TG’s Saikat, Nithya excel in 68th SGFI National Swimming Championship for Under-14, 17, and 19 categories

Both the swimmers showcased impressive performances by clinching bronze medals in the 50m backstroke events.

Published Date – 26 November 2024, 07:40 PM


TG’s Saikat, Nithya excel in 68th SGFI National Swimming Championship for Under-14, 17, and 19 categories

Saikat Chatterjee and Nithya Sagi Sri at Swimming Competition

Hyderabad: Telangana swimmers Saikat Chatterjee and Nithya Sagi Sri showcased impressive performances by clinching bronze medals in the 50m backstroke events at the 68th SGFI National Swimming Championship for Under-14, 17, and 19 categories in Rajkot, Gujarat, on Tuesday.

In the Under-19 boys’ 50m backstroke, Saikat clocked 28.29 seconds to secure third place, trailing Maharashtra’s Shah Jay (27.01s) and Haryana’s Malik Mohit (28.86s).


Meanwhile, Nithya excelled in the Under-17 girls’ category, earning bronze with a timing of 32.40 seconds, behind West Bengal’s Sagnika Roy (31.73s) and Tamil Nadu’s Winciya S Maria (31.82s).

Results: 50m backstroke: U-19 Boys: 1. Shah Jay (Maharashtra) (27:01s), 2. Malik Mohit (Haryana) (28:86s), 3. Saikat Chatterjee (Telangana) (28:92s); U-17 Girls: 1. Sagnika Roy (West Bengal) (31:73s), 2. Winciya S. Maria (Tamil Nadu) (31:82s), 3. Nithya Sagi Sri (Telangana) (32:40s).

Bumrah regains top spot in ICC Test bowling rankings; Jaiswal rises to second among batters

Stand-in skipper Bumrah returned with excellent match figures of 8 for 72 as India crushed Australia by 295 runs to take 1-0 lead in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Published Date – 27 November 2024, 03:05 PM


Bumrah regains top spot in ICC Test bowling rankings; Jaiswal rises to second among batters


Dubai: India pacer Jasprit Bumrah on Wednesday toppled Kagiso Rabada and Josh Hazlewood to regain the top spot in ICC Test bowling rankings on the back of his match-winning spell against Australia in the first Test at Perth.

Stand-in skipper Bumrah returned with excellent match figures of 8 for 72 as India crushed Australia by 295 runs to take 1-0 lead in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy.


Bumrah, who was at No. 3 ahead of the Perth Test, now has career-best 883 ranking points while moving ahead of South African Rabada (872 points) and Aussie Hazlewood (860 points).

Bumrah’s teammate Mohammed Siraj also made good ground, moving up three places to 25th following his five scalps against the Aussies.

Jaiswal moves up to No. 2

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made a scintillating 161, leaped to second spot with career-best 825 points behind England’s Joe Root (903 points) in the rankings for batters.

Star batter Virat Kohli continued charting his way up as he improved nine spots to reach 13th following his 30th Test century.

India wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant maintained his sixth slot with 736 points.

Indian duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin remained the top players in the Test all-rounders ranking despite not featuring against Australia in the Perth Test.

Thiago Messi follows in dad’s footsteps, debuts with No. 10 jersey in Rosario

The 12-year-old Thiago Messi wore the No. 10 jersey for an Inter Miami youth team, which lost 1-0 to Newell’s Old Boys on Monday in the under-13 competition. The team also played on Tuesday. Thiago’s father, Lionel Messi, began his football career at Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario, located 300 kilometers (186 miles) northwest of Buenos Aires. Thiago’s mother, Antonela Roccuzzo, along with several family members, including his grandparents Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini, were present in the stands to watch his debut. Lionel Messi, however, was not in attendance.

Published Date – 27 November 2024, 04:47 PM


Thiago Messi follows in dad’s footsteps, debuts with No. 10 jersey in Rosario


Buenos Aires: Thiago Messi, the eldest son of the Argentina star, has made his debut in the “Newell’s Cup” tournament in the countryside city of Rosario.

