Author: Raghav Singh

In a must-win clash with top-four implications, Ganga Kings of Mirzapur held their nerve to defeat Aligarh Tigers 34–32, marking their third win of UPKL Season 2 and completing a back-to-back victory run.

Match Highlights

The match began at high intensity, with both teams aware of the stakes. Ganga Kings struck first with Amit Nagar’s crucial super raid, quickly followed by an all-out on Aligarh Tigers, allowing Ganga to seize early momentum. Aligarh responded strongly with disciplined defence and a timely super tackle, forcing an all-out on Ganga Kings and leveling the contest.

The first half remained tightly contested, with just two points separating the teams at halftime, highlighting their evenly matched abilities. As the second half commenced, neither team was willing to take unnecessary risks, leading to a cautious phase marked by tactical raids and measured defending.

Ganga Kings managed to maintain a slim lead through a critical super tackle in the latter stages, but Aligarh Tigers continued to apply pressure. As the match entered its final minute, Ganga held a narrow one-point lead, setting the stage for a tense finish.

Decisive Moment

In a pivotal moment, Akash Kumar was brought in as the last raider, tasked with securing points for Ganga. Rising to the occasion, Akash executed a brilliant super raid, collecting two touch points and a bonus, swinging the contest decisively in Ganga’s favour.

Ganga Kings of Mirzapur concluded the match at 34–32, securing their third win of the season and keeping their top-four hopes alive. This victory also marked back-to-back wins for the Mirzapur-based team, showcasing their growing momentum at a crucial stage of UPKL Season 2.

Later in the day, matches were also played between Sangam Challengers and Kashi Kings, Awadh Ramdoots and Brij Stars, and JD Noida Ninjas against Gazab Ghaziabad.

2018 Asian Games gold medallist Amit Panghal of SSCB and Sagar of Haryana recorded contrasting victories to advance in the Elite Men and Women National Boxing Championships being held at Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida.

Simultaneous Championships

This tournament marks the first occasion that the men’s and women’s National Championships are taking place simultaneously at the same venue, with 600 boxers from across the country competing in 10 weight categories each for men and women.

Amit Panghal Shines

Amit, competing in the Bantamweight category, showcased his skills by dominating Usman Mohd Sultan of Bihar, securing an unanimous decision victory.

Sagar’s Tough Battle

In the heavyweight category, Sagar faced a challenging bout against Edwin from Kerala but ultimately clinched the win by a split decision.

Additional Results

Lalrambuat of Mizoram also triumphed in the bantamweight category, defeating Santosh Kumar of Odisha by unanimous decision.

Vedanta Kalinga Lancers secured a 4-2 victory over Ranchi Royals in the Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium on Sunday. Alexander Hendrickx (7′, 28′) and Gursahibjit Singh (16′, 26′) found the back of the net for Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, while Tom Boon (1′) and Mandeep Singh (9′) were on the scoresheet for Ranchi Royals.

Ranchi Royals set the tone early, scoring the opening goal in the first minute. They won a penalty corner, and Tom Boon (1′) capitalized with a powerful dragflick that hit the net. The Royals maintained early possession, but Vedanta Kalinga Lancers quickly adapted. In the seventh minute, they earned a penalty corner, which was expertly converted by Belgian drag-flick specialist Alexander Hendrickx (7′) to level the score.

Just two minutes later, Ranchi Royals reclaimed the lead with a brilliant first-time pass from Vishnukant Singh into the circle for Mandeep Singh (9′), who scored from a tight angle. Vedanta had a chance to equalize again in the 13th minute with a variation from a penalty corner, but Rosan Kujur’s attempt went narrowly wide.

The second quarter saw Vedanta Kalinga Lancers strike with a significant field goal. Craig Marias displayed excellent skill, setting up Gursahibjit Singh (16′) for a diving finish. The Lancers extended their lead in the 26th minute as Dilpreet Singh held off defenders and assisted Gursahibjit Singh (26′) for his second goal. Two minutes later, Alexander Hendrickx (28′) converted another penalty corner to conclude the first half with Vedanta in a comfortable position.

