Category: Sports

Surya Charishma Tamiri secured a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Tanvi Patri, backed by strong local support, while Ritvik Sanjeevi S. triumphed over Bharat Raghav to win the women’s and men’s singles titles respectively at the Senior National Badminton Championships.

The 19-year-old Vijayawada-born Surya Charishma overcame Tanvi with a final score of 17-21, 21-12, 21-14 in the women’s singles final. In the men’s singles showdown, Rithvik defeated Bharat 21-16, 22-20.

Intense Finals

The much-anticipated women’s singles final saw local favourite Surya Charishma face a determined Tanvi, who aimed to become the youngest senior national champion. The match offered plenty of tension over 58 minutes, with both players creating opportunities.

Tanvi initially took control in the first game, frustrating Surya Charishma into unforced errors. However, at 6-5 in the second game, Surya Charishma received a reprieve when a service judge called a fault for height, allowing her to secure seven consecutive points and seize control of the game.

In the deciding game, long rallies began to tire Tanvi, who struggled to keep pace. Surya Charishma capitalized, winning six consecutive points from 15-14 onward to wrap up the match.

Men’s Singles Clash

In the men’s singles final, Rithvik showcased his solid defence and composure against Bharat Raghav. After winning the first game comfortably, Rithvik faced pressure when Bharat opened a 9-5 lead in the second. The 2024 Odisha Masters winner clawed back with six consecutive points, giving the impression he would win easily. However, two poor judgment calls allowed Bharat to come back and even gain a game point.

Despite the pressure, Rithvik maintained his composure and executed his game plan effectively, completing the match in 39 minutes.

Doubles Winners

In women’s doubles, the experienced pair of Shikha Gautam and Ashwini Bhat K. clinched the title by defeating second seeds Priya Devi Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra 21-14, 21-18. Meanwhile, top seeds Hariharan Amsakarunan and R. Ruban Kumar won the men’s doubles final against Mithileish P. Krishnan and Prejan with a score of 21-17, 21-12.

Earlier, in mixed doubles, second seeds Sathwik Reddy K and Radhika Sharma caused an upset by beating top seeds Ashith Surya and Amrutha P 21-9, 21-15 to claim the championship.

Former India left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan has highlighted the strong faith the Gujarat Titans (GT), the IPL 2022 champions, have placed in West Indies fast bowling all-rounder Jason Holder. Pathan noted that Holder’s enhanced six-hitting ability, along with his skills with the new ball, will be advantageous for the team in the 2026 season.

Holder is no stranger to the Indian Premier League, having played for teams like Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, and Rajasthan Royals. During the auction in Abu Dhabi, GT was keen on acquiring Holder, eventually securing him for Rs 7 crore following a competitive bidding war with CSK.

Pathan commented, “Their bet on Jason Holder is interesting. He is an amazing bowler with the new ball, but his batting has improved, especially his six-hitting abilities. GT has put a lot of faith in that. Their main strength is their top three batters: Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler.”

He added, “How they use Washington Sundar will be important, as his batting has gotten better, too. The role of Glenn Phillips, or whoever plays at number four or five, will also be very big.”

Ex-India opener Abhinav Mukund shed light on GT’s preference for left-arm pacers and all-rounders like Holder in shaping their IPL 2026 squad. “Gujarat Titans love fast bowlers, especially left-arm pacers like Prithviraj Yarra and Luke Wood. Ashok Sharma had a great Syed Mushtaq Ali season.”

Mukund continued, “But Jason Holder is there because they need someone to bat and finish innings at number six or seven, and bowl a couple of overs. They want someone to finish at the death. The team is so strong at the top that they felt they needed this. Last year, GT often did not play all four overseas players.”

He concluded, “So maybe if Glenn Phillips is fit, he plays in the middle order, and Jason Holder finishes. Overall, they still look like a brilliant side. They have the best young Indian talent. I don’t know who will control them on the bench. Good luck to Parthiv Patel and Ashish Nehra.”

Former India captain Anil Kumble believes IPL 2022 winners Gujarat Titans (GT) can no longer lean heavily on leg-spinner Rashid Khan, saying that the Afghanistan star’s impact has diminished and the novelty factor has ‘worn off a little’.

GT, who bowed out in the Eliminator of IPL 2025, boasted one of the strongest bowling units, but Rashid endured his poorest campaign in the competition. He managed to pick only nine wickets at an average of 57.11 and an economy rate of 9.35. Rashid also conceded 33 sixes—the most by any bowler in a single IPL season—as batters found ways to dominate him.

