DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Wed, 10 Dec 2025 03:41:37 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/sports/mitch-marsh-signals-end-of-shield-career-but-leaves-door-ajar-for-test-recall-reports-652038.html New Delhi Dec 8 Mitchell Marsh has notified his Western Australia teammates that this season will be his final one in redball cricket at the state level reports Nine newspapers The experienced allrounder has chosen to retire from longformat domestic cricket but hasnt completely dismissed the possibility of being called up for Australia if selectors call on him during the ongoing Ashes campaign Marshâs stance presents a rare scenario a player stepping back from Sheffield Shield cricket while remaining open to Test duties Still the 34yearold is understood to accept that his chances of adding to his 46 Tests are slim even as he maintains he would not knock back an opportunity if one were to arise unexpectedlyThe report also suggested that Marshâs decision follows a poor performance at the MCG against Victoria where he managed two singledigit scores His appearances for Western Australia have been limited in recent years with just nine matches since 2019 a stark contrast to the heavier workload he handled earlier in his career after debuting in 2009Selectors had previously considered Marsh as a potential candidate for later in the Ashes series despite his limited redball preparation He was dropped during the 2024â25 home summer ahead of the Sydney Test replaced by Beau WebsterMarshâs fluctuating Test career reached new heights in 2023 highlighted by his memorable Headingley century and strong performances that culminated in his Allan Border Medal win Across his Test tenure he has amassed 2083 runs at 2853 and taken 51 wickets at 4041While his redball future appears uncertain Marsh remains vital to Australiaâs whiteball plans continuing as captain of both the ODI and T20 teamsBefore the Ashes began Australia coach Andrew McDonald had indicated the possibility stating âWe would be comfortable picking someone and if you want to put a name to it Mitch Marsh out of whiteball cricket if we felt like that was going to benefit the Test team Heâs the captain of the whiteball team Itâs very hard for him to vacate and balance out Test preparation if he were to be in the window for that We still havenât given up on Mitch Marshâs Test careerâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mitch-marsh-signals-end-of-shield-career-but-leaves-door-ajar-for-test-recall-reports-652038.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/his-body-just-keeps-letting-him-down-nasser-hussain-on-woods-injury-setback-652297.html New Delhi Dec 9 Former England captain has reflected on Mark Woods fresh injury setback after the pacer has been ruled out of the remaining Ashes Tests saying the seamers body just keeps letting him down Wood only returned to action in the first Test in Perth after eight months out following knee surgery The 35yearold subsequently suffered swelling in the same left knee and was forced to miss the second Test He will now return home to begin rehabilitation and recoveryIt is a huge blow to the team and the individual The team because you want all your bowlers available especially going into the final three Tests that are one after another We have had big gaps so far but after the third Test they come thick and fast England may not have been able to go with Wood and Jofra Archer again but if Archer needed a rest Wood could have come in and that is not possible now Hussain said on Sky SportsBefore the Perth Test Wood had not played redball cricket for England in 15 months due to an elbow injury followed by knee surgery He is one of the fastest bowlers to ever play for England Wood has taken 119 wickets in 38 Tests since making his debut in 2015 He was part of the team that won the Ashes in 2015 lifted the 2019 50over World Cup and was in the England squad that won the T20 World Cup in 2022It is also a blow for Wood who is such a likeable lad that gives it absolutely everything every time he plays for England He is so popular in that team but his body just keeps letting him down He has come back from yet another injury after eight nine months in rehab hamstring goes in the warmup game knee goes in the first Test and now back for more rehab Its souldestroying for himHe has been around for a decade and played 38 Tests He will be very down at the moment and I hope its not the last we see of him in Tests He turns 36 next month and at that age it is very difficult to keep coming back from injuries Hussain added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/his-body-just-keeps-letting-him-down-nasser-hussain-on-woods-injury-setback-652297.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-came-here-with-high-expectations-wood-expresses-disappointment-on-being-ruled-out-of-ashes-652301.html New Delhi Dec 9 England pacer Mark Wood has expressed his disappointment on being ruled out from the Ashes series due to knee injury he suffered during the first Test in Perth saying he came to the series with high expectations about making a big impact but his knee just hasnt held up England Cricket have confirmed Wood will return home and will work closely with the ECB medical team on his rehabilitation and recovery Matthew Fisher has been brought into the squad having been in Australia with the English LionsWood has had recent troubles with his left knee having sustained the injury earlier this year during the ICC Champions Trophy The pacer who has since had a surgery and returned after a ninemonth absence following knee surgery for the first Test had reported pain in his knee during the series opener and was only able to bowl 11 overs during the Test He then missed out on featuring in Englandâs lineup for the second Test in Brisbane as the hosts took a 20 lead in the fiveTest seriesGutted to be out the remainder of the Ashes After extensive surgery and 7 long hard months of work and rehab to get back into the Test arena my knee just hasnt held up Wood said in his Instagram postNone of us expected this I came here with high expectations about making a big impact Im desperately disappointed that despite yet more injections and intensive medical treatment it has become clear that the flare up in my knee is worse than fearedIm really sorry that has left me unable to perform as expected but it is not for want of trying I want to thank everyone at home and away in Australia The barmy army have been class as always and I really appreciate itWhatever happens I will continue to push the limits to get back again It has been a tough road these past few months but I remain determined to give it another proper go I still believe we can turn things around Never give in Come on England he addedFor Wood the setback is yet another chapter in a career repeatedly disrupted by fitness problems Before the Perth Test he had not played redball cricket for England in 15 months due to an elbow injury followed by knee surgery IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-came-here-with-high-expectations-wood-expresses-disappointment-on-being-ruled-out-of-ashes-652301.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-mo-salah-set-to-be-axed-from-liverpool-squad-for-inter-milan-report-652054.html Liverpool Dec 8 Liverpool forward Mohammad Salah is expected to be axed from the squad for Tuesdays Champions League match against Inter Milan says a report However the final decision is still to be made with Salah training with the squad on Monday According to Sky Sports Salahs anticipated exclusion occurs just two days after he gave a heated interview after the 33 draw with Leeds in which he said he had been thrown under the bus had no relationship with manager Arne Slot and that Saturdays match against Brighton might be his last at AnfieldSalah who has been a consistent starter and talisman for the Reds since joining the team in 2017 has started on the bench in Liverpools previous three games His performance has declined this season though as he has only scored five goals in 18 games which is comparable to Liverpools as they attempt to stabilise their performanceSpeaking to reporters on Saturday Salah who signed a new deal at the end of last season said I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season Now Im sitting on the bench and I dont know whyIt seems like the club has thrown me under the bus That is how I am feeling I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the I got a lot of promises in the summer and so far I am on the bench for three games so I cant say they keep their promiseI said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden we dont have any relationship I dont know why but it seems to me how I see it that someone doesnt want me in the club Salah saidThe trip to Inter would be Salahs farewell Reds appearance as the 33yearold will be joining Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations next week It was even suggested that Saturdays game at Anfield against Brighton may be his final one with the team He may join the Saudi Pro League in January according to multiple reports IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-mo-salah-set-to-be-axed-from-liverpool-squad-for-inter-milan-report-652054.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pgti-tour-veer-ahlawat-shaurya-bhattacharya-arjun-prasad-in-the-fray-in-new-delhi-event-652060.html New Delhi Dec 8 Top stars 2025 PGTI Order of Merit leader Yuvraj Sandhu 2024 PGTI Order of Merit champion Veer Ahlawat Shaurya Bhattacharya and Arjun Prasad in the next event on the Professional Golf Tour of India PGTI Tour which will be presented by PGTI President Kapil Dev and to be held at the prestigious Delhi Golf Club DGC from December 9 to 12 2025 and which carries a prize purse of INR 2 crore The stellar field for the tournament will also feature Angad Cheema Manu Gandas and Om Prakash Chouhan to name a few the PGTI announced on MondayThe foreign challenge will be led by the likes of Sri Lankan N Thangaraja Bangladeshis Jamal Hossain Badal Hossain Md Akbar Hossain Nepalâs Subash Tamang Czech Republicâs Stepan Danek Italians Michele Ortolani and Federico Zucchetti American Koichiro Sato as well as Ugandaâs Joshua SealeThe host venue Delhi Golf Club will be represented by professionals Kshitij Naveed Kaul Harsh Gangwar Pawan Kumar Rohit Baisoya and Karan VasudevaKapil Dev President PGTI amp Tournament Host said âIt gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone to the second edition of the Vishwa Samudra Open a tournament that has already established itself as a major attraction on the PGTI calendar The success of the inaugural edition reaffirmed the growing strength of Indian professional golf and this year promises to raise the bar even higher I thank the Vishwa Samudra Group for their continued support as we work together to strengthen professional golf and celebrate the incredible talent India has to offer I also thank the worldclass Delhi Golf Club for partnering with us and providing the ideal setting for the eventâVikram Seth Captain Delhi Golf Club said âPromotion of Golf remains the primary focus of the Delhi Golf Club and in line with the same we hosted the Vishwa Samudra Open 2025 The Lodhi Course has always tested the best golfers in the country and this week is no exception We are delighted to witness some of Indiaâs finest professionals compete with such passion and consistency The success of this tournament is a testament to the collective efforts of PGTI the Vishwa Samudra Group and the entire team at DGC Our commitment to supporting and nurturing the growth of golf in India remains stronger than everâChinta Sasidhar Chairman Vishwa Samudra Group said âVishwa Samudras association with golf has been for over 12 years now including starting Indiaâs most desired corporate golf event the Vishwa Samudra Golden Eagles Golf Championships which completed 9 editions this year We at the VS Group would like to extend our support for this event as we did last year as we support Mr Kapil Devâs and PGTIs vision to develop golfing talent in the country wholeheartedlyâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pgti-tour-veer-ahlawat-shaurya-bhattacharya-arjun-prasad-in-the-fray-in-new-delhi-event-652060.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/dharashiv-sangli-crowned-winners-at-maharashtra-state-junior-kho-kho-championship-652063.html Ahilyanagar Maharashtra Dec 8 Dharashiv and Sangli emerged as champions in the boys and girls categories respectively in the 51st Junior State Kho Kho Championship conducted by Maharashtra State Kho Kho Association MSKKA held in Ahilyanagar In all 720 players from across 24 districts of Maharashtra participated in the fourday championship that concluded on Sunday The format of the championship was leaguecumknockout and 40 matches were played in both the boysâ and girlsâ categoriesIn the boysâ section Solapur bagged the runnersup position with Sangli and Pune in joint third place While in the girlsâ category Thane secured the runnersup position with Dharashiv and Solapur in jointthird positionThe massive participation reflects the strong presence of Kho Kho in the state The junior championship is a platform to identify and nurture future talents said Dr Chandrajit Jadhav General Secretary Maharashtra Kho Kho AssociationThe championship also recognised outstanding players including Sotya Valvi as the Best Defender Chandanshiv Shambhuraj as Best Attacker and Vasave Jitendra as Best AllRounder in the boys category In the girls category Tamkhade Shrawani was adjudged Best Defender Jagdale Praniti as Best Attacker and Chafe Sanika as Best AllRounderUnder the aegis of the Kho Kho Federation of India KKFI the event was organised by the Maharashtra Kho Kho Association with the support of the Ahilyanagar District Kho Kho AssociationThe 51st Junior State Kho Kho Championship served as a platform for young athletes to showcase their skills and secure a spot in state teams for the 44th Junior National Kho Kho Championship boys amp girls to be held in Karnataka from December 31 2025 to January 4 2026 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/dharashiv-sangli-crowned-winners-at-maharashtra-state-junior-kho-kho-championship-652063.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/issf-world-cup-finals-zoravar-finishes-seventh-in-mens-trap-as-india-end-campaign-with-two-gold-652071.html New Delhi Dec 8 World championship bronze medallist Zorawar Singh Sandhu finished seventh in the menâs trap final with seven hits in the first 10 targets as India concluded their secondbest ever campaign at an International Shooting Sport Federation ISSF World Cup Finals WCF with a total of six medals including two gold medals Zorawar was the only Indian representative on the concluding Shotgun Day at the Lusail Shooting complex in Doha which saw all four individual Shotgun finals played out on Monday Indias bestever campaign was in Putain in 2019 in the ISSF World Cup Finals with three gold medalsZorawar had qualified for the final now up to eight from the earlier six with the new ISSF rules with a score of 119 in qualifying which gave him sixth place over 125 targets In the now 30shot final he could not get his act together and was among the first two alongside Italian Giovanni Pellielo to bow outChina topped the standings ahead of India with four gold medals and nine medals The USA with their double gold in menâs trap and skeet on the day came third the National Rifle Association of India NRAI informed in a release on MondayAmong Indiaâs high points of the campaign was a stunning gold by Simranpreet Kaur Brar in the womenâs 25m pistol and a return to the top of the podium of Suruchi Phogat who won the womenâs 10m air pistol goldIndia also registered a firstever double podium finish in an ISSF World Cup Final when Sainyam took the first of three silvers from the campaign for India Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar in the menâs 50m rifle 3 positions and Anish Bhanwala in the menâs 25m rapidfire pistol were the other silver winners Indiaâs lone bronze was won by the reigning world champion in the menâs 10m air pistol Samrat RanaIndian debutants Suruchi Phogat and Sainyam caused the biggest flutter at the Lusail Shooting Complex in Doha on the opening competition day of the seasonending competition by winning gold and silver respectively in the 10m air pistol womenâs event Suruchi shot a Junior World Record score of 2451 in the eightwoman final to leave her senior teammate 18 behind in second This was the first time India registered a double podium in the premium yearending ISSF showdown between the yearâs best shooters and Olympic and World Championship medalists Chinaâs Yao Qianxun won bronze with 2194 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/issf-world-cup-finals-zoravar-finishes-seventh-in-mens-trap-as-india-end-campaign-with-two-gold-652071.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/rohit-made-me-comfortable-allowed-me-to-be-free-with-him-and-express-myself-says-shardul-652073.html New Delhi Dec 8 Indiaâs seambowling allrounder Shardul Thakur said veteran opener Rohit Sharma made him feel comfortable and encouraged selfexpression something which he is now eager to experience again in the Mumbai Indians camp for Indian Premier League IPL 2026 Ahead of retentions Thakur was traded from Lucknow Super Giants LSG to the Mumbai Indians a side where he was a support bowler in 2010 Abhi aur pata chalega jab sath me baithenge toh Kaafi masti hogi He made me comfortable he allowed me to be free with him and he allowed me to express myself We became comfortable with each other and he played a major part in itâ Thakur was quoted as saying by the franchiseâs website on MondayThakur whoâs played 13 Tests 47 ODIs and 25 T20Is for India noted that the exposure to the MI dressing room environment in IPL 2010 instilled the professionalism in him to achieve greater things in his cricketing careerâI was made to play practice games I bowled with a new ball so that boosted my morale and confidence to another level and I was picking wickets I was lucky enough to experience the dressing room early in my daysâ Thakur saidâI was already feeling comfortable in front of senior players Somewhere down the line whatever the way I was treated during the Mumbai Indians camp also that small gesture from the Mumbai Indians helped me a lot to grow in my careerâ he addedThakur who is turning out for Mumbai in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy also credited MI Director of Cricket Rahul Sanghvi and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey for their daily guidance and inputs shaping his growth as a professional cricketerâI was seeing Sachin Tendulkar Harbhajan Singh Munaf Patel Andrew Symonds Rohit Sharma Ambati Rayuduâ and Iâm sharing the same dressing room with them It was surrealâ he concludedMumbai Indians along with Chennai Super Kings are the most successful franchises in the Indian Premier League IPL claiming five titles apiece MI have among others picked Thakur to bolster their squad hoping to win their sixth title in the upcoming IPL 2026 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/rohit-made-me-comfortable-allowed-me-to-be-free-with-him-and-express-myself-says-shardul-652073.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/proteas-womens-players-make-big-gains-in-t20i-rankings-after-win-vs-ireland-652331.html Dubai Dec 9 The race at the top of the ICC Womenâs T20I rankings has grown even more competitive with several South African players climbing the charts on the back of a commanding start to their home series against Ireland Leftarm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba has been one of the biggest beneficiaries Her tidy spells in the opening two matches yielding three wickets at just over 11 runs apiece have propelled her four spots up to sixth place among T20I bowlers The 25yearold now sits on 705 rating points edging closer to Australiaâs Annabel Sutherland who continues to hold the No1 position with 736 rating pointsMlabaâs rise is part of a broader upward shift for the hosts after securing a 2â0 lead in the threematch contest Nadine de Klerk has climbed to 45th among bowlers following her fourwicket haul across the two games while Chloe Tryon has vaulted 12 places to 49thTryon also advanced in the allroundersâ table moving up seven spots to sit just outside the top 10 Fellow allrounder Sune Luus made similar progress jumping nine places to 23rd after a standout run with both bat and ball Luus has struck 118 runs in two outings highlighted by an 81 and taken four wickets lifting her to 41st in the batting rankings as wellThere was positive movement for some returning and emerging names too Former South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk has reentered the T20I batting list at 82nd after her comeback to international cricket while Irelandâs Leah Paul has pushed up nine places to 67th thanks to a couple of confident inningsAt the top of the charts Australiaâs Beth Mooney continues to lead the batting rankings South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt however has closed the gap narrowing the deficit to just 50 points after scores of 115 and 22 against IrelandAs the series heads into its final match the rankings picture remains fluid and the momentum is firmly with the Proteas IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/proteas-womens-players-make-big-gains-in-t20i-rankings-after-win-vs-ireland-652331.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/judoka-ritik-sharmas-kiug-triumph-fuels-his-2026-cwg-dream-652333.html Udaipur Dec 9 Since relocating to the SAI National Centre of Excellence NCOE in Bhopal six years ago Ritik Sharmaâs career has experienced a rapid ascent The young Punjabborn judoka once again highlighted his progress with a commanding performance at the Khelo India University Games KIUG Rajasthan 2025 Competing in his fourth KIUG at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indoor Hall in Udaipur Ritik representing Lovely Professional University LPU secured his third gold medal adding to his existing bronzeWhat made the victory more meaningful was the way he bounced back from a recent setback Flying straight to Udaipur after a firstround exit at the Asian Open Championships in Hong Kong Ritik wasted no time dwelling on the disappointmentInstead he channelled the lessons from his overseas trip into a composed confident performance overcoming familiar rival Yash Ghangas in the menâs 100kg finalThe rivalry between Ritik and Yash dates back to their teenage years The two first competed in the final of the 2020 Khelo India Youth Games in Guwahati and even now as products of the same NCOE their matchups remain intensely competitiveâThere are a handful of judokas in our category so we have known each other for years now I beat him for the first time in the Guwahati KIYG and Iâm glad that I could get the better of him in KIUG 2025 tooâ said Ritik emphasising the need for more international exposure tripsâDespite being out in the first round I have come back with a lot of learnings and positives from Hong Kong What also matters is the mental aspect of the sport as such exposure trips help you in understanding how the world and Olympic champions approach the game their techniques and sparring with some of the best in the worldâ he addedRitikâs journey started far from Indiaâs main sporting centres in Gurdaspur a remote border district in Punjab bordering Pakistan Growing up opportunities were scarce with few organised sports programmes or training centres available Yet in 2015 at the age of 14 Ritik found his passion for judo and dedicated himself to the sport with steadfast focusBorn to an ASI in the Punjab Police and the youngest of three siblings Ritik began his initial training at the renowned Shaheed Bhagat Singh JFI coaching centre which has produced over 50 international and 100 nationallevel judokas The foundation he built there kept him steady even as he faced challenges on the global stageAlthough he returned emptyhanded from last yearâs Grand Slams in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan the 24yearold is now energised by the momentum of his KIUG gold as he prepares for the Senior National Championships scheduled to start on December 11 in ImphalFor Ritik the lack of quality sparring partners in his weight class remains a major obstacle However he continues to push his boundaries and is now aiming for the next significant goal of breaking into the 2026 Commonwealth Games squad IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/judoka-ritik-sharmas-kiug-triumph-fuels-his-2026-cwg-dream-652333.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/tennis-premier-league-is-fun-exciting-and-perfect-for-everyone-to-enjoy-says-rohan-bopanna-652078.html Ahmedabad Dec 8 Former Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna called the commencement of the seventh season of Tennis Premier League TPL fun exciting and for everyone to enjoy The TPL is all set for its seventh season taking place at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium from December 9 to 14 With the league completing seven consecutive editions it becomes only the fourth sports league in India to achieve this milestone This season also marks a major expansion as TPL moves outside Maharashtra for the first time By bringing the tournament to Ahmedabad the league continues to broaden its reach and build new communities of tennis fans across IndiaSeason 7 promises a highenergy week of tennis with a strong lineup of top 50ranked international players competing alongside Indiaâs leading talents Eight franchises will feature in TPLâs fastpaced fourround format of Womenâs Singles Mixed Doubles Menâs Singles and Menâs Doubles with each round worth 25 pointsEach team will play five league matches from 9 to 13 December with the top four advancing to the semifinals and final on 14 DecemberSeason 7 will feature a starstudded roster including Grand Slam champion Rohan Bopanna World No 26 Luciano Darderi and Britainâs top tennis star Dan Evans Indiaâs leading talents such as Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Sahaja Yamalapalli also add depth to an already competitive field With marquee players headlining every team the competition is set for a tightly contested weekRohan Bopanna of SG Pipers Bengaluru said âTwentyfive game points make the matches fast and exciting and now that I have retired this format is perfect for me It is fun highenergy and for youngsters it is a fantastic format to watch and play Every point is important and you need to start strong from the very first rally Being televised means fans get to enjoy every player in action not just the top stars Tournaments like TPL give everyone across the country the chance to follow all the players and that is amazingâLuciano Darderi who will represent the Rajasthan Rangers added âI am excited to be part of the Tennis Premier League for the first time and to represent the Rajasthan Rangers I have heard a lot about the energy of the league and the passion Indian fans bring to every match Playing in this format will be a new experience for me and I am looking forward to contributing to the team and enjoying the atmosphere in AhmedabadâDan Evans who will represent the Gurgaon Grand Slammers said âIt is great to be here in India for the first time I am really looking forward to joining the team and representing the Gurgaon Grand Slammers I have always enjoyed playing in India and I know how passionate the fans are here The TPL format is fast and competitive and I am excited to be part of this team environment and contribute to a strong campaign in Ahmedabadâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/tennis-premier-league-is-fun-exciting-and-perfect-for-everyone-to-enjoy-says-rohan-bopanna-652078.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/real-madrids-rodrygo-walks-down-memory-lane-ahead-of-man-city-test-in-ucl-derby-652342.html Madrid Dec 9 As Real Madrid prepare to meet Manchester City for a fifth consecutive Champions League season Madrid winger Rodrygo walks down memory lane as he thinks back to his most unforgettable moment from the semifinal meeting in 2022 when he scored his first goal In each of the past four seasons one side has eliminated the other from the knockout phase and the pair have claimed three titles between them in that span Real Madrid in 202122 and 202324 and Manchester City in 202223The two teams have played a total of 14 matches since their first encounter in the 201213 season Over the last six seasons they have faced each other 10 times and produced memorable moments in each of the five twolegged knockout tiesReal Madrid prevailed on three occasions with special mention going to the semifinal comeback that secured our ticket to win the Decimocuarta in Paris in 2022I think thatâs my most unforgettable football momentâ Rodrygo told UEFA The most important moment was after I scored the first goal when the fourth official showed six minutes of added timeâ he explained âIt felt as if we had scored another goal â the fans went crazy Right after that I scored my second goalKarim Benzemaâs 95thminute penalty then sent the hosts to the final where they defeated Liverpool 10 to earn a 14th crown in the competitionLos Blancos ended up on the losing side in the following years semifinal rematch Manchester City sealing a 51 aggregate victory on the way to their maiden Champions League titleRodrygo found himself back on the scoresheet and on the winning side in 202324 as Real Madrid earned a penaltyshootout triumph in the quarterfinalsThe first leg was an amazing match a spectacleâ Rodrygo said of the 33 draw in Madrid âIt captured the essence of all the Manchester City versus Real Madrid games in the previous years It was great and for me it was a privilege being on the pitch and scoring that dayâThe Brazilian then struck Real Madridâs only goal as a 11 draw followed in Manchester Carlo Ancelottiâs charges prevailing through dogged defending and a 43 penalty shootout victoryâThe match in England against them was a tough one I was lucky enough to score again but we struggled a lot throughout the matchâ Rodrygo recalledLos Blancos then defeated Bayern München in the semifinals and Borussia Dortmund in the showpiece to extend their record tally of European CupChampions League titles to 15 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/real-madrids-rodrygo-walks-down-memory-lane-ahead-of-man-city-test-in-ucl-derby-652342.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/you-cant-discard-rohit-and-kohli-till-2027-world-cup-says-pakistans-shahid-afridi-652091.html Mumbai Dec 8 Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi came out in support of ace batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and dismissed attempts to sideline the two legends from the Indian ODI side claiming they are the backbone of the team and must be continued until the 2027 World Cup a news report said on Monday âItâs a fact that Virat and Rohit are the backbone of the Indian batting lineup and the way they have played in the recent ODI series it can confidently be said that they can play until the 2027 World Cupâ was quoted as saying in a report by Telecom Asia SportAfridi said the two greats should be played in major series âYou need to preserve both these stars and when India is playing against a weaker team they can try some new players and rest Virat and Rohitâ the former opener told wwwtelecomasianet on MondayAfridi hit out at Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir with whom he had a number of onfield clashes in his playing days âThe way Gautum started his stint it looked like he thought that what he thinks and says is right but after some time it was proved that you are not always rightâAfridi showed pleasure at Rohit overhauling his record for most sixes in ODI cricket âRecords are meant to be broken and this too is now bettered I am happy that a player whom I have always liked has broken this recordââMy record of fastest century stood for nearly 18 years but it was finally broken so records are set by one player and another player comes and breaks it This is cricketâRohit surpassed Afridiâs 351 sixes in 398 matches during the second ODI against South Africa at Raipur and now has 355 in 279 matches âI played alongside Rohit for the Deccan Chargers in my only Indian Premier League IPL season in 2008 and at that time I liked himâDuring practice sessions of the Charges I watched him bat and his class impressed me I knew that one day Rohit would play for India and he has proved himself as a classy batterâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/you-cant-discard-rohit-and-kohli-till-2027-world-cup-says-pakistans-shahid-afridi-652091.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hockey-bangladesh-clinch-challenger-trophy-to-sign-off-from-mens-junior-world-cup--652096.html Madurai Dec 8 Bangladesh finished their FIH Hockey Menâs Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 campaign on a happy note clinching the title in the inaugural Challenger Trophy competition introduced by the FIH president Tayyab Ikram as an incentive for the 1724 place playoffs with a 54 victory over Austria in Madurai on Monday Bangladeshâs firstever title of global significance came via an impressive win over Austria led by their goalscoring machine Amirul Islam who scored another hattrick as Madurai hosted the lastfour matches of the tournamentAmirul Islam was the star for Bangladesh in the playoff match for the 1718 positions A goal off a penalty corner for the dragflick star Amirul and two penaltystroke conversions put him firmly on top of the goalscorerâs list with 18 goals as Amirul Hozifa Hussain and Rakibul Hasan ensured Bangladesh went ahead 30 by the 35th minuteAustria kept trying to claw back into the game first making it 13 through Andor Losonci and then reducing it to 42 in the 51st minute But Amirulâs hattrick goal a minute later gave Bangladesh the breathing space they needed to see off the remaining 8 minutesHowever Austria refused to give up without a fight and scored through Julian Kaiser 57th and Mateusz Nyckowiak 59th to give Bangladesh the jitters but they held on to win and take home the Challenger TrophyIn other matches on Monday Namibia defeated Oman 42 Canada prevailed over Egypt 32 in the shootout after they ended 22 at the end of regulation time and Korea overcame China 54 in their respective playoff matchesNamibia signed off from the tournament with a win in the 2324 place classification match defeating Oman 42 on the concluding day of the competition in MaduraiNamibia led at the halfway mark after Josh van der Merwe equalised in the 19th minute to negate Omanâs 10 lead courtesy Maitham Al Wahaibiâs penaltycorner conversion in the first quarter Gerhard Myburghâs 22ndminute goal then put Namibia ahead 21After the third quarter failed to produce any goals it was Omanâs turn to restore parity at 22 when Alhussin Al Hasni produced a penaltycorner conversion in the 48th minuteWith the game hanging in the balance in the last 12 minutes Namibia not just held their nerves better but also managed to break the deadlock in the 55th minute off a PC and then sealed the game at 42 with a field goal in the 60th â credit to the skills of JohnPaul Britz and Ludwig van Rooyen respectivelyCanada beat Egypt in shootoutA shootout decided the 2122 positions with Canada and Egypt fighting it out in a tight contest that couldnât be decided in the regulation 60 minutes which ended at 22 The Egyptians then prevailed in the shootout 32 to finish in the 21st positionRobin Thinds brace for Canada brought them back from 02 down after Egypt dominated proceedings in the first two quarters Basel Abdelmonem put Egypt ahead in the 3rd minute and then scored his second goal in the 38th minute to add a cushionCanada regrouped towards the end of the third quarter coming back through Thindâs penaltycorner goals in the 43rd and 45th minutes But his effort went in vain with Egypt claiming victory by clinching the tiebreaking shootout 32Mohab Hegab Ahmed Fouda and Abdelrahman Kasem beat the Canadian goalkeeper Stanley Cooke in the shootout while only Robin Thind and Lucas Aardenburg could go past the Egyptian custodian Ebraheem ArafaatChina lose to Korea 45The allAsian faceoff for the 1920 positions produced a goalfest that was dominated by Korea before China threatened late in the final quarter through Li Pengfeiâs hattrick before running out of time to lose 45 and finish 20th in the competitionKorea looked to be running away with the match having taken a 20 lead in the first quarter with the inform Minhyeok Lee scoring in the first minute with PC He added a second to his name in the 13th minute off another short corner for Koreaâs 20 lead in the first quarter The Koreans entered the halftime break with a comfortable 30 lead as Jaewon Park increased the margin in the 20th minuteChinaâs Li got his team on the board to cut the lead to 13 in the 34th minute but Donggeon Kim restored Koreaâs threegoal margin three minutes later at 41 only to see China earn a penalty stroke in the next 60 seconds converted by Li to pull another goal backKorea began the final 15 minutes by adding another cushion for a 52 lead through Gyeonghu Lee in the 48th minute Just when it looked like the game was beyond China to chase Di Yanweiâs 56thminute strike made it 53 and though Li followed up to complete his hattrick it came only in the 60th minute to give Korea a 54 victory IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hockey-bangladesh-clinch-challenger-trophy-to-sign-off-from-mens-junior-world-cup--652096.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/there-is-no-other-player-like-hardik-pandya-in-indian-team-says-sanjay-bangar-652358.html New Delhi Dec 9 Former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar highlighted allrounder Hardik Pandyas role ahead of the T20I series against South Africa kicking off on Tuesday saying that there was no other player like him After missing two months owing to a quadricep injury sustained during the Asia Cup Pandya is returning to the Indian side and is anticipated to feature in the playing XI against South Africa in the forthcoming T20Is Indias T20 World Cup 2026 preparations will begin with the series against the Proteas with the first game set to be played in CuttackâLook at all the allrounders in world cricket now Does England have a backup for Ben Stokes No In oneday or even Test cricket there is no backup for Ravindra Jadeja It is the same with Hardik Pandya He Pandya can command a spot in the top five on his batting alone He could also be one of the top three seamers in any team if he was just a bowlerâ Bangar told JiosStarâThe point is to be that kind of allrounder you must earn your place with your batting and also with your bowling There is no other player like Hardik Pandya in the Indian teamâ he addedRegarding Pandyas workload management Bangar stated that he anticipates the allrounder playing in the first three of the five T20Is against the ProteasâWe need to see how he copes Playing in the SMAT Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is different from the intensity of an international game The team management must manage the workload of important players like him So if needed we must do that for Hardik too A fit Hardik Pandya allows the team to play its desired combination especially with the spin options we have Thatâs why his presence is critically very vitalâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/there-is-no-other-player-like-hardik-pandya-in-indian-team-says-sanjay-bangar-652358.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 18:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/indias-praggnanandhaa-tops-fide-circuit-2025-secures-spot-in-next-years-candidates-tournament-652106.html Mumbai Dec 8 Indias Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa was on Monday declared winner in the FIDE Circuit 2025 thus securing his qualification as the only Indian man in next yearâs Candidates tournament to be played next year FIDE the sports world governing body announced this via a social media post on Monday informing that the young Grandmaster from Chennai is the most successful male player from India this year bagging titles at the Tata Steel Masters Superbet Chess Classic Romania UzChess Cup Masters and London Chess Classic OpenPraggnanandhaa R has won the FIDE Circuit 2025 securing a spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament Congratulations to rpraggnachess who deservedly earned one of the eight slots in the 2026 Candidates FIDE said in a post on X formerly TwitterThe young Indian has been the best FIDE Circuit player throughout the year winning the Tata Steel Masters Superbet Chess Classic Romania UzChess Cup Masters and London Chess Classic Open and finishing second in the Stepan Avagyan Memorial and 12th Sinquefield Cup FIDE further wrote in its postIn the FIDE Circuit 2025 Pragg finished with a score of 11517 with Anish Giri of the Netherlands ending second with 8118 and Nodirbek Abdusattorov ending third with 7161 score Fabiano Caruna USA with 6555 and Matthias Bluebaum ending fifth with 8394Praggnanandhaa is the seventh player to make the eightplayer field for the Candidates 2026 joining the likes of Dutchman Anish Giri Fabiano Caruana of the US Matthias Bluebaum of Germany Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan Wei Yi of China and Andrey Esipenko of RussiaThe eighth spot will be filled on the basis of FIDE rating According to FIDEs qualification pathway handbook for the Candidates the spot with go to the player with the highest âsixmonth average rating based on FIDE Standard Rating Lists from August 1 2025 till January 1 2026 provided the respective player has played at least 40 games calculated for FIDE Standard Rating Lists from February 1 2025 till January 1 2026 including at least 15 games in any of the six consecutive rating listsâThe Candidates 2026 tournament will take place between March and April 2026 and the winner will take on reigning World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh in the World Chess Championship Final Match later in 2026 The dates and venues for both the Candidates and the Final Match will be decided laterMeanwhile while Praggnanandhaa will be Indiaâs sole male representation three Indian women â Divya Deshmukh Koneru Humpy R Vaishali â have qualified for next yearâs Womenâs Candidates IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/indias-praggnanandhaa-tops-fide-circuit-2025-secures-spot-in-next-years-candidates-tournament-652106.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hockey-mens-jr-wc-boys-know-losing-semis-and-coming-back-to-win-bronze-makes-huge-difference-says-pr-sreejesh-652368.html Chennai Dec 9 Following a tough campaign characterised by resilience and attacking prowess the Indian Junior Menâs Hockey Team aims to finish the tournament with a medal They will face Argentina in the 3rd4th Place match of the FIH Hockey Menâs Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 on Wednesday December 10 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Egmore Chennai India enter their final match following a tough 1â5 defeat against defending champions Germany in the semifinal Despite the loss the hosts have demonstrated strong potential throughout the tournament with impressive performances in the group stage and notable depth in their squad They have scored a total of 32 goals 29 of which were scored during the pool stage In the quarterfinals India beat Belgium in a shootout thanks to goalkeeper Princedeep Singhs heroics after an exciting 22 drawReflecting on the teamâs journey so far and the key areas to focus on before the highstakes encounter Indian Junior Mens Hockey Team Head Coach PR Sreejesh said âWe have played well throughout the tournament except in the semifinal where conceding easy goals in the first quarter put us under tremendous pressure For us the most important thing is to look into ourselves and understand our strengths reduce errors and make sure we convert our opportunities into goals In tournaments like this especially knockout games scoreboard pressure is crucial We need to ensure we dont concede early and create scoring chances right from the first quarter and put ourselves in a comfortable position to build our gameâLooking ahead to the clash against Argentina he added âTomorrow is a doordie match The players must go out there and give their 100 Focusing on the basics will be key There will be a big crowd who will expect us to win but the team needs to stay in the present moment They can draw inspiration from the senior teamâs Olympic experiences to see how losing a semifinal and coming back to win bronze makes a huge difference The boys know this and I believe they will rise to the occasionâArgentina will also be eager to achieve a podium finish following their semifinals exit against Spain The match was tied in the fourth quarter but Argentina conceded a late goal in the 56th minute which prevented them from reaching the finalAhead of the big day Argentinas head coach Juan Gilardi stated âWe have prepared for this match with professionalism and a clear desire to fight for a medal Winning bronze would be a wonderful present for these kids These boys train incredibly hard they are a united group with great zeal and passion and they make the environment enjoyable with their humour and energy That makes it easier for us as coaches to guide them and push them towards a higher hockey level We are happy with what we have achieved so far but there is one more battle to go against India Playing in a full stadium with a huge crowd this is something we are not going to forget IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hockey-mens-jr-wc-boys-know-losing-semis-and-coming-back-to-win-bronze-makes-huge-difference-says-pr-sreejesh-652368.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 18:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jairaj-singh-sandhu-takes-day-one-honours-at-vishwa-samudra-open-2025-652396.html New Delhi Dec 9 Jairaj Singh Sandhu took the day one honours courtesy of his fourunder 68 at the Vishwa Samudra Open 2025 presented by Kapil Dev a Rs 2 crore event being played at the Delhi Golf Club DGC Clubhouse leader Jairaj from Chandigarh was closely followed by Mani Ram who scored a 69 to finish second in the clubhouse Veer Ahlawat Yuvraj Singh and Sanjeev Kumar shared third place with scores of 70The start of play was delayed by 15 minutes due to fog in the morning As a result 22 players out of a total of 126 could not finish their first round on Tuesday when play was suspended at 535 pm because of fading light These 22 players are scheduled to restart their first round at 7 am on Wednesday morning Round two will begin after the completion of round oneAmong players with unfinished first rounds Mari Muthu R was in the best position standing at oneunder after 15 holes Meanwhile Yuvraj Sandhu leader of the PGTI Order of Merit scored a 73 in his opening roundOn a highscoring first day the lefthanded Jairaj Singh Sandhu had a slow start with a bogey and a birdie on the back nine Afterwards Jairaj a winner on the PGTI made his mark on the leaderboard with three consecutive birdies from the first to the third holes thanks to a couple of excellent shots from the fairway and a long putt on the greenThe 28yearold Jairaj currently 25th on the PGTI Ranking with a runnerup finish to his credit this year went on to add another birdie with his longest conversion of the day a 25footer on the sixthJairaj said âThe conditions were not easy because it was quite cold during the start of my round and it took some time for me to get warmed up The pin positions were also tough Keeping these factors in mind I feel I did well to shoot a fourunderâBeing a lefthander who hits a fade itâs easier for me to use my driver on a couple of holes at this course like the third and 18th Thatâs a slight advantage that a lefthander enjoys at those two holes at the DGC I would say Iâve had a patchy season so far but this good start gives me an opportunity to make an impact this weekâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jairaj-singh-sandhu-takes-day-one-honours-at-vishwa-samudra-open-2025-652396.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-1-helmut-marko-to-leave-red-bulls-advisor-role-at-the-end-of-2025-652403.html New Delhi Dec 9 Red Bulls motorsport advisor Helmut Marko is set to step down from his role with the Formula 1 franchise at the end of 2025 The Austrian is set to depart Red Bull after 20 years having overseen six Teams titles and eight Drivers titlesIn addition to advising the company on which drivers to promote to Formula 1 with Racing Bulls and then Red Bull Marko has been instrumental in the Red Bull Junior ProgramIt is very sad news that Helmut is leaving us said Team Principal Laurent Mekies He has been such an integral part of our team and of Red Bulls entire motor racing programme for more than two decadesOver the course of his two decades with the organisation he has managed the advancement of twenty drivers to Formula 1 notably Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen who together won eight world titles while driving for Red BullRed Bull have announced that Marko will leave the team six months after Team Principal Christian Horner departedThis is therefore the end of a remarkably successful chapter His departure will leave a void and we will truly miss himI would like to express my sincere gratitude for his unwavering support not only over the past months but also during my early days at Scuderia Toro RossoOn a personal note Helmut along with CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was the driving force behind bringing me back into the Red Bull family first in Faenza and then this summer in my current role in Milton KeynesHelmut is a real racer at heart always pushing us to the limit always prepared to take risks in pursuit of our goalsI have been involved in motorsport for six decades now and the past 20plus years at Red Bull have been an extraordinary and extremely successful journeyâ said Marko himself âIt has been a wonderful time that I have been able to help shape and share with so many talented people Everything we have built and achieved together fills me with prideâNarrowly missing out on the World Championship this season has moved me deeply and made it clear to me that now is the right moment for me personally to end this very long intense and successful chapterâI wish the entire team continued success and am convinced that they will be fighting for both world championship titles again next yearâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-1-helmut-marko-to-leave-red-bulls-advisor-role-at-the-end-of-2025-652403.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/veer-ganapathy-leads-stellar-field-after-day-two-of-igpl-uae-with-pranavi-urs-in-hot-pursuit-652404.html Dubai Dec 9 Bengaluru youngster Veer Ganapathy fired a 6underpar 66 to hold the day two lead in the IGPL UAE for a 36hole total of 8under 136 at the Els Club in Dubai on Tuesday Ladies European Tour regular and a winner already in the inaugural season of the Indian Golf Premier League Pranavi Urs was a close second with her second successive 3 under 69 for a twoday total of 6 under 138 alongside her close friend Karandeep Kochhar 6969 and longhitting Ludhiana golfer Pukhraj Singh Gill 7068Overnight leader and former Indian Open winner Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia followed his opening 7 under 65 with a 2 over 74 on Tuesday to be in sole possession of fifth place on 5 under 139 along with threetime IGPL winner Gaganjeet Bhullar 6772 IGPL Order of Merit winner Aman Raj 7069 and fastrising young talent Raghav Chugh 7267The lefthanded Ganapathy coached by his father Rahul fired an eagle and four birdies against one dropped shot to make the turn at the testing par72 Els Club course in 5 under 31 before adding a further two birdies and a bogey on his way back to the clubhousePranavi already a winner on the IGPL this season with victory at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club BPGC where she closed with a stunning 8 under par 60 to beat her boyfriend Kochhar by two strokes and emerge the first winner at a mixed event in India was two strokes behind GanapathyThe Mysuru golfer mixed five birdies with two dropped shots in her 3 under 69 while Kochhar had six birdies against three bogeys and Gill set out well with an eagle and three birdies ti turn in 4 under 36 before a level par back nine saw him close on 4 under 68 for the dayChawrasia a sixtime winner on the Asian Tour four of them at events cosanctioned with the DP World Tour needed to grind it out on Tuesday to stay in touch with the leaders and he sits just three shots behind day two leader Ganapathy along with Bhullar Aman Raj and ChughSaid Bhullar after day oneâI am enjoying myself on the IGPL Tour My game has been good and I will try to keep the momentum going and try for a four in fourâTournament host Shiv Kapur shared 16th place on 1 under 143 along with Jeev Milkha Singh who flew in for the event straight from Mauritius where he was the runnerup in the MCB Mauritius on the European Legends Tour for over50s IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/veer-ganapathy-leads-stellar-field-after-day-two-of-igpl-uae-with-pranavi-urs-in-hot-pursuit-652404.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 21:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bopannas-sg-pipers-and-luciano-darderis-rangers-kick-off-tpl-7-with-wins-652408.html Ahmedabad Dec 9 The opening day of the Tennis Premier League TPL Season 7 featured a series of fiercely contested matches at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium Hosting the event in Ahmedabad for the first time players like Rohan Bopanna Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Luciano Darderi provided an exciting spectacle for the fans The matches were played on a charcoalcoloured court and all eight teams participated in the action on Tuesday SG Pipers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Rangers began their campaign with wins after the two intense matchesSG Pipers and Gurgaon Grand Slammers kicked off the seasons first match featuring Sahaja Yamalapalli and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty in the opening game Shrivalli Bhamidipaty set a strong tone for SG Pipers by winning the Womenâs Singles 187 She then partnered with Rohan Bopanna in Mixed Doubles sustaining her winning streak with a close 1411 win over Sahaja and Sriram BalajiIn the Menâs Singles Dan Evans contributed to Gurgaon Grand Slammers effort with a 169 victory against Ramkumar Ramnathan In Menâs Doubles SG Pipers Bengaluru won thanks to Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramnathan who defeated Sriram Balaji and Dan Evans 1510 This win marked SG Pipers Bengalurus start to their campaign ending in a 5644 overall victoryDefending champions Hyderabad Strikers faced Rajasthan Rangers in the second match Carole Monnet led the Strikers to an initial victory defeating Ekaterina Kazionova 187 in Womenâs Singles However Rajasthan Rangers Ekaterina Kazionova and Dhakshineswar Suresh won the Mixed Doubles 1312 against Carole Monnet and Vishnu VardhanIn the Menâs Singles Luciano Darderi defeated Pedro Martinez 1510 to lead Rajasthan Rangersâ comeback Later Luciano Darderi and Dhakshineswar Suresh teamed up to beat Vishnu Vardhan and Pedro Martinez 178 helping Rajasthan Rangers secure a narrow 5248 victoryIn the second half of the day GS Delhi Aces will compete against Yash Mumbai Eagles in the third match Meanwhile Chennai Smashers and Gujarat Panthers will wrap up day one IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bopannas-sg-pipers-and-luciano-darderis-rangers-kick-off-tpl-7-with-wins-652408.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 23:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-bazball-yielded-a-culture-that-lacks-accountability-says-mcgrath-652412.html New Delhi Dec 9 Former Australia cricketer Glenn McGrath believes Englands Ashes squad lacks accountability and labelled it embarrassing after the visitors lost backtoback matches and trail fivematch series 02 against Australia In the daynight pinkball Test in Brisbane this week England were soundly defeated after losing the first Test in Perth from a highly advantageous position due to a fourthinnings century from Travis Head and a batting collapse of their ownEnglands odds of winning the series in Australia after a 15year drought are at 0â2 âNot in Australiaâs wildest dreams could they have believed they would be 20 up in this Ashes series after playing only six days of cricket McGrath wrote a coloumn in BBC SportâThere is a lot I like about Englandâs attitude I love it when sportspeople play without fear because that helps them push the boundaries of what is possibleâ he wroteMcGrath was critical of the visitors however he maintains that there have been indications of a troubled culture Following the public acknowledgement of problems by coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes he anticipates some adjustmentsMy concern for England was the message of this is the way we play yielded a culture that lacks accountability I have no problems with what the England leaders said in public at the Gabba If Stokes and McCullum have been strong in the media you can guarantee they have been even stronger behind closed doorsâ the 55yearold wroteâWill we now see a new version of Bazball Like I said I like the element of playing without fear If England can add the ingredients of pressure and accountability then they might still be on to somethingMcGrath also credited Australia for their exceptional performance with the batt and ball He was full of praise for Mitchell Starc who continues to deliver with the ball even in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood and leads the bowling chart with 18 wickets and some handy contribution with the bat tooFor all that England have been criticised Australia deserve a huge amount of credit If England had been told they would play an Australia team without all of Pat Cummins Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon they would have been rubbing their hands with glee And yet Australia pulled off victory in Brisbane with all of their other players standing upMitchell Starc has been absolutely outstanding supported by Michael Neser Scott Boland and Brendan DoggettAlex Carey put in an absolute masterclass behind the stumps possibly the best wicketkeeping performance Ive ever seen and I played with Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist Perhaps the biggest revelation for Australia has been the shift in the batting order IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-bazball-yielded-a-culture-that-lacks-accountability-says-mcgrath-652412.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 23:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/injured-hazlewood-ruled-out-of-ashes-cummins-set-for-comeback-652168.html Brisbane Dec 9 Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood will miss the rest of the series after suffering an injury setback while Pat Cummins appears certain to captain Australia in the third Test in Adelaide Coach Andrew McDonald confirmed on Tuesday that Hazlewood who sustained a hamstring strain while bowling in the Sheffield Shield last month and then suffered a setback when he hurt his Achilles last week would not feature against England this summerHazlewood will instead focus on recovering in time for the ICC Mens T20 World Cup that commences on February 7Really flat for him A couple of setbacks that we didnt see coming We thought hed play a huge part in the series But really feel for him that he wont get that opportunityMcDonald told reporters on TuesdayCummins who was close to returning on overs restrictions in Brisbane after his recovery from a lowerback injury progressed quicker than expected and is almost certain to feature in the third TestThere wont be any match opportunities for Pat before Adelaide â and this is something weve done with Pat before longish layoffs where weve put some time and effort into rebuilding his body said McDonaldHe was out at Allan Border Field whilst everyone was at the Gabba he simulated pretty much what a match will look like out there with multiple spellsSo we feel as though hell be as best prepared as can be He was well ahead of where we thought hed be at and it did create a real live conversation for Cummins playing in BrisbaneIt was debated a lot leading into that Test match With that in mind us seeing him further advanced we feel hell be really well placed for the challenges of Adelaide albeit its still a long way offMeanwhile veteran spinner Nathan Lyon has been tipped to be back for the final three Tests too after being overlooked for the pinkball match at the GabbaTwo of Boland Michael Neser and Brendon Doggett are now likely to miss in Adelaide giving Australia at least some fresh pace reinforcements for the final two TestsThe gap between Tests one and two and two and three was something we thought we could manageNow obviously weve got a big inclusion coming in â and I think thatll be announced tomorrow officially that Pat will be back in the squad â so that obviously creates a different balance to our attack said McDonald IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/injured-hazlewood-ruled-out-of-ashes-cummins-set-for-comeback-652168.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/nzs-blundell-ruled-out-of-second-test-against-wi-mitchell-hay-to-debut-652175.html Wellington Dec 9 New Zealand wicketkeeper batter Tom Blundell has been ruled out of the second Test against the West Indies starting Wednesday at the Basin Reserve in Wellington NZC said that Mitchell Hay is set to be the first wicketkeeper to make a Test debut for New Zealand since 2017 Two other potential debutants in Kristian Clarke and Michael Rae have been named in the 14man squad for the second TestSpeaking on Hay head coach Rob Walter said âMitch is a young cricketer whoâs already contributed well to the whiteball side He also has an excellent record at FirstClass level with CanterburyâHaving him come into a Test squad is a great moment in his career and weâre really excited to see him play his partâSpeaking on the new bowlers Walter said âKristian and Michael are both identified players of interest with great ability and have both been good performers for their domestic sides over the past few yearsâThey both have good skill with the redball and thereâs a great opportunity for them to show that skill for us at the highest level of the gameâNew Zealand will be bolstered by the return of Glenn Phillips for the second in WellingtonAfter recovering from a groin injury Phillips played the first two Plunket Shield fixtures for Otago scoring 130 runs at an average of 43 and taking nine wickets at an average of 33Kyle Jamieson is continuing his redball returntoplay plan playing the recent Plunket Shield match for Canterbury against the Central Stags and will continue to work closely with New Zealand coaching staff on his return to the Test sideNew Zealand squad Tom Latham c Michael Bracewell Kristian Clarke Devon Conway Jacob Duffy Zak Foulkes Mitch Hay Daryl Mitchell Glenn Phillips Michael Rae Rachin Ravindra Blair Tickner Kane Williamson Will Young IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/nzs-blundell-ruled-out-of-second-test-against-wi-mitchell-hay-to-debut-652175.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/350-players-to-go-under-the-hammer-at-ipl-2026-auction-on-dec-16-652183.html Mumbai Dec 9 A total of 350 players are set to feature in the IPL 2026 mini auction on December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi as the BCCI revealed the Player Auction list for the 2026 season on Tuesday A total of 1390 players registered for the Player Auction out of which 350 players were shortlistedOf the 350 players shortlisted 240 are Indian and 110 from overseas The pool comprises 224 uncapped Indian players and 14 uncapped overseas players adding significant depth and fresh talent to this years auction rosterFranchises will compete for 77 available slots overall including 31 spots reserved for overseas playersAs many as 40 players have listed themselves at the maximum base price of Rs 2 crore with Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi being the only two Indians among themEarlier a total of 173 players have been retained across teams including 49 overseas players A combined purse of Rs 23755 crore will be available at the auction for a total of 77 player slotsSouth African wicketkeepers Quinton de Kock and George Linde and Sri Lankas Dunith Wellalage who were not part of the longlist have been included in the final listHeading into the auction Kolkata Knight Riders will have a purse of Rs 643 crore the largest among the group to fill a maximum of 13 slots with six overseas spots available Chennai Super Kings will have the secondbiggest kitty of Rs 434 crore to fill a maximum of nine available slotsAustralias Cameron Green has been tipped to become the most expensive buy at the upcoming IPL auction as both KKR and CSK who have the highest purses are expected to put in strong bids for the allrounder IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/350-players-to-go-under-the-hammer-at-ipl-2026-auction-on-dec-16-652183.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/england-pacer-mark-wood-ruled-out-of-ashes-series-fisher-named-replacement-652208.html Brisbane Dec 9 England pacer Mark Wood has been ruled out of Ashes with a recurrence of the leftknee injury he sustained in the series opener in Perth He will now return home to begin rehabilitation and recovery ECB said on Tuesday Wood returned after a ninemonth absence following knee surgery for the first Test in Perth managing eight overs before suffering tightness in his left hamstring though scans later ruled out damage and he was passed fit to play and had match figures of 044 in 11 oversThe 35yearold pacer was later sent to a specialist after reporting pain in his knee and was ruled out of the second Test in BrisbaneEngland and Durham seamer Mark Wood has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes tour of Australia following a recurrence of the leftknee injury he sustained during the first Test in Perth earlier this monthWood will return home later this week and work closely with the ECB medical team on his rehabilitation and recovery ECB said in a statementEngland have called up Matthew Fisher to the squad The seamer who has been in Australia with the Lions will link up with the group this weekFisher has played one Test for England so far in the West Indies in March 2022 when he registered match figures of 121 from 27 overs He has taken two wickets in three games for the Lions this winter including that of Zak Crawley lbw when Englands second string played the senior team in a preAshes warmup at Lilac HillFor Wood the setback is yet another chapter in a career repeatedly disrupted by fitness problems Before the Perth Test he had not played redball cricket for England in 15 months due to an elbow injury followed by knee surgery IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/england-pacer-mark-wood-ruled-out-of-ashes-series-fisher-named-replacement-652208.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/its-been-a-monumental-fail-ian-healy-criticises-englands-deflating-performance-in-ashes--652231.html New Delhi Dec 9 Former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy expressed his disappointment with how England has played so far calling their performance deflating and suggested that a lack of preparation for Aussie conditions has resulted in hosts being 2nil down in the Ashes series After a loss in a series opener in Perth Brisbane didnât play out much better for England as Australia cruised to victory in Brisbane to take an ominous 20 lead in the series having been set a target of just 65 runsâItâs a very deflating performance so farâ Healy told SEN âThe optimism we had before any contest was very high We thought that this was going to be the close Ashes in Australia that weâve been craving since the 60sItâs been a monumental fail by England they have misread everything I donât know how there could be so many people that donât know any better in decisionmaking positions of English Cricket that have let this itinerary become approvedTheyâve just got nothing because they havent been training They are not fit enough they are not bowling fit enough and the batsmen havenât made enough big runs of recent times So they are all fresh and green and theyâre not working hard enough Itâs very disappointing that it has been such a farce for them he addedEngland head coach Brendon McCullum however had said his side overâtrained ahead of their heavy eightwicket defeat to Australia in their second Ashes Test He also felt England have to be at their best in all aspects to get the better of Australia at home in their remaining three Ashes games in Adelaide Melbourne and SydneyMoreover ahead of the third Test in Adelaide starting December 17 England copped a major blow as the fast bowler Mark Wood has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes tour following a knee injury he suffered during the first Test in Perth IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/its-been-a-monumental-fail-ian-healy-criticises-englands-deflating-performance-in-ashes--652231.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/connection-with-kohli-clicked-right-from-day-one-in-rcb-camp-phil-salt-652003.html New Delhi Dec 8 England opener Phil Salt said his partnership with Virat Kohli clicked from the time they met in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru camp for IPL 2025 adding that he was pleased with its development including the role clarity on who would take charge of scoring Saltâs partnership alongside Kohli gave RCB several good starts in the powerplay which was crucial in them winning IPL 2025 Its always important to have a strong relationship with whoever youre opening with You need to understand how they play and they need to understand your game too so that you can bring the best out of each otherââWe started building that connection from the moment we both arrived here and Iâm really pleased with how itâs developing Itâs very much a conversation that happens out in the middle and sometimes it doesnât even need words You can just sense how the other guy is playing In Jaipur for example there wasnât much chat at all it was just obvious that whenever Virat got on strike he was happy to rotate it to meââOn other days like the game in Delhi either of us could have gone on a run Both of us were striking it well and it just worked out that I took charge at the start of the third over Sometimes you talk it through and sometimes it happens completely organically Itâs a moving picture said Salt in an episode of the RCB podcast released on MondayAsked on first thoughts after being bought by RCB at the IPL 2025 auction Salt who previously won the trophy in 2024 with Kolkata Knight Riders said My first thought was that this is a team I would really suit playing for The way RCB have always carried themselves the brand of cricket they play it all appealed to meâFrom my very first conversation with Mo after the auction I could clearly see why they wanted me and what role they had in mind for me Everything felt very aligned with my gameSalt has been an integral part of Englandâs T20I team and he spoke at length about maintaining high standards and strike rate while opening the batting in the shortest format Cricket now demands a far more attacking style of play Does that make it the most consistent approach Probably notâThere was a time when a batter could think about pushing for the orange cap but that mindset doesnât really work in the IPL anymore For me and for most of our batting group itâs not about individual awards Everything is centered around how we win as a team and that for me is the most important thing in the IPLFor me itâs all about working day by day and being completely processdriven I focus first on the small things getting into the gym keeping my body right making the right decisions physically Then comes the cricket side of it When I focus too much on big goals and outcomes I lose clarity I learned that the hard way when I was younger Now everything for me is about small steps and daily progress not being obsessed with results he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/connection-with-kohli-clicked-right-from-day-one-in-rcb-camp-phil-salt-652003.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/really-hope-gill-performs-well-in-this-five-match-t20i-series-against-south-africa-says-pathan-652006.html New Delhi Dec 8 Former India fast bowler Irfan Pathan has expressed optimism over Shubman Gill coming good in the upcoming fivematch T20I series against South Africa saying he hopes the opener delivers strong performances which in turn will cement his place in the side ahead of next yearâs World Cup Gill was out of action after suffering a neck injury during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata Since his return to the T20I team from the Asia Cup Gill has been inconsistent with his scores while opening the batting alongside the inform Abhishek SharmaâShubman Gill should cement his place at the top of the order in T20 cricket We believe in allformat players We have seen how well he plays in the IPL Now he has a chance to cement his place in Indias T20 International side There is a little pressure but he is a good playerââI hope he performs well in this fivematch T20I series against South Africa He is coming back from a small injury He will get a lot of opportunities across five matches on good pitches The pitches will have pace and bounce like in Dharamshala and he will love batting on themâ said Pathan on JioStarHe also said his eyes in the fivematch series will be on who would take up the mantle of finishing the innings alongside a returning Hardik Pandya âI would like to see who plays the role of a finisher with Hardik Pandya and how they do it This is a very big aspect If we have to defend the World Cup which is in India it is crucial that our lowermiddle order batters stay in formââAlong with Hardik the other batters become very important Axar Patel can do that Jitesh Sharma is there Rinku Singh can also come in But we have to see who will complement Hardik down the order My eyes will be on thatâPathan signed off by saying how Indiaâs fast bowling combination fares will be of utmost importance against the Proteas âI want to see how the other fast bowlers perform along with Bumrah Bumrah is the main bowler but we also have Hardik Pandya Shivam Dube can bowl a bit and Arshdeep Singh as wellââHow they perform in this series against South Africa will be very important With the T20 World Cup scheduled for February next year this series is really important from a bowling point of viewâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/really-hope-gill-performs-well-in-this-five-match-t20i-series-against-south-africa-says-pathan-652006.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-will-have-to-utilise-bumrah-carefully-in-t20is-against-sa-parthiv-patel-652016.html New Delhi Dec 8 Former India wicketkeeperbatter Parthiv Patel said his eyes will be fixed on how the side manages Jasprit Bumrahâs quota of overs in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa starting in Cuttack on Tuesday In T20Is this year India has used Bumrah to bowl majorly in the powerplay meaning that he isnât used much in the back end of the innings âItâs an important series for India especially against the World Cup runnersup South Africa It will be good preparation There are a few things Im looking forward to Number one is how India uses Jasprit Bumrah said Patel on JioStarIndia has utilised his three overs in the powerplay since the Asia Cup and even in the Australia tour that was the strategy If they bowl him for three overs in the Powerplay he only has one over left for the death which is the 19th over So India will have to use him carefully If they want him to bowl three overs early then Arshdeep Singh has to partner Bumrah in the death overs he addedOn the return of Hardik Pandya who recovered from a quadriceps injury sustained in the Asia Cup Patel said his comeback is also a key factor for the Indian team in the final leg of their preparation for the T20 World CupThe comeback of Hardik Pandya is key He did really well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Heâs coming back into form and he is an important player He contributes with both bat and ball His presence in the lineup is crucial because he brings experience and also guides the youngsters I am looking forward to his comeback he saidLefthanded opener Abhishek Sharma has carried his international form into the domestic circuit by piling up 304 runs at 5066 and a strike rate of above 249 for Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy including hitting a blistering 148 off 52 balls against BengalAbhishek Sharma is the player of the season He has been getting a lot of runs and hitting a lot of sixes Can he continue this form I think he can He was the highest run scorer in the Asia Cup and on the Australia tour He is also the number one ranked T20I batter The runs from his bat at the top of the order will be crucial for Indiaâs success in this fivematch series against South Africa concluded Patel IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-will-have-to-utilise-bumrah-carefully-in-t20is-against-sa-parthiv-patel-652016.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/from-being-written-off-to-beating-indias-best-cyclist-at-kiug-2025-the-inspiring-journey-of-khoirom-rejiya-devi-652017.html Jaipur Dec 8 Khoirom Rejiya Devi was always told this sport is not for you by her family and some coaches also repeated it when she first took up cycling back in 2019 The cyclist from Manipur representing Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology KIIT at the Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025 was a late convert to cycling after initially trying her hand at Sepak Takraw as a junior but she was overlooked for further selectionThe 23yearold silenced all critics when she upset favourite Meenakshi Rohilla of Guru Nanak Dev University to win the womenâs 3km Pursuit gold at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium Cycling Velodrome in JaipurâFrom 2019 on the track even at home I faced so much mental stress that now every race feels like a challenge And that is why I never think about who is in front of me I have only one goal to make myself the best cyclist in the countryâ Rejiya told SAI MediaRejiya daughter of a fisherman from Phubala village in Manipurâs Bishnupur district was part of Manipurâs Sepak Takraw team from 2014 to 2018 but by then it was clear that there was no future for her in that sport âMy father in a drunken state used to taunt me people mocked me There was a time when I cried every day But then in 2019 a friend said Try cycling because you run very fastâ she saidBut even that wasnât a smooth rideJust as she was settling into the rhythm of competition and participating in the 2020 Khelo India Youth Games the COVID19 pandemic struck Conditions at home deteriorated but Rejiya continued training to pursue her dream aliveWhen things improved she reached Delhi for national trials â only to hear the same response again âYou lack exposure your timing is not good for the senior levelâBut this time Rejiya didnât give up She returned home began running every morning lost ten kilos and then shifted her focus from sprinting to endurance She secured a spot in the National Camp at Patiala by winning the bronze medal at the 2021 Senior Nationals in Jaipur and she hasnât looked back sinceIn 2022 she was part of the Indian womenâs team that secured the historic bronze medal at the Asian Cycling Championships in Team Pursuit By 2024 Rejiya was recognised among Indiaâs top pursuit racers but Meenakshi still remained the rider to beat in this disciplineRejiya finally got that opportunity in Jaipur and the 23yearold made the most of it by crushing Meenakshiâs hopes of securing all five gold medals at the Games âTo beat Meenakshi you need intelligence strength and strategyâall three I knew she had been racing continuously for the past five days The moment I sensed her fatigue increasing I picked up my paceâ said Rejiya who had won the Asmita League last yearMeenakshi is a champion athlete She doesnât like losing and neither do I I have faced so much neglect in my life that now I am always hungry for achievement With this victory I have answered myself and all those people who once said I couldnât do it There is no athlete better than her Meenakshi in the 3km pursuit so defeating her is a special achievement for meâ Rejiya addedWinning is one thing but receiving praise from your rival afterwards is another kind of honour Meenakshi who won four gold medals and one silver at KIUG Rajasthan hugged Rejiya after the race patted her back and said with a smile âRejiya is one of the strongest cyclists from our team We train together at NSNIS Patiala I am happy that she won Although there is some pain in my heart that I lost in my favourite event I wholeheartedly congratulate her on her victoryâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/from-being-written-off-to-beating-indias-best-cyclist-at-kiug-2025-the-inspiring-journey-of-khoirom-rejiya-devi-652017.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/stewart-to-resume-full-time-role-as-surreys-director-of-cricket-with-immediate-effect-652018.html London Dec 8 Former England captain Alec Stewart will resume his fulltime role as Surreyâs director of cricket after stepping back from it last year to care for his wife Lynn Stewart 62 had continued in a high performance advisory capacity for Surrey with a reduced workload to support Lynn who passed away in April this year after a long battle with cancerâSurrey has always been my home and I am now ready to return to full time duties with the Club again My priorities have always been to support the cricket management team and the squad to be the best county in the country to bring cricketers into our professional squad through our pathway system and help players to fulfil their dreams of representing their countryâ said Stewart in a statement on MondayStewart first assumed the role of Surreyâs Director of Menâs Cricket in 2013 overseeing a period of sustained success that has yielded four County Championship titles Under him four players from Surrey have turned out for England and are currently in the Test squad for the ongoing Ashes in AustraliaâAlec is a legend of Surrey and we are looking forward to having him back in his role as Director of Menâs Cricket Alecâs record speaks for itself and heâs been the driving force in so much of the Clubâs success over many many yearsâ said Oli Slipper Chair at SurreyStewart played 133 Tests and 170 ODIs for England from 1990 to 2003 and was a member of the side reaching the Menâs ODI World Cup final in 1992 âAlecâs commitment drive and attention to detail has built the team into the side it is today and we know he will continue to progress the team as he resumes his role at the helm on the menâs game in the countyââAlec has remained an important part of the cricket management team over the last 12 months and he continues to drive the highest of standards across the Clubâ added Steve Elworthy CEO at Surrey IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/stewart-to-resume-full-time-role-as-surreys-director-of-cricket-with-immediate-effect-652018.