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Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik said that the protesting wrestlers don’t have any problem with the WFI without the newly-elected Sanjay Singh. Spanish tennis wizard Rafael Nadal made his singles comeback at Brisbane International after a year-long injury layoff. Injury-hit Mali included uncapped Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Boubacar Traore and Lorient striker Sirine Doucoure in their squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations finals.
Wrestling
We don’t have any problem with WFI without Sanjay Singh: Sakshi Malik
Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik said that the protesting wrestlers don’t have any problem with the WFI without the newly-elected Sanjay Singh. Malik said, "We don't have any issues with the new federation except one man, Sanjay Singh. We don't have any issue if the new body comes back without Sanjay Singh. We do not have any issue with the ad-hoc committee as well. The government is like parents for us and I would request them to make wrestling safe for the upcoming wrestlers. You have seen how Sanjay Singh has been behaving. I don't want Sanjay Singh's interference in the federation.”
Tennis
Today is honestly an emotional and important day for me: Rafael Nadal after his Brisbane International singles comeback
Spanish tennis wizard Rafael Nadal made his singles comeback at Brisbane International after a year-long injury layoff. In his first singles match after his comeback, Nadal recorded a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Austrian former world No. 3 Dominic Thiem in the Brisbane International first round. After the round, he said, “Today is honestly an emotional and important day for me after probably one of the toughest years of my tennis career. I had the chance to come back after a year and play in front of an amazing crowd and play at a very positive level on the first day is something that makes us feel proud — my team and family who have been there every day in the last year.”
Novak Djokovic welcomes Rafael Nadal with special Instagram post
24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic welcomed Rafael Nadal back to the tennis court with a special Instagram post. The world number 1 posted a story on his Instagram story and wrote, “Welcome back.” He made the same kind of stories for four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu, both of whom are also returning after long lay-offs. Notably, the 22-time Grand Slam winner Nadal made a comeback to competitive tennis after almost 12 months due to an injury layoff.
Novak Djokovic speaks fluent Mandarin after beating China in United Cup
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic spoke fluent Mandarin after beating China in the United Cup in Perth, leaving his teammate in disbelief. Djokovic wished Happy New Year in Mandarin after a journalist asked him to comfort the Chinese people following Serbia's win over China. Djokovic not only wished Happy New Year but went on to speak fluently in Mandarin, leaving the entire press room in disbelief. The journalist lauded Djokovic's fluency in Mandarin while his teammate Olga Danilovic was surprised at the Serb’s fluency in a foreign language.
Hockey
Indian men’s hockey team to head to South Africa to prepare for Paris Olympics
The Indian men’s hockey team will travel to South Africa later this month to train for the upcoming season of the Olympic games. The senior men’s team will train in Cape Town for 15 days from January 14th onwards. There, the Men in Blue will also compete against the South African, French, and Netherlands teams during this period. Indian men’s coach Craig Fulton said, “I believe the players are returning fresh from a good break with their families for the holiday season. We begin the hockey season for the year with the South Africa Tour and from here on it will only get busier with regular games leading up to the Paris Olympics. Our core group is quite solid with experienced players and some of them named in this group will also be playing the FIH Hockey5s World Cup in Muscat, Oman.”
Football
Mali name two uncapped players in African Cup of Nations finals squad
Injury-hit Mali included uncapped Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Boubacar Traore and Lorient striker Sirine Doucoure in their squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations finals.
Mali Squad:
Goalkeepers: Aboubacar Doumbia (Afrique Football Elite), Djigui Diarra (Young Africans), Ismael Diawara (Malmo)
Defenders: Amadou Dante (Sturm Graz), Moussa Diarra (Toulouse), Mamadou Fofana (Amiens), Boubacar Kiki Kouyate (Montpellier), Sikou Niakate (Sporting Braga), Falaye Sacko (Montpellier), Hamari Traore (Stade Rennais)
Midfielders: Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur), Mohamed Camara (Monaco), Lassana Coulibaly (Salernitana), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly), Kamory Doumbia (Stade Brest), Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig), Diadie Samassekou (Hoffenheim), Adama ‘Noss’ Traore (Hull City), Boubacar Traore (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Forwards: Fousseni Diabate (Lausanne Sport), Nene Dorgeles (Salzburg), Sirine Doucoure (Lorient), Moussa Doumbia (Al Adala), Sekou Koita (Salzburg), Youssoufa Nikaite (Bani Yas), Lassine Sinayoko (AJ Auxerre), Ibrahima Sissoko (Saint Etienne).
I can continue to be here in 2027 and 2028: Carlo Ancelotti on staying at Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti spoke about how he wanted to remain at Real Madrid beyond 2026 after signing a two-year contract extension at last week. Speaking ahead of the game against Mallorca, Ancelotti said, "My contract was up on June 30. The club has decided to do it now because they're happy with our work. I don't know if it will be my last spell as a coach. I don't know what will happen once I finish here. I might still be here in 2026, depending on how successful I am. I'd like to be Madrid coach until 2026, and hopefully, I can continue to be here in 2027 and 2028 because I want to stay here."
I want the Asian Cup to be played in June: Takehiro Tomiyasu
Arsenal and Japan defender Takehiro Tomiyasu wants the Asian Cup to be scheduled in June like the European Championship ahead of Asia's continental championship in Qatar starting on February 12. "I want the Asian Cup to be played in June, the same as the Euros," Tomiyasu told the Evening Standard newspaper. "I don't know why we are playing in January - not only the Asian Cup but the African Cup of Nations as well. It's not good for the players. But it is what it is and I will really try to come back with the title."
Major football results:
EPL:
Liverpool 4 - 2 Newcastle
La Liga:
Getafe 0 - 2 Rayo Valecano
Real Sociedad 1 - 1 Deportivo Alaves
