Verstappen Dominates Bahrain GP, Extends Winning Streak

Verstappen Dominates Bahrain GP, Extends Winning Streak

Max Verstappen’s dominance continued unabated as he cruised to a commanding victory in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, extending his winning streak to eight races. The reigning world champion started from pole position and never looked back, leading every lap to secure a one-two finish for Red Bull with teammate Sergio Perez.

Despite the ongoing drama surrounding team principal Christian Horner, Red Bull remained unfazed, with Verstappen delivering a flawless performance. Horner’s wife, Geri Halliwell, joined him before the race and celebrated on the podium, adding to the team’s jubilation.

Carlos Sainz Jr. finished third for Ferrari after a spirited battle with teammate Charles Leclerc. However, Ferrari’s hopes of challenging Red Bull were dashed as they struggled to match the pace of the Austrian team.

Verstappen’s victory sets the tone for the longest-ever F1 season, with 24 races scheduled. The Dutchman’s near-perfect record from 2023, where he won 19 of 22 races, suggests that he is poised to repeat his success.

Horner, who has been embroiled in controversy, expressed relief at the team’s focus on racing. “The result today demonstrates where the whole team’s focus is,” he said. “We move onwards.”

Perez’s climb from fifth to second showcased Red Bull’s superiority, while Sainz’s podium finish was a welcome return to form for the Spaniard. Leclerc’s challenge faded after a poor start, leaving him to settle for fourth.

George Russell finished fifth for Mercedes, followed by Lando Norris for McLaren and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. Oscar Piastri of McLaren and the Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll rounded out the top 10.

Gonzaga Dominates Saint Mary's, Bolsters NCAA Tournament Hopes

Gonzaga Dominates Saint Mary’s, Bolsters NCAA Tournament Hopes

Gonzaga Bolsters NCAA Tournament Hopes with Victory over Saint Mary’s

MORAGA, Calif. – No. 23 Gonzaga Bulldogs secured a crucial 70-57 victory over No. 17 Saint Mary’s Gaels on Saturday night, bolstering their chances of an NCAA Tournament berth.

Graham Ike led the Bulldogs with 24 points, continuing his impressive streak of scoring at least 20 points in seven consecutive games. Ryan Nembhard contributed 20 points and 10 assists, while Ben Gregg added 12 points.

Saint Mary’s, who had won 16 straight games, struggled to contain Gonzaga’s offense. The Bulldogs shot 64% in the first half, building a 44-28 halftime lead. Aidan Mahaney led the Gaels with 16 points, while Mitchell Saxen added 13.

Gonzaga’s victory was particularly significant as they had lost to Saint Mary’s at home earlier in the season. The Bulldogs have now won eight straight games since that defeat, including three Quad 1 victories.

The win puts Gonzaga in a strong position heading into the WCC Tournament. The Bulldogs are now 24-6 overall and 14-2 in conference play. Saint Mary’s, who clinched the WCC title on Thursday, will also participate in the tournament.

Gonzaga’s streak of 24 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances was in jeopardy before this recent surge. However, their impressive run has put them in a good position to receive an at-large bid if necessary.

Saint Mary’s, on the other hand, will need to rely on their defense and ball protection to continue their success in the WCC Tournament. They will face a tough challenge in the semifinals against either Gonzaga or BYU.

Blue Jackets Stun Blackhawks, Halt Losing Streak

Blue Jackets Stun Blackhawks, Halt Losing Streak

The Columbus Blue Jackets, the worst team in the Eastern Conference, stunned the Chicago Blackhawks, the worst team in the Western Conference, with a 5-2 victory on Saturday night. The win snapped the Blue Jackets’ two-game losing streak and dropped Chicago to 0-4-2 in its last six games.

Alexandre Texier opened the scoring for Columbus just 33 seconds into the game, taking advantage of a giveaway by Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones. Boone Jenner doubled the lead with a deflection of Zach Werenski’s shot at 14:05 of the first period.

The Blackhawks finally got on the board with 2:28 left in the first on Philipp Kurashev’s goal, but the Blue Jackets responded with two more goals in the second period. Mathieu Olivier scored at 3:09, assisted by Werenski, and Cole Sillinger made it 4-1 midway through the period.

Johnny Gaudreau added an empty-netter for Columbus in the final minute of the game. Elvis Merzlikins made 26 saves for the Blue Jackets, while Arvid Soderblom stopped 26 shots for the Blackhawks.

