Sports

New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANSlife) As a part of the 71st Miss World Pageant, the sports challenge for the Miss World Sports/Miss World Sportswoman title was held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on 24th February. During this challenge, the delegates were tested on their fitness, good health, sports skills, and positive mindset.

The top 32 delegates were announced to compete in the sports finals and Luciaja Begic from Croatia claimed the first spot. The Sports Challenge involved competitions in cricket, football shootout, shuttle run, hockey shootout, and 400mtr race. Hockey India, India's national hockey federation, supported the event by providing local women players and coaches to showcase hockey skills and #indiakagame. The All India Football Federation, India's national football body, sent a selected team including coaches to engage with the delegates and represent Indian women in football. Delhi Capitals' academy coaches and women cricket players conducted a clinic and gave guidance on cricket.

As the winner of the Sports Challenge was announced, the Chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organization, Julia Morley CBE, shared, “We are thrilled to announce that Luciaja Begic from Croatia has won the coveted Miss World Sports Challenge this year. She embodies the spirit of fitness, health, and positivity that this competition seeks to highlight. Her dedication and excellence left no doubt that she deserves this honour. Winners like her exemplify why the Miss World Organization remains committed to testing delegates on more than just their outward beauty. We want to celebrate women who are actively bettering themselves in body, mind, and spirit. Congratulations again to our new Miss World Sports Challenge winner!”

The Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, named after India's legendary hockey player, provided the perfect setting for competitive sporting events. As the only international pageant with a dedicated sports challenge, Miss World continues to test delegates on more than just their outward beauty by celebrating fitness, health, and an active lifestyle.

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in

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Ranchi, Feb 26 (IANS) India’s left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav revealed that veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s advice to bowl a little bit quicker, as well as mixing variations with his run-up worked well for him to pick four wickets in bowling out England for 145 in their second innings.

England had a first-innings lead of 46, but Ashwin wreaked havoc with the new ball to pick his 35th five-wicket haul in Tests via a splendid 5-51. He was ably supported by Kuldeep taking a brilliant 4-22. "Ashwin told me to bowl a little bit quicker because the wicket is so slow. I tried that and tried my variations, and mixed up my run-up.

"The wicket was quite slow and the odd one keeping low so I thought that bowling finger spin worked to begin with. But I'm happy with how I bowled, in the end," said Kuldeep in a chat with broadcasters ahead of day four’s play.

Kuldeep was resolute with the bat too, making 28 off 131 balls while sharing a crucial 76-run stand for the eighth wicket with Dhruv Jurel, who made a terrific 90, to help the hosts’ fight back in the match by narrowing the deficit to 46.

"Dhruv Jurel is very composed, he was very calm out there. I have played a lot of cricket with him so we were just thinking about the next ball, not the runs because we were still quite far behind. We just tried to bat for as long as we can yesterday morning," added Kuldeep.

England opener Zak Crawley felt the pitch should do enough for England to seal an unlikely win. "It's a bit warmer today so hopefully the cracks open up, it turns a bit more and only gets harder. We are still in the game."

"We're well up for it. We're going for it. We've got an unbelievable opportunity but everyone's pretty relaxed, we know the pitch will do enough for us so we want to win and we'll do all we can."

On Sunday, in dismissing India for 307 in first innings, Bashir took 5-119, his first-five wicket haul in first-class cricket, which left Crawley impressed. "He's been unbelievable. He's impressed a lot with his attitude, even before he played, he doesn't seem to fazed and it's like he's been around for 10 years."

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Wolverhampton, Feb 26 (IANS) Pablo Sarabia’s goal proved the difference as Wolverhampton Wanderers claimed a 1-0 win over Sheffield United at Molineux.

The Spaniard headed home from Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross after 30 minutes to secure back-to-back wins late on Sunday night and move Gary O’Neil’s men up three places to eighth in the Premier League table.

Wolves controlled the opening stages at Molineux and were on the front foot, dominating possession and tenacious to win the ball back.

Brewster had a shot blocked before his second effort was well saved by Jose Sa, and the forward then fired over after latching on to a flick from Jayden Bogle. Shortly after, James McAtee failed to make the most of a great opportunity, shooting tamely at Sa.

Sheff Utd were left to rue those misses as Wolves made the breakthrough on the half hour. Rayan Ait-Nouri cut back onto his right foot and his cross into the box was met by Sarabia, who glanced his header over Grbic and into the net for his third league goal of the season, Premier League reports.

Wolves had chances to double their lead before the break, but Pedro Neto and then Sarabia blazed shots over the crossbar as it remained 1-0.

