Category: Sports

Gazab Ghaziabad delivered a dominant all-round performance to defeat Yamuna Yoddhas 56–28 on Day 3 of Season 2 in the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL) at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Saturday.

Early Control and Strategy

Gazab Ghaziabad took control of the contest right from the start, combining aggressive raiding with a disciplined defensive effort that kept Yamuna Yoddhas under sustained pressure. The momentum swung firmly in Gazab’s favor as they inflicted a series of all-outs, steadily widening the gap on the scoreboard.

Uday Dabas Steals the Show

Captain Uday Dabas was the standout performer, showcasing exceptional raiding skills. He orchestrated three all-outs during the match, continuously breaking through the Yamuna defense. A defining moment occurred when Dabas, despite being held by two defenders, pushed forward with determination, crossing the half line to complete a raid and eliminate the remaining players.

Dabas finished the match with 19 raid points, demonstrating his prowess. The defense also played a crucial role, remaining compact and effective, limiting Yamuna’s raiders. At halftime, Gazab Ghaziabad had already established a commanding 30–12 lead and continued to dominate in the second half, extending their advantage with consistent raids and timely tackles.

Support from the Sidelines

The match was attended by Tusshar Kapoor, co-owner of Gazab Ghaziabad, who supported the team as they achieved a comprehensive victory. He congratulated the team and expressed confidence that if they maintain this performance level, they could lift the UPKL trophy.

Other Matches Summary

In another match on Friday, Awadh Ramdoots edged past Kanpur Warriors 35–34 in a tense contest that remained undecided until the final raid. Kanpur Warriors led at halftime with a 17–15 advantage after a late super raid by Sushant, but Awadh Ramdoots showed resilience in the second half. Captain Abhimanyu Raghuvanshi led the comeback, while Awadh’s defense held firm under pressure to secure a narrow yet crucial win.

Kashi Kings produced one of the most dominant performances of the tournament so far, defeating Ganga Kings of Mirzapur 52–30. Kashi Kings controlled the match, inflicting six all-outs and steadily pulling away on the scoreboard. Raider of the Match Arjun Sirohi led the attack, while Best Defender Vipul Chaudhary effectively marshalled the defense.

Defending champions Lucknow Lions extended their strong run with a convincing 40–21 victory over Purvanchal Panthers. Lucknow Lions set the early tone, with Arjun Deshwal opening the match with a super raid, guiding his team to a 20–8 lead at halftime. Purvanchal attempted a comeback after the break, but Lucknow halted the momentum with four timely super tackles. Deshwal finished as Raider of the Match with nine raid points and three tackle points, while Mohd Aman was named Defender of the Match with seven tackle points.

Ayush Mhatre has been appointed as India’s captain for the upcoming Men’s Under-19 World Cup, set to take place in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6.

However, both Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra, who has also been selected for the U19 World Cup squad, will miss the pre-tournament 50-over tour of South Africa scheduled from January 3-7 due to wrist injuries.

In Mhatre’s absence, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will lead the team during the tour, where all three matches will be held at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. Yuvraj Gohil and Rahul Kumar have been added to the squad selected by the Junior Men’s Selection Committee.

It has been reported that both Mhatre and Malhotra were in Mumbai for further evaluation of their wrist injuries, and their current status remains uncertain.

“The duo will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further management of their injuries and will join the team for the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup,” stated the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an official announcement.

Fast bowling all-rounder RS Ambrish and leg-spin bowling all-rounder Mohamed Enaan are set to return to the India U19 team, replacing Gohil and Naman Pushpak. The 2026 ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup will feature 16 teams organized into four groups, followed by a Super Six stage, semi-finals, and the final in Harare.

India, the five-time champions who have clinched the trophy in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2022, has been placed in Group A alongside New Zealand, the USA, and Bangladesh. India will kick off their campaign against the USA on January 15 at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, followed by matches against Bangladesh on January 17 and New Zealand on January 24, both at the same venue.

