Author: Raghav Singh

HIL GC triumphed over Shrachi Bengal Tigers with a 6-3 victory in a thrilling Men’s Hockey India League 2025-26 match at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.

Match Highlights

• Goals for HIL GC:

  • Kane Russell (19′, 36′, 44′)
  • Sam Ward (19′)
  • Sudeep Chirmako (38′)
  • James Albery (59′)

• Goals for Shrachi Bengal Tigers:

  • Jugraj Singh (12′)
  • Tom Grambusch (40′)
  • Christopher Ruhr (40′)

The match began with a tight midfield battle, where the first genuine chance came in the 11th minute. Sudeep Chirmako found Ajeet Yadav on the left, whose shot hit the post for HIL GC. Later, four consecutive penalty corners were awarded to Shrachi Bengal Tigers. Despite HIL GC’s efforts to defend, they conceded a penalty stroke, which Captain Jugraj Singh converted in the 12th minute, putting the Tigers ahead. HIL GC almost equalized in the 14th minute when Sam Ward’s attempt also struck the post.

In the second quarter, HIL GC swiftly turned the tide with two goals in the 19th minute. First, Kane Russell fed a long pass into the circle, and Sam Ward deftly tapped it in. Just moments later, HIL GC earned a penalty corner, where Kane Russell scored with a powerful dragflick to take the lead.

By the 28th minute, Sukhjeet Singh made a remarkable run and fired a back-handed shot that struck the crossbar. Despite 13 circle penetrations and six shots, the Tigers trailed by a goal at halftime.

Five minutes into the third quarter, HIL GC won another penalty corner, and Kane Russell, the league’s current top-scorer, converted it to extend the lead. In the 38th minute, Sudeep Chirmako scored a field goal from a tight angle, increasing HIL GC’s advantage to three goals.

Shrachi Bengal Tigers rebounded with two quick goals in the 40th minute when Tom Grambusch converted a penalty corner, followed by Christopher Ruhr tapping in a rebound. However, Kane Russell responded in the 44th minute with his third goal from another penalty corner, completing his second consecutive hat-trick in the Hero HIL.

In the 49th minute, the Tigers earned a penalty corner, but Jugraj Singh’s dragflick was saved by HIL GC goalkeeper James Mazarelo. With over eight minutes remaining, the Tigers opted to replace their goalkeeper with an outfield player for more attacking options.

Despite earning two late penalty corners in the 58th minute, Shrachi Bengal Tigers couldn’t capitalize. Shortly after, in the 59th minute, James Albery skillfully navigated past the Tigers’ defense and tapped the ball into an empty net, finalizing HIL GC’s 6-3 victory.

India’s squads for the SAFF Futsal Championship 2026 and the SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship 2026 have been announced. Both tournaments will take place in parallel in Nonthaburi, Thailand, later this month.

Team Arrival and Training

The Futsal Tigers and the Futsal Tigresses, each featuring 14 players, arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday. The men’s team is led by Iranian Reza Kordi, while the women’s team is guided by Indian Joshuah Vaz. Both squads underwent a month-long training camp together in Bengaluru prior to their journey to Thailand for the inaugural SAFF futsal tournaments.

Tournament Details

The SAFF Futsal Championship is scheduled from January 14 to 26, and the SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship will run from January 13 to 25. Both competitions will follow a single round-robin format, where the team with the most points will be hailed as champions. All seven SAFF member associations will compete in both events.

Fixtures

In the women’s tournament, India is set to clash with:

• Maldives (January 13)
• Bangladesh (January 15)
• Nepal (January 17)
• Pakistan (January 19)
• Bhutan (January 23)
• Sri Lanka (January 25)

For the men’s event, India’s fixtures are:

• Bangladesh (January 14)
• Nepal (January 18)
• Maldives (January 20)
• Bhutan (January 22)
• Sri Lanka (January 24)
• Pakistan (January 26)

Player History

Eight of the 14 players in the men’s team—Mollah, Silva, Lalsangkima, Adhikari, Roluahpuia, Mali, D’souza, and Lalrawngbawla—participated in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers last year, where India achieved its first-ever international futsal victory by defeating Mongolia 3-0. The women’s squad includes seven players who played in the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers: Tanvi, Achom, Arya, Radhika, Pooja, Ritika, and Khushbu.

