DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 21:36:50 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-boxers-shine-at-asian-youth-games-with-record-medal-haul-645642.html Manama Oct 30 Indias young boxing contingent achieved a historic milestone at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 in Bahrain finishing with an impressive three gold one silver and one bronze medal marking the nations bestever performance in youth boxing at the continental level In a golden morning session Khushi Chand 46kg opened Indias tally with a confident 41 victory over Chinas Luo Jinxiu showcasing superior ring control and precision Ahaana Sharma 50kg followed with a statement win forcing a Referee Stopped Contest RSC in Round 1 against Ma Jong Hyang of the Peoples Republic of Korea Chandrika Bhoreshi Pujari 54kg then completed Indias golden hattrick dominating Uzbekistans Muhammadova Kumriniso in a commanding 50 decisionThe medal count could rise even higher as Harnoor Kaur 66kg and Anshika 80kg are set to compete in their respective finals in the evening session with India eyeing a potential record haul of gold medalsIn the boys final Lanchenba Singh Moibungkhongbam 50kg displayed tremendous skill and heart but narrowly missed gold settling for silver after a tough bout against Kazakhstans Nurmakhan Zhumagali Earlier Anant Deshmukh 66kg had secured bronze rounding off a stellar campaign for the Indian contingentWith five medals including three golds Indias youth boxers have firmly stamped their authority on the Asian stage The success reflects the effectiveness of the national youth boxing program and the rigorous training camp held at NS NIS Patiala under the guidance of head coaches Vinod Kumar boys and Jitender Raj Singh girlsThis remarkable performance not only reinforces Indias growing dominance in Asian boxing but also signals a promising new generation ready to shine on the global stage IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-boxers-shine-at-asian-youth-games-with-record-medal-haul-645642.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 19:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/michael-klinger-joins-welsh-fire-womens-as-head-coach-for-2026-hundred-season-645648.html Cardiff Oct 30 Former Australia batter Michael Klinger has been appointed as the head coach of Welsh Fire womens team for the 2026 Hundred season His appointment is part of an agreement that also sees him take charge of recruitment across both the franchises teams Klinger 45 joins on a twoyear contract following his stint as head coach of Manchester Originals womens team during the 2025 campaign He will continue to serve as director of cricket at Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket MLC balancing responsibilities in the United Kingdom and United States of America USAIm thrilled to be taking on an expanded role with Welsh Fire leading list management for both the mens and womens teams alongside being head coach of the womens side said Klinger in a statement by the side on ThursdayGareth Breese who was Welsh Fire womens head coach in the last season will remain part of the coaching setup as assistant coach under Klinger Mike Hussey the former Australia lefthanded batter will continue as head coach of the mens teamWelsh Fire had finished at the bottom of the points table in 2025 Hundred womens season Id like to thank Manchester Originals for the opportunity to work with them last year It was a fantastic and rewarding experience for which Im very gratefulThis new role allows me to combine coaching with a broader strategic focus and to continue strengthening my connections with the Washington Freedom organisation as well as with the current management and coaches at Welsh Fire added KlingerKlinger had been an assistant coach for Sydney Thunder in Womens Big Bash League WBBL and was in the support staff of Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League BBL He also serves as the head coach of Gujarat Giants GG in the Womens Premier League WPL IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/michael-klinger-joins-welsh-fire-womens-as-head-coach-for-2026-hundred-season-645648.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 19:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hockey-india-remembers-legacy-of-two-time-olympic-gold-medallist-k-d-singh-645654.html New Delhi Oct 30 Hockey India fondly recalls Kunwar Digvijay Singh popularly called Babu one of Indias most elegant and talented hockey players Celebrated for his skill intelligence and keen vision on the field K D Singh was frequently regarded as the heir to Major Dhyan Chand continuing Indias tradition of excellence and style that characterised its golden era hockey Born in Barabanki Uttar Pradesh in 1922 K D Singh began his college basketball career in Lucknow He later represented Uttar Pradesh at the Nationals gaining recognition for his exceptional dribbling skills and precise passing In 1947 during the East Africa tour he played alongside Major Dhyan Chand and outscored him by scoring 70 points goalsK D Singh debuted at the Olympics as the ViceCaptain of the Indian team during the 1948 London Games and witnessed a historic milestone as India won its first Olympic gold medal as an independent nation His skill contributed to Indias commanding 40 win over Great Britain in the final held in their home country WembleyFour years later K D Singh led the Indian team to another gold medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics securing his status among hockey legends India with K D Singh who scored twice during the tournament defeated the Netherlands 61 in the final to win the gold again Despite facing injuries before the tournament he continued to lead the formidable teamK D Singh received Americas Helms Trophy in 1953 recognising him as the worlds top hockey player in 1952 and Asias best sportsman in 1953 As the first Indian to earn this distinguished award he strengthened his international legacy In 1958 in honour of his significant contributions to Indian hockey he was also awarded the Padma ShriEven after his illustrious playing career K D Singh continued to build his hockey legacy through coaching He first became an assistant coach and later played a key role in helping India secure another medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics this time as the chief coach guiding the team to a bronze medal Committed to nurturing young talent he also established sports hostels in Lucknow and Meerut organised rural tournaments and took care of the young players food and accommodationLegends like K D Singh established the foundation for Indias rich hockey heritage and dominance inspiring future generations through their skill leadership and vision Thanks to these pioneers India maintains its proud hockey tradition and remains one of the most successful and esteemed teams worldwideAiming to celebrate the historic contributions of the sports legends who have put India on the international sporting map Hockey India will be celebrating the legendary players who contributed to the sports 100 successful years IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hockey-india-remembers-legacy-of-two-time-olympic-gold-medallist-k-d-singh-645654.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 20:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/unadkat-to-feature-for-sussex-in-last-eight-rounds-of-county-matches-645666.html New Delhi Oct 30 Indias leftarm fastbowler Jaydev Unadkat will be turning out for Sussex in the last eight rounds of the 2026 County Championship season said the club on Thursday The deal will mark the third successive stint Unadkat will be turning out for Sussex in redball cricket Unadkat has played four Tests eight ODIs and ten Tests for India and has picked 26 international wickets so far He last played for India on the whiteball tour of West Indies in 2023Sussex Cricket is thrilled to announce that Indian Test bowler Jaydev Unadkat will return to the club for the final eight rounds of the 2026 County Championship season This marks the third consecutive year Unadkat will bolster Sussexs bowling attack during the crucial phase of the competition said the club in its statement on ThursdayUnadkat has produced impactful performances for Sussex in redball games In 2023 he played three matches and picked 11 wickets at an average of 242 including a standout spell of 694 against LeicestershireHis return in 2024 saw him claim 22 wickets at an average of 144 across five matches as he significantly contributed to Sussexs Division Two title victory In 2025 Unadkat continued his fine form by taking 16 wickets at an average of 1725Notably he delivered a matchwinning performance against Worcestershire by claiming seven wickets in the match held in Worcester Unadkat is currently leading Saurashtra in the 202526 Ranji Trophy season and has picked seven wickets so far in two home games held in RajkotHe will be next seen in action when Saurashtra the twotime Ranji Trophy champions take on Maharashtra in an away Elite Group B game at Golf Club Ground in Nashik from November 14 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/unadkat-to-feature-for-sussex-in-last-eight-rounds-of-county-matches-645666.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 21:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-awesome-to-get-a-ton-but-happier-to-help-team-past-300-says-litchfield-645667.html Navi Mumbai Oct 30 If not Healy Phoebe will get you That seems to be the case for the seventime 50over world champions Australia at the ICC Womens ODI World Cup especially when it comes to matches with India Skipper Alyssa Healy hammered a sensational century 142 off 107 balls when the two sides met in the group stage as Australia won by seven wickets at the ACAVDCA International Cricket Stadium in VisakhapatnamIn the second semifinal on Thursday though Healy was sent packing for just five runs Litchfield stepped up to torment the Indians powering her way to a brilliant 119 off 93 balls to lay the foundation for Australias mammoth 338 all out in 495 oversLitchfield was aggressive from the start slicing driving pulling and reversing against an Indian bowling attack that struggled to impose itself in overcast and humid conditions She raised 155 runs for the second wicket with Ellyse Perry 77 paving the path for the defending champions to storm into their eighth final in 50over cricketLitchfield was elated to reach the personal milestone but was also happy to have helped the team post a 300plus score and given them a good chance of joining South Africa in the finalIt was awesome for the personal milestone from the team perspective nice to get over 300 and put a competitive total on the board she told the official broadcaster in the midinnings break on ThursdayShe said they assessed the conditions and managed to take down the spinners when they came to bowlJust assessing the wicket taking down the spinners when they bowled into my areas Credit also to Pez Ellyse Perry to keep me going Full team effort to get to 338 said LitchfieldThe 22yearold lefthanded batter used the switch hitreverse hit merrily against the Indian spinnerI usually hit there because the fielders are not thereThough she said they would have readily taken the score of 338 at the start of their innings Litchfield felt they could have got a few more runs towards the endWe would have taken that at the start out there But probably left a few runs out there she added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-awesome-to-get-a-ton-but-happier-to-help-team-past-300-says-litchfield-645667.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 21:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/tennis-sinner-begins-bid-to-retake-world-no-1-with-victory-in-paris-645476.html Paris Oct 29 Just four days after he lifted an ATP 500 crown in Vienna Jannik Sinner the No 2 in the ATP Rankings kickstarted his Paris Masters title bid with a commanding 64 62 triumph against Zizou Bergs here on Wednesday Sinner produced a typically assured allaround performance to overwhelm his Belgian opponent in the pairs maiden ATP headtohead meeting and extend his tourlevel winning streak on indoor hard courts to 22 matchesBergs started his campaign at La Défense Arena by fending off four break points but was still unable to deny Sinner a break of serve in a 12minute opening game That was enough to set the Italian on his way to the first set and another break in the first game of the second set also proved decisiveThe secondseeded Sinner was authoritative behind his own serve throughout the match He did not face a break point and won 77 per cent 2431 of points behind his first delivery according to Infosys ATP Stats en route to setting a thirdround meeting with Francisco Cerundolo The Argentine earlier overcame Miomir Kecmanovic 75 16 764With his 88minute win against Bergs Sinner kept alive his hopes of capitalising on Carlos Alcarazs early Paris loss in the battle for World No 1 The Italian can return to top spot next Monday if he can lift his first Masters 1000 title of the seasonI felt like mostly the movement was good said Sinner Its a very unique court here Usually I always struggled a bit so Im very happy to come through the first match Im very happy with how I served today I was very precise and I also started with a break straight away which gives you a bit more confidence Im very happy about todays performanceSinners straightforward victory was in stark contrast to the opening match of the day on Court Central In a rematch of the Shanghai Masters final from earlier this month Valentin Vacherot again overcame his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in a threeset battle to extend his Masters 1000 winning streak to nine matchesVacherot will take on Alcarazs conqueror Cameron Norrie for a quarterfinal berth in Paris Daniil Medvedev also advanced on Wednesday after his secondround opponent Grigor Dimitrov was forced to withdraw before their match due to a right shoulder injury IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/tennis-sinner-begins-bid-to-retake-world-no-1-with-victory-in-paris-645476.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bayern-beat-cologne-to-claim-record-14th-straight-victory-in-all-competitions-645495.html Cologne Oct 30 Bayern Munich advanced to the German Cup round of 16 after recovering from an early setback to defeat a spirited Cologne 41 on Wednesday The win marked Bayerns 14th straight victory in all competitions a new record for clubs from Europes top five leagues surpassing AC Milans 13match start to the 19921993 seasonThe hosts began with purpose pressing aggressively and unsettling the Bundesliga champions Their bright start paid off after half an hour when Ragnar Ache rose highest to nod in Isak Johannessons corner Yet their lead lasted only five minutes as Luis Diaz leveled from close range despite strong suspicions of offside in the buildupThe equalizer shifted momentum firmly toward the visitors Harry Kane put Bayern ahead before the break with a composed finish spinning away from his marker and curling into the far corner Cologne who had shown impressive organization early on faded after the interval as Bayern tightened their gripKane added his second midway through the second half heading home Joshua Kimmichs corner for his 22nd goal of the campaign in just 14 appearances Substitute Michael Olise completed the scoring finishing off a swift counterattack set up by Diaz Cologne nearly pulled one back when Linton Maina struck the post late on but Bayerns control remained absoluteWe showed great mentality today After going 10 down we turned it around to lead 21 before halftime In the second half we kept our intensity high and remained dangerous throughout so overall I am very pleased with the performance said Bayern coach Vincent KompanyBayern hosts Bayer Leverkusen in Saturdays Bundesliga evening fixture while Cologne visits newly promoted Hamburg on SundayElsewhere in the second round of the German Cup Stuttgart beat Mainz 20 through goals from Luca Jaquez and Atakan KarazorLeverkusen overcame a stubborn tenman Paderborn 42 after extra time while Freiburg defeated Dusseldorf 31Magdeburg downed Illertissen 30 Kaiserslautern edged Furth 10 Darmstadt cruised past Schalke 40 and Union Berlin prevailed 21 over Arminia Bielefeld in extra time IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bayern-beat-cologne-to-claim-record-14th-straight-victory-in-all-competitions-645495.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bayern-beat-cologne-to-claim-14th-straight-victory-in-all-competitions-645497.html Cologne Oct 30 Bayern Munich advanced to the German Cup round of 16 after recovering from an early setback to defeat a spirited Cologne 41 on Wednesday The win marked Bayerns 14th straight victory in all competitions a new record for clubs from Europes top five leagues surpassing AC Milans 13match start to the 19921993 seasonThe hosts began with purpose pressing aggressively and unsettling the Bundesliga champions Their bright start paid off after half an hour when Ragnar Ache rose highest to nod in Isak Johannessons corner Yet their lead lasted only five minutes as Luis Diaz leveled from close range despite strong suspicions of offside in the buildupThe equalizer shifted momentum firmly toward the visitors Harry Kane put Bayern ahead before the break with a composed finish spinning away from his marker and curling into the far corner Cologne who had shown impressive organization early on faded after the interval as Bayern tightened their gripKane added his second midway through the second half heading home Joshua Kimmichs corner for his 22nd goal of the campaign in just 14 appearances Substitute Michael Olise completed the scoring finishing off a swift counterattack set up by Diaz Cologne nearly pulled one back when Linton Maina struck the post late on but Bayerns control remained absoluteWe showed great mentality today After going 10 down we turned it around to lead 21 before halftime In the second half we kept our intensity high and remained dangerous throughout so overall I am very pleased with the performance said Bayern coach Vincent KompanyBayern hosts Bayer Leverkusen in Saturdays Bundesliga evening fixture while Cologne visits newly promoted Hamburg on SundayElsewhere in the second round of the German Cup Stuttgart beat Mainz 20 through goals from Luca Jaquez and Atakan KarazorLeverkusen overcame a stubborn tenman Paderborn 42 after extra time while Freiburg defeated Dusseldorf 31Magdeburg downed Illertissen 30 Kaiserslautern edged Furth 10 Darmstadt cruised past Schalke 40 and Union Berlin prevailed 21 over Arminia Bielefeld in extra time IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bayern-beat-cologne-to-claim-14th-straight-victory-in-all-competitions-645497.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/leagues-cup-palace-eliminate-liverpool-arsenal-man-city-chelsea-enter-qf-645509.html London Oct 30 Liverpools nightmare run persisted as the Reds were knocked out of the Carabao Cup after Crystal Palace secured a 30 victory at Anfield This was Liverpools sixth defeat in seven matches this season It is the first time since 1953 that the Reds have endured five consecutive domestic losses with their only recent victory coming in the UEFA Champions League against Eintracht FrankfurtSince 27 September no team has lost more games than Liverpool in Europes bigfive leagues It is also the third time in 80 days that Liverpool have been beaten by Crystal Palace following their penalty shootout loss in the FA Community Shield in August and their 21 Premier League defeat at Selhurst Park which began this losing streak according to the Premier LeagueIt marked Liverpools heaviest defeat under Slot who must pray they can stop the rot when Aston Villa arrive at Anfield on SaturdayIn another match Premier League leaders Arsenal secured their eighth consecutive victory bringing them nearer to ending their EFL Cup droughtSecondhalf goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka were sufficient for the Gunners to reach the last eight of a competition they have not won since 1993Arsenal will face Crystal Palace in the quarterfinalsMeanwhile Manchester City narrowly escaped a scare against EFL Championship side Swansea to secure their place in the quarterfinals with a hardfought 31 victorySwamsea pushed the City all the way taking an early lead and going close to doubling their advantage before Jeremy Dokus deflected shot levelled the scores before halftimeAlthough City dominated much of the play it wasnt until the 77th minute that the Blues finally took the lead in the game as Omar Marmoush thundered home an angled driveRayan Cherkis addedtime strike then provided a bit more gloss to the scoreline as Pep Guardiolas side secured a place in the last eight of the competitionCity are targeting a ninth League Cup trophy with only Liverpool having achieved more than our current tally of eight They will face Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in the quarterfinal of the Carabao Cup starting on December 15Chelsea edged past a late scare to secure their spot in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals after an exciting tie where both Andrey Santos and Jamie Gittens scored their first goals for the BluesChelsea will face Cardiff City away in Decembers quarterfinals IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/leagues-cup-palace-eliminate-liverpool-arsenal-man-city-chelsea-enter-qf-645509.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/squash-anahats-dream-run-at-canadian-womens-open-ends-in-sf-645537.html Toronto Oct 30 Indias rising star Anahat Singhs dream run at the Canadian Womens Open a PSA Silver event ended with a 30 defeat to England No1 Georgina Kennedy in the semifinal Anahat the World No43 claimed two big victories on her way to the semifinals after defeating World No20 Melissa Alves and defending champion and World No7 Tinne GilisHowever the semifinal clash with Kennedy proved to be a step too far for the Indian teenager as the World No10 did an excellent job of neutralising the 17yearold to win 115 118 1210 in 30 minutes to secure her spot in the final deciderShes Anahat Singh had a great tournament this week and I said to my coach back home that shes such a natural squash player you cant coach that deceptive swing that she has and how she moves the ball around She was maybe a little tired from the week which is to be expected Kennedy saidBut I felt in control of that match throughout it all but Im not happy with how I ended it I tried to end it too early and nearly got found out but Im just glad I could get throughI was trying to rush her as much as possible I didnt want to give her time on the ball and time for her to use her deceptive swing so I just tried to hurry her and I felt like my short stuff was working well In the beginning but maybe I did a little too much at the end she addedThe Delhi teenagers dream run included her first victory over a top 20 PSA World Rankings player by defeating Alves 1210 1210 811 112 to secure a quarterfinal berth in a Silverlevel event for the first timeShe maintained her strong performance advancing to the semifinals of the USD 96250 PSA Silver event with a commanding straightgame victory over world No 7 Tinne Gilis IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/squash-anahats-dream-run-at-canadian-womens-open-ends-in-sf-645537.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/aus-vs-ind-team-india-arrives-in-melbourne-ahead-of-2nd-t20i-645548.html Melbourne Oct 30 Ahead of the second T20I against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground MCG the Indian team arrived here on Thursday The Suryakumar Yadavled team will aim to take an early lead in the fivematch series after the first T20I was abandoned due to rain in Canberra on WednesdayMeanwhile the Indian team will be riding high on the confidence with the captain finding form with the bat In the washedout encounter Suryakumar played an unbeaten knock of 39 while opener Shubman Gill remained not out on 37 before rain interrupted the proceedingsAfter winning the toss Australia opted to bowl first and Abhishek Sharma gave India a quick start hitting the boundary three times in the first two overs At the other end Shubman Gill also found his rhythm with a couple of boundaries off Nathan Ellis before the pacer responded with a clever slower ball to dismiss AbhishekSuryakumar Yadav then announced his arrival with a trademark flick for six but rain interrupted play shortly after When the match resumed the contest was reduced to 18 overs per side After a quiet period both Gill and Suryakumar shifted gears with the Indian captain in particular regaining form after a lean patchGill hit a slog sweep off Matthew Kuhnemann while Suryakumar faced Ellis for backtoback boundaries and a six With India at 97 for 1 in 94 overs they appeared poised for a strong finish before rain returned this time halting the match prematurely The second game is scheduled for Friday at the Melbourne Cricket GroundEarlier India lost the threematch ODI series 21 with whiteball greats Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returning to form after early setbacks on the tour IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/aus-vs-ind-team-india-arrives-in-melbourne-ahead-of-2nd-t20i-645548.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/we-will-see-a-big-suryakumar-yadav-knock-in-melbourne-varun-aaron-645583.html New Delhi Oct 30 Former pacer Varun Aaron backed the Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav to play a big knock for the touring party in the second T20I against Australia in Melbourne on Friday Suryakumar arrived in Australia with concerns about his form but he silenced his critics with a fine knock of 39 not out in the washedout series opener in Canberra He was also involved in a 62run secondwicket partnership with Shubman Gill who scored 37 not out before rain made an unwanted arrivalThis innings of 39 in the first T20I against the Aussies will greatly boost his confidence Weve seen with legends like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma that even after scoring 15000 ODI runs a brief lean patch can make you doubt your ability to find boundariesSuryakumar averaging just 11 this year with the bat before this knock batted true to his character That first six against Josh Hazlewood was a statement because after being beaten on the previous ball most batters would turn cautious but he responded with a phenomenal six Aaron said on JioStars Cricket LiveThough rain interrupted what could have been a substantial score his approach after Nathan Ellis over showcased his matchwinning intent and it was great to see SKY get back in his groove with the bat because he was the number oneranked batter in T20 international cricket for a long timeWhen someone of his calibre does not get runs people start raising questions immediately so this knock was a good way for him to slightly silence his critics Hopefully we see a big Suryakumar Yadav knock in the second T20I in Melbourne he addedNot only was Suryakumar fluent with his bat India vicecaptain Shubman Gill also regained form in the rainaffected encounterWhat makes Shubmans attacking gameplay so remarkably effective is the fundamental consistency of his technique which remains largely unchanged across different formats of the game We previously witnessed how his dedicated preparation and intense practice sessions ahead of the England Test series directly translated into significant performances and in the contemporary cricket landscape transitioning from oneday cricket to the T20 format should present minimal difficulty for a player of his calibreHis batting resembled the smooth powerful operation of a Rolls Royce engine effortlessly elegant while maintaining an impressive 185 strikerate While numerous international cricketers resort to forceful shots by stepping out and attempting to clear midwicket Shubman demonstrates his exceptional class by simply placing the ball into gaps with impeccable timing and placement making the entire process look remarkably natural and effortless the former pacer saidThe second T20I of the fivematch series will be played at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/we-will-see-a-big-suryakumar-yadav-knock-in-melbourne-varun-aaron-645583.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gone-far-too-young-global-cricket-fraternity-mourns-aussie-teen-cricketers-sudden-death-645585.html New Delhi Oct 30 The global cricket fraternity has been stunned by the sudden death of a 17yearold Australian cricketer Ben Austin in a training accident Austin was facing balls in the nets ahead of a T20 match when he was struck in the neck by a ball during training at Ferntree Gully in front of his teammates He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition by advanced life support and intensive care paramedics on Tuesday After battling for life for a day he died on WednesdayMourning the loss of a young talent Indian Premier League franchises Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders expressed their condolences while the West Australian Cricket Association stated that players are wearing black armbands as a tribute to the teen cricketer on Day 3 of their Sheffield Shield match against South AustraliaFlowers bats and shirts were left at the nets for young Ben Austin at Ferntree Gully CCCricket like life can be heartbreakingly unpredictable Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time CSK shared on X All of us at KKR are deeply saddened by the loss of young Ben Austin Our love and prayers are with his family friends teammates and the Australian cricket community during this difficult time added KKRBlack armbands today for Ben Austin Thoughts with his family and friends WACA said in an X postFormer England cricketer Kevin Pietersen said Horrific news of a young 17yearold boy who got struck by a cricket ball in the nets yesterday in Melbourne and sadly passed away Thoughts with all his family and friends Cricket familyGone Too Soon Ben Austin To his family friends teammates and the entire Cricket Australia community we stand with you in this unimaginable moment of grief Lucknow Super Giants sharedFormer England captain Michael Vaughan said RIP Ben Austin Gone far too young Thoughts are with all his family and close friendsCricket New South Wales said It joins the wider cricket community in mourning the loss of Ben Austin and extend our deepest sympathies to his family friends and Ferntree Gully Cricket ClubThe Big Bash League club Sydney Sixers said Were heartbroken to hear of Ben Austins passing Our thoughts are with his family friends and everyone at Ferntree Gully Cricket ClubThe passing of young Melbourne cricketer Ben Austin has left us heartbroken Our thoughts are with his loved ones his teammates at Ferntree Gully Mulgrave and Eildon Park cricket clubs and the entire cricket community Rest easy Ben said Melbourne RenegadesMoreover Ferntree Gully Cricket Club in conjunction with the Waverley Park Hawks Junior Football Club have set up a gofundme to help the family of our mate Ben Austin IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gone-far-too-young-global-cricket-fraternity-mourns-aussie-teen-cricketers-sudden-death-645585.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/carlsen-wins-clutch-chess-champions-showdown-gukesh-finishes-fourth-645595.html Saint Louis Oct 30 Magnus Carlsen emerges victorious in the Clutch Chess Champions Showdown while reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju finished fourth Carlsen defeated Gukesh twice and then also beat GM Fabiano Caruana twice to win the event and secure the USD 120000 first prize all before his final match against GM Hikaru Nakamura He made two draws against Nakamura and earned another USD 50000 bonus in the end for a total of USD 170000 over three daysCaruana finished second with 165 points nine points behind Carlsen while Nakamura was third with 14 points and Gukesh placed fourth with 10 pointsOn the third and final day Carlsen won his first four games earning three points for each victory His first victim was world champion Gukesh whom he defeated twice again Throughout the tournament Carlsen triumphed over Gukesh five times in total drawing onceAt some point it was very tough to start getting wins and when its like that against this opposition it usually goes downhill quite fast But overall it was a great experience especially before the World Cup There are no better training partners than these three The good thing is these three wont be there Gukesh was quoted as saying by Chess24Gukesh who led the tournament after winning the opening game failed to secure another victory in the following days He suffered two defeats against Carlsen on Day 2 followed by a draw in the first game against Nakamura whom he had previously defeated on the first day to avenge his Checkmate USA vs India exhibition match lossIn the second game on Day 2 the Indian GM had a single opportunity in a fairly balanced rook endgame However he missed it and the game ended in a draw He subsequently lost the next game against Fabiano Caruana and finished the day with a draw IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/carlsen-wins-clutch-chess-champions-showdown-gukesh-finishes-fourth-645595.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/fritz-fires-past-vukic-norrie-stuns-alcaraz-in-paris-645424.html Paris Oct 29 Taylor Fritz stayed ahead of the chasing pack of ATP Finals contenders at the Paris Masters with a win over Australian Aleksandar Vukic Fritz moved smoothly past Vukic 764 62 and never really looked to be troubled Last years US Open finalist who also reached the Wimbledon semifinals and the US Open quarter finals this season was never in any real trouble against the AustralianHe served better 12 aces to 7 he retuned better on both first and second serves and he broke Vukic twice without ever facing a break point on his own serve It was all over in 96 minutes and it was the perfect way to celebrate his 28th birthdayFritz awaits the winner of 13th seed Alexander Bublik and Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the third roundWith fellow Turin contenders Ben Shelton Felix AugerAliassime and Daniil Medvedev also all claiming wins Tuesday Fritz ensured that he remained next in line to qualify at fifth in the ATP Live Race to TurinMeanwhile Cameron Norrie scored his first win over a world No1 Carlos Alcaraz with a stunning 46 63 64 victory over the best player in the worldThe British lefty is into the round of 16 at a Masters 1000 event for the first time since Rome in 2023 and has equalled his best result in Paris R3 2021Alcaraz was competing for the first time since he won his Tourleading eighth title of the season in Tokyo in late September and was far from his best in his eighth ATP headtohead meeting with Norrie 53 in Alcarazs favourThe top seed committed 54 unforced errors and uncharacteristically struggled with his timing and footwork for large periodsElsewhere after five consecutive defeats Andrey Rublev is now making hay as he beat Learner Tien 64 64It may not have been the cleanest of matches seven aces undone by seven double faults 12 winners countered by 13 unforced errors but he did run away with seven of the last 10 points of the match It seems Rublev is back on trackHe will face Ben Shelton in the next round IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/fritz-fires-past-vukic-norrie-stuns-alcaraz-in-paris-645424.html Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/this-tournament-is-difficult-for-me-to-play-well-admits-alcaraz-after-paris-masters-loss-645437.html Paris Oct 29 Carlos Alcaraz arrived in Paris with clarity confidence and momentum but was left baffled with his loss to Britains Cameron Norrie The Spaniard admitted that Paris Masters is a tournament that is really difficult for him to play well Alcaraz who was competing for the first time since he won his Tourleading eighth title of the season in Tokyo in late September was far from his best in his eighth ATP headtohead meeting with NorrieThe British lefty scored his first win over a world No1 Alcaraz with a stunning 46 63 64 victory over the best player in the worldI came here really well I came here with a lot of energy I came here thinking that I could do good results because I have been playing really good tennis said Alcaraz This is the best year for me in terms of playing at the end of the year So Ive been talking with some other players with my team that I feel greatOther years I felt exhausted I felt tired I felt mentally physically But this year I feel good I skipped Shanghai I have been at home for some days so I could enjoy myself there and relax help the battery so I dont know what happened here It is a tournament that is really difficult for me to play well but I will figure it out and I will end up playing great tennis here for sure he addedThe defeat means that Alcarazs fierce rival Jannik Sinner could reclaim the World No 1 ranking if he wins his maiden title in ParisWith less than two weeks to go until the Nitto ATP Finals Alcaraz faces a quick turnaround to prepare in his quest for a first title at the yearend championshipsI will try to prepare myself as best as I can coming to Turin coming to Davis Cup really important tournaments that I have ahead right nowRight now I just want to be back home and lets see what Im going to do But of course Im going to practise and prepare myself and obviously I will try not to let this happen again said Alcaraz IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/this-tournament-is-difficult-for-me-to-play-well-admits-alcaraz-after-paris-masters-loss-645437.html Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/shreyas-iyer-out-of-icu-stable-after-spleen-injury-in-sydney-odi-sources-645162.html Sydney Oct 28 Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer has been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit ICU and is now in stable condition after sustaining a spleen laceration during the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground Sources confirmed to IANS that the team management remains in close contact with him and is keeping a constant watch on his recovery The injury which was initially believed to be a rib cage issue turned out to be more serious than first thought prompting Iyers admission to the ICU in a Sydney hospital He has since shown good signs of recovery and his family is expected to travel to Australia soon to be by his sideA spleen laceration occurs when the spleen a soft bloodrich organ located beneath the rib cage on the upper left side of the abdomen is torn or ruptured Given the organs role in filtering blood such injuries can lead to significant internal bleeding requiring immediate and careful medical attentionEarlier the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI confirmed that Iyer sustained an impact injury to his left lower rib cage while fielding in the third ODI on October 25Scans have revealed a laceration injury to the spleen He is under treatment medically stable and recovering well The BCCI Medical Team in consultation with specialists in Sydney and India is closely monitoring his injury status The Indian Team doctor will remain in Sydney with Shreyas to evaluate his daytoday progress the board Had statedIyer who suffered the injury while taking the catch of Australia wicketkeeperbatter Alex Carry was immediately taken to hospital for further evaluation and has been admitted there in the ICUThe incident occurred in the 33rd over of Australias innings Carey miscued a short ball from seambowling allrounder Harshit Rana Stationed at backward point Iyer sprinted back with the ball swirling overhead and launched himself full length to complete a tumbling catch near deep third manWith Iyer responding positively to treatment both the team management and fans are optimistic about his full recovery in the coming weeks IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/shreyas-iyer-out-of-icu-stable-after-spleen-injury-in-sydney-odi-sources-645162.html Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/its-something-extraordinary-but-id-like-to-be-there-messi-hopeful-for-2026-wc-despite-age-concerns--645187.html New Delhi Oct 28 Lionel Messi has expressed hope of representing Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup aiming to help the defending champions retain their title when the tournament takes place in North America next summer despite fitness and age concerns Messi has been playing professionally since 2004 He made his La Liga debut with Barcelona in October of that year at only 17 years old becoming at the time the youngest player to play for the Spanish clubThe eighttime Ballon dOr winner told NBC News that he will evaluate how his body feels before deciding whether to participate in the tournament across the United States Mexico and CanadaIts something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup and I would love to said Messi who will turn 39 next June I would like to be there to be well and be an important part of helping my national team if I am there And Im going to assess that on a daytoday basis when I start preseason next year with Inter Miami and see if I can really be 100 if I can be useful to the group to the national team and then make a decisionObviously Im really eager because its a World Cup Were coming off winning the last World Cup and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because its always a dream to play with the national team especially in official competitions he addedIn 2021 Messi left Barcelona and moved to the French club Paris SaintGermain After two years with PSG Messi signed with the American league Major League Soccer MLS club Inter MiamiHaving enjoyed a decorated club career Messis international success came in the 2022 FIFA World Cup when Argentina defeated France 42 on penalties to win its first trophy since 1986 Messi won his second Golden Ball and was voted the tournaments best playerIt was the dream of my life It was also true that it was the only thing missing at a professional level because I had been lucky enough to have achieved everything at an individual level at a team level with Barcelona and I think thats every players dream When you ask a player what their dream is its to be world champion Messi said of the 2022 World Cup win IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/its-something-extraordinary-but-id-like-to-be-there-messi-hopeful-for-2026-wc-despite-age-concerns--645187.html Tue, 28 Oct 2025 11:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-u20-women-held-by-kazakhstan-u19-in-second-friendly-645241.html New Delhi Oct 28 The India U20 womens team drew 11 against Kazakhstan U19 in the second and final friendly at the BIIK Sports Complex in Shymkent Kazakhstan on Tuesday Both goals came in the second half Adeliya Bekkozhina handed the lead to the hosts in the 47th minute but Pooja equalised in the 55th with her second goal in as many gamesAs part of their preparations for the AFC U20 Womens Asian Cup 2026 the Young Tigresses played two friendly matches against Kazakhstan U19 in Shymkent India won the first friendly 32 on SaturdayThese matches will serve as crucial preparation for the upcoming AFC U20 Womens Asian Cup scheduled for April 2026 where India will compete after historic qualification earlier this yearThe Young Tigresses under head coach Joakim Alexandersson underwent an intensive training camp at the PadukoneDravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru before departing for Kazakhstan on October 23 The squad worked on tactical awareness physical conditioning and matchreadiness as part of their buildup to the continental tournamentFor India these friendlies marked another important step in their steady progress at the youth level The team qualified for the AFC Womens Asian Cup for the first time in 20 years after a dramatic win over Myanmar in August This result reflected the growing strength and resilience within the national setup The exposure from these international fixtures is invaluable for the players many of whom experienced these playing conditions for the first timeBoth matches took place in Shymkent one of Kazakhstans key football centres known for its modern facilities and competitive environment The games provided a vital learning experience for the Indian U20 team as they continue their journey toward establishing themselves among Asias rising football powers IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-u20-women-held-by-kazakhstan-u19-in-second-friendly-645241.html Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/im-probably-going-to-get-squeezed-out-says-beau-webster-on-his-ashes-chances-645285.html New Delhi Oct 28 Australia allrounder Beau Webster acknowledged that he might be left out of Australias XI for the first Ashes Test depending on the batting lineup However he believes he can still contribute to the series if given a chance Australia will be in a mix to select an XI for their first Ashes Test starting November 19 in Perth With skipper Pat Cummins being ruled out due to a back injury the team management will have to put in a lot of thought before finalising a playing XIWeve obviously got a potential hole around the top of the order there and see who fills that If they see me as a pure middleorder then Im probably going to get squeezed out That is what it isI hope Im still in the conversation certainly as a batter only and if not if its just the makeup of the team Ill plug the way back in firstclass cricket Theres a lot of Test cricket coming up in the next two years I hope Ill be thereabouts Webster was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfoWebster further stated that while it felt reassuring to hear George Bailey guarantee his place for the Ashes opener he wasnt given the same assuranceId obviously love to be in the XI I think Ive got a lot to contribute there and especially in this Ashes series I feel like Im playing the best cricket of my life at the moment So I certainly want to be there Sometimes its the makeup of the team and the balance and the overs and who bats where It feels like this series has probably got more questions over that than any beforeWebster mentioned that the time off the field was beneficial for mental refreshment and allowed him to do strength training in the gym after spending almost a whole winter playing for Australia and Warwickshire in the county championshipI think theres some benefits no doubt I think looking back I did play a lot of cricket in England and thats by choice I play my best cricket when Im constantly playing To have a threeweek gap there it was nice to get back in the gym and do some running and probably freshen the body up physically ready to go for a big summer he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/im-probably-going-to-get-squeezed-out-says-beau-webster-on-his-ashes-chances-645285.html Tue, 28 Oct 2025 17:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/anahat-singh-enters-canadian-open-squash-quarterfinal-645122.html Toronto Oct 27 Reigning womens national champion Anahat Singh advanced to the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open squash a USD 96 250 a PSA Silver tournament Indias rising star scored the biggest upset on day two after she downed World No 20 Melissa Alves 31 for a quarterfinal berth Ranked 43 in the world the Delhi teenager beat French world No 20 and sixth seed Alves 1210 1210 811 112 in 41 minutes in the round of 16The 17yearold whos ranked 23 places lower than Alves in the PSA World Rankings advanced to the last eight of a Silverlevel event for the first time after toppling the Frenchwoman which was also her first victory against a player inside the top 20Im really happy She Melissa Alves is one of the top 20 players so coming into the match I just tried to play my best because shes been playing really well she said Im really happy I was able to play well today and I think this is my first time reaching the quarters of such a big event and Im really excitedAnahat will next meet Belgian second seed and defending champion Tinne Gilis who dispatched Torrie Malik 31 117 114 711 117 in 47 minutesNardine Garas has also locked in her maiden last eight appearance at a Silverlevel event after defeating the tournaments No8 seed Lucy Beecroft while Gina Kennedy and Amanda Sobhy chalked up 30 successes over Marta Dominguez and Alicia Mead respectivelyElsewhere at the Toronto Athletic Club Open sixth seed Indian Veer Chotrani lost a fivegame thriller in the roundof16 to Perry Malik of England who won 117 115 911 511 115There were a number of surprise results as World No95 Mohamed Nasser beat World No50 Muhammad Ashab Irfan 32 and Mohamed Sharaf ousted the No8 seed Matias Knudsen 31The quarterfinals of the Canadian Womens Open 2025 and the Toronto Athletic Club Open 2025 get underway on October 27 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/anahat-singh-enters-canadian-open-squash-quarterfinal-645122.html Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/former-cricket-captain-srikkanth-makes-maiden-visit-to-mahakaleshwar-645147.html Ujjain Oct 27 Former Indian cricket captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth participated in the worldfamous Bhasma Aarti at Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple in Ujjain on Monday morning He had travelled specially from Chennai to offer prayers to Lord Mahakal for the happiness peace and prosperity of people in India and across the world This was Srikkanths maiden visit to the revered shrineAccompanied by his family and friends he took part in the sacred ritual conducted by priests who performed the traditional worshipDeeply moved by the experience Srikkanth said The darshan of Lord Mahakal and the Bhasma Aarti was truly amazing Our entire family feels blessed to be part of this divine moment Everything will happen good for everyone in India and the worldHe also commended the temple management for the extensive arrangementsShri Mahakaleshwar Temple one of the twelve Jyotirlingas is globally known for its unique Bhasma Aarti which begins around 4 am every day and involves offering ashes to Lord ShivaOnline booking is mandatory for darshan particularly for the Bhasma Aarti The recent opening of the second phase of the Mahakal Lok Corridor has significantly improved facilities for devoteesSrikkanths spiritual visit coincided with the beginning of the first Sawari of Kartik Maas on October 27 allowing devotees two opportunities for darshan during the dayThe former cricket openers presence added a touch of celebrity devotion to the sacred occasion drawing attention to the temples growing appeal among public figuresIn a separate development following a recent clash among priests at the temple a threemember committee has been formed The involved priests have been barred from using the VIP gallery for a few daysCCTV cameras will now monitor access to the gallery to ensure proper usage and verify referencesMeanwhile Kartik Agahan Sawari which is the ceremonial procession of Lord Mahakal is also starting on Monday The procession held annually on the second Monday of the Kartik Hindu month will feature the deity in five divine forms carried through the streets of the temple town IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/former-cricket-captain-srikkanth-makes-maiden-visit-to-mahakaleshwar-645147.html Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/new-format-fresh-energy-suryakumar-yadavs-india-look-to-bounce-back-in-t20is-645077.html New Delhi Oct 27 A new format brings new hope As the afternoon sun shone over Manuka Oval in Canberra Suryakumar Yadavs men began their T20 preparations with renewed energy and purpose Having stumbled in the ODI series India now eye redemption as they switch gears for the fivematch T20I series against Australia beginning Wednesday The training session reflected a mix of intensity and calm Players were seen going through running and stretching drills finetuning their movements and coordination Head coach Gautam Gambhir kept a close watch on proceedings offering tactical insights and ensuring every player stayed focused on the task aheadWhile the ODI defeat exposed areas to address the shorter format gives this young Indian side a clean slate and a chance to reassert their flair The Suryakumarled squad featuring a blend of fresh faces and proven performers will look to set the tone early in what promises to be an exciting contestFor Australia under Mitchell Marshs leadership the aim will be to build on their ODI success and carry that confidence into the T20s With both teams viewing this series as a crucial preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 the upcoming matches could define key strategies and player roles in the months aheadIndias T20 identity has always been built on fearless cricket and under new leadership that spark seems ready to reignite Canberra could just be the beginning of something specialAll five T20Is will begin at 145 PM IST with the toss scheduled 30 minutes prior to the startSquadsIndia Suryakumar Yadav captain Shubman Gill vicecaptain Abhishek Sharma Tilak Varma Nitish Kumar Reddy Shivam Dube Axar Patel Jitesh Sharma Varun Chakravarthy Jasprit Bumrah Arshdeep Singh Kuldeep Yadav Harshit Rana Sanju Samson Rinku Singh Washington SundarAustralia Mitchell Marsh captain Sean Abbott Xavier Bartlett Mahli Beardman Tim David Ben Dwarshuis Nathan Ellis Josh Hazlewood Travis Head Josh Inglis Matthew Kuhnemann Glenn Maxwell Mitchell Owen Josh Philippe Matthew Short Marcus Stoinis Adam Zampa IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/new-format-fresh-energy-suryakumar-yadavs-india-look-to-bounce-back-in-t20is-645077.html Mon, 27 Oct 2025 09:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/norris-reclaims-f1-championship-lead-with-dominant-mexican-gp-win-645081.html Beijing Oct 27 Lando Norris delivered a textbook lightstoflag win in ñ Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix seizing the championship lead from McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri with four GPs remaining Starting from pole position after having dominated Saturdays qualifying session Norris headed off the threat from behind on lap 1 to settle into a commanding lead that he would keep to the flag crossing the line some 30 seconds ahead of Ferraris Charles LeclercBehind Leclerc came Red Bulls Max Verstappen who hunted down the Ferrari in the closing laps and might have been set to overtake on the final tour but a Virtual Safety Car deployment to clear Carlos Sainzs stricken Williams prevented him from attempting a pass reports XinhuaPiastri meanwhile could only salvage fifth after a mystifyingly poor qualifying performance saw him line up seventh on the grid The Australians cause was not helped when he dropped to 11th on lap 1 after having lost out in a midfield melee over the first few cornersBetween Verstappen and Piastri came Ollie Bearman for a careerbest fourth place finish in his Haas The Briton had started ninth on the grid but moved up to third as other cars ran wide jostling for position in the early stages and from then on drove a composed race to keep faster cars behind himBehind Piastri came the twin Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell with the Briton voicing his displeasure at being stuck behind his teammate as the two hunted down Bearman clearly feeling he had the pace in clear air to challenge the HaasIn eighth place came Lewis Hamilton who had run third in the early stages but whose challenge was blunted by a tensecond penalty for gaining an advantage by running off track in the early stages The Briton complained over team radio that others had done likewise and gone unpunished but his appeals fell on deaf earsBearmans teammate Esteban Ocon took ninth on an excellent day for Haas with Gabriel Bortoleto rounding out the top ten for SauberNorris win is his sixth of the season and his first since Hungary six races ago After having trailed Piastri in the Drivers Championship by 34 points following the Dutch Grand Prix five races ago Norris now leads the standings by one point from his teammate with Verstappen a further 35 points adriftFor his part Piastri appeared bemused by his lack of pace relative to Norris all weekend long and the Australian may privately be concerned at his recent form that has seen him take only one podium finish since his Dutch Grand Prix winWhile McLaren has long since wrapped up the Constructors title the race for second place remains as tight as ever with Leclercs second place helping move Ferrari to 356 points one ahead of Mercedes with Red Bull a further nine points adriftThe 21st round of the 2025 F1 season is the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos Circuit in Sao Paulo on November 9 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/norris-reclaims-f1-championship-lead-with-dominant-mexican-gp-win-645081.html Mon, 27 Oct 2025 10:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/cummins-ruled-out-first-ashes-test-smith-to-lead-australia-in-opener-645094.html Canberra Oct 27 Pat Cummins has been formally ruled out of the series opener against England in Perth with exskipper Steve Smith set to captain Australia in the series opener scheduled from November 21 Cummins who had indicated he would like to have been back with bowling at least four weeks out from his return has not yet resumed bowling as he continues to recover from the back stress injury he suffered in the tour to the Caribbean back in JuneSmith who has led Australia in 40 Test matches in his career last donned the captains hat for Australia in February this year in a 20 series win in Sri LankaAndrew McDonald is hopeful the 32yearold pacer will be right for the second Test in Brisbane under lights beginning December 4Weve grappled with it for a little while McDonald told reporters in Canberra The nature of the injury is that you never know and youre sort of taking it a day by dayWeve run out of time We flagged this a week or so ago that it will take fourplus weeks to get him up and running Weve run out of time unfortunately but really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test matchHell be back bowling this week and thats a huge step That was the big variable that we wanted to add in Were on the journey to that that second Test match and very hopeful that that will be a positive outcomeMcDonald also said that Cummins will travel to the Perth with the Test squad next month Patty will be around the group as well hell come to Perth and itll almost be one of those things where youll see him and itll almost be a question of Why isnt he playing in Perth Thats where we think hell be placed by that that stage said the coachMcDonald further admitted that Scott Boland who averages 1263 with the ball at home shapes as the likely replacement in the bowling attack for Perth in Cummins absenceLosing your captains not ideal but when you talk about Scott Boland being the potential replacement its not a bad position to be in said McDonaldIdeally we want the captain available for stability and decision making But Steve Smith will slide into that position he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/cummins-ruled-out-first-ashes-test-smith-to-lead-australia-in-opener-645094.html Mon, 27 Oct 2025 11:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/travis-heads-re-signs-with-adelaide-strikers-645104.html Adelaide Oct 27 Travis Head has signed on for another year with Adelaide Strikers for the 14th straight Big Bash League BBL season The 31yearold hasnt played for his hometown club in the past two seasons due to his international commitments but the backend of this summers BBL campaign shapes as a perfect lead in to next years T20 World Cup where Head will be key to Australias hopesPending his fitness and workload management following five Ashes Tests the destructive lefthander could be available for the Strikers final three or four regular season fixtures and finals if they qualifyHead has established himself as one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket scoring runs at rapid rates in both franchise and international cricketThe 31yearold is currently the highest ranked Australian batter in the T20 International rankings sitting sixth overallThe left handers name is etched in BBL history smacking an unbeaten 53ball century in season 5 New Years Eve match including nine sixes three of which came in the last over His talents were also on show last year in the IPL when he smacked a 39ball century for the Sunrisers HyderabadIts great to add another year on It was a very easy decision to stay in Adelaide Weve had some awesome years at the Strikers so Im looking forward to contributing depending on what my availability is like over the summer Head saidIt makes it so easy to sign on because Adelaide Oval is the best ground in Australia and were really well supported by the best fans he addedHead last played for the Strikers in January 2023 but spoke last summer of his desire to remain involved with the club despite his increasingly heavy international scheduleHeads resigning comes after the Strikers secured the signatures of fellow master blaster Chris Lynn quick Hasan Ali and explosive allrounder Jamie OvertonStrikers coach Tim Paine said Heads experience will be useful for the side despite his limited presenceWere thrilled to welcome Travis back to the Strikers not only for his explosive batting but for the energy leadership and experience he adds to the group coach Paine saidWe understand Trav has a busy international schedule but were really looking forward to welcoming him back into the side after the AshesThe marquee signings come in addition to the emerging trio of Liam Scott Jason Sangha and Mackenzie Harvey IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/travis-heads-re-signs-with-adelaide-strikers-645104.html Mon, 27 Oct 2025 11:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/travis-head-re-signs-with-adelaide-strikers-645109.html Adelaide Oct 27 Travis Head has signed on for another year with Adelaide Strikers for the 14th straight Big Bash League BBL season The 31yearold hasnt played for his hometown club in the past two seasons due to his international commitments but the backend of this summers BBL campaign shapes as a perfect lead in to next years T20 World Cup where Head will be key to Australias hopesPending his fitness and workload management following five Ashes Tests the destructive lefthander could be available for the Strikers final three or four regular season fixtures and finals if they qualifyHead has established himself as one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket scoring runs at rapid rates in both franchise and international cricketThe 31yearold is currently the highest ranked Australian batter in the T20 International rankings sitting sixth overallThe left handers name is etched in BBL history smacking an unbeaten 53ball century in season 5 New Years Eve match including nine sixes three of which came in the last over His talents were also on show last year in the IPL when he smacked a 39ball century for the Sunrisers HyderabadIts great to add another year on It was a very easy decision to stay in Adelaide Weve had some awesome years at the Strikers so Im looking forward to contributing depending on what my availability is like over the summer Head saidIt makes it so easy to sign on because Adelaide Oval is the best ground in Australia and were really well supported by the best fans he addedHead last played for the Strikers in January 2023 but spoke last summer of his desire to remain involved with the club despite his increasingly heavy international scheduleHeads resigning comes after the Strikers secured the signatures of fellow master blaster Chris Lynn quick Hasan Ali and explosive allrounder Jamie OvertonStrikers coach Tim Paine said Heads experience will be useful for the side despite his limited presenceWere thrilled to welcome Travis back to the Strikers not only for his explosive batting but for the energy leadership and experience he adds to the group coach Paine saidWe understand Trav has a busy international schedule but were really looking forward to welcoming him back into the side after the AshesThe marquee signings come in addition to the emerging trio of Liam Scott Jason Sangha and Mackenzie Harvey IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/travis-head-re-signs-with-adelaide-strikers-645109.html Mon, 27 Oct 2025 11:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/lamchemnba-udham-singh-anant-deshmukh-ahaana-and-dhruv-extend-indias-winning-streak-at-asian-youth-games--644958.html Manama Oct 25 Team Indias young boxers continued their impressive run at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 adding four more victories to their tally as Lamchemnba Udham Singh and Anant Deshmukh registered commanding wins on Saturday following strong performances by Ahaana and Dhruv on Friday at Exhibition World Bahrain Leading the charge on Saturday Lamchemnba displayed sharp reflexes and solid control to defeat his opponent from the Philippines 41 marking another confident showing for India Udham Singh followed with a flawless performance against Thailand winning his bout with a clean 50 verdict while Anant Deshmukh outclassed his opponent from Tajikistan with another unanimous 50 win showcasing Indias technical depth and superior preparationA day earlier Ahaana recorded a dominant victory against Amantaieva of Kyrgyzstan forcing the referee to stop the contest RSC in the second round after a series of decisive punches Dhruv too was impressed with his tactical discipline overcoming Bakytbekov Alinur of Kyrgyzstan by a 41 margin to advance to the next stageWith consistent performances from both the boys and girls squads India continued to build strong momentum in the continental competition The 23member contingent is participating across 14 weight categories 7 boys and 7 girls in the U17 division after an intensive preGames training camp at NS NIS Patiala under national coaches Vinod Kumar and Jitender Raj SinghThe boxing competition will continue till October 30 with Indias young pugilists determined to sustain their winning rhythm and push for podium finishes in the coming roundsEarlier on Friday Indias young boxers made an impressive start at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 with Khushi Chand and Chandrika Bhoreshi Pujari recording backtoback victories in the preliminary rounds of the boxing competition at Exhibition World Bahrain Hall 9Continuing Indias fine momentum from the opening day Khushi Chand produced a composed and clinical performance in the Girls 46kg category defeating Reem AlRamahi of Jordan by a unanimous 50 decision Displaying sharp movement and tactical discipline Khushi controlled all three rounds to secure a welldeserved win and advance to the next stageMeanwhile on Thursday Devendra Choudhary opened Indias campaign with a commanding performance in the Boys 75kg prequarterfinal bout outclassing his opponent to move into the next round His composed approach and superior ring strategy ensured Indias first win of the tournament IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/lamchemnba-udham-singh-anant-deshmukh-ahaana-and-dhruv-extend-indias-winning-streak-at-asian-youth-games--644958.html Sun, 26 Oct 2025 00:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bhullar-advances-to-solo-seventh-in-international-series-philippines-644962.html Manila Philippines Oct 26 Sampson Zheng set up a fascinating finalround contest in the US2 million International Series Philippines with home hero Miguel Tabuena and the inform Sarit Suwannarut after a sensational 10under par 62 third round on Saturday Thailands Sarit 69 a twotime International Series winner had started the day four shots ahead of Tabuena and Kazuki Higa but he was caught up on the moving day by the fastcharging Zheng and Tabuena who made two eagles and three birdies for a flawless 65The leading trio was one ahead of Japans Yosuke Asaji 65 while South Africas LIV Golf star Dean Burmester 65 and another inform star Kazuki Higa 68 were tied fifth at 14under Indias Gaganjeet Bhullar 67 made a bogey on his closing hole but advanced to solo seventh place at 13under one ahead of Australias Marc Leishman 65Bhullar carded a fiveunder round to sit just four shots off the lead delivering an almost flawless performance before a late bogey on the 18th slightly marred an otherwise strong showingI played really well today I probably hit 13 out of 14 fairways and 16 out of 18 greens so I kept some really good momentum going I drove the ball well hit my irons close and gave myself plenty of birdie opportunities I also made a couple of really good upanddowns for par especially on holes 11 and 17 which helped keep the round on track Overall it was a solid day of golf just a small miss on the final hole where I couldnt get up and down but Im happy with how I playedKarandeep Kochhar also put in a strong performance carding a fiveunder 67 to break into the top 20 going into the final round while Ajeetesh Sandhu posted a level par 72 highlighted by a memorable eagle on eight to sit T50 on five underChinas 24yearold Zheng rode a hot putter and jumped into contention with a round that featured eight birdies and an eagle on the parfive eighth hole The round included four straight birdies from the 14th to 17th holes followed by a crucial par save on his final hole where he twoputted from 45 feetI just hit a lot of greens and made a lot of putts I honestly didnt feel like I did anything super special but I just stuck to the game plan Hit a lot of greens hit a lot of shots very close and fortunately made some putts said Zheng whose best finish on the Asian Tour is a tied second at Mandiri Indonesia Open and a tied fourth in International Series in England last yearMy second shot into eight was probably the best shot I hit all day I hit a fourhybrid to 24 feet and the eagle gave me a lot of momentum It got me from twounder for the day to four and just kind of got the snowball rolling from there So that was a very important shotIn Fridays second round Tabuena made a holeinone and an eagle and he followed up on Saturday with eagles on the parfive third and 16th holes On the third Tabuena smashed a fouriron from 257 yards and hit a fiveiron from 235 yards downwind on the 16thPlaying with a blue ribbon in memory of his friend Paolo Paowee Tantoco son of Rico Tantoco the owner of Sta Elena Golf Club Tabuena said To be honest I totally forgot my score out there I was just cruising and found myself in a real flow state which is exactly what I wanted to achieve at the start of the day I didnt want to think about my score or what the other players were doing I just wanted to focus on my own game and execute my plan and it was nice to be able to do that todayI havent played in front of that many people in a long time It just makes it even more special that its happening here at home Hopefully I can get the job done tomorrowAfter making 16 birdies in his first 36 holes Sarit could add only five in the third apart from two bogeys one of which came on the parfive eighthIt was a tough day I didnt hit my driver as good as the first two days and the pins were a little bit tougher So Ill say overall solid but not as good as I wanted said the 27yearold who was leading by four shots the previous week in Macao but finished tied fourthI feel the same as I did in Macao The number I have to shoot to be able to win Im just going to focus on that and try to do my best to outplay the other guys Not only the other two guys but you can see how low everyone is scoring today Someone could shoot 10under again and jump up the leaderboard But yeah Im going to play my best and lets see what happens after thatStar attraction and former world No 1 Dustin Johnson shot a fourunder 68 to move up to tied 26th place at eightunder His 4Aces GC teammate and former Masters champion Patrick Reed shot a 71 and slipped to tied 19th place at nineunder The International Series Philippines is the sixth of nine elevated events on the 2025 Asian Tour schedule IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bhullar-advances-to-solo-seventh-in-international-series-philippines-644962.html Sun, 26 Oct 2025 01:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jaipur-played-as-a-complete-unit-they-deserved-this-impressive-win-rishank-devadiga-645023.html New Delhi Oct 26 Former Pro Kabaddi League star Rishank Devadiga has lauded Jaipur Pink Panthers complete team display in edging out defending champions Haryana Steelers in Playin 1 of the PKL 12 It was a match that went to the wire as the Jaipur Pink Panthers secured a close and impressive 3027 win over the Haryana Steelers in Playin 1 The defenders stood tall as Aryan Kumar scored a High Five while Deepanshu Khatri got four points for the Pink Panthers while Nitin Kumar scored seven points For the Steelers Neerajs High Five was the main highlightIt was thrilling to witness such exceptional kabaddi While Haryana Steelers were favoured as reigning champions Jaipur Pink Panthers dominated from the start Their main raider Nitin Dhankhar gave them an early 10point lead and the team maintained remarkable composure throughoutThe defense particularly the corner defenders Aryan Kumar and Deepanshu Khatri executed perfect ankle holds like magnets attached to their hands keeping Haryanas raiders under constant pressure Jaipur played as a complete unit demonstrating why they deserved this impressive win said Rishank on JIoHotstarReflecting on Haryana Steelers below par performance he added Haryanas Coach Manpreet Singh recognized early that this match against Jaipur Pink Panthers was slipping away The players lacked their usual enthusiasm and momentum which was visible in Manpreets frustrationWith our experience in the sport we can identify when a team has lost its rhythm and Manpreet whos such an experienced Coach and has played a lot of kabaddi in his days knew that the match is going to be tough to win he urged his players to attempt advanced tackles to reignite their spark even in defeat Unfortunately this strategy backfired compounding their challenges on the mat he addedIn Playin 2 threetime champions Patna Pirates eliminated U Mumba after a 4031 Ayan Lohchab scored 14 points but it was a defensive masterclass that saw 16 points led by Navdeep 7 and Ankit 4 that took the Pirates into the Eliminator 1 where they will play the Jaipur Pink PanthersHailong Lohchabs exceptional consistency Rishank said I have never seen a raider who consistently delivers marathon raids like Ayan We have legends like Pardeep Narwal known for iconic moves like the dubki but Ayan is different To consistently score Super 10s sometimes even 20 points match after match while maintaining such high fitness levels is remarkable The way he manages his body and performance deserves true respectHe further praised Patna Pirates defensive masterclass and said Their defense has made a strong comeback in recent games which was crucial in securing this victory against U Mumba While Ayan Lohchab has been consistently brilliant and difficult for any defense to contain the win belongs to the defensive unitNavdeep in particular stepped up in this crucial match after a challenging season dominating from the start with solo tackles waist holds and ankle holds Patnas defensive display ultimately left U Mumbas raiders with no answers IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jaipur-played-as-a-complete-unit-they-deserved-this-impressive-win-rishank-devadiga-645023.html Sun, 26 Oct 2025 13:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/perth-might-be-difficult-well-see-him-involved-at-some-stage-lyon-on-cummins-ashes-participation-644869.html New Delhi Oct 25 Australian spinner Nathan Lyon provided an update on captain Pat Cummins health as the latter recovers from a stress fracture to his back Australia are set to play the crucial Ashes series against England next month and Cummins injury has raised concerns over his participation in the muchanticipated Test series Lyon mentioned that while the Aussie skippers participation in the opening Test in Perth looks difficult he believes that the tall pacer is likely to get involved with the side in the later stages of the seriesHes been very very good actually For him to leave the Eastern Suburbs and get out to Silverwater quite regularly Ive been amazed But no hes doing everything that he possibly can Thats where one youre really proud of him as a mate but also as a teammate and as your captain hes really leading the way by setting the example but hes training his backside off So hes doing everything he can to hopefully hopefully get out thereI find Perth might be pretty difficult If Im being honest I think weve only got four weeks out But realistically I think theres still a big goal for him to potentially play Brisbane Adelaide So I personally feel like well see him involved in the series at some stage So as I said Ive seen him doing the work And you know the class of the player but also the professionalism as well as Pat So hes giving himself the best chance and thats all we can ask Lyon told ABC Sports commentary team during the ongoing Australia vs India 3rd ODIAustralia are currently facing India in a whiteball series at home which consists of three ODIs and five T20Is While they clinched the ODI series after winning the first two games they will next set out to beat the reigning T20 champions in the shortest format of the game IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/perth-might-be-difficult-well-see-him-involved-at-some-stage-lyon-on-cummins-ashes-participation-644869.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 17:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/extremely-sorry-for-this-incident-bcci-secy-devajit-saikia-after-australian-cricketers-get-molested-in-indore-644872.html New Delhi Oct 25 BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia issued a statement on the Australian cricketers molestation case and condemned the unfortunate event Notably two female Australian cricketers were molested by a motorcyclist in Indore when they were walking to a nearby cafe from their hotel The embarrassing act has sparked worldwide outrage The Australian team currently in Indore for a key groupstage match against South Africa is reportedly receiving extra security after the incident This troubling event has overshadowed what has otherwise been a competitive Womens World Cup raising renewed international fears about the safety of women athletes in IndiaThis is a very unfortunate event that has taken place Nobody expected this kind of thing to happen because India is such a hospitable country This should not have happened with any of the guests of the country So we are extremely sorry for this incident which is an unfortunate oneWe are also happy that the police have taken prompt action in nabbing the culprit at the earliest I hope law will take its course to punish the culprit who has been nabbed We will also ensure that although there is already a security ring within all the visiting teams during the ICC Womens ODI World Cup but we will revamp it and we will ensure that no such things happen in future We also hope everything will go smoothly for the remaining World Cup games Saikia told IANSFormer India cricketer Reema Malhotra also spoke to IANS and shared her thoughts on the matter saying This is unacceptable and should not happen again because in India our simple motto is Athithi Devo Bhava Guest is God That should be followed and I hope that the culprit gets harsh punishment so that no other stupid person dares to repeat this in life It should set an example for everyone who have similar sick mentality that women should be respected I felt really bad and sad for what happened but the bottom line is one has to make sure that it wont happen again IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/extremely-sorry-for-this-incident-bcci-secy-devajit-saikia-after-australian-cricketers-get-molested-in-indore-644872.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/virat-kohli-becomes-second-highest-run-getter-in-odis-644877.html Sydney Oct 25 Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli on Saturday broke another record as he became the secondhighest rungetter in the ODI format Kohli who endured a subdued form in the first two ODIs against Australia broke the shackles and announced his return on the international stage The No3 batter who is famously known as Chase Master hammered his 75th ODI fifty and also completed 2500 runs against Australia in the formatDuring the course of his innings Kohli surpassed Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkaras tally of 14234 runs in 404 ODIs in his 293rd ODI inningsThe former India captain is now only behind legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar who is sitting at the top of the table with a massive tally of 18426 runs However Kohli boasts a better average than Tendulkar or any of the top 10 batters in the list He averages 5769 in 305 ODIs played so far while Tendulkars average stood at 4483 in his 463match ODI careerWith Kohli at the fag end of his career and only playing in the 50over format it is likely that the Delhi batter will finish his ODI career as the secondhighest run getter behind his idol TendulkarComing to the match Kohli made an unbeaten 74 including seven fours and was involved in a 168run matchwinning partnership with opener Rohit Sharma who smashed his 33rd ODI ton and 50th international century The duo guided India to a ninewicket consolation victory at Sydney Cricket Ground as Australia sealed the series 21Rohit was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series as well for amassing 202 runs across three matchesThe two teams will now face each other in a fivematch T20I series commencing on October 29 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/virat-kohli-becomes-second-highest-run-getter-in-odis-644877.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 18:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/deeply-painful-mpca-condemns-molestation-of-australian-women-cricketers--644892.html Indore Oct 25 Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association MPCA on Saturday expressed profound dismay over the alleged molestation involving two Australian women cricketers in Indore No woman should have to endure such inappropriate behaviour We extend our deepest condolences to the affected players This incident is deeply painful not only for the players but for the entire sports community as well as for our state and city Mahanaaryaman Scindia President of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association MPCA posted on his XA shocking incident of alleged molestation involving two Australian women cricketers has sent ripples through the cricketing world and local community prompting swift arrests and strong condemnations from officials Scindia said that Madhya Pradesh especially Indore has always been renowned for the respect and safety of its guests The players staying at the premium Hotel for the Womens World Cup Cricket were reportedly harassed while walking to a nearby cafe casting a shadow over Madhya Pradeshs reputation for hospitality Scindia further lamented the damage to the citys image The inappropriate behaviour of one individual has tarnished this prestigious image leaving us all deeply saddened We commend the swift and firm action of the local administration and police who promptly identified and arrested the accused The MPCA stands in complete solidarity with the affected players and the Australian team during this difficult time and is committed to providing all possible cooperation to the investigating agencies According to police officials the incident occurred on Thursday when the two cricketers were approached by two young men on a motorcycle The suspects allegedly began harassing them verbally and physically before fleeing the scene Distressed the players immediately sent an SOS call to the hotel and team security Danny Simmons who alerted local authorities Police responded promptly identifying and arresting one of the accused 28yearold Aqueel Khan on Friday Investigations are going on to apprehend the second suspect Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya echoed the sentiment stating If this has happened it is shameful Strict action will be taken against those involved as this concerns the honour of our country He assured that the government would ensure justice and prevent such occurrences in the future The Australian team management has acknowledged the incident but declined further comment focusing on player welfare Cricket Australia is reportedly in touch with local organisers to bolster security measures for the remainder of the tournament This episode has sparked broader discussions on womens safety in public spaces particularly during highprofile international events Local residents and cricket enthusiasts in Indore have voiced support for the victims with many praising the rapid police response The MPCA has pledged enhanced protocols to safeguard all participants The arrested suspect faces charges under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code with a court appearance scheduled soon IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/deeply-painful-mpca-condemns-molestation-of-australian-women-cricketers--644892.