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PKL: Puneri Paltan, Haryana Steelers set for grand finale at Gachibowli

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The stage is set for the grand finale as Puneri Paltan and Haryana Steelers lock horns in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 Final at the GMC Balayogi Sports Complex, Gachibowli, Hyderabad on Friday.

Published Date – 29 February 2024, 11:56 PM


PKL: Puneri Paltan, Haryana Steelers set for grand finale at Gachibowli

Aslam Inamdar (left) and Jaideep Dahiya pose ahead of the PKL final in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad: The stage is set for the grand finale as Puneri Paltan and Haryana Steelers lock horns in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 Final at the GMC Balayogi Sports Complex, Gachibowli, Hyderabad on Friday.

The Puneri Paltan will have their full contingent of players when they take the mat for a second straight final. It will be another chance to win their first PKL trophy. Along with the strong performance of their skipper Aslam Inamdar, the whole team has contributed to their success in Season 10.

They have proven their credentials as worthy finalists after topping the league table with record points. A lot of the credit also goes to their defensive stalwart Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh as well as their supporting raiders Mohit Goyat and Pankaj Mohite.

After their massive semifinal 1 win over the Patna Pirates, Puneri Paltan skipper Inamdar praised his whole team for their efforts this season, saying, “A captain is as good as his team. The whole team has been doing well so I am happy with my performance as well. My confidence is also very high because of the way we have been raiding and defending the whole season, especially in the semifinal.”

With a tough challenge against the Haryana Steelers in the final, Aslam is sure that his team is prepared, “All the players, including me, are taking the responsibility of remaining fit so that we can win the trophy. When the team isn’t training, we are all working on our own strength and conditioning.”

Meanwhile, having impressed all with their performances this season, the Haryana Steelers are well-deserved finalists. Led by young skipper Jaideep Dahiya and coached by three-time finalist Manpreet Singh, the Haryana Steelers have a young breed of Kabaddi players who have worked hard to earn their spot in the final.

Speaking after their win over Jaipur Pink Panthers in semifinal 2, Jaideep praised their opponents but was confident of winning what promises to be an exciting finale to season 10, “Puneri Paltan are very tough opponents. Yes, we beat them in the league stage, but they have beaten us too. It’s going to be a very exciting final. Both Mohit and Aslam are very good players, helping their team to the top of the league table. But we are no less; we are a young team who will fight to win the trophy.”

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Sahaja moves into quarterfinals of ITF $25K Women tournament

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Hyderabad tennis player Sahaja Yamalapalli entered into quarterfinals of the singles event of the ITF $25K Women tournament in Gurugram on Thursday.

Updated On – 29 February 2024, 11:49 PM


Sahaja moves into quarterfinals of ITF $25K Women tournament

Sahaja Yamalapalli

Hyderabad: Hyderabad tennis player Sahaja Yamalapalli entered into quarterfinals of the singles event of the ITF $25K Women tournament in Gurugram on Thursday.

In the pre-quarterfinal clash, the State player defeated compatriot Ria Bhatiya 7-6 (8), 7-5 to enter into the last eight stage of the competition.

Meanwhile, another State player Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty lost to Jacqueline Cabaj Awad of Sweden 1-6 , 6-3 , 7-6 (5) in a hard of fought battle. In doubles clash, the pair of Rashmikaa and Vaidehee Choudhari suffered defeat to second seed Jacqueline and Justina Mikulskyte 3-6, 6-4, 10-8 to end their campaign.

Results: Pre-quarterfinals: Singles: Sahaja Yamalapalli bt Ria Bhatiya 7-6(8), 7-5; Jacqueline Cabaj Awad (SWE) (7) bt Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5); Doubles: Jacqueline Cabaj Awad (SWE) (2)/Justina Rashmikaa Mikulskyte (LTU) (2) bt Bhamidipaty ( IND) & Vaidehee Choudhari 3-6 , 6-4, 10-8.

