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The absence of star <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/para-athletes">para-athletes</a> like javelin thrower <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sumit-antil" rel="dofollow">Sumit Antil</a> and discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya cast a shadow over India's campaign at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025, which began on a subdued note on Tuesday (March 11).
With the Para Athletics World Championships scheduled for September, several top Indian athletes skipped the Grand Prix to focus on their training, said Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) president and two-time Paralympic gold medalist <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/devendra-jhajharia" rel="dofollow">Devendra Jhajharia</a>. Additionally, many Indian and foreign para-athletes who had initially confirmed their participation pulled out, resulting in events with minimal competition&mdash;some featuring just a single athlete.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/all-england-open-badminton-championships-lakshya-advances-prannoy-ousted-8844146">All England Open Badminton Championships: Lakshya advances, Prannoy ousted</a>
The men&rsquo;s high jump T42 final, for athletes with single above-the-knee amputations or comparable disabilities, had only one competitor, Ramsingbhai Gobindbhai Padhiyar, after three others&mdash;Lokesh Mantra, Shailesh Kumar, and Varun Singh Bhati&mdash;pulled out.
In the men&rsquo;s javelin throw (F33, F34) category&mdash;designed for athletes with moderate movement and coordination impairments&mdash;only two competitors participated. Uzbekistan&rsquo;s Oybek Egamnazarov secured gold with an 18.05 m throw, while India&rsquo;s Devershee Sachan finished second with 11.34 m.
The men&rsquo;s 100m (T11, T12) sprint, for athletes with near-total visual impairment, saw Brazil&rsquo;s Joeferson Marinho de Oliveira clinching gold with 11.17 seconds. India&rsquo;s Vishnu (12.39 sec) and Pragadeeshwara Raja Moorthy (12.94 sec) secured second and third in a three-man field, while another Indian athlete, Ramanjee, did not start.
<h2>PCI president remains optimistic</h2>
Despite the lack of elite competition, PCI president Jhajharia remained optimistic, calling it a 'big tournament' and emphasising its significance ahead of the World Championships. "Every athlete dreams of playing for their country, and this event is a step in that direction," he said.
Jhajharia defended the absence of top-tier para-athletes, explaining that their training schedules prioritise peak performance at major global events. "Athletes plan long-term. Fitness is critical, and even a slight drop can significantly impact performance," he said, suggesting future Grand Prix events in India will likely see stronger participation.
However, with some of the biggest names missing and several events lacking depth, the tournament struggled to live up to expectations, raising concerns about its competitiveness and appeal.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports: With the Para Athletics World Championships scheduled for September, several top Indian athletes skipped the Grand Prix to focus on their training

The absence of star para-athletes like javelin thrower Sumit Antil and discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya cast a shadow over India's campaign at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025, which began on a subdued note on Tuesday (March 11). With the Para Athletics World Championships scheduled for September, several top Indian athletes skipped the Grand Prix to focus on their training, said Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) president and two-time Paralympic gold medalist Devendra Jhajharia. Additionally, many Indian and foreign para-athletes who had initially confirmed their participation pulled out, resulting in events with minimal competition—some featuring just a single athlete. Also Read: All England Open Badminton Championships: Lakshya advances, Prannoy ousted The men’s high jump T42 final, for athletes with single above-the-knee amputations or comparable disabilities, had only one competitor, Ramsingbhai Gobindbhai Padhiyar, after three others—Lokesh Mantra, Shailesh Kumar, and Varun Singh Bhati—pulled out. In the men’s javelin throw (F33, F34) category—designed for athletes with moderate movement and coordination impairments—only two competitors participated. Uzbekistan’s Oybek Egamnazarov secured gold with an 18.05 m throw, while India’s Devershee Sachan finished second with 11.34 m. The men’s 100m (T11, T12) sprint, for athletes with near-total visual impairment, saw Brazil’s Joeferson Marinho de Oliveira clinching gold with 11.17 seconds. India’s Vishnu (12.39 sec) and Pragadeeshwara Raja Moorthy (12.94 sec) secured second and third in a three-man field, while another Indian athlete, Ramanjee, did not start. PCI president remains optimistic Despite the lack of elite competition, PCI president Jhajharia remained optimistic, calling it a 'big tournament' and emphasising its significance ahead of the World Championships. "Every athlete dreams of playing for their country, and this event is a step in that direction," he said. Jhajharia defended the absence of top-tier para-athletes, explaining that their training schedules prioritise peak performance at major global events. "Athletes plan long-term. Fitness is critical, and even a slight drop can significantly impact performance," he said, suggesting future Grand Prix events in India will likely see stronger participation. However, with some of the biggest names missing and several events lacking depth, the tournament struggled to live up to expectations, raising concerns about its competitiveness and appeal. (With inputs from agencies)

Low turnout, athlete withdrawals cast shadow over India's World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025

India's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lakshya-sen">Lakshya Sen</a> staged a remarkable comeback to secure a second-round spot at the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/all-england-open">All England Championships</a> on Tuesday (March 11), while compatriot HS Prannoy suffered an early exit in the men's singles competition.
World No. 15 Lakshya fought back from a game down to defeat Chinese Taipei&rsquo;s world No. 37, SU Li Yang, with a hard-fought 13-21, 21-17, 21-15 victory in the opening round of the prestigious Super 1000 event. The 23-year-old from Almora will now take on Indonesia&rsquo;s third seed, Jonatan Christie, whom he had defeated during his fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics last year.
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Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/hs-prannoy">HS Prannoy</a>, a bronze medallist at the 2023 World Championships and Asian Games, fell short against France&rsquo;s Toma Junior Popov. Despite a 53-minute battle, the world No. 29 Indian lost 19-21, 16-21 to the 17th-ranked Frenchman. Prannoy had his chances in the first game, leading 6-1 and later 15-12, but Popov turned the contest around with a strong finish. In the second game, Prannoy fought back from 9-13 to level at 13-13, but Popov&rsquo;s aggressive play saw him close out the match convincingly.
<h2 data-start="595" data-end="1100">Satish-Aadya lose</h2>
In the mixed doubles category, the Indian pair of Sathish Kumar Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath faced a tough challenge against China&rsquo;s world No. 7 duo, Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui. The Indian team lost 6-21, 15-21 in a 51-minute encounter.
Lakshya&rsquo;s match was an intense contest, with the Indian bouncing back in the second game after a tight battle until 17-17. He capitalized on three crucial errors from Yang to clinch four consecutive points and force a decider. In the third game, Lakshya led 11-9 at the interval. Though Yang fought back to level at 15-15, Lakshya displayed composure and dominance, securing the last six points with a combination of powerful returns, a body smash, and unforced errors from his opponent.
On Wednesday, two-time Olympic medallist <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pv-sindhu">PV Sindhu</a> and world No. 1 men&rsquo;s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will begin their campaign.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports: Lakshya fought back from a game down to defeat Chinese Taipei’s SU Li Yang, with a hard-fought 13-21, 21-17, 21-15 win  in the opening round

India's Lakshya Sen staged a remarkable comeback to secure a second-round spot at the All England Championships on Tuesday (March 11), while compatriot HS Prannoy suffered an early exit in the men's singles competition. World No. 15 Lakshya fought back from a game down to defeat Chinese Taipei’s world No. 37, SU Li Yang, with a hard-fought 13-21, 21-17, 21-15 victory in the opening round of the prestigious Super 1000 event. The 23-year-old from Almora will now take on Indonesia’s third seed, Jonatan Christie, whom he had defeated during his fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics last year. Also Read: Vanessa Low: Leaping beyond limits, one record at a time Meanwhile, HS Prannoy, a bronze medallist at the 2023 World Championships and Asian Games, fell short against France’s Toma Junior Popov. Despite a 53-minute battle, the world No. 29 Indian lost 19-21, 16-21 to the 17th-ranked Frenchman. Prannoy had his chances in the first game, leading 6-1 and later 15-12, but Popov turned the contest around with a strong finish. In the second game, Prannoy fought back from 9-13 to level at 13-13, but Popov’s aggressive play saw him close out the match convincingly. Satish-Aadya lose In the mixed doubles category, the Indian pair of Sathish Kumar Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath faced a tough challenge against China’s world No. 7 duo, Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui. The Indian team lost 6-21, 15-21 in a 51-minute encounter. Lakshya’s match was an intense contest, with the Indian bouncing back in the second game after a tight battle until 17-17. He capitalized on three crucial errors from Yang to clinch four consecutive points and force a decider. In the third game, Lakshya led 11-9 at the interval. Though Yang fought back to level at 15-15, Lakshya displayed composure and dominance, securing the last six points with a combination of powerful returns, a body smash, and unforced errors from his opponent. On Wednesday, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and world No. 1 men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will begin their campaign. (With inputs from agencies)

All England Open Badminton Championships: Lakshya advances, Prannoy ousted

The India cricket team had a memorable Sunday (Mar 9) evening after they clinched the Champions Trophy 2025, beating New Zealand in the final. KL Rahul played a crucial role in India&rsquo;s chase and the backing of the entire nation. However, despite his big day for Team India, his father-in-law and veteran actor Suniel Shetty skipped the Champions Trophy final in Dubai and was instead spotted on at the India Paddle Festival in Mangalore.&nbsp;
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p>Shetty skips KL Rahul&rsquo;s big day</h2>
<o:p></o:p>Having beaten Australia in the semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025, the eyes were on Sunday&rsquo;s final where Indian fraternity was in big attendance. Former players, politicians and businessmen were spotted flooding the Dubai International Stadium. Senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had their families with them for the final, but KL Rahul was in spotlight both on and off the field.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
Suneil Shetty, the father-in-law of Rahul, was not in attendance to witness India&rsquo;s win over New Zealand. Interestingly, he also skipped the IIFA awards, which were held on the same day in Jaipur.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/watch-rohit-sharma-returns-home-to-massive-reception-after-champions-trophy-win-8841100" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Watch - Rohit Sharma returns home to massive reception after Champions Trophy win</a> 
Shetty was spotted in his hometown of Mangalore where he was in attendance for the India Paddle Festival. He shared insights from his childhood during an interaction with his fans and media.<o:p></o:p>
On the other hand, Rahul played a key role in India&rsquo;s win where he scored 34 off 33 and helped India lift the Champions Trophy for the third time. Overall, during the tournament, Rahul scored 140 runs in four innings and was dismissed only once.

Sports: Despite KL Rahul's big day for Team India, his father-in-law and veteran actor Suniel Shetty skipped the Champions Trophy final in Dubai

The India cricket team had a memorable Sunday (Mar 9) evening after they clinched the Champions Trophy 2025, beating New Zealand in the final. KL Rahul played a crucial role in India’s chase and the backing of the entire nation. However, despite his big day for Team India, his father-in-law and veteran actor Suniel Shetty skipped the Champions Trophy final in Dubai and was instead spotted on at the India Paddle Festival in Mangalore. Shetty skips KL Rahul’s big day Having beaten Australia in the semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025, the eyes were on Sunday’s final where Indian fraternity was in big attendance. Former players, politicians and businessmen were spotted flooding the Dubai International Stadium. Senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had their families with them for the final, but KL Rahul was in spotlight both on and off the field. Suneil Shetty, the father-in-law of Rahul, was not in attendance to witness India’s win over New Zealand. Interestingly, he also skipped the IIFA awards, which were held on the same day in Jaipur. ALSO READ | Watch - Rohit Sharma returns home to massive reception after Champions Trophy win Shetty was spotted in his hometown of Mangalore where he was in attendance for the India Paddle Festival. He shared insights from his childhood during an interaction with his fans and media. On the other hand, Rahul played a key role in India’s win where he scored 34 off 33 and helped India lift the Champions Trophy for the third time. Overall, during the tournament, Rahul scored 140 runs in four innings and was dismissed only once.

