Sports

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Jan 7 (IANS) India's Paris Olympics star Lakshya Sen crashed out of the season's BWF Super 1000 in the Round of 32 while compatriot H.S Prannoy's match was halted by a leaking roof of the stadium at the Stadium Axiata Arena here on Tuesday.

Rourkela, Jan 7 (IANS) The Vedanta Kalinga Lancers secured their first win of Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 as they hammered the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers 6-0 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday. Thierry Brinkman (3` and 47`), Sanjay (6`), Alexander Hendrickx (9`), Nicolas Bandurak (29`) and Boby Singh Dhami (49`) scored for the Kalinga Lancers.

It was a match between two sides at the opposite ends of the points table with the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers at the top having won all three of their matches before on Tuesday. The Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, on the other hand, have lost two and drawn one of their three matches. That was to change by the end of the match as the Kalinga Lancers finally got their campaign up and running.

The Lancers got off to a lightning-quick start as they took a 2-0 lead inside the first four minutes. Thierry Brinkman was key to the home side’s perfect start as he scored the opener and won a penalty corner from which the second goal came.

In the third minute, the star Dutch forward ghosted unmarked into the circle and was well-spotted by Dilpreet Singh with a nice pass. Goalkeeper Jamie Carr rushed out to close down the angle but Brinkman managed to squeeze his shot into the goal.

A minute later, Brinkman won the first penalty corner of the match. Alexander Hendrickx’s drag flick was saved by Carr but Sanjay was the quickest to react as he smashed the rebound into the back of the goal. It went from bad to worse for the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers as they gave away another penalty corner in the sixth minute. This time, Hendrickx aimed and found the top right corner to give the Lancers a 3-0 lead in just six minutes.

Before the match, the Lancers had boasted the worst penalty corner conversion percentage of all teams in the Hockey India League at just 16%. But they changed that number on Tuesday and coach Valentin Altenburg should be really happy at the end of the day.

The Lancers won their third penalty corner in the 11th minute but Carr made a good save to keep out Hendrickx’s drag flick. The Tigers had more possession and more circle penetrations but apart from a Sukhjeet Singh attempt, they barely had anything to show for their efforts. Hendrickx had a chance to double his tally for the night right at the end of the first quarter but saw his drag flick blocked by the Tigers’ rushers.

The Tigers began the second quarter on the front foot winning their first penalty corner of the match. Goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak saved Jugraj Singh’s attempt before saving Rupinder Pal Singh’s powerful shot. The ball came to Abhishek but the India forward sent his shot just wide of the post. Dilpreet came within inches of making it 4-0 in the 21st minute as he created space for himself in the circle before unleashing a fierce tomahawk shot which cannoned back off the post.

The Lancers got their fourth goal in the 29th minute with Brinkman once again creating the goal. The Dutchman got the ball on the left in the circle and fired it towards goal. Nicolas Bandurak poked his stick right in front of Tigers defender Jasjit Singh Kular to deflect it into the goal.

In the third quarter, the Tigers had the first big chance in the 35th minute. Sukhjeet Singh stole the ball from Arthur van Doren high up the pitch and sprung the counter. He made his way to the 23m line before offloading the ball to Affan Yousuf to his right. Pathak did well to charge off the line and take the sting out of Yousuf’s shot before Hendrickx came back to shepherd the ball away from the goal.

Pathak was called into action in the 40th minute as the Indian goalkeeper made a solid save to keep out Jugraj Singh’s drag-flick. The Lancers nearly made it 5-0 at the other end as Gursahibjit Singh deflected Brinkman’s cross into the side net from a good angle.

Dilpreet spurned a golden chance to score the Lancers’ fifth in the 43rd minute as he failed to connect with the ball with the whole goal at his mercy. The Lancers did not have to wait long for their fifth goal. This time it was Bandurak who turned provider as he played a clever reverse pass on the left which set Brinkman free. The Dutchman ran along the goalline before finishing past Carr in the 47th minute.

