A stampede&nbsp;near Jaza’a Al Nakhla Stadium in the southern Iraqi city of Basra ahead of a football match killed two, and left over 60 injured,&nbsp;according to an AFP report.&nbsp;The stampede took place hours ahead of the Gulf Cup final between&nbsp;Iraq and Oman. Thousands of supporters had gathered without tickets outside the stadium attempting to gain entry ahead of the&nbsp;7 PM kickoff (16000 GMT) of the final match of&nbsp;the first international soccer tournament held in the country in four decades.

"There have been two&nbsp;deaths and dozens are injured," a medic was quoted as saying by AFP.&nbsp;

The Ministry of Internal Affairs reportedly urged the residents to avoid the area near the stadium until the situation is resolved.&nbsp;

According to local media reports,&nbsp;Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is holding urgent meetings to assess the situation.&nbsp;

Despite the stampede, the&nbsp;Iraqi Football Association said the match will go ahead.&nbsp;

“The match between the Iraqi and Omani national teams will take place as scheduled.&nbsp;We call on honorable fans to refrain from coming to the match stadium because the stands are completely full.”

Incidentally, this was the first time that Iraq had been granted the hosting duties for the Gulf Cup since 1979. The tournament was an opportunity for Iraq to show that it can be entrusted with the hosting duties as four decades of conflict have kept football away from the country.&nbsp;

The tournament started on January 6 with Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates as the eight participants.&nbsp;

The stadium stampede in Iraq comes months after over 130 were killed in Indonesia&nbsp;at the Kanjuruhan stadium in&nbsp;one of the worst sporting disasters in modern history.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/trial-begins-in-the-indonesia-stadium-disaster-that-killed-over-130-553137">Read more:&nbsp;Trial begins in the Indonesia stadium disaster that killed over 130</a>

(With inputs from agencies)

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A stampede near Jaza’a Al Nakhla Stadium in the southern Iraqi city of Basra ahead of a football match killed two, and left over 60 injured, according to an AFP report.

A stampede near Jaza’a Al Nakhla Stadium in the southern Iraqi city of Basra ahead of a football match killed two, and left over 60 injured, according to an AFP report. The stampede took place hours ahead of the Gulf Cup final between Iraq and Oman. Thousands of supporters had gathered without tickets outside the stadium attempting to gain entry ahead of the 7 PM kickoff (16000 GMT) of the final match of the first international soccer tournament held in the country in four decades. "There have been two deaths and dozens are injured," a medic was quoted as saying by AFP. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reportedly urged the residents to avoid the area near the stadium until the situation is resolved. According to local media reports, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is holding urgent meetings to assess the situation. Despite the stampede, the Iraqi Football Association said the match will go ahead. “The match between the Iraqi and Omani national teams will take place as scheduled. We call on honorable fans to refrain from coming to the match stadium because the stands are completely full.” Incidentally, this was the first time that Iraq had been granted the hosting duties for the Gulf Cup since 1979. The tournament was an opportunity for Iraq to show that it can be entrusted with the hosting duties as four decades of conflict have kept football away from the country. The tournament started on January 6 with Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates as the eight participants. The stadium stampede in Iraq comes months after over 130 were killed in Indonesia at the Kanjuruhan stadium in one of the worst sporting disasters in modern history. Read more: Trial begins in the Indonesia stadium disaster that killed over 130 (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Iraq: Two dead, over 60 injured in stampede outside stadium ahead of football match

Nine-time champion at the Rod Laver Arena, Novak Djokovic on Thursday progressed to the third round of the Australian Open, battling a hamstring niggle and some unruly elements in the crowd.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Djokovic won 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-0 against&nbsp;Frenchman Enzo Couacaud. The 191-ranked ATP player managed to push Djokovic to the fourth set and at one point, threatened to pull off another upset.&nbsp;

Djokovic had a hamstring issue which hindered his movement across the court. After&nbsp;Couacaud took the second set via tiebreaker, it looked like the Serb may have a tough time staying with his competition.&nbsp;

The 27-year-old Frenchman, who had attributed the game against Djovokic&nbsp;as the 'biggest' of his career, regularly came up the net and used Djokovic's immobility to his advantage.&nbsp;

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Novak moves on 💪 
 
The 9x champion beats Couacaud 6-1 6-7(5) 6-2 6-0 and will play Grigor Dimitrov in the third round.<a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO2023</a> <a href="https://t.co/VMOcZklPlC">pic.twitter.com/VMOcZklPlC</a>
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However, the 21-time Grand Slam winner dug in deep, used his experience and managed to break Couacaud on his first serve in the third set.

After racing to a 3-0 advantage, Djokovic comfortably wrapped the set and did not allow any breathing room in the fourth set to Couacaud.&nbsp;

Apart from the slight niggle, Djokovic also had to contend with a few drunk spectators who repeatedly attempted to provoke the 'Serb'.&nbsp;

During the third set, Djokovic went to the chair umpire, complaining that the crowd member be kicked out for being "drunk out of his mind".&nbsp;

"The guy is drunk out of his mind, from the first point he's been provoking me.&nbsp;He's not here to watch tennis, he just wants to get in my head."

