by Abhishek Shukla

Jamshedpur FC put 4 past Punjab FC for a resounding win

New Delhi, 15th Feb 2024: Jamshedpur FC continued their terrific run since the arrival of head coach Khalid Jamil as the Red Miners swept Punjab FC by 4-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi tonight in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2033-24. It was the first defeat for the Staikos Vergetis-coached side since the league resumed late last month, having notched two consecutive wins since then.

The game got off to a cracking start with end-to-end action ensuring enthralling action for the audience. A brace by Jeremy Manzorro, coupled with a strike each by Daniel Chima Chukwu and Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) graduate Mohammed Sanan capped off a clean and convincing outing. 

Nikhil Barla opened the floodgates with some sharp footwork on the right flank, making a turn towards the left before launching in a precise cross for Chukwu on the far post. The Nigerian met the delivery perfectly and nodded it home, but the home side looked to respond by hitting Jamshedpur FC on the counter with Wilmar Jordan Gil earning a spot-kick the very next minute. Luka Majcen, having netted a penalty in the last match, produced a disappointing effort with the ball merely rolling through the ground before being saved by TP Rehenesh to keep the scores level. 

Having gotten a foot ahead, the Red Miners went all out to put the game to rest in the second half. A frenetic passage of play in the final half an hour resulted in Jamshedpur FC netting thrice in the last 25 minutes. Manzorro shot from distance that Punjab FC goalkeeper Ravi Kumar failed to collect properly, and Sanan swung into play by merely chipping the ball over the custodian to double his side’s lead. 

Manzorro, who has arguably been the architect in chief of Jamshedpur FC’s latest resurgence, took the charge from there onwards, displaying his sublime skills from set-pieces by scoring two direct free kicks in the concluding 10 minutes of the game. Both goals were absolutely identical to each other, scored from a reasonable distance on the inside channel of the left flank in the 83rd and the 86th minute of the match respectively. 

The first one swung straight into the top of the net, whereas the second goal took a deflection off the post before settling in the back of the net. Both goals gave no chance to a fully stretched Ravi Kumar and effectively gave Jamshedpur FC the win. 

Key Performer of the Match

Jeremy Manzorro (Jamshedpur FC)

Manzorro completed 58 out of his 69 attempted passes, but it was his sheer exemplary effort of scoring two back-to-back free-kicks that stole the show and added four goals to an already formidable performance by the visitors. 

What’s next for both teams?

Jamshedpur FC will play their next match against East Bengal FC on February 22, whereas Punjab FC will lock horns with Hyderabad FC on February 27. 

Brief Scores 

Jamshedpur FC 4 (Daniel Chima Chukwu 11’, Mohammed Sanan 63’, Jeremy Manzorro 83’ 86’)

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by Abhishek Shukla

Indian Men’s Hockey Team goes down 4-6 against Australia in a thrilling encounter

Bhubaneswar, 15th February 2024: The Indian Men’s Hockey Team went down 4-6 against Australia in their third FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 match at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Thursday.

In a game that swung both ways, Australia took the early double-goal lead, then India replied with as many as four goals in the second quarter, but the visitors got the better of the home side as they scripted a thrilling comeback in the second half.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh (12′, 20′) netted twice, while Sukhjeet Singh (18′) and Mandeep Singh (29′) scored a goal each for India. Meanwhile, for Australia, Blake Govers scored two goals in the 2nd minute, and Aran Zalewski (40′), Lachlan Sharp (52′), Jacob Anderson (55′) and Jack Welch (58′) scored a goal each in what was a goal-fest. 

Australia rocketed to a double-goal lead inside the first two minutes of the match, courtesy of Govers’s quick-fire brace. The first goal came in through a penalty corner, while the second from a blistering counterattack, finding the back of the net with a fiery field goal.

The visitors kept piling intense pressure on the hosts and earned as many as three penalty corners in quick succession, but the Indian defence managed to avert the danger.

The latter phase of the opening quarter saw an improved performance from India. They approached with a structured attack and made significant forays inside the Australian circle. A foul on Sumit by Ky Willot inside the circle gave India their first penalty corner, and Harmanpreet made no mistake in pulling a goal back for the hosts as he powered the ball into the net, making it 1-2 in the 12th minute.

The second quarter saw India turn the tables as they dominated the proceedings. Sukhjeet took the shot on target but was denied by the Aussie goalkeeper. India then missed converting a penalty corner, but still managed to score on a quick long corner retake. Harmanpreet made a skilful run inside the circle, playing it to Sukhjeet who slotted the ball home in front of the goalpost, bringing things back on level terms in the 18th minute.

Two minutes later, India were 3-2 ahead as Harmanpreet converted yet another penalty corner. They again had a penalty corner, but the Aussie goalkeeper made the double save, denying Jugraj’s drag-flick and Araijeet’s tomahawk on the rebound.

Australia quickly replied and were awarded a penalty corner in the 24th minute, but the decision was overturned following a successful video referral from India.

The home side kept making forays on the quick counterattacks. Harmanpreet played a blazing pass from the midfield to Mandeep, who received the ball on the top of the circle and turned quickly to smash the ball into the net, giving India a 4-2 lead at the end of what was a breathtaking second quarter.

The third quarter saw Australia dominate the ball possession. They made relentless forays, forcing India to defend deep inside their circle. They were rewarded for their pressure as they pulled a goal back through Zalewski, who deflected Govers’s flick during a penalty corner routine in the 40th minute.

With less than a minute to go for the third quarter, Australia earned another penalty corner, but the local lad Amit Rohidas made a sublime save with his first rushing skills to deny the visitors from equalising.

The start of the final quarter saw both teams push each other from one end to the other in search of a goal. India did make inroads in Australia’s circle but kept losing possession in the final third.

Meanwhile, Australia caught the Indian defence off guard as they sneaked into the Indian circle and managed to equalise through Sharp who slotted the ball home from the far post after receiving a cross from Govers from the left flank. 

Three minutes later, Jake Harvie orchestrated a fine run along the goalline and played it to Anderson who found the back of the net to put Australia 5-4 ahead.

With less than three minutes for the final hooter, India removed goalkeeper Sreejesh to put an extra outfield player. Australia took advantage of it as Welch fired the ball into the empty goal to Australia’s two-goal lead. The visitors then slowed down the proceedings in the closing stage of the match to bag a thrilling 6-4 win.

India will face Ireland in their fourth match on Friday, 16th February at 1930 hrs 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.

by Abhishek Shukla

Ahmedabad Defenders stun hosts Chennai Blitz, win opening contest in straight sets

Chennai, February 15th, 2024: The defending Champions Ahmedabad Defenders picked up a comprehensive 15-10, 15-11, 15-12 win over the hosts Chennai Blitz at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai on Thursday to kick off the third season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23. Muthusamy Appavu was named the Player of the Match.
 
The Defenders did not get off to the best of starts, with Leandro Jose combining with skipper Akhin GS. But the momentum turned for Ahmedabad after a quick advice from coach Dragan Mihailović. Ilya Burau made up for the absence of Danial Moatazedi, with stunning smashes down the right channel. Blitz found little answers for Max Senica’s serves, while unforced errors further hurt their cause.
 
Skipper Muthusamy Appavu remained the backbone for Ahmedabad, as he kept serving up balls in equal measure to all his players, keeping Blitz guessing from where the attack could come from. Midway through the game, Ahmedabad began misfiring, and Blitz found an opening. But Muthu’s perfect pass to Angamuthu brought a super point in the Defenders’ corner and the door was shut as quickly as it was opened.
 
Leandro kept earning pickings points for Chennai, but Nandagopal, and Angamuthu kept control of the outside lines deep into the game. With a resounding win in straight sets, the Defenders proved their title win was not a fluke.



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

Germany and Hungary big climbers in latest FIBA World Ranking Women

MIES (Switzerland) – Germany and Hungary are the headline risers in the updated edition of the FIBA World Ranking Women, presented by Nike.

Refreshed in the wake of the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024 which took place recently in Antwerp, Belem, Xi’An and Sopron, there are a number of climbers in the updated rankings

Germany wrote a historic new chapter in Belem when they celebrated taking a ticket to the Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024, which means they are now looking forward to appearing at the Games for the very first time.

They’re now also ranked in the Top 20 after moving up six places to 19th on 322.8 points, also providing exciting momentum for German basketball in their role as host nation of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026.

Meanwhile, Hungary competed on the global stage for the first time in recent times and while it proved to be a bitter-sweet experience after only missing out on Paris 2024 by a single basket, their efforts have been recognized in the rankings. They also now rise up into the Top 20 after climbing five places to 16th on 357.7 points. 

The Top 10 of the rankings remains unchanged and that is reflective of the current stability and consistency of the leading nations in the world, as well as only three games being played at the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024.

Every Top 10 nation will be appearing at the Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 except for Brazil, who were only just squeezed out of a spot. 

Elsewhere, Puerto Rico stepped up one place to 11th on 495.1 points, which takes them above Nigeria who are now 12th on 490.1 points.

While both nations will hit the floor at Paris 2024 after posting successful campaigns at their respective FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, it is the historical element of the ranking which has resulted in Nigeria dropping one place. Specifically, their success at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2021 now carries less weight due to the amount of time elapsed since their success at the event. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Captain of Indian blind cricket team announced for Pak, SL Tri Series

Delhi [India], February 15, 2024: The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) in association with the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled on Thursday announced the captain and vice-captain of the Indian Men’s Cricket team for the Blind ahead of the upcoming Triangular series between India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Dubai. Air Water has joined hands with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled and Cricket Association for the Blind in India by being the official partner of the India Men’s Cricket team for the Blind for this series.

