Author: Abhishek Shukla

Owner of Sports India Live.
by Abhishek Shukla

Wembanyama’s Triple-Double Powers Spurs Past Pistons

Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ 7-foot-3 rookie sensation, delivered a memorable performance, achieving his first NBA triple-double in a dominant 130-108 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Wembanyama, who was selected first overall in the previous NBA Draft, showcased his versatility by amassing 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in just 21 minutes of play. His achievement marked the second-fastest triple-double in NBA history, only eclipsed by Russell Westbrook’s 20-minute feat in 2014.

The 20-year-old Frenchman’s display of skill and efficiency on the court was a clear highlight, as he became the youngest player in the league to record a triple-double without committing a turnover since the statistic was first recorded in the 1977-78 season. Wembanyama’s performance surpassed Andre Iguodala’s similar achievement in 2005 with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Wembanyama’s impact was not limited to his scoring, as he demonstrated his passing prowess, a skill lauded by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. Despite missing all four of his attempts from beyond the arc, Wembanyama’s overall contribution significantly bolstered the Spurs’ performance.

The victory was particularly poignant for San Antonio, as they entered the game with the NBA’s second-worst record, just ahead of the Pistons. The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Spurs and provided a glimpse of Wembanyama’s potential as a transformative player in the league.

For the Pistons, Jalen Duren put up a strong fight with 21 points and 12 rebounds, but it was not enough to overcome the Spurs’ dominance. Detroit, which had hoped to draft Wembanyama, now faced the stark reality of what could have been, as they continue to struggle with the league’s worst record. The Pistons were also hampered by the absence of point guard Cade Cunningham, who is sidelined with a knee strain.

The Spurs look forward to building on this momentum as they host the Charlotte Hornets next, while the Pistons aim to regroup against the Houston Rockets.

by Abhishek Shukla

Turner Leads Pacers to Victory Over Wizards in Haliburton’s Absence

The Indiana Pacers, facing the challenge of playing without star guard Tyrese Haliburton, rose to the occasion and secured a 112-104 win against the Washington Wizards. Haliburton, sidelined due to a strained left hamstring, left a notable void in the Pacers’ lineup, but his teammates stepped up admirably to fill the gap.

Myles Turner, showcasing his skills and leadership, delivered an impressive performance with 18 points and 13 rebounds. His efforts were crucial in guiding the Pacers to their eighth win in the last nine games. Bruce Brown and Bennedict Mathurin also played key roles, contributing 16 points each, while Obi Toppin added 15 points to the team’s tally.

The Wizards, despite a valiant effort led by Jordan Poole with 28 points, couldn’t match the Pacers’ intensity. Corey Kispert and Deni Avdija contributed significantly, scoring 15 points each, and Kyle Kuzma chipped in with a double-double, scoring 11 points and securing 10 rebounds.

The game’s turning point came in the third quarter when Indiana, trailing by one point at halftime, launched a decisive 10-0 run to seize control. This momentum shift saw the Pacers leading 89-80 at the end of the third quarter, a lead they maintained until the final buzzer.

Pacers guard T.J. McConnell acknowledged the difficulty of playing without Haliburton, emphasizing the need for a collective effort to maintain their competitive edge. Coach Rick Carlisle praised his team’s adaptability in the absence of their key player, particularly highlighting the significant contributions in the third quarter.

Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. lamented his team’s lackluster start in the third quarter, attributing it as a primary factor in their defeat. The Wizards now face the challenge of reversing their six-game losing streak.

With this victory, the Pacers demonstrated their resilience and depth, proving they can win even without their top scorer and assist leader. The team looks to continue its impressive run as they embark on a six-game road trip, starting with a game against the Atlanta Hawks. Meanwhile, the Wizards aim to regroup and find their winning formula as they also prepare to face the Hawks in their next matchup.

by Abhishek Shukla

Chan Upsets Abbas to Reach SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open Quarter-Finals

Hong Kong’s Chan Sin Yuk upset No.7 seed Nada Abbas to reach her first ever PSA World Tour Gold event quarter-final on day two of the SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open. 

The 21-year-old is ranked at No.51 in the world, 34 places below her Egyptian opponent, but defied those rankings to emerge victorious in five games.  

After losing a lengthy tie break 16-14 in the first, Chan controlled much of the next two games to take a 2-1 lead, but a change in ball handed the advantage back to Abbas to start the fourth, with the Egyptian racing into a 6-1 lead.  

Chan responded in style, though, levelling at 6-6 before giving herself a match ball at 10-9 up.  

She was unable to convert and Abbas would send the match into a decider moments later, but undeterred, Chan continued to be aggressive at the front of the court – a tactic that served her well throughout – and ran away with game five to book her spot in the last eight.  

“I’m really happy to be through,” she said after victory. 

“This was my first time playing against Nada but I’ve always known that she’s a really good player, so before the game I reminded myself many times that I had to take every point seriously, and give no easy points away.  

“She did that better than me in the first game so she took the first, and I had a match ball in the fourth and was really gutted not to have converted it, but I’m really happy with how I did in the fifth game.  

“I’ve always attacked a lot to the front, but today I was not thinking about winning with the drop shots, but just to play to the space, and that worked well.” 

Chan was joined in the quarter-final draw by both the men’s and women’s top seeds, with Nour ElSherbini and Diego Elias recording 3-0 wins in the evening session. 

Women’s World No.1 ElSherbini cruised to a 3-0 victory over fellow Egyptian Salma Eltayeb in just 20 minutes, while Elias – who trains at the Kinetic Indoor Racquet Club where this event is being held – saw off the challenge of England’s Nick Wall. 

Speaking after her win, ElSherbini said: “I’m happy with the way I played, happy with the first win of the year and looking forward to this week. 

“It was actually the first time I’ve ever played Salma. She’s a young, up-and-coming player so you don’t quite know what her game is or how she’s playing, but I know she’s very dangerous and has very good hands, so I had to be ready from the first point.” 

Joel Makin and Olivia Weaver were among the other winners on day two, beating Leandro Romiglio and Nicole Bunyan respectively. 

Round two of the SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open concludes from 12:00 (GMT-5) tomorrow, January 11. Watch the action live on SQUASHTV. 

Results: SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open 2024 – Men’s RD2 (top half) 

[6] Joel Makin (WAL) bt Leandro Romiglio (ARG) 3-0: 14-12, 11-7, 11-7 (45m) 
[4] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Abdulla AL-Tamimi (QAT) 3-1: 10-12, 11-3, 11-2, 11-2 (41m) 
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bt Nick Wall (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-2, 11-8 (39m) 
[5] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Raphael Kandra (GER) 3-1: 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4 (45m) 

Results: SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open 2024 – Women’s RD2 (top half) 

Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) bt [7] Nada Abbas (EGY)3-2: 14-16, 11-9, 11-4, 10-12, 11-4 (57m) 
[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt Nicole Bunyan (CAN) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-4 (28m) 
[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt Salma Eltayeb (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-4 (20m) 
[5] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt Lucy Beecroft (ENG) 3-1: 11-6, 11-7, 11-13, 11-8 (42m) 

Draw: Men’s RD2 (bottom half) – to be played January 11th 

Gregoire Marche (FRA) v [8] Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) 
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) v Nathan Lake (ENG) 
Leonel Cardenas (MEX) v [2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) 
[7] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) v Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) 

Draw: Women’s RD2 (bottom half) – to be played January 11th 

[8] Farida Mohamed (EGY) v Tomato Ho (HKG) 
Zeina Mickawy (EGY) v [2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) v Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) 
Kenzy Ayman (EGY) v [6] Amina Orfi (EGY) 

by Abhishek Shukla

HSBC SVNS Perth pool draw allows sevens teams to dream

The pool draws for the third round of HSBC SVNS 2024 to be played in Perth, Western Australia on 26-28 January took place at the HBF Park venue on Thursday 11 January and produced some exciting match-ups to whet fans appetites ahead of the hotly anticipated festival event.

Hosts Australia lead the women’s standings and are aiming for a hat-trick of tournament victories following their impressive back-to-back successes at the opening two rounds in Dubai and Cape Town. They will face Canada, Great Britain and South Africa in pool A in Perth.

Rivals and reigning Olympic champions New Zealand will meet USA, Ireland and Japan in pool C, while France, Fiji, Brazil and Spain will compete in pool B of the women’s competition.

The men’s SVNS title race is wide open with Argentina the current standings leaders after claiming gold in Cape Town and silver in Dubai, however South Africa, Fiji, New Zealand, Ireland and hosts Australia all sit within six points of each other.

Argentina will meet Dubai champions South Africa in pool A alongside Canada and Spain. Australia are drawn in a competitive looking pool B with Ireland, Great Britain and USA. Meanwhile Olympic champions Fiji will play reigning Series title holders New Zealand alongside France and Samoa in a very strong looking pool C.

The new-look SVNS competition format means there will be more excitement and jeopardy on the field than ever before and fans can look forward to a feast of entertainment on and off the pitch.

Australian Women’s Head Coach, Tim Walsh commented on the draw: “We haven’t played those teams in a while so we’re excited. We know how strong they are, particularly Canada, who are quickly improving and definitely a team to watch out for.

“After a nice break, we’re fresh physically and mentally and ready to go after a good week and a half of training. Other than Demi being injured we’re at a good fitness level, and we’ve got a really strong squad to pick a team from.”

Australian Men’s Head Coach, John Manenti said: “The men’s competition is tough, there are no soft games. Ireland have been consistently finishing in the top four, Great Britian gets better the more they play together, and the USA have a host of superstars, including Perry Baker returning for Perth. We can’t wait to get to the West and continue to build towards the Olympics”.

Tourism Western Australia Managing Director Carolyn Turnbull said: “The results of today’s draw will drive further excitement for the incredible HSBC SVNS event, which we cannot wait to welcome to Perth this month and again in 2025.

 “Western Australia is proud to be the only Australian host city for this spectacular global rugby tournament in 2024 and 2025, and we look forward to welcoming interstate and international visitors to Perth to attend the event and explore the incredible hospitality and tourism experiences all regions of our dreamlike state have to offer.

 “The HSBC SVNS will be broadcast around the world in many of Western Australia’s key visitor markets, like New Zealand, China, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States, and hosting the tournament will elevate our state on a truly global stage, as the fastest-growing events destination in South East Asia.”