Kumble also felt the Shubman Gill-led franchise would need greater contributions from left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore, as well as off-spin bowling all-rounders Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia, to remain competitive in IPL 2026.

“I think the novelty of Rashid Khan has worn off a little. There are many similar bowlers available now, so he is no longer as intimidating as he was before. His workload has to be managed more, along with bowlers like Sai Kishore. Even Rahul Tewatia and Washington Sundar can contribute more for GT this season,” said Kumble, a former RCB player and ex-Punjab Kings head coach, on JioStar.

Rashid’s returns for GT in IPL 2024 were also modest, picking 10 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 36.70 and an economy rate of 8.40. He started his journey in the IPL with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2017, before moving to GT in 2022, and played a pivotal role in them winning the title in their debut season.

Rashid has linked his prolonged struggles in T20 cricket to the back surgery he underwent in 2023, following his participation in the Men’s ODI World Cup in India. He returned to action only months after the operation, never giving himself sufficient time to regain his bowling rhythm and accuracy.

Colombian international midfielder Jorge Carrascal could be on the move from top Brazilian football club Flamengo to France’s Marseille in the upcoming January transfer window, according to media reports.

Transfer Bid from Marseille

The French Ligue 1 side has reportedly submitted an initial bid of 15 million euros for the 27-year-old Carrascal, as noted by Brazilian news outlet Esporte News Mundo. Flamengo, however, is seeking at least 20 million euros to part ways with the playmaker, who is contracted to the Rio de Janeiro club until June 2029.

Carrascal has had an impressive stint at Flamengo, making 24 appearances since his arrival from Dynamo Moscow in August. He has scored three goals and provided five assists, contributing significantly to Flamengo’s triumph in this year’s Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Serie A titles. In November, he was recalled to Colombia’s national squad for friendlies against New Zealand and Australia, where he came off the bench in both matches.

Atletico Mineiro’s Interest in Fred

Meanwhile, Atletico Mineiro has reportedly put forth an offer to sign Fenerbahce and Brazil international midfielder Fred. The 32-year-old is contracted to the Turkish club until June 2027 but is open to a return to his homeland, as reported by Globo Esporte. It is said that Atletico sporting director Paulo Bracks has reached out to discuss financial details with Fred’s representatives.

Fred has made 104 appearances for Fenerbahce since his move from Manchester United in August 2023, scoring nine goals and providing 18 assists. Originally from Belo Horizonte, he represented Atletico Mineiro’s youth teams until the age of 16.

Potential Move for Marlon Freitas

Additionally, Botafogo’s captain Marlon Freitas might leave the club for Brazilian Serie A rival Palmeiras, according to local media reports. Early negotiations suggest Palmeiras is willing to pay six million U.S. dollars for the 30-year-old holding midfielder. The report from Gazeta Esportiva indicates that Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira is looking to strengthen his midfield after Anibal Moreno’s departure to River Plate.

Freitas has made 186 appearances for Botafogo since joining from Atletico Goianiense in 2023 and captained the side to the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Serie A titles last year.

Recent League Performances

Palmeiras finished second in this season’s Brazilian Serie A, trailing behind Flamengo, and were runners-up in the Copa Libertadores final against the same opponent. Botafogo concluded the league campaign in sixth place and was eliminated from the Libertadores in the round of 16.

After winning their semi-final matches, Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club Academy and Army Boys Sports Company advanced to the finals of the 3rd Hockey India Sub Junior Men Academy Championship 2025 – Zone A & B, held at the Veer Narmad South Gujarat University Hockey Ground in Surat, Gujarat.

Semi-Final Highlights

In the first semi-final, Army Boys Sports Company triumphed over Ritu Rani Hockey Academy with a score of 5-1. Arjun was the standout player, scoring a hat-trick in the 25th, 37th, and 39th minutes. Shubham Sanjay Shinde and Arkit Barua contributed to the score with goals in the 44th and 58th minutes, respectively. Sandeep Singh managed to score the only goal for Ritu Rani Hockey Academy in the 45th minute.

The second semi-final saw Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club Academy emerge victorious against Sail Hockey Academy through a penalty shootout. Sanmukh Singh opened the scoring for Roundglass in the 57th minute, while Mohmad Shahid equalized for Sail in the 30th minute. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, but Roundglass clinched the win in the shootout with a score of 3-2.

