by Abhishek Shukla

Belgium and Spain pile on the goals whilst Ireland and Korea clinch semi-finals berths

Lausanne, Switzerland: Despite showcasing fewer games, only the Valencia Men’s pools stepping onto the pitch, Day 5 of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 produced some exhilarating tournament hockey. Spain and Belgium registered huge wins to cement their top spots, whilst Korea and Ireland clinched second place with important wins, leaving their opponents in third place. The first of the two men’s venues to finalise placings, the Valencia pools have set the standard for the Oman pools and the tournament beyond. Some impressive performances have caught eyes and triggered momentum, giving teams a well-earned boost on their hunt for Paris.

The day began with Spain’s dismantling of Egypt. The host nation had put five past Egypt by the half-time break, before then extending their lead to reach an 8-1 victory. Marc Miralles’s two penalty corners and Alvaro Iglesias’s two field goals contributed to pushing Spain two points clear at the top of Pool B, and consigning Egypt to bottom spot. Korea produced a vital performance against Austria, Jonghyun Jang’s two penalty corners playing a big part in their 4-2 win. The battle for second place, Korea’s first win of the qualifiers takes them to five points and positions them above the Austrians, as they finish the pool unbeaten.

In the other pool, the Belgians continued to set the standard for the tournament, producing the most emphatic of 12-0 wins over Ukraine. A Tom Boon hat-trick was accompanied by three braces from William Ghislain, Alexander Hendrickx and Thibeau Stockbroekx respectively. Belgium’s third win in as many games extends their pool-topping goal difference to +23, and solidifies them as the strongest performing team so far in the men’s competition. Ireland did just enough to beat Japan 1-0, Luke Madeley’s penalty corner being enough to send Ireland second in the group, doubling their point tally. Japan’s seven unconverted corners will leave them agonising over a game that could have sent them through in second place.

To see the current pool standings for the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers in Valencia, please click here. 

For more information about the qualifiers and the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024, visit Olympics.Hockey. 

FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024

Valencia, Spain – 17 January 

Result Match 1 (M)

Spain 8-1 Egypt 

Player of the match: Gerard Clapes (ESP)

Umpires: Rawi Anbananthan & Tim Meissner

Result Match 2 (M)

Austria 2-4 Korea 

Player of the match: Jung Mungjae (KOR)

Umpires: David Tomlinson & Zeke Newman

Result Match 3 (M)

Belgium 12-0 Ukraine 

Player of the match: Tom Boon (BEL)

Umpires: Ilango Kanbathu & Nick Bennett

Result Match 4 (M)

Japan 0-1 Ireland 

Player of the match: Shane O’Donoghue (IRL)

Umpires: Ben Goentgen & Michiel Otten

by Abhishek Shukla

NFL Network’s Exclusive Coverage of 2024 Premier All-Star Games

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Jan. 17, 2024 — NFL Network provides exclusive live coverage of three collegiate and one high school all-star games, starting Friday, Jan. 19 with the Polynesian Bowl at 9 p.m. ET, and continuing throughout the month of February with the East-West Shrine Bowl (Feb. 1), Reese’s Senior Bowl (Feb. 3) and the HBCU Legacy Bowl (Feb. 24).​

The 2024 Polynesian Bowl from Kūnuiākea Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii features the best high school players from around the world, including 10 five-star players. Play-by-play announcer Kanoa Leahey and analyst Steve Wyche, along with Kainoa Carlson and Matt Carpenter on the sidelines, call the action. Popular YouTuber Deestroying will also contribute during the broadcast.

Collegiate coverage on NFL Network starts Thursday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. ET with the 99th East-West Shrine Bowl from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, TX. Rhett Lewishandles play-by-play duties withanalyst Bucky Brooks and reporter Jane Slater.

NFL Network provides live coverage of the 75th Reese’s Senior Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. ET from Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, AL. Play-by-play announcer Andrew Siciliano, analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Charles Davis, and reporter Tom Pelissero have the call.

Leading up to the Senior Bowl, live coverage of Reese’s Senior Bowl practices air Tuesday, Jan. 30, Wednesday, Jan. 31 and Thursday, Feb. 1 at 10:30 a.m. ET and 1 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Special editions of “The Insiders” start the coverage each day at 10 a.m. ET, with Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garofolo live in Mobile.

NFL Network’s collegiate all-star game coverage concludes with the HBCU Legacy Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. ET from Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, LA. Play-by-play announcer Steve Wyche and Bucky Brooks will be in the booth, while Sherree Burruss reports from the field. Leading up to the HBCU Legacy Bowl, NFL Network provides live coverage of the third annual HBCU Combine on Monday, Feb. 19 at noon ET from the New Orleans Saints practice facility. Rhett Lewis and Bucky Brooks host the event, with Wyche and analyst Scott Pioli reporting from New Orleans.

All all-star coverage on NFL Network is available across multiple devices (smartphone, PC, tablet and connected TVs) through the NFL app and NFL Network app for subscribers of participating NFL Network providers. Fans can also stream the game on NFL+, the league’s direct-to-consumer offering which is available across all devices (NFL App, NFL CTV and NFL.com). 

by Abhishek Shukla

‘Learn as much as you can’ – Marsh reminisces 2010 U19 glory, and has sage advice for batch of 2024

Mitchell Marsh was a fresh-faced 18-year-old when he led his side to their third ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup triumph in 2010.

The all-rounder has since gone on to become a key performer for the Australia Men’s side across formats and has several accolades to his name, including triumphs in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.

Apart from scoring 201 runs at an average of 33.5, Marsh also led his side with aplomb at the U19 World Cup. Marsh captained future internationals such as Adam Zampa, Nic Maddinson, Josh Hazlewood, and Kane Richardson in the tournament, and remembers with fondness an educational tournament.

“It’s a huge honour to lead your country at any level. Back then as an 18-year-old, it was a great experience,” Marsh said. “I had a wonderful group of men who made captaincy quite easy. Probably the most important thing was we had a lot of fun. We enjoyed ourselves and happened to win a few games along the way.”

It wasn’t all easy for Australia. After starting off with thumping wins against USA and Ireland, they lost their next encounter to South Africa. Australia posted 276/7 in the first innings, but Dominic Hendricks set the foundation for South Africa with a solid 94. And the tail pulled off a close win for the Proteas.

Marsh remembers the tough start at a scenic venue. “Our round games were in Queenstown, which is one of the most beautiful places in the world to play cricket,” he said. “We didn’t have it easy, we lost to South Africa in our pool game.

“But we got there in the end, didn’t we? It was an amazing few weeks.”

Australia lifted themselves after that defeat to South Africa, and beat hosts New Zealand in their quarter-final. However, there was trouble in the semi-finals, where after Hazlewood’s 4/26 cleaned up Sri Lanka for 205, Australia were struggling at 93/5.

It was Marsh – like he would countless times for the senior team in the future – who played the game-changing knock, anchoring the innings with a fine 97, helping Australia close the deal with two wickets to spare.

The final was another close encounter, where Hazlewood’s 4/30 helped Australia overcome Pakistan by 25 runs. Marsh believes these two games could’ve swung either way, and the side scraped through at the right time.

“We were in a lot of trouble [in the semi-final], as we were in the final as well,” said Marsh. “We found a way to get ourselves out of the trouble and we got over the line. In the semi-final, we just scraped over the line. And in the final, it was the same thing.”