Along with epic rugby sevens action featuring the best 12 men’s and women’s teams in the world, fantastic food offerings and interactive activities, HSBC SVNS have thrown in a blockbuster line up of entertainment with over 20 artists bringing the vibes for a weekend to remember in Perth.

Peking Duk, Hot Dub Time Machine, and Coterie are some of the big names set to get the party pumping on 26, 27 and 28 January 2024.

Perth is hosting the HSBC SVNS for the very first time and players and fans can look forward to three sun-soaked days of rugby sevens and buzz-filled nights on 26-28 January, 2024 at HBF Park.

To party with some of Australia’s best entertainers, indulge in some epic food offerings and watch the worlds greatest rugby sevens players, including the world leading Aussie 7s, fans can get their tickets from only $35 at SVNS.com

by Abhishek Shukla

Results from the PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2024 on January 10, 2024

The results from the PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2024 on January 10, 2024, at the Axiata Arena are as follows:

Court 1

  1. WS: TAI Tzu Ying [4] bt Beiwen ZHANG – 23-21, 21-19 (0:40)
  2. XD: Yuta WATANABE [2] / Arisa HIGASHINO bt TANG Chun Man / TSE Ying Suet – 21-13, 21-14 (0:39)
  3. WD: BAEK Ha Na [8] / LEE So Hee bt Anna Ching Yik CHEONG / TEOH Mei Xing – 21-14, 21-13 (0:43)
  4. WS: CHEN Yu Fei [2] bt Aya OHORI – 21-18, 21-12 (0:48)
  5. MD: LEE Jhe-Huei [7] / YANG Po-Hsuan bt CHEN Bo Yang / LIU Yi – Score and time not available
  6. MS: Koki WATANABE bt NG Tze Yong – 12-8, Retired (0:13)
  7. MD: GOH Sze Fei / Nur IZZUDDIN bt Supak JOMKOH / Kittinupong KEDREN – 21-17, 22-20 (0:39)
  8. MS: Anders ANTONSEN bt PRANNOY H. S. [8] – 21-14, 21-11 (0:43)
  9. XD: CHEN Tang Jie [8] / TOH Ee Wei bt Thom GICQUEL / Delphine DELRUE – 21-17, 21-18 (0:47)
  10. MD: Aaron CHIA [3] / SOH Wooi Yik bt Rasmus KJÆR / Frederik SØGAARD – 20-22, 21-13, 21-13 (1:02)
  11. WS: GOH Jin Wei bt SUNG Shuo Yun – 21-18, 21-11 (0:40)
  12. WD: Nami MATSUYAMA / Chiharu SHIDA bt Paula Lynn CAO HOK / Lauren LAM – 21-11, 21-9 (0:38)
  13. MS: LI Shi Feng [3] bt Chia Hao LEE – 23-21, 15-21, 21-18 (1:19)
  14. XD: Hiroki MIDORIKAWA / Natsu SAITO bt Vinson CHIU / Jennie GAI – 21-13, 21-13 (0:35)

Court 2

  1. WD: YEUNG Nga Ting / YEUNG Pui Lam bt Linda EFLER / Isabel LOHAU – 21-17, 21-16 (0:46)
  2. XD: Dejan FERDINANSYAH / Gloria Emanuelle WIDJAJA bt Marcus ELLIS / Lauren SMITH – 21-11, 19-21, 21-19 (1:10)
  3. MS: Kodai NARAOKA [2] bt Christo POPOV – 21-15, 21-7 (0:49)
  4. WS: HE Bing Jiao [6] bt Mia BLICHFELDT – 21-15, 21-15 (0:42)
  5. MS: Kunlavut VITIDSARN [5] bt Kenta NISHIMOTO – 21-14, 21-23, 21-15 (1:42)
  6. MD: Satwiksairaj RANKIREDDY / Chirag SHETTY bt Muhammad Shohibul FIKRI / Bagas MAULANA – 21-18, 21-19 (0:44)
  7. MD: Mohammad AHSAN / Hendra SETIAWAN bt Akira KOGA / Taichi SAITO – 21-18, 21-15 (0:38)
  8. WS: Gregoria Mariska TUNJUNG [7] bt Natsuki NIDAIRA – 20-22, 21-18, 21-14 (1:14)
  9. XD: CHAN Peng Soon / CHEAH Yee See bt CHANG Ko-Chi / LEE Chih Chen – 11-21, 26-24, 21-8 (1:03)
  10. WD: ZHANG Shu Xian / ZHENG Yu bt GO Pei Kee / LOW Yeen Yuan – 21-13, 21-13 (0:46)
  11. WD: LI Wen Mei / LIU Xuan Xuan bt Vivian HOO / LIM Chiew Sien – 21-15, 21-16 (0:43)
  12. MS: WENG Hong Yang bt Lakshya SEN – 21-15, 21-16 (0:49)

Court 3

  1. XD: SEO Seung Jae [3] / CHAE Yu Jung bt Ty Alexander LINDEMAN / Josephine WU – 21-12, 21-11 (0:28)
  2. WS: Busanan ONGBAMRUNGPHAN bt GAO Fang Jie – 17-21, 22-20, 21-10 (1:15)
  3. XD: Mathias THYRRI / Amalie MAGELUND bt Rinov RIVALDY / Pitha Haningtyas MENTARI – 21-17, 21-14 (0:34)
  4. MS: Brian YANG bt WANG Tzu Wei – 11-21, 21-17, 21-16 (1:03)
  5. WS: Ratchanok INTANON bt THET HTAR THUZAR – 21-19, 21-10 (0:36)
  6. WS: WANG Zhi Yi bt Pornpicha CHOEIKEEWONG – 21-14, 21-14 (0:36)
  7. MS: LIN Chun-Yi bt Kantaphon WANGCHAROEN – 21-17, 21-13 (0:38)
  8. MD: KANG Min Hyuk / SEO Seung Jae bt Ben LANE / Sean VENDY – 21-14, 21-14 (0:38)
  9. XD: JIANG Zhen Bang [5] / WEI Ya Xin bt CHENG Xing / ZHANG Chi – 21-18, 21-16 (0:37)
  10. MD: Lucas CORVEE / Ronan LABAR bt KIM Won Ho / NA Sung Seung – 21-16, 9-21, 21-19 (0:58)
  11. MD: HE Ji Ting / REN Xiang Yu bt LIU Yu Chen [8] / OU Xuan Yi – 21-19, 21-15 (0:37)
  12. WD: Rena MIYAURA / Ayako SAKURAMOTO bt Rui HIROKAMI / Yuna KATO – 21-17, 21-9 (0:42)
  13. WD: Annie XU / Kerry XU bt Margot LAMBERT [3] / Anne TRAN – 19-21, 21-16, 21-16 (1:15)
  14. WD: Jongkolphan KITITHARAKUL / Rawinda PRAJONGJAI bt Setyana MAPASA / Angela YU – 21-12, 21-17 (0:34)

These results reflect an exciting day of matches with several closely fought contests and dominant performances by top-seeded players.

by Abhishek Shukla

Yankees announce 2024 coaching staff

The New York Yankees today announced their coaching staff for the 2024 season. Joining Yankees Manager Aaron Boone will be Bench Coach Brad Ausmus, Pitching Coach Matt Blake, Bullpen Coach Mike Harkey, Assistant Pitching Coach Desi Druschel, Hitting Coach James Rowson, Assistant Hitting Coaches Casey Dykes and Pat Roessler, Third Base and Outfield Coach Luis Rojas, First Base and Infield Coach Travis Chapman, and Major League Field Coordinator and Director of Catching Tanner Swanson.

Ausmus, 54, begins his 34th season in professional baseball, his 11th season as a Manager, Coach or front office executive, and his first as the Yankees’ Bench Coach. He most recently served as the Oakland Athletics’ Bench Coach during the 2022 season. Prior to that, Ausmus managed the Los Angeles Angels in 2019 (72-90) and was a Special Assistant to Angels General Manager Billy Eppler during the 2018 season. From 2014-17, he managed the Detroit Tigers, guiding the club to a 314-332 (.486) record, which was highlighted by a 90-72 record and a postseason berth in his first season at the helm.

Immediately following his playing career, Ausmus spent three seasons (2011-13) with the San Diego Padres as a Special Assistant in Baseball Operations. He also managed Team Israel in the 2013 World Baseball Classic and was their Bench Coach in the 2023 edition of the tournament.

Widely regarded as a premier defensive catcher, Ausmus batted .251 (1,579-for-6,279) with 718R, 270 doubles, 34 triples, 80HR, 607RBI, 634BB, 102SB and a .325 on-base percentage over 18 Major League seasons with San Diego (1993-96), Detroit (1996, 1999-2000), Houston (1997-98, 2001-08) and Los Angeles-NL (2009-10). Ausmus won three Gold Glove Awards (2001-02, ’06) and ranks fourth in Major League history in putouts by a catcher (12,839) and eighth in games played as a catcher (1,938).

Born in New Haven, Conn., Ausmus graduated from Cheshire High School and was selected by the Yankees in the 48th round of the 1987 First-Year Player Draft. He opted to attend Dartmouth College but did not play baseball there, instead playing in the Yankees’ minor league system while working towards his degree, which he received in 1991. He played five seasons in the Yankees’ minor league system (1988-92), topping out at Triple-A Columbus in his final season with the organization before being selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 1992 Expansion Draft.

Blake, 38, returns for his fifth season as the Yankees’ Pitching Coach. In 2023, Yankees pitchers ranked second in the American League and third in the Majors in opponents’ batting average (.234). Yankees pitchers also ranked sixth in the Majors in opponents’ slugging percentage (.396, fourth in AL), ninth in opponents’ on-base percentage (.308, sixth in AL) and opponents’ OPS (.703, fifth in AL), and 10th in ERA (3.97).

Since joining the Major League coaching staff in 2020, Yankees pitchers rank third in the Majors in strikeouts (4,995, second in AL), WHIP (1.19, second in AL) and opponents’ on-base percentage (.298, second in AL), fourth in opponents’ batting average (.229, second in AL) and K/BB (3.10, second in AL), fifth in ERA (3.74, third in AL) and K/9.0IP (9.31, second in AL), and sixth in BB/9.0IP (3.01, fourth in AL).

Prior to joining the Yankees, Blake spent four seasons with Cleveland (2016-19). Blake began his time with Cleveland as the Lower Level Pitching Coordinator in 2016. From 2017-19, he served as the organization’s Assistant Director of Player Development before being promoted to Director of Pitching Development.

