'My name has always been Ilhan Omar': Congresswoman hits back at Trump, calls him a 'creep'

Gravitas | US attack could trigger WW III: Russian planes in Tehran, Israeli jets, US warships in action

Viral video shows cross falling on Colombia priest, no official confirmation | WATCH

US Navy, Marine Corps boards defy Trump's transgender military ban, vote to retain troops

Will the US attack Iran this weekend? Trump's envoy says, 'absolutely'

Fauzi teaser out: Prabhas takes on the British Empire in patriotic avatar | Watch

India-China face-off continues near Arunachal’s Taksing, reveals ITBP chief in first official confirmation of tensions

Nairobi building collapse: Several feared trapped after 16-storey structure crumbles; rescue operation underway

Pakistan airline PIA unveils new crew uniforms, faces online criticism

Did Neha Bora call for Bangladesh-like GenZ protest, 'anarchy' in India? WION Fact-checks viral claim

Scientists make digital nose that can sniff and send scents over the internet

'Already tired of his 9-to-5': Baby born with a moustache becomes internet sensation, video goes viral | Watch

Horrific video shows the moment 18-year-old fell to her death from Mexico amusement park ride

'Black triangle' UFO flying at 1,800mph spotted over sensitive US site: Latest Trump admin UFO file dump

IND-W vs ZIM-W, 1st ODI: Rawal, Charani star in India’s nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe

Massive 7.2 magnitude quake off Vanuatu triggers tsunami warning for coasts within 300 km

Microsoft AI diagnoses complex medical cases more than twice as accurately as doctors, study finds

Google Fitbit Air’s new health guardian feature tracks trends: How it works

US midterms 2026: Trump revises Canada tariffs as Susan Collins faces tight re-election race in Maine

US midterms 2026: Viral video claims Lindsey Graham paid underage men for sex; clip released weeks before his sister's Senate race

IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: Shreyas Iyer on brink of breaking Rohit Sharma’s record

AI deepfakes are spreading online: Why is removing them so difficult?

China's dancing robot turns violent bodyguard, lifts cars and fights intruders - Watch

Global cybersecurity alert: PHP flaws trigger website shutdowns as hack attempts surge into millions

'You’re a horrible little reporter, aren’t you?': Trump snaps at NBC reporter questioning his support for Ramaswamy's campaign ad

Chemical warehouse explosion in Mexico: Several injured in multiple blasts, 1,000 evacuated in León

US charges two former FBI officials with lying to Congress about Hunter Biden probes. 'Politically motivated' Trump grievance or something else?

New Friday OTT releases (October 23, 2026): Gajab Raat, Dorothy, Chaar Yaar- Watch these 6 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more

Anthropic security chief issues grim cyberattack warning: ‘It’s going to get a lot worse’

Tu Hai Meri Kiran film review: Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal's thriller gets tangled in its own twists

First Lady Melania Trump secures ceasefire between Russia, Ukraine in Oleshky: White House

Jenna Ortega plans TV break after Wednesday: ‘I want to leave time for new things’

Emmanuel Macron calls Paris suburb shooting a 'racist terrorist attack' after one killed, several injured

The 8th Elite Women&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/national-boxing-championship">National Boxing Championship</a>, set to commence on March 21 in Greater Noida, is embroiled in controversy following allegations of political interference preventing boxers from competing. The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/boxing-federation-of-india">Boxing Federation of India</a> (BFI) has accused suspended BFI secretary general Hemanta Kalita, of discouraging athletes from participating, raising concerns about politics affecting the sport.
During an 'emergency' press conference, BFI President Ajay Singh condemned the reported actions of suspended BFI secretary General Hemanta Kalita, who allegedly instructed Assam&rsquo;s top boxers, including Olympic bronze medalist <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lovlina-borgohain">Lovlina Borgohain</a>, to withdraw from the competition. Singh stressed that such interference undermines the careers of hardworking athletes who have dedicated years to training and competition.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-it-is-a-challenge-admits-mi-coach-mahela-jayawardene-on-jasprit-bumrah-missing-initial-games-8869526">IPL 2025 | 'It is a challenge', admits MI coach Mahela Jayawardene on Jasprit Bumrah missing initial games</a>
&ldquo;This championship is a critical pathway for boxers aiming for national team selection. Preventing participation not only affects individual careers but also weakens India&rsquo;s representation on the global stage,&rdquo; Singh said.
To support affected athletes, the BFI has assured full assistance, including covering travel and accommodation costs for those facing difficulties. Additionally, a dedicated helpline (7003191553) has been launched to facilitate boxer participation and report any obstruction.
<h2>Financial irregularities &amp; disciplinary action</h2>
The controversy surrounding the championship follows the recent suspension of Kalita and BFI treasurer Digvijay Singh over serious allegations of financial misconduct. An independent inquiry, led by Justice (Retd.) Sudhir Kumar Jain, found the duo guilty of unauthorised fund withdrawals, fraudulent billing, and mismanagement of federation resources. The investigation was initiated based on complaints of procedural violations, including work order allocations without tenders and inflated budget approvals.
"In light of the gravity of the findings and to ensure the integrity and transparency of the Federation's operations, it has been decided to suspend you both from your respective positions as secretary general and treasurer of the Boxing Federation of India with immediate effect. You are hereby restrained from performing any duties or exercising any authority in these capacities," a letter from Singh to Kalita read.
In response, the BFI leadership has forwarded the inquiry&rsquo;s findings to government authorities, who are deliberating on potential legal actions. While the future course of action remains uncertain, Singh emphasised that integrity and transparency are paramount to the federation&rsquo;s governance.
<h2>BFI elections</h2>
The ongoing disputes coincide with the upcoming BFI elections on March 28, in which Kalita&rsquo;s rejected presidential nomination has fueled further tensions. Despite internal conflicts, the election process is being overseen independently, ensuring fairness in leadership selection.
Amid the turmoil, the National Championships remain a crucial event for young and experienced boxers alike. Organisers have received entries from 22 states, and efforts are underway to ensure maximum participation.
As the championship approaches, Singh issued a stern warning to state federations, emphasising that any attempt to hinder players from competing will face consequences. The coming days will determine whether sportsmanship prevails over politics, allowing India&rsquo;s talented boxers to showcase their skills on the national stage.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports: To support affected athletes, the BFI has assured full assistance, including covering travel and accommodation costs for those facing difficulties

The 8th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championship, set to commence on March 21 in Greater Noida, is embroiled in controversy following allegations of political interference preventing boxers from competing. The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has accused suspended BFI secretary general Hemanta Kalita, of discouraging athletes from participating, raising concerns about politics affecting the sport. During an 'emergency' press conference, BFI President Ajay Singh condemned the reported actions of suspended BFI secretary General Hemanta Kalita, who allegedly instructed Assam’s top boxers, including Olympic bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain, to withdraw from the competition. Singh stressed that such interference undermines the careers of hardworking athletes who have dedicated years to training and competition. Also Read: IPL 2025 | 'It is a challenge', admits MI coach Mahela Jayawardene on Jasprit Bumrah missing initial games “This championship is a critical pathway for boxers aiming for national team selection. Preventing participation not only affects individual careers but also weakens India’s representation on the global stage,” Singh said. To support affected athletes, the BFI has assured full assistance, including covering travel and accommodation costs for those facing difficulties. Additionally, a dedicated helpline (7003191553) has been launched to facilitate boxer participation and report any obstruction. Financial irregularities & disciplinary action The controversy surrounding the championship follows the recent suspension of Kalita and BFI treasurer Digvijay Singh over serious allegations of financial misconduct. An independent inquiry, led by Justice (Retd.) Sudhir Kumar Jain, found the duo guilty of unauthorised fund withdrawals, fraudulent billing, and mismanagement of federation resources. The investigation was initiated based on complaints of procedural violations, including work order allocations without tenders and inflated budget approvals. "In light of the gravity of the findings and to ensure the integrity and transparency of the Federation's operations, it has been decided to suspend you both from your respective positions as secretary general and treasurer of the Boxing Federation of India with immediate effect. You are hereby restrained from performing any duties or exercising any authority in these capacities," a letter from Singh to Kalita read. In response, the BFI leadership has forwarded the inquiry’s findings to government authorities, who are deliberating on potential legal actions. While the future course of action remains uncertain, Singh emphasised that integrity and transparency are paramount to the federation’s governance. BFI elections The ongoing disputes coincide with the upcoming BFI elections on March 28, in which Kalita’s rejected presidential nomination has fueled further tensions. Despite internal conflicts, the election process is being overseen independently, ensuring fairness in leadership selection. Amid the turmoil, the National Championships remain a crucial event for young and experienced boxers alike. Organisers have received entries from 22 states, and efforts are underway to ensure maximum participation. As the championship approaches, Singh issued a stern warning to state federations, emphasising that any attempt to hinder players from competing will face consequences. The coming days will determine whether sportsmanship prevails over politics, allowing India’s talented boxers to showcase their skills on the national stage. (With inputs from agencies)

Assam boxers, including Lovlina, being stopped from competing in Nationals: BFI chief

PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue:&nbsp;India's PV Sindhu will kickstart her Swiss Open 2025 campaign on Wednesday (Mar 19) as she takes on Julie Dawall Jakobsen of Denmark. The match taking place at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel could be a launching pad for Sindhu having lost in the Round of 32 at the All England Open last week. Ahead of Sindhu's opening contest against Jakobsen, here are all the details of the clash.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Where to watch PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match on TV?</h2>
PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match will be telecast on Star Sports and Sports 18 Network in India.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Where to watch PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match Live Streaming online on OTT?</h2>
PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Which stadium will host PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match?</h2>
PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match will be played at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What time will PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match?</h2>
PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match will start at 1:50 PM local time (7:20 PM IST) on Wednesday (Mar 19).&nbsp;
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-kkr-vs-lsg-on-april-6-likely-to-be-rescheduled-due-to-security-concerns-8867263" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IPL 2025: KKR vs LSG on April 6 likely to be rescheduled due to security concerns</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Can Sindhu bounce back?</h2>
Having returned empty-handed during the Paris Olympics 2024, Sindhu has so far encountered a tough campaign in 2025. Her early exit in the All England Open came after she had won the opening game of the R32 contest. Sindhu also lost at the same stage in the Indonesian Masters while her best run came in the Indian Open 750 when she reached the quarterfinal.&nbsp;

Sports: India's PV Sindhu will kickstart her Swiss Open 2025 campaign on Wednesday (Mar 19) as she takes on Julie Dawall Jakobsen of Denmark.

PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: India's PV Sindhu will kickstart her Swiss Open 2025 campaign on Wednesday (Mar 19) as she takes on Julie Dawall Jakobsen of Denmark. The match taking place at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel could be a launching pad for Sindhu having lost in the Round of 32 at the All England Open last week. Ahead of Sindhu's opening contest against Jakobsen, here are all the details of the clash. Where to watch PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match on TV? PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match will be telecast on Star Sports and Sports 18 Network in India. Where to watch PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match Live Streaming online on OTT? PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. Which stadium will host PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match? PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match will be played at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel. What time will PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match? PV Sindhu R32 Swiss Open 2025 match will start at 1:50 PM local time (7:20 PM IST) on Wednesday (Mar 19). ALSO READ | IPL 2025: KKR vs LSG on April 6 likely to be rescheduled due to security concerns Can Sindhu bounce back? Having returned empty-handed during the Paris Olympics 2024, Sindhu has so far encountered a tough campaign in 2025. Her early exit in the All England Open came after she had won the opening game of the R32 contest. Sindhu also lost at the same stage in the Indonesian Masters while her best run came in the Indian Open 750 when she reached the quarterfinal.

Swiss Open 2025 badminton live streaming: Where to watch PV Sindhu in action on TV, live streaming and other key details

Atlanta Hawks star Dyson Daniels has rewritten National Basketball Association (NBA) record books after he recorded his latest steal in the 134-102 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday (Mar 18). The latest feat sees him become the man with the highest steals in a season in the last 15 years with 194, surpassing Chris Paul who would go on to record 216 in the 2008-09 season. This also means he averages three steals per match, the most by any player. With 13 games of the NBA regular season and Playoffs to follow he is likely to achieve more.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Dyson Daniels rewrites record books</h2>
Playing for the Hawks against Hornets, Daniels started his day with 191 steals to his name before the defender added three more to his tally. The dominating win also saw the Hawks take another step towards the playoffs of the NBA 2024-25 season. However, it is unlikely that Daniels will break the all time record of Alvin Robertson who stands with 301 steals in a season when he recorded the feat in 1985-86 campaign.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Most steals in Single</h2>
1. Alvin Robertson - 301 steals in 1985-86
2. Don Buse - 281 steals in 1976-77
3. Michael Ray Richardson - 265 steals in 1979-80
4. John Stockton - 263 steals in 1988-89
5. Slick Watts - 261 steals in 1975-76
85. Dyson Daniels - 194* steals in 2024-25
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-kkr-vs-lsg-on-april-6-likely-to-be-rescheduled-due-to-security-concerns-8867263" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IPL 2025: KKR vs LSG on April 6 likely to be rescheduled due to security concerns</a>
When it comes to the average steals, Daniels leads the chart in a big way as he averages 3 per game. His nearest competitor is Kris Dunn of the Los Angeles Lakers as he comes with stats of 1.8 per game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić are also on 1.8 steals per game, keeping them at an arm&rsquo;s length from Daniels.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Steals Per Game in NBA 2024-25 season</h2>
1. Dyson Daniels (ATL) - 3.0
2. Kris Dunn (LAC) - 1.8
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) - 1.8
4. Nikola Jokić (DEN) - 1.8
5. Tyrese Maxey (PHI) - 1.8

Sports, NBA: Atlanta Hawks star Dyson Daniels has rewritten National Basketball Association (NBA) record books after he recorded his latest steal in the 134-102 win.

Atlanta Hawks star Dyson Daniels has rewritten National Basketball Association (NBA) record books after he recorded his latest steal in the 134-102 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday (Mar 18). The latest feat sees him become the man with the highest steals in a season in the last 15 years with 194, surpassing Chris Paul who would go on to record 216 in the 2008-09 season. This also means he averages three steals per match, the most by any player. With 13 games of the NBA regular season and Playoffs to follow he is likely to achieve more. Dyson Daniels rewrites record books Playing for the Hawks against Hornets, Daniels started his day with 191 steals to his name before the defender added three more to his tally. The dominating win also saw the Hawks take another step towards the playoffs of the NBA 2024-25 season. However, it is unlikely that Daniels will break the all time record of Alvin Robertson who stands with 301 steals in a season when he recorded the feat in 1985-86 campaign. Most steals in Single 1. Alvin Robertson - 301 steals in 1985-86 2. Don Buse - 281 steals in 1976-77 3. Michael Ray Richardson - 265 steals in 1979-80 4. John Stockton - 263 steals in 1988-89 5. Slick Watts - 261 steals in 1975-76 85. Dyson Daniels - 194* steals in 2024-25 ALSO READ | IPL 2025: KKR vs LSG on April 6 likely to be rescheduled due to security concerns When it comes to the average steals, Daniels leads the chart in a big way as he averages 3 per game. His nearest competitor is Kris Dunn of the Los Angeles Lakers as he comes with stats of 1.8 per game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić are also on 1.8 steals per game, keeping them at an arm’s length from Daniels. Steals Per Game in NBA 2024-25 season 1. Dyson Daniels (ATL) - 3.0 2. Kris Dunn (LAC) - 1.8 3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) - 1.8 4. Nikola Jokić (DEN) - 1.8 5. Tyrese Maxey (PHI) - 1.8

Atlanta Hawks' Dyson Daniels rewrites NBA record books with THIS sensational feat against Charlotte Hornets

Green Bay Packers have added three-time Super Bowl champion Mecole Hardman as he signs a one-year deal with the side. After an announcement was made on Tuesday (Mar 18), Hardman will be eager to take his side to glory as he looks to add one more title to his trophy cabinet. But who is Hardman and why his latest move is making the rounds, here&rsquo;s a brief insight.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Who is Mecole Hardman?</h2>
A wide receiver and return specialist, the 27-year-old has already pocketed three Super Bowl titles having won the prestigious trophy with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft having kickstarted his college football career with Georgia Bulldogs.
After a brief stint with the New York Jets in 2023, Hardman returned to the NFL with a chance to become the Packers' first true No. 1 receiver since Davante Adams' departure. In his four-year career with the Chiefs, he averaged over 500 yards per season and caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl 58. His arrival could provide a much-needed spark for a Packers offense that struggles without a standout receiver.
In Super Bowl LVIII, Hardman scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-kkr-vs-lsg-on-april-6-likely-to-be-rescheduled-due-to-security-concerns-8867263" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IPL 2025: KKR vs LSG on April 6 likely to be rescheduled due to security concerns</a>
After helping Andy Reid's men win two Super Bowls, Hardman was let go by Kansas City at the end of the 2022 campaign. He moved to New York to sign with the Jets but his time at MetLife Stadium proved short-lived when he lost his starting spot to two rookie wide receivers and swiftly requested a trade.
Hardman is engaged to Chariah Gordon, who was spotted in the stands to support the NFL star on multiple occasions. After Hardman&rsquo;s move to the Green Bay Packers, Gordon took to social media and posted, &ldquo;I'm really going to miss y'all&rdquo; on her Instagram account.

