The tag of G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time) is given to those competitors who have come and ruled their game and set themselves in an alternate echelon contrasted with their competitors.&nbsp;

Gymnast Simone Biles brings out unadulterated bliss as she resists gravity on numerous occasions with beauty and balance.

Regardless of a defective beginning at the preliminaries, she is expected&nbsp;to burst through her opposition to one more gold medal, establishing her status as the best gymnast ever.&nbsp;

Biles&nbsp;has ruled her game like no other, starting when she was still an adolescent.

The 24-year-old US athlete has now been granted a specially designed G.O.A.T Twitter emoticon, which her fans can use during her Tokyo Olympics mission to root for her.&nbsp;

She joins commended stars like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes to have her GOAT emoticon, while likewise being the first woman and Olympian to do so.

The emoji is generated by typing #SimoneBiles or #Simone in Tweets.&nbsp;

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Witness greatness 
Tweet with greatness<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SimoneBiles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SimoneBiles</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Simone?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Simone</a> <a href="https://t.co/M6RKzP3KB6">pic.twitter.com/M6RKzP3KB6</a>
— Twitter Sports (@TwitterSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterSports/status/1417850103428169730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Biles lately started contending in a leotard enriched with silver rhinestones looking like a goat's head.&nbsp;

"I just hope that kids growing up watching this don't or aren't ashamed of being good at whatever they do," she said.

"I want kids to learn that, yes, it's okay to acknowledge that you're good or even great at something," she added.

Biles, 24, has not lost a competition since 2013 and is aiming to become the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic all-around golds in over 50 years as well as improve on her Rio haul of five medals, four of them gold.

She made two attempts at the Yurchenko Double Pike vault, rolling her landing on the first one but performing the second almost flawlessly, surprising the handful of watching media and officials,&nbsp;including one of her coaches.

The tag of G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time) is given to those competitors who have come and ruled their game and set themselves in an alternate echelon contrasted with their competitors.

The tag of G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time) is given to those competitors who have come and ruled their game and set themselves in an alternate echelon contrasted with their competitors. Gymnast Simone Biles brings out unadulterated bliss as she resists gravity on numerous occasions with beauty and balance. Regardless of a defective beginning at the preliminaries, she is expected to burst through her opposition to one more gold medal, establishing her status as the best gymnast ever. Biles has ruled her game like no other, starting when she was still an adolescent. The 24-year-old US athlete has now been granted a specially designed G.O.A.T Twitter emoticon, which her fans can use during her Tokyo Olympics mission to root for her. She joins commended stars like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes to have her GOAT emoticon, while likewise being the first woman and Olympian to do so. The emoji is generated by typing #SimoneBiles or #Simone in Tweets. Witness greatness Tweet with greatness#SimoneBiles#Simone pic.twitter.com/M6RKzP3KB6 — Twitter Sports (@TwitterSports) July 21, 2021 × Biles lately started contending in a leotard enriched with silver rhinestones looking like a goat's head. "I just hope that kids growing up watching this don't or aren't ashamed of being good at whatever they do," she said. "I want kids to learn that, yes, it's okay to acknowledge that you're good or even great at something," she added. Biles, 24, has not lost a competition since 2013 and is aiming to become the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic all-around golds in over 50 years as well as improve on her Rio haul of five medals, four of them gold. She made two attempts at the Yurchenko Double Pike vault, rolling her landing on the first one but performing the second almost flawlessly, surprising the handful of watching media and officials, including one of her coaches.

Tokyo Olympics: Simone Biles becomes the first woman athlete to get a G.O.A.T emoticon

Just months after a ban on "Monoply board-style" homes, Westminster city council has granted Chinese billionaire Cheung Chung-kiu permission to construct an eight-storey, 62,000 square feet private palace.&nbsp;

This private palace would overlook Hyde Park in central London and is expected to be worth up to £500 million when completed.

Chung-kiu's plan is to demolish and rebuild 2-8A Rutland Gate, in Knightsbridge, in order to build his new mansion.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-rover-preparing-to-take-first-mars-rock-samples-399659">NASA rover preparing to take first Mars rock samples</a>

Despite its earlier order, the council was unable to stop the project from going ahead. As this used to be a single-family dwelling, the planning regulations didn't prohibit its replacement.&nbsp;

London's Westminster council announced plans to ban the construction of supersize properties for overseas billionaires as part of efforts to free up more space for affordable housing in 2018. However, redevelopments of existing houses are not subject to the ban, which came into force earlier this year.

The council also confirmed that Cheung would not be required to contribute to affordable housing in the borough, as is usually the case for large-scale private development projects.

Westminster council's spokesperson explained that this year the council introduced a policy that forbids projects larger than 200 sq metres from being constructed. However, the redevelopment of existing single-dwelling homes is not covered by this policy.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-reporter-amin-hafeez-interviews-a-buffalo-on-eid-ul-zuha-and-even-gets-a-response-399668">Pakistan reporter Amin Hafeez interviews a buffalo on Eid-ul-Zuha and even gets a response</a>

Westminster has built over 725 affordable homes since 2017 as part of its commitment to providing the right type of housing for people.

Cheung's agent on his behalf described the building as "heavily dilapidated" in his proposed building application and expressed his desire to undertake appropriate repair, restoration, and alteration work to restore the building to a useful family home in London.