It was a seminal tournament for Marsh. He came face to face with several future international stars and developed bonds that would last a lifetime. It was a tournament where he came up against the likes of KL Rahul (India), Jason Holder (West Indies), and Babar Azam (Pakistan).

He remembers Holder with particular regard. “All those guys, they’ve gone on to become world-class players. Jason Holder was the same height back then, so he was a scary prospect as an 18-year-old,” Marsh said.

“But I also think that the relationship was beautiful, you know that tournament – a lot of guys have been friends for a long period of time. It’s a great tournament to be part of.”

Being a leader at a young age isn’t easy, but Marsh understood the nuances of featuring in a global tournament.

“Everyone talks about tournament play being a lot harder than bilateral series or playing for your states back home, and that’s no different in the U19s.

“Every game sort of matters, you’ve got to qualify for the quarter-finals at the time and there’s always pressure. And that helps young kids develop their routines, and their ability to handle pressure.”

Marsh had a word of advice for the current crop of youngsters set to play in the upcoming ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024.

“Just enjoy the different pressures and different situations you find yourself in,” he said. “Learn as much as you can from that situation. All the best players of the world always stand up at certain times and we can see that throughout that tournament.”

The U19 Men’s CWC will begin on 19 January, with Ireland taking on USA and hosts South Africa facing off against West Indies.

by Abhishek Shukla

State of the art Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York unveiled ahead of Men’s T20 World Cup

The cutting-edge 34,000-seat modular Nassau County International Cricket Stadium which will host eight ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 matches in New York has today been unveiled.

The project in Eisenhower Park, Nassau County, 30 miles east of Manhattan, has started this week, with site fencing erected and work to the outfield now underway. The stadium, which will be completed within three months, will have a capacity for 34,000 fans across premium and general admission seating as well as VIP and hospitality suites, including a party deck and cabanas to host the biggest cricket carnival spectacle ever.

Though a world first for cricket, modular stadiums are used regularly in other sports, including Formula 1, Golf and the Olympic Games providing fans with every facility they would expect at a global sporting event.

The stadium has been designed by Populous, a world-class sports and entertainment venue architecture firm, that has designed some of the world’s most iconic stadia, including Yankee Stadium in New York; the world’s largest cricket stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad; and English Premier League venue, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. In New York, they are the architect of record for both the New York Yankees and New York Mets. Arena Event Services brings expertise from other global sporting events and will provide and install the stadium infrastructure whilst the USA based international sports procurement firm The Parker Company will project manage the build on behalf of T20 Inc.

The venue which is a stone’s throw away from New York City will have a dedicated fan zone with a variety of food and beverage outlets and global leading media and broadcast areas, promising to provide a world-class experience for all guests at the biggest ICC event ever.

Sustainability is key to the project with the grandstands used for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix being repurposed for the T20 World Cup venue with work on the infrastructure scheduled to commence in February.

The wicket, which is a drop-in square – the type used around the world including at Adelaide Oval and Eden Park – is currently being curated in Florida and will be transported by road to New York in early May. The development of the pitches is being undertaken by Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions, led by renowned Adelaide Oval Head Curator Damian Hough, while the outfield is being delivered by the LandTek Group, US-based sports turf experts who have worked with the New York Yankees and New York Mets as well as Inter Miami CF on their stadium and training fields.

Fans will have their opportunity to be a part of history by attending a festival of cricket and seeing the world’s best players in action, with eight ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 matches hosted at the venue between 3 and 12 June including one of the sport’s biggest rivalries India against Pakistan, and host USA versus India.

ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said: “We are excited to be unveiling the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. It is an incredibly important milestone in the lead up to the biggest ICC event ever, with work commencing on the stadium which will be able to accommodate 34,000 cricket fans.

“We are partnering with world-class suppliers to deliver the modular stadium to ensure that players and fans can enjoy an unforgettable experience across the eight matches in New York in June this year.”

Timelines

Demarcation of site in Nassau County – Underway
Commencement of preparatory turf works – Week beginning (W/B) 22 January
Delivery of stadium materials – W/B 29 January
Commencement of stadium construction – W/B 5 February
Commencement of construction of drop in pitch area – W/B 1 April
Commencement of turfing of outfield – W/B 29 April
Installation of drop in trays/pitches – W/B 6 May
Stadium construction completion – W/B 6 May
Completion of testing and commissioning – W/B 13 May
Test event – W/B 27 May
First match – Sri Lanka v South Africa – 3 June


About the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be co-hosted by West Indies and USA from 1 – 29 June 2024.

The event will be the largest in the tournament’s history with 20 international teams playing 55 matches across nine cities. It is the first time USA will host matches at a T20 World Cup, with 16 First Round matches split between Nassau County International Cricket Stadium (New York), Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium (Dallas) and Broward County Stadium (Lauderhill). 

West Indies, who hosted the event in 2010, will hold matches at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (Antigua and Barbuda), Kensington Oval (Barbados), Guyana National Stadium (Guyana), Daren Sammy Cricket Ground (Saint Lucia), Arnos Vale (Saint Vincent and The Grenadines) and Brian Lara Cricket Academy (Trinidad and Tobago).

Cricket West Indies are the official hosts of the event, with an entity T20 World Cup Inc. established to administer local delivery within the USA, whilst working in partnership with Major League Cricket to support the growth of the sport in the USA.

by Abhishek Shukla

Divisional Playoffs Injury Report: Tuesday Update

Ahead of the upcoming Divisional Playoffs, here is the latest injury report for the teams involved in the clashes:

GREEN BAY PACKERS at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (Saturday night)

GREEN BAY PACKERS:

  • Did Not Participate in Practice (Tuesday):
  • RB A.J. Dillon (thumb, neck)
  • DT Kingsley Enagbare (knee)
  • G Elgton Jenkins (knee, ankle)
  • LB Isaiah McDuffie (neck)
  • LB Preston Smith (ankle)
  • Limited Participation in Practice (Tuesday):
  • CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder, ankle)
  • DE Kenny Clark (back)
  • LB Rashan Gary (knee)
  • RB Aaron Jones (knee, finger)
  • CB Keisean Nixon (toe)
  • S Jonathan Owens (knee)
  • WR Jayden Reed (chest)
  • S Darnell Savage (shoulder, calf)
  • WR Christian Watson (hamstring)
  • Full Participation in Practice (Tuesday):
  • LB Quay Walker (shoulder)

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS:

  • Did Not Participate in Practice (Tuesday):
  • DE Clelin Ferrell (knee)
  • LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles)
  • S Logan Ryan (groin)
  • T Trent Williams (not injury related – resting player)
  • Limited Participation in Practice (Tuesday):
  • DT Arik Armstead (foot, knee)
  • S George Odum (biceps)
  • Full Participation in Practice (Tuesday):
  • S Ji’Ayir Brown (knee)
  • C Jon Feliciano (back)
  • S Tashaun Gipson (quadricep)
  • WR Danny Gray (shoulder)
  • TE George Kittle (back)
  • RB Christian McCaffrey (calf)
  • CB Ambry Thomas (hand)

HOUSTON TEXANS at BALTIMORE RAVENS (Saturday)

HOUSTON TEXANS:

  • Did Not Participate in Practice (Tuesday):
  • FB Andrew Beck (back)
  • C Dieter Eiselen (illness)
  • DE Jerry Hughes (ankle)
  • G Shaquille Mason (not injury related – resting player)
  • DT Sheldon Rankins (ribs, shoulder)
  • T Laremy Tunsil (not injury related – resting player)
  • Limited Participation in Practice (Tuesday):
  • DE Will Anderson (ankle)
  • LB Blake Cashman (knee)
  • DT Maliek Collins (hip)
  • DE Jonathan Greenard (ankle)
  • WR John Metchie (foot)
  • LB Denzel Perryman (ribs)
  • WR Robert Woods (hip)

