Sports

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...

In 2025, India's young sportswomen excelled across various disciplines, showcasing exceptional talent and resilience. Notable performances included Sree Charani's control, Sheetal Devi's grit, chess queen Divya Deshmukh’s strategic plays, and emerging stars such as Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma in badminton, Suruchi in shooting, Ankita Bhagat challenging South Korea in archery, Preeti Panwar's boxing prowess, and Antim Panghal's dominance in wrestling. Together, they exemplified the spirit of 'Gen She', proudly representing India on the global stage. Unnati Hooda's defeat of PV Sindhu at the China Open in June and her subsequent rise to World No 23 rank on December 15 marks a significant career milestone for the 18-year-old. Despite being behind Sindhu, who is established as India's to...

2025 has been a remarkable year for India's R Praggnanandhaa, who has won multiple titles including the Tata Steel Masters, Superbet Chess Classic Romania, UzChess Cup Masters, and London Chess Classic. These achievements have earned him a spot in the Candidates tournament next year, marking his second qualification. Currently ranked No 7 in the world, he also secured second place at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial tournament and the 12th Sinquefield Cup. Praggnanandhaa attributes his recent successes to increased ambition and the inspiration he draws from contemporaries Gukesh Dommaraju and Arjun Erigiasi. He emphasizes that his results reflect years of hard work and a desire to win tournaments, as he shared during a media interaction at the Global Chess League in Mumbai where he represen...

At the MIG Cricket Club in Mumbai, members of the Indian women's blind cricket team, who recently won the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup, met Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar. This encounter was a major turning point for the team. Tendulkar spent almost an hour with the players, congratulating them on their historic accomplishment and paying close attention to their adventures. The team's path to the world title has been characterized by resilience, grit, and an unwavering belief in their dreams. Tendulkar praised the team's perseverance, saying they had surmounted difficult obstacles to pursue their goals and go past the last obstacle by winning the World Cup. He said that long after the competition, their diligence and tenacity would be remembered and honored. He also recognized the...

In a recent Global Chess League match, world champion D Gukesh opted for the Sicilian opening while playing black against his mentor, Viswanathan Anand. Despite Anand being semi-retired, he demonstrated his enduring competitive spirit, leading his team, Ganges Grandmasters, to a 12-3 victory over Gukesh's PBG Alaskan Knights, forcing Gukesh to resign in 45 moves. The Sicilian Defence, favored by renowned players like Garry Kasparov and Bobby Fischer, begins with 1.e4 c5, aiming to disrupt symmetry and create a dynamic position. Recently, Gukesh chose the Kan Variation of the Sicilian in a match against 'Vishy sir', reminiscent of the 2014 World Championship match against Magnus Carlsen. Eleven years ago, Anand faced the Kan Variation of the Sicilian Defence in Game 6, where he was o...

As the Dubai 2025-Asian Youth Para Games came to an end, various countries celebrated historic achievements, and Team India won 56 medals, including 19 gold. The Maldives and Bangladesh both took home their first-ever medals from the competition; Bangladesh made an incredible start by winning three gold medals. 1,500 athletes from 35 countries participated in the Games, which were sponsored by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, as a celebration of youth, excellence, and inclusivity. The Games came to a conclusion on Saturday night, capping a historic edition that saw 25 records broken, including 16 continental and 9 global marks. This is a potent evidence to the expanding caliber of pa...

India suffered a 51-run defeat to South Africa, marking their second-largest loss in T20 history. This defeat has raised concerns regarding the form of India's captain and vice-captain, who are struggling to score runs. As the teams transition from Punjab to Himachal Pradesh for the third T20I in Dharamshala, they will compete in a five-match series that is currently tied. The hosts seek tranquility amid the backdrop of Indian cricket's turmoil. The 0-2 loss in the Test series highlighted India's weaknesses in red-ball cricket, though a victory in the ODI series marked a comeback for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, whose futures had been uncertain. The T20s were anticipated to be a relief, as they are India's strongest format, ahead of the World Cup defense preparations. However, the str...

The 2025 men’s FIH Junior World Cup, in which India secured a bronze medal, highlighted several promising young players who may advance to senior teams. This document examines four potential candidates for transition to the main squad in the near future. The No 16, initially a defender, has transitioned to goalkeeping and is now a serious contender for the national team, spurred by PR Sreejesh's influence. With Krishan Pathak's recent form lacking confidence, head coach Craig Fulton faces challenges selecting the squad for upcoming Pro League matches in February, particularly after evaluating Pawan's performance at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and Princedeep's strong showing at the JWC. Additionally, India's goalkeeping options are bolstered by Mohith HS and Bikramjit Singh. Princedeep ha...

India's T20 cricket team, renowned for its powerful batting line-up, is equally bolstered by a formidable bowling attack as they prepare to defend the T20 World Cup. Alongside established players like Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav, the inclusion of Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel enhances the team's strength, particularly with the spin options available as they approach the World Cup at home. In a cricket tournament, India's spinners, along with Washington Sundar, are poised to be key players, potentially raising concerns for bowlers Arshdeep and Bumrah. Hardik Pandya, if fit, could disrupt opposing strategies. India's batting order remains flexible, with head coach Gautam Gambhir suggesting that its structure is often overstated in white-ball cricket. By strateg...