Prior to the sale, the property had been a 45-bedroom residence owned by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz, who died in 2011.&nbsp;

<div>The house is located just south of Kensington Gardens, with 68 of its 116 windows overlooking the park. Alberto Pinto, a French designer, designed the interiors.
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Prior to this development, the property had been granted planning permission to be converted to 13 flats.
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Just months after a ban on "Monoply board-style" homes, Westminster city council has granted Chinese billionaire Cheung Chung-kiu permission to construct an eight-storey, 62,000 square feet private palace.

Just months after a ban on "Monoply board-style" homes, Westminster city council has granted Chinese billionaire Cheung Chung-kiu permission to construct an eight-storey, 62,000 square feet private palace. This private palace would overlook Hyde Park in central London and is expected to be worth up to £500 million when completed. Chung-kiu's plan is to demolish and rebuild 2-8A Rutland Gate, in Knightsbridge, in order to build his new mansion. Also read | NASA rover preparing to take first Mars rock samples Despite its earlier order, the council was unable to stop the project from going ahead. As this used to be a single-family dwelling, the planning regulations didn't prohibit its replacement. London's Westminster council announced plans to ban the construction of supersize properties for overseas billionaires as part of efforts to free up more space for affordable housing in 2018. However, redevelopments of existing houses are not subject to the ban, which came into force earlier this year. The council also confirmed that Cheung would not be required to contribute to affordable housing in the borough, as is usually the case for large-scale private development projects. Westminster council's spokesperson explained that this year the council introduced a policy that forbids projects larger than 200 sq metres from being constructed. However, the redevelopment of existing single-dwelling homes is not covered by this policy. Also read | Pakistan reporter Amin Hafeez interviews a buffalo on Eid-ul-Zuha and even gets a response Westminster has built over 725 affordable homes since 2017 as part of its commitment to providing the right type of housing for people. Cheung's agent on his behalf described the building as "heavily dilapidated" in his proposed building application and expressed his desire to undertake appropriate repair, restoration, and alteration work to restore the building to a useful family home in London. Prior to the sale, the property had been a 45-bedroom residence owned by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz, who died in 2011. The house is located just south of Kensington Gardens, with 68 of its 116 windows overlooking the park. Alberto Pinto, a French designer, designed the interiors. Prior to this development, the property had been granted planning permission to be converted to 13 flats.

Chinese tycoon receives approval for massive central London palace

Irish-English cricketer Eoin Morgan believes The Hundred tournament starting today will give a splendid stage to English talent the same way the IPL had done to Indian cricket.

Morgan highlighted how adolescents like Rishabh Pant became easily recognised names after getting the stage in the IPL.&nbsp;

The Hundred, as the name suggests,&nbsp;is a&nbsp;100-ball cricket tournament in the UK.

The games involve eight men's and women's teams from major cities across England and Wales.

The men's version of The Hundred starts today.

Morgan said that a great show at The Hundred could be the ideal take-off platform for people to break into the worldwide circuit.&nbsp;

"I think the Hundred could create a platform that could springboard somebody right into international cricket. We could sit here all day and talk about the names that the IPL has produced say three-four years ago," he said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-haseeb-hameed-ollie-robinson-included-in-englands-17-member-squad-against-india-399530" hreflang="en">Cricket: Haseeb Hameed, Ollie Robinson included in England's 17-member squad against India</a>

"Rishabh Pant was a young kid coming through it's very exciting to watch. Looking at him now, he’s a prominent international star," said Morgan in a conversation with Eastern Eye.

He further clarified how tournaments like the IPL, the BBL, and the CPL test players' nerves in pressure circumstances. He feels this will assist them with adjusting worldwide cricket a lot faster.&nbsp;

"We’ve seen it at the IPL, in the Big Bash, and in the CPL. It makes superstars out of people as those platforms test them with pressure and how they deal with it and prepare them really well for international cricket," he added.

With different youngsters coming through, Morgan trusts England needs a rivalry like The Hundred where forthcoming talents can grandstand their abilities at a high level.&nbsp;

Morgan further called attention to how a second-string English side as of late crushed Pakistan 3-0 in an ODI series, displaying England's profundity and strength in their limited-overs series.&nbsp;

"We need it more than the format needs us, simply because of the quality of cricketers that we have now in the country," he said.

"It was unbelievable what we witnessed in the one-day series against Pakistan, where 15 of our squad members went into isolation and we almost had to pick a second-string team. We won 3-0 and all the performances were exceptional, which shows the real strength and depth in English cricket at the moment," he added.

Irish-English cricketer Eoin Morgan believes The Hundred tournament starting today will give a splendid stage to English talent the same way the IPL had done to Indian cricket.