Sheff Utd started the second half positively, with Wolves struggling to get going as Sa was again called into action to deny the lively Brewster. But the visitors were leaving spaces at the back, and Sarabia came close to scoring his second goal, unleashing a powerful drive from just outside the area which flew narrowly wide.

Wolves had one final chance to double their lead, with Joao Gomes testing Grbic with a strike from 25 yards out, but they held on for the win which takes them onto 38 points.

Sheff Utd, who lost for the 19th time in the league, remain bottom with 13 points.

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Reigning National champion Velavan Senthilkumar sailed into the quarterfinals of the Pittsburgh Open squash, a prestigious USD 75,800 PSA World Tour Silver event, with an 11-6, 5-11, 11-5, 11-8 win over home favourite and No.8 seed Faraz Khan in a thrilling encounter.

This is the first PSA outing of the year for the 25-year-old Tamil Nadu player, ranked 63 in the world, after a breakout 2023 that saw him win four PSA titles in his first full year as pro.

Senthilkumar took an impressive early lead over the American, and cruised to an 11-6 first-game win. Khan regrouped, showing the World No.63 his strength as he levelled the match at 1-1.

The Indian reacted, storming to a 10-5 lead and Khan struck the tin on his return to put the 25-year-old within a game of his maiden Silver-event quarter-final.

The American pulled ahead in the fourth game as he took a 6-1 lead, but Senthilkumar upped his game, playing quick and accurate squash to level the game at 8-8. The Indian continued his late resurgence and won the fourth game 11-8 to secure the match, ending with a mistake from Khan on the match ball.

"It was really good. First of all, Faraz is a really good player. I’ve seen him play recently and he’s been having some really good results so going into the match I was a bit nervous, but at the same time really excited to be here competing. I was just there, enjoying my squash and enjoying myself," Senthilkumar was quoted by tournament's website.

The Indian ace will meet Egyptian world No 21 Youssef Ibrahim in the quarterfinals.

On achieving his maiden Silver-event quarter-final, he said: "I’m really happy, it’s something that I’ve always pushed for, and I’m always going to keep pushing for it as much as I can.”

"I’m excited to have this opportunity, I’m really happy to be here, and compete another day, and playing (Youssef Ibrahim) is going to be fun, and I’m really looking forward to it."

In the opening round, Senthilkumar beat Japanese Ryunosuke Tsukue 11-2, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8.

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Johannesburg, Feb 9 (IANS) Former cricketer AB de Villiers lavished praise on the U-19 Indian team following their comeback win over hosts South Africa in the semifinal in Benoni earlier this week.

India tamed South Africa to stay on course for a record-extending sixth Under-19 World Cup title. The Uday Saharan-led side beat the Proteas by two wickets to book a spot in the summit clash for the ninth time and fifth time in a row.

The Boys-In-Blue will now face Australia on Sunday after the Hugh Weibgen-led side beat Pakistan by one wicket in a nail-biting thriller in the second semifinal at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, de Villiers expressed his disappointment over South Africa's loss but praised the way Indian team roared back to the victory in the semifinals.

"Yeah, I have been following U19 World Cup. There were two close semifinal matches, especially Australia-Pakistan match. Aussies were nine down but they managed to pull back like they do in big moments. It's good that these guys learnt it from very young age," he said.

"Also India-South Africa game was close. South Africa failed to put the pressure despite taking four early wickets. India made a great comeback and won the semis. That was fantastic. Yeah, it shows...amazing depth India have in cricket. It will be an interesting final."

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New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS) Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer is likely to miss the remaining three Test matches against England due to an injury, says report.

Iyer has complained of stiffness in the back and pain in the groin area and he Iyer will be sent to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore for further tests, an Indian Express report said.

While the entire squad's playing kits for the second Test were flown directly from Vizag to Rajkot, the venue of the third Test which starts on February 15, Iyer's equipment was specifically sent to his home in Mumbai.

"Iyer has informed the Indian team management and the medical staff that his back gets stiff after playing more than 30 balls and he feels pain in his groin while playing forward defence. Post surgery, he is facing this issue for the first time so he has been advised to rest for a few weeks. He will head to NCA later," a source told The Indian Express.

Iyer has recorded the scores of 35, 13, 27, 29 across the first two Tests played in Hyderabad and Vizag.

The selection committee is expected to announce the India squad for the remaining matches of the five-match series on Friday. If Iyer is indeed excluded, the selectors will need to decide on his replacement.

Team India, which is on a short break, has been expected to assemble in Rajkot on February 11 with training likely to resume the following day.