Boby Singh Dhami joined the party as he made it 6-0 for the Lancers in the 49th minute. The young Indian forward got the ball on the edge of the circle and with his back to goal, found the bottom corner with a stunning tomahawk shot. The Tigers created a couple of half chances but did not really trouble the Lancers as the home side picked up their first win of the season. With the win, the Lancers have climbed to fifth while the Tigers stay on top of the points table.

Player of the Match Krishan Bahadur Pathak said, “We were not good at defending penalty corners in the previous matches but we improved today. Our forwards were also clinical today as they created chances whenever they made circle entries”

--IANS

bsk/

New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) After India’s 1-3 loss against Australia in the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy series, many questions were raised on the side’s senior players, mainly Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, after a series of poor outings for the duo. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and his support staff's role too has come under scrutiny.

But as things stand, all three will survive the debacle and BCCI sources told IANS that Rohit and Virat will remain in contention to represent the country in the Champions Trophy and the five-match Test series against England in June.

Both Rohit and Kohli have been a vital part and mainstay of India's top-order for the past decade, and were crucial in the country winning their second T20 World Cup in June, but have heavily struggled since then.

According to IANS sources, a review of the recent performances will be conducted soon but the BCCI does not blame head coach Gautam Gambhir for the defeat.

"Yes, there will be a review meeting but no firing. C'mon, you can't sack a coach for the batters' poor show in one series. Gautam Gambhir will remain the coach, and Virat and Rohit will feature in the England series. The focus is Champions Trophy," BCCI sources told IANS on Tuesday.

Kohli began the series on a high note, scoring a century in the opening Test in Perth. However, his form dipped drastically and he ended up with 190 runs in the series. He was dismissed eight times while chasing balls outside off-stump.

On the other hand, Rohit, who missed the Perth Test because of the birth of his second child, managed only 31 runs in three Tests, before opting to rest for the fifth match in Sydney.

At the end of the Sydney Test. Gambhir was questioned about Virat and Rohit’s future in the side, after the BGT series, but he remained adamant that the duo still have the ‘hunger and passion’ to represent the country. “I can't talk about the future of any player. It is up to them as well. But yes, what I can say is that they still have hunger and passion, they are tough people. Hopefully, they can continue to take Indian cricket forward. But ultimately, as we all know, whatever they plan, it will be in the best interest of Indian cricket,” said Gambhir.

Since Gambhir was appointed head coach across all formats, India dominated the shortest format of the game but have struggled in Test cricket. Following a 2-0 home series win against Bangladesh, following which it seemed India had all but sealed a spot in their third consecutive World Test Championship final. However, a humiliating 0-3 loss against New Zealand followed, which was the nation’s first home-series defeat in 12 years. India were eliminated from WTC contention following the loss in the BGT.

India will host England for a white-ball series -- five T20Is and three ODIs starting towards the end of January before they leave for Dubai for the forthcoming Champions Trophy. India’s next Test assignment will be the five-match Test series away in England in June.

--IANS

aaa/bsk/

Madrid, Jan 6 (IANS) There are some questions to be answered ahead of the Spanish Supercopa (Super Cup) in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), which kicks off on Wednesday when Copa del Rey holder Athletic Club Bilbao take on FC Barcelona, with Real Madrid facing cup runner-up Mallorca in the second semifinal on Thursday.

FC Barcelona have included Dani Olmo and Pau Victor in the group that travelled to Jeddah, despite not having permission to register them in their first-team squad due to financial fair-play reasons. That means that unless a 'miracle' happens, the pair will spend their time sightseeing in the Saudi Arabian city.

The pro-Barcelona press continue to insist that the club is continuing with its appeal process despite the rules, being very clear that a player cannot be registered with the same club twice in a season. Barca also have a big fitness doubt over Lamine Yamal, who ended 2024 with an ankle injury and didn't play in the Copa del Rey on Saturday.

Real Madrid have a disadvantage of playing a Copa del Rey game against Deportiva Minera in Cartagena (south-east Spain), meaning they will fly to Jeddah on Tuesday. Madrid's main problem is with forward Vinicius Jr after he was sent off for hitting Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski during his side's 2-1 win in La Liga on Friday, reports Xinhua.

