Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand, drawing tourists year-round for skiing, hiking, lake activities, and alpine scenery that takes your breath away.

New Zealand may be known for its scenic drives, but when time matters, flying between major cities.

This is the Shohei Ohtani effect. Ohtani hit a grand slam in the second inning on Friday at the World Baseball Classic, pushing Japan to a quick 4-0 lead over Taiwan. He also doubled in his first at-bat in the first inning. That was the early game action. He also put on a giant show in batting practice hours before the game even started, thrilling many who had traveled from afar to see him. Lia Chan and her husband How and other family members flew in from Singapore about a seven-hour flight to Tokyo just to watch Ohtani play in the World Baseball Classic. "And baseball is not even popular in Singapore," said Lia, who was seated a few rows behind home plate. "We know about baseball, we watch it, but when Ohtani came along it's just gone out of proportions." Lia, her husband and other Singaporeans in their group were among some 40,000 in the stadium oohing-and-aahing on Friday, and this was only for batting practice hours before the second Pool C game. Ohtani knows about drama. He kept the crowd waiting for perhaps 30 minutes as other Japanese players practiced and hundreds of reporters with cameras, phones and tripods milled around in a penned-off area on the field. Finally, Ohtani emerged from the dugout and waited his turn around the batting cage, hugged a few players, made small talk, and greeted some fans in an area for sponsors. Fans in the stands stood to get a better look. But they were asked to sit down by attendants holding signs in Japanese and English that read: "Please watch from your seats." Ohtani took about 25 swings, hit about 10 balls out of the park and another few against the outfield wall. When batting practice ended, he jogged out to thank the batting practice pitcher, bowed slightly, and gathered a few loose balls and tossed them into the hopper. Then with a bat in each hand, he trotted off the field to prepare for the game against Taiwan. "Who does things like that?" Lia said. "He's in another league."

The second semi-final of the T20 World Cup between India and England set a new global benchmark in digital sports viewership, registering a peak concurrency of 65.2 million viewers.

Pool play is underway across the globe, with Team USA's first game scheduled for Friday

NEW DELHI: India legend Sunil Gavaskar lavished praise on vice-captain Axar Patel for his breathtaking fielding display in Indias nerve-wracking T20 World Cup semifinal win over England at Mumbais Wankhede Stadium. Gavaskar even compared Axars impact in the field to that of Ravindra Jadeja, saying the all-rounder has stepped up to fill the void left by one of Indias greatest fielders.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!India had earlier piled up a mammoth 253/7, powered by a blistering knock from Sanju Samson. Englands chase, however, threatened to derail Indias hopes as Jacob Bethell produced a sensational century to keep his side firmly in the contest.But Axars brilliance in the field repeatedly halted Englands momentum.The first moment of magic came early in the chase when Jasprit Bumrah deceived Harry Brook with a slower delivery. Brook miscued the shot high over cover, and Axar sprinted back nearly 24 metres before diving forward to complete a stunning catch inches above the turf.ALSO READ:Axar Patel picks tougher of his two out of this world catches Watch & choose yoursAxar Patel's catch to dismiss Harry Brook was unbelievable. Brook can take the game away and you have to grab every chance to get his wicket and Axar did that, Gavaskar said while speaking on JioHotstar.He ran 24 meters away from his fielding spot, kept his eyes on the ball, balanced himself and took the catch. Unbelievable stuff.Axar wasnt done yet. Later in the innings, when Will Jacks threatened to push England closer to the daunting target alongside Bethell, Axar produced another moment of brilliance. Chasing a sliced shot toward deep point, he ran hard across the turf, grabbed the ball while losing balance near the boundary rope and cleverly relayed it to Shivam Dube, who completed the catch.He also played a key role in Will Jacks dismissal. The Bethell-Jacks partnership was taking the game away. But Axar ran to his left, grabbed the ball and smartly passed it to Shivam Dube, Gavaskar added.Gavaskar believes Axars rise as a complete cricketer mirrors the impact Jadeja once had for India.With his batting and bowling, Axar is going to be one of Indias great players. We had Ravindra Jadeja before him and Axar is filling that void well, he said.