India squad for ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026:

• Ayush Mhatre (C)
• Vihaan Malhotra (VC)
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
• Aaron George
• Vedant Trivedi
• Abhigyan Kundu (wk)
• Harvansh Singh (wk)
• R.S. Ambrish
• Kanishk Chouhan
• Khilan A. Patel
• Mohamed Enaan
• Henil Patel
• D. Deepesh
• Kishan Kumar Singh
• Udhav Mohan

India squad for South Africa tour:

• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (C)
• Aaron George (VC)
• Vedant Trivedi
• Abhigyan Kundu (wk)
• Harvansh Singh (wk)
• R.S. Ambrish
• Kanishk Chouhan
• Khilan A. Patel
• Mohamed Enaan
• Henil Patel
• D. Deepesh
• Kishan Kumar Singh
• Udhav Mohan
• Yuvraj Gohil
• Rahul Kumar

Shubham Jaglan and Yuvraj Sandhu in Close Contention at Tata Open 2025

Shubham Jaglan and Yuvraj Sandhu are locked in a tight battle as they head into the final round of the Tata Open 2025, an INR 2 crore event marking the PGTI’s season finale. This competition is being held at the Beldih and Golmuri golf courses in Jamshedpur.

The 21-year-old Jaglan (68-66-65) delivered an impressive, error-free six-under 65 on Day Three, moving up to a joint lead at 14-under 199. Shubham, who turned professional earlier this year, is participating in only his third PGTI event. After finishing as the runner-up in Chandigarh last month, he is eager to secure his first title on the tour.

Yuvraj Sandhu (67-64-68), who led by three shots at the halfway mark, carded a three-under 68 in the third round, also finishing the day tied for the lead at 14-under 199. Hailing from Chandigarh, Yuvraj is a six-time winner on the PGTI this year and has already clinched the 2025 PGTI Order of Merit crown, ensuring his spot on next year’s DP World Tour. He is now eyeing a record seventh title in a single PGTI season.

Trailing the top two, the trio of Veer Ahlawat (65), Khalin Joshi (68), and N. Thangaraja (68) stand five shots behind, tied for third at nine-under 204.

Format and Venue Details

In the first two rounds, one half of the field played at Beldih Golf Club while the other half played at Golmuri Golf Club. For rounds three and four, the leading groups start their front-nine at Golmuri before moving to Beldih for their back-nine. The combined par for both courses is 71.

Shubham Jaglan, starting the day three shots off the lead, had a fruitful front nine featuring three birdies and an eagle, with two excellent seven-foot and 15-foot conversions. On the back nine, he secured a birdie on the 12th and made two vital par saves, including a remarkable 25-footer.

“I was playing really well on my front-nine at Golmuri, but the 30-minute travel from there to Beldih kind of slowed things down for me since I had never before experienced playing a round across two venues so far apart. However, a couple of great par-saves at Beldih gave me a lot of confidence and helped me get back in my groove. I played in the leader group at a PGTI event for the first time today. Being in the spotlight and being cheered by so many people brings its own pressures, but I feel I handled that pressure well today,” said Jaglan.

Yuvraj Sandhu made five birdies against two bogeys on Saturday, maintaining his position at the top of the leaderboard.

“I enjoyed a good start in Golmuri today, but I had a couple of three-putts in Beldih. However, coming off the course, I feel quite motivated to do well in the final round as it will be the last competitive round of 2025, so I want to give it my best,” Yuvraj expressed.

Notable Shots and Rankings

Manoj S. achieved a hole-in-one on the 17th during his round of 67, rounding off Day Three in tied sixth place at eight-under 205 alongside Mohd Azhar and Amardeep Malik. Kurush Heerjee, the only Jamshedpur-based professional to make the cut, is placed tied 51st at seven-over 220.

England’s dramatic two-day victory over Australia in the fourth Test of the Ashes 2025-26 series has sparked intense debate regarding the green pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Former skipper Michael Vaughan remarked that while the result calls for celebration, the quality of cricket witnessed won’t be as appreciated by fans.

“A win is a win, and England should celebrate, but NO Test cricket fans should be celebrating what we have seen for 2 days .. #Ashes,” Vaughan posted on his ‘X’ account.

The pitch, which retained 10mm of grass, saw 36 wickets fall in just six sessions at the MCG. England claimed a four-wicket win, marking their first Test match victory in Australia in 14 years. Australia was bowled out for 132 in their second innings, setting England a target of 175, which they achieved after losing six wickets.

Stuart Broad, England’s fast bowling legend, commented that the victory in Melbourne came too late to influence the overall Ashes result. He noted that the four-wicket win would be felt more by travelling fans and the players than by England’s supporters back home.

“I think it (the reaction) will be slightly mixed. I look over to the English fans now, and they’ll have that emotion of being here and seeing England win away, singing the songs, having a few drinks with their friends. I think it will be positive in Australia and for the English fans who travelled here.