A suspension that occurred in one competition in Spain is usually only applicable to that tournament, meaning a ban picked up for offenses in La Liga is only served in league matches. However, Vinicius was sent off for a clear aggression, which carries a ban of between 4-12 matches and bans of four or more games are served in the next matches irrespective of the tournament.

Given that the referee of Friday's game also included in his report that Vinicius had to be "restrained and taken to the dressing room as he continued his protests", under normal circumstances the Spanish Football Federation would ban Vinicius for more than four games. If that happens, Vinicius won't be able to play in the Supercup, but Real Madrid are using all of their off-field influence to try and pressure the RFEF into giving Vinicius a shorter ban, in which case the winger will be able to take part.

Athletic Club Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde has named a 26-man squad for a tournament his side won in 2021, but with doubts over the fitness of key trio, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Yeray Alvarez, and top-scorer Oihan Sancet, none of whom played on Saturday, while Mallorca also have doubts after losing 3-0 in the Copa del Rey on Friday away to fourth-tier Pontevedra, although they have an advantage of six days to prepare the game against Real Madrid.

--IANS

bsk/

Coimbatore, Jan 6 (IANS) Kurukshetra Warriors, Karpagam Raiders, Chennai Tamizhans, and Palani Tuskers won their respective matches in the 11th Yuva Kabaddi Series - Division 1 played at the Karpagam Academy of Higher Education here on Monday. The event continued with a mix of thrilling and dominant matches on Monday. The Palani Tuskers extended their unbeaten run, while the Murthal Magnets and Jaipur Thunders suffered their fourth consecutive losses.

The day’s action began with the Kurukshetra Warriors cruising to a commanding 47-26 victory over the Jaipur Thunders. Ankit Dahiya led the charge for the Warriors with 14 raid points, while Deepanshu Khatri’s stellar defensive effort earned him seven tackle points. For Jaipur, Nakul Saini put up a valiant effort with nine points, but a lack of support sealed their fourth straight loss.

In the second match, the Karpagam Raiders edged past the Aravalli Arrows in a nail-biting 33-31 victory. Gajenthiramoorthi Murugesan once again delivered a standout performance, scoring nine raid points and three tackle points with solid team support. For the Arrows, Anuj Yadav and Vishnu Sharma impressed in raiding, but a lacklustre defensive performance cost them the match.

The third game saw the Chennai Tamizhans hand the Murthal Magnets a crushing 37-18 defeat, extending the Magnets' winless streak to four games. Stanly Packiaraj shone for Chennai with a Super 10, while Purushothaman Palanivelu secured a High 5. For the Magnets, Sahil Chhoker managed four tackle points, but the team struggled to support him.

The final encounter of the day featured a thrilling clash between the unbeaten Palani Tuskers and the spirited Sonipat Spartans, with the Tuskers eking out a 33-31 victory. Deepak Sankar was exceptional in defense, securing seven tackle points, while Vishva Asalavan contributed with seven raid points and a tackle point. Despite Naveen Sharma’s High 5 and support from Rahul Ahri, the Spartans fell short due to limited contributions from their raiders.

--IANS

bsk/

Rourkela, Jan 6 (IANS) India skipper Harmanpreet Singh found his scoring touch to help Soorma Hockey Club clinch a 2-2 (3-1 SO) penalty shootout victory against the Delhi SG Pipers in the Hockey India League 2024-25 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Monday, taking the second place in the points table.

After a quiet first half, Tomas Domene (43’) and Manjeet Singh (45’) scored to grant Delhi SG Pipers a two-goal lead in the third quarter. However, Harmanpreet Singh (48’, 57’) found the back of the net twice with his drag flicks to get Soorma back on level terms in the last quarter and force penalty shootouts.

Soorma Hockey Club began the game with marginally more control over the ball but the Delhi SG Pipers were the first to breach the opponent's shooting circle, almost five minutes into the game, however, Jake Whetton’s shot was off target.

Soon after, the Pipers earned a penalty corner but Domene’s flick was swatted away easily by Nicolas Della Torre at the post. Maninder Singh managed the only shot on target for Soorma towards the end of the first quarter as he wrestled his way into the circle and pulled the trigger from the top of the circle but his shot was easily saved by Delhi SG Pipers’ goalkeeper Benjamin Rennie.

