IPL 2025 | PBKS opt to bowl against MI as rain delays start of Qualifier 2
Playing XI Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow(wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Raj Bawa, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Reece Topley Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis(wk), Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh,…
Olympic champ Khelif has to undergo gender test to continue fighting
CHENNAI: If the Paris Olympic Games were to be held this summer, then Imane Khelif might not have competed. The World Boxing (WB) has now come out with a contentious decision on “mandatory sex testing”. All boxers, including Khelif, will…
Stung by Gujarat Titans’ exit, Sudharsan now turns focus on red-ball cricket
NEW CHANDIGARH: B Sai Sudharsan might not have been able to take Gujarat Titans across the line in the Eliminator against Mumbai Indians at the New PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh, but the youngster walked away with plenty of goodwill. Having…
Tari, Norway’s one-time next Carlsen
STAVANGER: Elite sports across all disciplines have two things in common. The world champion and the urge to appoint a young prodigy as the ‘next <enter the name of the current world champion here>’ as soon as possible. Sport is…
Real Madrid confirms signing of Alexander-Arnold ahead of Club World Cup
MADRID: Real Madrid confirmed the signing of defender Trent Alexander-Arnold on Friday in time for the Club World Cup after paying a reported fee of 10 million euros ($11 million) to Liverpool. The 26-year-old England right back has agreed to a six-year…
Watching Carlsen in Magnus country
STAVANGER: It’s 4.57 PM on a slightly cold summer afternoon in downtown Stavanger. The cold can be accentuated because the North Sea is just round the corner. The sun is out but the wind chill can be felt. The gates…
RCB win toss, elect to bowl against PBKS in high-stakes clash
Rajat Patidar, leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025, won the toss and opted to bowl first against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. With a spot in the final on the line, RCB will look to make the…
Chithravel silver in rain; gold in 4x400m mixed relay for India
Tejaswin heroics The ever dependable 25-year-old Subha Venkatesan anchored the Indian 4x400m mixed relay team to victory. Other members of the victorious Indian mixed 4x400m relay team were Santhosh KT, Rupal Chaudhary and Vishal TK. The team clocked 3:18.12 seconds….
Erigaisi stuns world champion Gukesh
STAVANGER: Moments after throwing in the towel against Arjun Erigaisi at the ongoing edition of Norway Chess on Wednesday, D Gukesh preferred to momentarily hide his eyes away from the crowd, the photographers and the assembled journalists inside the playing…
Inside the chess world’s race to ace the Indian market
STAVANGER: The FIDE World Cup is scheduled to be held in India later this year. The third season of the Global Chess League (GCL), owned and conducted by an Indian company, may be held in Chennai in December. Another edition…
IPL 2025| RCB opt to bowl in must-win clash against LSG as playoff race heats up
Royal Challengers Bengaluru stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl first against Lucknow Super Giants in the final league match of IPL 2025. With a top-two finish on the line, RCB must win this clash to…
Norway Chess: Carlsen masterclass floors Gukesh
STAVANGER: The genius of Magnus Carlsen was in full display as he bested D Gukesh after four hours and change on day one of Norway Chess on Monday. For all money, it had seemed like the draw was going to…
PBKS opt to bowl first against MI in race for top-two finish
Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl against Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League match here on Monday. PBKS have made two changes, bringing in Kyle Jamieson and Vijaykumar Vyshak in place of Azmatullah…
Norris takes ‘dream’ Monaco win to reduce Piastri’s F1 standings lead
MONACO: Lando Norris realized a childhood dream as he won the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, and boosted his chances of achieving an even bigger goal, the Formula 1 world drivers championship. Norris took his first Grand Prix win since the season-opening…
Real Madrid confirms Xabi Alonso is returning as ‘one of the best coaches in the world’
Leverkusen’s 35-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga ended in August 2024 with a 3-2 loss at home to Leipzig, against whom Alonso’s team uncharacteristically squandered a two-goal lead. “You didn’t just train us — you inspired us,” Leverkusen captain Granit Xhaka…
Touch of hinterland as Shubman Gill set to lead India Test team in England
CHENNAI: Shubman Gill, the first India Test captain from Punjab since Bishan Singh Bedi (1976-78), will usher Indian cricket into a new era in true sense. Unlike Bedi, who though was born in Amritsar but played domestic cricket for Delhi,…
Gill named Test captain for India’s England tour
ChENNAI: Shubman Gill, 25, was on Saturday announced India captain for the upcoming England tour. With two of his most senior counterparts – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli- retiring from Test cricket recently, the right-hand batter from Fazilka, Punjab was…
New captain, bigger challenge for India
With Gill, that is not necessarily the case. Just two matches ago, the Punjab batter was dropped in Melbourne after a poor run throughout the series. Even in Sydney, he, sort of, had soft dismissals at crucial moments which opened…
A decade of decline and uncertainty
Manchester United Football Club, once the benchmark of excellence in European football, has endured over a decade of underachievement since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. The legendary manager’s departure marked the end of a golden era defined…
Sports ministry hikes athletes’ diet charges, doubles coaches’ salaries
BOTH athletes and coaches will see a considerable hike in their dietary allocations and salaries respectively with the sports ministry revising the Scheme of Assistance to the national sports federations on Thursday. Under the revised norms, diet charges for senior…
Man United faces more financial turmoil after Europa League final loss
The financial consequences of Manchester United losing in the Europa League final should be painful and affect the club for years. It was a zero-sum game Tottenham won 1-0 on Wednesday: Winner goes into the Champions League — plus the…
Visa 'complications' for Indian athletes ahead of Asian meet in South Korea
Days before the Asian Athletics Championships to be held in Gumi, South Korea, some of the Indian athletes are fretting over visa issues. It is understood that visas of a handful of athletes, who have been selected to participate at…
‘IPL has been a life-changer for me,’ says DC all-rounder Nigam
NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals all-rounder Vipraj Nigam says the ongoing IPL has brought significant changes to his life, adding that the lessons he’s picked up while sharing the dressing room with some of the game’s greats will help him immensely…
‘Open’ Shubman Gill allows Gujarat Titans to be at their best
His middle-order colleague Shahrukh Khan, felt it was Gill’s ‘openness’ that stood out from his other leadership aspects. “He has really grown as a captain,” he said in a media interaction on Tuesday. “He is somebody who is really open…
Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen is forced into draw in showdown against ‘the world’
BERLIN: Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen was forced into a draw Monday by more than 143,000 people worldwide playing against him in a single, record-setting game. Billed as “Magnus Carlsen vs. The World,” the online match began April 4 on Chess.com, the world’s…
Jyothi hopes for an encore at Asian athletics meet
ASIAN Games silver medallist and India’s fastest hurdler Jyothi Yarraji is eager to bounce back from her disappointment at the Paris Olympics last year. With exposure tours and changes in training routines, the 25-year old has a sense of clarity…
Farioli resigns as coach after Ajax loses Dutch league title in late-season collapse
AMSTERDAM: Ajax coach Francesco Farioli resigned on Monday, following his team’s late-season collapse that saw bitter rival PSV Eindhoven crowned Dutch champion. Ajax had seemed all but certain to win the league as it held a nine-point lead with five…
What’s the reasons behind Indian badminton’s descent from the glory days?