Suniel Shetty skips son-in-law KL Rahul's big day in Champions Trophy, spotted at India Paddle Festival

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said his team will face Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday, playing for club doctor Carles Minarro, who died on Saturday. <o:p></o:p>
The Catalan giants hold a 1-0 lead in the last 16 tie from the first leg in Lisbon ahead of the clash at the Olympic Stadium.<o:p></o:p>
Barcelona's La Liga match on Saturday against Osasuna was postponed 20 minutes before kick-off after the 53-year-old doctor died that afternoon.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nfl/josh-allen-from-small-town-farm-boy-to-highest-paid-quarterback-in-nfl-history-8840504" rel="dofollow">Josh Allen: From small-town farm boy to highest-paid quarterback in NFL history</a>
"It's a huge loss, Carles was a really great person, but also a great doctor, and this combination of Ricard (Pruna, another club doctor) and him was unbelievable for the club and for the team," Flick told a news conference Monday. "(He was) one of the big puzzle (pieces) for the success, because they are doing a great job, and we miss him, but it's also life. I think he will support us from above.<o:p></o:p>
"The team also, we want to play... for him. Now in this situation, it's very important that we win, and this is the focus, what we want to do tomorrow."<o:p></o:p>
Doctor Minarro had been working with different Barcelona sides since 2017, and began working with the men's football first team a few months ago.<o:p></o:p>
Barcelona beat Benfica 5-4 in Lisbon in the group stage and then again with 10 men for most of the game last week after Pau Cubarsi was sent off.<o:p></o:p>
However, Flick said his squad would not take progress to the quarterfinals as a given, with Benfica beating Juventus on the road in the group stage and thrashing Atletico Madrid at home.<o:p></o:p>
"None of us thinks that it's done, and this is the important thing," continued the coach. "Their away matches in the Champions League, they are doing really great, they won a lot of matches away. So we have to think about that and take care."
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: Barcelona's La Liga match on Saturday against Osasuna was postponed 20 minutes before kick-off after the 53-year-old doctor died that afternoon.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said his team will face Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday, playing for club doctor Carles Minarro, who died on Saturday. The Catalan giants hold a 1-0 lead in the last 16 tie from the first leg in Lisbon ahead of the clash at the Olympic Stadium. Barcelona's La Liga match on Saturday against Osasuna was postponed 20 minutes before kick-off after the 53-year-old doctor died that afternoon. Also read | Josh Allen: From small-town farm boy to highest-paid quarterback in NFL history "It's a huge loss, Carles was a really great person, but also a great doctor, and this combination of Ricard (Pruna, another club doctor) and him was unbelievable for the club and for the team," Flick told a news conference Monday. "(He was) one of the big puzzle (pieces) for the success, because they are doing a great job, and we miss him, but it's also life. I think he will support us from above. "The team also, we want to play... for him. Now in this situation, it's very important that we win, and this is the focus, what we want to do tomorrow." Doctor Minarro had been working with different Barcelona sides since 2017, and began working with the men's football first team a few months ago. Barcelona beat Benfica 5-4 in Lisbon in the group stage and then again with 10 men for most of the game last week after Pau Cubarsi was sent off. However, Flick said his squad would not take progress to the quarterfinals as a given, with Benfica beating Juventus on the road in the group stage and thrashing Atletico Madrid at home. "None of us thinks that it's done, and this is the important thing," continued the coach. "Their away matches in the Champions League, they are doing really great, they won a lot of matches away. So we have to think about that and take care." 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.

Flick says Barcelona to play Champions League game against Benfica for late team doctor

Indian badminton stars are set to take on one of their toughest challenges as they compete in the prestigious <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/all-england-open">All England Championships</a>, starting Tuesday in Birmingham. Despite decades of success on the global stage, the elusive All England title has remained out of reach since Pullela Gopichand's triumph in 2001 and Prakash Padukone's historic win in 1980.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/saina-nehwal">Saina Nehwal</a> and Lakshya Sen came closest in recent years, finishing as runners-up in 2015 and 2022, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand have made back-to-back semi-final appearances. Yet, the title has continued to slip through India&rsquo;s grasp.
This year, the challenge is steeper as top Indian shuttlers enter the tournament struggling with injuries and inconsistent form.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/government-cracks-down-on-tobacco-alcohol-advertisements-in-ipl-8840083">Government cracks down on tobacco, alcohol advertisements in Indian Premier League</a>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pv-sindhu">PV Sindhu</a>, a two-time Olympic medallist, returns after a hamstring injury that forced her to withdraw from the Asia Mixed Team Championships. The 29-year-old, now coached by Indonesian Irwanshyah Adi Pratama, faces Korea&rsquo;s Ga Eun Kim in the opening round, with potential clashes against China's Han Yue and Indonesia&rsquo;s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in later rounds.
Lakshya Sen, a semi-finalist last year, has had a rocky start to 2025 with early exits in previous tournaments. The 23-year-old faces Japan's Koki Watanabe in his opening match and could meet Indonesia&rsquo;s Jonatan Christie in the second round.
HS Prannoy, currently ranked World No. 30, has struggled since recovering from chikungunya ahead of the Paris Olympics. He faces France&rsquo;s Toma Junior Popov in the first round.
Men&rsquo;s doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, seeded 7th, have been India's most consistent pair, showing strong performances at the Malaysia and India Opens. They begin their campaign against Denmark&rsquo;s Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard.
Women&rsquo;s doubles pair Treesa Jolly and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/gayatri-gopichand">Gayatri Gopichand</a>, ranked World No. 9, take on Chinese Taipei&rsquo;s Shuo Yun Sung and Chien Hui Yu. Another Indian duo, Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto, will face Pei Shan Hsieh and En-Tzu Hung from Taipei.
In mixed doubles, India is fielding three pairs: Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, and Sathish Karunakaran with Aadya Variyath.&nbsp;Despite the challenges, Indian shuttlers remain determined to break the All England title drought. With experience, talent, and resilience, they aim to defy the odds and script history.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports: This year, the challenge is steeper as top Indian shuttlers enter the All England Open Badminton Championships struggling with injuries and inconsistent form.

Indian badminton stars are set to take on one of their toughest challenges as they compete in the prestigious All England Championships, starting Tuesday in Birmingham. Despite decades of success on the global stage, the elusive All England title has remained out of reach since Pullela Gopichand's triumph in 2001 and Prakash Padukone's historic win in 1980. Saina Nehwal and Lakshya Sen came closest in recent years, finishing as runners-up in 2015 and 2022, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand have made back-to-back semi-final appearances. Yet, the title has continued to slip through India’s grasp. This year, the challenge is steeper as top Indian shuttlers enter the tournament struggling with injuries and inconsistent form. Also Read: Government cracks down on tobacco, alcohol advertisements in Indian Premier League PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, returns after a hamstring injury that forced her to withdraw from the Asia Mixed Team Championships. The 29-year-old, now coached by Indonesian Irwanshyah Adi Pratama, faces Korea’s Ga Eun Kim in the opening round, with potential clashes against China's Han Yue and Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in later rounds. Lakshya Sen, a semi-finalist last year, has had a rocky start to 2025 with early exits in previous tournaments. The 23-year-old faces Japan's Koki Watanabe in his opening match and could meet Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie in the second round. HS Prannoy, currently ranked World No. 30, has struggled since recovering from chikungunya ahead of the Paris Olympics. He faces France’s Toma Junior Popov in the first round. Men’s doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, seeded 7th, have been India's most consistent pair, showing strong performances at the Malaysia and India Opens. They begin their campaign against Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard. Women’s doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, ranked World No. 9, take on Chinese Taipei’s Shuo Yun Sung and Chien Hui Yu. Another Indian duo, Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto, will face Pei Shan Hsieh and En-Tzu Hung from Taipei. In mixed doubles, India is fielding three pairs: Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, and Sathish Karunakaran with Aadya Variyath. Despite the challenges, Indian shuttlers remain determined to break the All England title drought. With experience, talent, and resilience, they aim to defy the odds and script history. (With inputs from agencies)

All England Open Badminton Championships: Injuries, form slumps pose hurdle for Indian contingent

England batter Harry Brook has withdrawn from the upcoming 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the second consecutive year, putting him at risk of a two-year ban from future editions of the cash-rich league. Watch to know more!

England's Harry Brook pulls out of IPL 2025, risks 2-year ban

The International SUP Championship of the India Paddle Festival 2025, the country&rsquo;s only international Stand-Up Paddling event, came to a thrilling conclusion at Sasihithlu Beach, with Denmark&rsquo;s Christian Andersen and Spain&rsquo;s Esperanza Barreras clinching victory in the APP Pro Sprint Finals.
The final day was packed with high-intensity races, culminating in the crowning of Antonio Morillo (Men&rsquo;s) and Esperanza Barreras (Women&rsquo;s) as the overall champions of the event. Among juniors, local talent Aakash Pujar emerged as the U-18 overall champion, while Sekar Patchai delivered a stellar performance, finishing fourth in the overall rankings.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Suniel Shetty graces the occasion<o:p></o:p></h2>
Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty presented trophies to the champions. Speaking at the event, he emphasised the importance of supporting ocean sports in India, &ldquo;Thank you very much for believing in us and believing that this little place, though small, is a beautiful and deeply pious place&mdash;one of the most sacred places in the world. And yet, it has the potential to deliver an event of this magnitude. Your faith in us means everything."<o:p></o:p>
In the APP Pro Sprints Men&rsquo;s Final, Christian Andersen delivered a commanding performance to secure first place, defeating Spain&rsquo;s Antonio Morillo, who finished second, and Hungary&rsquo;s Daniel Hasulyo, who claimed third.
Earlier in the day, the Consolation Finals saw an all-Indian podium, with Sekar Patchai taking top honours, followed by Manikandan M and Selvarasan Nagamuthu in second and third place, respectively.<o:p></o:p>
The APP Pro Sprints Women&rsquo;s Final witnessed Esperanza Barreras reaffirming her dominance in the sport, crossing the finish line ahead of Korea&rsquo;s Sujeong Lim and South Africa&rsquo;s Chiara Vorster, who finished second and third, respectively. The Spanish champion&rsquo;s triumphant run throughout the festival solidified her position as one of the sport&rsquo;s most formidable competitors.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/rohit-sharma-dismisses-retirement-rumours-after-dubais-champions-trophy-showdown-8837705" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Rohit dismisses retirement rumours after Dubai&rsquo;s Champions Trophy showdown</a>
The junior paddlers also delivered stellar performances. The APP Sprints Groms (U-15) Final saw Praveen Pujar claim the top spot, with Aneesh Kumar securing second place and Muhammad Irfan finishing third. In the U-18 Boys category, Thailand&rsquo;s Martin J Patumsuwon outpaced the competition to take gold, while India&rsquo;s Aakash Pujar and Raju Pujar impressed once again, finishing second and third, respectively.<o:p></o:p>
The festival also hosted a 4km Community Race, where recreational paddlers competed in a friendly but competitive environment. Samanth emerged victorious, followed closely by Gokul in second and Madhukar in third.

Sports: The final day was packed with high-intensity races, culminating in the crowning of Antonio Morillo (Men’s) and Esperanza Barreras (Women’s) as the overall champions.

