New Delhi, July 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and wrestling star Sangram Singh opened up about the intense mental and physical pressure of competing in his career's first-ever title bout, especially given the massive scale of an India-Pakistan clash.

Sangram is slated to square off against Pakistan's Abid Ali for the prestigious Asia Champion title in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 19. The India versus Pakistan contest has already generated excitement across the combat sports fraternity, with the winner set to be crowned the Asian Champion.

Noting the unique psychological warfare and emotions tied to the cross-border rivalry, Sangram stressed the need for maintaining composure and adhering strictly to the team's strategy rather than getting swayed by provocation.

However, the Fit India Icon advocated for a balanced approach, choosing to separate sports from generalised political animosity. "So we will go according to what our management says, what the atmosphere is there, and what the attitude of the people in front of us. There is no understanding that all Pakistanis are wrong, or all of us are right," he added.

A two-time Commonwealth Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, Sangram has scripted history since switching to professional MMA. He made a sensational debut by defeating Pakistan's Ali Raza Nasir in Georgia in just 90 seconds before registering victories over Tunisia's Hakim Trabelsi in the Netherlands and France's Florian Coudier in Argentina, remaining unbeaten with a 3-0 professional MMA record. His victory in Argentina also made him the first Indian to win a professional MMA bout on Argentine soil.

Addressing the media ahead of the fight, Sangram said, "Every time I step into the cage, I don't just fight for myself; I fight for 145 crore Indians. India versus Pakistan is always special, irrespective of the sport, and I fully understand the emotions attached to this contest.

"I have trained with complete discipline and respect for my opponent, but once the cage closes, my only mission will be to ensure that the Indian flag flies high. I believe fitness, dedication and mental strength are the biggest weapons any athlete can possess."

His coach Bhupesh Kumar expressed complete faith in the Indian fighter, "Sangram has left no stone unturned in his preparation. His wrestling background, improved striking, conditioning and mental toughness have all evolved tremendously over the last two years. We respect Abid Ali, but Sangram is fully prepared to deliver another memorable performance for India."

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Sports Authority of India (SAI)and the Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre (SIC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in sports science, sports medicine, athlete rehabilitation, research, innovation, education, and capacity building.

SAI comes under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS), while SIC is under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW). The MoU aims to create an integrated framework by combining the expertise, infrastructure, and scientific capabilities of both institutions to provide comprehensive support for Indian athletes and support staff.

The collaboration will promote evidence-based sports science and medical practices, facilitate multidisciplinary research, strengthen athlete injury prevention and rehabilitation, and enhance performance optimisation through scientific interventions.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, and Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

On behalf of SAI, the MoU was signed by Brig. (Dr.) Bibhu Kalyan Nayak, Executive Director, Sports Science Division (Erstwhile NCSSR) and (Dr.) Deepak Joshi, Director, Safdarjung Sports Injury Centre, signed on behalf of the SIC

Speaking on the occasion, Rao said, "The future of high-performance sport depends upon the seamless integration of sports science and sports medicine".

He further noted that this MoU establishes a strong institutional framework that will promote collaborative research, scientific innovation, athlete monitoring, and rehabilitation, ultimately contributing towards building a world-class support ecosystem for Indian athletes.

Adding to it, Salila said, "Sports medicine and sports science have become indispensable components of athlete health and performance. This partnership reflects the shared commitment of both Ministries to integrate medical excellence with sports science expertise for developing robust systems of injury prevention, clinical care, rehabilitation, and scientific research that will benefit athletes across the country."

Brig. Nayak further said, "The partnership will facilitate multidisciplinary research, standardised clinical and sports science protocols, knowledge exchange and advanced athlete support services."

He added that by combining the strengths of both institutions, we will be able to develop sustainable scientific solutions that will directly translate into improved athlete performance and long-term athlete health.

Prof. Joshi also contributed and said, "This partnership will further strengthen research, education, rehabilitation, and evidence-based sports medicine for the benefit of athletes across the country."

The MoU marks an important milestone in institutional collaboration between two of India's premier organisations in sports science and sports medicine.

The collaboration is aligned with the Government of India's vision of building a scientifically enabled, athlete-centric, and globally competitive sporting ecosystem.

It also complements flagship initiatives such as Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), while supporting the country's long-term aspiration under Viksit Bharat@2047 to establish India as a leading sporting nation.

By promoting research, innovation, capacity building, and evidence-based athlete care, the partnership is expected to strengthen India's high-performance system and enhance the nation's preparedness for future international competitions, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Source: IANS

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Jakarta, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s U-23 women boxers delivered a commanding performance at the Asian U-19 & U-23 Boxing Championships, with nine boxers advancing to the semifinals to assure medals after a strong showing in the last-eight stage bouts held across afternoon and evening sessions in Jakarta on Wednesday.

In the afternoon session, Tanu (51kg) registered a dominant 5:0 unanimous decision win over Thailand’s Kewalin Norasing, while Nisha (54kg) secured an equally convincing 5:0 victory against Kazakhstan’s Aliaksar Symbat. In the 48kg bout, Nidhi fought hard but went down narrowly to Kazakhstan’s Gulnaz Buribayeva via a **3:2 split decision.

The evening session saw India continue its momentum, with Prachi (57kg) sealing a commanding win over Korea’s Yejin Oh via RSC in the first round. Nikita Chand (60kg) followed it up with a clinical victory against Chinese Taipei’s Chen-Xuan Ye via RSC in the third round, while Kajal (65kg) edged past Japan’s Arinda Akimoto in a closely contested 4:1 split decision.

With these results, India has now assured a total of nine medals in the U-23 women’s competition, with all semifinalists guaranteed podium finishes. The boxers progressing to the semifinals include Tanu (51kg), Nisha (54kg), Prachi (57kg), Nikita Chand (60kg), Kajal (65kg), Shivani (70kg), Muskan (75kg), Naina (80kg), and Priyanka (+80kg).

India’s dominant showing in the women’s category highlights its growing strength and depth at the continental level, with multiple boxers now in strong contention for gold medals.

The Asian U-19 & U-23 Boxing Championships, being held in Jakarta from July 5 to July 16, continue to serve as a key platform for India’s emerging talent to shine on the international stage.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), calling the Prime Minister's decision to promote cricket on the global stage 'a huge thing' for the sport.

Prime Minister Modi is set to travel to Australia for a three-day visit, during which he and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will participate in the India-Australia Annual Summit. As part of the visit, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to attend a programme at the iconic MCG to celebrate sports diplomacy and deepen bilateral ties between India and Australia.

Speaking to IANS, Ganguly said it was heartening to see the country's highest elected leader taking time to support the game and strengthen sporting ties between India and Australia.

"The Prime Minister promoting the game is a huge thing for the game. So, it's so nice to hear, and our sincere gratitude and thanks to the Honourable Prime Minister for taking time off to promote the sport," Ganguly told IANS.

Indian High Commissioner to Australia Nagesh Singh earlier told IANS that while cricket remains a strong pillar of the relationship between the two countries, both governments are looking to broaden cooperation across the entire sporting ecosystem.

"A programme is scheduled there as well. We want to have sports cooperation beyond cricket. Australia is a cricketing superpower. Australia has a population of around 28 million, and it has excelled across a wide range of sports. Beyond sport itself, Australia is highly advanced in sports medicine, sports science, sports technology, sports management, and sports infrastructure. We want to build a partnership that expands cooperation beyond cricket and hockey to other sports as well," Singh told IANS.

He added that the collaboration would extend beyond exchanges between teams to knowledge-sharing across sports science, infrastructure and management.

"Not just with regards to the exchange of teams, but the whole sporting ecosystem, we can learn all that from each other. We will learn from Australia and also teach some things. In this, traditional sports and non-traditional sports, like in that programme, Kabaddi was chosen by India to show. From the Australian side, Australian rules football, which they call footy, is being shown, and there will be a presence of cricket there, too. But they want to go beyond cricket; that is the ambition," Singh said.

According to several media reports, Prime Minister Modi is also likely to confirm the historic staging of the opening match of the 2026-27 Big Bash League season in India during his Australia visit, marking the first time an Australian domestic cricket fixture will be played on Indian soil.

Reports have suggested that defending champions Perth Scorchers could face Melbourne Renegades in the tournament opener at Chennai's M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on December 12, subject to final approvals. Discussions between Cricket Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) are understood to be at an advanced stage.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, on Wednesday announced that Telangana will host the upcoming edition of Khelo India Youth Games 2026, with the eighth iteration of the Games expected to be held in November.

Telangana will be the second Southern Indian state in three years to host Khelo India Youth Games. Tamil Nadu hosted the 2024 edition, while the last edition was hosted by Bihar in May 2025.

“In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to spread major national events in all regions of the country, it is appropriate that Telangana should get the opportunity to host the prestigious Khelo India Youth Games. The state has the infrastructure and the enthusiasm to host these Games, where at least 8000 athletes, officials, and support staff are expected to participate,” said Dr Mandaviya on Wednesday.

“We should see some quality performances this year. The Khelo India Youth Games 2026 are coming on the back of the Asian Games in Japan, and our athletes should be in peak form. The Games in Telangana will be a good time to celebrate as upcoming athletes will be able to see their heroes up close,” said Dr Mandaviya.

Maharashtra, Haryana, and Rajasthan finished No. 1, 2, and 3 in the Khelo India Youth Games in 2025. Hosts, Bihar finished 15th while Telangana were 13th on the medal standings. In KIYG 2024, hosts Tamil Nadu finished No. 2 behind Maharashtra, while Telangana were in 6th position.

The Bihar edition saw 28 sports. Medals were given away in 27 sports, while e-sports were introduced as a demonstration event. Twenty-six records were created in KIYG 2025, of which 13 were national youth records, all in weightlifting. The rest were meet records and all in athletics.

Source: IANS

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Panaji (Goa), July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s biggest table tennis stars and some of the world’s finest paddlers are set to light up the venue when Goa hosts Season 7 of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium from Thursday.

The season opens with a blockbuster Western Derby as hosts and two-time champions Dempo Goa Challengers face reigning champions U Mumba TT. Over the next 18 days, seven franchises will battle for the coveted title, with the Grand Finale scheduled for July 26.

Leading the home challenge is reigning league MVP Bernadette Szocs–and one of UTT’s most consistent performers–who arrives in Goa after guiding U Mumba TT to the title last season before switching to Dempo Goa Challengers in this year's auction.

“I'm always very happy to come back to UTT every year. The league keeps growing with each season, and every year it becomes even better. It's a wonderful feeling to be part of it. Last season, winning the title was something truly amazing, a feeling I can't really describe in words. I'm delighted to be back again and to be part of this league once more,” said Szocs in a press conference on Wednesday.

This year's UTT carries added significance for the Indian contingent, concluding just days before the national squad departs for the Asian Games in Japan and providing valuable high-pressure match practice against world-class opposition ahead of one of the year's biggest international assignments.

Commenting on the same, PBG Pune Jaguars’ star Diya Chitale said, “Every season, I learn something new (at Butterfly UTT). The league also brings a different kind of pressure. When it's 6-6, and you know those last four or five points can decide the outcome, it's a situation we don't often experience elsewhere. Playing in those moments has really helped me develop as a player, and I think it's excellent preparation ahead of the Asian Games.”

