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Nikki Bella: Artem Chigvintsev helped me heal

3 hours ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
WWE star Nikki Bella, has revealed that fiancé Artem Chigvintsev helped her heal after her break-up with star wrestler John Cena. Nikki and John began dating in 2012 and got engaged in 2017. However, in April 2018, they suddenly called off their engagement with Nikki alleging that John did not want to have kids. Now, on the Total Bellas podcast Nikki has said that she clearly told Artem that she would understand if he wanted to temporarily walk away from her while she was getting over John. However, Artem insisted he'd stay and help her heal. "I was struggling because I was still in the process of healing but I was also still falling in love very fast with this man [Artem]. So, I told Artem, 'Look, I'm trying to heal. I don't want to lose you but if you want to put up with it and stay by my side, do it. But if you want to walk away and come back down the road, I one-hundred per cent understand'." Artem Chigvintsev  To this Artem replied: "You're healing and I want to b..
                 

Some rescue act! Aquib Shaikh helps rescue 40 residents from fire in Kalyan building

7 hours ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
Mumbai fast bowler Aquib Shaikh may have not got many opportunities to rescue the various teams he played for, with his bat. But on Wednesday, he put to use another object made of wood to help rescue 40 residents from a fire at the eight-storey Charm Stars building in Kalyan (West). The wooden object we are talking about is an old, unused staircase which Aquib, 29, Adnan Khan Pathan, 34 and neighbour Danish Khan, 33 used to transport residents from the sixth floor of Charm Stars to a terrace of the nearby Sundra Plaza building. "There was no electricity for the entire day and when the lights came on at around 6.15 pm, I put my mobile phone for charging and the power went off again. Suddenly, my mother came out shouting that there is a fire. When I opened the main door there was smoke all around and I couldn't see anyone," said Aquib, who stays on the sixth floor of Charm Stars. Aquib played one Ranji Trophy game for Mumbai—against Rajasthan in 2010-11. Smoke emanates from the Cha..
                 

Sakshi Dhoni lashes out at MS Dhoni retirement rumours: Get a life!

2 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's wife Sakshi has once again rubbished the rumours of the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman's retirement from international cricket. On Wednesday evening, certain users on Twitter started to spread rumours of Dhoni's retirement with hashtag #DhoniRetires. However, those following the former Indian captain ardently maintained that these were false rumours. Sakshi also took note of the Twitter trend and lashed out at those spreading these rumours. "Its only rumours ! I understand Lockdown has made people mentally unstable ! #DhoniRetires .. Get a life ! (sic)," Sakshi wrote on Twitter. However, just a few minutes after posting the tweet, she deleted it. This is not the first time Sakshi has had to step in and refute reports of Dhoni's retirement. In September last year, she had taken to social media and rubbished rumours surrounding Dhoni's future. "It's called rumours," Sakshi had tweeted. Speculations over Dhoni's retirement have been in the news ever since the 2019 Wo..
                 

NBA star Andre Drummond's Rs 75,000 tip leaves waitress Kasandra Diaz in tears

2 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
American basketball star Andre Drummond's $1,000 (approx R75,537) tip for waitress Kasandra Diaz at a Florida restaurant left her in a state of shock. While highlighting his kind gesture during the COVID-19 pandemic, she posted the receipt on Instagram. "Little did I know that today I would get a tip no server would guess that they would ever receive when they open that check book. Unknowingly, I was seated and served a table with @andredrummondd. When I went to put in the tip & information to close the table and I couldn't believe it," she wrote on Monday. Kasandra thus described the unbelievable moment: "From a $160 check, the tip read $1,000. I was shaking and had tears of happiness after what he left me. I had no idea how to react. It's so amazing to see people displaying acts of kindness in these uncertain times. This is a story I will never forget, thank you again so much @andredrummondd !! #Blessed." The Cleveland Cavaliers ace thanked the restaurant for its hospitality and..
                 

