Sports News Highlights: Gautam Gambhir Replaces Rahul Dravid As India Head Coach; IND-W Beat RSA-W By 10 Wickets

Here are the highlights of the sports actions of Tuesday, 9th July 2024. Gautam Gambhir was appointed as the new all-format head coach of the Indian men's cricket team by an announcement from BCCI secretary Jay Shah. The Indian women's cricket team won by a big margin of 10 wickets in the third T20I to level the bilateral series against South Africa. In tennis, world no. 1 Jannik Sinner's dream run at Wimbledon 2024 ended with a defeat against Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals. French marathon runner Mehdi Frere will miss his home Olympics after receiving a two-year suspension for breaking anti-doping rules. Cath the highlights of the sports news for Tuesday, 9th July, here.

Serbian star was booed by some of the fans at Centre Court after his 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Holger Rune in the round of 16.

India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has become a co-owner of the American Gambits, a new team which will feature in the second edition of the Global Chess League, a joint venture between Tech Mahindra and the International Chess Federation.

We're thrilled to introduce the American Gambits to the chess world. With a blend of strategic brilliance and unwavering determination, our team aims to redefine the game. As co-owner, I'm excited to witness their journey and contribute to their success," Ashwin was quoted as saying in a media release. (PTI)

Ireland ruled out hooker Dan Sheehan and scrumhalf Craig Casey from the second rugby test against South Africa this weekend after they were injured in the first.

Connacht’s Dave Heffernan and Ulster’s Nathan Doak replaced them and joined the squad in Durban on Monday.

On Saturday, Sheehan suffered a left knee injury making a tackle and was replaced at halftime of the 27-20 first-test loss to the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld. (AP)

The referee for England's semi-final against the Netherlands at the European Championship will be Felix Zwayer, who once had ties to a match-fixing scandal in Germany.

Wednesday's game will be Zwayer's fourth of Euro 2024 and his second with the Netherlands after refereeing its 3-0 win over Romania in the round of 16. (AP)

Rodri has called for more protection for players after one of his Spain teammates was ruled out of the rest of the European Championship.

Pedri's tournament was ended after the midfielder sustained a knee injury last Friday in a hefty challenge by Toni Kroos at the start of the quarterfinal against Germany, which La Roja went on to win 2-1. (AP)

Jeswin Aldrin (men's long jump) & Ankita Dhyani (women's 5000m) have qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024 via rankings quota. Heartiest congratulations for the duo.

T20 World Cup winning star and Royal Challengers Bengaluru hero Virat Kohli's pub One8 Commune has been booked by the Bengaluru police. They have registered an FIR against the pub and several other establishments on MG Road for operating beyond the usual time.

Rodri has called for more protection for players after one of his Spain teammates was ruled out of the rest of the European Championship.

Pedri's tournament was ended after the midfielder sustained a knee injury last Friday in a hefty challenge by Toni Kroos at the start of the quarterfinal against Germany, which La Roja went on to win 2-1. (AP)

During India tour of Zimbabwe for the five-match T20I series the Indian Cricketers and their families are exploring the wild life sancturies in Harare.

India Women will take on South Africa Women in the third and final match of the three-match T20I series in Chennai on tonight. The Proteas defeated India in the opening fixture in Chennai by 12 runs, however, the second match was called off due to rain on Sunday.

Match Start Time: 7:00 PM

Live Telecast: Sports18 1 and Sports18 1 HD 

Live Streaming: JioCinema app and website.

The Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni believes that Lionel Messi is fit to play in their Copa America semi-final against Canada.

The Argentina captain sustained a hamstring injury in their second group game against Chile, forcing him out of the following match against Peru.

"Every time he's come out on the pitch, he's fit to play. For [Canada], he's fit to play, without a doubt" said Scaloni.

Hero of India's victorious T20 World Cup campaign, Jasprit Bumrah added another feather to his hat when he was on Tuesday named the 'ICC Men's Player of the Month for June'.

It was double delight for India as women's team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was also named the 'Women's Player of the Month' by the global body. Mandhana won her first ICC Women’s Player of the Month after playing a starring role in India’s sweep over South Africa in the ODI series last month. (PTI)

Punjab FC has roped in two new players -- Ninthoinganba Meetei and Nihal Sudeesh -- ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season, the club announced on Tuesday.

Ninthoinganba, an Indian winger who last played for Chennaiyin FC, has signed a three-year contract with Punjab until 2027.

"My wife (Ritika Sajdeh) refers to you as my work wife and I am lucky to get to call you that too. I have been trying to find the right words to properly express my feelings on this but I'm not sure I ever will.

You are an absolute stalwart of this game but you left all of your accolades and achievements at the door and walked in as our coach and came on a level where we all felt comfortable enough to say just about anything to you. That is your gift, your humility and your love for this game even after all this time

Since my childhood days I have looked up to you just like billions of others but I was lucky enough to get to work with you this closely. I have learnt so much from you and every memory will be cherished,

This was the only thing missing from your arsenal and I'm so happy that we got to achieve it together. Rahul bhai it has been an absolute privilege to get to call you my confidante, my coach and my friend."

India's top ranked tennis player Sumit Nagal moved to the second round with a facile win over Brazil's Felipe Meligeni Alves in the Braunschweig ATP challenger here on Tuesday.

The Olympic-bound Nagal, seeded second, cruised to a 6-1 6-4 win over Alves in the clay event. (PTI)

India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and has opted to have a field at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt(c), Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Anneke Bosch, Annerie Dercksen, Eliz-mari Marx, Sinalo Jafta(w), Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba

India: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Deepti Sharma, Uma Chetry(w), S Sajana, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav

Fiorentina have signed Moise Kean from Juventus, and have paid a reported fee of €13million for the forward, though that could go up to €18million with add-ons.

Gautam Gambhir has been confirmed as the head coach of the India national men's cricket team. Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the game's governing body in the country, shared the news of the appointment on Tuesday.

Pooja Vastrakar (4/13) and Radha Yadav (3/6) shared seven wickets between them as India women bowl out South Africa for 84 runs in 17.1 overs in the third T20I in Chennai on July 9, Tuesday.

For SA, Tazmim Brits was the top-scorer with a 23-ball 20, while Anneke Bosch scored 17 and Marizanne kapp made 10.

Brief Score:

South Africa Women: 84 all out in 17.1 overs (Tazmim Brits 23; Pooja Vastrakar 4/13).

India led by Harmanpreet Kaur showcased the perfect all-rounder performance to dismantle South Africa by 10 wickets in the third women's T20I in Chennai to level series 1-1.

The first match was won by SA and the second was washed out.

Brief Score:

South Africa Women: 84 all out in 17.1 overs (Tazmim Brits 20; Pooja Vastrakar 4/13).

India women: 88 for 0 in 10.5 overs (Smriti Mandhana 54 not out; Chloe Tryon 0/8).

Gambhir, 42, made his One-Day International debut against Bangladesh in 2003 and his Test debut the next year against Australia. He has represented India in 58 Tests and 147 ODIs. He has also 37 T20 internationals for India. Read more here.

The top-seeded Jannik Sinner lost the Wimbledon 2024 quarterfinals match against Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (7), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3.

The Italian was treated by a trainer and left the court during the third set, and returned about 10 minutes later. He resumed playing but lost the first game back at love.

That's all from our side for today. Join us tomorrow. Goodnight and take care!