Author: Abhishek Shukla

Owner of Sports India Live.
by Abhishek Shukla

Mohammedan Sporting Club’s Women’s team triumphs in Kanyashree Cup 2023 against Matua Sarojini Naidu Orient Sports Club.

Kolkata — Mohammedan Sporting Club’s women’s team emerged victorious once again with 2-0 scoreline in a thrilling match against Matua Sarojini Naidu Orient Sports Club at the Mohammedan Sporting Club ground.

The first half saw a remarkable display of strategy and precision, with the girls scoring a crucial goal just before halftime. The momentum carried into the second half, where the team continued to dominate the field.

The highlight of the match was Laboni Mistry’s outstanding performance, scoring two goals and sealing the victory for Mohammedan Sporting Club.

Laboni Mistry’s brace not only demonstrated her individual prowess but also highlighted the collective strength and synergy within the team.

The entire squad’s relentless effort and dedication were evident throughout the game, earning them well-deserved three points.

by Abhishek Shukla

I-League: Argentine midfield maestro Juan Carlos Nellar arrives in Kolkata to join Mohammedan Sporting Club

Kolkata-30-11-2023– Excitement and anticipation filled the air at Kolkata Airport today as the Mohammedan Sporting Club fans along with club officials, warmly welcomed the talented midfielder, Juan Carlos Nellar from Argentina.

The 26-year-old, born in Argentina, has officially joined Mohammedan Sporting Club for the ongoing I-League 2023 season, marking his return to Indian football.

Nellar, who made his senior debut with Spanish side Lorca FC during the 2019-20 season in the Tercera División RFEF of Spain, brings a wealth of experience and skill to the Mohammedan Sporting Club.

During his debut season, he made a notable eight appearances for Lorca FC, showcasing his talent in the midfield.

He made his mark in Indian football when he signed with Gokulam Kerala in August 2022. Nellar quickly became a crucial part of the team, adding steel to the center of the pitch for the Malabarians. His impressive performances led to nine appearances in the I-League, setting the stage for a remarkable journey in Indian football.

In January, Nellar made a switch to Round Glass Punjab FC, donning the jersey number 5. His time with the club was nothing short of spectacular, contributing one goal and one assist in the I-League. Nellar’s presence in the middle of the park provided crucial solidity to Round Glass Punjab FC, culminating in their triumph as the champions of the 2022–23 I-League.

Mohammedan Sporting Club, recognizing the talent and dedication Juan Carlos Nellar brings to the field, is proud to welcome him as the sixth foreigner for the team. Fans can expect a dynamic and impactful performance as Juan Carlos Nellar dons the iconic jersey, aiming to make significant contributions to the success of Mohammedan Sporting Club in the ongoing season.

The fans’ enthusiasm at Kolkata Airport is just a glimpse of the incredible support that awaits him in his new home.

by Abhishek Shukla

“Khelo India Para Games will be a great platform to earn recognition,” says Para High Jumper Nishad Kumar

New Delhi, 30th November 2023: Indian Paralympian and high jumper Nishad Kumar hailed the efforts of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to host the first-ever Khelo India Para Games. He says that the inaugural edition of the Khelo India Para Games under the able leadership of Shri. Narendra Modi is a stepping stone for athletes at grassroot level to show the world what they are capable of and will also benefit the players immensely.
 
Nishad, who made his maiden Paralympic Games appearance in 2020 Tokyo representing India, won Silver medal in the Men’s high jump T47 category. In doing so, he also created a new Asian record of 2.06m. In the 2022 Asian Para Games, he clinched the Gold medal in the Men’s high jump T47 at Hangzhou, China.
 
“When I met the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi after the 2022 Asian Para Games, he said that they have a Special Olympics Scheme for the specially-abled and will provide world-class facilities to the athletes participating. It is great to see that all the players have access to the facilities. Besides this, it is also great to see our Hon’ble Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Shri Anurag Thakur taking an active part in this and motivating the athletes to perform.” 
 
“At the same time, I also believe that Khelo India Para Games will help in getting that confidence in the athletes so that they can perform anywhere in the world. Through Khelo India Para Games, the players will have an opportunity to showcase their abilities and find recognition. The Games will also be a platform for scouting budding athletes who can go on to represent India at the global level,” Nishad added.
 
Nishad hails from Baduan village of Amb sub-division in Una District, Himachal Pradesh. His father is a farmer and his mother has been a state-level volleyball player and a discus thrower. It comes no surprise that his mother has been his inspiration.
 
The high jumper also talked about the sports ecosystem in Himachal Pradesh. He said, “Comparing to other states, the sports ecosystem is slowly and gradually growing. I also met Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He said that in March 2024, they will be coming out with new sports policy. I am sure that in coming years, there will be a lot more athletes from Himachal Pradesh bringing laurels and accolades for the country.”
 
“I would also like to say that one should believe in himself/herself. Don’t think about the adverse circumstances that surround you. Focus on your training and always give your 100% to get the result you want,” he signed off.
 
Since 2018, a total of 11 Khelo India Games have been successfully held. This includes 5 Khelo India Youth Games, 3 Khelo India University Games and 3 Khelo India Winter Games.
The first-ever Khelo India Para Games is scheduled to be held from 10th December to 17th December 2023.
 
Over 1,400 participants from across 32 states and union territories including Services Sports Control Board are expected to participate in the maiden Khelo India Para Games which will witness para athletes vie for honours in 7 disciplines including para athletics, para shooting, para archery, para football, para badminton, para table tennis and para weight lifting. The events will be held across 3 SAI stadiums – the IG Stadium, Shooting Range in Tughlaqabad and the JLN Stadium.

by Abhishek Shukla

IBA Junior World Boxing Championships 2023: 8 junior boxers confirm medals as they cruise into the semis

New Delhi, November 30,2023: As many as eight junior boxers secured a medal after a dominating show in the quarterfinals on day six of the IBA Junior World Boxing Championships 2023.

Extending their phenomenal run at the tournament, six out of the seven competing junior girls boxers made their way into the semifinals. The two gold medalists from the Asian junior boxing championships Pari (50kg) & Nidhi (66kg) won their quarterfinals bout with an identical unanimous 5-0 win against Muller Micaela of Romania & Kao Chun Ai of Chinese Taipei respectively.

Payal (48kg) scored a comfortable 5-0 win over Doherty Lauren of Ireland while Amisha (54kg) outperformed Kim Jiae of South Korea for a unanimous decision win. The Asian junior silver medalist Neha Lunthi (46kg) was tested by Hizouskaya Anhelina of Belarus but Neha emerged victorious with a 4-1 split decision win.

Prachi (54kg), on the other hand, had to work hard against Kazakhstan’s Seiitkhankyzyc Panar. She struggled in the first round and took her time to gauge her opponent but came back strongly in the last two rounds to secure a 3-2 split verdict.

Joyshree Devi (60kg) was the lone Indian woman to end up on the losing side as she lost 1-4 against Russia ’s Leonova Kira.

Meanwhile, in the boys section, two out of four boxers managed to progress into the medal rounds. Asian junior gold medalist Hardik Panwar (80kg) & Jatin (54kg) were on top of their game as they moved to the semifinals with a unanimous decision win over Park Damhyeon of South Korea & Mushkudiani Davic of Georgia respectively.

While Brijesh Tamta (46kg) & Divash Katare (50kg) were the two boxers who faced defeat in the quarterfinals.

Five junior boys & girl boxers will play their quarterfinals bout late on Thursday.

The semi-finals will take place on December 2 and the finals are set to be played on December 3-4.

by Abhishek Shukla

National Ranking Table Tennis Championships: Khelendrajit, Balamurugan advance with struggles

Vijayawada, November 30: Manipur’s Khelendrajit Yengkhom struggled past Raghuraam Prakasam of Tamil Nadu 11-4, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, even as junior paddler Balamurugan Rajasekaran, also from Tamil Nadu, beat Harshit Kumar from Bihar 3-2 in another intriguing encounter as the main draw events in men singles got underway in the fourth UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships at the Ramakotaiah Indoor Stadium today.