“But I’m sure there would be a sense back home that it’s too little, too late in a way, in the fact that the Ashes have gone in Adelaide last week. And if Australia weren’t 3-nil up, would Pat Cummins have played? Would Australia have played a stronger side?

“But ultimately, these players will be able to say that they have won a Test match in Australia, and they have had a brutal time of it. It’s such a strange Test series to have two Test matches that go for two days, it’s incredible,” he stated on SEN Radio.

Australia currently leads the 2025/26 Ashes series 3-1, with the competition shifting to Sydney for the traditional New Year’s Test, commencing at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 4.

Tilottama Sen delivered a stellar performance to clinch the gold medal in the women’s 50m rifle 3 Positions final at the 68th National Shooting Championship Competitions, finishing with a score of 466.9 at the MP State Shooting Academy in Bhopal on Saturday.

Strong Qualifying Round

The Karnataka shooter showcased her remarkable form from the qualification round, where she topped with a score of 591-29x. Kerala’s Vidarsa K. Vinod secured the silver medal with 462.9, trailing by four points, while Railways’ Ayonika Paul completed the podium, taking bronze with a score of 451.8.

In the final, Anushka H Thokur narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth with 441.2. Ayushi Podder placed fifth with 430.6 (with a qualification score of 585-30x), followed by Ashi Chouksey, who also finished with 430.6 after qualifying on 585-29x. Shriyanka Sadangi (403.9, 585-29x) and Ramita (403.8, 586-29x) rounded off the final lineup.

Junior Women’s 50m Rifle 3P Event

In the junior women’s 50m rifle 3P event, Army’s Rituparna Satish Deshmukh delivered a controlled final to win gold with a score of 458.6. After ranking fourth in qualification with 584-31x, she peaked perfectly in the final. Haryana’s Nischal mounted a strong challenge but finished just 0.5 points behind, securing the silver medal with 458.1. Karnataka’s Anushka H Thokur took bronze with 447.6.

Shrivalli finished fourth in the junior final with 437.2, followed by Ramita with 424.9 and Tilottama Sen with 414.3. Arya Chourasia (401.0) and Prachi Shashikant Gaikwad (388.9) completed the final standings.

Senior Women’s Team Event

In the senior women’s 50m rifle 3P team event, Rajasthan clinched gold with an aggregate score of 1751, thanks to the efforts of Manini Kaushik, Sweety Choudhary, and Monika Jakhar. Madhya Pradesh finished just a point behind, taking silver with 1750, through Ashi Chouksey, Shrivalli Shrivastava, and Nupur Kumrawat. Haryana also secured bronze with a total of 1750, fielding Swati, Aakriti Dahiya, and Nischal.

Junior Women’s Team Standings

Karnataka topped the junior women’s team standings to win gold with an aggregate score of 1749, led by Tilottama Sen, Anushka H. Thokur, and Vanshika Lahoria. Madhya Pradesh took silver with 1737, thanks to Shrivalli Shrivastava, Archana Damahe, and Pratha Rathod, while Maharashtra completed the podium with bronze at 1729, through Prachi Shashikant Gaikwad, Vedanti Naresh Bhatt, and Saniya Sudesh Sapale.

Other Results

50m Rifle 3P Women:

Youth:

• Tilottama Sen (Karnataka) – Gold (591-29x)
• Anushka H Thokur (Karnataka) – Silver (588-33x)
• Rituparna Satish Deshmukh (Army) – Bronze (584-31x)

Deaf:

• Natasha Uday Joshi (Maharashtra) – Gold (580-22x)
• Mahit Sandhu (Chandigarh) – Silver (576-19x)
• Priyesha Deshmukh (Maharashtra) – Bronze (561-17x)

Civilian:

• Swati (Haryana) – Gold (584-28x)
• Kriti Raj Rathore (Rajasthan) – Silver (584-26x)
• Sweety Choudhary – Bronze (583-23x)

Junior Civilian:

• Arya Chourasia (Madhya Pradesh) – Gold (584-23x)
• Shrivalli Shrivastava (Madhya Pradesh) – Silver (583-27x)
• Nancy (Haryana) – Bronze (583-22x)

Civilian (Team):