Staged under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani, Butterfly UTT continues to strengthen Indian table tennis through elite competition and year-round development initiatives. Season 7 will feature 42 players from across the world, including 14 Olympians.

Among the biggest storylines this season is the arrival of World No. 3 men's doubles player Manush Shah at reigning champions U Mumba TT, where the Indian star will lead the title defence.

“It's a special moment for me to be part of such a wonderful franchise (U Mumba TT). The transition between playing alongside and against your regular partners can sometimes be tricky, but there's always plenty of friendly banter among teammates and fellow Indian players. I'm looking forward to a great season and hope U Mumba TT can successfully defend the title,” said Manush

One of the season's most anticipated contests could come when Shah faces his regular men's doubles partner, Manav Thakkar, who will represent UP Prometheans in Season 7.

Addressing the same, Thakkar said, “Manush and I have been doing really well in doubles, and we're currently ranked World No. 3, so facing him will definitely be tough. We're both growing as players, and with the Asian Games coming up this year, we're preparing hard. Hopefully, this week helps us build momentum, and we can go on to win a medal for the country.”

The UTT has continued to nurture India's next generation of talent, with UTT Juniors–which will run in parallel again this year–strengthening that pathway. Last year's Girls MVP, 15-year-old Divyanshi Bhowmick, became the youngest player in UTT history after being drafted by Dabang Delhi TTC.

"I'm really happy to have been selected for UTT and to be part of such a great team alongside so many top senior players. I've been practising with them over the last two days, and it's been a great honour as well as a wonderful learning experience,” she said.

Season 7 also marks the return of Austrian Olympian Sofia Polcanova after the second edition, who revealed that she has kept close tabs on the league, including watching her international doubles partner, Bernadette Szocs, lift last season's title.

“I followed the league on Instagram last season and saw how much it has grown. Bernadette (Szocs) and her team won the title, and it was great to watch. The league has attracted a lot more attention over the years and continues to grow. It's really nice to be back, and everyone has been so friendly and welcoming,” the Ahmedabad APL Pipers player said.

UTT will also introduce the AI-powered Table Tennis Review (TTR) system this season, becoming one of the few leagues globally to adopt video review technology. Developed by Gurugram-based Stupa Sports, the league's official technology partner, the system will review contested decisions in under 20 seconds.

Speaking on the same, HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades' Jeet Chandra said, "This season we're introducing the TTR system, and I think it'll be exciting for the fans. Every team will have three TTR reviews during a tie, so it'll be something new for Indian audiences to experience. I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out."

UTT Season 7 will feature seven teams competing in a single round-robin format, where each team will face every other team once in the league phase. The top four teams will progress to the knockout stage. All matches will be live on Star Sports Khel (Hindi), Star Sports Tamil 2 HD, and Star Sports Tamil 3 HD, and streamed live on JioHotstar (Hindi, Tamil, and English).

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) has officially recognised PVL as India’s premier professional volleyball league ahead of Season 5, scheduled to start on November 30.

Season 5 Player Auction will take place in Goa on August 17, during which franchises will select their teams from India's leading volleyball players, setting the scene for another eagerly awaited competitive season.

Further strengthening its position, clubs in the Prime Volleyball League will be able to participate in international tournaments organised by the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA), Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC), and FIVB club events, following relevant regulations and qualification standards.

Tuhin Mishra, Director of Prime Volleyball League, said, “Season 5 marks a defining moment for the Prime Volleyball League. The FIVB recognition is a strong validation of the work that has gone in over the last four years to build a credible, competitive, and globally relevant league. Our focus remains on strengthening the ecosystem and creating meaningful opportunities for Indian players to succeed at the highest level.”

Joy Bhattacharjya, CEO, Prime Volleyball League, added, “From the outset, the aim has been to build a league that delivers both sporting excellence and long-term impact. This recognition reinforces that PVL is not just a tournament, but a platform shaping the future of volleyball in India. It is encouraging to see Indian volleyball moving in the right direction, reflected in the national team's rise from World No. 60 to World No. 42 in the FIVB rankings. We’re excited to continue building towards a stronger Indian volleyball ecosystem.”

With leading Indian and international players participating, Season 5 promises exciting, high-quality action as teams vie for top honors, marking another significant milestone in the ongoing growth of volleyball in India.

Source: IANS

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Lausanne, July 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee that had been in effect since October 2023.

However, the Russian athletes returning to international competition must be part of a national (RUSADA/ROC) anti-doping programme (including risk assessment, test distribution plan, and results management) that is delegated to the International Testing Agency (ITA), the IOC decided.

"The decision was taken following a thorough analysis by the IOC's Legal Affairs Commission, considering that the ROC no longer includes as its members any regional sports organisations in territories falling under the jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine," the IOC said in a statement.

"IOC will take a decision in relation to the display of the Russian flag, anthem, colours or any identifications for the Olympic Games at the appropriate time," the statement added.

The IOC said it will continue to "not organise IOC events in Russia or invite Russian government or state officials to its events."

With the qualification period for both the LA28 Olympic Games and the Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games having started, and the need to offer equal access to these competitions to all athletes, the IOC EB decided that its recommendation to International Federations (IFs) and international sports event organisers, first issued on February 28, 2022 and repeated on March 28, 2023, related to Russian athletes and teams, including the protective measures, are no longer applicable.

In accordance with the Olympic Charter, and as applicable to all NOCs in general when selecting the athletes participating in the Olympic Games, the ROC must ensure that Russian athletes’ “selection [for the Olympic Games] shall be based not only on their sports performance, but also on their ability to serve as role models who respect, uphold and promote a peaceful society through sport as outlined in the Olympic Charter.” (Bye-law 2.1 to Rules 27 and 28).

To address the lack of confidence in the global sporting community relating to the return of Russian athletes to international competition and in view of the recent allegations regarding the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA)’s governance, and pending confirmation that reinstatement conditions concerning the World Anti-Doping Code have been met, all Russian athletes returning to international competition must meet relevant anti-doping requirements, particularly those set out in the anti-doping rules of the IOC and IFs, as well as best practices established by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). In particular, the IOC statement clarified on Tuesday.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Tuesday accorded a grand send-off to India's contingent for the Commonwealth Games 2026 while unveiling the official ceremonial and competition kit that Team India will wear during the 23rd edition of the Games to be held at Glasgow from July 23 to August 2.

The ceremony brought together athletes, coaches, support staff, dignitaries, and partners as Team India embarks on its journey to Scotland with hopes of another successful Commonwealth Games (CWG) campaign.

The event was attended by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports; Dr. PT Usha, President, Indian Olympic Association; Her Excellency Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India; Giriraj Singh, Union Minister of Textiles; Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary, Department of Sports; Rohit Rajpal, Chef de Mission; and Ravi Bengani, Deputy Chef de Mission, alongside athletes, coaches, and corporate partners.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mandaviya, Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, said, "Under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India is building a world-class sporting ecosystem that empowers our athletes to realise their full potential. Our athletes are the ambassadors of New India's sporting excellence, determination, and aspirations. As Team India embarks on its journey to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, I urge every athlete to compete fearlessly, uphold the highest spirit of sportsmanship, and give their very best. The Government of India stands firmly behind each one of you and remains committed to providing every possible support to help you bring glory to the nation."

Dr. P.T. Usha, President, Indian Olympic Association, added, "Today marks the beginning of another proud chapter for Indian sport. Every athlete wearing the India jersey has earned this opportunity through years of hard work, discipline, and sacrifice. As they leave for Glasgow, they carry with them the hopes of a billion Indians and the values that define our sporting culture. On behalf of the Indian Olympic Association, I wish every member of Team India the very best."

Her Excellency Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, added, "I was delighted to be able to extend my best wishes to Team India in person as they head to Glasgow. These Games will showcase not only athletic excellence but also the unity, diversity, and enduring spirit of the Commonwealth. Sport is a hugely important part of the ties between the people of the UK and India. I know India is already preparing to welcome the Commonwealth sporting community to Ahmedabad for the centenary Games in 2030. We look forward to welcoming India's star athletes to the UK and wish them every success."

The send-off ceremony featured the official unveiling of the kit, a ramp walk by athletes showcasing both the ceremonial and competition attire, interactions with current and former Commonwealth Games medallists, and addresses by senior dignitaries.

Designed by acclaimed designer Aaquib Wani and developed by JSW Sports, the official Commonwealth Games 2026 kit is inspired by the concept of ‘Invisible Trajectories'. Drawing from the rhythm, precision, and flow of athletic movement, the design transforms the unseen paths traced by athletes into intricate visual patterns inspired by spirographs. Every line and curve on the jersey reflects the geometry of effort and excellence, symbolising Team India's relentless pursuit of greatness.

The contingent will be led by Chef de Mission Rohit Rajpal, who will oversee Team India's campaign in Glasgow alongside Deputy Chef de Mission Ravi Bengani, ensuring athletes receive comprehensive support throughout the Games.

For the Glasgow Games, India is sending a strong contingent of 124 competitors, featuring both able-bodied and para-athletes. The team will compete across 10 disciplines, which include athletics, boxing, weightlifting, judo, gymnastics, cycling, lawn bowls, and swimming, alongside para-athletics, para-wheelchair basketball, para-powerlifting, para-swimming, and para-track cycling.

Source: IANS

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Jakarta, July 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) India continued its impressive run at the Asian U-19 & U-23 Boxing Championships with a series of strong performances in the U-19 category on Day 3 in Jakarta, led by Ambekar Meetei (50kg), who delivered a dominant win in the men’s division.

Competing in the 50kg category, Ambekar Meetei secured a commanding victory over Chinese Taipei’s Qi-You Xiao via RSC in the first round, showcasing complete control from the outset.

In the boys’ division, Aditya (55kg) registered a convincing 5:0 win over Kyrgyzstan’s Daniel Tashtanbekov, while Sikander (60kg) followed it up with a clinical 5:0 victory against Korea’s Taemin Yang.

Adding to India’s tally, Devendra Choudhary (75kg) produced a strong performance to defeat Chinese Taipei’s Sung-Lin Tsai via RSC in the second round, underlining India’s strength across weight categories.

In the 70kg bout, Prashant put up a spirited and closely contested performance against Kazakhstan’s Bibarys Ashirvay. After losing the opening round 4:1, he made a strong comeback to take the second round 3:2, before narrowly conceding the final round 3:2, resulting in a hard-fought defeat.

India’s consistent performances in the U-19 segment reflect the depth and quality of its youth boxing programme, with several boxers progressing confidently through the early rounds.

The Asian U-19 & U-23 Boxing Championships, being held in Jakarta from July 5 to July 16, continue to provide a key platform for India’s young talent to gain valuable international exposure and build toward future elite competitions.

India opened its campaign at the U-19 Asian Boxing Championships in emphatic fashion as World Boxing Futures Cup gold medallist Chandrika Pujari and silver medallist Joyshree Devi registered dominant victories on the opening day in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Competing in the preliminary rounds, Chandrika outboxed Mongolia's Lakham Tsendbaatar to secure a unanimous 5-0 victory in the girls' 51kg category. Joyshree followed with an equally commanding display, forcing a second-round Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) against Chinese Taipei's Chen Ning Hong in the girls' 54kg division to book her place in the next round.