The International SUP Championship of the India Paddle Festival 2025, the country’s only international Stand-Up Paddling event, came to a thrilling conclusion at Sasihithlu Beach, with Denmark’s Christian Andersen and Spain’s Esperanza Barreras clinching victory in the APP Pro Sprint Finals. The final day was packed with high-intensity races, culminating in the crowning of Antonio Morillo (Men’s) and Esperanza Barreras (Women’s) as the overall champions of the event. Among juniors, local talent Aakash Pujar emerged as the U-18 overall champion, while Sekar Patchai delivered a stellar performance, finishing fourth in the overall rankings. Suniel Shetty graces the occasion Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty presented trophies to the champions. Speaking at the event, he emphasised the importance of supporting ocean sports in India, “Thank you very much for believing in us and believing that this little place, though small, is a beautiful and deeply pious place—one of the most sacred places in the world. And yet, it has the potential to deliver an event of this magnitude. Your faith in us means everything." In the APP Pro Sprints Men’s Final, Christian Andersen delivered a commanding performance to secure first place, defeating Spain’s Antonio Morillo, who finished second, and Hungary’s Daniel Hasulyo, who claimed third. Earlier in the day, the Consolation Finals saw an all-Indian podium, with Sekar Patchai taking top honours, followed by Manikandan M and Selvarasan Nagamuthu in second and third place, respectively. The APP Pro Sprints Women’s Final witnessed Esperanza Barreras reaffirming her dominance in the sport, crossing the finish line ahead of Korea’s Sujeong Lim and South Africa’s Chiara Vorster, who finished second and third, respectively. The Spanish champion’s triumphant run throughout the festival solidified her position as one of the sport’s most formidable competitors. ALSO READ | Rohit dismisses retirement rumours after Dubai’s Champions Trophy showdown The junior paddlers also delivered stellar performances. The APP Sprints Groms (U-15) Final saw Praveen Pujar claim the top spot, with Aneesh Kumar securing second place and Muhammad Irfan finishing third. In the U-18 Boys category, Thailand’s Martin J Patumsuwon outpaced the competition to take gold, while India’s Aakash Pujar and Raju Pujar impressed once again, finishing second and third, respectively. The festival also hosted a 4km Community Race, where recreational paddlers competed in a friendly but competitive environment. Samanth emerged victorious, followed closely by Gokul in second and Madhukar in third.

India Paddle Festival: Antonio Morillo, Esperanza Barreras emerge victorious in thrilling finale

India is the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 winner. During the grand final in Dubai on Sunday, India beat New Zealand by four wickets to clinch their third ICC Champions Trophy title, becoming the most successful team in the competition history.

India clinch their third ICC Champions Trophy title

Fifties from Dariel Mitchell and Michael Bracewell helped New Zealand set a target of 252 runs for India in Dubai. Indian captain Rohit Sharma lost the toss for the 12th consecutive time in ODI cricket. New Zealand opted to bat first, and Rachin Ravindra gave the Kiwis a strong start. Watch in for more details!

IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final 2025: India needs 252 runs to win

There’s a lot of buzz on the internet surrounding Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli. Former Indian spinner and Delhi coach Sarandeep Singh opens up about this and the ongoing Champions Trophy final. He believes India will win their second consecutive ICC title in Dubai today.

Delhi coach Sarandeep Singh on 'Ro-Ko' future | WION Sports | Exclusive interview

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma's former coach, Dinesh Lad, says Rohit Sharma has promised him that he will win the ICC Champions Trophy final. He also recalled how Rohit once wanted to buy a Mercedes, managed to do so, and more, in a conversation with WION's Athira Sasidharan.

Dinesh Lad on Rohit Sharma's confidence & Mercedes dream | WION Sports | Exclusive interview

The highly anticipated India-New Zealand clash in Sunday's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> final has drawn not just passionate fans to Dubai but also major betting syndicates from around the world. According to Indian media reports, wagers totaling up to $57 million (₹5,000 crore) have been placed on the high-stakes showdown.
The international betting scene has been abuzz, with several bookies, many allegedly linked to the underworld, converging in Dubai. Sources indicate that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim&rsquo;s notorious gang, &lsquo;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/d-company">D Company</a>,&rsquo; is among those involved in betting on major cricket matches.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/billions-spent-empty-stands-pakistans-champions-trophy-disaster-8835745">Billions spent for stadium revamp, empty stands: Pakistan&rsquo;s Champions Trophy disaster</a>
Authorities have been cracking down on these operations. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/delhi-police-crime-branch">Delhi Police&rsquo;s Crime Branch</a> has already arrested five major bookies during the tournament, uncovering a vast network stretching from India to Dubai. Two of the accused, Parveen Kochhar and Sanjay Kumar, were caught placing live bets during the India-Australia semi-final. Investigations revealed that Kochhar operated through a betting website, lucky.com, selling betting IDs to punters for a commission.
For offline betting, syndicates used phone calls and manual record-keeping to track wagers. Kochhar had been running his operation from a rented property in Delhi, making a profit of ₹40,000 per match day. His statements suggest that the entire network is controlled from Dubai.
As per law enforcement authorities, Several other key figures in the syndicate have been identified:
<ul data-start="1636" data-end="1936">
<li data-start="1636" data-end="1745">Chhotu Bansal: A West Delhi resident who developed a betting app in Canada and now operates from Dubai.</li>
<li data-start="1746" data-end="1848">Vinay: A Delhi native from Moti Nagar, providing betting insights directly from cricket grounds.</li>
<li data-start="1849" data-end="1936">Bobby, Golu, Nitin Jain, and Jitu: Based in Delhi, involved in facilitating bets.</li>
</ul>
Among those arrested in Delhi are Manish Sahani, Yogesh Kukeja, and Suraj, all linked to Dubai. Police recovered ₹2.2 million in cash from them. Sahani, the main operator, managed betting transactions directly, without middlemen, according to reports.
Interrogations have also revealed additional names connected to the betting syndicate, including Mannu Matka, Akshay Gehlot, Nishu, Rinku, and Aman Rajput. These individuals are said to have developed the &lsquo;Satta&rsquo; betting app outside India.
With authorities tightening their grip, the shadowy world of illegal cricket betting continues to face scrutiny even as the ICC Champions Trophy final approaches.
<h2 data-start="2401" data-end="2559">Bookies favourite</h2>
India, having dominated the tournament with an unbeaten record and a semi-final victory over Australia, enters the final as the favorite. New Zealand, which lost to India in the group stage, secured its place in the title match with a dominating win over South Africa in Lahore.
Seeing the unbeaten run of the India team in the tournament, it comes as no surprise that India is the hot favourite for the bookies to place their bets on.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, India news: Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has already arrested five major bookies during the tournament, uncovering a vast network stretching from India to Dubai

The highly anticipated India-New Zealand clash in Sunday's Champions Trophy final has drawn not just passionate fans to Dubai but also major betting syndicates from around the world. According to Indian media reports, wagers totaling up to $57 million (₹5,000 crore) have been placed on the high-stakes showdown. The international betting scene has been abuzz, with several bookies, many allegedly linked to the underworld, converging in Dubai. Sources indicate that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s notorious gang, ‘D Company,’ is among those involved in betting on major cricket matches. Also Read: Billions spent for stadium revamp, empty stands: Pakistan’s Champions Trophy disaster Authorities have been cracking down on these operations. Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has already arrested five major bookies during the tournament, uncovering a vast network stretching from India to Dubai. Two of the accused, Parveen Kochhar and Sanjay Kumar, were caught placing live bets during the India-Australia semi-final. Investigations revealed that Kochhar operated through a betting website, lucky.com, selling betting IDs to punters for a commission. For offline betting, syndicates used phone calls and manual record-keeping to track wagers. Kochhar had been running his operation from a rented property in Delhi, making a profit of ₹40,000 per match day. His statements suggest that the entire network is controlled from Dubai. As per law enforcement authorities, Several other key figures in the syndicate have been identified: Chhotu Bansal: A West Delhi resident who developed a betting app in Canada and now operates from Dubai. Vinay: A Delhi native from Moti Nagar, providing betting insights directly from cricket grounds. Bobby, Golu, Nitin Jain, and Jitu: Based in Delhi, involved in facilitating bets. Among those arrested in Delhi are Manish Sahani, Yogesh Kukeja, and Suraj, all linked to Dubai. Police recovered ₹2.2 million in cash from them. Sahani, the main operator, managed betting transactions directly, without middlemen, according to reports. Interrogations have also revealed additional names connected to the betting syndicate, including Mannu Matka, Akshay Gehlot, Nishu, Rinku, and Aman Rajput. These individuals are said to have developed the ‘Satta’ betting app outside India. With authorities tightening their grip, the shadowy world of illegal cricket betting continues to face scrutiny even as the ICC Champions Trophy final approaches. Bookies favourite India, having dominated the tournament with an unbeaten record and a semi-final victory over Australia, enters the final as the favorite. New Zealand, which lost to India in the group stage, secured its place in the title match with a dominating win over South Africa in Lahore. Seeing the unbeaten run of the India team in the tournament, it comes as no surprise that India is the hot favourite for the bookies to place their bets on. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy betting: Despite ban, arrests, 'satta market' thrives with $57mn in play - Reports

Liverpool survived a scare from Southampton as Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez inspired the fightback in a 3-1 win that lifted the Premier League leaders 16 points clear at the top on Saturday.<o:p></o:p>
Arne Slot's side were rocked by Will Smallbone's first half opener for bottom of the table Southampton at Anfield. But Liverpool recovered their composure after half-time and the much-maligned Nunez equalised before earning the penalty that Salah converted to put them ahead<o:p></o:p>
Salah netted another penalty to reach 32 goals in all competitions this season as the Reds edged closer to a record-equalling 20th English title and their first since 2020.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bundesliga-bayern-munich-unpunished-for-shock-loss-as-bayer-leverkusen-fall-to-defeat-8835150" rel="dofollow">Bundesliga: Bayern Munich unpunished for shock loss as Bayer Leverkusen fall to defeat</a>
Second-placed Arsenal have two games in hand on Liverpool, including Sunday's trip to Manchester United. <o:p></o:p>But Liverpool's relentless march to the title looks unstoppable no matter how the Gunners fare in the final weeks of what is shaping up to be a dream first season for Slot after replacing Jurgen Klopp.<o:p></o:p>
The Reds are chasing a treble and will look to finish off Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday after stealing a 1-0 victory from the Champions League last 16 first leg last Wednesday. <o:p></o:p>Liverpool will then head to Wembley on March 16 as they aim to win the first trophy of the Slot era against Newcastle in the League Cup final. <o:p></o:p>After that, Liverpool -- beaten just once in the league this season -- will have nine games left to wrap up the title.<o:p></o:p>
Languishing 13 points from safety, Southampton still need two more points to match Derby's Premier League record low of 11 in an entire season.<o:p></o:p>
Due to a quirk of the fixture list, this was Liverpool's only league match in March.<o:p></o:p>
It took Curtis Jones just 48 seconds to have Liverpool's first shot and the midfielder was inches away moments later with a long-range curler that flashed just wide.<o:p></o:p>
Liverpool had matched their paltry shot total against PSG in midweek within the first few minutes at Anfield.<o:p></o:p>
<h2>Champions-elect<o:p></o:p></h2>
In keeping with Southampton's season of self-inflicted wounds, a heavy collision between Saints duo Ryan Manning and Jan Bednarek forced the latter to be replaced due to a head injury.<o:p></o:p>
Having lost their captain, Southampton nearly inflicted some pain on Liverpool as Mateus Fernandes's blast was repelled by Alisson.<o:p></o:p>
Liverpool were unusually vulnerable at the back and Albert Gronbaek was inches away from connecting with Fernandes's cross.<o:p></o:p>
It was uncomfortable viewing for Slot, who was watching from the stands as he served the last game of his suspension for his foul-mouthed rant at officials after the stormy draw against Everton.<o:p></o:p>
And in first half stoppage-time, the Dutchman was left holding his head in disbelief.<o:p></o:p>
Liverpool were the authors of their own downfall as Virgil van Dijk got in a tangle with Alisson as both failed to clear, allowing Smallbone to slip his shot through the keeper's legs.<o:p></o:p>
Alisson's superb performance was crucial in the backs-to-the-wall win in Paris, but the Brazilian was culpable this time as stunned silence descended on Anfield.<o:p></o:p>
Crucially, Slot sent on Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott and Andrew Robertson at half-time.<o:p></o:p>
Elliott scored with his first touch after coming off the bench against PSG and the midfielder almost repeated the trick as his shot was saved by Ramsdale.<o:p></o:p>
Liverpool were 2-1 down against Southampton before coming back to win 3-2 at St Mary's in November and once again they came from behind.<o:p></o:p>
Luis Diaz was the catalyst in the 51st minute with an incisive raid that climaxed with a pin-point cross that Nunez finished with aplomb.<o:p></o:p>
Liverpool's revival was complete four minutes later when Smallbone conceded a soft penalty with his trip on Nunez.<o:p></o:p>
Salah stepped up to drill the spot-kick past Ramsdale in emphatic fashion.<o:p></o:p>
There was time for Salah to strike with another penalty, conceded by Yukinari Sugawara's handball, as the Kop echoed to chants proclaiming Liverpool as champions-elect.
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: The Reds are chasing a treble and will look to finish off Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday after stealing a 1-0 victory from the Champions League last 16 first leg.