Delhi SG Pipers began the second quarter by earning a penalty corner but Tomas Domene’s dragflick was straight towards Soorma’s goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch. With Soorma happy to drop back into their half and employ a half-court press, the Pipers made constant forays into the shooting circle but were unable to create a clear goalscoring chance. Raj Kumar Pal had the most significant opportunity to score with a reverse shot from an acute angle with three minutes left but Vanasch remained alert in goal and the first half ended goalless.

Shamsher Singh looked to continue the Pipers’ dominance with a quick shot from an aerial pass as the third quarter began but the shot bounced off the post. Five minutes into the third quarter, Maninder Singh earned Soorma’s first penalty corner but Della Torre’s low flick was easily deflected out.

The Pipers remained undeterred in their search for a goal and as the third quarter came to a close, Ky Willot found Domene on the right wing, who shook his marker and pushed the ball through Vanasch’s legs to grant Delhi SG Pipers the lead in the game. With a minute left in the quarter, the Pipers ventured on a counterattack through Jake Whetton who blazed a cross in front of goal and Manjeet Singh was alert to dive and deflect the ball to the roof of the net and further increase their lead.

Soorma showed more initiative as the last quarter began, pushing the Pipers into their half but they managed to save Phil Roper and Maninder’s shots in quick succession. Soorma went on to earn their second penalty corner soon after and Harmanpreet Singh powered the ball through Benjamin Rennie’s legs to pull a goal back for Soorma. They kept the pressure on and earned another penalty with four minutes left in the game and Harmanpreet stepped up again to find the bottom right corner and restore parity.

Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nicolas Keenan, and Boris Burkhardt scored in the penalty shootouts while Vincent Vanasch pulled out three saves to snatch the bonus point for Soorma Hockey Club.

--IANS

bsk/

Leh, Jan 6 (IANS) Namhail Nangmo made history on Monday by scoring the fastest goal ever recorded in the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League. Day 3 of Season 2 saw Maryul Spamo begin their campaign with a dominant 4-0 victory over Shakar Chiktan Queens.

In the men’s category, Humas Warriors set the tone earlier in the day, securing a commanding 6-1 win in the opening match. The defending champions, Kang Sings and Changthan Shans, continued their strong performances, triumphing 4-1 and 6-2, respectively.

The third day of the league delivered intense action and high-energy performances, with goals flowing throughout the matches, leaving fans exhilarated. The Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League Season 2, is being organized in partnership with the UT Administration of Ladakh and the Ice Hockey Association of Ladakh at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium, Leh.

Commanding win for Humas Warriors

With both teams battling hard to break the deadlock, the game unfolded cautiously in the opening minutes. However, Humas Warriors' Zahit Ali found a breakthrough with a precise wrist shot just two minutes before the end of the first period. Moments later, Issa Mohd doubled the lead with a last-second strike, leaving the Warriors ahead 2-0 at the break.

The second period saw the Warriors take full control of the game. Zahit Ali scored again in the 22nd minute, securing his brace and extending the lead to 3-0. The momentum continued with Nasoor-ud-din and Issa Mohd each adding a goal in the 28th and 35th minutes, respectively. The Warriors’ offense was relentless, and their defense remained impenetrable, ending the second period with an imposing 5-0 lead.

United Nubra came into the final period determined to fight back and managed an early consolation goal in the 43rd minute, courtesy of Padma Minger. However, the Humas Warriors maintained their composure and defensive organization to deny further goals. In a dramatic finish, team captain Waseem Bilal capped off the game with a spectacular wrist shot in the dying seconds, sealing a resounding 6-1 victory for the Warriors.

Holders Kang Sings win again

Building on their momentum from the opening day, defending champions Kang Sings delivered another commanding performance in the second game of the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League, defeating Changla Blasters 4-1. The Kang Sings started aggressively, with Stanzin Lotos netting the first goal in the 6th minute, assisted by Stanzin Angchok. In the 13th minute, Tashi Tsewang doubled the lead with a clinical finish, thanks to a brilliant assist by Lotos.

