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Sachin Tendulkar shares new glimpse from his Kashmir trip, invites world to visit J-K

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The beauty and people’s exceptional hospitality left the Master Blaster in awe.

Published Date – 28 February 2024, 02:08 PM


Sachin Tendulkar shares new glimpse from his Kashmir trip, invites world to visit J-K


New Delhi: Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday shared a “beautiful experience” from his Kashmir trip which will always be “etched” in his memory and the Master Blaster also emphasised the importance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statements.

The beauty and people’s exceptional hospitality left the Master Blaster in awe.

The great Indian player, popularly known as the ‘God of Cricket’ treated his fans with a stunning video from his trip to Kashmir. In the video he posted on social media X (formerly Twitter), he was seen enjoying the snowfall in Gulmarg with his wife Anjali Tendulkar and daughter Sara Tendulkar.

Tendulkar reminisced about the beauty of the snow-covered nation in a post that featured a video and praised the locals for their warm welcome.

“Jammu and Kashmir will remain a beautiful experience etched in my memory. There was snow all around but we felt warm because of people’s exceptional hospitality,” Tendulkar posted on X.

Tendulkar underlined that Prime Minister Modi had inspired him to uncover India’s various capitals.

“Hon’ble Prime Minister @narendramodiji said there is so much to see in our nation. Couldn’t agree more, especially after this trip,” he added.

The cricket icon also visited a cricket bat manufacturing plant. For those who don’t know, Kashmiri willow bats have a global reputation for excellence. Tendulkar also lauded the craftsmanship of the Kashmir Willow bats, describing them as great examples of ‘Made in India’ products. The legendary cricketer also encouraged people to visit Jammu and Kashmir, which he referred to as “a precious jewel of Incredible India,” as well as other places in India.

“The Kashmir Willow bats are great examples of “Make in India, Make for the World.” They have travelled across the globe, and now I recommend people across the globe, and India, to come and experience Jammu & Kashmir, one of the several jewels of @incredibleindia,” Tendulkar concluded.

During his visit, the cricket icon fulfilled his promise and met the Jammu and Kashmir’s Para cricket team captain Amir Hussain Lone. The renowned Indian batter finally met Amir Lone, who had previously captured Tendulkar’s attention with a video of himself training in Kashmir.

The two spoke about cricket, as the Kashmir batter couldn’t conceal his enthusiasm and joy at having met his role model. Tendulkar also praised Amir, calling him a great inspiration for this generation’s children, citing his pure will, determination, and passion for the game that propelled him to where he is now. Tendulkar gifted a bat to Amir which has a personalised inspiring message that read “To Amir, the real hero. Keep inspiring,” with his signature.

In his trip, the former batter was also seen playing ‘gully cricket.’ Tendulkar took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to share a short clip of him playing cricket with the locals.

In the video, it can be seen Sachin was travelling with his family but the cricket maestro stopped his car to hit some shots in between the snowy mountain. The 50-year-old did not hesitate to loft the ball over the head of the bowler and play a few drive shots.

Sports

Sachin Tendulkar shares Kashmir trip experience, praises PM Modi’s statements

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In a post featuring a video, Tendulkar fondly recalled the scenic beauty of the snow-covered nation and lauded the locals for their hospitable welcome.

Published Date – 28 February 2024, 02:09 PM


Sachin Tendulkar shares Kashmir trip experience, praises PM Modi’s statements


New Delhi: Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday shared a “beautiful experience” from his Kashmir trip which will always be “etched” in his memory and the Master Blaster also emphasised the importance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s statements.

The beauty and people’s exceptional hospitality left the Master Blaster in awe.

The great Indian player, popularly known as the ‘God of Cricket’ treated his fans with a stunning video from his trip to Kashmir. In the video he posted on social media X (formerly Twitter), he was seen enjoying the snowfall in Gulmarg with his wife Anjali Tendulkar and daughter Sara Tendulkar.

Tendulkar reminisced about the beauty of the snow-covered nation in a post that featured a video and praised the locals for their warm welcome.