• Rajasthan (Sweety Choudhary, Monika Jakhar, Tejal Nathawat) – Gold (1741)
• Madhya Pradesh (Shrivalli Shrivastava, Archana Damahe, Pratha Rathod) – Silver (1737)
• Madhya Pradesh (Arya Chourasia, Sharanya Lakhan, Yugeshwari Bais) – Bronze (1736)

Junior Civilian (Team):

• Madhya Pradesh (Shrivalli Shrivastava, Archana Damahe, Pratha Rathod) – Gold (1737)
• Telangana (Chennupalli Pranathi, Raja Sagi Sri Apoorva, Dhavalika Devi Nyamurs) – Silver (1728)
• Madhya Pradesh (Sharanya Lakhan, Yugeshwari Bais, Prarthana Sen) – Bronze (1721)

Former England captain Nasser Hussain described the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) pitch for the fourth Test of the Ashes series as ‘farcical at times,’ joining Michael Atherton in a wave of sharp criticism after the match concluded within two days.

The 10mm of grass left on the pitch led to 36 wickets falling in six sessions at the MCG. England achieved a four-wicket victory, marking a 14-year wait for a Test match win in Australia. They dismissed Australia for 132 in their second innings, setting a target of 175, which they reached after losing six wickets.

“I don’t think the great Shane Warne would have thought that was acceptable, and I don’t think it’s acceptable not having spin at all, and there being so much movement in the surface,” Hussain stated on Sky Sports after the match. “It was farcical at times. That can be thrilling, but there are traditionalists who like the ebbs and flows and the slow build. This was not slow; it was in fast-forward, and we have enough of that whether through T10, T20, The Hundred.”

Seamers bowled all 142 overs in a match where no batter reached fifty, and the unusual conditions are expected to cost Cricket Australia (CA) millions in ticket refunds and revenue losses from merchandise, food, and drink sales.

Atherton remarked that the pitch made for an unsatisfactory spectacle. “It wasn’t dangerous, and it was fair to both sides in the sense that it didn’t change. It was a shoot-out on a difficult pitch. But in terms of spectacle, it’s unsatisfactory.”

He added, “There was not an over of spin bowled in the game, and you have 90,000 people who have got tickets for day three, so this is going to cost Cricket Australia an absolute bomb. You also had players saying the only way to play on the pitch is in an unorthodox manner, so for all kinds of reasons, it is an unsatisfactory feeling.”

Atherton compared this MCG quick Test to matches in the subcontinent, which often conclude quickly due to overly accommodating spinning conditions. “I liken it to one of the rank turners we have seen in Asia in recent years, where the pitch spins from the start. It is a fair contest in that both sides have an even chance, but it doesn’t necessarily allow for the whole range of skills to show.”

“England supporters will clearly be thrilled they have seen a win, and so will England players, but people watching will be thinking, ‘what kind of Test cricket have I seen?’ You come to watch a wide variety of skills, and the game develops over a period of time. You are going to get extreme conditions from time to time, but we have had two now in this series, and I don’t think we want to see this too frequently,” he concluded.

As the Hockey India League (HIL) gears up for its second edition on January 3 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai, India’s ace midfielder Hardik Singh has shared his views on leadership, recognition, and the upcoming challenges.

In an exclusive conversation, Hardik discussed everything from his Khel Ratna recommendation to the pressures of captaincy and the learning opportunities the HIL presents.

When asked about his recommendation for India’s highest sporting honour, the Khel Ratna award, Hardik remained humble while acknowledging its significance. “I will still wait for the formal announcement. When you win two Olympic medals for your nation after 40 years and then back-to-back after 52 years, you feel very happy that SAI (Sports Authority of India), the Government of India, recognises your hard work. You can really count on the fingers how many athletes have won two medals at the Olympics. It’s the hockey team, or maybe two, or maybe three, or four individual athletes. So yes, I will be really happy if I win that award,” he stated.

Hardik stressed that leadership within the Indian setup is a shared responsibility rather than a singular role, with seniors supporting younger players. “We are all captains, and everyone has a say in the team. When you are in the captaincy role, you always prioritise taking care of the juniors. I personally have been in the juniors’ position before and have learned a lot from Siri, Manpreet, Harman, and Sardarapaji (Sardara Singh). From Sardarapaji, I learned the importance of handling juniors well, making them feel comfortable before matches, and allowing them to experience and express their emotions. When it comes to tactics, the team’s seniors need to discuss strategies with the coach and ensure everyone is on the same page. That’s my approach,” he mentioned.

