Author: Abhishek Shukla

Owner of Sports India Live.
by Abhishek Shukla

Indian Rugby Football Union Launches First Ever Franchise-Based Rugby Premier League

In a groundbreaking move for Indian rugby, the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has announced the launch of the Rugby Premier League (RPL), a franchise-based league aimed at promoting and developing the sport across the nation. This innovative initiative marks a significant milestone in the efforts to elevate rugby’s profile and accessibility in India.

Scheduled for September this year, the RPL will feature six teams competing in the exhilarating 7s format of the sport, known for its fast-paced action and shorter match durations. This format choice underscores IRFU’s commitment to showcasing rugby in its most dynamic and engaging form, catering to both existing fans and new audiences alike.

The league promises to bring together some of the best international and Indian 7s rugby talent, offering a platform for domestic players to share the field with global stars. This exchange of skills and experiences is expected to not only enhance the quality of play but also provide invaluable exposure and development opportunities for Indian rugby athletes.

In a strategic move to ensure the success and sustainable growth of the RPL, IRFU has partnered with Baseline Ventures India Pvt Ltd, one of the country’s leading sports marketing companies. This collaboration aims to leverage Baseline Ventures’ expertise in organizing and marketing sports events, ensuring that the league reaches a wide audience and generates significant interest across diverse demographics.

The introduction of the Rugby Premier League represents a bold step forward for the sport in India, reflecting IRFU’s dedication to spreading rugby’s appeal and fostering a strong, vibrant rugby community. By creating a professional and competitive environment, the RPL aspires to ignite passion for rugby throughout the country, encouraging participation at all levels.

As the countdown to the inaugural season begins, the Rugby Premier League stands on the cusp of transforming the landscape of Indian rugby, promising thrilling action, sporting excellence, and a new era of rugby fandom in the country.

by Abhishek Shukla

Lucknow Super Giants Sign Shamar Joseph as Replacement for Mark Wood in IPL 2024

In a significant move ahead of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have announced the signing of West Indies pace sensation Shamar Joseph as a replacement for English fast bowler Mark Wood. The decision comes as a strategic response to bolster the team’s bowling attack with Joseph’s inclusion for a sum of INR 3 Crore.

Shamar Joseph, who has been making waves in the international cricket circuit with his remarkable performance, was instrumental in West Indies’ recent Test victory at the Gabba. Demonstrating exceptional skill and pace, Joseph took a stunning 7 wickets in the second innings, playing a pivotal role in securing a historic win for the West Indies against Australia. His performance at the Gabba has been a topic of wide acclaim, highlighting his potential as a game-changing bowler.

This signing marks Joseph’s inaugural venture into the IPL, introducing him to a new stage and a vast audience in cricket’s most glamorous and competitive league. The young speedster’s entry into the IPL with LSG is eagerly anticipated, with fans and analysts alike keen to see how his pace and skill will translate in the T20 format.

LSG’s decision to bring in Joseph is seen as a forward-thinking move, especially in the absence of Mark Wood, who has been a key player for the team. Wood’s absence due to injury has left big shoes to fill, and Joseph’s recent exploits on the international scene suggest that he might just be the right fit for the job.

The inclusion of Shamar Joseph is expected to significantly strengthen LSG’s bowling lineup, adding depth and versatility to their attack. With the IPL known for its high-scoring games, a bowler of Joseph’s caliber could be the difference-maker in tight contests, providing LSG with an edge over their competitors.

As the IPL 2024 season approaches, all eyes will be on Shamar Joseph to see if he can carry his international form into the league and make a lasting impression in his debut season. With the stage set for an exciting tournament, Joseph’s journey with the Lucknow Super Giants will undoubtedly be one of the key narratives to follow.

by Abhishek Shukla

Top Indian player Ramkumar gets wild card for DafaNews Bengaluru Open

Bangalore, February 10: Ramkumar Ramanathan, India’s second-highest-ranked player, has been granted a wild card entry into the singles main draw of the DafaNews Bengaluru Open, the organisers announced on Saturday.

Ramkumar, who led India in the recent Davis Cup clash against Pakistan, has reached the singles final on the ATP Challenger circuit seven times, winning his lone title in Manama, Bahrain, in November 2021.

Interestingly, Ramkumar had won his seventh and last doubles Challenger title in Bengaluru with compatriot Saketh Myneni, two years back. 

“I am extremely happy and grateful that Bengaluru Open has granted me the singles main draw wild card. I am looking forward to the tournament. Bengaluru has always been a happy hunting ground for me and I have had many special memories here. I just want to thank the entire organisation for trusting me. Let the best player win. I am going to give my best,” said Ramkumar, ranked 459. 

The Bengaluru Open will be the second Challenger tournament of the season for Ramkumar, who made the Nonthaburi event in January through Qualifiers.

“Ramkumar is a terrific talent and played a crucial role in ensuring India’s victory in Davis Cup Tie against Pakistan recently. He recently Won two ITF M25 World Tennis Tour events in Karnataka on his comeback and we are proud to have him in the Main draw of the Bengaluru Open which he totally deserves. His wild card makes the Indian presence stronger and we wish him the best.” Tournament Director Sunil Yajaman said.

The organisers have also awarded wild card entries to Prajwal Dev and his partner Siddhant Banthia in the doubles main draw along with the team of Manish Sureshkumar and Sai Karteek Reddy.

“We have also decided to give wild card entries to two Indian pairs in our endeavour to support the country’s players,” Yajaman added.

The organisers have also awarded wild card entries to Prajwal Dev and his partner Siddhant Banthia in the doubles main draw along with the team of Manish Sureshkumar and Sai Karteek Reddy.

“We have also decided to give wild card entries to two Indian pairs in our endeavour to support the country’s players,” Yajaman added.  

Bengaluru Open is being organised by Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) at KSLTA Stadium. The ATP Challenger event will begin on February 12 and conclude on February 18. 

by Abhishek Shukla

‘We’ll look to finish in the top four positions’ says Haryana Steelers’ Head Coach Manpreet Singh

KOLKATA, 10 FEBRUARY 2024: The Haryana Steelers registered their third consecutive victory after defeating U.P. Yoddhas 50-34 in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 on Friday. With the victory, the Steelers moved to the fifth spot in the standings. 

When asked about the importance of the win ahead of the Playoffs, Haryana Steelers’ Head Coach Manpreet Singh said, “It’s great to collect wins just before our home leg. The team is high on confidence at the moment. We’ll look to win all of our games in Panchkula and finish in the top four at the end of the league.”

Manpreet Singh also lauded the Steelers’ defenders for their performance this season, “Our defense unit has been playing really well. If the defenders continue to perform the way they have been doing then we’ll certainly win our last four games. And the raiders also gain confidence when the defense unit is doing well.”

Speaking about the most important aspect for the team ahead of the business end of the competition, the Head Coach said, “It’s important for all the players to be fit for the business end of the tournament. We have to play four games in quick succession in our home ground and then we’ll go into the playoffs. So we have to monitor the fitness of the players more closely during the current phase of the tournament.”

The Haryana Steelers will be up against Patna Pirates in their next match at the Tau Devilal indoor stadium, Panchkula on Friday, 16 February 2024.
 

Please find below the schedule for PKL Season 10 matches today

Game 1 – Patna Pirates vs U Mumba – 8 pm

Game 2- Bengal Warriors vs Telugu Titans – 9 pm

Venue: Kolkata

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

by Abhishek Shukla

Commonwealth Gold Medalist and Arjuna Awardee Nayanmoni Saikia Applauds Khelo India University Games 2023 as Gateway to Sporting Glory

Assam February 10, 2024; – As anticipation builds for the upcoming Khelo India University Games 2023, Arjuna Awardee and Commonwealth Gold Medalist Nayanmoni Saikia, hailing from Golakhat District in Assam’s Sarupathar, shares her heartfelt enthusiasm and support for the prestigious sporting event. With a diverse background in weightlifting and a triumphant transition to Lawn Bowls, Saikia emphasizes the significant impact of platforms like Khelo India University Games in shaping the futures of young athletes.

“Khelo India University Games provides an invaluable platform for every aspiring youth to prosper and advance in their sporting journey,” says Saikia.

“As an athlete who has witnessed firsthand the impact of such initiatives, I wholeheartedly wish all the participants the very best for the games.”

Reflecting on Assam’s proud sporting heritage and the significance of hosting the Games in the state, Saikia remarks, “Seeing the Games hosted in Assam fills me with immense pride. It’s a testament to our state’s growing prominence in the sporting arena and an opportunity for our talented athletes to shine on the national stage.”
Saika’s own journey from overcoming an injury to clinching gold at the Commonwealth Games 2022 exemplifies the spirit of resilience and determination that defines athletes from the region. “Lawn Bowls wasn’t particularly prominent in Assam until the hosting of the 2007 National Games, which provided a significant platform for the sport to gain recognition within our state.”

Sharing more about her support from SAI, Saikia adds, “As a former weightlifting athlete, I underwent extensive rehabilitation and training under the guidance of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Assam. Despite encountering a back injury in 2007, I persisted and waited until 2008 to embark on my journey in Lawn Bowls. With the invaluable support and resources provided by SAI, I was able to overcome my injury and prepare diligently for my inaugural participation in the sport.”

Reflecting on the transformative impact of sporting events like Khelo India University Games, Saikia emphasizes, “The participation of accomplished athletes like Lovlina Borgohain from Assam, emphasizes the state’s vital contribution to India’s sporting landscape. Events like these provide a platform for talent to flourish and garner the recognition it deserves.”

 Highlighting the surge in sporting participation and success in Assam, Saikia notes, “Initiatives like Khelo India University Games not only nurture talent but also bring recognition to the state”

Looking ahead to the upcoming edition of Khelo India University Games, Saikia expresses her excitement and commitment to supporting the athletes, particularly those representing Assam. “I am eagerly looking forward to cheering for Assam’s athletes and inspiring the next generation of sporting talent alongside them.”

by Abhishek Shukla

Road to the Final: A look back at India and Australia’s route to the epic finale

After 21 days and 40 matches, India and Australia will battle it out for supremacy in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup final on Sunday 11 February in Benoni.

This sets the stage for another chapter in the recent history of these two cricketing nations, as their senior sides clashed in pinnacle finals last year at both the World Test Championship Final and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

Both teams have showcased remarkable consistency throughout the tournament, maintaining unbeaten streaks as they head into the Final.

As the two teams gear up for an epic clash, we take a look back at their journeys in the tournament.

India

India beat Bangladesh by 84 runs

India kicked off their World Cup campaign with a convincing win against Bangladesh. 

