Sports

Jamshedpur, Jan 4 (IANS) Jordan Murray and Muhammad Uvais scored in the final few minutes of the match as Jamshedpur FC came from behind to pip Bengaluru FC 2-1 in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season at the JRD Tata Sports Complex here on Saturday night. Bengaluru FC were ahead in the game courtesy of a goal from Alberto Noguera but a second-half blitz from Jamshedpur FC saw Murray score in the 84th minute and Muhammad Uvais strike in the final seconds of the game to seal an important win in the ongoing season.

The match started with a great rhythm. In the third minute, the visitors almost took the lead when Noguera found Sunil Chhetri with an exquisite long ball, catching the entire Jamshedpur FC defence off-guard. However, Albino Gomes kept out Chhetri’s eventual effort. Apart from the initial opportunity, the first quarter didn’t see many chances but it was extremely eventful in midfield with both teams wrestling for possession.

Despite getting frustrated by Jamshedpur FC’s high press, Bengaluru were patient during their buildup in the initial quarter of the game. They eventually struck first blood in the 19th minute when Naorem Roshan Singh made a surging run down the left flank and followed it up with a brilliant cross for Noguera, who made a late sprint into the box and calmly caressed it past Albino.

In retaliation, Jamshedpur FC almost found the equaliser when Imran Khan found Pratik Chaudhuri in the box with a fine cross. While Pratik didn’t get a proper connection with the ball, it was also not cleared away by the Bengaluru FC defenders as it pinballed inside the area. Eventually, Pratik latched onto the stray ball and hammered it on target but Gurpreet Singh Sandhu stood in his way, denying the equaliser.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC tried to double the lead through Chhetri, who had two cracks at goal and still couldn’t increase the lead. It was another great run from Roshan, who found Chhetri in the box with a perfect cross. The 40-year-old’s initial effort struck the post and returned to him. His second effort saw Pratik come up with a tremendous block to deny the Blues the second goal.

The second half started on a feisty note with both teams not giving an inch to their counterpart. However, Bengaluru FC with their extra bit of quality in the final third were able to create some chances. This time it was an opportunity for Edgar Mendez to double the lead from a cross but Albino parried it to safety.

In the 72nd minute, Gerard Zaragoza decided to close the game out by bringing on Aleksandar Jovanovic and Vinith Venkatesh to replace Noguera and Chinglensana Singh. As a reply, Khalid Jamil turned to Ritwik Das and Mobashir Rahman in place of Seiminlen Doungel and Sourav Das respectively as he aimed to freshen things up in attack and midfield.

In the 84th minute, Jamshedpur FC’s persistence bore fruit as Jordan Murray came up with the equaliser with a picturesque back volley, leaving Gurpreet and the other defenders stunned. The move was initiated from Mobashir’s corner, which was cleared away but Nikhil Barla picked up the loose ball and found Murray with a brilliant cross. The Australian controlled the ball with his head before coming up with an acrobatic volley to send the Furnace into raptures. Khalid Jamil’s men came up with the knockout punch in the 90th minute when Muhammad Uvais steered the ball into the open net after Gurpreet’s parry landed straight into his feet in midfield. This goal sealed the victory for the Men of Steel, breaking their six-game winless streak against the Blues in this competition.

Bengaluru FC will host Mohammedan SC next on January 11 in an afternoon game whereas Jamshedpur FC will travel to Mumbai to face Mumbai City FC on January 12.

--IANS

bsk/

Cape Town, Jan 4 (IANS) Opener Ryan Rickelton compiled a gritty unbeaten 176 and skipper Temba Bavuma contributed a patient 106 as South Africa reached a strong 316/4 on the opening day of the second and final Test of the series at the Newlands here on Friday. Rickelton is batting on 176 off 232 balls, studded with 21 fours and one six while Bavuma faced 179 balls for his 106, hitting nine fours and two sixes in the process as the hosts dominated the day after winning the toss and electing to bat first.

Pakistan suffered an injury scare early in the South African innings after opener Saim Ayub was stretchered off after he injured his ankle.