Raghuram was on the back foot straight away as he dropped the first game. Yet, he staged a nice comeback to win the second and third games. With just a game away from making the round of 64 grade, the TN boy faltered, and the Manipuri won the next two to advance.

Balamurugan, who completed a hat-trick of U-19 Boys titles in Vadodara, led 2-0 before dropping the next two to Harshit. The boy from Bihar showed maturity despite the early losses but failed to press home the advance in the decider. The TN boy played a notch better and cleaned it up quickly for a 12-10, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8.

In the third tough round of 128 battle of the day, Sarthak Gandhi of Haryana was in a precarious position when he trailed 0-2 against Shivam Chandra of UP. But the former put up a good fight to restore parity, taking the next two consecutive games before outplaying the UP paddler in the decisive fifth game to win 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8. Sarthak executed a few brilliant shots with great placements that pushed the UP player down.

Of the three who qualified for the women’s singles main draw, Ramjali Kajol was the lone Andhra player among the top groups. And Ramjali, after her first-round win yesterday over Mohona Ghosh of West Bengal, had a tough outing against India No. 19, Sagarika Mukherjee from the Railways. But it did not deter the No. 167 ranked national player, who outlasted the RSPB paddler 3-2 to qualify from Group 4. The Andhra girl defeated Sagarika 11-9, 6-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9. It was an unexpected win for the Andhra girl, who showed her resoluteness to oust the experienced Sagarika.

From the latter groups, Shailu Noorbasha defeated Riddhima Kapoor from Delhi 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 in the first round yesterday and today accounted for Priyanka Ganguly from West Bengal 10-12, 11-3, 11-6, 11-3. Both wins in Group 32 put her in the knockout stage alongside the elites.

The third woman to qualify from Andhra was Guna Samyukta. She kept a clean slate in the four-member Group 47, but her 11-8, 13-11, 11-9 win over junior paddler Risha Mirchandani from Maharashtra ensured Samyukta’s place in the main draw. It was surprising to see Risha going down the way she did despite her resistance in the second game. However, later today, the women’s singles main draw will shed light on the fate of three Andhra players who survived the qualifying ordeal and made it count. 

by Abhishek Shukla

ITF Kalaburagi Open: Aryan fells 4th seed Sidharth, enters quarters at Ultratech Cement

Kalaburagi, Nov 30: Aryan Shah, the country’s top junior, who had made it to the main draw after two tough qualifying rounds, had impressed during his first-round encounter against Adil Kalyanpur. Today at the Chandrashekhar Patil Stadium in Kalaburagi, he went even better scripting an upset victory over fourth seeded Sidharth Rawat. The 18-year-old, after being on the brink of defeat twice in the match, won a hard-fought battle 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3) to enter the quarterfinals of the Ultratech Cement ITF Kalaburagi Open here on Thursday.

Apart from Aryan, three other Indians including the man in form and fifth seed Ramkumar Ramanathan, sixth seed Rishab Agarwal, and giant killer Manish Sureshkumar also made it to the last eighth stage. Second seed Matsuda Ryuki of Japan along with his countrymates Ryotaro Taguchi and Seita Watanabe and seventh seed David Pichler of Austria were the other quarterfinalists.

Considering the prowess of both the players, the Aryan-Sidharth match was expected to be an exciting affair. Both began by breaking each other’s service. The younger opponent took time to settle and committed a few unforced errors and lost serve in the fifth game which cost him the first set.

The second set too began on a similar note but this time the fourth seed was quick to grab an opportunity and went 3-1 up with another break in the third game. Serving for the match at 5-4 and two match points up,  Sidharth who is ranked over a 1000 places above Aryan, hit the ball out thrice to lose his serve which changed the momentum of the match as Aryan who had qualified for the US Open Junior Singles this year, hit some brilliant down the line winners while taking the set into the tie-breaker, where he won 7-4.

Aryan was a break-up early in the deciding set but Sidharth, the Indian Davis Cup team member not only returned the favour but also went 3-2 up to set up a similar situation and was serving for the match at 5-3. However, with three good winners from Aryan, he lost the serve as the set went to the wire with Aryan winning the tie-breaker at 3 in a match that lasted for two hours and 49 minutes.

Meanwhile, Ramkumar was made to toil by wild card entrant Kabir Hans before registering a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win. Ramkumar who is just back from an ITF M25 victory, struggled with his game in the initial part of the set as he was 0-3 down and later 2-5 down. Using his big serve and a strong forehand, the Indian David Cup team member won five games in a row to take the first set. Achieving a crucial break in the fourth game, Kabir levelled the match scores to 1-1. Ramkumar dominating the final set raced to a 5-0 lead before Kabir put in a semblance of a fightback by winning the next games but could not stop the senior player from taking the match.

Results (all Indians unless mentioned, seeding in parenthesis)

Men’s Singles (Round of 16)

7-David Pichler (AUT) bt Harrison Adams (USA) 7-6 (6), 6-3; 5-Ramkumar Ramanathan bt Kabir Hans 7-5, 3-6, 6-2; Manish Sureshkumar bt Q-Bharath Nishok Kumaran 6-1, 6-0; Seita Watanabe (JPN) bt Rishi Reddy 6-2, 6-3; 6-Rishab Agarwal bt WC-Manish Ganesh 6-1, 7-6 (1); Q-Aryan Shah bt 4-Sidharth Rawat 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3); 2-Matsuda Ryuki (JPN) bt Raghav Jaisinghani 6-2, 6-0; Ryotaro Taguchi (JPN) bt 8-Karan Singh 7-5, 6-1.

Doubles (Quarterfinals)

Karan Singh/Parikshit Somani Vs. 2-David Pichler (AUT)/ Nitin Kumar Sinha 4-2 (unfinished); Rishab Agarwal/Bharath Nishok Kumaran bt Sai Karteek Reddy Ganta/Kabir Hans 4-6, 6-4, 10-8; Adil Kalyanpur/Sidharth Rawat bt 3-Taisei Ichikawa (JPN)/Seita Watanabe (JPN) 6-1, 6-4; Ryuki Matsuda (JPN)/Ryotaro Taguchi (JPN)  bt WC-Aryan Shah/Ranjeet Virali-Murugesan 6-2, 3-6, 10-5.

by Abhishek Shukla

SAIL Hockey Academy strikes Gold in 1st Hockey India Junior and Sub Junior Men Academy Championship 2023 – (Zone B)

Kovilpatti, 30th November 2023: The final day of the 1st Hockey India Junior and Sub Junior Men Academy Championship 2023 – (Zone B) witnessed SAIL Hockey Academy win in both the Junior and Sub Junior categories after having defeated Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre and Smart Hockey Academy, Rapiur in their respective finals. Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy finished third in the Sub Junior Category while Hubli Hockey Academy finished third in the Junior Category. 

SAIL Hockey Academy prevails in the Final:  

SAIL Hockey Academy defeated Smart Hockey Academy, Raipur 4-1 in the Final of the 1st Hockey India Sub Junior Men Academy Championship 2023 – (Zone B) to take the trophy home. Hasti Anand (12’, 45’) paved the way with a brace while Kaetha Bishal (6’) and Kujur Manish (39’) found the back of the net as well for SAIL Hockey Academy. Meanwhile, Bakawale Gagan (59’) netted the lone goal for Smart Hockey Academy, Raipur.  

Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy finishes third:   

In the 3rd/4th place match in the Sub Junior Category, Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy defeated Lakshmi Ammal Sports Academy 3-1 to win the Bronze medal. Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy was up and running in no time as Kamalesh S (11’) and Captain S Lakshmanan Sri (12’) scored in the first quarter. Kavisakthibose (24’) scored for Lakshmi Ammal Sports Academy but another goal for Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy from Jagdeesh K (36’) in the third quarter ensured them a bronze medal finish.  

SAIL Hockey Academy defeated Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre in a thriller:  

SAIL Hockey Academy defeated Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre 3-2 in the Final of the Junior category. Munda Satish (3’) put Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre in the lead early in the game but successive goals from Ekka Samir (14’) and Nabin Lakra (19’) for SAIL Hockey Academy took them to a 2-1 lead at half time. Irengbam Rohit Singh (43’) equalized late in the third quarter but it was the goal from Toppo Amit (49’) for SAIL Hockey Academy in the final quarter that sealed the deal as they went on to win the Gold medal.  

Hubli Hockey Academy wins close battle:  

In the 3rd/4th place match in the Junior category, Hubli Hockey Academy defeated Berar Hockey Academy (Vidarbha) Amravati 2-1. Pavan Raghavendra Dodmani (29’) scored the first goal of the match in the second quarter for Hubli Hockey Academy but Berar Hockey Academy (Vidarbha) Amravati’s Anil Vilas Rathod (39’) equalized in the third quarter. Vivek Ravi Bagade (43’) put Hubli Hockey Academy back in the lead in no time and with no goals scored in the fourth quarter, they won the match to finish in third place.  

by Abhishek Shukla

PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE AND ESPN ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR U.S. MEDIA RIGHTS RENEWAL

NEW YORK (November 30, 2023) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) and ESPN have announced a new multi-year media rights agreement which includes live event distribution of the PFL Regular Season, Playoffs and World Championship on ESPN linear networks and ESPN+. ESPN+ PPV will also distribute the new PFL PPV Super Fight Division in the U.S. when it launches in 2024. 
 

The PFL features some of the sport’s top fighters who will also be highlighted across ESPN platforms in pre- and post-fight coverage, as well as shoulder programming on linear and digital channels. 
 

“We’ve had five successful seasons on ESPN and we’re excited for the next phase of growth for MMA and the Professional Fighters League with this agreement,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “Our innovative sport-season format, elite roster of athletes, and the launch of the PFL PPV Super Fight Division, which will feature some of the world’s greatest combat sports stars such as Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul, are ushering in the new era of MMA as a mainstream global sports entertainment platform.” 
 

The PFL PPV Super Fight Division will be a global platform for some of the best MMA fighters and combat sports stars. Francis Ngannou, arguably one of the greatest heavyweight fighters in the world today, is under an exclusive MMA contract to fight in the division and is joined by one of the most influential figures in combat sports, Jake Paul, and women’s star fighters Claressa Shields, Amanda Serrano and Savannah Marshall. The first PFL PPV Super Fight will be in early 2024 with headlining fighters and location to be announced at a later date. 
 

PFL is the only organization in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight-class. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL is on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S. and is broadcast and streamed in 150 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.

by Abhishek Shukla

RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India: Abhinav Bindra highlights the need to look at sport holistically and not from the prism of high-performance

Bengaluru, November 30, 2023: The country’s most decorated shooter Abhinav Bindra on Thursday stressed that for India to progress as a sporting nation it must create a sustainable and thriving ecosystem and stop looking at sports from the narrow lens of high performance. Bindra, India’s first individual Olympic champion, shared his thoughts  at the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India.

“What I would really like to see India as a country is to start looking at sport more holistically and not singularly from the prism of high performance. It is a very narrow view and if you only look at it from a high-performance perspective, it will be very challenging to make that next leap from seven Olympic medals in Tokyo.” 

Bindra said if India aspires to become a sporting superpower then the investment has to be holistic. “If you want to get to 50 it is not just going to be pumping money into the elite. It is only going to be a very small percentage of your population that is going to get involved in sports, so you need more people to play and the by-product of that hopefully will be that more people will be involved in sport. So I believe that the shift in perspective needs to happen and it needs to happen now.”

RCB Innovation Lab through the Leader’s Meet: India is creating a participative platform where global sporting heavyweights, influential dialogues, and the exchange of innovative ideas become center stage.

“It is extremely credible what RCB with their Innovation Lab has put together here. India is not a one-sport nation and they recognized that fact. To bring thought leadership into Indian sport is the need of the hour and an event like this brings experts from all over the world to ideate on the newest global trends, and opportunities that exist. Congratulations to RCB and I wish them all the best for the future,” commented Mr. Abhinav Bindra while discussing the significance of the event.

The 41-year-old, who has secured India’s only gold medal in shooting at the Olympics to date, also talked about the country potentially hosting the prestigious multi-sport tournament as well as the Youth Olympics Games.

“I think giving more opportunities to young people to simply enjoy sport is that to me an important element that has to be developed for the whole Olympic project. The number two point is developing an economy for the future. The whole country needs to be involved in not just celebrating Indian success but also celebrating sports.” 

“If you have that larger goal in mind and you have this more holistic thought process in mind, I think you come up with an interesting project that will not just be limited to the two weeks of sports, but to how the Olympic Games can truly be the driver for real change,” he said.

The RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India will conclude today (November 30).

by Abhishek Shukla

National Boxing Championships: 12 SSCB boxers secure semifinal spotsNational Boxing Championships:

New Delhi, November 30, 2023: The quarterfinal stage of the 7th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships witnessed remarkable performances from Amit Panghal, the 2019 World Championships silver medalist (51kg), and 2021 Asian Champion Sanjeet (92kg) as they secured their places in the semifinals with commanding victories in the quarterfinals along with 10 other boxers representing SSCB on day five of the 7th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships in Shillong.

Amit Panghal, who represents SSCB faced Mohammad Aarif of Jammu and Kashmir in his quarterfinals bout. Amit demonstrated his experience, dominated the proceedings throughout and ultimately won the bout comfortably in a unanimous decision. Amit will next face Ankit of RSPB in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Asian Champion, Sanjeet from SSCB went head to head against 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Naman Tanwar of RSPB in the 92kg quarter-final. Sanjeet was at the top of his game as he controlled the bout and played from a distance, landing hard punches throughout. He continued the momentum and grabbed the win with a unanimous decision. Sanjeet will take on All India Police’s (AIP) Vicky in the semifinals.

The other 10 SSCB boxers who qualified for the semifinals include Barun Singh (48kg), Pawan (54kg), Sachin (57kg), Akash (60kg), Vanshaj (63.5kg), Rajat (67kg), Akash (71kg), Deepak (75kg), Lakshya (80kg), Jugnoo (86kg).

In other significant bouts, representing Assam, the six-time Asian Championships medalist Shiva Thapa, showcased his renowned skill set and power packed punches, dominating the quarterfinal match against Shashank Pradhan of Delhi. He secured a commanding 5-0 victory and will square off against Harivansh Tawari of Maharashtra in the semifinals.

2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Sagar (92+kg), who represents RSPB, was up against Navjot Singh of Chandigarh. He started the bout with an aggressive approach and landed a flurry of hard hitting punches in the first round only that led to the referee stopping the contest. He will fight it out against Vishal Kumar of Delhi in the last four stages.

by Abhishek Shukla

Sergio Lobera: I decided to come back to the ISL because I was very happy working in India and we love this country

Mumbai, 30 November, 2023: Certain coaches become synonymous with leagues on the rise by securing an iconic status with everlasting legacies in their respective competitions. Sergio Lobera is scripting his own story in the Indian Super League (ISL), with the Spaniard now heading his third team in the top-tier (Odisha FC) after previous stints with FC Goa and Mumbai City FC. Lobera is a proven stalwart, and that reflects in his illustrious cabinet containing the ISL League Winners Shield, the ISL Trophy, and also the Super Cup.