Indian men’s cricket team for the blind along with Pakistan and Sri Lanka will feature in a Triangular Series in Dubai from February 22 to February 25. Durga Rao Tompaki will captain the Indian Men’s while, Sunil Ramesh will be his deputy for the Tri-Series.

Speaking on the announcement ahead of the Tri-series, the Chairman of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar said “Cricket for the Blind will grow only when we play against the good teams and win matches against the tough teams. This is an another triangular series and an opportunity to the players to play the tough games and bring laurels to the country. I would like to thank Ajay Kumar Reddy for his leadership skills and I am happy to announce the new captain and vice-captain of the Indian Men’s Cricket team for the Blind. Both are good and strong players and we are sure under their leadership cricket for the blind in India will bring more laurels to the Mother Land”

“It’s the biggest Honour and privilege to lead the Indian Team. I have played for the last 10 years and all my seniors and fellow teammates have helped to this day. I am grateful to all for having that faith in me and I am sure we all will work hard and make the country proud” said the Captain Durga Rao.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Kausik Mukhopadhyay Managing Director at Air Water India Private Limited said “We at Air Water India (AWIPL) are committed to work towards the well- being of the communities where we operate and beyond. Taking a leaf out of our parent company’s dedication towards sustainable CSR interventions, we have adopted UNSDGs #4 & #6 to channelize our energies in the space of corporate social responsibility.

However, AWIPL has always been open to explore and go beyond the scope laid out in the above UNSDGs and contribute our efforts to any meaningful project that leads to the empowerment of individuals and assist in developing sustainable livelihood and a more inclusive society.

Given that the CABI project is focussed on providing a platform for the differently abled to showcase their talent in the field of cricket, it is an obvious choice for AWIPL to participate in this engagement, thereby getting to live our core values of inclusiveness and equal opportunity.

Speaking on the occasion the legendry Indian cricketer Mr Mohammed Kaif Said “I am happy to be here supporting Cricket Association for the Blind in India and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled in their endeavour of promoting cricket for the Visually Impaired across the World. I was here last time wishing the teams the best for the IBSA World Games 2023. Sports is the best platform to build an inclusive society and Cricket has the potential to bring in the change the society needs. Cricket for the Visually Impaired has proven to be a very positive transformative tool to empower and transform the visually impaired. I am glad that I am here because the players inspire us by bringing laurels to the country and they need our support. Let us all support cricket for the Visually Impaired and I wish the captain and the entire team the best. “Indian team will have 17-member squad for the Triangular series and players are chosen based on their performances in the 6th edition of Nagesh Trophy which concluded on early this month.

Debaraj Behera (B1) from Odisha, Sanjay Kumar Shah (B1) from Delhi and Magunta Sai (B2) from Karnataka have received maiden call to the National team for the Triangular series.

The coaching camp for the Indian men’s blind cricket team is being held from February 8 to February 20 in Bangalore. India will play Pakistan and Sri Lanka with one match each and the top 2 teams based on the points will play the finals on February 25.

Indian Men’s Squad for Triangular Series 2024 at Dubai

1. Nareshbhai Balubhai Tumda– B1– Gujarat
2. Nilesh Yadav– B1– Delhi
3. Ajaykumar Reddy Illuri– B1– Andhra Pradesh
4. Debaraj Behera– B1– Odisha
5. Maharaja Sivasubramanian– B1– Tamil Nadu
6. Sanjay Kumar Shah– B1– Delhi
7. Venkateswara Rao Dunna– B2– Andhra Pradesh
8. Pankaj Bhue– B2– Odisha
9. Lokesha– B2– Karnataka
10. Nakula Badanayak– B2– Odisha
11. Magunta Sai– B2– Karnataka
12. Durga Rao Tompaki– B3– Andhra Pradesh
13. Sunil Ramesh– B3– Karnataka
14. Sukhram Majhi– B3– Odisha
15. Ravi Amiti– B3– Andhra Pradesh
16. Dinesh Rathva– B3– Gujarat
17. Dhinagar. G– B3– Pondicherry
by Abhishek Shukla

Badminton Asia Team Championships: Indian men go down 2-3 against China

New Delhi, February 15: Indian men’s badminton team put up a spirited performance against China but ended on the losing side of a 2-3 score line in the Group A clash of the Badminton Asia Team Championship at Selangor, Malaysia, on Thursday.
With the quarterfinal spot assured after their win over Hong Kong on Wednesday, India opted to rest Asian Games gold medallist doubles combination of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty and former world no. 1 Kidambi Srikanth in order to keep them fresh for the knock-out stage.
World No. 7 HS Prannoy also needed time to find his footing in the opening match against Weng Hong Yang but showed why he is considered such a formidable force in the team events by staging an impressive fightback to win 6-21, 21-18, 21-19 in an hour and 13 minutes.
The doubles combination of MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila then came close to doubling India’s lead against the Chinese combination of Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi, ranked 17 places above them. Trailing 13-19 in the decider, the Indian pair won six straight points to level scores but could not sustain the momentum and lost 21-15, 19-21, 21-19 in an hour and 10 minutes.
Lakshya Sen then put India ahead once again with a 21-11, 21-16 win over Lei Lan Xi.
It was then left for the debutant doubles combination of Suraj Goala and Pruthvi K Roy or national singles champion Chirag Sen to see India through. They did take the fight to their opponents but fell short.
Results:Men: China bt India 3-2 (Weng Hong Yang lost to HS Prannoy 21-6, 18-21, 19-21; Chen Bo Yang/Liu Yi bt MR Arjun/Dhruv Kapila 21-15, 19-21, 21-19; Lei Lan Xi lost to Lakshya Sen 11-21, 16-21; Ren Xiang Yu/Xie Hao Nan bt Suraj Goala/Pruthvi K Roy 21-13, 21-9; Wang Zheng Xing bt Chirag Sen 21-15, 21-16)

by Abhishek Shukla

FIFA Raking: African and Asian teams grab the headlines

Although it is a case of as you were amongst the ten teams that lead the way in the latest edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking, there is plenty of movement further down the standings following the matches contested in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations and the AFC Asian Cup.

Indeed, across the two continents, no fewer than six teams have scaled ten places or more.

Amongst the African sides, Côte d’Ivoire (39th, up 10) reap the rewards of their continental triumph on home soil, secured following an eventful tournament campaign. Beaten finalists Nigeria (28th, up 14) make significant strides but are no match for the Angola side they ousted in the last eight (93rd, up 24), who are the biggest climbers in the latest instalment of the global ranking.

In the points stakes, two-time Asian Cup winners Qatar (37th, up 21) chalk up the biggest tally (92.04 points) after capitalising on home comforts to successfully defend their continental crown. Elsewhere, Jordan (70th, up 17), who were edged out by the Maroons in the final, make good ground, as do Thailand (101st, up 12), whose journey came to an end at the last-16 stage.

Qatar’s rise sees them enter uncharted territory, with two other teams also recording best-ever rankings. Senegal (17th, up 3), who suffered shoot-out heartbreak at the hands of the eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16, break new ground, while Tajikistan (99th, up 7) mark their maiden Asian Cup campaign by making a first-ever appearance in the top 100.

Other impressive performers are Equatorial Guinea (79th, up 9), South Africa (58th, up 8), Cabo Verde (65th, up 8), Namibia (107th, up 8) and Mali (47th, up 4).

The next edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking will be published on 4 April.

Leader Argentina (unchanged)
Moves into top 10 None
Moves out of top 10 None
Matches played in total 125 (including 2 in 2023)
Most matches played Congo DR, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria (8 matches)
Biggest move by points Qatar (up 92.04 points)
Biggest move by places Angola (up 24 ranks)
Biggest drop by points Vietnam (down 41.00 points)
Biggest drop by places Guinea-Bissau, India (down 15 ranks)
Newly ranked teams None
Teams that are no longer ranked None
Inactive teams that are no longer ranked Eritrea

by Abhishek Shukla

Chess Torch Ceremony kicks off FIDE’s centennial celebration

2024 promises to be a momentous year for chess as FIDE celebrates its 100th birthday. To commemorate this huge milestone, the year will be filled with chess activities around the world – from festivals and historical exhibitions, to special tournaments such as the Candidates. There is a lot in store and a lot to be excited about.

Now, what better way to start the festivities with a bang? This is exactly what happened today, with a special Chess Torch Ceremony held in India to mark FIDE’s centennial celebration.

The Chess Torch Ceremony began with a vibrant event in New Delhi at the Major Dhyan National Stadium. The event, rich in cultural performances and chess-related activities, saw the lighting of the Chess Torch by India’s Sports Minister, Anurag Singh Thakur.

Esteemed guests and chess greats, including Viswanathan Anand and Judit Polgar, were present, and the big day included multiple chess activities and speeches.

The event began at 08:30 with a Kids Blitz tournament, with chess legends Viswanathan Anand and Judit Polgar making their inaugural moves, setting a lively and inclusive tone for the day.

Dr. Sanjay Kapoor, President of the All India Chess Federation, offered a warm welcome address, followed by a captivating video presentation celebrating FIDE’s centennial and its diverse activities planned for the year.