Maruf Mridha broke through early for Bangladesh, removing Arshin Kulkarni and Musheer Khan inside the Powerplay.

Adarsh Singh and captain Uday Saharan struck a fifty each to bail India out of trouble with a brilliant 116-run stand for the third wicket.

Maruf was at the top of his game, bagging a five-wicket haul in the first game of the tournament, however, late contributions from Aravelly Avanish and Sachin Dhas propelled India to a formidable total of 251/7.

In reply, Bangladesh put on a steady 38-run stand for the opening wicket but the good work was undone by wickets in the Powerplay courtesy of Raj Limbani and Saumy Pandey.

The team went from 38/0 to 50/4 before Ariful Islam and Mohammad Shihab James stabilised the innings, yet once Musheer broke the partnership, the remaining Bangladesh wickets fell quickly, and they were eventually bowled out for 167.

Player of the Match: Saumy Pandey (4/24)


India beat Ireland by 201 runs

India showcased dominance with both bat and ball in a resounding victory over Ireland, securing the first of their three wins by a margin of 200 or more runs.

Musheer Khan and Uday Saharan were the stars of the batting innings, registering a century and fifty respectively as they forged a 156-run stand for the third wicket. 

Aravelly Avanish and Sachin Dhas once again played handy cameos to take India’s total past the 300-run mark.

In pursuit of 302, Ireland faced early setbacks as Naman Tiwari ran through the top order with a four-wicket haul. Saumy Pandey picked up three wickets as Ireland were bundled out for 100, with only four batsmen managing to reach double-digit scores.

Player of the Match: Musheer Khan (118 off 106)


India beat USA by 201 runs

The Indian juggernaut rolled on with yet another victory by a massive margin against USA in the final group-stage match.

Batting first again, India managed to put on another massive 300-run plus score on board. Arshin Kulkarni anchored the majority of the innings en route to his century and was well supported by Musheer Khan’s fifty.

The lower order came to the party again, taking India to 326/5.

In reply, USA lost three wickets inside eight overs and struggled to come to terms with India’s depth of bowling talent. Utkarsh Srivastava’s resilient 40 prevented a complete collapse, allowing USA to bat out the full 50 overs. 

USA could only muster a total of 125/8 in the innings with Naman Tiwari continuing his impressive form, recording his second consecutive four-wicket haul.

Player of the Match: Arshin Kulkarni (108 off 118)


India beat New Zealand by 214 runs

India carried forward their momentum from the Group Stages to the Super Six with another massive win over New Zealand.

Musheer Khan played a stellar innings, smashing his second century of the tournament with a brilliant score of 131, guiding India to a total of 295/8. Adarsh Singh played a crucial supporting role, again contributing with a fifty.

Raj Limbani put India on top early with a blend of pace and swing contributing to two quick wickets, before Saumy Pandey picked up another four-wicket haul to roll New Zealand over for just 81.

Player of the Match: Musheer Khan (131 off 126 and 2/10)


India beat Nepal by 132 runs

India punched their ticket to the semi-final with a resounding victory over Nepal in the final Super Six game.

Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas smashed a century each as they forged a 215-run stand – the highest fourth wicket partnership in U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup history.

Chasing 298, Nepal put on a solid 48-run stand for the opening wicket but were rocked by the flurry of wickets that followed, led by Saumy Pandey’s four-for.

With only five batters reaching double-digit scores, Nepal concluded their innings at 165/9, falling short of the target set by India by 132 runs.

Player of the Match: Sachin Dhas (116 off 101)


India beat South Africa by 2 wickets

Chasing for the first time in the tournament in the semi-finals, India encountered a stiff challenge from the tournament hosts South Africa, but ultimately emerged victorious in a thrilling contest.

Fifties from Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Richard Seletswane laid a solid foundation for South Africa before Juan James and Tristan Luus finished with a flourish to take the Proteas to a competitive 244/7.

Kwena Maphaka and Luus had India in trouble early with an exceptional display of pace and swing. India were staring down the barrel at 32/4 when Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas delivered the rescue act – a 171-run stand steering India away from a perilous position.

Although Maphaka concluded his spell with two crucial wickets, Saharan held one end strong and his captain’s knock left India on the brink of a dramatic victory.

Raj Limbani hit the winning runs to take India to their fifth consecutive U19 Men’s CWC final.

Player of the Match: Uday Saharan (81 off 124)


Australia


Australia beat Namibia by 4 wickets

In the opening game of the tournament, Namibia tested Australia’s mettle, pushing them to the brink in a closely contested match in Kimberley.

Callum Vidler’s four-wicket haul and Tom Straker’s three wickets bundled Namibia out for just 91.

It looked like it would be a stroll in the park before Jack Brassell’s inspired bowling performance turned the match on its head. Australia found themselves in a challenging position at 57/5, facing the possibility of an opening day upset. 

In the face of adversity, captain Hugh Weibgen led by example, forming a crucial partnership with Raf MacMillan. Together, they navigated Australia through the difficult situation and secured a hard-fought victory by four wickets.

Player of the Match: Callum Vidler (4/17)

Australia beat Zimbabwe by 225 runs

Australia responded to the close shave against Namibia in a dominant style with a massive win over Zimbabwe in their next game.

The top three of Sam Konstas, Harry Dixon and Hugh Weibgen were amongst the runs, with the latter two registering half-centuries. Tom Campbell’s late flourish propelled Australia to an imposing total of 296/7.

The bowlers continued the momentum with a brilliant display, dismantling Zimbabwe for a lowly 71, the key destroyer being Harkirat Bajwa, whose spin threat was highlighted with figures of 4/15.

Player of the Match: Harry Dixon (89 off 108)


Australia beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets

Callum Vidler’s brilliant start to the tournament continued with two early wickets against Sri Lanka. Each of the six bowlers on the day got in on the action but Dinura Kalupahana’s 64 helped Sri Lanka post a competitive total of 208.

Australia began their innings with a brisk 71-run opening stand, but a minor collapse saw them slip to 80/3. In stepped Ryan Hicks, displaying composure and control, hitting an unbeaten 77 to guide Australia to victory and secure passage to the Super Six stage.

Player of the Match: Ryan Hicks (77* off 104)


Australia beat England by 110 runs (DLS method)

Australia kicked off their Super Six journey with a thumping victory over traditional rivals England.

Captain Hugh Weibgen led from the front, playing a captain’s knock with a top-class century. Walking in to bat in the first over, Weibgen nearly spent the entire innings at the crease, forming crucial partnerships with the middle order to guide Australia to a total of 266/6.

In response, England took on the Australian attack, but their momentum was halted by a stunning display of fast bowling from Callum Vidler. Vidler picked up four wickets in the Powerplay, leaving England reeling at 60/4.

The match was interrupted by rain and the target was revised to 214 off 24 overs. England had no choice but to go gung-ho and in the process, were bowled out for a paltry score of 104.

Player of the Match: Hugh Weibgen (120 off 126)


Australia vs West Indies ended in No Result

Rain played spoilsport in the virtual knockout clash between Australia and West Indies, with Weibgen’s side securing semi-final qualification as points were shared in Kimberley.

In challenging conditions, Sam Konstas emerged as the lone warrior for Australia, crafting a resilient innings of 108 and guiding the team to a total of 227/8.

The match promised an exciting showdown, but unfortunately, rain interrupted play with West Indies at 24/2. Unfortunately, no further play was possible, and as a result, Australia advanced to the semi-finals.


Australia beat Pakistan by 1 wicket

The second semi-final of the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 between Australia and Pakistan unfolded as a memorable contest that will be etched in memory for years to come.

Tom Straker ran through the Pakistan batting line-up, leaving them in disarray at 79/5 before Azan Awais and Arafat Minhas came to Pakistan’s rescue with solid half-centuries.

Straker returned to claim more victims, and finished with figures of 6/24, the best bowling figures in either semi-finals or finals at an U19 Men’s CWC to bowl Pakistan out for 179.

It looked like a routine chase for Australia, who put on a 33-run opening stand before 15-year-old Ali Raza wreaked havoc. Harry Dixon was the only player to make a major contribution in the top-order with a fifty.

At 102/5, Oliver Peake and Tom Campbell came together and threatened to take the game away from Pakistan when Minhas struck to bring his team back into the contest.

Campbell’s dismissal triggered a collapse, and Australia found themselves at 164/9, still needing 16 runs for victory. 

In a nerve-racking ending, the game reached its conclusion in the final over when an inside edge from the bat of Raf MacMillan carried to the boundary beyond the desperate dive of Ubaid Shah to cue wild Australian celebrations.

Player of the Match: Tom Straker (6/24)

by Abhishek Shukla

Squash: ElShorbagy Survives Bonmalais Scare In Epic Pittsburgh Open Quarter-Final Clash

In a Pittsburgh Open quarter-final that included five tie-breaks, England’s Marwan ElShorbagy came back from the brink as he defeated World No.35 Sebastien Bonmalais after the Frenchman squandered match balls in the third and fourth game.

Their last encounter was in Singapore and saw Bonmalais retire early after suffering a thigh injury in the fourth game.

The two players were inseparable as they began their match in Pittsburgh, staying within two points of each other for the whole first game. Both players were hitting a good length, but the hot ball made it difficult to play for winners at the front of the court.

Bonmalais earned the first chance to win game one at 10-9, but hit the tin on a drop attempt at the front of the court to push the match to its first of many tie-breaks.

It was another error from the Frenchman, hitting the tin from further back on the court this time, that gave the Englishman his chance at a lead in the match. After a no-let decision against ElShorbagy, two cross-courts from Bonmalais, the first of which buried itself deep into the corner, and the other that sped past the out-stretched racket of ElShorbagy, gave the No.6 seed the lead in the match.

The two players remained level again in the second game up to 10-10, but Bonmalais earned a second game ball by forcing his opponent to the right of the court before hitting a snap-shot in the other direction, and the Frenchman sealed his two-game advantage with a stroke as ElShorbagy blocked the line for Bonmalais after a counter-drop.

Again the pair exchanged points evenly at the start of the third game, but this time the match was on line after Bonmalais caught his opposition out with a thin cross-court to go 10-9 up.

The 26-year-old couldn’t get out the way of his own straight drive as a stroke brought the game back to parity, then a well-placed boast from the Englishman and a well-timed straight drive from the Frenchman brought the score to 11-11.

The No.2 seed got the better of a counter-drop battle in the front-left corner, then secured his first game of the match after forcing Bonmalais into a mistake.

Again ElShorbagy and Bonmalais were evenly matched, but the Englishman pulled away at the end as he gave himself three game balls. The Frenchman forced the match’s fourth tie-break with a beautiful drop into the nick after ElShorbagy hit the tin twice in a row.

