The match will take place in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.
Esteghlal and Persepolis are both favorites to win the 2023-24 Iran Professional League (IPL) title.
The two teams shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in the first half of the season.
Esteghlal leads the table with 35 points, five points ahead of Persepolis.
SD/TSN
All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey highlighted 11 suspicious matches and wants immediate action against the clubs suspected to be involved in fixing games.
Updated On – 21 February 2024, 11:13 PM
New Delhi: All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey on Wednesday asked Anti-Corruption Bureau chief Madhur Verma for an in-depth investigation of the match-fixing allegations in the Delhi Premier League.
Chaubey highlighted 11 suspicious matches and wants immediate action against the clubs suspected to be involved in fixing games. The AIFF said it has taken a serious view of these incidents.
Suspicions of betting and match-fixing came to light in a Delhi league match on Monday when Ahbab FC, who were winning 4-0, conceded two dubious-looking own goals late in the match against Rangers FC. Ahbab FC won the match 4-2.
The video footage of the two own goals went viral, leading to the AIFF summoning Football Delhi chief Anuj Gupta to seek details of the suspicious match and serving him notice.
Earlier, the AIFF had held an emergency meeting on February 19 to “assess the gravity of the situation”, after which the federation had decided to approach the ACB unit for full investigation.
In Wednesday’s hour-long meeting, Chaubey briefed the ACB head on the incidents.
Verma acknowledged that his unit has received inputs from various sources, including the AIFF and Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) about such activities in Delhi Premier Football League.
The bureau has asked for some more documents and videos of the 11 matches, after which an in-depth inquiry will be carried out into the allegations and all culprits will be brought to book.
Having won the first leg match in Bhubaneswar, India lost 2-4 against the Netherlands in shootout after their return leg FIH Pro League match ended in a 1-1 draw on Wednesday.
Published Date – 21 February 2024, 10:34 PM
Rourkela: India lost 2-4 against the Netherlands in shootout after their return leg FIH Pro League match ended in a 1-1 draw here on Wednesday.
In their first leg match in Bhubaneswar, India had defeated the Netherlands 4-2 in shootout after a 2-2 stalemate in regulation time. World no.1 Netherlands broke the deadlock through Floris Middendorp (4th minute) before vice-captain Hardik Singh (38th) equalised for India, who are ranked fourth.
In the shootout, Araijeet Singh Hundal and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay scored for India, while Sukhjeet Singh and Shamsher Singh missed from the one-on-one situation. The win gave Netherlands two points, while India pocketed one point.
India applied early pressure on the Dutch with some threatening circle penetrations but failed to yield any positive results. The Netherlands, in turn, took the lead from their first circle entry in the fourth minute through Middendorp, who scored his first international career goal.
Middendorp scored from a rebound after India goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak saved Koen Bijen’s initial try from an acute angle. A minute from the first quarter, the Netherlands secured their first penalty corner but failed to get past an agile Pathak, who made a double save.
The second quarter was a neck-and-neck fight between the two teams but their efforts didn’t translate into goals. It was a fine display of man-to-man marking from the Indian defenders as they didn’t allow the Dutch players any space to create clear-cut chances.
In the 27th minute India equalised through Sukhjeet Singh but the goal was disallowed as the on-field umpire felt it hit the striker’s body. The hosts went for video referral but the decision was not in their favour.
It was a display of end-to-end, fast-paced hockey from both the teams after the change of ends. The Indians pressed hard and secured their first penalty corner three minutes into the third quarter but skipper Harmanpreet Singh failed to beat the Dutch first rusher.
Eight minutes after half time, India earned another penalty corner and this time Hardik scored from a rebound after Jugraj Singh’s flick was kept out by the Dutch defence. The final quarter was a hard-fourth battle between the two sides as they penetrated each other’s circles a number of times but the final touch eluded them.
The Netherlands then secured a penalty corner but India’s first rusher Manpreet Singh’s brave defending denied the Dutch. India will play Australia on Saturday before rounding off their Pro league home campaign against Ireland on Sunday.