BALTIMORE RAVENS:

  • Did Not Participate in Practice (Tuesday):
  • CB Marlon Humphrey (calf)
  • LB Del’Shawn Phillips (shoulder)
  • WR Tylan Wallace (knee)
  • Limited Participation in Practice (Tuesday):
  • TE Mark Andrews (ankle)
  • WR Zay Flowers (calf)
  • LB Malik Harrison (groin)
  • LB Odafe Oweh (ankle)
  • Full Participation in Practice (Tuesday):
  • WR Devin Duvernay (back)

This injury report provides key insights into player availability and potential lineup adjustments that may impact the outcomes of these critical playoff games.

by Abhishek Shukla

LA Galaxy Strengthens Attack with Signing of Miguel Berry

The LA Galaxy has made a significant addition to their squad by signing forward Miguel Berry for the upcoming seasons.

Berry, aged 26, has been acquired by the LA Galaxy through a trade with Atlanta United, in exchange for LA’s natural second-round pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. The contract signed by Berry extends through the 2025 MLS season, with a club option for 2026. This move comes after Berry’s stint at Atlanta United in 2023, where he made 27 appearances, including 10 starts, scoring one goal and assisting another.

Over his four-season career in the MLS, Berry has played for Columbus Crew, D.C. United, and Atlanta United, recording 11 goals and three assists in 75 regular-season matches. He started 40 of these games, showcasing his potential as a reliable forward in the league. Berry’s best performance came in his rookie season with Columbus in 2021, where he scored eight goals and provided two assists in 18 matches.

The addition of Berry to LA Galaxy’s roster is seen as a strategic move to strengthen their attacking options. This is particularly pertinent following the trade of Preston Judd to the San Jose Earthquakes. Berry will be expected to add depth and versatility to the Galaxy’s frontline, alongside Serbian international and U22 Initiative signing Dejan Joveljić.

LA Galaxy’s General Manager Will Kuntz expressed excitement about working with Berry and adding his attacking experience to the team’s roster. This acquisition reflects LA Galaxy’s continued efforts to bolster their squad as they aim for a return to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in 2024. Last season, the team finished 13th in the Western Conference, which was a disappointing outcome hamstrung by injuries.

Berry’s move to LA Galaxy adds an interesting dynamic to the team’s attack, raising expectations for the upcoming season. The Galaxy’s fans and management will be eagerly awaiting to see how Berry’s integration into the team impacts their performance in the MLS.

by Abhishek Shukla

Colorado Rapids Sign Top SuperDraft Picks for 2024 Season

The Colorado Rapids have bolstered their squad with the signings of their top three selections from the 2024 MLS SuperDraft.

Midfielder Wayne Frederick, winger Kimani Stewart-Baynes, and defender Nate Jones are the latest additions to the Rapids, following their selection as three of the top five picks in the SuperDraft. Frederick, the No. 2 overall pick, inked a three-year deal with an option for 2027. Stewart-Baynes, selected fourth overall, also signed a three-year contract, with options for 2027 and 2028. Jones, originally chosen by Austin FC as the fifth overall pick before a draft-day trade, agreed to a one-year contract with options extending through 2025 to 2027.

Frederick, a 19-year-old sophomore from Duke University, made 17 appearances in his 2023 campaign, recording three goals and three assists. Stewart-Baynes, an 18-year-old freshman from the University of Maryland, was named the 2023 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and contributed three goals and seven assists in 14 games. Jones, a 22-year-old junior from the University of Washington, earned First Team All-Pac 12 honors during his junior year, showcasing his defensive prowess.

Rapids president Pádraig Smith expressed excitement about the new signings, emphasizing that Frederick, Stewart-Baynes, and Jones possess the high-end potential and character the club seeks in draft selections. Head coach Chris Armas also noted his confidence in the players’ ability to integrate into the team and execute their style of play.

In addition to these signings, the Rapids announced that their final three 2024 SuperDraft selections – forward Palmer Ault, defender Anderson Rosa, and forward Gunnar Studenhofft – will return to their respective colleges. However, Colorado will retain their MLS rights due to SuperDraft regulations.

The Rapids, who have also signed US men’s national team players Zack Steffen and Djordje Mihailovic this winter, are set to commence their 2024 campaign on February 24 at the Portland Timbers.

by Abhishek Shukla

Yankees Boost Rotation with Signing of RHP Marcus Stroman

The New York Yankees have significantly strengthened their pitching rotation by signing two-time All-Star right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman to a two-year Major League contract.

The contract, which extends through the 2025 season, also includes a conditional player option for the 2026 season. The 32-year-old Stroman, known for his agility and precision on the mound, completed the previous season with a 10-9 record and a 3.95 ERA over 136.2 innings pitched. He gave up 120 hits, 68 runs (60 earned), issued 52 walks, and struck out 119 batters, with one complete game and one shutout among his performances.

The deal between the Yankees and Stroman is reportedly valued at $37 million and includes a vesting option for a third year. If Stroman pitches 140 innings in 2025, he gains control of the option, potentially extending the contract to a total package worth up to $55 million over three years.

A native of Medford, New York, Stroman has a career record of 77-76, with an ERA of 3.65 over 1,303.2 innings pitched. His Major League journey has included stints with the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs, earning him his second career All-Star selection last year with the Cubs.

Stroman’s addition to the Yankees’ roster places him alongside other key figures in the starting rotation, including reigning American League Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes, and Clarke Schmidt. This move is expected to significantly bolster the Yankees’ pitching depth and competitiveness for the upcoming 2024 season.

The Yankees are clearly making strategic moves to enhance their roster as they gear up for what promises to be an exciting and competitive season. Stroman’s signing marks a pivotal addition to their lineup, bringing his wealth of experience and skill to the mound at Yankee Stadium.

by Abhishek Shukla

Qatar Secures 1-0 Win Against Tajikistan to Reach AFC Asian Cup Knockout Stage

Al Khor: Defending champions Qatar became the first team to book a place in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ knockout stage, achieving a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Tajikistan in a Group A match at Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday. The win, coupled with the earlier goalless draw between China PR and Lebanon, ensures Qatar’s position as the Group A winners.

Qatar’s performance demonstrated their ability to secure crucial results, maintaining their status as one of the tournament’s top teams. The match against Tajikistan, though challenging, showcased Qatar’s resilience and tactical prowess, enabling them to emerge victorious in a tightly contested encounter.

The sole goal of the match provided the edge Qatar needed to confirm their advancement in the tournament. Despite Tajikistan’s valiant effort to contain the Qatari attack, the defending champions managed to find the breakthrough, reflecting their quality and depth.

As the first team to advance to the knockout stages, Qatar sets a high standard for the rest of the competition. Their victory in Group A places them in a favorable position to defend their title and continue their journey in the AFC Asian Cup.

For Tajikistan, the narrow defeat marks a commendable effort against the reigning champions, although they will be disappointed not to have secured a point. The team will now focus on their remaining group stage matches, aiming to make an impact and potentially progress further in the tournament.