The 12-year-old Messi played with the No. 10 jersey of an Inter Miami youth team, which lost 1-0 on Monday to host Newell’s Old Boys in the traditional under-13 competition. The team also played Tuesday.


Lionel Messi took his first steps as a footballer in the Argentinian club in Rosario, 300 kilometers (186 miles) northwest of capital Buenos Aires.

Thiago’s mother, Antonela Roccuzzo, and several members of his family, including grandparents Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini, were in the stands to watch him play. Lionel Messi did not attend.

Thiago, who was substituted in the second half, played with his friend Benjamín Suárez, son of Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, Messi’s teammate and close friend at Barcelona and now at Inter Miami.

Messi and Suárez are in Rosario after Inter Miami’s early elimination in the MLS playoffs. On Sunday, they watched a friendly game of Inter Miami’s U13 team against Unión at the same sports complex.

The youth tournament in Argentina brings together eight teams from North and South America.

Golden Eagles, Valley Warriors reach final of Telangana Premier Golf League Season 4

In the semifinals, the Eagles narrowly defeated Team Teeoff Fairmount 3.5–2.5 in a thrilling match, while the Warriors triumphed over Reitz Masters 4–2 to secure their place in the final. The two teams will compete for the championship on Saturday.





Published Date – 27 November 2024, 05:45 PM


Golden Eagles, Valley Warriors reach final of Telangana Premier Golf League Season 4


Hyderabad: Golden Eagles and Valley Warriors advanced to the final of the Sreenidhi University Telangana Premier Golf League (TPGL) Season 4 at the Hyderabad Golf Association on Wednesday.

In the semifinals, Eagles edged out Team Teeoff Fairmount 3.5–2.5 in a nail-biting clash, while Warriors defeated Reitz Masters 4–2 to secure their spot. The two teams will face off in the summit clash on Saturday.


Telangana swimmer D Varshith wins silver at SGFI National Championship

In the boys’ U-17 400m individual medley, D Varshith from Telangana claimed the silver medal with a time of 4:47.78. Kerala’s Theerdu Samadev Mongam took gold with a time of 4:42.62, while Prithviraj Menon from CISCE earned the bronze with a time of 4:50.68.

Updated On – 27 November 2024, 07:47 PM


Telangana swimmer D Varshith wins silver at SGFI National Championship


Hyderabad: Telangana swimmer D Varshith clinched the silver medal in the 68th SGFI National Swimming Championship held in Rajkot, Gujarat, on Wednesday.

In the boys’ U-17 400m individual medley, the State athlete secured second place with a timing of 4:47.78. Kerala’s Theerdu Samadev Mongam (4:42.62) won gold, while CISCE’s Prithviraj Menon (4:50.68) settled for bronze.


Results: 400m individual Medley boys U-17: 1. Theerdu Samadev Mongam (Kerala) (4:42.62s),2. D Varshith (Telangana) (04:47.78s), 3. Prithviraj Menon (CISCE) (04:50.68s).

New innings: Mithali Raj joins Andhra Cricket Association as consultant

Excited to start a new chapter with the Andhra Cricket Association as a Consultant & Mentor for Women’s Cricket Operations, says the former India women’s team captain

Published Date – 28 November 2024, 10:13 AM


New innings: Mithali Raj joins Andhra Cricket Association as consultant

Former India women’s team captain Mithali Raj

Mumbai: Former India women’s team captain Mithali Raj has started a new innings, joining the Andhra Cricket Association as a consultant and mentor for Women’s Cricket Operations. Mithali had announced her retirement from all formats of cricket in June 2022.

She took to social media and announced the new chapter in her life after playing cricket. “Excited to start a new chapter with the Andhra Cricket Association as a Consultant & Mentor for Women’s Cricket Operations,” Mithali announced her association on Linkedin.