Irish-English cricketer Eoin Morgan believes The Hundred tournament starting today will give a splendid stage to English talent the same way the IPL had done to Indian cricket. Morgan highlighted how adolescents like Rishabh Pant became easily recognised names after getting the stage in the IPL. The Hundred, as the name suggests, is a 100-ball cricket tournament in the UK. The games involve eight men's and women's teams from major cities across England and Wales. The men's version of The Hundred starts today. Morgan said that a great show at The Hundred could be the ideal take-off platform for people to break into the worldwide circuit. "I think the Hundred could create a platform that could springboard somebody right into international cricket. We could sit here all day and talk about the names that the IPL has produced say three-four years ago," he said. ALSO READ: Cricket: Haseeb Hameed, Ollie Robinson included in England's 17-member squad against India "Rishabh Pant was a young kid coming through it's very exciting to watch. Looking at him now, he’s a prominent international star," said Morgan in a conversation with Eastern Eye. He further clarified how tournaments like the IPL, the BBL, and the CPL test players' nerves in pressure circumstances. He feels this will assist them with adjusting worldwide cricket a lot faster. "We’ve seen it at the IPL, in the Big Bash, and in the CPL. It makes superstars out of people as those platforms test them with pressure and how they deal with it and prepare them really well for international cricket," he added. With different youngsters coming through, Morgan trusts England needs a rivalry like The Hundred where forthcoming talents can grandstand their abilities at a high level. Morgan further called attention to how a second-string English side as of late crushed Pakistan 3-0 in an ODI series, displaying England's profundity and strength in their limited-overs series. "We need it more than the format needs us, simply because of the quality of cricketers that we have now in the country," he said. "It was unbelievable what we witnessed in the one-day series against Pakistan, where 15 of our squad members went into isolation and we almost had to pick a second-string team. We won 3-0 and all the performances were exceptional, which shows the real strength and depth in English cricket at the moment," he added.

Cricket: We need 'The Hundred' more than the format needs us, says Eoin Morgan

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine was given the all-clear to travel to Tokyo for the Olympics on Wednesday after being placed into Covid-19 safety protocols this week.

The 26-year-old, who played in all four of the United States' recent exhibition matches in Las Vegas, averaging 10.8 points and 2.5 rebounds, was sidelined on Monday.

USA Basketball said at the time he did not travel with the three-time defending champions to Japan "out of an abundance of caution" after starting Covid-19 health and safety measures.

But it did not say if he contracted the virus or was being kept back for contact tracing.

"US Olympic men's basketball team member Zach LaVine has cleared USA Basketball's health and safety protocols and will join the USA team in Tokyo Thursday afternoon," USA Basketball said in a statement Wednesday, without giving further details.

The US squad has already lost Washington guard Bradley Beal after he was placed into Covid-19 protocols, and center Kevin Love to a calf injury.

The Americans added Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee and San Antonio Spurs guard Keldon Johnson to replace Beal and Love.

The US squad, which opens its Olympic campaign on Sunday against France, is set to add three more players in coming days following the conclusion of the NBA Finals -- Phoenix guard Devin Booker and Milwaukee's Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton.

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine was given the all-clear to travel to Tokyo for the Olympics on Wednesday after being placed into Covid-19 safety protocols this week.

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine was given the all-clear to travel to Tokyo for the Olympics on Wednesday after being placed into Covid-19 safety protocols this week. The 26-year-old, who played in all four of the United States' recent exhibition matches in Las Vegas, averaging 10.8 points and 2.5 rebounds, was sidelined on Monday. USA Basketball said at the time he did not travel with the three-time defending champions to Japan "out of an abundance of caution" after starting Covid-19 health and safety measures. But it did not say if he contracted the virus or was being kept back for contact tracing. "US Olympic men's basketball team member Zach LaVine has cleared USA Basketball's health and safety protocols and will join the USA team in Tokyo Thursday afternoon," USA Basketball said in a statement Wednesday, without giving further details. The US squad has already lost Washington guard Bradley Beal after he was placed into Covid-19 protocols, and center Kevin Love to a calf injury. The Americans added Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee and San Antonio Spurs guard Keldon Johnson to replace Beal and Love. The US squad, which opens its Olympic campaign on Sunday against France, is set to add three more players in coming days following the conclusion of the NBA Finals -- Phoenix guard Devin Booker and Milwaukee's Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton.

NBA star Zach LaVine gets Olympics all-clear after Covid-19 scare

Olympic virus rules mean spectators are banned, but one furry fan still tried to sneak into the Fukushima softball venue hosting the first sports event of the Tokyo Games: a bear.

The animals are common across Japan and regularly spark frantic hunts when they venture into towns, where they have been known to attack and even kill local residents.

A Fukushima police spokesman confirmed the ursine intruder was spotted last night and then again this morning, just hours before the opening pitch in a match pitting hosts Japan against Australia.

"A guard found a bear inside Azuma Sports Park early in the morning yesterday. We also received similar information this morning," the spokesman told AFP.

"We couldn't find or capture the bear, and while there won't be any spectators at the stadium, we are on alert and searching for the bear around the site."

Local media identified the animal as an Asian black bear, with the Sports Hochi daily saying the entire contingent of Olympic guards assigned to the venue spent the night searching for the creature.

They even blasted music and let off firecrackers in an effort to flush out the bear, the newspaper said.

But the softball match, which comes just two days before the opening ceremony, went off without a hitch despite the intruder with Japan recording an easy 8-1 victory.

Last month, a brown bear sparked a massive search involving police and local hunters after it rampaged through the northern city of Sapporo, which will host the Olympic marathon.

The bear mauled a soldier and a pedestrian who were hospitalized after the attack.

It was eventually shot dead after a dramatic chase, during which it bounded along a residential street, crossed a busy road, and clawed at the gate of a military barracks.