The Boxing Federation of India has fielded a strong contingent across the U-19 and U-23 categories, with 20 boxers competing in each age group. The championships provide an important platform for India's next generation to test themselves against Asia's finest, as the country looks to build on its recent success and continue its dominance on the continental stage.

Source: IANS

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Noida, July 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a significant step towards strengthening grassroots table tennis and enhancing the quality of physical education in schools, the International Schools Sports Organisation (ISSO), in collaboration with the International School Sport Federation (ISF) Academy and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), successfully commenced the ITTF Level 1 Coach Education Programme at Prometheus School, Noida.

The five-day international certification programme started on Monday and will conclude on Friday.

The programme has brought together 22 Physical Education educators, school coaches, and aspiring table tennis coaches from across the country to receive globally recognised coaching education.

The initiative is aimed at equipping educators with internationally accepted coaching methodologies, athlete development principles, and modern teaching practices to strengthen school-level sports.

The programme is being conducted by Christina Chee (Thailand), an internationally acclaimed ITTF educator, who is leading participants through both classroom sessions and practical on-table coaching modules.

The curriculum focuses on coaching fundamentals, technical skill development, session planning, player progression, and creating a positive learning environment for young athletes.

Speaking about the initiative, Christina Chee, ITTF Educator, said, "Coach education plays a vital role in building a strong sporting ecosystem. By empowering teachers and coaches with internationally recognised knowledge and practical coaching techniques, we are creating better learning environments for young players. It is encouraging to see such enthusiasm from educators in India, and I hope this programme helps inspire the next generation of table tennis athletes."

Echoing the sentiment, Gaurav Dixit, Co-Director of the International School Sports Organisation (ISSO), said, "At ISSO, we are committed to creating meaningful sporting opportunities for students by empowering the educators who guide them every day. Our collaboration with the ISF Academy and ITTF reflects our vision of bringing world-class coach education to India and strengthening grassroots table tennis. By equipping teachers and coaches with internationally recognised coaching methodologies, we are laying the foundation for the holistic development of young athletes across schools."

The ITTF Level 1 Coach Education Programme marks another significant milestone in ISSO's continued efforts to elevate school sports in India through international collaborations and world-class education. In recent months, ISSO has successfully delivered globally recognised coach education programmes in partnership with leading international sporting bodies, including FIBA, BWF, and Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters), while also expanding sporting opportunities through strategic initiatives such as its partnership with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).

Beyond coach education, ISSO continues to provide international exposure to student-athletes by recently sending the Indian contingent to the ISF Basketball Championship 2026 in Serbia. Through these initiatives, ISSO continues to strengthen its vision of building globally aligned sporting pathways for students, educators, and coaches across India's international school ecosystem.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Jyothi Surekha Vennam's bronze medal at the 2025 Archery World Cup Final in Nanjing has been upgraded to silver by World Archery, the sport's global governing body, after Mexico's Marina Bernal was disqualified for violating anti-doping regulations.

India's top compound archer, Jyothi, was originally placed third in the final standings of the championship. However, the medal standings were revised after Mexico’s Marina Bernal was disqualified for violating anti-doping regulations.

The doping sample collected from Bernal on September 29, 2025, resulted in her disqualification in accordance with World Archery Federation Rule 3, leading to an official revision of the final results.

The 23-year-old Bernal did not challenge the doping offense after testing positive for an anabolic steroid (nandrolone) in an out-of-competition test in September and is banned until after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

According to information received from the Archery Association of India, the decision was confirmed by World Archery on Monday. Great Britain’s Ella Gibson has consequently been awarded the bronze medal.

Meanwhile, Jyothi Surekha is currently preparing for the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid, for which she has been included in the national squad.

The Indian contingent is set for the final stage of the Archery World Cup, with a strong mix of experienced campaigners and rising stars across recurve and compound events.

The squad for Madrid:

Recurge men: Dhiraj Bommadevara, Neeraj Chauhan, Atanu Das

Recurve women: Deepika Kumari, Kirti, Kummum Anil Mohod, Ankita Bhakat,

Compound men: Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, Kushal Dalal, Ganesh Thiru Muru, and Rishabh Yadav

Compound women: Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Taniparthi Chikitha, Prithika Pradeep, Parneet Kaur.

Source: IANS

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Jakarta, July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Asian Champion Vishvanath Suresh (50kg) led India’s strong showing on Day 2 of the U-23 Asian Boxing Championships, securing a commanding 5:0 victory over Uzbekistan’s Amirbek Ismoilov in Jakarta.

Continuing India’s impressive run in the men’s division, Ganga (55kg) delivered a clinical performance to defeat Mongolia’s Amgalanbaatar Bulgankhuu by a unanimous 5:0 decision. Hitesh (70kg) added to the momentum with an equally dominant 5:0 win over Chinese Taipei’s Jun-Zhanglin, underlining India’s depth across weight categories.

In the 60kg bout, Sagar Jakhar faced a setback, losing by disqualification against Japan’s Koichi Nakayama.

In the women’s category, Tanu (51kg) extended India’s winning streak with a confident 5:0 victory over Korea’s Ryeongyeon Kim, showcasing control and precision throughout the bout.

India’s strong performances early in the competition reflect the team’s solid preparation and intent to challenge for top honours at the continental event, which is being held in Jakarta from July 5 to July 16.

With multiple boxers advancing in their respective categories, India will look to build on this momentum in the coming days of the championships.

India opened its campaign at the U-19 Asian Boxing Championships in emphatic fashion as World Boxing Futures Cup gold medallist Chandrika Pujari and silver medallist Joyshree Devi registered dominant victories on the opening day in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Competing in the preliminary rounds, Chandrika outboxed Mongolia's Lakham Tsendbaatar to secure a unanimous 5-0 victory in the girls' 51kg category. Joyshree followed with an equally commanding display, forcing a second-round Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) against Chinese Taipei's Chen Ning Hong in the girls' 54kg division to book her place in the next round.

The Boxing Federation of India has fielded a strong contingent across the U-19 and U-23 categories, with 20 boxers competing in each age group. The championships provide an important platform for India's next generation to test themselves against Asia's finest, as the country looks to build on its recent success and continue its dominance on the continental stage.

India's campaign continues on Monday with a strong quartet of U-23 men's boxers set to enter the ring. Asian champion Vishwanath Suresh (50kg) opens proceedings against Uzbekistan's Amirbek Ismoilov, before Ganga (55kg) faces Mongolia's Amgalanbaatar Bulgankhuu. Sagar Jakhar (60kg) then takes on Japan's Koichi Nakayama, while Hitesh (70kg) rounds off the day's action against Chinese Taipei's Jun-Zhanglin as India looks to build on its impressive start in Jakarta.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will organise a ceremonial send-off on Tuesday for the 124 members of the Indian contingent that will be representing the country in 10 sports disciplines at the 2026 Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2.

Leading India's campaign will be two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra, Tokyo 2020 silver medalist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, decathlete Tajaswin Shanker, and Olympic boxing medallist Lovlina Borgohain as the other star participants. Reflecting the inclusive nature of the Glasgow Games, the Indian contingent comprises both able-bodied and para athletes.

Although the competition programme has been compressed for this edition of the Commonwealth Games, Indian athletes have prepared diligently and are looking forward to delivering strong performances, the IOA informed in a statement on Monday. The IOA is India's representative in the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Neeraj Chopra, who won a gold medal in the 2018 edition at Gold Coast, returns to the Commonwealth Games after m1ss1ng the Birmingham 2022 edition due to injury. The double Olympic medallist will spearhead India's athletics campaign. Tejaswin Shankar will also be among the athletes to watch after recently surpassing the 8,000-point mark in the decathlon at the Federation Cup in Ranchi.

Mirabai Chanu returns to international competition following an injury layoff and is currently training in Birmingham. India enjoyed a highly successful campaign in weightlifting at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, winning 10 medals, and will be looking to build on that performance.

India's boxing team enters the Games in encouraging form, with Sakshi, Preeti, Ankush, and Lovlina Borgohain among the leading medal prospects.

The send-off ceremony will be attended by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, IOA President P. T. Usha, Secretary, Department of Sports, Hari Ranjan Rao, and other distinguished guests.

Davis Cup captain and coach Rohit Rajpal will lead the contingent as Chef de Mission, with Ravi Bengani, Vandana Rao, and Rahul Swami serving as General Team Managers. Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala has been appointed Chief Medical Advisor and will be supported by a team of physiotherapists.

Srinivasan Kannan and Sarvesh Kedia will serve as the Press Attaches for the Indian contingent.

The official ceremonial kit for the Indian contingent will also be unveiled at the event. Designed by Aaquib Wani, the unveiling will feature a special ramp walk by Indian athletes.

The Glasgow Games will also provide a valuable learning opportunity for India's 2030 Ahmedabad Commonwealth Games Observer Programme delegation, which will study various operational aspects of the Games, including venue management, competition delivery, and event operations.

Speaking ahead of the team's departure, IOA President Usha said: "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to every athlete who has earned the honour of representing India at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Each of you represents the very best of Indian sport and carries the hopes and aspirations of l .4 billion Indians. I have every confidence that you will compete with courage, determination, and the true spirit of sportsmanship. On behalf of the Indian Olympic Association, I wish the entire contingent the very best and assure you of our unwavering support throughout the Games."

Source: IANS

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Pattaya, July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian grapplers produced an all-round display to conclude their campaign at the Under-20 Asian Wrestling Championships with a rich haul of 20 medals, comprising four gold, seven silver, and nine bronze, across all three disciplines as the continental tournament concluded in Pattaya, Thailand.

Indian grapplers ensured consistent podium finishes across multiple weight divisions throughout the championship, securing top-three overall team rankings in both Women's Wrestling and Men's Freestyle.

In Women's Wrestling competition of the event that ended on Sunday, India delivered a standout performance to finish second on the podium with 184 points, falling just short of champions China (189 points) while comprehensively outclassing third-placed Japan (142 points). Meanwhile, the Indian Men's Freestyle team finished third overall in the team standings with 152 points, behind winners Kazakhstan (170 points) and runners-up Iran (164 points).

Underlining their remarkable depth and consistency in the women's competition, the Indian squad achieved an elite 90 per cent podium conversion rate, with nine out of ten grapplers securing medals, outpacing traditional powerhouse Japan by a massive 42-point margin.

Lauding the performance of the young athletes, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Sanjay Kumar Singh said, "Winning 20 medals at the continental level proves the immense depth and talent of our junior wrestling pipeline. Our women’s team showed exceptional dominance by outclassing a powerhouse like Japan, and our boys put up a tremendous fight in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman against the best in Asia. The Federation is completely committed to nurturing these young athletes with the right training and exposure so they can seamlessly transition into champions for India on the senior international stage."

