Ahmedabad, Sep 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) India will host the Hyundai World Archery Para Series for the first time, when more than 100 athletes from 20 countries compete at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad from September 5 to 9, bringing a major international para-archery event to the city.

The Ahmedabad event will be the third stage of the 2026 Hyundai World Archery Para Series, following the opening stage in Bangkok in April and the second stage in Nove Mesto, Czechia, from June 30 to July 4.

The fourth and final stage is scheduled to be held in Santiago, Chile, in October.

Organised by the Archery Association of India (AAI) with the support of the Gujarat government, Sports Authority of Gujarat and Sports Authority of India (SAI), the tournament will feature competitions in the Recurve Open, Compound Open, W1 and Visually Impaired categories.

The participating countries are India, the People's Republic of China, Great Britain, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Slovakia, the United States of America, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cyprus, Czechia, Iraq, the Russian Federation and Sri Lanka.

India will field several prominent para archers, including Paris 2024 Paralympic champion Harvinder Singh, world para archery champion and Paralympic medallist Sheetal Devi, Arjuna Awardee and World Para Archery medallist Rakesh Kumar, and Paralympian Shyam Sunder Swami.

The Indian squad comprises 29 archers and has been preparing at SAI's National Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar.

Eleven members of the squad have also been selected for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the event would provide a platform for para-athletes to compete internationally while highlighting Gujarat's growing role in hosting major sporting events.

“The opening ceremony, themed ‘every arrow tells a story of courage,’ will celebrate the determination, resilience and sporting excellence of para-athletes, with the tournament showcasing precision and perseverance on an international platform,” Sanghavi said.

“Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat has emerged as a major hub for hosting international sporting events. The hosting of the international series in Ahmedabad is expected to further highlight Gujarat's growing profile as a destination for major sporting events and provide a global platform for para-archery,” he added.

The tournament will be formally inaugurated on September 4.

AAI president Arjun Munda said hosting the series would give Indian archers an opportunity to compete against leading international athletes on home soil.

“It is a matter of great pride for the Archery Association of India to host the Hyundai World Archery Para Series in Ahmedabad. Bringing the world's best Para Archers to India will provide our athletes with a world-class competitive opportunity while inspiring a new generation of athletes,” Munda said.

He added that Ahmedabad's selection reflected India's growing ability to host major international sporting events and its commitment to inclusive and accessible sport.

AAI secretary general Virendra Sachdeva said the event would contribute to the development of the para-archery ecosystem in India by bringing athletes, coaches and members of the international archery community together in the country.

“Hosting the World Archery Para Series in India is a significant milestone for the sport and for the growth of the Para Archery ecosystem,” Sachdeva said.

“Bringing a global field to India creates an opportunity to showcase the quality of Para Archery to a much wider audience, while bringing athletes, coaches and the international archery community together on Indian soil,” he added.

Source: IANS

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SAS Nagar (Punjab), Sep 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amritsar Soormas registered a stunning seven-wicket win over Fazilka Falcons to open their account in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League 2026 at the I.S. Bindra Stadium, Mohali, on Wednesday.

Batting first, Fazilka Falcons posted 182/9 in 20 overs after recovering from an early setback.

The Falcons were reduced to 38/2 before Vihaan Malhotra and Sanvir Singh steadied the innings with an important 83-run partnership for the third wicket. Malhotra scored a quick 60 off 34 balls, while Sanvir continued the attack with 63 off 35 balls.

However, Amritsar’s bowlers came back strongly in the latter stages and kept picking up wickets to prevent Fazilka from finishing with an even bigger total. Akash Pandey was the pick of the bowlers with 2/27 in four overs, while Mayank Markande impressed with an economical spell of 1/12 in two overs.

The Soormas also produced a brilliant fielding effort throughout the innings, with sharp catches, quick movements in the field and good work inside the circle helping them keep the Falcons under pressure.

Chasing 183, Amritsar got off to a shaky start and were reduced to 39/3. Captain Abhishek Sharma provided a quick burst with 21 off just nine balls but was unable to continue his innings.

With the team under pressure, Naman Dhir and Abhay Choudhary took control of the chase. The pair played with confidence and attacked the Fazilka bowlers whenever they found an opportunity.

Dhir, who has been in excellent form, remained unbeaten on a brilliant 88 off 48 balls, while Choudhary provided excellent support with an unbeaten 58 off 35 balls.

The duo added an unbeaten 147-run partnership, completely changing the game after Amritsar had lost three early wickets.

Their outstanding partnership helped the Soormas reach 183/3 in just 18.1 overs, completing a comfortable seven-wicket victory with 11 balls to spare.

The win gave Amritsar Soormas their first points of the tournament and capped off an all-round performance, with their bowlers and fielders setting up the game before Dhir and Choudhary finished the chase in style.

Source: IANS

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New York, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) World No. 46 Alex Michelsen caused an upset on his way to the third round at the US Open, knocking out No. 16 seed Brandon Nakashima in a methodical second-round clash on the Grandstand on Day 4 on Wednesday.

Michelsen defeated Nakashima 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, making the most of his fourth consecutive appearance in the US Open main draw.

In the first meeting between the two Californians, Michelsen held his nerve when it mattered most, outlasting Nakashima in a compelling clash between two of the next generation of American men’s tennis.

Though 25-year-old Nakashima scored an early break to lead 2-0, 22-year-old Michelsen quickly found his range and advantage in the aggressive baseline slug-fest. Nakashima fought off two set points down 3-5, but was then done in by consecutive forced errors to relinquish the first set.

Michelsen, now recovered from the oblique injury that limited his grass-court season, broke again in the eighth game to lead the second set 5-3. He seized the momentum and served out the second set at love.

Michelsen kept up the unrelenting pressure in closing out the third set, 6-4, without significant fanfare to keep his New York run alive.

Michelsen, who is playing in his fourth consecutive US Open main draw, has now reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the fourth time in his career (following the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025 and Roland Garros 2026). His victory over Nakashima marks his second win in 10 attempts over a Top 20 opponent this season, since defeating No. 7 Taylor Fritz at Indian Wells.

Nakashima, who achieved a career-high ranking of No. 17 last month, was seeking his third US Open third-round appearance, which he achieved in 2022 and 2024. His 2026 breakthrough season included final appearances at Dallas and semifinal berths at Acapulco, Queen’s Club and Washington. His American hard-court record, powered by reaching the semifinals at Washington D.C., the final at Montreal and the semifinals at Cincinnati, drops to 13-4.

Source: IANS

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Madrid, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Canadian international forward Jonathan David said on Wednesday that he was delighted to have joined "ambitious" Atletico Madrid.

David has agreed on an initial season-long loan from Juventus, with an option for Atletico to make the move permanent at the end of the season, although in his official presentation to the press, the 26-year-old said his future would depend on him scoring goals.

"I think that in the end, my future won't be my decision. What I can do is to score goals," he told the press.

"I'm in a very positive place, and I'm at a club with great ambition, which means we can strive for greatness, and I really like that," added the forward, who said he was in condition to make his debut away to Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

He joins a growing number of Canadian footballers in La Liga, along with the Villarreal trio, Tajon Buchanan, Tani Oluwaseyi and Nathan Saliba, reports Xinhua.

"Soccer in Canada hasn't always been so big, and now we have a lot of players who play in Europe, and it fills me with particular pride to make my country and my family proud," he added.

David admitted he had not had "the easiest" time at Juventus, but said he was "ready for a new challenge. This league is a great fit for my qualities," concluded David.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid underlined their attacking strength without Julian Alvarez with a 3-1 win away to Sevilla in this weekend's La Liga clash.

Alvarez's future has been the centre of attention all week as he looks to seal a move to Barcelona, and the Argentine international wasn't in the squad as Atletico travelled to play a side that had won its first two games of the season.

Two goals from Alex Baena and one from Ademola Lookman gave Atletico a 3-0 lead after 33 minutes. Miguel Sierra pulled a goal back for Sevilla in the 66th minute, but it was not enough to save the home side from defeat.

Source: IANS

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New York, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula put on a superb, dominant performance to overcome American Sofia Kenin to reach the women's singles third round at the US Open, reaching this stage for a seventh year in a row in New York on Wednesday.

This was the seventh head-to-head clash in the rivalry between the two players, and Pegula was in imperious form as she won 6-3, 6-1 in just 56 minutes.

Pegula, who will become World No. 1 for the first time if she claims her maiden Grand Slam title and if Elena Rybakina loses before the semifinals, improved to 47-12 overall this season and 5-2 against Kenin, who had reached the second round by beating veteran Venus Williams.

It was the most straightforward of their contests after their first four meetings, played between 2016 and 2021, all went to three sets. Since then, Pegula has enjoyed a trio of straight-sets wins, but this was the first time she conceded fewer than eight games.

"Every match we've played throughout the years has been very tough," Pegula said in her on-court interview. "Sonya's given me a lot of trouble in the past; she's a great player and a champion. I was just trying to stay focused on what I needed to do, and luckily was able to be pretty efficient out there today," she was quoted as saying by the WTA Tour.

Pegula, the 2024 runner-up, will next face the 2021 runner-up, No. 31 seed Leylah Fernandez, who had not won a Grand Slam match in 2026 before this week. The Canadian defeated Mananchaya Sawangkaew

6-4, 6-1 to book her place in the US Open third round for a third time.

Pegula leads their head-to-head 3-1, with all meetings coming on North American outdoor hard courts. The most recent was in this year's Miami third round, which Pegula won 6-2, 6-2.

In her match against Kenin, Pegula served notice of how strong she has been with her serve in her first-round win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse, in which she conceded only seven points on serve.

The 32-year-old repeated that feat against Kenin. Once again, she dropped seven points behind her delivery, and this time, she didn't even face a break point. Her five aces took her tournament total so far to nine.

Pegula's serve may have been responsible for the eyebrow-raising numbers, but her return game was in fine form as well. While Kenin gifted the opening break to her on a double fault, Pegula's grit saw her convert a fourth break point to move up 2-0 in the second set, and she found her best backhand returns of the day to seize the double break for 4-0.

Source: IANS

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Shenzhen, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Japan's Kodai Naraoka defeated China's Li Shifeng in straight games at the 2026 BWF China Masters on Wednesday, advancing to the men's singles last 16.

Li failed to avenge his quarterfinal defeat to Naraoka at the BWF World Championships two weeks ago, where the Japanese shuttler went on to finish runner-up.

Li led for much of the opening game, but Naraoka fought back to take it 21-18. The Japanese quickly pulled away in the second game and cruised to a 21-7 victory.

"I made some mistakes while leading, which allowed him to turn the game around. That also affected my mindset at the start of the second game," Li said after the match.

The defending Asian Games men's singles champion said he was looking forward to the upcoming continental event. "I will give it my all. The Asian Games will be a fresh start, and I hope I can do better," he added.

France's Popov brothers advanced in both the men's singles and doubles. Toma Junior Popov overcame veteran Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei 22-20, 21-15, while second seed Christo Popov battled from one game down to beat Thailand's Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul 9-21, 23-21, 21-16.

The brothers then teamed up to defeat twin brothers Lee Fang-chih and Lee Fang-jen of Chinese Taipei 21-18, 21-7 in the men's doubles, securing spots in the last 16 of two events.

However, their French teammates Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, who had just won the mixed doubles title at the World Championships, suffered a surprising exit after losing 23-21, 21-10 to Liu Kuang-heng and Hsu Yin-hui of Chinese Taipei.

In the women's singles, second seed Wang Zhiyi of China eased past Thailand's Tonrug Saeheng, who ranked No. 71 in the world, 21-6, 21-14 in 38 minutes.

Thai shuttler Ratchanok Intanon won over Tung Ciou-tong of Chinese Taipei 21-16, 21-14 to advance.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) From working a private job for ₹7,000 a month to sharing a dressing room with established Indian Premier League (IPL) stars like Sameer Rizvi, Mohsin Khan, and Karn Sharma, Shakti Verma’s rise is one of the most compelling stories of Season 4 of the UP T20 League.

Hailing from Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, the fast bowler was discovered through the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association’s (UPCA) Speed Hunt, a grassroots talent scouting initiative. He consistently clocked speeds of 138 km/h to top the charts at the Lucknow selection trials, earning a direct ticket to the UPT20 player auction where the Kanpur Superstars secured him for ₹2,50,000.

While the ongoing season has been a challenging one for the Kanpur Superstars, Shakti has already featured in three games, proving that raw talent can thrive when given the right platform.

Shakti’s journey is rooted in humble beginnings. He is the eldest son of Amar Singh Verma, a local motor mechanic. Despite severe financial constraints, his father supported his cricketing ambitions, often managing to buy expensive season cricket balls for his practice. However, the overall cost of professional cricket nearly forced Shakti out of the game.

"My father does a normal job as a mechanic, and I am the eldest at home," Shakti shared. "Cricket is a very expensive game. I used to do a private job earning ₹7,000 a month. With that salary, I couldn't buy cricket shoes worth ₹7,000. My coach, Sarvan Nawab sir, provided all the backing I needed. Whatever cricket I have played, and whatever I achieve in the future, is all because of him."

Shakti's entry into formal cricket took time. He started purely on the local tennis ball circuits. "When I played tennis ball cricket, boys would tell me I bowled well. A friend took me to my coach. Initially, I wanted to bat, but my coach told me to stick to bowling, and he polished my skills. My seniors like Vipraj Nigam and Shivam bhai also guided me and helped me financially during tough times."

The UPCA’s decision to keep the Speed Hunt trials entirely free of cost was the crucial turning point for players like Shakti, removing the financial barrier that often keeps rural talent hidden.

"That free trial was a very big thing for us," Shakti explained. "If someone comes from a well-off family, an entry fee of ₹1,500 is very little for them. But for a normal boy, even ₹10 is a lot. Because the trials were free, boys like us got a massive boost. If the Speed Hunt happens every year, more boys and better talents will emerge from the bottom."

Being picked at the auction for ₹2.5 Lakh has fundamentally changed his financial reality. "The money we get from this platform can be utilised to invest in ourselves," he noted with raw honesty. "The amount we received is more than enough for us. For people from normal families, this prize money is huge. Frankly, I had never seen this much money in my life before."

Shakti remains deeply aware of the opportunity in front of him. He credits the state association for bridging the gap between district-level struggles and professional leagues.

"The Speed Hunt gave a chance to new boys who couldn't reach this level otherwise," Shakti said. "Players from the grassroots who didn't get opportunities in trophy cricket got a huge platform here. I am very thankful to the UPCA, Rajeev Shukla sir, and Dr. Sanjay Kapoor sir for this initiative. If we do well here, we can even play in the IPL and get international recognition. We can go very far."

Source: IANS

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Shenzhen (China), Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Singles star Kidambi Srikanth and top men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty kept the Indian hopes alive in the BWF China Masters even as Lakshya Sen made his exit in the Round of 32 stage matches at the Shenzhen Arena on Wednesday.

Srikanth, a former World Championship runner-up, defeated Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei in straight games in a men's singles Round of 32 match, winning 21-18, 21-15 in a 35-minute encounter on Court 2 at Shenzhen Arena.

In the men's doubles, fourth seeds Rankireddy and Shetty joined him in the pre-quarterfinals by getting past the Malaysian pair of Junaidi Arif and Kang Khai Xing, winning 21-11, 21-16 in 40 minutes on Court 1.

World No. 20 Tanvi Sharma also advanced to the next stage in the women's singles second round by beating Amalie Schulz of Denmark 21-16, 21-17 in 31 minutes.

India had a mixed day in the mixed doubles section, as Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto reached the pre-quarterfinals with a 21-8, 21-9 win over Tonkid Saeheng and Tonrug Saeheng of Thailand in 24 minutes.

The contingent suffered a setback in the mixed doubles as Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde lost to the Chinese Taipei pair of Wu Guan Xun and Lee Chia Hsin, 21-16, 21-18 in 34 minutes.

In the women's singles, Devika Sihag went down to Kaloyana Nalbantova of Bulgaria in the Round of 32 clash on Court 3, losing 21-18, 21-15 in the USD 1,250,000 event.

In the men's singles, Srikanth surged to an early 7-1 lead and kept up the pressure as he won points to extend the lead to 12-3. Though Chi Yu Jen narrowed the gap to 13-8, Srikanth maintained his upper hand to win the first game.

In the second game, Srikanth took an early lead, but Chi levelled up at 4-4. The Chinese Taipei player went ahead 8-6. Srikanth then won four points in a row, then went on to take a 16-11 lead and went on to win the game and match at 21-15.

Earlier, Lakshya Sen’s China Masters campaign came to an early end on Wednesday as the Indian shuttler went down to Canada’s Victor Lai in straight games in the round of 32.

Sen suffered a 14-21, 7-21 straight-games loss at the hands of the 2026 World Championships bronze medallist here at the Shenzhen Arena. This was the Indian's third loss to the Canadian in the pair's fourth career meeting.

Moreover, this was Lai's third win over Sen this year. The Canadian got the better of the Indian at the Thomas Cup and in the round of 16 of the China Open in July. Sen's only win over Lai was a gruelling three-game All England Open semifinal in March that Sen won 21-16, 18-21, 21-15.

In another men's singles action, Raunak Chauhan kick-started his campaign with a straight-games win over Liu Yu Xuan of China, 21-15, 21-18. Meanwhile, Saneeth Dayanand defeated third seed Chinese Dong Tian Yao 9-21, 21-18, 21-15.

However, Kiran George lost the three-game battle 15-21, 23-21, 10-21 to Shogo Ogawa of Japan.

Source: IANS

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Dubai, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) India women's bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi has brushed off concerns surrounding the team's late-order batting collapse against Thailand, describing it as a natural phase of T20 cricket as the side prepares to face Hong Kong China in a Group A clash on Thursday.

Despite securing a comfortable 94-run victory over Thailand, seven-time champions India's batting frailties resurfaced in alarming fashion. Cruising at 101/2 at the halfway mark, thanks to opener Shafali Verma’s explosive 36-ball 64, India lost seven wickets for just 29 runs in the second half of the innings to eventually finish on 159/9.

“Yeah, but that's the nature of the sport. We are playing a T20 sport. So it's not that every time we get into it, we will be executing our plans. There will be times when we will probably not execute the plans as well as we would have wanted to. So there will be a downfall. But if you see, there was a comeback also.

“The way they came back really well, they stretched the partnership at the end. Those important runs were contributed by the middle order and the lower order batters, which probably created that 160 mark. Then after that, you saw how they bowled the game,” Salvi told reporters in the pre-match press conference.

He also highlighted how the squad's physical and mental preparation during a pre-tournament camp in Bengaluru helped them adapt seamlessly to the severe heat and humidity at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. “Post England, we also had a camp in Bengaluru. So during that period we also worked, I mean, in that weather, and then we were travelling to Dubai.

“So as we know, as professional cricketers, they have to handle different weather. So they are acclimatising and getting used to the conditions. As far as bowling is concerned, we have built their workload from the camp itself. While they had those practice sessions in Dubai, they have had those overs under their belt.

“I think the conditions currently are hot and humid. But we already knew about it when we came into the tournament. So accordingly we had prepared and trained ourselves, not just physically but mentally as well. So we had actually planned that way. When we came here, we practised under these conditions. We thought that girls got good exposure to the sort of surface which they expected in the practice sessions,” he added.

Salvi further commended the execution from both pace and spin units in their opening win over Thailand. “I thought they utilised it really well, and getting into that first game against Thailand, I thought the girls had acclimatised really well. If you see in that game, there were pacers also who got the wickets, and there were spinners also who were getting the wickets.

“If you see the score line also, in the first 10 overs we were like 100. I think it's about utilising those conditions well. Whoever utilises those conditions would probably be at the better end of the game,” he added.

He also praised left-arm spinner N Sree Charani for her rapid rise up the international rankings through her disciplined training regime. “I think she is an exceptional talent. She has created an impact from day one, when she stepped into the Indian women's cricket team. One year down the line, you see where she has reached in the rankings as well.

“I think she is someone who focuses mainly on her basics while she is practising in the nets. Every day, there are some other things she wants to learn. If you see the practice sessions, if you are following or covering that, you will see every single time that she comes into the nets, she challenges herself to do different situations and tries to express herself in the nets also.”

With a busy international schedule ahead, Salvi explained that managing the physical load of the entire bowling attack remains a top priority for the team management and is not just restricted to one bowler.

“So it's about everyone. It's not only about Renuka in particular - it's about all the bowlers. We are managing their workloads really well. If you see the kind of tournament that they have gone through, I mean, they have been continuously playing.

“They are into the main and marquee tournaments. Then there are camps in between, and then now, like this Asia Cup and, after it, there is another tournament lined up and a camp again. So it is like each of the bowlers has to go through their building-up phase, then maintenance phase.

“Then, I mean, play those games, and there will be a phase where they are taking a break, focusing on their training aspect, and then they are again rebuilding themselves. So for all the bowlers, there is a definite plan through which they are having those overs under their belts so that they are at that optimum during the tournament.”

Addressing seam-bowling all-rounder Arundhati Reddy’s progress, Salvi underlined her dedication to refining her skills through structured practice routines. “Basically, if you see Arundhati, I have always maintained consistently that she is a very hard-working girl. I mean, if you see her working in the nets and covering all the net sessions also, she is always there practising her skills.

“So it is a process. I mean, for all the bowlers, if you see, it is a process that they go through. There will be times when they will be successful, and there might be a downfall also. But then, they are not going away from the process. They are sticking to their process, and what is working really well for them is thinking about what the grey areas are to improve.

“Obviously, they are focusing on their strengths primarily and then thinking about the grey areas and maintaining their strengths and probably working on their grey areas during the practice session. So that is how the process has been.

“Every single time that they step onto the field, be it a practice session or during the tournament or a practice session during the camp, they come with an objective. There is not a particular thing, but there are different aspects at different points in time. So depending upon what she is working on, we cater to it, and accordingly she comes into the nets prepared,” he concluded.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bangladesh have recalled Najmul Hossain Shanto and fast bowler Hasan Mahmud to their T20I squad for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, while Litton Das returns to lead the 15-man side following a hamstring injury.

Litton missed Bangladesh's recent T20I series against Zimbabwe and Australia due to the injury. But he’s now back to resume captaincy duties ahead of the multi-sport event, which begins on September 17 in the Aichi-Nagoya region.

Shanto makes his return to the shortest format after featuring against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in May last year. The top-order batter endured a lean T20 run of 19 innings without a half-century, which resulted in him losing the captaincy to Litton.

Shanto, though, recently spearheaded Bangladesh to a historic first Test victory in Australia, where he scored a half-century in Darwin. He also compiled 355 runs, including a century and a fifty, during the last Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season.

Pacer Hasan Mahmud also returns to the national T20 setup after playing during the Pakistan tour last year, where he managed three wickets across three matches at an economy rate of 11.30. Mahmud was named Player of the Match alongside Shanto in the Darwin Test win and claimed 10 wickets at an average of 24.67 in the last BPL.

Wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain have been dropped from the squad, while fast bowler Nahid Rana misses out as he continues to recover from a side strain.

Bangladesh enter the tournament as direct quarterfinalists alongside India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and hosts Japan. The team will open its campaign in the quarterfinals on September 28 against the winner of Group B, with all cricket fixtures scheduled to take place at the Korogi Sports Park.

The side will be aiming to build on their performance from the previous edition of the Asian Games, where they earned a bronze medal behind silver-medallists Sri Lanka and gold medal winners India.

Bangladesh squad: Litton Das (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Mosaddek Hossain, Yasir Ali, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud.

Source: IANS

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Birmingham, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Fast bowler Brydon Carse has been left out of England's 15-man squad for the third and final Test against Pakistan, starting at Edgbaston on September 9, as he remains under police investigation following an arrest in Derby.

Carse, 31, was omitted from the second Test at Lord's after being arrested on August 22 outside a nightclub. Derbyshire police confirmed they are investigating allegations of assault.

Despite playing for Durham in their County Championship victory over Gloucestershire last week, Carse was not selected for their ongoing fixture against Northamptonshire and has not been recalled by national selectors.

Uncapped pacer Sonny Baker, 23, retains his spot in the squad after replacing Carse ahead of the Lord's Test. Fast bowler Matthew Fisher is the only player dropped from the squad as England aim to complete a 3-0 series sweep in Birmingham. England have an unassailable 2- 0 series lead following a victory by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley and a thumping 194-run win at Lord's.

With six white-ball games against Sri Lanka coming up once the Test series is over, England management could rotate key seamers Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, and Josh Tongue. That dynamic could open the door for Baker, seamer Sam Cook, or off-spinner Shoaib Bashir to feature at Edgbaston.

Cook, 29, earned his single Test cap against Zimbabwe last summer, while Bashir has yet to feature in the current series as England has favoured an all-pace bowling unit. Baker’s sole Test appearance came against New Zealand at The Oval in June.

Pakistan, meanwhile, face further uncertainty after taking drastic measures following their heavy back-to-back defeats. The visitors have dropped seven players, including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, and Khurram Shahzad, called up five uncapped cricketers, and parted ways with their head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed ahead of the final Test, with white-ball coach Mike Hesson stepping in.

England squad: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, and Josh Tongue.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Channelling the all-round versatility of Ravindra Jadeja and the unwavering confidence of Hardik Pandya, the 19-year-old left-arm spinner Kartik Yadav has emerged as the defensive engine behind Kashi Rudras' bid for a historic third consecutive UP T20 League title.

The two-time defending champions are set to face Noida Super Kings in a high-stakes Eliminator, after rebounding from a mid-season four-match losing streak to secure third place in the league stage with 10 points. The turnaround extends Kashi’s streak of reaching the playoffs to four consecutive seasons.

Kashi enter the playoffs brimming with confidence, thanks to Kartik's match-winning spell against table-toppers Meerut Mavericks, where he took 3-12 in four overs to bowl them out for 119. Across the regular season, Kartik has picked up 14 wickets in 12 matches at an economy rate of 6.29, an average of 15.29, and a strike rate of 14.57.

“Playing-wise, I would say Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya as well, as he has that mindset. Jadeja does left-arm spin bowling, left-handed batting, and his fielding is also good. I see him as a contributor for the team in all three departments, whenever needed in any format.

“So, I have the same mindset whenever I am readying to play for any team, be it my Kashi team or domestic team, and hopefully, if I play for India, I will play for the Indian team in every department. As far as Hardik bhaiya is concerned, I see and want that mindset of his. I see that he is confident.

“No matter what the situation is, there is no pressure on him. He handles the pressure well, and he has in his mind that I am the best -- not in a negative sense, but in a positive sense. So, I admire that a lot about him,” Kartik told IANS in an exclusive conversation.

For Kartik, the turning point came at the Madan Mohan Malviya Stadium in Prayagraj when coach Amit Pal advised him to swap the bat for the ball. In his early days, Kartik focused strictly on scoring runs, even in school cricket.

But Pal urged him to give spin bowling a try, and from there, it was no looking back for him. The son of a CRPF official, Kartik soon moved to a cricket academy in Ghaziabad to hone his newly embraced craft, something which has paid off very well.

Despite his standout performances with the ball, including a best spell of 4-7 this season, also the second-best figures this season, Kartik’s primary focus is on run restriction rather than chasing wickets.

“The plans were not much (before picking 3-12). I did well in the other matches without much thought in mind. Whenever the team needed me, I used to perform, be it in bowling or any other department, and the result was in our favour.

“My personal point of view is that I am not much behind in picking wickets. I try to give away as few runs as possible or save as many runs as possible for my team. Be it in bowling, which is more so the case, as I try to give as few runs as possible while coming out to bowl. As for the wickets, it is not in my hands.

“The rhythm has always been in peak mode. I don't have any pressure. Again, I will talk about the process – like whatever we have done so far, if we play good cricket with good body language and good energy, obviously, we will win the final,” he added.

Reflecting on the team's mid-season slump, Kartik praised the dressing room culture maintained by captain Karan Sharma and head coach Dhruv Singh, which helped them to bounce back.

“We had faith in ourselves and God that we would play well, come back, and enter the playoffs. After losing four matches, in the dressing room, the morale of the players was down. It's just a matter of saying that it doesn't happen.

“But inside, you feel that you shouldn't have lost. In fact, all the players were backing each other and instilling belief that we could still make things happen. Our staff, coaches, and captain backed us, saying that we can still do good things, play well, and go to the playoffs. Hopefully, we will win the final. The captain is the one who brings the team together, and the coach is the one who leads everyone.

“On both sides, things have been very positive. There has been a lot of relaxation. They have never let us feel any pressure -- be it when on the field with the captain or outside the ground. They have always created a positive atmosphere and have shown us that we can do it. That is the biggest thing - they believe in us. They have never let us feel negative and have always been positive, and that matters a lot for the players,” he added.

Kartik highlighted the collective effort of Kashi's bowling unit, operating alongside seamer Atal Bihari Rai and ambidextrous spinner Vijay Yadav, who have taken 14 and 13 wickets respectively.

“There is no pressure as such, as I have faced such situations before. There was no pressure, as just like there is a batting partnership, we have a bowling partnership. It’s not just the three of us - there are other bowlers in our team who have done well - like Rishabh Rajput and Sangam, who is a young player. There are other fast bowlers who have done well. There are good bowling partnerships, and the result is in front of us,” he added.

The 19-year-old’s form in the UP T20 League follows early exposure to multi-day domestic cricket, having represented Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy last season and taking a five-wicket haul on debut against Tamil Nadu.

“I will explain the experience to you. After last year’s league, I didn't go for the Ranji Trophy straightaway. I got selected in the U23 team and performed in that. I then got selected for senior red-ball games and got a five-wicket haul on debut – it’s a big achievement at this age, as per me. But I will always have the hunger to play more cricket at a higher level,” Kartik said.

Looking ahead to the knockout fixture against Noida Super Kings, Kartik signed off by maintaining a process-driven outlook. “I don't think too much, and I don't plan too much. We just want to keep doing it the way we play because we know who the players are and what they can do.

“We know their tactics and what their team can do. So, there is no pressure - let's work on the process, and the rest, let's see, as results are in God's hands. Everyone's family will be happy. Not just mine, families of all players and staff members,” he concluded.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) India U17 women’s head coach Joakim Alexandersson believes the Young Tigresses showed encouraging signs during their recent tour of Tashkent, where they played out two goalless draws against Uzbekistan, as the team continues its preparations for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur next month.

India faced the Central Asian side twice at the UFA National Football Centre last week, with neither match producing a goal. However, Alexandersson felt the scorelines did not fully reflect the balance of play, with his side enjoying greater control but falling short in the decisive moments in attack.

“I think the scoreline reflects our performances quite well,” he said. “We were the dominant team in both matches, but we were sloppy in our passing and combinations in the final third, which affected the number of chances we were able to create.”

While the attacking department remains an area for improvement, the Swedish coach was particularly pleased with India’s work without the ball. The Young Tigresses kept Uzbekistan scoreless across 180 minutes and, according to their coach, displayed the intensity and collective organisation that the team has been working towards.

“I think our defensive performance, in particular, was very much in line with what I want from the team,” the Swedish head coach explained. “We looked very well synchronised as a unit and showed a level of aggression that I have emphasised a lot in our training. It was also encouraging to see that most players maintained the style of play and intensity we expect from them.”

The Tashkent matches also gave the coaching staff a clearer indication of what needs to be addressed before the qualifying campaign begins from October 5 to 11 in Malaysia. Alexandersson said India created opportunities but must become sharper with their movement and finishing in the final third.

“We created many good half-chances and a few really clear-cut chances in both matches, enough to normally be able to win them,” he added. “Defensively we look very solid, and we didn’t concede any big chances on goal. But we still have a few things to work on over the final month before the qualifying matches, like the timing of our runs into the box when delivering crosses or cutbacks. We also need to practice being a little more composed in front of the goal when an opponent is trying to block the shot.”

The overseas friendlies were also important in giving India’s attacking players exposure against international opposition, with the team using the matches to assess different options before the qualifiers.

“It was valuable to give an opportunity for the attacking players to get some playing time and gain a better understanding of what they are capable of doing against international opposition,” said the Swedish coach.

Alexandersson is already familiar with the demands of guiding India through the qualification process, having previously led the U17 women’s side to a historic place at the 2026 edition of the continental championship. His objective in the current cycle is to guide India to successive AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup qualifications for the first time.

Beyond the results and tactical lessons from Tashkent, the coach also took encouragement from the atmosphere within the squad and the players’ willingness to improve.

“The most important thing I take away is that the girls genuinely seem to enjoy being together and that we had a very positive few days as a group,” he said. “From a footballing perspective, it is clear that this group has a strong desire to develop. There is also a great deal of talent. Now, we simply need to work on becoming a little more tactically intelligent all over the pitch, but especially in the final third. I believe we should have a fair chance to put up really good performances in the near future.”

The Young Tigresses returned to India on Monday and have resumed their preparation camp in Porvorim, Goa. Before leaving for Kuala Lumpur, India will face the Philippines in two more friendly matches on September 26 and 29, giving Alexandersson and his squad further opportunities to fine-tune their preparations before the qualifiers.

Source: IANS

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Madrid, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) FC Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado made no effort to hide his disappointment at the way he has been treated by the club on Wednesday as he prepared to join fellow La Liga club Deportivo de La Coruña.

The midfielder on Tuesday agreed to join the recently promoted club on a season-long loan, which also gives Deportivo the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season, after Barcelona made it clear that he was not in the plans of coach Hansi Flick for the new season.

Casado was left without a shirt number and had to train apart from the first team squad for the past few days as Barcelona looked for a destination to send him.

He was stopped by the press as he prepared to leave the city and made his feelings clear: "We all have things to improve," he said, adding that "it is always complicated to leave Barcelona."

However, the 22-year-old, who has 75 first-team appearances for Barcelona, said he was happy to join Deportivo, who have been very active in the transfer market this summer. "They have offered me an exciting project," commented Casado.

Born on September 14, 2003, at Sant Pere de Vilamajor in Spain, Marc Casadó Torras started his senior career with Barcelona B in 2022 and stayed with them till 2024. The 22-year-old, who plays as a defensive midfielder, won a domestic treble (La Liga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España) with Barcelona.

But Barcelona surprised everyone by loaning Casadó, who made his international debut for Spain in 2024, to Deportivo de La Coruña, also in the first division, for one year.

Founded in 1906 as Club Deportivo de la Sala Calvet by Federico Fernández-Amor Calvet, Deportivo have won the La Liga title once, in the 1999–2000 season, and finished as runners-up on five occasions.

The club, which made it back to the Spanish top flight, has also won the Spanish Cup twice (1994–95 and 2001–02), three Spanish Super Cups (1995, 2000 and 2002), and the now-defunct Concurso España (1912).

Source: IANS

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Tashkent, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) India U20 men’s football team will look to carry forward their winning momentum when they take on hosts Uzbekistan in a crucial Group B encounter of the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers at the Do’stlik Stadium in Tashkent on Thursday.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 pm IST, with both teams entering the contest on the back of victories in their respective opening fixtures.

India began their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Syria on Monday, courtesy of Shami Singamayum’s late strike in the 86th minute. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, registered a convincing 2-0 win over Bangladesh to move to the top of Group B, with India currently second on goal difference.

With only the group winners and the seven best runners-up from the eight groups progressing to the AFC U20 Asian Cup, every point could prove crucial. India could even seal top spot on Thursday if they beat Uzbekistan and Bangladesh fail to defeat Syria in the other Group B fixture.

However, head coach Mahesh Gawali is refusing to look too far ahead and wants his players to concentrate on the immediate challenge.

“The first match was important, and it is good to start with a win. The first half was tough, but we defended well. We had some chances, and we utilised them and scored the goal to win the match. We have another difficult match coming, so we have to stay focused and continue the good momentum,” Gawali told AIFF’s official website.

India have had little time to recover from their opening fixture. The players who started against Syria underwent a lighter recovery session on Tuesday, while the remaining squad members had a full training session.

The team also held its official match-eve training session on Wednesday evening, with the sessions being scheduled around Thursday’s kick-off time to help the players acclimatise to the evening conditions in Tashkent.

The challenge is expected to be significantly tougher against Uzbekistan, who impressed in their opening match. Gawali acknowledged the quality of the hosts but insisted India would stick to their plans.

“Uzbekistan are a very good team. They are very sharp and clever. Their transitions, both in attack and defence, are very sharp. They have a lot of quality in the team. Yes, it will be a difficult match for us, but we have to focus on our game plan. We have to be organised, follow our plan and give our best,” he said.

India will also be looking to improve their head-to-head record against Uzbekistan at this level. The two sides have met four times previously in competitive fixtures, with India losing all four encounters.

Despite having less possession against Syria, India impressed with their defensive organisation and discipline. Goalkeeper Suraj Singh Aheibam made several important saves before Shami’s late goal secured all three points.

Gawali believes there is still room for improvement despite the positive start. “There are always things we can improve. Against Syria, we defended well and showed good character. We have to improve in every game. The mentality is the same,” he said.

A positive result against Uzbekistan would put India in a strong position in their bid to qualify for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former India international Mehrajuddin Wadoo has been appointed as the head coach of the India U17 men’s national football team by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), with the side beginning preparations for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 Qualifiers.

Wadoo, 42, has taken charge of the U17 side as its preparatory camp got underway in Margao, Goa, on Wednesday. The initial phase of the camp will include trials as the coaching staff looks to identify and prepare a strong squad for the continental qualifiers.

India have been placed in Group E of the AFC U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 Qualifiers, which are scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from November 11 to 20. The Indian youngsters will face hosts Malaysia, Palestine, Singapore and Guam in the group stage.

An AFC Pro Licence holder, Wadoo brings experience from both his playing and coaching career. He most recently served as head coach of Mohammedan Sporting Club and has also been in charge of Real Kashmir FC and Sudeva Delhi FC.

Wadoo enjoyed a successful international career with India, representing the national team in several major competitions. He was part of the Indian squad that won the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008 and later featured at the AFC Asian Cup in 2011.

The former defender was also part of India’s SAFF Championship-winning side in 2005 and played in the teams that lifted the Nehru Cup in 2007 and 2009. At club level, he was a member of the Chennaiyin FC squad that won the Indian Super League title in 2015.

Speaking after taking charge of the U17 team, Wadoo said the immediate priority would be to create the right environment for the young players to develop while preparing them to compete at the highest level.

“It is a great honour to take charge of the India U17 men’s national team. This is an important age group, and our immediate focus is to create an environment where they can develop and compete at the highest level,” Wadoo said.

“We have started the camp with trials and will prepare for qualifiers in the best possible manner. I am looking forward to working with the players and having a fruitful camp,” he added.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Local favourite Vishesh Sharma and Noida’s Amardeep Malik moved into a share of the halfway lead at 14-under 126 after the second round of the INR 1 crore Telangana Golconda Masters at the Hyderabad Golf Association course in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old Vishesh (60-66), who matched the course record with an opening 10-under 60, followed it with a four-under 66 containing six birdies and two bogeys. The two nines presented a sharp contrast for the Hyderabad golfer.

Starting from the 10th, Vishesh made the most of the course’s scoring stretch before encountering a more difficult run on the front nine. Malik (61-65), who began the day alone in third and one stroke behind overnight co-leaders Vishesh and Dhruv Sheoran, made six birdies against a solitary bogey on the par-five 17th for a five-under 65.

The 41-year-old, a two-time winner on the DP World PGTI, reached the top despite feeling that he had not struck the ball as consistently as he did during his opening 61. Sheoran (60-67) slipped one spot to third at 13-under 127. The Gurugram golfer mixed six birdies with a bogey on the par-five eighth and a double bogey on the par-four 18th, his final hole of the day, in a three-under 67.

Delhi’s Honey Baisoya (64-64) produced a second successive six-under 64, making seven birdies and one bogey to climb from tied fifth to fourth at 12-under 128.

Bangladesh’s Md Akbar Hossain (67-66) and Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema (66-67), a four-time winner on the DP World PGTI, shared fifth place at seven-under 133. Vishesh was satisfied with his score after returning early in the morning following a late finish to his opening round.

“I’m pleased with the round, although the two nines were quite contrasting,” he said. “I started well on the back nine and put together a run of birdies, but the front nine was more of a mixed bag. A few things could have gone better, but it was important to adapt quickly and settle into the round.”

Morning rain softened the fairways, while stronger winds and more demanding flag positions forced players to alter their approach. “The course played very differently compared with yesterday,” Vishesh said. “The fairways were much softer, the wind was considerably stronger, and the flags were tucked into more difficult areas. I had to adjust my strategy, aim for the correct sections of the greens and avoid chasing every flag.”

His knowledge of the course helped him identify safer misses, although he still left himself several difficult recovery shots. “Playing at my home course gives me a slight advantage because I know the better places to miss,” Vishesh said. “Today, however, I landed it in the wrong areas a few times and had to work hard on some up-and-downs.”

He identified the shorter par fours from the 12th through the 15th as the main scoring stretch, while describing the fourth, fifth and eighth as some of the course’s more demanding holes.

Malik was even more satisfied with his second-round 65 than his opening 61 because of the number of difficult situations he successfully negotiated. “I didn’t strike the ball particularly well today,” Malik said. “There were stretches when I hit it nicely, but there were also moments when I left myself some challenging par saves. Fortunately, I managed to make the most of them, which is why I was actually happier with today’s round.”

Malik admitted that his opening score tempted him into playing more aggressively than the course demanded. “After shooting a low number, the instinct is to attack again,” he said. “But this isn’t a course you can overpower. You have to play intelligently, and I didn’t do that particularly well in a few places.”

Two birdies stood out for Malik. On the second, he drove the green into the headwind for the first time at this venue and two-putted. He then birdied the difficult 18th after hitting a drive and pitching wedge to eight feet.

“Reaching the second green showed that the work I put in during the summer has helped,” Malik said. “The birdie on the 18th was also satisfying because it is a tough hole playing into the wind.”

Panchkula’s 15-year-old Arjunveer Shishir (72-63) became the youngest player to make the cut on the DP World PGTI. His seven-under 63 lifted him into a share of 12th place at five-under 135.

Defending champion Jamal Hossain (72-66) of Bangladesh climbed from tied 72nd to tied 24th at two-under 138. Current DP World PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar (70-67) moved from tied 50th to tied 17th at three-under 137.

The round also produced a first in DP World PGTI history, with three holes-in-one recorded on the same day. Abhinav Lohan and Anshul Kabthiyal both aced the par-three 11th, while Harman Sachdeva made his hole-in-one on the par-three seventh.

The cut fell at one-over 141, with 59 players from the field of 132 advancing to the final two rounds.

The Race to India Championship is a competition to crown the DP World PGTI’s number one player, and this competition will also determine the top-24 players from the PGTI Order of Merit who will earn their spots at the season-ending DP World India Championship.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) India has replaced Sri Lanka as the hosts of the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy, to be played from February 14-28, 2027, as the island nation continues to deal with administrative reforms following government interference in its cricket board.

In a statement, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said the six-team tournament will now be held in two venues -- the Cricket Club of India (CCI) in Mumbai and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium. Interestingly, the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, where India won the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, is not on the list of venues for the competition.

“The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka but will now be staged in India as Sri Lanka Cricket continues to make the requisite reforms outlined at the ICC’s Annual Conference in July,” said the ICC.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is currently governed by an interim 'Transformation Committee' installed by the Sri Lankan government to execute constitutional and administrative overhauls. As the ICC strictly prohibits political interference and refuses to recognise government-appointed bodies, SLC representatives have been barred from attending ICC board meetings since the committee's formation.

The ICC also said India was selected as the replacement host following an evaluation process that also considered proposals from Bangladesh and South Africa, with the decision ratified by the ICC Board on Wednesday.

"The ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 marks an exciting new chapter for women’s cricket. As the inaugural edition of the tournament, it will bring together the best teams in the world in an intense, high-quality competition, while creating even greater incentive for teams to continue rising through the rankings and competing for a place on the global stage."

"With a marquee ICC women’s event now taking place every year, we have a significant opportunity to build greater momentum, provide more consistency and create a stronger rhythm for the women’s game, its players and its fans around the world," said ICC Chairman.

The tournament will feature a round-robin format between the six qualified sides - Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka, with the top two teams advancing to the final on February 28. The six teams qualified as per their positions in the ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings on the qualification cut-off date of July 6.

The relocation marks the second time in recent years Sri Lanka has been stripped of a global event over administrative issues, following the shifting of the 2024 Men’s Under-19 World Cup to South Africa. The ICC stated that full match schedules and ticketing details for the 2027 Women’s Champions Trophy will be released at a later date.

Source: IANS

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Bengaluru, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Top seed Tejas Ravi survived a spirited challenge from compatriot Amrit Dhankar, while the leading seeds continued their progress into the quarterfinals of the KSLTA World Tennis Tour Junior J30 at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Tejas had to dig deep before overcoming Amrit Dhankar 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 in an absorbing Round of 16 encounter.

Meanwhile, in the girls' section, Zoha Qureshi knocked out top seed Shaivi Gaurav Dalal 6-3, 6-3 for the biggest upset of the tournament so far, while there was disappointment for second seed Karthika Padmakumar too, who retired while trailing Akshita Antil 4-6, 2-3.

Local lass and fourth seed Shreeniti Chowdhury recovered from losing the opening set to defeat Anjhalle Meka 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. The home crowd had more to cheer as two other seeds -- third seed Disha Kumar was in dominant form, defeating Tanusshri Maneni Sathesh 6-1, 6-2, while fifth seed Aahida Singh continued her impressive campaign with a convincing 6-0, 6-3 win over Deepthi Venkatesan.

The 17-year-old Tejas, who trains at Transform Academy and studies at Jain Sports School, made a fast start, breaking Amrit in the opening game. Amrit immediately hit back, but Tejas broke again twice to race to a 5-1 lead. He surrendered his serve in the seventh game before closing out the set 6-3.

The second set saw the momentum swing dramatically. Tejas found himself trailing 0-3 but fought his way back to lead 5-3 after breaking Amrit twice. Just when it appeared Tejas had taken control, Amrit produced another fightback, breaking back and winning four successive games to take the set 7-5.

The deciding set, however, took a different turn. With the score at 1-1, Amrit twisted his ankle and was visibly hampered in his movement. Tejas capitalised on the opportunity, stepping up his aggression to win the next five games and seal the match 6-1.

The victory was particularly significant given that the two youngsters had met previously in a school tournament in Pollachi, where Amrit had emerged victorious. Tejas thus reversed that result when it mattered most on the international junior stage.

RESULTS (ALL INDIANS UNLESS MENTIONED IN BRACKETS):

BOYS SINGLES (ROUND OF 16): 1-Tejas Ravi bt Amrit Dhankar 6-3, 5-7, 6-1; 3-Niyanth Badrinarayanan (USA) bt Ishaan Badagi 6-1, 6-3; Shlok Chauhan bt 7-Ayan Shetty 6-2, 6-1; 2-Ahan Shetty bt Aarush Kote (USA) 6-0, 6-3; Varad Undre bt 8-Nithinbarath KS 6-3, 3-0 (retd); 4-Vivaan Mirdha bt Neel Kelkar 6-2, 6-4; Mahijeet Pradhan bt Vishwak Reddy Gunampally4-6, 6-1, 7-5; 6-Fazal Ali Meer bt Paranjay Siwach Paranjay 7-5, 6-3.

BOYS DOUBLES (ROUND OF 16): 1-Ahan Shetty/Ayan Shetty bt Neil Ambekar/Pradyumna Tatachar 6-1, 6-1; Neel Kelkar/Mahijeet Pradhan bt Manan Rai/Evan Saha 7-6 (6), 6-3; Nithinbarath KS /Abhivadya Misra bt Jagruth Kasireddy /Puneeth Manohar 6-2, 6-3; Malay Keyurbhai Minjrola /can Lawani (CHN) bt 3-Amrit Dhankar/Tejas Ravi 6-4, 1-6, 10-8.

GIRLS SINGLES (ROUND OF 16): Akshita Antil Vs. 2-Karthika Padmakumar 4-6, 3-2 (retd); Bawyasri Asr bt 7-Tejaswi Manneni 6-2, 6-4; 3-Disha Kumar bt Tanusshri Maneni Sathesh 6-1, 6-2; 5-Aahida Singh bt Deepthi Venkatesan 6-0, 6-3; 8-Riddhi Shinde bt Aditi Paturi (USA) 6-4, 6-2; 4-Shreeniti Chowdhury bt Anjhalle Meka 4-6, 6-1, 6-3; 6-Vasundra Balajee Vs. Banu Gnanasigamani Aswin 6-2, 6-3; Zoha Qureshi bt 1-Shaivi Gaurav Dalal 6-3, 6-3.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Gujarat Titans batter Shahrukh Khan has praised Shubman Gill’s evolution as a leader, describing the India Test and ODI captain as a highly tactical cricketer whose mind is always working on the game.

Shahrukh has been in the Gujarat Titans dressing room with Gill and has witnessed the young batter develop from an emerging IPL leader into India’s captain. He noted that Gill’s leadership qualities are not always obvious externally but become more clear to teammates who train with him daily.

“Obviously, as a captain, he has grown immensely from captaining Gujarat Titans to captaining the country’s Test side. I don’t have to explain how good a captain he is. Because we saw the series in England, the way he captained, how aggressive he was whenever the team needed him to be. And looking at his journey as a captain, it’s been wonderful to share the dressing room alongside him, where he understands players very well,” Shahrukh said in an exclusive conversation with IANS.

Gill’s rise is noteworthy considering the responsibility he has assumed at a young age. Shahrukh considers his tactical awareness to be one of the key strengths of his captaincy.

“He is somebody who is very tactical. Doesn’t look like much when you see from the outside. But as teammates, when you see him every day at practise and in the game, his mind is constantly running on what to do,” he said.

“He has got so many options in his head which he more often than not chooses the right thing. And to be playing under him is a pleasure.”

Shahrukh’s remarks follow a challenging IPL 2026 season for him. Though retained by Gujarat Titans for Rs 4 crore, he failed to make a significant impact and was dropped from the playing XI halfway through the season.

For Shahrukh, the difference between his IPL challenges and his success in TNPL, where he steered his team to victory with crucial performances, highlights the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket.

“IPL is always the best league in the world. And to be a part of it and to be playing for the last 6-7 years, I feel very fortunate and lucky. Because the level in which the players are in terms of mindset is the ultimate level for any youngster to play. And from there, obviously, you want to play for the country. But yeah, I’ve had tremendous years and some bad years as well," he said.

“And as a player, the more you get into sport and you understand the sport, it’s about the highs and the lows. You just can’t be high all the time or low all the time. There has to be a balance in both and I’m fortunate enough to be a part of it,” he added.

Although Shahrukh has primarily concentrated on domestic cricket, his ongoing connection with Gill and Gujarat Titans remains a significant aspect of his IPL experience. As the upcoming IPL season approaches, the Tamil Nadu player aims to build on his TNPL recovery to deliver a more successful performance at India’s top T20 level.

Source: IANS

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New York, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Sisters Serena and Venus Williams will begin another chapter in their storied US Open partnership against 14th seeds Chan Hao-Ching and Maya Joint, with the draw setting up an immediate challenge for the two-time champions at Flushing Meadows.

The Williams sisters return to Grand Slam doubles competition together for the first time since the 2022 US Open. Their partnership at the tournament stretches back nearly three decades, beginning with their first appearance in 1997 and later producing title-winning campaigns in 1999 and 2009.

Those two triumphs form part of an extraordinary record of 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles won together. However, Serena and Venus are still searching for their first victory as a team since their run at Roland Garros in 2018.

Their most recent appearance together came in Cincinnati three weeks ago, where they were beaten in a deciding match tie-break by Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns. The pair will now attempt to translate their return to the court into a winning run at the major where they have enjoyed some of their most memorable doubles moments.

Their opening opponents arrive with considerable momentum. Chan and Australian Maya Joint have only recently joined forces but have already made an impact, reaching the final in Memphis, the second round in Toronto and the quarterfinals in Cincinnati.

Joint also carries recent history against Serena into the contest. The Australian defeated the former World No. 1 in Serena’s only singles match of her comeback so far, prevailing in three sets in the opening round at Wimbledon.

Chan, meanwhile, has previously defeated the Williams sisters as a partnership. Playing alongside Liezel Huber, the Chinese Taipei player beat Serena and Venus in the opening round in Beijing in 2013. Serena later earned a measure of revenge in 2022 when she partnered Ons Jabeur to defeat Chan and Shuko Aoyama at Eastbourne.

The winners of the first-round encounter will move on to face either Nicole Fossa Huergo and Tamara Korpatsch or Jesika Maleckova and Miriam Skoch. A potential third-round meeting with fourth seeds Hsieh Su-Wei and Jelena Ostapenko could await.

Elsewhere in the draw, top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend will launch their campaign against American wild cards Reese Brantmeier and Savannah Broadus as they chase their first US Open title together.

Siniakova previously won the New York doubles crown alongside Barbora Krejcikova in 2022, while Townsend has experienced heartbreak in two previous finals. She finished runner-up with Caty McNally in 2022 and again last year alongside Siniakova.

The defending champions will not be reunited this season. Gabriela Dabrowski has joined Luisa Stefani, with the second seeds scheduled to face Anastasia Detiuc and Irina Khromacheva in their opener. Erin Routliffe, meanwhile, has partnered Aldila Sutjiadi, and the ninth seeds will take on Ann Li and Clara Tauson.

Another intriguing first-round contest will feature former champion Sara Errani alongside 18-year-old Lilli Tagger against 16-year-old American twins Annika and Kristina Penickova. Errani and Tagger, competing together at their second major of the season after reaching the second round at Roland Garros, could potentially meet Dabrowski and Stefani in the following round.

But much of the early attention will inevitably fall on the Williams sisters, whose return to the US Open doubles draw brings one of tennis’ most celebrated partnerships back to the stage where their journey together began.

Source: IANS

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Madrid, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Midfielder Dani Ceballos returned to Real Betis in one of the last of the deadline-day deals in La Liga, which was confirmed in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The 30-year-old goes back to the club where he began his career and has agreed to a three-year contract until June 2029 after rescinding his deal with Real Madrid earlier in the summer.

Ceballos made his Betis debut in 2014 and made 98 La Liga appearances for the club before joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2017.

He had an up-and-down career at Real Madrid, playing 135 times in La Liga in nine years, in which he rarely seemed to be the first choice, and he was loaned to Arsenal for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

Betis' qualification for this season's Champions League, with its subsequent boost for the club's economy, opened the door for Ceballos to return to the club he has always supported, and he and Real Madrid reached an agreement to rescind his contract to allow his return to take place.

Dani Ceballos rescinded his contract with Real Madrid this summer after the two sides agreed to part amicably.

"Real Madrid and Dani Ceballos have reached a mutual agreement to end his period at the club," informs the Real Madrid website, which adds that Ceballos has made 215 appearances since joining from Betis in 2017. The club confirmed that midfielder Ceballos left the club this summer after the two sides agreed to rescind his contract.

Despite his over 200 games for Real Madrid, Ceballos was rarely a regular starter at the club and spent most of the second half of last season in the stands after falling out with former coach Alvaro Arbeloa.

Incoming coach Jose Mourinho had reportedly told the club he didn't want Ceballos for next season, while the 29-year-old player is now free to return to Betis, where he began his career, on a free transfer.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu cricketer Shahrukh Khan has spent much of his career carrying a name instantly recognisable across India, but despite the obvious connection to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, the Tamil Nadu batter has a different celebrity at the top of his wish list.

Shahrukh, who recently led Kovai Kings to their third Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) title, said he has not yet met the Bollywood superstar he was named after. If he could choose, the Tamil Nadu player would rather meet Salman Khan than his famous namesake.

“I really wish to meet Salman Khan more than Shah Rukh,” the cricketer said in an exclusive conversation with IANS.

The 29-year-old has had multiple chances to meet his famous namesake during his IPL career, especially in matches against Kolkata Knight Riders. However, these opportunities never came to fruition since Shah Rukh Khan was absent from the games.

“I haven’t (met him) as yet. I haven’t met Shahrukh Khan as yet. But yeah, hope to meet him soon. We played quite a few matches against KKR. But I actually missed the opportunity to meet Shahrukh Khan. He obviously did not come for the game. If he would have come, obviously, I would have met him. But you know, I really wish to meet Salman Khan more than Shahrukh,” he said.

The meeting with Shah Rukh Khan might be especially intriguing for the cricketer. Since he was born after the Bollywood star, Shahrukh is aware that he was named after the actor and is eager to see how the superstar responds when they finally meet.

“No, I will wait for his reaction first. Because I was born after him. So, I was named after him. So, I hope, I have heard that he has got an uncanny sense of humour. Obviously, I am good friends with Varun Chakravarthy. And he said that he is a really wonderful person at heart .And waiting to see what sort of an uncanny sense of humour he has. And yeah, really excited to meet him,” he said.

While his name has often been a talking point, Shahrukh has carved out his own identity in Tamil Nadu cricket over the past several years.

He has been part of the state’s cricket circuit for about two decades and has emerged as one of Tamil Nadu’s leading white-ball players. His journey has taken him to the IPL, where he has played for multiple franchises and, most recently, represented Gujarat Titans.

The most recent achievement was in the TNPL, where he guided Kovai Kings to their third championship. The team beat Madurai Panthers by 84 runs in the final, making them only the second team in the tournament's history to secure three titles.

Shahrukh sees the TNPL’s significance extending beyond his personal achievements. He considers the tournament a crucial stepping stone for young cricketers in Tamil Nadu, having already facilitated several players' progress to the IPL and other higher tiers of domestic cricket.

“Yeah, TNPL has been a platform for a lot of players from Tamil Nadu including me, Natarajan, Varun Chakravarthy, a lot of players and the way the tournament has grown over the years is just immense. And not just TNPL but the other leagues that happen around India as well. But the first domestic tournament for a state T20 was TNPL and very fortunate to be a part of this tournament," he said.

“And every year, you see new talents coming up. I hope even this year, the IPL scouts see a few talents and picks so that the tournament grows even bigger next year,” he added.

Shahrukh’s own TNPL campaign was particularly significant following a difficult IPL 2026 season with Gujarat Titans.

The batter struggled to make the desired impact in the IPL and was dropped from the playing XI midway through the tournament. Shahrukh also revealed that he used the break to address a technical issue in his batting and returned to the TNPL with greater confidence.

"I was having a technical flaw in my batting. I had a technical flaw which was hampering my batting quite a lot from the last 7-8 months. I've really come back from IPL and worked on it. My front foot was going too far across which I never used to do that before. Yeah, I had a proper couple of months in between where I could focus on my technique and get as tight as possible in that," he said.

Source: IANS

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Mohali, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ludhiana Lions achieved a convincing seven-wicket victory over Mohali Kings by chasing a target of 102 in only 8.3 overs during the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026, powered by Punjab Kings at I.S. Bindra Stadium, Mohali.

The Lions delivered a strong bowling effort, dismissing Mohali Kings for only 101 runs. Mohali faced early difficulties, continuously losing wickets, and were at 43/6, making it challenging for the lower order to reach a competitive total.

Sohraab Dhaliwal maintained composure during his innings, scoring a steady 33 off 31 balls. However, he lacked sufficient support from his teammates, and ultimately, the Kings were bowled out.

Sahil Bhaskar was the leading bowler for Ludhiana, taking 3/14 in three overs. Krish Bhagat and Lovedeep Kharod contributed with two wickets each, maintaining constant pressure on the Kings throughout the innings.

Chasing 102, Ludhiana began strongly as openers Karteek Sharma and Abhijeet Garg aggressively faced the Mohali bowlers, forging a 54-run partnership for the first wicket in only 3.5 overs.

Karteek was notably aggressive, scoring 42 runs off just 15 balls before getting out. His rapid innings provided the Lions with a solid foundation and kept the run rate comfortably in check.

Ludhiana lost two more wickets quickly, briefly giving Mohali a chance to rally. However, Salil Arora and Arjun Rajput remained composed and completed the chase without any additional losses.

The pair formed an unbroken 31-run partnership, with Arora contributing a swift 35 not out from 12 balls. His aggressive batting helped the Lions reach 102/3 in only 8.3 overs, avoiding any late-stage drama.

Ludhiana’s bowlers laid the foundation for a convincing victory, with their top-order batting and a swift finish by Salil Arora sealing a dominant performance for the Lions.

Source: IANS

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Brisbane, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) England leg-spinner Sarah Glenn has re-signed with Brisbane Heat for the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season, thus becoming the first overseas player to secure a contract under the tournament’s revamped direct signing system.

Sarah’s deal is the first to be finalised since the WBBL scrapped its overseas draft mechanism in favour of direct multi-year and single-year contracts for foreign players ahead of the new season set to run from October 29 to December 5.

“We’re rapt to have ‘Glenny’ back with us, and this time for the entire competition. She’s an outstanding person, great team player, and as we have seen, a very skilful bowler who will complement our attack in whatever role we ask of her.”

“I’ve been keeping an eye on her bowling during the year, and her efforts for Yorkshire and for the Southern Brave in The Hundred have been excellent,” said head coach Mark Sorell in a statement issued by the club.

Sarah, 27, has inked a one-year deal that will see her available for the entirety of the WBBL season 12 campaign. The signing marks her third stint with the Heat, after having previously represented the franchise in WBBL season nine and as an injury replacement during a difficult 2025 season.

She proved to be a rare bright spot during the Heat's winless campaign last year after coming in for South Africa’s seam-bowling all-rounder Nadine de Klerk. She picked up six wickets in just two matches at an average of 10.66 and finished as the team's second-highest wicket-taker behind left-arm pacer Lucy Hamilton.

Sarah has played 73 T20Is for England, taking 89 wickets at an average of 16.48 with an economy rate of 6.05, as well as picking 23 wickets from 19 ODI games. She recently returned to competitive action following a fractured thumb that ruled her out of this year’s T20 World Cup in England, making a comeback for Yorkshire in domestic county cricket and the Southern Brave in The Hundred.

Her retention provides a major boost to a Brisbane side looking to rebuild after becoming the first team in WBBL history to go through an entire season without a win. The Heat will also be led by a new leader this year after long-serving skipper Jess Jonassen stepped down. Jess, though, remains on the playing roster and will partner Sarah and Charli Knott’s off-spin bowling in a strong, multi-dimensional spin attack.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Wednesday announced the recipients of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards (TNNAA) for 2024, recognising four individuals for their achievements and contributions in land and water adventure, as well as lifetime service to the field.

Baljeet Kaur and Skalzang Rigzin have been selected in the Land Adventure category, while Rimo Saha will receive the honour for Water Adventure. Shiv Prasad Chamoli has been chosen for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards are among India’s highest honours for achievements in adventure sports and activities. The awards recognise exceptional accomplishments while promoting values such as courage, endurance, discipline, risk-taking, teamwork and effective decision-making in challenging environments.

The awardees will receive their honours from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at Rashtrapati Bhavan alongside the National Sports Awards 2025. The date of the ceremony will be announced separately.

Each recipient will be presented with a statuette and certificate, along with prize money of Rs. 15 lakh.

The selections were made on the recommendations of the National Selection Committee, which examined the nominations and conducted the required scrutiny before recommending the recipients of the national honour.

The Government presents the awards across four categories—Land Adventure, Water Adventure, Air Adventure and Lifetime Achievement—with the 2024 honours recognising awardees in three of those categories.

The Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards are intended to encourage greater participation in adventure activities, particularly among young people, while fostering resilience, courage, cooperative teamwork and the ability to respond effectively under demanding circumstances.

Through national recognition, the Government aims to further strengthen India’s adventure sports culture and encourage a wider generation of participants to pursue excellence in challenging outdoor and adventure activities.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Participating teams in the Asian Games cricket event are being offered hotel accommodation despite limited room shortages across the host region, according to Naoki Alex Miyaji, the Chief Executive Office (CEO) of Japan Cricket Association (JCA).

Concerns over the teams’ accommodation emerged last week after several top Asian teams questioned the facilities and accommodation arrangements, especially the room sizes, for the men’s and women’s T20 event, scheduled to run from September 19 to October 3.

"The Asian Games is being organised by the organising committee (AINAGOC) in collaboration with the ACC under the OCA. The JCA has provided support in some areas but is not directly involved with it. What I can say is that all parties are working hard to ensure the success of Cricket in the AGs.

"They only had 17 months to prepare and had to start from scratch as there were no Cricket venues of any standard in Aichi Prefecture. Considering the limited time and resources available, ANIAGOC and ACC have worked together to ensure that the playing facilities are suitable.

"I can also assure you that the ACC have been discussing accommodation options with AINAGOC for a long time. The participating teams in Cricket are being offered hotel accommodation. Many other sports are being accommodated in much more limited facilities such as cruise ships or container hotels. The teams are free to arrange their own accommodation if they choose to do so," Miyaji said in a conversation with IANS on Wednesday.

With cricket remaining a niche sport in Japan, fixtures will take place at Korogi Sports Park, a newly developed ground which is a 40-minute train ride away from central Nagoya. Miyaji also eased broader concerns regarding logistics and temporary venue setups for the T20 tournament at a ground which used to be a baseball facility, with pitches being created by curators who manage the surfaces at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

"There are limits on what they can do within these tight limits, but from what I have seen, the playing surface and field will be the best seen in Cricket's inclusion in the AGs. It will be a full size ground with turf and hybrid pitches prepared by the best curators, which Sri Lanka Cricket should be credited for providing," Miyaji said.

"There are both temporary and permanent facilities at the venue. The facilities on the ground are temporary, but ANIAGOC have worked very closely with the ACC for over a year now to ensure that the best facilities are provided within the limited timeline and facility restrictions.

“Despite being temporary, the facilities will provide as comfortable a space as possible for the players and officials. Please note that toilets will be available within the player area. There are also permanent facilities around the ground which will be available to the players," he added.

Miyagi further revealed that the JCA has focused its efforts on engaging the host community ahead of the sport's high-profile appearance in Japan. "The JCA has mainly been focused on engaging with the local community. We have taken Cricket to many schools and shopping centres which have received great enthusiasm. Thanks to the full support of Nissin City, we are confident that the local community will be 100 percent behind the AGs.

"We have organised many international matches and tournaments in Japan. From that experience, I can tell you that we will have many concerns leading into events with the intention of making whatever improvements possible so that we deliver the best possible tournament. I am sure all parties are working with the same spirit of working together to ensure that the AGs is a great success."

"Cricket will be one of the largest sports in the AGs. It will also be the first time the top cricket teams of Asia will be playing in Japan. We will be supporting AINAGOC and the ACC so the tournament is a success and attracts new audiences to the sport in Japan," he concluded.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) World No. 2 Alexander Zverev, who lifted his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open earlier this year, is now looking to build on that breakthrough and challenge for another major title in New York.

World No. 2 Alexander Zverev began his US Open 2026 campaign with a five-set victory over Lorenzo Sonego. The top-seeded German escaped a valiant upset bid by the Italian to prevail, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-4, in the first-round action inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Speaking in an interview shared by JioStar, Zverev reflected on winning his first Grand Slam, the work that went into achieving the feat, and his ambition to replicate that success at the US Open 2026.

"There was definitely some weight on my shoulders, for sure, especially at the age that I’m at. You never know if it’s ever going to happen. So, I was very happy to have finally lifted my first Grand Slam trophy, but now, once you do it, you want more. You want to keep going, you want to continue playing good tennis, and hopefully be a contender for the next one as well,” Zverev said while talking about winning his maiden Grand Slam title.

Reflecting on what helped him achieve the breakthrough and his ambitions of adding more Grand Slam titles, Zverev said: “I think it was just the result of the work that I’ve done over the years. A lot of times, I came up just short. That’s what maybe made the difference in the end against Flavia in the fifth set. I was feeling really ready to win, which was a different kind of feeling compared to the other finals. I’m happy that it happened.

"We’re in New York now, and I want to try and do it again. I feel like I’m finding my rhythm; I feel like I’m finding my game again, which is a very nice feeling. I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead, and hopefully I can be at my best again.”

Zverev will next face Quentin Halys in the second round as he continues his pursuit of a second Grand Slam title.

The German also spoke about the unique atmosphere at the US Open and what makes competing in New York special: "I feel the energy in the stadium, the crowds, is always very different; it’s always very high. People are energetic; it’s not a secret. New York night sessions are very, very special, so I look forward to playing those as well. But yeah, it’s this Grand Slam with the biggest stadium; I think that sums up New York quite well."

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta believes India should begin preparing for life beyond Ravindra Jadeja in Test cricket, arguing after the team’s recent two-Test series in Sri Lanka that the veteran all-rounder is no longer producing the same impact as a frontline spinner and that the management must develop its next generation of bowling options.

Jadeja, 37, finished the Sri Lanka series with eight wickets across four innings, but Dasgupta felt India’s spin attack struggled to consistently threaten the opposition on surfaces where the visitors would have expected their slower bowlers to play a decisive role.

The former wicketkeeper particularly pointed to the closing stages of the second Test in Colombo. Despite Sri Lanka being made to follow on, India were unable to quickly break through their lower order as Sonal Dinusha produced a century and helped his side build a substantial lead.

“Apart from Manav, our spinners didn’t look as lethal as we expected. I’m not saying there is no ability. On such pitches, Jadeja has always been very destructive and lethal. I thought he would be crucial on the fifth day. He has been a great servant, but it’s done now. He was not as accurate as he is. His action is very shoulder-dominant,” Dasgupta said in a video on his YouTube channel.

While Jadeja claimed three wickets in the second innings in Colombo, Dasgupta assessed that India needed greater penetration from its experienced spin resources. Young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar was the exception in his view, with the former India player also stressing the importance of building a strong succession plan.

The Sri Lanka series also saw India’s spinners deal with repeated no-ball issues. Saransh Jain, making his Test debut in Colombo, bowled four no-balls, while Jadeja overstepped once. Dasgupta said such problems often have their roots in training habits.

“If you are not careful in the nets, it will happen. Even when I was playing, a lot of them would bowl from ahead and say it would not happen in the match, but they would repeat the same thing in the match. You need to avoid this in the nets. This issue is not new with Jadeja; it has only gotten worse,” added Dasgupta.

Looking ahead, Dasgupta identified Washington Sundar as a potential long-term replacement for Jadeja in the spin-bowling all-rounder’s role, while suggesting that Suthar could develop into a specialist left-arm spin option for India.

“We need the next line of spinners to be ready. We need Washington Sundar to be ready. He is absolutely the same as Jadeja. So when Jadeja decides to hang up his boots, you need someone who can do the same work. We have to make sure he is ready. It is an important slot,” he added.

Jadeja remains one of India’s most accomplished Test all-rounders and added another major milestone during the Sri Lanka series, becoming only the fourth player in Test history to complete the double of 4,000 runs and 350 wickets.

However, Dasgupta’s comments reflect the growing debate around India’s long-term spin combination and whether the team should now accelerate preparations for a future in which Jadeja is no longer a central part of its Test plans.

Source: IANS

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Southampton, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Hampshire has confirmed that New Zealand’s seam-bowling all-rounder Scott Kuggeleijn will not represent the club in their remaining County Championship games following severe public and staff backlash over his signing in the ongoing season.

The county side faced intense criticism after naming Kuggeleijn, 34, in their squad for their County Championship fixture against Warwickshire at The Rose Bowl, despite not having formally announced him as an overseas player. It was a move the club’s supporters branded on social media as ‘shameful’ and ‘a disgrace’.

Kuggeleijn was tried twice for rape in New Zealand in 2016 and 2017 following an incident in 2015. After a jury failed to reach a verdict in the initial trial, he was acquitted in a second trial. His subsequent selections for New Zealand and domestic franchises have routinely drawn public protests.

Hampshire issued a statement retracting the signing of Kuggeleijn just five minutes before play commenced in their Division One game. "Having reflected and listened to feedback from our staff and supporters, Hampshire Cricket can confirm that Scott Kuggeleijn will not represent the Club.

"We value the passion of our fanbase and thank everyone who took the time to share their views. Our focus now turns to supporting the team through the final four County Championship fixtures of the season. We encourage everyone to unite behind the team as we enter a crucial stage of the campaign," the club said in its statement.

The U-turn also leaves Hampshire without an overseas recruit for their run-in as they battle to avoid relegation. They currently sit at the bottom of Division One, trailing Leicestershire by 16 points with four matches remaining.

Kuggeleijn, a veteran of 12 years with domestic side Northern Districts in New Zealand, has represented the Blackcaps in all three formats, but last played a game for them in 2024. He had been brought in to boost Hampshire’s seam options for the final stretch of the domestic season. But opposition from the club’s fan base forced the club’s management to cancel the signing before the all-rounder could take the field.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Masters Champion and current Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed, along with fellow winner at Augusta National, Bubba Watson, have confirmed their participation in the star-studded 2026 India Championship.

The American duo will tee off in a field of global stars, including defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, Career Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy and 2026 Open Champion Ryan Fox, when the highly anticipated event returns for its second edition at Delhi Golf Club from October 15-18.

Major winners Shane Lowry and Justin Rose, European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald and Ryder star Viktor Hovland will all return to the India Championship, while DP World Tour and PGA Tour winner Min Woo Lee will make his debut. Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri are among the Indian stars aiming to delight the home fans.

Reed, who claimed his first Major title at Augusta National in 2018, is aiming to top the season-long Race to Dubai Rankings for the first time.

The three-time Ryder Cup star will arrive in Delhi seeking his third win of the season, having secured his first Rolex Series title at the Dubai Desert Classic in January and then winning the Qatar Masters two weeks later.

"I really enjoy playing all over the world and I’m looking forward to teeing it up in the India Championship for the first time. It looks like a great event and field, and it comes at an important time in the season, so I’m excited to see what we can do in Delhi," Reed said.

Two-time Masters winner Watson – who claimed the Green Jacket in 2012 and 2014 - will also arrive at Delhi Golf Club for the first time in October.

The left-hander, who boasts 15 career victories, said, “It’s always fun to play in new events and this is one that I was happy to be able to add to my schedule. I’ve heard that Delhi Golf Club is a great test, and golf fans in India are very passionate, so I’m looking forward to the week.”

The USD 4,000,000 event, co-sanctioned with the Professional Golf Tour of India, features the largest prize fund ever offered for a DP World Tour event in India and will once again be part of the crucial Back 9 phase of the Race to Dubai.

The India Championship will be the eighth of nine events in the Back 9 phase of the 2026 Race to Dubai, building towards the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs and culminating in the DP World Tour Championship in November at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes said India’s ODI captain Shubman Gill must embrace support from senior stars such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli while staying true to his leadership style. Rhodes backed the youngster to thrive as a skipper despite the intense pressures of international captaincy.

Since replacing Rohit as India’s ODI captain in October last year, Gill has won six games while losing as many matches, with a 50 per cent win percentage. "The key with being a leader is understanding that you've got these senior players around you, and it's not a negative mark on your captaincy if you ask around for help, or for opinions and ideas.

“Obviously, as the leader and the captain, you have to make the final choice. That's often the hardest thing about captaining so many experienced players, they all give you great options, but you now have to make the call. So, having the likes of Rohit and Virat in your setup, and Shubman has been pretty consistent in his energy levels, the way that he conducts himself as a captain, and prior to that, as a player, it's all very consistent.

“As long as he's not trying to be anybody else, which is impossible, because when you're under pressure, you always revert back to who you really are. He's gotten to that stride very quickly," Rhodes told JioStar.

Rhodes, currently the co-owner of the Rotterdam Dockers in the inaugural European T20 Premier League, noted that teams travelling to Southern Africa for the 2027 tournament, to be co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, will need to adapt quickly to varying conditions across venues.

"It's interesting because what is impacted in the field is often the altitude. If you play at the coast, it's different to playing in Johannesburg or Pretoria, where altitude affects it. Similar to what we're trying to do with the ETPL, bringing cricket into Europe, we've also got Namibia and Zimbabwe, who are co-hosting the Cricket World Cup.

“The wickets in South Africa are pretty good, so there is not going to be much contest between bat and ball. There is good carry. I think from a point of view where you can hit down the line or through the line of the ball, as opposed to using the pace to run the ball down, the Indian players ramp the ball so well. They get inside and scoop the ball so well, so they've adapted really quickly to the modern world of cricket," he added.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest fielders in the history of the game, Rhodes gained global fame for his iconic diving run-out of Inzamam-ul-Haq at the 1992 World Cup. However, he revealed that his most cherished personal memory came a year later in Mumbai, during a match against the West Indies at the Brabourne Stadium.

"That run-out at the World Cup launched my career. People suddenly took notice of fielding. But I think the most amazing day for me in the field was when we were playing at Brabourne Stadium at CCI in 1993, the Hero Cup. South Africa were playing against the West Indies, and there were 20,000 people in the crowd.

“I took five catches, which afterwards I was told was a world record for fielding. I didn't even know there were records for fielding, it was just something that I loved doing. You kind of expect adoration and support in your own country, but when you're touring, and it was a neutral venue, we weren't playing against India. So, having 20,000 Indian fans chanting, 'Jonty, Jonty,' was something I will never, ever forget," he concluded.

Source: IANS

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London, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's Anahat Singh and Ramit Tandon made winning starts to their London Squash Classic campaigns, advancing to the pre-quarterfinals of the PSA Gold tournament with straight-game victories, while Veer Chotrani bowed out in the opening round on Wednesday.

Women's world No. 20 and reigning junior world champion Anahat delivered the most dominant Indian performance of the day, needing only 11 minutes to overcome Egypt’s Mariam Metwally, ranked No. 30 in the world, 11-3, 11-2.

The Indian teenager took control from the opening exchanges and allowed Metwally little opportunity to settle into the contest. After racing through the first game, Anahat was equally commanding in the second to seal her place in the next round at the USD 144,000 PSA Gold event.

Her next challenge will be considerably tougher, with Belgium’s World No. 11 Nele Gilis awaiting her in Thursday’s pre-quarterfinal.

In the men’s draw, world No. 42 Ramit Tandon also advanced without dropping a game, defeating Qatar’s Abdullah Al-Tamimi 11-6, 11-7 in a 20-minute opening-round contest.

Tandon maintained control across both games to book his place in the pre-quarterfinals, where he will face eighth seed Mohamed ElShorbagy on Wednesday. Egyptian-born ElShorbagy now represents England and will present a major test for the Indian player.

There was, however, disappointment for world No. 38 Veer Chotrani, who was edged out by Switzerland’s Yannick Wilhelmi in a closely fought straight-game encounter.

Wilhelmi, ranked No. 34 in the world, won both games by identical 11-9 margins to bring Chotrani’s campaign to an early end.

The London Squash Classic continues to provide important international competition for India’s leading players, with both Anahat and Chotrani also part of the country’s squash squad preparing for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

With Anahat and Tandon safely through to the pre-quarterfinal stage, India will now look to build on a strong opening day at one of the prominent PSA World Tour Gold events of the season.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes believes having someone of Rohit Sharma's vast experience in the Indian squad will be an invaluable asset for the two-time champions as they go further in their plans to prepare for the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup.

Veteran right-handed opener Rohit has scored 11895 runs in 288 ODIs, including hitting 34 centuries and 62 fifties. He was the leading run-scorer in the 2019 ODI World Cup and led India to a runners-up finish in the 2023 edition on home soil.

"You've got to remember that having experience at a World Cup is another factor that we don't factor in. We look at the talent of the players, the ability that they've got and their performances.

“Maybe they've had a great knock and had a good season. But when it comes down to pressure moments, a World Cup is very much high pressure. Players can look after themselves physically, but that mental strength is something that we don't often factor in when it comes to selection.

“But as somebody who's played in four Cricket World Cups without getting past two semi-finals, I know how stressful it can become. So having someone like Rohit Sharma in your squad is such an asset at a World Cup," said Rhodes to JioStar.

Rhodes, currently serving as co-owner of the Rotterdam Dockers in the ongoing European T20 Premier League (ETPL), also praised veteran better Virat Kohli’s fierce competitive drive and compared his intensity to the ruthless mindset of dominant Australian teams of the past.

Just like Rohit, Kohli has been a lynchpin of the Indian batting order in the 50-over format and has amassed 14941 runs in 314 games, including hitting 54 hundreds and 79 half-centuries.

"We have watched Australia win so many World Cups and seen their aggression and the expectation to win almost. And I think that's what Virat has been. He has had this absolute hunger to win games for his team.

“When you're the leader and the captain of a setup, and you can consistently be the best chaser in the world, it just shows how determined you are to be the guy that gets the team over the line. When he chases down scores for such a long period of time, he has been the ultimate finisher of the game for India.

“From that perspective, he feeds off that aggression. He doesn't mind when he's batting. A lot of players don't want to lose their concentration. If he's batting, he'll get stuck in as well. So he's certainly somebody who loves the contest and loves the fight. He just has such a huge drive to win games for India, and whether he's captain or not, he'll still have that drive. He just wants India to win," added Rhodes.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Defending champions Kashi Rudras captain Karan Sharma has expressed confidence in his side to carry their winning momentum into the playoffs of the UPT20 league 2026. Having finished third in the league stage with five wins and 10 points, Kashi Rudras will need to defeat Noida Super Kings in the Eliminator to keep their hopes of securing a consecutive title alive.

Looking ahead to the playoffs, Captain Karan Sharma said, “We know what is at stake now. There is no room for looking back because this is a completely different phase of the tournament. We have gone through a difficult period, but the way the team has responded and come back shows the character that this group has. The fire and mentality is back in everyone and we have and we have to give everything we have in the next match.”

Rudras’ head coach Dhruv Singh believes the team’s journey through the league stage has well prepared them for the pressure of knockout cricket.

“The most pleasing thing for us has been the way the group has responded to adversity. We had a difficult phase in the middle of the tournament, but the players never stopped believing in the process. The victory against Meerut Mavericks in our final league game was a reflection of the character within this squad. Now the league stage is behind us and everyone understands that the margins will be very small in the playoffs. We have match-winners across both departments. We have earned our place in the playoffs and now we aim to win the next game and take another step towards defending our title.”

Rudras' campaign has been one of resilience. After a strong start with three wins in their opening four matches, the defending champions endured a difficult phase, suffering a four-match losing streak. However, the side showed tremendous character in the latter stages of the league, bouncing back with crucial victories before signing off the league stage in emphatic fashion against table-toppers Meerut Mavericks.

At the heart of Kashi Rudras’ campaign has been their captain, Karan Sharma, who enters the playoffs as the Orange Cap holder with 355 runs. The skipper has been in remarkable form throughout the season, delivering several match-defining knocks, including a blistering 102 off 51 balls against Noida Super Kings and an unbeaten 92 off 48 balls against Gorakhpur Lions.

Karan has been ably supported by Abhishek Goswami, who has scored 241 runs, and Sahab Yuvraj Singh, who has scored 217 runs. With the ball, Atal Bihari Rai has led the attack with 14 wickets, while Vijay Yadav has taken 13. Even young left-arm spinner Kartik Yadav has shown great promise this season and has taken 10 wickets for his team.

Kashi Rudras will face Noida Super Kings in the Eliminator, with the two-time champions needing a win to progress in their bid for a historic third UPT20 title.

Source: IANS

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