Then, a “Hand & Brain” chess game between Mr Anurag Singh Thakur and Vishy Anand vs Arkady Dvorkovich and Judit Polgar was played, adding an interactive element to the event. What was the result, you may ask? Well, after some friendly competition, the game ended in a draw!

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich delivered an address, further emphasizing the global and unifying nature of chess, stating, “It is my firm belief, and our joint vision at FIDE, that chess is not just a game or a sport, but it is a huge tool to improve our society.” 

This address highlighted how chess can bridge cultures, ages, and backgrounds and how FIDE aims to bring chess to all communities in the world. The speech was followed by a vibrant cultural act representing various parts of India, showcasing the country’s diverse heritage and connection to chess.

The highlight of the ceremony was the lighting of the cauldron by Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur and Arkady Dvorkovich, symbolizing the official start of the Chess Torch Relay, which aims to unite the chess community worldwide. The Torch will travel the world to reach Budapest, Hungary in September, where the 45th Chess Olympiad will take place.

All India Chess Federation President, Dr Sanjay Kapoor’s address beautifully highlighted the significance of the Torch:

“Today, as the torch embarks on its journey from India to Budapest, let us remember that it symbolizes the unity and camaraderie that define our global chess family. And the values that it represents: perseverance, determination, and the unbreakable bonds that tie us together. Together, let us ignite the flames of inspiration and passion for the game of chess, and may they burn brightly for generations to come.”

Overall, it was a uniquely meaningful day which represents the special centennial year that we, as a global chess community, will get to celebrate with FIDE.

by Abhishek Shukla

Squash: Former World No.1 Willstrop Wins Five-Game Thriller On Day One Of Squash On Fire Open 2024

Former World No.1 James Willstrop rolled back the years to recover from 2-1 down to defeat Portugal’s Rui Soares on the opening day of the Squash On Fire Open 2024. 

The Englishman, 40, hadn’t taken to the court competitively on the PSA Tour since mid-December, but there were few signs of rustiness as he raced into a one-game lead in the first round of the PSA World Tour Bronze event in Washington DC. 

Despite Soares settling into the match and progressing into a 2-1 lead with some physical squash, Willstrop’s experience came to the fore as he set up a deciding game and moved into a slender lead in the fifth. 

The 22-time PSA Tour winner, who delighted the packed house with two of his trademark windmill shots in the latter stages of the match, brought up match ball after 53 minutes of action, and at the second time of asking, claimed victory with a forehand winner. 

After the match, Willstrop said: “I haven’t played for so long, so I didn’t know what to expect. But it was great, I loved every minute of it. I’m constantly seeing how I’m doing with my playing. Obviously, with my coaching, there’s much less playing going on, but it was nice to feel good out there and to know why I still want to play out there. To get a win and a good result was a bonus. 

“I think I knew before the match that I had to start well and not get embroiled in too many physical rallies. The physicality is a little bit of a doubt, I’m not sure how much of an engine I’ve got at the minute, so getting that first game quickly was good. 

“I just got a run in the fourth and completely changed the match. I’m slightly surprised at myself, but I’ll take it.”

Elsewhere, American duo Todd Harrity and Spencer Lovejoy both fought back from two-game deficits to progress to the second round. World No.54 Harrity defeated Israel’s Daniel Poleshchuk in a 51-minute encounter, while World No.69 Lovejoy came away victorious from his 70-minute clash against Malaysia’s Addeen Idrakie. 

Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, tournament wildcard Menna Walid recorded her maiden PSA World Tour victory following a back-and-forth five-game duel with Kenzy Ayman. The 19-year-old, who claimed her spot in the draw thanks to victory at the Squash On Fire Open 2024 Wild Card Challenge event on Sunday, defeated her compatriot by a 6-11, 13-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-6 scoreline. 

Day two of action from the Squash On Fire Open 2024 commences at 12:00 (GMT-5) on Wednesday, 15th February and will be available to watch live on SQUASHTV.

Results: Squash On Fire Open 2024 Men’s RD1 

Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt Tayyab Aslam (PAK) 3-0: 15-13, 11-5, 11-5 (32m)

Lucas Serme (FRA) bt [WC] Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) 3-1: 8-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (43m)

Bernat Jaume (ESP) bt Tom Walsh (ENG) 3-1: 9-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-8 (56m)

Todd Harrity (USA) bt Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) 3-2: 7-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-1, 11-8 (51m)

Spencer Lovejoy (USA) bt Addeen Idrakie (MAS) 3-2: 7-11, 6-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-3 (70m)

Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) bt [WC] Mark Broekman (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-2 (22m)

James Willstrop (ENG) bt Rui Soares (POR) 3-2: 11-5, 5-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-9 (54m)

Ben Smith (ENG) bt Leonel Cardenas (MEX) 3-1: 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7 (46m)

Draw – Squash On Fire Open 2024 Men’s RD2: To Be Played February 15th

[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) v Ben Smith (ENG)

Spencer Lovejoy (USA) v [6] Saurav Ghosal (IND)

[8] Nathan Lake (ENG) v James Willstrop (ENG)

Bernat Jaume (ESP) v [3] Iker Pajares (ESP)

[4] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) v Lucas Serme (FRA)

Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) v [5] Greg Lobban (SCO)

[7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Todd Harrity (USA)

Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) v [2] Youssef Soliman (EGY)

Results: Squash On Fire Open 2024 Women’s RD1 

Aira Azman (MAS) bt Saskia Beinhard (GER) 3-2: 9-11, 11-3, 11-5, 6-11, 11-2 (37m)

Salma Eltayeb (EGY) bt Marta Dominguez (ESP) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-9 (30m)

Ainaa Amani (MAS) bt Nardine Garas (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-4 (23m)

Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) 3-2: 9-11, 12-10, 6-11, 12-10, 11-8 (51m)

Menna Hamed (EGY) bt Ineta Hopton (LAT) 3-1: 10-12, 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 (32m)

[WC] Menna Walid (EGY) bt Kenzy Ayman (EGY) 3-2: 6-11, 13-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-6 (38m)

Malak Khafagy (EGY) bt [WC] Anna Serme (CZE) 3-0: 11-4, 11-9, 11-6 (23m)

Haya Ali (EGY) bt Danielle Ray (CAN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-2, 11-6 (16m)

Draw – Squash On Fire Open 2024 Women’s RD2: To Be Played February 15th

[1] Tinne Gilis (BEL) v Haya Ali (EGY)

Malak Khafagy (EGY) v [8] Hana Moataz (EGY)

[5] Lucy Turmel (ENG) v [WC] Menna Walid 

Menna Hamed (EGY) v [4] Tomato Ho 

[3] Amina Orfi (EGY) v Ainaa Amani (MAS)

Jessica Turnbull (AUS) v [6] Rachel Arnold (MAS)

[7] Zeina Mickawy (EGY) v Aira Azman (MAS)

Salma Eltayeb (EGY) v [2] Sabrina Sobhy (USA)

by Abhishek Shukla

Squash: Gawad Avoids Upset with Comeback Win on Day Two at HSC 2024 Houston Men’s Squash Open

Karim Abdel Gawad avoided a major upset in round two of the HSC 2024 Houston Men’s Squash Open, coming from two games down to beat the USA’s Timothy Brownell. 

The No.4 seed, who moved back inside the top five of the world’s rankings this week, came into this event after picking up the Pittsburgh Open title a few days ago, but was far from his best against the American lefty here. 

Brownell had described the prospect of facing Gawad as a ‘dream’ after his round-one win, and he started the match with intent, displaying the free-spirited style of a player with little to lose. 

He was bouncing around the court with energy and took game one with a backhand drive which wrong-footed Gawad, winning game two with a deep forehand beyond the Egyptian’s reach a few minutes later. 

That winner came on Brownell’s fourth game ball, with Gawad having saved the first three, and perhaps that helped to tilt the momentum back in the fourth seed’s favour. 

He established an early game-three lead that he would never relinquish, and controlled much of game four too, despite Brownell requesting a change of ball at its start. 

A misjudged boast into the tin from the Brownell racket on Gawad’s third game ball ensured a decider would be needed, and it was the experience of the Egyptian that shone through in the end, winning a somewhat scrappy fifth on forehand drop, with Brownell’s calls for a video review falling on deaf ears, his own reviews already used up. 

“I had a very slow start,” Gawad said after his win. “In the first two games, I couldn’t read him at all, I couldn’t see the ball very well, so I was moving a bit slowly.  

“After the second game, I had to re-focus again and I tried to push mentally as much as I could, tried to forget about the score and play the match as if it was the first game. 

“Starting from the third, I started moving better, started to read him much better than at the beginning and luckily it went my way at the end.” 

His opponent in the last eight will be fellow Egyptian Aly Abou Eleinen, who came from a game down to beat Baptiste Masotti in the final match of the day. 

There was little to separate the two players through the first two games, which were shared one apiece, but the Egyptian ran away with victory in the end, winning 17 of the last 19 points across games three and four. 

“It was an exciting match,” he said after victory. 

“There was a lot of fast-paced, slow-paced, all-court squash, so I’m super happy and proud of myself that I got through today.” 

World No.1 Ali Farag and sixth seed Tarek Momen also won, completing the Egyptian clean sweep on day two. 