Asian black bears are native to large parts of Japan, including the country's main island, while brown bears roam Hokkaido further north.

Olympic virus rules mean spectators are banned, but one furry fan still tried to sneak into the Fukushima softball venue hosting the first sports event of the Tokyo Games: a bear.

Olympic virus rules mean spectators are banned, but one furry fan still tried to sneak into the Fukushima softball venue hosting the first sports event of the Tokyo Games: a bear. The animals are common across Japan and regularly spark frantic hunts when they venture into towns, where they have been known to attack and even kill local residents. A Fukushima police spokesman confirmed the ursine intruder was spotted last night and then again this morning, just hours before the opening pitch in a match pitting hosts Japan against Australia. "A guard found a bear inside Azuma Sports Park early in the morning yesterday. We also received similar information this morning," the spokesman told AFP. "We couldn't find or capture the bear, and while there won't be any spectators at the stadium, we are on alert and searching for the bear around the site." Local media identified the animal as an Asian black bear, with the Sports Hochi daily saying the entire contingent of Olympic guards assigned to the venue spent the night searching for the creature. They even blasted music and let off firecrackers in an effort to flush out the bear, the newspaper said. But the softball match, which comes just two days before the opening ceremony, went off without a hitch despite the intruder with Japan recording an easy 8-1 victory. Last month, a brown bear sparked a massive search involving police and local hunters after it rampaged through the northern city of Sapporo, which will host the Olympic marathon. The bear mauled a soldier and a pedestrian who were hospitalized after the attack. It was eventually shot dead after a dramatic chase, during which it bounded along a residential street, crossed a busy road, and clawed at the gate of a military barracks. Asian black bears are native to large parts of Japan, including the country's main island, while brown bears roam Hokkaido further north.

Bear alert hits softball at Olympic Games opener

The Tour de France's Saitama Criterium has been cancelled for the second straight year over rising Covid-19 cases, organizers said, days before the Tokyo Olympic opening ceremony.

"We have reached the conclusion that our priority is ensuring the safety and security of the people of Saitama, athletes and other participants, and fans," organisers said in a statement late Tuesday.

"Various anti-infection measures are being taken... but the expanding spread of infections in Japan remains unpredictable," the statement said.

The annual autumn race features winners and stars from the Tour de France and attracts some 100,000 fans to the Saitama region, north of Tokyo.

But the pandemic forced the event's cancellation last year for the first time since it started in 2013.

The greater Tokyo region has seen a rapid rise of new infections in recent weeks, prompting the central government to place the area under a state of emergency.

The measure is much looser than a lockdown, however, and Japan's pandemic outbreak remains much smaller than in many other countries.

The Tokyo Olympics started competition Wednesday with a softball game between Japan and Australia.

The Games, which will officially open Friday, will be held mostly behind closed doors with athletes and officials placed under strict anti-virus protocols.

The Tour de France's Saitama Criterium has been cancelled for the second straight year over rising Covid-19 cases, organizers said, days before the Tokyo Olympic opening ceremony.

The Tour de France's Saitama Criterium has been cancelled for the second straight year over rising Covid-19 cases, organizers said, days before the Tokyo Olympic opening ceremony. "We have reached the conclusion that our priority is ensuring the safety and security of the people of Saitama, athletes and other participants, and fans," organisers said in a statement late Tuesday. "Various anti-infection measures are being taken... but the expanding spread of infections in Japan remains unpredictable," the statement said. The annual autumn race features winners and stars from the Tour de France and attracts some 100,000 fans to the Saitama region, north of Tokyo. But the pandemic forced the event's cancellation last year for the first time since it started in 2013. The greater Tokyo region has seen a rapid rise of new infections in recent weeks, prompting the central government to place the area under a state of emergency. The measure is much looser than a lockdown, however, and Japan's pandemic outbreak remains much smaller than in many other countries. The Tokyo Olympics started competition Wednesday with a softball game between Japan and Australia. The Games, which will officially open Friday, will be held mostly behind closed doors with athletes and officials placed under strict anti-virus protocols.

Japan's cycling Saitama Criterium cancelled over pandemic

India held their nerve in a precarious run-chase to win the second ODI against Sri Lanka by three wickets and seal the 2-0 lead in the three-match series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

After Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to bat, the hosts set up 275 after&nbsp;Avishka Fernando scored 50 off 71.

Charith Asalanka fought hard after quick losses with a knock of 65 off 68 deliveries. Chamika Karunaratne remained not-out on 44 to take the team past 270.

Team India didn't have the best of starts to their chase as they lost Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan&nbsp;early on. There were small partnerships between Shikhar Dhawan and Manish Pandey, and among Manish Pandey and Suryakumar Yadav, yet wickets continued tumbling.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-sponsors-to-miss-opening-ceremony-as-more-athletes-catch-virus-399197" hreflang="en">Tokyo Olympics: Sponsors to miss opening ceremony as more athletes catch virus</a>

The wicket of Suryakumar Yadav, who batted well for his half-century, was a setback for India. Krunal Pandya's wicket nearly established Sri Lanka's victory.

