Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff said they drew inspiration from American figure skater Alysa Liu’s dramatic return from burnout to Olympic gold, a comeback all the more remarkable considering how abruptly her career had seemed to end.
Liu stunned the world by retiring aged 16 after the Beijing Games in 2022 citing burnout, but returned and put on a dazzling display at the Milano Cortina Games last month to snap a 20-year Olympic medal drought for Americans in the women’s event.
“I think overall what happened in figure skating was super interesting, from a psychological point of view,” Swiatek told reporters ahead of the Indian Wells tournament on Tuesday.
“I saw Liu winning when actually she had some troubles, like before she was burned out and she had to stop, and now she seems like everything she does, she does to have fun and to really show her amazing skills in a way that makes her happy.
“I haven’t spoken to her … but it’s really inspiring. I’ll remember it for a long time.”
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Alysa Liu won gold in figure skating at the Winter Olympics after suffering burnout as a teenager (Getty Images)
Liu returned to the ice in 2024 with more creative control, taking charge of her music choices, programmes and costumes, and went on to win the world title in Boston last year.
Gauff added that although she had never experienced burnout, she could understand the pressure Liu was under having burst onto the scene herself as a 15-year-old qualifier at the 2019 Wimbledon Championships.
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Coco Gauff said she can relate to Alysa Liu’s feelings having also burst onto the scene as a teenage sports star (AP)
“I think her whole story was super inspiring and I could highly relate as someone who was very young put into a sport,” Gauff said.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve faced burnout, but there are times you’re mentally just tired of it and you feel like you’re doing stuff and you don’t know why.
“So I definitely could relate to her whole story. I was happy to see her be that voice saying the unsaid things that athletes think but are maybe scared to say.”
The Miami (Ohio) RedHawks’ men’s basketball team continued their perfect start to the season on Tuesday night.
The No. 19 RedHawks defeated the Toledo Rockets, 74-72, improving to 30-0 and clinching at least a share of the Mid-American Conference regular-season title. Miami is the only undefeated team in Division I men’s basketball and has the best start and longest win streak in conference history.
Miami (OH) guard Peter Suder, center, and the team celebrate the regular-season trophy at the conclusion of an NCAA college basketball game against Toledo, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Oxford, Ohio.(AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar)
The team celebrated with the regular-season trophy as confetti fell onto the court in the arena.
“That’s the beauty of basketball: When you’re having fun with the right group of guys, you can become unbeatable,” Miami star Peter Suder told reporters, via the school’s website.
“It’s a surreal moment, obviously,” he added as he reflected on his family and the support he’s received through his collegiate career. “They’ve been with me through it all, and I’m just super-happy they were there tonight and soaked in the moment as well.”
Miami (OH) guard Luke Skaljac reacts after a made 3-point basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Toledo, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Oxford, Ohio. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar)
Suder had 19 points in the win and is averaging 14.8 points per game this season.
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The RedHawks needed to dig deep to hang on against Toledo.
The Rockets cut the deficit to one on four different occasions. Toledo’s Austin Parks had a good opportunity to put the team ahead, but Miami’s Eian Elmer blocked him at the rim. Toledo trailed by two points and had the ball with 13 seconds left but a costly turnover sealed the win for Miami.
Miami completed its first season sweep of Toledo since the 1996-97 season and are now on a three-game winning streak against the Rockets after losing 22 straight from 2012-24.
Miami (OH) guard Peter Suder, center, raises the regular-season trophy with teammates at the conclusion of an NCAA college basketball game against Toledo, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Oxford, Ohio. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar)
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is expected to make a decision in the next 48 hours on the possible postponement of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The move comes after Morocco, the host nation, formally requested a delay to the tournament. Sources say CAF has been reviewing the request for several weeks, holding multiple high-level meetings to consider the impact of any change to the schedule.
CAF is treating the matter urgently, given the tournament’s importance in the women’s football calendar. The upcoming announcement is expected to confirm the timeline and guide participating teams and organisers.
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An official statement from CAF is due within the next two days.
Man Utd youngster Jack Fletcher has been handed a six-game ban by the FA after he admitted using a homophobic insult during an EFL Trophy game.
Jack Fletcher has apologised for using a homophobic insult during an EFL Trophy fixture against Barnsley earlier this season after being handed a six-game suspension by the Football Association.
The son of former Manchester United midfielder and current Under-18s head coach Darren was sent off during the game against the League One outfit’s first team in October. He used the offensive term after becoming embroiled in a running battle with an older opponent, who made comments to him about his father and twin brother, Tyler.
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During the game, Fletcher snapped and asked why his opponent was so aware of his background, using a homophobic insult as part of the question.
After being charged by the FA, Fletcher explained he did not intend for the insult to be homophobic, something the governing body and the opponent involved accepted to be the case.
Referee Will Davis was one yard away from Fletcher when he heard the player use the offensive term. While he did not dispute it, Fletcher feels he was provoked during the game, including two off-the-ball incidents and having his Achilles stamped on.