The injury occurred in the seventh over when Ryan Rickelton edged a ball through the slips, prompting Ayub to chase it to deep third alongside Aamer Jamal. As Jamal pulled the ball back, Ayub, positioned as the relay fielder, lost his balance and twisted his ankle. He immediately went down, clutching his lower leg in pain as the physio rushed to assist.

After receiving prolonged treatment near the boundary, Ayub was stretchered off, casting a shadow over Pakistan’s efforts. The situation worsened shortly after when Ayub’s replacement, Abdullah Shafique, dropped a straightforward chance at cover to dismiss Aiden Markram. Fortunately, Markram was removed by Khurram Shahzad two overs later, but celebrations remained subdued, reflecting the impact of Ayub's absence.

Rickelton and Markram (17) raised 61 runs for the opening wicket but South Africa lost two more wickets after his departure as Wiaan Mulder (5) and Tristan Stubbs (0) departed in quick succession.

But Rickelton found a willing partner in skipper Bavuma and they knitted a mammoth 235-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which simply took the wind out of Pakistan's sails. Rickelton was patient, and gritty and showed a lot of resilience to compile a brilliant knock that put South Africa on course for a big total. He completed his fifty off 73 balls and reached his century off 135 balls, hitting 14 boundaries.

Bavuma was also quite circumspect in his approach as he reached his half-century in 82 balls and a hundred off 167 balls. The diminutive batter was out soon after as he lost his concentration and was edged behind to wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan off Agha Salman. Rizwan had a hand in the fall of all four wickets on the first day, claiming four catches. However, Pakistan had its usual quota of dropped catches and misfields as Rickelton and Bavuma made full use of the batting-friendly conditions.

At stumps, Rickelton was batting on 176 with David Bedingham keeping him company on four.

For Pakistan, Salman Agha claimed two wickets for 55 runs while Khurram Shahzad (1-69) and Mohammad Abbas (1-51) were the other successful bowlers.

Brief scores:

South Africa 316/4 in 80 overs (Ryan Rickelton 176 not out, Temba Bavuma 106; Salman Agha 2-55) vs Pakistan.

--IANS

bsk/

Rourkela, Jan 3 (IANS) Experienced goalie David Harte starred in the shootout for Tamil Nadu Dragons as they clinched an important bonus point against Vedanta Kalinga Lancers after a 2-2 (6-5) win via shootout in the ongoing Hockey India League 2024-25 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Friday.

It was Jip Janssen's 51st-minute goal that hampered the Lancers' plans to clinch a winner after they were leading 2-1. Alexander Hendrickx's double strikes (24', 43') had put the Lancers ahead in regulation time while Tom Craig (31') also scored for the Dragons.

Earlier in the match, Tamil Nadu Dragons were quick to get off to a fiery start with Thomas Sorsby fetching an early PC for them in only the first minute of the game. On a re-award of PC following a video referral by the Kalinga Lancers, Jip Janssen used fine pace to flick it but unfortunately off-target. The following minutes in the first quarter saw the Kalinga Lancers forward line of Dilpreet Singh, Gursahibjit Singh, and Angad Bir Singh make aggressive forays into the striking circle but none resulted in a successful conversion.

After a 0-0 stalemate in the first quarter, the Lancers were finally able to draw first blood when they won a PC in the 24th minute. Alexander Hendrickx used his might to score with a sensational drag-flick.

The 1-0 lead gave the Lancers the right cushion to build on their game. But only minutes before the second hooter, Angad Bir Singh showcased his dribbling skills, to rush into the circle from the right flank, and successfully win a PC for the Kalinga Lancers. This was a great opportunity for them to extend their lead to 2-0 but the chance went begging after poor trapping on the top of the circle.

Meanwhile, just 45 seconds into the third quarter, Tamil Nadu Dragons bounced back with Tom Craig equalising with a powerful tomahawk. He capitalised on a loose ball at the top of the circle, beat the man tackling him, and sent the ball flying past Krishan Pathak. The remaining time in the quarter were tense with both teams playing on par with each other. However, it was the Kalinga Lancers who brought cheer to the local crowds when Alexander Hendrickx scored from yet another PC.

