by Abhishek Shukla

Mumbai Meteors beat newbies Delhi Toofans in five-set thriller

Chennai, February 16th, 2024: Mumbai Meteors began their campaign with a thrilling 15-13, 17-15, 13-15, 13-15, 17-15 win over the Delhi Toofans at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai to kickstart their campaign with 3 points in the third season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23. Shubham Chaudhary was named the Player of the Match.

If Toofans had any nerves playing their first game, it did not show. Attempting to build pressure from the service, both teams made early errors. Delhi’s Lazar Dodic and Anu James started racking up points with powerful spikes from the outside lines. But Shubham Chaudhary’s risky endeavour to go long on serve paid off with a super serve and Mumbai Meteors took control. 

As Delhi began attempting to claw back, Saurabh Maan’s monster blocks sealed the doors. Anu’s pipe attacks presented a new challenge for Mumbai, but with Shubham’s all-round showing, the puzzle was solved. Daniel Aponza’s timely blocks and fiery spikes from Santosh and Anu James gave Delhi an opening back. 

Aponza’s strong all-round showing and Mumbai’s serve errors shifted the momentum in the favour of newbies, pushing the game to the final set. Delhi’s aggressive serves troubled Mumbai. But a bold move to call a late super point paid off for Mumbai and Amit Gulia sealed the deal for his side with a Super Serve.

Following the success of the first two seasons, the third season of the ‘Asli Entertainer’ RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 will be aired on Sony Sports Network in five languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Fans can anticipate another thrilling season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 and experience the excitement of top-tier teams battle it out on the volleyball court starting 15th February 2024, 6:30 PM onwards, Live on Sony Sports Network and will be available to livestream on SonyLiv.

by Abhishek Shukla

Adani’s Gujarat Giants Unveil Jersey, Kick Start Preparation for Season 2 of WPL

Bengaluru, 16th February, 2024: Ahead of the monumental second season the WPL, which tees off in Bengaluru, the Adani Sportsline owned Gujarat Giants began their preparations, by unveiling their jersey for the tournament. 
The Gujarat Giants’ Head Coach Michael Klinger and Mentor Mithali Raj were present at the ceremony as they presented the new jersey to the squad ahead of their training in the evening. The Giants, will be captained by Australian run-machine Beth Mooney, with Indian all-rounder Sneh Rana as the vice-captain. 

In preparation for this season’s WPL, the team in orange kick started their training with great gusto in the Garden City of Bengaluru, and are putting in the hard yards as they approach their first game. The Gujarat Giants will open its campaign at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru against Mumbai Indians on 25 February. 

While Michael Klinger is the Head Coach and Mithali Raj is the Mentor and Advisor, one of India’s most renowned spinners Nooshin Al Khadeer is the Bowling Coach for the team this season. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, Head Coach Michael Klinger said, “This is a new season in the WPL and we are really excited about it. But we must work very hard to be able to put in a good show for our fans. We have a few plans for our players, and the roles for everyone are also well defined, and we hope the players are the best version of themselves every day. There is a lot to look forward to here, and the team is gung-ho about the upcoming season, and we are quietly confident about doing well once things kick off.” 

“The WPL is a great platform for women’s cricket, and the Adani Sportsline team have been tremendous in terms of supporting the team with whatever is needed as we build up to our opening game. We have a well-balanced squad with a lot of youth and plenty of experience in the senior players, and together, we are always looking to put our best foot forward. This is an important season for the Gujarat Giants, and I want all our players to give it their very best, in every training session and in every game of course, and ask all the questions they need to, because that’s the best way to make sure the preparation is on-point,” said Mithali Raj, Mentor and Advisor, Gujarat Giants.

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengal FC searches desperate revival against inexperienced Hyderabad FC

East Bengal FC will tour to take on Hyderabad FC at the Gachibowli Stadium to cap off the Saturday double header of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 tomorrow. The Red & Gold Brigade are winless since their triumph in the Kalinga Super Cup last month. Their 2-2 draw in the Kolkata Derby was followed with successive losses against NorthEast United FC and Mumbai City FC. Hence, their playoff prospects, which seemingly appeared to be bright a couple of weeks ago, are dwindling and need an urgent resurgence. The team is placed 10th in the table with two victories and five defeats in 13 encounters so far.

They have not won in the ISL in their last six matches, with their previous victory coming on December 4 against NorthEast United FC by a 5-0 margin. They would possibly be hoping that their aspirations receive a boost against Hyderabad FC, a team that is still searching for its first win of the ISL campaign. Few things have gone right for the hosts this year, but the form of East Bengal FC doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence at the moment either. This is an opportunity for both these teams to set things straight and possibly sow the seeds of a possible comeback into the scheme of things that could lead them to progress in the ISL.

What’s at stake?

Hyderabad FC

Hyderabad FC has scored the least goals amongst all teams in ISL 2023-24, having found the back of the net only five times in 14 matches. However, it is not a concern that they face against East Bengal FC, as they have netted in each of their seven fixtures in the league, the only team against whom Hyderabad FC has managed this feat. However, their current record doesn’t hold them in good stead.

They have not scored in their last five games, and another such match will make them only the second team after Chennaiyin FC (7) to go on a stretch of six games or longer without scoring in the ISL. The team has an inexperienced frontline right now, and head coach Thangboi Singto must in fact try devising new ways through which he can make the boys breach the opposition’s backline. Hyderabad FC is the only team to have failed to score from a set-piece so far this season, with all five of their strikes coming from open play. Should they look at that as an area they can work on to get better at?

East Bengal FC

East Bengal had won 2-1 against Hyderabad FC in their encounter earlier this season, and the coming match presents them an opportunity to record a league double over the team for the first time in ISL history. Their current six-game winless streak in the ISL is only surpassed by a similar 10-match-long run that they went on from January-October 2022. However, head coach Carles Cuadrat boasts of a formidable record over Hyderabad FC, averaging two points in his faceoffs against them.

Only against Odisha FC has his teams won more points (2.5) on an average, and it suggests that the Spaniard relishes taking on their forthcoming opposition. His team was hitting all the right chords this last month, but they derailed slightly after lifting the Super Cup. Cuadrat had admitted before the Kolkata Derby that a certain sense of complacency kicks in after winning tournaments and it is a tendency that he will want his players to overcome in the clash against Hyderabad FC.

Key Players

Sajjad Parray (Hyderabad FC)

Hyderabad FC is at a stage where it has to unearth new games to turnaround their prospects in this campaign. Sajjad Parray is one such player, donning a crucial role in the backline for them since the mid-season break. Across three appearances, he has tackled once, intercepted thrice, and made 12 interceptions.

Sajjad averages 21 passes per game at 69% accuracy and he will want to bring in more neatness on that front to help his team build up solidly from the back. The likes of Cleiton Silva, Naorem Mahesh Singh, and Nandhakumar Sekar have fared tremendously against stronger defences this year and hence the match presents a formidable challenge to Sajjad & Co. to come out triumphant at the end of 90 minutes.

Nandhakumar Sekar (East Bengal FC)

Nandhakumar Sekar has uplifted his game remarkably this season, scoring and assisting thrice each in 13 games. He has created 13 goal-scoring opportunities and taken 63.63% of his shots on target. Averaging 19 passes per game, he has recorded an accuracy of 74% and has shown that he has developed an eye to score a goal and set up one as well. Hyderabad FC has conceded 26 strikes across 14 games, which is the highest amongst all teams. With multiple changes amongst the personnel in the backline, they are prone to expose spaces and Nandhakumar and his fellow forwards can capitalise upon in the coming match.

Head-to-Head

Played – 7

Hyderabad FC – 4

East Bengal FC – 1

Draws – 2

Trivia: Hyderabad FC’s Alex Saji is averaging two blocks per game in ISL 2023-24, which is the highest amongst all players.

Team Talk

 HFC.jpg“We as a team are trying our best. Is it enough? No, but it’s a learning process every day with all the youngsters and the very new staff that we have at the moment. But, we are planning as much as with our abilities and we are trying to execute in the training sessions properly,” Hyderabad FC head coach Thangboi Singto said in the pre-match press conference.

 EBFC.jpg“As I always say, we don’t find excuses. We have to change a lot of players to play against a top team like Mumbai City FC in the last match and the players who are playing gave their best, and they made their efforts,” East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat briefly recollected their 1-0 loss to the Islanders in their previous game.

