Former Zimbabwe cricket captain Brendan Taylor (35) admitted that he took money from match-fixers who tried to blackmail him into manipulating international games with a secret video of him using cocaine on a visit to India in 2019. The ICC is about to impose a “multi-year ban” on him for not reporting the incident back then, he added. Even though he took $15,000 from the fixers, Taylor said he never fixed or manipulated games. He retired from international cricket late last year. His admission comes a year after former Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak was banned from cricket for eight years for breaching cricket’s anti-corruption code. In a confession on social media, Taylor claimed that he was invited by the businessman to India to discuss “sponsorships” and potential launch of a T20 event in Zimbabwe besides an offer of $15,000 in October, 2019. He did not name the businessman in question. The 35-year-old, who played 205 ODIs, 34 Tests and 45 T20s before retiring last year, now expects the ICC to ban him for not reporting the incident back then. The game’s governing body is yet to comment on the matter. “The timing was such that we hadn’t been paid for 6 months by Zimbabwe cricket and it was questionable whether Zimbabwe would be able to continue playing in the international arena,” he said while trying to give his reasons for accepting the offer. The Harare-born cricket said he was blackmailed “post dinner and drinks”. Taylor said he was also given a part payment to spot fix matches.
Sania to retire after 2022 season
The 2022 tennis season is likely to be Sania Mirza’s last. The 35-year-old comeback mom pegged her decision on injuries, a missing spark and her three-year old son Izhaan, who is of school-going age. The former world No. 1 dropped the bombshell rather casually during a post-match press-conference at the Australian Open. “I’m pretty sure that this is my last season, if I do finish it,” she added as an afterthought. “I’m not going to be back in Australia to play the Australian Open again. ”
“I have had some great memories, great results in singles, doubles and mixed-doubles here. I have been able to do that over 20 years of my career (from 2001). It has been a great journey for me,” she said. “I’m literally taking it one tournament at a time, going week to week with my body, the virus, the travel. There is so much uncertainty.” Sania, winner of six Grand Slam titles, doubles and mixed, and ranked No. 1 for 91 weeks, said the plan was to play until the US Open in August. “I want to finish the season, I’m ranked 60-70 in the world and I played only nine tournaments last year. I have the level to play, it’s not about level. I still feel I can go deep into tournaments,” she said, “But my body, I have a meniscus issue going on. I woke up with a wrist pain a couple days ago. At 35 I’m waking up with issues which I don’t know where they are coming from. My recovery is taking longer. ”
Sindhu beats Malvika for title
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu eased past young compatriot Malvika Bansod in straight games to win her second women’s singles title at the Syed Modi International badminton tournament. Playing in a depleted field due to multiple Covid-19 cases, top seed Sindhu hardly broke her sweat to get past Bansod 21-13, 21-16 in a lopsided title contest. The final lasted just 35 minutes. It was former world champion Sindhu’s second Syed Modi title after having annexed the BWF World Tour Super 300 event in 2017. Before that, seventh seeded Indians Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto clinched the mixed doubles title with a straight game win over compatriots T Hema Nagendra Babu and Srivedya Gurazada. Bhatnagar and Crasto inflicted a 21-16, 21-12 on the unseeded Indian duo in the summit clash that ended in 29 minutes. Earlier, the men’s singles final between Arnaud Merkle and Lucas Claerbout was declared a ‘No Match’ after one of the finalists tested positive for Covid-19.
Rachana is referee liaison officer for Asian Women’s Cup
Rachana Kamani, 22, of Ahmedabad District Football Association (ADFA), has been appointed as referee liaison officer for Asian Women’s Cup 2022 to be held in Maharashtra from January 20 to February 6. “I am honoured to be among the three referee liaisoning officers for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022. We will be closely working with top Asian referees,” said Kamani.
Manipur youth's Guinness record for push-ups
Thounaojam Niranjoy Singh, a 24-year-old man from Manipur, has created a new Guinness World Record for the most push-ups on his fingers tips in one minute. Singh, who was earlier a two-time Guinness World Record holder, smashed his old record of 105 push-ups in one minute by doing 109 push-ups in a minute. The Guinness Book of World Records effort was organised by Aztecs Sports in Imphal. Congratulating the Manipuri youth, minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju tweeted, "Amazing to see unbelievable power of Manipuri youth T. Niranjoy Singh who broke the Guinness Book of World Records for most push-ups (finger tips) in one minute I'm so proud of his achievement!"