India’s Squad for the SAFF Futsal Championship 2026

• Goalkeepers: Aleef Rahman Mollah, Ozen Vivian Silva.
• Fixo: Lalsangkima, Lalsawmpuia.
• Ala: Anmol Adhikari, K Roluahpuia, Lalrinzuala H, Nikhil Mali, Seaon D’souza, Vincent Laltluangzela.
• Pivot: Hafis AM, Jonathan Lalrawngbawla, Palash Barber, Tijo Job.
• Head coach: Reza Kordi

India’s Squad for the SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship 2026

• Goalkeepers: Aiswarya Arumugam, Tanvi Mavani.
• Fixo: Achom Degio, Arya More, Jigmet Chunzen, Radhika Patel.
• Ala: Aarushi Santhosh, Diti Kanungo, Nishka Parkash, Pooja Gupta, Ritika Singh, Sonali Mondal.
• Pivot: Khushbu Saroj, Mithila Ramani.
• Head coach: Joshuah Vaz

Fixture Timings for the Men’s Team in the SAFF Futsal Championship 2026

• 15:30 IST, January 14: India vs Bangladesh
• 12:30 IST, January 18: India vs Nepal
• 15:30 IST, January 20: Maldives vs India
• 18:30 IST, January 22: Bhutan vs India
• 18:30 IST, January 24: Sri Lanka vs India
• 18:30 IST, January 26: India vs Pakistan

Fixture Timings for the Women’s Team in the SAFF Futsal Championship 2026

• 12:30 IST, January 13: Maldives vs India
• 12:30 IST, January 15: Bangladesh vs India
• 15:30 IST, January 17: India vs Nepal
• 18:30 IST, January 19: India vs Pakistan
• 18:30 IST, January 23: Bhutan vs India
• 15:30 IST, January 25: Sri Lanka vs India

Venue

The matches will be held at Nonthaburi Stadium, Nonthaburi, Thailand.

Nikhat Zareen and Pawan Bartwal Shine at National Boxing Championships

Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen, World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 gold medallist Pawan Bartwal, and Sumit showcased their dominance by securing victories over their opponents at the Elite Men and Women National Boxing Championships held at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida. Most other leading boxers also registered comfortable wins, advancing to the quarterfinals of their respective weight categories.

This championship is notable as it’s the first time the men’s and women’s National Championships are being held simultaneously at the same venue, with 600 boxers participating across 10 weight categories each for men and women.

In the women’s 48-51kg category, the referee stopped the bout between Nikhat and Ladakh’s Kulsooma Bano in the first round due to Nikhat’s dominant performance. Pawan, competing in the men’s 50-55kg, overcame Lalit, while Sumit, in the men’s 70-75kg category, defeated Madhya Pradesh’s Kapil, both bouts concluded in the third round.

Earlier, world champion Minakshi, competing in the women’s 45-48kg, continued her impressive run with a 5:0 victory over Annu from Jharkhand.

In the men’s 50-55kg category, Jadumani Singh won comfortably against Uttar Pradesh’s Manish Rathore with a score of 5:0, and 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Amit Panghal triumphed over Chandigarh’s Krrish Pal with a score of 4:1.

On the previous day, World Championship bronze medallist Pooja Rani and India international Jadumani Singh recorded easy wins. Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain and the experienced Amit Panghal faced tougher challenges but managed to advance.

Pooja, in the 75–80kg category, dominated Anju from Chandigarh, winning 5–0, while Jadumani executed a commanding performance against R Parthiban from Tamil Nadu, resulting in the referee stopping the bout in the second round.

Nevertheless, not every established star had an easy outing; Saweety challenged Assam’s Lovlina fiercely before Lovlina secured a narrow 3–2 split decision victory. In the men’s section, former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Amit Panghal (50–55kg), representing SSCB, edged past Priyanshu of Haryana with a close 3–2 split decision.

Indian ODI captain Shubman Gill arrived at Vadodara Airport on Wednesday ahead of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, scheduled to begin on January 11. His arrival created a buzz in the city, as the New Zealand team also reached on the same day.

Gill received a warm welcome from fans eager to catch a glimpse of their captain at the airport. The 26-year-old Indian batter greeted supporters with a smile.

The Blackcaps were met with loud chants as they stepped out of the terminal. Some New Zealand players appeared surprised by the size of the crowd and recorded videos of the moment.

In the afternoon, Virat Kohli drew massive attention upon arriving at Vadodara Airport. A large crowd gathered to welcome the chase master, with chants of “Kohli, Kohli” echoing across the airport. Despite strict security, the situation turned chaotic when Kohli exited the terminal, as fans rushed to see him. The stalwart eventually needed security assistance to reach his car safely.

India and New Zealand will play the first match of the three-match series at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi. A full house is expected, as fans line up to watch their favourite stars in action.