Blind cricketer Shekhar Naik: More than Padma award, I need a job

2 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
India's two-time blind World Cup-winning cricket captain Shekhar Naik is struggling financially and has requested India's sports minister Kiren Rijiju for a sports quota job as he is finding it difficult to survive with wife, Puja, 31, and two daughters, Purvika, 10, and Sanvika, five. Bangalore-based Naik, 33, the only blind cricketer in the country to be honoured with the Padma Shri, led India to the 2012 T20 World Cup title in Bangalore and the 2015 ODI World Cup win in South Africa. He presently works for a private firm but the Coronavirus-forced lockdown seems to have hurt his company, and consequently, him. "My salary is R25,000 of which my house rent is R12,000. Somehow, I have been managing with that previously, but due to this lockdown, my salary has been on hold and I have not been able to pay rent for the last two months. My family is going through a hard time. I have used up most of my savings," Naik told mid-day on Wednesday. Repeated requests to the authorities for help h..
                 

The one-two punch: These brothers starred in La Liga football

3 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
Having one LaLiga star talent in a family isn’t so common; two (or more) is downright remarkable. Here’s a look at some of the brothers who’ve starred in LaLiga over the years. Diego and Hugo Maradona  Most football fans know about Diego Maradona’s up and down spells in LaLiga, first with Barcelona and later with Sevilla. Yet his younger brother Hugo also spent time in Spain, playing for Rayo Vallecano between 1988 and 1990 while brother Diego was at Napoli. Hugo helped Rayo Vallecano earn promotion to LaLiga Santander in the 1988/89 season, scoring six goals along the way, before the team from Vallecas were relegated back down the very next season. Xabi and Mikel Alonso  Mikel and Xabi Alonso were born to play football and they were born to play for Real Sociedad, the same club their father Periko Alonso played for and coached. Both midfielders, they came through the youth ranks at the same time despite the 18-month age gap between the two; younger br..
                 

'Balbir Singh Sr was independent India's Dhyan Chand: Ashok Kumar

4 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
Ashok Kumar has always spoken about how tough it has been for him to live up to the reputation of his hockey wizard father, Dhyan Chand. So to compare that legendary figure to another man must be tougher. But he has no hesitation in admitting that while his father gained his reputation in pre-independent India, in the post-independence era, there is no greater Indian hockey player than Balbir Singh Sr, 96, who passed away in Chandigarh on Monday. "Balbirji always wanted to emulate Babuji [Dhyan Chand]. Be it his hockey skills or discipline and leadership traits that he derived from the army. And by winning three Olympic gold medals [1948, 1952, 1956], just like Babuji [1928, 1932, 1936], he did justice to his hero. Balbirji went on to be not just the perfect centreforward like Babuji, but also the perfect captain and motivator like him. Babuji started India's pre-independence hockey revolution but Balbirji kept India's flag flying high post-independence. I believe he is the Dhyan Chand..
                 

Undertaker: The Last Ride review: Chapter 3 - End of an Era shows fall of four WWE legends

7 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Other sports  
Undertaker The Last Ride Chapter 2 - The Redemption divulged details on Taker's road to finding one match that could help him redeem himself following his loss at WM 33 and how he won at WrestleMania 34. Undertaker: The Last Ride Chapter 3 - End of An Era follows the events post WrestleMania 34 after Undertaker defeated John Cena in a singles match. Taker made a return after a year but was not content with the way his match went as he was ready to go longer. Following a short match, he was looking for something more - that one match! Undertaker's daughter was present during his WrestleMania 34 match but didn't believe that her dad won. Taker reveals that his daughter usually sleeps through the matches he wins and stays up for the one's he loses. Fast forward to Saudi Arabia for the Greatest Royal Rumble in 2018. Undertaker was then facing Rusev in a Casket match and once again picked up where he left off with Cena. Taker won the match and was quite satisfied the way it went calling it ..
                 

Undertaker: The Last Ride review: Chapter 2 - The Redemption reveals why he did not retire

8 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Other sports  
"I'm not as good as I once was, but I'm good once as I'll ever be" - Undertaker In the Undertaker Last Ride - Chapter 1, we saw the journey of him facing his worst fear after suffering a shocking loss at WrestleMania 30. Undertaker: The Last Ride Chapter 2 The Redemption picks up after the events at Wrestlemania 33 in 2017. Mark Callaway (The Undertaker) relives his WM 33 match with Roman Reigns and feels he should have given much more, going on to state that he was a 'disappointment'. After the loss to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 33, Undertaker went on to leave his signature attire - coat and hat - in the ring and said there 'could not be anything more real' in what he felt at that particular moment. Undertaker post his match at WrestleMania 33 WWE superstar Big Show called it 'religious'. Big Show said, "It symbolises how Taker worked in his entire career. When you leave that ring, everything's in it. You gave the fans what they wanted." "To see that symbolism in his face, which he ..
                 