The No.6 seed set up his second match ball of the day, however an immaculately accurate kill shot from ElShorbagy off of Bonmalais’ serve levelled the game, and two errors from the Frenchman forced the thrilling affair to a fifth game after 65 minutes.

ElShorbagy earned his first match ball of the encounter at 10-7, but the 30-year-old hit the tin three successive times to drag the match to yet another tie-break.

The fatigued Frenchman guessed the wrong way as ElShorbagy’s cross-court earned his second match ball, and the match was won by a soft shot into the centre of the front-court that Bonmalais, despite a desperate yet spectacular dive, couldn’t reach, calling an end to the 79-minute thriller.

“It was tough coming back from two games down, especially as I lost two tie-breaks in the first two games and I felt like I was in control, but he kept coming back,” said ElShorbagy after the encounter, “Every shot I played he kept coming back so I had be patient and calm.

“I knew I was doing the right thing, sometimes I was impatient, sometimes I was losing my focus a little bit, but overall I’m happy to come back. It wasn’t easy out there.

“I was telling myself to be patient, I didn’t feel like I was doing the wrong thing, I just needed to keep doing it for as long as I could. It was tough because sometimes I got the opportunity to go for a winner, but then I would think about it too much because I knew it had to be inch-perfect.

No.1 seed Karim Abdel Gawad continued his Pittsburgh Open campaign with a strong performance over England’s Adrian Waller.

The World No.6 always felt in control of the encounter, despite Waller staying close on points. Gawad won his first game at the first time of asking after an unforced error from the 34-year-old.

The former World No.1 found himself at 10-9 again in the second game, and swiftly converted the opportunity with a shot towards the on-rushing Waller that the Englishman couldn’t react to quickly enough.

The No.2 seed finished his quarter-final clash in style with a quick cross-court at 10-8 to win the match and set up a semi-final clash with compatriot Youssef Ibrahim.

Speaking after the match, Gawad said, “Adrian Waller is a great player. Playing against him is always hard, and I tried as much as possible to put pressure on most of the points and rallies but it was hard because he also has very good ball control and movement on court. It was hard to put the pressure on him, but I tried my best today.”

In the first match of the day, Ibrahim earned a place in his first semi-final of the season with a convincing win over India’s Velavan Senthilkumar. The Indian found his spot in the quarter-finals after a second round upset over No.8 seed Faraz Khan, but struggled in the early stages of his last-eight match as the in-form Egyptian played fast, aggressive squash.

Ibrahim kept a lot of the early rallies on his back-hand and stretched the 25-year-old with cross-courts, earning himself a healthy 10-2 lead, taking the first game with the tightest of squeezes along the left wall.

Senthilkumar looked stronger in the second and third games, but Ibrahim always looked a step ahead as he surged to the semi-final with a comfortable 3-0 win.

“I’m very happy, a 3-0 win is always good. I haven’t been used to winning 3-0 for a while so it feels good. Velavan is such a good player. We’ve played so many times and he’s always given me a hard time on court so to win like that and be so mentally consistent throughout the games is a really positive thing for me and I’m just glad I held it together and did well.

In the final match of the day, No.3 seed Youssef Soliman defeated Switzerland’s Yannick Wilhelmi, who earned his place in the quarter-finals with a dramatic comeback win over Mexico’s Cesar Salazar.

The World No.12 looked in form in the early stages, covering the court well and quickly, amounting a 10-5 advantage. The Egyptian won the first game by forcing an error from the Swiss player with a tight squeeze on the left wall.

Soliman continued his dominance in the second game and quickly found himself with six game balls. The Egyptian took the game with his first chance as his shot sailed past the out-of-position Wilhelmi.

The Egyptian carried his momentum into the third game as he quickly earned his first match ball. Wilhelmi clung on, finding the nick at 10-6, then producing a pin-point accurate drop at 10-7 before hitting the tin attempting another drop to concede the match to the World No.12.

After the match, Soliman said, “I just had to be solid. It’s tricky to play someone when you have no idea what to expect from them. I had the same thing with Simon [Herbert] yesterday and it was the same with Yannick. You don’t know what to expect, you have to be solid from the beginning and that’s pretty much what I did.”

The semi-finals of the Pittsburgh Open commence at 13:00 (GMT-5) on Saturday, 10th February, with action from court two live on SQUASHTV.

Results: Pittsburgh Open Quarter-Finals
[4] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bt Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) 3-0: 11-2, 11-4, 11-8 (30m)
[1] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [5] Adrian Waller (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 11-8 (31m)
[2] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [6] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) 3-2: 11-13, 10-12, 13-11, 13-11, 12-10 (79m)
[3] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (36m)

Draw: Pittsburgh Open Semi-Finals
13:00 [1] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [4] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY)
13:45 [3] Youssef Soliman (EGY) v [2] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG)

by Abhishek Shukla

Squash: Elaraby Stuns World No.3 Gohar In Semi-Final Thriller At DAC Pro Squash Classic

Egypt’s Rowan Elaraby came from 2-1 down to claim her first-ever victory over compatriot and World No.3 Nouran Gohar in a thrilling 61-minute semi-final at the DAC Pro Squash Classic in Detroit.

The World No.10, who had lost all seven of her prior encounters against Gohar, progressed to the title decider of the PSA World Tour Silver event with a performance full of quality and determination in equal measure. Defending champion Olivia Weaver will be Elaraby’s opponent in the final after the American defeated Hollie Naughton in four games. 

The all-Egyptian affair began in feisty fashion, with the opening game littered with refereeing decisions and interference in the middle of the court. Both players attempted to assert themselves at the T, but it was Gohar’s powerful strokes into the back two corners that gave her the edge in the opening exchanges. Despite spurning three game balls, the ‘Terminator’ made no mistake at the fourth time of asking, moving into a 1-0 lead thanks to a stroke decision.

Despite holding a one-game advantage, Gohar re-entered the court in edgy fashion, with Elaraby capitalising on a couple of soft early errors. The No.3 seed moved Gohar around the court well and hit her targets with devastating effect, sailing into a 9-0 lead and subsequently levelling the match.

The match flipped emphatically back in Gohar’s favour in the third as the top seed cruised into a 6-0 lead, with Elaraby visibly struggling with some of her movement towards the latter stages of the game. After the top seed claimed a one-sided third game to move 2-1 up, Elaraby called for the physio.

Despite this issue, Elaraby raised her levels again in the fourth, rediscovering her impeccable length from the second game. Strokes were awarded to both players as the game progressed, but it was Elaraby who moved into an 8-5 lead. The 23-year-old’s impressive execution into the front two corners and ability to keep the ball away from Gohar’s volley was evident in the latter stages as she forced a decider following a tight 11-9 fourth game.

Elaraby continued to force Gohar into a number of tough retrievals in all four corners of the court as the match entered the fifth, racing into an early 5-3 lead. From there though the No.3 seed claimed five out of the next six points to hold six match balls on her own racket. Gohar hit some quick-fire counter-punches to save four match balls in a flash and pile the pressure back on her opponent, but at the fifth time of asking, Elaraby finally sealed victory, screaming in delight after claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. 

After the match, Elaraby said: “I’m really, really happy. I’ve been waiting for this win for so long and I think I worked very hard to get this win today. I’ve been playing my best squash ever since the start of the season so I just needed a win like that to prove to myself that I can beat the top players.

“One thing I wanted to do today was not be very passive. My game plan was to just move her around, keep the ball away from her volleys and don’t be afraid to attack.

“I need to calm myself down now for tomorrow because the tournament is not done yet, so I’ll be happy for the next couple of hours and then go back to grounding myself for tomorrow. It’s another match tomorrow and I’m looking forward to it.”

In the second semi-final of the evening, World No.6 Weaver kept her title defence alive in Detroit following a hard-fought victory over Naughton.

The No.2 seed started the match in an impressive manner, finding her length and pushing Naughton into the back two corners. The American moved through a strong first game to take the opener by an 11-6 scoreline after nine minutes of action.

Naughton bounced back in the second game, managing to get more of a grip in the middle of the court and moving Weaver well with some powerful strokes. Despite missing out on three game-balls when 10-5 up, the Canadian No.1 successfully levelled the match at the fourth time of asking.

With the match firmly in the balance at the beginning of the third, both players were happy to engage in some lengthy rallies before looking for an opening to attack; trading points up to 4-4. However, from that point, it was Weaver who began to assert her dominance, taking seven of the next eight points to retake the lead in the match.

After the impressive end to the third game, Weaver continued to grow in confidence, not just relying on her renowned physicality but also using a smart variety of shots to upset the rhythm of Naughton. After racing into a 7-2 lead in the fourth, the match never looked in doubt, with Weaver booking her spot in the final after 39 minutes of action.

After the match, Weaver said: “I’m really happy. I feel Hollie played great today, it was a battle out there and I feel like I had to fight for every single point. Obviously, in the second game I felt like I lost my length a little bit, but I’m really proud with how I bounced back and really pleased with how I finished the match.

“Every opponent you come up against, you know some of their strengths and some of their weaknesses, but I have just been looking at myself and playing my game and trusting that. So that was my plan, and for phases of the match, I executed it again.

On her upcoming final against Elaraby, she added: “Rowan has been in incredible form. She had a great run at ToC and obviously taking out Nouran is going to be massive for her confidence. I haven’t played Rowan in a while, so I’m looking forward to it. It’s a big opportunity for both of us, so I’m looking forward to it.”

The final of the DAC Pro Squash Classic 2024 commences at 16:30 (GMT-5) on Saturday, 10th February and will be available to watch live on SQUASHTV.

Results: DAC Pro Squash Classic 2024 Semi-Finals 

[3] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt [1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 3-2: 9-11, 11-1, 1-11, 11-9, 11-8 (61m)

[2] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt [6] Hollie Naughton (CAN) 3-1: 11-6, 8-11, 11-5, 11-3 (39m)

Draw: DAC Pro Squash Classic 2024 Final 

16:30 [3] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) v [2] Olivia Weaver (USA) 

by Abhishek Shukla

DafaNews Bengaluru Open 2024 ropes in twelve notable sponsors

Bengaluru, February 10, 2024: DafaNews Bengaluru Open 2024, organized by the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA), has onboarded twelve gold sponsors who have pledged their support to elevate the stature of the tournament, set to take place at the KSLTA Stadium from February 12 to 18.

Led by real estate companies such as Prestige Group and Brigade Group, cable and broadband company ACT Fibernet, the country’s public sector banks Canara Bank and Bank of Baroda as well as conglomerates Hitachi and JSW Group have been roped in by the ATP 100 Challenger Event.

