Author: Abhishek Shukla

Owner of Sports India Live.
by Abhishek Shukla

BENGAL WARRIORS BEGIN HOME LEG AGAINST GUJARAT GIANTS, ISSUES RALLYING CRY TO FANS

8 February 2024, Kolkata: The Bengal Warriors, champions in 2019, are all set to make a final dash for a Playoffs spot as they prepare to play four matches in quick succession during their home leg in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10. The Warriors, who are currently at the ninth spot, will be up against the Gujarat Giants at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, Kolkata on Friday.

Ahead of the start of their home leg, the Bengal Warriors Captain Maninder Singh said during a press conference, “We are very happy to be back home in Kolkata after 4 years. Our fans are our lucky charm, and we haven’t lost here since I joined the team. We always really enjoying the support from the home crowd, and we have noticed the encouragement from the fans helps raise our levels. So much so that whenever we come here, even if we aren’t doing that well, out form changes quite a lot. So, this year also, we want all of you to come support us, so that we can have four great games.”

A day before the start of the Kolkata leg of Season 10 of PKL, Bengal Warriors’ Head Coach K Bhaskaran said, “It is great to be back home with the Bengal Warriors team. Our team has had its ups and downs this season, but we have the experience in the squad and skills in the players to make a final run towards qualifying for the playoffs. The players are very excited to be playing here, and we hope our fans will come out and support us in big numbers. Our raider and captain Maninder is in good form, and Shubham Shinde and co in defense are all working hard so that we can give ourselves the best possible chance to make the playoffs.”

“The Bengal Warriors are putting in the hard yards in training every day, and we hope to put on a very good show for our home fans. The coaches and the leadership group are among the best brains here in the sport, and I am confident that we will leave no stone unturned as we look to up the ante from the first minute. The Warrior mentality is all about fighting it out properly and leaving it all on the field of play,” said Apurv Gupta, Senior Vice-President and Head of Contact Sports, Capri Sports. 

While the Bengal Warriors will be doing their bit on the field of play, they have also partnered with the CRY foundation and will be supporting their programme of Kabaddi for Change, which is an initiative that aims to harness kabaddi as a means to empower girls in select districts of West Bengal. The three girls, Payal Yadav, Hanshika Roy and Sarita Kumari, from the CRY’s Kabaddi for Change team were also present at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, and were presented Bengal Warriors Jersey’s by Captain Maninder Singh and Shubham Shinde.
The Bengal Warriors will be up against Gujarat Giants, Telugu Titans, U Mumba and Puneri Paltan during their home leg from 9-14 February 2024.

by Abhishek Shukla

Squash: Hussein Gets Payback In Soares Rematch On Opening Day Of Pittsburgh Open

Egypt’s Aly Hussein avenged his recent loss to Rui Soares as he defeated the Portuguese player in three games on the opening day of the Pittsburgh Open 2024.

Hussein, who was defeated by the World No.58 at the Motor City Open exactly seven days ago, couldn’t be separated from Soares in the first game, as the pair stayed within two points of each other for all but one point of the opener.

In an opening game marred by 15 separate refereeing decisions, Soares earned himself the first game ball. Hussein got the better of a counter-drop battle and had Soares on his heels after a well-timed cross-court shot, eventually levelling the score with a backhand drop.

From there, Soares saw the lion’s share of the game balls, but the two were still inseparable to 15-15. A well-disguised straight drive caught Soares out to give the Egyptian a chance to claim the colossal first game, and quick trickle boast earned Hussein a hard-fought 1-0 lead.

From there, Hussein looked to be in command of the encounter, claiming the second game 11-6. Soares rallied in the final game, but Hussein ultimately proved too strong and finished his Motor City Open redemption by forcing a mistake from the World No.58 with a tight squeeze along the right wall to win the third game 11-8 and claim his place in tomorrow’s second round.

After the match, Hussein said: “It feels awesome, he just beat me last week, in Detroit, and honestly I didn’t lose to him twice, in two tournaments in a row,” said Hussein after the match.

“I’m really happy with the way I played, I implemented the game plan just as I wanted and it payed off, I stayed tough throughout the three games and managing to win in three feels special.

“I was really getting on annoyed at myself for not getting any game balls, he was just getting all the game balls and I was trying to equalise. I think I played well as soon as I got the chance to go a game ball up and I managed to convert.

“I’m just going to go in and have fun; I have nothing to lose,” said Hussein on his upcoming match with No.2 seed Marwan ElShorbagy. “Marwan is a really good friend of mine, I love him so much so I’m just going to enjoy my time and hopefully play well, maybe win. We’ll see how that goes.”

Elsewhere, Malaysia’s Addeen Idrakie beat out home favourite Todd Harrity in a five-game thriller.

The Malaysian had a fast start as he charged to a quick 11-6 first-game win. From there, Harrity found parity at 1-1, winning by an 11-8 scoreline after Idrakie’s backhand effort struck the tin.

The American won an equally-close third game to take the lead, but Idrakie responded with a strong performance in game four to take the match the distance, and pushed on to win the match 11-6, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9.

“First of all I think I played quite well,” Idrakie said after the match. “What I did good today is I really prepared for a tough match. A good win for me, and credit to Todd that he pushed me until the last set.”

Earlier in the session, home favourite Andrew Douglas defeated India’s Abhay Singh in 25 minutes in the first match of the tournament, while India’s Velavan Senthlikumar, after a emphatic 11-2 first game, began the action on court three with a strong 3-1 win over Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue.

Day two of the Pittsburgh Open begins at 16:00 (GMT-5) on Thursday, 8th February, with action from both courts live on SQUASHTV. For more information on the Pittsburgh Open, visit the PSA website or follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Results: Pittsburgh Open RD1
Andrew Douglas (USA) bt Abhay Singh (IND) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-2 (25m)
Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) bt Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) 3-1: 11-2, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8 (41m)
George Parker (ENG) bt Ibrahim Elkabbani (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 (31m)
Aly Hussein (EGY) bt Rui Soares (POR) 3-0: 17-15, 11-6, 11-8 (65m)
Addeen Idrakie (MAS) bt Todd Harrity (USA) 3-2: 11-6, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9 (79m)
Simon Herbert (ENG) bt [WC] Asser Ibrahim (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 (28m)
Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt Lucas Serme (FRA) 3-0: 13-11, 11-9, 11-5 (45m)
Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) bt Yannik Omlor (GER) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-3 (20m)

Draw: Pittsburgh Open RD2
16:00 Andrew Douglas (USA) v [4] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY)
16:45 [1] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v George Parker (ENG)
17:30 Aly Hussein (EGY) v [2] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG)
18:15 [3] Youssef Soliman (EGY) v Simon Herbert (ENG)
16:15 [8] Faraz Khan (USA) v Velavan Senthilkumar (IND)
17:00 Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) v [5] Adrian Waller (ENG)
17:45 [6] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) v Addeen Idrakie (MAS)
18:30 Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) v [7] Cesar Salazar (MEX)

by Abhishek Shukla

Squash: Moataz Shocks Mohamed To Reach Maiden Silver Quarter-Final At DAC Pro Squash Classic

Egypt’s Hana Moataz shocked compatriot and No.5 seed Farida Mohamed in straight games to progress to her maiden PSA World Tour Silver-event quarter-final at the DAC Pro Squash Classic. 

Moataz, who sits 19 spots behind Mohamed in the current world rankings, backed up her opening-day victory over Marta Dominguez in impressive style, running away with an 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 victory in 25 minutes. 

In a match that was dominated by traffic in the middle of the court and required regular interjections from the referee, it was the World No.36 who came out on top, setting up a tie against Rowan Elaraby in the last eight. 

“I’m really happy with today’s win,” Moataz said after the match. “I think it is my first win against a top 20 player and I’m really happy I could win in three. 

“I played Farida in El Gouna last season and there was a lot happening, and I lost my focus and lost that match, so today I was just trying to focus on my game and not get caught up with whatever is happening with my opponent. I’m glad I was able to stick to my plan and not get distracted by anything. 

“In the third, I think I was 8-4 up and my mind was going, ‘Oh my gosh, you are winning’, so I then told myself to calm down and stick to whatever I was doing because it was working. I’m just glad I was able to stick with it mentally.”

Elsewhere, reigning champion Olivia Weaver and 2021 winner Nouran Gohar both cruised into the last eight at the Detroit Athletic Club. Weaver, who is currently boasting a career-high rank of World No.6 and arrives on the back of claiming the Cincinnati Gaynor Cup title last week, needed just 21 minutes to defeat Nadine Shahin, including a perfect final game, while top seed Gohar powered past compatriot Menna Hamed. 

Meanwhile, No.4 seed Nada Abbas avoided a scare against Egyptian compatriot Kenzy Ayman, coming from two games down to book her spot in the quarter-finals. 

Day three of action from the DAC Pro Squash Classic commences at 16:45 (GMT-5) on Thursday, 8th February, with every second of action available to watch live on SQUASHTV. For more information on the DAC Pro Squash Classic, visit the PSA website or follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. 

Results: DAC Pro Squash Classic 2024 RD2

[7] Melissa Alves (FRA) bt Cindy Merlo (SUI) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 11-3 (21m)

[4] Nada Abbas (EGY) bt Kenzy Ayman (EGY) 3-2: 11-13, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8 (48m)

[2] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt Nadine Shahin (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-0 (21m)

Hana Moataz (EGY) bt [5] Farida Mohamed (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (25m)

[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Menna Hamed (EGY) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-7 (26m)

[3] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt Aira Azman (MAS) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 (23m)

Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt [8] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-3 (28m)

[6] Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt Alicia Mead (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 (24m)

Draw: DAC Pro Squash Classic 2024 Quarter-Finals 

[4] Nada Abbas (EGY) v [6] Hollie Naughton (CAN)

[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v Jasmine Hutton (ENG)

[7] Melissa Alves (FRA) v [2] Olivia Weaver (USA)

Hana Moataz (EGY) v [3] Rowan Elaraby (EGY)

by Abhishek Shukla

Adil Rashid Hails Spinners’ Impact After Record-Breaking Spell in Sharjah Warriors’ Win Against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

Abu Dhabi, 8 February 2024: The Sharjah Warriors secured a crucial victory over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the race to reach the DP World ILT20 season 2 playoffs, at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. After a strong start, the Knight Riders went from 61/1 to 94 all out, which the Warriors chased down in 13.5 overs.

Speaking after the game, England’s Adil Rashid, whose 4/12 is now the best bowling figures in the history of the league, credited the team’s bowlers for their performance. He said, “It’s personally very nice to get four wickets, but we bowled exceptionally well at the start, which set the tone for the rest of my teammates to come in and do their thing.”