PS Santosh has been selected as one of the coaches for the Indian senior men basketball team that will compete in the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers.
Updated On – 21 February 2024, 08:54 PM
Hyderabad: PS Santosh, WABC level-2 qualified coach from Telangana Basketball Association has been selected as one of the coaches for the Indian senior men basketball team that will compete in the upcoming Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers scheduled to be held at Kazakhstan and New Delhi from February 23 to 26.
The Indian team is clubbed in Group E with Qatar, Kazakhstan and Iran. Santosh is also the head coach of Keystone Basketball Academy, Hyderabad.
Squad: Amritpal Singh (C), Vishesh Briguvanshi, M Arvind Kumar, Muin Bek H, Pranav Prince, Kanwar Gurbaj Singh Sandhu, Palpreet Singh, Amarendra Nayak, Vaishak K Manoj, Princepal Singh, Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon, P Baladaneshwar; Verselin Matic (Head coach), PS Santosh (Coach), Pradeep Tomar (Coach), Siva Shanmuga Singh (Physio), Karthik Raja (Physio), Suraj Veer Sharma (Fitness Coach), Ashok Kumar Sahu (Team manager).
Aditya striked thrice to inspire Reeds FC to a 4-0 win over CCOB Sub-Junior FC in the Telangana Football Association’s C Division Football League match in Reeds Football Ground Bowenpally on Wednesday.
Updated On – 21 February 2024, 08:37 PM
Hyderabad: Aditya scored a hat-trick to power Reeds FC to a 4-0 win over CCOB Sub-Junior FC in the Telangana Football Association’s C Division Football League match in Reeds Football Ground Bowenpally on Wednesday.
Alongside Aditya, Sani scored a goal for the winners. In the other game at Gymkhana ground, OK Sporting FC and CCOB Junior FC played a goalless draw.
Results: OK Sporting FC 0 drew with CCOB Jr FC 0; Reeds FC 4 (Aditya 3, Sani 1) bt CCOB Sub Jr FC 0.
Sai Nihar Bikkina won 400m medley event gold in the ongoing Khelo India University Games in Guwahati on Wednesday.
Published Date – 21 February 2024, 08:26 PM
Hyderabad: Sai Nihar Bikkina of Telangana KLEF University continued his fine form to grab his second gold medal, winning top spot in the 400m medley event at the Khelo India University Games held at Dr Zakir Hussain Swimming pool in Guwahati on Wednesday.
The State swimmer grabbed top honours with a timing of 4:45:01s ahead of L Manikanta of Jain University Karnataka and Aaryan Bhosale of University Of Mumbai in second and third places respectively.
Earlier, Nihar had won a gold medal in the 200m medley and a silver in the 200m backstroke on Tuesday.
Results: 400m medley: Sai Nihar Bikkina (Telangana KLEF University) (4:45:01s), L Manikanta (Jain University Karnataka) (4:51.10s), Aaryan Bhosale (University Of Mumbai) (4:53.55s).
A user on Reddit pointed out how so many fake profiles of the newborn have been springing up ever since Virat and Anushka made the announcement.
Published Date – 21 February 2024, 05:38 PM
Hyderabad: Minutes after star Indian batter Virat Kohli and Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma announced the birth of their second child Akaay, Instagram was flooded with fake profiles of the newborn.
Some users, in a desperate attempt to garner followers in huge numbers have propped up fake profiles of the infant within minutes of the couple making the news public.
Following the flooding, a user on Reddit pointed out how so many fake profiles of the newborn have been springing up ever since Virat and Anushka made the announcement.
While some users expressed concern over the privacy of the infant due to these fake profiles, others joked around how they baby will have trouble finding a user name once he grows up.
“Bro’s gonna have a hard time then whilst choosing a username XD,” a user commented even as another replies saying “I think the parents would have secured usernames for him across platforms before revealing the name.”
Meanwhile, some users commented over the “fancy names” being given to the star kids. “What is th fascination with these weird names,” a user commented.