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I League: Sreenidi Deccan held by Mohammedan SC’s late strike

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David Castaneda scored very early on for the Deccan Warriors but his goal was eventually cancelled out by Mohammedan SC substitute Mohammad Jassim as both teams settled for a point each in this top of the table clash.

Published Date – 29 February 2024, 11:40 PM


I League: Sreenidi Deccan held by Mohammedan SC’s late strike

Players of Sreenidi Deccan and Mohammedan SC in action during the clash.

Hyderabad: Sreenidi Deccan Football Club conceded late to drop two points as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Mohammedan Sporting Club in a Matchweek 16 I-League clash here at the Deccan Arena on Thursday.

David Castaneda scored very early on for the Deccan Warriors but his goal was eventually cancelled out by Mohammedan SC substitute Mohammad Jassim as both teams settled for a point each in this top of the table clash.

Sreenidi Deccan made a bright start as they went ahead in the 3rd minute when Castaneda headed in Faysal Shayesteh’s corner but the game went into a lull after that. Neither team could create clear chances as Sreenidi Deccan shut up shop and Mohammedan SC were unable to break them down.

The second half picked up from where the first ended as the midfield battle intensified. Sreenidi Deccan substitutes Ibrahim Sissoko and William Alves tried to make things happen but were unable to double their team’s lead. The Deccan Warriors’ inability to put the game to bed came back to haunt them as Mohammedan equalised through Jassim’s long range strike in the 82nd minute.

After 16 games, Sreenidi Deccan remain in second place with 33 points while Mohammedan are at the top of the table with 35 points. The Deccan Warriors will play Real Kashmir in their next game at the Deccan Arena on March 4.

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Cameron Green reveals ‘he was struggling’ after getting cramps in AUS-NZ 1st Test

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While battling with cramps, Green slammed his second Test century to help his team post 279/9 on boards at the time of stumps on Day 1 against New Zealand.

Published Date – 29 February 2024, 06:25 PM


Cameron Green reveals ‘he was struggling’ after getting cramps in AUS-NZ 1st Test


Wellington: Star Australia all-rounder Cameron Green, who played a 103-run knock on day one of the first Test against New Zealand, revealed that he was struggling down his end after getting cramps while batting.

While battling with cramps, Green slammed his second Test century to help his team post 279/9 on boards at the time of stumps on Day 1 against New Zealand.

Initially tottering at 89-4 after being called in to bat at the Basin Reserve, Green led a rescue attempt alongside Mitchell Marsh, who scored 40 runs.

Green believed that New Zealand are slightly on top, but it’s not an easy pitch out there to bat on and the all-rounder added that after the 20th over, the ball kept coming back sharply in and was difficult to play.

While speaking after the stumps of day one, Green praised Mitchell Marsh for his attacking style while batting. “I was struggling down my end, and I know how Mitch plays having played quite a bit with him for WA. He always loves to score and that was exactly what we needed at the time,” Green was quoted by cricket.com.au as saying.

The duo of Green and Marsh scored 67 runs for the fifth wicket partnership. Marsh contributed 40 runs from 39 balls in the partnership.

He further hailed Marsh and called his 40-run knock in the first inning was “crucial” for the Aussies in the first Test match against New Zealand. “I thought his inning was really crucial for us today, just to put them on the back foot and try to take a bit of shine off the ball. I thought he batted beautifully,” he added.

Green’s counterattacking hundred revived troubled Australia in a see-saw opening day of the first Test against New Zealand after Matt Henry went all-out with his pace attack to dismantle the visitors at the Basin Reserve on Thursday.

Led by quick bowler Henry’s 4-43, the Blackcaps threatened to dismiss their highly regarded opponents for a low score but Green found willing accomplices in the lower order and launched a thrilling attack minutes before stumps to achieve his second Test hundred.

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FA Cup: Chelsea Nudge Past Leeds into Quarters; Man Utd, Liverpool Progress too

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Following their defeat in the EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium against Liverpool last Sunday, Chelsea rebounded to secure a quarterfinal berth against Leicester City, the team that defeated them in the 2021 FA Cup final.