The remaining matches in round two of the HSC 2024 Houston Men’s Squash Open take place from 17:00 (GMT-6) tomorrow, February 15th. Watch the action live on SQUASHTV.

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

[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Farkas Balazs (HUN) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 11-7 (27m) 
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Leung Chi Hin Henry (HKG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 (31m) 
[4] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Timothy Brownell (USA) 3-2: 6-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 (70m) 
Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt [8] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 3-1: 9-11, 14-12, 11-5, 11-2 (66m) 

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

Cesar Salazar (MEX) v [2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) 
[7] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) v Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) 
[3] Mostafa Asal (EGY) v Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) 
Karim El Hammamy (EGY) v [5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 

by Abhishek Shukla

Harshad Mhatre and Arati Patil win the Federal Bank Kochi Marathon 2024

Kochi (Kerala) February 2024: Harshad Mhatre, who hails from Maharashtra, and represents India Railways, won the Federal Bank Kochi Marathon 2024, organised by CleoSportz.

28-year-old Harshad Mhatre finished the full marathon in the men’s category in what was a photo finish after clocking a time of 2:35:50 hours. Dinesh Kisan Patil, who also hails from Maharashtra finished second with the same timing in the Federal Bank Kochi Marathon, a coveted event in the country. Meanwhile, Ramavath Ramesh Chandra, who is a native of Telangana, finished third after clocking a time of 2:38:37 hours. 

In the women’s category, it was once again a Maharashtra woman, who dominated the race from the start to the end. Arati Patil was crowned as the champion as she finished the marathon with a time of 03:37:03 hours. Kerela’s Anju Murukan, who clocked a timing of 04:25:17, finished second in the full marathon.

In the Half Marathon (21.097 KM), it was Nabeel Shah, who emerged victorious in the men’s category. Nabeel Shah clocked a finish time of 1:17:43 hours. Sajith KM, with a finish time of 1:19:56 hours, and Rajesh Thankachan, with a finish time of 01:22:47 hours, finished second and third respectively in the men’s half marathon.

In the women’s half marathon, it was Jolsana Anthony, who bagged the first prize with a timing of 1:38:25 hours. Neena Katwal, with a timing of 1:40:47 hours, and Gayathri G, who clocked the finish time of 1:45:00 hours, finished second and third respectively.

Commenting on the success of the Federal Bank Kochi Marathon, M V S Murthy, Chief Marketing Officer, Federal Bank, said, “We would have clocked close to a 100,000 km in the 2nd Edition of the Federal Bank Kochi Marathon. Super proud that we hosted runners from 10 different countries / 21 states / ~500 specially-abled athletes and brought the World to Kochi in #GodsOwnCountry for the #GodsOwnMarathon.

The journey of a mile begins with the first step. We will continue to build the running community across the country by offering them and their families Kochi, as a reason to travel and experience the God’s Own Country in a run or simply walking around town.”

Meanwhile, in the 10K Run, in the men’s category, it was Sreerag AS, who emerged triumphant with a timing of 00:33:35 hours. Prabhakar K, who clocked a finish time of 00:39:57 hours, and Ravi A, with a finish time of 00:40:13 hours, finished in second and third place respectively.

In the women’s category of the 10K Run, it was Beena George, who finished first with a timing of 00:40:41 hours. The second place was bagged by Akshaya K with a finish time of 00:46:25 hours. Tesna Joseph clocked a finish time of 00:46:55 timing.

A 3 km Green Run and 1.3 km ‘The Special Run’ for the differently-abled was held in association with the Raksha Society.

The winners were felicitated by V. Abdurahiman, Minister for Sports, Govt. of Kerala; Justice Devan Ramachandran, Kerala High Court Judge were the chief guests at the prize distribution ceremony. N. Ravi, DIG, Indian Coast Guard; Indian former netball and basketball player and actress Prachi Tehlan; Cine Actor Hakim Shah, Federal Bank Executive Director Shalini Warrier, Chief Mentor Ashuthosh Khajuria, Aster Medcity Kochi Operations Head Dhanya Shyamalan and Lulu Group India Commercial Manager Sadhik Kasim.

The marathon was flagged off at 4 AM at the Maharajas College Ground here by V.K. Raju, Assistant Commissioner of Police and M.V.S. Murthy, Chief Marketing Officer, Federal Bank. Former sports persons Sathish Pillai, T.C. Yohannan, Indian Volleyball player Rajanpreet Singh, Federal Bank MD and CEO Shyam Srinivasan, Assistant Commissioner of Police Jayakumar, official Medical Director of the marathon Dr. Johnson K. Varghese, Gardenia Cosmotrade LLP (Tiger Balm) Partner Puneet Motiani and Haw Par India Pvt. Ltd. (Tiger Balm) Country Head Dipanjan Ghosh were present on the occasion.

by Abhishek Shukla

Eurosport to telecast DafaNews Bengaluru Open 2024 live from quarter-finals

Bengaluru, February 15, 2024: Fans across India, Asia and Europe can now catch all the exciting tennis action from the DafaNews Bengaluru Open 2024 as it will be telecasted live on Eurosport from quarter-finals, starting on Friday.

The prestigious ATP Challenger event is being organised by the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) at the KSLTA Stadium in Bengaluru with the final scheduled on Sunday.

The live telecast will offer an opportunity to fans not only in India and Asia but also in Europe to enjoy the thrilling action from the tournament which has been witnessing participation of top global stars including India’s top-ranked singles player Sumit Nagal, who recently broke into the top-100 of the ATP rankings, former World No. 25 Canada’s Vasek Pospisil and Coleman Wong—the highest-ranked Hong Kong male tennis player in history.

“The ongoing sixth edition of DafaNews Bengaluru Open has been witnessing high-voltage competition with the presence of players from 22 countries and we are delighted to announce that the fans can now feel the excitement and intensity of the tournament right from their living rooms as live telecast will be available on Eurosport from Friday. The expert commentary will add depth and insight, enhancing viewing experience and I hope this will help us to take the sport to every corner of the country as well as other parts of the world,” commented Tournament Director Sunil Yajaman.

One of premium sports channels, Eurosport will be broadcasting the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024 and has also telecasted some of world’s top sports competitions in the past including Formula One and ATP Tour 250.

Tickets are available

Fans can avail offline tickets from the box office at KSLTA Stadium with the price ranging from ₹150 to ₹1000. Tickets are also available online on https://in.ticketgenie.in/Events/Bengaluru-Open-2024.

by Abhishek Shukla

India’s largest Esports talent hunt College Rivals set to culminate with experiential LAN event

Mumbai, February 15, 2024: After months of intense competition and nationwide excitement, College Rivals, India’s largest Esports talent hunt, is gearing up for its grand showdown with early bird tickets for the grand finale now available on BookMyShow. The one-of-a-kind experiential LAN event will be a combination of gaming action, community engagement, and entertainment and is set to take place on March 3 at Nesco, Mumbai.

College Rivals, which is the inaugural intellectual property of Ampverse, Asia’s largest ecosystem of gaming communities and IPs, in collaboration with DMI Finance, has tapped into the immense talent pool within college campuses across the country and revolutionized India’s Esports landscape by providing a pioneering platform for students to showcase their gaming prowess.

The grand finale will feature 28 finalists selected from colleges nationwide who will compete individually across six titles on three different platforms. This includes eight finalists in BGMI, and four each in Road to Valor, Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, Tekken 7, and FIFA 23.

In addition to thrilling Esports action, attendees can look forward to a range of engaging activities, including meet and greets with top gaming influencers, music performances by renowned artists, arcade gaming zones, racing simulators, food and beverage counters, chill lounges, and much more.

Ashwin Haryani, Country Head of Ampverse, India, expressed his enthusiasm regarding the grand finale, stating, “College Rivals is a groundbreaking IP that has brought the immense talent and passion for Esports among college students to the forefront. It has successfully realized our vision of creating a sustainable ecosystem that offers a structured pathway for every player, irrespective of their background or experience, to pursue a career in Esports. By identifying and nurturing talent at the grassroots level, we aim to empower the next generation of gamers and shape the future of India’s Esports industry. The first season of College Rivals is just the beginning of our vision and we are eagerly looking forward to an immersive grand finale that will captivate not only gaming enthusiasts but everyone involved.”

The journey of College Rivals began in August with city qualifiers, where teams competed in bracket-based matches organized by city. Each city qualifier was conducted at the end of the City Tour by the College Rivals Truck which visited 25 colleges across five cities, including New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai, and attracted a total of 92,000 participants across the nation.

Following the city qualifiers, the top players from each city moved to the League Stage where they competed in a GSL format, with the best advancing to the LAN event playoffs.

Early Bird tickets for the grand finale are now live on BookMyShow, priced at INR 299 for individuals and INR 999 for squads of four. This includes a free energy drink for each person.

Following the Early Bird phase, regular tickets will be available at INR 499 for individuals and INR 1499 for squads.

While Early Bird tickets will be sold out soon, more surprises, including additional artist announcements and VIP tickets, are on the horizon. 

Fans can book their tickets here: https://in.bookmyshow.com/sports/college-rivals-grand-finale/ET00385748

For those who are unable to witness the action live, the grand finale will be streamed live on Youtube, Facebook Gaming, Twitch, Kick, Glance, JioGames, JioTV, Loco, and Rooter.