Rashid also shared his opinion about what helped his side tackle the opponent batting line-up, saying, “This can happen in T20 cricket. They got off to a great start, but when you lose wickets, the pressure is on; you try to get a few more wickets. Fortunately for us, that’s what happened. They got off to a decent start, but then the spinners came on, and we put the brakes on their batting.”

The win helps the Sharjah Warriors jump up to fourth on the table, with a must-win game up next for them against the Desert Vipers on Sunday, February 11. The Englishman believes his team has what it takes to get there. “Our camp has a very positive mindset right now. We believe that we can win the next match by delivering the skills that we displayed today and going forward in the competition. The team is really gelling well too,” he said.

Signing off, Adil Rashid showered praise on the ILT20, saying, “It’s a great tournament. We have world class players, which makes it a tough competition. And of course, the fans here are amazing, which makes it a great atmosphere for us players.”

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru FC climb to 6th spot with crucial win against Chennaiyin FC

Bengaluru, 7 February, 2024: Bengaluru FC sealed a 1-0 victory over Chennaiyin FC as the Southern Derby titled in favour of the Blues at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 tonight. A second-half strike by Ryan Williams was enough for Gerard Zaragoza and his side to triumph over the visitors in a clash that they dominated from the offset, and held an upper hand to a greater extent than suggested by the scoreline.

Zaragoza had claimed ahead of the game that he had almost a month’s time to train with this squad after taking over the reins from his predecessor Simon Grayson in December. The tactician hoped that the work put in the practice sessions would reflect on the field, but all of that expectation was squandered in their 3-1 loss to Punjab FC in New Delhi.

They needed a strong response and got one tonight with the team functioning in coordination and cohesion to build consistent pressure over the Marina Machans. From skipper Sunil Chhetri and Javi Hernandez combining for the former to attempt a shot from a unique set-piece to the latter trying his luck from the edge of the box – the first-half comprised a lot of entertaining action for the supporters at the Kanteerava.

Unfortunately, those efforts weren’t bearing tangible results, and hence the talk in their dressing room must have been to keep doing what they had been doing right so that Coyle’s team could eventually be cracked. Encounters like these are often decided by fine margins and hence it appeared that Scottish striker Connor Shields could swing the game against the momentum when he tested Gurpreet Singh Sandhu from the left hand side of the 18-yard box merely minutes into the second half. However, decisiveness and certain efficiency was lacking in his endeavour, resulting in his team giving away an excellent opportunity to get an early lead.

Bengaluru FC got their act together straightaway, slowly pulling the strings to ensure that their efforts from the opening essay of the game didn’t go to waste. Chhetri and youngster Harsh Patre took a shot each from either side of the box soon afterwards, but the Chennaiyin FC backline got back just in time to avoid trouble. Unfortunately, they could not do so when Williams was set up with a beautiful through ball by Halicharan Narzary through the centre in the 62nd minute. Williams showed remarkable composure to put the ball past Debjit Majumder and prevent Chennaiyin FC from doing the double over Bengaluru FC this season.

Key Performer of the Match

Ryan Williams (Bengaluru FC)

Williams tackled thrice, crossed five times, and created one goal-scoring opportunity, in addition to completing 14 of his 17 attempted passes. However, his calm headedness inside the box was laudable as he beat Majumder with a sweet strike to secure three points for the home team.

What’s next for both teams?

Bengaluru FC will play Jamshedpur FC on February 11, whereas Chennaiyin FC will be clashing against Kerala Blasters FC on February 16 for their forthcoming fixture.

Brief Scores

Bengaluru FC 1 (Ryan Williams 62’) – 0 Chennaiyin FC

Stats Pack:

Picture4.jpg

by Abhishek Shukla

Indian Women’s Hockey Team goes down 0-3 against Australia in FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24

Bhubaneswar, 7th February 2024: The Indian Women’s Hockey Team registered a 0-3 defeat against Australia in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 at Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. Australia’s Captain Grace Stewart (19’), Tatum Stewart (23’), and Kaitlin Nobbs (55’) were the goalscorers on the day.

India started the match on the front foot, forcing Australia to concede a penalty corner in the second minute of the game but Australia’s goalkeeper Zoe Newman was on her toes to avert any danger. Both teams went on to create significant goalscoring chances in the next couple of minutes but were unable to find the final touch. Australia piled on the pressure as the first quarter came to a close but the Indian defence stood firm.

As India continued to search for a goal in the second quarter Australia initiated a counter through Kaitlin Nobbs who found herself open in the shooting circle and passed to Grace Stewart who tapped the ball in to score the first goal of the game. India tried to create chances but were unable to stitch together the final pass. Soon after, Australia looked to hurt India with a quick counter through Amy Lawton but her reverse shot was battered away by Bichu Devi Kharibam. Halfway through the second quarter Australia earned a penalty corner and a drag flick by Tatum Stewart doubled Australia’s lead in the game. India pegged Australia back as the first half was drawing to a close and earned two penalty corners but failed to capitalise on either of them and the scoreline remained 2-0.

The hockeyroos were happy to sit back and absorb the pressure in the third quarter as India struggled to find a chink in their armour. India had the opportunity to score through a penalty corner in the last minute of the quarter but Udita slapped the ball wide and Australia retained their two-goal lead.

India stepped up their press in the last quarter and were awarded a penalty corner two minutes in but India attempted a variation and Udita’s shot sailed wide of the post again. A few minutes later Mumtaz Khan swiveled to draw a foul in the shooting circle but the penalty corner was frantic and India failed to convert. Australia further increased their lead in the game as Kaitlin Nobbs rolled the ball through Savita’s leg to make it 3-0 with five minutes left in the game. As the game drew to a close Navneet attempted a shot on goal but the keeper remained alert in goal and the match ended 3-0 in Australia’s favour.

India will take on the United States next at 1930 hrs on 9th February.

All matches of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 will be streamed on JioCinema, additionally, all India matches will be telecast on Sports18 – Khel.

by Abhishek Shukla

Shrivalli goes down fighting; seeds Rodionova, Pigossi bow out of the L&T Mumbai Open Tennis Championships

Mumbai, February 7: Shrivalli Bhadimipatty’s dream run this week came to an end on Wednesday evening but not before the 22-year-old Indian out on a tremendous fight against 16-year-old Alina Korneeva, ranked more than 380 spots above her, at the L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series Tennis Championships, being organized by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) and the Cricket Club of India (CCI).

Korneeva, the top-ranked junior last year and winner of two junior Grand Slams in 2023, bounced back from the loss of the first set to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 25 minutes to advance to the quarter-finals.

Earlier in the day, fourth seed Arina Rodionova and fifth seed Laura Pigossi bowed out of the singles event. Rodionova was defeated in straight sets by Dutchwoman Arianna Hartono 4-6, 4-6 while Pigossi was knocked out by Australia’s Storm Hunter 3-6, 3-6.

With this, the top five seeds of the tournament have failed to make it past the second round. Sixth seed Darja Semenistaja is now the highest seed left in the singles event as she advanced to the quarter-finals with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over France’s Amandine Hesse.

In the doubles draw, the Indian duo of Sahaja Yamalapalli/ Vaishnavi Adkar went down fighting to second seeds Sabrina Santamaria/ Dalila Jakupovic 3-6, 6-7.

Yamalapalli, who knocked out top seed Kayla Day in the first round, will be back in action on Thursday for her second round singles match against Polina Kudermetova.

L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series Results, Wednesday February 7, 2024

Singles First Round
Arianne Hartono (NED) def. (4) Arina Rodionova (AUS) 6-4, 6-4
Storm Hunter (AUS) def. (5) Laura Pigossi (BRA) 6-3. 6-3
(6) Darja Semenistaja (LAT) def. Amandine Hesse (FRA) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
Alina Korneeva def. Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (IND) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4

Doubles First Round
(2) Sabrina Santamaria (USA)/ Dalila Jakupovic (SLO) def. Sahaja Yamalapalli (IND) / Vaishnavi Adkar (IND) 6-3, 7-6 (1)
Sapfo Sakellaridi (GRE)/ Olivia Tjandramulia (AUS)/ def Himeno Sakatsume (JPN)/ Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-3.
Panna Udvardy (HUN)/ Natela Dzalamidze (GEO) def. En-Shuo Liang (TPE)/ Chia Yi Tsao (TPE) 4-6, 6-4, 10-7
Ekaterina Yashina/ Carole Monnet (FRA)/ def. Sohyun Park (KOR)/ Zhibek Kulambayeva (KAZ)

by Abhishek Shukla

Aslam Inamdar guides Puneri Paltan to big win over Bengaluru Bulls

DELHI, 6 FEBRUARY 2024: Having already qualified for the playoffs, Puneri Paltan were in great form as they secured a 31-40 win over the Bengaluru Bulls at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday. Despite a late cameback by the Bengaluru Bulls, Skipper Aslam Inamdar’s top performance was supported by his teammates as they continued their fight for one of the two places in the semifinals. 

Puneri Paltan were the main aggressors in the first half, taking a decisive lead early in the game. Bengaluru Bulls, chasing a place in the playoffs, saw Sushil unable to convert his DO OR DIE raid. Skipper Aslam Inamdar once again was the main aggressor for his team, although he was well-supported by Mohit Goyat.  

As the first half was coming to an end, the Bengaluru Bulls worked hard to reduce the deficit between the two teams. Sushil made the most of a DO OR DIE raid before Parteek trapped Aslam Inamdar during another DO OR DIE raid. Raider Mohit Goyat then turned defender to earn his team a crucial two points with a SUPER TACKLE to get Sushil off the mat as the scores read heading into the 13-18 at the halftime break.  

The Bengaluru Bulls were not able to carry their momentum from the end of the first half as Akash Shinde helped his team survive with a SUPER TACKLE against Vikash Kandola. Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Bulls raider Sushil was unsuccessful in his DO OR DIE raid as the Bengaluru Bulls looked for a way back into the game.  

Skipper Aslam Inamdar inched closer to a SUPER 10 after a successful raid got the Bengaluru Bulls ALL OUT in the 14th minute. The Puneri Paltan raiders turned defenders as Mohit Goyat and Akash Shinde found themselves among the tackle points. This took the team to 33 points as compared to the Bengaluru Bulls’ 15 ahead of the Strategic Timeout in the 
second half. 

Bharat was substituted onto the mat in the second half and got some crucial points, but it was not enough as the lead taken by the Puneri Paltan was enough to ensure their side won the game. For the Bengaluru Bulls, the loss put a dent in their playoff ambitions, but they came back well after Sushil’s SUPER RAID in the final minutes reduced the deficit between the two teams.