The 2-1 lead gave Kalinga Lancers good headway going into the final quarter. Only 90 seconds into this quarter, a silly defensive error by Tamil Nadu Dragons gave away a crucial PC. Hendrickx on a hat-trick couldn't make much of the chance though.

On the other hand, Shesha Gowda helped the Tamil Nadu Dragons win a PC, which changed the course of the game for the Lancers. Janssen was bang on target to level the score 2-2. Minutes later, Dragons won another PC but Blake Govers' dragflick was well-saved by Krishan Pathak. The final moments of the match was intense, with Lancers winning a PC via Gursahibjit but a lead eluded them as the match went into a shootout.

--IANS

bsk/

Beijing, Jan 3 (IANS) The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) announced on Friday the establishment of a dedicated task force to gather feedback from players and review existing regulations, following the recent withdrawal of three Olympic champions from world rankings.

The move was made after receiving the approval of an ITTF Executive Board meeting held on Thursday, in response to widespread concerns after renowned Chinese paddlers Ma Long, Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng had withdrawn from the ITTF world rankings released on December 31, 2024. The ITTF said that as part of this initiative, players, their entourage, and coaches, as well as related ITTF bodies will be consulted extensively, reports Xinhua.

In addition, a players' forum will be held during the 2025 World Table Tennis (WTT) Singapore Smash, which will take place from January 30 to February 9, providing an open platform for addressing the concerns. "The ITTF is fully committed to creating a supportive environment for players' well-being and fostering open dialogue within the entire table tennis community," read the statement from the global table tennis' governing body.

In response, the WTT expressed its full support towards the ITTF Executive Board's decision to set up the task force.

"As the global professional platform for our sport, WTT recognizes the vital role players, coaches, and teams play in shaping the future of table tennis," WTT said in a press release. "The creation of this task force ensures that their voices are not only heard but are integral to the decision-making process. The Players' Forum will provide an essential opportunity for open and constructive dialogue, underscoring the importance of transparency and inclusivity in our sport."

Members of the task force include Sharath Kamal Achanta, co-chair of the ITTF Athletes Commission, ITTF executive vice presidents Alaa Meshref and Wahid Oshodi, WTT executive director of events Mounir Bessah, and Polona Cehovin, WTT head of player relations. When announcing their withdrawal from world rankings on social media, both Fan and Chen cited the WTT rules imposing fines on players for not participating in events.

In addition to confirming the withdrawal of the three Olympic champions from world rankings, the Chinese Table Tennis Association said in a statement on Tuesday that it has been actively engaging with the ITTF and WTT to advocate for reasonable adjustments to competition rules.

--IANS

bsk/

Coimbatore, Jan 3 (IANS) Sonipat Spartans, Kurukshetra Warriors, Chennai Tamizhans and Palani Tuskers emerged victorious in four one-sided matches on the opening day as the highly-anticipated Division 1 of the 11th Yuva Kabaddi Series kicked off in style at the Karpagam Academy of Higher Education here on Friday.

The day's action began with a high-scoring encounter between Sonipat Spartans and Murthal Magnets in which Sonipat emerged victorious with a commanding 52-40 win.

Ankit Saharwa was the star for Sonipat, coming off the bench to score 18 raid points. The Spartans’ defense also played a crucial role, with Rahul Ahri and Mohit Kuldeep both securing four tackle points each. Despite a valiant effort from Murthal, led by Umesh Panwar’s 14 raid points and Vijay Kumar’s four tackle points, they couldn’t close the gap.

Next up, Kurukshetra Warriors claimed a comfortable 46-35 victory over Aravalli Arrows. Ankit Dahiya’s all-round performance was the highlight, as he contributed seven raid points and three tackle points. Deepanshu Khatri shone in defense, registering a High 5. Vishnu Sharma’s nine raid points were the only bright spot for the Arrows, while Deepak Choudhary also earned a High 5 in defense, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Warriors from clinching the win.