Blake also served seven years as the Pitching Coordinator for Cressey Sports Performance while also coaching the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod League. The Concord, N.H., native pitched four seasons at the College of the Holy Cross (Mass.) and graduated in 2007 with a degree in psychology and philosophy.

Harkey, 57, returns for his 15th season as the Yankees’ Bullpen Coach, having held the position from 2008-13 before returning to the club’s coaching staff for the 2016 season. In 2023, Yankees relievers posted a Major League-best 3.34 ERA (619.0IP, 230ER), .221 opponents’ batting average and .349 opponents’ slugging percentage, ranked second in the Majors in HR/9.0IP (0.86, second in AL) and opponents’ OPS (.658, first in AL), fifth in WHIP (1.23, third in AL) and sixth in opponents’ OBP (.309, third in AL). According to Elias, it marked the 12th time in franchise history (since 1913 when ER became an official stat in both leagues) and just the second time in the last 42 years (since 1982) that the Yankees posted the lowest bullpen ERA in the Majors (also 1917, 1922, ‘27, ‘39, ‘45, ‘47, ‘55, ‘57, ‘70, ‘81 and ’97).

The 2024 season marks his 18th on a Major League coaching staff, also serving as the Pitching Coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2014-15 and spending the 2006 season as the Bullpen Coach for the Florida Marlins. He also served as a Minor League Pitching Coach for seven seasons in the Chicago Cubs (2007) and San Diego Padres (2000-05) organizations.

The San Diego, Calif., native was the fourth overall pick of the 1987 First-Year Player Draft by the Chicago Cubs and went 36-36 with a 4.49 ERA in 131 Major League games (104 starts) with the Cubs (1988, ‘90-93), Colorado Rockies (1994), Oakland Athletics (1995), California Angels (1995) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1997).

Druschel, 48, enters his third season as the Yankees’ Assistant Pitching Coach and his sixth season in the Yankees organization. He also served as the Yankees’ Manager of Pitch Development for three seasons from 2019-21. Prior to joining the Yankees, Druschel spent five years at the University of Iowa, serving as the team’s Pitching Coach from 2017-19 after working as their Director of Baseball Operations from 2014-17.

Druschel began his coaching career as an Assistant Coach at Vinton-Shellsburg H.S. (Iowa) in 1998, before joining the collegiate ranks at Indiana University from 1999-2000. He spent five years (2000-04) at Mount St. Clare College (Iowa), serving as an Assistant from 2000-01 before taking over as Head Coach from 2001-04. From 2004-14, Druschel worked at Mount Mercy University (Iowa), serving as an Assistant from 2004-05 before being promoted to Head Coach (2005-14).

The Vinton, Iowa, native played baseball and basketball at Upper Iowa University and Mount Mercy University (Iowa) from 1994-98. He earned his master’s degree in athletic administration from Indiana University in 2001.

Rowson, 47, rejoins the Yankees organization with 22 years of professional coaching experience. The 2024 season will mark his 10th on a Major League coaching staff and his first as the Yankees’ Hitting Coach.

Rowson spent last season as the Detroit Tigers’ Assistant Hitting Coach after serving as the Bench Coach for the Miami Marlins from 2020-22. Prior to his stint in Miami, he was the Hitting Coach for the Minnesota Twins from 2017-19.

The Mount Vernon, N.Y., native spent nine years in the Yankees organization from 2006-11 and 2014-16, serving as the Minor League Hitting Coordinator in seven of those seasons (2008-11, ’14-16). He was also the Hitting Coach for Single-A Tampa from 2006-07. In between his stints with the Yankees, Rowson spent two seasons with the Chicago Cubs organization (2012-13), originally serving as their Minor League Hitting Coordinator before being named the Cubs’ Major League Hitting Coach in June 2012.

Rowson began his coaching career with the Los Angeles Angels organization, spending four years as a Minor League Hitting Coach with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga (2004-05), Single-A Cedar Rapids (2003) and Rookie-level Provo (2002).

He was originally selected by the Seattle Mariners in the ninth round of the 1994 First-Year Player Draft out of Mount St. Michael High School in the Bronx. The former outfielder played three minor league seasons with the Mariners (1995-96) and Yankees (1997) before playing in the Independent Heartland League in 1998.

Dykes, 33, enters his third season on the Yankees’ Major League coaching staff. Prior to joining the club’s Major League coaching staff, he served as the Hitting Coach for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2021. Dykes had been assigned to serve as the Hitting Coach for the Yankees’ Single-A Charleston affiliate in 2020 before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to joining the Yankees, he spent one season (2019) as the Hitting Coach at Indiana University, where the Hoosiers won the Big Ten regular season championship and led all of Division I in home runs during the regular season. He also served as Hitting Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Virginia Military Institute from 2015-18. Dykes began his coaching career as an Assistant at his alma mater, Western Kentucky, from 2013-14. He played four seasons at Western Kentucky (2009-12), graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sport management before completing his master’s in athletic administration in 2014.

Roessler, 64, rejoins the Yankees organization as an Assistant Hitting Coach. The 2024 season will mark Roessler’s 13th year with the Yankees (also 2004-14, ’19) and 37th season in professional baseball. In 2019, he was a Player Development Advisor for the Yankees after serving as the organization’s Director of Player Development from September 2004 through the end of the 2014 season. Additionally, he was the organization’s Field Coordinator from September 2004 through the 2013 season and served as the club’s Hitting Coordinator in 2005, ’12 and ’13. For the second half of the 2006 season, Roessler also managed Single-A Charleston.

Roessler spent the last four seasons (2020-23) as the Assistant Hitting Coach for the Washington Nationals. In between his previous two stints with the Yankees, he spent four seasons with the Mets (2015-18), serving as their Assistant Hitting Coach from 2015-17 before being promoted to Hitting Coach for the 2018 season.

Prior to joining the Yankees, Roessler was the Minor League Hitting Coordinator for the Houston Astros from 2002-04. From 2000-01, he was the Major League Hitting Coach for the Montreal Expos after serving as the organization’s Minor League Hitting Coordinator from 1995-97. In between stints with the Expos, Roessler was the Minor League Hitting Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1998-99.

He also worked for the Chicago White Sox organization from 1988-94. Roessler was the organization’s Roving Hitting Instructor in 1988 before serving as the Hitting Coach for Single-A Sarasota in 1989 and ’93, Double-A Birmingham from 1990-92 and Single-A South Bend in 1994.

Roessler began his coaching career with Old Dominion University (Va.), serving as the Assistant Baseball Coach from 1983-88.

The Phoenix, Ariz., native received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Arizona in 1983 and a master’s degree in sport management from Old Dominion in 1987. He played baseball at the University of Arizona and was a member of the 1980 College World Series championship team.

Rojas, 42, enters his third season as the Yankees’ Third Base and Outfield Coach. Prior to joining the Yankees. Rojas spent 16 years with the New York Mets organization (2006-21), including two seasons as the club’s Manager (2020-21). During that span, the Mets went 103-119 (.464) in 222 games.

Rojas was the sixth Dominican-born Manager in Major League history. His father, Felipe Alou, was the first when he managed the Montreal Expos (1992-2001) and San Francisco Giants (2003-06) after his 17-season Major League career. Luis and Felipe were the sixth father-son duo to both serve as Major League Managers, joining Buddy and David Bell, Aaron and Bob Boone, Connie and Earle Mack, George and Dick Sisler, and Bob and Joel Skinner. His brother, Moises Alou, also played 17 seasons in the Majors with seven different teams.

In 2019, Rojas served as the club’s Major League Quality Control Coach. Prior to joining the Mets’ Major League staff, Rojas managed Double-A Binghamton (2017-18), Single-A St. Lucie (2015-16), Single-A Savannah (2012-14) and the Gulf Coast League Mets (2011). Rojas also served as a Minor League Coach for Single-A Savannah in 2010 and held the same role for the Gulf Coast League Mets from 2008-09. He spent his first full season in the Mets organization in 2007 with the Dominican Summer League team after joining the organization in 2006.

Rojas also managed the Dominican Republic National Team in the WBSC Premier12 tournament in 2019. Additionally, the Santo Domingo, D.R., native led Leones del Escogido to a Dominican Winter League championship in 2015-16.

During his playing career, Rojas spent time in the minor league systems of the Baltimore Orioles (2000), Florida Marlins (2001-02) and Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals (2003-05).

Chapman, 45, enters his third season as the club’s First Base and Infield Coach and his 12th in the Yankees organization. He also enters his third season as the organization’s Director of Infield. Prior to joining the Major League coaching staff, he served as the Yankees’ Minor League Infield Coordinator in 2021 after spending the 2020 season coaching at the Alternate Site as the Assistant Infield Coordinator. Chapman had been assigned to serve as the Manager for the GCL Yankees in 2020 before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to that, he spent four seasons as a Defensive Coach for Single-A Charleston (2015-16, ’19) and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (2018). In 2017, he managed the DSL Yankees. Chapman made his minor league managerial debut in 2014 with the GCL Yankees 1 after making his professional coaching debut in 2013 as a coach for the GCL Yankees 2. He was also an Assistant Coach for the 18U USA National team in 2012 that won a gold medal in Seoul, South Korea.

The Jacksonville, Fla., native was originally selected by the Phillies in the 17th round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft out of Mississippi State University and made his Major League debut with the club in 2003. He played in 506 combined minor league games over seven seasons with the Philadelphia (2000-03), Kansas City (2004), Cincinnati (2005) and Pittsburgh (2006) organizations, hitting .286 (507-for-1,771) with 227, 117 doubles, 5 triples, 41HR, 286RBI and 185BB.

Swanson, 41, enters his fifth season as the Yankees’ Director of Catching and his first as the club’s Major League Field Coordinator. He previously served as the club’s Quality Control/Catching Coach and Director of Catching from 2020-23. Prior to joining the Yankees, he spent two seasons (2018-19) as the Minnesota Twins’ Minor League Catching Coordinator.

The Seattle, Wash., native spent nine seasons at various levels of collegiate baseball, including a five-year stint as a Volunteer Assistant Coach at the University of Washington (2013-17), where he also briefly served as the school’s Director of Baseball Operations for one season (2012). During his tenure as a coach at Washington, his catchers garnered three All-Pac-12 Conference selections, with two also being selected in the first three rounds of the First-Year Player Draft. He also served as Head Coach at Green River Community College (Wash.) in 2011.