The chair umpire refused to intervene at the time but the security officers could be seen escorting four beer-guzzling spectators out of the stadium later.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/another-top-seed-casualty-in-australian-open-as-casper-ruud-crashes-in-second-round-554053">Read more:&nbsp;Another top seed casualty in Australian Open as Casper Ruud crashes in second round</a>

"A lot was happening in tonight's match. Enzo deserves credit for the fight, he played some great tennis, especially in the second set and for deservedly pushing the match to the fourth set," said Djokovic after the match.&nbsp;

"We both had medical timeouts and struggled a little but, but I managed to respond well in the third and especially the fourth."

Djokovic will be meeting Grigor Dimitrov in the next round. The Serb has a good record against the Bulgarian, winning nine times out of the 10 they have squared up against each other.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/defending-champion-and-top-seed-rafael-nadal-crashes-out-of-the-australian-open-553912">WATCH |&nbsp;Defending champion and top seed Rafael Nadal crashes out of the Australian Open</a>

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The last time Dimitrov came up top against Djokovic was at the ATP Masters 1000 Madrid in 2013.&nbsp;

"I haven't played Grigor in many years, I don't think we've ever faced each other here on this court," said Djokovic on the match-up.&nbsp;

"Hopefully it's going to be an entertaining match, I know him really well, we are friends off the court, Balkan brothers. Let the better player win."

With three of the top 10 seeds viz.&nbsp;Rafael Nadal, Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz&nbsp;already out of the tournament, the path to a 22nd Major looks increasingly promising for Djokovic.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Nine-time champion at the Rod Laver Arena, Novak Djokovic on Thursday progressed to the third round of the Australian Open, battling a hamstring niggle and some unruly elements in the crowd.

Nine-time champion at the Rod Laver Arena, Novak Djokovic on Thursday progressed to the third round of the Australian Open, battling a hamstring niggle and some unruly elements in the crowd. Djokovic won 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-0 against Frenchman Enzo Couacaud. The 191-ranked ATP player managed to push Djokovic to the fourth set and at one point, threatened to pull off another upset. Djokovic had a hamstring issue which hindered his movement across the court. After Couacaud took the second set via tiebreaker, it looked like the Serb may have a tough time staying with his competition. The 27-year-old Frenchman, who had attributed the game against Djovokic as the 'biggest' of his career, regularly came up the net and used Djokovic's immobility to his advantage. Novak moves on 💪 The 9x champion beats Couacaud 6-1 6-7(5) 6-2 6-0 and will play Grigor Dimitrov in the third round.@DjokerNole • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/VMOcZklPlC — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2023 × However, the 21-time Grand Slam winner dug in deep, used his experience and managed to break Couacaud on his first serve in the third set. After racing to a 3-0 advantage, Djokovic comfortably wrapped the set and did not allow any breathing room in the fourth set to Couacaud. Apart from the slight niggle, Djokovic also had to contend with a few drunk spectators who repeatedly attempted to provoke the 'Serb'. During the third set, Djokovic went to the chair umpire, complaining that the crowd member be kicked out for being "drunk out of his mind". "The guy is drunk out of his mind, from the first point he's been provoking me. He's not here to watch tennis, he just wants to get in my head." The chair umpire refused to intervene at the time but the security officers could be seen escorting four beer-guzzling spectators out of the stadium later. Read more: Another top seed casualty in Australian Open as Casper Ruud crashes in second round "A lot was happening in tonight's match. Enzo deserves credit for the fight, he played some great tennis, especially in the second set and for deservedly pushing the match to the fourth set," said Djokovic after the match. "We both had medical timeouts and struggled a little but, but I managed to respond well in the third and especially the fourth." Djokovic will be meeting Grigor Dimitrov in the next round. The Serb has a good record against the Bulgarian, winning nine times out of the 10 they have squared up against each other. WATCH | Defending champion and top seed Rafael Nadal crashes out of the Australian Open The last time Dimitrov came up top against Djokovic was at the ATP Masters 1000 Madrid in 2013. "I haven't played Grigor in many years, I don't think we've ever faced each other here on this court," said Djokovic on the match-up. "Hopefully it's going to be an entertaining match, I know him really well, we are friends off the court, Balkan brothers. Let the better player win." With three of the top 10 seeds viz. Rafael Nadal, Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz already out of the tournament, the path to a 22nd Major looks increasingly promising for Djokovic. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Australian Open: Djokovic battles rowdy fans and niggle to blast into the third round

Premier League has emerged as the most financially dominant league in the world after 11 of the world's 20 highest-earning clubs were reported to be coming from the English top flight, according to the latest annual Football Money League report by Deloitte.&nbsp;

The 'Big Six' Premier League clubs comprising the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal found themselves in the top 10.

Meanwhile, clubs such as West ham United (15th), Leicester City (17th), Leeds United (18th), Everton (19th) and Newcastle (20th) remained the others on the list.&nbsp;

The list was topped for a second consecutive year by Manchester City with total revenue of $790.65 million, followed by Real Madrid with $772 mn and Liverpool with $760 mn.&nbsp;

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Liverpool's revenue increased by a staggering 27 per cent compared to the last year. They moved four places from seventh to third to achieve the highest-ever position.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Notably, the Merseyside club has overtaken their rivals Manchester United for the first time. The Reds also broke another record in matchday attendance fees - raking in as much as&nbsp;$108 million as fans returned to Anfield, after a Covid-induced&nbsp;hiatus.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pornographic-moans-during-live-football-telecast-forces-bbc-to-issue-an-apology-553740">Read more:&nbsp;Pornographic moans during live football telecast force BBC to issue an apology</a>

The report added that Premier League was the only league across the European continent to have witnessed an increase in its media rights value.&nbsp;