During the third quarter, Ranchi Royals aimed to assert control and create scoring opportunities. However, Vedanta’s defense proved resilient, maintaining their two-goal lead. In the 42nd minute, Ranchi Royals won three consecutive penalty corners, but Vedanta effectively thwarted all attempts. The Lancers responded with a penalty corner of their own, but Cooper Burns’ effort was denied by a crucial save from Royals’ goalkeeper Suraj Karkera.

The final quarter was a tense battle as Ranchi Royals pressed for goals, but Vedanta Kalinga Lancers held firm, making few defensive errors to secure the victory and start their Men’s HIL campaign on a positive note.

India’s Syndrela Das secured her second title in two days by teaming up with Sarthak Arya to clinch the U-19 mixed doubles crown at the WTT Youth Contender 2026 held at the SAMA Indoor Sports Complex on Sunday.

Event Details

The second edition of the WTT Youth Contender in Vadodara, presented by the Sports Authority of Gujarat and hosted by the Table Tennis Association of Baroda, features a total of 226 players competing across U-11 to U-19 age categories.

U-19 Mixed Doubles Final

In the U-19 mixed doubles final, Syndrela and Sarthak showcased their skills by dominating the top-seeded duo of Abhinandh Pradhivadhi and Ananya Muralidharan with a score of 11-3, 11-9, 11-3 to claim the title.

Syndrela also won the girls U-17 singles title on the same day and is in contention to retain her U-19 singles crown.

Other Results

Vivaan Dave and Naisha Rewaskar captured the U-15 mixed doubles title, defeating Reyansh Jalan and Tanishka Kalbhairav with scores of 11-8, 11-8, 11-3.

Earlier, players in the U-11, U-15, and U-19 categories participated in the group stage, with the top two players from each group qualifying for the knockout stage.

In the boys U-11 category, Rehansh Singhvi from Group 1 and Rajdeep Biswas from Group 2 won all their matches, earning spots in the semifinals.

Aadya Baheti and Anshika Gupta topped their respective groups in the girls U-11 category, advancing to the last four stage.

Australia leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson has delivered a blunt assessment of spinners not being fielded in the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, saying this decision made by the team think-tank “sucks.”

At a venue historically renowned for favoring slow bowlers, Australia fielded an all-pace attack, overlooking a spin bowling option for the third time in the ongoing Ashes. Swepson stated, “It sucks, mate. I won’t be careful, it sucks. Being a spin bowler, I am obviously biased but I think we’ve seen it for a while now, seen it coming in (Sheffield) Shield cricket.”

He further explained, “We see less and less spin bowlers coming into games, particularly in certain parts of the country, and I think that’s what we’re now seeing in the Test arena. You see greener wickets, you see seam be the main source of wickets, and it’s such a shame because I think there’s a really good piece there, a spot for spin bowling in Test cricket.” Swepson shared his thoughts with reporters after playing for Melbourne Stars in their Big Bash League (BBL) game against Melbourne Renegades at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Having played four Tests for Australia, Swepson expressed sadness for off-spinner Todd Murphy not getting a chance to play in the absence of injured Nathan Lyon. “In other parts of the world it’s massive, it’s something I grew up on, watching Shane Warne around the wicket into pizzas (footmarks) at the SCG. It would be nice to bring that back but the way it’s going, at the moment, it looks like we’re going further and further away from that with the wickets we’re producing.”

He emphasized, “I feel for Todd, he’s a great bowler… I am definitely a part of the spin brotherhood, I’d love to see it come back.” Swepson also suggested that groundsmen in Australia’s domestic games may be deliberately producing pace-friendly surfaces to eliminate tedious draws. “I think for me, we’re too worried about the wickets flattening out and getting no results than we are about it being a two-day Test or Shield game.”