However, it is the free-flowing, entertaining style of football bringing spectators to the edge of their seats that he brought in India that has made him a favourite amongst fans.

After leading Mumbai City FC to the iconic league double in 2020-21, Lobera departed from India to manage Chinese outfit Sichuan Jiuniu F.C. However, the 46-year-old returned to take over the reins Odisha FC and he says that the love and warmth he receives from the fans in India played a massive role in his comeback to the ISL.

“I think you come back to the place where you feel happy. If you didn’t work well, didn’t like the environment, the organisation, the ISL competition, you wouldn’t want to come back, would you? The reason to come back here is that when I worked before here, I was happy. It means a lot. Foreign players have options from other countries, maybe with more money, but I especially wanted to come back here because I was happy. It is a very good place to work in,” Lobera said in an interaction with the league.

In addition to the footballing culture, Lobera is touched with the love showered on him by the people in India. His family is staying with him in Bhubaneswar and Lobera believes that there is a lot to learn from Indians in all walks of life.

“My daughter is five years old and she has lived more in India than in Spain. We love this country, we love these people. They receive us in this country with a very warm welcome. We are living very happily in Bhubaneswar in Odisha. My daughter has started school now,” Lobera said.

He added, “It’s not just about football, it’s about life. Respecting all the people, different customs in different countries, for me as a father and husband, I want my wife to live this experience in India because we can learn a lot from Indian people. When you win their heart, they are very happy.”

The beginning of Lobera’s stint at Odisha has panned out similarly as before, with the tactician roping in his former players like Mourtada Fall, Ahmed Jahouh, Cy Goddard, and Amey Ranawade. He says that having familiar faces around is essential for him to quickly impart his ideas within the team. Further, he stressed that he is focusing on building a family within the club and that takes the efforts and contributions of the entire squad.

“A lot of people ask me why I sign players who have worked with me before. It’s because I know these players both as professionals as well as persons. It’s very important to build a good connection between the Indian players and the foreign players. They need to understand and help to improve the level of Indian players during training sessions as well as both on and off the pitch. They are heroes for some of the Indian players. It’s very helpful for me as coach to have players who have worked with me before, because I need to implement my ideas, philosophies, and style of play,” Lobera said.

“We are building a family, because I am sure we are going to live good moments and bad moments, and for me the winning team is the one that manages the bad moments better,” he signed off.

Lobera’s squad play hosts Jamshedpur in their upcoming encounter tomorrow.

by Abhishek Shukla

PRO KABADDI LEAGUE CONTINUES TO DEVELOP TECHNICAL OFFICIALS; TRAINS 38 OFFICIALS AT REFEREE TRAINING CAMP FOR SEASON 10

Kolhapur, 30th November 2023: The Pro Kabaddi League hasn’t only focussed on developing a robust player pool through various initiatives such as Future Kabaddi Heroes but has also built a fantastic group of technical officials over the last nine years. Like the players look at the Pro Kabaddi League as an aspirational career, the technical officials have also been able to look upon the league as a suitable career option. 

Identifying the need for a high-level of refereeing for a world-class competition, the Technical Director of the Pro Kabaddi League Mr. E Prasad Rao explained how Mashal Sports created the PKL Referee Training Camps, “Prior to Season 1, we conducted a coaching course to help the technical officials get used to the innovative rule changes such as 30-second raids and do-or-die raids implemented in the Pro Kabaddi League. We selected around 30 officials among the persons who carried out the course. Over 100 people attended the workshop, which was conducted for about a week. This one was PKL’s first technical officials workshop.” 

Rao further expressed the changes in the training programs for referees over the course of the last nine seasons, “We are planning to appoint a total of 42 officials for Season 10, while we had a total of 35 officials in Season 1. The training program for technical officials has changed over the years with technological advancements in the game. We’ve had to learn how to use the multiple cameras available to us.” 

Continuing to build the technical officials group and identifying fresh talent, the Pro Kabaddi League organized a Referee Training Camp in Kolhapur ahead of the milestone tenth season, which is set to begin in December. The camp, which witnessed around 38 officials prepare for Season 10, was conducted by Mr. E Prasad Rao from 18-29 November 2023. 

Speaking about the officials’ preparations for the tenth season, Rao said, “We conducted three online workshops before the referee training camp in Kolhapur. The referees were put into two groups – new officials and PKL experienced officials. We identified about ten talented referees through these workshops. These referees will officiate in PKL for the first time this year.” 

When asked about the schedule in the training camp, the Technical Director expressed, “From 6:30-8:30 am, the officials underwent a physical activity to develop their speed, agility and reaction time. Between 10 am – 1 pm, the officials attended a theory session, where match situations were analysed. Then, the last session of the day was held between 5-7:30 pm wherein the officials underwent practical practice by officiating in games between club teams.”

The Telugu Titans go up against Gujarat Giants in the opening match of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 in Ahmedabad on 2nd December 2023. 

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

by Abhishek Shukla

Hockey India names 24-member Indian Men’s Hockey Team for 5 Nations Tournament Valencia 2023

New Delhi, 30th November 2023: Hockey India on Thursday announced the 24-member Indian Men’s Hockey Team for the upcoming 5 Nations Tournament Valencia 2023, scheduled to be held from 15th to 22nd December in Valencia, Spain.

India will play against hosts Spain, Germany, France and Belgium in the 5 Nations tournament, which will serve as the preparatory event ahead of the 2023-24 FIH Hockey Pro League games. 

The 24-member squad features a mix of experienced and young faces, who will be led by ace drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh. Sumit and Amit Rohidas have been named as Harman’s deputies for this tour.

The goalkeeping department will see the return of Suraj Karkera to the squad, along with regular features PR Sreejesh and Krishan B Pathak. In defence, Captain Harmanpreet Singh will lead the charge alongside Jarmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Amit Rohidas, Varun Kumar, Sumit, Sanjay and Nilam Sanjeep Xess.

The midfield features Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nilakanta Sharma, Rajkumar Pal, Shamsher Singh, and young faces like Yashdeep Siwach and Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem.

Meanwhile, the forward line comprises Mandeep Singh, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Karthi Selvam, Dilpreet Singh and Akashdeep Singh.

Speaking on the team selection, Indian Men’s Hockey Team Chief Coach Craig Fulton said, “We are going with a well-balanced side with a good mix of youth and experience. The tournament provides us with a great platform to try out different things and adjust ourselves accordingly. It also provides the younger players with a great opportunity to showcase their talent and experience the pressure of facing the top teams in the world.”

“The next seven months are very important for us, we have a lot of games to play before the Paris 2024 Olympics, and it’s very important we follow a process and go step-by-step,” he added.
 

Indian Men’s Hockey Team for 5 Nations Tournament Valencia 2023 

GOALKEEPERS

1. Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran

2. Krishan Bahadur Pathak

3. Suraj Karkera

DEFENDERS 

4. Jarmanpreet Singh 

5. Jugraj Singh

6. Amit Rohidas (VC) 

7. Harmanpreet Singh (C)   

8. Varun Kumar

9. Sumit (VC)

10. Sanjay

11. Nilam Sanjeep Xess 

MIDFIELDERS 

12. Yashdeep Siwach   

13. Vivek Sagar Prasad  

14. Nilakanta Sharma

15. Rajkumar Pal

16. Shamsher Singh 

17. Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem

FORWARDS 

18. Mandeep Singh

19. Abhishek

20. Sukhjeet Singh  

21. Lalit Kumar Upadhyay

22. Karthi Selvam

23. Dilpreet Singh

24. Akashdeep Singh

Indian Men’s Team Schedule

  • Friday, 15th December 2023: India vs Spain at 15:45 IST
  • Saturday, 16th December 2023: India vs Belgium at at 15:45 IST
  • Tuesday, 19th December 2023: India vs Germany at 13:30 IST
  • Wednesday, 20th December 2023: India vs France at 13:30 IST
by Abhishek Shukla

Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team secures 12-0 win against Canada in their FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2023 opener

Santiago, 29th November 2023: The Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team made a resounding start to their FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2023 campaign by securing a commanding 12-0 victory against Canada in their opening match of the tournament held in Santiago, Chile, on Wednesday.