The result of this match adds to the excitement of the AFC Asian Cup, with Qatar establishing themselves as a team to watch in the knockout stages. The tournament continues to showcase the best of Asian football, with teams like Qatar and Tajikistan contributing to its competitive and thrilling nature.

by Abhishek Shukla

HSBC SVNS LAX expands the sevens experience with Friday Night Lights

With the reimagined HSBC SVNS excitingly just around the corner for Los Angeles, HSBC SVNS LAX is going next level with competition and festivities now extended into Friday, March 1 for a ‘Friday Night Lights’ experience.

Men’s and Women’s pool play will now kick off on Friday evening with 12 pool stage matches beginning at 4:00 PM PT, all under the Dignity Health Sports Park stadium lights with added atmosphere to increase the nightlife experience. The remainder of pool play, along with the quarterfinals and super session will continue on Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Current ticket holders to HSBC SVNS LAX will have early access to the exclusive Friday Night Lights presale. Fans and groups already reserved for both Saturday and Sunday will be provided a free ticket to Friday, while single day ticket holders are offered a $5 + fees upgrade to attend Friday night. Reservation information will be delivered to current ticket holders and groups on January 17.

Friday Night Lights tickets will be general admission only and opened to the public starting January 19 at www.svns.com, with individual tickets as low as $25 + fees and all new 3-day passes also available. With the added date, all matches and competition will be hosted inside the main stadium at Dignity Health Sports Park.

World Rugby General Manager, Sevens World Series, Sam Pinder said on the exciting addition, “Following the outstanding excitement produced by the opening two rounds of HSBC SVNS 2024 in Dubai and Cape Town we are pleased to extend the HSBC SVNS LAX event to include a special ‘Friday Nights Lights’ session on 1 March at Dignity Health Sports Park. The Friday night session will see all 12 men’s and women’s teams in action, including both USA teams, meaning fans will get the first taste of world class rugby sevens action from some of the best athletes in the world, with added entertainment and food and beverage, fans are in for a treat at a very affordable ticket price.”

Turn up the heat in LAX!

HSBC SVNS LAX is set to host an electrifying spectacle with the world’s top 12 men’s and 12 women’s rugby sevens teams, including the hometown USA Eagles facing off against the renowned New Zealand All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens, double men’s Olympic champions Fiji, perennial favorites South Africa, Samoa, Australia, Canada and Argentina. Both USA men’s and women’s national teams will look to inspire the crowd with their performances and podium chase on home soil.

Across three thrilling days of competition, some of the world’s best athletes will display unmatched speed, skill, and athleticism, taking to the stage at the venue that is anticipated to host the LA 2028 Olympic rugby sevens competition.

With less than one year until the Olympic Games Paris 2024 gets underway, the action will be intense from start to finish with World Rugby’s revamped competition formula set to provide rugby sevens fans with even more excitement, jeopardy, and entertainment.

It’s the rugby you love, with so much more, including:

Beach Club

We’ll bring the beach, you bring the energy. Party all afternoon, through sundowners, into the night at our iconic beach club. With DJ’s playing dance floor fillers and classic anthems, bars, food and you can spend as long or as little at the Beach Club as you want. Don’t forget your sunscreen! 

Sun Stage

Where performers and fans interact on an intimate level. Think dancers, rap battles…with the occasional live music act/DJ.

Food Markets

This isn’t your regular food market. Fusing together the best of local cuisines, art and music, our market is a theatre for the hungry. Whether you’ve been soaking up the rays or getting stuck into the rugby, our street food heaven is high on the HSBC SVNS agenda.

Live Music

Prepare for the sounds of HSBC SVNS. No good party is complete without a resident DJ, live acts and good vibes, and we promise you this is one party you want to be on the guestlist for. Stay tuned for exciting updates on the artists who will be taking the stage.

Welcome to the Party Stand

If it’s a party you want, then it’s a party you’ve got! So, put on your wildest fancy dress, warm up those vocal cords, and get ready to experience rugby like never before.

Visit www.svns.com/en/events/los-angeles for tickets and more information.

by Abhishek Shukla

‘Road to’ qualification tracking tool launches for Glasgow and Bahamas

World Athletics has launched ‘Road to Glasgow 24’ and ‘Road to Bahamas 24’ to help athletes, media and fans track the qualification process for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 in March and the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 in May.

Searchable by discipline, country and qualification status, the online tool provides a real-time view of each event over the course of the qualification periods for the two World Athletics Series events.

The qualification period for WIC Glasgow 24 ends on 18 February, while for WRE Bahamas 24 it ends on 7 April.

The qualification system for WIC Glasgow 24 was released in April.

It is the first time that the ‘Road to’ qualification tracking tool has been used for the World Indoor Championships or the World Athletics Relays, following the launch of the tool for the World Athletics Championships in 2022 and 2023 and the Olympic Games in 2021 and 2024.

The ‘Road to’ tool is only intended to give an overview of which athletes and teams are in qualifying positions; it doesn’t, and will not, indicate which athletes or teams have been selected for entry by their member federation. Final entries will be published nearer to the time of the events in Glasgow and Bahamas.

by Abhishek Shukla

Jaipur Pink Panthers beat Haryana Steelers 37-27, extend unbeaten streak to 10 matches

17th January, Jaipur: The Jaipur Pink Panthers beat the Haryana Steelers 37-27 to extend their unbeaten streak to 10 matches, today. In a game defined by brilliant defending, the Jaipur Pink Panthers of Ankush (5 points), Sunil Kumar (4 points) and Reza Mirbagheri (4 points) were the real difference between the two teams. The Jaipur Pink Panthers remained unbeaten in their home leg.  

Through the season these two teams had built their results on the backbone of a strong defence, and in the early part of the game they leaned upon it, to keep the board ticking. Neither was too keen to gain their points on the raid, in the first half both secured a mere 5 points each in attack. In contrast, their defense, led by Ankush, won them 16 points.  

The Jaipur Pink Panthers took charge in the later part of the first half, and inflicted the first ALL OUT of the game with three minutes left to take a 14-8 lead. The Steelers cut that lead back a bit, soon after, thanks to Naveen Kundu’s excellent defending to go into the break down by a mere four points.

Both teams continued to rely on the DO OR DIE raid, trusting their defence to get the points. Deshwal’s ability to get touch points at crucial moments put the Steelers in trouble and soon enough the Jaipur Pink Panthers inflicted a second ALL OUT to take a massive 27-16 lead.

Deshwal’s resurgence continued into the second half and with it, the Jaipur Pink Panthers stretched their lead further. All the while their defence remained tight, and Ankush logged his fifth tackle point with two minutes left to play. The Jaipur Pink Panthers rounded their performance with a massive 10 points win to stay atop the table.

Please see below the PKL Season 10 match on 19th January

Game 1 – Telugu Titans KC vs Bengaluru Bulls- 8 pm

Game 2- Patna Pirates vs U.P. Yoddhas- 9 pm 

Venue: Hyderabad

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

Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2024: Chirag-Satwik advance to second round of Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2024

New Delhi, January 17, 2024: Asian Games gold medallists Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy secured a hard-fought 21-15, 19-21, 21-16 victory over Chinese Taipei’s Fang-Chih Lee and Fang-Jen Lee to advance to the second round of the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Super 750, organised by Badminton Association of India, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here on Wednesday.  

The second seeds, who finished runners up in the Malaysia Open Super 1000 last week, were quick off the blocks and pocketed the opening game rather easily. But their opponents managed to break the Indian pairs rhythm in the second game and took a 11-5 lead at the break.