These sponsors aim to not only showcase their commitment to supporting sports but also to bolster community engagement.

Additionally, Ultratech Cement, Brigade Group, SKME, Baranj Coal Mines Pvt Ltd, Ramco Cement, Prestige Group, ACT Fibernet, and Suprada Constructions Pvt Ltd., have all joined as gold sponsors.

The collective involvement of these distinguished corporate and business companies will play a vital role in contributing to the growth of tennis in the city.

By leveraging the tournament’s prominence, the sponsors will be enhancing their visibility across diverse sports audiences nationwide.

Mr Maheshwar Rao IAS, Hon. Secretary KSLTA and Secretary, Organising Committee, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with the prominent sponsors by saying, “We are delighted to welcome our valued sponsors for the DafaNews Bengaluru Open 2024. All our sponsors will play a pivotal role in increasing the prominence of this prestigious event and their support is integral to its success. With a shared vision for promoting tennis in the country, we look forward to delivering an exciting week of tennis in Bengaluru.”

While DafaNews will maintain its association as the title sponsor of the tournament, it will be joined by the Government of Karnataka’s Department of Tourism who will be continuing its role as the presenting sponsor.

Furthermore, Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd will also retain its role as the platinum sponsor for this year.

Sumit Nagal will lead India’s challenge in the singles for the event. Nagal had knocked out world number 27 Alexander Bublik at the Australian Open in the main draw first round.In doubles, the country’s Davis Cuppers, including Ramkumar Ramanathan and N Sriram Balaji, who played a key role in India’s commanding win over Pakistan with their singles performances in Islamabad, will compete in the doubles event.

by Abhishek Shukla

FORMULA E ANNOUNCES NXT GEN CUP AS SUPPORT SERIES FOR NEXT GENERATION OF DRIVERS

LONDON, United Kingdom. Fri. 9 Feb. 2024 – Formula E has today announced the NXT Gen Cup, the world’s first 100% electric junior touring car series with both male and female drivers, as a support series to help develop the next generation of young talent in key motorsport markets.

The NXT Gen Cup will feature at all four European race events of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s Season 10 including Misano, Monaco, Berlin and its season finale in London.

It is planning for its strongest calendar to date with six European races in total, with the start of its driver line-up, many of whom are aged under 17 years old, to be announced from next week.

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship introduces the NXT Gen Cup as a dedicated support series giving young male and female talent the opportunity to compete on the same circuits as Formula E’s 22 world-class drivers. It also benefits Formula E’s mission of showcasing new formats of sustainable electric racing in iconic locations around the world while giving fans additional on-track action as part of the race-day spectacle. 

Subject to final FIA approval, the NXT Gen Cup’s inaugural appearance in the Formula E paddock will kick off in Misano, Italy, on the 13th and 14th April marking the start of the World Championship’s European tour and the first time it has raced at the World Circuit.

Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer of Formula E, said:

“We are delighted to welcome the NXT Gen Cup after their hugely successful debut last year. The addition of an all-electric junior category to the European part of our calendar will further contribute to the essential nurturing of young talent, a key part to our sport and give them the opportunity to race on the same stage as our world-class drivers and teams.”

Fredrik Lestrup, series founder of NXT Gen Cup, said:

“For NXT Gen Cup to go from an idea on paper less than two years ago to racing together with the ABB FIA Formula E and DTM this year is mind-boggling and an inspiring proof on the hard work by everyone involved.

“We have together with Formula E and DTM created a spectacular calendar which will provide our junior drivers with a robust foundation to start their racing careers and show their talents to some of the best teams and partners in the world. I want to extend a huge thanks to everyone who has made this possible and we are thoroughly motivated to start our most exciting season so far!”

The Swedish-born series will feature two 20-minute practice sessions (except Monaco with just FP1), a 20-minute qualifying session and a 20-minute race, also bolstering Formula E’s commitment to growing sustainable motorsport and EV technology.

The NXT Gen Cup is a fully electric racing series for 20 young drivers aged 15-25 taking their first steps into racing, with the aim to educate them and develop their talents in order to build a successful racing career.

The single-make series runs an all-electric car developed and built by Lestrup Racing Team, the LRT NXT1 – a 1150kg machine based on an electric MINI Cooper SE road car. The front-wheel drive, 180bhp race car boasts an extra 60bhp when push-to-pass features are active, with a 30kWh battery and 800 V system. Features also include regen when braking, adjustable Ӧhlins shock absorbers and Hankook Semi-slick all-weather tyres. 20 race cars have been built for the series, giving all drivers equal equipment. All charging operations are handled together with NXT Gen Cup’s Official charging partners ABB E-Mobility.

2024 NXT Gen Cup Calendar*

  1. 13-14 April – Misano – Italy – ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
  2. 27 April – Monaco – ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
  3. 11-12 May – Berlin – Germany – ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
  4. 05–07 July – Norisring – Germany – DTM
  5. 20-21 July – London – Great Britain – ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
  6. 18-20 October – Hockenheim – Germany – DTM

* = Subject to FIA approval

by Abhishek Shukla

‘It’s the stuff of dreams:’ Sikandar Raza after leading Dubai Capitals to victory

Dubai, 10 February 2024: Sikander Raza was in his best form as the Dubai Capitals secured an important victory over the Desert Vipers in the DP World ILT20 clash at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday. Chasing 171 for victory, Raza hit a six in the last ball of the match to help his team in the race for the playoffs.


Speaking about the moment that he won his team the match, the Zimbabwean all-rounder said, “It’s the stuff of dreams. From my point of view, we needed this win to stay alive in the competition. And a win like that goes a long way to boost our confidence. It has suddenly made us believe that we can win from any position. We are confident that we can make it to the semifinals. Going into the game against MI Emirates, we have a chance to stay in the hunt for the playoffs because of this win.”
Raza also revealed his thoughts during such a crunch moment in the tie, “When 2 balls were remaining, and we needed 6 runs for the win, I just wanted to put the ball through extra cover, but Ali Naseer bowled a good slower which bounced on me, which I missed. From there, it was just Do-Or-Die, with my back against the wall. In that situation, I decided to give it my best.”
Young UAE bowler Ali Naseer, who was hit for a six in the final ball of the match, received motivation from Raza, “I feel sorry for the young lad as well. My advice to him is that we have all been in that situation through our cricketing careers. At just 19, bowling the final over of the match takes immense courage. Keep your head up, brother, you’ve got a great future ahead of you.”
Dubai Capitals’ final game of the league stage is against MI Emirates on Saturday, February 10, as they chase a place in the playoffs.

by Abhishek Shukla

India and Australia set to renew rivalry In U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Final

The final of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 will see India and Australia compete for silverware once again following a scintillating round of semi-final fixtures.

India confirmed their spot in the final after beating hosts South Africa by two wickets in a tense matchup on Tuesday. Chasing 245 for victory, India battled back from 32 for four to seal a memorable win thanks to a brilliant match-winning partnership between Sachin Dhas and captain Uday Saharan.

Thursday’s second semi-final also provided no shortage of drama, as Australia emerged victorious over Pakistan by one wicket in the final over of the contest. Having bowled out Pakistan for a seemingly below par total of 179, Australia stuttered in their chase before their middle and lower order formed crucial partnerships to help them edge home in thrilling fashion.

The highly anticipated final between the two sides will be hosted on Sunday 11 February at Willowmoore Park, Benoni, the same venue that staged both semi-finals, with the action commencing at 10h00 local time (SAST).

India and Australia both head into the final undefeated, having topped their respective groups in both the initial stage and the Super Six stage, and can boast some of the most exciting young talent on the planet.

Among the future stars that have impressed throughout the competition are skippers Uday Saharan of India and Hugh Weibgen of Australia, and both have their sights firmly set on lifting the coveted trophy on Sunday.

Speaking ahead of the final, India captain, Uday Saharan said: “As we approach the World Cup final, we carry the dreams of a billion hearts on our shoulders. Our journey has been a testament to our hard work, unity, and love for the game.

“In this final battle, we aim to create a legacy that inspires the next generation. It’s not just a game; it’s a chance to etch our names in history.

“Right from our first game, we have played with passion, determination, and a belief that we will get the coveted title home. In the final, against Australia, it is going to be no different as we go one step closer to defending the title successfully. Together, as one team, one nation, we march into the final, ready to seize our moment and make India proud.

“As a captain, I couldn’t have asked for anything more from my team as we stand at the cusp of creating history.”

Australia captain, Hugh Weibgen: “We’re really pleased to have made it through to the final after a close game against Pakistan and we can’t wait to take on India in Sunday’s final.

“The whole squad has done a terrific job throughout the tournament, and it would mean so much to us as a group to lift the trophy on Sunday. This is an opportunity to make our coaches as well as family and friends extremely proud. They have helped and supported us along the journey.

“India have obviously also had an outstanding tournament so far and are a class team. We’re expecting they will provide a challenge for us, and we are looking forward to it.”

These sides have met twice before in an ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup final, with India having won on both previous occasions in 2012 and 2018.

Match Official appointments for Sunday’s final have also been confirmed, with Allahudien Palekar and Langton Rusere selected as the on-field umpires. Rashid Riaz will assume the role of TV umpire, with Roland Black acting as fourth umpire and Shaid Wadvalla as Match Referee.

Fans in Benoni wanting to see the U19 Men’s CWC 2024 champions being crowned can do so for free at Sunday’s final. The on-field action will be accompanied by a vibrant festival atmosphere, with live music and entertainment offerings that will enhance what promises to be a memorable showcase of cricket.

Fans in India will be able to watch the action unfold on Star Sports 1 and Disney+ Hotstar, with free-to-air coverage available on Doordarshan. In Australia, Prime Video will be providing live coverage across devices.

In the host nation South Africa, SuperSport Cricket will be presenting live coverage which also extends to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Criclife Max and Starzplay will provide coverage in the MENA region, while the match will be broadcast across Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event channels in the UK, with additional live coverage provided by Willow (USA & Canada), ESPN Caribbean (Caribbean) and on Sky Sport 2 in New Zealand.

In all other territories, broadcast of the final will be available live and free on ICC.tv.

by Abhishek Shukla

Patna Pirates thrash U Mumba, move one step closer to Playoffs

KOLKATA, 10 FEBRUARY 2024: The Patna Pirates put up a masterclass against U Mumba to register a 44-23 victory to inch closer to a Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 Playoffs spot on Saturday. The Pirates moved to the fourth spot in the standings post the victory.

