Author: Abhishek Shukla

Owner of Sports India Live.
by Abhishek Shukla

ISL: FC Goa continues its charge with a commanding win over mighty Mohun Bagan Super Giant

Kolkata, 23 December 2023: Mohun Bagan Super Giant succumbed to their second straight defeat as FC Goa sealed a comfortable 4-1 victory over them at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 tonight. The Gaurs stepped foot into the City of Joy and put forth a joyous performance orchestrated by their creative attacking duo of Noah Sadaoui and Victor Rodriguez to inflict the biggest loss at home for the Mariners in the ISL.

This was only the second game when the Mohun Bagan Super Giant conceded four goals or more in an ISL fixture ever. Noah kicked start the processions by converting a spot-kick that the Gaurs earned due to a handball by Manvir Singh inside the 18-yard box. Goalkeeper Vishal Kaith guessed the direction of the kick by Noah perfectly, but the sheer power drilled into the shot by the Moroccan ensured that Manolo Marquez’s men got an early lead in the contest.

The 30-year-old was a menace for the Mohun Bagan Super Giant defensive unit throughout the game though, as he seamlessly switched between flanks to cut into their backline and take shots at Kaith. In fact, the home side’s backline wore an uncharacteristically unarranged look in this game. Brandon Fernandes & Co. were able to break apart them with simple, straightforward through balls, and that resulted in this heavy loss that can likely send tremors down the Kolkata-based club.

Spanish midfielder Rodriguez doubled the lead in the 42nd minute, thanks to a quick one-two that he played with Carl McHugh at the edge of the box. Rodriguez received a curling ball from the right flank, and he teed off a quick pass to McHugh who returned the favour immediately. He collected the ball with sheer finesse, before launching a powerful shot resulting in the ball hitting the back of the net.

An interesting passage of play followed, which had Noah bringing up his brace, thanks to an assist by Brandon, that made the FC Goa star the third highest assist maker in the ISL. With 22 assists, Brandon is only behind Hugo Boumous (32) and Roy Krishna (23) in the all-time list. Here, he pierced the Mohun Bagan Super Giant defence with a short pass and the move was put to bed by Sadaoui. Dimitrios Petratos produced a breath-taking free-kick late in the added time of the first half to cut the deficit, also breaking FC Goa’s five-match-long streak of keeping clean sheets.

However, that incredible goal couldn’t inspire a fitting comeback, with FC Goa maintaining total stronghold over the game in the second half. Noah came close to getting a hat-trick, but a vigilant Mariners’ defence kept him at bay. Even an overhead kick couldn’t get him to his third strike of the night. Finally, Carlos Martinez capped off the game by scoring his second goal of the season by converting a late spot-kick in the 91st minute of the game.

Key Performer of the Match

Noah Sadaoui (FC Goa)

Noah delivered an impressive performance oozing all class, as he ran circles around the opposition with his footwork, trickery, and ability to get past the opponents from close places. He netted twice, created a goal-scoring opportunity, and completed 82% of his 34 passes to round off a laudable outing.

What’s next for both teams?

FC Goa will now travel to Guwahati to face NorthEast United FC on December 29, whereas Mohun Bagan Super Giant will next host Kerala Blasters FC on December 26.

Brief Scores

FC Goa 4 (Noah Sadaoui 10’, 45+3’, Victor Rodriguez 42’, Carlos Martinez 90+1’) – 1 Mohun Bagan Super Giant (Dimitrios Petrators 45+7’)

Stat Pack:

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by Abhishek Shukla

PKL 10: Rakesh and Fazel Atrachali’s Powerful Performances Help Gujarat Giants Clinch Convincing Win vs U.P. Yoddhas

CHENNAI, 23rd December, 2023: The Gujarat Giants seemed to be in a spot of bother when they were trailing at 14-19 at the end of the first half, however, raider Rakesh and Captain Fazel Atrachali turned the tables in the second period and helped their team defeat U.P. Yoddhas 38-30 in Chennai on Saturday. Rakesh scored 14 raid points and Atrachali notched 6 tackle points in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 match. 

Pardeep Narwal picked up a couple of raid points as the U.P. Yoddhas took the lead at 3-2 in the fourth minute. The Yoddhas continued to attack as Surender Gill pulled off a SUPER RAID to help his team take a decent lead at 6-2 soon after. The side from Uttar Pradesh inflicted an ALL OUT and placed themselves in a comfortable position at 11-4 in the 7th minute. However, Sonu effected a couple of raid points and reduced the gap between the two sides at 9-13.Rakesh took out Ashu Singh, but Gill continued to pick up raid points from the other end as the Yoddhas led at 16-11 in the 15th minute. Sombir tried to catch Gill on one raid, but the UP raider pushed him across the line with four minutes left on the clock. The Giants managed to tackle Gill in the 19th minute, but the Yoddhas held the advantage at 19-14 at the end of the first half.

Rakesh and Parteek Dahiya effected raids in the opening minutes of the second half, but Nitesh Kumar pulled off a SUPER TACKLE to help his team stay in the lead. However, the Giants inflicted an ALL OUT in the 29th minute to inch ahead at 23-22. Rakesh continued to pick up raid points as the Giants extended their lead at 28-24. Ravi Kumar tackled Anil Kumar to reduce the Yoddhas to just two members on the mat in the 35th minute.

Moments later, the Giants tackled Gurdeep and inflicted another ALL OUT to take complete control of the game at 31-24 in the 37th minute. Thereafter, the Giants rode on the momentum and closed out a convincing victory in the end.


Please find below the schedule for PKL Season 10 match on Sunday

Game 1 – U Mumba vs Bengal Warriors – 8 pm

Game 2 – Bengaluru Bulls vs Telugu Titans – 9 pm

Venue: Chennai

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

Managua, Nicaragua to Host Prestigious FIBA AmeriCup 2025

MIAMI, United States – In a significant announcement for basketball in the Americas, the FIBA Regional Office and the Nicaraguan Basketball Federation confirmed that the 20th edition of the FIBA AmeriCup will be held in Managua, Nicaragua. The premier basketball event for senior men’s national teams in the Americas is scheduled to take place at the Polideportivo Alexis Argüello from August 23 to 31, 2025.

The qualifiers for the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 are set to occur in three phases: February 2024, November 2024, and February 2025. As the host nation, Nicaragua gains automatic qualification for the tournament. The competition for the remaining qualification spots promises to be intense, with the best two teams from Group C – Canada, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico – set to join Nicaragua.

Moreover, the top three teams from each of the other groups will also secure their places in the tournament. These groups include Group A (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela), Group B (Brazil, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay), and Group D (Bahamas, Cuba, Puerto Rico, USA). In total, twelve teams will compete in the 2025 edition of the FIBA AmeriCup.

FIBA Americas President Fabián Borro expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming event. “The FIBA AmeriCup is the most prestigious basketball competition for senior men’s national teams in the Americas,” Borro said. He acknowledged Nicaragua’s role in successfully hosting the finals of the Basketball Champions League Americas a few years ago and expressed confidence in Managua’s capability to make the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 an epic event.

The announcement is particularly momentous as it marks the first time in the tournament’s history that it will be held in Managua. The previous edition of the FIBA AmeriCup in 2022 saw Argentina triumph over host Brazil. With the stage set for a historic event in Nicaragua, the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 is expected to attract basketball fans from across the region and the world, promising an exciting and competitive tournament.

by Abhishek Shukla

Canadian Beach Pairs With Volleyball Empowerment Support Earn Norceca Medals

Beach volleyball duos from Canada, who benefit from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme, were among the medallists at last week’s continental events in Juan Dolio, the Dominican Republic; the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour Finals and the NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Championships. Pairs from Cuba, the United States and Puerto Rico also reached the podiums.

Canada, whose men’s beach volleyball programme has received CHF 72,000 worth of coach support from Volleyball Empowerment, medalled at both competitions under the guidance of Josh Nichol.

NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour Finals

Canada’s Samuel Schachter and Daniel Dearing (pictured in the main photo) reached the final of the tournament after an impressive 2-0 (21-16, 21-19) semifinal win over the number four team in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Rankings, the USA’s Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh. Schachter and Dearing put up a great fight in the final against Cuba’s Noslen Diaz and Jorge Alayo, but lost both sets by the narrowest of margins in the overtime, 2-0 (24-22, 22-20). Partain and Benesh settled for bronze with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-9) sweep of the third-place match against Nicaragua’s Ruben Mora and Jefferson Cascante.

In a high-calibre women’s gold medal match, Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft from the United States of America celebrated a 2-1 (21-16, 14-21, 15-11) victory over Canada’s Sarah Pavan and Molly McBain. Puerto Rico’s Allanis Navas and Maria Gonzalez mastered an emphatic 2-0 (21-6, 21-10) sweep of the bronze medal game against Costa Rica’s Laura Molina and Kianny Quesada.

NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Championships

Canada claimed the men’s bronze at the NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Championships, held in Juan Dolio before the senior Finals. Tynan Gannett and Steven Abrams made it to the podium after a convincing 2-0 (21-18, 21-14) victory over the USA’s Kyle Paulson and Sebastian Rodriguez in the third-place game. Before that, in the semifinals, the Canadians met the same Cuban duo that eventually won both the U23 and the senior events, Diaz and Alayo, and lost by a tight 2-0 (21-18, 21-19). The Cubans took the U23 continental trophy after mastering an emphatic 2-0 (21-15, 21-13) victory over the USA’s Tate Calles and Brendan Onishchenko in the final.

A Cuban pair snatched the women’s U23 gold too. Amanda Armenteros and Maykelin Drik delivered a 2-0 (21-19, 21-18) victory over the USA’s Sierra Caffo and Ella Larkin in the final. Another American duo, Delayne Maple and Xolani Hodel, completed the podium after a 2-0 (21-11, 21-17) win over Canada’s Katarina Pantovic and Erika Vermette for the bronze.

by Abhishek Shukla

Rodri was confirmed as the best player at the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023

Rodri from the Manchester City Football Club was confirmed as the best player at the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™ after the official awards were announced. The Spanish midfielder won the adidas Golden Ball which is awarded to the best player by the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG).

Kyle Walker (Manchester City Football Club) from England and Jhon Arias (Fluminense Football Club) from Colombia came second and third respectively. The Al-Ittihad Saudi Football Club took the FIFA Fair Play Trophy.

FIFA Fair Play Award

Club
Al Ittihad Football Club of Jeddah

adidas Ball Awards

Golden – Rodri, 16, Manchester City Football Club

Silver – Kyle Walker, 2, Manchester City Football Club

Bronze – Jhon Arias, 21, Fluminense Football Club

FIFA CLUB WORLD CLUB Saudi Arabia 2023 ™ Winners

PlaceClub
1Manchester City Football Club
2Fluminense Football Club
3Al Ahly Football Club

by Abhishek Shukla

ISL: NorthEast United FC hope to find their feet in faceoff against Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru, 23 December 2023: Bengaluru FC will host a struggling NorthEast United FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in a bid to get their second successive win under new head coach Gerard Zaragoza. The Blues started their new era under Zaragoza with a 1-0 victory against Jamshedpur FC, thanks to a penalty by Javi Hernandez. They now have a chance to gradually reinforce that result at their bastion against the Highlanders, who are on a five-game winless run at the moment with their last victory coming back in October against the Red Miners.

The Blues have a lot of corrections to make as to how they began this season. On the back of impressive outings in the previous campaign, which included making it to the finals of three competitions, Bengaluru FC must have set high standards for what they would have wanted to achieve this year.

Zaragoza has had ample time to get acquainted with the squad and to make an assessment of whether he has the appropriate profile of players at his disposal to make a change. Being a part of the club as an assistant coach in their title-winning 2018-19 season, he is well aware of the functioning of the outfit, and that familiarity should hold him in good stead in  securing positive results straight away.

For the Highlanders, what started off as a promising season is quickly unfurling in a way that they would not have wanted. They are now in a long-drawn quest for a win and would hope to close out the year with the same, especially given the topsy-turvy ride they have endured at the start of this campaign. There are suggestions that they maximised their potential in the opening run of matches and head coach Juan Pedro Benali would be eager to prove the detractors wrong in this away fixture.

What’s at stake?

Bengaluru FC

For Bengaluru FC, it is all about regaining momentum at the moment. They must be steadily adjusting to the plans laid out by Zaragoza, but simultaneously they do hold a dominating record over the Highlanders. The Blues have never lost at home against NorthEast United FC, winning four games and drawing once in their five encounters at the Kanteerava. They won their most recent such fixture by 1-0, whereas the two sides played out a 1-1 draw when they locked horns in Guwahati earlier this season.

Bengaluru FC must be slightly concerned that it took them a spot-kick to get past Jamshedpur FC at home in the previous game. The three points would have come in as a much-needed breather, but the tactician at helm now will know that a lot needs to be done to get this side back to where they want to be. All bases need to be covered with every department of the playing XI ticking the boxes consistently for them to really get a desirable result in the forthcoming fixture.

NorthEast United FC

The Highlanders embarked on this campaign on a positive note, having secured a final four finish in the Durand Cup prior to the ISL. These were baby steps for NorthEast United FC – a team that had won only once in their 20 league matches last season. Benali has got them better results, undoubtedly, but now it is time to overcome this challenging phase so that they do not succumb into a free fall with no point of return. To be fair, they are not the best of the travellers in the ISL.

NorthEast United FC has lost 35 away matches (home of the opposition) in the league, which is the highest amongst all teams. In fact, they are on a massive 21-game winless streak in away encounters at the moment, which opens a window of opportunity for Benali to set an unfortunate record straight and resurrect the campaign for his young and promising squad. They have come across Bengaluru FC, who are in a spot of bother themselves at this moment. If NorthEast United FC pounce upon the weaknesses of the home side and optimise their strengths, then a good result is there for the taking here.

Key Players

Halicharan Narzary (Bengaluru FC)

The winger arrived at Bengaluru FC amidst high expectations after a successful stint with Hyderabad FC. The departure of Udanta Singh from Bengaluru FC demanded another proven Indian attacker to replace him, and the Blues seemed to have hit the jackpot with Narzary. However, with just one assist and no goals across 464 minutes in seven games, things do not appear to be too rosy for the player in question.

He has not been helped by playing in an inconsistent system, with three different men in Grayson, Renedy Singh, and Zaragoza having been in charge of Bengaluru FC in the ISL 2023-24 so far. Yet, Narzary will be eager to find his mojo back, ripping apart defensive units with his tearaway pace and then delivering decisive passes that make an impact in the proceedings in the final third. Can Zaragoza bring out the best from the seasoned campaigner?

Konsam Phalguni Singh (NorthEast United FC)

Konsam Phalguni Singh scored an absolute outside-of-the-box stunner to hand NorthEast United FC an early lead before they squandered that opportunity in their previous match against the Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Phalguni Singh has been one of the busier presences in the Highlanders’ frontline this season, scoring twice across 10 games and creating 13 goal-scoring opportunities with a 78% passing accuracy as well.

He has earned a foul on average per game and also recorded five blocks and six interceptions to put in a diligent defensive shift as well. Phalguni, 28, has shown that he has a powerful shot up his sleeves and his ability to unleash that from distance at any given point in the game should keep Gurpreet Singh Sandhu on his toes.

Head-to-Head

Played – 15

Bengaluru FC – 8

NorthEast United FC – 2

Draws – 5

Trivia: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has recorded a total of 34 saves in ISL 2023-24, the highest for any goalkeeper in the competition.

Team Talk


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“It’s always a challenge when you change the coach. My expectation is to go day by day and week by week, and we continue like this. We won the first match and we were happy. We had a very nice week working together, and now it’s time tomorrow again to do the positive bits that we did in the last match,” Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza explained in the pre-match press conference.

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“It’s a totally different team, coach, players, and approach. It’s going to be a difficult game. But, we know our job; we play our way, always to get the best result possible. I cannot comment on his (Zaragoza’s) style of play, it’s only been one game. But, we see there are some slight changes in the teams, in players, the approach is totally different. There are new ideas and fresh air, which is why it won’t be easy,” NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali said.