“Jammu and Kashmir will remain a beautiful experience etched in my memory. There was snow all around but we felt warm because of people’s exceptional hospitality,” Tendulkar posted on X.

Tendulkar underlined that Prime Minister Modi had inspired him to uncover India’s various capitals.
“Hon’ble Prime Minister @narendramodiji said there is so much to see in our nation. Couldn’t agree more, especially after this trip,” he added.

The cricket icon also visited a cricket bat manufacturing plant. For those who don’t know, Kashmiri willow bats have a global reputation for excellence. Tendulkar also lauded the craftsmanship of the Kashmir Willow bats, describing them as great examples of ‘Made in India’ products. The legendary cricketer also encouraged people to visit Jammu and Kashmir, which he referred to as “a precious jewel of Incredible India,” as well as other places in India.

“The Kashmir Willow bats are great examples of “Make in India, Make for the World.” They have travelled across the globe, and now I recommend people across the globe, and India, to come and experience Jammu & Kashmir, one of the several jewels of @incredibleindia,” Tendulkar concluded.

During his visit, the cricket icon fulfilled his promise and met the Jammu and Kashmir’s Para cricket team captain Amir Hussain Lone. The renowned Indian batter finally met Amir Lone, who had previously captured Tendulkar’s attention with a video of himself training in Kashmir.

The two spoke about cricket, as the Kashmir batter couldn’t conceal his enthusiasm and joy at having met his role model. Tendulkar also praised Amir, calling him a great inspiration for this generation’s children, citing his pure will, determination, and passion for the game that propelled him to where he is now. Tendulkar gifted a bat to Amir which has a personalised inspiring message that read “To Amir, the real hero. Keep inspiring,” with his signature.

In his trip, the former batter was also seen playing ‘gully cricket.’ Tendulkar took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to share a short clip of him playing cricket with the locals.

In the video, it can be seen Sachin was travelling with his family but the cricket maestro stopped his car to hit some shots in between the snowy mountain. The 50-year-old did not hesitate to loft the ball over the head of the bowler and play a few drive shots.

Sports

Yuven Sundaramoorthy joins Abel Motorsports for 2024 Firestone INDY NXT series

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As the 37th edition of the open-wheel motorsport event unfolds, excitement mounts as Yuven Sundaramoorthy enters the fray with the renowned Abel Motorsports team, ensuring a spectacle of thrills and spills.

Published Date – 28 February 2024, 01:09 PM


Yuven Sundaramoorthy joins Abel Motorsports for 2024 Firestone INDY NXT series


New Delhi: Yuven Sundaramoorthy, the racing sensation of Indian heritage, is set to ignite the tracks of the 2024 Firestone INDY NXT Series.

The 37th edition of the open-wheel motorsport event promises thrills and spills as Yuven Sundaramoorthy takes on the competition alongside the esteemed Abel Motorsports team.

As the primary support series for the IndyCar Series, now in its second year under the Indy NXT banner following its acquisition by Penske Entertainment in 2022, the 2024 INDY NXT by Firestone season is gearing up for an exhilarating ride.

With a 14-race schedule announced by INDYCAR, including the addition of another oval to better prepare drivers for the diverse skills required in NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition, the stage is set for high-octane action.

The season kicks off on March 10 on the Streets of St Petersburg, Florida, setting the pace for what promises to be a gripping campaign. Fans can mark their calendars for two doubleheader weekends: May 10-11 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and June 22-23 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.

The champion will be crowned on Sunday, September 15 on the Nashville Super Speedway, marking the first time this venue hosts the season-ending event.Every race of the 2024 INDY NXT series will be streamed live on Peacock, with live coverage of practice and qualifying available on INDYCAR LIVE, ensuring fans don’t miss a single moment of the action.

Confirming his participation, Yuven Sundaramoorthy expressed his excitement, stating, “It’s an honour to be part of such a prestigious event and to represent my Indian heritage on the racing stage. I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to showcase my skills against the best in the sport. With the unwavering support of my team and fans, I’m determined to give it my all and leave a lasting impression with every lap.”