Mithali, who holds many records in women’s international cricket and played her last match for India — an ODI match against South Africa — on March 27, 2022, has already started her mentor’s role with Andhra Cricket Association by attending time with the U-15 girls during their camp.

“Had an amazing time with the U-15 girls at the camp. Their energy and skill are a testament to the rising strength of women’s cricket in Andhra Pradesh. The future is bright, and we’re just getting started!” said Mithali in her post. One of the legends of women’s cricket, the 41-year-old Mithali Raj made her Test debut against England in January 2002 and ended up with 699 runs in 12 matches, scoring one hundred and four fifties.

She has the highest score of 214 runs. An all-format player, Mithali scored 7805 runs in 232 ODIs at an average of 50.68 while in WT20Is, the batter born to a Tamil family in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, has scored 2364 runs in 89 matches.

PCB chief warns BCCI, says “Pakistan won’t play in India in future”

It is just not possible that while Pakistan keeps on going and playing in India all events the Indian authorities are not willing to send their team to play in Pakistan, says chairman Mohsin Naqvi 

Published Date – 28 November 2024, 10:31 AM


PCB chief warns BCCI, says “Pakistan won’t play in India in future”


Lahore: Even as the fate of  Champions Trophy hangs in balance, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi has made it clear that it is not possible for Pakistan to travel to India for tournaments in future while India continue to refuse to send the team to the neighbouring nation, a situation he termed “unequal.”

It may be recalled that the BCCI conveyed to ICC its inability to send the team to Pakistan, and the global body has convened a virtual meeting of its executive board members on Friday to take a final decision.


“It is just not possible that while Pakistan keeps on going and playing in India all events the Indian authorities are not willing to send their team to play in Pakistan. We can’t have such an unequal situation,” Naqvi said at the Gaddafi stadium during a visit to inspect the construction work.

Naqvi, however, played it safe regarding the ‘Hybrid’ model for the Champions Trophy, as earlier he had asserted that PCB would not accept the proposed format. “All I can assure is whatever happens in the meeting we will come out with good news and decisions which will be accepted by our people,” he said.

Naqvi hoped that Jay Shah, who will take over as the ICC chairman on December 5, would take decisions based in the interest of world cricket and all member boards. “Jay Shah takes charge in December, and I’m sure once he moves from the BCCI to the ICC, he will think about the ICC’s benefit, and that’s what he should do. Whenever anyone assumes such a role, he should only consider the interests of that organisation,” he said.

There were reports of Pakistan being offered additional financial incentives to accept the Hybrid Model, but Naqvi remained non-committal. Naqvi said all such decisions and the outcome of the ICC meeting will be conveyed to the Pakistan government, which will take a final call.

I say goodbye: Bhuvneshwar bids farewell to SRH after ’11 incredible years’

Bhuvneshvar starred in the capped bowlers list on the second day of the IPL 2025 Auction as he was sold to Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 10.75 crore

Published Date – 28 November 2024, 12:49 PM


I say goodbye: Bhuvneshwar bids farewell to SRH after ’11 incredible years’

Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar

New Delhi: Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar on Thursday bid adieu to Sunrisers Hyderabad after spending over a decade at the franchise and thanked his former IPL team for “unforgettable and cherished” memories.

Bhuvneshvar starred in the capped bowlers list on the second day of the IPL 2025 Auction as he was sold to Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 10.75 crore.


He will return to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for RCB, the franchise he represented in the 2009 and 2010 campaigns. “After 11 incredible years with SRH, I say goodbye to this team. I have so many unforgettable and cherishable memories. One thing unmissable is the love of the fans which has been splendid! Your support has been constant. I will carry this love and support with me forever,” Bhuvneshwar posted on X while sharing a compilation video of his time with SRH.

Bhuvneshwar began his IPL journey in 2009 with the RCB but didn’t play in his first two seasons before moving to the now-defunct Pune Warriors.