Tournament Performance

Earlier in the tournament, Roundglass Hockey Academy dominated Cheema Hockey Academy with a remarkable 19-0 win in their Pool A match. Inderjit Singh scored a hat-trick with goals in the 13th, 30th, and 45th minutes. Captain Arshpreet Singh (4’, 14’), Anurag Singh (9’, 10’), Om Rajnesh Saini (36’, 39’), Gurwinder Singh (2’, 48’), and Varinder Singh (59’, 60’) also made significant contributions, each netting braces. Additionally, goals came from Sukhpreet Singh (19’), Prince Singh (51’), Jarman Singh (55’), Sunny (7’), Sukhmanpreet Singh (5’), and Amandeep (5’).

In Pool A, Army Boys Sports Company achieved a convincing 6-1 victory over Cheema Hockey Academy. Goals came from Bara Chhitij (1’, 4’), Venkateswara Kolnati Rao (22’, 47’), K.T. Aiyappa Linith (7’), and R.P. Rithveesh (57’). The sole goal for Cheema Hockey Academy was scored by Harmanjot Singh.

Upcoming Matches

Ritu Rani Hockey Academy will compete against Sail Hockey Academy for third place, while Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club Academy is set to face Army Boys Sports Company in the final on Monday.

Brief Results:

• Army Boys Sports Company defeated Ritu Rani Hockey Academy 5-1 in semi-final 1.
• Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club Academy defeated Sail Hockey Academy 1-1 (3-2) in semi-final 2.

Australia opener Travis Head reached out to England’s Ben Duckett after a viral social media video surfaced before the Melbourne Test, appearing to show Duckett intoxicated.

England’s managing director, Rob Key, mentioned that the board had initiated an investigation following reports of players drinking heavily during a break in Noosa, a beach town, between the second and third Tests. The video prompted increased scrutiny of the team and Duckett in particular.

“I get on with Ducky well and reached out to him to see if he was going alright. Everyone is still human. What you do in your personal time is up to you. I know we live a high-profile life and some people are more high-profile than others. At the end of the day, it is a bit stiff but I don’t think there is any real issue,” Head expressed.

England’s four-night trip to Noosa followed their 2-0 deficit in the Ashes series after losses in Perth and Brisbane. Reports indicated that several players spent a significant amount of their time drinking on the Queensland coast and also on two prior days in Brisbane, where the second Test was held.

Although England played the second Test better than the Ashes opener, they lost the following Test in Adelaide, leading to Australia winning the series.

England ended an 18-match winless streak in Australia and prevented an Ashes clean sweep during a remarkable and bizarre two-day Test in Melbourne. In one of the most unusual matches in cricket history, England needed 175 runs to win on the second evening of the fourth Test, bringing the series to 3-1 ahead of the final match in Sydney.

In tough batting conditions, England’s Bazballers thrived in the chaos, finally finding a situation in Australia that suited their freewheeling style. They achieved their target in 33 overs, with England’s four-wicket win thrilling the thousands of travelling fans who now have something to celebrate after a largely disappointing tour.

The Indian junior men’s hockey team concluded 2025 on a high note, earning two major international medals and preparing extensively for the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 in December.

Foundation of Preparation

The campaign was laid out through a series of intensive national training camps conducted throughout the year under the guidance of PR Sreejesh. These camps were essential in building a robust squad and preparing the players to be at their best as the season advanced toward the Junior World Cup in December.

Competitive Build-Up

India’s competitive build-up began with the Four Nations Tournament in June, serving as a vital preparatory assignment against strong European opposition. Competing against hosts Germany, Spain, and Australia, the Indian junior side tested their systems against heavyweights and finished the tournament in third place. They secured a key 2-1 victory over Australia in the 3rd/4th place match, providing valuable match exposure and clarity on combinations as the team continued its World Cup preparations.

Sultan of Johor Cup Success

The momentum carried into the 2025 Sultan of Johor Cup in October, where India showcased a strong and consistent performance, claiming the Silver Medal. The team registered important victories over Great Britain, New Zealand, and Malaysia, drew 3-3 with Pakistan, and progressed to the final after a composed league-stage performance. In the title clash, India conceded an unfortunate goal in the 59th minute, ultimately losing 1-2 to Australia.

Memorable World Cup Campaign

All the preparation led to the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025, the most crucial assignment of the season. India kicked off their campaign with three comfortable wins in the pool stage against Chile, Oman, and Switzerland, advancing into the knockout rounds.