Though Chirag and Satwik managed a late fight back and reduced the deficit to 18-19, the Taipei combination kept their cool to force a decider. In the final game, the Indian duo once again took control of the rallies with their attacking strokes to set up a second-round clash against the winner of the match between England’s Ben Lane/Sean Vendy and Chiense Taipei’s Lu Ching Yao and Yang Po Han.

“We are really happy with the way we are playing and the way we have started. We have worked a lot on our defence over the past two years and it has brought a new facet in our armor because you can’t always rely on your attack in these slow conditions. We are happy to get that first win here and hopefully, we go deep into the tournament,” stated Satwiksairaj Rankireddy following their victory.

Earlier, India’s 2021 World Championships silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth endured a 22-24, 13-21 defeat against Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu in the men’s singles opening round.

Srikanth began strong in the opening game and looked in control till the business end when Lee took a 20-17 lead. The Indian saved a total of four game points and earned a game point of his own before the Hong Kong shuttler pocketed the game.

Lee was dominant from the start in the second game and wrapped up the match in 47 minutes to set up a second-round clash against defending champion and seventh seed Kunluvat Vitidsarn, who defeated Denmark’s Magnus Johannesen 21-12, 21-16.

Elsewhere, the men’s doubles combination of Krishna Prasad Garaga and K Sai Pratheek lost 14-21, 11-21 against Japan’s Kenya Mitsuhashi and Hiroki Okamura.

India’s challenge ended in women’s doubles after both Ashwini Ponnappa/Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Bhat/Shikha Gautam suffered defeats.

Ashwini-Tanisha went down 5-21, 21-18, 11-21 against Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai of Thailand while Ashwini-Shikha lost 13-21, 3-21 against three-time World Championships medallists Kim So-Yeong and Kong Hee-Yong of South Korea.

In women’s singles, defending champion An Se-Young of South Korea had to work hard for her 14-21, 21-11, 21-11 victory against three-time India Open champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand. Two-time former World Champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan defeated Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark 26-24, 21-13.  

Indonesia’s men’s singles shuttlers had a good day with the 2018 Asian Games gold medallist Jonatan Christie defeating Hong Kong’s Angus NG Ka Long 21-13, 21-7 while Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Anthony Ginting secured a closely contested 16-21, 23-21, 21-17 victory over Kanta Tsuneyama.

Earlier in the day, top seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang of China sealed a 21-18, 21-18 victory against Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan of Chinese Taipei.

The tournament will be broadcast on Eurosport and Jio Cinema and badminton lovers can enjoy watching the action on all six days as BAI has decided to keep the entry for the tournament for free.

by Abhishek Shukla

Gujarat Giants stall Dabang Delhi KC’s winning run, ride on Deepak Singh’s High 5 for 31-26 victory

17th January, Jaipur: Gujarat Giants snapped Dabang Delhi KC’s winning run as they put up a formidable performance to claim a 31-26 victory in the Pro Kabaddi League match at the SMS Indoor Stadium in Jaipur on Wednesday. Deepak Singh was the Gujarat Giants’ best player as he finished with a High 5, while Dabang Delhi KC captain Ashu Malik claimed yet another Super 10.

Dabang Delhi KC sped away to a 4-1 lead in no time, but some resolute defending from Gujarat Giants saw them fight their way back into the game and a superb multi-point raid from Parteek Dahiya led to the first ALL OUT in the 8th minute. From trailing by 3 points, the Gujarat side were now in the lead at 10-4.

Giants’ right cover Deepak gave a really good account of himself with a few clutch tackles, while Sonu Jaglan came off the bench to inflict further damage on Dabang Delhi KC. The momentum swiftly swung in the favour with the men in orange as they led 19-12 at the break.

Dabang Delhi KC bounced back well in the second half as raids from their skipper Ashu Malik saw them gain four successive points and reduce the Giants to 2 men. The team from Delhi went on to reduce their deficit to a mere 2 points at 19-21, but the Gujarat Giants’ defensive solidity saw them through. Jitendra and Deepak came up with SUPER TACKLES as Ram Mehar Singh’s team led 27-21 with 5 minutes to go.

Ashu worked tirelessly and once again had the opposition down to just 2 men, but a last-gasp multi-point raid from Mohammad Esmaeil Nabibakhsh sealed the deal as Gujarat Giants picked up their 8th win of the season.

Please see below the PKL Season 10 match on 19th January

Game 1 – Telugu Titans KC vs Bengaluru Bulls- 8 pm

Game 2- Patna Pirates vs U.P. Yoddhas- 9 pm 

Venue: Hyderabad

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

Ankita survives a scare, 3 Indians enter pre-quarterfinals

Ankita survives a scare, 3 Indians enter pre-quarterfinals of KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open

Bengaluru, Jan 17: India’s leading star Ankita Raina rallied brilliantly to come back from the brink of defeat after being down by a set and trailing 1-5 in the second set to come up trumps against Viktoria Morvayova in a first round encounter of the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open being played at the KSLTA Stadium here on Wednesday. The eighth seed, fighting a sore throat and stomach cramps overcame her Slovakian rival 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 to move into the pre-quarterfinals.

On a good day for the Indians, Rutuja Bhosale and Vaidehi Chaudhary also entered the last 16 stage. While Rutuja fought back after losing the first set 0-6 against Eri Shimizu of Japan before winning the next two sets 7-5, 7-5, Vaidehi brushed aside the challenge of Sapfo Sakellaridi of Greece 6-4, 6-2.

In an extremely competitive field, third seed Ekaterina Makarova became the first casualty of the tournament after suffering a straight set defeat from qualifier Naho Sato of Japan 5-7, 2-6. Qualifier Mei Yamaguchi of Japan later sent seventh seed Sofya Lansere home with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. In the longest match of the day that lasted for 3 hours and 31 minutes, sixth seed Carole Monnet of France overcame Serbian Dejana Radanovic 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9).

Ankita, who is just back from being eliminated in the second round of the qualifiers at the Australian Open, was quite rusty in the first set, occasionally shooting down a winner. After struggling to hold her serve in the first game, the 31-year-old ace Indian, suffered due to some poor shot selection. Morvayova, who is ranked more than 200 ranks below Ankita, was swift on the court and grabbed the opportunity to register a clean sweep winning five games on the trot to take the first set.

In the second set, Ankita broke her opponent’s serve in the first game and was promptly broken back. However, the 22-year-old raced to a 5-1 lead after breaks in the 4th and 6th game and was serving for the match before Ankita staged a comeback by not only breaking her serve but going on to win the next five games, with breaks in the 9th and 11th games to make it 1-1.

Continuing in the same vein in the final set, Ankita won the first four games courtesy breaks in the 1st and 3rd games. Morvayova lost her temper midway through the set after she deemed a ball to be out but in reality, the ball was in. The only game she could win was the 7th where she was able to hold her serve as the Indian wrapped up the set and the match which lasted for 2 hours and 14 minutes.

In another duel, before Rutuja could take a measure of her opponent, the first set was over 0-6, thanks to her erratic serves. The Indian went 3-1 up with a break in the 3rd game. The 25-year-old Japanese won the next three games with a break in the 6th game. The Asian Games gold medallist achieved the crucial break in the 11th game before serving out for the set.

In the deciding set, the 27-year-old Indian held an advantage after an early break in the first game to go 4-2 up. However, Shimizu fought back and with a break in the 8th game, went 5-4 up. Rutuja then won three consecutive game to take the set and the match.

