Weekly digest: Of Federer's 100th title and Barca's double over Madrid

Relive all the major happenings of the last sporting week (February 25 to March 3) including Roger Federer winning his 100th ATP singles title and Barcelona beating Real Madrid twice in a week.

Roger Federer holds his trophy after winning the Dubai Tennis Championships.

CRICKET

The BCCI has been asked by ICC to bear tax liabilities to the tune of USD 21 million (Rs 150 crore) for conducting future global events like the 2021 World T20 and 2023 ODI World Cup in India. ( READ )

M. S. Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav choreographed a masterful run chase as India powered to a six wicket win over Australia in the first One-Day International in Hyderabad. ( READ )

M.S Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav put up 141 for the fifth wicket to steer India to a six wicket win against Australia on Saturday.

 

ICC refused to entertain a request from the BCCI to "isolate" nations supporting terrorism in reference to Pakistan without naming the country. ( READ )

Cricket is set to feature at the Asian Games once again after having been included in the sports programme for the 2022 edition to be held in Hangzhou, China. ( READ )

Defiant centuries from Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah were in vain as Trent Boult's five-wicket haul gave New Zealand a crushing victory over Bangladesh in the first Test by an innings and 52 runs in Hamilton. ( READ )

Oshane Thomas and Chris Gayle played starring roles as West Indies levelled the one-day series against England with an emphatic seven-wicket win in St Lucia. ( READ )

Chris Gayle plays a shot en route to his century against England.

 

Chris Gayle said he is reconsidering his decision to retire after this year's World Cup after the West Indies' opener's record-breaking feats in the one-day series against England. ( READ )

South Africa quick Duanne Olivier has turned his back on international cricket after signing a Kolpak contract with County Championship side Yorkshire. ( READ )

FOOTBALL

Liverpool could not break down a stubborn Everton in the Merseyside derby and Jurgen Klopp's side was denied the chance to reclaim top spot in the Premier League. ( READ )

Real Madrid and Barcelona faced off in two El Clasicos (in the Copa del Rey and La Liga ) in a week and Barca won both.

Ivan Rakitic celebrates after scoring against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

 

Chelsea fined Kepa Arrizabalaga one week's wages for refusing to be substituted in the EFL Cup final defeat to Manchester City. ( READ ) He was also dropped to the bench for the Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur.  ( READ )

Hugo Lloris kept out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's stoppage-time penalty as Tottenham Hotspur rescued a 1-1 draw with Arsenal in a dramatic north London derby. ( READ )

Chennai City FC’s title hopes were put on hold when it was undone by Willis Plaza's brace as Churchill Brothers secured a 3-2 win. ( READ )

East Bengal claimed a 1-0 win over defending champion Minerva Punjab in its penultimate I-League clash to take the title race into the final day. ( READ )

East Bengal is now a single point behind I-League leader Chennai City FC. (FILE IMAGE)

 

Sanju scored a hat-trick as the Indian women’s team romped to a massive 10-0 victory against Turkmenistan in its second match of the Turkish Women’s Cup in Alanya. ( READ )

Fulham sacked manager Claudio Ranieri. ( READ )

Brendan Rodgers was confirmed as Leicester City's new manager. ( READ )

Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg will most likely miss the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France. ( READ )

TENNIS

Roger Federer wrote another “special” page of history as he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday at the Dubai Tennis Championships to win his career's 100th ATP singles title. ( READ )

Roger Federer poses with the Dubai Tennis Championship title after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final on Saturday.

 

Nick Kyrgios surprised Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday to win the Mexican Open final and secure his first ATP Tour title since January, 2018. ( READ )

While Roger Federer's form has tapered off over the past year, he still remained in the top three till his fourth-round loss at the 2019 Australian Open. Even more astounding is the fact that Nadal and Federer held the top two positions in the world rankings for more than a year more than 12 years after they first did so. ( READ )

Victoria Azarenka savoured a "special" first title since giving birth after the former world number one and Zheng Saisai were crowned Mexican Open doubles champions. ( READ )
 

MORE SPORTS

Bajrang Punia won gold in the freestyle wrestling 65kg category, while Pooja Dhanda claimed gold in the 59kg category at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov wrestling tourney im Bulgaria. Sakshi Malik settled for a silver medal in the 65kg category. ( READ )

Saurabh Chaudhary was the hero of the Indian shooting team as he provided a fitting climax for the host by powering the mixed air pistol team to gold, with another teenage sensation, Manu Bhaker, in the shooting World Cup that concluded on Wednesday. ( READ )

After shocking defending champion John Higgins in the semifinal, Matthew Selt defeated Lyu Haotian to win his maiden snooker ranking title - the 2019 Indian Open. ( READ )

Ravi Kumar fought off a stiff challenge from the Railways duo of Harshad Wadekar and R.V. Rahul to win the gold in the men's 89kg category at the National weightlifting championships. ( READ )

Ravi Kumar jumps with joy after winning the gold in the men's 89 kg Category at the Senior National Weightlifting Championship in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.

 

V.K. Vismaya stunned her fancied opponents, M.R. Poovamma and Hima Das, to win the gold medal in the women’s 400m race at the Indian Grand Prix-3. ( READ )

National champion Deepak Singh (49kg) was the lone Indian boxer to win gold, while five fellow Indians claimed silver medals in the Makran Cup in Chabahar, Iran. ( READ )

In the absence of top players, B. Adhiban and Surya Shekhar Ganguly will be a part of the all-Grandmaster men’s team which will spearhead the Indian challenge at the World Team Chess Championship starting March 5 in Astana, Kazakhstan. ( READ )