But a spectacular partnership between Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar ruined all expectations of the hosts, even driving them out of the series win possibility.&nbsp;

Pursuing 276 runs, Team India were at 160/6 at one phase with Krunal Pandya and Deepak Chahar in the middle. Regardless of being down, the Indian cricketers didn't lose conviction and battled till the finish to grab a victory from the jaws of a&nbsp;rout.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Deepak Chahar (69* off 82 balls) delivered a batting masterclass as Team India returned splendidly to win the second ODI by three wickets. 
He surprised the cricket fraternity to take a scrumptious win for his side.

India held their nerve in a precarious run-chase to win the second ODI against Sri Lanka by three wickets and seal the 2-0 lead in the three-match series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

India held their nerve in a precarious run-chase to win the second ODI against Sri Lanka by three wickets and seal the 2-0 lead in the three-match series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. After Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to bat, the hosts set up 275 after Avishka Fernando scored 50 off 71. Charith Asalanka fought hard after quick losses with a knock of 65 off 68 deliveries. Chamika Karunaratne remained not-out on 44 to take the team past 270. Team India didn't have the best of starts to their chase as they lost Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan early on. There were small partnerships between Shikhar Dhawan and Manish Pandey, and among Manish Pandey and Suryakumar Yadav, yet wickets continued tumbling. ALSO READ: Tokyo Olympics: Sponsors to miss opening ceremony as more athletes catch virus The wicket of Suryakumar Yadav, who batted well for his half-century, was a setback for India. Krunal Pandya's wicket nearly established Sri Lanka's victory. But a spectacular partnership between Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar ruined all expectations of the hosts, even driving them out of the series win possibility. Pursuing 276 runs, Team India were at 160/6 at one phase with Krunal Pandya and Deepak Chahar in the middle. Regardless of being down, the Indian cricketers didn't lose conviction and battled till the finish to grab a victory from the jaws of a rout. Deepak Chahar (69* off 82 balls) delivered a batting masterclass as Team India returned splendidly to win the second ODI by three wickets. He surprised the cricket fraternity to take a scrumptious win for his side.

Cricket: Team India seal the ODI series as Deepak Chahar shines with the bat

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in an astonishing all-around execution and the Milwaukee Bucks won their first NBA title since 1971 by crushing the Phoenix Suns 105-98.

The Bucks won the best-of-seven NBA Finals by four games to two, turning out to be just the fifth team to guarantee the crown subsequent to dropping the initial two contests.

Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes the seventh player in finals history with a 50-point game, added 14 rebounds and five obstructed shots as the Bucks went an NBA-best 10-1 at home at the end of the season games to end their 50-year title drought.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-sports-start-with-a-softball-game-japan-routs-australia-8-1-399363" hreflang="en">Tokyo Olympics sports start with a softball game, Japan routs Australia 8-1</a>

"I want to thank Milwaukee for believing in me. I want to thank my teammates for playing hard with me. I'm thankful I was able to get it done," Giannis Antetokounmpo said.

NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo had been sketchy for the opener with a sprained knee. However, the 26-year-old coordinated with Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the solitary players to take the NBA Finals MVP and NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in the same season.

"He's a special human being. I've learned so much from him. He's a special leader. These players are champions every day. They've embraced getting better every day," said Mike Budenholzer.

An extended Deer District party zone outside the sold-out 20,000-seat field invited 65,000 people watching on video screens and they celebrated together.

"I'm happy I was able to do it with this team for Milwaukee and Coach Bud says we have to do it again," said Antetokounmpo.

The Suns were thwarted in their bid for the first crown in their 53-year history. Chris Paul, playing in the first NBA Finals of his 16-year at age 36, drove the Suns with 26 points.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in an astonishing all-around execution and the Milwaukee Bucks won their first NBA title since 1971 by crushing the Phoenix Suns 105-98.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in an astonishing all-around execution and the Milwaukee Bucks won their first NBA title since 1971 by crushing the Phoenix Suns 105-98. The Bucks won the best-of-seven NBA Finals by four games to two, turning out to be just the fifth team to guarantee the crown subsequent to dropping the initial two contests. Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes the seventh player in finals history with a 50-point game, added 14 rebounds and five obstructed shots as the Bucks went an NBA-best 10-1 at home at the end of the season games to end their 50-year title drought. ALSO READ: Tokyo Olympics sports start with a softball game, Japan routs Australia 8-1 "I want to thank Milwaukee for believing in me. I want to thank my teammates for playing hard with me. I'm thankful I was able to get it done," Giannis Antetokounmpo said. NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo had been sketchy for the opener with a sprained knee. However, the 26-year-old coordinated with Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the solitary players to take the NBA Finals MVP and NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in the same season. "He's a special human being. I've learned so much from him. He's a special leader. These players are champions every day. They've embraced getting better every day," said Mike Budenholzer. An extended Deer District party zone outside the sold-out 20,000-seat field invited 65,000 people watching on video screens and they celebrated together. "I'm happy I was able to do it with this team for Milwaukee and Coach Bud says we have to do it again," said Antetokounmpo. The Suns were thwarted in their bid for the first crown in their 53-year history. Chris Paul, playing in the first NBA Finals of his 16-year at age 36, drove the Suns with 26 points.

NBA Finals: Giannis Antetokounmpo's 50 power Milwaukee Bucks to end 50-year title drought

Who will be the wicket keeper for Indian cricket team, now that Rishabh Pant has tested positive for Covid and reserve glove man Wriddhiman Saha is in self-isolation?