Swanson was a lecturer in the School of Physical Education and School Health, while also serving as an Assistant Coach at his alma mater, Central Washington University, in 2010. In 2009, he was an Assistant at Everett Community College (Wash.), and in 2008, he taught and coached baseball at Sultan High School.

by Abhishek Shukla

Major League Baseball Announces 2024 Spring Training and Regular Season Game Times

January 10, 2024

Major League Baseball has officially announced the game times for its 2024 regular season and Spring Training, including the inaugural Spring Breakout event. This announcement is a part of the MLB’s continuous efforts to innovate and engage fans with exciting baseball action.

MLB Spring Breakout 2024

The MLB Spring Breakout, a new feature in the baseball calendar, is set to debut from March 14-17, 2024. This four-day event will showcase the current stars of Minor League Baseball, focusing on the top 20-25 prospects from each MLB organization. A total of 16 exhibition games will be played across Grapefruit and Cactus league stadiums during Spring Training.

Spring Training Schedule

The Cactus League officially begins on Thursday, February 22, with the Dodgers and Padres facing off in a league showdown. All 30 Major League clubs will then play in Cactus and Grapefruit League games starting Saturday, February 24. This includes the Red Sox and Rays playing a pair of Spring Training contests in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on March 9-10. The international exhibition series marks the first of four visits by MLB to different countries outside the United States and Canada throughout 2024.

2024 Regular Season Opening

The 2024 regular season is set to begin with the Seoul Opening Series, featuring the Dodgers and the Padres in South Korea’s first Major League games on Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21. Following this, the regular season will officially kick off on Thursday, March 28, with all 30 clubs playing, including six divisional matchups and one interleague contest (Cubs-Rangers) among the 15 games.

Notable Matchups and Game Times

  • Yankees open the 2024 season on March 28 against the Astros, with their home opener scheduled for April 5 against the Blue Jays.
  • Guardians’ Opening Day is also on March 28 at the A’s, hosting the White Sox and Yankees for the first homestand of the season.
  • Royals start their season on March 28 versus the Twins at Kauffman Stadium.
  • Tigers’ Opening Day is set for March 28 at the White Sox, with their home opener against the A’s on April 5.
  • Twins open the season on March 28 at the Royals, with their home opener against the Guardians on April 4.

The 2024 MLB schedule offers a blend of traditional matchups, international games, and exciting new events like the Spring Breakout, promising a dynamic and engaging season for baseball fans worldwide.

by Abhishek Shukla

Inter Miami CF Signs Tyler Hall as Homegrown Player

January 10, 2024

Inter Miami CF has made a strategic move by signing 17-year-old academy graduate Tyler Hall as a Homegrown Player. The defender’s contract with the club extends through the 2027 Major League Soccer (MLS) season, with an option for 2028. Hall’s signing marks him as the eighth academy product to make it to Inter Miami CF’s First Team.

Tyler Hall, a standout defender, made his professional debut in 2022 with Inter Miami CF II in MLS NEXT Pro, where he was the youngest-ever player to start a match in the league. Over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Hall made a total of 29 appearances, including 24 starts, showcasing his potential and skill on the field.

In 2023, Hall’s talents were further recognized when he was selected as one of the top 44 best youth soccer players in North America, earning him a spot in the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game. His performance in this game solidified his status as a promising young talent in the soccer world.

Apart from his club commitments, Hall has also been an active participant in U.S. youth international teams. He served as the captain of the U.S. U-17 team at the November 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia, where he showcased his leadership and soccer skills on an international stage.

The signing of Tyler Hall as a Homegrown Player underscores Inter Miami CF’s commitment to nurturing and developing young talent within their academy system. Hall joins other academy graduates who have successfully transitioned to the club’s First Team, demonstrating the effectiveness of the club’s youth development program.

With the addition of Tyler Hall to their roster, Inter Miami CF continues to build a team with a mix of experienced players and promising young talent. Hall’s development at the MLS level will be a key aspect of Inter Miami CF’s strategy in the coming seasons.

Inter Miami CF’s preseason schedule is set to begin next week, including a highly anticipated match against Al-Hilal on January 29, which will feature a riveting encounter between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The club’s regular-season campaign will kick off on February 21 against Real Salt Lake.

by Abhishek Shukla

Colorado Rapids Sign Goalkeeper Adam Beaudry to Homegrown Player Contract

January 10, 2024

The Colorado Rapids have announced the signing of 17-year-old goalkeeper Adam Beaudry to a four-year Homegrown Player contract, with an option for two additional years, marking a significant step in the young player’s career.

Adam Beaudry, a product of the Rapids Academy and Real Colorado, has shown exceptional promise in his young career. In the 2023 season, he featured in 16 matches for Rapids 2, starting all of them and achieving three clean sheets. His performances helped Rapids 2 secure the No. 1 overall seed in MLS NEXT Pro. Beaudry’s talent was further recognized as he was named the MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Month for both May and July and was a finalist for the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Beaudry’s talent extends beyond the club level to the international stage, where he has represented the U.S. at the U-17 level. He was part of the U.S. team that competed in the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia, making it to the knockout stage. Beaudry also played a crucial role in the U.S. team’s journey to the final of the Concacaf U-17 Championship in Guatemala.

Colorado Rapids President Pádraig Smith and Head Coach Chris Armas have both expressed high regard for Beaudry’s abilities and potential. Smith highlighted Beaudry’s work ethic, commitment to learning, and experience on the youth international stage as key factors in his development. Armas emphasized the importance of keeping Beaudry in Colorado and expressed confidence in his bright future and potential for further growth.

As Beaudry joins the first team, he becomes a part of a goalkeeping roster that includes U.S. national team player Zack Steffen and Serbian international Marko Ilić. The club is clearly invested in nurturing his talent and providing him with opportunities to develop further.

Adam Beaudry’s signing is a testament to the Colorado Rapids’ commitment to developing young talent and investing in their future. Beaudry’s early achievements and potential make him a promising prospect for the club, and his progress will be eagerly watched by fans and experts alike.

by Abhishek Shukla

Troy Lesesne Takes the Helm as D.C. United’s New Head Coach

January 10, 2024

D.C. United has officially announced the appointment of Troy Lesesne as their new head coach, marking a significant change in leadership for the storied MLS club. Lesesne, who recently served as the interim head coach of New York Red Bulls, has signed a three-year contract with the Black-and-Red, extending through the 2026 season.

Lesesne’s coaching career, spanning over a decade, has seen him work at various levels in American soccer, starting in 2005 as an assistant coach with the College of Charleston. His journey includes significant stints with the Charleston Battery, Charlotte Independence, and New Mexico United in the USL Championship. Under his guidance, New Mexico United saw two playoff appearances and reached the quarterfinals of the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

In 2022, Lesesne stepped into the MLS as an assistant coach with the New York Red Bulls. He took over as interim head coach in early May 2023 and led the team to a remarkable playoff appearance after a challenging start to the season.

Troy Lesesne’s high-pressing tactical approach and player-first managerial style were key factors in his selection by D.C. United. The club’s General Manager and Chief Soccer Officer, Ally Mackay, praised Lesesne’s impressive pedigree and his ability to work at all levels of soccer in the United States. Lesesne himself has expressed gratitude for the opportunity and is committed to leading D.C. United into a new chapter, aiming to connect with the passionate supporters and deliver the results they deserve.

D.C. United, under Lesesne’s leadership, is looking to chart a new path after finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference in the previous season. The club is in pursuit of its first postseason appearance since 2019 and is undergoing a significant squad rebuild. With room to sign a Designated Player to complement the likes of striker Christian Benteke and midfielder Mateusz Klich, Lesesne will have the opportunity to shape the team according to his vision.

Lesesne’s first test as D.C. United’s head coach will be on February 24, 2024, when they face New England Revolution at Audi Field. Fans and observers alike will be keen to see how Lesesne’s strategies and leadership will rejuvenate the team and elevate their performance in the MLS.

by Abhishek Shukla

Orlando City Secures Facundo Torres Through 2026 with New Contract

January 10, 2024

Orlando City SC has successfully secured the services of Uruguayan forward Facundo Torres for an extended period, with the player signing a new three-year contract. This agreement ensures that Torres will continue to grace the pitch for Orlando City as a Designated Player through 2026, with options for the club to extend his stay in 2027 and 2028.

Since joining Orlando City SC before the 2022 MLS season, Torres, now 23, has proven to be a pivotal figure for the team. His initial transfer, a club-record deal reported to be around $7.5 million plus bonuses from Peñarol, marked him as a significant investment for the Lions. Torres has lived up to the expectations, delivering consistently impressive performances.

In his tenure with Orlando City, Torres has made 79 appearances, including 72 starts, and has been influential in the team’s attacking play. With 27 goals and 16 assists in two full seasons, he has been a key player in the team’s successes, including their 2022 US Open Cup title win and a historic 2023 campaign where they finished as Supporters’ Shield runners-up.

Expressing gratitude towards the club and its fans, Torres shared his happiness in continuing his journey with Orlando City. His commitment to the team is a strong indication of his belief in the club’s project and ambitions. The Uruguayan international has also been pivotal on the international stage, being a regular call-up for Uruguay under head coach Marcelo Bielsa, including participation in the 2022 World Cup and Copa América.

As Orlando City prepares for the 2024 season, the retention of a player of Torres’ caliber is a significant boost. The team has a packed schedule, including their preseason training camp and a series of matches against notable teams such as Flamengo, Rhode Island FC, and various MLS sides. Torres’ continued presence will be vital as Orlando City seeks to build on their recent successes and aim for higher achievements in the upcoming season.

An interesting note for the fans is that Torres will switch his jersey number from No. 17 to No. 10 for the 2024 season, a number previously worn by former captains Kaká and Mauricio Pereyra. This change symbolizes Torres’ growing importance and stature within the team.

Facundo Torres’ contract extension with Orlando City SC is a major statement of intent from the club, signifying their desire to build a competitive team around key, talented players. Torres’ proven track record in MLS and his potential for further growth make this a promising development for the Lions as they look forward to a successful 2024 season.

by Abhishek Shukla

France and NBA announce expanded youth basketball development programming ahead of Paris 2024

PARIS – The National Basketball Association (NBA), the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) and the LNB Betclic ELITE (LNB) – France’s top professional basketball league – today announced several initiatives to expand youth basketball development in France ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic games in Paris, where basketball will be a featured sport.