ISL Fantasy

Nandhakumar Sekar (6.2cr)

Six goal contributions in ISL 2023-24

Naorem Mahesh Singh (5.8cr)

Always in the lookout for creating and scoring goals

Gurmeet Singh (3.9cr)

Reliable between the posts for Hyderabad FC

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

Budding players rub shoulders with top ATP Stars at DafaNews Bengaluru Open Tennis Clinic

Bengaluru, February 16: It was an experience worth cherishing for the 60 budding players who got to pick the brains of some of the top tennis stars participating in the DafaNews Bengaluru Open 2024 here during a special clinic organised by the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association on Friday.

India’s Davis Cup member Saketh Myneni, Oriol Roco Batalla of Spain and Frenchman Constantin B Kouzmine along with the coaches of the players in action this week in Bengaluru, had a hit with these players and shared tips on how to improve their game with a focus on how to up their game.

“It’s always fun to interact with so many kids and I am very happy to see so many young kids come out and play tennis,” said Myneni.

Harshini N, a top ranked Under-18 player from Karnataka who is also playing on the ITF circuit, was understandably elated to get a chance to play with the top players. “I got to ask them a few questions. It was a wonderful experience,” she added.

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

by Abhishek Shukla

Badminton Asia Team Championships: Indian women create history by reaching semis, men go down to Japan

New Delhi, February 16: Indian women’s team blanked Hong Kong 3-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Badminton Asia Team Championships for the first time in the history of the competition while the men went down 2-3 against Japan in Selangor, Malaysia, on Friday.

Indian women, who had upset China on Tuesday to top Group W, capitalised on a favourable quarter-final draw with two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu once again leading the charge.

Sindhu, who is returning after a long injury-induced layoff, started strong against Lo Sin Yan Happy but had to regroup herself after a second game hiccup to win 21-7, 16-21, 21-12 to give India the lead.

Sindhu began the match with a bang winning 11 of the first 12 points and sailed through the opening game. But if she was hoping for an easy outing, Lo had other plans. The Hong Kong shuttler used her deceptive strokes to trouble her opponent and forced a decider.

In the final game, Sindhu was just too strong for her opponent as she once again started aggressively and never looked in trouble.

The women’s doubles combination of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa then proved that they were the pair in from as they got the better of world no. 18 combination of Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam 21-10, 21-14 to put India within striking distance of the semi-final spot.

Ashmita Chaliha then wrapped up the quarterfinal encounter with a 21-12, 21-13 win over Yeung Sum Yee.

Assured of a medal, India will now face top seeds Japan, who defeated China 3-2 in the other quarterfinals.

However, it was a heart break for the men as they came within striking distance of a semi-final spot but two-time former world champion Kento Momota found a way to take his team through, beating Kidambi Srikanth in the third singles.

With the team locked at 2-2, all eyes were on the third and final singles between two former world no. 1 Kidambi Srikanth and Kento Momota. Srikanth drew first blood by claming the opening game before the Japanese fought back to force a decider.

It looked like India were through to the semi-final when Srikanth opened up a 19-12 lead but Momota forced his way back by winning eight straight points. The Indian managed to save one match point but could not stop the Japanese from taking the match in an hour and 17 minutes.

Results (quarterfinals):
Women: India bt Hong Kong 3-0 (PV Sindhu bt Lo Sin Yan Happy 21-7, 16-21, 21-12; Tanisha Crasto/Ashwini Ponnappa bt Yeung Nga Ting/Yeung Pui Lam 21-10, 21-14; Ashmita Chaliha bt Yeung Sum Yee 21-12, 21-13)

Men: India lost to Japan 2-3 (HS Prannoy lost to Kenta Nishimoto 16-21, 24-26; Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty bt Kenya Mitsuhashi/Hiroki Okamura 21-15, 21-17; Lakshya Sen bt Koki Watanabe 21-19, 22-20; MR Arjun/Dhruv Kapila lost to Akira Koga/Kazuki Shibata 17-21, 15-21; Kidambi Srikanth lost to Kento Momota 21-17, 9-21, 20-22)

by Abhishek Shukla

Chennai Singam’s Lion on the Prowl for Team Players, 125 Players participated in Scouting Camp

Mumbai, 16 February 2024: Actor Suriya Sivakumar and business stalwarts Rajdipkumar Gupta, Sandipkumar Gupta promoted Chennai Singams saw 125 players participating in its scouting camp that was held today at Saraswati Sports Complex in Malad.All the participants were blue ticket holders for the upcoming inaugural edition of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), India’s first T10 Tennis Ball Championship.

Coaches and co-owners of Chennai Singams oversaw the trials and have identified the players who could be a good fit for the roaring ethos of the team. Chennai Singams is the first franchise to conduct a scouting camp this season.

Over 18 lakh people had registered for ISPL and 350 players were selected to become Blue Ticket Holders. Former cricketers and heads of the selection committee (ISPL), Pravin Ambre and Jatin Paranjape carried out the selection process.   

Rajdipkumar Gupta, Co-owner of Chennai Singams said “To be the best you need to see the best, the players make us as much as we make them. We scouted so we could identify traits such as commitment, attention to detail, self-belief, and an analytical mind besides the stomach to roar to shunt or stunt opponents. We look forward to the auction scheduled on 25th February 2024.”

The inaugural edition of the Indian Street Premier League will get underway from 6th to 15th March 2024.

Tennis ball cricket has become a popular sport around the world, transcending boundaries and enthralling fans of all ages. This fast-paced game originated on South Asian streets, specifically in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and has grown in popularity due to its accessibility and thrill. In India, the game is extremely popular, with local leagues and tournaments being held in every corner of the country.

The introduction of floodlit tournaments, indoor facilities, and professional leagues has fuelled the growth of tennis ball cricket, providing players with a platform to showcase their abilities and compete at various levels. With the rise of social media and digital platforms, tennis ball cricket has gained ground, paving the way for it to be recognized as a legitimate sport beyond its humble beginnings.

by Abhishek Shukla

NorthEast United FC ignites playoff aspirations against power-packed Mohun Bagan Super Giant

Friday, February 16: Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG), buoyed by the unbeaten streak of FC Goa, is gearing up to host a similarly confident NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata to kick off the Saturday double header of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 on February 17 at 5 p.m. The Mariners must be understandably buoyant after managing to put brakes over a seemingly unstoppable FC Goa unit, that too in Fatorda.

Dimitrios Petratos rose to the occasion to deliver a decisive blow that will have ripple effects at the top of the table, and Antonio Lopez Habas must be looking to continue that impressive run when they welcome the Highlanders on Saturday.

On the other hand, NEUFC beat MBSG rivals East Bengal FC in a thrilling 3-2 encounter in Guwahati last Saturday. Powered by the incoming of striker Tomi Juric, their attack donned a sudden lethal look that took the Red & Gold Brigade aback immediately.

Interestingly, both sides head into this contest on the back of momentum and form favouring them. The Mariners had made light work of NEUFC when they last met in the ISL in December, but one must surely expect a more gripping and competitive contest this time around, given the context and circumstances.

What’s at stake?

Mohun Bagan Super Giant

Slowly but steadily, Habas and his plans are taking shape in the MBSG unit. With their win against FC Goa, they have now kept clean sheets in consecutive matches for the first time in this ISL season. Despite three losses and two draws, along with the departure of Juan Ferrando as the head coach, the team has accumulated 26 points in the first 13 games of this ISL season – which is their highest tally at this stage of any campaign of the competition so far. Moreover, the eight victories they have garnered thus far is their most wins after the aforementioned number of matches as well, suggesting that things might not be as troublesome as it appeared to be at one point of the season for MBSG.

An interesting pattern in their gameplay is that they get into the groove after an initial period of adjustment, having yet to concede a goal and netted five times between minutes 16-30 of their matches in ISL 2023-24. Wins against Hyderabad FC and FC Goa have set them in the right rhythm and Habas wouldn’t want to lose out on this form, especially when playing at home, despite this being the third game that they will play in a week.

NorthEast United FC

The duo of Juric and Nestor Albiach joined hands to unlock a neatly organised East Bengal FC defence in the last game and they will step into this match with similar objectives. Impressively, NEUFC boast of a laudable goal-scoring record against MBSG already, having found the back of the at least once in each of their previous eight fixtures.

It is their longest such active streak against any team in the league. The victory against the Red & Gold Brigade was essential for their playoffs aspirations, considering that it brought curtains to their eight-game unbeaten streak in the ISL – in a period where they had seen five draws and three losses. A prospective win against the Mariners will help them secure consecutive wins in the ISL for the first time since January 2021, and Benali will desire such a run of his team to boost their form ahead of the final leg of the league campaign.