Sports, NFL: After an announcement was made on Tuesday (Mar 18), Mecole Hardman will be eager to take Green Bay Packers to glory as he looks to add one more title.

Green Bay Packers have added three-time Super Bowl champion Mecole Hardman as he signs a one-year deal with the side. After an announcement was made on Tuesday (Mar 18), Hardman will be eager to take his side to glory as he looks to add one more title to his trophy cabinet. But who is Hardman and why his latest move is making the rounds, here’s a brief insight. Who is Mecole Hardman? A wide receiver and return specialist, the 27-year-old has already pocketed three Super Bowl titles having won the prestigious trophy with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft having kickstarted his college football career with Georgia Bulldogs. After a brief stint with the New York Jets in 2023, Hardman returned to the NFL with a chance to become the Packers' first true No. 1 receiver since Davante Adams' departure. In his four-year career with the Chiefs, he averaged over 500 yards per season and caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl 58. His arrival could provide a much-needed spark for a Packers offense that struggles without a standout receiver. In Super Bowl LVIII, Hardman scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime. ALSO READ | IPL 2025: KKR vs LSG on April 6 likely to be rescheduled due to security concerns After helping Andy Reid's men win two Super Bowls, Hardman was let go by Kansas City at the end of the 2022 campaign. He moved to New York to sign with the Jets but his time at MetLife Stadium proved short-lived when he lost his starting spot to two rookie wide receivers and swiftly requested a trade. Hardman is engaged to Chariah Gordon, who was spotted in the stands to support the NFL star on multiple occasions. After Hardman’s move to the Green Bay Packers, Gordon took to social media and posted, “I'm really going to miss y'all” on her Instagram account.

Meet Mecole Hardman, three-time Super Bowl champion who signs for Green Bay Packers

Shohei Ohtani admitted he was 'nervous' playing in front of a packed Tokyo crowd as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/los-angeles-dodgers" rel="dofollow">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> started the new Major League Baseball season with a win on Tuesday.
The Japanese baseball superstar delivered two important hits as the World Series champion Dodgers beat the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chicago-cubs">Chicago Cubs</a> 4-1 in front of over 40,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome.
But <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shohei-ohtani">Shohei Ohtani</a>, a national hero in Japan, said he needed time to feel his way into his first MLB regular-season game in his home country.
"It's been a while since I've been this nervous playing a game," the 30-year-old said.&nbsp;"It took me a couple of at-bats to get into it but I was glad that I was able to do well in the later part of the game."
The series has been eagerly anticipated for months in Japan and excitement was at fever pitch at the start of the game.&nbsp;Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the occasion left its mark on the normally ice-cool Ohtani.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bcci-considering-flexible-policy-on-players-families-travelling-during-tours-reports-8866765" rel="dofollow">BCCI considering flexible policy on players&rsquo; families travelling during tours: Reports</a>
"I don't think I've ever seen Shohei nervous, but one thing I did notice was how emotional he got during the Japanese national anthem," Roberts said.
"That was telling."
The Dodgers' Japanese starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out four batters in five innings to come out on top in his duel with Chicago counterpart Shota Imanaga.&nbsp;It was the first time two Japanese starting pitchers had ever gone head to head on MLB's opening day.
"The demeanour he has on the mound, even if he gives up a run he's still calm," Ohtani said of Yamamoto.&nbsp;"He was able to grow into the game."
The action got underway after a Pokemon-themed opening ceremony that featured an appearance by Japanese world champion boxer Naoya Inoue.&nbsp;Ohtani stepped up to the plate to start the game but the first pitch whistled past him for a strike before he grounded out to first base.
The Cubs had taken a one-run lead by the time Ohtani came back to bat and he again failed to get a hit, lining out to second baseman Jon Berti.
<h2>Ohtani sparks Dodgers</h2>
Ohtani got his first hit off reliever Ben Brown and it gave the Dodgers the spark they needed as they scored three runs in the fifth inning to take the lead.&nbsp;Ohtani struck out in his fourth at-bat but got another hit in his fifth as the Dodgers added another run.
"The biggest challenge was that I had only ever used the home team's clubhouse at Tokyo Dome, never the away side's," said Ohtani.&nbsp;"That meant I didn't have access to the batting cage that I like but I think I was able to deal with it."
Imanaga pitched four hitless innings but the Cubs fell apart when he was relieved by Brown.&nbsp;"I had two missions for the game -- one was to play well and the other was for the team to win," said Imanaga.
"I accomplished the first but not the second, so I want to take what I can from this game back to the US and work on it."
Hitter Seiya Suzuki also appeared for the Cubs to give the Tokyo crowd a fourth Japanese player to cheer on.&nbsp;The Dodgers were missing Mookie Betts and World Series MVP Freddie Freeman.&nbsp;Betts was sent home to LA on Monday after struggling with flu-like symptoms throughout the Tokyo trip, while Freeman was scratched from the starting line-up half an hour before the game with a sore rib.
"We'll see how he comes in tomorrow," Roberts said of Freeman.&nbsp;"Right now, not too concerned."
The Dodgers and Cubs play the second game of their season-opening series in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Sports: The Japanese baseball superstar delivered two important hits as the World Series champion Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 in front of over 40,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome

Shohei Ohtani admitted he was 'nervous' playing in front of a packed Tokyo crowd as the Los Angeles Dodgers started the new Major League Baseball season with a win on Tuesday. The Japanese baseball superstar delivered two important hits as the World Series champion Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 in front of over 40,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome. But Shohei Ohtani, a national hero in Japan, said he needed time to feel his way into his first MLB regular-season game in his home country. "It's been a while since I've been this nervous playing a game," the 30-year-old said. "It took me a couple of at-bats to get into it but I was glad that I was able to do well in the later part of the game." The series has been eagerly anticipated for months in Japan and excitement was at fever pitch at the start of the game. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the occasion left its mark on the normally ice-cool Ohtani. Also Read: BCCI considering flexible policy on players’ families travelling during tours: Reports "I don't think I've ever seen Shohei nervous, but one thing I did notice was how emotional he got during the Japanese national anthem," Roberts said. "That was telling." The Dodgers' Japanese starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out four batters in five innings to come out on top in his duel with Chicago counterpart Shota Imanaga. It was the first time two Japanese starting pitchers had ever gone head to head on MLB's opening day. "The demeanour he has on the mound, even if he gives up a run he's still calm," Ohtani said of Yamamoto. "He was able to grow into the game." The action got underway after a Pokemon-themed opening ceremony that featured an appearance by Japanese world champion boxer Naoya Inoue. Ohtani stepped up to the plate to start the game but the first pitch whistled past him for a strike before he grounded out to first base. The Cubs had taken a one-run lead by the time Ohtani came back to bat and he again failed to get a hit, lining out to second baseman Jon Berti. Ohtani sparks Dodgers Ohtani got his first hit off reliever Ben Brown and it gave the Dodgers the spark they needed as they scored three runs in the fifth inning to take the lead. Ohtani struck out in his fourth at-bat but got another hit in his fifth as the Dodgers added another run. "The biggest challenge was that I had only ever used the home team's clubhouse at Tokyo Dome, never the away side's," said Ohtani. "That meant I didn't have access to the batting cage that I like but I think I was able to deal with it." Imanaga pitched four hitless innings but the Cubs fell apart when he was relieved by Brown. "I had two missions for the game -- one was to play well and the other was for the team to win," said Imanaga. "I accomplished the first but not the second, so I want to take what I can from this game back to the US and work on it." Hitter Seiya Suzuki also appeared for the Cubs to give the Tokyo crowd a fourth Japanese player to cheer on. The Dodgers were missing Mookie Betts and World Series MVP Freddie Freeman. Betts was sent home to LA on Monday after struggling with flu-like symptoms throughout the Tokyo trip, while Freeman was scratched from the starting line-up half an hour before the game with a sore rib. "We'll see how he comes in tomorrow," Roberts said of Freeman. "Right now, not too concerned." The Dodgers and Cubs play the second game of their season-opening series in Tokyo on Wednesday. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

'Nervous' Ohtani leads Los Angeles Dodgers to MLB season-opening win over Chicago Cubs

Leon Edwards is all set to take on Sean Brady in a thrilling showdown in the welterweight division, pitting the reigning champion against a rising contender on Saturday (Mar 22) at the O2 Arena in London. Edwards, known for his elite striking, technical prowess, and well-rounded skill set, will look to defend his title and solidify his reign at the top. Meanwhile, Brady, an undefeated grappling specialist with relentless pressure, seeks to make a statement by dethroning the champ.
This clash of styles&mdash;Edwards&rsquo; precision striking versus Brady&rsquo;s suffocating ground game&mdash;promises fireworks. With high stakes and championship gold on the line, fight fans can expect an intense battle inside the Octagon. So who exactly is Leon Edwards and why is he making rounds, here&rsquo;s all you need to know about him.
Leon "Rocky" Edwards, born on August 25, 1991, in Kingston, Jamaica, is a distinguished English mixed martial artist known for his success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Competing in the welterweight division, he held the UFC Welterweight Championship from 2022 to 2024.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Early Life of Edwards</h2>
Growing up in Kingston, Edwards faced significant hardships, including exposure to crime and the tragic loss of his father in 2004. At the age of nine, he moved to Birmingham, England, where he encountered further challenges and became involved in criminal activities during his teenage years. However, a turning point came when his mother encouraged him to join an MMA gym at 17, setting him on a path away from trouble and toward a successful fighting career.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/know-why-bcci-has-asked-all-ten-ipl-captains-to-gather-in-mumbai-ahead-of-ipl-2025-8863368" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Know why BCCI has asked all ten IPL captains to gather ahead of IPL 2025</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Leon Edwards vs Sean Brady insights</h2>
Leon Edwards (22-4-0, 1 NC): Standing at 6'2" with a 74-inch reach, he employs effective lateral movement, varied kicks, and precise jabs. His clinch work is notable, utilising elbows and knees to disrupt opponents.
Sean Brady (17-1-0): Brady is recognised for his grappling dominance. At 5'10" with a 72-inch reach, he excels in offensive wrestling, averaging 3.49 takedowns per 15 minutes with a 52 per cent accuracy rate. His ability to maintain control on the ground poses significant challenges for his opponents.

Sports: Leon Edwards, known for his elite striking, technical prowess, and well-rounded skill set, will look to defend his title and solidify his reign at the top.

Leon Edwards is all set to take on Sean Brady in a thrilling showdown in the welterweight division, pitting the reigning champion against a rising contender on Saturday (Mar 22) at the O2 Arena in London. Edwards, known for his elite striking, technical prowess, and well-rounded skill set, will look to defend his title and solidify his reign at the top. Meanwhile, Brady, an undefeated grappling specialist with relentless pressure, seeks to make a statement by dethroning the champ. This clash of styles—Edwards’ precision striking versus Brady’s suffocating ground game—promises fireworks. With high stakes and championship gold on the line, fight fans can expect an intense battle inside the Octagon. So who exactly is Leon Edwards and why is he making rounds, here’s all you need to know about him. Leon "Rocky" Edwards, born on August 25, 1991, in Kingston, Jamaica, is a distinguished English mixed martial artist known for his success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Competing in the welterweight division, he held the UFC Welterweight Championship from 2022 to 2024. Early Life of Edwards Growing up in Kingston, Edwards faced significant hardships, including exposure to crime and the tragic loss of his father in 2004. At the age of nine, he moved to Birmingham, England, where he encountered further challenges and became involved in criminal activities during his teenage years. However, a turning point came when his mother encouraged him to join an MMA gym at 17, setting him on a path away from trouble and toward a successful fighting career. ALSO READ | Know why BCCI has asked all ten IPL captains to gather ahead of IPL 2025 Leon Edwards vs Sean Brady insights Leon Edwards (22-4-0, 1 NC): Standing at 6'2" with a 74-inch reach, he employs effective lateral movement, varied kicks, and precise jabs. His clinch work is notable, utilising elbows and knees to disrupt opponents. Sean Brady (17-1-0): Brady is recognised for his grappling dominance. At 5'10" with a 72-inch reach, he excels in offensive wrestling, averaging 3.49 takedowns per 15 minutes with a 52 per cent accuracy rate. His ability to maintain control on the ground poses significant challenges for his opponents.

Meet Leon Edwards, former UFC welterweight champion who was once involved in drug dealing

One of the greatest cricketers of his generation, India&rsquo;s Virat Kohli has seen his stock increase in recent years as he continues to flourish on the field.
With a staggering fan following of more than 270 million followers, the Indian cricketer has been earning millions which has seen him become one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.
His wealth is so much that he can buy a whopping 92 Bugatti Veyrons or a waterfront palace in Sydney.
So what amount does the former India captain pocket? Let us decode in detail.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Virat Kohli's net worth</h2>
According to a report from Sportskeeda, Virat has a whopping net worth of 10.05 billion rupees ($121 million) as of 2024.
This includes money from his cricket performance and related bonuses while a major share comes from his endorsements and advertisements.
Kohli is a Grade A+ player under the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), earning approximately INR 70 million (around $850,000) annually from his national contract.
On the other hand, he receives a big match fee for playing with Team India.
As revealed in his contract, he earns INR 15 lakhs ($17,000) per Test matches, INR 6 lakhs ($6,900) for One Day Internationals (ODIs) and INR 3 lakhs ($3,450) for T20I matches. The amount does not include bonuses that came after winning the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the Champions Trophy in 2025.
When it comes to the Indian Premier League (IPL), he earns a remarkable INR 210 million ($1.4 million) for eight weeks of action. This amount does not include bonuses and other related dividends.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/know-why-bcci-has-asked-all-ten-ipl-captains-to-gather-in-mumbai-ahead-of-ipl-2025-8863368" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Know why BCCI has asked all ten IPL captains to gather ahead of IPL 2025</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Virat in the world of business</h2>
Virat owns a fashion label called Wrogn, which has gained popularity over the years. He has invested in a chain of gyms named Chisel and co-owns a restaurant chain called One8 Commune. Additionally, he is involved in several startups and has invested in tech companies and other ventures.
Virat owns a luxurious apartment in Mumbai's Worli area, which he bought in 2016 for around INR 340 million ($3.9 million).
The former RCB captain also has a house in the upmarket DLF Phase-1 area in Gurugram, which he bought in 2015 for around INR 800 million ($9.23 million).

Sports, Cricket: One of the greatest cricketers of his generation, India’s Virat Kohli has seen his stock increase in recent years as he continues to flourish on the field.

One of the greatest cricketers of his generation, India’s Virat Kohli has seen his stock increase in recent years as he continues to flourish on the field. With a staggering fan following of more than 270 million followers, the Indian cricketer has been earning millions which has seen him become one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. His wealth is so much that he can buy a whopping 92 Bugatti Veyrons or a waterfront palace in Sydney. So what amount does the former India captain pocket? Let us decode in detail. Virat Kohli's net worth According to a report from Sportskeeda, Virat has a whopping net worth of 10.05 billion rupees ($121 million) as of 2024. This includes money from his cricket performance and related bonuses while a major share comes from his endorsements and advertisements. Kohli is a Grade A+ player under the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), earning approximately INR 70 million (around $850,000) annually from his national contract. On the other hand, he receives a big match fee for playing with Team India. As revealed in his contract, he earns INR 15 lakhs ($17,000) per Test matches, INR 6 lakhs ($6,900) for One Day Internationals (ODIs) and INR 3 lakhs ($3,450) for T20I matches. The amount does not include bonuses that came after winning the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the Champions Trophy in 2025. When it comes to the Indian Premier League (IPL), he earns a remarkable INR 210 million ($1.4 million) for eight weeks of action. This amount does not include bonuses and other related dividends. ALSO READ | Know why BCCI has asked all ten IPL captains to gather ahead of IPL 2025 Virat in the world of business Virat owns a fashion label called Wrogn, which has gained popularity over the years. He has invested in a chain of gyms named Chisel and co-owns a restaurant chain called One8 Commune. Additionally, he is involved in several startups and has invested in tech companies and other ventures. Virat owns a luxurious apartment in Mumbai's Worli area, which he bought in 2016 for around INR 340 million ($3.9 million). The former RCB captain also has a house in the upmarket DLF Phase-1 area in Gurugram, which he bought in 2015 for around INR 800 million ($9.23 million).