The second period shifted into a defensive battle, with both teams missing opportunities to score. The only notable incidents were two penalties—Ghulam Nabi for elbowing and Stanzin for tripping in the 22nd minute. Despite the heightened intensity, the score remained unchanged at 2-0 as the period ended.

The final period saw a surge in intensity as both teams adopted an aggressive approach. Changla Blasters sparked hope for a comeback in the 52nd minute when Tunstup scored a precise wrist shot from the left corner.

However, the Kang Sings quickly regained control, with Mushtaq Ahmed and Tashi Tsewang scoring back-to-back goals in the 54th and 55th minutes, effectively sealing the game. With the game slipping out of Blasters’ control, the defending champions showcased their all-around dominance, cruising to a 4-1 victory, while maintaining their perfect start to the season.

Maryul Spamo win in women’s category

The women’s category of the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League Season 2 kicked off with an impressive performance by reigning champions Maryul Spamo, who secured a 4-0 victory over Shakar Chiktan Queens.

The match began with a historic moment as Namhail Nangmo scored just 15 seconds into play, setting a new league record for the fastest goal across both men’s and women’s categories. Nangmo struck again later in the first period with a sharp snapshot, giving the defending champions a solid 2-0 lead at the end of the opening period.

The second period saw heightened defensive efforts from both teams. Despite numerous scoring opportunities, exceptional goaltending on both sides kept the score unchanged, with Maryul Spamo maintaining their 2-0 advantage.

In the final period, Maryul Spamo reasserted their dominance. Rinchen Dolma capitalized on a loose puck near the net in the 45th minute, followed shortly by Padma Chorol’s precision snapshot in the 48th. Despite several offensive surges from Shakar Chiktan Queens, their attempts were consistently thwarted by Dorjey Dolma, the Indian national team goalkeeper, who delivered a stellar performance. The defending champions wrapped up the match with a resounding 4-0 victory.

The final match of Day 3 featured a determined Changthang Shans side facing off against Maryul Spawo. Their offensive tactics paid off with two quick goals, first by Konchok Namgyal in the 12th minute and then by Phuntsog Namgyal in the 15th. A penalty for Urgan Samstan added some drama, but the Shans remained in control, finishing the period with a 2-0 lead.

Period 2 began with Changthang Shans capitalising on their momentum. Rigzen Namgyal netted a goal in the 24th minute, followed by Tsewang Dorjey’s quick-fire strike just 13 seconds later. Dorjey showcased his skills once again with a flawless wrist shot in the 26th minute, completing his double and widening the gap in the scoresheet.

Spawo finally responded in the 32nd minute through Sonam Paldan, assisted by Rigzin N. However, their celebrations were short-lived as Stanzin Jambal immediately retaliated for the Shans. By the end of the period, the score stood at 6-1 in Changthang Shans’ favor.

Entering the final period with a solid 6-1 lead, Changthang Shans played a cautious game. Spawo’s Rigzin N managed to find the net in the dying minutes, reducing the deficit slightly but it was too late for a comeback. However, the Shans’ defensive game plan held firm, and they wrapped up the match with a dominant 6-2 victory, keeping their momentum intact in the league.

This year’s Ice Hockey League features an impressive lineup of 30 matches—23 in the men’s category and 7 in the women’s—to be played over the course of 10 days. The men’s tournament features two groups of five teams, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, the women’s tournament will see five teams compete in two groups, culminating in semi-finals and a final on January 12, followed by the men’s championship final on January 13.

--IANS

bsk/

Kolkata, Jan 6 (IANS) Mumbai City FC beat East Bengal FC 3-2 in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Monday. The Islanders were more lethal in the final third, taking eight shots on target as opposed to the five of the home team, and moved up to fifth from the seventh spot in the standings.

Mumbai City FC were offensively prolific in the first half, recording 12 touches inside East Bengal FC’s box in the opening 45 minutes. Nikolaos Karelis’ thumping header from near the six-yard box was blocked on the goal-line after a well-coordinated corner move by the Islanders in the 28th minute. Tiri received the ball on the far post and headed it to Karelis, who tried to nod the ball home, but his shot couldn’t trouble the net.