“I don’t think there’s any pressure on us now,” said Merzlikins. “The last few games we’re playing against teams and not even looking at where they’re at in the standings, top or in the bottom.”

The Blackhawks have now lost six straight games and are 1-6-3 in their last 10 home games. They will start a three-game road trip on Monday in Colorado.

“It was a really sloppy game right from the start,” said Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson. “We played really slow. They kept coming at us. It’s a bad combination. We went down the wrong path.”

The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, will host Vegas on Monday.

Lightning End Home Losing Streak with Shootout Win over Canadiens

Lightning End Home Losing Streak with Shootout Win over Canadiens

The Tampa Bay Lightning snapped their four-game home losing streak with a thrilling 4-3 shootout victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night. The win propelled the Lightning into a tie with the Detroit Red Wings for the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

Victor Hedman sealed the victory in the sixth round of the shootout, while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves in regulation to tie Tiny Thompson for 49th place in NHL wins with 284.

Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli scored second-period goals to tie the game at 2-2 after Montreal’s Joel Armia and Jake Evans had given the Canadiens an early lead. Tyler Motte’s short-handed goal with 9:42 remaining in regulation pulled Tampa Bay even again after Josh Anderson had put Montreal ahead 3-2.

Nikita Kucherov, the NHL’s leading scorer, picked up an assist to extend his point streak to 11 games. He now has 105 points on the season.

The Canadiens, who are 2-7-2 over their last 11 games, were coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the NHL-leading Florida Panthers on Thursday night. Cayden Primeau stopped 30 shots during regulation for Montreal.

In overtime, Montreal killed off Cole Caufield’s hooking penalty, despite Tampa Bay getting four shots during the man advantage.

The Lightning will host the Calgary Flames on Thursday night, while the Canadiens will play at Nashville on Tuesday night.

Cody Glass Hat Trick Powers Predators to Eighth Straight Win

Cody Glass Hat Trick Powers Predators to Eighth Straight Win

Nashville’s Predators extended their remarkable winning streak to eight games with a dominant 5-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night. Cody Glass stole the spotlight with his first career hat trick, leading the Predators to their impressive triumph.

The Predators’ relentless attack began in the first period when Glass opened the scoring with a well-placed shot assisted by Colton Sissons. However, the Avalanche responded swiftly with a goal from Nathan MacKinnon, who has been on a scoring tear lately.

In the second period, Glass struck again, showcasing his offensive prowess with a multi-goal performance. Juuse Saros, the Predators’ goalie, played a crucial role in preserving the lead with a key save on a partial breakaway by MacKinnon.

The Predators’ dominance continued in the third period as Ryan O’Reilly extended their lead with a power-play goal. Glass sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minute, completing his hat trick and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

“It was a thrill,” said Glass, who had only scored two goals before this game. “We have a great team here. To be on an eight-game win streak, everybody is pulling on the same rope.”

The Predators’ winning streak is now tied for the second-longest in franchise history, matching their 10-game run from 2018. Their relentless defense and opportunistic offense have been key factors in their recent success.

“I like our relentlessness,” said Predators coach Andrew Brunette. “I think we’re connected. We’re taking away time and space at a high level right now. That comes from work ethic. That comes from trust.”

Despite the loss, the Avalanche remain a formidable opponent. Coach Jared Bednar acknowledged that his team played well for 40 minutes but faltered in the third period.

“I thought we were competitive, played hard, really good game for 40 minutes,” Bednar said. “But I’d say third period, it’s like they got better and we got worse in the third.”

The Predators will look to extend their winning streak when they host the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night. The Avalanche, meanwhile, will return home to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night.

Jeswin Aldrin Disappoints at World Indoor Championships

Jeswin Aldrin Disappoints at World Indoor Championships

National long jump record holder Jeswin Aldrin’s disappointing performance at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow on Saturday has raised questions about his current form. The 22-year-old, who held the world lead for a few months in 2023 with his 8.42m jump, could only manage a 7.69m effort, finishing a lowly 13th.

Aldrin’s performance was particularly disappointing considering his recent international outings. In three other events last month, he had recorded jumps of 7.70m, 7.74m, and 7.83m. He had also finished eighth in the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.

The Indian long jumper’s struggles in Glasgow were evident from the start. He cleared 7.69m in his first attempt but fouled the next two. With only three attempts allowed in the qualifying round, Aldrin was unable to improve his mark and was eliminated along with eight other competitors.

The top eight long jumpers after three rounds were permitted to have another three attempts. Reigning Olympic and world champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece won gold with a best jump of 8.22m, while 19-year-old Mattia Furlani (8.22m) of Italy and Carey McLeod (8.21m) of Jamaica were second and third respectively.