The third match saw Chennai Tamizhans overpower Jaipur Thunders 38-26. Thirukumaran Murugan’s all-round performance, which included eight raid points and two tackle points, was key to Chennai’s success. Sanjay Rajan and Ajay Muthaiya both achieved High 5s in defense, adding to the team’s overall dominance. Jaipur struggled to get going, with Nakul Saini’s five raid points being their top performance of the match.

In the final game of the day, Palani Tuskers defeated Karpagam Raiders 57-20 in an emphatic fashion. Vishva Asalavan led the charge for Palani with 13 raid points, with solid contributions from his teammates. For Karpagam, Selvakumar Murugan was the lone bright spot, top-scoring with six raid points, but it was a largely one-sided affair as Palani cruised to a comfortable win.

--IANS

bsk/

New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) Delhi Royals team is gearing up for an exciting journey in the upcoming season of the Legend 90 League which is set to be played in February 2025. The Delhi-based franchise has exuded confidence about its team's performance in the upcoming League.

The franchise, owned by the Mannat Group, North India’s leading highway hospitality brand, embodies the spirit and pride of the national capital. The owners are confident that Delhi Royals will make a strong impact in the Legends 90 League.

Speaking about the franchise, Devender Kadyan, chairman of Mannat Group, said, "We are confident that our team will be a force to reckon with in the Legend 90 League. This venture is more than just about cricket; it’s about inspiring a legacy of passion and excellence that connects fans to the game they love."

“We aim to set new benchmarks in the league, showcasing not only our team’s determination but also the unyielding spirit of Delhi. We are committed to creating unforgettable moments for fans and players alike,” he added.

Echoing the enthusiasm, Mannat Group representative Mandeep Malik said, "Delhi is the heart of India, and the Delhi Royals symbolise the pride and passion of this great city. We are confident that Delhi Royals will make a strong impression in the upcoming league. We are excited to begin this incredible journey."

Last week, Delhi Royals unveiled their official logo, a stunning depiction of an armour shield symbolising strength, resilience, and valour. Designed to reflect the team’s fighting spirit and commitment to excellence, the shield represents the Royals’ readiness to take on challenges with determination.

Legend 90 is an exhilarating cricket tournament that unites legendary players in an innovative and fast-paced 90-ball format. This unique league is a celebration of cricket’s finest icons, bringing them back to the field to relive the glory and excitement they once created.

The League will feature six franchises and showcase the skills of legendary players. With its dynamic format and participation from iconic cricketers, the Legend 90 League promises to be a spectacular sporting extravaganza.

--IANS

bsk/

Cape Town, Jan 3 (IANS) South Africa has become the first team to secure their spot in the final of the ICC World Test Championship 2025 after their victory in the first Test against Pakistan. Their entry into the final has been greeted with criticism from some quarters. Questions have been raised about their path to the final. It was pointed out that South Africa played the fewest matches of any team in the competition (12) and had not faced heavyweights like Australia and England during the current cycle.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, speaking on Fox Cricket, claimed that South Africa reached the final "on the back of beating pretty much nobody".

However, South Africa's Test coach Shukri Conrad has responded to that criticism, hitting out at the team's critics by claiming they did not decide the schedule. The South African coach firmly defended his team, rejecting any dilution of their achievement.

"I'm never going to apologise for getting into the final," Conrad told ESPNcricinfo at Newlands, ahead of the second Test against Pakistan. "It's the biggest thing in this team's existence. It's the biggest thing for South African cricket at the moment. It's the biggest thing for Test cricket, for world cricket, where the right noises are going to start being made."

Conrad pointed out the teams South Africa had faced and defeated on their journey to the final, commending his young squad for their resilience and unity in recent months, which had seen them produce strong performances.

South Africa's path to Lord’s has been anything but easy. Not only did they start the year in a precarious position in the WTC25 standings, but injuries also took a toll on their team. After a 2-0 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand in early 2023, the Proteas found themselves in a series of must-win situations to stay in the WTC race.