Five stunning facts you might not know about Real Madrid star Luka Modric

9 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
From his tough childhood as a refugee to almost joining Real Madrid’s deadly rivals Barcelona over a decade ago, the Croatian midfielder is not only one of the most talented players of the current era but also one of the most fascinating. 1. He was a refugee as a child Luka had a tough childhood. Growing up during the Yugoslav Wars in the early 1990s, he tragically lost his grandfather to the conflict and became a refugee with his family who were forced to flee their hometown. He grew up living in hotels – most at the Hotel Kolovare, in Zadar – and first learned to play football in the hotel parking lots. 2. Barcelona came calling in 2008 Today it would be hard to imagine Luka playing for Barcelona, but back in 2008 he was heavily linked with the Catalan giants. He even gave an interview to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo in which he spoke of how he’d love to play for Barça, even posing with the club’s jersey. However, Modrić went on to lea..
                 

Parthiv Patel: KL Rahul is a short-term solution

9 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
The youngest wicket-keeper batsman to play a Test for India, Parthiv Patel, shared his thoughts when asked to pick between K.L. Rahul and Rishabh Pant in white-ball cricket. In the latest episode of ‘Lockdown But Not Out series by FanCode, Parthiv Patel, who made his India debut in 2002, spoke his mind when asked about his first choice as Indias wicket-keeper in ODIs and T20Is. "At this point of time, K.L. Rahul. I feel Rahul is your short-term thing in a way if you're thinking of the World Cup. I think he'll do the job for you during the World Cup, there's no doubt about it. "Rishabh Pant definitely has it in him, there's no doubt about that. If I put myself into his shoes when I was 17-18, I didn't have a good series, and going back to domestic cricket for a couple of years helped me a lot. Every time I've met Rishabh, I've always told him that people are talking about you because you've talent in you. If you had no talent and if you weren't talented, people wouldn't have been ..
                 

How Pro Kabaddi League player Rahul Chaudhari developed his most lethal move

10 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Other sports  
With over 950 raid points in his Vivo Pro Kabaddi career, Rahul Chaudhari has already established himself as one of the greatest raiders in the history of the sport. The Showman’s explosive change of pace and his fearless approach in venturing deep inside the opposition half to pick up points often leave defences flat-footed and has been the hallmark of his glittering career. However, one move in particular – The Running Hand Touch - has been his go-to for a major part of his career so far. On Vivo Pro Kabaddi’s weekly Instagram live chat series titled ‘Beyond The Mat’, the raider explained how he mastered the art of his favourite move. A happenstance “When I started playing kabaddi, I was a Right Corner,” said the Showman, “I was selected to train at SAI Gandhinagar and there were senior players like Mahipal Narwal and Manpreet Singh among others. So, we never got the opportunity to play. We would just sit on the sidelines and observe.&r..
                 

Superb sidearm! Virat Kohli lauds throwdown specialist Raghu

10 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
Throwdown specialist D Raghavendra's ability to rachet up speeds in excess of 150-155 kmph with the sidearm enormously contributed to Indian batsmen's improvement against fast bowling in recent years, acknowledges skipper Virat Kohli. The sidearm is a cricketing equipment that is shaped like a long spoon, with its far end designed to hold and hurl the ball at great speeds. "I believe the improvement this team has shown while playing fast bowling since 2013 has been because of Raghu," Kohli said during an Instagram Live session with Bangladesh star Tamim Iqbal. "He has good concepts about footwork, bat movement of players. He has improved his skills so much that from sidearm he easily hurls the balls at 155 kmph. "After playing Raghu in nets, when you go into the match, you feel there is a lot of time," Kohli added. It is no surprise that Raghavendra has been a crucial member of the Indian cricket team's support staff for years now. Kohli said he never had self doubts at any time, inclu..
                 