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengal Warriors go down 26-29 in last home leg match of PKL S10

14th February, Kolkata: Puneri Paltan knocked the Bengal Warriors out of playoffs contention, beating them 29-26 at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on Wednesday. The Warriors negotiated a double digit deficit and came close to taking down the table toppers late in the game, but ultimately suffered the loss that shut down any hopes they had of making the PKL Season 10 playoffs. Their loss means the Haryana Steelers need to win just one game over the final leg of the season to seal the final playoffs spot. 

MATCH CENTRE

The Warriors needed a fast start to the game if they had any chance of a victory — a necessity for their qualification hopes. As it was though, they endured a nightmare. Puneri Paltan raced into a lead, and inflicted an ALL OUT before the Warriors could register a point on the board within five minutes of the game. 

  The speed of their point accumulation was terrifying and they had the Warriors on the ropes again soon after, the points coming from every player in the Paltan side, in attack and defence. A SUPER TACKLE by Harsh Lad on Akash Shinde staved off a second all out, but could do little to cut the gap between the two teams. With Maninder restricted to a single point in the half, Paltan went into the break leading 18-9.

In a sudden turn of form though the Warriors came out much the stronger in the second period, and within the first five minutes had chipped away to reduce the Paltan’s numbers on the mat. Nitin Kumar’s SUPER RAID to take out Pankaj Mohite and Tushar Adhavade added the gloss as they inflicted an ALL OUT of their own to cut the gap down to four points going into the final quarter of the game.

In a neck-in-neck final quarter the Warriors threw all they had towards getting a positive result, and even had the Paltan close to an all out once late in the game. Their defence though kept leaking points when it mattered, and in the end the deficit proved too much in the end as Paltan locked up a close victory. 

Pro Kabaddi League Season 10, 2023
Points Table
PositionTeamMatchesWonLostTiedPointsScore DiffPoints concededPoints scored
1Puneri Paltan20152386236558794
2Jaipur Pink Panthers20143382125595720
3Dabang Delhi K.C.2112637445703748
4Patna Pirates2111736857727784
5Gujarat Giants2012806534654688
6Haryana Steelers181161603659662
7Bengal Warriors21910255-6789783
8Bengaluru Bulls20711248-73716643
9Tamil Thalaivas21813046-5763758
10U Mumba20612241-73784711
11U.P. Yoddhas20415129-107783676
12Telugu Titans20218017-236883647

Please see below the PKL Season 10 schedule for 16th February

Game 1 – Haryana Steelers vs Patna Pirates- 8 pm

Game 2- Telugu Titans vs Jaipur Pink Panthers- 9 pm

Venue: Panchkula

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

Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bengaluru scheduled for Sunday, 28th April 2024

Bengaluru, 14 February 2024: Procam International, pioneers of globally-renowned distance-running events in India, have announced the 16th edition of the World Athletics Gold Label Road Race Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bengaluru (TCS W 10K), scheduled for Sunday, 28th April.**

TCS World 10K Bengaluru, is a mirror of the myriad parts – where you can compete with the world’s best in one of the fastest courses, colour up your life while changing another’s, and bond with friends and peers in the city’s most vaunted running celebration while achieving your personal running goals. 

Always A Step Ahead, Spectacularly Scenic, Incredibly Fast, Endlessly Magical, Truly Inclusive; simply – #EndendiguBengaluru – Forever Bengaluru.

Runners and the running experience are at the core of the event. Each year, the TCS World 10K Bengaluru strives to offer the best race day experience. The 2024 edition sets off on a new adventure promising equal fervour with exciting enhancements, including a new start and finish line.

With support from the Indian Army, Karnataka & Kerala Sub Area, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Parade Ground will be the new home for the TCS World 10K Bengaluru. The participants will traverse Bengaluru’s prominent landmarks Cubbon Park, Ulsoor Lake, and Chinnaswamy Stadium immersing themselves in the city’s spirit.

Sunil Deshpande, Regional Head, TCS Bengaluru, said “TCS World 10K Bengaluru fosters a remarkable spirit of unity in our city. TCS has been associated with the World 10K Bengaluru since 2011 and we are extremely proud that the event has grown in popularity and stature to become the city’s premier running event. TCS is honoured to be part of an occasion that brings people together from all walks of life. From seasoned athletes to first-time runners, this event celebrates the joy of achievement and the power of collective support for causes close to our hearts. We eagerly look forward to seeing the streets of Bengaluru reverberating, once again, with the rhythm of determination and triumph.” 

The World’s Premier 10K with a total prize money of USD 210,000, attracts some of the leading Indian and international athletes along with amateur runners from across the globe.  

Registration for all race categories, including the Open 10K, Majja Run (5.1km), Silvers’ Run, and Champions with Disability (4.2km), will commence on Thursday, February 15th, starting at 7:00 am. The registration period will conclude on Friday, March 29th, at 11:59 pm, or as soon as running places are filled, whichever is earlier. Register now at https://tcsworld10k.procam.in

To encourage women’s participation, a limited number of spots are set aside for women who do not possess a timing certificate. Registration under these criteria will be based on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Naarayan TV, CMO, IDFC FIRST Bank, said “This is IDFC FIRST Bank’s third year partnering with TCS World 10K Bengaluru, that celebrates the city of Bangalore and its people. Our association with the marathon is a fitting one as it ties in with our Customer First philosophy and helps us be involved with our customer’s journey, both fitness and financial. we look forward to an event that radiates energy and celebrates the runners’ #JourneyToTheStart”-

Speaking about the event, Major General Ravi Murugan, AVSM – GOC, Karnataka & Kerala Sub Area said, “I believe the TCS World 10k Bengaluru is the flagship race of the country. I must say we are extremely happy to be associated with this event – for it symbolizes excellence which I’d like to believe is synonymous with the Army. While fitness is a lifestyle choice, it is a foundational requirement for a soldier in the Army for the functional role he or she performs. The 10k exemplifies dedication, determination and passion. We would like to believe these are core values of the Army too. Lastly we were extremely happy when Procam approached us with respect to a change of venue and now the race to start from one of our grounds- the beloved Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Parade ground. We offer our full support for the conduct of this event.”

Run from anywhere in the world via the TCS World 10K Bengaluru app

Runners from anywhere in the world can experience the magic of the event and run in the 10K and 5K via the exclusive TCS World 10K Bengaluru app. Registration for the virtual run opens on Thursday, February 15th, and will close on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024, or till available spots are taken, whichever comes first. 

Sobisco comes on board to fuel runners with nutrition 

Sobisco has teamed up with the TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2024 as the official Refreshment Partner. For over a decade, Sobisco has been on a mission to provide the nation and beyond with top-quality, nutritious snacks. Their commitment to excellence has led to remarkable success. 

Sobisco’s goal has always been to promote health and wellness through nutrition. As part of this collaboration, Sobisco will provide healthy refreshments in the post-race bags, and all registered participants will receive exclusive product hampers. 

Finisher Tee by ASICS Sports Goods Partner

As a token of recognition for their efforts and achievements, Japanese sports performance brand ASICS will present the exclusive Finisher Tee for the top 1000 finishers each, across men and women in the Open 10K.

Talking about the 16th edition, Vivek Singh, Joint MD, Procam International said, “For the past 16 years, the TCS World 10K Bengaluru has been the pride of this city – bringing everyone together on a common platform . As we kickstart the registrations for the 2024 edition, our special thanks to the Indian Army, Karnataka, and Kerala Sub Area for giving us a new start and finish.

Our thanks to the Government of Karnataka, who have been supporting this event since its inception. Our gratitude to our Sponsors, Partners and the running community, you have made this event an integral part of Bengaluru, and this legacy will continue to grow from strength to strength each year…. Forever Bengaluru #EndendiguBengaluru.”

Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bengaluru has continued support from the Government of Karnataka, Karnataka Athletic Association, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Bengaluru Police, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Department of Horticulture, Sports Authority of India, Athletics Federation of India, World Athletics, Association of International Marathons & Distance Races and Global Sports Communication.

The TCS World 10K Bengaluru is strengthened by partnerships from-    

Title Sponsor — Tata Consultancy Services

Associate Sponsor — IDFC FIRST Bank 

Sports Goods Partner — ASICS 

Driven by — TATA.ev 

Snacking Partner — Cadbury FUSE 

Hydration Partner — Bisleri 

Energy Drink Partner — FAST&UP 

Social Connect Partner – Vedanta 

Print Partner — The Times of India 

Entertainment Partner — Mirchi 

Telecast Partner – SONY Sports 1

Refreshment Partner – Sobisco

Medical Services Partner — Fortis 

Philanthropy Partner — aidbees 

Hospitality Partner — ITC Windsor Bengaluru

Silvers’ Run Facilitator — Vayah Vikas

Inclusion Ally — ABBF

**The Race date of the TCS World 10 K Bengaluru, i.e. Sunday 28th April 2024, may undergo a change on account of elections to the 18th Lok Sabha. 

In case there is a conflict of dates, the new event date will be intimated to all immediately. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengal Warriors bring special PKL viewing experience to kids from CRY and Parivaar

Kolkata, 14 February, 2024: Young children from CRY’s ‘Kabaddi for Change’ programme and Parivaar spent time with Shubham Shinde and his teammate Nitin Rawal after being invited by Bengal Warriors for the Kolkata leg of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10. The program hopes to reach out to 8 districts, and touch the lives of 3000 children kabaddi players through CRY’s initiatives.

The Kabaddi for Change initiative aims to help in the empowerment of children in certain districts of West Bengal through the sport of Kabaddi. These children, who are all from underprivileged communities, were experiencing the excitement and thrill of watching a game in the stadium live, for the first time in their lives.

Here are some glimpses of their meeting as the two Kabaddi stars brought a wide smile to the faces of these young kids, many of whom are aspiring Kabaddi stars.

by Abhishek Shukla

Ashu Malik propels Dabang Delhi to mindblowing comeback win against Tamil Thalaivas

14th February, Kolkata: Dabang Delhi produced a mindblowing comeback as they erased a 13-point deficit and clinched a hard-fought 45-43 win over Tamil Thalaivas in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 match at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on Wednesday. Ashu Malik was Dabang Delhi’s star as he finished with 18 raid points, as did Tamil Thalaivas’ Narender.

Tamil Thalaivas raced off the blocks in style with an ALL OUT inside the opening 5 minutes. Narender ran through the Dabang Delhi defence and the raiders were on song as Tamil Thalaivas soared to a 9-2 lead. Ashan Kumar’s side were brilliant on all accounts and their dominance was wide on display as they secured another ALL OUT in the 15th minute and climbed to a mammoth lead at 22-9.

Dabang Delhi, who have already qualified for the playoffs, failed to get going as captain Ashu was the only one who kept the scoreboard ticking. The defence had a poor outing and leaked points aplenty as Tamil Thalaivas went into the interval leading 25-14.

Ashu’s men made a good start to the 2nd period as they inflicted an ALL OUT in the 24th minute and reduced their deficit to just 5 points at 25-20. However, their hopes of a comeback were dashed by some brilliant raiding from Narender. The youngster starred with a multi-point raid, bagged a Super 10 and led his side to an ALL OUT that propelled them to a 12-point lead at 34-22.

While it looked like the odds were stacked against them, Dabang Delhi produced a miraculous comeback. It began with a  SUPER RAID from Meetu Sharma and then Ashu switched gears as Dabang Delhi clinched an ALL OUT at 33-38 with 6 minutes to go.

What followed was a raiding masterclass from Ashu as he got the better of every Tamil Thalaivas defender to level the scores at 38-38 and then a splendid tackle from Manu on Narender in the 39th minute awarded Dabang Delhi an ALL OUT and the lead at 43-42. Ashu grabbed his 18th point of the game in the final raid as he climbed to the top of the standings for the season’s best raider and Dabang Delhi bounced back to winning ways.

Please see below the PKL Season 10 schedule for 16th February

Game 1 – Haryana Steelers vs Patna Pirates- 8 pm

Game 2- Telugu Titans vs Jaipur Pink Panthers- 9 pm

Venue: Panchkula

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

44th Olympiad in 2022 initiated a golden era in Indian Chess, says AICF chief Sanjay Kapoor

New Delhi [India], February 14: All India Chess Federation (AICF) President Sanjay Kapoor expressed immense pride in India hosting the 44th edition of the Chess Olympiad, calling it a dream come true moment for the governing body. The 44th edition of the Chess Olympiad was held in Chennai in the year 2022.

The AICF chief reminiscing India’s show in the Chess Olympiad, said the performance of the host team initiated a golden era in Indian Chess. More than 2500 players and 7000 had taken part in the global event at that time.

“Today, I extend my heartiest congratulations to FIDE on reaching the remarkable milestone of 100 years. As we celebrate, this historic moment, I’ve been reminded of the progress we all have witnessed in Indian chess over the last few years. None of which would have been possible without the golden touch of Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji,” Mr Sanjay Kapoor said during the Chess Olympiad Torch Relay handoff ceremony in Delhi on Wednesday.

“With the relentless effort of the AICF team and the ardent support of Shri Anurag Thakur ji, I’m proud to say that we pulled off something no one ever expected. We made our dream come true by bringing the chess olympiad to India.”

“When the torch relay travelled to 75 districts of the country, it literally ignited a fire in the heart of youngsters. When we actually hosted the chess olympiad and wrapped it successfully, with India finishing with 9 medals including historic women’s team bronze, we knew we had initiated a golden era in Indian Chess,” he added.

The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur on Wednesday handed over the Chess Olympiad Torch to Budapest, Hungary, the official host of the 45th edition of the Chess Olympiad.

The 1st Chess Olympiad Torch Relay was kicked off in a ceremony by the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Stadium on 19th June 2022.

The handoff ceremony took place at Delhi’s Major Dhyanchand National Stadium, where the honourable minister, along with Indian Grand Master Vishwanathan Anand played also a friendly game of Chess against FIDE President, Arkady Dvorkovich and Hungarian Grand Master Judit Polgár before handing over the Olympiad torch to the FIDE President and Budapest.

During the event, the Honorable Minister said “I am delighted that what we decided a few years back (to have Chess Olympiad Torch Relay) actually happened and that I am here at the handoff ceremony of the Torch for the Chess Olympiad.”

The next edition of the FIDE Chess Olympiad will now take place in Budapest, Hungary this year with the official announcement for the same being made earlier this year.

by Abhishek Shukla

Mohun Bagan Super Giant ends FC Goa’s unbeaten streak to spice up top of the table dynamics

Goa, February 14th 2024: Mohun Bagan Super Giant ended the 12-match-long unbeaten streak of FC Goa in Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 by inflicting a 1-0 loss upon the Gaurs at the Fatorda Stadium tonight. 

A 75th minute winner by Dimitrios Petratos sealed the deal for the Mariners as they got a second consecutive victory under their belt and prevented Manolo Marquez & Co. from bridging the gap between them and league leaders Odisha FC. 

The home side teased the Mohun Bagan Super Giant as their personnel tested them from both set-pieces and open play in the first 20 minutes. Brandon Fernandes was at the forefront of it all, setting up deliveries for Carlos Martinez and Noah Sadaoui at different junctures. 

Martinez was caught off side from a promising position in the fifth minute, and one of Brandon’s own efforts from long-range was on target but couldn’t get past Vishal Kaith soon afterwards. Petratos quickly turned the tables with a sharp turnaround as he switched the ball on his feet and attempted to curl in a shot from distance in the 21st minute. Thankfully for FC Goa, goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh dived full stretched on his left to keep the scores level. 

Incidentally, the duo of Arshdeep and Petratos was at the centre of attraction yet again, in a move that decided the eventual fate of the game. The Mariners broke on the counter and a usually organised FC Goa backline seemed out of place, which Manvir Singh looked to capitalise upon by putting the ball past Arshdeep in the 74th minute. The goalkeeper, who had kept the most clean sheets in the league before this, made a hasty clearance that Petratos pounced upon and swirled over the custodian to bag the eventual winner of the contest. 

Key Performer of the Match 

Dimitrios Petratos (Mohun Bagan Super Giant)

Petratos completed 20 out of his 25 passes, crossed twice, created a goal-scoring opportunity in addition to showing remarkable shooting accuracy from outside of the box to get the Mariners three points from the clash. 

What’s next for both teams?

Both Mohun Bagan Super Giant and FC Goa will play their next game against NorthEast United FC on February 17 and February 21 respectively. 

Brief Scores 

Mohun Bagan Super Giant 1 (Dimitrios Petratos 74’) – 0 FC Goa

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by Abhishek Shukla

Major League Soccer and adidas to Unveil 2024 Season Jerseys From Feb. 14-17

NEW YORK (Feb. 14, 2024) – As Major League Soccer (MLS) gears up for its 29th season, MLS clubs will host music, interactive fan experiences, and community-focused events from Feb. 14-17 in celebration of the return of soccer and unveiling of clubs’ 2024 adidas jerseys.

The 2024 jerseys will feature the MLS/Apple badge and unique elements will be infused throughout the jersey design that will contain unique elements pertaining to each club. In particular, the themes for the 2024 jerseys consist of throwbacks and anniversaries, local culture and clubs’ well-known scenery and monuments.

“Major League Soccer is excited to unveil our League’s 2024 jerseys which feature design elements that uniquely reflect our clubs and their communities,” said Rachel Hoagland, MLS SVP of Consumer Products. “We are thrilled to partner with adidas to capture the spirit, confident attitude, and diverse environment that embodies North American soccer culture.”

The 2024 jerseys will be available starting today for purchase at MLSstore.com and at team stadium stores. A sampling of club jersey reveals is below. For complete club plans and more information, visit MLSsoccer.com.