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 18:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/badminton-asia-u15-u17-india-in-line-for-two-gold-as-diksha-sudhakar-lakshya-rajesh-set-up-all-indian-summit-clash-644947.html Chengdu China Oct 25 India were assured of a gold medal in the girls U17 category of the Badminton Asia U17 amp U15 Championships after sixth seed Diksha Sudhakar and eighthranked Lakshya Rajesh registered straight games victories in their respective semifinals here on Saturday With top seed Shaina Manimuthu also reaching the girls U15 final India will have a chance to bring home two gold medals The Indian contingent was already assured of five medals ahead of Saturdays semifinal matchesIn the lastfour round in the girls U17 section Diksha defeated Chinese Taipeis Yun Chiao Su 218 2117 in 27 minutes before Lakshya joined her in the final with a 2115 2119 win over Japans Ria HagaWhile the two girls eased through their semifinals Shaina was made to work hard for almost an hour by Chinas Yun Jie Yi before prevailing 2112 1621 2116 She will now face Japans Chiharu Tomita in the girls U15 finalHowever Indias hopes of a final spot in the U17 mixed doubles and U17 boys doubles categories were dashedIn the mixed doubles semifinals Jangjeet Singh Kajla and Jananika Ramesh went down 1721 2118 2116 against I An Chang and Yo Han Wang of Chinese TaipeiMeanwhile Jagsher Singh Khangurra lost his boys singles semifinal against Chinas Hong Tian Yue 2111 2116Earlier on Friday Lakshya Rajesh who produced a spirited fightback to upset top seed Lalita Sattayathadakoon of Thailand 1121 2116 2119 in the U17 girls singles quarterfinals Her win capped off a superb allround day for the Indian contingentSixth seed Diksha Sudhakar powered past Indonesias Raisya Affatunisa 2117 218 in another commanding display In the boys singles Jagsher Singh Khangurra continued his fine form with a straightgames victory over Zhan Shing Yui of Hong Kong China winning 2113 2114Jangjeet Singh Kajla and Jananika Ramesh advanced to the U17 mixed doubles semifinals following the retirement of their Chinese opponents while topseeded Shaina Manimuthu eased into the U15 girls singles semifinals with a 2114 2116 win over Japans Yubuki Azumaya IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/badminton-asia-u15-u17-india-in-line-for-two-gold-as-diksha-sudhakar-lakshya-rajesh-set-up-all-indian-summit-clash-644947.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 21:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/iran-blank-nepal-to-win-tri-nation-womens-international-friendlies-event-in-shillong-644806.html Shillong Oct 24 Iran were crowned winners of the TriNation Womens International Friendlies after a dominant 30 win over Nepal at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Friday The victory coming on the back of their earlier 20 triumph against India meant Iran secured two wins out of two and an unassailable lead in the standings with six points India and Nepal will meet in the last friendly game on October 27 Substitute Sara Didar started from where she left off in the last game against India as she opened the scoring in the 49th minute Irans second and third goals were scored by Zahra Ghanbari 52 and Shabnam Behesht 57 respectivelyThe evening started with Nepal showing admirable resilience against an Iranian team ranked 70th in the world as they held their shape in the opening halfIran dominated possession dictating the tempo and launching wave after wave of attacks yet Nepals disciplined backline and determined pressing frustrated their opponentsNepal grew in confidence as the first half wore on carving out a few halfchances of their own Though their finishing was wayward the sheer grit to fight Iran in midfield was admirableIran meanwhile appeared increasingly unsettled by Nepals stubborn defence The first 45 minutes ended goalless but it was clear the match was teetering on the edge of a decisive breakthroughThat breakthrough came swiftly after the restart Just three minutes into the second half Sara Didar who had scored a brace against India in the previous match again made her presence felt Latching onto a long ball from goalkeeper Raha Yazdani she muscled past defender Bimala BK and coolly slotted home past goalkeeper Anjila Tumbapo Subba to give Iran a 10 lead in the 49th minuteIran smelled blood and Nepal despite their spirited defence in the first half began to unravel Three minutes later Zahra Ghanbari doubled the lead with a superbly executed freekick from the right flank Her curling delivery completely outfoxed Subba and nestled into the topright cornerIrans third goal came in the 57th minute and it was the pick of the lot Shabnam Behesht unleashed a stunning leftfooted strike from 20 yards a rising effort that flew past Subba with pace and precision It was a moment of pure class that effectively killed off the contestThree goals in eight blistering minutes broke Nepals resistance and confirmed Irans dominance The final whistle brought Iranian celebrations as the visitors lifted the trophy after a statement performance IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/iran-blank-nepal-to-win-tri-nation-womens-international-friendlies-event-in-shillong-644806.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 00:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-women-wrestlers-shine-in-u-23-senior-world-wrestling-championship-in-serbia-644809.html New Delhi Oct 25 Indian women wrestlers delivered an outstanding performance at the ongoing Under23 Senior World Wrestling Championship in Novi Sad Serbia winning five bronze medals in their respective weight categories The medals were won by Nishu 55 kg Neha Sharma 57 kg Pulkit 65 kg Shrishti 68 kg and Priya 76 kgAdditionally two Indian wrestlers have advanced to the final in their respective categories and will compete for the gold medal on Saturday against their Japanese opponentsThe wrestlers who have reached the summit clash of their respective categories are Hanshika Lamba 53 kg and Sarika Malik 59 kg according to a release issued by the Wrestling Federation of India WFI President Sanjay Kumar SinghEarlier on Tuesday Indias Vishvajit More competing in the 55 kg GrecoRoman category brought glory to the nation by winning the bronze medal at the Under23 Senior World Wrestling Championship being held in Novi Sad SerbiaIn the bronze medal bout Vishvajit displayed exceptional skills and determination to defeat the Kazakh wrestler with a close 54 scoreline securing Indias first medal in the championshipVishvajit began his campaign with an impressive victory over a Romanian wrestler in the qualification round and continued his fine form by defeating the USA wrestler by technical superiority in the next round He faced a tough challenge in the quarterfinals where he lost to UWW wrestler Alibek However as Alibek advanced to the final Vishvajit earned a chance to compete in the repechage roundIn the repechage he made a strong comeback by overpowering the Georgian wrestler through technical superiority paving his way to the bronze medal bout Demonstrating remarkable grit and composure Vishvajit ultimately triumphed over the Kazakh opponent to clinch the Bronze Medal for India IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-women-wrestlers-shine-in-u-23-senior-world-wrestling-championship-in-serbia-644809.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 00:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-1-cost-cap-delay-sparks-speculation-as-teams-await-fia-verdict-644824.html Mexico City Oct 25 Speculation over potential cost cap breaches has intensified in Formula One after the sports governing body delayed the release of the 2024 financial compliance results The FIA has yet to publish the official accounts a move that has sparked curiosity across the paddock given that confirmation of compliance in previous years had arrived much earlierSauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley suggested that the delay could indicate financial trouble for one or more teams I think the delay in announcing made it very clear to all of us that there were some teams in trouble or a team in trouble perhaps Nobodys doing it intentionally These things happen sometimes Wheatley said during a press conference at the Mexico City Grand PrixHe also acknowledged the mounting challenges of operating under the cost cap which was introduced in 2021 to level the playing field and reduce excessive spending among teams Unexpected costs can arise from incidents like car crashes Wheatley noted explaining how teams face increasing difficulty in balancing budgets while maximizing performance under the tight financial limitsFerrari team principal Fred Vasseur however urged caution dismissing speculation until the FIAs review is completed I think its not a big deal to have the decision in September or October at the end of the day On this we have to trust the FIA that they are doing their job And I think its not an easy one honestly Vasseur said He further emphasized the importance of distinguishing between different types of potential breaches We have to separate sporting advantage with a sporting penalty from a technical mistake or administrative issueHaas boss Ayo Komatsu echoed the sentiment saying that teams must adapt and await the governing bodys conclusions Teams must adjust their processes and await the outcome he remarked acknowledging the growing complexity of financial management within Formula Ones regulatory frameworkIn a brief statement the FIA confirmed that its Cost Cap Administration is finalising its review of 2024 financial submissions adding that an official announcement is expected soon The organization declined to comment on individual casesThe cost cap now in its fourth year remains a cornerstone of Formula Ones effort to maintain competitive balance IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-1-cost-cap-delay-sparks-speculation-as-teams-await-fia-verdict-644824.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 09:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-leeds-united-beat-west-ham-2-1-for-third-win-644826.html Leeds Oct 25 Leeds United returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a hardfought 21 victory over West Ham United at Elland Road on Friday courtesy of early goals from Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon The win marked Leeds third of the season lifting them to 13th place in the table while West Ham remained second from bottom after yet another frustrating night for new coach Nuno Espirito Santo who is still searching for his first win since taking chargeLeeds got off to the perfect start capitalizing on the visitors poor defending at set pieces to seize control within the opening 15 minutes In just the third minute Aaronson pounced from close range after a goalmouth scramble finishing past Alphonse Areola who had initially saved the first attemptWest Ham nearly hit back through Jarrod Bowen whose spectacular bicycle kick in the 10th minute was smartly kept out by Lucas Perri But the home side doubled their advantage five minutes later when Rodon rose highest to head home from Sean Longstaffs corner making it 20 and sending the Elland Road crowd into rapturesThe Hammers struggled to find rhythm in the first half though Lucas Paqueta thought he had pulled one back in the 34th minute only for VAR to confirm he was offside In a bid to shift momentum Callum Wilson was introduced early but Leeds continued to threaten with Aaronson striking the crossbar early in the second half and Jack Harrison forcing a fine save from AreolaWest Ham finally found a late consolation in stoppage time when Mateus Fernandes glanced in Bowens curling cross into the far corner However with just four minutes added on it proved too little too lateThe result ended a run of four league games without a win for Leeds while West Hams struggles continued marking their worst start to a season since 197374 when they had the same record after nine games IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-leeds-united-beat-west-ham-2-1-for-third-win-644826.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 10:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jamieson-ruled-out-of-new-zealands-odis-against-england-due-to-side-stiffness-644828.html Tauranga Oct 25 New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson has been ruled out of the upcoming threematch ODI series against England after experiencing stiffness in his left side during training at Bay Oval on Saturday New Zealand Cricket NZC confirmed that Jamieson 30 will return to his home in Christchurch later in the day for further assessment The governing body also said they are targeting a return for Jamieson for the home series against the West Indies in NovemberKyle experienced some stiffness in his side after bowling today and we didnt want to take any risks at this stage of the summer We felt it was best for him to sit out this oneday series and give himself the best chance of being ready for the West Indies tour which starts on November 5 in Auckland said head coach Rob Walter in a statementWalter also said a replacement for Jamieson in the ODI squad would be confirmed following the completion of the opening round of the Ford Trophy oneday competition later on SaturdayNew Zealand and England will open the threegame ODI series at Bay Oval in Tauranga on Sunday and will be followed by games in Hamilton and Wellington on October 29 and November 1 respectively England had previously won the threegame T20I series 10 with two matches washed out due to rainNew Zealand squad Mitchell Santner c Michael Bracewell Mark Chapman Devon Conway Jacob Duffy Zak Foulkes Matt Henry Tom Latham Daryl Mitchell Rachin Ravindra Nathan Smith Kane Williamson and Will YoungEngland Harry Brook c Rehan Ahmed Jofra Archer Sonny Baker Tom Banton Jacob Bethell Jos Buttler Brydon Carse Sam Curran Liam Dawson Ben Duckett Jamie Overton Adil Rashid Joe Root Jamie Smith and Luke Wood IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jamieson-ruled-out-of-new-zealands-odis-against-england-due-to-side-stiffness-644828.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 10:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/tayla-vlaeminck-to-miss-upcoming-wbbl-season-due-to-shoulder-injury-recovery-644830.html Melbourne Oct 25 Australia fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck has been ruled out of the upcoming WBBL season due to her ongoing recovery from shoulder surgery Tayla had been targeting a return to competitive cricket through her first appearance for the Melbourne Renegades since dislocating her right shoulder during Australias 2024 T20 World Cup campaign But in a statement on Saturday Cricket Australia CA confirmed that Tayla has not progressed sufficiently in her recovery to be available for selection Tayla widely regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in the womens game when fit will now continue her rehabilitation away from the tournament starting on November 9Following a right shoulder injury sustained during the 2024 ICC Womens T20 World Cup that required reconstruction surgery Taylas recovery has been impacted by ongoing limitations restricting her ability to progress her bowling and work through the end stages of her return to play planWell continue to work with Tayla the Melbourne Renegades and Cricket Victoria to support her through this next phase said Kate Beerworth Australian womens team physiotherapistMelbourne Renegades also said Taylas shoulder hasnt responded to an increased bowling load over the last few months as well as medical staff would have liked making it evident that she wont be available for the upcoming WBBLTayla has been a valued member of the squad since rejoining us ahead of WBBL08 We knew there was a possibility she might not be available this season given what she had sustained and theres been no pressure on her to rush that process Her longterm health and readiness to perform at her best remain the priority said James Rosengarten Renegades General ManagerAlthough ruled out of the upcoming WBBL season Renegades said Tayla will continue to be around the squad when the team assembles for the tournament adding that a replacement player will be announced in the coming days IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/tayla-vlaeminck-to-miss-upcoming-wbbl-season-due-to-shoulder-injury-recovery-644830.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 16:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pan-pacific-open-rybakina-withdraws-from-semis-due-to-back-injury-644832.html Tokyo Oct 25 Elena Rybakina was forced to withdraw from the Pan Pacific Open semifinal in Tokyo on Saturday due to a back injury just a day after securing her place at the seasonending WTA Finals Her withdrawal handed Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic a walkover into Sundays final where the sixth seed will face either Sofia Kenin or Belinda BencicThe 2022 Wimbledon champion who had looked in fine form all week expressed her disappointment in a statement released by the tournament Im very sorry I cant play today said the Moscowborn Kazakh I have been having problems with my back this week and cant play 100 per cent I am disappointed that my fans will not see me today but I hope to see you next yearRybakinas decision to pull out comes at the end of a demanding stretch on the tour that saw her secure her eighth and final qualifying spot for the WTA Finals which will be held next month in Saudi Arabia On Friday she sealed her place among the elite eight with a straightsets victory over Canadas Victoria Mboko in the Tokyo quarterfinalsThe world number seven has been in excellent form recently lifting the Ningbo Open title in China last week to boost her qualification chances for the prestigious yearend eventWhile her Tokyo campaign ended prematurely Rybakinas consistency across the season including deep runs in Grand Slams and WTA events has firmly established her among the games eliteFans will now hope her withdrawal is merely precautionary as she looks to recover in time for the WTA Finals where she will join a starstudded field featuring the likes of Iga Swiatek Coco Gauff Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pan-pacific-open-rybakina-withdraws-from-semis-due-to-back-injury-644832.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 16:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pakistan-stars-cleared-for-bbl-as-ca-eyes-future-of-league-and-player-retention-644854.html Melbourne Oct 25 Pakistans leading cricketers have been cleared to participate in the upcoming Big Bash League BBL following initial uncertainties regarding the Pakistan Cricket Boards PCB stance on providing No Objection Certificates NOCs for overseas leagues The development follows a notice from the PCBs chief operating officer Sumair Ahmad Syed in late September which halted players from joining foreign T20 leagues However Cricket Australia CA confirmed that the matter has now been resolved and all Pakistani players with BBL contracts will participate as plannedThat came through last week ESPNCricinfo quoted CA chief executive Todd Greenberg as saying So theyll all be playing theyve all been cleared to play which were really excited about because weve got some great Pakistan players in the BBL so looking forward to seeing them here this summerAmong the notable Pakistani players confirmed for the season are Babar Azam Sydney Sixers Shaheen Shah Afridi Brisbane Heat Hasan Ali Adelaide Strikers Mohammad Rizwan Melbourne Renegades Haris Rauf Melbourne Stars and Shadab Khan Sydney ThunderThe tournament begins on December 14 and runs until January 25 with fans especially looking forward to the headtohead clashes between Babar and Shaheen on January 5 and January 18The BBL will also feature Ravichandran Ashwin who will play the entire season for Sydney Thundera significant signing that has sparked discussions about the future involvement of Indian players in overseas leaguesShort medium term I think it is realistic over time Greenberg said when asked if more Indian players could follow Ashwins lead Were going to keep the dialogue open I think that Ravichandran Ashwin coming is a really important moment for the BBL and it will highlight the strength of bringing Indian players into the league What that manifests over time is to be seen Some of that will depend on whether we take private capital into the BBL which is an open conversation for us at the momentCA is actively exploring private investment in the BBL with Greenberg and CA chair Mike Baird optimistic about progress by years end We should have aspirations to make sure the very best players both here in Australia and globally can play in the BBL Greenberg addedThat costs money because players have leverage and opportunity to play all over the world Were a small domestic market here but were competing globally and to do that weve got to be the best version of ourselvesGreenberg also acknowledged growing concerns over player retention especially following reports that Pat Cummins and Travis Head had rejected A10 million offers from IPLaffiliated franchisesI think its a realistic concern for everybody that players have leverage and choice to ply their trade all over the place he said But Id say this though every player I talk to priority A is to play for their country so thats a really important marker But and theres a big but here the next generation is really what Im focused on Its not this current crop that Im as concerned about as the next generation of playersGreenbergs comments came as CA unveiled its new communitylevel Smash Series a sixaside format designed to be completed within 60 minutes featuring paired batting and softer balls a move aimed at introducing the sport to new audiences while maintaining its growing global appeal IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pakistan-stars-cleared-for-bbl-as-ca-eyes-future-of-league-and-player-retention-644854.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 17:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/rabada-hails-subcontinent-win-as-proof-of-south-africas-growth-644612.html Rawalpindi Oct 23 Kagiso Rabada called South Africas Rawalpindi triumph one of the highlights of his career hailing it as evidence that the team has finally cracked the subcontinent code This victory is definitely one of the highlights in my career Rabada said after South Africas serieslevelling win against Pakistan Winning a Test match outside of Bangladesh in the subcontinent I think thats pretty awesome It definitely gives the guys a lot of confidence Also its a pretty young team and a young team that wants to go out and do the dirty workFor a side that once floundered in Asian conditions losing 10 of 11 Tests across tours to India Sri Lanka and Pakistan between 2015 and 2021 the result marked another significant step forward The win in Rawalpindi was South Africas third in four Tests in Asia following their 20 sweep of Bangladesh last year a series players have since described as the turning point of their World Test Championship campaignRabada who played almost as the lone fast bowler across the two Tests contributed decisively with the bat rather than the ball this time His careerbest 71 off just 61 deliveries part of a 98run lastwicket stand with Senuran Muthusamy tilted the match South Africas wayThe innings was played with a fearless abandon that broke Pakistans stranglehold on the game We wanted to be aggressive in the way that we played because if you just sit around waiting for a bad ball youre probably going to get a good ball that gets you out Rabada explained It was important that the batting unit could establish the shots that they wanted to play to put the opposition under pressure and that they start putting fielders back and then you can start rotating the strikeThe knock also earned him a new bat thanks to a lighthearted pact with teammate David Bedingham We have a thing where if I score 30 runs hell give me a bat because we are sponsored by the same batting company Rabada laughed He said he thought his money was safe after the way I batted in the first Test So that was just one way to get one up on himEven though his bowling yielded few wickets in Rawalpindi Rabada found satisfaction in the discipline and teamwork required on such surfacesIf youre a fast bowler and nothings happening for you its about keeping the game quiet or finding a wicket here and there and applying pressure by slowing the rate down he said You can still create pressure for the spinners so they do their job much better Not many rewards came my way but I was more than happy to do the job that I didRabada reserved special praise for South Africas spin trio of Keshav Maharaj Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy who claimed the bulk of the wickets We came here with brilliant spinners and you saw the way that they performed That was a really massive tick he saidAnd the batters as well Rickelton stepped up He came into this Test series under pressure Stubbs came into this Test series under pressure played a crucial knock Tony de Zorzi came into this series under pressureRickelton under scrutiny after a lean run since the WTC final made important contributions Stubbs previously short on runs struck a vital 76 and de Zorzi regaining his Test spot stood out as the only centurion of the series Their efforts helped ensure South Africa extended their dominance since the makeshift sides 20 loss in New Zealand last year They have now won 10 of their last 12 TestsYou have to be doing a lot of things right to get results like that Rabada said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/rabada-hails-subcontinent-win-as-proof-of-south-africas-growth-644612.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-sumit-sangwans-high-five-helps-up-yoddhas-sign-off-with-win-over-u-mumba-644637.html New Delhi Oct 23 UP Yoddhas registered a close 3532 win against U Mumba at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi on Thursday While the win wasnt enough for the Yoddhas to secure a place in the top eight U Mumba missed out on the opportunity to secure a topfour finish In a game where the defences were on top Sumit Sangwan led the way for the Yoddhas with a High Five Hitesh contributed with four tackle points while Surender Gill was also effective on both ends of the mat For U Mumba Ajit Chouhan recorded a Super 10 and Rinku secured a High Five However that wasnt enough for their team to get the winIt was a cautious start by both teams before U Mumba imposed themselves to take an early lead A tackle from Vijay Kumar opened their account and Ajit followed it up with a couple of raid points Sunil Kumar also made his presence felt at the start giving his side a fourpoint lead despite Guman Singh getting on the board for the UP YoddhasHowever the Yoddhas got back on level terms courtesy Surender Gills Super Raid levelling the score at 55 They soon got their noses in front as Ashu Singh registered his first tackle but the lead lasted momentarily as Rinku bagged a couple of Super Tackles to help U Mumba move back in front regaining their fourpoint lead with the score at 117 after the first ten minutesThe tempo of the game slowed down slightly with both teams resorting to the DoOrDie Raid strategy Shivam Chaudhary was successful during his raid and his teammate Hitesh ensured that Ajit couldnt do the same Shivam Chaudhary then got his first points closing the gap to two pointsThe tackles began to fly in with Hitesh and Sunil Kumar exchanging blows Sumit Sangwan also bagged his first tackle bringing his side back on level terms Guman Singh kept his team on level terms with Amirmohammad Zafardanesh doing the same as the two teams were tied 1717 at halftimeIn a sedate start to the second half the two teams were content to play at a slow tempo Zafardanesh and Hitesh registered tackles to keep things level before Surender Gill secured a successful DoOrDie Raid and then registered his first tackle to give his side a twopoint lead Shivam Chaudhary also contributed with his DoOrDie Raid before a tackle from Sumit helped the Yoddhas inflict all outThey got themselves a sevenpoint advantage with the score at 2720 With ten minutes to go in the game U Mumba closed the gap to four points courtesy a tackle from Parvesh Bhainswal and a twopoint raid from Ajit Chouhan twopoint raid Sumit helped his team open a sixpoint gap once more scoring a couple of crucial tackles to keep his teams lead intact at 3125 with five minutes to go in the gameThe UP Yoddhas captain completed his High Five extending his teams lead to seven points However U Mumba responded strongly with Ajit Chouhan completing his super 10 and Rinku also completing his High Five It came down to a threepoint game with a minute to go but the Yoddhas held their nerve with Bhavani Rajput chipping in with a crucial point to help them seal a 3532 win IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-sumit-sangwans-high-five-helps-up-yoddhas-sign-off-with-win-over-u-mumba-644637.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 01:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/maxwell-dwarshuis-return-to-australias-t20i-squad-for-india-series-644665.html Melbourne Oct 24 Veteran allrounder Glenn Maxwell and pacer Ben Dwarshuis have been returned to Australias T20I squad for the upcoming fivematch series against India Maxwell will return from a fractured wrist for the last three games of the series while Dwarshuis has been brought in to return for games four and fiveCricket Australia confirmed several changes to its whiteball squads on Friday with multiple players set to return to domestic duties and a few fresh faces earning callupsMarnus Labuschagne has been released from the ODI squad ahead of Saturdays final match in Sydney to prepare for Queenslands Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales at the Gabba starting TuesdayJosh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott will miss the latter stages of the T20I series against India to play in NSWs roundfour Shield match against Victoria at the SCG from November 10 Hazlewood will feature only in the first two T20Is while Abbott recovering from split webbing in his hand will depart after the third T20I in HobartIn the ODI squad Matthew Kuhnemann and Jack Edwards have been recalled for the Sydney match Kuhnemann played the opening ODI in Perth before making way for Adam Zampa in Adelaide Edwards earns his spot following standout performances for Australia A in India where he scored 88 in the second fourday game in Lucknow took 4 for 56 and hit 89 off 75 in the 50over matches in Kanpur while captaining the sideEdwards inclusion gives Australia the flexibility to experiment with an allrounderheavy lineup in the Sydney dead rubber and possibly rest one or both of Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc given the short turnaround between matchesJosh Philippe returns to the T20I squad as backup wicketkeeper amid ongoing fitness concerns over Josh Inglis who is still recovering from a calf strainOne of the most notable moves is the selection of Cooper Beardman the 20yearold Western Australia quick for the final three T20Is Beardman a former Australia Under19 bowler impressed during the 2024 whiteball tour of England as an injury replacement despite limited experience Returning from stress fractures he has started the domestic season strongly for WA and the Perth Scorchers taking 12 wickets at 1775 with an economy rate of 575 in his first four List A matchesThe final ODI between Australia and India will be played in Sydney on Saturday followed by the fivematch T20I series beginning next weekAustralia T20I squad vs India Mitchell Marsh capt Sean Abbott first three matches only Xavier Bartlett Mahli Beardman last three matches only Tim David Ben Dwarshuis last two matches only Nathan Ellis Josh Hazlewood first two matches only Travis Head Josh Inglis wk Matthew Kuhnemann Mitchell Owen Josh Philippe wk Matthew Short Marcus Stoinis Adam Zampa IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/maxwell-dwarshuis-return-to-australias-t20i-squad-for-india-series-644665.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 17:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/anjum-mithali-laud-indias-statement-win-against-nz-for-semis-berth-644677.html New Delhi Oct 24 India stormed into the semifinals of the Womens World Cup with a commanding victory over New Zealand marking a strong comeback after an inconsistent run in the tournament The emphatic win set up by centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal and a vital contribution from Jemimah Rodrigues showcased Indias depth and resilience under pressure Former India captain Mithali Raj praised Indias allround effort and the composure shown in a highstakes contestSmriti was relieved and so are all of us that India have qualified for the semifinals But yes it required a lot from this Indian team Starting with the batting innings the openers set a solid foundation backed by Jemimah Rodrigues coming in at number three after missing the last game She proved why she still adds immense value to this batting lineup Once that momentum was established it carried into the bowling innings as well Overall I think India really dug deep knowing the significance of this big game and everyone stepped up Mithali said on JioStars Cricket LiveAfter losing the toss India posted a record 3403 in 49 overs their highestever World Cup total led by centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal and an unbeaten 76 from returning Jemimah Rodrigues A rain delay revised New Zealands target to 325 in 44 overs but early strikes from Renuka Singh and tight spin bowling derailed their chase Brooke Hallidays 84 and Isabella Gazes unbeaten 76 offered resistance but New Zealand fell short at 271 for 8Veteran India batter Anjum Chopra hailed the performance as a defining moment in Indias campaign not just a win but a statement of intentA victory was essential but this was also a statement win Scoring over 320 runs and putting the batters in a position of control was significant Against Australia and South Africa earlier they stumbled but after the loss to England this match provided assurance and selfbelief It was a relief the two points secured qualification but theres still reflection needed Beyond the batting the key question remains can we consistently restrict oppositions to manageable totals if we are to chase or defend 300plus scores IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/anjum-mithali-laud-indias-statement-win-against-nz-for-semis-berth-644677.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 17:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/fih-to-announce-replacement-team-for-mens-junior-world-cup-after-pakistans-late-withdrawal-644722.html Mumbai Oct 24 The International Hockey Federation FIH will soon be announcing a team to replace Pakistan in the Mens Junior World Cup to be held in Tamil Nadu from November 28 The Pakistan Hockey Federation FIH has intimated the FIH that its team will not be travelling to India to participate in the event on the advice of its government We can confirm that the Pakistan Hockey Federation has notified the International Hockey Federation FIH that its team initially qualified for the upcoming FIH Hockey Mens Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 wont participate eventually The team replacing Pakistan for this event will be announced soon the FIH informed IANS in a statement on FridayThe late withdrawal leaves the FIH in a fix as it had delayed conducting the draw for the event to be held in Chennai and Madurai for nearly a month allowing Pakistan time to consult its government on its participation The FIH had gone ahead with the draw ceremony usually conducted in the host citycountry in its headquarters in LausanneThe late replacement will not only mean the introduction of a lowerranked team into the draw but also a team that is not fully prepared for the biggest event in the junior sectionAccording to reports the Pakistan Hockey Federation PHF decided to withdraw its team after consulting its government and has sent an official intimation to FIH which in turn will inform Hockey IndiaThis is the second event in India that Pakistan has withdrawn from after the Mens Asia Cup in Rajgir BiharPakistan were placed in Group B alongside India Chile and Switzerland The replacement team will join Group B and will be picked from the standby teams as per their rankingsA top PHF official said the decision was taken after consultation with the Pakistan governmentWe sought the advice of the government and Pakistan Sports Board who have told us that under the current political tension it will not be feasible to send the team to India for the Junior World Cup as it will be a big security risk a top official of the Pakistan Hockey Federation PHF saidThe official said the FIH has been informed about the decision which will in turn convey the decision to Hockey India the report addedPakistan also pulled out of the Asia Cup tournament in August where they were replaced by Bangladesh Pakistans pullout cost them a place in next years World Cup as the event was a qualifying round for the mega event IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/fih-to-announce-replacement-team-for-mens-junior-world-cup-after-pakistans-late-withdrawal-644722.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-from-setbacks-to-comeback-u-mumbas-changed-fortunes-that-guided-them-to-playoffs-644725.html Mumbai Oct 24 Former PKL champions U Mumba staged one of the most inspiring comebacks in Pro Kabaddi 2025 fueled by unity belief and determination After early setbacks they finished with six wins in their last nine matches securing a welldeserved playoff spot and demonstrating that perseverance can overcome adversityTheir revival story started during the Chennai leg a place long known for bringing luck to the team It was there that U Mumba made a fresh start both mentally and strategicallyAn unexpected boost came from a team outing to see Kantara 2 The movies themes of faith endurance and redemption struck a chord with the players reigniting their collective spirit which soon led to improved performances on the fieldA key moment in U Mumbas comeback was when lead raider Ajit Chouhans ankle injury threatened to halt their progress Instead of giving up the team united Young raider Sandeep Kumar excelled achieving four straight Super 10s while the defence of Sunil Kumar Parvesh and Rinku remained strongWhen Ajit returned near the end Sandeeps steady performance combined with Ajits burst of energy revitalised U Mumbas offence culminating in Ajits crucial 15point game against Jaipur Pink Panthers which nearly secured their spot in the PlayoffsReflecting on the turnaround U Mumba CEO Suhail Chandhok said We had a few near misses but something needed changing too and we identified that early Between Ajits injury setback and some matches not going our way narrowly it became clear that this was about more than just tactics It was about reconnecting with what U Mumba stands for the trust the resilience and the unity Every player every coach every U Mumba staff member counts every contribution matters The Chennai leg reminded us of that and the way the boys responded was exceptional We were a mere tackle or raid away from sealing a Top 4 spot and thats how tight the margins have been this season but a Top 6 finish gives us the opportunity to keep fighting and backtoback Playoffs after years showcases that we are moving in the right direction as a FranchiseBehind the scenes U Mumbas medical and support staff deserve great credit for keeping the team in top shape during the most challenging parts of the season Their coordinated rehab plan helped Ajit recover quickly while ongoing strength and conditioning workouts across the team kept energy high and reduced fatigue during a demanding schedule The scans showed a possible longterm ankle problem leading the support team to seek advice from specialists in Chennai and Mumbai before choosing a nonsurgical rehab approach which included physiotherapy and targeted strength training One physiotherapist was dedicated entirely to Ajit with another working with the rest of the team This focused strategy resulted in swift progress with Ajit returning earlier than expected for the match against Puneri PaltanU Mumba riding momentum and backed by a rejuvenated squad is now preparing to face the Patna Pirates in the playins aiming to continue their impressive lateseason run and pursue another title IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-from-setbacks-to-comeback-u-mumbas-changed-fortunes-that-guided-them-to-playoffs-644725.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hockey-india-a-mens-team-remains-unbeaten-womens-team-displays-fighting-spirit-in-china-tour-644733.html New Delhi Oct 24 The India A mens and womens hockey teams wrapped up their respective international exposure tours in China on a positive note showcasing promising performances and gaining valuable experience against competitive local opposition The India A mens team participated in a fourmatch series against Gansu Club from October 12 to 18 in Changzhou City Jiangsu Province securing convincing victories in all their fixturesThe mens side kicked off the series in dominant fashion with a 70 victory courtesy of goals from Varun Kumar and Selvam Karthi who converted a penalty corner each while Uttam Singh and Venkatesh Dhananjay Kenche netted field goals However Angad Bir Singh stole the spotlight with a hattrickIn the second encounter India A edged past Gansu 21 with Selvam Karthi and Aditya Arjun Lalage scoring a goal eachContinuing their fine form the visitors secured an 80 victory in the third match with Poovanna Chandura Boby converting a penalty corner Aditya Arjun Lalage Maninder Singh Selvam Karthi and Venkatesh Dhananjay Kenche all scored field goals Additionally Captain Sanjay contributed to the scoreboard as he found success from a penalty corner while Mohammed Raheel Mouseen added a brace to complete a commanding displayThe series finished with another highscoring match as India A beat Gansu 83 in the final game Rajkumar Pal Uttam Singh and Venkatesh Dhananjay Kenche each scored a field goal while Amandeep Lakra converted a penalty corner Aditya Arjun Lalage scored two field goals and captain Sanjay who has been consistent with his drag flicks throughout the tour converted two penalty corners to secure a clean sweep for the visitorsAditya Arjun Lalage finished as the top scorer for the India A mens team with a total of four goals in as many matches closely followed by captain Sanjay Selvam Karthi Venkatesh Dhananjay Kenche and Angad Bir Singh who scored three goals each in the seriesMeanwhile the India A womens team played a fivematch series against Liaoning from October 13 to 21 at the Liaoning Sports Centre in Dalian The young squad exhibited strong resolve throughout the tour finishing with four draws and one defeatIn their opening match India A held Liaoning to a 11 draw with Albela Rani Toppo finding the back of the net The second game saw the team suffer a 13 loss despite a fighting goal from Manisha ChauhanThe womens side bounced back with consecutive draws 11 in the third match where Manisha Chauhan was again on the scoresheet and 22 in the fourth as Baljeet Kaur and Manisha Chauhan found the back of the net once eachIn the fifth and final contest both teams played out a thrilling 33 draw with goals from Kajal Sadashiv Atpadkar Pooja Yadav and Deepika Soreng ensuring that the India A Womens Hockey Team finished the series on a positive note IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hockey-india-a-mens-team-remains-unbeaten-womens-team-displays-fighting-spirit-in-china-tour-644733.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/punjab-fc-sign-brazilian-defender-pablo-renan-dos-santos-on-one-year-deal-644740.html New Delhi Oct 24 Indian Super League side Punjab FC announced the signing of veteran Brazilian centreback Pablo Renan dos Santos on a oneyear deal on Friday The 33yearold joins on a free transfer ahead of the Indian Super Cup 2025 which begins in Goa on October 25This is Punjab FCs second foreign acquisition of the week following the signing of Spanish midfielder Dani Ramirez on October 22 Pablo known simply as Pablo brings with him a wealth of international experience having played across Brazil Europe and the Middle East over a career that spans more than a decadeExcited for his new challenge in India Pablo said he was eager to make an impact Punjab FC is ready for a big season and Im here to fight for the badge the team and the supporters who believe in us he said Im ready to embrace the challenge here in IndiaThe Brazilian started his professional career with Paysandu where he played for six seasons in Brazils second and third divisions In 2017 he transferred to Europe to join Portuguese Primeira Liga team CS Marítimo making 25 appearances and receiving praise for his composure and defensive awareness His performances led to a fiveyear contract with SC Braga in 2018While at Braga Pablo continued his development through loan spells with clubs in Russia Turkey and Portugal Rubin Kazan Hatayspor and Moreirense respectively before moving to Saudi Arabia to represent Al Raed in the 202223 Saudi Pro League season Most recently he featured for Armenian club FC Noah where he made 13 appearances and impressively scored four goals highlighting his ability to contribute at both ends of the pitchWelcoming the signing Nikolaos Topoliatis Technical Director of Punjab FC emphasised Pablos importance to the teams plans We are extremely pleased to secure the signing of Pablo Renan dos Santos Topoliatis said Adding a centreback of Pablos quality and experience was a top priority for us He brings exceptional defensive leadership positional awareness and composure under pressure IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/punjab-fc-sign-brazilian-defender-pablo-renan-dos-santos-on-one-year-deal-644740.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/the-road-to-glory-begins-pkl-season-12-playoffs-kick-off-in-delhi-644749.html New Delhi Oct 24 The stage is set for the grand playoffs festival of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 as action continues at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi from October 2531 After 108 thrilling leaguestage encounters across four cities the league now enters its most crucial phase as eight teams fight for one trophy The playoffs press conference held on Friday in the capital brought together the team captains of the top eight teams to set the tone for what promises to be an electrifying finale to PKLs 12th seasonThe competition kicks off with the playins on October 25 where the defending champions Haryana Steelers will face the Jaipur Pink Panthers Meanwhile the Patna Pirates will compete against U Mumba in the second playin The winners from these matches will advance to the PlayoffsThe playoffs start on October 26 with the winners from the Playins facing off in Eliminator 1 On the same day Bengaluru Bulls will face the Telugu Titans in the Mini Qualifier On October 27 Eliminator 2 will feature the winner of Eliminator 1 against the loser of the BullsTitans matchup It will also include the top two teams competing in Qualifier 1 for a place in the finalEliminator 3 will take place on October 28 between the winner of Eliminator 2 and the winner of the miniqualifier The team that prevails in that encounter will play Qualifier 2 on October 29 where the loser of Qualifier 1 will be awaiting them The winner of that matchup will book their place in the final which will take place on October 31Eliminator 3 will be held between the winner of Eliminator 2 and the winner of the miniqualifier on October 28 The team that wins this match will play Qualifier 2 on October 29 where the loser of Qualifier 1 will be waiting The winner of that game will secure a place in the final scheduled for October 31The league stage saw the introduction of tiebreakers for the first time drastically raising the level of the competition this season The matches culminated in a dramatic race for qualification The top two teams Puneri Paltan and Dabang Delhi KC raised the bar for the league this season securing their playoff spot well ahead of the league stage with 26 points eachThere was also an intense battle between teams placed third to sixth with thirdplaced Bengaluru Bulls on 22 points followed by Telugu Titans Haryana Steelers and U Mumba who were tied on 20 pointsPKL 12 also witnessed a stupendous turnaround for season 11s runnersup Patna Pirates Until Day 44 of the Season they were at the bottom of the table before scripting a memorable comeback to win five matches in a row and finishing seventh on the points table While U Mumba missed a chance to seal a topfour spot on the final day Jaipur Pink Panthers completed the lot finishing in eighth placePlayoffs are all about composure and clarity Ive learnt from leaders on how to guide a team under pressure how to talk motivate and read situations Those lessons help me now as a captain Weve worked hard to reach this stage and our only focus is to carry that belief and discipline into the playoffs said Aslam Inamdar skipper of Puneri PaltanIn the Playoffs every raid and tackle can change the game Ive realised that staying calm is my biggest strength aggression can cost you focus When the pressure rises I just remind myself to play with a fresh mind and trust our preparation Weve fought hard all season and were ready to give our best when it matters most said Ashu Malik captain of the Dabang Delhi KCSeason 12 has truly redefined competitiveness in the Pro Kabaddi League 48 of our 108 league matches were decided by five points or less and 27 in the last 90 seconds The refreshed Playoffs will now continue the best of this intensity in the final week of the season With young captains leading the charge and raiders averaging super 10s almost every night the stage is set for one of the most fiercely contested finales in PKL history said Anupam Goswami Business Head Mashal Sports and League Chairman Pro Kabaddi LeagueUnder the aegis and sanction from the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India AKFI Mashal Sports and JioStar have built PKL into one of Indias most successful sports leagues The competition consists of the most matches among all sports leagues in India The Pro Kabaddi League has transformed Indias indigenous sport of Kabaddi and its athletes on the national and global stage IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/the-road-to-glory-begins-pkl-season-12-playoffs-kick-off-in-delhi-644749.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-1-leclerc-cautious-despite-austin-podium-as-hamilton-feels-ferrari-progress-growing-644762.html Mexico City Oct 24 Charles Leclerc has tempered expectations of further podiums this season despite securing his first topthree finish since Belgium at the United States Grand Prix last week The Ferrari drivers thirdplace in Austin marked his and the teams sixth podium of 2025 five of which have been third places and one a second place in Monaco I am not surprised by the fact that we are missing a bit more performance going throughout the end of the year especially considering that probably Mercedes and Red Bull are two of the teams that pushed their development a bit later than other teams Leclerc said on Friday If we look at the gap compared to the McLaren it remained kind of the same For us we are more focused on next year which I hope will help usFerrari ended car development earlier than most rivals instead targeting gains through finetuning setup and operations Leclerc acknowledged that the Austin podium was a muchneeded morale boost It has been a long time and its good for everybody in the team to finally see a little bit of improvement he said But it was a very positive weekend Whether from now on we can consistently fight for a podium I think it is a long shot but I will try to make this happen again this weekendWhile Leclerc returned to the rostrum his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton matched his best finish of the season with fourth place at the Circuit of The Americas equalling his result from Silverstone Still searching for his first podium with Ferrari Hamilton said he felt increasingly at ease with the car Im finally feeling like Im on top of the car he said after the race describing the weekend as a major step forwardArriving in Mexico Hamilton was upbeat about maintaining that trajectory Coming from a positive weekend Im confident that this weekend we can try to do the same again I think were on the right path he saidThe seventime World Champion added that progress was the result of patience and teamwork since joining Ferrari this season I feel like were going in the right direction and I think Rome wasnt built in a day so it takes time to build he saidFor me coming into the team Ive wanted to be respectful of the way that theyve done things in the past and just to really observe and see where our strengths and where our weaknesses are and to highlight where our weaknesses are and areas to work on he addedBut I do feel that they have been responding I think youre starting to see some of the impact of the work that were doing in the background Leclerc said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-1-leclerc-cautious-despite-austin-podium-as-hamilton-feels-ferrari-progress-growing-644762.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/chennaiyin-fc-announce-all-indian-24-man-squad-for-aiff-super-cup-644764.html Panji Oct 24 Led by former India international attacker Clifford Miranda a 24man Chennaiyin FC squad will take part in the 202526 AIFF Super Cup Drawn in Group A the Marina Machans will kick off their campaign with a crunch tie against Mohun Bagan Super Giant on October 25 at the Fatorda Stadium before facing East Bengal FC and Dempo SCMiranda a previous Super Cupwinning coach possesses an innate understanding of the Indian football ecosystem drawing from a long and successful career on both sides of the pitch The 45caps India international who also took the reins at Goa and Odisha becomes the clubs first Indian head coach and will lead an allIndian squad through the tournament Speaking in a prematch press conference Miranda said For most of the teams not training for more than five months is always difficult Within a short period of time we need to turn up and play our first game and then play three games in six days This is how we need to adapt sometimes this is how football is how life is It is difficult in terms of physicality adaptation but we are ready Hopefully we improve matchbymatch I truly believe in the players we have We have some really good players wanting to prove themselves We should and must be ready for the 25thIts an opportunity for the players to show that we have come a long waytalking not just from a Chennaiyin point of view but an Indian point of view We need to show that we can do it on our own and not just in terms of the result in terms of the effort the mentality the attitude to show up despite all the odds No one can take it away from us because we are the best at it added the head coach on the allIndian makeup of his squadMirandas Chennaiyin FC squad for the Super Cup features a balanced blend of experience and youth combining established firstteam regulars with promising talents from the reserve setup The team boasts strong depth across all departments from reliable custodians to a solid defensive unit led by Pritam Kotal a dynamic midfield anchored by Jiteshwor Singh and Lalrinliana Hnamte and an energetic attack spearheaded by Irfan Yadwad and Farukh Choudhary Joining Miranda at the presser Farukh commented Since the time I have joined the club after playing for the national team it has been very good the training sessions Obviously we have had a very short time to prepare But as the coach said we need to adapt Playing three games in six days is challenging but we are ready mentally Personally I am very happy coming back to the club and playing football again and looking forward to the game tomorrowFollowing their match against Mohun Bagan Chennaiyin FC are scheduled to play East Bengal on October 28 and Dempo on October 31 at the GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim Chennaiyin FCs 24man squad for AIFF Super Cup 202526Goalkeepers Samik Mitra MD Nawaz Mohanraj K Defenders PC Laldinpuia Ankit Mukherjee Mandar Rao Dessai Pritam Kotal Vignesh D Laldinliana Renthlei Sk Rajjak Ali Klusner John Manuel Pereira Raj BasforeMidfielders Farukh Choudhary Jitendra Singh Maheson Singh Lalrinliana Hnamte Jiteshwor Singh Karthick Thirumalai Raman Singh Ngangom Solaimalai R Kingslee FernandesForwards Irfan Yadwad Gurkirat Singh Vivek S IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/chennaiyin-fc-announce-all-indian-24-man-squad-for-aiff-super-cup-644764.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/golf-bhullar-stays-in-chasing-pack-as-sarit-stretches-his-lead-to-four-in-international-series-philippines-644781.html Manila Philippines Oct 24 Sarit Suwannarut kept the pedal to the metal increasing his advantage on top of the leaderboard to four shots at the halfway stage of the US2222 million International Series Philippines even as Indias Gagamkeet Bhullar remained in the chasing pack and in contention for a top finish The twotime International Series winner added a sixunder par 66 to his overnight 64 and reached 14under par after 36 holes four ahead of local hero Miguel Tabuena 65 who delighted his home fans with a stunning round that included a holeinone and an eagle in the space of three holesJoining Tabuena at 10under was the inform Japanese star Kazuki Higa 69 Another Japanese player Yosuke Asaji 66 Koreas Soomin Lee 67 Chinese Taipeis Wang Weihsuan 67 and Hong Kongs Matthew Cheung 67 were tied fourth at nineunder while New Zealands Denzel Ieremia 67 American Patrick Reed 66 and Indias Gaganjeet Bhullar 69 were tied eighth at 136 eight underAjeetesh Sandhu is three shots further back on five under after a threeunder 69 while Karandeep Khochhar made the cut on four under after a second successive 70 in a group with former world No1 Dustin Johnson who followed up his first round of 67 with a oneover 73Englands Steve Lewton shot the lowest round of the tournament so far at the beautiful Sta Elena Golf Club a bogeyfree 63 that made up for a disappointing twoover 74 in the opening roundSarits first shot of the day on the opening hole ended up in the penalty area but he managed to make a birdie from there That just set the tone for the day as he raced ahead of the fieldIt helped a lot the birdie on first I mean after I hit the tee shot I didnt even know where it was I asked Guna caddie where it was and he said it was in the fairway I didnt believe him Luckily I got a good lie and it was a good shot from about 50 yards and the birdie helped to keep the momentum from yesterday said Sarit who made only one bogey on each of the first two daysYou just have to focus only on what you have to do and hit your shot I have been playing good golf for the past four weeks so I know what I can do I know my game well and Ive just tried to stay calm and focus on what I need to do So far its been working nicely and I hope to keep the momentum going over the next two days he saidGolf fans in the Philippines turned up in huge numbers for the tournament and they were rewarded as the home favourite Tabuena raised hopes of a Filipino champion On the 171yard 14th Tabuena did not see his ball take a hop and disappear into the hole but the eagle was perfectly plannedIts not every day you make a holeinone but I was glad I kept it together after that Theres a lot of golf to be played but it was nice Its probably been six years since my last one and only second in a competition It was nice that it was here in front of friends family and in my home club said the threetime winner on the Asian Tour who had to pull out of the SJM Macao Open with a neck spasmTabuena was joined on the weekend by veteran Angelo Que who carded a superb sevenunder round to sit in T4 on nine under with Justin Quiban on six under after an impressive 68International Series Philippines is the sixth of nine elevated events on the Asian Tour this season which offers a pathway onto LIV Golf through a seasonlong Rankings race The tournament runs until 26 October and is the first in a threeweek run that includes the Link Hong Kong Open and the Moutai Singapore Open in successive weeksInternational Series tournaments have already been played in India Macau Japan and Morocco this season along with the Jakarta International Championship last time out The series rounds off with the PIF Saudi International from 1922 November and the leader of the seasonlong rankings race will win a place on LIV Golf next season IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/golf-bhullar-stays-in-chasing-pack-as-sarit-stretches-his-lead-to-four-in-international-series-philippines-644781.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 21:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025mumbai-meteors-book-a-spot-in-the-final-with-a-dominant-win-over-goa-guardians-644797.html Hyderabad Oct 24 Mumbai Meteors defeated the Goa Guardians 158 158 1614 to book a spot in the final of the Prime Volleyball League PVL 2025 at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium Hyderabad on Friday Shubham Chaudhary was named the Player of the Match Mumbai will play the winner of the second semifinal between Bengaluru Torpedoes and Ahmedabad Defenders Goa showcased their attacking intent early on with Nathaniel Dickinsons spike and Rohit Yadavs powerpacked serve But Goas defense struggled against consistent attacks from Mumbais Shubham Chaudhary and Amit Gulia Dickinsons spike helped Goa win the super point but Mumbais disciplined formation edged the Meteors aheadPrince tried to counterattack for Goa from the middle zone but Karthik kept Mumbai stable Smart play from Shubham minimised Mumbais errors Goa made a change in formation bringing on setter Aravind to turn the momentum A super serve from LM Manoj provided a moment to celebrate for the Guardians But Princes overhit shot cost Goa a super point helping Mumbai take a twoset leadAmits super serve continued Mumbais dominance while adding more pressure on Goas shoulders Petter Ostvik won the battle against Prince in the third set helping Mumbai dominate the middle zone Vikram won a super point giving a glimmer of hope to the Goa fans But just when it looked like Goa would be able to fight back Karthik blocked Chirag Yadavs spike helping his side win the game and reach the finalEarlier Mumbai Meteors defeated the Kochi Blue Spikers in a fiveset thriller winning the match 157 715 1315 158 1511 in the Prime Volleyball League PVL here on Friday sealing a place in the semifinals on Tuesday Karthik was named the Player of the MatchGoa Guardians qualified for the semifinals after the Delhi Toofans defeated the Kolkata Thunderbolts 1816 1115 1215 1511 1512 in the Prime Volleyball League PVL 2025 at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium Hyderabad on Wednesday Saqlain Tariq was named the Player of the Match IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025mumbai-meteors-book-a-spot-in-the-final-with-a-dominant-win-over-goa-guardians-644797.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 21:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/nz-vs-eng-england-win-series-1-0-after-rain-plays-spoilsport-in-3rd-t20i-644582.html Auckland Oct 23 The third and final T20I between New Zealand and England here at Eden Park was washed out after just 34 overs of the first innings resulting in the visitors clinching the threematch series 10 The first T20I played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch also saw a similar result as the game never resumed after the first innings owing to rain leading to the match being called offThe second T20I at the same venue saw England winning by 65 runs after a comprehensive performance across departments While Phil Salt and Harry Brook dominated the proceedings in the first innings by notching up 85 and 78 runs respectively Adil Rashid stood out with the ball during the Kiwis batting innings as his fourwicket haul restricted the hosts to 171 in their chase of 237In the third T20I England won the toss and opted to field first While the hosts looked to level the series 101 the visitors looked to add another W against their name for the series to end in their favourHowever rain had the final say Earlier in the day play started promptly with Seifert hitting two boundaries in the first three balls Rain then caused the first delay lasting an hour and a half This delay shortened the match to a 14over game Seifert hit Brydon Carse for six but Carse then dismissed Tim Robinson who was caught in the deepRachin Ravindra hit Carse for another six and Seifert pulled the tall bowler over midwicket into the stands Right after this six heavy rain once again caused a 40minute delay Just as the players prepared to begin an eightover match rain resumed wiping out any chance of playingAs a result England won the series 10 courtesy of their victory in the second T20I IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/nz-vs-eng-england-win-series-1-0-after-rain-plays-spoilsport-in-3rd-t20i-644582.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/indias-brightest-young-squash-talents-set-for-action-at-sub-junior-amp-junior-nationals-in-chennai-644583.html Chennai Oct 23 The Indian Squash Academy in Chennai is set to come alive from October 25 to 31 as the Sub Junior amp Junior National Squash Championships 2025 take centre stage The prestigious event will feature 623 young athletes from across the country competing across 10 categories marking a vibrant showcase of Indias emerging squash talent and the sports growing depth at the grassroots levelThe weeklong championship begins with qualification rounds on October 25 followed by the main draw from October 28 to 31 Spectators can expect highintensity matches as the countrys best young players vie for national honours in both boys and girls divisionsThe boys events will see Aryan SK Abhyuday Arora Shreyansh Jha Subhash Choudhary and Arihant KS lead the U11 U13 U15 U17 and U19 categories respectively Among the girls top seeds include Alia Kankaria U11 Divyanshi Jain U13 Vasundhara Nangare U15 Aradhya Porwal U17 and Unnati Tripathi U19This years championships boast several participants with impressive international credentials underlining the strength of Indias junior circuit At the 2025 Asian Junior Championships in South Korea Aryaveer Dewan clinched gold in the boys U17 category while Ayaan Dhanuka Saanvi Kalanki and Anika Dubey claimed silver in their respective eventsBronze medals went to Aryaman Singh and Amarya Bajaj in the boys U15 category Indias boys team featuring Arihant KS Yusha Nafees and Aryaveer Dewan also secured a bronze medal at the World Junior Team Championship in Egypt earlier this yearWhile several international stars will headline the Nationals 17yearold Anahat Singh one of Indias brightest squash prospects will miss the tournament as she continues her professional campaign on the PSA Tour in pursuit of a higher world rankingHighlighting the events significance SRFI President Anil Wadhwa said the Sub Junior amp Junior Nationals remain the premier junior tournament on the SRFI calendar providing a crucial platform for Indias youth to test themselves at a national levelHe expressed gratitude to the Sports Authority of India SAI and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports MYAS for their continued support and also acknowledged SDAT TNSRA ISA Dunlop and the Centre for Sports Science for their contributions Special appreciation was extended to the Tamil Nadu Squash Rackets Association for hosting the event and ensuring topclass facilities and organisation IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/indias-brightest-young-squash-talents-set-for-action-at-sub-junior-amp-junior-nationals-in-chennai-644583.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/fide-world-cup-2025-vidit-gujrathi-shares-excitement-as-india-gears-up-to-host-global-tournament-644355.html New Delhi Oct 22 Vidit Gujrathi expressed his excitement ahead of the FIDE World Cup 2025 as India prepares to host the global tournament in Goa in November He shared a video of the anthem on his X account and captioned the post writing The World Cup anthem is out Goa in Nov will witness the chess intensity of the highest level Itsyourmove Fideworldcup2025The anthem also features video clips of the chess players meetup with PM Narendra Modi from the time when the Indian contingent clinched historic wins at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest On Tuesday Goas chief minister Pramod Sawant unveiled the official logo and anthem for the FIDE World Cup 2025 After 23 years the tournament returns to India and will feature 206 players from 82 nationsThe FIDE World Cup 2025 one of the most esteemed events on the global chess calendar will take place in North Goa from 31 October to 27 November 2025 attracting top players from around the world in a knockout format for a prize fund of USD 2 million approximately INR 1758 croreWhile the logo embodies Goas vibrant culturally rich identityhighlighting the states coastal charm and the strategic sophistication of chessthe anthem performed by legendary artist Daler Mehndi adds an air of grandeur and mystique to the occasionThe Indian contingent will be led by reigning World Champion D Gukesh alongside top talents such as Arjun Erigaisi R Praggnanandhaa Nihal Sarin Vidit Gujarathi and Womens World Cup Champion Divya Deshmukh will be playing her first home game since the historic winIconic singer Daler Mehndi known for his powerful and distinctive voice infuses the anthem with his signature vibrancy rhythm and energyAt the World Cup players will compete in a knockout format with the top three finishers qualifying for the 2026 Candidates Tournament the secondtolast stage before the World Chess Championship IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/fide-world-cup-2025-vidit-gujrathi-shares-excitement-as-india-gears-up-to-host-global-tournament-644355.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-down-under-the-comeback-clock-ticks-for-rohit-amp-virat-in-adelaide-644365.html New Delhi Oct 22 The clock is ticking for Indian crickets most celebrated pair After a faltering comeback in Perth Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli head into Adelaide with both form and future under the spotlight The second ODI against Australia on Thursday offers not just a chance for India to level the series but for two icons to remind the world that class never fades even after time away from the gameIn the rainhit first ODI Indias batting rust was evident Returning to 50over cricket after more than seven months Rohit and Kohli struggled to find their rhythm the Mumbaikar falling for 8 while Indias fittest cricketer perished for a duckIn Perth India limped to 1369 in 26 overs a target Australia chased down comfortably in just 22 overs to take a 10 lead in the threematch seriesIt was a comeback that promised much but delivered little Having last played an ODI during the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year both Rohit and Kohli looked short of match sharpness For fans it was an unfamiliar sight watching two stalwarts who have defined Indias batting for over a decade fall without a fightAs the caravan moves to Adelaide the stakes are higher than ever Both players having already stepped away from T20Is and Tests are believed to be under evaluation for their ODI roles A big innings could change the narrative another failure might deepen the uncertainty surrounding their future in the format Both Rohit and Virat have already retired from Test and T20 formats to prolong their ODI careersFor India this contest is about more than just a series scoreline its about pride belief and timing a comeback right And for Rohit and Virat Thursdays clash could well determine how the next chapter of their storied careers is written IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-down-under-the-comeback-clock-ticks-for-rohit-amp-virat-in-adelaide-644365.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/100-yrs-of-indian-hockey-trilochan-singh-bawas-medals-serve-as-a-motivation-for-us-at-home-says-son-sukhwinder-bawa-644379.html New Delhi Oct 22 An Olympic medal is an inspiration for a generation promoting the sport among thousands of youngsters With a rich history in hockey the medals won at the Olympics and World Cups the legacy is an inspiration to youngsters says Sukhwwinder Bawa son of Trilochan Singh Bawa who was a member of the team that won Independent Indias first gold medal in the 1948 Olympic Games in London World over Indian hockey for a considerable period of time has been looked at as the benchmark simply because of the roll of honour With a tally of 8 gold medals one silver and 4 bronze totalling 13 medals at the Olympic Games India has well and truly set the standardsOne of the most iconic medals though was the one in the 1948 London Olympics when Independent Indias flag went up and the anthem played out for the first time ever at the most important sporting event And someone who played a huge role in securing that medal was Trilochan Singh Bawa as he scored some very crucial goals during the competition in London The final in London was played at Wembley Stadium and it was a symbolic and historic victory marking Indias emergence as an independent sporting powerTrilochan Singh not only scored the fourth and final goal for India in the final against Great Britain but also crucially opened the scoring for his team in the group stage game against Spain India won the game 20 and came away with an unbeaten record in the group stageOne of the pillars in the Indian mens hockey team in 1948 Trilochan Singh Bawa was a tall and sturdy full back who was difficult to get past on the field Whilst he may not have been a frequent dribbler he had an eye for goal and a terrific scoop shot which could help switch the play quite easilyTrilochan Singh was extremely hardworking throughout his hockey career and one of the people who kept up his legacy of playing sport at the highest level for the country is his grandson Raj Angad Singh Bawa who won the 2022 U19 ICC Cricket World Cup Coincidentally Trilochan Singh won against Great Britain in 1948 and his grandson picked a fivewicket haul as they defeated England in the final in AntiguaLooking back at the glorious moment Trilochan Singh Bawas son Sukhwinder Bawa said My father used to always say that winning the gold medal in 1948 in London was a massive moment for Indian hockey and Indian sport especially given that we had only just won Independence from Great Britain a year before He used to tell us that when the Indian team went on the podium seeing the flag and hearing the national anthem made the players very proud My father used to say that such was the feeling that it felt like the blazer would tear The players were very proudHe further added My fathers medals have been framed and put in the house and it serves as a motivation Not only to me but to my son as well who has continued the legacy of playing for the country at the highest level My father used to tell his grandchildren many stories from his playing days and youth 1948 was truly a special moment for Indian sportHockey India in the following days will bring more such nostalgic stories from the icons of yesteryears with an intent to relive the historic contribution by the legends of the sport that put India on the world sporting map over the past 100 years IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/100-yrs-of-indian-hockey-trilochan-singh-bawas-medals-serve-as-a-motivation-for-us-at-home-says-son-sukhwinder-bawa-644379.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/abhinav-bindra-named-torchbearer-for-2026-winter-olympics-644392.html New Delhi Oct 22 Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra has been chosen as one of the torchbearers for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games to be held in Milan and Cortina dAmpezzo Italy from February 6 to 22 The announcement marks yet another proud moment in the journey of Indias first individual Olympic gold winner who remains one of the most respected voices in global sport and an enduring symbol of perseverance and excellenceBindra who scripted history by winning the gold medal in the 10m air rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics expressed deep gratitude and emotion after being named a torchbearer for the upcoming GamesSharing his feelings on social media he wrote Truly humbled to be chosen as a torchbearer for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Torch Relay The Olympic flame has always held a special place in my heart a symbol of dreams perseverance and the unity that sport brings to our worldReflecting on what the honour means to him the ace shooter added To carry it once again is both an honour and a beautiful reminder of what sport makes possible Thank you Milano Cortina 2026 for this incredible honourThe Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will mark Italys fourth time hosting the Winter Games with events set to unfold across the twin venues of Milan and Cortina dAmpezzo This edition will present an expanded schedule featuring 116 medal events across 16 disciplines seven more events and one additional discipline than those contested at the Beijing 2022 GamesA hallmark of every Olympic Games the Olympic Torch Relay embodies the enduring spirit and ideals of the Olympic movement As part of this global tradition Bindra will join a distinguished group of athletes and personalities who will carry the flame through different regions on its journey to the opening ceremony The relay aims to unite communities across Italy celebrate the Olympic ethos of friendship and excellence and build anticipation for the Games ahead IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/abhinav-bindra-named-torchbearer-for-2026-winter-olympics-644392.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/golf-udayan-mane-among-men-and-vani-kapoor-to-make-igpl-debut-in-jaipur-644396.html Jaipur Oct 22 Olympian Udayan Mane and Vani Kapoor who has the best record on the domestic Tour among all active Indian women professionals will make their debut at the IGPL Tour in Jaipur this week The Tour will visit the Pink City for the IGPL Invitational Jaipur this week after stops in Chandigarh Jaypee Greens Noida and Pune The Rambagh Golf Club in Jaipur has been a good hunting ground for many of the players in the fieldMane who played for India at the Tokyo Olympics won his first pro event at the Rambagh Club exactly ten years ago He has happy memories of Jaipur and looks forward to a solid week In addition two other players Aman Raj twice and Sachin Baisoya have also won in Jaipur Years ago in her early days as a pro Vani came close to a win before losing in a playoff in Jaipur I need to improve on that and maybe win this week And that will be fun with men pros also in the field said VaniMane a former Order of Merit winner on the Indian Tour and Vani Kapoor will be part of the 54player field which includes 36 men professionals 12 women professionals and six amateursMane said Jaipur has great memories for me I won my first pro event there and I love the city So much to see but then when you come here for golf thats our big focus It is a nice challenging course and I am looking forward to playing itBaisoya who won a title here last year on the Indian Tour will now look to add an IGPL title in Jaipur Aman Raj who like Baisoya is having a good run on his return from injury has won twice at Rambagh in 2023 and before that in 2018 Naturally it is one of my favourite courses with two wins here said Aman Raj who is searching for his first win on the IGPL TourVani Kapoor the leader of the Womens Golf Association of India WGAI has already won four times this year on the WGAI She is also coming off a Top10 at the Hero Womens Indian Open two weeks ago She was also Tiedsixth in Germany earlier this seasonShe is thrilled to be part of the IGPL which has already seen the likes of Hitaashee Bakshi Sneha Singh Durga Nittur and others make a mark Vani said It is a nice course and the city is great It will be awesome to line up with men professionals and the concept is very goodApart from Vani the field includes two other players Amandeep Drall and Sneha Singh who have been multiple winners on the WGAI this yearMeanwhile the stakes are very high for some of the professionals who are high up on the IGPL Rankings listUttam Singh Mundy CEO of IGPL said The field is quite strong even though some of our players like Gaganjeet Bhullar and Karandeep Kochhar are playing on the International Series in the Philippines The past few weeks have shown that players like Kapil Kumar Kartik Sachin Baisoya and Pukhraj Singh Gill are all ready to win Kapil did win in Pune and the others are looking to do the same The race for the IGPL Order of Merit is intense with more than one player having a chance this week to overtake Bhullar at the topKapil who won his maiden pro title at the IGPL Pune has a chance to go past the current Merit List leader Gaganjeet Bhullar who after two wins in the first two events at Chandigarh Golf Club and Jaypee Greens has been busy on the Asian TourKapil has already won Rs 2993925 A win this week which will be worth Rs 2250 lakh can see him get to the top ahead of Bhullars Rs 45 lakhAnother player who can get to the top this week with a win is the teen wonder Kartik Singh who has Rs 2871557The Rambagh Golf Club which was founded in 1944 is a challenging 18hole Par70 championship course It is situated within the historic Rambagh Palace which was once the residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur and has a rich history IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/golf-udayan-mane-among-men-and-vani-kapoor-to-make-igpl-debut-in-jaipur-644396.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-with-a-playoff-spot-on-the-line-up-yoddhas-eye-a-win-against-u-mumba-to-advance-644403.html Chennai Oct 22 With 12 points from 17 games UP Yoddhas enter their final league encounter against U Mumba in Season 12 of the Pro Kabaddi League PKL determined to finish on a high and keep alive their slim chances of reaching the playoffs stage Despite a challenging campaign marked by close contests and narrow margins the Yoddhas resilience has been a defining feature and they will look to summon that fighting spirit once again In their previous outing against Jaipur Pink Panthers the Yoddhas went down 2942 but there were positives to draw from the contestSenior raider Surender Gill led from the front with a spirited 12point performance showing his trademark blend of precision and persistence in attack Guman Singh chipped in with six raid points providing crucial support in the front line while defenders Hitesh and Gagan Gowda added two points each through welltimed tacklesCaptain Ashu Singh and Mahender Singh marshalled the defence with determination often putting their bodies on the line against Jaipurs fluid raiding unit Though the team couldnt convert their efforts into a win their ability to stay competitive against one of the tournaments top sides highlighted their potentialInterim coach Upendra Malik believes the side still has the right mindset to end the season on a positive note Its been a challenging campaign no doubt but the boys have continued to fight with heart We have focused on key areas over the last few sessions and our goal is to execute our plans with confidence A good result tomorrow would be a reflection of the spirit this group has shown all season he saidHeading into the final fixture the qualification equation remains open as the Yoddhas must win their last match comprehensively and hope for a favourable set of results in other games to break into the top eight While the path is narrow the teams selfbelief and momentum from earlier victories against Gujarat Giants and Tamil Thalaivas will fuel their determinationFor the Yoddhas this final clash encompasses pride progress and the possibility of turning persistence into reward If they channel the grit that has defined their journey a late surge into the playins isnt beyond reach IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-with-a-playoff-spot-on-the-line-up-yoddhas-eye-a-win-against-u-mumba-to-advance-644403.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-quartet-to-wait-another-day-as-wistron-ladies-is-reduced-to-54-holes-644413.html Taipei Oct 22 The Indian quartet led by Pranavi Urs will need to wait for an extra day before getting to start the Milliondollar Wistron Ladies Open in Chinese Taipei Following heavy rainfall and a flooded course the organisers have decided to reduce the tournament to 54 holes even as the staff and greenskeepers at the golf course are working tirelessly to alleviate the rains impact to ensure the course is ready for play Apart from Pranavi the other Indians are Hitaashee Bakshi who was third at the Womens Indian Open two weeks ago rookie Avani Prashanth and Tvesa Malik Diksha Dagar has skipped the event Following a course inspection this morning at Sunrise Golf and Country Club the Ladies European Tour LET and TLPGA have confirmed the Wistron Ladies Open has been reduced to 54 holesThe committee and stakeholders have decided that it was not possible to open the practice facilities on Wednesday The course remained unplayable and therefore for the safety of players and tournament personnel there will be no course walkPlay is now scheduled to begin on Friday morningThe team will continue to monitor and inspect the course throughout the day and remain hopeful that conditions will improve to allow a course walk on ThursdayThe Sunrise Golf amp Country Club is a Par 72 course measuring 6456 yards for women This is the sixth edition of the tournament but only the second that is being cosanctioned by both the LET and TLPGAThe event which includes a dozen past LET winners also features the defending champion Switzerlands Chiara TamburliniA few days back Pranavi Urs produced a steady start at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France carding a 1under 70 to emerge as the leading Indian on day one Her performance placed her tied for 23rd at Golf Barrière de Deauville The 21yearold from Mysuru played a composed front nine recording nine straight pars On the back nine she finally broke through with a birdie on the 10th only to give the shot back on the very next hole However she quickly recovered with another birdie on the 12th before closing out her round with six consecutive pars IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-quartet-to-wait-another-day-as-wistron-ladies-is-reduced-to-54-holes-644413.