They responded emphatically, securing a 1-0 win over the West Indies, a 2-0 triumph in Bangladesh, and a 2-0 victory over Sri Lanka. They are currently leading 1-0 in their ongoing series against Pakistan at home.

Along the way, they were without the services of captain Temba Bavuma for the Bangladesh series, and midway through the Sri Lanka series, they also lost key players Gerald Coetzee and Wiaan Mulder due to injuries.

"One of the nobodies we beat won a Test match in Australia – West Indies beat Australia in a Test match," Conrad said. "They are not nobody. New Zealand beat India: three-zip in India. New Zealand is not a nobody. Sri Lanka won Test matches [against England and New Zealand]. I don't buy this thing about us beating nobody.

“You tell any side to go and win six on the bounce, in places you haven't won in a decade and with a young side, with a decimated bowling attack and when you do that, you come back and tell me that we've beaten nobody."

South Africa have one final Test in the current cycle – the New Year's Test against Pakistan in Cape Town, starting on 3 January. After that, the national team's attention will turn to the Champions Trophy and the ICC World Test Championship Final.

--IANS

bsk/

Manchester, Jan 2 (IANS) Placed 14th among 20 teams in the Premier League standings, multiple times winner Manchester United are facing the threat of relegation in the 2024-25 season. If that happens, it will not only harm the reputation but will also hit the Red Devils financially in more ways than one. Getting relegated to the Championships, the level below the top tier, will not only deprive Manchester United of the Premier League riches but it will also lose many of its sponsorship deals.

On top of the sponsors that will abandon Manchester United if they get relegated are the German sportswear giant Adidas.

Manchester United have had a long-standing partnership with Adidas as their primary shirt sponsor. In June 2023, they signed a 10-year contract extension valued at £900 million ($1.12 billion) for the duration of the agreement. However, United's current position in the Premier League poses a threat to their future relationship with the German sportswear brand, according to a report in The Telegraph.

United are currently just seven points above the relegation zone. The Telegraph has reported that Adidas has the option to terminate their contract with the club early, with a one-year notice period, if Manchester United is relegated to the Championship next season.

Manchester United's recently-appointed manager Ruben Amorim has admitted that the Red Devils are in a relegation battle after losing 2-0 to Newcastle at Old Trafford on Monday night.

The last time United was relegated from the old First Division was in 1974, though they did immediately bounce back. Manchester United have won only one of their last five matches in the Premier League and have earned 22 points from 19 matches with only six wins.

The Red Devils will now face another difficult test when they take on league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday (January 5). United last won at Anfield in January 2017 under Louis van Gaal when Wayne Rooney scored the only goal of the game. A defeat to the Reds on Sunday will push them further down the standings as Crystal Palace are just two points behind them and face Chelsea on Saturday.

--IANS

bsk/

Rourkela, Jan 2 (IANS) UP Rudras took on Soorma Hockey Club and beat them 3-0 in the Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Thursday. This is UP Rudras' second successive win in as many matches as they lead the standings with six points.

Sudeep Chirmako (2’) scored early in the game for the UP Rudras, while Soorma Hockey Club created multiple opportunities in the second quarter, the UP Rudras held firm and Jobanpreet Singh (38’) doubled their lead in the third quarter. Akashdeep Singh (58’) scored in the last quarter to seal the UP Rudras’ second win in the League. UP Rudras took control of the game right from the push-off, forcing Soorma Hockey Club to defend deep. In just the second minute, Gurjot Singh ventured into the shooting circle and found Lalit Kumar Upadhyay but his shot was deflected to Sudeep Chirmako who unleashed a rocket on the half-turn to score the first goal of the game.

Soorma Hockey Club began stringing passes together as the quarter progressed and rebuffed the Rudras’ advances on their goal. Soorma went on to earn two penalty corners as the first quarter came to an end but failed to find the back of the net. UP Rudras continued to employ a high press in the second quarter but Soorma grew into the game, earning a slew of penalty corners but the Rudras’ defensive unit, led by first rusher Lars Balk and goalkeeper James Mazarelo remained alert to avert any danger to their goal.