"It continues to appeal to millions of global followers and its member clubs have a greater revenue advantage over international rivals,"&nbsp;Tim Bridge, lead partner in Deloitte's Sports Business Group was quoted as saying by ESPN.&nbsp;

While Premier League clubs minted millions, the La Liga teams such as Barcelona and Real Madrid failed to recover revenue to their pre-pandemic levels.&nbsp;

Top 10 revenue-generating clubs:

1) Manchester City

2) Real Madrid

3) Liverpool

4) Manchester United

5) Paris Saint-Germain

6) Bayern Munich

7) Barcelona

8) Chelsea

9) Tottenham Hotspur

10) Arsenal

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Premier League has emerged as the most financially dominant league in the world after 11 of the world's 20 highest-earning clubs were reported to be coming from the English top flight, according to the latest annual Football Money League report by Deloitte.

Premier League has emerged as the most financially dominant league in the world after 11 of the world's 20 highest-earning clubs were reported to be coming from the English top flight, according to the latest annual Football Money League report by Deloitte. The 'Big Six' Premier League clubs comprising the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal found themselves in the top 10. Meanwhile, clubs such as West ham United (15th), Leicester City (17th), Leeds United (18th), Everton (19th) and Newcastle (20th) remained the others on the list. The list was topped for a second consecutive year by Manchester City with total revenue of $790.65 million, followed by Real Madrid with $772 mn and Liverpool with $760 mn. Deloitte Football Money League 2023 Revenues of Top Clubs. pic.twitter.com/xzL4OnAWCd — Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) January 19, 2023 × Liverpool's revenue increased by a staggering 27 per cent compared to the last year. They moved four places from seventh to third to achieve the highest-ever position. Notably, the Merseyside club has overtaken their rivals Manchester United for the first time. The Reds also broke another record in matchday attendance fees - raking in as much as $108 million as fans returned to Anfield, after a Covid-induced hiatus. Read more: Pornographic moans during live football telecast force BBC to issue an apology The report added that Premier League was the only league across the European continent to have witnessed an increase in its media rights value. "It continues to appeal to millions of global followers and its member clubs have a greater revenue advantage over international rivals," Tim Bridge, lead partner in Deloitte's Sports Business Group was quoted as saying by ESPN. While Premier League clubs minted millions, the La Liga teams such as Barcelona and Real Madrid failed to recover revenue to their pre-pandemic levels. Top 10 revenue-generating clubs: 1) Manchester City 2) Real Madrid 3) Liverpool 4) Manchester United 5) Paris Saint-Germain 6) Bayern Munich 7) Barcelona 8) Chelsea 9) Tottenham Hotspur 10) Arsenal (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

World's top revenue-generating football clubs revealed

After prominent Indian wrestlers sat on a protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and levelled allegations of sexual harassment and corruption in the body, the Union Sports Ministry of India took a serious note of the charges following which the Sports Authority of India (SAI) issued an official statement on Wednesday demanding an explanation from the WFI on all charges within the next 72 hours.

After prominent Indian wrestlers sat on a protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and levelled allegations of sexual harassment and corruption in the body, the Union Sports Ministry of India took a serious note of the charges following which the Sports Authority of India (SAI) issued an official statement on Wednesday demanding an explanation from the WFI on all charges within the next 72 hours. “Taking cognisance of the protest staged by wrestlers, including Olympic and CWG medalists, in Delhi today and a press conference in which wrestlers have levelled serious charges of sexual harassment of women wrestlers by the President and coaches of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and of mismanagement in the functioning of the federation, the Sports Ministry has sought an explanation from WFI on the allegations and directed it to furnish a reply within the next 72 hours," read the statement released. If the federation fails to provide clarification within the deadline, the ministry will take suitable action against it as per the National Sports Development Code, 2011. As the wrestlers continue their protest, SAI has cancelled the Women National Wrestling Coaching Camp that was scheduled to start on January 18 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, with participation of 41 wrestlers and 13 coaches. Notably, Indian wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and others sat on a 'Dharna' (protest) on Wednesday at Jantar Mantar in the capital city of New Delhi. Read more: Indian wrestlers open 'can of worms', allege sexual harassment, corruption in wrestling federation During the press conference, Phogat and Malik accused the federation President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment while Bajrang Punia alleged severe mismanagement in the players' training. “Women wrestlers have been sexually harassed at national camps by coaches and also the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh," said Phogat. "Some of the coaches appointed at national camps have been sexually harassing women wrestlers for years. The WFI president is also involved in sexual harassment." After being put in the spot, WFI President Singh refuted all charges and defended himself by saying that he could be 'hanged' if the allegations against him were proven true. “Is anyone saying that the WFI has sexually harassed a wrestler? Only Vinesh has said it. Has anyone come forward and said that they personally have been sexually harassed? Even if one wrestler comes forward and says that she has been sexually harassed, that day I can be hanged," he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Sports ministry gives 72 hours to wrestling body for explanation on sexual harassment allegations

India won the opening match of the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand but captain Rohit Sharma was not an impressed man with the performance of his bowlers. After Michael Bracewell's heroic knock infused energy into what was an otherwise dead contest and took the visitors nearly over the line, India's death-blowing was once again put under the microscope.