Key Players

Manvir Singh (Mohun Bagan Super Giant)

Manvir Singh has been delivering consistent outputs in the frontline this season. His movements in the final third have been sharp, quick, and decisive. Manvir has been delivering important passes, mainly squaring up assists for forwards like Petratos and Jason Cummings. He has netted twice and notched three assists across 11 appearances in the ISL.

Manvir has created 15 goal-scoring opportunities, averaging 26 passes per game at an accuracy of 79%. He has won 15 aerial duels and 61.53% of his shots in the league have been hit on target. The winger will be eyeing making an impact in the forthcoming match, considering that there will be spaces open in the NEUFC backline if they take the attack to the opposition.

Tomi Juric (NorthEast United FC)

The Australian attacker has brought in newfound dynamism to NEUFC’s offensive endeavours. He has a formidable presence upfront and is dominant aerially too. Interestingly, he is deceptively quick on his feet and can turn swiftly in close spaces ensuring that he opens up newer ways for his teammates to put different sets of deliveries inside the box.

His two goals against East Bengal FC emanated quality and he visibly limited his role in and around the penalty box, averaging only seven passes per game, but ensuring that he was efficient and on target from positions that promised that the Highlanders could move ahead in the game. 66.66% of his shots have landed on target, and the team will be banking on similar consistency upfront at the home of the Mariners.

Head-to-Head

Played – 9

Mohun Bagan Super Giant – 6

NorthEast United FC – 2

Draws – 1

Trivia: NorthEast United FC is the only team yet to have a substitute score for them this season.

Team Talk

“We have the same squad as the last match. The objective is that we want to get three points. It depends on the opposition as well but our approach is to be positive,” Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Antonio Lopez Habas said in the pre-match press conference.

“My strategy is to make sure we do the best that we can. As I said, we are playing against a dinosaur! We need to be smart in our game and try to do the best we can,” NEUFC head coach Juan Pedro Benali mentioned ahead of the game. 

ISL Fantasy

Dimitrios Petratos (10.8cr)

Scored the winner against FC Goa

Manvir Singh (6.1cr)

Five goal contributions in ISL 2023-24

Nestor Albiach (4.6cr)

Creates and converts goal-scoring chances for NEUFC

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.

Points Table 

WhatsApp Image 2024-02-16 at 4.48.48 PM.jpeg
by Abhishek Shukla

PUMA & Delhi Capitals come together to deepen engagement in city’s cricket fandom

Bangalore, February 16, 2024: PUMA India has joined forces with Delhi Capitals to engage in the city’s strong fanbase and tap into the growing pool of sporting talent in the region.

PUMA’s multi-year partnership with Delhi Capitals as their official kit partner ahead of the year’s high-powered WPL and IPL season furthers its footprint in the cricketing landscape. 

Commenting on this historic collaboration, Karthik Balagopalan, Managing Director, PUMA India said, “We are thrilled to partner with Delhi Capitals and begin our association with the young vibrant team. Delhi is emerging as a huge magnet to sporting talent with an inimitable fanbase that has a pulse on the city’s soul and local culture. As a brand, PUMA has continuously championed cricket across levels, and this alliance underscores our commitment towards building the future generation of cricket as well as strong sports merchandising assets. We believe in the power of cricket to unite people, ignite aspirations and are here to push cricket & cricket culture forward.”

PUMA’s association with Royal Challengers Bangalore has proven to be a big success in the league.

Jemimah Rodrigues, cricketer and Delhi Capitals’ Vice Captain said, “We’re excited to have PUMA, a brand that’s shown tremendous commitment towards women’s sports, on board with the Delhi Capitals team. We’re thrilled for them to be a part of our journey as we look ahead to another smash-hit season of the Women’s Premier League.”

As kit partner, PUMA’s logo will be present on the leading arm of the jersey of both the men’s and women’s teams of Delhi Capitals. Inspired by the pulse of the country’s capital, the jersey incorporates the route map of the Delhi Metro Rail – the iconic representation of the city’s enterprising spirit. The players’ kit will also comprise training wear, accessories, travel gear and athleisure, capturing the same design aesthetic as the jersey.

This partnership also reinforces the long-standing relationship between PUMA and Delhi Capital’s parent company JSW through the sports brand’s association with Bengaluru Football Club. 

Commenting on the occasion, Sukhvinder Singh, interim CEO, Delhi Capitals, said, “Delhi Capitals is beyond thrilled to partner with PUMA for both our women’s and men’s squads. Being a franchise that focusses on young cricketing talent has always been crucial for us, which makes our association with a youth brand like PUMA an organic one. We’re confident that this partnership which kicks off with the upcoming seasons of the Women’s Premier League & the Indian Premier League is going to be a cracking success.”

Over the years, PUMA has forged partnerships with diverse sporting teams, encompassing global and Indian football giants such as Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Mumbai City FC, and Bengaluru FC, as well as the both the teams of Royal Challengers Bangalore. The brand also boasts a star-studded lineup of brand ambassadors featuring batting icon Virat Kohli, champion sprinter Usain Bolt, football stars Neymar Jr and Sunil Chhetri, celebrated boxer MC Mary Kom, and cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur and Mohammed Shami.

Additionally, PUMA has demonstrated its commitment to support emerging and versatile sports and activities by venturing into the thriving Esports industry in India through kit partnerships with organizations such as Revenant Esports and Orangutan Esports.

by Abhishek Shukla

10 Days to Go for PKL Season 10 Playoffs: ‘Most of the Hyderabad Fans Will Support Us,’ Says JPP Captain Sunil Kumar

PANCHKULA, 16 FEBRUARY 2024: The business end of the Pro Kabaddi League is just ten days away as five teams have already booked their places in the Playoffs. The Haryana Steelers, who need just one win to confirm the last Playoffs spot, will be looking to join Puneri Paltan, Jaipur Pink Panthers, Dabang Delhi K.C., Patna Pirates and Gujarat Giants in the Playoffs stage as they prepare to start their home leg in Panchkula on Friday.

When asked about playing in front of the kabaddi-crazy fans in Hyderabad, Jaipur Pink Panthers’ Captain Sunil Kumar said, “The fans in Hyderabad support us a lot. Rahul Chaudhari, who is the poster boy of the Pro Kabaddi League, has the most fan-following in Hyderabad. I think most of the fans will support us during the Playoffs. We are excited to play the Playoffs in Hyderabad.”

With a week’s break for their playoff clash after their final group game against the Bengaluru Bulls in the Panchkula leg, the Dabang Delhi K.C. skipper Ashu Malik said, “We will work hard during the week-long break that we have before our playoff match. The coach surely has a training routine in mind for us and we will work according to that so that we can perform at our best in those important matches.”

Meanwhile, Puneri Paltan’s Captain Aslam Inamdar said that the gap between their last league-stage match and the Semi-Finals will help the players to recover from any kind of injury, “The long gap between our last league match and the Semi-Finals will give us the time to practice hard and devise our strategies. All the players will have the time to relax and be fully fit for the Semis. We’ll also correct the mistakes we’ve made in our recent matches and play our best combination on the mat.”

Speaking about extra pressure in Playoffs matches, Inamdar said, “There’s certainly more pressure in knockout matches. We’ve to handle the pressure well. We played the Semis and the Final last season. You always have a chance to come back from a loss during the league stage, but you can’t do that in knockout games.”

The Puneri Paltan and Jaipur Pink Panthers have confirmed a top-two finish, while Dabang Delhi K.C., Patna Pirates and Gujarat Giants are currently at the third, fourth and fifth places respectively.
 

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

‘Talent is brilliant here’: Adani Gulf Giants pacer Chris Jordan lauds UAE youngsters after loss in Qualifier 2

Sharjah, 16 February 2024: The Gulf Giants faced elimination from the DP World ILT20 Season 2 after a loss to the Dubai Capitals in their Qualifier 2 clash at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday. The side needed to defend 138 runs for the victory. The Adani Sportsline-owned Giants fought hard during the match, but eventually lost the match in the 18th over.

After the match, star pacer Chris Jordan spoke about how proud he was of his team, “It took a lot to come into back-to-back games and try to pick ourselves back up, but we had to do it. I’m proud of the team because we came through adversity early in the season. But we went on a good run and played some good cricket during our campaign. I am proud especially of the younger guys for finding solutions and working things out.”

The Englishman saved special praise for their two young UAE spinners in the side — Aayan Afzal Khan and Zuhaib Zubair, “I can’t look past our two young spinners, Aayan and Zuhaib. The way they have stood up this season, playing against some of the best players in the world, is incredible. They have been a big part of us turning things around, making an impact and that’s all you can ask from youngsters.

Jordan also wanted to share his appreciation about the DP World ILT20 season 2, and is already looking forward to the next season, “The standard has gone to another level this year, which is great to see because up until the last game, every single team was in the tournament.