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Fletcher regrets the lapse in character and insists it doesn’t represent his character or beliefs, and said it was uttered in an unguarded moment of anger. He said he understood his choice of words was unacceptable and apologised, accepting the FA charge at the earliest opportunity.
The youngster, who has made three appearances for the first team this season and is the son of Under-18s boss Darren, was banned for two games for the red card and has been handed a four-game ban after accepting an aggravated breach of FA rule E3.1. He has served three of those four games, with only non-first-team competitive fixtures counting.
Fletcher’s ban means he has missed the last three Premier League 2 games, and his suspension is due to finish with the Friday night fixture against Birmingham City in that competition.
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Fletcher, who was also fined £1,500 and ordered to attend FA education, said: “I am truly sorry for the offensive word that I used in the heat of the moment.
“Despite the fact that I had no intention to use the term as a homophobic insult, I completely understand that such language is unacceptable and immediately apologised after the game. I want to be clear that this momentary lapse of character absolutely does not reflect my beliefs or values.”
United have taken steps to enhance players’ understanding of discriminatory language and its harmful effects.
Sara Didar, a striker for the Iranian women’s football team, fought back tears as she shared her teammates’ profound concerns for their families and loved ones back home.
Competing in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup, the squad grapples with escalating conflict in Iran, casting a long shadow over their sporting ambitions.
“Obviously we’re all concerned and we’re sad at what has happened to Iran and our families in Iran,” Didar said, her comments translated into English, during a press conference on Wednesday, ahead of their Group A clash against Australia.
She added, with a poignant hope, “I really hope for our country to have good news ahead. And I hope that my country will be strongly alive.”
The 21-year-old had been part of the squad observing a moment of silence as the Iranian anthem played before their opening defeat to South Korea on Monday.
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The team and management had arrived in Australia prior to the recent strikes by the US and Israel, intensifying the broader conflict.
Sara Didar spoke at a press conference on Wednesday (via REUTERS)
Initially, during their first official news conference of the tournament on Sunday, head coach Marziyeh Jafari and the players refrained from commenting on the war or the death of the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
However, on Wednesday, despite an Asian Football Confederation moderator requesting reporters stick to football questions, both Didar and Jafari openly voiced their anxieties.
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“Obviously we have so much concern regarding the health of our families and our loved ones and all other Iranian people inside our country, with whom we are fully disconnected,” Jafari explained, highlighting limited contact due to blackouts in Iran.
She affirmed the team’s professional commitment: “But, here, we are coming to play football professionally and we will do our best to concentrate on our football and match ahead.”
Amidst these profound personal struggles, the team has found solace in the support of Iranian fans.
At Monday’s game, a pocket of supporters waved the national colours of red, green and white, alongside some pre-Islamic revolution flags, chanting their encouragement.
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Both Jafari and Didar expressed their gratitude for this backing from Iranian-Australians.
“We feel very good that we see many Iranians supporting us, it really encourages us and we really appreciate it,” Didar said. “I know the stadium will be full tomorrow, and hope that we have a great atmosphere.”
Australia’s coach, Joe Montemurro, urged his team and supporters to extend compassion to the Iranian squad.
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Joe Montemurro called for fans to show compassion to the Iranian squad (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Wire)
“We want to give them the best tournament possible, giving them the experience of a lifetime,” Montemurro stated.
“For us, it’s about just showing our human compassion, our respect and show them how beautiful we are as a country, and how beautiful we are as Australians.”
Thursday’s match is anticipated to draw a capacity crowd at Gold Coast Stadium, marking only the second encounter between the two women’s national teams, with Australia having won the previous fixture in Perth in 2023.
Australia, the 2010 Asian Cup champions and semi-finalists at the 2023 World Cup they co-hosted, began their campaign with a 1-0 victory over the Philippines and could secure a quarter-final spot with a win against Iran.
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For the Iranian side, their presence in Australia carries the significant ambition of qualifying for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, a goal that necessitates a top-eight finish in the current Asian Cup.
France’s women’s team began the World Cup 2027 qualifying campaign with a win over Ireland (2-1). Substitute Melvine Malard scored a brace.
FC Barcelona almost pulled off another comeback against Atlético Madrid. Strasbourg beat Reims in the French Cup. In the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs received several individual awards.
Team India will face England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, March 5 in the second semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2026. This is third consecutive edition in which the teams are clashing in the semifinal. England beat India by 10 wickets in 2022 in Adelaide, while the Men in Blue thumped the Englishmen by 68 runs in the 2024 edition in Guyana.
India booked their place in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup 2026 by getting the better of the West Indies in their last Super 8 match in Kolkata. Chasing a target of 196, they got home in 19.2 overs. As for England, they won all their three Super 8 games, registering victories over Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand.
While defending champions India have the home advantage heading into the second semifinal in Mumbai, we analyze three reasons why England have the upper hand over the Men in Blue in the knockout clash.
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#1 England have better depth in spin department
This might sound a bit odd, but England do seem to have better depth in the spin department as compared to India. In Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson, England have two spinners who have not only been among the wickets, but have been economical as well. Rashid has 11 wickets at an economy rate of 7.83, while Dawson has 10 scalps at an economy rate of 7.30.