Published Date – 29 February 2024, 01:29 PM


FA Cup: Chelsea Nudge Past Leeds into Quarters; Man Utd, Liverpool Progress too


London: Conor Gallagher came off the bench to score the winner as Chelsea beat Leeds United 3-2 in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea bounced back from their EFL Cup final loss at Wembley Stadium last Sunday against Liverpool, to book a quarterfinal spot with Leicester City, who beat them in the 2021 FA Cup final.

Leeds had earlier taken a shock lead when Chelsea played themselves into trouble. A risky pass from Axel Disasi was intercepted and Jaidon Anthony laid off to Mateo Joseph who lashed in from close range.

It took just seven minutes for Chelsea to produce a response – Nicholas Jackson pulled the hosts level, stroking the ball through Illan Meslier‘s legs from an acute angle.

The finish for Chelsea’s second was even better as Mykhailo Mudryk raced onto a Raheem Sterling pull back to turn past Meslier for his first goal of 2024.

Leeds enjoyed a lot of the ball possession in the second half and levelled when Jaidon Anthony’s pinpoint cross arrived perfectly onto Joseph’s head on the hour mark.

But it was substitute Gallagher who spared Chelsea’s blushes as he swivelled and swept past Meslier with just five seconds of the 90 remaining, setting up a rerun of the 2021 final against Leicester City.

In the evening’s other fixtures, Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers earned 1-0 wins over Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively.

Casemiro proved an unlikely hero late on as Manchester United snuck past Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Mario Lemina scored the only goal of the game as Wolves beat Brighton in an all-Premier League affair.

Meanwhile, Liverpool kept their quadruple hopes alive with a comfortable 3-0 home success over Southampton to set up a huge quarter-final meeting with Man Utd.

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Beijing selected to host 2027 track and field world championships

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The World Athletics Council reached the decision Wednesday to bring the meet back to China after the country hosted the event in 2015.

Published Date – 29 February 2024, 09:19 AM


Beijing selected to host 2027 track and field world championships

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 Monaco: The 2027 track and field world championships have been awarded to Beijing.

The World Athletics Council reached the decision Wednesday to bring the meet back to China after the country hosted the event in 2015. The decision comes on the heels of the Italian track federation announcing earlier in the day that it withdrew its candidacy to stage the 2027 worlds in Rome after the government refused to guarantee the $92 million needed to host the event.

China is also hosting the world indoor championships next year in Nanjing. The country hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

“This poses a massive opportunity to grow our sport and fan base in one of the biggest commercial markets in the world,” World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said in a statement.

The 2025 world championships will be held in Tokyo. Last summer, track’s big event was staged in Budapest, Hungary, and the summer before in Eugene, Oregon.

“With the announcement of China as our next host,” Coe said, “our last four World Athletics Championships have now been awarded to the world’s four largest economies; the USA (Oregon), the EU (Budapest), Japan (Tokyo) and China (Beijing).”

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WPL: Navigre’s blitzkrieg takes UP Warriorz to crushing win

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The batter hits half-century as her side defeats Mumbai Indians by seven wickets in the Women’s Premier League match in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Published Date – 28 February 2024, 11:26 PM


WPL: Navigre’s blitzkrieg takes UP Warriorz to crushing win

UP Warriorz Kiran Navgire during the WPL match in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Bengaluru: Kiran Navgire and Alyssa Healy unleashed a remarkable assault on Mumbai Indians bowlers to power UP Warriorz to a seven-wicket win in their Women’s Premier League match here on Wednesday.

Navigre (57, 31b, 6×4, 4×6) and Healy (33, 29 balls) added 94 runs for the opening wicket stand in just 9.1 overs as the Warriorz eased past the 162-run target in 16.4 overs to hand the defending champions their first defeat of the season. Mumbai batting suffered in the absence of skipper and in-form batter Harmanpreet Kaur, who is nursing a niggle, as a laboured 55 off 47 balls from Hayley Matthews guided them to 161 for six.

