Courtesy: Geo News/AFP

India’s Virat Kohli on Monday became the fastest cricketer to complete 13,000 ODI runs, surpassing legend Sachin Tendulkar.

The 34-year-old reached the landmark in his 267th innings during the Asia Cup Super 4 match against Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Monday.

India were 147/2 in 24.1 overs after being asked to bat by Pakistan before rain prevented any further play on Sunday. Kohli, who was at 8, resumed his innings along with KL Rahul, who was unbeaten on 17 off 28 balls when rain interrupted proceedings on Sunday.

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar had reached the landmark in 321 ODI innings. Tendulkar was followed by former Australian captain Ricky Ponting (341) and the Sri Lankan duo of Kumar Sangakkara (363) and Sanath Jayasuriya (416).

Overall, Kohli is fifth on the list of leading run-getters in ODIs. Only Tendulkar (18,426), Sangakkara (14,234), Ponting (13,704), and Jayasuriya (13,430) have scored more runs than the Indian cricketer in the 50-over format.

Kohli is also fifth on the illustrious list of players with the most international runs. He has amassed 25600 runs across formats so far. Tendulkar (34,357), Sangakkara (28,016), Ponting (27,483), and former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene (25,957) are above Kohli on the list.

Courtesy: Dawn News/Agencies/AFP

BUDAPEST: When Arshad Nadeem saw the javelin land on his third attempt, he looked up and smiled for the world.

A season’s best throw of 87.82 metres at the World Athletics Cham­pionships on Sunday had lifted Arshad from sixth to second place in the javelin throw final, only behind India’s Olym­pic champion Neeraj Chopra.

Chopra had set the bar with his first legitimate throw on the second attempt when he threw the javelin 88.17 metres.

In the next three throws, Arshad tried to reel in those 35 centimetres but couldn’t conjure up the 90.18-metre throw that saw him clinch gold at the Commonwealth Games last year.

Arshad still made history in the Hungarian capital, winning Pakistan’s first medal at the biennial track and field spectacle with his second-placed finish and showing he can end Pakistan’s long Olympic medal drought at next year’s Games in Paris.

His achievement becomes even more remarkable considering the fact that this was his first international appearance in a year.

Arshad underwent surgeries on his elbow and knee after winning gold at last year’s Islamic Games and then had an extensive rehabilitation programme.

He’d shown he was back to his best when he threw 86.79 metres in qualifying on Friday, but he’d saved his best for the final — even though he had a far from ideal start.

His first throw gained height but not the distance, travelling just 74.80 metres — a mark not enough for a place in the top eight, who would go the distance in the final.

But just like he’d done in qualifying, Arshad kept getting better with each throw. When his javelin found the 82.81-metre mark on his second attempt, he went momentarily fourth overall, but eventually ended the round at sixth.

With his third throw, however, he was in gold contention, with just Chopra ahead of him and the rest of the field — having been trimmed from 12 to eight after the first three rounds — playing catch-up.

Arshad tried his best to reel in Chopra — India’s first gold medalist in history at the Worlds — and his fourth attempt hitting the 87.15-metre mark. He fouled his attempt in the fifth round, where the Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch snatched third place from Germany’s Julian Weber (85.79m) with a throw of 86.67 metres.

The Pakistan-India battle for gold went to the final round where Arshad tried to raise the stakes but could only reach 81.86m. Silver secured, he prostrated with Pakistan finally having a medal to its name at athletics’ marquee event.

1- Header image: BUDAPEST: Arshad Nadeem celebrates after receiving the silver medal in the men’s javelin throw during the World Athletics Championships, on Sunday.—AFP

Courtesy: Geo News/AFP

Sha’Carri Richardson, the American sprinter, clinched a sensational victory in the women’s 100 metres final at the world championships held in Budapest.

Despite starting from the outside lane, lane nine, Richardson shattered records as she powered through the finish line in just 10.65 seconds. This unexpected win highlighted her personal journey and her unique approach to the sport.

Sha’Carri Richardson’s race unfolded in the face of strong competition, including Jamaican sprinter Shericka Jackson, but her strategic focus on her own performance propelled her to a triumph. The 23-year-old athlete revealed that she executed her race with precision, oblivious to the positions of her rivals. In her own words, Richardson’s lifelong disposition of being “in her own world” was the driving force behind her championship victory.

During the post-race press conference, Sha’Carri Richardson defended her position with fervor, chastising foreign reporters for mispronouncing her name and questioning her previous performance. Her journey to this point was marked by hurdles, beginning with her exclusion from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 due to a positive cannabis test. A year later, she faced disappointment when she failed to qualify for the 100m and 200m events in the world championships.

Having previously faced criticism and challenges, Richardson’s victory was a testimony to her resilience and determination. Her unapologetic demeanor and bold presence on social media platforms garnered her a substantial following.