Liverpool survived a scare from Southampton as Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez inspired the fightback in a 3-1 win that lifted the Premier League leaders 16 points clear at the top on Saturday. Arne Slot's side were rocked by Will Smallbone's first half opener for bottom of the table Southampton at Anfield. But Liverpool recovered their composure after half-time and the much-maligned Nunez equalised before earning the penalty that Salah converted to put them ahead Salah netted another penalty to reach 32 goals in all competitions this season as the Reds edged closer to a record-equalling 20th English title and their first since 2020. Also read | Bundesliga: Bayern Munich unpunished for shock loss as Bayer Leverkusen fall to defeat Second-placed Arsenal have two games in hand on Liverpool, including Sunday's trip to Manchester United. But Liverpool's relentless march to the title looks unstoppable no matter how the Gunners fare in the final weeks of what is shaping up to be a dream first season for Slot after replacing Jurgen Klopp. The Reds are chasing a treble and will look to finish off Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday after stealing a 1-0 victory from the Champions League last 16 first leg last Wednesday. Liverpool will then head to Wembley on March 16 as they aim to win the first trophy of the Slot era against Newcastle in the League Cup final. After that, Liverpool -- beaten just once in the league this season -- will have nine games left to wrap up the title. Languishing 13 points from safety, Southampton still need two more points to match Derby's Premier League record low of 11 in an entire season. Due to a quirk of the fixture list, this was Liverpool's only league match in March. It took Curtis Jones just 48 seconds to have Liverpool's first shot and the midfielder was inches away moments later with a long-range curler that flashed just wide. Liverpool had matched their paltry shot total against PSG in midweek within the first few minutes at Anfield. Champions-elect In keeping with Southampton's season of self-inflicted wounds, a heavy collision between Saints duo Ryan Manning and Jan Bednarek forced the latter to be replaced due to a head injury. Having lost their captain, Southampton nearly inflicted some pain on Liverpool as Mateus Fernandes's blast was repelled by Alisson. Liverpool were unusually vulnerable at the back and Albert Gronbaek was inches away from connecting with Fernandes's cross. It was uncomfortable viewing for Slot, who was watching from the stands as he served the last game of his suspension for his foul-mouthed rant at officials after the stormy draw against Everton. And in first half stoppage-time, the Dutchman was left holding his head in disbelief. Liverpool were the authors of their own downfall as Virgil van Dijk got in a tangle with Alisson as both failed to clear, allowing Smallbone to slip his shot through the keeper's legs. Alisson's superb performance was crucial in the backs-to-the-wall win in Paris, but the Brazilian was culpable this time as stunned silence descended on Anfield. Crucially, Slot sent on Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott and Andrew Robertson at half-time. Elliott scored with his first touch after coming off the bench against PSG and the midfielder almost repeated the trick as his shot was saved by Ramsdale. Liverpool were 2-1 down against Southampton before coming back to win 3-2 at St Mary's in November and once again they came from behind. Luis Diaz was the catalyst in the 51st minute with an incisive raid that climaxed with a pin-point cross that Nunez finished with aplomb. Liverpool's revival was complete four minutes later when Smallbone conceded a soft penalty with his trip on Nunez. Salah stepped up to drill the spot-kick past Ramsdale in emphatic fashion. There was time for Salah to strike with another penalty, conceded by Yukinari Sugawara's handball, as the Kop echoed to chants proclaiming Liverpool as champions-elect. 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.

Salah, Nunez complete Liverpool fight back as Reds close in on PL title

A 10-man Bayern Munich went unpunished for a shock 3-2 home defeat to Bochum on Saturday after title chasers Bayer Leverkusen were beaten 2-0 by Werder Bremen.
<h2>Bayern lose</h2>
Despite the loss, just Bayern's second of the season, the Bavarians still hold an eight-point lead over defending champions Leverkusen with nine games to play.
Leverkusen's woes were deepened with an injury to star midfielder Florian Wirtz, who limped off after a rough challenge having played just 14 second-half minutes.
With an eye on Tuesday's return leg in the Champions League last 16 against Leverkusen, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany named a heavily changed XI, including leaving striker Harry Kane on the bench.
Bayern midfielder Raphael Guerreiro's 14th minute goal, when the Portuguese hammered a loose ball into the net, had Bayern on track before Serge Gnabry missed a 21st-minute penalty.&nbsp;
With Kane, who has converted his past 30 penalties in a row, sitting on the bench, Gnabry stepped up but hit the ball against the post.&nbsp;
Guerreiro however scored again with a rare header on the 28-minute mark, just three minutes before Bochum's Jakov Medic pulled one back with an unstoppable rocket.
Bochum were given hope when Bayern's Joao Palhinha saw red for sinking his studs into Giorgos Masouras's ankle just before half-time.&nbsp;
Ibrahima Sissoko headed Bochum level six minutes into the second half and Matus Bero put the underdogs in front 71 minutes in, going the length of the field to knock in a Philipp Hofmann pass.&nbsp;
Bochum's surprise victory, their first win in Munich since 1991, took them three points clear of the automatic relegation placings.&nbsp;
Leverkusen were down after just seven minutes when Romano Schmid tapped in from close range.&nbsp;
With Leverkusen failing to click, coach Xabi Alonso brought Wirtz from the bench at halftime, but the Germany midfielder was brutally fouled eight minutes afterwards and limped from the field.&nbsp;
Any injury to Wirtz, the club's talisman and best player this season, would be a serious blow to Alonso's side, particularly ahead of Tuesday's Champions League match against Bayern, who hold a 3-0 lead from the first leg.
Borussia Dortmund's slim chances of reaching the top four took a hit with a 1-0 home loss to Augsburg, with Jeffery Gouweleeuw's first half header the only goal in the game.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-final-all-you-need-to-know-check-live-streaming-head-to-head-stats-pitch-report-squad-8830440" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final: All you need to know, check live streaming, head-to-head, stats, pitch report, squad</a>
Dortmund were toothless in attack and offered little against an in-form Augsburg, who have conceded just three goals in the league in 2025 -- the best mark in Europe.
Dortmund, last season's Champions League finalists, sit 10th in the league, seven points off the top four.
Elsewhere, St Pauli scored their first goal in five matches in a 1-1 draw at Wolfsburg, going two points clear of the relegation playoff spot.
Fellow promoted side Holstein Kiel also picked up a point with a hard-fought 2-2 home win over Stuttgart.&nbsp;
Later on Saturday, Freiburg host RB Leipzig.
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: Despite the loss, just Bayern's second of the season, the Bavarians still hold an eight-point lead over defending champions Leverkusen with nine games to play.

A 10-man Bayern Munich went unpunished for a shock 3-2 home defeat to Bochum on Saturday after title chasers Bayer Leverkusen were beaten 2-0 by Werder Bremen. Bayern lose Despite the loss, just Bayern's second of the season, the Bavarians still hold an eight-point lead over defending champions Leverkusen with nine games to play. Leverkusen's woes were deepened with an injury to star midfielder Florian Wirtz, who limped off after a rough challenge having played just 14 second-half minutes. With an eye on Tuesday's return leg in the Champions League last 16 against Leverkusen, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany named a heavily changed XI, including leaving striker Harry Kane on the bench. Bayern midfielder Raphael Guerreiro's 14th minute goal, when the Portuguese hammered a loose ball into the net, had Bayern on track before Serge Gnabry missed a 21st-minute penalty. With Kane, who has converted his past 30 penalties in a row, sitting on the bench, Gnabry stepped up but hit the ball against the post. Guerreiro however scored again with a rare header on the 28-minute mark, just three minutes before Bochum's Jakov Medic pulled one back with an unstoppable rocket. Bochum were given hope when Bayern's Joao Palhinha saw red for sinking his studs into Giorgos Masouras's ankle just before half-time. Ibrahima Sissoko headed Bochum level six minutes into the second half and Matus Bero put the underdogs in front 71 minutes in, going the length of the field to knock in a Philipp Hofmann pass. Bochum's surprise victory, their first win in Munich since 1991, took them three points clear of the automatic relegation placings. Leverkusen were down after just seven minutes when Romano Schmid tapped in from close range. With Leverkusen failing to click, coach Xabi Alonso brought Wirtz from the bench at halftime, but the Germany midfielder was brutally fouled eight minutes afterwards and limped from the field. Any injury to Wirtz, the club's talisman and best player this season, would be a serious blow to Alonso's side, particularly ahead of Tuesday's Champions League match against Bayern, who hold a 3-0 lead from the first leg. Borussia Dortmund's slim chances of reaching the top four took a hit with a 1-0 home loss to Augsburg, with Jeffery Gouweleeuw's first half header the only goal in the game. ALSO READ | IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final: All you need to know, check live streaming, head-to-head, stats, pitch report, squad Dortmund were toothless in attack and offered little against an in-form Augsburg, who have conceded just three goals in the league in 2025 -- the best mark in Europe. Dortmund, last season's Champions League finalists, sit 10th in the league, seven points off the top four. Elsewhere, St Pauli scored their first goal in five matches in a 1-1 draw at Wolfsburg, going two points clear of the relegation playoff spot. Fellow promoted side Holstein Kiel also picked up a point with a hard-fought 2-2 home win over Stuttgart. Later on Saturday, Freiburg host RB Leipzig. 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.