That's the question troubling Virat Kohli and Co ahead of India’s warm-up match against County XI from on July 20 in England.

Dinesh Karthik, who is in England as a commentator, is happy to help.

He hinted as much in a subtle tweet, with a picture of his cricketing kit and a hashtag, #justsaying.

The Tamil Nadu-based player is the wicket keeper of IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders and the kit bag in the picture sports the KKR logo.

The tweet has since gone viral.

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😋 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/justsaying?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#justsaying</a> <a href="https://t.co/zX3ValErDc">pic.twitter.com/zX3ValErDc</a>
— DK (@DineshKarthik) <a href="https://twitter.com/DineshKarthik/status/1415730258523959296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

While he plays for Tamil Nadu and KKR in the IPL, Karthik is not in the national team for the past two years.&nbsp;

His last game for India was the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup against New Zealand before being dropped from ODI and T20I squads.&nbsp;

He has been in England since June in his new avatar as commentator.

Pant tested positive for Covid and Saha is on a 10-day isolation after coming into contact with an infected staff member.

&nbsp;

Who will be the wicket keeper for Indian cricket team, now that Rishabh Pant has tested positive for Covid and reserve glove man Wriddhiman Saha is in self-isolation?

Who will be the wicket keeper for Indian cricket team, now that Rishabh Pant has tested positive for Covid and reserve glove man Wriddhiman Saha is in self-isolation? That's the question troubling Virat Kohli and Co ahead of India’s warm-up match against County XI from on July 20 in England. Dinesh Karthik, who is in England as a commentator, is happy to help. He hinted as much in a subtle tweet, with a picture of his cricketing kit and a hashtag, #justsaying. The Tamil Nadu-based player is the wicket keeper of IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders and the kit bag in the picture sports the KKR logo. The tweet has since gone viral. 😋 #justsaying pic.twitter.com/zX3ValErDc — DK (@DineshKarthik) July 15, 2021 × While he plays for Tamil Nadu and KKR in the IPL, Karthik is not in the national team for the past two years. His last game for India was the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup against New Zealand before being dropped from ODI and T20I squads. He has been in England since June in his new avatar as commentator. Pant tested positive for Covid and Saha is on a 10-day isolation after coming into contact with an infected staff member.

Cricket: Pant has Covid, Saha isolated, who will be India's wicket keeper? Dinesh Karthik is happy to help

West Indies batsman Evin Lewis blasted 79 runs off 34 balls as the Twenty20 world champions defeated Australia by 16 runs in the fifth game in St Lucia on Friday to win the series 4-1 and send out a warning to rivals ahead of this year`s World Cup. 
 
Chasing 200 to win, Australia made a solid start despite losing Josh Philippe in the first over as skipper Aaron Finch (34) and Mitchell Marsh (30) took charge, but the visitors lost their way after the duo departed to finish at 183-9 in 20 overs. 
 
West Indies fast bowlers Sheldon Cottrell (3-28) and Andre Russell (3-43) ensured that Australia`s batsmen could not build on their starts as the hosts produced yet another dominating display at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium. 
 
Earlier, the West Indies chose to bat first after winning the toss and rode on opener Lewis` effort which included nine sixes and four boundaries to post a challenging total although the hosts were poised for an even bigger score at one point. 
 
"It`s always good to contribute to a win. I`ve been working extremely hard from 2017 to now," Lewis said, before looking ahead to the visit of Pakistan this month. 
 
"This series means a lot to me, when you score runs against these teams you feel very good. It`s good for us, we have a lot of confidence going into Pakistan, but we want to keep playing smart cricket." 
 
Having reached 169-4 in 15 overs after handy contributions by Chris Gayle (21) and Lendl Simmons (21), the West Indies were restricted by some tight bowling by Australia`s Andrew Tye and Adam Zampa in the final five overs. 
 
Andre Russell and Fabian Allen departed without troubling the scorers too much, before stand-in skipper Nicholas Pooran (31) was dismissed in the deep while trying to pull Tye and Darren Bravo became the pace bowler`s third victim. 
 
The teams will now face each other in three one-day internationals starting July 20.

West Indies batsman Evin Lewis blasted 79 runs off 34 balls as the Twenty20 world champions defeated Australia by 16 runs in the fifth game in St Lucia on Friday to win the series 4-1 and send out a warning to rivals ahead of this year`s World Cup.

West Indies batsman Evin Lewis blasted 79 runs off 34 balls as the Twenty20 world champions defeated Australia by 16 runs in the fifth game in St Lucia on Friday to win the series 4-1 and send out a warning to rivals ahead of this year`s World Cup. Chasing 200 to win, Australia made a solid start despite losing Josh Philippe in the first over as skipper Aaron Finch (34) and Mitchell Marsh (30) took charge, but the visitors lost their way after the duo departed to finish at 183-9 in 20 overs. West Indies fast bowlers Sheldon Cottrell (3-28) and Andre Russell (3-43) ensured that Australia`s batsmen could not build on their starts as the hosts produced yet another dominating display at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium. Earlier, the West Indies chose to bat first after winning the toss and rode on opener Lewis` effort which included nine sixes and four boundaries to post a challenging total although the hosts were poised for an even bigger score at one point. "It`s always good to contribute to a win. I`ve been working extremely hard from 2017 to now," Lewis said, before looking ahead to the visit of Pakistan this month. "This series means a lot to me, when you score runs against these teams you feel very good. It`s good for us, we have a lot of confidence going into Pakistan, but we want to keep playing smart cricket." Having reached 169-4 in 15 overs after handy contributions by Chris Gayle (21) and Lendl Simmons (21), the West Indies were restricted by some tight bowling by Australia`s Andrew Tye and Adam Zampa in the final five overs. Andre Russell and Fabian Allen departed without troubling the scorers too much, before stand-in skipper Nicholas Pooran (31) was dismissed in the deep while trying to pull Tye and Darren Bravo became the pace bowler`s third victim. The teams will now face each other in three one-day internationals starting July 20.