Pro Kabaddi League Season 10, 2023
Points Table
PositionTeamMatchesWonLostTiedPointsScore DiffPoints concededPoints scored
1Puneri Paltan18132376206503709
2Jaipur Pink Panthers1812337282543625
3Dabang Delhi K.C.1911536848633681
4Patna Pirates199735835667702
5Gujarat Giants181080553594597
6Haryana Steelers17106155-13625612
7Bengaluru Bulls19710248-51666615
8Tamil Thalaivas1981104524662686
9Bengal Warriors1778244-26650624
10U Mumba18610241-40694654
11U.P. Yoddhas18413129-54666612
12Telugu Titans18216016-214790576

Please see below the PKL Season 10 match on 9th February

Game 1 – Bengal Warriors vs Gujarat Giants- 8 pm

Game 2- Haryana Steelers vs U.P. Yoddhas- 9 pm

Venue: Kolkata

Season 10 of the Pro Kabaddi League will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and for free on Disney+ Hotstar.  

by Abhishek Shukla

Amit Panghal and Akash move into quarters at the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament

Sofia, (Bulgaria), February 7, 2024: The commonwealth games gold medallist Amit Panghal, National champion Akash and men’s National bronze medalist Abhimanyu put up a stellar show to move into the quarter-final of the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria on Wednesday.

Amit (51kg) had Rudyk Maksym’s challenge to tackle as he eyed his place in the quarters. The experienced campaigner quickly got into his groove and his ability to efficiently get into the attacking position was on display throughout the bout.

The first two rounds were all about taking on the opponent, while in the third round, Amit employed his defensive tactics to frustrate his Ukrainian opponent and capitalize on his errors, advancing to the quarter-finals with a dominant 5-0 unanimous decision win. Amit will face Aldarkhishig Battulga of Mongolia on Friday.

Akash (71kg) was up against Traore Makan of France. Akash started slow but soon picked up the pace as he displayed swift movement and landed a flurry of punches, surprising his opponents and gaining a significant lead. The performance continued in the second round as Akash continued to be a dominant force in the bout.

Traore did make a comeback in the third round but Akash’s exploits in the first two rounds were enough to ensure him a 3-1 win as he entered the quarter-final. Akash will now take on Mckeever Eugene of Ireland on Friday.

Abhimany Loura (80kg) showed a similar display of dominance against Monny Raphael of France. The boxer from Haryana made full use of his long reach as he delivered lethal punches for which the opponent had no answer for.

Abhimanyu grabbed the win with a 5-0 verdict and will face the Asian Games gold medallist China’s Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan in the quarter-final on Friday.

Later tonight, Naveen Kumar (92kg) and Deepak (75kg) will be in action against Voisnarovic Darius of Lithuania and Asankul Uulu Sultan of Kyrgyzstan in their round of 16 clash.

The quarter-final action will start on Thursday, Nikhat Zareen (50kg) will be up against Lkhadiri Wassila of France, Sakshi (57kg) will face Mamajonova Khumorabonu of Uzbekistan and Arundhati Choudhary (66kg) will square off against Matovic Milena of Serbia.

Jugnoo (86kg) and Sagar (+92kg) will take on Uzbekistan’s Djalolov Samandar and Zokirov Jakhongir respectively. Naveen (92kg) will also have his quarter-finals bout tomorrow depending on his round of 16 match result tonight.

The Strandja Memorial Tournament is one of Europe’s oldest international sports competitions and is witnessing the participation of over 300 pugilists from 30 countries.

by Abhishek Shukla

Resilience and clarity of thought – Shahzaib Khan’s mantra for chasing dreams

The weight of history is particularly heavy when you represent Pakistan.

There are always callbacks to the Cornered Tigers of ‘92 or the pace-bowling traditions of Wasim and Waqar, and in the case of the junior side in the ongoing ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024, the back-to-back title triumphs in 2004 and 2006.

It’s nearly two decades since Pakistan enjoyed success at this event. They came close in 2010 and 2014, reaching the finals both times, but the trophy still eludes them, even though superstars of the calibre of Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi emerged through the ranks. 

Shahzaib Khan is of course hoping to one day follow in the steps of those two, but his immediate aspirations are simple: “I can’t put into words the feeling of possibly winning the World Cup,” he tells ICC. “For the country and the team, the feeling will be unparalleled if we end up winning.”

Shahzaib has so far done his bit to that end – with an impressive tally of 260 runs in five matches, he sits proudly among the tournament’s top run-scorers. 

A high-stakes semi-final clash against Australia awaits on Thursday. With higher stakes comes more pressure, and add to it the weight of history that comes with representing Pakistan, there will likely be nerves.

But Shahzaib isn’t fazed. “We don’t take any pressure, we are playing our natural game,” he says. “We place equal importance on every match. We are putting our efforts into becoming champions this time around.”

That confidence is well founded. Pakistan’s record so far is unblemished, with the team going unbeaten in five matches to make it to the semi-finals. That said, it’s not been without challenges – their fortitude was put to the test in their last Super Six game against Bangladesh, a virtual quarter-final for both sides.

After being bowled out for 155, Pakistan were up against it. However, they showcased resilience with an inspired bowling performance and successfully defended the total, ultimately securing a thrilling victory by five runs.

“There was a bit of nerves when Bangladesh were chasing,” Shazaib admits. “It was a do-or-die match, a virtual knockout. We didn’t have many runs on board, but we knew that the wicket was difficult to bat on and that it would be challenging for Bangladesh to score those runs.

“We wanted to get early wickets and make the chase difficult for them. The pitch was such that it would have been difficult to score the runs despite it being a low score. 

“It was a tough match but I feel this was our best performance among the five matches.”

The unity the team displayed during that backs-to-the-wall performance was something Shahzaib speaks of proudly. “If you see our last game when the batting didn’t click, the bowlers put their hands up,” he says. “When the bowlers have an off day, the batters pull the team up.

“It’s a combination of these things that has led to our success. We play as a unit and we hope to continue doing so in the semi-final.”

Even if they don’t make it past the semi-finals, representing Pakistan has already been a dream come true for Shahzaib. The journey began in 2018, in the serene landscapes of Mansehra at the Junaid Khan Cricket Academy.

By the end of that year, Shahzaib had not only embraced the game but also made swift progress, playing in the U13 category and later transitioning to U16 with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“When I started playing cricket, I wasn’t very aware of age-group cricket like U19 and U16 or much about the game,” he says. “But I was always determined to play for Pakistan – I didn’t know how but that was always the goal.

“Once I began (my journey) in 2018, I started to realise that I wanted to become a cricketer. But it was always in my mind that I wanted to represent the country.”

Shahzaib being left-handed, his cricketing idol comes as no surprise – the legendary Pakistani opener Saeed Anwar, who Shahzaib reveals was a big inspiration in how he shaped his approach to the game. Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara is another name-check when listing his inspirations.

Shahzaib’s rise has been rapid since he joined the age-group ranks, but it’s not all been smooth sailing. He was called up to the Pakistan U19 squad for the home series against Bangladesh in November 2022, but he struggled, scoring just 16 runs in three one-day games. “When I played against Bangladesh in Pakistan, I didn’t perform well.” 

However Shahzaib’s resilience came to the fore on the return tour in May 2023. He found his rhythm and scored an impressive 174 in the first four-day match, and soon clinched the Player of the Series title in both the four-day and one-day formats. 

Looking back, Shahzaib identifies this tour as the “turning point” in his career. “After that, I have played very well and have been part of all the series, including the Asia Cup and the World Cup,” he says.

There has been no turning back and his performances in the World Cup thus far are testament to his commitment to self-improvement.

For Shahzaib, the U19 Men’s CWC is the pinnacle for a young cricketer, a stage where dreams take flight. The importance of this esteemed event was heightened for Shahzaib when he marked his World Cup debut with a century against Afghanistan in the opener.

“It was a great feeling,” he says. “For a U19 player, there is no bigger event than the U19 World Cup. And for someone to score a hundred on their World Cup debut is a great honour. I was elated to score the century.

“I am happy with my performance in the five matches so far. But I will try to do better and score another hundred in the semi-final to help my team reach the final.”

When asked about his hopes beyond this tournament, Shahzaib Khan displayed that unwavering clarity yet again. “I want to perform to the best of my ability,” he says. “My dream is to play all three formats for the Pakistan senior team and have a long career.”

That weight of history sits lightly on young shoulders.

by Abhishek Shukla

Sergio Lobera: Like I did in FC Goa, I want to help Odisha FC players to play in the national team

The Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 readies itself for a top of the table clash that will go a long way in determining the eventual League Winners Shield champions of the tenth season of ISL. Odisha FC and FC Goa occupy the first two places respectively in the league at present, and they are set to square off at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on February 9, Friday, at 7:30 pm IST. The two teams are solid contenders to stake a claim for the biggest honours at the end of this campaign and this game can help the Juggernauts, currently at 30 points, to build a reasonable distance with FC Goa (27), despite having played two games more (13) than the Gaurs (11).

It will be an encounter that will bring back a host of memories and emotions for Odisha FC head coach Sergio Lobera, who entered the shores of Indian football with FC Goa in 2017. Over the years, the Spaniard has gone on to record his name as one of the finest tacticians to have graced the ISL, seeing success both with the Gaurs as well as Mumbai City FC.

However, he is one coach whose impact has been felt beyond silverware. Right from his stint with the Gaurs, the Spaniard has helped provide a platform for young Indian players and propel them to achieve the national team call-up.

“We will see big stars coming out of Odisha FC in 4-5 years”

Several players like Brandon Fernandes, Manvir Singh, Lenny Rodrigues, and Mandar Rao Dessai, amongst others began representing the Blue Tigers whilst playing under Lobera at the club level. Similarly, the tactician wants to replicate that pattern with Odisha FC, with players like Isak Vanlalruatfela, Lalthathanga Khawlring, Jerry Mawihmingthanga amongst others taking giant leaps with the Juggernauts in his watch.

“Individuals shine when the team does well. Odisha FC have a number of young players with an amazing future. One of my main jobs is to increase the number of players playing in the national team. I did this in FC Goa. When I went there, they had only one-two players playing in the national team, and then a lot of players went to the national team. This is also my target in Odisha FC,” Lobera said.

He added, “They have a great future, but also a good present, because they need to help us to achieve results, as we are in a professional setup and we need to win. I am very excited with the job we can do with some players in the future. We have young talent and in four-five years, maybe some of these players will be big stars in Indian football.”

Odisha FC and their wealth of attacking riches are reflecting brilliantly in statistics too. Roy Krishna leads the goal-scoring charts with 10 strikes, whereas Diego Mauricio is placed fifth, having netted six times. Goalkeeper Amrinder Singh is tied with his FC Goa counterpart Arshdeep Singh in the Golden Glove race, with both custodians keeping seven clean sheets each. Lobera insists that to strike the right balance between individual and collective objectives is one of his foremost jobs as a coach.

“The main job of a coach is to manage a group to get a good performance. Managing a group means a lot of things, not only about tactical and technical situations, but to do it with different persons and targets, also with individual targets, as everyone wants to win the Golden Boot and similar awards. We need to manage the balance between individual and collective targets,” Lobera said.