On whether the captaincy tag adds pressure, Hardik admitted it does to some extent but highlighted the necessity of perspective. He said, “To an extent. The more you think, the more it adds. If you think it’s just a part of the game, all the guys are there to back you up. And yeah, sometimes you feel like whenever you do such a silly mistake in the match, you feel like, ‘Oh shit, you are the captain. How could you do it?’ But it’s a part of the game. Like we all are human beings and we all make mistakes, and it’s fine. So it’s not about how you think about that thing; it’s about the next thing, how you can make the team better.”

With Team India facing a busy schedule next year, Hardik believes the Hockey India League offers crucial exposure against elite international talent. “There’s a lot to learn from this league. We have international players who are top in their countries, and they’ll be part of our teams. Sharing a dressing room and competing against them offers valuable insights. We can observe their hockey style, how Australia and the Netherlands play, and understand how athletes from Australia and Belgium think and prepare for matches. Additionally, their mindset and off-field activities, in which they genuinely enjoy their lives without making hockey everything, are worth noting. This positive attitude helps them enjoy the game fully. We can learn much from them, especially ahead of upcoming international matches, by noticing the small things they learn from us and understanding their strategies for international games, which will help us improve our gameplay against them,” Hardik noted.

Hardik views captaining his HIL team (Governing Council) as an extension of his leadership role with the national side. When asked if the experience will be beneficial when he returns as the Indian team’s vice captain, he said, “Certainly. I served as vice captain on the team, so I still hold a leadership role. Harman, Manpreet, and I are all seniors, constantly learning from each tournament. Each experience, whether good or bad, teaches us valuable lessons. The next tournament gives us the opportunity to apply that knowledge, creating positive and meaningful experiences. My focus is on managing pressure and guiding the players, especially with so many things happening around the team. When the team appoints me to this role, they trust in my leadership. We might face failures more often than wins, but that doesn’t deter me. I see failures as opportunities, and I remain a positive person. If given this role, I am fully committed to it, without hesitation,” Hardik added.

When queried about the most formidable opponent in the league, Hardik promptly named Hyderabad Toofans, citing both tactical strength and a growing rivalry. “Our most formidable opponent will be the Hyderabad Toofans. They recently released an episode where they showed a clip of mine from one of my press conferences, where I said I wanted to beat them. They kind of made this into a rivalry, which adds to viewers’ excitement and will help get better viewership, too. Tactically, they are very strong, especially with their skilled Indian players, such as Nilakanta, Sumit, and Rajinder. When you compete against these players, you need to be fully alert and give your best. Hyderabad Toofans are tactically very solid, and their coach, Pasha (Gademan), along with Emily (Calderon), has done an excellent job. Last year, they finished second, and their strategic management and tactics deserve recognition,” he concluded.

The Men’s Hockey India League 2026 season features eight franchises—Tamil Nadu Dragons, Hyderabad Toofans, JSW Soorma Hockey Club, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers (defending champions), Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, Ranchi Royals, SG Pipers, and HIL Governing Council—playing 23 league matches in a single round-robin format, followed by playoffs (Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator on Jan 23; Qualifier 2 on Jan 25) and a grand final on January 26 at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, totalling 33 high-stakes encounters.

Play kicks off on January 3 at Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai (Jan 3-9), shifts to Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh AstroTurf in Ranchi (Jan 11-16), and concludes in Bhubaneswar at Kalinga Stadium (Jan 17-26), featuring Indian stars against international imports in daily double-headers that mirror FIH pressures while driving fan engagement through packed venues and themed events.

England captain Ben Stokes expressed that the wicket for the fourth Test of the Ashes series at Melbourne would likely face more criticism if it were prepared elsewhere in the world. He emphasized that a game finishing in less than two days is undesirable.

The 10mm of grass left on the pitch led to a staggering 36 wickets falling in six sessions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). England secured a long-awaited Test match victory in Australia after 14 years with a four-wicket win. They bowled out Australia for 132 in their second innings, setting up a target of 175, which they chased down after losing six wickets.

“When you go out there, and you’re faced with conditions, you’ve got to crack on and deal with it. But, being brutally honest, that’s not really what you want. A Boxing Day Test match, you don’t want a game finishing in less than two days,” Stokes stated during the post-match press conference.

Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith raised questions about the MCG pitch preparation, stating he was ‘not sure’ why head groundsman Matthew Page left so much grass on the surface. This matter is expected to be addressed by Page during his media interaction on Sunday.