What ails Indian badminton? The sport that has given India lots of global medals is spiraling down a dark rabbit hole. Unfortunately for the sport, there is no wonderland in sight. Not as yet.If last year had been a near-disaster…
RCB vs KKR IPL 2025 |Toss delayed due to heavy rain in Bengaluru
The IPL 2025 resumes after a two-week break, with just 13 league games remaining. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, playing at home at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, are just two points away from becoming the first team to seal a Playoff berth….
Focus on Bengaluru: Stage set for IPL second innings
BENGALURU: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, was at the press conference hall of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday evening. He was taking questions from the media and in the process, explained how the week-long suspension of…
Starc opts out, Stubbs, Jacks, Stoinis and Inglis to return
However, there is still no clarity on the availability of DC vice-captain Faf du Plessis. For Punjab Kings, Marcus Stonis and Josh Inglis have agreed to join the team but will be missing its first game post IPL resumption on…
BCCI may adopt Olympic disciplines in future
CHENNAI: In what could be a first, the Indian cricket (BCCI) board might start providing continuous support for shaping up Indian athletes across a spectrum of Olympic disciplines. This discussion apparently transpired during a meeting between the sports ministry and…
IPL 2025: Gujarat Titans set to miss Buttler in play-offs, Moeen Ali not to return for KKR
NEW DELHI: England T20 stalwart Jos Buttler will leave for national duty after completing Gujarat Titans’ last three league engagements as the IPL play-offs are clashing with his country’s white ball series against the West Indies starting May 29. Titans…
Coach Rajput’s aim to help young guns prosper
CHENNAI: Indian shooting has largely been in the pink of health for the last decade or so. One of the primary reasons behind that is the junior programme. Most of the present-day senior shooters, including double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker,…
Tennis fan Pope Leo XIV meets World No. 1 during Italian Open off-day
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV has apparently made peace with Jannik Sinner. The top-ranked tennis player visited the new pope on Wednesday, gave him a tennis racket and offered to play, during an off day for Sinner at the Italian…
Wrestler Anshu loses Ranking Series selection trials
CHENNAI: Double Olympian Anshu Malik lost the 57kg wrestling selection trial bout held at the IG Stadium, New Delhi on Tuesday. The trials were held to pick the national team for the Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series scheduled in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia…
Love, service and a match made in heaven
ROME: Jannik Sinner says it’s “a good thing for us tennis players” that the new pope likes to play the sport. Even if Leo XIV jokingly said he wouldn’t want to arrange a game with the top-ranked player — ostensibly…
Absence of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma pose challenges for Sony
CHENNAI: The upcoming five-match away Test series against England offers Sony Sports, the Indian broadcaster, the rare opportunity of showcasing live cricket on its channels. However, unlike previous times, it comes with a significant challenge because the squad will be…
Anushka Sharma, celebrities salute Virat Kohli’s legendary Test career
NEW DELHI: Hours after Indian cricket star Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, his wife and actor Anushka Sharma on Monday said it was a privilege to watch him evolve after every series in the format and come…
Barca edge Real Madrid in thriller to move to brink of La Liga title
BARCELONA: Barcelona mounted a spectacular comeback to beat Real Madrid 4-3 on Sunday and move to the brink of the La Liga title. Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick for Los Blancos but Raphinha’s double and goals from Lamine Yamal and…
Barcelona and Real Madrid set for high-stakes El Clásico showdown
FC Barcelona will face arch-rivals Real Madrid in the fourth El Clasico of the season in a pivotal La Liga clash at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona on Sunday evening. The match is scheduled to kick off at…
Nikhat may headline key meet in Hyderabad next month
CHENNAI: Though there have been a few noteworthy events — domestic and international — here and there, the sport of boxing in the country has largely been subdued so far this season. With some key competitions including the World Championships…
Guardiola says Man City season has been toughest in management
LONDON: Pep Guardiola admits this season has been the toughest of his 16-year managerial career as Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge collapsed and they exited the Champions League early. The Spaniard has experienced little but success in glittering spells…
IPL 2025 suspension: Cause and Effect
CHENNAI: Around noon on Friday the word started spreading that the 2025 Indian Premier League was set to come to a halt, at least temporarily. The top brass of the BCCI met and discussed with stakeholders to take a call…
Anthony Edwards scares the Timberwolves with a sprained ankle before returning in strong finish
Edwards immediately grabbed for his ankle as he sat on the floor under the basket. He was unable to put weight on his left foot as he was eventually helped off the court, after Golden State’s Draymond Green even came…
After Rohit, who will take charge?
CHENNAI: It has been a topic of debate since Jasprit Bumrah walked off the field in the fifth Test between India and Australia earlier this year. Back then, there were question marks over whether Rohit Sharma will continue, and if…
Red-hot RCB aim to seal play-off spot against under-pressure LSG
LUCKNOW: Royal Challengers Bengaluru would look to secure play-off qualification while the struggling Lucknow Super Giants will aim to stay alive in the tournament when the two sides clash in the Indian Premier League here on Friday. Pressure is mounting…
Rohit calls it a day as Test cricketer
CHENNAI: In many ways, the writing was on the wall. The signs were there on January 2, 2025 on the eve of the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney. After head coach Gautam Gambhir refused to confirm Rohit…
Focus on two IPL matches in Dharamsala after airport closure
It is learnt that Delhi team has already reached the venue on Tuesday evening but it needs to be seen how Mumbai franchise travel to Dharamsala after the closure of airport until May 10. The nearest airport at Chandigarh is…
Will give my best if I get a chance: Harsh Dubey
Even if Ranji and T20s are as different as chalk and cheese, Dubey felt his Ranji performances must have played a role in Hyderabad picking him up. ”Certainly, yes,” he said. “My Ranji performances have been noted and I am…
Two motorbike riders killed in crash during British Supersport motorbike race
LONDON: Two motorcycle racers lost their lives and another was seriously injured in a major crash involving 11 bikes during a British Supersport race on Monday at Oulton Park in northwest England. The accident happened on the first lap of…
Batters’ patchy run behind Delhi Capitals’ diminishing returns
CHENNAI: A little over three weeks ago, things were looking rosy for Delhi Capitals (DC). The Axar Patel-led side had just pulled off a thrilling victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, their fourth scalp…
Sending Josh Inglis at No. 3 was Iyer's call: Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting
DHARAMSALA: Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting revealed it was skipper Shreyas Iyer’s tactical call to promote Josh Inglis to number 3 to counter Lucknow Super Giants’ tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav. To everyone’s surprise Inglis, who has batted mostly in…
IPL 2025 | Punjab Kings crush LSG in record-breaking thriller to climb to second spot in playoff race
Toss LSG skipper Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to bowl against Punjab at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala. “Would have bowled first as well. The wicket was covered for a while and it was pouring yesterday…
Hungry to make comeback, focus on training: Sathiyan
Sathiyan’s coach Olympian S Raman said he would be evaluating his performance every quarter. “We worked on a few things and those things are not working out. So which means whatever we brought to the table is not sufficient enough….