Annu (4’, 6′, 39’), Dipi Monika Toppo (21’), Mumtaz Khan (26’, 41’, 54’, 60’), Deepika Soreng (34’, 50’, 54’), and Neelam (45’) were the goalscorers for India.

India began the match with an attacking approach, consistently pressuring Canada and swiftly securing an early advantage as Annu (4’, 6′) scored two early goals through penalty corners. Despite taking a two-goal lead, India persisted in their aggressive style, maintaining pressure on Canada, however, they were unable to find more goals in the opening quarter as it ended 2-0 in their favour.

The momentum from the first quarter carried into the second for India, which sustained their dominance. They maintained possession, consistently penetrating the circle, resulting in Dipi Monika Toppo (21′) and Mumtaz Khan (26′) netting a field goal each, further extending India’s lead. In the meantime, Canada won a penalty corner but they were unable to make the most of it. As the second quarter concluded, the Indian team maintained a commanding 4-0 lead.

Despite having a healthy lead, the Indian team showed no signs of slowing down in the third quarter and continued to dominate the proceedings with Deepika Soreng (34′) converting a penalty corner, following which Annu (39′) completed her hat-trick, while Mumtaz Khan (41′) scored her second goal of the match. Also, Neelam (45′) smashed home her shot from a penalty corner to make it 8-0 for India by the end of the penultimate quarter. T

he Indian team’s hunger for goals persisted into the fourth quarter, resulting in strikes by Deepika Soreng (50′, 54′) and Mumtaz Khan (54′, 60’) which not only saw both players complete their hat-tricks but also India winning the game 12-0.

India will next lock horns with Germany in their second match of the tournament on 1st December at 01:00hrs IST.

by Abhishek Shukla

ISL: Wonder goals headline the night as Kerala Blasters FC, Chennaiyin FC play out high-scoring draw

In a pulsating fixture under the lights of Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kerala Blasters FC and Chennaiyin FC shared the spoils in a high-octane 3-3 draw that had fans on the edge of their seats in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season.

The match was a spectacle from the onset, with the home crowd creating a vibrant atmosphere that was matched by the intensity on the pitch. Chennaiyin FC’s Rahim Ali and Jordan Murray, who were doubtful due to injury concerns, made an emphatic statement with Rahim scoring the sixth fastest goal in ISL history just 54 seconds into the game, setting the tone for what was to come.

Despite Chennaiyin FC’s strong start with Murray converting a penalty and adding a third, Kerala Blasters FC showed resilience. Their captain, Adrian Luna, from nearly 30 yards out, initiated a comeback with a strike that ricocheted off Kwame Peprah into the net. Dimitrios Diamantakos was the man of the moment for the Blasters, netting twice, including a stunning equalizer that had the whole stadium roaring in approval.

The match statistics revealed Kerala Blasters’ dominance in ball possession and touches, suggesting their control over the game’s tempo despite the equal scoreline. Chennaiyin FC, on the other hand, boasted a slight edge in passing accuracy and had fewer fouls, reflecting a disciplined approach.

Diamantakos, named the Key Performer of the Match, was instrumental in Kerala Blasters’ comeback. Having created multiple scoring chances and netting two critical goals, his performance was particularly noteworthy given his return from suspension.

Looking ahead, Kerala Blasters FC will face FC Goa at the Fatorda Stadium, while Chennaiyin FC will meet Jamshedpur FC away. Both teams will be eager to build on the momentum from this thrilling encounter.

The final scoreline stood at Kerala Blasters FC 3, with goals from Dimitrios Diamantakos (11’, 59’) and Kwame Peprah (38’), drawing with Chennaiyin FC 3, with Rahim Ali (1’) and Jordan Murray (13’, 24’) as their scorers. Both teams displayed immense spirit and skill, ensuring the ISL continues to be a showcase of enthralling football.

by Abhishek Shukla

Day 10 Results: 1st Hockey India Junior and Sub Junior Men Academy Championship 2023 – (Zone B)

Kovilpatti, 29th November 2023: Day 10 of the 1st Hockey India Junior Men Academy Championship 2023 – (Zone B) witnessed Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre and SAIL Hockey Academy emerge victorious in their respective Semi-Final matches in the Junior category.   

Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High PerformanceCentre books berth in Final:  

In the first Semi-Final of the Junior Men category, Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre defeated Berar Hockey Academy (Vidarbha) Amravati 12-0. Suresh Sharma Adhikarimayum (5’, 23’, 50’, 59’) set the ball rolling with four goals to his name while Munda Satish (22’, 26’, 53’) and Irengbam Rohit Singh (17’, 28’, 35’) scored hat-tricks for Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre. Harish Singh Leitanthem (27’) and Silheiba Lisham (38’) chipped in with a goal each as they confirmed their ticket in the Final.  

SAIL Hockey Academy sails into the Final:  

In the second Semi-Final, SAIL Hockey Academy defeated Hubli Hockey Academy 10-1. Toppo Amit (2’, 13’, 57) and Mohan Krishna (18’, 38’, 46’) scored a hat-trick each, Karan Lakra (11’, 42’) scored a brace each while Nabin Lakra (15’) and Majhi Ankit (60’) contributed one goal apiece for SAIL Hockey Academy. Raju Manoj Gayakwad (39’) scored the only goal for Hubli Hockey Academy in the third quarter as SAIL Hockey Academy confirmed their place in the Final with this resounding victory.  

Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre will take on SAIL Hockey Academy in the Final while Berar Hockey Academy (Vidarbha) Amravati will play Hubli Hockey Academy in the 3rd/4th place match on 30th November.  

by Abhishek Shukla

Shiva Thapa & Amit Panghal storm into quarters at the 7th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships

New Delhi, November 29, 2023: Shiva Thapa, a six-time Asian Championships medalist (63.5kg), and Amit Panghal, the 2019 World Championships silver medalist (51kg), maintained their impressive form by securing victories and advancing to the quarterfinals on day four of the 7th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships in Shillong.

Hailing from Assam, Shiva Thapa demonstrated his prowess with a commanding victory over Santhosh HK from Karnataka, achieving a flawless score of 5-0. The previous editions gold medalist will now face Shashank Pradhan of Delhi in the quarterfinals.

Representing SSCB, Amit Panghal faced Punjab’s Jayshandeep Singh in the round of 16. Despite Jayshandeep’s efforts to put up a strong fight, Amit emerged victorious with a scoreline of 4-1. Amit is set to face Mohammad Aarif of Jammu and Kashmir in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Asian Champion, Sanjeet, faced off against Sawan Gill of Chandigarh. Sanjeet’s skill set and power packed punches were on full display as he dominated the match, securing a commanding victory with a 5-0 score. Sanjeet, representing SSCB, will face Naman Tanwar of RSPB in the quarterfinals.

In a contrasting matchup, Ashish Kumar from Himachal Pradesh went head-to-head against Nitish Kumar from Chandigarh. Demonstrating swift and aggressive boxing, Ashish wasted no time, securing a first-round knockout victory against his opponent. The Tokyo Olympian is now set to face Lakshya of SSCB in the quarterfinals.