Mayur Kadam and Krishan pulled off tackle points as the Pirates inched ahead at 3-1 in the 4th minute. Sudhakar also joined the party with a double-point raid and helped the Pirates extend their lead further. Jai Bhagwan tried to break through the Patna defence line, but the Pirates stood tall and held the lead at 9-6 in the 11th minute.

Babu M tackled Amirmohammad Zafardanesh and reduced the U Mumba side to just two members on the mat in the 14th minute. The Pirates rode on the momentum and inflicted an ALL OUT soon after to take a big lead at 15-8. Sudhakar continued to showcase his brilliance as the Pirates kept forging ahead. The two teams went into the break with the Patna side leading at 19-10.

Krishan picked up a couple of tackle points in the opening minutes of the second half as the Pirates continued to dominate the match at 21-13. Sachin effected a magnificent raid and reduced the Mumbai side to just three members on the mat in the 28th minute. The Pirates inflicted another ALL OUT in the 35th minute and extended their lead further at 33-19.

The Pirates continued to put relentless pressure on their opponents for the rest of the match and eventually wrapped up a comprehensive victory.

Please see below the PKL Season 10 schedule for 11th February

Game 1 – Tamil Thalaivas vs Puneri Paltan – 8 pm

Game 2- Bengaluru Bulls vs Gujarat Giants – 9 pm

Venue: Kolkata

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

by Abhishek Shukla

Ma Ning to referee AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Final

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that Ma Ning from China PR will take charge of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Final on Saturday, which will be staged at the iconic Lusail Stadium.
 
Ma will become the first match official from China PR to oversee an AFC Asian Cup™ Final when he blows the whistle at 6pm to kick off the showdown between Jordan and Qatar in the 18th edition of Asia’s crown jewel.
 
This will be Ma’s fourth assignment at Qatar 2023, having refereed the Group E fixture between Korea Republic and Bahrain, the Round of 16 match between Qatar and Palestine, and the Quarter-final between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Japan. It will be his fifth AFC Asian Cup™ match, after his debut at the 2019 edition.
 
Having started his refereeing journey in college, Ma became a national referee a few years after graduating in 2003 and began to officiate in the Chinese Super League in 2010 before becoming a FIFA referee in 2011.
 
He has refereed 37 matches at the AFC Champions League, including the second leg of the 2022 Final between Urawa Red Diamonds and Al Hilal SFC, having also officiated at the AFC Cup, AFC U23 Asian Cup and FIFA U17 World Cup Poland 2019.
 
The Liaoning native featured at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as a fourth official in six matches – marking the first appearance of China PR officials at a FIFA World Cup in 20 years.
 
In the Final, Ma will be well supported by assistant referees Zhou Fei and Zhang Cheng, both from China PR, while Uzbekistan duo Tantashev Ilgiz and Tsapenko Andrey are the fourth official and reserve assistant referee respectively. China PR’s Fu Ming is the Video Assistant Referee and will be assisted by Japan’s Iida Jumpei.

by Abhishek Shukla

A-Leagues Launches 2024 Pride Celebration

February 9, 2024 – In a celebration of diversity and inclusivity, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) is proud to announce the continuation of its Pride Celebrations, signifying the code’s ongoing commitment to making football accessible and inclusive for everyone.

Set to take place from March 8-10 in Australia and March 30 in New Zealand, across both the Liberty A-League Women and Isuzu UTE A-League Men, the 2024 celebration builds on the success of last year as the A-Leagues became the first league in the world to hold simultaneous men’s and women’s Pride Celebrations grounded in education.

Over the last two-and-a-half-years, the APL has developed and delivered a series of initiatives, including a comprehensive training program for players, staff, executives and partners, and the roll out of GoBubble technology to help moderate online hate. 

In 2024, the A-Leagues are once again providing LGBTIQ+ inclusion training to all players and key stakeholders. The training content is being uniquely designed for players by players by partnering with the PFA and our delivery partner, Pride Cup.

The March celebrations will be headlined by the annual Pride Cup double-header between Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory. Across the weekends, a number of men’s and women’s teams will also celebrate Pride in their own way including engaging community groups, rainbow corner flags, rainbow armbands, while some clubs will play in a special Pride kit and rainbow socks.

A-Leagues Commissioner Nick Garcia said: “The Pride celebration is another example of how welcoming and inclusive football is as a sport for everyone in Australia and New Zealand.

“We began this journey with Pride Cup and the PFA in 2021 and are looking forward to continuing what is an extremely important initiative within our game. We are proud of the efforts that football in Australia and New Zealand has made to make football more inclusive for fans, players and staff and we look forward to continuing to play our part in 2024.

“The Pride Celebration is grounded in education and training with the ambition of seeing every person involved within our game in Australia and New Zealand feeling safe and included.”

Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) Player Representative and Central Coast Mariners’ Liberty A-League Women captain Taren King said: “I’m really excited for Pride round this season. Last year we saw a number of clubs make a big effort to show their support for the LGBTQI+ community and I’m looking forward to seeing more clubs get around the initiative this season.

“I think it’s so important that both clubs and players use their platforms to show our fans that everyone has a place in our game and all individuals are accepted for who they are.”

Pride Cup, Chief Executive Officer, Hayley Conway said: ”The A-Leagues Pride Celebration is the first of its kind in the world, bringing together inclusion training and iconic rainbow-themed matches across both men’s and women’s professional leagues.

“Every club, every player, and every fan can play a part in bringing pride to every pitch and learning to every locker room. With just 6% of LGBTIQ+ young people feeling safe to play sports, Pride Cup initiatives are critical to making sure that everyone can play.”. 

by Abhishek Shukla

eISL Season 3 to kick off on February 17 with a local flavour; JioCinema to be the new home of eISL

Mumbai, 09February 2024: Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) today announced the launch of the third edition of eISL, its esports venture in collaboration with EA SPORTS FCTM and strategic partners JioGames. The eISL champion will get the opportunity to represent the league at the prestigious EA SPORTS FC Pro World Championship Play-Ins. eISL Season 3 promises to redefine the gaming landscape by blending the passion for football with the excitement of esports.

Given the success and fan followership in its previous editions, eISL league and playoff matches will be available live for fans for the first time in its history. Fans can catch the action live on JioCinema, Jio TV and Jio Games.

Qualifiers Across 11 Cities: A Nationwide Celebration of eSports and Football

The new season of Indian Super League’s official football esports tournament is set to kick-off on February 17th in Guwahati & Kochi, with qualifiers across all ISL clubs’ cities excluding Mumbai, who have already signed their eAthlete for the season. The entire season will be offline, right from city qualifiers to league stage to the playoff. The League stage and Playoffs will be held in Mumbai in April 2024. The league will be played in a 1v1 format this season.

Local connect

A first in eISL history, winners from each city will represent their respective home ISL club team to compete in the league. There are no player retentions for the upcoming season. The qualifier cities are – Guwahati, Delhi, Kochi, Jamshedpur, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bhubaneshwar, Goa, Chennai and Bengaluru.

FSDL Spokesperson said, “We are excited to be back with the third season of eISL. A season of many firsts, this edition promises to be yet another engaging and thrilling tournament, picking up from the success of its previous two seasons. The growth and potential of eSports has been acknowledged across the world and at FSDL, we are delighted to continue engaging with our young football and gaming fans through EA SPORTS FC to accelerate its followership and participation in the country.” 

by Abhishek Shukla

Squash: Resurgent Wilhelmi Downs Salazar To Reach First World Tour Quarter-Final In Day Two Of Pittsburgh Open

Switzerland’s Yannick Wilhelmi survived match balls in the fourth and fifth games to beat Mexico’s Cesar Salazar in a 70-minute classic at The Pittsburgh Open and progress to his maiden quarter-final on the PSA World Tour.

The first game saw dominance from Salazar as he took an early 9-5 lead, controlling the tempo of match as the inexperienced Wilhelmi struggled to keep up, finally sealing the first game 11-6 as the Swiss player’s back-court boast hit the tin.

Wilhelmi earned his first game ball of the match at 10-9, but a mis-judged straight drive came back to him, earning the Mexican a stroke and two quick points moved Salazar within a game of victory.

The Swiss player’s fightback began by catching Salazar out with a thin backhand cross-court as he came out of the break in play looking sharper. Salazar battled to 5-5, but the 23-year-old ran away with the game from there to give himself four chances to halve the deficit, taking the game on fourth time of asking.

Wilhelmi claimed the vital fourth game with a reverse angle shot, punctuating the momentum shift in the match with a celebratory fist-pump towards the crowd as he left the court.

The final game saw Salazar take a seemingly decisive 7-1 early lead, but Wilhelmi rallied, and soon the game looked as close as the end of the fourth, and the two players found themselves level at 9-9. Wilhelmi earned his first match ball of the encounter at 10-9, however Salazar found an important kill shot off of his opponent’s serve to prolong the match.

Wilhelmi finally put an end to the dramatic final game, stretching his opponent with a drive after a front court boast to force the mistake and earn his first quarter-final place on the World Tour, surviving three match balls in the process.

“I had a bit of a bad start, he played well, I struggled a bit with his game in the beginning, but the ball got colder and I think that was a bit better for me and I’m just happy I fought through all the games, especially the fourth and fifth tie breaks,” said Wilhelmi after the match.

“I just kept on going point-for-point. Like my dad always says, ‘it’s not over until it’s over’, so I just kept on fighting and it was good.

In the other seedings upset of the day, India’s Velavan Senthilkumar won out in a thrilling 3-1 encounter against home favourite and No.8 seed Faraz Khan.

Senthilkumar took an impressive early lead over the American, and cruised to an 11-6 first-game win. Khan regrouped, showing the World No.63 his strength as he levelled the match at 1-1.

The Indian reacted, storming to a 10-5 lead and Khan struck the tin on his return to put the 25-year-old within a game of his maiden Silver-event quarter-final.

The American pulled ahead in the fourth game as he took a 6-1 lead, but Senthilkumar upped his game, playing quick and accurate squash to level the game at 8-8. The Indian continued his late resurgence and won the fourth game 11-8 to secure the match, ending with a mistake from Khan on match ball.

“It was really good. First of all, Faraz is a really good player. I’ve seen him play recently and he’s been having some really good results so going into the match I was a bit nervous, but at the same time really excited to be here competing. I was just there, enjoying my squash and enjoying myself,” said Senthilkumar after the match.

On achieving his maiden Silver-event quarter-final, he said, “I’m really happy, it’s something that I’ve always pushed for, and I’m always going to keep pushing for it as much as I can.”

The quarter-finals of the Pittsburgh Open commence at 17:00 (GMT-5) on Friday, 9th February, with action from court two live on SQUASHTV.