“That is the key as a coach. When you work in different countries, customs, and mentalities, you cannot compare Chinese, Moroccan, Spanish, and Indian players. As a coach I learnt a lot about this, because you need to put a lot of effort to get performance from different clubs, people, customs, and persons,” he added.

“Indian youngsters are always keen to learn new things”

Lobera went on to add that he would be a teacher if not a football coach, simply because of the love that he has towards imparting knowledge amongst youngsters. On that note, he has been particularly pleased with his experience of working with budding Indian players. He speaks highly of their grasping power, and their keenness to learn newer aspects of the game. The head coach said that he takes active interest in understanding them on a personal level, as they are emotional beings and whatever occurs in their life off the field has a massive impact on their on-field performances.

“India is a special place to work with Indian players, because they want to learn a lot. They listen to everything that you tell them. It’s important to understand their personal lives. There are families behind these players, and if you get success by doing a good job in clubs, your life can change. As a coach, it’s very important for me to improve the level of players, but it’s also important to help players in their personal lives and situations, because if you want to have a good situation on the pitch, you need to have stability on the pitch too,” Lobera said.

“I like to have players who have a positive outlook towards challenges”

For all his insistence on winning, the ex-Mumbai City FC tactician is equally of the belief that players should take the sport lightly. He does not subscribe to exerting extreme pressure on them, and believes that positive outcomes will be a by-product of them getting the processes right and enjoying the beautiful game. Taking the larger worldview into context, Lobera mentioned that there are bigger problems that the world is grappling with, and that football should be an outlet from those issues and hence encouraged his squad to embrace a positive lens towards life.

“The most important thing for players is that they need to enjoy playing football. Pressure in life is for different things. We are living in a crazy world with problems related to wars and the pandemic. We are privileged people because we are working on our hobbies. When we are going to stadiums, we need to know what a privilege we have to work in this job. There are a lot of problems in life, but we need to be positive. I like to work with people who change problems into challenges without complaints. I think it’s very important to know what kind of people you want to work with,” Lobera signed off.

Both FC Goa and Odisha FC resumed their ISL campaigns with convincing wins against Hyderabad FC. The two teams have climbed up the ISL ladder since appointing Manolo Marquez and Lobera at the helm ahead of this campaign. Both Spaniards have had a tremendous impact in the ISL since arriving in India, and their face-offs have always generated genuine interest amongst fans. A late winner by Jay Gupta had helped FC Goa get the better of Odisha FC in their fixture earlier in this ISL season and Lobera will be keen to make amends to that in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

Where to Watch

Fans across the country can catch the action in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam. Fans can watch the action on linear channels like Sports18 Khel (Hindi), Sports18 1 HD (English), Sports18 3 SD (English, Hindi, Malayalam and Bengali), VH1 SD & HD (English), Surya Movies (Malayalam), News 18 Kerala (Malayalam – select matches) & DD Bangla (Bengali). Fans can also catch the action streaming Live for free on JioCinema, the home of Indian football. In addition to this, as part of FSDL’s partnership with OneFootball, ISL live streams and highlights of all matches of the upcoming 2023-24 season will be delivered across more than 190 countries.

by Abhishek Shukla

India’s Davis Cup heroes key attraction at DafaNews Bengaluru Open 

Bengaluru, February 7: Four Indian Davis Cuppers, including Ramkumar Ramanathan and N Sriram Balaji, who played a key role in India’s commanding win over Pakistan with their singles performances in Islamabad, will compete in the doubles event of the DafaNews Bengaluru Open 2024.     

Ramkumar has paired up with big-serving compatriot Saketh Myneni, while Balaji has teamed up with Germany’s Andre Begemann for the event which will run from February 12-18.     

Ramkumar and Myneni won the doubles title in 2022.     

Balaji (WR 78) and Begeman (201) will be the third-seeded team in the 16-team draw with a combined rank of 279. 

Myneni (WR 107) and Ramkumar (WR 210) are the sixth-best team in terms of their combined rank of 317.        

The top-ranked team in the event will be of Frenchman Dan Added (WR 91) and Korea’s Yun Seong Chung (WR 167). They have a combined rank of 258.     

Dan Added has 11 double challenger titles to his credit and would like to add one more. He was in tremendous form in 2023 season, in which he won eight of those 11 Challenger events. His partner Chung had won the Bengaluru open doubles event last year with compatriot Yu Hsiou Hsu and would look to defend his title. Niki Poonacha (WR 147), who made a winning Davis Cup debut in Islamabad against Muhammad Shoaib, has joined forces with compatriot Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli (WR 159).       

They have a combined rank of 306 and will be the fourth-seeded team in the ATP 100 Challenger event, which is being organised by Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA).  

“KSLTA is delighted to welcome India’s Davis Cuppers and it will be an added impetus for the Bengaluru crowd to witness them in action after their stupendous victory in Islamabad. The tournament will also provide the Indian and other top players the opportunity to earn key ranking points and move up the ATP charts. This year’s competition will be very close considering a very strong field will be aiming for the Title,” said Tournament Director Sunil Yajman.         

Sumit Nagal will lead India’s challenge in the singles. Nagal had knocked out world number 27 Alexander Bublik at the Australian Open in the main draw first round.

by Abhishek Shukla

LANDMARK 25TH LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS AWARDS TO BE STAGED IN MADRID

MADRID, February 7, 2024 – The 25th Laureus World Sports Awards, the most prestigious honours event in sport, will take place in Madrid on April 22.

The announcement was made today by José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the Mayor of Madrid, and Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Madrid Region, along with Laureus Academy Members Raúl González and Alessandro Del Piero, at the Teatro Albéniz in the Spanish capital.

Many of the biggest names from the world of sport, past and present, will be in Madrid in April to honour the greatest sportsmen, sportswomen and teams from 2023. Each of the Winners will leave with a coveted Laureus Statuette, one of most recognisable symbols of excellence in sport.

The Awards Ceremony will take place at the Palacio de Cibeles, a remarkable structure designed by the prolific architect partnership of Antonio Palacios and Joaquín Otamendi. It is one of Madrid’s most iconic buildings.

This is the 25th year the Laureus World Sports Awards have been presented and where better than a Host Venue steeped in sporting greatness? The City and Region of Madrid is home to four La Liga football clubs and the World Rugby Sevens Series; the venue for the climax of cycling’s Vuelta a España; host to the Madrid Open, one of the most sought-after clay court titles of the tennis year; to golf’s Open de España; and to the Madrid Marathon.

In an exciting new development which confirms the stature of Madrid as a sporting super power, the Formula One Gran Premio d’España will be staged in Madrid from 2026, at a new circuit built around the IFEMA Madrid exhibition centre in the Barajas district.

Madrid now takes over the Laureus torch from Paris, the city which hosted last year’s Laureus World Sports Awards, where Winners included Lionel Messi, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Spain’s brilliant young tennis star Carlos Alcaraz. Nominees for this year’s Awards, in seven categories, will be announced on February 26.

The Laureus Awards will celebrate the most memorable sporting performances from last year; a year in which Madrid welcomed home the FIFA Women’s World Cup winners after victory in Australia. The Spain team, led by Aitana Bonmatí, lit up a tournament that was one of the highlights of an incredible year in sport.  

Also in 2023, Novak Djokovic moved to the front of tennis’s golden generation, only Alcaraz, in a thrilling Wimbledon final, keeping the world No.1 from a clean sweep of the four Grand Slams.

The World Athletics Championships featured showstopping performances from athletes such as Faith Kipyegon, Sha’Carri Richardson, Shericka Jackson, Mondo Duplantis and Noah Lyles. On the Formula One racetrack, Max Verstappen and Oracle Red Bull Racing had a record-breaking season, securing both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships.

At the Rugby World Cup, Siya Kolisi recovered from injury to lead South Africa to rugby’s pinnacle once more.      

While this is the first time Madrid has hosted the Laureus World Sports Awards, it is the fifth time the event has been held in Spain, following Barcelona (2006, 2007) and Seville (2021 and 2022).  Spain has seen notable success at the Laureus Awards – and the country is ranked third in the total number of Winners.  

The Laureus World Sports Awards Show will also include the Laureus Sport for Good Award, which recognises an individual or organisation which has made a significant contribution to transforming the lives of children and young people through sport. As well as celebrating the very best in sport, Laureus is committed to showing what a difference sport can make in the world.

Madrid is an ideal place for anyone looking to participate in sport in a unique setting. The regional and local Government of Madrid works to improve the quality of life of its residents through sport. This is achieved via a close working relationship with the sporting federations of Madrid and there has been a marked increase over the years in the number of registered athletes. The objective is for sport to be available to everyone regardless of age and to become an integral part of all our lives.

The impact of the Awards is a key element to both the planning and delivery of the 2024 event. Working closely with both Host Partners, Madrid City Council and the Regional Government of Madrid, Laureus will bring the expertise and support of Laureus Sport for Good to leave a lasting legacy for the young people of the city and region of Madrid. More information will also follow around opportunities for the people of Madrid to get involved in the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards.

Raúl González Blanco is a Laureus World Sports Academy Member and captained his hometown team of Real Madrid for seven years during an iconic career. He said: “I can’t wait to welcome the Laureus family, our 2024 Nominees and the world’s media to Madrid for the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards. Since becoming an Academy Member in 2016, it has been an honour and an inspiration to be part of Laureus’s work around the world. The hardest part is voting for these wonderful Awards – but our 2024 winners couldn’t wish for a more beautiful and welcoming city in which to celebrate a memorable sporting year.”

José Luis Martínez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid, said: “The Laureus Awards is an unbeatable opportunity for the City of Madrid, because Madrid is one of the great world capitals of sport, both from the amateur point of view and from the point of view of professional sport and the staging of major world events. But just as important are the values represented by the Laureus Foundation: values of excellence, self-improvement, effort and sacrifice, with which a city like Madrid identifies.”

Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Region of Madrid,said: “Laureus is a very important event, it’s a sport event that all governments and countries welcome with great enthusiasm, since it brings with it the magic of sport, of competition and of spectacle. It is also a very special invitation for children and young people and for all those who love sport.”

Sean Fitzpatrick, Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said: “It’s incredible to think that this will be the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards. Since I stood alongside our founding Patron Nelson Mandela and my fellow founding Academy Members in 2000, this event has become the greatest celebration of sport in the world. The Laureus stage has welcomed the greatest athletes of the 21st Century and it has also consistently amplified our message – that sport has the power to change the world. We are thrilled to be celebrating our 25th Awards in the beautiful, historic and truly global sporting location of Madrid.”

Italian football legend and Laureus Academy Member Alessandro Del Piero said: “I would like to thank José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the Mayor of Madrid, and Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Region of Madrid, for being with us and for the support of Madrid in becoming Host Venue for Laureus 2024. The Awards Ceremony is one of the most significant moments in world sport, where we honour the crème de la crème each year. I cannot think of anywhere better to be than Madrid – it is a city whose heartbeat is sport.”