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 01:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-wrestler-vishvajit-more-wins-bronze-in-u-23-senior-world-wrestling-championship-in-serbia-644415.html New Delhi Oct 22 Indias Vishvajit More competing in the 55 kg GrecoRoman category brought glory to the nation by winning the bronze medal at the Under23 Senior World Wrestling Championship being held in Novi Sad Serbia In the bronze medal bout Vishvajit displayed exceptional skills and determination to defeat the Kazakh wrestler with a close 54 scoreline securing Indias first medal in the championshipVishvajit began his campaign with an impressive victory over a Romanian wrestler in the qualification round and continued his fine form by defeating the USA wrestler by technical superiority in the next round He faced a tough challenge in the quarterfinals where he lost to UWW wrestler Alibek However as Alibek advanced to the final Vishvajit earned a chance to compete in the repechage roundIn the repechage he made a strong comeback by overpowering the Georgian wrestler through technical superiority paving his way to the bronze medal bout Demonstrating remarkable grit and composure Vishvajit ultimately triumphed over the Kazakh opponent to clinch the Bronze Medal for IndiaThis achievement marks a proud moment for Indian wrestling highlighting the growing strength of young wrestlers on the international stageIn all 29 Indian wrestlers are vying for medals at the U23 World Wrestling Championships 2025 in Novi Sad Serbia in the competition that will stretch from October 20 to 27Competitions will span 10 weight categories each in mens and womens freestyle and GrecoRoman wrestling with India entering one athlete per category except in mens freestyle 125kg Around 700 wrestlers from across the globe are competing in the Serbian city IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-wrestler-vishvajit-more-wins-bronze-in-u-23-senior-world-wrestling-championship-in-serbia-644415.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 01:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025goa-guardians-qualify-for-semis-after-delhi-toofans-beat-kolkata-thunderbolts-in-five-set-thriller-644416.html Hyderabad Oct 22 Goa Guardians qualified for the semifinals after the Delhi Toofans defeated the Kolkata Thunderbolts 1816 1115 1215 1511 1512 in Season 4 of the Prime Volleyball League at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium Hyderabad on Wednesday Saqlain Tariq was named the Player of the Match Goa will now play Mumbai Meteors in the first semifinal on FridayWednesdays game started with both teams attacking from the middle Delhis Jesus Chourio made the first major dent Ashwal Rai kept the pressure up for the Thunderbolts with strong spikes A smart review call from coach Manoj Nair helped the Toofans win the first setPankaj Sharmas missile service put pressure on the Toofans defence Ashwal kept up the pressure on Delhis libero Aljo Sabu Matin Takavar made a super block on Chourio and the Thunderbolts won the second setAayush made two important blocks as Delhi regained composure A risky super point for the Thunderbolts backfired with Carlos super spike But Aayushs overhit shot cost the Toofans a super point and the Thunderbolts took the lead winning the third setLosing two sets meant that Delhi were out of contention for a place in the semifinals But the result did little to deter Delhi skipper Saqlain Tariq from seeking a win Abhishek Rajeev and Muhammed Jasim led their fightback With a smart block from Jasim Delhi pushed the game to the fifth setWith Kolkatas Matin off court Delhi began running the play from the middle utilising both Jasim and Aayush Matins return put pressure on the Toofans But tremendous defending from libero Aljo helped the Toofans win a super point and the Toofans scripted an unforgettable win eliminating KolkataEarlier on Tuesday Kochi Blue Spikers bowed out of the tournament with a solid win in the Prime Volleyball League PVL 2025 at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium Hyderabad defeating Ahmedabad Defenders 1513 1416 1715 159 Erin Varghese was named the Player of the Match The result did not affect Ahmedabads position in the table as they are already through to the semifinals IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025goa-guardians-qualify-for-semis-after-delhi-toofans-beat-kolkata-thunderbolts-in-five-set-thriller-644416.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 01:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/champions-league-bellinghams-strike-sees-madrid-past-juventus-644439.html Madrid Oct 23 Real Madrid beat Juventus 10 at the Bernabeu to continue their flawless start to the Champions League campaign and make it nine points from three games Madrid dominated the first half but it wasnt until after the break when they broke the deadlock Bellingham turning home on 57 after Vini Jrs fine effort came back off the postXabi Alonsos boys quickly took control of the ball but a welldrilled fiveman defence made it difficult to carve out too many opportunities around the opposition box The visitors set up to counterattack and posed a threat with longdistance efforts as wellMcKennie and Gatti both tried their luck in the opening quarter of an hour but Courtois was on hand to keep them out Arda Gulers 16thminute corner was headed towards goal by Tchouameni but the ball ended up in Di Gregorios glovesHalfway through the first period Brahim was on the end of a swift transition but his shot across goal was well turned behind for a corner by the visiting goalkeeper Valverde swung the ball in and Tchouamenis effort from inside the area was deflected wide by Kalulu as it looked set to find the back of the netMadrids clearest chances came on the stroke of halftime The first fell to Mbappe who picked up Brahims impressive pass and unleashed a powerful leftfooted drive from inside the box but Di Gregorios superb reaction stop denied the Frenchman on 40 Three minutes later he danced away from Cambiaso with some sublime skill and pulled the ball back for Militao who fired overThe second half got underway with a warning shot as Vlahovic raced through oneonone with Courtois on 50 following a mazy run that began inside his own half but our goalkeeper came out on top Seven minutes later and Real Madrid were in frontSome lovely individual play by Vini Jr saw him surrounded by opposition defenders but he still managed to squeeze a shot off When it came back off the upright Bellingham was in just the right placeFrom there to the end Madrid barely gave the opposition a sniff closing the game out well to clinch a big win with just four days to go until the Clasico IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/champions-league-bellinghams-strike-sees-madrid-past-juventus-644439.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/champions-league-liverpool-thrash-frankfurt-chelsea-dominate-10-man-ajax-644448.html Frankfurt Oct 23 Liverpool ended their fourmatch losing streak in all competitions as three goals in ten firsthalf minutes sparked a comfortable 51 win over Frankfurt The Reds came from behind at Deutsche Bank Park to snap a fourgame losing run and put their second victory on the board in this seasons league phaseAfter a 26thminute opener from Rasmus Kristensen Hugo Ekitike levelled proceedings on his return to the club he departed in the summerVirgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate then scored from corners later on in the first half to turn the affair around Secondhalf finishes from Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai made it a convincing win for Arne Slots menElsewhere it was another memorable night under the lights at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea romped to a 51 win over tenman AjaxThe Blues were looking dangerous even before Kenneth Taylor saw red for a late challenge on 18 minutes and when Marc Guiu scored a minute later the result never looked in doubtMoises Caicedo added a deflected second and whilst Wout Weghorst pulled a goal back five minutes later from the penalty spot two penalties of our on on the verge of halftime from Enzo Fernandez and Estevao Willian meant we lead 41 at the breakSubstitute Tyrique George made it five just after the interval and the Blues continued to attack Ajax throughout the second period but had to settle for 51In another action Tottenham Hotspur maintained their unbeaten start as Guglielmo Vicario produced an inspired display to deny Monaco with a goalless drawThe goalkeeper twice came to the visitors rescue during the first half producing smart reflex saves to thwart Folarin Balogun from close rangeVicario then brilliantly kept out Jordan Tezes header after the break with Monaco continuing to look the more likely to scoreTakumi Minamimo flashed a volley narrowly over the crossbar later on but the hosts had to settle for a point IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/champions-league-liverpool-thrash-frankfurt-chelsea-dominate-10-man-ajax-644448.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 10:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/babar-naseem-return-as-pcb-name-squads-for-white-ball-series-644457.html Lahore Oct 23 Pakistan Cricket Board PCB has announced 15member T20I and 16man ODI squads for the upcoming whiteball series against South Africa Sri Lanka and a triseries involving the Lankans and Zimbabwe The series will see Babar Azam Abdul Samad and Naseem Shah return to the setup Faisal Akram Haris Rauf and Haseebullah return to the side for the ODIs Moreover Usman Tariq is the only uncapped player in the T20I squadBabar who last featured in a T20I in December 2024 series against South Africa in Centurion had been out of the side for the Bangladesh West Indies and Asia Cup 2025 seriesMeanwhile Salman Ali Agha has been retained as the T20I captain and Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the national team in ODIs for the first timePakistan currently playing a Test series at home against South Africa at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will next face the Proteas in a threematch T20I and ODI series before hosting Sri Lanka for a threematch ODI seriesPakistan Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will then face off in a T20I triseries in the buildup to the T20 World Cup 2026 Originally Afghanistan was the third team in the triseries besides Pakistan and Sri Lanka However they pulled out of the series amid the ongoing political tensions with their host nationThe T20I series between Pakistan and South Africa will take place in Rawalpindi and Lahore from October 28 to November 1 while the ODI series will be hosted by the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from November 4 to 8The ODI series will be succeeded by three additional ODIs against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium scheduled from November 11 to 15 Afterwards the T20I triseries will take place from November 17 to 29 with the games scheduled to be played across venues in Rawalpindi and LahoreT20I squadSalman Ali Agha captain Abdul Samad Abrar Ahmed Babar Azam Faheem Ashraf Hasan Nawaz Mohammad Nawaz Mohammad Wasim Jnr Mohammad Salman Mirza Naseem Shah Sahibzada Farhan Saim Ayub Shaheen Shah Afridi Usman Khan wicketkeeper Usman TariqReserves Fakhar Zaman Haris Rauf Sufiyan MoqimODI squadShahen Shah Afridi captain Abrar Ahmed Babar Azam Faheem Ashraf Faisal Akram Fakhar Zaman Haris Rauf Haseebullah Hasan Nawaz Hussain Talat Mohammad Nawaz Mohammad Rizwan wicketkeeper Mohammad Wasim Jnr Naseem Shah Saim Ayub Salman Ali Agha IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/babar-naseem-return-as-pcb-name-squads-for-white-ball-series-644457.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/from-cheers-to-silence-kohlis-twin-ducks-spark-emotion-and-criticism-alike-644480.html New Delhi Oct 23 Things came to a halt after Virat Kohli scored a second consecutive duck in the ongoing series against Australia marking the first time of backtoback ducks in his ODI career After recording an eightball duck in the ODI series opener against Australia in Perth on Sunday Kohli walked into the Adelaide Oval one of his favourite venues aiming to change his luck and take control of the gameConsidering his record at the venue over the years experts fans and pundits expected the seasoned cricketer to do well with the bat in the second ODI In what is likely to be Kohlis final appearance at the iconic Adelaide Oval the Indian veteran was outsmarted by the young Xavier Bartlett to continue a dismal ODI series so farKohli has a brilliant record at the famous ground averaging 5270 in Tests and before the second ODI he was averaging 61 in the whiteball formatFans could not hold back their emotions and were quick to share their reactions on social media While some were disappointed with Kohlis fortunes a few criticised himWatching Virat Kohli walk back for a duck feels like a punch to the heart The man who once carried India with pride now walks off too soon cricket can be so cruel a user wrote in an X postOur misery is turning funny because who the hell thought that there will be a possibility that Kohli can go through this series scoring 0 runs stated a fanIn a classy move the Adelaide Oval celebrated Kohlis brilliant career standing and applauding him as he walked off Kohli then raised his right arm to acknowledge the crowdEven when he walks back on a duck the crowd still stands and claps Because some players are not judged by runs theyre celebrated for the legacy they have built over years Thats the respect Virat Kohli commands not just as a cricketer but as an emotion another fan wroteSad way to end his last innings at Adelaide A ground where he has dominated everytime a fan postedA user anticipated Kohlis exit from international cricket and wrote Retirement loading But yeah enjoying every moment of him playing cricketSome criticised the 36yearold after he recorded consecutive ducks in the ongoing series and made harsh comments about the senior cricketerTo be honest Virat kohli has gotten enough chances and sympathy Out of form is different thing but taking for granted is something serious He is now degrading his name only wrote oneVirat Kohli cricket is not for you anymore please retire go spend time with your family let youngsters take your spot and also stop crying about not getting time with your family a user wroteViratKohli Chapter over All PR activists stop promoting him He can take a long walk to London wrote another userKohli is completely finished Age and eyesight issues have caught up with him mentioned another userKohli has yet to score a run in the current ODI series having recorded ducks in both matches so far With only one game remaining in the 50over series scheduled for Saturday Kohli is expected to seize his chances and silence the critics IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/from-cheers-to-silence-kohlis-twin-ducks-spark-emotion-and-criticism-alike-644480.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/we-will-play-only-to-win-against-jaipur-says-patna-pirates-head-coach-644552.html New Delhi Oct 23 After Patna Pirates produced the biggest win of PKL 12 defeating Dabang Delhi KC 6126 head coach Randeep Dalal and captain Ankit spoke about their strategic approach and playoff aspirations following the commanding 35point victory Patna Pirates entered the match with a clear game plan as head coach Randeep Dalal revealed We came here with thorough calculations We calculated based on the score difference thinking we need to build as much lead as possible in this matchThe victory has put Patna Pirates in a strong position heading into their final league match against Jaipur Pink Panthers Dalal emphasised the teams winning mentality We will play openly in that too because we come to play every match to win Qualifying is a different matter but if the team maintains a winning rhythm we will play only to winThe head coach praised the balanced performance from his squad Ayan has been our lead raider since the beginning and his performance has been very good throughout the tournament Ankit Rana also played the role of support raider well and Milan Dahiya also did very well today Today was a complete team effort so we won by a good marginCaptain Ankit highlighted the importance of the score difference in their qualification race Our score difference was a lot in the negative It was 40 We should close the score a little and the score will be very useful for us in the next matchThe skipper also reflected on the teams remarkable turnaround The boys are also performing well and well continue to play strongly in the next matchLooking ahead to the playoffs Ankit maintained a calm approach Theres nothing special about the playoffs Kabaddi is the same the game is the same We will play like this the whole team will play wellPatna Pirates will face Jaipur Pink Panthers in their final league stage match needing a positive result to confirm their playoff berth after this seasons biggest victory IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/we-will-play-only-to-win-against-jaipur-says-patna-pirates-head-coach-644552.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 17:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/matt-renshaw-away-as-much-as-possible-from-the-ashes-selection-headache-644349.html Adelaide Oct 22 Matt Renshaw has found peace in not chasing the dream that once consumed him As talk builds around a possible recall for the Ashes the 29yearold Australian batter remains unfazed a far cry from the anxious youngster who once obsessed over scorecards and selection chances A rejuvenated Renshaw now a father of two has rediscovered balance in life and cricket Obviously I want to be there it would be remiss of me not to say that he admitted ahead of Australias second ODI against India in Adelaide But I try and stay away from it as much as possibleThe lefthander was caught off guard when picked for the ODI squad I had to Google when and where the games were scheduled he said with a grin Its knowing if I get everything else in order the cricket will just take care of itselfRenshaws transformation is striking The same player who once rushed off the field to check others scores has now learned to let go of comparisons Theres been times in my career where I come off after a Shield game and obviously all the Shield games are on at the same time and youre looking at the scorecard youre looking at different names seeing how they went he recalled Now like the first Shield game this season I couldnt tell you who scored runs in other gamesHe understands now that someone elses success doesnt define his own journey Knowing that it doesnt really matter in terms of someone else scoring runs doesnt matter to how Im going to go out and play my game he saidThat maturity stems from perspective off the field Being a father of a twoyearold girl and fivemonthold boy was now my validation rather than earning a Test recall or judging myself on my runscoring Renshaw reflected A lot of the time you try and force a few things you see someone else gets runs and you go I need to score runs because then Im going to be picked for Australia then Im going to become a good person That whole mentality when youre young is thats how you view yourself as a person Whereas now I go home and Ive got to change nappies Ive got to put kids to bed Ive got to try and calm screaming babies downHe laughs now at how allconsuming cricket once was When youre young you go home you have got nothing to do so youre just sitting on your phone scrolling he said I hide I dont have the Cricket Australia app I dont try and look at any news I hide all the cricket stuff on my Instagram so I dont see itRenshaws renewed outlook has come with results a mountain of domestic runs and a recall to the ODI setup keeping him in the Ashes frame Yet he shrugs off any talk of selection 12yearold Matt I talk to him a lot and if I told 12yearold Matt that I was in a room of 30 journalists he wouldnt believe you he smiled I now think How cool is this how awesome is it that I get this opportunity rather than If I score runs I will get this opportunity Even the other night I was a bit nervous and Virat Kohli made a duck and hes the best player in this format ever Its OK to failHaving debuted as a 20yearold in 2016 Renshaws journey since has been anything but linear But through it all hes taken lessons from teammates whove fought their way back Once you sort of realise that it might not happen again you talk to people he said I am really close with Uzzy Usman Khawaja He thought his Test journey was over and look at him now I try to talk to him about how hes going about it Its just amazing its almost like once you let go of that one side of playing for Australia thats what I need to doFor Renshaw cricket is no longer his only identity and perhaps thats what makes him more dangerous now I have two kids now theyre a huge part of my life so its knowing that crickets not like my sole reason its everything else he said If I get everything else in order the cricket will just take care of itself IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/matt-renshaw-away-as-much-as-possible-from-the-ashes-selection-headache-644349.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/arsenal-beat-atletico-madrid-to-maintain-perfect-champions-league-start-644254.html London Oct 22 Arsenal produced a breathtaking 14minute spell to score four goals and demolish Atletico Madrid extending its flawless start to the league phase of the Champions League The emphatic victory means Arsenal has won all three of its opening Champions League fixtures without conceding a single goalBoth sides struck the woodwork before Gabriel headed in Declan Rices freekick to give the hosts the advantage shortly before the hourThree further goals followed in the next 13 minutes as Gabriel Martinelli curled into the corner before Viktor Gyökeres double added extra gloss to the scorelineThe Gunners began brightly with Eberechi Eze striking the crossbar via a deflection early on while Atleticos Julian Alvarez almost punished goalkeeper David Raya who was caught off his line by a longrange effortThe first half remained tight and tactical with few clear chances for either side That continued after the break until centerback Gabriel Magalhaes broke the deadlock in the 57th minute heading in Declan Rices pinpoint freekickThat goal unleashed Arsenals attacking fury Myles LewisSkellys driving run set up Gabriel Martinelli to curl home a superb second before striker Viktor Gyokeres bundled in his first Arsenal goal in eight matches to make it 30Just three minutes later the Swedish forward struck again this time turning in Gabriels knockdown from a dangerous corner to complete a stunning burst of four goals in just 14 minutesEarlier Fermin Lopez hit a hattrick as Barcelona beat Olympiacos earning an emphatic 61 first home winThe Spain wingers composed finishes gave the hosts a 20 halftime advantage before Ayoub El Kaabi replied with a penalty for Olympiacos who had Santiago Hezze dismissed for a second caution soon afterwardsLamine Yamals spot kick proved the first of four goals in 12 minutes for rampant Barça Fermín López completing his treble in between two Marcus Rashford strikes as the fivetime champions reached six points IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/arsenal-beat-atletico-madrid-to-maintain-perfect-champions-league-start-644254.html Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/haalands-neat-finish-and-silvas-header-help-man-city-see-off-villarreal-in-ucl-644261.html Villarreal Oct 22 Firsthalf goals from Erling Haaland and Bernardo secured an impressive 20 Champions League win away to Villarreal It was a mature and polished performance by Pep Guardiolas side who continue to impress this season And the win on Spanish soil ensures the Blues keep up with the early league phase pacesetters after last seasons frustrations as well as extending our unbeaten run in all competitions to nineCity moved up to fifth spot in the Champions League group phase table as a result of their win in SpainIt gives the Blues an impressive seven points from the first three games with a goal difference of 4With successive home games to come against German sides Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen to come in November it leaves City in a position of strength with only three games playedCity were in command from the word go Savinho and Haaland exchanged passes that ended with Jeremy Doku halfconnecting with a low shot that felt like an opportunity missed all inside the first minuteThe Blues looked composed and were controlling much of the play with the hosts reduced to the odd scrap here and there so it was no surprise when the Spaniards fell behind on 17 minutesSavinho found the clever run of Rico Lewis and his intelligent pull back was met sweetly by Haaland to give the keeper no chance with his 24th goal for club and country this seasonVillarreals Gueye flashed a fierce shot just wide but an equaliser would have felt harshCitys second of the evening would give the game a more realistic look as Bernardos welltime run onto Savinhos cross ended with the skipper heading home from eight yards five minutes before the breakHaaland went close to adding to his incredible tally on a couple of occasions in the closing stages and was only denied a second by a superb save by Luiz JuniorThere were halfchances at either end but City thoroughly deserved the victory against a side who sit third in La Liga and hadnt tasted defeat on home soil for seven months IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/haalands-neat-finish-and-silvas-header-help-man-city-see-off-villarreal-in-ucl-644261.html Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/spanish-midfielder-dani-ramirez-joins-punjab-fc-ahead-of-super-cup-644329.html Mohali Oct 22 Punjab FC have strengthened their first team with the signing of Spanish attacking midfielder Dani Ramirez Fernandez who becomes the clubs second overseas signing of the season after Samir Zeljkovic The 33yearold has joined Punjab FC on a oneyear contract on a free transfer Ramirez last played for Manisa FK in Turkeys TFF First LeagueBorn in Leganes Spain Dani Ramirez began his youth career with his hometown club CD Leganés before moving to Real Madrid where he spent four seasons developing through the youth setup and featuring for Real Madrid C In 2014 he joined Valencia CF B continuing his progression in Spains competitive lower divisionsRamirezs journey also saw him represent Getafe CF and Internacional de Madrid before moving abroad in 2017 to join Polish club Stomil Olsztyn SA His impressive performances earned him a move to LKS Lods where he played for two seasons before signing with Lech Poznan where he won the Ekstraklasa title in the 202122 seasonFollowing his success in Poland Ramírez had a spell in Belgium with Zulte Waregem before returning to LKS LODZMost recently with Manisa FK in Turkey during the 202425 season he made 34 appearances contributing seven goals and four assists showcasing his creativity and experience in midfieldA technically gifted playmaker known for his vision passing range and attacking intelligence Dani Ramírez brings valuable experience from multiple European leagues and is expected to play a key role in Punjab FCs campaign ahead of the AIFF Super Cup 2025 starting October 25 in GoaSpeaking about joining Punjab FC Ramirez said Joining Punjab FC feels like the perfect next step Im genuinely thrilled to start this new chapter and contribute Having played in various leagues globally Im eager to use that experience to help the team achieve its goals The clubs vision is inspiring and Im ready to dive in meet the squad and give absolutely everything for the club and our supportersTechnical director of Punjab FC Nikolaos Topoliatis said Our approach to recruitment has always been strategic by identifying players who fit our system but also bring strong character and professionalism to the squad In Dani we have a player with a proven track record and experience across multiple countriesThis signing was carefully considered to strengthen key areas of the team and ensure balance across the pitch We are confident he will not only elevate the performance level but also positively influence the development of our younger players IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/spanish-midfielder-dani-ramirez-joins-punjab-fc-ahead-of-super-cup-644329.html Wed, 22 Oct 2025 23:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/icc-rankings-bumrah-continues-to-hold-top-test-bowler-spot-siraj-gains-big-in-odi-644330.html Dubai Oct 22 Indias star pacer Jasprit Bumrah remains at the top of the ICC Mens Test bowler rankings but the latest update has brought some movement among Indian players and increased competition Fellow India quick Mohammed Siraj made a strong return to the ODI rankings reentering at 17th position after his first appearance in over a year following an impressive outing in the recent ODI series against AustraliaMeanwhile Bumrahs lead at the top of the Test rankings has been reduced to just 29 points by Pakistans Noman Ali who achieved a new careerhigh rating after his standout performances in LahoreNomans 10wicket performance in Pakistans 93run victory over South Africa lifted him four places to second overall with a total of 853 rating points His teammate Shaheen Afridi also rose three spots to 19th after taking four wickets in the second innings of the same TestAmong Pakistans batters Mohammad Rizwan moved up four places to 16th Babar Azam gained two to 22nd and Salman Agha jumped eight positions to 30th The Test batting charts however continue to be led by Englands Joe RootIn the South African camp Ryan Rickeltons firstinnings score of 71 in the first Test against Pakistan earned him a maiden entry into the top 50 while Tony de Zorzis century propelled him to 54thElsewhere several Australian and English players were rewarded for standout performances in whiteball cricket In Perth Australias standin captain Mitchell Marsh moved up two places to 42nd in the ODI batting rankings after his Player of the Match performance against IndiaPacers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc also made gains rising to 10th and 21st respectively among ODI bowlers Bangladesh spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz climbed six spots to 18th after consistent performances against the West IndiesEnglands whiteball squad saw significant upward movement following their T20I victory over New Zealand in Christchurch Harry Brook advanced 18 places to reach 20th among T20I batters while Adil Rashid climbed three spots to secure third place in the T20I bowling rankings IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/icc-rankings-bumrah-continues-to-hold-top-test-bowler-spot-siraj-gains-big-in-odi-644330.html Wed, 22 Oct 2025 23:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/la-liga-2025-26-four-things-we-learned-in-spains-matchday-9-644119.html Madrid Spain Oct 20 La Liga returned to action this weekend with both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona having to work very hard for their wins just a week before they meet next weekend Real Madrid are currently leading the standings with 24 points from nine matches with eight wins and one defeat Barcelona are second with 22 points from seven wins one draw and one loss Villareal are third with five wins two draws and two defeats in nine matches Here are some things we learned this weekend in Spain1 Mbappe key again as Getafe commits football suicideKylian Mbappe again scored the only goal of the game as Real Madrid claimed a 10 win away to a wellorganised Getafe side that made it difficult for Xabi Alonsos side to create clear chancesMbappes job was made much easier when Getafe substitute Alex Nyom was sent off just three minutes before the goal for a wild challenge just moments after he had been brought on to toughen up the defense reports XinhuaFour minutes after the goal Alex Sancris left Getafe with nine men for a violent and completely unnecessary action on Vinicius Junior If its hard to beat Real Madrid with 11 men with nine it is completely impossible2 Barcelona defense gives Real reasons for optimismAlthough Ronaldo Araujo scored an injurytime goal to give FC Barcelona three points at home to Girona on Saturday with a 21 win the result could easily have gone the other way Girona went in 11 at halftime but with better finishing could have easily been 31 or 41 ahead after missing several chancesThe Barcelona defense looked vulnerable on the break as it did in the 41 loss to Sevilla a fortnight ago and next week Real Madrid have Kylian Mbappe Vinicius Junior Federico Valverde and Rodrygo to run at itA lot has been talked about Barcelonas injuries in attack but its defense looks to be the weak point3 Carrion has a difficult job ahead of himOviedos decision to sack Veljko Paunovic the man who guided the club to promotion to La Liga last season after just eight weeks was one of the big surprises during the international break and the decision to name Luis Carrion as his replacement was anotherCarrion took Oviedo close to promotion two years ago but then left the club to join Las Palmas where he was sacked after nine winless games and some fans are unhappy at his returnCarrions first game back in charge was at home to Espanyol the sort of game Oviedo needs to win to have a chance of staying up but it ended in a 20 defeat implying he isnt going to have things any easier than his predecessor4 Players show solidarity against La Ligas Miami plansAthletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde said on Saturday that the players are the most important asset in La Liga and so when a group that is not known for protesting does protest then they should be listened toPlayers in every game in La Liga this weekend stood still for the first 15 seconds of every game in a symbolic protest against the La Liga plan to take the December 20th game between Villarreal and Barcelona to MiamiThe players union said it hadnt asked Barcelona and Villarreal players to follow the protest to not cause them trouble but in the end they did We were not part of the protest but we felt that we needed to follow along out of respect for our fellow professionals said Barcelona midfielder Pedri with words La Liga should take very seriously IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/la-liga-2025-26-four-things-we-learned-in-spains-matchday-9-644119.html Tue, 21 Oct 2025 00:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025mumbai-meteors-qualify-for-semifinals-with-win-over-chennai-blitz-644121.html Hyderabad Oct 20 Mumbai Meteors defeated the Chennai Blitz 1614 1115 1512 2119 in the Prime Volleyball League at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium Hyderabad on Monday to book a spot in the semifinals Mathias Loftesnes was named the Player of the Match Chennai setter Sameer straightaway went towards Jerome Vinith and Luiz Perotto to make the attacks whlile Mumbai captain Amit Gulia attacked from the centre Chennai defended well with middle blocker Azizbek on court but Amit kept finding gaps Mathias did well to keep the pressure up on the Blitz and with Om Lad Vasants timely block Mumbai won the first setTarun started leading the counterattack for Chennai while the Blitz supreme defence kept making it harder for the Meteors to find gaps Suraj Chaudharys confident block on Amit shifted the momentum and Perottos super serve put pressure on Mumbai Despite a good fightback from Mumbai Chennai held their nerve to level the gameChennais libero T Srikanth thrilled the crowd with his impressive defensive performance But blocker Karthiks presence brought stability back to Mumbais defence Petter Ostviks allround display helped Mumbais cause Despite service pressure from Perotto the Meteors managed to held their nerves With Loftesnes attack from the middle zone Mumbai regained their leadIn the fourth set two crucial reviews went in Mumbais favour solidifying their lead Perotto and Jerome continued to lead Chennais fightback At a crucial juncture Karthik and Shubham combined to block Tarun earning the Meteors an important point The marathon set ended with Shubhams super spike and Mumbai claimed a 31 winKolkata Thunderbolts winEarlier in the day Kolkata Thunderbolts returned to winning ways on the auspicious night of Diwali defeating the hosts Hyderabad Black Hawks 159 1513 915 1513 in the Prime Volleyball League at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium Hyderabad on Monday Pankaj Sharma was named the Player of the Match With the win the Thunderbolts climbed to 6th position in the table with 9 pointsThe Hawks started with setter Preet Karan spreading his passes between Sahil Kumar and Yudi Yamamoto to test Kolkatas defence Pankaj Sharma proved prepared as he combined with Muhammad Iqbal to halt Hyderabads attacksThe Thunderbolts appeared like a wellorganised machine in defence not allowing much room to the Hawks to get in their shots Yudis spike went wayward costing the hosts a super point and Kolkata took the leadJithin acted as the mastermind behind Kolkatas tactics allowing Ashwal Rai and Matin Takavar to lead effective attacks Iqbals dominant defending in the middle allowed Kolkata to take control of the matchHyderabad made changes to their formation bringing John Joseph Guru Prashanth and Paulo Lamounier Paulos block on Pankaj shifted the momentum as the home crowd went ecstatic Niyas Abdul Salam found his rhythm Johns block on Rahul earned a crucial super point and the Hawks won the third set to open up the doors for a comebackIn the fourth set Lamounier started setting the tempo for Hyderabads attacks Pankaj and Ashwal kept making solid crosscourt attacks to relieve some pressure Kolkata regained control winning a crucial super point Rahuls ferocious spike earned Kolkata an important point and with Shikar missing his shot from the middle the Thunderbolts claimed a sensational win IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025mumbai-meteors-qualify-for-semifinals-with-win-over-chennai-blitz-644121.html Tue, 21 Oct 2025 00:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/steve-smith-ready-for-a-big-summer-as-ashes-series-approaches-644155.html New Delhi Oct 21 Australia batter Steve Smith said that hes been training hard and trying to get stronger in his preparations for the Ashes Tests He also revealed that his strength test results have been as good as theyve ever been Smith hasnt played competitive cricket since The Hundred in the UK which ended in August Since coming back from New York last week hes done three net sessions and will face bowlers for the first time on Tuesday to begin his preparations for the Ashes next monthHowever the 36yearold cautioned that he was at his peak fitness in anticipation of a busy summer at homeIve been training quite hard Ive been doing a lot of lifting trying to get a bit stronger I did all my strength tests yesterday and theyre as good as theyve ever been I feel like Im ready for a big summer Smith told reporters on Tuesday as quoted by Fox SportsSmith plans to participate in two Sheffield Shield games prior to the first Test against England next weeks match versus Queensland in Brisbane and the November game against Victoria at the Sydney Cricket GroundThe New South Welshman postponed the beginning of his summer season out of concerns about mental exhaustion recognising that he aims to avoid overextending himself before a fiveTest series Cricket Australia backed this decision hoping it might prolong his Test careerI feel like I certainly get drained mentally quicker than I probably used to I know that when I play a lot at the start by the end of the summer Im pretty cooked mentally and probably cant produce the same performances Theres obviously a balance but I dont think it takes me much now to get up to game speed I want to try and stay as mentally fresh as possible he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/steve-smith-ready-for-a-big-summer-as-ashes-series-approaches-644155.html Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/always-tough-when-you-come-up-against-the-aussies-heather-knight-644166.html New Delhi Oct 21 Englands toporder batter Heather Knight labelled archrivals Australia as favourites to win the ongoing Womens World Cup ahead of the two teams mega clash in the tournament She also mentioned that the Alyssa Healyled side is extremely strong and highlighted that its always a challenge for teams to go up against the defending championsAn unbeaten England are preparing to face their archrivals Australia also unbeaten so far in a crucial groupstage match on Wednesday Buoyed by their recent win over India the Nat SciverBruntled side aims to maintain their momentum against the Women in YellowHeather shared her thoughts on Australias dominance in the game and how they are probably the biggest threat in the tournamentThe Australian team is extremely strong Theyve got a huge amount of depth and they seem to find a way So its always tough when you come up against the Aussies I think its clear that theyre the favourites again for this World Cup Theyre the sort of ones being chased and I guess for everyone else its trying to find a way to be successful against them and disrupt the amazing success theyve hadIve got a lot of respect for them as a team how they go about their cricket and how they play I love playing against Australia Its a real test and if you do well you get great reward and satisfaction from it So hopefully we can have some success against such a super good teamAshleigh Garner has often taken center stage in Australias matches courtesy of her allround performances Heather acknowledged the Aussie allrounders prowess adding that the team will have to play well against herGardners a brilliant bowler The pace she bowls and the attacking line she hits make her really tough to face Shes someone who bowls in difficult situations sometimes with the new ball sometimes at the back end and a lot through the middle Shes certainly someone well have to play well against IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/always-tough-when-you-come-up-against-the-aussies-heather-knight-644166.html Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/cummins-got-a-few-things-to-tick-off-to-get-into-his-bowling-steve-smith-644167.html Sydney Oct 21 With just a month before the start of the Ashes veteran Australian batter Steve Smith provided an update on Pat Cummins who is struggling with a stress fracture in his back Smith said that the bowler has a few things to tick off before returning to his bowling and that he doesnt need much preparation for the series Cummins who has been battling a back injury that has prevented him from bowling since July resumed running a couple of weeks ago after scans showed some improvement in the lowerback stress injuryCummins had earlier admitted he was less likely than likely to be fit for Perth and would require at least four weeks of bowling to be readyI saw him out here the other day He started his running and I was in here training as well I think he obviously hasnt started bowling yet but he gets into things pretty quickly He probably doesnt need as much preparation as Josh Hazlewood or Starcy Mitchell Starc Smith told the mediaThings can turn around quickly so well see where everything lands with himHes obviously got a few things to tick off and get into his bowling but he was in good spirits and the teams obviously better with him in it for sureHopefully he can get right and if he plays three Tests or five Tests or two Tests as many as we can get out of him its the best for the team he addedSince Cummins has yet to resume bowling it is now highly likely he will miss the first Test in Perth which begins in a month Smith will lead Australia with the standin skipper feeling more relaxed than he did when he was the fulltime captain from 2013 to 2017Its nothing out of the ordinary I know how the team operates Were in a good place So if it happens Ill look forward to it I think the important thing is doing it my way I think when I get out on the field Ive got a certain style and the way I like to do things and I need to be authentic I think its worked well when Ive stood in over the last few years Itll just be a seamless sort of transition if that comes around Smith said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/cummins-got-a-few-things-to-tick-off-to-get-into-his-bowling-steve-smith-644167.html Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-pugilists-leave-for-bahrain-to-compete-at-asian-youth-games-644176.html New Delhi Oct 21 The Boxing Federation of India BFI has dispatched a 23member Indian boxing contingent to Manama Bahrain for the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 scheduled from October 23 to 30 The team will represent India across 14 weight categories seven each for boys and girls in the U17 age group The boxing competition at the Asian Youth Games will take place at Exhibition World Bahrain Hall 9 featuring threeround bouts in a singleelimination format Medal ceremonies are scheduled for October 30 followed by the Closing Ceremony on October 31The boxers who recently completed a highintensity training camp at NS NIS Patiala from September 23 to October 20 are now set to take on Asias best The camp focused on enhancing technical tactical and physical conditioning under the expert supervision of Head Coaches Vinod Kumar Boys U17 and Jitender Raj Singh Girls U17 supported by a dedicated team of six coaches two physiotherapists and one doctorThe squad was selected based on performances at the 6th U17 Junior Boys amp Girls National Boxing Championships 2025 where gold medallists secured direct selection into the team while silver medallists were named as reservesThe lineup includes standout performers from the Asian U17 Championships held in July 2025 where India clinched 43 medals to finish second overall further cementing the nations growing reputation in youth boxingOur young boxers have shown tremendous progress over the past few months proving that they can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in Asia This exposure at the Asian Youth Games will be vital in shaping them into future medal winners Theyve worked hard through the camp and we believe theyre ready to deliver strong performances in Bahrain and continue Indias upward trajectory in youth boxing said Ajay Singh President Boxing Federation of IndiaAmong the team are Dhruv Kharb Udham Singh Raghav Khushi Chand Ahaana Sharma and Chandrika Bhoreshi Pujari all gold medallists who have been key figures in Indias youth boxing surge IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-pugilists-leave-for-bahrain-to-compete-at-asian-youth-games-644176.html Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/deeply-saddened-hard-to-believe-pragg-offers-condolences-on-the-passing-of-gm-daniel-naroditsky-644191.html New Delhi Oct 21 Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa expressed his heartfelt condolences on the passing of US chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky saying it was hard to believe he would no longer witness his chess challenges Naroditskys sudden death at the age of 29 was announced on X by his family via the Charlotte Chess CentreIm deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Danya Every time I logged into Chesscom I would see his challenge for a game Its hard to believe that I wont see it anymore My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones Praggnanandha shared on XNaroditsky was found dead at his San Jose residence in California earlier this week Authorities have yet to release an official cause of death but early reports indicate no signs of foul play according to a report in MarcaIn 2007 he earned the FIDE Master title and won the U12 section of the World Youth Chess Championship He shared second place at the 2010 US Open became an International Master in 2011 and won the US Junior Championship in 2013 That same year he achieved the title of Grandmaster His peak FIDE classical rating was 2647 reached in May 2017He has written several books on chess starting with Mastering Positional Chess which he published at the age of 14 having begun writing it when he was just ten years oldNaroditsky frequently appeared as a commentator for prominent chess events particularly on Chesscom Outside the chess arena Naroditsky played a crucial role in promoting chess content online bridging the gap between professional and amateur chessHe also ran highly popular Twitch and YouTube channels He was praised for his ability to calmly and simply explain the game to players of all levels His YouTube channel gained nearly 500000 subscribers and his Twitch stream attracted 340000 followers IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/deeply-saddened-hard-to-believe-pragg-offers-condolences-on-the-passing-of-gm-daniel-naroditsky-644191.html Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/excited-to-start-this-new-adventure-says-samir-zeljkovic-on-joining-punjab-fc-644202.html Mohali Oct 21 Punjab FC have announced the signing of Samir Zeljkovic who will be the clubs first overseas signing ahead of the AIFF Super Cup 2025 starting October 25 in Goa Zeljkovic has been signed on a free transfer and penned a oneyear contract with the club after spending the last season with Radnicki 1923 in Serbia A Bosnia amp Herzegovina international Zeljkovic has the ability to play either as a centre back or a defensive midfielder and has experience playing in European leagues playing in the 202526 UEFA Conference League qualifiers for his last club Radnicki 1923 He was called up to the probable squad for the 202021 UEFA Nations League games against Italy and the Netherlands and also for the friendly against IranThe 28yearold is a product of the FK Sarajevo youth academy where he spent six years before moving to Igman Konjic where he made his senior debut in the second division of Bosnia in the 201718 season He made his big move the next season to Velez Mostar one of the biggest clubs in Bosnia amp Herzegovina for whom he made 149 appearances across five seasons In 2023 Zeljkovic returned to his boyhood club FK Sarajevo from where he was loaned to Uzbekistan Super League club BunyodkorSpeaking on the signing Punjab FC Technical Director Nikolaos Topoliatis expressed his view saying Our approach to recruitment has always been strategic by identifying players who not only fit our system but also bring strong character and professionalism to the squad In Samir we have a player with experience across Europe and Asia We are confident Samir will not only elevate the performance level but also positively influence the development of our younger playersZeljkovic is looking forward to starting this new journey in Mohali Im excited to wear the Punjab FC colours and start this new adventure Its always special to join a club thats building something meaningful Ive heard great things about Punjab FCs vision for developing football in India and I want to be part of that story I know Indian football is growing fast and this move felt like the right step for me both as a player and a person Im ready to learn adapt and help the team wherever I can IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/excited-to-start-this-new-adventure-says-samir-zeljkovic-on-joining-punjab-fc-644202.html Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/smriti-mandhana-continues-her-reign-as-no-1-odi-batter-in-latest-rankings-644214.html Dubai Oct 21 Indias opener Smriti Mandhana has strengthened her position at the top of the ICC Womens ODI Batter Rankings as the top players in the ongoing ICC Womens Cricket World Cup made progress in the latest rankings update Mandhana notched up consecutive halfcenturies in the tournament most recently scoring 88 against England in Indore in what was a close loss for IndiaMandhanas performance helped her improve her overall rating and extend her lead as the No 1 ranked ODI batter to 83 points England captain Nat SciverBrunt was her nearest competitor having scored 191 runs in the tournamentMandhana has been in excellent form recently earning the ICC Womens Player of the Month award for September 2025 due to her performances in the ODI series against Australia prior to the World CupAustralia captain Alyssa Healy moves up one place to equal third overall after scoring consecutive centuries at the World Cup Meanwhile inform South African Tazmin Brits also makes progress inside the top 10 rising one spot to ninth thanks to her own batting effortsThere is also movement outside the top 10 with India captain Harmanpreet Kaur rising three places to 15th Australias opener Phoebe Litchfield advancing five spots to 17th and England veteran Heather Knight climbing 15 places to 18th all recognised for their excellent batting performances at the World CupEngland spinner Sophie Ecclestone continues to hold a strong lead at the top of the ODI bowlers rankings while Indias Deepti Sharma gains ground by climbing three spots to third overall after taking 13 wickets in five World Cup matchesAustralias spinner Alana King rises two spots to seventh overall Meanwhile three Pakistan players receive boosts Nashra Sundhu moves up three places to 11th Sadia Iqbal advances five positions to tie for 14th and Fatima Sana climbs five spots to 24thFatima also moves up the ODI allrounders list improving five places to 15th with Australias Ash Gardner leading Meanwhile Sri Lankas captain Chamari Athapaththu rises one spot to seventh IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/smriti-mandhana-continues-her-reign-as-no-1-odi-batter-in-latest-rankings-644214.html Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025-bengaluru-torpedoes-eye-strong-finish-to-league-stage-against-mumbai-meteors-644219.html Hyderabad Oct 21 With both sides already assured of semifinal spots Bengaluru Torpedoes will aim to finish the league stage on a high when they face Mumbai Meteors in their final Prime Volleyball League powered by Scapia encounter at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday The Torpedoes have been one of the most consistent teams this season winning five of their six matches so far However they come into the contest after a 23 defeat to Hyderabad Black Hawks in what was their first loss of the campaign and will be eager to bounce back and regain momentum ahead of the knockout stageAmong Bengalurus top performers this season have been American universal Jalen Penrose and Indian attackers Joel Benjamin and Sethu TR whose consistent displays have been vital to the teams successMumbai Meteors have enjoyed a similarly strong run also winning five of their six matches this season to secure a final four position The exceptional form of Amit Gulia and Norwegian attacker Mathias Loftesnes has aided the MeteorsSpeaking ahead of the match Bengaluru Torpedoes Head Coach and twotime Olympic medallist David Lee saidWeve had a good run so far and while the last game didnt go our way its part of the process The important thing is that were learning and building and getting better all the time The group has shown great energy and resilience throughout the season and theres a lot of confidence in what we can achieve as we head into the playoffsLee further emphasised the importance of the upcoming fixture he addedMumbai are a wellorganised unit with some excellent individual players so itll be a good test for us before the knockout stage We want to keep pushing ourselves and take that winning mindset into the semifinals IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025-bengaluru-torpedoes-eye-strong-finish-to-league-stage-against-mumbai-meteors-644219.html Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/goa-cm-pramod-sawant-unveils-fide-world-cup-2025-logo-anthem-644235.html Panaji Oct 21 Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday unveiled the official logo and anthem of the FIDE World Cup 2025 Returning to India after 23 years the tournament will feature 206 players from 82 countries The FIDE World Cup 2025 one of the most prestigious tournaments on the global chess calendar will be held in North Goa from October 31 to November 27 2025 bringing together elite players from across the world in a knockout contest for a prize purse of USD 2 million approx INR 1758 croreWhile the logo reflects Goas vibrant culturally rich identitycapturing the essence of the states coastal charm and the strategic elegance of chessthe anthem sung by legendary artist Daler Mehndi adds a touch of grandeur and mystique to the eventSpeaking at the launch ceremony CM Sawant said It is a moment of immense pride for Goa to host the FIDE World Cup 2025 one of the most prestigious events in global chess This milestone not only reaffirms our states commitment to becoming a premier destination for international sport but also celebrates Indias rising prominence on the world chess stage The official logo and anthem reflect the very soul of Goa vibrant creative and deeply rooted in culture while capturing the strategic elegance of chess We are ready to welcome the worlds finest players to our shores for 28 days of topclass competition camaraderie and an experience that blends the spirit of Goa with the brilliance of the gameThe Indian contingent will be led by reigning World Champion D Gukesh alongside top talents such as Arjun Erigaisi R Praggnanandhaa Nihal Sarin Vidit Gujarathi and Womens World Cup Champion Divya Deshmukh will be playing her first home game since the historic winThe tournament will also feature the 12yearold Argentinian prodigy Faustino Oro also called the Messi of Chess his participation will be historic as the youngest player of the 2025 editionComplementing the visual identity of the event is its official anthem a dynamic celebration of Indias strategic prowess and youthful energy Featuring the Prime Minister in its music video the anthem brings together the spirit of the nation with the brilliance of chess Iconic singer Daler Mehndi known for his powerful and distinctive voice infuses the anthem with his signature vibrancy rhythm and energyCentred around the empowering theme Its Your Move the song captures the essence of Indias growing might in world chess while highlighting the vibrancy of its culture The video also showcases Indias leading chess grandmasters and stars like World Champion D Gukesh Arjun Erigaisi Koneru Humpy Tania Sachdev and Vidit Gujarati symbolising the new generation that is taking Indian chess to unprecedented heightsAICF president Nitin Narang thanked the Goa government for their support for the event and said Securing the hosting rights for the FIDE World Cup 2025 is a landmark moment for India and a testament to our growing credibility in the global chess community Bringing a tournament of this magnitude to our shores after 23 years is not just a sporting success but a proud national achievement It will give Indian fans a rare opportunity to witness the worlds best players compete on home soil inspiring a new generation to take up the sport The anthem with its energy and emotion will revitalise chess across the country and take the game from clubs and academies into every home in IndiaAt the World Cup the players will compete against each other in a knockout format with the top three finishers qualifying for the 2026 Candidates Tournament the penultimate stage leading to the World Chess Championship IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/goa-cm-pramod-sawant-unveils-fide-world-cup-2025-logo-anthem-644235.html Tue, 21 Oct 2025 18:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-u20-women-to-play-two-friendlies-in-kazakhstan-644237.html New Delhi Oct 21 The Indian U20 womens football team is set to travel to Shymkent Kazakhstan for two international friendly matches against the Kazakhstan U19 womens side on October 25 and 28 These matches will serve as crucial preparation for the upcoming AFC U20 Womens Asian Cup scheduled to take place in April 2026 where India will be competing after a historic qualification earlier this yearThe Young Tigresses under head coach Joakim Alexandersson have been undergoing an intensive training camp at the PadukoneDravid Centre for Sports Excellence in BengaluruThe squad has been working on tactical awareness physical conditioning and matchreadiness as part of their buildup to the continental tournament The team will depart for Kazakhstan on October 23 with the 23member squad set to be announced before their departureFor India these friendlies mark another important step in their steady progress at the youth level The team qualified for the AFC Womens Asian Cup for the first time in 20 years after a dramatic win over Myanmar in August a result that reflected the growing strength and resilience within the national setup The exposure from these international fixtures will be invaluable for the players many of whom will be experiencing European playing conditions for the first timeBoth matches will take place in Shymkent one of Kazakhstans key football centers known for its modern facilities and competitive environment The games are expected to provide a vital learning experience for the Indian U20 team as they continue their journey toward establishing themselves among Asias rising football powers IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-u20-women-to-play-two-friendlies-in-kazakhstan-644237.html Tue, 21 Oct 2025 18:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-hasini-pereras-fluent-85-in-vain-as-shorna-akter-spins-sri-lanka-out-for-202-644102.html Navi Mumbai Oct 20 Hasini Pereras outstanding knock of 85 off 99 balls was the lone bright spot as Sri Lanka Women collapsed to 202 all out in 484 overs after opting to bat first against Bangladesh Women on a good surface in the 21st match of the ICC Womens World Cup at the DY Patil Stadium Navi Mumbai on Monday What once looked like a platform for a total of around 270280 unravelled completely under the pressure of Bangladeshs spin attack led brilliantly by legspinner Shorna Akter who returned impressive figures of 3 for 27The innings began on a shaky note when opener Vishmi Gunaratne was dismissed off the very first ball of the match a superb inswinger from Marufa Akter that rattled the stumps However captain Chamari Athapaththu and Perera steadied the innings with a fluent 72run stand for the second wicket playing some crisp strokes and rotating the strike smartlyAfter Athapaththus dismissal the innings lost momentum as wickets began to tumble Sri Lanka soon found themselves struggling at 100 for 4 after 19 overs Once again it was Hasini Perera who stood firm amid the collapse stitching together another valuable partnership this time a 70odd run stand with Nilakshi de Silva for the fifth wicket Pereras knock composed and authoritative was the backbone of the innings and also went down as Sri Lanka Womens secondhighest individual score in a World Cup fixtureHowever the game turned sharply in Bangladeshs favour once the partnership was broken Shorna Akter with her disciplined and intelligent leg spin ran through the middle order She bowled four maidens and picked up three crucial wickets leaving the Sri Lankan batters searching for answers Her legspin partner Rabeya Khan also played a significant role claiming two wickets and maintaining the pressure from the other endThe collapse was dramatic from looking comfortable Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for just 28 runs Between the 31st and 40th overs they could manage only 27 runs while losing four wickets which completely derailed their innings Only a stubborn ninthwicket stand between Malki Madara and Udeshika Prabodhani lasting more than 12 overs for a mere 18 runs delayed the inevitableSri Lankas innings could have folded even earlier had Bangladesh not been poor in the field several simple catches went down allowing the innings to drag on longer than it should have Despite that it was Shornas control and consistency that defined the inningsSri Lankas total of 202 will feel well below par after the promising start they had but with quality spinners in their ranks and a redsoil wicket offering grip and turn they will still back themselves to make Bangladesh work hard for the 203run chaseBrief scoresSri Lanka 202 all out in 484 overs Hasini Perera 85 Chamari Athapaththu 46 Nilakshika Silva 37 Shorna Akter 327 Rabeya Khan 239 against Bangladesh IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-hasini-pereras-fluent-85-in-vain-as-shorna-akter-spins-sri-lanka-out-for-202-644102.html Mon, 20 Oct 2025 20:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/champions-league-leverkusens-rolfes-finds-peace-again-after-turbulent-summer-644104.html Berlin Germanu Oct 20 After weeks of restless nights Bayer Leverkusen CEO Simon Rolfes is finally sleeping easily again Ahead of Tuesday evenings UEFA Champions League encounter against Paris SaintGermain PSG Rolfes spoke about the immense challenge of rebuilding the club this summer a task that robbed him of sleep for weeks The dubious pleasure of getting to know every inch of the ceiling above my bed is how the former German international described the period He said things have now returned to normal but the 2024 German champions wild weeks have left their markLosing coaching hero Xabi Alonso this summer having to sack his successor Erik ten Hag after only two months and then appointing former Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand was far from easy Rolfes admitted reports XinhuaBut the turbulence seems to be in the past despite the newly structured young team still in the process of gelling With three consecutive league wins Rolfes says the side is back on a path of hopeHe called finding the right coach after a golden era which included a national championship and cup victory the biggest challenge He views the match against PSG as anything but an even duel We play a top side assumedly Europes currently best team Rolfes said The former midfielder called the upcoming task a helpful challenge adding I am sure we can benefit from a game like thatWhile expectations remain low against the 2025 Champions League winner the Leverkusen official is focused on small steps of development for his sideAfter signing 15 new players coach Hjulmand said his squad is on a promising path to becoming a cohesive unit The 53yearold Dane even spoke about wanting to compete for the national title as soon as possibleRolfes called the duel against Paris a learning lesson and a stress test for the teams resilience You can prove how much frustration tolerance you can take Rolfes said adding We are back in a fighting mood and are aware we have to deliver hard work to achieve successEquipped with many youngsters the official said the club has laid the foundation for promising years and that the mood has changed to optimistic after the latest turmoilDespite significant transfer revenues including midfielder Florian Wirtzs move to Liverpool Rolfes noted You cant just buy a new team you cautiously have to create oneAt the same time rebuilding the squad has opened doors for players like Alejandro Grimaldo While the Spaniard previously operated in the shadow of Wirtz and Granit Xhaka the 30yearold fullback is now turning into Leverkusens inspiring sourceWhile PSG remains the favourite Grimaldos record of four goals and one assist in seven games is surely helping Simon Rolfes sleep significantly better IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/champions-league-leverkusens-rolfes-finds-peace-again-after-turbulent-summer-644104.html Mon, 20 Oct 2025 20:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-e-anand-mahindra-welcome-chloe-chambers-to-mahindra-racing-for-womens-test-644118.html Mumbai Oct 20 Anand Mahindra Chairman amp Team member Mahindra Group has welcomed American Woman driver Chloe Chambers to Mahindra Racing for the upcoming Formula E World Champions Womens Test in Valencia Spain on October 31 In a social media post the Mahindra Group chairman said Welcome Swagatam Chloe He added his message in a post on X in response to a post by Mahindra Racing announcing Chambers joining the teamMahindra Racing has selected Chambers to participate in the upcoming ABB FIA Formula E World ChampionshipThe American racer who is currently among the stars in F1 Academy where she has quickly become one of the series stars has two race wins four pole positions and ten podium finishes todate She is currently placed fourth overall with two races left to run this seasonF1 Academy race winner Chloe Chambers joins Mahindra Racing and will take part in the FIAFormulaE Womens Test in Valencia next week informed Mahindra Racing in a social media announcementChloe Chambers is the latest addition to Mahindra Racing which is one of the top teams in the FIA Formula E World ChampionshipPrior to F1 Academy Chambers career began with a rise through the karting ranks and includes stints in the United States Formula 4 Championship and W Series plus notable campaigns in Porsche Sprint Challenge America in which Chambers won eight of 12 races and the Formula Regional Oceana Championship in which she became the first woman to win a race and take pole position Mahindra Racing informed in a release on MondayAnd as Formula Es dedicated Womens Test returns for its second iteration at Circuit Ricardo Tormo next month with double the track time Chambers will now have the opportunity to tackle a full day of running in the Mahindra M12Electro the latest specification Formula E car building on her first experience of the championship at the same test twelve months ago the release addedAs part of Mahindra Racing the 21yearold Chambers will receive expert guidance and coaching from the team which enjoyed a resurgence in the FIAs allelectric series last season scoring five podium finishes and finished fourth overall in the World Championship with over triple the points from the season beforeAlso supporting Chambers on the pit wall will be Nyck de Vries with the Season Seven World Champion remaining trackside after his official testing duties earlier in the week 2730 October to give the benefit of his knowledge and experience Mahindra Racing informedIm super excited to be back behind the wheel of a Formula E car in Valencia next month for the Womens Test and to do so with Mahindra Racing Its not a new car for me but last year we only had half a day of running so there are a lot of areas to still be improved upon and plenty of experience and knowledge to be gained Chloe Chambers said speaking on the newsBut Ive got the experience and guidance of both Mahindra and Nyck de Vries behind me so Im confident that we will be able to make steps forward and Im looking forward to getting to work with the whole teamMahindra Racing CEO and Team Principal Frederic Bertrand added Chloe is an incredibly exciting talent weve been monitoring her progress in F1 Academy where she has shown great potential and were looking forward to working with her at the Womens TestWere keen to help her build on the experience she gained in the GEN3 Evo car at the test last year and equally we know a driver of her talents will be a valuable addition to the team as part of our testing programme ahead of the new seasonThe Womens Test is a fantastic initiative from Formula E with the potential to inspire future generations into the wealth of opportunities available in the sport both on and off track Were very proud as a team to support it and participate once again this year IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-e-anand-mahindra-welcome-chloe-chambers-to-mahindra-racing-for-womens-test-644118.html Mon, 20 Oct 2025 23:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/if-england-loses-in-perth-they-will-lose-ashes-3-1-ian-healy-644017.html New Delhi Oct 20 Australian cricket legend Ian Healy has warned England that Perth will be the most crucial Test of the upcoming Ashes series He said that if England loses the opening match they are likely to lose the series 31 The first of the five Ashes Tests will begin in Perth on November 21 England have only one warmup match scheduled before the Ashes a threeday game at Lilac Hill Park in Perth from November 1315Notably England havent won an Ashes series since 2015 with the 2019 and 2023 editions ending in a 22 draw They havent secured a Test victory in Australia since 2011England will win a Test But you will see how you look when youre underdone in Perth I hope England watch it It was swinging and bouncing All the batsmen were playing outrageous shots and getting caught England watch out youre doing the same thing Healy said on SENQ BreakfastEngland last won The Ashes in the 2015 series held in England and their last Ashes victory in Australia was the 201011 series which they won 31Healy believes England are coming in underdone and underestimating the surface at Optus Stadium Theyre coming in underdone and our fast bowlers looked fresh and sharp last night in the ODI against India Are England going to win a Test Yes but I think it will be close maybe 22 Perth is the most important Test If England loses in Perth they will lose 31 Win in Perth its 22 he addedHealy stated that his choice to open the batting would be Marnus Labuschagne A challenging threeyear period at the Test level resulted in the longtime toporder batter being dropped for a series in the West Indies and possibly missing this summers Ashes against England Nonetheless the 31yearold has begun strongly scoring four centuries in five innings across three List A matches and two Sheffield Shield games for QueenslandIm very happy with Marnus form hes back Marnus can open and hes happy to go wherever selectors want him Ive got him at 1 and Khawaja at 2 Konstas comes in when Uzzie retires Healy said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/if-england-loses-in-perth-they-will-lose-ashes-3-1-ian-healy-644017.html Mon, 20 Oct 2025 16:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/injured-rodri-to-miss-villarreal-villa-games-confirms-guardiola-644039.html Manchester Oct 20 Manchester City will be without key midfielder Rodri for their upcoming matches against Villarreal and Aston Villa this week manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed The Spanish international is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained earlier this month Rodri limped off in the first half of Citys 10 win over Brentford on October 5 and subsequently withdrew from Spains squad for their World Cup qualifiers The 29yearold also missed Citys 20 victory against Everton over the weekend and will continue his rehabilitation as the club takes a cautious approach to his returnI dont think so for Villarreal or Aston Villa Guardiola told British media when asked about Rodris availability Its not long but its muscular and you have to be careful Weve tried so many times weve tried to not take a risk but we have not been able to manage that So we will seeRodris absence is a blow for City especially ahead of Wednesdays Champions League clash against Villarreal a club where he began his senior career before moving to Atletico Madrid and eventually joining City He has been a vital part of Guardiolas midfield offering balance control and defensive stabilityCity currently second in the Premier League table with 16 points from eight matches trail leaders Arsenal by three points After facing Villarreal they will host Aston Villa on Sunday in what promises to be another key fixture in the title raceRodri already missed a significant chunk of last season due to a knee injury and City are keen not to rush him back prematurely With a packed fixture list ahead Guardiola is expected to rotate his squad and rely on depth in midfield as they aim to compete on multiple fronts IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/injured-rodri-to-miss-villarreal-villa-games-confirms-guardiola-644039.html Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/west-indies-add-akeal-hosein-to-odi-squad-for-bangladesh-series-644046.html Dhaka Oct 20 West Indies have strengthened their spin attack by adding leftarm spinner Akeal Hosein to their squad for the ongoing threematch ODI series against Bangladesh Hosein is set to arrive tonight and will join the team ahead of the second ODI as the visitors look to bounce back after a 74run defeat in the series opener His inclusion is expected to bolster the bowling unit as West Indies aim to level the series against the hostsAkeal is expected to arrive tonight to join the ODI team Cricbuzz quoted a BCB official as sayingThe 24yearold leftarm pacer Ramon Simmonds has earned his maiden ODI callup after featuring in two T20IsMeanwhile fast bowlers Jediah Blades and Shamar Joseph who were part of the initial ODI squad will return to the Caribbean Veteran allrounder Jason Holder is expected to join the squad on October 21 ahead of the T20I leg of the tourThe Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB earlier announced the addition of leftarm spinner Nasum Ahmed to their ODI squad for the ongoing series responding to the spinfriendly conditions on offer in the series openerSpinners dominated proceedings on the slow turning surface at the ShereBangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur prompting both teams to bolster their spin options West Indies leftarm spinner Khary Pierre impressed with an economical spell of 1 for 19 in his 10 overs while offspinner Roston Chase claimed two wickets For Bangladesh it was the spin duo of Rishad Hossain and Tanvir Islam who stole the show sharing eight wickets and setting up a commanding win for the hosts IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/west-indies-add-akeal-hosein-to-odi-squad-for-bangladesh-series-644046.html Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/satwik-chirag-eye-title-run-at-french-open-super-750-644068.html New Delhi Oct 20 Fresh from a string of consistent performances across Asia Indias top mens doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will aim to continue their excellent form when the French Open Super 750 badminton tournament starts in Paris on Tuesday The World No 6 pair finalists at both the Hong Kong and China Masters and semifinalists at the Denmark Open last week start their campaign against Indonesias Muhammad Rian Ardianto and Rahmat HidayatHaving rediscovered their rhythm after an injuryhit midseason Satwik and Chirag will aim to turn their recent form into another title pursuit at one of their favourite venues the stage where they claimed their maiden Super 750 crown in 2022 and added a second in 2024 The duo also secured a second World Championships bronze earlier this year in ParisAmong other Indian players Lakshya Sen who was runnerup at the Hong Kong Open faces Irelands Nhat Nguyen in his opening mens singles match a rematch of their Denmark Open clash last week which Lakshya won in three games Meanwhile young US Open champion Ayush Shetty faces a tough first match against Japans Koki WatanabeIn womens singles the emerging Anmol Kharb a semifinalist at the Arctic Open Super 500 has drawn top seed An Seyoung of Korea in the first round Anupama Upadhyaya will face the fourth seed Han Yue of China while World Junior Championships quarterfinalist Unnati Hooda meets Malaysias Karupathevan LetshanaaThe mens doubles event also features Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy and Sai Pratheek K while the womens doubles will see an allIndian firstround encounter between Kavipriya SelvamSimran Singh and the Panda sisters Rutuparna and SwetaparnaIn mixed doubles Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto along with Rohan Kapoor and Rutvika Shivani Gadde aim to make early progress against experienced international pairs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/satwik-chirag-eye-title-run-at-french-open-super-750-644068.html Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/dembele-returns-to-psg-squad-for-champions-league-clash-against-leverkusen-644079.html Paris Oct 20 Ousmane Dembele is poised to make his return for Paris SaintGermain after being named in the defending champions squad for their UEFA Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday The Ballon dOr winner has been sidelined since September 5 due to a hamstring injury but has been included in PSGs 21man travelling squad announced on Monday Also making a return is centreback Marquinhos who is back in contention after nearly four weeks out with a thigh injuryFrance forward Dembele concluded a remarkable season by winning the mens Ballon dOr last month footballs most prestigious individual award after spearheading Paris SaintGermain to their firstever Champions League victoryI really dont have the words It was an incredible season with PSG Dembele had said while hailing coach Luis Enrique as like a fatherIt is an individual trophy but it was really the collective that won it he added The Ballon dOr has not really been an objective for me in my career but I worked hard for the team to win the Champions LeagueThe 28yearold narrowly beat Barcelonas teenage talent Lamine Yamal to win the award at a glamorous ceremony in Paris succeeding Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri who was the previous years recipient Dembeles triumph follows a prolific season in which he scored 35 goals in all competitions guiding PSG to a historic treble of the Champions League French league and domestic cupHowever the forward is yet to play in the Champions League this season PSG are third in the 36team league after winning their first two games IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/dembele-returns-to-psg-squad-for-champions-league-clash-against-leverkusen-644079.html Mon, 20 Oct 2025 18:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/chess-indian-origin-british-prodigy-bodhana-youngest-to-beat-a-world-champion-644084.html London Oct 20 British chess prodigy of Indian origin Bodhana Sivanandan has achieved yet another remarkable feat becoming one of the youngest players ever to defeat a former world champion The youngster accomplished this during the European Club Cup in Greece The 10yearold from North London pulled off a stunning result on Sunday by defeating Ukraines former Womens champion Grandmaster Mariya Muzychuk at the European Club Cup in Rhodes GreeceBorn in London in 2015 to parents who moved from Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu she became a Woman FIDE Master in 2024 In July 2025 at age 10 she achieved the status of the youngest chess player to earn a Woman Grandmaster WGM norm the previous record holder was Hou Yifan who accomplished it as an 11yearold in 2005On Sunday Sivanandan added another feather to her cap by beating Mariya Muzychuk to become the youngest player to defeat the World ChampionShe seems to be beating a GM every week now the English Grandmaster Danny Gormally was quoted as saying in a statementEnglands No1 Grandmaster David Howell called it an incredible win He added Its not every day a 10yearold defeats a GM and former world champion in such style Grandmaster Susan Polgar the Womens World Champion from 1996 to 1999 also paid tribute to Sivanandan calling her game impressiveSivanandan is playing for the 12thseeded team She Plays to Win Lionesses The team lost 31 in Round 1 to Turkish Airlines but Sivanandans point will be remembered for a long timeThe scale of the upset is highlighted by the fact that 33yearold Muzychuk 2485 the Womens world number 13 was rated 280 FIDE points higher than Sivanandan 2205Sivanandans rise up the ranks has been incredible and she has been breaking records for funEarlier this year the schoolgirl from Harrow who had taken up chess during the 2020 lockdown made history by becoming the youngest female chess player ever to beat a grandmasterSivanandan secured the victory against 60yearold Grandmaster Peter Wells in the final round of the 2025 British Chess Championships in Liverpool surpassing Carissa Yips record by over six months The win also earned her the final norm required to become a Woman International Master WIM making her the youngest ever to achieve that titleSivanandans victory at 10 years five months and three days beat the 2019 record held by American Carissa Yip who went on to become an International Master During the event she also became the youngest ever to secure a WGM normIn 2024 the young player became the youngest person ever to represent England internationally in any sport when she was selected for the England Womens Team at the Chess Olympiad in HungarySivanandan is