It was a competitive total but the Mumbai bowlers would not have suspected a carnage like the one Navigre and Healy unloaded on them. Navigre, who is the only Indian women batter to score a 150-plus score in senior T20s, fully exploited her promotion as opener, as Mumbai also suffered from the injury-enforced absence of lead pacer Shabnim Ismail.

Healy gave a sound start to UP’s chase with two successive boundaries off pacer Nat-Sciver Brunt, and they kept the momentum going from that point. Navigre, who made a slow start making five off six balls, slipped into her aggressive best against pacer Issy Wong, hammering her for four fours in the third over to collect 16 runs and it was just the beginning of the onslaught.

Navigre, who was dropped on 42 by Wong near the ropes off Matthews, soon completed his fifty in just 25 balls and it came through a thundering six off the West Indian spinner over long-on. But leg-spinner Amelia Kerr had player of the match Navigre stumped to give a bite of respite to Mumbai, who seemed to have gained a foothold as Wong dismissed both Healy and Tahlia McGrath in the 11th over. They needed 64 runs at this stage, but Grace Harris (38, 17 balls) and Deepti Sharma (27, 20 balls) made those runs with minimum fuss.

Earlier, Mumbai made a sedate start to their innings and had to wait till the fourth over for the first four. Yastika Bhatia (26, 22b) gave Mumbai the much-needed acceleration when the left-hander hammered 18 runs off left-arm pacer Anjali Sarvani through a sequence of three fours and a six, which was thumped right over the bowler’s head.

However, Bhatia did not last long as a pull played closer to her body off Harris ended in the hands of Rajeshwari Gayakwad. Matthews too tried to up the tempo and found the occasional big hits amid a slew of mis-time shots. Her four and six off successive balls off left-arm spinner Gayakwad were a reminder to her power and timing when in flow.

Matthews, who was dropped on 43 by Deepti off Harris, reached her fifty in 44 balls but could not kick on. Her effort to clear long-on off Gayakwad did not have elevation and distance as Harris completed an easy catch. A couple of hefty blows in the final stages by Pooja Vastrakar (18, 12b) and Wong helped MI to cross the 150-run mark.

Brief Scores: Mumbai Indians 161/6 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 55) lost to UP Warriorz 163/3 in 16.3 overs (Kiran Navgire 57; Issy Wong 2/30).

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Puneri Paltan sail past three-time champions Patna Pirates, roar into PKL 10 Final

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The Puneri Paltan secured their spot as the first finalists of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 after an emphatic 37-21 victory over three-time winners Patna Pirates at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad.

Published Date – 28 February 2024, 10:37 PM


Puneri Paltan sail past three-time champions Patna Pirates, roar into PKL 10 Final

Players of Puneri Paltan and Patna Pirates in action during the match.

Hyderabad: The Puneri Paltan secured their spot as the first finalists of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 after an emphatic 37-21 victory over three-time winners Patna Pirates at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday. In what was an all-round performance from the Paltan army, the heroics were led by their able skipper Aslam Inamdar’s 7 raid points as his team will now face off against the winner of Semi-Final 2 on Friday, March 1 in search of their maiden PKL title.

It was a close start to Semi-Final 1 as both Puneri Paltan and Patna Pirates exchanged early blows to keep the fans on the edge of their seats. Sachin was the pick of the raiders for the Patna Pirates once again but on the other side of the mat, an all-round performance from the Puneri Paltan slightly kept them ahead of their opponents, as they eventually began to get a hold of the game.

Mohit Goyat’s successful DO-OR-DIE raid in the 6th minute started a flurry of points towards the end of the first half for the Paltan, inflicting an ALL OUT on the Patna Pirates. Continuing his form in season 10, Mohammadreza Shadlou led the defence with his tackling, with Aslam Inamdar’s raiding giving his team a 20-11 point at the end of the first half.