Results

Singles Round of 32

Lena Papadakis (GER) bt Amandine Hesse (FRA) 6-2, 6-3; 5-Polina Kudermetova bt Gergana Topalova (BUL) 6-2, 6-3; 4-Moyuka Uchijima (JPN) bt En Shuo Liang (TPE) 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-1; Q-Mei Yamaguchi (JPN) bt 7-Sofya Lansere 6-2, 6-2; Tatiana Prozorova bt Anastasia Kulikova (FIN) 6-2, 6-3; 8-Ankita Raina (IND) bt Viktoria Morvayova (SVK) 1-6, 7-5, 6-1; 1-Darja Semenistaja (LAT) bt WC-Soha Sadiq (IND) 6-2, 6-1; Rutuja Bhosale (IND) bt Eri Shimizu (JPN) 0-6, 7-5, 7-5; 2-Chloe Paquet (FRA) bt WC-Suhitha Maruri (IND) 6-2, 6-1; Q-Naho Sato (JPN) bt 3-Ekaterina Makarova 7-5, 6-2; Tina Nadine Smith (AUS) bt Lanlana Tararudee (THA) 6-3, 6-2; Jana Kolodynska bt Anna Siskova (CZE) 6-4, 6-2; 6-Carole Monnet (FRA) bt Dejana Radanovic (SRB) 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9); Vaidehi Chaudhari (IND) bt Sapfo Sakellaridi (GRE) 6-4, 6-2.

by Abhishek Shukla

World Curling and Central FX agree multi-year foreign exchange partnership

Perth, Scotland – World Curling are delighted to announce a multi-year partnership agreement with London based financial services company, Central FX.
 
The agreement will see Central FX become the official Foreign Exchange Partner of World Curling, assisting the federation in managing its currency risk and international payments.
 
Alan Chalmers, World Curling Head of Finance said, “As a multi-national organisation, World Curling requires regular and reliable foreign exchange services. Partnering with Central FX will allow us to use their expertise and bring a consistent approach to our business operations on a global level. We are delighted to have Central FX join our suite of partners and I’m looking forward to working closely with them.”
 
Adam Stark, Central FX Director said, “With World Curling’s ambitious plans to grow the sport across the globe we are very excited to be part of this journey. We look forward to working with the team as well as their partners, clients, and other associations in the sport to help manage their currency risks.”
 
Learn more about the services provided by Central FX at https://centralfx.co.uk

by Abhishek Shukla

TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 Ticketing fully operational

CAF confirms that ticketing for TotalEnergies AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 (“AFCON”) remains under its responsibility.

Although there were some printing issues on the first day of the AFCON due to last-minute group purchases of physical tickets, the ticketing system has since been adapted to deal with such requests. 

The system is currently functioning well. Over 60%  tickets have been sold in CAF’s online platform internationally. Additionally, there are ticket selling points at each host city (see list attached).

The close collaboration between COCAN and CAF continues to respond in real-time to the challenges that inevitably arise when organising an event of this magnitude anywhere in the world.

Selling points

by Abhishek Shukla

Lebanon and China PR Draw 0-0 in AFC Asian Cup Group A Match

Doha: Lebanon and China PR played out a goalless draw in their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Group A match at Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday. The result leaves both teams with much to do in their third matchday if they aim to advance to the Round of 16.

The match was a tightly contested affair, with neither side able to break the deadlock despite creating several scoring opportunities. Both teams demonstrated defensive resilience and tactical discipline, resulting in a stalemate that reflects the competitive nature of the group.

For China PR, the draw adds two points to their tally, while it marks Lebanon’s first point in the tournament. Moving forward, both teams will need to capitalize on their remaining group stage games to secure a spot in the knockout rounds.

The 0-0 draw highlights the evenly matched nature of the competition and sets the stage for an exciting conclusion to the group stage, with both teams still in contention for advancing in the tournament.

by Abhishek Shukla

Apprentice defeating the Master: 16-year-old Andreeva beats Ons Jabeur

Mumbai, January 17, 2024: An exciting series of results continues at the ongoing Australian Open 2024, as in a fairytale result, the 2023 WTA Newcomer of the Year, Mirra Andreeva, showcased pure class to beat 3-time Grand Slam Finalist Ons Jabeur in Round 2 of the Australian Open. The 16-year-old Russian International displayed top-level athleticism to edge past the sixth-seeded Ons Jabeur, becoming the first player aged 17 or younger to defeat a Top 10 player at the Australian Open since Coco Gauff defeated then-defending champion Naomi Osaka in the third round of the 2019 tournament. Speaking about her pre-match nerves, Andreeva said, “I was really nervous before the match because I have always been inspired by Ons Jabeur, by the way she plays.” She further added, “In the first set, I showed amazing tennis. I honestly didn’t expect that from myself. I just wanted to go and play on this big court for the second time, just to enjoy tennis, just to enjoy the time, and I did.” Reflecting on her growth from the previous year, she added, “Last year I was 15, but now I think I am a bit more mature than I was before. Over this year, I think I have changed a lot, and I think you can see it on the court.” 
Mirra Andreeva is through to the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the third time in her career. Can the young prodigy Mirra Andreeva keep the momentum and win the 3rd Round? Watch Mirra Andreeva take on Frenchwoman Diane Parry in the 3rd round of the Australian Open on Friday, January 19th, live only on Sony Sports Network. Sony Sports Network will bring all the LIVE action from the tournament in English and Hindi, while Tamil and Telugu language feeds will be added from the Quarterfinals stage onwards
by Abhishek Shukla

Commemorating air sports and spaceflight records and achievements in 2024

Lausanne, Switzerland – Throughout the year 2024, FAI will celebrate the anniversaries of outstanding records and achievements in air sports and spaceflight, highlighting them through a series of articles and social media messages.

Important feats to recognise for 2024 include:

  • The first helicopter record ever ratified by FAI: Etienne Oehmichen’s flight in 1924
  • The first solo balloon crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by Joseph Kittinger in 1984 – a Distance record
  • Bruce McCandless’ first untethered spacewalk in 1984
  • The record-breaking parachute jump by Alan Eustace from an altitude of 41 422 m in 2014

Exceptional records

Drawing up rules, and controlling and ratifying aeronautical and astronautical world and continental records are pivotal aspects of FAI activities.

Since the first record-setting flights were recorded in 1906, the FAI has ratified thousands of records. In commemorating record anniversaries, the World Air Sports Federation also aims to honour the exceptional individuals behind these achievements and highlight the remarkable stories that led them towards gaining their place in the history books.

Momentous achievements and firsts

FAI will also commemorate outstanding achievements and firsts dating back to as early as the 19th century. Symbolising the triumph of human determination, bravery, and skill, they mark milestones in the history of air sports and space exploration

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru’s Super Cup hopes end with late defeat

Bhubaneswar: A late goal by substitute Brison Fernandes (90+3’) ended Bengaluru FC’s hopes of making it out of Group D of the Super Cup, where nothing short of a win against FC Goa was enough for Gerard Zaragoza’s boys at the Kalinga Stadium, on Wednesday. 

A combination of injuries (Keziah Veendorp), suspension (Ryan Williams) and international duty (Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Suresh Wangjam) meant the Spanish tactician had to rely on a young, and fairly inexperienced side who gave an impressive account of themselves, only to concede in injury time. 