Eleven minutes later, the visitors pulled off another flawless sequence from the back, with their defensive unit initiating the attack. Brandon Fernandes picked the ball from Vikram Partap Singh at the centre from a distance. Immediately, Brandon carved open the East Bengal FC defence with a slick through-ball intended for Lallianzuala Chhangte.

The attacker took a fine touch before he deposited it into the bottom left corner with a fierce right-footed shot to break the deadlock.

They capitalised on this momentum, with Yoell van Nieff coming to the fore with a similar delivery that swung past the gaps in the East Bengal FC backline. This time around, the ball was directed to Karelis, who took an instant shot that was stopped by Prabhsukhan Singh Gill. However, the striker latched on to the rebound, placing the ball into the bottom right corner in the 43rd minute to double their lead.

The home side regained their attacking intensity as soon as the second essay of the game began though. They didn’t let the Islanders settle and dictate the offensive endeavours as was the case in the first half. Naorem Mahesh Singh put pressure on the Mumbai City FC defence with an industrious effort in the 66th minute down the left flank.

The Petr Kratky-coached team fell short of clearing the ball out, which instead ended up landing at Dimitrios Diamantakos' feet on the right post. The striker tried for a lateral pass from close range, but Mumbai City FC’s Sahil Panwar got in the way and struck the ball inside his own net, reducing the deficit for the Red & Gold Brigade.

East Bengal FC started stretching the Islanders’ defence thereafter, going out wide, exploring spaces at the centre, and winning the occasional set-piece to put the opposition behind. In the 83rd minute, a corner kick led to the equaliser for the Kolkata-based side. The Islanders wore a disorganised look for a brief while and it was enough for the Oscar Bruzon-coached unit to pounce upon.

By pushing sheer numbers ahead, they overwhelmed the Mumbai City FC backline in their own box. Hector Yuste showed his smarts by using his head to lay a ball on David Lalhlansanga’s path at the centre of the box, and the latter used his left foot to send the ball into the bottom left corner.

East Bengal FC’s joy was short-lived though, as Mumbai City FC snatched the winner four minutes later, with Karelis bagging his brace. The Islanders had RFYC graduate Nathan Rodrigues unlock the Red & Gold Brigade defence with a well-paced delivery down the centre of the box from the left flank.

Hijazi Maher couldn’t intercept and thwart the threat, resulting in Karelis picking the ball swiftly and caressing it into the bottom left corner to secure all three points for his team.

--IANS

aaa/bsk/

New Delhi, Jan 5 (IANS) U.S. Men’s National Team defender Antonee Robinson has been voted the 2024 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year after an outstanding year in which he started all 11 matches for which he was available, started in all four of the USA's shutouts in 2024, and recorded the game-winning assist against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals.

Robinson has become one of the top full-backs in the English Premier League with Fulham FC, winning the 2023-24 Player of the Year award for the club.

This is Robinson’s first U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year award, having previously been nominated in 2022. First recognized in 1984,a total of 27 players have won the award.The 27-year-oldRobinson becomes the first defender to earn this recognition since Oguchi Onyewu in 2006.

“It’s an incredible honor,” said Robinson.“Representing our country isn’t something you do for individual accolades. It’s always about putting the team first and trying to do my best for the boys and for the country, so to be rewarded for that is an amazing feeling.”

“Jedi” was surprised with the news during an interview with U.S. Men’s National Team legend and two-time U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year award winner Tim Howard, which aired first on the Premier League Morningsshow and then La Liga Premier: Extraprior to the Fulham-Ipswich Town match today. In addition to being fellow National Team players, they share a history of being a part of Everton Football Club.

“I probably looked a little silly because I was shocked!,” Robinson said.“I thought it was just a random interview with Tim about how the season was going, so when he told me I’d won I was just in disbelief because it was the last thing I expected. Obviously, Tim had an incredible career with the National Team and throughout his club football so it was a thrill to have that news delivered by him.”