“This is great for the tournament and for the competitiveness because there is no dead game, so every single game counts. It’s brilliant to see the organisation off the field and the way everything was run. You can’t ask for more. Obviously, we ourselves as a group will debrief and work on the areas that we can improve off the field,” he concluded.

by Abhishek Shukla

Squash: Wildcard Walid Reaches Maiden World Tour Quarter-Final After Remarkable Comeback At Squash On Fire Open

Tournament wildcard Menna Walid fought back from 2-0 down and four match balls down to claim a remarkable victory over No.5 seed Lucy Turmel and progress to her maiden PSA World Tour quarter-final at the Squash On Fire Open 2024. 

World No.70 Walid, who secured her spot in the main draw of the Bronze-level event after winning the Squash On Fire 2024 Wild Card Challenge last week, looked destined for defeat when 10-6 down in the third game, but managed to flip the match on its head with a clinic of powerful, attacking squash. 

After staving off all four of Turmel’s match balls and clinching the third in a subsequent tie-break, the 19-year-old moved from strength to strength and soon found herself level at two games a piece. 

Despite finding herself 5-2 down in the fifth, Walid once again showed maturity beyond her years to work her way back into the game and eventually prevail by an 11-7 scoreline. 

“I’m literally over the moon,” she said after the match. “I started to play my shots when I was 2-0 down and 10-6 down. I had nothing to lose and I gave it my all. 

“I think that when I was 2-0 down I didn’t play my best squash, but there was still a lot to play, so I just tried to control myself. I kept telling myself to play my best squash because I had nothing to lose because I was playing the World No.24, and then I managed to come back.”

On her upcoming quarter-final tie against No.4 seed Tomato Ho, she added: “I’m super excited for tomorrow. I want to give it my all and prove to myself that I’m competing and I’m here to win.” 

Meanwhile in the men’s draw USA No.4 Todd Harrity progressed to a career-first PSA World Tour quarter-final after upsetting No.7 seed Omar Mosaad in straight games.

Defending champions Tinne Gilis and Victor Crouin also got their campaigns underway with straight game wins over Haya Ali and Ben Smith, respectively. 

Day three of action from the Squash On Fire Open 2024 commences at 12:00 (GMT-5) on Friday, 16th February and will be available to watch live on SQUASHTV. For more information on the Squash On Fire Open 2024, visit the PSA website or follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. 

Results: Squash On Fire Open 2024 Women’s RD2

Aira Azman (MAS) bt [7] Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 (29m)

[3] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt Ainaa Amani (MAS) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 (30m)

[6] Rachel Arnold (MAS) bt Jessica Turnbull (AUS) 3-0: 11-4, 12-10, 11-5 (25m)

[2] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bt Salma Eltayeb (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-3 (27m)

[1] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt Haya Ali (EGY) 3-0: 11-1, 11-1, 11-8 (18m)

[8] Hana Moataz (EGY) bt Malak Khafagy (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 (27m)

[4] Tomato Ho (HKG) bt Menna Hamed (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 (32m)

[WC] Menna Walid (EGY) bt [5] Lucy Turmel (ENG) 3-2: 5-11, 5-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-7 (58m)

Draw: Squash On Fire Open 2024 Women’s Quarter-Finals 

[1] Tinne Gilis (BEL) v [8] Hana Moataz (EGY)

[WC] Menna Walid (EGY) v [4] Tomato Ho (HKG)

[3] Amina Orfi (EGY) v [6] Rachel Arnold (MAS)

Aira Azman (MAS) v [2] Sabrina Sobhy (USA)

Results: Squash On Fire Open 2024 Men’s RD2

[4] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bt Lucas Serme (FRA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 (33m)

[5] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) 3-2: 11-9, 6-11, 3-11, 11-7, 13-11 (77m)

[2] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) 3-0: 11-6, 11-8, 11-2 (33m)

Todd Harrity (USA) bt [7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 (29m)

[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt Ben Smith (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-1, 11-1 (28m)

[6] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Spencer Lovejoy (USA) 3-1: 4-11, 11-8, 11-4, 13-11 (58m)

[8] Nathan Lake (ENG) bt James Willstrop (ENG) 3-1: 13-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-6 (44m)

[3] Iker Pajares (ESP) bt Bernat Jaume (ESP) 3-1: 11-2, 11-13, 12-10, 11-9 (68m)

Draw: Squash On Fire Open 2024 Men’s Quarter-Finals 

[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) v [6] Saurav Ghosal (IND)

[8] Nathan Lake (ENG) v [3] Iker Pajares (ESP)

[4] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) v [5] Greg Lobban (SCO)

Todd Harrity (USA) v [2] Youssef Soliman (EGY)

by Abhishek Shukla

Squash: Rodriguez Gains Revenge on Bonmalais as Round Two Concludes at HSC 2024 Houston Men’s Squash Open

Miguel Rodriguez gained revenge on Sebastian Bonmalais while Mostafa Asal kicked off his title defence in style, as the quarter-final line-ups were set on day three at the HSC 2024 Houston Men’s Squash Open. 

Bonmalais stunned the Colombian with an outstanding performance at the SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open in January, but there would be no repeat in Texas, as Rodriguez came out on top. 

Knowing that game one would likely be key, Rodriguez battled back from 8-5 down to take it 11-9, with a Bonmalais backhand finding the tin to end a 60-shot rally on game ball. 

The Frenchman began to find his rhythm in game two, giving Rodriguez fewer angles to work worth on his way to levelling the match, but that would be as good as things got for the World No.34. 

He won only five points across the next two games, despite some long and punishing rallies, with his fate being sealed when a Rodriguez lob hit the back-wall nick on match ball. 

“He’s playing his best squash this year, and I wanted to take revenge,” Rodriguez said, when asked about the defeat in Florida. 

“I was out of rhythm and all credit to him because he played very well in the tournament in Florida. Then I played a couple of tournaments – TOC and Detroit, where I made the semis – and I’m in the rhythm again, I have more stamina in my legs so I felt the difference today. 

“I started picking up the pace even harder, because the ball was softer and it was very spongy, so I either had to play higher or very hard to the deep corners, and then it worked.” 

Victory for Rodriguez was followed by a ruthless performance from defending champion Asal, who needed just 31 minutes to sweep aside Juan Camilo Vargas. 

The ‘Raging Bull’ displayed his trademark power throughout, crunching the ball deep into the corners on his way to a comfortable win. 

“It’s just amazing to step on court here in Houston once again,” Asal said after his win. 

“I have lots of good memories here. Last year I was World No.1 after this event so to come here again is just amazing. 

“Vargas is an amazing player, and you don’t know what to expect with someone you didn’t play with before. He was amazing with his speed and his power on court, so I’m happy to go through and happy to be playing again on this court.” 

Mohamed Elshorbagy and Mazen Hesham also recorded 3-0 wins to reach the quarter-finals. 

The quarter-finals of the HSC 2024 Houston Men’s Squash Open take place from 17:00 (GMT-6) tomorrow, February 16th. Watch the action live on SQUASHTV.

For updates from the PSA World Tour, follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok  and YouTube.

Results: HSC 2024 Houston Men’s Squash Open RD2 (bottom half)

[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 3-0: 11-5, 14-12, 11-8 (35m) 
[7] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) 3-1: 11-9, 5-11, 11-2, 11-3 (54m) 
[3] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 (31m) 

[5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-2 (28m) 

Draw: HSC 2024 Houston Men’s Squash Open Quarter-Finals

[1] Ali Farag (EGY) v [6] Tarek Momen (EGY) 
Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) v [4] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 
[7] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) v [2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) 

[3] Mostafa Asal (EGY) v [5] Mazen Hesham (EGY)

by Abhishek Shukla

Schedule announced for Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals; USA v Venezuela opening game

The WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals in Thunder Bay, Canada will open on Sunday, 28 July with USA playing Venezuela at 10 am. Defending champions Japan take on Chinese Taipei at 2 pm before the Opening Ceremony takes place at 6 pm and Canada play Mexico in the last game of the day, starting at 7.30 pm. All times are local.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and Baseball Canada revealed the schedule for the IX Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals, presented by CARNEXT, to be played in Thunder Bay, Canada, from 28 July to 3 August.

World No. 1 Japan, No. 2 Chinese Taipei, No. 3 Venezuela, No. 4 USA, No. 5 Mexico, and No. 7 Canada will compete in a round-robin through Thursday, 1 August.