Would like to finish on top: Gujarat Titans assistant coach
CHENNAI: Gujarat Titans assistant coach Aashish Kapoor is pleased with the way his team has been playing. The last match against Sunrisers Hyderabad was another stellar performance when his team beat the Pat Cummins-led side handsomely to reach the second…
Kolkata Knight Riders eye must-win at Eden as Rajasthan Royals aim to spoil party
Jurel has one fifty from 10 innings and 249 runs to show, while Hetmyer has scored 187 runs at an average of 20.77. Rana, who returns to face his former team, has failed to find rhythm and will be under…
Bowling alongside Boult & Bumrah has helped: Chahar
The Agra-born player credited the entire team for his good output so far. “I think we’re playing good cricket as a unit and everybody is in form, including bowlers and batters. Everybody has performed in the last 8 to 9…
Virat Kohli names player who had ‘biggest impact’ on him during initial IPL years
BENGALURU: Star India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli recalled how former South African wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher had an impact on him during his initial years in the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying that his conversations with the…
Dope of shame for India yet again
CHENNAI: WHEN it comes to doping, India will always be in front. The latest figures could be the highest positive doping cases after the 225 cases in 2019. What is even more intriguing is that the positive cases are in…
Indian lifters fetch two bronze medal at Youth and Junior World Championships
LIMA: India began its campaign at the IWF Youth and Junior World Weightlifting Championships with two bronze medals here. Jyoshna Sabar secured a bronze in the youth girls’ 40kg category with a total lift of 129kg (56kg+72kg). She also clinched…
Out of form but not out of fans
CHENNAI: “DOES that mean you are coming back next year as well,” asked broadcaster Danny Morrison, indicating to the loud cheers from the stands of the MA Chidambaram stadium, as he spoke to Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni. The…
Madrid Open players took blackout in stride, enjoyed time away from cellphones
World No. 6 Jack Draper said he was “actually enjoying” the time to “focus on what is important.” “I’m a bit of a minimalist,” he said. “Everyone was panicking, but it was so nice to actually have no phone and…
Prabhsimran to the fore
Speaking on a Star Sports press room on the eve of Wednesday’s encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, the 24-year-old said what he had to improve on. “I’m gaining experience,” he said. With that, game awareness keeps increasing. When your…
Ajay Jadeja on Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s knock
Speaking exclusively on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar praised 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s fearless, record-breaking knock against Gujarat Titans, calling it “one of the most fabulous performances” he had ever seen. “I have never seen…
IPL 2025 | 14-year-old Suryawanshi smashes second fastest ton in IPL history as RR thrash GT
RR had won the toss and opted to bowl against GT. “Saw some dew last night so looks like it could be good,” RR skipper Riyan Parag said following the toss. “We would have liked to bowl first as well,…
Piyush Chawla on MI’s dominating win over LSG
Speaking exclusively on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Piyush Chawla analysed Mumbai Indians’ (MI) dominant win over Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) crucial triumph against Delhi Capitals (DC), highlighting key performances, pivotal moments,…
IPL 2025 RCB vs DC| Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Delhi Capitals by 6 wickets
Royal Challengers Bengaluru triumphed over Delhi Capitals in a thrilling contest, overcoming a shaky start during the powerplay. Chasing a target of 163, RCB’s victory was anchored by a resilient partnership between Virat Kohli and Krunal Pandya, who stitched together…
Table-toppers Gujarat Titans aim to consolidate as Rajasthan Royals fight for pride
Teams: Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag (capt), Nitish Rana, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey, Kumar Kartikeya, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Kunal Singh Rathore, Akash Madhwal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kwena Maphaka,…
IPL 2025 | Rain plays spoilsport after Arya, Prabhsimran lift PBKS to 201/4 against KKR
PBKS won the toss and chose to bat. When the two sides met for the first time this season, PBKS successfully defended the lowest-ever total in IPL history, defeating KKR by just 16 runs. Glenn Maxwell and Azmatullah Omarzai have…
Subplots galore as evenly matched RCB and Delhi Capitals clash at Kotla
Kuldeep versus Suyash, Axar versus Krunal Kuldeep has foxed the batters in the middle overs throughout the IPL with his googly causing maximum damage to the opposition. Besides 12 wickets in eight games, the left-arm wrist spinner has conceded runs…
Hyderabad rise to the occasion to post first-ever win at Chepauk
CHENNAI: Ishan Kishan’s breezy 44 and Kamindu Mendis’ undefeated 32 proved to be pivotal as Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Chennai Super Kings for the first time in the IPL at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday. The five-wicket win means SRH…
Maradona was ‘very difficult patient’, surgeon tells death trial
“He was a very difficult patient,” Benvenuti recalled, describing him as “defiant.” He said that Maradona wanted to leave the clinic as soon as possible after the surgery and was “not going to accept any hospitalization other than home care.”…
Sporting events in uncertain territory
CHENNAI: The cascading effect in the breakdown of bilateral ties between India and Pakistan could be felt in sport in the weeks and months to come. In the immediate aftermath of the deplorable terror attacks in Pahalgam on Monday, both…
Rohit is a world-class player, will play a huge role for us: Boult
HYDERABAD: Mumbai Indians’ pacer Trent Boult has backed “world-class” Rohit Sharma to play a pivotal role in the team’s pursuit for a record-extending sixth IPL title, following back-to-back half-centuries that signalled his timely return to form. The Kiwi left-arm pacer…
Mumbai Indians register fourth straight win
CHENNAI: Between 7.30 PM and 9.00 PM, one of the strangest 20 overs in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) unfurled. A batter walked, stopped and walked again after assuming the bowling team was going to appeal. He…
No fireworks, cheerleaders in MI vs SRH IPL match; players to sport black armbands
HYDERABAD: The players of Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians will wear black armbands during their IPL match which will not feature cheerleaders and fireworks here on Wednesday to mourn the victims of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam that caused 26…
National record for Dev Meena; Rupal, Jyothi shine
In women’s discus throw, Seema, representing JSW won the gold and qualified for the Asian championship and Nirbhay Singh of Haryana won the gold in men’s. Sarvesh Anil Kushare of Maharashtra won the gold in men’s high jump, jumping 58.13m….