Results: Pittsburgh Open RD2
[4] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bt Andrew Douglas (USA) 3-2: 11-7, 9-11, 14-12, 8-11, 11-7 (58m)
Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) bt [8] Faraz Khan (USA) 3-1: 11-6, 5-11, 11-5, 11-8 (46m)
[1] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt George Parker (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 (30m)
[5] Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 (39m)
[2] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) bt Aly Hussein (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (32m)
[6] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt Addeen Idrakie (MAS) 3-0: 11-2, 11-4, 11-9 (35m)
[3] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt Simon Herbert (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (29m)
Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt [7] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 3-2 6-11, 10-12, 11-9, 13-11, 14-12 (70m)

Draw: Pittsburgh Open Quarter-Finals
17:00 Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) v [4] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY)
17:45 [1] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [5] Adrian Waller (ENG)
18:30 [6] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) v [2] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG)
19:15 [3] Youssef Soliman (EGY) v Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI)

by Abhishek Shukla

Squash: Naughton Battles Past Abbas To Set Up Weaver Semi-Final At DAC Pro Squash Classic

Canada’s Hollie Naughton fought past No.4 seed Nada Abbas in four games to reach the DAC Pro Squash Classic semi-finals and set up a third meeting of the season with World No.6 Olivia Weaver. 

No.6 seed Naughton displayed her battling qualities to come from behind in three separate games – notably 10-6 down in the opener – to book her spot in the last four of the PSA World Tour Silver event. 

After Naughton claimed six consecutive points to steal the first game in a 12-10 tie-break, Abbas sharpened up her game in the front two corners and brought the scoreline level in what was a back-and-forth encounter at the Detroit Athletic Club. 

Despite Abbas having another game ball to move clear at 11-10 in the third, Naughton once again saved her best squash for the pressure moments, clinching two consecutive points to re-take the lead in the match. 

The fourth followed a similar pattern of play, with Egypt’s Abbas edging the middle phase of the game to move 10-8 up but Naughton reeling off three straight points to earn a match ball, and claiming victory at the first time of asking. 

The Canadian No.1 will play No.2 seed Weaver for the third time in her last four events on the PSA World Tour, with their last two meetings having both gone to five games, and each player winning a match a piece. 

After the match, Naughton said: “I’m relieved to get through that to be honest. I think every game I won I was down in and had to fight back in. I’m really happy with my mental strength to push on through in those key moments. 

“I just tried to tell myself to stick to the game plan. I just needed to make it tough and trust my short game. I felt hesitant to put the ball in short and then Nada can then start to do things, so I just tried to tell myself to swing through and get that ball into the back corners. 

“I’m just trying to enjoy getting back on court. I took a bit of time off over Christmas and told myself I wouldn’t come back on court until I wanted to, and I’m starting to enjoy it now.”

Naughton’s opponent in the semi-finals, Olivia Weaver, was in sublime form to record her sixth straight win on the PSA World Tour, defeating No.7 seed Melissa Alves in straight games. 

The USA No.2 found an immaculate length early on in her encounter, moving into a 9-2 lead in the first and never looking back throughout the match. Weaver’s impressive movement forced Alves to search for winners in the front two corners, but with this came the risk of unforced errors. The No.2 seed dropped just nine points on her way to victory, walking off court after 27 minutes of action. 

“I’m really pleased,” Weaver reflected after her match. “Melissa is not only an amazing player, extremely dangerous, but she’s also one of my best friends on tour which is always tricky. I just tried to get that out of my head today and focus on hitting my targets, my movement and finding my game. 

“I think the consistency of my hitting, the consistency of my length and then just my decision-making is just continuing to get better and better. I’m finding that balance of being patient but also aggressive and starting to trust myself more and more.” 

World No.3 Nouran Gohar looked in ominous form during her quarter-final victory against England’s Jasmine Hutton, needing just 19 minutes to book her spot in the last four. 

The ‘Terminator’ flew out of the blocks in an 11-2 first game that lasted just four minutes, hitting powerfully into the back two corners before cutting the ball in short. Hutton grew into the game in the second, using more height on the front wall and asserting herself in the middle of the court, but Gohar always held a significant buffer, doubling her advantage through an 11-8 scoreline.

Gohar looked ever more confident as the match progressed, freeing her arm and taking on winners from all areas of the court in the third. The top seed sealed victory with a thumping forehand winner to move one step closer to claiming her second title at the Detroit-based event. 

After progressing to the last four, Gohar said: “Jasmine is a very tricky player because she has really good hands and has some really good results, so obviously I was very well prepared for this match and wanted to give it a good performance today. 

“I’m known for being a good starter, so it’s something that I do well. Obviously, against a tricky player you try to do this even more, and then having a 1-0 lead makes you much more comfortable on court.”

The final match of the night saw No.3 seed Rowan Elaraby end the impressive run of Egyptian compatriot Hana Moataz in three games of entertaining action. Despite powering through the opening two games by dominant 11-4 and 11-3 scorelines, Elaraby was made to fight right until the end for victory, with Moataz saving five match balls in a tight third game.

The World No.10 was dragged into a lengthy third-game tie-break by Moataz, but eventually sealed victory at the sixth time of asking when a stroke was awarded in her favour. 

After the match, Elaraby said: “I’m glad with my performance today. I started really strongly and I think I was glad with my game plan and how I played. It is always tough playing a good friend. I think in the end, I was dragged into her game plan, and I almost forgot what I was doing. Once I remembered, I started playing well again and I’m glad I’m through in three. 

On her upcoming semi-final against top seed Gohar, she added: “I’m really excited for this one, we just played recently and I have a good game plan for tomorrow. I just want to play my best squash and see how it goes.”

Day four of action from the DAC Pro Squash Classic 2024 commences at 17:00 (GMT-5) on Friday, 9th February, with every second of action available to watch live on SQUASHTV.

Results: DAC Pro Squash Classic 2024 Quarter-Finals 

[6] Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt [4] Nada Abbas (EGY) 3-1: 12-10, 5-11, 13-11, 12-10 (55m)

[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 3-0: 11-2, 11-8, 11-2 (19m)

[2] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt [7] Melissa Alves (FRA) 3-0: 11-2, 11-2, 11-5 (27m)

[3] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt Hana Moataz (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 16-14 (30m)

Draw: DAC Pro Squash Classic 2024 Semi-Finals 

17:00 [1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [3] Rowan Elaraby (EGY)

17:45 [6] Hollie Naughton (CAN) v [2] Olivia Weaver (USA) 

by Abhishek Shukla

Australia set up senior World Cup final repeat with dramatic one-wicket win over Pakistan

The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 final will see Australia facing off against India after the former edged Pakistan in a thrilling contest in Benoni.

If India’s narrow win over South Africa in the first semi-final was not enough, Benoni bore witness to another nail-biter as Australia beat Pakistan by one wicket to join India in the tournament final.

Reduced to nine wickets with 16 runs still required in a run-chase of 180, Pakistan had one foot in the final. However, Australia’s last-wicket pair held their nerve, defying the odds to clinch the match with just five balls remaining, leaving the spectators on the edge of their seats.

The win means that we will have a repeat of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 final with U19 World Cup defending champions India  going head to head against Australia.

Australia beat Pakistan by one wicket in Benoni

Pakistan 179 (48.5 overs) beat Australia 181/9 (49.1 overs)

Australia’s captain, Hugh Weibgen, won the toss and opted to put Pakistan in to bat in the crucial semi-final match of the 2024 edition of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, unleashing his pace bowlers on a fresh wicket.

Pakistan’s openers, Shamyl Hussain and Shahzaib Khan, started cautiously against the new ball from Mahli Beardman and Callum Vidler. However, the introduction of Tom Straker as the first change bowler brought immediate success for Australia.

In just his second over, Straker claimed the important wicket of Shamyl Hussain, who attempted an ambitious pull shot only to top-edge it to Oliver Peake, taking a fine catch at mid-on. Shortly after, Shahzaib’s watchful innings came to an end as he miscued a drive off Vidler to Hugh Weibgen at backward point, who held onto a splendid low catch.

With both openers dismissed within the Powerplay, Australia gained a strong foothold in the semi-final. Saad Baig and Azan Awais looked to rebuild for Pakistan and the former was saved by a dropped chance from Harry Dixon at first slip off Straker.

Baig’s luck didn’t last long, though, as Straker had the last laugh in the next over. The seamer found the left-hander’s edge again and this time Dixon hung on to the catch at slip to reduce Pakistan to 43 for three.

After 16 overs dominated by pace, Weibgen introduced spin into the attack. Raf MacMillan responded to his captain’s call by dismissing Ahmad Hassan with a well-pitched delivery that trapped him in front of the stumps.

MacMillan came close to claiming another wicket when Haroon Arshad narrowly survived a stumping chance. However, Beardman’s return to the attack proved fruitful as he dismissed Arshad with a delivery that skidded off the pitch and disturbed the off-stump.

Arafat Minhas joined Azan Awais, and together they revived Pakistan’s innings with a steady partnership. Awais reached his half-century off 83 balls, as the pair steadily increased the scoring rate between overs 31 to 40.

However, Straker ended their partnership by dismissing Awais for 52, caught behind by the wicketkeeper. With Awais departing, Pakistan found themselves in a precarious position at 133 for six, requiring a significant contribution from the lower order.

Minhas carried on unflustered, thumping Vidler off the back foot with a strong pull and bringing out the square cut against the spinner. He reached his half-century off 60 balls, cutting Tom Campbell in front of square for a boundary, but fell next ball when he attempted a loft over cover and sliced it to the deep fielder.

The tailenders couldn’t add too much to the total as Straker ran through them, cleaning up the last two off successive deliveries, to finish with six wickets, as many as he had managed in the entire tournament until today. 

Pakistan finished on 179, needing their bowlers to step up big-time to put them in the finals of the tournament. 

While Harry Dixon and Sam Konstas got Australia off to a slow, steady start, Pakistan made a roaring comeback after the Powerplay overs.

Fifteen-year-old Ali Raza cleaned up Konstas with a delivery that nipped back in sharply to hit the stumps. Weibgen smashed a full toss straight to short cover off Naveed Khan to depart for four and a massive mix-up between Harjas Singh and Dixon saw the end of the former. 

With three wickets falling quickly, Baig turned to strike bowler Ubaid Shah and the move worked. The dangerous Ryan Hicks was bowled off an inside edge for a golden duck as Australia slipped to a tense 59 for four. 

Dixon was joined by the left-handed Ollie Peake, who has had to bat only two times in the competition before this. The two left-handers went about rebuilding the innings as Pakistan looked to attack further. 