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/equestrian-team-india-clinches-gold-in-fei-childrens-classic-silver--652022.html Mumbai Dec 8 Team India recorded an impressive victory at the International Federation for Equestrian Sports FEI Childrenâs Classic â Silver Tour securing the gold medal in the Team category a competitive field of riders from Zone 9 countries The Indian team comprised Stasya Pandya Sresht Mantena Harshvardhan Singh Gulia and Prithiv Krishna who delivered steady and wellexecuted rounds to finish at the top of the leaderboardRiding her horse Cougar Stasya Pandya of Amateur Ridersâ Club ARC played an important role in the teamâs success with consistent controlled and technically sound performance Her global ranking is now 12th in the Overall Individual Classification Silver Tour at the FEI Jumping Childrenâs Classics 2025 FinalThe FEI Childrenâs Classic is recognised internationally as a key development platform for young riders offering exposure to global standards of show jumpingARC Rider Stasya Pandya says While I am thrilled to have won this title I am equally delighted that India is gaining recognition on the global stage with equestrian sports growing rapidly and providing consistent opportunities for our riders to achieve international success I am truly grateful for the chance to train at the worldclass allweather arena at ARC which enhances my skills and prepares me to compete at the highest level in the countryâStasyaâs performance highlights ARCâs role in nurturing nationallevel talent and providing its riders with the bestinclass resources to compete on national and international platformsEstablished in 1942 The Amateur Ridersâ Club ARC is one of the oldest and largest private civilian horseriding clubs in Mahalaxmi Race Course Mumbai India offering riding throughout the year to members as well as nonThe club provides professional training in all disciplines of equestrian sport like Polo Show Jumping and Dressage as well as houses about 150 horses It has been the driving force for the growth of equestrian sport for over 75 years IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/equestrian-team-india-clinches-gold-in-fei-childrens-classic-silver--652022.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-came-here-with-high-expectations-wood-expressed-disappointment-on-being-ruled-out-of-ashes-652279.html New Delhi Dec 9 England pacer Mark Wood has expressed his disappointment ob being ruled out from the Ashes series due to knee injury he suffered during the first Test in Perth saying he came to the series with high expectations about making a big impact but his knee just hasnt held up England Cricket have confirmed Wood will return home and will work closely with the ECB medical team on his rehabilitation and recovery Matthew Fisher has been brought into the squad having been in Australia with the English LionsWood has had recent troubles with his left knee having sustained the injury earlier this year during the ICC Champions Trophy The pacer who has since had a surgery and returned after a ninemonth absence following knee surgery for the first Test had reported pain in his knee during the series opener and was only able to bowl 11 overs during the Test He then missed out on featuring in Englandâs lineup for the second Test in Brisbane as the hosts took a 20 lead in the fiveTest seriesGutted to be out the remainder of the Ashes After extensive surgery and 7 long hard months of work and rehab to get back into the Test arena my knee just hasnt held up Wood said in his Instagram postNone of us expected this I came here with high expectations about making a big impact Im desperately disappointed that despite yet more injections and intensive medical treatment it has become clear that the flare up in my knee is worse than fearedIm really sorry that has left me unable to perform as expected but it is not for want of trying I want to thank everyone at home and away in Australia The barmy army have been class as always and I really appreciate itWhatever happens I will continue to push the limits to get back again It has been a tough road these past few months but I remain determined to give it another proper go I still believe we can turn things around Never give in Come on England he addedFor Wood the setback is yet another chapter in a career repeatedly disrupted by fitness problems Before the Perth Test he had not played redball cricket for England in 15 months due to an elbow injury followed by knee surgery IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-came-here-with-high-expectations-wood-expressed-disappointment-on-being-ruled-out-of-ashes-652279.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/dortmund-tighten-top-three-grip-after-win-over-hoffenheim-651860.html Berlin Dec 8 Borussia Dortmund produced a controlled efficient display to secure a 20 home win over Hoffenheim strengthening their hold on a topthree position in the Bundesliga The visitors arrived in good form and began confidently staying compact and matching Dortmunds intensity during an even first half that produced few clear chances Both sides pressed aggressively in midfield with disciplined defending limiting openings in the final thirdDortmund broke the deadlock just before halftime with their sharpest move of the match Julian Brandt found space inside the penalty area and finished from close range after a welltimed overlap down the right created the openingThe home side took greater control after the break dictating the tempo and restricting Hoffenheims attacking rhythm Their superiority was rewarded shortly after the hour when Nico Schlotterbeck reacted quickest to a set piece sliding the ball into the corner to double the leadHoffenheim pushed for a response and made attacking changes briefly threatening with a late effort that flew over the bar but Dortmunds defence remained composed as the hosts managed the closing stages with little alarmThe result extends Dortmunds strong home run and keeps them firmly in the fight near the top of the table while Hoffenheim saw their recent momentum checked despite a competitive displayWe are of course satisfied because we won We kept a clean sheet and allowed nothing tonight We defended well and it was a deserved victory Nothing spectacular but an important home win for us said Niko KovacElsewhere in the 13th round of the Bundesliga the northern derby returned for the first time since February 2018 and ended in dramatic fashion Werder Bremen scored first before Hamburg responded with two goals Justa Njinmahs late equaliser appeared to rescue a point for Bremen but Yussuf Poulsen struck in the closing moments to give Hamburg a 32 victory IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/dortmund-tighten-top-three-grip-after-win-over-hoffenheim-651860.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/marnus-backs-neser-as-australia-faces-selection-headache-for-adelaide-test-651867.html Brisbane Dec 8 Australia are prepared to continue to make tough calls at selection on whether or not to pick Michael Neser for the Adelaide Test after his Gabba heroics as they eye a seriesclinching victory in the third Ashes Test in Adelaide Neser who was picked ahead of veteran spinner Nathan Lyon for the daynight Test claimed five wickets in Englands second dig proving his worth once again with the pink ballAustralia skipper Pat Cummins looks certain to return to the XI for the match the hosts may also be tempted to recall Lyon after he was dropped for the daynight Test in Brisbane with batter Marnus Labuschagne indicating the selectors will do everything they can to ensure the balance of the side is best suited to the conditions presented in AdelaideIm not a selector but what I will say is the same way they selectors looked at this game they looked at the game objectively and said What is the best way for us to win this game with all the information we have on pinkball cricket Labuschagne saidWhat plays what favours its been in past Tests Is it pace or whatever that is or what type of bowler And then they make the decision he addedIf Cummins Lyon and Josh Hazlewood do return in Adelaide then there are going to be some unlucky players make way after the likes of Neser Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett all impressed at different stages of the Gabba triumphNeser in particular played a vital role in Englands second innings and the performance came as no surprise to LabuschagneTo see him take five wickets with an old ballit was awesome There was a moment earlier in the season where I was just like Man I hope he gets his chance Labuschagne saidI saw the writing on the wall there that theres potential and for him to be able to come in and deliver I think there was little bit of nerves that first innings and then to come out second innings and play that role get a fivefor I was just so happyHe just keeps delivering and delivering and we didnt see the best of his batting either and I think thats probably the exciting part as well is hes got a lot to offer with not only the ball but that batting and his fielding he addedAustralia took a 20 series lead with an emphatic eightwicket victory over England in Brisbane on Sunday and now have more than a week off before the crucial third Test at Adelaide Oval from December 17 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/marnus-backs-neser-as-australia-faces-selection-headache-for-adelaide-test-651867.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/junior-womens-hockey-wc-india-clinch-3-1-victory-over-wales-651871.html Santiago Dec 8 Indian Junior womenâs team registered a 31 win against Wales in their 911 qualification match of the FIH Junior Womenâs World Cup held at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Cesped Estadio Nacional in Santiago Hina Bano scored in the 14th minute Sunelita Toppo in the 24th and Ishika in the 31st while Eloise Moat scored Walesâs only goal in the 52nd minuteIndia started the game aggressively earning a Penalty Corner within the first 30 seconds to establish early momentum They actively played between the lines creating multiple chances but struggled to score initiallyWales nearly took the lead with a penalty stroke but Nidhi made a swift and excellent save to keep the scores tied India finally broke the deadlock late in the first quarter with a tapin from Hina Bano 14â following some clever play by Sakshi RanaSeeking to extend their lead India kept up the pressure with a Penalty Corner early in the second quarter They kept generating scoring opportunities consistently and finally succeeded doubling their advantage when Sakshi Ranaâs initial shot deflected to Sunelita Toppo 24â who scored from close range With 14 circle penetrations in the first half India deservedly led 20 breakIndia increased their lead to 30 early in the second half when Ishika 31â scored after a rebound from the Welsh goalkeeper Jyoti Singhâs team dominated the pace of the match breaking through the Welsh defense by playing between the lines and applying high pressure all while staying disciplined and tight at the back They kept creating scoring opportunities pushing Wales into their own half to finish the third quarterIndia with most of the possession continued to search for additional scoring chances to strengthen their lead in the final quarter Wales found an opening and Eloise Moat scored in the 52nd minute reducing the deficit for her team Nonetheless it was only a consolation goal as India maintained their resilience and secured a deserved 31 victoryIndias next match will be against Uruguay on December 9 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/junior-womens-hockey-wc-india-clinch-3-1-victory-over-wales-651871.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/henry-smith-santner-ruled-out-of-remainder-of-test-series-against-wi-651875.html Christchurch Dec 8 New Zealand have been hit hard by injuries with Matt Henry Nathan Smith and Mitchell Santner ruled out of the remainder of the Test Series against the West Indies the countrys cricket board announced on Monday Pace duo Matt Henry calf and Nathan Smith side injured themselves during the opening Test of the series in Christchurch that finished as a draw while key allrounder Mitchell Santner hasnt fully recovered from his groin problemSharing the news on their X handle New Zealand Cricket wrote âNorthern Districts bowler Kristian Clarke will join the test squad in Wellington this morning ahead of the second Tegel Test v the West Indies Welcome in Kristian Matt Henry Nathan Smith and Mitchell Santner have been ruled out of the remainder of the Tegel Test Series v the West Indies Looking forward to seeing these lads back very soonWith firstchoice keeper Tom Blundell also ruled out of the second Test after he sustained a hamstring injury on the opening day of the first Test it leaves the Kiwis struggling for personnel ahead of the next match that begins at Basin Reserve in Wellington on WednesdayKeeperbatter Mitch Hay is likely to stand in for Blundell and make his Test debut while New Zealand could also be tempted to include star allrounder Glenn Phillips as he returns from his own injury issuesTheir bowling unit will also require a reshuffle in the absence of Henry and Smith with backup quick Blair Tickner almost certain to play in Wellington as uncapped duo Michael Rae and Kristian Clarke join the squadNew Zealand squad Tom Latham c Michael Bracewell Kristian Clarke Devon Conway Jacob Duffy Zak Foulkes Mitch Hay Daryl Mitchell Michael Rae Rachin Ravindra Blair Tickner Kane Williamson Will Young IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/henry-smith-santner-ruled-out-of-remainder-of-test-series-against-wi-651875.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-extra-batting-gave-us-balance-we-were-after-says-smith-explaining-lyons-exclusion-from-gabba-test-651885.html New Delhi Dec 8 Steve Smith explained Australiaâs choice to exclude Nathan Lyon from their commanding eightwicket victory over England in Brisbane saying the extra batting gave the balance they were looking for and the absence was not linked to his abilities at all Lyon who has claimed 562 wickets in redball cricket at the international level was unexpectedly left out of team for the pinkball Ashes TestMitchell Starc Scott Boland Brendan Doggett and Neser claimed 19 of Englandâs 20 wickets convincingly during the match with the only exception being Josh Inglisâ spectacular runout of Ben Stokes Batting allrounder Cam Green bowled 13 overs but did not take any wicketsIt could have gone a few different ways and itâs certainly nothing against Nathan Heâs a freak Heâs been our spinner for such a long time but the extra batting and the way the tail hung in for 50 overs gave us the balance we were after Smith said postmatchNeser offers something different We can bring the keeper up he hits the stumps he keeps things tight and forces batters to take risks when the ball isnât as quick or is skidding But itâs nothing against Nathan Heâs unbelievable and heâs done it for so longThe selectors included bowling allrounder Michael Neser as a fifth seam bowler marking the first time since 2012 that Australiaâs alltime leading offspinner would miss a home Test a decision Lyon said left him âabsolutely filthyâWhen asked how he felt not being selected in the playing XI on the day the Gabba Test began Lyon had said âAbsolutely filthy To be honest I havent really sat down with Ronnie McDonald or George yet Im letting things settle down in my own head and trying to make sure that Im doing whatever I can to make sure the guys out in the middle representing Australia do the right thing and get the right result for usââIm not the first player to miss a Test match and I wont be the last Im obviously pretty gutted because I know the role that I can play within Australian cricket and especially at a venue like this Extremely disappointed but Ill do whatever I have to do to make sure these guys get upâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-extra-batting-gave-us-balance-we-were-after-says-smith-explaining-lyons-exclusion-from-gabba-test-651885.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/teen-pacer-hamilton-wins-wbbl-young-gun-award-lanning-takes-golden-bat-honour-651967.html Melbourne Dec 8 Teenaged leftarm pacer Lucy Hamilton has been named the winner of the WBBL season 11 young gun award while former Australia captain Meg Lanning took the Golden bat honour for the third time Lucy who will play for Delhi Capitals in the upcoming 2026 WPL season led Brisbaneâs attack with the new ball throughout a challenging season for the side and claimed eight wickets with the best figures of 228Lucy who captained Australia at this yearâs Under19 Womenâs T20 World Cup in Malaysia captured the prize scalps of Meg Lanning Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath in her campaignMeg who turned out for Melbourne Stars and will play for UP Warriorz in 2026 WPL topped the season runscoring charts for the third time in her WBBL career by smashing 430 runs this season at an average of 5375 including a careerbest 135 from 74 balls against the Sydney SixersAustralia legspinner Georgia Wareham who will play for Gujarat Giants in 2026 WPL enjoyed her bestever WBBL campaign to win the golden arm award Turning out for the Melbourne Renegades Georgia claimed 19 wickets at 1094 in the campaignâOur congratulations go to each of Lucy Hamilton Meg Lanning and Georgia Wareham for their stellar campaigns which have earned them the awards announced today As we begin what will be an unforgettable final week of WBBL11 it is fantastic to be acknowledging our best emerging and established players for their onfield featsââWhile all three players have enjoyed fantastic individual seasons two represent WBBL sides that fell short of Finals action demonstrating just how close and high quality the entire competition isâ said Alistair Dobson Cricket Australiaâs Executive General Manager Big Bash LeaguesThe WBBL season 11 player of the tournament will be unveiled on Wednesday followed by the team of the tournament to be announced on Thursday The threematch finals series begins with Perth Scorchers facing Melbourne Stars in the knockout at the WACA Ground on Tuesday nightSydney Sixers await the winner from the knockout clash in Thursdayâs challenger clash at North Sydney Oval before Hobart Hurricanes host the final and face off against the challenger winner at the Ninja Stadium on Saturday IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/teen-pacer-hamilton-wins-wbbl-young-gun-award-lanning-takes-golden-bat-honour-651967.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ex-england-coach-jon-lewis-appointed-head-coach-of-london-spirit-in-the-hundred-womens-651994.html London Dec 8 Former England coach Jon Lewis has been appointed as the new head coach of London Spirit in The Hundred Womenâs competition He takes over from Chris Liddle who previously posted on Instagram to thank players and staff for âfour unforgettable yearsâ Lewis will work closely with London Spirit womenâs General Manager veteran England batter Heather Knight on staff appointments and squad composition ahead of the player auction in MarchâThis is a really exciting opportunity to play a part in shaping the future of this franchise I am looking forward to building a team packed with talent and character playing cricket that Spirit fans coming to Lordâs will get behind as we aim to win a second title this summerâI am also grateful to Gloucestershire for allowing me to take this opportunity during The Hundred while also continuing to drive forward enhancements to the countyâs performance structureâ said Lewis in a statement on MondayUnder Lewis England reached the semifinals of the 2023 ICC T20 World Cup and defeated India in an away T20I series before winning home series against Pakistan and New Zealand in 2024 He also oversaw Englands memorable 2023 Ashes series in which England came back from 60 down to draw 88But Lewis had to leave as Englandâs head coach earlier this year after the side crashed to a 160 drubbing in the Womenâs Ashes in Australia He also left his role as head coach of UP Warriorz in the Womenâs Premier League WPL after the franchise finished at the bottom of the points table in this yearâs tournamentâIâm delighted to have Jon joining London Spirit as our Womenâs Head Coach I know firsthand his capabilities as a coach and his qualities as a person He has a fantastic breadth of experiences across both the womenâs and menâs games which will stand us in good stead in our pursuit of sustained successâItâs particularly exciting to consider the potential of his professional partnership with Heather whom he obviously knows well from his time with the senior England womenâs teamâ said Mo Bobat Director of Cricket at the SpiritsLewis represented England across formats during his playing career and also serves as Director of Cricket at Gloucestershire where he manages performance structures for both menâs and womenâs teams and oversees pathway programmesHe will join up with the Spirit after Gloucestershireâs final T20 Blast match in July ahead of the start of The Hundred in AugustCongratulations to Jon on securing this prestigious coaching position at London Spirit We knew when appointing Jon as Director of Cricket at the Club given his extensive coaching experience around the world there would likely be a franchise opportunity for him in the HundredFor him to be working as Head Coach of London Spirit is great news for Gloucestershire as we seek to develop our womenâs cricket team With our strategy of moving to become âTier 1 readyâ having someone at the heart of the elite womenâs game can only help us as we build towards that goalâ said Neil Priscott Chief Executive at Gloucestershire Cricket IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ex-england-coach-jon-lewis-appointed-head-coach-of-london-spirit-in-the-hundred-womens-651994.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-fined-for-slow-over-rate-in-the-second-odi-against-sa-651997.html Visakhapatnam Dec 8 India have been fined 10 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow overrate against South Africa in the second ODI in Raipur India lost the second ODI against South Africa despite Virat Kohli 102 and Ruturaj Gaikwadâs 105 exceptional efforts with the willow as they posted a daunting total of 3585In reply Aiden Markram anchored the Proteas innings with a fantastic knock of 110 off 98 balls as South Africa chased down the target with four wickets to spareâIn accordance with Article 222 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel which relates to minimum overrate offences players are fined five per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted timeâ read ICCâs statementRichie Richardson a member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees issued the sanction following the ruling that KL Rahulâs team was two overs short of the target once time allowances were accounted forRahul admitted his guilt regarding the offence and agreed to the proposed penalty eliminating the need for a formal hearing Onfield umpires Rod Tucker and Rohan Pandit third umpire Sam Nogajski and fourth umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal issued the levelled chargeYashasvi Jaiswal scored his maiden century in 50over cricket while Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli made halfcenturies as India demonstrated their batting strength by defeating South Africa by nine wickets with about 10 overs remaining in the seriesdeciding third and final ODI at the ACAVDCA StadiumAfter Kuldeep Yadav 441 and Prasidh Krishna 466 took four wickets each to help India dismiss South Africa for 270 largely built on a 106 by Quinton de Kock and 48 by Temba Bavuma Jaiswal scored an unbeaten 116 off 121 balls Rohit Sharma accelerated to 75 off 73 balls while Kohli hammered 65 not out off 45 balls as India raced to 2711 off 391 overs in a spectacular batting display to secure a commanding ninewicket victoryWith this India won the threematch ODI series 21 making a grand comeback with the white ball after being swept aside 02 in the Test series This also marked Indias 10th consecutive home ODI series victory IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-fined-for-slow-over-rate-in-the-second-odi-against-sa-651997.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/messis-inter-miami-cf-crowned-mls-cup-champions-651800.html Fort Lauderdale Dec 7 Inter Miami CF secured a historic 31 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC to clinch the Clubâs fourth trophy and firstever MLS Cup title Lionel Messi assisted secondhalf goals from Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende delivering Miami their first Philip F Anschutz Trophy in the clubs sixth seasonNotably Messi earned MLS Cup MVP honors after dishing out two assists Additionally Spanish legends Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets were selected as Icons of the Match presented by Royal Caribbean as they closed out their stellar careers lifting one last titleMessi first created a 71stminute gamewinner from Rodrigo De Paul capitalising on a midfield turnover with a fastbreak chance from the Argentine internationals and 2022 FIFA World Cup championsHe then slipped Allende through in the 96th minute and his compatriot sealed the result with a low finish that marked his record ninth MLS Cup Playoffs goalDe Paul and Allendeâs heroics followed a 60thminute equalizer from Vancouver with Canadian international Ali Ahmed putting just enough power on his shot to beat goalkeeper Rocco Rios NovoBefore the secondhalf fireworks Miami opened the scoring in the eighth minute through an Ãdier Ocampo own goal The Vancouver defender deflected in Allendeâs cross after Messi and De Paul combined on the near touchlineInter Miami have earned their most soughtafter trophy since signing Messi in July 2023 a monumental move that kickstarted a new era of North American soccer They previously won Leagues Cup 2023 and Supportersâ Shield 2024 titles and are now the 16th alltime MLS Cup winner This all comes in Miamiâs sixth season and with the club set to open Miami Freedom Park next AprilThis trophy also sends Alba and Busquets out as champions the Spain and FC Barcelona legends previously announced their planned retirements after the 2025 season IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/messis-inter-miami-cf-crowned-mls-cup-champions-651800.html Sun, 07 Dec 2025 12:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/torres-hat-trick-powers-barcelona-past-betis-in-la-liga-651801.html Madrid Dec 7 Ferran Torres scored a firsthalf hattrick as FC Barcelona roared back from conceding an early goal to beat Real Betis 53 in La Liga Antony put Betis ahead in just the sixth minute of the match before Barcelona took complete controlTorres scored after 11 and 13 minutes to overturn Betis early lead Swedish winger Roony Bardghji added a third on the half hour and Torres completed his hattrick in the 40th minute reports XinhuaLamine Yamals penalty around the hour mark made it 51 Barcelona coach Hansi Flick began to rest players such as Pedri which allowed Betis to pull back two late goals through Diego Llorente and Cucho HernandezAlex Berenguer scored the winner in Athletic Bilbaos 10 home victory over Atletico Madrid curling a leftfooted shot past goalkeeper Jan Oblak from outside the penalty area in the 85th minuteVillarreal claimed a comfortable 20 win at home to Getafe whose midfielder Pere Milla was shown a red card in the 47th minuteTajon Buchanan put Villarreal ahead three minutes later and Georges Mikautadze doubled the lead in the 64th minute to strengthen Villarreals third place in the tableDeportivo Alaves won a Basque derby 10 at home to Real Sociedad with Lucas Boyes penalty in first half injury time separating the two sidesOviedo had a 00 draw at home to Mallorca on Friday IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/torres-hat-trick-powers-barcelona-past-betis-in-la-liga-651801.html Sun, 07 Dec 2025 12:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/aiff-super-cup-final-old-rivals-east-bengal-fc-goa-eye-another-crown-651765.html Fatorda Goa Dec 6 Having clashed many times over the last few years East Bengal and FC Goa will be no strangers with each others players and tactics when they meet in the final of the AIFF Super Cup 202526 The winners of the past two editions East Bengal FC and FC Goa will meet in the summit clash at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda Goa on Sunday At stake will be a ticket to the AFC Champions League Two 202627 Preliminary Stage which is also on the line for the finalistsOn the eve of East Bengals second Super Cup final in the last three seasons their assistant coach Bino George and captain Saúl Crespo shared the excitement in the camp during the prematch press conference especially after narrowly missing out on silverware in the past few monthsâFirst of all it is a moment of pride for East Bengal Club players and our supporters A couple of months ago we lost the Durand Cup semifinal and later the IFA Shield final Now this is the time We are here to compete and fight for the cup said BinoCrespo added This is very important for us We are in a good moment Inside the dressing room we know the importance of the tournament for the club and us as players So were going to try to give everything We have been working very well in the last weeks and I think we are ready to compete and try to get the trophyâEast Bengal will have to make do without head coach Ãscar Bruzon in the final after he was sent off during their 31 semifinal win over Punjab FC But the plan remains intact according to BinoâCoach Ãscar has set all the plans We are prepared to play against FC Goa Today we will have a video session and we will show players the strong and weak points of Goa They know the responsibility and the priority and we will stick to the plan said the assistant coachThe recent meetings between East Bengal and Goa have all been close contests but with only one winner â the Gaurs They are on a sixmatch winning streak against the Red and Golds five of them with a onegoal margin However the last time they met outside the Indian Super League East Bengal ran out 10 winners in the 2018 Super Cup semifinalsâFC Goa are a good team and we respect them They are good with buildups Were focused on our preparations We arent just here to participate but to fight and become championsâ said BinoEast Bengal have never won against Goa in Fatorda so thats a piece of history Binos side will need to script if they are to become Super Cup champions again More East Bengal fans are expected to travel from Kolkata to Goa for the final and including the local support for FC Goa a vibrant atmosphere is anticipated on SundayFC Goa have a strong record in this stadium they have lost very few games here But we also have our fans In the semifinal we had a few fans here from Kolkata but I hope there will be more for the final Even in Odisha for the 2024 final we had a lot of support said BinoMidfielder Crespo who scored a penalty in that final in Bhubaneswar and also a stunning longrange strike in Thursdays semifinal will be eager to repeat these heroics and help his side win another Super CupHe said We are more than 100 per cent ready for this final I signed because the club wanted to create a big project and after two years you can see the work weve put in We have been training in the last few weeks with the same aim and now we have one game left to winI know Goas midfielders very well I played with Borja Herrera for example We know the quality but we have our plans and ideas I am happy to play against him in the final but when the referee blows the whistle hes not my friend Crespo addedIt will be a unique situation for Borja Herrera who won the 2024 Super Cup with East Bengal before transferring to FC Goa and winning the 2025 edition with the Gaurs Its a chance to win an unprecedented third Super Cup winners medal for both Borja and Crespo who won in 2023 with Odisha FC and 2024 with East BengalFC Goa will become the first club to win three Super Cup titles after 2019 and 2025 if they defend their title a feat that has never been achieved before in this competitionIn the prematch press conference head coach Manolo MÃrquez shared that every final carries the same excitement The excitement is always there when you play a final It doesnât matter if itâs twice or seven times Itâs a final and both teams will have the same excitement In fact we are the last two teams to win this trophy I think it will be a good finalâMidfielder Brison Fernandes has made a habit of scoring in crucial games for FC Goa recently He netted in the 21 semifinal win over Mumbai City and also scored a memorable goal against Al Nassr in the AFC Champions League Two earlier this season Playing at home he felt that the Gaurs would line up as favourites in Sundays finalHe said Playing at a higher level has helped me gain confidence and it showed on the pitch Of course I think so Goa will be the favourites And if we are together we will do just fine Iâm looking forward to enjoying this moment because itâs my second final in two seasons We will give our bestâComparatively FC Goa have arrived in a better rhythm courtesy of playing six highintensity games in the ACL Two against Al Zawraa Al Nassr Istiklol and Al Seeb so far this season But MÃrquez opined that rhythm and match fitness alone will not give his side an advantage in the finalâItâs true that theoretically it should be an advantage after playing more competitive games But on the other side for example in the semifinal we played a great first half but in the second half we were practically waiting for fulltime because Mumbai City without games and without many training sessions played better than us Football is crazy Weve seen that teams in the Durand Cup and Super Cup without many training sessions have done very wellI feel we were overconfident in the semifinal These things are dangerous in knockout matches You need high concentration for 90 95 120 minutes and even the penalty shootout MÃrquez addedDespite FC Goas impeccable record against East Bengal in the last six games the Gaurs head coach spoke of their opponents with high regard He said They have a strong squad this year And its not just the starters If you saw the bench the other day the team is very strong They can beat all opponents in the competitionWe will try to play a good game in our style But itâs a final and you have to control emotions be strong and avoid showing weaknesses Sometimes itâs about the details Yes we play at home and yes East Bengal will have some fans but obviously I prefer to play here than in KolkataâLike the semifinals FC Goa will again miss the presence of captain Sandesh Jhingan in defence as he is out with a calf injury But MÃrquez sounded confident placing full trust in his bench strength Striker Iker Guarrotxena who was shown a red card before the start of the semifinal will also be unavailable for the finalEveryone knows Sandesh is a very important player but we were without him the day before yesterday Everyone is important in the squad Iâm confident in Ronney Kharbudon Nim Dorjee Tamang and the players who can substitute him I donât think weâll win or lose because one player is missing If you lose 10 players maybe yes But not one said MÃrquez IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/aiff-super-cup-final-old-rivals-east-bengal-fc-goa-eye-another-crown-651765.html Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/torch-relay-for-milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympic-games-starts-in-rome-651770.html Rome Dec 6 The torch relay for the MilanCortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games began on Saturday morning in Rome marking the start of a twomonth journey ahead of next years opening ceremony The launch ceremony was held at the Stadio dei Marmi an openair arena lined with Romanstyle statues next to Romes Olympic Stadium At around 950 am Giancarlo Peris the final torchbearer of the 1960 Rome Games brought the flame onto the launch stage A torch was lit with the flame and Giovanni Malago president of the MilanCortina 2026 organising committee lit the cauldron with itThe first torchbearer Italys Olympic champion Gregorio Paltrinieri lit the relay torch from the cauldron and then ran a halflap around the stadium to cheers from spectators officially starting the relay reports XinhuaItalian fencer Elisa Di Francisca and high jump Olympic champion Gianmarco Tamberi followed as the second and third torchbearers and completed their relay segments inside the stadium Tamberi performed a torch kiss with the next runner Achille Polonara who carried the flame out of the stadium to begin the route through the cityThe relay in the Eternal City will pass major landmarks including the Colosseum the Trevi Fountain the Pantheon and the Piazza VeneziaThe torch is scheduled to reach Piazza del Popolo at around 730 pm where a city celebration with music and artistic performances will accompany the eventThe relay will traverse 12000 kilometres over 60 days across Italy pass through more than 300 municipalities and feature celebrations in 60 cities reach all 110 Italian provinces and light up UNESCO sites along the routeMore than 10000 torchbearers from all walks of life will take part in the relay including figures from sectors of sports culture film and civil societyThe flame will see Christmas in Naples New Year in Bari and return to Cortina dAmpezzo on January 26 2026 the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Winter Games opening ceremony The relay will conclude on February 6 at Milans San Siro Stadium IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/torch-relay-for-milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympic-games-starts-in-rome-651770.html Sun, 07 Dec 2025 04:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mexico-to-face-south-korea-at-home-as-fifa-unveil-2026-wirld-cup-draw-651718.html Washington Dec 6 The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was conducted on Friday at John F Kennedy Center setting the stage for the first 48team edition of footballs biggest tournament With expanded group formats and an unprecedented number of matches across Canada Mexico and the United States the draw ceremony delivered several headlinegrabbing clashes Xunhua reportsFollowing the era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have emerged as the two biggest stars in world football Their national teams France and Norway will meet early in the group stage after being drawn together in Group I Senegal one of Africas strongest sides adds further weight to the group The winner among Ukraine Sweden Poland and Albania from the European playoffs will complete what many are already calling a Group of DeathMorocco the surprise package of the last World Cup has been drawn with Brazil in Group C putting Scotland and Haiti in the group under significant pressureEngland and Croatia find themselves together in Group L a pairing of two sides widely considered capable of challenging for the title For Ghana and Panama progressing from this group will be a major challengeIf Italy advances through the European playoffs it will join Canada Qatar and Switzerland in Group B Which teams will advance from this group remains highly uncertainIn the opening match of the tournament Mexico will face South Africa on home soil South Korea is also in Group A alongside the winner of the playoff between Denmark North Macedonia the Czech Republic and IrelandFollowing is the draw in fullGroup A Mexico South Korea South Africa European playoff winner D DenmarkNorth MacedoniaCzech RepublicIrelandGroup B Canada Switzerland Qatar European playoff winner A ItalyNorthern IrelandWalesBosnia and HerzegovinaGroup C Brazil Morocco Scotland HaitiGroup D United States Australia Paraguay European playoff winner C TürkiyeRomaniaSlovakiaKosovoGroup E Germany Curacao Cote dIvoire EcuadorGroup F Netherlands Japan Tunisia European playoff winner B UkraineSwedenPolandAlbaniaGroup G Belgium Iran Egypt New ZealandGroup H Spain Uruguay Saudi Arabia Cape VerdeGroup I France Senegal Norway FIFA playoff Winner BoliviaSurinameIraqGroup J Argentina Austria Algeria JordanGroup K Portugal Colombia Uzbekistan FIFA playoff Winner New CaledoniaJamaicaDemocratic Republic of the CongoGroup L England Croatia Panama Ghana IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mexico-to-face-south-korea-at-home-as-fifa-unveil-2026-wirld-cup-draw-651718.html Sat, 06 Dec 2025 08:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-began-playing-cricket-because-of-my-brother-says-deepti-sharma-651723.html New Delhi Dec 6 Allrounder Deepti Sharma opened up about the moment that changed her life the person who first saw her potential and encouraged her to take up cricket her elder brother Playing their third 50over World Cup final India led by Harmanpreet Kaur beat the Laura Wolvaardtled side to lift the World Cup trophy and to be named the world champions for the first time in the history of the sport in India With that the Indian womenâs cricket team also ended their ICC Trophy droughtDeepti Sharma the seasoned offspinner topped the wickets chart with 22 scalps emerging as the Womens World Cup 2025 most successful bowler and also scored 215 runs including three halfcenturies to emerge as the MVP of the tournament In the final against South Africa Deepti scored a fighting 58 and claimed 539 in the final to make it possibleSpeaking to Amitabh Bachchan Deepti shared how his support and belief played a crucial role in shaping her early journeyRecalling her childhood days Deepti said âI began playing cricket because of my brother I used to accompany him to the ground just to watch him play One day I was sitting on the stairs when a ball suddenly came towards me I threw it back from around 40â50 metres and it directly hit the stumps People there immediately said âThis girl should be playing cricketâ From that moment I never looked back and started playing seriouslyâSharmas brother expressing her pride said âI feel proud to be known as Deeptiâs brotherâ acknowledging how far she has come He also recited a heartfelt poem dedicated to Amitabh Bachchan adding warmth and charm to the episodeIndia scored a commanding 2987 highlighted by Shafali Vermaâs smooth 87 Deepti Sharmaâs steady 58 and key contributions from Smriti Mandhana 45 and Richa Ghosh 34 A strong 100run opening partnership between Mandhana and Verma laid the groundwork for a large total but South Africa fought back late narrowly preventing India from crossing 300 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-began-playing-cricket-because-of-my-brother-says-deepti-sharma-651723.html Sat, 06 Dec 2025 11:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/justin-greaves-unbeaten-202-lead-west-indies-to-epic-draw-in-christchurch-651730.html Christchurch Dec 6 A mammoth effort from Justin Greaves 202 not and an unbeaten 58 from Kemar Roach helped West Indies pull off an epic draw against New Zealand in the first Test at Hagley Oval Earlier the West Indies created history achieving the highest fourthinnings score in Test cricket on Saturday With a careerhigh score of 202 not out batting allrounder Justin Greaves led the Windies and briefly threatened to have the unachievable mark of 531 chased down The Barbados righthander is only the seventh player in Test history to score a double hundred in a matchs fourth innings Pace bowler Kemar Roach 58 who also recorded his bestever innings from 86 Test matches provided him with fitting support On Day 5 he faced 233 balls on an extremely flat Christchurch pitch during his exhausting 282minute stintWith 578 in the Kiwis second innings Roach 37 became the fourtholdest player in a Test to register both a fivewicket haul and a halfcentury in the same game Shai Hope also scored a tonne earlier in the innings before getting removed for 140 off of Jacob Duffys bowlingAfter chasing down Australias goal of 418 in 2003 the visitors ultimately fell 74 runs shy of the highest fourthinnings chase in Test cricket The Windies fourth innings score is only surpassed by Englands 5654 in the historic against South Africa back in 1939 a match that literally compelled the format to be shortened from timeless to no more than five daysAfter lunch the Kiwis had no wickets but the onfield umpire gave Roach a major lifeline in the 143rd over when he was declared not out on a caught behind appeal After using their three reviews for the innings without result the hosts were left helpless as replays revealed he had actually hit the ballWhile fast bowler Jacob Duffy claimed eight wickets from 604 overs during the match 43 of which were in the second innings New Zealand offspinner Michael Bracewell bowled an incredible 55 of the West Indies 1633 overs in the fourth digBrief scores New Zealand 231 amp 4668 decl vs West Indies 167 amp 4576 Justin Greaves 202 Shai Hope 140 Kemar Roach 58 Jacob Duffy 3122 match drawn IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/justin-greaves-unbeaten-202-lead-west-indies-to-epic-draw-in-christchurch-651730.html Sat, 06 Dec 2025 12:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/nandre-burger-tony-de-zorzi-ruled-out-of-third-odi-against-india-651741.html Visakhaptanam Dec 6 South Africa fast bowler Nandre Burger and batter Tony de Zorzi have been ruled out of the third OneDay International ODI against India on Saturday due to injury With the series hanging in balance at 11 the ACAâVDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam is set to host the third ODICricket South Africa in a statement said Burger experienced right hamstring discomfort while bowling during the second ODI on Wednesday and de Zorzi experienced right hamstring area pain while batting and was unable to continue batting during the run chaseBoth players underwent scans on Friday which confirmed the extent of their respective injuriesSouth Africa are already without the services of pacer Kagiso Rabada who was ruled out due to a niggle and now face a serious challenge with their struggling pace attackDe Zorzi who struggled to bat during the second ODI in Raipur has also been ruled out of the upcoming fivematch T20 International T20I series against India which gets underway on December 9 and is set to return home for treatment CSA hasnt announced any replacement for both playersDe Zorzi looked strong throughout the entire trip to India Before being retired due to injury after scoring 17 runs off 11 balls in Raipur he made 39 in the first game Even though South Africa achieved their best chase against India and tied the series he was unable to continueThe statement also mentioned that fast bowler Kwena Maphaka did not make any progress as expected during the final phase of his rehabilitation from a left hamstring injury and will not be fit in time for the start of the T20I series He too has been withdrawn from the squadSouth Africa have announced fast bowler Lutho Sipamla as a replacement for Maphaka IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/nandre-burger-tony-de-zorzi-ruled-out-of-third-odi-against-india-651741.html Sat, 06 Dec 2025 13:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/greaves-calls-it-special-special-day-after-west-indies-pull-off-historic-draw-651756.html Christchurch Dec 6 West Indies allrounder Justin Greaves called it a very special day after he rescued his team with an unbeaten 202 and drew against New Zealand in the first Test at the Hagley Oval Greaves and Roach added 180 in an uninterrupted partnership for the seventh wicket after New Zealand set a total of 531 for the West Indies The West Indies batted out 1633 overs with Greaves scoring 202 not out off 388 balls and Roach scoring 58 not out off 233Only Englands 654 for 5 in the classic Test match against South Africa in Durban in 1939 was higher than their 457 for 6 which was the secondhighest fourthinnings total in Test cricketIt was just pretty much being resilient the word weve thrown around in the dressing room a lot said Greaves So for me to be there at the end was really important So anything for the team at the end of the dayI had a really long chat with coach Floyd Reifer And he was saying once you get in stay in its a good pitch Rachin Ravindra and Tom Latham showed us in the second innings So it was just for us to go out there and play ourselvesWith a careerhigh score of 202 not out Greaves led the Windies and briefly threatened to have the unachievable mark of 531 chased down The Barbados righthander is only the seventh player in Test history to score a double hundred in a matchs fourth inningsPace bowler Kemar Roach 58 who also recorded his bestever innings from 86 Test matches provided him with fitting support On Day 5 he faced 233 balls on an extremely flat Christchurch pitch during his exhausting 282minute stintSpecial special day for me special day for the team Greaves said We were pretty much up against it So to come out here batting the whole day after losing Shai Hope We thought we would have probably pushed for a win But then Kemar the senior pro guided me all the way So pretty much happy for him being there at the end as wellTo be a part of history is ecstatic But for me one day at a time continue to enjoy it Probably it hasnt sunk in just yet Hopefully over the next couple of days it canAt one stage the West Indies were 72 for 4 but Greaves and Shai Hope who made 140 turned the innings around They were on 277 for 6 when Hope and Tevin Imlach took wickets in rapid succession but a victory was still possible as they went into the final session and needed 132 from at least 33 overs In the end they decided against itFor us it was just about getting to the last session Greaves said We always spoke about 100 runs in the last session probably with a few more wickets in hand Obviously losing Shai and then losing Imlach shortly after was a big thing But I think we did really well in the end to come up with a draw IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/greaves-calls-it-special-special-day-after-west-indies-pull-off-historic-draw-651756.html Sat, 06 Dec 2025 14:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/igpl-tour-bhullar-turns-in-a-masterclass-to-win-third-title-with-a-birdie-finish-in-ahmedabad-651538.html Ahmedabad Dec 4 Gaganjeet Bhullar who began the week in a modest manner closed it in a masterly fashion to become the first player to win three times on the Indian Golf Premier League IGPL Tour Bhullar who opened the week with a round of 1under 71 which included a holeinone added solid rounds of 6767 on the last two days to total a winning 11under at the splendid Glade One Resort and golf club The prodigious and highly talented 21yearold Raghav Chugh who graduated from Rice University in the USA barely three months ago gave it all but with three pars in the last three holes he fell one short and ended a creditable sole second Chugh shot 4under 68 and totalled 10under for the weekThree internationals Filipino Justin Quiban Mexican Santiago de la Fuentes and IndianAmerican Manav Shah all hoping to become the first international to win on the IGPL were thwarted at the finish and ended Tiedthird at 8underThe contest could not have been tighter as three players Bhullar Chugh and Fuentes were tied at 10under with two holes left But in the end Bhullar with 5under won the day capped by an 18th hole birdie that followed the crucial eaglebirdie combination on the 14th and the 15thQuiban 68 who like Fuentes was playing on an invite mixed six birdies with one double bogey late on the 17th That double bogey robbed him of a chance to contend for the title He did close with a birdie on the 18th but the damage was done and he ended with a total of 8under and tied thirdFuentes who double bogeyed the 17th fell back and went out of the race Chugh 21 birdied twice on the 14th and the 15th to get to 10under and into contention There ended his birdie run with three closing pars while moments earlier Bhullar found that extra energy and a birdie on the 18th to edge aheadFuentes the 2024 Latin America Amateur Champion had a slow frontnine with just one birdie on the Par3 fourth His next birdie came on the 12th and he backed it up with another birdie on the 13th and he rose to 10under before others joined him Fuentes stumbled on the tricky Par4 17th with a doublebogey After being in the lead at one point and then in a shared lead with two holes to go he dropped down to tied thirdShah one of the overnight leaders had a rough day He had six birdies but what ruined his chance was a triple bogey on the tenth besides two other bogeys on the first and the sixth He shot 71 and totalled 8under for a tied thirdRidhima Dilawari was the top woman pro as she picked a solid Top10 finish Dilawari delivered her best round of the week with a fine 5under 67 that had six birdies and one bogey Ridhima who with the arrival of IGPL has decided to play more on the domestic circuit in the coming year had a birdie on the second which she gave away with a bogey on the fourthA hattrick of birdies from the sixth to the eighth put her firmly on course for a Top10 She cemented that with backtoback birdies on the 13th and the 14th and closed with four pars for a welldeserved 67 Kartik Singh 70 got back to the Top10 and was T6 while the first round leader Veer Ganapathy 74 was T12Bhullar always a strong finisher once again showed his experience and class in ample measure He had an upanddown front nine with a bogeybirdie start He bogeyed again on the fourth but three birdies on the fifth sixth and eighth saw him turn in 2under That put him firmly in the title race after having started the final day one behind the overnight leaders Manav Shah and Santiago de la FuentesHe again had a bogey start on the back nine and once again he pulled back with an eagle on the 14th and a birdie on the 15th With matters level at a 10under alongside Raghav Chugh and Fuentes the contest was still openBhullar playing in the secondlast group threw the challenge with a birdie on the 18th and moved to 11under and sole leadBhullar Indiaâs most successful player on the Asian Tour with 11 wins won the first two events of the inaugural IGPL season in Chandigarh and Jaypee Greens He then missed the next few IGPL events following his commitments on the International Series and Asian Tour and some family mattersHe came back roaring for his third start on the IGPL in Ahmedabad a city where he won a European Challenge Tour event the Gujarat Kensville Challenge back in 2011Chugh a former US Kids Teen World Champion in 2019 started the day with a bogey but made up with an eagle on the Par5 fifth and added a birdie on the ninth Backtoback birdies on the 14th and the 15th lifted him to 10under and into a tied lead but the birdie run ended early and he finished secondAfter battling hard all day Chugh was unable to find that one more birdie he needed to force a playoff with the waiting BhullarA par for Chugh left him stranded one behind and Bhullar was champion for the third time in three starts on the 2025 IGPL He picked up his third cheque worth Rs 2250 lakhs while Chugh earned Rs 15 lakh IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/igpl-tour-bhullar-turns-in-a-masterclass-to-win-third-title-with-a-birdie-finish-in-ahmedabad-651538.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 04:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-barcelona-to-visit-betis-real-madrid-host-celta-in-la-liga-651552.html Madrid Dec 4 The race for the La Liga title continues at the weekend after FC Barcelona won at home to Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid returned to form in Bilbao in two midweek games brought forward due to the Spanish Supercup Barcelona were back to their best against Atletico but have a difficult away game on Saturday when Hansi Flicks side visits Real Betis Betis are fifth in the table unbeaten in four games and with their morale skyhigh after winning last weekends Seville derby 20 away to Sevilla Pablo Fornals is in excellent form for Manuel Pellegrinis side and Barcelona will again have to raise its gameFlick lost Dani Olmo with a dislocated shoulder in midweek and may be tempted to rest Pedri after the midfielder had to be taken off against Atletico due to muscle fatigue while the good news is that Frenkie de Jong is available again after injuryKylian Mbappe again made the difference as Real Madrid won 30 in Bilbao on Wednesday although Xabi Alonsos side produced a more solid display with Eder Militao Antonio Rudiger and Aurelien Tchouameni in the sideReal Madrid play their first home league game in a month in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with Celta Vigo the visiting sideCelta have had an inconsistent season with better results away from home than in front of their fans but it is still a big ask for Iago Aspas and company to win with Mbappe in such good formAthletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid were the big midweek losers with Athletic ceding the game far too tamely against Real Madrid while Atletico dropped six points behind Barcelona with Tuesdays defeatTuesday also saw Diego Simeone lose Jose Gimenez Alex Baena and Johnny Cardoso to injury although that is nothing compared to Athletic Clubs injury list which includes Inaki Williams Benat Prados Robert Navarro Maroan Sannadi and Unai Egiluz Still Oihan Sancet will be back after serving a twogame banVillarreal are currently third in the table and although Marcelino Garcia Torals team made hard work of its Copa del Rey tie on Wednesday night the coach will make wholesale changes for Saturdays game at home to a Getafe side that never gives anything awayThe weekend kicks off with bottomside Oviedo desperately looking for a win at home to Mallorca Luis Carrion may have made Oviedo tighter in defense but he has yet to guide his side to a win since replacing Veljko Paunovic in OctoberThree consecutive defeats have seen Alaves drop towards the relegation zone ahead of Saturdays Basque derby against a Real Sociedad side whose unbeaten run was ended by Villarreal last weekendElche havent won any of their last seven matches in La Liga and could offer an opportunity for Girona to escape the bottom three although Girona have to forget their midweek Copa del Rey exit to lowly Ourense on Wednesday nightValencia entertain Sevilla in a clash between two big clubs fallen on hard times with Sevilla coach Matias Almeyda under pressure after four defeats in five games including last weekends painful derby loss to BetisThe round of matches ends on Monday and Osasuna coach Alessio Lisci needs a win when his side takes on Levante who still have to name a replacement for Julian Calero after his sacking last weekend The 17thplaced Osasuna have just 12 points and another defeat could see Lisci join Calero in looking for a new job IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-barcelona-to-visit-betis-real-madrid-host-celta-in-la-liga-651552.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 04:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-muller-family-rallies-as-thomas-prepares-for-mls-final-clash-with-messi-651558.html Berlin Dec 4 Excitement is running high in Thomas Mullers family this week While the 36yearold has already collected 35 titles in his career the chance to face Lionel Messi in Saturdays MLS Cup final between Inter Miami and the Vancouver Whitecaps stands out as a special moment for his father Gerhard The 70yearold is flying from Munich to Miami with his younger son Simon determined not to miss the occasionOnly Mullers wife Lisa will be absent as she competes at the Amadeus Horse Indoors dressage event in Salzburg She is in the middle of the dressage season it doesnt make sense Muller said adding that TVs are set up at home so she and other relatives can follow along reports XinhuaThe familys excitement has rubbed off on Muller himself The twotime UEFA Champions League winner and 2014 World Cup champion said few things compare to the thrill of going up against Messi Is there anything better than playing against the GOAT and beating him he said In the end we play a team of great quality and not a single playerSpeaking to his social media followers Muller reminded them that the job is not done yet One step is missingInter Miami enter the final as the favourite but the former Bayern Munich forward praised Vancouvers postseason grit Comebacks in extra time and successful penalty shootouts weve been through a lot together And confidence isnt just talk weve built that in a strong wayHe said a bit of Bayern spirit travels with him Its all about the trophy A semifinal is great but not the final goalMuller credited Vancouvers quality and resilience across the field stressing that mentality matters most Since joining the club a few months ago he has scored nine goals with four assists in 11 gamesHe also said he is proud of how the Whitecaps have energised supporters In the ice hockey nation of Canada you have to catch up as a football teamWith a 36th career title within reach and his family cheering from afar Muller said he isnt driven by adding to his trophy count Of course we will be fighting for the title but first we want to play good football Content comes before the result he said noting that his minor muscle issues should be healed before meeting Messi againHistory is on Mullers side as he has won seven of eight meetings with the Argentine including the 2014 World Cup final IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-muller-family-rallies-as-thomas-prepares-for-mls-final-clash-with-messi-651558.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 04:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-alexander-arnolds-problems-continue-with-serious-hamstring-injury-setback-for-real-madrid-651559.html Madrid Dec 4 Trent AlexanderArnolds injuryhit start to his Real Madrid career continues with the club confirming he suffered a serious hamstring injury during Wednesday nights 30 win away to Athletic Club Following tests carried out today on our player Trent AlexanderArnold by the Real Madrid Medical Services he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in the rectus femoris of his left quadriceps informed the Real Madrid websiteAlthough the club fails to give a recovery date saying only his recovery will be monitored Spanish sports paper Diario AS reports the defender will be out of action for at least two monthsThat means he will miss La Liga games against Celta Vigo Deportivo Alaves Sevilla Real Betis Levante and Villarreal as well as the Spanish Supercup in Saudi Arabia and Real Madrids remaining Champions League group matches against Manchester City Monaco and BenficaAlexanderArnold has struggled with injuries since joining Real Madrid in June beginning with a muscle problem in July which delayed his preseason trainingHe then suffered a hamstring injury on September 16 which sidelined him for a month and he only began to start games on a regular basis following the recent international breakReal Madrids fears were wellfounded AlexanderArnold has a muscle tear in the back of his hamstring and is set for two months out of action as per Diario AS He will miss the Spanish Supercup the remainder of the league phase of the Champions League the Round of 32 and Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey and six Liga matches In Europe Los Blancos face Manchester City Benfica and AS Monaco while Atletico Madrid await in the Supercup semifinalIn La Liga Los Blancos take on Celta Vigo Alaves Sevilla Real Betis Levante and Villarreal as part of a potential 13 games that AlexanderArnold may miss Rayo Vallecano on the final weekend of January would be the earliest he could be back in action but it is most likely that their trip to Mestalla to face Valencia on the 7th or 8th of February marks his return IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-alexander-arnolds-problems-continue-with-serious-hamstring-injury-setback-for-real-madrid-651559.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 04:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-late-magassa-goal-helps-west-ham-hold-man-utd-to-1-1-draw-651588.html Manchester Dec 5 Soungoutou Magassaâs first goal for West Ham United salvaged a point in a 11 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford United had chances throughout with Joshua Zirkzee seeing an effort cleared off the line before Bruno Fernandes hit a post in the first halfBut West Ham profited from a setpiece late on thanks to Magassaâs composed finish to ensure they did not leave Manchester emptyhanded Premier League reportsUnited missed the chance to move up to fifth but they did leapfrog Liverpool to go eighth West Ham meanwhile remain 18th two points behind Leeds United above themWest Ham started brightly but only had a sliced offtarget El Hadji Malick Diouf effort to show for their early pressure after he was left unmarked on a cornerBryan Mbeumo saw a dipping curler tipped over the crossbar by Alphonse Areola before Zirkzeeâs instinctive finish was cleared off the line by Aaron WanBissaka Fernandesâ volley on the rebound then scraped the left post on its way wideAt the other end Jarrod Bowen provided a threat on the counterattack He skipped past several challenges down the right only for his tame shot to deflect off Luke Shaw and into Senne Lammensâ glovesIn the 58th minute United found the breakthrough Casemiro was rushed into a shot on the edge of the box but it deflected to Dalot who took a touch before poking his effort into the bottomleft cornerBut the hosts failed to add to their tally and they were punished for it when an unmarked Magassa slotted in after Noussair Mazraoui had cleared Bowenâs flickon off the line from a corner seven minutes from timeUnited manager Ruben Amorim said after the draw âWe had good moments and we lost a little bit in the first half and a little bit in the second half after the goal We lost a little bit the control of the game We should have closed the game when we scored the first oneâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-late-magassa-goal-helps-west-ham-hold-man-utd-to-1-1-draw-651588.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/broad-labels-roots-gabba-ton-as-one-of-his-best-651603.html Brisbane Dec 5 Former fastbowler Stuart Broad has hailed Joe Root for scoring his first Test century Down Under and described his century as one of his best yet Root was in imperious touch as he helped himself to an unbeaten innings of 135 on the opening days play of the second Test in Brisbane as England went to stumps in a strong position at 3259Roots ton draws the righthander within one century of Australian great Ricky Ponting 41 and moves him just 11 Test centuries behind legendary India batter Sachin TendulkarI cant help but think thats one of his best tons for England Broad said on SEN Cricket With him walking out at 25 after everything happened in Perth Mitchell Starc was hooping it around and the Gabba is one of the most intimidating places you can play as an EnglishmenHe calmly went about his business went through different tempos throughout the day and batted virtually with every batter It could be game changing hes scored bigger runs 200s and 250s in Test cricket but I cant help but think thats his best Broad addedRoot entered Day 2 on 135 not out as the Aussies hunt the 10th wicket to start their first innings The hosts England added only nine runs to their overnight total before Brendan Doggetts shortball antics finally paid a dividend with Jofra Archer holing out to Marnus Labuschagne at deep backward square leg with an excellent catchEngland are all out for 334 and Root finished with 138 not out Root and Archer stitched a 10th wicket partnership of 70 which is the highest for England in Australia since 195152Australia started its innings cautiously as they were 31 for no loss with Travis Head 4 and Jake Weatherald 23 batting IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/broad-labels-roots-gabba-ton-as-one-of-his-best-651603.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bayern-sees-cup-quarterfinal-return-as-springboard-for-bigger-goals-651618.html Berlin Dec 5 Bayern Munichs return to the German Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2022 has lifted spirits inside the club England captain Harry Kane said Wednesdays narrow 32 win over Union Berlin marked an important step toward Bayerns season targets including the UEFA Champions LeagueWe will be competing in all three competitions in the new year Thats an opportunity to build momentum the 32yearold striker said with Bayern chasing its first domestic double since 201920Kane told broadcasters on the pitch that Bayern wants to get back to Berlin to play the final adding that the victory was the step allowing us to do it He highlighted what he called the next phase of the squads development pointing to character unity and a strong team spiritSurviving a tense match he said boosts confidence as we feel a special spirit Bayern believes it is positioned to make meaningful progress this season and Kane also noted the team has embraced the defensive work required to reach its goalsTo pursue its 2026 Champions League ambitions we need to be prepared for all possible situations he said Board member for sport Max Eberl drew parallels between the Cup win and Bayerns hardearned 21 Champions League victory against Paris SaintGermain in NovemberThe club sits eight points clear in the Bundesliga and second in the league phase of the Champions League Thats what we wanted as it gives us the opportunity to realise our goals Eberl saidHe called the Cup performance another developmental step recalling the gritty win in Paris in which 10man Bayern defended a slim lead after Colombia forward Luiz Diaz was sent off Bayern has shown resilience Eberl said stressing that defending remains essential and that not every match will be a showcase of attacking footballThe reigning German champion has already set several marks this season including scoring 44 goals in 12 matches delivering the best start to a season in the clubs history and topping the Bundesliga for 44 consecutive matches IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bayern-sees-cup-quarterfinal-return-as-springboard-for-bigger-goals-651618.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hazlewood-suffers-low-grade-achilles-injury-during-rehabilitation-from-hamstring-blow-ca-651672.html Brisbane Dec 5 Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood suffered yet another injury setback as he sustained a lowgrade Achilles injury during his rehabilitation from a lingering hamstring injury Hazlewoods fresh injury blow has cast fresh doubt over his availability for the remainder of the Ashes series Cricket Australia have released an official update on the bowlers recovery during Day 2 play of the ongoing daynight Test at the GabbaJosh Hazlewood reported achilles soreness this week during his rehabilitation from recent hamstring injury It is a lowgrade issue and he is expected to recommence running and bowling next week CA said in a statementIt remains to be seen how severe his fresh injury blow is as his returntoplay timeline has not been set yet but the pacer is expected to resume running and bowling next week if the Achilles complaint settlesHazlewood earlier injured his hamstring during New South Walesâ Sheffield Shield match against Victoria last month Initial scans cleared him but Cricket Australia CA later said that a repeat imagery scan has shown a hamstring strain which sidelined the towering quick for the first and second Tests of the ongoing Ashes seriesHazlewood had been booked to travel to Brisbane this week to rejoin the Australian squad and continue his rehabilitation but the trip was cancelled after he reported soreness He will remain in Sydney for now placing his involvement in the rest of series in some doubt as reported by the Sydney Morning HeraldPrior to his fresh injury scare Hazlewood had begun bowling as he eyed a return in the third Test begins on December 17 in Adelaide His session was focused on redball bowling signalling the teamâs strategyThere are concerns Hazlewood might not be available until the fourth Test at the MCG or beyond If Hazlewood misses all five Tests of the series it would be for the first time since he debuted in 2014 against India IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hazlewood-suffers-low-grade-achilles-injury-during-rehabilitation-from-hamstring-blow-ca-651672.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mothers-faith-makes-rajasthan-heptathlete-neetas-kiug-bronze-shine-like-gold-651690.html Jaipur Dec 5 Neeta Kumari from Kurukshetra University wouldâve been married off by now had her mother and sisters not pushed her to continue her career in sports Coming from a family of five sisters and a brother all of whom have represented Rajasthan in one discipline or another Neeta is the second eldest Her journey to the Khelo India University Games 2025 podium after winning a bronze in heptathlon however has been defined as much by hardship as by determinationShe was in Class 3 when her father Teja Ram a government contractor in Mumbai died after an electric shock in their native Dhamseen village in Rajasthanâs Jalore district The tragedy struck in 2013 when her mother Parwati Devi was just 36 and was seven months pregnant Left without a steady livelihood the family had to pack off from Mumbai and rebuild life from scratch in their native villageYears later when Neetaâs younger sister Gomti was married off at 18 it seemed Neeta might follow the same path But seeing her growing interest in athletics her mother allowed her to continue in sports a decision that has now begun to bear fruitOn Thursday Neeta whose career was jeopardised by multiple injuries in the past one year bounced back in style with a bronze at the Khelo India University Games 2025 Whatâs more interesting is the fact that the KIUG bronze was Neetaâs firstever medal at a national level tournament and she hopes to build on the momentum going forwardNeetaâs introduction to athletics came in 2019 but she began training seriously only after the Covid19 lockdown in 2022 She initially competed in high jump and sprinting events before her coach recognised her versatility and steered her towards the heptathlon event a gruelling twoday sevenevent challenge comprising hurdles high jump shot put 200m long jump javelin and 800mThis was Neetaâs first appearance at the Khelo India University Games She had missed the previous edition due to a lower back injury and even this year she competed despite a leg injury But with the event being held close to home she was determined not to skip itCurrently training at Karnal Stadium Neeta said she had been aiming for her personal best of 4862 points a total that would have secured her gold given that KIITâs Isha Chander Prakash topped the standings with 4857 points setting a new meet record Magudeeshwari S of Manonmaniam University claimed silver with 4648 pointsâI was attempting my personal best here but due to the leg injury it didnât work out Had I got that I could have got the gold but nevertheless it was my first medal at the national level This bronze will motivate me furtherâ Neeta told SAI MediaShe credits her support system especially her mother and coaches for keeping her going âWherever Iâm today itâs all because of the sacrifices of my mother There was a time when we were on the verge of leaving studies due to financial problems after losing our father But my mother not only held the family together she encouraged me to continue my sportâSimilarly my coaches have always been supportive of me through my ups and downsâ she addedFor Neeta who once thought she might have to give up everything the KIUG 2025 bronze shines like gold IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mothers-faith-makes-rajasthan-heptathlete-neetas-kiug-bronze-shine-like-gold-651690.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bayern-survive-union-scare-in-five-goal-dfb-cup-thriller-651446.html Berlin Dec 4 Bayern Munich battled into the DFB Cup quarterfinals with a dramatic 32 win at Union Berlin in a match shaped by two Union own goals two penalties and fierce late pressure Union backed by a raucous home crowd started aggressively but was punished from the first corner when Ilyas Ansah shinned a Joshua Kimmich corner into his own net Another Kimmich set piece brought the second as Harry Kane stooped to head home from close rangeThe hosts clawed their way back before the interval as a VAR check penalized Jonathan Tah for handball and Leopold Querfeld calmly sent Manuel Neuer the wrong way from the spot reports XinhuaDeep into firsthalf stoppage time Unions setpiece woes continued Under pressure at the far post Diogo Leite inadvertently looped an attempted clearance over goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow and into the top corner restoring Bayerns twogoal advantage at the breakThe drama hardly eased after the restart An early injury to Aleksandar Pavlovic forced Vincent Kompany into a reshuffle and Union seized the moment when Kane was whistled for a foul on Leite in the boxQuerfeld again converted confidently sparking a furious final halfhour in which Union poured forward and Bayern retreated ever deeperNeuer was called into action several times and Querfeld nearly completed an unlikely hattrick with a late header that flashed just wide but the record German champion held on to book its place in Februarys last eightIts a tough and unlucky defeat We earned real respect with our performance today but that doesnt help us now because were out of the competition said Union Berlin captain Rani KhediraI was pleased with our first half we did many things right The second half wasnt good from us but in the end I hope we come back to Berlin for the final said KompanyElsewhere in the round of 16 VfB Stuttgart booked its quarterfinal place with a 20 win in Bochum as Philipp Strompf scored an own goal and was sent off before Deniz Undav finished the job after the breakSC Freiburg also reached the quarterfinals beating Darmstadt 20 with Vincenzo Grifo involved in both goals despite missing a clear late chanceHamburg was knocked out by Holstein Kiel conceding a late equalizer in extra time before missing twice in a 42 penalty shootout defeat IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bayern-survive-union-scare-in-five-goal-dfb-cup-thriller-651446.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 01:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/arsenal-beat-brentford-leeds-stuns-chelsea-in-premier-league-651449.html London Dec 4 Mikel Merinos powerful header and Bukayo Sakas late strike gave Arsenal a 20 victory over Brentford to extend our unbeaten run to 18 matches in all competitions Merino kept up his scoring run with the opening goal in the 11th minute and although it was not until stoppage time that Bukayo Saka made the points safe Brentford failed to register a shot on target all gameGood linkup play between Noni Madueke and Ben White allowed the fullback to find the Merino who netted for the second game in a rowAs the game opened up late on Saka latched onto Merinos inchperfect through ball to make it 20 and move Arsenal five points clear at the top of the Premier League tableLeeds United stunned Chelsea with a 31 win at Elland Road with Jaka Bijol and Ao Tanaka putting Daniel Farkes side 20 up at halftimePedro Neto got Chelsea back into the game in the 50th minute but Dominic CalvertLewin sealed the win for Leeds in the 72nd minuteOllie Watkins scored twice as Aston Villa came back from 20 down to win a sevengoal thriller 43 away to Brighton and move thirdBrighton led 20 through Jan Paul van Hecke and a Pau Torres own goal but Watkins had pulled one back before the break Amadou Onana and Donyell Malen then looked to have assured the points by putting Aston Villa 42 ahead before Van Heckes second of the game gave Brighton some late hopeFlorian Wirtzs deflected shot saved a point for Liverpool in a 11 draw at home to Sunderland with the visitors impressing and taking the lead thanks to Chemsdine Talbis 67thminute goal after Virgil van Dijk got himself into troubleDaniel Munozs goal on the stroke of halftime gave Crystal Palace a 10 win away to a Burnley side that has now lost five consecutive gamesNottingham Forest took a big step away from the bottom three with a 10 win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers who remain rooted to the bottom with just two points all season IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/arsenal-beat-brentford-leeds-stuns-chelsea-in-premier-league-651449.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 01:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hes-carrying-on-from-ranchi-gavaskar-says-kohlis-ton-in-raipur-seemed-inevitable-651459.html New Delhi Dec 4 India legend Sunil Gavaskar broke down Virat Kohliâs century in the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur saying it never looked like Kohli would miss out on a hundred From the very first ball he faced Gavaskar felt the star batter was simply continuing the rhythm he found in Ranchi Kohli continued his fine form from Ranchi where he played a 120ball 135run knock in the first ODI to help India win and went on to score his 84th international century the 53rd of his ODI career in Raipur on WednesdayTo be honest at no point did it look like he wasnt going to get a hundred From the first ball he faced it felt as if he was carrying on from Ranchi He got off the mark with a hook for six a shot he doesnt often play in the air which showed the confidence from his previous hundred After that unless something unfortunate happened the hundred always seemed inevitable Gavaskar said on JioStarKohli also stitched a humongous 195run thirdwicket stand with Ruturaj Gaikwad as the Chennai Super Kings skipper also got to the threefigure mark his firstever in ODIsThe partnership with Ruturaj was excellent Ruturajs first ball was a tough bouncer from Jansen coming right after he had dismissed Jaiswal He managed to put it away for four and you could immediately see Kohli go down the pitch to comfort himRuturaj wouldve been nervous after getting out to a brilliant catch earlier and whatever Kohli told him clearly lifted him the next ball he played very confidently off the front foot said GavaskarGaikwad however also credited Kohli for guiding him fantastically on his way to hitting his maiden ODI century and added that it was dream to bat with the batting stalwartSometimes its not just about your own runs its about how you help your partner Their running between the wickets the communication it was wonderful to see a senior player guiding a younger one at such an important stage Gavaskar addedBut Kohli and Gaikwads centuries were eclipsed by a clinical and collective effort from South Africa as the visitors registered a serieslevelling fourwicket win in the second in RaipurGavaskar further explained how the toss heavily influenced the match saying It was crucial Just look at how wet the outfield was Apart from perhaps the first halfdozen overs the ball was always going to get wet That affects not just the bowlers but the fielders too you cant get a proper gripThe ball feels like a bar of soap Even when you try for a strong return to effect a runout it slips out of your hand Thats why if you win the toss in Indian conditions you always want to bowl first so you dont have to deal with a wet ball when defending So yes the toss made a big difference he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hes-carrying-on-from-ranchi-gavaskar-says-kohlis-ton-in-raipur-seemed-inevitable-651459.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 02:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/privilege-to-have-that-kind-of-confidence-from-management-gaikwad-on-batting-at-no-4-651465.html Raipur Dec 4 India batter Ruturaj Gaikwad who scored his maiden ODI century in the second match against South Africa said he felt âquite confidentâ about adapting to the No 4 position which he had never played in the 50over format adding that he felt privileged to receive such trust from the team management despite being a regular opener Gaikwad who had batted 86 times in List A cricket but never below No 3 started the series with 8 off 14 balls in Ranchi before scoring 105 off 83 balls at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International StadiumHis innings which he said was his best across formats and levels was laced with 12 fours and two sixes at a strikerate of 12651 He reached his fifty off 52 balls before accelerating in superb fashion to get his first ODI century in just 77 deliveriesThe team management told me that I would be batting at No 4 this series I feel its a privilege to have that kind of confidence from the management towards an opener So I took it that way Gaikwad said at the postmatch presserIn the oneday format even when I was opening the innings I always tried to make sure that whenever I was set I was able to bat till the 45th over and capitalise after that So I knew somewhat how to play between overs 11 to 40 how to rotate strike what the boundary options were So I was pretty much confident about how I could go through the inningsIt was just a matter of how I could play my first 1015 balls and after that the process remains the same I have been working really hard and obviously been in good touch as well So I wanted to make sure that whenever I am set I make it a big one he addedGaikwad also stitched a huge 195run thirdwicket stand with batting stalwart Virat Kohli who scored his second hundred in as many games and overall his 53rd ODI tonAsked about his partnership with Kohli Gaikwad said it was a moment he dreamed of I have been able to witness him since last one week now he said Whatever practice sessions we have had he is batting unbelievably wellâ the amount of time he has and how he is able to convert it in the match as well And even this game I enjoyed a lot Mostly I was trying to be in my zone and not really think about how he is batting or how he is able to score runs he saidGaikwad continued The chat in between was very clear We had set 55 1010run target and discussed how to manoeuvre the gaps or how to hit those boundaries how we can rotate strikeSo the chat was around that I think we had really good running between the wickets as well Obviously you dream of these kinds of moments and to be able to have that kind of partnership I really enjoyed a lotBut Kohli and Gaikwads centuries went in vain as a clinical and collective effort from South Africa guided the visitors to a serieslevelling fourwicket win in the second in Raipur IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/privilege-to-have-that-kind-of-confidence-from-management-gaikwad-on-batting-at-no-4-651465.