Bundesliga: Bayern Munich unpunished for shock loss as Bayer Leverkusen fall to defeat

The second day of the International SUP Championship at the India Paddle Festival 2025, the country&rsquo;s only international Stand-Up Paddling event, saw thrilling battles across all categories at Sasihithlu Beach. In the APP Distance Race (10 km), Spain&rsquo;s defending champions proved unstoppable, with Esperanza Barreras reclaiming her women&rsquo;s title while compatriot Antonio Morillo dominated the men&rsquo;s category. 
India&rsquo;s young paddlers made their mark, sweeping all three podium spots in the U-15 Technical Distance Race (1.5 km), with Aneesh Kumar leading the charge. Meanwhile, Indonesia&rsquo;s Keefe Anargya Pranoto emerged victorious in the U-18 Technical Distance Race edging out defending champion Aakash Pujar.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Junior technical distance races<o:p></o:p></h2>
The day started with U-18 Technical Distance Race (5 km) saw a thrilling battle, with Indonesia&rsquo;s Keefe Anargya Pranoto securing first place with an impressive time of 38:46:58. Defending champion and local favourite Aakash Pujar finished closely behind in 39:35:27, while his cousin, Raju Pujar, secured third place with a time of 43:00:59.<o:p></o:p>
In the U-15 Technical Distance Race (1.5 km), Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s Aneesh Kumar emerged victorious, clocking 10:13:34. Local paddler Pradeep secured second place in 12:16:37, while another Tamil talent, Nitish K, claimed third with a time of 13:23:42.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">APP distance race &ndash; Open Women&rsquo;s Category (10 km)<o:p></o:p></h2>
Defending champion Esperanza Barreras from Spain once again showcased her dominance in the 10 km APP Distance Race, clinching first place with a stellar time of 51:11:35. She was followed by South Africa&rsquo;s Chiara Vorster in second place with 57:44:18, and Korea&rsquo;s Sujeong Lim, who secured third with 58:33:37. India&rsquo;s Vijayalakshmi Irulappan, finished in a commendable fifth place with a time of 1:03:15:29.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-final-all-you-need-to-know-check-live-streaming-head-to-head-stats-pitch-report-squad-8830440" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final: All you need to know, check live streaming, head-to-head, stats, pitch report, squad</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">APP distance race &ndash; Open Men&rsquo;s Category (10 km)<o:p></o:p></h2>
Spain&rsquo;s Antonio Morillo emerged as the champion in the APP Distance Race &ndash; Open Men&rsquo;s Category, finishing with an exceptional time of 44:53:47 to retain his title. Hungary&rsquo;s Daniel Hasulyo took second place with 45:34:38, while Denmark&rsquo;s Christian Andersen rounded out the podium in third with 47:05:46.<o:p></o:p>
Among Indian paddlers, SekarPatchai put up a strong performance, securing fourth place with a time of 50:32:46, followed by Manikandan M, who finished sixth in 52:31:23.<o:p></o:p>
Bringing an extra dose of adrenaline to the festival, Mantra Adventure Film Festival featured a captivating selection of Indian documentaries that highlighted the spirit of adventure and extreme sports across the country.<o:p></o:p>
As the India Paddle Festival 2025 moves into its final day, excitement continues to build around the adrenaline-fueled event with Sprint Races set to take place. Top international and Indian paddlers will battle it out for championship titles in the Men&rsquo;s, Women&rsquo;s, and Junior categories.<o:p></o:p>
With SUP in India witnessing rapid growth, the festival stands as a testament to the sport&rsquo;s rising popularity, especially after India secured its first-ever quota in surfing for the Asian Games. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Sports: In the APP Distance Race (10 km), Spain’s Esperanza Barreras reclaimed her women’s title while compatriot Antonio Morillo dominated the men’s category.

The second day of the International SUP Championship at the India Paddle Festival 2025, the country’s only international Stand-Up Paddling event, saw thrilling battles across all categories at Sasihithlu Beach. In the APP Distance Race (10 km), Spain’s defending champions proved unstoppable, with Esperanza Barreras reclaiming her women’s title while compatriot Antonio Morillo dominated the men’s category. India’s young paddlers made their mark, sweeping all three podium spots in the U-15 Technical Distance Race (1.5 km), with Aneesh Kumar leading the charge. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Keefe Anargya Pranoto emerged victorious in the U-18 Technical Distance Race edging out defending champion Aakash Pujar. Junior technical distance races The day started with U-18 Technical Distance Race (5 km) saw a thrilling battle, with Indonesia’s Keefe Anargya Pranoto securing first place with an impressive time of 38:46:58. Defending champion and local favourite Aakash Pujar finished closely behind in 39:35:27, while his cousin, Raju Pujar, secured third place with a time of 43:00:59. In the U-15 Technical Distance Race (1.5 km), Tamil Nadu’s Aneesh Kumar emerged victorious, clocking 10:13:34. Local paddler Pradeep secured second place in 12:16:37, while another Tamil talent, Nitish K, claimed third with a time of 13:23:42. APP distance race – Open Women’s Category (10 km) Defending champion Esperanza Barreras from Spain once again showcased her dominance in the 10 km APP Distance Race, clinching first place with a stellar time of 51:11:35. She was followed by South Africa’s Chiara Vorster in second place with 57:44:18, and Korea’s Sujeong Lim, who secured third with 58:33:37. India’s Vijayalakshmi Irulappan, finished in a commendable fifth place with a time of 1:03:15:29. ALSO READ | IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final: All you need to know, check live streaming, head-to-head, stats, pitch report, squad APP distance race – Open Men’s Category (10 km) Spain’s Antonio Morillo emerged as the champion in the APP Distance Race – Open Men’s Category, finishing with an exceptional time of 44:53:47 to retain his title. Hungary’s Daniel Hasulyo took second place with 45:34:38, while Denmark’s Christian Andersen rounded out the podium in third with 47:05:46. Among Indian paddlers, SekarPatchai put up a strong performance, securing fourth place with a time of 50:32:46, followed by Manikandan M, who finished sixth in 52:31:23. Bringing an extra dose of adrenaline to the festival, Mantra Adventure Film Festival featured a captivating selection of Indian documentaries that highlighted the spirit of adventure and extreme sports across the country. As the India Paddle Festival 2025 moves into its final day, excitement continues to build around the adrenaline-fueled event with Sprint Races set to take place. Top international and Indian paddlers will battle it out for championship titles in the Men’s, Women’s, and Junior categories. With SUP in India witnessing rapid growth, the festival stands as a testament to the sport’s rising popularity, especially after India secured its first-ever quota in surfing for the Asian Games.

India Paddle Festival: Esperanza Barreras, Antonio Morillo headline second day with dominant wins

Nottingham Forest dealt a major blow to Manchester City's bid to qualify for the Champions League as Callum Hudson-Odoi's late winner sealed a 1-0 victory in the top four shoot-out on Saturday. City have been reduced to battling for a place in next season's Champions League after a dismal campaign.<o:p></o:p>
Even that usually routine target is far from assured for Guardiola's men following their ninth league defeat this term.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/stuart-pearce-former-england-football-star-hospitalised-in-canada-8834788" rel="dofollow">Stuart Pearce, former England football star, hospitalised in Canada</a>
With six titles in the past seven seasons, City have rarely had to worry about their place in the Premier League's top four in the Pep Guardiola era.<o:p></o:p>
Yet they left the City Ground looking anxiously over their shoulders after a first league loss to Forest since 1997.<o:p></o:p>
Fifth-placed Chelsea, just one point adrift of City, will go above the champions if they beat lowly Leicester on Sunday.<o:p></o:p>
Finishing fifth could still be enough for City to reach Europe's elite club competition depend on the results of the English clubs who remain in continental competitions this term.<o:p></o:p>
For City to achieve that modest goal, they will have to significantly improve on the latest limp display in a turbulent season.<o:p></o:p>
Third-placed Forest are four points clear of City thanks to only their third win in their last eight league games.<o:p></o:p>
Enjoying a fairytale season just a year after battling relegation, the former European champions are closing on a berth in the Champions League for the first time since 1980-81.<o:p></o:p>
After Forest's former defender Stuart Pearce was rushed to hospital having been taken ill on a flight this week, his old club displayed a big screen message reading 'Get Well Soon Stuart', after three minutes of the Premier League game, recognising Pearce's old shirt number three.<o:p></o:p>
<h2>City Ground erupts<o:p></o:p></h2>
Forest were able to draw on the ultra-aggressive Pearce's trademark fire and brimstone in a stirring finale that followed a tepid first half.<o:p></o:p>
Nico Gonzalez fired just wide from 25 yards as City tried in vain to seize the initiative in a nervous start from both teams.<o:p></o:p>
The unseasonably sunny weather by the banks of the River Trent gave a soporific feel to what should have been a high-tempo clash with so much at stake.<o:p></o:p>
City went close when Josko Gvardiol picked out Phil Foden, whose goal-bound shot was blocked by Nicolas Dominguez, before Bernardo Silva wastefully fired over with Erling Haaland unmarked and waiting for a pass that never came.<o:p></o:p>
Jeremy Doku's strike forced Forest keeper Matz Sels into action for the first time.<o:p></o:p>
But a woeful effort from Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White finished closer to the corner flag than the goal, an ugly misfire in keeping with the scrappy fare.<o:p></o:p>
Anthony Elanga crossed to the far post, where Dominguez's volley finally forced Ederson to make a save soon after the interval.<o:p></o:p>
Guardiola sent on Omar Marmoush, Kevin De Bruyne, Rico Lewis, and Mateo Kovacic in a bid to spark City into life.<o:p></o:p>
The changes didn't have the desired effect as Forest found late momentum.<o:p></o:p>
Ederson made a fine save, turning Hudson-Odoi's curler onto the post.<o:p></o:p>
De Bruyne's free-kick was saved by Sels, but Hudson-Odoi stole the points as City Ground erupted in the 83rd minute.<o:p></o:p>
Gibbs-White conjured an inch-perfect pass to Hudson-Odoi and the forward cut inside before drilling a superb strike past Ederson's weak attempted save at the near post.
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: With six titles in the past seven seasons, City have rarely had to worry about their place in the Premier League's top four in the Pep Guardiola era.

Nottingham Forest dealt a major blow to Manchester City's bid to qualify for the Champions League as Callum Hudson-Odoi's late winner sealed a 1-0 victory in the top four shoot-out on Saturday. City have been reduced to battling for a place in next season's Champions League after a dismal campaign. Even that usually routine target is far from assured for Guardiola's men following their ninth league defeat this term. Also read | Stuart Pearce, former England football star, hospitalised in Canada With six titles in the past seven seasons, City have rarely had to worry about their place in the Premier League's top four in the Pep Guardiola era. Yet they left the City Ground looking anxiously over their shoulders after a first league loss to Forest since 1997. Fifth-placed Chelsea, just one point adrift of City, will go above the champions if they beat lowly Leicester on Sunday. Finishing fifth could still be enough for City to reach Europe's elite club competition depend on the results of the English clubs who remain in continental competitions this term. For City to achieve that modest goal, they will have to significantly improve on the latest limp display in a turbulent season. Third-placed Forest are four points clear of City thanks to only their third win in their last eight league games. Enjoying a fairytale season just a year after battling relegation, the former European champions are closing on a berth in the Champions League for the first time since 1980-81. After Forest's former defender Stuart Pearce was rushed to hospital having been taken ill on a flight this week, his old club displayed a big screen message reading 'Get Well Soon Stuart', after three minutes of the Premier League game, recognising Pearce's old shirt number three. City Ground erupts Forest were able to draw on the ultra-aggressive Pearce's trademark fire and brimstone in a stirring finale that followed a tepid first half. Nico Gonzalez fired just wide from 25 yards as City tried in vain to seize the initiative in a nervous start from both teams. The unseasonably sunny weather by the banks of the River Trent gave a soporific feel to what should have been a high-tempo clash with so much at stake. City went close when Josko Gvardiol picked out Phil Foden, whose goal-bound shot was blocked by Nicolas Dominguez, before Bernardo Silva wastefully fired over with Erling Haaland unmarked and waiting for a pass that never came. Jeremy Doku's strike forced Forest keeper Matz Sels into action for the first time. But a woeful effort from Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White finished closer to the corner flag than the goal, an ugly misfire in keeping with the scrappy fare. Anthony Elanga crossed to the far post, where Dominguez's volley finally forced Ederson to make a save soon after the interval. Guardiola sent on Omar Marmoush, Kevin De Bruyne, Rico Lewis, and Mateo Kovacic in a bid to spark City into life. The changes didn't have the desired effect as Forest found late momentum. Ederson made a fine save, turning Hudson-Odoi's curler onto the post. De Bruyne's free-kick was saved by Sels, but Hudson-Odoi stole the points as City Ground erupted in the 83rd minute. Gibbs-White conjured an inch-perfect pass to Hudson-Odoi and the forward cut inside before drilling a superb strike past Ederson's weak attempted save at the near post. 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: Forest hurt Manchester City’s bid for top-four finish with home win