In a list of nominees including Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic and Tim Ream, Robinson won with 55 percent of the weighted total. In addition to fan voting, votes for U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year are collected from National Team coaches, USMNT players who earned a cap in 2024, members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council, professional league head coaches and sporting directors, select media members and former players and administrators.

A dual citizen of the United States and England, in 2024 Robinson played the second-most games and minutes of his career in a calendar year. The U.S. recorded all four of its clean sheets this year with Jedi patrolling the left flank, including the “dos a cero” win against Mexico in the 2024 Concacaf Nations League Final and the critical 1-0 shutout on the road against Jamaica in the quarterfinal of the 2025 edition of the tournament.

At the club level, Robinson has established himself as one of the outstanding performers in the Premier League at his position. Having won the Fulham 2023-24 Player of the Year award, he finished this calendar year with 10 assists across 37 games played, four more than any other defender in the league and in the top 10 of players across the board. Now wearing the captain’s armband, he’s already delivered seven assists in 19 matches during the current campaign – tied for the third amongst all Premier League players - two of which came in the thrilling 2-2 draw away to league leaders Liverpool on Dec. 14. Robinson is the third player with ties to Fulham to earn the honor, joining Clint Dempsey (2007, 2011, 2012) and Kasey Keller (1997, 1999, 2005).

--IANS

aaa/

Rourkela, Jan 5 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu Dragons rode on goals from Abharan Sudev (‘48) and Thomas Sorsby (‘60) and a rock-solid defensive show from skipper Amit Rohidas to notch up a 2-0 win over the UP Rudras at the Hero Hockey India League clash at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium on Sunday.

The Dragons threatened to open the scoring as they found themselves in a brilliant 4v1 position in the second minute as Uttam Singh had an opportunity to get on the scoresheet, but the side could not capitalize. The UP Rudras left no stone unturned in their search for the opener butDavid Harte was not to be beaten between the sticks. They won a penalty corner with mere seconds left in the first quarter and Rohidas showed just why he’s the best in the business as he charged off the line to deflect Sam Ward’s sizzling attempt.

The scoreline remained unchanged in the second 15 as well, with neither keeper being forced into action. Shesha Gowda was in top form as he played a crucial role in keeping the lethal Hardik Singh in check. Tom Craig went on a lung-bursting run with about a minute left but was undone by a stunning tackle from Lalit Upadhyay as the two teams went into the break on level terms, setting the stage for a high-octane final two quarters.

The UP Rudras got off to a superb start in the third quarter as Lalit, surrounded by three defenders, weaved his way into the circle to win a penalty corner in the 34th minute. Kane Russell found the back of the net with a stirring dragflick but the goal was ruled out as the ball had crossed the circle before he struck it. The Rudras upped the ante thereon as Ward won another penalty corner two minutes later, but the Dragons’ defence calmly dealt with it.

The Dragons then had a golden chance at the other end as Uttam made a blazing run down the right before playing a fine lofted pass to Tom Craig at the goalmouth, but the Aussie justcouldn’t get the ball down in time. The Rudras ended the third quarter with 14 circle penetrations and three penalty corners to their name but were yet to find that elusive goal as it all boiled down to the final quarter.

The deadlock was broken by the Dragons in the 48th minute when Abharan Sudev scored from close range. Nathan Ephraums unleashed a powerful strike that James Mazarelo could only parry into Sudev’s path, and the Indian made no mistake. The Tamil Nadu team was at it again as Thomas Sorsby raced down the left flank before drilling a low cross into the circle, but a diving Blake Govers fell just short.

The Rudras had a golden chance to equalize when they won a penalty corner in the 52nd minute, but Rohidas once again rushed off the line to block Russel’s dragflick. There was more drama at the end as UP Rudras won two back-to-back penalty corners in the final two minutes and it was Rohidas who once again blocked both strikes and ensured his side maintained a clean sheet.

It was all smiles for the Tamil Nadu Dragons at the end as Sorsby wrapped up the contest with a clinical finish with 13 seconds left on the clock as the side cruised to their first outright win of the season and climbed to the third spot on the standings.

--IANS

aaa/