Building on his stellar performance during the 2023 USF Pro Championships season, Sundaramoorthy showcased his prowess in the USF Pro 2000 program before making the leap to Indy NXT with Abel Motorsports. With two impressive top-10 finishes in four races across three events in Nashville, Portland, and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Sundaramoorthy has proven his mettle on the track.

In 2021, Sundaramoorthy clinched four wins and secured five more podium finishes, culminating in a commendable third-place standing in the USF 2000 title race. As the sole Indian-American driver to triumph within the IndyCar ladder system, his victories at revered tracks such as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Barber Motorsports Park have solidified his status as a rising star in motorsport.

Sports

Tsitsipas starts strong with win over Safiullin in Mexican Open first round

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Ranked 12th globally, he has ascended two spots to claim the 10th position in this week’s Live Rankings. A berth in the semifinals would solidify his entry into the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings by Monday.

Published Date – 28 February 2024, 12:29 PM


Tsitsipas starts strong with win over Safiullin in Mexican Open first round


Acapulco: Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was the runner-up in 2021, registered a 6-3, 6-4 win against Roman Safiullin in his Mexican Open, an ATP 500 event, first round late on Tuesday.

The World No. 12 has moved up two places to No. 10 this week in the Live Rankings and can secure his place in the Top 10 of Monday’s ATP Rankings by reaching the semifinals.

After pledging to donate $1,000 USD per ace this week to the hurricane relief program in Acapulco, Tsitsipas hit five aces in his opening win and saved the lone break point he faced late in the opening set, ATP reports.

Mid-set breaks in both sets made for a relatively stress-free outing for the Greek, who advanced to the semi-finals (2022) and final (2021) in his previous two Acapulco appearances,

Tsitsipas’ next opponent will be Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli, who beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round.

Sports

Mallorca triumphs over Real Sociedad in Copa del Rey penalty shootout

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Greif, who denied Brais Mendez’s penalty during regular time, thwarted Mikel Oyarzabal’s attempt at the beginning of the shootout, following a 1-1 deadlock after 120 minutes.

Updated On – 28 February 2024, 10:27 AM


Mallorca triumphs over Real Sociedad in Copa del Rey penalty shootout


Madrid: Mallorca goalkeeper Dominik Greif was the hero as his side won a penalty shootout away against Real Sociedad to qualify for the Copa del Rey final for the first time in 21 years.

Greif, who saved a spot-kick from Brais Mendez in normal time, stopped Mikel Oyarzabal’s spot-kick at the start of the shootout, which came after 120 minutes ended 1-1.

Mallorca will be in Sevilla for the final on April 6.

The first leg between the two sides ended 0-0 three weeks ago, and a league meeting later on saw a 2-1 win for Real Sociedad with a late goal, so it was no surprise that this was also a close affair, Xinhua reports.

Mallorca coach Javier Aguirre organized his defense effectively and Real Sociedad found little space for striker Andre Silva.

It wasn’t until the half hour that Arsen Zakharyan had the first shot on target for the home side, although it was straight at Greif.

Abdon Prats shot just wide for Mallorca after good work from Dani Rodriguez before Mendez wasted a perfect chance to put Real Sociedad ahead.

Antonio Raillo needlessly handled Martin Zubimendi’s ball into the area to concede a penalty, but Mendez hit a tame effort that Greif saved comfortably with his feet.

Real Sociedad replaced the ineffective Silva with recent signing Sheraldo Becker at halftime, but Mallorca struck first with right back Giovanni Gonzalez planting a powerful far-post header past Remiro five minutes into the second half.

Real Sociedad reacted well, with Takefusa Kubo active on the right, before Mikel Oyarzabal came on for the home side after two weeks out with a thigh injury.

The home side’s captain had only been on the pitch for eight minutes when he ran onto Mendez’s pass to beat Greif with a diagonal right-foot shot in the 71st minute.