India won the opening match of the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand but captain Rohit Sharma was not an impressed man with the performance of his bowlers. After Michael Bracewell's heroic knock infused energy into what was an otherwise dead contest and took the visitors nearly over the line, India's death-blowing was once again put under the microscope. Sharma reflected on the same and said his team slipped up on the particular front. "To be honest, the way he (Bracewell) was batting and the way it came on to the bat nicely, it was clean ball-striking." "We knew that if we bowl well, we would be okay unless we really slipped up with the ball. Unfortunately, that's what happened. I did say at the toss that I would like to see us challenge ourselves, not quite the situation I expected but that's how it is." Read more: India survive Bracewell-Santner scare, hand New Zealand 12-run defeat in 1st ODI After posting a mammoth 349/8 in the first innings, courtesy of a stunning double hundred from Shubman Gill, India were the firm favourites to wrap up the game. The bowling in the initial part of the chase was clinical with the Kiwis requiring 216 runs off the last 20 overs. With Bracewell and Mitchell Santner at the crease, India would have ideally liked to put the game to bed early. However, the defiant southpaws had other plans. Both the batters got stuck in and took the attack to the Indian bowlers. Bracewell was especially severe with his audacious strokeplay as Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur bore the brunt of it. The visitors managed to gather 113 runs between the 31 and 40 overs to set the stage for a grandstand finish. The NZ batters had the momentum but a target as big as 350 was always going to come with its set of challenges. In the end, the NZ side fell short by an agonising 12 runs margin. Bracewell was the last man to depart as India managed to cling on and register a win. "We were just trying to give ourselves a chance there. We managed to put a big partnership on but unfortunately, it wasn't enough. We fell 12 runs short, which is a bit of a bummer, really," said Bracewell after the match. WATCH | UNBELIEVABLE 200! Shubman Gill becomes the youngest player to smash an ODI double hundred The two sides will square up once again on Saturday at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, Chattisgarh. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Skipper Rohit Sharma 'unimpressed' as India nearly slip up in the first ODI against New Zealand

A day after crashing out of the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal has informed that he will be out of action for six to eight weeks with a hip flexor muscle injury. The 36-year-old took to Twitter to share the news and said, "Good afternoon.

A day after crashing out of the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal has informed that he will be out of action for six to eight weeks with a hip flexor muscle injury. The 36-year-old took to Twitter to share the news and said, "Good afternoon. I have carried out medical tests after the defeat yesterday." "The MRI shows a grade 2 lesion in the iliacus psoas of the left leg. Now it's sports rest and anti-inflammatory physiotherapy. Normal recovery time 6 to 8 weeks." Buenas tardes. He realizado pruebas médicas tras la derrota en el día de ayer. La resonancia magnética muestra una lesión grado 2 en el Psoas Iliaco de su pierna izquierda. Ahora toca reposo deportivo y fisioterapia anti inflamatoria. Tiempo normal de recuperación 6 a 8 semanas. pic.twitter.com/xwcKSyTzhp — Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 19, 2023 × The recovery time means that Nadal might miss the ATP 1000 Indian Wells and Miami scheduled to take place in March. The failure to participate in those events will hurt Nadal's ranking. However, if the 22-time Grand Slam winner does not face any other injury hurdle, he could be back in time for the clay-court season that begins in mid-April and leads into the French Open. Australian Open heartbreak for Nadal The Spanish world number two could not compete at his best during the second-round encounter with American challenger Mackenzie McDonald, primarily due to the injury. Behind the eight-ball curve, Nadal took a medical time-out when trailing 6-4, 5-3 to patch himself up and give one final push. The physios tried their best but the two-time champion at the Rod Laver Arena looked ginger and timid in his movement across the court. In the end, the defending champion bowed out of the tournament, suffering a 4-6, 4-6, 5-7 straight sets defeat - his worst result in the last seven years at the majors. Read more: Australian Open: Defending champion Rafael Nadal crashes out in straight sets After the match, Nadal said he did not want to retire from the match and it was better it ended like this. "I didn't want to retire, to be defending champion here. Better like this at the end. I lost. Congratulate the opponent." WATCH | Defending champion and top seed Rafael Nadal crashes out of the Australian Open × Though, a visibly distraught Nadal admitted he was admitted 'mentally destroyed' post his loss. “I can’t complain about my life at all. So just in terms of sports and in terms of injuries and tough moments, I mean, that’s another one. Just can’t say that I am not destroyed mentally at this time, because I will be lying." Read more: 'Can’t say I’m not destroyed...': Rafael Nadal after shock Australian Open exit The Spaniard added that he felt 'super tired' after injuries had become a regular occurrence for him on the tour. "At the end, you need to keep going, no? Sometimes it's frustrating. Sometimes it's difficult to accept. Sometimes you feel super tired about all this stuff in terms of injuries." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Rafael Nadal sidelined from tennis action for six-eight weeks due to injury

Defending champion Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Australian Open 2023 on Wednesday, suffering a 4-6, 4-6, 5-7 straight sets defeat at a deathly silent Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park.&nbsp;

Nadal was far from his best as he suffered what seemed like a possible hip injury, forcing him to take a conservative approach throughout the match. The Spaniard's body language was a dead giveaway that he was not feeling up to the task.&nbsp;

This was the worst result for Nadal at the majors in the last seven years. He had been knocked out of the first round of the Australian Open in 2016 as well.&nbsp;

Though Nadal was not at his pristine best, McDonald did his homework and came off the blocks in a quick manner. He kept Nadal on the backfoot and never allowed the 22-time Grand Slam winner to ease into the match.&nbsp;