part of a talented group of English players making waves in international chess Several top players have tipped her for stardomGormally added English chess has been in the doldrums for so many years Weve had good players coming through dont get me wrong but we havent had great players coming through for many yearsAnd now weve suddenly got a generation with GM Shreyas Royal and Bodhana and FM Supratit Banerjee and FM Ethan Pang and others who are actually exciting We dont know how strong theyre going to be he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/chess-indian-origin-british-prodigy-bodhana-youngest-to-beat-a-world-champion-644084.html Mon, 20 Oct 2025 18:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/aus-v-ind-nitish-kumar-reddy-makes-odi-debut-as-australia-opt-to-bowl-643859.html Perth Oct 19 Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first against India here at the Optus Stadium in the first ODI of the threematch series With Indias ace cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma returning to action the visitors will be hoping to clinch the threematch bilateral series to mark Shubman Gills maiden series victory as the captain of the sideMitch Marsh is leading Australia in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins who was ruled out owing to a stress fracture in his backUpon winning the toss Marsh said Looks like a pretty good wicket Hopefully its fast Its always a huge honour leading your country Hope we get off to a good start The morale is great We have some good young players Seven batters one wicketkeeper and four bowlersLeading the side in his first assignment as an ODI captain Gill said We would have bowled first as well Its all about getting mentally ready We are in a good mental place The practice sessions help We have a great combination Nitish Reddy makes his debut we are going with three fast bowlers and three allroundersThe headtohead between the two teams since 2020 has been close with Australia winning seven games and India just ahead with eight winsThe two sides last faced off in an ODI during the Champions Trophy 2025 where India defeated Australia in the tournaments semifinal to seal their spot in the final before eventually clinching the trophyIndia have won only one ODI bilateral series in Australia before when they beat the Men in Yellow 21 by clinching backtoback wins in the second and third games after losing the series openerPlaying XIsIndia Rohit Sharma Shubman Gill c Virat Kohli Shreyas Iyer KL Rahul wk Axar Patel Washington Sundar Nitish Kumar Reddy Harshit Rana Mohammed Siraj Arshdeep SinghAustralia Travis Head Mitchell Marsh c Matthew Short Josh Philippe wk Matt Renshaw Cooper Connolly Mitchell Owen Mitchell Starc Nathan Ellis Matthew Kuhnemann Josh Hazlewood IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/aus-v-ind-nitish-kumar-reddy-makes-odi-debut-as-australia-opt-to-bowl-643859.html Sun, 19 Oct 2025 09:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/aus-vs-ind-nitish-kumar-reddy-receives-odi-debut-cap-from-rohit-sharma-643862.html Perth Oct 19 India allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has received his ODI debut cap former skipper opener Rohit Sharma ahead of the series opener against Australia here at the Optus Stadium on Sunday Interestingly Reddy made his Test debut at the same venue in Perth last year when India toured Australia for the iconic BorderGavaskar Trophy series At the time he received his Test cap from India ace Virat KohliSince the BorderGavaskar Trophy Nitish has played only four additional Test matches two in the recent series against the West Indies and two earlier during the AndersonTendulkar Trophy in England His time in England was interrupted by a freak gym accident in Manchester which resulted in a left knee injuryMatthew Renshaw and Mitch Owen have also received their respective debut caps in the Australian camp and are set to play their first oneday international for the reigning World Cup championsRenshaw has already made his Test debut having first represented his national side at the age of 20 He has now broken into the ODI team nine years since his redball debut after putting together several strong performances for the Bulls in the OneDay Cup and Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash LeagueOwen recently made his T20I debut in July in Jamaica and hell be expected to deliver strong performances in the 50over format as wellWhile Shaun Marsh presented Renshaw his ODI cap Tim David handed over the cap to Owen ahead of the tossIndia and Australia will face off in a fivematch T20I series after the conclusion of the three ODIs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/aus-vs-ind-nitish-kumar-reddy-receives-odi-debut-cap-from-rohit-sharma-643862.html Sun, 19 Oct 2025 09:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mls-messis-hat-trick-guides-inter-miami-to-win-over-nashville-643869.html Nashville Oct 19 Inter Miami CF closed out the 2025 regular season in style securing a resounding 25 win on the road over Nashville SC on MLS Decision Day A hattrick from captain and Icon of the Match Lionel Messi and goals from midfielders Baltasar Rodriguez and Telasco Segovia guided the team to victory at Geodis Park Notably Inter Miami reached 81 goals this regular season with its five goals in the win and became just the third team in MLS history to produce at least 80 goals in a single regular seasonAdditionally with three goals and an assist tonight Messi finished the 2025 regular season with a total 48 goal contributions 29 goals 19 assists the second most in a season in league history only one behind Carlos Vela 49 in 2019Following a start of the match with several important defensive interventions from Inter Miami backline Messi broke the deadlock in the 35th minute Messi brought down a pass from Alba near midfield before taking on and leaving several defenders behind and finding the back of the net with a finish to the bottom left corner from outside the box Inter Miami reportsThe goal was Messis 27th this regular season while the assist was the 15th for Alba this league campaignNashville then turned the scoring around to head into the half with a 21 lead with Sam Surridge scoring in the 43rd minute and Jacob Shaffelburg in the sixth minute of stoppage timeMessi converted a penalty in the 63rd minute to level the scoring and take his MLSleading tally to 28 in 2025Rodríguez completed the comeback shortly after to give Inter Miami a 23 lead in the 67th minute striking from close range after picking up a loose ball inside the box following an initial attempt from Suarez The goal was his third this regular seasonInter Miami then rounded out the impressive result on the road with two goals in the final 10 minutes First Messi secured his hattrick in the 81st minute with a curler to the far post from the right side of the box after a giveandgo with secondhalf substitute Ian FrayMessi then assisted Segovia who also entered the match in the second half for the midfielder to score from close range in the first minute of added time With the goal and assist Messi wrapped up the 2025 regular season with a total 48 goal contributions 29 goals 19 assists the second most in a season in league history only one behind Carlos Vela 49 in 2019Additionally Segovia reached eight goals while Fray took his tally to three assists in the league in 2025The 25 scoreline would then remain unmoved through the final whistle Inter Miami concluded the regular season in third place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 19 wins seven losses and eight draws for a total 65 points IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mls-messis-hat-trick-guides-inter-miami-to-win-over-nashville-643869.html Sun, 19 Oct 2025 10:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/no-fireworks-from-rohit-kohli-in-perth-fans-voice-frustration-643886.html New Delhi Oct 19 Indian veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were on the receiving end after their underwhelming show in the first ODI of the threematch series against Australia The duo walked out to bat in Perth after seven months The veterans who returned to international cricket for the first time since Indias victory at the Champions Trophy earlier this March gave plenty of reasons for fans and experts to feel disappointed with their rough show Opening the innings after being put to bat first Rohit scored only eight runs off 14 balls before Josh Hazlewood dismissed him After the former Indian captains disappointing innings all eyes were on Kohli as fans hoped he would help India recover after an early lossHowever Kohli also failed to deliver and was dismissed cheaply for an eightball duck It was the first time Kohli has ever been dismissed for no score in ODI cricket in AustraliaFans criticised the Indian stalwarts performances as they failed to make an impression setting a cautious tone for Indias innings in the series opener All the applause at the venue soon turned to silence as the hosts delivered major blows to the visitorsKohli sahab 0 8 and gets out fishing outside the off stump My man is truly missing his favorite Test cricket a fan posted on XAnother user said How it feels to wake up early on a Sunday morning just to watch Rohit score 8 14 Kohli score 0 8 amp Gill score 10 18 when I could finish that movie last nightThe buildup to the series lasted more than ROKOs stay in the middle a fan wrote Anothjer one added Rohit Sharma sacrificed his wicket so that fans can watch Virat Kohli Most selfless cricketer of all time ROKONever seen Rohit Sharma look so uncomfortable playing white ball in recent years Ended up throwing his wicket unfortunately Really wanted to watch him bat long amppull those glamorous shots a user wroteRohit Sharma looked so ugly in his short innings amp got out playing a nothing shot If he fails in the next 2 ODIs that could very well be it for him IMO he should have retired on a high after winning the Champions TrophyRohit Sharma on 8 Virat Kohli on 0 and Shubman Gill on 10 go out What a great comeback and performance from all the players The Indian cricket team is waving slowly wrote another fanRohit Sharma and Virat Kohli today looked like they were competing in a new format T10 seconds batting challenge Rohit walked in like a storm and went out like a light breeze Bro swung the bat like he was trying to swat a mosquito not hit a cricket ball And Kohli Man entered like a savior left like a scam Together they gave more hope to the opposition than runs to India read a post from a fanAn abrupt end to Rohit and Kohlis longawaited international return combined with captain Shubman Gills early dismissal and ongoing rain delays has placed immense pressure on the Indian team as they aim to reach a defendable totalTeam India ended the first powerplay at 263 The match currently paused after 115 overs with the hosts at 373 is likely to face further rain delays due to the forecast conditions at the venueThe game was initially reduced to 49 overs per innings and further shortened to 35 overs per innings IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/no-fireworks-from-rohit-kohli-in-perth-fans-voice-frustration-643886.html Sun, 19 Oct 2025 12:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/no-fireworks-from-rohit-and-kohli-in-perth-fans-voice-frustration-643887.html New Delhi Oct 19 Indian veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were on the receiving end after their underwhelming show in the first ODI of the threematch series against Australia The duo walked out to bat in Perth after seven months The veterans who returned to international cricket for the first time since Indias victory at the Champions Trophy earlier this March gave plenty of reasons for fans and experts to feel disappointed with their rough show Opening the innings after being put to bat first Rohit scored only eight runs off 14 balls before Josh Hazlewood dismissed him After the former Indian captains disappointing innings all eyes were on Kohli as fans hoped he would help India recover after an early lossHowever Kohli also failed to deliver and was dismissed cheaply for an eightball duck It was the first time Kohli has ever been dismissed for no score in ODI cricket in AustraliaFans criticised the Indian stalwarts performances as they failed to make an impression setting a cautious tone for Indias innings in the series opener All the applause at the venue soon turned to silence as the hosts delivered major blows to the visitorsKohli sahab 0 8 and gets out fishing outside the off stump My man is truly missing his favorite Test cricket a fan posted on XAnother user said How it feels to wake up early on a Sunday morning just to watch Rohit score 8 14 Kohli score 0 8 amp Gill score 10 18 when I could finish that movie last nightThe buildup to the series lasted more than ROKOs stay in the middle a fan wrote Anothjer one added Rohit Sharma sacrificed his wicket so that fans can watch Virat Kohli Most selfless cricketer of all time ROKONever seen Rohit Sharma look so uncomfortable playing white ball in recent years Ended up throwing his wicket unfortunately Really wanted to watch him bat long amppull those glamorous shots a user wroteRohit Sharma looked so ugly in his short innings amp got out playing a nothing shot If he fails in the next 2 ODIs that could very well be it for him IMO he should have retired on a high after winning the Champions TrophyRohit Sharma on 8 Virat Kohli on 0 and Shubman Gill on 10 go out What a great comeback and performance from all the players The Indian cricket team is waving slowly wrote another fanRohit Sharma and Virat Kohli today looked like they were competing in a new format T10 seconds batting challenge Rohit walked in like a storm and went out like a light breeze Bro swung the bat like he was trying to swat a mosquito not hit a cricket ball And Kohli Man entered like a savior left like a scam Together they gave more hope to the opposition than runs to India read a post from a fanAn abrupt end to Rohit and Kohlis longawaited international return combined with captain Shubman Gills early dismissal and ongoing rain delays has placed immense pressure on the Indian team as they aim to reach a defendable totalTeam India ended the first powerplay at 263 The match currently paused after 115 overs with the hosts at 373 is likely to face further rain delays due to the forecast conditions at the venueThe game was initially reduced to 49 overs per innings and further shortened to 35 overs per innings IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/no-fireworks-from-rohit-and-kohli-in-perth-fans-voice-frustration-643887.html Sun, 19 Oct 2025 12:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wherever-the-selectors-and-coach-put-me-ill-bat-labuschagne-hopeful-of-ashes-recall-643897.html New Delhi Oct 19 Marnus Labuschagne said he will bat wherever needed if called up for the Ashes as Australia looks for an opening batter to pair with Usman Khawaja He also admitted hes walking a little taller after regaining confidence in the Sheffield Shield A difficult threeyear period at Test level led to the longtime toporder batter being dropped for a series in the West Indies and potentially missing this summers Ashes against EnglandNevertheless the 31yearold has started strongly scoring four centuries in five innings across three List A matches and two Sheffield Shield games for QueenslandHe was named in Australias squad for the ongoing threematch ODI series against India but missed out of the playing XI and was benched for the first game at Perth Speaking to Fox Cricket on the sidelines Labuschagne said hes ready to bat wherever the selectors and coach want him toWherever the selectors and coach put me thats where Ill be batting But Ive batted my whole career for Australia at three So theres nothing more to be said wherever they put me I will bat The Ashes are always in the back of your mind I always just kept telling myself that if Im playing at my best that stuff takes care of itself he statedSince the beginning of the domestic summer on September 17 Labuschagne has recorded scores of 130 two 160 105 159 and 18 These performances almost guarantee his selection for the Ashes especially as the rest of the countrys top order batters have struggled early in the seasonLabuschagne was clearly lacking form and confidence before he was dropped but the former Test player of the year believes that nothing has helped him more than his scoring spreeIts always nice when youre scoring runs you probably walk a bit taller youve got that confidence and its probably a nice reminder for yourself after struggling for a couple of years that youve still got it It doesnt matter how good you are or how many runs youve scored when you dont score runs for a while those doubts creep inTo go back and find a way to keep scoring runs and try to play as many games as I possibly can I think I played six or seven club games into two or three practice games into the first game of the season I really went back to the chalkboard and tried to start from scratch by playing games and letting that be the focus he further remarkedLabuschagne featured in 104 innings of 58 Tests for Australia and has 4435 runs in his kitty including 11 hundreds and 23 halfcenturies He has maintained an average of 4619 and a strike rate of 5167 in the longest format of the game IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wherever-the-selectors-and-coach-put-me-ill-bat-labuschagne-hopeful-of-ashes-recall-643897.html Sun, 19 Oct 2025 14:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/spinner-nasum-ahmed-added-to-bangladesh-squad-for-west-indies-odis-643929.html Dhaka Oct 19 The Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB announced on Sunday that leftarm spinner Nasum Ahmed has been added to the ODI squad for the ongoing threematch series against the West Indies The inclusion of the 30yearold reflects the team managements effort to strengthen their spin department following a spindominated first ODI Nasum who last featured in an ODI in December 2024 has played 18 matches in the format claiming 16 wickets at an economy rate of 448 His recall is likely a tactical decision prompted by the spinfriendly conditions witnessed in the series opener at the ShereBangla National Cricket Stadium SBNCS in MirpurOn a sluggish turning pitch in the first ODI on Saturday spinners from both sides made a significant impact For the West Indies leftarm spinner Khary Pierre impressed with a miserly spell of 1 for 19 from his 10 overs while offspinner Roston Chase also chipped in with two crucial wickets However it was Bangladeshs spin attack that stole the show Legspinner Rishad Hossain and leftarm orthodox Tanvir Islam shared eight wickets between them playing pivotal roles in securing a comfortable victory for the hostsWith Bangladesh now leading the series 10 the addition of Nasum Ahmed provides further variety and depth to the spin arsenal The second and third ODIs are scheduled to be held at the same venue on October 21 and 23 where spin is once again expected to play a decisive roleBangladesh squad Mehidy Hassan Miraz captain Tanzid Hasan Tamim Soumay Sarker Mohammed Saif Hasan Najmul Hossain Shanto Tawhid Hridoy Mahidul Islam Ankon Jaker Ali Anik Shamim Hossain Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan Rishad Hossain Tanvir Islam Taskin Ahmed Mustafizur Rahman Tanzim Hasan Sakib Hasan Mahmud Nasum Ahmed IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/spinner-nasum-ahmed-added-to-bangladesh-squad-for-west-indies-odis-643929.html Sun, 19 Oct 2025 17:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/satisfied-to-take-the-game-pretty-deep-says-gill-after-losing-1st-odi-643947.html Perth Oct 19 India skipper Shubman Gill remained optimistic despite his teams loss in the opening ODI against Australia on Sunday highlighting the fighting spirit his side showed after a poor start in Perth Chasing 131 in 26 overs revised playing conditions due to rain Australia captain Mitchell Marsh remained unbeaten on 46 while wicketkeeperbatter Josh Philippe 37 and Matthew Renshaw 21 not out took the side over the line in 211 overs with seven wickets in handGill acknowledged that losing three wickets inside the powerplay put India on the back foot but praised the teams effort in dragging the match deep while defending a modest total in the rainhit encounter It was also Gills first leadership assignment in the 50over formatWhen you lose three wickets in the powerplay youre always trying to play a catchup game said Gill referencing the raininterrupted contest that saw India post a belowpar score of 130 A lot of learnings for us from this game and a lot of positives for us as well We were defending 130 and we took the game not till the very end but pretty deep We were very satisfied with thatIndias innings never quite recovered after the early blows with overcast conditions and a disciplined bowling performance from the opposition making scoring difficult While there were glimpses of resistance in the middle overs rain interruptions further disrupted the momentum However Indias bowlers showed commendable fight in the second innings tightening the screws and picking up key wickets to keep the contest aliveGill also acknowledged the massive crowd support throughout the match expressing his gratitude to the fans who braved the weather to back the team We are very fortunate he said The fans turned up in huge numbers and hopefully theyll be able to cheer us on at Adelaide as wellIndia will aim to improve their performance in the second ODI as they look to level the series With the top order struggling in the first match a more solid start could be crucial especially if similar conditions prevail Gills postmatch remarks pointed to specific areas for improvement and the team will be looking to implement those learnings in the upcoming fixtureThe second ODI is scheduled to be played in Adelaide on October 23 where both sides will be eyeing momentum in the series IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/satisfied-to-take-the-game-pretty-deep-says-gill-after-losing-1st-odi-643947.html Sun, 19 Oct 2025 18:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-pakistan-new-zealand-share-points-as-rain-inflicts-fourth-washout-in-colombo--643844.html Colombo Sri Lanka Oct 18 The rain has been a deciding factor in the 2025 Womens World Cup clash between Pakistan and New Zealand at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday as the inclement weather forced the fourth washout of the tournament at the venue With this result South Africa have booked a spot in the semifinal and joined Australia for the last four As things stand the Kiwis have a very slim chance of qualifying for the semis They hold fifth spot in the points table with four points in five games On the other hand Pakistans knockout chances are all but over as they currently sit at the bottom of the standings with two points coming from washedout fixturesNew Zealand captain Sophie Devine won the toss and asked Pakistan to bat first keeping in mind the rain factor Pakistan openers Muneeba Ali and Omaima Sohail gave the side a slow start with the former punishing the loose balls while her partner remained quiet on the other end The duo added a 30run stand for the opening wicket before Lea Tahuhu trapped Omaima in front of the wickets in the seventh overIn the next over Jess Kerr got the better of Muneeba who scored 26ball 22 with the help of four boundariesSidra Amin and Aliya Riaz the two new batters in the middle tried to stitch a partnership to rebuild from early setbacks Sidra and Aliya get the scoreboard ticking as Pakistan were 392 after the end of the PowerplayThe pair raised a 22run stand when pacer Lea gave her side another breakthrough as she removed Sidra for 9 in the 13th over Just after her departure rain started and enforced a onehour and 36minute halt that reduced the game to 46 overs a sideWith the revised playing conditions Pakistan resumed their innings from 523 in 122 overs Aliya and Natalia Pervaiz stitched another brief stand of 24 runs before Eden Carson made inroads in the 19th after some tight overs Natalia mistimed the shot and handed a simple catch to New Zealand captain Devine at longonThe situation turned worse for Pakistan when they lost their captain Fatima Sana in the next over to Amelia Kerr She was dismissed for just two runs leaving Pakistan tottering at 805 in 195 oversAliya who was holding one end steady was joined by wicketkeeperbatter Sidra Nawaz in the middle before the second rain break paused Pakistans innings for 925 in 25 oversThe rain didnt disappoint for a bit this time and only got heavier and scarier At one point the match was slated to start with a 36overaside affair but the rain made a return and continued which forced a fourth washout at the venueWinless Pakistan will take on South Africa in Colombo on October 21 while New Zealand will next face hosts India in Navi Mumbai on October 23 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-pakistan-new-zealand-share-points-as-rain-inflicts-fourth-washout-in-colombo--643844.html Sat, 18 Oct 2025 23:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ranji-trophy-rishav-raj-shines-on-debut-as-jharkhand-crush-tn-by-an-innings-and-114-runs-643846.html Coimbatore Oct 18 Jharkhand recorded a commanding innings and 114run victory over former champions Tamil Nadu in their Ranji Trophy Group A clash at Coimbatore on Saturday with debutant offspinner Rishav Raj delivering a matchwinning performance The 24yearold playing his maiden firstclass game finished with impressive figures of 4 for 49 as Tamil Nadus batting collapsed once again on the fourth and final dayJharkhand who had piled up 419 in their first innings had already put themselves in the drivers seat by bundling Tamil Nadu out for just 93 in the first innings and enforcing the followon Resuming on the final morning virtually assured of victory Ishan Kishans men wrapped up proceedings efficiently dismissing Tamil Nadu for 212 in 79 overs to claim a bonus point and seal an emphatic winRishav Raj who had sparked Tamil Nadus firstinnings collapse by removing the teenage opener on Friday returned fresh on Saturday to pick up two more key wickets capping off a dream debutThe day began with Tamil Nadu adding just 11 runs to their overnight total before 17yearold debutant Jeganathan Hemchudeshan was dismissed by pacer Sahil Raj for 28 Sahil who had been incisive throughout the match ended with six wickets across both innings Veteran batter Baba Indrajith with 16 firstclass centuries to his name was next to fall caught by Shikhar Mohan off Rishav Raj for 22 as Jharkhand tightened their gripTamil Nadus only resistance came from 19yearold C Andre Siddarth who compiled a gritty 80 off 180 deliveries with 12 boundaries His patient 100run stand with M Shahrukh Khan 37 briefly revived hopes for the home side lifting them from 93 for 5 to 193However once Anukul Roy broke the partnership by dismissing Shahrukh Tamil Nadus tail offered little resistance Roy finished with 3 for 42 as the last three wickets tumbled for just 14 runs with injured tailender Balasubramaniam Sachin unable to batIshan Kishan was named Player of the Match for his superb 173 in Jharkhands first innings which set the tone for their dominant win IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ranji-trophy-rishav-raj-shines-on-debut-as-jharkhand-crush-tn-by-an-innings-and-114-runs-643846.html Sat, 18 Oct 2025 23:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/rajasthan-rift-deepens-in-rca-ad-hoc-committee-as-factions-come-out-in-open-643710.html Jaipur Oct 17 The internal conflict within the Rajasthan Cricket Association RCA shows no signs of easing Sharp differences surfaced between committee members and convener DD Kumawat during Fridays ad hoc committee proceedings with the dispute now escalating to the Lokpal Kumawat responding to allegations stated firmly If the corruption charges against me are proven I will resign and leave on my own Meanwhile members accused Kumawat of taking unilateral decisions Ad hoc committee member Dhananjay Singh Khinvsar speaking to the media in Jaipur alleged that Kumawat did not attend Fridays meeting and had been making unilateral decisions despite the requirement for collective consent from all four committee members Along with Ashish Tiwari and Pinkesh Jain Khinvsar addressed a press conference accusing Kumawat of bypassing the procedureDD Kumawat had no right to disqualify the Jodhpur District Cricket Association DCA Khinvsar claimed adding that members were neither consulted on this decision nor on the appointment of the ombudsman He further pointed out that no official meeting had been held for the past three and a half months and decisions were now being made singlehandedly We will now decide on the composition of the selection committee he added Khinvsar said that Ashish Tiwari Pinkesh Porwal and he himself were present at Fridays meeting while the fourth member Mohit Yadav was absent Later DD Kumawat reached the RCA office and presented his side dismissing the charges as baseless Those who called the meeting had no authority he assertedI received the notice only late last night by email Moreover they are suspended under a High Court order Kumawat also emphasised that the meeting was not urgent and should have been called with at least seven days notice Dhananjay Singh is like my younger brother but he must follow the law he said clarifying that all tenderrelated work currently remains under the ad hoc committees purview He added that one of the three members who attended the meeting was suspended rendering the meeting invalid If the allegations of corruption against me are proven I will resign and leave The Lokpal is already investigating the matter and I will comment only after their findings Kumawat reiterated For several months the RCAs ad hoc committee has been divided over questions of authority and decisionmaking The prolonged infighting has started affecting Rajasthans cricketing operations delaying upcoming tournaments and creating uncertainty for players representing the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/rajasthan-rift-deepens-in-rca-ad-hoc-committee-as-factions-come-out-in-open-643710.html Sat, 18 Oct 2025 00:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/la-liga-barcelona-coach-flick-looks-for-solutions-to-injury-crisis-ahead-of-girona-clash-643715.html Madrid Spain Oct 17 FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick preferred not to talk about injury problems as his side prepares to face Girona in the La Liga on Saturday Barcelona dropped to second in the La Liga table before the international break after a 41 defeat to Sevilla while the past days have seen Flick lose the likes of Robert Lewandowski Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo due to injury while Pedri had a heavy workload with Spains national teamI cant change things and we have to find solutions Flick said in his pregame press conference on Friday adding that while Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal are available they cant play 90 minutesHe discussed midfielder Frenkie de Jong who has just signed a new contract and Pedri Frenkie has had days off Pedri less so We have to take care of Pedri he said noting that the pair represented their countries because theyre among the best in the worldThe coach reacted angrily to a rumour that he played Yamal in the recent Champions League defeat to Paris SaintGermain due to a request from the club when the youngster wasnt fully fitThis is garbage and Id like to know where the story comes from They would never ask us to do this Its not true and if anyone says it theyre lying insisted Flick who also said that both he and the players are unhappy with plans to play the La Liga game against Villarreal in Miami the weekend before ChristmasIts La Liga that has to decide and we have to accept it he concludedIn other matches on Saturday Sevilla will meet Mallorca Villarreal will take on Real Betis while Atletico Madrid will face Osasuna in another matchOn Sunday Eiche will play Athletic Bilbao Celta Vigo meet Real Sociedad Levante face Rayo Vallecano while Getafe play Real Madrid IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/la-liga-barcelona-coach-flick-looks-for-solutions-to-injury-crisis-ahead-of-girona-clash-643715.html Sat, 18 Oct 2025 01:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-wc-after-refreshing-break-india-eyes-win-over-formidable-england--643737.html Indore Oct 18 In the thick of the festive spirit all cities in India make for an illuminating look through decorative lights diyas lit up in various shapes and joy being all around Amidst this festive atmosphere and heat being at its best a refreshed India will be back in action to restart its quest of entering the semifinals when it faces a formidable England in a mustwin clash at the Holkar Stadium on SundayBy the time the match will be on one can expect for the 30000seater stadium located bang in the centre of the city to be packed to the rafters The buzz around the IndiaEngland clash has already spilled into the city with locals starting to make their matchday predictions with the casual ease of seasoned punditsBut inside the Indian dressing room despite having a relaxing weeklong break the mood is bound to be serious Indias campaign buoyed by early wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan is now at a precarious point after defeats to South Africa and Australia in VisakhapatnamThe SENA phase of the competition South Africa England New Zealand Australia was always going to be the litmus test for the hosts and with two losses the focus for India will now be in getting the better of England who are unbeaten and arrive with momentum especially after rain in Colombo helped them escape a huge scare against PakistanFor India improving the dot ball percentage not perishing to leftarm spinners and tweaking the fivebowling combination are major concerns Indias middle order has been the backbone of its campaign so far and repeatedly bailing the team out of early collapsesAgainst Australia openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal made big runs in a 155run opening stand But a lowerorder collapse meant they finished at 330 which Australia chased down in a nailbiting chase Against a side like England who are relentless with the ball and punish passivity from the opposition batters India cannot afford any slipupsThey will need their top five batters to fire again and take charge of keeping dot ball percentage low something which has been a teething concern through the tournament They also need to take down the challenge from leftarm spin duo of Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith who are amongst top ten leading wickettakers in the competitionIndia may also be needed to rethink its team combination especially after defeats to Australia and South Africa showed the fragility of playing with five bowlers in a 50over game Though skipper Harmanpreet Kaur stepped as the sixth bowler against South Africa additional bowling reinforcements could be crucial against England who are heavily dependent on captain Nat SciverBrunt and Heather KnightThe sixth bowler will be needed by India not just for control but also for creating breakthroughs when the pressure mounts With England having a vulnerability against inswingers Renuka Singh Thakur will be a valuable inclusion but in whose place she comes makes for an interesting watchMeanwhile touted as outside contenders for the trophy England managed to briefly be on top of the points table before being eclipsed by Australia But beneath the surface of an unbeaten campaign their progress has been anything but assuredTheir wins have masked some of the recurring vulnerabilities against Bangladesh they were 1016 before Heathers rescue act helped them get over the line In their win over Sri Lanka only Nat crossed 35 and went on to make a century Against Pakistan they were 787 when rain intervened and helped them escape with a pointWith India and Australia looming Englands semifinal spot may look safe but still not having that guarantee to enter the last four stageOutside Heather Nat and to some extent Charlie Dean rest of them have flattered to deceive with Emma Lamb miscast at number six and Tammy Beaumont slowly becoming a walking wicket against inswingers being under the heaviest scrutinySince their thumping tenwicket win over South Africa in Guwahati their top order has failed to survive the powerplay unscathed If pacers have stifled them in the first ten overs the spinners then come over to stifle Englands runflow in the middle overs What would be the solution to Englands batting woes from head coach Charlotte Edwards makes for an interesting lookIn all India will need to deliver a sustained toptier performance to overcome England something which theyve struggled with consistently in the tournament so far They wouldnt just need flashes of brilliance because a cohesive overall execution is the need of the hourAs they enter a makeorbreak stage of the tournament and with little room for error time is ripe for India to need to raise their game in every department Theres no better moment to do it than now beating England during the Diwali frenzy in cricketloving IndoreWhen Sunday October 19 300 PM ISTWhere Holkar Stadium IndoreWhere to watch Star Sports Network for live TV broadcast and JioHotstar for live streamingSquadsIndia Harmanpreet Kaur c Smriti Mandhana vc Pratika Rawal Harleen Deol Jemimah Rodrigues Richa Ghosh Uma Chetry Renuka Singh Thakur Deepti Sharma Sneh Rana Sree Charani Radha Yadav Amanjot Kaur Arundhati Reddy and Kranti GaudEngland Nat SciverBrunt c Em Arlott Tammy Beaumont Lauren Bell Alice Capsey Charlie Dean Sophia Dunkley Sophie Ecclestone Lauren Filer Sarah Glenn Amy Jones Heather Knight Emma Lamb Linsey Smith and Danni WyattHodge IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-wc-after-refreshing-break-india-eyes-win-over-formidable-england--643737.html Sat, 18 Oct 2025 10:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jyothi-surekha-vennam-wins-historic-world-cup-final-bronze-medal-643761.html Nanjing China Oct 18 Star Indian archer Jyothi Surekha Vennam scripted history on Saturday by becoming the first Indian woman compound archer to win a medal at the Archery World Cup Final clinching the bronze Third seed Jyothi stunned second seed Ella Gibson 150145 with a dominating display shooting tens in all 15 arrowsThe Asian Games champion began her campaign with a confident 143140 quarterfinal win over Alexis Ruiz of America In the semifinals Jyothi narrowly lost to world No 1 Andrea Becerra of Mexico falling 143145 in a closely fought battleHowever Jyothi bounced back in spectacular fashion during the bronze medal match firing 15 consecutive 10s over five ends to dominate Gibson and finish her campaign on a high noteCurrently ranked third in the womens compound category Jyothi had qualified for the individual event in Nanjing based on her world ranking This marked her third appearance at the World Cup Final following previous outings in Tlaxcala 2022 and Hermosillo 2023In the womens compound category another Indian archer Madhura Dhamangaonkar made an early exit after a 142145 loss to Mexicos Mariana Bernal in the opening roundMeanwhile Rishabh Yadav who had earlier clinched the compound mixed team title at Auburndale this year will be in action in the mens compound event He will take on South Koreas Kim Jongho in the quarterfinal later in the dayJyothi and Rishabh Yadav who teamed up to win the compound mixed team event at Auburndale earlier this year qualified for the individual events at Nanjing through their respective rankingsAll the archers competing at the World Cup Final qualified by either winning one of the four World Cup stages held in Auburndale Shanghai Antalya and Madrid or through World Cup rankingsIndia won 14 medals including three gold four silver and seven bronze from the four Archery World Cup stages this year However Madhura Dhamangaonkar won Indias only individual gold IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jyothi-surekha-vennam-wins-historic-world-cup-final-bronze-medal-643761.html Sat, 18 Oct 2025 13:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/were-confident-that-cummins-is-going-to-play-a-major-part-in-ashes-george-bailey-643775.html Perth Oct 18 Australias selectors remain optimistic that captain Pat Cummins will play a major part in the upcoming Ashes series despite no final decision being made on his availability less than five weeks before the first Test Chair of selectors George Bailey struck a positive tone while speaking to reporters in Perth on Saturday saying Cummins recovery from a back issue was progressing well I actually have no further update on that from when I think the last time Pat spoke Its progressing Hes building up Hes optimistic about it I think actually the more hes done over the last few days the more optimistic hes become but I categorically dont know if hes bowled a ball he saidCummins had earlier admitted he was less likely than likely to be fit for Perth and would need at least four weeks of bowling to be ready Despite that uncertainty Bailey said there were positive signs in the skippers training workloadWe know time is getting short and theres permutations around that not just around the back but other factors as well Its positive Were really confident that hes going to play a major part Hopefully its the first Test If not then well pick it up Bailey addedIf Cummins fails to recover in time Steven Smith will captain Australia Bailey confirmed Smiths return from New York and said he will play the next two Sheffield Shield games for New South WalesBailey also provided updates on Cameron Green and Beau Webster both of whom have been carefully managed due to minor injuries It is minor and its conservative and I think this decision probably ensures that we do have enough time to make sure Bailey said on Greens side sorenessWe put so much time and energy into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an allrounder Hell keep his plan of playing Shield round three and Shield four that should provide pretty good time that hed be in a good place to be ready to bowlHe also assured fans that Webster recovering from a rolled ankle was a lock for the first Test squadLast time he rolled his ankle I think about five weeks later he had a bit of a soft tissue injury We just sort of took Beau through the journey of lets work back from Sydney rather than up to Perth for the sake of one extra week get it right I think his allround package has been really important Hell be in Perth Everyone can relax he saidMeanwhile Marnus Labuschagnes strong domestic form has impressed Bailey though he stopped short of confirming his Test recall I thought out of everything that hes played I really liked the innings in Adelaide Bailey saidI liked the intent I liked the movement liked the way he built the partnerships Its a nice bowling attack South Australia have got so hes batting nicely We know hes a quality player he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/were-confident-that-cummins-is-going-to-play-a-major-part-in-ashes-george-bailey-643775.html Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-big-boost-to-have-nitin-kumar-back-says-jaipur-pink-panthers-head-coach-narender-redhu-643780.html New Delhi Oct 18 Jaipur Pink Panthers head coach Narender Redhu is delighted with the return of Nitin Kumar who played a key role in his sides win registering his eighth Super 10 of the season after returning from an injury Jaipur Pink Panthers returned to winning ways after their impressive performance against UP Yoddhas prevailing 4229 at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium on FridayDelighted with the return of his raider at this crucial stage of the tournament the coach shared Were happy to have Nitin back in the side The entire team has been waiting for his return We lost a few games which we might have won if he was in the side However we wanted him to recover fully before letting him back in the team Today its a big boost to have him back in defence and offenceThe head coach also credited Ali Samadi for stepping up to the plate in the absence of Nitin He said Its a team game At moments when Nitin wasnt in the team Ali Samadi shouldered the raiding responsibilities alone Today he also performed wellThe Iranian registered his fourth Super 10 of the season in the win against the Yoddhas Further elaborating on his raiders impressive performances in his debut season Redhu reckoned that the league has found a new star Hes the new kid on the block Hes talented fit confident and has a great bonding with the team Hes worked hard throughout and hopefully he can be fit and firing for Jaipur Pink Panthers in the future as wellThe league has found a new star in him Thats how kabaddi moves forward as a sport he addedReflecting on his teams allround performance and especially the combination play between his two raiders Redhu mentioned It was a brilliant team effort The combination between Ali and Nitin was top notch for us today and even Parvinder contributed to the win This is the performance we had been waiting for as a teamNitin Kumar also credited Ali Samadi for his standout performances in his debut season This is not an individual sport its a team sport The team can only win if everyone gives their best Ali has been exceptional for us To do what hes doing in his debut season is sensational Whenever we need support in certain situations he steps up Nitin saidLooking ahead to the teams next challenge against Bengal Warriorz Nitin said We want to keep playing in this manner and give it our all in the upcoming matches Well plan for each opponent and take it one game at a timeEchoing those sentiments while giving a bit of insight into how the team will plan to stop Bengal Warriorz captain Devank Dalal Aryan Kumar concluded The strategy will be to stop Devank as much as possible Hes the main raider of their team Hes at the peak of his powers So well follow the coachs plans and keep the defence tight whenever hes on the matPlease find below the previews for the PKL Season 12 matches on Saturday October 18In the thick of the top four battle Bengaluru Bulls will be up for a stern test against Dabang Delhi KC in the first game of the day The young guns such as Alireza Mirzaian and Deepak Sankar will be leading the charge for the Bulls when they go up against Dabang Delhis experienced campaigners including Ashu Malik and Fazel AtrachaliAfter winning a string of games Telugu Titans have lost two games on the bounce and are going through a bit of a stutter Vijay Malik and Bharat Hooda have been exceptional for them this season and the team will be counting on them to find their best form when they come up against the tabletoppers Puneri PaltanWith Devank Dalal recording five 20 point games this season he singlehandedly carried the Bengal Warriorz campaign this season As their playin hopes hang by a thread their captain will once again need to step up when they take on Jaipur Pink Panthers dynamic raiding duo in Nitin Kumar and Ali Samadi IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-big-boost-to-have-nitin-kumar-back-says-jaipur-pink-panthers-head-coach-narender-redhu-643780.html Sat, 18 Oct 2025 15:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-new-zealand-opt-to-bowl-first-against-pakistan-tahuhu-comes-in-for-illing-643785.html Colombo Oct 18 New Zealand have won the toss and elected to bowl first against Pakistan in the Womens World Cup match at R Premadasa Stadium here on Saturday New Zealand made just one change in their playing 11 with Lea Tahuhu coming in for Bree IllingWere going to bowl first today I think we saw that they pitched it a little up in the England vs Pakistan game So were going to have a first crack at that and especially with the weather thats been around in Colombo probably the last week or so I think knowing what to chase is sometimes of benefit Just got to focus on this game New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said at the tossI think you know thats been our priority focusing on this game and making sure that we do the basics really well and fous on the processes I know its very cliche but we know if we start focusing too far ahead then we can sort of get ahead of ourselves So looking forward to a really good challenge here against PakistanOn the other hand Pakistan made no changes in their final 11 for the gamePakistan captain Fatima Sana said We have good belief in our side and the way the guys performed in our bowling and fielding side I think we still have that belief Hopefully they will execute a better plan today and bounce back Hopefully we will try to win this game Playing with the same teamPlaying XIsPakistan Muneeba Ali Omaima Sohail Sidra Amin Aliya Riaz Natalia Pervaiz Fatima Sanac Sidra Nawazw Rameen Shamim Diana Baig Nashra Sandhu Sadia IqbalNew Zealand Suzie Bates Georgia Plimmer Amelia Kerr Sophie Devine c Brooke Halliday Maddy Green Isabella Gazew Jess Kerr Rosemary Mair Lea Tahuhu Eden Carson IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-new-zealand-opt-to-bowl-first-against-pakistan-tahuhu-comes-in-for-illing-643785.html Sat, 18 Oct 2025 15:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/rain-washes-out-first-t20i-between-new-zealand-and-england-in-christchurch-643798.html Christchurch Oct 18 Persistent rain denied fans an exciting finish as the opening T20 International between New Zealand and England was abandoned at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday England having posted 153 for six in their 20 overs never got the chance to defend their total as the rain intensified before New Zealands innings could begin leaving the series finely poised with just two matches to decide the outcomeAfter being sent in to bat Englands top order struggled to find rhythm on a sluggish pitch that offered grip and variable bounce The visitors slipped to 81 for five in the 12th over when captain Jos Buttler who had been anchoring the innings was caught in the deep for 29 Despite some promising starts from the likes of Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook New Zealands bowlers maintained consistent pressure making scoring difficultIt was allrounder Sam Curran who provided the muchneeded impetus for England Coming in with his side under pressure Curran played a composed yet aggressive knock finishing unbeaten on 49 off 35 balls His innings featured a series of late boundaries including a crucial flurry in the final overs that lifted England to a competitive total The final over bowled by Jacob Duffy went for 19 runs a surge that gave England hope of setting a challenging chaseRain briefly halted play after 162 overs when England were 110 for five forcing a 30minute delay When play resumed Curran and Jordan Cox managed to push the total past 150 before the innings closedFor New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner was the standout performer with the ball returning tidy figures of one for 20 from his four overs of leftarm spin The rest of the attack shared the wickets evenly with each bowler contributing to a disciplined collective effortHowever the weather had the final say with continuous showers making further play impossible The teams will now regroup for the second T20I scheduled to be played at the same venue in Christchurch on Monday IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/rain-washes-out-first-t20i-between-new-zealand-and-england-in-christchurch-643798.html Sat, 18 Oct 2025 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/captain-guehi-will-leave-crystal-palace-next-year-confirms-manager-glasner-643818.html London Oct 18 Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has informed the club that he will not sign a new contract and intends to leave manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed The 25yearold England defenders current deal expires at the end of the season and while Palace are keen to keep him Guehi has decided to move on They offered Marc a new contract but he said No I want to make something different and thats normal Glasner saidPalace now face a decision cash in on Guehi during the January transfer window or risk losing him for free next summer Glasner acknowledged the delicate situation and said discussions are ongoingIts how we can deal with this situation What Is the best way to get this next step done And thats all about how we are talking together he addedGuehi has been a standout performer since joining Palace from Chelsea in 2021 He has made 167 appearances for the club and is widely regarded as one of the Premier Leagues most reliable centrebacksThis summer Guehi was close to securing a move to Liverpool He reportedly passed a medical ahead of a 35 million pound transfer but Palace pulled the plug on deadline day after their move for Brighton defender Igor Julio collapsedDespite the uncertainty surrounding his future Guehi has remained everpresent for Palace this season featuring in all 12 matches across competitions and helping the team climb to sixth in the Premier League tableInterest in the England international is strong with reports suggesting that Barcelona Real Madrid and Bayern Munich could rival Liverpool for his signature in JanuaryGuehi earned his 26th England cap in a 30 friendly win over Wales this month and said there is definitely an opportunity to make the 2026 World Cup squad even if he remains at Palace for the rest of the campaign IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/captain-guehi-will-leave-crystal-palace-next-year-confirms-manager-glasner-643818.html Sat, 18 Oct 2025 19:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/he-has-unlocked-that-next-level-himself-kompany-on-kanes-scoring-spree-643623.html Munich Germany Oct 17 Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany has downplayed his role in Harry Kanes prolific scoring form this season attributing the strikers success entirely to his own dedication and drive The England captain also netted twice in the Three Lions 50 victory over Latvia on Tuesday securing their qualification for the 2026 World CupWhen asked about Kanes recent remarks crediting him for improvement Kompany was quick to deflect the praise insisting the strikers brilliance stems from his own work ethic and relentless hunger for goalsHe has unlocked that next level himself Kompany told a press conference ahead of Saturdays Bundesliga Klassiker against visitors Borussia DortmundHe has always done it in his career His development is a mentality thing He worked every year Maybe it helped that he had not won the titles until then because he kept that hunger that you expect from young playersWidely regarded as one of the finest strikers of his generation the 32yearold had collected a host of individual accolades but remained without a team trophy during his time at Tottenham Hotspur and early stint at Bayern until he finally ended the socalled Kane title curse by clinching the Bundesliga crown last seasonYou cannot develop such a player further Kompany said He has to want itBelgian manager Vincent Kompany will be counting on Kane to maintain his sublime form when Bayern face Dortmund who trail the champions by just four points in second place Both sides remain unbeaten across domestic and European competitions with Dortmund boasting an impressive defensive record having conceded only once in their last five league outingsIts first against second both teams unbeaten Kompany said It is clear why this match is being made so big We are both undefeated so it is two fists going against each other IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/he-has-unlocked-that-next-level-himself-kompany-on-kanes-scoring-spree-643623.html Fri, 17 Oct 2025 17:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-1-george-russell-confident-mercedes-offers-best-chance-for-2026-world-title-643653.html New Delhi Oct 17 George Russell says he is in the best seat in Formula 1 to challenge for the world championship in 2026 after signing a new multiyear contract with Mercedes The team officially confirmed on Wednesday that Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli would continue as their driver pairing for the 2026 season The announcement though widely expected after Max Verstappen reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull came following weeks of negotiation between Mercedes and Russell over final contract termsSpeaking publicly about the deal for the first time on Thursday in Austin ahead of the United States Grand Prix Russell said he never had any doubt about where he wanted to beLooking into next year there were a lot of things I wanted offtrack to get right to allow me to perform at my very best on track Russell explained And the truth is if every single seat was available and I could choose any single seat to race for in 2026 I would choose to be in the MercedesI truly think that is the place that will give you the best chance of winning the world championship next year with everything I know now We might turn out to be wrong but with everything we know now Im feeling really happy with the deal weve done confident with the team and looking forward to moving onwards and upwardsFormula 1 will introduce a sweeping overhaul of its chassis and power unit regulations in 2026 with Mercedes tipped by many to once again set the standard as it did in 2014 when it began a run of eight consecutive Constructors titlesWhile the teams statement only confirmed Russell and Antonelli for 2026 it did not specify contract lengths prompting speculation that Mercedes may be keeping its options open for Verstappen in 2027 However Russell confirmed to reporters that his deal extends beyond a single seasonI think if you look at Formula 1 as a whole people say a driver has signed for X years but then it doesnt turn out to be like this and there are all different clauses and stuff he said Its almost like an irrelevant piece of information because if things are going well everything continues if theyre not thats where the discussions happen generally speakingIm loyal to Mercedes theyve shown their loyalty in me and I believe going into 2026 Mercedes without a doubt has my best chance of winning a world championshipRussell added that his approach remains simple perform consistently and let results dictate the rest It always just comes down to performance For any driver or at least for myself what allows me to sleep well at night is knowing that my performances are strong and that is what will keep me in the sport Our intention and my goal is to continue with Mercedes indefinitely and were here to focus on winning in 2026The 27yearold Briton has enjoyed an impressive 2025 campaign winning two Grands Prix including in Singapore and comfortably outperforming highly rated teammate Antonelli Russell acknowledged that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolffs confidence in him was reflected in the terms of his new dealI think its less about what you believe its more about what you have delivered he said Everybody believes they are worth more probably than the reality but I think its always down to what you have delivered on track the consistency the performances how you work with the teamAnd Toto has definitely recognised this and given our circumstances within the team he could have been much tighter with his offers but hes been very generous Thats why Im very happy because he also recognises that to win you need the people to be happy and to feel valued and to give everything back to you And thats what hes done and thats why Im here with a smile on my face IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-1-george-russell-confident-mercedes-offers-best-chance-for-2026-world-title-643653.html Fri, 17 Oct 2025 20:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-championship-golf-shubhanka-shines-with-66-tommy-fleetwood-takes-the-lead-on-day-two-643686.html New Delhi Oct 17 Shubhankar Sharmas grand comeback cheered up Indian fans in the second round of the US4 million DP World India Championship 2025 being played at the Delhi Golf Club DGC Twotime DP World Tour winner Shubhankar Sharma 7466 produced a bogeyfree sixunder 66 to gain 67 spots and end the day in tied 32nd place as the highestplaced Indian at a total of fourunder 140 PGTI winner Dhruv Sheoran 6873 as well as multiple international winners Shiv Kapur 7269 and Anirban Lahiri 7071 were the next best Indians in tied 41st position at threeunder 141Twotime PGTI winner Abhinav Lohan 7072 was the fifth and last Indian to make the cut as he totalled twounder 142 to be placed tied 58thThe biggest international names at the tournament dominated the leaderboard as Englishman Tommy Fleetwood 6864 struck a 64 on day two to enjoy the halfway lead at 12under 132 Former Open champions Brian Harman 6865 of the United States and Shane Lowry 6469 of Ireland were tied second at 11under 133Fivetime Major winner world no 2 and reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy 6969 of Northern Ireland closed the day in tied 17th place at sixunder 138 A total of 66 players made the halfway cut which came down at twounder 142Shubhankar Sharma who was overnight tied 99th after an ordinary first round of 74 had a contrasting second round on Friday where he made birdies on three out of the four par5s and sank a couple of birdie putts from a range of 15 to 18 feetShubhankar said I got off to a good start yesterday but was a little tired with some tired swings coming in Despite the good start yesterday I knew I was slightly edgy which showed in the end when I dropped those shots I got some good sleep last night so playing in todays afternoon session I felt a lot fresher hit it well putted well and my mind was clearerThe last six months were tough for me but things have been coming together in the past two weeks Ive found some form after changing my irons recently I just couldnt get the right combination of club and shaft together after trying several times But three weeks ago I changed my clubs and then I changed the ball as well Finally I feel Ive got these things rightDhruv Sheoran who was overnight tied seventh following his first round of 68 hung in there on Friday with a round of 73 featuring three birdies and four bogeys Dhruv survived some tense moments on the closing 18th hole after his tee shot went right He then made a great up and down from the bunker ending the day with a 15foot conversion for bogey that gave him a major boost going into the weekendSheoran said After things didnt go right for me on the first nine holes I went to the changeroom and was telling myself that I need to change the momentum I washed my face looked at the mirror and told myself that it cant be going this way and I need to pull up my socks Then after stepping out of the changeroom I was a different person IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-championship-golf-shubhanka-shines-with-66-tommy-fleetwood-takes-the-lead-on-day-two-643686.html Fri, 17 Oct 2025 21:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gavin-larsen-returns-to-lead-new-zealands-selection-panel-643509.html Auckland Oct 17 Gavin Larsen has been appointed New Zealand Crickets selection manager filling the role left by the departing Sam Wells A former New Zealand Test and ODI player Larsen was the chief executive of Cricket Wellington and the Cricket Operations Manager ahead of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup before being appointed New Zealand selection manager from 2015 to 2023He then took on the role of Performance Director at the Warwickshire County Cricket Club WCCC before returning to New Zealand and accepting the role of Commercial Manager for the Nelson Giants basketballLarsen in conjunction with head coach Rob Walter will be responsible for helping select all Blackcaps New Zealand A and New Zealand XI squads for inbound and outbound toursI feel absolutely honoured to be stepping back into the Blackcaps and the national high performance environment Larsen saidIm hugely passionate about cricket in this country and to be given another opportunity to contribute at the highest level is really exciting I cant wait to get started this summer and hopefully help play a part in continuing the success of the BlackcapsNZCs Chief High Performance Officer Daryl Gibson said the national selection manager was responsible for managing the selection processes as well as working with domestic scouts and the Major Association coaches to stay up to date on the domestic sceneGibson said Larsen impressed the appointments panel with his grasp of the modern game not least the relationship between franchise and international cricket and his knowledge of the domestic environment in New ZealandGavins familiarity with the role and his understanding of the requirements played an important part in his appointment he saidBut we were also impressed with his passion and energy and his desire to get back into the game and help make a differenceGibson confirmed the selection model would remain unchanged with the selection manager empowered to brief advise collaborate with and challenge the Blackcaps head coach who would retain ultimate decisionmaking authorityWhile Rob will make the final decisions as the chief selector we want Gav preparing him with as much intel as possible and challenging his thinking and decisions This requires a strong relationship between the two parties and were confident Gav has the soft skills and the acumen to make it workLarsen will officially begin his role on November 3 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gavin-larsen-returns-to-lead-new-zealands-selection-panel-643509.html Fri, 17 Oct 2025 09:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/rohit-virat-amp-australia-audition-for-2027-or-a-farewell-tour-643540.html New Delhi Oct 17 As India gears up for the highvoltage ODI series against Australia the spotlight inevitably falls on two modern greats Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli The duo who have defined an era of Indian cricket were seen training intensely in Perth looking as sharp and motivated as ever But amid the excitement a cloud of uncertainty looms large is this the last dance for Indias iconic pairBoth Rohit and Virat have served Indian cricket with unmatched consistency and leadership Yet with a generational shift underway and the rise of new stars under young skipper Shubman Gill speculation about the veterans future refuses to die downSome believe the management might be using this series as a litmus test giving them one last shot before gradually transitioning to younger legs Others argue that form and fitness should be the only yardsticks and if the two perform in Australia they deserve to stay in contention till the 2027 ODI World CupWhats certain is that the series means more than just runs and wickets For fans its a chance to relive the magic of Rohits effortless stroke play and Kohlis fierce determination traits that have brought India countless memorable victoriesFor the team its about striking the perfect balance between experience and youth as Gill begins his journey as Indias new leader Down UnderWhether this tour marks a new beginning or the closing chapter of a golden era one thing is undeniable the cricketing world will be glued to Rohit and Virat once again hoping their bats do the talking just as they have for over a decadeThe opening clash between India and Australia will take place at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday October 19Indias ODI squad for the Australia tour includes Shubman Gill Captain Rohit Sharma Virat Kohli Shreyas Iyer VC Axar Patel KL Rahul WK Nitish Kumar Reddy Washington Sundar Kuldeep Yadav Harshit Rana Mohammed Siraj Arshdeep Singh Prasidh Krishna Dhruv Jurel WK and Yashasvi Jaiswal IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/rohit-virat-amp-australia-audition-for-2027-or-a-farewell-tour-643540.html Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/chelsea-coach-handed-one-game-ban-for-improper-conduct-in-liverpool-win-643341.html London Oct 16 Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca has received a onematch ban and an 8000pound 10700 USD fine after being sent off during his sides Premier League win over Liverpool earlier this month The Italian manager was shown a second yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor for leaving his technical area to celebrate with his players following Estevao Willians 95thminute winner against the reigning championsIt was alleged that the manager acted in an improper manner andor used abusive andor insulting words andor behavior during the fixture which led to his dismissal around the 96th minute the Football Association said in a statementMaresca admitted the charge and accepted the standard punishment The 45yearold will be absent from the touchline when Chelsea visits Nottingham Forest on Saturday Assistant coach Willy Caballero is expected to take charge from the sidelinesThis marks Marescas second touchline suspension since becoming a Premier League manager in June 2024 His first came in April 2025 when he served a ban after receiving a third yellow card of the season while celebrating Pedro Netos 93rdminute winner at FulhamMaresca will not be in the Chelsea dugout when the Blues travel to the City Ground to face Ange Postecoglous Nottingham Forest on Saturday with assistant coach Willy Caballero expected to deputise for the former Leicester City bossMeanwhile the dates and kickoff times for our Premier League away games against Leeds United and Newcastle United in December have been confirmedThe Blues begin December with a trip to Elland Road to renew our longstanding rivalry with Leeds United who returned to the top flight after securing promotion from the Championship last seasonOriginally scheduled to get underway at 8pm on December 3 the game will now kick off at the slightly later time of 815pmLater in the month Maresca will take his side to St James Park to face Newcastle The contest against the Magpies remains on Saturday 20 December but the kickoff time has been brought forward IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/chelsea-coach-handed-one-game-ban-for-improper-conduct-in-liverpool-win-643341.html Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ex-aussie-all-rounder-okeefe-fundamentally-agree-with-broads-worst-aussie-team-since-2010-remark-643381.html New Delhi Oct 16 Former Australian allrounder Steve OKeefe has backed exEnglish quick Stuart Broads worst Aussie team since 2010 remark saying he fundamentally agreed with the comment made by Broad and also tipped England to win the series England hasnt won an Ashes series since 2015 They havent won a Test in Australia since 2011 Responding to exAustralia batter David Warners prediction England would lose the series down under 40 Broad said Australia have their worst team since 2010 heading into this AshesYou wouldnt be outlandish in thinking its actually not an opinion its a fact its probably the worst Australian team since 2010 when England last won And its the best English team since 2010 he said on his podcast For The Love Of CricketNow OKeefe has now came in support of Broads comment and said he agreed with Broads sentiments Im looking at the squad we had then Ponting and Clarke Haddin Harris Johnson Katich young Khawaja and Smith England handed it to us 31 Cook dominated that series James Anderson took 24 wickets It was a wellled team by Andrew Strauss OKeefe said on SEN Run HomeThat English team was fantastic I do agree with the sentiment from Broad I do agree that this English team is the best since 2010 and I do think this is the most vulnerable the Australians have looked since 2010 Its not the worst team There was a lot of instability about the spin bowling during that 2011 series it was not consistent It was imbalanced but some of the greatest Aussie cricketers played in that team he saidI think what he is saying is that this is the closest it could be and Australia is under pressure and I absolutely and fundamentally agree with Stuart Broad on that I have tipped England to win We know what these guys are capable of when theyre at the best but to come over and get it done is different I love when players come out and make comments like this I want to hear more of this character in conversationsAussie skipper Pat Cummins is facing an uphill battle to prove his fitness with the latest scans revealing his back stress fracture has not yet healed He could miss the opening Ashes Test on November 21 in Perth IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ex-aussie-all-rounder-okeefe-fundamentally-agree-with-broads-worst-aussie-team-since-2010-remark-643381.html Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/lucknow-super-giants-appoint-kane-williamson-as-strategic-advisor-for-ipl-2026-643385.html New Delhi Oct 16 Veteran New Zealand cricketer Kane Williamson has been appointed as the new strategic advisor of IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants LSG Williamson will take on the role following the departure of Indias fast bowling legend Zaheer Khan who was the franchises mentor for IPL 2025 Interestingly Williamson had been a part of the Durbans Super Giants the sister franchise of LSG in this years SA20 Kane has been a part of the Super Giants family and its an absolute delight to welcome him in his new role as Strategic Advisor for LucknowIPLHis leadership strategic insight deep understanding of the game and ability to inspire players make him an invaluable addition to the team wrote Goenka the chairman of RPSG Group on his X account on ThursdayWilliamson is currently on a casual contract with New Zealand Cricket NZC and his most recent appearance for the Blackcaps came in the 2025 Champions Trophy where the side finished runnersup to IndiaIn 79 IPL matches while turning out for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans Williamson made 2128 runs at an average of 3546 and a strike rate of 12561 including being the leading rungetter in the 2018 seasonThe franchise had previously hired former India bowling coach Bharat Arun as their bowling coach Sources in the franchise have also told IANS on Thursday that Carl Crowe has been added to LSGs support staff as the spin bowling coachCrowe was previously in the same role with Kolkata Knight Riders KKR and worked on making Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy a lethal spin bowling pair for the threetime IPL winnersIt was confirmed some time back that Crowe will also join Arun in LSG now and an official statement will come soon With Justin Langer also being retained as the head coach following talks going on back and forth the franchise will soon kickstart its preparations for IPL 2026 auction further said sourcesLSG under the leadership of India wicketkeeperbatter Rishabh Pant ended their IPL 2025 campaign at seventh place matching their finish from the previous season of the competition The backtoback midtable results mark a dip from their impressive thirdplace finishes in the IPL 2022 and 2023 seasons respectively IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/lucknow-super-giants-appoint-kane-williamson-as-strategic-advisor-for-ipl-2026-643385.html Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-bangladesh-opt-to-bat-first-against-australia-in-vizag-643432.html Visakhapatnam Oct 16 Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to bat first against Australia in the Womens World Cup match at Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACAVDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Thursday Both teams made two changes for the match as Bangladesh eye their second win of the tournament while the defending champions aim to stretch their unbeaten runWe wanted to bat first Seeing the conditions we wanted to put runs on the board We were short on 3040 runs in the last game We have two changes The thing is we do have a good bowling side We had to give them rest so that they could recover for the last few games Hard to recover I know We wont compromise on any game Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana said at the tossOn the other hand AUstralia captain Alyssa Healy was happy to see how Darcie Brown gets going in the game after been included in the playing 11 Look I would have loved to bat Good breeze would help the girls Beautiful place to play cricket Great crowd Two changes Darcie Brown gets the nod and Im happy to see what she does she saidIn the last game Australia defeated India in a recordbreaking run chase in the tournaments history at the same venue while Bangladesh came close but ultimately lost to South Africa by three wickets in VisakhapatnamPlaying XIsAustralia Alyssa Healywc Phoebe Litchfield Ellyse Perry Beth Mooney Annabel Sutherland Ashleigh Gardner Tahlia McGrath Georgia Wareham Alana King Megan Schutt Darcie BrownBangladesh Fargana Hoque Rubya Haider Sharmin Akhter Nigar Sultanawc Sobhana Mostary Ritu Moni Shorna Akter Fahima Khatun Rabeya Khan Nishita Akter Nishi Fariha Trisna IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-bangladesh-opt-to-bat-first-against-australia-in-vizag-643432.html Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-on-brink-of-historic-afc-u17-womens-asian-cup-berth-643468.html Bishkek Kyrgyzstan Oct 16 The Indian U17 womens team is a step away or to be precise a point away from scripting history by becoming the firstever batch to earn a place in the AFC U17 Womens Asian Cup on merit India women will face Uzbekistan in the last qualifying encounter in Group G at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek on Friday knowing that avoiding defeat will book their place at the AFC U17 Womens Asian Cup China 2026 The match will be streamed live on Kygyrz Sport TV YouTube ChannelThis game is what we have been working for all these months said captain Julan Nongmaithem who scored a stunning 90thminute volley to guide India to a 21 win over Kyrgyz Republic in the first game on MondayIt was a tough start to the qualifiers against Kyrgyz Republic but we were happy to get the win in the end finally That gave us a good advantage heading into the last game Julan addedAs usual the 14yearold dedicated the goal to her late father who passed away last year I know hes watching from heaven an emotional Julan said after the gameKyrgyzstan bounced back and defeated Uzbekistan 21 in the second match on Wednesday That means India still lead the threeteam group due to a superior headtohead record and a point against Uzbekistan will see them top the standings and book their ticket to China next yearHead coach Joakim Alexandersson was somewhat disappointed with the overall performance in the first game despite the win but assured that the teams confidence remains intactWe werent able to play exactly the way we wanted We struggled in our buildup phases through most of the match But in the second half we used the flanks more effectively creating some good attacking moments Although the display didnt fully reflect our potential we were happy to get the three points which I thought we deserved said the SwedeAlexandersson and his coaching staff were in attendance at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium on Wednesday to watch Uzbekistans first game of the qualifiers Sharing his thoughts on the opponents he said Kyrgyzstan were tougher physically and more sharp but Uzbekistan tried to play more with the ballIm sure Uzbekistan will really want to bounce back from this result so I expect nothing less than a tough game for us in the last match We will have more rest and more days to prepare than they will which should normally be an advantage but you never know Theres one game to go and they will fight very hard for three pointsWell go for a win obviously Theres no point sitting back and playing for a draw Thats always risky So well try to play our own game and not think too much about the scenarios Everything is in our hands the head coach affirmedJust over two months ago Alexandersson led the U20s to AFC U20 Womens Asian Cup qualification ending a 20year wait Now the Swede finds himself on the cusp of more glory and snapping a bigger drought The last time India played the AFC U17 Womens Championship was in 2005 when 11 teams participated directly However since the qualification system was introduced India have never made it among Asias elite and never been as close as they are nowAlexandersson knows exactly how big a boost this can be for not just the U17 girls but for womens football in India especially after the senior team also qualified for the 2026 Asian Cup on merit for the first time everId be very happy if the U17s can achieve this as well It would mean a lot for the coming years of womens football in India to see not only the senior team but also the U20 and U17 teams reaching this level Hopefully it will inspire even more girls across India to take up this beautiful sport IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-on-brink-of-historic-afc-u17-womens-asian-cup-berth-643468.html Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/abhishek-smriti-named-icc-players-of-the-month-for-september-643469.html New Delhi Oct 16 India duo of Abhishek Sharma and Smriti Mandhana have been named ICC Players of the Month for September Abhishek 25 was rewarded for his explosive run in the Asia Cup where he amassed 314 runs in seven matches at an average of 4485 and a blistering strikerate of 200 His consistency and flair earned him the Player of the Tournament honour and he also reached a careerhigh 931 rating points in the ICC Mens T20I Batting Rankings the highest ever recorded in the format at the end of the Super Fours stage The lefthanded batter beat competition from teammate Kuldeep Yadav and Zimbabwes Brian Bennett to claim the monthly accoladeIt feels great to win this ICC award and I am happy that it has come for some important matches that I could help win I am proud to be part of a team that can pull off victories from the most difficult of situationsOur recent track record in T20Is reflects our outstanding team culture and positive mindset I thank the team management for their guidance and to all my teammates for their support I am also thankful to the panel that selected me for this award said Abhishek in a statement by the ICC on ThursdaySmriti meanwhile continued her fine run in international cricket through an outstanding time in the home ODI series against Australia via scores of 58 117 and 125 The India vicecaptain scored 308 runs in four ODIs during the period at an average of 77 and a strike rate of 13568Smriti who is in the midst of Indias campaign in the 2025 Womens ODI World Cup struck the fastest century by an India batter during the third ODI against Australia when she reached the threefigure mark off just 50 deliveries in New Delhi She beat competition from South Africas Tazmin Brits and Pakistans Sidra Amin for the awardI am truly honoured to receive the ICC Womens Player of the Month award for September 2025 A recognition like this pushes me to keep growing and evolving as a player The recognition also reflects the support trust and effort we put in together collectively as a teamMy aim has always been to deliver my best and win matches for the team I am looking forward to making the most out of the opportunities that result in memorable victories for India in the matches ahead she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/abhishek-smriti-named-icc-players-of-the-month-for-september-643469.html Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-boxing-cup-finals-to-begin-from-nov-14-in-greater-noida-643476.html New Delhi Oct 16 The worlds top pugilists will battle for glory at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 scheduled to take place at Greater Noidas Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex from November 14 to 21 Hosted by India for the first time the weeklong spectacle will bring together elite boxers including 2025 stage winners as they compete for the coveted World Boxing Cup trophy The competition will see male and female contenders across ten weight categories vie for top honours in Olympicstyle boxingBuilding on the success of the inaugural 2024 editionwhich featured stages in England the USA and Mongolia followed by the Finals in England India enters this years finals ranked inside the top five in the global medal standings with 17 medals including four golds six silvers and seven bronzesSpeaking on the occasion Ajay Singh President of the Boxing Federation of India said Hosting the World Boxing Cup Finals reflects how far Indian boxing has come not just in performance but in our ability to stage worldclass events With India set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and aspiring to stage the Olympics in 2036 this is another important step in that directionOver the past few years weve built systems that consistently produce international medalists and this tournament allows us to showcase that progress on home soil Its a defining moment for us and for our boxers alikeThe 2025 World Boxing Cup held its first stage in Brazils Foz do Iguacu where the Indian mens contingent finished with six medals the highlight being Hitesh Gulias gold in the 70kg category Abhinash Jamwal 65kg finished with a silver medal while Jadumani Singh 50kg Manish Rathore 55kg Sachin Siwach 60kg and Vishal 90kg picked up a bronze medal eachStage two of the Cup moved to Poland while stage three was held in Astana Kazakhstan where Indias top national elite womens boxers joined the fray Sakshi Chaudhary 54kg Jasmine Lamboria 57kg and Nupur Sheoran 80kg made waves by winning a gold medal each while the experienced