Ma long table tennis

(CNN) Skiing and tennis wouldn't seem to have lot in common at first glance. But that hasn't stopped ski star Mikaela Shiffrin and 2020 French Open winner Iga Świątek bonding over what it takes to succeed in their respective professions. The 19-year-old Świątek has said that Shiffrin is one of her greatest inspirations. And speaking to CNN Sport's Christina Macfarlane ahead of International Women's Day on Monday, Shiffrin stressed the importance of women supporting each other. "Any time an athlete from another sport recognizes an athlete from a different sport, I think that's really cool because ... it just brings more connection into the world of sports and it's not one sport against each other. We're all athletes and we get how hard it is to get to the top in our own sport and for every other athlete out there," said Shiffrin. A split of Shiffrin (left) and Świątek (right). "I watched her at the French Open and have been … [Read more...] about Mikaela Shiffrin reveals how she’s been inspired by tennis star Iga Świątek

All options for the 2,500 US troops currently in Afghanistan "remain on the table", a State Department spokeswoman stated on Monday. She added that the US has "not made any decisions about our force posture in Afghanistan after 1 May". The statement comes shortly after Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly pointed out in a letter to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that the White House is "considering the full withdrawal of [US] forces [from Afghanistan] by May 1st as we consider other options". © AFP 2021 / SHAH Marai US troop stands guard in front of a line of jet fighter aircraft at the US-led coalition's Bagram Air Base north of Kabul (file photo) The letter's veracity was confirmed by senior Afghan officials but rejected by the State Department. According to Blinken, the US is making efforts "to move matters more fundamentally and quickly toward a settlement and a permanent and comprehensive cease-fire" in Afghanistan. In the letter, the secretary … [Read more...] about All Options for US Troops in Afghanistan ‘Remain on the Table’, State Department Says

Pattaya, Chonburi – A new stadium estimated to have 20,000 seats is now 60 percent complete, according to the Pattaya City Mayor who visited the long under construction stadium late last week. The Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunploem told Associated Thai Press, “The Chaiyapruek Stadium is inside the Eastern National Sports Training Center in Soi Chaiyapruek 2. It has been under construction for many years (2009, notes The Pattaya News, the stadium construction sat basically idle from 2012-2018) and has suffered multiple delays for various reasons.” “The construction contract period with the Rama 2-HT Joint Venture Company is being extended as some designs had to be changed due to many obstructions with natural rocks underneath the ground within the construction area.” The Mayor stated. The Mayor previously stated in early 2020 that the project was roughly 40 percent completed as work was taking place on various grandstands and roofs. The Covid-19 pandemic suspended … [Read more...] about Pattaya City Mayor says long under construction Chaiyapruek Stadium 60 percent complete

(CNN) Tennis superstar Serena Williams says she understands the "pain and cruelty" suffered by Meghan, the wife of Prince Harry, after the Duchess of Sussex told Oprah Winfrey that an unnamed member of the royal family raised the issue of how dark their unborn baby Archie's skin would be while she was pregnant. Empathizing with her friend Meghan, the 23-time grand slam winner wrote on Twitter that she knew "first hand the sexism and racism institutions and the media use to vilify women and people of color to minimize us, to break us down and demonize us. We must recognize our obligation to decry malicious, unfounded gossip and tabloid journalism." There were several "concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he was born," Meghan told Winfrey. READ: No sponsor? No problem. Tennis maverick Hsieh Su-Wei reflects on a memorable Australian Open Serena Williams (left) and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (right) … [Read more...] about Serena Williams says she understood the ‘pain and cruelty’ suffered by Meghan

(CNN) Novak Djokovic has broken Roger Federer 's all-time record for most weeks spent as the men's world No.1. The Serbian has now topped the ATP rankings for a combined 311 weeks, surpassing Federer's tally of 310 on Monday. Djokovic has enjoyed five different spells as the world's best male tennis player, most recently wrestling top spot of Rafael Nadal in February 2020. "It really excites me to walk the path of legends and giants of this sport," Djokovic said per the ATP Tour. "To know that I have earned my place among them by following my childhood dream is a beautiful confirmation that when you do things out of love and passion, everything is possible." Novak Djokovic beats Daniil Medvedev in Australian Open final to claim 18th grand slam title Read More The 33-year-old first topped the rankings back in July 2011 and has gone on to establish himself as one of the best players in tennis history. After … [Read more...] about Novak Djokovic surpasses Roger Federer’s all-time record of weeks spent as world No.1