The programming, which will be hosted in collaboration with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Union Nationale du Sport Scolaire (UNSS), will build on Jr. NBA programming that has reached more than a quarter of a million French youth over the past decade.

As part of the announcement, the NBA, the FFBB and the LNB plan to launch a new player development program to develop elite-level prospects in the LNB, which the FFBB and the LNB plan to share more information about in the coming months.  And beginning Saturday, Jan. 20 when Élan Chalon hosts JL Bourg at 6:30 p.m. CET / 12:30 p.m. ET, the NBA will livestream one LNB game each week to fans in France, the U.S., and more than 150 other countries around the world.  The LNB currently features four players who are projected by ESPN to be drafted in the 2024 NBA Draft: Melvin Ajinca (Saint-Quentin), Zacharie Perrin (Antibes), Zaccharie Risacher (JL Bourg), and Tidjane Salaun (Cholet Basket).

The announcement was made during the largest Jr. NBA Week ever, which is reaching nearly 4,000 youth, coaches and referees from across Paris and parts of Europe and the Middle East through a series of clinics and workshops featuring four-time NBA champion Tony Parker (France), two-time WNBA All-Star Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty), French Men’s National Team head coach Vincent Collet, and French Women’s National Team assistant coach Cathy Melain, and ahead of The NBA Paris Game 2024 presented by Revolut, which will feature the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers playing the league’s third regular-season game in Paris on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. CET.  The NBA Paris Game 2024 presented by Revolut will air live on beIN SPORTS, free-to-air Canal+ and NBA League Pass – the league’s premium live game subscription service available via the NBA App – reaching fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media, and social media.

On Friday, Jan. 12, the NBA, the FFBB and the UNSS will launch a new annual Jr. NBA League in Paris for 450 youth ages 13 and under from 30 schools across the city.  The league will tip off with a draft event that will be attended by former French Women’s National Team member Diandra Tchatchouang and former French Men’s National Team member and NBA player Ian Mahinmi.  This Spring, the NBA and the FFBB will also launch a new Jr. NBA 3-on-3 League in Marseille for 450 youth ages 13 and under from 30 schools across the city.

The NBA’s International Basketball Operations Department, which oversees the league’s elite basketball development programming including Basketball Without Borders and NBA Academy that have seen more than 115 former participants advance to the NBA and WNBA, is working with the FFBB and the LNB to elevate all aspects of their elite player development and retention strategies, including through the planned launch of the NBA, the FFBB and the LNB’s new player development program.

In addition, throughout this week, NBA Academy Africa – an elite basketball training center in Saly, Senegal for the top male and female prospects from across Africa and the first of its kind on the continent – and an NBA Academy U-17 select team featuring top prospects from NBA Academy Africa, NBA Global Academy (Australia) and NBA Academy Latin America (Mexico), are playing a series of exhibition games in Paris against youth teams from the LNB’s Paris Basketball and Nanterre as well as an FFBB team from INSEP (France’s National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance).

Last January, in conjunction with The NBA Paris Game 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced a comprehensive plan to collaborate on a variety of initiatives to elevate basketball in France and Africa at all levels.  Since then, the NBA, the FFBB and the LNB have held several youth basketball development events in France, as well as several workshops covering all aspects of fan engagement and the commercialization of basketball, including media distribution, content production, elite player development and retention, and more.

Below is an overview of additional youth basketball development and fan engagement programming in France this week and in the coming months.

• Beginning Jan. 11 at NBA House – a free, interactive fan event at the Carreau du Temple in the 3rd Arrondissement featuring appearances by Parker and Ionescu – and continuing through the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the league will host a series of viewing parties in France where fans will be able to watch live NBA games together, including in primetime as part of the league’s “NBA Saturdays and NBA Sundays” primetime initiative.  Fans can register their interest in receiving more information NBA.com/IDFrance.

• As part of Jr. NBA Week:

  • Eleven current and former players, legends and coaches are helping lead clinics: Parker, Ionescu, Mahinmi, Tchatchouang, former NBA player and French Men’s National Team member Mickaël Piétrus, Cavaliers assistant coach Dan Geriot, Nets assistant coach Will Weaver, Collet, Melain, former Paris Basketball player Amara Sy, and Head of Paris Basketball Training Program Christophe Denis.
  • The NBA and the FFBB are hosting the Paris regional finals of their annual Jr. NBA Challenge Benjamin(e)s program Skills Challenge, which reaches 15,000 boys and girls across France annually through a variety of skills competitions.  The two winners (boys and girls) will each receive two tickets to The NBA Paris Game 2024 presented by Revolut.
  • The NBA and the FFBB held a 3-on-3 basketball tournament featuring 23 teams of boys and girls ages 15-18 competing for the chance to attend The NBA Paris Game 2024 presented by Revolut.
  • Ninety local female players participated in Her Time To Play programming comprised of on-court basketball development, conversations focused on female empowerment, and opportunities for women in sports and leadership.
  • The NBA is collaborating with the LNB’s Paris Basketball on a series of Jr. NBA and coaching clinics, including a Jr. NBA clinic on Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Accor Arena prior to Paris Basketball’s game against AS Monaco, which the youth participants will attend.
  • Earlier this week, coaches from the Cavaliers, the Nets, and France Men’s and Women’s National Teams led clinics for local coaches to teach techniques and best practices for team and player development at any level.  Top male and female players from the FFBB team from INSEP and Paris Basketball Academy participated as demo teams.  The clinics were also livestreamed to coaches across Europe, the Middle East and Latin America on OWQLO, the official app of the Jr. NBA program in those regions.
  • The NBA is hosting a Jr. NBA League Workshop at the FFBB headquarters in Paris for representatives from the Jr. NBA Leagues across Europe and the Middle East to share best practices around the program and identify opportunities for collaboration and growth.

• NBA Africa and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) – France’s inclusive public development bank committed to financing and technical assistance for projects that improve the lives of people in developing and emerging economies – continue to promote social inclusion in Africa by developing basketball infrastructure and conducting youth basketball programs, events and initiatives in select African countries, including in 2023 in Morocco and Nigeria.  This year, NBA Africa and AFD plan to expand the collaboration to Kenya and Senegal.

There have been more NBA players from France than from any other country outside North America, including a record 14 this season.  Live NBA games and programming air in France on beIN SPORTS and NBA League Pass, including more than 40 weekend games in primetime this season as part of “NBA Saturdays and NBA Sundays.”

Executive Quotes

French President Emmanuel Macron: “I am proud that the NBA has chosen France for this unique, innovative and virtuous partnership.  It is great news for all basketball fans in France, and a real boost for our best young hopefuls, as well as for all our clubs and professional basketball leagues.”

French Minister of Sports and Olympic and Paralympic Games Amélie Oudéa-Castéra: “On the eve of the Paris 2024 Games and a spectacular Olympic edition of basketball to be held at the Pierre Mauroy stadium and Arena Bercy, we are extremely pleased to strengthen our global partnership with the NBA.  Along with President Macron and Commissioner Adam Silver, we are proud of and delighted with this cooperation, which builds on the Jr. NBA programming that has already helped more than 250,000 French youngsters over the past 10 years.  These new initiatives highlight the prestige of French training and the expertise of our clubs, as demonstrated by the record presence of 14 French players in the NBA this season.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver: “We’re excited to expand on our on-going efforts with President Macron and the French basketball community to grow youth basketball development programming ahead of this summer’s highly-anticipated Olympic basketball competition.  There is incredible momentum around basketball and the NBA in France, and through these efforts we hope to inspire our next generation of French players and fans.”

FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis: “I couldn’t have imagined a better start to the Olympic year in the host city of Paris, with so many basketball activities taking place, ranging from grassroots events to the highest level of professional basketball.  There is no doubt that the popularity of our sport will continue to rise in a country that is already so enthusiastic about the game.”

FFBB President Jean-Pierre Siutat: “For the third year, the NBA is coming to Paris as part of The NBA Paris Game for a regular-season match at the Accor Arena.  In addition to the match, we’re taking advantage of the opportunity to organize a week of basketball events thanks to a strengthened partnership between the FFBB and the NBA, a partnership that has been in place since 2010.  This collaboration covers youth programs such as the Jr. NBA Challenge Benjamin(e)s program, the Jr. NBA League FFBB UNSS, the Jr. NBA 3-on-3 League in Marseille, as well as programs linked to the development and training of young talent to which the federation is very attached.  Relations with the NBA involve all of the stakeholders in French basketball, which is very positive for the growth of our sport.  The FFBB is a leading federation in Europe for the NBA, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank President Macron and Adam Silver for their support in this development strategy, which is all the more relevant in an Olympic year.”

LNB President Philippe Ausseur: “I am delighted with this global agreement with the NBA, which reaffirms the current dynamic of French professional basketball.  Through this agreement, it is the global recognition of the excellence of French training of which our clubs are the great architects.  Finally, the broadcast of one Betclic ELITE championship match per week on the NBA App demonstrates our attractiveness and our ongoing capacity to develop to attract new audiences.”

UNSS Directeur National Olivier Girault: “We are delighted to be back in Paris with the launch of this new edition of the Jr. NBA FFBB UNSS League.  This event reflects the long and perfect collaboration between the UNSS and the FFBB.  By teaming up with a world-renowned league like the NBA, we are also demonstrating the importance of opening up to the international arena for our young people.  We also want to strengthen the links between FFBB clubs and school sports associations in junior and senior high schools, with the common aim of offering more basketball at school.  This year, more than 500 UNSS-licensed students will get involved and discover basketball thanks to these two NBA FFBB UNSS Leagues.”

by Abhishek Shukla

U Mumba & Haryana Steelers play out high-octane tie in PKL Season 10

10th January, MUMBAI: U Mumba and Haryana Steelers played out a highly entertaining high octane 44-44 tie in the final game of PKL Season 10’s leg at the DOME by NSCI on Wednesday. While Jaideep Dahiya’s brilliant defending earned him 8 tackle points, the real star of the game was Amirmohammad Zafardanesh, who almost single-handedly got his side a deserved tie with 14 raid points. 

The Haryana Steelers kicked off at a blistering pace and had, within minutes, reduced the U Mumba numbers on the mat. It wasn’t just via raiding though, as Jaideep Dahiya in defence was imperious, logging an impressive 4 raid points in the first half itself — over half of the Haryana Steelers’ total for the period.  