Zaragoza made two changes to the starting lineup that played against Odisha last Friday. Winger Rohit Danu replaced the suspended Williams, while young midfielder Harsh Patre, who has showcased his assuredness in the ISL, was recalled into the eleven to replace the injured skipper Veendorp. 

Bengaluru were content to soak the pressure for most parts of the first half, picking their moments on the counter. Javi Hernandez had the Blues’ best chance, when he received the ball on the edge of the box, only to blast his take over. 

Zaragoza chose to begin the second half with two changes, bringing young Shivaldo Singh and Rohit Kumar on for Rohit Danu and Harsh, as Bengaluru switched gears in attack. The Blues’ youngsters combined soon after, when Shivaldo charged into the box and cut the ball back for Lalremtluanga Fanai. The midfielder’s shot was on target before Carl McHugh turned up with the block. 

Bengaluru grew into the game, and bossed possession when Zaragoza rolled in another change – bringing on twenty-four-year-old Ashish Jha for Sivasakthi, and the change almost proved to be an instant masterstroke. Slipped through on goal by Shivaldo, Jha’s attempted chip over an onrushing Dheeraj Singh while warding off pressure from Odei Onaindia, bounced inches wide of the goal. 

The Blues kept making forays in the Goa third, but couldn’t seem to find the finish they so badly were in need of. Instead it was Goa, who against the run of play, found the back of the net when an unmarked Brison rose to head Muhammed Nemil’s cross past Sahil Poonia, giving Manolo Marquez three important points.

by Abhishek Shukla

Axar Patel leads Indian charge in MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings

Axar Patel has advanced 12 places to a career-best fifth position among bowlers as a clutch of India players made significant gains in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings after strong performances in the series against Afghanistan.

Patel’s hauls of two for 23 and two for 16 in India’s identical six-wicket wins over Afghanistan in the first two T20Is of their three-match series have also lifted him two places to 16th among all-rounders after the latest weekly rankings update on Wednesday that takes into consideration all matches completed till Tuesday.

Opener Yashaswi Jaiswal’s 34-ball 68 in the first T20I in Indore has lifted him seven places to a career-best sixth position while other left-hander Shivam Dube’s successive unbeaten knocks of 60 and 63 have helped him shoot up from 265th to 58th.

Another player to make notable gains is New Zealand’s Finn Allen, whose two innings of 34 off 15 and 74 off 41 helped his team win the first two matches against Pakistan and lifted him 11 places to 16th among batters. His team-mate Tim Southee, who took six wickets in the first two matches, is up eight places to 18th in the bowlers’ list.

Shubman Gill (up seven places to 60th among batters), Tilak Verma (up three places to joint-61st among batters) and Arshdeep Singh (up four places to 21st among bowlers) are the other India players to move up while Najibullah Zadran (up one place to 46th) and Mohammad Nabi (up two places to 54th) are the Afghanistan players to move up in the batting rankings.

Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam is up one place to fourth after notching consecutive half-centuries in the first two matches against New Zealand while Fakhar Zaman is up 14 places to 81st. Daryll Mitchell (up nine places to 37th) and Kane Williamson (up 13 places to 59th) are the Kiwi batters to move up.

The bowling rankings see Sri Lanka spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana take joint-third position after moving up one and two places, respectively. Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf’s haul of five wickets in two matches have lifted him two places to joint-14th while New Zealand player Adam Milne’s six wickets in two matches see him advance from 66th to joint-47th position.

by Abhishek Shukla

85th Sub-Junior and Cadet National TT-Day 2

Indore, January 17: Top-seed Petroleum Sports Promotion Board Academy (PSPB-A) and second-seed West Bengal entering the semifinals of the 85th UTT Sub-Junior and Cadet National Table Tennis Championships at the Abhay Prashal Indoor Stadium today was a foregone conclusion. Even Karnataka boys had been there and done that before. But Odisha making it to the medal round was the real story of the day.

Having lost the opportunity before, in three Nationals at Vijayawada, Ahmedabad and Indore, the Under-15 boys from Odisha found lady luck smiling on them for the first time. And who did they beat in the quarters? Tamil Nadu, and that too for an emphatic 3-1 score.

Though Odisha had an inauspicious start when Anupam Das lost to Nikhil Menon 3-0, there was no indication of their intent. But Jigyanshu Sahoo, their pivot, made a bright start against Siddarth Prakash to level the score. However, Jigyanshu and Anupam combined well to win the doubles, crucial in a team match. The 2-1 lead gave that much confidence, and Jigyanshu beat Nikhil 3-1 to reach where they deserved.

Karnataka’s reliance on left-handed Tehsub and Atharva paid off against Maharashtra, who the former beat 3-2. After Tehsub put Karnataka ahead, Atharva failed to consolidate and went 2-3 down to Shouren. Their problems continued in the doubles, and the Karnataka lads let Maharashtra claw their way back and lead 2-1. But Tehsub beat Souren, and Atharva completed the job, leaving Maharashtra rue a lost chance.

PSPBA kept their date with destiny after beating Gujarat 3-1, and West Bengal thrashed Assam 3-0 with some authority in their quarterfinals.

After their easy passage into the knockout stage, PSPBA was taken the distance for the first time in the championships when the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) boys kept themselves in the match until the decider. For once, the Petroleum Academy boys found their match in the NCOE rivals as the latter tried and almost changed the script when out in the dumps and trailed 0-2.

The game-changing moment came when Rajdip and Shrestho, who lost their singles to Sahil and Sarthak, fought well in the doubles to post their first rubber (3-1) win. It brought their confidence back, and Rajdip, playing the reverse singles, outsmarted Sarthak in the fourth rubber. The match went down to the wire, and Rajdip won 3-2. With the scores tied 2-2, it was up to the left-handed Sahil to make the most of the occasion. And he did not fail his team, winning the fifth rubber against Shrestho in straight games.

Gujarat beat Delhi 3-1 in a dominant pre-quarterfinal, as did Odisha against Telangana. But for these matches, the rest were one-sided, and the results spoke volumes about the supremacy of the winners.

Meanwhile, the main draw of the Under-13 boys got underway, while the U-15 and U-11 second-stage matches will begin tomorrow after the group engagements today. Concurrently, the doubles affairs are also happening in the Under-15 and Under-13 sections.

Results: U-15 Boys Team: Quarterfinals: PSPBA bt Gujarat 3-1 (Sahil Rawat lost to Arya Kataria 5-11, 9-11, 9-11, Sarthak Arya bt Sujal Kukadia 11-7, 11-9, 11-2, Ronald Sarkar/Sahil bt Malav Panchal/Abhilaksh Patel 11-2, 11-7, 11-5, Sarthak bt Arya 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9); Karnataka bt Maharashtra 3-2 (Teshub Dinesh bt Tanish Pendse 11-8, 17-15, 8-11, 13-11, Atharva Nawarange lost to Shouren Soman 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, Teshub/Atharva lost to Shouren/Tanish 6-11, 11-7, 15-13, 11-8, Teshub bt Shouren 6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6, Atharva bt Tanish 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4); Odisha bt Tamil Nadu 3-1 (Anupam Das lost to Nikhil Menon 6-11, 6-11, 5-11, Jigyanshu Sahoo bt Siddarth Prakasam 11-5, 9-11, 12-10, 11-6, Anindya Das/Jigyanshu bt Siddarth/Akash Rajavelu 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7, Jigyanshu bt Nikhil 11-9, 11-3, 7-11, 11-9); West Bengal bt Assam 3-0 (Rupam Sardar bt Swapnanil Dutta 11-6, 11-9, 11-7, Soham Mukherjee bt Abheek Kashyap 6-11, 11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7, Rupam/Soham bt Swapnanil/Abheek 11-9, 13-11, 11-6).