He added, “It feels like we’d rather that and have a result than it be flat and deteriorate. Talking to the older guys in Shield cricket, talking to guys like ‘Uzzie’ (Usman Khawaja) that have been playing Shield cricket for a long time. They talk about batting for two days on an absolute road and then all of a sudden you’ve got chunks coming out of the wicket, really starting to rag.”

Swepson concluded, “I couldn’t tell you the last time I played a Shield game like that so it’s a real shame. I’d love to see it come back that way. But somewhere in the country has to be prepared to do that and make those sort of wickets, and I don’t know who is going to do that first, or whether it’s a CA thing.”

Defending champions Shrachi Bengal Tigers opened their Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2025–26 campaign with a confident 3–1 victory over JSW Soorma Hockey Club at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium on Sunday.

For the Tigers, Sukhjeet Singh (33’), Abhishek (45’), and Gursewak Singh (60’) scored, while Prabhjot Singh (54’) netted a lone goal for Soorma.

Match Summary

The opening quarter was evenly balanced, with both teams looking to settle into the contest. JSW Soorma attempted to stretch the Tigers’ defense by switching play and utilizing long passes, while the Tigers relied on quick counter-attacks and aerial balls into the circle. Despite promising moves from Nicolas Poncelet and Tommy Willems, neither side could create a clear-cut chance in the first 15 minutes.

The Tigers grew stronger in the second quarter and began to control possession. Abhishek was lively upfront and won multiple penalty corners, but Soorma goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch kept his team in the game with several sharp saves, including a crucial double save late in the half. The teams went into the break with the score still level.

Breakthrough and Key Moments

Shrachi Bengal Tigers finally broke the deadlock early in the third quarter when Tom Grambusch’s penalty-corner flick was deftly deflected into the goal by Sukhjeet Singh in the 33rd minute. The Tigers continued to press and doubled their lead later in the quarter when Abhishek showed great composure, holding off the defender before firing a powerful reverse-stick shot past Vanasch from a tight angle.

JSW Soorma showed intent in the final quarter and were rewarded when Prabhjot Singh finished off a neat passing move in the 54th minute to reduce the deficit. However, as Soorma pushed forward and removed their goalkeeper in the closing moments, the Tigers struck again. Abhishek stole possession and unselfishly set up Gursewak Singh (60’), who scored into an empty net in the final minute to seal the win.

Sukhjeet Singh was named player of the match for his influential performance as the Tigers began their title defense on a positive note.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 72nd National Volleyball Tournament on Sunday via video conference, marking a significant moment for Indian volleyball. Players from across the country welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the growing institutional support, improved facilities, and expanding opportunities for athletes under the current sports ecosystem.

Tournament Details

The 72nd National Volleyball Tournament is taking place from January 4 to 11 and features over 1,000 players across 58 teams representing states and institutions from across India. This event is expected to showcase the competitive spirit, sportsmanship, and emerging talent in Indian volleyball.

Players React to Modi’s Address

Assam player Swapnil Hazarika reflected on the Prime Minister’s address, expressing optimism about the future of Indian sports. “What Modi ji said about Kashi felt really good. He is doing excellent work by promoting sports. Players are emerging and coming forward to play, and there are many senior players as well. India is moving very fast, and in the near future, we may even qualify for the Olympics. I want to thank Modi ji for giving us this opportunity and for organising such a wonderful event,” he said.

Utkarsh Sharma from Varanasi praised the focus on sports development and grassroots opportunities, stating, “Modi ji always wants to promote the development of sports. Recently, a junior national championship was held, and we also got to play. There is success everywhere because boys are getting a platform to play, they are playing and moving ahead, and jobs through the sports quota are also being provided. I just want to say, please keep giving us opportunities to play, and we will make our country proud.”

Motivation from the Prime Minister

Highlighting the motivational impact of Modi’s interaction, Andhra Pradesh player Rutika noted, “PM Modi motivated us and explained what the future in sports can be like. Many future opportunities are also being created. Because Modi ji is supporting us, everything is going well. We feel very proud. Only if we play will our future be built. So much money is being spent to provide us with facilities, so thank you very much.”