This series will be Gill’s first international outing after being sidelined from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 squad. He has a good record against the Blackcaps, having scored 623 runs in 12 matches, including two centuries and two half-centuries.

Gill has not played an ODI match since the Australia tour last year, where he struggled with form, failing to cross the 30-run mark in three outings. As he returns to the 50-over format, Gill will hope to regain his form against a New Zealand team that will be without their talisman Kane Williamson.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has launched a four-day Sports Sciences Workshop for combat sports coaches at its Sports Science Division in New Delhi.

Workshop Focus

The workshop was attended by SAI coaches from key combat sports disciplines including Boxing, Wrestling, and Judo. Its aim is to strengthen the integration of sports science into daily coaching practices. Designed as an immersive and hands-on programme, the workshop emphasizes applying scientific principles to training methodologies, particularly focusing on strength and conditioning models specific to combat sports.

Training Highlights

Coaches will receive training in:

• Functional strength training
• Plyometrics
• Periodised resistance training programmes
• Core principles of exercise physiology relevant to elite performance

Dr. Bibhu Kalyan Nayak, director-cum-head, sports science division, SAI, stated, “Honourable Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Secretary (Sports) have consistently emphasised the need to encourage coaches in sports science so these principles are applied in day-to-day training.” He added, “Such focused engagements with coaches, supported by sports scientists, will positively contribute to India’s medal prospects. Our vision is athlete-centric, coach-led, and backed by sports science.”

Injury Management and Nutrition

The workshop also addresses the prevention and management of common combat-sport injuries, particularly shoulder-related conditions. This will include evidence-based warm-up protocols, strength and stability training, and scientific load-management strategies. Dedicated modules on sports nutrition, recovery science, anti-doping awareness, and applied sports psychology further encourage a holistic approach aimed at long-term athlete performance and career longevity.

Keynote Address

The inaugural session was addressed by Prof. Deepak Joshi, director, Sports Injury Centre (SIC), Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. He emphasized that coordinated integration of sports science, sports medicine, and injury management can fundamentally alter an athlete’s career trajectory. “This collaboration will be a boon for India’s sports ecosystem. Athletes referred by SAI will receive priority treatment, continuous clinical management, and a seamless pathway back to training and competition,” he noted.

Future Collaborations

Building on this collaboration, SAI and the Sports Injury Centre (SIC) are set to sign a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), following in-principle approval from the Hon’ble Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports. Under the proposed framework, SIC will handle advanced sports medicine and surgical interventions, while SAI will manage applied sports science rehabilitation and return-to-play protocols, ensuring priority care and a safe return to competition for Indian athletes.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Shreyanka Patil expressed her overwhelming emotions after being informed of her retention by the 2024 WPL champions, despite being sidelined for over a year due to injuries.

The off-spinner finished as WPL 2024’s leading wicket-taker with 13 scalps, earning her the Purple Cap and the Emerging Player of the Season award as RCB clinched the title. However, she missed WPL 2025 because of recurring grade-three shin splints and a stress reaction in her right wrist. Shreyanka later fractured her thumb while fielding during India’s bowlers’ camp at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in June and has been active again since playing for Barbados Royals in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL). With RCB retaining her for Rs 60 lakh, Shreyanka is eager to make a consistent comeback when the team begins its campaign against defending champions Mumbai Inddigihunt (MI) at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Friday.

“No words can describe how I was feeling when I got that call saying I was retained. Malo sir (Malolan Rangarajan) called me and he was like, Patil, that’s what he calls me…he’s like, ‘Patil, you’ve been retained.’ I was actually blank and like shocked because someone who has not played for 13-14 months—to trust that girl and just say, I will back you because your skill is up there, you’ve done it before, you’ve been a part of the winning squad,” Patil shared during a virtual pre-season press conference.

“I mean, that gives so much confidence and motivation for any young cricketer, I would say I was blank, and he’s like, ‘Patil, I’ve not seen you this calm.’ I said, ‘Sir, I need some time for me to express myself.’ Then he’s like, ‘Ok Patil, you enjoy.’ Then I called Arjun sir (personal coach Arjun Dev) and I started crying and I’m like, I don’t know what’s happening because I was in that shock.

“Before that day, I was thinking too much. I was overthinking—like ‘oh, my God, what will happen? Will I be retained? If not, which team will I be playing for?’ So many thoughts. Then when that phone call happened, I was like, finally getting that nice feeling of just so much love. It was so much, I mean, I just felt so cute all over again,” she added.