In addition, England have also utilized Will Jacks very smartly. The all-rounder has chipped in with seven wickets, although he has gone for a few runs. India have struggled against spin in the T20 World Cup. The English slow bowlers will definitely look to exploit the perceptible weakness in India’s batting line-up. Rashid, in particular, has plenty of experience when it comes to taking on the Men in Blue.
Looking at India’s spin department, Varun Chakaravarthy has claimed 12 wickets in seven games. However, he looked a lot more ineffective in the Super 8 round. He managed only one wicket each against South Africa and the West Indies and proved a big expensive as well. As for Axar Patel, the left-arm spinner has been economical, but has not picked up a lot of wickets – seven from five games.
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According to former captain Michael Vaughan, England have a better spin attack than India. Speaking on the Test Match Special podcast, he claimed that Dawson, Rashid and Jacks have been the best spin trio in the tournament.
#2 England’s batting has a slight edge over India on current form
Both India and England have had their issues in the batting department in the T20 World Cup 2026. England’s star batter Jos Buttler has managed only 62 runs in seven innings. For India, Abhishek Sharma has only scored 80 runs in six innings. The struggling duo will be keen to make an impact for their respective sides in the knockout clash. Having said that, England look slightly better placed in batting.
English skipper Harry Brook is in tremendous form, having smashed 228 runs at a strike rate of 161.70. Jacks has scored 191 runs at a strike rate of 176.85 and Bethell 175 runs at a strike rate of 128.67. The likes of Tom Banton and Phil Salt have also chipped in, though they have not been as consistent.
If we look at India’s batting performance in the T20 World Cup 2026, it would be fair to say that they haven’t been at their very best. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav has struggled for fluency if we take out the scintillating 84* against the USA. His strike rate is a concern heading into the big match against England. Ishan Kishan began the T20 World Cup in brilliant fashion, but has not been as convincing lately.
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Even in the Super 8 match against the West Indies, it was Sanju Samson who almost singlehandedly took the Men in Blue to victory with his 97* off 50. Most of the other batters failed to make an impact. India cannot afford to depend on just one or two batters in the semifinal against England.
#3 England are a much better fielding side than India
Fielding is one area where England definitely have a huge advantage over India. To say that the Men in Blue have been poor in the field in the T20 World Cup 2026 would be an understatement. India have dropped 13 catches in the tournament so far, the worst among all teams. In the Super 8 match against the West Indies, the Men in Blue dropped three catches, two of them being straightforward chances.
In contrast, England have been a much better fielding side. Their running between the wickets has also been very good. India will need to pull up their socks in the catching department in particular. Despite the number of concerns, the Men in Blue will go into Thursday’s semifinal as favorites. However, if they stumble in any of the above departments, expect England to pounce on the opportunity.
Pakistan opening batter Sahibzada Farhan has closed in on India’s star batter Abhishek Sharma’s No. 1 position in the ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings after the latest updates to the ICC rankings on Wednesday, according to the ICC website. Farhan became the first player to register two centuries in a single ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, reaching the milestone with a brilliant hundred against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in both teams’ last Super 8s match of the World Cup 2026. That performance lifted him one spot to second in the T20I batting rankings, where he also achieved a new career-best rating.
Abhishek Sharma leads the T20I batting rankings by 26 rating points over Sahibzada Farhan, who is second with 848 rating points, after the Pakistan opener surpassed Phil Salt and narrowed the gap to his Indian rival with an impressive tally of 383 runs at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
There has also been significant reshuffling in the rankings following the conclusion of the Super 8s stage. India’s Ishan Kishan (fourth with 783 rating points) and Tilak Varma (sixth with 749 rating points) each climbed one position to break into the top 10 T20I batters, while South Africa’s Dewald Brevis advanced a spot to secure eighth place.
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Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett surged six places to 11th overall after amassing 292 runs at the T20 World Cup. South African pair Ryan Rickelton (up two spots to 13th) and Aiden Markram (up four places to 16th) have also climbed the standings.
Similarly, in the T20I bowling rankings, India spinner Varun Chakravarthy now holds a slender 18-point advantage at the summit as the tournament moves into the knockout phase.
Although Varun Chakravarthy has claimed 12 wickets so far in the tournament and remains narrowly ahead in the T20I bowling rankings, Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed is closing in after climbing two spots to third overall.
Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah rose one place to seventh, and Arshdeep Singh jumped six positions to 13th. England seamer Liam Dawson moved nine spots to share 14th, while South Africa quick Lungi Ngidi moved up six places to 20th.
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In the T20I all-rounder rankings, Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza continues to lead the way. India’s Hardik Pandya is now his nearest rival after climbing one position to overtake Pakistan’s Saim Ayub and secure second spot.
Meanwhile, West Indies veteran Jason Holder was another notable riser among all-rounders, surging eight places to 11th following an impressive T20 World Cup campaign with both bat and ball.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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