Virat Kohli's eye-popping net worth: Can buy 92 Bugatti Veyrons, waterfront palace in Sydney and more

Manchester United announced plans to raise season ticket prices by five percent for the 2025/26 season on Monday, defying calls from supporters groups for the cost to be frozen.
There will be no rise in the cost of tickets for under-16s, but the club are introducing a new game categorisation for non season-ticket holders, to allow for different pricing structures for higher-profile fixtures.
United fans have routinely protested at Old Trafford in recent months after the decision in November to scrap concessions to children and over-65s with all remaining tickets for this season priced at &pound;66 ($85).
A fan advisory board (FAB), which met with the club, had pushed for a freeze on ticket prices.
Season tickets at Old Trafford have also increased by five percent in each of the past two seasons after an 11-year price freeze.
United chief executive Omar Berrada said in a statement: "We understand the importance of their backing for the team and have worked hard to come up with a pricing package that is fair and reasonable."
The club's co-owner Jim Ratcliffe claimed in a series of interviews last week that the English giants would have run out of money at the end of last year but for a series of cost-cutting measures and the hike in ticket prices he has overseen.
United have made cumulative losses of &pound;410 million in the last seven years after a series of expensive mistakes in the transfer market and in managerial hires.
They currently sit 13th in the Premier League and are reliant on winning the Europa League to lift a trophy this season.
"We listened carefully to the strong arguments put forward by the FAB in favour of a freeze. However, the club has decided that it would not be right to keep prices unchanged while costs rise and the club continues to face financial issues," added Berrada.
"We have kept the increase to the lowest possible level and protected our youngest season-ticket holders from any rises, while ensuring the club remains financially strong enough to invest in improving the team."
Among a series of changes to ticketing, United also plan to turn some general admission tickets close to the dugouts into hospitality seats that can be sold at a premium price.
Premier League leaders Liverpool announced last month that they would freeze ticket prices for next season.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/know-why-bcci-has-asked-all-ten-ipl-captains-to-gather-in-mumbai-ahead-of-ipl-2025-8863368" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Know why BCCI has asked all ten IPL captains to gather ahead of IPL 2025</a>
&ldquo;For several months we have argued long and hard that the club need to look at the big picture and freeze ticket prices for next season," said the Manchester United Supporters' Trust.
"Other clubs have done that already and at United it would have sent a powerful message about the need for everyone to pull together to get the club out of the very difficult position it finds itself in.
&ldquo;We do note that the scale of the headline increase is less than many feared and we believe the enormous amounts of dialogue that fans groups have had with the club, alongside the public pressure exerted through the media and various protests, helped restrain the increase."
United announced plans last week to leave Old Trafford for a new 100,000-seater stadium at a reported cost of &pound;2 billion.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Football: Manchester United announced plans to raise season ticket prices by five percent for the 2025/26 season on Monday, defying calls from supporters groups.

Manchester United announced plans to raise season ticket prices by five percent for the 2025/26 season on Monday, defying calls from supporters groups for the cost to be frozen. There will be no rise in the cost of tickets for under-16s, but the club are introducing a new game categorisation for non season-ticket holders, to allow for different pricing structures for higher-profile fixtures. United fans have routinely protested at Old Trafford in recent months after the decision in November to scrap concessions to children and over-65s with all remaining tickets for this season priced at £66 ($85). A fan advisory board (FAB), which met with the club, had pushed for a freeze on ticket prices. Season tickets at Old Trafford have also increased by five percent in each of the past two seasons after an 11-year price freeze. United chief executive Omar Berrada said in a statement: "We understand the importance of their backing for the team and have worked hard to come up with a pricing package that is fair and reasonable." The club's co-owner Jim Ratcliffe claimed in a series of interviews last week that the English giants would have run out of money at the end of last year but for a series of cost-cutting measures and the hike in ticket prices he has overseen. United have made cumulative losses of £410 million in the last seven years after a series of expensive mistakes in the transfer market and in managerial hires. They currently sit 13th in the Premier League and are reliant on winning the Europa League to lift a trophy this season. "We listened carefully to the strong arguments put forward by the FAB in favour of a freeze. However, the club has decided that it would not be right to keep prices unchanged while costs rise and the club continues to face financial issues," added Berrada. "We have kept the increase to the lowest possible level and protected our youngest season-ticket holders from any rises, while ensuring the club remains financially strong enough to invest in improving the team." Among a series of changes to ticketing, United also plan to turn some general admission tickets close to the dugouts into hospitality seats that can be sold at a premium price. Premier League leaders Liverpool announced last month that they would freeze ticket prices for next season. ALSO READ | Know why BCCI has asked all ten IPL captains to gather ahead of IPL 2025 “For several months we have argued long and hard that the club need to look at the big picture and freeze ticket prices for next season," said the Manchester United Supporters' Trust. "Other clubs have done that already and at United it would have sent a powerful message about the need for everyone to pull together to get the club out of the very difficult position it finds itself in. “We do note that the scale of the headline increase is less than many feared and we believe the enormous amounts of dialogue that fans groups have had with the club, alongside the public pressure exerted through the media and various protests, helped restrain the increase." United announced plans last week to leave Old Trafford for a new 100,000-seater stadium at a reported cost of £2 billion. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Manchester United defy fan groups with five per cent season ticket rise

Lionel Messi will miss two World Cup qualifiers after he was on Monday left out of the Argentina squad for games against Uruguay and Brazil because he reportedly suffered an injury in a club game the day before.
After missing three games for his club, Inter Miami, at the start of March with a pulled muscle, the 37-year-old Messi returned with a goal off the bench in a CONCACAF Champions Cup win. He played a full 90 minutes and scored again in an MLS win in Atlanta on Sunday but, Argentinian media reported, then felt muscle discomfort.&nbsp;
Argentina, the defending World Cup champions, can ensure qualification for next year's tournament in their two games on the current international group.&nbsp;
They lead the 10-team South American qualifying group by five points from Uruguay and visit Montevideo on Friday before hosting Brazil in Buenos Aires on March 25.&nbsp;
The top six teams qualify directly for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The seventh-placed team is currently Bolivia with 13 points.
After 12 rounds, Messi is the top scorer in the competition with six goals. &nbsp;
Argentina are also without injured Roma striker Paulo Dybala and River Plate full-back Paulo Montiel.
Brazil, will be without 33-year-old Neymar, who has suffered a thigh injury and has had to postpone his return to the national team, who are fifth, seven points behind Argentina.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/know-why-bcci-has-asked-all-ten-ipl-captains-to-gather-in-mumbai-ahead-of-ipl-2025-8863368" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Know why BCCI has asked all ten IPL captains to gather ahead of IPL 2025</a>
<h2>Squad</h2>
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, ENG), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille, FRA), Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven, NED).&nbsp;
Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille, FRA), Cristian Romero (Tottenham, ENG), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, POR), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon, FRA), Facundo Medina (Lens, FRA), Juan Foyth (Villarreal, ESP), German Pezzella (River Plate)
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma, ITA), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, ENG), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Maximo Perrone (Como, ITA), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea, ENG), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Benjamin Dominguez (Bologne, ITA), Thiago Almada (Lyon, FRA)
Forwards: Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, ITA), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Nicolas Paz (Como, ITA), Santiago Castro (Bologna, ITA), Nicolas Gonzalez (Juventus, ITA).
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Football: Lionel Messi will miss two World Cup qualifiers after he was on Monday left out of the Argentina squad for games against Uruguay and Brazil.

Lionel Messi will miss two World Cup qualifiers after he was on Monday left out of the Argentina squad for games against Uruguay and Brazil because he reportedly suffered an injury in a club game the day before. After missing three games for his club, Inter Miami, at the start of March with a pulled muscle, the 37-year-old Messi returned with a goal off the bench in a CONCACAF Champions Cup win. He played a full 90 minutes and scored again in an MLS win in Atlanta on Sunday but, Argentinian media reported, then felt muscle discomfort. Argentina, the defending World Cup champions, can ensure qualification for next year's tournament in their two games on the current international group. They lead the 10-team South American qualifying group by five points from Uruguay and visit Montevideo on Friday before hosting Brazil in Buenos Aires on March 25. The top six teams qualify directly for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The seventh-placed team is currently Bolivia with 13 points. After 12 rounds, Messi is the top scorer in the competition with six goals. Argentina are also without injured Roma striker Paulo Dybala and River Plate full-back Paulo Montiel. Brazil, will be without 33-year-old Neymar, who has suffered a thigh injury and has had to postpone his return to the national team, who are fifth, seven points behind Argentina. ALSO READ | Know why BCCI has asked all ten IPL captains to gather ahead of IPL 2025 Squad Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, ENG), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille, FRA), Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven, NED). Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille, FRA), Cristian Romero (Tottenham, ENG), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, POR), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon, FRA), Facundo Medina (Lens, FRA), Juan Foyth (Villarreal, ESP), German Pezzella (River Plate) Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma, ITA), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, ENG), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Maximo Perrone (Como, ITA), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea, ENG), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Benjamin Dominguez (Bologne, ITA), Thiago Almada (Lyon, FRA) Forwards: Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, ITA), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Nicolas Paz (Como, ITA), Santiago Castro (Bologna, ITA), Nicolas Gonzalez (Juventus, ITA). Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Lionel Messi out injured as Argentina seek to seal place in group stage

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/narendra-modi" rel="dofollow">Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> was reminded of his team&rsquo;s forgetful Test series whitewash at home at the hands of New Zealand by his counterpart Christopher Luxon during his recent visit to New Delhi. In a video doing rounds on social media, Luxon jokingly talked about how he deliberately avoided talking to Modi about India-New Zealand cricketing results lately to avoid any &lsquo;diplomatic incident.&rsquo;
In the recently concluded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy 2025</a> final between India and New Zealand in Dubai, the Men in Blue emerged victorious by four wickets, bagging their third CT title and second ICC trophy in two years. It was also India&rsquo;s second straight win over the Kiwis in the eight-team tournament in this edition.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/know-why-bcci-has-asked-all-ten-ipl-captains-to-gather-in-mumbai-ahead-of-ipl-2025-8863368" rel="dofollow">Know why BCCI has asked all ten IPL captains to gather ahead of IPL 2025</a>
However, New Zealand enjoyed its share of success over the Asian giants late last year when they whitewashed India at their home (3-0) in Tests for the first time. That Test series loss to the Kiwis dented India&rsquo;s WTC Final 2025 chances, as after going down to Australia in the next series, they got knocked out of the race.
"I really appreciate that PM Modi didn't bring up New Zealand's Champions Trophy loss to India, and I didn't mention our Test victories in India. Let's keep it that way and avoid a diplomatic incident," Luxon said during his address in New Delhi.
<h3>Watch -</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8ddr93c-gkojqr6e-77w3bt41">
𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚-𝐍𝐙 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭! At the joint press meet, PM Luxon joked about New Zealand&rsquo;s recent losses to India in cricket, thanking PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> for not bringing it up. "Let&rsquo;s just keep it that way and avoid a&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/Kaeuh6LSir">pic.twitter.com/Kaeuh6LSir</a>
&mdash; MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/mygovindia/status/1901581439944249696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
Kiwi veteran Ross Taylor was also in attendance and was left amused by the banter between the two.
<h2>'India won so much under Modi'</h2>
The Indian Cricket Team has been a force to reckon with across formats for the past decade. Although they failed to win trophies despite coming close to doing so several times, their dominance is there for everyone to see.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/stupid-stupid-stupid-rishabh-pant-recreates-gavaskars-viral-commentary-watch-8862656" rel="dofollow">&lsquo;Stupid, stupid, stupid!&rsquo; Pant recreates Gavaskar&rsquo;s viral commentary &ndash; Watch</a>
Lauding the Indian Team&rsquo;s rise during Modi&rsquo;s tenure, which has crossed ten years now, Luxon said, "During PM Modi's tenure, the Men in Blue (Indian cricket team) have been the most dominant side in cricket, most recently winning the Champions Trophy in Dubai against my men in black (New Zealand cricket team)."&nbsp;
&ldquo;They broke many many New Zealanders' hearts in the process, including mine. I will be the bigger person and just say congratulations," Luxon said, as quoted by the PTI.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket, World, India News: In the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand in Dubai, the Men in Blue emerged victorious by 4 wickets.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was reminded of his team’s forgetful Test series whitewash at home at the hands of New Zealand by his counterpart Christopher Luxon during his recent visit to New Delhi. In a video doing rounds on social media, Luxon jokingly talked about how he deliberately avoided talking to Modi about India-New Zealand cricketing results lately to avoid any ‘diplomatic incident.’ In the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand in Dubai, the Men in Blue emerged victorious by four wickets, bagging their third CT title and second ICC trophy in two years. It was also India’s second straight win over the Kiwis in the eight-team tournament in this edition. Also read | Know why BCCI has asked all ten IPL captains to gather ahead of IPL 2025 However, New Zealand enjoyed its share of success over the Asian giants late last year when they whitewashed India at their home (3-0) in Tests for the first time. That Test series loss to the Kiwis dented India’s WTC Final 2025 chances, as after going down to Australia in the next series, they got knocked out of the race. "I really appreciate that PM Modi didn't bring up New Zealand's Champions Trophy loss to India, and I didn't mention our Test victories in India. Let's keep it that way and avoid a diplomatic incident," Luxon said during his address in New Delhi. Watch - 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚-𝐍𝐙 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭! At the joint press meet, PM Luxon joked about New Zealand’s recent losses to India in cricket, thanking PM @narendramodi for not bringing it up. "Let’s just keep it that way and avoid a… pic.twitter.com/Kaeuh6LSir — MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) March 17, 2025 Kiwi veteran Ross Taylor was also in attendance and was left amused by the banter between the two. 'India won so much under Modi' The Indian Cricket Team has been a force to reckon with across formats for the past decade. Although they failed to win trophies despite coming close to doing so several times, their dominance is there for everyone to see. Also read | ‘Stupid, stupid, stupid!’ Pant recreates Gavaskar’s viral commentary – Watch Lauding the Indian Team’s rise during Modi’s tenure, which has crossed ten years now, Luxon said, "During PM Modi's tenure, the Men in Blue (Indian cricket team) have been the most dominant side in cricket, most recently winning the Champions Trophy in Dubai against my men in black (New Zealand cricket team)." “They broke many many New Zealanders' hearts in the process, including mine. I will be the bigger person and just say congratulations," Luxon said, as quoted by the PTI. (With inputs from agencies)

New Zealand PM Luxon cheekily reminds PM Modi of India’s Test series loss to Kiwis at home – Watch