Former England and Nottingham Forest defender Stuart Pearce is recovering in a Canadian hospital after suffering a health scare on a flight from the United States. <o:p></o:p>
Pearce had been in the US to attend last Saturday's Super League match between Wigan and Warrington. The 62-year-old became unwell on his Virgin Atlantic flight home, and after he received treatment, a decision was made to make an emergency landing, with the plane from Las Vegas to Heathrow diverted to St. John's in Canada.<o:p></o:p>
Football commentator Sam Matterface, who works with Pearce for radio station talkSPORT, said the Forest legend is now in good spirits.<o:p></o:p>
"I spoke to him yesterday, he's in great spirits," said Matterface from the City Ground ahead of Saturday's game between Forest and Manchester City, another of Pearce's former clubs. "He isn't 100 per cent, that is definitely the case, but he is in the right place, he is in the hospital. They are dealing with it."<o:p></o:p>
"He actually said to me, 'I have got so much I had to cancel. Some great games, and Mumford and Sons are playing on Wednesday night and I can't go now'."<o:p></o:p>
"He wasn't happy about that. He is in good spirits."<o:p></o:p>
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A message was displayed on the big screen at the City Ground during Forest's Premier League game against Manchester City on Saturday.<o:p></o:p>
It read 'Get Well Soon Stuart' in the third minute, recognising Pearce's old shirt number three.<o:p></o:p>
Pearce made 401 appearances for Forest during a 12-year stint and also played for Coventry, Newcastle, West Ham, and Manchester City, whom he later managed.<o:p></o:p>
He also earned 78 caps for England and played in the semi-finals of Euro 96 and the 1990 World Cup, in which he missed a penalty in the shoot-out defeat to West Germany.<o:p></o:p>
Pearce scored in the Euro 96 quarterfinal shoot-out win over Spain, and semi-final defeat to Germany at Euro 96, and his celebration of his successful spot-kick against the Spanish became one of the defining images of the tournament.<o:p></o:p>
He spent six years as manager of the England Under-21s and was caretaker manager of the senior team for one game. <o:p></o:p>
He also coached the Great Britain men's team at the London 2012 Olympics.<o:p></o:p>
Pearce's last job in football was as a part of David Moyes' coaching staff at West Ham, a role he left in 2022.<o:p></o:p>
On the incident, a statement from Virgin read: "Due to an unwell customer on board, the VS156 on 2 March flying from Las Vegas to London Heathrow diverted to St John's International Airport, Canada and was met by the medical services."
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.
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Sports, Football: Commentator Sam Matterface, who works with Pearce for radio station talkSPORT, said the Forest legend is now in good spirits.

Former England and Nottingham Forest defender Stuart Pearce is recovering in a Canadian hospital after suffering a health scare on a flight from the United States. Pearce had been in the US to attend last Saturday's Super League match between Wigan and Warrington. The 62-year-old became unwell on his Virgin Atlantic flight home, and after he received treatment, a decision was made to make an emergency landing, with the plane from Las Vegas to Heathrow diverted to St. John's in Canada. Football commentator Sam Matterface, who works with Pearce for radio station talkSPORT, said the Forest legend is now in good spirits. "I spoke to him yesterday, he's in great spirits," said Matterface from the City Ground ahead of Saturday's game between Forest and Manchester City, another of Pearce's former clubs. "He isn't 100 per cent, that is definitely the case, but he is in the right place, he is in the hospital. They are dealing with it." "He actually said to me, 'I have got so much I had to cancel. Some great games, and Mumford and Sons are playing on Wednesday night and I can't go now'." "He wasn't happy about that. He is in good spirits." Also read | Luka Doncic, LeBron James lead LA Lakers fightback as New York Knicks downed in thriller A message was displayed on the big screen at the City Ground during Forest's Premier League game against Manchester City on Saturday. It read 'Get Well Soon Stuart' in the third minute, recognising Pearce's old shirt number three. Pearce made 401 appearances for Forest during a 12-year stint and also played for Coventry, Newcastle, West Ham, and Manchester City, whom he later managed. He also earned 78 caps for England and played in the semi-finals of Euro 96 and the 1990 World Cup, in which he missed a penalty in the shoot-out defeat to West Germany. Pearce scored in the Euro 96 quarterfinal shoot-out win over Spain, and semi-final defeat to Germany at Euro 96, and his celebration of his successful spot-kick against the Spanish became one of the defining images of the tournament. He spent six years as manager of the England Under-21s and was caretaker manager of the senior team for one game. He also coached the Great Britain men's team at the London 2012 Olympics. Pearce's last job in football was as a part of David Moyes' coaching staff at West Ham, a role he left in 2022. On the incident, a statement from Virgin read: "Due to an unwell customer on board, the VS156 on 2 March flying from Las Vegas to London Heathrow diverted to St John's International Airport, Canada and was met by the medical services." 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.

Stuart Pearce, former England football star, hospitalised in Canada

Pakistani speedster Mohammad Amir could land an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract in 2026 as he could join a rare club. As revealed in a talkshow, Amir opened up on his desire to play in the mega-rich league where Pakistan players are banned to play due to poor diplomatic relations. However, Amir could exploit a loop hole in the system and could play in the IPL 2026.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Mohammad Amir to play in IPL 2026?<o:p></o:p></h2>
&ldquo;Next year tak meri opportunity ban rahi agar hua to kyu nahi (By next year, I will have the opportunity to play in the IPL and if given the chance then why not). I will play in the IPL,&rdquo; Amir said on the show &ldquo;Haarna Mana Hai", as reported by&nbsp;The Indian Express.
According to current IPL law, no player holding Pakistan passport is eligible to play in the IPL. However, a Pakistan-born player holding another country&rsquo;s passport can be registered in the IPL auctions before a formal bid is raised by a franchise to purchase him. <o:p></o:p>
Players like Sikandar Raza and Azhar Mahmood are good examples of Pakistan-born players who have played in the IPL after the ban came into effect in 2009. Both players now hold Zimbabwe and UK passports, meaning they were eligible to play in IPL.<o:p></o:p>
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<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">How can Amir play in IPL?<o:p></o:p></h2>
Amir&rsquo;s wife Narjis is a UK citizen and the former speedster is hoping to get the same passport. In case this happens before the IPL 2026 mini-auctions which are set to take place at the year-end, then Amir can register as non-Pakistani player. If a franchise successfully bids for Amir, his road will be clear to play in the tournament.<o:p></o:p>
Pakistani players have only played in one IPL season in 2008 before the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai led to friction between India and Pakistan. It was also the same year when India last toured the nation and have since avoided visiting the country.

Sports, Cricket: As revealed in a talkshow, Amir opened up on his desire to play in the IPL where Pakistan players are banned to play due to poor diplomatic relations.

Pakistani speedster Mohammad Amir could land an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract in 2026 as he could join a rare club. As revealed in a talkshow, Amir opened up on his desire to play in the mega-rich league where Pakistan players are banned to play due to poor diplomatic relations. However, Amir could exploit a loop hole in the system and could play in the IPL 2026. Mohammad Amir to play in IPL 2026? “Next year tak meri opportunity ban rahi agar hua to kyu nahi (By next year, I will have the opportunity to play in the IPL and if given the chance then why not). I will play in the IPL,” Amir said on the show “Haarna Mana Hai", as reported by The Indian Express. According to current IPL law, no player holding Pakistan passport is eligible to play in the IPL. However, a Pakistan-born player holding another country’s passport can be registered in the IPL auctions before a formal bid is raised by a franchise to purchase him. Players like Sikandar Raza and Azhar Mahmood are good examples of Pakistan-born players who have played in the IPL after the ban came into effect in 2009. Both players now hold Zimbabwe and UK passports, meaning they were eligible to play in IPL. ALSO READ | IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final: All you need to know, check live streaming, head-to-head, stats, pitch report, squad How can Amir play in IPL? Amir’s wife Narjis is a UK citizen and the former speedster is hoping to get the same passport. In case this happens before the IPL 2026 mini-auctions which are set to take place at the year-end, then Amir can register as non-Pakistani player. If a franchise successfully bids for Amir, his road will be clear to play in the tournament. Pakistani players have only played in one IPL season in 2008 before the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai led to friction between India and Pakistan. It was also the same year when India last toured the nation and have since avoided visiting the country.

Pakistani speedster Mohammad Amir likely to land IPL deal in 2026 for THIS reason

The second season of India Paddle Festival, the country&rsquo;s only international Stand-Up Paddling event, commenced on Friday (Mar 7) with a grand inauguration ceremony at Sasihithlu Beach in Mangaluru.
Capt. Brijesh Chowta, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha officially launched the International SUP Championship of the India Paddle Festival 2025.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India Paddle Festival 2025 kicks off</h2>
The India Paddle Festival 2025, organised by the Surfing Swami Foundation and Mantra Surf Club in partnership with WrkWrk and presented by Incredible India and Karnataka Tourism, will run until March 9. It promises an exhilarating mix of elite SUP competitions and cultural celebrations.
Capt. Brijesh Chowta, speaking at the inauguration, said, "I congratulate the Surfing Swami Foundation and the Coastal Tourism Development Council for their efforts in promoting tourism and water sports through events like the India Paddle Festival.
&ldquo;While the government provides policies and permissions, real progress comes from community participation. Local organizations and institutions must work together to make tourism thrive.&rdquo;
The opening day of the India Paddle Festival 2025 featured an exclusive workshop designed to help Indian athletes refine their techniques under the mentorship of elite professionals from the Association of PaddleSurf Professionals (APP) World Tour.
International stand-up paddlers, including Daniel Hasulyo, Christian Andersen, SekarPatchai and Manikandan, joined forces with young local paddlers for a spirited exhibition race, which was officially flagged off by Chief Guest Chowta. The day wrapped up on a vibrant note with a captivating live performance by Alva Kuuto, an eclectic Tulu folk band, setting an electrifying atmosphere for the festival ahead.
As the India Paddle Festival 2025 unfolds, Day 2 will witness adrenaline-fueled races, cultural festivities, and an unparalleled sporting spectacle of the International SUP Championship at Sasihithlu Beach.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/indias-best-batter-virat-kohli-is-englands-third-highest-odi-run-scorer-heres-how-8827734" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India&rsquo;s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how</a>
The schedule includes the APP Technical Distance Races for Junior, Open Men&rsquo;s and Women&rsquo;s categories, where top international and national athletes will compete for glory. Bringing an extra dose of adrenaline to the festival on Saturday, the Mantra Adventure Film Festival will showcase a captivating selection of Indian documentaries that highlight the spirit of adventure and extreme sports across the country.
The opening ceremony was graced by several distinguished guests including MullaiMuhilan M.P., I.A.S. Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada, Abhayachandra Jain, former minister, Government of Karnataka, Poornima, President, Haleyangadi Panchayat, Vasanth Bernad, former president, Haleyangadi Gram Panchayat, Rohith Bhat, managing director, WrkWrk and Tristan Boxford, CEO, Association of PaddleSurf Professionals (APP).

Sports: The second season of India Paddle Festival, the country’s only international Stand-Up Paddling event, commenced on Friday (Mar 7) with a grand inauguration ceremony.

The second season of India Paddle Festival, the country’s only international Stand-Up Paddling event, commenced on Friday (Mar 7) with a grand inauguration ceremony at Sasihithlu Beach in Mangaluru. Capt. Brijesh Chowta, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha officially launched the International SUP Championship of the India Paddle Festival 2025. India Paddle Festival 2025 kicks off The India Paddle Festival 2025, organised by the Surfing Swami Foundation and Mantra Surf Club in partnership with WrkWrk and presented by Incredible India and Karnataka Tourism, will run until March 9. It promises an exhilarating mix of elite SUP competitions and cultural celebrations. Capt. Brijesh Chowta, speaking at the inauguration, said, "I congratulate the Surfing Swami Foundation and the Coastal Tourism Development Council for their efforts in promoting tourism and water sports through events like the India Paddle Festival. “While the government provides policies and permissions, real progress comes from community participation. Local organizations and institutions must work together to make tourism thrive.” The opening day of the India Paddle Festival 2025 featured an exclusive workshop designed to help Indian athletes refine their techniques under the mentorship of elite professionals from the Association of PaddleSurf Professionals (APP) World Tour. International stand-up paddlers, including Daniel Hasulyo, Christian Andersen, SekarPatchai and Manikandan, joined forces with young local paddlers for a spirited exhibition race, which was officially flagged off by Chief Guest Chowta. The day wrapped up on a vibrant note with a captivating live performance by Alva Kuuto, an eclectic Tulu folk band, setting an electrifying atmosphere for the festival ahead. As the India Paddle Festival 2025 unfolds, Day 2 will witness adrenaline-fueled races, cultural festivities, and an unparalleled sporting spectacle of the International SUP Championship at Sasihithlu Beach. ALSO READ | India’s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how The schedule includes the APP Technical Distance Races for Junior, Open Men’s and Women’s categories, where top international and national athletes will compete for glory. Bringing an extra dose of adrenaline to the festival on Saturday, the Mantra Adventure Film Festival will showcase a captivating selection of Indian documentaries that highlight the spirit of adventure and extreme sports across the country. The opening ceremony was graced by several distinguished guests including MullaiMuhilan M.P., I.A.S. Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada, Abhayachandra Jain, former minister, Government of Karnataka, Poornima, President, Haleyangadi Panchayat, Vasanth Bernad, former president, Haleyangadi Gram Panchayat, Rohith Bhat, managing director, WrkWrk and Tristan Boxford, CEO, Association of PaddleSurf Professionals (APP).

