Sports

World Sports March 16 2024 As it Happened: Lakshya Sen Loses In All England Open SFs

Star Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen lost to Jonatan Christie in the semi-finals of the All England Open Badminton Championships. In the FA Cup quarter-finals, Manchester City are in action against Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers were pusted by Coventry City. Here's what transpired in the world of sports for Saturday, March 16, 2024

Man City players celebrate a goal against Newcastle United in FA Cup QF. X/EmiratesFACup

World Sports, Saturday, March 16, 2024

In today's sporting action, the top news was Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen losing in the semi-final of the All England Open Badminton Championships 2024 against Indonesia's Jonatan Christie. In football, Manchester City were in action against Newcastle United whereas Coventry City shocked Wolves in their FA Cup quarter-final tie. Get all the highlights and updates from the world of sports for Saturday, March 16, 2024, here. (Cricket News | Football News)

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All England: How Lakshya Sen Entered SFs

After enduring a lean patch last year, Lakshya Sen is slowly clawing his way back in 2024 and is now the lone Indian standing at the All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham.

Sen notched up a typically gritty victory last night, prevailing over Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in a tense, three-game quarter-final encounter. The 22-year-old from Almora narrowly lost the first game 20-22, but fought back superbly to take the next two 21-16, 21-19 in 71 minutes.

He doesn't have much time to rest, however, as his last-four clash is lined up in the evening against familiar rival, Indonesia's Jonatan Christie.

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Carlsen's Freestyle Chess Tour In India This Year

Chess titan Magnus Carlsen has decided to convert the Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge into a tour, and has picked India as its first stop. The event will be held in India in November 2024 with a prize money of 500,000 USD (around INR 4 crore), Carlsen and German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner have jointly announced.

“Carlsen, the world’s greatest chess player, and the German entrepreneur Buettner, who initiated and hosted the event, have invited the world’s top chess players to become members of their newly formed, exclusive Freestyle Chess Players Club (FCPC). At the same time, Carlsen and Buettner confirmed the launch of a worldwide Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, a series of five tournaments per year on five continents,” their joint statement read.

Serie A Update

Giovanni Fabbian scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time for Bologna to squeeze past Empoli 1-0 in Serie A, Associated Press reported. Visiting Bologna were on top throughout but could not make their pressure count until the dying seconds when substitute Fabbian followed up to convert after Empoli goalkeeper Elia Caprile failed to hold a fierce shot from Riccardo Calafiori. The result was a return to winning ways for Bologna, who lost to league leaders Inter Milan last week after a run of six consecutive wins.

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Indian Wells Open: Iga Swiatek Enters Final

The world's top-ranked women's singles player Iga Swiatek comprehensively trounced Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-1 to reach the final of the Indian Wells Masters (also known as BNP Paribas Open). Swiatek improved to a 19-2 record this year with the win.

She'll face the winner of the ongoing semi-final between third-seeded Coco Gauff and ninth seed Maria Sakkari in the title clash. Swiatek has beaten Gauff in nine of their 10 career meetings and taken three out of five meetings against Sakkari.

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