DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:38:45 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/sports/over-1-300-athletes-to-compete-in-2nd-khelo-india-beach-games-from-monday-656918.html New Delhi Jan 3 Indiaâs coastline is set to transform into a vibrant national sporting arena as the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 return to Diu from January 5 to 10 with over 1300 athletes from across the country competing in the event promising an energetic celebration of beach and indigenous sports The second edition of the Games will bring together over 1300 athletes from across the country representing 31 States and Union Territories including 25 States and six UTs reflecting the growing reach and popularity of beachbased disciplines within Indiaâs sporting ecosystemThe Games will feature competition across six medal disciplines Beach Soccer Beach Volleyball Beach Sepaktakraw Beach Kabaddi Beach Pencak Silat and Open Water Swimming accounting for 786 competing athletes including 366 women and 420 men highlighting the inclusive and balanced participation encouraged under the Khelo India initiativeDisciplinewise participation includes 263 athletes in Beach Sepaktakraw 157 in Beach Pencak Silat 156 in Beach Soccer 96 in Beach Kabaddi 64 in Beach Volleyball and 50 in Open Water Swimming underlining the scale and diversity of competition across beach and waterbased sports the Sports Authority of India SAI informed in a release on SaturdayIn addition to the competitive events traditional Indian disciplines such as Mallakhamb and Tug of War will be conducted as noncompetitive demonstration events featuring 336 athletes reinforcing the Gamesâ focus on preserving promoting and providing national exposure to Indiaâs rich indigenous sporting heritageAthletes from both coastal and landlocked regions will converge on the sands of Diu showcasing the truly panIndia character of the event with strong contingents from states such as Maharashtra Haryana Uttar Pradesh Gujarat Tamil Nadu Kerala and Manipur alongside Union Territories including Chandigarh Puducherry and Dadra amp Nagar Haveli and Daman amp Diu the release informedManipur enters the Games with added confidence after emerging as the topperforming state in the previous Khelo India cycle finishing with 14 medals including five gold setting the stage for highintensity competition at this yearâs Beach Games Beyond medals and podium finishes the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 aim to build a broader sporting movement by expanding opportunities in emerging beach disciplines encouraging youth participation beyond traditional sports and geographies and fostering community pride cultural identity and sustainable sports developmentAs India continues to evolve and diversify its sporting landscape the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 promise a compelling blend of competition culture and coastline transforming Diu into a hub of athletic excellence and national celebration IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/over-1-300-athletes-to-compete-in-2nd-khelo-india-beach-games-from-monday-656918.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wtt-youth-contender-2026-syndrela-das-rupam-sardar-clinch-u-17-girls-and-u-17-boys-singles-titles-656923.html Vadodara Jan 3 Indias Syndrela Das and Rupam Sardar registered comfortable victories to clinch the U17 girls and U17 boys singles titles in the WTT Youth Contender 2026 at the SAMA Indoor Sports Complex in Vadodara on Saturday while Divija Paul and Dev Pranav Bhat were crowned the U13 girls and boys champions respectively Syndrela who had won the U19 girls singles title last year ended the dream run of Hansini Mathan 113 911 119 118 in the U17 girls singles final while Rupam Sardar defeated Soham Mukherjee 118 611 115 113 in the boys U17 finalThis is the second year that the WTT Youth Contender is being held in Vadodara and will have competitions from U11 to U19 categories featuring a total of 226 playersIn the U13 category Divija Paul fought back from a 12 deficit to beat Harshitha Nurani 117 711 811 117 115 in the girls single final while Dev Pranav Bhatt took home the boys singles title with a 116 711 117 114 win over Ashvajith MuthukumaranSyndrela who had upset secondseeded Miku Matsushima of Japan in the semifinals began strong and dominated the opening game But Hansini who had upset top seed Divyanshi Bhowmick in the prequarterfinals then managed to find her rhythm and took the second gameHowever it was Syndrelaâs experience that made the difference as she pocketed the next two games despite a close fight to clinch the titleShe will also have a chance to grab the U19 mixed doubles crown on Sunday as she and her partner Sarthak Arya set up a summit clash against top seeds Abhinandh Pradhivadhi and Ananya Muralidharan who lived up to their top billing to set up a U19 mixed doubles summit clash against Sarthak Arya and Syndrela DasIn the semifinals Abhinandh and Ananya defeated Ritvik Gupta and Ahona Ray 911 1412 117 118 while Sarthak and Syndrela ended the inspired run of Sahil Rawat and Hardee Patel 116 1210 511 115Earlier Vivaan Dave and Naisha Rewaskar kept their nerves in a topsyturvy decider that went into extra points to upset top seeds Aditya Das and Ankolika Chakraborty in the U15 mixed doubles semifinalVivaan and Naisha defeated the top seeds 1311 511 117 511 2321 and set up a summit clash against compatriots Reyansh Jalan and Tanishka Kalbhairav who beat Sanjay Jagdish and Myraa Sangelkar 113 1513 117 in the other semifinalVivaan and Naisha had displayed their fighting spirit in the opening game itself when they came back from 58 down saved a game point before winning the opening gameBoth pairs then shared the spoils in the next three games to set up a thrilling decider It looked like Aditya and Ankolika would race away in the decider as they opened up a 40 lead and then had three match points at 107Vivaan and Naisha not only saved those three match points but also kept their nerves to draw level every time their opponents reached a match point before winning four straight points to wrap up the match IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wtt-youth-contender-2026-syndrela-das-rupam-sardar-clinch-u-17-girls-and-u-17-boys-singles-titles-656923.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 01:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/defending-champions-mumbai-indians-unveil-wpl-2026-jersey-656711.html Mumbai Jan 2 Defending champions Mumbai Indians on Friday unveiled the WPL 2026 jersey continuing the tradition of drawing inspiration from the city of Mumbai and its peopleââ The jersey mirrors the rhythm of everyday Mumbai â always in motion always playing on This season the iconic blue and gold with the coral represents movement resilience and momentumThe core theme is the Wicket Pulse the blue adorning the front and back of the jersey inspired by Mumbaiâs constant motion â from local trains and sea waves It reflects the neverslowing mindset that defines both Mumbai and the Mumbai Indians MI said in a statementThe gold adds confidence and continuity elements that power the spirit of Mumbai while the subtle coral accents bring warmth and balance that the people of Mumbai have for one another and makes the OneFamily unique it addedMI have commenced their preseason training under the leadership of head coach Lisa Keightley bowling coach and team mentor Jhulan Goswami batting coach Devieka Palshikaar other support staff The players who have already arrived to join the camp are Saika Ishaque Sajana S Sanskriti Gupta Poonam Khemnar Triveni Vasistha N Kranthi Reddy Rahila Firdous Shabnim Ismail and the Australian duo of Milly Illingworth and Nicola CareyWith the squad coming together steadily and more star players like skipper Harmanpreet Kaur Nat SciverBrunt Amanjot Kaur to arrive in the coming daysThe defending champions will kick off their campaign on the opening day of the tournament on January 9 against the WPL 2024 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi MumbaiNotably after three seasons of the WPL the Mumbai Indians remain the most successful team having won the first and third editions of the tournament With Harmanpreet Kaur leading the team they aim to defend their title successfully IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/defending-champions-mumbai-indians-unveil-wpl-2026-jersey-656711.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-win-in-sydney-would-tell-a-lot-about-england-team-says-crawley-656713.html Sydney Jan 2 England opener Zak Crawley said a potential win in the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground would show the teamâs unity despite them being unable to retain the urn After losing the first three games England got something to cheer about by getting their first Test win in Australia for 15 years at the Melbourne Cricket Ground MCGI think there is a big difference just internally in the group It shows a lot about how united we are if we can get a win It the series might not go our way but if we can put in a good performance this week I think it shows a lot about us Crawley told reporters on FridayCrawley was also quick to praise England quick Matthew Potts particularly his work ethic and attitude in the nets over what has been a long two months in Australia Potts and offspinner Shoaib Bashir were added to the 12man squad for the clash in SydneyPotts has been an unused member of Englandâs touring party throughout the series but is poised for earning an 11th Test cap after last being in the playing eleven against New Zealand in late 2024 Every time I face him he impresses me Hes got the heart of a lion a lot of skill and if he gets the nod this week he thoroughly deserves it he saidCrawley further warned the touring batters will attack offspinner Todd Murphy if he is selected for his first Test on Australian soil Murphy is in contention to play in the last Ashes game in Sydney after being omitted from the Boxing Day match at the MCG where Australia fielded an allpace attackWhoever plays I think thats the mantra of our team is to try and put pressure on people Todds a very good bowler but I can envisage us trying to put some pressure on him like we would all their bowlersâThats going to come with some risks and if its turning its definitely going to be a threat But I think well try and put pressure on all their bowlers he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-win-in-sydney-would-tell-a-lot-about-england-team-says-crawley-656713.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/indias-white-ball-tour-of-bangladesh-included-in-bcbs-2026-international-games-itinerary-656723.html Dhaka Jan 2 India mens whiteball tour of Bangladesh has been included in the Bangladesh Cricket Boards itinerary for international matches in 2026 said the BCB on Friday Apart from India the calendar features Bangladesh hosting Pakistan New Zealand Australia and the West Indies for bilateral series in all three formats âThe confirmed itinerary ensures a season full of international cricket in Bangladesh providing supporters across the country the opportunity to watch toplevel cricket at home Details of match venues will be announced in due courseâ said the BCB in its statement on FridayIndiaâs tour of Bangladesh was originally supposed to take place in August 2025 but was moved to September 2026 due to political unrest in the country As per BCBâs itinerary India is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on August 28The ODI series will begin on September 1 with the first match followed by the second game on September 3 and the third clash on September 6 The T20I series will commence on September 9 with the second match scheduled for September 12 and the finale game on September 13 following which the Indian team will return homePakistan will arrive in Bangladesh on March 9 for a threematch ODI series to be held from March 1216 New Zealands whiteball tour of Bangladesh will kick off with three ODIs starting April 17 and as many T20Is beginning on April 27 and ending on May 2Pakistan will arrive in Bangladesh on May 4 to play two Tests as part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle The first Test will be played from May 812 while the second game will happen from May 1620 Australias whiteball tour of Bangladesh begins on June 5 with three ODIs before the threematch T20I series will be played from June 1520After hosting India Bangladesh will play a twomatch Test series against West Indies which also comes under WTC cycle After a threeday warmup match to be held from October 2224 the first Test is slated to happen from October 28November 1 while the second game will be played from November 59BCB added that the Sri Lanka âAâ team will also tour Bangladesh in May 2026 for a series against the hosts âAâ side comprising two fourday matches and 50over games IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/indias-white-ball-tour-of-bangladesh-included-in-bcbs-2026-international-games-itinerary-656723.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wtt-youth-contender-2026-favourites-divyanshi-bhowmick-syndrela-das-begin-u-17-campaign-in-style-656732.html Vadodara Jan 2 Defending champion Divyanshi Bhowmik Syndrela Das Japanâs Miku Matsushima and rising star Tanishka Kalbhairav kicked off their U17 girls singles campaign in the World Table Tennis WTT Youth Contender 2026 with comfortable wins in the group stage at the SAMA Indoor Stadium here on Friday The second edition of WTT Youth Contender which kicked off on Friday features competitions from U11 to U19 with the U13 and U17 boys and girls teams in action on the opening dayDivyanshi who had won both the U15 and U17 girls singles titles last year opened her campaign by blanking compatriot Neeza Kamat 114 111 112 in the Group 1 opener while Syndrela defeated Tania Karmakar 116 116 112 in Group 3Japanâs Matsushima took big strides towards the knockout stage with 113 114 112 wins over Swara Karmakar and then defeated Anvi Gupte 116 113 118 in Group 2In the boys U17 category top seed Ritvik Gupta won both his Group 1 matches Gupta defeated Dhruva Malikarjunan 119 115 115 and then got the better of Shreyas Mankeshwar 1311 116 117Local boy Ved Panchal also advanced to the knockout stage with three wins from three matches in Group 21 He first defeated Aarav Singhvi 119 117 117 then overcame a stiff challenge from Aarav Rathi with a 119 118 911 911 116 before beating Nitin Veeraraghavan 1210 116 117 to top the groupAditya Das and Sahil Rawat from Group 2 and Group 3 also topped their respective groups with two victoriesIn the U13 boys category Shaurya Goyal was made to work hard for his 1012 119 1311 711 116 win over Suchet Dharennavar in group 1Divija Paul the topranked player in girls U13 didnât break much sweat in Group 1 as she registered easy wins First she defeated Inaaya 118 113 115 and then got the better of Pehel Gupta 119 117 112 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wtt-youth-contender-2026-favourites-divyanshi-bhowmick-syndrela-das-begin-u-17-campaign-in-style-656732.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/maphaka-and-smith-included-in-sa-squad-for-t20-wc-656740.html Johannesburg Jan 2 South Africa have included young pacer Kwena Maphaka and toporder batter Jason Smith in their squad for the T20 World Cup with no place for batsmen Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs Smiths selection comes on the back of his recent prolific form earning him the nod ahead of Stubbs who was in South Africaâs squad where they finished runnersup in 2024 Menâs T20 World CupSmith made his T20I debut in 2024 and boasts of a strikerate of 12830 and is currently turning out for MI Cape Town in SA20 One of his most recent standout performances came in the T20 Challenge where he struck an unbeaten 68 off 19 balls to steer the Dolphins into the playoffs in NovemberRickelton meanwhile was unable to force his way into a squad already packed with toporder options like captain Aiden Markram and wicketkeeperbatter Quinton de Kock Apart from Smith and Maphaka Corbin Bosch Dewald Brevis Tony de Zorzi Donovan Ferreira and George Linde have earned their maiden T20 World Cup callupsâWe are returning to the subcontinent where we recently competed against hosts India The experience we gained playing in those conditions will undoubtedly benefit us as we head into this tournamentâMany of the players selected for the World Cup squad were on that trip and experienced firsthand the pitches that we will likely encounter and that will stand them in good stead once we get to IndiaââWe do have one more T20I series against the West Indies before we depart for the World Cup and that squad will be announced later this monthâ said head coach Shukri Conrad in a statementKagiso Rabada returns to the T20I setup after missing the recent whiteball tour against India due to a rib injury Another notable inclusion is pacer Anrich Nortje who finished as South Africaâs leading wickettaker in the 2024 Menâs T20 World CupSouth Africa are drawn in Group D of the 2026 Menâs T20 World Cup alongside Afghanistan Canada New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates They will begin their campaign on February 9 against Canada at the Narendra Modi Stadium in AhmedabadFormer South Africa allrounder Albie Morkel will be a part of the team as the specialist consultant âFirstly I would like to congratulate the players who will be representing South Africa at their maiden T20 World Cup This is an incredible opportunity for them in what was a difficult squad to selectâWe have had to make some big calls but we feel this group is the strongest and has every chance of succeeding in India and Sri Lanka We have assembled a worldclass squad with some of the finest and most experienced players in the game together with some of the best T20 youngsters coming throughâ said Patrick Moroney Convenor Selector for the Proteas MenSouth Africa squad Aiden Markram captain Corbin Bosch Dewald Brevis Quinton de Kock Tony de Zorzi Donovan Ferreira Marco Jansen George Linde Keshav Maharaj Kwena Maphaka David Miller Lungi Ngidi Anrich Nortje Kagiso Rabada and Jason Smith IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/maphaka-and-smith-included-in-sa-squad-for-t20-wc-656740.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/namibia-womens-cricket-team-to-tour-assam-next-week-for-white-ball-games-656753.html Guwahati Jan 2 The Namibias senior womens cricket team will play a fourmatch friendly series against Assam starting on January 8 The tour is part of a reciprocal arrangement between the Assam Cricket Association and Cricket Namibia During the tour the Namibia side will compete against the Assam senior womenâs team in a friendly series comprising two 50over matches and two T20 games The muchanticipated series is scheduled to be held from January 811 in MSA Stadium Mangaldai and the ACA Cricket Academy Ground Fulung North GuwahatiâThis international series marks a significant milestone for Assam cricket strengthening sporting relations between India and Namibia while providing an excellent platform for players from both teams to demonstrate their skills competitiveness and true spirit of the gameâThe Assam Cricket Association looks forward to hosting this exciting series celebrating the spirit of international cricket and fostering lasting sporting ties between the Assam Cricket Association and Cricket Namibiaâ said ACA Secretary Sanatan Das in a statement on FridayAs per the itinerary by the ACA the Namibian senior womenâs team will arrive in Guwahati on January 6 with a practice session and rest day scheduled for January 7 before the series beginsThe opening 50over match will be played on January 8 with the second ODI at the same venue the following day Both T20 matches are scheduled for January 10 and 11 and is followed by the Namibian team departing for home on January 12Previously a 15member Assam senior mens squad went on a fivematch 50over games tour of Namibia from June 18 to July 1 2025 Apart from this a 14member Assam senior womens side also went on a tour of Malaysia to play five 50over games from July 516 in the previous year IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/namibia-womens-cricket-team-to-tour-assam-next-week-for-white-ball-games-656753.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/iwl-2025-26-east-bengal-go-top-of-table-after-drubbing-nita-fa-5-0-656757.html Kalyani Jan 2 Defending champions East Bengal FC rose to the pole position in the Indian Womenâs League 202526 with a 50 win over Nita Football Academy at the Kalyani Stadium in Kalyani West Bengal on Friday What was at least on paper a topofthetable clash turned out to be anything but a tussle of equals on the pitch East Bengalâs familiar scorers Sulanjana Raul 6â² and Soumya Guguloth 42â² netted in the first half before the Ugandan duo of Resty Nanziri 50â² and Fazila Ikwaput 63â² put the game to bed early in the second half Substitute Priyangka Devi Naorem capped off the scoring with a fifth goal in the 88th minuteWith four wins in four East Bengal moved to the summit of the points table Sethu FC who won by an equally handsome margin of 50 against Sesa on Friday are in second place with 10 points from five games Nita FA also have 10 points and have slipped to the third spot trailing Sethu on goal differenceComing off the back of their record 90 win over Sesa East Bengal began the new year just how they ended the previous one Sulanjana Raul opened the scoring in only the sixth minute with a stupendous finish Receiving a cutback from the byline by Resty Nanziri the 18yearold set herself up with a perfect first touch before curling it into the far corner with the inside of her right boot It was the India U20 internationalâs third goal in as many matchesAs is their nature the Moshal Girls were in no mood to sit with a onegoal lead and pushed to extend it They churned out more opportunities in the next few minutesSushmita Lepcha who got a hattrick of assists in the last match saw her cross miss Fazila Ikwaput in the middle before Soumya Guguloth got a faint touch as the ball went out for a goalkick Later Nita goalkeeper Adrija Sarkhel denied Fazila in a oneonone situation after which Resty blazed her shot over on the reboundGradually Nita got themselves together and began to see more of the ball However despite being the leagueâs top scorers before the match with 13 goals Paromita Sitâs side lacked penetration against the defending championsEast Bengal were clinical as ever and were justly rewarded with a second goal three minutes before the break Sitting a bit deeper than usual Fazila slipped a fine through ball for Soumya in the middle The AIFF Womenâs Player of the Year took it at the top of the box before shooting into the bottom corner with her weaker left foot to make it 20East Bengalâs foot remained on the gas in the second half as well Anthony Andrewsâ side scored their third in the 50th minute from a setpiece Sarita Yumnamâs corner a rather tame one fortuitously landed at the feet of Resty The Ugandan made a great turn to evade a crowd of legs and laced a fierce shot into the back of the net as Adrijaâs jump went in vainResty turned provider for the next goal in the 63rd minute playing a brilliant onetwo with her compatriot Fazila Getting on the end of Restyâs cross Fazila saw her initial attempt blocked by Jasoda Munda but was quick to pounce on the rebound from six yards out to score her sixth goal of the campaignFazila aiming to win her third consecutive IWL golden boot almost scored another in the 78th minute when she rattled the crossbar from inside the boxUltimately substitute Priyangka Devi Naorem scored the fifth and final goal in the 88th minute Adrija came out to parry Saritaâs high cross but could only do so towards an unmarked Priyangka who scored with a firsttime shot from 16 yards out IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/iwl-2025-26-east-bengal-go-top-of-table-after-drubbing-nita-fa-5-0-656757.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sri-lanka-cricket-plans-day-night-tests-at-ssc-report-656764.html Colombo Jan 2 India could be playing a Pink Ball DayNight Test when they visit Sri Lanka for a longform series next time Sri Lanka Cricket is laying the groundwork for a new chapter in the islandâs cricketing history with plans to stage DayNight Test matches at the historic Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo a report said on Friday The installation of floodlights at the Sinhalese Sports Club has now been completed and SLC Treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyadda said the project goes well beyond the immediate demands of the upcoming T20 World Cup the Telecom Asia Sport wwwtelecomasianet reportedThe report claimed that SLC has funded the floodlight project for Rs 18 billion as the SSC is set to host five matches of the showpiece event The other venues for the tournament will be the Pallekele International Stadium and the R Premadasa StadiumSpeaking to journalists during a media tour to unveil the project Godaliyadda said the longterm vision was for SSC to one day host DayNight Test matches While PinkBall matches have gained traction globally in recent years Sri Lanka are yet to stage one at home and the indication is that SSC will be the venue for the countryâs firstever DayNight Test the report claimedThe SSC ground will be leased for a certain number of days a year to SLC for conducting training and games It is part of the agreement that the board undertook to develop the groundBeyond the floodlights the first phase of development also included upgraded dressing rooms and a new VIP viewing area A second phase scheduled to begin after the World Cup will focus on expanding the venueâs capacity SLC plans to upgrade SSC into a 30000seat stadium a move the board believes will strengthen Sri Lankaâs case when bidding for future ICC events including womenâs and Under19 tournamentsThe SSC celebrated its 125th anniversary last year and has been the stage for many of Sri Lankan cricketâs defining moments The ground hosted matches during the 1996 World Cup and was the scene of the worldrecord partnership of 624 runs between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene against South Africa in 2006Alongside SSC the Colombo Cricket Club Ground just across the road and the P Sara Oval are also undergoing upgrades the report saidSLC is meanwhile pressing ahead with plans to build a new internationalstandard cricket ground in Jaffna and has identified several other locations for future venues as demand for international facilities continues to grow IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sri-lanka-cricket-plans-day-night-tests-at-ssc-report-656764.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wtt-youth-contenders-2026-vatsal-duklan-hansini-mathan-upset-top-seeds-to-reach-quarterfinals-656773.html Vadodara Jan 2 Vatsal Duklan and Hansini Mathan caused the biggest upsets of the day as they packed off boys U17 and girls U17 top seeds respectively to reach the quarterfinals of the WTT Youth Contenders 2026 at the SAMA Indoor Stadium in Vadodara on Friday Duklan upset top seed Ritvik Gupta 411 115 117 1816 in a thrilling boyâs singles prequarterfinal before Hansini overturned a 12 deficit to pack off defending champion Divyanshi Bhowmick 511 119 911 117 114 in girls singles Round of 16The second seed in boys U17 singles Aditya Das was also knocked out in the second round by Sohum Mukherjee who then got the better of Rushikesh Jagtap 811 115 119 1012 117 in the Round of 16Local hope Ved Panchal reached the prequarterfinal stage where he bowed out after losing 113 114 113 against Sahil RawatThe second edition of the WTT Youth Contender in India kicked off on Friday with the U13 and U17 boys and girls singles competitions and will be followed by U11 U15 and U19 competitionsThere were no such hiccups for the other favourites in the girls U17 section as second seed Miku Matsushima of Japan and Syndrela Das of India eased through to the quarterfinals In the Round of 16 Miku defeated Sukrati Sharma of India 117 112 116 while Syndrela beat Indira Sen 116 116 911 116 to advanceAlso reaching the last eight stage were upcoming paddlers Naisha Rewaskar and Tanishka Kalbhairav Naisha packed off Arohi Roy 115 113 117 while Tanishka fought back from a game down to beat Ankolika Chakraborty 511 118 119 1210 They will now face each other for a spot in the semifinalsEarlier defending champion Divyanshi Bhowmik Syndrela Das Japanâs Miku Matsushima and rising star Tanishka Kalbhairav kicked off their U17 girls singles campaign with comfortable wins in the group stage on FridayDivyanshi who had won both the U15 and U17 girls singles titles last year opened her campaign by blanking compatriot Neeza Kamat 114 111 112 in the Group 1 opener while Syndrela defeated Tania Karmakar 116 116 112 in Group 3Japanâs Matsushima took big strides towards the knockout stage with 113 114 112 wins over Swara Karmakar and then defeated Anvi Gupte 116 113 118 in Group 2 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wtt-youth-contenders-2026-vatsal-duklan-hansini-mathan-upset-top-seeds-to-reach-quarterfinals-656773.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-feel-like-im-doing-alright-at-the-moment-steve-smith-shuts-down-retirement-talks-656788.html Sydney Jan 3 Australian standin captain Steve Smith is ready to relinquish captaincy to a younger candidate in the absence of captain Pat Cummins if that is what the selectors wish to do With Usman Khawaja hanging up his cricket boots on Sunday after the Sydney Test Nathan Lyon has already been ruled out due to injury Smith will now be the oldest player in the Australian XI side by side with Scott Boland When asked about possibly being involved in the 2027 Ashes series in England Smith indicated that he was uncertain of that possibility however he was happy to enjoy his cricket at this moment and was only focused on the current seriesIve said it for a while Im taking it daybyday seriesbyseries and well see where things land said Smith I feel like Im doing alright at the moment Im enjoying it Im contributing and having fun So theres no real end date for meI think with obviously Usman dropping off hes one of our experienced players so it probably wouldnt be ideal if him and I went out this week for instance he added So no I want to keep playingWhile Smith has been the captain for four of Cummins Ashes Tests he is nonetheless at ease with relinquishing this position to a younger candidate after Khawajas retirement if that is what the selectors wish to do According to Smith the sport has recently become more entertaining because of increases in positive results for the Australian team Following an impressive period of success the team is poised to compete again for the WTC after gaining some momentum through their recent wins and dropping points against Australia recently The loss in Melbourne has caused the team to want to win in Sydney prior to their two most difficult series in South Africa and India which take place shortly after this series concludesI think weve got a really good team Smith said in the press conference The team weve had over the last three or four years obviously making two World Test Championship finals different people have stood up at different times Its never been one or two people just getting the job done Its been shared across and guys have done great jobs throughout and I think thats whats made us a really good teamSo its been good to be a part of and as an older player now hopefully I can help some of the players coming through and help teach them the game of Test cricketFollowing dominant wins in Perth and Brisbane Australia took a 31 lead over England in a fiveTest series for the Ashes After winning the third Test in Adelaide by 82 runs to tie up the series England responded with an impressive win against Australia in Melbourne their first victory on Australian soil in 15 years The Melbourne Test ended in less than two days and was won by four wickets Although the Ashes were already secured by Australia there was still a lot of motivation for both teams and the points awarded for the World Test Championship were at stakeWith the World Test championship every game is important he said Hopefully we can turn it around here win this series 41 and now more importantly just win a Test in the World Test championship cycleSmith who watched Usman Khawaja in the early days of U17 and U19 playing for South Wales said he was an admirer of Khawajas batting Khawaja on Friday called a press conference and made the announcement with his family by his side two days out from the match ahead of the teams net session with the Aussies aiming to claim another 12 World Test Championship points and finish the series as 41 victors I remember playing against him in a couple of Under17 versus Under19 games for New South Wales and watching him bat Smith was quoted by ESPNCricinfo as saying The way he pulled the ball I was like this guy picks length up quicker than anyone Ive seen He was pulling balls off the top of the stumps I feel like throughout his career hes been batting his best when hes been doing that as well And just his progression over a long period of time has been outstandingUsman Khawaja often refers to himself as one of Australias most dropped cricketers having been dropped from the Test team seven times prior to 2019 However Steve Smith sees those omissions in the subcontinent during his captaincy as lessons for Khawaja rather than hindrances They forced Khawaja to face his weaknesses while playing spin bowling which ended up changing his game for the better The change was extreme Before his great series against Pakistan in Dubai in 2018 Khawaja had a terrible average of 1462 over 5 Tests played in Asia But after that series Khawaja became one of crickets best players against spin and was able to score 1490 runs in 13 Tests with a remarkable average of 8277Hes arguably one of our best players of spin now So maybe it was a blessing in disguise But the way hes been able to play over his 15year careerâ its a credit to him and not too many people get to go out on their own terms Steven Smith on Usman KhawajaHe hates it but we dropped him Smith said I was captain at that stage and we dropped him in the subcontinent We didnt think he was playing the spinners as well as he does now But he got that opportunity to go back and figure out ways to play Whether he would have done that had he kept playing Im not sure But he went back and found some different methods to defend spin He was reversing sweeping and thats a mode of defence in a way when you put the field outHes arguably one of our best players of spin now So maybe it was a blessing in disguise But the way hes been able to play over his 15year careerâ its a credit to him and not too many people get to go out on their own terms IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-feel-like-im-doing-alright-at-the-moment-steve-smith-shuts-down-retirement-talks-656788.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sa20-paarl-royals-edge-mi-cape-town-in-derby-thriller-656790.html Paarl Jan 3 Lhuandre Pretoriusâ SA20 season four burst into life with an unbeaten 98 to drive Paarl Royals to a thrilling onerun victory over MI Cape Town in the Western Cape derby at Boland Park Royalsâ seamer Ottniel Baartman had 15 runs to defend in the final over and after Kagiso Rabada smashed the third delivery for six over long off it seemed the momentum had swung MI Cape Townâs way But Baartman 451 had Rabada caught on the boundary the next ball before the equation was reduced to MI Cape Town requiring six off the final delivery for victory George Linde made good contact by carving a length delivery over the covers but the ball fell just inches short of the boundary rope which sent the Royals faithful into a frenzyPretorius had endured a quiet start to the competition in the first couple of matches but the leagueâs leading scorer of last season was back at his beloved home ground The teenager was back to his belligerent best cracking 10 boundaries and two sixes during his 65ball stay at the crease The Royals faithful were spurring Pretorius on to a maiden T20 century but it was not to be with Rabada delivering a dot ball to close out the Royals inningsThe four player of the match candidates were Lhuandre Pretorius Sikandar Raza Asa Tribe and Rassie van der Dussen with Pretorius winning 72 of the fan vote The visitors were under pressure from the outset with Pretorius and Asa Tribe dominating the power play The Royals opening pair put on exactly 100 in 104 overs before MI Cape Town captain Rashid Khan 231 had the Jersey international caught for 51 off 34 ballsMI Cape Town enjoyed an equally good start with Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton 36 adding 77 for the first wicket in 75 overs before Royalsâ new recruit Sikander Raza 327 announced his arrival at SA20 The Zimbabwe international removed both Rickelton and the dangerous Nicholas Pooran and later clean bowled Tom Moores for a firstball duck to stem the MI Cape Town tide But it was the doublewicket over from Baartman when the seamer picked up both Van der Dussen 59 and Jason Smith 1 within three balls of each other that scuppered MI Cape Townâs momentum IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sa20-paarl-royals-edge-mi-cape-town-in-derby-thriller-656790.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ahmedabad-polo-tournament-kicks-off-with-grand-opening-ceremony-656798.html Ahmedabad Jan 3 The Ahmedabad Polo Tournament kicked off spectacularly on Friday with a grand opening event launching three days of competitive polo matches and engaging spectator activities Organised by the Gujarat Polo Club and supported by the Adani Group this threeday event is the largest polo festival ever held in Gujarat in terms of size and grandeur The opening ceremony at the Gujarat Polo Club Ground in Shela featured an energetic dance performance by a large troupe followed by appearances from the renowned acrobatic dance group V Unbeatable The tournament trophy was officially unveiled by actor and former miss world Manushi Chhillar alongside the team owners marking the official beginning of the competitionThe opening evenings scale and production were unmatched for polo in Ahmedabad attracting a large crowd and a lively response from spectatorsOn the opening day the Jindal Panthers played against Mayfair Polo in the first match This was followed by NAV Unicorns competing with Pune Warriors and KP Kings clashing with Adani Archers in the third encounter Equestrian sports demonstrations took place between matches enhancing the traditional sporting atmosphereSpeaking on the occasion Arpan Gupta promoter of Gujarat Polo Club said âThis tournament is about bringing polo to Gujarat in a way it has never been experienced before The response to the opening day has been extremely encouraging and reinforces our belief that Ahmedabad is ready to embrace polo as a major sporting and cultural eventâOver 30 polo players are participating in the tournament with at least 25 having competed internationally The high level of play on opening day created a competitive atmosphere throughout the eventThe event offers more than just matches it features a whole spectator experience with heritage installations horse exhibitions family zones and live entertainment throughout the venue Musical acts will perform for the next two days culminating in a closing ceremony with synchronised fireworks laser shows and an awards presentationThe Ahmedabad Polo Tournament seeks to revive the âking of gamesâ in Gujarat and create a prominent annual sporting event that connects heritage culture and sport IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ahmedabad-polo-tournament-kicks-off-with-grand-opening-ceremony-656798.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-tennis-doesnt-need-battle-of-sexes-says-iga-swiatek-656801.html Sydney Jan 3 Sixtime Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek dismissed the significance of the Battle of the Sexes event which was heavily promoted during the 1973 tour and stated that it represented only half of the overall womens tennis Swiatek said that while many view it as one of the top events in tennis history on a global scale women in tennis have nothing to prove and should not be measured against mens tennis when being compared to itâI havenât watched because I donât watch stuff like thatâ Swiatek said during press conference âI think for sure it attracted a lot of attention It was entertainment but I wouldnât say that had anything to do with social change or any important topicsâSwiatek currently ranked No 2 in the world and participating in the United Cup in Sydney this week said the mixed team event was a far more meaningful way to celebrate womens tennis The match between Aryna Sabalenka the world No 1 in womens singles tennis and Nick Kyrgios the Australian entertainer has been compared to the famous battle between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973Kyrgios defeated Sabalenka 63 63 by reducing the size of his side of the court by nine per cent to nullify Sabalenkas strength speed and elevation advantage however Swiatek did not feel that any such comparison could be made Swiatek remarked that the context that made the 1973 match eradefining is no longer relevant Womens Tennis is now a legitimate global professional sportâI think the name was just the same as the one from the Billie Jean King match in â73 Thatâs itâ she said âThere were no more similarities because I feel like womenâs tennis stands on its own right now We have so many great athletes and great stories to present we donât necessarily need to compare to menâs tennis Honestly there doesnât need to be any competitionâAs she prepares for the Australian Open this month the only Grand Slam title she has not won she believes that modern formats such as the United Cup more accurately reflect the state of the game todayâI think actually events like this one United Cup brings tennis together and WTA fans and ATP fans can watch this event with so much excitementâ she said âSeeing also singles players that usually donât have space to play mixed doubles together playing these kinds of matches I think this is actually what makes our sport much more interesting and betterâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/womens-tennis-doesnt-need-battle-of-sexes-says-iga-swiatek-656801.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/shreyas-iyer-provided-clearance-to-play-vijay-hazare-trophy-match-on-january-6-656861.html Mumbai Jan 3 India batter Shreyas Iyer is all set to play his first competitive match since sustaining a spleen injury in October 2024 The 31yearold star will represent Mumbai against Himachal Pradesh in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy match which will be played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on January 6 Shreyas Iyer has received conditional clearance from the BCCIs Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru as reported by ESPNcricinfo Iyer spent ten days at the COE for the final stretch of his rehabilitation As part of the returntoplay protocol he featured in a practice game on January 2 Iyer batted painfree and went through all his drills without showing any signs of discomfortShreyas Iyer has a strong record in the Vijay Hazare Trophy known for explosive centuries including a 50ball 114 against Karnataka in December 2024 and has led Mumbai to success often being the top scorer in tournaments demonstrating consistent highimpact performances in the premier Indian domestic oneday competition He was the highest rungetter for Mumbai last season where he scored 325 runs in just five matchesIyer suffered a serious injury during Indias third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25 2025 While attempting a catch near the thirdman boundary he lost balance and landed on his rib cage resulting in internal bleeding and spleen damage Since then he has missed the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the home ODI series against AustraliaIndias ODI squad for the New Zealand series is set to be picked on Saturday While there is a provision to pick a subject to fitness it is still unclear whether the selectors would pick him directly for the international challenge or want to see more of him in the domestic competitionIn Iyers absence Ruturaj Gaikwad batted at number four and impressed with his maiden ODI century In the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy Devdutt Padikkal has also slammed four centuries in just five innings and presented a strong case for selection IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/shreyas-iyer-provided-clearance-to-play-vijay-hazare-trophy-match-on-january-6-656861.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/shreyas-iyer-awaits-coe-clearance-as-india-announces-gill-led-squad-for-new-zealand-odis-656871.html Mumbai Jan 3 The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI has announced a 15member squad for the upcoming threematch ODI series against New Zealand with Shubman Gill set to lead the side Shreyas Iyer who had been on the sidelines owing to an injury has been named in the squad but his participation will be subject to fitness clearance from the BCCIâs Centre of Excellence CoE Moreover allrounder Hardik Pandya who scored a brilliant century for Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Saturday against Vidarbha has been rested to manage his workload as he prepares for the T20 World CupâShreyas Iyerâs availability is subject to fitness clearance from BCCI COE Hardik Pandya has not been cleared by the BCCI COE to bowl 10 overs in a match and considering the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup to follow his workload is being managedâ the BCCI said in their statementIyer will arrive in Jaipur on Sunday and will participate in Mumbais upcoming two Vijay Hazare Trophy games Having finished the final stage of his rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence CoE in Bengaluru and received clearance to return to competitive cricket he is set to play Mumbaiâs last two league matches against Himachal Pradesh and Punjab on January 6 and 8 respectivelyAnother notable absentee is pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah who will only play the fivematch T20I series against the Kiwis followed by the T20 World Cup In Bumrahs absence the pace bowling unit will be led by Siraj with Arshdeep Singh Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna as other optionsWhile Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel have been putting up impressive and consistent performances in the domestic setup for their state teams they have missed their selection for the New Zealand seriesNotably stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have retained their places in the side and will be hoping to continue their tremendous run of form in the 50over format The duo recently represented their state teams in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and notched up magnificent centuries and halfcenturies putting up a strong case for their selectionIndiaâs ODI squad Shubman Gill C Rohit Sharma Virat Kohli KL Rahul WK Shreyas Iyer VC Washington Sundar Ravindra Jadeja Mohd Siraj Harshit Rana Prasidh Krishna Kuldeep Yadav Rishabh Pant WK Nitish Kumar Reddy Arshdeep Singh Yashasvi JaiswalIndia vs New Zealand ODI Series Schedule1st ODI January 11 â Vadodara2nd ODI January 14 â Rajkot3rd ODI January 18 â Indore IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/shreyas-iyer-awaits-coe-clearance-as-india-announces-gill-led-squad-for-new-zealand-odis-656871.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wtt-youth-contender-2026-vivaan-dave-naisha-rewaskar-reach-u-15-mixed-doubles-final-656873.html Vadodara Jan 3 Vivaan Dave and Naisha Rewaskar maintained their composure in a tense decider that went into extra points upsetting top seeds Aditya Das and Ankolika Chakraborty to reach the U15 mixed doubles final at the World Table Tennis WTT Youth Contender held at the SAMA Indoor Sports Complex on Saturday Vivaan and Naisha narrowly defeated the top seeds with scores of 1311 511 117 511 2321 They advanced to the final against fellow players Reyansh Jalan and Tanishka Kalbhairav who won their semifinal match against Sanjay Jagdish and Myraa Sangelkar with scores of 113 1513 117This marks the second year of the WTT Youth Contender in Vadodara featuring competitions for U11 to U19 categories with a total of 226 playersMeanwhile top seeds Abhinandh Pradhivadhi and Ananya Muralidharan lived up to their top billing by securing a spot in the U19 mixed doubles final against Sarthak Arya and Syndrela DasIn the semifinals Abhinandh and Ananya beat Ritvik Gupta and Ahona Roy with scores of 911 1412 117 118 while Sarthak and Syndrela halted the strong performance of Sahil Rawat and Hardee Patel winning 116 1210 511 115The most exciting match which kept spectators on the edge of their seats occurred at the very end of the morning session Vivaan and Naisha displayed their fighting spirit right from the start by coming back from 58 down saving a game point and then winning the opening gameBoth pairs shared the spoils over the next three games setting up a thrilling deciderIt seemed like Aditya and Ankolika would win the decider as they opened up a 40 lead and then had three match points at 107Vivaan and Naisha not only saved those three match points but also maintained their composure to level the score each time their opponents faced a match point eventually winning four consecutive points to conclude the match IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wtt-youth-contender-2026-vivaan-dave-naisha-rewaskar-reach-u-15-mixed-doubles-final-656873.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/usman-khawaja-to-retire-from-international-cricket-after-sydney-ashes-test-656665.html Sydney Jan 2 Veteran Australia batter Usman Khawaja announced on Friday that he will retire from international cricket after the fifth Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground Khawaja called a press conference and made the announcement with his family by his side two days out from the match ahead of the teams net session with the Aussies aiming to claim another 12 World Test Championship points and finish the series as 41 victorsâIâm here to announce today that I will be retiring from all international cricket after the SCG Test matchâ Khawaja told the pressâGod through cricket has given me far more than I could have imagine Heâs given me memories Iâll carry forever friendship that goes well beyond the game and lessons that shaped me who I am off the fieldâBut no career belongs to one person I obviously had a lot of help To my parents thank you for your sacrifices that never made the highlights reelâKhawaja informed his Australia teammates only moments earlier ahead of their training session two days out from the series finale against EnglandIn a career spanning 15 years Khawaja has amassed over 8000 international runs across formats while featuring in 87 Tests 40 ODIs and nine T20IsHe retires as one of Australias most prolific runscorers 30 more in his farewell Test will see him pass Michael Husseys tally of 6235 into 14th among Australian menKhawaja brings the curtain down on his career as one of only 18 Australians to have scored more than 15 Test centuries finishing with 16 hundreds in the longest format He also leaves the game with 49 limitedovers appearances including two ODI centuries to his nameThe lefthander fittingly bows out in his home city of Sydney where he made his Test debut against England in 2011 It was also at the SCG that Khawaja reignited his career as a 35yearold smashing twin centuries against England in early 2022 when Travis Head was sidelined with CovidIt led to a final career spark hitting seven centuries in his first two years back in the side and a World Test Championship win in 2023In 2023 Khawaja was named ICC Test Cricketer of the Year and Shane Warne Test Cricketer of the Year and played a key role in Australias World Test Championship triumphKhawaja told coach Andrew McDonald after the fourth Test in Melbourne he would finish up in SydneyIts been tough Ive just wanted to tell everyone I told teammates just then I didnt think Id get emotional but I teared up straightaway and I had to compose myself I finally composed myself and got out what I wanted to sayI never thought Id be the guy that would cry when he retired but I cried straightaway It just shows what it means to me My journey has been different to a lot of cricketers in the Australian cricket team All that emotion built up he saidKhawaja will continue to play for the Brisbane Heat in the BBL and also outlined his intention to also remain available for Queenslands Sheffield Shield side IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/usman-khawaja-to-retire-from-international-cricket-after-sydney-ashes-test-656665.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-man-city-held-to-goalless-draw-at-sunderland-656668.html Sunderland Jan 2 Manchester City started the new calendar year with a 00 draw at Sunderlandâs Stadium of Light Pep Guardiolaâs side missed their opportunity to move back within two points of the Gunners following the entertaining stalemate The result means City extended its unbeaten run in the Premier League to seven matches and now sit four points behind leaders Arsenal at the halfway point of the campaignBernardo Silva thought heâd opened the scoring just five minutes in when he touched home a corner flicked on by Erling Haaland but the captain was narrowly offsideSunderland grew into the game from there but neither side truly looked like beating the goalkeepers in front of them before the breakThe start of the second half brought with it an uplifting moment for City fans everywhere as Rodri took to the pitch for the first time since a brief substitute appearance in early NovemberThe Spaniard started a move barely a minute into his return that brought Citys best chance yet but Savinho cleared the bar with his attempt from Rayan Cherkiâs low crossAs the hour mark passed Roefs again refused to yield when sub Josko Gvardiol ghosted into the box and glanced a header on targetJeremy Doku and Phil Foden then came even closer only for brave defensive heads to block their goalbound shotsGvardiol now spending more time in the Sunderland box than his own half then somehow flicked a cross onto the outside of the post from all of 12 yardsCity threw everything at the hosts in the closing stages but couldnât force a winner in a typical Premier League battleAfter the match Man City manager Pep Guardiola sais Good Take the point The second half was excellent We missed We could not score in the sixyard box How many times were we in the sixyard box against the keeper and could not convert Of course the threat they have they are really good IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-man-city-held-to-goalless-draw-at-sunderland-656668.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/venus-williams-receives-2026-australian-open-wild-card-656676.html Melbourne Jan 2 Seventime Grand Slam champion Venus Williams received a wild card entry into the main draw at the 2026 Australian Open It will be her first appearance at Melbourne Park since 2021 and the first time she will have competed outside the United States since 2023 Of her seven Grand Slam singles titles none have come in Melbourne Venus reached the final twice in 2003 and 2017 and both times her sister and 23time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams emerged victoriousIn addition to her two AO finals Williams reached the semifinals in 2001 and another six quarterfinals contributing to her tournament winloss record of 5421Iâm excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer Iâve had so many incredible memories there and Iâm grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career Venus saidThe 45yearold is set to become the oldest woman to compete in an AO main draw surpassing the record previously held by Japanâs Kimiko Date who was 44 when she lost in the first round of the Australian Open 2015Following a 16month layoff Venus returned to tennis last July and competed in three tournaments in 2025 She defeated compatriot Peyton Stearns 63 64 in the first round at the Mubadala Citi DC Open before falling to Magdalena FrechIn August Williams fell to Spains Jessica BouzasManeiro 46 46 in the first round of Cincinnati and took 11th seeded Karolina Muchova to three sets in the first round of the US Open In doubles playing alongside Leylah Fernandez Williams advanced to the quarterfinals where they fell to eventual finalists Katerina Siniakova and Taylor TownsendVenus will prepare for the Australian Open 2026 at the Hobart International where she also received a wildcard and will join fellow major champions Barbora Krejcikova and Emma RaducanuThe Australian Open 2026 main draw begins on January 18 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/venus-williams-receives-2026-australian-open-wild-card-656676.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jampk-police-summons-cricketer-for-displaying-palestine-flag-during-local-match-656683.html Jammu Jan 2 The JampK Police said on Friday that they have summoned a local cricketer for displaying the Palestinian flag on his cap during a local match Police said that a local cricketer and the organiser of a private cricket tournament have been summoned for questioning after the flag was seen displayed during a match played in JammuOfficials said that a cricketers helmet bore the Palestine flag in front and the cameras picked it up when he was batting in the middleOne cricket player and organiser of the tournament has been called for questioning by JampK Police regarding the use of the Palestine flag on his helmet during a cricket match at a private tournament in Jammuâ officials saidOfficials said that the police are now trying to figure out the circumstances under which the Palestinian flag was displayedThey said the cricketer summoned for questioning has been identified as Furqan BhatThe incident occurred on Wednesday during a match between JK11 Kings and Jammu Trailblazers in the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir JampK Champions League cricket tournament By questioning the cricketer and organiser of the tournament the police are trying to determine whether the necessary permissions were obtained or notIt is also being determined whether there were any tournament guidelines violations and what the true intent was behind displaying the flag during a sporting eventâIt has also been confirmed that the tournament under scrutiny is a privately organised local league and is not affiliated with any national or international cricket bodyAccording to police no action has been taken so far and the process of questioning and verification of facts is ongoingA future course of action will only be decided once the due diligence is done the officials saidPolice are verifying the facts and investigating the matterâ officials saidEarlier in July last year four youths were arrested in Uttar Pradeshs Deoria for allegedly wearing Tshirts with the Palestinian flag during a Muharram procession Another man was arrested in Agra in the same month for allegedly waving the Palestinian flag during the Muharram procession IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jampk-police-summons-cricketer-for-displaying-palestine-flag-during-local-match-656683.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-england-include-bashir-potts-in-12-member-squad-for-scg-test-656693.html Sydney Jan 2 England have included offspinner Shoaib Bashir and seamer Matthew Potts in their 12man squad for the fifth Ashes Test against Australia to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground SCG on Sunday Fast bowler Gus Atkinson is the only absentee from the side that secured a fourwicket victory in the fourth Test inside two days at the Melbourne Cricket Ground MCG The pacer has been ruled out of the match due to a hamstring injuryThe inclusion of Bashir and Potts gives England flexibility as they seek to sign off from the series on a high especially with conditions at the SCG traditionally offering more assistance to spin bowling as compared to other Australian venues Both Bashir and Potts are now in consideration to make their Ashes debut by replacing an injured AtkinsonPotts has been an unused member of Englandâs touring party throughout the series but is poised for earning an 11th Test cap after last being in the playing eleven against New Zealand in late 2024 It remains to be seen if Potts will earn a place in the playing eleven as the SCG the pitch bore a slight green tingeA 12man squad was also announced for the first Test in Perth which also ended in two days with Bashir missing out on that occasion as England opted for an allpace attack Bashir has also not played for England since the third Test against India at Lordâs in JulyThough England canât win the Ashes now another victory in Sydney after the win in Melbourne would provide encouragement for the visitors heading into future World Test Championship assignmentsEngland squad for the fifth Ashes Test Ben Stokes C Shoaib Bashir Jacob Bethell Harry Brook Brydon Carse Zak Crawley Ben Duckett Will Jacks Matthew Potts Joe Root Jamie Smith WK and Josh Tongue IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-england-include-bashir-potts-in-12-member-squad-for-scg-test-656693.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/2024-25-season-was-the-best-man-city-ever-had-as-a-team-guardiola-656513.html Sunderland Jan 1 Pep Guardiola has described Manchester Citys 202425 campaign as one of the standout seasons after his team showed mental and physical fortitude to recover from an injuryladen term and flourish when it mattered most Guardiola has led City to 18 major trophies over his nearly 10 years in charge including six Premier League titles in eight seasons Last season City finished third in the Premier League and therefore qualified for the Champions League once againLast season what we did and overcame was one of the best seasons that we have had as a team All the guys that were there and the staff backroom staff it was arguably one of the best we have had Itâs how you overcome the problems that define the seasons Guardiola was quoted by the Manchester City websiteAnd from the perspective now every time when I reflect what happened last season I am more proud than ever of what we have done as a club and how we handled the bad bad situations how the hierarchy Khaldoon the CEO how incredible the messages of support of âletâs go letâs go letâs goâ Just in this incredible club it can happen he addedCity will usher in 2026 with a preseason trip to the Stadium of Light marking the start of an intense month that will see Guardiolaâs side face nine games across all competitionsBetween five key Premier League fixtures City also wrap up our initial Champions League phase fixtures against BodoGlimt and Galatasaray face a Carabao Cup semifinal firstleg trip to Newcastle and open our FA Cup campaign at home against ExeterComing off an eightmatch winning run and sitting second in the Premier League City will play Sunderland on Friday Guardiola believes that if they can maintain that impressive momentum into the New Year it could prove hugely significant for the season as a wholeâThis month is important because in November and December we were really good This month will define Champions League qualification and which position we are in and in the Premier League we will try and be close to the top of the league said Guardiola IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/2024-25-season-was-the-best-man-city-ever-had-as-a-team-guardiola-656513.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-australia-name-unchanged-squad-for-sydney-test-656538.html Sydney Jan 1 Australia have named an unchanged squad from the Boxing Day Test for the upcoming final Test of the Ashes series though conditions at the SCG could still prompt changes to the final XI The match is set to begin on January 4 here at the Sydney Cricket Ground The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon as the Australian team assembled in Sydney for their first training session following last weekâs fourwicket defeat to England The Melbourne Test ended inside two days on a pitch later deemed âunsatisfactoryâ by the ICCThe loss marked Australiaâs first defeat to England in redball cricket at home in almost 15 years with 36 wickets falling across two days at the MCG However the result carried greater importance for England as Australia had already secured the Ashes by winning the first three Tests in Perth Brisbane and AdelaideMany fans and cricket experts believe that the upcoming match known as the New Years Test will be Usman Khawajas final appearance for Australia Additionally reports indicate that Khawaja plans to speak to the media before the match begins which fuels retirement rumours But head coach Andrew McDonald all but guaranteed veteran batter Usman Khawaja would be marking centre in Sydney after posting secondbest score of Australias first innings in the Boxing Day TestMeanwhile allrounder Beau Webster might replace Cameron Green in the XI as the latter has yet to record a significant score in the series Webster however has not yet been part of the XI in any of the four games so far this series and will be eager to end the Ashes strongly especially since the hosts are already leading 31âWe know weve got a quality player sitting there waiting Weve got a batting order that wed like to think can function at a higher capacity so well be having conversations leading into Sydneyâ head coach Andrew McDonald was quoted as saying by Cricket AustraliaAustralia squad Steve Smith c Scott Boland Alex Carey Brendan Doggett Cameron Green Travis Head Josh Inglis Usman Khawaja Marnus Labuschagne Todd Murphy Michael Neser Jhye Richardson Mitchell Starc Jake Weatherald Beau Webster IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-australia-name-unchanged-squad-for-sydney-test-656538.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 02:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/enzo-maresca-on-brink-of-leaving-chelsea-report-656539.html London Jan 1 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is facing an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge as the clubâs poor run in the Premier League 202526 has raised serious concerns over his position The West Londonbased club has won only one of their last seven Premier League games and has slipped to fifth position in the points table The sixtime Premier League winners let another victory slip through their fingers at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday drawing 22 with the Cherries After the match manager Enzo Maresca skipped the press conference citing illnessAccording to a report by The Guardian Chelsea is set to open the new year by holding emergency talks over Marescaâs position It is expected that the Italian manager who was booed by supporters during the disappointing 22 draw with Bournemouth will not be in charge for Sundayâs trip to Manchester CityThe report also said that Maresca wants to leave the club but it is unclear if he is willing to walk away without a payoff His contract runs until 2029 with an option for an extra yearMaresca was appointed Chelsea manager in July 2024 Under his stint the West London club has played 92 matches so far and he has a strong record of 55 wins On May 28 2025 Maresca won his first trophy as Chelsea manager by lifting the UEFA Conference League after beating Real Betis 41 in the final which meant Chelsea became the only team to win all three of the current main UEFA competitionsIn July 2025 he guided his team to victory in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup the first edition of the expanded competition with a 30 win over the recently crowned Champions League winners Paris SaintGermain in the final IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/enzo-maresca-on-brink-of-leaving-chelsea-report-656539.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 02:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-hockeys-new-year-highlighted-by-world-cup-ambitions-and-asian-games-title-defense-656542.html New Delhi Jan 1 After a year of notable accomplishments the Indian Hockey team is set to begin 2026 with a busy schedule that includes several major international tournaments They will compete in the FIH Menâs World Cup and aim to defend their Asian Games title in Japan making the upcoming year primarily focused on key international matches The second season of the Hockey India League HIL now revived successfully will kick off the new year The Womens HIL concludes on January 10 in Ranchi while the Menâs HIL runs from January 3 to January 26 Matches are scheduled in Chennai Ranchi and Bhubaneswar with the final set to be held at the Kalinga Stadium in BhubaneswarAfter the domestic season the menâs team will participate in the Indian leg of the FIH Pro League at Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela from February 1015 This will be followed by fixtures in Australia from February 2125 and later the team will travel to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in June for the remaining Pro League matchesThe womenâs team will compete in the World Cup Qualifiers on home ground in Hyderabad from March 814 This event serves as an essential final chance for the team to qualify for the 2026 FIH Womens World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands The qualifiers will include strong contenders such as England Scotland Korea Italy Uruguay Wales and AustriaIn August the team will attend a major event the FIH Hockey World Cup jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands Set for August 1430 this tournament provides the team an opportunity to leverage their recent Olympic achievement and compete for a spot on the podiumThe season will proceed in September with both teams travelling to AichiNagoya Japan for the 20th Asian Games scheduled from September 19 to October 4 As reigning champions the Indian Menâs team seeks to defend their title and earn automatic qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic GamesIn addition to these international milestones Hockey India stays dedicated to grassroots growth A comprehensive domestic schedule is organised to offer competitive opportunities for younger players and to spot new talent for the senior national teamsIndian Hockey Team calendar 2026Mens Hockey India League January 326 2026Womens Hockey India League December 28 2025January 10 2026FIH Menâs Pro League India February 1015 2026FIH Menâs Pro League Australia February 2125 2026FIH Menâs Pro League Netherlands amp UK June 1428 2026World Cup Qualifiers Womenâs March 814 2026FIH Hockey World Cup August 1530 20262026 AichiNagoya Asian Games September 19 October 4 2026Nations Cup TBC IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-hockeys-new-year-highlighted-by-world-cup-ambitions-and-asian-games-title-defense-656542.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 02:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sabalenka-says-she-needs-revenge-against-kyrgios-with-revised-court-rules-after-battle-of-the-sexes-loss-656545.html Brisbane Jan 1 World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka has made it clear she wants another crack at Nick Kyrgios after falling to the Australian in round two of the muchtalkedabout âBattle of the Sexesâ match The pair faced off in Dubai on Sunday with Kyrgios coming out on top with a 63 63 victory after a competitive entertaining match However Sabalenka competed on a court that was reduced by nine per cent to account for the differences in movement and speed between male and female playersReflecting on the contest the Belarusian said she would prefer a revised setup if the matchup were to happen again particularly regarding court dimensions and serving rulesI think I would definitely do it again I love revenge and I dont like to leave it the way it is I think for the next match we will come up with a different format Before the match I didnt realise I would have to adjust and it was a bit tricky for me I think I would keep the full court but I would take two serves That would even our level a lot moreâ Sabalenka said on Thursday ahead of her title defence at the Brisbane InternationalShe added that the experience gave her valuable insight into Kyrgiosâ game and strengthened her belief that she could perform better in a rematchI always say that when you are losing you are learning and I learned a lot about his game I know Nick as a player and a person better and I feel I know how to play against him I would do it again I need revenge she addedDespite the loss Sabalenka took pride in pushing Kyrgios to his limits and said she enjoyed making him work hard for the win She also extended her best wishes to him as he prepares to compete in BrisbaneI am happy that I was able to challenge him make him work and make him physically get tired and mentally get tired I felt really excited to see a man getting tired and going for his full game It was a really cool experience and I really hope he will do well here in Brisbane and play incredible tennis in the Australian Open she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sabalenka-says-she-needs-revenge-against-kyrgios-with-revised-court-rules-after-battle-of-the-sexes-loss-656545.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 03:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/some-positive-signs-coming-out-of-indications-from-various-tests-says-gilchrist-on-martyn-656576.html Hobart Jan 1 Former Australia batsman Damien Martyn is showing positive signs in coming out of his battle with meningitis his former teammate Adam Gilchrist said Martyn 54 remains hospitalised in Queensland after being placed in an induced coma due to meningitis Martyn fell ill on Boxing Day and is now in a serious condition at the Gold Coast University Hospital âHeâs still in the hospital Thereâll be more details coming out as they come to hand but certainly in the last 24 hours some positive signs are the indications coming out of the various tests heâs havingâThereâs been so much interest and love A fine player terrific fella I just hope he can continue a recoveryâ Gilchrist the former Australia wicketkeeperbatter was quoted as saying by Fox Sports on ThursdayAn elegant righthander batter Martyn scored 4406 runs for Australia in 67 Tests at an average of 4637 including 13 centuries with a best score of 165 He also played 208 ODIs scoring 5346 runs at 4090 with a highest score of 144 not outâOn behalf of Damien Martyn a great friend a former teammate of a few of uson behalf of his family Amanda his partner thank you to everyone for the heartfelt love and wishes and care for Damien as heâs gone through and continues to go through a challenging timeâ added GilchristMartyn was instrumental in Australias 2003 ODI World Cup final victory over India scoring an unbeaten 88 despite batting with a broken finger and sharing a crucial 234run partnership with captain Ricky Ponting He was part of the side that also won the 1999 ODI World Cup and 2006 Champions Trophy After his playing career was over Martyn briefly worked as a commentatorAs per the World Health Organisation WHO meningitis is a devastating disease that is deadly and often results in serious longterm health issues It remains a major global public health challengeMeningitis is the inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord Though it is not revealed whether the meningitis suffered by Martyn is bacterial or viral WHO notes that it can be infectious or noninfectious in origin can be associated with a high risk of death and longterm complications and requires urgent medical care IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/some-positive-signs-coming-out-of-indications-from-various-tests-says-gilchrist-on-martyn-656576.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-chelsea-part-ways-with-manager-enzo-maresca-656578.html London Jan 1 Former champion Chelsea have officially parted ways with manager Enzo Maresca following a disappointing run in the Premier League 202526 with the West London club managing just one win from their last seven matches The sixtime Premier League winners recently let another victory slip through their fingers at Stamford Bridge drawing 22 with the Cherries They are now placed fifth in the Premier League with 30 points and will face Manchester City on Sunday Chelsea is also currently 13th in the UEFA Champions League group stageChelsea Football Club and Head Coach Enzo Maresca have parted company During his time at the club Enzo led the team to success in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup Those achievements will remain an important part of the clubâs recent history and we thank him for his contributions to the club the statement from Chelsea readWith key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track We wish Enzo well for the future it addedEnzo Maresca was appointed Chelsea manager in July 2024 Under his stint the West London club played 92 matches and he recorded a strong tally of 55 wins On May 28 2025 Maresca won his first trophy as Chelsea manager by lifting the UEFA Conference League after beating Real Betis 41 in the final which meant Chelsea became the only team to win all three of the current main UEFA competitionsAfter that in July 2025 he guided his team to victory in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup the first edition of the expanded competition with a 30 win over the recently crowned Champions League winners Paris SaintGermain in the finalThis meant that he won two titles in his first year as manager of the club However the results were different in the second year and this affected his relationship with the fans and the Chelsea board which finally led to his exit 3 years before his contract which was supposed to end in 2029 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-chelsea-part-ways-with-manager-enzo-maresca-656578.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/nicholas-lee-to-take-over-as-new-strength-and-conditioning-coach-of-indian-womens-team-656589.html New Delhi Jan 1 Nicholas Lee is set to take over as the new strength and conditioning coach of the Indian womens cricket team Sources familiar with the matter told IANS that Lee is likely to join the Indian team after the 2026 season of the Womenâs Premier League WPL is over on February 5 in Vadodara âYes itâs confirmed that Lee will be the new SampC coach of the Indian womenâs cricket team Australiaâs Nathan Kiely was also in talks but Lee was always in the running for this role Once WPL is over Lee will link up with the Indian teamâ sources further saidAfter the fiveteam WPL is over India will play a multiformat series in Australia from February 15 to March 9 The multiformat tour begins with the T20I leg starting at the Sydney Cricket Ground SCG on February 15 followed by games at Manuka Oval Canberra and Adelaide Oval on February 19 and 21 respectivelyFocus will then shift to the ODI series where India enters as World Cup winners The series will begin at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on February 24 The second and third ODIs will be staged at Hobartâs Bellerive Oval on February 27 and March 1 respectivelyThe third ODI match was previously moved to Hobart from Melbourne by Cricket Australia CA due to floodlight issues The tour culminates with a daynight Test at the WACA Ground in Perth set to take place from March 6â9Coming to Lee heâs an experienced strength and conditioning coach specialising in physical preparation and conditioning in elite sports His recent assignment was serving as the strength and conditioning coach for the Gulf Giants in season four of the UAEâs ILT20Lee previously worked as the strength and conditioning coach of Afghanistans menâs team from January 2024 to December 2025 and served as head of physical performance at the Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB from March 2020 to January 2024Lee was also the strength and conditioning coach of Sri Lankas menâs team from October 2016 to March 2020 Before working with international teams Lee worked as the lead strength and conditioning trainer at Sussex County Cricket Club from March 2012 to September 2016 apart from being in the assistant role from January 2010 to March 2012Lee a graduate of Anglia Ruskin University played 13 firstclass matches as a righthanded batter amassing 490 runs at 3062 including three halfcenturies and a highest score of 79 not out IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/nicholas-lee-to-take-over-as-new-strength-and-conditioning-coach-of-indian-womens-team-656589.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/vimath-dinsara-to-lead-sri-lanka-in-2026-u19-mens-cricket-world-cup-656603.html Colombo Jan 1 Vimath Dinsara will captain Sri Lanka in the 2026 Under19 Mens Cricket World Cup Sri Lanka Cricket SLC said on Thursday Kavija Gamage has been named as Sri Lankaâs vicecaptain for the tournament beginning on January 15 in Zimbabwe and Namibia The squad features a strong mix of promising batters including Dinsara Gamage and Mahavithana along with versatile allrounders Viran Chamuditha and Chamika Heentigala Sri Lanka which will depart for Namibia on Thursday reached the Super Six stage in the previous edition of the U19 Menâs Cricket World Cup held in South Africa in 2024Sri Lanka are in Group C of the upcoming competition alongside defending champions Australia Ireland and Japan The side will open their campaign against Japan on January 17 at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek Sri Lanka will also play their games against Ireland and Australia at the same venue on January 19 and 23 respectivelyThe 16th edition of the Menâs Under19 World Cup will feature 16 teams divided into four groups of four each Every side will play the other three teams in its group during the opening round with the top three progressing to the Super Six stageThe leading four teams from there will qualify for the semifinals to be played on February 3 and 4 in Bulawayo and Harare while the final is scheduled to be played at the Harare Sports Club on February 6Previously Ireland South Africa Zimbabwe Japan Scotland Australia West Indies Pakistan New Zealand England and India announced their respective squads for the U19 World CupIn all 16 teams will participate in the 2026 ICC Under19 Mens Cricket World Cup and will have 41 matches played in the tournament The 16 teams will be divided into four groups with the top three teams from each group advancing to the Super Six stage The fourthplaced teams in Group A and D face each other while the fourthplaced teams in Group B and C face each other in the placement stageSri Lanka squad Vimath Dinsara c Kavija Gamage Dimantha Mahavithana Viran Chamuditha Dulnith Sigera Chamika Heentigala Adam Hilmy Chamarindu Nethsara Sethmika Seneviratne Kugathas Mathulan Rasith Nimsara Vigneshwaran Akash Jeewantha Sriram Senuja Wekunagoda Malintha Silva IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/vimath-dinsara-to-lead-sri-lanka-in-2026-u19-mens-cricket-world-cup-656603.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/united-cup-spain-meet-argentina-greece-face-japan-on-opening-day-in-perth-656618.html Perth Jan 1 Jaume Munar will take on Sebastian Baez in the mens singles while JÃssica Bouzas Maneiro will play Solana Sierra in the womens singles when Spain kick off their campaign against Argentina in the United Cup mixed team tennis competition in Perth on Friday The four players will be involved in a mixed doubles clash to decide the outcome of the match in case they fail to reach a verdict in the singles clashesIn other matches Greece will face Japan with Maria Sakkari taking on Naomi Osaka while Stefanos Tsitsipas will clash with Shintaro Mochizuki in the mens singles encounter on the same court as the fourth edition of United Cup the international hardcourt event hosted by Tennis Australia which is played across Perth and SydneyThe event will have 18 national teams comprised of up to three womenâs and three menâs players who will compete in a group stage followed by a knockout format Matches in Perth will take place at RAC Arena while play in Sydney will be held at Ken Rosewall ArenaFor the group stage the 18 teams were split into six groups of three in a roundrobin format Groups A C and E will play in Perth while groups B D and F will play in Sydney The three group winners and the best runnerup in each city will advance to the quarterfinalsPerth will host its two quarterfinals on January 7 with winners travelling to Sydney for the semifinals and final Teams relocating from Perth will have a travel and rest day on January 89 The Sydney quarterfinals are scheduled for Jan 89 followed by the semifinals on Jan 10 and the final on Jan 11Each session features a menâs singles match a womenâs singles match and a mixed doubles match Singles matches showcase each countryâs topranked players and are bestofthree tiebreak setsMixeddoubles match can feature any combination of players and two tiebreak sets followed by a deciding 10point matchtiebreak if necessaryTeamsGroup AUnited States 1 Coco Gauff Varvara Lepchenko Nicole MelicharMartinezSpain Jessica Bouzas Maneiro Andrea Lazaro Garcia Yvonne CavalleReimersArgentina Solana Sierra Maria Lourdes Carle Nicole Fossa HuergoGroup CItaly 3 Jasmine Paolini Nuria Brancaccio Sara ErraniFrance Leolia Jeanjean Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah Elixane LechemiaSwitzerland Belinda Bencic Naima KaramokoGroup EGreat Britain 5 Emma Raducanu Olivia Nicholls Katie SwanGreece Maria Sakkari Despina Papamichail Sapfo SakellaridiJapan Naomi Osaka Nao Hibino Shintaro MochizukiSydneyGroup BCanada 2 Victoria Mboko Kayla Cross Gabriela DabrowskiBelgium Elise Mertens Greet Minnen Lara SaldenChina Zhu Lin Xiaodi YouGroup DAustralia 4 Maya Joint Maddison Inglis Storm HunterCzechia Barbora Krejcikova Linda Fruhvirtova Miriam SkochNorway Malene Helgo Astrid Brune Olsen Ulrikke EikeriGroup FGermany 6 Eva Lys Laura Siegemund Mina HodzicPoland Iga Swiatek Katarzyna Kawa Katarzyna PiterNetherlands Suzan Lamens Eva Vedder Demi Schuurs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/united-cup-spain-meet-argentina-greece-face-japan-on-opening-day-in-perth-656618.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 10:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/norwich-city-overcome-queens-park-rangers-start-2026-with-victory-in-championship-656620.html Norwich Jan 1 Norwich City began 2026 with a win claiming a 21 victory away to Queens Park Rangers on New Years Day in the Championship Josh Sargent scored the opening goal soon after the start of the second half before Jovon Makama doubled the lead in the sixth minute of added time before Amadou Mbengue reduced the margin in the 9th minute after regulation time in a frantic finish to the match Philippe Clement shuffled the pack from the defeat at home to Watford with Josà Cordoba Ben Chrisene and Matej JurÃsek coming in to start at Loftus RoadIt took until the 15th minute for the first chance to be registered as Steve Cook glanced a header narrowly wide of Vladan Kovacevics post for the hosts Kovacevic was called into action on the halfhour mark saving well with his legs after an effort from Rumarn Burrell Jurasek came close to opening the scoring for the Canaries but his shot was palmed out for a corner by Paul NardiAfter a quiet first half it was the perfect start to the second half as Norwich went ahead a minute after the restart Jurasek beat his man and crossed to Josh Sargent who headed in Pelle Mattson wasnt too far away from adding a second for the Canaries with the Dane controlling well and striking a volley that was just over Nardis crossbarJacob Wright forced a save out of Nardi before Sargent could only find the sidenetting with the followup attempt Wright then nearly caught Nardi out with a longrange effort but the QPR goalkeeper managed to get back in time to deny the midfielderJovon Makama would secure the points for Norwich firing beyond Nardi in the sixth minute of injury time QPR scored a late consolation as Amadou Mbengue scored moments later The Canaries are back in action on Sunday afternoon as they welcome Stoke City to Carrow Road in their first home fixture of 2026 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/norwich-city-overcome-queens-park-rangers-start-2026-with-victory-in-championship-656620.