Real Sociedad had Mallorca on the back foot, with Greif pushing Becker’s angled shot wide, with Mallorca struggling to keep hold of the ball or get out of their half.

Kieran Tierney almost scored after five minutes of extra time following a scramble, but a VAR check showed Samu Costa blocked his effort before it fully crossed the line.

At the other end, Remiro tipped a Sergi Darder free kick out for a corner.

The second half of extra time saw two tired sides commit plenty of niggling fouls but were unable to create chances as the tie went into the decisive shootout.

Sports

ISL: Talal steals the show in Punjab’s win over Hyderabad

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Madih Talal put on a show with a goal and an assist and was the best player on the pitch to steer Punjab FC to a 2-0 win over struggling Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League match

Published Date – 27 February 2024, 11:02 PM


ISL: Talal steals the show in Punjab’s win over Hyderabad

Photo: X

Hyderabad: Madih Talal put on a show with a goal and an assist and was the best player on the pitch to steer Punjab FC to a 2-0 win over struggling Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League match at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

The newly-promoted side Punjab, who are playing their first season in the ISL, came into the game with a heavy 0-4 loss against Jamshedpur FC at home and Hyderabad suffered a narrow 1-2 loss in the last game at Bengaluru. Makhan Chothey took the first shot in the third minute to test the PFC goalkeeper Ravi Kumar.

With midfielder and skipper Joao Victor and centre-back Alex Saji back in the side after serving the suspension, the hosts showed a lot of belief on the pitch. It seemed like the home side had their best 20 minutes of the season but the question remained, how long could they do it in the match?

For Staikos Vergetis’ side, midfielders Ricky John Shabong and Madih Talal were brilliant. The physical battle between PFC target man Wilmar Jordan Gil and Saji was one to watch. Numerous times, Mohammed Rafi was seen with long throws to the box, which was a clear tactic for Thangboi Singto’s side, who are desperate to score goals.

But at the 45+ 1 minute, Abhisekh did well to find Talal who fed it to Luka Majcen, who scored with a header. It was heartbreak for the home side, who did all the hard work but it was the away side who led 1-0 at the break.

HFC started the second half with the intent to score one and were continuously finding Rabeeh on the right flank. But PFC doubled the lead in the 55th minute with Talal at the edge of the box with a touch and spin beat goalkeeper Laximikanth Kattimani.

In the 64th minute, the game paused for a brief period due to one of the floodlights going off. On resumption, Hyderabad wanted to find a goal and players Abdul Rabeeh, Ramhlunchhunga and Chothe all came close but didn’t find the back of the net as PFC walked off the field a much happier side.

Sports

Don’t feel too strongly about being critical”: Atherton on England’s performance against India

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Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel’s unbeaten 72-run stand took India across the finishing line during the tricky chase of 192 runs.

Published Date – 27 February 2024, 10:41 PM


Don’t feel too strongly about being critical”: Atherton on England’s performance against India


New Delhi: Former England cricketer Michael Atherton feels it is hard to be too “critical” of the Three Lions’ performance against India following their Test series defeat in Ranchi. England rode high in during some phases of the Test match, on the back of strong performances from Joe Root and young spinners Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley.

Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel’s unbeaten 72-run stand took India across the finishing line during the tricky chase of 192 runs.

“I don’t feel too strongly about being too critical of England. It’s a difficult place to come and win, obviously, with nobody able to do so since 2012/13,” Atherton said on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast.

Atherton went on to state that the series has been competitive from the very first match but India ended up being too good in the home conditions.

“When we were talking about the series before a ball was sent down then I don’t think we expected England to win here, given the relative strength of the spin attack. I feel that it has been a competitive series. I feel like India know they’ve been in the tussle, but in the end they were just too good in home conditions,” Atherton added.

England kicked off the series on a dominant note with a 28-run triumph in Hyderabad. In the following three games, they had their moments of brilliance but failed to capitalise on them. In the fourth Test, Joe Root’s 122* put England in a strong position.

However, in the second innings, Ravichandran Ashwin spun the team with his five-wicket haul and restricted England on 145. “I thought this was a particularly good effort from India to win the Test.