--IANS

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Dallas (US), Feb 9 (IANS) Top seed Frances Tiafoe registered 6-4, 6-3 victory over fellow American Alex Michelsen to reach the Dallas Open quarterfinals.

Tiafoe, who last year cracked the Top 10 in the ATP Rankings, brought out all his tricks in his opening match at the ATP 250 event. He combatted the awkward baseline game Michelsen with an all-court performance.

Late in the second set, he even purposely carved a backhand drop volley with so much backspin, it bounced back to his side of the court.

“It was incredible. You guys really enjoyed yourself, I really enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun. I really love this city, I have a tonne of fun here. You guys really showed me a lot of love tonight, so I appreciate it," Tiafoe said in his on-court interview.

According to ATP Stats, Tiafoe won 52 per cent of his return points and converted five of his eight break points. He will next play another countryman in Marcos Giron, against whom he owns a 3-1 ATP Head-to-Head advantage.

In other action, seventh seed Jordan Thompson cruised past lucky loser Denis Kudla 6-1, 6-1. The Australian will try to slow down the big-serving game of third seed Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals.

German lefty Dominik Koepfer also advanced with a 6-3, 7-6(5), victory over Australian Rinky Hijikata. Koepfer will next challenge second seed Tommy Paul.

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Al Rawdah, Feb 9 (IANS) No.1 seed Elena Rybakina defeated American Danielle Collins in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Open, coming from a set and a break down for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win in 2 hours and 17 minutes.

Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina has made the last eight every time she has played in Abu Dhabi. She fell at that stage to Aryna Sabalenka in 2021 and to Beatriz Haddad Maia last year.

The Kazakhstani will have the opportunity to break through to her first semifinal here against lucky loser Cristina Bucsa, who edged qualifier Heather Watson 7-6(7-1), 7-5 to reach her first tour-level quarterfinal.

Collins delivered a high-octane first set and sealed an early break lead in the second set, but Rybakina responded with an immediate break back. She was still not in full flow, though, and netted an attempted drop shot to drop serve again and fall behind 3-2, WTA reports.

A four-deuce tussle on the Collins serve followed and would prove to be the turning point. Rybakina converted her fourth break point to level at 3-3.

Rybakina and Collins exchanged two tight service breaks at the start of the decider. But it was Rybakina who made the breakthrough in the fifth game, finding a backhand pass to break for 3-2.

Collins's intensity was ebbing at last -- the World No.71's ratio had tipped to 16 winners and 22 unforced errors in the last two sets, while Rybakina had found 20 winners to 12 unforced errors in the same passage of play. Landing deep returns to draw errors from Collins, Rybakina broke again to seal victory.

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"That’s all I can do is wish him well and I think the whole world that follows Virat and that enjoys his cricket, must just wish him well, and whatever the reason is for this break. Really hope that he comes back stronger, better, healthier, and fresh," the former South African batter told IANS.

Earlier, de Villiers had said that Kohli's second child is on the way and it's family time and things are important to him. It did not go down well with the Indian cricket fans and they lambasted Kohli for giving the England series a miss.

However, now the South African changed his statement and tried to pacify the situation. As per latest reports, Kohli's absence in the England series is set to be extended, with the senior India batter expected to miss the third and fourth Tests in Rajkot and Ranchi, respectively.

It was on January 22, three days before the start of the England series, that the BCCI announced that Kohli had pulled out of the first two Tests for "personal reasons".

It will be interesting to see when the selectors announce the team for the next match. And will the BCCI share the "true information" related to Kohli.

--IANS

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Indore, Jan 14 (IANS) Brilliant fifties from Yashasvi Jaiswal (68) and Shivam Dube (63 not out) guided Team India to a stunning 6 wickets win (with 26 balls remaining) over Afghanistan to seal an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the 3-match series, here on Sunday.

The Men-in-Blue chased down 173 runs in just 15.4 overs.

Virat Kohli, who returned to the T20I side for the first time in 14 months, played a short but entertaining innings by scoring 29 off 16 balls.

Arshdeep Singh (3/32) and Axar Patel (2/17) stood out with the ball after captain Rohit Sharma, featuring in a record-setting 150th international in T20Is, won the toss and opted to bowl.

India restricted Afghanistan to a par total despite a quickfire fifty from Gulbadin Naib (57).

Rohit got out for a duck for the second successive time in the series, but the comeback man bagged series victory on his return to the shortest format of the game.

The hosts will look to complete a clean sweep when they take on Afghanistan in the final T20I in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

--IANS

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