Northern Ireland's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rory-mcilroy" rel="dofollow">Rory McIlroy</a> cruised to a St. Patrick's Day victory at the Players Championship on Monday, defeating J.J. Spaun in a playoff at TPC Sawgrass in Florida.<o:p></o:p>
The four-time major champion completed the three-hole shoot-out in one over par, while Spaun's challenge wilted after a disastrous triple-bogey on the second playoff hole.<o:p></o:p>
"This is the third time I've won on St. Patrick's Day, so it's been a good luck charm for me," McIlroy said after sealing the second Players Championship of his career and 28th PGA Tour title overall. "I was lucky enough to do enough to get it done, but unbelievably proud and happy to win my second Players ... It's really nice," McIlroy added.<o:p></o:p>
"I went home last night thinking 'I should have had this.' But I went home and reset, didn't have a great night's sleep, but was lucky enough to get it done."<o:p></o:p>
McIlroy had finished tied at the top of the leaderboard with Spaun following Sunday's storm-hit final round after failing to hold on to a three-shot lead with five holes to play.<o:p></o:p>
But after returning to the course on Monday in bright, breezy conditions, there was no sign of a repeat of the late stumble by McIlroy on Sunday that had allowed Spaun to force his way into the first playoff of his career.<o:p></o:p>
McIlroy struck first on the opening playoff hole, the par-five 16th, crushing a 336-yard drive straight down the fairway before reaching the green in two.<o:p></o:p>
Spaun meanwhile looked out of sorts from the get-go, finding the fairway rough off the tee before landing his second shot into the greenside bunker.<o:p></o:p>
McIlroy failed to make his 33-foot eagle putt but calmly rolled in an awkward five-footer for birdie.<o:p></o:p>
<h2>'More complete player'<o:p></o:p></h2>
Spaun, whose recovery out of the bunker left him with a long, unsuccessful birdie putt, could only par.<o:p></o:p>
After that early wobble, things got worse for Spaun at the par-three 17th island hole, with the American plunging his tee-shot into the water behind the green.<o:p></o:p>
Spaun then missed a long 10-foot putt for double bogey and eventually finished with a triple-bogey six.<o:p></o:p>
While McIlroy missed his birdie chance and a 10-footer to save par, his bogey four still left him three shots clear heading to the 18th.<o:p></o:p>
McIlroy's tee-shot on the last went well wide of the right fairway, but Spaun was unable to exert pressure, also going wide of the fairway.<o:p></o:p>
Both players reached the green in three and missed their par putts. McIlroy coolly tapped in for bogey to seal victory.<o:p></o:p>
McIlroy's win marked the second title of the season for the Northern Irishman as he build towards the Masters in Augusta next month -- the only major missing from his collection.<o:p></o:p>
McIlroy said his early season form was a reward for the hard work he has put in over the years.<o:p></o:p>
"I've worked really hard -- I feel like I'm a way more complete player than I was a few years ago," McIlroy told NBC. "I feel like I can play in all conditions and anything that comes my way. Really happy that I was able to get it done today."<o:p></o:p>
Spaun meanwhile was left reflecting on a disappointing outcome.<o:p></o:p>
"It's hard not to feel discouraged a little bit, but nothing but positives," Spaun said. "Putting myself in contention and giving myself a chance to win in a playoff -- if someone had told me that would happen at the start of the week I would totally have taken it.<o:p></o:p>
"Hopefully I can just learn from this and get it done next time."<o:p></o:p>
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Golf: Mcllory completed the three-hole shoot-out in one over par, while Spaun's challenge wilted after a disastrous triple-bogey on the second playoff hole.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy cruised to a St. Patrick's Day victory at the Players Championship on Monday, defeating J.J. Spaun in a playoff at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. The four-time major champion completed the three-hole shoot-out in one over par, while Spaun's challenge wilted after a disastrous triple-bogey on the second playoff hole. "This is the third time I've won on St. Patrick's Day, so it's been a good luck charm for me," McIlroy said after sealing the second Players Championship of his career and 28th PGA Tour title overall. "I was lucky enough to do enough to get it done, but unbelievably proud and happy to win my second Players ... It's really nice," McIlroy added. "I went home last night thinking 'I should have had this.' But I went home and reset, didn't have a great night's sleep, but was lucky enough to get it done." McIlroy had finished tied at the top of the leaderboard with Spaun following Sunday's storm-hit final round after failing to hold on to a three-shot lead with five holes to play. But after returning to the course on Monday in bright, breezy conditions, there was no sign of a repeat of the late stumble by McIlroy on Sunday that had allowed Spaun to force his way into the first playoff of his career. McIlroy struck first on the opening playoff hole, the par-five 16th, crushing a 336-yard drive straight down the fairway before reaching the green in two. Spaun meanwhile looked out of sorts from the get-go, finding the fairway rough off the tee before landing his second shot into the greenside bunker. McIlroy failed to make his 33-foot eagle putt but calmly rolled in an awkward five-footer for birdie. 'More complete player' Spaun, whose recovery out of the bunker left him with a long, unsuccessful birdie putt, could only par. After that early wobble, things got worse for Spaun at the par-three 17th island hole, with the American plunging his tee-shot into the water behind the green. Spaun then missed a long 10-foot putt for double bogey and eventually finished with a triple-bogey six. While McIlroy missed his birdie chance and a 10-footer to save par, his bogey four still left him three shots clear heading to the 18th. McIlroy's tee-shot on the last went well wide of the right fairway, but Spaun was unable to exert pressure, also going wide of the fairway. Both players reached the green in three and missed their par putts. McIlroy coolly tapped in for bogey to seal victory. McIlroy's win marked the second title of the season for the Northern Irishman as he build towards the Masters in Augusta next month -- the only major missing from his collection. McIlroy said his early season form was a reward for the hard work he has put in over the years. "I've worked really hard -- I feel like I'm a way more complete player than I was a few years ago," McIlroy told NBC. "I feel like I can play in all conditions and anything that comes my way. Really happy that I was able to get it done today." Spaun meanwhile was left reflecting on a disappointing outcome. "It's hard not to feel discouraged a little bit, but nothing but positives," Spaun said. "Putting myself in contention and giving myself a chance to win in a playoff -- if someone had told me that would happen at the start of the week I would totally have taken it. "Hopefully I can just learn from this and get it done next time." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Golf: Rory McIlroy wins second Players Championship title in playoff

West Ham forward Michail Antonio says he came close to dying in a horrific car crash that shattered his leg but is "100 per cent" confident he will play football again. The Jamaica international required surgery after crashing his Ferrari into a tree on December 7.<o:p></o:p>
"All I know is that I hit a tree," he told the BBC. "I don't know how I hit a tree, that the police came and when they found me in the car, I was in between the two seats."<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/newcastle-united-revel-in-strange-smell-of-success-after-league-cup-glory-against-liverpool-8860145" rel="dofollow">Newcastle United revel in 'strange smell' of success after League Cup glory against Liverpool</a> 
The 34-year-old, who also had a serious car accident in 2019, said he broke his femur bone in four places but revealed his comeback is three months ahead of schedule.<o:p></o:p>
"I'm a good three months ahead of where I should be," he said. "I've lifted 130 kilogrammes on the leg and I'm trying to do other things and just focus on myself, so it's definitely a good place right now and mentally I'm in a good place too."<o:p></o:p>
He added: "I'm 100 per cent (certain) that I'll be back on the pitch. This is what I'm focused on."<o:p></o:p>
Antonio paid tribute to West Ham for their support but explained how he had sought therapy and struggled when manager Julen Lopetegui was dismissed and replaced by Graham Potter in early January.<o:p></o:p>
"If I try and rush myself back, go out there and try and show him what I can do when I'm not physically right, it puts me in a bad stead because I won't be right and I won't be able to do the things that I want to do," he said.<o:p></o:p>
Antonio, West Ham's all-time top scorer in the Premier League, admitted he was embarrassed after the crash, near London.<o:p></o:p>
"Obviously, I've almost died in the car crash. It just made me slightly embarrassed that it was that bad," he said. "Physically, I'm getting better but mentally trauma lasts a long time," he added. "So, there is always going be periods and going to be times where something's going to affect me."
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Football: Antonio, who also had a serious car accident in 2019, said he broke his femur bone in four places but revealed his comeback is three months ahead of schedule.

West Ham forward Michail Antonio says he came close to dying in a horrific car crash that shattered his leg but is "100 per cent" confident he will play football again. The Jamaica international required surgery after crashing his Ferrari into a tree on December 7. "All I know is that I hit a tree," he told the BBC. "I don't know how I hit a tree, that the police came and when they found me in the car, I was in between the two seats." Also read | Newcastle United revel in 'strange smell' of success after League Cup glory against Liverpool The 34-year-old, who also had a serious car accident in 2019, said he broke his femur bone in four places but revealed his comeback is three months ahead of schedule. "I'm a good three months ahead of where I should be," he said. "I've lifted 130 kilogrammes on the leg and I'm trying to do other things and just focus on myself, so it's definitely a good place right now and mentally I'm in a good place too." He added: "I'm 100 per cent (certain) that I'll be back on the pitch. This is what I'm focused on." Antonio paid tribute to West Ham for their support but explained how he had sought therapy and struggled when manager Julen Lopetegui was dismissed and replaced by Graham Potter in early January. "If I try and rush myself back, go out there and try and show him what I can do when I'm not physically right, it puts me in a bad stead because I won't be right and I won't be able to do the things that I want to do," he said. Antonio, West Ham's all-time top scorer in the Premier League, admitted he was embarrassed after the crash, near London. "Obviously, I've almost died in the car crash. It just made me slightly embarrassed that it was that bad," he said. "Physically, I'm getting better but mentally trauma lasts a long time," he added. "So, there is always going be periods and going to be times where something's going to affect me." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

‘I will be back on the pitch,’ West Ham’s Antonio on comeback after horrific car crash

Bengaluru&rsquo;s streets hold countless stories, but few are as inspiring as that of Gurumurthy, a former state-level <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/table-tennis">table tennis</a> coach who now drives an auto-rickshaw to make ends meet. His unwavering passion for the sport, despite life&rsquo;s challenges, has captured the internet&rsquo;s attention and inspired many.
Once a promising table tennis coach, Gurumurthy trained several state-level players, dedicating his life to nurturing young talent. However, due to financial constraints and unforeseen circumstances, he was forced to take up a job as an auto-rickshaw driver. Despite this drastic change, his love for the sport never waned. He continued coaching part-time, offering professional training to those willing to learn, even after a long day behind the wheel.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-from-forgotten-to-formidable-karun-nair-lets-his-bat-do-the-talking-8860239">IPL 2025 | From forgotten to formidable: Karun Nair lets his bat do the talking</a>
His story gained widespread attention when a passenger, amazed by his passion and expertise, shared his journey on LinkedIn. The post quickly went viral, with thousands expressing admiration for Gurumurthy&rsquo;s perseverance and dedication. Many in the sports community, including former students and well-wishers, rallied behind him, hoping to support his return to full-time coaching.
<h2>Social media all praise for Gurumurthy</h2>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/social-media">Social media</a> was abuzz with praise for Gurumurthy, with netizens lauding his determination and resilience. His journey resonated with many, shedding light on the struggles faced by talented individuals who, despite their skills, struggle due to a lack of financial backing. The response has reignited hope for Gurumurthy, with people reaching out to help him find coaching opportunities.
Several organisations and sports enthusiasts have stepped forward, offering to assist Gurumurthy in setting up a full-time coaching academy. His dream is to once again train budding athletes, shaping future table tennis champions. For him, table tennis is not just a game but a lifelong calling, and he hopes to return to it fully with the right support.
Gurumurthy&rsquo;s story is a testament to the power of passion and resilience. It highlights the importance of recognising and supporting talent, ensuring that financial hardships do not deter individuals from pursuing their dreams. As Bengaluru and the sports community rally behind him, there is renewed hope that he will once again do what he loves most&mdash;coaching and inspiring the next generation of table tennis stars.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports: Gurumurthy trained several state-level players. However, due to financial constraints and unforeseen circumstances, he was forced to take up job as an auto-rickshaw driver

Bengaluru’s streets hold countless stories, but few are as inspiring as that of Gurumurthy, a former state-level table tennis coach who now drives an auto-rickshaw to make ends meet. His unwavering passion for the sport, despite life’s challenges, has captured the internet’s attention and inspired many. Once a promising table tennis coach, Gurumurthy trained several state-level players, dedicating his life to nurturing young talent. However, due to financial constraints and unforeseen circumstances, he was forced to take up a job as an auto-rickshaw driver. Despite this drastic change, his love for the sport never waned. He continued coaching part-time, offering professional training to those willing to learn, even after a long day behind the wheel. Also Read: IPL 2025 | From forgotten to formidable: Karun Nair lets his bat do the talking His story gained widespread attention when a passenger, amazed by his passion and expertise, shared his journey on LinkedIn. The post quickly went viral, with thousands expressing admiration for Gurumurthy’s perseverance and dedication. Many in the sports community, including former students and well-wishers, rallied behind him, hoping to support his return to full-time coaching. Social media all praise for Gurumurthy Social media was abuzz with praise for Gurumurthy, with netizens lauding his determination and resilience. His journey resonated with many, shedding light on the struggles faced by talented individuals who, despite their skills, struggle due to a lack of financial backing. The response has reignited hope for Gurumurthy, with people reaching out to help him find coaching opportunities. Several organisations and sports enthusiasts have stepped forward, offering to assist Gurumurthy in setting up a full-time coaching academy. His dream is to once again train budding athletes, shaping future table tennis champions. For him, table tennis is not just a game but a lifelong calling, and he hopes to return to it fully with the right support. Gurumurthy’s story is a testament to the power of passion and resilience. It highlights the importance of recognising and supporting talent, ensuring that financial hardships do not deter individuals from pursuing their dreams. As Bengaluru and the sports community rally behind him, there is renewed hope that he will once again do what he loves most—coaching and inspiring the next generation of table tennis stars. (With inputs from agencies)

From training champions to driving an auto: Gurumurthy’s story touches a million hearts

Chelsea's challenge for a place in next season's Champions League faltered in a toothless 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday as Fulham beat Tottenham 2-0. Mikel Merino scored the only goal of a disappointing contest at the Emirates as Arsenal pulled clear in second place and to within 12 points of runaway leaders Liverpool.<o:p></o:p>
Chelsea badly missed the presence of the absent Cole Palmer due to injury as they meekly surrendered to a damaging defeat for their hopes of a top-four finish. The Blues remain in fourth for now but have five sides, from Manchester City in fifth to Aston Villa in ninth, within four points of Enzo Maresca's team.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/f1-lewis-hamilton-endures-difficult-ferrari-debut-worse-than-i-thought-australian-grand-prix-8858621" rel="dofollow">Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton on difficult Ferrari debut - 'Worse than I thought'</a>
Both managers are hoping to be stronger after the upcoming international break.<o:p></o:p>
Bukayo Saka is nearing a return for Arsenal, while Maresca is confident of having Palmer, Nico Jackson, and Noni Madueke back when they are next in action at home to Tottenham on April 3.<o:p></o:p>
"We did enough to deserve to win the game," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. "Now we have the international break, so let's take a chance to breathe and bring some players back hopefully."<o:p></o:p>
Arsenal have struggled badly for goals since the loss of Kai Havertz to a season-ending injury forced midfielder Merino into a makeshift centre-forward role.<o:p></o:p>
The Spanish international proved the match winner from a corner as he looped a header from Martin Odegaard's delivery inside the far post on 20 minutes.<o:p></o:p>
Chelsea barely threatened but were nearly gifted a route back into the game when David Raya fumbled Marc Cucurella's shot and the ball trickled wide.<o:p></o:p>
At the other end, Chelsea's Robert Sanchez made a brilliant stop to prevent Merino doubling Arsenal's lead with the best effort of the second half.<o:p></o:p>
But the game petered out with little goalmouth action as a limp performance will do little to quieten the critics of Maresca's style of play among the Chelsea support.<o:p></o:p>
"There was not a big difference in the two games between us," said Maresca. "Given the injuries, we fought until the end."<o:p></o:p>
<h2>Spurs' European hangover<o:p></o:p></h2>
Tottenham kept their season alive by reaching the Europa League quarterfinals with victory over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, but suffered the latest in a series of European hangovers at Craven Cottage.<o:p></o:p>
Victory for Fulham propels Marco Silva's men into the race for Champions League places as they climb to eighth, four points off the top four and three outside the top five.<o:p></o:p>
A top-five finish will almost certainly secure a place in Europe's top club competition next season thanks to the strong performance of English sides in European competitions.<o:p></o:p>
Spurs, though, have struggled to handle the burden of Thursday nights when it comes to their Premier League form.<o:p></o:p>
Ange Postecoglou's side have won just three times in the 10 league matches that have followed a midweek Europa League fixture.<o:p></o:p>
"It's been a difficult campaign for sure," said Spurs captain Son Heung-min. "But I feel we've lost too many games that we should have got stuff out of, and this was one of those games."<o:p></o:p>
Fulham had to wait until 78 minutes to take the lead when Rodrigo Muniz steered home from Andreas Pereira's pass.<o:p></o:p>
Ryan Sessegnon then curled in a brilliant second against his former club to secure victory late on.<o:p></o:p>
Spurs remain down in 13th, now 10 points off the top half.<o:p></o:p>
Manchester United are in action later on Sunday when Ruben Amorim's team visit lowly Leicester.<o:p></o:p>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Football: Chelsea badly missed the presence of the absent Cole Palmer due to injury as they meekly surrendered to a damaging defeat for their hopes of a top-four finish.