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 02:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/1st-test-rachin-lathams-tons-help-nz-take-481-run-lead-over-wi-at-stumps-on-day-3-651477.html Christchurch Dec 4 Centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Tom Latham put New Zealand in command in the opening Test as the hosts ended Day 3 on 4174 taking a 481run lead over the West Indies here at the Hagley Oval on Thursday New Zealand began the third day at 320 already 96 runs ahead of the West Indies By stumps they had piled on 385 runs on the back of a dominant 279run partnership between Rachin 176 and Latham 145Starting the day Latham and Devon Conway extended their overnight partnership to 84 before Conway cut a delivery straight to deep point off Ojay Shields who later removed Kane Williamson for 9 At that stage New Zealand were 1002 and leading by 164 runsThe West Indies however wouldnât find another breakthrough until late in the final session as Rachin and Latham went on an allout assault Rachin raced to a 52ball halfcentury while Latham cruised to his 14th Test hundred at the stroke of Tea Rachin closed the session with a boundary that carried him to 70 off 75 the pair having added 133 runs in just 271 overs at a rapid clipThe lead surpassed 300 in the very first over after Tea with Rachin reaching to his fourth Test century by striking three boundaries in the opening two overs and bringing up his ton from just 107 deliveriesBy the time the second new ball was due and taken immediately New Zealand were already 400 ahead with Ravindra overtaking Latham on the scoreboard Kemar Roach finally broke the deadly 279run partnership with an inswinger that brushed Lathamâs inside edge as he reached out for a drive Rachin later fell to a surprise yorker from ShieldsBut despite those late breakthroughs New Zealand still amassed 184 runs in the final session leaving the West Indies facing a huge taskBrief scores New Zealand 231 amp 4174 Rachin Ravindra 176 Tom Latham 145 Kemar Roach 261 lead West Indies 167 by 481 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/1st-test-rachin-lathams-tons-help-nz-take-481-run-lead-over-wi-at-stumps-on-day-3-651477.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 02:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hardik-pandya-mania-forces-venue-shift-for-barodagujarat-smat-match-651491.html Hyderabad Dec 4 Hardik Pandyaâs comeback triggered such overwhelming fan frenzy that organisers had no choice but to shift the BarodaâGujarat SMAT fixture to a highcapacity stadium The match originally scheduled here at the Gymkhana Ground was relocated to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium known for hosting major international matches and IPL fixtures It provides stronger security architecture and greater crowdhandling capacity making it the preferred choice for a turnout of this scaleOfficials confirmed that the decision was taken after unusually large gatherings of fans were recorded near team hotels practice nets and ticket counters â far exceeding typical domestic tournament turnout In Barodaâs previous game against Punjab play was interrupted multiple times due to pitch invasions as fans rushed out to meet HardikThe surge organisers say is driven entirely by the excitement to watch Hardik Pandya whose star power continues to attract fans in overwhelming numbersâThe enthusiasm for Hardik Pandya is unbelievable Fan turnout enquiries and crowd movement exceeded our projections by a huge margin To ensure safety and smooth match operations we decided to shift the match to Rajiv Gandhi Stadiumâ a senior organising official saidHardik returned to competitive cricket after a long injury layoff on Tuesday and smashed a 42ball 77 not out for Baroda as the team chased down a 223run target against Punjab to clinch their second consecutive victory at the Syed Mushtaq Ali TrophyHe sustained an injury during Indiaâs Asia Cup Super Fours clash against Sri Lanka and has been out of action since The allrounder subsequently missed the ODI and T20I series against Australia and was unavailable for selection for the ongoing 50over series against South AfricaHowever after exiting the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and upon receiving RTP Return to Play clearance from the board Hardik joined the Baroda team led by his brother Krunal Pandya for the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournamentOn Thursday Baroda crushed Gujarat by eight wickets in an Elite Group C match sealing their third win in five games to move to the top of the table with Gujarat sitting second with the same number of wins but with a lesser net run rateOpting to bowl first after winning the toss Baroda restricted Gujarat 70 with Raj Limbani picking 3 for 5 In response Baroda chased down the target in 64 overs for the loss of two wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hardik-pandya-mania-forces-venue-shift-for-barodagujarat-smat-match-651491.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 02:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/starc-pips-wasim-akram-to-become-leading-left-arm-bowler-in-test-cricket-history-651501.html Brisbane Dec 4 Australias senior pacer Mitchell Starc broke the record for the most wickets taken by a leftarm fast bowler in Test cricket history on Day 1 of the second Ashes Test at Brisbane on Thursday The 35yearold dismissed Harry Brook for 31 caught by Steve Smith at second slip to claim his 415th Test wicket and go past Wasim Akrams tally of 414 victims after striking with the second ball of his new spellInterestingly Starc made his Test debut at the same venue against New Zealand in 2011 and is one of only three bowlers alongside Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin to have taken at least 350 Test wickets since January 2015The Pakistani great was quick to hail the Aussie pacer for breaking his record Super Starc Proud of you mate Your incredible hard work sets you apart and it was only a matter of time before you crossed my tally of wickets I am pleased to give this to you Go well and keep soaring to new heights in your stellar career Akram posted on XAkram played 104 Tests for his 414 wickets with Starc reaching the milestone in his 102nd In the series opener in Perth the leftarm quick produced a sensational spell of 758 and became just the 21st bowler and the 13th Australian to reach 100 Ashes wickets In the current squads of both teams only Nathan Lyon 110 and Starc are the two bowlers to hold 100 or more wickets in the AshesStarc is now 16th on the alltime wickettaker list and could move above both Indias Harbhajan Singh 417 and South Africas Shaun Pollock 421 in the ongoing pinkball Test Moreover he could match or move past Sir Richard Hadlees tally of 431 Test wickets in the series He hit the milestone in only 23 TestsSpeaking about the match Starc gave Australia a dream start under the pink ball Test reducing England to 52 within three overs He first removed Ben Duckett for duck on the last of the first over before dismissing Ollie Pope for nil in his next over Then Zak Crawley and Joe Root dug England out of trouble to reach tea at 982 The duo stitched a 117run stand off 152 balls for the third wicket before the former fell to Michael NeserThen Harry Brook and Root steadied the ship with a 54run stand for the fourth wicket before Starc removed Brook to become the most prolific leftarm bowler in Test cricket history with his 415th scalpSkipper Ben Stokes 17 and Jamie Smith 0 followed soon after as England reached 2356 at the time of filing this report with Root standing strong at 88 and Will Jacks at 17 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/starc-pips-wasim-akram-to-become-leading-left-arm-bowler-in-test-cricket-history-651501.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 03:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jaipur-open-2025-yuvraj-sandhu-fires-66-to-establish-three-shot-lead-after-round-three-651509.html Jaipur Dec 4 The PGTI Ranking leader Yuvraj Sandhu fired a determined thirdround score of fourunder 66 to establish a threeshot lead at a total of 16under 194 in the Jaipur Open 2025 an INR 1 crore event being played at the Rambagh Golf Club in Jaipur on Thursday Yuvraj Sandhu 656366 who was in second place and one shot off the lead at the start of round three produced an eagle four birdies and two bogeys during his 66 to take control in the penultimate round Chandigarh golfer Yuvraj playing in Jaipur after four years is now in pursuit of his sixth PGTI title this season If Yuvraj does go on to bag his sixth win of 2025 he would match the PGTI record for most titles in a season set by Manu Gandas in 2022Kushal Singh 646370 the halfway leader by one shot had a mixed day as he came up with a 70 punctuated by four birdies and two doublebogeys that saw him slip to second place at 13under 197 Bangladeshâs Badal Hossain 656766 posted a flawless 66 to rise four spots and end the day in third place at 12under 198Yuvraj Sandhu began the day with a bogey on the first but then made steady progress with birdies on the third and 12th with a tapin on the latter as well as a chipin for eagle on the eighth A missed up and down resulted in Sandhuâs second bogey of the day on the 15th but he fought back by sinking birdies on the last two Par5s the 17th and 18thâI didnât convert as many putts as I wouldâve liked to but my hitting was topnotch today The bogey on the first was a good wakeup call for me and I was in my zone by the time I reached the third tee Thereafter I finally played the way Iâve wanted to all weekâ Yuvraj said at the end of the daySandhu who played his first PGTI event at the Rambagh Golf Club back in 2018 while still an amateur added âWith my current hitting form I think I can match my best of 10under at this course a score I achieved back in 2021 when I last played here Iâve improved my ball control and thatâs reflected in my scores This is thanks to all the work Iâve put in with my coach Gurbaaz MannâJaipurbased professionals Hemendra Choudhary threeunder 207 and Prakhar Asawa evenpar 212 were placed tied 28th and tied 42nd respectively IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jaipur-open-2025-yuvraj-sandhu-fires-66-to-establish-three-shot-lead-after-round-three-651509.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 03:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/kalikesh-singh-deo-to-begin-first-full-four-year-term-as-nrai-chief-651515.html Mohali Dec 4 Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo began his first full fouryear term as National Rifle Association of India NRAI President after being elected unopposed during its general body meeting here on Thursday The results of the NRAI officebearers elections were officially declared on Thursday The elections were conducted under the aegis of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur Retd who was the Returning Officer RO Sharing his first reactions Deo stated âIndian shooting has currently seen its most successful phase in history over the last couple of years both in terms of success and popularity and that increases our responsibilities manifold I wholeheartedly thank the entire General Body for restoring faith in my team and meWe promise to leave no stone unturned to accelerate this growth momentum even further and to maximise the potential that our extremely talented shooting athletes possess With the flag paramount in our thoughts let us all work together to make India number one in the world in our beloved sportâPawan Singh one of Indiaâs most respected shooting administrators and technical experts has also been elected unopposed âMy focus will be on using technology to find and nurture promising athletes from every corner of India We also want to train coaches and shooters for coaching so that they have an alternate career when they retire and can earn from the sport they have invested their life in Singh saidThe elections also put in place a new Executive Committee and a new Governing Body the highest decisionmaking body of the National FederationIn the two electoral contests that took place Amit Sanghi from Telangana was elected as the Senior Vice President of the Governing Body while Kanwar Sultan Singh and Sushma Singh were elected VicePresidents in the 15member Executive Committee ECThe four sportspeople in the Executive Committee will be Olympic bronze medallist Gagan Narang Kunti Malik Zorawar Singh Sandhu and Elavenil Valarivan respectivelyDeo first became involved in sports governance in 2017 when he was elected as senior vicepresident of NRAI Following Raninder Singhs 12year term as NRAI President which was limited by the organisations constitution and national sports code provisions Deo assumed responsibility for the NRAIs daytoday operations as the seniormost officebearerOn April 6 2023 he formally took charge as acting president He was elected president of the NRAI on September 21 2024 during a general body meeting in New Delhi defeating challenger VK Dhall by a vote of 3621 Deo who had been NRAI senior vice president since 2017 assumed office for a oneyear term which ended in 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/kalikesh-singh-deo-to-begin-first-full-four-year-term-as-nrai-chief-651515.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 03:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/navneet-kaur-jarmanpreet-singh-to-lead-sg-pipers-at-hockey-india-league-651331.html New Delhi Dec 3 Hockey India League franchise SG Pipers have announced defender Jarmanpreet Singh and forward Navneet Kaur as captains of their mens and womens teams respectively for the upcoming season of the league Defender Jarmanpreet will lead the menâs side with Australian midfielder Ky Willott taking up the role of vicecaptainOn the womenâs team star forward Navneet retains the captaincy with Australiaâs Kaitlin Nobbs taking on the vicecaptaincy ahead of her first season with the PipersLast season Jarmanpreet emerged as one of SG Pipersâ standout performers His impressive contribution to Indiaâs Asia Cup 2025 triumph further underscores his readiness to lead from the frontâI want to thank our coaches and the management for giving me this opportunity With a strong mix of junior and senior players we are confident in building a powerful team and are aiming to bring home the title Jarmanpreet saidWillott stepped up last season with his exceptional work rate maturity on the ball and ability to dictate play attributes that now see him assume a formal leadership role He comes into the League on the back of playing an influential role in Hockey Club Melbourneâs Hockey One title triumph on SundayExcited to visit India and join the squad mens team head coach Tim Oudenaller said âWith his experience and dedication Jarmanpreet will be able to guide the team to its highest potential Ky will be the vicecaptain this season Despite his age he brings considerable experience from last season making him wellequipped to support Jarmanpreet and guide the team to reach their full potential In a few weeks the team will see each other in India They know what I expect and what to do to achieve the best result at the end of the competitionâThe womenâs team will see Navneet returning as captain after a strong campaign where she led the attack scored decisive goals and showcased her influence in Indiaâs international outings Supporting her will be Kaitlin whose international pedigree defensive awareness and calm decisionmaking add tremendous balance to the squad 2025 HIL winner Nobbs starred in Perth Thundersticksâ triumph in the Hockey One Final on SundayâThank you SG Pipers once again for choosing me as the captain of the SG Pipers womenâs team I am confident that we will achieve strong results this season Keeping in mind the shortcomings of last season we planned for the auction alongside our head coach Sofie and our Assistant Coach Helen Mary I am sure that our preparation will reflect in our performances Once again thank you SG Pipers for placing your trust in me as captain said NavneetSofie Gierts Head Coach of the Womenâs Team said âWe have retained Navneet as captain because she consistently reflects the values we want this team to stand for Her integrity calm intensity and exceptional hockey talent make her the ideal leader in a highperformance environment We have also appointed Kaitlin as vicecaptain her guidance and experience especially winning last years HIL final will be invaluable She brings a leadership style that thrives under pressure while always supporting her teammates IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/navneet-kaur-jarmanpreet-singh-to-lead-sg-pipers-at-hockey-india-league-651331.html Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/alpine-taps-multiple-f2-race-winner-kush-maini-for-f1-rookie-test-651335.html Abu Dhabi Dec 3 The Alpine Formula One Team has announced that Indias Kush Maini will drive the A525 during the postseason Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi marking another milestone in an outstanding year for the Indian racer While Maini has previously tested Alpineâs Formula 1 machinery this will be his first official F1 session He will take part in the teamâs structured testing programme with the A525 following the Formula 2 finaleMaini will share the track with current Alpine driver Pierre Gasly and run alongside several other F1 competitors He has already gained valuable experience through Alpineâs Testing Previous Cars TPC programme and extensive simulator work with the Alpine Academy key steps in a year filled with breakthroughsHis landmark win in Monaco made him the first Indian to triumph at the iconic street circuit Earlier this year he was also named one of BWT Alpineâs Test amp Reserve Drivers becoming the first Indian in 13 years to hold an official role with a Formula 1 team His outing on December 9 will see him become only the third Indian to take part in an official F1 sessionExpressing his thoughts on the same Kush Maini said âIâm excited to take part in the postseason test and to finally drive the A525 in an official session Yas Marina is a track I know well from Formula 2 and itâll be incredible to experience the performance of a Formula One car here Iâm grateful to the team for their continued trust and Iâm focused on delivering the best I can with the programmeâSteve Nielsen Alpine F1 Teamâs managing director said âThe Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend presents an excellent opportunity to call on our Test and Reserve drivers and to allow them allimportant seat time in a modern Formula One car Both Kush and Paul have worked hard this season especially during our simulator and TPC programmes to be prepared and ready for any Formula One opportunity I am looking forward to seeing how they perform in their respective sessions at Yas MarinaâThis session confirms the trust the Alpine F1 team places in Kush highlighting its importance for the teamâs preparation for the 2026 Formula 1 season With this achievement Maini remains a leading figure in Indian motorsport inspiring a new generation of racers nationwide IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/alpine-taps-multiple-f2-race-winner-kush-maini-for-f1-rookie-test-651335.html Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/alpine-picks-multiple-f2-race-winner-kush-maini-for-f1-rookie-test-651337.html Abu Dhabi Dec 3 The Alpine Formula One Team has announced that Indias Kush Maini will drive the A525 during the postseason Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi marking another milestone in an outstanding year for the Indian racer While Maini has previously tested Alpineâs Formula 1 machinery this will be his first official F1 session He will take part in the teamâs structured testing programme with the A525 following the Formula 2 finaleMaini will share the track with current Alpine driver Pierre Gasly and run alongside several other F1 competitors He has already gained valuable experience through Alpineâs Testing Previous Cars TPC programme and extensive simulator work with the Alpine Academy key steps in a year filled with breakthroughsHis landmark win in Monaco made him the first Indian to triumph at the iconic street circuit Earlier this year he was also named one of BWT Alpineâs Test amp Reserve Drivers becoming the first Indian in 13 years to hold an official role with a Formula 1 team His outing on December 9 will see him become only the third Indian to take part in an official F1 sessionExpressing his thoughts on the same Kush Maini said âIâm excited to take part in the postseason test and to finally drive the A525 in an official session Yas Marina is a track I know well from Formula 2 and itâll be incredible to experience the performance of a Formula One car here Iâm grateful to the team for their continued trust and Iâm focused on delivering the best I can with the programmeâSteve Nielsen Alpine F1 Teamâs managing director said âThe Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend presents an excellent opportunity to call on our Test and Reserve drivers and to allow them allimportant seat time in a modern Formula One car Both Kush and Paul have worked hard this season especially during our simulator and TPC programmes to be prepared and ready for any Formula One opportunity I am looking forward to seeing how they perform in their respective sessions at Yas MarinaâThis session confirms the trust the Alpine F1 team places in Kush highlighting its importance for the teamâs preparation for the 2026 Formula 1 season With this achievement Maini remains a leading figure in Indian motorsport inspiring a new generation of racers nationwide IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/alpine-picks-multiple-f2-race-winner-kush-maini-for-f1-rookie-test-651337.html Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ireland-and-italy-to-play-3-t20is-in-january-ahead-of-t20wc-2026-651352.html New Delhi Dec 3 Cricket Ireland and the Italian Cricket Federation have jointly confirmed a threematch bilateral T20 International series to be held in Dubai in late January 2026 The series will serve as key preparation for both teams ahead of their campaigns in the 2026 ICC Menâs T20 World Cup Ireland and Italy have met only once before in a T20I during the 2023 qualifiers in Edinburgh where Ireland claimed a sevenrun victory The sides also played a nonT20I Twenty20 match in Abu Dhabi in 2012 which Ireland won by two wicketsThe announcement follows Irelandâs recent confirmation of their two T20Is against the UAE also part of their World Cup buildup After finishing their preparations in Dubai Ireland will head to Sri Lanka for the global tournament where they are placed in Group B alongside Australia Sri Lanka Zimbabwe and OmanItaly meanwhile will travel to India for the World Cup They will compete in Group C against England the West Indies Bangladesh and Nepal The UAE will also move to India after completing their fixtures against Ireland joining Group D with South Africa New Zealand Afghanistan and CanadaRichard Holdsworth Director of Cricket at Cricket Ireland said âWeâre delighted that the Italian Cricket Federation has agreed to this series in Dubai It is important that our squad plays some competitive cricket ahead of the T20 World Cup and these three matches will be ideal for us as we acclimatise to hot conditions having come straight from the Irish winterâThe Italians did very well to beat Scotland and qualify for their firstever World Cup and we expect this series to be a hardfought affair Our thanks to The Sevens Stadium for their support in hosting this seriesâ he saidPresident of the Federazione Cricket Italiana Maria Lorena Haz Paz said âFrom the moment that Italy Men defeated Scotland then went on to progress through the World Cup Qualifier for the first time in our history we have turned our attention to creating the best possible preparation programme for our players ahead of the tournament in FebruaryâWe were extremely pleased that Cricket Ireland was so amenable to working with us on pulling together this series â a series in itself will be historic given it will be our first threematch bilateral series against a Full Member of the ICCâWe look forward to the fixtures as we create history and we hope raise the profile and support for our cricket team across Italy â and maybe even win a few fans around the worldâIreland vs Italy T20I series23 January 2026 Ireland Men v Italy Men â 1st T20I Sevens Stadium Dubai starts 10 am25 January 2026 Ireland Men v Italy Men â 2nd T20I Sevens Stadium Dubai starts 10 am26 January 2026 Ireland Men v Italy Men â 3rd T20I Sevens Stadium Dubai starts 6 pm IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ireland-and-italy-to-play-3-t20is-in-january-ahead-of-t20wc-2026-651352.html Thu, 04 Dec 2025 12:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/1st-test-jacob-duffys-five-for-hand-new-zealand-a-handy-lead-on-day-2-651357.html Christchurch Dec 3 Mediumpacer Jacob Duffyâs maiden fivewicket haul in Tests put New Zealand firmly in control on the second day of the first Test against the West Indies at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday His 5 for 34 combined with Matt Henryâs three wickets bowled West Indies out for 167 in reply to New Zealandâs firstinnings total of 231 By stumps the hosts had moved to 32 for no loss in their second innings extending their lead to 96West Indies had begun the day by needing just three balls to wrap up New Zealandâs innings Zak Foulkes edging Jayden Seales down the leg side But Foulkes struck immediately with the ball too removing John Campbell with the first ball of the second over as Will Young dived to his left at third slip to complete the catchNew Zealand however were sloppy in the field Young put down a far simpler chance soon after when Henry found Alick Athanazeâs outside edge Henry hit back in his next over getting the ball to jag back in from around the wicket to bowl AthanazeAfter 12 overs West Indies were crawling at 10 for 2 with Shai Hope and Tagenarine Chanderpaul focused on survival rather than scoring The first boundary of the innings only arrived in the 23rd over when Hope batting in sunglasses due to an eye infection drove Duffy through the covers He followed it up by driving Nathan Smith past midonChanderpaul had slices of luck dropped twice by Devon Conway at leg slip on 5 and 24 off Smith and Henry respectively Hope reached his fifty after lunch and with Chanderpaul settling in New Zealand were forced to change plans Duffy went short at Hope troubling him repeatedlyWith a shortleg in place the pressure told a gloved pull looped to Tom Latham keeping in place of the injured Tom Blundell who did not take the field after hurting his hamstring on day one The dismissal ended a 90run stand and opened the innings upHenry then returned to strike twice in one over both caught behind Bowling away swingers around off stump he removed Roston Chase and Justin Greaves for ducks leaving West Indies 106 for 5 Chanderpaul continued unbothered reaching a measured halfcentury and adding 34 with Tevin Imlach That stand ended when Conway finally held one diving to his left at square leg to pluck a pulling Chanderpaul out of the airHenry should have had a fourth when Kemar Roach edged to first slip but Michael Bracewell spilt it diving across from second As the light faded only spin was permitted but after a brief rain break the sky cleared enough for pace to resumeDuffy returned and wasted no time finishing the innings With the first ball after resumption he had Imlach caught down the leg side a review confirming the glove Johann Layne followed in the same over caught and bowled Duffy then went full to bowl both Seales and Ojay Shields sealing his maiden fivefor and limiting West Indies to 167New Zealand openers saw off a short final session to reach 32 without loss placing the home side in a commanding position with a 96run leadBrief scoresNew Zealand 231 amp 320 in 7 overs Devon Conway 15 not out Tom Latham 14 not out lead West Indies 167 all out in 754 overs Shai Hope 56 Tagenarine Chanderpaul 52 Jacob Duffy 534 Matt Henry 343 Zak Foulkes 232 by 96 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/1st-test-jacob-duffys-five-for-hand-new-zealand-a-handy-lead-on-day-2-651357.html Thu, 04 Dec 2025 12:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-pacer-mohit-sharma-announces-retirement-from-all-formats-of-cricket-651379.html New Delhi Dec 3 India pacer Mohit Sharma has announced his retirement from all formats of cricket bringing the curtains down on a career that spanned nearly 14 years Mohit made his international debut in 2013 and represented India in 26 ODIs and eight T20Is claiming 37 wickets across formats He was part of Indiaâs squad reaching the semifinals of the 2015 Menâs ODI World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand apart from representing Haryana in the domestic cricket circuitâToday with a full heart I announce my retirement from all formats of cricket From representing Haryana to wearing the India jersey and playing in the IPL this journey has been nothing short of a blessingâ wrote Mohit on his Instagram post on WednesdayâA very special thank you to the Haryana Cricket Association for being the backbone of my career And my deepest gratitude to Anirudh Sir whose constant guidance and belief in me shaped my path in ways words cannot express Thank you to the BCCI my coaches my teammates IPL franchises support staff and all my friends for their love and supportâ he addedKnown for his disciplined newâball spells and variations like cutters slower balls and slow bouncers in the death overs Mohit was also a prominent figure in the IPL picking 134 wickets in 120 games He turned out for Chennai Super Kings Punjab Kings Gujarat Titans and more recently for Delhi CapitalsMohit was one of CSKs main bowlers in his first three seasons with the wickets and took 20 wickets in 15 innings in the Indian Premier League IPL 2013 He won the purple cap in the 2014 edition of the league after picking 23 wickets in 16 gamesAfter being in the wilderness due to a drop in form Mohit joined the Gujarat Titans as a net bowler for IPL 2022 and was in their main squad in 2023 In IPL 2023 turning out for GT Mohit was the secondhighest wickettaker with 27 wickets in 14 innings at a strike rate of 981 as the side reached the finalHe was also GTs highest wickettaker in IPL 2024 with 13 wickets in 12 matches âSpecial thanks to my wife who always handled my mood swings and anger and supported me through everything I look forward to serving the game in fresh ways Thank you so much Innings over gratitude foreverâ added Mohit IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-pacer-mohit-sharma-announces-retirement-from-all-formats-of-cricket-651379.html Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/aussie-tennis-coach-todd-clark-lauds-khelo-india-games-says-it-give-teenagers-opportunities-to-pick-up-sports-651069.html Jaipur Dec 2 Australian coach Todd Clark who is a wellknown figure in Indian tennis and a strong supporter of the Khelo India initiative believes Khelo India Games will greatly benefit India in the long term and also give teenagers opportunities to pick up sport The Australian coach arrived in India in 2008 and has since made the country his home immersing himself deeply in its culture Currently Clark serves as the Director of Tennis at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology KIIT in Odisha and is mentoring players at the Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025I think the Khelo India games are fantastic to have happened to this country There is nothing more troublesome than a bored teenager What these games have done all over the country is that they have given these teens opportunities to pick up sports and excel at them and eventually make a career Sports also inculcate characterâ Clark told SAI MediaClark with over 30 years of coaching experience also commended the Government of India for introducing the Khelo India initiative âThe current Central Government is quite keen on the idea of a fit India These games are going to promote health and wellness among the youth Furthermore the infrastructure will get a boost I am quite impressed with the facilities that I have seen in Jaipur so farâ he saidAfter arriving in India Clark began working at the Harvest Tennis Academy in Punjab He has also been involved in coaching in Gujarat and Haryana He was part of the Indian team when Vaishnavi Adkar from Pune secured a bronze medal in womenâs singles at the 2025 Summer World University Games This achievement marked Indiaâs firstever womenâs tennis medal at the event In fact it was only the second medal India has won at this competition the first being a silver earned by Nandan Bal in 1979Clark believes India has significant talent and potential in tennis âI think India has a lot of talent Though I believe talent identification could be better Counselling kids on what sport to pick could also be better For example you need to be a certain height to be a good tennis player 6 feet or thereabouts so if you are say 5â4â your chances of being a topclass tennis player are very low so you should pick up another sport that suits you So itâs important players are advised in the right mannerâ he saidClark emphasised the need for significantly increasing financial support for players transitioning from junior to senior levels âI think there are a lot of opportunities for junior players in India But there are not many at the senior level So they need to travel to other countries to get their opportunities which can be a very expensive affair Tennis is an expensive sport This is something that needs to be addressed This is one of the main reasons why Indian players after making waves at the junior level fail to keep up the momentum at the senior levelâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/aussie-tennis-coach-todd-clark-lauds-khelo-india-games-says-it-give-teenagers-opportunities-to-pick-up-sports-651069.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/virat-kohli-and-rohit-sharma-show-will-continue-dale-steyn-651093.html New Delhi Dec 2 Former South Africa cricketer Dale Steyn believes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharmas show will continue in the ongoing ODI series ahead of the second ODI on Wednesday in Raipur At the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi India overcame a scare and easily defeated South Africa in a closely contested match to win the first ODI by 17 runs and take a 10 lead in the threematch seriesSpeaking on the expectations from the second ODI JioStar expert Dale Steyn said âI think the Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma show will continue Iâm eager to see which fast bowlers and which spinners come out and do something interestingIndia put up a commanding first innings total driven by a brilliant century from Virat Kohli and critical fifties from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul following the early setback as India amassed a mammoth 3988 in 50 overs Later in the game Kuldeep Yadav 468 and Harshit Rana 365 helped India beat the visitors by 17 runsThe experienced pair of Rohit and Virat stitched together a fluent 136run stand taking the pressure off after the early setback Rohit reached a brisk 57 off 51 balls and broke Shahid Afridiâs longstanding record for most ODI sixes before Marco Jansen trapped him lbwIn the meantime Kohli carried on unhindered reaching his 83rd international century and 52nd ODI century He advanced fast after reaching three figures taking on Prenelan Subrayen with two fours and two sixesRahul offered excellent support with a wellpaced 60 adding 76 important runs with Kohli After Kohliâs removal for 135 Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja pushed India towards a huge finish with a 65run partnership But a late minicollapse that included wickets from Corbin Bosch and Jansen limited India to 3498Steyn emphasised the importance of wicketkeeper batter Quinton de Kocks role and expects a big knock from him Itâs been a batterâs paradise so far so which bowlers will step up and really perform in the second ODI Quinton de Kock didnât score any runs in the first ODI but I feel like he has a point to prove Heâs someone South Africa will lean on to score big for themâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/virat-kohli-and-rohit-sharma-show-will-continue-dale-steyn-651093.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sneh-rana-visits-mahakaleshwar-temple-in-ujjain-after-world-cup-win-651094.html New Delhi Dec 2 India allrounder Sneh Rana visited Ujjains Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple on Tuesday and thanked the almighty for blessing the team and fulfilling their wish of lifting the Womenâs World Cup 2025 Rana along with her teammates visited the temple in October during the teamâs rough patch in the group stage of the tournament and went on to lift the trophy in NovemberItâs been a month since India lifted their firstever ICC title defeating South Africa in the World Cup final by 52 runs Rana said that she manifested Indiaâs win when she visited the temple with her teammates and âcompleted the circleâ by paying a visit exactly a month laterâIts already been one month Feels like it passed with a blink of an eye I manifested this win in his presence Completed the circle by visiting Shree Mahakaleshwar Mandir exactly after 1 month to thank him for blessing us and fulfilling our wishesâ Rana wrote on X while sharing a picture of her attending the morning aartiRana participated in six matches at the World Cup and finished with seven wickets playing a key part in Indias victorious campaign The bowling allrounder has played 44 ODIs for India taking 57 wickets and scoring 380 runs which includes a halfcenturyIn T20Is she has claimed 24 wickets across 29 games Rana has also appeared in four Test matches where she has taken 23 wickets with her best figures being 877 Her top score in Tests is 80 not outRana will likely be back in action for India when they host Sri Lanka for five T20Is later this month Itâll be the Women in Blueâs last international assignment before the players turn their focus to the Womenâs Premier League beginning January 9 where the allrounder will feature for Delhi CapitalsThe fourth edition of the tournament will be played at two venues The DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai will host the first 11 games before the action moves to Vadodaraâs Kotambi Stadium for the remainder of the tournament including the Eliminator and FinalThe summit clash will be played on February 5 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sneh-rana-visits-mahakaleshwar-temple-in-ujjain-after-world-cup-win-651094.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hardik-smashes-unbeaten-77-on-smat-return-to-help-baroda-win-651097.html Hyderabad Dec 2 India allrounder Hardik Pandya smashed a 42ball 77 not out for Baroda as the team chased down a 223run target against Punjab to clinch their second consecutive victory at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy here on Tuesday Notably this was Hardiks first outing in almost three months as he returned to competitive cricket after a long injury layoff He sustained an injury during Indiaâs Asia Cup Super Fours clash against Sri Lanka and has been out of action since The allrounder subsequently missed the ODI and T20I series against Australia and was unavailable for selection for the ongoing 50over series against South AfricaHowever after exiting the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and upon receiving RTP Return to Play clearance from the board Hardik joined the Baroda team led by his brother Krunal Pandya for the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournamentSpeaking of the match Punjab posted 2228 in their 20over quota riding on halfcenturies from skipper Abhishek Sharma and toporder batter Anmolpreet Singh Naman Dhir played a decent knock scoring 39 off 28 balls while Prabhsimran Singh Nehal Wadhera and Sanvir Singh finished with identical scores of 16 runsRaj Limbani was the pick of the bowlers for Baroda while Hardik ended up conceding 52 runs in his fourover spell managing just the lone wicket of AnmolpreetBaroda got off to a solid start to their chase thanks to the 66run opening stand between Vishnu Solanki and Shashwat Rawat However two quick wickets brought Shivalik Sharma and Hardik on the creaseThe duo stitched a formidable 109run stand for the third wicket before Shivalik had to retire out However Hardik kept going and notched up seven fours and four sixes to score an unbeaten 77 as Baroda chased down the target with five balls to spareThe allrounder bagged the Player of the Match award for his knock and put forth a strong case for his international comebackThe selection committee will likely announce Indiaâs T20I squad for the forthcoming fivegame series against South Africa this week IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hardik-smashes-unbeaten-77-on-smat-return-to-help-baroda-win-651097.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/referee-training-programme-kicks-off-in-new-delhi-as-part-of-ice-hockey-season-3-651101.html New Delhi Dec 2 The Referee Training Programme for Ice Hockey Season 3 is currently underway in Delhi NCR marking the second onground capacitybuilding intervention of the 2025â26 season Held from December 1 to 5 the programme brings together over 20 officials from Ladakh Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand reinforcing the continued focus on strengthening the technical backbone of Ice Hockey across the Himalayan region Ahead of the onice session in New Delhi participating officials completed four virtual modules as part of this structured seasonlong Referee Development Programme These online sessions introduced foundational officiating concepts ensuring that all referees began onice training with a shared baseline of rules mechanics and situational decisionmakingThe training is being led by Peter Gebei a seasoned Ice Hockey professional from Hungary with over four decades of experience as a player referee and officiating coach A former member of the Hungarian national team with 57 international caps Peter transitioned into refereeing after his playing career and went on to officiate in top international leagues including the Austrian Hockey League Erste Bank Eishockey Liga and Kontinental Hockey League KHLHis selection for the International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF Top Division World Championships reflects his technical excellence and consistency at the highest level As a senior referee he continues to officiate global IIHF competitionsBeyond officiating Peter has played a pivotal role in mentoring emerging referees globally as an IIHF Officiating Instructor shaping structured education pathways and contributing to the development of strong officiating ecosystems internationally His leadership brings global standards and expertise directly into the Indian contextAligned with the Blueprint for Himalayan Ice Hockey Development the Referee Training Programme strengthens the governance and officiating standards required for the sportâs growth in emerging regions The weeklong training combines classroom sessions onice demonstrations and scenariobased evaluations to build a technically sound pool of officials capable of supporting developmental competitions and communityled tournamentsFollowing the completion of the programme in New Delhi trained officials will travel to Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh to support Learn to Play activities and officiate in earlyseason regional camps They will then form the core officiating group for the upcoming developmental leagues in early 2026 including the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League REIHL in Ladakh and the Spiti Cup powered by Royal Enfield in Himachal PradeshThrough such structured interventions Royal Enfield continues to advance its Social Mission of empowering Himalayan communities through sport strengthening technical standards expanding opportunities for youth and women and building a resilient and credible winter sports ecosystem across the region IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/referee-training-programme-kicks-off-in-new-delhi-as-part-of-ice-hockey-season-3-651101.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/former-england-batter-robin-smith-dies-aged-62-651103.html New Delhi Dec 2 Former England batter Robin Arnold Smith remembered as one of the greatest players of fast bowling England ever had has passed away at the age of 62 in Perth Australia Smith widely known as The Judge died unexpectedly at his South Perth apartment on Monday the cricketers family said However the cause of Smiths death is at present unknown Everyone at the England amp Wales Cricket Board is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Robin Smith An England and Hampshire legend Rest in peace Judge England Cricket said in an X postDuring his England career Smith played 62 Tests and 71 ODIs amassing more than 6500 runs including 4236 Test runs with nine centuries At the end of his career he had a Test average of 4367 He was also part of the England squad that reached the 1992 ICC Menâs Cricket World Cup final against PakistanSmiths family said in a statement It is with the deepest and most profound sense of sadness and loss that we must announce the passing of Robin Arnold Smith beloved father of Harrison and Margaux and cherished brother of ChristopherA brave and dashing batsman he excelled both for Hampshire and his adopted country collecting legions of admirers and friends along the way This is an immensely difficult period for us all whilst we try to come to terms with our bereavement and we would therefore much appreciate consideration for our privacy by the media and cricket followers alikeSince his retirement from the game in 2004 his battles with alcohol and mental health have been well documented but these should not form the basis of speculation about the cause of death which will be determined at the postmortem investigationBorn in Durban South Africa Smith moved to England to play for Hampshire He played for Hampshire across 21 years between 1982 and 2003 captaining the county between 1998 and 2002In his time with the Rose and Crown Smith played over 300 firstclass matches scoring 18984 runs with a high score of 209 not out at an impressive average of 4209 Smith also made 347 List A appearances for Hampshire securing over 12000 runs at an average of 4297Known as The Judge Smith played over 600 times for Hampshire and scored over 30000 runs for the club in a career that spanned more than 20 years Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time Hampshire Cricket posted on XHe retired from cricket at the age of 40 with 18984 county runs to his name and a reputation as a Hampshire greatECB Chair Richard Thompson said âRobin Smith was a player who stood toe to toe with some of the quickest bowlers in the world meeting spells of hostile fast bowling with a defiant smile and an incredible resilience He did so in a way that gave England fans enormous pride and no shortage of entertainmentHe was a batter ahead of his time which was typified in that unforgettable unbeaten 167 from 163 balls in an ODI against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993His record at Hampshire is exemplary and heâll be remembered rightly as a great of Hampshire CCC Weâre desperately sad to learn of his passing and the thoughts of all of us in cricket are with his friends family and loved onesâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/former-england-batter-robin-smith-dies-aged-62-651103.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jaipur-open-2025-teenager-manoj-s-shoots-63-for-the-first-round-lead-651126.html Jaipur Dec 2 The 17yearold rookie Manoj S shot a sevenunder 63 to take the firstround lead at the Jaipur Open 2025 an INR 1 crore event organised by the Professional Golf Tour of India PGTI and being played at the Rambagh Golf Club in Jaipur on Tuesday Bengalurubased Manoj S fresh from six top10 finishes in his last eight starts on the PGTI continued his fine form as he sank eight birdies against a lone bogey on TuesdayShaurya Bhattacharya Divyanshu Bajaj Kushal Singh and Arjun Prasad struck scores of sixunder 64 to be close on the heels of the leader in tied second placePGTI Order of Merit leader Yuvraj Sandhu opened his week with a 65 which included a golden run of five successive birdies Yuvraj was placed tied sixth along with Harsh Gangwar and Badal HossainManoj S was twounder through the frontnine before he turned on the heat with five birdies on the backnine Never in a spot of trouble the teenagerâs hot putter saw him drain three 20footers and a 15footer for birdieManoj said âI played a junior event here about three years back and performed well on that occasion So Iâm familiar with this course Itâs important to place your tee shots well here as a number of fairways have trees in the middle I was accurate with my tee shots today found 15 greens in regulation and also scored birdies on all four Par5 holesâThe key to my good form over the past few weeks has been my excellent ballstriking which has created numerous scoring opportunities for me My ballstriking once again provided me with the perfect start to the weekâVeer Ahlawat last yearâs PGTI Order of Merit champion carded a 67 to be tied 12th Jaipurâs Prakhar Asawa had the best day among the local professionals as he fired a 68 to be tied 19th IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jaipur-open-2025-teenager-manoj-s-shoots-63-for-the-first-round-lead-651126.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-1-cian-shields-set-to-make-f1-weekend-debut-with-aston-martin-651151.html Gaydon Dec 2 Aston Martin will field Cian Shields in the opening session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with the Scottish driver ready to make his Formula 1 weekend debut Shields will be racing in lieu of Fernando Alonso and alongside Formula 2 competitor Jak Crawford as Aston Martin fulfil the rest of their mandated FP1 running for rookie drivers Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team has announced that Formula 2 driver Cian Shields will take to the track at Yas Marina Circuit this week driving Fernando Alonsos AMR25 during the Abu Dhabi Free Practice One session Aston MAartin said in a statementShields who is competing in his maiden F2 Season this year stated that he was immensely pleased about the possibility of working with Aston Martin on a race weekendâIâm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to drive in FP1 with Aston Martin Aramco Iâve learned so much working with the team this year both in the simulator and through my TPC testing and to now be trusted with the AMR25 on a Grand Prix weekend is a huge moment for me Cian Shields said âIâm looking forward to contributing to the programme on Friday and making the most of the experienceâGerry Hughes Chief Engineer F1 Evolution Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team said Cian has worked closely with our team throughout the year building mileage in AMR TPC Formula One machinery and deepening his understanding of the AMR25 through a structured simulator programme His feedback and professionalism have been consistently strong and he has continued to develop with every opportunityThis upcoming FP1 session is a fantastic way to round out the year putting the knowledge and experience he has gained to good use for the team at the final race of the seasonThe Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 the 24th stop on the 2025 Formula 1 circuit will be held from December 67 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-1-cian-shields-set-to-make-f1-weekend-debut-with-aston-martin-651151.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mahipal-singh-wins-second-chennai-open-tenpin-bowling-championships-651157.html New Delhi Dec 2 Mahipal Singh from Tamil Nadu won the title at The Chennai Diamonds 2nd Chennai Open Tenpin Bowling Championships which concluded at Letâs Bowl Chennai In the Open Division Finals played based on the challenging the leader format second seed Benigopal L won the first game against top seed D Mahipal Singh 208194 forcing the second game to decide the Winner In the second game Mahipal started with three consecutive strikes scoring 200 against 168 by Benigopal to emerge as the championEarlier in the first match of the stepladder round thirdseeded Anand Babu from Tamil Nadu defeated fourthseeded Naveen Siddam from Telangana 222â183 In the semifinals Benigopal Lahoti from West Bengal scored a comfortable win over Anand Babu 22391In the Doubles division Parvez Ahmed and Kishan R 737 pins from Karnataka won the Cliffhanger Finals against Gurunathan and Soban D from Tamil Nadu 735 pins by a margin of two pinsIn Game 1 of the title match played based on cumulative pinfall of two games 4th seed Parvez and Kishan R 386 gained a lead of 1 pin against 3rd seed Gurunathan and Soban 385 And in the second match both teams fought hard to gain the lead and a strike from Kishan R in the final frame sealed the title win for the team from Karnataka 351350In the Grade A Division the top 12 players bowled an 8game block in the masters round to decide the winner At the end of eight games Gurunathan from Tamil Nadu finished on top with an impressive total pinfall of 1556 and an average of 19450 Anand Babu also from Tamil Nadu finished second with a total pinfall of 1544 and an average of 19300 Sathish A V from Karnataka finished 3rd with a total pinfall of 1485 pinsIn the Grade B Division Mohit Chauhan from Maharashtra won the Masters round with a Total pinfall of 1471 and an average of 18388 in 8 games Kushal KS from Delhi scored a total pinfall of 1429 Avg 17863 and finished second in this division Anand Kumar R from Uttar Pradesh finished third with a total of 1407 Avg 17588 This championship witnessed twelve days of highvoltage bowling action by around 95 bowlers from 10 states IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mahipal-singh-wins-second-chennai-open-tenpin-bowling-championships-651157.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-1-williams-racing-sign-jade-jacquet-for-2026-f1-academy-season-651159.html Grove Dec 2 Williams signed 16yearold Jade Jacquet for the upcoming season making them the most recent team to confirm their 2026 F1 ACADEMY driver Jacquet participated in the French Junior Karting Championship the next year after beginning his career in international karting in 2023 Stepping up to singleseaters at 15 she recorded repeated top20 results across the 2025 French F4 season including a P11 finish at the Circuit des 24 Heures du MansIn addition she captured the Female Trophy at the DijonPrenois circuit The French racer also participated in the inaugural F1 ACADEMY Rookie Test clocking in the seventhfastest time of the afternoonJacquet will join the Williams Racing Driver Academy and compete with ART Grand Prix the following year He will collaborate closely with the Grove team and have access to all of the Academys resourcesâIâm super excited to be joining the Williams Racing Driver Academy and F1 ACADEMY for the 2026 seasonâ said Jacquet âThe team has been very welcoming and Iâm looking forward to working with them to learn as much as I can throughout my debut season Thank you to Atlassian Williams Racing for believing in me and I canât wait to get on trackâSven Smeets Sporting Director at Atlassian Williams Racing added âWe are proud to welcome Jade to our team as our Atlassian Williams Racing driver in F1 ACADEMY Jade has made rapid progress in her motorsport career and has strong potential for the future already demonstrating her ability to learn and adapt in her transition to singleseatersâAs a member of the Williams Racing Driver Academy weâll be working closely with her to nurture her development both on and off the track As a team we continue to support Formula 1 and F1 ACADEMYâs shared mission to advance female representation in motorsport and look forward to seeing Jade start her 2026 campaignâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-1-williams-racing-sign-jade-jacquet-for-2026-f1-academy-season-651159.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/kiug-2025-from-losing-her-father-at-9-to-securing-100m-gold-keerthanas-journey-to-the-top-651165.html Jaipur Dec 2 Every athlete has a moment that defines everything theyâve fought for For Keerthana that moment came in Jaipur where the Udupiborn sprinter clocked 1194 seconds to win the womenâs 100m gold at the Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025 a triumph that was years in the making Now a secondyear Master of Commerce MCom student at Jain University Keerthana delivered the Universityâs first gold medal outside the swimming pool stamping her arrival as one of the most exciting young sprinters on the circuit But behind the bright finish on the track lies a story of personal setbacks and stubborn perseveranceKeerthana was a nineyearold girl studying in Class 3 when she lost her father to cardiac arrest a moment that shook her familyâs world Years later the young athlete would lose her coach too in an accident another emotional blow that could easily have pushed her away from the sport She had started her career as a 400m runner but a groin injury almost derailed her dreams Instead it forced a turning pointHer elder brother a private PT teacher and the familyâs sole breadwinner stepped in when Keerthana needed direction the most He took full charge of her training and in 2021 made a bold call to shift her to the 100m where her natural speed could shine and her body could heal Since then the two have formed a quiet determined team training privately and rebuilding both confidence and rhythmFrom there Keerthana refused to slow down Over the next two years she began settling into the 100m sprint steadily sharpening her speed and confidence Her breakthrough came in 2022 when she was part of the silverwinning 4x400m relay team at the Khelo India University Games held in Bengaluru That same season she bagged her first relay gold at the All India InterUniversity Games followed by a silver in the same event in Chennai the next yearBy March 2023 her progress was measurable she clocked a Personal Best of 1186 seconds at a U23 state meet a mark she arrived in Jaipur hoping to eclipseThe upward curve has continued ever since and Mondayâs gold in the Pink City stands out as a milestone her first individual medal at the KIUG after earlier successes in the 4x400m relay across the past two editionsâI wanted to better my personal best but unfortunately I couldnât Nevertheless the victory at the Khelo India University Games is special because itâs my first individual goldâ the 22yearold said her smile revealing both pride and a flicker of disappointment at missing that PB of 1186sA 2017 School Games medallist and now a familiar name across three KIUG editions Keerthana understands that this chapter of her career is still unfolding And she isnât done yet in Jaipur She will return to the track on the final day of track and field competitions in KIUG 2025 for the womenâs 4x400m relay aiming to add another medal to her growing listâWeâve prepared well for the relay and weâre looking forward to winning another goldâ she said with quiet confidenceWith the season drawing to a close Keerthana is already looking towards a busy 2026 but the priority remains firmly on staying injuryfree a lesson ingrained from her early struggles As the focus turns to the Asian Games next year Keerthana is determined to give herself the best chance IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/kiug-2025-from-losing-her-father-at-9-to-securing-100m-gold-keerthanas-journey-to-the-top-651165.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hazaribaghs-daughters-sprint-towards-their-olympic-dreams-651167.html Hazaribagh Dec 2 There is no denying that Indiaâs daughters are proving their strength in every fieldâeducation IT business and sports The young girls of Jharkhandâs Hazaribagh are no exception With determination in their eyes and dreams in their hearts they are working tirelessly with one goal to one day wear the Indian jersey compete in the Olympics and return home with medals for the nationThe Asmita Athletics League has become a major steppingstone towards that dream Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs amp Sports the Sports Authority of India SAI and the Athletics Federation of India this league is designed especially for girls under the age of 14 and 16 Its primary mission is to give talented girls from villages and small towns the same opportunities that boys have traditionally enjoyedWinners of the events are awarded medals and certificates boosting their confidence and encouraging them to aim higherIndia has proposed Ahmedabad as the host city for the 2036 Olympics to the International Olympic Committee This has sparked a new wave of energy among young girls across the countryMany of them say âIf the Olympics are going to be held in our own country in 2036 why shouldnât we be the ones to competeâ With this belief they are training harder than everThis passion was clearly visible at the Asmita Athletics League 2025â26 held at the Curzon Ground in Hazaribagh Girls in the U14 and U16 categories delivered incredible performancesâexcelling in sprints javelin throw high jump and long jumpDistrict Sports Coordinator Saroj Kumar Yadav told IANS that an MoU has been signed between the Athletics Federation of India and the Government of India The aim is to prepare athletes at the grassroots level Talented girls will be identified from small local competitions trained further under the Khelo India initiative and groomed for future Olympic participationDistrict Sports President Ajit Kumar said the event aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs Vision 2036âFor years such competitions were mostly held for boysâ he said âNow the government is changing this mindset It is essential that girls from villages receive the same opportunities that girls in cities get The Asmita League is the wind beneath their wingsâThe Ministry of Youth Affairs amp Sports is conducting similar events in nearly 300 districts across India aiming to identify talent provide training and prepare young girls for major national and international competitionsParticipants were thrilled Varsha Kumari who won gold medals in both high jump and long jump shared her excitementâThere are so many games here Earlier girls rarely got such opportunities but now we are being encouraged We are even preparing for the OlympicsâAnother participant Muskan Kumari expressed her joyâThe training here feels like Olympic preparation Earlier most events were for boys but this time such a big competition was held for girls We are very happy to finally get a full chanceâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hazaribaghs-daughters-sprint-towards-their-olympic-dreams-651167.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/tripura-making-big-strides-in-sports-infrastructure-cm-saha-651168.html Agartala Dec 2 Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday said that the stateâs BJP government is committed to strengthening football infrastructure along with the overall development of the sports sector The Chief Minister addressing a reception ceremony of the newly inducted lifetime members of the Tripura Football Association in Agartala said that football is not just a game it teaches discipline team spirit and dedication to the youth At least 80 new life members of the Tripura Football Association were elected the Chief Minister said The Chief Minister along with the guests present presented mementoes and certificates to the life members Tripura is now in a significant position in the field of sports Saha said âSportsmen from outside the state are also able to appreciate the development of the sports infrastructure and performance of the sports persons in Tripura The state government is taking various initiatives for the development of football Synthetic turf is being built Day and night games are being held Interest in sports is also being observed among the boys and girls of the tribal communityâ the Chief Minister said He said all these are possible because of the sincere attitude of the state government towards sports and this government knows how to respect sportsmen and is keen to remember the old sportspersons Saha said that for young sportsmen regular practice hard work perseverance determination and a disciplined life are the keys to success âThe present government is by the side of every talented sportsman The government is taking necessary initiatives for the development of talent The Tripura Football Association has a great role in taking forward the game of football in the state The state government is also implementing various plans for the development of football along with this positive approachâ said the Chief Minister He said that sports help in keeping people away from harmful addiction and also keep them healthy During the event Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Tinku Roy Mayor Dipak Majumder Tripura Football Association President Pranab Sarkar among others were present IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/tripura-making-big-strides-in-sports-infrastructure-cm-saha-651168.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/la-liga-real-madrid-need-to-improve-away-form-against-injury-hit-athletic-bilbao-651172.html Madrid Dec 3 Real Madrid need to end a worrying run of away results in La Liga when they visit injuryhit Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday The match is also brought forward due to the two sides playing in the Spanish Supercup in Saudi Arabia in January 2026 and will be played 24 hours after Barcelona host Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou Sundays 11 draw in Girona Real Madrids third consecutive away league draw has again raised doubts over the future of Xabi Alonso but the coach will be happy to have Antonio Rudiger Eder Militao and Aurelien Tchouameni available againAthletic Bilbao has improved after some poor displays in the opening weeks of the season with a 00 draw in Prague followed by a 20 win away to Levante on Saturday reports XinhuaHowever coach Ernesto Valverde has a long list of absentees with inform Robert Navarro twisting an ankle on Saturday and leftback Yuri Berchiche withdrawing from Mondays training session with a physical problemThey join Inaki Williams Maroan Sannadi Benat Prados and Unai Egiluz on the sidelines while Yeray Alvarez and Oihan Sancet are suspended and Nico Williams ongoing pubalgia means he may not be able to start two games in a weekEarlier another poor display from Real Madrid saw Barcelona leapfrog Xabi Alonsos side in the title race after three consecutive draws away from home Alonsos side was disappointing again and was especially slow in moving the ball allowing Girona to defend solidly and limit the number of chancesThe draw meant that just three points separate Barcelona Real Madrid Villarreal and Atletico Madrid That is something that didnt seem likely when Real Madrid visited Atletico at the end of September with the chance to go 12 clear of its neighbor and virtually knock Atletico out of the title race but it has made the competition much more interesting IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/la-liga-real-madrid-need-to-improve-away-form-against-injury-hit-athletic-bilbao-651172.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 02:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/city-beat-fulham-in-9-goal-epic-as-haaland-seals-premier-league-ton-651193.html London Dec 3 Manchester City secured remarkable 54 win at Fulham that also saw Erling Haaland join the Premier League 100 club and Phil Foden bag another brilliant brace Haalandâs brilliant 16th minute opener at Craven Cottage saw the Norwegian who also twice struck the post become the quickest player in Premier League history to achieve the feat the 25yearold reaching the threefigure mark in just 111 games 13 quicker than previous record holder Alan ShearerTo get 100 Premier League goals is huge Iâm really proud Of course itâs a massive thing The 100 club is a nice thing to be in and Iâm happyI knew about this record and thatâs what I try to do try to help the team by scoring goals Thatâs my job said HaalandWith Pep Guardiolaâs side in sumptuous first half form Tijjani Reijnders 37 and Phil Foden 44 extended Cityâs lead before Emile Smith Roweâs first half injury time header narrowed the deficitHowever Foden struck again soon after the restart to claim a second successive brace with Jeremy Dokuâs deflected strike off Sander Berge then making it five on 54 minutesAt 51 up that should have been that Instead Fulham roared back staging a grandstand finish in what served as one of the most remarkable Premier League games in yearsIn what was a veritable goal frenzy Alex Iwobi a goal back for Fulham on 57 minutes before substitute Samuel Chuckwueze struck twice on 72 and 78 minutes to set up a frantic and nervy finaleHowever City held on Josko Gvardiol clearing off the line on 96 minutes with victory seeing Pep Guardiolaâs men narrow the gap on Arsenal to two points though the Gunners have a game in handThe victory moves City to within two points of leaders Arsenal who are not in action until tomorrow nightThe Blues now have 28 points from 14 games The Gunners have 30 from 13 matches and they play host to Brentford tomorrow evening IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/city-beat-fulham-in-9-goal-epic-as-haaland-seals-premier-league-ton-651193.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/not-the-words-i-wouldve-used-smith-reacts-to-khawajas-piece-of-review-of-perth-pitch-651208.html New Delhi Dec 3 Australiaâs standin skipper Steve Smith disagreed with Usman Khawajaâs blunt assessment of the Perth pitch for the first Ashes Test after the opener labelled it a âpiece of stâ saying those were âprobably not the words he would have usedâ On the opening day of the blockbuster series 19 batters came and went as both teams fast bowling attacks targeted weaknesses in the oppositionâs batting lineups leading to the match concluding late on day twoDespite receiving the highest possible rating from the ICC Khawaja who was unable to take his usual opening position in both innings due to back spasms described the pitch on the first day as a âpiece of stââThe first day it was tricky for batting It had good pace good bounce quite a bit of seam movement two good bowling attacks going at it so when that happens sometimes it can be tough to bat Itâs part and parcel of playing in Australia for the last few years it has those moments where it is really hard to bat and youâve got to try and find ways to get throughâ Smith was quoted as saying by The West AustralianâI thought on a couple of occasions we were close to in that first innings getting through When Marn Marnus Labuschagne and myself were batting if we got through that little period things wouldâve got a little bit easier I know Alex Carey said later that evening it was quite nice for batting when that ball got a little bit olderâ he addedWith Khawaja absent Travis Head who scored a matchwinning century after being promoted to open in the second innings of the Perth Test is likely to keep his new spot at the top of the batting orderJust like coach Andrew McDonald right after his teams first series win Smith declined a chance to confirm that the 38yearold would regain his spot once he is fit againâWeâll look at this game see how it Head opening goes and then Iâm sure thatâs a question for the selectors going forward Heâs doing all the right things to try and get himself fit as quickly as possible We know with Uz heâs been a quality player over a long period of time I think anyone who plays over 80 Tests is a good cricketer and heâs done exceptionally wellâ Smith stated IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/not-the-words-i-wouldve-used-smith-reacts-to-khawajas-piece-of-review-of-perth-pitch-651208.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 11:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/harmans-inputs-are-always-crucial-have-been-most-important-part-of-auction-jhulan-goswami-651231.html New Delhi Dec 3 Mumbai Indians bowling coach and mentor Jhulan Goswami highlighted the importance of maintaining continuity making smart purchases and skipper Harmanpreet Kaurâs vital contributions during the auction MI started slowly at the auction with Kaur seated at the table alongside the think tank However they managed to buy back some of their key players including Amelia Kerr Sajeevan Sajana Saika Ishaque and Shabnim Ismail after releasing themSpeaking on JioHotstar Goswami gave her take on Kaurâs role in the auction saying âAs captain Harmanâs inputs are always crucial during auction planning At the end of the day she leads this team and has been incredibly successful Her inputs have been the most important part of the entire auction processOur job is to support her on and off the field Having her at the auction table was a huge advantage her thoughts mattered deeply and they helped us retain the core of this teamâShedding light on the teamâs auction strategy Goswami added âThe important thing for us was to retain our strong support group of players Thatâs how weâve won two championships in the last three years That was the basic plan nothing moreâThe former Indian pacer also mentioned that Kerr and Ismailâs acquisitions were key to the team and they had not expected to bag the South African pace sensationâs services at a low priceâAmelia Kerr was a great buy She gives us so much variation volume and balance Over the last three years she has performed exceptionally well in the tournament and as an allrounder she is very important Along with her Shabnim Ismail was another excellent buyWe didnât expect to get Shabnim at such a low price So from a budget perspective our planning worked well It was a pleasant surprise because we thought she would go for a much higher amountâAll teams appear settled following the WPL Mega Auction and are prepared for the upcoming season starting January 9 2026 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/harmans-inputs-are-always-crucial-have-been-most-important-part-of-auction-jhulan-goswami-651231.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 13:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/harshit-rana-reprimanded-for-code-of-conduct-breach-in-1st-odi-651238.html Dubai Dec 3 Indias pacer Harshit Rana has been reprimanded for the ICC Code of Conduct violation during his teams win against South Africa in the first ODI in Ranchi Rana was found to have violated Article 25 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel which pertains to âusing language actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon hisher dismissal during an International MatchâThe incident happened during the 22nd over of South Africas innings when Rana gestured towards the dressing room after dismissing Proteas batter Dewald BrevisIt was considered that the action might have provoked an aggressive response from the batter resulting in the pacer receiving one demerit point on his disciplinary recordRanaâs first offence in the past 24 months and he admitted to it accepting the sanction suggested by Richie Richardson from the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match RefereesRana admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees so there was no need for a formal hearing ICC said in a statementOnfield umpires Jayaraman Madanagopal and Sam Nogajski third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth umpire Rohan Pandit levelled the chargeLevel 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a playerâs match fee and one or two demerit pointsThe hosts beat South Africa by 17 runs in an exciting series opener to take a 10 lead Batting first India scored a solid 3498 thanks to Virat Kohliâs superb 135 his 52nd ODI century and wellmade fifties from Rohit Sharma 57 and KL Rahul 60South Africaâs chase faltered early as Rana struck twice in the same over removing Rickelton and de Kock Arshdeep Singh added to the pressure by dismissing skipper Markram leaving the visitors reeling at the topMiddleorder resistance was provided by Matthew Breetzke Tony de Zorzi and Dewald Brevis who established important partnerships but Kuldeep Yadav consistently disrupted South Africaâs momentum finishing with four vital wicketsJansenâs aggressive innings revitalised Protea hopes and Boschâs resilient fifty kept the game alive until the final over with 19 runs needed Nevertheless Prasidh Krishna dismissed Bosch securing Indiaâs narrow victory IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/harshit-rana-reprimanded-for-code-of-conduct-breach-in-1st-odi-651238.