They inflicted the first ALL OUT of the game in the seventh minute to take a 11-6 lead and things looked bleak for the home side. In the next quarter of the game though U Mumba’s team rallied together, Amirmohammad Zafardanesh’s ability to constantly pick up bonus points, and Siddharth Desai’s SUPER RAID at the end of the half drawing them to within three to end the half.   

Despite having only three players on the mat at the beginning of the second half, the Haryana Steelers, courtesy of a SUPER TACKLE and some brilliant raiding, streaked into a 9 point lead within two minutes. The see-saw nature of the encounter ensured that they wouldn’t have the last say, as U Mumba slowly edged their way back. It took them nine minutes of the half, but eventually they inflicted an ALL OUT to erase that nine point deficit to draw level at 30 apiece.  

The momentum swung the other way almost immediately as the Haryana Steelers defence held together and created a second ALL OUT  to take a five point lead. U Mumba inflicted a second ALL OUT  to draw level at 44 apiece, with 40 seconds left. Neither team could break the deadlock in the dying seconds as they took a deserved point apiece. 

Please see below the PKL Season 10 match on 12th January

Game 1 – Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Telugu Titans vs Bengal Warriors – 8 pm

Game 2 – Puneri Paltan vs Gujarat Giants – 9 pm

Venue: Jaipur

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

Nordea Open in Bastad named 2023 WTA 125 tournament of the year

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The WTA today on Wednesday announced the Nordea Open in Bastad, Sweden has been voted as the 2023 WTA 125 Tournament of the Year for the second consecutive season.

The event won the inaugural award in 2022 and once again has been voted by WTA players as the standout tournament on the WTA 125 calendar.

The WTA athlete body selected the Nordea Open as the winner on the merits of its excellence of staff and organization, passionate fans and wider dedication to the sport and its players.

The 2023 event marked the fourth edition of the tournament, which crowned Olga Danilovic as the singles champion and Irina Khromacheva and Panna Udvardy as the doubles winners. Last season, the Nordea Open was one of 31 WTA 125 tournaments staged, and it will be held again in 2024 during the week of July 8.

The Nordea Open joins the WTA 1000 BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells), WTA 500 Credit One Charleston Open and the WTA 250 Transylvania Open (Cluj-Napoca) as fellow 2023 Tournament Award winners.

by Abhishek Shukla

Sevens captains ready for the challenge in Dubai

The captains of the 12 women’s and 12 men’s teams gathered at Dubai Creek Harbour on Wednesday ahead of the opening round of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024, which takes place at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on 12-14 January.

There is more to play for than ever before in this year’s Challenger with the competition expanded to three rounds and the top four placed men’s and women’s teams qualifying for the new promotion and relegation play-off competition at the HSBC SVNS 2024 Grand Final in Madrid.

The pool draw, which took place in December during the HSBC SVNS 2024 opening round at the same venue in Dubai, produced some exciting match-ups. Three teams in the men’s competition – Uruguay, Japan and Kenya – have already booked their places at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and they headline Pools A, B and C respectively. All teams qualified for the Challenger 2024 through regional competitions.

Men’s pools:

Pool A: Uruguay, Hong Kong China, Papua New Guinea, Georgia
Pool B: Japan, Tonga, Chile, Portugal
Pool C: Kenya, Germany, Uganda, Mexico

Women’s pools:

Pool A: Belgium, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Uganda
Pool B: China, Czechia, Mexico, Kenya
Pool C: Poland, Hong Kong China, Paraguay, Argentina

The Challenger tournaments replicate the Olympic Games competition format, with the 12 teams drawn into three pools of four teams each. The top two from each pool as well as the two best third-placed finishers will qualify for the knockout stages with quarter-finals and semi-finals leading to the third place and gold medal matches.

Kenya men’s captain Tony Omondi reflected on overcoming South Africa to qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024: “It feels amazing to have led the team in qualifying for the Olympics. It is the pinnacle of sports in the world so playing in the Olympics is a dream come true for every athlete.

“The Olympics is a big plus for us but we all know we fell short of playing in the SVNS series this year and the goal is to get back into the series and with the current crop of players that we have I believe that is possible. Preparations have gone well. We know that to have a shot at getting back on the Series we have to finish in the top four and that is the motive.”

Belgium women’s captain Cécile Blondiau said: “We are really excited about the new format of the Challenger competition as it gives more chances to more teams to reach the next level of rugby. We are also excited to see our new, young players show what they can do. Our hopes are to finish in the top four and we are really excited to begin the competition here in Dubai.”

Portugal men’s captain Duarte Moreira said : “It was a big accomplishment for us to qualify for the Challenger and it’s a new opportunity for us to go back into the Series so it’s going to be a great challenge for us.

“The new generation of fifteens players that went to the Rugby World Cup was very inspiration for us and a time for all of us to try and push and exceed ourselves to try to be like them.”

Poland captain Natalia Pamieta said: “We are really excited because we have been waiting for a few years to qualify for the World Series so I hope that now it is the time for us. Our hopes are to qualify for the World Series and also the Olympic Games from the final qualifier event in Monaco.”

The Challenger was introduced in February 2020 to boost the development of rugby sevens across the globe and provide a clear promotion pathway to reach the top level of global rugby sevens for the short format of the game which has experienced huge growth over the past two decades since the introduction of the global sevens series and becoming an Olympic sport at the Rio 2016 Games.

The 2024 edition of the Challenger competition kicks off with combined events at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on 12-14 January, followed by Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo, Uruguay on 8-10 March before standalone women’s and men’s events at Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium in Krakow, Poland and Dantestadion in Munich, Germany respectively on 18-19 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger 2024 dates:

Dubai, UAE – 12-14 January (men and women)
Montevideo, Uruguay – 8-10 March (men and women)
Krakow, Poland – 18-19 May  (women) 
Munich, Germany –18-19 May (men)

by Abhishek Shukla

Narender’s Super 10 and Sahil’s High 5 guide Tamil Thalaivas to 19-point win against U.P. Yoddhas

10th January, MUMBAI: Tamil Thalaivas ended their 7-game winless run with a resounding 46-27 victory over U.P. Yoddhas in the Pro Kabaddi League match at the DOME by NSCI in Mumbai on Wednesday. Thalaivas raider Narender starred with 14 raid points, while left corner defender Sahil Gulia claimed 5 tackle points.

Tamil Thalaivas got off to a fantastic start and needed just 7 minutes to inflict the first ALL OUT and soar to an 11-2 lead. Both of their raiders, Narender and Ajinkya Pawar, were in really good touch and made the difference in the first half. Neither of U. P. Yoddhas’ raiders – Pardeep Narwal nor Surender Gill – were effective and it took a couple of key raids from Vijay Malik for them to get going.

The Tamil Thaliavas ended the first half with an 8-point lead at 19-11 and were in complete control of the game.

The second half was more of the same as Narender returned to cause further trouble for the U.P. Yoddhas. The youngster produced 2 multi-point raids to lead his side to a second ALL OUT and further extend their lead. He slipped past the defensive duo of Nitesh Kumar and Gurdeep to earn the Thalaivas 4 points and take them to a 29-15 lead in the 26th minute.

Pardeep endured a difficult outing and was sent to the bench for the 7th time in 11 raids, in the 30th minute, as the U.P. Yoddhas were reduced to 3 men and trailed by 15 points. The U.P.  Yoddhas, on their part, did well to hold on and a SUPER TACKLE from Nitin Panwar helped their cause, but it still was not enough. Another multi-point raid from Narender saw a 3rd ALL OUT inflicted on the U.P. Yoddhas and that saw the Thalaivas pick up their 1st win in 8 games. The result also marked the Yoddhas’ 4th loss on the trot.

Pro Kabaddi League Season 10, 2023
Points Table
PositionTeamMatchesWonLostTiedPointsScore DiffPoints concededPoints scored
1Puneri Paltan1091046138272410
2Dabang Delhi K.C.117314031363394
3Gujarat Giants117403923366389
4Jaipur Pink Panthers106223837302339
5U Mumba106403214373387
6Haryana Steelers1064031-21382361
7Bengaluru Bulls1257031-40426386
8Patna Pirates115602916415431
9Bengal Warriors1145228-6419413
10U.P. Yoddhas1238121-29450421
11Tamil Thalaivas1138019-25401376
12Telugu Titans1111009-138483345

Please see below the PKL Season 10 match on 12th January

Game 1 – Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Telugu Titans vs Bengal Warriors – 8 pm

Game 2 – Puneri Paltan vs Gujarat Giants – 9 pm

Venue: Jaipur

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

Portland Timbers Secure Eric Miller’s Services Through 2025

January 10, 2024

The Portland Timbers have announced the re-signing of defender Eric Miller for the upcoming Major League Soccer seasons, extending his stay at the club through 2025. This decision comes after the club initially declined his contract option following the end of the 2023 campaign.

Eric Miller, now 30, brings a wealth of experience from his extensive Major League Soccer career, which began in 2014. Over the years, Miller has made 179 regular-season appearances, including 142 starts, and has recorded four assists. His journey in the league has seen him feature for several clubs, including CF Montréal, Colorado Rapids, Minnesota United FC, New York City FC, and Nashville SC.

At Portland Timbers, Miller is expected to provide depth in the fullback position. His versatility and experience will be vital for the Timbers, especially in shoring up their defense. Miller’s knowledge of the league and his understanding of its competitive nature make him a valuable asset to the club.

The Portland Timbers, now under the leadership of head coach Phil Neville, are gearing up for their 2024 campaign, which kicks off on February 24th against Colorado Rapids. The match, scheduled for 10:30 pm ET, will be available on MLS Season Pass, offering fans an opportunity to see the team’s progress under Neville’s guidance.

The re-signing of Eric Miller is part of Portland Timbers’ strategic planning under Neville. His coaching philosophy and approach to the game are expected to bring a new dynamic to the team. Miller’s experience and familiarity with the league will undoubtedly complement Neville’s vision for the club.

Miller’s re-signing signals Portland’s commitment to maintaining a blend of experience and youth in their squad. His presence in the locker room and on the field can be instrumental in developing younger players and maintaining stability in the team’s defensive setup.

As the Timbers embark on the new season, the re-signing of Eric Miller adds depth to their roster and offers flexibility in their defensive options. His return is a positive step for the club as they aim to compete at the highest level in MLS and strive for success in the upcoming season.