The quarter-final proved to be a defining moment, as the Indian team held their nerve and defeated Belgium 4-3 in a shootout, securing a place in the semi-finals. Goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh displayed incredible class and valor, making two crucial saves in the shootout to ensure India progressed. Unfortunately, they lost 1-5 in the semi-final against champions Germany but showed resilience in the 3rd/4th place playoff, pulling off an incredible comeback against Argentina. Despite being two goals down by the fourth quarter, India rallied to score four consecutive goals and clinched the bronze medal.

Top Performers

Manmeet Singh emerged as India’s highest goalscorer with six goals, while Shardanand Tiwari and Dilraj Singh contributed five goals each.

As the year progressed, the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team visibly evolved into a settled and confident unit, with several players stepping up in critical moments. Captain Rohit transformed into a commanding leader while sharpening his drag-flicking skills, which proved vital in important matches. In attack, Dilraj Singh and Arshdeep Singh consistently found the scoring form, giving India an edge in the forward line. Defensively, Prince Deep Singh matured into a dependable presence, delivering composed performances in high-pressure situations. Anmol Ekka emerged as the linchpin of the side, linking defense to attack from midfield.

With a Bronze Medal at the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 and a Silver at the 2025 Sultan of Johor Cup, the season not only yielded results but also laid a solid foundation for the future of Indian hockey under Hockey India’s vision.

Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das, along with other Olympdigihunt and Arjuna Awardees from Bengal, gathered at the Sports Authority of India’s Kolkata Regional Centre for the final edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle for 2025.

The year-end special edition marked the 54th event of Fit India Sundays on Cycle and featured a lively celebration with nearly 1,500 participants at the Sports Authority of India centre in Kolkata.

The event attracted a diverse group of enthusiastic cyclists, including athletes, corporate professionals, students, CISF jawans, and employees from insurance companies, who were the special partners for this edition. This vibrant festival transformed the venue into a hub of movement, music, and community spirit.

The mega event was inaugurated by Olympdigihunt and Arjuna Awardees Deepika Kumari, Joydeep Karmakar, and Mangal Singh Champia, creating an energetic start to the winter morning focused on fitness. Arjuna Awardees Atanu Das, Rahul Banerjee, Bombayla Devi Laishram, and Susmita Singha Roy also attended.

Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee Deepika highlighted the importance of daily fitness, stating that energy and strength are vital not just for sports but for personal life. She emphasized that fitness should be a daily commitment: “We have to do this every day and I’m so happy to see over 1500 people join in today,” said Deepika.

Joydeep emphasized that initiatives like Sundays on Cycle encourage people to reduce screen time and adopt disciplined fitness routines. “A transformation starts with our simple behaviours – everyone here has turned their attention from phones and have become busy with their cycles,” explained the former shooter.

“Everything falls in place when we get disciplined about fitness. It’s a good excuse for us to be here today, joining amidst this winter chill. In the last one year, over 20 lakh people nationwide have joined in, and from now on, this movement will become even bigger,” added Joydeep, who finished fourth at the 2012 Olympics.

Participants engaged in various high-energy activities including cycling, Zumba sessions, Bengali folk music, captivating yoga performances, rope-skipping demonstrations, and several other fitness activities, maintaining lively energy levels despite the winter chill.

Dronacharya Award winner Kuntal Roy expressed gratitude to the Sports Authority of India and the Fit India initiative, stating that both mental and physical fitness greatly influence a person’s life. “I thank SAI and the Fit India program for this initiative. The concept of fitness is the key of life. Mental and physical fitness rules our whole life. Therefore, we have to keep ourselves fit through various programs on fitness like Sundays on Cycle,” noted the former athletics chief coach at SAI.

During the event, ten local cycling clubs and state cycling champions were honored, including Fit India ambassadors and champions such as Kanthi Dutt, Garima Diwakar, Manas Saha, and Raima Majumder.

In addition to Kolkata, events were held simultaneously at 10,000 locations nationwide, hosted at Sports Authority of India and Khelo India centres. These included SAI Training centres in Ludhiana, Rajnandgaon, Dharamsala, Kokrajhar, Hazaribagh, Golaghat, and more. In Bikaner, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, also attended the cycle rally.

Launched in December 2024 by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, Fit India Sundays on Cycle has evolved into a people-centric movement, motivating citizens to integrate fitness into their weekly routine and promoting cleaner, greener transportation. To date, more than 20 lakh individuals have participated from over 2 lakh locations.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in partnership with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), Yogasana Bharat, and MY Bharat, organizes Fit India Sundays on Cycle.