Anna Kalinskaya on dating Nick Kyrgios: We broke up; We're not even friends anymore

13 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
Russian tennis player Anna Kalinskaya has confirmed that she is not dating Australian ace Nick Kyrgios anymore. During a recent Instagram live session, one of her fans asked her if she still dates Nick: "No I don't! We broke up. We aren't friends. You all are his fans and it's cool but I'm not going to talk about him. I have some respect for me as well, please. Thanks." Rumours of them being a couple started in March when the two were seen at a LA Lakers basketball match at the Staples Center (picture above) in Los Angeles. Last year, Nick was seen cheering for Anna at the Citi Open in Washington, USA. The whirlwind romance seems to have ended on a bitter note with Anna expressing her wish to completely cut ties with the controversial Australian tennis star. Before Anna, Nick dated Croatian tennis player Ajla Tomljanovic and they parted ways in 2017. Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates. ..
                 

Weightlifters ask sports minister to allow resumption of training

18 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Other sports  
Country's top weightlifters, including former world champion Mirabai Chanu, on Monday requested Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju to allow resumption of training at the earliest, insisting that their practice hall is big enough to ensure social distancing. Training has been suspended across Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres since mid-March to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Rijiju interacted with the weightlifters, who are currently stationed at the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, in a video conference, seeking their feedback on resumption of training. "We all requested him to resume training as soon as possible because we need weight training. We have been working out but weight training is necessary for us," said Mirabai. Kiren Rijiju Echoing Mirabai's concern, national coach Vijay Sharma said social distancing can be ensured at the training hall in Patiala. "It's been almost two months since training was stopped. All the muscle mass has finished. The campus is sealed no one i..
                 

Lindsey Vonn is loving quality time with fiance PK Subban during lockdown

24 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Other sports  
USA'S skiing legend Lindsey Vonn is finding new fun activities to keep herself and National Hockey League (NHL) star fiance PK Subban busy during this Coronavirus-caused lockdown. On Tuesday, Olympic gold medal-winner Lindsey, 35, posted this picture (above) on social media as she washed her SUV, wearing a bikini. "Took an adventure to the drive way [sic]. It was epic. #stayhome #takeabreakwithlandrover," Lindsey captioned her picture that went on to receive over 125,000-plus 'likes'. Lindsey also spelt out her routine during this quarantine period.       View this post on Instagram Took an adventure to the drive way. It was epic. #stayhome #takeabreakwithlandrover A post shared by L I N D S E Y • V O N N (@lindseyvonn) onMay 4, 2020 at 8:19am PDT She begins her day by 8am, feeding her dogs before heading for a workout. "I usually go to the gym but since we're obviously in quarantine, the garage is my jam," she told American magazine US Weekly. Lindsey and S..
                 

WWE Raw analysis: Seth Rollins delivers great promo; McIntyre-Lashley war heats up

4 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
WWE Raw on May 26, had a triple threat match for the number 1 contender to Asuka's Raw women's title, a singles match for the United States title as well as a post-match brawl between Bobby Lashley and WWE Champion Drew McIntyre. Let's look at the major picks of the show. Apollo Crews gets his due Apollo Crews faced Andrade for the United States title which saw the former back in the limelight. As usual, both WWE superstars who are one of the most talented on the roster delivered as per expectation. Both wrestlers went back and forth with Apollo Crews gaining the upper hand at the start of the match and even shoving Andrade into Zelina Vega. Andrade turned the tables in the second half, but Apollo Crews managed to counter him before landing a moonsault and shooting star press to win his first U.S. title. Seth Rollins truly a 'Monday Night Messiah' 'The Architect' Seth Rollins had almost decimated Rey Mysterio's eye last week on Raw and this time, he only came to issue a warning to ot..
                 

Eugenie Bouchard's ideal man? One who has a pool, plans surprise dates

5 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Tennis  
Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard has disclosed an interesting fact about the kind of guy she would want to go on a date with. In her recent Instagram story, Eugenie, fondly called Genie, shared this picture where she had to pick her match from four options. She chose the third one. The three qualities mentioned in the option are — a guy who has a backyard pool, who loves planning surprise dates and who doesn't believe in watching TV. Meanwhile, Genie has also raised funds for charity during the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed to go on a date with a fan who bid to pay GBP 70,000 (approx R64.2 lakh). Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates. Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news..
                 

