Warriors clinch title

Golden State Warriors secured their second NBA championship in three seasons with a 129-120 Game 5 win over Cleveland Cavaliers. The Warriors, who beat Cleveland in the 2015 Finals only to lose to them last year after squandering a 3-1 series lead, went a record-setting 16-1 in the playoffs, their only loss coming in Game 4 of the best-of-seven championship.

The win provided redemption for the Warriors, who brought Kevin Durant over from the Oklahoma City Thunder last off-season to bolster their already high-powered offense.

Durant, who lost in his only previous Finals appearance in 2012, led the way for the Warriors with 39 points and was relieved after feeling pressure to deliver prior to the game. “I couldn’t sleep for two days,” Durant, who was named the Finals Most Valuable Player, said.

Anand to take on Nakamura next

Sandeep

Former World Champion Viswanathan Anand will take on Hikaru Nakamura of the United States in the seventh round of the Altibox Norway Chess tournament at Stavanger, Norway. After a rather slow start that cost him two losses in the first five rounds, Anand came back in style by defeating Fabiano Caruana of United States in the previous round.

Morientes to visit India for Legends’ El Clasico

Sandeep

Former Spain and Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes are reported to have confirmed his India visit to play for Real Madrid Legends against FC Barcelona Legends in an “El Clasico“ fixtures in Kolkata on September 15.

Qatar risk FIFA action after T-shirt protest

Qatar’s national team could face disciplinary action from FIFA after players warmed up for a World Cup qualifier against South Korea in T-shirts showing support for the country’s Emir. The players prepared for the crucial game in Doha wearing white shirts emblazoned with a profile portrait of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Chelsea host Burnley in Premier League opener

Chelsea will open the defence of their Premier League title at home to Burnley when the season kicks off on the weekend of Aug.12-13. The full list of fixtures was released  with Antonio Conte’s side also slated for a follow-up game at Tottenham Hotspur, who will play all their home fixtures at Wembley while White Hart Lane is being redeveloped.

Mallya plans to change name of Force India

Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya is considering changing his Formula One team’s name to make the outfit more attractive to potential sponsors. “There is a growing feeling that maybe since we are a much-improved team in terms of performance and attracting more international sponsors, and sadly less Indian sponsors, there is a debate as to why the name should not be changed,“ Mallya is reported to have said.

French Open champion Rafael Nadal has said that he would miss next week’s tournament at Queen’s Club as he needs to rest ahead of Wimbledon.

Nadal told a leading TV channel from London that he had originally planned to play the grass-court tournament in London.He said “At 31, and after a long clay court season with all of the emotions of Roland Garros, and after speaking to my team and doctor, I have decided my body needs to rest if I am going to be ready to play Wimbledon.”

Top-ranked Andy Murray will be looking to defend his title at Queen’s. The field includes U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka, who beat Murray in the semifinals at Roland Garros before losing to Nadal in Sunday’s final.

Wimbledon starts July 3 at the All England Club.