"He's an incredible champion, he's never going to give up regardless of the situation. I was trying to stay focused on what I was trying to do and he kind of got me out of my rhythm, and I just got through it," said&nbsp;McDonald in the post-match interview.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-2023-australian-open-be-rafael-nadals-last-appearance-in-melbourne-spaniard-reveals-547330">Read more:&nbsp;Will 2023 Australian Open be Rafael Nadal's last at Melbourne Park? Spaniard reveals</a>

In the first set, Nadal was way off his pace as he only made 65 per cent of his first serves. The American cleverly navigated around Nadal's heavy forehand shots and kept his nose ahead in the opening exchanges.&nbsp;

Behind the eight-ball curve,&nbsp;Nadal took a medical time-out when trailing 6-4, 5-3 to patch himself up and give one final push. The physios tried their best but the&nbsp;body language of the 36-year-old&nbsp;gave it away that he wasn't going to be able to conjure another one of his famed comebacks.

The usual fistbumps and the elaborate pre-serve routine were missing as Nadal looked a pale shadow of his imperious best.&nbsp;

Braving the pain, a stone-faced Nadal managed to give something to the desperate crowd in the third set. He pushed and held his serve till 5-4. However, the errors crept in again and McDonald seized on the opportunity and made the two-time Australian Open champion pay.&nbsp;

Nadal's defeat allows his compatriot Novak Djokovic a chance to get level on the number of Grand Slams won. The Serbian currently has 21 majors under his belt and will be attempting to go the distance after his most fierce rival over the years has bowed out.&nbsp;

The defeat also means that Nadal will tumble in the world rankings to no. 6. If this was his last hurrah at the opening Grand Slam of the year, it was rather anti-climactic, to say the least.&nbsp;

As for MacDonald, he will be a relieved man after securing the biggest win of his career so far. He will take on the winner of Dalibor Svrcina vs Yoshito Nishioka in the third round.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Defending champion Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Australian Open 2023 on Wednesday, suffering a 4-6, 4-6, 5-7 straight sets defeat at a deathly silent Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Australian Open 2023 on Wednesday, suffering a 4-6, 4-6, 5-7 straight sets defeat at a deathly silent Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park. Nadal was far from his best as he suffered what seemed like a possible hip injury, forcing him to take a conservative approach throughout the match. The Spaniard's body language was a dead giveaway that he was not feeling up to the task. This was the worst result for Nadal at the majors in the last seven years. He had been knocked out of the first round of the Australian Open in 2016 as well. Though Nadal was not at his pristine best, McDonald did his homework and came off the blocks in a quick manner. He kept Nadal on the backfoot and never allowed the 22-time Grand Slam winner to ease into the match. "He's an incredible champion, he's never going to give up regardless of the situation. I was trying to stay focused on what I was trying to do and he kind of got me out of my rhythm, and I just got through it," said McDonald in the post-match interview. Read more: Will 2023 Australian Open be Rafael Nadal's last at Melbourne Park? Spaniard reveals In the first set, Nadal was way off his pace as he only made 65 per cent of his first serves. The American cleverly navigated around Nadal's heavy forehand shots and kept his nose ahead in the opening exchanges. Behind the eight-ball curve, Nadal took a medical time-out when trailing 6-4, 5-3 to patch himself up and give one final push. The physios tried their best but the body language of the 36-year-old gave it away that he wasn't going to be able to conjure another one of his famed comebacks. The usual fistbumps and the elaborate pre-serve routine were missing as Nadal looked a pale shadow of his imperious best. Braving the pain, a stone-faced Nadal managed to give something to the desperate crowd in the third set. He pushed and held his serve till 5-4. However, the errors crept in again and McDonald seized on the opportunity and made the two-time Australian Open champion pay. Nadal's defeat allows his compatriot Novak Djokovic a chance to get level on the number of Grand Slams won. The Serbian currently has 21 majors under his belt and will be attempting to go the distance after his most fierce rival over the years has bowed out. The defeat also means that Nadal will tumble in the world rankings to no. 6. If this was his last hurrah at the opening Grand Slam of the year, it was rather anti-climactic, to say the least. As for MacDonald, he will be a relieved man after securing the biggest win of his career so far. He will take on the winner of Dalibor Svrcina vs Yoshito Nishioka in the third round. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Australian Open: Defending champion Rafael Nadal crashes out in straight sets

Big ticket Indian wrestlers on Wednesday opened a can of worms by alleging sexual harassment and corruption in&nbsp;the working&nbsp;of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik accused the federation President Brij Bhushan Sharan Sharma of sexual harassment while Bajrang Punia alleged that the office-bearers of the federation are knee-deep in corruption.&nbsp;

During the protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar, Phogat, a veteran of the sport, told the media that 'national coaches' had been molesting female wrestlers over the years.&nbsp;

“Women wrestlers have been sexually harassed at national camps by coaches and also the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Sharma," said Phogat in a press conference.&nbsp;

"Some of the coaches appointed at national camps have been sexually harassing women wrestlers for years. The WFI president is also involved in sexual harassment."&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwg-2022-vinesh-phogat-clinches-gold-in-womens-53kg-completes-hat-trick-of-top-podium-finishes-504420">Read more:&nbsp;CWG 2022: Vinesh Phogat clinches gold in women's 53kg, completes hat-trick of top podium finishes</a>

Phogat continued by saying, at&nbsp;least 20 girls whom she knew had been harassed.&nbsp;

"They told me their stories. I can't take their names now but I can definitely reveal the names if we get to meet the Prime Minister and the Home Minister of the country."