The Paltan carried the same momentum into the second half, getting the Patna Pirates ALL OUT once again. Sachin and Sudhakar M kept adding to the points for the Pirates but in the end, it was the Puneri Paltan team who went home the happier side. Aslam and Pankaj Mohite complemented each other well in the raiding department, while Shadlou had support from Abinesh and Gaurav Khatri.

The Patna Pirates fought to the very end but it was the Puneri Paltan who earned a big win in the Semi-Final. Ankit’s SUPER RAID cut into the lead of the Puneri Paltan, and Manjeet also struck late in the second half. However, the Paltan had an answer to all of the Patna Pirates’ questions, sealing a much-deserved spot in their second consecutive final.

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Nagpur Mumbai to host Ranji Trophy semifinal matches

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Mumbai will play Tamil Nadu at home while Vidrabha will host Madhya Pradesh in Nagpur in the Ranji Trophy semifinals, starting from Saturday.

Published Date – 28 February 2024, 09:10 PM


Nagpur Mumbai to host Ranji Trophy semifinal matches

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New Delhi: Mumbai will play Tamil Nadu at home while Vidrabha will host Madhya Pradesh in Nagpur in the Ranji Trophy semifinals, starting from Saturday.

The VCA Stadium in Nagpur and the BKC Ground in Mumbai will host the last four stage matches of the premier domestic tournament. Vidarbha recorded a resounding 127-run win over Karnataka to book a place in the semifinals.

They will meet Madhya Pradesh, who are coached by Chandrakant Pandit, who guided Vidarbha to back-to-back titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19. MP,on the other hand, had eked out a narrow four-run win over Andhra in the quarterfinals. Mumbai will head to the semifinals on the back of a historic match where Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande became the first pair since 1946 to hit hundreds batting at number 10 and 11.

The record 41-time champions entered the last-four stage by virtue of first-innings lead against Baroda. They will clash with Tamil Nadu, who rode on R Sai Kishore’s match haul of 9 for 93 to knock out defending champions Saurashtra by an innings and 33 runs in the quarterfinals.

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Adnan, Ashwin leads ECDG to Bharat Ratna Abul Kalam Azad Junior Cricket Championship

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Skipper MA Adnan and Pulla Ashwin smashed centuries to propel the Emerging Cricketers Development Group (ECDG) to a huge 202-run win over Khaja Cricket Academy in the final of the 2nd edition of Bharat Ratna Abul Kalam Azad Junior Cricket Championship.

Published Date – 28 February 2024, 08:53 PM


Adnan, Ashwin leads ECDG to Bharat Ratna Abul Kalam Azad Junior Cricket Championship

ECDG team members with the winners’ trophy on Wednesday.

Hyderabad: Skipper MA Adnan and Pulla Ashwin smashed centuries to propel the Emerging Cricketers Development Group (ECDG) to a huge 202-run win over Khaja Cricket Academy in the final of the 2nd edition of Bharat Ratna Abul Kalam Azad Junior Cricket Championship organised by ECDG at Khaja Cricket Grounds, Abdullapurmet, Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Batting first, an unbeaten 211-run partnership for seventh wicket between MA Adnan (100, 69b, 4×12, 6×1) and Pulla Ashwin (104, 54b, 4×12, 6×6) led to ECDG post 328/6 in 30 overs. Later, they dismissed Khaja for 126 runs in 20.2 overs with G Sravan scalping 4/14.

Brief Scores: ECDG: 328/6 in 30 overs (MA Adnan 100 no, Pulla Ashwin 104 no) bt Khaja CA 126 in 20.2 overs (Abhishek 36, Avinash 31; G Sravan 4/14, Pulla Ashwin 3/14);

Awards: Most Valuable Player: Pulla Ashwin, Man of the Match (Final): MA Adnan, Best Batsman: Bharath Kumar, Best Bowler: G Sravan, Best Fielder: Adarsh Deshmukh, Best Allrounder : Shaik Afridi, Emerging Player: Ram Tej, Bhuvan.