Since its inception, Laureus has helped to improve the lives of more than six and a half million children and young adults, and now supports more than 300 sports-based community programmes around the world, fulfilling the visionary words of its founding Patron Nelson Mandela – ‘Sport has the power to change the world’.

The Laureus Family spreads across every continent and is an inspirational, purpose-focused network of Laureus World Sports Academy Members, Ambassadors, sportsmen and women, teams, sports governing bodies, federations and followers from the public, all committed to supporting Sport for Good and spread the movement’s influence to a wider global audience. 

The Awards Show, featuring presentations and related news stories, will be available to the world’s media, and broadcast extensively on Laureus’ social media platforms.

The winners of Laureus World Sports Awards are selected by the ultimate sports jury – the 69 Members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, the living legends of sport honouring the greatest athletes of today.

by Abhishek Shukla

An exhilarating contest looms between Australia and Pakistan

The second semi-final of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup will feature two sides who’ve had their fair share of ups and downs in the competition.

From the prism of results, Australia and Pakistan have done little wrong. Both sides remain undefeated in the competition and have overcome feisty opponents like England, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.

But their respective journeys to the knockout stage have been far from smooth. Both teams had to overcome challenging phases of play in adverse circumstances, something that held especially true for Pakistan in their Super Six encounters. 

While these jolts keep them battle-ready for the semi-finals, it also makes them aware of the areas that need improvement.

Australia and Pakistan are blessed with top-notch pace attacks and also have crafty spinners in their lineups. To add to that, their top-order batters have shown great form. 

With immense talent in their ranks and a propensity to play positive cricket, a must-win contest between these two line-ups has all the makings of a nail-biter.

How they have fared so far

Australia

Form guide (in the tournament): NR W W W W 

Hugh Weibgen’s side were grouped with Namibia, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. 

Led by Callum Vidler, the pacers wreaked havoc in their opening encounter against Namibia, bowling out the African side for 91. However, Namibia’s fast bowlers stood tall and had Australia in a spot of bother at 57/5. A patient knock from skipper Weibgen halted Namibia’s momentum and saw them through by four wickets.

A more rounded batting performance followed against Zimbabwe, where Harry Dixon’s 89 guided them to a strong total before Harkirat Bajwa’s 4/15 dismantled the chase. The final group clash against Sri Lanka saw a classy 77* from Ryan Hicks rescue the side after Australia’s top-order fell by the wayside at the start of the second Powerplay.

In their first Super Six game against England, the Australia top-order was once again among the runs, with Weibgen’s vibrant ton leading the charge. Their bowlers then pressed the advantage of scoreboard pressure in a rain-affected encounter and secured a massive win.

However, the batting slipped up once more against a charged-up West Indies in their final Super Six encounter yet a splendid century from Sam Konstas helped them to post a competitive total of 227/8. With Charlie Anderson’s early breakthroughs, the contest had all the makings of a thriller, but rain intervention meant the game ended without a result. Their undefeated run ensured that they topped Group 2 of the Super Six, and entered the semi-finals. 

 Pakistan

Form guide (in the tournament): W W W W W

Pakistan were placed in Group D along with Afghanistan, Nepal, and New Zealand.

The group games were relatively smooth sailing for Saad Baig’s team. Shahzaib Khan’s 106 set the tone for a substantial total against Afghanistan, even as Saad contributed with an attacking fifty. Pacers Ubaid Shah and Mohammad Zeeshan were relentless as Pakistan won the game by 181 runs.

A valiant effort from Nepal challenged them in their second game. Nepal batted out their 50 overs, before having Pakistan in a spot of bother at 104/4. A patient 63 from Azan Awais then pulled Pakistan through to victory in East London.

But Pakistan were back to their very best in the final group encounter against the Kiwis. Ubaid’s scintillating opening spell saw the back of the top order before Arafat Minhas ran through the tail with his three-wicket haul. An attacking 80* from Shahzaib won Pakistan the game by 10 wickets.

In the Super Six phase, after bowling out Ireland for a modest 181, Pakistan’s batting was tested. Ahmad Hassan’s 57* pulled them out of trouble this time, guiding them to a three-wicket win. 

A net run rate tussle brewed up in their final Super Six encounter against Bangladesh. Despite a sturdy start for Pakistan, Sheikh Jibon and Rohanat Doullah Borson bowled exceptionally well to clean up their subcontinental rivals for 155.

It took Ubaid’s 5/44 backed by some exceptional fielding to see Pakistan home by a five run margin in a low-scoring thriller. With eight points in their kitty, they finished second in Group 1, sitting behind India on the basis of run rate. 

Players to watch out for

Australia’s skipper Hugh Weibgen has also been their anchor in the tournament. He began the tournament with a brisk 39* from 43, which helped close out a risky chase against Namibia. 

A solid 68 from 69 balls assisted Harry Dixon in the second game versus Zimbabwe. He failed to get going in the third game but opened the Super Six with a stroke-filled 120 against England. He hit 15 fours in a knock that saw him bat for over three hours. This hundred laid the foundation for a massive Australian win.

Besides impessing with the bat, Weibgen has been an active captain on the field. He has been smart with his bowling changes and overall leadership.

Shahzaib Khan’s rock-solid presence at the top is a big plus for a mercurial Pakistan batting lineup. He was the Player of the Match in two of their group encounters, contributing with a hundred against Afghanistan, and an unbeaten half-century against New Zealand. 

The southpaw also ensured stable starts for Pakistan in low-scoring chases against Nepal and Bangladesh respectively. 

Given the recent troubles of the middle-order batters, Shahzaib’s innings at the top will be an important factor for Pakistan in the semi-final against a quality attack.

Callum Vidler’s pinpoint accuracy, pace and movement have seen him stand out for Australia. Despite missing a game and hardly bowling in the rain-affected encounter against West Indies, the bowler already has 11 wickets to his name. 

Eight of these wickets came in the form of match-winning four-wicket hauls against Namibia and England.

Along with Mahli Beardman and Charlie Anderson, Vidler can give Australia the early advantage on 6 February in Benoni.

The younger brother of Naseem Shah, Ubaid Shah stands joint second in the wicket-taking charts at the U19 Men’s CWC 2024, sitting behind South Africa speedster Kwena Maphaka. 

Beginning with a 4/26 against Afghanistan, the pacer hasn’t looked back. His skillful display with both the new and old ball has meant that the bowler has made an impact in all stages of the game and helped Pakistan come back into matches at crucial junctures.

This came to the fore against Bangladesh when Ubaid overcame the ignominy of having dropped a catch to pick the crucial wicket of Mohammad Shihab James in the very next over, changing the momentum of the match and helping Pakistan secure a famous win.

Predicted XI

Australia: Harry Dixon, Sam Konstas, Hugh Weibgen (c), Harjas Singh, Ryan Hicks (wk), Tom Campbell, Raf MacMillan, Harkirat Bajwa, Charlie Anderson, Mahli Beardman, Callum Vidler

Pakistan: Shamyl Hussain, Shahzaib Khan, Azan Awais, Saad Baig (c) (wk), Ahmad Hassan, Haroon Arshad, Arafat Minhas, Ali Asfand, Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Zeeshan, Ali Raza

by Abhishek Shukla

‘Felt great to come start well despite loss’: Dubai Capitals’ debutant Olly Stone

Dubai, 7 February 2024: The Dubai Capitals suffered a 19-run loss at the hands of the Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday. The Capitals restricted the Gulf Giants to 126 but were bowled out for 107 runs. 

After the match, debutant Olly Stone said, “It’s hard not to get the win on my debut but on a personal note, it felt great to come out here, bowl well, and pick up a few wickets. I was backed up well by some great fielding from my teammates early on so that helped as well.” 

The Englishman also spoke about what has helped him start the tournament so well, “As a player, you want to start any tournament on the front foot. I want to help my team perform well against the best players in the world and hopefully qualify as well.” 

Adding to this, the right-arm fast bowler said, “I’ve been playing regularly till I landed here. So to come out and hit the ground running was nice. We just told them to keep it simple and hit the top of the stumps. If I manage to do that with my pace, then I knew that the wickets would come. So, it was great to go out there and get two early wickets, which helped settle the nerves.” 

Meanwhile, as the tournament enters the business end, the Dubai Capitals will face off against the Desert Vipers at the same venue on Friday, February 7. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Pace-loving Callum Vidler will let his skills do the talking in crunch semi-final

A decade ago, a wide-eyed eight-year-old watched awestruck as a fearsome Mitchell Johnson curled up his moustache, stared down the English batters and returned with a bucketload of wickets in the home Ashes. 

When Ryan Harris’ corker had Alastair Cook dismissed off the first ball of the innings in the Perth Test, that young boy made a decision. He wanted to steam in with the ball in hand, and just bowl fast.

Today Callum Vidler is doing just that. And doing it well. He’s making heads turn at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024, leading Australia’s wicket charts at the tournament. A large portion of Australia’s hopes of winning the title rests on him. 

“It’s hard not to be inspired to become a fast bowler watching that as a young kid,” Vidler tells ICC. 

“I thought to myself, ‘I want to do that’, you know? Bowl fast. Just run in and bowl fast. Watching them was my initial inspiration to take up cricket and fast bowling.”

Having been inspired to take up the ball by Johnson and Harris, Vidler went from backyard cricket through the ranks at Queensland, picking the brains of former Australia star Andy Bichel along the way, and more recently, Queensland’s Hamish Bennett. 

“They have been helping me keep it nice and simple, and bowl my best ball and back myself to deliver and hopefully change a game,” he says. 

Throughout his rise through age-group ranks, one thing remained constant – that love for fast bowling. It’s the “whole point” of taking up fast bowling, says the young Australian tearaway: Bowling fast.

“If anyone ever tells me to slow down, I am not listening to them,” he says. 

“Pace is my point of difference, my best attribute. I have also been learning to use it wisely, not having just pace, to swing the ball, using my variations and all. But if someone told me to slow down, it’s never working. The whole point is to bowl fast.”

Vidler says he clocked 143kph a few months before and believes he might be even faster now. He’s also picked up a few things additionally, like learning to ruffle up batters with the short ball every once in a while or pitching it right up with the new ball in pursuit of swing.

In the Super Six fixture against England, Vidler dismantled the opposition within the first ten overs of the chase by picking up four wickets. With overcast conditions in Kimberley, Vidler pitched the ball up to dismiss Theo Wylie and Ben McKinney, and then used the surprise short ball to send back Noah Thain and Hamza Sheikh. 

For someone who watched Johnson run in and bounce out batters with his intimidating pace, Vidler is a lot more subdued with his aggression. He aims to hit the right areas, attack the stumps and force errors with the odd variation in length. It’s what he did against England in what was his best performance in the tournament so far.