ISL Fantasy

Sunil Chhetri (7.7cr)

Five goal contributions in ISL 2023-24

Javi Hernandez (10.2cr)

Two goals in the current ISL campaign

Phalguni Singh (5cr)

Scored from a wonderful strike in the previous match

Where to Watch

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

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by Abhishek Shukla

ISL: Mumbai City FC’s bench strength at test as rivals Kerala Blasters FC eye redemption

Kochi, 23 December 2023: Mumbai City FC travels to Kochi to square off against Kerala Blasters FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in a clash that can have wide repercussions in the top-of-the-table dynamics of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 on December 24, Sunday.

The Islanders recovered from consecutive goalless draws to secure their maiden victory under Petr Kratky in a dramatic encounter against the Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG). The outcome of the 2-1 victory was such that Mumbai will be missing four of their key players, namely: Akash Mishra, Greg Strewart, Vikram Partap Singh, and Rahul Bheke, due to suspensions in this match.

Kratky wore a positive look even after the previous game though, praising the indomitable spirit of his players and saying that the coming game gives him a unique opportunity to test his bench strength. In all likelihood, they cannot afford to take Kerala Blasters FC lightly, particularly when they play in front of Manjappada.

The Kochi-based outfit lost by 2-1 to Mumbai City FC in the reverse fixture at the City of Dreams after Danish Farooq had gotten them an important equaliser in the second half. They will be eager to go one step ahead and inflict a loss upon the Islanders, who desperately want to be near the top-placed spots in the standings.

To their credit, the Islanders are unbeaten in the season so far. However, that does not mean that there aren’t holes to be filled in that setup. The impeccable quality in their squad will face a stern test in the backyard of the Blasters, who are unbeaten in their last six home matches – winning four games and drawing twice.

What’s at stake?

Kerala Blasters FC

Kerala Blasters FC will return home after two matches, which included a 1-0 loss in Goa followed by a 1-0 victory against Punjab FC in New Delhi. They have definitely been hit by the absence of skipper Adrian Luna, and it needed a spot-kick by Dimitrios Diamantakos for them to emerge victorious against the ISL debutants. Their creative outputs will surely suffer with the Uruguayan sidelined, but KBFC need to ensure that the rest of weapons in their armoury fire together to stop a terrific Mumbai City FC unit.

In fact, Mumbai City FC have had a good record playing in Kochi over the previous seasons of the ISL. The sole and last victory for the Kerala Blasters FC against Mumbai City FC in Kochi in the ISL came way back on October 14, 2016, in the third season of the league. However, KBFC have also scored in 20 out of their last 22 home games against all opponents, and have adopted an approach where they are unafraid to take the game to them this season. Which is why, they have forced 8.2 high turnovers (winning the ball back within 40 metres of the opposition’s goal) per game in ISL 2023-24, something that’s a clear warning sign for Rostyn Griffiths and his fellow defenders in the Mumbai City FC ranks.

Mumbai City FC

In all fairness, Petr Kratky has started off his stint in the ISL in quite some fashion. After two listless, goalless draws, the clash against the Mohun Bagan Super Giant had everything that one would expect from two teams at the top of their game. The Islanders sneaked past the Mariners with a 2-1 win, but Kratky now has to deal with the aforementioned suspensions and rejig his squad for this crucial away fixture. Challenges are coming thick and fast his way, that too in different forms, with the new tactician being forced to relook his plans early on in his run in this country.

He can draw belief from the fact that the Islanders are promising on the road, having won thrice and drawn twice in their last five away encounters. In fact, they have found the back of the net at least twice in four of those matches. The fact that they have been able to weather the challenges that come for an opposition team in Kochi should hold them in good stead for this fixture too. Kratky will do well to ensure that his playing style and philosophy is not tweaked extensively in the wake of the many absentees that they have for this game, with nothing less than a point being satisfactory for them at this stage of the campaign.

Key Players

Naocha Singh (Kerala Blasters FC)

Naocha Singh has played seven league games this season, recording eight interceptions, 13 clearances, and 24 tackles, to emerge as one of the most tenacious players in their backline despite the presence of a seasoned campaigner like Pritam Kotal. He is averaging 3.4 tackles per game in the current season, the highest such aggregate of any player in the competition so far.

In fact, he has won 18 of his 24 attempted tackles, and will be handful for the Mumbai City FC forwards like Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Bipin Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, amongst others to deal with on Sunday. Naocha has also been incredibly involved in building up play, averaging 41 passes in every match, with an accuracy of 68% on that front. His performance against a skilful and efficient Islanders’ frontline will be interesting to watch out for.

Bipin Singh (Mumbai City FC)

The livewire winger made an instant impact in the last game, setting up a goal for Greg Stewart, before scoring the winner in the second-half. Bipin has been one of the terrifically consistent performers for Mumbai City FC over the years. With 22 goals and 11 assists in his ISL career, the winger has emerged as one of the most prominent domestic stars lately.

In fact, he is one win away from becoming the fifth player to reach 50 wins with a single club in ISL history, in fact, Bipin (94 games for Mumbai City FC) can become the fastest player to reach the milestone if he earns his next win within his next six appearances for the Islanders, breaking Udanta Singh’s record (50th win in 101st game for Bengaluru FC). In Stewart’s absence, he will be hopeful of putting in an impressive outing in one of the most challenging away grounds in the competition.

Head-to-Head

Played – 19

Kerala Blasters FC – 4

Mumbai City FC – 9

Draws – 6

Trivia: With 58.9 passes per match, Mehtab Singh from Mumbai City FC has the most passes per game played for any Indian player in ISL 2023-24.

Team Talk

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“I expect a good game against a good opponent. We like to compete and play these kinds of games, especially the players, they like these kinds of moments. Of course, as a sportsman, you expect a good game to see good things on the field. Players especially enjoy it because it’s Christmas Eve,” Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic mentioned in the pre-match press conference, adding that he is expecting his players to be highly motivated for this game.

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“The result was fantastic, very important three points at home against a very tough opponent (Mohun Bagan Super Giant). It’s a boost for the group and we just need to keep going and connect that with our results in the next couple of games. I am very happy with the squad we have. The people who are coming in have a very good opportunity, and I am looking forward to seeing them play,” Mumbai City FC head coach Petr Kratky said.

ISL Fantasy

Sachin Suresh (4.1cr)

Has helped Kerala Blasters FC keep three clean sheets this season

Dimitrios Diamantakos (8.3cr)

Averaging a goal every 116.8 minutes in ISL 2023-24

Jorge Pereyra Diaz (8.8cr)

Six goals in the current campaign of the competition

Where to Watch

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

by Abhishek Shukla

PKL 10: Captain Sunil Kumar Leads Jaipur Pink Panthers to one-point victory over Tamil Thalaivas

CHENNAI, 23rd December, 2023: The Jaipur Pink Panthers pulled off a thrilling 25-24 victory over the Tamil Thalaivas at the SDAT Multipurpose Indoor Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. A low-scoring game was defined first by some brilliant defending by Pink Panthers’ Sunil Kumar and Reza Mirbagheri who put together a combined 9 tackle points and three SUPER TACKLES between them.  

Despite having lost their home opener to the Patna Pirates on Friday, the Thalaivas were in no mood to dwell and started the game off at pace. Whether on the raid or in defence, the Thalaivas clicked in unison in the opening minutes of the game. Within the first 10 minutes, they had inflicted the first ALL OUT on the Pink Panthers to take a 7-point lead. 

The first half was centred around two raiders on either side of the mat. Himanshu Narwal ran circles around the Pink Panthers, picking up 7 of the 8 raid points the Thalaivas picked up in the half. At the other end, Arjun Deshwal picked up all the raid points for the Pink Panthers. The Thalaivas went into the break leading 16-10.

With nothing to separate the teams in the second half, it took a DO OR DIE raid by Ajinkya Pawar to set up a second ALL OUT for the Thalaivas. The difference though was a brick-walled Pink Panthers defence who relied on SUPER TACKLES to stay in the game. Each time they were up against it, the defensive pair of Sunil Kumar and Reza Mirbagheri pulled off improbable tackles to stay in the game. 

