydad of Morocco, even though that club are currently banned by FIFA from registering new signings.

Transfers can be made from June 1-10 and again June 27-July 3 according to exceptional rules FIFA approved in October.

“The objective is to encourage clubs and players whose contracts are expiring to find an appropriate solution to facilitate the players’ participation,” FIFA said in Wednesday’s statement.


Leclerc fastest in Monaco practice as Hamilton crashes

Leclerc fastest in Monaco practice as Hamilton crashes
Updated 24 May 2025
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Leclerc fastest in Monaco practice as Hamilton crashes

Leclerc fastest in Monaco practice as Hamilton crashes
  • Leclerc clocked a best lap of one minute and 10.953 seconds
  • Ferrari and Leclerc are hoping for a repeat of their emotional 2024 triumph

MONACO: Charles Leclerc completed a hat-trick of perfect practice runs on Saturday when he topped the times for Ferrari at the Monaco Grand Prix, as Lewis Hamilton crashed into the barriers.

Leclerc, who last year became the first Monegasque winner of his home event in the Formula One era, clocked a best lap of one minute and 10.953 seconds — the only driver to dip below one minute and 11 seconds — to beat Max Verstappen by 0.280 seconds.

Ferrari and Leclerc are hoping for a repeat of their emotional 2024 triumph, but their mood was spoiled when the Monegasque’s teammate Hamilton crashed on entry to Casino Square to end the session with a red flag.

He was unhurt, but it was an uncharacteristic setback for the Briton who had looked fast and strong.

Hamilton was running in the turbulent air behind Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes and Esteban Ocon of Haas when he lost downforce and hit the barriers.

Lando Norris was third fastest for McLaren ahead of team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri, Hamilton and Williams’ Alex Albon.

Liam Lawson of Racing Bull was an impressive seventh ahead of Carlos Sainz in the second Williams, Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull and Antonelli.

After a slow start the session burst into life by the halfway mark with Hamilton, Norris and Leclerc trading fastest laps before Verstappen took control.

To the delight of the local audience, Leclerc regained top spot in 1:11.179 on his softs and then went even quicker to move two-tenths clear before the session stopped for a red flag when Hamilton smacked the barriers at Massenet, damaging his right front and rear wheels.

He was unhurt and climbed clear.

“Sorry guys, I’ve hit the wall,” said Hamilton, left hoping his car could be repaired in time for qualifying later Saturday.


Liverpool’s Salah named Premier League player of the season, Gravenberch best youngster

Liverpool’s Salah named Premier League player of the season, Gravenberch best youngster
Updated 24 May 2025
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Liverpool’s Salah named Premier League player of the season, Gravenberch best youngster

Liverpool’s Salah named Premier League player of the season, Gravenberch best youngster
  • Having also earned the award in 2017-18, Salah became only the fifth player to win it twice
  • The 32-year-old Egyptian is on course to win another Golden Boot

LONDON: Mohamed Salah was named the Premier League player of the season on Saturday after a stellar individual campaign as Liverpool cruised to their second Premier League title while his team mate Ryan Gravenberch was named the young player of the season.

Salah scored 28 goals and provided 18 assists to guide the Anfield club to the title, with Arne Slot’s side winning it with four games to spare.

Having also earned the award in 2017-18, Salah became only the fifth player to win it twice after Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic and Kevin De Bruyne.


The 32-year-old Egyptian is on course to win another Golden Boot for most goals in a season and is five strikes ahead of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak going into the final day of the season on Sunday.

No player before has had 46 goal involvements in a 38-game season and Salah could even break the record of 47 held by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole, who achieved the feat in a 42-game campaign, when Liverpool host Crystal Palace at Anfield.

With six more assists than any other player, Salah can become the first footballer to win the Golden Boot, Golden Playmaker and player of the season awards.

Salah also won the Football Writers’ Association men’s player of the year for the third time earlier this month.

Gravenberch became one of the first names on the team sheet under Slot, who deployed the Dutchman as a deep-lying midfielder, and the 23-year-old has become a crucial part of Liverpool’s spine, making 36 appearances this season.

His versatility to shield Liverpool’s back line has come to the fore this season while his ability to quickly initiate attacks, cutting out passing lanes and winning back possession, has made him indispensable.

No midfielder has made more interceptions this season than Gravenberch (59).

Gravenberch was also nominated for the Player of the Season award along with Virgil Van Dijk — the three Liverpool players who have clocked the most minutes in the team in the Premier League this season.

He is also the second Liverpool player to win the youngsters’ award after Trent Alexander-Arnold won it in 2019-20, the season it was introduced.


Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi lobbies for sport’s awareness and Paralympic inclusion

Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi lobbies for sport’s awareness and Paralympic inclusion
Updated 24 May 2025
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Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi lobbies for sport’s awareness and Paralympic inclusion

Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi lobbies for sport’s awareness and Paralympic inclusion
  • Invented in Japan by Takei Miyoshi in 1984, blind tennis is played around the world
  • Rizvi, who is married and works in finance, originally represented his native Pakistan

LONDON: Naqi Rizvi loves the “absolute freedom” he feels on the tennis court. Winning titles is fun, too.

The 34-year-old blind tennis champion is on a mission to not only raise awareness but also elevate the sport into the Paralympics.

“That would be the dream, and I’d love to be the first Paralympic champion if I can,” Rizvi said.

The London resident, fully blind from the age of 7 because of congenital glaucoma, only took up the sport a decade ago and is now the No. 1-ranked men’s player in the world for his category.

Also an avid runner, Rizvi has completed two marathons and although jogging with a guide is great, tennis offers more.

“On a tennis court, I have absolute freedom because I know where the boundaries are, no one needs to tell me which way to turn, I don’t need to have a cane or anything of this sort,” he told The Associated Press during a practice session at the National Tennis Center in southwest London.

Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi and his wife Zara attend a visually impaired tennis training session in London on May 20, 2025. (AP)

“It’s just the absolute sense of freedom to know that I can run comfortably, make my own decisions, and then be able to play points or rallies. It’s just incredible.”

HOW IT WORKS

The rules are basically the same as mainstream tennis just with smaller dimensions and slightly lower net. Tactile lines are taped onto the court so players like Rizvi can feel the boundaries. Depending on the level of visual impairment, you are allowed up to three bounces of the ball. The foam ball contains a bell so players can audibly track it.

“What I find interesting about blind tennis is it’s incredibly technical,” said Rizvi, who also possesses a big serve.

Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi serves the ball during a visually impaired tennis training session in London on May 20, 2025. (AP)

The problem-solving aspect of the sport is something Rizvi enjoys — no surprise given that he studied engineering at University College London.

“You really need to anticipate after you’ve heard the first bounce where the second and third will be,” he said. “You obviously can’t see how your opponent has hit the ball, so it’s a lot of anticipation and a lot of practice and getting used to different trajectories that the ball can take.

RAISING AWARENESS

Rizvi didn’t even know that tennis was an option until he visited Metro Blind Sport in London a decade ago. He was hooked right away.

“I can almost assure you that if you did a survey of blind and partially sighted people,” he said, “the majority of them wouldn’t have any idea because it’s not televised, it’s not in any other mainstream events, so how are people supposed to find out?”

Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi plays a shot during a visually impaired tennis training session in London on May 20, 2025. (AP)

The Lawn Tennis Association supports a visually impaired program that includes practice sessions at the governing body’s National Tennis Center. That’s where Jack Draper, the world No. 5 player, tried out the different levels. The LTA also runs tournaments each year and sends “Team GB” to an international competition.

Rizvi noted that there’s not much financial backing in the sport. There’s no prize money at tournaments and players often fund their own travel.

“Unless you obviously have the visibility and the money behind it, it’s really hard,” he said. “Governing bodies need to take a more active role and try and give parity to all forms of disability tennis not just the ones that have made it big like wheelchair tennis, for example.”

PARALYMPICS AND GRAND SLAM EVENTS

Rizvi, who is married and works in finance, originally represented his native Pakistan but for the past year has been part of England’s program since gaining British citizenship. He discussed his childhood — his father is Pakistani and his mother is Indian — in a TEDx Talk he gave as a student at UCL.

Invented in Japan by Takei Miyoshi in 1984, blind tennis is played around the world. Last year’s world championships in Italy were the largest to date with 117 players from 20 countries, the International Blind Tennis Association said.

Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi and tennis coach Lee Neale walk on court during a visually impaired tennis training session in London on May 20, 2025. (AP)

Rizvi has won several national titles, a European championship, the world championship in 2023 — as well as gold that year at the ISBA World Games. He is also the two-time defending champion of the Play Your Way to Wimbledon tournament.

The International Paralympic Committee handbook spells out that the sport or discipline must be “widely and regularly practiced” in at least 32 countries and three continents.

“I really want it to be in the Paralympics,” Rizvi said, “but I also want this to be a mainstream sport which can be part of the ATP Tour, part of Grand Slam tournaments, just like wheelchair tennis has made such amazing leaps forward. I’d love for blind tennis to be there as well because it’s definitely got the potential.

“It’s got the countries, the continents, the people, the passion behind it.”