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 13:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-will-jacks-replaces-injured-wood-in-englands-xi-for-brisbane-test-651008.html Brisbane Dec 2 England have named their XI for the second Test of the Ashes series and called up Will Jacks for the pinkball game to replace injured Mark Wood âEngland have made one change to their XI from the first Ashes Test in Perth with spinning allrounder Will Jacks replacing the injured Mark Woodâ the England Cricket Board ECB stated while announcing their lineup for the pinkball TestWood 35 who had only just returned to Test cricket in last weekâs heavy defeat in Perth following surgery that kept him out for nine months He managed just 11 overs before England slumped to a twoday loss an outcome not seen in an Ashes match for more than a centuryThe injury to Wood who was ruled out because of a troublesome left knee paved the way for Jacksâ return to the Test arena after a threeyear absenceEngland gain extra batting depth through Jacks whose offspin offers a utility option rather than a full shift toward spin at a venue notoriously unforgiving to it under lightsJacks has thus far featured in two Tests both of them during the teamâs tour of Pakistan in 2022 He has six wickets in the format to go with 89 runs He claimed a maiden fivewicket haul on debut against Pakistan in 2022Australia are currently leading the fivegame series 10 having won the opening game in Perth and the second match will kick off here at the Gabba on ThursdayEngland have not won any of their past 16 Tests in Australia including three defeats in daynight matches Australias only defeat in 14 daynight Tests came at the Gabba a shock loss to West Indies in 2024England XI Zak Crawley Ben Duckett Ollie Pope Joe Root Harry Brook Ben Stokes c Jamie Smith wk Will Jacks Gus Atkinson Brydon Carse Jofra Archer IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-will-jacks-replaces-injured-wood-in-englands-xi-for-brisbane-test-651008.html Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-khawaja-ruled-out-of-brisbane-test-due-to-back-injury-651010.html Brisbane Dec 2 Asutralias regular opener Usman Khawaja has been ruled out of the upcoming second Test of the Ashes series due to the back injury he sustained nearly two weeks ago in Perth The hosts will now explore options to form an opening pair for the pinkball match with Khawajaâs Test future now uncertain Josh Inglis and Beau Webster are both under consideration for a recall to Australiaâs XI after Usman Khawaja was officially ruled out though the selectors chose not to add a replacement to the squadKhawaja who turns 39 later this month spent around half an hour in the Gabba nets on Tuesday but looked uncomfortable throughout His back issue has not improved enough for him to take part in the Test starting ThursdayHis absence ensures Australia will once again turn to a fresh opening combination in this Ashes series with Khawajas spasms in the first Test already having forced Marnus Labuschagne and later Travis Head into temporary roles at the top of the orderHead put on a show at the top of the order and notched up a magnificent century that helped his side clinch an eightwicket win on just the second day of the opening game With the Aussies already on top in the series with a 10 lead and both teams missing out on some key players the upcoming game at Gabba looks evenly poisedWhile England quick Mark Wood has been ruled out due to a knee injury Australia continue to miss the services of their regular skipper Pat Cummins pace ace Josh Hazlewood and now KhawajaAustralia squad for second Ashes Test Steve Smith c Scott Boland Alex Carey Brendan Doggett Cameron Green Travis Head Josh Inglis Usman Khawaja Marnus Labuschagne Nathan Lyon Michael Neser Mitchell Starc Jake Weatherald Beau Webster IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-khawaja-ruled-out-of-brisbane-test-due-to-back-injury-651010.html Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sunday-spent-well-says-kl-rahul-as-india-beat-south-africa-is-happy-to-bat-at-no6-650867.html Ranchi Nov 30 KL Rahul who is leading India in the ODI series against South Africa after a big break in the absence of Shubman Gill on Sunday said he is okay with batting at the No6 position as thats the role that has been given to him in the last few series He also gave credit to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma along with Harshit Rana for making Sundays victory possible despite a fightback by the visitors Rahul scored a 56ball 60 batting as a middleorder batter and shared a 78run partnership with Virat Kohli As they made a winning start to the series despite playing the format after a break and following the 02 defeat in the Test seriesId be lying if I said no butterflies in the stomach Were playing ODI cricket after a while Theres some expectation But we kept taking wickets and bowlers stuck to plans They pushed us and kept coming hard Batting at No 6 is okay gotta do the job for the team Thats the role Ive been given in the last 23 series Its helping personal development said Rahul in the postmatch presentation on SundayRahul later put up a photograph of the Men in Blue celebrating the victory in an Instagram post with the comment Sunday spent well Team India winsIndia put up a commanding first innings total driven by a superb century from Virat Kohli 135 off 120 balls and a vital halfcentury by Rohit Sharma 57 off 51 to help India recover from an early setback to post a big total Asked to bat India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early to Nandre Burger but Rohit and Kohli quickly seized control Watching Rohit and Kohli play like that is always fun Theyve made oppositions look silly and show why they are who they are Ive seen this for a long time its a lot more fun to see them around in the dressing room said standin skipper Rahul after the matchThe experienced pair of Rohit and Virat stitched together a fluent 136run stand taking the pressure off after the early setback Rohit reached a brisk 57 off 51 balls while KL Rahul contributed a vital 60 off 56 balls to help India post 3498Defending the massive score pacers Harshit Rana 365 and Arshdeep Singh 254 made the early breakthroughs while Kuldeep Yadav was the most successful bowler with 468 as India quelled a late assault by Marco Jansen 70 Matthew Breetzke 72 and Corbin Bosch 67 to win by 17 runsHarshits done really well we knew he had potential Hes tall and can bowl fast he can give runs in the back end but he has great potential To get crucial newball wickets is what we expect Kuldeep is doing this job key for us to take wickets said Rahul IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sunday-spent-well-says-kl-rahul-as-india-beat-south-africa-is-happy-to-bat-at-no6-650867.html Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/virat-has-a-zidd-to-prove-his-critics-wrong-kaif-650868.html New Delhi Nov 30 Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif lauded talismanic batter Virat Kohlis impressive show in the ongoing first ODI against South Africa and said that the veteran batter has a zidd to prove his critics wrong Virat Kohli made a threatening start to his innings and has looked dangerous as he raced to 22 off 20 and soon completed his 76th ODI halfcentury in just 48 balls with a maximum against Corbin Bosch and is going strong having scored a century in the 38th over with a boundaryVirat Kohli has a zidd to prove his critics wrong King for a reason Kaif posted on XMoreover Kohli along with former skipper Rohit Sharma broke the alltime Indian record held by Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid for having played the most international games together during the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi on SundayKohli playing his 306th ODI and Rohit playing in his 277th oneday international combined for their 392nd international match together across formats surpassing the legendary duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid who appeared in a whopping 391 games between 1996 and 2012Rohit and Virat also stitched a 136run stand for the second wicket after the two joined forces when opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was caught behind off Nandre Burger with Indiaâs score at 25 This was the 20th stand of 100 runs or more between the twoKaif also heaped praise on Rohit for his 57run innings during which he shattered the former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridis world record for most sixes in ODIs by hitting three maximumsIn the 15th over Rohit hit Prenelan Subrayen for backtoback sixes With the first hit he completed 350 career maximums becoming the only Indian batter to achieve the feat in the 50over format After the second hit the 37yearold equalled Afridiâs record for most ODI sixesRohit Sharma is letting his bat do the talking and telling the world that age is just a number What a player Kaif wrote in another post IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/virat-has-a-zidd-to-prove-his-critics-wrong-kaif-650868.html Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/golf-avani-aditi-rise-to-sixth-after-third-round-in-spain-650872.html Malaga Spain Nov 30 Avani Prashanth rose to tied sixth place after three rounds and she was joined by Aditi Ashok at the AndalucÃa Costa del Sol Open de EspaÃa Avani shot 68 and Aditi carded 69 and they were 8under for three rounds Among other Indians Pranavi Urs 71 was T44th Hitaashee Bakshi 70 was T55 and Diksha Dagar 75 was T69 Avani had five birdies against one bogey while Aditi also had five birdies but gave away two bogeysAvani was tied sixth with Aditi Anna Huang Italyâs Alessandra Fanali plus the two players battling it out for the LET Order of Merit crown Shannon Tan and Mimi RhodesThailandâs Trichat Cheenglab sits at the top of the leaderboard with a score of 15underpar and holds a threeshot lead heading into the final day of the AndalucÃa Costa del Sol Open de EspaÃaAfter a steady start Cheenglab rolled in her first birdie of the day on the seventh and added another on the ninth hole at Real Guadalhorce Club de Golf The Thai star had a trickier back nine making bogeys on the 15th and 17th holes but signed for a round of 72 E to lead by three in MalagaCheenglab who won the 2023 LET Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year titles is aiming to win her second LET title tomorrowFranceâs Perrine Delacour sits in solo second place on 12underpar after a round of 66 6 to put herself into contention ahead of the final day The twotime LET winner dropped her only shot of the day on the last rolling birdies on the fourth sixth ninth 10th 13th 14th and 16th holesFranceâs Nastasia Nadaud is in outright third place two shots further back on 10under after a round of 69 3 in SpainAustraliaâs Kirsten Rudgeley and Denmarkâs Smilla Tarning Soenderby are in a share of fourth place on nineunderpar after rounds of 68 4 and 69 3 respectively IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/golf-avani-aditi-rise-to-sixth-after-third-round-in-spain-650872.html Mon, 01 Dec 2025 01:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sultan-azlan-shah-cup-india-settle-for-silver-medal-after-a-hard-fought-0-1-loss-to-belgium-650874.html Ipoh Malaysia Nov 30 In an entertaining final that lived up to its billing Belgium beat India 10 in a closelyfought encounter to lift the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 in Ipoh Malaysia on Sunday India was forced to settle for the silver medal because of Thibeau Stockbroekxs lone goal of the match in the 34th minute This is Belgiums maiden Sultan Azlan Shah title and only their second appearance in one of the most prestigious invitational hockey tournaments in the international calendar Unfortunately for India who were coming into this match after a highscoring 143 win against Canada on Saturday they couldnt convert from the three penalty corners that they earned While Jugraj Singh Amit Rohidas and Sanjay have been successful in the PC attack during this tournament they simply could not beat the Belgian defenceThe only defeat India suffered in this tournament was against Belgium earlier in the league stage Belgium had got the better of India 32 in the preliminary stageThe match underscored defensive discipline There were intense midfield battles and with experienced stars like Manpreet Singh and Hardik Singh rested for the tournament the onus was on the younger lot who did well to keep narrow margins with a worldclass side like BelgiumThe first half ended goalless but included high dramaBoth teams displayed a tactical game with Belgium starting on a better note in comparison with ball possession stats on their side Their attack troubled the Indian defence from both flanks and even forced a couple of sharp saves from the Indian goalkeeper Though there were two early PCs Belgium earned India did well to keep them at bayIndia took a while to settle into the match while Belgium really made them work in the midfield to control the play and enjoy a longer spell with ball possession But they could not make successful forays or couldnt make the final connection to the postWith the match tied 00 at halftime Belgium shifted momentum and put India under pressure The Indians resorted to high press and increased their circle entries but could not outsmart Belgian defence in the third quarter either Meanwhile Stockbroekxs goal in the 34th minute put India under the pumpThe final quarter saw India make desperate attempts to level scores but Belgiums structure held strong and were successful in running down the clock and sealing the win IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sultan-azlan-shah-cup-india-settle-for-silver-medal-after-a-hard-fought-0-1-loss-to-belgium-650874.html Mon, 01 Dec 2025 01:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/record-24-000-plus-runners-participate-in-9th-adani-ahmedabad-marathon-650958.html Ahmedabad Nov 30 The city of Ahmedabad transformed into a vibrant celebration of endurance and unity as more than 24000 runners took part in the 9th Adani Ahmedabad Marathon at the Sabarmati Riverfront Sports Park Anchored in the purposeled theme ofâRun4OurSoldiers the marathon once again brought the city together in a spirited tribute to Indiaâs Armed Forcesâwith this yearâs run carrying deeper significance in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor The event was flagged off by Pranav Adani Director Adani Enterprises Ltd Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor Major General Gaurav Bagga fitness ambassador and actorpresenter Mandira Bedi Olympic medallist and Padma Shri awardee Gagan Narang Preeti Jhangiani actorproducer and Vice President of the Indian Olympic Association and renowned designer Aaquib Wani along with senior leaders from Adani Sportsline the sports arm of the Adani GroupAlso present at the occasion was Indian cricketer and Gujarat Giantsâ newest signee Yastika BhatiaMore than 4000 military personnel and police officersâparticipated reinforcing the marathonâs message of respect and solidarity for those who serve the nationRunners competed across theâFull Marathon Half Marathon 10 km and 5 km categoriesâon a course showcasing some of Ahmedabadâs most iconic landmarks including theâGandhi AshramâAtal Bridge andâEllis Bridge The official marathon jerseyâdesigned byâawardwinning creator Aaquib Waniâcaptured the eventâs spirit and its tribute to soldiersWith a prize pool of over Rs 40 lakh across the Full Marathon Half Marathon and 10K categories winners were rewarded across multiple competitive and agegroup divisionsRecognised by theâAthletics Federation of India AFIâand listed on theâAssociation of International Marathons and Distance Races AIMS Global Marathon Event List the recognised registry of certified marathons and distancerunning events that meet global standards for course accuracy measurement and event quality the Adani Ahmedabad Marathon has grown into one of Indiaâs most respected distancerunning eventsSpeaking at the eventâPranav Adani said âSince 2017 the Ahmedabad Marathon has become a landmark event embraced byâour belovedâcity This year the message ofâRun4OurSoldiersâresonated even more deeply as our Armed Forces stood tall duringâOperation Sindoor The participation of overâ24000 runnersâshows how the event has grown into a movement the city proudly ownsâMajor General Gaurav Bagga General Officer Commanding Indian Army added âThe Adani Ahmedabad Marathon is more than a sporting event but it is a living testament to the enduring bond between the Armed Forces and the citizens we serveWitnessing over 4000 personnel run shoulder to shoulder with thousands from across the nation was profoundly heartening Such overwhelming participation is not merely about numbers it reflects the unity discipline and positive spirit that define India In every stride one could feel the pulse of a nation moving forward togetherâAir Marshal Nagesh Kapoor Air Officer CommandinginChief Indian Air Force expressed âToday we are thrilled to see such a massive and enthusiastic crowd coming together to support our Armed Forces by participating in the 9th Adani Ahmedabad Marathon 2025 This event is a testament to the importance we place on fitness and it is heartening to see such a wonderful initiative of the Adani Group in honour of the Armed ForcesThe overwhelming response and energy on display today are really impressive A truly memorable experience today set against the stunning backdrop of the beautiful Sabarmati Riverfront âAdani Sportsline extended its heartfelt gratitude to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation AMC Ahmedabad City Police Traffic Police 108 Emergency Services and KD Hospital for their invaluable support and seamless coordination which ensured the event ran smoothly and safely for all participants IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/record-24-000-plus-runners-participate-in-9th-adani-ahmedabad-marathon-650958.html Mon, 01 Dec 2025 18:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/virat-rohit-bhai-will-do-their-talking-with-bats-says-arshdeep-ahead-of-1st-odi-vs-sa-650841.html Ranchi Nov 30 As Indias threematch ODI series against South Africa gets underway here on Sunday afternoon at the JSCA International Stadium Complex India pacer Arshdeep Singh reflected on Indian batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohlis form and said the duo will do the talking with their bats rather than words With Rohit and Kohli back in action after playing in the ODI series against Australia in October the chatter has been huge over whether the veteran duo can sustain their form and fitness to feature in the 50over World Cup two years from nowRohit and Kohli headlined Indias previous ODI assignment in Australia considering its the only format they play now in national colours For now everyoneâs focus will be on how the duo fare against the Bavumaled Proteas in Ranchi Raipur and VisakhapatnamVirat bhai and Rohit bhai will do their talking with the bat rather than words I really enjoyed watching them middle the ball so well during practice As a bowler I wouldnât enjoy bowling to them in this form but as a teammate Iâm excited to see them play so well We can definitely expect big runs from them in the first ODI Arahdeep said on JioStarAfter India suffered a clean sweep at home in the redball leg of multiformat series this ODI series carries added significance and the veteran duo will bring cheer to the teamSouth Africa captain Temba Bavuma acknowledged the challenge of facing Virat and Rohit in India and said Itâs exciting for local fans to watch their two legends play at home again Weâre looking forward to experiencing the special energy these star players bring While weâll prepare specific plans for them like any other players we know the atmosphere will be different and exciting when these big names are playingââIndia deserves full respect in every format because they always field a strong team Playing them in their home conditions makes the challenge even tougher Their ODI team looks stronger with experienced players returning which will definitely test us as a team during this series he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/virat-rohit-bhai-will-do-their-talking-with-bats-says-arshdeep-ahead-of-1st-odi-vs-sa-650841.html Sun, 30 Nov 2025 13:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/australia-pacer-lauren-cheatle-extends-contract-with-sydney-sixers-for-two-more-seasons-650770.html Sydney Nov 29 Australiaâs leftarm fast bowler Lauren Cheatle has extended her contract with Sydney Sixers for at least two more seasons of the Womenâs Big Bash League WBBL said the club on Saturday Lauren joined the Sixers in 2017 after two seasons with Sydney Thunder and has been a mainstay with the side âThe Sixers have been a huge part of my career and Iâm proud to stay on for the next two seasons The Sixers have the best fans in the world and Iâd like to thank them for all their support over the time I have been with the club I believe in what we can achieve together and Iâm ready to continue to give everything in Magentaâ said Lauren in a statementLauren is closing in on a major milestone in the WBBL with 95 wickets from 93 matches she is just five scalps shy of reaching the century mark Despite being just 27 Lauren brings considerable experience having debuted for Australia at 17 in 2016 and even played in the T20 World Cup in the same yearShe now holds international caps across all formats for Australia Lauren has built a great reputation for her resilience as seen from overcoming repeated shoulder and back injuries as well as two battles with skin cancerâLauren embodies everything we value at the Sixers â grit talent and an unwavering teamfirst attitude Cheats Lauren Cheatle is adored by her teammates a fierce attacking bowler and a fantastic leader on and off the field We canât wait to watch her continue to pull on the Magenta amp take wicketsâ said Rachael Haynes former Australia opener and Sydney Sixers General ManagerThe Sixers are currently fifth on the ongoing WBBL season points table and will next face the Sydney Thunder in Sundays clash at North Sydney Oval IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/australia-pacer-lauren-cheatle-extends-contract-with-sydney-sixers-for-two-more-seasons-650770.html Sat, 29 Nov 2025 11:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jess-jonassen-to-miss-remainder-of-wbbl-season-due-to-shoulder-surgery-650778.html Brisbane Nov 29 Brisbane Heat have been dealt a major blow with captain Jess Jonassen ruled out of the rest of the ongoing WBBL season due to a right shoulder surgery Allrounder Charli Knott will assume leadership duties for the final three matches of the season for the side currently seated at the bottom of the points table with no wins so far The shoulder injury was also one of the main reasons behind Jess the leftarm spin bowling allrounder pulling out of the recent WPL 2026 auction held in New Delhi on ThursdayWe had thought I could get through with the care and attention of our physio Jolandi Jacobs and the medical team but that plan needed to change obviously as we got further into the competitionIt has certainly been a challenging time personally especially as it became apparent that it was getting tougher to compete at the level I aspired to be at But Im very determined to bounce back from this and play some more good cricket once I have fully recoveredItâs encouraging to know that I will have the best possible support back home as I get back to full strength It hasnât been the tournament we had hoped for this time but I have been very proud of the team and they way they have fought hard and competed in each of our games Iâm sure they will finish on a high note said Jess in a statement by the clubCharli will lead Brisbane Heat for the first time in Sundayâs clash against Adelaide Strikers at North Sydney Oval after having earlier served as vicecaptain this season and captained Australia A as well For Heat Nadine de Klerk will bow out after Sundayâs game ahead of South Africaâs upcoming whiteball series against Ireland while Grace Harris remains under fitness management for a calf issueJess is expected to be sidelined for around three months and could return for the end of the Womens National Cricket League season Her state team Queensland will play their final round matches against Victoria on March 12 and 14 respectively ahead of the final on March 21Jess and the team have worked very hard to keep her playing and her commitment to the team has been unquestioned The medical team has tried to manage her shoulder during the competition to help her keep playing but it has got to the point where the best scenario is for surgery and give her plenty of time to return to her best ahead of next seasonWhile Jess is recovering from her surgery Charli Knott will captain the side for the remaining three games in the WBBL and we certainly wish her every success with the team said Brisbane Heat CEO Terry Svenson IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jess-jonassen-to-miss-remainder-of-wbbl-season-due-to-shoulder-surgery-650778.html Sat, 29 Nov 2025 13:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-khawaja-faces-ca-notice-after-dubbing-perth-pitch-piece-of-650784.html New Delhi Nov 29 Usman Khawaja is expected to receive a formal notice from Cricket Australia after bluntly labelling the Perth Stadium surface for the first Ashes Test a âpiece of stâ during a charity lunch this week According to reports CA officials were unhappy with the openerâs remarks which came despite match referee Ranjan Madugalle awarding the wicket a âvery goodâ rating the highest an ICC official can giveMadugalleâs assessment followed a match that finished inside two days noting the surface had âgood carry limited seam movement and consistent early bounceâ contributing to what he deemed a fair contest between bat and ballKhawaja however offered a sharply different view Speaking at the event he criticised the pitch for its variable bounce pointing to the rapid fall of wickets on Day 1 and the number of batters struck and adding that even a player of Steve Smithâs calibre struggled to find the middle of the bat due to the upanddown movementâNineteen wickets on the first day and about 20 people got hit thatâs a great wicket that seems real fair Steve Smithâs by far the best cricketer Iâve ever played with and heâs missing the middle of his bat by a long way â he does not miss the middle of his bat Heâs getting hit in the elbow Up and down movement is the hardest sideways is a little bit easier but up and down your hands canât catch up So day one wicket at Perth is a piece of st Iâm happy to say that It has been last year it was this yearâ Khawaja had said at an event for his Usman Khawaja FoundationThe opener noted that the surface typically improves after opening day explaining that Days 2 and 3 are usually the best for batting âThey do get better Day two day three and then day four they start to crack up and cure again We know day two day three is usually the best time to bat So whenever we play in Perth itâs one of the few places we win the toss and bat first hoping that we can bat again maybe the end of day two and into day threeâ the Queenslander addedCricket Australia is expected to address the matter formally with Khawajaâs comments drawing attention not only for their bluntness but for directly contradicting the ICCâs toptier rating of the wicket IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-khawaja-faces-ca-notice-after-dubbing-perth-pitch-piece-of-650784.html Sat, 29 Nov 2025 14:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/winger-bede-amarachi-osuji-joins-punjab-fc-ahead-of-super-cup-semis-650785.html Mohali Nov 29 Punjab FC have bolstered its attack with the signing of Bede Amarachi Osuji for the remainder of the 2025â26 season The 29yearold joins on a free transfer after his latest stint with Manisa FK in Turkey and will be available for selection ahead of the AIFF Super Cup semifinal vs East Bengal FC on December 4 The Nigerian winger brings a wealth of European experience He began his professional journey in Slovenia with ND Gorica where he spent seven seasons making 137 appearances and scoring 23 goals During that period he also featured on loan for NK Brda and NK TolminIn 2020 he moved to Israel to represent Hapoel Raanana before returning to Slovenia to play for NK Koper His time with Koper was highly productive as he struck 19 goals in 81 matches and lifted the Slovenian Cup in the 2021â22 season That triumph also took the club to the UEFA Conference League qualifiers Last season Osuji featured for Manisa FK in Turkey scoring four goals in 28 appearances while sharing the pitch with current Punjab FC midfielder Daniel RamirezSpeaking after signing with the club Osuji said This move to Punjab FC isnt just a new challenge but also a massive opportunity for my career I am absolutely fired up to inject my best experience and relentless desire into this team I see massive potential and ambition here and I am confident that we will take our game to the next level this seasonPunjab FC Technical Director Nikolaos Topoliatis described the signing as an essential addition to the squad He said Osuji embodies the energy and determination of the Sher mentality His incredible pace and vast experience make him an invaluable weapon and his drive is relentless We have total confidence that he will be an absolute catalyst taking our attacking unit and our overall aspirations to the next level IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/winger-bede-amarachi-osuji-joins-punjab-fc-ahead-of-super-cup-semis-650785.html Sat, 29 Nov 2025 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/aditi-tied-11th-as-avani-moved-into-top-20-at-open-de-espana-650792.html Malaga Spain Nov 29 Aditi Ashok was just outside the top 10 but Avani Prashanth made a good move up to get into the top 20 at the halfway stage of the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de Espana Aditi a former winner of this event who was invited shot 2under 70 moved to 5under 139 and was T11 Avani Prashanth a rookie brought home the best second round card of 3under 69 to get to 4under and was T17Among the other three Indians Pranavi Urs 71 was T47 at 1over total Hitaashee Bakshi 76 and Diksha Dagar 75 were both T64 at 5over There are two more rounds to go in the seasonending eventHitaashee Pranavi and Avani are coming off Top5 finishes in the Hero Womenâs Indian Open and are looking at a good finish at the seasonending eventThailandâs Trichat Cheenglab fired a course record of 63 9 to lead by seven strokes at the halfway stage The 2023 LET Order of Merit winner began the day in a share of the lead and started well with three birdies on the trot on holes two three and four at Real Guadalhorce Club de GolfCheenglab rolled in backtoback birdies on the sixth and seventh holes before adding another on 12 and she finished in style with three birdies in a row to set a new course record and the lowest round of her Ladies European Tour LET careerAditi who had a rather modest round had three birdies against one bogey while Avani had six birdies in an aggressive round but she also gave away a bogey on the third and a double bogey on the 16th in her 69She had three birdies against two bogeys while Diksha had one birdie against two bogeys and a double bogey and Hitaashee had three birdies against five bogeys and a double bogey in her round of 76The 30yearold Trichat earned a trophy to commemorate the course record by Real Guadalhorce Club de Golf and leads the LET season finale with a score of 15underpar at the 36hole markItalyâs Alessandra Fanali recorded a round of 66 6 on day two in Spain to climb up to second place in the leaderboardFrench duo Nastasia Nadaud and Celine Herbin are in a share of third place on sevenunderpar at the end of day twoSix players are one shot further back on sixunderpar including Englandâs Mimi Rhodes and Singaporeâs Shannon Tan who are battling for the 2025 LET Order of Merit titleThe duo both fired rounds of 67 5 on day two in Malaga and will tee it up in the same group for the third day in a row IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/aditi-tied-11th-as-avani-moved-into-top-20-at-open-de-espana-650792.html Sat, 29 Nov 2025 15:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jemimah-rodrigues-opts-out-of-remainder-of-wbbl-650542.html New Delhi Nov 27 Brisbane Heat have confirmed that star India cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues will not return for the remainder of the WBBL season granting her request to stay in India following the postponement of teammate Smriti Mandhanas wedding Rodrigues flew home after the Heatâs clash with the Hobart Hurricanes 10 days ago to take part in the celebrations but the event was called off when Mandhanaâs father fell ill The 24yearold has opted to remain in India to support the family and the Heat said they fully respected her decisionCEO Terry Svenson acknowledged the disappointment among fans hoping to see more of Rodrigues who was the clubâs top international draft pick this year and in her second stint with Brisbane but emphasised that the franchiseâs priority was her wellbeingSvenson in a statement released by the franchise said âIt has obviously been a challenging time for Jemi so while it is unfortunate that she will take no further part in the WBBL we were more than willing to agree to her request to remain in India The Heat club obviously wish her and Smriti Mandhanaâs family all the best for the futureââJemi told us she was disappointed not to be coming back and has passed on her appreciation to the club and the Heat fans for being so understanding of the circumstances She has been in touch with the players and wished them all the best for the rest of their gamesâ he addedThe Heat still searching for their first win of the campaign after a heartbreaking lastball defeat to the Adelaide Strikers earlier in the week now turn their attention to Fridayâs meeting with the Sydney Sixers at Adelaide OvalAllrounder Grace Harris returns to the lineup after being rested for workload management replacing Lily Bassingthwaighte in the squad as Brisbane look to get their season going IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jemimah-rodrigues-opts-out-of-remainder-of-wbbl-650542.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 00:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-pat-cummins-set-to-play-brisbane-test-650573.html New Delhi Nov 27 Pat Cummins is set to be included in Australiaâs squad for the second Ashes Test providing another significant boost following their victory in Perth Reports earlier indicated that it has not yet been confirmed if the teams captain will play in the game at the Gabba starting December 4 However The West Australian confirmed that Cummins will be named in the squad that will be announced on FridayNo further players are anticipated to join Australiaâs squad leaving the teamâs toporder uncertain following Usman Khawajaâs back problems and Travis Headâs impressive fourthinnings century in the first TestInitially there were concerns that Cummins might miss the entire blockbuster series due to a bone stress flareup in his back revealed in September However he has since been able to complete bowling sessions at full intensity including highintensity sessions at Perth before and after the Ashes openerOn Thursday Brendan Dodgett expressed uncertainty about his participation in the second Test with Cummins recovering well and on schedule However he stated that he was mentally prepared to rise up to the occasion if needed in case Cummins was to miss outâPat is looking pretty good in the nets now so we will see where that lands I am going to control what I can control keep ticking the legs over and keep bowling and trying to improve in every session and game If I get called on in that second Test I feel like I am ready to go againâ Doggett was quoted as saying by cricketcomauAsked if he had heard anything from the selectors regarding the second Test Doggett added âWe are soaking in the win and letting everyone get back to their families We arrive in Brisbane on Sunday so I assume conversations will start there about what the lineup looks like for the second Testâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-pat-cummins-set-to-play-brisbane-test-650573.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 00:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/still-stranded-after-4-hours-mohammed-siraj-accuses-air-india-express-of-leaving-passengers-in-limbo-650597.html New Delhi Nov 27 India national cricket team fastbowler Mohammad Siraj has publicly vented his anger after a frustrating experience with Air India Express In a message on social media Siraj said that his flight â Air India Express Flight IX 2884 from Guwahati to Hyderabad â was scheduled to depart at 725 pm but never took off on time According to Siraj despite repeated followups the airline offered no proper explanation and left passengers stranded for four hoursâFlight delayed by 4 hours and still no update has left us stranded Worst airline experienceâ Siraj wrote warning fellow travellers against boarding the flight unless the airline âcanât take a standâSiraj is returning home to Hyderabad after the Indian team suffered an embarrassing 408run defeat to South Africa and lost the twomatch series 02 their second successive home series clean sweep after losing 30 to New Zealand last yearOffspinner Simon Harmer picked up 637 as India chasing a massive target of 549 slumped to 140 all out on the fifth and final day of the match despite veteran allrounder Ravindra Jadeja waging a lone battle topscoring 54 the only saving grace for the Indian batting lineup that has surrendered completely against sustained bowlingSouth Africa also handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs and set a new record for their biggest winning margin over India in Tests Right from the time South Africa won the toss everything went their way India lost the first Test by 30 runs at the Eden Gardens in KolkataIndia are now left to ponder over multiple questions as their fortresslike reputation when playing Tests at home suffered another big blow after their 30 loss to New Zealand last yearIn the second Test in Guwahati Siraj claimed 2106 in the first innings and then 019 off five overs in the secondIndia will play South Africa in a threematch ODI series from November 30 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/still-stranded-after-4-hours-mohammed-siraj-accuses-air-india-express-of-leaving-passengers-in-limbo-650597.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 01:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wpl-2026-to-take-place-from-jan-9-to-feb-5-in-navi-mumbai-and-vadodara-650599.html New Delhi Nov 27 Navi Mumbai and Vadodara are the venues for the 2026 Womenâs Premier League to be held from January 9 to February 5 The tournament will open at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai while the final is scheduled to be held at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara The announcement was made by WPL Committee Chairman Jayesh George before the competitionâs firstever mega auction began in New Delhi on Thursday IANS understands that the WPL Committee had a meeting at the auction venue around noon to finalise the dates and venues with the full schedule expected to come out soonAs per the dates announced by George the fourth WPL final will be held two days before the 2026 Menâs T20 World Cup begins in India and Sri Lanka IANS understands that the rationale behind keeping the second half of WPL 2026 in Vadodara is also due to the Kotambi stadium being set to host the menâs ODI series opener between India and New Zealand on January 11Vadodara was one of the four hosts for WPL in 2025 and now sees getting the entire second half as well as the knockout stages including the allimportant title clash The tournament will also mark the return of womenâs cricket in the WPL for the first time after India won the 2025 Womenâs ODI World Cup on November 2For now the focus of all five teams â twotime champions Mumbai Indians 2024 winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru threetime runnersup Delhi Capitals UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants â will be to make a trophywinning squad for the 2026 seasonAt the mega auction Indiaâs ODI World Cupwinning captain Harmanpreet Kaur is present at the MI table alongside Jhulan Goswami new coach Lisa Keightley and team owners DC have a starstudded lineup in head coach Jonathan Batty and director of cricket Sourav GangulyNew UPW head coach Abhishek Nayar and mentor Lisa Sthalekar are present while Pravin Tambe and Michael Klinger are representing GG and RCB has newly appointed assistant coach Anya Shrubsole on the table alongside head coach Malolan Rangarajan IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wpl-2026-to-take-place-from-jan-9-to-feb-5-in-navi-mumbai-and-vadodara-650599.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 01:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/after-kiug-2025-silver-rajyashree-aims-to-pursue-glory-with-mother-rakhi-650618.html Bikaner Nov 27 For Rajyashree weightlifting is more than just a sport â its a family affair Moments after almost securing gold in the womenâs 58kg category at her first Khelo India University Games KIUG 2025 missing by only two kilograms she was quickly embraced by her mother and coach Rakhi Halder a sixtime international medallist Remarkably there is little time for celebration or reflection Just two days after the Bikaner competition Rajyashree and her mother will return to the platform to compete in the ASMITA Weightlifting League in Kolkata on November 28 Its uncommon to see a mother and daughter competing in the same leagueRajyashree a secondyear Bachelor of Arts student at Adamas University started weightlifting six years ago Despite frequently finishing outside the top three at major competitions she keeps pushing forward Recently she narrowly missed a medal again finishing second to Odishaborn international Rima Bhoi of Lovely Professional University by just two kg She acknowledged that winning silver would motivate her to improve even moreThe rivalry between Rima and Rajyashree is not recent as both secured a 12 finish in the 59kg womenâs category at the Khelo India Asmita Women National Zonal League202425 in Brahmapur OdishaâThis was my first Khelo India University Games and it feels good to get a silver There is a reason for that I have mostly finished fourth fifth so far so this silver is a special one The last medal that I won was a bronze in the All India InterUniversity championshipâ Rajyashree saidRajyashree who also competed in the Khelo India Youth Games in Tamil Nadu finished fourth in her category there as well She is the daughter of powerlifter C Naveen Kumar and has one younger sister She trains at home in Kolkata under her mother Rakhis guidance who won gold at the 2019 Commonwealth Championships in the womenâs 64kg categoryGrowing up with a decorated athlete in the family posed its own challenges Rajyashree acknowledged that the pressure of expectations frequently weighs on her mind before competitionsâThere is mental pressure of performance when people find my identity they will count my motherâs achievements I hope to live up to the expectationsâ the softspoken lifter saidEven though her campaign at KIUG ended on Wednesday Rajyashree has little time to rest By Friday the teenage weightlifter will return to the platform to compete in the womenâs 58kg category at the ASMITA Weightlifting League aiming to continue her momentum with Rakhi supporting her from the sidelinesLater that day 19yearold Rajyashree will switch from competitor to supporter as her mother competes in the womenâs 69kg weight category aiming to add another medal to her distinguished career IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/after-kiug-2025-silver-rajyashree-aims-to-pursue-glory-with-mother-rakhi-650618.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 01:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/triathlete-pragnya-mohan-says-ahmedabad-commonwealth-games-2030-will-ignite-new-sporting-era-for-india-650634.html Ahmedabad Nov 27 Indian triathlete Pragnya Mohan believes that Ahmedabads selection as host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games marks a defining moment for Indiaâs sporting future Calling it a significant leap forward she said the event will firmly position India on the world map in terms of sports infrastructure and sporting potential âI think its a big step for India and it will definitely put India as a landmark for sporting infrastructure and as a sporting nationâ Pragnya told IANS She added that athletes across the countryânot just those from Ahmedabadâwill benefit from exposure to the wide range of disciplines showcased at the GamesHighlighting the impact such visibility could have on young talent she noted âThe Commonwealth Games have a large variety of sports and seeing heroes of those sports compete on Indian soil will ignite a passion in the future generation like no otherâPragnya credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his consistent contribution to Indiaâs sporting rise Recalling her personal interactions with him she said âHe has always been instrumental in my sporting journey He was the Chief Minister when I took up the sport and then he went on to become the Prime MinisterâShe highlighted his broader ambition for India âHis vision is clearâhe wants to position India at the top in all arenas be it sport industry or anything elseâPragnya also remembered Modiâs personal meeting with athletes ahead of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games where he urged them to give their best and bring glory to the countryWhen asked about Indiaâs medal prospects in 2030 Pragnya acknowledged it was earlyâbut optimistic âAs an athlete coming from the host city itself thereâs a drive inside me and I think all athletes feel the same to win more medals on home groundâShe emphasised the natural advantages Indian athletes would enjoy âWeâre used to the weather we know the terrain so the homeground advantage is going to be there And the home crowdâfamily friends fans the entire communityâcheering for you brings out a desire for the medal like no otherâWith Ahmedabad preparing to host one of the worldâs most significant multisport events Pragnya believes the Games will not only boost Indiaâs medal ambitions but also inspire a new generation of sporting talent across the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/triathlete-pragnya-mohan-says-ahmedabad-commonwealth-games-2030-will-ignite-new-sporting-era-for-india-650634.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 02:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/2026-wpl-auction-anyas-intel-has-been-invaluable-shes-been-brilliant-so-far-says-malolan-650637.html New Delhi Nov 27 Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Malolan Rangarajan said newly appointed assistant coach Anya Shrubsoleâs intel has been invaluable in their 2026 WPL mega auction strategy adding that the former England seamer has been brilliant in her role so far RCB underlined that England influence by snapping up fast bowler Lauren Bell and leftarm spinner Linsey Smith First of all Anya is someone weve wanted on board for a while now and were very very happy that shes part of our think tank and our setup For all the Indians I will have to unfortunately remind everyone of the 2017 tragic she gave to usââBut jokes apart weve been working with Anya for the last couple of weeks planning our retentions and auctions Its a coincidence that we have Anya Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith so dont have to make any untowards connections there It was a clear battle between MI and us for the pacer and we are very happy with thatââAnya brings a wealth of experience having played for England successfully and also captained franchises and teams around the world who are doing well You can see the level of calm and intel she brings on board Its invaluable and cant put it into words but shes been brilliant so far and I am shell be even better in the tournament said Malolan while replying to an IANS query in the press conferenceAsked about missing out on buying back legspinner Asha Sobhana who was snapped by UP Warriorz for INR 11 crore Malolan said âTalking about Asha first obviously she was an integral part in RCBs win in 2024 obviously we missed her in 2025 with her injury Personally Im very happy for her shes got a good payday someone who really deserves what shes got and knowing her on a very personal front so Im very happy for herââAs far as what our strategy has been and what weve achieved so far weve more or less ticked off what were looking for trying to get as much as bowling and with our retained players the idea was trying to supplement them and make them as better as possible So very happy with where we are at the moment still got a little bit of work left but happy at the momentâMumbai Indians have been buying back their core players Amelia Kerr Shabnim Ismail and Sanskriti Gupta Head coach Lisa Keightley said getting the trio back was important to their tactic of getting old players back for their title defenceâFirstly were really excited to have the same core back weve got world class players in there who can win matches and games of cricket which is most important I think sometimes you can underestimate having the same core backââIve seen in a lot of franchises being consistent with your group can sometimes give you an advantage and you dont have to start the competition with so many moving parts so hopefully that might play into our favourââWe were pretty much on the limit with Amelia I think most people would have known that but we think shes worth the money so were really excited to have her backâ she concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/2026-wpl-auction-anyas-intel-has-been-invaluable-shes-been-brilliant-so-far-says-malolan-650637.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 02:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/delighted-that-up-warriorz-bought-me-back-deepti-sharma-650643.html New Delhi Nov 27 Deepti Sharma was sold for â¹32 crore to UP Warriorz via righttomatch making her the jointsecond most expensive player at the WPL After initially being sold to Delhi Capitals for her base price of Rs 50 lakh the Warriorz went for the RTM option asking DC to give a final amount With the threetime runnerup finalising Rs 32 crore as the bidding amount and UPW agreed to the same and bought back the World Cupwinning allrounder for a higher priceDeepti shared her enthusiasm upon rejoining UPW on JioHotstarâs âMatch Centre Live Auction Specialâ after the team won the bidding battle with DCâIâm from Uttar Pradesh and have strong ties with UP Warriorz The management has always been excellent and supportive The auction was thrilling from the start and Iâm delighted that the UP Warriorz bought me back Iâm excited to represent them againâThe WPL has played a massive role in my development The year I won MVP and even prior to that the intense practice on expanding my batting shots paid off tremendously That season helped me mature significantly as a batter teaching me how to elevate my strikerate strategically by adapting my game plan For me thatâs been WPLâs biggest contributionââThe atmosphere has been great right from the start Iâm feeling really positive seeing new players from different teams join UP Warriorz Having played with many of them before creates a comfortable vibe The management remains incredibly supportive and as I mentioned earlier the changes I made to my batting two years ago were transformative for meâDeepti also spoke on the Warriorz signing rising Australian cricketer Phoebe Litchfield and the legendary Meg Lanning and highlighted the WPLâs role in her development as a batter mentioning Litchfield as her most anticipated new teammateâItâs tough to pick just one because players like Phoebe Litchfield and Meg Lanning are performing brilliantly Meg Lanning has been outstanding in the Big Bash League while Harleen Deol shone in the World Cup Theyâre all exciting additions but if I had to choose Iâd go with Phoebe Litchfieldâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/delighted-that-up-warriorz-bought-me-back-deepti-sharma-650643.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 02:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/a-proud-moment-for-india-this-will-strengthen-new-indias-global-identity-says-paralympic-athlete-bhavnaben-chaudhary-650655.html New Delhi Nov 27 ParaOlympic athlete Bhavnaben Chaudhary has expressed her joy after Ahmedabad was awarded the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games Calling it a historic and emotional moment for Indian sports she said âIt is a proud moment for India After 20 years we have once again received the opportunity to host the Commonwealth Games This event will strengthen New Indiaâs global identity For young athletes across the country it is a matter of honour that the 2030 Commonwealth Games will take place in IndiaâBhavana emphasised the longstanding commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs towards Indian sports and athletes âThe Prime Minister has always supported sports and boosted the morale of young athletes In 2010 India performed strongly at the Commonwealth Games and in 2030 we will be even better Bhavanaben Chaudhary told IANSThe Amdavad 2030 organisers will work with Commonwealth Sport and international federations to finalise a programme of 15â17 sports aligned with the recent Sport Programme Review with additional disciplines such as cricket T20 shooting hockey wrestling judo rugby sevens and 3x3 basketball under consideration besides the option for two new sports proposed by the hostUnder Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs vision Ahmedabad has emerged as a worldclass sports destination with stateoftheart infrastructure advanced training ecosystems and internationalstandard facilities Sports experts believe the Games will enhance Indiaâs global sporting stature while boosting tourism employment and economic growthAt the Sports Authority of India SAI centre in Gandhinagar athletes are already intensifying their preparations driven by a shared sense of pride and opportunityKabaddi player Somveer Mehra expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister calling the announcement a defining moment âIt is a matter of great happiness that after 20 years India is once again going to host the Commonwealth Games Athletes from other countries will come here and we will get so much to learn from themâMehra who has previously won gold for India is confident about 2030 âWe are preparing hard for the 2030 Games We have won gold for India in the past and we will once again give our best to make the country proud Somveer Mehra Kabaddi playerYoung kabaddi athlete Sakshi training at the SAI centre in Gandhinagar said the announcement has energised young players across Gujarat âIt is a matter of joy that India will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games Ahmedabad now has the largest SAI centre offering worldclass facilities to young athletes India has progressed tremendously in sports Playing the Games on our home soil will be a privilege for usâShe also credited PM Modiâs perspective on sports âThe Prime Minister has always viewed sports from a different and encouraging lens His role in bringing the Commonwealth Games to India has been crucialâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/a-proud-moment-for-india-this-will-strengthen-new-indias-global-identity-says-paralympic-athlete-bhavnaben-chaudhary-650655.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 02:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/2026-wpl-auction-shikha-gets-inr-24-crore-yastika-and-pratika-find-takers-as-proceedings-end-650663.html New Delhi Nov 27 Veteran India seamer Shikha Pandey became one of the top three buys in the 2026 WPL mega auction while Yastika Bhatia and Pratika Rawal found teams despite injury concerns on Thursday UP Warriorz shelled out INR 24 crore for buying Shikha as in all 67 players were sold â 23 of which were overseas players â for INR 408 crore The accelerated round began with Deandra Dottin going to UPW for INR 80 lakh after a brief tussle with RCB Kashvee Gautam was brought back by GG via RTM for INR 65 lakh after thwarting bids from MI and UPWShikha the veteran Indian fast bowler sparked a fierce bidding war between RCB and UPW driving the price past INR 2 crore UPW eventually outlasted RCB to get her services for INR 24 croreODI World Cup winner seambowling allrounder Arundhati Reddy drew bids from DC RCB and GG before the contest settled in Bengaluruâs favour at INR 75 lakh At RCB Arundhati will reunite with close friends Smriti Mandhana and Radha YadavMI meanwhile reclaimed Sajana Sajeevan after a bidding tussle with UP Warriorz for INR 75 lakh India allrounder Pooja Vastrakar currently in rehab after missing WPL 2025 with a shoulder injury still attracted bids from RCB and UPW before the former secured her for INR 85 lakhUncapped wicketkeeper Rahila Firdous went to MI for INR 10 lakh while India allrounder Kanika Ahuja was picked by GG for INR 30 lakh Leftarm spinner Tanuja Kanwar rejoined GG for INR 45 lakh after dodging DC Australia leg spinner Georgia Wareham was snapped up by GG for INR 1 crore after edging RCBUncapped Indian allrounder Anushka Sharma went to GG for INR 45 lakh with a wry smile present on RCB think tank table Australian allrounder Nicola Carey was picked by MI for INR 30 lakh After that all five teams were asked to nominate 10 names each as the auction moved into the second accelerated phase after a short breakThe second round saw S Meghana Amy Jones and Darcie Brown go unsold But Grace Harris found takers with RCB and UPW her previous team in the contest before the former took her for INR 75 lakhWicketkeeper Shipra Giri drew interest from UPW who signed her for INR 10 lakh while Mamatha Madiwala was added to DCâs roster at the same price Pacer Happy Kumari was snapped up by GG at her base price of INR 10 lakh while Australiaâs Kim Garth was picked by the same team for INR 50 lakhThere was a tussle between UPW and GG for India wicketkeeperbatter Yastika Bhatia before the latter picked her for INR 50 lakh UPW meanwhile picked hardhitting batter Simran Shaikh for INR 10 lakh while MI took Poonam Khemnar for the same amount and wicketkeeper Shivani Singh was roped in by GG for the very same priceUSA pacer Tara Norris who picked a fivefor in WPL 2023 was picked by UPW for INR 10 lakh while the franchise also took South Africa allrounder Chole Tryon for INR 30 lakh Uncapped Australia pacer Lucy Hamilton was picked by DC for INR 10 lakh while allrounder Triveni Vasistha was taken by MI for INR 20 lakh and Suman Meena was roped in by UPW for INR 10 lakhRCB roped in offspin allrounder Gautami Naik for INR 10 lakh while MI took seambowling allrounder Nalla Reddy for the same amount In the final accelerated round India leftarm spinner Saika Ishaque was picked by MI for INR 30 lakh while UPW took twotime U19 World Cup winner G Trisha for INR 10 lakhUncapped wicketkeeper Pratyusha Kumar was signed by RCB for INR 10 lakh while MI added uncapped Australian bowler Milly Illingworth at the same price UPW secured Pratika Rawal for INR 50 lakh despite fitness concerns due to ankle injury recovery GG picked up England batter Danni WyattHodge for INR 50 lakh and got India spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad at her base price of INR 40 lakhDC added India allrounder Minnu Mani for INR 40 lakh while RCB strengthened their middle order with former GG batter Dayalan Hemalatha for INR 30 lakh GG signing Delhi batter Ayushi Soni for INR 30 lakh brought the curtains down on the WPL 2026 mega auction IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/2026-wpl-auction-shikha-gets-inr-24-crore-yastika-and-pratika-find-takers-as-proceedings-end-650663.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 02:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pukhraj-gill-lies-second-as-four-other-indians-are-tied-sixth-at-bharath-classic-650669.html Ahmedabad Nov 27 Pukhraj Singh Gill was the home star as he carded his bestever round on the Asian Tour with a 6under 66 card on the first day of the Bharath Classic 2025 Gujarat at Kensville Golf Resort Using a new putter he had bought from the Pro shop at BPGC in Mumbai where he played last week Gill A tenthtee starter had eight birdies against two bogeys in an aggressive display at the challenging Kensville courseGill a winner on the IGPL Tour in Jamshedpur is two shots behind Korean Heemin Chang who took the lead on Day onePlaying the course without a practice round because he arrived only late last night Chang shot an eightunderpar 64 including an eagle on the Par4 15th hole He had seven birdies and an eagle against one lone bogey on the Par5 14thLying tied second with Gill are Korean Wooyoung Cho and Thailandâs Jazz Janewattananond and Poosit Supupramai who shot 66 eachIndians had a good day with three others Ajeetesh Sandhu Olympian Udayan Mane Sachin Baisoya and amateur Ishaan Chawhan shooting 5under 67 each to be Tiedsixth and IndianAmerican Varun Chopra also carded a 67 as eight players were bunched at Tiedsixth It also included recent Asian Tour winner Ekpharit Wu of ThailandSaptak Talwar who divided his time between the HotelPlanner Tour and the Indian Tour shot 3under 69 as did veteran Naman Dawar Sudhir Sharma and Gaurav Pratap Singh in a big bunch at Tied17thThis weekâs inaugural US500000 Bharath Classic is being jointsanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Indian Golf Premier League IGPL Tour The IGPL has three more events on its 2025 calendar while it is the penultimate tournament of the season on the Asian Tour It is an important week for those hoping to make up ground on the Asian Tourâs Order of Merit to secure playing privileges for next year while the top four on the IGPL will get a spot into the final stage of the Asian Tour QSchool and a place in 2026 International Series IndiaGill was thrilled with his showing saying âI played aggressively and playing on the IGPL which has three rounds has had made play to my strengthIn the first round I hit the ball good and used the driver well Even towards the end when I was 6under I was playing aggressively because that mindset helped me get my first win recently on the IGPL TourSurely a win is my goal but I also want to contend on the IGPL and get a place into the Asian Tour QSchool if I canât win this week I have played well on the ADT and I am keen to get to the Asian TourâGill said âGreat first day I know this course fairly well We have quite a few tournaments here Itâs been a good track So yes I think that definitely helped Yeah solid off the tee Great on the greenâI was very excited for this week because Asian Tour is back in India after quite some time and to have it at Kensville is pretty damn goodâAs for his putting he revealed âI got myself a new putter last week in Mumbai and I put it in play here and it gave me good results despite a late threeputt I am feeling confident and am ready to goIt was a bit of disappointing day for two inform players Yuvraj Sandhu who has five wins this year and Shaurya Bhattacharya who has two wins this year Both shot even par 72 each while Aman Raj who also has two wins on the IGPL carded 1over 73Korean Heemin Chang said âItâs a good result as itâs my first time hereâ said Chang who is 127th on the Merit list âThe greens were slower than I expected but I adapted well and my course management was goodâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pukhraj-gill-lies-second-as-four-other-indians-are-tied-sixth-at-bharath-classic-650669.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 02:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/host-india-to-field-two-elite-teams-for-pune-grand-tour-2026-650680.html New Delhi Nov 28 The Cycling Federation of India CFI has announced selection trials for Indian menâs elite riders with an aim to field two teams namely âIndia Aâ and âIndia Bâ for the forthcoming Pune Grand Tour â Indiaâs first UCI 22 category Road Race from January 1923 2026 The National Road Cycling Championshipcumselection trial is scheduled from December 26 2025 at Sambalpur Odisha The shortlisted athletes will further be evaluated through a National Road Race in Pune on December 28The presence of two Indian teams India Aâ and âIndia Bâ will provide a broader platform for emerging and seasoned cyclists alike to demonstrate their prowess on a national and international stageThe ambitious Pune Grand Tour 2026 is Indiaâs flagship event aimed to earn Pune and Indiaâs permanent window in the Union Cycliste Internationaleâs UCI global calendar The inaugural edition will attract elite international cyclists promising fierce competition and worldclass sporting actionThe Tour will feature four stages 437km challenging routes that will wind through the scenic landscapes of the Pune district making it one of the most awaited cycling competitions in the countrySpeaking on the upcoming selection trial Maninder Pal Singh General Secretary Cycling Federation of India said âThe National Championshipcumselection trial is a crucial step towards assembling our strongest lineups for the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 The introduction of two teams India A and India B reflects our focus on nurturing a broader pool of talent and elevating the standard of Indian cyclingâPune Grand Tour 2026 is linked to qualification for the LA 2028 Summer Olympics allowing international participants to garner critical racepoints through a multistage multiday road race IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/host-india-to-field-two-elite-teams-for-pune-grand-tour-2026-650680.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/smiling-at-mistakes-focusing-on-present-kiug-gold-medallist-archer-anshika-shares-her-winning-formula-650682.html Jaipur Nov 28 Anshika Kumari shot a terrible second set in the womenâs recurve final against Srishti Jaiswal in the Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025 Such shooting will normally disturb the confidence level of any archer But the 23yearold representing Lovely Professional University did not let the smile on her face vanish as she conversed with the coaches and focused on positive selftalk to win the next two sets rather easily to clinch the gold medal This approach not only helped Anshika turn things around in that final but has also been instrumental in changing the trajectory of her archery career in the last 12 monthsThere was a time when I used to laugh after every lost match thinking even this one was not for me what worst can happen lets focus on the next one At the end of the day its all about concentrating on the present and having to shoot one arrow at a time and laugh off the stress away This is what I did in the final todayâ Anshika told SAI MediaExplaining what went wrong in the second set the SAI NCEO trainee said she could not understand where her arrow was landing on the target as her coach did not have his telescope with him He got one after that set but I just focused on my breathing and the next arrow and I am happy that I won said Anshika who originally hails from Bihar but has lived across the country as her father works with the Indian NavyBut this calmness took time to come as Anshika struggled to cope with her own expectations having made an immediate impact after taking up the sport in school in MumbaiSoon after taking up the sport Anshika became the first archer from Kendriya Vidyalaya to win gold in the School Games Federation of India nationals Determined to pursue the sport the youngster gave trials at the SAIL Academy in Jharkhand and then started training thereThough she was consistent enough to get selected in SAI Kolkata in a few years the national team spot kept eluding her But things have definitely turned for the better this yearâI learned from all my failures and used every lost match as a learning lesson to improve my technique for the next one said Anshika who participated in all three World Cups this yearShe adopted the same approach in Jaipur on Thursday when she performed below par in the mixed team event immediately after the individual final and missed the gold medal But she worked on her draw technique and helped Lovely Professional University win the Recurve Team gold to sign offAnshika fresh off her Khelo India Zonal Open victory is now aiming to sustain her momentum in 2026 with securing a spot on the Indian team for the Asian Games as her top priority IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/smiling-at-mistakes-focusing-on-present-kiug-gold-medallist-archer-anshika-shares-her-winning-formula-650682.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 14:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/it-feels-like-home-sree-charani-very-happy-to-be-back-with-delhi-capitals-650708.html New Delhi Nov 28 India spinner Sree Charani expressed her elation on being acquired by Delhi Capitals for Rs 13 crore in the WPL 2026 auction on Thursday for the upcoming season Charani made her WPL debut with Delhi Capitals in 2025 when she was picked up for Rs 55 lakh in the auction held in 2024Before the auction I was just hoping to play in WPL this season with any team But I am very happy to be back with Delhi Capitals It feels like home and I love playing for this teamâ she said on JioHotstarOn her goals after returning to Delhi Capitals the 21yearold said I feel very proud to be part of Delhi Capitals again This is my chance to contribute to the team once more Im grateful to be back with DC and looking forward to a good season ahead Im just hoping for the best to happen for our teamApart from Sree Delhi Capitals major picks in the auction were South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt West Indies allrounder Chinelle Henry and India star Sneh RanaSneh brimmed with confidence about the upcoming season and said Sreeâs pick was the best by the side Our team combination looks very good strong and wellsorted Shree Charani remains Delhis best young pick and Im sure shell do well this season Im hopeful well have a great season and finally lift the trophy this time she saidIm very excited to play for Delhi Capitals and get this new opportunity I look forward to teaming up with new teammates it will be a great experience Delhi has explosive Indian batters like Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues and Im really excited to meet and play with them Sneh addedSharing her emotion after the auction Chinelle Henry said Honestly I was really nervous and excited Now I can finally breathe again Im so happy to be returning to India and joining the DC family Im actually lost for words just sitting here in my living room in Australia feeling overwhelmed with joy IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/it-feels-like-home-sree-charani-very-happy-to-be-back-with-delhi-capitals-650708.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 15:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jonassen-pulls-out-of-wpl-auction-due-to-injury-other-left-arm-spinners-in-sharp-focus-650507.html New Delhi Nov 27 Hours ahead of the 2026 Womenâs Premier League WPL mega auction Australiaâs leftarm spin bowling allrounder Jess Jonassen has been ruled out from the player pool owing to an injury Sources familiar with the matter told IANS on Thursday that Jessâs unavailability was formally communicated to all five franchises during the mandatory preauction briefing on WednesdayJess had been a part of Delhi Capitals DC in the first three WPL seasons where they finished as runnersup on all occasionsThough Jess is turning out for Brisbane Heat in the ongoing Womenâs Big Bash League WBBL it is understood that a shoulder issue she has been managing for an extended period is the reason behind her unavailability for the WPL auction and subsequent seasonâA few teams were keen on getting her in the auction due to Sophie Molineux not registering but now that strategy has been changed and back up plans being discussed due to her unavailability being told a day priorâIt wonât come as a surprise if the other leftarm spinners especially in the Indian players pool will have more takers for them or their eventual price sees an increase in the mega auction said sourcesOther prominent leftarm spin bowling options who are also handy allrounders are Englandâs Sophie Ecclestone South Africaâs Chloe Tryon as well as Indiaâs N Sree Charani Radha Yadav Tanuja Kanwer and are followed by youngsters like Parunika Sisodia Bharti Rawal Vaishavi Sharma Ayushee Shukla Mannat Kashyap Shuchi Upadhayay and Triveni VasisthaIt is also understood that in the preauction briefing all five franchises were told that India opener Pratika Rawal wicketkeeperbatter Yastika Bhatia and uncapped seamer VJ Joshitha are nursing injuries though their names remain in the auction poolPratika is recovering from an ankle injury sustained in the World Cup league game against Bangladesh in Navi Mumbai while Yastika had to undergo an ACL surgery after being ruled out of the World Cup due to injuring her left knee in the pretournament camp in VisakhapatnamIt is also understood that the injured trio cannot be counted towards the mandatory 15member squad though 18 is the maximum squad strength for the competition and if they are picked teams cannot get a replacement for themIANS also understands that Indiaâs seambowling allrounder Pooja Vastrakar is not fully fit yet after undergoing shoulder surgery but her name will still feature in the auction Pooja had been a part of Mumbai Indians in the first two WPL seasons including the 2023 title winning campaign before the injury ruled her out of the 2025 seasonThe 2026 WPL mega auction will begin with the marquee set featuring eight players â Sophie India duo of Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh Thakur followed by Australian pair of Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning South Africaâs Laura Wolvaardt and New Zealand duo of Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jonassen-pulls-out-of-wpl-auction-due-to-injury-other-left-arm-spinners-in-sharp-focus-650507.html Thu, 27 Nov 2025 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wpl-2026-auction-meet-the-uncapped-indian-players-who-could-be-on-franchises-radar-650435.html New Delhi Nov 26 In its three seasons so far the Womenâs Premier League WPL has already proven to be a launchpad for talented cricketers to shine and enter the Indian team Players such as N Sree Charani and Kranti Gaud are prime examples of this trend as the duo played pivotal roles in Indiaâs recent triumph in the ODI World Cup Before them players like Shreyanka Patil Saika Ishaque Asha Sobhana Kashvee Gautam and Titas Sadhu first came to prominence through the WPL and graduated to the national setup following standout performances in the competitionIn the mega auction for the 2026 WPL scheduled for Thursday in New Delhi though marquee internationals will dominate the spotlight the eyes of fans will be on the gems franchises unearthed from the vast pool of 142 uncapped Indian playersIANS looks at some uncapped cricketers who have never featured in the league before and could ignite intense bidding wars in the upcoming WPL auctionVaishnavi Sharma Base Price â INR 10 lakhThe leftarm spinner announced her arrival on the big stage with a hattrick during Indias victorious U19 World Cup campaign in Malaysia this year where she also ended up at the top of the wickettaking charts Since then her trajectory has been nothing short of exceptionalVaishnavi dominated the recent Senior Womens T20 Trophy by being the leading wickettaker with 21 scalps coming in 11 matches at an economy rate of 647 She maintained her purple patch through the interzonal tournament by picking up 12 wickets in five matches for Central ZoneBoth tournaments had been closely watched by WPL scouts on the ground and they would have taken note of Vaishnaviâs ability to extract a sharp turn by bowling slower through the air With leftarm spinners set to be in heavy demand expect teams to be in a bidding war for Vaishnavi who hails from Madhya Pradesh a state that has produced Indian players like Pooja Vastrakar and Kranti GaudDeeya Yadav Base Price â INR 10 lakhThe hardhitting toporder batter who has consciously modelled her game on fellow Haryana opener Shafali Verma enjoyed a breakout time in the Senior Womens T20 Trophy amassing 298 runs in eight innings at an impressive average of 595 and a strike rate of 128 including hitting three halfcenturiesDeeya maintained her explosive form in the interzonal T20s amassing 151 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 1495 and took North Zone to the final The lanky openerâs range of shots has caught the attention of scoutsThe Gurugrambased Deeya first came into the limelight in November 2023 when she smashed an unbeaten 213 off 125 balls against Tripura in the U15 Womens OneDay Trophy at RaipurMamatha Madiwala Base Price â INR 10 lakhMany teams will be looking for a wicketkeeperbatter who can be a handy addition in the lower order and someone like Mamatha fits the bill She came into attention when she hit 56 not out in India Aâs fourwicket win over New Zealand via DLS method in the 2025 Womenâs ODI World Cup warmup match at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2 in BengaluruThough Shafali Verma topscored with a 49ball 70 Mamathaâs 56 not out off 60 balls laced with six fours and a maximum took India A over the line in what was also her debut game for the side Representing Hyderabad in domestic cricket Mamatha was a member of the Indian team at the 2023 Womenâs Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Hong KongTanisha Singh Base Price â INR 10 lakhApart from her Delhi teammates Bharti Rawal and Nazma Khan another player from the national capital who will have the attention of all teams will be batting allrounder Tanisha SinghShe was named the Most Valuable Player of the Season for her allround performance in the 2025 Womenâs DPL including hitting an unbeaten 76 Apart from being a handy offspin bowler Tanisha captained Delhi to the U23 Womenâs T20 Trophy win in the previous seasonG Trisha Base Price â INR 10 lakhThe Hyderabadbased opener had registered for WPL auctions before but could never find any takers But if her performances in 2025 are to go by she may well find a team this time around in the mega auctionTrisha played a key role in India retaining its U19 Womenâs T20 World Cup title by scoring 309 runs in seven innings and taking nine wickets with her legspin bowling In the final she topscored with an unbeaten 44 and took three wickets to pick up the Player of the Match awardAfter making 147 runs in the Senior Womenâs T20 Trophy Trisha is currently playing the U23 Womenâs T20 Trophy and with two U19 World Cup wins under her belt teams will be tempted to rope in Trisha for the upcoming season IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wpl-2026-auction-meet-the-uncapped-indian-players-who-could-be-on-franchises-radar-650435.html Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/we-need-to-improve-our-batting-raina-on-indias-struggles-in-home-tests-650281.html New Delhi Nov 25 Former allrounder Suresh Raina has urged Indian batters to apply themselves better as the home side faced heavy criticism following their 30run loss against South Africa in Kolkata India failed to chase a paltry target of 124 in the fourth innings to suffer a defeat against the World Test Championship holders With the second Test also heading to the same result as Indias flop show with the bat continues Raina advised batters to rectify their mistakes and support the teams causeWe need to improve our batting as we are losing matches successively Players need to apply themselves better as it will uplift their selfbelief and it is very important for them and the team Raina told IANS on TuesdayDespite being 01 down in the twomatch series India were bowled out for 201 in their first innings in Guwahati after South Africa posted a mammoth total of 489 The visitors added 260 runs to their scoreboard in the second innings before declaring the innings on Tuesday to post a target of 549 against IndiaIndia had a substandard start in the second innings too with the home side losing both openers Yashasvi Jaiswal 13 and KL Rahul 6 before stumps on Day 4 India are still 522 runs behind to avoid a second series sweep in two yearsThe veteran batter added that the teams other struggles also unfold when they start losing matches and the same is the case with the Indian Test team which is without their regular captain Shubman Gill who is nursing a neck injuryI hope they put more effort in the field When you lose everything comes out but I hope the team will do wellâ Raina addedIndia have a herculean task of surviving the whole day on Wednesday to draw the match and avoid a whitewash IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/we-need-to-improve-our-batting-raina-on-indias-struggles-in-home-tests-650281.html Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-india-down-to-272-in-chase-of-549-at-stumps-650283.html Guwahati Nov 25 India closed Day 4 at 272 at stumps after South Africa set the hosts a daunting target of 549 runs here at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium The Proteas maintained complete control throughout the day stretching their dominance through disciplined batting and a standout 94 from Tristan Stubbs eventually declaring at 2605 Marco Jansen continued his top form from the previous innings and got his side the crucial breakthrough early at the start of the final innings as he dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal in the seventh over The opening batter walked back after scoring 13 runs off 20 deliveries leading to B Sai Sudharsan joining KL Rahul on the creaseHowever the secondwicket partnership didnât last long as Simon Harmer joined the celebrations to dismiss Rahul in the 10th over He attempted to play it by closing his bat across the line but missed entirely and the stumps were rattled With both openers dismissed India faltered further Rahul lunged to meet the ball but erred by crossing the line and the balls dip and the drop beat him leading to an inside edgeWith India sending in Kuldeep Yadav as the nightwatchman the spinner comfortably saved his wicket till the end of the session and remained unbeaten alongside SudharsanThe day began with South Africa resuming at 260 with openers Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram looking composed as they extended the score to 58 However Indiaâs spinners soon found breakthroughs Ravindra Jadeja was the first to strike dismissing Rickelton for 35 after the batter attempted an overly aggressive shot Jadeja then removed Markram for 29 with a sharply turning delivery signalling Indiaâs fightbackWashington Sundar supported Jadeja well with a disciplined and intelligent spell varying his pace subtly to curb South Africaâs run flow His efforts were rewarded when he removed captain Temba Bavuma who flicked a straightforward catch to leg slip Although India missed a few runout chances their energy in the field kept South Africa from running away with the game early in the session By tea the visitors had reached 1073 suggesting a balanced contestHowever the partnership between Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs shifted momentum again The duo combined restraint with aggression regularly finding boundaries and rotating the strike effectively Their confident stroke play made it seem as though they were batting on a friendlier surface than the one India had struggled on Zorziâs authoritative sweeps and Stubbsâ controlled shotmaking gradually drained Indiaâs earlier enthusiasmAfter tea Jadeja trapped de Zorzi lbw for 49 ending a crucial stand but the breakthrough did little to slow South Africaâs progress Stubbs continued untroubled bringing up a composed fifty Joined by Wiaan Mulder he pushed the lead beyond 500 runs while India searched unsuccessfully for additional wickets even turning to parttimer Yashasvi Jaiswal South Africa added 113 runs in the session for the loss of just one wicket tightening their grip on the matchAt lunch the visitors were firmly in command at 2204 after 70 overs Following the break South Africa continued batting as Stubbs approached a century Once he was dismissed for 94 Bavuma immediately declared the innings closed at 2605Brief Scores South Africa 489 amp 2605d in 783 overs Tristan Stubbs 94 Tony de Zorzi 49 Ravindra Jadeja 462 lead India 201 amp 272 in 155 overs Yashasvi Jaiswal 13 KL Rahul 6 Simon Harmer 11 Marco Jansen 114 by 521 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-india-down-to-272-in-chase-of-549-at-stumps-650283.html Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/syed-modi-international-top-seeds-treesagayatri-open-with-gritty-win-junior-squad-impress-on-day-1--650311.html Lucknow Nov 25 Top seeds Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand kicked off their Syed Modi International 2025 campaign with a hardfought victory headlining a strong opening day for India at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium The countryâs leading womenâs doubles pair recovered from a slow start to defeat Malaysiaâs Cheng Su Hui and Tan Zhing Yi 1921 2220 219 in their firstever meetingAfter dropping the opening game Treesa and Gayatri steadied their defence tightened the net exchanges and powered through a dominant decider to move into the prequartersEarlier in the day members of Indiaâs historic medalwinning World Juniors squad carried their form onto the senior stage with confident performances in the qualifiers Mixed Doubles pair C Lalramsanga and Taarini Suri produced a composed 2113 2115 win over the IsraelâHungary duo of Misha Zilberman and Agnes Korosi while Bhavya Chhabra and Vishakha Toppo followed it up with a solid 2119 2115 victory against fellow Indians Devvert Mann and Nishu MalikIn the menâs doubles draw second seeds Sai Pratheek K and P Krishnamurthy Roy eased past Swarnraj Bora and Nibir Ranjan 218 2117 Fifth seeds Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjunâarriving in Lucknow on the back of three straight title wins in Al Ain Turkey and Telanganaâcontinued their redhot form beating Ayush Makhija and Sujey Tamboli 2111 2113 to reach the roundof16In womenâs doubles Priya Konjengbam and Shuti Mishra also advanced with a commanding 218 2111 victory over Reena Evangelin and Samriddhi Singh IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/syed-modi-international-top-seeds-treesagayatri-open-with-gritty-win-junior-squad-impress-on-day-1--650311.html Wed, 26 Nov 2025 01:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-to-meet-pakistan-on-feb-15-as-icc-reveals-full-schedule-of-t20-world-cup-2026-650328.html Mumbai Nov 25 Defending champions India will take on archrivals Pakistan at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15 2026 after opening their campaign in the group stage against minnows United States of America at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7 2026 India are in Group A with the Netherlands and Namibia as the other teams in the groupNo country has ever defended their title in the T20 World Cup so far and hosts India will be hoping to become the first country to do so In their remaining group stage fixtures India will take on Namibia on February 12 in New Delhi and will round off the proceedings against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18 2026This will be the biggest T20 World Cup in the history of the game so far as for the first time 20 teams will be in the fray The 20 teams will play 55 matches in all across eight venues in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 2026 ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta announced in Mumbai on Tuesday as the ICC revealed the full schedule of the tournament in the presence of ICC Chair Jay Shah twotime T20 WC winner Rohit Sharma India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav newly crowned Womens ODI World Cup winner Harmanpreet Kaur and cricket administrators from India and Sri LankaMatches will be played at eight venues the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi the Eden Gardens in Kolkata Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai In Sri Lanka matches will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo and the Pallekele International Stadium in KandyThe 20 teams have been divided into four groups of five teams each Two teams from each group will qualify for the Super 8 stageWhile the focus will be on India and Pakistan in Group Aâpicked as the Group of Death by the events Brand Ambassador Rohit Sharma the Netherlands and USA who stunned Pakistan in the previous edition in 2024 can always cause an upset or twoGroup B puts Sri Lanka in a potentially challenging conflict with Australia Ireland Zimbabwe and Oman Australias first match is against Ireland while Zimbabwes return to World Cup action begins with a highprofile match against the cohostsGroup C which includes Bangladesh firsttime qualifiers Italy and Nepal is led by twotime champions England and the West Indies As early as February 11 in Mumbai England will play the West Indies Italys participation which is their first in the tournament gives it a historic feelGroup D which is arguably the hardest of the four includes Afghanistan South Africa and New Zealand the 2024 semifinalists Canada and UAE complete the lineup but the spotlight will firmly be on the heavyweight clashes especially South Africa vs Afghanistan and New Zealand vs South Africa both set for AhmedabadThe top two teams from each group will progress to the Super Eight stage split into two groups of four From there the top two in each Super Eight pool advance to the semifinals before the March 8 final determines the 2026 championRohit Sharma who has played in every edition of the T20 World Cup so far winning titles in the inaugural edition in 2007 and in 2024 said it was heartening to see so many countries playing in the T20 World Cup It shows that our spot is growing said the events ICC Brand Ambassador Rohit SharmaThis will be the first time that I will not be playing the T20 World Cup It is a different experience for me but I am getting used to watching matches on TV at home said Rohit SharmaIndias T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav termed the event challenging and said his teammates are excited to be playing at home IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-to-meet-pakistan-on-feb-15-as-icc-reveals-full-schedule-of-t20-world-cup-2026-650328.html Wed, 26 Nov 2025 01:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/fc-goa-travel-to-iraq-for-crucial-clash-against-al-zawraa-sc-in-afc-champions-league-two-650342.html Baghdad Iraq Nov 25 FC Goa return to continental duty with a highstakes trip to Baghdad where they face Al Zawraa SC in a crucial AFC Champions League Two Group D fixture The match at the AlZawraa Stadium carries significant weight for both sides With four matches played Goa enter this contest knowing their chances of progressing are slim but still alive and winning both of their remaining games is the only way to stay in the race Al Zawraa too find themselves in a mustwin situation setting the stage for a tense competitive night in West AsiaWhile Goa havenât had as many competitive minutes recently as their opponents the team has trained with purpose and kept their preparation consistent Their sharp performances in the Super Cup before the break including wins over Jamshedpur FC and Inter Kashi showed what the squad is capable of when they hit their strideHead coach Manolo MÃrquez emphasised the teamâs mindset and the approach they intend to take âItâs just the fifth game of the competition and we still have small chances to qualify if we win both matches We know Al Zawraa also needs to win so it will be a difficult game But weâve prepared for this like any other match Our intent is always to win not to sit back and weâll give it our allâFor Goa this match is not only a mustwin but also an opportunity to secure their first points of the group stage before returning home for their final fixture in December A strong result in Baghdad would inject belief and momentum into their campaign at the perfect momentWinger Udanta Singh spoke about the teamâs experience on the continental stage and the desire to finish their away schedule on a high âTo be honest itâs a great experience facing some great teams in Asia Itâs the last game of our away matches so we want to finish strong for our last away group gameâAs the Gaurs step onto the pitch under the Baghdad lights the task is clear fight with intent embrace the challenge and keep their hopes alive for one more decisive night back home in Goa IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/fc-goa-travel-to-iraq-for-crucial-clash-against-al-zawraa-sc-in-afc-champions-league-two-650342.html Wed, 26 Nov 2025 02:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-hazlewood-back-in-nets-as-cummins-prepares-for-pink-ball-return-650179.html Sydney Nov 24 Australia received a boost on Tuesday as Josh Hazlewood took to the nets working towards recovery from the hamstring setback that ruled him out of the opening Ashes Test in Perth Simultaneously Pat Cummins was seen practising with a pink ball progressing steadily in his bid to feature in the upcoming daynight Test at the Gabba after his back injury The duo utilised the Cricket Central facilities in Sydney while the New South Wales side faced Tasmania in their ongoing Sheffield Shield clashHazlewoodâs session focused on redball bowling signalling the teamâs strategy heâs unlikely to return at the Gabba and is instead eyeing a comeback for Adelaide which hosts a traditional day Test this yearAustraliaâs head coach Andrew McDonald expressed optimism on Monday about Hazlewoodâs participation later in the Ashes campaign saying âI know that hell be available at some point during the series Weve got a little bit of that early rehab to go through to formulate where he may plug into the series but we expect him to take some part in the seriesâCummins on the other hand has been impressively building up his bowling intensity particularly evident in the leadup to the Perth Test The selectors remain cautious needing full assurance that he can withstand the workload of a fiveday match especially as earlier matches in the series might wrap up quicklyMcDonald commented on his progress and said âIt looked like a player that was nearing the completion of his rehabilitation The intensity was there the ball speed was there Theres a lot of positives but now its just really building that resilience within the soft tissue and making sure that were not putting him in harms way in terms of accelerating it too muchâThe first three Tests are wellspaced with an 11day gap now slotted between the opener and the second match following the quick finish in Perth However after Adelaide the fixtures tighten just a fourday break before the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and another four days until Sydney provided those games last the distanceWith the pinkball contest looming in Brisbane the potential for another actionpacked fastpaced Test is high Recent Sheffield Shield experience backs this up as ten wickets tumbled during the night session of day three in the QueenslandVictoria match though wickets were harder to come by earlierIn that Shield encounter Xavier Bartlett stood out with figures of 4 for 35 in Victoriaâs second innings supplementing his efforts with a careerbest 72 runs Bartlett who has already shown promise in whiteball cricket could be moving closer to an Ashes opportunity especially if Australia requires extra pace options However the anticipated return of Cummins and Hazlewood might keep the door closed for nowMichael Neser who was the reserve quick in Perth could be in contention for Brisbane his home patch Both of his previous Tests though have come with the pink ball in Adelaide during the 202122 and 202223 seasonsSelectors have also held out hope for Jhye Richardsonâs availability later in the series as he works back from recent shoulder surgery Richardson has already trained with the Test squad in Perth and got through 20 overs for the CA XI against the England Lions albeit without taking a wicket Heâs likely to appear for Australia A in Brisbane soonAfter his recent outing Richardson provided a positive update âThis game was a lot about physical preparation for me and making sure that we can get through Im sure there would have been a few people seeing a bit of ice on it after the bowling but thats basically just maintenance The shoulders feeling really good and its feeling better and better each bowlIts a decent hit out the most overs Ive bowled in a while and its all part of the process to building up to be ready for four and fiveday cricketâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-hazlewood-back-in-nets-as-cummins-prepares-for-pink-ball-return-650179.