Pooja Rani 80kg and rising star Minakshi Hooda 48kg picked up a silver each Sanju Khatri 60kg was the recipient of the bronzeIn the elite mens section Hitesh and Abhinash added a silver each to their World Boxing Cup medal tallies while Jugnoo Ahlawat joined the podium finishes with a silver Nikhil Dubey 75kg and Narender Berwal 90kg collected a bronze medal each IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-boxing-cup-finals-to-begin-from-nov-14-in-greater-noida-643476.html Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bangladesh-include-soumya-sarkar-mahidul-islam-ankon-for-west-indies-odis-643478.html Dhaka Oct 16 Bangladesh have made two additions to their ODI squad for the upcoming threematch series against the West Indies starting Saturday Batters Soumya Sarkar and Mahidul Islam Ankon come in for Mohammad Naim and Nahid Rana Naim and Rana featured in the third ODI against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi where Bangladesh slumped to a 200run defeat losing the series 30 Naim struggled for 23 balls before edging to slip while Rana went wicketless and failed to finish his final over amid concerns over a possible injurySoumya returns to the ODI fold after last featuring in February He missed the recent T20I series against Afghanistan due to visa issues that delayed his travel to the UAEUncapped in ODIs wicketkeeperbatter Mahidul made his international debut in the Chattogram Test against South Africa last year The 26yearold has been in strong domestic form averaging 4686 in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League with one century and ten fiftiesLitton Das is set to miss the ODI series after scans confirmed a side strain sustained during the Asia Cup The team management has decided to rest the T20I captain as a precaution to avoid aggravating the injurySelectors have retained faith in Najmul Hossain Shanto Jaker Ali and Shamim Hossain despite their poor recent outings The spin unit remains unchanged led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rishad Hossain while the pace attack continues to feature Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin AhmedThe ODI series will be played in Mirpur on October 19 21 and 23Squad Mehidy Hassan Miraz capt Tanzid Hasan Soumya Sarkar Saif Hassan Najmul Hossain Shanto Towhid Hridoy Mahidul Islam wk Jaker Ali wk Shamim Hossain Nurul Hasan wk Rishad Hossain Tanvir Islam Taskin Ahmed Mustafizur Rahman Tanzim Hasan Hasan Mahmud IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bangladesh-include-soumya-sarkar-mahidul-islam-ankon-for-west-indies-odis-643478.html Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/real-kashmir-fc-withdraw-from-super-cup-dempo-fc-named-replacement-643484.html New Delhi Oct 16 Real Kashmir FC have pulled out of the upcoming AIFF Super Cup 202526 owing to visa delays for their foreign players the club announced on Thursday The Srinagarbased sides withdrawal has led to Dempo SC being named as their replacement in the tournament which kicks off in Goa on October 25Real Kashmir popularly known as the Snow Leopards were drawn in Group A dubbed the Group of Death alongside Mohun Bagan Super Giant East Bengal FC and Chennaiyin FC The team had been slated to face East Bengal in the tournament opener on October 25 followed by fixtures against Mohun Bagan SG on October 28 and Chennaiyin FC on October 31However logistical challenges in securing travel documents for their overseas players forced the ILeague outfit to withdraw from the competition just days before its startConfirming their decision All India Football Federation posted on X Real Kashmir FC have withdrawn from AIFF Super Cup 202526 as VISAS for their foreign players could not be secured They will be replaced by Dempo SCThe decision comes as a major blow for Real Kashmir who were keen to test themselves against the countrys topflight clubs after a promising ILeague campaign The teams foreign contingent instrumental in their recent performances were key to their Super Cup ambitions making their absence a decisive factor in opting outEarlier the AIFFs executive committee confirmed that the Super Cup will be held from October 25 whilst approving the federations Request for Quotation RFQ for selecting an agency to manage the process of awarding the tender for the Indian Super LeagueAs per the Supreme Court order on September 2 AIFF has to take necessary measures to ensure the Indian football calendar begins on time which would need the football governing body to find a new commercial partner after failing to reach a new Masters Right Agreement with the AIFF IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/real-kashmir-fc-withdraw-from-super-cup-dempo-fc-named-replacement-643484.html Thu, 16 Oct 2025 18:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mark-wood-confident-of-attaining-full-fitness-ahead-of-ashes-opener-643490.html New Delhi Oct 16 Mark Wood has expressed that he is quietly confident of being fit and ready to feature in the first Ashes Test in Perth on November 21 Wood was recognised as Englands leading wickettaker during their 40 defeat in the 202122 Ashes series and was named Player of the Match at Headingley in 2023 after dismantling Australia with his pace However he has not participated in a competitive fixture since the Champions Trophy in February having missed the entire English summer following knee surgeryA comeback had initially been targeted for the fifth Test of Englands series against India with Wood seen bowling in the nets alongside international teammates during the summer However swelling in his knee required fluid to be drained delaying his return A similar issue later ruled him out of Durhams County Championship campaignWood is scheduled to arrive in New Zealand next week to link up with Englands whiteball squads and continue his rehabilitation though he is not expected to play any competitive matches In recent weeks he has been observed bowling in the heated marquee at Englands training base in Loughborough and it is understood that he considers himself to be in a good position ahead of the AshesIt was a frustrating summer Wood told the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast I didnt get to play any cricket and my knee at times when you think that youre just about ready to play it was not just quite thereI got knocked back a couple of times but in the tent its been going well Ive had the speed gun out and the pace is getting up there so Im building nicely into New Zealand first and then the Australian legHopefully Im in form bowling well in the practice games and in the nets and can put my hand up for that game in Perth The rehab hasnt just been a straight curve Its been a bit up and down but Im in a good position now where Im hoping to kick on for that gameI never want to give an answer where I say Yes Im pumped Im ready But Im in a confident place at the minute and feeling a lot more positive so Im quietly confidentWood mentioned that his recovery from knee surgery has been unlike his previous rehabilitation experiences from elbow and ankle injuries describing the process as annoying He explained You keep thinking Im nearly there and youre just about to press the trigger to play The fifth Test against India I was so close and then when I was at my top speed my knee swelled up so I had to have it drainedThen again at the back end of the year with Durham I was so close to playing a game but again I just kept getting this slight swelling The ECB with what was coming up were like Look its a risk we dont need to take Thankfully the last few times Ive bowled there hasnt been that swelling there Its much more positiveWood has also used part of the summer to work on his coaching credentials in preparation for life after playing He completed a brief coaching stint with the England Lions and is currently pursuing his Level Three coaching qualification alongside former England cricketers Steven Finn Chris Jordan Sarah Taylor and Chris Woakes IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mark-wood-confident-of-attaining-full-fitness-ahead-of-ashes-opener-643490.html Thu, 16 Oct 2025 19:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bavuma-named-in-sa-a-squad-for-second-game-against-india-a-ahead-of-test-series-643499.html Johannesburg Oct 16 South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma has been named in the A squad for the second redball game against India A as part of his returntoplay program The development marks a key step in his preparation for the home Test series against India scheduled for to happen in November Bavuma was ruled out of South Africas ongoing Tests against Pakistan with a calf strain He sustained the injury on the whiteball tour of England and will now play in the second game against India A to be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence CoE in Bengaluru from November 69After the redball games between India A and South Africa A happen from October 30 to November 9 the two teams will contest in a threematch 50over series at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot from November 1319 Marques Ackerman will lead South Africa A in both formatsSpinner Kyle Simmonds has earned his maiden SA A callup to the fourday side while allrounder Delano Potgieter has been included for the first time in the 50over squad The 50over squad comprising of Proteas players Ottneil Baartman Bjorn Fortuin Kwena Maphaka Lhuandré Pretorius and Nqaba PeterMalibongwe Maketa will be the head coach for the redball games while Wandile Gwavu will take charge for the 50over matches Were looking forward to this tour and are eager to take on the challenge of competing against India in their own backyard Our ability to play and bowl spin has improved significantly over the years so playing in the subcontinent which will be a first for many of the players will be a good testWere definitely up for it as a team Its been a while since South Africa A last toured India and playing there always demands adaptability and mental toughness Gaining experience on subcontinent surfaces and learning to adapt to varying conditions specially in the redball format will be invaluable for our players as we continue to build towards future tours and potential Proteas opportunities said Gwavu in a statementSouth Africa A head into the tour of India following a competitive tour against New Zealand A at home where they clinched the oneday series 21 although they lost the fourday series 01The South Africa A fourday squad will depart for Bengaluru from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on October 25 ahead of the first redball game happening from October 30 to November 2South Africa A FourDay Squad against India A Marques Ackerman captain Temba Bavuma second game only Okuhle Cele Zubayr Hamza Jordan Hermann Rubin Hermann Rivaldo Moonsamy Tshepo Moreki Mihlali Mpongwana Lesego Senokwane Prenelan Subrayen Kyle Simmonds Tsepo Ndwandwa Jason Smith Tiaan van Vuuren and Codi YusufSouth Africa A OneDay squad against India A Marques Ackerman captain Ottneil Baartman Bjorn Fortuin Jordan Hermann Rubin Hermann Kwena Maphaka Rivaldo Moonsamy Tshepo Moreki Mihlali Mpongwana Nqaba Peter Delano Potgieter Lhuandré Pretorius Sinethemba Qeshile Jason Smith and Codi Yusuf IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bavuma-named-in-sa-a-squad-for-second-game-against-india-a-ahead-of-test-series-643499.html Thu, 16 Oct 2025 19:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gill-kohli-rohit-and-others-depart-for-australia-second-batch-to-leave-tonight-643090.html New Delhi Oct 15 Captain Shubman Gill along with Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma and other members of Team India departed for Australia on Wednesday morning to begin their muchanticipated tour Down Under The second batch of the squad is scheduled to leave later tonight at 9 PM The tour will feature three OneDay Internationals followed by a fivematch T20I series setting the stage for an exciting contest between two of the worlds top cricketing nationsThe first group also includes the support staff and several senior players while the remaining members will join them ahead of the teams first warmup session in Australia The players are expected to undergo a brief acclimatisation period before the limitedovers series begins on October 19With India aiming to maintain their impressive overseas form the tour is seen as a crucial test of both character and depth Fans are eagerly awaiting the action as young skipper Shubman Gill leads the side looking to set the tone for the seriesThe three ODIs will also mark the muchawaited return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to international action after a significant breakCricket enthusiasts are thrilled to see the senior duo back on the field even as Gill captains the team in their presence a fascinating dynamic that adds an extra layer of intrigue to this highprofile tourIndias whiteball tour of Australia begins with the ODI opener on October 19 at Perth Stadium followed by matches at Adelaide Oval and the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 23 and 25 respectively A fivematch T20I series will follow starting October 29The last time India toured Australia for a bilateral ODI series was in 202021 when they lost 21 but bounced back to win the T20I series by the same margin IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gill-kohli-rohit-and-others-depart-for-australia-second-batch-to-leave-tonight-643090.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/saudi-arabia-qatar-secure-2026-fifa-world-cup-spots-643105.html Jeddah Oct 15 Saudi Arabia and Qatar became the latest two Asian teams to have secured 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification sending United Arab Emirates and Iraq into the fifth round of Asian qualifying Six teams were divided into two groups in the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers with group winners directly qualifying for the World CupSaudi Arabia punched their ticket for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday as a 00 draw with Iraq ensured Herve Renards side finished on top of Group B in the AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to 26 PlayoffsSaudi Arabia spurned a series of chances but still did enough to reach a third consecutive World Cup Herve Renards side monopolised possession in Jeddah but their finishing was wasteful with Salem Aldawsari off target with four attempts reports FIFAIraq didnt manage a shot on target until secondhalf injury time and when they did Nawaf Alaqidi was equal to two effortsThe Green Falcons who famously upset Argentina at Qatar 2022 will now look to equal and eclipse their best campaign a run to the last 16 at USA 1994Qatar secured a place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 as second half headers from Boualem Khouki and Pedro Miguel sealed a 21 win over the United Arab Emirates in Doha to claim the slot at next years Finals from Group A of the AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to 26 PlayoffsAkram Afif set up headers for Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel to qualify Qatar The UAE had their chances in the first half in Al Rayyan Caio nodded narrowly wide from an Ali Saleh centre while Mahmoud Ibrahim made an outstanding fingertip save from Nicolas GimenezAfif with his balletic feet was a thorn in their side however and from one of his inviting crosses Mohammad Al Mannai headed inches wide Khoukhi nevertheless made no mistake from another Afif delivery thumping a header into the bottom corner before Pedro Miguel did the same from a tight angleQatar substitute Tarek Salman was sent off late on and United Arab Emirates capitalised to pull one back through Sultan Adil but it was insufficient to deny Julen Lopeteguis side Qatar who fell at the group stage in 2022 will now head to their second World Cup in succession IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/saudi-arabia-qatar-secure-2026-fifa-world-cup-spots-643105.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/fifa-wc-qualifiers-ronaldo-sets-another-record-but-hungary-deny-portugal-early-qualification-643108.html Lisbon Oct 15 Cristiano Ronaldo set another record but Portugal conceded a lastgasp equaliser against Hungary to keep their dreams of direct qualification for the FIFA World Cup on hold Ronaldo became the outright leading marksman in World Cup qualifying history His two goals the first his 40th in qualifying to set the landmark put Portugal on the verge of qualification but Dominik Szoboszlai struck late to deny Portugal qualification for a seventh successive global finals after a 22 drawAttila Szalai silenced Lisbon by heading home the opener but the 40yearold tapped in crosses from fullbacks Nelson Semedo and Nuno Mendes to swing Roberto Martinezs charges ahead The woodwork denied Bruno Fernandes and Ruben Dias enhancing the lead and Szalai equalising after the restartHungary kept themselves five points behind Portugal and in with a chance of the sections automatic ticket when Daniel Lukacs did majestically to set up Dominik SzoboszlaiPortugals next chance to confirm their place in the World Cup finals tournament next year will be against Republic of Ireland in Dublin next monthRepublic of Ireland claimed their first win in World Cup qualifying after edging out 10man Armenia at the Aviva Stadium in DublinVisiting captain Tigran Barseghyan was given his marching orders in the 52nd minute of this contest before Evan Ferguson combined with Will Smallbone to score the only goal of a cagey encounterMeanwhile Cote dIvoire have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 26 The Elephants secured their place at the tournament in Canada Mexico and the USA on Tuesday with a 30 victory over Kenya in their final Group F fixture ensuring they topped the section ahead of GabonThey will compete in the World Cup for the first time since Brazil 2014 where they were eliminated in the group stage as they have been in each of their appearances to date IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/fifa-wc-qualifiers-ronaldo-sets-another-record-but-hungary-deny-portugal-early-qualification-643108.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/england-dominate-latvia-to-secure-fifa-world-cup-2026-qualification-643114.html Riga Oct 15 Harry Kane netted a brace as England sealed its place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 50 win over Latvia in the qualifiers Coach Thomas Tuchel made two changes from the side that defeated Wales with Myles LewisSkelly coming in for Marc Guehi and captain Kane returning from injury to lead the attackThe Three Lions thought they had taken an early lead when Kane found the net inside two minutes but the flag was raised for offside Moments later the Bayern Munich striker missed a golden opportunity from close range reports XinhuaEngland eventually broke through in the 26th minute when Anthony Gordon cut inside from the left and curled a fine effort into the far cornerKane soon made amends for his earlier misses striking twice before halftime first with a composed finish from the edge of the box in the 44th minute and then a penalty deep into stoppage time following a VARconfirmed handballKanes double saw him surpass Nat Lofthouses record for multigoal games for England having now scored more than once in a match on 13 occasionsLatvias defensive resilience crumbled in the 58th minute when Maksims Tonisevs conceded an own goal before England substitute Eberechi Eze added the finishing touch late on drilling home a low shot to complete the routWith the win England maintains its perfect record in six qualifiers sitting top of Group K with 18 points seven ahead of secondplaced Albania confirming its ticket to next years World Cup with two matches remainingAlso in Group K Serbia cruised past Andorra 31 to sit third in the group with 10 pointsIn Group F Portugal missed the chance to qualify early after Dominik Szoboszlais stoppagetime strike earned Hungary a 22 draw while Ireland edged 10man Armenia 10 Portugal leads the group with 10 points followed by Hungary on fiveIn Group I Mateo Retegui scored twice as Italy sailed past Israel 30 and Estonia and Moldova played out a 11 drawMeanwhile Spain dominated Bulgaria 40 in Group E with Mikel Merinos two headers sealing a comfortable victory for the reigning European champions while Türkiye outplayed Georgia 41 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/england-dominate-latvia-to-secure-fifa-world-cup-2026-qualification-643114.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/tns-coimbatore-corporation-plans-sports-complex-for-para-athletes-643119.html Chennai Oct 15 The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation is set to establish a stateoftheart sports complex exclusively for paraathletes The proposed facility to be developed on a 242acre site along Jeeva Nagar Road in Ward 45 for Rs 15 crore aims to provide dedicated infrastructure for paraathletes to train and compete in various disciplines According to corporation officials the civic body had submitted a detailed proposal and design plan to the state government two months ago The proposal which included architectural and accessibility features was reviewed by the state authorities and returned with recommendations for modificationsThe design plan is now being revised in line with the governments directions and will be resubmitted for approval shortly Among the key changes made are improvements to the ramp design and other accessibility features to ensure full compliance with national standards for facilities catering to persons with disabilitiesOnce approved the project will mark a major milestone in Coimbatores efforts to build an inclusive sports ecosystem The proposed complex will be designed to host both competitive events and regular practice sessions It will include indoor training areas for multiple sports with special provisions for disciplines such as shooting table tennis and athleticsThe plan also envisions accessible infrastructure such as wheelchairfriendly pathways specialised toilets and other mobilitysupport featuresOfficials said the location at Jeeva Nagar Road was chosen for its accessibility and proximity to major city routes ensuring convenience for players coming from different parts of the districtThe facility is also expected to include basic accommodation units for visiting athletes participating in tournaments and training camps Sports associations in the district have welcomed the initiative calling it a timely step toward encouraging participation of differently abled athletes in competitive sportsThe project once completed is expected to serve as a model for similar infrastructure in other cities across Tamil Nadu By focusing on inclusivity and accessibility the Coimbatore Corporations proposed complex is seen as a major stride in promoting equal opportunities for paraathletes and enhancing the citys sporting credentials at both state and national levels IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/tns-coimbatore-corporation-plans-sports-complex-for-para-athletes-643119.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-womens-team-visits-ujjains-mahakaleshwar-temple-attends-bhasma-aarti-643136.html Ujjain Oct 15 The Indian womens cricket team visited Ujjains Mahakaleshwar Temple on Wednesday to seek blessings after suffering backtoback defeats in the ongoing ICC Womens World Cup The players participated in the early morning Bhasma Aarti and spent time in offering prayers in the Nandi Hall The Bhasma Aarti at Mahakaleshwar is regarded as a spiritually powerful ritual performed in the early morning hours It holds profound importance for devotees who see it as a rare chance to witness the divine form of Lord Mahakal in a solemn and mystical settingIndia started off its World Cup campaign with backtoback wins however their losses to South Africa and Australia in the following matches in Vizag have put their World Cup campaign on hold The Harmanpreet Kaurled side are currently fourth on the points table with four points from four matches and a net run rate of 0682 with three leaguephase games still to playWhile dropping backtoback games India have shown they can mix it with the elite teams While being on the wrong end of the result their performance against Australia in a match that very much lived up to the hype showed they have batting lineup capable of going all the waySmriti Mandhana Pratika Rawal Harleen Deol and Richa Ghosh have been their major contributors with the bat while Deepti Sharma Sneh Rana and Kranti Gaud have all proven effective wicket takers The hosts have plenty of potential matchwinners as the tournament stakes keep risingIndia will next face England at Indore on Sunday followed by matches against New Zealand on October 23 and Bangladesh on October 26 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi MumbaiIndia need to win their remaining three games to finish the league stage with 10 points to make it to the semifinals IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-womens-team-visits-ujjains-mahakaleshwar-temple-attends-bhasma-aarti-643136.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 12:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/its-still-very-early-days-gill-hasnt-yet-faced-the-worst-days-of-captaincy-gambhir-643215.html New Delhi Oct 15 India head coach Gautam Gambhir reflected on Shubman Gills captaincy journey and said it is still very early days as he has yet to face the worst days of captaincy which is inevitable He however praised Gillss ability to handle pressure and tough situations Gill took over the reins from Rohit Sharma who announced his retirement from the format earlier this year His first assignment as the fulltime Test captain was a thrilling fiveTest series against England which ended in a 22 drawGill celebrated his maiden Test series win as India captain after registering a comprehensive sevenwicket victory against the West Indies in the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on TuesdaySharing his observations on Gills captaincy on JioHotstar Gambhir said Its still very early dayshe has captained only a few Test matches so far The most important quality I see is his ability to handle pressure and tough situations Gill is very much a work in progress he hasnt yet faced the worst days of captaincy which will inevitably come It will test him personally and as a leader and I want to see how he responds when things dont go his wayIve told him Im always here to support back and protect him My role as coach is to take the pressure and criticism off his shoulders as long as he does the right things for the team and remains transparent and honest with the players inside the dressing room That is the foundation for earning respectSo far he has been absolutely brillianttransparent upfront hardworking and focused on doing the right things What more can a coach ask of a captain who is willing to put everything on the lineReflecting on the challenges Gill faced during his initial Test leadership period Gambhir said leading a young team against a quality England side was the the toughest test he faced in his captaincyI vividly remember that first conversation with him as captain We told him bluntly that we had thrown him into a deep seaeither he would drown or become a worldclass swimmer Those 750 runs in England They didnt matter so much to me whether he scored them on the next tour or this one it was the way he handled himself under pressure that mattered most Leading a young team against a quality England side I think he faced the toughest test of his captaincy Regardless of how long he leadswhether two months or ten yearsthis was a defining challengeAfter the Oval Test which we won I told him he had passed his most difficult testthat the transition was complete and things would now become smoother I sincerely hope it is so because he truly deserves it Many unfair things have been said about him but I believe we often judge players on potential and expectationslike a 24 or 25yearold making a 50plus Test average and scoring everywhere That takes time and he had the potentialI wasnt shocked he made 700750 runs but I was more impressed with his leadership Throughout those 25 days of intense cricket I never saw even a flicker of frustration or pressure on his face He led with a smile under immense pressure and he truly deserves every bit of success now and in the futurebecause everyone involved in that journey deserves it he saidAfter Indias Test series win over West Indies Gill now prepares for the Toughest Rivalry as he braces up to lead India in his debut ODI series against Australia on their home soil IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/its-still-very-early-days-gill-hasnt-yet-faced-the-worst-days-of-captaincy-gambhir-643215.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 17:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jaiswal-kuldeep-gain-big-in-test-rankings-rashid-khan-becomes-no-1-odi-bowler-643218.html Dubai Oct 15 Indias dominance in redball cricket continues to be reflected in the latest ICC rankings with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Kuldeep Yadav making notable gains after the teams 20 Test series sweep over the West Indies Jaiswal improves two places to rise to fifth behind Englands Joe Root on the list for Test batters while Kuldeep climbed seven spots to move to 14th for Test bowlers following his exploits with the ball against the Caribbean sideThe West Indies too had reasons to celebrate Skipper Shai Hope jumped 34 places to joint66th while centurymaker John Campbell moved up six spots to 68th in the Test batting listAmong bowlers Jomel Warrican rose two places to 30th rounding off a productive series despite the teams defeatsMeanwhile Afghanistan created history in the ODI charts with Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai both claiming the No1 spot in their respective categories following their 30 series sweep over BangladeshRashid reclaimed the No1 ranking for ODI bowlers leapfrogging South Africas Keshav Maharaj after taking 11 wickets in Afghanistans 30 series sweep over Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi their firstever ODI whitewash against the Asian rivalsOmarzai climbed one spot to dethrone Zimbabwes Sikandar Raza as the No1 ODI allrounder courtesy of seven wickets across the series coupled with valuable lowerorder runsRashids allround exploits saw him rise two places to fourth in the allrounder rankings as Afghanistan players continued to dominate across categoriesIbrahim Zadran named Player of the Series came close to making it a clean sweep of top rankings for Afghanistan He climbed eight places to second in the ODI batting charts now only 20 rating points behind Indias Shubman Gill who continues to hold the No1 positionTeammates Rahmanullah Gurbaz up two spots to 16th and Mohammad Nabi up six spots to joint50th also made significant gains following the series IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jaiswal-kuldeep-gain-big-in-test-rankings-rashid-khan-becomes-no-1-odi-bowler-643218.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/golf-shubhankar-anirban-to-lead-26-man-strong-local-contingent-at-india-championship-643251.html New Delhi Oct 15 India are fielding a strong 26man contingent at the USD 4 million DP World India Championship which will be held at the esteemed Delhi Golf Club DGC from October 16 19 2025 The tournament features one of the strongest fields on Indian soil with the likes of global golfing superstars Rory McIlroy Tommy Fleetwood Viktor Hovland Shane Lowry and Luke Donald teeing up on the hallowed turf of the DGC While international winners Shubhankar Sharma Anirban Lahiri Shiv Kapur Rahil Gangjee and Ajeetesh Sandhu are the biggest Indian names in the field there are also several young Indian players competing at the mega event who have made a mark on the Professional Golf Tour of India PGTI in recent years and will now look to make an impression at the DGC come ThursdayThe tall and lanky Veer Ahlawat is the most prominent among these names The 29yearold Veer earned a berth on the DP World Tour in 2025 as a result of topping the PGTI Order of Merit last year The fourtime winner on the PGTI had also finished runnerup at the 2024 Indian Open to record his best international resultIve not had the best of seasons but I feel this week presents me with a great opportunity to make an impact I want to make this event count as I know that a top10 here would help me save my card on the DP World Tour I would say Ive fared decently in the last few events in Europe leading up to this week so my form has been good Ahlawat saidIndian golfers will have a distinct advantage this week as we all know the DGC course well and have played here since our junior days The layout at DGC has always favoured Indians he addedYuvraj Sandhu a winner on the Asian Development Tour is another Indian golfer one needs to watch out for The 13time winner on the PGTI currently leads the PGTI Order of Merit with four titles to his name this season The 28yearold has picked up backtoback titles on the PGTI twice this year which is a testament to his dominance in IndiaIve just enjoyed some great form playing in India this year I would love to carry that momentum into this week Im very excited to be here amongst this worldclass field Since the announcement of this tournament this week has been the most eagerly awaited for all of us Indian golfers DGC feels like a second home course for me so Im quite comfortable playing here Yuvraj saidArjun Prasad fresh from his maiden victory two weeks back is ranked second on the PGTIs money list courtesy of his 11 top10s this season Prasad will also be in the limelight this week Twentysixyearold Arjun the most consistent performer on the PGTI this year received a shot in the arm when he finally joined the winners circle earlier this month to confirm his spot at the DP World India ChampionshipPlaying the DP World India Championship serves as a huge boost in confidence for me as making it to this event was one of my goals as soon as the tournament was announced Competing in a field consisting of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood is a dream come true I really look forward to playing alongside Tommy once again who was my playing partner at the 2016 Indian Open when I participated as an amateur Arjun saidBesides the players mentioned above there are a host of Indian names who have the talent and the potential to make a name for themselves at the DGC this week This includes the likes of former PGTI Order of Merit champions Om Prakash Chouhan and Manu Gandas both of whom have the experience of playing a season each on the DP World TourThen there is Olympian and former PGTI Order of Merit champion Udayan Mane who has also been in prime form this year Udayan a 12time winner on the PGTI has posted seven top10s this season which has placed him fifth on the PGTIs merit list Twentytwoyearold Shaurya Bhattacharya is a twotime winner who is currently fourth in the PGTI Ranking with a win and eight other top10s this seasonAngad Cheema a winner of five titles is one of only three multiple winners on the PGTI this season Angad has been a picture of consistency in recent times having finished inside the top5 of the PGTI Ranking over the last two seasons IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/golf-shubhankar-anirban-to-lead-26-man-strong-local-contingent-at-india-championship-643251.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 20:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/chess-launches-new-world-championship-approved-by-fide-to-crown-combined-winner-in-fast-classic-rapid-blitz-643257.html Mumbai Oct 15 The organisers of Norway Chess on Thursday announced the launch of a new World Championship which will crown a champion across all time controls the Fast Classic Rapid and Blitz which has been approved and endorsed by the sports world governing body FIDE The new championship titled the Total Chess World Championship Tour will consist of four events each year and crown a combined champion across three disciplines Fast Classic Rapid and Blitz chess We expect this to become one of the most prestigious events in the entire chess Calendar Kjell Madland CEO of Norway Chess and of the new championship said in a release on WednesdayThe Total Chess World Championship Tour will crown an overall champion across three disciplines Fast Classic Rapid and Blitz and the winner will be crowned FIDE World Combined ChampionThe overall championship comprising four tournaments held in various global cities will have a minimum 27mn annual prize pool across the Tour 750000 per event for the first three events and 450000 for the finals plus performance bonuses A pilot tournament is planned for fall 2026 with the first full championship season in 2027The initiative comes from the organisers of the prestigious Norway Chess tournament and the official World Championship status agreement was signed with the International Chess Federation FIDE in early October The vision of the Total Chess World Championship Tour is to find the player who best masters the disciplines Fast Classic Rapid and Blitz combined Fast Classic is an innovation of classical chess featuring a time limit as short as 45 minutes plus a 30second increment per move This will receive a rating as classical chessWe are looking for The Total Chess Player a versatile tactically intelligent and technically skilled athlete who seamlessly adapts to multiple time controls says Kjell MadlandThe tour will take place in various cities across the globe and during the final stop an overall winner will be crowned the official FIDE World Combined ChampionWe want to create an entertaining tournament using cuttingedge technology innovative and engaging TV and streaming broadcasts and faster formats to open up the sport of chess to a broader audience than ever before We expect this to become one of the most prestigious events in the entire chess Calendar We are very honoured by the strong trust FIDE has shown in the project From the very beginning the federation has been an active and engaged partner ensuring the project aligns with FIDEs vision and standards We want to thank them and especially the FIDE President for their close involvement and support says Kjell MadlandFIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich expresses strong support for the We are always looking for ways to innovate and push the boundaries of what chess can be Although chess is already one of the most popular games in the world its growth potential is still enormous With the Total Chess World Championship Tour we give players a new title to compete for and the audience a faster tournament format and we hope the tournament can captivate both the existing chess fans and new audiences says FIDE President Arkady DvorkovichWe see this as a great addition to the traditional and prestigious World Chess Championship where we crown the undisputed champion of classic chess The championships will complement each other and offer even more excitement for the fans This is not a shortterm initiative but a longterm agreement between FIDE and Norway Chess says Arkady Dvorkovich IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/chess-launches-new-world-championship-approved-by-fide-to-crown-combined-winner-in-fast-classic-rapid-blitz-643257.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 20:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ranji-trophy-ishan-kishans-fighting-century-shamis-three-wickets-highlights-of-day-1-643273.html Thiruvanthapuram Oct 15 A flawless opening hour saw Kerala bowlers MD Nidheesh and NP Basil scythed through the Maharashtra top order with swing and bounce putting the hosts in command at the end of the opening days play in their Ranji Trophy 202526 clash at the Sports Hub Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday After being reduced to a disastrous 18 for five Maharashtra were pulled out of the mire by Ruturaj Gaikwad 91 151b 11x4 and Jalaj Saxena 49 106b 4x4 who combined to add 122 runs for the sixth wicket Their partnership not only steadied the innings but also ensured that the visitors crossed the 150run mark before bad light and rain forced early stumps with Maharashtra at 179 for seven 37 minutes after teaEarlier Kerala captain Mohammed Azharuddeens decision to bowl first proved inspired Nidheesh struck gold with the new ball trapping Prithvi Shaw 0 lbw with a sharp inswinger in the very first over Moments later Siddesh Veer 0 feathered an edge to the keeper to leave Maharashtra reeling at 0 for twoBasil joined the carnage generating a steep bounce that caught Arshin Kulkarni 0 by surprise his edge was brilliantly pouched by Rohan Kunnummal at second slip Basil then had skipper Ankit Bawne 0 chopping on plunging the visitors into deeper trouble at 5 for 4With Nidheeshs inswing continuing to trouble the batters Nawale too fell legbefore making it 18 for five inside the first hour That brought Jalaj Saxena facing his former teammates to the crease Jalaj was positive from the outset finding gaps and using his feet against spin while Gaikwad settled into his rhythm with crisp drives and firm cuts The pair frustrated Keralas bowlers for nearly two sessionsGaikwads composure stood out he struck consecutive boundaries off Edhen to bring up his fifty and continued to pierce the gaps smartly Just as Maharashtra seemed to regain control Nidheesh trapped Jalaj lbw for 49 breaking the century stand Soon after Edhen who recovered from an erratic first spell got rid of Gaikwad the righthander was a fraction late as the ball thudded into his padsWith Vicky Ostwal 10 and Ramakrishna Ghosh 11 steadying things light deteriorated rapidly forcing the umpires to call it a day The honours of the day though belonged to Keralas opening bowlers who tore through Maharashtras top order before Gaikwads valiant fightback saved the visitors from total collapseKarnataka vs SaurashtraA blend of youthful ambition and seasoned composure was on full display as Devdutt Padikkal 96 141b 11x4 and Karun Nair 73 126b 9x4 orchestrated a vital 146run thirdwicket partnership steering Karnataka into a strong position on Day 1 of their Ranji Trophy opener against Saurashtra at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in RajkotAfter electing to bat under clear skies Karnataka were rocked early by the discipline of Saurashtras pacers Jaydev Unadkat and Chetan Sakariya Skipper Mayank Agarwal and S Nikin Jose found scoring difficult against the testing lines and Dharmendra Jadejas early introduction of spin proved decisive The leftarm spinner struck in the 10th over to remove Mayank and added Nikins wicket soon after leaving Karnataka tottering at 26 for twoAt that point Padikkal and Karun Nair showed remarkable maturity to rebuild The duo began cautiously focusing on strike rotation and punishing anything loose Padikkal in particular mixed elegance with intent cutting and driving fluently once he settled in Karuns experience came to the fore as he anchored the partnership using soft hands and quick singles to defuse the pressureAs the day wore on the pair grew more confident Both brought up their halfcenturies in style forcing the Saurashtra bowlers onto the back foot However just as Padikkal looked set for a century Jadeja struck again trapping Karun plumb in front and later castling Padikkal for 96 his fourth wicket of the dayLater KL Shrijith fell cheaply but R Smaran 66 120b 4x4 2x6 and Shreyas Gopal 38 69b 2x4 2x6 added an unbeaten 81run stand for the sixth wicket to take Karnataka to 295 for five at stumps The partnership gave the visitors a sense of control after the early wobble ensuring they ended the day well placedShami stars in Bengal vs Uttarakhand clashA dramatic late burst from Mohammed Shami who claimed three wickets in an over helped Bengal bowl out Uttarakhand for 213 on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy fixture at Eden GardensFor much of the day Bengals bowling honours belonged to Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal 194544 and Ishan Porel 153403 Shami returning to redball action after the Duleep Trophy looked offrhythm in the first two sessions but turned it on spectacularly in his 15th over to clean up the tail and wrap up the inningsOpting to bowl first on a grassy surface Bengal captain Abhimanyu Easwaran deployed a fourman pace attack Shami Akash Deep Porel and Jaiswal The first breakthrough came from Porel who had Avneesh Sudha caught at second slip by Anustup Majumdar Jaiswal followed up with a peach of an outswinger to remove Prashant Chopra and later he bowled Uttarakhand skipper Kunal Chandela 7 to leave the visitors at 76 for three at lunchAfter the break Bhupen Lalwani 71 tried to rebuild sharing a 54run stand with Yuvraj Singh but Bengals seamers kept striking at regular intervals Jaiswal and Porel struck in tandem to dismantle the middle order before Shami reintroduced from the High Court End cleaned up No 9 10 and 11 in quick successionIn reply Bengals chase began shakily as Easwaran was dismissed off the first ball caught behind off Devendra Bora At stumps Bengal were 8 for 1 with Sudip Gharami 7 and Sudip Chatterjee 1 unbeaten trailing by 205 runsTamil Nadu vs JharkhandIshan Kishan roared back into firstclass form with a defiant counterattacking unbeaten 125 off 183 balls rescuing Jharkhand from a precarious situation on Day 1 of their Ranji Trophy match against Tamil Nadu at ChepaukAt one stage Jharkhand were struggling having lost half their side before crossing 160 but Kishans aggressive intent and positive strokeplay turned the tide Alongside Sahil Raj 64 unbeaten the wicketkeeperbatter stitched a 150run unbroken stand for the seventh wicket guiding his team to 307 for six at stumpsTamil Nadus bowlers had dominated the morning session Gurjapneet Singh the leftarm seamer made early inroads and ended with three wickets while DT Chandrasekar returning to Ranji cricket after nearly a decade used flight and drift effectively to pick up two crucial wicketsBut once Kishan found his rhythm the momentum shifted He drove through the covers swept the spinners cleanly and reached his century with a powerful pull through midwicket His composure and counterattack ensured that Jharkhand not only recovered but finished the day in a position of strength heading into Day 2 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ranji-trophy-ishan-kishans-fighting-century-shamis-three-wickets-highlights-of-day-1-643273.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/england-and-chelsea-defender-millie-bright-retires-from-international-football-642983.html New Delhi Oct 13 England and Chelsea Women defender Millie Bright has announced her retirement from international football drawing the curtain on a distinguished nineyear England career that saw her lift the Euro 2022 title and captain the Lionesses to the 2023 World Cup final Bright 31 revealed her decision on her podcast The Rest is Football Daly Brightness which she cohosts with former England teammate Rachel Daly saying that the choice was deeply personal and one she had weighed up for a long timeIve been weighing this up for a long time Its one of those decisions no one can make for you Its a feeling and Im at peace with it Bright saidHaving the summer to reflect fix my knee and get my head straight really put things into perspective As you get older your priorities change Ive been craving family time time with friends and time for myselfBright who made her England debut in 2016 and went on to earn 88 caps said she was incredibly proud and honoured to have represented her country but felt the time was right to step awayIm incredibly proud and honoured to have played for England for so long Every single cap has been special and the memories Ive made have been some of the best of my life But its the right time for me to call it a day with England she saidThe defender explained that her decision was guided by the need to give her all to Chelsea admitting that the physical demands of elite football had left her at a crossroadsPhysically Im at that crossroads can I be 50 per cent for each for England and for Chelsea I want to be all in she said To give myself the best chance of doing that and be the best for my club I probably need to rein it in a little bitPeople will probably ask why and one its for myself Its a decision Ive made one that Im happy with I watched in the summer and there wasnt one part of me that thought Id made the wrong decisionBright had withdrawn herself from selection for Englands Euro 2025 campaign choosing instead to recover from knee surgery and spend the summer focusing on her mental and physical wellbeing From home she watched as the Lionesses successfully defended their European title the very trophy she helped win in 2022 when she started in every gameShe also captained the side to the 2023 Womens World Cup final in Australia and New Zealand stepping up in the absence of injured skipper Leah Williamson leading England to within touching distance of a historic world titleBrights international journey began in September 2016 when she replaced Karen Carney as a late substitute in a 20 win against Belgium Over the next nine years she established herself as one of Englands most dependable defenders a fearless commanding presence at the back and a vocal leader on and off the pitchAs she looked back on her legacy Bright said she hoped to be remembered as someone who made a difference both as a player and as a personI want my legacy to be about being a winner a difference maker Not just someone who was there but someone who grabbed every opportunity with both hands and wanted to make change she saidI want to be remembered for what I did on the pitch too someone whod do anything for anyone who was reliable and who gave everything heart and soul every single game But ultimately I want to be remembered as a true Lioness someone who represented her country in the right way IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/england-and-chelsea-defender-millie-bright-retires-from-international-football-642983.html Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-jaideep-and-shivam-lead-haryana-steelers-to-win-over-patna-pirates-642984.html New Delhi Oct 13 Haryana Steelers recorded a comeback win against Patna Pirates prevailing 3932 at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium on Monday night The defending champions broke their fivematch losing streak and moved to sixth place on the points table as a result Jaideep Dahiya led the way with a High Five recording six tackles on the night while Shivam Patare completed his Super 10 Meanwhile Ayan Lohchabs 17 points went in vain for Patna PiratesIt was an engaging start to the game as Maninder Singh and Vinay opened the scoring for their respective sides Ayan didnt waste any time to make his mark either scoring his first points with a multipoint raid and then soon following it up with a tackle on Shivam Patare In a tight start both teams couldnt be successful on their respective first DoOrDie RaidsHaryana Steelers defence kept them on level terms with Hardeep and Rahul Sethpal contributing to the cause before a tackle from Balaji D and a raid from Ayan gave Patna Pirates an 86 lead after the opening ten minutes The defending champions instantly responded though with a Super Tackle courtesy Rahul SethpalAyan Lohchab then helped his team open up a sevenpoint gap inflicting the first all out of the game on the defending champions However the Steelers showed their mettle and struck right back with Hardeep chipping in on the defensive end and Shivam Patare making an impact on the offensive endIn this topsyturvy encounter the momentum swung back in the Pirates favour at the stroke of half time Ayan recorded nine raid points while Vaibhav Garje recorded successive tackles to ensure their team held a significant 2014 lead halfway through this gameAyan began the second half with a tackle but the Haryana Steelers captain asserted himself with a couple of Super Tackles reducing the deficit to threepoints Shivam Patare then brought it down to a twogame and also became the first Steelers player to register 100raid points this seasonWith a twopoint raid Ayan recorded his Super 10 helping Patna Pirates regain a fourpoint lead Haryana Steelers were quickly back on level terms though as Sahil Narwal bagged a Super Tackle and Vinay followed it up with a raid Heading into the final ten minutes the defending champions got their noses in front with Ghanshyam Magar bagging a multipoint raid The Steelers outscored the Pirates by seven points in the third quarter taking a onepoint leadA Super Tackle from Navdeep put the Pirates back in front before Jaideep recorded backtoback tackles also completing his High Five in the process His side then moved in front by four points as Vinay helped them inflict an all out giving the Steelers a fourpoint advantage with around five minutes to goWith the clock ticking down Haryana Steelers ensured that they controlled the tempo of the game Shivam Patare recorded a twopoint raid while Sahil Narwals tackle kept their side in front by seven points Shivam then added the finishing touches to the game finishing his Super 10 and helping his side complete a comeback win prevailing 3932 on the night IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-jaideep-and-shivam-lead-haryana-steelers-to-win-over-patna-pirates-642984.html Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-u23-men-held-to-a-draw-by-indonesia-in-second-friendly-642993.html Jakarta Oct 13 The India U23 mens national team was held to a 11 draw by Indonesia in their second friendly at the Gelora Bung Karno Madya Stadium in Jakarta on Monday After a goalless first half Korou Singh Thingujam 47 put the Blue Colts in the lead before Dony Tri Pamungkas 71 equalised for the hostsIndia had earlier defeated the hosts 21 in the first match following which head coach Naushad Moosa made six changes to his starting lineupIntent to avenge their defeat in the previous game Indonesia pressed forward from the get go but a spell of adept defending from the Blue Colts saw the match remain goalless for most parts of the first halfMuhammad Rayhan Hannans early shot was palmed away by India goalkeeper Dipesh Chauhan in the 10th minuteKakang Rudianto from a setpiece managed to leap higher than the rest and nodded a freeheader goalwards However a flying Chauhan managed to put a hand out and tip it over the barIndia waited for their opportune moments to launch the counterattacks and managed a good opportunity with Ricky Meetei flashing a venomous longrange shot perilously close to the Indonesia goalMinutes before the halftime whistle Vibin Mohanan had a crack from the edge of the box but it was saved by the Indonesia goalkeeperIndia started off much brighter after the change of ends and took the lead within two minutes of the restart when substitute Harsh Palandes low cross from the left found Korou unmarked inside the Indonesia box and the latter tapped it in to put his side in the leadA minute later Muhammed Suhail who also came on as a substitute weaved his way into the Indonesia box and had a crack but it was punched awayIndonesia had a sniff at getting an equaliser when Sumit Sharma committed a foul outside the India box Dony Tri Pamungkas stepped up and sent the freekick into the back of the net to draw the hosts levelMoosa made another slew of changes towards the end which finally saw Priyansh Dubey come on to replace Chauhan in goal The substitute goalkeeper also pulled off a stunning save in the closing minutes off a Rifqi Ray Farandi longrange effort IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-u23-men-held-to-a-draw-by-indonesia-in-second-friendly-642993.html Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/inglis-zampa-to-miss-opening-odi-against-india-643047.html Melbourne Oct 14 Australia wicketkeeper Josh Inglis has been ruled out of the ODI series opener against India on Sunday with spinner Adam Zampa also set to miss the match for family reasons Inglis is yet to fully recover from a calf strain that saw him miss Australias T20 tour of New Zealand earlier this monthAustralia added wicketkeeper Josh Philippe and spinner Matthew Kuhnemann to their squad for the series opener against India on SundayPhilippe who joined the T20 squad in New Zealand as Glenn Maxwells replacement when he went home with a fractured wrist is set to play his first ODI since Australias tour of the West Indies in 2021Kuhnemann could play his first 50over international since 2022 with allrounders Matt Short and Cooper Connolly the only other spinners in the squadZampa meanwhile is expected to link up with the Australian squad ahead of the second ODI against India on October 23Cricket Australia said that Inglis is expected to return for the third ODI in Sydney on October 25Alex Carey has been released from the squad for the first ODI to play in South Australias round two Sheffield Shield match against Queensland as part of his buildup to the Ashes He will rejoin the squad in Adelaide ahead of the second match of the seriesIndias whiteball tour of Australia under the new captain Shubman Gill starts with the ODI series opener on October 19 at Perth Stadium and is followed by matches at Adelaide Oval and Sydney Cricket Ground on October 23 and 25 respectivelyIt is followed by the fivematch T20I series beginning on October 29The last time India toured Australia for a bilateral ODI series the visitors lost by a 21 margin in 202021 but managed to win the subsequent T20I series by the same margin on the same tour IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/inglis-zampa-to-miss-opening-odi-against-india-643047.html Tue, 14 Oct 2025 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/de-la-fuente-likely-to-rotate-spains-squad-as-torres-drops-out-of-bulgaria-game-642884.html Madrid Spain Oct 13 Spain can all but ensure their place at next summers FIFA World Cup with a win against Bulgaria on Tuesday although coach Luis de la Fuente has lost another player to injury The Spanish Football Federation RFEF reported that forward Ferran Torres has left the squad with problems that were evaluated by the RFEF medical services with tests showing a muscle strain but without any anatomical injuryFerran Torres has been dropped against Bulgaria the fourth qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup in Valladolid The FC Barcelona striker after completing the match against Georgia in Elche reported muscle discomfort that was evaluated by the medical services of the RFEF including the performance of complementary tests diagnosing a muscle overload without associated anatomical injury it said in a statementFerran is the latest player to drop out of the squad after Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen left with muscle fatigue and Dani Olmo with a calf injury while Lamine Yamal and Rodri were also forced out with problems shortly after De la Fuente named his squad reports XinhuaDespite those problems Spain cruised past Georgia on Saturday with players like Yeremy Pino Pablo Barrios and Alex Baena showing the wealth of talent the coach has at his disposalSaturdays win leaves Spain with three wins from three World Cup qualifying games and a threepoint lead over Turkiye whom they beat 60 away in SeptemberBulgaria sit at the bottom with three defeats and 12 goals conceded including a 30 home defeat to Spain and were thrashed 61 at home by Turkey on Saturday By contrast Spain have three wins from three games and has scored 11 goals without conceding anyOne of De la Fuentes main issues going into the game is pressure from clubs especially Barcelona which has seen Yamal Ferran and Olmo pick up injuries on international duty and the coach will probably carry out some squad rotation with players such as Baena and defender Aymeric Laporte coming into the starting 11 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/de-la-fuente-likely-to-rotate-spains-squad-as-torres-drops-out-of-bulgaria-game-642884.html Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-india-bowl-out-wi-for-390-need-121-runs-to-win-642894.html New Delhi Oct 13 India will need 121 runs to complete a 20 series sweep after bowling out the West Indies for 390 in 1185 overs of their second innings on day four of the second and final Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium West Indies who were asked to follow on after being bowled out for 248 and gave India a huge 270run lead mounted a spirited fightback led by centuries from John Campbell 115 and Shai Hope 103 along with an unbeaten fifty from Justin GreavesCampbell who hit his first Test century and Hope who got a hundred in the format for the first time since 2017 shared a critical thirdwicket stand of 177 where application grit and finesse were the standout qualitiesIndias bowlers toiled through the morning with little success until Ravindra Jadeja broke through by trapping Campbell lbw while trying to play a reverse sweep Hope found support in Roston Chase and the pair continued to frustrate the hosts until the second new ball shifted the tide in Indias favourMohammed Siraj having Hope chop on to his stumps triggered a collapse for the visitors as they went from 2713 to 3119 Kuldeep Yadav was the chief wrecker by removing Chase and Khary Pierre in the same over and finishing with 3104 Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with two scalps on a pitch offering minimal help for seamers and eventually ended with 344Just when India seemed poised to wrap up the innings Greaves and Jayden Seales stitched together a defiant tenthwicket stand worth 79 runs across 22 overs While Greaves remained unbeaten on fifty including hitting three boundaries Seales contributed a valuable 32 as they stretched the lead to 120 and push the match towards day fiveIn the final session Greaves and Seales continued to frustrate India who commenced with just one slip in place and spread out fields Seales had two lives when KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel dropped tough chances even as Greaves reached his fifty Indias decision to bring back Bumrah paid off when Seales flicked straight to deep square leg to end a stubborn lastwicket stand and West Indies spirited inningsHaving been bowled out inside three days in Ahmedabad West Indies showed character fight and application in New Delhi to avoid a second successive innings defeat But India despite spending exactly 200 overs on the field for three successive days remain favourites to win considering a modest target and ample time to chase it downBrief Scores India 5185 in 1342 overs trail West Indies 248 and 390 in 1185 overs John Campbell 115 Shai Hope 103 Jasprit Bumrah 344 Kuldeep Yadav 3104 by 120 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-india-bowl-out-wi-for-390-need-121-runs-to-win-642894.html Mon, 13 Oct 2025 18:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/thousands-of-esports-players-set-to-compete-in-indias-largest-ever-solo-bgmi-tournament-642910.html New Delhi Oct 13 Thousands of gamers from across the country are set to compete in Solo Legends Indias largestever solo Battlegrounds Mobile India BGMI tournament designed to give aspiring players a platform to showcase their individual skill strategy and consistency A firstofitskind tournament featuring a nationwide search for BGMI players the multiphase tournament will include both online and onground stages uniting thousands of solo players from across the country ranging from grassroots talent to seasoned prosCompetitors will battle in a solo queue format progressing through multiple rounds of qualifiers and ultimately have the opportunity to face some of Indias top BGMI professionals in the final The winner will earn the coveted title of Indias best solo BGMI player along with an exclusive international Red Bull Racing experienceEvery pro players journey starts from playing solo When youre on your own you learn every role whether its fragging supporting making calls or handling pressure like an IGL Red Bull Solo Legends is the perfect stage for players to showcase those skills and prove what they can do without relying on a teamIm really excited to be part of this format and see which players rise through the ranks to claim the title Its time for Indias solo players to take the spotlight said Jonathan Amaral aka Jonathan GamingThe tournament will feature some of Indias prominent BGMI players including Jonathan Amaral Jonathan Gaming Tanishk Singh Admino Ashutosh Singh Punk Sahil Jakhar Omega Sohail Shaikh Hector Mohammed Owais Lakhani Owais Raghuraj Singh Slug Ammar Khan Destro Aditya Dawar Aadi and many more These players known for their exceptional skills will compete against each other bringing their unique strategies and gameplay styles to the forefrontPlaying solo is the ultimate test of a players allround abilities You are responsible for every choice you make from rotations to engagements and it forces you to master every aspect of the game Red Bull Solo Legends recognises individual excellence and encourages players to innovate adapt and compete at the highest level noted Sahil Jakhar aka OmegaSolo competition is where you truly test your adaptability and decisionmaking under pressure Every match challenges you to think on your feet and find creative solutions whether its surviving the zone positioning against multiple opponents or optimising your loot This tournament will bring out hidden talent and give gamers a real chance to prove themselves among the best in the country commented Mohammed Lakhani aka Owais IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/thousands-of-esports-players-set-to-compete-in-indias-largest-ever-solo-bgmi-tournament-642910.html Mon, 13 Oct 2025 18:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/indias-rising-tennis-star-srishti-kiran-prepares-to-shine-on-us-junior-circuit-642931.html Bengaluru Oct 13 At just 13 Srishti Kiran is already being hailed as one of Indias brightest young tennis prospects And she is getting ready to display her skills abroad in the competitive US junior circuit Ranked No 16 in the country in the U14 Girls category the Bengaluruborn player has been steadily climbing the junior circuit and is now preparing for one of the biggest tests of her budding career a series of tournaments in the United States including the prestigious Junior Orange Bowl in Florida this DecemberSrishti played a key role in helping India clinch its firstever Asian Tennis Federation ATF U12 Girls Team Championship crown in 2023 where she remained unbeaten Her performance on the Asian circuit soon caught wider attention and she was scouted to train at the prestigious RPS Academy in Florida under the mentorship of worldrenowned coach Gabe Jaramillo after being spotted at the Asian Tennis Federations Orange Ball programThe move is giving her worldclass exposure but has also demanded sacrifices at a young age The most challenging part has been staying away from home missing my mom and Bengaluru I just cope by calling her whenever I can But I really miss the food the people the weather of course she sharedDespite these challenges she embraced the sacrifices as part of her pursuit of excellence Without sacrifices you cannot become a good player she affirmedSrishti the youngest to win backtoback All India Tennis Association AITA U10 Championships began her journey into tennis at the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association KSLTA Bengaluru when she was just four and a half years old She fondly remembers stepping onto the court with a racket almost as big as herselfMy earliest memory at KSLTA was coming for my first tennis class I was shorter than the net holding a racket but I loved it right away she recalledOver the years KSLTA has played an instrumental role in nurturing her talent providing not just training but also an environment where she felt constantly supported KSLTA has supported me a lot especially Sunil Yajaman sir Jt Secretary KSLTA And everybody here has supported me in some way or another It really felt like home she expressedHer resilience was evident in her recent performance at the KSLTAITF Juniors at SM Krishna Stadium where she reached the quarterfinals a performance that highlighted her growing prowessShe proudly donned Indias colours internationally at the age of 10 Srishti credited her steady progress to the enduring support from her parents the guidance of her coaches and mentors both in India and abroad Among the many lessons she received one stood out her coach Gabes constant reminder No matter what condition you are in stay focused and give it your all With utmost gratitude she added I would like to thank all my coaches for helping and motivating me along the way They believed that I could and that belief pushes me forwardSrishti also drew inspiration from American tennis star Coco Gauff admiring the similarities in their playing styles From the way she hits to the way she moves my game really matched with hers I really admire and learn from her she saidLooking ahead her immediate goals are to perform strongly at the upcoming Junior Orange Bowl and the IMG Academy International Tennis Championships in Florida later this yearHer longterm goals are firmly defined In 10 years I aim to be World No 1 winning an Olympic medal and lifting a Grand Slam for my country is my ultimate vision she expressed IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/indias-rising-tennis-star-srishti-kiran-prepares-to-shine-on-us-junior-circuit-642931.html Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/root-confident-of-breaking-ashes-century-drought-as-england-eye-redemption-in-australia-642934.html New Delhi Oct 13 Joe Root says he feels better placed than ever to finally score a Test hundred in Australia as he prepares for what he described as a mentally fatiguing Ashes series later this year The former England captain who will play his fourth Ashes series Down Under when the contest begins in Perth on November 21 admitted that questions about his failure to register a century in Australia are bound to resurface but insists his focus remains firmly on helping England reclaim the urnI feel I am in a different place to when I last went out there Root said while speaking to Sky Sports at a celebrity padel event in Sheffield I havent got the responsibility of captaincy and I am a lot more experienced I have had a good couple of years coming in and I have learned good lessons from my previous tours there as a batter and senior playerRoots highest score in Australia remains 89 made in Brisbane during the 202122 series despite having struck nine fifties across three tours Now with 39 Test hundreds behind only Sachin Tendulkar Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting the 34yearold believes this could finally be his timeI am sure there is going to be a lot of talk around me not scoring a hundred as of yet but I feel ready for it Root said Big series are the ones you want to play in and contribute in You want to create memories with the guys that you can share for the rest of your lives I feel that is the opportunity in front of us that we have to chase and grabRoot added that personal milestones would take a back seat to team success If I am doing my role in the team then personal accolades will come but its not the main focus Its about winning that urn back as it has been a long time since we held it I feel we have some serious resources to take out there and hit Australia with Hopefully we can get that right so if I am scoring heavily it gives us a chanceReflecting on Englands highintensity 22 series draw at home to India this summer Root said it provided ideal preparation for the challenge ahead We got a small idea of what it is going to be like when we played against India another huge series so you are sort of ready for the extra stuff that sits around the games We can take a lot of learnings into The Ashes he saidThere are extra bits The mental fatigue a lot of cricket in a short space of time It can take its toll mentally as well as physically so you have to have your plans On the last two tours there were a number of games for the first two or three days that were pretty even before Australia pulled away from us played the conditions better than us had better resources than us in those conditionsRoot also praised captain Ben Stokes who is working his way back from a shoulder injury He is looking good You know he is not going to leave any stone unturned and that he will give himself every possible chance to be absolutely ready for everything that is asked of him physically and mentally He is very determined for us to give the best account of ourselves IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/root-confident-of-breaking-ashes-century-drought-as-england-eye-redemption-in-australia-642934.html Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025-goa-guardians-seek-redemption-in-must-win-clash-with-thunderbolts-642962.html Hyderabad Oct 13 The Goa Guardians face a stern test as they prepare to take on the Kolkata Thunderbolts in their next match in Season 4 of the Prime Volleyball League PVL here on Tuesday Goas journey in the maiden season has been a rollercoaster one highlighted by their historic firstever victory against the Ahmedabad Defenders where they remarkably saved eight match points However their momentum was halted heartbreakingly in the following match against Chennai Blitz where they surrendered a lead to eventually lose the match That defeat has left them with little margin for error as their next three fixtures against Kolkata Hyderabad and Delhi hold the key to their hopes of reaching the semifinalsFor the Guardians the pressure will be immense Their attack spearheaded by aggressive spiking and a resilient defensive backline will need to be clinically consistent against a Kolkata side that thrives on dominanceMistakes that crept in during the clash against Chennai must be ironed out with sharper serves and better conversion at crucial points being essential Captaincy leadership and clutch plays from their experienced core will be pivotal to keep their campaign aliveOn the other hand Kolkata Thunderbolts arrived in Hyderabad in high spirits The inaugural seasons champions 2022 have just dispatched Chennai Blitz with a commanding 30 win underlining their depth precision and ability to dictate the pace of matchesTheir balanced roster combines explosive power hitters and intelligent setters making them a formidable opponent for any side in the league Confidence will be on their side and theyll look to capitalise on any signs of vulnerability from GoaThis encounter promises highintensity exchanges with both teams having strong motivations Goa fighting to stay in the qualification race Kolkata aiming to tighten their grip at the top Expect a game packed with fierce rallies momentum swings and a storyline that could have significant implications for the Guardians semifinal dreams IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025-goa-guardians-seek-redemption-in-must-win-clash-with-thunderbolts-642962.html Mon, 13 Oct 2025 21:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/rajputana-royals-crowned-champions-of-the-inaugural-archery-premier-league-642763.html New Delhi Oct 12 The inaugural Archery Premier League APL saved its best for last as the final between the Rajputana Royals and Prithviraaj Yodhas turned into an edgeoftheseat thriller In a dramatic finish the Royals held their nerve to stage a stunning comeback and clinch the title in a tense shootoff emerging as the firstever APL champions It boiled down to a hitandmiss match in the tiebreaking shootoff in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta where the two most consistent Royals compound archers Ojas Deotale and Ella Gibson hit the target while none of the four Yodhas players found the yellow dotBut the Yodhas can hold their heads high not just for giving Royals a tough fight but also for becoming the first APL team to register a perfect rotation of eight arrows in a set scoring a perfect 80 with all 10 But still it didnt turn out to be enough despite taking a 42 lead headed by their inform senior compound archer Abhishek Verma who teamed up with Matias Grande Gatha Khadake and Andrea BecerraFor the Royals recurvers Mete Gazoz and Ankita Bhakat partnered Gibson and Deotale to help their team lift the trophy having lost just once in 12 matches on their way to winning the titleThe drama started in the first set itself which ended with one of Khadakes arrow getting upgraded by the judges to give the Yodhas a 7877 win in the first set However the Royals roared back in the next with a 7875 margin to square the final at 22The third set saw the Yodhas archers scripting history by scoring 10s on all eight arrows to win it with an unprecedented scoreline of 8077The match went on a knifeedge towards the end of the fourth set when Grande needed a 9 to seal the championship for the Yodhas but he hit an 8 and the Royals won the set 7877 to make it 44 with a shootoff to decide the winner And Gibson and Deotale did the rest by hitting the shootoff target twiceEarlier in the day in the first semifinal the Royals dropped just six points across three sets for a 51 victory with a 7878 7977 7775 scoreline to beat the Chero Archers The leaguestage toppers continued their rich vein of form led by their compound archers Deotale and Ella Gibson who were in brilliant 10hitting form once againThe Royals upped their game further after a tied first set to clinch the next two for an outright win which was sealed with a 10 off the last arrow by the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist recurver Mete GazozA dramatic finish to the second semifinal between the Yodhas and the Mighty Marathas saw a remeasure by the judges in the fourth set giving the Yodhas a 53 win for an entry into the final against the RoyalsIt was a match that swung like a pendulum as compound archer Mike Schloesser had another perfect day for the Marathas But it didnt prove enough even though they managed to level the game at 22 by winning the second setThe Yodhas began by winning the first set 7874 while the Marathas rallied to win the next 7976 The Yodhas regained their twopoint advantage at 42 after winning the third set 7874 as compound man Verma led from the front with perfect 10sAt the end of the fourth set it appeared that the Marathas had clinched it by a point to take the semifinal into a shootoff But a remeasure by the judges upgraded Yodhas arrow which made it 7878 and it was enough for the Yodhas to win 53 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/rajputana-royals-crowned-champions-of-the-inaugural-archery-premier-league-642763.html Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/cummins-says-hes-less-likely-to-feature-in-ashes-opener-in-perth-642788.html Sydney Oct 13 Australias Test captain has provided an update on his recovery from lumbar back stress ahead of the Ashes saying he is less likely than likely to suit up for the series opener in Perth slated for November 21 as he begins to ramp up his training schedule ahead of his return to bowling Cummins has been battling a back problem in recent times and has not played since the Test tour of the Caribbean where his bowling workloads were significantly lower than usualAfter scans revealed lumbar bone stress in his lower back he was ruled out of the three whiteball series against New Zealand and IndiaCummins however resumed running last week and plans to start bowling drills next week He knows he is facing a race against time to feature in that first ICC World Test Championship contest against England he is still giving himself an outside chance of being fitId say probably less likely than likely But weve still got a bit of time Youd want at least probably a month in the nets Cummins told reporters at the Kayo Sports Summer of Cricket launch on MondayIm running today and running kind of every second day and each runs a little bit longer and then we get into bowling prep next week So Im probably a couple of weeks away before actually putting on the spikes and bowling out on the turf But its been a good couple of weeks Each session feels better and better he addedCummins believes his back injury wont be much of a concern in the longterm and he still plans to feature during as many Ashes Tests as possible and lead Australia at next years ICC Mens T20 World CupIts a back injury that I havent had for about seven or eight years and Ive played a lot of cricket between that Cummins saidSo if anything looking back when I was say 20 years old and I had this injury I was a bit worried about what my body could actually handle But I know in myself that if I get it right do it properly when I come back I shouldnt have to worry about it all And hopefully I can play as much even more cricket than I had previously in the last few years IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/cummins-says-hes-less-likely-to-feature-in-ashes-opener-in-perth-642788.html Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/haaland-makes-history-as-norway-rout-israel-642646.html New Delhi Oct 12 Erling Haaland reached 50 international goals as Norway strode towards a place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after beating Israel 50 in the qualifiers The 25yearold became only the sixth man ever to reach 50 goals in fewer than 50 capsThe game got off to a dramatic start when Daniel Peretz saved Erling Haalands penalty and when a retake was ordered repeated the feat The Israeli net was rippled however when an Alexander Sorloth cross looped over the goalkeeper via the back of Anan Khalailis neckHaaland doubled the lead after crisp work from Sorloth before an Idan Nachmias owngoal made it 30 Haaland added another and made history by heading home Antonio Nusas excellent cross before nodding home at the back post to pocket himself another match ballMeanwhile an outstanding Caoimhin Kelleher penalty save stopped Cristiano Ronaldo from becoming the outright leading marksman in qualifying for the global finalsRuben Neves header spared Ronaldos blushes and made an exceptional Kelleher performance fruitless Ronaldo struck the post from outside the box in the first half in Lisbon before the Brentford goalkeeper pulled off fine saves from Goncalo Inacio Bruno Fernandes and VitinhaKellehers best action came when Ronaldo struck a penalty down the middle and despite diving east he magnificently managed to keep it out with his foot Neves nevertheless struck to keep Portugal perfect and leave Republic of Ireland on only one pointElsewhere Italy Spain and Turkey cruised to successes Albania won in Serbia and Andorra stunned LatviaItaly retained hope of catching Norway with a convincing 31 win over Estonia in Tallinn Moise Kean conned his marker with stepovers and scored a superb opener for Gennaro Gattusos side before Mateo Reteguis penalty was saved by Karl HeinRetegui nevertheless made amends by firing home after lovely work by Riccardo Orsolini and Francesco Esposito got Italys third Rauno Sappinen capitalised on a Gianluigi Donnarumma mistake to get Estonia a consolationSpain stayed perfect by cruising to 20 victory against Georgia in Elche Luis de la Fuentes charges made the breakthrough when Yeremy Pino cushioned home Robin Le Normands cutbackIt should have been two moments later but Giorgi Mamardashvili did superbly to repel a Ferran Torres spotkick Pedro Porro and Mikel Oyarzabal hit both posts within seconds of one another after the restart before the latters rocket sealed the successTurkiye bounced back from their 60 drubbing by Spain last month to dispatch Bulgaria 61 in style IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/haaland-makes-history-as-norway-rout-israel-642646.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/uae-beat-oman-to-move-closer-to-first-fifa-wc-2026-qualification-since-1990-642651.html Doha Oct 12 United Arab Emirates beat Oman 21 in Group A of the AFC Asian Qualifiers to ensure a draw against Qatar will qualify them for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1990 United Arab Emirates snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to make themselves favourites for Group As automatic ticket to the FIFA World Cup 26Marcus Meloni and Caio struck late to put United Arab Emirates in the driving seat to grab Group As automatic ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026The UAE now sits top of Group A heading into the final round of matches on Tuesday where a draw in will send them to a first global finals in 36 years while Qatar require victory to get thereOman must now hope UAE win in order to stay alive and go into the fifth round of Asian qualifyingOman went ahead in fortuitous circumstances in Al Rayyan Autonne Kouame inadvertently turning Amjad Al Harthis fierce cross into his own net UAE dominated play thereafter but struggled to create any meaningful opportunities until a wild last 20 minutesCosmin Olaroius charges were awarded a penalty for a foul on substitute Ali Saleh but then saw it overturned after a VAR review It only temporarily preserved Omans advantage with Meloni heading home a Saleh centreOman then had two huge chances Khalid Eisa denying Abdulrahman Al Mushaifri from yards out before Nasser Al Rawahi fired narrowly wide and they were punished when Caios cross deceived everyone and went in Carlos Queirozs side had one final shot but Khalid Eisa produced a superb save to deny Ali Al BusaidiHead coach Cosmin Olaroiu who took charge of UAE after leading Sharjah FC to the AFC Champions League Two 202425 title in May said UAEs performance before the break forced his hand going into the second halfI was forced to make a complete technical change at the beginning of the second half to change the players mentality and achieve victory said Olaroiu who sent on Caio Canedo Yahia Nader and Harib Abdalla to boost his sides potency IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/uae-beat-oman-to-move-closer-to-first-fifa-wc-2026-qualification-since-1990-642651.