Shreyanka noted the team would miss the ‘true legend’ Ellyse Perry, who is unavailable for the upcoming season due to personal reasons. “She’s a true legend of this game. Obviously, we’re going to miss her being a part of RCB for all the seasons, and she played a tremendous role in winning the cup. She’s taught us so much, not just on the field, but from her fitness too.

“So we’ve all got so much from her. Yes, we’re going to miss her for sure, but you can’t say a correct replacement for Perry is this one, or XYZ. But they’ve done a great job to get another player. This squad looks really nice. Obviously, we’re going to miss her, but this squad is also looking very balanced and strong,” she elaborated.

Shreyanka praised RCB for maintaining contact throughout her rehabilitation, with captain Smriti Mandhana regularly checking on her progress. “They’ve been checking on me, giving me that confidence, saying no matter what, you’re the best. So all of that, you feel it actually. It’s not just like you’re good, you’re good enough.

“It was a very hard statement for them to say, and I felt it. Smriti was constantly talking to me about my injury, how I’m doing in my practice sessions. We had some conversations, and they really helped me. They were like, if there’s anything needed, our medical team is there for you, you can call us anytime. So it wasn’t like a contract with RCB; it was more than that. It was more like a family concern for me,” she said.

Shreyanka wrapped up by mentioning that she spent the past month working intensively on match-based scenarios at NICE Academy with her coach, Arjun Dev. “I’ve done a lot of visualisation and manifestation, though I wasn’t playing. Now that I’m back in action after the past six-seven months, I’ve worked on my skills.

“But then the more you practice, the more consistent you get, the more confident you become. So now, before coming to Mumbai, I had a lovely schedule for a month. Back at home, in NICE Academy, Arjun sir had planned it. That one month gave me a lot of confidence in my cricket and mentally, like the tactics and technical bits. So when I flew, I was so happy, and I had that peaceful sleep on the flight knowing I’m fully prepared for this tournament.

“When I came here, the first session I bowled was brilliant. I enjoyed bowling here, got some knockings. I’m in a good space, I’m pretty much confident about my skills, my mindset, and I’m ready to go,” she concluded.

Sarthak Arya and Hardee Patel triumphed over third seeds Snehit Suravajjula and Sayali Wani with scores of 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, advancing to the second round of the mixed doubles qualifying. In the meantime, the top singles players secured easy victories in their initial group matches at the WTT Feeder Series 2026, sponsored by the Sports Authority of Gujarat, held at the SAMA Indoor Sports Complex on Wednesday.

WTT Feeder Series Details

The inaugural edition of the WTT Feeder Series in Vadodara, hosted by the Sports Authority of Gujarat, is organized by the Table Tennis Association of Baroda and executed by UTT.

In the singles group stage, Yashansh Malik, Sanyog Kapali, and Jash Modi in the men’s category, as well as Selena Selvakumar, Nithya Mani, and Sampada Bhiwandikar in the women’s category, began their campaigns with wins.

Men’s Singles Highlights

Yashansh Malik faced tough competition from Preyesh Suresh, ultimately losing 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 14-12, 11-8 in Group 1. In Group 2, Sanjoy Kapila convincingly defeated Harsh Merotha with scores of 11-1, 11-6, 11-3. Jash Modi showcased an impressive performance in Group 3, defeating Nepal’s Rubin Maharjan 11-1, 11-2, 11-6 in men’s singles.

Women’s Singles Highlights

In the women’s singles, Selena overcame Mukta Dalvi, winning 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 in Group 1. Nithya Mani secured victory against Sammridhi Banik with scores of 12-10, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 in Group 2. Sampada Bhiwandikar made a comeback from a 1-2 set deficit, defeating the young Naisha Rewaskar with scores of 11-8, 8-11, 11-13, 11-5, 12-10 in Group 3.

In Group 5, rising star Tanishka Kalbhairav beat Yashini Sivasankar 11-7, 12-10, 11-6, while Senhora D’Souza fell to Aafrien Murad 7-11, 11-13, 7-11 in Group 6.

Mixed Doubles Update

Earlier, Dhairya Parmar and Anusha Kutumbale overcame Rajiv Sahu and Pranati Ramesh 11-5, 5-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8 in the first round of mixed doubles qualifying. They are set to compete against the second seeds, Abhinandh Pradhivadhi and Nithya Mani.

Bilaspur witnessed enthusiastic participation from tribal athletes across Chhattisgarh as selection trials for the upcoming Khelo India National Tribal Games are underway in the city.