And if the tackles weren’t enough, Mirbagheri went on to pull off a brilliant raid in the final three minutes to put the Pink Panthers within one point. It started a run of play where the Pink Panthers forced regular errors from the home side and went into the final 30 seconds leading by a single point. A miscalculation by the Thalaivas bench meant they erred on their final raid, setting up an easy finish to a tough game for the Pink Panthers. 

Please find below the schedule for PKL Season 10 match on Sunday

Game 1 – U Mumba vs Bengal Warriors – 8 pm

Game 2 – Bengaluru Bulls vs Telugu Titans – 9 pm

Venue: Chennai

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

Chirag, Tanvi storm into final at the Yonex-Sunrise 85th Senior National Badminton Championships

Guwahati, December 23, 2023: Chirag Sen fought off a strong challenge from the second-seeded Kiran George, securing a 21-18, 21-18 victory as he advanced into the men’s singles final of the Yonex-Sunrise 85th Senior National Badminton Championships 2023 held at the R. G. Baruah Sports Complex in Guwahati on Saturday. This prestigious national tournament, organized by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) in Assam after four years, is taking place from December 18 to 24.

In the 38-minute semi-final encounter, the 2020 Iran international bronze medallist Chirag maintained his focus, refusing to succumb to the pressure mounted by George. He will now face fourth-seeded Tharun M, who defeated Bharat Raghav 21-11, 16-21, 21-19 in a closely contested match.

Bhargav, who had defeated tournament top seed Lakshya Sen 21-15, 10-21, 21-17 in the quarter-final on Friday evening, set up the semi-final match against Tharun. Their hour-long semi-final saw fortunes swing between the two players. While Tharun won the first game 21-11, Bhargav fought back, securing a 21-16 victory in the second game. The decider witnessed a fierce contest before Tharun triumphed 21-19, earning a berth in the final.

In the women’s singles category, both semi-final encounters witnessed upsets among the seeded and local talents. Tanvi Sharma overcame eighth-seeded Isharani Baruah 21-15, 20-22, 21-14, while Haryana’s Anmol Kharb upset second-seeded local favorite Ashmita Chaliha 21-17, 21-19.
Tanvi took the first game 21-15, but Isharani made a strong comeback, winning the second game 22-20. The 51-minute encounter ended when Tanvi grabbed the decider 21-14, setting up a summit clash against Anmol.

The fresh winners of the 2023 Yonex Sunrise Odisha Masters, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, cruised into the mixed doubles final with a comfortable 21-11, 21-13 victory over Deep Rambhiya and Akshaya Warang. They will now face the pair of Nitin Kumar and Navdha Manglam, who clinched a hard-fought victory over H.V. Nithin and Maneesha K. with a score of 10-21, 21-18, 21-19.

In the women’s doubles category, the Maharashtrian pair of Ritika Thaker and Simran Singhi defeated P. Amrutha and Pranjal Prabhu Chimulkar 21-11, 21-11 to secure a spot in the final. The duo will face the third-seeded pair of Priya Devi Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra, who registered a 21-13, 21-11 win over Mrunmayee Deshpande and Prerana Alvekar.

All final matches are scheduled to be played on Sunday.

by Abhishek Shukla

PKL 10: ‘The Arjuna Award has given me a huge boost,’ says Pawan Sehrawat

CHENNAI, 23rd December 2023: The Telugu Titans registered their first victory in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 after clinching a thrilling 37-36 victory in Chennai on Friday. The Titans’ Captain Pawan Sehrawat, who recorded a Super 10, expressed that the team has to prepare well for the rest of the games as well, “We are certainly happy with the win, but it’s a long season. We’ll prepare well for the other games as well.”

The Titans’ defence unit put up an excellent display to support their Captain with 18 tackle points in the match. When asked about the team’s defence, Sehrawat said, “Our defence unit is still not playing at its best. The unit didn’t even give me a single point during a practice session on Thursday. I carried out 30 unsuccessful raids against our defenders. So they can certainly play at an even better level.”

The Hi-flyer Pawan Sehrawat has also been bestowed with the Arjuna Award recently. When asked about the same, the raider said, “The Arjuna Award is the biggest award for all sportspersons in India and the Award has given me a huge boost to perform even better. And also, the fans in Chennai have welcomed me with open arms. I couldn’t play much for the Tamil Thalaivas last season, but the team’s fans have still showered me with love.”

Preview for the matches on Sunday:

The Bengal Warriors will be hoping to get back into form after going down against Puneri Paltan and settling for a tie against U.P. Yoddhas in their previous two games, however, U Mumba have been in splendid form. They have registered victories against Patna Pirates and Tamil Thalaivas in their last two games.

Meanwhile, the Titans will be aiming to gain momentum in their upcoming matches, however, the Bengaluru Bulls’ raiders Bharat and Vikash Kandola will pose a strong challenge to the Titans.

Please find below the schedule for PKL Season 10 match on Sunday

Game 1 – U Mumba vs Bengal Warriors – 8 pm

Game 2 – Bengaluru Bulls vs Telugu Titans – 9 pm

Venue: Chennai

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

World champion Saweety Boora, Pooja Rani advance at 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships

Greater Noida, December 23, 2023: The reigning world champion Saweety Boora and two-time Asian Championships gold medallist Pooja Rani entered the round-of-16 at the 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships with contrasting victories on the second day at the GBU Indoor Stadium in Greater Noida.

While Saweety faced a tough challenge from Alfiya of Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) before securing a 4-1 win in the 81kg match, Tokyo Olympian Pooja dominated the proceedings against Renu of Nagaland in 75kg bout as she completed a commanding 5-0 victory.

Besides Saweety and Pooja, the 2022 World Championships bronze medallist Manisha Moun (60kg) and Saneh (70kg) were the other boxers from Haryana to clinch victories and enter the Last-16 stage.Meanwhile, Nupur of RSPB went head to head against Himanshi Antil of Delhi in her 81+kg round-of-16 match. Demonstrating swift and aggressive boxing, Nupur wasted no time in securing the victory in the first round with Referee Stopping the Contest (RSC) verdict. Nupur will be up against Monica Sahun of Uttarakhand in the quarter-finals.

The second day also witnessed domination from Uttar Pradesh boxers as four registered convincing wins in their respective matches. While Aprajita Mani (57kg) and Rinky Sharma (63kg) beat Maharashtra’s Aarya Bartakke (5-2) and Tamil Nadu’s V Monisha (5-0) respectively, Rekha (66kg) and Deepika (75k) notched up RSC wins against their respective opponents Pooja Biswas of Telangana and Odisha’s Sunita Jena.

The ongoing prestigious tournament, organised by the Boxing Federation of India, has been witnessing the participation of more than 300 boxers competing in 12 categories. The finals will be played on Wednesday.

by Abhishek Shukla

India’s Tour of South Africa: Gaikwad Ruled Out, Easwaran Steps In

Gqeberha, South Africa – In a significant blow to the Indian cricket team, opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the ongoing Test series against South Africa. The unfortunate development came after Gaikwad sustained an injury to his right ring finger during the second One Day International (ODI) held in Gqeberha. Following medical evaluations, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Medical Team confirmed the extent of his injury, necessitating his withdrawal from the tour.

The injury occurred while Gaikwad was fielding, leading to immediate concerns about his participation in the rest of the series. Subsequent scans and consultations with medical experts revealed the severity of the injury, prompting the decision for him to return to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for further treatment and rehabilitation.

In response to this setback, the Men’s Selection Committee has announced Abhimanyu Easwaran as Gaikwad’s replacement. Easwaran, a promising talent in domestic cricket, is expected to join the squad imminently. This change brings a fresh dynamic to the team, as Easwaran’s performance in domestic circuits has been closely watched and highly regarded.

In a parallel development, fast bowler Harshit Rana has also been sidelined due to a hamstring injury. Rana was set to feature in the upcoming four-day match against South Africa A, commencing on December 26th at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. The Selection Committee, responding to this latest injury concern, has made significant additions to the India A squad.

Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Avesh Khan, and Rinku Singh have been called up to join the India A team, bringing in a blend of batting and bowling prowess. These players have shown considerable promise in domestic competitions and are seen as vital in fortifying the team’s composition. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav has been released from the squad.

The updated India A squad for the four-day match against South Africa A now includes Abhimanyu Easwaran as captain, alongside Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Tilak Varma, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Avesh Khan, Navdeep Saini, Akash Deep, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Manav Suthar, and Rinku Singh.

These changes present both challenges and opportunities for the Indian contingent. The team’s depth and adaptability are set to be tested, with new players stepping into pivotal roles. As the tour progresses, all eyes will be on how these adjustments impact India’s performance in the highly competitive environment of international cricket.

by Abhishek Shukla

SmackDown Results: High-Stakes Drama and Surprises on Dec. 22, 2023

A Fierce Triple Threat Match Looms

  • A thrilling Triple Threat Match is set to determine the challenger for Roman Reigns’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Royal Rumble. Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and LA Knight will compete at SmackDown: New Year’s Revolution, promising a high-octane clash with massive stakes.

Holiday Havoc Eight-Woman Tag Team Match

  • The festive fury was in full swing as Bianca Belair, Shotzi, Zelina Vega, and Michin triumphed over Damage CTRL (IYO SKY, Asuka, Bayley, and Kairi Sane) in a chaotic Holiday Havoc match. The match featured a plethora of weaponry, including steel chairs and candy cane Kendo sticks. A significant twist occurred when Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn ambushed The Kabuki Warriors, leading to Belair and Michin securing the win.

Dragon Lee Retains NXT North American Championship

  • Dragon Lee successfully defended his title against Butch in a fiercely contested match. Lee showcased his resilience and skill by countering Butch’s Bitter End with a Destroyer, followed by Operation Dragon to retain his championship.

Kevin Owens Advances in the U.S. Title Tournament

  • Despite nursing an injured hand, Kevin Owens emerged victorious over Carmelo Hayes in the U.S. Title Tournament. Owens’ determination shone through as he executed a Pop-up Powerbomb and Stunner to secure his spot in the final.

Santos Escobar Makes a Cunning Advance

  • Santos Escobar defeated Bobby Lashley, thanks to a surprise intervention by returning Superstars Angel and Humberto. The distraction allowed Escobar to clinch a spot in the U.S. Title Tournament Final, setting the stage for a showdown with Kevin Owens.

AJ Styles Triumphs by Disqualification

  • AJ Styles won against Solo Sikoa by disqualification after Roman Reigns interfered. The aftermath saw a brutal assault by Reigns and Solo, countered by the arrival of Randy Orton and LA Knight. This intervention led to a melee, previewing the intensity of the upcoming Triple Threat Match at SmackDown: New Year’s Revolution.
by Abhishek Shukla

NXT Level Up Results: Dec. 22, 2023

Axiom vs. Damon Kemp
In a highly anticipated matchup, Axiom clashed with Damon Kemp. Kemp, known for his technical prowess, managed to ground the acrobatic Axiom for significant portions of the match. Kemp demonstrated early dominance with takedowns and a confident display. However, Axiom, resilient in defense, turned the tide by catching Kemp in a submission hold. Following Kemp’s escape, Axiom delivered a decisive knee strike and executed the Golden Ratio to claim victory.

Roxanne Perez vs. Brinley Reece
Returning from a controversial defeat, Roxanne Perez was warmly received by the audience as she faced newcomer Brinley Reece. Reece, fresh from a strong performance in the NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament, initially controlled the match with a powerful clothesline. Perez fought back with a series of impactful strikes and a crossbody attack. Ultimately, Perez secured her win with Pop Rocks, followed by a sportsmanlike gesture of respect towards Reece.

Von Wagner vs. Javier Bernal
The main event featured Von Wagner responding to Javier Bernal’s open challenge. Bernal, initially confident, was visibly shaken by Wagner’s imposing presence. Despite a surprise attack by Bernal, Wagner quickly regained control, showcasing his strength with a back suplex and a double underhook suplex. Wagner ended the match with his signature Wagnerbomb and celebrated the holiday season by distributing treats to the audience and officials.

by Abhishek Shukla

Season 2 of Ultimate Kho Kho returns | Schedule| Telecast

After an electrifying Season 1 of Ultimate Kho Kho, the high-adrenaline and action-packed league is back to captivate fans in its eagerly awaited second season, which will kick-off on Sony Sports Network from 24th December 2023. With the broadcast of an indigenous sport in five languages, English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu & Marathi, Sony Sports Network aims to provide a platform for a game rooted in Indian soil and help the players across every corner of the country to showcase their talent. 
The inaugural season of Ultimate Kho Kho displayed intensely competitive matches with Telugu Yoddhas and Odisha Juggernauts meeting each other in a gripping final. Suraj Lande’s breathtaking skydive helped Odisha Juggernauts become the first-ever champions of Ultimate Kho Kho after beating Telugu Yoddhas 46-45. 
The upcoming edition of the league promises an elevated level of action and drama, featuring an array of stellar players including Dipesh More (Odisha Juggernauts), Abhinandan Patil (Gujarat Giants), Pratik Waikar (Telugu Yoddhas), Ramji Kashyap (Chennai Quick Guns), Sreejesh S (Mumbai Khiladis) and Akshay Ganpule (Rajasthan Warriors). 
The season commences on Sunday, December 24, 7:00 PM onwards in Cuttack, Odisha. The top four teams will battle it out in the semi-finals on 11th January 2024 with the Grand Finale of the competition taking place on 13th January 2024. 

All the matches from Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 will be telecast on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi & Marathi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD & HD (Tamil & Telugu) and streamed live on Sony LIV.

Date  Time (IST)  Match Details  
24/12/23  19:00  Odisha Juggernauts vs. Rajasthan Warriors  
24/12/23  20:45  Telugu Yoddhas vs. Mumbai Khiladis  
25/12/23  19:00  Rajasthan Warriors vs. Gujarat Giants  
25/12/23  20:45  Chennai Quick Guns vs. Telugu Yoddhas  
26/12/23  19:00  Gujarat Giants vs. Mumbai Khiladis  
26/12/23  20:45  Odisha Juggernauts vs. Chennai Quick Guns  
27/12/23  19:00  Telugu Yoddhas vs. Rajasthan Warriors  
27/12/23  20:45  Mumbai Khiladis vs. Odisha Juggernauts  
29/12/23  19:00  Rajasthan Warriors vs. Chennai Quick Guns  
29/12/23  20:45  Gujarat Giants vs. Telugu Yoddhas  
30/12/23  19:00  Chennai Quick Guns vs. Mumbai Khiladis  
30/12/23  20:45  Odisha Juggernauts vs. Gujarat Giants  
31/12/23  19:00  Telugu Yoddhas vs. Odisha Juggernauts  
31/12/23  20:45  Rajasthan Warriors vs. Mumbai Khiladis  
01/01/24  19:00  Gujarat Giants vs. Chennai Quick Guns  
01/01/24  20:45  Rajasthan Warriors vs. Telugu Yoddhas  
02/01/24  19:00  Chennai Quick Guns vs. Odisha Juggernauts  
02/01/24  20:45  Mumbai Khiladis vs. Gujarat Giants  
03/01/24  19:00  Mumbai Khiladis vs. Telugu Yoddhas  
03/01/24  20:45  Rajasthan Warriors vs. Odisha Juggernauts  
05/01/24  19:00  Telugu Yoddhas vs. Chennai Quick Guns  
05/01/24  20:45  Gujarat Giants vs. Rajasthan Warriors  
06/01/24  19:00  Gujarat Giants vs. Odisha Juggernauts  
06/01/24  20:45  Mumbai Khiladis vs. Chennai Quick Guns  
07/01/24  19:00  Mumbai Khiladis vs. Rajasthan Warriors  
07/01/24  20:45  Odisha Juggernauts vs. Telugu Yoddhas  
08/01/24  19:00  Telugu Yoddhas vs. Gujarat Giants  
08/01/24  20:45  Chennai Quick Guns vs. Rajasthan Warriors  
09/01/24  19:00  Odisha Juggernauts vs. Mumbai Khiladis  
09/01/24  20:45  Chennai Quick Guns vs. Gujarat Giants  
11/01/24  19:00  Semi Final 1 – 2nd vs. 3rd  
11/01/24  20:45  Semi Final 2 – 1st vs. 4th  
13/01/24  20:00  3rd Place  
13/01/24  20:00  Final  
by Abhishek Shukla

UKK: Rajasthan Warriors Announce Captain and Vice-Captain for Second Season of Ultimate Kho Kho League

Cuttack, 23rd December 2023: After a long wait, the second season of the Ultimate Kho-Kho League is finally here and kicking off on December 24, 2023, with the final having been scheduled for 13 January 2024. The tournament, which promises to be bigger and better this time around, will see the Rajasthan Warriors commence their season against the Gujarat Giants on December 25.

