Both the men’s and women’s teams from the Maldives contigent have secured wins at the recent Asian Carrom Championship’s team events.

Held at the Social Center, Male’ City, the men’s team secured a silver medal win while the women’s team secured a bronze medal.

This was also the first time men’s team have played in a finals of an international sports tournament in the last 21 years.

Maldives men’s team faced a 3-0 defeat against India.

The women’s team managed to advance until the semi-finals, and was knocked out with a 3-0 defeat against India.

Besides the team event, the Maldives contingent secured a men’s doubles win as well. At the doubles event, Ismail Azmeen and Hassan Nazim secured silver medal wins.

Source(s): sun.mv

By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, April 30 (Xinhua) — Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho emphasized the importance of focusing solely on the present ahead of their critical UEFA Champions League semifinal against PSG. The 24-year-old English winger urged his team to put past achievements behind them and concentrate exclusively on the upcoming match this Wednesday.

“The group stage is a thing of the past. We shouldn’t think and talk about the final either. It’s this game now, nothing else,” Sancho said.

While fans are nostalgic about a potential repeat of the 2013 “German final” against Bayern Munich, Dortmund is keen to move past a recent disappointing 4-1 league defeat to Leipzig. The loss has added an extra layer of pressure on the team as they prepare for the semifinal.

“The venue and that both again have reached the last four rounds is triggering memories. It’s good for German football and it is a curious fact,” Neuer said.

The final in 2024 is set to take place at Wembley, the same venue as in 2013, adding to the sense of deja vu. However, Sancho, currently on loan from Manchester United, is battling fitness issues as he struggles to return to his best form.

“We all know about his skills and options. But at present, he has to deal with Ups and Downs. We are trying to help him and give him time, but to perform every three days on the highest level remains a challenge,” BVB coach Edin Terzic said.

Terzic added Sancho’s training performance is encouraging, and “we are convinced he is reaching his top level shortly.”

Despite his struggles, Sancho recently became the first Englishman to score 40 goals in the German Bundesliga, surpassing Tony Woodcock’s record of 39.

The striker called his 1-0 lead a “bitter-sweet moment” as Leipzig later turned the game in its favor.

The stage of the Champions League might deliver the opportunity to set a mark for Sancho as his harvest has been far from satisfying so far.

Two goals and two assists in 15 competitive games don’t seem to meet the expectations of the club and the player.

Sancho’s future in Dortmund’s shirt remains uncertain. Some reports speak of United’s intention to allow his stay with the Black and Yellows, while other media talk about a possible return in case the Red Devils trigger the departure of current under-fire coach Erik Ten Hag.

For now, Sancho remains focused on the immediate task against PSG. “We need to perform perfectly over 90 minutes on Wednesday, so we have a week later,” he asserted, viewing the Champions League as a potential turning point to overcome recent challenges and possibly reignite discussions of a historic final at Wembley.

Source(s): Xinhua

LONDON, April 28 (Xinhua) — Arsenal and Manchester City solidified their positions as the primary contenders for the Premier League title this weekend, with each securing crucial victories, while Liverpool’s title hopes diminished after dropping points.

Arsenal survived a late comeback from Tottenham to win 3-2 away to its neighbor after it had stormed into a 3-0 first half lead.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg headed into his own net after 15 minutes and Tottenham then had a goal ruled out by VAR and two penalty appeals turned down before Bukayo Saka finished off a move inspired by Kai Havertz after 27 minutes.

Havertz then headed in a corner to put Arsenal 3-0 up at the break, but it had to survive a Spurs fightback after Cristian Romero pulled a goal back after a dreadful clearance from David Raya.

Son Heung-Min scored a penalty after Declan Rice caught Ben Davies three minutes from time, but Arsenal held firm for the win.

That put the pressure on Manchester City for its visit to Nottingham Forest, but it kept its nerve to win a 32nd-minute header from Josko Gvardiol before Erling Haaland confirmed his return from injury with City’s second goal 19 minutes from time.

Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes slipped away with a 2-2 draw away to West Ham on Saturday.

Jarrod Bowen nodded West Ham ahead two minutes before halftime, Andy Robertson leveled with a snapshot in the 47th minute and Liverpool went ahead with 25 minutes left to play after Cody Gakpo’s shot went in after several deflections.

Poor Liverpool defending allowed Michail Antonio to head in a 77th-minute equalizer, and the game ended after a pitch-side argument between striker Mohamed Salah and coach Jurgen Klopp as Salah was preparing to come on as a late substitute.

Aston Villa surrendered a 2-0 lead at home to Chelsea after Marc Cucurella deflected a shot into his own net and Morgan Rogers doubled its lead with a low shot shortly before halftime.

Chelsea was a different side after the break, with Noni Madueke giving it a lifeline, before Conor Gallagher’s 81st minute screamer, and only a VAR decision to rule Axel Disasi’s injury time effort robbed it of a win.

Tottenham’s defeat means Villa is fourth with a seven-point lead over its nearest rivals, who has two games in hand.

Manchester United remains sixth but dropped points in a 1-1 draw at home to Burnley, who keep its survival hopes intact after Zeki Amdouni’s 87th-minute penalty committed by the otherwise impressive Andre Onana canceled out Antony’s 79th-minute opener for United.

Newcastle United is a point behind United after confirming Sheffield United’s return to the Championship with a 5-1 thrashing.

Anel Ahmedhodzic gave Sheffield a fifth-minute lead before Newcastle ran riot.

Alexander Isak equalized in the 26th minute and three goals in 15 second half minutes from Bruno Guimaraes, Isak and an own goal make it 4-1 before Callum Wilson scored Newcastle’s fifth in the 72nd minute.

Hwang Hee-Chan and Toti Gomes gave Wolverhampton a 2-1 win at home to Luton, for whom Carlton Morris scored an 80th-minute consolation goal.

Both Everton and Brentford are safe from relegation after Idrissa Gueye’s 60th-minute goal gave Everton a 1-0 win at home to Brentford, although Nottingham Forest’s defeat means Brentford is also safe.

Bournemouth moved into the top half of the table on Sunday with a 3-0 win at home to Brighton thanks to goals from Marcos Senesi, Enes Unal and Justin Kluivert which have given the club a new top-flight record total of 48 points.

Saturday also saw Fulham and Crystal Palace drew 1-1 in a game between two sides with nothing to play for other than South London pride.

Source(s): Xinhua