The Rudras stepped it up a notch in the third quarter, putting together incisive passes around Soorma players. At the 38-minute mark, Sudeep Chirmako, from the left wing, pulled the ball back to Jobanpreet Singh who pushed the ball into goal and doubled UP Rudra’s lead in the game. Soorma Hockey Club began pressing high in search of a goal but were unable to find chinks in UP Rudras’ defence.

Soorma Hockey Club wrestled more possession as the last quarter began and forced the UP Rudras into their own half. They showed more patience on the ball to create chances and it wasn’t long before Vivek Sagar Prasad found Gurjant Singh in the shooting circle but his shot sailed wide of the post.

The UP Rudras earned a couple of penalty corners with five minutes left in the game but failed to capitalise. Soon after, Hardik Singh initiated a counterattack and passed it to Akashdeep Singh. He made it 3-0 for the UP Rudras with a blistering reverse tomahawk.

Soorma Hockey Club’s captain Harmanpreet Singh surged ahead in search of a consolation goal and earned a penalty corner but was unable to keep it on target.

--IANS

bsk/

New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS) “All the hard work that I have put in over the last two years has paid off,” said Sukhjeet Singh, who was a key member of India’s bronze medal-winning men’s hockey team at the Paris Olympics, after getting nominated for the prestigious Arjuna Award. “Winning a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics was a dream come true, and now being nominated for the Arjuna Award is a big achievement for me,” he added.

Sukhjeet’s father, Ajit Singh, who serves as a sub-inspector in the Punjab Police, expressed his happiness over his son's remarkable achievement. He has also appealed to the Chief Minister of Punjab to promote his son to the position of DSP in the Punjab Police.

"I am very happy. I got a call from a friend today. He congratulated me and said, ‘Congratulations to you!’ I was surprised and didn’t know what to say. Sukhjeet has received the Arjuna Award. I immediately congratulated him in return. Twenty minutes later, I got a call from Sukhjeet himself. Before he could say anything, I congratulated him. He asked, ‘How did you know?’ I told him, ‘I got a call from someone’.

"It is a matter of immense joy for us and the family. I would like to thank the Sports Ministry for recognising Sukhjeet’s hard work and nominating him for this prestigious award," he added.

Ajit Singh has urged the Chief Minister of Punjab to appoint his son and another young hockey player, Jarmanpreet Singh, to the position of DSP in the Punjab Police, just as other athletes have been promoted. This, he believes, would enable them to serve the people effectively. "Many players have been promoted to positions like DSP or PCS. I strongly believe he deserves the same recognition,” his father said. “He has made the country and Punjab proud. I request the honourable Chief Minister to promote Sukhjeet to DSP. It would be a fitting acknowledgement of his contributions.”

Sukhjeet’s love for hockey began when he was five years old. Hailing from a humble background in Punjab, he would often join his father, a police officer, on trips to the local hockey ground. “He was so young, but his passion for the game was evident,” recalled his father. “At the time, he had a stick longer than him. He cut it down to size and practiced relentlessly.”

From those early days, Sukhjeet’s journey was one of perseverance. His father, who was deeply involved in his training, increased his practice time after noticing the young boy’s dedication. “Sukhjeet worked extremely hard during his childhood. We focused on his training, food, and diet to ensure he had every opportunity to excel,” his father said.

Sukhjeet’s hard work paid off as he rose through the ranks, representing Punjab and eventually India on the international stage. His crowning moment came at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where India secured a bronze medal in men’s hockey after a series of thrilling matches.

The Arjuna Award is a significant milestone for Sukhjeet, recognising his contributions to the sport and his relentless pursuit of excellence. His family, particularly his father, is overjoyed. “It is a matter of immense pride for our family,” his father shared. “I would like to thank the Sports Ministry for acknowledging players like Sukhjeet with such prestigious awards.”

Looking ahead, Sukhjeet is determined to continue his journey of growth and success. “There’s still so much to achieve,” he said. “The Olympic medal and Arjuna nomination are just the beginning. I want to inspire young players in India to take up hockey and aim for the stars.”

--IANS

hs/bsk/