“I have been trying to talk to the federation and make them understand my issues and those of other wrestlers for nearly 10 years. But nobody is even ready to listen," she added.&nbsp;

The women wrestlers received support from their male counterparts. Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia said he and his fellow wrestlers will not compete internationally if Bhushan is not removed.&nbsp;

"We will not compete in any international competition until WFI President is removed."

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फेडरेशन का काम खिलाड़ियों का साथ देना, उनकी खेल की जरूरतों का ध्यान रखना होता है। कोई समस्या हो तो उसका निदान करना होता है। लेकिन अगर फेडरेशन ही समस्या खड़ी करे तो क्या किया जाए? 
अब लड़ना पड़ेगा, हम पीछे नहीं हटेंगे । <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoycottWFIPresident?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BoycottWFIPresident</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BotcottWrestlingPresident?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BotcottWrestlingPresident</a>
— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) <a href="https://twitter.com/BajrangPunia/status/1615602236197048320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nothing-comes-easy-in-life-indian-wrestler-bajrang-punia-after-clinching-2nd-successive-gold-in-cwg-504321">Read more:&nbsp;'Nothing comes easy in life': Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia after clinching 2nd successive gold in CWG</a>

The Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist added that players never received any money required to prepare and compete for the events.&nbsp;

“The president abuses us. Private sponsors can only come from federation. Young players come and ask us where to go. Any player who asks is banned.“

After the protests by the players started receiving support on&nbsp;online platforms, the WFI president reached the spot and questioned why nobody had raised these issues in the last 10 years.&nbsp;

"I came here as soon as I got to know the wrestlers are protesting. Is there anyone on record who can say the federation has molested us?" said Singh.&nbsp;

"Sexual harassment never happened. If even one athlete comes forward and proves this, I will hang myself."

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Big ticket Indian wrestlers on Wednesday opened a can of worms by alleging sexual harassment and corruption in the working of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

Big ticket Indian wrestlers on Wednesday opened a can of worms by alleging sexual harassment and corruption in the working of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik accused the federation President Brij Bhushan Sharan Sharma of sexual harassment while Bajrang Punia alleged that the office-bearers of the federation are knee-deep in corruption. During the protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar, Phogat, a veteran of the sport, told the media that 'national coaches' had been molesting female wrestlers over the years. “Women wrestlers have been sexually harassed at national camps by coaches and also the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Sharma," said Phogat in a press conference. "Some of the coaches appointed at national camps have been sexually harassing women wrestlers for years. The WFI president is also involved in sexual harassment." Read more: CWG 2022: Vinesh Phogat clinches gold in women's 53kg, completes hat-trick of top podium finishes Phogat continued by saying, at least 20 girls whom she knew had been harassed. "They told me their stories. I can't take their names now but I can definitely reveal the names if we get to meet the Prime Minister and the Home Minister of the country." “I have been trying to talk to the federation and make them understand my issues and those of other wrestlers for nearly 10 years. But nobody is even ready to listen," she added. The women wrestlers received support from their male counterparts. Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia said he and his fellow wrestlers will not compete internationally if Bhushan is not removed. "We will not compete in any international competition until WFI President is removed." फेडरेशन का काम खिलाड़ियों का साथ देना, उनकी खेल की जरूरतों का ध्यान रखना होता है। कोई समस्या हो तो उसका निदान करना होता है। लेकिन अगर फेडरेशन ही समस्या खड़ी करे तो क्या किया जाए? अब लड़ना पड़ेगा, हम पीछे नहीं हटेंगे । #BoycottWFIPresident#BotcottWrestlingPresident — Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) January 18, 2023 × Read more: 'Nothing comes easy in life': Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia after clinching 2nd successive gold in CWG The Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist added that players never received any money required to prepare and compete for the events. “The president abuses us. Private sponsors can only come from federation. Young players come and ask us where to go. Any player who asks is banned.“ After the protests by the players started receiving support on online platforms, the WFI president reached the spot and questioned why nobody had raised these issues in the last 10 years. "I came here as soon as I got to know the wrestlers are protesting. Is there anyone on record who can say the federation has molested us?" said Singh. "Sexual harassment never happened. If even one athlete comes forward and proves this, I will hang myself." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian wrestlers open 'can of worms', allege sexual harassment, corruption in wrestling federation