Dixon completed his half-century in the 24th over as Peake settled in at the other end. Minhas’ entry into the attack saw the back of Dixon. The left-arm spinner had the well-set Dixon cleaned up for 50 with a delivery that turned massively back into the batter.

Runs dried up as Minhas and Naveed Khan kept things pretty tight. Raza returned to the attack after Naveed was bowled out and almost instantly found a wicket. Tom Campbell’s edge was found but the ball raced over the keeper for a boundary, the first for Australia in nine overs.

Minhas, meanwhile, continued to bowl unchanged from his end and in his eighth over, the left-arm spinner struck again. Campbell was undone by an arm ball that skidded on with the angle and hit the stumps. 

With another threatening stand broken, Pakistan were back into the contest. Australia were still 34 runs away with four wickets left in the bank. Raza found MacMillan’s edge the very next over with the slip fielder diving to take a catch close to the ground. But confirmation for a clean catch wasn’t needed as the ball was over waist height and hence a no-ball.

Peake continued to build, unflustered by the chaos around him, but while on 49, he nicked a harmless Raza delivery, going down the leg-side, through to the wicketkeeper to leave Australia in a tricky position. They were still 25 runs away and Pakistan sensed a way back to win the contest.  

Raza added two more in his final over to put Pakistan on the brink of a sensational win, sending back Staker and Beardman to reduce Australia to nine down. 

MacMillan continued to fight though and got a lucky top edge over the keeper’s head for four in the 48th over with Australia needing less than 10 runs. 

Ubaid Shah almost trapped the lower-order batsman in front in the following over, but the umpire dismissed the appeal, judging the ball to be sliding down the leg-side. Vidler then played out the remaining deliveries, reducing the equation to just three runs needed off the last over.

In a nerve-wracking climax, on the first ball of the final over, MacMillan, who looked to punch off his back foot, got an inside edge and the ball raced through fine leg, securing Australia’s thrilling victory. 

Australia now have the opportunity to replicate the success of their senior team from three months ago when they face India in the final on Sunday, 11 February.

Australia skipper Hugh Weibgen stated that he had full confidence in Vidler and MacMillan to successfully finish the run-chase.

“Never in doubt [win]. We had full faith in Vids [Vidler] and Raf [MacMillan] to get the job done. There was quite a bit of emotion in the dressing room. I was quite tense and excited too. I still don’t know what really happened, but it was awesome.”

Pakistan skipper Saad Baig commended Ali Raza for his splendid spell, but remained composed despite the heartbreaking loss.

“It is difficult to be the losing team, but I felt we were 20-30 runs short. The boys played really well. Ali Raza was brilliant. Our bowling was pretty good throughout the tournament. Anyway, one team has to win, one has to lose, that’s the game.”

by Abhishek Shukla

Bhosale, Yamalapalli go down fighting in L&T Mumbai Open Tennis

Mumbai, February 8: The impressive runs of Indian challengers Sahaja Yamalapalli Rutuja Bhosale came to an end. Both, Yamalapalli and Bhosale went down fighting in their pre-quarter-final matches of the L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series Tennis Championships, being organized by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) and the Cricket Club of India (CCI), and played under floodlights at the CCI courts on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Yamalapalli, a wild card entrant and ranked 336 had a chances against the 162nd ranked 20-year-old Russian girl but blew them away and suffered a 6-1, 3-6, 5-7 defeat in close to two hours.

Bhosale, another wildcard entrant showed a lot of promise initially before losing to eighth seed Katie Volynets of America earlier in the day.

The 22-year-old American beat back a determined challenge from the 27-year-old Indian by carving out a satisfying 7-6(8), 2-6, 6-1 win in just under three hours to advance to the last eight. Volynets has now defeated a second successive Indian opponent after having beaten India No. 1 Ankita Raina in the opening round. In the quarter-finals, Volynets will take on South Korea’s Sohyun Park, who defeated Italy’s Camilla Rosatello 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in a battle between two lucky losers.

Meanwhile, Russian teen sensation Alina Korneeva has withdrawn from the competition. The 16-year-old Korneeva, winner of two Grand Slam girls’ singles titles, is down with a viral illness and will not take on Australian Storm Hunter in the quarter-finals.

In doubles action, India’s top-ranked doubles player Prarthana Thombare and Dutch partner Arianne Hartono stormed into the doubles semi-finals. The unseeded duo scored a comfortable 6-4, 6-2 win over the Greek-Aussie combination of Sapfo Sakellaridi/Olivia Tjandramulia to set up a semi-final clash against Sohyun Park/Zhibek Kulambayeva.

In the first singles match of the day, Japanese Moyuka Uchijima also reached the last eight with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Hungary’s Dalma Galfi.

L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series Results, Thursday February 8, 2024

Singles Second Round

8-Katie Volynets (USA) bt WC-Rutuja Bhosale (IND) 7-5, 2-6, 6-1;
Moyuka Uchijima (JPN) bt Dalma Galfi (HUN) 6-2, 6-1;
LL-Sohyun Park (KOR) bt LL-Camilla Rosatello (ITA) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3;
Polina Kudermetova bt Sahaja Yamalapalli (IND) 1-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Doubles Quarter-Finals

Arianne Hartono (NED) / Prarthana Thombare (IND) def. Sapfo Sakellaridi (GRE) / Olivia Tjandramulia (AUS) 6-4, 6-2
Naiktha Bains (GBR) / Fanny Stollar (HUN) def. Anastasia Tikhonova / Motuka Uchijima (JPN) 6-2, 6-2

by Abhishek Shukla

Hon’ble Chief Minister, Assam Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma launches mascot Ashtalakshmi for the Khelo India University Games 2024

Guwahati, 8 February 2024: Taking the anticipation and excitement up a notch ahead of the fourth edition of the Khelo India University Games 2024, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the logo and mascot Ashtalakshmi – the vibrant butterfly at a glittering ceremony held here in Guwahati on Thursday. 

 Ashtalakshmi, an embodiment of grace and symbolism, represents the rich biodiversity and natural splendour of the Northeast India. This elegant butterfly adorned with wings featuring cultural motifs and colours from each scale, the mascot depicts a visually captivating representation of the diverse beauty of the Northeast India. 

 Among the attendees were Nisith Pramanik, Hon’ble Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, Nandita Garlosa, Hon’ble Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Assam, Kausar Jamil Hilaly, Secretary, Sports and Youth Welfare Department, Government of Assam, along with a host of sports organisers, athletes from across the eight Northeastern states. 

 The presence of Northeast’s sports icons, national medal winning boxer Pwilao Basumatary, international shuttler Suraj Goala, international table tennis player Divyaj Rajkhowa, Tripura judoka Rikson Debbarma, added to the special occasion. 

 Reflecting on Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of investing in youth through sports, Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam, said: “Assam has been the sports destination of the Northeast, having successfully hosted mega events like the South East Asian Games, the second edition of Khelo India Youth Games and most recently the Khel Maharan where over 6 lakh youth registered to participate. With Olympic stars like Lovlina Borgohain hailing from our state, our focus on youth development has been at the forefront of our efforts to put Assam on the world map.” 

 “As Chief Minister, I express my government’s unparalleled support in organising this mega event which personifies our beloved Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of investing in our youth through sports. We look forward to welcoming over 5,000 participants and delegates for this prestigious event,” added Sarma. 

 Speaking on the occasion, Nisith Pramanik, Hon’ble Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, said: “As we eagerly anticipate the Khelo India University Games 2023, it’s heartening to witness the resolute backing from Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary initiative aimed at cultivating a thriving sporting culture across the nation. Under the astute guidance of Assam Chief Minister Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma, the state emerges as a beacon for sporting excellence, committed to nurturing talent and instilling values of sportsmanship.” 

 “Drawing inspiration from the remarkable achievements of athletes who have soared to prominence through platforms like the Asian Games, we recognise the transformative power of sports in shaping lives and transcending boundaries,” he added. 

 Assam, will host a total of 16 disciplines during the Khelo India University Games 2024, reflecting the state’s dedication to providing world-class sporting infrastructure. This will include an array of events including athletics, rugby, basketball, volleyball, swimming, badminton, hockey, fencing, kabaddi, football, tennis, mallakhamb, judo, table tennis, boxing, archery and shooting. The rest of the Northeastern states will play host to four events, including men’s boxing, weightlifting, wrestling and yogasana. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Nikhat, Arundhati through to the semis at the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament

Sofia, (Bulgaria), February 8, 2024: Reigning World Champion Nikhat Zareen and Arundhati Choudhary secured comfortable wins and moved to the semifinals of the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria on Thursday.

In the first quarter-final of the day, Nikhat (50kg) was in action against France’s Lkhadiri Wassila. It was a close encounter from the get go as both the boxers looked well prepared to tackle each other’s move. Nikhat used her quick movements and counter attacking game to go ahead of her opponent in the first round. The second round started on a similar note as both the boxers were cautious and didn’t commit much on the attacking front.

Though Nikhat managed to stay slightly ahead of her opponent in both the rounds, it looked like the bout could go in anyone’s favour.

It was the third round in which Nikhat looked at her absolute best as she dodged her opponent’s attacks efficiently while delivering some quality blows. Lkhadiri tried to be more aggressive but the Indian pugilist was equipped to deal with it as she won the bout with 5-0 unanimous decision.

Nikhat will now prepare to meet home favourite Zlatislava Chukanova in the semifinals on Saturday.

In the other match of the day, Arundhati Choudhary (66kg) showed a similar level of dominance against Matovic Milena of Serbia. Both the boxers played the game of patience at first, but it was Arundhati who took the charge as she initiated multiple attacks, winning the first round with ease.

Arundhati continued her momentum in the second round while being defensively solid in the third, blocking multiple desperate attacking attempts from the opponent to clinch a 5-0 win to qualify for the semifinals. She will face Jessica Triebeľová of Slovakia on Saturday.

Sakshi (57kg) suffered a 2-3 defeat against Mamajonova Khumorabonu of Uzbekistan to exit the tournament in the quarters. Sakshi found it hard to get into the rhythm as the Uzbek boxer took full advantage and kept her at bay throughout the first and second round. The situation did improve in the third round as Sakshi tried hard to make a comeback and succeeded to win the round but fell short from winning the bout.

Later tonight, Jugnoo (86kg) and Sagar (+92kg) will take on Uzbekistan’s Djalolov Samandar and Zokirov Jakhongir while Naveen (92kg) will be in action against Kuttybekov Abzal of Kazakhstan

Late on Wednesday, Deepak (75kg) and Naveen Kumar (92kg) entered the quarter-finals with an identical 5-0 unanimous decision win over Asankul Uulu Sultan of Kyrgyzstan and  Voisnarovic Darius of Lithuania respectively.