Arun Dhumal: No commitment to tour SA

7 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
The BCCI has not made "any commitment" to tour South Africa in August and there have only been discussions about such a possibility, Board treasurer Arun Dhumal said on Friday, denying Cricket South Africa's claims of a confirmation. CSA Director of Cricket Graeme Smith and Chief Executive Jacques Faul on Thursday said that India has agreed to tour the rainbow nation for three T20 Internationals in August, signalling resumption of cricket in the post COVID-19 world. But Dhumal disagreed. "When South Africa's tour of India got cancelled due to Coronavirus, we had discussions that if there is a possibility, we will make an effort to tour South Africa. But at no point have we made any commitment to Cricket South Africa about touring in August," Dhumal told PTI in an exclusive interaction. Govt clearance needed The senior BCCI office-bearer then said that unless the government clears international travel, BCCI won't be in a position to make a commitment to any country. "Right now, we can't..
                 

Junior National table tennis champion Diya Chitale trains with a robot

8 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
While the ongoing Coronavirus-caused lockdown has left many athletes frustrated with their inability to train, Mumbai-based reigning Junior and Youth National table tennis champion Diya Chitale is keeping herself busy at home with the theory as well as the practical aspect of her game. For the theoretical part, Chitale, 17, has been attending online sessions with her coaches, and on the practical front, she is training with a robot. Taking a cue from India's top men's paddler G Sathiyan, who is also training at home in Chennai with a robot, Chitale has expressed her gratitude to Mumbai District Table Tennis Association secretary Sameer Bhate for providing a table and a robot to help sharpen her skills. Now, mental training "Previously, I did not have a table at home, so I was only focusing on my physical fitness. But it's a month now, since I have a table and a robot at home, and practice has been very exciting. The robot offers variations in spin as well as placement and pace, so it h..
                 

Undertaker: The Last Ride review: Chapter 1 - The Greatest Fear is gripping and tear-jerking

9 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Other sports  
Undertaker: The Last RideON: WWE NetworkCast: Mark Callaway, Paul Levesque, Kurt Angle, Steve Austin, Ric Flair, Joe Anoa'iRating:  "Every time I think I'm out, they pull me back in": Undertaker Undertaker: The Last Ride, a five-part documentary series was created that showcased the WWE legend's career in a first-ever. The documentary series mainly focuses on the timeline between 2017-2020. However, Undertaker: The Last Ride also shows The Phenom's early years in WWE right from his sensational and epic debut at WWE Survivor Series in 1990.       View this post on Instagram Chapter 1 of Undertaker: #TheLastRide is available NOW on @wwenetwork! A post shared by WWE (@wwe) onMay 10, 2020 at 8:06am PDT "Every WrestleMania match was unique in its own way. It became this unbelievable moment every year you look forward to being part of": Michael Cole Early in the documentary, it shows that The Undertaker admitted that he cannot wrestle all year through putting..
                 

Sir Andy Roberts: Difficult for players to stop applying saliva as it comes naturally

9 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
Sir Andy Roberts has warned the International Cricket Council (ICC) against allowing any artificial substance to be applied on the ball. There has been talk about polish, wax or a suitable substance being permitted by cricket's world governing body as a substitute to saliva to induce swing. The Anil Kumble-headed ICC Cricket Committee on Monday recommended a ban on saliva being applied on the ball as a precaution when the sport resumes after the COVID-19 pandemic curve stabilises. However, application of sweat will be allowed because it is highly unlikely that the virus can be transmitted through it as per the medical advice received from ICC Medical Advisory Committee head Dr Peter Harcourt. "It will be difficult for players to stop applying saliva because it comes naturally. However, if perspiration is allowed, it should be fine [to swing the ball]. But I strongly oppose any use of artificial substances on the ball," Roberts told mid-day on Tuesday from Antigua. Roberts, one of the ..
                 

Watch video: Sachin Tendulkar gives son Arjun a haircut; daughter Sara helps

10 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar was seen in a new avatar as he gave son Arjun a brand new haircut. Tendulkar uploaded the video of the same on popular social media platform Instagram on Tuesday. With no cricket going on due to coronavirus pandemic, former and current cricketers have been engaging with fans on social media to keep them engaged. In his latest video, Tendulkar helped Arjun get a new haircut and he also thanked daughter Sara for helping them during the process. Tendulkar's post read: "As a father you need to do everything, be it playing games with your kids, gymming with them or for that matter cutting their hair. However the haircut turns out you'll always be handsome @Arjuntendulkar. Special thanks to my salon assistant @Sarstendulkar."       View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sachin Tendulkar (@sachintendulkar) onMay 19, 2020 at 4:17am PDT Tendulkar has been spending quality time with his family whilst being at home due to nationwide lockdo..
                 