With the 2024 season fast approaching, the Portland Timbers and their fans will be hopeful that the blend of experienced players like Miller and the strategic approach of Phil Neville will bring a successful campaign. Miller’s role, both on and off the pitch, will be crucial in achieving the club’s objectives for the season.

by Abhishek Shukla

Karnataka to face Delhi and Odisha to clash against Andhra Pradesh in semis of Women’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for Blind 2024 

Hubli (Karnataka) [India], January 10:Karnataka will lock horns with Delhi while Odisha will face Andhra Pradesh in the semi-finals of the ongoing Women’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2024 on Thursday.

Both matches will be played on the same day here at Karnataka Gymkhana Cricket Ground. Odisha vs Andhra Pradesh will kick start the semi-finals proceedings at 9:00 am while Karnataka and Delhi will meet in the afternoon at same location.

All the four semi-finalists on Wednesday won their respective games to reach the next stage of the ongoing Women’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2024.

For Karnataka it was a cake walk as the side thrashed Assam by nine wickets at SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital Cricket Ground in Dharwad. Put into bat first by Karnataka, Assam scored just 57 runs in 20 overs. Karnataka chased down the target in the 6th over. Laxmi P was named as the Player of the Match.

Delhi defeated West Bengal by 116 runs at Indian Railways Cricket Ground in Hubli. Delhi scored 192/3 and bundled out West Bengal for 76. Manika was named as the Player of the Match. Delhi reached semis by virtue of a better net run rate.

Odisha and Andhra Pradesh defeated Madhya Pradesh and Haryana respectively in Hubli. Both the teams remained undefeated in their respective Groups and will kick start the semi-final proceedings on Thursday.

The League stage has ended today. A total of 27 matches is being played in the IndusInd Bank Women’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2024. The final showdown, coinciding with National Youth Day, also known as Vivekananda Jayanti, is set for January 12, promising a fitting culmination to this remarkable tournament.

by Abhishek Shukla

Tottenham Hotspur Bolsters Attack with Loan Signing of Timo Werner

January 10, 2024

Tottenham Hotspur has made a significant move in the January transfer window by securing German international Timo Werner on a six-month loan from RB Leipzig, with an option to buy in the summer. The 27-year-old forward, a former Chelsea player and Champions League winner, brings a wealth of experience and versatility to Spurs’ attacking line-up.

Timo Werner’s football journey is a story of consistent growth and adaptability. He began his career at TSV Steinhaldenfeld before joining VfB Stuttgart’s youth team and quickly progressed to make his senior debut in August 2013. At Stuttgart, he made a mark by becoming the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer in Bundesliga.

Werner’s move to RB Leipzig in the 2016/17 season, coinciding with the club’s debut in the Bundesliga, saw him finishing as the top league goalscorer for four consecutive seasons. His remarkable form, including a Bundesliga history-making hat-trick of goals and assists in an 8-0 victory over Mainz, earned him accolades such as the Bundesliga Player of the Month and a place in the Bundesliga Team of the Season.

The German forward’s stint with Chelsea in the Premier League added to his international experience, where he contributed to the team’s success in the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. Returning to RB Leipzig in August 2022, Werner continued his impressive form, helping the team win the German Cup and the German Super Cup.

Werner expressed his enthusiasm for joining Tottenham, recognizing the club’s stature and his familiarity with playing against them, both for Chelsea and Leipzig. In his first interview with SPURSPLAY, Werner shared his excitement about joining Ange Postecoglou’s project and his ambitions to contribute significantly to the team.

He emphasized his desire to be the best player he can be at Spurs, bringing his speed and threat as an attacker. Werner also highlighted the tactical fit with the team’s playing style and his ability to adapt across the front three positions, a flexibility valued by the manager.

This signing is part of Tottenham’s strategic efforts to bolster their squad, with Werner’s proven track record in both the Bundesliga and Premier League expected to add depth and dynamism to their attack. His experience and winning mentality, evident from his contributions to Chelsea’s Champions League triumph and RB Leipzig’s domestic success, align with Tottenham’s ambitions.

Spurs, under Postecoglou’s guidance, are keen on challenging for titles and see Werner as a key piece in their puzzle. His arrival is timely, as Tottenham prepares to return to action with an FA Cup fourth-round tie, followed by a Premier League match against Brentford.

Timo Werner’s loan signing is a statement of intent from Tottenham Hotspur. It reflects their commitment to strengthening the squad and their pursuit of success in both domestic and European competitions. Werner’s versatility, pace, and scoring prowess could be the catalyst Spurs need to elevate their performance in the latter half of the season.

With the option to make the deal permanent in the summer, Werner’s impact at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could define not only the current campaign but also the club’s future direction.

by Abhishek Shukla

Chennaiyin to begin Kalinga Super Cup against Punjab with an eye on AFC Champions League 2 spot

Bhubaneswar, January 10, 2024: Chennaiyin FC will be looking to earn a spot in the 2024-25 AFC Champions League 2 Group stages as they begin their Kalinga Super Cup 2024 campaign against Punjab FC at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on Thursday.

The winner of the Kalinga Super Cup will not only add a trophy to their cabinet but will also get a spot in the 2024-25 AFC Champions League 2 Group stages.

Chennaiyin are present in Group C of the tournament alongside Mumbai City FC and Gokulam Kerala FC, in addition to Punjab FC and head coach Owen Coyle is set to lead the team to a successful campaign.

“We are looking forward to the Super Cup as it’s a great competition and obviously, we’re in a tough group with two fierce rivals from the ISL in Punjab and Mumbai. The team is certainly capable of performing far better than it has done recently, so, we’re excited for it and there should be a freshness about us in the tournament,” commented Coyle ahead of the match.

The Marina Machans finished the previous edition of the tournament in the group stages and will look to improve their performance to win the trophy this year with the likes of Rafael Crivellaro, Jordan Murray and Ninthoinganba Meetei in their ranks. Crivellaro (5) has given the most assists in the ongoing season of the Indian Super League, while the addition of Mobashir Rahman on loan has also increased the options for the Scotsman.

“Of course, I’d like to win the tournament. We’ve always been known for fighting out for competitions and we want to do the same. We certainly believe that we are capable of a big second half of the season and it starts with the Super Cup as we want to go and give a really good account of ourselves. You want to win every competition and if you don’t think you can win it, you shouldn’t enter the tournament. I believe if we’re at our best, we can stand toe to toe with the teams in this competition,” the head coach said.

Chennaiyin will step onto the field after a break as they are playing their first match in 2024 and Coyle asserted that a break is always helpful for the players to regain their fitness and strength.

He said, “The break is good as it gives us the match fitness & the sharpness and a really tough competition because of the quality of the teams we play. It will stand us in good stead for when we come back to play in ISL.”

Chennaiyin and Punjab share a closely contested head-to-head record in the two matches played between them so far, with each team winning one game.

The Marina Machans will face Gokulam Kerala FC on 

January 16 before taking on Mumbai City FC in their last Group C match on January 21.

by Abhishek Shukla

KSLTA to host US$ 40K KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open from Jan 14

Bengaluru, Jan 10: The Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) will host the third edition of the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open from January 14 to 21 in a new avatar. This premier tennis tournament will be played under lights for the first time, thus enhancing the spectator experience.

“We are very excited to support women’s tennis in India with the upcoming KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open tennis championships, which we have supported for many years. Our family office is very focused on serving aces of equality and breaking barriers, rallying together for a future where every woman’s potential is unleashed. We feel that a greater participation and success of women in business will be a long-term game changer for India going forward,” said KP Balaraj, founder, KPB Trust and a former top ranked National level tennis player.

Boasting of an impressive US $40,000 in prize money, the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open has attracted the best of women’s tennis talent from around the world. The event serves as a crucial platform for emerging players to showcase their skills, with the added incentive of 50 WTA points for the winner. Potentially, there could be 9 Indian players in the singles main draw of 32 (4 wildcards for main draw and 5 wildcards for qualifying).

“We thank Mr. KP Balaraj of KPB Family trust for his continued support to the coveted event on the women’s circuit. There is a solid synergy between the Trust’s mission and objectives of KSLTA. The KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open not only celebrates athletic excellence but also serves as a crucial stepping stone for Indian players, who gain a home advantage as they compete on familiar turf. The event has played a pivotal role in nurturing local talent and contributing to the growth of women’s tennis in our nation and creating top class athletes’ said Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister of IT BT & RDPR, Govt. of Karnataka who is also the Sr. Vice President of KSLTA. “This event is extremely important for us as it’s one of the few ITF W50 events in the world and we welcome the sporting ambassadors from 21 countries to come and experience the hospitality of Bengaluru which is in pursuit of becoming the global sporting destination,” said Shri Kharge.

On the competition front, the main draw includes 20 direct entries, four wild cards and eight qualifiers. Last edition’s finalist Ankita Raina is the lone Indian figuring in the list of direct entries as per the acceptance list. Latvian Darja Semenistaja, ranked 143rd on the WTA rankings, leads the list of a highly competitive field comprising players from over 19 countries.

The qualifying rounds will be held on Jan 14 and 15 while the main round begins from Jan 16.

Soha, Suhita given wildcards: Meanwhile, Soha Sadiq and Suhita Maruri, two of the most promising players from Karnataka have been given a wild card for the main draw by KSLTA.

by Abhishek Shukla

Karan Singh upsets 7th seed Huang enroute to pre-quarters of PET ITF Mandya Open

Mandya, Jan 10: Karan Singh of India won a long battle against seventh seed Tsung-Hao Huang of Taipei to make it to the pre-quarterfinals of the PET ITF Mandya Open. The 20-year-old scripted a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory on a day when Indians faced a bag of mixed luck at the PET Stadium here on Wednesday.

The newest face in the Indian Davis Cup team and local favourite eighth seed SD Prajwal Dev squandered away his chances after being three match points up in the final set and went down to Yunseok Jang of Korea 2-6, 7-5, 5-7 in a battle that lasted over three hours. In the other upset of the day, Thijmen Loof of the Netherlands sent home sixth seed M Rifqi Fitriadi of Indonesia 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-1.

The other Indians to advance to the round of 16 included fourth seed Sasikumar Mukund who beat country mate Kabir Hans in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 while former Davis Cupper Vishnu Vardhan saw the back of Austrian David Pichler with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory. Madhwin Kamath also made it to the pre-quarterfinals with a 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory over Kazakh Grigoriy Lomakin.