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 13:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/nick-kyrgios-makes-comeback-move-with-kooyong-classic-commitment-650185.html Melbourne Nov 25 Nick Kyrgios has taken a significant step toward his longawaited competitive return by confirming his participation in the Kooyong Classic a key exhibition event that serves as preparation for the Australian Open The former Wimbledon finalist now 30 has endured a torturous period away from professional tennis due to a series of debilitating injuries that have threatened to derail his career entirely His 2025 campaign was limited to just five singles appearances with his last competitive outing coming at the Miami Open back in MarchCurrently languishing at 666th in the ATP rankings and without the safety net of a protected ranking Kyrgios faces significant hurdles in securing spots at official warmup tournaments leading into the Australian Open He will require wildcards not only for those events but also for the seasons opening Grand Slam itselfHowever those wildcard entries are expected to be granted without much hesitation Kyrgios remains a former Brisbane International champion and continues to draw massive crowds at Melbourne Park where his explosive style and charismatic personality make him one of the most marketable players in Australian tennisBeyond the Kooyong Classic Kyrgios has already committed to several highprofile exhibition matches before 2025 wraps up Most notably hell square off against reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in a battle of the sexes showdown scheduled for December 28 in Dubai adding another layer of intrigue to his comeback narrativeThe Kooyong Classic itself promises to be a starstudded affair next year with a distinctly Italian presence headlining the mens draw Davis Cup heroes Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Berrettini will feature alongside world number eight Lorenzo Musetti ensuring highquality tennis in the leadup to Melbourne ParkThe exhibition tournament which was notably absent from this years calendar due to operational challenges is set to run from January 13 to 15 That timing places it perfectly just three days before the Australian Open commences a short distance away along the Yarra River offering players an ideal final tuneup opportunityFor Kyrgios the Kooyong Classic represents more than just match practice its a statement of intent that hes ready to reclaim his place among tenniss elite IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/nick-kyrgios-makes-comeback-move-with-kooyong-classic-commitment-650185.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 13:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-lose-to-belgium-2-3-in-sultan-azlan-shah-cup-650190.html Ipoh Malaysia Nov 25 The Indian menâs hockey team put up a fighting performance but went down 23 to Belgium in a rainaffected match of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup that was rescheduled for Tuesday Abhishek 33â and Shilanand Lakra 57â got themselves on the scoresheet for India while Roman Duvekot 17â 57â and Nicolas De Kerpel 45â were the goalscorers for Belgium It was a determined start from India keeping Belgium at an armâs length and weathering a spell of early pressure The Indian goalkeeper Pawan was called into action on either side of the restart keeping his side level as they steadily grew into the game Belgium had their first real opportunity from a Penalty Corner ten minutes into the contest and soon followed it up with another but the Indian defence stood tall to ensure they stayed on level terms after the first quarterIndia began the second quarter on the front foot stitching together neat passes as they searched for an opening However Belgium managed to take the lead against the run of play breaking Pawanâs resistance courtesy of a goal from Roman Duvekot 17â Looking for an instant response Dilpreet Singh finished off a tidy move for India but the goal was ruled out for dangerous play Despite India pushing and probing Belgium held onto their 10 lead at halftimeIndia came flying out of the blocks in the second half and earned the breakthrough as Abhishek 33â finished off a superb move to restore parity With momentum on their side the Indians put Belgium under the pump in search of a second goal Unfortunately it was Belgium who snatched the lead back with Nicolas De Kerpel 45â converting from a penalty cornerThey soon extended their advantage with Roman Duvekot 46â scoring early in the fourth quarter giving Belgium some breathing room India once again looked for an instant reply and came close from a Penalty Corner with under ten minutes to play With time ticking away Shilanand Lakra 57â found the back of the net after a brilliant cross from Rabichandra Singh giving India a glimmer of hope With ninety seconds to go Mohit HS made a sensational stop to deny Belgium a fourth goal to keep India in the hunt However the equaliser eluded them in this tightly fought contestIndia will next play Malaysia on November 26 at 1730 IST All matches of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 are being broadcast live on FanCode IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-lose-to-belgium-2-3-in-sultan-azlan-shah-cup-650190.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 13:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-tom-moody-suggests-australia-replace-nathan-lyon-with-specialist-batter-for-gabba-test-650204.html New Delhi Nov 25 Former Australian allrounder Tom Moody has made a bold call for Nathan Lyon to be dropped ahead of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane The offspinner 38 is just one wicket shy of matching Glenn McGrathâs 563 Test dismissals but Moody believes conditions will favour an allpace attack Speaking on Wide World of Sports Moody argued that selectors should tailor the side to what is expected to be a seamfriendly Gabba pitch Lyon had minimal impact in the Perth Test where Australiaâs fast bowlers dominated during two days of highintensity cricketâA few hard decisions need to be madeand my personal view is I wouldnt play Lyon I never thought Id see the day where you dont play a specialist spinner in a Test match in Australia but with daynight cricket its hard to get the spinner into the contestâ Moody saidâThe second part to that is the way England play its very hard to get the spinner into the gamebecause they dont tend to bat for long periods of time I think Australia would be better having someone like Beau Webster taking Lyons spot and as a result lengthening the batting orderâ the twotime ODI World Cup winner addedEngland suffered a heavy defeat in the opening Ashes Test as Travis Headâs blistering 69ball century propelled Australia to an extraordinary twoday victory in Perth Headâs 123 the secondfastest Ashes hundred in history powered Australia to a chase of 205 in just 282 overs sealing an eightwicket win and a 10 series leadThe match swung decisively after Australia conceded a 40run firstinnings deficit and England reached 651 effectively 105 ahead A dramatic collapse of six wickets for 39 triggered by Mitchell Starcâs 10wicket match haul and poor English shot selection left the visitors in disarray Despite a brief lowerorder fightback England were bowled out for 164 losing nine wickets for 99In response Australia dominated as Head dismantled Englandâs attack turning the contest into a procession The emphatic finish denied the match a third day and left England searching for answers ahead of the daynight Test in Brisbane starting December 4 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-tom-moody-suggests-australia-replace-nathan-lyon-with-specialist-batter-for-gabba-test-650204.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 14:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-stubbs-94-zorzis-49-help-south-africa-set-india-target-of-549-runs-650224.html Guwahati Nov 25 IANS India found moments of success through Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar but South Africa continued to command proceedings on Day 4 of the second Test courtesy of a brilliant 94 by Tristan Stubbs as the youngsters knocked helped the team stretch their lead to over 500 runs and eventually declaring at 2605 to set India a target of 549 runsnbspThe day began with the visitors resuming at 260 and openers Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram looking assured as they raised the score to 58 before Indias spinners made their impact Rickelton who benefited from early luck was dismissed for 35 while attempting an aggressive shot handing Jadeja his first breakthrough The leftarm spinner struck again soon after removing Markram for 29 with a sharp turn that troubled the batters throughout the morningWashington Sundar complemented Jadeja superbly bowling a disciplined spell with subtle variations in pace that kept South Africas scoring in check His persistence paid off when he removed captain Temba Bavuma who flicked a simple catch to leg slip Despite a few missed runout opportunities India looked energetic in the field and kept the visitors progress steady rather than freeflowingAt 1073 by tea the session appeared evenly balanced as Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs steadied the innings combining caution with calculated aggression Both batters found regular boundaries and shifted momentum again in South Africas favour heading into the second sessionDe Zorzi and Stubbs batted with purpose sweeping cutting and rotating strike as if playing on a surface entirely different from the one tormenting India Every boundary struck through the gaps felt like a reminder South Africa were not just surviving they were progressing Zorzis sweeps scythed through the leg side with authority while Stubbs absorbed pressure before unleashing strokes that drained Indias early energyAfter tea Jadeja trapped de Zorzi lbw just shy of a halfcentury Yet even that wicket felt like a pause rather than a shift Stubbs marched on to his fifty unhurried and unbothered as Wiaan Mulder joined him to push the lead past 500 with quiet confidenceWith four sessions remaining in the match the Proteas showed no inclination to declare early adding 113 runs in the second session for the loss of just one wicket India even turned to parttimer Yashasvi Jaiswal for an over but South Africas control remained unchallengedAt lunch South Africa had moved to 2204 in 70 overs firmly on top as India faced a huge scareAs Stubbs approached a century the Proteas continued their batting innings after lunch despite many expecting a declaration The young player entered the nervous nineties and South Africa watched to see if he could reach 100 before the declaration However as soon as he was dismissed Bavuma indicated the batters to come back in thereby closing their innings at 2605 and setting the hosts a massive 549run targetWhile a win looks difficult here Team India will look to bat throughout the remainder of Day 4 and on Wednesday the final day of the game to draw the match South Africa meanwhile will aim to bowl out the hosts again to add a historic victory under their belt while also gaining some crucial World Test Championship pointsBrief Scores South Africa 489 and 2605d in 783 overs Tristan Stubbs 94 Tony de Zorzi 49 Ravindra Jadeja 462 lead India 201 all out in 835 overs Yashasvi Jaiswal 58 Washington Sundar 48 Marco Jansen 648 Simon Harmer 364 by 548 runsIANSviab https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-stubbs-94-zorzis-49-help-south-africa-set-india-target-of-549-runs-650224.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-rahul-jaiswal-help-india-escape-unscathed-after-muthusamy-jansen-take-sa-to-489-650007.html Guwahati Nov 23 Indiaâs openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal ensured there were no setbacks and reached 90 in 61 overs at stumps on day twoâs play against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Sunday Due to light conditions deteriorating hugely it brought another early end to the day with India trailing South Africa by 480 runs Previously South Africa posted a formidable 489 in their first innings thanks to Senuran Muthusamyâs 109 â his maiden Test century and Marco Jansenâs explosive 93 The duoâs career best scores in Tests took them to a commanding total and put them in a good position to draw the gameIndiaâs innings began with Rahul and Jaiswal negotiating the new ball with composure The hosts got their first boundary when Marco Jansen bowled down leg and Jaiswal flicked him through square legWith Jansen and Wiaan Mulder being economical India managed to be watchful till stumps arrived With three days left in the game pressure will be huge on India to level the series and save themselves from a second series loss at home in two yearsPreviously Muthusamy showcased his ability to bat sensibly a trait he had displayed in Rawalpindi and Chattogram before to hit a superb century laced with 10 fours and two sixes Jansen meanwhile hit a sparkling 93 and used his long levers well to smash six fours and seven sixes to put South Africa in a strong position of winning the matchFor India leftarm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav finished with four wickets while Jasprit Bumrah Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja claimed two apiece Simon Harmer was the only South African batter not to reach double figures in an otherwise commanding display for the ProteasThe final session began with Siraj providing India the breakthrough they desperately needed when Muthusamy attempted for a hook but failed to keep it down and was caught at fine leg ending his careerbest knock of 109 that had blunted India since he came out to bat at 2015Jansen continued to take charge launching two towering sixes off Jadeja and taking a four and six off Siraj to push South Africa past 440 before Bumrah ripped out Simon Harmerâs offstump Jansen continued to find boundaries and also featured in a defiant last wicket stand with Keshav Maharaj for 18 runsBut Jansen fell agonisingly short of a maiden Test hundred chopping on to a Kuldeep googly for 93 But his innings included seven sixes the jointâhighest tally in a knock for a lowerâorder batter in India With South Africa making a score more than any firstinnings total to lose a Test in India they have left themselves wellplaced to push for a rare series win on Indian soilBrief Scores South Africa 489 in 1511 overs Senuran Muthusamy 109 Marco Jansen 93 Kuldeep Yadav 4115 Jasprit Bumrah 275 lead India 90 in 61 overs Yashasvi Jaiswal 7 not out KL Rahul 2 not out by 480 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-rahul-jaiswal-help-india-escape-unscathed-after-muthusamy-jansen-take-sa-to-489-650007.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/taijul-and-murad-guide-bangladesh-to-2-0-series-sweep-650013.html Dhaka Nov 23 Hasan Murad broke Irelandâs stubborn resistance on the final day securing Bangladeshâs 217run victory in the second Test in Dhaka on Sunday Curtis Campher stood firm with an unbeaten 71 off 259 balls and alongside Gavin Hoey endured over 31 overs before Murad dismissed Hoey and No 11 Matthew Humphreys with consecutive deliveries to seal a 20 series sweepMurad and Taijul Islam each claimed four wickets but the standout moment of the match belonged to Mushfiqur Rahim who scored a century in his 100th Test Taijul also reached a personal milestone becoming the sixth leftarm spinner to pick up 250 Test wickets he had earlier overtaken Shakib Al Hasanâs 246 to become Bangladeshâs leading wickettaker Play had also been briefly halted on the third day due to an earthquakeCampher and Hoey batted with impressive calmness after lunch stretching Bangladeshâs frustration as they ensured Ireland survived 593 overs on the fifth day despite several moments of dangerCampher displayed solid defence from the start while Jordan Neill at the other end struck multiple boundaries including a lofted six off Murad Litton Das put down a chance when Neill was on 23 but Mehidy Hasan Miraz eventually beat Neillâs forward push to disturb the stumps Campher reached his fifty with a straight six and continued to resist with disciplined battingIreland began the final day on 176 for 6 with four wickets in hand Bangladeshâs spinners made the most of friendlier conditions after their batters had used the surface during the morning session Openers Andy Balbirnie and Paul Stirling fell early leaving Harry Tector to anchor the scoring with a wellmade 50 before he was caught by Mushfiqur who held a tumbling catchStephen Doheny survived three chances on 2 13 and 14 before Taijul trapped him lbw for 15 Earlier Bangladesh had declared on 297 for 4 powered by fifties from Shadman Islam Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mominul Haqueâwho topscored with 87âalong with Mushfiqurâs unbeaten 53 capping a memorable match for the 38yearoldBrief Scores Bangladesh 476 Litton Das 128 Mushfiqur Rahim 106 Andy McBrine 6109 Gavin Hoey 2115 amp 2974 dec Mominul Haque 87 Shadman Islam 78 Gavin Hoey 284 Jordan Neill 148 beat Ireland 265 Lorcan Tucker 75 Jordan Neill 49 Taijul Islam 476 Khaled Ahmed 239 amp 291 Curtis Campher 71 Harry Tector 50 Hasan Murad 444 Taijul Islam 4104 by 217 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/taijul-and-murad-guide-bangladesh-to-2-0-series-sweep-650013.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/if-india-can-bat-for-next-two-days-they-will-be-in-stronger-position-says-kumble-650021.html New Delhi Nov 23 Former India cricketer Anil Kumble asserts that India needs to bat through the next two days to stand a chance of survival in the second Test at Guwahati Following South Africas innings where Senuran Muthusamy scored his first Test century 109 and Marco Jansen made an impressive 93 the visitors reached 489 before India finished Day 2 at 90 trailing by 480 runs He emphasised that although the surface will still be good for batting the hosts will need to be disciplined and patientâI certainly expect a little more wear and tear and Iâm sure the spinners will come into play tomorrow That said it will still be a good surface to bat onâruns wonât be hard to come by For India this is a mustwin Test Theyâve had six tough sessions and theyâll be thinking about how they can bat through the next two days If India can control the third and fourth day theyâll put themselves in a position to think about the second inningsâ Kumble told JioStar after the dayâs play on SundayKumble also analysed Yashasvi Jaiswalâs responsibilities heading into Day 3 saying âYashasvi will have a role but not necessarily right at the start He needs to settle in get used to the conditionsâ If he can get through the first 30â45 minutes and negotiate Jansenâs early spell weâll see the dominant version of Jaiswal we know Heâll certainly look to take on the spinnersâIndias bowlers made early progress earlier in the day but they were unable to break the MuthusamyJansen partnership Bumrah Siraj and Jadeja each claimed two wickets while Kuldeep Yadav finished with four With seven sixes Jansen equalled the mark for the jointâhighest tally in a knock for a lowerâorder batter in India With South Africa making a score higher than any firstinnings total to lose a Test in India they have left themselves wellplaced to push for a rare series win on Indian soilIndias response began cautiously with KL Rahul and Jaiswal resisting a probing spell from Jansen and Wiaan Mulder before play was once again halted early due to bad lightReflecting on Marco Jansenâs gamechanging 93 Kumble added âMarco Jansen completely took the game away from Indiaâ He clearly trusts his batting heâs carrying more than four bats He was outstanding against the spinners and even took on the short ballâ But it was a fantastic innings and his partnership with Muthusamy ensured South Africa didnât just cross 400âthey went close to 500âSouth Africaâs lower order turned the game and Dale Steyn felt India lacked tactical flexibility with the ball âThey stuck with Plan A for too long and didnât switch to a Plan B or Câ On a flatter wicket like this they needed something differentâ the former Protea said adding that Indiaâs defensive fields allowed South Africa to settle too easily IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/if-india-can-bat-for-next-two-days-they-will-be-in-stronger-position-says-kumble-650021.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/east-bengal-bow-out-of-afc-womens-champions-league-after-defeat-to-nasaf-650025.html Wuhan China Nov 23  East Bengal FC were eliminated from the AFC Womenâs Champions League 202526 group stage after suffering a 03 defeat to PFC Nasaf of Uzbekistan in their concluding Group B tie on Sunday The win moved the Uzbekistan side to second place with four points guaranteeing them a spot in the quarterfinals alongside toppers Wuhan Jiangda Womens FC of China PR East Bengal ended their debut campaign in third place with three points while IR Irans Bam Khatoon FC finished at the bottom also with three pointsIn the best thirdplaced teams rankings Korea Republics Suwon FC qualified from Group C with four points alongside Philippines Stallion Laguna FC with three points Although the latter were level with East Bengal on goal difference the Indian side had fewer goals scored which knocked them out of the last eightThe Moshal Girls had earlier defeated Bam Khatoon FC 31 and lost to Wuhan Jiangda Womens FC 02Nasaf controlled the game from the opening whistle with Nilufar Kudratova driving into the box in the fifth minute but taking just too long to make up her mind allowing Anoma Opoku to close her downThe Nasaf captain was more decisive in the 18th minute with the same run into the box this time picking out Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva for the tapinThe goal lifted pressure off the Uzbekistan side as they started to play flowing football with only the crossbar denying efforts from Zarina Mamatkarimova and Gulzoda AmirovaOn the backfoot for much of the first half East Bengal finally managed a shot on target in the 39th minute but Fazila Ikwaputs freekick was well read by Nasaf custodian Maftuna JonimqulovaNasaf kept a tight grip on the game after the interval extending their lead after seven minutes through Zarina Norboeva who was at the right place at the right time to steer home Lyudmila Karachikâs crossEast Bengal had an opportunity to pull a goal back in the 61st minute after Amnah Nababi played Soumya Guguloth through on goal but the latter struck the ball straight at JonimqulovaThe bar came to East Bengalâs rescue for the third time in the match in the 66th minute after another Karachikâs cross after an excellent dribble was flicked on by Khabibullaeva past Elangbam Panthoi Chanu only to be denied by the woodworkNasaf put the seal on an impressive performance with a third deep into stoppage time Panthoi saving Karachikâs initial attempt but could do nothing to stop Khabibullaeva on the followupEast Bengals attention will now turn to the inaugural edition of the SAFF Club Womens Championship scheduled to be held from December 5 to 20 in Kathmandu Nepal IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/east-bengal-bow-out-of-afc-womens-champions-league-after-defeat-to-nasaf-650025.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sultan-azlan-shah-cup-2025-india-begin-their-campaign-with-a-1-0-win-against-korea-650038.html Ipoh Malaysia Nov 24 The Indian Menâs Hockey Team opened their Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 campaign with a 10 win against Korea at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh Malaysia on Sunday Mohammed Raheel 15â scored the only goal of the game helping the Indian team get over the line India began the game in promising fashion stringing together neat passes and dominating possession in the opening exchanges After a spell of early pressure Sukhjeet Singh came close to opening the scoring striking the post from close range Team India eventually made their positive start count when Mohammed Raheel 15â finished off a wellworked team move giving his side a 10 lead at the end of the first quarterWith Korea trying to play catch up in the second quarter they managed to manufacture a couple of chances on the counter attack However Mohith HS denied them the equaliser with a sharp save ensuring that India kept their noses in front after a commanding first half displayIn search of a second goal India came flying off the blocks to begin the second half They continued to push Korea on the backfoot with a couple of Penalty Corners opportunities but those yielded no results With time ticking in the third quarter India had to dig deep in defence with Pawan being called into action a couple of times to ensure their lead remained intact heading into the final fifteen minutesIndia upped the ante in the fourth quarter as they looked to put the result beyond all doubt Kim Jaehan was the busier of the two goalkeepers as he denied Abhishek from close range keeping Korea in with a fighting chance with under seven minutes to go The Koreans were persistent in their search for a leveller but the Indian defence was resolute to deny them any opportunityWith under a minute to play Korea had the opportunity to steal a point from a Penalty Corner However Mohith HS stood tall and stuck out a leg to shut the door once again India held on in the end earning a hardfought win courtesy their comprehensive performance on both ends of the pitchIndia will next play Belgium on Monday at 1530 hours IST All matches of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 are being broadcast live on FanCode IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sultan-azlan-shah-cup-2025-india-begin-their-campaign-with-a-1-0-win-against-korea-650038.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 01:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/real-madrids-lead-cut-to-one-point-with-elche-draw-in-la-liga-650057.html Madrid Nov 24 Real Madrids lead at the top of La Liga was cut to one point after a 22 draw in a chaotic game away to Elche on Sunday All of the goals came in the second half with Aleix Febas putting Elche ahead after getting in behind Trent AlexanderArnold eight minutes into the second half reports XinhuaDean Huijsen headed Real Madrid level in the 78th minute but Elche was back ahead again six minutes later when Alvaro Rodriguez cut inside to beat goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with a low shotJude Bellingham saved a point for Real Madrid with an 87thminute tapin after good work from Kylian Mbappe and Huijsen with Elche asking for a foul from Vinicius Jr on goalkeeper Inaki Pena which the VAR did not giveThe home side ended the game with 10 men as Victor Chust was sent off in the 96th minuteAtletico Madrid won 10 away to Getafe whose defender Domingos Duarte deflected Giacomo Raspadoris cross into his own netMauro Arambarri hit the bar for Getafe in injury time as Atletico rode its luck to claim a fifth consecutive league winReal Betis unveiled a massive tifo in the stand ahead of its 11 draw at home to Girona to announce that attacking midfielder Isco had agreed a new contract with the club although the game was a disappointment for home fans as Girona battled to a pointVladislav Vanat put Girona ahead in the 20th minute and although Valentin Gomez saved a point for Betis the game ended in frustration when Antony saw a direct red card after kicking Girona defender Joel Roca in the head while trying an overhead kick a card that means he will miss next weekends derby against SevillaOviedo remains bottom of the table after a 00 home draw against Rayo VallecanoBoth sides ended with 10 men after Ilyas Chaira was sent off early in the second half while Rayos Pathe Ciss was given his marching orders in injury time IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/real-madrids-lead-cut-to-one-point-with-elche-draw-in-la-liga-650057.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/khawaja-to-be-assessed-for-back-issues-says-mcdonald-650061.html Perth Nov 24 Australia coach Andrew McDonald has confirmed Usman Khawaja will undergo medical assessment this week for the back issues which cropped up during the opening Ashes Test in Perth but expressed optimism that the senior opener will be fit for the second game starting on December 4 in Brisbane Khawaja was unable to open in either innings and batted only once while also missing considerable time on the field As per McDonald Australiaâs medical staff are set to investigate further as Khawaja has never previously experienced back spasms of this nature in his playing careerThere was discussions around further investigation to whether it was more serious than what we sort of first anticipated So well work through that Well get a squad together Well step through everything that we normally step through We get to camp in six days time Its a long way out a lot of information to gather between now and then and hopefully Usman is fit and available for selectionI think anytime you spasm its a result of something going on in your back So I think that further investigation is just due diligence around that You spasm for a reason He hasnt had it before so thats what will probably entail a bit more further investigation My gut feel is that it should be okay but as I said well wait for that information to present McDonald told reporters on MondayHe also conceded the selectors have âa lot to considerâ following Travis Headâs explosive century as a standâin opener in the Perth Test Headâs 123 off 83 balls in the second innings sealed a thrilling victory and has now sparked a debate over whether his role in the batting order be revisitedWeve got a lot to consider Batting orders are always debated heavily over a period of time Middle order players havent been sort of the ones that have been the popular ones to open the batting So well discuss and work through what it looks likeI think it gave us a little bit of a lens potentially to the future in terms of adjusting batting orders in second innings which is something that we have discussed To be able to put different people in different positions with the scenario that was presentedââSo this one happened probably through a bit more chance and obviously the unfortunate injury to Usman But I think it really probably opens up that discussion more than more than anything else for usâYou do it in oneday cricket you front end some of your innings you know the back end is going to be difficult to chase down the runs Then thereâs other times in oneday cricket where itâs difficult up front you back end your innings and you put all your power at the back end So can that transition and Test cricket Are people ready for thatâItâs a conversation that we have had Weâve had a conversation around Travis opening the batting for a long period of time and Trav has been on the record this week and previously around that also I suppose now that itâs out there yeah happy to talk about it Will we do it If it presents at the right time potentiallyâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/khawaja-to-be-assessed-for-back-issues-says-mcdonald-650061.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jaipur-polo-lift-kashmir-challenge-cup-secure-seasons-4th-title--650077.html Jaipur Nov 24 The Kashmir Challenge Cup concluded on Sunday with the Jaipur Polo Team captained by Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur defeating Kanota Polo 9â5 in an exciting game at the Rajasthan Polo Club In Jaipur their captain Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh and South African polo star Lance Watson maintained their flawless performance throughout the tournament scoring four and five goals respectivelyThis was the third encounter between the two teams since they were placed in the same pool at the start of the tournament with Jaipur winning all matchesJaipur began aggressively with Lance Watson scoring two early goals 125 and 635 leading his team to a 2â0 advantage Kanota Polo meanwhile couldnât find the target in the opening periodIn the second chukker Jaipur maintained their momentum as Lance Watson scored again at 335 to extend their lead to 3â0 When Kanota Polo appeared to be struggling they responded with a counterattack netting goals from Ashok Chandna at 400 and Dino Dhankhar at 640 However Jaipur still led 3â2 at the midpoint of the gameThe third chukker featured fastpaced scoring from both teams Jaipurâs Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh scored twice at 120 and 540 while Lance Watson contributed with an additional goal at 410Kanota responded with two goals from Hurr Ali at 546 and 635 By the end of the chukker Jaipur led 7â4 Jaipur dominated the final chukker scoring again at 054 to extend their lead to 8â4 Hurr Ali added Kanotaâs last goal at 140 but a lastminute shot from Lance Watson secured the victory for Jaipur ending the match 9â5Jaipur has now secured four trophies in the Indian Polo Season with more than half the season remaining IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jaipur-polo-lift-kashmir-challenge-cup-secure-seasons-4th-title--650077.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-washington-kuldeep-take-india-to-1747-but-follow-on-cloud-looms-large-for-india-650101.html Guwahati Nov 24 South Africa maintained their dominance in the ongoing second Test by reducing India to 1747 in 67 overs at lunch on day three at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Monday India still trail South Africa by 315 runs though Washington Sundarâs unbeaten 33 and Kuldeep Yadavâs resistance for 14 not out meant they are keeping the hosts in a fight through an eighthâwicket stand worth 52 runs Marco Jansenâs hostile spell of shortâpitched bowling ripped through Indiaâs middle order claiming Rishabh Pant Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja to leave the hosts reeling Though Sundar and Kuldeep have batted for 141 balls together Indiaâs immediate target will be to avoid the followâon which is 116 runs awayIndiaâs hopes of mounting a fightback after the tea break quickly unravelled when Rishabh Pant who was seen as the one batter capable of counterattacking against the Proteas fell for just seven Pantâs attempt to take on Marco Jansen backfired when he danced down the pitch for a wild slog but only edged to the keeper and burnt a reviewJansen then compounded Indiaâs issues by using his height to extract steep bounce that forced Nitish Kumar Reddy into fending a rising delivery and was brilliantly caught by a diving gully who completed the grab with one hand With Reddy departing for 10 it left India in deep troubleWashington Sundar Indiaâs best batter at number three in Kolkata came at eight and could just see Jansen continuing to wreak havoc with his barrage of short deliveries â the latest of which climbed steeply onto Ravindra Jadeja deflected off his shoulder and then took the outside edge to second slip With the review confirming the edge Jadeja was dismissed for six leaving South Africa jubilant and India despondentSundar finally managed to get going by flaying Jansen for four before using his long reach to smack Simon Harmer for six India survived a close call when Harmerâs appeal for lbw against Kuldeep was sent upstairs only for replays to show the ball had brushed the glove before looping up to short legKuldeep and Sundar then dug in displaying solid defence and application something which was missing in their other batting colleagues to frustrate South Africa Kuldeep in particular looked assured against spin thus underlining that the pitch held no demons As the ball grew older batting became easier for both Kuldeep and Sundar till lunch arrivedWhile Ravi Shastri on commentary was critical of Indiaâs batting Sundar and Kuldeep reiterated that Indiaâs woes were more about quality South African bowling and poor shot selection than the pitch itself With the game slipping away only a miracle could now alter the course of the contest for IndiaBrief Scores South Africa 489 in 1511 overs Senuran Muthusamy 109 Kuldeep Yadav 4115 lead India 1747 in 67 overs Yashasvi Jaiswal 58 Washington Sundar 33 not out Marco Jansen 443 Simon Harmer 261 by 315 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-washington-kuldeep-take-india-to-1747-but-follow-on-cloud-looms-large-for-india-650101.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-tennis-league-announces-star-studded-lineups-ahead-of-india-debut-650102.html Bengaluru Nov 24 The anticipation for the World Tennis League WTL is growing across the country as it arrives in Bengaluru scheduled from December 1720 Before the four days of tennis at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium the league announced the team owners and roster featuring a mix of international and Indian tennis stars under the dynamic new leadership 16 players 4 teams 1 champion the World Tennis Leagueâs 2025 edition promises electrifying courtside action delivered by some of the best global tennis stars and Indiaâs topseeded players guided by experienced coachesThis seasonâs franchise owners are the defending champions Game Changers Falcons owned by Amandeep Singh Game Changers FZCO VB Realty Hawks owned by Vashu Bhagnani Aussie Mavericks Kites owned by Dr Umed Shekhawat Amit Sahni and Kewal Kalra and AOS Eagles owned by AOS Sports Tournament Dubai led by Satender Pal ChhabraGame Changers Falconsâ Amandeep Singh said âWe are back to defend the title with yet another impactful lineup Our squad brings a balance of power and experience led by Medvedevâs court dominance and Bopannaâs doubles expertise With Magda and Sahaja adding depth and versatility we are looking at a powerpacked season aheadâVashu Bhagnani owner of VB Realty Hawks said âWeâve curated a team that thrives under pressure and truly reflects the competitive spirit of the Hawks Shapovalovâs explosive style paired with the consistency of Bhambri and the resilience of Svitolina and Maaya makes us a dynamic and adaptive unit Weâre here to make our first season of WTL a memorable oneâUmed Shekhawat from Aussie Mavericks Kites said âWith Kyrgiosâ explosive serve and bigmatch temperament Kostyukâs aggression and strong Indian representation through Dhakshineshwar and Ankita the Aussie Mavericks Kites are built for highimpact winning tennis Our team is ready to bring ambition and a fearless approach to WTLâs India debut leaving the fans wanting for moreâAOS Eaglesâ Satender Pal Chhabra said âA blend of experience hunger and versatility thatâs the Eaglesâ DNA This team has the spark to ignite the league and the discipline to go the distance Monfilsâ charisma Nagalâs hunger and the balanced depth with Paula and Shrivalli bring a lineup that is here to dominate WTLâTeams coaches and squads lineup1 Game Changers FalconsCoach John Laffnie De Jager JLSquad Daniil Medvedev Rohan Bopanna Magda Linette Sahaja Yamalapall2 VB Realty HawksCoach Robert LindstedtSquad Denis Shapovalov Yuki Bhambri Elina Svitolina Maaya Revathi3 Aussie Mavericks KitesCoach Julian KnowleSquad Nick Kyrgios Dhakshineshwar Suresh Marta Kostyuk Ankita Raina4 AOS EaglesCoach Mark GellardSquad Gael Monfils Sumit Nagal Paula Badosa Shrivalli BhamidipatyAs Bengaluru welcomes players from around the world WTLâs inaugural season in India promises a mix of topquality talent and authentic sporting spirit that fans will genuinely enjoy IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-tennis-league-announces-star-studded-lineups-ahead-of-india-debut-650102.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pranjali-prashant-dhumal-bags-25m-pistol-gold-in-deaflympics-650118.html Tokyo Nov 24 Pranjali Prashant Dhumal claimed gold in the womenâs 25m pistol event on Monday marking her third medal of the Deaflympics She previously secured gold in the mixed pistol event alongside Abhinav Deshwal and won silver in the womenâs air pistol Mosina Halyna of Ukraine took silver in the 25m pistol while Koreaâs Jeon Jiwon earned bronze Anuya Prasad the womenâs air pistol gold medallist finished fourth in this eventPranjali advanced to the final after setting a new world and Deaflympic qualification record with a score of 573 out of 600A day earlier Abhinav Deshwal had captured Indiaâs 15th shooting medal of the Games by winning gold in the 25m pistol event also setting a qualification recordWith this Team India has surpassed its previous best performance of 16 medals at the Brazil Deaflympics 2021 held in 2022 where the country secured 8 gold 1 silver and 7 bronzeWith two days of competition still remaining India has the opportunity to further improve its medal tallyMeanwhile Loma Swain won Indias firstever medal in Karate at the Deaflympics She won a bronze medal in Womens Kumite 50 kgIndia fielded its biggest ever 111member contingent comprising 73 athletes and 38 coaches among others for the Deaflympics in Tokyo JapanThe Deaflympics are conducted by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf ICSD Recognised by the International Olympic Committee ICSD has been functioning independently since August 1924 ICSD is not involved with the International Paralympic Committee The Deaflympics under the patronage of the IOC are the secondoldest international multisporting event in the worldIndia has been participating in the International Deaf Games since 1965 Seven male athletes and five officials took part in Indiaâs maiden appearance in Washington In 1985 three female athletes took part for the first time In the last Deaflympics 2021 held in Caxias Do Sul in Brazil in May 2022 India was represented by 39 male and 26 female athletes India won a bestever 16 medals â eight gold 1 silver and seven bronze to finish 9th among 77 participating nationsOverall India has won 26 gold medals 9 silver and 17 bronze In the last Summer Games in Brazil India sent 65 athletes to compete in 11 sports IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pranjali-prashant-dhumal-bags-25m-pistol-gold-in-deaflympics-650118.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/happy-to-end-the-season-on-a-good-note-lakshya-sen-after-australian-open-win-649994.html Sydney Nov 23 Lakshya Sen said that winning the Super 500 Australian Open after experiencing several ups and downs this season felt special as he ended a long title drought here on Sunday The shuttler defeated Japanâs Yushi Tanaka 2115 2111 in what was one of his easiest finals Speaking on his win Sen said âI have seen a lot of ups and downs this season with a few injuries at the start of the season but I kept my hard work going throughout the season and I am very happy to end the season on a good note Iâm very excited looking forward to the next season now and I am really happy with the way I played today and this weekâThis marks Senâs third Super 500 title building on his second final appearance of the year after narrowly missing out in Hong Kong It was an exciting week as Sen defeated fellow countryman Ayush Shetty and Chou Tien Chen in tough closely fought matchesAsked to describe the moment when he knew he could win Sen noted âIn the second set I was quite far off in the lead but I didnât want to get too inside my head so I wouldnât relax too much In the back of my mind it was there but I was just trying to focus on playing one point at a timeSen controlled the match almost from start to finish The closest Tanaka came to unsettling him was at 15â13 in the opening game but Sen quickly regained control varying his placements and scoring in clusters Tanaka sticking to the plan only harmed his own chances with a steady stream of unforced errorsAt 17â15 Tanaka produced a brief spell of tough defence but otherwise it was all Sen Tanakaâs attempt at backcourt drop shots kept catching the tape and Sen was finally rewarded for the effort and determination he has shown since his disappointment at the Paris Olympics last yearâIt was important to have a good start and keeping the momentum in the last set because it was quite even in the first one I got a good lead and I could finish it off The second set started on a good note and then I just kept the lead to finish the matchâ Sen concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/happy-to-end-the-season-on-a-good-note-lakshya-sen-after-australian-open-win-649994.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 16:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-have-half-a-chance-of-playing-the-next-game-says-cummins-649880.html Perth Nov 22 Injured Australia captain Pat Cummins has said that he could return for the second Ashes Test at The Gabba starting on December 4 Cummins missed the ongoing opening match in Perth due to a lower back injury and had been in doubt for the second fixture in Brisbane âItâs feeling good I had a couple of good sessions in Perth this week so having a big day where Iâd bowl around 10 overs then a couple of quieter day and then going again Itâs on track and pulling up pretty well Iâm half a chance for the next gameââIâll have a couple more bowls and then there could be about two weeks before the next one the way this one is going Iâm pretty hopeful and itâs probably better than it was a few weeks agoâ said Cummins to broadcasters Kayo Sports during day twoâs playCumminsâ return would provide a significant lift for Australia with Josh Hazlewood already sidelined from the first two Tests due to a hamstring injury that threatens to rule him out of the entire fivematch seriesHe also said a final decision on his fitness will be made closer to the second Test but expressed optimism about taking the field and leading Australia at The Gabba Itâll be a collaboration between myself and the physios the selectors and the doctorsââThereâs a few things at play and obviously Iâm not coming off a lot of cricket so you want to get a bit of a feel have a look at the wicket and work out how you think the game may pan out and make a decision If I donât want to play no one is going to put me in that positionâ added CumminsIf Cummins is cleared to play at The Gabba debutant fast bowler Brendan Doggett is expected to make way despite an impressive first outing in the longer format where he claimed five wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-have-half-a-chance-of-playing-the-next-game-says-cummins-649880.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/henry-chapman-star-as-new-zealand-seal-3-0-clean-sweep-649887.html Hamilton Nov 22 New Zealandâs fourpronged pace attack dismantled West Indiesâ fragile batting yet again completing a 30 clean sweep in Hamilton and stretching their dominant home streak to 11 straight bilateral ODI series victories Only South Africa 17 have achieved more consecutive bilateral series wins than New Zealands 11 at home in mens ODIsWithout the injured Daryl Mitchell the No1ranked ODI batter New Zealand were made to fight in their chase They slipped to 70 for 4 after losing their top three inside 11 overs and Tom Latham cheaply But Mark Chapman and Michael Bracewell steadied the innings countering the threat posed by Matthew Forde and Jayden Seales with the new ball Chapman struck 64 off 63 balls while Bracewell provided firm support in a 75run partnership off just 48 deliveries for the fifth wicket Their stand kept leftarm fingerspinner Khary Pierre playing in place of the injured Romario Shepherd out of the attack entirely turning him into a specialist fielderAlthough Chapman and captain Mitchell Santner fell close to the finish line Bracewell and Zak Foulkes closed out the chase with almost 20 overs to spareEarlier West Indies left nearly 14 overs unused after opting to bat Matt Henry led New Zealandâs attack with 4 for 43 while Kyle Jamieson Jacob Duffy and Foulkes replacing the injured Nathan Smith shared four wickets Without Shepherd West Indies lacked depthHenry triggered the collapse in the powerplay by removing Ackeem Auguste and Keacy Carty in the fifth over Auguste fell for 17 off 19 balls while Carty chopped on for a duck Jamieson then dismissed opener John Campbell for 26 off 24 balls with only Campbell and Roston Chase managing scores above 25Shai Hopeâs promising start ended on 16 when Foulkes had him caught down the leg side leaving West Indies at 77 for 4 New Zealandâs quicks continued to pound the pitch with crossseam and scrambledseam deliveries Rutherford Chase and Shamar Springer were all bounced out Chase suffered a blow to the hand and required treatment before Henry removed him for good having him topedge to extracover Pierre and Seales offered brief resistance with an 18run lastwicket stand before Henry wrapped up the inningsSantner also contributed with the ball removing Justin Greaves and Forde in his first overWest Indies fought back through Seales and Forde early in the chase but Chapman and Bracewell ensured New Zealandâs comfortable victoryBrief Scores West Indies 161 in 362 overs Roston Chase 38 Matt Henry 443 lost to New Zealand 1626 in 303 overs Mark Chapman 64 Michael Bracewell 40 not out Jayden Seales 235 by four wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/henry-chapman-star-as-new-zealand-seal-3-0-clean-sweep-649887.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 01:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/third-crpf-cricket-tournament-begins-in-jampks-srinagar-649894.html Srinagar Nov 22 The third CRPF cricket tournament started on Saturday in JampKâs Srinagar city as officials said all measures have been taken to ensure a peaceful and secure atmosphere in the city Speaking to reporters at the start of the tournament IG CRPF PK Sharma said that every possible measure has been taken to ensure a secure and peaceful atmosphere in Srinagar as the Third CRPF Cricket Tournament got underwayThis tournament has been regularly held since 2023 in November and DecemberâThe tournament aims to engage the youth in order to promote sports and culture Around 123 teams from Srinagar Baramulla and Ganderbal showed interest this year but due to time constraints a draw was held and sixteen teams were shortlisted for the tournamentâ the IG saidThe tournament is being organised in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association JKCA while the University of Kashmir has provided the groundThe IG said special emphasis has been laid on youth participationâWe have kept age restrictions to ensure more involvement of players below 19 and 23 categories Kashmir has enormous cricketing talent and enthusiasm Through sports we want to strengthen peace harmony and connect positively with the youth Sharma saidâCRPF along with JampK Police Army and civil administration is working jointly to maintain peace I donât want to go into details since today is a sports event but from our side every possible measure has been takenâ he said adding that the CRPF has been serving here for the last 35 years and the cooperation of people with them continues to growThe CRPF has been carrying out antiterror and law amp order maintenance duties in JampK working alongside the JampK police in complete synergyThe antiinfiltration duties are performed by the Army on the line of control LoC and the Border Security Force BSF on the international border IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/third-crpf-cricket-tournament-begins-in-jampks-srinagar-649894.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 01:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/tennis-premier-leagues-race-to-gold-gujarat-masters-gets-underway-in-ahmedabad-649925.html Ahmedabad Nov 22 After a successful Delhi leg the Tennis Premier League TPL Race to Gold Masters initiative got underway in Ahmedabad on Saturday Hosted in association with the Gujarat State Tennis Association the tournament will be played at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium over the Nov 2223 weekend The Race to Gold Masters initiative forms a vital part of TPLâs commitment to discovering Indiaâs next generation of tennis stars and giving them a platform to showcase their skills through the leagueâs unique 25point formatThe tournament offers a pathway to boys and girls across U10 U12 U14 and Menâs and Womenâs Open categories designed to strengthen Indiaâs domestic tennis ecosystem by providing emerging talent with vital exposure to international standards and competitive environments This leg features 160 players representing Ahmedabad Vadodara Surat Bhavnagar and Bharuch with 40 players from each region participating across all categoriesThe winners across the eight categories will receive scholarships worth â¹75000 each while also getting the opportunity to interact with tennis legends including Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna along with top international names participating in TPLâs seventh seasonIn addition they will also be recognised during a grand felicitation ceremony as part of the seventh season of TPL from December 9 to 14 2025Present at the occasion were TPL CoFounders Kunal Thakkur and Mrunal Jain along with Krishna Zaveri President GSTA Shrimal Bhatt General Secretary GSTA Rupak Kapadia Director of Tennis Gujarat University Tennis Centre Ajay Vasani Director of Tennis Gujarat University Tennis Centre and Vaidik Munshaw Director of Tennis Gujarat University Tennis CentreReflecting on the initiative CoFounder Kunal Thakkur shared âWe are thrilled to bring the Race to Gold Gujarat Masters to Ahmedabad As a city at the heart of Indiaâs sporting transformationâwith the 2030 Commonwealth Games and Indiaâs bold bid for the 2036 Olympics centred here Ahmedabad is the perfect venue for this initiative Inspired by Indiaâs Olympic ambitions Race to Gold reflects our commitment to nurturing a player capable of winning an Olympic medal in tennis This event will also set the tone for Season 7 of the league which returns to this very venue next monthEchoing those sentiments cofounder Mrunal Jain added âThe Race to Gold Gujarat Masters makes this moment even more special as it represents our commitment to taking Indian tennis to the next level Itâs a special feeling for me to be hosting the event at the TPL here Iâm an Ahmedabadi boy and it truly feels like Iâm bringing the event home The seventh season of the TPL is going to be a super hit with top players higher competition and an atmosphere that truly celebrates the growth of tennis in India Over the years the league has become a platform for rising talent international stars and passionate fans to come together and this season will take that legacy even furtherKrisna Zaveri President GSTA said âItâs a great opportunity for GSTA to host a tournament like the Tennis Premier League which brings together some of the biggest names in Indian and international tennis Events of this scale not only inspire young players but also accelerate the growth of the sport across the state For GSTA this aligns perfectly with our mission to build a stronger more inclusive tennis ecosystem TPL will play a meaningful role in elevating Gujaratâs tennis landscape and motivating the next generation of athletesâThe Tennis Premier League caravan will return to Ahmedabad for its seventh season marking a major milestone in the leagueâs journey as the TPL expands its footprint out of Maharashtra for the first time since its inceptionThis will also be the first time that the tournamentâs roster will include players ranked within the Top 50 on the international circuit providing Gujaratâs tennis fans with an opportunity to witness worldclass tennis action in the stadiumTennis Premier League Season 7 is scheduled from December 9 to 14 at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium in Ahmedabad IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/tennis-premier-leagues-race-to-gold-gujarat-masters-gets-underway-in-ahmedabad-649925.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 02:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/manipur-international-polo-tournament-kicks-off-in-imphal-649939.html Imphal Nov 22 With much fanfare the 15th edition of Manipur International Polo Tournament began on Saturday at Imphal Pologround Mapal Kangjeibung regarded as one of the oldest polo grounds in the world An official of the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association which organised the contest said that international and national teams including players from the US Colombia India A Indian Polo Association India B Manipur and India C Chhattisgarh will showcase their expertise talent skill and tactical brilliance as they compete for the championship title and the coveted winning trophyAmid numerous events the inaugural function of the 15th Manipur International Polo Tournament was held on Saturday at Imphal Pologround Mapal Kangjeibung located in the heart of ImphalManipur Horse Riding and Polo Association organised the weeklong contest with thousands of sports lovers including women gathered at the ground to witness the inaugural event and the opening matchMapal Kangjeibung looked unusually crowded for the polo matchManipur Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel welcomed dignitaries international teams and local polo associations to Manipurs international polo tournament held at the world famous polo groundHe highlighted Manipur as the birthplace of polo Sagol Kangjei and emphasised the sports deep cultural significance to the stateSagol Kangjei is an ancient Manipuri sport that is the origin of modern poloThe tournament aims to preserve Manipurs polo heritage promote the indigenous Manipuri pony and foster international collaboration Goel saidThe Chief Secretary also outlined government plans to popularise polo by improving infrastructure bringing in international coaches and hosting more global events in coordination with the Tourism Department Department of Information and Public Relations and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region DoNERHe appreciated the organisers and expressed hope for a successful tournament that upholds polos enduring spiritThe opening match featured a thrilling contest between the US Polo Team and the Colombia Polo TeamColombia emerged victorious with a 64 win setting an exciting tone for the tournamentThe sevendaylong tournament will offer thrilling moments for all horse polo enthusiasts beginning Saturday and continuing till November 27 with the grand finale scheduled on November 29Retired IAS officer H Deleep Singh who is the President of Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association MHRPA and Shailesh Kumar Chaurasia Commissioner of Manipur government graced the event as the President and Guest of Honour respectivelyThe polo tournament was organised at the same time as Manipurs annual Sangai Festival a 10day tourism festival organised by the state governments Tourism Department to boost tourism and related economyThe 10day Sangai Tourism Festival began at Hapta Kangjeibung in Manipurs capital Imphal on Friday November 21Interestingly both the events highlight two animals endemic to Manipur that are nearing extinctionhe Sangai Festival is named after the state animal the Sangai a critically endangered browantlered deer found in the marshy wetland of Keibul Lamjao National Park about 45 km from Imphal IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/manipur-international-polo-tournament-kicks-off-in-imphal-649939.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 02:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-champs-liverpool-go-down-to-nottingham-neto-enzo-help-chelsea-beat-burnley-649948.html London Nov 23 Reigning champions Liverpool went down 30 against Nottingham Forest at Anfield while former champions Chelsea continued their superb record at Turf Moor as they rode on goals by Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez to win a hardfought contest 20 at Burnley here on Saturday Liverpool were beaten 30 by Nottingham Forest in a clash at Anfield with Murillo opening the scoring against the run of play on 33 minutes to put the visiting team in front Nicolo Savona then added to their tally immediately after halftime and Morgan GibbsWhite later netted to consign the reigning champions to defeatThe Blues made some clear opportunities before Neto scored meeting a superb delivery from Jamie Gittens with a diving header in the 36th minute scoring his third goal in his last five starts in the process Neto came close to scoring a second when he struck the woodwork on the hour while Burnleyâs Martin Dubravka saved from substitute Malo Gusto as we sought to put the game to bedZian Flemming wasted the Claretsâ best chance and though they applied some late pressure Enzo struck from close range with a couple of minutes remaining to seal a third straight victory for Chelsea in the league without concedingThe Blues had defending to do in the opening quarterhour Trevoh Chalobah Santos and Tosin all made important blocks as the Clarets threatened on the flanks through Jaidon Anthony and Loum Tchaouna Santos in particular enjoyed an excellent first half mopping upChelsea looked most dangerous in transition in the early stages One fast break ended with Liam Delap shooting high and wide when a pass to either Neto or Gittens was onBoth teams were working the ball into good areas but were unable to apply the finishing touch On one such occasion shortly after the halfhour mark Delap turned excellently and freed Neto whose teasing low centre was intercepted by Kyle Walker before Gittens could convertHowever those two combined for the opening goal in the 37th minute and the course of the match changed after that though Burnley had their chancesIn other matches played on Saturday Crystal Palace defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 20 while Fulham defeated Sunderland 10 at home and Brighton overcame Brentford 21 in another home encounter IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-champs-liverpool-go-down-to-nottingham-neto-enzo-help-chelsea-beat-burnley-649948.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 02:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/verstappen-pips-norris-to-win-las-vegas-gp-649977.html Las Vegas Nov 23 Max Verstappen secured an impressive victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix denying Lando Norris and reducing the McLaren drivers lead in the standings to 42 points as Oscar Piastri finished fourth Verstappen took control of the 50lap race on the streets of Las Vegas after the initial corners passing polesitter Norris when the Drivers Championship leader ran wide through Turn 1 having initially chopped across his title rival off the lineNorris also fell behind George Russell and only reovertook the Mercedes driver in the later stages but was unable to challenge Verstappen eventually limping home nearly 21 seconds behind after nursing a late problemRussell held on for the podium despite complaining about his own issues with his Mercedes steering which nearly caused him to be overtaken by a fighting drive from teammate Kimi Antonelli who finished fourth on the road after starting P17The young Italian managed to fend off a charging Piastri and Charles Leclerc in the final moments but a fivesecond penalty for a false start dropped Antonelli to P5 in the final standings just onetenth ahead of Leclerc who lost ground in the last lapsIt meant Piastri finished P4 having dropped as low as seventh at one stage early on after being hit by Liam Lawsons Racing Bulls in the opening turn with the Australian now 30 points behind Norris in the championshipLeclerc finished P6 after an early push from P9 with Carlos Sainz completing the top seven having driven a measured drive aboard his Williams from Isack Hadjars Racing BullsThe top 10 was completed by Nico Hulkenbergs Kick Sauber and Lewis Hamilton the Ferrari driver taking the final point after starting at the back of the grid and using an opening stint on the hard tyre as did HulkenbergThe Haas pairing of Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman just missed out on points with the latter initially running inside the top 10 alongside Fernando Alonso the Aston Martin driver finishing just behind in P13The Spaniard led Yuki Tsunodas Red Bull which started from the pit lane and Pierre Gasly who found his Alpine facing the wrong way at Turn 1 on the opening lapLawson was P16 after taking damage on the second lap which necessitated a pit stop as Franco Colapintos Alpine secured the final positionAlex Albon Williams retired having at one stage collided with the back of Hamilton which required a new front wing while Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber and Lance Stroll Aston Martin both retired with damage after contact at Turn 1 on the opening lap IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/verstappen-pips-norris-to-win-las-vegas-gp-649977.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 14:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/agarkar-amp-co-slated-to-meet-in-mumbai-to-select-indias-squads-for-white-ball-games-against-sa-649981.html New Delhi Nov 23 The senior menâs selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar is scheduled to convene in Mumbai on Sunday to select Indiaâs squads for the upcoming whiteball series against South Africa said sources to IANS Agarkar along with RP Singh and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia were in Guwahati on Saturday to attend day one of the second Test against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium But IANS understands that the trio left for Mumbai from Guwahati on Sunday for the selection committee meeting at the BCCI headquartersâYes the selection meeting is today in Mumbai after being initially presumed that it would happen in Guwahati It is understood that other members are also travelling to Mumbai for itâ further said the sourcesFollowing the conclusion of the twomatch Test series India will play against South Africa in three ODIs to be played in Ranchi Raipur and Visakhapatnam and five T20Is set to take place in Cuttack New Chandigarh Dharamsala Lucknow and Ahmedabad The discussion in the Agarkarled panel is expected to centre a lot on who could lead the side for the ODI series against the ProteasThereâs a leadership vacuum in the 50over setup as captain Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer are unavailable due to neck and spleen injuries With Gill also consulting Mumbaibased spinal surgeon Dr Abhay Nene for his neck injury recovery it also puts him as a doubtful starter for the T20Is against South Africa starting on December 9IANS understands that thereâs a leadership tossup between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant with more discussions expected to happen in the selection committeeâs meeting Rahul has led India previously in ODIs and was the captain when the side beat South Africa in the 50over series in 2023Pant on the other hand is captaining India in the ongoing second Test in Guwahati but hasnât been a firstchoice starter in the 50over setup due to Rahulâs presence In Gillâs absence Yashasvi Jaiswal could partner with Rohit Sharma at the topWith Jasprit Bumrah set to be rested to manage his workload and Kuldeep Yadav expected to be on leave due to his wedding Harshit Rana Mohammed Siraj Arshdeep Singh Axar Patel Varun Chakravarthy and Washington Sundar will shape the bowling attackFor the T20I series against the Proteas barring Gill the majority of the squad is likely to be on the expected lines It would be interesting to see if Hardik Pandya is included with the seambowling allrounder on rehab mode for a quad injury recovery at the BCCI CoE in Bengaluru IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/agarkar-amp-co-slated-to-meet-in-mumbai-to-select-indias-squads-for-white-ball-games-against-sa-649981.