“In the first 10 overs I look to swing the ball and try and attack the stumps, but I also like using the bumper to surprise the batter and not get predictable with my length,” Vidler explains.

The youngster’s discipline is evident from his numbers too. No bowler in the ongoing tournament has a better bowling average than Vidler’s 7.81. The 11 wickets he has taken has come at a miserly economy of 3.55. 

Vidler, however, is quick to insist that that is a product of teamwork. “We have bowled our best when we have built pressure as a unit,” he says. 

“Tom Straker, Charlie Anderson haven’t quite been lucky in the wickets department, but they have built the pressure. And Mahli [Beardman] and myself have been able to be rewarded with a few wickets. Early on, we want to build pressure by attacking the stumps and keeping the heat on.”

Johnson and Harris might have inspired Vidler to take up fast bowing, but the 18-year-old models himself around Australia captain Pat Cummins – the nice guy who turns up and devours batters with immaculate skill. 

“In my younger teenage years, watching Pat Cummins, with his skill and pace, just being a class above everyone else, it’s inspired me and I definitely look up to him,” Vidler says.

He followed the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final in India where Cummins led his side to a memorable title triumph and hopes to do something similar in South Africa with the junior team. 

“Hopefully we can continue the track record of Australia doing great in ICC tournaments,” he says, adding that his immediate focus was on the semi-final against Pakistan. 

His impeccable discipline with the ball and maturity on the field extends beyond cricket – Vidler is keen to pursue further studies alongside cricket. “My mom encourages me to keep studying and I put my head down at the final exams in school.

“It’s been crazy to then come over here and potentially play cricket for a living. I will be going back to study in the University and playing cricket alongside. I just want a course to fall back on because the competition is heavy and as a fast bowler, injuries are always a concern. It’s just the way it is.”

On Thursday, however, everything else will take a back seat as he goes up against a strong Pakistan side. It is a tough clash against a team that has come through difficult matches in the tournament, but Vidler believes that Australia’s strength – their bond and unity as a group – will see them through. 

“You recall the first game against Namibia? We thought we had done pretty well with the ball,” he says. “Bowled them out for 90-odd runs. But then, in the run-chase, there were a bit of nerves. 

“We wanted to probably chase it down quickly, but then wickets started falling. That was possibly our only hiccup in the batting department so far this tournament. But we came through that as a group. It won’t happen again.”

The unity has been forged through tough tours and predicaments on and off the field. “Pretty much all of our squad members have known each other before. The tour of England – playing ODI and red-ball games against another U19 side helped a lot,” he says. 

“It was the first away tour for cricket for a lot of us. You don’t just learn on the field with these trips, a lot of the learning happens off the field too. It’s helped the team bond, looking out for each other and ourselves on the tour.”

If unity is Australia’s strength, Pakistan will rely on strong individuals who have stepped up time and again in the tournament. 

Vidler believes the pacer Ubaid Shah, in particular, will be a big threat. “Pakistan have an awesome pace attack,” Vidler says. “Ubaid, Naseem Shah’s brother, has been taking many wickets and stepping up in the big games. 

“There are a few other tall guys, it’s going to be a great battle. But we believe our quicks can out-do their fast bowlers. The battle between us and their batters will be an intriguing one.”

Does he want to send an early warning to the Pakistan batters? “We are very confident of winning the semis, but I am not going to send out any message to the Pakistan batters though,” Vidler laughs.

“We want to have a crack at their batters and stick to our skills. But no message. I don’t think I have any intimidation in me. I am not tall enough or scary enough. I just want to focus on my cricket.”

Given how the tournament has gone for him, that’s all he needs to do.

by Abhishek Shukla

Bumrah first India pacer to Top ICC Test Rankings

Jasprit Bumrah has become the first India pacer to top the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings after an outstanding performance in the second match of their ICC World Test Championship series against England in Visakhapatnam.

The 30-year-old’s nine-wicket match haul has helped him leapfrog Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada and Ravichandran Ashwin, making him only the fourth from his country to attain number one position after spinners Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Bishan Singh Bedi.

Bumrah, who was named Player of the Match after helping India level the five-match series with a 106-run victory, ended Ashwin’s 11-month long reign. Bumrah now has a tally of 881 rating points with Ashwin (904) and Jadeja (899) the only India bowlers to have aggregated more rating points. Ashwin and Jadeja also have the unique distinction of being jointly top ranked, in March 2017.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has moved up four places to 45th position. The batting rankings see left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal progress 37 places to 29th after completing a fine double-century in the first innings and Shubman Gill go up 14 places to a career-best 38th after notching a century in the second innings.

England opener Zak Crawley is another player to gain after the Visakhapatnam Test, moving up eight places to a career-best 22nd position after scores of 76 and 73.

Rookie leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has moved up 14 places to 70th while Tom Hartley, who became just the second England player with at least 50 runs and five wickets in each of his first two Tests, has advanced in both lists – up from 103rd to 95th in the batting rankings and from 63rd to 53rd in the bowling rankings.

In the latest weekly update that also considers performances in the one-off Test between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Colombo, left-arm spinner Prabhath Jayasuriya has moved up to three places to a career-best sixth position after his eight-wicket match haul helped the home side win by 10 wickets.

Asitha Fernando (up seven places to 34th) and Vishwa Fernando (up nine places to 51st) are other Sri Lanka bowlers to move up while Angelo Mathews (up four places to 24th) has advanced in the batting rankings after top-scoring in the match with 141.

From the Afghanistan team, Ibrahim Zadran has moved up 17 places to 54th after a fighting 114 in the second innings while Rahmat Shah (up 16 places to 66th) and Noor Ali Zadran (entered the rankings in 92nd position) are some other notable movements.

In the Men’s ODI Rankings, Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa is up one place to third and fast bowler Sean Abbott’s six wickets in the three-match series against the West Indies this past week have lifted him 35 places to joint-33rd position.

West Indies’ left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie has improved his ranking from 61st to 54th after finishing with four wickets in the series.

by Abhishek Shukla

Excitement grips Guwahati as the city gears to host 
Khelo India University Games – Ashtalakshmi 2023

Guwahati, 7 February 2024; The city of Guwahati will take centre stage as it hosts the Fourth Edition of the Khelo India University Games -Ashtalakshmi 2023 between 19th and 29th February 2024.This prestigious sporting event will provide a platform for university athletes from across the country to compete with the best amongst them for glory. Over 5000 participants and officials from 163 universities across the country are participating in the event. The logo and mascot that depict the North Eastern States will be launched, along with the theme song and the jerseys, at a ceremony in Guwahati on 8th February 2024 by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and Shri Nisith Pramanik, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports.

The Khelo India University Games – Ashtalakshmi 2023 will feature an array of sporting disciplines including Athletics, Rugby, Basketball, Volleyball, Swimming, Badminton, Hockey, Fencing, Kabaddi, Football, Tennis, Mallakhamb, Judo, Table Tennis, Boxing, Shooting, Weightlifting, Archery, Wrestling, and Yogasana, the event embodies the essence of unity in diversity.

by Abhishek Shukla

Squash: Hutton Overcomes Malik In All-England Duel On DAC Pro Squash Classic Opening Day

England’s Jasmine Hutton saw off the threat of compatriot Torrie Malik in a tough four-game encounter to book her spot in the DAC Pro Squash Classic second round.

World No.25 Hutton, who sits 36 spots above Malik in the current world rankings, didn’t have it all her own way despite a lightning start at the Detroit Athletic Club that saw her capture the first two games in just six minutes a piece.

Malik, 19, grew into the match the longer it progressed, claiming five points on the spin when 5-2 down in the third to seize control of the game and reduce the deficit to 2-1. Malik, who was dangerous in the front two corners throughout the match, progressed to 5-5 in the fourth, however, it was Hutton who eventually proved too strong. 

The two-time British Nationals winner claimed the fourth game by an 11-9 scoreline to seal victory after 37 minutes of fast-paced action. 

After the match, Hutton said: “I was really pleased with my performance in the first two games and then my concentration slipped a bit and Torrie actually got better as the match went on. 

“I got a little edgy at the back end of those last two games and it didn’t feel like there was much rhythm there. It was very stop-start and lots of three-shot rallies, and I don’t really like to play that type of game. 

On her upcoming tie against fellow Englishwoman and No.8 seed Lucy Beecroft, she added: “I’m excited. I came all this way and I’ve played two English players! I’m looking forward to it because we are both clean players and good friends and teammates, so it should be a good game.”

The 24-year-old will be joined by compatriot Alicia Mead in the second round of the PSA World Tour Silver event after she claimed a straight-game victory over Ineta Hopton, while Switzerland’s Cindy Merlo scored an impressive win over Millie Tomlinson. 

Day two of action from the DAC Pro Squash Classic commences at 16:45 (GMT-5) on Wednesday, 7th February, with every second of play available to watch live on SQUASHTV.

Results: DAC Pro Squash Classic 2024 RD1 

Aira Azman (MAS) bt Jessica Turnbull (AUS) 3-1: 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4 (32m)

Hana Moataz (EGY) bt Marta Dominguez (ESP) 3-1: 11-8, 11-9, 2-11, 11-8 (38m)

Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt Torrie Malik (ENG) 3-1: 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9 (37m)

Cindy Merlo (SUI) bt Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 3-1: 11-4, 11-8, 4-11, 12-10 (38m)

Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt Haya Ali (EGY) 3-1: 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4 (31m)

Menna Hamed (EGY) bt Anna Serme (CZE) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 (23m)

Alicia Mead (ENG) bt Ineta Hopton (LAT) 3-0: 14-12, 12-10, 11-7 (27m)

Nadine Shahin (EGY) bt Saskia Beinhard (GER) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-4 (23m)

Draw: DAC Pro Squash Classic 2024 RD2 

[7] Melissa Alves (FRA) v Cindy Merlo (SUI) 

[4] Nada Abbas (EGY) v Kenzy Ayman (EGY)

Nadine Shahin (EGY) v [2] Olivia Weaver (USA)

[5] Farida Mohamed (EGY) v Hana Moataz (EGY)

[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v Menna Hamed (EGY)

Aira Azman (MAS) v [3] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) 

Jasmine Hutton (ENG) v [8] Lucy Beecroft (ENG)

Alicia Mead (ENG) v [6] Hollie Naughton (CAN)

by Abhishek Shukla

Squash: World No.2 Diego Elias to Headline Canadian Open 2024

Peru’s World No.2 Diego Elias has been named as the top seed for the Canadian Open presented by AirSprint Private Aviation as the PSA World Tour heads back to Calgary for the Silver-level event.

The event will run between March 3-7 with an all-glass court being erected in Oxford Properties’ Bow Valley Square with action available to watch live on SQUASHTV. 