After three seasons with the side, he secured a move to Sunrisers in 2014, where he went on to represent the team for more than a decade and became the side’s all-time leading wicket-taker.

He has played 176 matches and has 181 scalps to his name in the league.

ICC meet on Champions Trophy on Friday, scheduled likely to be out

India’s decision not to send the team to Pakistan and PCB’s defiant stand in not acceding to hybrid system placed the future of event in balance

Updated On – 28 November 2024, 01:19 PM


ICC meet on Champions Trophy on Friday, scheduled likely to be out

ICC Champions Trophy

Dubai: The International Cricket Council finds itself in a spot of bother as its all-powerful board meets on Friday to thrash out the long-awaited schedule of next year’s Champions Trophy with an unyielding Pakistan refusing to consider the ‘Hybrid’ model of hosting the event despite India’s refusal to play there.

The meeting will be held virtually. India’s decision not to send the team to Pakistan and the PCB’s defiant stand in not acceding to the hybrid system have placed the future of the marquee event in balance. “At this point, the hybrid format is the best option. We hope that all the parties involved will take a wise call for the sake of the tournament. It’s not good for the tournament to have it without India and Pakistan,” a source close to the development said.


The ICC members are trying to sell the point to the PCB that without the blue riband India vs Pakistan fixture, the Champions Trophy will lose all its sheen and, more importantly, there will be massive financial implications.

The host broadcaster — Jio Star — has already contacted the ICC top brass to convey its dismay at the delay in arriving at a final decision regarding the schedule. As per the contract between the ICC and the broadcaster, the governing body was expected to give it the schedule of the tournament at least 90 days in advance and that deadline has already been breached.

India play foreign wickets and conditions better than home: Ponting

After failing to capitalise on their decision to bat first in the first innings, the Jasprit Bumrah-led side bounced back in the second innings with strong batting performance from the top-three – Yashashvi Jasiswal (161), KL Rahul (77) and Virat Kohli (100 not out)

Published Date – 28 November 2024, 03:17 PM


India play foreign wickets and conditions better than home: Ponting


New Delhi: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes that the Indian team plays better on foreign wickets and conditions than their home. The remarks came after India deflated Australia by 295 runs in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth.

After failing to capitalise on their decision to bat first in the first innings, the Jasprit Bumrah-led side bounced back in the second innings with strong batting performance from the top-three – Yashashvi Jasiswal (161), KL Rahul (77) and Virat Kohli (100 not out).


The visiting team set a daunting 534 target against Australia to win the match which they failed to get as they crumbled against Indian pacers.

Bumrah scalped eight wickets in the match while Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana bagged five and four scalps, respectively.

“Australia lost by what? Nearly 300 runs. So, they’ll be very disappointed. Everyone asked me on day one when India won the toss about having a bat, and I said, no, absolutely, you have to bat first there. Four test matches have been played there. The team batting first has won all four times. You don’t want to go against what stats say. Although they were out for 150, they still got a chance to bowl on the wicket when it was probably at its best to bowl on. And Bumrah in those conditions, and Siraj, and actually all three of them. And Nitesh Reddy. They’re all very good. So, you’ve got to give them credit. I must admit, I didn’t think that they could win the first test, India, going there in Perth with conditions that are so foreign to them. But I also made a point going into the test match that I actually think India are a better team away from home now than they are at home. I think they play foreign wickets and conditions better than they play their own conditions now. And I think that’s been proven over the last week in Perth,” said Ponting on Star Sports.

Australia pacer Mitchell Starc heaped praise on India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal for his marathon knock in the second innings in his first red-ball match Down Under.

“He’s not in his first game, so there’s obviously been a bit of hype around him, and he’s certainly very skillful. I think we saw that over the second innings this week. He’s a huge talent in India, and he’s going to play a lot of cricket for them. It was nice to get him cheaply in the first innings, but he certainly made amends in the second,” Starc said.

The second Test between India and Australia will be a pink-ball match in Adelaide, starting on December 6.