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 10:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/cummins-hazlewood-david-named-in-australias-15-man-t20-wc-squad-656469.html Melbourne Jan 1 Pace duo Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood and middleorder batter Tim David have been named in Australias provisional 15player squad for the T20 World Cup despite injury concerns Cummins has played just one international match since suffering a lumbar stress injury in July when he featured in the Ashessecuring third Ashes Test in Adelaide A scan on Pacers back later this month will determine whether he will be right for the tournamentHazlewood missed the entire Ashes series due to hamstring and Achilles injuries David meanwhile injured his hamstring while playing for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBLThe T20 side has enjoyed a long run of recent success which enabled the panel to choose a balance of players across the variety of conditions Sri Lanka and India may presentâ chief selector George Bailey saidâPat Cummins Josh Hazlewood and Tim David are tracking well and we are confident they will be available for the World Cup This is a preliminary squad so should changes need to be made they will be ahead of the support period he addedMitchell Marsh captains the group as Australia named a spinheavy group with Adam Zampa joined by Matthew Kuhnemann Cooper Connolly and allrounders Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Short Mitchell Owen is the most notable omission from the 15man squadGreen and Connolly are back in the squad after missing the T20s against India earlier in the summerThe side also opted against a leftarm fast bowler in the absence of Mitchell Starc who retired from the format and Spencer Johnsons injury led to the inclusion of rightarmer Xavier Bartlett over Ben DwarshuisAustralia will play three T20Is in Pakistan in late January as preparation for the World Cup A squad for the series is yet to be namedAustralia have been drawn in Group B alongside Ireland Oman Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe They will play their group stage matches in Sri Lanka kicking off their campaign against Ireland on February 11 in ColomboAustralia squad for the 2026 T20 World CupMitchell Marsh c Xavier Bartlett Cooper Connolly Pat Cummins Tim David Cameron Green Nathan Ellis Josh Hazlewood Travis Head Josh Inglis Matt Kuhnemann Glenn Maxwell Matthew Short Marcus Stoinis Adam Zampa IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/cummins-hazlewood-david-named-in-australias-15-man-t20-wc-squad-656469.html Thu, 01 Jan 2026 09:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/anthony-joshua-discharged-from-hospital-two-days-after-car-crash-in-nigeria-656484.html New Delhi Jan 1 Former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has been discharged from hospital in Nigeria days after a fatal car crash that killed two of his close friends Joshua was involved in a fatal road traffic accident on Monday along the LagosâIbadan Expressway The vehicle carrying a team of four reportedly collided with a stationary truck resulting in the tragic loss of Joshuas close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif AyodeleHowever Joshua and another passenger were promptly evacuated to a specialised medical facility in Lagos Following thorough clinical evaluations medical professionals have confirmed that both are stable and do not require emergency medical interventionOn Thursday Ogun and Lagos states said in a joint statement that Joshua was deemed clinically fit to continue his recuperation from homeJoshua and his mother were at the funeral home in Lagos to pay their final respects to his two departed friendsAnthony Joshua was discharged from hospital late this afternoon though heavyhearted and full of emotions over the loss of his two close friends he was deemed clinical fit to recuperate from home Anthony and his mother were at the funeral home in Lagos this afternoon to pay their final respects to his two departed friends as they were being prepared for repatriation scheduled for later this evening Lagos and Ogun state governments said in a joint statementAyodele was Joshuas personal trainer and Ghami was his strength and conditioning coach Just hours before the crash Joshua and Ayodele posted clips on social media of them playing table tennis togetherThe governments of Lagos and Ogun states expressed their condolences to the families of the two young men We pray the Almighty grant the repose of their souls whilst granting their families and loved ones the fortitude to bear this very sad and painful loss it said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/anthony-joshua-discharged-from-hospital-two-days-after-car-crash-in-nigeria-656484.html Thu, 01 Jan 2026 11:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/green-has-got-to-find-method-and-tempo-with-his-batting-ponting-656487.html New Delhi Jan 1 Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting highlighted significant weaknesses in Cameron Greens performances before what is likely to be a pivotal fifth Ashes Test saying that Green needs to find a more effective method with his batting Green is under the most pressure after another quiet performance with the bat in Melbourne where he scored 17 in the first innings and was dismissed for 19 in the second Despite his strong Sheffield Shield form which shows his ability his Test average sits at 3225 and expectations are beginning to rise as patience fades even with his obvious talent at 26Ponting also believes Greenâs frequent changes in batting position have undermined his confidence Speaking on SEN Radio he said Green currently looks like a âvery nervous starterâ amid his struggles to get goingâEverything Iâve ever heard around the Australian camp about Cameron Green is just how good they all think he is and could potentially be but heâs got to start working it out Heâs got to find a method and a tempo especially with his batting in Test cricket thatâs going to work for himâ Ponting saidâTheyâve moved him from three to five to seven heâs been all over the place heâs a very nervous starter heâs very stiff and very rigid and being a big tall man like he is it probably doesnât make it any easier Thereâs some challenges there for him Heâs got to work it out pretty quicklyâ he addedPonting further highlighted Labuschagne as a player feeling the heat ahead of the SCG Test noting that the 31yearold has been inconsistent in this Ashes series combining two halfcenturies with six low scores under 20 against EnglandâI still believe there are a lot of technical flaws heâs got going on at the moment When Marnus is at his best he makes batting look relatively easy but when heâs at his worst he makes batting look really really difficult The last few weeks heâs made batting look difficultThereâs definitely a question mark over him July 2023 was his last Test hundred that average has dropped dramatically during that period of timeâ Ponting mentioned IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/green-has-got-to-find-method-and-tempo-with-his-batting-ponting-656487.html Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ranchi-royals-tamil-nadu-dragons-focus-on-sharp-execution-and-strong-circle-defence-656491.html New Delhi Jan 1 As the Hockey India League HIL 2026 season draws closer the Ranchi Royals and Tamil Nadu Dragons are taking shape each with a clear tactical identity While the Royals are built around speed versatility and attacking transitions the Dragons have focused on a solid defensive unit backed by topclass goalkeeping and reliable penaltycorner options Ranchi Royals enter the league as the newest franchise replacing the former Team Gonasika and have assembled a squad that emphasises flexibility in midfield and quick movement across the fieldThe team is led by Manpreet Singh who recently became only the second Indian player to reach 400 international caps Under Head Coach Harendra Singh the Royals have paired Manpreet with Belgiumâs Tom Boon the 2025 FIH Player of the Year forming a midfield partnership capable of controlling the tempo of matchesDefensively the Royals have strengthened their backline by adding Belgian defender Maxime Van Oots and Australiaâs Tim Howard alongside experienced Indian defender Nilam Sanjeep XessIn attack the Royals will rely on Mandeep Singhs finishing ability and the pace and power of young forward Araijeet Singh Hundal Ranchi Royals will begin their campaign on 4 January against Vedanta Kalinga Lancers at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in ChennaiTamil Nadu Dragons meanwhile are building on their 2025 semifinal finish by emphasising circle defence and setpiece efficiency Led by captain Amit Rohidas one of the most dependable defenders in world hockey the Dragons boast one of the leagueâs strongest goalkeeping groups Irelandâs David Harte a twotime FIH Goalkeeper of the Year is joined by Prince Deep Singh who impressed in shootouts at the 2025 Junior World CupIn attack the Dragons continue to rely on Australiaâs Blake Govers whose penaltycorner conversion makes him a constant threat He is supported by Mohammed Raheel Mouseen in midfield and by Germanyâs Paul Kaufmann who adds structure and discipline The Tamil Nadu Dragons will open the season at home on January 3 against Hyderabad Toofans aiming to make the most of home supportRanchi Royals Squad Suraj Karkera Pankaj Kumar Rajak Amir Ali Joshua Beltz Australia Nilam Sanjeep Xess Anmol Ekka Manpreet Singh Tom Boon Belgium Vishnukant Singh Yashdeep Siwach Mustapha Cassiem South Africa Araijeet Singh Hundal Mandeep Singh Tim Howard Australia Maxime Van Oots Belgium Ravneet Singh Manmeet Singh Rai Jack Waller England Sam Lane New Zealand Ashish PurtiAccord Tamil Nadu Dragons Squad David Harte Ireland Princedeep Singh Amit Rohidas Paul Kaufmann Germany Sander de Wijn Netherlands Anand Lakra Pruthvi GM Tom Sorsby Great Britain Tom Craig Australia Mohammed Raheel Mouseen Sheshe Gowda Chandan Yadav Arun J Adrohit Ekka Sushil Dhanwar Blake Govers Australia Selvam Karthi Nathan Ephraums Australia Uttam Singh K Selvaraj IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ranchi-royals-tamil-nadu-dragons-focus-on-sharp-execution-and-strong-circle-defence-656491.html Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-wolves-end-run-of-11-consecutive-losses-after-1-1-draw-with-man-utd-656385.html Manchester Dec 31 Wolverhampton Wanderers halted a run of 11 straight Premier League defeats with a hardearned 11 draw against Manchester United Ladislav Krejci cancelled out Joshua Zirkzeeâs effort as the leagueâs bottom side left Old Trafford with a deserved share of the spoilsZirkzeeâs first home goal in the top flight for over a year opened the scoring after 27 minutes with his deflected strike finding the net via KrejciHowever the Wolves defender made amends at the other end of the pitch as a fine header on the cusp of halftime proved enough to stop the rot for Rob Edwardsâ side Premier League reportsMan Utd who had Patrick Dorguâs lastgasp strike ruled out for offside end 2025 in sixth place after missing the chance to move level on points with Liverpool in fourth Wolves remain rooted to the foot of the table now on three points for the seasonElsewhere Newcastle United Newcastle United rounded off 2025 on a positive note as they returned to winning ways in the Premier League and added to Burnleys woes with a 31 victory at Turf MoorJoelintons rapid opener preceded Yoane Wissa â on his first league start for the Magpies â tapping home his maiden topflight goal for Newcastle before Josh Laurent halved the deficit with a fine 23rdminute volleyLaurent was denied another goal by the woodwork as Burnley dominated the second half before Bruno Guimaraes profited from Martin Dubravkas error to seal all three points for Newcastle in the third minute of stoppage timeThe defeat left Burnley in 19th six points adrift of 17thplaced Nottingham Forest while Newcastles second away win of the season moved them up to 10thAfter the win Newcastle coach Eddie Howe said We needed to win because we knew we were under pressure I thought the lads responded really well it was a really fast start We scored some really good goals and then us being us at this present time we made it difficult for ourselves The second half was nervy to a point But overall I thought we showed real character and resilience in the second half to get over the line IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-wolves-end-run-of-11-consecutive-losses-after-1-1-draw-with-man-utd-656385.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 09:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-arsenal-thrash-villa-to-end-year-5-points-clear-at-the-top-656387.html London Dec 31 Arsenal ended the year on top of the Premier League table after an outstanding secondhalf showing saw the Gunners cruise past thirdplaced Aston Villa 41 This was the Gunners fourth straight victory as they ended Villas 11match winning run in all competitionsVilla showed enough in the first half to suggest they could achieve a clubrecord 12th straight win in all competitions but the Gunners turned on the style to race four goals ahead with a scintillating secondhalf performanceIn his first start since early November Gabriel Magalhaes profited from some poor goalkeeping from Emiliano Martinez to open the scoring three minutes into the second half Premier League reportsMartin Zubimendi then tucked home in the 52nd minute before Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus both added sublime curling finishesOllie Watkins scored a stoppagetime consolation goal for Villa who are now six points adrift of Arsenal Secondplaced Manchester City could move back to within two points of the leaders when they visit Sunderland on New Years DayOn the other hand West Ham United ended a run of three successive losses with a pulsating 22 draw against Brighton amp Hove AlbionAlthough Nuno Espirito Santoâs side closed the gap on 17thplaced Nottingham Forest to four points West Ham were twice pegged back by their visitors in a dramatic gameJarrod Bowen slotted the home side into a 10thminute lead but their advantage was shortlived as Danny Welbeck sent Alphonse Areola the wrong way with a clinical penaltyJust moments later Welbeck chipped his second penalty of the game onto the crossbar That miss was punished in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Lucas Paqueta converted the matchs third spotkick after Lewis Dunk was penalised for handballHowever Areolaâs error from a corner then gifted Brighton an equaliser as Joel Veltman pounced from close range The 22 draw means the Hammers end 2025 in the relegation zone in 18th place while Brighton dropped to 14th after failing to win any of their December matches IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-arsenal-thrash-villa-to-end-year-5-points-clear-at-the-top-656387.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 09:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-chelsea-held-by-bournemouth-2-2-656392.html London Dec 31 Chelsea and AFC Bournemouth played out an enthralling 22 draw at Stamford Bridge with all four goals being scored inside the opening 27 minutes A draw meant Chelsea missed the chance to leapfrog Liverpool into fourth place while Bournemouth remain 15th after their winless league run was extended to 10 matches despite putting in an impressive performance This was the Cherries fourth draw in their last five matchesThe action all came in the first 45 minutes during a first half played at a furious pace with plenty of chances at both ends of the pitchIt was the visitors who struck first when David Brooks scrambled in at the second attempt from a long throwin but Chelsea soon levelled it up Estevao Willian was clipped in the box by Antoine Semenyo and Cole Palmer slotted in from the penalty spotChelsea took the lead when Enzo Fernandez fired a brilliant finish into the top corner only to see parity restored by Justin Kluivert from another Bournemouth long throw into our areaIt was Chelsea who were pushing hardest for a winning goal in the second half as the Cherries seemed to run out of gas after those early exertions but despite those efforts there would be no further goals as the points were sharedIn another match James Garner scored one and set up another as a depleted Everton side defied the odds to beat Nottingham Forest 20Garner who previously spent time on loan at Forest struck with an early opener before then turning provider in the 79th minute as he set up Thierno Barry to score his second Everton goalForest toiled to no avail with Igor Jesus Morgan GibbsWhite and Dilane Bakwa going close but Sean Dycheâs team have now lost three straight Premier League games and sit just four points above the relegation zoneWhile Forest remain 17th Everton have moved up to eighth after snapping a threegame winless streak IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-chelsea-held-by-bournemouth-2-2-656392.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 10:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ex-aussie-batter-damien-martyn-in-induced-coma-after-meningitis-diagnosis-656395.html New Delhi Dec 31 Former Aussie batter Damien Martyn is in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis The 54yearold former batter who played 67 Test matches between 1992 and 2006 reportedly fell ill on Friday and was rushed to the hospital Adam Gilchrist Martyns close friend and former Australian and WA teammate confirmed on behalf of his family the 2003 World Cup winner was receiving treatment in hospitalHe is getting the best of treatment and Martyns partner Amanda and his family know that a lot of people are sending their prayers and best wishes Gilchrist was quoted by cricketcomauMeningitis is an inflammation of protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord and infection can cause harmful brain swelling Martynâs condition is being closely monitoredThe Sydney Morning Herald reported externally it was hoped Martyn could be brought out of his coma in the coming daysIm saddened to hear of Damiens illness The best wishes of everyone at Cricket Australia and in the wider cricket community are with him at this time the governing bodys CEO Todd Greenberg said in a statementMartyn was player of the series the last time Australia won an away series in India top scoring in four of Australias eight innings in the 2004 BorderGavaskar TrophyHe played his final Test in Australias famous win at Adelaide Oval in the 200607 Ashes series before suddenly retiring ahead of the third Test of a 50 whitewash over England During his career he scored 4406 Test runs at an average of 4637Martyn also played 208 ODIs for 5346 runs at 4090 with a highest score of 144 not out He made a famous 88 not out in the 2003 World Cup final batting with a broken finger and sharing an epic partnership with captain Ricky Ponting as Australia beat India IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ex-aussie-batter-damien-martyn-in-induced-coma-after-meningitis-diagnosis-656395.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 11:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/prajwal-dev-receives-wildcard-for-bengaluru-open-2026-656411.html Bengaluru Dec 31 Indian tennis star Prajwal Dev has received a wild card for the Bengaluru Open 2026 highlighting the tournamentâs dedication to supporting Indian talent internationally As it marks its 10th edition this esteemed event will take place in Bengaluru from January 5th to 11th 2026 featuring a competitive international lineup alongside leading Indian players on the ATP Challenger Tour After winning the Menâs Singles title at the ITF World Tennis Tour M15 in Bhubaneswar last month the wild card entry presents the 29yearold with a crucial opportunity to face a highly talented field at one of Indiaâs top tennis tournaments Elevated last year to an ATP Challenger 125 level the Bengaluru Open now offers a prize purse exceeding USD 225000 and grants 125 ATP ranking points to the singles winner increasing its attractiveness and competitive importanceâIts a proud moment for me to compete at the Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger especially in my home state This tournament has consistently provided us a world class stage to test ourselves against formidable international competition and this being the 10th edition is certainly special I am extremely grateful for the wild card and support by KSLTA and I look forward to playing at the Bengaluru Open and giving my best Thank youâ Expressed Prajwal upon receiving the wild cardPrajwal a righthanded player from Mysore has become a consistent presence on the professional circuit He achieved his highest ATP singles ranking of No 595 in February 2024 and his peak doubles ranking of No 265 in July 2025 His career highlights include winning an ATP Challenger doubles title at the 2023 Presidentâs Cup in Kazakhstan partnering with fellow Indian Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha He has also regularly represented Karnataka at the National Games and served as the flag bearer for the state in the last two editionsSunil Yajaman the Tournament Director of the Bengaluru Open also commented saying âPrajwal Dev has been a consistent and committed performer on the professional circuit and has contributed significantly to Indian tennis over the years His dedication and hard work make him a deserving recipient of the wild card for the Bengaluru Open 2026 The tournament has always aimed to support Indian players by providing them opportunities at a high competitive level and we are confident that Prajwal will make the most of this chance on home soilâOrganised by the KSLTA in association with the All India Tennis Association AITA the landmark 10th edition of the Bengaluru Open will feature a strong international lineup alongside Indiaâs leading players With Dev taking to the court as a wildcard entrant the tournament once again reinforces its role as a vital platform for Indian tennis and promises fans a week of worldclass action IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/prajwal-dev-receives-wildcard-for-bengaluru-open-2026-656411.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/head-hopes-to-revive-old-ashes-tradition-with-post-series-drinks-in-sydney-656413.html New Delhi Dec 31 Australia opener Travis Head expressed hope that England and Australia will revive their tradition of meeting for a drink after the Ashes This practice was somewhat disrupted in 2023 due to deteriorating relationships over the series Australia currently lead the series 31 and have already secured victory marking their fifth consecutive Ashes series victory and their ongoing hold on the urnRelations between the two sides worsened significantly during the second Test of the 2023 Ashes in England after Alex Carey stumped Jonny Bairstow when Bairstow stepped out of his crease while ducking a ball from Cameron GreenThe incident was followed by ugly scenes at Lordâs where Australian players were subjected to verbal abuse from MCC members in the Long Room In the aftermath England head coach Brendon McCullum said that considering what had happened he could not see how the teams could come together for their customary endofseries drinkâThereâs definitely mutual respect I get along with a couple of them really well Thereâs some really good relationships with both teams Iâm looking forward to having a beer with Ducky Ben Duckett So yeah itâd be a nice moment Itâs obviously nice going there knowing that weâve won the seriesâ Head was quoted as saying by The Australian newspaper on WednesdayMcCullum later said the teams would eventually get together after England won the final Test which saw the series end in a 2â2 draw However the delay drew criticism from sections of the Australian media with suggestions that England had deliberately avoided the traditional gathering Captain Ben Stokes rejected those claims explaining that Englandâs postseries commitments at The Oval ran longer than planned because of farewell moments for players and staffIn contrast the 2025 Ashes in Australia has unfolded in a far more amicable atmosphere Any controversy has largely centred on issues affecting both teams such as disputed snicko readings and the surface for the fourth Test at the MCG which led to the second twoday Test of the seriesThe calmer tone has also been influenced by Englandâs struggles on the field After failing to match Australia in the opening three Tests they slumped to a 3â0 deficit and once again surrendered the Ashes extending their drought to a fifth consecutive yearTheir ultraaggressive approach under Stokes and McCullum backfired intensifying scrutiny and criticism even though they managed to end a 15year wait for a Test victory in Australia with their win at the MCG IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/head-hopes-to-revive-old-ashes-tradition-with-post-series-drinks-in-sydney-656413.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/olympic-champion-andre-de-grasse-named-international-event-ambassador-for-mumbai-marathon-656427.html Mumbai Dec 31 Olympic Champion Andre De Grasse has been named International Event Ambassador for the 21st edition of the Mumbai Marathon a World Athletics Gold Label Race set to take place on January 18 One of the most accomplished sprinters of his generation De Grasse is a global athletics icon whose journey continues to inspire millions worldwide Rising from humble beginnings he was discovered sprinting at a local meet in basketball shoes and borrowed spikes a moment that marked the start of an extraordinary careerToday De Grasse ranks among the elite of world athletics with an exceptional tally of seven Olympic medals His breakthrough came at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where he claimed silver in the 200m and bronze in the 100m and the 4x100m relayHe cemented his legacy at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics winning gold in the menâs 200m and finishing on the podium in the 100m and the 4x100m relay Most recently at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games De Grasse showcased leadership and composure by anchoring Canada to gold in the menâs 4x100m relayBeyond the Olympic stage De Grasse has consistently delivered at the World Championships securing six medals across five editions including gold at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene further underlining his status as one of the defining sprinters of this eraSpeaking on his association with the event De Grasse said Running teaches discipline belief and resilience â values that stay with you long after the race is over The Tata Mumbai Marathon embodies the power of sport to unite people inspire courage and encourage everyone to take the first step towards their own goals I am honoured to be part of the 21st edition of this iconic event as the International Event Ambassador standing alongside runners of all abilities who are driven by purpose passion and the joy of movementâAs the Tata Mumbai Marathon enters its 21st edition the event continues to celebrate endurance community and the transformative power of sportâvalues that resonate deeply with Andre De Grasseâs remarkable journey and enduring legacyVivek Singh of Procam International Promoters of the event said âAndre De Grasseâs journey is a powerful reminder that greatness can emerge from the most unexpected beginnings His achievements humility and commitment to giving back align seamlessly with the spirit of the Tata Mumbai Marathon His presence at the 21st edition will further elevate the eventâs global standing and inspire runners across India to push their limits and realise their potentialâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/olympic-champion-andre-de-grasse-named-international-event-ambassador-for-mumbai-marathon-656427.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-womens-hockey-team-concludes-2025-with-impressive-performances-amp-renewed-determination-656443.html New Delhi Dec 31 The Indian womenâs hockey team powered into 2025 earning a silver medal at the Womenâs Asia Cup They overcame intense group stage competition and knockout rounds to establish themselves among Asiaâs top teams all while facing global challenges that sharpened their skills for future battles Shrachi Bengal Tigers the reigning champions start the new season with most of their core team intact from the previous year Jugraj Singh who scored a hattrick in last seasonâs final will lead the team this season guided by German Head Coach Valentin AltenburgThe team will start their HIL 202526 campaign on January 4 against Soorma Hockey Club in Chennai Veteran goalkeeper James Carr will be their primary defender with Vivek Lakra serving as his backupGauthier Boccard an Olympic gold medallist in 2020 and a silver medallist in 2016 with Belgium will lead the defensive unit He will be supported by Jugraj Singh who was also the top scorer in last seasons Menâs HIL Additionally Enrique Gonzalez De Castejon Tommy Willems and Parmod will be relied upon to keep the Shrachi Bengal Tigers solid defensivelyThe German duo of Tom Grambusch and Christopher Rühr both twotime Olympic medallists will lead the midfield supported by players such as Sean Findlay Jaskaran Singh Affan Yousuf Pradhan Poovanna Chandura Atul Deep and Pardeep Singh SandhuLast seasonâs Player of the Tournament Sukhjeet Singh will lead the teamâs attack supported by Ajinkya Jadhav Gursewak Singh and Abhishek The Shrachi Bengal Tigersâ forward line also features 14yearold prodigy Ketan Kushwaha the tournaments youngest player everMeanwhile Hyderabad Toofans aim to improve on their previous campaign As last seasons runnersup they start the new season on January 3rd against the Tamil Nadu Dragons in Chennai Led by head coach Pasha Gademan the team features a young goalkeeping squad including Jean Paul Danneberg and Bikramjit Singh the latter having been named the Goalkeeper of the Tournament in the last menâs edition of HILOlympic gold medallist from 2020 Belgium defender Arthur De Sloover will serve as their defensive pillar supported by players such as Amandeep Lakra Devindar Sunil Walmiki and young talents such as Sundram Singh Rajawat and Mukul SharmaCentral to the midfield Nilakanta Sharma brings extensive experience complemented by Olympic bronze medallist Zachary Wallace Nic Woods and Michel Struthoff contribute a blend of experience and energy with additional support from Rajinder Singh Sumit and Rahim Aakib SayyedWith seasoned players like Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Jacob Anderson and New Zealandâs Tim Brand leading the forward line Hyderabad Toofans possess ample experience upfront Shilanand Lakra will add energy to the attack along with Arshdeep Singh who was named the Upcoming Player of the Tournament last season and scored four goals at the FIH Hockey Mens Junior World Cup 2025Shrachi Bengal Tigers Squad Vivek Lakra James Carr New Zealand Tommy Willems Belgium Gauthier Boccard Belgium Parmod Enrique Gonzalez De Castejon Jugraj Singh Captain Christopher Ruhr Germany Tom Grambusch Germany Sean Findlay New Zealand Jaskaran Singh Affan Yousuf Pradhan Poovanna Chandura Atul Deep Pardeep Singh Sandhu Ajinkya Jadhav Ketan Kushwaha Gursewak Singh Sukhjeet Singh AbhishekHyderabad Toofans Squad Jean Paul Danneberg Germany Bikramjit Singh Mukul Sharma Amandeep Lakra Devindar Sunil Walmiki Arthur De Sloover Belgium Sundram Singh Rajawat Nilakanta Sharma Sumit Zachary Wallace Great Britain Rajinder Singh Michel Struthoff Germany Nic Woods New Zealand Rahim Aakib Sayyed Tim Brand New Zealand Shilanand Lakra Irengbam Rohit Singh Talwinder Singh Jacob Anderson New Zealand Arshdeep Singh IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-womens-hockey-team-concludes-2025-with-impressive-performances-amp-renewed-determination-656443.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 15:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ioa-to-convene-national-athletes-forum-on-jan-10-in-ahmedabad--656297.html New Delhi Dec 30 In a decisive move to strengthen athleteled governance and accountability in Indian sport the Indian Olympic Association IOA will host the first National Athletesâ Forum on January 10 in Ahmedabad Gujarat The Forum will focus on critical themes including athlete rights and responsibilities ethical and transparent governance safe sport and integrity mental health and wellbeing antidoping education grievance redressal and structured career transition pathways Discussions will be geared towards converting athlete feedback into actionable reformsIt will bring together current and former athletes athlete representatives and key stakeholders from across the country for direct solutionfocused engagementIOA said that details of participation agenda and speakers will be announced in due courseAnnouncing the initiative PT Usha President of the IOA said This is the first time in Indiaâs sporting history that athletes are being brought together through a dedicated national forum to directly influence governance Athlete voices can no longer be peripheralâthis Forum signals a decisive shift towards athleteled reform accountability and shared decisionmakingReinforcing the significance of the initiative Usha added Sustained excellence in sport is impossible without safeguarding athlete dignity safety and wellbeing This Forum makes it clear that athlete welfare is central to policy not an afterthoughtThe Athletesâ Forum represents the IOAâs firm commitment to move beyond consultation and ensure that athletes play an active influential role in shaping policies that affect their careers welfare and futureMC Mary Kom Chair of the IOA Athletesâ Commission stated âAthletes know the system from the inside This Forum gives us a credible platform to speak openly about challenges and solutions and to ensure that athlete experiences are reflected in governance and reformâAdding the perspective of active athletes Sharath Kamal Vice Chairman of the IOA Athletesâ Commission said âAs athletes we often feel the impact of policies long after decisions are made This Forum changes that equation It allows athletes to be heard at the right timeâbefore decisions are takenâand helps build a more transparent and accountable sporting ecosystemâChoosing Ahmedabad as the host city reflects the IOAâs intention to broaden athlete engagement across regions and ensure that reformdriven conversations reach athletes at all levels of the sporting ecosystemThe Athletesâ Forum is expected to strengthen the Athletesâ Commissionâs role and contribute meaningfully to the evolution of athletecentred governance in Indian sport IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ioa-to-convene-national-athletes-forum-on-jan-10-in-ahmedabad--656297.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/former-sri-lanka-u19-cricketer-akshu-fernando-passes-away-after-8-years-in-a-coma-656306.html Colombo Dec 30 Akshu Fernando the former Sri Lanka Under19 cricketer tragically passed away on Tuesday nearly seven years after being left in a coma following a devastating railway accident Fernando 25 had been in critical condition since December 28 2018 when he was struck by a train while crossing an unprotected railway track near Mount Lavinia BeachThe incident occurred as he was returning from a team running session leaving him with severe head injuries and multiple fractures He was immediately placed on life support and remained under constant medical care with his family by his side throughout his long battle for recoveryA leading Sri Lankan newspaper reported the passing of the young cricketer quoting international commentator Roshan Abeysinghe Just heard the sad news that Akshu Fernando has passed away He was truly a wonderful young man whose promising career was cut short by a cruel accident A quality player for his school and his final club Ragama Its a sad day for all of us who knew him A cheerful friendly and thorough gentleman was he We will miss you Akshu and remember you for the rest of our life Rest in peace sweet prince Abeysinghe saidAt the time of the accident Fernando was considered one of Sri Lankaâs brightest young cricketing talents He had represented his country at the 2010 ICC Under19 World Cup in New Zealand where he made a significant impact particularly in the semifinal against Australia He scored 52 runs in that match becoming Sri Lankas top scorer in a contest that saw them narrowly miss out on a place in the finalA product of St Peters College in Colombo Fernandoâs school cricket career was nothing short of exceptional He led the Under13 Under15 and Under17 teams and was the vicecaptain of the Under19 side His leadership and field talent earned him a place at several prestigious local clubs including Colts Sports Club Panadura Sports Club Chilaw Marians and Ragama Sports ClubHis final competitive appearance came just two weeks before the tragic accident when he scored an unbeaten 102 against Moors Sports Club on December 14 2018Fernandos sudden death concludes a lengthy period marked by significant physical and emotional pain It also brings back memories of a promising cricketing journey that many thought could have ascended to the top levels of international cricket IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/former-sri-lanka-u19-cricketer-akshu-fernando-passes-away-after-8-years-in-a-coma-656306.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mini-khel-mahakumbh-to-be-held-in-surat-from-january-9-to-12-656309.html Gandhinagar Dec 30 At a time when children are increasingly glued to mobile phones and digital gadgets Gandhinagarbased Childrenâs Research University has taken a commendable initiative to bring Gujaratâs young talent back to the playground and nurture their abilities through a scientific approach The university will organise the Statelevel âUnder11 Athletics Meet Season 40â in Surat from January 9 to 12 2026 The event has generated enthusiastic participation with more than 4500 child athletes registering from across the state Envisioned as a âMini Khel Mahakumbhâ the meet is not merely a competition but a concerted effort to identify and provide a platform for Gujaratâs hidden sporting talent at an early age A total of 11 athletic events will be held during the meet As many as 1056 winners will be awarded prize money amounting to Rs 22 lakhIn addition winning athletes will get a direct opportunity for admission to the District Level Sports School DLSS run by the Sports Authority of Gujarat SAG a move expected to be a gamechanger for their sporting careersThe competition will be hosted at Veer Narmad South Gujarat University Surat and will feature separate categories for boys and girls in Under9 and Under11 age groups Events include 60m 100m 200m and 400m races hurdles tennis ball throw medicine ball throw standing broad jump long jump high jump and javelin throwOrganisers highlighted that sports are not limited to physical exercise alone but play a crucial role in a childâs mental development and character buildingDeveloping sports skills through a scientific framework they said will help children become physically fit mentally resilient and better prepared for the future Gujarat has steadily built a strong and modern sports infrastructure over the past decade positioning itself as one of Indiaâs leading states for sports developmentThe state hosts worldclass facilities such as the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad the worldâs largest cricket stadium along with internationalstandard arenas for football athletics swimming and indoor sportsThrough initiatives like the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave districtlevel sports complexes and a wide network of District Level Sports Schools DLSS Gujarat has ensured access to quality training facilities at the grassrootsContinuous investment in stadiums synthetic tracks hostels sports science support and talent identification programmes under the Sports Authority of Gujarat has helped nurture young athletes while successfully hosting national and international events reflecting the stateâs growing focus on sports excellence and athletecentric development IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mini-khel-mahakumbh-to-be-held-in-surat-from-january-9-to-12-656309.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/abhinav-bindra-led-task-force-recommends-creation-of-ncsecb-under-myas-to-accredit-certify-sports-admin-training-656310.html New Delhi Dec 30 As India sets its sights on becoming one of the top 10 sporting nations by 2036 the government has outlined a bold plan to transform the countryâs sports ecosystem In a significant move to professionalise sports administration the Department of Sports has taken steps to strengthen the administrative framework that will be pivotal in realising this ambitious goal To achieve this vision the Department of Sports established a Task Force on Capacity Building for Sports Administrators chaired by Olympic gold medallist Abhinav BindraThe Task Force recently submitted its detailed report emphasising the need for professional accountable and forwardlooking sports administrators to bring about a paradigm shift in Indiaâs sporting infrastructure The reportâs recommendations are expected to accelerate Indiaâs rise in global sportsThe Task Force has interalia recommended establishing the National Council for Sports Education amp Capacity Building NCSECB as an autonomous statutory body under Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to regulate accredit and certify sports administration trainingThe Task Force in its report calls for introducing a fivelevel Capability Maturity Model CMM as a diagnostic and planning tool for strengthening the capacity of sports administrators This is aimed to enable SAI NSFs and State Departments to assess institutional maturity across cadre structure curriculum adoption digital enablement and athlete pathways It shall further support evidencebased monitoring and targeted interventionsThe report also recommends integrating sports governance training modules into the induction and advanced training of IAS and State Civil Service officers recognizing their role in implementation of sports policies The report proposes tying training to practical application and career progression through structured placements a national accreditation registry and policy integrationThe report has called for rotational postings apprenticeship models innovation labs and partnerships with federations government and the private sector to ensure administrators can apply skills and advance professionallyThe Department of Sports is currently assessing the Task Forces recommendations for further necessary action as part of its push to professionalize Indias sporting ecosystemThe Department of Sports has already initiated reforms to strengthen the sports administration ecosystem It has revised the norms of assistance under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations NSFs in May 2025 where NSFs can now allocate up to 10 per cent of their total funding for administrative manpower ensuring they have the professional staffing and technical support needed to operate more effectivelyFurther expenses required for smooth administrative operation legal services and the hiring of specialised young professionals or interns are permitted up to 25 of the annual budget under the Scheme Further NSFs have been mandated to have an appropriate administrative structure and ensure proper advertisement for staff appointmentsThese reforms aim to establish a globally respected athletefocused governance framework positioning India for longterm sporting success including 2036 and beyond The Government has also already laid the foundation for this vision through the enactment of the National Sports Governance Act 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/abhinav-bindra-led-task-force-recommends-creation-of-ncsecb-under-myas-to-accredit-certify-sports-admin-training-656310.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/super-kings-academy-expands-footprint-in-tamil-nadu-with-new-centre-in-tiruchengode-656337.html Tiruchengode TN Dec 30 Chennai Super Kings has announced that its flagship Super Kings Academy one of Indiaâs leading cricket training institutions will launch a new academy centre at KSR Educational Institutions Tiruchengode further strengthening its grassroots cricket development programme in Tamil Nadu The Tiruchengode centre marks Super Kings Academyâs presence in the 12th city in Tamil Nadu underlining the institutions commitment to nurturing young cricketing talent across the state Globally Super Kings Academy operates more than 35 centres making it one of the most extensive cricket academy networks in the worldThe new SKA centre at KSR Educational Institutions will officially commence operations on January 19 2026 offering aspiring cricketers access to stateoftheart infrastructure expert coaching staff and structured development pathwaysâhallmarks of the Super Kings Academy ecosystem The academy will have 2 turf pitches 2 astro turf pitches 3 matting pitches apart from two grounds a dedicated match simulation area a bowling machine floodlights for evening practice and a gym with a swimming poolSpeaking on the expansion KS Viswanathan MD of Chennai Super Kings said âEven while we expand globally Tamil Nadu has always been a strong nursery for cricketing talent and Tiruchengode is an important addition to our growing footprint in the state Our aim at Super Kings Academy is to provide young players with worldclass facilities expert coaching and the right opportunities to help them realise their full potential Partnering with KSR Educational Institutions allows us to bring professional cricket training closer to aspiring players in this regionâR Srinivasan Chairman of KSR Educational Institutions added âWe are delighted to associate with Super Kings Academy a name synonymous with excellence and professionalism in cricket This academy at KSR Educational Institutions will not only enhance our sports infrastructure but also give students and young cricketers in and around Tiruchengode access to elitelevel coaching and exposure We believe this partnership will play a key role in developing future cricketing talentâSuper Kings Academy is a cricket coaching center for boys and girls with stateoftheart infrastructure and expert coachingLaunched in April 2022 the academy is currently operational in more than 35 centers across India the USA Australia and Canada IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/super-kings-academy-expands-footprint-in-tamil-nadu-with-new-centre-in-tiruchengode-656337.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/odisha-fc-ceo-raj-athwal-steps-down-days-after-head-coach-sergio-loberas-exit-656342.html New Delhi Dec 30 Top domestic football club Odisha FC is undergoing a period of transition at the top with CEO Raj Athwal stepping down from his role just four days after the club mutually parted ways with head coach Sergio Lobera The club confirmed Athwalâs departure in an official statement noting that the decision was communicated by the CEO and accepted by the managementâOdisha FC can confirm that CEO Raj Athwal has informed the club management of his decision to move on and the club has accepted the same The club would like to thank Raj for his leadership professionalism and contributions during his tenure with the clubUnder his stewardship Odisha FC secured its firstever silverware with the Super Cup triumph followed by the Indian Womenâs League 202324 and achieved qualification for the AFC competition knockout stages by both the menâs amp womenâs teams of Odisha FCâ the statement shared on X readThe club also outlined interim administrative arrangements as it navigates the transition periodâAs we move forward and await further clarity regarding the league our General Manager Ravi Khedar will serve as the primary Point of Contact POC for all club communications and matters during this transition periodâ the statement addedReacting to Athwalâs exit club owner Rohan Sharma expressed his appreciation for the outgoing CEOâs contributions over the past five yearsâHaving known and worked with Raj for 5 years Iâm sad to see him go I know he will always be a wellwisher for the club He knows heâs always welcome back and I wish him nothing but the best for him and his familyâ Sharma saidAthwalâs departure comes shortly after Odisha FC announced the end of their association with head coach Lobera on December 26 with both parties agreeing to part waysâOdisha FC and Head Coach Sergio Lobera have mutually agreed to part ways The Club would like to thank Coach Sergio for his dedication professionalism and contributions during his tenure with the Club We wish Sergio the very best for his future endeavours The club is waiting for clarity on the league and will make an announcement regarding the new head coach accordinglyâ the club had stated IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/odisha-fc-ceo-raj-athwal-steps-down-days-after-head-coach-sergio-loberas-exit-656342.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/relief-for-england-players-as-ecb-rules-no-misconduct-in-noosa-trip-656361.html London Dec 30 The England team heaved a collective sigh of relief as the England and Wales Cricket Board ECB has given the players a clean chit in the case of alleged excessive drinking during a teambuilding trip to Noosa between the second and third Tests in The Ashes tour 202526 Multiple reports had claimed that England players had indulged in excessive drinking during the trip organised as a teambuilding exercise for the players to recover from the defeat and get ready for the next matchHowever there are reports now claiming that the ECB has not found any misconduct on the part of the English players during the tripAlthough several videos of toporder batter Ben Duckett emerged on social media that showed him drunk and almost out of his senses after partying till late in the night the ECB has concluded that there was no misconduct and therefore no disciplinary action will be taken against the playersAs per a report in The Daily Mail if the ECB had found anything to be of concern it would have been identified and resolved immediately rather than waiting for the Ashes lossThe procedure of the inquiry was not disclosed to the public and the verdict was drafted against âbeer drinkingâ and no other misconduct claimed the reportAccording to reports top ECB official Rob Key claimed that the reason for the no misconduct verdict is that nothing was flagged by the security apparatus around the team in AustraliaThe England cricket team had security personnel assigned for the trip to Noosa who were also authorised to intervene if any misbehaviour or red flag activities appeared However they werenât needed to jump in and the break was more like a bachelorette party the report saidNevertheless this will give the England team much relief as it heads for Sydney for their next and last assignment Down Under the fifth and final Test of the series starting on January 4England after slumping to an unassailable 03 deficit salvaged some pride and avoided a whitewash against Australia by winning the fourth Test in Melbourne within two days Ben Stokes and his boys would like to end the series on a high note by making it 32 by winning the final encounter in Sydney IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/relief-for-england-players-as-ecb-rules-no-misconduct-in-noosa-trip-656361.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/68th-nscc-neeru-dhanda-strikes-womens-trap-gold--656152.html New Delhi Dec 29  Asian Championship gold medalist Neeru Dhanda delivered a composed performance to strike womenâs trap gold at the 68th National Shooting Championship Competitions Shotgun on Monday here at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range Neeru finished on top with 41 hits in the final holding off a strong challenge from Delhiâs Kirti Gupta who settled for the silver medal with 40 Neeruâs state teammate from Madhya Pradesh Pragati Dubey completed the podium claiming the bronze medal with 32 hitsEarlier in qualification Pragati topped the field with 117 followed by Neeru on 114 and Rajeshwari Kumari on 113 Addya Katyal qualified fourth with 112 while Preeti Rajak 1111 and Kirti Gupta 111 rounded off the top six their positions decided on shootout scoresIn the finals Addya Katyal of Delhi finished fourth with 27 followed by Preeti Rajak with 21 and Punjabâs Olympian Rajeshwari Kumari who finished sixth with 17 hitsThe junior menâs trap final saw Aryavansh Tyagi rise to the occasion with a strong finish shooting 42 to win the gold medal Punjabâs Keshav Chauhan took silver with 37 while Uttar Pradeshâs Zuhair Khan claimed the bronze with 30Zuhair Khan had earlier dominated the qualification round with a score of 120 ahead of Aryan Singhâs 118 who finished the final at fifth with 21 hits Aryavansh Tyagi and Arjun both shot 115 with Aryavansh advancing ahead on a shootoff Keshav Chauhan 113 and Manitwa Singh Rawat 112 completed the list of finalists Manitwal Singh Rawat finished fourth with 27112 while Arjun of Haryana finished sixth with 14 hits in the finalIn the team events Madhya Pradesh dominated the womenâs trap team event winning gold with a combined total of 339 from Pragati Dubey Neeru Dhanda and Manisha Keer Delhi secured the silver medal with 333 through Addya Katyal Kirti Gupta and Bhavya Tripathi while Punjab claimed bronze with 319 Rajeshwari Kumari Pukhraj Kaur Chahal Krishika JoshiHaryana claimed the junior menâs trap team gold with an aggregate score of 336 courtesy of Arjun Lakshya Atree and Prikshit Arya Gujarat finished second to take the silver medal with 327 Aryan Singh Bakhtyar Uddin Mohamadmuzahid Manavrajsinh Rajendrasinh Chudasama while Rajasthan claimed bronze with 326 through Udhav Singh Rathore Prithviraj Singh Rathore and Vinay Pratap Singh CDelhi claimed the gold in the junior womenâs trap team event as Addya Katyal Bhavya Tripathi and Ananya Yaduvanshi combined for a winning total of 323 Tamil Nadu finished second with 295 while Rajasthan secured the bronze with 274 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/68th-nscc-neeru-dhanda-strikes-womens-trap-gold--656152.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sandeep-narwal-headlines-rohtak-royals-squad-at-kcl-auctions-656163.html Rohtak Dec 29 Rohtak Royals the franchise representing the city of Rohtak in the inaugural Kabaddi Champions League KCL have signed one of Indias most successful allrounders Sandeep Narwal The Royals completed a strong and balanced squad build at the KCL auctions headlined by the signing of veteran defender and allrounder Sandeep Narwal Under the guidance of head coach Surender Nada the Royals assembled a 16member squad across three categories focusing on a blend of experienced campaigners and young talentOther highlights for the franchise at the auctions included the signing of Vijay Malik as their highest purchase Acquired for Rs 94 lakh Malik emerged as the costliest player for Rohtak Royals The franchise further strengthened its core by securing several key category A players including Rakesh Singroha for Rs 72 lakh Ankit Rana for Rs 64 lakh Sandeep Deswal for Rs 6 lakh Aaryan for Rs 5 lakh and veteran defender Sandeep Narwal for Rs 34 lakhA multipletime Pro Kabaddi League PKL champion with Patna Pirates and a former India international Narwal brings leadership and experience to the Royalsâ raiding and defensive units Several other squad members have prior PKL experience strengthening the teamâs overall depthSpeaking after the auctions head coach Surender Nada said the franchise followed a clear strategy âOur focus was to build a balanced team with strong raiders a solid defensive unit and players who can handle pressure situations We picked players according to our plan and are satisfied with the overall composition of the squad We wanted the right mix of experience and youth and every purchase was made as per our strategy We believe this squad is wellbalanced and competitive for the inaugural seasonRohtak Royals complete squad KCLCategory A Rakesh Singroha Right Raider â â¹72 lakh Ankit Rana Left Raider â â¹64 lakh Aaryan Left Corner â â¹5 lakh Sandeep Narwal Right Corner â â¹34 lakh Sandeep Deswal Left Corner â â¹6 lakh Vijay Malik Left Raider â â¹94 lakhCategory B Milan Dahiya Right Raider â â¹47 lakh Mohit Left Corner â â¹1 lakh Ronak Right Corner â â¹1 lakh Himanshu Left Raider â â¹1 lakh Amit Nafe Singh Left Cover â â¹1 lakhCategory C Naveen Right Raider â â¹50000 Akshay Rajender Right Raider â â¹50000 Sachin Jaibhagwan AllRounder â â¹50000 Ankit Jakhar Right Corner â â¹50000 Sahil Amarjeet Right Corner â¹50000 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sandeep-narwal-headlines-rohtak-royals-squad-at-kcl-auctions-656163.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sreejith-v-nair-elected-new-president-of-kerala-cricket-association-656173.html Thiruvananthapuram Dec 29 Sreejith V Nair has been elected as the new President of the Kerala Cricket Association KCA during the organisationâs 75th Annual General Body Meeting AGM held on Monday Nair a former treasurer and secretary of the Association will take over from Jayesh George whoâs currently serving as Chairman of the Womenâs Premier League WPL Satheesan K a former member of the Apex Council has been elected as the Vice PresidentIncumbent Secretary Vinod S Kumar and Joint Secretary Bineesh Kodiyeri will continue in their respective positions T Ajith Kumar Secretary of the Palakkad District Cricket Association has been elected as the new Treasurer while Muhammed Naufal T Secretary of the Kasaragod District Cricket Association has been appointed as the General Body Representative to the Apex CouncilThe new office bearers also approved a oneyear comprehensive development plan aimed at upgrading cricket infrastructure in all 14 districts and raising player development systems across the state to international standardsâKCA will implement major projects under the Kerala Sports Infrastructure Development Scheme announced by the State Government utilising the special concessions granted under the Land ActâAs part of the plan cricket grounds and related facilities will be developed in all 14 districts of the state Infrastructure for other sports will also be developed alongside cricket facilities with the objective of ensuring uniform training standards and modern amenities across districtsâ said the KCANair also said the KCA aims to construct an international cricket stadium in Kochi in collaboration with the state government âFurther discussions will be held with the government to secure a longterm lease of the Sports Hub International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram and to establish a High Altitude Sports Centre at Munnar for cricket football and other sportsâ he saidKCA further said it will shortly launch the Kerala Womenâs Premier League to bolster womenâs cricket in the state as well as announced plans to set up new academies in Idukki and Thiruvananthapuram to identify young talent and deliver scientific performanceoriented training focusing on fitness skill development and modern coaching methodsâIn addition the General Body resolved to further strengthen the existing High Performance Centre ensuring advanced training facilities sports science laboratories fitness and rehabilitation centres and access to expert coachesâ concluded KCA IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sreejith-v-nair-elected-new-president-of-kerala-cricket-association-656173.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/legends-90-league-unveil-season-four-in-dubai-656176.html Dubai Dec 29 Building on the success of its first three seasons the Legends 90 League L90 officially unveiled season four at a grand launch ceremony held on Monday at ShangriLa Dubai The launch event was graced by renowned international cricketing stars Harbhajan Singh JP Duminy and James Vince along with league officials team representatives partners and members of the media A key highlight of the event was the unveiling of the official team jerseys and the Legends 90 League season 4 trophy symbolising the leagueâs growing stature and its continued commitment to delivering worldclass cricketing entertainment to fans across the globeSharing his thoughts at the launch former Indian spinner and World Cup winner Harbhajan Singh said âThe Legends 90 League has carved out a unique space in world cricket by bringing together iconic players in an exciting and innovative format Itâs encouraging to see how the league has grown over the years and Season 4 promises to be even bigger and better for fansâFormer South Africa allrounder JP Duminy highlighted the competitive appeal of the format saying What makes Legends 90 League special is the intensity packed into a short format The 90ball concept keeps the game fast aggressive and entertaining while still allowing experienced players to showcase their skills at the highest levelEchoing similar sentiments England batter James Vince added This league strikes a great balance between nostalgia and modern cricket Fans get to see legendary names alongside current stars and the energy around Legends 90 League is something truly excitingOver the past three seasons the Legends 90 League has featured some of the biggest names in world cricket including Yuvraj Singh Shikhar Dhawan Suresh Raina and Chris Gayle captivating audiences with highquality performances and competitive matchesSpeaking on the occasion Shivain Sharma Director of the Legends 90 League said âOver the last three seasons our focus has been on building a credible competitive and fanfirst cricketing property Legends 90 League was conceived to celebrate the legacy of the game while presenting it in a modern highenergy format Season 4 marks an important step in that journey as we continue to strengthen the leagueâs onfield quality global appeal and longterm visionâThe fourth season of the Legends 90 League is scheduled to be played in March 2026 and will once again bring together legendary international cricketers and modern stars in its fastpaced 90ball format promising highintensity action and a memorable experience for cricket fans worldwide IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/legends-90-league-unveil-season-four-in-dubai-656176.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashleigh-gardner-continue-to-captain-gujarat-giants-in-wpl-2026-656224.html New Delhi Dec 30 Gujarat Giants have announced that Australian allrounder Ashleigh Gardner will continue to lead the franchise in the upcoming season of the Womenâs Premier League WPL Gardner a threetime T20 Womenâs World Cup winner assumed the captaincy at the franchise from Australian teammate Beth Mooney last season Under her leadership Gujarat Giants reached the playoffs for the first time in three seasonsâExperience in her stride Belief in her voice Ash Gardner steps up once more as our CAPTAIN primed to take us to gloryâ the Giants shared on its social mediaSince WPLâs inception in 2023 Gardner has been an integral part of the Gujarat Giants side scoring 568 runs and bagging 25 wickets in 25 games She was one of the two players the other being Beth Mooney for Rs 25 crore retained by the Giants prior to the WPL 2026 Auction for Rs 35 croreLast season Gardner hogged the limelight with her consistent allround performances in the recently Batting in the middleorder Gardner finished as our leading runscorer in the tournament with 243 runs in nine matches at an impressive strike rate of 16418 while also maintaining an average of 3037The Aussie allrounder also contributed with her rightarm offspin and claimed eight wickets at an economy of 803 The skipper claimed the Most Sixes award with 18 maximums to her nameWith eight points from eight matches Giants finished third in the WPL 2025 standings to book a place in the Eliminator However their fruitful season ended in the Eliminator after going down to eventual champions Mumbai IndiansThe fourth edition of WPL will be held from 9 January 9 to 5 February 2026 The tournament will be played across Navi Mumbai and VadodaraThe Giants will open their campaign against UP Warriorz in Navi Mumbai on January 10 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashleigh-gardner-continue-to-captain-gujarat-giants-in-wpl-2026-656224.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashleigh-gardner-continues-to-captain-gujarat-giants-in-wpl-2026-656225.html New Delhi Dec 30 Gujarat Giants have announced that Australian allrounder Ashleigh Gardner will continue to lead the franchise in the upcoming season of the Womenâs Premier League WPL Gardner a threetime T20 Womenâs World Cup winner assumed the captaincy at the franchise from Australian teammate Beth Mooney last season Under her leadership Gujarat Giants reached the playoffs for the first time in three seasonsâExperience in her stride Belief in her voice Ash Gardner steps up once more as our CAPTAIN primed to take us to gloryâ the Giants shared on its social mediaSince WPLâs inception in 2023 Gardner has been an integral part of the Gujarat Giants side scoring 568 runs and bagging 25 wickets in 25 games She was one of the two players the other being Beth Mooney for Rs 25 crore retained by the Giants prior to the WPL 2026 Auction for Rs 35 croreLast season Gardner hogged the limelight with her consistent allround performances in the recently Batting in the middleorder Gardner finished as our leading runscorer in the tournament with 243 runs in nine matches at an impressive strike rate of 16418 while also maintaining an average of 3037The Aussie allrounder also contributed with her rightarm offspin and claimed eight wickets at an economy of 803 The skipper claimed the Most Sixes award with 18 maximums to her nameWith eight points from eight matches Giants finished third in the WPL 2025 standings to book a place in the Eliminator However their fruitful season ended in the Eliminator after going down to eventual champions Mumbai IndiansThe fourth edition of WPL will be held from 9 January 9 to 5 February 2026 The tournament will be played across Navi Mumbai and VadodaraThe Giants will open their campaign against UP Warriorz in Navi Mumbai on January 10 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashleigh-gardner-continues-to-captain-gujarat-giants-in-wpl-2026-656225.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashleigh-gardner-to-continue-leading-gujarat-giants-in-wpl-2026-656226.html New Delhi Dec 30 Gujarat Giants have announced that Australian allrounder Ashleigh Gardner will continue to lead the franchise in the upcoming season of the Womenâs Premier League WPL Gardner a threetime T20 Womenâs World Cup winner assumed the captaincy at the franchise from Australian teammate Beth Mooney last season Under her leadership Gujarat Giants reached the playoffs for the first time in three seasonsâExperience in her stride Belief in her voice Ash Gardner steps up once more as our CAPTAIN primed to take us to gloryâ the Giants shared on its social mediaSince WPLâs inception in 2023 Gardner has been an integral part of the Gujarat Giants side scoring 568 runs and bagging 25 wickets in 25 games She was one of the two players the other being Beth Mooney for Rs 25 crore retained by the Giants prior to the WPL 2026 Auction for Rs 35 croreLast season Gardner hogged the limelight with her consistent allround performances in the recently Batting in the middleorder Gardner finished as our leading runscorer in the tournament with 243 runs in nine matches at an impressive strike rate of 16418 while also maintaining an average of 3037The Aussie allrounder also contributed with her rightarm offspin and claimed eight wickets at an economy of 803 The skipper claimed the Most Sixes award with 18 maximums to her nameWith eight points from eight matches Giants finished third in the WPL 2025 standings to book a place in the Eliminator However their fruitful season ended in the Eliminator after going down to eventual champions Mumbai IndiansThe fourth edition of WPL will be held from 9 January 9 to 5 February 2026 The tournament will be played across Navi Mumbai and VadodaraThe Giants will open their campaign against UP Warriorz in Navi Mumbai on January 10 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashleigh-gardner-to-continue-leading-gujarat-giants-in-wpl-2026-656226.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sa20-sunrisers-clinch-bonus-point-win-over-pretoria-capitals-656233.html Gqeberha Dec 30 Quinton de Kocks batting masterclass powered Sunrisersâ Eastern Cape to 48run bonus point win over Pretoria Capitals at St Georgeâs Park The victory propelled the Sunrisers to top of the SA20 table with 10 points while the Capitals remain winless after two matchesThe Gqeberha locals came out in their thousands to deck South Africaâs oldest Test venue in a sea of orange for the first home game of Season 4 with the iconic brass band getting everyone in the festive spirit to deliver yet another memorable SA20 nightDe Kock certainly gave them plenty to cheer for with the lefthander blazing 77 off just 47 balls 5x4 6x6 The lefthander struck the ball sweetly from the outset with a couple of rasping lofted cover drives interspersed with powerful pull shotsMatthew Breetzke 52 off 33 balls was the perfect partner for De Kock after the early demise of Jonny Bairstow with the pair putting together an electrifying 116run partnership off just 70 ballsThis laid the platform for the inform Jordan Hermann 37 off 20 balls to unleash a series of conventional and reverse sweeps that pushed Sunrisers to an impressive 1886The four Player of the Match candidates were Matthew Breetzke Quinton de Kock Shai Hope and Adam Milne with the QDK winning 693 per cent of the fan vote The total proved way beyond the reach of the Capitals with the Sunrisers unleashing their threepronged pace arsenal of Marco Jansen Adam Milne and Anrich NortjeJansen required just six balls to strike the first blow when he removed Capitals opener Bryce Parsons with a rasping delivery that the lefthander could only fend off to De Kock behind the stumps The Kiwi Express Milne 425 was next in the act when he dismissed West Indian Shai Hope 36 off 19 balls just as he threatened to build an innings of substanceBut the major breakthrough was left to Lewis Gregory when the Sunrisers allrounder flummoxed Dewald Brevis 12 off five balls into taking on the longest boundary in the ground where Breetzke lay in wait to take a comfortable catchThe Capitalsâ innings disintegrated from thereon with Milne running through the visitorsâ tail while leftarm spinner Senuran Muthusamy delivered arguably the ball of the night to clean bowl a wellset Will Smeed 35 off 27 balls IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sa20-sunrisers-clinch-bonus-point-win-over-pretoria-capitals-656233.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/a-resounding-year-that-saw-indian-mens-hockey-team-retain-asia-no1-status-656261.html New Delhi Dec 30 A resounding victory at the Asia Cup in Rajgir Bihar reinstated the Indian mens hockey teams status as the No1 side in Asia The title victory after a gap of eight years was a highlight of 2025 for Craig Fulton and team as they trounced giants like Korea China and Malaysia in the tournament The year started with a good outing at the home leg of FIH Pro League soon after the revamped Hero Hockey India League HIL that saw some pacy performances from players on the fringes who were pushing for a place in the senior sideThe international season kicked off with the Pro League in Bhubaneswar where India tasted good results against Spain Germany Ireland and England The team led by Harmanpreet Singh won six out of the eight matches on the back of a long HIL season which began soon after the Olympic success where the team had won bronze in Paris and backed it up with an Asian Champions Trophy win in ChinaHowever the Pro League ended on a dull note for India in Europe where they could only muster one consolation win against Belgium and lost their matches against Australia the Netherlands and Argentina in JuneBut they rewrote the script in August by lifting the Asian crown Another highlight for this squad was their outing in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup where India A side with most of their star players such as Harmanpreet Singh Manpreet Singh and Hardik Singh rested put up a valiant show They lost the title by a whisker 01 to Belgium but beat Korea Malaysia New Zealand and Canada in an inspiring fashionWinning the Asia Cup was definitely a highlight for the Indian team but I think Azlan Shah was one of the highlights of the year for the Indian team where many of us from the main team were rested but the development squad ended up doing wellThis puts us in good stead for a busy year in 2026 with the Asian Games and the World Cup being close to eachother and we can have different options in the squad expressed Captain Harmanpreet Singh who capped off the year as the highest goal scorer for India IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/a-resounding-year-that-saw-indian-mens-hockey-team-retain-asia-no1-status-656261.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wpl-2026-mumbai-indians-players-begin-pre-season-training-656280.html Mumbai Dec 30 Twotime champions Mumbai Indians MI have commenced their training camp ahead of the upcoming Womenâs Premier League WPL season The fourth edition of WPL will take place across two venues the first leg in Navi Mumbaiâs DY Patil Stadium and the second in Vadodaraâs Kotambi Stadium from January 9 to February 5 Under the leadership of Head Coach Lisa Keightley Bowling Coach and Team Mentor Jhulan Goswami Batting Coach Devieka Palshikaar and other support staff the players who have already arrivedâSaika Ishaque Sajana S Sanskriti Gupta Poonam Khemnar Triveni Vasistha N Kranthi Reddy and Rahila Firdous began their preseason trainingSpeaking about the camp Keightley said âIts really good Weve had one training It was great to work with domestic players Really excited to see what they can do Itâs a good opportunity to watch to see and communicate and make connections with the players Im really excited and really impressed with what I have seen so far So lets see how we go for the rest of the weekâThe session emphasised fitness skill evaluation and team cohesion helping players reconnect with match routines under the supervision of the coaching staff The group laid the groundwork for the upcoming weeks through a combination of structured drills and net sessions as the squad continues to arrive gaining momentum and building cohesion before the season beginsThe defending champions will kick off their campaign on the opening day of the tournament on January 9 2026 against the WPL 2024 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi MumbaiNotably after three seasons of the WPL the Mumbai Indians remain the most successful team having won the first and third editions of the tournament With Harmanpreet Kaur leading the team they aim to defend their title successfully as the WPL fast approachesMI Squad for WPL 2026 Harmanpreet Kaur Nat SciverBrunt Hayley Matthews Amanjot Kaur Kamalini G Amelia Kerr Shabnim Ismail Rahila Firdous Sajana S Sanskriti Gupta Nicola Carey Poonam Khemnar Triveni Vasistha Nalla Reddy Milly Illingworth Saika Ishaque IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wpl-2026-mumbai-indians-players-begin-pre-season-training-656280.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 23:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-batter-tilak-varma-seeks-divine-blessings-at-tirumala-tirupati-temple-656284.html Tirupati Dec 30 India batter Tilak Varma on Tuesday visited the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple to seek the Lords blessings He was accompanied by BCCI Apex Council member and former firstclass cricketer V Chamundeswaranath They offered prayers and had darshan of Lord Venkateswara on Vaikunta Ekadasi passing through the sacred Vaikunta Dwaram Officials of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams made arrangements for their darshan and facilitated their visit to the hill shrineAs India look to defend the T20 World Cup crown Tilakâs visit to Tirupati may prove a lucky charm in what promises to be an intense and closely fought tournament The lefthander also visited the divine shrine in August this year before the start of the ACC Asia Cup where his crucial 69run innings guided India to beat archrivals Pakistan in the finalTilaks most recent outing for India was in the recently concluded T20I series against South Africa where he led the Men in Blue to a 31 victory over the ProteasIn the T20I series opener against South Africa earlier this month Tilak made history by becoming the first Indian batter to score 1000 runs in T20Is before turning 25 He scored 26 62 26 and 73 across the fiveThe 23yearold batter will next be in action in the T20I series against New Zealand starting on January 21 The games will serve as a preparatory series for both sides before they head into the T20 World Cup scheduled to begin on February 7India will enter the tournament as defending champions having won the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados by defeating South Africa in the finalIndias squad for the T20 World Cup and New Zealand T20 series Suryakumar Yadav captain Abhishek Sharma Sanju Samson wicketkeeper Tilak Verma Hardik Pandya Shivam Dubey Axar Patel vicecaptain Rinku Singh Jasprit Bumrah Harshit Rana Arshdeep Singh Kuldeep Yadav Varun Chakravarthy Washington Sundar Ishan Kishan wicketkeeper IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-batter-tilak-varma-seeks-divine-blessings-at-tirumala-tirupati-temple-656284.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 23:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/4th-t20i-mandhana-becomes-second-indian-batter-to-cross-10-000-international-runs-655982.html Thiruvananthapuram Dec 28 India vicecaptain Smriti Mandhana on Sunday became only the second Indian woman player after compatriot Mithali Raj to complete 10000 runs in international cricket Smriti who debuted for India against Bangladesh in April 2013 needed 27 runs before the fourth T20I against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram to reach the huge landmark and reached the milestone in just 20 deliveries at the Greenfield International Stadium She eventually made 80 off 48 balls â her 32nd fifty laced with 11 fours and three sixes at a strikerate of 1702Apart from Mithali Smriti joins New Zealandâs Suzie Bates and former England player turned coach Charlotte Edwards as the only other women to cross the big landmarkSmriti has also scored 629 runs in seven Tests and 5322 runs in 117 ODIs Raj the highest runscorer in womenâs international cricket retired with 10868 runs across formats and Smriti has the opportunity to surpass her tallyPreviously while hitting a runaball 25 during the T20I series opener against Sri Lanka at the ACAVDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam Smriti became the first Indian batter and second overall after Suzie to complete 4000 runs in Womenâs T20IsThe lefthanded opener was the secondhighest runscorer in Indiaâs triumphant Womenâs ODI World Cup campaign â amassing 434 runs in nine innings at an average of 5425Smriti also finished 2025 as the highest rungetter in ODIs scoring 1362 runs in 23 innings which included five fifties and five centuries and also became the first Indian woman to score a century in all three formats of the gameFollowing the conclusion of the fivematch T20I series against Sri Lanka on December 30 Smriti will captain Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB in the 2026 Womenâs Premier League WPL beginning on January 9 RCB will face Harmanpreet Kaurled Mumbai Indians in the opening game at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/4th-t20i-mandhana-becomes-second-indian-batter-to-cross-10-000-international-runs-655982.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/4th-t20i-mandhana-becomes-second-indian-woman-batter-to-cross-10-000-international-runs-655983.html Thiruvananthapuram Dec 28 India vicecaptain Smriti Mandhana on Sunday became only the second Indian woman player after compatriot Mithali Raj to complete 10000 runs in international cricket Smriti who debuted for India against Bangladesh in April 2013 needed 27 runs before the fourth T20I against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram to reach the huge landmark and reached the milestone in just 20 deliveries at the Greenfield International Stadium She eventually made 80 off 48 balls â her 32nd fifty laced with 11 fours and three sixes at a strikerate of 1702Apart from Mithali Smriti joins New Zealandâs Suzie Bates and former England player turned coach Charlotte Edwards as the only other women to cross the big landmarkSmriti has also scored 629 runs in seven Tests and 5322 runs in 117 ODIs Raj the highest runscorer in womenâs international cricket retired with 10868 runs across formats and Smriti has the opportunity to surpass her tallyPreviously while hitting a runaball 25 during the T20I series opener against Sri Lanka at the ACAVDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam Smriti became the first Indian batter and second overall after Suzie to complete 4000 runs in Womenâs T20IsThe lefthanded opener was the secondhighest runscorer in Indiaâs triumphant Womenâs ODI World Cup campaign â amassing 434 runs in nine innings at an average of 5425Smriti also finished 2025 as the highest rungetter in ODIs scoring 1362 runs in 23 innings which included five fifties and five centuries and also became the first Indian woman to score a century in all three formats of the gameFollowing the conclusion of the fivematch T20I series against Sri Lanka on December 30 Smriti will captain Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB in the 2026 Womenâs Premier League WPL beginning on January 9 RCB will face Harmanpreet Kaurled Mumbai Indians in the opening game at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/4th-t20i-mandhana-becomes-second-indian-woman-batter-to-cross-10-000-international-runs-655983.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/national-drag-racing-cship-pawshe-edges-past-muddappa-to-win-title-in-unrestricted-class-655990.html Chennai Dec 28 Mumbaiâs Hanuman Pawshe Fast Track Racing India snatched the title in the premier Unrestricted class after defending champion Hemanth Muddappa Mantra Racing was penalised for jump start in the final run to provide a dramatic finish to the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship 2025 at the Madras International Circuit here on Sunday Going into the fourth and final round on Sunday both Pawshe and Bengaluruâs Muddappa were tied on 55 points with the formerâs teammate Alimon Saidalvi Bengaluru two points adrift of the leaders In the final run today Muddappa was pulled up for a jump start which left Pawshe the championship winner in this category ahead of Saidalvi and MuddappaMuddappa however salvaged the concluding round by winning the championship in two other categories to take his National title count to 17 A fourthplace finish in the Super Sport 4Stroke 10511650cc class which fetched him 14 points was sufficient for Muddappa to clinch the title from Round4 winner and fellowBengalurean Mujahid Pasha Fast Track Racing India who finished second overall in the championshipEarlier a second place behind Pawshe saw Muddappa take the title in the Super Sport 4Stroke 8511050cc classNagecoilâs Lapis Lazuli took the championship in the Girls Super Stock up to 165cc category ahead of her C2 Racing teammate Shanthi Chandra The duo finished in that order in both rounds this weekendBengaluruâs Syed Imran Fast Track Racing India walked away with two National titles in the 2Stroke 131165cc and 2Stroke up to 130cc categoriesFor Fast Track Racing India team it was a hugely successful campaign as they picked up team honours in five categories while Mantra Racing and Team 99 Racing topped two apiece followed by one each for Accesys India Rookies Racing and C2 RacingOn Saturday in Round 3 35yearold Muddappa came up with stunning runs to win a double crown as he topped the Unrestricted and 10511650cc classes besides a podium in the 8511050cc categoryThe National Champions4Stroke Super Sport Unrestricted â Rider Hanuman Pawshe Mumbai Fast Track Racing Team Fast Track Racing India4S 10511650cc SS â Rider Hemanth Muddappa Bengaluru Mantra Racing Team Fast Track Racing India4S 8511050cc SS â Rider Hemanth Muddappa Bengaluru Mantra Racing Team Mantra Racing4S 551850cc SS â Rider Aditya Acharya Bengaluru Pvt Team â Team 99 Racing4S 166225cc SS â Rider Ali Hussain Mumbai Pvt Team Team 99 Racing4S Girls Super Stock 165cc â Rider Lapis Lazuli Nagercoil C2 Racing Team C2 Racing4S 165cc Super Sport Indian â Rider Abdul Shaikh Mumbai Pvt Team Accsys India Rookies Racing Team4S 361559cc SS Indian Single Cylinder â Rider Mujahid Pasha Bengaluru Fast Track Racing India Team Fast Track Racing India4S 361559cc SS Indian Twin Cylinder â Rider Sharukh Khan Mumbai Mantra Racing Team Mantra Racing2Stroke 130cc SS â Rider Syed Imran Bengaluru Fast Track Racing India Team Fast Track Racing India2S 13165cc SS â Rider Syed Imran Bengaluru Fast Track Racing India Team Fast Track Racing India IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/national-drag-racing-cship-pawshe-edges-past-muddappa-to-win-title-in-unrestricted-class-655990.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-rapid-chess-cship-humpy-erigiasi-claim-bronze-medals-as-carlsen-and-goryachkina-bag-mens-and-womens-titles-655994.html Mumbai Dec 29 Indias Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy won the bronze medals in the mens and womens sections respectively as Magnus Carlsen and Alexandra Goryachkina won the titles in the 2025 FIDE World Rapid amp Womenâs World Rapid Championships played in Doha Qatar on Sunday Carlsen finished with 105 points to claim his sixth World Rapid Chess title with Vladislav Artemiev Erigiasi Hans Moke Niemann and Leinier Domingues Perez finishing tied second with 95 points at the end of the 13 roundsErigiasi jumped into a tie for the second spot with a crucial win over Aleksandr Shimanov on the fourth board taking his tally to 95 points Artemiev ended second with a TB1 score of 1055 as against 98 for Erigaisi while Niemann and Dominguez had TB1 scores of 975 and 955 thus finishing third and fourthErigaisi thus finished third and claimed a bronze medal Aravindh Chithambaram 16th 85 Nihal Sarin 19th 85 Dommaraju Gukesh 20th 85 and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa ended 28th with the same 85 pointsIn the final round Carlsen 10 drew with Anish Giri 85 while Artemiev drew with Wesley So of the United States on the second boardIn the womens World Rapid Championship being held simultaneously Humpy finished tied for the top spot with eventual winner Aleksandra Goryachkina a twotime World Junior Girls Champion and Chinas Zhu Jiner with 85 points from 11 roundsIn the tiebreak Zhu was placed at the top with Goryachkina second and Humpy ended third Goryachkina and Zhu played a tiebreak matchup with the former winning it to claim the gold medalHumpy claimed the bronze in the Womens World Rapid Chess Championship in addition to the gold medal she has already won twice in 2019 and 2024 The 38yearold Humpy was held to a draw by compatriot B Savita Shri who ended on eight points to be tied for the fourth spot with fellow Indian R Vaishali and Ekaterina Atalik of Turkey who held eventual winner Goryachkina to a draw on the top board in the 11th and final round IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-rapid-chess-cship-humpy-erigiasi-claim-bronze-medals-as-carlsen-and-goryachkina-bag-mens-and-womens-titles-655994.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-atkinson-ruled-out-of-scg-test-with-hamstring-injury-656010.html Melbourne Dec 29 England have suffered a blow with news that fast bowler Gus Atkinson will miss the final Test of the Ashes series at the SCG due to injury Atkinson hurt his left hamstring when bowling on the second day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and failed to return to the field Other fast bowlers stepped up in his absence bowling out Australia for 132 in the second innings to set up a fourwicket victory their first overseas Ashes Test win since January 2011England seamer Gus Atkinson has been ruled out for the remainder of the Ashes tour after scans confirmed he has sustained a left hamstring injury England Cricket said in a statementThe Surrey rightarmer left the field after bowling his fifth over of Australiaâs second innings during Englandâs victory at the MCG in the fourth TestEngland will not call up a replacement for the fifth Test which gets under way in Sydney on 4 January it addedAtkinson arrived in Australia as Englands attack leader but struggled to maintain his pace and incisiveness across the first two Tests He went wicketless in Perth then took 3151 from 33 overs in Brisbane only to find himself dropped for the mustwin game in Adelaide The 27yearold had taken six wickets at 4733 during the seriesEngland have already lost pace duo Jofra Archer and Mark Wood to injury this tourAtkinsons injury opens the door for fellow quicks Matthew Fisher and Matthew Potts for a callupPotts has taken 36 Test wickets at 2944 with the most recent of his ten appearances coming back in December 2024The fifth and final Ashes Test between Australia and England gets underway at the SCG on January 4England squad Ben Stokes c Harry Brook vc Jofra Archer Shoaib Bashir Jacob Bethell Brydon Carse Zak Crawley Ben Duckett Matthew Fisher Will Jacks Ollie Pope Matthew Potts Joe Root Jamie Smith wk Josh Tongue IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-atkinson-ruled-out-of-scg-test-with-hamstring-injury-656010.