Former World No.1 Elias claimed his first title of the season over the weekend as he defended his Motor City Open trophy in emphatic fashion, beating in-form Paul Coll in three games to lift the trophy.  The Peruvian will be hoping to claim another World Tour title as he competes in Canada for the first time since 2019, a country where he has tasted victory twice before.

The No.2 seed for the event is Egypt’s Mazen Hesham. The entertaining World No.7 has only failed to reach the quarter-finals in one event so far this season and has been showing impressive consistency. The 29-year-old recently finished second at the Florida Open Gold-level event but will be determined to go one better to claim a ninth career title. He will face the winner of Abhay Sigh and Dimitri Steinmann in round two after a round one bye.

The No.3 and 4 seeding positions are occupied by Marwan ElShorbagy and Youssef Soliman. ElShorbagy will be competing in Canada for the first time since 2019, looking to continue the good form that he was showing at the latter stages of 2023. Soliman on the other hand, started his 2023-24 season in Canada, at the Windsor Cup Bronze-level event, where he lost out to compatriot Tarek Momen in the final. He’ll be hoping to cause an upset against Hesham, if the seedings go to plan, to reach another final in North America. 

A trio of Europeans feature in the 5/8 seeding positions as France’s Gregoire Marche and Auguste Dussourd are joined by Switzerland’s Nicolas Mueller and Qatar’s Abdulla Al Tamimi. The quartet will be hopeful of not just achieving their seeding, but causing a quarter-final upset to move into the final four. 

One of last year’s wildcards Connor Turk will be back in action this year after he won a wildcard playoff to earn a return to the event in 2024. Turk is currently ranked No.156 and will be hoping to draw on the home support to move into round two. He faces Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue in the opening round.

Tickets for the event are available to purchase here.

For more information on the Canadian Open, visit the tournament website or follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Draw: Canadian Open 2024 presented by AirSprint Private Aviation

[1] Diego Elias (PER) bye
Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) v [9/16] Todd Harrity (USA)
[9/16] Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) v Connor Turk (CAN)
[8] Gregoire Marche (FRA) bye
[5] Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) bye
Mazen Gamal (EGY) v [9/16] Rui Soares (POR)
[9/16] Farkas Balazs (HUN) v Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR)
[3] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) bye
[4] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bye
Tayyab Aslam (PAK) v [9/16] Juan Camilo Vargas (COL)
[9/16] David Baillargeon (CAN) v Ben Smith (ENG)
[6] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bye
[7] Auguste Dussourd (FRA) bye
Tom Walsh (ENG) v [9/16] Nick Wall (ENG)
[9/16] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) v Abhay Singh (IND)
[2] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bye

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC embark on pursuit of a playoff spot with the Southern Derby

Bengaluru, February 06: Bengaluru FC will host Chennaiyin FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium as the southern rivals restart their bid to reignite their ambitions of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season. Kicking off at 7:30 p.m. (IST), this is a fixture that has always excited fans and supporters alike, due to the background significance attached to both the sides. The two sides had clashed in the final in the first campaign that Bengaluru FC competed in the ISL, i.e. 2017-18.

The Marina Machans had gotten the better of them in a thrilling 3-2 clash back then, and since then, this duel has taken many a turn, producing one entertaining encounter after another. However, right now, both sides are in similarly challenging circumstances. The Blues would have hoped for a happy start since the resumption of the season, but they ended up losing 3-1 to Punjab FC.

They ended up squandering a one-goal lead away from home, which will raise concerns for Gerard Zaragoza, especially because the club has invested in strengthening the defence in the winter transfer window through the acquisitions of Nikhil Poojary and Chinglensana Singh. Chennaiyin FC got Mobashir Rahman on loan, but it is widely perceived that they needed more incomings to build upon the first leg of the campaign that saw their team winning 12 points in as many games.

What’s at stake?

Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru FC has made a remarkable statement in the transfer market, and the time has come for the head coach and the whole squad to live up the expectations of the fans as well as the owners. What’s startling to the supporters is that the team that made it to the ISL final last year cannot be struggling to find form, regardless of the departures. They boast of an incredible record against the Marina Machans, having defeated them seven times across the ISL seasons.

Chennaiyin FC

Chennaiyin FC won three matches in the opening leg of the campaign, and one of them was when they beat Bengaluru FC by 2-0 at home. The Marina Machans have in fact never won twice consecutively in this fixture in the past, and Owen Coyle must be aiming to bring curtains down to that run after getting a good month-long time to refine his squad and imprint his coaching style on them.  The coach needs to plug some leakages in the back, having conceded 22 goals in 12 matches, only second behind Hyderabad FC, who have given away 24 strikes.

They have found the back of the net 15 times and are gifted with some really promising forwards in Jordan Murray, Rafael Crivellaro, Connor Shields amongst others. When on song, the trio is capable of running circles around any backline, and the new additions in the Bengaluru FC ranks thus have a task up their hands now. A sense of cohesion has been lacking in their setup off late, with all the departments being unable to click simultaneously. This has resulted in them dropping points when they could get all three of them. Hence, Coyle must be hoping that the start of the second half of the season is a mark of new beginnings for them.

Key Players

Oliver Drost (Bengaluru FC)

Bengaluru FC also roped in 28-year-old Danish forward Oliver Drost to replace the outgoing Curtis Main in the winter transfer market. Drost is a bit of an unknown commodity in the Indian footballing circuit, and that bit of unfamiliarity about him could help him spring a surprise in this crucial fixture. He has played in Denmark for most of his professional career and is deemed to be a quick operator in the final third. The Blues can do with some fresh legs that can trouble the opposition’s backline. He will be hoping to strike a good partnership with key players like Sunil Chhetri and Javi Hernandez, but whether Drost has it in him to be a key architect behind a possible turnaround for Bengaluru FC this year will be closely watched.

Ninthoinganba Meetei (Chennaiyin FC)

Ninthoinganba Meetei has been one of the promising players who have broken through the ranks to really shine under the tutelage of Coyle in Chennaiyin FC this season. He averages 61.7 minutes on the field per game and has netted twice in nine appearances in ISL 2023-24. The 22-year-old limits his involvement in the final third, averages 14 passes every 90 minutes, and has created nine goal-scoring opportunities. He has a burst of pace that comes in handy whilst catching the opposition off-guard inside their penalty box. He is also adept at drawing fouls from dangerous positions, and 75% of his shots have landed on target. There is some efficiency in his gameplay that helps him convert most of the chances that he creates or the ones that come his way. On that note, one can expect him to play an important role at the Kanteerava in the coming game.

Head-to-Head

Played – 14

Bengaluru FC – 7

Chennaiyin FC – 4

Draws – 3

Team Talk

“Of course, you need to change the mood after the loss. When we lost one game, for which we travelled to Delhi, we played at 5:30pm, so everything was fast, and then we came home and the players were tired. We knew we had a game in three days. We need to work with them to change this mood. We forget the last game. We always look to work. Chennaiyin FC is coming and they are in this battle for the sixth position, and I can say that we are hungry, all of us want to fight till the last moment,” Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza said in the pre-match press conference.

“We know we go into the second half of the season with six games at home and four away. It’s a great opportunity for us to make it to the playoffs. We need to make sure that we are in the top-six. Everything is in our own hands. We decide our own fate. We are excited and looking forward to that,” Chennaiyin FC head coach Owen Coyle mentioned prior to the game.

Fans across the country can catch the action in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam. Fans can watch the action on linear channels like Sports18 Khel (Hindi), Sports18 1 HD (English), Sports18 3 SD (English, Hindi, Malayalam and Bengali), VH1 SD & HD (English), Surya Movies (Malayalam), News 18 Kerala (Malayalam – select matches) & DD Bangla (Bengali). Fans can also catch the action streaming Live for free on JioCinema, the home of Indian football. In addition to this, as part of FSDL’s partnership with OneFootball, ISL live streams and highlights of all matches of the upcoming 2023-24 season will be delivered across more than 190 countries.

Points Table

by Abhishek Shukla

MLS Announces MLS NEXT Development Grant Program, Continuing Commitment to Pro Player Pathway

NEW YORK(Tuesday, February 6, 2024) – Major League Soccer today announced the MLS NEXT Development Grant program, an initiative to recognize the significant contributions of MLS NEXT Elite Academies to the professional player pathway by continuing to invest in the youth development ecosystem.

The program provides compensation to MLS NEXT Elite Academies (non-MLS academy programs) for eligible players that progress through the professional player pathway, from MLS NEXT Elite Academy to MLS club academy to an MLS first team as a Homegrown player. The 2023-24 MLS NEXT season features more than 100 MLS NEXT Elite Academies in 30 different states.

The Development Grant program will provide additional opportunities for players across the United States and Canada to access the highest level of player development, while recognizing the considerable impact that clubs make in the early stages of an athlete’s development. The program has already compensated a total of more than $100,000 to eight different MLS NEXT Elite Academies for players that are retroactively eligible for the Development Grant. Detailed information on eligibility, funding mechanisms, notable quotes, and retroactive recipients can be found HERE.

What They Are Saying About the MLS NEXT Development Grant
“Adam Beaudry’s tenure at Real Colorado, from ages 9 to 16, embodied a journey marked by leadership and unwavering dedication. Real Colorado believes our impact extends from player development, into fostering a culture of teamwork and beyond with cohesion in our community. The club enthusiastically applauds the initiative of the Development Grant. We believe it will allow us to continue to elevate our standards as well as enrich the landscape of youth soccer, benefiting Real Colorado and the wider community alike.”– Clint Baumstark, Academy Director, Real Colorado

“Benjamin Cremaschi played an important role in securing a National Championship for Weston FC, showcasing teamwork and leadership. This achievement speaks to the winning culture in our Club. Benjamin’s legacy at the Club serves as an inspiration for all our players. He is a role model emphasizing that with grit, determination, and humility, dreams can become reality. We are very appreciative of the grant being provided to us by MLS NEXT. Weston FC provides significant financial aid to players and families in need. This grant will help to support players who otherwise would not have the opportunity to play with an MLS NEXT club like ours.” – Luis Mendoza, Technical Director, Weston FC

Player Development Impact on MLS First Teams
Through the continued investment in player development, MLS Homegrown players are now integral figures in the pro player pathway and club roster-building. Since the beginning of 2023, more than 70 different players signed MLS contracts as a Homegrown, 84% of those having played in MLS NEXT Pro. In 2023, nearly 175 different Homegrown players saw regular-season action and a record 187 goals were scored by those players, marking a 15% increase from the 2022 season. Of the 174 Homegrown players, exactly half of them (87) played in at least 50% of MLS regular-season matches.