“The ninth edition of the premier event in international women’s baseball will reach its climax this year in Thunder Bay and we look forward to seeing the best teams in international women’s baseball contest for the honour of becoming world champion,” WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said. “It will be the first ever Finals stage for the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup and after last year’s successful Group stage at Thunder Bay, I expect another successful event, celebrating the best of our sport and our wonderful athletes.”

“We are very pleased to be able to welcome back Team Canada, Mexico, and USA to Thunder Bay.  We also welcome for the first time Team Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Venezuela,” said Nick Melchiore, head of the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association (TBIBA). “This will mark the third time Thunder Bay has hosted a Baseball World Cup and the first time being a women’s event.  We look forward to showcasing Thunder Bay’s natural beauty and hospitality to the world.” 

Women's Baseball World Cup

The tournament will open on Sunday, 28 July with USA playing Venezuela at 10 am. Japan v Chinese Taipei will follow at 2 pm before the Opening Ceremony takes place at 6 pm and then the last game of the day Canada v Mexico, starting at 7.30 pm. All times are local.

After a rest day, the top two finishers will compete for the World Title and the number three and four seeds will play for a bronze medal on Saturday, 3 August.

The IX Women’s Baseball World Cup became the first edition played under the WBSC two-stage format. USA, Mexico and Canada qualified through Group A, played in Thunder Bay, while Japan, Chinese Taipei and Venezuela earned their right through Group B, played in Miyoshi City, Japan.

by Abhishek Shukla

Pelligra Group announced as new owners of Perth Glory Football Club

February 16, 2024: The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has today named the Pelligra Group as the new owners of Perth Glory Football Club.

A private, family-owned business, Pelligra Group has recently expanded its operations to acquire interests in a number of sporting clubs around the world and becomes the new owner of Perth Glory following an extensive process.

In Europe, Pelligra Group has a 100% interest in Catania Football Club s.r.l., while in Australia the group has ownership in basketball, baseball and ice hockey clubs. The diversity of sports allows the exchange of information, which enables the Group to cross-market and create more opportunities for youth development and community involvement.

Nick Garcia, A-Leagues Commissioner, said:

“Perth Glory is one of Australia’s oldest and most decorated professional football clubs and we are pleased to welcome Ross Pelligra to the A-Leagues as the club enters a new era.

“Ross is a successful business and football operator, both locally and abroad, and this experience and his passion for the world game is a great asset for Perth Glory and the A-Leagues.

“There is an incredible opportunity that exists for football in Western Australia. We believe that with this new ownership, the future of Perth Glory is in safe hands and we look forward to seeing them deliver success both on and off the pitch.

“We are grateful to the Western Australian Government for its strong support during this transition period and into the future. I also want to acknowledge and thank the fans for their passion for the Glory and club management, staff, players and coaches for their dedication and commitment to the club during this time.”

Ross Pelligra, new Perth Glory owner said:

“I’m relishing the prospect of re-establishing Glory as a benchmark club of Australian football. Sport is a great passion of mine and over the years I have invested in other sporting clubs in Australia and in Italy.

“I have seen how integral a sporting club can be to a community.It can have a powerful, unifying impact and that is what we are here to achieve in Perth. There are three key pillars we need to focus on in the first phase of our tenure; to reconnect; to drive success and to create long term sustainability.

“I remember watching Perth Glory when I was a child on TV back in Melbourne and thinking that football had arrived in this country when I saw a packed Perth Oval every home game and a team that played an exciting and attacking brand of football that had everyone in Perth captivated.

“That is the energy we know exists here and that is the energy we must rediscover. We have learned from our previous experiences with other sporting franchises, but every team is different, every city is different and it is important we listen and learn.

“I want to return the club back to the Glory days. We want it to be the envy of every other A-League club, just like it was when it was first founded. I know that we have a strong football community here in Perth and it’s time to reunite.”

Anthony Radich, Perth Glory CEO said:

“Today’s announcement brings to an end what has been an extremely challenging period for Perth Glory and opens a new and exciting chapter in our history.”

“The Pelligra Group brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and resources that we are confident will successfully rebuild the club’s reputation, image and credibility, revitalise its commercial relationships and most importantly, reconnect it with the WA community.

“With these key building blocks in place, Perth Glory’s enormous potential can be unlocked and the sustained success which our loyal Members and fans crave and deserve can be delivered.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our administration and coaching staff and players, along with our Members and fans, for their patience and understanding during this period of transition for the club.

“We look forward to working closely with our new owners to help drive Perth Glory into what will undoubtedly be a bright new era for the club.”

The sale and transition of Perth Glory’s licence to the Pelligra Group was completed today. The new ownership is subject to the usual regulatory checks including ‘Fit and Proper Persons’ by Football Australia.

Perth Glory’s next match in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men is against Brisbane Roar on Saturday 17 February at HBF Park. In the Liberty A-League Women, Perth Glory take on the Central Coast Mariners at Macedonia Park on Sunday 18 February.

by Abhishek Shukla

MLS and MLSPA Announce Groundbreaking Joint Anti-Discrimination Policy and Player-Led Intercultural Awareness Trainings

NEW YORK (Thursday, February 15, 2024) – Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) today announced a new jointly-aligned Anti-Discrimination Policy to go into effect as the 2024 MLS season begins on February 21. The policy is the first of its kind in professional sports in that it is centered on restorative practices, prioritizing education, prevention, training, and cultural awareness.

MLS,MLSPA, and Black Players for Change (BPC) worked closely together on the development of this policy, as well as on the design of Playing as One: MLS’ new intercultural awareness training program required for all MLS players, head coaches and technical staff.

As the youngest and most diverse league in the world, with players from over 80 nations, it is critical that MLS players are provided the space to express their cultural identities and learn more about the cultures of their teammates to avoid culturally inappropriate and insensitive behavior.

“I want to thank the MLSPA and Black Players for Change for sharing in MLS’ commitment to do the hard and necessary work of reinforcing MLS as a league of choice. Our aim is to inspire and attract the best players in the world by ensuring that we also have the best playing environment in the world. Our collective action to address on-field racial and discriminatory incidents at its root will ensure that as the youngest and most diverse league in the world, we meet this challenge and opportunity with the commensurate level of fortitude, understanding and accountability. Respect for and restoration of relationships is at the heart of this joint approach,” said MLS Chief Engagement and Inclusion Officer Sola Winley.

“MLS is one of the most diverse leagues in the world. Players of various races and nationalities play in our league, and our diverse player pool is one of our greatest strengths.  All players deserve to play this game free of discrimination and to have our cultures welcomed, included and respected. This innovative policy is a significant step in building a more inclusive game for all of us and for setting an example for all of sports,” said Earl Edwards, Jr., MLSPA Executive Board Member and Black Players for Change President.  

“Player-leaders of the MLSPA and the BPC deserve tremendous credit for raising these issues and for steadfastly working with MLS to bring these changes about,” said Eric Harrington, MLSPA General Counsel. “By embracing culturally inclusive training to prevent discrimination and restorative practices to remedy it when it occurs, we can prevent discrimination and support players who are harmed by it while providing a pathway of healing for everyone.”

“This groundbreaking anti-discrimination policy and intercultural awareness training signifies a commitment to equality, to embracing diversity and a clear declaration that every player, regardless of background has a place and a voice,” said Allen Hopkins Jr, Executive Director for Black Players for Change. “Together, we are architects of transformation and remain relentless in our pursuit of soccer’s true potential. Black Players for Change, MLS and the MLSPA know this collective power isn’t the endgame; it’s the inception of a movement where strength meets intention and solidarity.”

Joint Anti-Discrimination Policy

The goal of the new MLS-MLSPA Joint Anti-Discrimination Policy is to eliminate on-field racial and discriminatory incidents by deterring misconduct, achieving both discipline and accountability, and encouraging honesty, growth and education.

The policy is grounded in “restorative practices,” a method that has been proven to lead to increased positive outcomes such as changed behavior, true understanding and fostering of inclusive environments. MLS and the MLSPA take racial and discriminatory incidents incredibly seriously, which is why this policy is built on innovative best practices.