Cricket: West Indies beat Australia in final T20 for 4-1 series win

Liam Livingstone smashed the fastest Twenty20 century by an Englishman in just 42 balls against Pakistan but it was in vain as England lost a white ball match for the first time this summer, falling short by 31 runs in Trent Bridge on Friday.

England`s regulars returned from quarantine after a second-string squad swept the one-day international series 3-0, with Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow and Tom Curran back in the team and Eoin Morgan leading the side. 
 
Morgan won the toss and chose to bowl first but the move backfired as Pakistan capitalised on the short boundaries, smashing 20 fours and 12 sixes to post 232-6 -- their highest total in T20 internationals. 
 
In response, England were bowled out for 201. 
 
Seamer Shaheen Afridi (3-30) struck early to dismiss Dawid Malan, diving forward on his follow-through to have the opener caught and bowled, before he had Bairstow caught off a top edge to leave England two down in the fourth over. 
 
Pakistan`s poor fielding was a major talking point in the final ODI but they turned up on the night, taking difficult catches in the deep and even inflicting a run out with a direct hit. 
 
Moeen Ali fell when Haris Rauf took a bizarre catch in the deep, holding on to the ball even as he jumped into Sohaib Maqsood`s arms as his team mate tried to avoid a collision, while Jason Roy (32) failed to make good on a bright start. 
 
Livingstone hit a barrage of sixes to initially bring up England`s fastest T20 fifty in just 17 balls but kept going to reach his maiden T20 century with a six. 
But as wickets fell at the other end, the pressure was on Livingstone and he was caught the very next ball on the boundary on 103 as the asking rate crept above 14 per over. 
 
Pakistan's flying start

Earlier, Pakistan`s openers got the tourists off to a flying start with 49 runs in the power play before increasing that run rate as skipper Babar Azam brought up their 100 in the 12th over with a six. 
 
Mohammad Rizwan hit 63 off 41 balls in a 150-run opening stand before he was flummoxed by a slow bouncer from Lewis Gregory, edging it to Bairstow. 
 
Azam picked up where he left off after his knock of 158 in the third ODI, hitting 85 of 49 balls before he was caught behind off David Willey. 
 
Despite having two new batsmen at the crease in the death overs, Fakhar Zaman (26 off 8) and Mohammad Hafeez (24 off 10) constructed a 46-run partnership off just 16 deliveries to guide Pakistan to their record total.

Liam Livingstone smashed the fastest Twenty20 century by an Englishman in just 42 balls against Pakistan but it was in vain as England lost a white ball match for the first time this summer, falling short by 31 runs in Trent Bridge on Friday.

Liam Livingstone smashed the fastest Twenty20 century by an Englishman in just 42 balls against Pakistan but it was in vain as England lost a white ball match for the first time this summer, falling short by 31 runs in Trent Bridge on Friday. England`s regulars returned from quarantine after a second-string squad swept the one-day international series 3-0, with Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow and Tom Curran back in the team and Eoin Morgan leading the side. Morgan won the toss and chose to bowl first but the move backfired as Pakistan capitalised on the short boundaries, smashing 20 fours and 12 sixes to post 232-6 -- their highest total in T20 internationals. In response, England were bowled out for 201. Seamer Shaheen Afridi (3-30) struck early to dismiss Dawid Malan, diving forward on his follow-through to have the opener caught and bowled, before he had Bairstow caught off a top edge to leave England two down in the fourth over. Pakistan`s poor fielding was a major talking point in the final ODI but they turned up on the night, taking difficult catches in the deep and even inflicting a run out with a direct hit. Moeen Ali fell when Haris Rauf took a bizarre catch in the deep, holding on to the ball even as he jumped into Sohaib Maqsood`s arms as his team mate tried to avoid a collision, while Jason Roy (32) failed to make good on a bright start. Livingstone hit a barrage of sixes to initially bring up England`s fastest T20 fifty in just 17 balls but kept going to reach his maiden T20 century with a six. But as wickets fell at the other end, the pressure was on Livingstone and he was caught the very next ball on the boundary on 103 as the asking rate crept above 14 per over. Pakistan's flying start Earlier, Pakistan`s openers got the tourists off to a flying start with 49 runs in the power play before increasing that run rate as skipper Babar Azam brought up their 100 in the 12th over with a six. Mohammad Rizwan hit 63 off 41 balls in a 150-run opening stand before he was flummoxed by a slow bouncer from Lewis Gregory, edging it to Bairstow. Azam picked up where he left off after his knock of 158 in the third ODI, hitting 85 of 49 balls before he was caught behind off David Willey. Despite having two new batsmen at the crease in the death overs, Fakhar Zaman (26 off 8) and Mohammad Hafeez (24 off 10) constructed a 46-run partnership off just 16 deliveries to guide Pakistan to their record total.