Delhi player Kohina Goyal underscored the broader vision presented during the address, stating, “The best thing was that in his speech, he drew connections between our sport and the country’s future and development and encouraged us to take our sport forward and presented everything in a connected and meaningful way. The contribution of players and the policies created by Sir are taking sports forward. Our India is progressing rapidly in sports and will continue to progress, achieving even greater heights. A heartfelt thanks to him for his support and excellent facilities. If we continue to receive such facilities, we will perform better and make every effort to take our country forward.”

Significance of the New Venue

Aakash Kumar, another player present at the venue, pointed to the significance of hosting the championship at a new location. “This is the first time a championship has been held here, and many things have changed. A lot of positive developments have happened, and there has been significant improvement. For example, a national-level event was held here for the first time. We also feel that we will continue to receive support to play in the future. If this kind of support continues, the sport will progress a lot.”

Conclusion

Varanasi hosting the 72nd National Volleyball Tournament underscores the city’s growing emphasis on strengthening sports infrastructure and fostering athletic development. It also reinforces Varanasi’s emergence as a hub for major national events, aligning with its expanding role as a host of significant cultural and sporting gatherings.

Young Mumbai equestrian Stasya Pandya has secured a silver medal in the Dressage Team Event (Children 1 category) at the Junior National Equestrian Championship (JNEC) 2025, delivering an impressive performance at this highly regarded national event.

Championship Details

The championship took place from December 18, 2025, to January 6, 2026, across two venues: the Embassy International Riding School in Bengaluru and the Army Polo and Riding Club in New Delhi.

Stasya trains at the Amateur Riders Club in Mumbai under coach Bobin Tshering. Competing on Kirrhi Taonga from Surge Stables in Bengaluru, she scored 67.463, playing a vital role in her team’s podium finish.

Team Performance

The silver-winning team showcased a consistent collective effort:

• Haripriya Singh, riding Fritz, scored 71.243
• Amara Singh, on Count Me In D’ Grading, achieved a score of 68.581
• Dev Harish Kapoor, riding Serrano from Modi Equestrian, Meerut, contributed with 65.934

The team rounded off with a combined score of 207.287.

Stasya’s Gratitude

Stasya expressed her gratitude for the support she received. “I am really grateful for the faith and trust my coach Bobin sir has placed in me, along with my club, The Amateur Riders Club, for providing world-class training facilities for my development. I also thank my school, Billabong High International School, and my parents for being constantly supportive throughout,” she said.

Coach’s Praise

Coach Bobin Tshering commended her progress, noting her development since joining the Amateur Riders Club in 2023 and her achievements in both dressage and show jumping, including a gold medal in the FEI Jumping Children’s Classic.

“Stasya’s growth as a rider has been phenomenal. Since joining the Amateur Riders Club in 2023, she has embraced both show jumping and dressage, and her dedication has paid off with a standout performance at her first JNEC Dressage and gold in the FEI Jumping Children’s Classic. Her ability to master multiple disciplines has made her a well-rounded competitor, and I am incredibly proud of her hard work and commitment,” he stated.

Stasya Pandya’s silver medal at the Junior National Equestrian Championship 2025 marks a significant milestone in her young career and highlights her emergence as one of Mumbai’s promising equestrian talents.

Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook has expressed interest in joining the national team’s coaching set-up at some point in his life, stating that he would like to “try and make a difference” to the national structure.

Cook’s remarks followed former England opener Michael Atherton’s suggestion in The Times and on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast that Cook could be considered for an assistant coach position after England’s Ashes series defeat under head coach Brendon McCullum.