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/australia-pace-duo-cummins-hazlewood-set-to-be-named-in-t20-wc-squad-656018.html Melbourne Dec 29 The experienced pace duo of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are set to be included in Australiaâs provisional squad for the upcoming ICC Mens T20 World Cup despite injury concerns Head coach Andrew McDonald Cummins will undergo another scan of his back in four weeksâ time and a final call on his availability for the mega spectacle which commences on February 7 will be made after the results of that assessmentPat will have a scan I think in another four weeks so thatll give us the information then on where hes at for the World Cup Hell be named in the squad of 15 and then well get that information as to where hes at McDonald saidCummins has played just one international match since suffering a lumbar stress injury in July He pushed the limits of his rehabilitation from a back stress injury to return for the third Test in Adelaide where he took six wickets as Australia won by 82 runs retaining the Ashes urnSubsequently he withdrew from the remainder of the series with Australia unwilling to take any further risksHazlewood who missed the entire Ashes series due to hamstring and Achilles injuries that have troubled the 34yearold pacer is likely to be fit Before his injury the pacer starred in the whiteball series against India and is likely to return in time for the T20 World Cup giving a major boost to AustraliaJosh is returning to bowl He looks as though he should be right in terms of possible timeframes McDonald saidAnother concern for Australia is hardhitting middleorder batter Tim David who recently injured his hamstring while playing for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL The finisher had been ruled out for two months earlier this year due to a similar injury but McDonald believes the 29yearold will be fit in time for the marquee 20over tournamentNot sure whether its just pure muscle or tendon and thatll give us a timeframe I think the timeframe will be kind on TD Tim David as well So he should be available no matter what that injury is said McDonaldAustralia will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on February 11 As part of their preparations they will play a threematch T20I series in Pakistan in January IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/australia-pace-duo-cummins-hazlewood-set-to-be-named-in-t20-wc-squad-656018.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 11:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bhutans-sonam-yeshey-becomes-first-ever-to-register-8-wicket-haul-in-t20i-656021.html New Delhi Dec 28 Bhutanâs leftarm spinner Sonam Yeshey has etched his name into cricket history becoming the first bowler ever to claim eight wickets in a T20 match international or otherwise The 22yearold achieved the landmark during the third T20I against Myanmar in Gelephu on Friday Yeshey produced a stunning spell of 8 for seven from his four overs skittling Myanmar for just 45 while they chased Bhutanâs modest 127 for 9The series has been heavily onesided with Yeshey leading the charge he has taken 12 wickets across four matches with the final game scheduled for MondayPrior to Yesheyâs performance the best figures in menâs T20 internationals were sevenwicket hauls achieved only twice Syazrul Idrus 7 for 8 for Malaysia against China in 2023 and Ali Dawood 7 for 19 for Bahrain against Bhutan in 2025Outside the international arena sevenwicket hauls have been recorded just twice moreâby Colin Ackermann 7 for 18 for Leicestershire against Birmingham Bears in 2019 and Taskin Ahmed 7 for 19 for Durbar Rajshahi against Dhaka Capitals in 2025In womenâs cricket the benchmark remains Indonesiaâs Rohmalia who took an extraordinary 7 for 0 against Mongolia in 2024âthe best bowling figures in womenâs T20Is and T20sOther sevenwicket hauls in womenâs T20 internationals have come from Frederique Overdijk 7 for 3 for the Netherlands vs France Alison Stocks 7 for 3 for Argentina vs Peru and Samanthi Dunukedeniya 7 for 15 for Cyprus vs the Czech Republic with four additional such feats recorded in womenâs T20 matches overallYeshey made his T20I debut in July 2022 against Malaysia immediately making an impact with figures of 3 for 16 While wickets came more steadily in the years that followed this historic spell has propelled his tally to 37 wickets in 34 T20 internationals IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bhutans-sonam-yeshey-becomes-first-ever-to-register-8-wicket-haul-in-t20i-656021.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 12:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/motto-is-to-score-runs-and-provide-good-finish-says-richa-on-being-promoted-to-no-3-656026.html Thiruvananthapuram Dec 29 Indiaâs wicketkeeper batter Richa Ghosh spoke about her promotion up the order by head coach Amol Muzumdar in the recently concluded T20I against Sri Lanka and said that her aim batting at any position is to score runs and provide a good finish for the team Smriti Mandhana dazzled with a stunning world record in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday as India beat Sri Lanka by 30 runs in the fourth T20I leading the fivematch series 40 Mandhana and Shafali Verma delivered aggressive performances enabling the hosts to set an imposing total of 221 for 2 in 20 overs at the Greenfield International Stadium after they were asked to bat firstThe duo set a record 162run partnership the highest for any wicket in Womens T20Is for India Smriti scored 80 off 48 balls while Shafali Verma hit 79 off 46 Mandhana also overtook Mithali Raj as the fastest batter to reach 10000 international runs in terms of innings In the pursuit of 222 Sri Lanka fought hard but were restricted to 191 for 6 despite a solid fifty from captain Chamari AthapaththuSpeaking after the match during the press conference Richa when asked about the teamâs fielding said âWeâre working on the fielding If you see we stopped the ball well and took good catches today Everyone has a bad day and catches are dropped Weâve worked hard behind the fieldingâWhenever I get a chance and whenever I am sent up my motto is to score runs and provide a good finish for the team The wicket was good for batting and the ball was coming to the bat nicely While the ball was holding up a little on slower deliveries it was coming nicely Shot selection was important and we executed it well enough and got the runs she addedShedding light on the changes that the World Cup victory has brought in the cricketersâ lives she said âObviously life has transformed since the World Cup victory Everyone is joyful and whenever we go out we are greeted warmly by the public More people now recognise the players names such as Deepti Sharma Richa Ghosh and Shafali Verma This increased recognition is a wonderful development following the World Cup win After a World Cup win you take the confidence into the next series and that is quite visible in everyone in the teamâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/motto-is-to-score-runs-and-provide-good-finish-says-richa-on-being-promoted-to-no-3-656026.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/rrs-captaincy-will-likely-be-between-riyan-and-jadeja-uthappa-656079.html New Delhi Dec 29 Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa believes that leadership will be the defining factor for the Rajasthan Royalsâ RR success in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League The franchise emerged with a formidable squad bolstered by key trades and acquisitions such as Ravindra Jadeja Sam Curran and legspinner Ravi Bishnoi following the IPL 2026 miniauction However the captaincy remains an unanswered question with the team trading their Sanju Samson who led them till 2025 to the Chennai Super KingsSpeaking to JioStar the former India batter lauded RRs bowling arsenal noting the advantage of having around 10 fast bowlers for varied options The advantage Rajasthan Royals have is the fact that they have 10 fast bowlers offering a lot of options If they bowl in the right areas at SMS Stadium Jaipur they can be very successful With spinners like Bishnoi and Jadeja support from Shimron Hetmyer and Donovan Ferreira and depth in the batting order with Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag they now have a wellrounded teamâ Uthappa saidOn the teamâs captaincy he added âThe only question is leadership My feeling is the captaincy will likely be between Riyan Parag and Ravindra Jadeja while Jaiswal might need to wait a bit longerâLegendary spinner Kumble echoed the squads balance pointing to talented youngsters proven performers and versatile allrounders He stressed fitness concerns for key pacers like Jofra Archer but reserved his strongest remarks for leadershipâWhen you look at this lineup the captaincy will be the most decisive factor If you want to replicate the kind of personality Sanju Samson brought to Rajasthan Royals Dhruv Jurel is probably the closest match Beyond that the squad is strong with talented youngsters proven players and allrounders The fitness of key players like Jofra Archer at the start of the IPL is also crucial Ultimately the management needs to identify and communicate who the captain will beâ Kumble asserted IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/rrs-captaincy-will-likely-be-between-riyan-and-jadeja-uthappa-656079.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 16:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-will-reach-the-number-for-sure-ronaldo-targets-1000-goals-before-retirement-656112.html New Delhi Dec 29 Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has said he will continue playing until he scores his 1000th career goal after winning the Best Middle East Player Award at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai Ronaldo who has scored 956 goals for club and country is Portugalâs alltime leading scorer with 143 goals and Real Madridâs top scorer with 450 He stands alone as the only player to net over 100 goals for four different clubs Manchester United Real Madrid Juventus and AlNassrThe star forward continues to rewrite scoring milestones at Al Nassr scoring twice in their 30 win over Al Akhdoud He has already found the back of the net 12 times in the Saudi Pro League this season with Portuguese compatriot Felix one aheadIts hard to continue playing but I am motivated My passion is high and I want to continue It doesnt matter where I play whether in the Middle East or Europe I always enjoy playing football and I want to keep goingYou know what my goal is I want to win trophies and I want to reach that number 1000 goals that you all know I will reach the number for sure if no injuries Ronaldo saidThe 40yearold forward who joined AlNassr in 2022 signed a new twoyear deal with the Saudi Arabian club last July and has a record of 112 goals in 125 appearances for the Saudi Arabian clubLast month the Portuguese superstar said that next years World Cup would be his last saying he would retire from football in one or two yearsIn October Ronaldo became the outright leading marksman in World Cup qualifying history extending his record as the top scorer in World Cup Qualifiers history with 41 goals IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-will-reach-the-number-for-sure-ronaldo-targets-1000-goals-before-retirement-656112.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/badminton-india-open-2026-to-run-from-january-13-to-18-656113.html New Delhi Dec 29 The India Open will take place from January 13 to 18 2026 at the renowned Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi which can seat over 8000 peopleâmore than twice the capacity of the previous location The event highlights the increasing importance of Indiaâs leading international badminton event Organised by the Badminton Association of India BAI under the Badminton World Federation BWF the Super 750 tournament will once again host the worldâs top shuttlers in India Fans can expect to see international stars like An Seyoung PV Sindhu Kunlavut Vitidsarn Satwiksairaj Rankireddy Chirag Shetty and Lakshya Sen as well as Indiaâs emerging talents such as Unnati Hooda and Ayush Shetty competing over six days of intense matchesSpeaking on the occasion Sanjay Mishra the general secretary of the Badminton Association of India said âMoving the India Open to the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium this year marks an important step in the tournamentâs evolution The larger venue allows us to accommodate significantly more fans while delivering a better onground experience for players and spectators alike As Indian badminton continues to grow in stature it is essential that our flagship events evolve in step creating spaces where the sport the athletes and the fans can all thrive togetherâAs a key event on the BWF World Tour schedule the India Open awards up to 11000 ranking points and features a total prize purse of USD 950000 The 2026 edition aims to deliver a larger more exciting and more engaging experience for both players and fansTickets for the India Open 2026 will be sold exclusively online Prices start at Rs 400 with premium seats capped at Rs 1750 to offer options across different categories The initial ticketing phase which runs until the end of December provides the greatest discounts for matchdays including the knockout rounds The later phases starting in early January will still offer lower prices making tickets accessible for spectators throughout the tournament up to the finals IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/badminton-india-open-2026-to-run-from-january-13-to-18-656113.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/villa-beat-chelsea-to-equal-club-record-with-11th-straight-win-655880.html London Dec 28 Ollie Watkins stepped off the bench to help Aston Villa complete a comeback victory against Chelsea in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge equalling a club record of 11 consecutive wins in the process The visitors were second best in the first half trailing to a Joao Pedro goal at the break but the introduction of Watkins sparked Villa into life offensively and he equalised shortly before the hour markSeveral chances came and went for the transformed Villans before Watkins buried a header from Youri Tielemansâ corner to send the travelling support wild with seven minutes leftThe result tied the clubâs record for consecutive wins which was set in 1897 and achieved again in 1914 keeping Unai Emeryâs team just three points off the top of the table heading into a game against pacesetters Arsenal on Tuesday The victory moves thirdplace Villa back within three points of Premier League leaders Arsenal who they face next in a huge clash at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday while Chelsea are now three points adrift of the top fourAfter the win Villa manager Unai Emery said We kept the same game plan we had at the first half but in the first half they were playing fantastic They were dominating We couldnt get the ball easily We were defending low we were defending well Only one corner and they scored But we needed to be passionate and try to keep being resilient and we were speaking after the first half in the dressing roomMeanwhile Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said I think for one hour until we conceded we dominated the game We were very good Unfortunately after that the dynamic of the game changed a little bit I think by the time they scored to make it 11 we should have scored two or three more IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/villa-beat-chelsea-to-equal-club-record-with-11th-straight-win-655880.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 09:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/head-backs-struggling-weatherald-says-hes-good-enough-to-play-international-cricket-655882.html Melbourne Dec 28 Travis Head has backed his opening partner Jïake Weatherald has endured a tough start to his Test career to turn things around Weatherald who made his Test debut in the Ashes series opener after a stellar run of form at Sheffield Shield managed just 146 runs from eight innings The 31yearold is expected to retain his spot in the final match at the SCG next weekWeatherald Test futures is facing scrutiny following a glut of low scores except his half century in the opener But Head feels there is plenty for Weatherald to offer and admitted the conditions on Australian pitches across the four matches have been difficultInternational cricket is extremely tough The wickets have been challenging across the board the last few years thats welldocumented Its not an excuse and I think hes a good enough cricketer for international cricket and I think he showed a lot of glimpses over his first four Tests Head saidIts not always gonna go your way and theres a lot of guys who look like they have been under the pump with the bat who are the best of our generationIt can be a tough way to start your international career but I think hes a good enough player to play international cricket he addedHead further said he is happy to continue in his role as opener as the Ashes series against England heads to Sydney for the final Test of the home summerHe has been a revelation for Australia since his move to the top of the order from No5 and has already scored two centuries in the role during the Ashes to be the leading runscorer of the seriesI see myself as this teams opening batter for the series and then weve got a long gap between to piece the puzzles together for where the team wants to go said HeadIve felt good at the top I feel like Ive been batting well For this series I feel like Ive been able to do a job for the team and its put us in good positionsIts been pleasing to be able to contribute in different ways and thats why Ive always been open to how can I make the team better If that means me at the top and were a better cricket team and were winning more then Im happyThere will be challenging times but at the moment I feel like Im moving really well which is putting me in good positions against the new ball he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/head-backs-struggling-weatherald-says-hes-good-enough-to-play-international-cricket-655882.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 10:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-webster-inglis-released-from-australia-squad-to-play-bbl-before-sydney-test-655883.html Melbourne Dec 28 Australias reserve allrounder Beau Webster and wicketkeeper batter Josh Inglis have been released from the squad to play in the Big Bash League ahead of the Sydney Test After the Boxing Day Ashes Test at the MCG concluded in two days Australian players have been granted a sevenday break until the New Yearâs contest in SydneyWebster will be available to play for the Hobart Hurricanes in their BBL match against the Melbourne Renegades on MondayInglis who was dropped for the rapidfire Boxing Day Test will also return to the BBL and play for Perth Scorchers in their clash with the Sydney Thunder at ENGIE Stadium on Tuesday ahead of the fifth and final Ashes TestAfter their BBL matches both players will rejoin the Australia squad in Sydney to prepare for the New Years Test at the SCG which starts on January 4Both players will be available to play for their respective teams before returning to the Australian squad on New Years Eve to prepare for the Ashes Test at the SCG Cricket Australia said in a statementAfter playing seven Tests this year Webster was omitted from the Australia XI for the opening Ashes match in Perth and has been unable to get back into the teamBut he may be in contention to reclaim his spot in the fifth and final Test due to Cameron Greens repeated failures with the bat during this seriesInglis is less likely to earn a recall after scoring 32 in his three innings during the Brisbane and Adelaide TestsDefending champions Hobart are currently second in the Big Bash standings with three wins from four matches while the Scorchers are coming off consecutive losses and sit fifth on the ladder IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-webster-inglis-released-from-australia-squad-to-play-bbl-before-sydney-test-655883.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 10:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/brett-lee-inducted-to-australian-cricket-hall-of-fame-655896.html New Delhi Dec 28 Former fast bowler Brett Lee has been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame The announcement was made on Sunday honouring his impressive international career characterised by exceptional pace durability and notable sportsmanship At 49 Lee is considered one of the quickest bowlers in history alongside Shoaib Akhtar He represented Australia from 1999 to 2012 playing 76 Tests 221 ODIs and 25 T20Is Throughout his career across all formats he took a total of 718 wickets In Tests he claimed 310 wickets while in ODIs and T20Is he took 221 and 38 wickets respectivelyThe former pacer was a significant pioneer of the early years of the T20 format playing for several teams globally including the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League He was part of the Sixers team that secured the first Big Bash League titleDuring his career in Australia Lee contributed to three World Cupwinning teams in 1999 2003 and 2007 He also participated in several Ashes series against EnglandLee is renowned for consistently crossing the 160 kmh mark on the speed gun However he was more than just producing quick deliveries he had a talent for blending speed with impressive skillHe was also named Australian Test Player of the Year in 2008 after receiving the prestigious Allan Border Medal Lee became a wellknown figure in India as well with a strong following due to his numerous appearances in the Indian Premier League IPL and his involvement in cultural activities such as music and film collaborationsPeter King Chair of the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame stated that Lee genuinely merits this honour as he remains an exceptional ambassador for the sportâBrett Leeâs induction into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame is richly deserved He was not only one of the fastest and most exciting bowlers the world has seen but also an outstanding ambassador for Australian cricket Brettâs impact transcended statistics â he inspired fans around the world with the way he played the game the respect he showed opponents and the pride he took in representing his country King said in an official statementâNow a respected commentator Lee continues to contribute to the game and its communities globally long after his final delivery The Australian Cricket Hall of Fame celebrates players whose careers have left a lasting legacy on the sport he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/brett-lee-inducted-to-australian-cricket-hall-of-fame-655896.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 12:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/had-it-been-2mm-shorter-it-might-have-been-alright-smith-gives-his-take-on-under-fire-mcg-pitch-655915.html Melbourne Dec 28 Australia standin skipper Steve Smith gave his take on the MCG wicket after the Boxing Day Test lasted just two days with England winning by four wickets He said that had the 10mm grass been 2mm shorter it might have made a difference in the match The Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch came under the scanner after the Boxing Day Ashes Test between Australia and England finished in two days As many as 36 wickets fell in 142 overs It lasted for 952 balls just five more than the series opener in PerthâIt obviously offered a lot 36 wickets in two days it offered plenty Had it been either 2mm shorter or a little less thatchy with 10mm it might have been alright but Iâm not a groundsman so itâs hard to judge But it did look like it was going to offer a fair amount probably a little more than I thought it would I think the groundsman is always learning but heâs produced some pretty good wickets in the last two years Smith told SEN CricketThe MCG has previously been criticised for producing flat wickets that favoured batting most notably during the 2017 Ashes Test when only 24 wickets fell over five days That surface drew widespread criticism prompting match referee Ranjan Madugalle to issue a âpoorâ rating in his official assessment reportI think when I started we didnât have too many wickets like this when I started the MCG used to be run tickets but thatâs changed a bit over the last four or five years Itâs probably changed more into a better cricket wicket where bat and ball are competing against each other The gameâs changed in terms of the aggression batters useâ if 10 years ago you saw Harry Brook come out and bat like that youâd think âWhatâs going onâBrook was the top run scorer for England and even Travis Head for us in the second innings it was probably one of those wickets where you had to go a little harder he addedFast bowler Mitchell Starc echoed Smithâs comments saying âNobody wants to see twoday Test matchesâI guess you saw it start to play a bit truer in the back end of yesterday Would a couple of mm off change the game much Or was it application Or even just two good attacksYou probably donât want to see twoday Test matches so they probably got it the grass on the pitch slightly too high We saw last week in Adelaide it was pretty flat and didnât do a lot unless the ball was hard and newBatters got that one last week and bowlers got one in their favour probably a bit too much this week I saw last year it was 6 or 7mm arguably if you make it 8mm itâs probably a pretty good surface Itâs one to not dwell too much on and move on pretty quick said Starc IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/had-it-been-2mm-shorter-it-might-have-been-alright-smith-gives-his-take-on-under-fire-mcg-pitch-655915.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 14:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/head-reveals-he-reached-out-to-duckett-after-noosa-backlash-to-see-if-he-was-going-alright-655925.html Melbourne Dec 28 Australia opener Travis Head said he reached out to Englands Ben Duckett after a social media video surfaced before the Melbourne Test that appeared to show Duckett intoxicated Englandâs managing director Rob Key had mentioned that the board had initiated an investigation following reports of players drinking heavily during a break in Noosa a beach town between the second and third TestsA viral social media video also appeared to show England opener Duckett intoxicated prompting increased scrutiny of the team and the batter in particularI get on with Ducky well and reached out to him to see if he was going alright Everyone is still human What you do in your personal time is up to you I know we live a high profile life and some people are more high profile than others At the end of the day it is a bit stiff but I dont think there is any real issueEnglands fournight trip to Noosa followed their 20 deficit in the Ashes series after losses in Perth and BrisbaneIt was reported that several players spent a significant amount of their time drinking on the Queensland coast and also on two prior days in Brisbane where the second Test was heldAlthough England played the second Test better than the Ashes opener they lost the following Test in Adelaide which led to Australia winning the seriesEngland ended an 18match winless streak in Australia and prevented an Ashes clean sweep during a remarkable and bizarre twoday Test in Melbourne During one of the most unusual matches in cricket history England needed 175 runs to win on the second evening of the fourth Test bringing the series to 31 ahead of the final match in SydneyIn tough batting conditions Englands Bazballers thrived in the chaos finally finding a situation in Australia that suited their freewheeling style They achieved their target in 33 overs with Englands fourwicket win thrilling the thousands of travelling fans who now have something to celebrate after a largely disappointing tour IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/head-reveals-he-reached-out-to-duckett-after-noosa-backlash-to-see-if-he-was-going-alright-655925.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 15:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-transfer-watch-flamengo-midfielder-carrascal-linked-with-marseille-move-655945.html Rio de Janeiro Dec 28 Colombian international midfielder Jorge Carrascal could leave top Brazilian football club Flamengo to join Frances Marseille in Europes January transfer window according to media reports The French Ligue 1 side has submitted an initial bid of 15 million euros for the 27yearold Carrascal Brazilian news outlet Esporte News Mundo reported on Sunday It added that Flamengo is seeking at least 20 million euros to release the playmaker who is contracted to the Rio de Janeiro club until June 2029Carrascal has made 24 appearances for Flamengo since his August arrival from Dynamo Moscow scoring three goals and providing five assists His performances helped Flamengo win this years Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Serie A titles In November he was recalled to Colombias national squad for friendlies against New Zealand and Australia coming off the bench in both matchesMeanwhile Atletico Mineiro has submitted an offer to sign Fenerbahce and Brazil international midfielder Fred according to media reports in BrazilThe 32yearold is contracted to the Turkish club until June 2027 but is open to a return to his homeland Globo Esporte reportedIt added that Atletico sporting director Paulo Bracks had contacted Freds representatives to discuss financial detailsFred has made 104 appearances for Fenerbahce scoring nine goals and providing 18 assists since his August 2023 move from Manchester United He was born in Belo Horizonte and represented Atletico Mineiros youth teams until the age of 16Also Botafogo captain Marlon Freitas could leave the club to join Brazilian Serie A rival Palmeiras as per local media reportsNegotiations are at an early stage with Palmeiras willing to pay six million US dollars for the 30yearold holding midfielder Gazeta Esportiva said The report added that Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira is seeking to strengthen his midfield following the departure of Anibal Moreno to River PlateFreitas has made 186 appearances for Botafogo in all competitions since joining from Atletico Goianiense in 2023 He captained the side to the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Serie A titles last yearPalmeiras finished second in this seasons Brazilian Serie A behind Flamengo and lost the Copa Libertadores final to the same opponent Botafogo ended the league campaign in sixth place and was eliminated from the Libertadores in the round of 16 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-transfer-watch-flamengo-midfielder-carrascal-linked-with-marseille-move-655945.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 17:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-transfer-watch-manchester-citys-hefty-price-tag-for-nathan-ake-leaves-barca-in-a-fix-655951.html Manchester Dec 28 Defending La Liga champions FC Barcelona have suffered a setback in their attempts to sign Nathan Ake to bolster their defence as former English champions Manchester City have demanded a hefty transfer fee to let go of the Dutch defender Barcelona have faced many issues with their backline in the first half of the season and have launched an allout attempt to get defensive reinforcements in the January transfer window In that respect Ake has emerged as the right option for the Spanish giants as he is leftfooted comfortable as a centreback and capable of filling in at leftback when required an attribute that adds tactical flexibilityDespite these attributes Ake has not been able to nail down a starting role under Pep Guardiola even though his performances with the Netherlands show he can operate at a high international levelThe Dutch international is open to leaving Manchester City and the idea of playing for Barca was particularly appealing to him For Barcelona this combination of experience and versatility made him an attractive name in a market with limited options claimed a report from SPORT on SundayWith Ake looking for more playing time several Premier League clubs have also enquired about him pushing his price up and complicating any potential dealManchester City would be willing to let him leave but only if an offer exceeds â25 million With the defenderâs contract running until 2027 City see this as the ideal moment to secure a definitive sale rather than wait and risk losing leverage the report claimedBut that is where Barcelonas problems start They are currently operating under strict financial controls and uncertainty around their salary cap and therefore committing to a deal of that size in January is extremely difficultThe report also claimed that although Barcelona feel strengthening the defence is essential internally the club management is not clear about how they can go about meeting the financial requirementsThis has further complicated Barcelonas search for a defender and now they are likely to look elsewhere for shortterm solutions to reinforce their backline IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-transfer-watch-manchester-citys-hefty-price-tag-for-nathan-ake-leaves-barca-in-a-fix-655951.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 18:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/senior-national-badminton-surya-charishma-rithvik-sanjeevi-clinch-singles-titles-655959.html Vijayawada Dec 28 Surya Charishma Tamiri rode on strong local support to register a comefrombehind win over Tanvi Patri while Ritvik Sanjeevi S defeated Bharat Raghav to clinch the womenâs and menâs singles titles respectively in the Senior National Badminton Championships in Vijayawada on Sunday The 19yearold Vijayawadaborn Surya Charishma got the better of Tanvi 1721 2112 2114 in the womenâs singles final while Rithvik defeated Bharat 2116 2220 in the menâs singles summit clashThe muchanticipated womenâs singles final between the local favourite and a player attempting to become the youngest senior national champion lived up to its billing as both players had their chances in the 58minute encounterTanvi took control of the match at the midway stage of the opening game and it looked like she had frustrated her opponent enough to induce unforced errorsOne such error happened at 65 in the second game as Surya Charishma swatted a service return in the net But the service judge had called it a fault for height and that gave the eventual champion a reprieve She then went on to win seven consecutive points to take control of the second gameIn the decider Surya Charishma engaged Tanvi in long rallies at the start and the tiredness began to show on the youngster Though Tanvi tried to keep pace with her opponent she clearly ran out of steam as Surya Charishma wrapped up the match with six straight points from 1514 onwardsIn the menâs singles final Rithvik relied on his superior defence and composure to overcome the challenge of Bharat Raghav Having pocketed the opening game without any hiccups Rithvik was under pressure in the second game as his opponent opened up a 95 leadThe 2024 Odisha Masters winner bagged six consecutive points to regain the lead and it felt like he would cruise to victory before two bad judgment calls allowed Bharat to fight back and even earn a game pointBut to his credit Rithvik kept his cool and stuck to his game plan and wrapped up the match in 39 minutesThe experienced combination of Shikha Gautam and Ashwini Bhat K clinched the womenâs doubles crown beating second seeds Priya Devi Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra 2114 2118 while top seeds Hariharan Amsakarunan and R Ruban Kumar defeated Mithileish P Krishnan and Prejan 2117 2112 to win the menâs doubles finalEarlier second seeds Sathwik Reddy K and Radhika Sharma upset top seeds Ashith Surya and Amrutha P 219 2115 to clinch the mixed doubles title IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/senior-national-badminton-surya-charishma-rithvik-sanjeevi-clinch-singles-titles-655959.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 18:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sr-national-badminton-surya-tamiri-to-meet-tanvi-patri-in-womens-summit-clash-rithvik-and-bharat-to-face-off-in-mens-final-655870.html Vijayawada Dec 27 Local favourite Surya Charishma Tamiri and the upandcoming Tanvi Patri set up the summit clash in womenâs singles while Rithvik Sanjeevi S will take on Bharat Raghav in the mens singles final of the Senior National Badminton Championships in Vijayawada on Saturday All four players reached the final day of the competition after registering hardfought wins over their respective opponents in the semifinalsSurya Charishma who had accounted for top seed Unnati Hooda in the quarterfinals defeated world number 45 Rakshita Sree R 2118 1821 219 while Tanvi came from a game down to end the inspired run of Maharashtraâs Shruti Mundada 1821 2112 2115 to reach their firstever senior nationals finalsIn the menâs singles semifinals 2024 Odisha Masters winner Rithvik Sanjeevi S saved a match point before upsetting top seed Kiran George 2116 1721 2220 in an hour and eight minutesRithvik will now take on Bharat Raghav who upset second seed M Tharun 2117 1121 2111 in 55 minutesIn the mixed doubles semifinals top seed Ashith Surya and Amrutha P fought back after a disastrous opening game to beat third seeds Deep Rambhiya and Sonali Mirkhelkar 821 2118 2118 while second seeds Sathwik Reddy K and Radhika Sharma defeated Nitin Kumar and Kanika Kanwal 2113 2114The womenâs doubles final will witness a clash of former national champions as third seeds Shikha Gautam and Ashwini Bhat K defeated Vennala K and Reshika U 2111 2115 while second seeds Priya Devi Konjengban and Shruti Mishra overcame the challenge from eighth seed Aparna Balan and Simran Singhi 2119 2114Earlier on Friday Surya Charishma Tamiri and the experienced Shruti Mundada upset the top two seeds in straight games to storm into the semifinals of the Senior National badminton championships Surya Charishma proved too strong for top seed Unnati Hooda winning their quarterfinals 2112 2115 in just 36 minutes while Shruti defeated second seed and former national champion Anupama Upadhyaya 2220 2112 in 39 minutesIn the menâs singles category top seed Kiran George had to work hard to overcome the challenge of 11th seed Rounak Chauhan 2118 2118 in 41 minutes IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sr-national-badminton-surya-tamiri-to-meet-tanvi-patri-in-womens-summit-clash-rithvik-and-bharat-to-face-off-in-mens-final-655870.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 08:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-manchester-united-beats-newcastle-to-move-up-to-fifth-655821.html London Dec 27 A depleted Manchester United climbed back into the Premier Leagues top five with a 10 win over Newcastle on Saturday at Old Trafford sealed by Patrick Dorgus stunning volley Dorgu scored his first goal wearing Manchester United colors after meeting a loose ball on the edge of the area in the 24th minute leaving goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with no chance The hosts hit the woodwork through Benjamin Sesko and went close again through Diogo Dalot after the breakMissing seven players including captain Bruno Fernandes Manchester United also lost Mason Mount at halftime but held firm against a Newcastle side that enjoyed 66 percent possessionThe visitors came close when Lewis Hall struck the underside of the crossbar but were unable to find an equalizer Newcastle is in 11th place with 23 points while the host has 29 points after 18 games The remaining games of the week are scheduled for Saturday and SundayDorgu scored the first of his United goals in the 24thminute volley because Diogo Dalotâs long throw was only slightly cleared The ball fell to the Dane at 15 yards and he blasted it into the bottom left corner of the goal Unfortunately for Newcastle despite their efforts late in the match they were unable to find an equaliser against a squad missing several vital players such as injured captain Bruno Fernandes and two African Cup of Nations members Bryan Mbeumo and Amad DialloThe solitary match this year reflects the fewest number of topflight fixtures on Boxing Day in 43 years a clear departure from the tradition of providing fans with a full schedule of festive matches IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-manchester-united-beats-newcastle-to-move-up-to-fifth-655821.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 10:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ca-achieve-record-attendance-on-a-single-day-across-mcg-scg-and-perth-655824.html Melbourne Dec 27 A record total of 162408 fans attended Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Big Bash League 15 matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Optus Stadium Fridays attendance shattered the record set 12 months ago when 152375 fans came through the gates on Boxing Day 2024 All three matches set attendance records showcasing the strength and popularity of Australias national sportIn Melbourne a crowd of 94199 watched 20 wickets fall in the fourth Ashes Test This was a record attendance for a day of cricket in Australia surpassing the previous record of 93013 for the ODI World Cup final in 2015 The dayâs second match saw the Melbourne Stars defeat the Sydney Sixers by seven wickets in front of 25589 fans the largest ever crowd at the SCGâs annual Boxing Day fixtureThe national singleday attendance record was then sealed at Optus Stadium as the Perth Scorchers welcomed 42620 fansâtheir largest Boxing Day Bash crowd eclipsing the previous record set in BBL 13 â to watch them host reigning champions Hobart HurricanesThe Boxing Day attendance record comes after both total and singleday records were set across the opening three Ashes Tests with the Big Bash achieving major increases in attendances and broadcast audiences across Foxtel and SevenTodd Greenberg Cricket Australia CEO said âBoxing Day 2025 has been a landmark day for Australian Cricket with records tumbling across all three venues to play host to Test and BBL matchesâTo set a new single day attendance record of 162408 is a proud moment for Australian Cricket and reflects our sportâs popularity and strength nationwideThe Boxing Day Test is bigger than cricket It is one of the nations great events and those who were at the MCG yesterday will cherish the experience foreverâSimilarly attending Big Bash games is a summer ritual for many Australian families and the buzz around the competition is as loud as itâs ever been Weâre seeing incredible performances record run chases and a continued a trend of nailbiting finishes every nightâThe unmissable onfield action has driven record crowds to every Test match with all formats experiencing attendance and audience growth this summerâWe thank all those who watched or attended a match on an incredible day for cricket and look forward to seeing packed venues around the country for the remainder of the summerâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ca-achieve-record-attendance-on-a-single-day-across-mcg-scg-and-perth-655824.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 10:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pbks-do-not-have-enough-backup-for-yuzvendra-chahal-says-abhinav-mukund-655834.html New Delhi Dec 27 Former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund believes the Punjab Kings do not have enough backup for offspinner Yuzvendra Chahal ahead of the Indian Premier League IPL 2026 Punjab Kings strengthened their squad with key domestic picks like Vishnu Vinod and Praveen Dubey along with Australian allrounder Cooper Connolly for middleorder balance in the mini auction Mukund praised the teamâs smart additions while noting areas like spin depth that need attentionAnalysing the Punjab Kingsâ balanced approach at the table Mukund said Punjab Kings didnât need much heading into the auction having already invested heavily earlier The only concern is Yuzvendra Chahal not featuring in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy â so itâs unclear if they have enough backup for him Theyâve added Pravin Dubey a legspinner from Karnataka and Cooper Connolly whoâs an exciting lefthanded allrounder capable of batting anywhere from three to five That versatility definitely adds value to their middle order Mukund said on JioStarVishnu joined Bangalore in 2017 as a replacement for the injured KL Rahul and played three matches before being released He went unsold for the next three seasons then was picked by Delhi in 2021 but did not play After stints with Hyderabad and Mumbai as a backup wicketkeeper he was signed by Punjab ahead of the 2025 seasonFormer India cricketer Robin Uthappa highlighted Vishnu Vinod as one of Punjab Kingsâ most promising additions Vishnu Vinod is a really exciting signing for Punjab Kings and I genuinely hope he gets regular opportunities in the IPL Weâve only seen glimpses of his ability during his stint with Mumbai Indians but heâs got phenomenal talent His inclusion adds depth to the middle order and even offers a potential fastbowling option Theres a lot of value he can bring to this setup IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pbks-do-not-have-enough-backup-for-yuzvendra-chahal-says-abhinav-mukund-655834.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 11:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/no-ball-drama-in-boxing-day-test-fuels-fresh-ashes-controversy-655741.html Melbourne Dec 26 The opening day of the Boxing Day Test witnessed a controversy involving the third umpire once again when Brydon Carse dismissed Mitchell Starc on an alleged no ball When Australia were reeling at 1427 Starc miscued lofted drive and was caught by Ben Stokes running back from midoff The MCG crowd thought Carse had bowled a noball when the sideon replay flashed upAs Starc made his way back to the dressing room broadcast replays showed Carseâs front foot appearing to land beyond the popping crease raising questions over a possible noball according to Fox CricketStarc briefly glanced at the big screen before walking off while third umpire Ahsan Raza ruled that part of Carseâs foot was grounded behind the line at the point of first contact a decision that left several former Australian players unconvincedâI cannot see how heâs got any part of that shoe behind the line unless my eyes are gone I canât pay that I canât see it Australian great Mark Waugh said during a commentary on Fox CricketFormer Australian spinner Kerry OâKeeffe added Thatâs tighter than a second coat of paint At first point of contact I canât see that is behind that white line any part of his heel It masquerades a terrific bit of cricket by Carse himself and the captain Ben Stokes with the strategy to promote Starc with that shotWith Starcâs dismissal Australia lost their final three wickets in just four balls as the hosts were bowled out for 152 in their first inningsIn response England are struggling at 624 with Starc and Michael Neser claiming two wickets each Notably a massive crowd has been confirmed at the MCG with 93442 people in the house already a number which could grow further which not only exceeds the highest previous Ashes crowd here 91092 in 201314 but also the biggest ever crowd for a day of cricket 93013 for the 2015 World Cup final IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/no-ball-drama-in-boxing-day-test-fuels-fresh-ashes-controversy-655741.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-tongue-becomes-first-england-bowler-since-1998-to-take-five-for-at-mcg-655745.html Melbourne Dec 26 Josh Tongue scripted history after he became the first England bowler this century to claim a fivewicket haul in Mens Tests at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here on Friday Tongue picked up 545 during Australias first innings of 152 all out Reeling 30 in the series Tongues efforts helped England bowled out Australia for 152 in their first innings of the Boxing Day TestIt was the first time an England bowler had claimed a fivewicket haul in a Test at the MCG since Darren Gough and Dean Headley did so in 1998 with Tongue breaking a 27year drought as the tourists breathed life into an Ashes series that Australia have already retainedThe spell was also Tongues most productive in Test cricket surpassing his previous best effort of 566 against Ireland at Lords in 2023 During Australias second innings Tongue will be on a hattrick after dismissing Scott Boland 0 and Michael Neser 35 with the last two balls of the hosts first inningsAustralia didnt have a strong start in front of a superb bowling performance from the visitors after opting to field Tongue picked three of the top four Australian batters as the hosts lost four wickets in the morning sessionKhawaja then perished in the fourth over after lunch courtesy of a successful review Carey couldnt bail his team out of trouble this time as he fell to the leg slip trap Just when it seemed like batting was comfortable Cameron Green was run out Michael Neser scored a valuable 35 that comprised seven fours but Tongue came back to wrap up the innings as he claimed his careers third Test fiferNotably a massive crowd has been confirmed at the MCG with 93442 people in the house already a number which could grow further IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-tongue-becomes-first-england-bowler-since-1998-to-take-five-for-at-mcg-655745.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/cricket-australia-ceo-says-hosting-of-day-night-boxing-day-test-at-mcg-is-not-off-the-cards-655757.html Melbourne Dec 26 Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has not ruled out the possibility of a daynight Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground The MCG held a womenâs daynight Test match in January 2025 in addition the venue will host Australia and Englands 150th Anniversary Test under lights in March 2027Melbourne hosted the inaugural Boxing Day Test in 1950 Since then CA holds contractual rights to use the MCG until the end of March each summer despite the venue often being used for Australian Rules football in that month Earlier this year it extended its venue hire agreement with the MCG until the 203031 summerâLook itâs not off the cards Weâve been talking a lot about the strength of pinkball cricket it was amazing this year in Brisbane and it has been really good in Adelaide March 2027 it will get its opportunity here in Melbourneâ Greenberg was quoted by Fox CricketDue to the enormous crowds expected to pack the MCG across five days between March 11 to 15 for the historic 150th Anniversary Test between Australia and England in March 2027 CA has opened a ticket ballot for the first time in its historyThe ballot opened on December 23 and runs until February 6 2026 Once closed entries will be randomised and successful applicants will be notified by February 13I dont have the early numbers but the concept of running a ballot will give you some demonstration of what we see in this event The strength of ticket sales and the interest it will have 150 years of cricket between our two countries is going to be a pretty special momentThose who were here in the â77 Centenary Test still talk about it in great affection and our job is to make sure that happens again at the 150th in March 2027 said Greenberg IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/cricket-australia-ceo-says-hosting-of-day-night-boxing-day-test-at-mcg-is-not-off-the-cards-655757.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/cfg-group-exits-mumbai-city-fc-shareholding-amid-isl-unceratinity-655762.html New Delhi Dec 26 City Football Group CFG has divested its shareholding in Mumbai City FC returning the Indian Super League ISL side to full control of its founding owners Mumbai City FC the Club can confirm that City Football Group Limited CFG has divested its shareholding in the Club The founding owners will assume full control of the organisation moving forwardâ the club said in a statement posted on XCFGâs exit comes at a precarious moment for Indian football with the future of the ISL itself clouded by uncertainty The group said its decision followed âa comprehensive commercial review and in light of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of the Indian Super League ISLâ It added that the move reflected CFGâs âdisciplined and strategic approach â ensuring its focus remains on areas where it can have the greatest longterm impactâThe purchase of a 65 share of Mumbai City FC in November 2019 by the Manchester Cityowning conglomerate was a watershed moment in ambition professionalism and globalising the club The club experienced the greatest success during its sixyear relationship with CFGâSince 2019 CFG and Mumbai City FC have reached new heights winning two ISL League Winnersâ Shields and two ISL Cup titles strengthening the Clubs football operations and making meaningful contributions to the growth of the game in Indiaâ the statement readBy using a data driven recruitment model and developing the professional manager of their football operations CFG had an immediate impact on Mumbai City FC The 202021 season saw the club make history by winning both the ISL League Winners Shield and the ISL Cup making them the first team to ever complete the double in one seasonThe club won a second Shield in the 202223 season remaining unbeaten during the leagues 18match duration a first in the ISL Mumbai City FC also became the first Indian club to win an AFC Champions League match marking a landmark achievement for Indian football on the continental stageCFG said it remained âproud of the achievementsâ and âdeeply appreciative of everyone connected to Mumbai City FC â from players and coaches to staff fans and partnersâ while adding that it âlooks forward to continuing its relationships and partnerships in India in the years aheadâNow with CFG leaving Mumbai City FC the club has been taken back under the full ownership of Ranbir Kapoor film actor from India and Bimal Parekh a business tycoon The news remains bad for Indian football as it further impacts the ISL with no confirmed calendar year for play no resolved commercial contracts between teams in the league and currently no outcome from its ongoing governance impasseThe exit of CFG is also a negative indicator of the leagues potential financial growth decreasing the chances of other investors or sponsors wanting to support the league going forward According to reports the AIFF All India Football Federation has formally rejected everything that was proposed by both ISL and ILeague teams regarding clubled ownership or operations thus causing more of a rift between the clubs and the federation IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/cfg-group-exits-mumbai-city-fc-shareholding-amid-isl-unceratinity-655762.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/long-way-to-go-but-im-very-excited-says-rani-rampal-on-embracing-coaching-role-at-hil-655624.html New Delhi Dec 25 After an illustrious playing career former India womenâs hockey team captain Rani Rampal has stepped into a new role this time from the sidelines In an exclusive conversation with IANS Rani opened up about her transition from player to coach the challenges of managing diverse personalities her vision for Soorma Hockey Club at the Hockey India League HIL 2026 and what itâs like working alongside longtime teammate Savita Punia in a mentorâs role For Rani retirement from playing hasnât meant stepping away from hockey it has meant starting all over again âThis is just the beginning of a new journeyâ she says âWhen one journey ends another begins My journey as a player has finished and a new one as a coach has started Thereâs a long way to go but Iâm very excitedâRani compares her current phase to her early days as a player full of learning curiosity and growth Her biggest motivation is giving back to the sport by guiding the next generation âI want to learn everything from scratch in this role so that I can help youngsters and the new generation of playersâOne of the toughest adjustments Rani admits has been shifting her mindset from that of a player to a coach âThe mindset of a player and a coach is very differentâ she explains âAfter playing for so many years itâs not easy to suddenly think differently In the beginning you still think like a playerâAs a coach patience has become key âYou have to remember that some players are fast learners and some are slow learners As a coach you need much more patienceâAccording to Rani coaching goes beyond tactics and techniques âYou can always teach technical and tactical aspects but managing players keeping everyone on the same page and sharing one vision thatâs what really mattersâHaving experienced both roles Rani is clear that dealing with players is far from easy âPlayers come from different parts of the world different cultures and everyone has a different mindsetâ she says âBut this is our jobâto show them a common vision Why are we here What is our purposeâOnce players understand their roles and responsibilities she believes things fall into place Still mistakes are inevitable âWe are all human and mistakes are part of the journey Whatâs important is learning from them Making mistakes is not a crime But learning from them and not repeating the same mistake thatâs a form of selfrespectâTalking about Soorma Hockey Club Rani is confident about the teamâs potential heading into the new seasonâWe have a powerful and balanced squadâ she says âLast season we won the silver medal and performed consistently well throughout the tournament even though we couldnât finish the final the way we wantedâThis season the team boasts a mix of top overseas players experienced Indian players and exciting young talent But individual brilliance isnât the focusâWe donât want to showcase individual talent We want to play as a teamâ Rani emphasises âIf we use our talent collectively we can beat any team defensively and offensivelyâWhile she keeps details close to her chest ahead of the tournament she makes one thing clear âThe squad is very strong and Iâm really looking forward to the seasonâRani is particularly excited about the young talent coming through the ranks at Soorma Hockey ClubâPlayers like Sonam Hina Bano Nidhi Binima Dhan and Baljeet Kaur all U21 players have a lot of potentialâ she says âIâm sure theyâll showcase their talent in the HILâRaniâs equation with Indian goalkeeper Savita Punia has evolved over the years from teammates on the field to a coachmentor dynamic off itWeâve played together for more than a decade Now sheâs still playing and Iâm in a mentorâs role she saysGiven Savitaâs experience Rani is clear about her boundaries âYou canât really coach her technically anymore she knows exactly what she needs to do on the field My role is more off the field checking how her body and mind are feeling If she ever needs specific training or a different warmup Iâm always thereâRaniâs admiration for Savita is unmistakable âSheâs one of the top goalkeepers in the world Iâm always proud that we had a goalkeeper like her who helped us win so many tournaments especially in shootoutsâFrom guiding young players to managing elite athletes Rani is embracing the challenges of coaching with the same passion that defined her playing career âThis is just the startâ she says IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/long-way-to-go-but-im-very-excited-says-rani-rampal-on-embracing-coaching-role-at-hil-655624.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/tickets-sale-for-chennai-leg-of-hockey-india-league-begins-655631.html New Delhi Dec 25 Tickets for the forthcoming mens Hockey India League HIL 202526 in Chennai starting January 3 went live on Thursday Hockey India has decided to make tickets free of cost to encourage more fans to attend matches The Womenâs HIL begins on December 28 in Ranchi and ends on January 10 while the Menâs HIL begins on January 3 in Chennai moves to Ranchi from January 11 and the final leg is held in the cradle of hockey â Bhubaneswar â from January 17 to January 26This yearâs Hockey India League will showcase an impressive roster of eight menâs and four womens teams with both leagues offering fastpaced exciting games through their newly revamped formatsThe ticket sales for the HILâs Ranchi leg went live on Monday As in the previous edition Hockey Indiaâs endeavour is to take the sport to every corner of the country and make it more accessible to its passionate fansHockey India League HIL governing committee chairperson Dilip Tirkey had said âWe have once again decided to offer free tickets for hockey fans to come and enjoy all the matches across Chennai Ranchi and Bhubaneswar While the womenâs matches will be in Ranchi the menâs HIL will be played across three cities We want to fill the hockey stands with fans who wish to see their favourite stars in action We will have some of the worldâs top players this season and we are eager to witness some fantastic hockey over the span of a monthâHIL governing committee member Bhola Nath Singh echoed similar sentiments and said âHero HIL will be a monthlong celebration of hockey and we invite the hockey fans to come watch hockeykajashn It was our aim to increase the fanbase for our sport across regions and we look forward to packed stadiums throughout the seasonâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/tickets-sale-for-chennai-leg-of-hockey-india-league-begins-655631.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 15:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wpl-2026-ex-india-player-anagha-deshpande-joins-delhi-capitals-as-assistant-coach-655641.html New Delhi Dec 25 Ahead of the 2026 season of the Womenâs Premier League WPL former India cricketer Anagha Deshpande has joined threetime runnersup Delhi Capitals DC as an assistant coach It is understood that Anaghaâs coaching duties will center around fielding and batting in the DC setup âYes I am joining the Delhi Capitals It was finalised a few days ago Hundred percent its a great opportunity for meâI will get to learn a lot of things which will aid me in future I have seen them try for winning a trophy for three years I hope I can help them win the trophy this timeâ Anagha told IANS on ThursdayAt DC Anagha will link up with head coach Jonathan Batty Her appointment comes after the exit of Lisa Keightley who has joined Mumbai Indians as head coach and Milap Mewada who is now coaching Goaâs menâs team in the ongoing domestic seasonAnagha played 23 ODIs and eight T20Is for India from 2008 to 2014 and made 483 runs across both formats As a wicketkeeper she took 16 catches and effected 21 stumpings in whiteball cricket for India She played for Maharashtra Railways Gujarat and Puducherry in the domestic cricket circuitAnagha has enjoyed considerable success as a coach in Uttarakhand since retiring as a player She led the states U19 womens team to oneday trophy titles in 202122 and 202223 and guided the U23 side to entering knockout stages in T20 and oneday championships in 202324 and 202425Under Anagha Uttarakhand reached their first senior womens finals in both T20 and oneday formats in 202324 Players like Nandini Kashyap Raghvi Bist and Prema Rawat all of whom featured in this years WPL and India A teams attribute their growth to Anaghaâs coachingShe has also worked as a coach with many teams in senior and U19 womenâs challenger trophies as well as served in various assignments at the zonal and national level for camps organised by the BCCI Centre of Excellence CoEDC will open their 2026 WPL campaign on January 10 against defending champions Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai India batter Jemimah Rodrigues was recently named as DCâs new captain and Anagha backed the decisionâI have seen her leadership She is well deserving to be the captain I have seen her lead Mumbai The way her nature is in terms of leading a team there is no need for a tag to say that she is a leader She plays in the same way as a player and now that she has a leadership tag she is hundred percent well deserving of itâ she saidMeanwhile IANS understands that former India captain Anju Jain is likely to take charge as DCâs batting coach Anju featured in eight Tests and 65 ODIs for India from 1993 to 2005 and amassed 2170 runs overallApart from hitting one century and three fifties in Tests she claimed 15 catches and effected eight stumpings in the format while contributing with 30 catches and 51 stumpings in ODIsAnju previously served as assistant coach of UP Warriorz UPW in first two seasons of the WPL and was the head coach of Tornadoes at the FairBreak Global Invitational tournament Anju also coached the Indian team and also served as chairman of the womenâs selection committeeShe also served as the head coach of Bangladesh womenâs team and worked in the same capacity with Odisha Vidarbha Assam Tripura and Baroda teams in the domestic circuit IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wpl-2026-ex-india-player-anagha-deshpande-joins-delhi-capitals-as-assistant-coach-655641.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 15:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/there-was-more-pressure-last-year-than-this-year-says-rashid-ahead-of-sa20-opener-655658.html Cape Town Dec 25 MI Cape Town captain Rashid Khan said his side face less pressure in the upcoming SA20 season starting on Friday after claiming the trophy in the previous edition of the competition The defending champions return to Newlands on Friday with an aim to get their title defence up and running against a revamped Durbans Super Giants DSG Apart from Rashid the side boasts of Proteas stars Kagiso Rabada Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch alongside Trent Boult and new recruit Nicholas PooranThere was more pressure last year than this year you know we came at the bottom twice in a row and to come up from that and win the trophy was a big thing for us as a team I think what we did right was we played collectively as a team and we took the responsibility at certain points of the gameâEvery player is well experienced and they will adjust themselves with the condition and the position of the team quite quickly Everyone is so professional they have played so much cricket around the world and I think it wont be that difficult for them to acclimatiseâ said Rashid in a SA20 release ahead of the opening gameHe also expects Pooran to hit the ground running for his new team âHe Pooran is going to bring lots of energy to the game We know how dangerous and how good a cricketer he is He is a kind of a person who comes in smashing lots of sixes you will see Heâs a guy full of energy and entertainment and I am sure he is going to love his time hereâDSG meanwhile have a new captain in Aiden Markram who has won the competition twice previously with Sunrisers Eastern Cape SEC and brings a wealth of experience and winning mentality to Lance Klusenercoached teamDSG have a starstudded squad via the presence of Englandâs 2022 T20 World Cupwinning captain Jos Buttler New Zealand batter Williamson and former Proteas whiteball bighitter Heinrich KlaasenWest Indies offspin allrounder Sunil Narine is unfortunately not available as yet but DSG have recruited Proteas Test hero Simon Harmer to further bolster a spinning contingent that already has Afghanistan mystery bowler Noor AhmadâThere is a really nice balance in the setup and we have a nice group of guys We have some really good allrounders mixed with 23 world class players with the likes of Buttler Klaasen and coâI think a lot of it comes down to finding our strength as a team and our identity and what gives us the best chance to play good cricket and win games of cricket so its obviously a new and exciting challenge for us in a competition with a lot of new faces said Markram IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/there-was-more-pressure-last-year-than-this-year-says-rashid-ahead-of-sa20-opener-655658.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 16:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/igpl-tour-jeev-milkha-singh-ends-13-year-title-drought-with-win-in-colombo-pukhraj-wins-order-of-merit-655675.html Colombo Sri Lanka Dec 25 Indiaâs golf legend Jeev Milkha Singh provided the inaugural season of the Indian Golf Premier League IGPL a dream finish as he beat a host of young and experienced stars to win the IGPL Invitational Sri Lanka the final event of the season Jeev who has not won a pro event since 2012 gave his young rivals a perfect lesson on the Royal Colombo Golf Course greens in the final event of the inaugural seasonAfter a modest second day Jeev spent almost half an hour at the putting green It may well have paid off as he putted superbly to add to his splendid iron play that saw him hit his approaches to inside 510 feet At one stage he had five birdies in a row and seven in a span of nine holes between the sixth and the 14thStarting two shots behind Aryan Roopa Anand Jeev who turned 54 ten days ago turned the clock with a closing 6under 65 to total 15under He beat Aryan by one shot Aryan 68 needing an eagle on the Par4 18th to force a playoff managed only a birdie and was sole second at 14underAs Jeev won his maiden IGPL title Pukhraj Singh Gill despite finishing T12th won the IGPL Order of Merit by a razorthin margin over Aman Raj and Gaganjeet Bhullar After 11 events carrying Rs 15 crore prize purse with Rs 2250 lakh for the winner Pukhraj was less than Rs 9000 ahead of Aman RajAn emotional Jeev was mobbed by friends after the finish and he was both physically and emotionally drainedâI had never played in Sri Lanka before It is an emotional moment for me Because this is where my parents fell in love and began their relationship My mother played volleyball and my father was here for athletics So this is where their journey together beganâ said an emotional Jeev wiping the tears awayâWe lost them in 2021 and I lost my will to play but a little later in 2022 I decided I would play for them and win I hope todayâs win will put a smile on their facesâ he added looking towards the clear blue skiesJeev was generous in his praise for the course and the team at the event He added âThe Royal Colombo Golf Course was amazing and the whole team here did a great job and so did the IGPL teamâJeevâs son Harjai was one of the amateur players in the field Watching the two in action was Jeevâs wife Kudrat who of late has been accompanying her son for junior and amateur events Harjai was T22ndSpeaking after presenting the Trophy to Jeev and putting on him the IGPL jacket Uttam Singh Mundy CEO of the IGPL said âThe IGPL could not have hoped for a better winner to end the season than Jeev Milkha Singh a legend of the game worldwide It was an amazing three days of display and Jeev showed the youngsters many of whom may not have even begun the sport when he last won at the 2012 Scottish Open that he is indeed a champion for all timeâHe concluded âAt the IGPL we are proud that Jeev has put a stamp on it with such a splendid winâJeevâs last pro win was at the 2012 Scottish Open In his career Jeevâs successes include four on the European Tour four on the Japan Tour and six on the Asian Tour One of the Asian Tour wins was cosanctioned with the European TourJyoti Randhawa who played alongside Jeev on various Tours for more than two decades also made his first IGPL appearance in Colombo He was all praise for his friend âJeev is an amazing player I have been privileged to see him for so many years His hunger and love for the game are still the same and he has always wanted to win as he showed that even today He is an inspiration for everyoneâ said Randhawa whose son Zoravar also played this week as an amateur and both father and son finished T24thJeev did not have the best of starts as he gave away a shot on the first which he made up for with a birdie on the second But two pars later Jeev dropped another shot on the fifth Then came the birdie barrage with five in a row from the sixth to the tenth and during that run he went ahead and never looked backHe added two more birdies on the 12th and the 14th and could then afford four pars to close out the win Jeev may well be the oldest winner of a proper professional Tour and his win gave the IGPL an ideal momentum in its very first yearKarandeep Kochhar 65 who has already sealed his 2026 Asian Tour berth by finishing second on the Asian Development Tour was sole third at 12under while SSP Chawrasia 69 dropped a late bogey to finish fourth at 11under Gaganjeet Bhullar 68 who kickstarted the IGPL Tour with two wins and then won another when he returned for a third start was fifth at 10underLocal amateur Kaya Daluwatte 71 who had held a 3shot lead at one stage in the third round shot even par and finished sixth at 9underVeer Ganapathy who was one of the big finds of the inaugural IGPL season was seventh at nineunder He shot under par on all three daysFour players including Aman Raj 71 who was in the running for the IGPL Order of Merit were tied eighth with Raghav Chugh 63 Pranavi Urs 66 and Kapil Kumar 68 at 8under Pranavi winner of the IGPL Mumbai was the top woman finisher at Tied8th at 8underPukhraj 67 who registered his maiden professional win at IGPL Jamshedpur missed a 4foot birdie at his final hole and finished Tied12th with Chiragh Kumar 72Yet that was enough to win the IGPL Order of Merit by a slim margin Pukhraj won Rs 8190652 while Aman Raj who had two wins in the season won Rs 818170854 which was less than Rs 9000 short of the winnerGillâs benefits will include a spot on the USD 2 million International Series in India early next year and he will also get a spot in an event with Open Qualifying berths on the Asian TourGaganjeet Bhullar who won in his first three starts earned Rs 8130000 to be third Pranavi Urs with Rs 3484687 was the top woman pro earner of the season IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/igpl-tour-jeev-milkha-singh-ends-13-year-title-drought-with-win-in-colombo-pukhraj-wins-order-of-merit-655675.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 18:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/harsha-deshpande-seals-double-title-at-gsta-state-ranking-tennis-tournament-655695.html Ahmedabad Dec 25 Emerging tennis star Harsha Deshpande made a remarkable showing in the Gujarat State Tennis Association GSTA State Ranking Tennis Tournament securing a double victory by claiming the Girls Under14 and Girls Under16 Singles titles Harsha a Grade VII student has been training at the Adani Sportsline Academy since 2024 She demonstrated maturity steadiness and tactical awareness beyond her years in both age groups of the event that took place at the SRAG Tennis Academy in Ahmedabad from December 20 to 23 2025In the Girls Under14 draw Harsha beat Jena Shah 6â1 in the quarterfinals then defeated Reona Pancholi 6â3 in the semifinals and clinched the title with a 7â3 victory over Zia Thakkar in the final She carried that momentum into the Girls Under16 category where she achieved dominant wins against Jiya Hada 6â0 in the quarterfinals and Pahel Mehta 6â1 in the semifinals before beating Sarah Rias 7â3 in the finalThe double triumph further marked a successful domestic season for Harsha who also secured her first Girls Under14 Singles title at the All India Championship Series 7 Tennis Tournament in August 2025 Her performances this year demonstrate consistent improvement across various age groups and increased confidence in competitive matchesHarshaâs growth is fostered by Adani Sportsline Academyâs structured training system which highlights technical skill physical fitness mental resilience and sustainable athlete development The academy remains dedicated to nurturing young talent via expert coaching and competitive exposure reaffirming its goal to develop Indiaâs future highperformance athletesHarshaâs victories highlight a strong domestic season and consistent progress on the junior circuit underscoring Adani Sportsline Academyâs commitment to structured longterm athlete developmentEarlier this year the Gujarat State Tennis Association GSTA entered into a collaboration with Tennis Premier League TPL which recently concluded its seventh season and both pledged their support to grassroots development programmes in the state The TPL announced this move as part of the nationwide Race to Gold RTG initiative which aims to unearth Indias tennis gems and provide them with scholarships to further their careers IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/harsha-deshpande-seals-double-title-at-gsta-state-ranking-tennis-tournament-655695.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 19:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sub-jr-men-academy-hockey-ghumanhera-pritam-siwach-sgpc-army-boys-clinch-victories-on-day-3-655706.html Surat Dec 25 Ghumanhera Riserâs Academy Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy Sonepat SGPC Hockey Academy and Army Boys Sports Company secured decisive wins on Day 2 of the 3rd Hockey India Junior Men Academy Championship 2025 â Zone A amp B being played in Surat Gujarat on Thursday In Pool D Ghumanhera Riserâs Academy dominated Raja Karan Hockey Academy with a 15â0 win Tashu scored four goals 19â 52â 55â 58â while Siddharth netted a hattrick 22â 35â 56â Nishant added two goals 16â 28â and Duvish scored twice 58â 59â Additionally Captain Yuvraj Singh 6â Jay 26â Yash 44â and Kapil 52â each contributed with a goal eachIn the same pool Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy of Sonepat achieved an 8â0 victory over Bhai Behlo Hockey Academy Nikhil scored four goals in the 13th 31st 41st and 45th minutes Himanshu added two goals at 27 and 51 minutes while Yashmit Deswal and Aryan each scored once at 25 and 37 minutes respectivelyIn Pool C SGPC Hockey Academy convincingly defeated Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey Society with a score of 15â1 Sukhdev Singh netted four goals at 43â 45â 49â and 58â Diljeet Singh scored twice at 5â and 16â while Mehakdeep Singh also scored two goals at 20â and 60âJarmandeep Singh contributed two goals at 25â and 41â Inderpreet Singh scored braces at 38â and 53â Arshdeep Singh added one goal at 18â and Sukhraj Singh scored at 59â The only goal for Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey Society was scored by Anubhav at 19âIn Pool A Army Boys Sports Company beat Cheema Hockey Academy 6â1 Goals came from Bara Chhitij 1â 4â Venkateswara Kolnati Rao 22â 47â KT Aiyappa Linith 7â and RP Rithveesh 57â Harmanjot Singh scored the only goal for Cheema Hockey AcademyDay 3 summaryGhumanhera Riserâs Academy defeated Raja Karan Hockey Academy 15â0 in Pool DPritam Siwach Hockey Academy Sonepat beat Bhai Behlo Hockey Academy 8â0 in Pool DSGPC Hockey Academy defeated Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey Society 15â1 in Pool CArmy Boys Sports Company beat Cheema Hockey Academy 6â1 in Pool A IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sub-jr-men-academy-hockey-ghumanhera-pritam-siwach-sgpc-army-boys-clinch-victories-on-day-3-655706.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 20:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/smith-to-lead-australia-as-hosts-confirm-to-play-with-four-quicks-no-spinner-for-mcg-test-655589.html Melbourne Dec 25 Australian standin captain Steve Smith opted for an allpace attack for the fourth Ashes Test against England with the hosts yet to settle on their Playing XI Smith announced the final 12 for the fourth Test after Australiaâs last training session on Thursday and said selectors would assess the âquite furryâ MCG pitch again on Friday morning before finalising their pace attack with Michael Neser Brendan Doggett and returning quick Jhye Richardson vying for the final two placesWeve landed on a 12 we just want to take a look at the wicket tomorrow Were going to be playing four quicks and no spinner The pitch has 10mm of grass quite furry quite greenI dare say its going to offer quite a bit particularly day one is similar conditions to today quite cold and overcast so I dare say theres going to be quite a bit of movement Smith told reporters on Thursday morningYou just got to play what surface youre presented with this one looks like its going to offer a fair bit of assistance for the seam bowlers and the weather throughout the week looks conducive for that tooI think if Nathan Lyon was available wed probably still be having the same conversation as well so its certainly nothing to do with Todds skill he addedIf selected Richardson will end a fouryear drought between Test matches this week with his most recent appearance in the national redball side coming back in December 2021Its exciting to see Richardson back into the fold hes had a pretty long layoff with injury and we know the skills he can posses Hes done it against England before in an Ashes Weve seen when hes had the opportunity at this level hes been outstanding Smith saidReserve wicketkeeper Josh Inglis drops out to make way for Smith who missed last weekâs Adelaide Test with a vestibular illness while captain Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon remain sidelined with injuriesâIâm far better than I was last week I obviously had a few bad days before the Test and for the first couple of days of the Test and then all my vestibular stuff settled downâIâm feeling 100 per cent It was a shame to miss that one It looked like a pretty nice wicket for batting I was watching in the hotel those first two days and wished I could have been out there but it was the right call at that stage I was struggling Smith saidSmith also confirmed that veteran Usman Khawaja and wicketkeeper Alex Carey would bat at No 5 and No 6 respectively with allrounder Cameron Green sliding down to No 7Australia XII for fourth Test Travis Head Jake Weatherald Marnus Labuschagne Steve Smith c Usman Khawaja Alex Carey wk Cameron Green Mitchell Starc Scott Boland Brendan Doggett Michael Neser Jhye Richardson IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/smith-to-lead-australia-as-hosts-confirm-to-play-with-four-quicks-no-spinner-for-mcg-test-655589.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 11:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-feel-for-them-smith-empathises-with-england-after-3-0-ashes-drubbing-655605.html Melbourne Dec 25 Steve Smith showed sympathy toward Ben Stokesled England as the team endured criticism following their early Ashes series defeat to Australia England suffered losses in the first three Tests and the hosts took an unassailable 30 lead upon winning the recent Adelaide Test Smith will rejoin the Australian team for the Boxing Day Test and continue as standin captain in place of Pat Cummins after recovering from an innerear issue With Australia already having secured the urn and now aiming for a clean sweep in the Ashes Smith was asked if he felt any sympathy for the English team which is under heavy scrutinySmith who was stripped of the Australian captaincy and received a yearlong suspension following the Sandpapergate scandal in South Africa is familiar with the pressures of being in the spotlight and expressed empathyfor Englands current situationâWhen youâre losing the spotlight is always on you and things can get spoken about and get blown up pretty heavily So â I feel for them in a way It can be tricky Youâre in a country where you know you can go out and about and enjoy yourselves and with big breaks you know youâve got to experience the country that youâre in as well And they had a pretty big break in betweenâ Smith told reporters at the MCG on Christmas DayThe focus has shifted from Englandâs short preparation for the series to allegations that several team members overindulged during a break in Noosa between the Brisbane and Adelaide Tests Smith stated he has no problem with the team taking a break between matches and believes it can serve as a reset for teams under pressure or not at their bestSometimes I think youâve just got to â and I heard a few of the comments â but you have got to get away from the game and try and put it out of your mind and just relax for a little bit too And I can see thatâs the kind of path that they wanted to go down and I think itâs fair enoughI cant really comment more than that on how theyâre feeling or how theyâre going about things but yeah I certainly believe that when youâve lost two Test matches and youâve got such a long break sometimes you just need to get away from the game and switch off entirely he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/i-feel-for-them-smith-empathises-with-england-after-3-0-ashes-drubbing-655605.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 12:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-season-3-alpine-pipers-beat-continental-kings-to-be-crowned-champions-alaskan-knights-finish-third-655404.html Mumbai Dec 23 Alpine SG Pipers upset twotime defending champions Triveni Continental Kings to be crowned champions of the third edition of the Global Chess League GCL at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai on Tuesday The Pipers who had sealed the final berth by the skin of their teeth as they edged Ganges Grandmasters by just one game point were at their dominant best in the final as they won the first rapid match 42 with black pieces and then scored a 4515 win with whitePBG Alaskan Knights finished third after beating Ganges Grandmasters in a tiebreakThe finale of the Global Chess League GCL Season 3 lived up to the hype as the final day turned out to be as topsyturvy as the league stageTriveni Continental Kings went into the final as favourites but the Pipers who found form in the second half of the league stage would have felt that the momentum was in their favour And that was exactly the case as Nino Batsiashvili and Leon Luke Mendonca on the prodigy board once again proved how valuable they have been to the team by winning their respective gamesNino prevailed over Alexandra Kosteniuk in a bishopknight endgame while Mendonca forced MarcâAndria Maurizzi into resigning after 52 movesContinental Kings star player Alireza Firouzja defeated Fabiano Caruana on the icon board to bring his team back in contention but Anish Giriâs win over Wei Yi meant that Pipers took the first match 42The Continental Kings had an uphill task of scoring four points with black to stay alive in the match But R Praggnanandhaa handed the Pipers the early advantage with a win over Vidit Gujrathi and Anish Giri then registered his second win over Wei Yi to put the result beyond doubt Yesterday I had mixed feelings because I had a terrible match but the team reached the final But today there is no mixed feeling said Giri after being named the Player of the Match for his two victoriesOn the icon board Caruana then scored a full point against Alireza who ran out of time Firouzja who had beaten all his opponents in the first five matches was named the Male Player of the Tournament while Hou Yifan who had played an important role in helping Pipers reach the final with three wins in three matches in the business end of the league stage was named the Female Player of the TournamentâIt feels great The last two times we were quite close to making the final This time we barely made it But in the final everyone showed up with their best game and it is a great feelingâ said Praggnanandhaa after the title triumphEarlier world champion Dommaraju Gukesh finally managed to beat the legendary Viswanathan Anand when it mattered the most to help PBG Alaskan Knights finish third The playoff went to the wire as the Ganges Grandmasters took a 42 lead in the first rapid clash with white pieces only for the Alaskan Knights to bounce back with white to take the match into a blitz tiebreakAnand got the better of Gukesh in the first game of the playoff and had drawn the second so it looked like the former world champion had the upper hand over the reigning world champion in this competitionGukeshâs teammate Arjun Erigaisi on the other hand dominated Vicent Keymer on the second board in both the rapid games and even in the first blitz tiebreak and ensured that the match stayed in balanceThe Alaskan Knights rode on the momentum of levelling the regular games by winning the first blitz tiebreak 3525 with Arjun Kateryna Lagno and Sara Khadem scoring a full point each Under pressure to win and keep their challenge alive Ganges Grandmasters went allout in the second tiebreak with black pieces and that meant the Alaskan Knights had their chances to winWith all the matches heading for a result Alaskan Knights led 32 with the outcome of the match dependent on the result of the game between Anand and Gukesh And this is where the reigning world champion prevailed after pouncing on slight inaccuracies by the veteran to win in 49 moves and secure the thirdplace trophy for his team IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-season-3-alpine-pipers-beat-continental-kings-to-be-crowned-champions-alaskan-knights-finish-third-655404.