Cricket: Resurgent Pakistan beat England by 31 runs in T20 run fest

India’s young guns will clash with Sri Lanka in the first of three ODIs and three T20s on Sunday as captain Shikhar Dhawan is looking to become the fourth fastest to hit 6,000 runs. Dhawan is just 23 runs short of the feat.

Coach Rahul Dravid has a problem of choice, as there are eager contenders in the white-ball team for each spot in the batting line-up for India’s second-string team at the tournament in Sri Lanka.

Dravid has to decide who will be the opening batsman with Dhawan, and the main choice appears to be&nbsp;Prithvi Shaw.

Suryakumar Yadav is also making his ODI debut in the first match of the series which will be played at the Premadasa stadium, which will also host all the other matches from July 18 to 29.

While the ‘second team’ is a result of the Virat Kohli-led main squad touring England for the test series, this is also an opportunity for the youngsters to prove their mettle. It may also give pointers towards who will get selection in the upcoming&nbsp;T20 World Cup 2021.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is vice-captain of the team touring Sri Lanka, that has six new faces including Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav. Several of them are yet to play in all formats of cricket.

Here is how the team may look like:

Batting

Prithvi Shaw is most likely to open with skipper Dhawan. The right-hander was dropped from the Test team but has since batted impressively, scoring 827 runs in Vijay Hazare Trophy and 308 in the first phase of IPL 2021.

He has played three ODIs so far.

With some T20 cricket experience behind him, Surya Kumar Yadav is likely to make a batting debut on Sunday and is expected to come in the one down position.

He didn’t play in the ODIs against England though he was part of the team.

Manish Pandey is likely to bat at fourth position.

Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are the other main contenders for the batting line-up, with Samson having an edge for the ODI debut.

Hardik Pandya, who is in the national team since 2016, and brother Krunal Pandya will be in the playing XI.

Bowling

Pacer and vice-captain Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead India’s bowling attack.

Other likely pace bowlers in the squad are Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini and Chetan Sakariya.

Four of the bowlers in the team are spinners: Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy. Among them, Chahal and Chahar might bowl on Sunday.

Possible Playing XI

Shikhar Dhawan (Captain)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Vice-Captain)

Prithvi Shaw

Suryakumar Yadav

Manish Pandey

Hardik Pandya

Krunal Pandya

Sanju Samson

Deepak Chahar

Navdeep Saini or Rahul Chahar

Yuzvendra Chahal

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal are likely to sit it out on Sunday.

India’s young guns will clash with Sri Lanka in the first of three ODIs and three T20s on Sunday as captain Shikhar Dhawan is looking to become the fourth fastest to hit 6,000 runs.

India’s young guns will clash with Sri Lanka in the first of three ODIs and three T20s on Sunday as captain Shikhar Dhawan is looking to become the fourth fastest to hit 6,000 runs. Dhawan is just 23 runs short of the feat. Coach Rahul Dravid has a problem of choice, as there are eager contenders in the white-ball team for each spot in the batting line-up for India’s second-string team at the tournament in Sri Lanka. Dravid has to decide who will be the opening batsman with Dhawan, and the main choice appears to be Prithvi Shaw. Suryakumar Yadav is also making his ODI debut in the first match of the series which will be played at the Premadasa stadium, which will also host all the other matches from July 18 to 29. While the ‘second team’ is a result of the Virat Kohli-led main squad touring England for the test series, this is also an opportunity for the youngsters to prove their mettle. It may also give pointers towards who will get selection in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is vice-captain of the team touring Sri Lanka, that has six new faces including Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav. Several of them are yet to play in all formats of cricket. Here is how the team may look like: Batting Prithvi Shaw is most likely to open with skipper Dhawan. The right-hander was dropped from the Test team but has since batted impressively, scoring 827 runs in Vijay Hazare Trophy and 308 in the first phase of IPL 2021. He has played three ODIs so far. With some T20 cricket experience behind him, Surya Kumar Yadav is likely to make a batting debut on Sunday and is expected to come in the one down position. He didn’t play in the ODIs against England though he was part of the team. Manish Pandey is likely to bat at fourth position. Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are the other main contenders for the batting line-up, with Samson having an edge for the ODI debut. Hardik Pandya, who is in the national team since 2016, and brother Krunal Pandya will be in the playing XI. Bowling Pacer and vice-captain Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead India’s bowling attack. Other likely pace bowlers in the squad are Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini and Chetan Sakariya. Four of the bowlers in the team are spinners: Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy. Among them, Chahal and Chahar might bowl on Sunday. Possible Playing XI Shikhar Dhawan (Captain) Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Vice-Captain) Prithvi Shaw Suryakumar Yadav Manish Pandey Hardik Pandya Krunal Pandya Sanju Samson Deepak Chahar Navdeep Saini or Rahul Chahar Yuzvendra Chahal Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal are likely to sit it out on Sunday.

Cricket: India vs Sri Lanka ODI match preview - Prithvi Shaw likely to open with Shikhar Dhawan, who looks to be 4th fastest to hit 6,000

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Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Vinod Janardhanan

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