WWE Raw analysis: Has Drew McIntyre found a worthy rival in Bobby Lashley?

11 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Other sports  
WWE Raw's show had the WWE champion Drew McIntyre facing Baron Corbin in a singles match for the main event, Edge replying to Randy Orton's challenge at Backlash, new Raw women's champion Asuka celebrating as well as NXT women's champ Charlotte Flair facing off against Ruby Riott. Drew McIntyre vs Baron CorbinWWE Raw's main event today was WWE champion Drew McIntyre facing off against SmackDown's Baron Corbin in a brand invitation match. Bobby Lashley and MVP were standing at the entrance just to add a little distraction to Drew McIntyre. Despite Corbin managing to pull off a Deep Six after he was hit with a DDT, he could not pin the champion. Drew McIntyre then managed to sneak in the Claymore for the win. Analysis:Corbin has shown great potential as a heel in WWE and this match was no different. Drew McIntyre, who won the WWE title from Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 36, has not looked back since. Proving to be a fighting champion, McIntyre defended the WWE title against Seth Rollins,..
                 

Kabaddi champ Pankaj Shirsat helps migrant movement in Thane

16 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Other sports  
Former India kabaddi captain Pankaj Shirsat, who led the country to the World Cup title in 2007, is currently serving the nation on a different front. Shirsat, an Assistant Commissioner of Police with the Vartak Nagar Division in Thane, is on field duty, helping citizens in their battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last four days, Shirsat and his colleagues have helped facilitate the movement of over 4000 migrant labourers back to their home state, Madhya Pradesh, through 160 Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses. Shirsat, 40, had two more former sportsmen—senior police inspector Anil Deshmukh and State Transport Controller Nishigandh Gaikwad—helping him in the tough task. Deshmukh has represented Pune University in cricket and volleyball, while Gaikwad was a state-level wrestler. Pankaj Shirsat "We tracked people, who were walking back to their home state [Madhya Pradesh], took down their details like Aadhar card, contact number etc and then arranged ..
                 

Date was just a joke! Robbie Farah's failed attempt to woo Eugenie Bouchard

20 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Other sports  
Former Australian National Rugby League (NRL) star Robbie Farah has revealed how a failed effort to clinch a date with Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard, fondly called Genie, was only a joke between drunk friends. In a recent interview to Fox League Live, Robbie, 36, said of the February incident: "I was in Miami and I was pi***d. I was with a bunch of mates and we thought it'd be funny if I sent her a message. "The next day it blew up in the media. I had all these people having a go at me, some people thought it was rude or whatever. I was like it's a joke. If you can't take a joke, seriously…what world do we live in?" Robbie had tagged Eugenie in two tweets, asking her for a date. His first tweet read: "@geniebouchard, surely you're having a drink with me in Miami!" Within a few minutes, he wrote: "@geniebouchard if I rub you do I get three wishes?" Genie did not reply to his tweets, but that didn't stop the media from reporting his verbal attempts. The tweets are since d..
                 

Big battle beckons! As Bayern eye winning run, Dortmund look to close gap

4 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
Bayern Munich aim to continue the Bundesliga's current trend of teams winning on the road behind closed doors when they face Borussia Dortmund in a potential title decider on Tuesday. Leaders Bayern arrive at second-placed Dortmund four points clear and on course for an eighth straight title. "For us this is a very decisive week," insisted Bayern forward Thomas Mueller. Dortmund coach Lucien Favre "We've clearly set ourselves the goal of three victories this week and taking a giant step forward" towards the league title. Bayern warmed-up by beating Eintracht Frankfurt 5-2 at the weekend and also host relegation-threatened Fortuna Duesseldorf this Saturday. Since the Bundesliga resumed 10 days ago, behind locked doors due to the Coronavirus, home advantage has counted for little with 10 of the 18 games played won by the away team. Hansi Flick's Bayern are eager to continue the trend and again assert their dominance over Dortmund, who they routed 4-0 in Munich last November. "We're looki..
                 