Under the new Joint Anti-Discrimination Policy:

  • Any players involved in a discriminatory incident will have the opportunity to speak confidentially with a trained facilitator. The facilitator will play a formal role in evaluating the situation and offering a proposed restorative plan when appropriate.
  • Restorative plans may include multiple sessions between the alleged offender and the restorative practices facilitator to understand the harm caused and potentially provide the alleged offender an opportunity to make amends with those harmed by his conduct, in addition to education and personalized counseling.
  • All allegations will continue to be thoroughly reviewed, which shall include assessments of video and audio footage, a review of the official match report and interviews with relevant witnesses.
  • The Commissioner retains the authority to issue discipline if it is determined that a violation occurred.
    • A player who accepts responsibility for his mistake and agrees to engage in a restorative plan will face less severe discipline than if he denies committing the act and is found, based on all the evidence, to have been untruthful or misleading.
  • There may be occasions when an accused player is placed on paid administrative leave while a review is ongoing. Such placement is not considered discipline and does not mean that the league has determined a violation to have occurred.
  • Public statements or announcements in connection with these matters will be limited to confirming:
    • When/if the league is reviewing a player’s conduct under this policy.
    • When/if a player has been placed on paid administrative leave pending a review of the incident.
    • The Commissioner’s determination as to whether a violation occurred.
    • The discipline imposed on a player.
    • When/if a restorative practices resolution has been reached either in lieu of other discipline or in conjunction with other discipline.
  • MLS and the MLSPA are establishing a Policy Advisory Board to continuously discuss the policy’s effectiveness and identify ways to build an even more inclusive league.

This policy was developed through collaboration between league, club, BPC and MLSPA stakeholders over the last several months.

Intercultural Awareness Trainings: Playing As One

As part of MLS’ effort to re-center its anti-discrimination efforts around deeper cultural understanding and inclusion, the league – along with the MLSPA and BPC – have launched a new Inter-Cultural Awareness Training, Playing as One. Trainings have been taking place in-person in the weeks leading up to the 2024 season and are required to be completed by all players, head coaches and technical staff before the season begins.

This comprehensive, restoratively oriented cultural awareness program is being facilitated by former MLS players, who also participated in the curriculum design.  A list of former MLS players serving as facilitators can be found HERE.

The trainings are focused on helping players and staff understand each other’s cultures and customs and harmful stereotypes, as well as how they expect to be treated on and off the field. Conversations about how to manage competitive stress and control emotions on the field are also a key part of the training. While each locker room discussion is unique, common themes include respect, pride, curiosity, courage, leadership and unity.

Surveys found that nearly 80 percent of those who participated in these trainings between Jan. 16 and Feb. 13 determined the session to be “very” or “extremely” impactful.

by Abhishek Shukla

Lorient Grand Large confirmed as host of 2024 Double Handed World Offshore Championship  

Lorient Grand Large, Yacht Club de France and the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) will host the 2024 Double Handed World Offshore Championship as a fleet of Sun Fast 30 One Design takes to the water off the coast of Brittany in September 2024. 

The 2024 Double Handed World Offshore Championship will be a mixed event run jointly between three organisations, each bringing their expertise to deliver the event. Lorient Grand Large will assume the leadership role for the organising group, while RORC will deliver the race management and Yacht Club de France will bring their network of volunteers and control of the one-design rules. 

The agreement with World Sailing covers three World Championships, with the event moving to Cowes, on the Isle of Wight in 2025, and then to a venue to be confirmed in 2026. 

David Graham, World Sailing CEO, said, “Offshore racing is a priority in World Sailing’s ambitions to grow the sport globally. The explosive growth in Double Handed Offshore racing in recent years has been very exciting for the sport overall. The Sun Fast 30 One Design has the potential to be the ideal class to fulfil our goal of making the event accessible to amateurs, professionals, and a new generation of offshore racers from all over the world.  

“This is a really exciting event concept and, in time, it will make this part of the sport more accessible, sustainable and environmentally-friendly. My thanks go to the event partners, and the Oceanic and Offshore Committee under the leadership of Matt Allen for making this happen.” 

A collaboration between Jeanneau and Multiplast, the fleet of Sun Fast 30 One Design will be supplied by Cap Regatta. It is one of the first production model sailboats built from a recyclable resin, which highlights the latest developments in sustainable boat building. The Sun Fast 30 One Design is an affordable one design boat with confirmed worldwide orders of over 40 boats to be produced in 2024. It is comparable with the majority of double-handed boats around the globe, meaning it will be accessible to sailors already accustomed to double handed offshore racing. The selection of the boat and the event organisers was the result of a World Sailing tender process endorsed by the Oceanic and Offshore Committee as the expert World Sailing Committee. 

Lorient Grand Large has been a centre of excellence for competitive sailing since 1997. It is home to elite level teams in the Ultim, IMOCA and Ocean 50 classes, as well as the Mini 6.50, Figaro, Class40. The venue has hosted several major events in recent years, including The Ocean Race, Solitaire du Figaro, and the Retour à La Base.  

by Abhishek Shukla

Major League Soccer Unveils Broadcast Talent Team for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

NEW YORK  – Major League Soccer (MLS) today announced its world-class team of talented broadcasters and soccer legends for the second season of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Following the highly successful inaugural season of MLS Season Pass, the game-changing service will feature a deep roster of many returning familiar faces, as well as respected and talented newcomers, for the 2024 MLS Season.

This group will bring their experience, energy, and passion for the game to help deliver the most comprehensive and extensive MLS viewing experience for fans in more than 100 countries and regions. MLS Season Pass features expansive coverage including every match of the regular season, Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, the MLS All-Star Game, and Leagues Cup all in one place, with consistent match times and no blackouts. This season will once again feature a seasoned group of more than 80 broadcasters, bringing together one of the largest on-air talent groups for a single sports property.

Studio Talent

MLS fans can tune-in for dedicated studio programming to preview weekly matchups, dissect key moments, and hear compelling stories from around the league all season long. The popular live whip-around show MLS 360, which provides live look-ins from every match alongside expert analysis and discussion, will be available in Spanish for the first time beginning in 2024.

MLS 360 in English will be led by new host Kevin Egan, who previously served as a game play-by-play announcer.  Egan will be joined by returning accomplished studio talent and renowned professional soccer players Sacha Kljestan, Kaylyn Kyle, and Bradley Wright-Phillips.

MLS 360 in Spanish will be hosted by returning MLS Season Pass broadcaster Tony Cherchi. He will be joined by former professional player Miguel Gallardo, and Giovanni Savarese, a former player and MLS Cup finalist head coach.

Pregame and postgame coverage will once again be available in English and Spanish with the return of MLS Countdown and MLS Wrap Up in English and MLS La Previa and MLS El Resumen in Spanish. Both English and Spanish pregame shows will be extended to an hour for this season, delivering fans more action and analysis leading into games. Additionally, postgame coverage in both languages will begin at a consistent time (12:30 a.m. ET) to provide a more predictable time for fans to tune-in for a recap of all the night’s action.

English language pregame and postgame shows will feature the dynamic team of studio host and analyst Liam McHugh and Andrew Wiebe who will be joined by the likes of Shep Messing, Kljestan, Kyle, and Wright-Phillips. Additionally, Jillian Sakovits, Calen Carr, and Matt Doyle will return for in-depth previews and coverage.

Antonella Gonzalez will take on a new role as host of MLS La Previa and MLS El Resumen and will be joined by Gallardo and Savarese each match night, with other analysts joining at key moments in the season.

Match Play-by-Play and Analyst Teams

An all-star roster of more than 60 play-by-play announcers and expert analysts will be in the booth and sidelines calling matches each week. Their expertise and passion for the game will keep fans entertained and informed throughout the season. The MLS Season Pass play-by-play and analyst teams feature some of the most decorated and credible voices in the sport including Taylor Twellman (match analyst), Diego Valeri (match analyst), Kyndra de St. Aubin (match analyst), Maurice Edu (match analyst), Lori Lindsey (match analyst), Marcelo Balboa (match analyst), Max Bretos (play-by-play), Steve Cangialosi (play-by-play), Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Pablo Ramírez (play-by-play), Frédéric Lord (play-by-play), and Sammy Sadovnik (play-by-play).

New additions to this year’s team providing match analysis include Jalil Anibaba, former professional player and recently retired MLS defender making his broadcast debut; Warren Barton, former defender for the England National Team and soccer analyst; Jesús Bracamontes, Mexican former professional football player, manager, and veteran broadcast analyst; and Daniel Chapela, veteran Venezeluan sports journalist.

The play-by-play team will also add new respected and leading sports hometown voices including Nate Bukaty, Neil Sika, and Joe Tolleson. Two additional play-by-play Spanish commentators include John Laguna, who has served as a lead play-by-play announcer for FOX Deportes, and Jesús Acosta, who recently served as an announcer for Premier League World Feed in Spanish.