Leading the Indian charge in the women's division were Parveen (50kg), Muskan (53kg), and Kajal (76kg), who all clinched gold medals in their respective weight classes. Parveen outclassed Uzbekistan's Shokhista Shonazarova 13-2, Muskan held her nerve to edge past Japan's Mai Ogawa 6-5 on points, and Kajal put on a clinical display to shut out Japan's Mahiru Fujita 5-0.

Meanwhile, Manya Rajput (57kg), Savita (62kg), and Manisha (72kg) settled for silver medals after losing their respective title clashes against Chinese opponents. In the bronze-medal playoffs, Kajal (55kg) secured a fall victory over Uzbekistan's Sakibjamal Esbosynova, Komal (59kg) blanked Kyrgyzstan's Akylai Chynybaeva 12-0 via technical superiority, and Mansi Lather (65kg) defeated Korea's Yeonwoo Song 13-2.

In the Men's Freestyle competition, Sumit Kumar Laxman Bharaskar captured the solitary gold medal for India in the 70kg category, prevailing 13-7 in a high-scoring thriller against Kazakhstan's Sungkar Seidakhmet. Pushp (61kg), Saurabh Yadav (79kg), and Ronak (125kg) signed off with silver medals after falling short in their respective finals.

The freestyle contingent added three bronze medals through Rohit (57kg), Adarsh Yuvraj Patil (74kg), and Lacky (97kg), who all registered convincing victories in their playoff bouts.

Earlier in the Greco-Roman division, Akshay Rana secured a silver medal in the 97kg category after going down 0-8 to Iran's Amirsam Behnam Mohammadi in the final. Neeraj Patel (55kg), Anuj (67kg), and Dheeraj Kumar Malik (67kg) won their respective playoffs on points to take home bronze medals for the country.

Prior to the U20 event, the Indian contingent also produced a dominant show in the Under-15 Asian Wrestling Championships at the same venue, finishing their campaign with an impressive 21 medals across the three categories.

Source: IANS

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Amsterdam, July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s rising squash star Amarya Bajaj delivered a sensational performance to capture the Dutch Junior Open 2026 Under-13 Boys’ title, overcoming a series of world-class opponents, including Daniel Stevenson of England, 3-1 in the final.

The young Indian showcased remarkable composure, skill, and mental strength as he defeated players from the world’s leading squash nations on his path to the championship.

Amarya began his campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over an Egyptian opponent in the opening round before overcoming a strong challenge from England’s Arlo Smith (3-0) in the second round. In the pre-quarterfinals, he stunned the No. 1 Kaelen Low of Singapore 3-0, followed by another impressive win over an Egyptian Badr Hassan, 3-1 in the quarterfinals.

His toughest challenge came in the semifinals, where he blanked the European No. 1 Alex Kosztyu from Hungary in a high-quality contest to book his place in the final. There, Amarya produced another exceptional performance to defeat the top-seeded English player, sealing the prestigious Dutch Junior Open title.

He defeated Daniel Stevenson of England 3-1 to clinch the title.

The triumph comes just weeks after Amarya won the silver medal at the 2026 Asian Junior Championships in China, further cementing his position as one of India’s brightest young squash prospects. With two Asian Junior medals already to his name at just 13 years of age and now a major European title, Amarya continues to establish himself on the international junior squash circuit.

His Dutch Junior Open victory is not only a personal milestone but also a significant achievement for Indian squash, highlighting the emergence of a new generation of talent capable of competing with—and defeating—the world’s best junior players.

As Amarya continues his rapid rise on the international stage, Indian squash fans will be watching with great anticipation as one of the country’s most promising young athletes continues to make his mark globally.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's strongest classical chess tournament, the Chennai Grand Masters, returns for its fourth edition from July 16–22 at The Westin Chennai Velachery, bringing together one of its strongest fields yet.

Featuring eight elite Masters competing for a combined Rs 75 lakh prize pool, the tournament once again offers valuable FIDE Circuit points as players continue their pursuit of qualification for the next Candidates Tournament.

The Masters field is headlined by reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju and India's second-ever 2800-rated player Arjun Erigaisi. Joining them are former World Rapid Champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov, two-time Grand Chess Tour champion Alireza Firouzja, 2026 Bullet Chess Champion Nihal Sarin, former Candidates challenger Dmitry Andreikin, American Grandmaster Hans Niemann, and last year’s Challengers champion Pranesh M, who earns promotion to the Masters after his title-winning campaign.

"Entering our fourth year, Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters stands as a testament to MGD1's commitment to elevating Indian chess. Every edition strengthens our resolve to build a tournament that the world's best players are proud to compete in while creating meaningful opportunities for Indian talent to test themselves against the very best. This year's field reflects how far the tournament has come and where we want to take it in the years ahead ," said Manu Gurtu, tournament director.

For the first time, the tournament will introduce the Opening Moves Photoslot ticket, giving fans an exclusive opportunity to enter the tournament hall with their phones and cameras and film some of the world's biggest chess stars. Combined with an expanded fan experience, including live expert commentary and interactive fan activities, this year's edition brings spectators closer to elite chess than ever before.

With a world champion, multiple 2800-rated stars and some of the strongest names in international chess set to compete, the fourth edition of the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters promises to deliver its most competitive tournament yet while offering fans its closest-ever access to elite classical chess.

Source: IANS

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Jakarta, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) India opened its campaign at the U-19 Asian Boxing Championships in emphatic fashion as World Boxing Futures Cup gold medallist Chandrika Pujari and silver medallist Joyshree Devi registered dominant victories on the opening day in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Competing in the preliminary rounds, Chandrika outboxed Mongolia's Lakham Tsendbaatar to secure a unanimous 5-0 victory in the girls' 51kg category. Joyshree followed with an equally commanding display, forcing a second-round Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) against Chinese Taipei's Chen Ning Hong in the girls' 54kg division to book her place in the next round.

The Boxing Federation of India has fielded a strong contingent across the U-19 and U-23 categories, with 20 boxers competing in each age group. The championships provide an important platform for India's next generation to test themselves against Asia's finest, as the country looks to build on its recent success and continue its dominance on the continental stage.

India's campaign continues on Monday with a strong quartet of U-23 men's boxers set to enter the ring. Asian champion Vishwanath Suresh (50kg) opens proceedings against Uzbekistan's Amirbek Ismoilov, before Ganga (55kg) faces Mongolia's Amgalanbaatar Bulgankhuu. Sagar Jakhar (60kg) then takes on Japan's Koichi Nakayama, while Hitesh (70kg) rounds off the day's action against Chinese Taipei's Jun-Zhanglin as India looks to build on its impressive start in Jakarta.

Indian squad for U-23 Asian Boxing Championships

Men:

Vishvanath Suresh (50kg), Ganga (55kg), Sagar Jakhar (60kg), Vanshaj (65kg), Hitesh (70kg), Neeraj (75kg), Aryan Malik (80kg), Rocky Chaudhary (85kg), Hemant Sangwan (90kg), Ishan Kataria (+90kg)

Women:

Nidhi (48kg), Tanu (51kg), Nisha (54kg), Prachi (57kg), Nikita Chand (60kg), Kajal (65kg), Shivani (70kg), Muskan (75kg), Naina (80kg), Priyanka (+80kg)

Indian squad for U-19 Asian Boxing Championships

Boys:

Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei (50kg), Aditya (55kg), Sikander (60kg), Mausam Suhag (65kg), Prashant (70kg), Devendra Chaudhary (75kg), Lokesh (80kg), Sagar (85kg), Shubham Rajput (90kg), Loven Gulia (+90kg

Girls:

Gunjan (48kg), Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari (51kg), Chirom Joyshree Devi (54kg), Prachi (57kg), Chahat (60kg), Vanshika (65kg), Lakshu (70kg), Anshika (75kg), Megha Sheokand (80kg), Prachi Tokas (+80kg)

With a strong blend of youth and competitive depth, India will look to deliver a commanding performance and secure multiple podium finishes at the prestigious continental event.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, led the nationwide 80th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, organised in collaboration with Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations.

Celebrating 100 years of spiritual leader Sri Sathya Sai, the National Capital saw over 9000 individuals explode with enthusiasm while participating in a community run and ride, apart from Zumba and Yoga sessions. Elsewhere, the cycling drive was organised in association with Art of Living, Heartfulness, and Isha Foundation.

Started in December 2024 by Dr Mandaviya, the event has transformed into a mass movement mobilising citizens of all age groups to dedicate “fitness ki dose, aadha ghanta roz” (dedicate 30 minutes every day to become fit). Till now, more than 30 lakh people have participated in the event at thousands of locations across the country.

This one-of-a-kind event encourages common people to take out time for their personal health and fitness through various activities like running, cycling, performing yoga, and Zumba, among others. To attract children, there is also a dedicated Game Zone which has life-sized chess, ludo, apart from carrom, table tennis, futsal, and badminton.

Addressing the vociferous crowd, the Union Sports Minister said that Sundays on Cycle intends to end the menace of obesity:

“One out of 4 persons in India is overweight. Fitness is essential for all citizens. Our Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the target of a Viksit Bharat in 2047. For any country to be counted as a developed nation, the health of its citizens is essential, and to remain healthy, citizens need to be fit. I would urge all Indians to set aside at least one hour from their mobile screens and dedicate that time to their personal health by engaging in sports activities. Sundays on Cycle is a part of the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Fit India movement, and all citizens must run or cycle to keep their heart and body healthy,” he said.

The community fitness ride began with Vedic invocations and lamp lighting by Dr Mandaviya, along with Nimish Gulabrai Pandya, All India President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Shri Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports), MYAS, Deepti Mukherjee, Secretary, Corporate Affairs, and other dignitaries. This was followed by a public pledge of Nasha Mukt Bharat before the community fitness ride began.

Talking about the event, Nimish Pandya said: “Fit India’s motto is to make every Indian citizen fit and healthy, while Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation’s motto is to love all, serve all. So, this coming together of both institutions for this 80th edition of Sundays on Cycle is an excellent amalgamation. Everyone witnessed the high energy and enthusiasm of people from all age groups participating in either a community run or a cycling event. The youth need to inculcate good habits, as we say that only a good body can be home to a good mind and soul. The youth should not abuse but take good care of their bodies. This is also the cornerstone of our Indian culture.”

Noted actor Naseer Abdullah graced the event and labelled it an “amazing experience.” The 70-year-old said later: “The Hon’ble Sports Minister was here and he gave a very inspiring speech before cycling along with the public. It was an amazing feeling to see thousands of people converge at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. I am not used to waking up so early, but today, by watching the enthusiasm and energy of the crowd, I felt it was worth it.”

Fit India Sundays on Cycle is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), Yogasana Bharat, Raahgiri Foundation, and MY Bharat. The cycling drive is conducted simultaneously across all States and Union Territories, including SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs), and Khelo India Centres (KICs).

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian dressage rider Anush Agarwalla continued his impressive run on the international circuit by securing a silver medal in the CDI1 Prix St. Georges at the Cavalliero Dressage Days in Hagen, Germany

Partnering Straight Horse Floriana, Agarwalla registered a score of 70.147% to finish second in a field of 22 competitors. The Indian rider delivered a polished test, with his partnership with Floriana once again proving decisive as the pair crossed the coveted 70% mark.

The podium finish marks another significant achievement in Agarwalla's European campaign and further strengthens his credentials as one of India's leading dressage riders on the international stage.

The result comes amid an ongoing dispute between Agarwalla and the Ad-Hoc Committee governing the Equestrian Federation of India over his selection status for the upcoming Asian Games.

The Asian Games team dressage gold medallist recently challenged the selection process after being named as a reserve for the continental showpiece. Agarwalla has filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court against the Ad-Hoc Committee for Governance of the Equestrian Federation of India and the Indian Olympic Association, through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

In his petition, the Kolkata-born rider has sought the quashing of the Selection List dated June 16, 2026, issued by the Ad-Hoc Committee. He has also requested the court to direct the reconstitution of the selection committee in a free and transparent manner while ensuring there is no conflict of interest.

"Today, I stand as India's No. 1-ranked dressage rider, Asia's No. 2-ranked rider, and World No.14 in the FEI 1* Rankings. I have also achieved the highest PSG scores among all Indian athletes this year. That is why being named a reserve for the upcoming Asian Games comes as a surprise and raises important questions about the criteria being applied in athlete selection," Anush had said in an Instagram story.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, July 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tanvi Khanna went from flat to fizzy after losing two games in quick time and turned the tables against Egypt’s Farida Walid to earn a creditable victory in the women’s final of the SRFI PSA Challenger Squash Tournament at the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana (JVPG) Club, in Mumbai on Friday.

The third-seeded Tanvi prevailed 8-11, 2-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7 over her second-seeded rival in a match that lasted 45 minutes, also avenging her 2-3 loss in January this year.

The men’s title was won by M. Syafiq Kamal, who defeated Yassin Shohdy (Egypt) 3-2 (6-11, 9-11,11-8,14-12,11-8).

Having played a tough five-game match on Thursday, Tanvi began sluggishly against her rival, who is known for her speed and fitness. Scores were level till 8-8, before two errors saw her lose the first game. The second was literally a non-starter for Tanvi as she kept hitting the tin and struggled to reach drops in the front court. Four minutes on court and the score read 2-0 in Farida’s favour.

Training 4-8 in the third, Tanvi seemed headed for a tame loss before the fightback began, a stroke awarded to her, a drop at the front court, and an inside-out forehand winner saw her level scores at 8-8. She kept up the momentum to win 12-10.

Jumping to a 7-3 lead in the fourth, Tanvi slackened a bit, allowing Farida to get back into the game. Farida levelled scores at 9-9 before Tanvi managed to close out the game. Tanvi started the fifth strongly, leading 5-2 and then 7-3, backed by a vociferous home crowd. There was a slight scare as Farida clawed her way back to 7-8, before Tanvi took control to reel off three points in a row.

Tanvi, who trains under Dhruv Dhawan in Delhi, said her coach advised her to play her normal game and not try for too much.

“I was trying to hit winners in the early stages of the match as I was a bit apprehensive about playing long rallies. My coach told me to just play the points on merit, and I realised that I still had a lot of energy and could play long points,” said Tanvi during the match.

Final results:

Women: (3) Tanvi Khanna bt (2) Farida Walid 3-2 (8-11, 2-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7)

Men: M. Syafiq Kamal bt (2) Yassin Shohdy (Egypt) 3-2 (6-11, 9-11,11-8,14-12,11-8)

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) England must shed the psychological scars of recent defeats to Australia and embrace a fresh mindset if they are to end their rivals' dominance in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup final, former England captain Nasser Hussain has said.

England, unbeaten alongside Australia throughout the tournament, booked their place in Sunday's title clash at Lord's with a commanding semifinal victory over South Africa. But standing between the hosts and a first Women's T20 World Cup title since 2009 are the six-time champions, who whitewashed England 16-0 in the 2025 Ashes and also defeated them in a warm-up game before the tournament.

Hussain believes England's biggest challenge lies in overcoming the mental hurdle. "The first thing is the mind games with themselves. Do they really believe they can beat Australia? That is the first hurdle to get over," Hussain said on Sky Sports. "No mental baggage, no scarring. It needs to be, 'we are a new England, under a new coach [Charlotte Edwards took over after The Ashes], we are coming at you, Australia.'

While acknowledging Australia's formidable strength, Hussain pointed to one potential vulnerability. "I don't see many weaknesses in that Australia side, to be honest, and their biggest strength is a long batting line-up that keeps coming at you.

"The only thing is that maybe sometimes, because they have such a long batting line-up, they occasionally may think, 'I can leave it to the next batter, then the next batter,' and then all of a sudden they find themselves in a bit of trouble."

Despite Australia's overwhelming record, Hussain insisted England have every chance in a one-off final at a packed Lord's. "In a one-off final at Lord's, with a massive home crowd behind them, can England beat Australia? Of course they can. But Australia are favourites."

England's semifinal against South Africa briefly threatened to derail after they slumped to 23-3 inside four overs, losing Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones, and Alice Capsey cheaply.

Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, returning after missing the final three group-stage matches with a calf injury, steadied the innings alongside former captain Heather Knight. The experienced pair shared a match-defining 133-run partnership from 90 balls, both scoring half-centuries to lift England to 169-5.

England then produced a clinical all-round display with the ball and in the field to restrict South Africa to 129-8. Sophie Ecclestone starred with figures of 1-21 and pulled off two outstanding catches as the hosts sealed a comprehensive 40-run victory.

Hussain praised Knight's experience and Sciver-Brunt's brilliance after their rescue. "I remember doing a women's game at the start of the summer and was asked about Knight as she was struggling a little bit with her form. "I said England would need a little bit of experience and realise that even in a 20-over you can give the opposition five overs and catch up.

"Her partnership with Sciver-Brunt in the semi-final was outstanding, and Sciver-Brunt was brilliant. She picks up length really well, like all great players."

He also highlighted England's sharp fielding display under pressure as a key reason behind their convincing semifinal victory.

"In terms of the fielding, this was always going to be the big test. It is one thing to put on a display in group stage games when there will be a tomorrow, but if you mess up in a semifinal, there is no tomorrow. There was a lot of energy in the field, and I think that will have pleased (head coach) Charlotte Edwards the most. Their fielding has gone missing under pressure before, but under pressure here it really came to the fore," he said.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) The government has categorically said that only those who have qualified and can deliver good performance will be cleared by the government for the upcoming Asian Games, said Minister of Youth and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, clarifying that major events, including the Asian and Commonwealth Games, are not “exposure tours”.

The Minister's categorical assertion came in response to a move for inclusion of the Indian football team in the Indian contingent for the Asian Games 2026, starting on September 19.

Dr. Mandaviya made it clear that there would be complete transparency in the selection of the contingent, but, at the same time, there would be strict scrutiny of entries, and travellers would not be included simply to make up the numbers.

“Asian Games or Commonwealth Games are not for exposure; it is a platform for athletes who can make the country proud. That is why we have the selection criteria saying only the top six in continental rankings would be considered. Exposure can be gained elsewhere; there is enough time and competition through the years," the Minister said during an interaction in New Delhi on Thursday.

“The ministry will never stop anyone from that. If federations prepare a training or exposure plan for LA 2028 and submit it to us now, they will have our full support for the next two years. Even individual athletes who wish to train anywhere in the world will be assisted. But going to the Asian Games simply for participation means jobs will not be cleared,” he declared.

The Ministry has also indicated that the Indian contingent for the Asian Games at Aichi-Nagoya is expected to be capped at 560. Dr. Mandaviya said that while all federations had to follow the ministry guidelines for selections, the ministry had the final word in clearing names.

“Videography in the presence of a government observer is mandatory. The selected names are then sent to the IOA, which forwards them to the Sports Authority of India for vetting. That list then comes to the ministry for final clearance, and only those will be allowed,” he added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Smt. Raksha Khadse, on Thursday, held a comprehensive review meeting with Maninder Pal Singh, Secretary General, Cycling Federation of India (CFI), and senior officials of the Federation to discuss the roadmap for strengthening India's cycling ecosystem through greater grassroots participation, enhanced athlete development, and increased international competitiveness.

The discussions focused on building a structured pathway for cyclists—from grassroots talent identification and community participation to high-performance training, sports science, coaching excellence, and international exposure. The meeting also reviewed India's expanding engagement with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the progress being made towards positioning India as an emerging global hub for competitive cycling.

A key area of discussion was the upcoming edition of the Pune Grand Tour, which continues to elevate India's standing on the international cycling calendar. The Minister observed that internationally recognised competitions not only provide Indian cyclists with valuable exposure against world-class athletes but also showcase India's growing capability to successfully host global sporting events, the Ministry informed in a release on Thursday.

During the meeting, Maninder Pal Singh shared that the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Annual Report 2026 has accorded special recognition to India for its growing contribution to global cycling. In her message featured in the report, Amina Lanaya, Director General, UCI, highlighted the success of the Pune Grand Tour 2025 and appreciated India's growing sporting spirit and the efforts of the Cycling Federation of India. The Minister noted that such recognition from the sport's international governing body is a matter of immense pride for the country and reflects India's rising stature on the global cycling map.

The Federation also briefed the Minister on another landmark achievement for Indian cycling. Following the selection of Ms. Harshita Jakhar as the first Indian cyclist to be inducted into the prestigious UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) Elite Training Programme, five of India's elite sprinters—Ronaldo Singh, Esow Alban, Rojit Singh, David Beckham Elkatohchoongo and James Singh—along with four members of the support staff—have been inducted into the UCI World Cycling Centre programme at Aigle, Switzerland.

The Minister welcomed this significant development and observed that such opportunities would provide Indian cyclists and coaches with world-class training, sports science support, and international exposure, while strengthening India's long-term high-performance ecosystem.

The progress of the Khelo India ASMITA Cycling City League was also reviewed during the meeting. The initiative has emerged as one of India's largest women-centric grassroots cycling programmes, creating structured competitive opportunities for women cyclists across cities and districts.

The Minister noted that the enthusiastic participation witnessed under ASMITA reflects the growing momentum of women's participation in sports and the success of creating an inclusive and sustainable pathway for identifying and nurturing future champions. She also appreciated the role of the initiative in expanding grassroots participation and strengthening the talent pipeline for Indian cycling.

The meeting further deliberated on expanding the domestic competition structure, strengthening coaching and technical capacity, promoting greater participation at the grassroots, leveraging sports science and technology, and creating seamless pathways for talented cyclists to progress from district and state competitions to national and international platforms.

Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Raksha Khadse said: "Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, India is witnessing a transformational change in its sporting ecosystem. Through initiatives such as Khelo India and Fit India, we are creating greater opportunities for participation, identifying talent at the grassroots, and building a robust pathway for sporting excellence. Cycling possesses immense potential in our country, and through sustained collaboration between the Government, sports federations, and all stakeholders, we can nurture world-class athletes capable of bringing glory to India on the global stage."

She further emphasised that a strong grassroots ecosystem, quality coaching, scientific training methods, and regular exposure through national and international competitions will play a crucial role in preparing Indian cyclists for success at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and the Olympic Games.

The Minister appreciated the efforts of the Cycling Federation of India, led by Maninder Pal Singh, Secretary General, in expanding competitive cycling, promoting grassroots participation, and strengthening India's engagement with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

She noted that international recognition through the UCI Annual Report 2026, the continued success of the Pune Grand Tour, the rapid expansion of the Khelo India ASMITA Cycling City League, and the induction of Indian athletes into the prestigious UCI World Cycling Centre programme collectively reflect India's emergence as a serious force in international cycling. She expressed confidence that continued collaboration between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Sports Authority of India, and the Cycling Federation of India would further accelerate the growth of cycling while inspiring greater youth participation in the sport.

The meeting reaffirmed the Government of India's commitment to strengthening sports infrastructure, promoting women's participation, supporting high-performance athletes, and building a world-class sporting ecosystem in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, July 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian players Velvan Senthilkumar, the men’s top seed, and Tanvi Khanna, the women’s third seed, stayed on course, winning their quarterfinals in contrasting fashion at the USD 15,000 SRFI PSA Challenger Tournament, being hosted by the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana (JVPG) Club at their air-conditioned courts, in Mumbai on Thursday.

While Sentilkumar overcame a slightly shaky start to account for Egyptian 4th seed Abdullah Hafez in straight games, winning 15-13, 11-4, 11-3, Tanvi dropped a game to Zoe Foo, the 8th seed from Japan, before winning 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6.

While Senthilkumar will take on the 2nd seed, Yassin Shohdy of Egypt, for a place in the final, Tanvi will lock horns with the 6th seed, Akari Midorikawa of Japan. Shohdy made short work of 7th seed Tomotaka Endo of Japan, winning 11-8, 11-8-11-4, Midorikawa defeated Shameena Riaz in four games late on Wednesday.

The other men’s semis will pit Malaysian Syafiq Kamal against the Egyptian 8th seed Ziad Ibrahim, while the women’s second semis will be an all-Egyptian affair, featuring 2nd seed Farida Walid versus 4th seed Nour Khafagy.

Earlier, Senthilkumar made a winning start to his campaign, even while Om Semwal came up with a spirited performance but fell short in the end in the USD 15,000 HCL-SRFI PSA Challenger Tournament, being hosted by the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana Club at their air-conditioned courts, here, on Wednesday.

Senthilkumar hardly broke a sweat before accounting for Ayan Vaziralli 11-4, 11-9, 11-6. Fourth seed A Hafez and 7th seed Endo also advanced to the quarter-finals with straight game wins.

Semwal, who had knocked out the 3rd seed in a five-game thriller, looked on course for another upset win over 8th seed Ziad Ibrahim of Egypt. However, The 22-year-old from Jindal Vashind faltered a bit in the final stages, losing a close decider. Ibrahim prevailed 11-9, 11-13, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9.

Results:

Men's singles quarterfinals: (2) Yassin Shohdy (Egypt) bt (7) Tomotaka Endo (Japan) 3-0 (11-8,11-8,11-4); (1) Velavan Senthilkumar (Indi) bt (4) Abdullah Hafez (Egypt) 3-0 (15-13,11-4,11-3); Syafiq Kamal (Malaysia) bt Salah Eltorgman (Egypt) 3-1 (11-7,6-11,11-5,11-8); (8) Ziad Ibrahim bt Om Semwal 3-2 (11-5,11-13,11-8, 8-11,11-9).

Women's singles quarterfinal: (2) Farida Walid (Egypt) bt (7) Risa Sugimoto (Japan) 3-0 (11-5,11-5,11-6); (4) Nour Khafagy (Egypt) bt (5) Malak Fathy (Egypt) 3-0 (11-1,11-9,11-8); (3) Tanvi Khanna (India) bt (8) Zoe. Foo (Japan) 3-1 (11-6,11-7,8-11,11-6); (6) Akari Midorikawa (Japan) bt Shameena Riaz (India) 3-1 (12-10,11-8,5-11,11-2).

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian wrestling champion and undefeated MMA athlete Sangram Singh believes discipline, consistency, and the willingness to keep improving are the qualities that define every athlete, saying those values are the reason he connected with homegrown brand The Sock Street when he joined it as its brand ambassador.

"Every athlete's journey is built on discipline, consistency, and the willingness to keep improving. Those values have guided me across wrestling and MMA, and they continue to shape how I approach performance every day. That is why The Sock Street's philosophy feels personal to me. It is about staying grounded while continuing to evolve, and that is a belief I strongly connect with," Sangram said.

The collaboration comes alongside the launch of The Sock Street's Compression Performance Gear collection, featuring compression socks, arm sleeves, and calf sleeves, as the brand expands its focus from everyday socks to performance wear for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

Speaking on the launch, Udit Mayor, Co-founder and CEO of The Sock Street, said the company's latest move reflects changing fitness habits in India.

"The way people approach fitness today has changed. Consumers do not move through life in just one lane, and they expect the products they wear to keep pace with that reality. The launch of our Compression Performance Gear collection reflects that evolution and marks an important step in our journey," Mayor said.

"Sangram Singh was a natural choice because his story reflects resilience, discipline, and adaptability. Those values sit at the core of what we want The Sock Street to represent. Our ambition is to build products and stories that stay relevant across every stage of the performance journey," he added.

Source: IANS

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Zagreb, July 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) The two Indian stars had contrasting starts to the Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia, the third event of the Grand Chess Tour, as Praggnanandhaa placed joint second, while world champion D. Gukesh was tied for sixth place at the end of the third round of the rapid section.

Praggnanandhaa began with an impressive victory over Vincent Keymer before drawing against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Gukesh, meanwhile, suffered an opening-round defeat to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave but responded immediately with a win over Ivan Saric.

The two then faced each other in the final round of the day, where they split the point. As a result, Praggnanandhaa finishes Day 1 tied for 2nd place with 4/6, while Gukesh is tied for 6th on 3/6, with six rapid rounds still to play.

Round 3 wrapped up an exciting opening day of the Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia, with Alireza Firouzja remaining the man to catch, with a sole lead with five points.

Just a few weeks ago, Firouzja was forced to withdraw from the Grand Chess Tour event in Romania after suffering an ankle injury, even playing two of his games from a separate room before making the difficult decision to withdraw from the event.

In the Croatia leg, the clash between tournament leader Firouzja and Anish Giri ended peacefully, allowing Firouzja to keep the sole lead. Keymer continued his comeback after an opening-round loss by defeating Nodirbek Abdusattorov, while Bogdan-Daniel Deac scored his first victory of the event against Ivan Sari, while Maxime Vachier-Lagrave split the point with Jorden van Foreest.

The tournament combines two fast-paced disciplines: a 9-round single round-robin rapid tournament (played at a time control of 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment from move one) and an 18-round double round-robin blitz tournament (played at 5 minutes plus a 2-second increment from move one).

Rapid wins count for 2 points and draws for 1 point, while Blitz wins count for 1 point and draws for half point.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, July 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Top seed Velavan Senthilkumar made a winning start to his campaign, even while Om Semwal came up with a spirited performance but fell short in the end in the USD 15,000 SRFI PSA Challenger Tournament, being hosted by the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana Club at their air-conditioned courts in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Senthilkumar hardly broke a sweat before accounting for Ayan Vaziralli 11-4, 11-9, 11-6. Fourth seed A Hafez and 7th seed Endo also advanced to the quarter-finals with straight game wins.

Semwal, who had knocked out the third seed in a five-game thriller on Tuesday, looked on course for another upset win over the 8th seed Ziad Ibrahim of Egypt. However, the 22-year-old from Jindal Vashind faltered a bit in the final stages, losing a close decider. Ibrahim prevailed 11-9, 11-13, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9.

Shameena Riaz also stumbled in the women's quarters, losing to Japan’s 6th seed Akari Midorikawa in four games. Going into the match with a 1-1 record, the Japanese player won 12-10, 11-8, 5-11, 11-2.

Earlier, Shameena Riaz and Om Semwal pulled off massive upsets on an action-packed day at the tournament, being hosted by the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana Club (JVPG) at their air-conditioned courts in Mumbai on Tuesday.

While Shameena accounted for top seed Hayley Ward of South Africa in four games, Semwal displayed immense discipline and stamina as well as skill and guile to outlast third seed Diego Gobbi of Brazil in five games.

Shameena, who grabbed the last spot on the Indian team for the Asian Games, rallied from the loss of the first game to keep her nerves and play strongly against the top seed, Hayley Ward of South Africa. With Hayley trying all the tricks in the book to upset the rhythm of Shameena, it was the 20-year-old from Chennai who managed to come up trumps in tight situations and win 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9.

In other matches featuring Indians, third seed Tanvi Khanna outplayed Pooja Arthi Raghu 3-0, while 5th seed Suraj Kumar Chand lost in three games to Egypt’s Ziad Ibrahim on Monday night.

Results:

Men’s 2nd round: (1) Velavan Senthilkumar bt Ayaan Vaziralli 3-0 (11-4, 11-9, 11-6); (4) A Hafez bt A Dewan 3-0 (12-10, 11-3, 11-9); (7) T. Endo (Japan) bt R Baitha 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-5);

Quarter Final - M. Syafiq Kamal (Malaysia) bt S. Eltorgman (Egypt) 3-1 (11-7,6-11,11-5,11-8); (8) Z Ibrahim bt O. Semwal 3-2 (11-5,11-13,11-8, 8-11,11-9).

Womens 2nd round: (4) N Khafagy bt S. Vats 3-1 (7-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7); (5) M. Fathy bt A. Dubey 3-0 (12-10, 11-4, 11-6); (7) R. Sugimoto bt U. Tripathi 3-0 (11-5,11-8,11-6); (2) F. Walid bt N. Dubey 3-0 (12-10, 11-8, 11-7).

Quarter Final - (6) A. Midorikawa bt S. Riaz 3-1 (12-10,11-8,5-11,11-2).

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) India will field a balanced mix of proven performers and emerging talent at the U-19 & U-23 Asian Boxing Championships, with reigning Asian champion Vishvanath Suresh and World Boxing Futures Cup gold medallist Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari leading the country's challenge at the continental event, which begins on July 3 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) on Wednesday announced its squads across both age groups, with the tournament expected to provide an important platform for the nation's young boxers to gain international exposure and continue their progression towards the senior ranks.

Vishvanath, the reigning Asian champion in the men's U-23 50kg category, headlines a formidable men's squad that also features Ganga (55kg), Sagar Jakhar (60kg), Vanshaj (65kg), Hitesh (70kg), Neeraj (75kg), Aryan Malik (80kg), Rocky Chaudhary (85kg), Hemant Sangwan (90kg) and Ishan Kataria (+90kg).

The women's U-23 team includes Nidhi (48kg), Tanu (51kg), Nisha (54kg), Prachi (57kg), Nikita Chand (60kg), Kajal (65kg), Shivani (70kg), Muskan (75kg), Naina (80kg) and Priyanka (+80kg).

In the U-19 competition, Futures Cup gold medallist Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari will spearhead the girls' campaign in the 51kg category. She is joined by Gunjan (48kg), Chirom Joyshree Devi (54kg), Prachi (57kg), Chahat (60kg), Vanshika (65kg), Lakshu (70kg), Anshika (75kg), Megha Sheokand (80kg) and Prachi Tokas (+80kg).

The boys' U-19 squad comprises Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei (50kg), Aditya (55kg), Sikander (60kg), Mausam Suhag (65kg), Prashant (70kg), Devendra Chaudhary (75kg), Lokesh (80kg), Sagar (85kg), Shubham Rajput (90kg) and Loven Gulia (+90kg).

BFI president Ajay Singh described the championships as an important stage in the development of India's next generation of boxers and reiterated the federation's long-term focus on strengthening the talent pipeline.

“The U-19 and U-23 Asian Championships are crucial stepping stones for our young boxers as they transition to the elite level. We are seeing strong depth across weight categories, and this group represents the future of Indian boxing. Our focus remains on building consistency and giving our athletes the exposure needed to succeed on the international stage,” he said.

India heads into the championships on the back of encouraging performances at recent continental and global events, with increasing depth across multiple weight divisions. The selected boxers have been training at the national camp, where preparations have centred on technical refinement, tactical execution and physical conditioning ahead of the tournament.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shameena Riaz and Om Semwal of India pulled off massive upsets on an action-packed day at the USD 15,000 SRFI PSA Challenger Squash Tournament, being hosted by the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana Club (JVPG) at their air-conditioned courts in Mumbai.

While Shameena accounted for top seed Hayley Ward of South Africa in four games, Semwal displayed immense discipline and stamina as well as skill and guile to outlast third seed Diego Gobbi of Brazil in five games.

In other matches featuring Indians, third seed Tanvi Khanna outplayed Pooja Arthi Raghu 3-0, while 5th seed Suraj Kumar Chand lost in three games to Egypt’s Ziad Ibrahim on Monday night.

Shameena, who grabbed the last spot on the Indian team for the Asian Games, rallied from the loss of the first game to keep her nerves and play strongly against the top seed, Hayley Ward of South Africa. With Hayley trying all the tricks in the book to upset the rhythm of Shameena, it was the 20-year-old from Chennai who managed to come up trumps in tight situations and win 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9.

“It took me some time to settle down and adjust to the conditions, and I then started moving the ball around the court, making my opponent work harder,” said an elated Shameena, daughter of former India hockey captain Mohammed Riaz.

“She is ranked around 62 in the world, but I was determined to hang in there. I was a bit winded in the third and fourth games but managed to keep up with my opponent,” she added.

Shameena will meet Japan’s 6th seed Akari Midorikawa, who scored a straight-games win over Korean opponent Bo Ram Ryoo. With a 1-1 head-to-head record, an interesting contest is on the cards on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old Semwal, who trains at the Jindal Centre in Vashind under Deepak Mishra and Laxman Joshi, had his work cut out against Gobbi, who is one of the fastest and fittest players on the tour.

“It was a tight and tough match, and I just played the game one point at a time, determined to stay with my opponent,” said Semwal after the 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9 victory. Semwal goes on to meet Egypt’s 8th seed Ziad Ibrahim, who took out India’s 5th seed Suraj Kumar Chand 11-4, 11-6, 11-5.

Results:

Men’s singles 2nd round: 9/16-Salah Eltorgman (Egypt) bt (LL) A Altamimi 3-0 (11-4, 11-2, 11-1; 9/16-M Syafiq Kamal (Malaysia) bt 9/16-Viktor Byrtus (Czech Republic) 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-7); Om Semwal (India) bt 3-Diego Gobbi (Brazil) 3-2 (6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9); 8-Ziad Ibrahim(Egypt) bt 5-Suraj Kumar Chand (India) 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-5)

Women's singles 2nd round: 9/16-Shameena Riaz (India) bt 1-Hayley Ward (RSA) 3-1 (8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9); 6-Akari Midorikawa (Japan) bt Bo Ram Ryoo (Republic of Korea) 3-0 (11-9, 11-2, 11-9); 8- Zoe Foo (Japan) bt 9/16-Rathika Suthanthira Seelan (India) 3-1 (7-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-3); 3-Tanvi Khanna (India) bt Pooja Arthi Raghu (India) 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-6).

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) has introduced its official Indian team jersey for the upcoming Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam, later this year.

The unveiling was attended by Aalap Sharma, Director of the Indian Pickleball Association; Ashish Khanna, Co-Founder of PWR; Dilip Mohanty, IPA Team; Nazneen Rehman from the Assam Pickleball Association; Shaleen Jain of the Lucknow Leopards; and Siddhant Jaita, Founder of Picklebay.

In the New Jersey design, blue represents the vast and mighty sea, symbolising the team's strength and resilience. The Leopards on the jersey embody the energy and power that characterise the Indian Pickleball team and honour the support from the Lucknow Leopards. This partnership highlights the franchise's commitment to supporting grassroots and professional pickleball in India. By supporting the national team, the franchise seeks to connect domestic league achievements with international success.

“Indian Pickleball Association is extremely confident about the contingent that is all set to represent the country at the Pickleball World Cup. The junior team that was announced recently is a testament to that ideology, and the results that the team brought at the US Open are just a glimpse into what is possible at the World Cup. Indian Pickleball Association believes in year-round development of the current crop and is constantly scouting players who can perform for the country in the future. We wish the team the best of luck and look forward to a record-breaking World Cup,” said Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, President, Indian Pickleball Association.

The junior squad includes Arjun Singh, Aditya Singh, Naomi Amalsadiwala, Dev Shah, Purvansh Patel, Vivaan Patel, Ashritha Raju, and Diya Mattipati. Arjun Singh and Aditya Singh delivered notable performances at the US Open, alongside Panth Thakkar, with Arjun Singh securing a triple crown at the event. The Indian U14 Kids team is led by captain Veer Shah and features Viransh Chopra, Aarin Ballani, Mahika Rathod, Maansi Kartik, and Aashritaa S.

The IPA Selection Committee chose the national squad through a structured process that prioritises performance, including evaluations of past results in IPA-sanctioned events later in the week.

Source: IANS

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London, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) As they gear up for Tuesday's semifinal clash in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup with the West Indies, World No. 1 Australia are wary of the threat posed by the West Indies, especially their captain Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin, said their top player, Ellyse Perry.

Australia qualified for the knockout stages by finishing at the top of Group A, enjoying an imperious time of it in the groups, completing a fourth win from four with a record ICC Women’s T20 World Cup chase to beat India at Lord’s on Sunday.

In contrast, the Windies’ path to The Oval was rather more complicated. After winning their first three matches, the 2016 winner, the world's seventh-ranked side, fell to defeats to England and then Ireland in Bristol, the latter loss leaving them relying on New Zealand to lose their final game.

Thankfully for Matthews and her team, hosts England pulled off a brilliant chase against the White Ferns, allowing the Windies to progress.

Matthews knows as well as anyone what it takes to thrive against Australia. Three years ago, she scored a sensational 132 from just 64 balls as the Windies completed the biggest chase in the history of WT20I, reaching a target of 213 with a ball to spare.

That came after she had scored an unbeaten 99 in the first game of a bilateral series Down Under, while Matthews’ 45-ball 66 paved the way for the West Indies to win this title a decade ago.

Ellyse Perry is one of the few survivors from the Australian team that was beaten that day at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

And unsurprisingly, she was keen to focus on the future rather than that defeat, particularly after back-to-back half-centuries, her first and second at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

She said, “We don’t want that kind of bad juju. I mean, what's that, 10 years ago? The game has changed so much in that period of time. And I just think, like you cannot pull things, can't even pull things from the last match because it's crazy how sport works.

“We've played each other quite a lot in the last couple of months. We actually had a tour to the West Indies earlier this year. We've played each other in a warm-up match, so we're quite familiar with each other at the moment.

“They’ve got some tremendously talented and dangerous players with a lot of experience. So it will be a great challenge for us. It's a quick turnaround, too, at a different venue, so I think we're really looking forward to it.”

As well as Matthews, Deandra Dottin is another potential match-winner for the Windies, who has not yet exploded in the competition.

And Ash Gardner, part of a 100-run partnership with Perry in Australia’s win over India, knows exactly what a threat Dottin can be, having played with her for the Gujarat Giants.

She added, “The West Indies are a completely different threat (to India). They've got a lot of class and a lot of firepower within their team.

“Also, a lot of experience, obviously led brilliantly by Hayley Matthews, who is a player that can take away a game pretty quickly. But then you look at someone like Deandra Dottin, she's a threat in all three phases of the game.

“She's a fantastic player. I've had the privilege of playing with her, and seeing how she goes about her cricket, she's so fearless in the way that she approaches it, which sometimes can be quite scary because she can flick a switch pretty quickly."

Yeah, they're a completely different threat. You know, they've got a lot of class and a lot of firepower within their team. Also, a lot of experience, obviously led brilliantly by Hayley Matthews, who's a player that can take away a game pretty quickly. But then you look at someone like Deandra Dottin, she's a threat in all three phases of the game. She's a fantastic player. I've had the privilege of playing with her, and I guess just seeing how she goes about her cricket, she's so fearless in the way that she approaches it, which sometimes can be quite scary because she can flick a switch pretty quickly.

"But then just to see the, I guess, inexperience as well that they've got and that rawness that they've got on their side. So yeah, they definitely pose a different threat. But luckily enough, we've played a series against them quite recently. So I guess we can do our homework in terms of how we're going to approach a new venue, a fast venue, one that's really nice to bat on. So for us, it's being able to do our homework really quickly because we've got a day to do it. And then a really quick turnaround, and then just get really excited for what the occasion is," she said.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s Om Semwal edged out Spain’s Hugo Jaen 15-13, 8-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9 in 69 minutes in the men’s opening round of the PSA Challenger Tour-Mumbai at the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana (JCPG) Club on Monday.

The Indian fans' eyes will be focused on top singles stars Velavan Senthilkumar and Tanvi Khanna, both of whom are ranked No. 3 in the country, as they lead the country's challenge among 15 countries in the tournament, which will conclude on July 3.

The tournament features separate men’s and women’s PSA Challenger events, each carrying a prize purse of USD 15,000, along with valuable ranking points, and keen action is expected on all five days of the tournament.

Hong Kong’s Alex Lau and South Africa’s Hayley Ward will enjoy pride of place among the men and women, respectively, in the 24-player draw. India’s Velavan Senthlkumar (Rank 50) is seeded second among the men, while Tanvi Khanna (Rank 75) is seeded third behind Egypt’s Farida Walid. Among the seeded men, the other Indian in the top eight is the 7th seed, Suraj Kumar Chand.

The JVPG Club has three air-conditioned glass-backed squash courts, of which two will be used for matches, while one will be the practice court. Facilities like the state-of-the-art gymnasium and swimming pool will also be available to the players. A Gala Dinner to welcome the players and officials will be hosted by JVPG on Tuesday, June 30.

Other results: (1st round, Indians unless specified):

Men: Salah Eltorgman (Can) bt Yusuf Thani (Brn) 15-13, 11-4, 12-10; Md Syafiq Kamal (Mas) bt Ammar Altamimi (Kuw) 11-7, 11-3, 11-6; Ziad Ibrahim (Egy) bt Bryan Tze Kang Lim (Mas) 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6; Brendan MacDonald (Aus) bt Diwakar Singh 11-4, 11-4, 11-6; Rahul Baitha bt Ravindu Laksiri (SL) 11-7, 11-2, 5-1 (retd); Aryaveer Dewan bt Islam Kouritam (Egy) 15-13, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4; Ayaan Vaziralli bt Hridhaan Shah 11-6, 11-7, 11-3.

Women: Shameena Riaz bt Mahak Talati 11-1, 11-6, 11-3; Bo Ram Ryoo (Kor) bt Janet Vidhi 11-4, 11-4, 11-8; Rathika Seelan bt Yashi Jain 11-4, 11-7, 11-5; Sanya Vats bt Vyomika Khandelwal 11-7, 11-6, 11-6; Anika Dubey bt Aaradhana Kasturiraj 11-4, 11-2, 11-3; Unnati Tripathi bt Mona Tamer (Egy) 11-9, 11-8, 11-9; Nirupama Dubey bt Eesha Shrivastava 4-11, 11-7, 11-9, 13-12.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Newly-crowned Bullet Chess Champion and Season 2 MVP, Nihal Sarin, emerged as one of the most sought-after names before joining FYERS American Gambits as the Global Chess League (GCL) lit the countdown for Season 4—scheduled to be held in Bengaluru from September 3 to 13—with the player draft in Mumbai on Monday.

Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers strengthened their title defence around Magnus Carlsen and Women’s Chess World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh, while five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand moved teams for the first time in the league's history to join Arjun Erigaisi at PBG Alaskan Knights.

Season 4 marks Global Chess League (GCL), a joint initiative between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, continuing its commitment to India, the birthplace of chess and one of the fastest-growing forces in the global arena. Following three seasons across Dubai, London, and Mumbai, the league now heads to Bengaluru.

Speaking at the player draft, Gourav Rakshit, Commissioner, Global Chess League, said: “What began as an ambitious vision to reimagine chess as a modern global sports and entertainment property has, over the last three seasons, evolved into one of the marquee events on the international chess calendar. GCL has demonstrated that the future of the sport lies not in changing its essence, but in expanding how it is experienced. As we look ahead to Season 4, the focus remains on continuing to grow the game’s global relevance and reach.”

With Triveni Continental Kings, Alpine APL Pipers, and upGrad Mumba Masters retaining their Icons, the draft began with Fyers American Gambits winning the battle for 2026 Candidates winner Javokhir Sindarov. PBG Alaskan Knights and Ganges Grandmasters signed Anand and Ian Nepomniachtchi, respectively.

FYERS American Gambits then came away with one of the draft’s headline additions, winning a competitive battle to secure Sarin after the Indian became the first from the country to win the Bullet Chess Championship. One of the most in-demand names in the room, Nihal joins a young core featuring 2026 Candidates winner Javokhir Sindarov, Daniil Dubov, Sara Khadem, Bibisara Assaubayeva, and Marc’Andria Maurizzi.

Prachura PP, co-owner, Fyers American Gambits, said, “We’re quite happy with our team composition. It’s an exciting team, a young team. Season 4 with this team is going to be special; for us, Bengaluru is our city, you can expect a lot of fans, and we’re going to show the others that we are the ‘home’ team.”

Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers made their biggest statement early, retaining six-time World Rapid Champion Magnus Carlsen and GCL Season 3 Finals MVP Anish Giri, before adding Women’s Chess World Cup 2025 winner Divya Deshmukh, Indian great Koneru Humpy, Vidit Gujrathi, and reigning World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin to complete one of the strongest squads in the field.

GM Pravin Thipsay, coach, Alpine APL Pipers, said, “It’s going to be more challenging this year. We hope to retain the title this year, but I am sure all the other teams will be more motivated because everyone wants to beat the champions, particularly with Magnus Carlsen playing!”

Last year’s runners-up, Triveni Continental Kings, opted for consistency, retaining Season 3 MVP Alireza Firouzja, as well as Wei Yi and Zhu Jiner ahead of the draft. The two-time champions brought back Alexandra Kosteniuk and welcomed Indian duo Aravindh Chithambram and Pranav Venkatesh for the new season.

Akash Premsen, CEO, Triveni Continental Kings, said, “For us, team dynamics is everything. We have built a very strong team, and we are looking forward to season four. The goal is not only to play chess, but to be the best versions of ourselves on the boards. Season 4 will be exciting; without a doubt, we are the team to watch.”

PBG Alaskan Knights backed a blend of proven names and emerging talent at the auction, bringing in five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand to join retained star Arjun Erigaisi. The franchise also added Turkish debutant Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus and welcomed Nino Batsiashvili as part of its Season 4 squad build.

Punit Balan, Team Owner, PBG Alaskan Knights, said: “Having Viswanathan Anand and Arjun Erigaisi in our team gives us representatives of two eras of Indian chess greatness, the foundation and the future. That balance makes this squad exciting, and we’re looking forward to the season ahead.”

After securing Ian Nepomniachtchi in the Icons round, Ganges Grandmasters made one of the draft’s defining moves by aggressively pursuing Levon Aronian, bringing the former World Cup winner back into the league after a two-season absence. The franchise completed its squad with retained stars Polina Shuvalova and Stavroula Tsolakidou, alongside Leinier Dominguez and Indian prodigy Leon Luke Mendonca.

Sreekar Channapragada of the Ganges Grandmasters said, “We were going for Nepo [Ian Nepomniachtchi] on the icon board; we wanted Levon Aronian, we wanted Leinier Dominguez, and, of course, Leon [Luke Mendonca], who won gold at the recent World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships. It’s a well-balanced team.”

Meanwhile, upGrad Mumba Masters built from continuity, retaining Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, and Harika Dronavalli before making selective additions. The franchise added Carissa Yip and brought back Bardiya Daneshvar, keeping together much of the group that delivered strongly last season.

Suhail Chandhok, CEO, Mumba Masters, said, “We came into the draft with a lot of boxes ticked. To get Carissa Yip was a big positive for us; she’s a young player, doing great things globally. Bardiya Daneshvar was a revelation last year. To have him back is great.”

Played over 11 days, the six-team franchise league will feature a round-robin group phase–where each team will play the other twice–with the top two teams advancing to play the Grand Finale. Each franchise fields six players across four categories, including one Icon, two Superstar Men, two Superstar Women, and one Prodigy, in a globally unique format where men, women, and prodigies compete together with equal value. Built around rapid chess and team strategy, every result carries weight, and ties remain alive deep into the final boards, creating a format designed for intensity, momentum swings, and fan engagement unlike anything else in the sport.

Global Chess League Season 4 Teams:

FYERS American Gambits: Javokhir Sindarov, Nihal Sarin, Daniil Dubov, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Sara Khadem, Marc'Andria Maurizzi

Alpine APL Pipers: Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy, Volodar Murzin

Ganges Grandmasters: Ian Nepomniachtchi, Levon Aronian, Leinier Domínguez, Polina Shuvalova, Stavroula Tsolakidou, Leon Luke Mendonca

upGrad Mumba Masters: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Vladimir Fedoseev, Carissa Yip, Harika Dronavalli, Bardiya Daneshvar

PBG Alaskan Knights: Viswanathan Anand, Arjun Erigaisi, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, Kateryna Lagno, Nino Batsiashvili, Abhimanyu Mishra

Triveni Continental Kings: Alireza Firouzja, Wei Yi, Aravindh Chithambaram, Zhu Jiner, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Pranav Venkatesh

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Five-time World Champion Vishwanathan Anand will no longer serve as the Deputy President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) if incumbent chief Arkady Dvorkovich secures a third term in office, with Kazakhstan Chess Federation President Timur Turlov named as the candidate for the deputy's role.

However, Anand will continue to play a key role in Dvorkovich's team and support the campaign ahead of the presidential elections later this year.

Dvorkovich, who has headed FIDE since 2018, announced on Monday that he will seek a third successive term as President at the federation's General Assembly during the 46th Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan in September. The incumbent becomes the third candidate to enter the race after Wadim Rosenstein and Jan Buettner had already announced their bids for the presidency.

Dvorkovich reflected on his eight years in office before outlining his vision for another term.

“Eight years ago, I committed to building a stronger, fairer, global FIDE. Serving as the president of FIDE for the past eight years has been an exceptional honour. Together, we have strengthened FIDE, significantly expanded and improved global events, and invested more in children’s chess, women’s competitions, senior chess, education, and social programmes. But this is not the endpoint. It is the foundation. That is why today I am announcing that I will seek another term as President of the International Chess Federation. Every federation deserves opportunities to grow, with support tailored to its needs and circumstances. Every player and chess enthusiast deserves a place in our global chess family. Every move counts. Everyone matters,” Dvorkovich wrote on X.

Anand, who has served as FIDE Deputy President since 2022, publicly backed Dvorkovich's decision and reaffirmed his support for the campaign.

“I have worked closely with Arkady over the past four years and have seen his commitment to chess and to federations around the world. I’m proud to be part of his team, and I’m confident we will continue to strive for the global chess community!” Anand wrote on X while re-quoting Dvorkovich's post.

While Turlov has been nominated as Dvorkovich's running mate for the Deputy President's position, Anand will remain closely involved with the administration if the incumbent retains office.

“I will continue supporting the campaign and contributing my experience to FIDE’s work, especially in helping emerging and developing federations grow the game,” Anand said.

Dvorkovich said his campaign for a third term would focus on practical support for member federations, digital modernisation, youth development, stronger commercial partnerships, and making FIDE more responsive to the needs of the global chess community.

“Over the past two terms, our priority was to stabilise FIDE, restore confidence, and expand opportunities across the chess world. Together with our member federations, players, organisers, arbiters, volunteers, and partners, we have helped bring chess to millions of new people,” he said.

He added that the federation's next phase would be centred on institutional reform. “But growth alone is not enough. Success also creates new responsibilities. The next stage must be about renewal. FIDE must become even more open, more efficient, and more responsive. It must do more to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and turn more directly towards those who make chess possible - federations, players, clubs, organisers, arbiters, coaches, schools, and volunteers.”

Among the priorities outlined for a new term are simplifying services for national federations, expanding digital tools, investing in youth and grassroots programmes, improving financial sustainability, and accelerating the game's growth across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

“Our goal is simple: to make it easier for federations to develop players, organise events, attract sponsors, support schools, and create opportunities for the next generation.”

Turlov, who currently serves as President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and the International School Chess Federation, said his experience in expanding school chess and modernising federation services in Kazakhstan could be replicated globally.

“The results we have achieved in Kazakhstan have convinced me of a simple truth: a practical, modern, and digital approach to chess development works - and it can be scaled globally. We have expanded school chess, invested in young players, hosted major international events, and made chess more visible and prestigious. I am honoured to run alongside Arkady Dvorkovich and help bring that same focus on digitalisation, efficiency, and direct support to national federations across FIDE.”

The FIDE presidential election will be held during the General Assembly at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan in September, with Dvorkovich seeking a third successive mandate after victories in Batumi in 2018 and Chennai in 2022.

Source: IANS

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