With most of the matches going to the wire, three matches were stopped half-way between owing to bad light.

Delhi lad Karan Singh who is touted as one of the most talented players in the country, began on an even keel against his Taipei opponent. After the first seven games went with the serve, Huang broke the Indian’s serve in the eight game and served out for the set 6-3. In an exact reverse of the first set, Karan who trains with Vivek Shokeen and has been focusing on his serve and volley approach, broke the seventh seed’s serve in the eighth game and took the second set 6-3, by which time, he had gained the required momentum.

After achieving a break in the third game in the final set, Karan took a deciding 3-1 lead. After a long battle, Huang held his serve in the fifth game. However, the Indian came up with some superb backhand shots which not only unnerved his fancied rival but gave him an upper hand as he once again broke Huang’s serve in the eighth game. During the fag end of the match, Huang hit it in the net even as Karan’s racquet had slipped out of his hand.   

Results Singles (Round of 32)

Yunseok Jang (KOR) bt 8-SD Prajwal Dev 6-2, 5-7, 7-5; 5-Nam Hoang Ly (VIE) bt Q-Ranjeet Virali-Murugesan 6-2, 6-3; 4-Sasikumar Mukund bt Kabir Hans 6-3, 6-4; Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong (MAS) bt Q-Rishi Reddy 4-6, 6-3, 7-5; Ofek Shimanov (ISR) BT Q-Shivank Bhatnagar 6-2, 6-4; 1-Kris Van Wyk (RSA) bt Q-Faisal Qamar 6-1, 7-6 (2); Thijmen Loof (NED) bt 6-M Rifqi Fitriadi (INA) 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-1; 3-Orel Kimhi (ISR) bt Rishab Agarwal 6-3, 4-6, 6-2; Karan Singh bt 7-Tsung-Hao Huang (TPE) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Q-Vishnu Vardhan bt David Pichler (AUT) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; Q-Madhwin Kamath bt Grigoriy Lomakin (KAZ) 6-3, 7-6 (6); Manish Sureshkumar Vs. 2-Giles Hussey (GBR) 6-7 (4) (interrupted); Siddhant Banthia Vs. Jelle Sels (NED) 4-6 (interrupted); Ishaque Eqbal Vs. Matt Hulme (AUS)  7-6 (4), 2-2 (interrupted).

by Abhishek Shukla

FIBA Intercontinental Cup, Basketball Champions League enter strategic partnership with TEAM

MIES (Switzerland) – FIBA ClubCo, the entity that was formed by FIBA and investment company GCBH LP and helped reshape the landscape of club basketball through its shareholding of flagship international competitions such as the Basketball Champions League and the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, announced on Wednesday that it has entered a strategic partnership with TEAM Marketing, the global sports marketing agency, through 2028.TEAM will advise FIBA ClubCo on strategy as well as market sponsorship rights for its key properties. During the first phase of their partnership, TEAM will support the Basketball Champions League and the FIBA Intercontinental Cup with a strategic review of the commercial approach for both properties and work together to refine their go-to-market strategy for 2024.”We are extremely pleased to be entering this partnership with TEAM Marketing, an agency which has demonstrated that it can generate and grow value for club competitions that operate in a global environment,” stated Basketball Champions League CEO Patrick Comninos.”TEAM Marketing has an unparalleled record for product development and for helping shape the relevant sports ecosystem and we look forward to working together in this direction, as it is clear that the club competition environment in Europe could benefit from more clarity for the fans and all relevant stakeholders,” Mr. Comninos added.
The agreement means TEAM will have the global mandate to sell the marketing rights exclusively on behalf of FIBA ClubCo, starting with the FIBA Intercontinental Cup and Basketball Champions League, from 2024-2028.

In addition to the Basketball Champions League (Europe) and the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, TEAM will offer support for the Basketball Champions League Americas and Basketball Champions League Asia.

Kerstin Lutz, Managing Director of Business Development at TEAM, commented: “We are excited to play a role in the growth of basketball on a global level. Building long-term relationships and the best competitions are what we are known for, and we look forward to collaborating with FIBA ClubCo to help continue growing their successful club competitions.”

TEAM has provided support to UEFA in the global marketing and sale of UEFA club competition commercial rights (including media, sponsorship and licensing rights) and the provision of account management and associated services since 1992.
by Abhishek Shukla

UKK: Odisha Juggernauts Set for Semi-Finals Clash Against Gujarat Giants After Successful Group Stage

Bhubaneswar, 10 January 2024: Odisha Juggernauts concluded the group stage of Season 2 in the Ultimate Kho Kho with a 34-23 win against Mumbai Khiladis. Securing their place in the semi-finals, they are set to face the Gujarat Giants in the next round. With 23 points in 10 matches, comprising 6 victories and only two losses, the Odisha Juggernauts finish second on the table.

Speaking ahead of the semi-finals, Sports Secretary, Shri Vineel Krishna said, “Promoting indigenous sports is very important to us and therefore we are delighted to see the state-owned franchise of the Odisha Juggernauts only two victories away from a second consecutive title in the Ultimate Kho-kho League. We are sure the fans will turn out in huge numbers to support their team.”

For the reigning champions, a second consecutive title would be another triumph in Kho Kho following Odisha’s two silver medals in Men’s and Women’s Kho-Kho at the recently concluded 37th edition of the National Games.

With both teams eager for the prize, fans can expect a hard-fought affair. In their previous two encounters against the Gujarat Giants, the Odisha Juggernauts won their most recent clash 35-27, while conceding defeat in their first encounter, 29-34.

Expressing confidence ahead of the semi-finals, Odisha Juggernauts Captain, Dipesh More said, “It’s always good to go into a high-pressure game like a semi-final with a victory so we are feeling confident. The team is looking forward to the support from the home crowd and these factors can make a big difference in critical games.”

Notably, the Odisha Juggernauts have been equipped with a physio, masseur and strength and conditioning coach from Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance, along with the resources of the recently inaugurated, state-of-the-art Sports Science Centre at the Kalinga Sports Complex in Bhubaneswar. The Sports Science Centre houses specialised labs including a Para-Athlete Performance Lab, Biomechanics Lab, Altitude Training Chamber, Cryotherapy, floatation therapy and various other sports science equipment.

Speaking on their preparation during the tournament, vice-captain Gowtham MK said, “The set up has been very professional and it has exposed us to many techniques for training and recovery. Not only does this help our in-game performances but it has also helped us develop significantly as individual athletes.”

The Odisha Juggernauts will take on the Gujarat Giants on January 11th  at the Jawaharlal Indoor Stadium in Cuttack.

by Abhishek Shukla

UKK: Inspired by young guns, Chennai Quick Guns look to continue domination in semifinal against Telugu Yoddhas

Cuttack, January 10, 2024: Chennai Quick Guns will aspire to keep their dominant run going when they take on Telugu Yoddhas in the second semifinal of Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Thursday.

Ultimate Kho Kho, promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy the UK-based BNP Group.

Chennai Quick Guns have arguably been the best team of the season so far. The team with the most attacking and defensive points, they also have the player of the season within their ranks in Ramji Kashyap. Ramji is both the top attacker and the top defender of this season, has the most number of sky dives as well as the most dive points.

What makes their season all the more impressive is how Chennai Quick Guns have been fuelled by some young players who are just at the start of their careers. Ramji himself is just 20. All-rounder Madan, who has put in some superb defensive displays, is just 19. Attacker Vijay Shinde is just 21 while Akash Kadam is 22.

“We will be competing against Telugu Yoddhas at the semi finals, and this year we will give our hundred percent to win against them. All the teams are very strong and competitive, so it will be tough to predict who will be winning the match. It will all depend on the teams who will make the least mistakes” said Amit Patil, captain of Chennai Quick Guns.

Telugu Yoddhas will be looking to arrest their worrying dip in form. After looking like a good bet to top the league table all season, they suffered heavy defeats in their last two matches, including a huge 20-point reverse in the last game against Gujarat Giants. They will however take solace from the fact that they did convincingly beat Chennai Quick Guns the last time these two teams met. They will look for inspiration from their captain Pratik Waikar, who is not only the top Wazir in the league this season, but has the most number of pole dives as well.

“Throughout the league stage our team has been performing very well. All the players are giving their best which is a great asset for us, the players are taking charge and helping the team to win. Our opponent during the knock-off stage is Chennai Quick Guns and for them Ramji Kashyap is the strongest player, so we will see how we can strategize for our match at the semis and we will perform well.” said Waikar.

In the other semifinal, defending champions Odisha Juggernauts will hope to keep their impressive run going when they take on Gujarat Giants.

Odisha Juggernauts have been unbeaten over their last five games, winning a number of them convincingly. Their 35-27 victory over Telugu Yoddhas on Sunday was especially impressive. Players like Deepak Sahoo — one of the best Wazirs this season — Gowtham MK and Dilip Khandavi have all stepped up when it mattered. They will also have the luxury of playing in front of a very vocal home crowd that has been a tremendous source of support all season.

However, in Gujarat Giants, they face an opponent that convincingly routed them in the league stages. They did have their revenge in the reverse fixture, but Odisha Juggernauts will not be underestimating their opponents, going into Thursday’s encounter.

“Gujarat Giants are a good team but we are also very confident as we won the last game against them, so I am looking forward to that match,” said Odisha Juggernauts captain Dipesh More. “We are very happy with the crowd support and that is adding the extra advantage to the way we are playing so it feels really good to play in front of our home fans. We are not taking pressure, just thinking about one step at a time. Our first target is to win the semifinals and then we will think about the finals.”

Meanwhile, Gujarat Giants will look to arrest a worrying dip in form. After looking unstoppable in the early stages of the tournament, they have only registered two wins in their last five games. Players like Sanket Kadam, P Narasayya and Rajvardhan Patil have been impressive in patches, but they will need the whole team to come together and contribute if they are to make it to the final.

“Odisha Juggernauts is a strong team and it will be a high voltage match and we are working on the strategy for our next match. We are ready to play against the crowd, we know we will be playing against the crowd and we will give our best. Our focus is both on recovery and training, we are working on our drawbacks and also doing video analysis on our opponent teams” said Akshay, captain of team Gujarat Giants.

The exciting action of Ultimate Kho Kho will be telecast on Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLiv with live coverage of two matches starting at 7.30pm IST.