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 14:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/my-role-is-to-look-for-wickets-starc-unfazed-after-seven-wicket-burst-in-ashes-opener-649729.html Perth Nov 21 Pacer Mitchell Starc said he had always backed his ability to take wickets even as Australia stared at a precarious position after a chaotic opening day of the first Ashes Test in Perth The leftarm quick produced a sensational spell of 7 for 58 to bowl England out for 172 but the visitors hit back hard to leave Australia tottering at 123 for 9 by stumps With 19 wickets falling â the most ever on day one of an Ashes series â Starcâs spell stood out as the defining performance of the day and he insisted he was simply doing the job that has always been expected of himâI mean itâs always the plan isnât it But it doesnât always happen that wayâ Starc said âIâve just been pretty fortunate to have done it a few times But itâs always been my role to be aggressive look for wickets Iâve never been one to worry about economy rates My role is to go looking for wickets especially with the new ball and hopefully make inroads into the oppositionâStarcâs performance came at a time when Australia are missing two of their biggest bowling assets â captain Pat Cummins back and Josh Hazlewood hamstring But the 101Test veteran said the responsibility had not weighed on himâActually strangely Iâve been quite calm all week even when we got to the groundâ he said âItâs unfortunate that we havenât got Josh and Pat with us but we still have a fair bit of experience in the bowling attackâWith Australia still trailing by 49 runs and only one wicket in hand the hosts face a steep challenge on day two Starc acknowledged that he might need to produce more magic to keep Australia alive in the contest but he refused to blame the pitch for the dramatic collapse on both sidesâTwo pretty good bowling attacks Credit to bothâ he said âI mean I thought we bowled pretty well and I thought they bowled pretty nicely So I think itâs just one of those days where you get two attacks that are on the money for the whole day and we sit here with 19 wickets downâStarc added that the Test â and the Ashes â was far from decidedâBut itâs two innings of cricket and a long time left in this seriesâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/my-role-is-to-look-for-wickets-starc-unfazed-after-seven-wicket-burst-in-ashes-opener-649729.html Sat, 22 Nov 2025 01:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-bayern-preparing-for-champions-leagues-crunch-time-649764.html Berlin Nov 21 Bayern Munich are approaching the end of 2025 with eight matches remaining including Saturdays Bundesliga game against Freiburg and the UEFA Champions League showdown against former England champions Arsenal next Wednesday The Bavarians are facing key contract extensions the return of longterm injured players Alphonso Davies and Hiroki Ito and a league recordJapanese international Ito might get some playing time this weekend after an eightmonth break due to a broken foot while Canadian international Davies is slowly returning to regular training from a torn cruciate ligamentIto and Davies are expected to rejoin the team possibly for a limited time Coach Vincent Kompany announced a cautious return emphasising that he is taking no risks reports XinhuaThis weekend Bayerns negotiations with defender Dayot Upamecano winger Serge Gnabry and midfielder Leon Goretzka dominate the headlinesKompany required thoughtful actions as the team prepares for the Champions Leagues crunch time next springBayern seems to be in full force to secure a new contract for Upamecano Recently club president Herbert Hainer visited the training ground to confirm the clubs strong interest and assess the players intentions He is happy at our side and I am optimistic we get things done Hainer saidMedia reports mention several leading European clubs including Real Madrid and Paris SaintGermain joining the race for the Frenchman while FC Barcelona Liverpool Inter Milan and Chelsea are said to have only minor chancesWith all 15 internationals returning from international action without injury Kompany prepares for the restartBoard member Uli Hoeness praised the coachs achievements saying the team the fans we have funIn past years starting from the 1980s everyone hoped the games would end quickly Now we hope they will be played forever he addedIn the Champions League 202526 Germanys most prominent club Bayern Munich have so far defeated Club Brugge 40 and beat Paris SaintGermain 21 in an away match IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-bayern-preparing-for-champions-leagues-crunch-time-649764.html Sat, 22 Nov 2025 01:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pga-tour-rough-start-for-sahith-theegala-in-first-fall-season-event-649767.html St Simons Island Nov 21 Sahith Theegala had a rough opening day at the RSM Classic the last Fall Season event on the PGA Tour Theegala who lost a good part of the year due to injury shot an even par 70 and was way down in tied125th place after the first day at the Plantation Course at Sea Island Starting on the tenth in the event being played over two courses at the Plantation Course and the Seaside course the IndianAmerican had just one birdie on the seventh which was his 16th hole and gave that away with a bogey on the ninth his final hole of the dayDoug Ghim narrowly missed a putt for 59 on a calm day of low scoring He settled for a share of the course record on the Seaside Course at Sea Island posting a 10under 60 at The RSM ClassicDavis Thompson the son of tournament director Todd Thompson and Rico Hoey also were 10 under each with a 62 at the Plantation Course used for the opening two rounds Andrew Putnam was in sight of a sub60 round until he closed with two pars for a 9under 61 on the Seaside courseJoining him at 9under 61 was Andrew Novak playing for the first time since the TOUR Championship in late August and the first time since becoming a fatherThe Seaside typically is a stronger test because of the wind coming off the water Except on this day there was no wind and exceptionally warm weather ideal for low scoresGhim came in at No 125 so this was the start he needed Hes not sure how high he has to finish to get into the top 100 and hes not sure he wants to knowJohnny Keefer 65 at T23 who led the Korn Ferry Tour this year to secure his card came into the week at No 50 in the world ranking and could use a big week in a bid to get into the Masters He overcame a rugged start with seven birdies on his last 10 holes for a 65 at Seaside IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pga-tour-rough-start-for-sahith-theegala-in-first-fall-season-event-649767.html Sat, 22 Nov 2025 01:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/its-anahat-v-joshna-in-indian-open-squash-womens-final-649770.html Indore Nov 21 Indias top womens squash player Anahat Singh will take on veteran Joshna Chinappa in an allIndian womenâs final of the Daly College SRFI Indian Open a PSA event in Indore on Saturday In the semifinals on Friday Delhi teenager and top seed Anahat edged out Irish third seed Hannah Craig 114 1012 911 116 114 while unseeded veteran Joshna rallied to beat Egyptian second seed Nadien Elhammamy 711 115 117 117 in the other semifinal of the event being jointly organised by Squash Racquets Federation of India SRFIIn the mens final top seed Youssef Soliman of Egypt defeated Yannick Wilhelmi of Switzerland 31 116 811 115 112 while third seed Mohamad Zakaria defeated Yahya Elnasasany 30 114 116 1513 in the other semifinalLate on Thursday night reigning menâs National champion Velavan Senthilkumar lost in the quarterfinals to third seed Mohamad Zakaria the Egyptian winning 117 117 116Anahat a medallist in the Asian and Commonwealth Games and Joshna a former twotime World Doubles Championships gold medallist had moved into the womenâs semifinals with commanding victories Top seed Anahat breezed past German eighth seed Katerina Tycova 115 111 114 while Joshna brushed aside Spanish seventh seed Sofia Mateos 114 116 113 in the quarterfinalsSeventh seed Ramit Tandon lost a close fivegame quarterfinal to menâs top seed Youssef Soliman the Egyptian winning 115 911 311 113 115Earlier in the womenâs section Anahat Joshna and Tanvi Khanna booked quarterfinal berths in the event Anahat defeated Pooja Arthi Raghu 112 113 112 in the prequarterfinal Joshna Chinappa stunned the fourthseeded Lauren Baltayan of France 611 116 117 112 after losing the first game Tanvi Khanna got the better of compatriot Unnati Tripathi 111 118 114 in the Professional Squash Association PSA bronze event which has a 73500 prize fund in the mens competition and 15000 for the womens event IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/its-anahat-v-joshna-in-indian-open-squash-womens-final-649770.html Sat, 22 Nov 2025 02:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-bumrah-dismisses-markram-on-stroke-of-tea-as-sa-reach-821-649840.html Guwahati Nov 22 Ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah brought a longawaited breakthrough for India by dismissing Aiden Markram on the stroke of tea as South Africa reached 821 in 265 overs against India at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Saturday Bumrah had created an opportunity earlier in the first session but KL Rahul failed to hold on to a sharp chance at slip giving Markram a life on four But the righthanded opener eventually fell in the final over before the 20minute tea break by chopping on to his stumps off BumrahUntil that dismissal Markram and Ryan Rickelton looked largely assured It would be interesting to see if India who toiled hard for the majority of the first session will be able to capitalise on the breakthrough from Bumrah and gain an edge over the Proteas in the second sessionIn the morning after electing to bat first on a fresh red soil pitch Markram and Rickelton ensured South Africa had a steady start against new ball bowlers Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj The duo got decent carry and swing though two sets of byes went against wicketkeeper and skipper Rishabh Pantâs nameThough the atmosphere was subdued at Indiaâs newest Test venue due to sparse attendance which was in complete contrast to the wellâattended Eden Gardens Test last week Bumrah and Siraj continued to keep the openers in check Markram finally opened his account with a solid punch off Bumrah for four before surviving a dropped catch by Rahul at slipWith Siraj bowling touch too full and wide Markram and Rickelton found a few boundaries off him as South Africa reached 340 at the first drinks break Nitish Kumar Reddy struggled for consistency drifting onto the pads too often and conceding boundaries to Markram while Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar found some turn and bounce though Rickelton got streaky boundaries off themCaptain Pantâs decision to bring Bumrah late in the session to deliver the breakthrough paid off when he dismissed Markram and Rahul who had earlier spilled a chance of him had a smile full of relief on his face as India finally had a wicket before teaBrief Scores South Africa 821 in 265 overs Aiden Markram 38 Ryan Rickelton 35 not out Jasprit Bumrah 17 against India IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-test-bumrah-dismisses-markram-on-stroke-of-tea-as-sa-reach-821-649840.html Sat, 22 Nov 2025 23:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hi-unveils-new-campaign-ahead-of-hockey-india-league-202526-season-649693.html New Delhi Nov 21 Hockey India on Thursday unveiled the official promo for the upcoming season of the Hero Hockey India League HIL introducing its bold new brand line âBig Is Backâ The campaign signals the leagueâs intent to scale up in ambition creativity and fan engagement backed by a refreshed identity designed to reintroduce HIL with a cinematic energetic edge The creative direction celebrates the intensity and athleticism of hockey while highlighting the emotional and cultural resonance the sport continues to hold across India The rollout spans multiple media and markets ensuring impact across every major fan touchpointHILâs return in 2024 marked a major resurgence with support from partners Prasar Bharati and Sony Sports Network helping the league achieve an extraordinary cumulative reach of 408 million viewers a 48 jump over the 2017 season The menâs final drew 307 million viewers while the mostwatched womenâs match recorded 292 million Internationally the league expanded its footprint to over 5 million viewers across 18 hockeyplaying nations through TV and OTT platforms On social media HIL surpassed 1 billion views across Facebook Instagram and X on more than 3000 pieces of contentThe new seasons campaign is anchored by a 360degree marketing strategy aimed at making HIL unmissable Highimpact animated films bring each franchise city to life massive outdoor installations build nationwide anticipation and a strong presence across radio television and OTT platforms reinforces reach A revamped social media approach will spotlight daily storytelling behindthescenes action player features reelfirst creatives and influencerled conversations that keep fans engaged well beyond matchdaysHockey India League Governing Committee Chairperson Dilip Tirkey said âWith the launch of the promo today the countdown for the new season of the Hero Hockey India League has officially begun and it will be bigger than ever HIL has played a crucial role in the growth of Indian hockey and it means a great deal to both players and fans With this strong marketing push we aim to take hockey to more people and inspire the next generationâHockey India League Governing Committee Member Bhola Nath Singh added âOur aim is to ensure that HILâs return is big exciting and easy for fans to connect with This campaign brings fresh energy to the sport and promises an experience that supporters will genuinely enjoy The excitement around the league is building once again and we are ready for itâThe league enters the new season with a focus on scale innovation and emotion determined to take hockey to every corner of the country and place it at the center of Indiaâs sporting landscapeThe Womenâs League will be held in Ranchi from December 28 to January 10 2026 while the Menâs League will run from January 3 to 26 2026 across Chennai Ranchi and Bhubaneswar IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hi-unveils-new-campaign-ahead-of-hockey-india-league-202526-season-649693.html Sat, 22 Nov 2025 00:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bcci-invites-applications-for-head-of-cricket-education-role-at-coe-in-bengaluru-649696.html Mumbai Nov 21 The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI said on Friday that it is inviting applications for the position of Head Cricket Education at its Centre of Excellence CoE in Bengaluru The position was held till recently by former India cricketer Sujith Somasunder who is now contesting for Vice Presidentâs post in the Karnataka State Cricket Association KSCA elections as a member of the Venkatesh Prasadled panelâThis fulltime position is central to BCCIâs longterm vision of developing a worldclass cricket education system that supports coaches athletes state academies and highperformance programs across the country The Head â Cricket Education will oversee the design delivery and continuous advancement of cricket and sportsscience education at the COEâ BCCI said in a releaseThe role is open to candidates up to the age of 58 and the term of work to be determined as per the employment offer Applications must be submitted by 5 pm IST on December 8 Following screening and shortlisting selected candidates may be invited for personal interviews as part of the evaluation processThe ideal candidateâs qualifications and experience should be to have a proven track record in developing and delivering cricketâeducation programmes Applicants must be an active Levelâ3 coach or higher with impeccable credentials international playing or coaching experience preferredThey should also have a strong background in coach training playerâprogress reporting and highâperformance systems is required along with a minimum of five yearsâ experience working with elite athletes prior experience as a trainer with cricket players is essentialThe ideal candidate should demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to work with diverse groups across domestic and highâperformance ecosystems coupled with high integrity discipline peopleâassessment skills and leadership abilityThe selected applicant will be responsible for administering all aspects of coach education accreditation and curriculum development at the CoE including planning implementing and reviewing all coaching courses including Level A B and C programmes as well as conducting and coordinating nationwide refresher courses for coachesThe candidate should also know about using modern performanceanalysis tools such as athletemanagement systems video analytics GPS and wearable technology to derive actionable game insights as well as collaborate with the Head of Cricket CoE on online education initiatives and the development of advanced coaching modulesThe person will also be managing the reaccreditation process for coaches and ensuring worldclass documentation of coaching content as well as work with BCCIâs Umpires Panel and Head Curator on educational seminars examinations and specialised training interventionsOther responsibilities include supporting coachintake processes for CoE Zonal Cricket Academies and specialist camps and assessing suspect bowling actions referred to the CoE and presenting findings to relevant committees IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bcci-invites-applications-for-head-of-cricket-education-role-at-coe-in-bengaluru-649696.html Sat, 22 Nov 2025 00:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/amateur-riders-club-concludes-showjumping-and-dressage-competitions--649703.html Mumbai Nov 21 The Amateur Ridersâ Club ARC on Friday successfully concluded its showjumping and dressage competitions this week bringing together some of Mumbaiâs most promising young riders including Zahan Setalvad a multipletime National Equestrian Championship Grand Prix winner and stalwart of ARC The Mumbai leg follows a highly successful series of events at premier venues across India including CEC Chennai the Lawrence School at Lovedale AVS Tezpur RERS Pondicherry PPS Nabha Equine Dreams Coimbatore Sagar Academy Mayo College Ajmer and Tollygunge KolkataJudged by Col Sunil Shivdas a 4 Federation Equestre Internationale FEI judge the competition highlighted ARCâs commitment to excellence Col Shivdas is widely respected as one of Indiaâs most qualified dressage judges a national champion seasoned international competitor and dedicated instructorDay 1 Showjumping 70 to 80 CMS amp DressageResults Showjumping 80 CMS Children I Category â RankingPlayer Name Horse Name1 Shaurya Agarwal KnighthoodResults Showjumping 80 CMS Open Category â RankingPlayer Name Horse Name1 Aariana Visionist2 Namrata Purohit Alasdair3 Shaan Bharwani WildfireResults Dressage Children II Open Category â RankingPlayer Name Horse Name1 Shlok Agarwal Boeing BoeingDay 2 Showjumping 70 to 80CMS and DressageResults Dressage Children I Category â RankingPlayer Name Horse Name1 Taarini Lodha Belvedere2 Stasya Pandya Jisamer3 Aariana Mehta Boeing BoeingDay 3 Showjumping 90CMS 10M amp 115MResults Showjumping 90CMS Children I Category â RankingPlayer Name Horse Name1 Stasya Pandya Jisamer2 Aariana Mehta Visionist3 Joint winners Shaan Bharwani Wildfire and Rhea Batura VisionistResults Showjumping 90CMS Open Category â RankingPlayer Name Horse Name1 Arya Chandorkar Grace DZ2 Riditraj Deora Adonis3 Paraj Shah NickiResults Showjumping 10M Junior Category â RankingPlayer Name Horse Name1 Arya Chandorkar Grace DZResults Showjumping 115M Open Category â RankingPlayer Name Horse Name1 Yashwardhan Thakur Adheera2 Zahan Setalvad DalioIn the Horse Inspection âDalioâ presented by Zahan Setalvad received the Best Presented Horse awardMilan Luthria Equitation Chairman at Amateur Ridersâ Club said âThe ARC provides world class facilities to riders from all over Maharashtra We arrange several national and international events at our world class facility at the Mahalaxmi race courseâHaving an acclaimed judge like Col Shivdas and hosting the Dream Alliance which combines results of competitions for youngsters from 12 centres across the length and breath of India is a golden opportunity for young talent to get exposure and experienceâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/amateur-riders-club-concludes-showjumping-and-dressage-competitions--649703.html Sat, 22 Nov 2025 00:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-19-wickets-tumble-on-opening-day-as-australia-trail-by-49-runs-649713.html Perth Nov 21 Nineteen wickets fell on a chaotic opening day of the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium where fast bowlers from both sides wreaked havoc on a bouncy surface to leave the match dramatically in the balance By stumps Australia were shellshocked at 1239 still trailing England by 49 runs after captain Ben Stokes tore through the middle and lower order with a sensational 523 from six overs building on ferocious bursts from Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse The collapse mirrored the 2024â25 BorderGavaskar opener at the same venue where 17 wickets fell on Day 1Earlier on Friday Australian spearhead Mitchell Starc produced a careerbest Ashes spell ripping out England for 172 in 325 overs with stunning figures of 758 His brutality came before a record crowd of 51531 while Harry Brookâs counterattacking halfcentury 52 lit up Englandâs innings as they rattled along at 524 runs per over No visiting team has been bowled out quicker in a first innings of a Test in Australia since 1932Starc removed Zak Crawley for a sixthball duck then trapped Ben Duckett lbw for 21 before squaring up Joe Root for a seventhball duck leaving England reeling at 393Brook unbothered launched a blistering assault â charging Australiaâs quicks cracking an 89m six and adding 55 with Ollie Pope before Cameron Green nailed Pope lbw for 46 But Starc and debutant Brendan Doggett 227 then triggered a collapse of 512 in 19 balls with Brook falling for a 61ball 52England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith clattered 33 off 22 before holing out becoming Starcâs seventh victimWith Usman Khawaja unable to open because of back spasms Marnus Labuschagne partnered with debutant Jake Weatherald â but the innings imploded immediatelyArcher dismissed Weatherald for a secondball duck on review then removed Labuschagne for 9 the ball ricocheting off his elbow into stumps Carse struck twice removing Steve Smith 17 and Khawaja 2 before Stokes entered and dismantled the inningsStokes dismissed Travis Head 21 Green 24 Starc 12 Carey 26 and Boland 0 in a devastating burst leaving Nathan Lyon 3 not out and Doggett 0 not out at the closeDoggett and Weatherald received their baggy greens as Australiaâs 472nd and 473rd menâs Test cricketers England fielded an allpace attack with Shoaib Bashir left out The 19 wickets made it the most dismissals on Day 1 of an Ashes Test since 1909 setting up a gripping second day in PerthBrief scores England 172 in 325 overs Harry Brook 52 Ollie Pope 46 Mitchell Starc 758 Brendan Doggett 227 lead Australia 1239 in 39 overs Alex Carey 26 Cameron Green 24 Ben Stokes 523 Jofra Archer 211 by 49 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-19-wickets-tumble-on-opening-day-as-australia-trail-by-49-runs-649713.html Sat, 22 Nov 2025 00:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ponting-predicts-3-2-ashes-win-for-australia-649493.html New Delhi Nov 20 Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has predicted that the hosts will clinch the upcoming fivematch Ashes series 32 over England despite it being a closefought contest Although Australia have retained the Ashes since 2018 and have been beaten by England in only four home Tests this century Ponting says he still expects England to put up a strong fight in the fivematch series Down UnderI dont think therell be any draws just the way that England play If theres reasonable weather through the Australian summer we know that the biggest concern for the last 15 years has been Sydney with the amount of days weve lost there Ponting said in the latest episode of The ICC ReviewPerth and Brisbane this time of year are normally great So I dont foresee any drawn games and I just think its going to be really really close So Im going 32 AustraliaThe fact that theres no draws I just think thats how potentially close it could be And obviously Im taking everything into account there as well The fact that England have only won four Test matches in Australia this century and Im predicting that theyre going to win two in this series So thats how much closer I think it could be he addedPonting feels Englandâs chances will hinge heavily on the form of openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett warning that Australiaâs attack can take control of the middle order if they strike early He believes the pair need to take the game to Australiaâs fast bowlers from the outset to seize early momentumI have had a bit of a look back through the last couple of years when England have played really good Test cricket and its been on the back of some really good fast positive starts from their openers Ponting notedBecause of the way that they play they come out they play their shots they put pressure back on the opposition straight away and sometimes before you know you look up at the scoreboard and they are none for 70 or 80 and youre sort of eight or 10 overs into the Test matchThats the way theyll need to do it again I think in Australia It wont be easy because the wickets in Perth and Brisbane if they happen to bat first anyway which is not Englands preferred style of playingEngland always like to bat second if they can but I just think if they dont get off to flying starts and Duckett and Crawley cant be consistent at the top of the order it just puts so much more pressure on those middleorder players on Joe Root on Harry Brook on Ollie Pope who we know hasnt got a great record in Australia eitherAnd all of a sudden you might look up and Ben Stokes is in a whole lot earlier than what England would want him to be So I think they England openers are crucialEveryone will talk about Root and Brook and Stokes and the impact that they could have on this series But if the openers dont get England off to a really good solid fast start then the Australian bowlers could dominate and get into that middleorder nice and early with the newer Kookaburra ball and it could be exactly what Australia areafter IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ponting-predicts-3-2-ashes-win-for-australia-649493.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-england-look-to-silence-australia-crowd-amp-critics-in-perth-649498.html New Delhi Nov 20 Australia and England are set to renew their rivalry when they clash in the opening Test of the Ashes series at the Optus Stadium in Perth On Friday in the early hours of the morning Brendon McCullum and his team will start their campaign to achieve something no England team has managed since the glory days of 2011 winning the Ashes overseas Furthermore England have not won any Test matches in Australia during that period Many of their trips to Australia over the past 15 years have been disappointing often resulting in some of the most onesided matches imaginableHowever with McCullum and Stokes leading and having dedicated years to developing their philosophy many believe this is Englandâs best chance to win the urn in years The duo focus on aggressive batting and bowling high release points tall players and a positive team spiritAustralias main goal is simply to win and its their priority in everything Theyve recently been led by a new head coach under whom theyve secured 25 wins in 41 Test matches marking a notable improvement from their previous performance and promoting a message of excellence Understandably this situation can be confusing for the AussiesAustralia are likely nearing the end of an era featuring modern cricket giants This team has accomplished nearly everything possible in the sport yet it often feels underrated in the broader history of cricket Securing another home series victory would be a fitting farewell for this squadEngland and Australia are leading the way in the Bazball era They top the worldâs Test runrate charts though they are nearly a full run apart The key lies in the details England has challenged a longstanding Test cricket rule â that playing the âgoodâ balls is essential â with remarkable consistencyThe Bazball approach has caused English batsmen to average 2826 and score 317 runs per over against wellplaced goodlength balls from fast bowlers just outside or on the offstump line surpassing most of their peers in both measuresAs for the players on both sides the hosts will be without their key pacers Josh Hazlewood and regular skipper Pat Cummins who have both been ruled out owing to injuries England meanwhile received a late respite as Mark Wood was cleared to play the first TestWith both teams raring to go and the Aussies missing out on a couple of frontline players itâs a massive opportunity for England to go one up in the series in the openerLive Streaming detailsThe match will be telecast on the Star Sports Network and streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in IndiaSquadsAustralia XI for first Test Usman Khawaja Jake Weatherald Marnus Labuschagne Steve Smith c Travis Head Cameron Green Alex Carey wk Mitchell Starc Nathan Lyon Brendan Doggett Scott BolandEngland XII for first Test Ben Stokes c Jofra Archer Gus Atkinson Shoaib Bashir Harry Brook Brydon Carse Zak Crawley Ben Duckett Ollie Pope Joe Root Jamie Smith wk Mark Wood IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-england-look-to-silence-australia-crowd-amp-critics-in-perth-649498.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/weve-been-building-towards-this-moment-says-mccullum-ahead-of-ashes-opener-649503.html Perth Nov 20 England head coach Brendon McCullum believes his team is prepared for the Ashes series that could be defining for them Since taking charge in 2022 McCullum and captain Ben Stokes have rejuvenated the England Test team and the former New Zealand captain said the Englishmen have been âbuilding to this momentâ come the first Test in Perth starting on FridayâTheres nothing bigger than what were about to come into This team has been together for a good couple of years and we have been building towards this moment It is the biggest stage and it is the brightest lights It is a series that could define teams the people and players within it Thats OK You know youre ready you know you have the game to compete at this level Stay together play the style you have become accustomed to and well see in a couple of months where we landâ McCullum told BBC SportEngland are set to confirm their XI for the first Test on Thursday with spinner Shoaib Bashir likely to be excluded from the 12man squad announced on Wednesday This suggests the tourists will feature a fiveman pace attack likely the fastest theyve assembled for a Test matchâIm super excited and probably a little bit more relaxed now than I was a few weeks ago Weve got our team to the start line I feel like our horse is going to run well Whether we find another horse in the race that is better than us who knowsâ he addedAfter McCullum and Stokes joined in 2022 they transformed Englands approach to the game They assembled a new team featuring several young players and achieved notable series victories at home against New Zealand and South Africa as well as against the Kiwis and PakistanHowever England have not secured a win in a highprofile fiveTest series against either Australia or India including a 22 draw in the last Ashes series on home soil in 2023 England have not secured a single Test victory in Australia since their last series win there 14 years agoâFor this team it will define the progress weve made For Stokesy to be able to lead an England team to an Ashes win away from home would be huge We understand all of that stuff but its about living in the moment and dealing with what comes Well be challenged on this tour Well have good days and bad days As long as we keep moving towards the target then well give ourselves the best chanceâ McCullum statedEngland 12man squad for 1st Test Zak Crawley Ben Duckett Ollie Pope Joe Root Harry Brook Ben Stokes captain Jamie Smith Gus Atkinson Brydon Carse Mark Wood Jofra Archer Shoaib BashirAustralia XI for 1st Test Usman Khawaja Jake Weatherald Marnus Labuschagne Steve Smith captain Travis Head Cameron Green Alex Carey Mitchell Starc Nathan Lyon Scott Boland Brendan Doggett IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/weve-been-building-towards-this-moment-says-mccullum-ahead-of-ashes-opener-649503.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mushfiqur-rahim-enters-exclusive-centurion-club-in-100th-test-649514.html Dhaka Nov 20 Bangladesh stalwart Mushfiqur Rahim has joined an elite group of cricketers by scoring a century in his 100th Test appearance Rahim the first Bangladeshi to reach the milestone of 100 Test matches produced a gritty 106 off 214 balls to put his side in control of the second Test against Ireland in DhakaWith this knock he joins an exclusive club featuring Colin Cowdrey Javed Miandad Gordon Greenidge and Graeme Smith â all of whom reached three figures in their respective 100th TestsAmong the 11 players to achieve this distinction Ricky Ponting remains a standout having struck centuries in both innings of his 100th Test against South Africa in Sydney in 2006 Before Rahim the most recent additions to the list were Joe Root in 2021 and David Warner in 2022Bangladesh having chosen to bat first closed Day 1 on 292 for 4 with Rahim stranded on 99 The 38yearold brought up his 13th Test hundred early on Day 2 an innings decorated with five boundaries strengthening Bangladeshâs bid for a series sweepBangladesh seized control as Rahim and Litton Das combined for a crucial 108run stand for the fifth wicket with the seasoned pair effectively putting the game beyond Irelandâs reach Wicketkeeperbatter Litton Das struck 128 while Mominul Haque scored a halfcentury to steer Bangladesh to 476 in their first inningsFor the visitors Andy McBrine returned with the figures 6109 while Matthews Humphreys and Gavin Hoey bagged two scalps apieceThe hosts entered the match with a 1â0 lead after an inningsand47run victory in the opening Test in Sylhet IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mushfiqur-rahim-enters-exclusive-centurion-club-in-100th-test-649514.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/chopra-backs-indian-team-to-adapt-quicker-to-guwahati-pitch-despite-many-unknowns-649527.html New Delhi Nov 20 There are many vital elements of intrigue with the ACA Stadium in Guwahati becoming Indias 28th Test venue when the second IndiaSouth Africa game begins on Saturday With India having a 30run humbling loss on a spinfriendly pitch inside three days at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata how the surface would behave in Guwahati is the cynosure of everyoneâs eyes The stadium had been one of the five venues for the 2025 Womenâs ODI World Cup and aided the batters to make runs as well as offer a lot of turn to spinners But when it comes to redball cricket an early morning start means moisture in the air will be there for an extended period and could make batting more difficult thus helping the seamersFormer India opener Aakash Chopra has backed the hosts to adapt to the conditions quicker than South Africa while admitting the unusually early start danger of losing overs in the final session and the pitchâs nature having an element of unknown makes things far more interesting in deciding the gameâs resultYes it is interesting actually because this is having a start time of 9 am When we used to play in Assam in NovemberDecember then we used to look for start at 830 because it gets dark very early in the evening So in the end the overs would be lost I feel that no matter how much we try we will lose overs So that will be a challenge for both teams as they would want to get all the overs done for the dayIt would also be on their mind because if the pitch is good to play on where there is an equal contest for the bat and ball like we saw in Delhi that it took 5 days to win a match and if you keep losing 1015 overs every day then by the end of the 4th day you have lost more than half a day which is 60 of the overs So I think that will be a challenge for both the teams in terms of how they go through their overs said Chopra a JioStar expert while replying to an IANS query during a virtual media day on ThursdayWith Guwahati having both red and black soil pitches on offer it adds to the mystery of the pitchâs behaviour Plus it is a new pitch No one has any idea how Test cricket will be played in Guwahati because it is a new Test venue Of course firstclass cricket has already happened here But how the Test will unfold will be a question in everyones mind because we often say that home conditions are beneficial when the conditions are familiar to youBut if you are playing there for the first time be it Shubman Gill or Sai Sudharsan or Rishabh Pant or Dhruv Jurel and the pitch is not as good for them as it is for Temba Bavuma or Ryan Rickelton then it feels like there is no home advantage But perhaps it is not as good as it can be in other venuesââSo it is a challenge and a slightly uncharted territory for both teams While it is correct that we are still playing in India and that advantage cannot be taken away from us as we grew up playing on these kinds of surfaces But Guwahati might be a different one though the red and black soil for the pitches there must have come from somewhere in Indiaâ he addedIn a rare adjustment the lunch and tea breaks will swap positions forcing players to rethink their dietary intake and normal routine Despite all this Chopra has backed India to bounce back and level the series 11âWe would like to believe and back ourselves to know these conditions or adapt a lot faster even if we find them slightly different as compared to say somebody who is brought up in Johannesburg and has played all his cricket at the Wanderers groundââFor him to come here and adapt will be tough So we would like to assume and believe that it is going to be a lot tougher So yes it is a new challenge for both teams But you need to back the Indian players to get the most out of it and adapt to it relatively quicker than the oppositionâ he saidWith moisture in the air and on the pitch during the early morning session it can make life difficult for anyone who loses the toss It would mean the losing side at the toss will need to negotiate tricky conditions longer than usual before the surface settles thus adding another layer of complexity to the contestThough Chopra said in jest that talking about the tossâs importance wonât have any change in Indiaâs bad luck with the toss result he also felt that if the losing side at the toss survives the opening session unscathed then it might be a blessing in disguiseâSee again it could be a blessing in disguise if what you are saying is true and it cant be a better thing Its because when you win the toss in India no one gives you bowling No matter how much data is available historically but when you see there is no grass or no live grass on the pitch and there is no or limited moisture it is very difficult to actually win the toss and bowl firstââBecause if the first session goes well then the batting will be good later on and maybe the fourth innings is going to be the toughest part of the game So since we lose tosses more than we win far more it might actually be a blessing in disguiseââYou lose the toss allow them to bat and if there is early swing available you can knock out 45 of them in the first session itself and that will give you a fairly like an upper hand So I have stopped thinking about tosses because the Indian team doesnt win tossesCatch all the action from the second Test of South Africas tour of India 2025 from November 22 9 am IST onwards live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/chopra-backs-indian-team-to-adapt-quicker-to-guwahati-pitch-despite-many-unknowns-649527.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mahit-sandhu-wins-silver-in-50m-rifle-prone-her-third-medal-at-deaflympics-649528.html New Delhi Nov 20 Rifle shooter Mahit Sandhu won silver in the 50m Prone event her third medal in the ongoing 25th Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo Mahit also broke the World Deaf Record in qualification en route to the finals She shot 2461 in the finals to secure the silver medal while Eliska Svobodova of Czechia won the gold with a score of 2472 Hungaryâs Mira Zsuzsanna Biatovszki won bronze with a score of 2250 The other Indian shooter in the finals Natasha Joshi finished in eighth position going out after a shootoffIn the finals Mahit was in fourth position after the completion of 14 shots She moved into a bronze medal after the next series of two shots overcoming Violeta Lykova of Ukraine and remained in the same position until the completion of 20 shots Mahit then hit a 98 and 102 in the next series but a 94 and 98 from the Hungarian shooter ensured the Indian moved up into silver position Mahit then finished the finals with scores of 100 and 107 but could not match up to Svobodovaâs total score as the Czech shooter also hit both her final shots in the 10sEarlier in the qualification Mahit created a new Deaf World Record finishing the six series with a score of 6197 while Natasha Joshi booked her place in the finals in seventh place with a score of 6116India have taken their medal tally to 12 in shooting at Tokyo with Mahit contributing three of them She had earlier won gold in the 10m mixed team event and a silver in the 10m individual event IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mahit-sandhu-wins-silver-in-50m-rifle-prone-her-third-medal-at-deaflympics-649528.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/australian-open-super-500-ayush-lakshya-satwik-chirag-match-into-quarters-649543.html Sydney Nov 20 Ayush Shetty and Lakshya Sen marched into the quarterfinals of the Australian Open Super 500 on Thursday setting up a tantalising allIndian clash in Sydney even as senior campaigners HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth bowed out early Ayush who has been steadily rising through the ranks after clinching the US Open Super 300 title earlier this year produced one of the biggest wins of his young career The 20yearold stunned fourth seed and world No 9 Kodai Naraoka 2117 2116 in a gruelling 68minute contest marking his second straight victory over the Japanese star this seasonIn a tight opening game that swung both ways Ayush held his nerve from 1817 to pocket three straight points He then shifted gears in the second game pulling away from 14all with a fivepoint burst to seal the matchAwaiting him next is seventh seed Lakshya Sen who battled past Chinese Taipeiâs Chi Yu Jen 2117 1321 2113 to avenge his Malaysia Open defeat earlier this year Lakshya looked in complete command early on racing to a 144 lead in the opener before Chi mounted a late surgeAfter conceding the second game the Indian regrouped sharply stitching together seven consecutive points from 77 in the decider to shut the door on his opponent and book his place in the last eightHowever it was a day of disappointment for the experienced duo of Prannoy and Srikanth Prannoy who had been stretched to three games in his opener on Wednesday couldnât match eighth seed Alwi Farhanâs pace and fell 1921 1021 in 42 minutes Srikanth still searching for rhythm despite a runnerup finish at the Malaysia Masters earlier this season went down 2022 1621 to Japanâs Shogo OgawaIn menâs doubles top seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty cruised into the quarterfinals with a commanding 2118 2111 win over Su Ching Heng and Wu Guan Xun of Chinese Taipei They will next face the Indonesian fifthseeded pair of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/australian-open-super-500-ayush-lakshya-satwik-chirag-match-into-quarters-649543.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/steve-smith-warns-australia-must-keep-stokes-quiet-as-ashes-begins-in-perth-649565.html Perth Nov 20 Australiaâs standin captain Steve Smith has identified England captain Ben Stokes as the âman to keep quietâ as his side gears up for the opening Test of the Ashes at Perth Stadium on Friday With regular skipper Pat Cummins injured Smith will lead Australia for the 41st time in Test cricket and is acutely aware of the threat Englandâs talisman poses âHe Stokes has done a terrific job with England over the last couple of yearsâ Smith said on the eve of the first Test âPotentially heâs someone who you dont want to get riled up He has had a few performances against us where hes either taken the game away from us or pulled it back for England Hes a quality performer whether its bat ball or in the field Hes always in the game giving his 110 Hopefully we can keep him quietâEngland enter the series with growing confidence under the StokesBrendon McCullum leadership known for its aggressive cricketing philosophy Smith acknowledged the challenges of countering Englandâs hightempo approachI think its just playing the tempo of the game that needs to be played at each certain time he said Ive no doubt throughout this series theres going to be periods of the game where a few of their batters get off and they score some runs quickly And for us it might be about being a little bit defensive in those moments And then finding the moments where we can attack a bit more and just playing the game really thats in front of us and not letting it drift too farâAustralia will also hand debuts to Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett in the series opener with Weatherald set to partner Usman Khawaja at the top Smith said the 31yearold lefthander has earned his Baggy Green through outstanding domestic formâI watched him bat in the nets pretty closely the last few days They are pretty tricky nets â fast bouncy and a lot of seamâ Smith noted âThe guys were charging in and bowling really fast in the nets He took it on and got in really good positionsâ He has been selected for his performances in the last 18 months in particular He has batted exceptionally well at the top of the order for Tasmania and hopefully he can bring that to the Test arenaââIm really excited for him and he has worked hard for a long period of time and he is going to complement Usman Khawaja pretty well up topâ he addedAustralia have won four of their five Tests at the Perth Stadium but suffered a defeat to India in their last appearance Smith believes conditions will be favourable but insists adaptability will be crucialâIt looks like a good wicket Looks pretty similar to last summer Its going to have some decent pace and bounce in it Its probably not as hot as it was last year so potentially may not crack up as much as it didâ he saidâWe have got to adapt quickly to try and find the top of the stumps as early as possible But these guys our bowlers are quality bowlers and I hope we do thatâ said SmithWith soldout crowds for the opening three days Smith said the anticipation around the series adds to the excitement âI think its a great venue Im super excited that the first three days are sold out This series has been on peoples radar for a long time I think its a nice place to start the summerâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/steve-smith-warns-australia-must-keep-stokes-quiet-as-ashes-begins-in-perth-649565.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipc-governing-board-elected-at-extraordinary-general-assembly-649571.html Bonn Nov 20 The election of the International Paralympic Committee IPC Governing Board was completed during an online Extraordinary General Assembly with seven MembersatLarge elected The election of these members was conducted as per the decision in the General Assembly in September In Septemberâs General Assembly in Seoul South Korea the IPC members elected Brazilâs Andrew Parsons as President for a third term and voted in Portugalâs Leila Marques Mota and Denmarkâs John Petersson as VicePresidents However due to time constraints the election of the seven MembersatLarge was adjourned after the first round of electionsOn Thursday Debra Alexander Chelsey Gotell Fernando RiaÃo Mohamed Duaij Alkhalifa Robyn Smith Miki Matheson and Bradley Snyder were elected as MembersatLarge to serve fouryearlong termsThe seven join Parsons Mota and Petersson on the IPC Governing Board as well as IPC Athletesâ Council Chairperson Vladyslava Kravchenko and First ViceChairperson Josh DueckAndrew Parsons IPC President said âFollowing todayâs online IPC Extraordinary General Assembly I want to congratulate the seven MembersatLarge who were elected by the IPC membership We now have a 12strong Board which due to its diversity and experience will bring immense strength to propel the Paralympic Movement forward over the next four yearsâThe Board boasts six males and six females and all five regions are represented Within the Board there are eight Paralympians which means that the athletesâ perspective will continue to be taken into account on all issues and Board decisionsâTo the outgoing Board members I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart for their tremendous work I am proud to have worked alongside you in the service of our members and the athletes they serveâIn particular I would like to give a special mention to Duane Kale for his outstanding service including two terms as VicePresident Duaneâs methodical and calm approach to everything is best exemplified by his leadership of the IPC Governance Review and made him an outstanding VicePresident and Board memberâAll members of the IPC Governing Board elected in 2025 will serve a fouryear term through to the 24th IPC General Assembly which will be held in late 2029 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipc-governing-board-elected-at-extraordinary-general-assembly-649571.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/roach-hodge-return-to-west-indies-squad-for-nz-tests-649592.html St Johns Antigua Nov 21 Kemar Roach has been brought back into the West Indies Test squad for their December tour of New Zealand The veteran fast bowler features in a 15man group for the threematch series stepping in as Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph remain sidelined with injuries Roach who last appeared in a Test in January in Multan during the Pakistan tour adds valuable experience to a pace unit that otherwise lacks exposure That attack includes 29yearold Ojay Shields who has earned his first Test callupAllrounder Kavem Hodge has also returned to the squad after his most recent Test outing in Multan while leftarm orthodox spinner Khary Pierre has been omittedShields Roach and several other squad members recently wrapped up a twoweek highperformance training camp in the Caribbean They are scheduled to link up with the rest of the team â already in New Zealand for the ongoing ODI leg â on November 20 ahead of a twoday warmup game against a New Zealand XI in ChristchurchThe upcoming Tests form part of the current World Test Championship cycle West Indies sit at the bottom of the standings among teams that have played having lost all five of their matches so far New Zealand meanwhile have yet to begin their WTC campaign making this series their first step into the new cycleCricket West Indies Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe said New Zealand has traditionally been one of the toughest places for any touring side which is why strong emphasis has been placed on targeted preparation The recent highperformance camp here in Antigua was designed to replicate as closely as possible the conditions we expect to face particularly the pacefriendly surfacesâThat level of intentional preparation combined with the advantage of several squad members already in New Zealand for the whiteball portion of the tour gaining valuable time to acclimate means this group goes into this series as wellprepared as any West Indies squad to tour there in recent yearsâWest Indies squad Roston Chase c Jomel Warrican vc Alick Athanaze John Campbell Tagenarine Chanderpaul Justin Greaves Kavem Hodge Shai Hope Tevin Imlach Brandon King Johann Layne Anderson Phillip Kemar Roach Jayden Seales Ojay Shields IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/roach-hodge-return-to-west-indies-squad-for-nz-tests-649592.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/telangana-cm-congratulates-nikhat-zareen-on-bagging-gold-in-world-boxing-cup-finals-649642.html Hyderabad Nov 21 Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has congratulated boxer Nikhat Zareen on securing the gold medal in the World Boxing Cup Finals Commending her exceptional performance in the 51 kg category at the event being held in Greater Noida the Chief Minister noted that she has once again brought immense pride to the nation on the international stageThe Chief Minister stated that her remarkable achievement will serve as a source of inspiration for youth and aspiring sportspersons to pursue their goals with unwavering determination and confidenceHe also conveyed his best wishes to Nikhat Zareen for continued success in all her future endeavoursFormer Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu posted on X that the country is proud of the unparalleled victory of Indian boxers in the World Boxing Cup FinalsHeartfelt congratulations to all of them for achieving a historic victory by winning a total of 20 medals including nine gold medals with their amazing sporting fighting spirit In particular special congratulations to Nikhat Zareen from Nizamabad Telangana state who achieved a gold medal with her amazing punches I believe that Indian athletes will continue to register amazing victories on international platforms with the same spirit in the future as well he saidBharat Rashtra Samithi BRS working president K T Rama Rao also congratulated Nikhat Zareen on winning the Womens 51 KG World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 titleYour relentless hard work and indomitable spirit continue to make India and Telangana proud You are an inspiration to countless young girls who dare to dream big Hereâs to many more victories reads KTRs post on XHeartiest congratulations to Nikhat Zareen on clinching the Womens 51 KG World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 crown Your unwavering dedication reflects in every triumph bringing immense pride to India and Telangana Wishing you many more glorious victories in the years ahead posted Telangana Jagruthi leader K Kavitha IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/telangana-cm-congratulates-nikhat-zareen-on-bagging-gold-in-world-boxing-cup-finals-649642.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 16:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/australian-open-lakshya-sen-defeats-ayush-shetty-to-enter-semis-649645.html Sydney Nov 21 Lakshya Sen powered past a determined Ayush Shetty in straight games to reach the menâs singles semifinals of the Australian Open Super 500 at Sydney Olympic Park on Friday The seventh seed who had also defeated the 20yearold at the same stage of the Hong Kong Open earlier this year prevailed 23â21 21â11 to book a semifinal meeting with second seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese TaipeiWorld No 9 Chou the 2018 Asian Games silver medallist battled past Farhan Alwi 13â21 23â21 21â16 in a gruelling contest that stretched to 1 hour and 23 minutes Alwi had earlier shocked Indian veteran HS Prannoy in the round of 16Sen 26 who reached the Hong Kong Open final earlier this year but is still chasing his first title of the season faced stiff resistance from Ayush Shetty in the opening game Trailing 6â9 Sen strung together four points from 9â10 to move ahead 13â10 Shetty â the US Open Super 300 champion â kept clawing back in a fluctuating opener even drawing level at 21â21 before Sen finally sealed itThe second game of the 53minute match was far more straightforward with Sen racing to a 6â1 advantage and stretching it to 15â7 as Shettyâs challenge faded Sen now stands as Indiaâs lone representative after early exits for Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth in menâs singles on ThursdayIn menâs doubles top seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty who cruised into the quarterfinals with a comfortable win over Su Ching Heng and Wu Guan Xun of Chinese Taipei lost to fifth seeds Indonesians Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 1921 1521 to bow out of the tournament IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/australian-open-lakshya-sen-defeats-ayush-shetty-to-enter-semis-649645.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 16:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-name-23-man-squad-for-afc-u17-asian-cup-2026-qualifiers-649666.html Ahmedabad Nov 21 India U17 mens head coach Bibiano Fernandes has named a 23member squad for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers beginning Saturday at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad India will face Palestine November 22 Chinese Taipei November 26 Lebanon November 28 and Islamic Republic of Iran November 30 The group winners will qualify for the final tournament in Saudi Arabia next year which will act as the qualification pathway for the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2026Group A will see hosts China PR Bangladesh Bahrain Brunei Darussalam TimorLeste and Sri Lanka doing battle while Group B will be contested by 2002 runnersup Yemen Laos hosts Kyrgyz Republic Cambodia Guam and PakistanThe Group C challenge will involve hosts Vietnam Malaysia Singapore Hong Kong China Northern Mariana Islands and MacauAustralia headline Group E with 2016 winners Iraq Philippines Jordan hosts and Bhutan standing in their way while Thailand hosts Kuwait Turkmenistan Mongolia and Maldives will vie for the automatic spot from Group FGroup G will see twotime winners Oman Afghanistan Myanmar hosts Syria and Nepal going head to head AFC U17 Asian Cup will be contested on May 7 to 24 2026Indias 23member squad for AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 QualifiersGoalkeepers Manashjyoti Baruah Maroof Shafi Rajrup SarkarDefenders Abhishek Kumar Mondal Ankur Rajbagh Indra Rana Magar Korou Meitei Konthoujam Lawmsangzuala Md Aimaan Bin Shubham PooniaMidfielders Dallalmuon Gangte Denny Singh Wangkhem Diamond Singh Thokchom Mukundo Singh Ningthoujam Nitishkumar Meitei Yengkhom Thonggoumong TouthangForwards Aazim Parveez Najar Azlaan Shah Kh Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam Heeranganba Seram Jasir Khan Lesvin Rebelo Rahan Ahmed IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-name-23-man-squad-for-afc-u17-asian-cup-2026-qualifiers-649666.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 16:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/dane-van-niekerk-returns-to-south-africas-squad-for-white-ball-series-against-ireland-649668.html Johannesburg Nov 21 Former South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk has been named in the national squad for the upcoming whiteâball series against Ireland set to happen from December 5 to 19 Dane had retired from international cricket in March 2023 after she missed out on playing in a home T20 World Cup due to failing to meet CSAs fitness requirements She then reversed her retirement in August this year and has now made a return to the Proteas setup for the first time since September 2021Dane has been impressive with both bat and ball for the WSB Western Province in domestic cricket and was also included in the 20member training squad for the 2025 Womens ODI World Cup where South Africa finished as runnersupâFollowing a captivating run to the Cricket World Cup final where the team demonstrated their worldclass ability we are excited to shift our focus to another intriguing chapter for this groupââWith the contest against Ireland ahead we have taken this opportunity to take a closer look at the options within our playing pool providing valuable international exposure while staying true to our processes as we build towards next yearâs T20 World Cup and the longerterm goal of the 2029 50over World CupââDaneâs return is a result of her notable domestic form where she has shown consistency and skill We look forward to her contribution across both formatsâ said Clinton du Preez Proteas Women Convenor of Selectors in a statementApart from her South Africaâs T20I squad features several international returnees like topâorder batter Faye Tunnicliffe earning a recall on the back of strong form in the domestic games as well as legâspinner Seshnie NaiduThe rest of the Proteas team includes skipper Laura Wolvaardt seasoned allârounders Sune Luus Marizanne Kapp Chloe Tryon Nadine de Klerk Nondumiso Shangase and Annerie Dercksen The bowling unit includes leftarm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba and pace duo Ayabonga Khaka and Masabata Klaas while wicketkeepers Sinalo Jafta and Karabo Meso will share dutiesIn terms of ODIs with focus firmly on the 2029 Womenâs ODI World Cup allrounder Leah Jones has earned her maiden international callup for the 50over series She could make her debut alongside Faye and lefthanded batter Lara Goodall who returns to the national setup for the first time since the ODI triseries in Sri Lanka earlier this yearFast bowler Ayanda Hlubi and allrounder ElizMari Marx also return after missing out on ODI World Cup selection They join the likes of Laura Sune Nonkululeko Nondumiso Tumi Sekhukhune Miane Smit and opening batter Tazmin Brits who is rested for the T20I series for completing her return to play programme after recovering from a knock to the shoulder sustained in the World Cup semifinal against IndiaâThe ODI series also provides ideal conditions for us to begin shaping our strategy for the next World Cup cycle particularly with the upcoming ICC Womenâs Championship 2025â2029ââLeah Jones along with several other domestic performers has shown growth and maturity in her game This is a fantastic opportunity for her to step up to the international levelâ added du PreezCSA added that among those resting or focusing exclusively on the T20I series will be Marizanne Ayabonga Masabata Chole Nadine and Annerie while Anneke Bosch will return to domestic cricket with the TitansâThis is a period full of promise and new energy following our World Cup campaign Reflecting and resetting were crucial and I believe we have done that well Moving into the Ireland tour we bring a renewed sense of excitement and a desire to improve and inspire in front of our home crowdââI am looking forward to working with all the players selected both the new faces and the returning ones as we continue our journey towards achieving our goals Ireland will challenge us and we must be ready to absorb pressure while maintaining our positive and brave brand of cricket I am particularly interested to see how the new combinations come together as these elements will contribute to our continued growth as a teamâ said head coach Mandla MashimbyiThe first T20I will take place at Newlands Cricket Ground on December 5 marking it as the Proteasâ return to the venue for the first time since their historic maiden T20 World Cup final in February 2023 The series will then continue at Boland Park and Willowmoore Park on December 7 and 10 respectivelyThe ODI games will happen on December 13 16 and 19 at the Buffalo Park Stadium St Georgeâs Park and the Wanderers Stadium respectively South Africaâs T20I squad will assemble in Cape Town on November 29 to begin preparations for the opening fixtureSouth Africa T20I squad Laura Wolvaardt Captain Nadine de Klerk Annerie Dercksen Sinalo Jafta Marizanne Kapp Ayabonga Khaka Masabata Klaas Sune Luus Karabo Meso Nonkululeko Mlaba Seshnie Naidu Nondumiso Shangase Chloe Tryon Faye Tunnicliffe and Dane van NiekerkSouth Africa ODI squad Laura Wolvaardt Captain Tazmin Brits Lara Goodall Ayanda Hlubi Sinalo Jafta Leah Jones Sune Luus ElizMari Marx Karabo Meso Nonkululeko Mlaba Tumi Sekhukhune Nondumiso Shangase Miane Smit Faye Tunnicliffe and Dane van Niekerk IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/dane-van-niekerk-returns-to-south-africas-squad-for-white-ball-series-against-ireland-649668.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 16:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/josh-inglis-added-to-ca-xi-squad-for-four-day-clash-against-england-lions-649483.html New Delhi Nov 20 Wicketkeeperbatter Josh Inglis has been included in the CA XI squad for the upcoming fourday match against the England Lions at Lilac Hill Caelan Maladay has also been named as a replacement for Aidan OâConnor from last weekâs squad announcement All thirteen squad members will be eligible to participate in the match The fourday game between the CA XI and the England Lions starts on Friday at Lilac Hill in PerthJhye Richardson with 36 international caps and recent struggles with recurring injuries was a notable addition to the squad announced last week on FridaySince his matchwinning fivewicket haul in Adelaide during the 202122 Ashes Richardson has only appeared in four firstclass matches over the past four years and had shoulder surgery earlier this yearIf his ongoing comeback goes well Richardson might play again against the England Lions for Australia A at Allan Border Field starting December 5 The match starts the day after the second Ashes Test in Brisbane giving him another chance to demonstrate his readiness for the fivematch seriesIt was earlier reported that an additional player from Australias Test squad either Brendan Doggett or Josh Inglis would be added to the team With Doggett now being named in Australiaâs playing XI for the Ashes opener Inglis was added to the CA squadRichardson and Jake FraserMcGurk are the only players with a cap for Australia in the squad and Mackenzie serves as captainEight team members are 24 or younger including 2024 U19 World Cup winners Charlie Anderson and Aidan OConnor Englandâs primary Test squad is also set to compete in a twoday game against the Prime Ministerâs XI in Canberra between the first and second Ashes Tests13player squad Mackenzie Harvey c Caelan Maladay Cameron McClure Charlie Anderson Jack Sinfield Jake FraserMcGurk Jake Scott Jhye Richardson Josh Inglis Liam Blackford Nivethan Radhakrishnan Teague Wyllie Xavier Crone IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/josh-inglis-added-to-ca-xi-squad-for-four-day-clash-against-england-lions-649483.html Thu, 20 Nov 2025 23:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-real-madrids-militao-out-for-at-least-two-weeks-with-groin-injury-649388.html Madrid Spain Nov 19 Real Madrid will be without central defender Eder Militao for two busy weeks after the club confirmed on Wednesday that he has suffered a groin injury Militao suffered the injury after an hour of Brazils friendly match against Tunisia on Tuesday Real Madrid said on its official website Following tests carried out today Eder Militao has been diagnosed with a muscular injury to the adductor magnus in his right leg Further updates will follow read a club statementAlthough Real Madrid did not give a comeback date Spanish sports paper Diario AS estimated Militao will be out of action for at least two weeks missing La Liga games against Elche Girona and Athletic Club and a Champions League game against Olympiakos reports XinhuaMilitao will also be a doubt for another La Liga match against Celta Vigo and a key European tie against Manchester City on December 10Real Madrid are still without German defender Antonio Rudiguer while Dani Carvajal is sidelined after a knee operationEarlier Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen was released from the Spain squad and missed Tuesdays World Cup qualifying game against Türkiye due to muscle discomfortThe injury had already sidelined Huijsen from Spains 40 win away to Georgia on Saturday which all but assured the reigning European champions of direct qualification for next years World Cup in the United States Mexico and CanadaDean Huijsen has been withdrawn from the squad for Spains final 2026 World Cup qualifier against Türkiye due to muscle discomfort that also prevented him from playing against Georgia a situation his club has been kept informed ofAs is customary and prioritising the players health and wellbeing the Spanish Football Federation has decided to release him from the squad the RFEF said in a statementThese two recent developments exacerbate Real Madrids problems after they were held to a 00 draw away to Rayo Vallecano dropping points in La Liga for just the second time this season Xabi Alonsos side failed to create clear chances after its midweek Champions League defeat to Liverpool while Rayo pressed effectively to keep the leaders at bay and limit Kylian MbappeRayos display drew extra credit given that the side coached by Inigo Perez played a UEFA Conference League match on Thursday night and had just 65 hours 48 fewer than Real Madrid between that fixture and Sundays kickoff IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-real-madrids-militao-out-for-at-least-two-weeks-with-groin-injury-649388.html Thu, 20 Nov 2025 06:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/weatherald-and-doggett-to-debut-as-australia-name-xi-for-ashes-opener-649430.html Perth Nov 20 Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett are set to make their Australian debuts in the opening Ashes Test at Perth Stadium with Beau Webster dropping out of the final XI Cameron Greenâs full return to bowling provided the final assurance selectors needed Despite the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood prompting some thought of bolstering the attack the panel opted to stick with four specialist bowlers supported by Greenâs allround skillsMarnus Labuschagne will slot back into his preferred No 3 position after an outstanding start to the season with Queensland while Nathan Lyon also comes back into the side after missing the daynight Test in Jamaica where Australia selected an allpace lineupThis will be the first time since 2019 â when Kurtis Patterson and Jhye Richardson debuted against Sri Lanka at the Gabba â that Australia hands two players their first caps in the same Test Itâs also the first occurrence in an Ashes match since Usman Khawaja and Michael Beer debuted at the SCG during the 2010â11 seriesDoggettâs inclusion covering for the injured Hazlewood is historically significant Australia will field two Indigenous Test players in the same XI for the first time The 31yearold has been in strong form for South Australia since returning from a hamstring issue collecting 13 wickets at 1469Weatherald will become Khawajaâs sixth opening partner since David Warner retired in early 2024 On Thursday morning he spent time visualising his innings in the middle at Perth Stadium before fitting in another session during Australiaâs final optional training runWebster who plays alongside Weatherald for Tasmania is a hardluck omission Since debuting against India at the SCG earlier this year he has scored four fifties in seven Tests under challenging conditions Although he had two quiet matches in the Sheffield Shield he picked up eight wickets for Tasmania against South Australia last weekAustraliaâs reshuffled batting order returns Green to No 6 the spot he occupied early in his Test career following recent stints at No 3 in the West Indies and No 4 before the back injury that sidelined him last seasonJosh Inglis set to feature for the CA XI against England Lions during the first Test and Michael Neser are the other players to miss out from Australiaâs 14man squadAustralia XI for first Ashes Test Usman Khawaja Jake Weatherald Marnus Labuschagne Steven Smith capt Travis Head Cameron Green Alex Carey wk Mitchell Starc Nathan Lyon Scott Boland Brendan Doggett IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/weatherald-and-doggett-to-debut-as-australia-name-xi-for-ashes-opener-649430.html Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/smith-needs-to-have-great-series-for-australia-to-win-ashes-says-ponting-649436.html New Delhi Nov 20 Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting asserted that the home side needs a strong performance from Steve Smith to lead the fiveTest Ashes starting on Friday in Perth With Pat Cummins sidelined for the opening Test because of a back injury and his availability for the second match in Brisbane still uncertain Australia will again turn to Smith to lead the teamPonting believes Smith will thrive with the armband back on Smithâs numbers as skipper are striking he averages 6898 when leading almost 13 runs higher than his overall career mark of 5602 In comparison his average drops to 4990 in matches where he isnât the captainI think his batting record as captain is better than it is as a player anyway Ponting said in the latest episode of The ICC ReviewSo his average is better than it is as a normal player The fact that theres a bit of conjecture around Australias toporder I think means that Smith needs to have a great series with the bat for Australia to winâThere are always lots of people looking and talking and commenting on the way the captains go and as a captain these are the moments that you live forThese series being able to forge your reputation in Ashes series whether youre an Englishman in Australia or youre the home captain this is what we all play for So Im really looking forward to not just the battle between the two captains but these two teams for me line up incredibly well and I cant wait for Friday to come aroundPonting had initially tipped Josh Hazlewood to finish the Ashes as the top wickettaker across both teams but revised his prediction to fellow Australian Mitchell Starc after learning the seasoned quick would be unavailable for the opening Test in PerthI actually had Hazlewood in as the leading wicket taker so Im going to have to take that out now and Ill go Mitchell Starc now as the leading wicket taker across the series Who knows whats going to happen if they happen to rest and rotate thats the thing that we dont knowIf Cummins comes back in and then Hazlewood comes back in a little bit later there might be an opportunity that Starc misses one of those games He wont want tobut thats the hardest thing I think about trying to pick a leading wickettaker now is you just dont know what theyre thinking about getting him through five Test matches So Ill go with StarcAnd I just think everything is aligned perfectly for Steve Smith to be the leading run scorer Back in that No4 spot has made hundreds in his last few Test matches that hes played freshened up off a break being in New York away from everything for a while scores a 100 when he comes back in his first Sheffield Shield gameI think he averages over 60 with the bat as captain And I just think that it probably should be an Australian to be leading runscorer just considering the conditions and how hard it generally is for touring teams here I might be a little bit biased but Starc with the wickets and Smith with the runsâ the former captain added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/smith-needs-to-have-great-series-for-australia-to-win-ashes-says-ponting-649436.html Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/australian-open-satwik-chirag-move-to-second-round-treesa-gayatri-bow-out-649228.html Sydney Nov 18 Indian mens doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have moved to the second round of the Australian Open a BWF World Tour Super 500 event at Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday The Indian duo outclassed Chinese Taipeiâs Chang Kochi and Po LiWei 2523 2116 in 48 minutes to set up a round of 16 clash with Su Ching Heng and Wu Guan Xun another pair from Chinese TaipeiWorld No 3 pair Rankireddy and Shetty coming off consecutive finals at the Hong Kong Super 500 and China Masters Super 750 recovered from an early 2â6 deficit against Taiwanâs KoChi and LiWei in the firstever meet between the opponents The Taiwanese maintained a slight lead until 16â14 but Satwik and Chirag rallied to 19â17 The opener became a tight contest with both pairs exchanging game points A sharp net shot earned the Indians a chance to close the game but the Taiwanese saved it with a strong smash After several tense points â including errors on both sides â the Indians finally secured the game when their opponents hit the netChanging sides Satwik and Chirag moved ahead 7â4 though two net errors and a powerful smash from the Taiwanese brought the game level The next few points were shared evenly until the Indians took a onepoint edge at the interval after a long Taiwanese smash Maintaining steady pressure they stretched the lead to 18â15 and wrapped up the match with two wellplaced smashes completing a composed finishIn womenâs doubles fourthseeded Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand exited early falling 21â10 21â14 in 40 minutes to Indonesiaâs Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari The match marked the Indian duoâs return after a threeandahalfmonth break and they struggled to match the Indonesiansâ tempo and precisionIndiaâs singles players â Lakshya Sen HS Prannoy Kidambi Srikanth and Ayush Shetty â will begin their campaigns on Wednesday aiming for deep runs in the tournament IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/australian-open-satwik-chirag-move-to-second-round-treesa-gayatri-bow-out-649228.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 01:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/lauren-hemp-returns-to-england-womens-football-squad-649229.html London Nov 18 England forward Lauren Hemp has returned to the national squad for the first time since Euro 2025 after recovering from an ankle injury while fellow attacker Lauren James has been left out despite recently returning to club action Hemp 25 was sidelined for two months but made successful comeback appearances for Manchester City in their wins over Everton and Manchester United convincing Sarina Wiegman to recall her for the upcoming international friendlies against China and Ghana on November 29 and December 2James however has yet to start for Chelsea this season following the ankle problem she sustained in the Euro 2025 final win over Spain and despite substitute outings against St Polten and Liverpool has not been deemed ready for England dutyWiegman named a 25player squad featuring a mix of returning faces and new opportunities West Ham defender Anouk Denton retains her place after being named in last monthâs squad while there is a first senior callup for Freya Godfrey the London City Lionesses forward who has impressed in the WSL this seasonManchester City midfielder Grace Clinton also returns after withdrawing from Octoberâs fixtures with a minor injury Gotham FC defender Jess Carter has been given time to rest following the NWSL playoffs but Washington Spirit centreback Esme Morgan is included despite playing in Saturdayâs 20 win over Portland ThornsChelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton misses out with a thigh injury days after winning the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper at the Ballon dâOr awards and amid headlines sparked by Mary Earpsâ criticism of her in a new autobiographySeveral key players remain unavailable including Euros breakout forward Michelle Agyemang ruled out after suffering an ACL tear in last monthâs win over Australia as well as captain Leah Williamson Alex Greenwood and teenager Katie Reid all recovering from knee or ACL injuriesSquadGoalkeepers Khiara Keating Anna Moorhouse and Sophie BaggaleyDefenders Lucy Bronze Lotte WubbenMoy Niamh Charles Maya Le Tissier Esme Morgan Taylor Hinds Grace Fisk and Anouk DentonMidfielders Grace Clinton Ella Toone Georgia Stanway Keira Walsh Laura Blindkilde Brown Missy Bo Kearns and Lucia KendellForwards Beth Mead Chloe Kelly Aggie BeeverJones Alessia Russo Lauren Hemp Freya Godfrey and Jess Park IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/lauren-hemp-returns-to-england-womens-football-squad-649229.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 01:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/visually-impaired-medallist-saurabh-sharma-prepares-for-debut-at-adani-ahmedabad-marathon-649237.html Ahmedabad Nov 18 For 20yearold paraathlete Saurabh Sharma the upcoming Adani Ahmedabad Marathon represents more than just a race it symbolises his progress in sport and personal growth A visually impaired runner from Himachal Pradesh Saurabh has competed on prominent paraathletics platforms both nationally and internationally Participating in the Ahmedabad Marathon will be a significant new milestone in his inspiring journey Born with partial blindness Saurabh started his sporting career at the National Drishti Divyangjan Empowerment Institute in Dehradun where coach Naresh Singh Nayal guided him Though initially interested in football and cricket it was his coach who introduced him to running a change that would ultimately shape his athletic path careerâIn 2021 I competed in my first Para Nationals in Bengaluru and finished among the top five The next year I won my first medal in the 5000m in Odisha In 2024 I travelled to Switzerland for my first international event and won two gold medals there Thatâs when I realised how far this journey could goâ said the 20yearold who claimed two gold medals at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2024 in SwitzerlandSaurabh has represented India in the 1500m and 5000m T12 events at international competitions in Tunisia and India He has also won medals at both editions of the Khelo India Para Games in 2023 and 2025 Currently he trains at the SAI Centre in Gandhinagar under Naresh SharmaâThe biggest challenge for a visually impaired runner is finding a guide and the expenses are often doubleâ he said âIâm fortunate that in my category I can run independently But Iâve also guided other runners at the Blind National Championship in 2022 and I know how much trust and practice it takesââAt the SAI Centre we have access to good coaching nutrition and facilities It allows us to focus completely on performance and international preparationâ he addedLike many paraathletes his journey has been defined as much by perseverance as by patience âIn the beginning my family didnât understand sports They would ask what kind of game is this But as they saw me compete and win they became my biggest support systemâ he saidThis November Saurabh will join thousands of runners to celebrate fitness and national pride at the Adani Ahmedabad Marathon Since it began the event has supported the Run4OurSoldiers cause honouring Indiaâs armed forces It has become one of the countryâs biggest inclusive races bringing together civilians and members of the Indian Armed Forces to run in unity and pride for the nation âThe best part about this marathon is that itâs inclusive My childhood dream was to join the army but because of my visual impairment I couldnât Running in a race that celebrates our soldiers feels very special Itâs a way to contribute in my own wayâ he saidSpeaking about his future aspirations Saurabh added âMy ultimate goal is to represent India and win a medal at the Paralympic Games Events like the Ahmedabad Marathon are part of that journey They test your endurance and mindset and remind you why you started running in the first placeâThe ninth edition of the Adani Ahmedabad Marathon is scheduled for November 30 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/visually-impaired-medallist-saurabh-sharma-prepares-for-debut-at-adani-ahmedabad-marathon-649237.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 01:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sub-jr-women-hockey-academy-cship-roundglass-pritam-siwach-and-sports-hockey-academy-win-on-day-4-649249.html Karnal Nov 18 Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club Academy Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy Sonepat and Sports Hockey Academy of Khalsaâs Kolkata recorded wins on day four of the 3rd Hockey India Sub Junior Women Academy Championship 2025 as Zone A amp B witnessed comprehensive performances at the Kailash Hockey Stadium in Karnal Haryana on Tuesday Beginning the day with Pool A Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club Academy secured a 60 win against Citizen Hockey XI Navdeep Kaur 7â 26â 28â 51â scored four goals with Taniya Chandeliya 53â and Gurbaksh Kaur 57â also contributing for their sideIn the same pool Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy Sonepat defeated Vadipatti Raja Hockey Academy 200 Diya 10â 11â 21â 35â and Navya 48â 49â 51â 60â scored four goals each while Avni 5â 12â Nancy Saroha 10â 38â Mauki 16â 17â and Anshika 13â 23â scored braces Sanjana 6â Chanchal 30â Geetika 32â and Aarti 56â also got on the scoresheetLate last evening in Pool C Sports Hockey Academy of Khalsaâs Kolkata registered a 10 win against Jai Bharat Hockey Academy with Quosish Khatoon 44â scoring the only goal of the game IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sub-jr-women-hockey-academy-cship-roundglass-pritam-siwach-and-sports-hockey-academy-win-on-day-4-649249.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 01:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/digboi-masters-yuvraj-sandhu-hits-front-with-classy-65-in-round-one-649251.html Digboi Nov 18 PGTI ranking leader Yuvraj Sandhu announced his return to one of his favourite venues the Digboi Golf Links with a classy sevenunder 65 to take a twoshot lead in round one of the Rs 1 crore Digboi Masters 2025 Yuvraj a twotime winner of the IndianOil Servo Masters 2021 amp 2022 mixed eight birdies and a bogey in his opening round of 67 at the venue where he won his first PGTI title back in 2021Five golfers were bunched in tied second place with scores of 67 This lot included former champion Veer Ahlawat 2019 twentyyearold Anshul Kabthiyal Shivendra Singh Sisodia Yuvraj Singh and Bangladeshi Md Somrat SikdarYuvraj Sandhu accumulated four birdies on the backnine as a result of some topclass chipputts The swirling wind on the first hole led to Yuvrajâs only bogey of the day However Sandhu who hit 17 greens in regulation on day one came roaring back by adding four birdies thereafter including a tapin on the second where Yuvrajâs excellent tee shot negated the tough pin positionYuvraj said âItâs great to be back in Digboi as I have fond memories of this place I learnt my golf in the NorthEast so Iâm familiar with the conditions here especially the grass that weâre playing on Iâve also played on similar grass in Taiwan on the Asian Tour My ballstriking was just outstanding today I couldnât have asked for a better start and now my focus will be on building on this solid foundationâShivendra Singh Sisodia posted a 67 featuring two eagles on the ninth and 11th one coming from a 15feet conversion and the other from a chipinAnshul Kabthiyal kept his card clean as he produced an eagle and three birdies for his 67Veer Ahlawatâs 67 featured seven birdies with two bogeysDulal Kalowar of Digboi was the highestplaced among the local professionals after he shot a 72 to be tied 24th IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/digboi-masters-yuvraj-sandhu-hits-front-with-classy-65-in-round-one-649251.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 01:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/shashi-tharoor-hails-under-publicised-talent-ravichandran-smaran-after-another-double-ton-649262.html New Delhi Nov 18 Shashi Tharoor has heaped praise on Karnatakaâs rising batting star Ravichandran Smaran calling attention to his extraordinary domestic form and lamenting how players like him often remain underrecognised Batting first in Hubli Karnataka were rocked early at 13 for 2 and later 64 for 3 but Smaran once again stood tall producing a careerbest unbeaten 227 off 362 balls against Chennai on MondayâRemarkable Important to draw attention to such underpublicised talents No doubt he will have to excel in the IPL before the selectors will noticeâ Tharoor posted on X after the 22yearold struck yet another monumental double century in the Ranji TrophyHis innings decorated with 16 fours and two sixes formed the backbone of Karnatakaâs massive firstinnings total of 547 for 8 declared He was supported by Karun Nair who crafted a solid 95 during a 119run stand followed by valuable contributions from Shreyas Gopal 62 and Shikhar Shetty 59This knock marked Smaranâs second double century in three games and his third overall in firstclass cricket all inside his first 13 matches He had earlier scored an unbeaten 220 against Kerala and a 203 against Punjab in JanuaryWith this latest effort he has surged to fourth in the seasonâs runscoring charts with 595 runs at an astonishing average of 119 trailing only Sanat Sangwan Karun Nair and Arman JafferSmaranâs rise has been rapid A product of Karnatakaâs youth system since Under14 level he already boasts 1179 firstclass runs at an incredible average of 786 including four centuriesâthree of them doubles His List A numbers are equally impressive 433 runs at 7216 all from Karnatakaâs victorious Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign in 2024â25 In T20s he has 170 runs at a strike rate of 170Picked as a replacement by Sunrisers Hyderabad for IPL 2025 and retained for IPL 2026 Smaran is yet to make his debut but his domestic form continues to demand attention His last 13 innings across formats read like a prodigyâs logbook 76 in a VHT semifinal a matchwinning 101 in the final a 203 133 220 scores in the 70s 50sâand now this unbeaten 227 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/shashi-tharoor-hails-under-publicised-talent-ravichandran-smaran-after-another-double-ton-649262.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 01:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/morsalin-strike-sinks-india-as-winless-run-extends-to-five-in-asian-cup-qualifiers-649286.html Dhaka Nov 18 India suffered a 01 defeat in their AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Group C match against hosts Bangladesh at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday A firsthalf goal by Shekh Morsalin 12â was enough to see the home side take the three points though the Blue Tigers mounted a barrage of attacks on Bangladesh in the second half Singapore who defeated Hong Kong China 21 earlier in the day in Hong Kong sealed the groups top spot with 11 points and qualified for the Asian Cup Hong Kong are in second place with eight points Bangladesh and India are third and fourth with five and two points respectivelyLallianzuala Chhangte played his 50th international match on Tuesday while India head coach Khalid Jamil handed debuts to Mohammed Sanan and Lalremtluanga Fanai bringing the two on from the benchAfter a seesaw start at the National Stadium Bangladesh broke with speed on the counter having cleared an India long throw Rakib Hossain hared down the left and sent a low centre to an unmarked Morsalin who slipped it past India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh SandhuIndia were taken by surprise but soon regained composure and began to construct their attacks Suresh Singh Wangjam scuffed a 17thminute shot from outside the box after latching onto a clearance while Nikhil Prabhu had his longrange effort blocked soon afterIndiaâs best chance came just after the halfhour mark when striker Rahim Ali did well to close down Bangladesh goalkeeper Mitul Marma and win the ball The India forward played it back to Macarton Louis Nickson who laid it off to Lallianzuala Chhangte for a crack at an empty goal However Bangladesh midfielder Hamza Choudhury intervened putting his head in the way of the shotThe Blue Tigers grew in confidence and their attacks showed as much Anwar Ali connected well with a Chhangte corner in the 35th minute but it was cleared once again Minutes later Anwar was involved again when he flicked on a Rahul Bheke long throw for Rahim who attempted an outrageous backvolley only to scuff the effortChoudhury produced a volley on the stroke of halftime against the run of play but sent it just wide of the postIndia came out with more intent in the second half as Jamil introduced Mahesh Singh Naorem in place of Prabhu The substitution brought immediate impact with Mahesh using his creativity to trouble the Bangladesh defenceSuresh whipped a freekick from the left into the box which was headed goalwards by Bheke with Rahim waiting at the goalmouth to turn it in However Bangladeshâs defenders managed to clear the danger before the heavily guarded forward could reach the ballThe introduction of Sanan created further opportunities for India as the winger used his trickery and awareness on the left flank Receiving a pass from Rahim in the 66th minute Sanan dummied his marker to cut inside and shoot but his effort was savedA minute later the winger hung a beautiful cross from the left towards an unmarked Brison Fernandes who headed wide With around 15 minutes left Sanan had yet another opportunity when the ball fell kindly to him after a melee at a corner The 21yearold volleyed it with his sidefoot aiming for the bottom corner but Marma was alert and tipped it awayAmid the array of Indian attacks Bangladesh looked to create a few counters of their own and came close to doubling their lead in the 79th minute when Topu Barmanâs strike from outside the box was collected by a diving GurpreetAs Bangladesh searched for a twogoal cushion India launched counterattacks of their own One such move in the 84th minute saw Vikram Partap Singh and Brison Fernandes charge at the Bangladesh area Vikram who had possession was pulled back though play continuedDespite a frantic finish the Bangladesh defence held firm to secure the three points against the Blue TigersIndia will face Hong Kong in their last AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round match on March 31 2026 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/morsalin-strike-sinks-india-as-winless-run-extends-to-five-in-asian-cup-qualifiers-649286.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 02:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/em-arlott-signs-first-wbbl-contract-with-sydney-thunder-649298.html Sydney Nov 19 England allrounder Em Arlottâs remarkable 2025 rise hit another major milestone with the 27yearold signing her firstever WBBL deal joining Sydney Thunder as a midseason boost to their struggling WBBL 11 campaign The move comes as the Thunder search desperately for fresh spark after a winless start to the season and Arlottâs arrivalâright in the middle of a breakout yearâcould not have been more timelyArlott who earned her longawaited England debut in May and delivered a PlayeroftheMatch spell of 3 for 14 against West Indies soon after has already linked up with the Thunder squad in Sydney She made her enthusiasm clear from the moment the offer arrived âIm absolutely buzzing to be here When I got the phone call it was an easy yesâ Arlott saidShe added that familiarity within the dressing room will help her settle quickly âI already know a few of the girls like Laura Harris Georgia Voll and Taneale Peschel so its comforting to have familiar faces around but Im equally excited to settle in and get to know the rest of the groupâArlottâs ability to bowl in highpressure situations is a significant attraction for the Thunder whose pace attack has been stretched thin after earlyseason injuries and retirements âIm known for bowling at the death standing up in the tough overs and bringing a bit of calmness when the pressures on Hopefully I can contribute in some big moments this seasonâ she saidThunder general manager Trent Copeland could not hide his excitement over sealing the signing âEmily was high up on our draft board months ago so Im thrilled we could lock in this dealâ he said âIm a huge fan of her allround game in particular the impact in key moments with new ball Surge and death overs The power hitting in the middle order is also what differentiated her from some other fast bowling optionsâHe admitted that the teamâs âtough oversâ problem made Arlottâs signing a priority âItâs been clear for quite some time now that in the absence of SammyJo Johnson and more recently Hannah Darlingtonâ the âtoughâ overs for us were going to be a juggle Im really excited to see what Emily can bring to our groupâArlott joins a squad already boasting overseas stars Heather Knight Chamari Athapaththu and Shabnim Ismail However WBBL rules mean Thunder can only field three internationals at a time making selection a tough call for coach Lisa Keightley and captain Phoebe Litchfield Arlott has not been named for the upcoming clash against Perth Scorchers with the team opting to continue backing young quick Lucy Finn for nowThe English allrounder arrives in Australia after a transformative year that saw her thrive in The Hundred with 12 wickets in seven games and earn World Cup selection even if she played only one match as England leaned on spin She also credits her earlier stint with Western Australia in the WNCL for helping her handle anxiety and grow into a more confident cricketer IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/em-arlott-signs-first-wbbl-contract-with-sydney-thunder-649298.