  • Austin FC – On February 15th, Austin FC will launch their 2024 jersey by hosting an unveil at ACL Live in downtown Austin. Their jersey pays homage to Armadillo World Headquarters, a flagship music venue open from 1970 to 1980 that exhibited the best of Austin culture and where the ethos of Austin was born. The event will feature Austin musical artists and transport guests back to the ‘70s and ‘80s through custom builds and features from “The ‘Dillo” archives. 
  • Atlanta United – Atlanta United will release its 2024 jersey at Pullman Yards on Feb. 17. Those in attendance will be able to pay witness to an awe-inspiring visual unveil moment and participate in an elevated retail experience with opportunities to touch, feel, engage with and learn about the jersey’s story.
  • Charlotte FC – At Station West on Feb. 17, Charlotte FC’s 2024 jersey unveil will host a private STM event doubled as a kit pickup and watch party for the club’s final Coachella Invitational Match. In addition to the watch party, fans will be treated to a DJ performance and numerous sponsor activations and is the ultimate way for fans to get excited for the season.
  • Chicago Fire FC – On Feb. 15, Chicago Fire FC will officially unveil its 2024 jersey during an event at Moonlight Studios in Chicago’s West Loop. The Official Return to the Red Kit Launch Event, driven by Carvana, will mark the Club’s much anticipated return to its iconic kits in Red – a color deeply embedded in the Club’s identify and hearts of its supporters since the Fire’s inaugural season in 1998.
  • FC Dallas – FC Dallas will unveil 2024 Afterburner jersey at its annual season kickoff event, Cocktails & Cleats, on Thursday, Feb. 15 in the National Soccer Hall of Fame at Toyota Stadium. FC Dallas players will model the new jersey during the party which serves as the largest fundraiser for the FC Dallas Foundation.
  • Houston Dynamo FC – Members of the Houston music and art community will join Houston Dynamo FC to launch the “Still Holdin’” jersey on Thursday, Feb. 15 at Cactus Music, a historic record shop that has served the city for half a century. The event will celebrate the vibrancy, creativity and hustler mentality that lives within every Houstonian. Additionally, guests will be the first to see and interact with the jersey prior to going on sale that evening.
  • LAFC – Will officially unveil its 2024 jersey on Thursday, Feb 15, and will offer fans in LA the first opportunity to shop the new primary kit in-person on Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Club’s annual Jersey Launch Party on Pepsi Plaza at BMO Stadium. The first opportunity for fans to view, purchase, customize and take home the jersey, all fans in attendance will be able to enjoy music, food and drink options as well as the opportunity to meet and interact with some of the LAFC star players.
  • Nashville SC – Nashville SC will officially introduce its 2024 and 2025 primary jersey on Feb. 17 at GEODIS Park, the largest soccer specific stadium in the country. The event, which will have a focus on the local Nashville community, will feature local artists and musicians, behind-the-scenes tours of the stadium including a locker room tour as well as local food trucks, a beer garden and more.
  • New York City FC – New York City FC will unveil its 2024 away kit online on Feb. 15, followed by a two-day pop-up event in downtown New York City starting Feb. 16. The activation, continuing through Feb. 17, aims to showcase the city’s incessant energy that is translated through the new jersey and will include a display of the ‘24/7’ kit shot by world-renowned photographer Timothy McGurr, known professionally as 13thwitness. The evening of Feb. 17 will feature an invite-only event with a fashion show led by the New York-based fashion designer Head of State and a concert by Remy Ma. Multidisciplinary artist Gianni Lee, the club’s newly appointed Art and Culture Consultant, is the creative director behind the experience. Tune into the club’s social media handles for more details.
  • Orlando City SC – Will leverage the club’s 10th anniversary since entering MLS to also unveil its 2024 jersey. Taking place at Cheyenne Saloon where the club was first announced in 2013, the event will pay homage to key milestones in the club’s history thus far and will feature appearances by former players who helped bring the club to where it is today.
  • Philadelphia Union – The Art of DOOP, where art, music and soccer meet. Iconic moments in Union history will be on display in art form with performances by a string quartet and an opportunity for fan photos with the Supporters Shield and Eastern Conference Final trophies. There will also be a live painting being created throughout the day. Fans will have the chance to bid on all the pieces at the event. The event will be held at Subaru Park on February 17th from 10am – 4pm.
  • San Jose Earthquakes – On February 18, The Earthquakes will unveil their 2024 jersey for the first time in person during the club’s 50th anniversary block party at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose. The event will welcome all generations of Quakes fans to enjoy a night of live music and performances, exclusive merch, and giveaways.  Special guests, players, and legends of the club over the past five decades will be on hand to reveal the new kits, as the event will be the first chance for fans to purchase them in person.
  • St. Louis CITY SC – Will reveal its 2024 secondary kit on Friday, Feb. 16, kicking off a weekend of special events. Fans will enjoy a “prep” rally and hear from Head Coach Bradley Carnell and the players – and see players wearing the kit for the first time – at the Season Kickoff Event, Saturday, Feb. 17 at The Armory in Midtown St. Louis. Then on Sunday, players such as Tim Parker, Eduard Löwen, Aziel Jackson, Akil Watts, Sam Adeniran and Josh Yaro will show off the kits and other sustainable fashions as they walk in “Runway at CITYPARK,” part of St. Louis’ GENT Men’s Fashion Week.
  • Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Will launch the club’s 50th Anniversary jersey on Feb. 16, kicking off a year of celebrating the longest running professional soccer club in Canada and the United States.  On Feb. 23 the club will host a Season Launch Party at the Vancouver Convention Centre, bringing together fans, players, alumni, trophies, and history from the past five decades.

The unveiling of MLS clubs’ 2024 adidas jerseys arrives during a period of tremendous momentum behind the sport of soccer in North America, as Major League Soccer launches its 29th season on Feb. 21 and the excitement continues to build on the path to the 2026 World Cup hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Clubs’ jersey launch days are detailed below. Subject to change.

Club
 		Launch Day
 
Charlotte FC
 		Wednesday, Feb. 14
 
New England Revolution
 		Wednesday, Feb. 14
 
New York Red Bulls
 		Wednesday, Feb. 14
 
Philadelphia Union
 		Wednesday, Feb. 14
 
Portland Timbers
 		Wednesday, Feb. 14
 
Sporting Kansas City
 		Wednesday, Feb. 14
 
Austin FC
 		Thursday, Feb. 15
 
CF Montréal
 		Thursday, Feb. 15
 
Chicago Fire FC
 		Thursday, Feb. 15
 
D.C. United
 		Thursday, Feb. 15
 
FC Dallas
 		Thursday, Feb. 15
 
Houston Dynamo FC
 		Thursday, Feb. 15
 
NYCFC
 		Thursday, Feb. 15
 
Orlando City SC
 		Thursday, Feb. 15
 
Real Salt Lake
 		Thursday, Feb. 15
 
Seattle Sounders FC
 		Thursday, Feb. 15
 
Toronto FC
 		Thursday, Feb. 15
 
Colorado Rapids
 		Friday, Feb. 16
 
Columbus Crew
 		Friday, Feb. 16
 
FC Cincinnati
 		Friday, Feb. 16
 
LA Galaxy
 		Friday, Feb. 16
 
Minnesota United FC
 		Friday, Feb. 16
 
St. Louis CITY SC
 		Friday, Feb. 16
 
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
 		Friday, Feb. 16
 
Atlanta United
 		Saturday, Feb. 17
 
LAFC
 		Saturday, Feb. 17
 
Nashville SC
 		Saturday, Feb. 17
 
San Jose Earthquakes
 		Saturday, Feb. 17
 
by Abhishek Shukla

Stage set for epic action in Chennai as RuPay Prime Volleyball League stars kick off Season 3 in style

Chennai, 14th February 2024: With the third season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 set to begin, all the captains of the nine franchises came face to face in a grand Pre-Season Press Conference at The Taj Club House in Chennai on Wednesday. The defending Champions Ahmedabad Defenders will face off against the hosts Chennai Blitz in the opening clash on Thursday, while last season’s runners-up Bengaluru Torpedoes will take on the Season 1 winners Kolkata Thunderbolts on the first day of the tournament.

Speaking at the press conference, Ahmedabad Defenders skipper Muthusamy Appavu made the intentions clear that the franchise will be gunning to make it two titles in a row. “There is always pressure when you enter the tournament as the defending Champions. It puts a target on your back. But it also motivates the players in equal measure and we are eager to showcase our skills once again. We have a new coach, the vastly experienced Dragan Mihailovic Sir, and we have had a tremendous pre-season. Now it is all about the execution of our plans.”

Meanwhile, the Chennai skipper Akhin GS said his side will have an advantage with the home crowd support and will rely on the noise from the fans. “The coach of the previous season’s winners Dakshinamoorthy Sir has been a major boost for us this season. We feel confident that we are on the right track entering the first game. We also expect a lot of support from the home crowd and we expect them to pack the stands in huge numbers and make their voices heard. Their support will help us go a long way.”

Meanwhile, both Torpedoes and Thunderbolts retained Pankaj Sharma and Ashwal Rai, respectively as Captains for the coming season. “Despite all the challenges last season, we managed to reach the final and were just inches away from grabbing the trophy. This year, we will give it all to ensure we get our hands on the title,” Pankaj said.

“We know what it takes to be a Champion and all our players are training with a similar mindset. We want to be the first team in RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 to win the trophy twice, and we are confident we will achieve our targets,” Ashwal added, ahead of the first encounter.

Meanwhile, Calicut Heroes announced Jerome Vinith as the skipper for the season, while Hyderabad Black Hawks named the veteran Ranjit Singh as the Captain. Kochi Blue Spikers handed over Captaincy to Jithin N, Mumbai Meteors named Hardeep Singh as Captain, and the new franchise Delhi Toofans picked Saqlain Tariq to lead the franchise in Season. 3

Addressing the media at the press conference, Tuhin Mishra, Managing Director & Co-Founder at Baseline Ventures Pvt Ltd said, “We are delighted to come to Chennai and showcase another exciting edition of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23. The fans here have been clamouring to have home games and we have some of the best talents, not just from India, but from all over the world, arriving in this beautiful city. We cannot wait to see what will happen and this season is truly unpredictable.”

Ramesh Yadav, Chief of Marketing, NPCI said, “The league has truly grown each year, and we are extremely elated to once again be a part of this story of the rise of volleyball in the country. Volleyball is about speed, agility, innovation, and great teamwork, which is closely aligned with the philosophy and ethos of RuPay brand. We continue to work with Prime Volleyball league teams by ensuring larger groups participate in the games across respective states and cities, this year we have advanced our partnership with Brahmaputra Volleyball league extending it to a greater geography in the northeast, focussed on improving the outreach of the game and to develop volleyball at the grassroots level. We believe that the game is about to get bigger better and more competitive.”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

Condition of Bobsledder Sandro Michel Stable After Surgery Post Altenberg Training Incident

Altenberg, Germany – Swiss bobsledder Sandro Michel’s condition has been declared stable following emergency surgery at the University Hospital Dresden, after a severe crash during the official World Cup bobsleigh training in Altenberg on February 13, 2024.

The accident occurred when the four-man bobsleigh, piloted by Michael Vogt, lost control and crashed. Michel, serving as the brakeman, was ejected from the sled and tragically run over as the bobsleigh slid uncontrollably back from the finish area. Michel sustained significant injuries to his hip and thigh, necessitating urgent surgical intervention. Additionally, chest injuries were reported, with further examinations planned to assess their extent.

Pilot Michael Vogt suffered a severe concussion and bruises in the incident, while pushers Dominik Hufschmid and Andreas Haas also received minor injuries. The Swiss team, deeply affected by the accident, is being closely monitored and supported by Swiss Sliding, the national governing body for the sport.

Swiss Sliding expressed its profound concern and extended wishes for a quick and complete recovery to all injured athletes. The federation has given the discretion to other Swiss teams at Altenberg to decide their participation in the remaining training sessions and the weekend’s races.

The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) and Swiss Sliding are in close communication, both prioritizing the welfare of the athletes. An investigation into the cause of the crash at the Altenberg bobsled track is underway to prevent such incidents in the future.

The training in Altenberg is set to continue, and the World Cup races will proceed as scheduled, despite the shadow cast by this unfortunate event. The bobsleigh community stands together in hoping for the swift recovery of Sandro Michel and his teammates, reminding everyone of the inherent risks and bravery involved in this high-speed sport.

by Abhishek Shukla

Six Tokyo 2020 gold medallists are core of Samurai Japan Global Baseball Games roster

Pitchers Morishita, Kuribayashi and Taira; infielders Genda and Murakami (pictured above); and outfielder Kondoh competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

World No. 1 Japan revealed their 28-player roster for the Global Baseball Games, the CARNEXT SAMURAI JAPAN SERIES 2024, against Team Europe, scheduled for 6 and 7 March in Osaka.

PITCHERS (12) Shunpeita Yamashita, Hiroya Miyagi (ORIX Buffaloes); Shinya Matsuyama (Chunichi Dragons); Atsuki Taneichi (Chiba Lotte Marines); Masato Morishita (Hiroshima Toyo Carp); Yumeto Kanemaru (Kansai University); Riyoji Kuribayashi (Hiroshima Toyo Carp); Chihiro Sumida (Seibu Lions); Shota Watanabe (Rakuten Golden Eagles); Yuto Nakamura (Aichi Institute of Technology); Haruka Nemoto (Nippon Ham Fighters): Kaima Taira (Seibu Lions).
CATCHERS (3) Yuto Koga (Seibu Lions); Shogo Sakakura (Hiroshima Toyo Carp); Yuudai Yamamoto (Yokohama DeNA Baystars).
INFIELDERS (7) Sousuke Genda (Seibu Lions); Takumu Nakano (Hanshin Tigers); Rui Muneyama (Meiji University); Koutarou Kurebayashi (Orix Buffaloes); Takaya Ishikawa (Chunichi Dragons); Kaito Kozono (Hiroshima Toyo Carp); Munetaka Murakami (Tokyo Yakult Swallows).
OUTFIELDERS (6) Misho Nishikawa (Aoyama Gakuin University); Kensuke Kondoh (Fukuoka Softbank Hawks); Yasutaka Shiomi (Tokyo Yakult Swallows); Shunsuke Tamura (Hiroshima Toyo Carp); Chubei Mannami (Nippon Ham Fighters).

Manager Hirokazu Ibata selected six Olympic gold medallists: pitchers Morishita, Kuribayashi, and Taira; infielders Genda and Murakami; and outfielder Kondoh. Morishita started the gold medal game against the United States and Kuribayashi claimed the final three outs. Murakami batted in one of the two runs Japan scored in the final and starred at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, walking off the semifinal against Mexico with a double.

Samurai Japan will count on some young pitchers, such as 21-year-old Shunpeita Yamashita, who earned nine wins for the Orix Buffaloes in his rookie season, striking out 101 in 95 innings. Left-hander Hiroya Miyagi (23) went 10-4 for the Buffaloes. Shota Watanabe (23, Rakuten Golden Eagles) posted a 2.24 earned run average in his rookie season.

The roster includes four college players: pitchers Yumeto Kanemaru and Yuto Nakamura, infielder Rui Muneyama and outfielder Misho Nishikawa.

by Abhishek Shukla

India’s Ramkumar upsets top seed Nardi to reach quarter-finals at DafaNews Bengaluru Open 2024

Bengaluru, February 14, 2024: India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan fought back impressively after losing the opening set to upset top seed Luca Nardi of Italy to reach the singles quarter-finals of the DafaNews Bengaluru Open 2024 being played at the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) Stadium on Wednesday.

Ramkumar, who has been given a wild card for this tournament, looked down and out after the opening set but banked on his big serves to beat Nardi 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 33 minutes in the second-round clash at Centre Court.

In the day’s other matches, Maks Kasnikowski of Poland upset fourth seed Benjamin Bonzi of France 6-3, 6-4 in the second round while another Indian SD Prajwal Dev suffered a  3-6, 0-6 loss against fifth seed Adam Walton of Australia in a first-round encounter.

The prestigious ATP Challenger event is being organised by Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association with the final scheduled on Sunday.

Earlier, Ramkumar kept his nerves when things were not going his way to register the biggest upset of the day.

In the opening set, Ramkumar struggled to find his serving rhythm and that also affected his returning ability as Nardi raced through.

However, the big serving Indian regrouped at the start of the second set and won 93% first serve points and never even faced a break point in the set. In contrast, Nardi’s serve was put under regular pressure to take the match in the decider.

The final set followed a similar pattern with Ramkumar coming up with five aces and even raising his second serve percentage to wrap up the match.

He will now face the winner of the match between ninth seed Seongchan Hong of South Korea and Russian qualifier Alexey Zakharov.

ENDS

Key Results:
Singles: WC- Ramkumar Ramanathan (Ind) bt 1-Luca Nardi (Ita) 1-6, 6-4, 6-4; 8- Oriol Roca Batalla (ESP) bt Tristan Boyer (USA) 7-5, 6-3; Maks Kasnikowski (Pol) bt 4- Benjamin Bonzi (Fra) 6-3, 6-4;  S D Prajwal Dev (Ind) lost to 5-Adam Walton (Aus) 3-6; 0-6;

by Abhishek Shukla

Former Major Leaguers Cruz, Liddi and Beltre highlight Team Europe roster for Global Baseball Games

Right-hander Rhiner Cruz pitched in 74 games, slugging infielder Alex Liddi (pictured above) appeared in 61 and outfielder Engel Beltre played 22. The reigning European champions, Spain, contribute eight players, the Netherlands have seven, Italy six, Czechia four and Germany three.

The WBSC revealed Team Europe’s 28-man roster for the Global Baseball Games against World No. 1 Japan. The games are scheduled for 6 and 7 March at the Kyocera Dome, the home of the Oryx Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Osaka, Japan.

The roster represents five European programmes. The reigning European champions Spain contribute eight players, including reigning European Championship MVP Wander Encarnacion, followed by the Netherlands (seven), Italy (six), Czechia (four) and Germany (three).

As many as 23 of the 28 players have competed in professional baseball. Three of them have Major League Baseball (MLB) experience: Spanish veteran right-hander Rhiner Cruz (74 games with the Houston Astros 2012, 2013 and the Toronto Blue Jays 2018), Italian slugging third baseman Alex Liddi (61 games between 2011 and 2013 with the Seattle Mariners) and Spanish outfielder Engel Beltre (22 games with the 2013 Texas Rangers).

These are the 28 players selected by manager Marco Mazzieri.

PITCHERS (14) Daniel Alvarez, Fernando Baez, Rhiner Cruz (Spain); Matteo Bocchi, Tiago Da Silva, Luis Lugo (Italy); Tom De Blok, Lars Hujer, Kevin Kelly, Franklyn Van Gurp (Netherlands); Martin Schneider (Czechia); Sven Schueller, Marcus Solbach, Dalton Von Schamann (Germany).
CATCHERS (3) Martin Cervenka (Czechia), Gabriel Lino (Spain), Alberto Mineo (Italy).
INFIELDERS (7) Wander Ercanacion, Edison Valerio (Spain); Alex Liddi, Ricardo Paolini (Italy); Martin Muzik (Cechia); Juremi Profar, Sharlon Schoop (Netherlands).
OUTFIELDERS (3) Engel Beltre, Daniel Jimenez (Spain); Mareck Chlup (Czechia).
UTILITY (1) Delano Selassa (Netherlands).