“The only thing I will say about it is the article needed to be 800 words and Mike Atherton had done 600 and used the final 200 and threw something in. Look, at some stage in my life, would I like to be involved in the England cricket team? I think I would like to try and make a difference,” Cook stated on TNT Sports during day one’s play in the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Cook retired from international cricket in 2018 with 12,472 runs and a record 33 centuries, establishing himself as one of England’s most successful batters in a career spanning 161 Tests. He captained England in 59 matches, winning 24, losing 22, and drawing 13.

He has an impressive record on Australian soil during his playing career, having scored 1,664 runs in 20 Tests at an average of 48.94, including five centuries, with an unbeaten 244 as his highest score. Cook also played an instrumental role in England’s 2010/11 Ashes triumph in Australia, scoring 766 runs in five matches.

Pune teenagers Arjun Chheda and Sai Shiva Sankaran began their campaign in the third round of the MMSC fmsci Indian National Car Racing Championship 2025 at the Madras International Circuit with impressive victories in the MRF Formula 2000 and Formula 1600 races on Sunday.

Arjun Chheda Dominates MRF F2000

Seventeen-year-old Arjun Chheda capitalized on a poor start from pole-sitter Ishaan Madesh of Bengaluru to take the top position in the MRF F2000 race. Finishing third was another Bengalurean, Tarun MB, who briefly occupied the second spot before losing ground to Madesh in the first lap. Reflecting on his race, Ishaan, the recently crowned National karting champion, said, “It was my signature start, but hopefully, I will do better tomorrow.” Arjun celebrated his fourth win of the season but acknowledged, “I had my moments, but managed to keep it all together.”

Sai Shiva Sankaran Secures MRF F1600 Win

In the MRF F1600 race, Sai Shiva Sankaran, also 17 and from Pune, started from pole position and successfully defended his lead against two competitors from Bengaluru, Arjun S Nair and Nigel Abraham Thomas. This victory further solidified his position at the top of the points standings. “I made a lot of mistakes in the first part of the race but got into my rhythm in the last three laps. Hopefully, I will not repeat the mistakes tomorrow,” Sai Shiva remarked.

Biren Pithawalla’s Strong Performance in ITC

Surat’s Biren Pithawalla (N1 Racing) took advantage of a retirement by championship leader and pole-sitter Arjun Balu (Race Concepts), whose car faced electrical issues during the formation lap. Pithawalla, the defending champion, won the premier Indian Touring Cars (ITC) class, which ran concurrently with the ITC 1625, Indian Junior Touring Cars, and the Super Stock class, featuring a grid of 19 cars. He started from P5 and immediately jumped into the lead by the first lap, ultimately cruising to victory ahead of Lonavla’s Dhruv Chavan (Buzzing Hornet) and Malaysian Perajun Krishnan (Performance Racing). Pithawalla praised his team, stating, “My team did a fantastic job in getting the car (Volkswagen Polo) ready for the race in quick time.”

Notable Performances in Other Classes

Nikhanth Ramabalu topped the ITC 1625 class, followed closely by his Performance Racing teammate, 80-year-old Vidyaprakash Damodaran, who finished in P2, marking an all-Coimbatore finish.

Bengaluru’s Rithwik Thomas (Race Concepts) edged out Viswas Vijayaraj (DTS Racing) from Nellore in the IJTC category, while veteran Diljith TS (DTS Racing) from Thrissur maneuvered past Sri Lanka’s Kesara Godage (Performance Racing) in the Super Stock class.

In the MRF Saloons race, Chikkamgaluru’s Tarushi Vikram delivered a remarkable performance starting from the pit lane. However, she incurred a 10-second penalty for going off track limits while overtaking Akshay Muralidharan (Coimbatore), who was declared the winner. Tarushi was pushed down to P2, with Bengaluru’s Siddharth Kountinya finishing in a distant third.

Vinith Kumar Wins Formula LGB 1300

The day concluded dramatically, with Vinith Kumar securing victory in the Formula LGB 1300 race despite a semi-spin exiting the final corner on the last lap. Joel Joseph finished closely behind in second, while Lokith Lingesh Ravin completed the podium.