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/afc-champions-league-ii-fc-goa-fc-istiklol-face-off-in-final-asian-night-in-fatorda-655414.html Margao Dec 23 FC Goa return to the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Fatorda for one final continental night in 2025 as they host Tajikistanâs FC Istiklol in their concluding Group D fixture of the AFC Champions League Two in Margao on Tuesday With qualification no longer in reach the encounter represents FC Goaâs last opportunity to put points on the board and close their Asian campaign with pride purpose and a performance worthy of their supportersFor the Gaurs continental nights at Fatorda carry a special resonance Memories of their last AFC Champions League appearance at home remain fresh when FC Goa put up a fearless fight against a starstudded Al Nassr side featuring some of world footballâs biggest namesOn that historic night Goa not only matched their illustrious opponents for long spells but also made history when Brison Fernandes scored Indiaâs firstever goal in the AFC Champions League That performance built on belief and bravery remains a defining reference point one the Gaurs will look to draw inspiration from as they chase their first points of the ACL Two campaignFC Istiklol arrive in India not just having already tasted silverware this season wrapping up their domestic league campaign as champions for a recordbreaking 12th consecutive season but also on the back of a 20 win in the reverse fixture in Dushanbe earlier in the group stage something the side will look heavily to draw inspiration from as they remain in the mix for qualification to the knockout stagesOn the other side FC Goa come into this fixture riding a wave of confidence after lifting the Super Cup for the second consecutive year just two weeks ago That triumph came at the very same Fatorda Stadium where the Gaurs edged past East Bengal in a tense final decided by penalties further strengthening their belief and bond with home support ahead of this crucial encounterHead coach Manolo MÃrquezâs side will be keen to channel that winning momentum into their final continental outing While the Asian campaign has tested them the objective is clear compete with intensity play with freedom and give the Fatorda faithful a performance to rememberGoalkeeper Lara summed up the squadâs mindset ahead of the clash âItâs been a difficult journey with the gaps between games and the uncertainty over the future but we are a strong group and we are ready to continue to represent India together in this competitionâWith pride on the line trophies recently secured on both sides and memories of past continental heroics to inspire them FC Goa vs FC Istiklol promises a compelling finale to group stage one where the Gaurs will be determined to finish their Asian journey on a high under the Fatorda lights IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/afc-champions-league-ii-fc-goa-fc-istiklol-face-off-in-final-asian-night-in-fatorda-655414.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-t20i-shafali-charani-star-as-india-thrash-sri-lanka-women-by-seven-wickets-655417.html Visakhapatnam Dec 23 Opener Shafali Verma delivered an impressive unbeaten 69 as India Women tasted a strong sevenwicket victory over Sri Lanka Women finishing the match with 49 balls remaining at the Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy ACA VDCA Cricket Stadium to take a 20 lead in the fivematch T20I series Indias bowlers especially Shree Charani set a solid foundation before Shafali completed the chase in style Choosing to bowl first India struck quickly and kept Sri Lanka from gaining any momentum They took wickets consistently limiting the visitors to 128 for 9 in their 20 overs Sri Lanka improved slightly from their 121 in the first T20I Kranti Gaud continued her good form by taking down Vishmi Gunaratne for 1 in the first over caught off the followthrough Although Arundathi Reddy let a few runs slip early on the Indian bowlers applied enough pressure to keep Sri Lanka from breaking freeSri Lanka managed to score 39 runs in the Powerplay but faced difficulties with skipper Chamari Athapaththu as their main contributor Athapaththu hit two sixes in her 31 off 24 balls before falling to Sneh Rana the only change in the lineup for the second T20I due to Deepti Sharmas absence because of a fever Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama stabilised the innings by rotating the strike bringing Sri Lanka to 66 for 2 by the halfway pointAs the field opened up Perera struggled to find the boundary and was eventually out for 22 off 28 balls dismissed by Shree Charani in the 13th over ending their 44run partnership Harshitha appeared confident during her knock and scored 33 before being run out in the 17th over Sri Lanka could not maintain their pace at the end losing wickets rapidly Nilakshi de Silva added just two runs before being dismissed by Vaishnavi Sharma who took her first T20I wicket as Sri Lanka finished at 128 for 9 Shree Charani 223 and Vaishnavi Sharma 232 were the top bowlers with Kranti Gaud 121 and Sneh Rana 111 each taking one wicketIn response Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana started strong for India putting together 29 runs before Mandhana was out for 14 off 11 balls Jemimah Rodrigues took control next hitting four fours and a six in her 26 off 15 balls before being caught at long off by Kawya Kavindi India raced to 113 in the first 10 overs their highest tally after the first 10 in womenâs T20Is surpassing the previous record of 111 against Malaysia Women at Hangzhou during the 2023 Asian GamesShafali continued her onslaught after the Powerplay reaching her 12th T20I fifty off just 27 balls She ended her innings unbeaten on 69 off 34 balls including 11 fours and a six Harmanpreet Kaur scored 10 off 12 balls before being bowled by Malki Madara when the score was tied and Richa Ghosh then hit the winning run in the 12th over completing the chase at 129 for 3 in 115 oversThis victory marked Indiaâs secondlargest win over Sri Lanka in womenâs T20Is in terms of balls left only behind the 69ball win in Sylhet in 2022 The series now moves to Thiruvananthapuram for the third T20I on Friday December 26Brief scores Sri Lanka Women 1289 in 20 overs Harshitha Samarawickrama 33 Chamari Athapaththu 32 Shree Charani 223 Vaishnavi Sharma 232 lost to India Women 1293 in 115 overs Shafali Verma 69 not out Jemimah Rodrigues 26 Kavisha Dilhari 115 by seven wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/2nd-t20i-shafali-charani-star-as-india-thrash-sri-lanka-women-by-seven-wickets-655417.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jr-men-academy-cship-ghumanhera-risers-bhai-behlo-hockey-academy-sgpc-academy-win-on-day-1-655421.html Surat Gujarat Dec 23 Ghumanhera Riserâs Academy Bhai Behlo Hockey Academy Bhagta SGPC Hockey Academy Ashwini Sports Academy and Roundglass Punjab Hockey Academy registered victories on the opening day of the 3rd Hockey India Junior Men Academy Championship 2025 â Zone A amp B in Surat on Tuesday In a Pool D encounter Ghumanhera Riserâs Academy clinched a thrilling 54 win over Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy Sonepat Captain Yuvraj Singh 4â Tashu 19â Nishant 30â Duvish 31â and Hitesh Kataria 49â scored one goal each for the winners For Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy Himanshu 37â 42â 52â struck a hattrick while Nikhil 39â added a goalIn the same pool Bhai Behlo Hockey Academy defeated Raja Karan Hockey Academy 52 Captain Himanshu Chanaliya 29â 37â and Angrej Singh 42â 44â scored braces while Baljit Singh 60â added another Sunny 23â 51â scored both goals for Raja Karan Hockey AcademyIn Pool C SGPC Hockey Academy recorded a convincing 72 victory over the Sports Authority of Gujarat â Hockey Academy Arshdeep Singh 49â 56â scored a brace while Sukhveer Singh 2â Jagjit Singh 15â Mehakdeep Singh 39â Shershubjit Singh 37â and Jarmandeep Singh 48â also found the net Salvi Nikunj 49â and Vinubhai Bamaniya 59â were the scorers for the Gujarat sideIn another Pool C match Ashwini Sports Academy edged past Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey Society 43 Sham Singh 9â Atul Kushwaha 18â Mohit Pandey 24â and Shiva Savita 46â scored for the winners while Anubhav 29â 41â and Yash Verma 55â struck for Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey SocietyIn Pool A Roundglass Punjab Hockey Academy defeated Army Boys Sports Company 21 courtesy of goals from Gurwinder Singh 32â and Anurag Singh 60â Nitesh Sharma scored the lone goal for Army Boys Sports CompanySome of the countrys top academy teams are in fray in this event which will be held on a roundrobin followed by kockout stage IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jr-men-academy-cship-ghumanhera-risers-bhai-behlo-hockey-academy-sgpc-academy-win-on-day-1-655421.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 01:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ill-always-protect-my-players-as-much-as-i-can-stokes-reacts-to-noosa-stag-do-allegations-655466.html New Delhi Dec 24 Skipper Ben Stokes has come out in defense of his teammates after it was revealed that Englandâs midAshes break in Noosa between the second and third Ashes Tests was allegedly a stag do causing excessive drinking by some players The England Cricket Board is currently investigating claims of the English teamâs drinking culture after a video of Ben Duckett went viral appearing to show intoxicationStokes has hit back at the viral social media post and âstag doâ rumours saying his main concern is the wellbeing of his teammatesâHow I handle this moment right now is the most important thing to me The welfare of everyone in there and probably some certain individuals as well is the most important thing to me right now as England captain Stokes told reporters at a press conference before the Boxing Day Test as quoted by Fox CricketâThis kind of stuff is very I donât know if close to me is the right wording but something that I have first hand experience of how it can affect people And as I said my role as England captain is to protect my players as much as I possibly canâWe have a goal still to try and achieve out here on this trip Itâs not gone anywhere near to plan whatsoever he saidStokes continued âLooking after my players is one of the main things that I need to get out of this because we need to go out there and win two games of cricketâI know how this kind of stuff can affect people and as I said I will always protect my players as much as I possibly canâRight here right now that is my main job as England captain is to ensure that they know that they have my backing because the most important thing to me sitting here right now is a group of players who I can get into a best possible state to go out there and try and perform for this country and the remaining of this tripâStokes was quick to shut down that line of questioning when asked whether his players had done anything wrong in Noosa âIâve just answered everything there Iâve just said I will always continue to support my playersâ he saidâI have a responsibility as captain out on the field to try and win games of cricket but in moments like these I have that other responsibility of making sure that I will always protect my players in a moment where I feel that is necessary he further said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ill-always-protect-my-players-as-much-as-i-can-stokes-reacts-to-noosa-stag-do-allegations-655466.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ishan-kishan-becomes-second-fastest-indian-to-smash-century-in-list-a-history-655507.html Ahmedabad Dec 24 Jharkhand wicketkeeperbatter Ishan Kishan produced a breathtaking display of powerhitting smashing a 33ball century against Karnataka in a Vijay Hazare Trophy fixture in Ahmedabad on Wednesday The innings ranks as the secondfastest hundred by an Indian in List A cricket falling just one ball short of the national record set earlier the same day by Bihar skipper Sakibul Gani who reached the milestone in 32 deliveries against Arunachal PradeshKishanâs latest feat adds to an extraordinary run of form for the lefthander Only days ago he was a surprise inclusion in Indiaâs squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup shortly after captaining Jharkhand to their firstever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumphDuring the SMAT campaign Kishan topped the charts with 517 runs and played a decisive role in the final against Haryana where he struck a blistering century His hundred came off just 45 balls making him only the second player to score a ton in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final and registering as the thirdfastest century in a menâs T20 final With five centuries in the tournament he now shares the record for most hundreds in SMAT history with Abhishek SharmaKishanâs explosive credentials are well established at the international level too He holds the record for the fastest double century in OneDay Internationals reaching the landmark in just 126 balls against Bangladesh in 2022The Vijay Hazare Trophy witnessed several breathtaking performances on Wednesday It all started with youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi grabbing headlines with his 36ball century for Bihar which he later converted into an 84ball 190 before his knock came to an end What followed next in the same innings was Ganiâs recordbreaking ton and Ayush Loharukaâs 56ball 116 as Bihar finished with a massive 574 runs on the scoreboard against Arunachal PradeshThen Kishan came close to breaking Ganiâs record falling short by the barest of margins with his 33ball ton He eventually finished with 125 runs to his name from 39 deliveries as Jharkhand posted 4129Courtesy of Kishanâs recent performances in the domestic arena he has earned a recall to the international setup having been named in Indiaâs T20I squad for the fivegame series against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup in February 2026 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ishan-kishan-becomes-second-fastest-indian-to-smash-century-in-list-a-history-655507.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bihar-script-history-with-highest-list-a-team-total-in-vijay-hazare-trophy-655509.html Ranchi Dec 24 Bihar are on a roll in its Vijay Hazare Trophy having registered the highest team total in List A cricket during the Plate League opener against Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday Batting first Bihar posted a staggering 574 for the loss of six wickets surpassing the previous List A record of 5062 set by Tamil Nadu against Arunachal Pradesh in the 2022 Vijay Hazare TrophyTeenager Vaibhav Suryavanshiâs blistering 190 coupled with a captainâs knock of 128 not out from Sakibul Gani and a fluent 116 from Ayush Loharuka powered the team to a recordbreaking total in a dominant batting displaySuryavanshi smashed a century off 36 balls to become the youngest centurion in List A cricket His century was the secondfastest by an Indian man overall in List A cricket after Punjab batter Anmolpreet Singhs 35ball century against Arunachal in the Vijay Hazare competition last seasonOverall Suryavanshis 36ball ton ranks jointfourthfastest ever in the world in List A cricket The teenage batter racked up his 150 off only 54 deliveries before being dismissed for 190 off 84Suryavanshi laid the foundation for Biharâs imposing total with a dominant batting display first adding 198 runs for the opening wicket alongside Mangal Mahrour 33 He then kept the momentum going by stitching together another century stand putting on 103 runs for the second wicket with Piyush Kumar Singh before being dismissed for a magnificent 190The onslaught continued as Ayush joined the act forging a fluent 130run partnership for the third wicket with Piyush who narrowly missed out on his halfcentury falling two runs shortSkipper Gani who joined Ayush to establish a 94run partnership hit the thirdfastest century in List A cricket with his 32ball hundred His century is the fastest by an Indian in List A He remained unbeaten on 128 off 40 balls which comprised 10 fours and 12 sixes IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bihar-script-history-with-highest-list-a-team-total-in-vijay-hazare-trophy-655509.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/head-conway-gain-big-in-latest-rankings-after-recent-red-ball-heroics-655515.html Dubai Dec 24 Performers in Test victories for Australia and New Zealand experienced significant gains following the most recent update in the ICC Menâs Player Rankings Players from both teams experienced a double celebration as Australia advanced to an unassailable 30 series lead against England in a home Ashes series and the Black Caps secured a 20 series victory over the West Indies in Mount Maunganui These performances have brought some Australian players close to the top positions in the Menâs Test batting and bowling rankingsIn Adelaide Australia Travis Head led the charge to an 82run victory with his secondinnings score of 170 off 219 balls helping secure the win This performance also moved Head up four places to joint third 815 in the rankings alongside teammate Steve SmithAlex Careyâs century in the first innings propelled him six spots up the rankings advancing to ninth place with his highest rating of 737Across the Tasman New Zealandâs strong batting performance secured their win against the West Indies resulting in a 20 series victoryRachin Ravindraâs unblemished scores of 72 and 46 led to a fiveplace rise to 13th while Devon Conwayâs impressive scores of 227 and 100 boosted him to a careerhigh ranking of 681 tying him for 17thKavem Hodgeâs aggressive innings of 123 not out resulted in an 11place jump to 66th marking his highest career ranking and ratingOn the bowling front two Australians are now best positioned to challenge Jasprit Bumrah as the top Test bowler Mitchell Starc third and Pat Cummins up four spots to second with a rating of 849 took a total of ten wickets in Adelaide with Cummins just 30 rating points behind the Indian pacerStarc also rose to third place on the Test allroundersâ list after playing a key halfcentury in the victory tying with Ashes rival Ben Stokes with a rating of 311There were also improvements in the Menâs T20I Player Rankings following the recently completed fivematch T20I series between India and South Africa which the Team in Blue won 31The final match was an offensive showcase in Ahmedabad as the hosts scored 231 runs in the first inningsIndias leading scorer Tilak Varma scored 73 off 42 balls surpassing Sri Lankaâs Pathum Nissanka to secure third place with 805 rating points Meanwhile Dewald Brevisâ rapid 31run innings helped him rise into the top 10India managed to defend the total thanks to Jasprit Bumrahs excellent spell 217 in four overs who was the only bowler in the match to finish with an economy rate below a run per ball This performance resulted in a 10place leap to tie for 18th in the bowling rankings with Maheesh Theekshana 622Varun Chakaravarthyâs fourwicket performance cements his leading position in the rankings with a rating of 804 comfortably ahead of Jacob Duffy with 699 in second place IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/head-conway-gain-big-in-latest-rankings-after-recent-red-ball-heroics-655515.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 18:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/former-india-physio-patrick-farhart-joins-lsg-as-global-head-of-science-and-medicine-655519.html New Delhi Dec 24 Former India mens team physio Patrick Farhart has joined Lucknow Super Giants LSG as Global Head of Science and Medicine a franchise official told IANS on Wednesday Besides LSG Farhart will also join its sister franchises the Durban Super Giants in SA20 and the Manchester Originals of The HundredPatrick Farhart will join LSG and its sister franchises as their Global Head of Science and Medicine from today His work will start from the upcoming SA20 season for the Durban franchise an LSG official told IANS on WednesdayFarhat has been in the field for more than 20 years now and has also served the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash the Kings XI Punjab and the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League as the teams physio over the yearsHe has also served as Performance Director for New South Wales Hampshire and Australia and has worked with major rugby and football teams in AustraliaIâm happy to share that Iâm starting a new position as Global Head of Medicine and Science at RPSG Sports Private Limited wrote Farhart on his LinkedIn accountThe purpose of this role is to establish and maintain world class standards in athlete performance health injury prevention injury rehabilitation continuing professional development and scientific innovation for sports medicine and sports science staff attached to RPSG Sport teams including Lucknow Super Giants IPL Manchester Originals The Hundred Durban Super Giants SA20 and Mohun Bagan SG ISL added FarhartPatrick was recently with the Delhi Capitals as their lead physio He joined the franchise for three years in 2019 after his stint with the Indian mens team endedThe Australian served as the Indian teams physiotherapist from 2015 until the 2019 ICC World Cup IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/former-india-physio-patrick-farhart-joins-lsg-as-global-head-of-science-and-medicine-655519.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 18:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/virat-kohli-completes-16-000-list-a-runs-on-vijay-hazare-trophy-return-655520.html Bengaluru Dec 24 Virat Kohli has once again etched his name in cricketing history reaching the remarkable milestone of 16000 List A runs during his return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Wednesday Playing for Delhi in their clash against Andhra Pradesh here at the BCCIâs Centre of Excellence Kohli achieved the feat with his first run in the teamâs chase of 299 This landmark moment further cements his status as one of the greatest ever in the 50over formatKohliâs 16000run feat makes him only the second Indian player after legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar to reach this figure in List A cricket The 37yearold now stands as the ninth player overall to breach this milestone joining the ranks of cricketing legends like Tendulkar Ricky Ponting Kumar Sangakkara Sir Vivian Richards and othersKohliâs last appearance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy came during the 201011 season where he captained Delhi He would go on to play in the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy in 201314 but had not participated in the Vijay Hazare for nearly a decade before this comeback His return to the competition was eagerly anticipated and his achievement was a fitting start to Delhiâs campaignWhile the milestone of 16000 List A runs stands as a testament to Kohlis excellence his ODI record continues to shine even brighter He remains the secondhighest runscorer in ODI history behind only Sachin TendulkarWith 14557 runs in 308 matches at an extraordinary average of 5846 Kohli is the fastest player to 14000 runs in ODI cricket He also boasts the most centuries in the format with 53 to his nameDespite his long and storied career Kohli is still chasing Tendulkarâs record of 60 centuries in List A cricket He currently holds 57 centuries four ahead of Tendulkarâs former record of 53 in the ODI formatHaving made his List A debut back in 2006 for Delhi in the Ranji OneDay Tournament Kohliâs career has been nothing short of spectacular Over the years he has represented Delhi in various domestic competitions with standout performances in the 50over format IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/virat-kohli-completes-16-000-list-a-runs-on-vijay-hazare-trophy-return-655520.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 18:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/from-melbourne-to-riyadh-2026-tennis-season-breakdown-655529.html New Delhi Dec 24 The 2026 tennis season is poised to deliver another relentless globespanning campaign with the sportâs biggest stars set to navigate Grand Slams elite tour events and highprofile team competitions across six continents From the opening ball strike in Australia to the seasonending showdowns in Europe and the Middle East the calendar is packed with opportunities for history redemption and breakthrough performances The Grand Slams tennisâ fab fourThe campaign begins with the Australian Open the first Grand Slam of the year to be staged from January 12 to February 1 2026 at Melbourne Park Jannik Sinner returns as the defending menâs champion while Madison Keys leads the womenâs field after her 2025 triumph Traditionally a test of conditioning and confidence Melbourne often sets the tone for the months aheadAttention then turns to the red clay of Paris for the French Open at RolandGarros running from May 18 to June 7 2026 Carlos Alcaraz will be looking to defend the menâs title with Coco Gauff returning as the reigning womenâs champion as the worldâs best prepare for the most physically demanding major of the yearThe grasscourt season peaks at Wimbledon hosted by the All England Lawn Tennis amp Croquet Club from June 29 to July 12 2026 Sinner again arrives as defending champion on the menâs side while Iga Swiatek looks to reaffirm her grasscourt credentials as the womenâs title holderThe Grand Slam cycle concludes at the US Open held from August 31 to September 13 2026 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in New York Carlos Alcaraz enters as the defending menâs champion after his 2025 final victory over Sinner while Aryna Sabalenka returns having successfully defended her womenâs crown last seasonATP and WTA ToursThe ATP Tour calendar once again features nine ATP Masters 1000 events seven in the extended 12day format forming the backbone of the menâs seasonThe yearâs first Masters 1000 arrives at the Paribas Open in Indian Wells from March 4â15 2026 followed immediately by the Miami Open from March 18â29 Claycourt Masters follow at the Rolex MonteCarlo Masters April 5â12 Mutua Madrid Open April 22 â May 3 and Rome Masters May 6â17Hardcourt preparation for the US Open begins with the National Bank Open in Montreal from August 2â12 then the Cincinnati Open from August 13â23The Asian and indoor European swing features the Rolex Shanghai Masters 7â18 October and the Rolex Paris Masters 2â8 November before the season culminates at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin staged from November 15â22 2026The next generation steps into the spotlight at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF scheduled for December 2026 in Jeddah with dates to be confirmedThe WTA Tour will showcase 10 WTA 1000 tournaments in 2026 with seven using the enhanced 12day formatThe seasonâs first WTA 1000 events are the Qatar TotalEnergies Open in Doha 8â14 February and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships February 15â21 The tour then converges with the men at Indian Wells 4â15 March and the Miami Open March 17â29European clay events follow at the Mutua Madrid Open 21 April â 3 May and the Internazionali BNL dâItalia in Rome 5â17 May The North American hardcourt swing resumes with the National Bank Open in Toronto 2â13 August and the Cincinnati Open August 13â24The autumn Asian swing features the China Open in Beijing from September 30 to October 11 followed by theWuhan Open from October 12â18 The season reaches its conclusion at the WTA Finals in Riyadh staged from November 7â14 2026 where the yearâs top eight players compete for the ultimate prizeHighintensity team tournamentsThe season opens with team competition at the United Cup the joint ATPWTA mixedteam event featuring 18 nations held from January 2â11 2026 across Perthâs RAC Arena and Sydneyâs Ken Rosewall ArenaLater in the year womenâs international tennis takes centre stage at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals an eightnation tournament scheduled for the week commencing September 21 2026 venue to be confirmed The competition continues with the Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs featuring 14 nations in seven homeoraway ties during the week of November 16 2026Menâs team tennis delivers two of the seasonâs most anticipated events The Laver Cup returns to Londonâs O2 Arena from September 25â27 2026 renewing the Europe versus World rivalry The year concludes with the Davis Cup Final 8 held in Bologna Italy from November 24â29 2026 as nations battle for the sportâs oldest team trophyWith its mix of tradition innovation and expanding global reach the 2026 tennis season offers a calendar rich in opportunity and narrative From Grand Slam glory to team rivalries and yearend showdowns every week carries significance and every surface presents a new challenge As the season approaches one thing is sure the road to tennis greatness in 2026 will be long demanding and unforgettable IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/from-melbourne-to-riyadh-2026-tennis-season-breakdown-655529.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 19:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-shuttlers-2026-roadmap-eyes-on-global-glory-655532.html New Delhi Dec 24 Indian badminton in 2025 will be remembered more for reassessment than success Results were limited and maintaining momentum proved difficult Players like PV Sindhu HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth struggled to maintain consistency The season lacked significant achievements with injuries affecting preparations quick early exits common The pivotal moments of Indian badmintonâs 2025 season were few but impactful Key among them was Lakshya Senâs win at the Australian Open his first title since December 2024 and his first outside India in nearly two years The womenâs doubles team of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly successfully defended their Syed Modi International title That same tournament also saw Kidambi Srikanth almost break a fiveyear title drought but was ultimately beaten in the final by Hong Kongâs Jason Gunawan highlighting the seasonâs slim marginsAmong the younger players Ayush Shettyâs breakthrough was particularly notable The 20yearold won the US Open Super 300 title establishing himself as a promising talent Also impressive was 16yearold Tanvi Sharma who earned a silver medal in girlsâ singles at the World Junior Championships Tanvi delivered one of the seasonâs most memorable performances at the Syed Modi International where she defeated former world No 1 world champion and Olympic medallist Nozomi Okuhara marking a significant milestone in her early careerSatwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty Indias mens doubles team secured a bronze medal at the World Championships in Paris Despite ongoing injury concerns that challenged their performance they managed to find moments of form throughout the season They concluded the year on a high note by becoming the first Indian doubles team to reach the knockout stage of the BWF World Tour Finals marking a significant milestone Although they finished with a bronze medal their strong finish offered a positive ending to a challenging and inconsistent yearAs the BWF World Tour restarts in 2026 Indian badminton anticipates a blockbuster year centred around two major international events including the hosting of the Badminton World Championships in AugustThe season will kick off with the Asian swing starting with the Super 1000 Malaysia Open followed by the Super 750 Indian OpenIn February India will field a strong team at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Qingdao China from February 38 2026 featuring a former world champion and multiple championship medallists India are the reigning champion in the womenâs category while the menâs team has previously earned two bronze medalsIn March the European leg begins with the renowned All England Open the worldâs oldest and most prestigious badminton tournament held from March 3 to 8 at the Utilita Arena BirminghamIndian shuttlers have a long history of participating in the All England Open but they have secured only two titles and reached five finals from 1980 to 2024Badminton legend Prakash Padukone is the only Indian player to reach the All England Open final twice His first appearance was in 1980 when he made history by becoming the first Indian to win this prestigious title The next year he reached the final again but was unable to defend his mens singles crown After a 21year gap Pulle Gopichand became the second Indian to win the All England Open in 2001London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal became the first Indian woman to reach the All England final in 2015 She finished as the runnerup before Lakshya Sen who in 2021 became the first Indian male shuttler in 21 years since Gopichand to reach the mens finalStar shuttlers such as Sindhu Lakshya the dynamic mens doubles pair Satwik and Chirag and the promising womens doubles duo Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand who advanced to consecutive semifinals in 2022 and 2023 will be aiming to secure the elusive title and break a 24year droughtApril is set to be a pivotal month for Indian badminton It begins with the Asian Championships in Ningbo China from April 7 to 11 where Indian players aim for continental success Shortly afterwards the focus shifts to the Thomas and Uber Cup taking place from April 23 to May 3 where the top international teams compete for supremacy in what is the most significant test in team badmintonThe Indian menâs team is eager to regain the Thomas Cup they won in 2022 while the womenâs team strives to make history by competing for their first Uber Cup titleAugust marks a landmark month as the BWF World Championships return to India after 17 years Former bronze medalist Lakshya Sen along with HS Prannoy and the menâs doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will all strive to advance further and turn their past podium finishes into winning moments on home soilMoreover Indian badminton stars will travel to the Asian Games the continents major quadrennial event starting September 19 They arrive with high medal prospects and confidence from recent victories aiming to compete against Asiaâs top players and further establish Indiaâs expanding presence on the worlds largest multisport stageOctober will be a key month for junior shuttlers hosting the BWF World Junior Team Championships from October 5 to 10 followed by the BWF World Junior Championships individualIn December Satwik and Chirag Shetty will aim to improve on their semifinal showing at the BWF World Tour Finals and strive for ultimate victoryWith multiple leading Indian badminton players targeting significant titles in 2026 this year is set to be crucial for the sport in India Motivated by previous achievements and current challenges these players aim to boost Indias position in global badminton IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/indian-shuttlers-2026-roadmap-eyes-on-global-glory-655532.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 19:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/kalinga-lancers-begin-pre-season-camp-at-kalinga-stadium-ahead-of-hil-2026-655540.html Bhubaneswar Dec 24 With the Hockey India League 2026 just around the corner Kalinga Lancers have begun their preseason training camp with Indian players reporting at the Kalinga Stadium here on Tuesday The first day of the camp saw the players undergo a strategy meeting under the supervision of the teamâs Technical amp Strategy Coach Pascal Kina as the franchise began laying a foundation for the new seasonThe Indian players currently attending the camp include Captain Sanjay goalkeeper Krishan B Pathak and defenders Partap Lakra Rohit Kullu and Sunil P B Rabichandra Moirangthem Rosan Kujur Dilpreet Singh and Amit Kumar Toppo in midfield and forwards Angab Bir Singh Deepak Pradhan Gursahibjit Singh and Boby Singh DhamiPascal Kina who joins Vedanta Kalinga Lancers with over 15 years of experience in international hockey has worked extensively across Europe and with teams in New Zealand Australia Canada China and Korea however the Hero HIL will be his first tournament in IndiaReflecting on his arrival and early impressions Kina said âThis is my first time in India and I am really happy to be here Iâve been involved in international hockey for many years but India was one place I had never been to until now Iâm proud to represent Vedanta Kalinga Lancers and it has already been an exciting startâSpeaking about the focus of the early training phase with the Indian players he added âThis period is important for fitness work testing and getting to know the players I didnât know these guys before so making that first connection and building cohesion within the group is very important for meâWith only a few days available to set up the team Kina expressed confidence in the squad when he shared âThese are a good set of players and I am confident about this season On the 28th we already have a practice match scheduled Most of the overseas players are coming from their national team camps so they will be matchready which makes it ideal and I believe weâll have enough time to prepare well for the leagueâOutlining his approach and ambitions for the season the Belgian coach stated âMy philosophy has always been to take the tournament game by game and aim to go as high as possible Every team wants to win the championship and itâs no different for us Together with the rest of the coaching group our objective is to push this team to compete at the highest level and go as far as we canâThe foreign players along with head coach Jay Stacy are set to join the squad after Christmas as Vedanta Kalinga Lancers step up preparations for the upcoming Hero HIL 2026 season They will face Ranchi Royals in their first game on Sunday January 4 2026 in Chennai IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/kalinga-lancers-begin-pre-season-camp-at-kalinga-stadium-ahead-of-hil-2026-655540.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 19:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/many-more-milestones-will-be-achieved-bca-chief-harsh-vardhan-lauds-bihars-record-breaking-show-in-vht-655545.html Patna Dec 24 Bihar Cricket Association BCA president congratulated the Bihar team for their historic performance calling the match a moment of immense pride for state cricket He lauded the entire squad for their fearless approach and discipline and extended special appreciation to the three centurions Vaibhav Suryavanshi Sakibul Gani and Ayush Loharuka for their outstanding batting displays Bihar produced a batting performance for the ages shattering the menâs List A record for the highest team total by piling up a staggering 574 for 6 in 50 overs against Arunachal Pradesh in a Vijay Hazare Trophy Plate match The innings rewrote history eclipsing the previous record of 5062 by Tamil Nadu against the same opponents in 2022 and Englandâs 4984 scored earlier that yearBihars innings was highlighted by three magnificent centuries an astonishing 49 fours and 38 sixes and a run rate of 1148 throughout the 50 overs The BCA president noted that such performances reflect the consistent hard work of the players coaches and support staffHeartiest congratulations to the Bihar team for producing a truly historic performance Todays match is a moment of immense pride for Bihar cricket said BCA president Harsh Vardhan in a statementI congratulate the entire squad for their fearless approach and discipline and extend special appreciation to our three centurions Vaibhav Suryavanshi Sakibul Gani and Ayush Loharuka for their outstanding batting displays Such performances reflect the hard work being put in by our players coaches and support staff he addedThe standout performer was teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi who at just 14 years and 272 days became the youngest player to score a hundred in menâs List A cricket He went far beyond that landmark racing to the fastest 150 in menâs List A history off just 59 balls before being dismissed for a breathtaking 190 off 84 deliveries laced with 16 fours and 15 sixesThe BCA president made a special mention of Suryavanshi for smashing multiple records and becoming the youngest player to score a century in menâs List A cricket calling the innings exceptional He said records are meant to be broken and expressed confidence that this achievement is only the beginning with many more milestones to comeA special mention must go to young Vaibhav Suryavanshi for smashing multiple records and becoming the youngest player to score a century in menâs List A cricket said Harsh VardhanHis innings was exceptional Records are meant to be broken and I am confident that this is just the beginning many more milestones will be achieved in the years to come he addedVaibhav found excellent support in the middle order Captain Sakibul Gani played a blistering unbeaten 128 off just 40 balls smashing 10 fours and 12 sixes and finishing the innings with brutal efficiency Wicketkeeperbatter Ayush Loharuka scored a commanding 116 off 56 balls striking 11 fours and 8 sixes as Arunachal Pradeshâs bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/many-more-milestones-will-be-achieved-bca-chief-harsh-vardhan-lauds-bihars-record-breaking-show-in-vht-655545.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 19:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/from-borgaon-to-being-roped-in-by-rcb-for-rs-520-crore-mangesh-yadavs-surreal-tale-655200.html New Delhi Dec 22 When Mangesh Yadavs name flashed on the IPL 2026 auction broadcast in Abu Dhabi Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad SRH locked horns in a fierce bidding war that would forever change the leftarm quicks life Within seconds his price rocketed from a base price of Rs 30 lakh to a staggering Rs 52 crore â a staggering jump FOR pacer Mangesh a skiddy leftarm pacer consistently clocking 140 kmph with a sharp yorker in his repertoire could barely process what had just unfoldedI was just thinking the first bid should happen and a team takes me in I was very happy with the first bid from RCB But within seconds in front of my eyes SRH and RCB were bidding for me and it reached five crores which was extremely astonishing My parents back home were very happy They were also getting calls from relatives recalled Mangesh in an exclusive conversation with IANSBy the roadside in Noida miles away from where his proteges life was being transformed Phoolchand Sharma who runs Wonders Cricket Club in Sector 34 was over the moon I cant tell you how happy I was on seeing him get selected Before that a lot of my kids have played in IPL but thereâs a different happiness for him I did hope that he would be picked by any franchise in the auctionâI have never met his father or mother nor have I ever spoken to them I have raised him like my own kid Heâs been a good boy from the start a calm and hardworking kid I gave him a lot of matches to play in Delhi as well as in district leagues in Delhi and UP Heâs had a very long journey and is now seeing the fruits of being committed to that path he told IANSMangeshâs cricketing journey began in Borgaon village in Madhya Pradeshâs Chhindwara district not in an established academy but within the confines of his homeâs compound As a sixyearold hed return home in tears after fighting with boys while playing His mother Rita found a solution shed bowl to him in the compound and he would bat for as long as he wished forFrom there I started playing cricket regularly and it went on and on I started bowling a little late with the left arm But I used to see the bowling of Mitchell Johnson and RP Singh sir bowling and that served me with a lot of motivation he saidAs years went by Mangeshs talent was remarkable But in a family of six including three sisters his father Ramavadh drove trucks to make ends meet Pursuing professional cricket seemed financially impossible till his maternal uncle convinced Ramavadh to let his son train seriously in cricketAfter that Mangesh headed to Noida to train under Sharma The hostel fees was Rs 20000 per month well beyond his familyâs reach What happened next would alter the trajectory of Mangeshs life Sir saw my game and he liked it He forgave my fees and told me to stay here and practice so that was very helpful in my journeyMy father has done so much for me I didnt have any stress I just wanted to play cricket all the struggle was of my father If it wasnt for Phoolchand sir I wouldnt have been able to play cricketThe reality of Ramavadhs sacrifice was never lost on Mangesh While Mangesh caught 4am trains for training and playing matches his father was waking at the same time to begin another gruelling shift behind the wheel navigating treacherous roads through the night with no fixed scheduleMy fathers struggle is unmatchable I used to feel sad that I am going out to play but the father is waking up daily in the morning goes out to drive the truck in night through a lot of dangerous roads though they are in a much better condition nowThe academy evolved alongside Mangesh from basic facilities to a comprehensive setup featuring gym indoor nets trainers and coaches Apart from Shivam Mavi and Bhuvneshwar Kumar India stars Jasprit Bumrah Ashish Nehra and Hardik Pandya would drop in for net sessions at Sharmaâs academy when in DelhiNCRWhat immediately struck Sharma about Mangesh was the rarity of discovering a leftarm quick whose natural bowling action didnt require fundamental reconstruction His bowling action reminded him of how Zaheer Khan bowled smooth repeatable lethalYou do know that when a lefthanded batter or bowler plays there is an alag nazakat different sheen to it Right from the rhythm of his runup he seemed like a perfect packaged bowler We have to teach a lot of kids that you are running slow head is falling over and rhythm is not goodâBut when he used to run and bowl it was perfect action like how Zaheer used to have I used to like Zaheers action and he was just like that We worked on improvising it he addedSmall technical tweaks combined with natural athleticism gradually revealed a complete cricketer capable of consistently hitting 140kmph The biggest thing is he had a lot of seniors to learn and get support from like Anureet Singh who played for IPL for many years Mavi and BhuvneshwarâWe caught some of his small shortcomings or at times other boys caught it We developed his bowling slowly He is a good fielder from the start In between when the kids used to go elsewhere he used to hit long sixes His hitting power has been very good he addedMangesh represented MP in U19 and U23 teams but feared opportunities were slipping away without a proper platform to showcase his talent Then came the Madhya Pradesh League an initiative by current MPCA President Mahanaaryaman Scindia that proved to be transformative Playing for Gwalior Cheetahs this year Mangesh claimed 14 wickets to become the tournaments leading wickettaker and IPL scouts took noticeI thought I would be late in grabbing my opportunity but Scindia ji introduced the MP League and then I got the chance to perform When I got good performances in it this year everything has happened well from then onwards for meMangeshâs three mentors Anand Rajan Tanmay Srivastava and Ankur Tyagi â also stepped in to refine his game and mindset Srivastava an Under19 World Cup winner for India in 2008 and now an active umpire provided invaluable perspective to Mangesh so as Rajan who played for the state and in the IPLI talk to Ankur Tyagi after every match he is like a big brother to me He has always supported and guided me in the right way Due to all three of them I have always improved in the right way he saidDespite a disappointing debut in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy SMAT MP head coach Chandrakant Pandit pushed him to showcase his batting abilities in the second match against Punjab Mangesh grabbed the chance by hitting 28 off 12 balls proving that he was more than just a bowlerMy first match was not that good but the captain backed me well due to which I was amongst the wickets Pandit sir told me Mangesh you will also have to do some batting In the second game he sent me up to bat and I was able to showcase my batting abilities which felt really goodBefore embarking to Pune for the tournamentâs Super League stage Mangesh went through trials with RCB Delhi Capitals Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians Though he couldnt attend SRH and PBKS trials due to hectic schedule the formerâs bowling coach exIndia pacer Varun Aaron took notice of his skillsetsBut now landing at RCB means sharing a dressing room with the talismanic Virat Kohli a childhood dream that Mangesh admits never seemed remotely possible I always wanted to play under Virat sirs captaincy But he is not doing it and I feel sharing the dressing room with him is a big deal I never imagined that I would play alongside him and this set to become a reality is a great feelingâHis recent experience under Patidars captaincy during highpressure SMAT games also keeps Mangesh in good stead âCricket is tough if you think in mind about it and playing in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a lot of pressure as you do know the likes of Prabhsimran Singh and Ishan Kishan are tough to bowl to But all of this was made easy by playing under Rajat bhaiyas captaincy The role he gave me I managed to fulfill that and it made life easyThe visualization has already begun â Mangesh standing at the top of his runup in RCBs iconic red jersey with the new ball in hand enough to give him goosebumps But the ultimate dream still remains to be wearing Indiaâs blue jerseyHow exciting it will be to wear the RCB jersey and have the ball in hand at the top of my runup mark I hope that this paves the way for me to wear the Indian team jersey and bowl the first ball for my country That will be an out of the world feelingRather than dwelling on IPLs magnitude Mangesh plans to focus on absorbing lessons from Kohli Patidar and Venkatesh Iyer to improve his craft We will have a team camp where I will prepare alongside with Virat sir Venky and Rajat bhaiyas I will learn from them by playing a lot of practice matches and improve along the way I will get to be in touch with them so it is going to be very helpful for meWhat separates Mangesh from Indias impressive stable of fast bowlers Sharma argues isnt just his leftarm pace its being that rare quick offering genuine allround capabilitiesThe biggest thing is India has a lot of fast bowlers but you wont get a perfect package like him I can count them Arshdeep Bumrah Harshit Rana Shami All of them are good bowlers They play for India because they are goodBut they wont be a batter or fielder like them Its not that he is my child I am talking about the language of cricket Being a cricketer he is a perfect package In the future if God keeps him healthy you will see him play for India in a year or twoThe financial windfall from the lifechanging IPL deal means Mangesh can fulfill his offfield aspirations Marrying off his three sisters with pomp and splendour tops his priority list followed by giving his father respite from decades of grueling truck driving work and buying a house to end the familyâs stay in a rented homeHis message to aspiring cricketers reflects hardearned wisdom that talent alone isnt enough that even strong performances dont guarantee selection and that persistence matters more than immediate resultsWhat I have felt through my cricketing journey is without struggle you wont get anything You wont get anything easy and if youre playing cricket youll have to put in more effort including the double of what is expected usually as there are times when you wont get selected even if you perform wellâYou definitely wont get selected even if you dont perform well So you have to accept that God is always watching you you just have to work hard and he will give you whatever you want at the right timeâYou just have to be true to yourself and your efforts My seniors always tell me that I have to put my head down and play cricket So its important to respect everyone and keep your head down and play well when on the field signed off Mangesh IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/from-borgaon-to-being-roped-in-by-rcb-for-rs-520-crore-mangesh-yadavs-surreal-tale-655200.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-season-3-ganges-grandmasters-beat-fyers-american-gambits-to-keep-final-hopes-alive-655203.html Mumbai Dec 22 Ganges Grandmasters kept their hope of making it to the final alive after they registered a convincing 123 win over Fyers American Gambits in their last league match in Season 3 of the Global Chess League GCL at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai on Monday However their fate would depend on whether PBG Alaskan Knights could halt the winning run of Alpine SG Pipers in the last match of the group stage later in the day as the Grandmasters are tied on 15 points with Pipers with the latter having a game in handPipers will finish in second spot if they win or draw against the Alaskan Knights or if they score at least six points even in the losing cause as that will allow them to leapfrog the Grandmasters on better game score The Alaskan Knights also have a shot at the second spot if they can win all six games with black piecesBut to their credit the Grandmasters did their job to perfection to keep their final hopes aliveAt the start of the final day Pipers Grandmasters and Mumba Masters were in a threeway battle to seal the second spot and Ganges Grandmasters were the first to take the board against American GambitsPlaying white Viswanathan Anand shared the spoils with American Gambitsâ Hikaru Nakamura on the icon board But it was Vincent Keymer on the second board who gave the team a leg up with a win over Vladislav Artemiev in 39 moves and player of the match Raunak Sadhwani defeated World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin in 42 moves to drive home the advantageStavroula Tsolakidou then defeated Teodora Injac to complete the tally and put the pressure on the other teamsMumba Masters had a difficult task of beating table toppers Triveni Continental Kings with black and though Shakhriyar Mamedyarov defeated Vidit Gujrathi and Bardiya Daneshvar got the better of MarcâAndria Maurizzi to give their team eight valuable points but loss for Maxime VachierLagrave lost to Alireza Firouzja on the icon board Wesley So was outplayed by Wei Yi on the second board and Koneru Humpy was not a match for Zhu Jiner as they local favorites went down 109 and were out of the race for the second spot IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-season-3-ganges-grandmasters-beat-fyers-american-gambits-to-keep-final-hopes-alive-655203.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sub-jr-men-academy-hockey-punjab-hockey-club-salute-academy-boys-sports-company-win-on-day-1-655205.html Surat Gujarat Dec 22 Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club Academy Salute Hockey Academy Sail Hockey Academy Army Boys Sports Company and SGPC Hockey Academy recorded wins on the opening day of the 3rd Hockey India SubJunior Men Academy Championship 2025 Zone A amp B at the Veer Narmad South Gujarat University Hockey Ground in Surat Gujarat on Monday In Pool C Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club Academy registered an 111 victory against Sports Authority of Gujarat Hockey Academy Varinder Singh 9â 53â 54â and Karan Kumar 22â 29â 38â both scored hattricks while Arjandeep Singh 7â 60â and Arshdeep Singh 19â 34â contributed with a brace each Ankit 14â also scored for the winners while Alfesh Rajakbhai Musagara 50â scored the only goal for Sports Authority of Gujarat Hockey AcademyIn the same pool Salute Hockey Academy secured a 71 victory against Cheema Hockey Academy Saurabh Kumar 21â 39â 40â bagged a hattrick for his side with Yogender Saini 12â Arun 14â Sunny 49â and Pankaj 56â also getting on the scoresheet after Saihbaz Singh 7â had opened the scoring for Cheema Hockey AcademyIn Pool B Sail Hockey Academy registered a 31 win against HAR Hockey Academy Bikash Kaetha 36â Arun Lakra 40â and Captain Dinesh Barla 60â got on the scoresheet for the winners Jatin 50â scored the lone goal for HAR Hockey AcademyArmy Boys Sports Company also prevailed 31 against Markandeshwar Hockey Academy in the same pool Arjun 9â opened the scoring for the former with Captain Prasnt Aind 27â 50â bagging a brace Meanwhile Garv Gill 3â scored the only goal of the game for Markandeshwar Hockey AcademyIn Pool D Khushbir Singh 34â scored the only goal of the game helping SGPC Hockey Academy to a 10 win against Ritu Rani Hockey AcademyPool C includes SGPC Hockey Academy Ashwini Sports Academy Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey Society and Sports Authority of Gujarat Hockey Academy Lastly Pool D comprises Ghumanhera Riserâs Academy Bhai Behlo Hockey Academy Bhagta Raja Karan Hockey Academy and Pritam Siwach Sports Promotion FoundationAll teams will compete in a roundrobin format within their respective pools Teams will earn 3 points for a win 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss The winners of each pool will progress into the SemiFinals which will be played on December 29 followed by the 3rd4th place match and the Final on December 30 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sub-jr-men-academy-hockey-punjab-hockey-club-salute-academy-boys-sports-company-win-on-day-1-655205.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-season-3-sg-pipers-meet-holders-continental-kings-in-final-ganges-grandmasters-to-face-alaskan-knights-for-third-place-655218.html Mumbai Dec 22 Leon Luke Mendoncaâs draw on the prodigy board was worth more than a win for Alpine SG Pipers as they qualified for the final against tabletopper Triveni Continental Kings despite losing their last league match 611 against PBG Alaskan Knights in Season 3 of the Global Chess League GCL at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai on Friday Alpine SG Pipers had their fate in their own hand in their final league game as they were locked on 15 match points with Ganges Grandmasters and needed to either beat Alaskan Knights or at least score six game points to assure themselves for the second spot on the leader board with a better game point scorePipers finished with 84 game points against 83 for the Grandmasters in the event a joint initiative of Tech Mahindra and FIDEAlaskan Knights also needed a win to at least qualify for the thirdplace playoff and they did that in style as world champion Dommaraju Gukesh pounced on an error from Fabiano Caruana and Arjun Erigaisi defeated Anish Giri with black pieces to score eight valuable pointsFor the Pipers threetime Womenâs World Champion Hou Yifan delivered a third win in three matches this time beating Kateryna Lagno in just 20 moves At that stage the Pipers looked primed to advance but the two top Indian chess stars delivered a masterclass when it mattered for the team to give the Pipers some anxious momentsWith Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Nino Batsiashvili playing out solid draws Pipers fate depended on Mendonca managing to draw a game against Daniel Darda on the prodigy board And he ensured that Darda did not have a chance to make any further inroads and signed the peace pact after 42 moves despite his opponent having a slight advantage at that stageEarlier Ganges Grandmasters had kept their hope of making it to the final alive after beating Fyers American Gambits 123 in their last league matchAt the start of the final day Pipers Grandmasters and upGrad Mumba Masters were in a threeway battle to seal the second spot and Grandmasters were the first to take the board against American GambitsPlaying white Viswanathan Anand shared the spoils with American Gambitsâ Hikaru Nakamura on the icon board But it was Vincent Keymer on the second board who gave the team a leg up with a win over Vladislav Artemiev in 39 moves and Player of the Match Raunak Sadhwani defeated World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin in 42 moves to drive home the advantageStavroula Tsolakidou then defeated Teodora Injac to complete the tally and put the pressure on the other teams However that was not enough and they will now face the Alaskan Knights for third placeIn the other match of the day Mumba Masters had a difficult task of beating table toppers Triveni Continental Kings with black and though Shakhriyar Mamedyarov defeated Vidit Gujrathi and Bardiya Daneshvar got the better of MarcâAndria Maurizzi to give their team eight valuable points but loss for Maxime VachierLagrave lost to Alireza Firouzja on the icon board Wesley So was outplayed by Wei Yi on the second board and Koneru Humpy was not a match for Zhu Jiner and the local favourites went down 109 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-season-3-sg-pipers-meet-holders-continental-kings-in-final-ganges-grandmasters-to-face-alaskan-knights-for-third-place-655218.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/la-liga-four-things-we-learned-in-spains-matchday-17-655223.html Madrid Dec 22 Spanish giants FC Barcelona won 20 against Villarreal on Sunday to ensure they go into the New Year with a fourpoint lead over a Real Madrid side that remains in crisis Barcelona are at the top of the standings with 46 points from 15 wins in 18 matches They have one draw and two defeats so far Real Madrid are in second spot with 42 points from 13 wins three draws and two defeats in 18 matches while Atletico Madrid are in third spot with 37 points from 11 wins four draws and three defeats in 18 matchesVillarreal are fourth with 35 points from 16 matches while Espanyol are fifth with 30 points from 16 gamesHere are some things we learned in La Liga this weekendGame looks to be up for AlonsoReal Madrid may have won 20 at home to Sevilla but the atmosphere in the Santiago Bernabeu seemed more like a defeat than a home win with the fans booing and whistling players at key moments in the game reports XinhuaAlthough a Jude Bellingham strike and another Kylian Mbappe penalty gave Madrid the win Sevilla missed several giltedged chances while Thibaut Courtois was vital for the home side and things could have been different if the referee had sent off Rodrygo for a second yellow card with the score 10Alonso might have expected a win to make his life easier but the fans in the Bernabeu and the reporters in the press room afterwards made it clear that isnt the case and unless his side wins the Spanish Supercup in early January its hard to see him surviving if he even lasts that longAlonso takes his revengeIf Xabi Alonso is sacked by Real Madrid in the near future he will leave after taking his revenge against Vinicius who has apparently been one of the players most against him in the dressing roomNobody has forgotten Vinicius angry reaction when Alonso subbed him out of the Clasico against FC Barcelona in October and the two clearly have a bad relationshipVinicius was in poor form against Sevilla and was booed by the fans several times during the match so when Alonso subbed him off in the 83rd minute he knew the Brazilian would leave the pitch to a chorus of boos and whistles something Vinicius clearly didnt like as he changed his profile picture on social media from one of him wearing a Real Madrid shirt to one with a Brazil shirt onVillarreal makes it easy for BarcelonaAfter starting the weekend in third place in the table Villarreal could have been expected to make life difficult for Barcelona in its Estadio de la Ceramica but errors in the first half effectively ended its chances of a win that would have kept the club in the title raceSanti Comesanas early foul on Raphinha allowed the Brazilian to put Barcelona ahead from the penalty spot and steady nerves for the visitors while Renato Veiga then showed his inexperience with a bad challenge from behind on Lamine Yamal to leave Villarreal with 10 men Chasing the game against Barcelona with a player less is virtually impossible so it was game over before halftimeElche reaps rewards of staying true to beliefsElche stormed to a 40 win at home to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday to end the year on a high note and confirm that its loyalty to coach Eder Sarabias passing game has brought rewards Hector Fort scored a fine opener before going off injured while Elches three remaining goals were all the fruits of passing its way through an open Rayo defenseElche recently had a sevengame winless run that may have caused some doubts about its style of play but they have kept the faith and two wins in three games leave the club ninth with 22 points an excellent haul for a promoted side IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/la-liga-four-things-we-learned-in-spains-matchday-17-655223.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pakistan-withdraws-players-from-us-junior-squash-after-age-verification-not-accepted-report-655226.html Mumbai Dec 23 Faced with doubts over the age of its players in an agegroup event Pakistan was forced to withdraw its players from the US Open Junior Squash Championship after the organisers refused to accept its age verification process a news report said on Monday Around 977 players representing fortyfive nations are competing in the 2025 US Junior Openâthe worldâs largest individual squash tournament but Pakistan withdrew its players after the US Open organisers did not accept their age verification Telecom Asia Sport wwwtelecomasianet has quoted sources as telling itTo protect the integrity of the competition while allowing participation the US Squash implemented a newly adopted policy Where reasonable concern existed affected players were permitted to compete only in the age group in which they are ranked domestically andor most recently competed at their National Championships organisers told TelecomasianetNo player was banned or disqualified and all affected athletes remained eligible to compete Agecategory adjustments were applied solely to maintain fairness for all participants and do not change World Squash Federation WSF regulationsPakistan Squash Federation secretary Amir Nawaz told wwwtelecomasianet that anything that goes against the countrys process was not acceptableIt is not that our players were overaged and withdrawn Nawaz was quoted as saying by Telecom Asia Sport They raised objections to one of our players but they did not accept our documentation and the process which was properly endorsedBut they challenged our system which is against our integrity and in our executive committee we decided that we will not participate in the event They did not disallow our players but promoted them in age groups which was not acceptable said NawazOrganisers said fairness was paramount US Squash is fully committed to fairness transparency and athlete welfare in local national and international competitions In the leadup to the 2025 US Junior Open concerns were raised regarding the age eligibility of a small group of international junior players These concerns were based on documentation domestic competition histories and global ranking patterns that suggested potential discrepancies in reported agesThe review identified systemlevel challenges that made it impossible to determine chronological age with certainty in some cases These included delays in birth registration the possibility of conflicting or duplicate documents and domestic competition patterns that were inconsistent with reported ages Importantly this review did not reflect on the character integrity or intentions of any individual athlete family or federation the report quoted a spokesperson of the organisers as sayingPSF said it will raise the matter with the World Squash Federation in due coursePakistan had been a power at the international squash scene with Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan ruling the scene in the last three decades of the previous century but has not won any senior event since the two Khans retiredBut the country is making a comeback in the global arena with Hamza Khan winning the Junior World title in 2023 Pakistans first junior world title since 1986 Noor Zaman also won the Under23 title earlier this yearBut the overage slur is a setback for the country where birth records are not properly maintained in the rural areas IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pakistan-withdraws-players-from-us-junior-squash-after-age-verification-not-accepted-report-655226.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/murphy-richardson-named-in-australias-boxing-day-test-squad-lyon-to-undergo-surgery-655256.html Adelaide Dec 23 Todd Murphy and Jhye Richardson have been added to Australias 15member squad for the fourth Ashes Test starting on December 26 Murphy edged out Matt Kuhnemann and Corey Rocchiccioli to replace Nathan Lyon as the veteran offspinner set to undergo surgery on his injured hamstringMurphy has featured seven times at Test level for Australia with his most recent match coming at the start of the year against Sri Lanka in GalleAustralia confirmed on Tuesday that Nathan Lyon will undergo surgery after suffering a torn right hamstring while diving to stop a boundary on the final day of their Ashessealing third TestMeanwhile Steve Smith is set to resume captaincy subject to clearance from the innerear problem that ruled him out in Adelaide while Pat Cummins will sit out the Boxing Day TestRichardson could be in line to replace Cummins after making a recent return from injury and linking up with the squad in Adelaide ahead of the third TestThe rightarm quick has featured in just three Tests during an injuryhit career with his most recent appearance coming against England in Adelaide in 2021 but the selectors continue to hold the 29yearold in high regardRichardsonâs formal addition to the squad puts him in contention for a Test comeback after a fouryear absence He underwent his third shoulder surgery earlier this year and has gradually built up his bowling workload in recent weeks training alongside the squad during the opening three TestsMeanwhile allrounders Michael Neser and Beau Webster and backup quick Brendan Doggett retain their place in the squad despite missing out on selection in the recent Adelaide Test that saw Australia register an 82run triumph that helped them open up an unassailable 30 lead in the Ashes seriesAustralia squad fourth Test only Steve Smith c Scott Boland Alex Carey Brendan Doggett Cameron Green Travis Head Josh Inglis Usman Khawaja Marnus Labuschagne Todd Murphy Michael Neser Jhye Richardson Mitchell Starc Jake Weatherald Beau Webster IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/murphy-richardson-named-in-australias-boxing-day-test-squad-lyon-to-undergo-surgery-655256.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/neres-inspires-napoli-to-win-third-italian-super-cup-title-655259.html Riyadh Dec 23 David Neres scored twice as Napoli beat Bologna 20 to win the Italian Super Cup It is the third Super Cup title in the clubâs history with Antonio Conte restoring the ScudettoSuper Cup double following in the footsteps of the 1990 side Napoli under Alberto Bigon featuring Diego MaradonaNapoli broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when Neres controlled a throwin outside the area and curled a shot into the top cornerThe Partenopei doubled their lead around the hour mark as Neres won the ball inside Bolognas box and finished from a tight angle past the onrushing goalkeeperAfter the 20 win over Milan in the semifinal the Azzurri repeated the same scoreline in the showpiece event in Riyadh The star of the night was David Neres who broke the deadlock just after the halfhour mark with a curling leftfooted strike into the top cornerAfter the break the Brazilian wrapped up the match first stealing the ball from the Bologna defence and then finishing with a delightful chip as the goalkeeper rushed outNapoli claimed the third Super Cup in the clubâs history and the second of the Aurelio De Laurentiis eraSince 2023 the Supercoppa Italiana has adopted a fourteam format pitting together the reigning Serie A champion the runnerup and the winner and runnerup of the Italian CupNapoli manager Antonio Conte gave his take on the performanc saying We really played a great match and I have to acknowledge that Weâre happy trophies matter and being able to add another one to the cabinet after the Scudetto triumph means weâre on a very good pathâNow weâll celebrate a more peaceful Christmas together with our fans That said weâve got to keep working hard Weâve made progress but weâre not yet at the level we want to reach Itâll take patience and thereâs still a long way to go but weâre certainly aware that weâve got quality and we showed that again tonight both individually and as a teamâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/neres-inspires-napoli-to-win-third-italian-super-cup-title-655259.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hil-soorma-hockey-club-retains-harmanpreet-as-mens-skipper-savita-amp-salima-as-womens-co-captains-655278.html New Delhi Dec 23 Soorma Hockey Club SHC has announced that it will retain the same onfield leadership for its menâs and womenâs teams in the upcoming editions of the Hockey India League The highly experienced Harmanpreet Singh will continue to lead the menâs team while senior goalkeeper Savita Punia and midfielder Salima Tete will serve as cocaptains of the womenâs teamHarmanpreets defensive command and worldclass dragflicking ability have been pivotal bringing both stability and an offensive edge to the Menâs team which finished third in the Hockey India League last seasonAs captain of the Indian National Hockey Team he has led the country to numerous significant achievements including medals at the Olympics and Asian Games His experience and composure under pressure continue to set an example for his teammates fuelling their ambition to succeed on the fieldItâs always a special feeling to lead this team Last seasonâs thirdplace finish showed what weâre capable of and weâve taken a lot of confidence from that The team has grown closer and stronger and I genuinely believe we have the right mix to challenge the best Weâre fully focused motivated and ready to give everything when we step onto the field this season Harmanpreet saidOn the womenâs side Savitaâs sharp reflexes and calm presence together with Salima Teteâs agility and creativity form the backbone of the team Together they have been instrumental in leading the squad to a strong runnersup finish last season in a closely contested leagueâSalima and I bring different strengths to the table but weâre united by the same purpose to lead this team with clarity trust and belief We take that responsibility seriously and our focus is on building a strong positive culture where every player feels confident and empowered When a team plays for each other and believes in the collective results follow and thatâs exactly the mindset weâre taking into this seasonâAdding her thoughts Salima said âSharing the captaincy with someone like Savita is truly special for me Her experience and the standards she set push all of us to be better every day As a team weâve learned a lot from last season and weâre taking those lessons seriously as we work on every part of our gameWe know what it takes to go all the way now and weâre determined to take that final step and bring the trophy home this season We are sure that the competition is going to be fierce here at HIL but we are training hard and looking to put our best foot forward in every gameâSoorma Hockey Clubâs womenâs team will kick off their campaign on December 29 against Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers with the entire tournament hosted at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Stadium in RanchiThe Menâs Team will also face Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers the defending champions of the Menâs Hockey India League on January 4 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in ChennaiThe menâs tournament will take place across Chennai Ranchi and Bhubaneshwar Under the guidance of Head Coaches Philippe Goldberg and Jude Menezes and supported by accomplished leaders on the field SHC is poised to deliver a competitive campaign and to strive for top honours in both the menâs and womenâs competitions this season IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hil-soorma-hockey-club-retains-harmanpreet-as-mens-skipper-savita-amp-salima-as-womens-co-captains-655278.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/karnataka-police-deny-permission-for-vijay-hazare-trophy-match-at-chinnaswamy-stadium-655306.html Bengaluru Dec 23 Karnataka Police have denied permission for the Vijay Hazare Trophy match between Delhi and Andhra Pradesh at Chinnaswamy Stadium citing serious safety and crowd control concerns The decision was taken after a thorough inspection by Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar officials from the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Fire Department who raised critical gaps in venue infrastructure and emergency preparednessBengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh made the statement in this regard on Tuesday while addressing media personsThe committee had gone to the stadium on Monday on the instructions of the Home Department Officers from various departments including fire Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company Bescom Greater Bengaluru Authority GBA and police had inspected the stadium As per the report from the officers permission has not been granted for the match on Wednesday at the Chinnaswamy Stadium The committee has also given a detailed report Commissioner Singh statedThe Bengaluru City Police Commissioner had already issued a 17point advisory outlining mandatory safety measures The committee verified whether these points have been complied with and submitted its findings to the governmentPolice sources stated the stadium gates were too narrow to handle large crowds especially with Virat Kohli expected to attendSources further revealed that in a lastditch effort Karnataka State Cricket Association KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad met with state Home Minister G Parameshwara pleading for an exception but authorities stood firmParameshwara announced on Monday that a committee was formed to inspect and assess whether the Chinnaswamy Stadium is fit to host the Vijay Hazare Trophy cricket matchThe minister chaired a meeting at the Vidhana Soudha with officials from the Karnataka State Cricket Association KSCA and senior police officers to discuss arrangements for the upcoming matchKSCA has requested permission to hold the Vijay Hazare Trophy match without allowing public spectators Only the match will be conducted and no audience will be permitted Parameshwara had saidNotably 11 people were killed in a stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during the Royal Challengers Bengalurus RCB victory celebrations on June 4 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/karnataka-police-deny-permission-for-vijay-hazare-trophy-match-at-chinnaswamy-stadium-655306.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sakib-hussain-ready-for-fresh-start-in-ipl-bandwagon-after-being-picked-by-srh-655134.html New Delhi Dec 22 Sakib Hussain was at Biharâs Vijay Hazare Trophy camp in Patna when Sunrisers Hyderabad picked him for his base price of Rs 30 lakh at the IPL 2026 auction The move marks the start of a new IPL chapter for Hussain the rightarm pacer who tasted championship glory with Kolkata Knight Riders KKR in 2024 though he didnât get to play a single game At the time of the auction we were at the Vijay Hazare Trophy camp in Patna When SRH picked me I felt really good because the things where I had my shortcomings I did improve on them during the IPL and implemented that in domestic games I have made sure to leave no stone unturned in overcoming those shortcomings and do well whenever a chance comes to play in the tournament said Hussain in an exclusive conversation with IANSHussainâs path of coming back to the IPL involved trials with Chennai Super Kings Delhi Capitals Rajasthan Royals and KKR before SRH got him in the auction Shortly after that he received an encouraging call from the franchises bowling coach and former India pacer Varun AaronVarun Aaron told me to get ready and that I have to do well and move ahead by working hard On hearing this first of all I thanked him and the SRH team for taking me in He replied back by telling me that this is just the fruit of your hardworkDespite not getting a game in IPL 2024 Hussainâs time with KKR proved invaluable as the Gopalganj native got masterclass from some of crickets biggest names like Andre Russell Sunil Narine Rinku Singh and coach Abhishek NayarAll of them taught me a lot of good things Like the way they planned playing with a different mindset on match day and how to judge a player I got to learn a lot of things there he saidHussain also learnt a valuable lesson in KKR that physical talent alone wouldnt separate the good from the great at a higher level In my time of being in KKR one big thing I learnt was cricket is a mind game The one who thinks well plays well on the fieldâEveryone is talented but the one who thinks well plays well In the IPL on a daily basis you have to think and plan about what to do Sometimes you have to change your plan in seconds and I got to learn about how to do thatHussainâs journey traces back to humble beginnings at Tunna Giri Cricket Academy in Gopalganj where coach Robin Singh became his pillar of support through every high and lowPeople like Saket bhaiya Kumar bhaiya at the academy have supported me My coach Robin Singh is the most special person in my life He has helped me through ups and downs as well as been in my good and bad times Heâs supported me a lot he saidHe also credited the Bihar Cricket Association leadership President Harsh Vardhan Rakesh Tiwari and Secretary Rahul for creating pathways that helped a smalltown cricketer like him to play at the highest level They all have helped me in going from playing in a small town to such a big stage They have supported me a lot and I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heartLooking ahead to his stint with SRH Hussain is eager to learn from captain Pat Cummins and other international stars in the setup In IPL you get a good coach and mentor who can guide you well But everywhere you go the main interest is in playing at any given opportunity and that aids your growth In the Hyderabad team a lot of legendary players like skipper Pat Cummins are present as I will get to learn a lot and carry those lessons very wellHussainâs bustling pace in his domestic performances caught the attention of IPL scouts particularly a remarkable 10wicket haul against Arunachal Pradesh in the first half of Ranji Trophy and taking six wickets in Biharâs Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy league games in KolkataIn matches I just keep things simple and focus on what I want to do which was to pick timely breakthroughs It also helps that I never think too far and keep focus on doing things in the present moment in the matchHussainâs reentry into IPL reflects a broader resurgence in Biharâs cricket where the likes of Vaibhav Suryavanshi and fellow pacer Mohammad Izhar are also having IPL deals You can see that Bihar has such good players like me Vaibhav Izhar and many other talented players so its going well If we talk about cricket in Bihar there is a very good environment and thats why so many players are coming out and many great cricketers will come in futureHaving experienced the euphoria of an IPL title with KKR Hussain signed off by saying heâs hungry to recreate that success in SRH colours Definitely we will try to become the winning team again in the IPL next year It will be very good to have a picture there with the trophy again on my Instagram profile I am very excited to learn a lot and do well to win the trophy for SRH this time IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sakib-hussain-ready-for-fresh-start-in-ipl-bandwagon-after-being-picked-by-srh-655134.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 15:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/meet-mohammad-izhar-the-left-arm-pacer-from-bihar-who-caught-the-eye-of-mumbai-indians-655142.html New Delhi Dec 22 Mohammad Izhar had little time to savour the feeling of his IPL dream coming true As his name was called out at the IPL 2026 auction the leftarm pacer from Birpur in Biharâs Supaul district was already racing against the clock within 1520 minutes he needed to board a bus for a sixhour ride to Patna where the Vijay Hazare Trophy camp awaited him When the auction was on I was at home with my brothers in law While from the outside I was very excited and nervous I was very anxious about whether my name will come in the auction or not Finally the Mumbai Indians picked me and it brought in a different level of happinessâWhile I was feeling very good and excited about getting a chance to be in IPL I became very emotional Though everyone began celebrating at home I had to leave to catch the bus for Patna so I didnt celebrate it much Izhar recalled in an exclusive conversation with IANSThe fivetime champions have been renowned for unearthing uncapped gems through a robust scouting system Though they had a small purse in IPL 2026 auction picking Izhar for his base price of Rs 30 lakh is very much a signal that they may have unearthed another gem in the makingEven as he remained engaged with the trials of Kolkata Knight Riders Izhar recalled how the fivetime champions chose patience in having a look at him Though Mumbai Indians is a big franchise they are so humble which even words cannot explain When they called me for a trial I was at KKRs trialâBut despite being such a big team they waited for me to come for the trials When I reached I was very tired but I saw they waited for me and told me to rest for a while so that I could bowl comfortably after recovering I rested well and then went through the trials very well Its a very good franchise and the coaches there were very humbleIzhars cricketing journey began in Birpur a town in Supaul district where tennis ball cricket was the gateway to bigger dreams His transition to leather ball cricket came through a chance observation by his local mentor Jaichand who spotted raw talent that others missedJaichand bhaiya and Birbal bhaiya got me into leather ball cricket and taught me a lot for the last 23 years Previously I played tennis ball cricket and in one of the games Jaichand bhaiya saw me bowling and then he told me to start playing with a leather ballâI then went on to play for the district and initially it felt a little tough as I was straightaway playing these games without having played leather ball cricket before But it began so well that I havenât looked back after that Birbal bhaiya is a star bowler himself I learnt a lot from him and Jaichand who himself was a cricketer he addedWatching legendary fast bowlers Mitchell Starc Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee also transformed Izharâs casual interest into a Junoon passion to play cricket Starc has always been my idol from the start Then seeing Akhtar and Lee take wickets brought in a junoon in me about playing cricket From the start it was not like I will play for India or be in IPL Gradually I started playing and those thing started to come in my mindâYou do get a good understanding of these things once you start to put yourself through the grind I started setting aims that I want to play for the state and do well there It was in my mind that I wanted to play in the IPL though the goal of playing for India is still at the top But I didnt anticipate that I will get picked this year So I am very thankful to God that I got picked for IPL this yearLike many young cricketers from smaller towns Izhars early journey wasnt paved with automatic support Bihars limited cricketing infrastructure meant initial struggles were there but his fathers growing belief in him transformed everythingWhen I started playing my father started giving me a lot of support He began to understand that I have games to play and do well in them The support from him grew so much that he started taking care of everything around me by himself Whenever I got small bruises he would put a bandage quickly at homeThe Bihar Cricket Associations faith proved equally crucial especially after Izhar had a disappointing previous season The backing from BCA officials including previous President Rakesh Tiwari allowed Izhar to rebuild confidence and rediscover form when it mattered mostLast year I did not get anything great in terms of performances I started preparing for this season early and the association trusted me to come good So I am very thankful for that to all of them in BCA I am very thankful for the chances because of which I got selected for the IPLâI had a good performance this time in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy taking nine wickets in five games in Kolkata where the IPL scouts saw me called me for trials got into the auction and now I will be in IPLIzharâs bowling arsenal centers on both inswing and outswing complemented by variations of slower ball essential for success in T20s Operating around 135 kmph Izhar acknowledges his game remains a work in progress particularly his execution of yorker and consistency with swing deliveriesI also have the yorker in my repertoire but I need to groom and polish it more In all I need to do everything better because I am not always perfect Like my in swing and out swing is not perfect yet and I need to work on it more I always try to work on the small things and make my bowling better Plus there are some variations of slower ball that I need to polish and groom moreWith an IPL deal in hand Izhar will have access to two masters of the craft Trent Boult whose leftarm swing bowling mirrors Izhars own style and Jasprit Bumrah whose yorkers and control have redefined modernday fast bowling Boult bowls with the left arm like me and Bumrah swings the ball well His yorkers are deadly I am going to learn a lot from themFor youngsters from modest cricketing outposts Izharâs rise carries a clear message patience and persistence outweigh the lure of instant success His journey from tennisball matches in Birpur to an IPL contract with MI stands as validation of that beliefI would say just focus on the process keep going by working hard and wait for the right time You do not get success in a very short span as it demands a lot of time You have to be consistent and believe in God Plus you have to believe in yourself that you can do it When the time comes you will get the reward If you work hard you will get successNow on the cusp of wearing MIâs iconic blue and gold in IPL 2026 Izharâs emergence adds fresh momentum to his promising cricketing story It underlines once more that with the right backing cricketing talent can emerge from the gameâs most unheralded corners IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/meet-mohammad-izhar-the-left-arm-pacer-from-bihar-who-caught-the-eye-of-mumbai-indians-655142.