Australia stand-in skipper Steve Smith addressed the MCG wicket following the Boxing Day Test, which concluded in just two days with England winning by four wickets. He noted that if the 10mm grass had been 2mm shorter, it may have altered the outcome of the match.

Pitch Controversy at MCG

The pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground faced scrutiny after the Boxing Day Ashes Test between Australia and England finished in two days. A total of 36 wickets fell in 142 overs, lasting for 952 balls—just five more than the series opener in Perth.

“It obviously offered a lot, 36 wickets in two days, it offered plenty. Had it been either 2mm shorter or a little less thatchy with 10mm, it might have been alright, but I’m not a groundsman, so it’s hard to judge. But it did look like it was going to offer a fair amount, probably a little more than I thought it would. I think the groundsman is always learning, but he’s produced some pretty good wickets in the last two years,” Smith told SEN Cricket.

Historical Pitch Performance

The MCG has been criticized in the past for flat wickets favoring batters, especially during the 2017 Ashes Test when only 24 wickets fell over five days. That pitch drew significant criticism, prompting match referee Ranjan Madugalle to assign a “poor” rating in his official assessment report.

“I think when I started, we didn’t have too many wickets like this. When I started, the MCG used to be run tickets, but that’s changed a bit over the last four or five years. It’s probably changed more into a better cricket wicket where bat and ball are competing against each other. The game’s changed in terms of the aggression batters use… if 10 years ago you saw Harry Brook come out and bat like that, you’d think, ‘What’s going on?!’,” Smith remarked.

Brook was the top run-scorer for England, while Travis Head topped the chart for Australia in the second innings, indicating that the wicket demanded a more aggressive approach.

Mitchell Starc’s Perspective

Fast bowler Mitchell Starc shared Smith’s viewpoint, stating, “Nobody wants to see two-day Test matches.”

“I guess you saw it start to play a bit truer in the back end of yesterday. Would a couple of mm off change the game much? Or was it application? Or even just two good attacks? You probably don’t want to see two-day Test matches, so they probably got it (the grass on the pitch) slightly too high. We saw last week in Adelaide, it was pretty flat and didn’t do a lot unless the ball was hard and new.”

Starc added, “Batters got that one last week, and bowlers got one in their favour probably a bit too much this week. I saw last year it was 6 or 7mm; arguably if you make it 8mm, it’s probably a pretty good surface. It’s one to not dwell too much on and move on pretty quick.”

Australian allrounder Ashleigh Gardner has expressed her willingness to accept the captaincy of the national team if offered, despite never having envisioned herself in this leadership role.

Leadership Growth

In the past year, Gardner has made significant strides in her leadership journey, taking on captaincy positions in three different T20 leagues around the globe. As the new year approaches, she is set to travel to India to once again lead the Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

Gardner took over the captaincy of the franchise from her Australian teammate Beth Mooney last season, successfully leading them to their first-ever playoff appearance. Her leadership journey continued mid-year in the UK when England captain Natalie Sciver-Brunt stepped back, allowing Gardner to lead the Trent Rockets in The Hundred, where they finished in the top four.

This experience empowered her to confidently pursue the captaincy role with the Sydney Sixers, culminating in her succeeding Ellyse Perry for WBBL 11.

Gardner’s Perspective

“Yeah, I guess so. If I got asked to do it, great,” Gardner told cricket.com.au when asked if she’d be up for Australia’s captaincy after Alyssa Healy steps down. “You can lead without actually having the ‘c’ next to your name. That’s something that I’ve really tried to do over the last little period, especially within the spin group.”

She added, “(I have) really tried to lead that pack. I’ve been there the longest, so (I’m) making sure that I’m sharing knowledge where I can, but also just bouncing ideas off each other. I think cricket’s such an individual sport within a team environment. It’s so important to be able to utilise those around you.”

Contenders for Captaincy

While 22-year-old Phoebe Litchfield’s name is frequently mentioned by former players and pundits, current vice-captain Tahlia McGrath also remains a strong contender for the role. In the past 14 months, McGrath has stepped in as captain during Healy’s absence, with Gardner serving as her official deputy during the T20 series in New Zealand in March.

Global Leadership Recognition

Gardner leads every franchise team she currently represents. A testament to her strong leadership reputation worldwide is that two current national captains, Healy in the WBBL and Sciver-Brunt at The Hundred, play under her in their respective leagues.