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 17:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/messi-alba-fire-inter-miami-to-4-0-win-over-atlanta-united-in-mls-642659.html Fort Lauderdale Oct 12 Inter Miami CF secured a resounding 40 win over Atlanta United FC in the teams last 2025 regular season home and final regular season fixture at Chase Stadium A brace from Icon of the match Lionel Messi and goals from left back Jordi Alba and forward Luis Suarez led the team to victory At the other end of the pitch Rocco Ríos Novo delivered a solid performance in goal with three saves as he recorded a clean sheetAdditionally Messis performance saw him make MLS history as he became the first player in MLS history to produce nine multigoal games in a single regular seasonMessi came close to finding the opener in the 21st minute but his left footed finish from the center of the box was saved by Atlantas goalkeeperHe then broke the deadlock in the 39th minute to hand Inter Miami the lead Rodriguez recovered possession in the opponents third before finding Messi on the right end of the field who then entered the box before burying the ball in the upper left corner with a curlerThe goal was Messis 25th this regular season who leads the race for the Golden Boot presented by Audi while the assist was the third for Rodriguez this regular seasonSuarez nearly doubled Inter Miamis lead in the third minute of stoppage time but the volley from the Uruguayan striker from inside the box following a precise ball from Messi bounced off the crossbarRios Novo delivered an important save on the other end in the fourth minute of added time for Inter Miami to take its lead into the break diving to deny a grounded finish from Atlantas Leo AfonsoAlba then extended Inter Miamis lead in the 52nd minute with a chip over the keeper from the left end of the box following an inch perfect long delivery from Messi The goal took Albas tally to six this regular season while the assist was Messis 18th this league campaignSuarez increased Inter Miamis lead to 30 in the 61st finding the back of the net with a firsttime right footed hit from just outside the box to the top right corner to record his 10th goal this regular seasonMessi rounded out the result with the final goal of the evening in the 87th minute The goal was Messis 26th this regular season as he extended his lead in the race for the Golden Boot while the assist was Albas 14th in the league this yearThe 40 scoreline held through the final whistle for Inter Miami to claim all three points tonight Notably the win sees the Club secure homefield advantage in Round One of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup PlayoffsNext Inter Miami will take on Nashville SC on the road in its final 2025 regular season encounter on Saturday IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/messi-alba-fire-inter-miami-to-4-0-win-over-atlanta-united-in-mls-642659.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 17:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/tiger-woods-undergoes-disc-replacement-surgery-after-experiencing-lack-of-mobility-642664.html New Delhi Oct 12 The 15time major champion Tiger Woods has said that he has undergone lumbar disc replacement surgery after experiencing pain and lack of mobility  The surgery was performed by Dr Sheeraz Qureshi and his team at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and was deemed successfulAfter experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back I consulted with doctors and surgeons to have tests taken The scans determined that I had a collapsed disc in L45 disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday and I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back Woods said in a statement he shared on social mediaThis is the second back surgery in just over a year for Woods who had a microdecompression surgery on his lumbar spine in September 2024 to relieve a nerve impingement of his lower back That procedure also was performed by Qureshi but at his surgical location in West Palm Beach FloridaIn March the American ace ruptured his left Achilles and underwent successful surgery to repair the tendon Dr Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach Florida performed a minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair for a ruptured tendonWoods who turns 50 in December hasnt made a PGA Tour start since 2023 at The Open Championship at Royal Troon He played PGA Tour Champions 2024 PNC Championship in a cart alongside son Charlie Early in 2025 he had planned to play The Genesis Invitational which he hosts in February but opted not to compete due to his mothers death the week priorHe was not among the names in the recently announced field for the World Challenge the tournament he hosts in Albany Bahamas set for December 4 to 7 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/tiger-woods-undergoes-disc-replacement-surgery-after-experiencing-lack-of-mobility-642664.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 17:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-kuldeep-takes-5-fer-as-india-bowl-out-wi-for-248-enforce-follow-on-642676.html New Delhi Oct 12 Leftarm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav led a clinical bowling performance to pick 582 his fifth fivewicket haul in the format as India bowled out the West Indies for 248 in 815 overs on Day 3 of the second and final Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday With a commanding firstinnings lead of 270 runs on a pitch which didnt offer much turn and bounce India have enforced the followon leaving the West Indies with 49 overs to survive in the day and an uphill mountain to climb for pushing the match into day fourKuldeep in supreme control with his guile variations and drift turned the tide for India in the morning session with a decisive burst removing Shai Hope Tevin Imlach and Justin Graves in quick succession A late ninthwicket stand worth 46 runs between Khary Pierre and Anderson Phillip offered brief resistance but Jasprit Bumrah struck immediately after lunch with a peach to clean up the formerThe final wicket partnership of 27 runs tested Indias patience with Phillip defending stoutly and Jayden Seales counterattacking against Kuldeep Seales eventually fell lbw to a welldisguised googly from Kuldeep giving him his fifth wicket in a spell of 265 overs and sealing Indias big lead as well as their decision to enforce the followonThe day began with overnight batters Shai Hope and Tevin Imlach looking comfortable for about 30 minutes against Kuldeep and Jasprit Bumrah before the formers stunning show with the ball began Bowling from the North End Kuldeep got a bit of drift on a flighted delivery and beat Hopes forward defence to rattle the offstumpIn his next over Kuldeep ended Imlachs resistance when he got one to turn in a lot and trap the wicketkeeperbatter plumb lbw Though Justin Greaves kept the scoreboard ticking with two boundaries he was eventually dismissed in a bid to reversesweep off Kuldeep who got sharp drift and turn on a peach of a legbreak to trap him lbwSiraj became the first pacer to pick a wicket in the match when Jomel Warrican reached for a full ball outside offstump but chopped onto his stumps At 1758 a swift end to the West Indies innings was in sight till Pierre and Phillip put up a solid resistanceWith the ball getting softer the duo applied themselves to defend solidly and used their feet well to get the odd boundary for 153 overs before lunch was called One would wonder if the resistance shown by Pierre and Philip will have any effect on whether India would take the followon option or not if the chance comes in the second sessionSeales had some fun being astute in his defence and getting boundaries with a mix of luck and rollicking shots Shortly after the new ball was taken Kuldeep beat the inside edge of Seales and trapped him lbw to give him his fiveforWest Indies will be pleased with the fact that their last three wickets made 74 runs though it wasnt sufficient to avoid the followonBrief Scores India 5185 in 1342 overs Yashasvi Jaiswal 175 Jomel Warrican 398 lead West Indies 248 in 815 overs Alick Athanaze 41 Shai Hope 36 Kuldeep Yadav 582 Ravindra Jadeja 346 by 270 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-kuldeep-takes-5-fer-as-india-bowl-out-wi-for-248-enforce-follow-on-642676.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 17:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-bengaluru-torpedoes-look-to-extend-winning-streak-against-chennai-blitz-642693.html Hyderabad Oct 12 Bengaluru Torpedoes are heading into their next challenge after registering their third straight victory in the Prime Volleyball League PVL facing Chennai Blitz on Monday in what promises to be a highintensity contest as both teams look to assert themselves early this season Bengaluru Torpedoes had defeated Kochi Blue Spikers 1315 1715 159 1512 at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium here on Saturday for their third win in three matchesAgainst Kochi Bengaluru once again showed their trademark resilience after conceding the opening set Led by captain and setter Matt West who was named Player of the Match the Torpedoes fought back strongly Joel Benjamin and Jalen Penrose provided sharp attacking options while Nitin Minhass monster block at a super point and Sethu TRs super serve highlighted the teams depth The win underlined Bengalurus ability to stay composed under pressure and turn the momentum at critical momentsSpeaking ahead of the Chennai clash captain Matt West said The team is showing a lot of belief right now Winning three in a row has boosted our confidence but we know Chennai are a tough side with quality players Our focus is on sticking to the basics serving well defending together and staying calm If we do that we can carry this momentum forwardOn Saturday Abhishek CK provided the early flair to Kochi Blue Spikers attacks but the Torpedoes matched up their intensity with Sethus super serve Bengaluru Torpedoes captain and setter Matthew West continued his form with his distribution keeping his side in the gameNitin Minhas monster block earned Coach David Lees side a crucial super point But Kochis smart review call pulled back a point for his sideErin Varghese kept the intensity up for Kochi despite the Torpedoes relying on Joel Benjamin and Jalen Penrose to put back the pressure An injury to setter Byron Keturakis affected Kochis momentumThe Torpedoes found their way back with Penrose growing more dangerous by the minute Unforced errors from Kochi increased further piling on their troubles Sethu joined in on the attack in the front court to tilt the game in the Torpedoes wayChennai Blitz have experienced a rollercoaster start to their season They pulled off a memorable fiveset win over the Goa Guardians where Jerome Vinith starred with a Player of the Match performance supported by Luiz Felipe Perotto and Tarun Gowda K with decisive super serves However their campaign has also seen setbacks including a straightset defeat to Kolkata ThunderboltsFor Bengaluru Mondays clash is a chance to extend their winning streak and solidify their place among the frontrunners of PVL 2025 While Chennai will look for an opportunity to rebound quickly and rediscover their rhythm to climb the standingsWith both sides bringing firepower and determination fans can expect a gripping contest when Bengaluru Torpedoes and Chennai Blitz face off tomorrow evening at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-bengaluru-torpedoes-look-to-extend-winning-streak-against-chennai-blitz-642693.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sultan-of-johor-cup-spirited-india-beat-new-zealand-4-2-642709.html Johor Malaysia Oct 12 Indian junior mens hockey team remained unbeaten as they registered a comfortable 42 win against New Zealand in the 2025 Sultan of Johor Cup here on Sunday Arshdeep Singh 2 PB Sunil 15 Araijeet Singh Hundal 26 and Roman Kumur 47 were successful for the winning side while Gus Nelson 41 and Aidan Max 52 scored for New ZealandAfter getting off to a winning start in their campaign by beating Great Britain 32 in their opening match India built on their momentum in their second match of the tournament with a solid start against New ZealandThe opening goal for India came as early as the second minute of the first quarter with Arshdeep Singh scoring from a loose ball after poor defending in the circle by New Zealand He made a swift run in the circle from the right flank and took a shot on goal but was initially saved by the New Zealand keeper and managed to convert from the reboundIndia were quick to double their lead in the final minute of the quarter when Sunil PB scored from a fine PC variation when dragflicker and captain of the side Rohit passed to Sunil This was Indias fourth attempt after the first three found the foot of New Zealands first rusher A low snapshot by Sunil was just about enough to find the back of the netIn a comfortable 20 lead India started the second quarter using the right combinations to create good attacking chances They found an opportunity when Araijeet Singh Hundal who was unmarked in the circle took a shot after a quick turnaround to take a successful shot on goal This 26thminute goal put India in good standingThough New Zealand finally broke the gridlock in the third quarter when Gus Nelson scored in the 41st minute narrowing Indias lead to 31 Rosan Kumur scored in the 47th minute through a PC that gave India a 41 cushion in the final quarterBiden Max pulled one back for New Zealand in the 52nd minute and it went on to become quite an interesting final few minutes with New Zealand trying to claw their way back into the game but a resurgent Indian defence held strongThey played to the expectations of their coach PR Sreejesh who had expressed in the prematch interview stating We need to show a better defensive displayIndia will play archrival Pakistan in their next match on October 14 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sultan-of-johor-cup-spirited-india-beat-new-zealand-4-2-642709.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 18:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-germany-burdened-by-striker-shortage-ahead-of-duel-in-northern-ireland-642733.html Berlin Germany Oct 12 Ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland on Monday Germany face a striker shortage that is testing the depth of the 2014 FIFA World Cup champion While Newcastles Nick Woltemade Frankfurts Jonathan Burkardt and Dortmunds Maximilian Beier continue to search for their first national team goals a series of injuries and setbacks have limited coach Julian Nagelsmanns options We dont always have a top squad to our disposal the German coach said as Niclas Fullkrug Kai Havertz Jamal Musiala Tim Kleindienst and Deniz Undav remain sidelined ahead of the trip to BelfastTwentyeight of the 51 goals Germany have scored in Nagelsmanns 25 games in charge came from the missing forwards That three of the four goals in the recent win over Luxembourg came from set pieces tells its own story as Germanys golden era of boxstriker dominance appears to be fading All three goals were scored by defenders reports XinhuaKleindienst was the last traditional striker to score for Germany finding the net in a 33 draw with Italy in March 2025Once known as a country of prolific strikers from Miroslav Klose Rudi Voller and Jurgen Klinsmann to Gerd Muller and KarlHeinz Rummenigge Germany now appear caught in a rare droughtWoltemade has been in form for Newcastle with four goals in six club matches but the 23yearold has yet to score in five appearances for the national team Burkardt three and Beier four have also been productive at the club level but remain goalless internationallyGermany is meeting its limits newspaper Welt wrote while tabloid Bild called the situation a fatal shortage of a goal puncherNagelsmann hopes now rest on the shoulders of available options such as Serge Gnabry the only forward currently in form Brentfords Kevin Schade and Dortmunds Karim Adeyemi alongside Woltemade Burkardt and BeierDespite scoring a freekick goal against Northern Ireland in September Liverpool forward Florian Wirtz has yet to rediscover his rhythm following his move from Bayer LeverkusenNagelsmann urged patience with both Wirtz and Woltemade I am sure it will happen soon he will score the German coach said of the Newcastle strikerGerman record international Lothar Matthaus commented he is not Messi he is not Ronaldo he is a 23yearold Woltemade still a young player without extensive experienceFormer Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp also backed Wirtz saying he had exceptional quality and that soon will be visible in all his games for the RedsAhead of the 2026 World Cup Nagelsmann remains cautious but optimistic saying he will continue to rely on the goal hunger of his entire squad IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-germany-burdened-by-striker-shortage-ahead-of-duel-in-northern-ireland-642733.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 20:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/tennis-vacherot-claims-historic-victory-at-2025-shanghai-masters-642740.html Shanghai China Oct 12 Valentin Vacherot of Monaco ranked No 204 in the world defeated Frances Arthur Rinderknech 46 63 63 to claim the 2025 Shanghai Masters title on Sunday The match marked the lowestranked ATP Masters 1000 final in history Despite the unusual rankings it delivered highquality tennis and dramatic momentum shifts as Vacherot fought back after dropping the first set I feel that when I am down I have no choice but to bring my Agame Vacherot said reflecting on his record of rallying from behind reports Xinhua In the first set I didnt do that and he was playing better than me I took my first chance to break in the second set and from that point the crowd got more involved and we put on a better show in the second part of the matchI was just trying to beat the guy on the other side of the net he added describing the challenge of facing RinderknechThe two players are cousins connected through their mothers and grew up playing tennis together in southern France After sealing the victory Vacherot wrote on the camera lens Grandma and grandpa would be proudI tried to put aside the fact that hes my cousin and the guy Ive been training and growing up with It was very tough and he did a better job than I did in the first set coping with the pressure But I just found a way to turn it aroundIts unreal what just happened I have no idea whats going on right now Im not even dreaming its just crazy Im so happy with my performances over the past two weeks I just want to thank everyone who has helped with my career from the beginning There has to be one loser but I think there are two winners today one family that won and for the sport of tennis this story is unreal Vacherot said He thus became the lowestranked ATP Masters 1000 champion in history since 1990 Notably the Monegasque star notched wins against Laslo Djere Alexander Bublik Tomas Machac and Tallon Griekspoor He then defeated Holger Rune and Novak Djokovic to reach the final of the tournament where he took on his cousin Arthur Rinderknech IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/tennis-vacherot-claims-historic-victory-at-2025-shanghai-masters-642740.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 21:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025delhi-toofans-script-dominant-3-0-win-over-calicut-heroes-642748.html Hyderabad Oct 12 Delhi Toofans registered a thunderous 1511 159 1511 win over the defending champions Calicut Heroes in the Prime Volleyball League PVL at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium Hyderabad on Sunday Jesus Chourio was named the Player of the Match In much need of a win the Calicut Heroes started strongly with Santhosh firing strong smashes early on Vikas Maan played a key role in the middle zone for Calicut to stop Delhis attacks But skipper Saqlain Tariqs smart distribution kept his side in the game Muhammad Jasimled triple block earned Delhi a super point halting Calicuts early momentumChourio started using his power to trouble Calicuts defence Birthday boy George Antony made two consecutive super serves in a row as the Toofans began dominating on court Callicuts libero Adarsh and Delhis libero Anand kept the crowd entertained with energetic defenceSanthoshs super serve gave Calicut a glimmer of hope with a powerpacked Shameem made a couple of solid blocks to put pressure on Delhis attacksIn reply Delhi captain Saqlain started moving away from the middle finding Carlos Berrios in Zone 2 to make Delhis attacks Ayush made a tremendous block on Raheems attempt and earned Delhi Toofans a super point to win the matchThis is the second win for Delhi Toofans who won their first game of the season by defeating the Hyderabad Black Hawks 1510 1614 1715 two days back On the same day defending Champions Calicut Heroes went down to Ahmedabad Defenders 1215 1512 1512 1614 On Saturday Bengaluru Torpedoes and Kolkata Thunderbolts won their respective matches to keep alive their hopes in the season The Torpedoes continued their winning run in PVL 2025 defeating Kochi Blue Spikers 1315 1715 159 1512 Matt West was named the Player of the Match In the second match of the day Kolkata Thunderbolts put on a dominant performance to beat the Chennai Blitz 1511 1512 1513 Jithin N was named the Player of the Match IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025delhi-toofans-script-dominant-3-0-win-over-calicut-heroes-642748.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 22:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-10th-tie-breaker-sees-puneri-paltan-beat-dabang-delhi-take-top-spot-642754.html New Delhi Oct 12 Puneri Paltan fought off the Dabang Delhi KC bravely to secure an impressive 65 win after the match was tied at 3838 in Season 12 of the Pro Kabaddi League PKL at the Thyagaraj Stadium on Sunday night It was an important victory that took Puneri Paltan to the top of the standings on points difference after an allround performance led by Pankaj Mohite 7 and skipper Aslam Inamdar 6 It was also the 10th tiebreaker of the season as Ajinkya Pawars Super 10 and Saurabh Nandals High Five went in vainPuneri Paltan made a strong start against Dabang Delhi KC asserting early dominance in the opening ten minutes of the contest With their raiders in fine touch the Paltan raced ahead through the sharp attacks of Pankaj Mohite and Aditya Shinde who consistently found gaps in Dabang Delhis defenceFor Dabang Delhi the start was far from ideal Their key raiders Ajinkya and Neeraj struggled to break through while Fazel Atrachali found himself out early in the halfDespite a couple of successful raids from Pawar and Neeraj Dabang Delhi couldnt build rhythm conceding an ALL OUT midway through the half that widened the gap By the 10minute mark the Paltan had established a commanding 147 leadIn the second quarter Ajinkya pulled his team back into the game First he got Gaurav Khatri and Gurdeep and then got Aslam as the Paltan were reduced to two players This started an impressive comeback for the season 8 PKL champions who began to reduce the deficit on their opponentsAjinkya continued to rule the roost his raids got Rakesh and Aslam before Sandeeps tackle on Mohit Goyat completed the All Out reducing the lead to two points Ajinkya then got a Super Raid that eliminated Gurdeep Pankaj and Vishal Bhardwaj At the end of the first half Saurabh Nandals tackle on Aditya Shinde ensured that Dabang Delhi took a 2120 lead at the end of the first halfAjinkya completed a wellearned Super 10 in a DoOrDie raid at the start of the second half as the tabletoppers kept the pressure on the season 10 champions With both sides exchanging blows equally it was another moment of brilliance that gave Dabang Delhi the leadSandeep tackled Aslam and following a successful raid by Ajinkya Saurabh got Abinesh Nadarajan as the All Out was inflicted for a second time on the Paltan Saurabh also completed his High Five as Dabang Delhi maintained their lead in the third quarter with the score reading 3227For every move made by Puneri Paltan Dabang Delhi had an answer Aslam got Fazel Atrachali and then Surjeet Singh while Gurdeep tackled Neeraj Narwal This gave the Paltan a lifeline in the match as the Dabang Delhi were reduced to just three playersIn this moment supersub Naveen pulled off a Super Tackle as the lead of Dabang Delhi extended to four points Mohit Goyat then got a touch on Fazel Atrachali and then Saurabh Nandal reducing the table toppers to one player Naveen who was caught by Mohit Goyat inflicting the All Out on Dabang Delhi and taking the match to the first tiebreaker of the Delhi leg with the score at 3838Aditya Shinde got Surjeet in the first raid before Neeraj Narwal equalised with a Bonus Point making it 11 Ajinkya was then tackled to give Puneri the lead after which Abinesh got Surjeet Fazel then earned a raid point but Mohit Goyat got a bonus point as Puneri held on to their lead Aslam was then tackled by Dabang Delhi but he also got a bonus point which effectively sealed the win for Puneri Paltan IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-10th-tie-breaker-sees-puneri-paltan-beat-dabang-delhi-take-top-spot-642754.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 23:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/theegala-finishes-tied-27th-as-schauffele-wins-baycurrent-classic-642758.html Yokohama Oct 12 Sahith Theegala who for a brief period even shared the lead early in the third slipped thereafter as he shot a final round of 1over 72 and finished Tied27th at the Baycurrent Classic Theegala a onetime winner on the PGA Tour looked solid on the first two days with rounds of 6867 but faltered after that with 7072 as he totalled 7under 277 at the Yokohama Country Club Xander Schauffele who won the Olympics in Japan shot a 7under 64 to win once again in Japan a country where his mother grew up and where he has many connectionsSchauffele totalled 19under 265 over four rounds and finished one shot ahead of American Max Greyserman who was the runnerup for the second straight year and is still chasing his first PGA Tour titleSchauffele has maternal grandparents living in Japan and his mother has roots in Chinese Taipei and grew up in Japan His motherinlaw is also Japanese and his wife is half Japanese and grew up in Japans southern island of OkinawaSchauffele and his wife Maya became parents just over a month ago with the birth of a sonGreyserman finished with a 65 and held or shared the lead through the first three rounds American Michael Thorbjornsen finished with a 64 and was three strokes behind the winnerSchauffele has won two major championships including The Open Championship in 2024 which was his last victory and took gold in the Tokyo Olympics which were delayed until 2021 by the pandemic IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/theegala-finishes-tied-27th-as-schauffele-wins-baycurrent-classic-642758.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 23:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-not-worried-by-sa-defeat-left-arm-spin-is-no-struggle-sneh-rana-plays-down-indias-troubles-642608.html Visakhapatnam Oct 11 Its only a blip in the plans one match in which we failed to apply ourselves and that one match will not decide our future That is the thought process in the Indian womens cricket team after their stunning defeat against South Africa in their last match in the ICC Womens ODI World Cup As they get ready to take on defending champions and strong contenders Australia in their next match as the tournament approaches the midway stage the Indian team will according to allrounder Sneh Rana not lose sleep over that one defeat and continue to be positive stick to its plans and try to put up an improved performance in the upcoming matchesIndia suffered a threewicket defeat to South Africa at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACAVDCA Cricket Stadium here in Visakhapatnam on Friday failing to press home the advantage after reducing the Proteas to 1426 in their chase of a 252run target Chloe Tryon 49 and Nadine de Klerk 84 guided South Africa to victory with de Klerk hammering the Indian bowlers in the last three overs changing the course of the match with two sixes and a four in one over off Kranti Gaud and two sixes in three balls on Sneh Ranas bowlingWe agree that our bowling in the last three overs against South Africa was not what we would have liked to bowl But that defeat is not something that has caused panic in the team Such things happen some days things dont go your way But we are not worried There is a lot to play for said Sneh in the prematch press conference on SaturdayWe will remain positive and play positive cricket There are areas in which we need to improve and we will practice well and continue to improve ourselves There were many positives from our last match in fielding in bowling and in handling pressure So we will stick to our game plan and try and execute it better said the offspinner from DehradunThe 31yearold Sneh also played down the Indian batters perceived shortcomings against leftarm spin bowling which was again exposed by South Africas Nonkululeko Mlaba 246 and Chloe Tryon 332 India have lost 12 wickets to leftarm spinners in three matches in the World Cup and tops the list of teams to have suffered the most against this variety of bowling in ODIs since 2023I dont think its a big concern Our batters have handled such situations well in the past and ups and downs are part and parcel of the game As you know we have some of the best batters in the world on our side and Im confident theyll bounce back strongly she addedRana said her team will take a lot of confidence from Indias victory over Australia in the recent bilateral series The confidence is really high As I said were going in with a positive mindset Weve been planning really well and everyone is clear about their roles Theres a lot of clarity in the team so yes were definitely positiveWe have beaten them earlier also and definitely the win in the series just before the World Cup will give us a lot of confidenceAs you said the World Cup is a completely different stage and the pressure is unique Weve studied Australias style over the years theyre aggressive but our plans are very clear Weve had detailed discussions and made our strategies and hopefully we can make a positive start Rana addedRana said their familiarity with the conditions in Visakhapatnam having had a short camp at the ACAVDCA Stadium before the World Cup is also a positive for themYes the camps really helped because we got familiar with the ground conditions the dimensions and how fast the ball travels which helped our fielding department Also understanding how the pitch behaves after the first innings has been useful So yes the camp definitely helped us prepare betterWeve played in such situations before and we know how to tackle them Definitely one odd day things might not go according to plan but Im very happy with our bowlers they took the match to the last over and adapted well to the situation Yes in the last five overs we could have performed better but no worries were looking forward to the next game she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-not-worried-by-sa-defeat-left-arm-spin-is-no-struggle-sneh-rana-plays-down-indias-troubles-642608.html Sat, 11 Oct 2025 22:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025-bengaluru-torpedoes-beat-kochi-blue-spikers-to-continue-winning-form-642609.html Hyderabad Oct 11 Bengaluru Torpedoes continued their winning run in the Prime Volleyball League at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium Hyderabad on Saturday defeating Kochi Blue Spikers 1315 1715 159 1512 Matt West was named the Player of the Match Abhishek CK provided the early flair to Kochis attacks but the Torpedoes matched up their intensity with Sethus super serve Bengaluru Torpedoes captain and setter Matthew West continued his form with his distribution keeping his side in the gameNitin Minhas monster block earned Coach David Lees side a crucial super point But Kochis smart review call pulled back a point for his sideErin Varghese kept the intensity up for Kochi despite the Torpedoes relying on Joel Benjamin and Jalen Penrose to put back the pressure An injury to setter Byron Keturakis affected Kochis momentumThe Torpedoes found their way back with Penrose growing more dangerous by the minute Unforced errors from Kochi increased further piling on their troubles Sethu joined in on the attack in the front court to tilt the game in the Torpedoes way Aravindh made an impression on the court for The Spikers But his efforts were too little too late as Bengaluru continued to test the oppositions defence A thunderous spike from Joel earned Bengaluru Torpedoes their third win in a rowEarlier the Delhi Toofans won their first game of the season defeating the Hyderabad Black Hawks 1510 1614 1715 in the Prime Volleyball League at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium Hyderabad on Friday Carlos Berrios was named the Player of the MatchThe Ahmedabad Defenders too continued their win run defeating holders Calicut Heroes 1215 1512 1512 1614 at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium on Friday Battur Batsuuri was named the Player of the Match In another match Chennai Blitz defeated Goa Guardians 1215 1511 1115 1816 1513 in Hyderabad on Thursday Jerome Vinith was named the Player of the Match IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025-bengaluru-torpedoes-beat-kochi-blue-spikers-to-continue-winning-form-642609.html Sat, 11 Oct 2025 23:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/asian-aquatic-cships-china-clinches-double-gold-indian-womens-water-polo-team-seals-asiad-berth-642613.html Ahmedabad Oct 11 The 11th Asian Aquatic Championship concluded spectacularly at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex Ahmedabad as China dominated the final day of water polo winning gold in both the mens and womens categories The Chinese womens team powered past Japan 2217 in the final while the mens side edged Iran 1615 54 in sudden death after a tense draw in regulation time Meanwhile the Indian womens team finished eighth overall and confirmed their qualification to the 2026 Asian Games despite an 1118 defeat to Hong Kong in their classification matchThe final day also saw enthusiastic crowds and special appearances by Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar and youth icon Lakshya Lalwani who attended to cheer on the athletes and celebrate the spirit of Asian aquatic sportIn the womens final China outclassed Japan 2217 to claim the top spot Zhang Qishuo led the charge with a stunning 7 goals while Wang Xuan 4 and Li Linyun 3 added to the tally Captain Sun Yating and Yan Jing netted 2 each and Li Peiyang Shi Jingjiarong Guo Chenghong and Zhu Yajing chipped in with a goal apiece For Japan Kobayashi Maho topscored with 6 followed by Captain Fukuda Shoka 4 Lowrey Nina Sobajima Sakura and Sanda Yumeka 2 each while Bando Riko added 1In the mens final China clinched the gold medal after a nailbiting 1615 victory over Iran which was decided in a penalty shootout 54 following a tightly contested match Chinas goals came from Captain Chen Yimin and Chu Chenghao who scored two goals each while Yu Lijun Zhang Jinpeng Wang Beiyi Lu Yi Yang Shanglin Cai Yuhao and Zhu Gengmin added 1 goal each For Iran Shams Arman put up an impressive 5goal performance while Aghaei Karim Omid and Ghavidelhajiagha Amin added 2 goals each and Mehrikohneshahri Alireza and Adam Mersad contributed a goal eachThe womens bronze medal match went down to the wire as Kazakhstan beat Thailand 98 in a tense penalty shootout 32 Kaplun Viktoriya and Vorontsova Olga struck twice each with Anossova Valeriya and Rudneva Milena adding one apiece Thailands scorers included Kwantongtanaree Thanidakarn Pukkaman Panita Captain Thinwilal Janista Kongchouy Thanita Rueangsappaisan Raksina and Kwantongtanaree Pittayaporn all with one goal eachKazakhstan also prevailed in the mens bronze medal match defeating Japan 1614 Captain Ruday Mikhail led from the front with a spectacular 8 goals while Shmider Alexey and Bobrovskiy Mstislav scored two each Tsoy Eduard Shakenov Murat Akhmetov Ruslan and Akimbay Aldiyar contributed one apiece For Japan Captain Ura Enishi netted four with Lowrey Jun and Moriya Yuki scoring 3 each and Maeda Toshiyuki Maeda Atsuya and Matsuno Ryosuke adding 1 apieceIn the womens classification Singapore edged Uzbekistan 1817 to finish 5th The Indian women ended their campaign in 8th place after their 1118 loss to Hong KongAmong the Mens Classification Matches Singapore overcame Thailand 1412 to finish 5th while Hong Kong beat Uzbekistan 1615 to claim 7th place IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/asian-aquatic-cships-china-clinches-double-gold-indian-womens-water-polo-team-seals-asiad-berth-642613.html Sat, 11 Oct 2025 23:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ranji-trophy-azharuddeen-to-lead-kerala-samson-returns-to-red-ball-setup-642437.html Thiruvananthapuram Oct 10 Kerala have named Mohammed Azharuddeen as their new captain for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season replacing Sachin Baby who led the team to the final last year The 29yearold wicketkeeperbatter will lead a 15member squad that features a mix of experienced names and fresh faces for their opening fixture against Maharashtra as announced by the Kerala Cricket Association KCA on FridayBatter B Aparajith who joined Kerala this season has been appointed vicecaptain marking a new leadership combination for the side The announcement signals a shift in strategy as Kerala looks to build on their strong 202425 campaign where they reached the final for the first time in the states history under Sachin Babys leadershipThe squad also sees the return of Sanju Samson who has been included in the redball setup after nearly a year Samson last featured in a firstclass match against Karnataka in October 2024 but his availability will be limitedThe wicketkeeperbatter is expected to miss the next three rounds of the tournament after being named in Indias T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Australia His presence however brief is expected to provide a major boost to the Kerala batting lineupMeanwhile fast bowler Basil Thampi one of Keralas leading pacers in recent seasons has been left out of the squad due to an injury that prevented him from attending the preparatory camp In his absence the pace attack will be led by MD Nidheesh and NP Basil with Edhen Apple Tom and Ahammed Imran adding depthThe selectors have rewarded young allrounder Abhishek P Nair with his first senior team callup The 22yearold lefthanded opener and rightarm medium pacer impressed head coach Amay Khurasiya during the training camp with his versatility and composureFormer Pondicherry player Ankit Sharma will represent Kerala this season as a guest player strengthening the teams middle orderKerala are placed in Elite Group B alongside Karnataka Punjab Saurashtra Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh Chandigarh and Goa and will begin their campaign aiming to continue their upward trajectory in domestic redball cricketKerala squad Mohammed Azharuddeen captain B Aparajith Vicecaptain Sanju V Samson Rohan S Kunnummal Vathsal Govind Akshay Chandran Sachin Baby Salman Nizar Ankit Sharma MD Nidheesh NP Basil Edhen Apple Tom Ahammed Imran Shoun Roger and Abhishek P Nair IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ranji-trophy-azharuddeen-to-lead-kerala-samson-returns-to-red-ball-setup-642437.html Sat, 11 Oct 2025 00:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-suhail-bhat-fires-india-u23-to-victory-against-hosts-indonesia-in-first-friendly-642439.html New Delhi Oct 10 India U23 mens team defeated Indonesia 21 in the first of two U23 international friendlies at the Gelora Bung Karno Madya Stadium in Jakarta Indonesia on Friday taking another strong step in its preparations for next years Asian Games in Japan All goals came in the first half as Naushad Moosas side raced to an early twogoal lead thanks to a superb brace from Suhail Ahmad Bhat 5 and 26 before Dony Tri Pamungkas pulled one back four minutes before halftime After another intensely fought second half that yielded no goals the Blue Colts claimed a welldeserved win that underlined both their attacking prowess and defensive solidityIndia made a lightningquick start taking the lead in only the fifth minute when Suhail Ahmad Bhat intercepted a loose pass by Frengky Missa burst into the box and thrashed a rightfooted shot into the top cornerRocked by the opening goal Indonesia were desperate for the equaliser but that left gaps behind which India tried their best to exploit In the 10th minute Muhammed Suhails cutback caused all sorts of problems in the hosts defence The ball ultimately fell for Vibin Mohanan who struck hard but was denied by a goalline clearanceThere was no stopping Md Suhails onslaught from the left as he cut inside in the 22nd minute saw his low drive blocked by the defence gathered the second ball and tried to hit it into the bottom corner but goalkeeper Cahya Supriadi made a good saveThe second goal was always coming and it came sooner rather than later once again from Suhail Bhat in the 26th minute Vibin drilled a low cross from the left that landed at the feet of Ayush Chhetri The captain slipped the ball for Suhail Bhat who outmuscled his marker and launched another thunderbolt of a strike that bulged the top corner of the netThere couldve been three had the woodwork not come to Indonesias rescue in the 29th minute After Md Suhail had brilliantly nutmegged the fullback he set up Ayush whose shot was wellblocked From the resulting corner Korou Singh Thingujam struck the bottom of the post with a rightfooted strikeHowever Indonesia got a ray of hope when they halved the deficit in the 41st minute Leftback Dony Tri Pamungkas found some space on the edge of the box and unleashed a curler that found the top corner Goalkeeper Mohanraj K making his debut for India at any age group had no answer to itHoping to complete their comeback Indonesia head coach Indra Sjafri rolled in half a dozen changes at halftime but Indias defence only grew sharper and more effective The second half was more cagey and chances came few and far between for both teamsThe Blue Colts had a big chance to extend their lead in the 57th minute Rightback Ricky Meetei Haobam swung in a peach of a cross that landed inchperfectly for Suhail Bhat who made a good connection with his head but directed it straight onto Supriadis glovesNaturally Indonesia kept more of the ball in the latter stages India were happy to let them chase while remaining solid at the back The hosts ramped up the pressure in the final 10 minutes but Moosas men were stern in defence thwarting every attack Substitute goalkeeper Dipesh Chauhan who made his India U23 debut did not have too much to worry about as India kept the 21 scoreline intact until the final whistleSuhail Ahmad Bhat picked up the player of the match award In the postmatch interview he said We all came here intending to win We had a good run in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers but unfortunately we couldnt qualify Still the hunger is there We want to win more this is just the beginning I dedicate my goals to my teammates They worked hard until the 90th minute Of course scoring feels good but its all for the teamIndia head coach Naushad Moosa said It was a difficult game but I really appreciate the boys Everyone was supporting each other throughout There are still a lot of things to learn But yeah I did say before that it wouldnt be easy for Indonesia IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-suhail-bhat-fires-india-u23-to-victory-against-hosts-indonesia-in-first-friendly-642439.html Sat, 11 Oct 2025 00:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-akshits-super-10-guides-dabang-delhi-to-double-over-gujarat-giants-642442.html Chennai Oct 10 Dabang Delhi KC completed a double over Gujarat Giants with a hardfought 3933 victory in Season 12 of the Pro Kabaddi League PKL at the SDAT Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium here on Friday In the absence of Ashu Malik Akshit Dhull was the star of the show for his side coming off the bench to register a Super 10 Himanshu Singh registered a Super 10 for Gujarat Giants with Mohammadreza Shadloui and Himanshu Jaglan also securing High Fives Unfortunately for them it wasnt enough for their team to get over the lineIt was a highoctane start for both teams with Rakesh and Neeraj Narwal opening the scoring for their respective sides Surjeet Singh and Mohammadreza Shadloui also registered tackles setting the tempo for a competitive clash Gujarat Giants upped the ante courtesy Rohit Nandal and Lucky Sharma before Ajinkya Pawar responded with a Super Raid to keep the two sides level at 99 after the first quarterWith the Giants down to two players on the mat Neeraj Narwal registered the first ALL OUT of the game giving his side a fourpoint lead After a tightly contested opening ten minutes the tabletoppers began to stamp their authority on the game They opened a ninepoint gap before the Giants struck back with a Super Tackle by VisvanthHowever contributions from Neeraj Narwal Ajinkya Pawar and Surjeet Singh ensured that Dabang Delhi KC stayed in the drivers seat as they scored 12 points in the next ten minutes compared to Gujarats five points For the Giants Himanshu Singh chipped in with four raid points towards the end of the first half which was dominated by their opponents with the score at 2114Gujarat Giants began the second half with a Super Tackle by Himanshu Jaglan as they looked to fight back in this contest Shadloui soon bagged a couple of Super Tackles completing his High Five and cutting the deficit down to three points in the processA tackle by Fazel Atrachali gave Dabang Delhi some breathing room but that didnt last long as Himanshu Jaglan recorded another crucial tackle helping the Giants level the score with under eight minutes to play The tackles continued to fly in as Sandeeps Super Tackle helped Dabang Delhi regain a narrow advantageHimanshu Singhs multipoint raid got the teams back to where they began but it was Akshit Dhulls twopoint raids that kept Dabang Delhi in front The youngster then executed a brilliant Super Raid giving his side a fivepoint lead 3429 with under two minutes to goHimanshu Singh did his utmost to keep the Giants in the hunt for a fightback but Akshit Dhull stole the headlines towards the end With only three points separating the two sides he was the last player on the mat for Dabang Delhi on their final raid He held his nerve in the end sealing the deal for his side with a Super Raid and also completing his Super 10 to ensure Dabang Delhi KC prevail 3933 in an engaging contest IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-akshits-super-10-guides-dabang-delhi-to-double-over-gujarat-giants-642442.html Sat, 11 Oct 2025 00:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/lo-celso-seals-argentinas-comfortable-win-over-venezuela-in-messis-absence-642459.html Miami Oct 11 Even without Lionel Messi on the field Argentina showed their depth and control as they eased past Venezuela 10 in an international friendly at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Friday A slick firsthalf strike from Giovani Lo Celso was enough to hand the reigning world champions a comfortable win in front of a modest crowd of around 15000 in the 65000capacity venueMessi who missed the match as a precaution after recent muscle tightness watched from the stands as his teammates produced a composed display that rarely saw them troubled Argentinas attack led by Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martínez looked sharp and inventive throughout while fullback Nahuel Molina impressed with his relentless energy on the right flankThe decisive moment arrived in the 31st minute and it was a goal straight out of Argentinas training ground Alvarez and Martínez combined beautifully around the box drawing Venezuelan defenders out of position before slipping a pass into Lo Celsos path The midfielder showing great composure struck a crisp leftfooted finish beyond goalkeeper Jose Contreras putting Argentina 10 upAfter taking the lead Lionel Scalonis side dictated the tempo with typical control using quick transitions and short passing to maintain dominance Venezuela struggled to create any clearcut chances managing only a few speculative efforts from distance that failed to trouble Emiliano Martínez in goalWhile Argentina didnt add to their tally in the second half they remained largely untroubled using the friendly as an opportunity to test squad depth and rhythm ahead of a busy international calendar Substitute appearances from young talents like Alejandro Garnacho and Enzo Fernández added further dynamism to the closing stagesThe result extends Argentinas unbeaten run since their Copa América final loss in 2021 and highlights their continued ability to control matches even without their talismanic captain Scalonis side will next face Puerto Rico in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday in their second and final Florida friendly a match that was originally scheduled for Chicagos Soldier Field but was moved amid recent US government restrictions on large international events involving foreign participants IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/lo-celso-seals-argentinas-comfortable-win-over-venezuela-in-messis-absence-642459.html Sat, 11 Oct 2025 09:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/1948-london-olympics-gold-medal-will-always-be-very-special-for-indian-hockey-says-captain-harmanpreet-642481.html New Delhi Oct 11 The sport of hockey has always held a special place for the Indian sporting fraternity The captain of the Indian Mens Hockey Team Harmanpreet Singh is considered to be one of the modern legends of the game He draws inspiration from the past particularly from the 1948 London Olympics where India secured a historic 40 victory over Great Britain in the final claiming a gold medal just a year after gaining independenceThis was the first time that the Indian flag was hoisted at the OlympicsReflecting on independent Indias first Olympic gold medal in hockey Harmanpreet Singh said When India won the Gold Medal at the 1948 London Olympics it was a massive moment for the country especially because we defeated Great Britain on their turf We have only heard stories from our seniors about that historic day and personally it is a very inspiring moment for me as a member of the Indian hockey fraternityHarmanpreet Singh who has been part of the Indian Mens Hockey Team that won consecutive Bronze Medals at the Tokyo Olympics and the Paris Olympics has previously interacted with the legendary Balbir Singh Sr a vital member of the Indian team during the 1948 London Olympics Recalling those special moments Harmanpreet said Meeting the legendary Balbir Singh Sr Sir was indeed extremely special and to hear from him about the London Olympics was even more wonderful The firsthand experience for the players is something unique To listen to stories of the British crowd cheering for the Indian Mens Hockey Team in London at that time gave me goosebumps It is unimaginable as to how happy and good the players must have felt during the tournamentAt the 1948 London Olympics India defeated Austria Argentina and Spain in the group stages then the Netherlands before winning the Gold Medal in style by seeing off Great Britain For Harmanpreet and co the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 presents another chance to add to the countrys medal tally The skipper said We have made the podium twice and seen the flag go up at the Olympic Games but our dream is to go one better The Indian Mens Hockey Team is very eager to listen to the National Anthem at the Olympic Games just like Kishan Lal and Balbir Singh Srs team did in London And for that we will leave no stone unturned in our preparationsHockey and India has a lot of history and we want to be the team to add the ninth Gold medal It would indeed be very special for us And I am sure that with the blessings of our seniors we will do well on the pitch Harmanpreet Singh signed offHockey India will bring more such nostalgic stories from the icons of yesteryear in the following days with the intent to relive the historic contributions of the sports legends that have put India on the world sporting map over the past 100 years IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/1948-london-olympics-gold-medal-will-always-be-very-special-for-indian-hockey-says-captain-harmanpreet-642481.html Sat, 11 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/probably-ghosts-of-past-visited-him-says-garry-kasparov-after-beating-vishy-anand-642505.html Missouri Oct 11 Garry Kasparov defeated Viswanathan Anand in the exhibition event Clutch Chess The Legends held at St Louis Over three days Kasparov and Anand competed in 12 rapid and blitz games in a freestyle format with Kasparov winning by a 1311 score The event used a cascading points systemwins on Day 1 earned one point Day 2 earned two and Day 3 earned threeallowing Kasparov to secure his victory with two games remaining Anand then won both of those last gamesIn an interview with St Louis Chess Clubs YouTube channel after the win Kasparov mentioned that Anand experienced some psychological discomfort over the three days as he saidHe had some psychological discomfort It didnt go well for him from day one and I think its just that his score against me historically is bad and somehow probably just the ghosts of the past visited him during the gameOn the second day of Clutch Chess The Legends Viswanathan Anand Indias fivetime world champion had a clear advantage in the fifth game against Garry Kasparov This game was played in rapid format However Anand appeared to lose track of his clock and ultimately lost on timeAnand had more than a minute remaining on his clock in a winning position but lost on time to Kasparov making day two of the 2025 Clutch Chess Legends the worst start for the Indian legend Kasparov continued to dominate and secured another victory after Anand blundered a piece on move 17It was a very difficult fight and I think that I was extremely lucky in many games There were few moments where the tables could have turned I actually played a few good games Its probably those I have not won I would have preferred to lose game one of day 2 or just to force a draw which I could do easily I would rather win game two on day 2 So its probably a fair balance Of course I just totally relaxed today after game two winning the event Kasparov told grandmaster Maurice Ashley during the interviewKasparov defeated the fivetime world champion exactly 30 years after winning against Anand in the 1995 World Chess Championship at New Yorks World Trade CentreIm not a professional player I had very little expectations before the match I was quite surprised to find myself in this situation When I won the match it was just somehow just total relaxation In the depths of my mind I thought its not fair I tried to win the last two games Its not that I just lost on purposeI think I was more resilient than he expected In time trouble to my great surprise I did better But again luck is luck I tried to make sure that luck would be with me he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/probably-ghosts-of-past-visited-him-says-garry-kasparov-after-beating-vishy-anand-642505.html Sat, 11 Oct 2025 13:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bcci-vp-rajiv-shukla-extends-birthday-wishes-for-hardik-pandya-642514.html New Delhi Oct 11 The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla extended birthday wishes for Team India allrounder Hardik Pandya who turned 32 on Saturday Writing on his X handle Shukla said Wishing Indias dynamic allrounder hardikpandya7 very happy birthday May the year ahead bring you greater success good health and memorable performances for Team India Continue to shine lead with positivity and make the nation proudPandya has represented India in 225 matches and has 4296 career runs to his name including 206 wickets The now 32yearold has emerged as a true allrounder for India in the shortest formatHis last appearance in India colours came during the 2025 Asia Cup where he played all the games of the group stage and Super Fours before missing out on the summit clashWhile Pandya didnt contribute much with the bat with his highest knock being 38 against Bangladesh in the Super 4s at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium he picked up four wickets in the six games he played He was crucial in providing his team with key breakthroughsHowever he was unable to participate in the final of the tournament against Pakistan and was sidelined because of the quadriceps injury he had picked up before the summit clashAs a result the allrounder was rested for the upcoming whiteball tour of Australia with chief selector Ajit Agarkar mentioning that Pandya was not available for selection and would begin his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence CoE in BengaluruThe Men in Blue are set to face the Aussies in three ODIs and five T20Is with Shubman Gill leading the team in the 50over format after being named the new ODI captain and Suryakumar Yadav continuing as the teams T20I skipperThe Indian team is currently playing the West Indies side in the final Test match of the twomatch series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bcci-vp-rajiv-shukla-extends-birthday-wishes-for-hardik-pandya-642514.html Sat, 11 Oct 2025 13:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-shubman-gill-remains-unbeaten-on-129-as-dominant-india-declare-at-5185-642527.html New Delhi Oct 11 Skipper Shubman Gill continued his prolific year in Tests by remaining unbeaten on 129 his tenth ton in the format as India declared their first innings at 5185 in 1342 overs on day two of the second and final Test against West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday Gills 129 not out coming in 196 balls with the help of 16 fours and two sixes is now his highest individual score in home Tests going past the 128 he hit against Australia in Ahmedabad in March 2023The declaration came just after Dhruv Jurel was castled by West Indies skipper Roston Chase for 44 as India felt being powered to 518 thanks to a dominant batting display led by Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal who made 175 was enough to put a tired West Indies lineup into a daunting task nowResuming from 3182 India added 200 runs before pulling the plug on their innings Apart from Gill and Jaiswal contributions from Jurel B Sai Sudharsan 87 and Nitish Kumar Reddy 43 ensured India maintained momentum throughout their batting innings Gills innings was marked by control and crisp timing and after reaching his fifty he accelerated with crisp strokeplay to finish unbeatenIndias focus will now shift to their spin trio Ravindra Jadeja Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar to exploit signs of variable bounce and turn on the black soil pitch A few deliveries including the one that dismissed Jurel kept low while others turned sharply thus offering encouragement to the hosts spinners West Indies who failed to bat out 50 overs in either innings of the previous Test in Ahmedabad will hope to show greater resilience this time around with the pitch still being more conducive to batting than it was at the previous venueDay two began with a heartbreak for India as Jaiswals bid for a third Test double hundred ended in a weird runout on the second over After driving a full ball to midoff Jaiswal took off for a quick single but Gill had said no to that callBut by then Tagenarine Chanderpaul fired a direct hit to the keepers end and though Jaiswal made a desperate turn after being more than halfway down the pitch keeper Tevin Imlach disturbed the stumps swiftlyReddy promoted to number five with an aim by the Indian team management to get some game time survived a close lbw call on the second ball he faced off Jayden Seales before square driving off him for fourReddy had some luck again when he went hard on a drive and went just past second slip for four even as Gill found boundaries easily via flicks drives and slashes before bringing up his fifty with a superbly timed flick through midwicket for four off SealesLuck was yet again on Reddys side when Philip dropped his catch at midoff off Jomel Warricans bowling giving him a reprieve on 20 Reddy made up for his previous attempts of not going big against spinners by launching Warrican for two sixes and a fourA calm Gill got huge cheers from a handy crowd by leaning into a halfvolley from Greaves and driving through wide of midoff for four before thrashing him through the gap at extra cover for another boundaryBut Reddy fell seven runs short of his fifty when he looked to clear Warrican with a slog sweep but holed out to longon With Gill and Jurel looking solid India won yet another session before lunch break arrivedAfter that with West Indies bowling being unthreatening Gill swept Pierre for four before Jurel brought out his solid legside shots to pick quick boundaries Gill then easily swept Chase for four before getting his fifth Test century as Indias skipper in 177 balls with three runs cut through cover and got good acknowledgement from the handy Delhi crowdPost that Gill flicked a switch in his gears by clubbing Chase for six before sweeping and cutting to get his boundaries even as Jurel got a life at 39 Jurel who impressed with his quick ability to pick lengths well went for a pull on an overpitched ball from Chase but was bowled for six runs short of his fifty As he walked off Gill came along too as India declared in the mid of second session and inviting West Indies to bat out remaining 43 overs in the dayBrief Scores India 5185 in 1342 overs Yashasvi Jaiswal 175 Shubman Gill 129 not out Jomel Warrican 398 Roston Chase 183 against West Indies IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-shubman-gill-remains-unbeaten-on-129-as-dominant-india-declare-at-5185-642527.html Sat, 11 Oct 2025 14:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sports-minister-mansukh-mandaviya-felicitates-indias-para-athletes-after-historic-wpac-2025-642553.html New Delhi Oct 11 The Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday felicitated Indias medalwinning contingent from the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships commending them for their extraordinary spirit determination and recordbreaking performance that has filled the nation with pride India achieved its bestever performance in the history of the World Para Athletics Championships finishing 10th in the overall standings with a record 22 medals 6 Gold 9 Silver and 7 Bronze The Department of Sports Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports awarded cash prizes totalling over Rs 109 crore to the para athletesYou are not para athletes but power athletes of bharat The pride you brought to the nation after the medal wins and the inspiring message you have given to divyang people in particular is noteworthy The passion you have shown is tremendous Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said in his address to para athletes during the felicitationThe Sports Minister praised the spirit and resilience shown by the athletes during the competition and added The vision and spirit of New India which is shown by Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi is upheld in the best way The Prime Minister was watching your matches on TV and he used to keep asking about you all during our meetings the Union Minister addedThe felicitation follows what has been called internationally as Indias most successful hosting of a global parasport event The New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was the largest parasport event ever organised in India featuring over 2100 participants from 100 countries competing across 186 medal eventsAlso present at the occasion the Paralympic Committee of India PCI president Devendra Jhajharia said The Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India SAI have helped us as a family The WPA gave us a trophy on the final day of the event for hosting this event successfully They said they will be happy to have India host more such events in the country going forward Both the IPC president Andrew Parsons and World Para Athletics President Paul Fritzerald said that the level of facilities provided to athletes and the technical conduct of the Games were both of the highest level This kind of praise from international associations was made possible because of the combined strength of PCI SAI and the Ministry Today the Minister handing over of the cash awards to athletes within seven days of the competition is another showcase of his remarkable efforts to improve sports Jhajharia saidThe athletes spoke in unison in favour of the MONDO track at the JLN Stadium which played a significant role during the championshipsAll of us were very happy about the MONDO track which was present in both the warm up area and the competition area said Sumit Antil Besides that the hotels transportation that were provided was also very good The local volunteers as well as SAI and PCI also helped us a lotSailesh Kumar who bagged the first gold for India at the WPAC 2025 mentioned It was such a big event in India I was nervous on the first day but the preparations were good The track and home support were very favourable Besides the MONDO track the nearby gym and fitness centre also proved useful the Bihar lad addedDouble medalist Preeti Pal mentioned the medical centre The medical room helped us sprinters a lot in between our races for recovery The ice bath in particular proved really beneficial she saidReiterating the mental resilience showcased by the para athletes Dr Mansukh Mandaviya thanked them for transforming disability into determination This is a new definition of courage that will keep inspiring the future generations The entire nation is proud of your achievements You have not only won medals but you have also won our hearts You have shown that when intent is strong wheelchairs can also become wings he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sports-minister-mansukh-mandaviya-felicitates-indias-para-athletes-after-historic-wpac-2025-642553.html Sat, 11 Oct 2025 17:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sehwag-applauds-rahul-soreng-son-of-pulwama-martyr-for-haryana-u19-cricket-selection-642349.html New Delhi Oct 10 Rahul Soreng son of Pulwama martyr Shaheed Vijay Soreng who made it to the Haryana Under19 team has received warm wishes from none other than former India opener Virender Sehwag Rahul has been closely associated with Sehwag International School where he has been a student since 2019 After the tragic Pulwama attack Sehwag had appealed to provide free education for the children of our martyrs allowing them to study at Sehwag International School with boarding facilitiesCongratulations to Rahul Soreng on being selected in the under19 Haryana team Since his brave father attained martyrdom in Pulwama it has been my privilege to support Rahul and I am extremely proud of his journey Sehwag posted on XLast December Rahul was selected for the Haryana Under16 team in the prestigious Vijay Merchant Trophy which marked a significant milestone in his emerging cricket career He had also represented Haryana in the U14 teamI feel so privileged that Rahul Soreng son of Pulwama Martyr Shaheed Vijay Soreng ji who joined Sehwag International school in 2019 and has been staying with us for the last 5 years has been selected in the Haryana under16 team for the Vijay Merchant trophy Few things give more joy Thank you to our great soldiers Sehwag had shared on InstagramEarlier this year Rahul along with two other talented cricketers Aditya Pandey and Shivam Anand was selected to represent the U19 Jhajjar District Cricket Team in the interdistrict match against KarnalPreviously Sehwag had shared a picture of children from the families of soldiers killed in the Pulwama terror attack training at the Sehwag International SchoolSon of Heroes What a privilege to be able to have these two at Sehwag School and have the fortune to contribute to their lives Batsman Arpit Singh so Pulwama Shaheed Ram Vakeel and Bowler Rahul Soreng so Pulwama Shaheed Vijay Soreng Few things can beat this happiness Sehwag had posted on X IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sehwag-applauds-rahul-soreng-son-of-pulwama-martyr-for-haryana-u19-cricket-selection-642349.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 15:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-hope-the-winning-streak-continues-manav-thakkar-eyes-gold-at-asian-table-tennis-cships-642350.html Bhubaneswar Oct 10 Indias leading paddler Manav Thakkar who was once World No 1 in the U18 and U21 divisions shared his confidence to continue the winning streak at the ITTFATTU Asian Table Tennis Team Championships 2025 scheduled to take place from October 11 to 15 here The tournament will feature only mens and womens team competitions The event will also act as a qualifier for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships with the top 13 teams from each category earning spotsSpeaking about the event Thakkar said The organisation here is amazing This is my third visit to Odisha my earlier visits were for the Commonwealth Championships and the Senior Nationals and both times I won medals a bronze and a gold I hope the winning streak continues at the Asian ChampionshipsSharing his expectations from Team India he added Our team is fully prepared and confident Playing in Indian conditions gives us an advantage and the home support will boost our morale Ive won bronze medals in previous Asian Championships but this time I want to change the colour hopefully to silver or goldAppreciating Odishas growing sports ecosystem Thakkar said The infrastructure here is truly worldclass Its my first time seeing such a massive indoor athletic stadium Ive heard the Sports Science Centre here is among the best in India and Im looking forward to visiting it The sports campus is one of the biggest Ive seen with excellent accommodation and warm hospitality Its always a pleasure to play in OdishaThakkar is currently ranked 39th in singles and 7th in doubles worldwide He has won a bronze medal at the Asian Games and Asian Championships as well as a gold medal at the Commonwealth Championship in both team and doubles categories IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-hope-the-winning-streak-continues-manav-thakkar-eyes-gold-at-asian-table-tennis-cships-642350.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 15:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-to-be-held-in-mid-december-with-nov-15-likely-retention-deadline-sources-642360.html New Delhi Oct 10 The miniauction for the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League IPL is likely to take place on December 14 with a window for December 13 also open in case of a twoday event While the officials of the IPL Governing Council are yet to send out the final schedule sources aware of the development told IANS that December 14 is the date that has been mentioned to the franchises with November 15 being the last date for player retentionsThe auction will likely be hosted by India this time Notably overseas venues have played host to the previous two auctions including the IPL 2025 mega auction that took place in Jeddah Saudi ArabiaWhile discussions about hosting the event in India are ongoing Mumbai and Bengaluru have emerged as the top options for the auctions While Jeddah hosted the event ahead of the 2025 season the IPL 2024 mini auctions took place in DubaiThe Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the previous edition of the IPL which was also their maiden title victory in the tournament in 18 years Rajat Patidar was named the captain of the franchise after they let go of former skipper Faf du Plessis and the Madhya Pradesh cricketer will continue to lead the defending champions in the next edition as wellThe 2026 auction will be crucial for fivetime champions Chennai Super Kings and inaugural winners Rajasthan Royals who finished last and secondlast respectively in the previous editionCSK will have hefty funds available this time with veteran Ravichandran Ashwin announcing his retirement from the tournament The 2025 edition was a homecoming for the spinner as the franchise signed him for Rs 975 crore However he did not have an ideal outing before calling time on his IPL careerWhile the Ruturaj Gaikwadled side will have much to consider given the disappointing performances of several players the Royals too will face the heat after reports of their regular skipper Sanju Samson being traded emergedIt will also be interesting to see how RCB shapes their squad in their quest to defend the title and retain the crown IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-to-be-held-in-mid-december-with-nov-15-likely-retention-deadline-sources-642360.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bbl-15-trent-copeland-hails-ashwins-full-season-commitment-to-sydney-thunder-642361.html Sydney Oct 10 Sydney Thunder boss Trent Copeland said he couldnt wait to welcome Ravichandran Ashwin to Western Sydney calling the Indian greats decision to play the entire BBL 15 season another exciting moment for the club Ashwins decision to play the full BBL 15 season with Sydney Thunder is another exciting moment for our club Copeland said in a statement on FridayFrom the outset we put an offer to Ashwin to bring him to Western Sydney for the entire BBL15 season Following the initial announcement of his signing conversations progressed quickly and it was a nobrainer from Thunders perspective to bring him in for the whole tournamentAshwins fullseason commitment comes after he went unsold at the UAE ILT20 player auction where none of the six franchises bid for him at the highest base price of USD 120000 Following that the 39yearold moved swiftly to extend his Big Bash availability committing to the Thunder for the entire season including finalsThis decision demonstrates Ashwins commitment to our club and what were trying to build Copeland added Were delighted to be bringing in an icon of the game a leader and worldclass player onfield and someone who will inspire a new wave of members and fans to join the Thunder NationAshwin who retired from international cricket last December and from the IPL in August will become the first nationally capped Indian mens player to feature in the Big Bash His first appearance for the Thunder will be in their seasonopener against Hobart Hurricanes on December 16 followed by a home debut in the Sydney Smash at Engie Stadium on December 20Copeland said the club hopes to extend their relationship with Indias secondhighest Test wickettaker beyond this season If Ashwin enters the BBL 16 overseas player draft Thunder will retain priority rightsBBL general manager Alistair Dobson also hailed the signing calling it a landmark moment for the league I think its a great sign that players around the world think the BBL is something that they want to come and play in whether theyve been here before or not Dobson said Talking to Ashwin and his agent over a period of time around the things that are important to him was a really interesting process and I know the Thunder have done a great job getting him to sign with them with all the things that he can bring to them and they can offer him as well Its going to be a big part of our season for sure IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bbl-15-trent-copeland-hails-ashwins-full-season-commitment-to-sydney-thunder-642361.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/alleppey-emerge-as-the-overall-champion-in-inter-sai-kayaking-and-canoeing-642376.html Alleppey Kerala Oct 10 Hosts National Centre of Excellence NCEO Alleppey emerged overall champions in the fourday 10th allIndia InterSports Authority of India SAI kayaking and canoeing championship After rowing kayaking and canoeing are gaining in popularity and this allIndia SAI event saw upcoming water sports enthusiasts hoping to represent India at major Asian and global competitions Athletes from eight centres participated in the allIndia meetThe firstever Khelo India Water Sports Festival held at Srinagars Dal Lake from August 2123 has given water sports a fresh impetus Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted some of the prominent KIWSF winners in the August episode of his popular radio show Mann Ki Baat athletes are showing more intensityAimed at promoting water sports in the country 197 athletes including 92 girls competed in 96 medal events in Alleppey NCOE Alleppey NCOE Bhopal Madhya Pradesh and NCOE Jagatpur Odisha were the topperforming SAI centresApart from these three water sports athletes from Jammu amp Kashmir Port Blair Bilaspur Himachal Pradesh Army Boys Sports Company Roorkee and ABSC EME participated The competition saw some international and nationallevel athletes like Vaishnavi R Akshaya B and Yogita Verma taking part in various eventsJammu and Kashmir finished fourth in the seniors category Overall the Union Territory won eight medals two gold two silver and four bronze Both their gold medals came in the senior mens section when Mohammad Hussain and Sajad Hussain won gold medals in canoe doubles 200 and 500 metres Both boys had finished with multiple medals at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival in SrinagarNCOE Alleppey proved to be the best SAI unit winning 24 and 15 gold medals in the senior and junior sections NCOE Bhopal which finished second in the senior category with 11 golds emerged on top in the subjunior section with seven gold medalsJagatpur remained in the top three in all three categories senior junior and subjunior For the record Madhya Pradesh Odisha and Kerala emerged as the top three states in the Khelo India Water Sports Festival which was an open agegroup competition IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/alleppey-emerge-as-the-overall-champion-in-inter-sai-kayaking-and-canoeing-642376.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 18:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/shardul-thakur-to-lead-mumbais-charge-in-ranji-trophy-opener-against-jampk-642380.html Mumbai Oct 10 The Mumbai Cricket Association MCA has appointed India allrounder Shardul Thakur as the new captain of Mumbai for the upcoming Ranji Trophy 202526 season The announcement came on Friday with Sarfaraz Khan and Ajinkya Rahane also included in the 16member squad for the season opener against Jammu and Kashmir Thakur takes over the reins from Rahane who stepped down from the leadership role ahead of the new seasonThe squad features India batter Sarfaraz Khan who has been out of the national Test setup for some time along with allrounder Shivam Dube a regular in Indias T20I sideMusheer Khan who missed most of the 202425 domestic season following a car accident returns to the team while promising opener Ayush Mhatre who has represented Indias U19 team on recent tours to England and Australia also earns a placeHowever the squad will be without Shreyas Iyer who has opted out of redball cricket temporarily due to a back issue and Prithvi Shaw who has shifted to Maharashtra after losing his place last seasonAnother notable absentee is Suryakumar Yadav who played in Mumbais semifinal clash against Vidarbha last season a match the team lost by 80 runs to the eventual championsThe 42time Ranji champions will kick off their campaign against Jammu and Kashmir at the SheriKashmir Stadium in Srinagar from October 15 Mumbai placed in Elite Group D will face Himachal Pradesh Delhi Hyderabad Rajasthan Chhattisgarh and Puducherry in the league stageMumbai squad Shardul Thakur c Ayush Mhatre Akash Anand wk Hardik Tamore wk Siddhesh Lad Ajinkya Rahane Sarfaraz Khan Shivam Dube Shams Mulani Tanush Kotian Tushar Deshpande Sylvester DSouza Irfan Umair Musheer Khan Akhil Herwadkar Royston Dias IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/shardul-thakur-to-lead-mumbais-charge-in-ranji-trophy-opener-against-jampk-642380.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 18:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-playoffs-to-be-held-in-new-delhi-final-on-october-31-642382.html New Delhi Oct 10 The Pro Kabaddi League season 12 playoffs will be held at the Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi after the conclusion of the Delhileg of the tournament which commences on October 11 While the Playoffs will begin with the Playins on October 25 the final will be staged on October 31 The Delhi leg comes at the end of one of the most competitive seasons of the PKL With Dabang Delhi KC at the top of the points table and already confirmed in the top eight the fight for the final seven spots will continue to be fiercely contested and thrilling for the fansThe winners of the Playins where the 5th to 8th placed teams will fight for survival will progress to the playoffsPost that the playoffs will run from October 26 to October 29 featuring a sequence of eliminators and qualifiers eventually culminating in the grand finale on Friday October 31 The new format which includes the playins adds an extra edge to the season ensuring a more challenging more competitive path for all 12 teams to the PKL TrophyThe revised structure ensures that more teams stay in contention for longer raising the intensity of the league stage while offering fans an extended run of highstakes matches While all teams push for qualification the biggest advantage awaits those who finish in the top two making the battle for table positions more intense than everAnupam Goswami business head of Mashal Sports and league chairman PKL said Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 has truly captivated audiences across the nation 51 of the matches so far have been decided by five points or fewer reflecting the remarkable intensity and competitiveness among teamsThis season has showcased the highest standard keeping fans engaged throughout As we now move towards the grand culmination in Delhi were thrilled to bring the Playoffs to the capital The new Playoff format featuring Playins which will add a fresh and exciting twist ensuring the race for the trophy remains alive till the very end With the Playoffs about to begin we look forward to witnessing the same passion energy and highquality kabaddi that has defined this season leading up to a truly fitting finale IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-playoffs-to-be-held-in-new-delhi-final-on-october-31-642382.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 18:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bengaluru-open-2025-thangaraja-continues-hot-streak-with-third-victory-of-the-season-642413.html Bengaluru Oct 10 Sri Lankan N Thangaraja continued his hot streak by bagging his second title in four weeks and third trophy of the season following his resolute final round card of twounder 69 at the INR 1 crore Bengaluru Open 2025 played at the Karnataka Golf Association KGA course in Bengaluru Thangaraja 66656669 came home the champion by a twoshot margin at a total of 18under 266 to secure his seventh professional winThe 44yearold from Colombo picked up the winning cheque worth INR 15 lakh that took his seasons earnings to INR 8222088 Thanga as a result consolidated himself in third position in the PGTI Order of Merit as he came within INR 645 lakh of the merit list leader Yuvraj SandhuManu Gandas 70636966 of Gurugram finished runnerup at 16under 268 after he posted a 66 on the last dayBengalurubased Rahil Gangjee shot the final days best score of 64 to claim tied third place at 13under 271 along with Saptak Talwar who carded a 67 on day fourThe 17yearold rookie Manoj S 66 of Bengaluru took fifth place at 12under 272Delhis Arjun Prasad 70 finished tied 15th at sevenunder 277 Arjun continued in second place on PGTIs money list and also closed the gap with PGTI Ranking leader Yuvraj Sandhu to nearly INR 25 lakhN Thangaraja enjoying a commanding fiveshot lead heading into the final round had a mixed frontnine where he made a birdie and bogey each On the back nine Manu Gandas began to pose a serious challenge to the leader with four birdies till the 15thHowever Thangaraja rose to the occasion with three straight birdies from the 11th to the 13th courtesy of a great approach and an accurate tee shot that kept him ahead of the pack Thangas bogey on the 14th couldnt derail his round as the seasoned campaigner closed out the tournament with pars on the last four holesThangaraja who had recorded a win and a runnerup finish on the PGTI in the past three weeks said I feel my game turned around after I changed the grip on my putter ahead of the Chennai event Since then my putting has just taken off Ive been very consistent with my putting over the last four weeks which in turn produced the desired results for meI was focused and relaxed through the day today despite the likes of Manu making a charge and closing the gap with me on the backnine I didnt really feel pressure and just played like I had played in the previous three roundsIm happy that I have been getting better with every passing week These are good signs for me in the lead up to the DP World India Championship in Delhi next week a tournament where Im very keen to perform well and make a markNoidas Kanav Chauhan 72 the only amateur to make the cut took the trophy for the bestperforming amateur He finished tied 33rd at evenpar 284Panchkulas Brijesh Kumar made a holeinone on the 15th during his last round of 76 He finished 49th at 12over 296 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bengaluru-open-2025-thangaraja-continues-hot-streak-with-third-victory-of-the-season-642413.