They lost the toss, they were behind on first innings, but they pulled it around. It could conceivably be 4-0 to India because they will feel they should have won that first game in Hyderabad and probably ought to have done,” Atherton said.

“You could also say it could be 2-2 as well because England did win in Hyderabad and threw away a strong position here. Even at Rajkot, I know they ended up losing by a massive margin, but that day three was a similar day three here. I felt that the cricket has been competitive and India know they’ve been in a tussle,” Atherton added.

England will face India in the final match of the series on March 7 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala

Sports

WPL 2024: RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana wins toss, opts to field against Gujarat Giants

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RCB kicked off their season with a 2-run win over UP Warriorz, while, Gujarat Giants suffered a 5-wicket defeat against defending champions Mumbai Indians.

Published Date – 27 February 2024, 07:34 PM


WPL 2024: RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana wins toss, opts to field against Gujarat Giants

File Photo

Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to field against the Gujarat Giants in the ongoing Women’s Premier League Season 2 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday.

RCB kicked off their season with a 2-run win over UP Warriorz, while, Gujarat Giants suffered a 5-wicket defeat against defending champions Mumbai Indians. Both teams will be eager to get a victory in order to gain more momentum as the season intensifies.

RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana said at the time of the toss, “We would like to field first. There’s something in it in the first 5 overs and I think it’s always good to get a look in T20 cricket. Last game was brilliant, close wins are always special and they get the team going. We want to play the best brand of cricket. The first game was definitely important, but it’s also important to forget the past and keep moving. Same team.”

GGT skipper Beth Mooney said at the time of the toss, “You need to try and embrace a crowd like this. We’ve had a few meeting here and there, these tournaments happen really quickly, we need to believe in the method and get the processes right before we get the results. We’ve got some world class players, some of them will have to miss out but opportunities will come by. No changes.”

Royal Challengers Bangalore Women (Playing XI): Sophie Devine, Smriti Mandhana(c), Sabbhineni Meghana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh (w), Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Shreyanka Patil, Simran Bahadur, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Thakur Singh Gujarat Giants (Playing XI): Beth Mooney (w/c), Veda Krishnamurthy, Harleen Deol, Phoebe Litchfield, Dayalan Hemalatha, Ashleigh Gardner, Kathryn Bryce, Sneh Rana, Tanuja Kanwar, Lea Tahuhu, Meghna Singh.

 

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Watch: Rishabh Pant sweats it out in the gym ahead of IPL 2024

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Pant survived a near-fatal car crash on December 30, 2022.

Published Date – 27 February 2024, 06:39 PM


Watch: Rishabh Pant sweats it out in the gym ahead of IPL 2024


New Delhi: India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is putting in the hard yards and grinding it out at the gym to sculpt his physique and reclaim prime fitness ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The left-hander took to social media to offer fans a glimpse into his rigorous gym session as he prepares to grace the cricket field for the first time since December 2022.

Pant survived a near-fatal car crash on December 30, 2022. The wicketkeeper-batter has done extensive rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and made remarkable progress in his recovery.

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting had earlier said Pant is “very confident” of playing every game in IPL 2024.

The franchise co-owner Parth Jindal also expressed optimism that Pant would be fully fit for the IPL and emphasized that he will lead the team from the outset but will focus solely on batting in the initial phase of the tournament.

Sports

Iranian table tennis players advance in ITTF ranking

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The ranking released on Tuesday showed that all three top Iranian table tennis players in the men’s and women’s categories have improved their positions among international table tennis players following their success in the 2024 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals held in Busan, South Korea.

In the men’s category, Noshad Alamian has improved by one place, now ranking 50th in the world, while Amir-Hossein Hodaei has advanced three places to reach the 119th position. Nima Alamian has also experienced a significant 59-level growth, now standing in the 181st place.

Among the Iranian female table tennis players, Neda Shahsavari, Mahshid Ashtari, and Shima Safaei have each improved their ranking by 321, 263, and 265 places respectively.

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