Aldrin’s performance in Glasgow is a setback for the Indian athlete, who has been touted as a potential medal contender at the upcoming Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. However, it is important to note that Aldrin is still young and has time to improve. With the right training and support, he can still achieve his full potential.

LPGA Partners with Naomi Osaka's Hana Kuma to Elevate Player Profiles

LPGA Partners with Naomi Osaka’s Hana Kuma to Elevate Player Profiles

The LPGA, the premier women’s professional golf tour, has partnered with Hana Kuma, the production company founded by tennis superstar Naomi Osaka, to elevate the profiles of its players and strengthen the tour’s brand.

This innovative collaboration aims to make LPGA players household names by providing them with tailored assistance to enhance their personal brands. Eight players will be selected for an inaugural pilot program, receiving guidance on building their social media presence, engaging with fans, and developing their personal narratives.

All LPGA athletes will also participate in a brand-building workshop in May, focusing on developing their personal brands and connecting with audiences. These initiatives are part of the LPGA’s strategy to increase player recognition and build a stronger connection with fans.

LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan emphasized the importance of showcasing the athletes’ personal stories and athletic achievements. “Fans follow people and build strong affinity with those whom they know and connect,” she said. “Our athletes are inspiring, particularly for young girls, and we can’t wait to help give them the biggest platform possible.”

Osaka, who has been a vocal advocate for women’s sports, expressed her excitement about the partnership. “With Hana Kuma, I want to pay it forward by helping empower and champion the LPGA players,” she said. “Together, we can continue to uplift and inspire the next generation of female athletes.”

Stuart Duguid, Osaka’s longtime agent and co-founder of Hana Kuma, believes the partnership has the potential to transform women’s sports. “We’re excited to embark on this journey with the LPGA,” he said. “Our commitment extends to amplifying the diverse narratives of LPGA athletes, reshaping their interactions with fans and sponsors, and pushing the boundaries to elevate women’s sports to new heights.”

The LPGA’s revenue has grown significantly in recent years, but only two golfers made Forbes’ list of highest-paid female athletes last year. This partnership with Hana Kuma aims to address this disparity by providing players with the tools and resources to build their brands and increase their earning potential.

Manu Gandas Returns to Form, Eyes Strong Indian Open Performance

Manu Gandas Returns to Form, Eyes Strong Indian Open Performance

Manu Gandas, the 27-year-old golfer from Gurugram, faced a challenging first season on the DP World Tour (European Tour) in 2023. Despite qualifying by topping the PGTI Order of Merit, he made only five cuts in 25 appearances.

“The results didn’t go my way, but I’ve gained invaluable experience,” said Gandas, whose best finish was a tied-20th at the ISPS HANDA World Invitational in Northern Ireland. “I now understand the demands of competing with world-class golfers in challenging conditions.”

Gandas has shown signs of improvement in the 2024 PGTI season, winning the Players Championship in Kolkata and finishing 13th at the Vooty Masters. He is now eyeing a strong performance at the Hero Indian Open, a DP World Tour event on his home course.

This year’s Indian Open will feature a record prize purse of $2.25 million and will be the second of five events comprising the Asian Swing. The tournament will attract 144 players, including 2015 champion Anirban Lahiri, Indian veteran Shiv Kapur, and three-time DP World Tour winner Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium.

“I’ll try to apply my learnings,” said Gandas, who finished tied-32nd last year. “The DLF course can be intimidating, especially in windy conditions.”

Reflecting on his European experience, Gandas highlighted the colder, windier, and wetter conditions, which affect warm-up time and distances. He also noted the longer courses, which test the long game.

Gandas has been troubled by recurring niggles in his right wrist and left ankle. “I’ve been playing with pain for the past 2-3 years,” he said. “This season, I’m prioritizing rest and physical strengthening to improve my yardage.”

Despite the challenges, Gandas remains determined. “There were times of self-doubt, but as an athlete, you must persevere,” he said. “I had support from Shubhankar, but homesickness can be a factor. Technical and mental inputs from tour regulars were helpful, but speaking to my coach Anitya Chand was invaluable.”

Meanwhile, Indian Golf Union (IGU) President Brijinder Singh announced plans to hire a National Development Manager (NDM) and National High Performance Manager (NHPM). “We’re interviewing candidates and expect to appoint an NDM by early April,” he said. “The NHPM will be an established player with a strong commitment to golf.”

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