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 16:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pro-wrestling-league-unveils-logo-ahead-of-fifth-season-655153.html New Delhi Dec 22 The Pro Wrestling League PWL sanctioned by the Wrestling Federation of India WFI unveiled its new official logo ahead of the fifth season signalling the leagueâs revival after a sevenyear hiatus The Pro Wrestling League is scheduled to return in January 2026 featuring top Indian and international wrestlers promising highintensity competition and a commercially viable framework designed to support the sportâs growthThe newly launched logo is a modern dynamic emblem inspired by the traditional redandblue wrestling mat symbolising strength balance and competitive spirit The logo represents a complete reset for the Pro Wrestling League which has undergone a significant structural and operational overhaul under its new ownership and managementPWLâs renewed mission is to create a worldclass professional platform for wrestlers by bridging the gap between grassroots akhadas and the global competitive stage The league aims to provide structured opportunities international exposure and a professionally managed environment for athletes while contributing to the longterm growth and credibility of wrestling in IndiaThe revitalised vision is being implemented in close collaboration with the Wrestling Federation of India WFI ensuring the league operates in line with national regulations and governance standards The collaboration is expected to strengthen the pathway for emerging wrestlers to progress from traditional training systems to the national and international spotlightThe league is now being operated under the ownership and management of ONO Media led by partners Akhil Gupta and Dayaan Farooqui The new management has moved away from previous frameworks to build a transparent athletefirst ecosystem focused on professionalism integrity and longterm sustainability within Indian wrestlingSpeaking on the occasion Akhil Gupta CEO Pro Wrestling League said âThe new logo reflects our vision for the future of the Pro Wrestling League â modern aggressive and worldclass More importantly it represents a clean slate We are building a league that honours the sport and its athletes through transparency professionalism and longterm commitment The past is behind us and the focus is firmly on creating a sustainable ecosystem for Indian wrestlingââThis logo launch marks the beginning of a new era for the Pro Wrestling League The identity represents trust opportunity and ambition As we prepare for our return after seven years our priority is firmly on placing athletes at the center of the ecosystem and delivering a league that wrestlers fans and stakeholders can truly believe inâ added Dayaan Farooqui Chairman Pro Wrestling LeagueWith its new identity and reimagined structure PWL aims to usher in a new era for professional wrestling in India IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pro-wrestling-league-unveils-logo-ahead-of-fifth-season-655153.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hil-2026-sg-pipers-mens-team-arrive-in-chennai-for-season-2-655181.html Chennai Dec 22 The SG Pipers menâs team arrived in Chennai as preparations intensify ahead of the upcoming Hero Hockey India League season 2 scheduled to begin on January 03 As the league returns the Pipers are approaching the season with renewed intent and a sharper focus on consistency execution and improved onfield outcomes The squad features a balanced mix of experienced Indian internationals and emerging young talent providing depth across all departments With strong competition expected across teams the emphasis this season is on building rhythm early and maintaining discipline across matchesAt the helm is head coach Tim Oudenaller who brings a structured and detaildriven approach to the group Since the teamâs arrival Oudenaller has been working closely with the players on defensive organisation transition play and efficiency inside both circles areas that often prove decisive over the course of the leagueSpeaking about the reset and priorities for the season Tim Oudenaller said âThe number one focus for this team is defence and that will remain nonnegotiable Defence structure and responsibility are the foundation we are building from Equally important is resetting the mentality My role along with the staff is to bring energy belief and clarity to give the players that extra boost every day Very early in the process the signs I look for are simple Smiles on faces players who are comfortable enjoying their work and committed to the process That tells you the group is moving in the right directionâProviding leadership on the field is Jarmanpreet Singh who anchors the defensive unit with composure and experience gained through sustained international exposure His ability to manage pressure situations and organise the backline will be central to the teamâs plans this seasonAdding attacking experience and setpiece strength is Rupinder Pal Singh one of Indiaâs most established dragflickers His presence gives the Pipers a reliable option during penaltycorner situations and adds valuable bigmatch experience to the squadThe team also includes Rohit Ankit Pal Dilraj Singh and Sourabh Anand Kushwaha who arrive with confidence following Indiaâs Bronze Medal finish at the Junior World Cup earlier this year Their energy pace and willingness to take responsibility are expected to add flexibility and intensity to the Pipersâ playing styleSharing his thoughts ahead of the season Jarmanpreet Singh said âThis time we have a very good SG Pipers team with a strong mix of senior and young players Many of the younger players are coming in with a lot of confidence after the Junior World Cup bronze Last season did not go the way we wanted so the objective is very clear We want to stay consistent push hard in every match and put ourselves in a position to finish in the top four The commitment within the group has been very strongâAs the Hero Hockey India League 2025â26 gets underway the SG Pipers menâs team approaches the season with renewed purpose With experience leadership and a clearly defined direction the focus this year is on execution and consistency as the Pipers look to bounce back and make a stronger push through the league phaseSG Pipers Menâs Squad HIL Season 2Forwards Tomas Domene Aditya Lalage Sourabh Anand Dilraj Singh Roman DuvekotMidfielders Shamsher Singh Rajkumar Pal Ankit Pal Kingson Singh Ky Willott Jacob DraperDefenders Jarmanpreet Singh Captain Varun Kumar Rohit Manjeet Gareth Furlong Rupinder Pal Singh Bram Van BattumGoalkeepers Tomas Santiago Pawan IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hil-2026-sg-pipers-mens-team-arrive-in-chennai-for-season-2-655181.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/3rd-hockey-india-jr-men-academy-cship-2025-zone-a-amp-b-scheduled-from-december-23-to-30-655190.html Surat Dec 22 The 3rd Hockey India Junior Men Academy Championship 2025 â Zone A amp B is all set to begin at the Veer Narmad South Gujarat University in Surat from December 23 to 30 bringing together some of the most promising talents from leading hockey academies across the country The championship will feature 14 academy and state association teams divided into four pools Pool A consists of Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club Academy Cheema Hockey Academy and Army Boys Sports Company Pool B features Namdhari Sports Academy Ritu Rani Hockey Academy and Giants Sports AcademyPool C includes SGPC Hockey Academy Ashwini Sports Academy Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey Society and Sports Authority of Gujarat Hockey Academy Lastly Pool D comprises Ghumanhera Riserâs Academy Bhai Behlo Hockey Academy Bhagta Raja Karan Hockey Academy and Pritam Siwach Sports Promotion FoundationAll teams will compete in a roundrobin format within their respective pools Teams will earn 3 points for a win 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss The winners of each pool will progress into the Semifinals which will be played on December 29 followed by the 3rd4th place match and the Final on December 30 2025Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said âThis is a key tournament in our youth development program Competitions like these help young players gain valuable match exposure and understand the demands of competitive hockey at an early age I wish all the participating academies and players the best of luckâHockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh spoke on similar lines and stated âThis championship reflects our continued focus on strengthening the academy and grassroots structure in the country It provides young players with a platform to test their skills against opponents from all over India I hope the players learn and grow a lot through this tournament IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/3rd-hockey-india-jr-men-academy-cship-2025-zone-a-amp-b-scheduled-from-december-23-to-30-655190.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mansukh-mandaviya-officiates-first-anniversary-of-fit-india-sundays-with-cycling-event-in-puducherry-654983.html Puducherry Dec 21 Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya summarised the entire years experience with a short update âOver 2 lakh locations more than 20 lakh people One Mission Fit India Celebrating 1 year of SundaysOnCycleâ he shared on X on Sunday morning Over 1500 cyclists from diverse backgrounds including school students NaMo Cycling Clubs and Puducherry University students transformed the scenic Rock Beach in Puducherry into a lively fitness festival This event highlights the growing national significance of cycling and its rising popularityPadma Bhushan and Khel Ratna awardees P R Sreejesh and Sharath Kamal joined the youth in a ride inspiring participants to embrace sports and fitnessThe landmark first anniversary of Fit India Sundays on Cycle in Puducherry turned into a vibrant fitness festival featuring a range of fun games and activities including Zumba carrom chess mallakhamb silambam yoga and rope skipping Coinciding with World Meditation Day on December 21 the event emphasised that Fitness is essentially Meditation in MotionTodayâs Sunday morning gathering in Puducherry included Lieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan chief minister N Rangasamy legislative assembly speaker R Selvam Puducherry home minister A Namassivayam and other notable government officials along with Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya who inaugurated the very first event in New Delhi a year agoMandaviya addressed the gathering describing how Fit India Sunday on Cycle has grown from a humble start into a nationwide movementâWhen we started this initiative a year ago it was organised at just five locations with about 500 participants Today more than 10000 locations across the country take part every Sunday with over 10 lakh citizens joining regularly It has become a passion a culture and a powerful solution for pollution Honâble Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also helped in turning this movement into a nationwide fight against obesityâ he saidLieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan of Puducherry described the initiative as a timely message for societyâMandaviyaâs own village in Bhavnagar Gujarat consists of 4000 people only And everyone there commutes in a cycle no other twowheeler or fourwheelers As citizens we often donât realise how small lifestyle changes can collectively make a big difference for the environment especially in terms of reducing the carbon footprintâ he saidPuducherrys Chief Minister N Rangasamy commended the Fit India Movement for its role in promoting accessible fitness for all âCycling is one of the easiest and most effective ways to stay healthy Only when our body is fit can we achieve our goals in life I truly appreciate the Prime Ministerâs vision behind the entire Fit India movementâ he saidToday more than 10000 locations across the country hosted events organised by the Sports Authority of India and Khelo India centres These events took place in Hazaribagh Kargil Patiala Lucknow Golaghat Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh Hisar Tinsukia Visakhapatnam Kashipur in Uttarakhand Cuttack and other places with various banks across the country serving as special partnersThe celebrity gathering also featured Arjuna Awardwinning archers Jyothi Surekha and Abhishek Verma from SAI Sonipat A significant boost to Sundays on Cycle has been provided by NaMo Fit India Cycling clubs and My Bharat volunteers who have played a vital role in the campaignThe morning event in Puducherry included the launch of the highly anticipated Fit India Mobile App Carbon Credit Incentivization which encourages cycling enthusiasts During the event the three cyclists who achieved the highest carbon credits Bharatbhai Parmar Shashikant Veerkar and Govind Singh were honouredCitizens have the option to cycle and earn carbon credits which they can redeem later âFrom now on every month cyclists from every State and Union Territory will be mapped through the Fit India mobile app and the top three performers will be incentivised This is to encourage and reward citizens for adopting cycling as a daily habitâ Mandaviya addedThe Fit India Ambassadors and Influencers who have continued to play a vital role and have actively supported the cause of Sundays on Cycle were also recognised Their names included Nidhi Nigam Aishwarya Raj Champion along with ambassadors Dr Shikha Gupta Yukti Arya mountaineer Divya Arul and Tamil Nadu Cycling State champion Siva SenthilIndian hockeyâs Sreejesh known as the wall summed up the entire journey of the cycling movementâBeing fit is not about training for medals alone it is about building discipline and balance in everyday life Cycling is a simple habit but when adopted collectively it builds a healthier society and a stronger nation Iâm happy that Union Sports Ministers Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative has transformed fitness into a peopleâs movement where families youngsters and professionals participate with equal enthusiasmâ the Padma Bhushan awardee saidAs the cyclists set off along Puducherrys scenic coastline the anniversary edition clearly conveyed that Sundays on Cycle has evolved from merely an event into a nationwide movement promoting fitness sustainability and community involvement across India IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mansukh-mandaviya-officiates-first-anniversary-of-fit-india-sundays-with-cycling-event-in-puducherry-654983.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 01:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/u19-asia-cup-minhas-hits-blistering-172-as-pakistan-win-title-after-beating-india-by-191-runs-654996.html Dubai Dec 21 Sameer Minhas smashed a blistering 113ball 172 and powered Pakistan to a thumping 191run win over an outofsorts India to clinch the U19 Menâs Asia Cup title at the ICC Academy Ground on Sunday It also meant that India which had an unbeaten campaign so far suffered their heaviest defeat in terms of runs in Youth ODIs Pakistan meanwhile has grabbed the U19 Menâs Asia Cup trophy for the first time having shared the 2012 edition title with India where the final ended in a tieAsked to bat first on a pitch that aided great strokeplay Pakistan were clinical in their approach to post an imposing 3478 with Minhas one of the standout batters in the competition leading the charge in commanding fashion by hitting 17 fours and nine sixesHe also shared partnerships of 92 and 137 with Usman Khan 35 and Ahmed Hussain 56 as Pakistan ensured the Indian bowling lineup barring spinner Khilan Patel had an outing they would not like to rememberThe only solace for India who looked unsorted in their fielding was that they managed to pull things back in the last 10 overs to keep Pakistan three runs short of 350In the chase of a massive target India began brightly in reply racing to 32 runs in the first two overs But the chase unravelled swiftly after skipper Ayush Mhatre fell cheaply in the third overOnce Vaibhav Suryavanshi fell for a 10ball 26 the rest of the Indian batting lineup never showed any kind of fight Indiaâs batters perished to rash strokes on short balls leaving them reeling at 685 by the end of the powerplay From there despite Deepesh Devendran top scoring with 36 India were bowled out for 156 in 262 overs with Pakistan pacer Ali Raza taking 442Brief scoresPakistan U19 3478 in 50 overs Sameer Minhas 172 Ahmed Hussain 56 Deepesh Devendran 383 Khilan Patel 244 beat India U19 156 all out in 262 overs Deepesh Devendran 36 Vaibhav Suryavanshi 26 Ali Raza 442 Huzaifa Ahsan 212 by 191 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/u19-asia-cup-minhas-hits-blistering-172-as-pakistan-win-title-after-beating-india-by-191-runs-654996.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 01:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/golf-shaurya-finishes-runner-up-in-asian-tour-q-school-rashid-ajeetesh-and-jaglan-also-earn-cards-655012.html Hua Hin Thailand Dec 21 Indiaâs 22yearold rising star Shaurya Bhattacharya endured a late stumble but still secured a secondplace finish in the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School earning full playing rights for the 2026 Asian Tour season Bhattacharya who began the final round with a oneshot lead was firmly in contention for the top spot for much of the day before dropping bogeys on three of the last seven holes A closinground 72 left him one stroke short of Chinaâs Lin Yuxin who claimed victory with a fiveround total of 16underpar at the Lake View Resort amp Golf ClubLin a twotime AsiaPacific Amateur champion signed for a 67 to edge Bhattacharya who finished at 15under Needing a par on the parfour 18th to force a tie at the top the Indian bogeyed the hole to settle for second placeIt was an encouraging day overall for Indian golf with three more players also securing Asian Tour cards by finishing inside the top 35 Rashid Khan carded a 68 to finish tied15th at 7under while Ajeetesh Sandhu surged with a finalround 67 to end tied19th at 6under Shubham Jaglan claimed the final available card after emerging from a fivehole playoff involving 12 players who were tied at 5underKhalin Joshi narrowly missed out finishing at 4under after bogeying the final hole Kartik Singh 74 and Honey Baisoya 78 ended tied57th while S Chikkarangappa 73 finished tied64th with all three earning limited statusBhattacharya coached by former Asian Games team silver medallist Rahul Bajaj reflected on a demanding final day but chose to focus on the positivesâIt was a tough last day but there were a lot of positivesâ he said âI made a lot of birdies this weekâ27 in totalâwhich is a good number I play every tournament to win even if itâs QSchool I wanted to finish number one but just couldnât close it outâCurrently third on the Professional Golf Tour of India Order of Merit with two wins this season Bhattacharya capped an outstanding week despite the narrow missCanadian Henry Lee finished third at 14under after a finalround 70 while Mexicoâs Roberto Lebrija 72 was fourth and Australiaâs Will Florimo 70 rounded out the top five IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/golf-shaurya-finishes-runner-up-in-asian-tour-q-school-rashid-ajeetesh-and-jaglan-also-earn-cards-655012.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 02:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sharma-finishes-t-32-in-mauritius-open-as-schaper-wins-title-in-play-off-655016.html Port Louis Mauritius Dec 21 Indias Shubhankar Sharma mixed flashes of brilliance with costly lapses to finish tied 32nd in the Mauritius Open while South Africaâs Jayden Schaper claimed the title with a dramatic victory in a playoff Sharma produced a finalround 3under 69 that included several birdies and an eagle but frequent bogeys stalled his progress With rounds of 74697169 the Indian signed off at 5under for the weekStarting on the 10th tee at the demanding La RÃserve Links hosting the event for the second successive year Sharma opened with a birdie but dropped a shot on the next hole A strong stretch of birdieeaglebirdie briefly lifted hopes of a charge but a bogey on the parfive 15th â his third dropped shot at the hole in four days â halted the momentumHe birdied the 18th bogeyed the fourth then traded a birdie on the sixth with a double bogey on the parthree seventh before closing with a birdie on the eighthâMy game is coming around but this week I didnât hit it well off the teeâ said Sharma who recently regained his DP World Tour playing rights with a runnerup finish at QSchool âEvery time things started moving my way I gave away shots Still I feel things are slowly falling into placeâSharma now hopes to gain entry into upcoming Gulf events including the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and the Bahrain ChampionshipAt the top Schaper and American Ryan Gerard finished tied at 22under after four rounds having produced exceptional golf over the weekend on the challenging links layout Schaper closed with rounds of 6464 while Gerard posted 6366Both players parred the 18th on the first playoff hole but Schaper stunningly ended the contest on the second chipping in for eagle to seal his second victory in as many startsâI donât even know what to say Thatâs just such an insane way to finish a tournamentâ said Schaper moments after celebrating with his mother âI couldnât have asked for anything better Christmas and New Year are going to be pretty specialâThe win continued Schaperâs remarkable run of form with his last three finishes reading second first and first Following his victory at the Alfred Dunhill Championship last week he has now comfortably clinched the Opening Swing of the DP World Tour and made a flying start to his 2026 seasonGerard who travelled nearly 10000 miles from Florida in search of a breakthrough win and a Masters invitation fell agonisingly short However his runnerup finish lifted him into the top 50 of the world rankings securing a debut start at Augusta National in April The American earlier this year won the Barracuda Championship cosanctioned by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sharma-finishes-t-32-in-mauritius-open-as-schaper-wins-title-in-play-off-655016.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 03:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-season-3-hou-yifan-wins-two-games-as-alpine-sg-pipers-move-to-second-spot-triveni-continental-kings-reach-final-655020.html Mumbai Dec 21 Threetime womenâs world champion Hou Yifan won both her games with black pieces to help Alpine SG Pipers register two victories on the penultimate day of the league stage and jump to second spot in the Global Chess League GCL at the Royal Opera House here on Sunday Defending champions Triveni Continental Kings sealed their third consecutive final berth with a 145 win over Ganges Grandmasters to reach 21 match points with seven wins from nine matches With Alpine SG Pipers beating upGrad Mumba Masters and Fyers American Gambits by an identical 87 scoreline with black to reach 15 match points in the event a joint initiative of Tech Mahindra and FIDEFirst edition finalists Mumba Masters hopes of making the final however suffered a major setback as they lost both their matches on SundayThe home favourites who were outplayed 161 by American Gambits on Saturday had to beat PBG Alaskan Knights in the last game of the day on Sunday to regain the second spot as they were on 12 points with two matches to play However they went down 810 despite Maxime VachierLagrave beating world champion D Gukesh on the icon boardHowever Player of the Match Leinier Dominguez beat Shakhriyar Mamedyarov on the third board and then Sara Khadem upset D Harika by forcing the Indian to resign after 65 movesWith the second spot in the final still up for grabs Mumba Masters will have to beat Continental Kings and hope that PBG Alaskan Knights can stop the winning run of Alpine SG PipersGanges Grandmasters also have an outside chance of making the cut but for that to happen they will have to register a huge win over American Gambits and hope that the other contenders loseWhen action began on Sunday the Pipers were in fifth spot and needed to win both their matches to entertain any hope of making it to the final And Hou Yifan delivered for the team when it mattered the mostYifan first defeated Koneru Humpy of Mumba Masters and then inflicted the tournamentâs first loss on Bibisara Assaubayeva of American Gambits to win the Players of the Match award in both matchesAgainst Bibisara the Chinese GM spent almost six minutes before blitzing to a pawnking endgame which proved enough for her teamExplaining her thought process before those moves Yifan said âI felt like it was a very critical moment when the game goes to a critical endgame Thatâs why I thought I would take time and think it through I had nine minutes and that was enough to calculateâIn both matches Alpine SG Pipers lost the game on the prodigy board but Yifanâs advantage of winning with black proved critical since a win with black pieces gives a team four game points while a win with white is only worth three game points All the other boards in both matches ended in a drawSandwiched between two Alpine SG Pipers matches defending champions Triveni Continental Kings dented Ganges Grandmasters hopes of reaching the top two after beating them 145 and also emphatically sealed the final spotOn the icon board Player of the Match Alireza Firouzja who was behind the two losses he suffered on Saturday beat Viswanathan Anand in 48 moves with a fantastic queen sacrifice with black piecesContinental Kings womenâs superstars Zhu Jiner and Alexandra Kosteniuk also won with black pieces to put the result beyond doubt Only 2025 World Cup winner Javokhir Sindarov was the only bright spot for Ganges Grandmasters as he defeated Vidit Gujarathi in 53 moves in a rookknight ending IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-season-3-hou-yifan-wins-two-games-as-alpine-sg-pipers-move-to-second-spot-triveni-continental-kings-reach-final-655020.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 03:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/nz-rise-to-second-in-wtc-rankings-after-323-run-win-against-wi-655066.html New Delhi Dec 22 New Zealand climbed to second on the ICC World Test Championship table after completing a dominant 323run win over the West Indies in the third and final Test at Mount Maunganui The comprehensive victory lifted New Zealand above South Africa with only Australia ahead of them in the WTC standingsNew Zealands next assignment is a threematch World Test Championship series against England scheduled for the middle of next yearThe West Indies meanwhile remain ninth on the table and will return to action at home next year in a series against Sri Lanka and PakistanThe Black Caps sealed the result midway through the final session at Bay Oval with leftarm seamer Jacob Duffy claiming the final wicket to bring the match to a close The performance also capped off an outstanding series for Duffy earning him the Player of the Series awardDuffy was the standout bowler in the West Indiesâ second innings returning figures of 542 as the visitors were bowled out for 138 while chasing a daunting target of 462 He finished the series with 23 wickets playing a central role in New Zealandâs 20 series win and a strong start to their World Test Championship campaignIn the process the leftarmer surpassed a longstanding national milestone breaking Richard Hadleeâs record for the most wickets by a New Zealander in a calendar year His third fivewicket haul of the series took his tally beyond Hadleeâs previous mark of 80I saw that list most wickets in a calendar year at lunch time and there were some cool names on there so to be up there on any sort of list with those sort of names was special Duffy admittedNew Zealandâs bowlers were backed up by a monumental effort with the bat led by openers Devon Conway and captain Tom Latham The pair created history by becoming the first opening combination in Test cricket to each register two centuries in the same matchConwayâs contributions were particularly notable as his scores of 227 and 100 made him the first New Zealander and just the 10th player overall to record both a double century and a century in a single Test He was rewarded with the Player of the Match accoladeI dont think its sunk in yet It will take some time for me to get my head around what happened in this Test match But Im really glad we got the win Conway said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/nz-rise-to-second-in-wtc-rankings-after-323-run-win-against-wi-655066.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/tickets-for-ranchi-leg-of-hockey-india-league-2026-go-live-655082.html New Delhi Dec 22 Hockey India on Monday announced that tickets for the upcoming Hockey India League HIL 202526 will be free for fans eager to watch the games as part of their effort to expand the sports fanbase across multiple cities live The Womenâs HIL starts on December 28th in Ranchi and concludes on January 10th The Menâs HIL begins on January 3rd in Chennai then moves to Ranchi from January 11th The final leg will be held in Bhubaneswar known as the cradle of hockey from January 17 to 26Ticket sales for the Ranchi leg of Hero HIL started today at 1100 hours while tickets for Hero Menâs HIL Chennai will be available from Wednesday at 1100 hoursLike the previous edition Hockey India is committed to bringing the sport to every part of the country and making it more accessible for its passionate fansHockey India League HIL governing committee chairperson Dilip Tirkey said âWe have once again decided to offer free tickets for hockey fans to come and enjoy all the matches across Chennai Ranchi and Bhubaneswar While the womenâs matches will be in Ranchi the menâs HIL will be played across three cities We want to fill the hockey stands with fans who wish to see their favourite stars in action We will have some of the worldâs top players this season and we are eager to witness some fantastic hockey over the span of a monthâHockey India League HIL governing committee member Bhola Nath Singh echoed similar sentiments and said âHero HIL will be a monthlong celebration of hockey and we invite the hockey fans to come watch hockeykajashn It was our aim to increase the fanbase for our sport across regions and we look forward to packed stadiums throughout the seasonâThis yearâs Hockey India League will showcase an impressive roster of eight menâs teams and four womenâs teams both leagues offering fastpaced exciting games through their newly revamped formats IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/tickets-for-ranchi-leg-of-hockey-india-league-2026-go-live-655082.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/nepal-name-24-player-group-for-training-camp-ahead-of-t20-wc-655101.html Kathmandu Dec 22 Nepal have announced a 24player group that will help determine their final squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup The 24player list that will attend a training camp ahead of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup will determine their final squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup with selectors needing to reduce the size of the group to 15 players prior to the next edition of the 20over showcase in India and Sri Lanka starting on February 7Nepal have stuck with the 16 members that performed well when defeating the West Indies 21 during the T20I series in September and October and added a further eight players into contention such as Sher Malla Binod Bhandari Abinash Bohara and Bashir Ahmed who impressed during the recent Nepal Premier League ICC reportsNepal qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup with an unbeaten run at the ICC Mens T20 World Cup AsiaPacific Regional Final in Oman in October and will compete in the tournament for a second consecutive time and third overallNepal are drawn in Group C at the T20 World Cup and will play against England the West Indies Bangladesh and ItalyThe 20team tournament will be cohosted by India and Sri Lanka across 29 days and eight venues five in India and three in Sri LankaA total of 40 group matches will be played between February 720 with the top two sides from each group then progressing to the Super Eights phase of the tournament that commences on February 21The top four sides at the completion of the Super Eights qualify for the knockout stages of the event with semifinals to be held in KolkataColombo and Mumbai ahead of the title decider on March 8 in AhmedabadColomboNepal training camp squad Rohit Paudel Dipendra Singh Airee Sandeep Lamichhane Kushal Bhurtel Aasif Sheikh Kushal Malla Sundeep Jora Gulshan Jha Sompal Kami Nandan Yadav Lalit Rajbanshi Lokesh Bam Aarif Sheikh Aadil Ansari Karan KC Sahab Alam Sher Malla Bhim Sharki Ishan Pandey Basir Ahamad Binod Bhandari Abinash Bohora Pratish GC Rupesh K Singh IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/nepal-name-24-player-group-for-training-camp-ahead-of-t20-wc-655101.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-jhye-richardson-likely-to-be-added-to-australias-camp-ahead-of-boxing-day-test-655102.html New Delhi Dec 22 Rightarm quick Jhye Richardson is likely to be included in the XI for the Boxing Day Test of the Ashes series after recovering from shoulder surgery After undergoing surgery in January Richardson returned to cricket with his club Fremantle last month He also spent time with the Test squad ahead of the Ashes opener in Perth before playing for a Cricket Australia XI and Australia A against England LionsRichardson got a golden chance to push his claims for a Test recall after taking 435 against the England Lions as he was called in to bowl with Australias Test attack ahead of the third Ashes TestWith skipper Pat Cummins expected to sit out the Melbourne Test and potentially the rest of the series this will open the vacancy in the pace attack meaning Richardson is very close to being in considerationThe fact that Richardson has been called into camp to bowl in front of the coaching staff shows he remains very much in Australias plans despite playing his last Test in December 2022Moreover with veteran spinner Nathan Lyon being ruled out of the series with a hamstring injury Australia will need to figure out a replacement for the veteran of 141 TestsTodd Murphy is likely the frontrunner to replace Lyon in the squad with Corey Rocchiccioli Matthew Kuhnemann Mitch Swepson and Cooper Connolly also in the frayMurphy is likely the frontrunner to replace Lyon in the squad He was selected for his Test debut at 22 during Australias BorderGavaskar Trophy tour of India in 2023 He took a stunning 7124 on debut and dismissed Virat Kohli four times throughout the seriesMurphy was called in as Lyons injury replacement during the 2023 Ashes and returned to the Test team against Sri Lanka in January this year taking one wicket in Australias innings victory IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-jhye-richardson-likely-to-be-added-to-australias-camp-ahead-of-boxing-day-test-655102.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/richard-ngarava-named-zimbabwes-new-test-and-odi-captain-654866.html New Delhi Dec 20 Zimbabwe Cricket ZC have named Richard Ngarava as the new captain for both Test and OneDay International ODI formats with Brian Bennett serving as vicecaptain The appointments were confirmed during the ZC Boardâs fourthquarter meeting in Harare on Friday The leftarm fast bowler takes over from veteran batter Craig Ervine who is stepping down after guiding the team through an important rebuilding phaseZC chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani congratulated the new leadership team and acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing captain âNgarava has shown remarkable growth as a player and leader over the years He commands respect within the dressing room and has consistently delivered for Zimbabwe across all formats We believe he is ready to lead the team into its next chapter Brianâs appointment as vicecaptain reflects our confidence in his cricketing intelligence maturity and longterm leadership potentialâHe represents the future of Zimbabwean cricket Craig Ervine led with professionalism resilience and dignity during a challenging period ZC is deeply grateful for his contribution to the teamâs stability and progressâ Mukuhlani said in a statement released by Zimbabwe CricketNgarava who debuted internationally in 2017 is a key part of Zimbabweâs bowling lineup As a leftarm fastmedium bowler he has played in Tests ODIs and T20Is and is the first Zimbabwean to reach 100 T20I wicketsHis career highlights include matchwinning fivewicket hauls in both Test and ODI cricket as well as a key contribution in Zimbabweâs first home Test victory in 12 years Bennett a talented young allrounder from Zimbabwe has advanced quickly since leading the Under19 team and making his senior international debut in all formats by age 21His recent milestones include centuries in both Test and ODI formats setting the record for the fastest Test hundred by a Zimbabwean and notable performances in both redball and limitedovers cricket ZC stated that these appointments are part of its longterm plan to develop a competitive and sustainable national team IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/richard-ngarava-named-zimbabwes-new-test-and-odi-captain-654866.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-triveni-continental-kings-escape-to-victory-over-fyers-american-gambits-to-consolidate-top-spot-654884.html Mumbai Dec 20 Marcâandria Maurizzi registered a lastgasp win over Volodar Murzin on the prodigy board to help defending champions Triveni Continental Kings escaped to a 87 victory over Fyers Amerian Gambits and consolidated their position at the top of the leader board on Matchday 7 in the Global Chess League GCL It looked like American Gambits had thrown the race for the top two spots wide open having hammered second played Mumba Masters 161 in the first match of the day and had taken a 74 lead against the Continental Kings after Theodora Injac defeated Alexandra Kostenieuk on the womenâs superstar boardThis meant that Maurizzi had to beat world rapid champion Murzin on the prodigy board with black to earn four game points extend Continental Kings lead at the top of the table and he did that in style to win the match for his team and also earn the Player of the Match awardEarlier Mumba Mastersâ hopes of sealing a final spot suffered a major setback after they were crushed by American Gambits in the reverse fixtureVladislav Artemiev started the teamâs march with a convincing win over Wesley So and Hikaru Nakamura then beat Maxime VachierLagrave on the icon board in 55 moves Player of the Match Richard Rapport then put the result beyond doubt with a win over Shakhriyar Mamedyarov In fact only Bardiya Daneshwar was the only Mumba Mastersâ player to earn a point after he drew with Volodar MurzinSecondplaced Mumba Mastersâ slip up opened the doors for the other teams and Ganges Grandmastersâ closed the gap with a 109 win over Alpine SG PipersAfter actor and fitness enthusiast made the ceremonial move on the icon board Vincent Keymer defeated Anish Giri and 2025 World Cup winner Javokhir Sindarov got the better of R Praggnanandhaa to put the Grandmasters in driverâs seatBut Hou Yifan and Leon Luke Mendonca won their respective matches with black to bring Pipers back in contentionThis meant that the game on the icon board beatween Viswanathan Anand and Fabiano Caruana was important to decide the outcome The Indian managed to hold on in 39 moves to ensure that the team scored valuable three match points and take their tally to 12 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-triveni-continental-kings-escape-to-victory-over-fyers-american-gambits-to-consolidate-top-spot-654884.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/u19-asia-cup-with-formidable-batting-india-aims-to-extend-dominance-over-pakistan-in-title-clash-654887.html Dubai Dec 20 Just a week after India and Pakistan met in U19 Asia Cup league stage the arch rivals are set to face in the title clash at the ICC Academy Ground on Sunday In their previous meeting where India won by 90 runs both teams refused to shake hands and the same is expected to happen in the final For India who have won the U19 Asia Cup eight times the final offers a chance to practice being in highpressure scenarios ahead of next monthâs Under19 World Cup while Pakistan will view it as another test of temperament ahead of the mega event in Zimbabwe and NamibiaDespite Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi not firing consistently India can draw solace from the fact that other batters Aaron George Vihaan Malhotra Vedant Trivedi and Abhigyan Kundu are amongst the runs The batting is complemented by pacers Kishan Singh and Deepesh Devendran while being backed by spinners Khilan Patel and Kanishk ChouhanPakistan meanwhile will rely on Sameer Minhas the teamâs highest rungetter with 299 runs in four matches including a century and a halfcentury In bowling rightarm pacer Abdul Subhan has been the most successful bowler with 11 wickets from three matches while leftarm fast bowler Mohammad Sayyam has claimed eight wickets so farGiven the quality on both sides another lowscoring contest cannot be ruled out especially with rain likely to stay away The finalâs result may hinge on which batting group adapts better under pressure in a game that rarely fails to deliver dramaWhen Sunday December 21 1030 AM ISTWhere ICC Academy Ground DubaiWhere to watch Sony Sports Ten 1 Ten 3 and Ten 4 SD amp HD channels on TV and SonyLIV for live streamingSquadsIndia Ayush Mhatre C Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Vihaan Malhotra vc Vedant Trivedi Abhigyan Kundu wk Harvansh Singh wk Yuvraj Gohil Kanishk Chouhan Khilan A Patel Naman Pushpak D Deepesh Henil Patel Kishan Kumar Singh Udhav Mohan and Aaron GeorgePakistan Farhan Yousaf captain Usman Khan vicecaptain Abdul Subhan Ahmed Hussain Ali Hassan Baloch Ali Raza Daniyal Ali Khan Hamza Zahoor wk Huzaifa Ahsan Momin Qamar Mohammad Huzaifa Mohammad Sayyam Mohammad Shayan wk Niqab Shafiq and Sameer Minhas IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/u19-asia-cup-with-formidable-batting-india-aims-to-extend-dominance-over-pakistan-in-title-clash-654887.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-tour-finals-sat-chi-end-dream-run-with-defeat-in-semis-654891.html Hangzhou Dec 20 Indias pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty saw their impressive run at the BWF World Tour Finals 2025 come to an end in the semifinals going down 2110 1721 1521 to Paris 2024 Olympics silver medallist Chinaâs Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang The Indian pair started strongly taking the opening game in commanding fashion but the Chinese duo turned the contest around in the latter stages to settle for bronzeAdditionally Indian shuttlers have only ever won two medals at the BWF World Tour Finals The only gold medallist from the nation in the competition is still PV Sindhu who won the womens singles title in 2018Thirdranked Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty got off to a poor start against global No 5 pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang who seized an early 41 lead The Indian shuttlers however retaliated immediately and never looked back after tying the score at five all SatChi took the lead by dominating the rest of the game and won the first game 2110 The Chinese pair bounced back and faced Satwik and Chirag in the second game Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang went deep to win several crucial points and force a decider in the second game eventually winning it 2117In contrast to the buildup the third game turned out to be very onesided with Liang Wei Kengs deadly flick serves leaving the Indians stranded and Wang Chang seizing control of the netSatwikChirag had now lost eight of their twelve encounters with the Chinese duo with five of those coming in 2025 Earlier this week SatChi won both the group stage of the BWF World Tour Finals and the round of 16 of the BWF World Championships IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-tour-finals-sat-chi-end-dream-run-with-defeat-in-semis-654891.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ahead-of-2026-wpl-delhi-capitals-set-to-announce-new-captain-on-sunday-evening-654892.html New Delhi Dec 20 Ahead of the 2026 Womenâs Premier League WPL threetime runnersup Delhi Capitals DC are set to announce their new captain for the upcoming season on Sunday evening DC were captained by Australiaâs multiple times World Cup winning skipper Meg Lanning but fell short of winning the WPL title in 2023 2024 and 2025 respectively But with Meg released by the franchise and being roped in by UP Warriorz UPW at the mega auction in New Delhi last month they have a leadership void to fillIANS understands that India batter Jemimah Rodrigues and South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt are in the race to be DCâs new captain âJemimah had been DCâs vicecaptain for three seasons while Laura has considerable international leadership experience by leading the Proteas It will be interesting to see who they go withâ said a source familiar with the matter to IANS on SaturdayThe new captainâs announcement by DC will also be made live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network channels at 6pm on Sunday evening just before Indiaâs opening T20I against Sri Lanka takes place at the ACAVDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam Barring a lastminute change DC might go in with an Indian skipper if coowner Parth Jindalâs words in the mega auction are to go byâI think we are very clear that we would like to have an Indian as the captain So depending on who else we land we already have our mind made up But lets see what happens but I mean Laura will add a lot of leadership qualities into the dressing room But we are clear that we want to go with an Indian captainâ Jindal had said in the press conference during the mega auctionDC will open their 2026 WPL campaign against defending champions and twotime winners Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on January 10 This is the first time a WPL season will be played in the JanuaryFebruary window The final will take place at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on February 5 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ahead-of-2026-wpl-delhi-capitals-set-to-announce-new-captain-on-sunday-evening-654892.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/mauritius-open-sharma-lies-42nd-jarvis-and-gerard-lead-654896.html Port Louis Mauritius Dec 20 Shubhankar Sharmaâs third round at the Mauritius Open at the demanding La RÃserve Links produced an eventful card featuring two eagles amid relentless wind and intermittent rain Sharma mixed two eagles four birdies five pars and seven bogeys in a rollercoaster round of 71 following up a gritty 69 the previous day that had ensured he safely made the cutAt 1under after three rounds 746971 Sharma was placed Tied42nd but remains optimistic of finishing the week strongly as he grows increasingly comfortable on a course he is playing for the first timeLa RÃserve Links has tested the field throughout the week with constantly shifting conditions demanding precision patience and adaptabilityâThis is an incredible courseâ Sharma said âItâs already challenging and when the wind gets upâas it often hasâand then the rain comes and goes it becomes an even bigger challenge But thatâs the nature of golf on this beautiful islandâAfter a difficult opening round where he dropped three bogeys on par5s Sharma began to regain control in the second round playing the long holes more sensibly with two birdies a par and just one bogey The real turnaround came on Saturday when he capitalised superbly on scoring opportunitiesOn the par5 fifth Sharma unleashed a strong drive followed by a precise 6iron setting up a 15foot eagle putt which he converted He repeated the feat on the 12th holing a 20footer for his second eagle of the day There was nearly a third on the 15th but a 15foot putt slid past resulting in a birdie insteadâI actually had another eagle look on the 15thâ Sharma said âIt just didnât go inâThe flashes of brilliance were countered by the courseâs unforgiving nature as missed fairways and swirling winds punished even minor errors Yet Sharmaâs ability to bounce back repeatedly highlighted a growing confidenceâan important sign after a season that saw him lose his DP World Tour card before battling his way back through Qualifying School earlier this monthNow closing out the year on one of the Tourâs most visually stunning yet exacting layouts Sharma is focused on finishing positivelyâIâm learning with every roundâ he said âIf I can put together a solid final day it will be a good way to end the seasonâWhile Sharma fought his own battle against the elements the tournament lead remained fiercely contested South Africaâs Casey Jarvis and American Ryan Gerard shared the lead at 16under after 54 holes with Franceâs Alexander Levy just one shot behind at 15underHowever with conditions remaining unpredictable no position appears secure heading into the final roundFor Sharma Sunday presents another opportunityânot just to climb the leaderboard but to reinforce the resilience and momentum that have defined his comeback in recent weeks IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/mauritius-open-sharma-lies-42nd-jarvis-and-gerard-lead-654896.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/80th-cci-western-india-squash-top-seeds-chotrani-joshna-enter-semis-654899.html Mumbai Dec 20 The 80th CCI Western India squash tournament moved into its decisive phase on Saturday as the semifinals delivered highquality squash intense rallies and moments of sheer grit underlining why this championship remains one of the most prestigious events on the domestic squash calendar Across all categories the semifinals reflected the growing depth and competitiveness of Indian squash The playersâ fitness shot selection and mental resilience were on full display reinforcing the tournamentâs role as a key platform for emerging and established talent alikeIn the womenâs category topseed Joshna Chinappa steamrolled past Reiva Nimalkar 114 113 115 to move into the semifinals Second seed Sanya Vats had to struggle to get the better of Pooja Arthi R 116 1012 113 115 to enter the final four stageMeanwhile in the menâs category topseed Veer Chotrani was stretched a bit by Mahesh Mangaonkar but made it to the semis in style winning 119 119 1210 Second seed Suraj Chand was clinical as ever as he beat Purav Rambhia 113 115 111ResultsQuarterfinals Womenâs Joshna Chinappa 1 bt Reiva Nimbalkar 916 114 113 115 Tanvi Khanna 58 bt Shameena Riaz 34 113 114 113 Nirupama Dubey 58 bt Anjali Semwal 34 115 1012 116 1210 Sanya Vats 2 bt Pooja Arthi R 58 116 1012 113 115Quarterfinals Menâs Veer Chotrani bt Mahesh Mangaonkar 58 119 119 1210 Ayaan Vaziralli 34 bt Deepak Mandal 916 113 116 115 Om Semwal 34 bt Avalokit Singh 111 114 113 Suraj Chand 2 bt Purav Rambhia 916 113 115 111MO35 Mahesh Kadam 2 bt Pardeep Malik 58 115 611 118 115 Rishi Jalan bt Manoj Manjarekar 916 114 113 114 Nikhil Jain 34 bt Mithun AP 916 119 911 114 114MO40 Arjun Agnihotri 1 bt Ravindra Navle 916 114 113 113 Ankur Gupta 34 bt Murukesh Mani 58 114 911 115 115 Manish Chavan 58 bt Amit Gajria 916 115 117 711 115 Sanjay Pawar 2 bt Baban More 916 1311 114 114Semifinals MIXU9 Amaay Mahajan 34 bt Devyansh Gupta 58 711 118 1412 119 Vaibhav Vc 58 bt Sabir Khubchandani 2 116 1113 117BU11 Avyyanveer Luthra 2 bt Rudransh Prabhakar 58 911 116 115 113 Ved Sanganaria 1 bt Yuvaan Verma 58 117 116 118 BU13 Aaron Arambhan 2 bt Rohan Khurana 58 1210 116 1214 114 Dhairya Gogia 1 bt Viaan Khemani 58 114 1210 611 118 BU15 Fareed Andrabi 58 bt Yusuf Pardiwala 2 111 115 1412 Vivaan Khanna 1 bt Swarit Patil 34 117 116 711 119 BU17 Saharsh Shahra 1 bt Mithun Mahadu Darvada 916 112 116 1311 Hridhaan Shah 58 bt Agastya Bansal 34 511 113 115GU11 Naina Anand 2 bt Anshika Kumari 34 118 411 1311 117 Sameeksha Sugumar 1 bt Avisha Agarwal 34 114 113 911 117 GU13 Riyaa Dalal 2 bt Gargi Kadam 58 114 117 117 115 Shanaya Roy 1 bt Aadhya Grover 34 118 114 114 GU15 Diva Parasrampuria 2 bt Divyanshi Jain 114 711 1210 611 116 Vasundhara Nangare 1 bt Aashi Shah 34 114 811 117 911 117 GU17 Fabiha Nafees 58 bt Kaashvi Mangal 1 116 1210 114 Riyansika Verma 34 bt Aarika Mishra 2 115 117 116MO60 Deepak Moolani 2 bt Srikanth Venkatraman 58 119 113 115 Ashun Bahl 1 bt Rohit Thawani 119 117 116 MO65 Vijay Jaini 1 bt Devapriya Kanoria 611 117 113 119 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/80th-cci-western-india-squash-top-seeds-chotrani-joshna-enter-semis-654899.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-nathan-lyon-ruled-out-of-remainder-of-adelaide-test-with-hamstring-injury-654911.html Adelaide Dec 21 Australia spinner Nathan Lyon has been ruled out of the remainder of the third Ashes Test due to hamstring injury The injury also puts him in doubt in the remainder of the series Lyon 38 grabbed his right hamstring after diving to save a ball at fine leg but he came up cautiously and signaled to the dressing room almost afterAfter a quick conversation with Marnus Labuschagne who gave him a pat on the back he left the field of play at fine leg and limped to the changing rooms Before the lunch break on the fifth day he was observed on crutches to leave Adelaide Oval for an injury scanHe would no longer participate in the game according to a Cricket Australia representative This is the not the first time Lyon has suffered injury like thisWhile chasing a ball on the field at Lords in the second Test of the 2023 Ashes Lyon sustained a right calf injury that ended the series for himLyon had taken five crucial wickets during the third Test including three in the second inningsThere will be an intriguing selection debate regarding Australias specialist spinner if Lyon is unable to play in the fourth Test in MelbourneAustralias No 2 Test spinner leftarm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann is on the teams contract list and has travelled to the West Indies However in spinfriendly conditions abroad he serves as Lyons complementary second spinner In recent years offspin has outperformed leftarm orthodox in Australian conditions Due to injuries and Australias whiteball duty Kuhnemann has only participated in two Sheffield Shield games this season taking four wickets at 36Veteran off spinner Todd Murphy who has played seven Test including three Ashes is also in line to replace Lyon IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-nathan-lyon-ruled-out-of-remainder-of-adelaide-test-with-hamstring-injury-654911.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 11:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-arsenal-top-for-christmas-after-narrow-win-haaland-keeps-pressure-on-654914.html London Dec 21 Arsenal will be top of the Premier League at Christmas thanks to a hardfought 10 win away to Everton on Saturday Viktor Gyokeres thumping 27thminute penalty awarded after a handball by Jake OBrien separated the two sides and ensured Arsenal stayed ahead after Manchester City had put Mikel Artetas team under intense pressure earlier in the day reports XinhuaErling Haaland was on target twice as Manchester City breezed past West Ham United 30 The Norwegian opened the scoring in the fifth minute set up Tijjani Reijnders to double the lead before halftime and then netted his second in the 69th minuteNewcastle United will be frustrated to have taken only a point at home to Chelsea after Nick Woltemade gave them a 20 lead after just 20 minutes The big striker smashed home a rebound after four minutes and then got a touch on Anthony Gordons ball in the sixyard box as Newcastle took controlChelsea had to improve after the break and did so with Reece James scoring a free kick before Joao Pedro leveled after knocking on a long ball from the back and then racing through to scoreAlexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike both scored as Liverpool won 21 away to Tottenham who was reduced to 10 men after a 33rdminute red card for Xavi SimonsRicharlison pulled a goal back for Spurs in the 83rd minute but the hosts finished with nine men after Cristian Romero was sent off in injury timeThe bad news for Liverpool was an injury to Isak which will probably rule him out over Christmas with Mohamed Salah already away at the Africa Cup of NationsSunderland survived the loss of five players to the Africa Cup of Nations with a 00 draw away to Brighton while Bournemouth was held to a 11 home draw against Burnley who ended a sevengame losing streak thanks to Armando Brojas 90thminute headerLeeds United crushed Crystal Palace 41 to climb away from the bottom three with two goals from Dominic CalvertLewin along with strikes from Ethan Ampadu and Anton StachBottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers suffered another defeat going down 20 at home to Brentford with two goals from Keane LewisPotter after 63 and 83 minutes improving his sides previously poor away record IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/premier-league-arsenal-top-for-christmas-after-narrow-win-haaland-keeps-pressure-on-654914.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 11:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bundesliga-leverkusen-rallies-to-beat-leipzig-3-1-654915.html Berlin Dec 21 Bayer Leverkusen ended the Bundesliga year with an away win on Saturday coming from behind to beat RB Leipzig 31 and climb to third place in the table In a highintensity match Leverkusen started brightly moving the ball with confidence and creating early chances through Patrik Schick and Martin Terrier Leipzig responded on the counter and gradually gained control with Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken forced into a save to deny Conrad Harder from distance reports XinhuaLeipzig took the lead in the 35th minute after a quick throwin on the right Christoph Baumgartner set up Xaver Schlager who drove across the edge of the box and placed a low shot into the bottom cornerLeverkusen responded quickly as Terrier headed in Arthurs cross to level the score in the 40th minute The visitors completed the turnaround just before the break when Schick finished off a counterattack beating his marker in the area and scoring decisively to give Leverkusen a 21 halftime leadAfter the interval Leipzig applied sustained pressure Harder and Tidiam Gomis both went close and Flekken produced a key oneonone save during the hosts strongest spellAlthough Leipzig dominated possession late on clear chances were limited Its final opportunity came in stoppage time when captain Willi Orbans header failed to test FlekkenLeverkusen sealed the result moments later Substitute Montrell Culbreath broke through on the counter and scored on his Bundesliga debut with the goal confirmed after a lengthy VAR reviewThe win moves Leverkusen to 29 points from 15 matches lifting it above Leipzig on goal difference into third place Leipzig drops to fourth after its first home defeat of the seasonIt was a fairly even game with chances at both ends Leipzig managing director for sport Marcel Schaefer said Leverkusen played well and deserve credit We go into the winter break with two defeats but we will return stronger in JanuaryElsewhere Stuttgart drew 00 with Hoffenheim Freiburg edged Wolfsburg 43 Union Berlin defeated 10man Cologne 10 Hamburg drew 11 with Frankfurt and Augsburg and Werder Bremen drew 00 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bundesliga-leverkusen-rallies-to-beat-leipzig-3-1-654915.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 11:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-skipper-pat-cummins-doubtful-for-remainder-of-series-654943.html Adelaide Dec 21 Australia captain Pat Cummins is unlikely to feature in the Boxing Day Test against England scheduled to take place from December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground After a fiveandahalfmonth injury break the Australian captain took six wickets in the third Test and was a key factor in their 82run win at the Adelaide Oval Following wins in Perth and Brisbane the hosts continued their strong performance and clinched the series 30 successfully retaining the Ashes The captain expressed joy over the amazing series victory but indicated he will reconsider injury risks for the upcoming matchesIm feeling really good but as for the rest of the series well wait and see We had a pretty aggressive buildup knowing that its the Ashes there to be won and we thought that was worth it Now that the series has been won there might be a sense of jobs done and lets reassess the riskâ he told the broadcasters after the gameWell work it out over the next couple of days I doubt Ill be playing Melbourne and then well have a chat about Sydney But certainly before the series it was while the series was live lets take on the risk and have a crack at it now its done I think well need to have a chat about itâ Cummins addedEnglands Jamie Smith and Will Jacks challenged the hosts with a counterattack for a period but pacer Mitchell Starc took three of the last four wickets including those of Smith and Jacks Scott Boland finished the innings by taking the wicket of Josh Tongue securing Australia a wellearned victoryIt feels pretty awesome Yeah amazing Its a series weve been thinking about for a long time It wasnt easy today but we got it done Its a pretty excited changing room in thereâ Cummins said on the winSpeaking on about maintaining the pressure on England he said I think thats when were at our best this cricket team You cant really rush things here in Australia I think you kind of will it to happen but it doesnt really work that way Its good oldfashioned grind a lot of the time I loved the toil from all the guys today It got a little bit closer than I would have liked but Im pretty happyNathan Lyon who took three wickets on day four was sidelined due to a hamstring injury while fielding but the captain praised the teams efforts on the fieldI think thats one of the things Im most proud about in this group Nothing ever really happens perfectly theres always something that gets thrown upOver the last few years this groups have shown it can just crack on Even I missed the first couple of games Steve stepped right in and it was smooth and seamless Theres always things that crop up Nathan Lyon doing his hammy with a couple of hours left todayThe boys just go okay thats happened Lets crack on Whats next I think thats one of the big reasons why weve had our success over the last couple of yearsâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-skipper-pat-cummins-doubtful-for-remainder-of-series-654943.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/the-youth-factor-just-isnt-there-right-now-uthappa-questions-srhs-bowling-squad-654964.html New Delhi Dec 21 Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa highlighted Sunrisers Hyderabads bowling issue citing a lack of youth bowlers which could hurt the franchise in the IPL 2026 The Hyderabadbased franchise retained their core squad boasting one of the strongest squads in IPL 2025 featuring players like Travis Head Abhishek Sharma Pat Cummins Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen They signed seasoned players including Salil Arora Jack Edwards and Liam Livingstone for Rs 13 crore as well as a number of promising stars through the miniauction before to IPL 2026However Uthappa questioned the signing of Livingstone and his place in the eleven and also shared his thoughts on the weak bowling attackâNothing has really changed SRH have taken a clear stand they want to win the championship on the back of their batting at full tilt If you look at this auction and the way theyâve gone about it theyâve stayed true to that narrative They havenât gone after an Indian bowler who could support Pat Cummins Harshal Patel or Jaydev Unadkat We know Harshal can pick up wickets but he can also be expensive The same goes for Unadkat Pat Cummins is the only bowler who can consistently hold one end Nitish Reddy is still developing as an allrounder so how much responsibility will he get SRH are batting like they want to breach 300 every gameBut the question is â where does Liam Livingstone fit into this lineup You already have Travis Head Heinrich Klaasen Pat Cummins and Eshan Malinga occupying overseas slots Are they planning to chase every game Or are they accepting that their bowling lacks depth especially with some bowlers being in the latter stages of their careers The youth factor in the bowling unit just isnât there right now Uthappa said on JioStarFormer India cricketer Anil Kumble also commented on Liam Livingstone joining SRH for Rs 13 crore and questioned the bowling options for SRH alongwith skipper CumminsâI think Liam Livingstone as a buy certainly makes sense in a T20 lineup irrespective of his performances last season with RCB Heâs the kind of player who can change a game in just a few overs thatâs the way he bats On top of that heâs extremely flexible â he can open bat at No 3 or play in the middle order That said spending â¹13 crore becomes an interesting call when you already have a bowling captain in Pat Cummins who bats lower down the order along with Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen â three overseas slots that are almost fixed IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/the-youth-factor-just-isnt-there-right-now-uthappa-questions-srhs-bowling-squad-654964.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 15:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/pune-grand-tour-trophy-unveiled-in-jaipur-654853.html Jaipur Dec 20 The heritageinspired trophy for the Pune Grand Tour 2026 Indias firstever UCI 22 classified road race was unveiled here on Saturday Rajasthans Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari along with Jitendra Dudi IAS Collector Pune District the host city for the road race was present on the occasion The dignitaries were joined by Madan Rathore Member of Parliament Rajasthan Dr Niraj K Pawan IAS Rajasthan Sports Secretary Onkar Singh Chairman Cycling Federation of India Commissioner and Sarika Choudhary Chairperson Selection Committee Rajasthan Cycling AssociationCrafted by Puneâs coppersmiths famously known as Tambat Aali community The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour Trophy representing eight heritage forts and the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has generated excitement among cycling enthusiasts sports fans and local community highlighting Jaipurâs role in the national sporting landscapeOrganised by Pune District Administration led by Jitendra Dudi with steadfast support from the Government of Maharashtra the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 is Indiaâs premier international cycling event â a firstever UCI 22 classified road race â drawing elite cyclists from across globe to compete on Indian soilAs part of the nationwide Trophy Tour the arrival of Pune Grand Tour Trophy in the Pink City serves as a significant milestone for India embracing global sports and blending its deeprooted heritage with worldclass event organisationSpeaking about Pune Grand Tour Diya Kumar Deputy Chief Minister Govt of Rajasthan stated âItâs good to see India embracing newer sports and showcasing its organisational skills to host large sports events The Pune Grand Tour 2026 is one such step â a firstever UCI classified race in India which will elevate the status of professional cycling in IndiaâJitendra Dudi IAS Collector of Pune District and race incharge of the Pune Grand Tour said âThe Pune Grand Tour 2026 is an amalgamation of focused work for the past 6 months with clear direction of creating an unique sporting property for India which can further be expanded to a higher levelUCI 22 race is the lowest of category in international road cycling competition We have ambitions of making India home to a UCI Pro Race in line for the Tour de France thatâs our inspiration IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/pune-grand-tour-trophy-unveiled-in-jaipur-654853.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 23:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hil-2025-26-sg-pipers-squad-arrive-in-ranchi-654855.html Ranchi Dec 20 The SG Pipers women have entered the Ranchi turf with renewed determination as the countdown to the Hockey India League 2025â26 begins scheduled from December 28 2025 to January 10 2026 With their sticks ready and focus intense their arrival signals the start of an important phase in what promises to be a swift highpressure competitive tournament Head coach Sofie Gierts brings new leadership to the group joining the team in Ranchi before the season She is wellsupported by Indian hockey veteran and exIndia captain Helen Mary Her presence offers clarity and structure as the team faces a period of close competition and the need to build momentum decisiveThe Pipers squad brings strong recent international form into the league Captain Navneet Kaur leads from the front having surpassed 200 international caps in 2025 cementing her status as one of Indiaâs most seasoned attackers Over the past year Navneet has been a reliable figure for India in highpressure matches orchestrating the forward line and establishing a competitive edge in the attacking circleUdita stands at the back anchoring the defence after one of her most successful seasons She was named Player of the Tournament at the Womenâs Asia Cup 2025 showcasing both defensive strength and attacking prowess by scoring three penalty corner goals and managing vital defensive duties against top opponentsThe squad combines international experience and diversity with players from various hockey nations This mix provides the Pipers with depth in different positions and tactical versatility which is vital in a short league where recovery time is limited and adaptability can determine the resultSpeaking after joining the team in Ranchi head coach Sofie said âIt feels great to be part of this talented group in person especially in a hockeycrazy city like Ranchi The team is well balanced and every player is keen to get started We have an exciting mix of players from different countries and that diversity will be one of our biggest strengths The focus now is on starting our preparation the right way and ensuring we are united and ready when the league begins on the 28thâSpeaking ahead of the season captain Navneet Kaur said âThe preparation heading into this season has been positive and there is a strong sense of clarity and confidence within the group The players are motivated focused and excited about what lies aheadâThe SG Pipers women have a clear goal this season Based on past results they focus on more precise execution winning critical moments in both circles and remaining competitive throughout each quarter With the league back in Ranchi the Pipers are committed to rebounding with purpose and converting their preparations into points as soon as the game startsSG Pipers Womenâs Squad HIL season 2Forwards Navneet Kaur Deepika Sharmila Devi Teresa Viana Ache Preeti Dubey Priscila Jardel MateosMidfielders Sunelita Toppo Ishika Shileima Chanu Kaitlin Nobbs Shilpi Dabas Juana MorelloDefenders Jyoti Singh Manisha Valentina Costa Biondi Lola Riera Udita Thoudam Suman DeviGoalkeepers Bansari Solanki Cristina Cosentino IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hil-2025-26-sg-pipers-squad-arrive-in-ranchi-654855.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 23:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/happy-for-my-thambi-sanju-ashwin-reacts-to-indias-t20-wc-squad-654864.html New Delhi Dec 20 Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expressed delight at Indiaâs T20 World Cup 2026 squad stating that the team was ready for its title defence He said he was happy for his âbrotherâ Sanju Samson and lauded Ishan Kishanâs selection who has made a comeback to international cricket In a surprising move defending champions India have excluded Shubman Gill from their squad for next yearâs T20 World Cup and the upcoming T20Is against New Zealand As announced by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia captain Suryakumar Yadav chief selector Ajit Agarkar and vicecaptain Axar Patel this squad highlights notable changesBesides Gill wicketkeeperbatter Jitesh Sharma is also omitted as Ishan Kishan makes a remarkable comeback after showcasing explosive form while leading Jharkhand to victory in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Rinku Singh also returns to the T20I squad after missing out on the 31 series win in South AfricaâTitle defence loading Superb squad Great to see Rinku back and happy for my thambi Sanju who will now rightfully open alongside Abhishek Adipoli Chetta Huge applause for Ishan who showed his hunger by grinding hard in the domestic circuitâ Ashwin wrote on XThe 2026 Menâs T20 World Cup taking place from February 7 to March 8 will feature 40 group matches all scheduled to be played by February 20 The top two teams from each of the four groups will move on to the Super Eights beginning on February 21India and Sri Lanka are hosting the Menâs T20 World Cup for the second time Sri Lanka previously hosted in 2012 while India last held the event in 2016 After finishing a threematch ODI series India will play five T20Is against New Zealand starting on January 21 in Nagpur with matches also scheduled in Raipur Guwahati Visakhapatnam and ThiruvananthapuramIn the Menâs T20 World Cup defending champions India are in Group A with Pakistan USA Netherlands and Namibia India kicks off its tournament against the USA at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7 followed by a match against Namibia at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on February 12Indiaâs highprofile match against Pakistan is set for February 15 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo Their next and final league game will be against the Netherlands taking place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 18India squad Suryakumar Yadav captain Abhishek Sharma Sanju Samson wk Tilak Varma Hardik Pandya Shivam Dube Axar Patel vicecaptain Rinku Singh Jasprit Bumrah Varun Chakaravarthy Arshdeep Singh Kuldeep Yadav Harshit Rana Washington Sundar and Ishan Kishan IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/happy-for-my-thambi-sanju-ashwin-reacts-to-indias-t20-wc-squad-654864.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 23:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/iwl-2025-26-indian-womens-footballs-finest-begin-battle-in-bengal-654711.html New Delhi Dec 19 The ninth season of the Indian Womenâs League will get underway on Saturday with eight teams set to do battle for the title of the best womenâs football club in the country East Bengal FC who won their maiden IWL trophy last season will have the opportunity to defend their title on home soil as the 202526 league will be played in a centralised format in Kolkata and Kalyani The IWL crown has seen three different winners in the last three seasons East Bengal and Odisha FC 202324 became champions for the first time breaking Gokulam Kerala FCâs hegemony the Malabarians had won three consecutive titles from 2020 to 2023 An unexpected subplot of last season was the relegation of Odisha FC who scripted some unwanted history by becoming the first reigning champions of an Indian topflight league to be relegated in the subsequent seasonThe 202526 IWL will be played in a double roundrobin format in two equal phases on either side of the Indian senior and U20 womenâs teamsâ Asian Cup campaigns The first phase will see each club play seven matches once against every opponent from December 20 2025 to January 9 2026 The second phase of fixtures will kick off on April 20 2026 and will end on May 10 2026From East Bengalâs quest to become only the second team to defend an IWL title to Gokulam Keralaâs yearn of adding a fourth star to their crest and Sethuâs longawaited desire to wrest another trophy from the favourites thereâs no dearth of storylines to look out for in the upcoming season Not to mention newlypromoted Garhwal United FC and Sesa Football Academy who are eager for their first taste of toptier football and Sribhumi FC who lived up to their dark horses tag last season and will surely be hungry for more this time aroundEast Bengal FCNo two ways about it 2025 has been East Bengalâs year In only their third season in the IWL they were dominant champions after finishing eight points above Gokulam Since August the Moshal Girls have been reaping the rewards travelling across Asia to represent India in the continent After navigating the preliminary round of the AFC Womenâs Champions League in Cambodia they were pitted against some of Asiaâs strongest teams in the group stage in ChinaAnd while their ambitious dreams of making the knockout stage were shattered by a lastminute concession East Bengal have kept their spirits alive and put on a stupendous show in the SAFF Womenâs Club Championship scoring 13 and conceding none so far Since Anthony Andrewsâ side will contest the final in Nepal on December 20 they will begin their IWL title defence a little later â on the leagueâs second matchday December 24 against Sethu FC A firstever international trophy ahead of the season would only instil more confidence as East Bengal aim to become only the second team to retain the titleGokulam Kerala FCInto the ninth season of the IWL and they are still the only team to win the trophy on more than one occasion Gokulam Kerala reshaped Indian womenâs football at the turn of the decade like no other club but have been fittingly secondbest in the last two seasonsThe Malabariansâ coaching staff underwent a restructuring during the summer with new head coach Raman Vijayan at the helm The former Indian menâs international has had five months to prepare his team Gokulam have made quite a few eyecatching signings including senior national team players like goalkeeper Shreya Hooda and midfielder Priyadharshini SWhile they will rue the loss of Ugandan striker Fazila Ikwaput who scored a staggering 24 goals for them last season and has now signed for East Bengal they must be happy to have retained Kenyan defender Phoeby Okech and signed Ghanaian midfielder Sandra Atinga and Mozambique international forward CidÃlia Daniel Cuta better known as NinikaSribhumi FCAs a freshlypromoted side Sribhumi FC exceeded expectations when they ended their debut IWL season in third place Under Sujata Kar the AIFF Womenâs Coach of the Year the Barrackpore side will only be aiming for a step above and perhaps present an outside challenge for the title Thatâs evident by Sribhumiâs busy offseason which has been full of signings including major domestic names like Anju Tamang Grace Dangmei Sanju Kamala Devi and Karishma ShirvoikarTheyâve also retained their topscoring duo from last season â Bala Devi and Mousumi Murmu who netted a combined 14 goals Sribhumi will also look to complement the experienced players with their exciting bunch of youngsters like Sibani Nongmeikapan Thoibisana Toijam Anju Kayenpaibam Arina Nameirakpam and Monalisha Moirangthem all of whom were part of the Indian squad that qualified for the AFC U20 Womenâs Asian CupKickstart FCThird second third and fourth This is where Kickstart FC have finished in the last four IWL seasons Though never really in the title fight but everpresent in the top half their consistency has been remarkable The Bengaluru side had a tough start last season as no wins in the first six games meant that they spent a few weeks in the relegation zone but six unbeaten matches to finish the campaign ensured a sixth participation in the IWLHead coach Chaoba Devi will lead her third campaign with Kickstart and will hope to maintain the tone right from the start In the Nigerian trio of Rafiat Titilayo Aweda Edeh Loveth and Emem Essien Peace thereâs a brand new foreigner lineup for Kickstart Among the Indians they have retained a major core of their squad with the likes of Ranjana Sorokhaibam Linthoingambi Maibam Linthoingambi Wangkhem Pakpi Yumlembam Aruna Bag and Bibicha LaishramSethu FCOne of the only three former champions in the IWL lineup this season Sethu FC havenât come close to affixing a second star to their crest since 202122 when they finished runnersup just three points adrift of Gokulam The Madurai side have been fourth and fifth in the last two seasons struggling for consistency and failing to win two matches in a row since 2023There is however renewed belief with new head coach Manoj Joshi and many new attacking signings like India international Lynda Kom and the Ghanaian duo of Doreen Graham and Abigail Antwi The return of Nepal international goalkeeper Anjila Subba and the signing of Blue Tigresses centreback Martina Thokchom may give them the defensive stability they require Winger Malavika P midfielder Babina Lisham and defender Nirmala Phanjoubam played every game for Sethu last season and are expected to be part of their core againNita Football AcademyDespite a fairly decent start Nita FA ended the campaign winless in the last five games and avoided relegation in their debut IWL season by only two points Results elsewhere gave Paromita Sitâs side a new lease of life and the local coach will hope for a more comfortable stay in their second topflight season While their highest scorer Rahama Jafaru is no longer with the club Nitaâs bigname signing Pyari Xaxa who has been one of Indiaâs most prolific scorers in recent times will be eager to fill those boots Other significant signings include a few India U20 players like Neha Cindy Colney and Bhumika Khumukcham Ghanaâs Matilda Kwao and attacking midfielder Amiratou Nâdjambara who will become the first Togolese to play in the IWLGarhwal United FCGarhwal United FC have arrived for their debut IWL campaign amid plenty of excitement Two seasons ago they missed out on promotion by only one point but last season they engineered a dominant campaign racking up eight wins out of eight scoring 28 goals and conceding just once India U20 international Lhingdeikim scored 12 of those and will be one of Garhwalâs standout names in what is the squad with the youngest average age in the IWL this season Head coach Akshay Unni and his side take pride in a team majorly made up of academy players â 70 per cent of them As far as foreign recruits are concerned Garhwal have roped in Ghanaian midfielders Ernestina Tetteh and Joyce LarbiSesa Football AcademyCourtesy of their thirdplace finish in the IWL 2 last season Sesa Football Academy will become the first Goan side to feature in the IWL since Churchill Brothers in 202223 There have been numerous changes in their squad with only seven players from the IWL 2 campaign remaining with the club However those do include some of their key names like forward Aniela Barretto midfielders Flani Costa Arpita Pednekar and defender Alisha TavaresA lot will ride on their foreign signings â Kenyan forward Omita Bertha who turned out for Sethu FC in 202324 and Ghanaian midfielder Diana Antwi Having a local squad with limited nationallevel experience Sesaâs main goal will be to punch above their weight and avoid relegation in their maiden IWL campaignAll matches will be streamed live on the Indian Football YouTube channel IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/iwl-2025-26-indian-womens-footballs-finest-begin-battle-in-bengal-654711.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 00:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/kabir-khan-encounters-a-little-smriti-mandhana-fan-in-kashmir-cricketer-reacts-654746.html Mumbai Dec 20 Filmmaker Kabir Khan had a very special encounter during his latest visit to Kashmir As the Ek Tha Tiger maker was soaking in the beauty of the Valley he came across a little girl named Aru who was a fan of cricketer Smriti Mandhana and wanted Kabir to tell her that she is her favourite playerThe director also met some more kids who were playing cricket in the area treating the mountain stream as the boundaryDropping a couple of mesmerizing photos from the place on his official Instagram handle Kabir wrote Walking with my camera in Kashmir always rewards me with magical moments Like this little girl in Aru who wanted me to tell smritimandhana that she is her favourite player I hope Smriti gets to see this post sicOr the boys whose playground has a mountain stream as the boundary If you hit a 6 the ball will flow all the way down the valley into the Jhelum river added the Bajrangi Bhaijaan makerLike Kabir wished the post did reach Mandhana who asked the filmmaker to give the little girl a big hug from her sideShe penned in the comment section Please give the little champ in Aru a big hug from me and tell her Iâm cheering for her too red heart emoji sicOn the professional front Kabir expressed his pride as Kartik Aaryan was named the Best Actor at the Filmfare Awards 2025 for his exceptional performance in âChandu ChampionââThis is what hard work and dedication of an actor looks like I always knew for an actor it was going to be very challenging to essay the role of Murlikant Petkar in CHANDU CHAMPION but kartikaaryan rose to the occasion and delivered EVERYTHING that I had desired as a film maker sic wrote Kabir on social mediaHe added âIâm so proud today to be standing with him and applauding him for winning the Filmfare BEST ACTOR award Heâs not only a star who delivers commercial blockbusters but also an actor who is hungry for roles that challenge him a very rare combination in our industry More power to you Champion May you fly higher IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/kabir-khan-encounters-a-little-smriti-mandhana-fan-in-kashmir-cricketer-reacts-654746.