The BBC was forced to issue an apology after pornographic moans were heard live on air during the pre-match programme of the FA Cup replay tie between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The BBC was forced to issue an apology after pornographic moans were heard live on air during the pre-match programme of the FA Cup replay tie between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Former England striker and presenter Gary Lineker was live during the show alongside pundits Paul Ince and Danny Murphy when the sudden noise started reverberating across the studio and was simultaneously transmitted to millions watching the show on their TV sets. Startled initially, Lineker quickly regained his composure and said, “Somebody’s sending something on someone’s phone, I think. I don’t know whether you heard it at home.” There’s no way someone just got the sex noise text live on BBC One pic.twitter.com/W0LtPKUyf0 — samalamadingdong (@5amcoek) January 17, 2023 × The studio link then quickly cut to Alan Shearer in the commentary gantry as BBC looked to salvage the situation. However, the cut wasn't quick enough as the video clip of the incident quickly went viral across social media platforms. Read more: England footballer Gary Lineker throws light on 'It's coming home' song to 'non-English fans In the aftermath of the incident, BBC issued a statement saying, “We apologise to any viewers offended during the live coverage of the football this evening. We are investigating how this happened.” “We apologise to any viewers offended during the live coverage of the football this evening. We are investigating how this happened.” - BBC spokesperson — BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) January 17, 2023 × The noises were apparently coming from a mobile phone that was taped under the table of the studio. Minutes into the first half, Lineker took to his Twitter account to share an image of the mobile phone. "Well, we found this taped to the back of the set. As sabotage goes it was quite amusing," tweeted Lineker. Well, we found this taped to the back of the set. As sabotage goes it was quite amusing. 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/ikUhBJ38Je — Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) January 17, 2023 × Daniel Jarvis, the infamous prankster known for invading cricket and football pitches claimed responsibility for the stunt. He posted a video on Twitter where he appeared at the TV studio at Molineux. Lineker had another tongue-in-cheek moment during the halftime show when he referred to Harvey Elliot's stunning 13th-minute strike and said, “Harvey Elliott’s goal was a screamer … which was not the only one we’ve had tonight.” Meanwhile, Liverpool won the match owing to Elliot's lone goal and progressed into the fourth round of the FA Cup. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Pornographic moans during live football telecast force BBC to issue an apology

Indian allrounder Hardik Pandya was dismissed in a rather controversial manner during the first ODI against New Zealand in Hyderabad on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The incident transpired&nbsp;in the 40th over of the innings when Pandya was facing medium-pacer Daryl Mitchell. With wicketkeeper Tom Latham up on the stumps, Hardik seemingly got beaten on the fourth delivery of the over.&nbsp;

The ball passed perilously close to the top of off and landed in Latham's gloves. The zing bails, however, lit up a nanosecond later, thereby suggesting that the ball had dislodged the bails.&nbsp;

The on-field umpires went upstairs to third umpire&nbsp;KN Ananthapadmanabhan for confirmation. The umpire, after multiple viewings gave Pandya out on the big screen, much to the dismay of the viewers and the batter himself.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The replays showed that the ball had passed the stumps without making any contact. However, Latham's gloves had brushed the bails and after he lifted them to collect the ball, they were dislodged.&nbsp;

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How is this even OUT!! <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsNZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HardikPandya?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HardikPandya</a> <a href="https://t.co/uT21O8Xxx5">pic.twitter.com/uT21O8Xxx5</a>
— cric guru (@bccicc) <a href="https://twitter.com/bccicc/status/1615667401038913537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri who was in the commentary box at the time said Mitchell and New Zealand should be 'happy' that it was given out.&nbsp;

“Should really be happy, because that, if you take a look again as to where the keeper’s gloves are, where the ball is as it passes the stumps, it looked as if the ball was at least an inch, inch-and-a-half above the stumps," said Shastri.&nbsp;

"You can see as it goes past into the gloves, there’s no red light, it’s only after that. There you go. From that angle you can see that the gloves are closer to the bails than the ball.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-unbelievable-shubman-gill-becomes-the-youngest-player-to-smash-an-odi-double-hundred-553823">WATCH | UNBELIEVABLE 200! Shubman Gill becomes the youngest player to smash an ODI double hundred</a>

Meanwhile, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer also pointed out the absurdity of the decision.

"1. Clear gap between ball and bails. 2. Ball is inside gloves, bails not lit yet. 3. Bails lit after brush from gloves. Hardik robbed there," tweeted Jaffer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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1. Clear gap between ball and bails. 
2. Ball is inside gloves, bails not lit yet. 
3. Bails lit after brush from gloves. 
 
Hardik robbed there. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvNZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/yoI4rF4t9I">pic.twitter.com/yoI4rF4t9I</a>
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) <a href="https://twitter.com/WasimJaffer14/status/1615668973055676416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The wrong decision did not ultimately hurt India as Shubman's Gill brilliant, record-breaking double hundred ensured that an above 340 run target was kept in front of the visitors. However, netizens remained miffed that such an error was allowed by the third umpire.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Indian allrounder Hardik Pandya was dismissed in a rather controversial manner during the first ODI against New Zealand in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The incident transpired in the 40th over of the innings when Pandya was facing medium-pacer Daryl Mitchell.

Indian allrounder Hardik Pandya was dismissed in a rather controversial manner during the first ODI against New Zealand in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The incident transpired in the 40th over of the innings when Pandya was facing medium-pacer Daryl Mitchell. With wicketkeeper Tom Latham up on the stumps, Hardik seemingly got beaten on the fourth delivery of the over. The ball passed perilously close to the top of off and landed in Latham's gloves. The zing bails, however, lit up a nanosecond later, thereby suggesting that the ball had dislodged the bails. The on-field umpires went upstairs to third umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan for confirmation. The umpire, after multiple viewings gave Pandya out on the big screen, much to the dismay of the viewers and the batter himself. The replays showed that the ball had passed the stumps without making any contact. However, Latham's gloves had brushed the bails and after he lifted them to collect the ball, they were dislodged. How is this even OUT!! @ICC #INDvsNZ #HardikPandya pic.twitter.com/uT21O8Xxx5 — cric guru (@bccicc) January 18, 2023 × Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri who was in the commentary box at the time said Mitchell and New Zealand should be 'happy' that it was given out. “Should really be happy, because that, if you take a look again as to where the keeper’s gloves are, where the ball is as it passes the stumps, it looked as if the ball was at least an inch, inch-and-a-half above the stumps," said Shastri. "You can see as it goes past into the gloves, there’s no red light, it’s only after that. There you go. From that angle you can see that the gloves are closer to the bails than the ball.” WATCH | UNBELIEVABLE 200! Shubman Gill becomes the youngest player to smash an ODI double hundred Meanwhile, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer also pointed out the absurdity of the decision. "1. Clear gap between ball and bails. 2. Ball is inside gloves, bails not lit yet. 3. Bails lit after brush from gloves. Hardik robbed there," tweeted Jaffer. 1. Clear gap between ball and bails. 2. Ball is inside gloves, bails not lit yet. 3. Bails lit after brush from gloves. Hardik robbed there. #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/yoI4rF4t9I — Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 18, 2023 × The wrong decision did not ultimately hurt India as Shubman's Gill brilliant, record-breaking double hundred ensured that an above 340 run target was kept in front of the visitors. However, netizens remained miffed that such an error was allowed by the third umpire. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | Hardik Pandya's bizarre dismissal creates controversy, leaves netizens enraged