Chelsea's challenge for a place in next season's Champions League faltered in a toothless 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday as Fulham beat Tottenham 2-0. Mikel Merino scored the only goal of a disappointing contest at the Emirates as Arsenal pulled clear in second place and to within 12 points of runaway leaders Liverpool. Chelsea badly missed the presence of the absent Cole Palmer due to injury as they meekly surrendered to a damaging defeat for their hopes of a top-four finish. The Blues remain in fourth for now but have five sides, from Manchester City in fifth to Aston Villa in ninth, within four points of Enzo Maresca's team. Also read | Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton on difficult Ferrari debut - 'Worse than I thought' Both managers are hoping to be stronger after the upcoming international break. Bukayo Saka is nearing a return for Arsenal, while Maresca is confident of having Palmer, Nico Jackson, and Noni Madueke back when they are next in action at home to Tottenham on April 3. "We did enough to deserve to win the game," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. "Now we have the international break, so let's take a chance to breathe and bring some players back hopefully." Arsenal have struggled badly for goals since the loss of Kai Havertz to a season-ending injury forced midfielder Merino into a makeshift centre-forward role. The Spanish international proved the match winner from a corner as he looped a header from Martin Odegaard's delivery inside the far post on 20 minutes. Chelsea barely threatened but were nearly gifted a route back into the game when David Raya fumbled Marc Cucurella's shot and the ball trickled wide. At the other end, Chelsea's Robert Sanchez made a brilliant stop to prevent Merino doubling Arsenal's lead with the best effort of the second half. But the game petered out with little goalmouth action as a limp performance will do little to quieten the critics of Maresca's style of play among the Chelsea support. "There was not a big difference in the two games between us," said Maresca. "Given the injuries, we fought until the end." Spurs' European hangover Tottenham kept their season alive by reaching the Europa League quarterfinals with victory over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, but suffered the latest in a series of European hangovers at Craven Cottage. Victory for Fulham propels Marco Silva's men into the race for Champions League places as they climb to eighth, four points off the top four and three outside the top five. A top-five finish will almost certainly secure a place in Europe's top club competition next season thanks to the strong performance of English sides in European competitions. Spurs, though, have struggled to handle the burden of Thursday nights when it comes to their Premier League form. Ange Postecoglou's side have won just three times in the 10 league matches that have followed a midweek Europa League fixture. "It's been a difficult campaign for sure," said Spurs captain Son Heung-min. "But I feel we've lost too many games that we should have got stuff out of, and this was one of those games." Fulham had to wait until 78 minutes to take the lead when Rodrigo Muniz steered home from Andreas Pereira's pass. Ryan Sessegnon then curled in a brilliant second against his former club to secure victory late on. Spurs remain down in 13th, now 10 points off the top half. Manchester United are in action later on Sunday when Ruben Amorim's team visit lowly Leicester. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

PL: Arsenal close gap with leaders Liverpool after win over Chelsea; Fulham beat Spurs

Lewis Hamilton said Sunday he found his new Ferrari "really, really hard to drive" in the wet as the seven-time world champion endured a difficult start to his career at the Scuderia.<o:p></o:p>
The 40-year-old is hoping for a new lease of life after his bombshell switch from Mercedes, but it has been a steep learning curve since he joined the Italian team in January.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/formula-1/formula-1-lando-norris-holds-off-max-verstappen-to-win-rain-hit-australian-grand-prix-8857995" rel="dofollow">Formula 1: Lando Norris holds off Max Verstappen to win rain-hit Australian Grand Prix</a>
It culminated in a disappointing 10th in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, where he was well off the pace of McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes and behind teammate Charles Leclerc in a rain-hit race, punctuated by safety cars.<o:p></o:p>
"It was very tricky and went a lot worse than I thought it would go. The car was really, really hard to drive today," he said after a race that was marred by a series of crashes in the treacherous conditions.<o:p></o:p>
"For me, I'm just grateful I kept it out of the wall because that's where it wanted to go most of the time."<o:p></o:p>
Hamilton was in the Ferrari not only for his first Grand Prix, but also for the first time in wet conditions.<o:p></o:p>
Clearly still getting used to how his new team works, he was heard on the radio at one time telling his race engineer they had "missed a big opportunity" to capitalise strategically after he led briefly during a series of pit stops under the safety car.<o:p></o:p>
A delayed switch back to intermediate rain tyres dropped him back down the field, but the Briton said afterwards there had been "a lot" to take from his debut.<o:p></o:p>
"Just getting acclimatised with the new power unit in the wet conditions," he said. "The settings it requires are different, and a different way of driving and a different set-up on the steering wheel.<o:p></o:p>
"I hung out as long as I could, got in the lead at one point. Just the guidance with how much more rain was coming, was missing there, so I think we missed out."<o:p></o:p>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Formula 1: Hamilton is hoping for a new lease of life after his bombshell switch from Mercedes, but it has been a steep learning curve since he joined the Italian team.

Lewis Hamilton said Sunday he found his new Ferrari "really, really hard to drive" in the wet as the seven-time world champion endured a difficult start to his career at the Scuderia. The 40-year-old is hoping for a new lease of life after his bombshell switch from Mercedes, but it has been a steep learning curve since he joined the Italian team in January. Also read | Formula 1: Lando Norris holds off Max Verstappen to win rain-hit Australian Grand Prix It culminated in a disappointing 10th in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, where he was well off the pace of McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes and behind teammate Charles Leclerc in a rain-hit race, punctuated by safety cars. "It was very tricky and went a lot worse than I thought it would go. The car was really, really hard to drive today," he said after a race that was marred by a series of crashes in the treacherous conditions. "For me, I'm just grateful I kept it out of the wall because that's where it wanted to go most of the time." Hamilton was in the Ferrari not only for his first Grand Prix, but also for the first time in wet conditions. Clearly still getting used to how his new team works, he was heard on the radio at one time telling his race engineer they had "missed a big opportunity" to capitalise strategically after he led briefly during a series of pit stops under the safety car. A delayed switch back to intermediate rain tyres dropped him back down the field, but the Briton said afterwards there had been "a lot" to take from his debut. "Just getting acclimatised with the new power unit in the wet conditions," he said. "The settings it requires are different, and a different way of driving and a different set-up on the steering wheel. "I hung out as long as I could, got in the lead at one point. Just the guidance with how much more rain was coming, was missing there, so I think we missed out." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton on difficult Ferrari debut - 'Worse than I thought'

Carlos Alcaraz crashed out of his Indian Wells three-peat bid on Saturday, and nerves played a key role in "one of the worst sets I have played in my career." <o:p></o:p>
A four-time Grand Slam champion, Alcaraz said he was too focused on what weapons British left-hander Jack Draper might bring and unable to calm the pre-match jitters that prevented him from rising to the occasion.<o:p></o:p>
Draper, ranked 14th in the world, beat Alcaraz 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 to end the Spaniard's dream of joining Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to win three straight titles in the California desert.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/u-15-table-tennis-championship-to-feature-indias-top-young-players-global-talent-8858084" rel="dofollow">U-15 table tennis championship to feature India&rsquo;s top young players, global talent</a>
"Obviously I wanted to win the third in a row, but I can't pretend to win every match," Alcaraz said. "I am not as upset about not getting the third one in a row. I am upset about myself, about the way that I approached the match, the way that I felt during the whole day, that I couldn't calm down myself."<o:p></o:p>
"That's, for me, the most disappointed thing that I'm feeling right now, because (it) is probably one of the worst sets that I have played in my whole career, the first set."<o:p></o:p>
In a place he described this week as "peaceful," Alcaraz said he was on edge all day and warmed up poorly before the match.<o:p></o:p>
"I always say that I have to be focused on myself, on my own game. I think today I was more worried about his level, his game, than myself," he said.<o:p></o:p>
The result was an erratic effort from Alcaraz, who had sailed through his first three matches with the loss of just 10 games before pulling off a tighter quarter-final victory over Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets.<o:p></o:p>
The 21-year-old said he was still working to find ways to maintain his highest level more consistently.<o:p></o:p>
"I think I'm improving. I'm getting more mature," he said. "I still sometimes (am) playing such a really high level, and then my level goes down a lot.<o:p></o:p>
"So, I have to think about it. I have to keep working, keep going," added Alcaraz, who insisted he would shake off the defeat and be ready for the Miami Open this coming week.<o:p></o:p>
"I consider myself a person who learns from the fails, from the losses," he said. "The last time that I lost here was the semi-final (in 2022), and after all, I won Miami, so I think I will go for it.<o:p></o:p>
"I will make the most of myself in Miami."<o:p></o:p>
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Tennis: Draper, ranked 14th, beat Alcaraz to end the Spaniard's dream of joining Federer and Djokovic as the only men to win three straight titles in the California desert.

Carlos Alcaraz crashed out of his Indian Wells three-peat bid on Saturday, and nerves played a key role in "one of the worst sets I have played in my career." A four-time Grand Slam champion, Alcaraz said he was too focused on what weapons British left-hander Jack Draper might bring and unable to calm the pre-match jitters that prevented him from rising to the occasion. Draper, ranked 14th in the world, beat Alcaraz 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 to end the Spaniard's dream of joining Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to win three straight titles in the California desert. Also read | U-15 table tennis championship to feature India’s top young players, global talent "Obviously I wanted to win the third in a row, but I can't pretend to win every match," Alcaraz said. "I am not as upset about not getting the third one in a row. I am upset about myself, about the way that I approached the match, the way that I felt during the whole day, that I couldn't calm down myself." "That's, for me, the most disappointed thing that I'm feeling right now, because (it) is probably one of the worst sets that I have played in my whole career, the first set." In a place he described this week as "peaceful," Alcaraz said he was on edge all day and warmed up poorly before the match. "I always say that I have to be focused on myself, on my own game. I think today I was more worried about his level, his game, than myself," he said. The result was an erratic effort from Alcaraz, who had sailed through his first three matches with the loss of just 10 games before pulling off a tighter quarter-final victory over Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets. The 21-year-old said he was still working to find ways to maintain his highest level more consistently. "I think I'm improving. I'm getting more mature," he said. "I still sometimes (am) playing such a really high level, and then my level goes down a lot. "So, I have to think about it. I have to keep working, keep going," added Alcaraz, who insisted he would shake off the defeat and be ready for the Miami Open this coming week. "I consider myself a person who learns from the fails, from the losses," he said. "The last time that I lost here was the semi-final (in 2022), and after all, I won Miami, so I think I will go for it. "I will make the most of myself in Miami." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Tennis: Carlos Alcaraz ‘upset with himself’ in nervy loss at Indian Wells

Following the success of youth football tournaments in India, a premier U-15 table tennis championship is set to make its debut.
The tournament will feature 30 male and 30 female players from across India, selected based on their national rankings. It will provide a platform for young paddlers between 11-14 years to showcase their talent and gain competitive experience. In a bid to offer early international exposure, the championship will also welcome 12 athletes from six international federations&mdash;Sweden, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Kazakhstan.
Highlighting the importance of global exposure, the event aims to enhance athlete development by offering opportunities to compete against international players. The tournament also focuses on fostering best practices through expert-led workshops and masterclasses. The Dream Sports Championship Table Tennis 2025, supported by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/table-tennis-federation-of-india">Table Tennis Federation of India</a> (TTFI), will be held from March 17 to 22 at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/formula-1/formula-1-lando-norris-holds-off-max-verstappen-to-win-rain-hit-australian-grand-prix-8857995">Formula 1: Lando Norris holds off Max Verstappen to win rain-hit Australian Grand Prix</a>
<h2>Sharath, Massimo to be mentors</h2>
Indian table tennis icon <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sharath-kamal">Sharath Kamal</a>, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sreeja Akula, and Indian National Team Coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/massimo-costantini" rel="dofollow">Massimo Costantini</a> will lead sessions alongside elite coaches Chris Pfeiffer and Deepak Malik. These sessions will cover areas like sports science, game strategy, fitness, and technology-driven performance analysis.
Kamlesh Mehta, general secretary of the Table Tennis Federation of India, emphasised the importance of this initiative, saying, "This championship is a significant step in creating a platform for India&rsquo;s future table tennis stars. Competing with both national and international talent will help young athletes develop their skills, while expert-led masterclasses and analytics-based interventions will further support their growth."
The championship will unfold in a structured format, including group stages, super league, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals. Players will be grouped into six pools per category, with each group featuring an international athlete.

Sports: The tournament will feature 30 male and 30 female players from pan India, selected based on their national rankings. It will also see 12 athletes from six international federations

Following the success of youth football tournaments in India, a premier U-15 table tennis championship is set to make its debut. The tournament will feature 30 male and 30 female players from across India, selected based on their national rankings. It will provide a platform for young paddlers between 11-14 years to showcase their talent and gain competitive experience. In a bid to offer early international exposure, the championship will also welcome 12 athletes from six international federations—Sweden, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Kazakhstan. Highlighting the importance of global exposure, the event aims to enhance athlete development by offering opportunities to compete against international players. The tournament also focuses on fostering best practices through expert-led workshops and masterclasses. The Dream Sports Championship Table Tennis 2025, supported by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), will be held from March 17 to 22 at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai. Also Read: Formula 1: Lando Norris holds off Max Verstappen to win rain-hit Australian Grand Prix Sharath, Massimo to be mentors Indian table tennis icon Sharath Kamal, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sreeja Akula, and Indian National Team Coach Massimo Costantini will lead sessions alongside elite coaches Chris Pfeiffer and Deepak Malik. These sessions will cover areas like sports science, game strategy, fitness, and technology-driven performance analysis. Kamlesh Mehta, general secretary of the Table Tennis Federation of India, emphasised the importance of this initiative, saying, "This championship is a significant step in creating a platform for India’s future table tennis stars. Competing with both national and international talent will help young athletes develop their skills, while expert-led masterclasses and analytics-based interventions will further support their growth." The championship will unfold in a structured format, including group stages, super league, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals. Players will be grouped into six pools per category, with each group featuring an international athlete.

U-15 table tennis championship to feature India’s top young players, global talent

In the world of Indian women&rsquo;s hockey, Deepika stands as a beacon of young talent, determination, and perseverance. Born on December 6, 2003, in Hisar, Haryana, she is a player whose journey from an aspiring athlete to a celebrated forward in the Indian hockey team is nothing short of inspiring.
Standing at 1.66 meters, Deepika possesses an athletic build perfectly suited for her role as a forward. With keen agility, sharp reflexes, and an unmatched strategic mind, she has quickly made a name for herself in the highly competitive arena of international hockey. 
Her intense gaze and unwavering focus on the field reflect the years of hard work and sacrifice that have gone into her success. On Saturday (March 16), Deepika won the Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year 2024 (Women Under-21) for her stellar performance. In exclusive interview with WION, Deepika talks about her journey, her performance in past year and much more.
<h2>Roots in wrestling, destiny in hockey</h2>
Deepika hails from a family deeply rooted in wrestling. Her father and elder brother were both accomplished wrestlers, and growing up, she was surrounded by the sport. Watching her brother train at the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sports-authority-of-india">Sports Authority of India</a> (SAI) center in Hisar, she was initially drawn to the rigorous discipline of wrestling. However, fate had other plans for her.
Her transition from wrestling to hockey was almost accidental. While accompanying her brother to practice sessions, she found herself captivated by the game of hockey. It wasn&rsquo;t long before she picked up a stick and started training under the guidance of coach Azad Singh Malik.&nbsp;His mentorship was instrumental in shaping her early skills, and soon, Deepika was completely immersed in the sport. She developed a keen understanding of the game, blending her physical strength from wrestling with the finesse required in hockey.
<h2>The journey</h2>
Deepika&rsquo;s rise in the hockey world has been meteoric. Her exceptional performances in junior-level tournaments quickly caught the attention of selectors, and she was soon representing India on the international stage. As a forward, her ability to score crucial goals and execute drag flicks with precision made her a formidable presence on the field.
To date, Deepika has played 56 matches for India, scoring an impressive 27 goals. Her journey has been filled with challenges, but she has faced each one with unwavering resolve. Whether it was adjusting to the demands of international hockey or maintaining peak fitness levels, she has constantly pushed herself to improve.
A defining moment in her career was India&rsquo;s triumph at the 2024 Women&rsquo;s Asian Champions Trophy, where she played a pivotal role in securing victory. Her ability to perform under pressure and contribute significantly to the team&rsquo;s success established her as one of the brightest young talents in Indian hockey.
<h2>The emotional connection: A photo that tells a story</h2>
Among the many milestones in Deepika&rsquo;s journey, one photograph holds a special place in her heart. It is an old picture showing a young Deepika standing alongside <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/savita-punia">Savita Punia</a>, the veteran goalkeeper of the Indian women&rsquo;s hockey team.
For Deepika, that photo is an emotional treasure. She recalls how, at that time, she knew little about what it took to play for India. She only knew that the players she admired would return to training camps after coming back from the tournaments. She attended functions where these players were honoured, never imagining that one day she would stand among them.
The memory of being garlanded by those she once looked up to remains etched in her mind. It was a moment of realisation&mdash;her childhood dream had turned into reality. Sharing the picture with Savita, they both reminisce about the times when senior players would return from camps and gift her their T-shirts and kits. Now, Deepika is not just a part of the team but a key contributor to its victories. The journey from a fan to a teammate is one that fills her with immense pride.
<h2>The making of a champion</h2>
One of Deepika&rsquo;s defining skills is her drag flick, a technique that requires immense power and precision. She credits her mastery of the drag flick to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rupinder-pal-singh">Rupinder Pal Singh</a>, one of India&rsquo;s finest drag-flickers. Under his guidance, she honed the nuances of the technique, developing the strength and accuracy needed to excel in high-pressure situations.
Before every match, Deepika meticulously studies her opponents, analysing their goalkeepers&rsquo; movements and defensive strategies. She works closely with the coaching staff to strategise, ensuring that she is always prepared to exploit weaknesses in the opposition&rsquo;s defense. This level of preparation has made her one of the most promising forwards in Indian hockey today.
<h2>Awards galore</h2>
Deepika&rsquo;s hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. At the 2024 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/hockey-india" rel="dofollow">Hockey India</a> Annual Awards, she was honored with the prestigious Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Women &ndash; Under 21). This recognition is a testament to her exceptional performances and the bright future that lies ahead for her in Indian hockey.
Receiving the award was an emotional moment for Deepika. She humbly acknowledged that while her performance in the past year had not been perfect, the nomination itself was a huge honor. She emphasised that hockey is a team sport and that every player&rsquo;s contribution is vital to the team&rsquo;s success.
<h2>The dream</h2>
Playing at the international level comes with immense pressure, and Deepika is no stranger to it. Representing India means carrying the hopes of a billion, and the expectations are always high. However, she thrives under this pressure, using it as motivation to keep improving. Her ultimate goal is to bring more glory to Indian women&rsquo;s hockey and inspire young athletes to pursue the sport. She believes that with the right mindset, hard work, and perseverance, anything is possible.
Deepika Sehrawat&rsquo;s journey from a young girl inspired by her family&rsquo;s wrestling background to a rising star in Indian hockey is a story of determination, resilience, and passion. With each match, she continues to push boundaries and set new benchmarks for excellence.