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 14:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/inter-milan-lose-to-bologna-on-penalties-in-italian-super-cup-sf-654766.html Riyadh Dec 20 Inter Milan knocked out of the Supercoppa Italiana after losing to Bologna on penalties in the semifinal Despite a solid performance the Nerazzurri were held to a 1â1 draw by Bologna after 90 minutes Inter created plenty of chances but were ultimately beaten by the Rossoblu in the penalty shootoutThurams early opener is cancelled out by Orsolini from the spot During the penalty shootout Bastoni Barella and Bonny miss as Bologna advance to the final against NapoliThe match started in spectacular fashion with Thuramâs thunderbolt after just over a minute only for Bologna to level in the 35th minute through Orsolini converting a penalty awarded for a handball by Bisseck after a VAR reviewIn the second half Inter came close to snatching the winner multiple times with Ravaglia making excellent stops to deny Luis Henrique Dimarco and Lautaro who came on after the break At the death MartÃnez pulled off a superb save against Fabbian to keep the score at 1â1The penalty shootout however swung in Bolognaâs favour After Lautaro scored Inter missed three in a row â Bastoni and Bonny saw their efforts saved while Barella fired over Bologna faltered with Moro and Miranda but Immobile found the net to send Italianoâs side through to the final against NapoliAfter the final whistle Henrikh Mkhitaryan commented on the match against Bologna and said âWe should have killed it off earlier once it goes to penalties itâs a different story The whole team played well up until the shootout In the second half we dominated the game and created a lot but if you donât take your chances it costs you â thats football Weâre sorry about thatWe have to work on closing matches out as early as possible because when you create that much you should put it to bed and we also have to believe we can win games even when we concede or go through difficult momentsBologna were here on merit after winning the Coppa Italia We tried to win and didnât â this is football Thereâs no need for excuses or justifications we have a lot to work on for what lies ahead It hurts itâs a big disappointment but we know what we need to do and weâll work harder to achieve our objectivesWe have to forget this match even though thereâs disappointment Now we focus on Atalanta â different competition and the importance of points to keep moving forward he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/inter-milan-lose-to-bologna-on-penalties-in-italian-super-cup-sf-654766.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/kalinga-lancers-appoint-sanjay-and-arthur-van-doren-as-co-captains-ahead-of-hil-2026-654779.html Bhubaneswar Dec 20 Ahead of the upcoming Hockey India League season Kalinga Lancers announced on Saturday the appointment of Indiaâs Sanjay and Belgium stalwart Arthur Van Doren as cocaptains of the team The HIL 2026 will be held from January 3 to 26 2026 across Chennai Ranchi and Bhubaneswar Kalinga Lancers will begin their HIL 2026 campaign against Ranchi Royals on January 4 2026 in ChennaiIndia dragflicker Sanjay recently led the national team to a runnersup finish while Van Doren captained Belgium to the title at the 31st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in November 2025 underscoring the leadership pedigree both players bring to Kalinga Lancers into the new seasonHailing from Haryana Sanjay rose swiftly through the junior ranks featuring at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and the 2021 Junior World Cup where he served as vicecaptain and was the teamâs top goalscorer He made his senior team debut in the 2022â23 FIH Hockey Pro League and has since been a regular fixture in the Indian setupHe was part of Indiaâs goldmedalwinning campaign at the 2023 Asian Games and the historic bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games The Arjuna Awardee has represented India in 78 international matches to dateArthur Van Doren meanwhile is one of modern hockeyâs most decorated defenders A Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist and 2023 World Cup champion he also won silver at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the 2023 World Cup Currently leading Belgium in the ongoing FIH Hockey Pro League Van Doren has earned 276 international caps since his senior debut in 2012Speaking on his new role Sanjay said âIt is a very special moment for me to lead Kalinga Lancers in the Hero Hockey India League I have grown up watching this league and getting this opportunity is truly remarkable I am grateful to the franchise management and coaching staff for the trust they have shown in me Sharing the leadership role with a player of Arthurâs stature will be a great learning experience and together we will give our absolute best to win the titleâArthur Van Doren added âI am really excited to take on this role with Kalinga Lancers Leadership is something I am enjoying with the national team and captaining a side in the HIL will be a new and thrilling experience I would like to thank the owners and coaches for the opportunity I am looking forward to reuniting with Sanjay and the rest of the squad and getting startedâRajiv Kumar CEO Vedanta Kalinga Lancers said âWe are delighted to appoint Sanjay and Arthur Van Doren as cocaptains ahead of the new HIL season They represent the perfect blend of youth experience and leadership within our squad Both have recently led their national teams to the finals of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup which speaks volumes about their temperament and ability to lead from the front With less than a month to go for the new season we are excited to begin our preparations and work towards achieving our goalsâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/kalinga-lancers-appoint-sanjay-and-arthur-van-doren-as-co-captains-ahead-of-hil-2026-654779.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 14:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bai-to-conduct-first-ever-grassroots-para-badminton-coaches-development-programme-654784.html Raipur Dec 20 The Badminton Association of India BAI is hosting its inaugural Coaches Development Program Para Badminton Grassroot in Raipur from December 16 to 20 This marks a major step in enhancing the coaching infrastructure that supports the sportâs quick growth in the country The fiveday event gathers coaches from all over India for specialised training focused on developing longterm capacity in parabadmintonThe course is led by Gaurav Khanna a Dronacharya Awardee and the national head coach of the Indian parabadminton team It offers a thorough curriculum that includes classroom instruction and practical oncourt trainingParticipants learn about disability awareness parasport governance classification systems assistive devices coaching techniques medical support needs and event organisation providing a wellrounded understanding of the fieldIndias parabadminton scene is experiencing steady growth demonstrated by ongoing international success Indian players earned 18 medals at the 2024 BWF ParaBadminton World Championships showcasing their strength across various categories This momentum continued at the Summer Paralympics 2024 where India won five medals cementing its status as a top contender in the sport As standards improve focusing on structured coach education becomes more vital for maintaining this progressSanjay Mishra General Secretary BAI said âThis coaching course is an important step in strengthening the ecosystem around parabadminton The performances of our athletes on the global stage underline both the potential and responsibility we have By focusing on coach development and specialised education we are supporting the sportâs growth in a measured and sustainable wayâIn addition to Khanna known as a key figure in Indiaâs parabadminton history and responsible for guiding Indian athletes to over 1000 international medals the programme also receives support from Murali KrishnaKrishna has represented the Indian team at events such as the World Championships the Hangzhou Asian Games and numerous international tournaments across Asia Europe and AfricaâParabadminton demands a specialised coaching approachâ Khanna said âAs the sport grows it is essential that coaches understand classification equipment movement patterns and athlete care in depth This course is focused on equipping coaches with that knowledge so they can better support athletes at every levelâBAI intends to expand this initiative with similar programmes in the future as part of its larger goal to enhance the ecosystem and promote the ongoing development of parabadminton in India IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bai-to-conduct-first-ever-grassroots-para-badminton-coaches-development-programme-654784.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 14:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wi-v-nz-kavem-hodges-unbeaten-ton-leads-windies-fightback-on-day-3-at-bay-oval-654794.html Mount Maunganui Dec 20 Kavem Hodges unbeaten century has led the West Indies fightback in response to New Zealands mammoth firstinnings score as the visitors finished Day 3 of the final Test at 3816 at Bay Oval on Saturday Hodge brought up his second Test hundred and remained unbeaten on 109 as West Indies avoided the followon late on Day 3 giving them a chance to save this Test match The West Indies are still 194 runs behind New Zealands 575 for 8Resuming from their overnight score of 110 for no loss the Windies carried on from their good start but Jacob Duffy dismissed John Campbell who failed to add to his overnight scoreNew Zealand continued to apply early pressure on the visitors but Hodge broke the shackles with three boundaries in nine deliveries Soon Duffy struck again in the first hour removing Brandon King for 63Then Hodge and Tevin Imlach brought up the 50run stand and soon after the former moved to 50 as the visitors reached 2062 at the stroke of lunchAfter lunch New Zealand broke the 66run stand between Hodge and Imlach when Michael Rae removed the latter for 27 Alick Athanaze then joined Hodge and the duo put together 81 for the fourth wicket before Athanaze was dismissed by Ajaz Patel his first Test wicket at home after 22 Tests falling five short of a halfcenturyHodge and Justin Greaves struck a few timely boundaries as the West Indies crossed the 300run mark approaching tea New Zealand took the second new ball as soon as it was available with Duffy getting some movement but the Windies duo saw their side through to tea at 310 for 4After the tea break the pair continued to time the ball superbly picking up boundaries in quick succession However Greaves missed a nipbacker from Daryl Mitchell that struck him on the pads resulting in an LBW decision which he reviewedSoon after Patel removed West Indies captain Roston Chase for two while Hodge chipped a shot into the air that fell just short of the midoff fielder Anderson Phillip and Hodge then took a few blows to the body from Michael Rae before Hodge brought up his second Test hundred on the stroke of stumpsHodge and Phillip took the visitors to 381 for 6 still trailing by 194 runs at stumpsBrief Scores New Zealand 5758d Devon Conway 227 Tom Latham 137 Justin Greaves 283 lead West Indies 3816 Kavem Hodge 109 Brandon King 63 Jacob Duffy 279 Ajaz Patel 294 by 194 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wi-v-nz-kavem-hodges-unbeaten-ton-leads-windies-fightback-on-day-3-at-bay-oval-654794.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gill-axed-axar-named-vice-captain-ishan-returns-as-india-name-t20-wc-squad-654810.html Mumbai Dec 20 In a surprising development defending champions India have left out Shubman Gill from its squad for next yearâs T20 World Cup and T20Is against New Zealand In the squad announced by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia captain Suryakumar Yadav and chief selector Ajit Agarkar Axar Patel has been named as the vicecaptain Apart from Gill wicketkeeperbatter Jitesh Sharma misses out as Ishan Kishan makes a stunning return to the team following his explosive form leading Jharkhand to a recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win Meanwhie Rinku Singh also makes his return to the T20I team after missing out on the 31 series win in South AfricaâWe are looking at combinations Our thought was to have another keeper Gill is a quality player unfortunate to miss out but it is the combination we want Ishan bats at the top he has been in good form and played before for IndiaâHe wasnt there because Jurel and Pant were ahead Sanju is at the top Ishan at the top That is the combination we are looking at right now We felt he is the best back up keeper at this pointâ said AgarkarThe 2026 Menâs T20 World Cup to be held from February 7 to March 8 will have 40 group matches scheduled to be played till February 20 Top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the Super Eights starting on February 21India and Sri Lanka are hosting the Menâs T20 World Cup for the second time Sri Lanka were the hosts of the 2012 edition while India last hosted the competition in 2016 After the completion of the threematch ODI series India will play five T20Is against New Zealand starting on January 21 in Nagpur followed by games in Raipur Guwahati Visakhapatnam and ThiruvananthapuramIn the Menâs T20 World Cup defending champions India have been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan USA Netherlands and Namibia The Men in Blue will be aiming to become the first team to successfully defend the Menâs T20 World Cup title the first team to win the T20 World Cup on home soil and the first team to clinch the T20 world title for a third timeIndia will open its Cup campaign against USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7 before facing Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on February 12Indiaâs marquee clash against Pakistan is scheduled for February 15 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo before the side plays their final league stage game against the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 18India squad Suryakumar Yadav captain Abhishek Sharma Sanju Samson wk Tilak Varma Hardik Pandya Shivam Dube Axar Patel vicecaptain Rinku Singh Jasprit Bumrah Varun Chakaravarthy Arshdeep Singh Kuldeep Yadav Harshit Rana Washington Sundar and Ishan Kishan IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gill-axed-axar-named-vice-captain-ishan-returns-as-india-name-t20-wc-squad-654810.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/indias-vir-gahrotra-wins-historic-gold-at-pole-and-aerial-sports-world-cship-654845.html Mumbai Dec 20 Indian athlete Vir Gahrotra won a gold medal at the Pole and Aerial Sports World Championship achieving Indiaâs firstever podium finish at this international event in Budapest Hungary Vir a 16yearold from Mumbai represented India in the Junior B Amateur Men 15â17 years aerial silk category Facing competitors from countries with strong aerial sports traditions like Ukraine Hungary and the Czech Republic Gahrotra delivered a technically demanding and winning performanceAerial silk is a performanceorientated form of aerial gymnastics that demands substantial upperbody strength endurance flexibility and artistic expressionAt the championship level routines are evaluated based on technical precision execution and artistry not just difficulty Gahrotraâs goldwinning routine was notable for its control consistency and calmness despite fatigue which earned it the highest scores from the judgesIndia achieved a historic milestone by participating in the inaugural POSA World Aerial Championships 2025 organised by the Pole Sports amp Arts World Federation POSA Held in Budapest this prestigious international event gathered top aerial and pole athletes from more than 40 countriesVirâs victory marks a historic milestone for Indian aerial sports as he won the countryâs firstever gold medal at the championship in the Junior B Men â Amateur Aerial Silks category This achievement is a proud and significant moment for Indiaâs debut on the international stageThe fourday championship showcased worldclass rigging with certified international judges overseeing the event It included top disciplines such as Aerial Silks Aerial Hoop Aerial Artistic and Pole Sport Although the aerial competitions have finished the Pole Sport contests are still in progress with athletes from around the globe delivering exciting performancesThe Indian team was commanded by head coach Ria Bajaj and Coach Masuma Mun with assistance from Indian Federation Committee members Shrikant Warankar Suresh Gandhi and Pankaj KundeâThis debut marks a powerful beginning for India at POSA Our students have trained tirelessly and witnessing them perform with confidence and excellence on a global stage is deeply inspiringâ Coach Ria said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/indias-vir-gahrotra-wins-historic-gold-at-pole-and-aerial-sports-world-cship-654845.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 23:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/dc-needed-someone-to-open-bowling-with-starc-says-abhinav-mukund-on-auqib-dars-ipl-2026-deal-654597.html New Delhi Dec 19 Former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund hailed Auqib Dars longawaited break on the Indian Premier League IPL stage after the Jammu and Kashmir pacer bagged an Rs 840 crore deal from Delhi Capitals in the miniauction held recently Mukund said Delhi Capitals needed someone to open bowling alongside veteran Australian pacer Mitchell Starc in their squad in the upcoming IPL and Auqib is the opening bowling option DC was looking forStarting at a base price of Rs 30 lakh Auqib sparked an intense bidding war between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers but the 29yearold pacer from Baramulla was snapped up by DCI am very happy for Auqib Dar He has played for a long time for Jammu and Kashmir and finally gets a chance on this big stage Delhi Capitals needed powerplay bowling options Some people question his death bowling but he will learn at a tough ground like DelhiAfter last years issues with Natarajans injury they went for multiple pacers They needed someone to open the bowling with Mitchell Starc That is the role they see for him at Delhi Capitals which is a heartwarming story he saidA consistent wickettaker across formats in domestic cricket over the past few seasons Auqib is primarily a swing bowler Recently however the Jammu amp Kashmir bowler has added new dimensions to his gameâmost notably improved deathovers skillsâwhich have significantly boosted his valueDelhi Capitals coowner Parth Jindal said they needed someone who swings the ball and Auqib is the perfect candidate to play that roleWe needed someone who swings the ball and gets early breakthroughs and we found Auqib Dar as the perfect candidate to play that role and thats the reason why we tracked him throughout the entirety of the current domestic cricket season He is an exciting talent and we went all out for him We are really happy to get a player from Jammu and Kashmir Jindal said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/dc-needed-someone-to-open-bowling-with-starc-says-abhinav-mukund-on-auqib-dars-ipl-2026-deal-654597.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/adani-sportsline-announces-third-edition-of-3x3-hoopers-league-in-ahmedabad-654628.html Ahmedabad Dec 19 Adani Sportsline on Friday announced the third edition of the 3x3 Hoopers League scheduled to be held on December 20 and 21 reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the grassroots basketball ecosystem through structured and competitive platforms The upcoming edition will feature Under12 Under15 Under18 and Under23 categories for both boys and girls along with Open categories for men and women creating participation opportunities across age groups and experience levels Registrations for the tournament closed on December 17All matches will be conducted in line with federation regulations and the tournament has been approved by the Gujarat Basketball Federation ensuring adherence to recognised competitive standards and fair playThe 3x3 Hoopers League has continued to grow with each edition The second edition saw participation from 80 teams across Gujarat reflecting the rising popularity of the fastpaced 3x3 format and growing engagement from players and basketball communities across the stateThe tournament follows the internationally recognised 3x3 basketball format with each team comprising four players Teams will compete in leaguestage matches before progressing to the knockout rounds Each match will be played for 10 minutes or until a team reaches 21 points delivering highintensity action and quickpaced competitionThrough initiatives such as the 3x3 Hoopers League Adani Sportsline continues to focus on nurturing sporting talent and expanding access to organised competition contributing to the longterm development of basketball at the grassroots levelAdani Sportsline is the sports arm of the diversified Adani Group which has a presence in ports logistics energy utility infrastructure electric power generation and transmission mining airport operations natural gas and food processingFormed in 2019 Adani Sportsline has an overarching philosophy to inculcate a culture of sports at the grassroots level and create globally competitive opportunities for future champions in India In line with the groupâs vision of nationbuilding the company aims to build a worldclass ecosystem that nurtures sporting talent accelerates the sports economy and plays the role of an enabler in Indiaâs journey to become a leading sporting nation IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/adani-sportsline-announces-third-edition-of-3x3-hoopers-league-in-ahmedabad-654628.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 18:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/renshaw-wildermuth-centuries-guide-brisbane-heat-to-highest-bbl-chase-654666.html Brisbane Dec 10 Brisbane Heat produced a night for the history books at the Gabba pulling off the highest successful run chase in Big Bash League BBL history as they hunted down a target of 258 to beat Perth Scorchers with a ball to spare on Friday night The Heat finished their innings on 2582 chasing 257 capping an incredible eightwicket victory that will go down in league history as one of the bestMatt Renshaw and Jack Wildermuth put together a recordbreaking 212run partnership marking the first time in T20 cricket history that two batters scored hundreds in the same run chase In a Friday night blitz at the Gabba Brisbane defeated Perths 257 in front of 24277 spectators defying the rules of the short formatRenshaw 102 off 51 balls and Wildermuth 110 not out off 54 recorded the highest partnership in a BBL match and a record 36 sixes were hit throughout the gameThe Perth Scorchers had earlier put on their own recordbreaking performance They chose to bat and amassed the secondhighest total in BBL history 2576 Cooper Connolly scored 77 off 37 balls after Finn Allen smashed 79 off 38 balls adding 142 runs in a vicious attack that included 14 sixes between themThe final touch came from Nick Hobsons unbeaten 48 giving Brisbane a formidable target Xavier Bartlett took two wickets despite going at 11 runs per over while Shaheen Afridi had a tough night giving up 49 runsBrisbanes chase got off to the worst possible start when Jhye Richardson dismissed captain Colin Munro for a golden duck off the first ball What followed was an extraordinary counterattack from Renshaw and Wildermuth from the outset keeping the required rate in check as the partnership grew rapidly Before being run out late in the innings Renshaw hit nine sixes to reach his century in 48 ballsWildermuth persevered and finished unbeaten on 110 clearing the ropes nine times and hitting five fours to finish one of the most memorable chases in T2O historyThe night saw several records tumble the highest successful chase in the BBL and the 3rd highest in T20s the most number of sixes in a game the highest partnership in a match the first time two tons were scored in a game and the first time in a T20 chase where two batters made centuriesBrief scoresPerth Scorchers 2576 in 20 overs Finn Allen 79 Cooper Connolly 77 Xavier Bartlett 244 lost to Brisbane Heat 2582 in 195 overs Jack Wildermuth 110 Matt Renshaw 102 by eight wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/renshaw-wildermuth-centuries-guide-brisbane-heat-to-highest-bbl-chase-654666.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 19:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/chotrani-suraj-enter-quarterfinals-of-western-india-squash-654678.html Mumbai Dec 19 Top four seeds in the menâs category continued to have a field day in the 80th CCI Western India Squash as they moved into the quarterfinals quite easily on Friday Menâs top seed Veer Chotrani got the better of Rounak Yadav 117 112 115 Second seed Suraj Chand was tested a little before he edged past Hridhaan Shah 119 119 118 on the courts of the Cricket Club of India CCIâI enjoyed my time on the court I usually donât play early in the morning but it was a lot of fun I am looking forward to the upcoming challengesâ said ChotraniSpectators have been treated to high quality squash marked by sharp movement tactical awareness and impressive resilienceResults MIXU9 Devyansh Gupta 58 bt Lakshanya Rajawat 1 114 117 Sabir Khubchandani 2 bt Aarush Suklikar 58 117 119BU11 Rudransh Prabhakar 58 bt Viraaj Wadhwani 34 611 118 116 112 Avyyanveer Luthra 2 bt Viraj Shinde 58 1012 1210 113 114 BU13 Viaan Khemani 58 bt Thanuj Reddy Puli 34 112 116 115 Dhairya Gogia 1 bt Ridaan Gupta 58 119 115 115 BU15 Swarit Patil 34 bt Vinay Shinde 58 811 118 116 117 Yusuf Pardiwala 2 bt Rishabh Shyam 113 119 911 711 119 BU17 Agastya Bansal 34 bt Pradeepsingh Rathore 916 114 114 311 118 Saharsh Shahra 1 bt Bhaskar Chahu Darvada 916 114 111 113 BU19 Rachit Shah 1 bt Ravi Lachka 111 114 113 Arjun Morey 58 bt Shravin Jain 34 119 116 411 1412GU11 Sameeksha Sugumar 1 bt Avni Nandal 916 112 114 115 Anshika Kumari 34 bt Inaya Andrabi 58 911 116 117 114 GU13 Gargi Kadam 58 bt Shriya Maheshwari 34 911 115 117 811 115 Riyaa Dalal 2 bt Aarna Rao 916 115 1113 116 1311 GU15 Divyanshi Jain bt Gauri Jaiswal 34 117 611 116 911 117 Diva Parasrampuria 2 bt Trisha Shah 58 112 118 116 GU17 Kaashvi Mangal 1 bt Kriya Saravanan 58 117 115 115 Fabiha Nafees 58 bt Devashree Arora 34 711 1412 1210 11 7 GU19 Karina Phipps 3 bt Samairah Raj Bhandare 115 116 113 Akanksha Gupta 2 bt Sehar Nayar 7 117 114 911 119Menâs Mahesh Mangaonkar 58 bt Saurabh Kumar 11 112 115 Ayaan Vaziralli 34 bt Kunal Singh 916 114 117 118ProCoach Raja Yadav 2 bt Ajay Rathee 916 116 115 115 Akhilesh Kumar 1 bt Sunil Kumar 916 118 116 116 MO45 Rishaad Bilimoria bt Alok Taparia 916 113 110 112 Aditya Maheshwari bt Ketan Patel 115 116 118 MO50 Vinay Rauthan 1 bt Ashutosh Phatak 916 114 113 1311 Hemant Nadkarni 58 bt Rahul Kesar 34 911 114 114 114 MO55 Sanjay Rajpal 34 bt Jehangir Surti 58 119 119 1311 Vishal Jhunjhunwala bt Ashish Mehta 1 1513 311 115 115 MO60 Rohit Thawani bt Rakesh Bhan 58 112 112 113 Deepak Moolani 2 bt Nigam Soni 58 115 116 118 MO65 Devapriya Kanoria bt Lalit Kumar Agnihotri 34 114 116 115 Vaman Apte 2 bt Kishan Lal 117 119 911 1412 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/chotrani-suraj-enter-quarterfinals-of-western-india-squash-654678.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 20:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/vijay-hazare-trophy-pant-appointed-as-delhis-captain-kohli-confirms-availability-654679.html New Delhi Dec 19 India wicketkeeperbatter Rishabh Pant has been named as Delhiâs captain for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy starting on December 24 in Bengaluru Delhiâs squad has also been boosted by the availability of batting stalwart Virat Kohli as well as senior pacers Ishant Sharma and Navdeep Saini With BCCI making a mandate for India players with central contracts to feature in domestic cricket seambowling allrounder Harshit Rana will link up with the Delhi side once he becomes available said the DDCA on FridayThe senior menâs selection committee met at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday to finalise Delhiâs squad from a bumper list of probables announced earlier The meeting was attended by selectors Yashpal Singh K Bhaskar Pillai and Manu Nayar chief coach Sarandeep Singh CAC member Robin Singh Jr secretary Ashok Sharma and joint secretary Amit GroverDelhi will play its first two Elite Group D games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Andhra and Gujarat at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru which serves as Kohlis home ground when playing for his IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB Delhi is also scheduled to play its remaining five games at the Alur Cricket Ground on the outskirts of BengaluruKohli comes on the back of being Player of the Series in the 21 ODI series win over South Africa while Pant will be itching to get some game time after being an unused player in the 50over fixtures against the ProteasThe duo will be available for Delhi till Indiaâs ODI series against New Zealand happens from January 1117 2026 Kohli last played Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi in the 200910 seasonBatting allrounder Ayush Badoni has been appointed as the vicecaptain while the rest of the squad for the first two matches includes Arpit Rana Yash Dhull Sarthak Ranjan Priyansh Arya Tejasvi Singh Nitish Rana Hritik Shokeen Harsh Tyagi Simarjeet Singh Prince Yadav Divij Mehra Ayush Doseja Vaibhav Kandpal Rohan Rana and Anuj RawatRanjan and Tejasvi had recently bagged IPL 2026 deals after being roped in by threetime champions Kolkata Knight Riders KKR in the recent auction held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday Delhi won the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 201213 while being runnersup in 201516 and 201819 seasons IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/vijay-hazare-trophy-pant-appointed-as-delhis-captain-kohli-confirms-availability-654679.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 20:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/dev-dutt-appointed-selector-for-delhi-civil-services-team-654685.html New Delhi Dec 19 Devdutt has been appointed as selector for the Delhi Services team for the All India Civil Services Tournament Dev Dutt captained the India Mens Deaf Cricket Team who achieved a comprehensive victory in the threematch T20 series with strong performances across all departments against the Inclusive Warriors Deaf Dubai IWDD team at Sharjahs DCS YOU SELECTS Arena Alongside Dev Dutt Pawan Chauhan and Deepanshu have also been appointed as selectorsIn the opening match on December 11 IDCA scored a formidable 212 for 5 after choosing to bat before bowling out IWDD for 123 in 172 overs to secure an emphatic 89run victory Santosh Kumar Mahapatra was named Player of the Match for his crucial contribution to the dominant winThe second T20 on December 12 saw IWDD bat first and score 134 for 8 but IDCA chased down the target with ease reaching 139 for 2 in just 113 overs to secure an eightwicket victory Once again Santosh Kumar Mahapatra received the Player of the Match award for his matchwinning performanceThe third and final T20 on December 13 followed a similar pattern with IDCA batting first to score 187 for 4 after IWDD chose to field The bowlers then dominated as IWDD were dismissed for 124 in 18 overs giving IDCA a comfortable 63run victory Virender Singh was named Player of the Match for his decisive contributionAt the end of the series Santosh Kumar Mahapatra was named Best Batsman Virender Singh earned the Best Bowler and Player of the Series awards and Vaibhav Paranjpe was recognised as the Best Fielder marking a strongly dominant series for the IDCA Team IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/dev-dutt-appointed-selector-for-delhi-civil-services-team-654685.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 21:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-gukesh-beats-alireza-but-triveni-continental-kings-stay-on-top-with-close-win-654698.html Mumbai Dec 19 World Champion D Gukesh avenged his loss against Alireza Firouzja in the reverse fixture but defending champions Triveni Continental Kings did enough to beat PBG Alaskan Knights 109 to stay on top of the leaderboard after match day 6 while Mumba Masters kept up the pressure on the leaders with 116 win over Ganges Grandmasters in the Global Chess League GCL on Friday With the third edition of the GCL entering the second leg of the group stage Triveni Continental Kings had an opportunity to extend their lead over Mumba Masters as they were to play two matches in a dayBut the champions first suffered a reversal against Alpine SG Pipers after their icon player Alireza Firouzja went down against Fabiano Caruana and the team needed a win against Alaskan Knights to keep their nose ahead of Mumba Masters who had taken the top spot for a brief period after their win over Ganges GrandmastersThe Continental Kings opened up a sixpoint advantage with Alexandra Kosteniuk beating Sara Khadem and Wei Yi getting the better of Arjun Erigaisi However Kateryna Lagno scored four points for the Knights with a win over Zhu Jiner to bring the team back in the matchGukesh who had lost to Alireza in the first half of the tournament played a solid game with black and made the most of his time advantage to inflict a second loss on the 22yearold in a day in a rookpawn endgameBut Gukeshâs victory wasnât enough for Knights to seal their third successive win as Vidit Gujarathi finally found that winning momentum as he defeated Leinier Dominguez in 39 moves to ensure that his team stayed on top with 15 match pointsVidit who was named the Player of the Match said âItâs a relief It feels like you are climbing a mountain and you get an oxygen cylinder Today I was very upset after the first game and I am really happy that my win counted for the teamâEarlier GM Wesley So Player of the Match Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Koneru Humpy won their respective games to help Mumba Masters get the better of Ganges Grandmasters On the icon board Viswanathan Anand managed to build pressure on Maxime VachierLagrave but could not convert with black piecesIn the dayâs other match PBG Alaskan Knights had defeated Fyers American Gambits 97 thanks to Arjun Erigaisi beating Vladislav Artemiev and Sara Khadem turning the tables on Teodora Injac IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-gukesh-beats-alireza-but-triveni-continental-kings-stay-on-top-with-close-win-654698.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 22:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-tour-finals-satwik-chirag-script-history-beat-chiayik-to-enter-semis-654706.html Hangzhou Dec 19 Indiaâs top menâs doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty scripted history at the BWF World Tour Finals 2025 becoming the first Indian menâs doubles pair to reach the semifinals of the prestigious seasonending event The World No 3 pair sealed their place in the last four with a spirited 1721 2118 2115 comeback win over world No 2 and Paris 2024 bronze medalists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia on Friday Satwik and Chirag recovered from the loss of the opening game to register a threegame victory winning the second and third games with authority to finish as Group B toppers The result also carried added significance as the Indian duo avenged their defeat to the Malaysians at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games completing a fullcircle moment on one of badmintonâs biggest stagesThe Indians had already built strong momentum in the group stage opening their campaign with a gritty comeback win over Chinaâs Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang followed by a commanding threegame victory against Indonesiaâs Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri Their flawless run ensured they progressed unbeaten from a group widely regarded as the toughest in the drawAgainst the experienced Malaysian pair Satwik and Chirag once again showcased their resilience After conceding the first game they raised the tempo controlled the midcourt exchanges and stayed composed in key moments to turn the contest around and confirm their semifinal berthSatwik and Chirag will now face Indonesiaâs Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Muhammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani in the semifinals as they continue their push for a maiden World Tour Finals title IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-tour-finals-satwik-chirag-script-history-beat-chiayik-to-enter-semis-654706.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 23:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-tennis-league-nagal-shrivalli-lead-aos-eagles-to-dominant-win-654708.html Bengaluru Dec 19 Home favourites Sumit Nagal Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi stole the show on the third day of the World Tennis League at the SM Krishna Stadium Bengaluru The AOS Eagles defeated VB Realty Hawks 2212 in the first match of the day to extend their lead at the top They finished the league stage of WTL with 65 points from three matches and have one foot into Saturdayâs finalIt was tennisâ power couple Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina who opened the show on Friday However this time Monfils and Svitolina stood at the opposite sides of the court in the mixed doubles contest In an entertaining contest Svitolina and Yuki Bhambri playing for the Hawks edged MonfilsShrivalli 64But Indiaâs leading singles player Nagal grounded the Hawks with a dominant performance in the menâs singles The 28yearold came out swinging against former Wimbledon finalist Denis Shapovalov winning 61 to hand his team the momentumWhile Shrivalli cheered her team on from the dugout on the first two days she stepped into the spotlight effortlessly After a competent performance in the mixed doubles the 24yearold locked horns against teen sensation Maaya who trains at the Rafael Nadal Academy Shrivalli quickly found her range and wowed the Bengaluru crowd with her clean hitting as she beat the 16yearold 62Shrivalli then teamed up with Paula Badosa to beat the SvitolinaMaaya combine 63 It was Svitolinaâs first defeat of WTL 2025After the match Badosa was all praise for her young partnerâIndia you have a future star hereâ Badosa a semifinalist at this yearâs Australian Open told the crowd âShe carried the team today Since the first day I hit with her I have been impressed with her serve and aggressive gameâThe WTL is a oneofits kind mixedteam tennis tournament where top players get to compete at a high level but without the pressure of a tour event This year four franchises competed for the trophy After a roundrobin stage where each team faced the other in a quick fourset format the top two advanced to the finalResultsAOS Eagles 2212 VB Realty Hawksâ Yuki BhambriElina Svitolina Hawks bt Gael MonfilsShrivalli Bhamidipaty Eagles 64â Sumit Nagal Eagles bt Denis Shapovalov Hawks 61â Shrivalli Bhamidipaty Eagles bt Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi Hawks 62â Shrivalli BhamidipatyPaula Badosa bt Maaya Rajeswaran RevathiElina Svitolina 63 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-tennis-league-nagal-shrivalli-lead-aos-eagles-to-dominant-win-654708.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 23:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/athletic-bilbao-betis-move-into-copa-del-rey-last-16-654509.html Madrid Dec 19 Athletic Bilbao and Betis reached the Copa del Rey last 16 after tough away tests while Getafe became the latest topflight casualty in a round of shocks Athletic Bilabao needed extra time to see off thirdtier Ourense with Mikel Jauregizar deciding the contest with a precise volley in the 107th minute Ourense which had already knocked out Oviedo and Girona again proved awkward opposition on a pitch badly affected by torrential rainBetis also had to work hard away to thirdtier Real Murcia before winning 20 through Cucho Hernandezs penalty and an 85thminute own goal by Murcias Diego PineiroCucho Hernandez gave the Verdiblancos the lead in the first half from the penalty spot while an own goal by Diego PiÃeiro in the closing stages sealed the resultMeanwhile Getafe began well at Burgos taking the lead in the 32nd minute when Alex Sancris powered in after a corner Burgos hit back in firsthalf stoppage time as David Gonzalez equalised from the penalty spotInigo Cordoba then struck twice after the break finding space behind the Getafe back line to put Burgos 31 ahead Getafe had a late chance to revive the tie but Borja Mayoral missed a penalty reports XinhuaFC Barcelona Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid have also progressed to the last 16 but topflight sides Celta Vigo Mallorca Levante Villarreal and Sevilla have all been eliminated in this roundReal Madrid had edged into the fourth round of the Copa del Rey after a nervy 32 away win over thirdtier TalaveraAtletico Madrid reached the last 16 despite coach Diego Simeone rotating his squad in a 32 away win over thirdtier Atletico BalearesRayo Vallecano will play its tie at Granada on January 6 after Thursdays 30 Conference League win over Drita Gjilan IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/athletic-bilbao-betis-move-into-copa-del-rey-last-16-654509.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/conference-league-kups-hold-crystal-palace-fiorentina-edge-through-654514.html New Delhi Dec 19 KuPS gave Crystal Palace a scare while Fiorentina lost at LausanneSport but both sides progressed on a dramatic final day of league phase action as the lineup for the UEFA Conference League knockout stages was completed A breathless draw at Selhurst Park secured KuPS a spot in the knockout phase playoffs Goals from Piotr Parzyszek and Ibrahim Cisse in the space of three minutes stunned the Eagles after Christantus Uches superb opener in the fifth minuteOliver Glasners substitutions sparked the home side back to life a perfect cross from Tyrick Mitchell fresh off the bench finding an unmarked Justin Devenny at the far post However Palace could not find the winner which would have sent them through to the round of 16 instead joining their Finnish visitors in the knockout phase playoffsCrystal Palace meanwhile will have to navigate a playoff to reach the UEFA Conference League last 16 after a 22 draw with KuPS Kuopio confirmed a 10th place finish in the league phaseLausanneSport just missed out on a topeight place despite beating Fiorentina 10 in Switzerland The first half was one of few chances a Sekou Fofana attempt that skewed wide the closest either side cameThe second was more open however and after Enzo KanaBiyik skimmed the post with one deft effort his cross picked out Gabriel Sigua to head in from close rangeBeyatt Lekoueiry might have added a second but was denied by Viola goalkeeper Tommaso Martinelli Fiorentina will enter the playoffs after finishing 15th in the rankingsElsewhere two late goals earned Strasbourg a 31 win against valiant Breidablik and ensured that the French side finished top of the league phase on 16 pointsLuka Jovic converted a penalty in the 15th minute of added time as AEK Athens won 32 against Universitatea Craiova and condemned the Romanian side to an exit from the competitionThe Greek side trailed 21 after 90 minutes but Derek Kutesa levelled the scores and a win means they finished third in the table IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/conference-league-kups-hold-crystal-palace-fiorentina-edge-through-654514.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bwf-world-tour-finals-ratchanok-keeps-hopes-alive-as-se-young-akane-reach-sf-654539.html Hangzhou Dec 19 Former World Champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand maintained her chances of advancing from womens singles Group B with a comfortable victory over Chinas third seed Han Yue in the preliminary league stage of the BWF World Tour Finals on Friday In the match played on Court 1 of the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium Ratchanok emerged as the 2117 2110 winner in the 38minute encounterMeanwhile in Group A Koreas top seed Se Young and Akane Yamaguchi finished at the top of the standings securing their places in the semifinalsSe Young topped the group unbeaten finishing with three wins from three matches while Yamaguchi ended second with two wins from three matches Indonesias Putri Kusuma Wardani ended third with one point from one win in three matches while Tomoka Miyazaki finished last in the fourplayer group with three losses and no pointsSe Young defeated fourthseed Yamaguchi in three hardfought games coming back after losing the first game to win 1321 215 2114 in 47 minutesIn a match played on the same Court 2 Indonesias Putri defeated Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan in two games winning 2117 219 in 38 minutesIn the evening session Indias Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will hope to end their group proceedings with a win over second seeds Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia in a Group B encounterEarlier on Thursday Indiaâs top menâs doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty registered their second successive win at the BWF World Tour Finals 2025 defeating Indonesiaâs Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri in a pulsating threegame contestThe Indian pair ranked No3 in the world showed authority and composure to win 2111 1621 2111 extending their unbeaten run in Group B and moving into a strong position for a semifinal berth IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bwf-world-tour-finals-ratchanok-keeps-hopes-alive-as-se-young-akane-reach-sf-654539.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/hil-ranchi-royals-beauty-dung-dung-sangita-kumari-eager-to-enthrall-home-crowd-in-season-2--654581.html New Delhi Dec 19 Indian womens team players Beauty Dung Dung and Sangita Kumari are thrilled at the prospect of sharing the field with Agustina Albertario and Agostina Alonso two of Argentinaâs well established players playing for Ranchi Royals in the Womens Hockey India League HIL season 2 starting on December 28 Argentina won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2022 and bronze in the Paris Olympics in 2024 and the two Indian stars are looking forward to playing with ArgentinesSharing their mutual admiration for the two Argentine stars who will be part of the Ranchi Royals Sangita said âThe Argentine players come in with plenty of experience especially Agustina Albertario and Agostina Alonso Theyâre great players Iâm excited to share the dressing room with them and play alongside themTheyâre a bit older than us and have played more matches so they have a lot more experience Thatâs something we can learn from The more we interact with them the better it will be for us Beauty was quoted as saying by Hockey India in a release on FridaySangita and Beauty are also excited about the opportunity of playing at home in Ranchi and preparing well for the upcoming Olympic Qualifiers in HyderabadAs the Ranchi Royals gear up for the second season of the Womenâs Hockey India League HIL that gets underway on December 28 the two young stars from Jharkhand are buzzing with excitement at the opportunity of representing their home franchise in their own backyardSangita and Beauty made their India debut in 2021 and there has been no looking back The duo has represented India in major international events with Sangita having scored 30 goals while Beauty has contributed six Now the two are set to embark on a new journey with their home franchise Ranchi Royals in the HILItâs a proud feeling to play at my home ground Itâs always a special occasion to play in Ranchi Even more so now that Iâm representing the Ranchi Royals The audience here loves hockey and that makes it exciting for the players as well For me personally itâll be extra special because my family will come to watch the matches as well Sangita was quoted as saying by Hockey India in a release on FridaySangita who was part of the Indian team that won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 said she is now eagerly awaiting the start of the campaignEchoing those sentiments Dung Dung also shared her enthusiasm about representing her home franchise âWhenever we play a game in Ranchi itâs always very crowded because there are so many hockey fans in the city Itâs our home ground so we will do whatever it takes to winâThe midfielder also highlighted the impact that HIL is creating by giving young players a platform to rub shoulders with some of the best international players in the worldSometimes as juniors youâre left wondering when youâll get a chance to play for the senior team but now this league gives junior players a chance to play with the top players from around the globe If we raise the standards to the highest level the grassroots system is bound to followWomenâs hockey is on the rise and we want to take it even further The HIL is a great platform to do that even for the juniors and the state players Itâs a great learning experience for them to watch and learn not only from the womenâs matches but also the menâs gamesâ Beauty reckonedThe two players also shed light on how valuable interactions with international players are in developing their game âThereâs a lot that we can learn from the foreign players and there are things they will learn from us as well So weâll pick their brains on some basics and try to learn new skillsâ said KumariâInitially we would be a bit scared but now we approach the international players without much hesitation When there are moments when we canât execute a skill or convert a chance we get irritated So we ask them for their advice and theyâre happy to share their suggestions In fact they also ask questions sometimesâ her compatriot addedWith the likes of Sakshi Rana and Kanika Siwach on their side Ranchi Royals have talented young Indian players who played at the recently concluded Junior Womenâs World Cup in Chile Sharing her advice for these young players coming into the squad Sangita emphasised how they must relish the gameShe said For the young players that are coming into the squad they have to keep doing what theyâre doing and enjoy the game Thatâs the most important thing My only advice to them would be to back their technique and skills and give it their best shotâThe Womenâs Hockey India League will begin on December 28 with the hosts Ranchi Royals taking on the SG PipersAll matches of the Hockey India League will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Ten 1 Sony Sports Ten 3 and DD Sports The matches will also be livestreamed on Waves and the Hockey India League YouTube channel IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/hil-ranchi-royals-beauty-dung-dung-sangita-kumari-eager-to-enthrall-home-crowd-in-season-2--654581.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-cummins-lyon-lead-australias-dominance-on-day-2-of-adelaide-test-654343.html Adelaide Dec 18 Skipper Pat Cummins 354 and Nathan Lyon 251 led a dominant bowling show at the Adelaide Oval reducing England to 2138 in reply to their 371 on Day 2 of the third Test here on Thursday England appeared to be in a strong position after claiming the two wickets required to bowl Australia out for 371 on the second morning but the visitors were reduced to 2138 trailing Australia by 158 runsStarc and Nathan Lyon started from where they left off on Day 1 and took their overnight score of 3268 to 344 in just two overs into the first session Courtesy of his boundaryhitting spree Starc reached his halfcentury off just 73 deliveriesHe sent the ball away for a four on the first ball that he faced after scoring a halfcentury but Jofra Archer had the last laugh as the Aussie pacerâs impressive knock came to an end on the 75th delivery that he facedWhile Lyon showcased nerves of steel and put forth a strong defensive game Scott Boland kept the runscoring going and found boundaries at regular intervals However the spinnerâs wicket in the 92nd over off Archerâs delivery brought the curtains down on the Australian innings as the hosts closed with 371 runs on board With that final nail in the coffin Archer also completed his fourth fivewicket haul his third against AustraliaIn response England openers started positively with Ben Duckett appearing more confident than Zak Crawley Pat Cummins took a crucial wicket in the eighth over as Crawley was caught behind After the opening partnership was broken Lyon made an immediate impact in his first over dismissing Ollie Pope and then trapping Duckett just two balls later with a superb deliveryWith this he surpassed Glenn McGraths record of 563 wickets and now ranks as Australias secondhighest wickettaker in Test historyEngland found some respite after a controversial call led to Joe Root surviving a scare as he stitched a 29run stand with Harry Brook but Cummins finally had him edging one to Alex Carey behind the stumps in the 17th over of the inningsSkipper Ben Stokes then put on a show as he once again looked to anchor the innings and got decent support from Harry Brook but the duo failed to score big as the opposition bowlers kept things tight with their bowlingBrook fought hard for his 45 but Cameron Green got the edge as the former found his way to the dugoutWhat followed was absolute drama as controversial sequences involving Englandâs Jamie Smith unfolded raising doubts over the Snicko technology and umpiring Cummins bowled a short ball that struck Smithâs helmet and popped to slip but replays showed no bat or glove contact and the catch had bounced resulting in a notout decision despite a Snicko spikeStarc criticised Snicko on the stump mic dubbing it as the âworst technologyâ and calling for it to be âsackedâShortly after Smith was controversially given out when another short ball carried to Alex Carey Although replays showed a clear gap between bat and ball a Snicko spike persuaded third umpire Chris Gaffaney leaving the English skipper furiousStokes showed resistance alongside Archer after Scott Boland dismissed Will Jacks and Brydon Carse for cheap scores courtesy of some brilliant glove work by CareyAs a result the hosts concluded Day 2 of the Test 2138 reducing the visitorsâ lead to 158 runs and will aim for quick runs on Day 3 to keep the deficit manageableBrief Scores England 2138 Harry Brook 45 Ben Stokes 45 Pat Cummins 354 Nathan Lyon 251 trail Australia 371 Alex Carey 106 Usman Khawaja 82 Mitchell Starc 54 Archer 553 by 158 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-cummins-lyon-lead-australias-dominance-on-day-2-of-adelaide-test-654343.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/shooting-league-of-india-add-up-prometheans-as-franchise-ahead-of-inaugural-edition-654361.html New Delhi Dec 18 The Shooting League of India SLI on Thursday announced the addition of UP Prometheans a Uttar Pradeshâbased franchise for its inaugural season scheduled from February 16 to 26 2026 The new team strengthens the leagueâs growing footprint and reinforces its vision of building a robust inclusive ecosystem for the sport of shooting in IndiaWelcoming the UP Prometheans to the league President of the National Rifle Association of India NRAI Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo said âWe are delighted to welcome UP Prometheans to the Shooting League of India family Uttar Pradesh has immense sporting potential and the entry of a franchise driven by a strong educational and developmental philosophy adds great value to the leagueThe UP Prometheans franchise is owned by Mukesh Sharma founder and chairperson of Prometheus an international school located in NoidaMukesh Sharmaâs commitment to creating opportunity through infrastructure and education aligns perfectly with the vision of SLIâto build a sustainable ecosystem that nurtures talent inspires youth and takes Indian shooting to the next levelâNotably Prometheus School offers shooting as a structured sport from Grade 5 9 years and above with a focus on building technical ability mental resilience precision and handâeye coordination among studentsThe campus houses an Olympicstandard indoor shooting facility comprising a 10metre range with 10 manual targets and one SIUS electronic target system The range is additionally equipped with two electronic pistols and one rifle and all training and operations are conducted in strict compliance with ISSF regulationsStudents are coached by certified professionals supported by Khelo India SAI talent identification experts and regularly benefit from workshops and seminars led by Arjuna Awardees and OlympiansReflecting the schoolâs growing impact Prometheus athletes are currently competing at the national level â Siya Marwah Vaivaswat Vijay Singh Deo Siana Monga Sidhaan Gandhi Ayaana Chinaria Aarish Goel Ayaan Khanâ highlighting how access to worldclass facilities is enabling young shooters to pursue highperformance pathwaysSpeaking on the franchiseâs entry into the league the owner of UP Prometheans said âShooting is one of Indiaâs strongest Olympic sports and Uttar Pradesh has the talent and potential to play a far bigger role in this journey Through the UP Prometheans our intent is to create a structured professional platform where athletes are supported with the right infrastructure coaching and competitive exposure The Shooting League of India is an important step in strengthening the ecosystem and I am pleased to be part of this inaugural seasonâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/shooting-league-of-india-add-up-prometheans-as-franchise-ahead-of-inaugural-edition-654361.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/told-aniket-if-you-get-selected-i-will-also-get-in-says-srhs-newest-recruit-shivang-kumar-654379.html New Delhi Dec 18 Manifestation met reality for Madhya Pradeshâs leftarm wristspin allrounder Shivang Kumar when Sunrisers Hyderabad SRH picked him in the IPL 2026 auction at his base price of Rs 30 lakh The move to rope him in by SRH reunites Shivang who bats righthanded and is capable of producing big hits with best friend and Madhya Pradesh teammate Aniket Verma who was one of the finds for the franchise in a disappointing 2025 seasonFirst of all I am very excited to play for SRH Itâs a team of my teammate and best friend Aniket Verma With me now going to his team there is also this excitement feeling because I told him last year that if you get selected then I will also get selected in itâSo a lot of things have been manifested At that time when the auction was on I was in the room My friend came and told me that bhai you have been selected So I felt very good said Shivang in an exclusive conversation with IANSShivang 23 had trials with multiple franchises before the auction and that was enough to tell him that he will be a part of the IPL for the first time Before the auction I went to trials of Punjab Kings Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals So I got a good response from themâSRH also called me twice but unfortunately I could not go as at that time I was in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy The other time it got cancelled for some reason But the trials were quite good and there was a good response everywhere SRH showed their trust in me and I am feeling goodShivang views playing in IPL 2026 as his gateway to fulfilling his ultimate goal playing for India IPL is a launching pad for an uncapped player to the Indian team So as per my skills I think SRH will like me a lotâI do both batting and bowling so I can be very useful for the team I have heard a lot about Murali sir Muttiah Muralitharan He talks a lot about cricket So it will be good to talk to him as well because I also talk mainly about cricket he addedIt also helps that Shivang sees Aniket as a huge source of motivation and belief to leave his mark in the IPL after SRH scouts noticed his rare bowling skillset and penchant for hitting big shots Because of Aniket we felt that we can also do well at this level Anikets season was very good and he played very well in SRH for 23 innings So we also believe that we can also do well at the topâI told Aniket that you have done well there then I will also do well So there was a lot of support from the Madhya Pradesh Premier League because under the lights we actually play less matches on an international groundSo the player gets a lot of experience and exposure there on how he will play internationally The world also watches him whatever he does good or bad So it is also a benefit that we learn how to deal with itGrowing up in Rewa a place that has produced notable pacers Kuldeep Sen and Ishwar Pandey Shivang was first taught about cricket by his father Praveen Kumar a Chief Ticket Inspector CTI in the Railways currently posted in Moradabad Uttar Pradesh Praveen himself played cricket in Bengal including the Ranji Trophy and who harbored dreams of playing for India himselfâWe used to practice cricket in our MPCA camps in Indore When I was 22 I went to Rewa Before that I used to play in the Gwalior division Rewa supported me a lot and it was an opportunity for meActually my father put me into playing cricket He also had a dream that my child should play for India He also had a dream that he should play But this dream has been passed on to me Hopefully I will be able to fulfill his dreamSeeing him being picked by SRH for IPL left Praveen jubilant âMy father is a very positive person So he was like Okay beta you have been selected So learn and go upwards from here Your ultimate goal is to play for India He was also very happy that I was selected for SRH which is known for a lot of power hitters and are known for their fearless approach and excellent battingIt was Praveen Shivangâs first coach who transformed him from a righthanded bowler into a leftarm spinner He taught me batting and actually I bowled right handed But he made me a lefty bowler I do everything from the right hand but just do bowling from the left hand So you can call it his masterpiece as he made me like this After I started my cricket under him I found my way through MP and MPCA supported me a lotShivangâs journey in the cricketing world wouldnât have happened if the MS Dhoni biopic movie hadnât reignited his passion for the game When I didnt get selected for the U14 team I decided to leave cricket I didnt play for 5 months Luckily I got a chance to watch the movie on MS DhoniâI had heard a few things about it â like when people saw it they said I gave up on cricket too soon When my brother told me to watch the movie saying that it is a very well made film and has an inspiring story I went to watch it and took a lot of inspiration from Dhoni sirâIt made me realise that his life had a lot of struggles and I gave up too fast I restarted playing cricket and scored 98 in the first match That made me realise that cricket is in my blood and that I dont know if I will play at the higher level or not but cricket cannot leave me he recalledMeeting his idol Dhoni sits at the top of Shivangâs bucket list It is every youngsters dream to meet Dhoni sir especially when there is a match in Chepauk the atmosphere is different When he enters I want to experience that what it is like to be out there I have heard about it from the rest but I will definitely want to experience itThe superlative performance in Madhya Pradeshâs T20 league propelled Shivang to make his Syed Mushtaq Alit Trophy debut against Hyderabad where he showed promise with the bat through a crucial knock of 45But I didnt get a wicket in that game When I went wicketless against Hyderabad I spoke to Venkatesh Iyer He told me not to worry and that I would get a wicket next time He motivated me a lot Next up I got three wickets against Bihar and it felt good said ShivangApart from Iyer Shivang draws huge inspiration from RCB skipper and India batter Rajat Patidar Rajat bhaiya is especially an inspiration His batting is world famous He is the most stylish batsman Venky bhaiya has a positive attitude towards youngstersâHe comes and makes the environment casual and that helps in gelling up well with him He doesnt look like a star and that gives us a feel that he is like our friend Venky bhaiya gives a lot of support and inspires me a lot in me wanting to play for IndiaWith the IPL still a few months away Shivang is eager to test himself against international stars and who knows he might shine in IPL 2026 which in turn put him on the radar of higher honours including playing for IndiaThese are big matches and international players are present I have never played against or with foreigners How to bowl to them as well as to big domestic hitters and veterans it is a different game So I want to experience it IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/told-aniket-if-you-get-selected-i-will-also-get-in-says-srhs-newest-recruit-shivang-kumar-654379.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/badminton-satwik-chirag-continue-winning-run-beat-alfianfikri-to-lead-group-b-in-world-tour-finals-654452.html Hangzhou China Dec 18 Indiaâs top menâs doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty registered their second successive win at the BWF World Tour Finals 2025 defeating Indonesiaâs Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri in a pulsating threegame contest at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium on Thursday The Indian pair ranked No3 in the World showed authority and composure to win 2111 1621 2111 extending their unbeaten run in Group B and moving into a strong position for a semifinal berth With two wins from two matches Satwik and Chirag now lead the group and have built a considerable advantage in points differenceWith this win the Indian pair inched closer to the semifinals surging to the top spot in Group B with two wins from two matchesSatwik and Chirag were dominant in the opening game never trailing at any stage as they controlled the rallies and took it 2111 The Indonesians winners of the China Open Super 1000 earlier this year despite forming their partnership only in 2025 mounted a fightback in the second game Although the Indians recovered from an early 83 deficit to level at 1212 they eventually conceded the game 1621The Indian pair responded emphatically in the decider After brief early exchanges Satwik and Chirag surged ahead opening up leads of up to eight points before closing out the match comfortably at 2111They will next face second seeds Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia on Friday in their final group fixtureGroup A comprises the topseeded pair Kim Won HoSeo Seung Jae of Korea Wei Chong ManWun Tee Kai of Malaysia Sabai Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani of Indonesia along with Chiu HsiangChiehWang ChiLin of Chinese TaipeiIn womens singles matches fourth seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan came back from the loss of the first game to Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia to win the match 2224 2119 2113 while top seed An Se Young of Korea defeated Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan in straight games 219 216 in a 33minute encounter IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/badminton-satwik-chirag-continue-winning-run-beat-alfianfikri-to-lead-group-b-in-world-tour-finals-654452.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 23:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/vijay-hazare-trophy-kl-rahul-and-prasidh-krishna-named-in-karnatakas-squad-654252.html Bengaluru Dec 17 The Indian duo of wicketkeeperbatter KL Rahul and fastbowler Prasidh Krishna have been named in Karnatakaâs squad for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy Defending champions Karnataka will play its Group âAâ fixtures in Ahmedabad starting on December 24 The addition of Rahul who recently captained India in the ODI leg of the South Africa tour where they won 21 and Prasidh adds further experience to the side led by Mayank Agarwal Karun Nair has been appointed as the vicecaptain following his strong performances in the Ranji TrophyPacers Vidwath Kaverappa and Vidyadhar Patel though not listed in the main squad will travel with the team to Ahmedabad and remain available for match duty Young batters Harshil Dharmani and Dhruv Prabhakar who also bowls handy offspin have earned callups after impressive outings in the U23 50over competition last monthLeftarm spinner Shreesha Achar has been included as the squadâs lone specialist slow bowler Yere Goud will be the head coach while Mansur Ali Khan and Shabarish Mohan will serve as bowling and fielding coaches respectively Karnatakaâs Group A opponents include Tamil Nadu Rajasthan Jharkhand Madhya Pradesh Pondicherry Kerala and TripuraWith a threeweek gap between Indiaâs final T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad on December 19 and the opening ODI against New Zealand on January 11 2026 in Vadodara this window will be utilised by all India players barring Shreyas Iyer whoâs recovering from a spleen injury sustained in October to play in the 50over domestic competition for their respective states Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have already been included in Delhiâs probables listKarnataka squad Mayank Agarwal captain Karun Nair vicecaptain Devdutt Padikkal Ravichandran Smaran KL Shrijith Abhinav Manohar Shreyas Gopal V Vyshak Manvanth Kumar Shreesha Achar Abhilash Shetty BR Sharath Harshil Dharmani Dhruv Prabhakar KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/vijay-hazare-trophy-kl-rahul-and-prasidh-krishna-named-in-karnatakas-squad-654252.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/andhra-pradesh-presents-rs-25-crore-cash-reward-to-woman-cricketer-shree-charani-654084.html Amaravati Dec 17 The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday handed over a cash incentive of Rs 25 crore to woman cricketer Shree Charani in recognition of her exceptional performance at the ICC Womenâs One Day World Cup Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh personally met Shree Charani at his Undavalli residence and presented her with the cheque on behalf of the coalition governmentA native of Kadapa district Shree Charani has emerged as one of Indiaâs brightest talents in international womenâs cricket and played a pivotal role in her teamâs success during the recently concluded World CupAcknowledging her remarkable contribution and consistent excellence on the global stage the Andhra Pradesh government has extended a comprehensive package of incentivesIn addition to the Rs 25 crore cash award the government has allotted her a residential plot measuring 500 square yards in Visakhapatnam The state has also assured her a GroupI level position in the Andhra Pradesh government after the completion of her degree Formal government orders to this effect have already been issuedThe gesture reflects the state governmentâs commitment to encouraging sporting excellence and inspiring young women across Andhra Pradesh to pursue careers in sports with confidence and ambition an official release saidThe event was attended by Transport and Youth amp Sports Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh SAAP Chairman Animini Ravinayudu Special Chief Secretary Sports Ajay Jain and other senior officialsThe state government last month announced a cash reward a government job and a house site for Shree Charani Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had announced the incentives after the young cricketer called on himHailing from Andhra Pradeshs Kadapa district she played her first World Cup after making her international debut in AprilThe leftarm spinner took 14 wickets in the World CupThe womens national cricket team made history by winning their firstever ICC Womens Cricket World Cup title on November 2 in Navi Mumbai They defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/andhra-pradesh-presents-rs-25-crore-cash-reward-to-woman-cricketer-shree-charani-654084.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 13:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sri-lanka-rope-in-r-sridhar-as-mens-national-team-fielding-coach-654139.html Colombo Dec 17 Sri Lanka Cricket SLC has appointed R Sridhar as the fielding coach of the national menâs team until the completion of the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup Sridhars appointment was effective from December 11and will end a couple of days after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka on March 10Sridhar a BCCI Level 3 qualified coach brings extensive international experience having served as Indiaâs fielding coach across more than 300 international matches from 2014 to 2021 which includes two ODI and T20I World Cup editions eachIn his new role Sridhar will work closely with the Sri Lankan squad to lift overall fielding standards work with the players during the upcoming tours involving Pakistan and England followed by preparations for the ICC Menâs T20 World CupSpeaking after the announcement Sridhar said âSri Lankan players have always stood for instinctive brilliance resilience and collective spirit My role is not to impose a system but to nurture an environment where athleticism awareness and pride in the field can grow naturallyâThe appointment marks a familiar return for Sridhar who earlier this year conducted a 10day specialised fielding camp at Sri Lanka Cricketâs National High Performance Centre in MayHe began the programme with the Sri Lanka National Menâs team and subsequently trained other squads where he conducted fielding drills skillspecific training and simulated match scenarios to replicate game conditionsSridhar had worked closely with the national highperformance and club coaches during his 10day stint at Sri Lanka CricketFielding thrives when players feel connected to the ball to each other and to the moment Sri Lankaâs traditional strengthsâquick hands sharp reflexes and fearless intent can be further enhanced by creating realistic gamelike learning environments Sridhar addedLast year Sridhar was named Afghanistan menâs cricket teamâs assistant coach for the sideâs oneoff Test match against New Zealand in Noida and the threematch ODI series against South Africa in September IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sri-lanka-rope-in-r-sridhar-as-mens-national-team-fielding-coach-654139.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/team-india-has-benefited-immensely-from-hardiks-ability-bangar-654154.html New Delhi Dec 17 Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar highlighted Hardik Pandyaâs impact with bat and ball stating that the Men in Blue have benefited massively because of the allrounderâs abilities Pandya returned to competitive cricket earlier this month after missing out for over two months due to the injury he sustained during the Asia Cup semifinal in September He made an immediate impact in the game for the Men in Blue and played a crucial role in the teamâs successful outings against South Africa in the ongoing fivematch T20I seriesSpeaking to JioStar Bangar lavished praise on Pandya emphasising the Baroda cricketerâs unique batting mechanics and his value as a bowling option in T20 cricket as he said âGoing deep inside the crease is Hardik Pandyaâs specialityEven when he goes that deep his weight remains on the front foot which is a very good thing As a batter we always encourage waiting for the ball He plays with a very wide base which allows him to generate a lot of powerââHe can play frontfoot shots backfoot shots baseballstyle hits full shots and the upper cut He opens up both sides of the ground which is a special ability He bowls at around 132â133 kmph with a fuller length where close to 54 per cent of his deliveries are pitched up and he gets wickets from there He allows the ball to swing and when required he goes for the yorker as well The Indian team has benefited immensely from his abilityâ he addedBangar highlighted Abhishek Sharmas fearless approach underscoring the technical elements that enable the young batter to dominate bowlers Opining on his attacking mindset Bangar stated âFirst of all itâs his attacking mindset If thereâs a delivery outside the off stump he hits it very hard One very important aspect of his batting is his high backlift He holds the bat above the handle which gives him excellent reach Because of the swing he generates he can hit big sixes especially over the covers Hitting sixes over the covers is a special ability He doesnât try to hit from below which gives him an incredible rangeâTurning his attention to Shubman Gill Bangar acknowledged the Indian openerâs form while pointing out specific areas that need refinement particularly against straight deliveriesâIn the beginning his footwork was very positive But if you remove three or four boundaries over 28 games the issue has been on straighter lines Against straight deliveries his strike rate has fallen quite low Outside the off stump his strike rate is good but there have been a few edges as wellOverall he has scored runs but straightline play is something he will want to improve In the second game the ball that got him out was a very good deliveryâit could have dismissed any batter His footwork has improved and if he continues to play with clear footwork he will be able to hit the same shots consistently like the three or four boundaries weâve seenâ he notedWhile India have enjoyed the upper hand in the series so far Bangar cautioned against underestimating South Africa particularly with the conditions on offer in Lucknow saying âThe way this series has gone South Africa has fought well in every format On the Lucknow pitch there is bounce and seam and South Africaâs fast bowlers will look to make early inroads India will need to be prepared for that challengeâWith India holding a 2â1 advantage in the fivematch T20I series against South Africa the spotlight now turns to Lucknow for the fourth game as the two sides gear up to face off at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/team-india-has-benefited-immensely-from-hardiks-ability-bangar-654154.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-call-up-is-the-next-aim-says-auqib-dars-father-after-blockbuster-ipl-deal--654173.html Baramulla Dec 17 As Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Dar made headlines after Delhi Capitals bought him for Rs 840 crore during the IPL 2026 mini auction the uncapped pacers father Ghulam Nabi Dar has said that while the IPL contract was a matter of great pride for the family the only aim now is for his son to get selected in the Indian team Starting at a base price of Rs 30 lakh Auqib sparked an intense bidding war between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad later entering the fray The contest ended with the 29yearold pacer from Baramulla being snapped up by the Delhi CapitalsI cant express my happiness in wordsâ Now the only thing left is to get selected for the Indian team Every parent wants their child to progress and succeed Auqibs father told IANSA consistent wickettaker across formats in domestic cricket over the past few seasons Auqib Nabi registered as Auqib Dar is primarily a swing bowler Recently however the Jammu amp Kashmir bowler has added new dimensions to his gameâmost notably improved deathovers skillsâwhich have significantly boosted his valueHis recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy performances underline that progress 15 wickets in seven matches at an economy rate below eight figures that support the effort he has invested Has been a net bowler with Kolkata Knight Riders KKR and Sunrisers Hyderabad SRH in the pastNabi made his Ranji Trophy debut for Jammu and Kashmir in 2020 and announced himself with a threewicket haul against Karnataka in the quarterfinal In the previous Ranji season he was in outstanding form claiming 49 wickets from nine matches at an impressive average of 1308Earlier this year Nabi once grabbed everyones eyeballs by bagging a fivewicket haul which included four wickets in four balls during the 202526 Duleep Trophy game between North Zone and East Zone IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-call-up-is-the-next-aim-says-auqib-dars-father-after-blockbuster-ipl-deal--654173.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 17:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/4th-t20i-toss-in-lucknow-delayed-due-to-excessive-fog-inspection-scheduled-for-650-pm-654204.html Lucknow Dec 17 The toss for the fourth T20I between India and South Africa has been delayed due to excessive fog at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday The next inspection by the match officials will take place at 650 pm âToss in Lucknow has been delayed due to excessive fog Next inspection at 650 PMâ said an update from the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI on their âXâ account Earlier on Wednesday the India Meteorological Department IMD had issued an orange alert for âvery dense fogâ in 13 districts of eastern and central Uttar Pradesh It also issued a yellow alert for dense fog in 27 districts from the eastern to western parts of the stateThe fog at the stadium has been so thick that spectators were barely able to see the stands situated at the opposite end With fog set to get worse there are concerns over whether the match will happen or not It is to be noted that this is the first time Lucknow is hosting a T20I game in the month of DecemberFormer India batter Robin Uthappa noted on the live broadcast that delaying play could prove counterproductive as fog is likely to intensify as the evening progresses Fortunately for India ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah took part in the warmups ahead of the match after he missed the third T20I in Dharamsala due to personal reasonsBut vicecaptain Shubman Gill has been apparently ruled out due to a foot injury with Sanju Samson likely to come into the playing eleven India is leading the fivegame series 21 with two matches remaining and are considered a favourite to clinch the series if they manage to win in Lucknow But for that to happen the game needs to take place in biting cold conditions provided the fog goes downIndia currently lead the series 21 After winning the first T20I India lost the second match before winning the third to take the lead in the fivematch series IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/4th-t20i-toss-in-lucknow-delayed-due-to-excessive-fog-inspection-scheduled-for-650-pm-654204.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 21:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/carlos-alcaraz-splits-with-coachjuan-carlos-ferrero-654206.html New Delhi Dec 17 Tennis World No1 Carlos Alcaraz has parted ways with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero on Wednesday Alcarazs sevenyear association with fellow Spaniard Ferrero a former No 1 player who assisted Alcaraz in winning his first six Grand Slam titles comes to an end Samuel Lopez and Ferrero who won the French Open in 2003 were just named ATP Coach of the Year for their work with Alcaraz who won eight trophies in 2025 including the US Open and Roland GarrosItâs very difficult for me to write this postâ After more than seven years together Juanki and I have decided to end our time together as coach and player Thank you for turning childhood dreams into realities We started this journey when I was barely a kid and throughout all this time youâve accompanied me on an incredible journey on and off the court And Iâve enjoyed every step of it so much with you Weâve managed to reach the top and I feel that if our sports paths had to part ways it had to be from up thereFrom the place we always worked toward and always aspired to reach There are so many memories that come to mind that picking just one wouldnât be fair Youâve helped me grow as an athlete but above all as a person And something I value so much Iâve enjoyed the process Thatâs what Iâll hold onto the path weâve travelled together Now times of change are coming for both of us new adventures and new projects But Iâm certain weâll face them the right way giving our best as weâve always done Always adding up I wish you all the best from the heart in everything that comes Iâm left with the peace of mind of knowing we didnât hold anything back that we gave everything we had for each other Thank you for everything Juanki Alcaraz posted on XAt the age of fifteen Alcaraz began training with the 2001 French Open champion at the former world number one Ferreros academy which was approximately an hours drive from Alcarazs house Alcaraz won his first major at the US Open in 2022 followed by Wimbledon in 2023 the French Open and another Wimbledon in 2024 This year he won both the US Open and the French Open once moreFerrero Alcarazs former coach posted on Instagram Today is a difficult day One of those times when its hard to find the right words Saying goodbye is never easy especially when there are so many shared experiences behind it We have worked hard grown together and shared unforgettable momentsI want to thank you for the time the trust the learning and above all for the people who have surrounded me throughout this journey I take with me laughter challenges overcome conversations support during difficult moments and the satisfaction of having been part of something truly uniqueToday a very important chapter of my life comes to an end I close it with nostalgia but also with pride and excitement for what may come next I know that everything I have lived has prepared me to be betterThank you Carlos for the trust the effort and for making your way of competing make me feel so special I wish you all the best both professionally and personally I wish I could have continued I am convinced that good memories and good people always find a way to cross paths again Thank you from the bottom of my heart he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/carlos-alcaraz-splits-with-coachjuan-carlos-ferrero-654206.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 21:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-tour-finals-satwik-chirag-rally-past-liangwang-to-open-campaign-with-statement-win-654221.html Hangzhou Dec 17 Indiaâs top menâs doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty began their BWF World Tour Finals 2025 campaign on a strong note with a gutsy comeback win over Chinaâs Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium on Wednesday Up against a pair that had won four of their last five meetings the World No 3 Indians showed resilience and control to prevail 1221 2220 2114 in a highintensity contest that lasted just over an hour The victory gives Satwik and Chirag an early boost in a fiercely competitive Group B which also features Malaysiaâs Aaron ChiaSoh Wooi Yik and Indonesiaâs Fajar AlfianMuhammad Shohibul FikriSatwik and Chirag started brightly but lost momentum in the opening game as the Chinese duo took control to close it out 2112 The Indians responded strongly in the second absorbing pressure and staying composed in the closing stages to edge it 2220 after trailing for the early parts Carrying that momentum into the decider Satwik and Chirag stamped their authority pulling away after an early exchange to seal the match 2114The Indian pair will next face Alfian and Fikri on Thursday as they look to seal a semifinal berth in the seasonending showpiece Alfian and Fikri started with a defeat to Malaysiaâs Aaron ChiaSoh Wooi Yik 2422 1921 1921 on WednesdayGroup A comprises the topseeded pair Kim Won HoSeo Seung Jae of Korea Wei Chong ManWun Tee Kai of Malaysia Sabai Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani of Indonesia along with Chiu HsiangChiehWang ChiLin of Chinese TaipeiIn other matches on Wednesday Womens World No1 An Se Young of South Korea defeated Indonesias Putri Kusuma Wardani with the topseed struggling to win 2116 821 218 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-tour-finals-satwik-chirag-rally-past-liangwang-to-open-campaign-with-statement-win-654221.