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 09:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/greg-matthews-says-nathan-lyon-will-define-his-legacy-in-the-ashes-649313.html New Delhi Nov 19 Former Australian allrounder Greg Matthews believes the upcoming Ashes series will be remembered as the moment Nathan Lyon secures his place among cricketâs greats describing the veteran spinner as the most significant figure in Australiaâs campaign Speaking on SEN 1170 Mornings Matthews stated that the 37yearold Lyon who already holds 562 Test wickets was well prepared for a careerdefining tourâLyon write this down â this tour will define his legacyâ Matthews said Drawing a comparison with Andrew Flintoffâs iconic 2005 Ashes he added âGo back and you think of Freddie in England Bats at 31 in Test cricket bowls at 32 but has a whitehot Ashes This will define LyonâWhile much of the buildup has focused on injuries to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood Matthews insisted that Australiaâs real strength lies not in pace but in spinâespecially given what he sees as Englandâs vulnerabilityâEnglandâs greatest weakness is spin and yet we want to prepare seaming decksâ he said âWhen weâve got a guy with 562 Test wickets who is going to hold our attack together â our strength lies in Lyon theirs doesnât lie in spinâHe also suggested that Englandâs selection strategy reveals their expectationsâTheyâve brought a fast bowling attack expecting to receive reciprocal wickets that suit fast bowlingâMatthews then turned his attention to the rest of the Australian squad beginning with a player he believes was unfairly overlookedâIâm going to start with a guy who didnât get picked â Sam Konstasâ he said âWent to the West Indies guess how many people scored a hundred in six digs in that series No one And people bag himâHe called Jake Weatherald âan absolute mustâ and suggested veteran Usman Khawaja is under mounting scrutinyâKhawaja is under stupid pressureâ in his last 28 Tests â you take out the 232 â he averages 25 How does that work I donât think heâll last the seriesâAmong the positives Matthews welcomed Marnus Labuschagneâs return saying âThank god youâre back We need this man Five hundreds this season you Ronnie CooteâHe also praised Steve Smith calling him âthe greatest batter in cricket in the world at the moment in my humble opinionâOn the allround options he was bluntâCam Green and Beau Webster â what the hell are you journos talking about Do not rob Peter to pay Paul You pick one or the other and itâs got to be GreenâHe described wicketkeeper Alex Carey as a given and lauded Brendan Doggettâs emergenceâAll of a sudden weâve got a quick with great stats great numbers good bumper good attitude you beautâMatthews said Scott Boland is âa nobrainerâ and backed him to be the leading wickettaker He was equally enthusiastic about Mitchell Starc â âyou Ronnie Coote thank god heâs fit because he is a wickettakerâ â and impressed by Hazlewoodâs returnBut his most significant concern had nothing to do with bowling depth It was the absence of skipper Pat CumminsâThe thing no one has talked about is the calm of Cumminsâ Matthews said âItâs not his 270something wickets at 21 He brings a calm not even Mark Taylor brought to the teamâ To lose him is a massive loss because of his calm nature and his bowlingâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/greg-matthews-says-nathan-lyon-will-define-his-legacy-in-the-ashes-649313.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 11:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-will-be-very-happy-to-see-ollie-pope-bat-at-three-says-chappell-649328.html New Delhi Nov 19 As England prepares to walk into the fire of another Ashes summer former Australian captain Ian Chappell has singled out one visiting batter who could face the fiercest scrutiny Ollie Pope The 27yearold despite nine Test centuries and an average in the mid30s across 61 matches heads into the fivematch series under pressure â and Chappell believes Australia will be licking its lips at the prospect of him batting at No 3The added twist to Popeâs situation is the presence of 22yearold Jacob Bethell in Englandâs extended squad Bethell has impressed within the England system and with a handful of Tests under his belt is seen as a potential future mainstay But whether the youngster features this summer remains a point of debateSpeaking on Wide World of Sportsâ Outside The Rope ahead of the first Test in Perth Chappell was asked whether he expected Bethell to be blooded during the Ashes and how he judged Popeâs security at first dropâIâm not so sure about that Bethell taking his place but if Iâm an Australian player Iâm very happy to see Pope at threeâ Chappell saidHe didnât hold back in his assessment of the England vicecaptainâs technique and temperament under pressureâPopeâs a twitchy player he doesnât exude confidence at threeWhen your No3 walks out you want to be thinking as the team in the dressing room âthis fella gives us a lot of confidenceââChappell then invoked the image of one of Australiaâs greatest modern battersâRicky Ponting walks out at No3 and youâre thinking not only is he likely to survive against some good bowling early on but he can counterattack as wellâBy contrast he suggested Popeâs movements â and perhaps mindset â give Australia a psychological edgeâPope is skittish he is jumpy â so I would be very happy as an Australian player seeing him at three â but Iâm not sure weâre gonna see Bethell in this seriesâPopeâs past year has offered ammunition to both critics and defenders He endured a difficult subcontinental tour of Pakistan followed by a mixed series in New ZealandA century in the first Test at home against India in June hinted at a resurgence but the rest of that series unravelled with only one score above fifty and three scores under ten IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-will-be-very-happy-to-see-ollie-pope-bat-at-three-says-chappell-649328.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/prannoy-ayush-and-tharun-enter-second-round-at-australian-open-super-500-649344.html Sydney Nov 19 Indian shuttlers showed resilience at the USD 475000 Australian Open Super 500 here on Wednesday with HS Prannoy Ayush Shetty and Tharun Mannepalli fighting through tough firstround matches to reach the menâs singles second round Prannoy returning to one of his favourite battlegrounds after finishing as runnerup here in 2023 had to fight his way out of early trouble The 33yearold looked completely out of rhythm in the opening game losing 621 to world No 85 Yohanes Saut MarcellynoBut the Asian Games bronze medallist summoned his bigmatch composure tightening his defence and controlling the rallies to dominate the next two games 2112 2117 in a 57minute contest He now faces Indonesiaâs eighth seed Alwi FarhanAyush Shetty continued his upward trajectory on the BWF Tour demonstrating why he is considered one of Indiaâs most promising emerging talents The world No 32 fresh from his first Super 300 victory at the US Open earlier this year defeated Canadaâs Sam Yuan 2111 2115 in just 33 minutesThe 20yearold from Karnataka â a 2023 World Junior Championships bronzemedallist â now awaits the winner of the clash between fourth seed Kodai Naraoka and Xiaodong ShengThere was greater joy for India through Tharun Mannepalli who kept his composure in a 66minute thriller against Denmarkâs Magnus Johannesen The Macau Open semifinalist displayed remarkable poise during the tense final moments winning 2113 1721 2119 The 2023 National Games gold medallist now faces a tough challenge against fifth seed Lin ChunYi of China TaipeiKiran George came agonisingly close to extending the Indian run but went down fighting 2111 2224 1721 to Japanâs sixth seed Kenta Nishimoto who arrived high on confidence after defeating Lakshya Sen on his way to the Japan Masters final last weekLater in the day Indiaâs top players Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth will open their campaigns hoping to add further momentum to a promising race start IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/prannoy-ayush-and-tharun-enter-second-round-at-australian-open-super-500-649344.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 13:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ranji-trophy-jammu-amp-kashmir-mumbai-services-and-andhra-notch-up-easy-victories-649369.html New Delhi Nov 19 Jammu amp Kashmir Mumbai and Services secured comfortable victories on the final day of their respective 202526 Ranji Trophy round five fixtures At GGM Science College Hostel Ground in Jammu leftarm spinner Abid Mushtaqâs matchwinning spell guided JampK to a commanding 281run victory over Hyderabad With three wickets needed for a decisive win JampK bowled out Hyderabad for 190 in just 52 overs conceding only 21 runs to secure their third win of the seasonMushtaq was the wreckerinchief with figures of 768 his ninth fivewicket haul in firstclass cricket All three wickets fell to Mushtaq as JampK secured six points from the win over a formidable Hyderabad side and now sit in second place in Elite Group D with 20 pointsAt the Wankhede Stadium Mumbai took just over half an hour to beat Puducherry by an innings and 222 runs maintaining their top position in Group D Resuming from 2316 Puducherry managed only 45 runs in 83 overs on day fourPacer Tushar Deshpande took three wickets while captain Shardul Thakur claimed two as domestic favourites Mumbai secured seven points from their third win of the seasonAt Chaudhry Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium in Lahli Services secured a commanding 211run victory over Haryana in the Elite Group C encounter with spinner Pulkit Narang claiming five wickets in the second innings and Amit Shukla taking three more to complete a remarkable 10wicket haul The result also marked Haryanaâs second defeat of the ongoing seasonAt Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur leftarm spinner Saurabh Kumar took five wickets as Andhra secured a bonus point after defeating Jharkhand by an innings and 81 runs in their Elite Group A game Saurabhâs 547 ensured that Andhra bowled out Jharkhand for 158 in 522 oversBrief Scores Jammu and Kashmir 170 amp 422 beat Hyderabad 121 and 190 all out in 575 overs Tanmay Agarwal 47 Abid Mushtaq 768 by 281 runsMumbai 6305 dec beat Puducherry 132 and 276 all out in 533 overs Aman Khan 86 Tushar Deshpande 332 by an innings and 222 runsServices 205 and 2837 dec beat Haryana 111 and 166 Yashvardhan Dalal 49 Pulkit Narang 566 by 211 runsAndhra 5676 dec beat Jharkhand 328 amp 158 in 522 overs Sharandeep Singh 65 Saurabh Kumar 547 by an innings and 81 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ranji-trophy-jammu-amp-kashmir-mumbai-services-and-andhra-notch-up-easy-victories-649369.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mitchell-starc-believes-doggett-is-set-for-test-debut-ahead-of-ashes-opener-649372.html New Delhi Nov 19 Australia pacer Mitchell Starc has called Brendan Doggettâs rapid rise a âhot streakâ stating that hes all set for his potential debut Starc also mentioned that being the last of Australiaâs bigthree fast bowlers to stand made him feel old but he strongly supported the teamâs depth to succeed in The West Test from FridayDuring a smooth training session at Perth Stadium on Wednesday Starc was playing exceptionally well and Doggett â the preferred choice to replace the injured Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood â delivered a deadly ball spellWithout Hazlewood and Cummins Doggett is now the leading candidate to play with Queenslander Michael Neser added to the squad only after Hazlewood was ruled outâItâs good to see the depth in the squad We know what Scotty Boland can do Doggy is coming in off a hot streak and Michael Neser has been around for a whileâ Starc was quoted as saying by The West AustralianDoggett who will become the third Aboriginal cricketer to play Test matches for Australia if he makes his debut first joined a national squad during the 2018 tour of the UAE to face PakistanHis journey from a domestic fast bowler to a potential Ashes debutant was accelerated when he led South Australia to a Sheffield Shield victory last summer The 31yearold relocated to Adelaide from Queensland having developed his skills through Premier Cricket rather than through traditional talent pathways as a young playerHe started this season with a sixwicket haul and took five wickets in his first two redball matches Doggett also presents a potential option to share the new ball with Starc who mentioned he was uncertain about his opening partnerThe 31yearold practised against potential debutant Jake Weatherald and WA allrounder Cam Green during the session two days before the matchâI remember that tour back in the UAE It was myself Ness Doggett and Peter Siddle for that Pakistan series Obviously Brendan was a lot younger and rawer then but we knew what he was aboutâSince then heâs made the change to South Australia heâs come in redhot heâs had a good couple of weeks we all know what heâs capable of and the skills that he presents and being a little bit older than back in 2018 heâs probably a little bit more comfortable heâs been around the group so really excited if he gets his opportunity this week to see what he can do in the Test arenaâ he addedAustraliaâs Wednesday session was interrupted by lightning in unusual scenes heightening the drama of the blockbuster series Early in the session allrounders Cam Green and Beau Webster each took catches as part of a slips cordon during fielding practice on the outfieldMarnus Labuschagne also trained at third slip as Australia considers selecting either Green and Webster together or opting for specialist opener Jake Weatherald The responsibility for making this decision â selection chair George Bailey â practised his skills by throwing balls for the fielding cordon IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mitchell-starc-believes-doggett-is-set-for-test-debut-ahead-of-ashes-opener-649372.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 14:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mark-wood-fit-to-play-as-england-name-12-man-squad-for-ashes-opener-649378.html Perth Nov 19 Mark Wood has been cleared to play and is likely to participate against Australia in the first Ashes Test on Friday England have kept their options flexible by including offspinner Shoaib Bashir alongside five fast bowlers as they named their 12man squad on Wednesday for the opening game If England choose an allpace bowling attack consisting of four specialist fast bowlers plus allrounder Ben Stokes it would likely be the quickest group of bowlers they have fielded in an Ashes Test on this soil The final selection probably comes down to offspinner Bashir or seamer Brydon CarseSince the pitch is expected to provide pace and bounce the visitors might as well continue with their traditional strategy of relying solely on a pace attackTourists have also observed a dryness on the pitch making Bashir a contender In this venues brief history of hosting five Tests Australia offspinner Nathan Lyon is the top wickettaker with 29England have supported Bashir 22 as their primary spinner for over a year and he became the youngest England bowler to score 50 in Tests back in May However he has not participated in a competitive match since his final wicket in a thrilling win against India during the third Test at Lords in JulyBashir has been sidelined with a broken finger and struggled in Englands sole warmup match against England Lions where he finished with combined figures of 2151 from 24 overs The situation also increases the likelihood that Bashir will play in an Ashes Test without being tied to a county team as his contract with Somerset ended after the summerMeanwhile the most probable England lineup includes bowlers like Wood Jofra Archer Gus Atkinson captain Stokes and Carse all of whom can bowl at speeds of 90mphEngland squad for first Ashes Test Ben Duckett Zak Crawley Ollie Pope Joe Root Harry Brook Ben Stokes captain Jamie Smith wk Gus Atkinson Brydon Carse Mark Wood Jofra Archer Shoaib Bashir IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mark-wood-fit-to-play-as-england-name-12-man-squad-for-ashes-opener-649378.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 15:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/itll-be-3-2-or-3-1-in-englands-favour-panesar-makes-bold-ashes-prediction-ahead-of-opener-649155.html New Delhi Nov 18 Former England spinner Monty Panesar backed his countrymen to reclaim the Ashes Down Under for the first time in 15 years saying that Ben Stokes and Co will win the series if they clinch the first Test in Perth Panesar who took part in Englandâs away Ashes campaigns in 2006â07 and 2013â14 believes the current squad is better equipped to perform much better than those earlier touring sides that were whitewashed 5â0 in AustraliaAlthough Australia havenât lost a home Test to England since 2011 Panesar believes the visitors have an edge this time given the hostsâ mounting injury concernsYou look at Australia and thereâs no Pat Cummins and no Josh Hazlewood Theyâve got an opener which is a David Warner replacement but we dont know how hes going to go about itâUsman Khawaja in the last couple of years his record has not been great lets be honest So I just think England are on edge here if England win the first Test match they can win the series Panesar said on SENWA BreakfastWhile Australia boast Nathan Lyon who has 562 Test wickets Panesar believes 22yearold English spinner Shoaib Bashir has the potential to outperform the veteran on his own turf despite Bashir having only 68 Test wickets at an average of 39âI think they England will win at Brisbane Adelaide will probably be Australia Melbourne I think maybe Australia again If itâs twoall going into Sydney it will be the battle of the spinners And who knows it could be just Shoaib Bashir coming into his own there so I believe itll be 32 or 31 England he addedThe first Test between Australia and England begins in Perth on Friday IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/itll-be-3-2-or-3-1-in-englands-favour-panesar-makes-bold-ashes-prediction-ahead-of-opener-649155.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mark-wood-bowls-full-seam-in-nets-with-one-leg-strapped-ahead-of-ashes-opener-649170.html Perth Nov 18 Englandâs Ashes prospects have been boosted significantly by seeing speedster Mark Wood bowl at training in Perth after his hamstring scare He was seen bowling full seam during Englandâs nets session here at the Optus Stadium with one leg fully strapped After missing the entire English season due to a knee injury Wood reported hamstring stiffness during the touristsâ only Ashes warmup match at Lilac Hill and was subsequently sent for scansHis fitness status was uncertain and at the same time Josh Hazlewood was also ruled out of Australiaâs squad for the Perth Test due to a hamstring strain However Woodâs return to bowling brought smiles and hopes for the England squad during their first of the three training sessions at Perth Stadium before the opening Test on FridayEven if Wood isnt selected for the team in the first Test his quick recovery from the hamstring scare suggests he remains on course to play a key role in the series He has consistently been Englandâs top pace bowler in the last two Ashes campaigns Wood tested young England batter Jacob Bethel and several other squad players with a sixover session lasting about 30 minutes The Age reportedEngland bowling coach David Saker spoke to Wood between balls as the bowler wore a compression sleeve on his left leg where he has had a knee injury this year and a hamstring scare last weekAfter jogging and a few warmup deliveries Wood bowled with a full run occasionally beating the bat and making Bethel quick to respond with some short balls Later during Woodâs training England captain Ben Stokes took on umpire duties to observe his fast bowler carefully even theatrically calling a dead ball when Wood stopped running toward the creaseEngland coach Brendon McCullum talked with director Rob Key as they watched Wood bowl Later Key went over to speak with SakerWith Woodsâ participation in the Ashes opener still not confirmed itâll be interesting to see how he performs if heâs named in the XI IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mark-wood-bowls-full-seam-in-nets-with-one-leg-strapped-ahead-of-ashes-opener-649170.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bopanna-rybakina-medvedev-amp-kyrgios-to-headline-world-tennis-leagues-india-debut-in-bengaluru-649171.html Bengaluru Nov 18 After three seasons in the UAE the World Tennis League WTL is set to make its India debut next month Slated for December 1720 in Bengaluru the fourday tournament will find its home at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium owned and operated by the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association This edition will continue WTLâs legacy of excellence featuring a strong lineup of tennis talent including Daniil Medvedev Nick Kyrgios Elena Rybakina Paula Badosa Rohan Bopanna Gael Monfils Arthur Fils Sumit Nagal Magda Linette and Marta KostyukWith tennis on the rise in the country WTL has also added Indiaâs standout performers like Yuki Bhambri Ankita Raina Shrivalli Bhamidipaty Maaya Revathi Dhakshineswar Suresh and Shivika Burman to the mixWith its unique team format and highlevel competition the World Tennis League has established itself as a prominent event in the tennis calendar and continues to attract attention from both players and fans worldwideTalking about her first appearance in India World No 5 Elena Rybakina said âIâve heard so much about the tennis culture in India and Iâm thrilled to make my debut here with WTL The league has an exciting format and Iâm ready to enjoy every moment on the court with my teamSpeaking on the historic edition 12time Grand Slam Champion and cofounder World Tennis League Mahesh Bhupathi said âIndia has always shared a deep and lasting connection with tennis and the WTLâs arrival here is an opportunity to strengthen that bond As someone who has lived the sport I believe this format brings out the fast dynamic and engaging side of the competition With international champions sharing the court with Indiaâs top talent we hope to inspire the next generation of players and showcase tennis as a sport that is intense global and full of possibilityâThe debut edition of the World Tennis League in India promises to be a landmark event uniting diverse audiences through the universal language of sportAs the worldâs eyes turn to Bengaluru this December the tournament will not only celebrate athleticism but also reinforce Indiaâs position on the global sporting map inspiring fans and athletes to dream biggerHighlighting the importance of this edition for Indiaâs sporting ecosystem Krishnan Kannan Managing Director Iconik Sports and Events Ltd stated WTL allows us to demonstrate Indiaâs ability to host worldclass tournaments while creating opportunities for our own athletes to play alongside international icons We aim to deliver an experience which goes beyond sport and showcase culture entertainment and community IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bopanna-rybakina-medvedev-amp-kyrgios-to-headline-world-tennis-leagues-india-debut-in-bengaluru-649171.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/your-boy-is-finally-home-dilli-dc-shares-welcome-post-for-nitish-rana-649177.html New Delhi Nov 18 Delhi Capitals franchise shared a welcoming post for Nitish Rana whom they traded from Rajasthan Royals for Donovan Ferreira ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 Rana began his professional career in 2013 when he made his List A debut for Delhi against Assam during the 201213 Vijay Hazare Trophy He had played agegroup and domestic cricket for Delhi until 2022A couple of years later in 2015 he made his firstclass debut for Delhi against Vidarbha in the 201516 Ranji Trophy season In his debut firstclass season he amassed 557 runs to end as Delhiâs top run scorer10 years laterâ your boy is finally home Dilli DC shared on X with a video in which Rana said Log usually bolte hai ki Dilli wale jab dekho ladayi jhagda hi karte rehte hai Par ye koi nahi bolta ki sabse jyada pyaar bhi Dilli wale hi karte hai Aur Dilli se jyada pyaar mujse koi nahi karta See you soon DilliIn 2016 Rana made his Indian Premier League debut but had limited opportunities that season He had a breakthrough year in IPL 2017 scoring 333 runs and playing a key role in Mumbai Indians title win campaignHowever he was released by the Mumbai franchise before the 2018 Indian Premier League auction The Kolkata franchise showed faith in him and signed him for the 2018 seasonHe was released before the 2022 mega auction but resigned for INR 8 crore scoring 361 runs at a strike rate of 14382Retained by KKR Rana was entrusted with the captaincy for the 2023 IPL season in Shreyas Iyers absence While Kolkata fell short of a playoff berth Rana led from the front handling the added responsibility well and finishing as the teams secondhighest runscorer for the seasonWith Iyer returning to lead the side in 2024 Ranas campaign was marred by a finger injury which sidelined him for 10 consecutive matches He managed only a couple of appearances in what turned out to be a titlewinning season for Kolkata Ahead of the 2025 auction Kolkata decided to release him and Rajasthan secured his services for Rs 420 crore IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/your-boy-is-finally-home-dilli-dc-shares-welcome-post-for-nitish-rana-649177.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/tuchel-to-reach-out-to-sidelined-players-over-england-recall-649185.html New Delhi Nov 18 England boss Thomas Tuchel says he plans to reach out to players whoâve recently fallen out of the squad outlining how they can work their way back into his plans ahead of next years World Cup A number of big names including Real Madridâs Trent AlexanderArnold and Evertonâs Jack Grealish were omitted from the squad for the latest qualifiers against Serbia and Albania Jude Bellingham was also left out of the October fixtures versus Wales and LatviaEngland went on to defeat Serbia 2â0 at home before securing another 2â0 win in Albania on Sunday completing a perfect qualifying campaign eight wins from eight with no goals conceded to top Group KFirst of all its my job now to make contact with everyone players like Trent Tuchel told reporters after the win over Albania Players that are on our long list 55 60 players to reach out to them be in touch with them explain to them why they were not hereExplain to them what they have to do where they can improve Can they even do something or is it just a choice So this is my job for the next weeks and monthsTuchel said heâs also willing to travel to club training bases for group discussions with players noting that he values inperson conversations because they help him better read their reactionsWe can do group visits We can do Jude and Trent And visit the clubs And some of them we will call the 52yearold saidEngland are set for another training camp during the March international window before the German coach finalises his World Cup squad The tournament is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19 across Canada Mexico and the United States IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/tuchel-to-reach-out-to-sidelined-players-over-england-recall-649185.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sri-lanka-add-vijayakanth-viyaskanth-to-t20i-squad-for-tri-series-649189.html Rawalpindi Nov 18 Sri Lanka have added Vijayakanth Viyaskanth to their T20I squad ahead of the triseries against Pakistan and Zimbabwe which is set to begin here on Tuesday Viyaskanth is currently in Doha and is a part of Lanka âAâ team in the ongoing ACC Mens Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 However he will fly to Pakistan from Qatar to join the senior national team for the triseriesâSri Lanka Cricket selectors have included legspinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth in the National Menâs Squad for the T20I TriSeries in Pakistan He will travel to Pakistan directly from Qatar where he was part of the Sri Lanka âAâ Team competing in the âAsia Cup Rising Starsâ Tournament Viyaskanth has been drafted into the squad as Wanindu Hasaranga is yet to fully recover from the hamstring tightness he suffered during the ODI seriesâ Sri Lanka Cricket said in an official statementThe T20I TriNation Tournament featuring Pakistan hosts Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will serve as an important preparatory platform ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026Each team will participate in four matches with the top two sides qualifying for the final on November 29 All seven T20I matches including the summit clash will now be held at the Rawalpindi Cricket StadiumEarlier the Pakistan Cricket Board PCB announced a revised schedule for the trination series The opening game of the series originally set for November 17 will now be played between Pakistan and Zimbabwe on November 18The slight schedule change occurred after the two matches in the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka were postponed by a day each following requests from several team members to return to Sri Lanka after the suicide bombing in IslamabadInitially Afghanistan was the third team in the triseries alongside hosts Pakistan and Sri Lanka However they withdrew after three local cricketers were killed in airstrikes carried out by Pakistan in Paktika province with Zimbabwe replacing them in the triseries IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sri-lanka-add-vijayakanth-viyaskanth-to-t20i-squad-for-tri-series-649189.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/weve-had-good-preparations-for-ashes-says-josh-tongue-649190.html Perth Nov 18 England pacer Josh Tongue is pleased with the squads preparations for the Ashes and remains confident of registering a series win against Australia The fiveTest series will commence at Perths Optus Stadium on Friday as both teams give it their all to take the urnEngland have not won the Ashes in Australia since 2015 and faced heavy defeats in their last three Test visits Down UnderEngland who are facing backlash for playing only a lone warmup match against the England Lions at Lilac Hill remain confident about their buildup before the series openerIt feels very exciting Weve had a good buildup A few of us were in New Zealand beforehand prepping for this I feel like weve had good prep I feel like the group of bowlers that we got now obviously the likes of Joff Jofra Archer and Woody Mark Wood being in our squad the X Factor Tongue told reporters here on TuesdayThe pace the bouncy wickets definitely help the faster bowlers and the skills that weve got as a group I think we can give it a good shotAustralia will be without senior pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood for the first Test but wicketkeeperbatter Jamie Smith is aware of the fact that the hosts have enough strength to fill vacant places in the sideId still feel theyve Australia got a dominant attack Obviously the two guys missing obviously worldclass players But any time you play Australia you know that the guys coming in are also fantastic players as well Smith saidYou show a lot of respect to the guys that are missing out and the guys coming in just trying to focus on you know what we can do well leading up to this first Test IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/weve-had-good-preparations-for-ashes-says-josh-tongue-649190.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/he-keeps-pulling-up-well-carey-says-cummins-ready-to-go-after-full-bowling-session-in-perth-649199.html New Delhi Nov 18 Australiaâs wicketkeeper Alex Carey said that regular captain Pat Cummins seemed to be in excellent shape after finishing a fullintensity onehour net session at Optus Stadium in Perth Cummins who was earlier ruled out of the highly anticipated Ashes opener in Perth due to a back stress injury he discovered after the 30 whitewash of the West Indies in July now seems to be nearing a return after completing a full bowling session at the nets on MondayâIâve got to keep a lid on it a little bit I saw him bowling in the nets yesterdayâ he looked ready to go Carey told SENs The Run Home âI guess itâs the build up now Itâs probably not so much bowling the ball at 140kmh because it looked like he did that pretty effortlessly yesterday Itâs probably the work around the game fitness so to speakâFingers crossed he keeps pulling up well and gets himself ready We all know he is a professional so fingers crossed we see him back sooner rather than later Thereâs great depth in this group so if itâs not next game hopefully itâs soonâCummins was seen repeatedly whizzing balls off the Perth Stadiums practice wickets He bowled for almost an hour and delivered nearly 10 overs to strengthen Australias hope that he will be back for the second Test BrisbaneThe first Test starts on Friday in Perth while the second Test in Brisbane is scheduled to begin on December 4 giving Cummins just over two weeks to push for a Gabba returnAustralia will be captained by Steven Smith in Perth while Scott Boland and the uncapped Brendan Doggett are set to play in place of Cummins and fellow injury absentee Josh Hazlewood IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/he-keeps-pulling-up-well-carey-says-cummins-ready-to-go-after-full-bowling-session-in-perth-649199.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/babar-azam-fined-for-icc-code-of-conduct-breach-in-3rd-odi-against-sri-lanka-649201.html Dubai Nov 18 Pakistan star batter Babar Azam has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on Sunday The former captain was found to have breached Article 22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel which relates to âabuse of cricket equipment or clothing ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International MatchâIn addition to this one demerit point has been added to Babarâs disciplinary record for whom it was the first offence in a 24month period the ICC said in a release on TuesdayThe incident occurred in the 21st over of Pakistanâs innings when after being dismissed Babar hit the stumps with his bat before leaving the creaseBabar admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Ali Naqvi of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees so there was no need for a formal hearingOnfield umpires Alex Wharf and Rashid Riaz third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi levelled the chargePakistan completed a 30 ODI series sweep over Sri Lanka with a sixwicket win in the third match comfortably chasing 212 with 52 overs to spare After Haseebullah Khan fell for a 12ball duck Fakhar Zaman steadied the chase with a fluent 55 off 45 striking eight fours and adding an 80run stand with Babar Azam 34Sri Lanka fought back through Jeffrey Vandersay who removed Fakhar Babar and Salman Agha to leave Pakistan at 1154 However Mohammad Rizwan 61 not out and Hussain Talat 42 not out guided the hosts home with an unbeaten partnershipEarlier Sri Lanka were bowled out for 211 in 452 overs despite all toporder batters getting starts Pathum Nissanka 24 and Kamil Mishara 29 gave a brisk start before wickets fell regularly Sadeera Samarawickrama made 48 while Mohammad Wasim Jr led Pakistanâs attack with three wickets supported by Faisal Akram and Haris Rauf with two each IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/babar-azam-fined-for-icc-code-of-conduct-breach-in-3rd-odi-against-sri-lanka-649201.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/konstas-named-in-squad-for-prime-ministers-xi-game-against-england-649071.html Melbourne Nov 17 Australia opener Sam Konstas has been named in the Prime Ministers XI to face England between the first two Ashes Tests Victorian batter Peter Handscomb will lead the side in the twoday pinkball match in Canberra from November 29 which serves as key preparation under lights ahead of the daynight Test at the GabbaKonstas will be joined by fellow U19 World Cup winners Charlie Anderson Oliver Peake and Hugh Weibgen The incumbent Test opener who missed selection for the first Test against England after a challenging tour of the Caribbean earlier this year will be the most closely watched member of the youthful teamThis match has a rich history within the broader menâs program and this year will be especially exciting with the menâs Ashes underway at that pointItâs a chance to build depth reward performance and provide valuable exposure and experience against international competition said selection chief George BaileyMeanwhile veteran Peter Siddle who turns 41 in the same week as the fixture will also appear in the traditional tour match Nathan McSweeney is the other Testcapped player in the team while quick Sam Skelly who recently made his debut for Queensland is the local ACT representative Tim Paine is the coach of the sideThe Prime Ministerâs XI is a proud tradition in Australian cricket and Iâm thrilled to confirm the squad to face the England XI later this month said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as quoted by cricketcomauThis team showcases the depth of talent in our domestic cricket system and Iâm particularly excited to see some of our emerging stars earn this opportunityItâs a fantastic stage for players to test themselves against international opposition and for fans to enjoy topquality pinkball cricket in CanberraI am also looking forward to the Ashes commencing in Perth from 21 November itâs the oldest rivalry in world cricket Australia and England in an Ashes Series always means something extra he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/konstas-named-in-squad-for-prime-ministers-xi-game-against-england-649071.html Tue, 18 Nov 2025 04:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/rajasthan-royals-reappoint-kumar-sangakkara-as-head-coach-ahead-of-ipl-2026-649103.html New Delhi Nov 17 Rajasthan Royals have reappointed Kumar Sangakkara as head coach of the franchise in addition to continuing his role as Director of Cricket Sangakkara previously served as head coach of the Royals from 2021 to 2024 a period that marked a noticeable rise in the teamâs performance and consistency Under his leadership the Royals reached the IPL 2022 final and returned to the playoffs in 2024 reaffirming the Royals status as one of the most consistently competitive sides during that periodâIâm honoured to return as head coach and continue working with this talented groupâ Sangakkara said on his appointment to the roleâIâm also pleased to have a strong coaching team alongside me Vikram Trevor Shane and Sid each bring valuable experience in their areas and together we are focused on preparing the players in the best possible way We have a clear understanding of where we want to go as a group and our aim is to build a team that plays with clarity resilience and purposeâThe Royals also confirmed that Vikram Rathour has been promoted to lead assistant coach working closely with Sangakkara on batting development game plans and overall team preparation Shane Bond will remain as fast bowling coach providing important continuity to the pace programme while Trevor Penney and Sid Lahiri return as assistant coach and performance coach respectively adding further depth and expertise to the coaching team ahead of the upcoming seasonâWe are delighted to have Kumar return as head coach As we looked at what the team needed at this stage we felt that his familiarity within the squad his leadership and his deep understanding of the Royals culture would bring the right balance of continuity and stability said Manoj Badale Lead Owner Rajasthan RoyalsKumar has always had our complete trust as a leader His clarity calmness and cricketing intelligence will play an important role in guiding the squad into this next phaseâAhead of the IPL 2026 auction RR traded captain Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings marking the end of an eraIn return the Royals have added two worldclass allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in a blockbuster deal that instantly reshaped the squadâs leadership and balance The franchise has also brought in Donovan Ferreira from Delhi Capitals further strengthening its middle order and finishing depthRajasthan have let go of Sri Lankan spin duo Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana signalling a move towards a paceheavy attack complemented by versatile allroundersDespite the churn the Royals have retained a strong young Indian coreâYashasvi Jaiswal Dhruv Jurel Kunal Rathore Riyan Parag and Yudhvir Singh Charakâalongside big overseas names like Shimron Hetmyer Jofra Archer Nandre Burger and rising South African pacer Kwena Maphaka The franchise has also backed impressive performers such as Kumar Kartikeya Singh Tushar Deshpande Fazalhaq Farooqi and Ashok Sharma IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/rajasthan-royals-reappoint-kumar-sangakkara-as-head-coach-ahead-of-ipl-2026-649103.html Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/nz-batter-mitchell-ruled-out-of-windies-odis-with-groin-tear-649124.html Christchurch Nov 18 New Zealand have suffered a blow with news that inform batter Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out of the remainder of his sides ODI series against the West Indies Mitchell experienced discomfort in his thigh while scoring his seventh ODI century in Sundayâs sevenrun win over West Indies at Hagley Oval and did not return to the field for the second inningsThe batter didnât travel with the squad to Napier on Monday and instead underwent a groin scan in Christchurch which revealed the minor groin tear which will require twoweeks rehabilitationThe prognosis means that Mitchell should recover in time for the threeTest series against West Indies starting at Hagley Oval on December 2 NZC said on TuesdayHead coach Rob Walter said the news was disappointing for Mitchell Itâs always tough being ruled out of a series early on with injury particularly when youâre in hot form like Daryl isâ said WalterâHe has been our standout performer in the ODI format so far this summer so heâll be missed for two important matches The positive is that the injury is only minor and we should see Daryl recovered and fit for the Test series he addedNZC added that Canterbury batter Henry Nicholls who was called in as cover will remain with the squad for the remainder of the seriesNicholls has been in hot from for Canterbury in the domestic Ford Trophy competition leading the runscoring charts with 306 runs at 7650 including backtoback centuries 117 not out and 138 not out in rounds one and three against Otago and AucklandWalter called Nicholls was a strong replacement saying âHenry has been in top form in the Ford Trophy and is an experienced international cricketer so itâs great to welcome him back into the side Itâs always pleasing to be able to reward players who are in good touch and we know Henry will be raring to go if given an opportunityâThe second ODI between the BlackCaps and the West Indies takes place on Wednesday at McLean Park in Napier IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/nz-batter-mitchell-ruled-out-of-windies-odis-with-groin-tear-649124.html Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/blue-tigers-brace-for-fierce-and-competitive-game-in-bangladesh-648941.html Dhaka Nov 16 The Indian senior menâs team arrived in Dhaka on Saturday evening three days before their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round match against the hosts Despite both teams being out of contention for qualification Blue Tigers goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu said that the rivalry will remain intact âIt wonât change the competitiveness or the fierceness of the game Itâs always a big game for them and for the people of Bangladesh because itâs against Indiaâ said Sandhu who has played three matches against the neighbours at the senior level in the pastâWe need to be prepared mentally and physically because itâs always a tough game It might not be the nicest game to watch It might be scrappy and we as a team need to be ready for any challenge We need to be tough out there when we face themâ Sandhu addedDefender Sandesh Jhingan who captained India when these two sides last met in Marchâs reverse fixture in Shillong said âOur expectations are very simple Play to our full potential and stick to the system for as long as we can during the game If we can do that the rest will follow Weâll work hard and hopefully get a win this timeâWinger Lallianzuala Chhangte is the only player in the current squad who has represented the Blue Tigers on Bangladeshi soil before â that was in the 2018 SAFF Championship where he scored one goalBut Jhingan and Sandhu have played in Bangladesh before for Indian agegroup teams and Bengaluru FCJhingan recalled âIâve played here before with the Under23s during the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers in 2015 and also at club level The people of Bangladesh love watching football and they support their team really well We played at the same stadium where we will play this game the National Stadium in DhakaâJhingan and Sandhu were teammates in Bengaluru FC when they suffered a 02 loss to Abahani Limited Dhaka in the 2017 AFC Cup But ultimately the Indian club prevailed as group toppers and qualified for the knockout roundSandhu who was also part of the India U23 squad for the 2010 South Asian Games in Dhaka said âThe experience over here has always been a learning one You know itâs not an easy place to come because itâs very competitive Being our neighbours the team here wants to do well against us and give us a tough time That has been my experience with the national team and also with club football whenever we have visited in the pastâBut yeah that was a long time ago Bangladesh have developed their infrastructure and invested heavily Their love for football has grown and the national team is also doing betterâThe Indian team on Saturday was received with full security arrangements at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport coordinated by the Bangladesh Football Federation BFF and the local police The team bus was led by a police escort to their hotel and the Blue Tigers have continued with their training schedule as planned The Indian team remain inside a strict security bubble to protect them although they have not faced issues of any natureâI would like to thank the Bangladesh federation for the warm hospitality since we arrived Theyâve been really kind and helpful We were briefed before coming here But I trust the Indian High Commission and the local authorities with everything We as athletes are only focused on putting our best foot forward while playing Sport is something that unites people and I hope this game can also unite and bring a good feeling So far weâve felt fineâ Jhingan saidSandhu concurred âWe were aware of the domestic situation here Itâs obviously not a very ideal one But we are here to play football and thatâs all on our mind Since arriving yesterday we havenât felt unsafe So far itâs been good â everything has been very well organised We just need to focus on what we have ahead of us and what we have to do on the pitchâKhalid Jamilâs men had an activation session on Sunday morning followed by an afternoon training session They will have an official training session at the National Stadium on Monday The match will kick off at 1930 IST on Tuesday and will be streamed live on FanCode IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/blue-tigers-brace-for-fierce-and-competitive-game-in-bangladesh-648941.html Mon, 17 Nov 2025 02:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/new-champions-emerge-in-national-racing-championship-648947.html Coimbatore Nov 16 The curtains came down on the 28th FMSCI National Racing Championship at the Kari Motor Speedway here on Sunday with actionpacked races overflowing with emotions and new champions emerging in several categories Dhruvh Goswami MSport won both races on Sunday to be crowned the new champion in the LGB Formula 4 category the blue riband event of the competition after entering the final Round 3 weekend trailing championship leader Diljith TS Dark Don RacingBengaluruâs Goswami an 18yearold class 12 student of St Josephâs signed off in style in Indiaâs longestrunning singleseater championship winning three of the four races over the weekend The highpoint was the 20lap final race on Sunday where he started 7th on the reverse grid three spots behind former champion Diljith who was trailing by 4 championship points Goswami drove impressively to take the lead early in the race lost it briefly to teammate Ruhaan Alva before regaining it for a dominant finish Speaking about the final race in the context of the championship tussle with Diljith Goswami said âIt was going to be a long race I knew I required to be patientâMonith Kumaran Srinivasan of Ahura Racing won the Rookie title in the LGB Formula 4 categoryRound 4 of the FIAcertified Formula 4 Indian Championship part of the Indian Racing Festival was run alongside this championship and saw South African Luviwe Sambudla record his first win of the season in the dayâs opening race and Kenyaâs Shane Chandaria clinch the second race It was a poletochequered flag finish by Sambudla in a race that saw Indian driver Ishaan Madesh of Kolkata Royal Tigers nose ahead of Saishiva Sankaran Speed Demons Delhi in the final laps to take third place behind teammate Ghazi Motlekar from Mozambique In the second race Chandaria won from pole while Motlekar climbed from fourth position to finish second French driver Sachel Rotge Kichchaâs Kings Bengaluru who won on Saturday finished third after starting from the same position on the grid while Madesh fended off Sankaran to finish fourth in a close battleHaving sealed the title in the professional category with a race to spare on Saturday in the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup presented by JK Tyre Bengaluru rider Anish Shetty didnât get complacent finishing the season with a victory for what was his second title in this categoryBryan Nicholas of Pondicherry bagged the title in the Amateur class of the Royal Enfield Continental GT CupBalaji Raju secured the Rookie crown in the JK Tyre Levitas Cup Indiaâs newest singlemake racing series that debuted this season by winning both races of the day Jai Prashanth Venkat won the Gentlemen category stamping his authority in a season the Coimbatore driver has clearly dominatedWith four drivers in contention for the crown in the JK Tyre Novice Cup Indiaâs entrylevel singleseater series Lokithlingeash Ravi DTS Racing from Pollachi took the honours by winning the shootout in the seasonâs final race IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/new-champions-emerge-in-national-racing-championship-648947.html Mon, 17 Nov 2025 02:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/netherlands-defeat-india-in-billie-jean-king-cup-play-offs-648955.html Bengaluru Nov 16 The Netherlands completed a commanding 3â0 victory over India on the final day of the Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday In the opening singles match Anouk Koevermans delivered a composed performance to defeat Indiaâs Shrivalli Bhamidipaty World No 381 Koevermans broke early to establish a 21 lead in the first set and maintained control throughout taking it 62 Bhamidipaty mounted a brief fightback in the second set but the higherranked Dutch player held firm to close out the match 62 64Reflecting on her win Koevermans said âI told the captain I wanted to run for every ball because it keeps me focused and forces my opponent to make more mistakes and she did Itâs very important to run for every ball to stay in the game so thatâs what I didâThe second singles rubber saw Lamens ranked 89 in the world take on Indiaâs Sahaja Yamalapalli World No 309 Lamens dominated the first set 62 and carried the momentum into the second Although Yamalapalli managed to level the score at 22 after an early break Lamens quickly regained control earning another break to move ahead 43 before sealing a 62 63 victoryFollowing the encounter Yamalapalli said It was a tough match Suzanâs a very good player with a lot of experience She was challenging me every point she didnât give me any unforced errors and I had to be in there every single point It was challenging but itâs also a good experience because it shows me the level I want to get to and what I need to learnThe tie concluded with the doubles rubber where Lamens teamed up with Demi Schuurs to take on Indiaâs Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare The Dutch duo dominated from the start conceding just one game in the first set before racing to a 30 lead in the second Maintaining complete control Lamens and Schuurs sealed a 61 61 victory giving the Netherlands a clean sweep IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/netherlands-defeat-india-in-billie-jean-king-cup-play-offs-648955.html Mon, 17 Nov 2025 02:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/arsenals-gabriel-ruled-out-after-thigh-injury-on-brazil-duty-648958.html London Nov 16 Arsenal defender Gabriel has been ruled out of action after sustaining a muscle injury in his right thigh the Brazilian Football Confederation CBF confirmed on Sunday The setback occurred during Brazilâs friendly match against Senegal played at Arsenalâs home ground in North London where the centreback was forced off the pitch after experiencing discomfort The 27yearold has been a central figure in Arsenalâs defensive setup this season featuring in every Premier League game as the Gunners sit four points clear at the top of the table However his latest injury means he will not join the national squad for their next international friendly against Tunisia in Lille on Tuesday The CBF while confirming his withdrawal did not specify the duration of his potential absence leaving both club and country awaiting further medical evaluationThis is not the first time Gabriel has battled fitness issues this year A hamstring injury in April kept him sidelined for more than three months and Arsenal will be wary of rushing him back given the demanding run of fixtures ahead The Gunners face crucial Premier League clashes against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea later this month followed by a significant Champions League encounter at home against Bayern Munich on November 26 His absence presents a major concern for manager Mikel Arteta especially with the squad already dealing with multiple injuriesGabrielâs setback adds to Arsenalâs growing list of unavailable defenders Italian international Riccardo Calafiori also picked up an injury while on national duty as confirmed by Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso Meanwhile the club continues to cope with injuries to attackers Kai Havertz Viktor Gyokeres Noni Madueke Gabriel Martinelli and captain Martin OdegaardThere is some positive news at the club though with forward Gabriel Jesus returning to training after recovering from a cruciate ligament injury suffered in January though he has yet to make a competitive appearance IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/arsenals-gabriel-ruled-out-after-thigh-injury-on-brazil-duty-648958.html Mon, 17 Nov 2025 02:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-livingstone-ngidi-mayank-agarwal-among-players-released-by-rcb-648841.html New Delhi Nov 15 Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru finalised their retained squad ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 auction having kept 17 players and released eight Rajat Patidar who led the team to their maiden victory in 18 editions of the tournament will continue at the helm while Virat Kohli the former captain of the franchise will continue for a record 19th season with the teamThe franchise have retained their core players with matchwinners like Phil Salt Krunal Pandya Romario Shepherd and Josh Hazlewood among others being the ones retainedThe RCBs most significant snub was England allrounder Liam Livingstone who was released due to his underwhelming performance last year Additionally South Africa pacer Lungi Ngidi was also let go by the franchise Overall RCB released a total of eight players before the auctionLast year RCB signed Livingstone for Rs 875 crore during the mega auction but he scored only 112 runs in 10 matchesRCB tasted glory for the first time in 18 years as they lifted the coveted silverware in 2025 The Bengalurubased franchise finished second in the points table after the league stage They then achieved consecutive victories over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 and the final held on May 29 and June 3 respectively ending an 18year wait for their inaugural IPL title Virat Kohli was the top scorer for the Rajat Patidarled squad in IPL 2025 while Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood recorded the most dismissalsRetained Rajat Patidar c Virat Kohli Devdutt Padikkal Phil Salt Jitesh Sharma Krunal Pandya Swapnil Singh Tim David Romario Shepherd Jacob Bethell Josh Hazlewood Yash Dayal Bhuvneshwar Kumar Nuwan Thushara Rasikh Salam Abhinandan Singh Suyash SharmaReleased Liam Livingstone Swastik Chikara Mayank Agarwal Tim Seifert Manoj Bhandage Lungi Ngidi Blessing Muzarabani Mohit Rathee IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-livingstone-ngidi-mayank-agarwal-among-players-released-by-rcb-648841.html Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-sunrisers-hyderabad-retain-core-release-zampa-mulder-and-five-others-648848.html Mumbai Nov 15 Sunrisers Hyderabad have confirmed their list of retained and released players ahead of the Indian Premier League IPL 2026 miniauction set for December in Abu Dhabi As per BCCIâs November 15 deadline all franchises submitted their final squads with SRH opting for a balanced overhaul after an underwhelming title defence in the 2025 season The 2025 campaign saw SRH finish sixth on the points table winning just six of their 14 matches and missing the playoffs by three points With the need for fresh direction clear the franchise has made significant changesâmost notably releasing eight players including veteran pacer Mohammed Shami who has been traded to Lucknow Super GiantsAustralia legspinner Adam Zampa Indian wristspinner Rahul Chahar allrounder Wiaan Mulder and batter Abhinav Manohar were also released by the franchise Domestic players Atharva Taide Sachin Baby and Simarjeet Singh joined the exit list as SRH trimmed down its squad to create space for new additions at the auctionDespite the shakeup Sunrisers have held firmly onto their core group Pat Cummins who led SRH in 2025 has been retained and will continue as captain Explosive opener Travis Head rising star Abhishek Sharma and wicketkeeperbatters Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen remain integral to the squad The franchise has also shown faith in young talents Aniket Verma R Smaran Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harsh DubeyIn the bowling department SRH have kept Sri Lankan speedster Eshan Malinga leftarm pacer Jaydev Unadkat England allrounder Brydon Carse and promising legspinner Zeeshan Ansari ensuring continuity in their attackWith a blend of retained experience and opportunities to strengthen through the auction Sunrisers Hyderabad will look to rebuild momentum and return to title contention in 2026Released players Mohammed Shami traded to LSG Adam Zampa Rahul Chahar Wiaan Mulder Abhinav Manohar Atharva Taide Sachin Baby Simarjeet SinghRetained players Pat Cummins c Travis Head Abhishek Sharma Aniket Verma R Smaran Ishan Kishan Heinrich Klaasen Nitish Kumar Reddy Harsh Dubey Kamindu Mendis Harshal Patel Brydon Carse Jaydev Unadkat Eshan Malinga Zeeshan Ansari IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-sunrisers-hyderabad-retain-core-release-zampa-mulder-and-five-others-648848.html Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/tennis-premier-leagues-race-to-gold-masters-kicks-off-in-delhi-648852.html New Delhi Nov 15 The Tennis Premier League TPL Race to Gold Masters tournament kicked off its first leg at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association DLTA on Saturday Beginning with their North Zone in Delhi the tournament will be played across three cities including Gujarat November 2 and 23 and Mumbai November 29 and 30 in association with the respective state tennis associations An initiative by TPL this tournament provides a platform for emerging tennis talent allowing them to showcase their skills using TPLâs unique and exciting 25point format The aim is to unearth Indias tennis talent pool and help build a robust domestic ecosystem for the sportThe topranked players of each Race to Gold Masters Zone across U10 Boys amp Girls U12 Boys amp Girls U14 Boys amp Girls and Menâs amp Womenâs Open categories will receive scholarships worth â¹75000 To celebrate their achievements the winners will be felicitated live on television during the upcoming seventh season of the Tennis Premier League set to be held in Ahmedabad from December 9 to 14The winners will also get the opportunity to interact with Indian tennis legends Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna and play alongside some of the top players in TPL Season 7 including Luciano Darderi Arthur Rinderknech Corentin Moutet Alexandre Muller Sahaja Yamalapalli and Shrivalli BhamidipatySharing his thoughts on the initiative Kunal Thakkur CoFounder Tennis Premier League said The Tennis Premier League TPL believes that the league cannot grow unless the sport of tennis grows in India and we are doing whatever we can to support that The Race to Gold initiative is directly inspired by Indias aim to host the 2036 Olympics in Ahmedabad We felt this was the right time to start an initiative to help produce a player who can win an Olympic medal in tennis just as Leander Paes won the bronzeMrunal Jain CoFounder Tennis Premier League added If we support players who are U10 U12 and U14 now they will be peaking in the next 10 to 11 years just in time for the Olympics This initiative allows young talent to be felicitated by tennis legends see top50 world players live in action and even learn from them directly on the court which is essential for building our domestic ecosystemThe seventh season of the Tennis Premier League is set to be held in Ahmedabad from December 9 to 14 at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/tennis-premier-leagues-race-to-gold-masters-kicks-off-in-delhi-648852.html Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-mumbai-indians-released-puthur-due-to-injury-franchise-to-support-his-rehab-648854.html New Delhi Nov 15 Fivetime IPL champions Mumbai Indians MI had produced a big shocker by releasing promising leftarm wristspinner Vignesh Puthur on IPL 2026 retentions day The development had come as a shocker more so due to MI unearthing the Mallapurambased Puthur from their vast scouting network and had impressed many in the franchiseâs trials Their faith in Puthur was vindicated when he dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda on debut in ChennaiBut sources aware of the development told IANS that Puthur being released by MI is more due to his ongoing injury recovery âVignesh is recovering from an injury sustained in Kerala Cricket League and MI will be continuing to support him in his rehab despite releasing him ahead of IPL 2026 auction to be held on December 16 in Abu Dhabiâ further said sourcesPuthur had been ruled out of IPL 2025 due to bone stress reactions in both shins and was replaced by Raghu Sharma for the remainder of the season where MI finished at third place Though Puthur recovered to play two games for Alleppey Ripples in KCL 2025 he was then ruled out of the competition with a shin injuryMeanwhile trade discussions between Delhi Capitals DC and Kolkata Knight Riders KKR for India wicketkeeperbatter KL Rahul reportedly fell through after one of DCâs two coowners intervened to halt the dealIt is understood that the same owner played a key role in securing Nitish Ranaâs move to DC from Rajasthan Royals RR a move that surprised many within the IPL ecosystem considering the latter were in definitive talks with KKR to trade Rana who represented them from 2018 to 2024On the other side Australia wicketkeeperbatter Josh Inglis being released by Punjab Kings PBKS came as a surprise to many considering he played some crucial knocks in their runnersup finish in IPL 2025 Sources have told IANS that Inglis wasnât to be available for the majority of IPL 2026 due to his wedding scheduled to happen around the same timeâHe would need some time for rest and plan plus prepare for his wedding after playing for Australia in the Menâs T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka in FebruaryMarch His focus right now is more on excelling for Australian cricketâ further said sources IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-mumbai-indians-released-puthur-due-to-injury-franchise-to-support-his-rehab-648854.html Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-gill-rohit-kohli-dhoni-among-173-players-retained-by-franchises-at-close-of-trade-window-648856.html Mumbai Nov 15 Top Indian players including Shubman Gill Rishabh Pant KL Rahul MS Dhoni Rohit Sharma Virat Kohli Hardik Pandya and ARshdeep Singh were among those retained by their respective franchises while big names like Andre Russell Glenn Maxwell Faf du Plessis Adam Zampa and David Miller were released as the retention window closed ahead of next months miniauction for the Indian Premier League IPL 2026 The biggest trade was for Rajasthan Royals wicketkeeperbatmancaptain Sanju Samson which saw him go to fivetime champion Chennai Super Kings in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran Indias 2023 ODI World Cup hero Mohammed Shami was picked by Lucknow Super Giants among other major movesThe player retention window for the IPL 2026 season closed on Saturday with all 10 franchises confirming their retained players ahead of the auctionAcross teams a total of 173 players have been retained including 49 overseas players A combined purse of â¹23755 crore will be available at the auction for a total of 77 player slotsWith each team allowed to have a maximum squad of 25 players Punjab Kings have opted to retain 21 players the most among the 10 franchises while Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans have retained 20 players eachThreetime winners Kolkata Knight Riders retained the least number of players 12 while Sunrisers Hyderabad were second with 15 players Fivetime winners Chennai Super Kings retained only 17 players including four overseas while Delhi Capitals opted for 17 3 overseasThe IPL Player Auction will take place on December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu DhabiHeading into the auction Kolkata Knight Riders will have a purse of â¹643 crore the largest among the group to fill a maximum of 13 slots with six overseas spots available Chennai Super Kings will have the secondbiggest kitty of â¹434 crore to fill a maximum of nine available slotsList of players retained by the franchisesChennai Super Kings CSK16 players retained 4 overseas Total spent â¹8160 Cap remaining â¹4340Anshul Kamboj Gurjapneet Singh Jamie Overton MS Dhoni Mukesh Choudhary Nathan Ellis Noor Ahmad Ramakrishna Ghosh Sanju Samson T Ruturaj Gaikwad Shivam Dube Shreyas Gopal Syed Khaleel Ahmed Ayush Mhatre Dewald Brevis Urvil PatelDelhi Capitals DC17 players retained 3 overseas Total spent â¹10320 Cap remaining â¹2180Abhishek Porel Ajay Mandal Ashutosh Sharma Axar Patel Dushmantha Chameera Karun Nair KL Rahul Kuldeep Yadav Madhav Tiwari Mitchell Starc Mukesh Kumar Nitish Rana T Sameer Rizvi T Natarajan Tripurana Vijay Tristan Stubbs Vipraj NigamGujarat Titans GT20 players retained 4 overseas Total spent â¹11210 Cap remaining â¹1290Anuj Rawat Glenn Phillips Gurnoor Singh Brar Ishant Sharma Jayant Yadav Jos Buttler Kagiso Rabada Kumar Kushagra Manav Suthar Mohammad Siraj Mohd Arshad Khan Nishant Sindhu Prasidh Krishna R Sai Kishore Rahul Tewatia Rashid Khan Sai Sudharsan Shahrukh Khan Shubman Gill Washington SundarKolkata Knight Riders KKR12 players retained 2 overseas Total spent â¹6070 Cap remaining â¹6430Ajinkya Rahane Angkrish Raghuvanshi Anukul Roy Harshit Rana Manish Pandey Ramandeep Singh Rinku Singh Rovman Powell Sunil Narine Umran Malik Vaibhav Arora Varun ChakaravarthyLucknow Super Giants LSG19 players retained 4 overseas Total spent â¹10205 Cap remaining â¹2295Abdul Samad Aiden Markram Akash Singh Arjun Tendulkar T Arshin Kulkarni Avesh Khan Ayush Badoni Digvesh Rathi Himmat Singh Manimaran Siddharth Matthew Breetzke Mayank Yadav Md Shami T Mitchell Marsh Mohsin Khan Nicholas Pooran Prince Yadav Rishabh Pant Shahbaz AhmedMumbai Indians MI20 players retained 7 overseas Total spent â¹12225 Cap remaining â¹275Allah Ghazanfar Ashwani Kumar Corbin Bosch Deepak Chahar Hardik Pandya Jasprit Bumrah Mayank Markande T Mitchell Santner Naman Dhir Raghu Sharma Raj Angad Bawa Robin Minz Rohit Sharma Ryan Rickelton Shardul Thakur T Sherfane Rutherford T Suryakumar Yadav Tilak Verma Trent Boult Will JacksPunjab Kings PBKS21 players retained 6 overseas Total spent â¹11350 Cap remaining â¹1150Arshdeep Singh Azmatullah Omarzai Harnoor Pannu Harpreet Brar Lockie Ferguson Marco Jansen Marcus Stoinis Mitch Owen Musheer Khan Nehal Wadhera Prabhsimran Singh Priyansh Arya Pyla Avinash Shashank Singh Shreyas Iyer Suryansh Shedge Vishnu Vinod Vyshak Vijaykumar Xavier Bartlett Yash Thakur Yuzvendra ChahalRajasthan Royals RR16 players retained 7 overseas Total spent â¹10895 Cap remaining â¹1605Dhruv Jurel Donovan Ferreira T Jofra Archer Kwena Maphaka LhuanDre Pretorious Nandre Burger Ravindra Jadeja T Riyan Parag Sam Curran T Sandeep Sharma Shimron Hetmyer Shubham Dubey Tushar Deshpande Vaibhav Suryavanshi Yashaswi Jaiswal Yudhvir CharakRoyal Challengers Bengaluru RCB17 players retained 6 overseas Total spent â¹10860 Cap remaining â¹1640Abhinandan Singh Bhuvneshwar Kumar Devdutt Padikkal Jacob Bethell Jitesh Sharma Josh Hazlewood Krunal Pandya Nuwan Thushara Phil Salt Rajat Patidar Rasikh Dar Romario Shepherd Suyash Sharma Swapnil Singh Tim David Virat Kohli Yash DayalSunrisers Hyderabad SRH15 players retained 6 overseas Total spent â¹9950 Cap remaining â¹2550Abhishek Sharma Aniket Verma Brydon Carse Eshan Malinga Harsh Dubey Harshal Patel Heinrich Klaasen Ishan Kishan Jaydev Unadkat Kamindu Mendis Nitish Kumar Reddy Pat Cummins Smaran Ravichandaran Travis Head Zeeshan AnsariNotes Amounts are in crores while denotes overseas players IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-gill-rohit-kohli-dhoni-among-173-players-retained-by-franchises-at-close-of-trade-window-648856.html Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hes-a-greyhound-gillespie-feels-doggett-ready-to-go-if-selected-for-ashes-opener-648875.html Perth Nov 16 Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie said pacer Brendan Doggett is fully ready to step in if selected in the playing eleven for the first Ashes Test against England starting on November 21 in Perth With Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the first Test due to a hamstring injury Doggett 31 is in line to become Australiaâs 472nd Test cricketer A Test debut in Perth will also make Doggett just the third Indigenous Australian to play Test cricket after Gillespie and Scott BolandHes one of the quicker bowlers in Australia Got a good motor hes a greyhound and is as fit as a fiddle Hes ready to go England will sniff an opportunity without Cummins and Hazlewood but Im confident the Australian seam attack is good enough to get the job done said Gillespie on ABC Radio on SundayDoggettâs rise has been anything but conventional He never featured in a representative side until his 20s eventually making his domestic debut for the former CA XI in the oneday cup in October 2016He first earned a callup to an Australian squad for the Tests against Pakistan in 2018 just months after the balltampering scandal in South Africa happened Though injuries stalled his progress Doggettâs move to South Australia in 2021 to spearhead their attack has since paid dividendsIn the previous domestic season Doggett played a key role in South Australiaâs first Sheffield Shield title win since 199596 claiming 33 wickets at an average of 2415 including match figures of 11140 the bestever figures for a bowler in a Shield finalHis path to a potential Baggy Green is not a common one in the modern game It just shows the value of our local competitions plying away and working on your craft added GillespieFollowing the Ashes opening game in Perth the second Test will be a daynight encounter to be played from December 48 in Brisbane Adelaide will host the third Test from December 1721 before the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is held from December 2630 The Ashes will conclude with the fifth and final Test set to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 48 2026 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hes-a-greyhound-gillespie-feels-doggett-ready-to-go-if-selected-for-ashes-opener-648875.html Sun, 16 Nov 2025 10:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/you-lived-it-we-loved-it-thank-you-for-everything-rcb-pen-farewell-note-for-livingstone-648901.html New Delhi Nov 16 Royal Challengers Bengaluru shared a farewell note for Liam Livingstone after the English player was released from their squad ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 auctions Ten teams will get into a bidding war on December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi Livingstone was released from the RCBâs squad as the franchise announced their retentions on Saturday evening With November 15 being the retention deadline the allrounder was among the eight members released by RCB as the 2025 champions let go of players from their championshipwinning squadThe Bengalurubased franchise shared a farewell note for the English cricketer on their official X account writing Stepped up when it mattered the most and left his mark on our most glorious chapter You lived it Liam and we loved it Thank you for everything Youâll always be an RCBian at heartLast year RCB signed Livingstone for Rs 875 crore during the mega auction but he scored only 112 runs in 10 matches With the franchise now sharing a farewell note the allrounder is unlikely to be repurchased by themThe RCBs most significant snub was England allrounder Liam Livingstone who was released due to his underwhelming performance last year Additionally South African pacer Lungi Ngidi was also released by the franchiseRCB tasted glory for the first time in 18 years as they lifted the coveted silverware in 2025 The Bengalurubased franchise finished second in the points table after the league stage They then achieved consecutive victories over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 and the final held on May 29 and June 3 respectively ending an 18year wait for their inaugural IPL titleVirat Kohli was the top scorer for the Rajat Patidarled squad in IPL 2025 while Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood recorded the most dismissalsRetained Rajat Patidar c Virat Kohli Devdutt Padikkal Phil Salt Jitesh Sharma Krunal Pandya Swapnil Singh Tim David Romario Shepherd Jacob Bethell Josh Hazlewood Yash Dayal Bhuvneshwar Kumar Nuwan Thushara Rasikh Salam Abhinandan Singh Suyash SharmaReleased Liam Livingstone Swastik Chikara Mayank Agarwal Tim Seifert Manoj Bhandage Lungi Ngidi Blessing Muzarabani Mohit Rathee IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/you-lived-it-we-loved-it-thank-you-for-everything-rcb-pen-farewell-note-for-livingstone-648901.html Sun, 16 Nov 2025 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jammu-and-kashmir-cricket-association-sub-committee-member-sunil-sethi-resigns-648908.html New Delhi Nov 16 Sunil Sethi a member of the legal affairs subcommittee of the Jammu amp Kashmir Cricket Association JKCA has resigned from the panel In his letter addressed to Mithun Manhas the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI the Jammubased Sethi stated he was formally stepping down from his role within the state association The development comes after the Supreme Court on 27 October ordered that the JKCA elections be held within 12 weeks under the supervision of former Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar JotiâI was appointed as member of the subcommittee to look after JKCA affairs in 2021 and have been working as such As the Supreme Court has directed holding of elections of the JKCA the effort to appoint a new Ombudsman hasnt been approved by the Election Officer till the formation of the General Body Unfortunately backdated orders are being issued by the former Ombudsman now dating it back to March 2025 when no such order was passed then now anything was reported to me These orders are changing the club management and voting rightsâThis is to change the voting nomenclature which I dont want to be party in As such I tender my resignation from member subcommittee Please accept and relieve me I am thankful for the opportunity the Board has bestowed on meâ wrote Sethi in his resignation letter to Manhas a copy of which is with IANSIn June 2021 Sethi and Manhas who captained JampK and Delhi in domestic cricket along with Brigadier Retd Anil Gupta were included in the threemember JKCA subcommittee established by the BCCI to oversee the daily operations of the associationWhile Manhas was involved in cricket operations and development Gupta is responsible for administrative matters Once Manhas became the BCCI President on September 28 former JampK captain Vidya Bhaskar took his place on the JKCA subcommittee IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jammu-and-kashmir-cricket-association-sub-committee-member-sunil-sethi-resigns-648908.html Sun, 16 Nov 2025 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/theegala-moves-up-marginally-despite-triple-bogey-in-bermuda-648914.html Southampton Parish Nov 16 Sahith Theegala made a marginal upward move despite a triple bogey as he shot 1under 70 in the third round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship as the Fall season moved towards the end for 2025 IndianAmerican Theegala 7665 added the 71 in strong windy conditions and moved to 2under for three days and it T39th up from T46th at the halfway stageTheegala who opened from the tenth had birdies on the 10th and the 14th but gave away a shot on the 15th He got it back on the 17th and added one more birdie on the par3 third to go to a healthy 3under for the round All that work was undone when he incurred a penalty and made a triple bogey on the par4 fourth A birdie on the par5 seventh was a small compensation as he turned in a card of 70Adam Schenk played bogeyfree for a 4under 67 giving him a share of the lead with Braden ThornberryThornberry a PGA TOUR rookie shot a 69 to join Schenk at 12under 201 going into the final roundSchenk and Thornberry are among 10 players from the top 11 on the leaderboard who arrived in Bermuda outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup with time running out The RSM Classic at Sea Island next week ends the season the first one that offers cards to the top 100 instead of the top 125The group one shot behind included Adam Hadwin of Canada who had the 36hole lead who had to settle for a 71 and was in a tie for third Max McGreevy 69 Chandler Phillips 70 and Takumi Kanaya of Japan 66Rikuya Hoshino had a 67 and was two behind IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/theegala-moves-up-marginally-despite-triple-bogey-in-bermuda-648914.html Sun, 16 Nov 2025 17:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/the-spill-of-excellence-is-gone-backlash-erupts-as-india-slip-to-30-run-loss-at-eden-gardens-648915.html New Delhi Nov 16 Indias unexpected 30run loss to South Africa in the first Test at Eden Gardens has sparked a wave of frustration and criticism from fans across social media What was meant to be a comfortable outing for the home team turned into a moment for serious reflection with several fans questioning the teamâs approach preparation and temperament under spinfriendly conditionsDespite being dismissed for 159 on Day 1 after choosing to bat first World Test Championship winners South Africa staged a remarkable comeback to beat India by 30 runs in the first Test at Eden Gardens on Sunday Chasing a modest target of 124 South Africa bowled out India for just 93 in 35 overs on Day 3The 30run victory also marked South Africaâs first Test win in India in 15 years with the visitors now leading the twomatch series 10 Additionally this is the firstever Test in India where all four innings were sub200 the 12th in Test cricket history and the first since 1959Many fans felt the loss was a result of complacency and poor tactical choices A recurring theme among the reactions was Indiaâs weakening ability to play spin One fan wrote on X Indias weakness of batting spin is now getting completely exposed We got whitewashed against NZ at home last year But this is a problem which was hidden because of the extraordinary skills of our spinnersThe fact is today that we can survive for longer on bouncy amp greener pitches than on rank square turners A solid defence plus precise shot selection is required in the subcontinent Must say we are nowhere a good side at home anymore on turners the post read furtherFans argued that Indiaâs spinners have often masked the deeper batting issues but this defeat has stripped away those illusions Referencing the repeated pattern of collapses one fan said the team no longer has the steady batting it once did âIndian batsmen are not that great anymore in playing spin The older days of Pujara Rahane and co are goneâSome also criticised team selection and pitch preparation recalling the earlier whitewash by New Zealand at homeâThis is so much deserved when you donât learn from your mistakes and play on pitches like this even after the 30 NZ whitewash at homeâPujara Virat Rahane spill of excellence is gone We get trapped ourselves Happened with NZ happened with SA a fan saidAnother fan said 30 run win at Eden Thats not an upset thats a statement A user said what a match this was gambhir adds another humiliating lossYet amidst all the criticism of India there was praise for South Africaâs grit and leadership Many applauded Temba Bavuma for inspiring the visitors to a disciplined win A user wrote Hats off to SA My respect for Bavuma increases plentiful Indiaâs frailties against spin exposed once againâYou have to appreciate Temba Bavuma with a separate tweet and slander Gambhir with a separate tweet another user said He should be called IRON MAN Silent and stubborn and brings the results His gritty knock also made the difference against this clueless Indian batting T20 lineups chase Congrats a fan wroteWith the series now tilted in South Africaâs favour India face mounting pressure to regroup quickly and respond strongly in the second Test scheduled fpr November 22 in Guwahati IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/the-spill-of-excellence-is-gone-backlash-erupts-as-india-slip-to-30-run-loss-at-eden-gardens-648915.html Sun, 16 Nov 2025 17:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/martyr-kartar-singh-sarabhas-native-village-to-get-facelift-says-cm-mann-648922.html DW Bureau nbsp LudhiananbspPunjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday paid floral tributes to freedom fighter Kartar Singh Sarabha on his martyrdom anniversary and announced development projects worth Rs 4584 crore for a complete facelift of his native villagenbspAddressing the statelevel event the Chief Minister said that as a mark of respect to the martyr development works worth Rs 45 crore 84 lakh will be undertaken in Sarabha village to provide basic infrastructure clean drinking water sports facilities defence training and other amenities He said that this would be a true tribute to the martyr adding that the state government will leave no stone unturned to develop this great martyrs native village as a model village On this occasion Bhagwant Singh Mann also paid homage to the companions of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha Vishnu Ganesh Pingle Bakhshish Singh Jagat Singh Surein Singh Senior Shaheed Harnam Singh Sialkoti and Surein Singh Junior who were also executed on the same dayThe Chief Minister said that Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha was one of Indias youngest revolutionaries who sacrificed his life at the tender age of 19 He said that despite being so young Kartar Singh Sarabhas selfless service to the nation continues to inspire generations Bhagwant Singh Mann added that the young martyr played a crucial role in freeing the country from foreign imperialismThe Chief Minister said that as an active leader of the Ghadar Party Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarbha worked tirelessly first in abroad and then in India for Indias freedom Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he had took oath as Chief Minister at the ancestral village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Khatkar Kalan and that his government is fully committed to realising the dreams of the martyrs During the event the he exhorted Punjabis to participate in the commemorative events being organised at Sri Anandpur Sahib from November 2325 to mark 350th Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur JiThe Chief Minister said that on this historic occasion the Punjab Government is organising light and sound shows Nagar Kirtans drone shows Kirtan Darbars and other programmes to ensure that the life and teachings of Guru Sahib reach every household He added that all Punjabis are fortunate to witness this historic moment adding that everyone should participate in these events Earlier Bhagwant Singh Mann also visited the ancestral home of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha and paid floral tributesThe Chief Minister said that Rs 40 crore will be spent on widening the existing twolane road from Lalto Kalan to Sarabha Raikot and Halwara into a fourlane road He said that this road will directly connect to Halwara AirportnbspSimilarly Rs 2 crore 82 lakh will be spent on a surface water supply scheme Rs 2 crore on a 10metre indoor shooting range with a target safety setup Rs 10 lakh on the renovation of the basketball ground and Rs 3 lakh on developing a volleyball court and constructing six concrete benches at the sports ground Additionally Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Rs 89 lakh will be spent on upgrading the Forest Nursery with modern technology adding that a training academy for security and police forces will also be established which will include a derelict MiG21 aircraft from the Air Force Academy for pilot andnbspdrone training https://dailyworld.in/sports/martyr-kartar-singh-sarabhas-native-village-to-get-facelift-says-cm-mann-648922.html Sun, 16 Nov 2025 19:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/32-ball-ton-297-on-board-suryavanshi-stars-as-india-a-dominate-uae-in-asia-cup-rising-stars-648727.html Doha Nov 14 Teen sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi rewrote record books yet again hammering a breathtaking 144 off just 42 deliveries to set up India Aâs thumping 148run win over UAE in their Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 opener in Doha on Friday His extraordinary effort powered India A to 297 for 4 the joint fifthhighest total in menâs T20 cricket before the bowlers sealed a commanding victorySuryavanshiâs knock was an exhibition of clean fearless hitting The 14yearold lefthander smashed 11 fours and 15 sixes finishing with a strike rate of 34285 the fourthhighest ever for a T20 score of 100 or moreHis century reached in 32 balls is now the jointsecond fastest by an Indian in menâs T20s alongside Rishabh Pantâs 2018 effort and behind only the 28ball tons by Urvil Patel and Abhishek Sharma in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 Overall it stands as the jointfifth fastest century in T20 cricket historyAt 14 years and 232 days Suryavanshi also became the youngest man to score a century for a national representative side at senior level surpassing Mushfiqur Rahimâs previous mark set in 2005 when the Bangladesh wicketkeeper was 16 years and 171 daysThis was Suryavanshiâs second T20 century following his 35ball ton for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025 â a knock that made him the youngest man to score a T20 hundred and the secondfastest centurion in IPL history behind Chris Gayleâs 30ball blitz in 2011What made Suryavanshiâs innings even more remarkable was the context He was dropped off the very first ball he faced but the reprieve only ignited his assault He surged to a 17ball fifty and never looked back dismantling UAEâs bowling attack with an astonishing mix of power and precision His dominance was the backbone of a 163run secondwicket stand off 57 balls with Naman Dhir 34 a partnership that shifted India A from a steady start to a position of total controlAfter Suryavanshiâs dismissal in the 13th over captain Jitesh Sharma kept the momentum going smashing 83 not out off 32 balls ensuring India A stayed on course for a towering total At one point they appeared poised to become just the fifth team in menâs T20s to breach the 300run markHowever a modest final over left them tied with Indiaâs 2024 total of 297 against Bangladesh still one of the highest ever recorded Only Barodaâs 349 in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has bettered it in Indian cricketChasing a monumental 298 the UAE were never in the contest Their innings lacked momentum with only Sohaib Khan offering resistance through a gritty 63 off 41 balls India A maintained control throughout with Gurjapneet Singh leading the attack with figures of 3 for 18 UAE eventually reached 149 for 7 well short of threatening India Aâs mammoth totalBrief scoresIndia A 2974 in 20 overs Vaibhav Suryavanshi 144 Jitesh Sharma 83 Aayan Afzal Khan 142 Muhammad Arfan 157 beat UAE A 1497 in 20 overs Shoaib Khan 63 Muhammad Arfan 26 Gurpanjeet Singh 218 Harsh Dubey 22 by 148 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/32-ball-ton-297-on-board-suryavanshi-stars-as-india-a-dominate-uae-in-asia-cup-rising-stars-648727.