The team of broadcasters for this year’s MLS Season Pass will bring their knowledgeable and fresh perspectives to elevate coverage of live matches. The roster of analyst and play-by-play teams include:

ANALYST TEAM  
 		 
Andrés AgullaPaul DolanCarlos Ruiz
Jalil AnibabaBrian DunsethLloyd Sam
Diego ArriojaMaurice Edu Ross Smith
Marcelo Balboa Danny HigginbothamCarlos Suárez
Eduardo BiscayartDevon KerrClaudio Suárez
Jesús BracamontesLori LindseyGreg Sutton
Luis Gerardo BucciJaime MaciasDiego Tabares
Calen CarrPablo MariñoMariano Trujillo 
Daniel ChapelaHeath PearceTaylor Twellman
Maximiliano CordaroCarlos PavónDiego Valeri 
Vincent DestouchesFrancisco PintoWarren Barton 
Kyndra De St. AubinWalter RoqueMartín Zuñíga

 
PLAY-BY-PLAY TEAM   
Jesús AcostaJohn Laguna Sergio Ruiz
Max BretosRodolfo Landeros Sammy Sadovnik 
Nate BukatyMoisés LinaresOscar Salazar
Steve Cangialosi Frédéric LordNeil Sika
Keith CostiganJorge Perez-NavarroTyler Terens
Alejandro FigueredoDiego PessolanoJoe Tolleson
Mark FollowillBlake PriceCallum Williams
Adrian García- MárquezPablo RamírezChris Wittyngham
Raúl GuzmánFrancisco X. RiveraBruno Vain
Tony HusbandMark RogondinoJake Zivin
Eric Krakauer

 

Fans in the U.S. and Canada will continue to have the option to select their home team’s radio broadcast for match audio where available. Fans have the ability to join matches live or watch the entire match from the start anytime on demand, with condensed match recaps available for all games. With the Multiview feature, fans can enjoy up to four simultaneous matches at once on Apple TV 4K devices and on iPad. Fans around the world can enjoy MLS Season Pass in English, Spanish, or French where available, including closed captions.

MLS’s 29th season kickoff will be the earliest in league history as Lionel Messi and reigning Leagues Cup champion Inter Miami CF host Real Salt Lake in a standalone match on Wednesday, February 21, at DRV PNK Stadium. The match will air at 8 p.m. ET exclusively on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. MLS is Back opening week action continues with MLS clubs competing across a slate of 14 matches on Saturday, February 24, and Sunday, February 25.

MLS Season Pass is available on billions of devices through the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, as well as on the web at tv.apple.com . Fans can also access MLS Season Pass from the Apple TV app on Apple Vision Pro, where they can watch games alongside other apps in their space; within an Environment, so the screen feels 100 feet wide; and with Spatial Audio, for the most immersive viewing experience. To learn more about how to subscribe to MLS Season Pass, visit apple.co/_MLS_.

by Abhishek Shukla

Rudisha announced as ambassador for WIC Glasgow 24

Middle distance legend David Rudisha has been named as the World Athletics ambassador for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24, which will be held from 1-3 March.

The Kenyan great is a double Olympic gold medallist and two-time world champion over 800m. He is familiar with the city of Glasgow as he competed there in 2014 for the Commonwealth Games, where he earned silver.

“I am looking forward to going back to Glasgow for this major competition in our calendar. I am really excited,” he said.

“Sport is what has made me who I am today and anything to do with sport, it makes me feel very happy. I am looking forward to meeting the fans and promoting the sport.”

Rudisha has other fond memories of competing on UK soil; the most iconic performance of his career – his world record-breaking performance of 1:40.91 – came when winning Olympic gold in London in 2012.

Now aged 35, Rudisha is delighted to take up an ambassador role for the first global championships of 2024.

“I really feel honoured,” said Rudisha, who competed at six global championships during his career, winning gold at five of them. “As an athlete, anything I can do to inspire younger athletes to win medals on the world stage really makes me feel special.

“The 2014 Commonwealth Games was very special, I have beautiful memories of my experience in Glasgow. The people were very kind and supportive. I got silver in that race, but it was clear that the crowd supported and cheered for every athlete, regardless of the position they finished.”

As a double Olympic champion in the No.1 Olympic sport, Rudisha knows just how important it is for athletes to get off to a strong start this year ahead of the Paris 2024 Games.

“The Olympics is at the helm of any sport,” he said. “To participate at the Olympics means a lot. It’s not always easy, so I wish athletes the best as they work hard for this season and try to make their name and write their history in this sport.”

While he is looking forward to witnessing all the action in Glasgow, understandably Rudisha’s eye will be drawn to one event in particular.

“The 800m of course is my favourite,” he said. “I’m also looking forward to seeing the 400m, with the times they are posting already.

“Femke Bol, running 49 seconds in the early season indoors is really amazing. We’re looking forward to watching these athletes doing their best on the world indoor stage.”

Taking place from 1-3 March, the World Indoor Championships will feature more than 700 athletes from about 130 nations as they compete for medals across 26 disciplines.

by Abhishek Shukla

Rajasthan Royals rope in Poornima University as Official University Partner

Jaipur (Rajasthan), 16 February 2024: Royals Sports Group-owned franchise Rajasthan Royals on Friday announced Poornima University as its Official University Partner for the upcoming season. As part of the partnership, the University’s logo will feature on the back of the caps and helmets of the Royals’ players, with a host of on-ground activations also planned at the University’s campus in Jaipur.

This collaboration acts as a significant milestone for both institutions, it brings together their shared commitment towards excellence in education and sports. As the Official University Partner of the Rajasthan Royals, Poornima University aims to enhance the academic and athletic experiences of students and fans alike on an international forum. Through this partnership, Poornima University will leverage its expertise in higher education to offer unique opportunities for learning, skill development, and engagement with cricket enthusiasts across the globe.

Rahul Singhi, Co-Founder of Poornima University, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to join forces with Rajasthan Royals, a team synonymous with passion, resilience, and excellence. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our vision of empowering the next generation of leaders through holistic education and immersive experiences. Together, we will inspire students to pursue their dreams on and off the field.”

Jake Lush McCrum, Chief Executive Officer, Rajasthan Royals, shared his excitement for the partnership, remarking, “One of our fundamental pillars at the Royals is the local community, and through this association with Poornima University, we are aiming to provide our young and local fanbase with the opportunity to connect with the team and feel closer to their favourite players. Through this association, we intend to promote the importance of integrating sport within the education model. With a host of engaging activations planned for the coming season, we are looking forward to fostering deeper connections with the local students and also provide the University the opportunity to reach a national audience.”

The collaboration between Poornima University and Rajasthan Royals exemplifies the power of education and sports to unite communities and drive positive change. Through joint initiatives focused on student engagement, both institutions aim to inspire the next generation of leaders and cricket enthusiasts while focusing on the importance of their holistic development.

by Abhishek Shukla

World Curling partners with StreamAMG to relaunch The Curling Channel

Perth, Scotland – Word Curling has partnered with StreamAMG to relaunch their streaming platform, The Curling Channel, ahead of the World Junior Curling Championships 2024 taking place in Lohja, Finland.
 
The service will be powered by StreamAMG’s new BLAZE platform and will offer all of World Curling’s live and on-demand content.
 
As part of World Curling’s Big Ideas strategy and following the recent brand refresh, the platform aims to develop the future of the streaming offering provided by the federation and content created by our partners in the curling community.
 
Colin Grahamslaw, World Curling Secretary General said, “As part of our new strategy of commercial and entrepreneurial growth, we were looking for a new platform that could significantly enhance the viewer experience and open up new markets to help us to generate a consistent income from streaming productions. Following an exhaustive process, we believe that StreamAMG are the right partners to help us drive that experience to new and larger audiences.
 
“This is the first phase of approach to making our content available to the world. This new platform gives us the opportunity to grow our streaming offering and make it the ultimate location for curling coverage.”
 
Hugo Sharman, CEO at StreamAMG said, “Curling is a sport that is growing in popularity all over the world and not just in its traditional regions. We are honoured to be awarded the opportunity to be part of the sport’s efforts to grow and to form part of its new commercial direction.”
 
Streaming from the World Junior Curling Championships 2024, beginning on Saturday 17 February will be the first full event published through the new Curling Channel.

by Abhishek Shukla

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024 Dubai™: Watch all games live on FIFA+

The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024 Dubai™ kicks off on Thursday 15 February – and the tournament is being streamed live on FIFA+!

Takuya Akaguma, Catarino, Chiky, Edson Hulk, Marco Giordani, the Martins twins, Raoul Mendy, Moslem Mesigar, Walid Mohammad, Ozu Moreira, Lucas Ponzetti, Rodrigo and Heimanu Taiaru are among the stars who are looking to light up the tournament, with this year’s edition again set to showcase the very best that the discipline has to offer.

Click here to access FIFA+

All matches will be available on FIFA+ web, the FIFA+ app and connected TV devices. Full details of the territories where FIFA+ live streams and full match replays are accessible can be found below. Two-minute highlights on all matches will also be available.