Instagram is flooded with Ahaay Kohli accounts within minutes. 😲
byu/CrazyHeart99 inBollyBlindsNGossip
In Wednesday night’s match at Inter Miami’s newly named Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, former Barcelona teammates will take the spotlight, although their starting positions are not guaranteed.
Updated On – 21 February 2024, 03:23 PM
Miami: Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are fit and ready to play for Inter Miami in the club’s opening match of the Major League Soccer season against Real Salt Lake City, manager Gerardo Martino said.
The former Barcelona teammates will be the headline acts in Wednesday night’s clash at Inter Miami’s renamed Chase stadium in Fort Lauderdale, though they are not guaranteed starters.
“Messi and Suarez are ready to play, if 90 minutes are required, we will see this depending on the team’s needs,” Martino told a news conference.
Messi missed much of Inter Miami‘s pre-season because of an adductor strain while Suarez has overcome a knee problem.
The other half of Inter Miami’s contingent of former Barcelona stars – defender Jordi Alba and midfielder Sergio Busquets – will also be available after recovering from recent injury concerns, reports Xinhua.
The only doubt for the Florida outfit is Argentine defender Nicolas Freire, who has a leg muscle injury.
“Freire is in doubt, but we have not yet confirmed his absence,” Martino said. “We are evaluating with the medical staff to what extent there is a risk and to what extent there is no risk.”
Inter Miami finished 14th in the MLS’s 15-team Eastern Conference last year with nine wins from 37 games.
The club, which is partly owned by former England captain David Beckham, is expected to vie for the league title this year following its glut of recent signings, led by Messi and Suarez.
But Martino is not thinking beyond the duel with Real Salt Lake City.
“We are preparing for all possibilities against a team that could choose to press high or sit back,” Martino said. “We have to be ready for all scenarios. But we are confident of having the answers and we believe that we are in good shape for the start of the new season.”
Rubin Kazan have signed a three-year contract with the Iranian striker Taheri. He has joined the Russian club as a free agent. He will wear No. 11 in Rubin, www.rubin-kazan.ru reported.
Taheri was a player of Sepahan youth academy.
He spent two training camps with Rubin on trial in the winter.
Kasra Taheri represented Iran in the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup, where Iran lost to Morocco in the Round of 16.
AMK/TT
Pant miraculously survived a near-fatal car crash on December 30, 2022.
Published Date – 21 February 2024, 02:06 PM
New Delhi: Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has expressed his views on Rishabh Pant‘s potential comeback for Delhi Capitals (DC) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, saying the wicketkeeper batter’s inclusion to the squad will be miraculous after recovering from severe injuries sustained in a severe car crash.
Pant miraculously survived a near-fatal car crash on December 30, 2022. The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter has been doing extensive rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
He has been making remarkable progress in his recovery, with him being fit for IPL 2024 looking as a realistic possibility for making a return to competitive cricket.
“There are filtered reports that Rishabh Pant will be seen playing this year in the IPL, which is absolutely phenomenal. It is miraculous, considering where he came from and where he has reached,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“Cricket is a very small part of life. It’s very important but cricket is there only if there is life. The sort of accident it was, I was just happy that he was alive. I am pretty sure he would have had to work very hard during the journey from there to here because it’s difficult and extremely lonely as well,” he added.
Chopra also believes that Pant will not only play but also lead the Delhi Capitals as their captain adding that the 26-year-old’s presence as a batter will resolve a massive problem for the Delhi-based franchise.
Chopra additionally asserts that Pant will assume not just a playing role but also leadership duties as the captain of the Delhi Capitals while adding that the inclusion of the 26-year-old as a batter will effectively address a significant issue for the franchise based in Delhi.
“He will bat and captain. With batting, he solves an extremely important problem for the Delhi Capitals because he can bat slightly down the order as, unfortunately, all their good players are top-order batters.”
Earlier, Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting had also said wicketkeeper-batter is ‘very confident’ of playing every game in IPL 2024, but added that he’s still unsure of him to captain the side or be the keeper.
Pant has amassed 2838 runs at an average of 34.61 and a strike rate of 147.97 in 98 IPL games with the highest score of 128 not out.