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 23:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-athletics-to-introduce-new-distances-to-race-walk-events-in-2026-654226.html Beijing Dec 17 World Athletics will introduce halfmarathon and marathon distances to race walk events in 2026 in an effort to help fans better grasp the speed of the sport president Sebastian Coe has said Under the schedule for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships on April 12 2026 the traditional 20kilometre race walk will be replaced by a halfmarathon race walk while the 35 km event will shift to a marathon race walk It will be the first time the new distances appear at major international competitionsI think its a good decision to change those distances to distances that people have become accustomed to in other events Coe said during a virtual media call on Tuesday They can relate to the times and its often overlooked just how talented and how fast our race walkers are goingCoe added that he expects the new distances to remain in place long term noting they would also suit the Olympic program reports XinhuaRace walk formats have undergone several changes in the past decade The womens 50km debuted at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships alongside the mens 50km and both 20km events but both 50km races were dropped before reaching the Olympic stage and replaced by a 35km event at the 2022 World Championships in OregonThe mens 50km was also removed from the 2024 Paris Olympics in favour of a marathon race walk mixed relayIn April the IOC released the Los Angeles 2028 athletics schedule confirming the halfmarathon as the only walking distance for men and womenHe also confirmed that the mixed 4x400m relay and the mile race â introduced for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow â will remain part of the programme for the 2030 edition as wellCoe said he was as frustrated as anyone at the farcical situation surrounding the legal world record belonging to banned Kenyan Ruth Chepngetichs marathon but added that the governing bodys hands are tied Chepngetichs astonishing two hours nine minutes and 56 seconds run in Chicago in October 2024 remains the legal world record even though she was handed a threeyear antidoping ban this year with her results expunged only from MarchCoe said that her excuse that she took her housemaids medicine was dismissed by the Athletics Integrity Unit which says it is continuing to investigate Chepngetich for other potential violations IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/world-athletics-to-introduce-new-distances-to-race-walk-events-in-2026-654226.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 23:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-season-3-alpine-sg-pipers-beat-american-gambits-to-jump-to-second-spot-leaders-mumba-masters-defeat-alaskan-knights-654235.html Mumbai Dec 17 Alpine SG Pipers stormed their way into title contention by registering their second consecutive win thanks to yet another clinical performance on the prodigy board by GM Leon Luke Mendonca and a lastgasp victory by Player of the Match Nino Batsiashvili on Matchday 4 of the Global Chess League GCL on Wednesday The Pipers beat Fyers American Gambits 104 while upGrad Mumba Masters registered a dominating 182 win over PBG Alaskan KnightsIn the first clash of Matchday 4 Alpine SG Pipers once again chose to play white after winning the toss for the second straight match looking to build on their victory over overnight leaders upGrad Mumbai MastersThere was not much to separate the two teams on the top four boards but Mendonca came up with another clinical performance to beat World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin on the prodigy board to give his team the advantage Opting for a Closed Catalan the GM from Goa gained the upper hand with a bishop sacrifice on the 18th move and maintained the pressure and his Russian opponent ran out of time on move 46In the womenâs clash between Nino and Injac Teodara the former was under pressure for a major part of the 61move clash but turned things around with three advancing pawns and forced Teodara to resign and take her team to the top of the table for a brief periodâI played all in and pushed my pawn and at some point I had a chance to winâ Nina who registered her third win in four matches saidLater upGrad Mumba Masters rode on wins from Koneru Humpy and Dronavalli Harika to register a dominating win over PBG Alaskan Knights with black pieces to cement their place at the top of the leaderboard Humpy lived dangerously against Kateryna Lagno but pounced on her opponentâs mistake as the Russian failed to correctly follow up after sacrificing her queen and resigned after 33 movesOn the adjacent board Player of the Match Harika defeated Alexandra Kosteniuk in 50 moves while Alaskan Knights Arjun Erigasi lost to Wesley So after running out of time On the icon board world champion D Gukeshâs wait for a win got longer after he was held to a draw by Maxime VachierLagrave in 31 moves Bardiya Daneshvar completed the Mumba Masters tally with a win over Daniel DardhaIn the last match of the day Triveni Continental Kings will play Ganges GrandmastersAction continues on Matchday 5 as upGrad Mumba Masters take on Triveni Continental Kings Alpine SG Pipers face PBG Alaskan Knights while Ganges Grandmasters meet Fyers American Gambits IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-season-3-alpine-sg-pipers-beat-american-gambits-to-jump-to-second-spot-leaders-mumba-masters-defeat-alaskan-knights-654235.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 23:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/kareena-kapoor-reacts-as-messi-includes-her-in-his-goodbye-post-following-india-visit-654040.html Mumbai Dec 17 After concluding the last leg of his India tour legendary footballer Lionel Messi decided to post a special montage video on social media incorporating memories from his visit to the country Amidst several moments that apparently stood out for the GOAT was his meeting with Bollywood beauty Kareena Kapoor and her two boys Taimur and JehElated about featuring in Messis farewell video Bebo gave a shoutout to her elder son TaimurKareena reposted Messis video on the Stories section of her Instagram and wrote âOk Tim then this happened heart emoji for you heart emoji sicâDuring his visit to India Messi met many bigwigs from Btown such as Shah Rukh Khan Ajay Devgn Tiger Shroff Shilpa Shetty and Geeta Basra to name just a fewOn Wednesday Messi took to his IG and treated the netizens with a special video along with a special goodbye message for all his Indian fansThe clip had glimpses of Messi meeting the children at the stadium along with his meeting with the cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar However picking from all his Bollywood interactions Messi chose to include only Kareena and her sons in the montageThe footballer captioned the post âNamaste India What incredible visits to Delhi Mumbai Hyderabad and Kolkata Thanks for the warm welcome great hospitality and all the expressions of love throughout my tour I hope football has a bright future in India sicâAs part of his Indian tour Messi landed in Mumbai on Sunday However this tour did not start on a great note as he encountered an embarrassing situation in KolkataThe footballer was forced to leave early after things got rough at the Salt Lake stadium as political and influential figures hijacked the event irking fans who did not get a chance to see Messi even after paying thousands for ticketsAfter Kolkata Messi also went to Hyderabad and then Mumbai as part of his itinerary IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/kareena-kapoor-reacts-as-messi-includes-her-in-his-goodbye-post-following-india-visit-654040.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-auction-lsg-can-look-to-buy-livingstone-for-finishers-role-says-kaif-653839.html New Delhi Dec 16 Lucknow Super Giants LSG could look to buy Englandâs batting allrounder Liam Livingstone at the IPL 2026 auction to bolster their lowerorder firepower said former India batter Mohammad Kaif The IPL 2026 auction will be held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and they come in with a purse of Rs 2295 crore to fill six slots fourof which are for roping in overseas playersWith David Miller released ahead of the auction LSGâs primary goal will be to get a player who fills in that voidâOne name that comes to mind is Liam Livingstone He plays the role of a finisher and plays at number five or six With them releasing Miller his direct replacement option is Livingstone He bowls as well and although his current form is not good but I think he has a lot of experience and his strike rate is quite highâSo instead of David Miller Lucknow would like to run behind Livingstone because you have three overseas batters in Pooran Markram and Marsh and you need a finisher who can play at number five or six for Lucknowâ said Kaif a JioStar expert in an exclusive conversation with IANS ahead of the mini auctionLSG enters the auction with enviable depth in their Indian pace attack strengthened by the acquisitions of veteran seamer Mohammed Shami and young pacer Arjun Tendulkar The duo coming in means thereâs additional cover for pacers Mohsin Khan Avesh Khan and Mayank Yadav who have been dealing with injuries for a long timeKaif feels LSG should look to rope in either of the South African pacers Anrich Nortje or Lungi Ngidi as their overseas fast bowling option to balance the squadâFirst of all I pray and hope that Avesh Khan and Mayank Yadav are close to being fully fit as itâs almost 56 months now Lucknow will be praying that they recover and come back to action Now the second question is who should they target I think they need overseas fast bowlersâThere are options in Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi Nortje could be an option because Lucknow has a large ground a square boundary and a red soil pitch which can help him in generating good bounce and pace So they can target Nortje as well but as I said earlier the injured players should be fit and then pick either Nortje or Ngidi as an optionâ he addedIn terms of spinners New Delhibased Digvesh Rathi remains the lone wristspin option in LSGâs roster leaving the franchise with a gap to address at the auctionHaving released Ravi Bishnoi ahead of the auction boosting their spin bowling department with an experienced player to complement Rathi and provide variety in middleovers bowling will also be key for LSGKaif suggested that LSG may need to explore uncapped spin options given the possibility of Bishnoi fetching an expensive pay cheque at the auctionâOne issue is that there may not be enough purse left for Lucknow to buy Bishnoi back Lucknow wont be able to afford him at an expensive priceâKKR are having a lot of money and then Chennai is also there So I think that by the time Bishnoiâs number comes a lot of people will want to run behind him Now Digvesh Rathi has become their premier leg spinner Skipper Rishabh Pant also likes him because he bowls in the powerplay and takes wickets in the middle oversâWith Rathi becoming Pantâs favourite who will bowl with him now Lucknow wont be able to afford a spinner at an expensive price there They wont be able to save that much money So Lucknow will focus on the untapped leg and leftarm spinners who can come at a cheap price at the auctionâCatch all the action from the TATA IPL 2026 miniauction December 16 230 PM onwards LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-auction-lsg-can-look-to-buy-livingstone-for-finishers-role-says-kaif-653839.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/work-we-did-in-back-half-of-2025-has-set-us-up-for-ipl-2026-auction-csk-head-coach-fleming-653843.html New Delhi Dec 16 Chennai Super Kings CSK head coach Stephen Fleming revealed that the teamâs planning for the upcoming season effectively began midway through the last campaign when performances dipped and injuries disrupted momentum He also stated that the work they carried out in the backhalf of the previous season has helped them curate a blueprint for the upcoming auction to be held on TuesdayIn a video shared by the franchise on X Fleming said âWell it was actually halfway through last season where things werent going well we did a lot of work behind the scenes with trialling players looking at some young players going forward and we had some injuries as well so we used the opportunity to get some new players into the side and that was with a view to this year and I think the second half of the season was a lot better and we finished the last couple of games really wellâThat lateseason improvement Fleming explained helped shape the franchiseâs approach at the auction table âSo that helps go into the auction process when we found players like Mhatre and Brevis and of course weve got quite a big purse so you saw a number of players being released which is unusual for CSK but again a reflection that we werent quite good enough in last years performanceâAddressing how difficult it is to remain committed to longterm thinking after a disappointing season Fleming admitted that rigid adherence to âprocessâ was less important than reading the situation correctlyâIm not massive on process Its more around the feel and we knew that things werent quite right so the work that went in from the coaching staff and players down were to turn the season around but from a head coaching point of view and a decision making management point of view we were looking at what we could salvage from the season and make sure that we go into this auction and the next season with a lot more positivesâ he saidDrawing on past experience Fleming pointed to the fivetime championsâ ability to rebound from adversity âThat was similar to the previous year that was poor for us and we bounced back pretty well from that So we used that as a way of learning what to do and we felt that the work we did in the back half has set us up for a position going to this auction where we can be quite positiveâ he notedLooking ahead Fleming acknowledged that the upcoming auction presents unique challenges particularly with multiple franchises reshaping their squads âIts really difficult I think with some retirements and with other franchises releasing a lot of players its made it a difficult auction to gaugeâWhile CSKâs sizeable purse offers flexibility Fleming warned it can also complicate decisionmaking âWere obviously in a position where weve got a good purse but it can be dangerous when teams only need one or two players You really have to concentrate on maybe the requirements of other teams but also you dont ignore the priorities of your own squad and were certainly very clear on thatâHe emphasised the importance of adaptability on auction day saying âWere just hoping that our strategy during the day will work or well be able to implement it because often the best plans are similar to others So you have to be able to pivot and navigate through that but we think weve got a good plan in place and if things go well for us tomorrow we feel itll set our squad up wellâThe franchise will enter the auction with the second biggest purse among all teams Rs 4340 crore and nine slots to fill Fleming offered a balanced view on whether a high purse is truly an advantageâWell it depends on a teams needs sometimes having a big purse and needing a few players can be harder than needing one or two players with a mediumsized purse so all franchises will have a pretty clear plan Its just who they target and you hope that theres not too many that have targeted the same players as you There will be some but were in a good position to put pressure on anyway and if it does go our way then we think well put together a good squadâ he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/work-we-did-in-back-half-of-2025-has-set-us-up-for-ipl-2026-auction-csk-head-coach-fleming-653843.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/virat-kohli-visits-premanand-ji-maharajs-ashram-with-wife-anushka-sharma-653852.html New Delhi Dec 16 Indias batting stalwart Virat Kohli has visited Vrindavan with his wife Anushka Sharma and had a special spiritual conversation with Premanand Ji Maharaj in his Ashram Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj Varah Ghat The couple visit the ashram regularly and their recent trip marked their third time this year having previously visited Vrindavan in January this year with their kids and then again in May just a day after Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricketAs Maharaj ji spoke visibly emotional Anushka listened attentively He advised them âConsider your work as service live with seriousness remain humble and practice chanting the divine name There should be a deep desire to have a glimpse of the Almighty One should yearn to see himâKohli nodded in agreement with every word as Maharaj Ji further said that one should cultivate the feeling that all worldly happiness has already been attained and now only God is desired and once that happens all happiness rests at his feetAnushka responded âWe belong to you Maharaj jiâ To this he replied âWe all belong to Shri Ji We live under his divine protection We are all his childrenâHaving retired from both Tests and T20Is Kohli is an active member of the ODI side and has been performing in top form of late After registering two backtoback ducks against Australia in October Kohli bounced back with a statement knock of 74 not out as India won the game by nine wicketsKohliâs next and most recent appearance was in the three home ODIs against South Africa where the former India skipper finished as the Player of the SeriesThe Delhi cricketer notched up two consecutive centuries in the first and second ODIs and ended on a high with an unbeaten 65run knock in the third ODI as the Men in Blue clinched the threegame series 21 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/virat-kohli-visits-premanand-ji-maharajs-ashram-with-wife-anushka-sharma-653852.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bengal-sports-minister-resigns-taking-moral-responsibility-for-messi-event-vandalism--653863.html Kolkata Dec 16 IANS West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas on Tuesday submitted his resignation taking moral responsibility for the lapses in management in the event featuring Argentine football star Lionel Messi at the Salt Lake Stadium here on SaturdaynbspChief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accepted his resignation Trinamool Congress spokesman and state General Secretary Kunal Ghosh said in a social media statementnbspIn his social media post Ghosh had claimed that the event of the Chief Minister accepting the resignation of Biswas had been as per information passed down by his sources However there was no official confirmation from the Chief Ministers office on this countAt the same time no announcement has been made so far about Biswas successornbspIn his handwritten resignation letter in Bengali Biswas claimed that since the Chief Minister had formed a probe committee headed by a retired judge of the Calcutta High Court he is resigning as state Sports Minister for the sake of impartiality of the investigation to be carried out by itnbspI hope you will approve my request in the matter read the resignation letter from Biswas who is also the state Power Minister This means that despite resigning as the Sports Minister Biswas will continue to be a member of the state cabinetBiswas had been the main target of scathing criticism from all quarters including civil society and opposition parties over the chaos at Salt Lake Stadium last week following severe management lapsesnbspThe event had witnessed chaos and disorder with allegations of poor crowd control damage to public property and a lack of proper arrangements triggering widespread criticism from spectators and civil society groupsBiswas was present at the stadium alongside Messi during the event Several spectators members of civil society and leaders of opposition parties have alleged that as Biswas and his family members surrounded the football star on the stadium ground spectators who had purchased tickets at high prices were denied adequate access to the football iconnbspThese allegations added to the political controversy surrounding the event with opposition parties accusing the state government of gross mismanagement and preferential treatment https://dailyworld.in/sports/bengal-sports-minister-resigns-taking-moral-responsibility-for-messi-event-vandalism--653863.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/cameron-green-becomes-costliest-overseas-buy-in-ipl-history-sold-to-kkr-for-rs-2520-cr-653880.html Abu Dhabi Dec 16 Australian allrounder Cameron Green was roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping sum of Rs 2520 crore at the Indian Premier League IPL auction underway here at the Etihad Arena With that he became the most expensive overseas player in the history of the tournament As his bidding reached the Rs 25 crore mark he went past the previous record set by his Australia teammate Mitchell Starc who was bought by KKR for Rs 2475 crore in the IPL 2024 auctionOverall he became the third costliest player in the history of the IPL auction after Rishabh Pant Rs 27 crore to Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2025 mega auction and Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer 2675 crore in IPL 2025 auctionGreen went under the hammer at his base price of Rs 2 crore and initiated a bidding war between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals before the latter team backed out when the figures touched Rs 13 croreJust then fivetime champions Chennai Super Kings lifted the paddle as the battle intensified KKR and CSK entered the auction as the teams with the heaviest purses with the threetime champions having Rs 6430 crore and the Ruturaj Gaikwadled team having Rs 4340 croreAfter a few tense moments and several discussions among members of the think tanks of both sides Green became the first player of the eve to cross the Rs 20 crore mark before KKR sealed the deal for a whopping 2520 croreAs per the new IPL rules Green cannot improve on his 2023 price with a new rule setting overseas players at a maximum of Rs 18 crore Hell however receive only Rs 18 crore and the rest Rs 720 crore will be used towards players welfareThe allrounderâs most recent IPL outing was in IPL 2024 when he represented RCB In 12 innings he made 255 runs at a strike rate of 14325 Picked up 10 wickets in 13 matches with the ball at an economy of 861 Has also played for the Mumbai Indians before being traded IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/cameron-green-becomes-costliest-overseas-buy-in-ipl-history-sold-to-kkr-for-rs-2520-cr-653880.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-green-goes-to-kkk-for-record-fee-of-rs-2520-crore-rcb-bag-venkatesh-for-rs-7-crore-653892.html Abu Dhabi Dec 16 IANS Australian allrounder Cameron Green bagged the biggest pay cheque at the ongoing Indian Premier League IPL 2026 miniauction here at the Etihad Arena when threetime champions Kolkata Knight Riders KKR acquired his services for a whopping price of Rs 2520 crore while reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru bought India allrounder Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 7 crorenbspRegistered as a batter owing to a goofup by his manager during the player auction registration Green went past the previous record set by his Australia teammate Mitchell Starc whom KKR bought for Rs 2475 crore in the IPL 2024 auctionGreen made his IPL debut in the 2023 season after the Mumbai Indians MI bought him for Rs 175 crore Notably at the time he became the secondmostexpensive overseas player in IPL auction history and the most expensive Australian player Most recently he played in IPL 2024 for RCB after being traded in from MI In 12 innings he made 255 runs at a strike rate of 14325 and picked up 10 wickets in 13 matches with the ball at an economy of 861Further in the capped batters list South Africas David Miller went to Delhi Capitals at his base price of Rs 2 crore while Indias Prithvi Shaw Sarfaraz Khan and New Zealand opener Devon Conway formerly with Chennai Super Kings and Australia batter Jake FraserMcGurk formerly with DC went unsoldIn the capped allrounder slot Lucknow Super Giants LSG acquired the services of Wanindu Hasaranga Sri Lanka for Rs 2 crore while RCB bagged Venkatesh for Rs 7 crore Meanwhile other capped allrounders Englands Gus Atkinson Indias Deepak Hooda New Zealands Rachin Ravindra and South Africas Wiaan Mulder remained unsoldA total of 1390 players registered for the Player Auction out of which 350 players were shortlisted 240 Indian and 110 are overseas recruits The pool comprises 224 uncapped Indian players and 14 uncapped overseas players adding significant depth and fresh talent to this years auction roster https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-green-goes-to-kkk-for-record-fee-of-rs-2520-crore-rcb-bag-venkatesh-for-rs-7-crore-653892.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-green-goes-to-kkk-for-record-fee-of-2520-cr-rcb-bag-venkatesh-for-rs-7-cr-653894.html Abu Dhabi Dec 16 Australian allrounder Cameron Green bagged the biggest pay cheque at the ongoing Indian Premier League IPL 2026 miniauction here at the Etihad Arena when threetime champions Kolkata Knight Riders KKR acquired his services for a whopping price of Rs 2520 crore while reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru bought India allrounder Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 7 crore Registered as a batter owing to a goofup by his manager during the player auction registration Green went past the previous record set by his Australia teammate Mitchell Starc whom KKR bought for Rs 2475 crore in the IPL 2024 auctionGreen made his IPL debut in the 2023 season after the Mumbai Indians MI bought him for Rs 175 crore Notably at the time he became the secondmostexpensive overseas player in IPL auction history and the most expensive Australian player Most recently he played in IPL 2024 for RCB after being traded in from MI In 12 innings he made 255 runs at a strike rate of 14325 and picked up 10 wickets in 13 matches with the ball at an economy of 861Further in the capped batters list South Africas David Miller went to Delhi Capitals at his base price of Rs 2 crore while Indias Prithvi Shaw Sarfaraz Khan and New Zealand opener Devon Conway formerly with Chennai Super Kings and Australia batter Jake FraserMcGurk formerly with DC went unsoldIn the capped allrounder slot Lucknow Super Giants LSG acquired the services of Wanindu Hasaranga Sri Lanka for Rs 2 crore while RCB bagged Venkatesh for Rs 7 crore Meanwhile other capped allrounders Englands Gus Atkinson Indias Deepak Hooda New Zealands Rachin Ravindra and South Africas Wiaan Mulder remained unsoldA total of 1390 players registered for the Player Auction out of which 350 players were shortlisted 240 Indian and 110 are overseas recruits The pool comprises 224 uncapped Indian players and 14 uncapped overseas players adding significant depth and fresh talent to this years auction roster IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-green-goes-to-kkk-for-record-fee-of-2520-cr-rcb-bag-venkatesh-for-rs-7-cr-653894.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-duckett-goes-to-dc-de-kock-joins-mi-653904.html Abu Dhabi Dec 16 England wicketkeeperbatter Ben Duckett was sold to Delhi Capitals for a base price of Rs 2 crore in the ongoing Indian Premier League IPL 2026 mini auction taking place here at the Etihad Arena Duckett made his T20 debut in 2012 and has scored 5397 runs in 216 T20 matches including 34 halfcenturies With a best score of 84 he has amassed 527 runs for England in 20 games at an average of 2927 and a strike rate of 15364He has played for Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League and Welsh Fire in The Hundred among other T20 competitions worldwideSouth Africa wicketkeeperbatter Quinton de Kock who has showcased great form during the ongoing whiteball series was signed by the Mumbai Indians for a base price of Rs 1 crore De Kock was released by Kolkata Knight Riders KKR following the IPL 2025De Kock has represented Sunrisers Hyderabad Delhi Daredevils Royal Challengers Bengaluru Mumbai Indians Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders across his IPL career In 115 games he has amassed 3309 runs at a strike rate of 13402 and an average of 3063 The wicketkeeper batter scored an incredible 90 off 46 balls against India in Chandigarh in the second T20I of the ongoing fivematch seriesNew Zealand wicketkeeperbatter Finn Allen was sold to KKR for his base price of Rs 2 crore Allen now fully fit is currently in action for the Perth Scorchers in Australiaâs Big Bash League and adds versatility to KKRâs top order with the option to open alongside Ajinkya Rahane while also providing wicketkeeping cover if requiredThis marks Allenâs second IPL franchise after an earlier stint with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru Meanwhile England wicketkeeperbatter Jamie Smith and Jonny Bairstow Afghanistans Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Indias KS Bharat remained unsold IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-duckett-goes-to-dc-de-kock-joins-mi-653904.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-kkr-buy-pathirana-for-rs-18-cr-rr-get-bishnoi-for-72-cr-653908.html Abu Dhabi Dec 16 The Indian Premier League IPL 2026 miniauction kicked off on a high note here at the Etihad Arena on Tuesday with the first hour seeing a couple of bidding wars for capped batters The hammer soon went down for the capped bowlers as Matheesha Pathirana stole the limelight by fetching Rs 18 crore from Kolkata Knight Riders Matt Henry was the first name to come up but he went unsold India pacer Akash Deep who has been a top name in redball cricket was the next but could not attract any biddersJacob Duffy then became the first player from the list of capped bowlers to find a buyer as reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB roped him at his base price of Rs 2 croreUp next Sri Lankan sensation Pathirana sparked a bidding war between Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants with the sum crossing Rs 15 crore Just when Delhi backed out KKR joined in taking the youngsterâs fee even higher The threetime champions eventually won the battle and roped in the 22yearold pacer for a massive sum of Rs 18 crorePathirana made his IPL debut for the Chennai Super Kings and represented them till the 2025 edition of the tournamentAmong the fast bowlers South Africaâs Gerald Coetzee and Indiaâs Shivam Mavi remained unsold while Lucknow Super Giants bought Anrich Nortje in a steal deal for Rs 2 croreIn the list of capped spinners Ravi Bishnoi grabbed eyeballs as the Rajasthan Royals and CSK got into a tense battle While the fivetime champions backed out when the amount reached Rs 6 crore Sunrisers Hyderabad made a sudden entry adding further spice to the dramaHowever the inaugural champions remained firm and eventually bought the spinner for Rs 720 crore Akeal Hosein was the last player from the list of bowlers to be sold as CSK got his services for Rs 2 croreRahul Chahar Mujeeb Rahman and Maheesh Theekshana were the notable names to go unsold IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-kkr-buy-pathirana-for-rs-18-cr-rr-get-bishnoi-for-72-cr-653908.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-cameron-green-to-get-rs-18-crore-despite-kkrs-rs-252-cr-bid-653912.html New Delhi Dec 16 Though Cameron became the most expensive overseas buy in the Indian Premier League history after fetching a staggering Rs 2520 crore bid from threetime champions Kolkata Knight Riders KKR the Australian allrounder will only take home Rs 18 crore in accordance with the new maximum fee rule The rule was introduced last year to address the shared concern of franchises that some overseas players were registering solely at mini auctions to exploit the supplydemand imbalanceAccording to the rule the overseas player cannot be paid more than Rs 18 crore which was the highest bracket for franchises retaining players ahead of the 2025 mega auction If the bid exceeded the Rs 18crore threshold the additional money would be used by the BCCI for player welfareIn a note to franchises last year the IPL said Any overseas players auction fee at small auction will be lower than the highest retention price of Rs 18 crore and the highest auction price at the big auction In case the highest auction price at the big auction is Rs 20 crore then Rs 18 crore will be the cap If the highest auction price at big auction is Rs 16 crore then the cap will be Rs 16 croreRegistered as a batter due to an oversight by his manager during the player auction registration Green surpassed the previous record set by his Australia teammate Mitchell Starc whom KKR bought for Rs 2475 crore in IPL 2024 auctionOverall he became the third most expensive player in the history of the IPL auction after Rishabh Pant Rs 27 crore to Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2025 mega auction and Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer 2675 crore in the IPL 2025 auctionGreen made his IPL debut in the 2023 season after the Mumbai Indians MI bought him for Rs 175 crore Notably at the time he became the secondmostexpensive overseas player in IPL auction history and the most expensive Australian playerMost recently he played in IPL 2024 for RCB after being traded in from MI In 12 innings he scored 255 runs at a strike rate of 14325 and took 10 wickets in 13 matches with the ball at an economy rate of 861 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-cameron-green-to-get-rs-18-crore-despite-kkrs-rs-252-cr-bid-653912.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-1-to-return-to-portugal-in-2027-and-2028-653915.html London Dec 16 Formula 1 on Tuesday announced that it will return to Portugal in 2027 and 2028 as part of a twoyear agreement with the Portuguese government Turismo de Portugal and promoter Parkalgar Parques Tecnológicos e Desportivos SA Portugal has a distinguished history in Formula 1 having hosted its first Grand Prix in Porto in 1958 and staging racing weekends at Monsanto and Estoril throughout the sports 75year existenceThe Autodromo Internacional do Algarve commonly known as Portimao was a crucial location for the sports comeback to racing amid the Covid19 pandemic and last hosted Formula One events in 2020 and 2021With significant elevation changes that culminate in a dive down to the final righthander leading back to the pit straight the 46km track presents drivers with a technical challengeStefano Domenicali President and CEO of Formula 1 said âIâm delighted to see PortimÃo return to the Formula 1 calendar and for the sport to continue to ignite the passion of our incredible Portuguese fanbase The circuit delivers ontrack excitement from the first corner to the chequered flag and its energy lifts fans out of their seatsThe interest and demand to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix is the highest that it has ever been so I would like to thank Prime Minister LuÃs Montenegro the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion of Portugal Manuel Castro Almeida the Secretary of State for Tourism Commerce and Services Pedro Machado President of Turismo de Portugal Carlos Abade President of the Algarve Tourist Board Andre Gomes and CEO and Chairman of the Algarve International Circuit Jaime Costa for their support in bringing F1 back to PortugalI look forward to working together again to ensure that PortimÃo returns to the calendar in emphatic styleâStirling Moss Alain Prost Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell are among the best drivers in Formula 1 who have finished at the top of the podium in Portugal In 1985 Senna memorably won his maiden Formula 1 Grand Prix in EstorilMore recently in 2021 Lewis Hamilton won his 92nd race in PortimÃo surpassing Michael Schumachers record for the most alltime victories Having won the chequered flag in 2020 Hamilton is still the only driver on the current grid to do so IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/formula-1-to-return-to-portugal-in-2027-and-2028-653915.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/captain-shreyas-iyer-joins-pbks-think-tank-at-ipl-2026-auction-table-653922.html Abu Dhabi Dec 16 Shreyas Iyer joined Punjab Kingsâ management at the Indian Premier League IPL 2026 auction table becoming only the second cricketer after Rishabh Pant to be a part of the process The IPL 2026 auction is currently underway here at the Etihad Arena Pant was part of the auction table when he was the Delhi Capitalsâ skipper for the 2024 edition of the event IPL 2024 was Pantâs comeback to the league after his neardeath accident That edition notably was also his last with the franchise as he was roped in by the Lucknow Super Giants at the IPL 2025 mega auction last yearIyer who left Kolkata Knight Riders after the teamâs victorious IPL 2024 campaign was roped in by PBKS at the IPL 2025 megaauction for a whopping Rs 2675 crore and handed the leadership duties His captaincy proved critical for the team as they reached only their second final in the tournamentâs history only to lose the title to Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB who lifted their maiden cupThe IPL 2025 runnersup have already retained a core group of 21 players providing a stable base as they plan to fill a few important gaps with the â¹115 crore they still have With four remaining slots including two for overseas players PBKS has the structure and flexibility to make precise highimpact additionsWith a nearcomplete roster Punjab Kings will mainly focus on targeted minor upgrades during the auction rather than major overhauls They aim to acquire a powerful middleorder batter to boost lategame scoring and increase batting lineup flexibilityA dependable backup wicketkeeper is also a priority to support Prabhsimran Singh and Vishnu Vinod and to cover for injuries or tactical changes Moreover the team intends to strengthen their Indian pace and spin bowling resources by adding domestic players which is crucial for managing extended tournaments and diverse pitch conditionsPBKS squad before IPL 2026 auction Priyansh Arya Prabhsimran Singh Shreyas Iyer Nehal Wadhera Shashank Singh Marcus Stoinis Azmatullah Omarzai Vijaykumar Vyshak Arshdeep Singh Yuzvendra Chahal Harpreet Brar Suryansh Shedge Vishnu Vinod Xavier Bartlett Yash Thakur Mitchell Owen Harnoor Singh Musheer Khan Pyla Avinash Marco Jansen Lockie Ferguson IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/captain-shreyas-iyer-joins-pbks-think-tank-at-ipl-2026-auction-table-653922.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-so-excited-to-get-down-to-eden-says-cam-green-after-being-roped-in-by-kkr-653925.html New Delhi Dec 16 Australia allrounder Cameron Green made headlines on Tuesday after being roped in by the Kolkata Knight Riders KKR for a record sum of Rs 2520 crore at the Indian Premier League IPL 2026 auction underway at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday Due to a mistake by his manager during the player auction registration Green was registered as a batter However he clarified later that heâd be available to bowl as well at the tournamentBy marking his availability as an allrounder he surpassed the previous record held by his Australia teammate Mitchell Starc who was bought by KKR for Rs 2475 crore in the IPL 2024 auctionCameron made his IPL debut in the 2023 season after the Mumbai Indians MI bought him for Rs 175 crore Notably at the time he became the secondmostexpensive overseas player in IPL auction history the thirdmost expensive player ever and the most expensive Australian playerâIâm so excited to be part of Kolkata for this yearâs IPL to get down to the Eden Gardens get used to that atmosphere and hope itâs a great year for us So see you soonâ Green said in a video shared by the franchise across social mediaGreen registered at a base price of Rs 2 crore and triggered a bidding war between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals as soon as his name came upThe Royals withdrew when bids reached Rs 13 crore At that moment Chennai Super Kings fivetime champions joined the bidding war increasing the competition KKR and CSK entered the auction with the largest funds Rs 6430 crore and Rs 4340 crore respectively It was eventually the threetime champions who emerged on top in the battle as they bagged the Aussieâs services IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-so-excited-to-get-down-to-eden-says-cam-green-after-being-roped-in-by-kkr-653925.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/jampk-uncapped-auqib-nabi-sold-to-delhi-capitals-for-rs-840-crore-653934.html Srinagar Dec 16 For the first time in JampKâs cricket history pacer Auqib Nabi belonging to Baramulla district created history on Tuesday when he was sold to Delhi Capitals for a whopping sum of Rs 840 crore The uncapped Indian seamer has been making waves with consistent performances across domestic tournaments and the Capitals moved quickly to secure his servicesNabi has been in remarkable form this season In the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy he picked up 15 wickets in seven matches at an economy rate of 741In his most recent outing against Madhya Pradesh he delivered a crucial allround performance scoring 32 off 21 balls to help set a defendable total before returning to claim three vital wickets to seal the win for Jammu amp KashmirHis domestic exploits go beyond T20s Nabi had an exceptional start to the 202526 Ranji Trophy finishing as the only seamer among the topfive wickettakers in the first half of the seasonHe claimed 29 wickets in nine innings including three fivewicket hauls and a sensational 7 for 24 against Rajasthan helping JampK secure a spot in the knockout stagesThis dominance followed his brilliant 202425 Ranji Trophy campaign where he ended with 44 wickets at an average of 1393 No other seamer in the country came close with the next best taking 35 wickets while only Vidarbha allrounder Harsh Dubey bettered Nabiâs tally with 69 wicketsDelhi Capitals who earlier in the auction secured David Miller and Ben Duckett at their base prices of Rs 2 crore will be hoping Nabi can replicate his domestic form at the highest levelHis aggressive pace wickettaking ability and handy batting make him a compelling addition to the Capitalsâ lineup as they look to build a balanced and dynamic squad for IPL 2026There was widespread jubilation among cricket lovers in JampK especially in Baramulla town after news came about Auqibâs being auctioned for an unbelievable amount for IPL 2026 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/jampk-uncapped-auqib-nabi-sold-to-delhi-capitals-for-rs-840-crore-653934.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-stokes-calls-on-england-to-show-bit-of-a-dog-in-must-win-third-test-at-adelaide-653680.html Adelaide Dec 15 England captain Ben Stokes has called on his side to show âa bit of dogâ in the mustwin third Ashes Test against Australia starting at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday The clash in Adelaide marks a return for Stokes to the venue where he made his Test debut 12 years ago adding further weight to the occasion as England look to mount a fightback England are 20 behind in the fivematch series and must snap a 17match winless run in Australia to keep alive hopes of regaining the urnDefinitely We dont do getting into rooms and have big things up on the screen We have proper meaningful conversations Whats been said has been said Ive done all the talking over the last two days that I needed to All that stuffs done now so its about what gets seen out on the field in Adelaide this weekIts just about trying to fight in every situation that you find yourself in understanding the situation and what you feel is required for your team Just look at your opposition every single time and show a bit of dog Thats fight to me Youre giving yourself the best possible chance if youve got a bit of dog in you Stokes told reporters on MondayStokes said the England squad held âmeaningful conversationsâ in the leadup to Adelaide and pointed to the third Test against India at Lordâs in July as inspiration On that occasion England prevailed by 22 runs in a dramatic finish at the home of cricketThat Lords is exactly what Im on about That was a moment where we all did that we all noticed and we all identified that moment And youve seen the way that team came out on that day We were probably in a situation where we would have to be absolutely perfect to win that game and we wereOn the back of attitude mentality towards that specific situation is what gave us the best chance of winning that game That was spoken about that India game for the rest of this series Ive done all the talking over the last two days that I needed to have doneAll that stuffs done now so its about what gets seen out on the field in Adelaide this week Everyones very switched on about what needs to be done this week Yeah a few more expectations I think around the group but everyone responded incredibly well to it Because what other option do we have he elaboratedStokes also addressed the omission of Shoaib Bashir from Englandâs playing eleven for the Adelaide game as allrounder Will Jacks retained his place while Josh Tongue came in for fellow seamer Gus AtkinsonI wouldnt say its got anything to do with Bash whatsoever The main thing is were 20 down We need to win the next three We feel having Jacksy down at number eight obviously strengthens our batting a little bit deeper if we need to go there And hes more than capable enough to handle that role with the ball when we need to call upon it IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-stokes-calls-on-england-to-show-bit-of-a-dog-in-must-win-third-test-at-adelaide-653680.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-auction-paid-rs-2520-cr-for-cameron-green-as-he-was-in-our-range-says-kkr-ceo-venky-mysore-653936.html Abu Dhabi Dec 16 Kolkata Knight Riders CEO Venky Mysore has said that they paid a hefty sum to rope in Australian allrounder Cameron Green because he was in the range they had thought Claiming that having a young allrounder just after appointing a power coach was a very nice move and went with their plans Green was roped in by the Kolkata Knight Riders for a record sum of Rs 2520 crore at the Indian Premier League 2026 auction underway at the Etihad Arena in Abu DhabiWell first of all were very happy This is something that we were really focused on and hoping for Always fingers crossed because of the auction anything can happen I think we were quite happy with the price at which we got him He adds immense value to the squad and with Andre Russell coming on board as our new power coach having a young allrounder with IPL and international experience is ideal Given his impact with both bat and ball and the conditions at Eden we couldnât be happier with the outcomeâ he told the broadcasters said Mysore in a press conference on TuesdayAt the same time the KKR CEO clarified that they would have gone totally berserk in trying to get Green if they felt it would have impacted their overall auction planYou know there was always a concern that it had gone higher What would we have done I think the fact is that we were very keen but not so attached So at some level if we felt that it could affect the rest of the auction we would have let him go And so fortunately that didnt happen It came within the range that we were looking at So extremely happy with that I think he adds a lot to our team said Venky MysoreAsked whether he was surprised to see Chennai Super Kings jump into the bidding war over Cameron Green after Rajasthan Royals had dropped out at INR 12 croreThere were no surprises We all tried to prepare as well as possible The surprise was Rajasthan coming in with their purse to bid So we knew that it was maybe to warm up the room or whatever it was But thats okay That happens and thats absolutely fine But no no surprises at all We fully expected CSK to come And try their best to get it to a level that would have worked for them perhaps But we were just happy to have that one more bid that allowed us said MysoreHe also supported the restrictions imposed on the number of foreign players that can be taken up by a franchise and also the rule about capping the overall salary for a player to 18 croreI think the rule BCCIIPL have made it in their wisdom on capping it at 18 crore I think thats what you were talking aboutFrom our standpoint I dont think there is any concern in that regard Whether it had gone to the player or gone this way this is something thats an outflow for the franchise So we are okay We are okay with that And I dont think it changes anything as far as the auction is concerned said Venky MysoreAsked whether the lower price bagged by former KKR Venkatesh Iyer in this auction after being roped in for a massive price in the previous one was a kind of price correction he said it all depended on the strategy for the auctionYou know its so difficult to sort of give an answer to that Because a lot of it is you know we did go for him and then how all of these things work But he has been a terrific player for us He will be dearly missed Its just one of these things that happens in an auctionWhen youre faced with an auction you have opportunities to sort of think about your strategy And if that strategy is taking you in a slightly different direction sometimes these are things that happen Not for the first time or the last time for us or for that matter other teams as well So its a bit sad for us But thats the way all of these things go he addedAsked about what areas they are trying to strengthen in this auction he said they had to sort of hit a reset buttonWe have an amazing think tank Weve had to sort of hit a reset button for different reasons Abhishek Nayar is the head coach Dwayne Bravo is the mentor Shane Watson assistant coach Tim Southee and now we have a new powercoach Andre Russell as well I think the brain trust figured it out I think they consider so many factors in our conditionsWhat kind of structure will allow us to be a very competitive team We just felt last year we were missing out on a couple of areas And so based on that I think that we have more work to do in the auction But I think its been a good start for us said Mysore on their plans ahead IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-auction-paid-rs-2520-cr-for-cameron-green-as-he-was-in-our-range-says-kkr-ceo-venky-mysore-653936.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-cameron-green-fetches-rs-30-crore-from-kkr-in-mock-bidding-653683.html New Delhi Dec 15 Australiaâs seam bowling allrounder Cameron Green underlined his status as the most soughtafter player ahead of the IPL 2026 auction fetching Rs 305 crore from Kolkata Knight Riders KKR in a mock bidding exercise Registered as a batter owing to a goofup by his manager during the player auction registration Green is expected to be hotly pursued by both KKR and Chennai Super Kings CSK when the real auction begins at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on TuesdayâI knew CSK would also go after a middleorder allrounder I thought they would go somewhere around 25â28 crore Realistically I think they would go up to around Rs 20 crore in the actual auction because they would want to keep space for other Indian and overseas players as wellâBut in the mock auctions I was ready to go up to 35 crore for a player like Green I think Cameron Green should bat at No 3 in the orderâ said JioStar expert and former India player Robin Uthappa who was the KKR representative in the mock auction held on MondayIn the mock auction Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana was picked by KKR for 13 crore âItâs all about planning and keeping things simple We needed a good death bowler With the kind of coaching staff KKR have Pathirana can be very effective at the death He has been a little off colour recently and has gone back into the auction pool which I think will make him more motivated to performâA change of franchise can also help With Pathirana Varun Chakravarthy and Vaibhav Arora if youâre asking who bats in the first XI it would be Vaibhav Arora Also Varun has been working on his batting heâs not too far away from clearing the ropes eitherâ added UthappaFormer India cricketer Suresh Raina who was CSKâs representative in the mock exercise commented on picking Sarfaraz Khan for Rs 7 crore âI think he is in great form We saw earlier that when Venkatesh Iyer was bought for a big amount the form wasnât quite there Sarfaraz on the other hand is batting really well right now You donât get that kind of player easilyâthe range of shots he plays the confidence he hasâThe form Sarfaraz is in even if he plays four or six matches and wins you two games that 7 crore will be fully justified After his firstclass performances he has also been included in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy He is a form player following a process Chennaiâs wicket is technically sound and if he gets set in a system like CSK where the focus is on winning games I think CSK will benefit greatly from his formâOn CSKâs overall auction strategy executed by him Raina explained picking legspinners Rahul Chahar and Wanindu Hasaranga as well as pacer Anrich Nortje âI think we have addressed key areas in the auction war room We picked Rahul Chahar as a legspinner and Wanindu Hasaranga because we donât have Jadeja and Ashwin We also strengthened our pace attackâAnrich Nortje is there he has pace and can bowl yorkers consistentlyâIt was important to bring in Sarfaraz Khan who is in tremendous form Youâll also see young players like Ayush Mhatre Dewald Brevis Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube in the mix There are a lot of young faces and thatâs very important When new players came in previously even after losing two or three matches the youngsters responded really wellâYou need that fireâplayers who go out and express themselves fearlessly In the main auction many more players will be available CSK may even look to buy Matheesha Pathirana again given their concern around death bowling That will be one of their key focus areasâ he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-cameron-green-fetches-rs-30-crore-from-kkr-in-mock-bidding-653683.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/80th-western-india-squash-tournament-to-commence-on-wednesday-653687.html Mumbai Dec 15 The Cricket Club of India CCI on Monday announced the dates for the 80th CCI Western India Squash Tournament Indiaâs oldest and longestrunning squash competition which began in 1943 The tournament will be played from December 17 to 21 2025 across the iconic glassbacked courts of the CCI Mumbai Organised under the auspices of the Squash Rackets Federation of India SRFI and the Maharashtra Squash Racquets Association MSRA this yearâs edition continues the clubâs proud legacy of nurturing champions under the banner âCCI Squash â Home of ChampionsâThe CCI Western India Squash Tournament has been a defining platform for generations of Indian squash talent From early stalwarts like S D Bilimoria and Rajkumar Narpat Singh to legendary champions Bhuwaneswari Kumari Meherwan Daruwala Adrian Ezra and modernday international stars such as Sourav Ghoshal Joshna Chinappa Siddharth Suchde and Mahesh Mangaonkar this tournament has mirrored the evolution of Indian squashThe rise of multiple Indian players in the PSA World Top 100 including Sourav Ghoshalâs and Joshna Chinappaâs historic surge into the Top 10 underlines the eventâs impact on Indiaâs professional squash ecosystem particularly its role in advancing worldclass women athletesDarius Pandole Championship Director amp ViceChairperson CCI Squash SubCommittee âThis is not just a tournament it is a living heritage of Indian squash To celebrate the 80th edition is a privilege for all of us at CCISet to make an appearance at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 the sport of squash is on a high in the country with a lot of success in the Commonwealth Games Asian Games Asian Championships and Professional Squash Association PSA circuit On Sunday the country won the team title in the Squash World Cup in ChennaiTournament Details Dates December 17â21 2025 Venue CCI Squash Courts Mumbai India Courts 6 fully equipped glassbacked courts Format Juniors Knockout rounds with playoffs for Top 8 Age Categories BU11 GU11 BU13 GU13 BU17 GU17 BU19 GU19 Men Women WO35 Procoach MO35 MO40 MO50 MO55 MO60 MO65 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/80th-western-india-squash-tournament-to-commence-on-wednesday-653687.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-csk-spend-record-142-cr-each-for-prashant-veer-kartik-sharma-auqib-dar-goes-to-dc-for-84-cr-in-uncapped-category-653944.html Abu Dhabi Dec 16 The Indian Premier League IPL 2026 player auction started on a dull note in the uncapped playersâ category but Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma then scripted history as Chennai Super Kings roped them in for a record price of Rs 1420 crore each It all started with the uncapped batters category but to everyoneâs surprise all six players in the list went unsold The list included Aarya Desai Yash Dhull Abhinav Manohar Anmolpreet Singh Atharva Taide and Abhinav TejranaHowever what followed next was an unexpected bidding war for Auqib Dar a Jammu and Kashmir allrounder who bagged an extraordinary deal of Rs 84 crore from the Delhi Capitals as the franchise beat Rajasthan Royals Royal Challengers Bengaluru and SunRisers Hyderabad to win the tense battleThen came Prashant Veer who stole the limelight by attracting the interest of five teams only to be eventually purchased by fivetime champions CSKAmong allrounders Shivang Kumar was only the third cricketer from the list to attract a bid Rs 30 lakh from SRH as all other players Rajvardhan Hangargekar Tanush Kotian Mahipal Lomror Kamlesh Nagarkoti Vijay Shankar Sanvir Singh and Eden Tom remained unsoldAmong wicketkeeper batters Kartik was the one who made headlines as five teams MI LSG KKR SRH and CSK raised the bar high The Rajasthan powerhitter matched Veerâs sum to enter the history books as the Men in Yellow got himAllrounder Veer and wicketkeeperbatter Kartik surpassed Avesh Khan to become the most expensive uncapped buys in the history of the tournament At the IPL 2023 auction Avesh was roped in by the Lucknow Super Giants for a sum of Rs 10 crore which made him the most expensive uncapped playerHowever the 2026 edition of the auction saw CSK breaking the bank for the uncapped duo of Veer and Kartik as each bagged a Rs 1420 crore deal from the fivetime championsAmong Keepers Mukul Choudhary Rs 26 Cr and Tejasvi Singh Rs 3 Cr were roped in by LSG and KKR respectively while Ruchit Ahir Vansh Bedi and Tushar Raheja went unsoldNext up were the bowlers among whom fast bowlers Sushant Mishra RR Ashok Sharma GT Naman Tiwari LSG and Kartik Tyagi KKR received their respective contractsThen three out of seven uncapped spinners Yash Raj Punja RR Vignesh Puthur RR and Prashant Solanki KKR attracted bids IPL veteran Karn Sharma Kumar Kartikeya Shivam Shukla and Afghanistanâs Wahidullah Zadran meanwhile remained unsold IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-csk-spend-record-142-cr-each-for-prashant-veer-kartik-sharma-auqib-dar-goes-to-dc-for-84-cr-in-uncapped-category-653944.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-pathirana-was-our-priority-we-went-to-our-absolute-limit-for-him-says-lsg-owner-goenka-653949.html Abu Dhabi Dec 16 Lucknow Super Giants suffered a heartbreak in their attempts to bag Sri Lanka star Matheesha Pathirana losing him to the Kolkata Knight Riders But LSG expressed satisfaction with their auction strategy having secured key international targets aligned with their team requirements LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka highlighted the successful acquisition of Wanindu Hasaranga and Anrich Nortje as part of a wellplanned and disciplined bidding approach in the Indian Premier League IPL 2026 miniauctionPathirana stole the limelight in early bidding by fetching Rs 18 crore from Kolkata Knight Riders He sparked a bidding war between the Delhi Capitals and LSG with the sum crossing Rs 15 crore Just when Delhi backed out KKR joined in taking the youngsterâs fee even higher The threetime champions eventually won the battle and roped in the 22yearold pacer for a massive sum of Rs 18 crorePathirana made his IPL debut for the Chennai Super Kings and represented them till the 2025 edition of the tournamentOn losing Matheesha to KKR Goenka said they went to their absolute limit to get him as he was their priority but that was not to be âYes our captain and vicecaptain were both very keen on Matheesha Pathirana as was I We were also very interested in Anrich Nortje Pathirana was our priority and we went up to â¹178 crore which was our absolute limit â we didnât have the purse to go beyond that When Anrich Nortje came up later we were pleasantly surprised and delighted to secure him at the base price So overall it was a very considered concerted and wellthoughtout decisionâ Dr Goenka said on JioHotstarâs âMatch Centre Live Auction 2026Goenka also spoke about their auction strategy and wins so far and said they have progressed well in achieving their key objectivesâWe are very close to our primary targets Our key objectives were to secure one quality international legspinner and one reputed international fast bowler Wanindu Hasaranga was our firstchoice legspinner and for the fastbowling option it was between Matheesha Pathirana and Anrich Nortje We are delighted to have acquired two players who were part of our shortlisted three so we are extremely happy with how the auction has unfoldedâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-pathirana-was-our-priority-we-went-to-our-absolute-limit-for-him-says-lsg-owner-goenka-653949.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-playing-for-rajasthan-royals-will-feel-like-home-says-ravi-bishnoi-653950.html Abu Dhabi Dec 16 India legspinner Ravi Bishnoi said it felt âlike playing at homeâ after being picked up by former champions Rajasthan Royals for Rs 72 crore at the ongoing Indian Premier League IPL 2026 miniauction at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi with the franchise securing the spinner following competitive bidding Hailing from Jodhpur Bishnoi adds proven quality and energy to the Royalsâ bowling attack Speaking on his move to Rajasthan Royals Ravi Bishnoi said Playing for Rajasthan Royals will feel like playing at home I started my cricket journey as a practice bowler at RR and now representing a team that carries the name of my state means a lot to meâRR Lead Owner Manoj Badale said Ravi is a special talent and someone our fans were eager to see in Royals colours His return to the franchise feels like a homecoming especially knowing he began his journey here as a net bowler Heâs a highly skilled bowler a terrific fielder and someone who embodies the hunger and spirit we value at this franchiseDuring the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025â26 the leg spinner bowled with an economy of 840 and claimed nine wickets in seven games In the 2025 Indian Premier League Bishnoi was a member of the Lucknow Super Giants The 25yearold has played for the Punjab Kings and the Lucknow Super Giants and with 77 appearances has taken 72 wicketsBishnoi entered the auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore The Rajasthan Royals quickly opened the bidding for the legspinner The Chennai Super Kings soon joined in after asking for some time They pushed the price up steadily with fixed increments as the two teams competedCSK raised the bid to Rs 42 crore before the Royals briefly stepped back They returned at Rs 44 crore starting another round of frenetic bidding that brought the total to Rs 58 crore After a long discussion at the Royalsâ table RR jumped back in at Rs 6 crore and CSK chose not to respond Just when it seemed like the Royals had secured the player the Sunrisers Hyderabad entered with a bid of Rs 62 crore sparking the bidding war again The price kept rising before finally settling at Rs 72 crore IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-playing-for-rajasthan-royals-will-feel-like-home-says-ravi-bishnoi-653950.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-win-56-medals-at-dubai-2025-asian-youth-para-games-653696.html Dubai Dec 15 As the Dubai 2025Asian Youth Para Games concluded Team India clinched 56 medals including 19 gold and several nations celebrated historic milestones Bangladesh and the Maldives won their firstever medals at the event with Bangladesh making a remarkable debut by securing three gold medals Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum President of the National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council the Games brought together 1500 athletes from 35 nations in a celebration of youth excellence and inclusionThe Games concluded on Saturday evening marking the end of a landmark edition that witnessed the breaking of 25 records including 9 world records and 16 continental records â a powerful testament to the rising standard of Para sport across AsiaThe UAE delivered an outstanding performance finishing the Games with 23 medals â 6 gold 8 silver and 9 bronze â highlighting their continued growth and commitment to youth Para sport developmentUzbekistan topped the overall medals table with 197 medals had 99 gold followed by strong performances from the Islamic Republic of Iran with 62 gold from their 216 medals and Japan with 40 gold underlining the depth of emerging talent across the continentDubai 2025 marked a historic milestone as the first Asian Youth Para Games to integrate AIpowered robots into Games operations and delivery The robots featured during the opening ceremony and supported medal presentations adding an innovative humancentred dimension that enhanced accessibility and athlete engagementIn a momentous achievement Baby Sahana Ravi secured a gold medal in the Class SF9 Under 23 category of Para Table Tennis defeating the Philippinesâ Lhey Marie Manginsay in straight sets Her victory not only underscores her personal dedication but also reflects Indiaâs growing prominence in para table tennis on the international stageJoining the celebration Vishwa Vijay Tambe added a silver medal to Indiaâs tally in the Class SM10 category after a hardfought encounter against Korea DPRâs Kwang Nam So Despite narrowly missing the top spot Tambeâs effort showcased exceptional grit strategy and competitive spirit â earning admiration from supporters and coaches alikeThe Youth Asian Para Games 2025 was the fifth edition of this prestigious continental event The Games feature competition in 11 sports disciplines â archery athletics badminton boccia goalball powerlifting swimming taekwondo table tennis wheelchair basketball and armwrestling â bringing together the best young paraathletes from across AsiaIndia has fielded a 99member contingent comprising 61 men and 38 women competing across eight sports disciplines The teamâs participation demonstrates the nationâs continued emphasis on inclusion and equal opportunity in sports Supported by expert coaches physiotherapists and mentors the young athletes have shown remarkable progress across multiple eventsThe Asian Youth Para Games 2025 celebrates the spirit of young para athletes from across Asia uniting them through competition determination and inspiration A platform where talent meets opportunity and every victory tells a story of strength and inclusion IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/india-win-56-medals-at-dubai-2025-asian-youth-para-games-653696.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-meet-the-uncapped-indian-players-set-to-attract-attention-of-the-franchises-653701.html New Delhi Dec 15 With the Indian Premier League IPL 2026 auction now a day away all eyes will be on the uncapped domestic players expected to land big paydays and instant recognition from the cricketing world Once the IPL 2025 season was over coaches and scouts of all ten teams were busy crisscrossing the country to see various state T20 league games and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches to identify the gems who can be of great value to their teams With limited purses and multiple slots to fill uncapped Indian cricketers are expected to be in huge demand IANS looks at five players who could attract significant interest when auction bidding begins in Abu DhabiPrashant Veer â Base price of Rs 30 lakhThe slow leftarm spin bowling allrounder from Amethi Uttar Pradesh has been talked highly of for his skills which have earned him comparison with Ravindra Jadeja In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Veer scored 112 runs at a strike rate of 16969 and claimed nine wickets at an economy of 676 highlighted by a 320 and an unbeaten 40His exploits in the UP T20 League for Noida Super Kings further underlined his batting prowess â amassing 320 runs â along with taking eight wickets across 10 matches Having already attended IPL trials including those of fivetime champions Chennai Super Kings eyeing to fill a Jadejasized void the 23yearold allrounder is expected to be firmly on the radar of all teamsAuqib Nabi Dar Base price of Rs 30 lakhThe seambowling allrounder from Jammu amp Kashmir has emerged as one of Indiaâs most consistent performers in domestic cricket In the first half of the Ranji Trophy Nabi has taken 29 wickets in five matches at an average of 1327 including a best haul of 724Nabiâs whiteball form has been equally impressive In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy he claimed 15 wickets in seven matches at an economy of 741 attributes that have drawn the attention of franchise scouts He would be hoping this time he gets an IPL deal after having two net bowling stints before in the tournamentAshok Sharma Base price of Rs 30 lakhThe fast bowler has been on top of the wickettaking chart in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy â picking 20 wickets in nine matches including best figures of 416 and consistently clocking speeds above 140 kmph Sharma was a net bowler with the Rajasthan Royals and was part of their squad in IPL 2025 but didnât get a gameHe didnât get a game with the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023 But his consistent performance in the SMAT and attending trials with multiple franchises means he will attract aggressive bidding from teams looking to bolster their fastbowling stocksKartik Sharma Base price of Rs 30 lakhThere were curious eyes when he was signed up by JSW which manages cricketers like Axar Patel Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma But his reputation as a clean striker and lowerorder finisher with a penchant to hit big sixes â all of this at just 19 â has already excited many onlookers Such was the effect that he was spotted at CSK trials ahead of the auctionHe was Rajasthans highest rungetter in the previous edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy with 445 runs in eight innings coming at a strike rate of 11803 Kartik scored 133 runs in five games at a strike rate of over 160 in Rajasthanâs group stage campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy before a finger injury ruled him out of the Super League phaseTejasvi Singh Dahiya Base price of Rs 30 lakhThe wicketkeeperbatter from New Delhi is on the radar of franchises after a superlative showing in the past few months earning him spots in trials of various franchises He was one of the standout performers in the 2025 Delhi Premier League DPL scoring 339 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 19045 and that paved his way into selection to the Delhi team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali TrophyIn the league stage games in Ahmedabad he had a strike rate of 16865 including hitting 53 not out off 19 balls against a starstudded Karnataka Apart from his genuine boundaryclearing power his ability to handle pressure in tight chases has impressed scouts furtherOther uncapped players on the radar of franchises are Tushar Raheja Ravi Singh Krains Fuletra Sairaj Patil Arpit Rana Yash Dhull Sarthak Ranjan Abhishek Pathak Mangesh Yadav Naman Tiwari Salman Nizar Yash Raj Punja Raj Limbani Sunny Sandhu Salil Arora Money Grewal Sushant Mishra and Ravi Kumar IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-meet-the-uncapped-indian-players-set-to-attract-attention-of-the-franchises-653701.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/shooting-nationals-aishwary-pratap-singh-bags-50m-3p-world-record-score-to-claim-gold-gurjoat-singh-wins-skeet-title-653962.html New DelhiBhopal Dec 16 World Championship silver medallist Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar produced a landmark performance on Tuesday firing a world record score of 4705 a full 16 more than the current world record to clinch gold in the menâs 50m rifle 3 positions final of the 68th National Shooting Championship Competitions at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Range in Bhopal In simultaneous shotgun action being held at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range near New Delhi Gurjoat Singh came up with a composed display to bag gold in the mens skeet with 55 hits narrowly defeating ninetime national champion Mairaj Ahmad Khan who finished second with 54 hitsTomar was clinical from the start equalling his own national record of 597 which he had first achieved at the recentlyconcluded International Shooting Sport Federation ISSF World Cup Final in Doha to finish on top of the qualification Navy shooter Niraj Kumar secured the silver with 4637 and Uttar Pradeshâs Akhil Sheoran completed the podium with 4518Defending National champion Kiran Ankush Jadhav finished fourth with 4400 followed by Paris Olympic bronze medallist Swapnil Suresh Kusale with 4297 and his teammate Arjun Babuta in sixth with 4149 Monu Kumar with 4032 and Manvendra Singh Shekhawat with 4016 completed the final lineupEarlier in the qualification Swapnil Kusale 59433x finished behind Tomar followed by Arjun Babuta 59432x with Manvendra Singh Shekhawat 59131x placing fourth Akhil Sheoran and Niraj Kumar both shot 589 finishing fifth and sixth on inner tens while Monu Kumar 58928x placed seventh and Kiran Ankush Jadhav 58832x secured the final qualification spot in eighthIn New Delhi Gurjoat Singh claimed the gold medal in the Mens Skeet final with 55 hits edging past Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan who settled for silver with 54 hits This was Mairajâs 26th podium at the National Shooting Championship Competitions He had earlier topped the qualification round with 122 hits finishing level with Parampal Singh Guron but securing the top rank after a shootout where he scored 11 against Parampalâs 10Harmehar Singh Lally claimed the bronze medal in the senior category with 43 hits and followed it up with the gold in the junior final Angad Vir Singh Bajwa finished fourth with 35 hits followed by Parampal in fifth with 24 hits and Jyotiraditya Singh Sisodiya in sixth with 16 hits Earlier in the qualification round Gurjoat was placed third with a score of 121 while Harmehar finished fourth with 120 Angad 4 and Jyotiraditya 32 both hit 119 targets and advanced to the final after a shootoutHarmehar claimed the gold medal after a commanding performance topping the qualification round with a score of 120 before going on to register 54 hits in the final Zorawar Singh Bedi settled for silver with 51 hits while Jyotiraditya Singh Sisodiya secured the bronze medal with a final score of 40 Ishaan Singh Libra finished fourth with 32 followed by Gurfateh Singh Sandhu 24 and Harviraj Singh with 14 hitsIn the junior menâs 50m 3P final Rohit Kanyan won the gold with 4574 while Adriyan Karmakar took the second position finishing with 4555 Vedant Nitin Waghmare secured third place to claim the bronze with 4430 S Hithesh finished fourth with 4312 followed by Manvendra Singh Shekhawat 4189 Kushagra Singh Rajawat 4088 Anshul Jangid 3983 and Gauurav Dinesh Desale 3964In the Menâs Team 50m 3P Railways secured the gold medal with a combined score of 176490x led by Swapnil Suresh Kusale 59433x Arjun Babuta 59432x and Shahu Tushar Mane 57625x The Navy team finished second to take silver with 176099x through Niraj Kumar 589 34x Kiran Ankush Jadhav 588 32x and Nikhil Tanwar 583 33x The Army Marksmanship Unit claimed the bronze medal with an aggregate of 175693x with contributions from Nishan Budha 58738xIn the Junior Menâs Team 50m 3P Rajasthan emerged on top to win the gold medal with a total score of 174877x courtesy Manvendra Singh Shekhawat 591 31x Prince 57924x and Deependra Singh Shekhawat 57822x Maharashtra finished second to secure silver with 173872x led by Gaurav Dinesh Desale 583 24x Vedant Nitin Waghmare 582 26x and Shivam Swapnil Kawale 573 22x Haryana claimed the bronze medal with a combined score of 173847x through Rohit Kanyan 585 21x Aryan Raj Kakkar 57913x and Nirman 57413xIn the skeet team competition Punjab secured the gold medal with a combined score of 358 led by Gurjoat Singh 121 Abhay Singh Sekhon 119 and Bhavtegh Singh Gill 118 Madhya Pradesh finished second to take silver with 342 through Jyotiraditya Singh Sisodiya 119 Rituraj Bundela 114 and Navneet Singh Bhadouriya 109 Army Marksmanship Unit claimed the bronze medal with an aggregate of 340 with contributions from Arjun Thakur 115 G Shival 113 and Atul Singh Rajawat 112Punjab secured gold in the junior skeet team category too with the combined score of 346 led by Harmehar Singh Lally 120 Zorawar Singh Bedi 115 and Gurfateh Singh Sandhu 113 Army Marksmanship Unit claimed the silver medal with an aggregate of 330 on countback with contributions from Atul Singh Rajawat 112 Mangchinglen Sitlhou 110 and Songougin Lenthang 108 Madhya Pradesh finished third to take bronze with 330 through Jyotiraditya Singh Sisodiya 119 Navneet Singh Bhadouriya 109 and Dushyant Vijay Bhardwaj 102Other Results50m Rifle 3P MenYouthRohit Kanyan Haryana Gold 58521xS Hithesh Tamil Nadu Silver 58329xKushagra Singh Rajawat Madhya Pradesh Bronze 58318xDeafKushagra Singh Rajawat Madhya Pradesh Gold 58318xShourya Saini Uttarakhand Silver 57722xArun Panchal Haryana Bronze 56917xCivilian IndividualS Hithesh Tamil Nadu Gold 58329xGaurav Dinesh Desale Maharashtra Silver 58324xAman Rawal Uttar Pradesh Bronze 58126xCivilian Championship JuniorS Hithesh Tamil Nadu Gold 58329xGaurav Dinesh Desale Maharashtra Silver 58324xRohit Kaviti Telangana Bronze 58027xCivilian Championship TeamRajasthan Praveen Charan Prince Bhuvneshwar Raj Singh Rathore â Gold 173275xPunjab Harjas Singh Hardeep Singh Amitoj Singh â Silver 173264xMaharashtra Gaurav Dinesh Desale Shivam Swapnil Kawale Pratik Nanasaheb Thakar â Bronze 172564xCivilian Championship Junior Men TeamMadhya Pradesh Nikhil Pundir Hemant Burman Priyavrat Singh Tomar â Gold 172768xRajasthan Harsh Vardhan Sharma Yashvardhan Sattawan Somanshu Sangwan â Silver 172167xTamil Nadu S Hithesh B Dharsan KRA Rishwanth â Bronze 170958xMasterKaran Singh Haryana GoldYogesh B Gadmale Railways SilverNiren Chawda Karnataka BronzeSkeet MenYouthHarviraj Singh Punjab Gold 115Gurfateh Singh Sandu Punjab Silver 113Anjaneya Singh Mandawa Rajasthan Bronze 113MasterSarosh Khan Rajasthan GoldSyed Hammad Meer Delhi SilverE Chetan Reddy Telangana BronzeSenior MasterGusti Noria Telangana GoldGirish Punja Karnataka SilverR Rajagopal Tondaimal Tamil Nadu BronzeSuper MasterParamjit Singh Sodhi Delhi GoldHarinder Singh Bedi Delhi SilverTripuraneni Prabhakar Chowdary Telangana BronzeSkeet Youth WomenVanshika Tiwari Madhya Pradesh Gold 114Mansi Raghuwanshi Madhya Pradesh Silver 111Sanyogita Shekhawat Rajasthan Bronze 11025m Standard Pistol WomenParisha Gupta Delhi Gold 56112xRiya Shirish Thatte Railways Silver 55810xRiya Duggal Delhi Bronze 5587x IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/shooting-nationals-aishwary-pratap-singh-bags-50m-3p-world-record-score-to-claim-gold-gurjoat-singh-wins-skeet-title-653962.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/t20-world-cup-2026-trophy-tour-kicks-off-at-ram-setu-bridge-653968.html Dubai Dec 16 The ICC Menâs T20 World Cup 2026 Trophy Tour was launched on Tuesday over the Adamâs Bridge culturally revered in India as the Ram Setu a symbolic gateway linking the two cohosts India and Sri Lanka The 10th edition of the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup featuring 20 teams 29 days of highintensity cricket and eight worldclass venues five in India and three in Sri Lanka will take place from 7 February to 8 March 2026 promising to be one of the most compelling editions yet of the sportâs most explosive formatThe Trophy Tour will journey across Asia including India Sri Lanka Qatar Oman Nepal Bahrain and Mongolia giving millions of fans the chance to see the iconic silverware up close participate in interactive experiences and build excitement ahead of the global eventIn a unique initiative the trophy will also be taken to schools and colleges associated with players set to participate in the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup 2026 offering young fans an inspiring onceinalifetime connection to the global stageIn addition aligning with the international cricket calendar the trophy will be showcased at major T20 leagues as well as select bilateral series extending its presence across competitive cricket environments and reinforcing the buildup to the tournament across formats and geographiesICC Chairman Jay Shah said âLaunching the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup 2026 Trophy Tour with DP World above the Ram Setu a site steeped in history symbolism and shared cultural identity sets an inspiring tone as we build towards this landmark eventâThis tour represents far more than the physical movement of a trophy It is a unifying journey that brings continents cultures and cricketing communities together igniting passion among fans worldwide and strengthening the shared spirit that defines our gameâAs we prepare for the 10th edition of this global spectacle our aim is for supporters everywhere to feel connected to the road to India and Sri Lanka With every stop the Trophy Tour will heighten the sense of anticipation and invite fans across the world to join us in celebrating what promises to be an unforgettable ICC Menâs T20 World CupâBCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said The T20 World Cup brings a unique intensity and emotion and launching the Trophy Tour at the iconic Ram Setu perfectly captures the magnitude of the journey aheadâIndia has successfully hosted two 50over World Cups in the last three years and we are delighted to welcome fans to yet another worldclass event This edition will showcase the extraordinary growth and depth of the T20 format in IndiaâAs cohost the BCCI remains fully committed to providing outstanding facilities for players and curating a tournament experience for fans that will resonate long after the final ball is bowled The Trophy Tour marks the beginning of a campaign that will gather immense momentum as it travels across the cricketing worldâSri Lanka Cricket president Shammi Silva said âAs cohost Sri Lanka Cricket welcomes the launch of the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup 2026 Trophy Tour with DP World with great enthusiasm This moment signals the start of an exciting journey as we prepare to host fans from across the globeâOur commitment is to deliver an exceptional tournament experience one that reflects the passion of our supporters the vibrancy of our culture and the energy of our venues We look forward to creating memories that will endure far beyond the tournamentâThe tournament venues are Narendra Modi Stadium Ahmedabad MA Chidambaram Stadium Chennai Arun Jaitley Stadium New Delhi Wankhede Stadium Mumbai Eden Gardens Kolkata R Premadasa Stadium Colombo Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground Colombo and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Kandy IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/t20-world-cup-2026-trophy-tour-kicks-off-at-ram-setu-bridge-653968.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-season-3-american-gambits-beat-continental-kings-ganges-grandmasters-continue-winning-streak-653986.html Mumbai Dec 16 A lastgasp win on the Prodigy board helped Fyers American Gambits overturn a deficit and seal a dramatic victory against reigning champions Triveni Continental Kings on matchday 3 of the Global Chess League GCL on Tuesday The Gambits beat the Kings 108 following Ganges Grandmastersâ 123 win over PBG Alaskan Knights Opening matchday 3 Ganges Grandmasters continued their strong run with a dominant win over PBG Alaskan Knights headlined by a generational icon clash between Viswanathan Anand and Gukesh D The supporting boards offered plenty of intrigue with Arjun Erigaisi taking on Vincent Keymer Leinier DomÃnguez facing World Cup champion Javokhir Sindarov and competitive matchups across the womenâs and prodigy boardsThe tie began evenly as Daniel Dardha and Raunak Sadhwani drew before Sindarovâs composed win over DomÃnguez handed the Grandmasters an early edgeGrandmasters tightened their grip as Polina Shuvalova converted under time pressure and Keymer held Erigaisi to a draw On the icon board Anand pressed confidently after opening with the Kingâs Pawn navigating a sharp Sicilian Defence to build a dominant queenside position and convert with authority Draws on the remaining boards sealed a comprehensive 12â3 victory giving the Grandmasters their second win in three tiesAnand named Player of the Match after scoring his first point of the season said â Itâs nice to play against him Gukesh heâs a very combative player But honestly I would have taken the point against anyone I am happy to score my first point this season it means a lotâLater Triveni Continental Kings and Fyers American Gambits entered the tie with contrasting momentum The spotlight was firmly on the icon board where Alireza Firouzja continued his scintillating start to the season defeating Hikaru Nakamura for his third win in as many matchesAround the hall fans were treated to added colour as Pranav V and Jose Martinez engaged spectators in the fan zone On the boards Wei Yi and Vladislav Artemiev fought out a balanced draw as did Zhu Jiner and Bibisara Assaubayeva while Alexandra Kosteniuk capitalised on a blunder by Teodora Injac to hand the Kings a crucial winThe turning point came on board 3 where Richard Rapport produced a nearflawless display with Black to overcome Vidit Gujrathi in a complex battle that even featured two White queens on the board at one stage With the Kings narrowly ahead at 8â6 heading into the final moments the tie hinged on the prodigy boardThere reigning World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin showed his class defeating MarcâAndria Maurizzi under pressure to swing the result dramatically in the Gambitsâ favour Rapport was named Player of the Match saying âI am very happy that after yesterday both Volodar and I could strike back today He Murzin did very wellâAlpine SG Pipers took on upGrad Mumba Masters in the dayâs final tieAction continues on matchday 4 as Fyers American Gambits face Alpine SG Pipers PBG Alaskan Knights take on upGrad Mumba Masters and Triveni Continental Kings meet Ganges Grandmasters IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-season-3-american-gambits-beat-continental-kings-ganges-grandmasters-continue-winning-streak-653986.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 21:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-barcelona-to-start-copa-del-rey-title-defense-away-to-third-tier-guadalajara-653733.html Madrid Dec 15 Reigning Copa del Rey holder FC Barcelona will start its title defence campaign when Hansi Flicks side visits thirdtier Guadalajara in the third round of the tournament on Tuesday night Barcelona would make changes to the starting 11 that faced Osasuna on Saturday with players such as Andreas Christensen Frenkie de Jong Marc Casado and Fermin Lopez all likely to start while Marc Andre TerStegen could make his first appearance following his back operation in the summerRobert Lewandowski was an unused substitute in Saturdays 20 win but is a doubt with a slight physical problemGuadalajara play in the RFEF I division and lost 31 to Real Madrids Bteam on the weekendOn Wednesday Real Madrid travel to Talavera who play in the same division as GuadalajaraOn Thursday Atletico Madrid visits Atletico Baleares the side that knocked out Espanyol in the last round and Athletic Bilbao travels to play an Ourense side that has already beaten topflight rivals Oviedo and GironaOver the weekend Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo scored to give Real Madrid a 21 win away to Alaves on Sunday trimming the gap to La Liga leader FC Barcelona to four points Mbappe opened the scoring in the 24th minute after an excellent run before firing into the top cornerGoalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced a fine save to deny Pablo Ibanez on the stroke of halftime but Carlos Vicente levelled for Alaves in the 68th minute with a goal initially ruled offside before VAR overturned the decisionRodrygo restored Real Madrids lead in the 76th minute after good work from Vinicius Jr but then left the pitch with a calf injuryMeanwhile Barcelona won 20 at home to Osasuna on Saturday with Raphinha scoring both goals in the last 20 minutes His first goal came from outside the area while the second was slotted home from close range four minutes from time IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/football-barcelona-to-start-copa-del-rey-title-defense-away-to-third-tier-guadalajara-653733.