A total of over 350 boxers across 13 weight categories are participating in the championships.

by Abhishek Shukla

“Reliance Foundation Young Champs facility is on par with international standards”, says Tottenham Hotspur Foundation coach Sabrina Dias

Mumbai, November 29: Taking forward the culture of dialogue of ideas and philosophies, Tottenham Hotspur Foundation football coach Sabrina Dias visited the Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) in Navi Mumbai last week as part of the North London club’s measures to engage with fans and promote the development of football at grassroots level. In addition to engaging with coaches and young enthusiasts of the sport, Dias also engaged in an insightful session with the RFYC players from different age categories.

Watch the glimpses from the training session here: Instagram

Dias said that the Reliance Foundation and their initiatives should be a benchmark for footballing development in India and celebrated the RFYC facility to be on par with global standards. She explained that the entire program, which propelled 12 graduates from the 2023 batch to sign professional contracts with Indian clubs, is designed in a way that takes care of an all-round, holistic development of a youngster.

Sabrina Dias, Football Coach - Tottenham Hotspur Foundation during the training session at the RFYC academy_1.JPG

“What I saw at the (Reliance Foundation Young Champs) academy is excellent. I have coached for five years now. I have been to Switzerland, countries like South Korea, but I have never seen something like that. That not just improves the players’ footballing abilities, but also their mental and the social sides. What I saw was totally excellent, and it is really good for the boys,” Dias said in an interaction.

The Spurs tactician said that RFYC has laid a pathway for other similar entities to look at, get inspired from, and work towards to create similar amenities to grow the sport in India.

Dias is someone who has worked extensively in training budding professionals and then at an advanced level in the broadened youth development structure of Tottenham. In that context, she has ample understanding of what goes behind developing an individual and also giving shape to a successful youth team that can excel and win laurels in the various developmental games that happen weekly. She believes that it is a step by step process, but focused mechanisms regarding the same should be put in place across the country so that its collective results could be yielded in the foreseeable future.

“I think that’s a base mark of what can be done for (football) in India. What you (Reliance Foundation) have done here, is so good that all teams should look at that as the base and try to hit that spot. What I saw there was really good, especially for the players, because many of them are moving away from their homes. They are not used to that environment, and getting to know something new, especially young players such as the U-14s, if other teams watch what you are doing, it will grow the project and bring in more players,” Dias remarked.

Sabrina Dias, Football Coach - Tottenham Hotspur Foundation during the training session at the RFYC academy.JPG

Dias held a session focusing on three footballing aspects, namely: ball marshalling, passing, and 1v1 situations at the RFYC. Each of these areas was touched upon in great detail, with the players getting an in-depth understanding of their undercurrent layers as well. They were interconnected to a great degree as well, for example, the skills learnt in the ball controlling session were put into use whilst polishing a player’s 1v1 skills. Working with goalkeepers, ensuring that they are comfortable with the ball on their feet amidst tight spaces and when they are being pressed by the opponents was also explored.

“Something that I can really overlap from both sides is the hunger from the players, is what I can see in both countries. In terms of the weather, the boys here are really hitting the high levels,” Dias quipped upon her first thoughts from the entire exercise. She is a proponent of applying tactical inputs practically on the field, and hence encouraged coaches in India to provide their players concentrated and competitive game-time focusing on broad themes that are taught during technical sessions.

“Game time is very important. In the United Kingdom (UK), we focus on technical sessions based on certain topics, and for every session we at least have 20-25 minutes of match time. So that they can put all that they have learned in a session into a situation that is match realistic. Always link a situation to a match, so that the kids learn off it,” Dias signed off.

by Abhishek Shukla

U Mumba unveils PKL Season 10 Jersey in the presence of players and Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal

Mumbai, November 29, 2023 — In a glittering ceremony on Wednesday, U Mumba brought together the power of sport and entertainment on one stage to celebrate and unveil the landmark Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 U Mumba Jersey in the presence of Bollywood star Vicky Kaushal and the squad members at the META India studios in Mumbai.

U Mumba is geared up for an exhilarating season ahead. Designed with careful consideration and attention to details, the new jersey serves as a powerful statement of the team’s commitment to excellence, unity, and capturing the enduring spirit and resilience of Mumbai that U Mumba team stands for. 

The new jersey was launched in the presence of Vicky Kaushal in and as Sam Bahadur along with team owner, Ronnie Screwvala, CEO Suhail Chandhok apart from the Season 10 core team members Surinder Singh, Mahender Singh, Rinku, Girish Ernak, Guman Singh and Pranay Rane.

“Interwoven with elements that encapsulate the heart and soul of Mumbai city, the jersey captures the energy, diversity, hustle and indomitable spirit of the melting pot of people that Mumbai represents. Each thread tells a story, echoing the pulse of a city that never sleeps, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines U Mumba,” said Suhail Chandhok, CEO of U Mumba.

One of the key striking features of the jersey is the representation of the ocean, an homage to the original inhabitants of Mumbai, the Koli community and to the element of water that forms the essence of Mumbai, a City of Seven Islands.

“The waves symbolise the ebb and flow of obstacles that our players may encounter throughout the Pro Kabaddi League season and it serves as a reminder to be fluid, like water, adaptable to change, agile, resilient and open to any challenges that lie ahead,” Suhail further added.

U Mumba Captain & Vice-Captains announced

The team also took the opportunity to announce the Captain and Vice-Captains for the upcoming season with Surinder Singh set to continue at the helm and Rinku Sharma and Mahender Singh as his deputies.

Paras Sharma, Director of Content and Community Partnerships, Meta, India, also commented, “We actively foster sports fandom on our platforms, continuously collaborating with teams and the ecosystem to broaden their audience. Collaborating with the U Mumba team enables us to connect creators and public figures, aiming to boost kabaddi’s popularity ahead of the Pro-Kabaddi League and offer creators opportunities to engage with athletes from varied sports.”

The team also announced local (Mumbai) icon player, Girish Ernak as the Spirit of Mumba Captain, who is specially assigned the task to nurture young talents in the side from various parts of the country and ensure the positive spirit of U Mumba is always intact through the ups and downs of the competitive season.

Follow U Mumba’s journey in the Pro Kabaddi League and witness the team wearing their hearts on their sleeves, quite literally, with the unveiling of this exceptional new jersey on our social media handles.

by Abhishek Shukla

‘PKL SEASON 10 IS A PROUD MOMENT FOR THE KABADDI FRATERNITY,’ SAYS SEASON 6 MVP PAWAN SEHRAWAT

Hyderabad, 29th November 2023: The Pro Kabaddi League is all geared up to launch its tenth season on 2nd December 2023 and the fans cannot keep calm. Telugu Titans’ Pawan Sehrawat, who broke his own record for the highest bid at the PKL Auction earlier this year, spoke about his excitement ahead of the milestone season, “I am very excited to play in the tenth season. I have not played in the league for a while. My preparations are going well in the Telugu Titans camp and I am looking forward to the season.”

Reminiscing his own journey in the Pro Kabaddi League, one of the biggest kabaddi stars expressed about his first-ever PKL game in Season 3, “I played my first-ever match against Dabang Delhi K.C. in Season 3 and I remember that I scored a bonus point on my first raid.”

Following his debut in Season 3, Sehrawat has gone on to record the highest raid points in the sixth, seventh and eighth seasons and also clinch the Most Valuable Player Award after recording 271 raid points in Season 6. Speaking about the fantastic season, the Hi-Flyer said, “I had not played for a long time before the sixth season. But nevertheless, I experienced the best moment of my Pro Kabaddi League career in the that season when I scored 20 points in the first half against Tamil Thalaivas while playing for Bengaluru Bulls.”

When asked about the growth of the Pro Kabaddi League, the star raider said, “Starting the tenth season is quite a big achievement for Mashal Sports and Star Sports. This is a proud moment for me as well to see kabaddi grow so much. The highest bid in PKL Season 1 Auction was INR 12.8 lakh and the highest bid for Season 10 was INR 2.6 crore – which shows how much the league has grown.”