Why this aversion to No. 3?

6 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
If Willie Nelson had been born in Australia or England, he may have penned a different song, Mamma don't let your babies grow up to be first drop. In recent times, there's been a reticence on the part of talented players from those parts to bat at No. 3. Michael Clarke studiously avoided the position. Steve Smith has batted there but at the first opportunity, he opts for his preferred second drop position. All of this notwithstanding, a chronic weakness at three following Ricky Ponting's retirement. In England, despite regularly coming in at less than 20 for two, Joe Root has been reluctant to bat at three. He was virtually press-ganged into the role against Australia but after a relatively successful Ashes series—where bowlers dominated—he quickly slid back to No.3. Strange stance In each case, it's a talented batsman allowing a less qualified player to bat ahead of him in the order. That is a strange stance for any fierce competitor to adopt.Why this aversion to No. 3? Un..
                 

Coronavirus: Sailing in rough seas! Dr Shervegar, a homoeopath, has been treating around patients for free

7 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Other sports  
While most sportspersons the world over are looking for ways to practise or train during this Coronavirus-forced lockdown, India's Asian Games silver medal-winning sailor Dr Sweta Shervegar (28) is busy serving the needy through her noble profession. Last month, Dr Shervegar helped counsel around 4,500 daily wage workers over the phone through an initiative by Navi Mumbai-based NGO Prabhat Trust. Across the last two weeks, Dr Shervegar, a homoeopath, has been treating around 250 patients for free, daily at different medical camps in south Mumbai. Such is her dedication that even a recent bike accident has not dampened her spirit. On Thursday morning, while riding towards the Tardeo Police Camp area in central Mumbai to oversee patients at the medical check-up facility, Dr Shervegar's bike crashed into a divider near City Centre Mall as she tried to avoid an approaching biker. "I was wearing a helmet but suffered injuries to my right hand and cheek. There was some impact on my chest too..
                 

Sourav Ganguly is the right man to become ICC chairman: Graeme Smith

8 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
In a major development, Cricket South Africa (CSA) director of cricket Graeme Smith on Thursday expressed his support for BCCI president Sourav Ganguly to take over the ICC chairmanship after Shashank Manohar's term ends this month. Smith's comments were backed up by his CEO Jacques Faul, who said that they won't mind an Indian as head of the ICC, although they need to get a mandate from their top bosses. Manohar may get extension Due to the current situation, there may be a case of Manohar's extension for two months, but Smith's open backing of Ganguly comes as a new twist in the story with England and Wales Cricket Board's former chairman Colin Graves being favourite till now. "From our perspective, it would be great to see a cricket man like Sourav Ganguly maybe getting into the President's role of the ICC," Smith told reporters on Thursday. "I think that will be good for the game; I think it will be good for the modern game as well. He understands it; he has played it at the highes..
                 

COVID-19 impact: Fake it with sex dolls, robots and cardboard crowd!

9 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Other sports  
Robot drummers: Sport took a surreal twist when Taiwan's baseball league started last month, with robots providing live music as they drummed in the stands. In what could have been a scene from Star Wars, a group of robots banged drums for Rakuten Monkeys' opening game. Sex dolls: By far the most attention has been generated by South Korea's FC Seoul, who were accused of putting sex dolls in their seats after mannequins advertising adult toys appeared at their match on Sunday. FC Seoul denied the figures, reportedly provided by a distributor, were sex toys. Baseball barbecue: Baseball cheerleaders in Taiwan have been carrying out live interactions with fans from the stadiums, chatting and broadcasting dance routines over their phones. One cheerleader even cooked and ate a barbecue while sitting in the stands, while streaming herself on the internet. Cardboard cut-outs of Borussia Moenchegladbach’s fans are seen at the Borussia Park football Stadium in Moe..
                 