On Friday, seven Indian pugilists will compete in the quarter-finals. Amit Panghal (51kg) will be in action against Aldarkhishig Battulga of Mongolia, Lalit (54kg) will face Uzbekistan’s Nortojiev Khujanazar, Sachin (57kg) will take on Kapanadze Giorgi of Georgia and Rajat (67kg) will face the challenge from Ukraine’s Matiakubov Bozorboi.

Akash (71kg) will go head to head against Mckeever Eugene of Ireland, Deepak (75kg) will meet Ummatalievu Javokhir of Uzbekistan and Abhimanyu Loura (80kg) will take on China’s Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan.

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

by Abhishek Shukla

Table toppers tussle with a Spanish flavour as Odisha FC hosts unbeaten FC Goa

Bhubaneshwar, February 08: The Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 prepares for a potentially gripping encounter between Odisha FC and FC Goa at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on February 9, Friday, 7:30 p.m. This match is set to have ripple effects at the top of the points table, with the Juggernauts placed first currently with 30 points from 14 matches. However, the Gaurs are unbeaten at present too, and they have 27 points in 11 encounters to their name.

This will be the last time that these two sides square off in the league stages this season, and hence it is the only opportunity for Sergio Lobera & Co. to build a gap with the opponents in a direct faceoff. This fixture had produced a thriller at the Fatorda Stadium earlier in this campaign, with a late stunning winner by Jay Gupta helping Manolo Marquez’s team to take three points from the game.

Both these sides were meddling with similar fates in the last couple of campaigns in the ISL. They were struggling to break out from the crowded space in the middle of the table, and it required them to make special appointments at the coaching level to spark a comeback. Lobera and Marquez didn’t take too long to make an impact, getting their desired signings and accordingly ensuring that they delivered the required results.

It promises to be a clash between the offensive firepower of the Juggernauts against the defensive resilience of FC Goa. Odisha FC have found the back of the net the most times (27) amongst all teams in ISL 2023-24, whereas the Gaurs have given away the least amount of goals (5). A fine balance of these aspects of the gameplay for the two sides will go a long way in determining their fates in this particular encounter.

What’s at stake?

Odisha FC

After starting the competition on a slightly sluggish note, Odisha FC has not put a foot wrong in the previous 10 games. They are on an unbeaten streak since October and have struck the right cord in all departments. The defence is marshalled by the ever so reliable Amrinder Singh and Mourtada Fall whereas Ahmed Jahouh’s creative acumen in the middle has been critical in inspiring their offensive endeavours.

Roy Krishna and Diego Mauricio are playing the perfect foil to each other, setting up goals and bagging them aplenty, much to the delight of the supporters. Lately, they have been making light work of whichever opponent has come their way.

The experienced strikers in their ranks have helped them record a 51.7% shooting accuracy, which is the highest for any team in the league. They have also converted most shots amongst all sides, ensuring that 17.7% of their attempts have resulted in a goal. From the back to front, they have been ticking all boxes consistently and need to ensure another similarly smooth outing against Marquez’s men.

FC Goa

FC Goa wiped off any concerns about injuries to key players hampering their progress from the first leg of the season when they got past Hyderabad FC by 2-0 last week.

Carlos Martinez had not been in the best run of forms earlier, but he showed remarkable efficiency to get on the scoresheet twice, and the head coach will be banking on him to continue the heroics against the Juggernauts. The Gaurs are built solidly at the back.

They have faced just 1.6 shots on target per game this season (lowest amongst all teams), and are efficient in terms of converting the opportunities that their creative midfielders produce. In terms of their playing style, the Gaurs are highly insistent and rather vigorous to recover and then retain possession, winning the ball within 40 meters of the opposition’s goal on an average 8.8 times per game in this campaign.

In all fairness, this encounter promises to be a clash of the equals, with both sides largely subscribing to similar playing philosophies and having seen resounding success with new tacticians at the helm in this campaign.

Key Players

Lenny Rodrigues (Odisha FC)

Lenny Rodrigues has been an important member of the Odisha FC unit this season, helping them keep control and even dominate the oppositions from the centre of the park. He dons the role of a screening midfielder, who protects the backline with his tenacious efforts by shielding them from the attacking midfielders of the other team. In addition to his defensive skillsets, Rodrigues is a neat passer of the ball, completing 90% of his passes in ISL 2023-24.

He makes 35 of them on an average per 90 minutes, and has also earned seven fouls in addition to recording 14 interceptions. He might slip under the radar for not having made any goal contribution thus far, but Rodrigues is as vital a player in Lobera’s winning machine as anyone else.

Carlos Martinez (FC Goa)

The Spaniard striker is gradually getting into the groove, showing some sharp movement near and inside the 18-yard-box to receive and convert the chances that were created for him. He is a smoother operator in the final third, always on the move, interlinking with fellow teammates, and unlocking the opposition with his nimble feet and eye for a pass. With five goals and an assist in 11 games, Martinez has proven his mettle in this FC Goa unit.

He has also won 26 aerial duels, created 15 goal-scoring opportunities, in addition to ensuring that 57.89% of his attempted shots land on target. He might have been overshadowed by the brilliant duo of Noah Sadaoui and Victor Rodriguez earlier this season, but Martinez has it in him to shelve aside his doubters and come out on top of his game for the benefit of FC Goa in this fixture and also the coming ones.

Head-to-Head

Played – 21

FC Goa – 13

Odisha FC – 3

Draws – 5

Trivia: Odisha FC have recorded the highest passing accuracy (81.6%) amongst all teams in ISL 2023-24.

Team Talk

image (1).png“This is our target in this our game. We have played a different number of games, but we are in a very good position. I think even FC Goa are feeling pressure, in terms if we win the game and get three points, then the gap between the two teams becomes six points and the opponent teams need to win and this is the target. We are going to maybe the best team at this moment in this competition, because they are very competitive, working very well, in defence, and attack, playing tactical and effective football, and it’s not easy to play against them,” Odisha FC head coach Sergio Lobera said in the pre-match press conference.

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“I think we are facing the team that is in a very good moment. Their last defeat was two consecutive ones a long time ago. They are unbeaten in a lot of games in all the competitions. They have a very good team and coach. They have a very good strength and conditioning coach too. I think that they are in a very good moment and it will be a tough game for us, but it will be a tough game for them too,” FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez said prior to the game.

ISL Fantasy

Jay Gupta (3.6cr)

Assisted one of Martinez’s goal against Hyderabad FC

Arshdeep Singh (3.7cr)

Has helped FC Goa keep seven clean sheets in this ISL season

Amey Ranawade (4.4cr)

Impressive presence on both ends of the pitch

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Where to Watch

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

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru Open 2024: Prajwal Dev gets wild card entry for DafaNews Bengaluru Open

Bengaluru, February 8: The Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) is pleased to announce a wild card for talented Prjawal Dev in the singles main draw of the DafaNews Bengaluru Open.

The 27-year Dev was also named a reserve in the Indian Davis Cup team for tie against Pakistan.

Dev had a decent 2023 season in which he ended a runner-up at the ITF15k event in Thailand and also reached the semi-finals in three other tournaments, including Mysuru.

“I would like to thank KSLTA for the wonderful opportunity to play in the main draw. I am privileged to receive the wild card and I am looking forward to the tournament. Hopefully I can do well. I am coming off a good week in Chennai and hopefully I continue with that,” said Prajwal Dev, currently ranked 611.

“Expectation is there and I am hopeful I will live up to that,” he said.     

Having the Davis Cuppers in action, the KSLTA will soon announce more main draw wild cards for the tournament which will conclude on February 18.

“Prajwal has the potential to break into top-500 soon and we want to give him an opportunity to achieve the feat at the earliest. He is a very talented player, and support at right time is what a player needs. Our endeavour is to support local talent,” said Sunil Yajaman, the Tournament Director.

“We are delighted to give this opportunity to Prajwal. Hopefully he will make full use of it,” Yajaman further added.

by Abhishek Shukla

Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle to lead Telangana Tigers in inaugural Indian Veteran Premier League

Dehradun (Uttrakhand) [India], February 8: Chris Gayle, the dynamic former West Indian batter will captain Telangana Tigers in the first edition of the inaugural edition of the much-anticipated Indian Veteran Premier League (IVPL).

Renowned as the Universe Boss of T20 cricket, Gayle, who holds the record for the most runs in the shortest format of the game, is poised to unleash his trademark power-hitting skills in Dehradun.

The IVPL, slated from February 23 to March 3, 2024, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun, promises to showcase an enthralling display of cricketing excellence.

Expressing his excitement for the tournament, Gayle said, “What gets me going? My belief in myself and the sounds of the crowd going crazy. This is the Universe Boss, and I’m back on the pitch with big names in the first Indian Veteran Premier League. So gear up for the IVPL because old is gold.”

Joining Gayle in the Telangana Tigers lineup are former Indian cricketers Sudip Tyagi and Manpreet Goni, along with former West Indies batter Ricardo Powell.

Organized by the Board for Veteran Cricket in India (BVCI) and managed by 100 Sports, the IVPL promises an extraordinary showcase of cricketing talent, bringing together veterans such as Sehwag, Munaf Patel, Suresh Raina, Rajat Bhatia, Chris Gayle, Praveen Kumar, Yusuf Pathan, Herschelle Gibbs, and many more.

Shri Praveen Tyagi, the Acting President of BVCI and Chairman of IVPL said, “We are trying to create one of the best League in  India after IPL, we have added World’s best cricketers for the stature of Veteran Cricket, such as Chris Gayle, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina. This will  infuse a new energy for Veteran Cricket in India as well as it will work like magic for Veteran Cricketers, who are living their passion for playing with International Cricketers from the World.”

100 Sports founder, Shri Ravindra Bhati said, “Celebrating the timeless spirit of cricket, we proudly present the Indian Veteran Premier League, where veterans unite to rewrite history and fans witness nostalgia.”

The participating teams include VVIP Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan Legends, Red Carpet Delhi, Chhattisgarh Warriors, Telangana Tigers, and Mumbai Champions. Each team is a powerhouse of talent, as cricketing legends and regional stars come together to relive their passion for the game. Each team will have four to five iconic players from across the World.

The matches will be broadcasted live in India on the Eurosport channel, DD Sports, and Fancode and iickets for the matches at the iconic Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium will soon be available for purchase.

Fans eagerly awaiting the opportunity to experience the live cricketing extravaganza firsthand can secure their seats and be part of the electric atmosphere at the stadium.