Iranian athlete Aboulfazl Khatibi will not compete at the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games because he can't safely travel to Italy amid the intensifying Middle East war, the International Paralympic Committee said.

The International Paralympic Committee said Friday that Iranian athlete Aboulfazl Khatibi will not compete at the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games because he can't safely travel to Italy amid the intensifying Middle East conflict.

Brady had been set to feature in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Saudi on March 21. However, due to the conflict,organizers have made the decision to move the event.

Tottenham are now just one point above the Premier League relegation zone, with nine matches left to play, following last night's 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.Spurs went ahead through Dominic Solanke but the Eagles came roaring back, scoring three times without reply to secure the spoils.Tottenham, just 20 days ago, brought in Igor Tudor in the hope that he'd be able to save them.Yet the Croatian's start to life in north London has started dismally, with the club yet to pick up a single point from their first three matches under him.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour SayWith club icons such as Harry Redknapp, Tim Sherwood and Glenn Hoddle all eager to return, the former Juventus and Marseille boss isn't even guaranteed to last the season.Should they lose to Liverpool on Sunday, that could prove to be the end of Tudor's brief, and turbulent, time in charge.So the GB News sports team have now had their say on what should happen.Callum Vurley: Sack Tudor, he's like Remi Garde and Felix MagathTudor should be sacked immediately.In truth, he should have been sacked the moment he walked through the door.It was painfully obvious to everyone with a pair of eyes that this appointment was bafflingly wrong.Parachuting a coach with no knowledge of the Premier League into a squad of overrated, egotistical and yellow-bellied players was a recipe for disaster and is proving so.LATEST SPORTS NEWS:Oscar Pistorius' father gives fresh update on killer two years on from prison releaseIf Tottenham get sucked into the Championship vortex there might be no escapeRugby club erases women's team and plays in new 'open' division to accommodate trans athletesThe problems with Tottenham go much deeper than the manager, though.This is a club that has no idea what it wants to be. There is no leadership from the boardroom to the pitch.Maybe relegation might be the catalyst that Spurs need to weed out the trash and get back on track from scratch.Tudors appointment evokes memories of Remi Gardes appointment at Aston Villa or Felix Magath at Fulham, both of whom were unceremoniously sacked with their clubs in crisis. Tottenham are heading the same way.Ed Griffiths: Spurs should have kept Frank, international break keyTottenham Hotspur sit just a point above the relegation zone in what could be the worst season the club have experienced since the Premier League was founded.The shining light, however, is that there are still nine games remaining this campaign to turn things around.When Tudor was announced following Thomas Frank's departure, it felt to me like an even bigger risk than keeping the former Brentford boss at the helm.While earning a reputation as a 'rescue specialist' in Serie A, the Croatian's last appointment lasted only seven months with Juventus after he had a woeful run of eight winsless games. This is not what Spurs need right now.To add to this, Tudor has already seemed to have lost the dressing room. In Spurs' loss to Palace, Pedro Porro was seen furiously marching past his boss after being withdrawn from the game, and Spurs fans were seen flocking out of the stadium.With the club in chaos, the March international break could allow time for a Premier League-proven manager to come into that dressing room and lead an escape.Whilst it would be embarrassing for those at Spurs to sack a manager after three games, especially given how well their north London rivals are doing, nothing will be more embarrassing and financially disastrous than dropping to the Championship. It will be remembered for decades to come. Now is the time for them to act. Sack Tudor and roll the dice of fortune one last time.Jack Otway: Tudor can't last, get a Spurs legend in to save thingsEchoing the views of my colleagues, Tudor has to go.There's been no signs of progress. If anything, they're getting worse. The club are a shambles and waiting won't achieve anything. Certainly, they're not expected to pick up any points against Liverpool on Sunday.Tottenham need a safe pair of hands and a club legend to steady the ship. There's not a lack of candidates.Tim Sherwood, Harry Redknapp and Glenn Hoddle have all expressed an interest in returning to the club. To mixed degrees, all three achieved some sort of success while they ruled the roost.Tottenham need somebody who can lift them. Those three men, with their charisma, are capable of that.Sack Tudor now and stop dallying. Waiting could ultimately be the difference between staying up and going down. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter