by Abhishek Shukla

World Netball Rankings Updated: Australia Maintains Lead, Fiji Climbs, New Entrants Make Their Mark

December 15, 2023 – World Netball (WN) has just released its latest World Rankings update, reflecting the outcomes of a bustling international netball season. The update includes results from 84 matches played across five regions from September 30 to December 10, bringing the total number of matches since March 1, 2023, to an impressive 202.

Australia continues to dominate the top spot, following their triumph at the Netball World Cup 2023. They are closely followed by perennial powerhouses New Zealand, England, and Jamaica, who retain their respective second, third, and fourth positions, showcasing the stability at the elite level of the sport.

A significant shift in the rankings is seen with Fiji usurping Samoa for the 16th position. This change is attributed to the Fiji Pearls’ remarkable performance at the Pacific Games in December, where they finished as runners-up. Despite their loss to the 8th ranked Tonga in the final, Fiji’s flawless record in the pool stage and semi-finals was a testament to their growing prowess in the sport.

Further down the rankings, Grenada and Namibia made notable strides. Their recent successes at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) International Series and Africa Netball Cup, respectively, propelled both teams up two spots, with Grenada now at 19th and Namibia at 20th.

Singapore also improved their standing, moving up to 25th following their victory at the Nations Cup in October. On the other hand, Papua New Guinea’s commendable performances at the Nations Cup and Pacific Games saw them climbing two places to 34th, underlining their competitive spirit.

The rankings also welcomed new entrants, with Canada, Eswatini, and Dominica joining at 36th, 37th, and 40th positions, respectively. This expansion, fueled by these teams reaching the minimum eight-game threshold, brings the total number of WN World Ranked teams to 44.

Additionally, the British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, and Solomon Islands played their first ranking matches since becoming Full Members of WN. They join the list of 12 unranked teams poised to enter the WN World Rankings upon completing the required number of games.

The year in international netball concludes with the eagerly anticipated series between the Northern Ireland Warriors and the Republic of Ireland Emeralds on December 16 and 17, capping off a remarkable year for the sport.

Fans and followers can view the updated WN World Rankings and delve deeper into the shifts and successes of the season on the World Netball website.

 

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru Sg Mavericks End Day 4 Of Season 5 Of The Tennis Premier League In Top Spot

Pune, 15th December 2023:Rackets clashed and emotions soared as the fourth day of season 5 of the Tennis Premier League powered by Clear delivered nail-biting matches that were pure cinematic drama.

The first fixture of Day 4 of season 5 of Tennis Premier League was kicked -off with Punjab Patriots going up against Mumbai Leon Army. Conny Perrin of Punjab Patriots emerged victorious against Sowjanya Bavisetti of Mumbai Leon Army in the Women’s Single Category, in a game that ended 11-9. Digvijay Pratap Singh of the Punjab Patriots lost to Ernests Gulbis of the Mumbai Leon Army 9-11 in the Men’s Singles Category. Conny Perrin and Arjun Khade of the Punjab Patriots beat Sowjanya Bavisetti and Vijay Sundar Prashanth of the Mumbai Leon Army in the Mixed Doubles category as the game ended 12-8. The final game of the match was the Men’s Doubles Category, in which Digvijay Pratap Singh and Arjun Khade of the Punjab Patriots took on Ernests Gulbis and Vijay Sundar Prashanth of Mumbai Leon Army. The game ended 11-9 in favour of the Punjab Patriots. The Patriots emerged victorious from the match as it ended 43-37 in their favour. Arjun Khade was adjudged to be the best player of the match for his exceptional performance for the Patriots.

The second fixture of Day 4 saw the Gujarat Panthers clash with the Bengaluru SG Mavericks. The Gujarat Panthers Ambassador, Arjun Kapoor was in the dugout motivating his players to push themselves during the games. Ekaterina Yashina of the Gujarat Panthers beat Arina Rodionova of Bengaluru SG Mavericks, 12-8, in the Women’s Singles Category. In the Men’s Singles Category, Sumit Nagal of the Gujarat Panthers lost convincingly to Ramkumar Ramanathan of the Bengaluru SG Mavericks, as the scores at the end of the match read 6-14. Ekaterina Yashina and Mukund Sasikumar of the Gujarat Panthers lost to Arina Rodionova and Vishnu Vardhan from Bengaluru SG Mavericks, in the Mixed Doubles category, 9-11. Sumit Nagal and Mukund Sasikumar of Gujarat Panthers beat Ramkumar Ramanathan and Vishnu Vardhan from Bengaluru SG Mavericks, in the Men’s Doubles Category which was thoroughly dominated by Bengaluru and ended 7-13 in their favour. Bengaluru SG Mavericks bested the Gujarat Panthers as the match ended 34-46. Ramkumar Ramanathan was awarded the Player of the Match for his brilliant performance for the Bengaluru SG Mavericks.

The third fixture of Day 4 was between the Delhi Binny’s Brigade and the Bengal Wizards. The match started with the Women’s Singles Category, in which Sahaja Yamalapalli of Delhi Binny’s Brigade beat Maria Timofeeva from Bengal Wizards, in a clash that ended 13-7. Denis Novak of Delhi Binny’s Brigade and Sriram Balaji of the Bengal Wizards went head-to-head in an entertaining Men’s Singles game that ended 12-8 in favour of Delhi. It was followed by the Mixed Doubles game that saw Sahaja Yamalapalli and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan of the Delhi Binny’s Brigade lost to Maria Timofeeva and Anirudh Chandrasekar of the Bengal Wizards which ended 9-11. In the Men’s Doubles Category, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Dennis Novak of Delhi Binny’s Brigade took on Sriram Balaji and Anirudh Chandrasekar of the Bengal Wizards. The Delhi Binny’s Brigade duo came out on top with a score of 11-9. Delhi Binny’s Brigade won the match, ending 45-35 in their favour. Denis Novak of Delhi Binny’s Brigade was awarded the player of the match award.

The last fixture of the day Pune Jaguars went head-to-head against Hyderabad Strikers. In the Women’s Singles, Diana Marcinkevica of Pune Jaguars lost to Ellen Perez of Hyderabad Strikers, 5-15. In the Men’s Singles Category, Lukas Rosol of Pune Jaguars drew with Niki Poonacha of Hyderabad Strikers, which ended 10-all. Diana Marcinkevica and Rithvik Bollipalli of the Pune Jaguars took on Ellen Perez and Saketh Myneni of the Hyderabad Strikers in the Mixed Doubles category. The game ended 12-8 in favour of the Jaguars. In the final game of Day 4, Rithvik Bollipalli and Lukas Rosol of the Pune Jaguar went up against Saketh Myneni and Niki Poonacha of Hyderabad Strikers in the Men’s Doubles Category. The game ended in a 12-8, in favour of the Jaguars. The Hyderabad Strikers came out on top in the match after ended 39-41.  Ellen Perez of Hyderabad Strikers won the player of the match award.

Balewadi Stadium pulsed with electric energy as Day 4 of TPL Season 5 delivered edge-of-your-seat tennis, leaving spectators breathless. Bengaluru SG Mavericks leap-frogged to take the top spot in the table with 173. The Punjab Patriots and the Bengal Wizards sat second and third in the league table respectively with 164 points apiece. They were closely followed by Delhi Binny’s Brigade and the Hyderabad Strikers in the fourth and fifth spot respectively with 160 points each. The Gujarat Panthers sat sixth at the end of Day 4 with 157 points.  Mumbai Leon Army were seventh by the end of Day 4 with 156 points, while the Pune Jaguars remained eighth with 146 points.

All the action from the Tennis Premier League being held at Balewadi Stadium can be witnessed live on SONY TEN 2 channel starting from 4.30 pm on the 16th of December 2023.

 

by Abhishek Shukla

PKL 10: Haryana Steelers silence home crowd to defeat Puneri Paltan in a nail-biter

PUNE, 15th December, 2023: Despite the pressure from a partisan home crowd, the Haryana Steelers triumphed over Puneri Paltan 44-39 at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex on Friday. While Vinay’s 15 points were undoubtedly a huge contributor, it was the Steelers’ defensive duo Rahul Sethpal (6 points) and Jaydeep Dahiya (4 points) who were eventually responsible for their victory.

In a blistering start, Aslam Inamdar kicked off the game with a SUPER RAID to put the home side on the front foot. It didn’t last long and almost immediately the Steelers responded with a SUPER RAID of their own, Vinay netting five Paltan players to leave them reeling. The first ALL OUT followed soon after as the Steelers took an 11-7 lead.

Puneri Paltan did not let that dampen their spirits and slowly chipped away at the lead. It took two SUPER TACKLES in a row by Rahul Sethpal — who put in 4 of his team’s 6 tackle points in the half — to save the Steelers’ blushes. Eventually, though the Paltan inflicted an ALL OUT on the Steelers to take a 21-18 lead, which they took into the break.

The first half had been defined by high-quality raiding, with the teams logging a combined 25 raid points. The second half though belonged to a rejuvenated Steelers defence, who missed a mere three tackles in the period, while picking up a massive 9 points. Despite the Paltan’s raiders’ best efforts, the Steelers kept hurting them and keeping their numbers limited. They inflicted a second ALL OUT on the Paltan with two minutes remaining before wrapping up a 44-39 victory.

by Abhishek Shukla

ISL: Mohun Bagan Super Giant seal clinical 3-1 win over NorthEast United FC

Guwahati, 15th December: Mohun Bagan Super Giant put three past NorthEast United FC to come from behind and defeat the Highlanders by 3-1 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 tonight.

Regardless of the results, a standout factor in NorthEast United FC performances this season has been their desire to make a difference on the field.ISL:

The willingness to put their bodies on the line and optimise half-chances is a result of the renewed spirit they have rediscovered under Juan Pedro Benali.

Jithin M.S. gave a testament to that in the fourth minute, scrapping through a tight situation to lay a headed pass in the path of Phalguni Singh. Phalguni bravely went for the shot from outside of the box, curling the ball into the top right corner to get the local crowd going straightaway.

The Mariners were not going to take this lying down though. They hit back through the flanks, stretching the backline of the Highlanders and carving out spaces down the centre for strikers Armando Sadiku and Jason Cummings to pounce upon.

One such run by Liston Colaco earned them a free-kick on the left flank, and midfield enforcer Deepak Tangri was well positioned to meet the delivery and nod it home to bag the equaliser in the 13th minute.

It was all Mohun Bagan Super Giant from that point onwards, with everyone from the back to front chipping in and taking shots at the NorthEast United FC defence. Kiyan Nassiri and Anirudh Thapa joined hands for the former to shoot from distance, whereas Asish Rai, who bagged his maiden ISL goal earlier this season against former club Hyderabad FC, tried his luck from the right flank too.

Eventually, on a day of many aerial duels, Sadiku jumped leapt and brought down the ball for Cummings to shoot at in the 44th minute. The Australian, who represented the nation in the FIFA World Cup last year, tapped the ball in from close range to get the visitors ahead in the 29th minute of the game.

The Highlanders never really recovered from  that goal, as the attacking riches of the Mohun Bagan Super Giant came through with the likes of Colaco, Hugo Boumous, and Manvir Singh running circles around the opposition’s box. Boumous and Manvir were introduced in the proceedings in the 61st minute, and that played a big role in helping the visitors sustain control over the proceedings.

It culminated with defender Subhasish Bose joining the goal-scoring fest, jumping upon a lay up by Colaco to drill the ball into the bottom right corner from the left side of the 18-yard box. The comfortable two-goal lead did not stop the Mariners from searching for more goals, as precision and direction deserted the Highlanders after the wonder strike by Phalguni in the fourth minute.

 

Key Performer of the Match

Deepak Tangri (Mohun Bagan Super Giant)

The midfielder put in a laudable defensive shift, making two clearances and interceptions each, in addition to tackling once and netting the opening goal of the night for the Mohun Bagan Super Giant. He recorded a 94% passing accuracy and delivered a workhorse like performance from the middle of the park.

 

What’s next for both teams?

Mohun Bagan Super Giant will next square off against Mumbai City FC away from home on December 20, whereas NorthEast United FC will travel to take on Bengaluru FC on December 24.

Brief Scores

NorthEast United FC 1 (Phalguni Singh 4’) – 3 Mohun Bagan Super Giant (Deepak Tangri 14’, Jason Cummings 28’, Subhasish Bose 71’)

Stat Pack:

by Abhishek Shukla

IPL: Hardik Pandya Appointed as Mumbai Indians Captain for IPL 2024

December 15, 2023 – In a significant leadership shift, the Mumbai Indians have announced Hardik Pandya as their new captain for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Pandya, a dynamic all-rounder, takes over the reins from Rohit Sharma, who has been at the forefront of the team’s success in recent years.

Mahela Jayawardene, Global Head of Performance for Mumbai Indians, emphasized that this decision aligns with the team’s long-standing philosophy of building a legacy and preparing for the future. The Mumbai Indians have a rich history of distinguished leadership, with icons like Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Ricky Ponting, and Rohit Sharma contributing significantly to the team’s success while also laying the groundwork for future achievements. Pandya’s appointment as captain is seen as a continuation of this tradition.

The franchise expressed deep gratitude towards Rohit Sharma for his exceptional leadership since 2013. Under Sharma’s captaincy, Mumbai Indians not only achieved tremendous success but also solidified their status as one of the most successful and beloved teams in IPL history. Sharma’s tenure as captain will be remembered for his strategic acumen and his role in shaping the team’s winning culture. Mumbai Indians look forward to leveraging Sharma’s experience and guidance in further strengthening the team, both on and off the field.

The appointment of Hardik Pandya marks a new era for Mumbai Indians. Pandya, known for his aggressive style and versatile playing ability, brings a fresh perspective to the leadership role. His experience and understanding of the game are expected to add immense value to the team’s dynamics.

As the Mumbai Indians prepare for the IPL 2024 season under Pandya’s captaincy, the team and its fans are optimistic about this new chapter. The management, players, and supporters wish Pandya the best in his new role and look forward to seeing him lead the team to new heights.

by Abhishek Shukla

Lisa Buckwitz Triumphs in Monobob World Cup at Innsbruck

In a spectacular display of skill and precision, German bobsleigh pilot Lisa Buckwitz clinched the top spot in the monobob event at the BMW IBSF World Cup in Innsbruck. The bronze medalist from the 2023 World Championships dominated the competition by recording the fastest times in both runs and securing the best start time of the race.

Buckwitz’s victory was challenged closely by Australian athlete Breeana Walker, who finished second, just 0.25 seconds behind. Walker, who placed fourth at the World Championships, continued her impressive form on the international stage. The podium was completed by World Champion Laura Nolte, also from Germany, who finished 0.30 seconds behind Buckwitz.

The event also marked a significant moment for Austrian bobsleigh pilot Katrin Beierl, who made a commendable comeback to finish eleventh in the World Cup standings after a year’s absence due to illness. This performance was a testament to Beierl’s resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

In the overall standings for the 2023/2024 BMW IBSF World Cup, American athlete Kaysha Love maintained her lead with 417 points, despite finishing fourth in Innsbruck. Love had previously stunned the bobsleigh world with her victory in the season opener in La Plagne. Following closely in the overall standings is Breeana Walker from Australia, with 394 points, and Lisa Buckwitz, the latest race winner, is now third with 393 points.

The Monobob World Cup competition is heating up as athletes from various countries vie for dominance in this thrilling winter sport. With each race, the stakes get higher, and the margins for victory become narrower, offering an exciting spectacle for fans of winter sports. As the season progresses, the competition is expected to intensify, with top athletes pushing their limits to secure their positions in the overall standings of this prestigious event.

by Abhishek Shukla

PKL 10: Iranian Amirmohammad Zafardanesh stars for U Mumba in a topsy-turvy game vs Patna Pirates

PUNE, 15th December, 2023: Amirmohammad Zafardanesh put up an inspiring performance to help U Mumba clinch a thrilling 42-40 victory over Patna Pirates at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune on Friday. The Iranian raider notched 13 points and he was ably supported by Visvanth V, who scored 8 points in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 match.

Guman Singh picked up a couple of raid points as U Mumba inched ahead at 3-2 in the 3rd minute. Both sides played out a neck-to-neck battle and were locked at 5-5 in the 6th minute. The Pirates and the Mumbai side kept matching each other raid for raid until Sachin pulled off a magnificent raid to reduce U Mumba to three members on the mat. However, Visvanth V effected a double-point raid to take out Ankit and Sudhakar M and keep U Mumba ahead at 10-9 in the 12th minute.
Manjeet pulled off a SUPER TACKLE and kept the Pirates in the game at 11-13 in the 15th minute. Sachin supported the defence unit brilliantly and reduced the Mumbai side to one member on the mat. But Heidarali Ekrami kept the Mumbai side in the contest through a brilliant raid. However, the Pirates continued to put pressure on U Mumba and inflicted an ALL OUT in the 17th minute. The Patna side rode on the momentum and stayed in the lead at 21-18 at the end of the first half.
Sachin continued to shine in the opening minutes of the second half and helped the Pirates extend their lead further at 23-19. However, U Mumba fought back through a flurry of raid points from Amirmohammad Zafardanesh and clinched the lead at 26-25. Zafardanesh showcased exceptional form as U Mumba inflicted an ALL OUT in the 27th minute. But Sachin kept picking up raid points from the other end too to keep the Pirates within touching distance.
The see-saw battle continued thereafter as the two sides were locked at 35-35 in the 33rd minute. However, Surinder Singh pulled off a SUPER TACKLE and helped U Mumba attain a decent lead at 39-35 in the 35th minute. Visvanth carried out a brilliant raid soon after as the Mumbai side kept forging ahead. Zafardanesh picked up another raid point late in the game and ensured that U Mumba walked off the mat with a hard-fought victory.

Please find below the schedule for PKL Season 10 matches on Saturday:

Game 1 – Puneri Paltan vs Bengal Warriors – 8 pm

Game 2 – Telugu Titans vs Dabang Delhi K.C. – 9 pm

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

Skeleton World Champion Weston Clinches Season’s First Victory at BMW IBSF World Cup

In an exhilarating display of skill and speed, Great Britain’s Skeleton World Champion Matt Weston seized his first win of the season at the third race of the 2023/2024 BMW IBSF World Cup held in Innsbruck. Demonstrating his championship pedigree, Weston, who was last year’s overall World Cup runner-up, recorded the fastest run times in both heats in Innsbruck, Austria. This victory marks Weston’s seventh top finish in the World Cup series, with three of these wins being clinched in Innsbruck.

Close behind, Seunggi Jung from Korea showcased his prowess on the icy track, securing second place with a marginal 0.15-second gap. The event also saw a triumphant return to form for Germany’s Felix Keisinger, who finished third, lagging by 0.32 seconds. This podium finish is Keisinger’s first since November 2020 and his fifth in the BMW IBSF World Cup, a significant achievement considering his previous best was in Sigulda, Latvia.

While the international athletes shone, the host nation Austria found its best result in Samuel Maier, who finished a respectable eleventh.

In the overall standings for the BMW IBSF World Cup 2023/2024, the leaderboard has seen some interesting shifts. Seunggi Jung now leads the pack with 627 points, closely followed by Olympic Champion Christopher Grotheer from Germany, who stands second with 609 points after finishing fifth in Innsbruck. Matt Weston, with his recent victory, has propelled himself into the third position, accumulating 579 points.

This season’s BMW IBSF World Cup is already shaping up to be a thrilling contest with top athletes from around the globe vying for supremacy in one of the most challenging and exhilarating winter sports. The competition continues to be fierce, with each race bringing unexpected turns and showcasing the incredible skill and dedication of these world-class skeleton athletes.

by Abhishek Shukla

Indian Men’s Hockey Team goes down 0-1 to Spain in 5 Nations Tournament Valencia 2023

Valencia, 15th December 2023: The Indian Men’s Hockey Team lost 0-1 in their first match of the 5 Nations Tournament Valencia 2023 against Spain on Friday. Spain’s Alvaro Iglesias (29′) scored the only goal of the match.

The first quarter saw both teams earn a penalty corner each but neither managed to find the back of the net.

Spain took the initiative in the second quarter, forcing a penalty corner save from Krishan Pathak. The pressure was telling as India received a green card and Spain immediately pounced on the opportunity. Alvaro Iglesias breached India’s defence and scored the goal that presented Spain with the lead.

The third quarter witnessed both teams in an intense battle to score the next goal but they were unable to break the others’ tight defence.

India turned up the heat in the last quarter in the search for an equaliser, earning two penalty corners. However, they were unable to capitalise and the match ended in Spain’s favour.

The Indian Men’s Hockey Team will battle against Belgium at 20:00 on 16th December.

by Abhishek Shukla

Khelo India: How Girija Madhu is giving children with cerebral palsy a life of joy

New Delhi, 15th December 2023: One has to fight their own battles, they say. However, it is rare that one individual’s kindness and unflinching support could transform the lives of hundreds of children suffering from Cerebral Palsy (CP). These children are really ‘special’ because they know how to rise against the odds in a society that disowns and discriminates them.

The inaugural Khelo India Para Games 2023 underway in Delhi have not only exposed more than 1400 athletes with special abilities but brought to light people who work tirelessly behind the scenes and far away from media spotlight to bring a smile on young boys and girls who suffer from cerebral palsy. Girija Kumari Madhu, a very unique person in the Cerebral Palsy Sports Federation of India (CPSFI) ecosystem, is one of them.

CP is a dreaded neurological disorder that appears in infancy or early childhood, permanently affecting body movement and muscle coordination, generally due to abnormalities inside the developing brain. There is no proper data on the number of people suffering from CP in India but Kavita Suresh, the general secretary of CPSFI, says the “number can be more than a crore.”

Girija, a normal housewife, resolved three years back to help CP children regain their identity and have the requisite skills to earn their livelihood on their own terms. She decided to dedicate her entire life and savings for the betterment of these special kids. Today, it is showing results.

“Three years ago during a meeting with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) I got to know about Cerebral Palsy football. I was involved in playing football as a normal kid since I was 14 and from my experience I felt that football is a wonderful tool to transform a normal person. Today, I am very happy that these kids, who couldn’t even walk properly, are running around and playing football so well and winning tournaments,” said Girija.

“The conditions of these kids are really horrible. Their parents lock these kids in one room and do not let them come out or meet other people due to fear of embarrassment. They do not receive proper education. I thought if my kids weren’t normal then I would have also quietly suffered along with them. So, I told myself I have to do something about it.”

The 49-year-old Girija, who doubles up as the manager, was delighted to see Kerala score 21 goals without reply against Punjab in their opening Khelo India Para Games group match at the JLN campus on Thursday. On Friday, Kerala thumped Jharkhand by an identical margin (21-0).

Having won four national tournaments since they started competing in 2022, Kerala are favourites to win the gold at Khelo India Para Games 2023, with 23-year-old skipper Sijo George brilliantly holding centre stage in a team that has been playing an intelligent short-passing game to outwit opponents.
Girija floated the Cerebral Palsy Football Association of Kerala (CPSAK) three years back and identified kids in her native town of Alappuzha to begin playing football. However, the association didn’t receive recognition from the Kerala State Sports Council (KSSC). It meant there was no financial support.
“She is a very special and unique woman. Someone with zero funding can do so much is absolutely amazing. Her grit and determination inspires us as a national federation,” said Kavita.

However, the strong-minded mother of two didn’t give up and even went on to mortgage her gold ornaments to meet training and food expenses of the 20 CP kids. A graduate from the FIFA-CIES international programme in sports management, exclusively offered in the South Asia region by Pillai Institute in Navi Mumbai, Girija established the Amogha Foundation realising the need to upskill these kids.

“We are upskilling them. We are training them in data analytics, graphic designing, and fine arts.  They can do many things. After three months training we are identifying their area of skills. Everyone has separate skills. First time we are doing that. We have professionals from the foundation to identify each kids’ talent. So, this will help them earn their own living with prestige and respect. If we receive better financial support, the sky’s the limit,” she said.

After the foundation’s story and the plight of the CP kids was highlighted by a local newspaper, Buimerc Foundation came to the rescue. They decided to fund the training and travel expenses of the Kerala team members. Ernakulam-based Oorjja Foundation has pledged their support in getting placements for these special kids.

“The Khelo India Para Games have been a great opportunity. These Games are the right catalyst to foster a sports revolution. The Sports Authority of India has been very supportive and to see our team travel to Delhi and play with so many other special athletes is a dream come true. We are counting on support from Kerala so that we can bring more joy to people suffering from CP,” said Girija.

by Abhishek Shukla

Indian Women’s Hockey Team goes down 2-3 to Spain in 5 Nations Tournament Valencia 2023

Valencia, 15th December 2023: The Indian Women’s Hockey Team started their campaign in the 5 Nations Tournament Valencia 2023 with a 2-3 loss against the hosts, Spain, on Friday. Gurjit Kaur (13’) and Sangita Kumari (14’) each scored a goal for India, while Sara Barrios Navarro (2’), Patricia Alvarez Nardiz (30’), and Julia Strappato Garreta (53’) were on target for Spain.

The Spanish side kicked off the match aggressively and was rewarded for its effort with Sara Barrios Navarro breaking the deadlock in only the second minute of the game, putting her side ahead.

Thereafter, India launched a counterattack, pushing Spain back into their half and earning a penalty corner. Gurjit Kaur capitalised on this opportunity to unleash a powerful flick to bring India back on level terms. Soon after, Sangita Kumari breached the Spanish defence to grant India the lead as the first quarter ended 2-1 in India’s favour.

The second quarter saw a resilient Spain team fight back and equalise through Patricia Alvarez Nardiz’s goal.

Both teams continued to look for the goal that would give them the lead in the third quarter but the high-quality defence of both teams meant that the score remained 2-2.

Spain finally broke the deadlock in the last quarter as Julia Strappato Garreta scored from a penalty corner, sealing the victory for her team.

The Indian Women’s Hockey Team will face Belgium next at 22:15 on 16th December.

Please find attached schedule and pictures.

For more pictures, login to the Hockey India Photo Library:

Click: https://photolibrary.hockeyindia.org/

HOCKEY INDIA TEAM PARTNERS

Odisha (India’s Best Kept Secret) – Major Team Partner

Sports Authority of India (SAI)

Shiv Naresh 

About HOCKEY INDIA

HOCKEY INDIA (HI) is the governing body with exclusive mandate to direct and conduct all activities for both men and women’s hockey in India. It is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt. of India as the sole body responsible towards promoting Hockey in India.

Headquartered in New Delhi, Hockey India was established on 20th May, 2009 and is affiliated to the International Hockey Federation (FIH), the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Asian Hockey Federation (AHF).

Committed to the development of Hockey in the country, Hockey India with the assistance of Sports Authority of India and Department of Sports, Government of India, trains players at sub-junior, junior and senior level. The governing body engages in Coaching the coaches with International Standard certification programs, educates and equips technical officials and umpires to find a foothold in international arena, provides world-class infrastructure and International exposure for the players besides regular international competition. Hockey India has also pioneered in bringing top International hockey events to India such as the FIH Men’s World Cup in 2010 and 2018, FIH Champions Trophy in 2014, FIH Junior Men’s World Cup in 2016 and 2021, FIH Hockey World League Final in 2017. With its vision to popularize the game and constantly promote it, Hockey India brought the Indian Men’s Hockey Team into the top three in the world. Hockey India is also dedicated to getting the Indian Women’s Hockey Team into the top three in the world.

by Abhishek Shukla

IPL Auction 2024: When and where to watch, date, time, live streaming, venue

The IPL 2024 Auction will take place on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. 333 cricketers will go under the hammer, of whom 214 are Indians and 119 are overseas players, with a maximum of 77 slots to fill. The highest reserve price for a player is Rs 2 crore, with 23 players such as Travis Head, Steve Smith, Harshal Patel, Shardul Thakur, and Lockie Ferguson listing themselves at that value. Gujarat Titans will come into the auction with the highest purse with Rs 38.15 crore while the Lucknow Super Giants have the lowest purse balance at Rs 13.15 crore

JioCinema will bring back its multi-language coverage of the league, streaming the auction in seven languages: English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Punjabi, and Bhojpuri. Each language will have former Indian cricketers and experts to cover the auction, including the likes of AB de Villiers, Eoin Morgan, Suresh Raina, Anil Kumble, Hanuma Vihari, Abhinav Mukund, Veda Krishnamurthy, and many more.

JioCinema will also live stream a mock auction with the likes of Suresh Raina, Anil Kumble, Mile Hesson, Eoin Morgan, Robin Uthappa, and others on December 18 at 12 noon to give viewers a flavour of what to expect from auction day and analyse potential strategies.

Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming IPL Auction 2024 livestream: 

What: IPL Auction 2024 

When: December 19, 2023 (Tuesday)  

Where: Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

Time: Pre-auction analysis begins at 1:30 PM, followed by live auction coverage 2:30 PM onwards 

Live streaming in India: JioCinema 

IPL Auction Experts on JioCinema 

No. 

Language 

Presenters 

Experts 

1 

English 

Suhail Chandok 

AB de Villiers 

Eoin Morgan 

Anil Kumble 

Mike Hesson 

Robin Uthappa  

2 

Hindi 

Anant Tyagi 

Suresh Raina 

Aakash Chopra 

Parthiv Patel 

RP Singh 

3 

Tamil 

Sameena Anwar 

Abhinav Mukund 

R Sridhar 

 Anirudha Srikkanth 

4 

Telugu 

Pratyusha 

Hanuma Vihari 

Venkatapathy Raju 

5 

Kannada 

Reena D’souza 

Veda Krishnamurthy 

Amit Verma 

6 

Punjabi 

Sunil Taneja 

Sarandeep Singh 

VRV Singh 

7 

Bhojpuri 

Robin  

Manoj Tiwary 

Shivam Singh 
by Abhishek Shukla

ISL: Bengaluru FC vs Jamshedpur FC: A Crucial Clash as Zaragoza Takes Charge

Bengaluru, 15 December 2023 – As the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season progresses, Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC are set to face off in what promises to be a riveting encounter at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on December 16, Saturday. This match marks a new era for Bengaluru FC, with Gerard Zaragoza stepping in as the head coach, returning to a club where he previously contributed to a title-winning campaign.

Bengaluru FC’s Struggle and Hope for Revival:
Bengaluru FC, with just one win in 10 games, is facing a tough season. The team started strong but lost momentum, particularly after the international break. A heavy 4-0 defeat to Mumbai City FC led to a change in management, bringing in Zaragoza for a much-needed revival. The team has shown promise at home, but they need to address their slow starts, having conceded 11 first-half goals this season. A win against Jamshedpur FC could be a turning point, potentially setting a new record for the most consecutive games without defeat against a single club in ISL.

Jamshedpur FC’s Quest for Identity and Success:
Jamshedpur FC, under the guidance of Scott Cooper, is in search of consistent form and identity. Having lost five out of their first nine games, they are desperate for a series of wins to salvage their season. Despite their individual talents, the team has struggled to find collective success. They face the challenge of improving their attack, creativity in midfield, and overall performance levels. A victory against Bengaluru FC could serve as a catalyst for a much-needed resurgence.

Key Players to Watch:

– Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC): The experienced forward, with three goals and two assists this season, is crucial for lifting the team’s morale and performance.

– Daniel Chima Chukwu (Jamshedpur FC):The Nigerian striker’s presence in the box and goal-scoring abilities will be vital for Jamshedpur FC’s offensive strategy.

Head-to-Head Record:
In their 12 encounters, Bengaluru FC has won five times, Jamshedpur FC four, with three matches ending in draws. Jamshedpur FC’s forward play has been notable, with a high percentage of forward passes, suggesting an attacking approach.

Team Talk:
Gerard Zaragoza expressed his joy and commitment to bringing Bengaluru FC back to its peak. Scott Cooper emphasized Jamshedpur FC’s philosophy of proactive, pressing football, despite the challenges faced by his young team.

ISL Fantasy Picks:
– Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC) – 7.8cr
– Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC) – 4.5cr
– PC Laldinpuia (Jamshedpur FC) – 3.6cr

Where to Watch:
The match will be available in multiple languages across various channels and platforms, including Sports18 Khel, Sports18 1 SD & HD, and through FSDL’s partnership with OneFootball.

 

by Abhishek Shukla

‘Fazel Atrachali treats us like his brothers,’ says Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 Rising Star Sonu

PUNE, 15th December 2023: The fans were at the edge of their seats during the last minute of the match between Gujarat Giants and U Mumba. Both teams were locked at 36-36 when the Giants’ Captain Fazel Atrachali directed Sonu to go for the all-important raid.

With the entire stadium chanting ‘Sonu Sonu’ the raider, who missed out on the eighth season due to an ankle injury and a few games in Season 9 due to the recurrence of the same injury, moved into U Mumba’s side of the mat with confidence. Within a few seconds, he caught Rinku, Guman Singh and Amirmohammad Zafardanesh to complete a Super Raid and seal the deal for his team. This has been the story of the Gujarat Giants this season. Whenever they needed someone to step up, Sonu has been their man.

When asked about how he has dealt with injuries in his career, the 23-year-old said, “I incurred an injury during a practice session before the eighth season. I twisted my ankle and my bone broke. I couldn’t walk properly for two months. Then I took one year to recover fully. However, I experienced ankle pain after four games in Season 9. I took some rest and played some more games.”

With being fully fit this year, Sonu is absolutely enjoying his time with the legendary Fazel Atrachali, who has been known to be a mentor to many youngsters in the league. Speaking about him, the raider said, “Fazel has a lot of experience and it’s a lot of fun to play with him. He corrects our mistakes and treats us like brothers. He has told us to play freely and not worry about anything else. If a certain game doesn’t go according to our plans then he said he will be the one who will step up for the team.”

Kabaddi has always been an integral part of the people’s lives in his village in Panipat, Haryana. Going back to his formative years in kabaddi, Sonu said, “My elder brother used to play kabaddi and he used to take me to the ground. Then I joined a camp in SAI near my house and I worked very hard there. Thereafter, I just kept going through the levels – district, nationals & state and gained a lot of confidence. There are a lot of players from our village, who have gone on to play in the Pro Kabaddi League. My brother is trying to join the league too.”

 

Preview for the matches on  Saturday:

The Bengal Warriors will be hoping to continue their brilliant form when they take on Puneri Paltan. However, the home side will receive a significant boost when they make their moves in front of their passionate fans. The Warriors will bank on their Captain Maninder Singh, meanwhile, Aslam Inamdar will lead the charge for the Pune side.

The Telugu Titans will be hoping to get on board when they go up against Dabang Delhi K.C. in the second match of the day. However, the Delhi side’s Captain Naveen Kumar will be high on confidence after scoring 16 points in his team’s last game against Haryana Steelers.

Please find below the schedule for PKL Season 10 match on Saturday

Game 1 – Puneri Paltan vs Bengal Warriors – 8 pm

Game 2 – Telugu Titans vs Dabang Delhi K.C. – 9 pm

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

Abu Dhabi to host the 2026 World Triathlon Multisport Championships

The World Triathlon Executive Board has decided to award the 2026 World Triathlon Multisport Championships to Abu Dhabi, UAE, while the 2027 edition will travel to Edmonton, Canada. World Triathlon has also confirmed that the 2024 Mixed Relay Championships will be held in Hamburg during the weekend of the World Triathlon Championship Series, and made a few additions to the 2024 racing calendar.

“We are delighted to see the continued commitment of Abu Dhabi with our sport,” said World Triathlon President and IOC member Marisol Casado. “They have shown year after year the desire to grow triathlon and to host the world’s best athletes in a remarkable setting. After years of hosting outstanding WTCS action, it is hugely exciting to know that the Multisport World Championships will be the next top-level event to benefit from the formidable experience and dedication of Abu Dhabi as well as Edmonton. And just ahead of the second ever Olympic Mixed Relay at Paris 2024, we will crown the world champions in the city that has become synonymous with the format, Hamburg.”

“On behalf of Modon, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the UAE Triathlon Federation, the Department of Culture and Tourism, and all Abu Dhabi Stakeholders, we are delighted to acknowledge that Abu Dhabi Hudayriyat Island has been awarded the 2026 World Triathlon Multisport Championship. This recognition acknowledges the strong relationship between Abu Dhabi and World Triathlon and it is with joy that we confirm our commitment to deliver a fantastic moment of sport along with an unforgettable experience to all athletes, participants, and fans”, said Bill O’Regan, CEO of Modon.

The world’s best Multisport athletes will be ready to “Do North” in 2027, with the Multisport Championships awarded to Edmonton. Having previously hosted the Championship Finals 2021 and 2014 and multiple editions of the Championship Series, the Canadian city has a proven record of hosting high quality events that provide world-class athletes and local audiences an exceptional experience.

The upcoming Multisport World Championships will bring together duathlon, cross duathlon, long-distance triathlon, long-distance aquabike, aquathlon, and cross triathlon world championship races in a week-long festival. Over 3,000 athletes from all over the world will enjoy another festival of the sport with friends and family, gathering for what has become in the last years one of the pinnacle events for World Triathlon and the extended triathlon community.

The World Triathlon Multisport Championships made its debut in the World Triathlon calendar in 2017 in Penticton, Canada, followed by Fyn, Denmark in 2018, and Pontevedra, Spain in 2019. After the pandemic impacted the 2020 event, in 2021 the championships were divided across three different locations: Almere, The Netherlands hosted the Long Distance and Aquabike races, while Aviles, Spain organised the Duathlon World Championships, and El Anillo, Spain hosted the Cross Triathlon and Aquathlon World Championships.

The 2022 World Triathlon Multisport Championships were also split between two locations, with Targu Mures, Romania hosting Duathlon, Cross Triathlon, and Cross Duathlon, while Samorin, Slovakia hosted the Aquathlon and the Long Distance Triathlon and Aquabike World Championships. In 2023, the event was hosted in Ibiza, Spain, while in 2024 the Multisport community will gather in August in the city of Townsville, Australia. The 2025 Multisport Championships will see world championship racing return to Pontevedra, Spain.

Mixed Relay World Championships

In 2024, the Mixed Relay World Champion title will once again be up for grabs in the format’s spiritual home of Hamburg. The Mixed Relay World Championships will be held as part of the 22nd SUZUKI World Triathlon Hamburg powered by HAMBURG WASSER. While the individual races of the World Triathlon Championship Series will take place on Saturday 13 July 2024, the mixed relay world title will be contested one day later (Sunday, 14 July).

This would be the 10th time that Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg hosts the Mixed Relay World Championships – from 2013 to 2020 and in 2023 – proving that the fast and furious format fits perfectly not only with the city, but also with the fans and spectators that every year come to watch one of the most exciting sporting event that takes place in the city.

World Cups

World Triathlon’s Executive Board has also agreed to approve another World Cup to the 2024 calendar, Tongyeong, in Korea, that will host a Standard distance race on the weekend of October 26-27.

It has also been approved a change of the date of the 2024 World Triathlon Cup Valencia, initially planned for 21 September 2024, that will now take place one week earlier, on the weekend of 14 September 2024.

World Triathlon Para Cups

World Triathlon is pleased to announce that four World Triathlon Para Cups have been added to the 2024 racing calendar, three of them taking place during the Paralympic qualification period.

Yenihesir, in Turkey, will welcome Para triathletes from all over the world on April 20, 2024, while Vigo, Spain, hometown of Para triathlon superstar Susana Rodriguez, will make its debut on the Para circuit hosting a Para Triathlon Cup on 1-2 June.

The Para triathlon circuit will move from there to Taranto, in Italy, for the second edition of the World Triathlon Para Cup that will take place on 8-9 June 2024, still within the Paralympic qualification period.

The last addition to the Para triathlon calendar would be Alhandra, in Portugal, on 12 October 2024, just a week before the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Malaga that will also award this year’s Para triathlon world titles.

Here is the current confirmed calendar for the 2024 World Triathlon race season:

Olympic and Paralympic Games

30, 31 July & 5 August – Paris 2024 Olympic Games
1-2 September – Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

2024 World Triathlon Championship Series:

8-9 March – WTCS Abu Dhabi, UAE (Sprint distance & Mixed Relay)
11 May – WTCS Yokohama, JPN (Standard distance)
25-26 May – WTCS Cagliari, ITA (Standard distance)
13-14 July – WTCS Hamburg, GER (Sprint distance & Mixed Relay)
14-15 September – WTCS Montreal, CAN (Sprint distance & Mixed Relay)
17-20 October – World Triathlon Championship Finals Malaga, ESP (Standard distance)

Mixed Relay:

24-25 February – Napier, NZL
9 March – WTCS Abu Dhabi, UAE
19 May – Mixed Relay Olympic Qualification Event Huatulco, MEX
14 July – Hamburg, GER World Triathlon Mixed Relay Championships
15 September – WTCS Montreal, CAN

World Triathlon Cup:

24-25 February – Napier (NZL) – Sprint
23-24 March – Hong Kong (HKG) – Sprint
30 March – Lievin (FRA) – Indoor
20-21 April – Wollongong (AUS) – Sprint
29 Apr – Chengdu (CHI) – Standard
17-19 May – Samarkand (UZB) – Standard
17-19 May – Huatulco (MEX) – Sprint
6-7 July – Tiszaujvaros (HUN) – Semifinal/final
7-8 September – Karlovy Vary (CZE) – Standard
14 September – Valencia (ESP) – Sprint
27 September – Weihai (CHN) – Standard
5-6 October – Rome (ITA) – Sprint
12-13 October – Tangier (MAR) – Sprint
26-27 October – Brasilia (BRA) – Standard
26-27 October – Tongyeong (KOR) – Standard
2-3 November – Vina del Mar (CHI) – Sprint
9-10 November – Miyazaki (JPN) – Sprint

Para Triathlon:

8-9 March – Para Cup Abu Dhabi, UAE
16-17 March – WTPS Devonport, AUS
20 April – Para Cup Yenihesir, TUR
11 May – WTPS Yokohama, JPN
18-19 May – Para Cup Samarkand, UZB
1-2 June – Para Cup Vigo, ESP
8-9 June – Para Cup Taranto, ITA
15-16 June – Para Cup Besancon, FRA
22-23 June – WTPS Swansea, GBR
29-30 June – WTPS Montreal, CAN
13-14 July – Para Cup Tata, HUN
20-21 July – Para Cup Long Beach, USA
12 October – Para Cup Alhandra, POR
17-20 October – World Triathlon Para Championships Malaga, ESP

Multisport:

15-25 August – World Triathlon Multisport Championships Townsville
8 Sept – World Triathlon Powerman Long Distance Duathlon Championships Zofingen

Please note that the above calendar is not final, with more events to be announced in the coming weeks.

by Abhishek Shukla

Ten more sports stars announced as Athlete Role Models for Gangwon 2024

Ten additional highly experienced athletes, who will support, advise and inspire participants at the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Gangwon 2024 , have been announced as Athlete Role Models (ARMs) by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

They join the 17 athletes already unveiled as ARMs and will play a key role as mentors for those competing in Gangwon. The ARMs will share the experience and knowledge they have gained from their own sporting careers.

The latest ARMs to be unveiled are:

  • Park Jong-ah (KOR, ice hockey)
  • Lee Young-jun (KOR, ice hockey)
  • Byun Chun-sa (KOR, short track speed skating)
  • Thibaut Fauconnet (FRA, short track speed skating)
  • Haralds Silovs (LAT, speed skating)
  • Brenden Kelly (CAN, freestyle skiing)
  • Jakob Spik (SLO, Alpine skiing)
  • Tess Critchlow (CAN, snowboarding)
  • Maxime Laheurte (FRA, Nordic combined)
  • Konstantin Schad (GER, snowboarding)

These athletes will play a vital role in mentoring and shaping the future of young, aspiring athletes as part of the ARM Programme, which has been an integral part of the YOG since the first edition in Singapore in 2010. It provides those competing at the YOG with a chance to learn from experienced Olympians and elite athletes.

Olympic gold medallist Byun Chun-sa, who topped the podium at the Olympic Winter Games Torino 2006 as part of the Korean women’s 3,000m short track relay team, was among those to share her excitement at being able to advise a new generation of young talent.

“It’s an honour to be invited to Gangwon 2024 as an ARM,” she said. “I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences with the young athletes and providing guidance to support their growth.”

For three-time Olympian Thibaut Fauconnet, becoming an ARM felt like a natural progression, having moved into coaching since retiring from competition.

“It’s an important role to me,” he said. “I love to support young athletes. It means a lot to me to try to share all the things that I learned during my career with the next generation.”

And for Canadian snowboarder Tess Critchlow, who competed in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022, becoming an ARM felt like the perfect opportunity to give something back to her sport.

“When I was contacted about this opportunity, I was super stoked by the idea of being back in a competition space and to feel as though I’m giving back a little to snowboarding,” she said. “I’ve been thinking of ways to give back, and this was the perfect segue into that. It’ll be so rewarding to help the athletes get as much out of the experience as they can.”

The ARM Programme forms part of the wider Athlete Education Programme (AEP) that will take place during the YOG, helping to maximise the learning experience of all the athletes and their entourage members. The ARMs will be on hand in Gangwon to support the young athletes during training and competitions, and in the Youth Olympic Village during a series of educational activities and workshops.

These include discussing skills and topics to help the athletes’ development, such as career management, injury prevention, digital storytelling and more. For example, in the pre-YOG programme, young athletes and their entourage are encouraged to take an e-learning course on Athlete365 to learn more about the prevention of competition manipulation, and safeguarding, mental health and anti-doping. The course is available in 10 languages.

The ARMs, in coordination with the International Federations, will also host Inside Sport Sessions, providing an opportunity for the young athletes to dive deeper into their sport with tailored Q&A sessions, sports demonstrations and even fireside chats depending on the sport.

The Winter YOG Gangwon 2024 will take place from 19 January to 1 February 2024, with approximately 1,900 athletes from 81 National Olympic Committees expected to take part.

Gangwon was elected as the host of the 4th Winter YOG at the 135th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 10 January 2020. Events will be held in four locations across the Gangwon region – Gangneung, PyeongChang, Jeongseon and Hoengseong – and will build upon the legacy of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 by using some of the same facilities.

by Abhishek Shukla

Star Sports Witnesses A 38% Surge In Ratings For The First Four Matches Of Pro Kabaddi League Season 10

Mumbai, December 15th, 2023: Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the Pro Kabaddi League, has notched up strong viewership figures for the opening weekend of the milestone 10th season. According to BARC, 80.1 million viewers tuned in to Star Sports for the first four matches, amassing 2.7 billion minutes of watch time. This underscores the immense popularity of the tournament among passionate fans of the second-biggest sport in the country. Additionally, the broadcaster has witnessed a remarkable growth of 38% in ratings for the opening weekend compared to the last edition, showcasing the enduring appeal of Pro Kabaddi.

Pro Kabaddi League’s return to its traditional caravan-style format has contributed to its resurgence in popularity and viewership. The tournament has witnessed spectacular performances, with Bengal Warriors commanding an unbeaten run, Gujarat Giants showcasing young raiders who are making their mark, and the return of high-flyer Pawan Sehrawat. Stalwarts like Pardeep Narwal, Maninder Singh, and Siddharth Desai have also left their mark on the league, creating a riveting narrative for fans. During the opening weekend, Gujarat Giants, led by Sultan Fazel Atrachali, won both their games at home against Telugu Titans and Bengaluru Bulls.

A Star Sports Spokesperson said, “Pro Kabaddi League reflects the rich culture and heritage that flows through this sport in India. Our various regional feeds are customized to their respective states imbibing the values and local hero-building to capture the interest of the fans. We are glad to witness the surge in viewership for the fast-paced game and will continue to drive fandom for the rest of the season. The league generates new stars every season and has garnered support from some of the biggest celebrities, highlighting the promising trajectory of its progress through the years.”

The marketing campaign, #IndiaKiHarSaansMeinKabaddi, featuring some of the biggest stars from the country including Tiger Shroff, Ballaya, and Sudeep Kichha ignited fervent support from fans, embodying the true essence and warrior spirit of the Pro Kabaddi League. Star Sports also collaborated with superstars across the country, who passionately supported their favorite Kabaddi teams and players. The entertainment quotient was elevated with the involvement of top-notch celebrities such as Hrithik Roshan, Manoj Bajpayee, Vicky Kaushal, Tara Sutaria, Nani, and Shiva Rajkumar as well as top Hollywood Superstar Jason Momoa of Aquaman fame. Star Sports also activated canters in five markets to spark enthusiasm among kids and kabaddi players at local clubs. The season began in grand style with an all-captains press conference on the Akshar River cruise at Ahmedabad.

 

Reach and Watch-time Data for 2+U+R (TV + OOH)

Ratings on India Urban M15+ AB
by Abhishek Shukla

ONE Championship Closes Out 2023 with ONE Friday Fights 46: Tawanchai vs. Superbon Pay-Per-View Event

Singapore — December 15, 2023 — ONE Championship (ONE), the world’s largest martial arts organization, today announced that ONE Friday Fights 46: Tawanchai vs. Superbon, featuring the long-awaited World Championship super-fight between Tawanchai PK Saenchai and Superbon Singha Mawynn, will be aired on Watch.ONEFC.com as a global pay-per-view.

How To Watch ONE Friday Fights 46:

  • Tune in December 22 at 7:30 p.m. ICT/7:30 a.m. EST for regional card
  • Regional card available on Watch.ONEFC.com, ONE YouTube, and ONE Facebook*
  • Tune in December 22 at 9:30 p.m. ICT/9:30 a.m. EST for global PPV card
  • Global PPV card available exclusively on Watch.ONEFC.com*
    *Geo-restrictions may apply

Live from the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on December 22, the main event will feature two of the most dangerous strikers on the planet, as reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai defends his belt against #1-ranked contender and former ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon Singha Mawynn.

The stacked card will also showcase a highly anticipated ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title unification bout between current champion Joseph Lasiri and interim titleholder Prajanchai PK Saenchai. In the third World Championship bout, top pound-for-pound women’s kickboxer Anissa Meksen will take on 21-year-old striking prodigy Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom for the ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Title.

ONE Friday Fights 46 will also feature the returns of former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama, Scottish breakout star Nico Carrillo, Thai sensation Seksan Or Kwanmuang, and more. Complete card details can be found below:

 

GLOBAL PPV CARD

ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title

(c) Tawanchai PK Saenchai vs. (1) Superbon Singha Mawynn

ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title Unification

(c) Joseph Lasiri vs. (ic) Prajanchai PK Saenchai

ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Title

Anissa Meksen vs. Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom

Muay Thai – Bantamweight

Nong-O Hama vs. Nico Carrillo

Muay Thai – 140-Pound Catchweight

Seksan Or Kwanmuang vs. River Daz

REGIONAL CARD

Muay Thai – 136-Pound Catchweight

Muangthai PK Saenchai vs. Nabil Anane

Muay Thai – Bantamweight

Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai vs. Fariyar Aminipour

Muay Thai – Flyweight

Jaosuayai Sor Dechapan vs. Petsukumvit Boi Bangna

Muay Thai – Bantamweight

Suablack Tor Pran49 vs. Craig Coakley

Muay Thai – 132-Pound Catchweight

Eisaku Ogasawara vs. Chorfah Tor Sangtiennoi

Muay Thai – 132-Pound Catchweight

Suriyanlek Por Yenying vs. Yodkritsada Sor Sommai

by Abhishek Shukla

CMG to air all Formula E races live In China for The first time

BEIJING, China & LONDON, UK. Fri. 15 Dec. 2023 – Formula E today announced the biggest multi-year media partnership in championship history with Chinese national broadcaster, CMG, airing every race of the season live for the first time.

The blockbuster new deal means all 17 races in Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, starting with the Hankook Mexico City E-Prix on Saturday, 13 January 2024, will be available live on CMG’s CCTV platforms.

Premier sports channels CCTV5 and CCTV5+ will air Formula E races, including the inaugural Shanghai race doubleheader in May. Digital platform Yangshipin will also carry races plus all practice and qualifying sessions.

Jeff Dodds, CEO, Formula E, said:

“This is huge for Formula E as we get ready to race in our biggest season yet. For the first time, every Formula E race will be available live in China on CCTV, the nation’s largest sports platform. We are excited to work with CMG as a major new media partner for Formula E and focus on supercharging our audience growth in China through the coming seasons.”

Formula E will race for the first time at the Shanghai International Circuit with a double-header of races on Saturday, 25 May and Sunday, 26 May 2024. The first-ever Formula E race was held in Beijing on Saturday, 13 September 2014, with Sanya and Hong Kong also hosting a total of seven races in China to date, the most recent in March 2019.

Two Chinese-owned teams compete in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship: Envision Racing and ERT Formula E Team.

Envision Racing won the ABB FIA Formula E Teams’ World Championship last season, and have also appeared in the series since the first event in Beijing where they originally competed as Virgin Racing Formula E Team.

ERT Formula E Team has also competed in the championship since the very first race in Beijing, originally under the name China Racing Formula E Team.

Formula E races on CCTV platforms in Season 10:

After the season-opener in Mexico City on Saturday, 13 January 2024 comes the first doubleheader of Season 10 and the only night races under lights – innovative, sustainable LED lighting – from the street circuit surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage site in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

Next stop is the intensely challenging street track in Hyderabad, India, before a return to the carnival atmosphere of São Paulo, Brazil.

Formula E will make history with Round 6 on Saturday, 30 March when it becomes the first motorsport world championship to race on the streets of Tokyo.

After that is another visually exotic new venue for TV viewers with a doubleheader race weekend on the track in Misano, Italy, on the northern Adriatic coast.

The spiritual home of motorsport, Monaco, is the next stop before the season builds to a climax with four consecutive doubleheader race weekends where the world title storyline is sure to twist and turn with every race.

Berlin is first up, with a brand-new track layout and maintaining its record as the only city to host Formula E racing in all ten seasons.

The showpiece Shanghai event follows, with a doubleheader of races marking Formula E’s first visit to the city.

Portland, Oregon, is the next stop with the 22 drivers getting two races to try to beat the record of 403 race overtakes from last season’s Portland event.

Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship concludes in London on the weekend of Saturday, 20 July and Sunday, 21 July – perfectly situated for sports fans on the weekend between the UEFA EURO 2024 final and the opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Friday, 26 July.

Last season, both the Drivers’ and Teams’ world championship titles were decided on the final weekend of the season, with four drivers in with a chance of winning the coveted crown. Britain’s Jake Dennis was the ultimate warrior, claiming his first world championship, racing for the Andretti Formula E team.

by Abhishek Shukla

UKK: Mumbai Khiladis undergo rigorous training as they gear up for Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2

Bhubaneswar, December 15, 2023: Mumbai Khiladis have started their preparation for Season 2 of the Ultimate Kho Kho with a training camp at the Biju Patnaik Indoor Stadium, KIIT campus in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The 26-member squad, under the guidance of coach Vikas Suryavanshi, has entered an intensive training camp, fine-tuning their skills and strategies ahead of the highly anticipated season, set to kick off on December 24.

The team, owned by Pune-based philanthropist and businessman Punit Balan, will have high hopes riding on their back after a successful draft where they not only focused on giving opportunity to promising youngsters but also added and retained few top performers from the previous edition.

“The anticipation and energy surrounding Season 2 of the Ultimate Kho Kho is electrifying. Our athletes have been training rigorously, and we are confident that they will bring their A-game to the league. The support from our fans is invaluable, and we look forward to an exciting season ahead,” stated Mumbai Khiladis owner Punit Balan.

Mumbai Khiladis have undertaken various measures to better the overall growth of the players. The team travels with a strength and conditioning coach who keeps a keen eye on players’ fitness, along  with a team of Physios who ensure that the players recover well. The players are also involved in other recreational sporting activities like swimming and badminton. A psychologist also accompanies the team to focus on the players’ mental well- being.

A 10-day camp commenced on December 10 and will run until December 20 before the players get ready to face Telugu Yoddhas in their opening fixture on December 24.

“We have selected some of the best players from all over India, but Kho Kho is a team game and it is important to create a sense of team bonding. We are working on bridging the gap between senior and junior players so that they feel comfortable when they step on the mat. With this training camp, we are looking to work on team combinations and lift the overall fitness level of our players which will be a crucial factor going ahead in the tournament,” commented coach Vikas Suryavanshi.  

The thrilling action from Season 2 of India’s first-ever franchise-based Kho-Kho league will be broadcasted live on Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI)’s sports channels as well as livestream on Sony LIV.

by Abhishek Shukla

Spaniards reach FIFA Women’s World Ranking summit for first time

Four months have passed since the last FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking was published in August, during which time over 400 international matches have taken place. Never before have so many fixtures been fulfilled in an equivalent period.

Qualifiers for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 and UEFA Women’s Nations League games were on the agenda for European teams. Nations in the AFC, CAF and Concacaf zones, meanwhile, were involved in qualifying matches for their respective continental tournaments, with OFC representatives – with the exception of Aotearoa New Zealand – competing at the Pacific Games.

This plethora of events inevitably had an impact on December’s FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking, the last of 2023.

Consequently, reigning world champions Spain (1st) claimed top spot for the first time. They are the fourth team in football history to reach the coveted position, after the USA (2nd, up 1), Germany and Sweden. France (3rd, up 2) make up the podium.

England (4th, -) remain just below those three highflyers, ahead of previous leaders Sweden (5th, down 4). Germany (6th), the Netherlands (7th), Japan (8th), Korea DPR (9th) and Canada (10th) complete the top ten, which no longer features Brazil (11th, down 2).

As for the remainder of the top 50, Italy (14th, up 3), Philippines (38th, up 6) and Uzbekistan (47th, up 3) made noteworthy advances. The biggest moves came further down the standings, however, where Congo DR (102nd, up 9), El Salvador (104th, up 11) and Namibia (126th, up 14) all made considerable progress.

In addition to La Roja, Philippines, Haiti (51st), Cambodia (116th) and Cabo Verde (131st) attained their highest-ever placings.

Six nations either appear for the first time (Central African Republic and Macau) or reappear (Korea DPR, American Samoa, Madagascar and Bahamas) in the World Ranking, which brings the number of teams listed to 192 – a new record! And with six other national sides just one match away from joining, it could grow even further in March.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking will be published in March 2024

Leaders Spain
Moves into top 10 Korea DPR (9th)
Moves out of top 10 Brazil (11th)
Matches played in total 419
Most matches played Botswana, China PR, Chinese Taipei, Korea DPR, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia (9 matches)
Biggest move by points Tanzania (up 68.24 points)
Biggest move by ranks Namibia (up 14 ranks)
Biggest drop by points Sweden (down 71.08 points)
Biggest drop by ranks Cayman Islands (down 14 ranks)
Newly ranked teams 6 (Korea DPR, Central African Republic, American Samoa, Macau, Madagascar, Bahamas)
Teams that are no longer ranked None

by Abhishek Shukla

AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2024 Draw Results

Hosts Uzbekistan, seeking to win the title for the first time, were drawn in Group A. Standing in the Central Asian side’s way will be two-time winners Korea Republic, Australia and Chinese Taipei, the 2002 runners-up.
Japan, who won the AFC U19 Women’s Championship six times, lead the Group B cast. Looking to deny them a place in the semi-finals will be 2007 winners DPR Korea, 2006 champions China PR and Vietnam.
The top four teams at the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2024 will qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024.
DRAW RESULT
Group A: Uzbekistan, Korea Republic, Australia, Chinese Taipei
Group B: Japan, DPR Korea, China PR, Vietnam
by Abhishek Shukla

Airlink Soars High as the Official Airline Partner of the Paarl Royals

National, 15 December 2023: Royals Sports Group-owned franchise, Paarl Royals, today announced a soaring partnership with Airlink, naming the airline as the Official Airline Partner of the team for the upcoming 2024 season of the SA20.

As a team that consistently strives for excellence both on and off the field, Paarl Royals is delighted to align with Airlink, Southern Africa’s leading regional airline with a strong commitment to service, reliability, and connecting communities.

The partnership between Paarl Royals and Airlink signifies a shared commitment to excellence, a passion for the sport, and a dedication to fostering growth within the local community. With Airlink on board as the Official Airline Partner, Paarl Royals aims to soar to new heights, both in terms of on-field performance and community engagement, by connecting fans and supporters across South Africa.

The association is not limited to the cricket field, as both entities plan to engage in various promotional activities and digital campaigns. Fans can expect a unique blend of cricketing excitement and travel experiences throughout the season.

Alok Chitre, Chief Business Officer, Paarl Royals, welcomed Airlink to the Royals Family, “As a team, we are always looking for partners who share our values and commitment to excellence. Airlink’s reputation for reliability, professionalism, and community engagement aligns perfectly with our vision for the Paarl Royals. With Airlink by our side, we look forward to a successful partnership that not only enhances our team’s performances but also contributes to the overall growth of cricket in the region.”

Airlink, renowned for its commitment to quality service and extensive regional connectivity, is the team’s official carrier for the tournament and will fly the squad and support staff between their matches taking place in Paarl, Centurion, Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).. The collaboration aims to enhance the overall fan experience and strengthen the team’s presence in Southern Africa.

“As Southern Africa’s premier airline, Airlink provides service fit for royalty with comfortable seats, complimentary in-flight beverages and meals, and – as cricketing nobility will appreciate – our free and generous sporting equipment allowance,” said Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster.

The SA20 2024 season is scheduled to kick off on 10 January, with the Paarl Royals commencing their campaign against the Pretoria Capitals at Boland Park on 12 January 2024.

by Abhishek Shukla

NHL: Demko’s Shutout Leads Canucks to 4-0 Victory Over Panthers

VANCOUVER — Goalie Thatcher Demko’s stellar performance with 36 saves anchored the Vancouver Canucks in a dominant 4-0 win against the Florida Panthers at Rogers Arena on Thursday. This victory marked the Canucks’ fourth consecutive win and Demko’s third shutout of the season.

Dakota Joshua scored twice, contributing significantly to the Canucks’ offense. Brock Boeser also found the back of the net, extending his point streak to nine games, during which he has accumulated 14 points. Andrei Kuzmenko rounded out the scoring for Vancouver, which improved to a 20-9-1 record. The team concluded a successful five-game homestand with a 4-1-0 record.

The Panthers, now at 17-10-2, struggled offensively, with Sergei Bobrovsky allowing four goals on 17 shots. This marked Florida’s second consecutive shutout loss, following a 4-0 defeat to the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday. Anthony Stolarz replaced Bobrovsky in the third period, stopping the one shot he faced.

Kuzmenko opened the scoring for Vancouver in the first period, capitalizing on a defensive error by the Panthers. Joshua then extended the lead with two goals, showcasing his ability to capitalize on opportunities and create chances. His second goal came from stealing Bobrovsky’s pass and scoring into an open net.

Boeser’s goal on a 5-on-3 power play further solidified the Canucks’ lead, highlighting their effective power play and Boeser’s scoring form.

This win for the Canucks underlines their strong form and Demko’s crucial role in goal. The Panthers, facing back-to-back shutout losses, will aim to rediscover their offensive prowess in upcoming games.

by Abhishek Shukla

NHL: Kraken Dominate Blackhawks 7-1, Yamamoto and Bjorkstrand Lead the Charge

SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken delivered a commanding performance with a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Climate Pledge Arena on Thursday. Kailer Yamamoto’s two goals and Oliver Bjorkstrand’s goal and two assists were pivotal in securing the win for the Kraken.

The Kraken, now at 10-14-7, have found form with their second consecutive win following an eight-game losing streak. Goalie Joey Daccord contributed with 21 saves, anchoring the team’s strong defensive play.

For the Blackhawks, who are struggling at 9-19-1, it was a night to forget. Connor Bedard, their No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, saw his 10-game road point streak come to an end. Goalkeeper Arvid Soderblom faced a tough night, allowing seven goals on 24 shots before being replaced by Petr Mrazek in the third period.

Yamamoto opened the scoring for Seattle early in the first period, taking advantage of a deflected pass and beating Soderblom. He doubled the lead later in the period, capitalizing on a deflection for an easy finish.

The Blackhawks managed to cut the deficit with Taylor Raddysh scoring in the second period, but Seattle’s response was swift. Bjorkstrand’s goal, a fortunate deflection, restored the Kraken’s two-goal advantage.

Seattle continued their onslaught with Tye Kartye and Eeli Tolvanen adding to the tally, exploiting the Blackhawks’ defensive lapses. Jared McCann’s power-play goal and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare’s rebound shot in the third period sealed the emphatic 7-1 win.

The Kraken’s Will Borgen and Ryker Evans each provided two assists, showcasing Seattle’s depth and teamwork in the attacking phase.

This victory for the Kraken demonstrates their potential to bounce back from setbacks and deliver dominant performances. For the Blackhawks, the heavy loss underscores ongoing challenges this season, including the need for more consistency in both offense and defense.