Sports: With keen agility, sharp reflexes, and an unmatched strategic mind, she has quickly made a name for herself in the highly competitive arena of international hockey

In the world of Indian women’s hockey, Deepika stands as a beacon of young talent, determination, and perseverance. Born on December 6, 2003, in Hisar, Haryana, she is a player whose journey from an aspiring athlete to a celebrated forward in the Indian hockey team is nothing short of inspiring. Standing at 1.66 meters, Deepika possesses an athletic build perfectly suited for her role as a forward. With keen agility, sharp reflexes, and an unmatched strategic mind, she has quickly made a name for herself in the highly competitive arena of international hockey. Her intense gaze and unwavering focus on the field reflect the years of hard work and sacrifice that have gone into her success. On Saturday (March 16), Deepika won the Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year 2024 (Women Under-21) for her stellar performance. In exclusive interview with WION, Deepika talks about her journey, her performance in past year and much more. Roots in wrestling, destiny in hockey Deepika hails from a family deeply rooted in wrestling. Her father and elder brother were both accomplished wrestlers, and growing up, she was surrounded by the sport. Watching her brother train at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) center in Hisar, she was initially drawn to the rigorous discipline of wrestling. However, fate had other plans for her. Her transition from wrestling to hockey was almost accidental. While accompanying her brother to practice sessions, she found herself captivated by the game of hockey. It wasn’t long before she picked up a stick and started training under the guidance of coach Azad Singh Malik. His mentorship was instrumental in shaping her early skills, and soon, Deepika was completely immersed in the sport. She developed a keen understanding of the game, blending her physical strength from wrestling with the finesse required in hockey. The journey Deepika’s rise in the hockey world has been meteoric. Her exceptional performances in junior-level tournaments quickly caught the attention of selectors, and she was soon representing India on the international stage. As a forward, her ability to score crucial goals and execute drag flicks with precision made her a formidable presence on the field. To date, Deepika has played 56 matches for India, scoring an impressive 27 goals. Her journey has been filled with challenges, but she has faced each one with unwavering resolve. Whether it was adjusting to the demands of international hockey or maintaining peak fitness levels, she has constantly pushed herself to improve. A defining moment in her career was India’s triumph at the 2024 Women’s Asian Champions Trophy, where she played a pivotal role in securing victory. Her ability to perform under pressure and contribute significantly to the team’s success established her as one of the brightest young talents in Indian hockey. The emotional connection: A photo that tells a story Among the many milestones in Deepika’s journey, one photograph holds a special place in her heart. It is an old picture showing a young Deepika standing alongside Savita Punia, the veteran goalkeeper of the Indian women’s hockey team. For Deepika, that photo is an emotional treasure. She recalls how, at that time, she knew little about what it took to play for India. She only knew that the players she admired would return to training camps after coming back from the tournaments. She attended functions where these players were honoured, never imagining that one day she would stand among them. The memory of being garlanded by those she once looked up to remains etched in her mind. It was a moment of realisation—her childhood dream had turned into reality. Sharing the picture with Savita, they both reminisce about the times when senior players would return from camps and gift her their T-shirts and kits. Now, Deepika is not just a part of the team but a key contributor to its victories. The journey from a fan to a teammate is one that fills her with immense pride. The making of a champion One of Deepika’s defining skills is her drag flick, a technique that requires immense power and precision. She credits her mastery of the drag flick to Rupinder Pal Singh, one of India’s finest drag-flickers. Under his guidance, she honed the nuances of the technique, developing the strength and accuracy needed to excel in high-pressure situations. Before every match, Deepika meticulously studies her opponents, analysing their goalkeepers’ movements and defensive strategies. She works closely with the coaching staff to strategise, ensuring that she is always prepared to exploit weaknesses in the opposition’s defense. This level of preparation has made her one of the most promising forwards in Indian hockey today. Awards galore Deepika’s hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. At the 2024 Hockey India Annual Awards, she was honored with the prestigious Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Women – Under 21). This recognition is a testament to her exceptional performances and the bright future that lies ahead for her in Indian hockey. Receiving the award was an emotional moment for Deepika. She humbly acknowledged that while her performance in the past year had not been perfect, the nomination itself was a huge honor. She emphasised that hockey is a team sport and that every player’s contribution is vital to the team’s success. The dream Playing at the international level comes with immense pressure, and Deepika is no stranger to it. Representing India means carrying the hopes of a billion, and the expectations are always high. However, she thrives under this pressure, using it as motivation to keep improving. Her ultimate goal is to bring more glory to Indian women’s hockey and inspire young athletes to pursue the sport. She believes that with the right mindset, hard work, and perseverance, anything is possible. Deepika Sehrawat’s journey from a young girl inspired by her family’s wrestling background to a rising star in Indian hockey is a story of determination, resilience, and passion. With each match, she continues to push boundaries and set new benchmarks for excellence.

Exclusive | Beyond the drag flick: Deepika, from a childhood photograph to a hockey icon

The Hockey India 7th Annual Awards 2024 brought together the Indian hockey fraternity as the apex body celebrated 100 years of Indian hockey while also marking the golden jubilee of India's historic 1975 World Cup victory. To commemorate this milestone, Hockey India felicitated the members of the victorious 1975 World Cup squad, with the Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award along with a cash prize of $58,000.
Among the evening&rsquo;s top honours, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/savita-punia">Savita</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/harmanpreet-singh">Harmanpreet Singh</a> were recognised as the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year 2024 winners in the Women&rsquo;s and Men&rsquo;s categories, respectively.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/mumbai-indians-reclaim-wpl-title-with-thrilling-win-as-delhi-capitals-lose-third-consecutive-final-8857123">Mumbai Indians reclaim WPL title with thrilling win as Delhi Capitals lose third consecutive final</a>
The awards ceremony began by honouring the biggest highlight of 2024&mdash;India&rsquo;s bronze medal win at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The members of the Indian Men's Hockey Team were felicitated with a scarf and a cash award of $17,000 each, while alternate players received $5,750 each, and support staff were awarded $8,600 each.
In the Individual Achievement Awards, Harmanpreet Singh was honoured with $11,500 for winning the FIH Men's Player of the Year 2024 at the FIH Hockey Star Awards 2024 and an additional $1,150 for the Play of the Tournament at the Men&rsquo;s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 in Hulunbuir City, China.
PR Sreejesh received $5,750 for being named FIH Men's Goalkeeper of the Year 2024. Deepika was awarded $1,150 each for finishing as the leading goalscorer and best player of the tournament at the Bihar Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024, Rajgir, along with another $1,150 for being the leading goal scorer at the Junior Women&rsquo;s Asia Cup 2024, Muscat, Oman.
Araijeet Singh Hundal was also recognised with $1,150 for winning the Player of the Tournament at the Junior Men&rsquo;s Asia Cup 2024, Muscat, Oman.
The Milestone Awards 2024 recognised outstanding achievements in international hockey. Boby Singh Dhami, Rutaja Dadaso Pisal, and Sakshi Rana were awarded $1,150 each for scoring a goal in their debut match. Jarmanpreet Singh and Shamsher Singh received $1,150 each for completing 100 international caps, while Vivek Sagar Prasad and Sumit were awarded $1,725 each for reaching 150 international caps. Amit Rohidas received $2,300 for completing 200 international caps, and Sushila Chanu was honoured with $2,875 for reaching 250 international caps.
The title-winning teams of the Men&rsquo;s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 in Hulunbuir City, China, and the Women&rsquo;s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 in Rajgir, Bihar, were each rewarded with $3,450 per player and $1,725 per support staff. Meanwhile, the Junior Men&rsquo;s Asia Cup 2024 and Junior Women&rsquo;s Asia Cup 2025 winning teams received $2,300 per player and $1,150 per support staff in recognition of their achievements.<span class="EOP SCXW167328313 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
<span class="EOP SCXW167328313 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">The awards ceremony saw Savita winning the prestigious Hockey India Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year 2024, receiving $5,750 along with a trophy. A pivotal member of the Indian women&rsquo;s hockey team, Savita has been instrumental in its success and this was her second Goalkeeper of the Year title.
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW68559918 BCX0">
Recognised as one of the world's best first-rushers, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/amit-rohidas">Amit Rohidas</a> won the Hockey India Pargat Singh Award for Defender of the Year 2024, receiving INR $5,750.<span class="EOP SCXW68559918 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW68559918 BCX0">
Hardik Singh, who previously won both the Men&rsquo;s Player of the Year and Midfielder of the Year awards, clinched the Hockey India Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year 2024, receiving $5,750. Meanwhile, Abhishek, a key figure in India's forward line, retained his Hockey India Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year, also receiving $5,750 and a trophy.<span class="EOP SCXW68559918 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
<span class="EOP SCXW68559918 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">Deepika and Araijeet Singh Hundal, who had breakthrough years with both junior and senior teams, won the titles Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year 2024 (Women Under-21) and Hockey India Jugraj Singh Award for Upcoming Player of the Year 2024 (Men Under-21), respectively, receiving $11,500 and a trophy each.
<h2 class="Paragraph SCXW68559918 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="240730579" paraeid="{61b306df-b9b5-4aff-9178-3bf525ac8abe}{28}"><span class="EOP SCXW68559918 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">Savita, Harmanpreet win big</h2>
</div>
Savita, who recently earned her 300th international cap and has been instrumental in the Indian women&rsquo;s hockey team&rsquo;s successes, secured her third&nbsp;Hockey India Balbir Singh Senior Award for Player of the Year 2024 (Women). Meanwhile, the current Indian men&rsquo;s team captain, who led India to a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics and several other memorable victories, won his second Senior Player of the Year award. He was honoured with the same at the 4th Annual Awards in 2021. Both players received $29,000 and a trophy.<span class="EOP SCXW207311844 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"> 
In a moment of great significance, the 1975 World Cup-winning team was honoured with the Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award 2024, with $57,000. The legendary players present on the occasion included Shri Leslie Fernandez, Shri Onkar Singh, Shri Ashok Diwan, Shri B P Govinda, Shri Kaliah P E, Brigadier HJS Chimni, Shri V J Phillips (leading scorer in the competition), Shri Ashok Kumar, Shri Aslam Sher Khan, and Brigadier Harcharan Singh.<span class="EOP SCXW242767963 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
Shri Ashok Kumar received the award on behalf of the team captain, Shri Ajit Pal Singh, while Mrs Chanchal Randhawa (wife of Late Shri Surjit Singh), Shri Naveen Pawar (son of Late Shri Shivaji Pawar), Shri Satpal Singh (brother of Late Shri Mohinder Singh), Mrs Manjeet Kaur (wife of Late Shri Varinder Singh), and Mrs Sheela Kindo (wife of Late Shri Michael Kindo) were also present on this momentous occasion.
Speaking on the win, Savita said, "I am truly honoured to receive this award for the third time. This achievement wouldn&rsquo;t have been possible without the unwavering support of my teammates, coaches, family, and hockey fans. I am deeply grateful, and this recognition will only push me to work even harder. Thank you all for your love and encouragement&mdash;this one is for all of us!"
Harmanpreet Singh said, "These awards mean a lot&mdash;they serve as motivation for the young players watching today. I hope both our men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s teams continue to give their best without stressing too much about results. I also hope our Indian hockey family keeps winning more and more medals. Today is a very special occasion, and we are fortunate to celebrate it with our legends. Just like them, I hope we bring the World Cup home next year."

Sports: Hockey India felicitated members of victorious 1975 World Cup squad, with the Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award along with a cash prize of $58,000

The Hockey India 7th Annual Awards 2024 brought together the Indian hockey fraternity as the apex body celebrated 100 years of Indian hockey while also marking the golden jubilee of India's historic 1975 World Cup victory. To commemorate this milestone, Hockey India felicitated the members of the victorious 1975 World Cup squad, with the Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award along with a cash prize of $58,000. Among the evening’s top honours, Savita and Harmanpreet Singh were recognised as the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year 2024 winners in the Women’s and Men’s categories, respectively. Also Read: Mumbai Indians reclaim WPL title with thrilling win as Delhi Capitals lose third consecutive final The awards ceremony began by honouring the biggest highlight of 2024—India’s bronze medal win at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The members of the Indian Men's Hockey Team were felicitated with a scarf and a cash award of $17,000 each, while alternate players received $5,750 each, and support staff were awarded $8,600 each. In the Individual Achievement Awards, Harmanpreet Singh was honoured with $11,500 for winning the FIH Men's Player of the Year 2024 at the FIH Hockey Star Awards 2024 and an additional $1,150 for the Play of the Tournament at the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 in Hulunbuir City, China. PR Sreejesh received $5,750 for being named FIH Men's Goalkeeper of the Year 2024. Deepika was awarded $1,150 each for finishing as the leading goalscorer and best player of the tournament at the Bihar Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024, Rajgir, along with another $1,150 for being the leading goal scorer at the Junior Women’s Asia Cup 2024, Muscat, Oman. Araijeet Singh Hundal was also recognised with $1,150 for winning the Player of the Tournament at the Junior Men’s Asia Cup 2024, Muscat, Oman. The Milestone Awards 2024 recognised outstanding achievements in international hockey. Boby Singh Dhami, Rutaja Dadaso Pisal, and Sakshi Rana were awarded $1,150 each for scoring a goal in their debut match. Jarmanpreet Singh and Shamsher Singh received $1,150 each for completing 100 international caps, while Vivek Sagar Prasad and Sumit were awarded $1,725 each for reaching 150 international caps. Amit Rohidas received $2,300 for completing 200 international caps, and Sushila Chanu was honoured with $2,875 for reaching 250 international caps. The title-winning teams of the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 in Hulunbuir City, China, and the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 in Rajgir, Bihar, were each rewarded with $3,450 per player and $1,725 per support staff. Meanwhile, the Junior Men’s Asia Cup 2024 and Junior Women’s Asia Cup 2025 winning teams received $2,300 per player and $1,150 per support staff in recognition of their achievements. The awards ceremony saw Savita winning the prestigious Hockey India Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year 2024, receiving $5,750 along with a trophy. A pivotal member of the Indian women’s hockey team, Savita has been instrumental in its success and this was her second Goalkeeper of the Year title. Recognised as one of the world's best first-rushers, Amit Rohidas won the Hockey India Pargat Singh Award for Defender of the Year 2024, receiving INR $5,750. Hardik Singh, who previously won both the Men’s Player of the Year and Midfielder of the Year awards, clinched the Hockey India Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year 2024, receiving $5,750. Meanwhile, Abhishek, a key figure in India's forward line, retained his Hockey India Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year, also receiving $5,750 and a trophy. Deepika and Araijeet Singh Hundal, who had breakthrough years with both junior and senior teams, won the titles Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year 2024 (Women Under-21) and Hockey India Jugraj Singh Award for Upcoming Player of the Year 2024 (Men Under-21), respectively, receiving $11,500 and a trophy each. Savita, Harmanpreet win big Savita, who recently earned her 300th international cap and has been instrumental in the Indian women’s hockey team’s successes, secured her third Hockey India Balbir Singh Senior Award for Player of the Year 2024 (Women). Meanwhile, the current Indian men’s team captain, who led India to a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics and several other memorable victories, won his second Senior Player of the Year award. He was honoured with the same at the 4th Annual Awards in 2021. Both players received $29,000 and a trophy. In a moment of great significance, the 1975 World Cup-winning team was honoured with the Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award 2024, with $57,000. The legendary players present on the occasion included Shri Leslie Fernandez, Shri Onkar Singh, Shri Ashok Diwan, Shri B P Govinda, Shri Kaliah P E, Brigadier HJS Chimni, Shri V J Phillips (leading scorer in the competition), Shri Ashok Kumar, Shri Aslam Sher Khan, and Brigadier Harcharan Singh. Shri Ashok Kumar received the award on behalf of the team captain, Shri Ajit Pal Singh, while Mrs Chanchal Randhawa (wife of Late Shri Surjit Singh), Shri Naveen Pawar (son of Late Shri Shivaji Pawar), Shri Satpal Singh (brother of Late Shri Mohinder Singh), Mrs Manjeet Kaur (wife of Late Shri Varinder Singh), and Mrs Sheela Kindo (wife of Late Shri Michael Kindo) were also present on this momentous occasion. Speaking on the win, Savita said, "I am truly honoured to receive this award for the third time. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of my teammates, coaches, family, and hockey fans. I am deeply grateful, and this recognition will only push me to work even harder. Thank you all for your love and encouragement—this one is for all of us!" Harmanpreet Singh said, "These awards mean a lot—they serve as motivation for the young players watching today. I hope both our men’s and women’s teams continue to give their best without stressing too much about results. I also hope our Indian hockey family keeps winning more and more medals. Today is a very special occasion, and we are fortunate to celebrate it with our legends. Just like them, I hope we bring the World Cup home next year."