KKR facing same failures as seen throughout this IPL, says Eoin Morgan
For defending champions KKR, it was yet another underwhelming performance at home, having now lost three out of four matches at Eden Gardens. Despite changes in the line-up to strengthen the batting, the team failed to build meaningful partnerships. “Kolkata…
Sachin, Pranav among toppers on Day 1
KOCHI: The 28th National Federation Senior Athletic Championship kicked off in Kochi with two meet records and a handful of personal best performances. Army’s long distance runner Sawan Barwal touched the finish line in 28:57:13 seconds in men’s 10,000m, breaching…
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli retained in top grade; Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan back
NEW DELHI: India’s Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma and batting talisman Virat Kohli retained their place in the top category, while the out-of-favour duo of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan returned to the fold in lower brackets in a…
Chennai’s sorry season continues at Wankhede
MUMBAI: A day after head coach Stephen Fleming hinted Chennai Super Kings would be looking at giving more game time to the younger players in the remaining games this edition, Mumbai batter Ayush Mhatre made his IPL debut with the…
I will try to continue to bowl yorkers because it is my best ball: Avesh Khan
Shimron Hetmyer was getting ready to finish the game off for RR, but the left-hander smashed Avesh straight to Shardul Thakur in the 20th over to hand the momentum back to LSG. “As soon as he shuffled away from the…
This edition has the best Chepauk wicket: Raina
CHENNAI: Earlier in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming quibbled about the surfaces in use at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Generally considered friendly for spin, batters had found…
RCB eye better batting effort in return clash against PBKS
“Personally I had a chat with Chahal. I told him you are a match winner and you need to get us wickets as much as possible. You don’t need to be safe in your approach and he has got the…
The league’s great catching pandemic
MUMBAI: Chennai Super Kings’ coach Stephen Fleming minced no words and came hard on the players for dropping plenty of catches in their loss against Punjab Kings a few days ago. Among the batters, who got reprieve was the young…
Refugee girls in Kenya find strength in taekwondo
KAKUMA: Along one of the many dirt tracks leading into Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp there is a large hidden compound, where inside, twice a week, adolescent girls gather to learn taekwondo, the martial arts lessons offering a safe space in…
Slow but steady Mumbai feel at home vs SRH
MUMBAI: Only time will tell what this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be better known for but early trends suggest catches being spilled will be one among them. Catches win matches, says an old adage but the…
Axar Patel on Mitchell Starc
“Since we can use saliva this season, and since there isn’t much grass on the surface, you can get the ball to reverse,” Axar said. “I feel it’s fair for bowlers, given how the grounds are, and how batsmen’s bats…
Manpreet Singh’s weight loss journey
“I started with fat burn (last November),” he said. “Monday to Saturday, I worked very hard and stopped junk food. I started counting calories, how much fat I was burning. I got very nerdy about it. Oatmeals and eggs for…
South California’s Pomona city to host cricket during LA 2028 Olympics
“Although cricket is a hugely popular sport, it will be a fantastic opportunity to expand traditional boundaries when it features in the Olympics in the fast-paced, exciting T20 format that should appeal to new audiences.” Cricket, which made its only…
Rohit not being able to kick on, needs to challenge himself: Boucher
CHENNAI: To get Rohit Sharma back in form, former Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher felt that it would depend on the former MI captain himself, how he challenges himself in phases of the match and to look back on…
Mbappe leads Real Madrid’s comeback bid as Arsenal chase UCL glory to salvage their season
MADRID/LONDON: Real Madrid welcome Arsenal to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday with the quarter-final tie delicately poised. While the Gunners arrive with a 3-0 first-leg lead and dreams of ending their Champions League drought, Madrid are banking on another historic…
Last chance to qualify for senior Fed meet
CHENNAI: Indian Open Athletics Championships, an event that was included in Athletics Federation of India’s (AFI) domestic calendar earlier this year, has not seen too many entries in certain categories since it began on April 1. Some of the events…
IPL 2025 | Mumbai Indians beat Delhi Capitals by 12 runs
Earlier, DC won the toss and opted to field against MI. Both teams have had contrasting starts to the season. DC remain the only unbeaten side so far, while MI have struggled, managing just one win from their last five…
All eyes on Dhoni ahead of Chennai’s crunch clash against Lucknow
Lucknow: SHIVAM Dube, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja and Rahul Tripathi had a long session of batting while R Ashwin bowled continuously even as batters facing him kept changing here at Ekana on Sunday evening. But what caught the attention was…
Arnautovic pushes Inter six points clear ahead of Champions League showdown with Bayern
“We’ve need to repeat the pace, aggression and organisation of our performance in the first leg.” Arnautovic has played a bit-part role at Inter but has had an impact in recent weeks with crucial goals, Saturday’s being his fifth in…
Big embarrassment as Asiad medallist Kartik tests positive abroad
CHENNAI: In a big embarrassment for the country, a top athlete has tested positive while on an exposure trip abroad. Long distance runner Kartik Kumar, who won silver medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, has tested positive while…
Boxing getting muddier as Court fires warning to BFI
CHENNAI: Things are getting more and more complicated for the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and its election. Days after the World Boxing (WB) formed an interim committee with BFI president in it, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has said…
Missing in action at Chepauk: Identity, creativity and energy
CHENNAI: ERM. Hmmm. Oh. Meh. These may be the only words or expressions to accurately capture the three hours inside the MA Chidambaram Stadium from 7.30 PM. At its best, it’s a cauldron of colour, noise and joy. An emotion….