Pre-quarterfinals: PSPBA bt NCOE 3-2 (Sahil bt Rajdip Sen 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4, Sarthak bt Shresth Chakraborty 11-3, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5, Sahil/Rushikesh Jagtap lost to Rajdip/Shrestho 8-11, 10-12, 14-12, 7-11, Sarthak lost to Rajdip 4-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-4, 12-14, Sahil bt Shrestho 11-3, 11-6, 11-5); Gujarat bt Delhi 3-1 (Abhilaksh bt S. Bhaskar Singh 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 9-11, Arya bt Raunaq Goel 11-5, 11-5, 11-7, Abhilaksh/Arya bt Bhaskar/Harnoor S Bedi 11-5, 10-12, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, Arya bt Bhaskar 11-5, 4-11, 7-11, 11-9, 14-12); Maharashtra bt Goa 3-0 (Tanish bt Khushal Naik 11-7, 11-8, 11-8, Shouren bt Chandan Caro 11-7, 11-4, 12-10, Kasthub/Parth bt Atharv Dhulapkar/Khushal 11-6, 11-7, 6-11, 11-8); Karnataka bt Rajasthan (TTFI-1) Atharva bt Aarav Acharya 14-16, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-6, Teshub bt Arinjay Kucchal 11-9, 11-3, 11-7, Arya/Arnav lost to  Aarav/Armaan Banthia 11-7, 3-11, 13-11, 4-11, 7-11, Teshub bt Aarav 11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9); Odisha bt Telangana 3-1 (Jigyansu bt Devansh Malkapuri 11-4, 11-4, 11-9, Anupam Das lost to Akshay Khajandar 9-11, 3-11, 5-11, Jigyansu/Anupam bt Karthik Teja/Akshay 11-9, 11-6, 11-2, Jigyansu bt Akahay 11-5, 11-6, 11-3); Tamil Nadu bt UP 3-0 (Siddarth bt Veer Balmiki 11-9, 11-4, 11-6, Akash bt Aryan Kumar 9-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6, Siddarth/Akash bt Aaryan/Veer 11-7, 12-10, 11-8); Assam bt Chandigarh 3-0 (Swapnanil bt Vadya Chawla 11-5, 1-5, 13-11, Abheek bt Vishal Garg 13-11, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, Swapnanil/Abheek bt Gishal/Vadya 11-3, 5-11, 11-6, 14-12); West Bengal bt Haryana 3-0 (Rupam bt Mahir Varma 11-6, 11-6, 11-5, Soham bt Shaurya Kumar 11-5, 10-12, 11-4, 11-5, Soham/Rupam bt Parsh Yadav/Mahir 11-5, 11-7, 11-9).

by Abhishek Shukla

KIYG 2023: Having learnt to play hockey from YouTube, Sreejesh-fan Shanmugapriya looking forward to make it big in Khelo India Youth Games 2023

Chennai, Jan 17: Shanmugapriya, custodian of Tamil Nadu’s girls’ hockey team for the Khelo India Youth Games 2023, is a fan of India’s goalkeeper P R Sreejesh. The 18-year-old spends a considerable amount of her time watching the former India captain in action on YouTube and hopes to meet him one day.

In fact, the youngster from Sivaganga district of the state has the media platform to thank for her early lessons in hockey. 

Shanmugapriya, who lost her father just over a month ago, got hooked to the sport after watching a competition at the Alagappa Model Government School in Karaikudi in 2018 and was desperate to learn how to play.

But there was no coach to teach her the basics and hence her brother Shanmuganathan introduced her to videos on YouTube to understand how the game was played. 

Determined to play the sport, Shanmugapriya would watch the videos and then practice the same in a small corner outside her house with her brother.

Her efforts bore fruit when her school’s Physical Education teacher saw her play hockey in the premises and recommended her to Madurai district coaches, who soon picked her for the district team as a goalkeeper.

However, Shanmugapriya’s problems were far from over. With her mother being the sole bread earner of the family, a hockey goalkeeper’s kit worth Rs 35,000 was out of her reach.

“Initially, I would borrow someone else’s kit to practice and play matches. Then I started doing some part-time work to raise money for my own kit but despite saving some money I was still falling short of Rs 15000,” she says.

Hearing about her plight, Shanmugapriya’s neighbours and well-wishers then came forward to raise the money required for her to buy the kit, which she uses even today.

The 18-year-old, who has also represented the state in the School Games hockey Nationals, knows that the Khelo India Youth Games is now an ideal platform for her to showcase her skills against the best in the country in her age group.

This is only the second time that Tamil Nadu girls team will be participating in the Khelo India Youth Games and Shanmugapriya’s role under the bar could be crucial in helping the team clear the group stage this time around.

And the first year Computer Science student of SRM College is confident that the team would be punching above its weight in front of their local supporters.

“This is an unique opportunity for many girls who can get inspired seeing us play,” she says.

by Abhishek Shukla

Jamie Overton excited to work with young UAE stars as Adani Sportsline-owned Gulf Giants begin ILT20 season 2

Dubai, 17 January 2024: Jamie Overton understands the pressures of retaining a trophy as big as the International League T20, but the English all-rounder is confident about the Adani Sportsline-owned Gulf Giants’ prospects in the second edition of the tournament, which commences on January 19 with a clash against his team and the Sharjah Warriors.
 
Speaking to the media ahead of the tournament, Overton shared his enthusiasm at the prospect of returning to action for the Adani Sportsline-owned team and helping them to the title once again, this time as defending champions. “The pressure is always there in whatever tournament you’re playing because you’re expected to win all the time. You have to deal with this pressure. Normally, the teams that win such competitions are the teams that do the basics very well. That means hitting the top of the off stump and nailing your skills as a bowler,” he said.
 
Jamie is excited to be working with some of the younger talents, especially the home-grown UAE players. He also credited the Adani group for their support of the team management during the tournament, “UAE has unbelievable cricketers. We have a couple of good guys here who have been phenomenal for us. Players like Sanchit (Sharma) and Aayan (Khan). If we can keep working on these cricketers, who knows where they can get to, we can potentially see them in the IPL fairly soon. Credit to the Adani Group for sticking with a great coach like Andy Flower. He’s one of the best coaches in the world.”
 
He might have not played in season one after suffering an injury, but this did not deter Overton from returning in time for the ILT20 season 2. Having spent time on the sidelines improving his fitness, the bowling all-rounder is ready to take the field once more, “It was like a tough first couple of months. I didn’t do anything for two months as I was trying to get over the injury, get my head space in a good place so that when I came back, I would be ready to go. When I did come back, I played in the T20 Blast as a batter just to try and prolong the season.
 
Meanwhile, sharing his concluding thoughts, Overton revealed that his abilities made him an asset to the team, something he believes will help the Adani Sportsline-owned team unbeatable once again. “I’ve bowled quite a lot more in the last six months. I have been working on my skills with the white ball, trying to bowl Yorkers and slower, nailing my lengths a bit more. This will help be a bit more valuable to the team, offering two different assets.
 
“And then with the bat, you try to take sensible options and target the bowlers that you feel you can target. We’re in a good place and everyone feels like they’re ready to go for season 2 of the ILT20 and hopefully try to win the trophy back,” said the Englishman.