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 21:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-devank-ashish-star-as-bengal-warriorz-edge-past-toppers-dabang-delhi-642241.html Chennai Oct 9 Bengal Warriorz managed to get back to winning ways in thrilling fashion clinching a 3736 victory against Dabang Delhi KC in a Season 12 match of Pro Kabaddi League PKL at the SDAT Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium on Thursday Led by Devank Dalals Super 10 and Ashish Maliks High Five the Season 7 champions moved to ninth place on the points table with this winBengal Warriorz got their noses in front early in the game courtesy of a tackle by Ankit followed by a raid from their captain taking a twopoint lead In the absence of Ashu Malik Naveen Rawal responded with a twopoint raid for the tabletoppers bringing them back on level terms The tackles were flying in during the opening exchanges with Saurabh Nandal and Ankit contributing for their respective sidesIn a topsyturvy start Bengal Warriorz regained their lead with Devank Dalal and Himanshu Narwal showing their attacking prowess before Ajinkya Pawar and Neeraj Narwal levelled the score again Dabang Delhi KC got their first lead of the night with a tackle by Saurabh Nandal but that lead didnt last for long as Himanshu Narwal executed a Super Raid keeping the Season 7 champions in a twopoint lead after the opening ten minutesThe two teams continued to go toetotoe in this highoctane clash with nothing separating the two sides A Super Tackle from Anurag Kumar and a tackle from Parteek then helped Bengal Warriorz inflict the first All Out of the game as they looked to assert their dominance Despite that there was only one point separating the two sides at halftime as Ajinkya Pawar and Akshit Dhull kept Dabang Delhi in the game with the score at 1918Bengal Warriorz continued to stay ahead with a narrow advantage with their captain keeping their scoreboard ticking along with contributions from his defence However they could never really break away with a significant advantage with Fazel Atrachali and his side ensuring they keep Dabang Delhi within striking distanceWith five minutes to go a couple of Super Tackles by Manjeet and Ashish Malik helped Bengal Warriorz open up a fivepoint gap However Neeraj Narwal then executed an All Out to bring it back down to a onepoint game for the tabletoppers with the score at 3332Devank Dalal completed his Super 10 and Ashish Malik also completed his High Five helping Bengal Warriorz establish a fourpoint lead once more There was another potential twist in the tale as Fazel Atrachali kept in the game a crucial tackle with a couple of quick raids from Mohit DeswalHowever the drama persisted until the final whistle With two points separating the two sides Himanshu Narwals unsuccessful raid proved to be the final act of the game as Bengal Warriorz clinched a nailbiter with the score at 3736 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-devank-ashish-star-as-bengal-warriorz-edge-past-toppers-dabang-delhi-642241.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/scotland-denmark-netherlands-shine-fifa-2026-wc-qualifiers-642276.html New Delhi Oct 10 Scotland staged a dramatic comeback to keep pace with Denmark in Group C while there were recordbreaking nights for Austria and the Faroe Islands in the European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Scotland completed a stunning comeback in Glasgow to record a priceless 31 win over Greece to boost their chances of a first World Cup finals berth since 1998Greece who had won 30 on their last visit to Hampden Park started in similarly dominant form standout chances falling to Vangelis Pavlidis and Giorgos Masouras before Kostas Tsimikas swept in a 62ndminute opener from a loose ballGreek joy was shortlived though Ryan Christie finishing from close range just two minutes later and Lewis Ferguson smashing in a loose ball in the 80th minute Konstantinos Karetsas curler would have had Ivan Jovanovics men level late on but Angus Gunn saved brilliantly before Lyndon Dykes addedtime finish sealed victoryIn another match Rasmus Hojlund scored a brilliant brace as Denmark maintained top spot in Group C with a thumping 60 victory over Belarus in Zalaegerszeg HungaryThe Danes got off to a lightningquick start and opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Victor Froholdt struck the ball home from 15 yards after neat interchange play between Andreas Christensen and Mikkel DamsgaardThey doubled their lead just five minutes later thanks to a closerange volley from Hojlund who has rediscovered his form with NapoliAs the opening half came to a conclusion Hojlund scored his second of the evening when Patrick Dorgu rattled the post and the forward tapped home from close range Then deep into firsthalf injury time Hojlund set up Dorgu who found the net with ease after breaking the offside trapDenmark substitute Anders Dreyer scored twice midway through the second half both neat leftfooted efforts to seal the routIn Group G Cody Gakpo sparkled as the Netherlands strolled on to 13 points from a possible 15 in Ta Qali with 40 won over MaltaVirgil van Dijk gifted Malta a great early chance but after collecting a loose backpass Joseph Mbong fired wide They were punished when Ryan Gravenberch was hauled down and Gakpo converted the resulting penaltyOnly the post denied the Liverpool winger a glorious curler but he got his second by sending Henry Bonello the wrong way from the spot after Wout Weghorst was fouled Ronald Koemans side sealed victory when Gakpo teed up Tijjani Reijnders to slot home before substitute Memphis Depay headed in a fourth in stoppage timeMarko Arnautovic became Austrias alltime record scorer as his team maintained their perfect record in Group H with a huge 100 victory over San MarinoAfter netting four times against San Marino he now has 45 goals for his country one more than Toni PolsterEarlier Algeria booked their ticket to FIFA World Cup 26 with a comprehensive 30 victory over Somalia They now have an unassailable lead at the top of Group G while Uganda strengthened their grip in second place with a hardfought win over Botswana IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/scotland-denmark-netherlands-shine-fifa-2026-wc-qualifiers-642276.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 10:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/australia-hopeful-of-pat-cummins-playing-ashes-opener-642286.html Melbourne Oct 10 Australia head coach Andrew McDonald admitted that captain Pat Cummins chances of playing in the Ashes opener are decreasing but insisted the fast bowler remains on track to feature against England this summer Cummins has been battling a back injury that has prevented him from bowling since July and the Australian skipper resumed running this week after scans showed some improvement in the lowerback stress injuryMcDonald has not given up hope that Cummins could play the first Test in Perth admitting Australia are now racing against time since Cummins has not yet been cleared to resume bowlingMy view would be four fourandahalf weeks McDonald said speaking on how long Cummins needs to be bowling for before the Ashes opener on November 21 Myself and Patty have spoken about that type of timeframe Or else you start to bring in other risk factors a youre not skill ready b soft tissue injuries then become a real riskAnd if you were to do a soft tissue injury early in a series like the Ashes then its a long way back from where hes been So well be mindful of all those risk factors he addedIf Cummins is ruled out of the series opener in Perth it could open the door for former captain Steve Smith to take charge while backup quick Scott Boland would likely be the most sensible replacement for the fast bowler alongside regulars Mitchell Starc and Josh HazlewoodMcDonald suggested that Cummins injury outlook has actually improved in recent daysIts a big couple of weeks weve added some variables into his training in the last couple of weeks and had a positive result there he said Theres some positive signs speaking to Patty over the last few days Hes a lot more optimistic Those who have been through this type of injury say these things ebb and flowOne of the benefits with Patty is that he has had the ability to prepare for Test matches off shortened preparations So if it was to be shrunken down wed be very confident that he would still be able to perform in the first TestBut the reality is were starting to get tight in terms of the times Were still optimistic hopeful but this time next week I think well be in a position to get better gauge on where hes at he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/australia-hopeful-of-pat-cummins-playing-ashes-opener-642286.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 11:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/salah-scores-brace-as-egypt-clinch-2026-fifa-world-cup-26-spot-642090.html New Delhi Oct 9 After missing out on Qatar 2022 Egypt are headed to the FIFA World Cup 26 after posting a 30 victory over Djibouti punching their ticket to the global showpiece with a game to spare Salah scored twice as Egypt clinched their spot at the World Cup 26 in style It didnt take long for the Pharaohs to strike against Djibouti in Casablanca as Zizo lofted a cross into the area where an unchallenged Ibrahim Adel headed home It was soon two with Salah latching on to a through ball and firing it into the net FIFA reportsWith the twogoal cushion Egypt could play to their liking and Salah capped the festivities with an exquisitelytaken volley in the closing minutesJordan Ayew was the star as Ghana moved on to the brink of joining them Cabo Verde are also favourites to top their section following a courageous comeback though Cameroon stayed in contention with victoryGhana all but qualified for the global finals with a thumping win in El Jadida Otto Addos men were rewarded for intense pressure when the unmarked Mohammed Salisu headed home a Mohammed Kudus cornerJordan Ayew did brilliantly to evade two opponents and set up Thomas Partey to double the lead Alexander Djiku headed home the third from an Ayew corner before the latter got on the scoresheet with a sublime volleyAyew was again involved as Kamaldeen Sulemana completed the rout at the back postGhana are three points clear of secondplaced Madagascar and boast a significantlysuperior goal difference with one round to playElsewhere Cabo Verde missed the chance to punch their ticket but an admirable fightback has them two points clear at the sections summit after 33 draw with Libya who now need a miracle to reach the next stage of qualifyingHowever the hopes of Angola Comoros GuineaBissau Mali and Sierra Leone were extinguished IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/salah-scores-brace-as-egypt-clinch-2026-fifa-world-cup-26-spot-642090.html Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/auguste-earns-maiden-odi-call-up-as-wi-name-white-ball-squads-for-bangladesh-tour-642096.html Saint Johns Antigua Oct 9 Cricket West Indies has announced the squads for the whiteball series against Bangladesh with former U19 captain Ackeem Auguste earning a maiden callup to the ODI squad The Caribbean side will play six whiteball fixtures against Bangladesh with the threegame ODI series commencing on October 18 ahead of the T20I portion of the tour from October 27Ackeem Auguste has been rewarded with a maiden callup to the ODI squad as a replacement for Evin Lewis who is recovering from a wrist injury and ruled out of the tourThe selection of Ackeem reflects the pathway Cricket West Indies is creating for our emerging players who have shown the qualities to perform at the international level He is a player for the future one who has progressed from Under15s to the senior level and another Academy graduate to feature in an international squad this year Head Coach Daren Sammy saidKhary Pierre who made his test debut against India earlier this month has earned a recall to the format to support Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase in the spin department while Alick Athanaze has also made a return to the squad led by Shai HopeMeanwhile leftarm pacer Ramon Simmonds along with Amir Jangoo has been included for the three T20Is in ChattogramThe squad assembled will strive to maintain a winning mentality and strong team cohesion essential components for longterm success ahead of the World Cup Facing Bangladesh provides another opportunity to earn crucial points in our push for automatic qualification to the showpiece event he addedFollowing a fourth consecutive home series triumph with the recent victory against Pakistan the Bangladesh series will be the penultimate ODI series of the year for the West Indies providing an opportunity for continuity in preparation for the ICC Mens World Cup in 2027 with the nucleus of the squad being retained from the previous seriesPreparatory camp underway at Super Kings Academy in Chennai India CWI have sent Keacy Carty Gudakesh Motie and Sherfane Rutherford to a preparatory camp at the Super Kings Academy in Chennai India with Ackeem Auguste and Amir Jangoo joining this contingent following their participation in the Nepal seriesWith the 2026 T20 World Cup around the corner it is important for our players to get as much practice as possible in these conditions with that tournament being held in India and Sri Lanka CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/auguste-earns-maiden-odi-call-up-as-wi-name-white-ball-squads-for-bangladesh-tour-642096.html Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-harmony-is-how-i-would-like-to-describe-this-team-says-harleen-deol-642118.html New Delhi Oct 9 Team Indias toporder batter Harleen Deol named her team when asked to describe what harmony was for her Deol discussed the teams daily routine during matches or tournaments and how small details like the sound of kitbag wheels and the knocking of a bat bring her joy She spoke about her team the bonding within the team and her definition of the term in a video shared by the BCCIDream momentum now lets talk about Harmony Harmony is how I would like to describe this team as So everybody is more focused and everybody has their own routines When we enter the stadium I just see everybody removing the kit bags the sound of the kitbag wheels and then when we come in the first thing we do is Harrsha sir makes us stand in a huddle everybodys silent and then we just take a moment and when he claps its just when we restart again When we do some knocking when the ball hits the sweet part of the bat so thats something which is very pleasing Deol saidThe 27yearold remembered her maiden ODI century which she brought up against the West Indies during a game in December 2024 in Vadodara and stated that the sound of the roar from the crowd whenever a player hits a boundary or a fifty or a ton makes a lovely noise in the airWhen I enter the field I dont know suddenly everything just shuts down Its more to do with me my bat the bowler and the ball I remember when I was batting on 98 I hit a boundary and the whole crowd was like Woahhhh Everybody was synchronised so thats a sound which I love When you hit a boundary or when you hit a 50 or 100 so everybody just celebrates together and that makes a lovely noise in the air she addedThe Women in Blue are set to face the South African side on Thursday in the ninth match of the ongoing World Cup at the ACAVCDA Stadium in Vishakhapatnam IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-harmony-is-how-i-would-like-to-describe-this-team-says-harleen-deol-642118.html Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hockey-india-remembers-the-first-adivasi-icon-of-indian-hockey-jaipal-singh-munda-642137.html New Delhi Oct 9 The enigmatic Jaipal Singh Munda born as Pramod Pahan in a Munda tribal family in Pahan Toli Village Kunti subdivision of Ranchi district in the then Bengal Presidency was the first true hero of Indian hockey for his team went on to win the first Olympic gold medal in 1928 The Marang Gomke Hockey Stadium in Ranchi Jharkhand is a befitting tribute to this iconic leader He was in England as a student at Oxford University when he was picked to join the squad that would sail out of India He left the Indian team after playing a few matches and never represented the country thatJaipal Singh Mundas early life was a struggle He would herd cows until a missionary helped him secure admission in St Pauls School in Ranchi It was here that Jaipal Singh Mundas life took a dramatic turn He not only became exceptional in academics but also excelled in sports particularly in hockey Like most players from Odisha and Jharkhand today who are outstanding as defenders Jaipal was a fullback who often left his teachers awestruck with his skills in the backlineHis onfield exploits his immense knowledge of the sport and its playing conditions made him a natural pick to captain the Indian team at the Olympic Games in Amsterdam In the years leading up to the Olympic Games victory he was instrumental in organising tours across India for college and university hockey teams which further established the Indian Hockey Federation IHF which was formed in 1925At the Olympics India made a grand start registering sweeping wins in their first three matches and eventually beating the hosts Netherlands 30 in the final to bag their maiden Olympic titleMunda went on to become a revolutionary figure in Indias history and in his formative years postIndependence he was a fierce voice for the tribals and their rightsJaipal Singh played a key role in helping the Indian team prepare for the Amsterdam Olympics in 1928 when the team toured England for matchesIn his autobiography Goal Hockey wizard Dhyan Chand mentioned how Jaipal Singh helped the team get acclimatised to the conditions in England and about their opponent teamsJaipal Singhs intimate knowledge of English players and ground conditions was of great help to us We found him to be an exceedingly popular man in Englands hockey world A most affable man he was a great hit in social circles too as I found out in the few social gatherings I attended We considered ourselves most fortunate in having such a man as our skipper Dhyan Chand wroteDhyan Chand also mentioned how Jaipal Singh left the team and Amsterdam after playing three matches because of differences with the British officers who were part of the Indian team management at that timeJaipal Singh I believe used to fly from London to Amsterdam most of the time returning to London after the match was over It is still a mystery to me why Jaipal Singh after ably captaining us in England and in two or three matches in the Olympic Games suddenly left us I have heard many stories but so far I have not had the truth wrote the Wizard of HockeyI could see from the very start of our stay in England that there was a conflict at the top level Although Rosser was our manager two exIndian Army men Major Ricketts and Colonel Bruce Turnbull more or less bossed Rosser I could sense that our manager Mr Rosser was not quite happyWhether this conflict at the top level had anything to do with Jaipal Singhs refusal to captain us later is a question for others to answer Some said communal and racial issues were involved Whatever the reason was the fact remains that Jaipal Singh the star fullback of Oxford who made a great reputation in the hockey world in the Continent and in Great Britain and who by virtue of his academic qualification and social status and knowledge of the game in those parts of the world was eminently suited to lead us could not do so right till the end wrote Dhyan Chand in his autobiographyAlthough he never played hockey for India again after the 1928 triumph Jaipal Singh Munda established the Mohun Bagan hockey club in 1929 and led the team to several honours He also served as the secretary of the Bengal Hockey Association IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hockey-india-remembers-the-first-adivasi-icon-of-indian-hockey-jaipal-singh-munda-642137.html Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-rain-delays-toss-for-india-v-sa-match-umpires-to-inspect-ground-at-245-pm-642141.html Visakhapatnam Oct 9 Toss was delayed for Indias crucial match against South Africa in the ICC Womens ODI World Cup at the ACAVDCA International Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam because of constant drizzle that started around 130 pm on Thursday With the sky under heavy cloud cover the ground staff brought out the covers well before it started pouring covering the entire ground in a jiffy Though it rained for only 3035 minutes and it was not very heavy the timing was such that it did not leave enough time to remove the covers in time for the toss scheduled at 230 pmThe ground staff started removing the covers after 210 pm after which the match officials will have an inspection of the ground before they decide when to conduct the tossA couple of players including India captain Harmanpreet Kaur walked out to have a look at the conditions even as the covers were being removed and the super sopper was pressed into action The ground staff had done a good job by using two covers to avoid any seepage of rainwaterThe match is very crucial for both India and South Africa India chasing their maiden title are hoping to continue their winning spree after winning their first two matches while South Africa threetime semifinalists are eying their second win after starting their campaign with a defeat to England IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-rain-delays-toss-for-india-v-sa-match-umpires-to-inspect-ground-at-245-pm-642141.html Thu, 09 Oct 2025 18:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-wc-toss-to-be-held-at-315-pm-play-to-start-at-345-no-overs-lost-in-vizag-642146.html Visakhapatnam Oct 9 The toss for the India v South Africa match here at Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACAVDCA Cricket Stadium Visakhapatnam to be conducted at 315 pm Play is expected to start at 345 pm with no loss of overs The umpires had two inspections at 245 pm and 310 pm and found things fit for the match to be conductedThe toss was delayed for Indias crucial match against South Africa in the ICC Womens ODI World Cup at the ACAVDCA International Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam because of constant drizzle that started around 130 pm on ThursdayWith the sky under heavy cloud cover the ground staff brought out the covers well before it started pouring covering the entire ground in a jiffy Though it rained for only 3035 minutes and it was not very heavy the timing was such that it did not leave enough time to remove the covers in time for the toss scheduled at 230 pmThe ground staff started removing the covers after 210 pm after which the match officials will have an inspection of the ground before they decide when to conduct the tossA couple of players including India captain Harmanpreet Kaur walked out to have a look at the conditions even as the covers were being removed and the super sopper was pressed into action The ground staff had done a good job by using two covers to avoid any seepage of rainwaterThe players are already out in the middle and are getting ready for the match Amanjot Kaur who missed the previous match against Pakistan is also out in the middle and warming upThe match is very crucial for both India and South Africa India chasing their maiden title are hoping to continue their winning spree after winning their first two matches while South Africa threetime semifinalists are eying their second win after starting their campaign with a defeat to England IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-wc-toss-to-be-held-at-315-pm-play-to-start-at-345-no-overs-lost-in-vizag-642146.html Thu, 09 Oct 2025 18:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/im-making-good-progress-richardson-eyes-return-to-competitive-cricket-after-shoulder-injury-642153.html Melbourne Oct 9 Australia fast bowler Jhye Richardson is nearing a longawaited return to competitive cricket after recovering from shoulder surgery with hopes of being available for the later stages of the Ashes series if Australia need fastbowling reinforcements The Western Australia and Perth Scorchers quick has endured a frustrating few years with recurring shoulder issues but revealed that his right shoulder now feels stronger and more stable than it has in a long timeThe shoulder is presenting stable at the moment so thats all we can ask for after the issues that Ive had over the last four or five years Richardson told cricketcomau at the BBL kit launch in Melbourne To have a stable shoulder currently is certainly a new feeling hopefully it stays that wayRichardson first dislocated his bowling shoulder while fielding during an ODI in 2019 After repeated problems including another dislocation while celebrating a wicket in a Sheffield Shield match last November he ultimately chose surgery in January to stabilise the joint The decision followed discussions with Australian mens head coach Andrew McDonald and captain Pat Cummins during his brief time in the Test squad last summerPatty actually made a really good point to me which probably tipped me over the edge to get surgery Richardson said He asked What would I regret more post my career would I regret staying the same knowing what Ive got with my shoulder and what Im dealing with or would I regret not throwing everything at it and wondering what could have beenSo that was probably the main one for me to go and get it done and at least now if for whatever reason it doesnt work at least I know that Ive thrown everything at it and given it the best shotNine months after the operation the 29yearold has resumed bowling off his full runup and says he is making steady progress Im off my full run now bowling in the nets competitively so thats a good start he said From where I was three or four weeks ago and I was struggling to bowl 90 to 100kph so Im making good progress and the only limiting factor is just getting the ball speed back which will comeRichardson plans to build up his bowling load through club cricket for Fremantle and Western Australias Second XI with aims to participate in the OneDay Cup and Sheffield Shield before the Big Bash League A Test comeback remains possible if his recovery continues smoothlyIdeally Test cricket would be great he said Thats been my goal for a long time now but its definitely sessionbysession purely based on how it feels You cant push these things its never a linear process but things are looking good at the momentSuppose a national recall doesnt materialise in time for the Ashes In that case Richardson is expected to make his competitive return with the Perth Scorchers who open their BBL 15 campaign against the Sydney Sixers on December 14 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/im-making-good-progress-richardson-eyes-return-to-competitive-cricket-after-shoulder-injury-642153.html Thu, 09 Oct 2025 18:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wpl-teams-can-retain-up-to-five-players-ahead-of-mega-auction-642178.html New Delhi Oct 9 Womens Premier League WPL teams can retain up to five players ahead of the mega auction with the retention deadline set for November 5 as per communication sent to teams The auction itself will be held between November 25 and 29 According to an email sent to franchises on Thursday each team can retain a maximum of three capped Indian players two overseas players and two uncapped Indian players However if a team chooses to retain all five players at least one must be an uncapped Indian playerFor the first time in the Womens Premier League WPL franchises will be able to use the righttomatch RTM option at the mega auction allowing them to buy back players who were part of their squad in the 2025 season Each team will be given a maximum of five RTMs but this number will reduce depending on how many players a team decides to retain ahead of the auctionHowever the number of RTMs available will depend on how many players a team retains If all five retention slots are used the RTM option becomes unavailable Teams retaining four players will have one RTM three players will allow two RTMs two players will give access to three RTMs and one retention will provide four RTMsThe WPL has set an auction purse of Rs 15 crore for each franchise ahead of the mega auction The league has introduced guideline prices for player retentions categorized into five slabs Rs 35 crore for Player 1 Rs 25 crore for Player 2 Rs 175 crore for Player 3 Rs 1 crore for Player 4 and Rs 50 lakh for Player 5 Based on the number of players retained a specific amount will be deducted from the franchises auction purse If a team retains five players Rs 925 crore will be deducted for four players the deduction will be INR 875 crore for three Rs 775 crore for two Rs 6 crore and for one Rs 35 croreAlthough the WPL has outlined standard retention prices franchises and players can negotiate different amounts In such cases the actual agreedupon figure will be deducted from the teams purse instead of the standard slab amount For uncapped Indian players the minimum retention value has been fixed at Rs 50 lakh though that amount may increase depending on negotiationsThe WPL has also laid out a clear timeline in the leadup to the auction November 5 is the deadline for franchises to submit their player retention lists Teams must then provide their lists of players entering the auction by November 7 The final date for player registration is November 18 and the official auction list will be released by the BCCI on November 20 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wpl-teams-can-retain-up-to-five-players-ahead-of-mega-auction-642178.html Thu, 09 Oct 2025 19:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/former-india-captain-dhoni-praised-for-completing-drone-pilot-training-642003.html Chennai Oct 8 Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has come in for praise from social media after completing drone pilot training and becoming an expert in aviation technology The former India captain completed his course from Garuda Aerospace Indias leading drone manufacturer and DGCAapproved Remote Pilot Training Organisation RPTO in Chennai of which he is also brand ambassadorThe social media reacted positively to the news of Dhoni becoming a certified drone pilot The milestone marks a pivotal moment as one of Indias most celebrated sports icons steps into the future of aviation technologyAfter completing the rigorous training program Dhoni is now certified to fly drones highlighting their potential to transform Indias growth story The training is a critical step toward promoting certified and safe drone operations combining theoretical ground classes with intensive practical flying sessions on simulators and actual dronesDhonis instructors announced his achievement in a social media post on X and Facebook which was liked a reposted by many social media usersMahendra Singh Dhoni expressed that he has completed his DGCA Drone Pilot Certification Programme with Garuda AerospaceWhen legends choose innovation they choose Garuda MS Dhoni is now a DGCA Certified Drone Pilot trained at Garuda Aerospace RPTO Join 2500 certified pilots shaping the future of aerial technology Garuda Technology wrote in a postMahendra Singh Dhoni expressed that he has successfully completed his DGCA Drone Pilot Certification Programme with Garuda Aerospace Garuda Aerospace a DGCAapproved RPTO has trained over 2500 aspiring pilots under the guidance of its experienced Master Instructors Dhoni also shared his excitement to continue his journey with Garuda Aerospace and witness its growthDhoni has retired from all forms of international cricket but plays the Indian Premier League representing Chennai Super Kings Indias most successful captain who has led the country to two World Cup titles is a bike enthusiast and also holds an honorary post with the Armed Forces IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/former-india-captain-dhoni-praised-for-completing-drone-pilot-training-642003.html Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/team-india-bonds-over-dinner-at-gambhirs-home-ahead-of-delhi-test-642006.html New Delhi Oct 9 In a heartwarming gesture of camaraderie and team spirit India head coach Gautam Gambhir hosted a special dinner for the national mens cricket team and support staff at his residence in Delhi The informal gathering came just ahead of the second and final Test against the West Indies scheduled to start at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday October 10The gettogether offered players a welcome breather after their emphatic win in the opening Test in Ahmedabad Among those in attendance were Indias Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill allrounder Ravindra Jadeja opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and wicketkeeperbatter KL Rahul Several other squad members and members of the coaching unit also joined in the evening of relaxed camaraderieBCCI vicepresident Rajiv Shukla was present as well lending a formal touch to the otherwise casual event Sources described the atmosphere as cheerful and engaging with conversations flowing freely as the team celebrated their recent triumph and discussed the challenges aheadGambhirs move has been widely applauded across the cricket fraternity for reinforcing the value of togetherness within the national setup The former India opener known for his fierce competitiveness has often emphasised the importance of building trust and friendship off the field to achieve consistency and excellence on itAs the Indian team gears up for the decisive Delhi Test the mood within the camp remains upbeat With confidence high and team spirit strengthened by Gambhirs gesture the hosts will aim to maintain their dominance and seal a 20 series win over the West IndiesFor Team India the evening wasnt merely about a shared mealit was a celebration of collective effort unity and the drive to keep succeeding as one IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/team-india-bonds-over-dinner-at-gambhirs-home-ahead-of-delhi-test-642006.html Thu, 09 Oct 2025 06:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/germanys-fragile-defense-weighs-on-coach-julian-nagelsmann-641884.html Berlin Oct 8 Ahead of Germanys 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland national coach Julian Nagelsmann has been forced into unexpected roster changes due to a mounting defensive crisis The Germans have kept a clean sheet in only seven of their last 25 games A disappointing 20 loss to Slovakia ignited a debate about the coachs constant tactical changesThe return of Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck is a headline development The 25yearold is needed to stabilise a wavering defense but only recently returned from a monthslong absence with a significant knee injury reports XinhuaWe need a skilful left foot that can deliver an opening pass to midfield Nagelsmann said highlighting the difficulty of also missing injured Real Madrid defender Antonio RüdigerPotential replacements like Bayern Munichs Jonathan Tah Eintracht Frankfurts Robin Koch and Newcastle Uniteds Malick Thiaw have struggled with poor form while Dortmunds Waldemar Anton lacks international experienceThe situation contrasts with the glory days of the 2014 World Cup win in Brazil when Germany relied on a deep pool of central defenders Nagelsmann is also searching for suitable fullbacksWith eight months until the 2026 World Cup in North America the team remains a work in progress raising concerns that contrast with the coachs stated aim to win the tournamentDortmund coach and former Croatian international Niko Kovac called Schlotterbeck the countrys best central defender and emphasised the need for careful load management The player was recently benched for a Champions League match to manage his workloadReports described a tense exchange between the two coaches leaving Nagelsmann with a tough decision on whether Schlotterbeck is essential against underdog Luxembourg on Friday in SinsheimThe staffing shortage worsened with the illness of goalkeeper Oliver Baumann Nagelsmann called in Freiburgs Noah Atubolu as coverSeveral TV pundits including Matthias Sammer and Lothar Matthaus advocated for a return of the retired Manuel NeuerWhy leave out the best former international Sammer askedFollowing the Luxembourg match Germany faces Northern Ireland on Monday After the loss to Slovakia two victories seem necessary regardless of Nagelsmanns decision on Schlotterbeck IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/germanys-fragile-defense-weighs-on-coach-julian-nagelsmann-641884.html Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bottas-returns-to-lead-cadillacs-f1-charge-in-2026-season-641885.html Beijing Oct 8 Valtteri Bottas has spent the past year watching Formula One from the inside without ever taking part Officially he has been Mercedes reserve attending briefings analyzing data and staying fit in case he was needed Unofficially he has been a man waiting for another chance That chance will come next season when Bottas returns to the grid with Cadillac The American manufacturers arrival is a bold move from Detroit on F1s global stage and for Bottas it represents a route back into a world he never wanted to leaveGetting this seat has been my target for a while he says This opportunity opened up and I feel 100 percent good about itTHE ULTIMATE TEAM PLAYERTo understand the weight of this comeback it helps to look back at Bottass years at Mercedes When he joined in 2017 it was to replace Nico Rosberg the only man at that point to have beaten Lewis Hamilton in equal machinery Bottas quickly learned the scale of that task reports XinhuaFor five seasons he played the perfect lieutenant quick enough to secure points podiums and the occasional victory but never so quick that he threatened Hamiltons authority Between them they delivered Constructors titles in each of Bottas years there The Finn won ten grands prix in that time but always in the shadow of his illustrious teammateThere were weekends when Bottas was untouchable Melbourne 2019 Austria 2020 but a sustained title challenge never materialised When Mercedes chose George Russell as its longterm partner for Hamilton in 2022 Bottas was moved aside his reputation for dependability intactFROZEN AT SAUBERHis subsequent switch to Sauber was meant to be liberating At last he had a threeyear contract and a chance to lead a team on his own terms after the uncertainty of annual renewals at Mercedes But the optimism faded fastAs Audis takeover loomed the team drifted and results dried up Where Bottas once fought Hamilton and Max Verstappen for wins he now found himself scrapping for 15th By the end of 2024 he had gone a full season without scoring a pointMy Sauber years werent the most enjoyable he says with characteristic understatement He later admitted the move had been a mistakeWhen his contract expired few expected him to return I got messages saying Congrats on a great career enjoy retirement he recalls with a grin I didnt reply to those people because I wasnt doneLEARNING FROM SIDELINESReturning to Mercedes for 2025 as the teams reserve driver has given Bottas a perspective Ive seen the sport differently he says Normally as a driver your only contact is your race engineer This year Ive sat in the garage listened to the comms understood more of whats happening behind the scenes in qualifying and the race and what goes on in the factory That will help me with building a new teamHe even came close to racing again when Russell fell ill in Baku They woke me up early on Friday just to get to the track and be ready he recalls About an hour before the session George said hed try and in the end he was fineBottas shrugs Routine he says after a dozen seasons Physically I stay ready and with the engineers its about going through the setup looking at balance issues and figuring things out Thats normal for meSTEADY HAND FOR NEW PROJECTNext year Bottas will lead Cadillacs first steps into Formula 1 Nobody inside the team is talking about podiums or even points just yet Instead the emphasis is on finishing races learning fast and surviving the early blowsThe first year with Cadillac will be tough Bottas acknowledges Were not expecting big results Thats just the reality But Id rather be here than anywhere else Being on the sidelines reminded me how cool this sport isThough still under contract to Mercedes until the end of 2025 he has already begun early technical discussions with his new colleagues Weve had online calls with some of the engineers We can talk about things like steering wheel layouts and basic preferencesOne of the reasons Cadillac turned to Bottas and former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez was experience Between them they have started more than 400 Grands Prix and their jobs will not only be to drive but to guide making sure the fledgling team learns the rhythms of a race weekend understands how to prioritise development and avoids the pitfalls that swallowed so many newcomers before themAsked if he would prefer a quick but fragile car or a slower one that can run all day Bottas doesnt hesitate If you dont finish races it doesnt matter how fast you are For a new team that should be the approach get those laps those kilometres and build step by stepWhen the 2026 season starts next March in Melbourne Bottas will return to the scene of one of his most dominant wins He wont be fighting for victory this time but just being there will feel like oneI feel like I appreciate the sport more now he says Im definitely living the dream and I wouldnt change a thing IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bottas-returns-to-lead-cadillacs-f1-charge-in-2026-season-641885.html Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/argentina-boss-says-world-cup-squad-still-open-641899.html Miami Oct 8 Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said that places in his 2026 World Cup squad are still open as the Albiceleste prepares for friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico He said the matches would be used to test new players ahead of the tournament in the United States Mexico and CanadaNaturally we are going to try to give a chance to new players to see if they can get on board he said ahead of Fridays clash against Venezuela at Hard Rock Stadium That is the idea to use these matches to try different playersThe reigning World Cup champions will have three days to recover from that match before facing Puerto Rico at Soldier Field in ChicagoWhile admitting most of his World Cup squad was already settled Scaloni said there could be late changes as there were before the 2022 tournament in QatarYou never know because even though we have the base we dont know what might happen he said We have the experience of the last World Cup when players dropped out at the last moment Its true that most of the squad is settled but we are open to whatever may comeNew players have come in now and will keep coming if we believe it is appropriateArgentina earned its place in next years edition of footballs showpiece tournament by topping the South American qualifying groupScaloni said all of the teams preWorld Cup matches would be treated seriously by his squad stressing that no match involving Argentina is truly a friendlyWe feel that every time there is an international match whether official or friendly provides a unique opportunity he said What lies ahead is very important and a lot is at stake We are going to give our all IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/argentina-boss-says-world-cup-squad-still-open-641899.html Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/boland-is-the-first-man-in-if-cummins-is-out-of-ashes-opener-simon-katich-641946.html New Delhi Oct 8 Former cricketer and coach Simon Katich opined that Scott Boland is the most probable replacement for the injured Australian skipper Pat Cummins in the Ashes opener after it was reported that the regular captain will miss the first Test in Perth on November 21 due to lower back stress Cummins is set to miss the Ashes opener in Perth with the possibility that he may also miss the entire Test series against England as scans have revealed that his back stress problem has not yet healedLook Scott Boland I think is the first man in if Cummins doesnt play I think theres no doubt about that but itll give it a great opportunity to some of these other young quicks around the country Katich said on SEN AfternoonsBehind Boland Katich is considering Queenslands Michael Neser who has often been next in line At the same time Victorias Fergus ONeill is also a probable candidate after winning the 202425 Sheffield Shield player of the seasonI mean you cant rule out Michael Neser whos obviously been brilliant for Queensland Then theres the young Victorian Fergus ONeill who had a very good time over in England earlier in the year for Notts and obviously hes done well for the Vics over the last few years hes only 24 and has big raps on him he addedExamining Australias pace depth further Katich suggested that selectors might consider South Australias Henry Thornton noting his similar style to CumminsI reckon there might be a young kid from New South Wales who is now in South Australia who has just played recently for Australia A if thats any indicator of how the selectors might be thinking Katich explainedThats Henry Thornton hes 28 now but hes still young in terms of being inexperienced Hes only played seven firstclass games but hes a wickettaker and thats something they might be looking at because we know Pat Cummins cracks games open by taking wickets in bursts of two or three at a timeThere are a few guys there thatll probably be trying to put their hand up in the next month to be next cab off the rank but I think Scott Boland comes first in if he misses that first Test he saidCummins absence due to a back stress injury is a massive blow to Australias chances of retaining the Ashes urn which they have held since 2018 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/boland-is-the-first-man-in-if-cummins-is-out-of-ashes-opener-simon-katich-641946.html Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-perfect-strike-as-amit-shah-former-players-hail-indias-big-win-over-pakistan-641693.html Colombo Oct 5 Indias emphatic 88run triumph over Pakistan in the 2025 Womens ODI World Cup at Colombos R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday drew praise from political leaders and former cricketers The Harmanpreet Kaurled side bowled out Pakistan for 159 after posting 247 on a sluggish pitch to register their 12th win over the archrivals in womens ODIs and climb to the top of the points table of the eightteam competitionUnion Home Minister Amit Shah described the win as a perfect strike while applauding the teams dominance A perfect strike Dominating display of Indias cricketing might by our Womens Cricket team in todays match in the ICC Womens World Cup The nation is proud of our teamBest wishes for your upcoming matches wrote Shah on XBCCI President Mithun Manhas wrote on X A totally onesided game With this win its 120 Well played BCCIWomen way to go BJP leader Smriti Z Irani wrote on X Team Indias performance in the ICC Womens World Cup was pure excellence Keep the tricolour flying highWomensWorldCup2025Super proud of BCCIWomen on a very clinical victory against Pakistan Total team effort wrote Irfan Pathan former India allrounder on X formerly Twitter Harbhajan Singh former India offspinner commented on X Well done Indian womens Cricket Team What a victor You made us proud againIndias win was set up by threefers from fast bowler Kranti Gaud and offspin bowling allrounder Deepti Sharma apart from a late cameo of 35 not out by wicketkeeperbatter Richa Ghosh while Harleen Deol topscored with 46Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra wrote on X 120 Well played India ExIndia opener Wasim Jaffer wrote on the same platform Not the perfect game but still managed to register an 88run win Well played BCCIWomen onwards and upwardsIndia will next face South Africa at the ACAVDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on October 9 before facing the defending champions Australia at the same venue on October 12 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-perfect-strike-as-amit-shah-former-players-hail-indias-big-win-over-pakistan-641693.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 10:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/former-west-indies-allrounder-1975-world-cup-winner-bernard-julien-passes-away-at-75-641722.html New Delhi Oct 6 Former West Indies allrounder and 1975 World Cup winner Bernard Julien passed away at the age of 75 in Valsayn a town in Northern Trinidad Julien was one of the understated legends of the 1975 World Cup a tournament that brought immense joy to West Indians 50 years ago as the West Indies team secured the firstever mens World Cup title in cricket historyAt the inaugural Mens ODI World Cup Julien registered a spell of 420 in the group stage game against Sri Lanka before producing 427 against New Zealand in the semifinalHe also scored a quick 26 off 37 balls in the final against Australia as his side lifted the cup The tournament cemented his reputation as a fearless allrounder recognised for his leftarm seam bowling aggressive batting and energetic fieldingClive Lloyd remembered Juliens heroics and legacy while speaking to the Trinidad amp Tobago Guardian as he said He always gave you over 100 per cent He never shirked his duties and I could always rely on him with bat and ball He gave his all every time What a fine cricketer We all had total respect for him He enjoyed himself and was loved by everyone around I remember we won the Test match at Lords and stood there and signed autographs for a long time He was good for us and was held in high regard everywhere we wentJulien played for the West Indies in 24 Test matches and 12 ODIs He scored 866 runs and took 50 wickets in the redball format while managing 86 runs and 18 scalps in the oneday internationalsKishore Shallow the president of Cricket West Indies also expressed grief over the passing of the legendary cricketerAs we honour Bernard Julien we also recognise the importance of reflection and inclusion The time has come to view that chapter of our history not through exclusion but through understanding Shallow said in a Cricket West Indies statementTo the family friends and loved ones of Bernard Julien we extend our deepest condolences His passing reminds us that a life devoted to purpose never truly leaves us Cricket West Indies stands with you in this moment of loss and we hope Bernard knew he was valued and loved by the cricketing family he helped to shape and that he found peace knowing his contribution will always endure he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/former-west-indies-allrounder-1975-world-cup-winner-bernard-julien-passes-away-at-75-641722.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 12:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/kapil-kumar-moves-to-second-place-on-igpl-order-of-merit-after-third-event-641740.html Pune Oct 6 Kapil Kumar who grabbed his maiden professional title at the IGPL Invitational moved into second place on the IGPL Order of Merit The 33yearold who defeated teenage Kartik Singh on the second playoff at the Poona Golf Club was tied for sixth at the IGPL Chandigarh Kapils total earnings of Rs 2993925 are second only to Gaganjeet Bhullars Rs 4500000 from two wins at Chandigarh and Jaypee GreensKartik who was third at Jaypee and Tied8th before that at Chandigarh has been in the Top10 in all three events Following his runnerup finish in Pune he has earned Rs 2871557 and is now in third place behind Bhullar and KapilPukhraj Singh Gill tied 11th in Chandigarh and T8 in Jaypee finished tenth in Pune and he currently lies fourth in the IGPL Order of Merit with earnings of Rs 2121557As many as four players have surpassed the Rs 20 lakh threshold in just three events with M Dharma in fifth place at Rs 1818000 Sachin Baisoya Kartik Sharma Saarthak Chibber Aman Raj and young Veer Ganapathy hold the positions from fifth to tenth placesThe leading woman earner so far after three events is Durga Nittur with Rs 476400 placed 31st overall and just behind her in second is Jasmine Shekar with Rs 460500 who is 32nd overallMeanwhile professional Shat Mishra led his team to a fine victory in the ProAm at the IGPL Invitational Pune Mishras quartet which included Maj Gen Vikram Verma Lt Col Shakti Singh and Group Captain Manoj Gera They tallied 532 pointsThey finished ahead of the team led by professional Aadil Bedi whose teammates were Col Mohan Nasa Vikram Puri and Asheer KapoorBedis team edged out the team led by Aryan Roopa Anand whose teammates included BK Nihal Vikrant Tatkare and Imran AzamThe winning pros received Rs 75000 Rs 50000 and Rs 25000 respectively while amateurs were awarded attractive prizes and a specially designed IGPL Trophy each IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/kapil-kumar-moves-to-second-place-on-igpl-order-of-merit-after-third-event-641740.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jk-cm-omar-abdullah-inaugurates-national-school-games-in-srinagar-641756.html Srinagar Oct 6 IANS Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday inaugurated the 69th National School Games in Srinagar by ceremonially kicking a football marking the formal commencement of the nationallevel sporting eventnbspThis years National School Games have drawn participation from 30 teams representing various states and Union Territories across the country with matches scheduled to be played at six different venuesnbspThe events include competitions in football wushu taekwondo and table tennisSpeaking on the occasion the Chief Minister said that sports play a vital role in fostering unity friendship and understanding among young people from diverse regions of the countrynbspSports build bridges of unity and friendship I am delighted to be here with you at the inauguration of the 69th National School Games Unfortunately the weather today does not permit me to deliver a long speech or keep you waiting in the rain While the weather is beyond our control it gives me immense pleasure on behalf of myself my colleagues and the people of Jammu and Kashmir to warmly welcome all of you to this prestigious tournament CM Omar Abdullah addedHe assured participants of full support from the state government and organisers adding that every effort would be made to ensure their comfort and safetynbspIf any of you face any inconvenience whether a shortage of warm clothing or any other requirement please do not hesitate to approach us We will do everything possible to make your stay and participation comfortable he saidnbspExpressing optimism about improving weather conditions the Chief Minister encouraged the young athletes to enjoy the experience of competition and camaraderienbspAs the saying goes winning is not as important as taking part I sincerely appreciate your spirit and enthusiasm in coming here to participate he said wishing the players memorable moments and success in the tournamentThe march past by 30 participating teams drew appreciation from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and applause from a large gathering of school children and spectators at the venuenbspPlayers coaches and team officials also took the oath of sportsmanship pledging to uphold the values of fair play discipline and teamworknbspThe opening ceremony was attended by Minister for Youth Services and Sports Satish Sharma Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani Lal Chowk MLA Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed Pardesi Director General Youth Services and Sports Anuradha Gupta JampampK Sports Council Secretary Nuzhat Gul and several other dignitaries and officials https://dailyworld.in/sports/jk-cm-omar-abdullah-inaugurates-national-school-games-in-srinagar-641756.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/manish-and-vaishnavi-clinch-singles-titles-in-national-tennis-championship-641581.html New Delhi Oct 4 Tamil Nadus Manish Sureshkumar and Maharashtras Vaishnavi Adkar continued their winning run in the 30th National Tennis Championship to clinch the mens and womens singles titles respectively at the DLTA Complex in New Delhi on Saturday In the mens singles final Manish Sureshkumar overcame Keerthivassan Suresh 64 62 in a twohour contest showing his consistency and composure under pressureBoth players began aggressively trading early breaks of serve to level at 11 Manish then broke Keerthivassans serve to go 21 up and consolidated to make it 31 Keerthivassan responded strongly holding and breaking back to edge ahead 43 However Manish lifted his game from that point breaking his opponents serve again to close the opening setCarrying the momentum into the second set the Tamil Nadu player maintained his rhythm playing long rallies with precise groundstrokes and solid returns He wrapped up the set 62 to seal the match and the mens singles crownOn the other hand Vaishnavi started the womens singles final in top gear breaking Akanksha Nittures serve early to lead 20 Though Akanksha briefly broke back Vaishnavi quickly regained control with precise shots to win the opening setThe second set followed a similar pattern as Vaishnavi maintained her momentum After both players held serve early she broke Akanksha twice to surge ahead 51 Despite Akansha pulling one break back Vaishnavi held firm serving out confidently to seal the set and title with the final score of 61 62Supported by DCM Shriram Ltd and held under the aegis of the All India Tennis Association AITA and the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association DLTA the Fenesta Open continues to be Indias largest domestic tennis championship attracting the nations top talentIn the Under18 category Harshini N edged past Snigdha Kanta 61 26 64 in a tightly contested girls singles final that lasted over three hoursIn the boys singles final Tavish Pahwa triumphed over Hruthik Katakam 762 10 retired after Katakam was forced to withdraw due to injuryMeanwhile in the mens doubles final the pair of Nitin Kumar Sinha and Maan Kesharwani defeated Manish Sureshkumar and Abhinav Sanjeev S 64 36 105 in a thrilling contest that went down to the wireIn the womens doubles category Akanksha Nitture teamed up with Soha Sadiq to record a 62 62 victory over Pooja Ingale and Yubrani BanerjeeVraj H Gohil and Prakaash Sarran came from behind to beat Karan Thapa and Channamallikarjuna Yale 26 75 105 in a gripping boys U18 doubles final In the girls U18 doubles final Savitha Bhuvaneswaran and Aahan outclassed Akansha Ghosh and Deepshika V 63 63 to lift the titleBesides the prestigious titles the winners will be awarded with prize money with a total prize pool of over Rs 2155 Lakh and Kit Allowance in the junior categories up for grabs The winners and runnersup in the U16 and U14 singles events will also receive a Tennis scholarship of 25000 each The Boys and Girls Under16 amp Under14 category qualifying and main draw matches will be played from October 5 to October 11 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/manish-and-vaishnavi-clinch-singles-titles-in-national-tennis-championship-641581.html Sun, 05 Oct 2025 00:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025mumbai-meteors-rock-hosts-hyderabad-black-hawks-with-3-0-win-641602.html Hyderabad Oct 4 Shubham Chaudhary was named the Player of the Match as Mumbai Meteors executed a clinical 159 1513 157 win over the hosts Hyderabad Black Hawks in Prime Volleyball League PVL at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium Hyderabad on Saturday Mumbai dominated with the serve early on catching Hyderabad out of position on multiple occasions Abhinav Salars super serve rocked Hyderabads defence Hyderabads risky call of a super point did not yield the desired result as Shubham Chaudharys block helped MumbaiPaulo Lamounier distributed his passes between Niyas Abdul Salam and Sahil Kumar who both provided quality attacking options But Mumbai appeared to have done their homework always employing a twoman block against the two attackers to give themselves the best possible defenceMathias Loftesnes joined in to complement Mumbais attacks while Hyderabad brought on Guru to break through the oppositions defence But Mumbai continued to capitalise on the momentum with Shubhams relentless attacksLamounier began setting up pipe attacks with John Joseph on the court as the Black Hawks tried to find a way back But Hyderabad struggled against Abhinavs final set service run as the Mumbai blocker made two quick super serves and two more aces to tilt the game completely in Mumbais favour The Meteors dominated throughout the game to get a 30 winHyderabad Black Hawks launched their campaign in Season 4 of the PVL defeating the Calicut Heroes 1512 1816 1816 in the enthralling opener at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium on Thursday Paulo Lamounier was named the Player of the MatchCalicuts Vikas Maans impressive blocking shut down Hyderabads attacks early on Coach Sunny Josephs strategy of giving Rajasthans Ashok Bishnoi a starting spot worked in Calicuts favour as the attacker helped his side with an aggressive display Sahil Kumar began the counterattack to bring the hosts back in the game Calicuts inconsistencies with first touch affected their momentum and the Hawks took the lead IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pvl-2025mumbai-meteors-rock-hosts-hyderabad-black-hawks-with-3-0-win-641602.html Sun, 05 Oct 2025 00:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/vinicius-double-lead-real-madrid-to-win-over-villarreal-641626.html Madrid Oct 5 Real Madrid moved provisionally to the top of La Liga after a 31 win at home to Villarreal Vinicius Jr opened the scoring two minutes after halftime with a deflected shot and doubled the lead in the 69th minute from the penalty spotGeorges Mikautadze drilled Villarreal back into the game in the 73rd minute but the visitors hopes virtually ended when Santiago Mourino was sent off for a second yellow card after a slight contact with ViniciusKylian Mbappe sealed the win with an 81stminute goal before leaving the pitch with a slight physical problemReal Madrid leads by two points over FC Barcelona which visits Sevilla on SundayIn Athletic Bilbaos 21 home win over Mallorca Inaki Williams put Athletic ahead from the penalty spot in the ninth minute and Athletic created enough chances in the opening half an hour to have sealed the win but failed to take any of themMallorca was level in the 77th minute when Samu Costas cross fooled goalkeeper Unai Simon to end in the far corner of the netAlejandro Rego won the game for Athletic with his first goal for the club in the 82nd minute when he sidefooted home a pullback from Jesus AresoGoals from Carlos Alvarez and Etta Eyong either side of halftime fueled Levante to a 20 win away to Oviedo in a clash between two recently promoted teamsGirona claimed its first win of the season with a nailbiting 21 win at home to Valencia despite ending with nine menVladyslav Vanat put Girona ahead in the 18th minute with Diego Lopez equalizing 12 minutes into the second halfArnau Martinez scored the winning goal in the 63rd minute but Girona fans had to endure a nervewracking finish as Ivan Martin and Alejandro Frances were sent off in the closing minutesAlejandro Catena scored a lastminute header to give Osasuna a 21 win at home to Getafe on FridayBorja Mayoral gave Getafe a 23rdminute lead from close range but defender Abel Bretones equalized on the stroke of halftime with a stunning shot into the corner of the goal IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/vinicius-double-lead-real-madrid-to-win-over-villarreal-641626.html Sun, 05 Oct 2025 13:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/messi-becomes-second-player-in-mls-history-to-reach-at-least-40-combined-goals-and-assists-641633.html Fort Lauderdale Oct 5 Lionel Messi has added another milestone to his crowded mantle after recording three assists in the 41 home win over the New England Revolution reaching 41 goal contributions this season Messi became only the second player in MLS history to reach at least 40 combined goals and assists in a regularseason campaign following Carlos Velas record 49 with LAFC in 2019He assisted Tadeo Allendes goal in the 32nd minute which opened the scoring Then before the halftime break he linked up with former FC Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba with a fine piece of dribbling inside the box The classic combination doubled Miamis lead MLS reportsDor Turgeman pulled one back for the visitors in the 59th minute but Miami responded almost immediately Messi just a minute later set up Allendes second goal of the night shortly before Alba added a brace of his own to round out the scoreboardHe gave us the possibility of opening the score and then securing the result head coach Javier Mascherano said postgame of Messis latest standout performance Not only with the pass for Jordi but when they New England made it 21 and in the next play with an assist that only he can give He keeps showing the ability he has and more than anything the ambition and desire to go for moreMessi has two more games to increase his goal contributions and possibly challenge Velas record starting with Saturdays regularseason home fixture against Atlanta UnitedLast years MLS MVP is also competing to become the leagues firstever consecutive winnerOn the collective front Messi and Miami are third in the Eastern Conference with 59 points A topfour position would secure homefield advantage in their 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Bestof3 Series IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/messi-becomes-second-player-in-mls-history-to-reach-at-least-40-combined-goals-and-assists-641633.html Sun, 05 Oct 2025 13:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/apl-one-of-the-most-receiving-amp-giving-countries-world-no-1-brady-ellison-mesmerised-by-indias-massive-fan-base-641654.html New Delhi Oct 4 USAs world No 1 recurve archer Brady Ellisons first visit to India is proving to be a memorable one for him both professionally and personally Here in the national capital for the inaugural Archery Premier League APL Ellison is captivated by the welcome and the admiration he has received while leading the Chola Chiefs franchise The sixteam APL began on Dussehra October 2 and will continue until October 12 In their three matches so far the Chiefs have won twice with Ellison in excellent shooting form leading from the frontIts really nice Im still struggling like crazy from jet lag Weve been kind of practicing more and then Ive kind of been taking a nap in the middle of the day said Ellison who has been overwhelmed by the attention whenever he steps up to shoot I have got a big fan base here I can feel it in the crowd and I can feel it with the people taking pictures asking for autographs and stuffEllison is the only male archer to have won the Archery World Cup final six times besides being a veteran of five Olympics in which he has secured five medals including an individual silver at the Paris Games and an individual bronze at RioA threetime champion in field archery as well Ellison is relishing the unique challenges that the APL presents to the archers in the league which includes Indian veterans like Deepika Kumari Atanu Das Tarundeep Rai Abhishek Verma and promising youngsters like Ojas Deotale Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Dhiraj BommadevaraMy first reaction was it APL was going to be different and I didnt know how it was going to work said Ellison who began as a compound archer but shifted to recurve in 2005The league is played in a format that includes both recurve and compound archers in a squad of eight players per team Ellison said it bodes well for the sport especially as compound will make its debut at the LA 2028 Olympics in the mixed team eventI think that its going to really help everything in a way because compound is the next evolution of archery and I think that it deserves a space I would like to see the compound grow in the Olympics and I would also like recurve to remain said the 36yearold AmericanTalking about the APL Ellison finds the time limit to shoot the most challenging aspect that will take time for the archers to get used toFor every set played the team has 120 seconds to shoot eight arrows two arrows per archerAlmost every team a lot of ends players are shooting on the buzzer hurrying to the lines making mistakes that you normally dont see us make It is a hard timed format Ellison analysedWhen I read the rules I thought there might be a mistake 120 seconds for 8 arrows I was like probably its a typo and I was sure when we get here itll be different he addedBut I think its brilliant Almost every one of us is huffing on the fly to learn how to shoot a lot quicker than we normally would Rotations have to be quicker Everything about this is fast and its an amazing Itll be interesting as the week goes on to see if teams break down with frustration I do believe that theres going to be some adjustments made during the week to try to make sure that you score off all 8 of your arrowsEllison concluded by sharing his experience in India in the first week of his visit Im impressed with this country because its one of the most receiving and giving countries Ive been to Everyone here has been very kind asking if you need anything just bringing you things Its a very giving culture it seem and its very different to what I expected or honestly anywhere else that Ive been to he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/apl-one-of-the-most-receiving-amp-giving-countries-world-no-1-brady-ellison-mesmerised-by-indias-massive-fan-base-641654.html Sun, 05 Oct 2025 15:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/fit-india-sundays-on-cycle-dr-mandaviya-leads-the-way-with-teachers-in-delhi-on-world-teachers-day-641683.html New Delhi Oct 5 Union Minister for Youth Affairs amp Sports and Labour amp Employment Dr Mansukh Mandaviya led the 43rd edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle commemorating the World Teachers Day at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in the national capital this morning The event simultaneously took place in over 10500 locations nationwide Over 1000 participants including educators from across Delhi joined in alongside athletes fitness influencers and youth The athletes included Olympic medallist Abhishek Nain a key member of the Indian hockey team chess icon Tania Sachdev as well as rising javelin star Sachin Yadav and Rohtash Chaudhary referred to as Indias Pushup Man It also featured a vibrant nukkad natak dedicated to teachers yoga sessions skipping fitness games and participation zones for childrenAddressing the gathering Dr Mandaviya called the initiative a true nationwide movement Through this movement lakhs of citizens across more than 10500 locations are pedalling every Sunday to keep themselves fit It has become a celebration of the Fit India vision given by our Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi he saidIf every citizen dedicates even an hour to physical activity Bharat will march ahead stronger healthier and more united towards the dream of Viksit Bharat Today several teachers have participated in this event giving a message to students to maintain a balance in life Bicycle pedals teach us the greatest lesson of life that we move forward only when we maintain balance This balance is the foundation of life and it comes from fitness he addedOrganised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports MYAS in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India CFI Yogasana Bharat and MY Bharat the cycling movement has now firmly established itself as one of Indias most impactful fitness campaigns The event also saw the launch of the official anthem of the Fit India Sundays on Cycle The New Delhi event was also conducted in collaboration with Raahgiri Foundation and Fitspire while the Rope Skipping activity was led by Dr Shikha GuptaMeanwhile Rohtash Chaudhary popularly known as the Pushup Man of India who is also a Guinness World Record holder and Brand Ambassador of the Fit India Movement informed Dr Mansukh Mandaviya during the event of his attempt for another Guinness World Record for the Most Pushups in one hour with a 60 lb pack on the back scheduled to be held on November 2 2025 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium New DelhiAbhishek Nain who won bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics with the Indian hockey team and lifted the Asia Cup in Rajgir spoke passionately about the initiative in New Delhi As athletes fitness is our foundation What I see here is not just people cycling but India embracing a culture of health It is also very motivating that the movement has expanded over the last few months he saidGrandmaster GM Tania Sachdev making her second appearance at Sundays on Cycle struck an emotional note linking the movement to Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision I admire our Prime Minister Narendra Modis effortshe is such a big supporter of sports and has transformed fitness into a peoples movement This initiative shows how fitness can bring communities together Today seeing teachers students and athletes cycle side by side was heartwarmingFollowing 43 editions the Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative has seen a huge scale of participation from over 100000 locations nationwide engaging over 12 lakh individuals Events were also organised on Sunday in venues like the SAI NCOE Guwahati STC Rajnanagaon in Chhattisgarh SAI STC Kokrajhar SAI NSRC Lucknow SAI STC Jabalpur and more Events are organised from State and Union Territory capitals to Sports Authority of India SAI Regional Centres National Centres of Excellence NCOEs SAI Training Centres STCs Khelo India State Centres of Excellence KISCEs and Khelo India Centres KICs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/fit-india-sundays-on-cycle-dr-mandaviya-leads-the-way-with-teachers-in-delhi-on-world-teachers-day-641683.html Sun, 05 Oct 2025 18:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-chance-for-arsenal-as-pressure-builds-on-amorim-postecoglou-641432.html London Oct 3 Could it be allchange at the top of the Premier League following a round of matches that looks certain to leave either Liverpool coach Arne Slot or Chelseas Enzo Maresca facing a difficult fortnight Liverpool visit Chelsea on Saturday with Chelsea sitting eighth in the table and Maresca having to avoid a third consecutive league defeat Liverpool travel after losing to Crystal Palace last weekend and then sliding to defeat against Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League in a game where goalkeeper Alisson Becker was injured Giorgi Mamardashvili should replace Alisson in goal as Liverpools defense is also likely to be under the spotlightArsenal can go top of the table for at least a few hours with a home win over West Ham United Mikel Artetas side has lost its last two games at home to West Ham but after last weekends win in Newcastle and a comfortable 20 midweek win at home to Olympiacos the players will be optimistic even though new coach Nuno Espirito Santo toughened up West Hams defense last weekend away to EvertonTwo coaches are under increasing pressure this weekend with Manchester Uniteds Ruben Amorim needing a good result and performance when his side entertains Sunderland on SaturdayManchester Uniteds defeat to Brentford last weekend undid the good from the previous weekends win against Chelsea and a disciplined Sunderland could test the patience of the Old Trafford fans and directorsAnge Postecoglou also needs a win when Nottingham Forest visit Newcastle United after a 32 Europa League defeat at home to Midtjylland on Thursday had home fans turn on him after six games without a win since replacing Espirito SantoManchester City travel to Brentford with Pep Guardiolas side still searching for the defensive consistency to turn the team into a title candidate while an improving Aston Villa play at home to BurnleyTottenham Hotspur have a complicated visit to Leeds United which is adapting well to life back among the elite while Wolverhampton Wanderers continues their search for the first league win of the season at home to BrightonA Carabao Cup win over Everton and last weekends draw against Tottenham imply the Wolves are turning things around but coach Vitor Pereira will want to avoid going into another international break winless IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-chance-for-arsenal-as-pressure-builds-on-amorim-postecoglou-641432.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 06:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/saif-hassan-earns-maiden-odi-call-up-as-bangladesh-unveil-squad-for-afghanistan-series-641447.html Dhaka Oct 4 Bangladesh have unveiled their 16member squad for the upcoming threematch ODI series against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi with Saif Hassan earning his first callup to the 50over format The series which begins on October 8 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium is set to serve as crucial preparation for both sides in the buildup to the ICC Mens Cricket World Cup 2027The major talking point from the squad announcement was the absence of experienced toporder batter Litton Das who has not been considered as he continues his recovery from a side strain Littons unavailability has opened the door for Hassan a consistent performer in domestic cricket to potentially stake his claim at the international level In addition Parvez Hossain Emon who featured in the previous series against Afghanistan in July has been droppedThere was also good news for wicketkeeperbatter Nurul Hasan who returns to the ODI fold for the first time since 2023 His recall provides Bangladesh with an experienced option in the middle order alongside the younger batters Mehidy Hasan Miraz will continue to lead the side with the selectors once again entrusting him with captaincy duties as Bangladesh look to refine their combinationsThe squad has a balanced look featuring toporder options such as Tanzid Hasan Mohammad Naim Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy alongside allrounders like Shamim Hossain and Jaker Ali In the bowling department Bangladesh have retained their pace strength with Taskin Ahmed Mustafizur Rahman Hasan Mahmud Tanzim Hasan and Nahid Rana all included They will be supported by spinners Rishad Hossain and Tanvir Islam ensuring variety across conditions in Abu DhabiThe threematch series will be played entirely at Zayed Cricket Stadium with fixtures scheduled for October 8 11 and 14Bangladesh squad Mehidy Hasan Miraz c Tanzid Hasan Mohammad Naim Saif Hassan Najmul Hossain Shanto Towhid Hridoy Jaker Ali Shamim Hossain Nurul Hasan Rishad Hossain Tanvir Islam Taskin Ahmed Mustafizur Rahman Tanzim Hasan Hasan Mahmud Nahid Rana IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/saif-hassan-earns-maiden-odi-call-up-as-bangladesh-unveil-squad-for-afghanistan-series-641447.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 09:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/messi-new-faces-in-argentina-squad-for-us-friendlies-641450.html Buenos Aires Oct 4 River Plate defender Lautaro Rivero was one of three uncapped players included in Argentinas squad on Friday for friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico Racing goalkeeper Facundo Cambeses and Palmeiras midfielder Anibal Moreno were also called up for the first time by Albiceleste manager Lionel Scaloni for this months friendlies in the United StatesIn addition Scaloni recalled Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi while Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez returns after missing Septembers World Cup qualifiers due to suspensionAs expected the 28man squad is led by captain Lionel Messi and also includes Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister Real Madrid midfielder Franco Mastantuono Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez and Inter Milan striker Lautaro MartinezArgentina will meet Venezuela in Miami on October 10 and Puerto Rico in Chicago three days laterArgentina squadGoalkeepers Emiliano Martinez Walter Benitez Geronimo Rulli and Facundo CambesesDefenders Gonzalo Montiel Nahuel Molina Cristian Romero Leonardo Balerdi Nicolas Otamendi Marcos Senesi Lautaro Rivero Nicolas Tagliafico and Marcos AcunaMidfielders Leandro Paredes Anibal Moreno Rodrigo De Paul Enzo Fernandez Nicolas Paz Giovanni Lo Celso Alexis Mac Allister Thiago Almada and Franco MastantuonoForwards Giuliano Simeone Nicolas Gonzalez Lionel Messi Jose Manuel Lopez Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/messi-new-faces-in-argentina-squad-for-us-friendlies-641450.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 09:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/abhishek-verma-hails-apl-for-boosting-archers-exposure-and-confidence-641477.html New Delhi Oct 4 The buzz around the Archery Premier League APL has gone up several notches as the tournament continues to deliver exciting contests and keeps fans engaged The league which brings together top Indian and international archers has been praised for giving the sport a professional stage and competitive environmentPrithviraaj Yoddhas ace archer and Arjuna Awardee Abhishek Verma expressed his appreciation for the initiative saying that the APL provides archers with the right platform to compete at a high level and showcase their talent to a wider audience He also highlighted how such a league can help grow the sport in India and inspire young players to take up archeryThis league is a big event In India we already have so many sports but archery was missing No other country has tried something like this before so its a proud moment for Indian archers With the worlds top players here our archers are getting to practice compete and learn from them The atmosphere is very positive and it gives us a clear goal to chase he saidIndia has produced some strong performances in archery at the international level but the absence of an Olympic medal still leaves a gap Verma believes that the launch of the APL can play a key role in changing that He feels the league will give archers more exposure to highpressure situations sharpen their skills and help them prepare better for major events like the Olympics According to him the APL can strengthen Indias chances of finally winning an Olympic medal in the sportAt the Olympics our performance has been good but it hasnt resulted in a medal so far That gap is felt by everyone Now with the league and compound archery included mixed team event only we are stronger Our team looks very solid and Im confident we can win medals Interacting with foreign archers will also help reduce stage fright Earlier we only watched them now we talk train eat and even travel with them This makes them feel like teammates not rivals he addedVerma also praised the government for supporting athletes beyond the field He pointed out that providing secure government jobs has given players confidence about their futureAccording to him this step not only helps athletes focus fully on their sport without worrying about financial stability but also motivates more youngsters to take up archery and other disciplines seriouslySports has given me everything money a job and financial security I joined the Income Tax Department as Assistant Commissioner through the sports quota The government has done well to secure athletes futures by reserving jobs Depending on your level national international or Olympic medalist the opportunities are there This support system motivates athletes to perform even better Verma saidTalking about his fitness Verma said Archery teaches patience Its not about aggression its about control Whether you hit a 10 or an 8 your reaction should remain calm Fitness is both physical and mental Every day we do half an hour of running or gym then 56 hours of shooting with 300350 arrows Meditation and yoga are also important Visualization is another technique We imagine taking a perfect shot without even releasing an arrow Whoever has the best control over the mind and body usually wins IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/abhishek-verma-hails-apl-for-boosting-archers-exposure-and-confidence-641477.