Taking the reins as the captain for the Rajasthan Warriors — owned by Capri Sports — will be Majahar Jamadar, who hails from Kolhapur in Maharashtra. The star attacker, who was with the Warriors in season one as well, started playing Kho Kho at a very young age and has built himself into one of the best players around. He won the Gold Medal in the Senior Nationals in his hometown Ichalkaranji, and soon, went on to win five more. Having chosen Kho Kho because of the sport’s game spirit, discipline and strong mental power, Jamadar will play a key role in leading his team this time around, an aspect of his game that he is looking forward to.

“It is a proud moment for me to represent the Rajasthan Warriors in the Ultimate Kho Kho League and now captain the team as well. I feel confident that the team management have chosen me to lead the side for season two, and with the help of my teammates and everyone on the coaching staff, I hope to lead the team to glory in this season and the seasons to come,” he said after receiving the captainship of the team.

Meanwhile, Akshay Ganpule has been chosen as the deputy to Majahar Jamadar. The 24-year-old from Pune, Maharashtra, will continue in his second season in the Ultimate Kho-Kho League with the Warriors. In the 10 matches in the first season of the Ultimate Kho Kho League, he scored 24 points, with seven Total Dives and 2 Sky Dives to his name. He also has an average Touch Point of 0.8. His achievements include a Gold Medal at the South Asian Games, two-time Gold and Silver Medallist in the Senior National and four-time Gold Medallist in the Federation National.

These players will work closely with head coach Parthavareddy Brahmanaidu and assistant coach Thimmaraju T. “Both Majahar Jamadar and Akshay Ganpule are young and exciting talents for the future of the sport in India. It will be a new experience working with them and the whole Rajasthan Warriors team and the goal for the squad is to improve on our performance from Season 1 and ensure that we are among the top-performing teams in the Ultimate Kho Kho League Season 1.”

The excitement of the new leadership group was also shared by Apurv Gupta, Senior Vice-President, Contact Sports, Capri Sports, “I am pleased to see two players from the first season take up a major role in leading the side for the upcoming edition of the Ultimate Kho Kho League. Kho Kho is an indigenous sport that Capri Sports is very dedicated to promoting, and with the current batch of players and coaching staff, the future of the Rajasthan Warriors is a very bright one.”

by Abhishek Shukla

Tawanchai Retains ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title With Majority Decision Win Over Superbon

December 22, 2023 – Bangkok, Thailand: ONE Championship™ (ONE) put together a historic evening of Muay Thai at ONE Friday Fights 46: Tawanchai vs. Superbon. Three World Titles were on the line in the pay-per-view portion of the stacked bout card.

ONE Championship, in partnership with leading premium lifestyle and luxury performance brand TUMI, presented the prestigious ONE World Title belt to the World Champions.

In the main event, Tawanchai PK Saenchai retained his ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title in an intense five-round war against former ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon Singha Mawynn.

The Thai megastars wasted no time, as they met in the center of the ring to trade their most powerful strikes. It was a highly entertaining yet extremely technical contest between two of Muay Thai’s best pound-for-pound athletes.

The defending champion pushed the pace relentlessly, with the challenger opting to lay back and counter throughout the first three rounds. Action intensified in the final two frames, as both Tawanchai and Superbon blasted each other with heavy hands and dynamite kicks.

In the end, it was Tawanchai who proved to be the more accurate striker, with judges scoring the bout for the 24-year-old phenom to win by majority decision.

In the co-main event, hometown hero Prajanchai PK Saenchai put together a thrilling knockout performance, stopping rival Joseph Lasiri to unify the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship.

Coming in as the interim champion, Prajanchai was eager to avenge his 2022 loss to Lasiri. A little over a minute into the action, the Thai superstar caught Lasiri coming in with a counter left elbow, sending “The Hurricane” to the canvas. The referee gave the Italian-Moroccan the count, but it was clear he wasn’t getting up.

Prajanchai earned a US$50,000 bonus for his performance.

In the first World Title contest, Thai prodigy Phetjeeja shocked the globe with a massive victory over French-Algerian icon Anissa Meksen to capture the ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Championship.

The action started off calculated, with both women testing each other’s mettle in the first round. Phetjeeja began to push the pace in the second, forcing her opponent to the ropes with combinations, while Meksen opted to counter. “The Queen” showcased fantastic head movement in evading Meksen’s best shots throughout the contest.

The last two rounds were close, with both fighters landing powerful shots. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Phetjeeja to win by unanimous decision.

With the victory, the 21-year-old became the first ONE Friday Fights contract winner to claim a ONE World Title.

ONE Friday Fights 46 Complete Results

Tawanchai PK Saenchai defeats Superbon Singha Mawynn via majority decision to retain the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title

Prajanchai PK Saenchai defeats Joseph Lasiri via KO (left elbow) at 1:28 of round one to unify the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title

Phetjeeja defeats Anissa Meksen via unanimous decision to claim the ONE Interim Atomweight Kickboxing World Title

Nico Carrillo defeats Nong-O Hama via KO (left elbow) at 1:28 of round two (Muay Thai – bantamweight)

Seksan Or Kwanmuang defeats River Daz via split decision (Muay Thai – catchweight 140 lbs)

Nabil Anane defeats Muangthai PK Saenchai via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – catchweight 136 lbs)

Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai defeats Fariyar Aminipour via KO (body shot) at 2:51 of round one (Muay Thai – bantamweight)

Jaosuayai Sor Dechapan defeats Petsukumvit Boi Bangna via majority decision (Muay Thai – flyweight)

Suablack Tor Pran49 defeats Craig Coakley via KO (body shot combo) at 2:15 of round one (Muay Thai – bantamweight)

Chorfah Tor Sangtiennoi defeats Eisaku Ogasawara via KO (right punch) at 0:57 of round two (Muay Thai – catchweight 132 lbs)

Suriyanlek Por Yenying defeats Yodkritsada Sor Sommai via KO (right punch)at 0:15 of round two (Muay Thai – catchweight 132 lbs)

by Abhishek Shukla

NFL: Atlanta Falcons and Head Coach Arthur Smith Fined for Injury Report Violation

The NFL has imposed a significant fine on the Atlanta Falcons and their head coach Arthur Smith for breaching the league’s injury report policy. This decision comes in the wake of the events leading up to their Week 7 clash against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero broke the news on Friday, revealing the financial repercussions of this violation: a substantial $75,000 fine for the Falcons organization and an additional $25,000 penalty for Smith, as per sources close to the matter.

The crux of the issue lies in the handling of first-round rookie running back Bijan Robinson. In the contentious Week 7 game, Robinson was notably underutilized, participating in only 11 snaps and making just one carry. This unexpected limitation in his play raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike.

Further intensifying the scrutiny, post-game comments by Coach Smith shed light on Robinson’s condition before the game. Smith acknowledged that the promising running back was “under the weather” on the Saturday preceding the match. Despite this, the Falcons failed to list Robinson on the injury report, a mandatory practice for all NFL teams to declare the health status of their players.

This omission has led to the current punitive measures. The NFL’s injury report policy mandates that teams disclose any player’s health issues that could affect their game participation. The policy is designed to maintain the integrity of the game and to ensure transparency in team reporting, especially critical for the betting and fantasy football communities.

The Falcons’ failure to report Robinson’s condition has not only resulted in financial penalties but also brings into question the team’s adherence to league protocols. Such incidents cast a shadow over the team’s operational transparency and could potentially impact the trust of their fanbase and stakeholders.

As the Falcons and Coach Smith reconcile with these penalties, the incident serves as a stern reminder to all NFL teams about the importance of full compliance with league policies. For Robinson, a player with much potential, this episode is an unfortunate blemish early in his promising career. The Falcons, now more than ever, will be under the microscope of league officials and fans alike as they navigate through the rest of the season.

by Abhishek Shukla

ISL: East Bengal FC keeps Odisha FC at bay as both teams share spoils in goalless draw

Kolkata, 12 December 2023: East Bengal FC kept a fourth consecutive clean sheet as they played a goalless draw against Odisha FC at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 tonight. The Juggernauts held two-third of the possession, 67% to be precise, but fell short of giving shape to proper goal-scoring opportunities, as their eight shots were beaten by the 13 taken by the home side. East Bengal FC even hit three of them on target, as compared to the only one by Odisha FC.

For the visitors, the opportunity to get ahead in the game came early, in the ninth minute itself. Lalthathanga Khawlhring, fondly called as Puitea, spotted a disarranged East Bengal FC and played a pass for Isak Vanlalruatfela at the centre outside the 18-yard box. The 22-year-old fast burst through the home side’s defensive unit, but his shot failed to find the back of the net, though it did have the potential to set the tone for the rest of the game for the Juggernauts.

That was not to be though, as East Bengal FC and their skilful wingers and midfielders came to the fore gradually. Nandhakumar Sekar initiated one such move in the 27th minute, wide from the right flank. The winger, who had scored twice in this ground against NorthEast United FC earlier this month, broke inside the box as an onrushing Cleiton Silva awaited his delivery in the middle. However, Nandha took matters in his own hands, taking on the trio of Ahmed Jahouh, Carlos Delgado, and Mourtada Fall, before unleashing a powerful shot that was duly saved by Amrinder Singh.

The Odisha FC custodian was called up to action again in the 48th minute, with the duo of Borja Herrera and Jose Antonio Pardo coming together to enable the latter to test the goalkeeper from distance. Amrinder held his ground and thwarted the chance, thus sustaining chances for his team to sneak back into the proceedings. Cleiton Silva and his ambitious header from the edge of the box in the 82nd minute could have capitalised on Amrinder’s efforts. Naorem Mahesh Singh chipped in a perfectly weighted cross for the Brazilian, to help him find his sixth strike of the season. Unfortunately, Silva couldn’t direct the ball on target, of what could otherwise have been one of the contenders for the goal of the season.

Nevertheless, both these teams continue to be embroiled in the middle of the table right after this result, with Odisha FC in the fifth spot and East Bengal FC in the seventh place.

Key Performer of the Match

Hijazi Maher (East Bengal FC)

The 26-year-old defender was a lively presence at the back for the home side, playing 28 passes and completing 23 of them. He made seven clearances, made an interception, but also created two goal-scoring opportunities to round off a neat and convincing performance from the heart of the defensive unit.

What’s next for both teams?

Odisha FC will next square off against Punjab FC on December 26, whereas East Bengal FC have rounded off their first-half of the ISL 2023-24 campaign with this fixture. The result of the schedule will be announced in due time.

Brief Scores

East Bengal FC 0 – 0 Odisha FC 

Stat Pack:

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by Abhishek Shukla

PKL 10: Pawan Sehrawat’s Super 10 powers Telugu Titans to their first victory in PKL Season

CHENNAI, 22nd December, 2023: The Telugu Titans recorded their first win of the PKL Season 10 beating the Haryana Steelers 37-36 in a brilliant game at the SDAT Multipurpose Indoor Stadium in Chennai on Friday. The Titans’ defenders were the real standouts on the evening registering an outstanding 18 tackle points in the game.

The teams traded points in the opening minutes before Shivam Patare’s SUPER RAID opened a gap for the Steelers over the Titans. Despite their success on the raid, the Steelers’ defence was unable to stop the Titans’ raiders from picking up points ensuring that the scoreboard remained relatively close throughout the half. The Steelers’ defence picked up a mere 2 tackle points the entire half.

Coincidentally it was the Steelers’ first tackle point of the evening that also set up the first ALL OUT of the evening, as they took a 16-11 lead. It had taken 15 minutes for the first ALL OUT to arrive, and within five minutes the Titans put together a brilliant defensive display to erase the deficit. With the last play of the half, the Titans inflicted an ALL OUT of their own to go into half-time trailing by a mere one point.   

The game stayed neck-to-neck for most of the second half, a misfiring Steelers defence improving from their first half meltdown but not enough to really put the Titans under pressure. The only reason they were able to stay within touch distance of the Titans was because of Patare’s brilliant raiding.

In a brilliant show of defiance, Ajit Pawar and Hamid Nader pulled off SUPER TACKLES in the closing minutes to put the Titans in the lead, despite being the ones with fewer numbers on the mat. A tackle on Patare with 30 seconds left almost confirmed the result barring a shocking turnaround and Sehrawat ensured it stayed that way as they got their first win of the season. 


Please find below the schedule for PKL Season 10 match on Saturday

Game 1 – Tamil Thalaivas vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – 8 pm

Game 2 – Gujarat Giants vs U.P. Yoddhas – 9 pm

Venue: Chennai

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

Luis Suárez Joins Inter Miami CF: A Striker of World-Class Pedigree

MIAMI, FL — In a significant move that has stirred excitement in the Major League Soccer (MLS) landscape, Inter Miami CF announced the signing of celebrated Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez. The contract, which extends through the 2024 MLS season, sees Suárez join the team after a stellar stint in Brazil, where he was named Best Player and Best Striker in the Brazilian league.

Suárez’s arrival at Inter Miami is not just a transfer but a statement of intent. With 26 goals and 17 assists over 53 appearances for Grêmio, leading them to win the Campeonato Gaúcho and Recopa Gaúcha, Suárez has shown he remains a formidable force in front of goal.

Inter Miami’s Managing Owner, Jorge Mas, expressed his elation, stating, “Luis is a fierce competitor whose winning drive embodies what we want out of our players.” Mas emphasized the club’s commitment to pursuing world-class talent to compete at the highest levels.

David Beckham, Co-Owner of Inter Miami, also shared his enthusiasm about Suárez’s quality and passion for the game, highlighting the positive influence he would have on the squad and the club’s youth players.

Suárez himself expressed excitement about his new challenge, stating, “I’m ready to work to make the dream of winning more titles with this great Club a reality.”

The striker’s illustrious career includes triumphs in the UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and multiple LaLiga victories. He has been a top scorer in various competitions and has earned numerous individual accolades, including European Golden Shoe honors and the FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball.

Xavier Asensi, Chief Business Officer at Inter Miami, remarked on this as a monumental moment for the club, highlighting Suárez’s incredible skill set and the impact he will bring.

Chris Henderson, Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director, praised Suárez as an outstanding striker with a proven track record at the top levels of the sport, adding, “We’re looking to build on the successes of last season in 2024 and think Luis will be an important addition for us.”

Suárez’s tenure at FC Barcelona (2014-2020) was particularly noteworthy, where he secured numerous titles and scored an impressive 195 goals. His time at Liverpool and Atlético Madrid further cemented his status as a top-tier striker.

A native of Salto, Uruguay, Suárez began his career at Club Nacional de Fútbol, making his professional debut and later securing an Uruguayan Primera División title. His national team record is equally impressive, holding the record for most goals and contributing significantly to Uruguay’s 2011 Copa América victory.

At Inter Miami, Suárez will reunite with former FC Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, with whom he shared considerable success in Spain.

The signing of Luis Suárez is a clear indication of Inter Miami’s ambition and commitment to excellence. His proven track record, experience, and hunger for success are expected to make a significant impact on the club’s performance in the upcoming MLS seasons.

by Abhishek Shukla

PKL 10: Local player Sudhakar excels as Patna Pirates defeat Tamil Thalaivas 46-33

CHENNAI, 22nd December 2023: Three-time champions Patna Pirates caused an upset on the opening day of the Chennai leg as they defeated home side Tamil Thalaivas 46-33 in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium on Friday. The Thalaivas did not win but a local boy ended on the winning side as PKL debutant Sudhakar M scored 11 raid points to take the Pirates past the finish line.

