Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 20 June 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We begin with rugby: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth says he is fully fit and eager to play. The 33-year-old missed three months of the United Rugby Championship due to a concussion sustained in December, and then strained his hamstring during a Springbok alignment camp in March. A training injury also ruled him out of the Sharks’ URC semifinal against the Bulls. Etzebeth says despite the injuries, his motivation is being able to put on the Bok jersey one more time:

# Cricket: The new World Test Championship cycle is underway after South Africa’s brilliant victory over Australia at Lord’s last weekend, starting with the first of five Tests between England and India at Headingley today. For India, it’s the start of a new era without heavyweights Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma while trying to win a series in England for the first time in 18 years. Shubman Gill is the visitors’ new captain. The next four Tests will be played at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and the Oval.

# Tennis: World number one and defending champion, Jannik Sinner, has been knocked out of the Halle Open in Germany. The Italian was stunned by 45th-ranked Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in his worst defeat by ranking since August 2023. German world number three Alexander Zverev defeated Italian Lorenzo Sonego to reach the quarterfinals for the sixth time. Russian Andrey Rublev lost to Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry, while another Russian, Karen Khachanov, ousted Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime.

# Motorsport: Williams’ Formula One team principal, James Vowles, has signed a new long-term contract. The 45-year-old Brit joined the team in 2023 from Mercedes, where he headed up race strategy. Vowles has overseen the team’s leap forward in competitiveness. Williams is currently fifth in the constructors’ championship with 55 points after ten races, more points than in the previous three seasons combined. Chairperson Matthew Savage says Vowles has brought experience and strategic leadership to the task of restoring the team to the top of the podium.

# And finally: Kirsty Coventry, who takes over as president of the International Olympic Committee on Monday, says she regards collaboration with stakeholders as the most important issue in her tenure. The former Olympic swimming champion from Zimbabwe was elected in March to succeed Thomas Bach of Germany. The 41-year-old becomes the IOC’s first female leader. Coventry says it’s important to be able to listen to everyone’s opinions, but realises she would have to take decisions and the responsibility that comes with the role.

Stay tuned for more news………….