The trials are being conducted by the Chhattisgarh government’s Sports and Youth Welfare Department. Both online and offline registration facilities were made available for the players. Athletes can register online via a QR code and registration link, or register on-site.

All participants were required to carry the original copies of their Scheduled Tribe certificates and Aadhaar cards when reporting for the trials. Bilaspur is hosting the Khelo India National Tribal Games selection trials for the first time.

Trials to select the state teams for the competition are being held in Raipur and Bilaspur from January 6 to January 8. Seven sports disciplines are included in the trials.

In Raipur, selection trials are being conducted for weightlifting, wrestling, football, and hockey. Meanwhile, Bilaspur is hosting trials for archery, athletics, and swimming.

The trials in Bilaspur began at the B.R. Yadav Stadium at 9 am, with events for both men and women. No age limit was fixed for participation.

There was considerable enthusiasm among the athletes, with many thanking the government for the opportunity.

Archery national medallist Chandni Sahu hailed the facilities at the selection trials. “Trials for archery and athletics are happening in Bilaspur, and players from Dantewada, Raipur, and other districts have come to participate. The management is very good,” she stated.

Archery coach Shraddha Sonwani emphasized that the main objective of the Khelo India National Tribal Games is to uplift and recognize tribal players.

Recurve and compound coach Durgesh Pratap Singh thanked the central government for including international events like recurve and compound in the competition. He mentioned that 40 to 50 players have participated in the trials so far.

Chhattisgarh Athletics Association vice-president Sushil Mishra discussed the main objective of the trials, stating they would help in forming a strong team for the Khelo India National Tribal Games.

Athlete Satyapal Kawachi expressed his excitement about the games, stating he has been eagerly waiting for the opportunity to compete in the tribal games. He also thanked the government, feeling that the initiative would guide Chhattisgarh’s youth in the right direction.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalised the complete schedule of the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2026, including the Super Six stage. Ten teams will compete in Nepal from January 18 to February 1, vying for four spots in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to take place in England and Wales in June-July.

Warm-up Matches

Warm-up games are scheduled for January 14 and 16 at three venues: Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground, Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground, and Lower Mulpani Cricket Ground.

Group Stage Matches

Once the group stage begins on January 18, Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground and Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground will exclusively host competitive matches. Nepal will face Thailand, while Bangladesh will compete against the USA in the morning at 9 am local time. In the afternoon at 1 pm local time, Zimbabwe will play the Netherlands, and Ireland will challenge Papua New Guinea.

Scotland and Namibia will play their first matches on January 20. Four games are scheduled every other day during the group stage, which concludes on January 26. The top three teams from both Group A and Group B will advance to the Super Six.

Qualifying Matches

The matches that will determine the four qualifying nations are scheduled for January 28, January 30, and February 1. The USA, Bangladesh, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, and Namibia are drawn into Group A, while Nepal, Thailand, Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, and Scotland are placed in Group B.

Once the top three teams from both groups reach the Super Six stage, all teams will play three more matches and face the qualified teams from the other group once. The semi-finalists of the qualifiers will secure their spot in the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be played later this year.

Current Champions

New Zealand are the reigning T20 World Cup champions, having claimed the title in 2024 after defeating South Africa in the final. This marked a significant achievement, as it saw a new team lifting the coveted cup alongside Australia, England, and the West Indies.

Indian sports broadcaster Ridhima Pathak has addressed the recent reports regarding her alleged removal from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). She clarified that it was her personal decision to opt out of the league and labeled the narrative suggesting she was “dropped” as false.

“In the last few hours, there’s been a narrative suggesting I was ‘dropped’ from the BPL. That is not true. I made a personal decision to opt out. For me, my nation comes first—always. And I value the game of cricket far beyond any single assignment. I’ve been privileged to serve this sport for years with honesty, respect, and passion,” Ridhima stated on her social media.

“That won’t change. I’ll continue to stand for integrity, for clarity, and for the spirit of the game. Thank you to everyone who reached out with support. Your messages mean more than you know. Cricket deserves truth. Period. No further comments from my side,” she added.

This clarification comes amidst heightened tensions between India and Bangladesh. Recently, the Bangladesh government ordered the suspension of the broadcast of all matches of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season following the controversy involving Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman.

The decision was made after Rahman was released from the IPL following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which sparked significant debate and criticism in Bangladesh.

In response to Rahman’s release, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) convened an emergency board meeting and has reached out to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to seek the relocation of Bangladesh’s matches in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup from India, citing safety and security concerns.

India and Sri Lanka are set to co-host the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with matches scheduled across various venues in both countries.