Who might be sports activities’ breakout stars in 2023?
FOR THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS VISIT THE SOUTH AFRICAN WEBSITE
Below, a have a look at 5 poised to seize the headlines in the subsequent 12 months.
ALSO READ | SPORT IN 2023: FIVE BIG EVENTS NOT TO MISS
TENNIS
Linda Fruhvirtova
Czech teenager Linda Fruhvirtova turned the youngest girl in the WTA high 100 rankings in September when she captured the Chennai title on the age of 17. She ended the 12 months at 77 in the world having additionally made the second spherical of the US Open on her Grand Slam debut. When she was celebrating her title in Chennai, her youthful sister Brenda, simply 15, was profitable her twenty fourth match in a row in Italy. Despite expectations, the sisters usually are not getting carried away by their prospects in 2023. “We can see that winning a Grand Slam as a teenager is possible but I don’t think it is possible to dominate and win many Slams at age of 15 or 16 like it was in the past. Of course, you want to win the Grand Slams as soon as possible but I don’t care whether I win one when I’m 19 or 20. I am just going to try my best and we will see.”
Leah Williamson
The England captain was catapulted right into a nationwide star after main the Lionesses to victory on dwelling soil at Euro 2022. England at the moment are concentrating on international glory on the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023. At simply 25, Williamson was chosen as skipper by Sarina Wiegman forward of far more skilled teammates however her management qualities on and off the sector shone by as England’s girls gained a primary ever main worldwide event. The Arsenal defender has repeatedly burdened the significance of leaving a legacy by inspiring a brand new era of ladies to take up the sport. But she has earned that standing by being among the best gamers in the world thanks to her composure in possession and glorious studying of the sport.
CRICKET
Umran Malik
India speedster Umran Malik made heads flip in this 12 months’s Indian Premier League together with his tearaway tempo as he recurrently clocked over 150km/h (93mph) for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He quickly bought a call-up to the Indian facet for his first T20 towards Ireland. Umran’s rise from being the son of a fruit vendor in the Jammu area of Indian administered Kashmir has been nothing in need of a fairy-tale. Umran, 23, was mentored by former India quick bowler Irfan Pathan on the Kashmir state facet and in the IPL underneath the tutelage of South Africa fast-bowling nice Dale Steyn, Hyderabad’s bowling coach. Called the “Jammu Express”, Umran has performed simply 5 ODI and three T20 matches for India however with the ODI World Cup going down in India on the again finish of 2023, he’s primed for better success.
RUGBY UNION
Kurt-Lee Arendse
The South Africa winger Kurt-Lee Arendse solely made the primary of his seven Test appearances in July however his seven tries in these video games spotlight how a lot of an attacking risk he could possibly be for the Springboks as they goal to defend the World Cup in France, which begins on September 8. Arendse, 26, weighing in at simply 84kg, benefitted in half from an harm to one other fleet-footed back-three participant Cheslin Kolbe. He impressed throughout his first Bok season, having helped the Bulls to the United Rugby Championship ultimate. Arendse’s ending means alongside Kolbe and fellow-winger Makazole Mapimpi could possibly be essential if the two-time winners are to retain the Webb Ellis trophy in the autumn.
BASKETBALL
Paolo Banchero
Being the primary choose in the NBA Draft is not any assure of success however all of the indicators level to Banchero delivering every little thing that Orlando Magic hoped for after they took him in the 2022 draft after only one season of faculty ball with Duke University. Banchero made his common season debut on October 19 and promptly put up 27 factors, grabbed 9 rebounds and offered 5 assists in a defeat to the Detroit Pistons, the primary 25/5/5 rookie debut since LeBron James in 2003. A former highschool soccer quarterback, whose mom performed in the WNBA and father performed faculty soccer, Banchero’s athleticism and flexibility are spectacular for a 6 foot 10 inch (2.08 metres) presence.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse