Sports

London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama was filled with anticipation in 1982 as attendees awaited a late 15-year-old schoolboy, Dibyendu Barua. Having traveled from outside the city, Barua surprised everyone by defeating the formidable Soviet chess player Viktor Korchnoi at the 6th Lloyds Bank Masters. This remarkable victory, highlighted by The New York Times, marked a significant moment in chess history, as Korchnoi, then World No. 2 and 51 years old, was regarded as one of the strongest players never to become World Champion. Rani Hamid, a celebrated Bangladeshi chess player, sought a photograph with Korchnoi after a contest during which Korchnoi, visibly upset by his loss, declined the request for a picture. Barua, who regarded Hamid as an aunt, recalls Korchnoi's refusal. ...

The Indian cricket team's success has often relied on a strong middle order, exemplified by partnerships like that of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. Since the 2019 World Cup, they have amassed 823 runs at an impressive average of 64 over 14 matches, with one in every three collaborations yielding over 100 runs, showcasing their effectiveness in solidifying the team's batting depth. Shreyas is a standout player characterized by his risk-taking mentality and adaptability during matches. He alters his stance to counter various bowlers and excels at demoralizing them, particularly against spin bowling, using his footwork and wrist strength to disturb their rhythm. His ability to thrive in high-pressure situations has been noted by former coach Rahul Dravid, emphasizing Shreyas's knack for deli...

PV Sindhu faced Chinese Taipei's Sung Shuo Yun in her season opener for the second consecutive year. After a break due to injury, Sindhu initially struggled, trailing 1-7. However, she quickly regained her form, exhibiting strong offensive and defensive play, ultimately winning 21-13, 22-20 in 51 minutes at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 in Kuala Lumpur. In a closely contested match, Sung won a 22-shot rally to lead 8-4, but Sindhu began to find her rhythm and quickly closed the gap with powerful shots. She leveled the score at 9-9, demonstrating her ability to dictate the game's tempo. Sindhu's round-the-head forehand crosscourt smash was particularly effective, allowing her to take an 11-9 lead at the mid-game interval. In the opening of the match, Sung began strongly, but Sindhu co...

In light of escalating tensions between India and Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate the T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka due to safety concerns. In response, ICC chairman Jay Shah has begun the process of creating a new schedule. Bangladesh was originally scheduled to play three Group C matches in Kolkata: against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14, with a final match against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17. This schedule was altered following the BCCI's request for Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Bangladesh seamer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL squad due to "recent developments," likely referencing domestic issues in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has inte...

R Ashwin's recent statement on his YouTube stream, labeling ODI cricket as "redundant," is significant and reflects a deeper sentiment regarding the format's evolving place in the cricketing landscape. Historically, the 50-over format served as a crucial compromise between the brevity of T20s and the depth of Tests, becoming the mainstay of cricket's commercial success during the 1990s and 2000s. This was particularly relevant as Test cricket faced a downturn in popularity and financial support. Ashwin's comment invites reflection on the future relevance of ODIs in the context of changing viewer preferences and the rise of T20 cricket. Concerns about the survival of the ODI format in modern cricket have resurfaced as the T20 World Cup and IPL are set to dominate the cricket calendar fo...

When Sjoerd Marijne first took charge of the Indian women’s hockey team in 2017, it was a fragmented group with players lacking basic skills in running, passing, and scoring. Nine years later, as he embarks on his third tenure with the team beginning January 14, Marijne is expected to find the players in a similar state to when he first assessed them. The Dutch coach, who led the Indian women's hockey team to its highest-ever finish, fourth place at the Tokyo Olympics, has been appointed as the new chief coach. He succeeds Harendra Singh, who resigned in December due to personal reasons, although reports indicate his exit followed player complaints to the sports ministry about his behavior and a series of unsatisfactory results. Hockey India officials indicated that Marijne was sele...

One of their best white-ball bowlers, Lasith Malinga, has been hired by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as a Consultant-Fast Bowling Coach for the national men's side for a brief one-month period in order to help them get ready for the Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which would be co-hosted with India. One of the few sling bowlers, Malinga has played for Sri Lanka in 30 Test matches, 226 One-Day Internationals, and 84 Twenty20 Internationals, taking 101, 338, and 107 wickets in each. He was an important part of the Sri Lankan side that won the ICC T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2014 and placed second twice, at home in 2012 and in England in 2009. Additionally, he had been second in the 50-over World Cup twice, in 2007 and 2011. Lasith Malinga has been appointed as the National Men's Team's Consulta...

As the game between Magnus Carlsen and Arjun Erigaisi in Round 9 of the FIDE World Blitz Championship approached its climax, the official live stream experienced a freezing glitch. When it resumed shortly after, Carlsen was seen leaving the scene while Erigaisi calmly prepared to reset the chessboard. It was later revealed that Carlsen had lost due to a time expiration. In the brief moment of lost coverage, significant events had unfolded in the match between the two players, who had recently won gold and bronze medals at the World Rapid Championship. Carlsen, facing intense pressure, fumbled his queen during a crucial moment in a blitz game as time expired, leading to his defeat against Arjun. This loss echoed Carlsen's earlier defeat to Gukesh in a classical match at Norway Chess. ...

Renuka Thakur, who displayed early cricketing talent, faced limited opportunities following her father's death when she was three. With scarce resources in her village of Parsa, her mother took a low-paying government job. At 13, Renuka's uncle encouraged her to attend a residential academy by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association in Dharamshala, a pivotal decision that led to her becoming a key player in India's recent World Cup victory. Sunita emphasized the crucial role of the academy in developing a player who represented India and won the World Cup. Established in 2009, the academy, which offers specialized training for women’s cricket, has produced four international cricketers, including key members of the recent World Cup squad, Renuka and Harleen Deol. Verma reflects on ...

The animated celebration by Virat Kohli, including a shush towards the Gujarat dressing room, captured his competitive spirit during a tense match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Following a frustrating performance in his previous outings, Kohli's intensity peaked when Gujarat’s No.9, Amit Desai, was run out amid fielding errors. Kohli's reactions resounded at the Centre of Excellence, culminating in Delhi's narrow seven-run victory over Gujarat, marking their second consecutive win. He rightfully won the Man of the Match award with a prize of Rs 10,000. This was significant for Delhi, especially since Kohli batted early again, as IPL player Priyansh Arya got out quickly. Gujarat was ready for Kohli, who had demonstrated his intent in the previous match against Andhra. Virat Kohli demon...