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) became the latest governing body to agree equal pay deals for men's and women's internationals on Wednesday.

The deal comes into place immediately and covers the period up to and including the 2026 men's World Cup and 2027 women's World Cup.

A joint statement released by Wales men's and women's teams said: "Together Stronger has been the mantra across the Cymru national teams for us all, both on and off the pitch as we look to put Wales on the world stage."

"As part of the FAW's strive towards equality, we are now proud to announce that together, our men's and women's teams have agreed to an equal pay structure for future international matches."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pornographic-moans-during-live-football-telecast-forces-bbc-to-issue-an-apology-553740">Read more:&nbsp;Pornographic moans during live football telecast forces BBC to issue an apology</a>

World champions the United States, European champions England, Spain and Norway are among nations who have introduced equal pay for male and female players for representing their country.

"We hope that this will allow future generations of boys and girls to see that there is equality across Welsh international football, which is important for society as a whole," added the players' statement.

"With this agreement in place, we will now look ahead to the Euro 2024 and 2025 qualifying campaigns, as we aim to see further success across both our senior teams in the near future."

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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The Football Association of Wales (FAW) became the latest governing body to agree equal pay deals for men's and women's internationals on Wednesday. The deal comes into place immediately and covers the period up to and including the 2026 men's World Cup and 2027 women's World Cup.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) became the latest governing body to agree equal pay deals for men's and women's internationals on Wednesday. The deal comes into place immediately and covers the period up to and including the 2026 men's World Cup and 2027 women's World Cup. A joint statement released by Wales men's and women's teams said: "Together Stronger has been the mantra across the Cymru national teams for us all, both on and off the pitch as we look to put Wales on the world stage." "As part of the FAW's strive towards equality, we are now proud to announce that together, our men's and women's teams have agreed to an equal pay structure for future international matches." Read more: Pornographic moans during live football telecast forces BBC to issue an apology World champions the United States, European champions England, Spain and Norway are among nations who have introduced equal pay for male and female players for representing their country. "We hope that this will allow future generations of boys and girls to see that there is equality across Welsh international football, which is important for society as a whole," added the players' statement. "With this agreement in place, we will now look ahead to the Euro 2024 and 2025 qualifying campaigns, as we aim to see further success across both our senior teams in the near future." WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Wales men's and women's football teams to receive equal pay

The future of women's tennis was on display at the iconic Rod Laver Arena when Coco Gauff squared up against Emma Raducanu. The contest lived to its billing as Gauff came out on top, beating Raducanu 6-3 7-6(4) to reach the third round of the Australian Open.

The future of women's tennis was on display at the iconic Rod Laver Arena when Coco Gauff squared up against Emma Raducanu. The contest lived to its billing as Gauff came out on top, beating Raducanu 6-3 7-6(4) to reach the third round of the Australian Open. 18-year-old Gauff proved too hot to handle for the former US Open champion who looked ginger in the opening set. The American broke Raducanu 2-1 and raced to wrap the set within no time. The 20-year-old Briton pushed Gauff in the second set and took it to a tie-breaker before coming up short to the heavy shot-making and serve of Gauff. "In the beginning, you know, I think we both started off rocky but I think the match was good quality for the most part considering the circumstances. Both of us were nervous and this was a long-anticipated match-up since the draw came out so I’m glad this was a good match for you guys," said Gauff in the post-match interview. Raducanu had a minor abs problem on the court which came on the back of her ankle injury scare. 10 days prior to the start of the Australian Open, Raducanu exited an Auckland warm-up tournament injured and in tears. Read more: Australian Open: Defending champion Rafael Nadal crashes out in straight sets Raducanu stunned the tennis world by emerging from qualifying to win the US Open in 2021 but has struggled on tour since. Gauff, despite being younger than Raducanu has managed to stay more competitive on the circuit. After advancing to the next round, Gauff's eyes will firmly be on lifting the Daphne Akhurst Cup on January 28. Gauff would be aiming to become the youngest Australian Open champion since 16-year-old Martina Hingis won the tournament in 1997 Read more: 'Can’t say I’m not destroyed...': Rafael Nadal after shock Australian Open exit Following the retirements last year of champion Ash Barty and 23-times major winner Serena Williams, the tennis world has been looking for its prodigies to step up and carry the legacy forward. The match-up on Wednesday proved that more-than-worthy successors were in the offing. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Australian Open: Coco Gauff beats Emma Raducanu in the battle of prodigies

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