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 12:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wpac-2025-markus-rehm-and-steffi-nerius-16-year-journey-of-trust-and-triumphs-641489.html New Delhi Oct 4 When Markus Rehm soared to 843m at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships taking place in New Delhi he not only claimed his eighth successive world title but also ended one of the most extraordinary partnerships in para sport history Behind the gold medal lay a quiet yet powerful story a 16year bond between athlete and coach between Rehm and Steffi Nerius that began in India and fittingly concluded in IndiaSixteen years ago a lanky German long jumper and his new coach stepped into a packed stadium in Bangalore for their first international event together The teenager was raw driven and searching for himself after losing his right leg in a wakeboarding accident at the age of 14 His coach Steffi Nerius was already a world champion in her own right a javelin thrower who had stood on podiums felt the weight of pressure and knew what it meant to winThat competition in India was our start Rehm recalled It was the first time we went abroad together I was nervous unsure of who I was She gave me belief That was the start of a fantastic journey and I am happy that it comes to an end in India itself Our first international meet was here Now we finish here It feels like life wrote this story he said with a smileAs the German national anthem played and the medal was placed around his neck Rehm touched his headband again The tribute was modest but to him it meant everything Steffi deserves her weekends now her time with her family he said softly I cant give enough back for what she gave meFor Rehm sport had always been identity I was the sporty kid the one who ran fast and jumped far he said After the accident I lost that in one day It was like losing who I wasNerius understood Her approach was never just about technique or fitness it was about rekindling the spirit of a teenager who believed his dreams were lost Training sessions included as much conversation as drills She constantly reminded him that the man he aspired to become was still within him he just needed to rediscover himselfSports gave me my identity back Rehm said But it was Steffi who gave me the pathTheir record of achievement reveals only part of the story When Rehm started the long jump world record for amputees was below 7 metres Under Nerius they broke through every barrier first 7 metres then 750 then the hallowed 8metre mark and eventually an extraordinary 872m in 2023 a distance that would challenge ablebodied jumpersShe always pushed me beyond what I thought possible Rehm said Whenever I thought we had reached the limit she showed me there was still another stepAt training in Leverkusen Nerius was known for her calm authority She was precise about details the angle of takeoff the rhythm of the approach the timing of the jump Yet she balanced this with humanity Teammates often remarked that their relationship resembled less a coach and athlete more a family bondRehm often describes their relationship as more than just coach and athleteThey travelled the world together endured long nights of preparation dealt with injuries and celebrated victories She joined me for half of my life he said his voice catching As an athlete as a person she changed meIt wasnt unusual for instance to see Nerius carry his kit bag through airports when he was exhausted after competitions Or to find her staying late after training watching his jumps on video repeatedly searching for that tiny tweak that could mean another 10 centimetresShe cared not only about the jump Rehm said but about meRehms story is far from over He has already chosen to join a Dutch training group in Amsterdam alongside world champion Fleur Jong seeking new insights and fresh challenges He still dreams of surpassing his own 872m world record Im still a dreamer he laughed Theres more distance out thereBut wherever his journey takes him a part of it will forever belong to Steffi NeriusIn a world where coachathlete relationships often break under pressure theirs endured Sixteen years eight world titles and a world record but beyond the medals it was built on respect care and trustOn that night in Delhi as Markus Rehm waved to the crowd and walked off the track it wasnt just a champion leaving the pit It was the closing chapter of one of para athletics most inspiring partnerships IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wpac-2025-markus-rehm-and-steffi-nerius-16-year-journey-of-trust-and-triumphs-641489.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 13:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-devonshire-ruled-out-of-new-zealand-squad-with-finger-injury-641503.html Guwahati Oct 4 New Zealand have been dealt with an early setback in their Womens World Cup campaign with leftarm offspinning allrounder Flora Devonshire ruled out of the tournament due to a hand injury Devonshire who had earned her maiden World Cup callup sustained a laceration to her left hand while fielding during a training session and is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeksIn her place rightarm pacebowling allrounder Hannah Rowe has been drafted into the squad Rowe a seasoned cricketer with 60 ODI caps will be attending her third oneday World Cup bringing valuable experience to the White Ferns setupConfirming the development head coach Ben Sawyer voiced his disappointment at losing Devonshire so early in the tournament Were all feeling for Flora he said She worked hard to earn her spot in this squad and its a real shame her tournament is ending earlySawyer however emphasised that including Rowe would bring more depth and experience to the squad Were pleased to be able to call up a senior player in Hannah Rowe he said Hannahs obviously not a likeforlike replacement for Flora but she offers an allround skillset and has experience in subcontinent conditionsRowe is scheduled to join the team on October 7 in Indore before travelling with the squad to Guwahati for the next leg of the tournamentThe injury comes at a critical time for the White Ferns who are gearing up to face South Africa in their second ICC Womens Cricket World Cup 2025 match on October 6 Devonshires absence will be a setback for New Zealands balance as the 24yearold was seen as a promising option with both bat and ball in spinfriendly conditionsThe Sophie Devineled side started their campaign with a defeat against defending champions Australia on Wednesday Annabel Sutherland and Sophie Molineuxs threewicket haul overpowered the Kiwi skippers runaball 112 as the Alyssa Healyled side kicked off their title defence with an 89run win IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-world-cup-devonshire-ruled-out-of-new-zealand-squad-with-finger-injury-641503.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gill-crowned-new-odi-captain-as-rohit-kohli-return-for-australia-tour-641533.html Ahmedabad Oct 4 Shubman Gill has been named as Indias ODI captain and replaces Rohit Sharma at the helm for the upcoming threematch series in Australia beginning on October 19 Rohit has been named in the squad as a batter as he and Virat Kohli are set to return to the ODI setup for the first time since the triumphant 2025 Champions Trophy campaign The leadership transition marks a significant moment as Gill named Indias Test captain earlier this year is now entrusted with leading the ODI unit and is the vicecaptain in T20IsHis appointment shortly after he got victory in his first Test match as captain on Indian soil as the side thrashed West Indies by an innings and 140 runs Shreyas Iyer will be the vicecaptain in ODIs while Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant havent been picked due to them still in recovery from injuries to their quad and fractured right foot respectivelyDue to that Nitish Kumar Reddy and Dhruv Jurel are in the ODI team while Yashasvi Jaiswal has been picked and theres no room for Ravindra Jadeja while Jasprit Bumrah has been rested Axar will be joined in the bowling department by Washington Sundar Kuldeep Yadav Harshit Rana Mohammed Siraj Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh KrishnaBumrah though will be in the fivematch T20I series so as the rest of the side who won the Asia Cup in the UAE Sundar who was a standby for the Asia Cup is in the main T20I team picked by the selection committee who met in Ahmedabad on SaturdayThough Rohit and Kohli havent played any competitive cricket after IPL 2025 both have been steadily preparing for a busy block of ODI cricket action coming in next few months as India are slated to host South Africa and New Zealand for three 50over games each in NovemberDecember and January 2026 respectivelyRohit had even come down to the BCCI Centre of Excellence CoE in Bengaluru for some work on his batting and fitness while Kohli has been doing his preparation in LondonIndias whiteball tour of Australia starts with the ODI series opener on October 19 at Perth Stadium and is followed by matches at Adelaide Oval and Sydney Cricket Ground on October 23 and 25 respectivelyIt is followed by the fivematch T20I series beginning on October 29 at Manuka Oval in Canberra with further games to be played at Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 31 Bellerive Oval in Hobart on November 2 Gold Coast Stadium on November 6 and The Gabba in Brisbane on November 8The last time India toured Australia for a bilateral ODI series the visitors lost by 21 margin in 202021 but managed to win the subsequent T20I series by the same margin on the same tourIndias ODI squad Shubman Gill Captain Rohit Sharma Virat Kohli Shreyas Iyer VC Axar Patel KL Rahul WK Nitish Kumar Reddy Washington Sundar Kuldeep Yadav Harshit Rana Mohammed Siraj Arshdeep Singh Prasidh Krishna Dhruv Jurel WK and Yashasvi JaiswalIndias T20I squad Suryakumar Yadav C Abhishek Sharma Shubman Gill VC Tilak Varma Nitish Kumar Reddy Shivam Dube Axar Patel Jitesh Sharma WK Varun Chakaravarthy Jasprit Bumrah Arshdeep Singh Kuldeep Yadav Harshit Rana Sanju Samson WK Rinku Singh and Washington Sundar IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gill-crowned-new-odi-captain-as-rohit-kohli-return-for-australia-tour-641533.html Sat, 04 Oct 2025 15:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/manisha-chauhan-to-lead-india-a-womens-hockey-team-in-five-match-tour-of-china--641329.html New Delhi Oct 3 India A womens hockey team is all set to embark on an important tour of China where the team will play a fivematch series at the Liaoning Sports Centre in Dalian from October 13 to 21 Over eight days India A will contest against Liaoning on October 13 15 17 19 and 21 The squad for the tour has been selected to showcase a blend of some experienced players and promising young players many of whom have earned recognition at the national level recentlyThe team will be led by accomplished defender Manisha Chauhan who brings leadership experience and tactical acumen to the squad The squad will be coached by Dave Smolenaars the analytical coach of the Indian womens team who will lend his vast experience with tactical innovation and player development to this tourSpeaking about the opportunity Dave Smolenaars said We have assembled a strong young squad with great potential The series in China provides an excellent platform for players to showcase their abilities learn in a new environment and build valuable international exposure Im confident that with their determination and teamwork this group will make the most of this wonderful opportunityIt is crucial for the development of Indian womens hockey that players are consistently challenged and given opportunities to compete outside their comfort zone The lessons from this series in China will contribute a lot to their holistic growth and confidence in highpressure situationsThe tour is seen as a key development initiative for the Indian womens programme providing a platform for upcoming athletes to test their mettle in international conditions and adapt to new challenges before moving up the ranksIt also represents Hockey Indias ongoing commitment to investing in the future of the sport and creating bench strength for upcoming major international tournaments IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/manisha-chauhan-to-lead-india-a-womens-hockey-team-in-five-match-tour-of-china--641329.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ride-the-home-support-and-trust-process-prannoy-lakshyas-message-to-indian-contingent-for-bwf-jr-worlds-641356.html Guwahati Oct 3 Indias top shuttlers including former World Junior Championships medallists HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen along with Olympian and womens doubles star shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa recorded a special message for the Indian contingent for the upcoming World Junior Championships urging them to enjoy themselves and trust their preparations The BWF World Junior Championships 2025 will be played in Guwahati Assam from October 6 to 19 India is hosting this event 17 years after it first hosted in Pune in 2008Its probably a onceinalifetime opportunity to represent India at the World Juniors Its an opportunity for the juniors to play against the best in the world this is the first stepping stone From here you know what to expect in the next couple of years because next youre getting into the senior level said Prannoy who won a BWF world junior bronze medal in 2010Pointing out that most of the Indian squad members were training at the stateofart NCE Prannoy said the Indian players will have the advantage of knowing the conditions well and need to make the most of itSen who like Prannoy has bagged a bronze medal at the world junior and senior world championships said it was important for the players to stay focused and not get distracted at this juncture Its your home turf Its a great event to take advantage of the home support and conditions he said adding there would be a lot of eyes on the players and they would have to focus on what is importantThe 2011 World Championships bronze medallist Ashwini urged the players to trust the training process they have followed in the runup to the championships and asked them to give their best in order to win as many medals for the countryIndia has so far won 11 medals including a gold and four silver in the BWF World Junior Championships with its best ever performance coming in the 2008 edition where Saina Nehwal won the gold and RMV Gurusai Dutt the bronze medalIndia is hoping to find a podium place in the mixed team event for the first time as they are seeded second and a strong showing in the paired events during the individual championships IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ride-the-home-support-and-trust-process-prannoy-lakshyas-message-to-indian-contingent-for-bwf-jr-worlds-641356.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wpac-2025-stray-dog-bites-kenyan-official-at-jln-stadium-641359.html New Delhi Oct 3 In an unusual turn of events at the World Para Athletics Championships a stray dog bit a Kenyan official inside Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday sources told IANS According to sources two dogcatching vehicles were rushed to the venue to capture the stray dog and ensure the safety of athletes officials and spectatorsThe incident has raised questions about the preparedness of stadium authorities in handling such unexpected situations especially during an international event of this scaleThe Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium one of Delhis premier sporting venues has hosted several major tournaments in the past With athletes from across the globe participating With 2200 paraathletes including support staff from 104 countries came for the nineday World Para Athletics Championships 2025 that kicked off on September 26 ensuring strict safety protocols is considered crucialThe WPAC 2025 is be the first event on the newlylaid Mondo track at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium The track in shades of blue and used at the Paris Paralympics 2024 was inaugurated by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on August 29 celebrated as the National Sports DayOn September 25 Dr Mandaviya also inaugurated a Mondo warmup track and a multispeciality gymnasium where more than 200 athletes can train simultaneouslyIn the ongoing edition India are currently eighth in the medal tally with 4 gold 5 silver and 2 bronze medalsIn Kobe Japan India delivered their bestever performance at a World Para Athletics Championships 17 medals six gold five silver six bronze finishing 6th overallIn the 2023 edition in Paris India had already broken its earlier record by winning 10 medals 3 gold 4 silver 3 bronze setting the stage for what followed IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wpac-2025-stray-dog-bites-kenyan-official-at-jln-stadium-641359.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/slow-start-for-akshay-bhatia-four-way-lead-at-sanderson-farms-641368.html Jackson USA Oct 3 Akshay Bhatia had a disappointing start despite an even par card on the opening day of the 2025 Sanderson Farms Championship in the Fall season of the PGA Tour Bhatia who posted an evenpar 72 in the opening round was tied for 88th at the Country Club of Jackson Bhatia entering as the betting favourite bogeyed the seventh and the eighth and turned in 2over Birdies on the 10th 12th and 13th saw him get under par but bogeys on the 14th and 16th dashed those hopes despite a birdie in between on the 15thBhatia needs a fast start on the second day tomorrow to move up the leader board and stay in the tournamentThere was a fourway tie for the lead with Eric Cole Sam Ryder Danny Walker and Garrick Higgo all sharing the firstround lead at 7under 65Ryder played bogeyfree and Danny Walker finished with a pair of birdies Cole managed 10 birdies which helped offset a double bogey late in the round and Garrick Higgo continued to show strides after from an injury since slowed his progress after a win earlier this yearRyder is at No 110 in the FedExCup while Walker is at No 104 The Sanderson Farms Championship is part of the FedExCup Fall where players who did not reach the PGA TOURs postseason have to finish in the top 100 to keep their full cardsWalker tied for sixth in THE PLAYERS Championship but the last five months have been miserable He showed up at The Country Club of Jackson having missed eight straight cuts to fall out of the top 100Rasmus Hojgaard 69 was T35 coming straight from New York and Ryder Cup victory in his debut for the European Team He is at No 87 and now turns his attention toward keeping his card IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/slow-start-for-akshay-bhatia-four-way-lead-at-sanderson-farms-641368.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hyderabad-to-host-indias-first-ever-fip-silver-padel-tournament-641379.html Hyderabad Oct The Indian Padel Federation IPF will host the firstever FIP Silver Hyderabad 2025 with a record prize pool of Rs 1500000 the highest ever for a padel in India The tournament will feature both Mens and Womens categories showcasing international stars alongside Indias rising talent The marquee event will be held from October 12 to 15 and will be played at the KPGBA Hyderabad which features three worldclass MejorSet padel courts recognised globally as the finest in quality and performanceSpeaking on the announcement Sneha Abraham Sehgal IPF president said The FIP Silver Hyderabad represents a watershed moment for padel in India With worldclass infrastructure topranked international players and the highest prize pool in our countrys history this tournament sets a new benchmark It is not just a competition but the beginning of Indias journey as a global hub for padelThe FIP Silver Hyderabad brings together some of the worlds topranked padel athletes along with Indias emerging starsThe mens doubles draw features a mix of experienced and emerging pairs headlined by Italys Denis Tomas Perino partnering Argentinas Ignacio Piotto Albornoz against the ArgentineSpanish duo of Agustín Torre and Mario Ortega Spanish depth is evident with Rodrigo Coello Manso teaming up with Boris Castro Garcia while Guillem Figuerola Santiago pairs with Roberto Belmont Pastor India will also be represented through Shashank Narde and Manav Sreekumar who enter as the lowestranked pair in the fieldIn the womens doubles Spains Letizia Maria Manquillo Alarza and Laura Luján Rodríguez lead the charge alongside the DutchGerman duo of Marcella Koek and Victoria Kurz Other notable teams include Ainize Santamaria Landa with Rosalie Van Der Hoek the allDutch pair Bo Luttikhuis and Janine Hemmes and the crosscontinental partnership of Jessica Marie Agra and Dilara Torssell Indias Vaibhavi Deshmukh joins forces with Japans Sayaka Yoshimoto adding further international flavour to the lineupMens Teams56 Denis Tomas Perino ITA paired with 56 Ignacio Piotto Albornoz ARG will42 Agustín Torre ARG 75 Mario Ortega ESP115 Rodrigo Coello Manso ESP 91 Boris Castro Garcia ESP125 Guillem Figuerola Santiago ESP 130 Roberto Belmont Pastor ESP1216 Shashank Narde IND 1272 Manav Sreekumar INDWomens Teams52 Letizia Maria Manquillo Alarza ESP 57 Laura Luján Rodríguez ESP80 Marcella Koek NED 93 Victoria Kurz GER112 Ainize Santamaria Landa ESP 98 Rosalie Van Der Hoek NED108 Bo Luttikhuis NED 109 Janine Hemmes NED147 Jessica Marie Agra PHI 156 Dilara Torssell TUR1111 Vaibhavi Deshmukh IND 373 Sayaka Yoshimoto JPN IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hyderabad-to-host-indias-first-ever-fip-silver-padel-tournament-641379.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mp-sports-festival-in-jaipur-from-october-15-641397.html Jaipur Oct 3 Jaipur lawmaker Manju Sharma on Friday announced the launch of the MP Sports Festival saying that it is an important initiative to promote sports culture nationwide Addressing the media at the BJP State Office the Jaipur MP said the primary objective is to inspire youth towards fitness sports and a healthy lifestyleThe festival will also provide equal opportunities for men and women of all age groups to participate in traditional and modern sports offering a platform for local talent to flourish and reach the national stageShe informed that the MP Sports Festival starting on October 15 will include traditional games such as kabaddi khokho wrestling tugofwar handkerchief snatch sitoliya matka race lemon race and mallakhamb Alongside these modern sports such as cricket football volleyball athletics archery wushu hockey badminton chess and weightlifting will also be organisedSharma further highlighted that special competitions will be held for women athletes while teams for the differentlyabled will also be formed The MPs and MLAs will personally interact with the differentlyabled participants to motivate and encourage themCompetitions will be conducted at three levels divisional assembly and Lok Sabha Once the teams are finalised a comprehensive calendar will be issuedShe emphasised that the MP Sports Festival has been launched in line with the vision of Khelo India and to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modis call for Fit India Hit IndiaShe said The Prime Ministers vision is to connect every citizen with sports encourage them to live a healthy and disciplined life and identify as well as nurture sporting talent at the grassroots level Sports not only ensure physical and mental development but also instil leadership team spirit and disciplineThe MP further announced that sporting events will be organised at Vidyadhar Nagar Stadium KL Saini Stadium Chaugan Stadium and SMS Stadium in JaipurOutstanding athletes will be awarded scholarships cash prizes and sports equipment Selected players will also be given opportunities to compete at the national levelApplications for participation are open both online and offline Players can register by visiting SansadkhelmahotsavinAppealing to the public she urged citizens to participate enthusiastically and encourage athletes from their areasShe said the event will not only strengthen sports culture in Rajasthan but also lay the foundation for a healthier and more active future for the nation IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mp-sports-festival-in-jaipur-from-october-15-641397.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 18:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ponting-appreciates-even-small-efforts-thats-why-players-respect-him-says-dhawan-641407.html New Delhi Oct 1 Veteran Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan expressed his admiration for Ricky Ponting highlighting the Australian legends influence as a coach and leader during his time with Delhi Capitals In a recent podcast Dhawan emphasised the importance of strong leadership in Punjab Kings performance during the latest IPL season noting that it is crucial for creating a winning teamShreyas and Ricky Ponting are a wonderful combination and they both made a very good team this year Ricky is a very positive person very strong His thought process and his skills stand out A good player can make you win matches but if you want to win the tournament the entire team needs to perform well Hence making a good team is really essential and Ricky Ponting is very strong as a coach Dhawan saidDhawan reflected on his experience with Ponting at Delhi Capitals highlighting how the former Australian captains approach boosted the whole teamWe worked together when I was in Delhi Capitals and it was a really good stint He used to appreciate small thingseven if you scored 1520 runs he would acknowledge it He also spent time with net bowlers and players on the bench which really boosted their confidence he notedDhawan commended Ponting for his clear communication and capacity to earn respect in the dressing roomHe was very clear on good performances and also on the areas we lacked in His communication was very good and his command over the boys was excellent The players respected him and looked up to him because he had strong control but in a very positive way Dhawan addedAlthough Dhawan expressed admiration for Ponting he also suggested how those lessons influenced him personally Now retired from international cricket Shikhar still embodies the values he admired in Ponting such as positivity recognising effort and open communication applying them to his life beyond the sportReflecting on his career Dhawan recognised that his experiences with leaders like Ponting have shaped him not only as a cricketer but also as someone prepared to mentor and motivate the next generation in various ways IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ponting-appreciates-even-small-efforts-thats-why-players-respect-him-says-dhawan-641407.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 19:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/namibia-secure-berth-in-t20-world-cup-2026-with-dominant-win-over-tanzania-641203.html Harare Oct 2 Namibia became the first team from the Africa qualifiers to book their place at the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 after brushing aside Tanzania in the semifinal in Harare on Thursday The victory sealed Namibias fourth appearance at the global tournament having featured in the 2021 Super 12s 2022 group stage and 2024 group stage editions Asked to bat first by Tanzania captain Kassim Nassoro Namibia posted a competitive 174 for 6 in 20 overs thanks to crucial halfcenturies by skipper Gerhard Erasmus and allrounder JJ Smit However their innings was far from smooth sailing early on The top order faltered as Jan Frylinck Malan Kruger Louren Steenkamp and Jan Nicol LoftieEaton all fell inside the Powerplay leaving Namibia under pressureErasmus and Smit then came together to wrestle back control of the innings The pair played with authority scoring quickly to shift the momentum away from Tanzania Erasmus anchored the innings with 55 off 41 balls striking six boundaries while Smit counterattacked with a powerful unbeaten 61 from 43 deliveries decorated with one four and four sixes Their partnership ensured Namibia had the platform to reach a strong totalTanzanias chase never really gathered steam with Namibias bowlers maintaining control from the outset Smit struck with the ball as well dismissing Arun Yadav and Dhrumit Mehta off consecutive deliveries in the sixth over before removing Mukesh Suthar later in the innings to complete impressive figures of 3 for 16 He was well supported by Ben Shikongo who also picked up three wickets returning 3 for 21Despite showing brief pockets of resistance Tanzania struggled to keep up with the asking rate They batted out their 20 overs but fell 63 runs short unable to threaten Namibias strong totalWith the result Namibia confirmed their ticket to the 2026 World Cup where they will join South Africa who qualified directly and one more African team either Kenya or Zimbabwe who will clash in the second semifinal to decide the final regional spot IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/namibia-secure-berth-in-t20-world-cup-2026-with-dominant-win-over-tanzania-641203.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/igpl-pune-kartik-singh-shoots-sensational-63-sets-up-on-course-to-victory-again-641230.html Pune Oct 2 Kartik Singh who has been knocking on the doors of victory over the past month arrived at the doorstep once again at the Indian Golf Premier League IGPL Invitational Pune He did so with a sensational bogeyfree eight under 63 that carried him to 11under for two rounds and put him in the pole position ahead of the final round at the Poona Golf Course Kartik who led after two rounds even in the IGPL Invitational NCR held a twoshot lead which at one point looked like it would be much bigger But Kapil Kumar brought in four birdies on the home stretch Kapil was also bogeyfree and carded 6under to get to 9underKartik who was in blistering form stayed focused as he found the fairways unerringly If you are in the fairways there is always a birdie chance said the 15yearold KartikThat held for others too as the second Kapil Kumar added I stayed patient and things began to work for me on the back nine I found most of the fairways I had four birdies on the back nine and that helped me stay in touchKartik started on the second hole in the shotgun start and he got off to a fast start with birdies on the third and the fourth and added an eagle on he seventh The seventh is a short Par5 I had a good shot off the tee and hit the second with a 6Iron to 10 feet and holed the putt said Kartik making it sound like a walk in the parkHe added four more birdies on the back nine of the Poona Golf Course He birdied the 11th 12th 14th and the 17th but felt a little disappointed with just a par on the Par5 18th which was his second last holeKartik was pleased with his course management and said Often there is no need to get the driver out I focused on finding the fairways and it was rewarding I may have left a birdie out on the last couple of holes But 8under was good though my best is 9under in ThailandOn his final day plan he added The key is to do the same and keep the focusIcon player Gaurav Ghei a threetime winner on the Asian Tour was impressed once again with Kartik and said To shoot 8under any day is brilliant but for a 15yearold to do that is just amazing He has been so consistent and he has just turned professional He has a great futureOvernight coleader Sunhit Bishnoi 68 was 7under and sole third while the other overnight coleader Pukhraj Singh Gill 70 was tied for fourth with veteran Ranjit Singh 68 the highly consistent Sachin Baisoya 69 and young Saarthak Chibber 69 who is finally finding his feet Sneha Singh 68 was the leading lady a 3under at Tied10thSunhit Bishnoi who has been playing consistently was also pleased with his play though he dropped an early bogey on the second after starting from the first He birdied the seventh and ninth and turned in 1under He added backtoback birdies on the 12th and the 13th but dropped a second bogey on the 15th before closing with a birdieIt is a question of staying in the fairways because the rough can be tough said the smiling Bishnoi whose sister Gaurika is an established professional on the Womens Professional Golf Tour of IndiaAman Raj 65 with seven birdies against one solitary bogey repaired some of the damage from the first round and was tied eighth with Yashas Chandra 68 at 4under 138 which was seven shots behind the leader However with the course handsomely rewarding the fairway finders they are all in with a chance of making a bid for better positioning on the final daySneha Singh who started on the seventh in the shotgun start parred the first five holes and then had three birdies in a row A bogey on the 17th was followed by a bogey on the 18th but she made up with a birdie on the third She had a late bogey on the fifth but still stayed inside the Top10 alongside IL Aalaap 69 young Raghav Chugh 70 Harshjeet Singh Sethie 70 and Shaurya Binu 69 at 3under 139 for two daysAnanya Garg 70 at T15 Hitaashee Bakshi 74 at T19th and Ridhima Dilawari 75 at T24th were the other top women on the leaderboardFor the women the event is a big tuneup for the upcoming Hero Womens Indian Open next week IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/igpl-pune-kartik-singh-shoots-sensational-63-sets-up-on-course-to-victory-again-641230.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 01:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mirabai-chanu-wins-silver-medal-in-49kg-at-world-weightlifting-championships-641241.html Forde Norway Oct 3 Olympic medallist Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu clinched a silver medal at the World Championships in the 48kg category here This is the third medal at the marquee event and second silver for the former world champion Mirabai who returned to action after Paris 2024 by winning the 48kg gold at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in August produced a total lift of 199kg 84kg snatch 115kg clean and jerkThe 2017 world champion and 2022 silvermedallist had two failed attempts at 87kg Even the first lift at 84kg looked a little uncomfortable for her But she regained her rhythm in the clean and jerk successfully executing all three attemptsIn the Clean and Jerk she had a good lift of 109kg followed by 112 before lifting 115kg the weight she last lifted at Tokyo Olympics four years agoNorth Koreas Ri Song Gum won the gold with am impressive 213kg total lift 91kg 122kg setting new world records in total as well as clean and jerk Thailands Thanyathon Sukcharoen took the bronze with a total lift of 198kg 88kg Snatch 110kg Clean amp JerkThe 31yearold ace Indian ace won a gold medal in the 48kg category at the 2017 edition of the World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim She also won silver in the 49kg category at the 2022 edition of the competition in BogotaIndia sent a 14member contingent at the World Weightlifting Championships 2025 which will run till October 11 The event is also serving as one of the qualifying events for next years Commonwealth GamesIn the womens section besides Mirabai Koyel Bar 53kg Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam 58kg Nirupama Devi Seram 63kg Harjinder Kaur 69kg Vanshita Verma 86kg Mehak Sharma 86kg will be in actionBindyarani Nirupama and Mehak all won silver medals while Harjinder and Vanshita bagged bronze at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in AugustMeanwhile Indias mens contingent will be led by Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Lovepreet SinghLovepreet also won the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships earlier this year where Ajith Narayana and Ajaya Babu Valluri struck gold IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mirabai-chanu-wins-silver-medal-in-49kg-at-world-weightlifting-championships-641241.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/it-was-meant-to-highlight-challenges-sana-mir-clarifies-azad-kashmir-remark-after-backlash-641245.html Colombo Oct 3 The 2025 Womens ODI World Cup 2025 clash between Pakistan and Bangladesh on Thursday sparked a controversy after former Pakistan captain Sana Mir referred to batter Natalia Pervaiz as hailing from Kashmir before calling it as Azad Kashmir The remark drew sharp reactions from various sections of social media and Sana has now issued a clarification via her X account saying that she has no malice in her heart and didnt have any intention to hurt any sentimentsIts unfortunate how things are being blown out of proportion and people in sports are being subjected to unnecessary pressure It is sad that this requires an explanation at public levelMy comment about a Pakistan players hometown was only meant to highlight the challenges she faced of coming from a certain region in Pakistan and her incredible journey It is part of the story telling we do as commentators as where the players come from I did that today for two other players coming from other regions tooPlease dont politicise it As a commentator on the World Feed we are meant to focus on the sport teams and players highlighting inspiring stories of grit and perseverance There is no malice in my heart or any intention to hurt sentiments wrote Sana on XSana also shared a screenshot showing Natalias hometown mentioned as Azad Kashmir on ESPNCricinfos player profile page Due to the backlash the portal has now edited it to Pakistanadministered KashmirI am also attaching the screen shot of where I research most of my players from whether from Pakistan or any other country I realise that they have changed it by now but this is what I was referring to she addedComing to the tournament Pakistan suffered a sevenwicket defeat to Bangladesh in their 2025 Womens ODI World Cup tournament opener at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo The side will now face archrivals and tournament hosts India at the same venue on Sunday IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/it-was-meant-to-highlight-challenges-sana-mir-clarifies-azad-kashmir-remark-after-backlash-641245.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/six-asian-teams-gear-up-for-road-to-fifa-wc-26-playoffs-epic-battles-641252.html Kuala Lumpur Oct 3 Only six Asian sides remain in the running to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the stage is set for a highstakes showdown in the AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to 26 Playoffs Group Stage which kicks off on Wednesday The contenders are divided into two groups Qatar UAE amd Oman are place din group A while Suadi Arabia Iraq and Indonesia are in Group BThey will battle for the two direct berths on offer with only each group winner to progress as they look to join the six teams that have already sealed their places at the global showpieceA final qualifying chance is available to the runnersup of each group who will square off in a twolegged showdown across November 13 and 18This Knockout Stage will determine the AFCs representative at the FIFA PlayOff Tournament where they will have to fend off opponents from other confederations to claim one of two berthsOman is the sole cast member hunting a historic maiden FIFA World Cup appearance with Indonesia Iraq and the United Arab Emirates aiming to qualify for a second time each while Qatar and Saudi Arabia will hope to make it backtoback participationsThe opening matchday gets underway at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium between Group A pair Oman FIFA Rank 78 and Qatar 53 on October 8Oman are seeking a breakthrough in their 10th Qualifiers campaign and can draw confidence from a 21 win when both teams last met in December 2024 in the Gulf Cup their first victory in 11 matches dating back to September 2009Reigning AFC Asian Cup champions Qatar will target a winning start at home as they eye a second FIFA World Cup place in their 11th qualifying attempt following their appearance in 2022 as hostsOn October 11 UAE 67 commence their journey by taking on Oman with whom they drew 11 in their last encounter also at the Gulf Cup in December 2024UAE are involved in their 11th Qualifiers and will be eager to end an absence from the FIFA World Cup that goes back to their debut in 1990The King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah will stage Group Bs fixtures starting with a clash between Indonesia 119 and Saudi Arabia 59 on October 8 at 815pm The only side from Round 1 to advance to this stage Indonesias sole previous FIFA World Cup showing was as the Dutch East Indies in 1938 The Southeast Asians also took on Saudi Arabia in the previous stage earning a draw in the first meeting before registering their firstever win in the return fixture The home side will aim to exact revenge as they set their sights on a third consecutive qualification and seventh overallOn October 11 Iraq 58 will take to the pitch for their first match at 1030pm where they face Indonesia Also targeting a second FIFA World Cup showing and first since 1986 Iraq possess a stellar record against their opponents winning each of their last eight encounters including both group meetings in the second round of the current QualifiersThe third and final matchday of the Playoffs is scheduled for October 14 as Qatar face UAE and Saudi Arabia take on IraqKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah will stage Group Bs fixtures starting with a clash between Indonesia 119 and Saudi Arabia 59 on October 8The only side from Round 1 to advance to this stage Indonesias sole previous FIFA World Cup showing was as the Dutch East Indies in 1938 The Southeast Asians also took on Saudi Arabia in the previous stage earning a draw in the first meeting before registering their firstever win in the return fixtureThe home side will aim to exact revenge as they set their sights on a third consecutive qualification and seventh overallOn October 11 Iraq 58 will take to the pitch for their first match where they face Indonesia Also targeting a second FIFA World Cup showing and first since 1986 Iraq possess a stellar record against their opponents winning each of their last eight encounters including both group meetings in the second round of the current QualifiersThe third and final matchday of the Playoffs is scheduled for October 14 as Qatar face UAE and Saudi Arabia take on Iraq IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/six-asian-teams-gear-up-for-road-to-fifa-wc-26-playoffs-epic-battles-641252.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/specialist-coaches-high-performance-centre-cwi-chalks-out-long-term-reforms-to-strengthen-cricket-641262.html St Johns Antigua Oct 3 The Cricket Strategy and Officiating Committee has announced a series of immediate and longterm reforms to strengthen West Indies cricket following an emergency meeting held in August after a run of disappointing results The meeting was convened after a run of disappointing results including the historic defeat to Australia at Sabina Park in the final test of the series in JulyThe session brought together a wide crosssection of key stakeholders including West Indies legends Brian Lara and Sir Clive Lloyd captains Shai Hope and Roston Chase Head Coach and team management and former players such as Anthony Gray and Ramnaresh SarwanThe committee highlighted ten critical challenges affecting the state of West Indies cricket including Declining quality of regional tournaments Technical tactical and mental skills deficiencies Underperforming franchise system Gaps in infrastructure and facilities Lack of specialist coaching support Limited ICC revenue share and financial constraints Fragmented player development pathways and Inadequate fitness and conditioning standardsThe Committee compiled a list of shortterm and medium to longterm action items and objectives focused on addressing these gaps which were presented to and approved by CWIs Board of Directors during their Quarterly Meeting on September 25As per the short term action CWI said that an internationally proven batting coach will be hired to work across the system and a fulltime sports psychologistperformance coach will join the senior mens team The womens team role will also be upgraded to a fulltime roleA stateoftheart facility at Coolidge Cricket Ground including modern nets gym and rehabilitation infrastructure will be set up and franchise teams will now submit Individual Development Plans and meet new minimum standards while Player fitness will be closely tracked supported by a new regional fitness leaderboardIn the medium to longterm action list A National Cricket Development Framework unifying grassroots school academy and highperformance pathways Comprehensive franchise reform to ensure accountability for player development and consideration of alternative professional modelsEstablishment of standardised academies for ages 1118 to feed into the HighPerformance Program Completion of the HighPerformance Centre in Antigua as the regional hub for elite developmentGreater focus on financial sustainability including lobbying for equitable ICC revenue distribution and new partnerships with governments private entities and philanthropists A structured mentorship framework connecting current and former West Indies players with emerging talentCWIs Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe said These reforms represent decisive action to strengthen our systems raise standards and provide the next generation of players with the tools facilities and mentorship they need to succeed While challenges remain our commitment to cricket development across the region is unwavering and all efforts will be made to prioritize the execution of these initiatives IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/specialist-coaches-high-performance-centre-cwi-chalks-out-long-term-reforms-to-strengthen-cricket-641262.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/shelton-loses-in-shanghai-masters-opener-misses-chance-to-push-atp-tour-final-claim-641266.html Shanghai Oct 3 Ben Shelton lost to former World No 7 David Goffin in the second round at the Shanghai Masters 26 46 on Friday and missed the opportunity to boost his ATP Tout Final hopes on his return to tour on Friday Shelton who was competing for the first time since he was forced to retire during the third round at the US Open in August due to a left shoulder injury was slightly off the pace committing 22 unforced errors to 11 from Goffin who beat Carlos Alcaraz at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami earlier this yearGoffin saved all three break points he faced against Shelton and leads the sixth seed 20 in the pairs ATP Head2Head series The 34yearold who is a twotime Shanghai quarterfinalist plays Gabriel Diallo in the third round on SundayShelton22 who won his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title on the surface in Toronto and also reached the semifinals at the Australian Open owns a 3719 tourlevel record in 2025 He arrrived arrived in Shanghai sixth in the ATP Live Race To Turin on 3720 points and in a good spot to make his debut at the ATP Finals in November according to ATP TourHowever the American could now be surpassed by seventhplaced Alex de Minaur 3355 and eighthplaced Lorenzo Musetti 3345 in the coming days Shelton is currently 1005 points ahead of 10thplaced Felix AugerAliassime who is the first player outside the Top 8 cut with ninthplaced Jack Draper sidelined for the rest of the year due to injuryAugerAliassime plays Chengdu champion Alejandro Tabilo in his Shanghai opener He just need one win in Shanghai to reach the 250 careerwins milestone according to the ATP WinLoss index He is 3419 on the year his best mark since his breakout 2022 season when his 60 victories led to his debut at the ATP Finals IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/shelton-loses-in-shanghai-masters-opener-misses-chance-to-push-atp-tour-final-claim-641266.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/martinelli-strikes-early-as-arsenal-extend-perfect-champions-league-start-641079.html London Oct 2 Gabriel Martinelli scored early to set Arsenal on course for a 20 win over Olympiacos maintaining the Premier League sides perfect start in the UEFA Champions League group stage Martinelli reacted quickest in the 12th minute after Viktor Gyokeres shot was saved by Konstantinos Tzolakis and deflected onto the post The Brazilian forward also had a goal and an assist in Arsenals opening win over Athletic ClubArsenal manager Mikel Arteta rotated heavily making six changes from the weekend victory over NewcastleOlympiacos threatened an equaliser as Daniel Podence forced David Raya into a strong save and Francisco Chiquinho had a goal disallowed for offsideMartin Odegaard was denied by Tzolakis before substitute Bukayo Saka sealed the win in stoppage time his low shot slipping through the goalkeepers legsWinning the Champions League is always very complicated keeping another clean sheet we make something like 11 in 14 games which is remarkable from the boys I think we started the game really well I think we looked a real threat really dynamic really playing forwards around a lot of threats Generally to the goal another two or three big chances and we dont put them away in this competition Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta saidGunners will be back at Emirates Stadium on Saturday to take on West Ham United in the Premier League Thats the last game before the October international break they will resume away to Fulham on October 18Elsewhere Anthony Gordons pair of coollytaken penalties helped Newcastle United to their biggestever win in the Champions League proper by beating Union SaintGilloise 40Summer signing Nick Woltemade gave Eddie Howes side a 17thminute lead when he diverted Sandro Tonalis low shot past a wrongfooted Kjell ScherpenGordon struck twice from the spot either side of halftime and substitute Harvey Barnes capped victory with just over ten minutes remaining by finishing off a counterattack IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/martinelli-strikes-early-as-arsenal-extend-perfect-champions-league-start-641079.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/dortmund-show-strength-in-champions-league-win-over-athletic-bilbao-641082.html Berlin Oct 2 Borussia Dortmund extended its unbeaten streak across all competitions with a convincing 41 victory over Athletic Bilbao in their group stage clash at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday The host entered the contest full of confidence after four straight league wins and coach Niko Kovac rotated his lineup in five positions including the return of top scorer Serhou GuirassyDespite the changes Dortmund quickly found their rhythm and took control of proceedings Athletic struggling with form and missing star forward Nico Williams through injury offered little in the opening stagesDortmunds early dominance was rewarded in the 28th minute when Karim Adeyemis sharp delivery was converted by Daniel Svensson for his first Champions League goal The German side pushed for more with Niklas Sule testing from distance while goalkeeper Gregor Kobel remained untroubled at the other endAfter halftime the momentum continued Marcel Sabitzers diagonal pass unlocked the Athletic defense and Guirassy set up Carney Chukwuemeka to double the lead with a precise finish in the 50th minute But the visitors briefly threatened a comeback and a defensive lapse allowed Gorka Guruzeta to strike from close range just after the hour mark halving the deficitMoments later Robert Navarro found the net only to be flagged offside and he later went close again Dortmund weathered the storm with Svensson producing a vital clearance off the line to preserve the advantage Relief came in the 82nd minute when Guirassy redirected a Sabitzer shot into the net for 31 Substitute Julian Brandt then sealed the result deep into stoppage time with a low driveAlways nice to play Champions League Overall good performance of the team Of course I am happy with the win We played a good first half with a lot of possession Second half we had a hard time but the hard work paid off said Dortmund defender Daniel Svensson IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/dortmund-show-strength-in-champions-league-win-over-athletic-bilbao-641082.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/champions-league-psg-win-thriller-2-1-in-barcelona-641085.html Catalunya Oct 2 Substitute Goncalo Ramos netted a 90thminute winner as Paris came from behind to defeat Barcelona 21 in a thrilling Champions League match Ferran Torres opened the scoring in the 19th minute only for Paris to equalise before halftime when Senny Mayulu superbly assisted by Nuno Mendes coolly slotted home 38In a breathless second half substitute Lee Kangin hit the post before Achraf Hakimi set up Ramos for the winnerBarca started strongly with Lamine Yamal releasing Ferran Torres whose shot was blocked by Hakimi 12 From a Mendes corner Zabarnyi headed just over the bar 14 before the Ukraine international made a goalline clearance to deny Ferran Torres 14 The Spainish striker finally broke the deadlock converting a Marcus Rashford cross from the left 19 10PSG quickly lifted their heads but Wojciech Szczesny made a spectacular save to turn Hakimis free kick around the post 30 However it was only a matter of time and Mendes with a typically marauding run down the left wing set up Senny Mayulu to celebrate his first start in the competition with an equaliser 11 38Paris shifted up a gear and Barcola couldnt make the most of a great chance to to give them the lead heading into the interval 42After the restart PSG really took the game to their rivals with Mbaye 52 Barcola 53 and Hakimi 53 all coming close to giving their side the lead The Rouge et Bleu skipper was outstanding in both attack and defence producing another miraculous block on his line from a pointblank Dani Olmo shot 64Lee Kangin who had come on a few minutes earlier went on a slaloming run beating several Barcelona players only to see his shot bounce off Szczesnys righthand post 84 But PSG had not said its last word Just before added time Goncalo Ramos secured a precious victory for his team by perfectly connecting with Hakimis cross to send the 2700 Parisian fans at Monjuic into raptures 90 12The final whistle confirmed the remarkable result that sees Paris SaintGermain become the first club in history to win three consecutive games away to FC Barcelona Les Rouge et Bleus second victory in this league phase sees them move into third place in the table IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/champions-league-psg-win-thriller-2-1-in-barcelona-641085.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-wc-smriti-and-pratika-have-taken-a-lot-of-pressure-off-us-says-harmanpreet-641105.html Colombo Oct 2 India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has credited openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal for taking a lot of pressure off the middle order through their formidable partnerships at the top Smriti has been in fine form for India at the top of the order and has formed a great opening partnership with Pratika to be a crucial cog in the Indian batting lineup Though the duo didnt have a memorable outing in the 59run win over Sri Lanka in the opening game they are expected to bounce back in the future matchesSince the time Pratika joined the team we have had big partnerships I think it helps the batting order that follows and we can calculate the innings ahead The duo has taken a lot of pressure off us and made our job easier said Harmanpreet to JioStarSmriti Indias vicecaptain also lauded Pratika for stepping up to the rigours of international cricket in quick time Pratika and I are very similar We like to do our routines and dont talk much on the field Theres a lot of calmness in the way we playPratika is not a product of the Womens Premier League WPL but has come up through the domestic setup For her to have matched the level of international cricket in just the last 8 months is commendable she saidIn their opening game at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati India were reduced to 1246 before a resilient 103run stand between Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur helped them post 269 in their 47 overs after the clash was cut by three overs due to rainIn reply India bowled out Sri Lanka for 211 and get their campaign off to a winning start India led by Harmanpreet Kaur are scheduled to face archrivals Pakistan at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Sunday IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-wc-smriti-and-pratika-have-taken-a-lot-of-pressure-off-us-says-harmanpreet-641105.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 13:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/1st-test-dont-want-to-win-in-2-3-days-plan-is-to-play-hard-grinding-cricket-says-gill-641122.html Ahmedabad Oct 2 With India opening its home Test season skipper Shubman Gill said his team is focused on playing hard grinding cricket rather than chasing quick wins coming in twothree days The ongoing series against the West Indies currently underway at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is also Gills first assignment as Indias Test captain at home in the new World Test Championship cycleThe plan is simplehard grinding cricket We dont want to win in 23 days We know we have the best four spinnersKuldeep Jadeja Axar and Washi Any team coming to India knows two challenges spin and reverse swing Well test opposition in both areas but our focus is good cricket We talk more about winning every series than WTC But yes if such a strong team doesnt qualify it would be disappointing said Gill on JioHotstarAsked about his approach to adjusting to surfaces in Tests from England to now at home Gill said Its been a long time weve been playing on turners Obviously other teams also know what we are good at and what we need to work on On such wickets if a spinner bowls at 9095 kph consistently any batsman in the world will struggle New Zealand had an advantage because they had played turners in Sri Lanka before coming here We hadntThe 2025 season has been a breakthrough year for Gill after being named Indias Test captain post Rohit Sharmas retirement he finished the fivematch tour of England with 754 runs the secondhighest run tally for a captain in a Test series including hitting four centuries at an average of 754Recalling his lack of runs outside India in Tests Gill spoke about how he brought about a change in his batting approach including taking advice from Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Smith I definitely had pressure of not having a great record overseas But the way I prepared I was confident Even though a day a week or an hour before the match it would play on my mind but once youre on the ground all of that fades out You just focus on what you have to do at that momentI spoke to a lot of people whove scored runs in England Everyone said one thing in common plenty of runs will come square of the wicket But it got complicated because we thought square runs meant playing outside balls Then we decided leave the outside ball So I simplified it I said I wont drive early Ill just defend on the front foot and leaveAfter 3040 balls the Dukes ball softens Runscoring becomes easier Outfield is fast timing the ball gives you boundaries So in the beginning unless it was a halfvolley I avoided cover drives Only straight drive flick cut punchno cover drive until I was completely confident the ball had stopped swinging or seamingBefore leaving I spoke to Sachin sir I also took Steve Smiths number from Matthew Wade and spoke to him Both said the same thingdefend straight score square I think so this is one of the best years but I hope 2026 and 2027 will be even better As a player you always keep hoping the next year and the year after are better he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/1st-test-dont-want-to-win-in-2-3-days-plan-is-to-play-hard-grinding-cricket-says-gill-641122.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 14:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/1st-test-siraj-bumrah-share-seven-scalps-as-india-bowl-out-west-indies-for-162-641126.html Ahmedabad Oct 2 Fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj 438 and Jasprit Bumrah 341 led a clinical bowling display as India dismissed West Indies for 162 in 441 overs on day one of the first Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday Electing to bat first on a green pitch West Indies were 905 at lunch and are now bowled out by tea break taken early Siraj set the tone for a dominating bowling performance from India as he picked three of the first four wickets to fall for the West IndiesSiraj and Bumrah also in fine rhythm at the fag end shared seven wickets between themselves with Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar amongst the wickettakers For the West Indies barring some fight shown by Justin Greaves 32 it was a poor batting effort where the batting unit didnt show the application and resilience needed for playing Test cricketThe postlunch session began with Siraj creating a steep angle into Roston Chase from wide of the crease and extracted a leading edge that was neatly pouched by keeper Dhruv Jurel Siraj nearly had a fifth wicket when he trapped Greaves lbw but the review showed the ball missing leg stumpWhile the rest of the fielders showed visible disappointment Bumrah was quick to console his fellow pacer Sirajs rhythm remained intact as his lengths consistently troubling the batters Washington then struck by trapping Khary Pierre lbw before Bumrah returned to castle Greaves and Johann Layne with his trademark inswinging yorkersKuldeep closed out the innings when Jomel Warrican went for a reversesweep but a sharp piece of glove work from Jurel ensured the catch was taken as India walked off with a commanding position and a chance to pile the misery on an inexperienced West Indies bowling lineupIn the morning West Indies were rocked early by Siraj who exploited the green pitch with swing seam and bounce to reduce the visitors to 424 He and Bumrah kept the stumps in play in the opening session and forced frequent errorsChase and Shai Hope tried reviving the innings with a 48run stand before Kuldeep castled the latter at the stroke of lunch Tagenarine Chanderpaul returning to Test cricket after 21 months departed for a duck in the opening over after tickling one down leg to Jurel off SirajJohn Campbell followed soon after adjudged caught behind on review off Bumrah Brandon King hit three quick boundaries before a moment of misjudgment shouldering arms to a ball that crashed into middle stump off Siraj left West Indies Alick Athanaze showed brief resistance but fell after driving on the up and edging to second slip to give Siraj his third wicketAt 424 the West Indies were in deep trouble and from there Hope and Chase steadied the innings with a 48run stand showing intent against spin and capitalising on loose deliveries Hope in particular looked assured showcasing his backfoot play and measured drivesBut just as West Indies seemed to have weathered the storm Kuldeep playing his first Test in over a year produced a peach when he got one to drift dip in and turn sharply to breach Hopes defence on an attempted drive and rattle his stumps on the stroke of lunch With five wickets in the bag and the pitch offering assistance India didnt break much sweat in wrapping up the West Indies innings in the second sessionBrief Scores West Indies 162 in 441 overs Justin Greaves 32 Shai Hope 26 Mohammed Siraj 440 Jasprit Bumrah 342 against India IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/1st-test-siraj-bumrah-share-seven-scalps-as-india-bowl-out-west-indies-for-162-641126.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pll-12-if-shadloui-repeats-his-mistake-well-tackle-him-warns-u-mumba-skipper-sunil--641130.html Chennai Oct 2 U Mumba began their Chennai leg with a convincing 4224 win against hosts Tamil Thalaivas at the SDAT Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium The season 2 champions got back to winning ways after three consecutive losses moving to sixth place on the points table as a result Reflecting on the win U Mumba head coach Anil Chaprana stated After three losses we had to motivate the players I know that they have no shortcomings If we play to our strengths we can defeat any team So as a coach its our job to motivate them and encourage them to play their own game In practice they saw the mistakes they were making and addressed them They practiced with a lot of heart and played well todaySandeep Kumar completed his Super 10 on the night while Sunil Kumar also completed his High Five to lead his team to victory As the league now gears up for Revenge Week the spotlight is on U Mumba and Gujarat Giants as they prepare for battle on ThursdayThe reverse fixture saw U Mumba clinch a thrilling tiebreaker 65 after the teams were tied at 2929 after regulation time Reflecting on that game Sunil recalled It was our first match in the league and it was a very good game We won in the tiebreaker because Shadloui made a mistake They Gujarat Giants played well we also played well thats why the match went to a tiebreakerIt was Shadlouis mistake I dont think he will make the same mistake again in the next match I went to give him one point he thought he could get two or three points but he trapped himself However I dont think he will make the same mistake again If he Shadloui repeats his mistake well tackle him he warnedThe rivalry between Sunil Kumar and Mohammadreza Shadloui will be the centre of attention in this contest However the U Mumba captain played down the personal feud highlighting how kabaddi is a team sportI dont believe that its Shadloui against Sunil That became the case in the last match but that game is done Now its Gujarat Giants vs U Mumba Its not an individual sport it is a team game The team that plays well and makes less mistakes will winShadloui will come to win we will also come to win If he wants revenge then no problem If we play like todays match then we will win Sunil concludedPlease find below the previews for the PKL Season 12 matches on Thursday October 2With four wins in their last five matches Puneri Paltan will want to continue building on that momentum as they look to stay in the battle for a top two spot Theyll be up for a stern test when they come up against a Bengaluru Bulls side that will be eager to bounce back after their tiebreaker loss to UP YoddhasGujarat Giants will be taking on U Mumba in the second game with the clash focusing on Revenge Week in the PKL While the limelight will be on Mohammadreza Shadloui and Sunil Kumar both teams will want to make it backtoback wins as they aim to climb the poins table IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pll-12-if-shadloui-repeats-his-mistake-well-tackle-him-warns-u-mumba-skipper-sunil--641130.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/conditions-are-different-than-beijing-sinner-braces-for-tough-challenge-in-shanghai-masters-title-defence-641135.html Shanghai Oct 2 World No 2 Jannik Sinner admitted he is expecting a difficult and tough challenge in his Shanghai Masters title defense which begins against Germanys 49thranked Daniel Altmaier who triumphed in five sets in their latest meeting at Roland Garros in 2023 The 24yearold Italian defeated teenager Learner Tien to clinch his 21st ATP title in Beijing Within hours of his triumph he travelled south to ShanghaiI have only one practice session to get ready but lets see Sinner was quoted by ATP as saying Its going to be a very very difficult and tough challenge especially the first match You never know whats going to happenThe Shanghai Masters will be missing World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz who pulled out citing physical issues That leaves fourtime Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic as the biggest obstacle to Sinners repeat bidLast year Sinner memorably beat Djokovic in the final to lift the Shanghai trophy marking one of the biggest victories of his career Yet the Italian who has confirmed he will only have one practice session before his opening match is focused from the outsetAfter his US Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz which also cost him his World No 1 spot Sinner hinted at subtle changes in his game Those tweaks he says are beginning to pay off but he remains hungry for moreIm not the only one who is changing Sinner said in his pretournament press conference in Shanghai If you ask every player every player is changing stuff and trying to get better Whatever we try to do its not crazy steps just trying to adjust a couple of things trying to get better as a player like everyone else does Certain shots that worked slightly better than the months before certain shots we can still improveBut its also normal and Im just looking forward to having as many matches as possible in every tournament This gives me the chance to try as many things as possible So lets see but we are quite happy with the work we are doing IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/conditions-are-different-than-beijing-sinner-braces-for-tough-challenge-in-shanghai-masters-title-defence-641135.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 16:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-if-shadloui-repeats-his-mistake-well-tackle-him-warns-u-mumba-skipper-sunil--641136.html Chennai Oct 2 U Mumba began their Chennai leg with a convincing 4224 win against hosts Tamil Thalaivas at the SDAT Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium The season 2 champions got back to winning ways after three consecutive losses moving to sixth place on the points table as a result Reflecting on the win U Mumba head coach Anil Chaprana stated After three losses we had to motivate the players I know that they have no shortcomings If we play to our strengths we can defeat any team So as a coach its our job to motivate them and encourage them to play their own game In practice they saw the mistakes they were making and addressed them They practiced with a lot of heart and played well todaySandeep Kumar completed his Super 10 on the night while Sunil Kumar also completed his High Five to lead his team to victory As the league now gears up for Revenge Week the spotlight is on U Mumba and Gujarat Giants as they prepare for battle on ThursdayThe reverse fixture saw U Mumba clinch a thrilling tiebreaker 65 after the teams were tied at 2929 after regulation time Reflecting on that game Sunil recalled It was our first match in the league and it was a very good game We won in the tiebreaker because Shadloui made a mistake They Gujarat Giants played well we also played well thats why the match went to a tiebreakerIt was Shadlouis mistake I dont think he will make the same mistake again in the next match I went to give him one point he thought he could get two or three points but he trapped himself However I dont think he will make the same mistake again If he Shadloui repeats his mistake well tackle him he warnedThe rivalry between Sunil Kumar and Mohammadreza Shadloui will be the centre of attention in this contest However the U Mumba captain played down the personal feud highlighting how kabaddi is a team sportI dont believe that its Shadloui against Sunil That became the case in the last match but that game is done Now its Gujarat Giants vs U Mumba Its not an individual sport it is a team game The team that plays well and makes less mistakes will winShadloui will come to win we will also come to win If he wants revenge then no problem If we play like todays match then we will win Sunil concludedPlease find below the previews for the PKL Season 12 matches on Thursday October 2With four wins in their last five matches Puneri Paltan will want to continue building on that momentum as they look to stay in the battle for a top two spot Theyll be up for a stern test when they come up against a Bengaluru Bulls side that will be eager to bounce back after their tiebreaker loss to UP YoddhasGujarat Giants will be taking on U Mumba in the second game with the clash focusing on Revenge Week in the PKL While the limelight will be on Mohammadreza Shadloui and Sunil Kumar both teams will want to make it backtoback wins as they aim to climb the poins table IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-if-shadloui-repeats-his-mistake-well-tackle-him-warns-u-mumba-skipper-sunil--641136.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 16:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gauff-beats-lys-to-return-to-china-open-semifinal-641144.html Beijing Oct 2 The No 2 seed Coco Gauff reached the China Open semifinals for the third straight year withstanding a barrage of power from Eva Lys before coming through their quarterfinal 63 64 on Thursday This is Gauffs fourth semifinal of 2025 and her first off clay since winning last years WTA Finals Riyadh She now owns a 141 career record in Beijing and has made at least the last four in each of her three appearances so far the first player to make three consecutive semifinals here since Jelena Jankovic in 200608 according to the WTAThe American is bidding to successfully defend a title for the second time in her career following Auckland 202324 and will face either No 3 seed Amanda Anisimova or No 6 seed Jasmine Paolini in the semifinalsThe tone of the match was set as early as the first point a 16stroke lungbuster in which Lys made her aggressive intentions clear but was denied by a terrific lob and forehand putaway by GauffNo 66ranked Lys never wavered from her commitment to allout attack Her tally of 14 winners belied the amount of rallies in which Gauff was forced into error by Lys relentless pace frequently after exchanges of over 10 shotsThat game was the start of a fivebreak sequence in the first set mirrored in the second by three consecutive breaks Gauff always had the lead and the control over the match as a whole Lys played her part in several stunning points but could not reach that level with the consistency required to hit through Gauff The German finished the match with 48 unforced errors WTA reportsShes a tough opponent she hit some incredible shots on the run said Gauff postmatch I was trying my best to stay aggressive Just staying confident in my game and not being too passive when I have the lead IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gauff-beats-lys-to-return-to-china-open-semifinal-641144.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 17:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-up-yoddhas-gear-up-for-top-table-test-against-dabang-delhi-in-chennai-641145.html Chennai Oct 2 The UP Yoddhas will resume their Chennai leg at the SDAT MultiPurpose Indoor Stadium Chennai on Friday building on the competitive character they displayed in their previous match The Yoddhas narrowly lost 2733 to Gujarat Giants but the match showcased their resilience and versatility in both attacking and defending With several key players stepping up the team aims to turn that effort into a strong comeback against DelhiGagan Gowda remains a key figure in the Yoddhas attacking strategy having shown consistent performance lately His precise raids complemented by Bhavani Rajputs versatility create a dual threat that can challenge any defence With Guman Singhs experience and Shivam Chaudharys youthful energy the Yoddhas approach the Delhi game with a comprehensive raiding lineup capable of making impactful playsDefensively skipper Sumit Sangwans leadership and anticipation will be crucial as the team aims to contain Delhis raiders Vicecaptain Ashu Singhs determination and Mahender Singhs stability further reinforce a backline that has demonstrated the ability to function as a disciplined and cohesive unit Their responsibility will be to turn pressure moments into tackle points which could shift momentum in favour of ChennaiThe Yoddhas have performed well in raiding exchanges with strike rates comparable to the leagues best teams Their focus against Delhi will be on improving their defensive conversion turning more tackle opportunities into crucial points By combining their attacking versatility with a more solid defence the Yoddhas are positioned to make a significant impact in this matchSpeaking ahead of the clash assistant coach Upendra Malik expressed confidence in the teams ability to bounce back saying We had phases where the boys played some very strong kabaddi and thats something we will carry forward Delhi are a competitive outfit but if we play with the same unity and energy that we showed in parts against Gujarat the results will followDabang Delhi currently lead the standings with eight wins out of nine matches However as the Yoddhas continue to improve steadily and sustain a balance between attack and defence this match offers another chance to convert effort into success and secure a crucial win during the Chennai leg IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pkl-12-up-yoddhas-gear-up-for-top-table-test-against-dabang-delhi-in-chennai-641145.html Thu, 02 Oct 2025 17:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/switching-formats-is-more-mental-than-technique-says-shubman-gill-ahead-of-1st-test-vs-wi-641063.html Ahmedabad Oct 1 IANS Indias Test captain Shubman Gill who just concluded his Asia Cup campaign and is set to lead the team in the twomatch Test series against West Indies starting Thursday said that switching from one format to the other is more mental than technicalnbspAddressing the media on Wednesday at the press conference ahead of the first Test in Ahmedabad Gill spoke about how he prepared for the games given the quick turnaround between whiteball and redball cricketWe had a couple of days of practice before the Test match so it was a quick turnaround I was just looking to work on defence and get in the zone switching formats is more mental than techniquenbspWe are looking to play some hard grinding cricket Over the past few years if you see the Test matches they havent got to five days So what we are looking to do is play some good hard cricket All the Test matches that we played in England went pretty deep And I think what you can expect from us is good hard grinding cricket and we wont be looking for any easy options Gill saidAnd I think we have the skills to dominate in any kind of situation and the kind of talent we have got in the team we can turn around from any situation so thats what we will be looking to play he addednbspAsked about the teams combination for the opening Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium Gill said that they are tempted to have a third seamer in the XI However a final decision will only be made on the day of the match based on the moisture level of the wicketGiven the weather and conditions well be tempted to have a third seaming option but I think theres still time for the Test and once we check the field tomorrow and see how much moisture is there on the wicket well take a callWe would be looking to play on wickets that offer something to both the batsmen and to the bowlers However having said that any team that comes to India faces the challenge of spin and reverse swing These are the two things that if teams can play spin well and if they can challenge the reverse swing they are going to get good success So keeping these challenges in mind youd be looking to play on wickets that offer something to the batsmen and the bowlers he further stated https://dailyworld.in/sports/switching-formats-is-more-mental-than-technique-says-shubman-gill-ahead-of-1st-test-vs-wi-641063.html Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/abhishek-sharma-shares-flight-celebration-with-mentor-yuvraj-singh-after-asia-cup-triumph-640805.html Dubai Sep 30 Indias emerging cricketer Abhishek Sharma gave fans a glimpse into the teams postAsia Cup victory celebrations by posting a photo on Instagram with his childhood mentor Yuvraj Singh Sharma who played a key role in the Indian teams triumph in the Mens T20 Asia Cup 2025 shared the image with the simple caption No Caption Needed In the photo he is seen holding the Player of the Tournament trophy beaming with pride as he stands alongside Yuvraj inside the flight returning from DubaiThe image captures a rare candid moment of joy and camaraderie following Indias thrilling fivewicket victory over archrivals Pakistan in the final at the Dubai International StadiumFans quickly flooded social media congratulating Sharma and celebrating Indias performance The post highlights the emotional high the players experienced after a hardfought campaign where Sharmas consistent contributions with both bat and ball earned him recognition as one of the tournaments standout performersYuvraj Singh who has been mentoring young Indian talents has been credited with helping nurture Sharmas allround skills The Instagram post offers fans a glimpse into their mentormentee relationship and the lighter celebratory side of international cricketmoments often unseen by the publicAbhishek who gave India blazing starts throughout the tournament and shared crucial partnerships with vicecaptain Shubman Gill to lay the foundations for India in victories ended the tournament with 314 runs in seven matches at an average of 4485 and a strike rate of 200Abhisheks sister and mother had a few days back revealed to IANS how Yuvraj Singh was regularly in touch with the India opener throughout the Asia Cup discussing his knocks and how to approach the various challenges posed by the key bowlers from the opposing team in the upcoming matchFor his brilliant batting Abhishek received the keys of a brand new car and said getting a car the prize for Player of the Tournament was always a pleasureIndias focus now shifts to the upcoming Test series against the West Indies beginning at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 2 While the Asia Cup win provides a confidence boost Sharma and his teammates will need to adapt to the longer format as part of Indias preparations for the 202527 ICC World Test Championship cycleFor fans however the flight photo serves as a joyful reminder of Indias latest cricketing triumph and the emerging stars shaping the future of the Men in Blue IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/abhishek-sharma-shares-flight-celebration-with-mentor-yuvraj-singh-after-asia-cup-triumph-640805.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/maxwell-ruled-out-of-nz-t20-series-with-wrist-injury-philippe-called-up-as-replacement-640835.html Mount Maunganui Sep 30 Glenn Maxwell has been ruled out of Australias threematch T20 series against New Zealand after suffering a fractured forearm in a freak training incident at Mount Maunganui Cricket Australia confirmed on Tuesday morning that the 36yearold allrounder will miss the transTasman series with wicketkeeperbatter Josh Philippe called in as his replacementMaxwell was struck on the wrist while bowling in the nets to bighitting allrounder Mitchell Owen at Taurangas Bay Oval The blow fractured his forearm forcing him out of the ChappellHadlee Trophy T20s which begin Wednesday He will return home for a specialist review to determine the timeline for his comebackRecalled allrounder Matthew Short batting in an adjoining net at the time recounted the incident I saw it out of the corner of my eye Were training under a marquee so its really echoy and loud I saw Owen smoked it and then the aftermath it hit Maxi on the wrist It didnt sound good Owen is not the guy you want to be bowling to in T20 training thats for sure Maxis been there and gone through that serious injuries a couple of times now he was a bit disappointed but its just like any other injury Im sure hell get through itIt is another untimely setback for Maxwell who fractured his leg in a freak accident at a birthday party three years ago and was also concussed during the 2023 World Cup after falling from a golf cart He had started this domestic summer brightly smashing a 73ball century for Victoria in the OneDay Cup and an unbeaten 62 off 36 balls in Australias most recent T20I against South AfricaMarcus Stoinis who returns to the T20 squad after nearly a year acknowledged the importance of these games in building towards next years T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka Its probably the start of that Im sure theres a picture in the head of the selectors of what they want to do and how they want the team lining up come that World Cup so I think its going to be a nice build in for everyone Its always a good challenge playing New Zealand Theyre a great team and they perform so well in the big tournaments as well so its definitely something we look forward toPhilippe who replaces Maxwell comes into the squad in fine touch after recent Australia A performances including a 123 not out and a halfcentury in India earlier this month The 28yearold who has 12 T20Is to his name last featured for Australia in December 2023Maxwells absence adds to a growing list of unavailable stars Josh Inglis was earlier ruled out with a calf strain replaced by Alex Carey Pat Cummins is sitting out to rehabilitate a back issue Mitchell Starc has retired from T20 internationals and Cameron Green is playing Sheffield Shield cricket to focus on his return to bowling before the AshesThe T20 series against New Zealand begins on October 1 at Bay Oval with subsequent matches on October 3 and 4 at the same venueNew Zealand squad Michael Bracewell c Mark Chapman Devon Conway Jacob Duffy Zak Foulkes Matt Henry Bevon Jacobs Kyle Jamieson Daryl Mitchell Rachin Ravindra Tim Robinson Ben Sears Tim Seifert Ish SodhiAustralia squad Mitchell Marsh c Sean Abbott Xavier Bartlett Alex Carey Tim David Ben Dwarshuis Josh Hazlewood Travis Head Matt Kuhnemann Mitchell Owen Josh Philippe Matthew Short Marcus Stoinis Adam Zampa IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/maxwell-ruled-out-of-nz-t20-series-with-wrist-injury-philippe-called-up-as-replacement-640835.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:11:00 +0530