Territories with FIFA+ live streaming access

Africa
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo-Brazzaville, Congo-Kinshasa, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Americas and the Caribbean
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States Virgin Islands.

Asia
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, China PR, Hong Kong, Korea DPR, Korea Republic, Macau, Mongolia, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam.

Central and South America
Brazil

Europe
Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

Oceania
American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribat, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.

Click here to visit the FIFA match centre and find out where you can watch the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024 Dubai™ in your location.

* Territories’ live streaming access is subject to change

by Abhishek Shukla

FIG launches pay-per-view live streaming offer for fans to follow the 2024 World Cup and World Challenge Cup

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) is delighted to announce a new pay-per-view live streaming offer that will allow fans of Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline Gymnastics to watch the finals of World Cup and World Challenge Cup events in this Olympic year.

The World Cup season starts on 15 February with the Apparatus World Cup in Cairo (EGY), which is a qualifying event for this year’s Olympic Games in Paris and will see over 300 athletes from 71 countries competing. Three further FIG Apparatus World Cups, in Cottbus (GER), Baku (AZE) and Doha (QAT) also count as qualifying events for the Olympic Games, with the three best results from these four events being taken into account and the two-top ranked eligible athletes on each apparatus, based on the Olympic Qualification World Cup Ranking List, securing a quota place by name for Paris 2024. 

In Trampoline, two World Cup events in Baku and Cottbus will also count towards Olympic qualification. The Olympic Qualification World Cup Ranking List for Trampoline combines the results of these two events with the three qualifying events from the 2023 World Cup series. The two best results out of all five events will be considered, regardless of how many competitions the athletes participated in. The FIG Trampoline World Cup offers the most qualification places for Paris 2024 out of all the events on the FIG Trampoline calendar.  

Although the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Series does not count towards Olympic qualification, the five events this year in Palaio Faliro (GRE), Sofia (BUL), Baku (AZE), Tashkent (UZB) and Milan (ITA) all take place before this summer’s Olympic Games and therefore offer the perfect opportunity for fans to watch their favourite athletes perform before the Games.

The FIG World Challenge Cup in Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics starts in Antalya (TUR) on 29 March and moves on to Osijek (CRO), Varna (BUL) and Koper (SLO), finishing in Szombathely (HUN) on 6 October. The Rhythmic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup kicks off in Portimao (POR) on 10 May before moving on to Jerusalem (ISR) and finishing in Cluj-Napoca (ROU) on 14 July.

The FIG’s live streaming platform has been developed in collaboration with the federeation’s long-standing partner Spring Media and their technical partner Staylive and allows fans to choose which FIG World Cup and World Challenge Cup events they wish to watch live without any obligation to purchase a season pass. The live stream will be available in selected territories with the exception of the host country for each event (please visit the Help Centre on the platform using the link below for more details).

Commenting on the new offering, FIG President Morinari Watanabe said “I’m delighted that we have been able to make this live streaming service available with the support of Dentsu, the worldwide rightsholder for the FIG World Cup series. The most frequent question we hear from our fans is ‘where can I watch this live?’. The launch of this new service just in time for the Olympic year shows that we have listened.”

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru Torpedoes reign supreme over Kolkata Thunderbolts in first game of season

Chennai, February 15th, 2024: Bengaluru Torpedoes began their campaign in the third season of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 with a 16-14, 14-16, 15-13, 15-10 win over the Kolkata Thunderbolts at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium on Thursday. Thomas Heptinstall was named Player of the Match. 

Rahul delivered his super serve special as Kolkata took early control. Skipper Ashwal Rai joined the party and Bengaluru found little answers for Kolkata’s aggressive serves. But coach David Lee showcased his tactical mindset, switching play to Srajan, who brought Bengaluru back with powerful serves. Showcasing his magic along the lines, Heptinstall nudged Torpedoes marginally ahead. 

Kolkata turned to Vinit Rai, who served up solid gameplay to turn the tables again. The passing from Kolkata improved as the game went on, while Torpedoes hurt themselves with unforced errors. The topsy-turvy battle turned into contest between the outside hitters with Vinit going against Heptinstall. 

Coach David’s high-risk, high-reward strategy paid rewards as Heptinstall made the most of his height advantage, splitting the gap between two Kolkata blockers. Vinit continued to remain a threat in Kolkata’s corner, despite blockers Srajan and Mujeeb trying to block attacks from the middle. Onur Cukur added more spark to Kolkata’s attacks with brilliant passing. But Torpedoes maintained their discipline in defence, and with a thrilling super point, picked a stunning win.

Following the success of the first two seasons, the third season of the ‘Asli Entertainer’ RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 will be aired on Sony Sports Network in five languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Fans can anticipate another thrilling season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 and experience the excitement of top-tier teams battle it out on the volleyball court starting 15th February 2024, 6:30 PM onwards, Live on Sony Sports Network and will be available to livestream on SonyLiv.

by Abhishek Shukla

Badminton Asia Team Championships: Indian women blank Hong Kong to secure a medal for the first time

New Delhi, February 16: Indian women’s team blanked Hong Kong 3-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Badminton Asia Team Championships for the first time in the history of the competition in Selangor, Malaysia, on Friday.

India, who had upset China on Tuesday to top Group W, capitalised on a favourable quarter-final draw with two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu once again leading the charge.

Sindhu, who is returning after a long injury-induced layoff, started strong against Lo Sin Yan Happy but had to regroup herself after a second game hiccup to win 21-7, 16-21, 21-12 to give India the lead.

Sindhu began the match with a bang winning 11 of the first 12 points and sailed through the opening game. But if she was hoping for an easy outing, Lo had other plans. The Hong Kong shuttler used her deceptive strokes to trouble her opponent and forced a decider.

In the final game, Sindhu was just too strong for her opponent as she once again started aggressively and never looked in trouble.

The women’s doubles combination of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa then proved that they were the pair in from as they got the better of world no. 18 combination of Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam 21-10, 21-14 to put India within striking distance of the semi-final spot.

Ashmita Chaliha then wrapped up the quarterfinal encounter with a 21-12, 21-13 win over Yeung Sum Yee.

Assured of a medal, India will now face the winner of the other quarterfinal between top seed Japan and China.

The Indian men’s team will take on Japan in their quarter-final clash later in the day.

Results (quarterfinals):
Women: India bt Hong Kong 3-0 (PV Sindhu bt Lo Sin Yan Happy 21-7, 16-21, 21-12; Tanisha Crasto/Ashwini Ponnappa bt Yeung Nga Ting/Yeung Pui Lam 21-10, 21-14; Ashmita Chaliha bt Yeung Sum Yee 21-12, 21-13)

by Abhishek Shukla

Indian Women’s Hockey Team prepped to take on Australia and the US in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24

Rourkela, 16th February 2024: The Indian Women’s Hockey Team will play their final two games of the Rourkela leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 on 17th and 18th February when they take on Australia and the United States of America respectively at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Rourkela.

The Indian Women’s Hockey Team has had a tough outing so far at the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24, having lost four of their five matches. After suffering a 1-2 defeat in their first match against China, the Indian Women’s Hockey Team went on to lose 1-3 to the Netherlands and 0-3 to Australia before beating the United States 3-1 in their final match of the Bhubaneswar leg. In their first match of the Rourkela leg, India took the lead early in the game but China came back strongly to win the game 2-1. India then went on to lose 0-1 to the Netherlands.

Speaking ahead of the clash with Australia, Indian Women’s Hockey Team Captain Savita said, “We lost the last encounter against Australia but we are focused on securing the win this time and we will give our one hundred percent. Australia plays a similar style to us, they are exceptional at transferring their balls and their finishing is top notch but we will aim to nullify this and win our one-on-one battles. We are as good as any team playing this tournament so we will give it our all when we step out on the field as these are crucial matches for us.”

Australia have had more favourable results in the recent past against India including the 3-0 win in the Bhubaneswar leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 earlier this month but the Indian Women’s Hockey Team will look to replicate their 1-0 win over Australia in the 2020 Olympics Quarter-Final when they take them on at Rourkela on Saturday night.

On the other hand, the Indian Women’s Hockey Team has beaten the United States of America on four out of the last six occasions that the two teams have faced including the 3-1 victory on 9th February during the Bhubaneswar leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24.

The Indian Women’s Hockey Team will face Australia at 1930hrs IST on 17th February and the United States of America on 18th February at 1930hrs IST.

All matches of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 will be streamed on JioCinema, additionally, all India matches will be telecast on Sports18 – Khel.