“We let them judge it and do what they see fit. I said before the game that it looked like it was going to offer a fair amount, and it probably did more than we thought it was going to. It’s tough as a groundsman; I think he’s always looking for the right balance. I suppose last year’s wicket was an outstanding one; it went to day five (in the) last session,” Smith remarked.

“In an ideal world, every wicket does that, and it’s exciting for everyone. Maybe if you took it from 10 (mm) to eight, it would have been a nice, challenging wicket, make it a little bit more even, I suppose. But groundsmen are always learning, and he’ll probably take something from that, no doubt,” he added.

Cricket Ireland has announced its 15-player squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier in Kathmandu, Nepal, from January 18 to February 1, 2026. Gaby Lewis will lead the team as captain, with Orla Prendergast serving as her deputy.

The Irish squad is set to depart on January 6, 2026, for a six-day preparation camp in Dubai, before heading to Nepal on January 12. The team will take part in two official warm-up matches against Nepal and Zimbabwe.

The Qualifier will feature teams from Bangladesh, Ireland, the Netherlands, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand, the USA, and Zimbabwe. These teams are organized into two groups of five, with Ireland placed in Group A. After the group matches, the top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage, and the top four from this stage will qualify for the T20 World Cup.

Graeme West, Director of High Performance, commented, “The recent tour to South Africa demonstrated how tough international cricket can be, but also how our group can learn, adapt, and grow from the experience. While that South Africa series was an opportunity to hone skills and identify areas of further improvement required, the upcoming Qualifier will be the time when the squad will need to put that experience into action on the field.”

He further noted, “Nepali wickets are traditionally low and slow, so we are taking three frontline spinners in the squad as they will likely play a key role in the expected conditions. We have no major injury concerns, with Amy Hunter expected to fully recover from the niggle that kept her out of the 3rd ODI against South Africa recently.”

West added, “We wish Lloyd [Tennant, head coach] and the squad well – and look forward to a hopefully successful qualifying campaign and another appearance by Ireland at a major event in June 2026.”

Ireland Squad for T20 World Cup Qualifiers:
Gaby Lewis (c), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Sarah Forbes, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Aimee Maguire, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell.

Nita Football Academy continued their impressive run in the Indian Women’s League 2025-26, defeating Kickstart FC 5-0 at the National Centre of Excellence on Saturday.

Match Highlights
Pyari Xaxa (2’, 31’, 76’) scored her second hat-trick in as many matches, helping her side take control of the game in the first half. Nita FA’s Togolese forward Amiratou N’Djambara (38’) and India U20 international Neha (64’) also found the net.

Nita FA currently tops the league standings with seven points from three matches, marking their second victory by a five-goal margin. They previously won 6-1 against Sesa FA. In contrast, Kickstart remains without a point in their three matches and is now in the relegation zone.

Early Domination
The Cuttack side has shown a knack for scoring early, with Neha producing a perfect cross from the left that Pyari tapped in just as the clock struck two minutes. The 19-year-old was a constant threat down the left wing during the opening exchanges.

Kickstart began to find some rhythm after a shaky start, with Kiran Pisda playing a pivotal role in midfield. Nita FA goalkeeper Adrija Sarkhel made a crucial diving save to keep out a long-range shot from Kiran in the 12th minute. Kiran attempted another long-range effort shortly after, but Adrija managed to tip it around the post.

Strategic Changes
Nita FA head coach Paromita Sit recognized her team was losing grip on the match and made an early substitution, bringing in Jasoda Munda for Poonam. This tactic paid off quickly, as Neha delivered another cross in the 31st minute, allowing Pyari to volley in her second goal.

With two goals already to her name, Pyari turned provider as Ghanaian midfielder Matilda Kwao advanced upfield to set her up, leading to Amiratou netting the third goal.

Second Half Action
Kickstart came into the second half with more determination, but Nita FA’s defense held firm. Their best opportunity arose in the 49th minute when substitute Olivia Chanu’s cross was brought down by Kiran for Lhingneilam Kipgen, but Adrija was once again equal to the task.

Neha eventually got on the scoresheet when Matilda played her through on the left. Neha burst into the box and smashed it into the bottom corner.

Pyari completed her second hat-trick of the season in the 78th minute, dashing any hopes of a Kickstart comeback. Bhumika Devi set Amiratou free on the right with a deft touch, allowing her to chip the ball to Pyari at the far post for the finish.