SPORTS

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has said that he has "problems" when people call off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as one of the all-time greats.

The cricket-turned-commentator pointed out that the 34-year-old was having no 5-wicket haul in SENA (South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia) countries and that he runs through the opposition sides only on the spin friendly wickets of India.

"When people start talking about him as being one of the all-time greats of the game then I have a few problems," Manjrekar said on the ESPNcricinfo programme 'Runorder'.

The history of cricket has always been defined in eras. And when it comes to describing eras, not two are more renowned than the ones which West Indies and Australia dominated during their peak. A stark contrast to how the team is performing now, West Indies were ruthless in their approach in the 1970s and most part of the 1980.

They won the first two editions of the World Cup in 1975 and 1979 and reached the final of the 1983. With world-class batsmen and fearsome fast bowlers, the era of the mighty West Indies of the 1970s and 80s was one that has never been replicated.

Likewise, Australia played a similar brand of cricket during the 1990s until 2010. Twice they went on a 16-match winning streak in Test matches and swept three consecutive ICC World Cups in 1999, 2003 and 2007, while winning the 2006 Champions Trophy in India. West Indies in the 70s and 80s and Australia in the 90s and 2000s – no team has been able to dish out the same kind of dominance.

Every need of India's sportspersons, from vaccination to training facilities, must be fulfilled as a top priority, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday at a meeting to review the country's preparations for the Tokyo Olympics that begins in 50 days.

PM Modi said sports are at the heart of our national character and that our youths are creating a strong and vibrant culture of sports, adding that he would be connecting with India's Olympics contingent through a video conference in July to encourage them and wish them on behalf of all Indians, according to a statement.

Alexander Zverev booked his spot in the third round at the French Open for the fourth straight year on Wednesday, seeing off Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin in straight sets.

The German sixth seed, a two-time quarter-finalist, trailed 1-3 in the second and third sets but secured a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) victory.

“First week you play against guys, some of them play first, second, third time of a Grand Slam," Zverev told reporters. “They’re very motivated. They’re excited to play on the big courts, like I thought today.

Reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin will not be able to defend her title at the Tokyo Games later this year. The Spaniard on Tuesday confirmed she has picked up a knee injury which will require surgery and that she will not be able to compete in the quadrennial event, starting July 23 in Tokyo.

Carolina Marin, in a statement on social media, said she has torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the two menisci in her left knee.