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 01:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/really-proud-says-carlos-alcaraz-as-he-accepts-atp-year-end-no-1-trophy-648730.html Turin Italy Nov 14 Carlos Alcaraz accepted the ATP YearEnd No 1 trophy for the second time in his career at the ATP Finals here on Friday afternoon securing the position for the first time since 2022 The Spaniard who has clinched six Grand Slam titles so far clinched the honour when he defeated Lorenzo Musetti to move to 30 in roundrobin play at the season finale The 22yearold from El Palmar Murcia who turned professional in 2018 is hoping to win his maiden title in the ATP FinalsâIt is a pleasure for me being the No 1â Alcaraz said on the occasion âBeing the No 1 in the world is something that Iâm working really hard for with my team every day It is a goal But I think it is a journey that youâre not going through alone Itâs with your whole team with your family with your close people behind you always supporting you in the tough and good moments which Iâm really really proud about having such a great teamâAlcaraz pointed out that when he first earned YearEnd No 1 honours in 2022 he had the same team They have stuck together and continued to reap the rewardsâIâm still really proud of the team I have right nowâ Alcaraz said âSome new members in the team that Iâm really happy and proud to share this moment with them as well For me itâs a great achievement It means the world to me and Iâm just really proud and happyâ he was quoted as saying by the ATP TourATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi and Head of Corporate Brand and Strategic Advisory at PIF Mohamed Alsayyad presented Alcaraz the trophyThe 22yearold is chasing his first Nitto ATP Finals title The Spaniard has booked his semifinal spot and will take on twotime champion Alexander Zverev or Felix AugerAliassime on SaturdayBut before returning his focus to the task at hand in Turin Alcaraz thanked fans around the world âI want to continue because the support that Iâm receiving everywhere that Iâm going I canât thank the people enoughâ Alcaraz saidâWeâre travelling since the 1st of January until the end of November â new places new countries new stages and the people are always the same The great energy the great atmosphere I feel the love everywhere that Iâm goingâIn some tournaments in some matches without the support of the people it wouldnât be possible to come back to win to lift trophies So I really want to say thank you to all the people who are coming to every tournament to every match who are supporting tennis supporting me Iâm really grateful to everyone for the energy and the love that I am receiving This trophy is obviously for themâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/really-proud-says-carlos-alcaraz-as-he-accepts-atp-year-end-no-1-trophy-648730.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 01:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/golf-hojgaard-continues-love-affair-with-jumeirah-leads-dp-world-tour-champs-648732.html Dubai Nov 14 Nicolai Hojgaard continued his love affair at Jumeirah Golf Estates as he opened up a threeshot lead at the halfway stage of the 2025 DP World Tour Championship The Dane is making his third appearance at the seasonending event on the Earth Course where he came fourth on his debut in 2021 before lifting the trophy two years later Hojgaard began the day three shots behind leader Michael Kim but an eagle and five birdies saw him catapult to the top of the leaderboard thanks to a flawless 65 the lowest round of the week so far to reach 12 under parThere is a stellar chasing pack in hot pursuit with his 2023 European Ryder Cup teammates Justin Rose Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy sat alongside Daniel Hillier and fellow Dane Rasmus NeergaardPetersen at nine underIts great to be back its one of my favourite tournaments and courses to play Hojgaard said I stayed really patient again Yesterday was a really good round and I feel that I actually played a little bit better today Its just staying patientThere are plenty of chances out there but its easy to make a silly bogey out of being too aggressive so Im trying to navigate my way around there a little bit Staying patient has been the highlight so farIt suits my eye You talk about golf courses suiting your eye I really like it off the tee Its a precision course as well its a mix of a driver down to a fouriron and it plays into my strength which is midironsIts just a really good fit for me and Ive played some really good golf again so hopefully we can keep it upHojgaard made a fast start with an opening birdie before leaving just four feet at the parfive second with his approachJust as Kim sent his teeshot into the steep fairway bunker at the first the Dane rolled in the eagle putt to join him in the lead at eight under Rose joined the pair at the summit with a huge 65foot birdie putt at the sixth before Kim dropped out of the leadership group with an opening bogeyHowever Fleetwood followed HÃjgaards lead at the second with an eagle albeit his was from 61 feet to jump ahead on his own at nine underRose completed a hattrick of birdies at the seventh to reach nine under while HÃjgaard made it three European Ryder Cup stars at the top with a birdie at the fifthThe Dane became the first player to reach double figures with a birdie at the seventh and when he holed another to reach the turn in 30 HÃjgaard was two shots clear at 11 underAnother Ryder Cup star Lowry joined Fleetwood and Rose at nine under thanks to a fifth birdie of the day at the 11thHillier chipped in for a birdie at the 12th to join the chasing pack with NeergaardPetersen and Laurie Canter also climbing to nine underNeergaardPetersen who almost aced the 13th before eagling the next went four under through three holes with a birdie at the 15th to jump ahead on his own in second at ten underHÃjgaard drained his fifth birdie of the day at the 14th to restore his twoshot lead at 12 under His advantage then stretched to three when NeergaardPetersen bogeyed the last to slip backRose and NeergaardPetersen who were playing partners on day two both carded 67s as did Irishman Lowry to reach nine under Defending champion McIlroy came home with a fourunder 68 and New Zealands Hillier signed for a 69 Canter Scotlands Robert MacIntyre Swede Alex Noren and Fleetwood are one shot further back at eight under IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/golf-hojgaard-continues-love-affair-with-jumeirah-leads-dp-world-tour-champs-648732.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 01:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mark-wood-cleared-of-hamstring-injury-concerns-ahead-of-ashes-opener-648743.html Perth Nov 15 Mark Wood has been given the allclear after a hamstring scare offering England some reassurance ahead of the Ashes However he will sit out the final day of their only warmup match at Lilac Hill in Perth against the England Lions Wood reported tightness in his left hamstring on Friday following two fourover spells that opened the threeday fixture He left the field partway through the second session after his second spell and later underwent precautionary scansFollowing precautionary scans on Friday England fast bowler Mark Wood has been cleared of any concerns regarding his left hamstring the ECB said in a statementWood will continue to train as planned in the buildup to the first Test in Perth it addedEngland have continued to manage Wood carefully as he recovers from the knee injury he picked up during Februaryâs Champions Trophy Although he had aimed to return for the final Test against India in the summer a training setback forced him to miss the entire home seasonOn the opening day at Lilac Hill a quiet suburban venue on the outskirts of Perth Wood delivered several sharp spells despite the generally docile pitchBrydon Carse has now joined the action after missing day one through illness while Englandâs pace reserves also include Jofra Archer Gus Atkinson Matt Potts Josh Tongue and Ben StokesEngland Ashes squad Ben Stokes c Jofra Archer Gus Atkinson Shoaib Bashir Jacob Bethell Harry Brook Brydon Carse Zak Crawley Ben Duckett Will Jacks Ollie Pope Matthew Potts Joe Root Jamie Smith Josh Tongue Mark Wood IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mark-wood-cleared-of-hamstring-injury-concerns-ahead-of-ashes-opener-648743.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 09:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jadeja-curran-traded-to-rr-shami-to-lsg-in-major-shuffle-ahead-of-ipl-2026-retention-deadline-648752.html New Delhi Nov 15 The Indian Premier League IPL franchises confirmed eight player trades ahead of the 2026 season retention deadline with Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson grabbing the spotlight While the allrounder has been traded to the Rajasthan Royals the wicketkeeperbatter will now represent the Chennai Super Kings Jadeja who represented CSK for 12 seasons and played over 250 matches is among the most experienced players in the league Under the trade agreement his league fee has been reduced from Rs 18 crore to Rs 14 crore the IPL confirmed in a release on SaturdayMeanwhile Samson will represent CSK at his current league fee of Rs 18 crore With 177 IPL matches to his name he is also one of the leagues most seasoned players This will be only his third franchise Since his IPL debut in 2013 the senior player has mostly played for RR except for two seasons 2016 and 2017 when he played for Delhi CapitalsEngland allrounder Sam Curran will transfer from CSK to RR at his current IPL fee of Rs 24 crore after a successful trade The 27yearold has participated in 64 IPL matches RR will be his third franchise having previously played for Punjab Kings in 2019 2023 and 2024 as well as for CSK overall seasonsVeteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami will represent Lucknow Super Giants LSG following a successful trade from Sunrisers Hyderabad SRH Shami the secondhighest costly buy for SRH before the IPL 2025 season at Rs 10 crore will transfer to LSG at the same feeThe senior pacer has extensive experience participating in 119 IPL matches with five different teams since his debut in 2013 Prior to joining SRH Shami was a key member of the Gujarat Titans GT and won the Purple Cap in 2023 with 28 wickets in 17 matches Although he sat out the 2024 season due to injury he had a significant 2023 campaign taking 20 wickets and playing a vital role in GTâs championship winLegspinner Mayank Markande will rejoin the Mumbai Indians MI after a successful trade from Kolkata Knight Riders KKR KKR bought Markande for Rs 30 lakh and he will rejoin MI at the same feeMarkande started his IPL journey with MI playing for the franchise in 2018 2019 and 2022 He later played for Rajasthan Royals in 2021 and Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2023 and 2024 Overall he has participated in 37 IPL matches and taken 37 wicketsBowling allrounder Arjun Tendulkar will join LSG after being transferred from MI He will continue to play for LSG at his current fee of Rs 30 lakh Initially selected by MI at the 2021 IPL auction he made his debut for the franchise in 2023Before the league confirmed the developments IANS had reported on Thursday about the likelihood of SamsonJadejaCurran trades between CSK and RR as well as about Shami Tendulkar and Markandes trades to their new franchisesLefthanded batter Nitish Rana will now play for DC after being traded from RR He will retain his current fee of Rs 42 crore which RR bid for at the auction before the IPL 2025 season Rana with over 100 matches under his belt captained Kolkata Knight Riders in 2023 when Shreyas Iyer was sidelined due to injuryAllrounder Donovan Ferreira is set to rejoin his first franchise RR after a successful trade from DC According to the transfer deal his fee has increased from Rs 75 lakh to INR 1 crore IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jadeja-curran-traded-to-rr-shami-to-lsg-in-major-shuffle-ahead-of-ipl-2026-retention-deadline-648752.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 10:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/uruguay-to-test-depth-against-mexico-us-648756.html Mexico City Nov 15 Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa said Friday that the absences of Darwin Nunez and Federico Valverde will not greatly impact his team in friendlies against Mexico and the United States AlHilal striker Nunez was ruled out of the matches due to a knee injury while Real Madrid midfielder Valverde is sidelined with a hamstring strain reports XinhuaIt would have been nice to have both of them with us but the fact they are not here will not be an obstacle for us Bielsa told reporters adding that Uruguays depth of talent had been one of its strengths since he took charge of the Celeste in May 2023We have played 18 World Cup qualifiers since I arrived and seven Copa America games so the mutual understanding within our team is already solid the 70yearold Argentine saidUruguay will meet Mexico in Torreon on Saturday and the United States in Tampa on Tuesday The games will provide one of the last opportunities for Bielsa to assess his squad before next years World Cup in the United States Mexico and CanadaThe Celeste booked a place in the tournament by finishing fourth in South Americas 10team qualifying groupBielsa said most of his World Cup squad had already been decided but left open the possibility of late additionsThere are only a few players I have not evaluated and seeing new faces is always a step forward a chance to add something especially when you have the opportunity to face two opponents like the ones we will face he saidThe idea is to repeat as few players as possible across the two games taking advantage of the fact that they are matches of a level similar to a World Cup I know Mexico and the United States have significant absences but even so having these two games is a great opportunity IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/uruguay-to-test-depth-against-mexico-us-648756.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 11:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/one-of-the-toughest-decisions-says-csk-md-kasi-viswanathan-on-jadejas-trade-to-rr-648761.html New Delhi Nov 15 Chennai Super Kings Managing Director Kasi Viswanathan discussed the franchise trading their key allrounder Ravindra Jadeja to Rajasthan Royals describing it as one of the most difficult decisions the team management had to make Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction the league confirmed on Saturday that Jadeja and Sam Curran had been traded to RR with CSK receiving Sanju Samson in exchange Although the news had been circulating for nearly a week official confirmation from both franchises left many fans heartbroken Both Jadeja and Samson had been integral parts of their respective teams becoming the faces of their sides However the CSK MD stated that the decision was mutual and the players believed a change was necessaryâChennai Super Kings as you know have traded Jadeja and Sam Curran for Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals As a franchise you might know that over the years we have not used the path of trading except for one year when we got Robin Uthappa The team management felt the need for a toporder Indian batsman And since not many Indian batsmen are going to be available at the auction we thought the best way to get an Indian toporder batter is to go through the trade windowâAnd hence we have to take this call And this decision has been taken by the team management and it is a very tough decision leaving out Jaddu who has been responsible for the success of CSK over the years It was probably one of the toughest decisions that CSK had to take that the team management had to take Considering the transition of CSK at this point of time the team management took the toughest decisionâIt is a must that we should consult with the players concerned And it was after mutual agreement that we under took this When I spoke to Jadeja he was also very clear that if there is an opportunity for him because he is also he also felt that he was at the fag end of his career in white ball So he also felt that he can have a break Kasi said in a video shared by the CSKâSam Curran was with us in 2020 2021 and 2025 He has been a Consistent performer for us As I said earlier leaving out Sam as well as Jaddu was one of the toughest calls We have certain players who are at the fag end of their career And it is very important for CSK to build a team in the next couple of years And since this is a mini auction we dont have the opportunity to get the best of the Indian batsmenâSanju has been one of the most experienced IPL batsmen having scored more than 4500 runs And he has also been leading Rajasthan Royals He has the experience and he is only around 30 years So we thought that he will be a good addition for CSK to take care of the future Emotionally the fans will be very very upset because I have already got a lot of messages from the fans But taking into account the current status of the team composition nothing tank of the CSK cricket management felt the need for a change And I am sure that in the years to come CSK will maintain the same kind of consistency and also perform wellâ he addedJadeja who played for CSK for 12 seasons and appeared in over 250 matches is one of the most experienced players in the league According to the trade agreement his league fee has been reduced from Rs 18 crore to Rs 14 croreMeanwhile Samson will represent CSK at his current league fee of Rs 18 crore With 177 IPL matches to his name he is also one of the leagues most experienced players This will be only his third franchise Since his IPL debut in 2013 the senior player has mostly played for RR apart from two seasonsâ2016 and 2017âwhen he played for Delhi Capitals IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/one-of-the-toughest-decisions-says-csk-md-kasi-viswanathan-on-jadejas-trade-to-rr-648761.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 11:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gave-my-everything-now-im-moving-on-sanju-samson-on-being-traded-to-csk-from-rr-648766.html New Delhi Nov 15 Sanju Samson who has been traded to Chennai Super Kings CSK from Rajasthan Royals RR ahead of the IPL 2026 auction shared a heartfelt note for his former franchise after ending a 10year stint with the Jaipurbased side With 177 IPL matches to his name Samson is one of the leagues most experienced players Since his IPL debut in 2013 the senior player has primarily played for RR apart from two seasons 2016 and 2017 when he played for the Delhi Capitals This will be his third franchise of his careerâWe are only here for a short period of time Gave my everything to this franchise enjoyed some great cricket made some lifetime relations treated everyone in the franchise as my family And when its timeI am moving on Shall always be grateful for everything rajasthanroyalsâ Samson wrote in an Instagram postCSK meanwhile traded their senior allrounder Ravindra Jadeja to the Royals along with Englandâs Sam Curran as the duo will now be seen donning the pink jersey Jadeja has predominantly represented CSK in his IPL career but he is now set to play for the franchise where he began his league career the RoyalsSamson who has now finished his stint with the Royals shared that his dream was to be close to Dhoni converse with him and learn about his approach to the gameAs every young Indian cricketer I wanted to be around MS Dhoni Every single time you meet him every single time you know that youre going to play against CSK its like you want to sit with Mahi bhai talk to him understand how he does things Even just sitting around him was a dream as a young cricketer Samson said in a video posted by Star Sports on XWhen I came to play the IPL after the match I thought of meeting him But several people were already there to meet him I went and met him in the 8th year of my IPL I waited to help my side win a match against the CSK I made some runs and won the POTM After that I went and met him After that my relationship has been going upwards It has been a very blessed feeling I have done shoots with him It feels like a dream he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gave-my-everything-now-im-moving-on-sanju-samson-on-being-traded-to-csk-from-rr-648766.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/its-good-prep-and-well-be-ready-for-next-week-says-zak-crawley-648767.html Perth Nov 15 England opener Zak Crawley insists the squad will be fully prepared for next weekâs Ashes opener in Perth dismissing concerns over their limited buildup to the series The fivematch series kicks off on Friday at Perth Stadium but Englandâs choice to schedule only one warmup game â against the England Lions at Lilac Hill â has faced criticism from pundits and former playersCrawley however remained optimistic after scoring a swift 82 off 101 balls in Englandâs firstinnings total of 426 expressing confidence that the team will be ready for the muchanticipated showdown with AustraliaLuckily I dont have to worry about those sorts of things I just try and turn up and play my role in the team But as far as Im concerned its good prep Were getting used to the weather getting used to the flies Its good prep and I feel like well be ready for next week he told reporters on FridayThe 27yearold is set to return to the Western Australian capital for the opening Test having previously played for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League He said he is eagerly looking forward to walking out as an opener at the 60000seat stadiumI love this town its one of my favourite places in the world so I love being back he said Got a lot of friends here my old batting coach is from here and I feel like Ive got a connection here I love Perth I didnt get to play here last time with COVID so itll be very specialI played for the Scorchers here and Optus Stadium is an unbelievable ground a lot of English people there hopefully and its going to be one of the most special moments of my career for sureâ Crawley said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/its-good-prep-and-well-be-ready-for-next-week-says-zak-crawley-648767.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-irfan-pathan-suggests-punjab-add-backup-options-for-chahal-and-arshdeep-648777.html New Delhi Nov 15 Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction former India allrounder Irfan Pathan advised the Punjab Kings to add backups for their frontline spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and pace spearhead Arshdeep Singh Chahal and Arshdeep are crucial members of Punjabâs bowling lineup and they will be looking to build a strong bowling core around them for the upcoming seasonChahal acquired by Punjab Kings for Rs 18 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction following his release from Rajasthan Royals proved crucial in their journey to the final Despite missing two matches due to a wrist injury he took 16 wickets in 14 games playing a key role in Punjabâs campaign before they fell short against Royal Challengers BangaloreOn the other hand Arshdeep was one of the marquee picks at the IPL 2025 auction becoming the highestpaid fast bowler at Rs 18 crore after Punjab Kings exercised their Right to Match RTM card In IPL 2025 he also became the franchiseâs alltime leading wickettaker He finished as the franchiseâs top wickettaker last season with 21 scalps in 17 matches gamesThere are two important factors Punjab needs to consider ahead of the auction Firstly with Yuzvendra Chahal being such a key spinner having a reliable backup spinner is crucial to support the teamâs preparation Secondly Arshdeep Singh is an exceptional player who bowls yearround and while heâs irreplaceable it would be wise to have a backup Indian fast bowler for the squadâ Pathan said on JioStarâs IPL 2026 âRetention PreviewâFormer Australia opener Matthew Hayden reflected on Lucknow Super Giantsâ difficult season emphasising offfield issues and bowling woesThere were significant offfield issues within the LSG camp last season and its clear they werent a happy group Considering the struggles releasing Nortje to Kolkata Knight Riders might actually benefit LSG Much of their bowling attack faced injuries or unavailability during the first half of the season which was a real challengeâ he saidFormer India and Chennai Super Kings CSK batter Subramaniam Badrinath shared his perspective on Lucknow Super Giants retention strategy saying captain Rishabh Pant will be a valuable asset for the franchiseLSG has invested 27 crores in Rishabh Pant as their captain and I believe that investment is justified Pant didnât quite show his full potential last season but he is still one of those players poised to make a significant impact in the IPL He hasnât peaked yet once he finds his form heâs definitely a player to watch However the real challenge for LSG lies with their bowling unitâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-irfan-pathan-suggests-punjab-add-backup-options-for-chahal-and-arshdeep-648777.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 13:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/1st-test-gill-being-monitored-decision-on-participation-to-depend-on-progress-says-bcci-648782.html Kolkata Nov 15 India skipper Shubman Gill is under medical observation after experiencing a neck spasm during the ongoing first Test against South Africa A decision on his participation in the match will be made based on further assessment the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI said âShubman Gill has a neck spasm and is being monitored by the BCCI medical team A decision on his participation today will be taken as per his progressâ said the BCCI in an official update on SaturdayThe incident occurred during the first session when on the fifth ball of the 35th over Gill played a fine sweep off South African offspinner Simon Harmer over backward square for four While the shotâs execution impressed the spectators Gill immediately grasped his neck in visible discomfort as he stood uprightThe Indian team physio Kamlesh Jain attended to Gill on the field and the Indian captain was clutching the left side of his neck With Gill appearing stiff and unable to move his neck freely he walked off the field to retire hurt after facing just three ballsGillâs injury occurred at a crucial stage of Indiaâs innings when the hosts were trying to build a lead over the Proteas who were bowled out for 159 on Day 1 Although India now lead they have only three wickets in hand on a pitch that is difficult to bat on due to its twopaced nature turn and uneven bounceDuring the second session new broadcast visuals indicated that Gillâs neck problem had been bothering him even before day twoâs play started According to the visuals Gill was seen doing neckrelaxation drills in front of the physio and coaches and was grimacing during the processGiven those signs the medical teamâs quick decision to retire hurt Gill after he experienced discomfort seems justified Gill had previously suffered from a stiff neck before Indiaâs first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru in October 2024 which ultimately ruled him out of the match IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/1st-test-gill-being-monitored-decision-on-participation-to-depend-on-progress-says-bcci-648782.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 13:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/3rd-hockey-india-jr-women-academy-cship-to-kick-off-in-kurukshetra-648784.html New Delhi Nov 15 The 3rd Hockey India Junior Women Academy Championship 2025 Zone A amp B is all set to showcase young talent beginning at Kurukshetra University Haryana on Sunday November 16 The final match is scheduled for November 23 Fifteen academy teams from across the country will compete for top honours in this highly anticipated tournament which is a key part of Hockey Indiaâs strong grassroots development pathway The teams are divided into four pools â Pool A Pool B Pool C and Pool D â and will play in a roundrobin format The top two teams from each pool will move on to the SemiFinals on November 21 The 3rd4th place match and the Final are scheduled for November 23The opening match features Ghumanhera Riserâs Academy against Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy promising an exciting start to a week of intense competition hockeyPool A includes the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre Mumbai Schools Sports Association and the Sports Authority of Gujarat Hockey AcademyPool B comprises Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club Academy Citizen Hockey XI Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey Society and Vadipatti Raja Hockey AcademyPool C includes Ghumanhera Riserâs Academy Raja Karan Hockey Academy Khalsa Hockey Academy Amritsar and Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy Meanwhile Pool D features Jai Bharat Hockey Academy Bhai Behlo Hockey Academy Bhagta Markandeshwar Hockey Academy and Ritu Rani Hockey AcademyDuring the group stage teams earn three points for a win and one point for a draw If the scores are tied at the end of regulation in the classification matches a shootout will determine the winner increasing the excitement proceedingsSpeaking ahead of the tournament Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said âThe Junior Women Academy Championship is a cornerstone in our talent development structure It gives us the opportunity to identify promising players who will eventually feed into the national setup Over the years these academy tournaments have proven to be instrumental in nurturing future stars who go on to represent India at the international level I am confident this yearâs edition will showcase some extraordinary young talentâEchoing his sentiments Hockey India Secretary General Bola Nath Singh added âThis Championship not only provides young players a platform to compete but also instils in them the discipline and exposure required at higher levels The enthusiasm and commitment shown by these academies reflect the strong grassroots network we have built across India We look forward to an exciting week of hockey in KurukshetraâWith top junior academies competing the 3rd Hockey India Junior Women Academy Championship 2025 Zones A amp B offers exciting matches showcases emerging talent and marks another milestone in Hockey Indiaâs efforts to build a stronger foundation for Indian hockey IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/3rd-hockey-india-jr-women-academy-cship-to-kick-off-in-kurukshetra-648784.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 14:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/1st-test-harmer-picks-four-as-india-bundled-out-for-189-lead-south-africa-by-30-runs-648793.html Kolkata Nov 15 Offspinner Simon Harmer picked four wickets as India were bowled out for 189 in 622 overs and took a slender 30run lead over South Africa on day two of first Test at the Eden Gardens on Saturday Much like South Africaâs first innings on day one Indiaâs batting display was marked by modest contributions and a lack of substantial partnerships with the 57run stand between KL Rahul and Washington Sundar being the highest partnershipRahul was the only batter from India to cross the 30run mark as the hostsâ innings unravelled quickly â from 1534 India lost their last five wickets for just 36 runs to be dismissed for 189With the contest finely balanced the hosts hold a narrow advantage though they are currently without Shubman Gill who retired hurt on four due to a neck spasm For South Africa Harmer extracted turn well and varied his pace beautifully on a challenging twopaced pitch with uneven bounce to grab figures of 430 while Marco Jansen took 335The second session began with Dhruv Jurel being exquisite in his timing to cut and drive off Corbin Bosch for boundaries while Ravindra Jadeja played a beautiful leaning drive past cover for another fourBut Harmer struck again on his tossedup delivery Jurel was quick in closing bat face early and the leading edge was grabbed by the offspinner to complete a simple caught and bowled chanceAfter India managed to get into the lead Harmer came back to trap Jadeja lbw with his skiddy delivery with the allrounder also burning a review One brought two for South Africa as Kuldeep Yadav nicked a down leg delivery to keeper Kyle Verreynne off Jansen who later rattled Mohammed Sirajâs offstumpHarmer completed his fourfer by having Axar Patel caught at backward point and with Gill not walking out to bat Indiaâs innings ended one run short of 190 With India losing five wickets for just 51 runs after the lunch break the game is tantalizingly poised for a cracking finishBrief Scores South Africa 159 in 55 overs Aiden Markram 31 Jasprit Bumrah 527 trial India 189 in 622 overs KL Rahul 39 Washington Sundar 29 Simon Harmer 430 Marco Jansen 335 by 30 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/1st-test-harmer-picks-four-as-india-bundled-out-for-189-lead-south-africa-by-30-runs-648793.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/japan-masters-indias-campaign-ends-as-lakshya-sen-bows-out-in-semis-648794.html Kumamoto Nov 15 Lakshya Sen bowed out in the semifinal of the Japan Masters a BWF World Tour Super 500 event losing in three games to hometown favourite Kenta Nishimoto in Kumamoto on Saturday Lakshya started strongly building an 83 lead in the opening game but Nishimoto turned the momentum with a sevenpoint burst and edged ahead through steep wellplaced smashes Although the Indian shuttler fought back to level the scores late in the game a series of errors at the net allowed Nishimoto to close it out 2119Lakshya responded well in the second game slowing down the rallies and capitalising on Nishimotoâs physical discomfort From 15 down he surged ahead with controlled net play and sharp smashes taking eight of nine points to seize the lead before closing the game 2114However Nishimoto regained control in the decider attacking with precision and jumping to a commanding 147 advantage Lakshya struggled to keep pace eventually handing Nishimoto eight match points with the Japanese sealing a 2112 win to reach the final He will face either compatriot Kodai Naraoka or Chinese Taipeiâs Wang Tzu Wei in the title clashEarlier Lakshya defeated former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore to storm into the semifinal on Friday He registered a 2113 2117 win over the world No 9 Loh in 40 minutes marking his seventh win against the Singaporean in 10 career meetingsLakshya was the only Indian player alive in the tournament after HS Prannoy bowed out of the tournament following a straightgames defeat in the second round on ThursdayPrannoy who was sixth in the badminton rankings two years ago before injuries and chikungunya halted his progress lost 2118 2115 against 30thranked Rasmus Gemke of Denmark in 46 minutesIndiaâs challenge in the doubles and womenâs singles events ended on Wednesday IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/japan-masters-indias-campaign-ends-as-lakshya-sen-bows-out-in-semis-648794.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/adani-ahmedabad-marathon-unveils-official-jersey-ahead-of-9th-edition-648826.html Ahmedabad Nov 15 The official jersey for the 9th Adani Ahmedabad Marathon was revealed at Palladium Mall on Saturday in front of fitness enthusiasts and local runners The unveiling showcased a striking artwork crafted from 15000 recycled plastic bottle caps symbolising a unique blend of creativity sustainability and patriotism â an ode to our tricolour In an unprecedented move Aaquib Wani partnered with Adani Sportsline to encourage local residents to submit their designs aiming to merge community ideas with his storytellingfocused design approach The outcome is a lively piece that highlights the marathonâs main cause Run4OurSoldiers and reflects the cultural energy of AhmedabadSanjay Adesara the Chief Business Officer Adani Sportsline said âWith the unveiling of the official jersey of the 9th Adani Ahmedabad Marathon we mark an important milestone I would like to express my gratitude to Aaquib Wani for designing this jersey in collaboration with our community The design beautifully captures the marathonâs growing legacy and the cityâs creative energyâThe Adani Ahmedabad Marathon is listed on the AIMS Global Marathon Event List and still promotes its social mission of honouring Indiaâs armed forcesThis year again the run will kick off at the Sabarmati Riverfront Sports Park featuring routes that pass by Ahmedabadâs key landmarks such as Atal Bridge Gandhi Ashram and Ellis Bridge Scheduled for November 30 the event offers four categories Full Marathon Half Marathon 10 km and 5 km runsThe marathon organised by the Adani Group symbolises support for Indiaâs brave armed forces It started in November 2017 and held its fifth edition in November 2021 Runners love it for its stunning route considered one of the most beautiful in the worldThe races initially drew nearly 20000 participants in their first two editions but the third and fourth editions saw attendance drop below that number with over 17000 participants After COVID19 the Ahmedabad Marathon became the first to organise a physical event by implementing timeslot systems allowing more than 8000 runners to participate across two days in 2021 while following COVID19 safety guidelinesIn 2022 the Ahmedabad Marathon was included in the âGlobal Marathon Event List AIMS World Runningâ making it Ahmedabadâs only race to be featured on this international list By 2024 over 20000 participants had taken part in the Run4OurSoldiers event showing support for our armed forcesThe Run4OurSoldiers campaign is the events standout feature offering a special chance for participants to honour our soldiers Last year over 3000 defence personnel took part in the run Most of the proceeds are dedicated to supporting the welfare of the armed forces IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/adani-ahmedabad-marathon-unveils-official-jersey-ahead-of-9th-edition-648826.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 23:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/turkiye-bans-102-footballers-over-widening-betting-scandal-648712.html Ankara Turkiye Nov 14 Turkiyes football authorities have handed temporary bans to 102 professional players as part of a widening investigation into illegal betting activities in the country The Professional Football Disciplinary Board of the Turkish Football Federation TFF on Thursday suspended 25 players from the Super Lig and 77 from the secondtier First League with punishments ranging from 45 days to 12 months The investigation reviewed allegations against 1024 footballers of whom 102 were sanctionedAmong the most notable cases is Galatasaray and Turkish national team defender Eren Elmali who was banned for 45 days and removed from the national team squad reports XinhuaEarlier this week Elmali admitted on Instagram to placing a bet on a football match approximately five years ago but said it did not involve his own team He joined Galatasaray earlier this yearHis teammate Metehan Baltaci who plays for Türkiyes Under21 team received a ninemonth suspension Konyaspors Alassane Ndao was handed the longest ban of 12 monthsThe TFF stressed that players who have been provisionally referred to the disciplinary board are not permitted to play in matches during the ongoing investigationDue to the scale of the investigation the TFF announced that matches in the Second and Third Leagues have been postponed for two weeks but Super Lig and First League matches will continue as scheduled The federation also revealed that it has initiated urgent talks with FIFA to allow teams affected by the bans a 15day transfer window to strengthen their squadsEarlier eight people were arrested in Turkiye and more than 1000 players were suspended as a wideranging investigation into alleged betting on football matches rocked the countryâs football federationTurkish authorities formally arrested Eyupspor Chairman Murat Ozkaya a toptier club chairman and seven others on Monday while the Turkish Football Federation TFF suspended 1024 players pending disciplinary investigations Of the suspended players 27 compete in the countryâs toptier Super Lig notably Galatasaray defender Eren Elmali who also represents the Turkish national team IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/turkiye-bans-102-footballers-over-widening-betting-scandal-648712.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 22:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/atp-finals-alcaraz-advances-to-semis-after-de-minaurs-victory-648464.html Turin Nov 13 World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz has qualified for the semifinals at the ATP Finals following Alex de Minaurâs 763 63 victory against Taylor Fritz on Thursday afternoon With Alcaraz winning two matches Fritzs defeat clears his path to the lastfour stage The Spaniard won his opening two matches at this yearâs prestigious yearend event and will top the Jimmy Connors Group if he defeats Lorenzo Musetti later on Thursday with de Minaur advancing in second place If Alcaraz loses to Musetti he will finish second behind the ItalianAlcaraz will also be playing for ATP YearEnd No 1 honours when he walks onto court in the Inalpi Arena If the Spaniard captures a tourleading 70th victory of the season he will end the year as World No 1 and subsequently end Jannik Sinnerâs challengeIf Alcaraz loses to Musetti tonight he would face Sinner in the semifinals If Sinner defeats Alcaraz and then goes on to win the title as the undefeated champion he would end the year as World No 1Alcaraz is making his third appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals with his previous best result a semifinal run in 2023 The 22yearold has lifted eight trophies in 2025 including majors at Roland Garros and the US Open He has won ATP Masters 1000 titles in Monte Carlo Rome and CincinnatiThe Australian achieved his part of the bargain and will now need World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz to beat Musetti to ensure he secures a semifinal spotIn an impressive attacking display de Minaur dominated against a nervy Fritz to end the roundrobin stage holding a 12 record If Alcaraz who has now qualified beats Musetti later on Thursday de Minaur will join the Spaniard in the semifinals Musetti will qualify for the lastfour stage with a victory against Alcaraz Last yearâs finalist Fritz also went 12 in the roundrobin phase but is out IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/atp-finals-alcaraz-advances-to-semis-after-de-minaurs-victory-648464.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 01:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/captains-feel-160-is-par-score-as-stage-set-for-asia-cup-rising-stars-in-doha-648465.html Doha Qatar Nov 14 India A skipper Jitseh Sharma and rival captain Irfan Khan of Pakistan feel a total of 160 would be par score at the Asia Cup Rising Stars that starts on Friday Though they accepted that the T20 game is unpredictable the two captains admitted that the game is in favour of batsmen and the batters will have a field day in this event too On Friday India A will take on the UAE in the second match of the day at West End Stadium in Asia Town while Pakistan will open their campaign in the eightteam T20 tournament for emerging players in Asia with a match against Oman on the same dayDefending champions Afghanistan Sri Lanka Hong Kong and Bangladesh complete the roster at the eightteam tournament being staged in Doha for the first time by Qatar Cricket Association QCAWe have got some data from the games already played here and most of the scores have been around 150â160 Sharma who has played 12 T20Is for India said on Thursday So based on that we are preparing and assuming that these wickets will play like typical Asian wickets the 32yearold addedBut you know T20 is an uncertain game â you never know what you are going to face you just have to react We want to go with the flow and see how the wickets behave but at the back of our minds we know that the pitches might be quite challenging if scores are around 150â160â he addedWhen asked if teams with stronger batting or stronger bowling lineups would dominate in Doha Sharma told Telecom Asia Sport wwwtelecomasianet on Thursday âI think batsmen win you games but bowlers win you tournaments â thatâs what I believe Whichever team bowls well will have the best chance to win the tournament We are blessed to have a very good support staff media team and video analystsPakistan skipper Khan just 22 said his team have also studied the playing conditions in Doha where the opening match will be played during the day on FridayWe have adequate information on the conditions here We plan according to our opposite number You will see our performances when we reach the ground We feel 160170 runs is a good target to defend If you bowl well you can defend well Khan who has played 9ODIs and 14 T20Is for Pakistan said on ThursdayKhan said his team is raring to go with roles defined for each of the playersI feel I dont have to boss around like a captain because the players around me know their roles well They take responsibility rather well I dont have to guide them all the time as all of them are keen to do well and the atmosphere around the dressing room is really good You will see good results Khan said We have good combinations in batting bowling and even fielding is good he addedWhen asked about the IndiaPakistan clash on Sunday Khan said on Thursday Right now we are only looking at the match on Friday against Oman We dont have pressure We have faith in our abilities We let our instincts take over when the match startsThe India A skipper Jitesh Sharma said We are not looking at any particular match All three league matches are important and then hopefully the semifinal and the final We should respect all the opponents and play fair cricketSri Lanka captain Dunith Wellalage said on Thursday We came here after finishing as runnersup last time so we know what it takes to go deep in a tournament The conditions in Qatar are quite similar to what we have at home and that gives us confidence We have a group of experienced players and a strong support staff Our focus is simple cut down on mistakes trust our plans and try to deliver our best in every gameâWellalage who has played 1 Test and 31 ODIs for Sri Lanka added on Thursday âI have been playing with most of these boys since the Under19 level for more than three years so the understanding in the team is very good Ramesh Mendis Nishan Madushka Nuwanindu Fernando and Sahan Arachchige â all of them are experienced and I am sure we will get good support from them Every team here is a challenge and we respect all our opponents but we believe in our squad The environment is really good we have been given an excellent ground to train on and we want to make full use of these conditionsââI am grateful to the Asian Cricket Council and to Qatar for hosting this eventâ the 22yearold Sri Lankan captain saidSensational Vaibhav Suryavanshi a 14yearold Indian lefthanded batsman from Bihar is also part of the India A squadThe prodigious talent who plays domestic cricket for Bihar and represents the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL achieved a historic debut in the T20 franchise league this year by becoming its youngest player Vaibhav further etched his name in the record books by smashing a 35ball century against the Gujarat Titans making him the youngest and fastest Indian centurion in the competitions historyRising Stars Asia Cup 2025 groupsGroup A Afghanistan A Sri Lanka A Bangladesh A Hong KongGroup B India A Pakistan Shaheens UAE Oman IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/captains-feel-160-is-par-score-as-stage-set-for-asia-cup-rising-stars-in-doha-648465.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 01:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/france-qualify-for-fifa-2026-wc-england-stay-perfect-648485.html Paris Nov 14 France became the second European nation to book their place at the 2026 World Cup finals thanks to a resounding victory over Ukraine Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France eased into the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals with a 40 success against Ukraine in the European qualifiersUkraine defended resolutely in the first half but Kylian Mbappà eased French nerves in the 55th minute nonchalantly chipping a penalty straight down the middle to break the deadlockWith the visitors unable to muster much attacking response Michael Olise spun and finished inside the box to make it 20 and Mbappà scrambled in a third before cueing up Hugo Ekitikà for his first ever France goalVictory sends Didier Deschamps side to the World Cup finals as Group D winners while Ukraine and Icelands Sunday meeting will settle the runnersup slotEngland continued their perfect record in World Cup qualifying with a 20 win over Serbia at WembleyBukayo Saka volleyed home just before the half hour mark to put the Three Lions ahead before Eberechi Eze secured all three points with a curled finish late onEngland had already sealed qualification with a 50 victory in the reverse fixture in Belgrade in September but Thomas Tuchelâs men produced a professional performance to make it seven wins from seven in Group K without conceding a goalJust before the halfhour mark Bukayo Saka pounced with an eyecatching volley after debutant Nico OReillys shot deflected into the wingers path England dominated proceedings in their search for a second goal and the pressure finally told late on when substitute Eberechi Eze swept home effortlessly after a pass from fellow replacement Phil FodenThe visitors best opportunities to draw level came via a pair of DuÅan VlahoviÄ chances but this loss coupled with Albanias victory away to Andorra ensured the Orlovi could no longer finish second in the sectionAlexander SÃrloth and Erling Haaland both scored twice in a dazzling 12minute spell as Norway beat Estonia 41 in Group I to move to the brink of automatic qualification Haalands double took him to 14 goals in seven qualifiers extending his lead at the top of the individual scoring chartsItaly remain three points behind Norway who they host on Matchday 10 after beating Moldova with late headers from Gianluca Mancini and Pio Esposito IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/france-qualify-for-fifa-2026-wc-england-stay-perfect-648485.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/japan-masters-lakshya-upsets-loh-to-reach-semis-648495.html Kumamoto Nov 14 Indias Lakshya Sen defeated former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore to storm into the semifinals of the Japan Masters a BWF World Tour Super 500 event here at Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium on Friday Sen registered a 2113 2117 win over the world No 9 Loh in 40 minutes This was the Indians seventh win against the Singaporean in 10 career meetingsSen will next face Japanâs world No 13 Kenta Nishimoto for a place in the finalAfter an evenly poised start Sen seized control of the opening game with a decisive burst of six consecutive points part of a larger run that saw him win nine of the next ten to move from 9â8 to a commanding 18â9 leadThough Loh attempted a late surge but it was the Indian who comfortably closed out the game to go ahead in the match The second game saw both players raise the tempo producing some exciting exchangesEarly on at 1â1 they played a gruelling 41shot rally that Loh won But Sen again looked in control when he put together eight straight points around the interval to open up a 15â9 leadSen let a few cheap points slip allowing the Singaporean to close the gap to 11â15 However he quickly regained control and won a crucial rally at 17â13 to break Lohâs momentumLoh then produced a brilliant fightback to draw level but after a marathon 42shot rally â the longest of the match â Sen pulled ahead 20â17 and sealed the contest with a decisive smashSen is the only Indian badminton player alive at the event after HS Prannoy bowed out of the tournament following a straightgames defeat in the second round on ThursdayPrannoy who was sixth in the badminton rankings two years ago before injuries and chikungunya halted his progress lost 2118 2115 against 30thranked Rasmus Gemke of Denmark in 46 minutesIndiaâs challenge in the doubles and womenâs singles events were ended on Wednesday IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/japan-masters-lakshya-upsets-loh-to-reach-semis-648495.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-love-that-pieterson-welcomes-kuldeeps-inclusion-in-indias-xi-for-kolkata-test-648516.html New Delhi Nov 14 Former England batter Kevin Pietersen backed spinner Kuldeep Yadavs inclusion in Indias playing 11 for the first Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens on Friday Kuldeep who is playing his fourth Test of the year kept his place in the team for the series opener in Kolkata He was among veteran allrounder Ravindra Jadeja Washington Sundar and Axar Patel to bolster the spin attackI love that Kuldeep is playing Tests Pietersen wrote on XKuldeep was also part of Indias side in the twomatch home Test series against the West Indies last month The leftarm wristspinner scalped 12 wickets across four innings of the seriesEarlier this month Kuldeep was released from Indias T20I squad against Australia after three games to prepare for South Africa Tests He was also named in India A squad for their second unofficial Test against South Africa A in Bengaluru He ony bagged one wicket in the match that the hosts lost by five wicketsKuldeep who was part of Indias squad for the historic fivematch Test series against England earlier this year was overlooked on the tour Ravindra Jadeja was Indias frontline spinner on the tour while Washington Sundar supported the senior pro to share the loadIndian team managements decision to not include Kuldeep in the playing 11 was heavily critised by former cricketers and fans during the series However captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir showed faith in their combination and levelled the series 22 to silence the criticsComing to the match wicketkeeperbatter Rishabh Pant made his return to international cricket after recovering from a toe injury that he sustained in the fourth Test against England in the fourth Test in Manchester Allrounder Axar Patel also returned to the playing XI as India fielded four spinners for the opening contest IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-love-that-pieterson-welcomes-kuldeeps-inclusion-in-indias-xi-for-kolkata-test-648516.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 15:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-kkr-rope-in-nz-great-tim-southee-as-bowling-coach-648522.html New Delhi Nov 14 Threetime IPL winners Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday announced the appointment of New Zealand fast bowling great Tim Southee as their new bowling coach ahead of the 2026 season Southee is a familiar face to the KKR setup having represented the franchise in the IPL in 2021 2022 and 2023 seasons He steps into the role at KKR after his predecessor Bharat Arun joined Lucknow Super Giants LSG and will work alongside head coach Abhishek Nayar mentor Dwayne Bravo and newlyappointed assistant coach Shane WatsonâKKR has always felt like home to me and itâs an honour to return in this new role The franchise has an incredible culture passionate fans and a great group of players I look forward to working closely with the bowlers and helping the team achieve success in IPL 2026â said Southee in a statement by the franchiseSouthee regarded as one of the finest fast bowlers of his generation was a mainstay in the New Zealand setup for nearly 15 years With 107 Test appearances 150 ODIs and 120 T20Is Southee has taken more than 700 wickets across all three international formatsRenowned for his swing and accuracy Southee also captained New Zealand in multiple formats and played key roles in their 2019 Menâs ODI World Cup runnersup finish and the 2021 World Test Championship triumph before retiring from international cricket in December last yearSoutheeâs recent coaching work was as a fastbowling consultant for the first part of Englandâs home summer this year including in the drawn 22 Test series against India âWe are delighted to welcome Tim Southee back to the KKR family this time in a coaching capacityââTimâs vast experience and technical expertise will be instrumental in shaping our bowling unit His leadership qualities and calm approach make him an ideal mentor for our young bowlersâ said Venky Mysore KKR CEO IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-kkr-rope-in-nz-great-tim-southee-as-bowling-coach-648522.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 15:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/up-cm-yogi-adityanath-meets-dsp-cum-cricketer-deepti-sharma-648603.html Lucknow Nov 14 IANS Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday met the states World Cup winning Womens Cricket Team player Deepti Sharma and also led a Cabinet meeting which took 20 key decisions including one on easing the registration process for old age pension an official saidnbspSharma who is serving as Deputy Superintendent of Police DSP in the state was praised by Chief Minister Adityanath for her good performance in the World Cricket final and winning the Player of the Tournament awardDeepti has done the Uttar Pradesh Police proud at the world stage CM Adityanath had tweeted soon after the womens cricket team lifted the World Cup on November 2nbspCricketer Deepti Sharma was earlier appointed as DSP in January this year under the sports quota as part of Chief Minister Adityanaths Skilled Athlete SchemenbspDuring the Cabinet meeting held at the CM residence on Friday CM Adityanath led his Ministers in congratulating the womens cricket team for winning the World CupThe Cabinet also condemned the fatal Delhi blast on November 10nbspA key decision taken at the meeting relates to saving the elderly the trouble of running around for pensionnbspThe Cabinet decided that the social welfare department will deploy callcentre executives to contact and seek consent of the beneficiary and fill their forms online through common service centresnbspThe forms will be verified using family IDs before the release of their pension saving the elderly to run around to complete formalitiesAs a pilot project the scheme will be tried in five districts including Ghaziabad Gorakhpur Hardoi Kannauj and Lalitpur an official saidnbspIn the existing system an online application by an elderly person seeking pension needs the verification by the SubDivisional Magistrate and village Block Development Officer before an approval from the District Magistrateled CommitteenbspAn official said the proposed new system will speed up the entire processThe scheme will benefit all elderly over the age of 60 with an annual income of Rs 56460 or less in urban areas and Rs 46080 or less in rural areasnbspThe Cabinet also approved a scheme to provide car loan to employees of judicial servicesnbspOther Cabinet decisions included approval for a private university in Shahjahanpur and beneficial rate revision for cane procurement https://dailyworld.in/sports/up-cm-yogi-adityanath-meets-dsp-cum-cricketer-deepti-sharma-648603.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pcb-shortlists-six-cities-for-two-new-psl-franchises-648631.html Lahore Nov 14 The Pakistan Cricket Board PCB has revealed six potential cities for bidders interested in acquiring the rights to own two new teams in the Pakistan Super League PSL for the upcoming decade In a recent meeting between PSL CEO Salman Naseer and current franchise representatives the PCB announced that bidders would be able to select from Hyderabad Sialkot Faisalabad Muzaffarabad Gilgit and Rawalpindi The process to acquire ownership of the new teams will begin with the issuance of tenders in the coming days with the sale expected to be concluded by next monthFollowing the conclusion of this exercise renewal offer letters reflecting the new franchise fees for the next 10 years have been formally shared with all compliant PSL Franchises requesting them to revert with their decision within the stipulated timelineâTo ensure full transparency and facilitate a clear understanding of the valuations the PCB has also arranged collective and individual meetings between franchise representatives and the independent valuer EY MENA These sessions will allow the franchises to review the valuation methodology and discuss any queriesâ the PCB said in a statementâThe valuation reports for two new PSL Franchise Teams have also been received by the PCB and the tender process for their sale will be formally initiated shortlyâ it addedThe PCB added that it remains âcommitted to maintaining a fair transparent and mutually beneficial partnership with all PSL stakeholders as the league continues to play a pivotal role in the growth and global recognition of Pakistan cricketâDespite these developments the meeting did not finalise the schedule for the 11th edition of the PSL which is expected to clash once again with the Indian Premier League IPL as both leagues are likely to be held between March and May next year This scheduling conflict may raise concerns for players and teams as they balance participation in both leagues IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pcb-shortlists-six-cities-for-two-new-psl-franchises-648631.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-shooting-contingent-departs-for-25th-summer-deaflympic-games-in-tokyo-648643.html New Delhi Nov 14 The Indian shooting contingent left for Tokyo Japan on Friday to participate in the 25th Summer Deaflympic Games scheduled from November 15 to 26 2025 The 15member squad including three coaches will represent India across five individual events in the menâs and womens categories one event in the menâs category and two mixedteam shooting events at the Ajinomoto National Training Center East The squad will be led by Deaflympic double gold medallist Dhanush Srikanth who will lead Indiaâs challenge alongside fellow Deaflympic medallists Shourya Saini and Abhinav Deshwal The contingent also features World Deaf Championship medallists Mahit Sandhu Anuya Prasad Pranjali Dhumal Natasha Joshi Chetan Sapkal Kushagra Singh Rajawat and Mohammed Vania forming one of Indiaâs most experienced lineups at the GamesTwo newcomers Komal Waghmare and Rudar will make their international debut marking an important step in expanding Indiaâs emerging talent pool in deaf sport shooting The athletes are accompanied by coaches Anuja Jung Priti Sharma and Harmit PatelIndia secured five medals at the 2021 Deaflympics in Brazil including three gold medals in the menâs 10m air rifle menâs 10m air pistol and 10m air rifle mixed eventEventwise squadAir rifle menDhanush SrikanthMohammed Murtaza VaniaAir rifle womenMahit SandhuKomal Milind WaghmareAir rifle mixed teamTeam 1 Mahit Sandhu amp Dhanush SrikanthTeam 2 Komal Milind Waghmare amp Mohammed Murtaza Vania50m rifle prone menShourya SainiKushagra Singh Rajawat50m rifle prone womenMahit SandhuNatasha Joshi50m rifle 3P menShourya SainiKushagra Singh Rajawat50m rifle 3P menMahit SandhuNatasha JoshiAir pistol menAbhinav DeshwalRudarAir pistol womenPranjali Prashant DhumalAnuya PrasadAir pistol mixed teamTeam 1 Pranjali Prashant Dhumal amp Abhinav DeshwalTeam 2 Anuya Prasad amp Rudar25m pistol menAbhinav DeshwalChetan Hanmant Sapkal25m pistol womenPranjali Prashant DhumalAnuya PrasadRapidfire pistol menChetan Hanmant Sapkal IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-shooting-contingent-departs-for-25th-summer-deaflympic-games-in-tokyo-648643.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bumrah-gave-blueprint-on-how-bowlers-should-bowl-says-steyn-648698.html Kolkata Nov 14 Legendary pacer Dale Steyn lauded Jasprit Bumrahâs 527 performance against South Africa in the first Test noting that Bumrahs precise bowling areas provided a blueprint for success on Eden Gardensâ pitch Bumrahâs carnage reduced South Africa to 159 in their first innings in just over two sessions after opting to bat first in the first Test of the series Bumrah was the blueprint for the day in terms of how bowlers should bowl not just because of his wickets If you watch the areas he bowled and how he bowled thatâs exactly how the South Africans should look to bowl He hit the deck hard didnât bowl many halfvolleys targeted the stumps and gave away very little Thatâs the blueprint if you want to be successful on this type of pitch If you follow that you get the rewards like he did with his fivewicket haulâ Steyn said on JioStarâs âCricket LiveâThe South African veteran pacer noted that not only the lengths that Bumrah bowls but his stature also gets wickets for him Bumrah hits you with pace 145 140 kmh itâs really quick He doesnât give anything away and still picks up wickets Thatâs his mastery His name brings a threat In the dressing room the discussion among batters will be âLetâs see through his spell Letâs not get out to him Weâll try to take on the spinners or Siraj if heâs having an off dayâ But every time Bumrah bowls he manages to pick a wicket or two and that puts the other bowlers in a position to strike as well His name gets him wickets not just the areas he lands the ball inâ Steyn addedThe 42yearold pacer also heaped praise on Bumrahâs fast bowling partner Mohammed Siraj who also got two wickets to support the former and wrap South Africaâs innings quickly Siraj is always firing the guy doesnât stop Whenever his captain throws him the ball he delivers He bowls long spells of eight or nine overs and adapts beautifully to conditions In England he swung the ball brilliantly He waited for his turn bowled in all those Tests and the wickets came Many bowlers get despondent when things donât go their way but he waited and it came good for him In this Test he bowled from the far end where there wasnât much movement It wasnât going his way He came back from the other end got a little reverse swing and picked up two wickets His heart stands out the mostâ Steyn saidBumrah and Siraj shared seven wickets between them while Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel were the two spinners to bag wickets for India who fielded four spinners in their playing XI for the first time since 2012At stumps India were 371 with KL Rahul unbeaten on 13 and Washington Sundar not out on 6 The hosts are still 122 runs behind IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bumrah-gave-blueprint-on-how-bowlers-should-bowl-says-steyn-648698.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 20:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-sherfane-rutherford-traded-to-mumbai-indians-from-gujarat-titans-648449.html New Delhi Nov 13 West Indiesâ batting allrounder Sherfane Rutherford has been traded to Mumbai Indians MI from Gujarat Titans GT two days ahead of IPL 2026 retention deadline Previously MI had traded Indiaâs seambowling allrounder Shardul Thakur from Lucknow Super Giants LSG for INR 2 crore âWest Indies allrounder Sherfane Rutherford is set to represent the Mumbai Indians MI in the IPL 2026 season following a successful trade from the Gujarat Titans GT Acquired by GT for a fee of INR 26 crore Rutherford will move to MI at his existing feeâ said the IPL in a statement on ThursdayRutherford 27 has featured in 44 T20Is for the West Indies and holds the record for the highest sixthwicket partnership in the shortest format via a 139run stand with the bighitting Andre Russell against Australia in PerthIn terms of IPL Rutherford previously represented Delhi Capitals in 2019 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2022 He was part of the MI squad in the titlewinning 2020 season and the Kolkata Knight Riders emerging victorious in 2024 but did not feature in the playing eleven during those seasons Rutherford was also with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2021 as a replacement player but again didnât get a chance to playâRutherfordâs explosive batting style and ability to contribute crucial quickfire cameos coupled with his versatility as a rightarm fastmedium bowler make him a valuable option for balance and firepower in the squad Rutherfordâs explosive batting style and ability to contribute crucial quickfire cameos coupled with his versatility as a rightarm fastmedium bowler make him a valuable option for balance and firepower in the squadâ said MI in an official statementIn IPL 2025 Rutherford finally had a breakout season in the tenteam competition by amassing 291 runs in 13 games at an average of 3233 and strikerate of 15730 â where his role was to be a contributor with the bat at number four after captain Shubman Gill B Sai Sudharsan and Jos ButtlerOne of his notable knocks in IPL 2025 was hitting 43 off 34 balls when GT successfully chased down 204 against DC making it their first instance of hunting down a 200plus target for the first time in the competitionâs history IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-sherfane-rutherford-traded-to-mumbai-indians-from-gujarat-titans-648449.html Thu, 13 Nov 2025 21:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/haryana-cm-saini-gives-rs-150-crore-cheque-to-cricketer-shafali-verma-648274.html Chandigarh Nov 12 Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday honoured Indian woman cricketer Shafali Verma with a cheque for Rs 150 crore and a GradeA gradation certificate for her outstanding performance In addition the Haryana State Commission for Women has appointed cricketer Shafali Verma as its Brand Ambassador She was a player of the 2025 World Cupwinning Womenâs Cricket Team The Chief Minister presented the award at his residence where Urban Local Bodies Minister Vipul Goel and Shafali Vermaâs family members her grandfather father and brother were also present The Chief Minister felicitated her with a memento and a shawl Congratulating Shafali Verma and her family CM Saini said Haryana is a hub of sports and the daughters of the state have brought glory to the nation at the international level He said the daughter of Haryana played a pivotal role in the World Cup final helping India become world champions Saini said cricketer Shafali Verma has enhanced the pride of her family the state and the nation âShe is a source of inspiration for the youth across the country The state government is formulating several schemes to promote sportspersons Nearly 2000 sports nurseries have been opened across the state to train children from the grassroots level and provide them with a platform to excel The government stands fully with the youthâ said the Chief Minister He said the government is carrying out awareness campaigns through various means including marathons and cyclothons to encourage the youth to stay away from drugs The Chief Minister also talked to Shafali Verma regarding her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi Expressing her gratitude to the state government the cricketer said winning the World Cup brought immense joy âThis victory is not just our teamâs success but that of every woman cricketerâ she said She added that the soil of Haryana is made for sports and that people across the state actively promote sporting activities IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/haryana-cm-saini-gives-rs-150-crore-cheque-to-cricketer-shafali-verma-648274.html Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/nitish-kumar-reddy-released-from-indias-squad-for-first-test-against-sa-648284.html Mumbai Nov 12 Allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been released from Indiaâs squad for the first Test against South Africa set to begin at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday The decision was confirmed by the BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia who said that Reddy will link up with the India A side for their upcoming Oneday series against South Africa A in Rajkot The threematch series between India A and South Africa A will be played at the Niranjan Shah Stadium from November 13 to 19 with matches scheduled for Thursday Sunday and WednesdayReddy a seambowling allrounder will return to the senior Test squad for the second Test following the completion of the âAâ series Saikia confirmed in the statement âReddy will return to the squad for the second Test post the conclusion of the âAâ seriesâ said BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia on WednesdayThe team management decided to release him to ensure he gains valuable match time in competitive conditions before the limitedovers leg of the South Africa tourReddy had a modest outing during Indiaâs 2â0 Test series win in the West Indies bowling only four overs in the opening Test and going wicketless With the bat he managed 43 runs from one innings In the subsequent ODI series in Australia he contributed 19 not out and 8 in two appearancesHaving recently drawn the twomatch unofficial Test series 1â1 against South Africa A in Bengaluru the visiting side now prepares for the Oneday leg in Rajkot which will serve as further preparation ahead of the IndiaâSouth Africa ODI series beginning with the Ranchi onedayer on November 30Meanwhile Rishabh Pant returns to the Indian squad after recovering from a foot injury sustained during the England series The opening Test lineup will feature both Pant and Dhruv Jurel with Shubman Gill continuing as captain and Pant as vicecaptainIndiaâs updated squad for the first TestShubman Gill C Rishabh Pant WK VC Yashasvi Jaiswal KL Rahul Sai Sudharsan Devdutt Padikkal Dhruv Jurel Ravindra Jadeja Washington Sundar Jasprit Bumrah Axar Patel Mohammed Siraj Kuldeep Yadav Akash DeepIndia Aâs updated squad for the Oneday seriesTilak Varma C Ruturaj Gaikwad VC Abhishek Sharma Riyan Parag Ishan Kishan WK Ayush Badoni Nishant Sindhu Vipraj Nigam Manav Suthar Harshit Rana Arshdeep Singh Prasidh Krishna Khaleel Ahmed Prabhsimran Singh WK Nitish Kumar Reddy IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/nitish-kumar-reddy-released-from-indias-squad-for-first-test-against-sa-648284.html Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/trident-open-2025-local-lad-akshay-sharma-joins-manu-gandas-in-the-clubhouse-lead-on-day-two-648293.html Chandigarh Nov 12 Local lad Akshay Sharma returned a twounder 70 to join Manu Gandas in the clubhouse lead on day two of the inaugural Trident Open an INR 1 crore event being played at the Chandigarh Golf Club in Chandigarh on Wednesday Akshay 6970 totalled fiveunder 139 after 36 holes to lead the field along with Manu 6673 The second round could not be completed on Wednesday as play was suspended due to fading light at 540 pm local time Seven players out of a total of 123 are yet to finish their second round They will resume play at 650 am on ThursdayMd Somrat Sikdar of Bangladesh one of seven players with an unfinished second round was sitting at a total of six under after 16 holes when play came to a halt on day two He will be contending for the halfway lead once play resumes on Thursday morningThe tournament is supported by Trident Group Trident Group is an Indian business conglomerate and global player led by the dynamic Rajinder Gupta Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha and Chairman Headquartered in Ludhiana Punjab Trident is one of the largest players in home textiles in India and abroadFormer India No 1 junior Shubham Jaglan who has been playing professional golf in the United States this year and is making his PGTI debut this week was tied third in the clubhouse at a total of fourunder 140 along with Bangladeshâs Badal Hossain Mohd Azhar Shamim Khan Shaurya Bhattacharya and Manoj S The PGTI Ranking leader and local lad Yuvraj Sandhu made a strong comeback on day two after his opening round of 72 He shot a 69 on Wednesday to take his total to threeunder 141As things stand the cut is likely to fall at oneover 148 at the end of round twoThe 35yearold Akshay Sharma a winner of three professional titles is searching for his first win on his home course Akshay began the day on a solid note with tapin birdies on the second and third holes As Sharma kept hitting his shots close to the flags he picked up another birdie on the 11thAkshay currently 20th on the PGTI Order of Merit with five top10s in the season including a runnerup finish dropped his only bogey of the day on the 13thâIâm extremely pleased with todayâs effort because twounder in the current conditions is a good score The course is not playing easily with the greens playing fast and the pins being tough I hit it close throughout the day but struggled with my putting Akshay Sharma saidâThe challenge of adapting to the slightly cold conditions in the morning and evening is also a factor I think 12under could be a winning score here Thatâs what I will look to achieve by the end of the week Iâm very keen to win at my home course something that Iâve not achieved so farâManu Gandas who finished as the firstround leader earlier in the day kept himself in the hunt despite his 73 on day two Md Somrat Sikdar was twounder through 16 holes on day two thanks to his exceptional wedgeplay and a 30foot conversion His second shot on the Par4 17th found the edge of the green when play was suspended IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/trident-open-2025-local-lad-akshay-sharma-joins-manu-gandas-in-the-clubhouse-lead-on-day-two-648293.html Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:48:00 +0530