India Paddle Festival 2025: Second season kicks off in grand style in Mangaluru

Ruben Amorim does not believe he will get as much time at Manchester United to turn things around as Mikel Arteta was given to revive Arsenal's fortunes.
<h2>Amorim opens up ahead of key clash</h2>
The 40-year-old Amorim has struggled since succeeding Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford in November. The Red Devils languish 14th in the Premier League and are out of both domestic cup competitions.
The Europa League is the only remaining route to silverware and, realistically, continental qualification for a threadbare side preparing to take on an Arsenal team second in the Premier League and buoyed by a 7-1 Champions League last-16 win at PSV Eindhoven.
Arteta has made the Gunners a force again, with some eye-catching decisions as he reshaped the squad after being appointed in late 2019, including getting rid of senior players.
Arsenal, on course for a third straight second-place finish in the Premier League, are away to United on Sunday.
Asked if he saw similarities between Arteta's position and his job at United, Amorim said: "I don't feel that. I will not have the time that Arteta had. I feel that. It's a different club.
"So, we just need to survive with the players on Sunday and during these games.
"I think it's a different club. I think in that aspect, the way Arteta dealt with that is an inspiration for everybody. I will not have the time like Arteta had."
United secured a 1-1 draw away to Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.
They were without 11 first-team players in Spain, where the lack of options in their 18-man travelling squad and recent exertions took their toll.
"We need to survive Sunday," Amorim said. "The team was so tired in the last 20 minutes. We have to prepare Sunday and then think about this important game for our season on Thursday (the return leg against Real Sociedad)."
Amorim does not expect any of his injured players to be fit in time to face Arsenal, with Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte this week joining the lengthy casualty list at Old Trafford.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/indias-best-batter-virat-kohli-is-englands-third-highest-odi-run-scorer-heres-how-8827734" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India&rsquo;s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how</a>
Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw remain out, as do Jonny Evans, Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton, while Patrick Dorgu is suspended.
A protest against United's US owners the Glazers is planned around the game by the 1958 fan group.
"I think for everybody in our club it's a really tough moment," Amorim said. "It's everything at the same time. The only thing I can do, and our players can do, is perform well and win.
"People have the right to protest. I think it's a good thing to do that. It's part of our club. Everybody has a voice.
"But our job and my job is just to improve the team and give them something in this moment because they deserve it and they are amazing."
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: Ruben Amorim does not believe he will get as much time at Manchester United to turn things around as Mikel Arteta was given to revive Arsenal's fortunes.

Ruben Amorim does not believe he will get as much time at Manchester United to turn things around as Mikel Arteta was given to revive Arsenal's fortunes. Amorim opens up ahead of key clash The 40-year-old Amorim has struggled since succeeding Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford in November. The Red Devils languish 14th in the Premier League and are out of both domestic cup competitions. The Europa League is the only remaining route to silverware and, realistically, continental qualification for a threadbare side preparing to take on an Arsenal team second in the Premier League and buoyed by a 7-1 Champions League last-16 win at PSV Eindhoven. Arteta has made the Gunners a force again, with some eye-catching decisions as he reshaped the squad after being appointed in late 2019, including getting rid of senior players. Arsenal, on course for a third straight second-place finish in the Premier League, are away to United on Sunday. Asked if he saw similarities between Arteta's position and his job at United, Amorim said: "I don't feel that. I will not have the time that Arteta had. I feel that. It's a different club. "So, we just need to survive with the players on Sunday and during these games. "I think it's a different club. I think in that aspect, the way Arteta dealt with that is an inspiration for everybody. I will not have the time like Arteta had." United secured a 1-1 draw away to Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie. They were without 11 first-team players in Spain, where the lack of options in their 18-man travelling squad and recent exertions took their toll. "We need to survive Sunday," Amorim said. "The team was so tired in the last 20 minutes. We have to prepare Sunday and then think about this important game for our season on Thursday (the return leg against Real Sociedad)." Amorim does not expect any of his injured players to be fit in time to face Arsenal, with Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte this week joining the lengthy casualty list at Old Trafford. ALSO READ | India’s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw remain out, as do Jonny Evans, Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton, while Patrick Dorgu is suspended. A protest against United's US owners the Glazers is planned around the game by the 1958 fan group. "I think for everybody in our club it's a really tough moment," Amorim said. "It's everything at the same time. The only thing I can do, and our players can do, is perform well and win. "People have the right to protest. I think it's a good thing to do that. It's part of our club. Everybody has a voice. "But our job and my job is just to improve the team and give them something in this moment because they deserve it and they are amazing." 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.

Premier League: Ruben Amorim says Man Utd will not give him time like Mikel Arteta had at Arsenal

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) on Thursday (Mar 6) announced a historic decision to pay female tennis stars for maternity leave. The decision comes as part of the sweeping new family benefits programme sponsored by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Female tennis athletes will be eligible for up to 12 months of maternity leave while they are away from action.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">WTA makes historic decision</h2>
"It can be challenging to balance the physical and emotional demands of a professional tennis career with the complexities of motherhood and family life," WTA CEO Portia Archer said in a statement.
"For some time, we have been exploring how we can increase our support for players to help them become parents at a time of their choice."
The WTA&rsquo;s latest initiative will see approximately 320 players on tour eligible for maternity leave, setting up an off-court benchmark.
The program also includes grants for fertility treatments like IVF, supporting players' family planning. WTA CEO Portia Archer called this unprecedented program groundbreaking for independent athletes. Currently, 25 mothers are active on the tour, demonstrating the rise of parental athletes in tennis.
&ldquo;This support will empower lower-ranked players with parental decisions. This policy reflects a broader trend, prioritizing maternity benefits in growing women's sports. The WTA continues efforts to enhance athlete welfare, including coaching opportunities and prize money equality,&rdquo; Victoria Azarenka emphasised.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/big-matter-for-the-country-suryakumar-backs-rohit-sharma-after-recent-controversy-on-fitness-and-captaincy-8830275" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Big matter for the country': Suryakumar backs Rohit Sharma after recent controversy on fitness and captaincy</a>
In recent years, the WTA and authorities have taken major steps to empower women&rsquo;s tennis. At Grand Slams and majority tour events, women are paid equal prize money which was not the case at the turn of the millennium.
On the other hand, FIFA also increased the share of women players on international duty prior to the Women&rsquo;s World Cup in 2023. On 1 June 2024, new FIFA policies came into effect which saw eligible female players get a paid leave of up to 14 weeks.

Sports, Tennis: The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) on Thursday (Mar 6) announced a historic decision as it will pay female tennis stars for maternity leave.

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) on Thursday (Mar 6) announced a historic decision to pay female tennis stars for maternity leave. The decision comes as part of the sweeping new family benefits programme sponsored by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Female tennis athletes will be eligible for up to 12 months of maternity leave while they are away from action. WTA makes historic decision "It can be challenging to balance the physical and emotional demands of a professional tennis career with the complexities of motherhood and family life," WTA CEO Portia Archer said in a statement. "For some time, we have been exploring how we can increase our support for players to help them become parents at a time of their choice." The WTA’s latest initiative will see approximately 320 players on tour eligible for maternity leave, setting up an off-court benchmark. The program also includes grants for fertility treatments like IVF, supporting players' family planning. WTA CEO Portia Archer called this unprecedented program groundbreaking for independent athletes. Currently, 25 mothers are active on the tour, demonstrating the rise of parental athletes in tennis. “This support will empower lower-ranked players with parental decisions. This policy reflects a broader trend, prioritizing maternity benefits in growing women's sports. The WTA continues efforts to enhance athlete welfare, including coaching opportunities and prize money equality,” Victoria Azarenka emphasised. ALSO READ | 'Big matter for the country': Suryakumar backs Rohit Sharma after recent controversy on fitness and captaincy In recent years, the WTA and authorities have taken major steps to empower women’s tennis. At Grand Slams and majority tour events, women are paid equal prize money which was not the case at the turn of the millennium. On the other hand, FIFA also increased the share of women players on international duty prior to the Women’s World Cup in 2023. On 1 June 2024, new FIFA policies came into effect which saw eligible female players get a paid leave of up to 14 weeks.

WTA makes historic decision, announces paid maternity leave for women tennis players