Sports ministry recognition will help surfing grow: SFI chief Arun
CHENNAI: The Surfing Federation of India (SFI) had been knocking on the doors of the sports ministry for quite some time to get recognition that would help facilitate in identifying and nurturing talent. After years of waiting, the federation finally…
Dhoni to take over CSK captaincy for rest of season
CHENNAI: MS Dhoni will captain Chennai Super Kings for the first time since the 2023 final after Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of the tournament with a fractured elbow. “MS Dhoni will take over as captain for the remainder of…
Lack of six appeal in CSK’s batting
In that three-year period in question, the franchise hit a six every 15 balls. Since 2024? One every 16.3 deliveries. In a league where pitches, if anything, have become more conducive to six-hitting and every other team in the division…
IPL 2025 | Gujarat Titans on course to breach 200 mark against Rajasthan Royals
Despite the early loss of Shubman Gill—cleaned up by a beauty from Jofra Archer in the third over—Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan has looked in sublime touch against Rajasthan Royals, reaching his fifty off 32 balls. He counterattacked with authority,…
Late Frattesi strike gives Inter Milan edge over Bayern in Champions League
Injury-hit Bayern, Bastoni fit Semi-finalists last season, Bayern’s preparation for the game was hampered by an injury crisis. The German giants were particularly hard hit in defence, with England veteran Eric Dier and Kim Min-jae the only two fit centre-backs….
N-Pooran: Nicholas at it again
CHENNAI: After Nicholas Pooran’s 26-ball 70 against Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier this season, the southpaw gave a peak into what has made him into a modern six-hitting freak. The simple, uncomplicated answer was nothing. Just ‘timing,’ according to him. “I just…
Reverse swing delights IPL bowlers after lifting of saliva ban
AHMEDABAD: The return of saliva on the ball in the Indian Premier League is helping bowlers generate reverse swing, with Gujarat Titans’ Mohammed Siraj among those reaping the benefits. Siraj starred with figures of 4-17 in Gujarat’s third straight victory…
IPL 2025 | Kohli, Padikkal get RCB off to flyer against MI
Impact substitutes RCB: Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Swastik Chhikara, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh MI: Rohit Sharma, Corbin Bosch, Robin Minz, Ashwani Kumar, Raj Bawa Playing XI MI: Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton(WK), Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(C), Mitchell Santner, Deepak…
Normatec, musculoskeletal screening and how Shreyas & Co take care of their body
That, though, is during the initial weeks. Once games begin, their area of expertise changes to hydration, player education apropos urine, getting eight hours of sleep and so on. Studying urine samples of players Punjab Kings, like a lot of…
IPL 2025 | SRH vs GT: Gujarat Titans opt to bowl first after winning toss
Sunrisers Hyderabad suffered a big early setback as Travis Head departed for 8, gifting a soft catch to midwicket off Mohammed Siraj in the very first over. After hitting two boundaries and showing initial promise, Head mistimed a flick on…
Shooter Sift saves best for last to capture first World Cup gold
CHENNAI: Sift Kaur Samra was in a spot of bother during the early stages of her competition at the Tiro Federal Argentino de Buenos Aires Shooting Range in Buenos Aires in the late afternoon (early Saturday morning IST) on Friday….
IPL 2025 | PBKS vs RR: Punjab opt to bowl first after winning toss
Punjab Kings (PBKS) won the toss and opted to bowl against Rajsthan Royal (RR) in the IPL 2025 match at Mullanpur. “First game in this pitch so we reckon it’ll be better to bowl first. Boys are in high spirits…
Former India ace trains budding players for free in Kochi
In the beach at Kuzhupilly, among the throng of visitors, a few girls are busy warming up. They jog and stretch with discipline. Then, as they start stirring up the sand, one can hear the repeating chant — kabaddi, kabaddi,…
Kevin De Bruyne to leave Man City at end of the season
One of the greatest “He’s one of the greatest we’ve ever seen,” said City manager Pep Guardiola. “His assists, his goals, his vision in the final third, it’s so difficult to replace. What he’s done here for the past decade…
Sumeeth eager to share hard-earned wisdom to youngsters
CHENNAI: B Sumeeth Reddy recently made one of the biggest decisions of his life. Having dedicated his life to badminton for over two decades, he called time on his professional career. His playing days might have ended but it’s also…
Lawson vows to prove he belongs in F1 after shock of Red Bull axing
Lawson’s two grands prix with Red Bull were in Australia and China, tracks that he had never raced at before. He said the decision to demote him was “a done deal” by the time Red Bull principal Christian Horner called…
Jaiswal moves to Goa from Mumbai; a few more in line, says GCA
CHENNAI: In a surprising development, India Test opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has opted to switch to Goa from Mumbai for the next domestic season. The Goa Cricket Association confirmed the big switch and said it is still in touch with as…
Infighting in federations not in interest of sports: Delhi HC
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday raised concerns over the “infighting” and “disputes” in sporting federations in the country saying such an environment was not conducive for sports. A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice…
Now, it is time to talk about Rohit Sharma
But in the IPL, Rohit has barely been at his best as a batter over the past 7-8 years. Former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar tried to explain why Rohit might be struggling. “Rohit Sharma is clearly going through a…
Ashwani Kumar is lot quicker than people recognise at first, says Ryan Rickelton
MUMBAI: Mumbai Indians’ unheralded fast bowler Ashwani Kumar, who became the first Indian to take four wickets on IPL debut, is a “lot quicker than people recognise at first”, says his teammate Ryan Rickelton. The left-arm Punjab seamer took 4/24…
It’s time to have a conversation about Dhoni
Since the beginning of the 2024 edition of the IPL, nine of the 10 franchises have had their designated keepers either open, come at No 3 or No 4. If you are a keeper, you have to contribute with the…
Dhoni can’t bat ten overs running full stick: CSK coach Fleming
“So that’s on the scoreboard the big difference and we were also sloppy in the field compared to Rajasthan who were outstanding. So that would be the two immediate takeaways.” Reflecting on the key moments, Fleming said: “I think (Riyan)…
B Sai Sudharsan keen to take momentum forward
CHENNAI: As Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans defeated five-time champions Mumbai Indians in Ahmedabad on Saturday, one batter who played a big role in the result was Tamil Nadu’s B Sai Sudharsan. In fact in the first game against Punjab Kings,…
Leaving Indian table tennis in safe hands: Sharath
CHENNAI: The curtains came down on paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal’s glorious career after his straight-games loss to Snehit Suravajjula in the Round of 16 at the WTT Star Contender, being held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium here on Saturday….
Same rules apply to everybody, says BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia
On his visions for Indian cricket and BCCI Now, I am in a tenure where the goals were already set three years ago. We had a roadmap for three years planned in October 2022. I am a mid-term secretary. I…
All India players who competed in last three ICC events, deserve respect: Rohit
NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma says the Indian team has endured cricket’s vicissitudes in the last nine months but it waged a collective battle to achieve success and every member of the side that competed in the last three ICC tournaments…
Getting three CSK wickets during their powerplay was game-changing: RCB captain Patidar
The Australian pacer also highlighted the importance of having a left-arm quick like Yash Dayal in the squad. “It really lifts us up as bowlers. Any time you get injured, you can feel down, but if you use that time…
Playing against Virat Kohli makes every clash more exciting: Ruturaj Gaikwad
Speaking exclusively on JioStar’s “Star Nahi Far” initiative, Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad shared his excitement about facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and competing against cricketing legend Virat Kohli. “I’m really looking forward to playing against RCB, especially with…
Shardul Thakur calls for fair pitches after match-winning spell for LSG
He made an immediate impact, dismissing Abhishek Sharma (6) and Ishan Kishan (0) in consecutive deliveries during his opening spell. “Of course, some swing, and what we have seen is that Travis Head and Abhishek like to take their chances,…
RCB look up to batters to end 17-year Chennai jinx; Bhuvneshwar, Pathirana fitness in focus
Negating spin has not always been a strong point of Kohli’s batting but in the last two years or so he has showed massive improvement in that department. Central to that change is his willingness to play more sweep/slog sweeps…
Pardeep Joon, Sahista shine in powerlifting with gold medals in Khelo India Para Games
“I was working in a farm when I got injured which resulted in nerve damage. Due to not being able to get proper treatment, my leg had to be amputated. I was depressed for six months after my injury,” Pradeep…
Shashank, Priyansh underline power-hitting prowess of uncapped batters
CHENNAI: When Priyansh Arya walked out to bat for Punjab Kings against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, he knew what he was supposed to do. Smash the sheen off the white leather right through the powerplay. In fact, that…
Titans keep pace in steep 244-run chase after Shreyas’ fireworks
Gujarat Titans openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan made a brisk start as they chased a 244-run target in their IPL season opener against Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Batting first, PBKS posted a mammoth 243/5, powered by a…
It was good score, we could have done basics right: LSG skipper Rishabh Pant
He credited DC’s middle-order resurgence, particularly Tristan Stubbs, who laid the foundation for the late assault. “One with Stubbs, with Ashutosh, and one with one other guy (Vipraj Nigam). I think he (Nigam) did a pretty good job and took…
From Malappuram, football country, to a starry IPL night in Chennai — the Vignesh Puthur story
If that was part one of the plan, the second one was rather more fundamental. Would he make an impression on the likes of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav in pre-season? The answer was yes. “I think when Rohit, Surya…
Awful season a wake-up call for Kerala Blasters
KOCHI: Kerala Blasters FC have endured a forgettable Indian Super League season, finishing a disappointing eighth and missing out on the playoffs. A campaign that began with promise unravelled quickly, leaving the team with more losses than wins. With eight…
Why is Riyan Parag leading Rajasthan Royals against Sunrisers Hyderabad instead of Sanju Samson?
Riyan Parag will lead Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their IPL 2025 opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday, March 23, as regular captain Sanju Samson continues his recovery from injury. Samson, RR’s full-time skipper, has not been cleared by the…
There was pressure on me but Kohli’s support, bowlers’ good effort eased it: Patidar
KOLKATA: Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar said there was some pre-game pressure on him but it eased out once he got support from his illustrious predecessor Virat Kohli and the bowlers stuck to the team’s strategies. Patidar made a…
Despite Ranji final show, only four Kerala players make IPL cut
KOCHI: As another edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) begins at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday, most cricketers from Kerala will be left watching the show from the sidelines despite the state finishing runners-up in the Ranji…
Dhoni’s presence adds glamour to CSK book launch
CHENNAI: Noted lawyer, cricket enthusiast and former vice-president of TNCA PS Raman’s book ‘Leo — The Untold Story of CSK’ was launched in a city hotel on Sunday, with former India and CSK captain MS Dhoni attending the function along…
Malayali navigator forays into Kenyan deserts for rally championship
Musa’s journey Musa’s tryst with motorsports began in 1993 — during his ‘Yamaha RX 100’ days at Badriya College in Mangaluru. Owning a motorcycle that was all the rage back then played no small part in seeing the lad, then…
Saliva ban lifted, captains exempted from match-ban for slow over-rates
CHENNAI: Come Saturday, the sight of bowlers and players using saliva to shine the ball will be a common sight during the Indian Premier League. The decision to lift the ban on using saliva in the league was taken during…
IPL’s coming of age after 18 years
CHENNAI: When the Indian Premier League (IPL) made a big splash in the nation’s consciousness in the Summer of 2008, one of the themes was readily identifiable. Established Indian ‘icons’ captaining teams (the first match saw Rahul Dravid and Saurav…
Chhetri scores on international comeback as India trounce Maldives 3-0 in friendly
SHILLONG: The talismanic Sunil Chhetri scored on his international comeback to lead India to a commanding 3-0 victory over Maldives in a football friendly here on Wednesday, helping the home side snap their 12-match winless streak that started in November…
Two key clearances obtained for Messi’s Kerala visit, says Minister V Abdurahiman
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two important clearances have been obtained for the arrival of the Argentina football team, featuring Lionel Messi, to play in Kerala, Sports Minister V Abdurahiman told the assembly on Tuesday. Replying to the discussion on demand for grants for…
New Zealand beats Pakistan by five wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the T20 cricket series
DUNEDIN: Tim Seifert blasted 45 from 22 balls and Finn Allen hit 38 from 16 as New Zealand cruised to a five-wicket win over Pakistan Tuesday in a rain-shortened second Twenty20 cricket international. Captain Salman Ali Agha made 46 as Pakistan reached…
CCF Premier League Season 1 launched
KOCHI: The Celebrity Cricket Fraternity is set to host its first-ever premier league (CCFPL) from April 19 to 25 at St Paul’s College ground. The tournament will feature 12 teams comprising film, television, and media personalities. Organised in association with…
Boxing secures spot in 2028 Olympics as IOC backs new governing body
The IOC suspended the IBA in 2019 following long-running disputes over governance, its finances and the integrity of bouts and judging, and took the rare step of banishing it from the Olympic movement entirely in 2023, shortly after some IBA…
Barcelona mount late comeback to stun Atletico in thriller
MADRID: Barcelona battled back from two goals down to beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 and land an important blow in the Spanish title race on Sunday. Lamine Yamal struck in the 92nd minute and Ferran Torres in the 98th to help…
Kohli bats for family on tours
The 36-year-old was “disappointed” because people with no real connection with such issues have been involved in such discussions. “I feel quite disappointed about that because it’s like people who have no control over what’s going on are brought into…
Second WPL title for Mumbai in three years, Delhi third time unlucky
This is the third time now. The four teams in the Women’s Premier League fight each other to decide who gets to play in the final against Delhi Capitals. For three seasons, Delhi have topped the table with multiple players…
Kohli jokes about comeback for LA Olympics
BENGALURU: Ace batter Virat Kohli was thrilled by the inclusion of cricket in Los Angeles Olympics 2028, and said the Indian Premier League has played a massive role in giving the sport a place in the global sporting extravaganza. Cricket…
Where are the Indian players of Women’s Premier League?
While there is a completely valid argument to be made that once the playing XI is selected, it is the captain’s prerogative to choose bowlers or change the batting line-up as required. However, the Gujarat captain, Ashleigh Gardner, has shown…
Rashford, Henderson recalled in Tuchel’s first England squad
“But, to me, it should be the best person for the job, and Thomas is exactly the right person. “Without doubt he is one of the top five managers in the world. It would be amazing if he could win…
The perks in store for the costliest IPL tickets in 2025
CHENNAI: Beer, hard liquor, AC hospitality and free jerseys are some of the perks available for fans who are willing to shell out five-digit sums to watch Indian Premier League (IPL) games in the flesh this season. Chennai Super Kings…
Rohit has no reason to retire, will be among best ODI captains: AB de Villiers
NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma has no reason to retire, says South African batting great AB de Villiers, who believes the India skipper could go down as one of the greatest ODI captains of all time. Speculations were rife about Rohit’s…
Hardik of things: India’s balance manufacturer
CHENNAI: As the Indian players continued to celebrate after winning the Champions Trophy on the field at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday night, Hardik Pandya got his hands on the silverware and walked to the main pitch. At that…
Marquinhos says PSG have ‘no limits’ after ousting Liverpool from Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos insisted there were “no limits” to what the French club could do in this season’s Champions League after they ousted Liverpool on penalties on Tuesday in the last 16. “It was a great performance. We really…
Wrestlers Deepak, Antim set to compete in selection trials
CHENNAI: The last two years have not been ideal for the country’s wrestlers. The sport that has given India at least an Olympic medal since 2008 was in shambles ever since the historic protest broke out in January 2023 against…
Sports Ministry revokes WFI suspension after 15 months, restores its NSF status
NEW DELHI: The Sports Ministry has revoked the suspension imposed on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), ending the months of uncertainty surrounding the sport and paving the way for resumption of activities, including selection trials for the upcoming Asian…
Champions Trophy 2025: Relief. Redemption. Rahul
The team management, meanwhile, knew better. “KL averages 50 in one day cricket, that’s the answer,” is all head coach Gautam Gambhir had to say when asked he felt vindicated after Rahul guided India home in the semifinal against Australia…
Rohit pleased with how his team handled speculations
DUBAI: Moments after India sealed the Champions Trophy, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli broke into an impromptu Dandiya’ dance, holding the stumps. Head coach Gautam Gambhir walked around the field with a rare wide grin, hugging his wards. Those were…
I am not retiring from ODI format, don’t spread rumours: Rohit Sharma
DUBAI: India skipper Rohit Sharma on Sunday dismissed the speculations about his career after winning the ICC Champions Trophy, saying that he is not quitting the ODI format anytime soon. Since the tour of Australia, speculations were rife about Rohit’s…
Kuldeep’s twin strike reduces NZ to 83/3 in 15 overs
DUBAI: Kuldeep Yadav produced a beauty first up to dismiss a dangerous Rachin Ravindra as Indian spinners reduced New Zealand to 83 for 3 after 15 overs in the final of the Champions Trophy here on Sunday. The left-arm wrist…
One of the best in the world, by design
Nine years since her debut for Australia, Mooney is already one of the top five runscorers for her country across formats. In the women’s Ashes, she went past the giant of Australian batting and fellow left-hander, Karen Rolton. If you…
India look to rise above spunky New Zealand, emotional bubble around Rohit, Kohli
Time for second-line to deliver While knocks of substance from Kohli and Rohit will add gravitas to the occasion, India would not want to leave it to the veterans alone. They will eye a fine effort from vice-captain Shubman Gill,…
Kohli run-ning show, winning battles
CHENNAI: “I think there was about seven fours when I got a hundred (against Pakistan). For me, it’s about just understanding the conditions, preparing my game accordingly, just rotating strike. Because partnerships on this pitch are the most important thing…
Unbeaten India face record-setting New Zealand for Champions Trophy glory
Henry injury doubt In front of them lies a New Zealand team hoping to win the tournament for the second time, having done so in 2000 in what was the second edition of a competition likened to a mini World…
Railway wrestlers set to represent states in Federation Cup
CHENNAI: In what could be termed as signs of good tiding in the ongoing acrimony between the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), the wrestlers employed with the latter are scheduled to compete at the…
South Africa coach after another knockout punch
“I don’t think it was any one particular thing that resulted in the loss, probably a couple. We could have handled the last 10 overs (while bowling) a little bit better. They got away from us a little bit. “There…
Ravindra, Williamson lead NZ to 50-run win over SA, set up summit clash with India
New Zealand will now face former champions India in the final on Sunday in Dubai. Wednesday’s semifinal marked the end of Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan. Chasing 363 for a win, South Africa lost Ryan Rickelton early for 17, but…
New Zealand opt to bat against South Africa
LAHORE: New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat against South Africa on Wednesday in the second of the Champions Trophy semifinals. The winner will meet India in the final on Sunday at Dubai after Virat Kohli’s 84 anchored…
BFI elections to be held during AGM on March 28
CHENNAI: A day after the Delhi High Court set aside Indian Olympic Association’s ad-hoc panel, the Boxing Federation of India has announced the dates for the elections which was overdue. According to a circular signed by secretary general Hemanta Kalita,…
‘I’ve passed the stage of numbers or statistics,’ says Pankaj Advani fresh off his 14th Asian title
Such dominance and results, of course, come as fruits of resolved toil and dedication. Advani, who still goes to the gym three to four times a week, spends around three hours per day playing solo and honing his skill. In…
Delhi HC sets aside IOA ad-hoc committee in boxing
CHENNAI: In a big relief to the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), the Delhi High Court on Monday set aside the ad-hoc committee formed by the Indian Olympic Association on February 24. The BFI had approached the court after IOA…
Seeking productive season with long-term target in mind
CHENNAI: Shooting was one of the very few sports that helped India capture the coveted Olympic medals during the 2024 Paris Games. After some period of relaxation, the shooters have been looking to recalibrate and gradually find their zone ahead…
Praggnanandhaa outwits Keymer to join Aravindh in lead
Aravindh faced the Sicilian defense and Shankland equalised quite easily. An exchange spree led to a very slight advantage for Shankland but the endgame was always closer to a draw. The players eventually arrived at a theoretically drawn rook and…
Santner, Bracewell hold the cards vs India
The Black Caps have in their arsenal something Bangladesh and Pakistan didn’t have. They are more than capable of tying two ends up with spinners through the middle overs. If Santner can keep one end quiet, Michael Bracewell can also…
‘King Kohli’ set for another landmark after roaring back to form
DUBAI: Virat Kohli is set for his 300th ODI on Sunday in the latest landmark for the Indian batting great after silencing doubts over his form and future with a match-winning Champions Trophy century. India face New Zealand in their…
Australia through to Champions Trophy semifinal after rain denies result against Afghanistan
LAHORE: Australia reached the Champions Trophy semifinals after its last group game against Afghanistan was abandoned because of rain and a wet outfield on Friday. Australia, which achieved a record chase of 352 against England in the opening game, finished…
Jannik Sinner’s nomination for Laureus sportsman of year withdrawn after ban
WADA, which had sought to ban the three-time Grand Slam champion from the sport for at least one year, had challenged a decision last year by the International Tennis Integrity Agency not to suspend Sinner for what the ITIA judged…
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World boxing federation supports beleaguered BFI
CHENNAI: Even as Boxing Federation of India (BFI president Ajay Singh) is taking legal action against Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) decision to form an ad hoc committee, the World Boxing (WB), without elaborating much, said that they stand by the…
Zadran 177, Omarzai fifer lead Afghanistan to 8-run win, England knocked out of Champions Trophy
Jofra Archer’s (3/64) pace and accuracy put them under considerable strife inside the first 10 overs on an absolute batting beauty. Rahmanullah Gurbaz dragged an Archer delivery back onto his stumps while attempting a drive, Sediquallah Atal was trapped in…
IOC gives provisional recognition to World Boxing
CHENNAI: IN a significant development for boxing and its survival in the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday gave provisional recognition to World Boxing. This may help boxing’s path back in the Olympics programme at LA. The IOC…
How a girl from Hisar became Indian hockey’s keeper of faith
Eighteen years later, she’s on 301 caps. How did the custodian go from not wanting to play more than once to ‘play till it becomes physically impossible to not play?’ Like most things in her life, this also involves a…
Rain washes out Australia-South Africa clash in Rawalpindi
Both Australia and South Africa had won their opening game against England and Afghanistan respectively. Interestingly, it was Australia’s fourth abandoned game in their last eight outings in the Champions Trophy. They next play Afghanistan in Lahore on February 28…
Has Dhoni’s bat got lighter? IPL 2025 may have the answer
CHENNAI: Come Indian Premier League 2025, former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni may wield lighter bats. Since his under-19 days, Dhoni has been using bats weighing around 1200 grams while his teammates were using lighter ones….
NZ beat Bangladesh to book semis spot along with India; Pakistan knocked out
Tom Latham and Devon Conway chipped in with 55 and 30 respectively as New Zealand reached 240 for 5 in 46.1 overs. Earlier, Michael Bracewell bagged four wickets as New Zealand restricted Bangladesh to a modest 236 for 9 despite…
Man of the hour at the grandest stage
CHENNAI: In the cricketing world, there isn’t a bigger fixture than India-Pakistan. The stage, venue and format becomes secondary with theatre of sport taking centre-stage. However, as it has been the case in recent years, it ended up being yet…
Virat Kohli becomes quickest batter to score 14,000 runs in ODI cricket; breaks Tendulkar’s record
DUBAI: India superstar Virat Kohli on Sunday created history as he became the quickest batter to score 14,000 runs in One-Day Internationals, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record, during the Champions Trophy clash against Pakistan here. Kohli is now…
Where dreams are made after disasters
CHENNAI: This Army centre is different. It is a life-giver — a place where injured Armymen can turn their nightmare into a beautiful dream and conjure inspiring tales of fortitude and belief. It’s the story of the Army Paralympic Node,…
‘We were hungry to play Ranji final’: Sachin Baby
KOCHI: After yet another tough duel dotted with several heartstopping moments, Kerala have scripted history by making their way to the final of the Ranji Trophy national cricket championship for the first time ever. Sachin Baby and his spirited team…
Shubman Gill ascends new peak as ODI match-winner for India
On Thursday, against the same opposition, Gill rose to the occasion. On a pitch that had slowed down, with stroke-making becoming difficult as the innings progressed, Gill looked at home. Not for a moment did he look out of place…
Carlos Alcaraz dumped out by Jiri Lehecka in Qatar Open quarters
Draper battled back to beat Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the last of the quarter-finals. Berrettini, a former world number six and Wimbledon runner-up, had knocked out Novak Djokovic in the second round. Andrey Rublev converted his eighth match…
Gill ton, Shami five-wicket haul help India breeze to victory over Bangladesh
DUBAI: Shubman Gill was more artisan than artist en route to his eighth ODI hundred after Mohammed Shami’s satisfying five-wicket haul, propelling India to a workmanlike six-wicket win over Bangladesh in their Champions Trophy opener here on Thursday. Gill’s unbeaten…
PSG hit seven to set up Champions League clash with Liverpool or Barcelona
‘Shameful’ Being drawn against PSG was an anti-climax for Brest. They have not beaten the Parisians in 40 years and have now lost 19 of the last 20 meetings of the clubs. “It’s tough. We knew it was mission impossible…
Signs of improvement for India women despite mixed results
BHUBANESWAR: A year ago, the Indian women’s hockey side wasn’t in a very good place. They had just failed to qualify for the Olympics, three years after agonisingly missing out on an Olympic medal. Their coach, Janneke Schopman, in a…
Time for Krishan Pathak to emerge from the shadows
Sreejesh himself had spoken about its merits. “It’s always good to share the field with the second goalkeeper,” he had told this daily in 2023. “When I started it was always about the first goalkeeper. The entire tournament, he would…
Champions Trophy: Conundrum of keeping faith
CHENNAI: “That’s the way cricket is meant to be played. I know a lot of people talk about it, but that’s the way we’ve got to play the game and that’s the way cricket should be played.” That is what…
WFI withdraws entries from 2nd Ranking Series
Earlier, the WFI didn’t send the team for the first Ranking Series held in Zagreb, Croatia from February 5 to 9 after the government did not accord the necessary sanction. Wrestling in the country has been in a mess since…