Pawan Sehrawat will be in action in the opening game of Season 10 when the Telugu Titans go up against Gujarat Giants in Ahmedabad on 2nd December 2023.

by Abhishek Shukla

‘Hockey India’s relentless efforts in enhancing game standards are commendable,’ says Hockey Punjab Captain Harmanpreet Singh

New Delhi, 29th November 2023: The conclusion of the 13th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2023 on Tuesday brought forth a captivating showdown, leaving Indian Men’s Hockey Team Captain and Hockey Punjab Skipper Harmanpreet Singh brimming with admiration for the exceptional standard of the tournament. Steering the victorious team, Hockey Punjab, Harmanpreet expressed profound praise for the tournament’s high standards following their well-fought shootout victory against Hockey Haryana in the title-deciding clash, which came after the game was tied at 2-2 (9-8 SO) at the end of regulation time.

Harmanpreet, who finished as the top scorer for Hockey Punjab in the tournament by netting nine goals, hailed the competitive edge prevalent in the domestic hockey scene. “The Final match truly portrays the escalating competitiveness within domestic hockey,” he said before adding, “The quality of hockey being played in the country has improved drastically and the remarkable exhibition of skills by individual players surpasses any previous displays.”

The 27-year-old defender, pivotal in the national squad, lauded Hockey India for its instrumental role in elevating the sport’s stature within the country. “Hockey India’s relentless efforts in enhancing hockey standards are commendable. By adhering to international protocols and standards, this championship almost mirrored an international event, which is a testimony to Hockey India’s efforts in raising the sport to unprecedented levels,” Harmanpreet said.

Harmanpreet also emphasized the tournament’s potential in honing players’ skills, rectifying weaknesses, and ultimately contributing to the betterment of the Indian national team. “The competition intensity witnessed in this championship will undoubtedly serve as a crucible for refining our players’ abilities and addressing their shortcomings, thereby fortifying the Indian team,” he affirmed.

Notably, a staggering count of 31 players from India’s core group participated in the 13th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2023. Highlighting the impact of elite Indian players gracing the tournament, Harmanpreet reckoned an upsurge in the players’ prowess, foreseeing an unparalleled escalation in Indian hockey’s stature on the global platform.

“The presence of numerous Indian international players in this tournament signifies a trajectory towards an unparalleled standard. I firmly believe this will propel Indian hockey to uncharted heights, amplifying our prowess on the international stage,” Harmanpreet concluded optimistically

by Abhishek Shukla

Ashwal Rai and Muthusamy Appavu Urge Passionate Home Support to Make Their Presence Felt during Men’s Volleyball Club World Championships 2023

Bengaluru, 28th November 2023: In what is a shot in the arm for Indian sports, the country is not only set to participate but also play host to the Men’s Volleyball Club World Championships 2023, at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru. With 10 high octane matches set to unfold between 6-10 December, this will be India’s first bow at the highest level as the Ahmedabad Defenders face up against the finest from across the world including, reigning champions, Sir Safety Susa Perugia from Italy, the formidable Brazilian duo of Sada Cruzeiro Volei and Minas Tênis Clube, Japan’s Suntory Sunbirds Club, and Turkey’s Halkbank Spor Kulübü. 

The vibrant and dynamic city of Bengaluru is set to wear a carnivalesque look during the competition, much like when the RuPay Prime Volleyball League had come to town. The Garden City of India has always had an intense love affair with the sport of Volleyball, and the Ahmedabad Defenders will surely have an extra player on their side in terms of the home support.    

India’s best, the Ahmedabad Defenders, stormed into the tournament following a stellar performance which helped them lift the RuPay Prime Volleyball League earlier this year. The Men’s Club World Championships 2023 allows teams to sign players from within their respective domestic leagues, and the Defenders have added bite to their line-up with loan deals for some of the best in the business. Top performers from the other PVL franchises, including former champion and captain of the Kolkata Thunderbolts Ashwal Rai will don the Ahmedabad colours. Co-incidentally, Ashwal is one of the many players in the Defenders’ unit, who turned out for India in the recently concluded successful Asian Games campaign. 

For Ashwal, the local boy from Karnataka, this serves as yet another opportunity to represent India and understandably, he is delighted. Ashwal said, “It is a matter of immense pride for us to represent our country against the world’s best Volleyball players. We are fans of many of these players and it will be an honour to compete with them. This will be round 2 after the Asian Games, and no doubt we want to show them what we can do, and especially with the home support backing us, there is potential for some great contests, and moments that inspire others.”  

Concurring on the thought was, Setter, Muthusamy Appavu, who said, “We will be lucky to have the home advantage and to have our friends and well-wishers support us. I am looking forward to a great atmosphere, much like what we experienced at the Bengaluru leg of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League earlier this year. Bengaluru loves Volleyball, and a well-contested tournament will definitely drive crowds to the stadium, we are sure the fans will come in numbers and boost us up.” 

With one week to go for the Men’s Volleyball Club World Championships 2023, and the fans can avail tickets to come support their favorite players from today. 

The match tickets can be purchased at https://in.bookmyshow.com/special/volleyball-club-world-championship-2023/ET00377346?webview=true starting today. 

The 2023 Men’s Volleyball Club World Championships will be telecast live in India on Sony Sports Network across Sony Ten 1 & Sony Ten 3 channels and the broadcast will be shown globally on Volleyball World.   

by Abhishek Shukla

Captain, vice-captain of Indian women’s cricket team for Blind announced

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 28: The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) in association with the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled and Fedfina on Tuesday announced the captain and vice-captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket team for the Blind ahead of their first-ever Women’s Bilateral Series in India which gets underway from December 11, 2023 at Police Gymkhana.

The Bilateral series is to be played against Nepal. India will play 5 T20 Matches at Mumbai from December 11, 2023, to December 15, 2023. Varsha, who led Team India to a gold medal in the finals of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games 2023 in Birmingham, will captain the side for the Nepal T20Is. Phula Saren will be continued as her deputy for the Women’s Bilateral Series in Mumbai.

Speaking on the announcement ahead of the Nepal T20Is, the President of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) Mr Buse Gowda said, “This is the first ever Women’s International Bilateral in India. City of Dreams is the best place to organize these matches dreaming that our women cricketers will get the massive support and go on to become the torch bearers of Cricket for the Blind. We welcome the team from Nepal and may the best team win”  

Speaking on the occasion, Anila Rajneesh Chief Human Resources Officer Fedfina said, ” We take great pride in extending our support to the inaugural International Cricket Series dedicated to visually impaired Women Cricketers. We firmly believe that this series will serve as a powerful source of inspiration for numerous aspiring individuals, empowering them to conquer obstacles and pursue their dreams. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to Samarthanam Trust for the disabled and CABI for granting us the chance to collaborate with them, as we collectively work towards establishing a solid foundation that ensure Cricket is accessible and inclusive for everyone.

After being appointed as the captain for the Nepal T20Is, Varsha said, ” Once again I am given the responsibility to lead the side and both Phula(VC) and I are honored. We are sure that the team will give the best and new records, new players and new dreams will be dreamt through this series taking this game to the next level.

All the distinguished guests present at the media release joined hands with CABI officials in unveiling the Indian Women’s Cricket Team for the Blind Jersey for the upcoming T20 Bilateral Cricket Series.

 The chairman of Cricket Association for the Blind in India(CABI) Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar wished both the teams the best and said “I thank FedFina for joining hands with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled and CABI in promoting Cricket for the Blind. May this partnership help us in providing the holistic development to our visually impaired cricketers.”

Earlier this month, the Indian team for the Nepal T20Is was announced. Four players have got a maiden call-up to the Indian women’s squad and the players are Simranjeet Kaur (Rajasthan) B2, Sunita Sarathe (Madhya Pradesh) B2, Geetha Mahato (Jharkhand) B3, and Kavya N R (Karnataka) B3.