Hockey India Annual Awards 2024: Savita & Harmanpreet named Players of the Year

ATM vs BAR, La Liga match live streaming, Date-Time, Venue: Atl&eacute;tico Madrid welcome Barcelona to the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano for a crucial La Liga showdown. With both teams closely contesting the top spots, this match could play a decisive role in the title race. Diego Simeone&rsquo;s Atl&eacute;tico look to bounce back from their recent Champions League elimination against Real Madrid, while Hansi Flick&rsquo;s Barcelona aim to strengthen their grip on domestic success.
Stars like Antoine Griezmann and Robert Lewandowski will be key in determining the outcome. The highly anticipated clash kicks off at 1:30 AM UK time, with fans eager to see how it shapes the rest of the season.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Where to watch the Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match&nbsp;on TV?</h2>
The Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match will not be telecasted on TV.&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Where to watch the Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match Live Streaming online on OTT?</h2>
The Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match is subject to be live-streamed on the Galaxy Racer (GXR) app and website in India.&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Which stadium will host the Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match?</h2>
The Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match will be played at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What time will the Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match?</h2>
The Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match will start at 9:00 PM local time (1:30 AM IST next day) on Sunday (Mar 16).&nbsp;
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/all-50-pakistan-cricketers-overlooked-in-the-hundred-draft-heres-why-8854794" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft &ndash; Here's why</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Probabale Playing XI</h2>
Atletico Madrid
Oblak; Molina, Gimenez, Lenglet, Reinildo; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Alvarez
Barcelona
Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Prediction</h2>
We predict a 1-1 draw in the match as both teams will be expected to give their best in a tight race to win La Liga title.&nbsp;

Sports, Football: Atlético Madrid welcome Barcelona to the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano for a crucial La Liga showdown, days after losing to Real Madrid in Champions League.

ATM vs BAR, La Liga match live streaming, Date-Time, Venue: Atlético Madrid welcome Barcelona to the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano for a crucial La Liga showdown. With both teams closely contesting the top spots, this match could play a decisive role in the title race. Diego Simeone’s Atlético look to bounce back from their recent Champions League elimination against Real Madrid, while Hansi Flick’s Barcelona aim to strengthen their grip on domestic success. Stars like Antoine Griezmann and Robert Lewandowski will be key in determining the outcome. The highly anticipated clash kicks off at 1:30 AM UK time, with fans eager to see how it shapes the rest of the season. Where to watch the Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match on TV? The Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match will not be telecasted on TV. Where to watch the Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match Live Streaming online on OTT? The Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match is subject to be live-streamed on the Galaxy Racer (GXR) app and website in India. Which stadium will host the Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match? The Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match will be played at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid. What time will the Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match? The Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona La Liga match will start at 9:00 PM local time (1:30 AM IST next day) on Sunday (Mar 16). ALSO READ | All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft – Here's why Probabale Playing XI Atletico Madrid Oblak; Molina, Gimenez, Lenglet, Reinildo; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Alvarez Barcelona Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski Prediction We predict a 1-1 draw in the match as both teams will be expected to give their best in a tight race to win La Liga title.

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Live Streaming || When and where to watch ATM vs BAR La Liga match -Probable Starting XI, Prediction

Aryna Sabalenka avenged her Australian Open loss to Madison Keys on Friday, thrashing the American 6-0, 6-1 to book an Indian Wells title showdown with teen sensation Mirra Andreeva.<o:p></o:p>
Red-hot Russian 17-year-old Andreeva showed plenty of poise in a 7-6 (7/1), 1-6, 6-3 victory over defending champion Iga Swiatek, ending the second-ranked Pole's bid to become the first woman to win three titles in the California desert.<o:p></o:p>
"I was hungry," said Sabalenka, who had made no bones about wanting revenge after Keys denied her bid for a third straight Australian Open title in January. "That Australian Open match was really heartbroken for me, and I really needed some time to recover after that.<o:p></o:p>
"And if I would lose today again, it would get in my head and I didn't want that to happen. I was really focused -- I was just really hungry to get this win against Madison."<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-indias-grand-prix-execution-shows-promise-for-future-championships-wpa-8854686" rel="dofollow">Exclusive | India&rsquo;s Grand Prix execution shows promise for future championships: WPA</a>
Keys, who was riding a 16-match winning streak, couldn't get a foot in the door.<o:p></o:p>
Sabalenka was untroubled by the cold, swirling wind on Stadium Court as she won the first 11 games.<o:p></o:p>
"I think tactically I played really great tennis," said Sabalenka, adding her strategy was to "just keep her out of the rhythm".<o:p></o:p>
The mis-firing Keys finally held serve for 5-1 in the second, but minutes later Sabalenka sealed the win and lined up a shot at the WTA tour's newest sensation Andreeva in what 26-year-old Sabalenka quipped would be "kind of like an old mama playing against a kid".<o:p></o:p>
Andreeva beat Swiatek for the second time in as many tournaments, having stunned the Polish star in the quarter-finals at Dubai last month on the way to becoming the youngest ever WTA 1000 champion.<o:p></o:p>
Swiatek, who hadn't dropped a set in winning 10 straight Indian Wells matches, looked supremely confident as she dropped just one point in her first three service games.<o:p></o:p>
But it was Andreeva who claimed the first break of the tense first set for a 5-4 lead.<o:p></o:p>
<h2>Super comfortable<o:p></o:p></h2>
After Swiatek broke back and they reached the tiebreaker, Andreeva seized control, opening with a blistering backhand winner and pocketing the set on her first opportunity as Swiatek sent a backhand wide.<o:p></o:p>
"I felt like I'm gonna go and play the tiebreak like it's the last tiebreak of my life," she said. "So I just went for all my shots. My serve was great. I just felt super comfortable and confident," she said.<o:p></o:p>
Swiatek put her frustrations aside and broke Andreeva to open the second set, breaking her twice more as the Russian's errors multiplied under pressure from her opponent.<o:p></o:p>
"The second set, it was a bit weird," Andreeva said. "I just felt like she literally overplayed me, because she was playing pretty deep with good height over the net. It was really hard to do something with these shots."<o:p></o:p>
The roles reversed again, however, when Andreeva stepped up her attack and broke Swiatek to open the third, and she sealed the win with her third break of the set.<o:p></o:p>
"I just decided to kind of still play the same but maybe go for my shots more, trying to play a little bit more aggressive," she said. "I feel also that I was dealing with the nerves and the pressure pretty good, so I just feel proud of myself."
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Sports, Tennis: Runners-up in Women's Singles in Australian Open Aryna Sabalenka was untroubled by the cold, swirling wind on Stadium Court as she won the first 11 games.

Aryna Sabalenka avenged her Australian Open loss to Madison Keys on Friday, thrashing the American 6-0, 6-1 to book an Indian Wells title showdown with teen sensation Mirra Andreeva. Red-hot Russian 17-year-old Andreeva showed plenty of poise in a 7-6 (7/1), 1-6, 6-3 victory over defending champion Iga Swiatek, ending the second-ranked Pole's bid to become the first woman to win three titles in the California desert. "I was hungry," said Sabalenka, who had made no bones about wanting revenge after Keys denied her bid for a third straight Australian Open title in January. "That Australian Open match was really heartbroken for me, and I really needed some time to recover after that. "And if I would lose today again, it would get in my head and I didn't want that to happen. I was really focused -- I was just really hungry to get this win against Madison." Also read | Exclusive | India’s Grand Prix execution shows promise for future championships: WPA Keys, who was riding a 16-match winning streak, couldn't get a foot in the door. Sabalenka was untroubled by the cold, swirling wind on Stadium Court as she won the first 11 games. "I think tactically I played really great tennis," said Sabalenka, adding her strategy was to "just keep her out of the rhythm". The mis-firing Keys finally held serve for 5-1 in the second, but minutes later Sabalenka sealed the win and lined up a shot at the WTA tour's newest sensation Andreeva in what 26-year-old Sabalenka quipped would be "kind of like an old mama playing against a kid". Andreeva beat Swiatek for the second time in as many tournaments, having stunned the Polish star in the quarter-finals at Dubai last month on the way to becoming the youngest ever WTA 1000 champion. Swiatek, who hadn't dropped a set in winning 10 straight Indian Wells matches, looked supremely confident as she dropped just one point in her first three service games. But it was Andreeva who claimed the first break of the tense first set for a 5-4 lead. Super comfortable After Swiatek broke back and they reached the tiebreaker, Andreeva seized control, opening with a blistering backhand winner and pocketing the set on her first opportunity as Swiatek sent a backhand wide. "I felt like I'm gonna go and play the tiebreak like it's the last tiebreak of my life," she said. "So I just went for all my shots. My serve was great. I just felt super comfortable and confident," she said. Swiatek put her frustrations aside and broke Andreeva to open the second set, breaking her twice more as the Russian's errors multiplied under pressure from her opponent. "The second set, it was a bit weird," Andreeva said. "I just felt like she literally overplayed me, because she was playing pretty deep with good height over the net. It was really hard to do something with these shots." The roles reversed again, however, when Andreeva stepped up her attack and broke Swiatek to open the third, and she sealed the win with her third break of the set. "I just decided to kind of still play the same but maybe go for my shots more, trying to play a little bit more aggressive," she said. "I feel also that I was dealing with the nerves and the pressure pretty good, so I just feel proud of myself." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sabalenka avenges AO loss with straight-set win over Keys to reach Indian Wells final

2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix, Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue:&nbsp;The 2025 Australian Grand Prix promises to deliver an electrifying start to the Formula 1 season as the world&rsquo;s best drivers take on the iconic Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. With a mix of high-speed straights and technical corners, the track is set to challenge both seasoned champions and rising stars.
This year, new regulations, team rivalries, and fresh talent add extra intrigue to the race. Fans can expect thrilling battles, strategic gambles, and the roar of cutting-edge hybrid engines. As the lights go out, the fight for supremacy begins&mdash;who will conquer Melbourne and make an early championship statement?
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Where to watch the 2025&nbsp;F1 Australian Grand Prix start&nbsp;on TV?</h2>
The F1 Australian Grand Prix start will not be telecast on TV while streaming is available on the Formula One app.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Where to watch the F1 Australian Grand Prix&nbsp; Live Streaming online on OTT?</h2>
The F1 Australian Grand Prix start will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website in India.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Which track will host the F1 Australian Grand Prix start?</h2>
The 2025&nbsp;F1 Australian Grand Prix will take place at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What time will the F1 Australian Grand Prix start?</h2>
The 2025&nbsp;F1 Australian Grand Prix start will start at 3:00 PM local time (9:30 AM IST)
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/all-50-pakistan-cricketers-overlooked-in-the-hundred-draft-heres-why-8854794" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft &ndash; Here's why</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Who have won last 5 Australian GPs?</h2>
2024 &ndash; Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 2023 &ndash; Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2022 &ndash; Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 2019 &ndash; Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 2018 &ndash; Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Who have taken pole position in last 5 Australian GPs?</h2>
2024 &ndash; Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2023 &ndash; Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2022 &ndash; Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 2019 &ndash; Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 2018 &ndash; Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

Sports, Formula 1: The Australian GP promises to deliver an electrifying start to the F 1 season as the world’s best drivers take on the iconic Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne.

2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix, Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: The 2025 Australian Grand Prix promises to deliver an electrifying start to the Formula 1 season as the world’s best drivers take on the iconic Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. With a mix of high-speed straights and technical corners, the track is set to challenge both seasoned champions and rising stars. This year, new regulations, team rivalries, and fresh talent add extra intrigue to the race. Fans can expect thrilling battles, strategic gambles, and the roar of cutting-edge hybrid engines. As the lights go out, the fight for supremacy begins—who will conquer Melbourne and make an early championship statement? Where to watch the 2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix start on TV? The F1 Australian Grand Prix start will not be telecast on TV while streaming is available on the Formula One app. Where to watch the F1 Australian Grand Prix Live Streaming online on OTT? The F1 Australian Grand Prix start will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website in India. Which track will host the F1 Australian Grand Prix start? The 2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix will take place at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne. What time will the F1 Australian Grand Prix start? The 2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix start will start at 3:00 PM local time (9:30 AM IST) ALSO READ | All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft – Here's why Who have won last 5 Australian GPs? 2024 – Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 2023 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2022 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 2019 – Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 2018 – Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) Who have taken pole position in last 5 Australian GPs? 2024 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2023 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2022 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 2019 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 2018 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

F1 Australian Grand Prix 2025: All you need to know about Formula One season opener - date, time, live streaming

Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue:&nbsp;The Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics are set to face off in an exciting NBA showdown, bringing together two Eastern Conference powerhouses with plenty of history and rivalry. The Celtics, one of the league&rsquo;s most storied franchises, boast a strong roster led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, making them a formidable force on both ends of the floor. On the other hand, the Nets, despite roster changes, continue to be a competitive team with emerging talent and veteran leadership.<o:p></o:p>
This matchup promises intense competition, as both teams fight for playoff positioning and momentum. The Celtics&rsquo; disciplined defense will be tested against the Nets&rsquo; ability to push the pace and create scoring opportunities. With passionate fan bases and a history of memorable battles, this game is sure to deliver high-level basketball. Expect a thrilling contest filled with highlight plays, strategic adjustments, and a playoff-like atmosphere.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Where to watch the Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest&nbsp;on TV?</h2>
The Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest will not be telecast on TV and can be viewed on NBA app.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Where to watch the Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest Live Streaming online on OTT?</h2>
The Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Which stadium will host the Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest?</h2>
The Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest will be played at the Big Apple's Barclays Center in Brooklyn.&nbsp;
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What time is the Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest?</h2>
The Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest will start at 3:30 AM IST on Sunday (Mar 16).
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/all-50-pakistan-cricketers-overlooked-in-the-hundred-draft-heres-why-8854794" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft &ndash; Here's why</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Squads</h2>
Brooklyn Nets:&nbsp;D'Angelo Russell, Keon Johnson, Cam Thomas, Reece Beekman, Tyson Etienne, Cam Thomas, Tyrese Martin, Keon Johnson, Jalen Wilson, Ziaire Williams, Ziaire Williams, Noah Clowney, Jalen Wilson, Cameron Johnson, Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson, Trendon Watford, Noah Clowney, Jalen Wilson, Tosan Evbuomwan, Nic Claxton, Day'Ron Sharpe, Trendon Watford, Noah Clowney
Boston Celtics: Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Payton Pritchard, JD Davison, Jrue Holiday, Payton Pritchar, Jaylen Brown DD, Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Jaylen Brown DD, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Sam Hauser, Drew Peterson, Xavier Tillman, Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta, Al Horford, Xavier Tillman
&nbsp;

Sports, NBA: The Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics are set to face off in an exciting NBA showdown, bringing together two Eastern Conference powerhouses.

Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: The Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics are set to face off in an exciting NBA showdown, bringing together two Eastern Conference powerhouses with plenty of history and rivalry. The Celtics, one of the league’s most storied franchises, boast a strong roster led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, making them a formidable force on both ends of the floor. On the other hand, the Nets, despite roster changes, continue to be a competitive team with emerging talent and veteran leadership. This matchup promises intense competition, as both teams fight for playoff positioning and momentum. The Celtics’ disciplined defense will be tested against the Nets’ ability to push the pace and create scoring opportunities. With passionate fan bases and a history of memorable battles, this game is sure to deliver high-level basketball. Expect a thrilling contest filled with highlight plays, strategic adjustments, and a playoff-like atmosphere. Where to watch the Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest on TV? The Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest will not be telecast on TV and can be viewed on NBA app. Where to watch the Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest Live Streaming online on OTT? The Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. Which stadium will host the Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest? The Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest will be played at the Big Apple's Barclays Center in Brooklyn. What time is the Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest? The Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics NBA contest will start at 3:30 AM IST on Sunday (Mar 16). ALSO READ | All 50 Pakistan cricketers overlooked in The Hundred Draft – Here's why Squads Brooklyn Nets: D'Angelo Russell, Keon Johnson, Cam Thomas, Reece Beekman, Tyson Etienne, Cam Thomas, Tyrese Martin, Keon Johnson, Jalen Wilson, Ziaire Williams, Ziaire Williams, Noah Clowney, Jalen Wilson, Cameron Johnson, Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson, Trendon Watford, Noah Clowney, Jalen Wilson, Tosan Evbuomwan, Nic Claxton, Day'Ron Sharpe, Trendon Watford, Noah Clowney Boston Celtics: Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Payton Pritchard, JD Davison, Jrue Holiday, Payton Pritchar, Jaylen Brown DD, Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Jaylen Brown DD, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Sam Hauser, Drew Peterson, Xavier Tillman, Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta, Al Horford, Xavier Tillman

Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics Free Live Streaming | When and where to watch NBA 2024-25 live online

Indian shuttler and Commonwealth Games champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lakshya-sen">Lakshya Sen</a> bowed out of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/all-england-open">All England Open</a> 2025 after a quarter-final defeat in the men's singles event in Birmingham on Friday (March 14).
Ranked 15th in the world, Lakshya Sen lost 21-10, 21-16 to reigning Asian Games champion and world No. 6 Shi Feng Li of China. Sen started strong, leading 4-3 in the opening exchanges, but Shi Feng Li seized momentum with a nine-point streak, taking control of the game. Lakshya could only manage six more points in the first game as Shi Feng Li wrapped it up comfortably.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/vintage-sachin-kallis-backfoot-and-watsons-heroics-tino-best-relives-imls-most-epic-moments-8854748">Vintage Sachin, Kallis' backfoot and Watson&rsquo;s heroics: Tino Best relives IML&rsquo;s most epic moments</a>
Sen made a brief resurgence in the second game, leading 11-8 at the mid-game interval. However, Shi Feng Li shifted gears after the break, securing win in 45 minutes. This was Sen's third loss in seven encounters against the Chinese shuttler. The Indian had previously reached the semi-finals of the tournament in 2024 and finished as the runner-up in 2022.
<h2 data-start="596" data-end="959">Treesa-Gayatri duo bow out</h2>
In the women's doubles category, the Indian duo of Treesa Jolly and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/gayatri-gopichand">Gayatri Gopichand</a> suffered a 21-14, 21-10 loss in the quarter-finals against world No. 2 pair Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning of China. The Indian pair fought back early to trail by just a point at the mid-game break in the first game, but Liu and Tan dominated thereafter, conceding only four more points to seal the opener. The second game was one-sided, with the Chinese pair controlling proceedings from start to finish, clinching the match in 46 minutes.
Earlier in the tournament, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu crashed out in the first round of the women's singles event on Wednesday. Meanwhile, world No. 28 Malvika Bansod and the men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy exited the competition on Thursday. Shetty and Rankireddy were forced to retire from their round-of-16 match after Chirag Shetty suffered a back muscle strain.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports: This was Sen's third loss in seven matches against the Chinese shuttler. Lakshya previously reached the semi-finals of tournament in 2024 & finished as runner-up in 2022

Indian shuttler and Commonwealth Games champion Lakshya Sen bowed out of the All England Open 2025 after a quarter-final defeat in the men's singles event in Birmingham on Friday (March 14). Ranked 15th in the world, Lakshya Sen lost 21-10, 21-16 to reigning Asian Games champion and world No. 6 Shi Feng Li of China. Sen started strong, leading 4-3 in the opening exchanges, but Shi Feng Li seized momentum with a nine-point streak, taking control of the game. Lakshya could only manage six more points in the first game as Shi Feng Li wrapped it up comfortably. Also Read: Vintage Sachin, Kallis' backfoot and Watson’s heroics: Tino Best relives IML’s most epic moments Sen made a brief resurgence in the second game, leading 11-8 at the mid-game interval. However, Shi Feng Li shifted gears after the break, securing win in 45 minutes. This was Sen's third loss in seven encounters against the Chinese shuttler. The Indian had previously reached the semi-finals of the tournament in 2024 and finished as the runner-up in 2022. Treesa-Gayatri duo bow out In the women's doubles category, the Indian duo of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand suffered a 21-14, 21-10 loss in the quarter-finals against world No. 2 pair Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning of China. The Indian pair fought back early to trail by just a point at the mid-game break in the first game, but Liu and Tan dominated thereafter, conceding only four more points to seal the opener. The second game was one-sided, with the Chinese pair controlling proceedings from start to finish, clinching the match in 46 minutes. Earlier in the tournament, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu crashed out in the first round of the women's singles event on Wednesday. Meanwhile, world No. 28 Malvika Bansod and the men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy exited the competition on Thursday. Shetty and Rankireddy were forced to retire from their round-of-16 match after Chirag Shetty suffered a back muscle strain. (With inputs from agencies)

All England Open Badminton Championships: Lakshya Sen crashes out after losing his quarter-final match

As the final day of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/world-para-athletics-grand-prix-2025">World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025</a> in New Delhi drew to a close, the sense of accomplishment was undeniable. The competition had come together in record time, and despite the challenges, the event had set a promising precedent. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s fantastic what the local organising committee (LOC) have achieved in such a short space of time," Martin Chorley, senior manager, World Para Athletics, opined.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The contracts for this Grand Prix were only awarded in December 2024, and they started developing it in January. To deliver to our level in just two months&mdash;considering the technical requirements we set&mdash;is truly impressive. It gives me confidence moving forward for the World Championships in September that the LOC is competent and capable of delivering a great event.&rdquo;
India, over the last half-decade, has been emerging as a strong sporting nation, not just in Asia but globally. Yet, this was the first time the country hosted a Grand Prix event. The official acknowledged this, noting that while there had always been an interest in developing events, there hadn&rsquo;t been a lasting impact from past major tournaments like the Commonwealth Games in 2010.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/league-cup-arne-slot-eyes-first-liverpool-trophy-against-newcastle-united-in-final-8854674">League Cup: Arne Slot eyes first Liverpool trophy against Newcastle United in final</a>
&ldquo;There was not that generational legacy developed from that event,&rdquo; he pointed out. &ldquo;But now, they see the potential in growing their sport and their athletes. With every <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/paralympic-games">Paralympic Games</a>, India&rsquo;s medal tally has improved. The LOC now understands that investing in the sport brings results. They are aiming for something bigger&mdash;perhaps even a bid for the 2036 Paralympic Games.&rdquo;
He emphasised how hosting such events serves as a stepping stone. &ldquo;Starting with smaller events like the Grand Prix and building up to the World Championships&mdash;it&rsquo;s the pathway forward. Not only for bigger events but also for the athletes themselves to achieve higher and better results.&rdquo;
One of the noticeable aspects of the competition was the presence of neutral Paralympic athletes, primarily from Russia and Belarus. When asked about their participation, the official explained that they were following the neutral para-athletics regulations. &ldquo;We comply with the direction given by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/international-paralympic-committee">International Paralympic Committee</a> (IPC), and as long as it's within regulations, we continue as instructed. It encourages better performance among all nations and expands the athlete pool at our competitions.&rdquo;
For India&rsquo;s para-athletes, hosting a Grand Prix at home provided an invaluable opportunity, especially for the younger athletes. Many established names were missing from the action, but that was part of the process. &ldquo;It helps in two ways,&rdquo; Martin explained.
&ldquo;Athletes who are already classified get to experience an international event, moving from a national level to the lowest tier of world para-athletics. They learn about call rooms, field play procedures, and international rules&mdash;things that prepare them for higher-level events. Secondly, our Grand Prix guarantees classification opportunities. Up-and-coming athletes from all nations get a chance to be internationally classified, which is a crucial step in competing at the highest levels.&rdquo;
Classification is one of the most vital aspects of para-athletics, and having an event in India made it easier for local athletes. &ldquo;It allows them to be classified locally instead of traveling far. But the process remains the same for all nations&mdash;slots are equally distributed based on the number of athletes requiring classification.&rdquo;
<h2>'Multi-year agreement with India'</h2>
The Grand Prix also served as a test run for the upcoming World Championships in September. &ldquo;It engages the LOC with our procedures and regulations, but it also makes them aware of what they need to upscale. We are also conducting training for national technical officials because we need a strong pool of NTOs to support our international officials for the World Championships.&rdquo; Hosting such events was not just about competition but also about education and long-term development. &ldquo;The Grand Prix helps in classification training and officiating. It&rsquo;s a smaller event, where we learn, make mistakes, and improve.&rdquo;
The partnership between World Para Athletics and India is not a short-term one. &ldquo;They have signed a multi-year agreement with us,&rdquo; Martin confirmed. &ldquo;The New Delhi Grand Prix will continue for four years. They didn&rsquo;t just want to host the World Championships and be done with it. They want to build a legacy.&rdquo;
India was awarded the 2025 World Championships on short notice, which raised questions about how that process unfolded. &ldquo;We went through a difficult period. Our previous hosts backed out, and we had to restart the process,&rdquo; Martin revealed.
&ldquo;Normally, a country has two years to prepare. But because of COVID-19 disruptions, our calendar was off-cycle, and we had to adjust. This led to three consecutive World Championships&mdash;Paris 2023, Kobe 2024, and now New Delhi 2025. India stepped in with a short timeline but a strong commitment, and seeing what they have done with the Grand Prix, I have full confidence they'll deliver for the World Championships.&rdquo;
Attendance at the Grand Prix was relatively modest, but there are hopes for growth. &ldquo;Hosting both the Grand Prix and the World Championships in the same year gives countries a preview of what to expect. Some nations may have waited for the World Championships before committing. But with the track and stadium undergoing refurbishments, we expect more participation in 2026 and beyond.&rdquo;

Sports: India, over the last half-decade, has been emerging as a strong sporting nation, not just in Asia but globally. Yet, this was the first time India hosted a Grand Prix event

As the final day of the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025 in New Delhi drew to a close, the sense of accomplishment was undeniable. The competition had come together in record time, and despite the challenges, the event had set a promising precedent. “It’s fantastic what the local organising committee (LOC) have achieved in such a short space of time," Martin Chorley, senior manager, World Para Athletics, opined. “The contracts for this Grand Prix were only awarded in December 2024, and they started developing it in January. To deliver to our level in just two months—considering the technical requirements we set—is truly impressive. It gives me confidence moving forward for the World Championships in September that the LOC is competent and capable of delivering a great event.” India, over the last half-decade, has been emerging as a strong sporting nation, not just in Asia but globally. Yet, this was the first time the country hosted a Grand Prix event. The official acknowledged this, noting that while there had always been an interest in developing events, there hadn’t been a lasting impact from past major tournaments like the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Also Read: League Cup: Arne Slot eyes first Liverpool trophy against Newcastle United in final “There was not that generational legacy developed from that event,” he pointed out. “But now, they see the potential in growing their sport and their athletes. With every Paralympic Games, India’s medal tally has improved. The LOC now understands that investing in the sport brings results. They are aiming for something bigger—perhaps even a bid for the 2036 Paralympic Games.” He emphasised how hosting such events serves as a stepping stone. “Starting with smaller events like the Grand Prix and building up to the World Championships—it’s the pathway forward. Not only for bigger events but also for the athletes themselves to achieve higher and better results.” One of the noticeable aspects of the competition was the presence of neutral Paralympic athletes, primarily from Russia and Belarus. When asked about their participation, the official explained that they were following the neutral para-athletics regulations. “We comply with the direction given by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and as long as it's within regulations, we continue as instructed. It encourages better performance among all nations and expands the athlete pool at our competitions.” For India’s para-athletes, hosting a Grand Prix at home provided an invaluable opportunity, especially for the younger athletes. Many established names were missing from the action, but that was part of the process. “It helps in two ways,” Martin explained. “Athletes who are already classified get to experience an international event, moving from a national level to the lowest tier of world para-athletics. They learn about call rooms, field play procedures, and international rules—things that prepare them for higher-level events. Secondly, our Grand Prix guarantees classification opportunities. Up-and-coming athletes from all nations get a chance to be internationally classified, which is a crucial step in competing at the highest levels.” Classification is one of the most vital aspects of para-athletics, and having an event in India made it easier for local athletes. “It allows them to be classified locally instead of traveling far. But the process remains the same for all nations—slots are equally distributed based on the number of athletes requiring classification.” 'Multi-year agreement with India' The Grand Prix also served as a test run for the upcoming World Championships in September. “It engages the LOC with our procedures and regulations, but it also makes them aware of what they need to upscale. We are also conducting training for national technical officials because we need a strong pool of NTOs to support our international officials for the World Championships.” Hosting such events was not just about competition but also about education and long-term development. “The Grand Prix helps in classification training and officiating. It’s a smaller event, where we learn, make mistakes, and improve.” The partnership between World Para Athletics and India is not a short-term one. “They have signed a multi-year agreement with us,” Martin confirmed. “The New Delhi Grand Prix will continue for four years. They didn’t just want to host the World Championships and be done with it. They want to build a legacy.” India was awarded the 2025 World Championships on short notice, which raised questions about how that process unfolded. “We went through a difficult period. Our previous hosts backed out, and we had to restart the process,” Martin revealed. “Normally, a country has two years to prepare. But because of COVID-19 disruptions, our calendar was off-cycle, and we had to adjust. This led to three consecutive World Championships—Paris 2023, Kobe 2024, and now New Delhi 2025. India stepped in with a short timeline but a strong commitment, and seeing what they have done with the Grand Prix, I have full confidence they'll deliver for the World Championships.” Attendance at the Grand Prix was relatively modest, but there are hopes for growth. “Hosting both the Grand Prix and the World Championships in the same year gives countries a preview of what to expect. Some nations may have waited for the World Championships before committing. But with the track and stadium undergoing refurbishments, we expect more participation in 2026 and beyond.”

Exclusive | India’s Grand Prix execution shows promise for future championships: WPA

Sebastian Coe on Friday criticised the election process for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee, just days away from a vote to decide if he becomes the most powerful figure in sport.
Coe is one of the frontrunners among the seven candidates in the election to succeed Thomas Bach as leader of the Olympic movement.&nbsp;
The vote takes place next Thursday in Costa Navarino, Greece.
The Briton, the president of World Athletics, has been frustrated by the brevity of the 20-minute presentation that each candidate was allowed to give to the 109-strong club of IOC members that will elect the new leader.
Coe, 68, also bemoaned the lack of access to the IOC members.
"Is it a process that needs looking at? Yes it does," he said in a call with international agencies.
"I think there are better and more inclusive ways of doing that."
Asked what needed improving, he said: "More access to the members, more transparency."
He added: "It has been difficult to engage and I don't think those are the guiding principles of an election.
"An election is very important, in one big way, in that it gives people the opportunity to have a conversation.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/jasprit-bumrah-injury-update-latest-news-blow-for-mumbai-indians-as-pacer-ruled-out-of-first-few-ipl-2025-games-8852847" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Jasprit Bumrah injury update: Blow for Mumbai Indians as pacer ruled out of first few IPL 2025 games</a>
"In future, this needs to be a more open and expansive process."
Coe's main rivals are Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior, the son of the man who led the IOC for 21 years until 2001, and Kirsty Coventry, the Zimbabwean seven-time Olympic swimming medallist.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports: Sebastian Coe is one of the frontrunners among the seven candidates in the election to succeed Thomas Bach as leader of the Olympic movement.

Sebastian Coe on Friday criticised the election process for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee, just days away from a vote to decide if he becomes the most powerful figure in sport. Coe is one of the frontrunners among the seven candidates in the election to succeed Thomas Bach as leader of the Olympic movement. The vote takes place next Thursday in Costa Navarino, Greece. The Briton, the president of World Athletics, has been frustrated by the brevity of the 20-minute presentation that each candidate was allowed to give to the 109-strong club of IOC members that will elect the new leader. Coe, 68, also bemoaned the lack of access to the IOC members. "Is it a process that needs looking at? Yes it does," he said in a call with international agencies. "I think there are better and more inclusive ways of doing that." Asked what needed improving, he said: "More access to the members, more transparency." He added: "It has been difficult to engage and I don't think those are the guiding principles of an election. "An election is very important, in one big way, in that it gives people the opportunity to have a conversation. ALSO READ | Jasprit Bumrah injury update: Blow for Mumbai Indians as pacer ruled out of first few IPL 2025 games "In future, this needs to be a more open and expansive process." Coe's main rivals are Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior, the son of the man who led the IOC for 21 years until 2001, and Kirsty Coventry, the Zimbabwean seven-time Olympic swimming medallist. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sebastian Coe criticises International Olympic Committee election process

sports

Sports, News on Sports, stories on Sports, articles on Sports, Sports stories at Wion, Sports news, Sports latest news