Jinder Mahal corrects Ranveer Singh in throwback Hulk Hogan Instagram post

10 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
WWE fans world over were watching the tongue in cheek banter between mega Bollywood star and WWE fan Ranveer Singh and India’s very own WWE Superstar Jinder Mahal. It all started off with Ranveer Singh’s impromptu throwback post on Instagram yesterday. Ranveer revealed a childhood picture of him wearing a WWE title belt and imitating former WWE Champion and legend Hulk Hogan. The actor shared this childhood picture of himself posing alongside a poster of Hulk in his room. Sharing the photo, Ranveer’s caption said, “Whatcha gonna do, when Hulkamania runs wild on you!” #mondayfeeling throw it way back to when #WWF was life. had a poster on my wall of The Immortal @hulkhogan.” The picture displays a shirtless and young Ranveer Singh wearing a replica of the WWE Championship belt to mimic Hulk’s Championship belt and screaming with great amounts of thrill and passion, just like Hogan would exhibit in the ring. Ranveer’s Instagram post saw gr..
                 

When Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc left his girlfriend outside the door for almost 30 mins

10 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Other sports  
Formula One star Charles Leclerc has recently revealed how his girlfriend Charlotte Sine was forced to buy a subscription to his Twitch channel just to enter their Monaco apartment after waiting outside for 25 minutes. Charles, 22, was so was so absorbed in virtual racing that Charlotte, 20, eventually paid a monthly subscription of £4.99 (approx R462) and left a message on the channel chat asking him to let her in, after he did not respond to her attempt to contact him over the phone. Charles and Charlotte Sine Charles recently tweeted: "My girlfriend had to buy a subscription to my Twitch to be able to ask me in the channel chat if I could open the front door. She waited 25 mins downstairs as I couldn't hear my phone, I had the headphones and was very focus on my rally race." The Ferrari driver started dating Charlotte after he split from Italian stunner Giada Gianni last year. Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android a..
                 

There is a Vivian Richards in Virat Kohli. Here's why

11 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Sports  
Former Australia captain Ian Chappell has brought out a strokeful similarity between Sir Vivian Richards and current India star Virat Kohli. Chappell on Sunday, during YouTube chat with broadcaster Radhakrishnan Sreenivasan on The RK Show, referred to an interview which Kohli gave a radio station during India's 2018-19 tour of Australia. "One of the things he talked about was why he didn't play the fancy shots, the innovative shots of particularly T20 cricket," said Chappell. Ian Chappell "He said he didn't want those to creep into his batting in the longer form of the game. The best short-form player in the time I played was Viv Richards, and he just played normal cricket shots. But he placed the ball so well [that] he was able to score at a very fast rate. And Kohli's the same. He plays traditional cricket shots, and he plays them really well," added Chappell, who played one World Cup (1975) and two Test series (1975-76 and 1979-80) involving the West Indies which had Richards in t..
                 

Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari fall out

17 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Other sports  
Four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel on Tuesday announced his dramatic departure from Ferrari at the end of the season, saying there was no "common desire" to work together any more. The team named no replacement for the German, who dominated F1 with Red Bull before switching to the Italian marque in 2015. Vettel said his shock exit from one of the dream drives on the grid was a "joint decision". "My relationship with Scuderia Ferrari will finish at the end of 2020," Vettel, 32, said in a statement from the team. "In order to get the best possible results in this sport, it's vital for all parties to work in perfect harmony. The team and I have realised that there is no longer a common desire to stay together beyond the end of this season." Vettel driving his Ferrari at Barcelona, Spain in February Vettel, who has won 14 races with Ferrari and 53 overall in his career, insisted financial considerations played no role in his decision. Yet it has been widely reported that..
                 

A genuine all-rounder, kho-kho player and coach Ramesh Waralikar passes away at 83

21 days ago  
News / Mid-Day/ Other sports  
Former national-level kho-kho player and coach Ramesh Waralikar, 83, who served the game in different capacities over five decades, passed away at a city hospital on Thursday. Prolonged illness Waralikar, who had been unwell for the last couple of years, went on to become one of the finest kho-kho statisticians, given his vast knowledge of all the players and records associated with it. Shrirang Inamdar, 65, the youngest kho-kho player to be honoured with the Arjuna Award at the age of 18, recalled his association with Waralikar during Maharashtra's victorious campaign in the national championship at Patiala in 1974. "I was leading Maharashtra for the first time and Waralikar sir was our team manager. His expertise and guidance helped us win that title. He was a genuine all-rounder. He served the game as a player, coach, selector, umpire, administrator, commentator and statistician. He was like Google. You could ask him anything and he would give you accurate details. Back then, withou..