Determined to overturn their previous 1-3 series loss in Nepal during April, the Women in Blue are gearing up for 5 T20 Matches in Mumbai from December 11 to December 15, 2023. As part of their preparation, the women’s squad has been undergoing an intensive 22-day cricket coaching camp which started on November 20, 2023, at CBD Belapur, Maharashtra.

The Nepal team is expected to arrive in India on December 10, 2023, setting the stage for the inaugural Fedfina Women’s Bilateral T20 Cricket Series for the Blind 2023.

Indian Women’s Squad for India Vs Nepal Fedfina Women’s Bilateral T20 Cricket Series for the Blind 2023

1.     Varsha U (Captain)                 – B1                 – Karnataka

2.     Valasanaini Ravanni               – B1                 – Andhra Pradesh

3.     Simu Das                                – B1                 – Rajasthan

4.     Padmini Tudu                         – B1                 – Odisha

5.     Killaka Sandhya                     – B1                 – Andhra Pradesh

6.     Priya                                        – B1                 – Madhya Pradesh

7.     Sandra Davis Karimalikkal    – B2                 – Kerala

8.     Basanti Hansda                       – B2                 – Odisha

9.     Pritiben Desai                         – B2                 – Gujarat

10.  Simranjeet Kaur                      – B2                 – Rajasthan

11.  Sunita Sarathe                         – B2                 – Madhya Pradesh

12.  Sushma Patel                          – B3                 – Madhya Pradesh

13.  M. Satyavathi                         – B3                 – Andhra Pradesh

14.  Phula Saren (Vice-Captain)   – B3                 – Odisha

15.  Jhili Birua                               – B3                 – Odisha

16.  Ganga Sambhaji Kadam         – B3                 – Maharashtra

17.  Geetha Mahato                        – B3                 – Jharkhand

18.  Kavya N R                               – B3                – Karnataka

by Abhishek Shukla

Hockey Punjab lifts 13th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2023 trophy.

Chennai, 28th November 2023: Hockey claimed the Gold medal after their penalty shootout triumph over defending Champions Hockey Haryana in the Final of the 13th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2023 today at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Chennai. Meanwhile, the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu overcame Hockey Karnataka in penalty shootouts to claim the Bronze Medal. 

Hockey Punjab secures title in sudden death: 

Hockey Punjab defeated Hockey Haryana 2-2 (9-8 SO) in the Final of the 13th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2023 to clinch the title. Hockey Punjab started the match strong, scoring the first goal in the 13th minute thanks to Harjeet Singh. However, Hockey Haryana’s Sanjay (25′) scored from a penalty corner to level the score. In the second half, Hockey Punjab’s Captain Harmanpreet Singh (42′) scored a powerful drag flick from a penalty corner to put his team in the lead. But Hockey Haryana’s Rajant (50′) scored again to equalize and take the game to penalty shootouts.

During the shootouts, Sanjay, Deepak, and Abhishek scored for Hockey Haryana while Harmanpreet Singh, Simranjeet Singh, and Sukhjeet Singh scored for Hockey Punjab, taking the match to sudden death. In the seventh penalty shootout, Simranjeet Singh scored, securing the hard-fought victory for Hockey Punjab.

Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu comes back from behind to finish third: 

In the 3rd/4th place match Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu defeated Hockey Karnataka by 5-3 in penalty shootouts after the game was tied at the 3-3 draw at the end of regulation time. BP Somanna (4’) scored the first goal of the game for Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu from a penalty corner. But Hockey Karnataka clawed their way back into the game with Captain Gowda Sheshe (12’), Harish Mutagar (34’), and Indian Men’s Hockey Team forward Mohammed Raheel Mouseen (38’) scoring a goal each. Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu equalised through Sundarapandi (40’) and Indian Men’s Hockey Team forward Karthi Selvam (52’), forcing the game to penalty shootouts. 

Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu Captain J Joshua Benedict Wesely, Kanagaraj Selvaraj, Dhanush M, Sundarapandi, and H Shyam Kumar all scored in the penalty shootouts while goalkeeper S Senthamizh Arasu stood tall for his side to complete the emphatic comeback victory and clinch the Bronze medal. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Karnataka’s Manish earns first ATP points at Ultratech Cement ITF Kalaburagi Open

Kalaburagi, Nov 28: It was 13th time lucky for Karnataka’s Manish Ganesh as he picked up his first ATP points, thanks to the ongoing Ultratech Cement ITF Kalaburagi Open where he won his first round match against Yuichiro Inui to enter the pre-quarterfinals at the Chandrashekar Patil Stadium here on Tuesday.

“I am so happy to secure my first ATP points after a frustrating 12 attempts,” said Manish with a chocked voice. “I had got wildcards from KSLTA twice before but this time I was determined to go beyond. When I stepped on to the court, I felt confident and after a few games, it only grew which resulted in the victory,” said the Mysorean who brushed aside his Japanese rival 6-1, 6-2 in mere 63 minutes.

“It is a boon for us to have the ITF tournaments in our country where we can pick up easy ATP points. And being closer to our homes, it saves us a huge cost of travel and accommodation and additionally we get the support of the home crowd,” said the22-year-old who began by earning a break in the very first game. Yuichiro, who has had a career best ranking of 862 on the ATP last year could hold on to his serve once in the set i.e. in the third game. Manish’s movement on the court was the key feature in his victory and was successful in lobbing the ball on many occasions whenever Yuichiro attacked the net.

The thought of earning an ATP point distracted the young Indian Army jawan for a moment as he lost his serve in the first game of the second set but soon recovered to break his opponent’s serve in the very next game. With two more breaks in the 6th and the 8th game, Manish wrapped up the set and the match.

In another interesting match of the day, India’s best junior Aryan Shah impressed with his agility to pick up the dropshots played by his opponent Adil Kalyanpur and coming up with winners. The 18-year-old entered the last 16 with a 6-4, 6-3 win.

Earlier, the tournament was inaugurated with much fanfare with Peter Vijay Kumar, Tournament Director, Allam Prabhu Patil, MLA Kalaburagi South, Fouzia Taranum, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Kalaburagi, Shashil Namoshi, MLC, Thimmappa Kamaknur MLC amongst others.

Results (all Indians unless mentioned, seeding in parenthesis)

Men’s Singles (Round of 32)

Q-Aryan Shah bt WC-Adil Kalyanpur 6-4, 6-3; WC-Manish Ganesh bt Yuichiro Inui (JPN) 6-1, 6-2; Raghav Jaisinghani bt Q-Shivank Bhatnagar 6-4, 6-3; Kabir Hans bt Ha Minh Duc Vu (VIE) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2; 8-Karan Singh bt Ranjeet Virali-Murugesan 6-4, 6-2; Ryotaro Taguchi (JPN) bt Yunseok Jang (KOR) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

Doubles (Round of 16)

2-David Pichler (AUT)/ Nitin Kumar Sinha bt Lohithaksha Bathrinath/Oges Theyjo Jaya Prakash 6-2, 6-2; WC-Aryan Shah/Ranjeet Virali-Murugesan bt Tushar Madan/Jagmeet Singh 6-3, 6-2; Karan Singh/Parikshit Somani bt WC-Manish Ganesh/Mohammed Iftikhar Sheikh 6-0, 6-4; Rishab Agarwal/Bharath Nishok Kumaran bt Yash Chaurasia/Raghav Jaisinghani 6-3, 6-4; Adil Kalyanpur/Sidharth Rawat bt Yuichiro Inui (JPN)/Yunseok Jang (KOR) 3-6, 6-4, 10-8; 3-Taisei Ichikawa (JPN)/Seita Watanabe (JPN) bt Parth Aggarwal/Rishi Reddy 6-4, 6-2.