MLS NEXT Graduates on the International Stage
The 2023 season saw many young academy graduates excelling in MLS, propelling them onto the international stage. Standout talents like Inter Miami CF midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi leveraged their MLS impact into a call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team in September. At the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, 23 current and former Homegrown players represented five different countries in Argentina and several of these players are also poised to join the U.S. Men’s National Team in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

A Continued Commitment to Funding Player Development
The Development Grant initiative is a continuation of Major League Soccer’s commitment to developing talent and fostering the growth of MLS NEXT Elite Academies around the country. Through just the second cycle of the MLS NEXT Delivering Access presented by DoorDash program, MLS NEXT and DoorDash have partnered to invest $250,000 across 12 different non-MLS clubs, funding that has helped open training centers, provide funding for player scholarships, hire staff, and identify and reach more players for financial aid.

by Abhishek Shukla

Ratified: Kiptum’s world marathon record

Kelvin Kiptum’s world marathon record of 2:00:35 set in Chicago last year has been ratified.

Kenya’s Kiptum became the first athlete to break 2:01 in a record-eligible marathon, taking 34 seconds off the world record at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on 8 October.

With that performance, Kiptum improved his PB by 50 seconds to surpass the world record of 2:01:09 set by his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin on 25 September 2022.

Kiptum pushed the pace throughout the race in Chicago. He broke away from a seven-strong lead group after reaching 5km in 14:26, joined by his compatriot Daniel Mateiko. They were on world record pace at 10km, passed in 28:42, but the tempo dropped a little and they reached half way in 1:00:48.

After 30km was passed in 1:26:31, Kiptum kicked and dropped Mateiko. A blistering 5km split of 13:51 took him to the 35km checkpoint in 1:40:22 and he was on sub-2:01 pace, 49 seconds ahead of Mateiko.

Continuing to run with urgency, Kiptum passed 40km in 1:54:23 – after a 27:52 10km split. He went on to win the race by almost three and a half minutes, crossing the finish line in 2:00:35.

“I knew I was coming for a course record, but a world record – I am so happy,” he said. “A world record was not on my mind today, but I knew one day I would be a world record-holder.”

by Abhishek Shukla

Narender’s SUPER 10, Sahil’s HIGH FIVE keep Tamil Thalaivas alive in playoff race

DELHI, 6 FEBRUARY 2024: The Tamil Thalaivas kept their hopes of reaching the playoffs alive with a 32-25 win over the U.P. Yoddhas at the Thyagaraj indoor Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday. Their star raider Narender scored an impressive SUPER 10, while the team skipper and star defender Sahil Gulia got a HIGH FIVE, as the Tamil Thalaivas moved to eighth, just two places below the playoff spots. 

U.P. Yoddhas took an early lead as Gagana Gowda and Mahipal combined for seven raid points. For the Tamil Thalaivas, Narender was their main raider, but he did not get much support from his teammates. 

Just as U.P. Yoddhas were taking a decisive lead, the Tamil Thalaivas’ raiders upped the ante. While Narendar was their main threat, Sahil Gulia did well in the Left Corner with a HIGH FIVE as the team went into the first half with the score reading 21-16 in their search for a spot in the knockouts.

In the second half, the U.P. Yoddhas scored two consecutive points, putting the Tamil Thalaivas in a SUPER TACKLE situation. However, Himanshu ensured that they made up the points by scoring in a DO OR DIE Raid. This gave the Tami Thalaivas some momentum as they scored two consecutive points 

After losing the lead to the Tamil Thalaivas, the U.P. Yoddhas tried their best to come back into the game. Anil Kumar and Mahipal both had successful raids, but their defenders were unable to keep the Tamil Thalaivas and their raiders out of the points.

Narender kept his form up to complete his ninth SUPER 10 of the season as the Tamil Thalaivas began to take an unassailable lead. For the U.P. Yoddhas, their raiders were constantly caught by skipper Sahil Gulia, who kept the Tamil Thalaivas afloat in the race for a playoff spot with this important victory.

Pro Kabaddi League Season 10, 2023
Points Table
PositionTeamMatchesWonLostTiedPointsScore DiffPoints concededPoints scored
1Jaipur Pink Panthers1812337282543625
2Puneri Paltan17122371197472669
3Dabang Delhi K.C.1911536848633681
4Patna Pirates199735835667702
5Gujarat Giants181080553594597
6Haryana Steelers17106155-13625612
7Bengaluru Bulls1879248-42626584
8Tamil Thalaivas1981104524662686
9Bengal Warriors1778244-26650624
10U Mumba18610241-40694654
11U.P. Yoddhas18413129-54666612
12Telugu Titans18216016-214790576

Please see below the PKL Season 10 match on 7th February

Game 1 – Bengaluru Bulls vs Puneri Paltan- 8 pm

Game 2- Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Jaipur Pink Panthers- 9 pm

Venue: New Delhi

Season 10 of the Pro Kabaddi League will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and for free on Disney+ Hotstar.  

by Abhishek Shukla

India punch ticket to final after thrilling win over hosts South Africa

The clash between unbeaten India and hosts South Africa lived up to its billing in the first semi-final of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024.

In a thrilling contest that went down to the wire, India secured a hard-fought victory, thanks to outstanding half-centuries from Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas. 

Saharan’s team will now have the chance to defend their title in the final on Sunday, 11 February.

India now await the winner of the second semi-final match between Australia and Pakistan on Thursday to see who they will face in the title clash.

India beat South Africa by 2 wickets in Benoni

South Africa 244/7 (50) vs India 248/8 (48.5)

After losing four tosses in the first four games, Uday Saharan got it right for the second in a row and chose to field first. This was the first time that India bowled first in the tournament, having batted in each of their five victories so far.

Once again displaying his customary aggression in the tournament, South Africa opener Steve Stolk took charge early on, hitting two fours in the first three overs. He continued his onslaught with a maximum off Raj Limbani in the fifth but it was the Indian pacer who had the last laugh as Stolk’s attempted cut resulted in an edge straight into the hands of the wicketkeeper.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius kept the foot on the pedal thereafter, including a six and a four against Naman Tiwari in the 8th over. At the other end though, Limbani was on the money and accounted for the wicket of David Teeger for a duck, rattling the stumps with a peach of an inswinger.

Undeterred by the loss of two wickets, Pretorius continued playing attacking shots, and by the end of the Powerplay, South Africa were going close to a run-a-ball.

Saharan decided to introduce his spinners into play, effectively curbing South Africa’s scoring – only five boundaries were scored in the span of overs 11 to 30.

However, the partnership between Pretorius and Richard Seletswane ensured a steady flow of runs, with Pretorius reaching his half-century off 59 balls.

With the run-rate at less than four, the mounting pressure got to Pretorius, who tried to swat Musheer Khan over mid-wicket, but Murugan Abhishek showed brilliant reflexes to hang on to a stunning catch.

The Proteas saw an uptick in boundaries when Seletswane and Oliver Whitehead combined for a 45-run partnership. Just as the partnership started to look dangerous, Musheer struck with the final ball of his spell, dismissing Whitehead.

South Africa’s decision to delay the entry of the dangerous Dewan Marais proved unsuccessful as he holed out to Saumy Pandey inches inside the boundary for just 3.

Between the two wickets, Seletswane brought up a patient half-century but having taken 90 balls to get to the milestone, the youngster fell trying to make up for the scoring rate.

Having hit Limbani for two fours in the 45th over, Seletswane tried to take the attack to Naman Tiwari in the next, but was undone by a good catch by Priyanshu Moliya running in from the deep.

Juan James too departed after a solid 19-ball 24-run cameo, leaving South Africa at 221/7 with two overs to go.

Tristan Luus gave the innings some much-needed impetus in the final two overs, unleashing two sixes and a four to finish with an unbeaten 23 off 12 balls. 

As a result, South Africa set India a target of 245. This was the first time a team had got past the 200-run mark against India in the tournament so far.

In the chase, South Africa started brilliantly, courtesy Kwena Maphaka’s breakthrough on the first ball of the innings. Adarsh Singh found himself helpless against a sharp bouncer, awkwardly prodding it to the keeper.

The short ball proved to be India’s downfall once more as Tristan Luus’ accurately-directed bouncer outsmarted the dangerous Musheer Khan, sparking massive celebrations in the South African camp following the dismissal of the leading run-scorer in the tournament.

India had to be patient, waiting until the seventh over for their first boundary, which came in the form of a maximum from Arshin Kulkarni off Maphaka. Unfortunately, that solitary moment of joy for India was short-lived, as their difficulties continued to mount with Arshin falling victim to Luus in the final over of the Powerplay.

India’s situation worsened when Moliya, who had managed to strike a boundary off the first ball of Luus’ over, departed while attempting a loose drive.

Facing a daunting situation at 32/4, captain Saharan and Sachin Dhas orchestrated a remarkable rescue mission with an impressive partnership. With runs drying up, the pair mixed caution with aggression to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Particularly targeting the bowling of Riley Norton, Dhas showcased his prowess by striking three boundaries in a single over, reclaiming some control for India. While Saharan held firm at one end, Dhas assumed the role of the aggressor, racing to a half-century off 47 balls to keep the required run rate under 6.

Saharan quickly found his rhythm with a splendid boundary off James, not only marking the 100-run partnership for the fifth wicket but also propelling himself past Musheer Khan to claim the top spot on the tournament run-scoring charts.

The partnership between the two was a masterclass in innings building and chasing, as they milked singles relentlessly while putting the poor deliveries away for boundaries. 

The skipper too got in on the act, reaching his fifty off 88 balls with a boundary as India inched closer to victory.

Just as the required run rate got to a run-a-ball, Dhas and Saharan dispatched James for a six and four respectively to calm the nerves in the Indian camp.

But there was another twist as South Africa hit back when Maphaka was reintroduced into the attack. He got the better of Dhas with a well-disguised slower ball, the batter falling agonisingly short of a century on 96. 

The wicket brought about a lull in scoring, and the mounting pressure became palpable. Aravelly Avanish displayed nerves of steel by striking a crucial boundary off Norton on the final ball of the 46th over.

Maphaka bowled the 47th over and made a big difference off the last ball of the spell with the wicket of Avanish, with Norton taking a good catch in the deep. Two balls later, the game turned on its head again when Abhishek Murugan fell victim to poor running, being caught short of his crease by a direct hit from Marais.

The two wickets put the pressure back on India but a six from an unlikely source – Raj Limbani – shifted the equation, bringing it down to nine runs required off the last two overs.

Saharan put to rest any hopes of a South African comeback with four off the first ball of the penultimate over. In another twist to the game, Saharan was run out trying to scramble for the winning run. 

However, Limbani came in clutch again and struck a four off the final ball of the over to continue their unbeaten run and book their berth in the final.

The Player of the Match, India captain Uday Saharan, shared insights in the post-match presentation after bailing the team out of early trouble.

“I just believed in myself [after coming out to bat]. I knew it was a matter of one partnership and the game would be ours. I just kept telling myself repeatedly that I needed to bat till the end.”