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-to-be-held-from-march-26-to-may-31-report-653736.html Mumbai Dec 15 The 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League IPL will be held from March 26 to May 31 the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI informed the franchises a report claimed on Monday The IPL franchises were informed about the dates by Hemang Amin the leagues CDO during a briefing ahead of Tuesdays auction in Abu Dhabi Cricbuzz said in a reportThe 19th edition of Indias domestic T20 franchise will start on March 26 with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB opening their campaign However whether they will play their home matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium is not clear yet The stadiums availability is in question because of the horrific stampede in Bengaluru during RCBs celebration of their maiden IPL title a few months backThe report claimed that while the Karnataka State Cricket Association KSCA has received a conditional clearance from the state government to host IPL games at the venue it is subject to meeting stipulated safety and security requirementsMeanwhile the BCCI on Monday night finalised the player pool by adding 19 players late on the eve of the auction for the 2026 edition of IPL in Abu DhabiThe late additions included Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran Ben Sears of New Zealand and Ethan Bosch of South AfricaThe spotlight will be on the likes of Cameron Green Liam Livingstone and Ravi Bishnoi as ten franchises gear up for the IPL 2026 auction set to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday It will mark the third straight time of an IPL auction happening outside India after Dubai 2024 and Jeddah 2025All ten teams are expected to loosen their purse strings in pursuit of marquee talent and have a squad that can win the IPL 2026 trophy A total of 77 slots are available including 31 for overseas players Threetime winners Kolkata Knight Riders KKR have the most vacancies with 13 followed by 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad SRH with tenFrom a longlist of 1355 players 359 have been shortlisted â 244 Indian and 115 overseas Forty players have entered at the maximum base price of Rs 2 crore with Bishnoi and Venkatesh Iyer the only Indians in that groupGreen Australiaâs seambowling allrounder is expected to be the biggest draw thanks to the skewed demandsupply ratio in a mini IPL auction with bids for him projected to cross Rs 25 croreApart from Bishnoi and Green the England duo of Liam Livingstone and Jamie Smith along with NZ pacer Matt Henry keeperbatter Tim Seifert and South Africa batter David Miller are also likely to attract strong interest from all ten teams as is Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana who was let go of by Chennai Super Kings CSK IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-to-be-held-from-march-26-to-may-31-report-653736.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/cycling-pune-grand-tour-unveils-its-heritage-inspired-trophy-at-national-capital-653993.html New Delhi Dec 16 The Pune Grand Tour 2026 Indiaâs firstever UCI 22 multistage road cycling race on Tuesday unveiled its heritageinspired Trophy at an august gathering in New Delhi Crafted by the coppersmiths of Pune famously known as the Tambat Aali community the Pune Grand Tour Trophy is a symbol of the new Indiaâs spirit scale and ambition to achieve newer heights Over the next 15 days the glittering Trophy will travel across India covering Rajasthan Gujarat Telangana Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra state carrying a message that India is ready to take its place on the global cycling map with pride ambition and a race rooted in heritageThe trophy unveiling event brought together notable dignitaries at the national capital led by Union Minister of Youth Affairs amp Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya and Indian Olympic Association IOA President PT Usha unveiling the Pride of Pune They were joined by Pankaj Singh President Cycling Federation of India CFI Jitendra Dudi IAS Pune District Collector Onkar Singh Chairman CFI and Maninder Pal Singh Secretary General CFI on the occasionThe Pune Grand Tour is a fourday fourstage 437km continental team menâs road race expected to witness over 150 professional international cyclists from 26 countries in action from 19 to 23 January 2026 The historic first UCI 22 race in India is organised by the Government of Maharashtra and Pune District Administration along with the Cycling Federation of IndiaBespoke Trophy DesignThe Pune Grand Tour Trophy isnât just copper shaped into an object it holds the pulse of a sport the grit of the athletes who chase its glory and the memory of the land it comes from The Pune Grand Tour trophy was imagined with all of that in mindIts silhouette comes from the eight forts that sit along the race route each a reminder of strategy resilience and the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Those forts donât just mark geography they represent the spirit that built Puneâs identity Their influence appears in the trophyâs eightfold structure and in the eightfaced mudra a quiet nod to the cityâs heritage and the stories it carries forwardAt its heart the trophy opens into a swirling cavity almost like a breath drawn inward mirroring the shape of a velodrome Anyone who has watched cyclists train here knows the rhythm the steady rise of speed the discipline the repeated return to the same line until the movement becomes instinct That inner vortex is a tribute to that process that private battle every rider faces long before race dayThe trophy is forged entirely from copper honouring the craftsmen of Tambat Aali who have spent generations perfecting a skill that requires both power and precision The piece spans 480mm but its real presence comes from the countless hammer strikes that form its surface Each mark reflects the cadence of a cyclist pushing through fatigue finding their rhythm and refusing to fall out of motion It is in a way a sculpture of perseverance IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/cycling-pune-grand-tour-unveils-its-heritage-inspired-trophy-at-national-capital-653993.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 22:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-auction-lsg-look-to-buy-livingstone-for-finishers-role-says-kaif-653811.html New Delhi Dec 16 Lucknow Super Giants LSG could look to buy Englandâs batting allrounder Liam Livingstone at the IPL 2026 auction to bolster their lowerorder firepower said former India batter Mohammad Kaif The IPL 2026 auction will be held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and they come in with a purse of Rs 2295 crore to fill six slots fourof which are for roping in overseas playersWith David Miller released ahead of the auction LSGâs primary goal will be to get a player who fills in that voidâOne name that comes to mind is Liam Livingstone He plays the role of a finisher and plays at number five or six With them releasing Miller his direct replacement option is Livingstone He bowls as well and although his current form is not good but I think he has a lot of experience and his strike rate is quite highâSo instead of David Miller Lucknow would like to run behind Livingstone because you have three overseas batters in Pooran Markram and Marsh and you need a finisher who can play at number five or six for Lucknowâ said Kaif a JioStar expert in an exclusive conversation with IANS ahead of the mini auctionLSG enters the auction with enviable depth in their Indian pace attack strengthened by the acquisitions of veteran seamer Mohammed Shami and young pacer Arjun Tendulkar The duo coming in means thereâs additional cover for pacers Mohsin Khan Avesh Khan and Mayank Yadav who have been dealing with injuries for a long timeKaif feels LSG should look to rope in either of the South African pacers Anrich Nortje or Lungi Ngidi as their overseas fast bowling option to balance the squadâFirst of all I pray and hope that Avesh Khan and Mayank Yadav are close to being fully fit as itâs almost 56 months now Lucknow will be praying that they recover and come back to action Now the second question is who should they target I think they need overseas fast bowlersâThere are options in Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi Nortje could be an option because Lucknow has a large ground a square boundary and a red soil pitch which can help him in generating good bounce and pace So they can target Nortje as well but as I said earlier the injured players should be fit and then pick either Nortje or Ngidi as an optionâ he addedIn terms of spinners New Delhibased Digvesh Rathi remains the lone wristspin option in LSGâs roster leaving the franchise with a gap to address at the auctionHaving released Ravi Bishnoi ahead of the auction boosting their spin bowling department with an experienced player to complement Rathi and provide variety in middleovers bowling will also be key for LSGKaif suggested that LSG may need to explore uncapped spin options given the possibility of Bishnoi fetching an expensive pay cheque at the auctionâOne issue is that there may not be enough purse left for Lucknow to buy Bishnoi back Lucknow wont be able to afford him at an expensive priceâKKR are having a lot of money and then Chennai is also there So I think that by the time Bishnoiâs number comes a lot of people will want to run behind him Now Digvesh Rathi has become their premier leg spinner Skipper Rishabh Pant also likes him because he bowls in the powerplay and takes wickets in the middle oversâWith Rathi becoming Pantâs favourite who will bowl with him now Lucknow wont be able to afford a spinner at an expensive price there They wont be able to save that much money So Lucknow will focus on the untapped leg and leftarm spinners who can come at a cheap price at the auctionâCatch all the action from the TATA IPL 2026 miniauction December 16 230 PM onwards LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-auction-lsg-look-to-buy-livingstone-for-finishers-role-says-kaif-653811.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/cummins-re-signs-with-sydney-thunder-as-marquee-supplementary-player-for-bbl-15-653822.html Sydney Dec 16 Australia captain Pat Cummins has signed with Sydney Thunder as a CA marquee supplementary player for the Big Bash League BBL 15 The 32yearold pacer was also included in the Thunders marquee supplementary list last season but has not played in the BBL since February 2019As the 19th supplementary player the international star sits outside the 18strong playing squad but could be brought in should he become available Thunder said in a statementCummins is a successful Thunder player having been part of the titlewinning squad in BBL05 He was contracted to the club from BBL 5 to 9 his last stint in the competition before international duties took holdOne of his most memorable performances with the ball in hand was taking 2 for 21 in 2014 against Brisbane Heat helping Thunder to a 56run victorySpeaking on the upcoming season Cummins said âIt means a lot to me that I am locked in with Thunder having grown up in Western Sydney Iâll obviously have limited time on the ground with the team while we try and win the Ashes but Im looking forward to supporting the playing group in what is no doubt an exciting summerâYou can already see the winning mentality that Davey Warner is building with the team We almost got there last year and Iâm confident we can go one further this year â we have the experience and the young talent to do soâA big thank you to our Thunder Nation for your continued support â I canât wait to see you out at game during the seasonâCummins who has yet to play this home international summer is set to captain Australia in the third Test starting Wednesday after recovering from a back stress injuryThough his immediate focus is on winning the Ashes with his side leading twonil the door remains open for Cummins to play for the Thunder ahead of next years T20 World Cup in India and Sri LankaThunderâs BBL 15 campaign begins on Tuesday in Hobart with a rematch of the BBL 14 final against the Hurricanes They will then return home to Engei Stadium for the muchanticipated Sydney Smash on December 20 IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/cummins-re-signs-with-sydney-thunder-as-marquee-supplementary-player-for-bbl-15-653822.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-tongue-replaces-atkinson-as-england-name-starting-xi-for-adelaide-test-653569.html New Delhi Dec 15 England have announced their playing XI for the upcoming third Test of the Ashes series which begins on Wednesday at Adelaide Oval Gus Atkinson has been replaced by Josh Tongue With the Ben Stokesled team trailing Australia 02 the remaining three games of the iconic series are mustwin matches for the visitors if they are to claim the Ashes urnTongue making his way to the lineup means that the team will continue to bench Shoaib Bashir a decision that draws mixed reactions as the Adelaide Oval is dubbed to be one of the most spinfriendly pitches that the Englishmen will encounter on this Ashes tour down underâEngland Men have announced their team for the third Ashes Test match at Adelaide Oval Weve made one change from the second Test in Brisbane with seamer Josh Tongue replacing Gus Atkinsonâ the England and Wales Cricket Board ECB said in their statement on MondayAtkinsonâs tour has been a challenging one although he is not the only England bowler struggling He has returned figures of just three wickets from 54 overs at an average of 7866 the poorest record among the teamâs attackHis first breakthrough did not arrive until the final delivery of his 41st over in the series during Australiaâs first innings of the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane A noticeable drop in pace has also reduced the snap he gets from the pitchEngland have turned to Josh Tongue in search of a greater attacking threat favouring wickettaking potential over the tighter control that Matthew Potts might have provided Tongue is set to make his seventh Test appearance since breaking into the side during the 2023 home summer having claimed 31 wickets at an average of 30Englandâs Playing XI for third Ashes Test â Zak Crawley â Ben Duckettâ  Ollie Pope â Joe Root Harry Brook â Ben Stokes c â Jamie Smith wk â Will Jacks Brydon Carse â Jofra Archer â Josh Tongue IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-tongue-replaces-atkinson-as-england-name-starting-xi-for-adelaide-test-653569.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wankhede-to-host-physical-disability-t20-series-from-dec-16-18-653578.html Mumbai Dec 15 Mumbai will host a historic inclusive cricket event the Physical Disability T20 Series from December 16 to 18 at the renowned Wankhede Stadium All three matches will take place at the same venue giving fans a special opportunity to enjoy toptier cricket and witness the inspiring determination of athletes with physical disabilities The threeday T20 series aims to promote inclusivity resilience and sporting excellence while showcasing the growing prominence of physical disability cricket on the national and international stage Renowned for its worldclass facilities and historic moments Wankhede Stadium provides a fitting venue for this landmark eventSpeaking on the occasion Unmesh Khanvilkar General Secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association MCA said âHosting the Physical Disability Cricket Series for the very first time is a proud milestone for MCAâcelebrating resilience redefining ability and reaffirming that cricket truly belongs to everyone Our President Ajinkya Naik is deeply committed to promoting and celebrating physical disability cricket and we will continue to extend our full supportâRavi Chauhan General Secretary of the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India DCCI expressed his excitement stating âThis is a truly special moment for our players Getting the opportunity to play at the historic Wankhede Stadiumâwhere Team India won the 2011 World Cupâwill provide a tremendous boost and motivation I sincerely thank Ajinkya Naik President of MCA who has consistently supported our cricket DCCI extends its heartfelt gratitude to MCA for hosting physical disability cricket Your commitment to inclusivity and opportunity has strengthened the spirit of the game and empowered our athletes to shineâHe also mentioned that with ongoing backing from the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI efforts are ongoing daily to develop and enhance physical disability cricket across the countryEvery match delivers competitive cricket highlighting skill determination and teamwork and emphasising that sport is a strong platform for equality and empowermentCricket fans sports enthusiasts and advocates for inclusive sports are invited to join this significant eventâcelebrating the game and the resilient spirit of the players IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wankhede-to-host-physical-disability-t20-series-from-dec-16-18-653578.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-i-dont-have-a-point-to-prove-to-anyone-says-lyon-ahead-of-adelaide-test-653579.html Adelaide Dec 15 Australias veteran offspinner Nathan Lyon said he has ânothing to proveâ as he prepares to return for the upcoming third Ashes Test starting at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday Lyon has played in 140 Tests for Australia but the seasoned offspinner has been omitted from the playing XI twice in the last three matches For the third Ashes Test with hot conditions and a dry surface likely to favour spin Lyon is expected to return as Australia aims to secure an unassailable 30 lead with Pat Cummins also returning to captain the sideâObviously it was pretty disappointing personally Ive played 140 Test matches I feel like I dont have a point to prove to anyone Im very clear on my role within this Australian cricket team I love playing with everyone in that change room and love playing representing AustraliaIf I get that opportunity again Ill keep doing that My dream is to continue to play cricket for Australia No ones got a given right to be selected Youve got to work your backside off to make sure that you put your hand up for selection and you earn that right Lyon told reporters on MondayMonday also marked a special occasion for Lyon who was formally inducted into Adelaide Ovalâs âAvenue of Honourâ on the western side of the ground where he once worked as a ground staff member Lyon further reiterated his belief that spin bowling must remain central to Australiaâs cricketing identityWell youre asking a spinner I think its incredibly important I think the variation in Test cricket understanding that Test cricket goes for five days and theres a lot of opportunity for pitches to wear and spinners to be able to produce their craft Ive always said as soon as the ball spins theres more eyes on TVs and I stand by thatYou look at when we go over to India and you look at the conditions there and the exciting cricket when the ball is spinning how many people pay attention to it So for me spin is incredibly important in the game of cricket in junior cricket in firstclass cricket in whiteball redball it doesnt matter what format what game of cricket I think spin plays a massive role here he addedLyon is also close to reaching a personal milestone â surpassing the legendary pacer Glenn McGrathâs career total of 563 Test wickets He has been stuck on 562 wickets since 6 July when he took the final dismissal of the second Test against the West Indies in GrenadaâI daresay it might be a little fairytale given my history working here It was the dream My first Test match was on the roller here in 201011 To overtake Glenn McGrath would be pretty incredibleâ he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ashes-i-dont-have-a-point-to-prove-to-anyone-says-lyon-ahead-of-adelaide-test-653579.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/always-enjoy-bowling-with-arshdeep-as-he-creates-pressure-from-the-other-end-rana-653596.html Dharamsala Dec 15 Indiaâs seambowling allrounder Harshit Rana said he relishes sharing the new ball with Arshdeep Singh and credited the leftarm fast bowler for building pressure from the opposite end In the third T20I at the HPCA Stadium on Sunday Arshdeep and Rana playing in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah who was unavailable due to personal reasons set the tone for Indiaâs sevenwicket win by making the most of seamfriendly conditions and picking three wickets in the powerplayThe duo claimed a combined 4 for 47 from their eight overs which proved to be decisive for Indiaâs comfortable win giving them a 21 lead âFirst of all I always enjoy bowling with him with the new ball especially because hes someone who creates that pressure from one end I like to give him company in terms of whats in my hand So I enjoy bowling with him because he has a lot of experience and I get a lot of help from himI found out at midnight that I was playing this match Its my first time here in Dharamsala Ive never been to Dharamsala before Its a lot of fun bowling here I get a lot of help from the weather and itâs a lot of funâ said Rana in a video posted by BCCIâs social media accounts on MondayArshdeep who took the Player of the Match award for his figures of 213 had a forgetful time in the second T20I in New Chandigarh â conceding 54 runs including seven wides in the 13th over He said being a levelheaded human and support from the team helped him bounce back in Dharamsala a ground where he turns out for Punjab Kings in the IPLâWhether its good or bad I just try to stay at a level Like I try to be a levelheaded person and create reels I try to keep the dressing room atmosphere light because when you play at an international level and youre away from your family theres a lot of pressure If you dont have a good day they give you a shoulder to help you and make you feel good Thats the main motive of being in the teamHe also felt bowling coach Morne Morkel could have been playing ahead of him if the former was still active on the international circuit âIf the bowling coach was playing on this wicket I wouldnt be playing After the last game he said that you gave me a lot of screen timeâWhenever I bowled a wide ball the camera was focusing straight on the coach because many felt âWhat if he gave a wrong bowling plan or we didnât do practice together with himâ For that I will say sorry to Morne and will try to get you less screen timeMorkel reacted with laughter about an increase in his visibility in the second T20I and felt pleased about Indiaâs fightback with the ball âI received a lot of messages from players in our squad with the red ball and 50over series that I pay for my own private channel because all they saw was me on the screenâIm just happy with how the boys bounced back in this game I thought it was a beautiful comeback with the ball by the boysâ he saidMorkel signed off by admiring the picturesque surroundings in Dharamsala âThe nice thing about this ground is if you ever have an average day you can always look up at the mountains and just feel life isnt the same everyday So thereâs always a great joy in coming to this venue and playing here Its one of my favourite grounds in the worldâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/always-enjoy-bowling-with-arshdeep-as-he-creates-pressure-from-the-other-end-rana-653596.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/messi-mania-grips-delhi-as-thousands-flock-to-arun-jaitley-stadium-653630.html New Delhi Dec 15 A wave of excitement swept through the national capital on Monday as fans turned up in large numbers to witness football legend Lionel Messi at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium From early morning long queues formed outside the venue with supporters of all ages eager to catch a glimpse of the Argentine superstar turning the area around the stadium into a sea of blue and white jerseys Messiâs presence in Delhi sparked unprecedented enthusiasm among football lovers many of whom travelled from different parts of the country Fans carrying banners posters and flags chanted Messiâs name creating a carnivallike atmosphere more commonly associated with major cricket fixtures at the venue For several supporters seeing the seventime Ballon dâOr winner in person was a onceinalifetime experienceThe event organised under tight security arrangements saw authorities deploy additional personnel to manage the massive crowd Entry gates were opened well ahead of schedule to ensure smooth movement while traffic diversions were put in place around the stadium complex Despite the heavy turnout the arrangements helped maintain order as fans patiently waited for their turn to enterInside the stadium the excitement reached fever pitch when Messi appeared prompting thunderous applause and cheers from the packed stands Mobile phones were raised in unison as fans tried to capture the moment while chants echoed across the ground Many young footballers in attendance said Messiâs journey and achievements continue to inspire them to pursue the sport seriouslyThe overwhelming response once again highlighted footballâs growing popularity in India and Messiâs unmatched global appeal For Delhiâs fans the day was more than just an eventâit was a celebration of one of the greatest players the game has ever seen leaving behind memories that will be cherished for years to comeMessi was scheduled to land in the national capital earlier this morning but his charter flight was delayed due to foggy conditions here After landing in the afternoon he immediately proceeded to the Leela Palace Hotel where he had a meetandgreet session for around an hour with a select group of peopleHis schedule in the national capital included an exhibition match a stage event a football clinic for children and several highprofile private meetings therefore Delhi has implemented precautionary measures to manage large crowds and traffic congestion in anticipation of his arrival IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/messi-mania-grips-delhi-as-thousands-flock-to-arun-jaitley-stadium-653630.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-green-livingstone-bishnoi-on-radar-as-teams-get-ready-to-make-big-buys-653634.html New Delhi Dec 15 The spotlight will be on the likes of Cameron Green Liam Livingstone and Ravi Bishnoi as ten franchises gear up for the IPL 2026 auction set to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday It will mark the third straight time of an IPL auction happening outside India after Dubai 2024 and Jeddah 2025 All ten teams are expected to loosen their purse strings in pursuit of marquee talent and have a squad which can win the IPL 2026 trophy A total of 77 slots are available including 31 for overseas players Threetime winners Kolkata Knight Riders KKR have the most vacancies with 13 followed by 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad SRH with tenFrom a longlist of 1355 players 359 have been shortlisted â 244 Indian and 115 overseas Forty players have entered at the maximum base price of Rs 2 crore with Bishnoi and Venkatesh Iyer the only Indians in that groupGreen Australiaâs seambowling allrounder is expected to be the biggest draw thanks to the skewed demandsupply ratio in a mini IPL auction with bids for him projected to cross Rs 25 croreApart from Bishnoi and Green the England duo of Liam Livingstone and Jamie Smith along with NZ pacer Matt Henry keeperbatter Tim Seifert and South Africa batter David Miller are also likely to attract strong interest from all ten teams as is Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana who was let go of by Chennai Super Kings CSKKKR head into the auction with the largest purse at Rs 6430 crore while fivetime winners Chennai Super Kings CSK have Rs 4340 crore with both teams eyeing to rebuild their squads after a poor IPL 2025 seasonIn contrast fivetime winners Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings might have quiet auctions due to their purses of Rs 275 crore and Rs 115 crore respectivelyWhat remains certain is that no overseas player can earn more than Rs 18 crore regardless of the winning bid Under the IPLâs maximumfee rule the cap is fixed at the lower of the highest retention slab Rs 18 crore or the top price from the previous mega auction which was Rs 27 crore for India wicketkeeperbatter and Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh PantAmong the uncapped names Jammu amp Kashmirâs seambowling allrounder Auqib Nabi and Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma have drawn interest from coaches and scouts who have been seeing all games of staterun T20 leagues and Syed Mushtaq Ali TrophyUttar Pradeshâs allrounder Prashant Veer Rajasthan wicketkeeperbatter Kartik Sharma and Keralaâs leftarm wristspinner Vignesh Puthur who featured for Mumbai Indians last season before a shin injury cut short his stint are also on the radar of all ten teamsThe auction will move into an accelerated round after the first 70 players are presented with franchises then nominating unsold names for further bidding As this is a miniauction the Right to Match RTM card will not be available to teams IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-green-livingstone-bishnoi-on-radar-as-teams-get-ready-to-make-big-buys-653634.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/shaheen-afridi-forced-to-end-spell-midway-on-bbl-debut-due-to-dangerous-bowling-653643.html Geelong Dec 15 Shaheen Shah Afridi endured a difficult start to his Big Bash League career after being taken out of the attack for dangerous bowling during Brisbane Heatâs clash with Melbourne Renegades here at the Simonds Stadium on Monday In the 18th over of the first innings the Pakistani fast bowlerâs night fell apart when he bowled two waisthigh full tosses â one to Tim Seifert and another to Ollie Peake The umpires deemed the deliveries dangerous forcing Afridi to stop bowling and leaving Heat captain Nathan McSweeney to complete the final two balls of the overAfridi could only smile wryly as he walked off and his debut spell ended prematurely with figures of 0 for 43 from 24 overs The over proved costly yielding 15 runs and including three noballs adding to an already difficult outing that also featured two widesThe leftarm bowler had arrived in the BBL amid great anticipation with fellow Pakistan international Mohammad Rizwan also making his tournament debut for the Renegades Afridi showed early promise starting with three consecutive dot balls in his second over but struggled to regain control thereafterAfter being held back he was reintroduced in the 13th over during the Renegadesâ Power Surge only to concede 19 runs His final over compounded the damage sealing a challenging start to his league debut as he finished with a poor economy rate of 1610Melbourne Renegades capitalised on the Heatâs bowling troubles to post an imposing 212 for 5 Tim Seifert anchored the innings with a commanding 102 from 56 balls while Ollie Peake provided late impetus with a rapid 57 off 29 balls Rizwan however failed to make an impact scoring just four runs from ten balls before being dismissed by leftarm spinner Paddy DooleyDespite the setback Afridiâs debut drew attention as a reminder of the unforgiving nature of the BBL where even elite international talent is quickly tested IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/shaheen-afridi-forced-to-end-spell-midway-on-bbl-debut-due-to-dangerous-bowling-653643.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-clear-about-our-targets-to-complete-our-squad-says-dc-ceo-653649.html Abu Dhabi Dec 15 Delhi Capitals DC CEO Sunil Gupta said the franchise is clear in the players they wish to target and complete their squad ahead of the Indian Premier League IPL 2026 auction to be held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday DC the IPL 2020 runnersup head into the mini auction with a purse of Rs 2180 crore and have to fill eight slots including five in the overseas category âWe have arrived in Abu Dhabi and our preparations for the auction have been underway for quite some timeOur scouting team has done an excellent job and we are clear about our targets as we look to complete the remaining requirements of the squad While we will be aggressive where needed auctions are dynamic and flexibility is key Weâre looking forward to the auctions in Abu Dhabi said Gupta in a statement issued by the franchise on MondayDCâs priorities at the auction include finding a reliable opener to partner KL Rahul with Jake FraserMcGurk inconsistent and Faf du Plessis opting out of IPL 2026 The franchise also needs reinforcements in the pace bowling department considering T Natarajan is injuryprone and Mitchell Starc would come after a gruelling time in the AshesVeteran pacer Mohit Sharmaâs retirement has left another gap in the fast bowling department Getting a middleorder overseas batter is on the radar of DC too alongside the possibility of including a reliable foreign allrounderâWe have retained a solid group of players from last season While we narrowly missed out on qualifying for the playoffs it was a campaign filled with important learnings We take those lessons forward and go again with a strong set of players fully focused on achieving our objectivesâ added GuptaAhead of the auction DC brought in Indian lefthanded batter Nitish Rana in exchange for South African allrounder Donovan Ferreira who has moved to the Rajasthan Royals RR Rana has previously won IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders KKR and Mumbai Indians MI and brings vast experience of playing cricket at his home venue Arun Jaitley StadiumâNitish is a seasoned IPL campaigner and a valuable addition to our squad His familiarity with home conditions being a local boy along with the crucial roles he has played for his previous franchises makes him a natural fit for our setup We are absolutely delighted to welcome him to the Delhi Capitals family Our boy is truly homeâ concluded Gupta IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/ipl-2026-auction-clear-about-our-targets-to-complete-our-squad-says-dc-ceo-653649.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/messi-event-chaos-bengal-guv-to-send-separate-report-to-centre-on-lapses-at-salt-lake-stadium-653667.html Kolkata Dec 15 West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Monday said he will send a separate report to the Central government outlining his observations on the lapses in management at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata during the December 13 event featuring Argentine football star Lionel Messi I will submit a report on this count to the Union government At the same time I will also give some suggestions to the West Bengal government on the precautions that should be adopted in case of similar mega events in the future Till now only one of the organisers has been arrested for this mismanagement But that is just the tip of the iceberg All those responsible for this utter mismanagement should be arrested the Governor told mediapersons at the end of a programme at Lok BhavanThe Governor also said that the state administration and police personnel present at the stadium on that day could not evade responsibility for what happened and were equally accountable for the lapsesThere was a total failure of the management system Surprisingly there were no advance guidelines in place for such a mega event The stadium is public property and it was the duty of the administration to protect that property from vandalism The administrative and police officers present at the stadium on that day failed to perform their duties Necessary action should be initiated against them as wellâ he saidThe event had witnessed chaos and disorder with allegations of poor crowd control damage to public property and lack of proper arrangements triggering widespread criticism from spectators and civil society groupsState Sports Minister Aroop Biswas was present at the stadium alongside Lionel Messi during the event Several spectators members of civil society and leaders of opposition parties have alleged that as Biswas and his family members surrounded the football star on the stadium ground spectators who had purchased tickets at high prices were denied adequate access to MessiThese allegations have added to the political controversy surrounding the event with opposition parties accusing the state government of gross mismanagement and preferential treatmentWhen asked whether his report to the Union Government would specifically mention the role of Sports Minister Aroop Biswas in the matter the Governor declined to give a direct responseI will report everything related to the matter to my constitutional superiors Till then I will not make any separate public statement Governor Ananda Bose saidThe Governors remarks come amid growing pressure on the state government to fix accountability for the lapses during the highprofile event which had attracted massive public attention and expectations IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/messi-event-chaos-bengal-guv-to-send-separate-report-to-centre-on-lapses-at-salt-lake-stadium-653667.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/goat-india-tour-messi-leaves-fans-celebrities-mesmerised-gets-signed-india-jersey-from-tendulkar-653481.html Mumbai Dec 14 He came he saw and he conquered hearts all in one hour In one Messimerising hour spent at the iconic Wankhede Stadium as part of his GOAT India Tour 2025 Lionel Messi interacted with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis some current India and former football players film stars celebrities and politicians By the time he left exactly one hour after making a grand entry into the stadium at 530 pm the crowd was satisfied unlike his 20oddminute appearance in Kolkata which left ardent fans fuming and led to chaotic scenes including rioting by some angry fans and forced the West Bengal government to initiate a judicial inquiryMumbai was the third stop on his GOAT India Tour 2025 and the Argentine World Cup winner spent the most time with the fans after making a brief appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata and a slightly longer stay at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in UppalHe spent some time talking to Tendulkar with the help of his translator Tendulkar presented his signed India jersey and was seen pointing to the No 10 on the back a number he shared with the Argentine great Tendulkar also addressed the gathering talking to them initially in Marathi and then switching to English telling them that his meeting with Messi would be among the memorable moments he spent at the WankhedeIn an iconic moment the crowd chanted for Messis name alongside that of Tendulkar and Luis Suarez who along with Rodrigo are accompanying Messi on this GOAT India Tour 2025 Through Messi the crowd also tried to send a message to FC Barcelona for a visit to Mumbai chanting Barca BarcaOn the occasion Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis officially launched the Project Mahadeva of which Bollywood star Tiger Shroff is a mentor and brand ambassador Project Mahadeva plans to provide transformative support for schoolgoing boys and girls players from the state and help them realise their football dreams The Chief Minister in his address informed Messi amp Co the details of the project and hoped that one day players from this project would rule the football world just like the Argentine legend has done The Maharashtra government has picked 16 players as an initial intake in the Mahadeva projectMessi reached the Wankhede at around 530 pm around 30 minutes later than what was scheduled But he looked more relaxed and ready to mingle at times pointing out to the security personnel and officials the areas of the ground he would like to go to He came from the nearby Cricket Club of India CCI where he participated in a programme promoting Padel and reportedly played some time with businessman Parth Jindal of JSW SportHe reached the Wankhede Stadium halfway through the Celebrity Football Match involving India XI versus Mitra XI which involved Bengaluru FC players like Sunil Chettri Rahul Bheke Jayesh Rana and Ashutosh Mehta along with India woman star Bala DeviMessi shook hands with the two teams and posed for photographs with them After that he took a lap of the stadium kicking footballs into the crowd to carry home as mementos of his visit Suarez and Rodrigo joined him in the lap of order Messi also kicked a ball with school kids from the Mahadeva project and also interacted with themAfter reaching the makeshift stage Messi was welcomed by Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and his wife and presented a GOAT Tour jersey to the Chief Minister He also posed for photographs with Bollywood stars Tiger Shroff Ajay Devgn and Dino MoreaAfter a lengthy interaction with Tendulkar Messi left the stadium to attend some more events as part of his whirlwind tour of the City He is scheduled to attend a celebrity fashion show where he is likely to auction some signed jerseys and mementoesThe Argentine football captain is scheduled to depart for Delhi on Monday morning IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/goat-india-tour-messi-leaves-fans-celebrities-mesmerised-gets-signed-india-jersey-from-tendulkar-653481.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-dominant-mumba-masters-light-up-opening-day-with-one-sided-win-653487.html Mumbai Dec 14 With four wins across the six boards Mumba Masters delivered a dominant performance in front of the âhomeâ crowd overpowering Ganges Grandmasters 17â4 in a onesided encounter on the opening day of the Global Chess League GCL Earlier at Mumbaiâs Royal Opera House reigning champions Triveni Continental Kings set about their title defence with a 97 win over Alpine SG PipersKings and Pipers kicked off GCL Season 3 with the spotlight was firmly on the icon clash between Alireza Firouzja and Fabiano Caruana where Caruana opted for an aggressive Sicilian Dragon as Black chasing the extra point on offer The risk backfired as Firouzja steadily seized control sacrificing material to build a dominant position before converting with authority in the endgame Earlier Pipers had struck the first blow of the season when Nino Batsiashvili defeated Alexandra Kosteniuk with Black pressing home a central advantage and time edge to secure a crucial fourpoint winKings responded through Wei Yi who outplayed Anish Giri with White in a sharp Vienna Game to swing the tie in their favour The muchanticipated allIndian battle between Vidit Gujrathi and R Praggnanandhaa ended in a hardfought draw as did the womenâs highprofile clash between Zhu Jiner and World No1 Rapid Hou Yifan and the prodigy encounter between MarcâAndria Maurizzi and Leon Mendonca Firouzjaâs matchwinning performance earned him the Player of the Match honoursSpeaking post his teamâs victory Firouzja said âI feel happy that we won Wei Yi also deserves this MOTM award Iâll share it when I go back I remember we had a very good run last year and we have to defend the title now Our opponents Pipers were one of the strongest teams they have so many great players To get this win was importantâPlaying with Black Mumba Mastersâ Maxime VachierLagrave took on Ganges Grandmastersâ Viswanathan Anand with the former eventually emerging on top to set the tone for the tie Masters seized early momentum on the prodigy board where Bardiya Daneshvar capitalised on a major error from Raunak Sadhwani to claim a decisive win and put the hosts 4â0 ahead Wesley So and Vincent Keymer played out a tense battle that ended in a perpetualcheck draw but by then Masters had already stretched their lead through wins on the top boardsThe Superstar contingent led the charge for the Masters with Harika Dronavalli and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov both converting their advantages to pile on the pressure Koneru Humpy came under sustained attack from Polina Shuvalova who controlled the centre with authority to register Grandmastersâ only win of the tie Any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished as Harika sealed her board followed by Mamedyarov closing out his game completing a dominant allround display GCL debutant So was named the Man of the MatchPBG Alaskan Knights featuring a Gukesh DArjun Erigaisi doublepunch took on Hikaru Nakamuraled Fyers American Gambits in the opening dayâs third tieFyers American Gambits face the inform Mumba Masters on matchday 2 followed by Alpine SG Pipers taking on Ganges Grandmasters The day concludes with a blockbuster clash between PBG Alaskan Knights and defending champions Triveni Continental Kings IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/gcl-dominant-mumba-masters-light-up-opening-day-with-one-sided-win-653487.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sr-national-wrestling-cship-lalit-sahil-chetan-sachin-and-others-strike-gold-in-greco-roman-bouts-653490.html Ahmedabad Dec 14 Gold medals were shared among institutions and states on Day 3 of the 2025 Senior National Wrestling Championship in Ahmedabad as all 10 GrecoRoman weight categories were decided showcasing the strength of RSPB SSCB and Haryana Lalit from SSCB set the pace in the 55 kg category Sahil from Haryana became the champion in the 60 kg division RSPBâs Chetan won the 63 kg title and SSCBâs Sachin finished first in the 67 kg weight classRSPB continued their success with Kuldeep Malik winning the 72 kg crown SSCBâs Aman took the top spot in the 77 kg category Haryana added another gold through Price in the 82 kg division while RSPBâs Rohit won the 87 kg finalIn the heavier classes RSPBâs Nitesh secured gold in the 97 kg category Haryanaâs Joginder Rathi excelled in the 130 kg heavyweight division completing the GrecoRoman competitionsThe strong individual results led to a close team contest with RSPB and SSCB finishing tied for first in the GrecoRoman team rankings each with 190 points Haryana placed third with 138 pointsSeveral teams contributed to the medal tally with silver and bronze finishes This highlighted the competitive spirit of the GrecoRoman events and set an exciting tone for the remaining days of the championship in Ahmedabad IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sr-national-wrestling-cship-lalit-sahil-chetan-sachin-and-others-strike-gold-in-greco-roman-bouts-653490.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/3rd-t20i-not-out-of-form-but-definitely-out-of-runs-says-suryakumar-yadav-653493.html Dharamsala Dec 14 India captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted he is searching for runs to flow from his bat but insisted he remains confident in being back to his pristine touch and breaking a lean patch In Indiaâs sevenwicket win over South Africa at the HPCA Stadium on Sunday Suryakumar fell for 12 just before the hosts completed the chase with 25 balls to spare and took a 21 lead in the fivematch seriesâThe thing is Iâve been batting beautifully in the nets Iâm trying everything thatâs in my control and when the game comes when the runs have to come theyâll definitely come But yes Iâm looking for runs not out of form but definitely out of runsâ said Suryakumar in the postmatch presentation ceremonyAsked about the teamâs turnaround after a 51run defeat in New Chandigarh Suryakumar stressed on the importance of returning to fundamentals in preparation for Sundayâs clashâI think this sport teaches you a lot of things How you come back into the series is more important and we did the same thing â we wanted to go back to basics do the same things we were doing in Cuttack and the results were on our side See there was a lot of learning from the game we played in ChandigarhâHe credited the bowlersâ preparation and discipline in friendly bowling conditions for setting up a comfortable victory in Dharamsala âThe bowlers sat together we had a good team meeting as well We came for practice sessions and tried to do the same things we did in Cuttack We went back to basics We didnât try to do a lot of different things but I think the basics were very important at that timeâA win in Lucknow on Wednesday will give India the series win âI think weâll enjoy it tonight Weâll enjoy the win tonight Weâll sit down tomorrow when we reach Lucknow and then see what happened in this game and talk about thatâ concluded Suryakumar IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/3rd-t20i-not-out-of-form-but-definitely-out-of-runs-says-suryakumar-yadav-653493.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/messi-lands-in-delhi-for-final-stop-of-his-goat-tour--653540.html New Delhi Dec 15 IANS Argentine football legend Lionel Messi arrived in New Delhi on Monday afternoon for the final stop of his GOAT Tour after a weatherrelated delay postponed his flightnbspMessi was scheduled to land in the national capital earlier this morning but his charter flight was delayed due to foggy conditions here He immediately proceeded to the Leela Palace Hotel where he will have a meetandgreet session for around an hour with a select group of peopleMessis schedule in the national capital includes an exhibition match a stage event a football clinic for children and several highprofile private meetings therefore Delhi has implemented precautionary measures to manage large crowds and traffic congestion in anticipation of his arrivalThe Argentine was in Mumbai last evening where he interacted with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis some current Indian and former football players film stars celebrities and politicians at the iconic Wankhede StadiumMumbai was the third stop on his GOAT India Tour 2025 and the Argentine World Cup winner spent the most time with fans after making a brief appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata and a slightly longer stay at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in UppalMessis GOAT Tour started on a chaotic note as the organisers failed to manage the crowd at the Salt Lake Stadium Thousands of fans gathered to see the football icon as he visited the city with Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul but their excitement turned to frustration due to poor management at the venueMessi then arrived in the Telangana capital where he participated in numerous photo opportunities was seen kicking a ball with children and engaged casually with one of the officialsAt Uppal Stadium the Argentine star stayed inside a VIP box and was seen waving at the camera making a brief appearance on the big screen inside the stadium and on broadcast visuals as two teams played a matchIANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/messi-lands-in-delhi-for-final-stop-of-his-goat-tour--653540.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/rodrygo-mbappe-earn-vital-la-liga-win-for-real-madrid-653547.html Madrid Dec 15 Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo scored to give Real Madrid a 21 win away to Alaves trimming the gap to La Liga leader FC Barcelona to four points Mbappe opened the scoring in the 24th minute after an excellent run before firing into the top cornerGoalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced a fine save to deny Pablo Ibanez on the stroke of halftime but Carlos Vicente leveled for Alaves in the 68th minute with a goal initially ruled offside before VAR overturned the decision reports XinhuaRodrygo restored Real Madrids lead in the 76th minute after good work from Vinicius Jr but then left the pitch with a calf injuryFC Barcelona won 20 at home to Osasuna with Raphinha scoring both goals in the last 20 minutesHis first goal came from outside the area while the second was slotted home from close range four minutes from timeSevilla claimed a 40 win against struggling Oviedo who remains rooted in the bottom three and without a win in eight games since Luis Carrion returned as coachThe game was virtually over by the 22nd minute after Akor Adams and Djibril Sow had put Sevilla 20 up with Batista Mendy scoring a neat individual goal in the 51st minute and Chidera Ejuke wrapping things up one minute from timeOviedos day was made worse by David Carmos 82ndminute red card and the club announced later in the day that Carrion had been sackedCelta claimed its first home league win of the season with a 20 triumph over Athletic Bilbao with Williot Swedberg and Jones ElAbdellaoui scoring after 48 and 55 minutes while Athletics Nico Williams had a tame penalty savedThe game scheduled on Sunday between Levante and Villarreal was postponed due to a red alert for heavy rain in the Valencia region IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/rodrygo-mbappe-earn-vital-la-liga-win-for-real-madrid-653547.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/yash-dhull-scoring-lots-of-runs-in-dpl-will-certainly-help-him-in-ipl-says-chopra-653315.html New Delhi Dec 13 Exopener Aakash Chopra spoke about Yash Dhulls potential of getting an Indian Premier League IPL team when the miniauction happens in Abu Dhabi on December 16 saying that the righthanded batter being among the top runscorers in this yearâs Delhi Premier League DPL will certainly help his case Dhull who captained India to the U19 World Cup win in 2022 amassed 435 runs in eight games for Central Delhi Kings in this yearâs DPL where they finished as the runnersup Dhull was with the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023 but never got going in the four games he playedYash Dhulls journey is quite inspiring He was touted as an upcoming youngster who would play for India soon That dream has not happened yet but he keeps making runs He uses every opportunity he gets wherever he playsâ said Chopra on JioStarâSometimes it is very important to stay relevant for a long time so that when an opportunity comes people think of him This season of the Delhi Premier League was quite good for him with the bat where he scored tons of runs and those performances will certainly help him in the IPLââHes an Under19 World Cup winner and as far as IPL is concerned he was picked by the Delhi Capitals a few seasons ago and was given some chances too but he wasnt able to capitalize on them I think Yash Dhull is ticking all those boxes and keeping himself in the thoughts of everybody whos following the sport with his DPL performances he addedThough other DPL stars like Tejasvi Dahiya and Arpit Rana will also be on the mind of the IPL scouts former India womenâs cricketer Reema Malhotra thinks someone like Sarthak Ranjan who made 449 runs in nine innings in this yearâs competition can also get into any of the ten teamsSarthak Ranjan is a fearless batter who plays the ball on its merit The shots he played in this season of the Delhi Premier League were amazing to see He would have certainly caught the eye of IPL scouts Franchises will get a pure T20 batter in him who not only scores in the powerplay but can also bat deep into the innings she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/yash-dhull-scoring-lots-of-runs-in-dpl-will-certainly-help-him-in-ipl-says-chopra-653315.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/wbbl-2025-lizelle-lee-scripts-history-as-hobart-hurricanes-lift-maiden-title-653325.html Hobart Dec 13 Lizelle Lee produced a commanding performance to steer Hobart Hurricanes to their firstever Womenâs Big Bash League title dismantling Perth Scorchers in a onesided final with a thunderous unbeaten halfcentury After a disciplined bowling effort restricted the Scorchers to 1375 the Hurricanes made light work of the chase cruising home with five overs to spare Lee set the tone immediately striking three boundaries in the opening over before Danielle WyattHodge followed suit to propel the Hurricanes to a brisk start The early onslaught left the Scorchers on the back foot as Hobart raced to 24 without loss after two oversWyattHodge departed in the sixth over but any hopes of a fightback were quickly dashed Lee maintained her dominance against the bowlers while Nat SciverBrunt contributed timely boundaries to keep the required rate comfortably manageable The decisive moment arrived when Lee launched Alana King for consecutive sixes before finding the gaps for a couple of boundaries in the following overThe flurry of shots brought up her halfcentury and effectively sealed the contest Although SciverBrunt perished later in the game Lee remained unbeaten with her innings also setting a new record for the highest individual score in a WBBL finalEarlier the Scorchers struggled to find momentum after electing to bat perhaps feeling the toll of a demanding schedule that had seen them play their third match in five days The Powerplay yielded little fluency with Katie Mack falling for 17 off 21 deliveries Beth Mooney in fine form coming into the final was handed several chances but failed to convert them before being eventually bowled by Heather Graham for 33Sophie Devine and Paige Scholfield attempted to lift the scoring rate through the middle overs but the Hobart bowlers kept chipping away With four overs remaining Scorchers sat at 1064 and were eyeing a late surge Devine briefly threatened the opposition with a six before being stumped in the next over Despite a few boundaries from Scholfield a sluggish final over curtailed any hopes of a competitive totalThe Scorchers closed on 137 for 5 a score that proved well short of the mark against a Hurricanes side inspired by Leeâs ruthless finishing as Hobart celebrated a historic WBBL triumphBrief scoresPerth Scorchers Women 1375 in 20 overs Sophie Devine 34 Beth Mooney 33 Linsey Smith 28 lost to Hobart Hurricanes Women 1412 in 15 overs Lizelle Lee 77 Nat SciverBrunt 35 Amy Edgar 113 by 8 wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/wbbl-2025-lizelle-lee-scripts-history-as-hobart-hurricanes-lift-maiden-title-653325.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/u19-asia-cup-seneviratnes-five-for-powers-sri-lanka-to-big-win-over-nepal-653333.html Dubai Dec 13 Sethmika Seneviratneâs fivewicket haul set up Sri Lankaâs emphatic eightwicket win over Nepal in their Group B clash of the Menâs Under19 Asia Cup at The Sevens Stadium on Saturday Asked to bat first by Sri Lanka captain Vimath Dinsara Nepal were steady at 30 without loss before a run out of Niraj Kumar Yadav for 10 in the eighth over resulted in the innings unravelling quicklySeneviratne struck in successive spells removing Sahil Patel 12 Vansh Chhetri 0 and Dilsad Ali 0 to leave Nepal reeling at 374 with the side losing their four wickets for just seven runs within six oversCaptain Ashok Dhami and Cibrin Shrestha 18 briefly resisted with a 24run stand but Rasith Nimsara struck to dismiss the former for nine at the start of the 21st over From there Nepal folded to 82 all out with Shrestha being the top runscorerSeneviratne completed incredible figures of 525 and was ably supported by Rasith Nimsara Vigneshwaran Akash Dulnith Sigera and Chamika Heenatigala taking a scalp eachSri Lankaâs chase of 83 was briefly dented when Nepal reduced them to 252 Dayanand Mandal getting a scalp But Dimantha Mahavithana 39 and Kavija Gamage 24 ensured there were no further alarms in Sri Lankaâs chaseTheir unbroken 59run stand for the third wicket sealed victory for Sri Lanka with 351 overs to spare Sri Lanka will next face Afghanistan at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai on Monday while Nepal is slated to take on Bangladesh on the same dayBrief scoresNepal U19 82 all out in 285 overs Cibrin Shrestha 18 Sethmika Seneviratne 525 Dulnith Sigera 13 lost to Sri Lanka U19 842 in 145 overs Dimantha Mahavithana 39 not out Kavija Gamage 24 not out Dayanand Mandal 116 by eight wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/u19-asia-cup-seneviratnes-five-for-powers-sri-lanka-to-big-win-over-nepal-653333.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/3rd-t20i-if-you-are-mentally-strong-you-can-do-well-at-any-number-says-tilak-varma-653341.html Dharamsala Dec 13 Ahead of the third T20I against South Africa Indiaâs lefthanded batter Tilak Varma said being mentally strong allows a batter to succeed at any position in the batting order Indiaâs batting flexibility left everyone puzzled when Axar Patel was sent out to bat at number three in a chase of 214 in New Chandigarh But Axar struggled to get rhythm and fell for a runaball 21 as India fell short by 51 runs Amidst the likes of Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav not getting big runs Tilak gave India something to cheer by making a 34ball 62âEveryone is flexible except openers Everyone is flexible and open to bat anywhere I am up for batting at 3 4 5 6 or anywhere Where the team prefers for me to bat I am up for it Everyone knows that they are flexible in every batting order If you are mentally strong you can do well in any numberâ said Tilak in the prematch press conferenceAsked about the Indian teamâs decision to send Axar at three ahead of recognised batters including himself Tilak said âIt depends As you can see Axar Patel has already done the same thing in the World Cup and he has done well in that position as well It keeps happening in one odd game It depends on the situation In a tactical situation if the team feels that it is the best in that situation then anyone goes ahead keeping in mind the teamâs interestsââUps and downs happen but the same player has done that in the World Cup as well I am ready to bat anywhere for the team and I will always try to do my best for the team The other players are doing the same and as I said everything is flexible and we are making the decisions that we feel will benefit the teamâThe HPCA Stadium has shown a trend of producing highscoring pitches and Tilak felt batting first or chasing wonât matter much at the venue âI have played previously here in the Under19 series for India After that I am coming here now and we are just going to watch the wicket I think there will be a highscoring wicket here We will play with a positive intentâ he saidâIn the first two matches the one who bats first has won Because the weather is cold everywhere there is a little bit of seam and swing for the bowlers So I think there is not much difference in batting first and second Unfortunately we collapsed in the last game but we will play with the same intentââWhatever we have been doing in the last 1520 matches we will play with the same intent and get good results So I would say it wont matter much if its the first or second batting because the match starts at 7 pm and that is the time when dew starts to formâ he addedTilak signed off by saying the Indian team has prepared well for countering the dew expected to come early in the gameâThere was a due in ODIs as well and we have mentally prepared for it in practice We dont have the toss result in our hands but we are mentally preparing for the dew We have practised before and the ball does get a little wet But we have prepared for whatever we can get in the game during the practiceâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/3rd-t20i-if-you-are-mentally-strong-you-can-do-well-at-any-number-says-tilak-varma-653341.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/raiza-dhillon-sweeps-womens-skeet-titles-on-opening-day-of-68th-national-shooting-championship-finals--653344.html New Delhi Dec 13 Olympian Raiza Dhillon delivered a commanding performance on Saturday at the shotgun ranges claiming a golden double in the Womenâs and Junior Womenâs Skeet events at the 68th National Shooting Championship Competitions NSCC at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in Tughlaqabad near New Delhi Raiza shot 56 in the Womenâs Skeet final to secure the gold medal one better than Yashasvi Rathore who settled for silver with 55 Fellow Olympian Ganemat Shekhon finished third to take bronze after hitting 45 targets Darshna Rathore 36 Risham Kaur Guron 27 and Vanshika Tiwari 18 finished fourth fifth and sixth respectivelyEarlier the qualification round saw Yashavi top the group with 118 hits while Raiza and Ganemat both shot 116 with Raiza finishing second on a shootoff score of 5 while Ganemat placed third with 4 Darshna Rathore finished fourth with 115 while Risham Kaur Guron and Vanshika Tiwari followed closely with 114 apiece their positions decided on shootoff scoresIn the Womenâs Skeet Team event Rajasthan clinched the gold medal with Yashasvi Rathore Darshna Rathore and Olympian Maheshwari Chauhan 110 combining to 343 hits to top the standings Madhya Pradesh Vanshika Tiwari Mansi Raghuwanshi with 111 hits and Oshmi Shrivas with 103 hits finished second with a total score of 328 while Punjab Ganemat Shekhon Parinaaz Dhaliwal with 105 and Asees Chhina with 104 claimed the bronze medal with 325Raiza continued her dominant run in the Junior Womenâs Skeet final shooting 55 to finish one ahead of Vanshika Tiwari who took silver with 54 Mansi Raghuwanshi won the bronze medal with 45 Qualification topper Yashasvi Rathore 118 finished fourth in the final with 34 followed by Risham Kaur Guron 22 and Sanyogita Shekhawat 14In the Junior Womenâs Team Skeet event Madhya Pradesh emerged as the winners with a total of 328 Vanshika Tiwari Mansi Raghuwanshi and Oshmi Shrivas with 103 hits while Rajasthan Yashasvi Rathore Sanyogita Shekhawat with 110 and Kamna Udawat with 98 hits secured silver at 326 points Punjab finished third to claim the bronze medal with 314 Risham Kaur Guron Parmeet Kaur with 108 hits and Sifat Chhina with 92 hitsThe competitions at the 68th NSCC will continue over the coming days with the womenâs and junior womenâs 25m sports pistol finals scheduled next as Indiaâs top shooters continue their quest for national honours IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/raiza-dhillon-sweeps-womens-skeet-titles-on-opening-day-of-68th-national-shooting-championship-finals--653344.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/all-india-civil-services-sports-meet-begins-in-patna-over-1-000-take-part-653349.html Patna Dec 13 A large contingent of athletes from the countrys civil services has converged in Patna for the All India Civil Services Sports Championship 202526 which began on Saturday at the Patliputra Sports Complex and will continue till December 15 As many as 1084 civil servant athletes and officials from across the country are taking part in the threeday nationallevel championshipThe participants include 702 male athletes 328 female athletes and 54 officials representing all 28 states and nine Union Territories including Haryana Gujarat Uttar Pradesh Maharashtra Tamil Nadu and KeralaThe championship features a wide range of athletics events bringing together officers from diverse services to compete at a high levelOn the opening day the morning session saw keenly contested 100metre and 400metre races with participants displaying notable competitiveness discipline and sportsmanshipThe Patliputra Sports Complex which is hosting the event is equipped with a synthetic track internationalstandard field event facilities and modern infrastructure ensuring professional conduct of the championshipThe competition includes a comprehensive set of track and field events such as sprint and middledistance races high jump long jump shot put discus throw javelin throw and relay racesA special highlight of the championship is the veterans category for athletes aged between 40 and 60 years The category aims to encourage participation by senior officers and promote interaction between experienced sportspersons and younger athletes blending enthusiasm with experienceBihar Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit said it was a matter of pride for the state to host the All India Civil Services Athletics ChampionshipHe said it was particularly encouraging to witness government officers actively participating in sports despite the demands of their professional responsibilitiesIn Bihar the Sports Department was established as a separate department in 2024 Since then several international sporting events have been organised in the state The government is continuously working to promote sports and athletes the Chief Secretary saidPratyaya Amrit added that in the recent years special emphasis has been placed on strengthening sports infrastructure across BiharSports academies are being activated at the district level and multiple schemes are being implemented to identify and encourage young sporting talent he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/all-india-civil-services-sports-meet-begins-in-patna-over-1-000-take-part-653349.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/u19-asia-cup-openers-help-bangladesh-secure-thrilling-three-wicket-win-over-afghanistan-653350.html Dubai Dec 13 Openers Rifat Beg and Zawad Abrar hit halfcenturies each and helped Bangladesh edge Afghanistan by three wickets in their Group B clash of the Menâs U19 Asia Cup at The ICC Academy in Dubai on Saturday After Faisal Shinozada topscored with 103 as Afghanistan posted 2837 Bangladesh completed the chase with an over to spare despite a late collapse Bangladesh appeared in control for a breezy end to the chase at 236 2 needing only 48 runs off 45 balls with eight wickets in handBut four wickets fell in the space of four overs giving Afghanistan a glimmer of hope Allrounder Rizan Hossanâs brisk 17 not out eventually settled nerves and carried Bangladesh home with seven balls remaining Openers Abrar and Beg laid the platform for Bangladeshâs win with a rollicking 151run standWhile Beg fell for 62 in the 27th over Abrar missed out on a century dismissed for 96 by Roohullah Arab Captain Azizul Hakim and Kalam Siddiki added 66 for the third wicket but a middleorder wobble threatened to derail the chase before Hossanâs late intervention got them over the lineAfghanistanâs innings was built around Shinozadaâs fluent 103 off 94 balls laced with eight fours and four sixes He shared partnerships of 66 with Osman Sadat and 89 with Uzairullah Niazai to push the score past 200Despite his efforts Afghanistan slipped to 2257 in the 46th over before Azizullah Miakhil 38 and Abdul Aziz 26 lifted them to 283 with a rapid unbroken stand of 58 off 28 balls though it was not enough to save them from a loss to BangladeshBrief scoresAfghanistan U19 2837 in 50 overs Faisal Shinozada 103 Uzairullah Niazai 44 Shahriar Ahmed 243 Iqbal Hossain Emon 263 lost to Bangladesh U19 2847 in 485 overs Zawad Abrar 96 Rifat Beg 62 Khatir Stanikzai 246 Roohullah Arab 248 by three wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/u19-asia-cup-openers-help-bangladesh-secure-thrilling-three-wicket-win-over-afghanistan-653350.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/south-koreas-limshin-win-mixed-doubles-title-at-wtt-finals-653360.html Hong Kong Dec 13 South Koreas Lim Jonghoon and Shin Yubin cruised past Chinas Olympic champions Wang Chuqin and Sung Yingsha in straight games in the mixed doubles final at the World Table Tennis WTT Finals on Saturday With Sun having suffered an injury in the womens singles competition the reigning mixed doubles world champions found it difficult to keep up with their opponents pace After an 119 loss in the opening game Wang and Sun took four consecutive points to pull back to 98 in the second but the South Korean duo regrouped to win 118 The second seeds continued their good form prevailing 116 in the third game to secure their titleEarlier in the day an ankle injury had forced Sun to pull out of her womens singles semifinal against compatriot Kuai ManKuai clinched a 1210 victory in the third game for a 21 lead before Sun called a medical timeout to deal with her ankle pain After returning to action the world No 1 levelled the score with an 117 win in the fourth game reports XinhuaHowever Suns ankle continued to hamper her After losing the fifth game 113 she withdrew from the contest sending Kuai into the title showdownAfter going through many matches I had already felt the lack of supporting strength in my feet in the first game and the pain increased in the third Sun explainedI hoped to deal with it well and continue to play Despite winning the fourth game I found it hard to move in the fifth especially on the forehandI wanted to compete in the mixed doubles final Though the result was not satisfactory we did go all out she addedIn another allChinese affair in the womens singles second seed Wang Manyu sailed past Chen Yi 119 113 1210 118As we are quite familiar with each other this match was more about adjustments on the court Wang said after her win I was patient in the match Whether leading or trailing I could deal with it and tried to make adjustments to score pointsRecovering from his mixed doubles semifinal defeat along with Kuai Lin Shidong triumphed 40 in an allChinese mens singles quarterfinal against Xiang Peng Secondseeded Lin set up a semifinal clash with Japans Tomokazu Harimoto who escaped with a win over Frances Felix Lebrun in a sevengame thrillerI played Harimoto not long ago Looking at our headtohead record Im not the favourite Lin noted I hope to go into the next match with humility and show everything Im capable of Ill give my best to see how I can learn from himThe other mens semifinal pits Wang Chuqin against Swedens Truls MoregardAs the seasonending tournament the WTT Finals will conclude on Sunday with the mens and womens singles titles up for grabs IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/south-koreas-limshin-win-mixed-doubles-title-at-wtt-finals-653360.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 02:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/arsenal-edge-wolves-to-go-five-points-clear-in-premier-league-standings-653379.html London Dec 14 An own goal deep into secondhalf stoppage time saw Arsenal edge past Wolverhampton Wanderers that keeps gunners top of the Premier League table Yerson Mosqueras own goal four minutes into secondhalf stoppage time spared Arsenals blushes as they edged out Wolverhampton Wanderers 21 at Emirates StadiumAfter a quiet first half Arsenal were much improved after the break and after forcing Wolves keeper Johnstone into some good saves they finally got in front on 70 minutes when a Bukayo Saka corner struck a post and went in off the visiting custodianBut as the game ticked past 90 minutes it exploded into life Tolu Arokodare nodded Wolves level as it looked like Arsenal would suffer a similar fate to their recent woes at Sunderland and Aston Villa but in the 94th minute Yerson Mosquera diverted another Saka delivery past his goalkeeper to send gunners five points clear at the top of the tableThis was the seventh time in Premier League history a team scored twice in a Premier League match with both goals being own goals and first since Leicester against Liverpool in December 2022Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta saos after the win We have periods so three minutes deep so passive really poor defensive habits not acceptable for our level We need to improve that and at the end you rely on an individual action to score the goal and win the gameWe create lots of situations without picking the right players in the final pass Regardless of how the game goes you can always find a solution to win it Now we are going to have a clean week Then we go again Christmas period we know what happensWolves coach Rob Edwards added We have lost a game and I think it is our fault The lads carried the game plan out really well The two goals we conceded are bizarre especially the first one To get back in it and work that hard and show a lot of fight spirit and courageTo lose it late on it hurts There is a lot there to like but I hate losing What we have come into is difficult we are going the right way about it It is a positive night apart from the result But we are in a results business IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/arsenal-edge-wolves-to-go-five-points-clear-in-premier-league-standings-653379.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 16:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/telangana-cm-thanks-messi-for-enthralling-fans-in-hyderabad-congratulates-security-personnel-653404.html Hyderabad Dec 14 Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday thanked football legend Lionel Messi and his teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul for the GOAT India tour event in Hyderabad I wholeheartedly thank GOAT Lionel Messi football greats Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul for accepting our invitation and gracing our city of Hyderabad and enthralling all our sports lovers especially youth Chief Minister poster on XCM Revanth Reddy who played the friendly match against Messis team at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium also thanked the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for attending the eventWe are deeply grateful to our leader Rahul Gandhi ji for joining us and making the evening a memory of a lifetime he saidI thank and congratulate all officers security personnel organisers and staff on duty across the city for ensuring we were able to showcase to the world that means sports Telangana means excellence and Telangana means hospitality the Chief Minister saidOn behalf of my entire government I thank all sports lovers and fans for their best conduct and disciplined manner in which we played hosts to our guests he addedThe celebrations included a vibrant musical concert and an elaborate laser show featuring performances by Rahul Sipligunj and MangliBefore the friendly match a Meet amp Greet programme was organised in honour of Lionel Messi at Falaknuma PalaceCM Revanth Reddy along with Rahul Gandhi attended the event where several distinguished personalities had the opportunity to interact with the football legendMessi was in Hyderabad on Saturday where he appeared in many photoops was seen kicking a ball with kids and interacting with officials The visit came soon after the chaos witnessed at his first stop in Kolkata A huge controversy erupted after his blinkandmiss performance at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata for which fans had forked out huge amounts for tickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/telangana-cm-thanks-messi-for-enthralling-fans-in-hyderabad-congratulates-security-personnel-653404.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 16:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/bring-khawaja-back-at-top-travis-down-to-no-5-in-adelaide-hussey-653457.html New Delhi Dec 14 Former Australia Test star Mike Hussey believes veteran batter Usman Khawaja should be recalled as opener and Travis Head should move down to the No 5 spot for the third Ashes Test starting on Wednesday in Adelaide Khawaja who missed the second Test victory in Brisbane due to back spasms was unable to open in Australiaâs first innings after spending prolonged time off the field with a back injury during Englandâs batting in the series opener in PerthIn Khawajas absence Travis Head delivered a standout performance and scored a matchwinning Ashes century for the ages However Khawaja is now fit again and has been selected in the 15man squad for the Adelaide TestâIâd bring him straight back in and Iâd move Travis Head back down to number fiveâ Hussey said on Fox Cricket âI just think Usman Khawajaâs basically had one innings here in Perth with back spasms Coming into the series Usman Khawaja was our number one guy opening the batting â we werenât sure who the other guy would beWhatâs changed after one innings Heâs recovered from his back injury now Get him back in there at the top of the order he addedHussey believes that Head returning to his position in the middle order could be more damaging against England who are trailing 02 in the seriesGet Travis Head back down to number five I know Travis Head played an amazing innings here as opener in Perth in the First Test â but I just like him at number five Opening the batting consistently at Test cricket is difficult very difficult I just feel like Travis Head can be more consistent in the middle order said HusseyShould Khawaja return it would come at the expense of Josh Inglis who batted at No 7 at the Gabba where he scored an uncertain 23 a view supported by the former Aussie great Adam GilchristâI think they will do that drop Inglis and bring back Khawaja I think the brains trust will say thatâs the percentage play â get Usmanâs experience there go back to a more traditional opening methodâTravis Head can then come into the middle order and really make some strong contributions and maybe still up the tempo if he needs to in that middle orderâI think Usman will be at the topâIt would be a tough call to say picking Usman here in that first Test match and saying âyouâre our trump youâre experienced thats who we build our order around with a debutant in the form of Jake Weatheraldâ itâs a tough call to then say because of injury thatâs the end of your career effectively said Gilchirst IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/bring-khawaja-back-at-top-travis-down-to-no-5-in-adelaide-hussey-653457.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 23:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/inaugural-cidco-open-set-to-begin-from-december-16-653459.html Navi Mumbai Dec 14 The Professional Golf Tour of India PGTI and CIDCO on Sunday jointly announced the staging of the inaugural CIDCO Open PGTIâs firstever event in the city carries a prize purse of INR 1 crore and is scheduled to be held here at the magnificent Kharghar Valley Golf Course from December 16 to 19 The tournament will feature 126 professionals It will be played in strokeplay format over four rounds of 18 holes each After two rounds the top 50 players and ties will make the cutThe starstudded field at the tournament will include leading Indian professionals such as Yuvraj Sandhu 2025 PGTI Order of Merit Champion Veer Ahlawat Manu Gandas Angad Cheema and Om Prakash Chouhan among othersThe prominent foreign players in the tournament include Sri Lankans N Thangaraja and K Prabagaran Bangladeshis Md Siddikur Rahman and Badal Hossain Nepalâs Subash Tamang the Czech Republicâs Stepan Danek Italians Michele Ortolani and Federico Zucchetti American Koichiro Sato as well as Ugandaâs Joshua SealeThe local professionals in the field are Manoj Kumar Mayur Thakur and Pankaj Thakur from Navi Mumbai and Anil Bajrang Mane from MumbaiKapil Dev President PGTI said âWe are delighted to bring the firstever PGTI event to the Kharghar Valley Golf Course in Navi Mumbai in partnership with the Government of Maharashtra This venue represents the exciting growth of golf infrastructure in India and hosting a tournament here is an important step in taking the sport to new regions and communities Importantly we are pleased to bring a PGTI event to the financial capital of India as golf is a sport played at most financial hubs around the world We look forward to showcasing the talent of Indiaâs finest professionals on this beautiful and challenging course and we hope it inspires more young golfers in Navi Mumbai and beyond We thank the Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis CIDCO and Larsen amp Toubro for their support to this eventâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/inaugural-cidco-open-set-to-begin-from-december-16-653459.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 23:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/messi-event-chaos-bengal-guv-to-prepare-spl-report-suggest-precautions-for-mega-gatherings-653461.html Kolkata Dec 14 West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose will prepare a separate report on the management lapses witnessed at Salt Lake Stadium on the northern outskirts of Kolkata on December 13 during an event featuring Argentine football star Lionel Messi and will also suggest to the state government the precautions that need to be adopted in future while organising such mega events an official said on Sunday The Governor visited the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday to take stock of the situation following the chaos that broke out at the venue Before leaving the stadium he told newspersons that he intended to prepare a separate report on the incident and forward specific recommendations to the state government on measures required to prevent similar occurrences in the futureDuring his interaction with the media the Governor accused the state government of not taking adequate security precautions for an event of such magnitude despite advance indications of potential crowdrelated problems He said there were prior alerts about the massive gathering of people eager to catch a glimpse of the Argentine football star which should have prompted stronger preventive arrangementsThe Governor also reiterated the comments he had made on Saturday alleging that the police administration failed to put in place sufficient advance measures to anticipate and manage the chaos arising from the huge turnout at the stadiumAdvance precautions were necessary to ensure that the event proceeded smoothly the Governor said underscoring the need for better planning and coordination among the concerned authorities in such highprofile programmesMeanwhile members of the judicial committee appointed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to review the incident also visited the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday afternoon The committee has been tasked with examining the circumstances that led to the disorder and assessing responsibility for the lapsesAfter inspecting the venue the head of the committee Justice Retd Ashim Kumar Ray of the Calcutta High Court appealed to media persons to refrain from conducting what he termed a postmortem of the incident at this stageI request all of you not to go for any kind of postmortem at this moment We will conduct a detailed investigation into the matter We have taken notes on everything and our final report will contain all the details he saidHowever Justice Ray declined to respond directly when asked whether any specific authority or agency could be held responsible for the apparent mismanagement at the stadium on Saturday The investigation is at a preliminary stage now so I cannot say anything at this moment he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/messi-event-chaos-bengal-guv-to-prepare-spl-report-suggest-precautions-for-mega-gatherings-653461.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 23:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/sports/sr-national-judo-cship-2025-26-vbf-judoka-kalpana-upsets-unnati-sharma-to-bag-gold-653468.html Imphal Dec 14 Vijayi Bharat Foundation VBF judoka Irengbam Kalpana Devi bagged gold in the womenâs 63 kg category at the Senior National Judo Championship 202526 Kalpana stunned the judo fraternity by defeating Himanshi Tokas the former Junior World No 1 and current Jr World No 3 in the semifinals of the eventShe carried that momentum into the final where she overpowered Unnati Sharma the Senior Asian Championship silver medalist with a commanding performance to win goldKalpana who hails from Manipur has been training under coach Lal Krishan Baghel at VBFs highperformance centre in Ahmedabad since mid2024I am really happy to win gold today It has all been through the hard work and dedication of my team at VBF so first of all I would like to thank Vijayi Bharat Foundation and my coach Lal Krishan Baghel for what I have achieved today I will now aim to continue this momentum and reach many more milestones for our country said KalpanaAccording to coach Baghel Kalpanaâs preparation for the Senior Nationals focused on elitelevel gripping strategies kumikata transition speed from tachiwaza to newaza matchspecific randori anaerobic endurance and decisionmaking under fatigue Special emphasis was placed on neutralizing the strengths of topranked opponents and converting small scoring opportunities into matchwinning advantagesâThis gold medal is not accidental It is the outcome of disciplined planning technical precision and belief in the processâ said coach BaghelâKalpana followed every session with commitment and she trusted the VBF even when the training was extremely demandingâ he addedKalpanaâs gold medal performance significantly strengthens her position among Indiaâs top senior judokas in the 63 kg category and highlights the growing impact of scientific performancedriven coaching in Vijayi Bharat Foundation VBF Experts believe this victory could mark the beginning of her rise on the international circuitOther VBF judokas making their mark at the event were Rohit Majgul who also dominated in his weight category to win gold in the menâs 66 kg category Shahin Darjada who won silver in womens 57 kg Anurag Sagar silver in mens 60 kg Max Laishram silver in mens 73 kg Simran bronze in womens 48 kg Wanglen Angom bronze in mens 66 kg Reva Rawat bronze in the womenâs 63 kg category IANS https://dailyworld.in/sports/sr-national-judo-cship-2025-26-vbf-judoka-kalpana-upsets-unnati-sharma-to-bag-gold-653468.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 23:53:00 +0530