LIVE MATCH CENTRE

The Pirates, on the back of three losses, began well and sped away to a 9-3 lead as Sachin came up with a splendid three-point SUPER RAID. The Thalaivas were down to two men and on the verge of an ALL OUT, but made a miraculous recovery to not only get more men on the mat but also inflict the ALL OUT on the Pirates in the 15h minute. 

Left corner Himanshu and Iranian Amirhossein Bastami produced two massive SUPER TACKLES and Himanshu Narwal completed the rout as he came off the bench to claim two multi-point raids and give the home side an 18-14 lead. However, Sudhakar struck back for the Pirates with numerous back-to-back points as they took a one-point lead into the interval at 21-20.

While the Thalaivas showed fight in the first half, the second period of play completely belonged to the Pirates. Manjeet was brought on from the bench and wreaked havoc as the Pirates bagged an ALL OUT in the 23rd minute to lead 27-21. Manjeet went on to cause more damage to the Thalaivas defence and triggered a second ALL OUT in the 31st minute as the Pirates’ lead swelled to 13 points at 37-24.

There was little the Thalaivas could do at this stage, with the score difference further widening. The local crowd could not cheer the Thalaivas to a victory but vociferously applauded when Sudhakar completed his Super 10. Krishan also got a High 5 as the Pirates pocketed their first win in four games.

Please find below the schedule for PKL Season 10 match on Saturday

Game 1 – Tamil Thalaivas vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – 8 pm

Game 2 – Gujarat Giants vs U.P. Yoddhas – 9 pm

Venue: Chennai

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

Khelo India Para Games: Athletes, powerlifters led the charge for southern states

New Delhi, 22nd December 2023: The southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala earned medals at regular intervals to end their campaigns at the Khelo India Para Games 2023 on a positive note. The sporting extravaganza, which was hosted at three venues across seven days in New Delhi, saw Tamil Nadu (third in the overall standings) seal 42 medals (20 gold, 8 silver, 14 bronze), Karnataka win 30 medals (7 gold, 10 silver, 13 bronze) and Kerala secure 9 medals (1 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze). Haryana finished on top with 105 medals while Uttar Pradesh were second best with 62.

Among the top stars from Tamil Nadu was Rajesh, who won the 200m gold medal in the T64 category and finished fourth in the long jump event, jumping a length of 4.49 metres. With a more-than-impressive timing of 12.88 seconds, the real-life ‘Blade Runner’ takes his inspiration from 2016 Rio Paralympics gold medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu, who won the T42 category high jump gold medal. Rajesh has been using prosthetic legs since the age of 10 after an infection caused by a poison spread following a syringe needle break led to amputation. But he has not let his injury affect his determination, as was displayed by his stellar performance in the Khelo India Para Games.

In the Powerlifting category, Kasturi Rajmani secured the Gold medal with an impressive 100kg lift in the elite 67kg category. Having returned after representing India at the Para Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, she finished way ahead of the likes of Parul Gohil of Gujarat (64 kg) and Punjab’s Sumandeep (57 kg).

Karnataka’s charge at the Khelo India Para Games was led by their veteran powerlifter Sakina Khatun, who performed as per the expectations and secured the gold in the 50 Kg category of her event. She lifted 96 kgs to claim the yellow medal as her own, adding to the many laurels to her name, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games Bronze medal in the 61 kg category after lifting a total of 88.2 kgs, and silver at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta in the 50 kg category with a total lift of 84 kgs. Sakina also participated in the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 where she finished 5th by lifting 93kgs.

For Kerala, their Gold medal came from the feet of their Cerebral Palsy Football team. The side defeated their local rivals Tamil Nadu 7-0. This comes after the team secured the titles at the national Cerebral Palsy Athletics Championship in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

The hard work of the team also saw the captain Sijo George, from Thiruvananthapuram, finish as the leading goal-scorer with a striking 29 goals to his name. Meanwhile, Muhammed Ajnas, a native of Mananthavady in Wayanad, also made a significant impact by netting 24 goals.

by Abhishek Shukla

UKK: CM Naveen Patnaik presented the first ticket Of Ultimate Kho Kho League Season 2

Bhubaneswar, 22 December 2023: Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik today was presented the first ticket for the Ultimate Kho Kho League Season 2 which will commence from 24 December at the JN Indoor Stadium, Cuttack where  Hosts and defending champions Odisha Juggernauts will take on Rajasthan Warriors.

Chief Minister Patnaik said, “Promotion of traditional Indian  sport Kho Kho is crucial  for us and Ultimate Kho Kho League provides an opportunity for masses to enjoy the thrill of this unique game. I wish the teams the very best and a memorable experience in Odisha.”

Tenzing Niyogi, CEO and League Commissioner of Ultimate Kho Kho shared, “It is a privilege to meet Shri. Naveen Patnaik, and we are delighted to present him with the first ticket for the second edition of Ultimate Kho Kho. Odisha has emerged as the vibrant nucleus of sports in India, proudly hosting a series of prestigious events in recent years. His vision has laid the foundation for a sporting legacy that continues to inspire and captivate us. As we begin the second chapter of Ultimate Kho Kho, the excitement is extremely high, especially as we host this edition in Odisha.”

The Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 will feature India’s top 145 players, including 33 young talents aged between 16 to 18. Defending champions Odisha Juggernauts, Chennai Quick Guns, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Khiladis Rajasthan Warriors, and Telugu Yoddhas, will be the six franchises to fight for the coveted crown in the upcoming season.

by Abhishek Shukla

‘I travelled by air for the first time with U Mumba,’ says Pro Kabaddi League player Pranay Rane

CHENNAI, 22nd December 2023: As an 18-year-old, Pranay Rane took it upon himself to make a mark in the world of kabaddi. Therefore, he dropped out of his engineering college and ventured to Mumbai to achieve his dream. Four years later, Rane is one of the players in the biggest kabaddi league in the world. 

“I was not able to balance my engineering degree and kabaddi at the same time. So my father told me to leave engineering and focus on kabaddi. I moved to Mumbai from my village to train in kabaddi. My village is near Goa,” said Rane.

Rane, who has been part of the U Mumba set-up for the last two seasons, further added, “I took a room on rent and I started living in Mumbai with a friend. It was really difficult to stay away from home, but I was determined to achieve in life. I had to go to practice sessions on my own and I had to take care of myself completely for four years.”

After toiling hard for four years, Rane achieved a spot in the U Mumba team after performing well in the team’s New Young Player Programme trials. “After playing for Mumbai University for a year, I went for the NYP trials hosted by U Mumba in June last year. I got selected there and made my PKL debut in Season 9. It feels really good to play on such a big platform,” said Rane.

Along with playing under lights and in front of a roaring crowd, Rane is also getting accustomed to air travel and staying in hotels, “I travelled by air for the first time with U Mumba. I am still not very comfortable travelling by air, but I am getting used to that as well. Also, I find the mattresses in our hotels very soft and therefore I sleep on the ground.”

Preview for the matches on Thursday:

The Jaipur Pink Panthers will be looking to continue their brilliant form in the Chennai leg as well, however, they will be up against the Tamil Thalaivas, who will receive a lot of boost from their fans in the stands. The Panthers will be banking on raider Arjun Deshwal, meanwhile, Narender will be the main raider for the Thalaivas.

The Gujarat Giants will be hoping to turn their fortunes after facing defeats in three consecutive matches against Patna Pirates, Jaipur Pink Panthers and Haryana Steelers respectively, however, the U.P. Yoddhas’ raiders Pardeep Narwal and Surender Gill will pose a tough challenge to the raiders.

Please find below the schedule for PKL Season 10 match on Thursday

Game 1 – Tamil Thalaivas vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – 8 pm

Game 2 – Gujarat Giants vs U.P. Yoddhas – 9 pm

Venue: Chennai

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