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is to finance a joint initiative with the WTA for paid maternity leave of "up to 12 months" for players on the women's tennis circuit, it was announced on Thursday.<o:p></o:p>
The PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program "will offer benefits to more than 320 eligible WTA players", the Women's Tennis Association said in a statement.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/prosecutors-question-judges-impartiality-in-rubiales-forced-kiss-saga-demand-for-trial-re-run-8829411" rel="dofollow">Prosecutors question judge's impartiality in Rubiales forced kiss saga, demand for trial re-run</a>
"WTA players will for the first time receive paid maternity leave up to 12 months, and have access to grants for fertility treatments to build families, as well as other benefits," it read.<o:p></o:p>
Players will have to compete "in a certain number of WTA tournaments in a window of time" to benefit from the payments.<o:p></o:p>
Belinda Bencic, who won Olympic gold for Switzerland in Tokyo and has returned to the WTA tour after having daughter Bella last April, welcomed the development.<o:p></o:p>
"Absolutely it's the best news really," Bencic said after cruising past Germany's Tatjana Maria in the first round at Indian Wells in California. "I think we are very proud as players for the WTA (to be) the first sport in female sports to make this.<o:p></o:p>
"It's great for everyone who is considering to have a family and come back, especially also the lower-ranked players that have to survive somehow when they are not playing for a year and a half and then trying to come back."<o:p></o:p>
Bencic, who earned her first title since returning from her leave in Abu Dhabi in February, noted that her Thursday opponent Maria was a mother of two.<o:p></o:p>
"I'm really feeling like there are so many moms now on the tour, so we're trying to show everyone it's possible to have a baby and play professional tennis," she said.<o:p></o:p>
<h2>Support and flexibility<o:p></o:p></h2>
Two-time Grand Slam winner Victoria Azarenka, a WTA players' council representative, welcomed "the beginning of a meaningful shift in how we support women in tennis, making it easier for athletes to pursue both their careers and their aspirations of starting a family."<o:p></o:p>
"Ensuring that programs like this exist has been a personal mission of mine," the Belarusian former world number one, who gave birth to a son in 2016, was quoted in the statement as saying. <o:p></o:p>
For WTA CEO Portia Archer "this initiative will provide the current and next generation of players the support and flexibility to explore family life, in whatever form they choose."<o:p></o:p>
Several top players have taken a break from their careers to give birth, with varying degrees of impact on their subsequent careers. The WTA says 25 active players are mothers.<o:p></o:p>
Belgian Kim Clijsters won three majors -- the US Open in 2009 and 2010 and the Australian Open in 2011 -- after giving birth to her daughter in 2008, following in the footsteps of Australians Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong, who triumphed at Grand Slams as mothers.<o:p></o:p>
However, 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams did not win any after the birth of her first child in September 2017, even though the American reached four finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.<o:p></o:p>
Four-time Grand Slam winner and former world number one Naomi Osaka of Japan returned to the courts in early 2024 after giving birth to a daughter. <o:p></o:p>
Since then, the 27-year-old's best result has been a final at the modest Auckland tournament in January. <o:p></o:p>
Criticised by some tennis figures for its record on women's rights, Saudi Arabia has boosted its tennis investments in recent years, organising the season-ending WTA Finals for the first time in Riyadh last November.<o:p></o:p>
That came months after the WTA entered into a multi-year partnership with the PIF sovereign wealth fund, with the kingdom again set to host the WTA Finals in 2025 and 2026.
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, Tennis: The PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program "will offer benefits to more than 320 eligible WTA players", the Women's Tennis Association said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is to finance a joint initiative with the WTA for paid maternity leave of "up to 12 months" for players on the women's tennis circuit, it was announced on Thursday. The PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program "will offer benefits to more than 320 eligible WTA players", the Women's Tennis Association said in a statement. Also read | Prosecutors question judge's impartiality in Rubiales forced kiss saga, demand for trial re-run "WTA players will for the first time receive paid maternity leave up to 12 months, and have access to grants for fertility treatments to build families, as well as other benefits," it read. Players will have to compete "in a certain number of WTA tournaments in a window of time" to benefit from the payments. Belinda Bencic, who won Olympic gold for Switzerland in Tokyo and has returned to the WTA tour after having daughter Bella last April, welcomed the development. "Absolutely it's the best news really," Bencic said after cruising past Germany's Tatjana Maria in the first round at Indian Wells in California. "I think we are very proud as players for the WTA (to be) the first sport in female sports to make this. "It's great for everyone who is considering to have a family and come back, especially also the lower-ranked players that have to survive somehow when they are not playing for a year and a half and then trying to come back." Bencic, who earned her first title since returning from her leave in Abu Dhabi in February, noted that her Thursday opponent Maria was a mother of two. "I'm really feeling like there are so many moms now on the tour, so we're trying to show everyone it's possible to have a baby and play professional tennis," she said. Support and flexibility Two-time Grand Slam winner Victoria Azarenka, a WTA players' council representative, welcomed "the beginning of a meaningful shift in how we support women in tennis, making it easier for athletes to pursue both their careers and their aspirations of starting a family." "Ensuring that programs like this exist has been a personal mission of mine," the Belarusian former world number one, who gave birth to a son in 2016, was quoted in the statement as saying. For WTA CEO Portia Archer "this initiative will provide the current and next generation of players the support and flexibility to explore family life, in whatever form they choose." Several top players have taken a break from their careers to give birth, with varying degrees of impact on their subsequent careers. The WTA says 25 active players are mothers. Belgian Kim Clijsters won three majors -- the US Open in 2009 and 2010 and the Australian Open in 2011 -- after giving birth to her daughter in 2008, following in the footsteps of Australians Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong, who triumphed at Grand Slams as mothers. However, 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams did not win any after the birth of her first child in September 2017, even though the American reached four finals at Wimbledon and the US Open. Four-time Grand Slam winner and former world number one Naomi Osaka of Japan returned to the courts in early 2024 after giving birth to a daughter. Since then, the 27-year-old's best result has been a final at the modest Auckland tournament in January. Criticised by some tennis figures for its record on women's rights, Saudi Arabia has boosted its tennis investments in recent years, organising the season-ending WTA Finals for the first time in Riyadh last November. That came months after the WTA entered into a multi-year partnership with the PIF sovereign wealth fund, with the kingdom again set to host the WTA Finals in 2025 and 2026. 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 stars welcome Saudi PIF’s ‘up to 12 months maternity leave’ initiative

Prosecutors on Thursday requested that the trial of Spain's ex-football federation chief Luis Rubiales for his forced kiss on Jenni Hermoso be annulled and re-run, notably questioning the judge's impartiality.<o:p></o:p>
Spain's top criminal court last month found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for the kiss and fined him 10,800 euros ($11,670), sparing him jail in a sentence considered lenient by feminist groups.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/europa-league-manchester-united-held-in-spain-spurs-beaten-by-az-alkmaar-in-last-16-8829398" rel="dofollow">Europa League: Manchester United held in Spain, Spurs beaten by AZ Alkmaar</a>
The sentence fell well short of the demands of prosecutors, who had sought a total of two and a half years in prison for Rubiales, one year for sexual assault and 18 months for allegedly coercing Hermoso to downplay the kiss.<o:p></o:p>
Hermoso is appealing the sentence, which also cleared Rubiales and three other defendants of coercion, including former women's team coach Jorge Vilda and two senior ex-federation officials.<o:p></o:p>
The prosecutors said in a statement that they were appealing the sentence, requesting the trial be declared null and void and "held again by another judge not tainted, to say the least, by an appearance of bias".<o:p></o:p>
They said judge Jose Manuel Fernandez-Prieto "unduly" prevented the prosecutor in the trial, Marta Durantez, from posing certain questions and cited the "arbitrariness" of his sentence.<o:p></o:p>
The statement added that the judge "made no mention in the sentence" of key evidence brought up during the trial, "as if such evidence had not existed".<o:p></o:p>
Fernandez-Prieto attracted attention during the trial for his brusque attitude, frequently interrupting and scolding participants.<o:p></o:p>
<h2>'Much to be done'<o:p></o:p></h2>
Rubiales was also banned from going within a 200-metre radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for a period of one year. He denied the charges and is also appealing the ruling.<o:p></o:p>
In the appeal document seen by AFP on Thursday, Rubiales' legal team wrote the kiss had "no sexual connotation of any kind" and therefore did not constitute a sexual assault.<o:p></o:p>
Rubiales maintained that the kiss was consensual and questioned "the inconsistency" of Hermoso's testimony, the document added.<o:p></o:p>
It was not immediately clear when the courts would decide on the various appeals.<o:p></o:p>
The former federation chief sparked worldwide uproar when he kissed Hermoso on the lips as she went up to receive her winner's medal after Spain beat England in the 2023 Women's World Cup final in Sydney.<o:p></o:p>
The backlash unleashed by the kiss forced Rubiales to relinquish his post in disgrace that year, saw him banned from all football-related activity for three years and plunged the federation into a prolonged period of turmoil.<o:p></o:p>
The trial captivated Spain and made Hermoso, the all-time top scorer for the national women's team, an icon of the fight against sexism and macho culture in sport.<o:p></o:p>
Hermoso said after the verdict that the trial would "create an important precedent in a social environment where there is still much to be done".
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: Spain's top criminal court last month found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for the kiss and fined him 10,800 euros ($11,670).

Prosecutors on Thursday requested that the trial of Spain's ex-football federation chief Luis Rubiales for his forced kiss on Jenni Hermoso be annulled and re-run, notably questioning the judge's impartiality. Spain's top criminal court last month found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for the kiss and fined him 10,800 euros ($11,670), sparing him jail in a sentence considered lenient by feminist groups. Also read | Europa League: Manchester United held in Spain, Spurs beaten by AZ Alkmaar The sentence fell well short of the demands of prosecutors, who had sought a total of two and a half years in prison for Rubiales, one year for sexual assault and 18 months for allegedly coercing Hermoso to downplay the kiss. Hermoso is appealing the sentence, which also cleared Rubiales and three other defendants of coercion, including former women's team coach Jorge Vilda and two senior ex-federation officials. The prosecutors said in a statement that they were appealing the sentence, requesting the trial be declared null and void and "held again by another judge not tainted, to say the least, by an appearance of bias". They said judge Jose Manuel Fernandez-Prieto "unduly" prevented the prosecutor in the trial, Marta Durantez, from posing certain questions and cited the "arbitrariness" of his sentence. The statement added that the judge "made no mention in the sentence" of key evidence brought up during the trial, "as if such evidence had not existed". Fernandez-Prieto attracted attention during the trial for his brusque attitude, frequently interrupting and scolding participants. 'Much to be done' Rubiales was also banned from going within a 200-metre radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for a period of one year. He denied the charges and is also appealing the ruling. In the appeal document seen by AFP on Thursday, Rubiales' legal team wrote the kiss had "no sexual connotation of any kind" and therefore did not constitute a sexual assault. Rubiales maintained that the kiss was consensual and questioned "the inconsistency" of Hermoso's testimony, the document added. It was not immediately clear when the courts would decide on the various appeals. The former federation chief sparked worldwide uproar when he kissed Hermoso on the lips as she went up to receive her winner's medal after Spain beat England in the 2023 Women's World Cup final in Sydney. The backlash unleashed by the kiss forced Rubiales to relinquish his post in disgrace that year, saw him banned from all football-related activity for three years and plunged the federation into a prolonged period of turmoil. The trial captivated Spain and made Hermoso, the all-time top scorer for the national women's team, an icon of the fight against sexism and macho culture in sport. Hermoso said after the verdict that the trial would "create an important precedent in a social environment where there is still much to be done". 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.

Prosecutors question judge's impartiality in Rubiales forced kiss saga, demand for trial re-run

Manchester United drew 1-1 away to Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, while Tottenham suffered a 1-0 loss at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.<o:p></o:p>
Joshua Zirkzee drilled in from just outside the area to give United the lead on 57 minutes in San Sebastian but Mikel Oyarzabal levelled from the spot after Bruno Fernandes was punished for a handball.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/neymar-back-for-brazil-after-16-month-absence-for-world-cup-qualifiers-8829010" rel="dofollow">Neymar back for Brazil after 16-month absence for World Cup qualifiers</a>
Zirkzee cut a distraught figure after missing the decisive penalty in last week's FA Cup shootout loss to Fulham and has endured a testing first season at United, whose only remaining hope of silverware is in the Europa League. He scored for the first time in Europe this term, unleashing a sharp low drive from 20 yards after being teed up by Alejandro Garnacho's inviting pass.<o:p></o:p>
But Ruben Amorim's side could not hold on to their advantage as Fernandes handled at a corner, with Oyarzabal confidently converting his spot-kick.<o:p></o:p>
Andre Onana made two excellent saves to keep United level as Real Sociedad pressed for a winner, leaving the tie evenly poised ahead of next week's second leg.<o:p></o:p>
"I felt until the penalty we had control of the game and then I think the penalty changed a little bit the momentum," Amorim told TNT Sports. "I felt our team in the last 30 minutes were really, really tired," he added. <o:p></o:p>
"We take this stage to Old Trafford... it's going to be a different game, the pressure is going to be on us in that stadium and we have to be ready."<o:p></o:p>
Elsewhere, Lucas Bergvall's first-half own goal condemned Spurs to defeat in the Netherlands, and it could have been worse for Ange Postecoglou's side were it not for three fine stops from Guglielmo Vicario.<o:p></o:p>
"We were nowhere near the level we needed to be and that's the thing we need to address," said Postecoglou, as Spurs registered just a single shot on target.<o:p></o:p>
To compound Tottenham's misery, striker Dominic Solanke hobbled off after 20 minutes as he made his return from seven weeks out with a knee injury.
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: Zirkzee drilled in from just outside the area to give United the lead on 57 minutes but Oyarzabal levelled from the spot after Bruno was punished for a handball.

Manchester United drew 1-1 away to Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, while Tottenham suffered a 1-0 loss at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar. Joshua Zirkzee drilled in from just outside the area to give United the lead on 57 minutes in San Sebastian but Mikel Oyarzabal levelled from the spot after Bruno Fernandes was punished for a handball. Also read | Neymar back for Brazil after 16-month absence for World Cup qualifiers Zirkzee cut a distraught figure after missing the decisive penalty in last week's FA Cup shootout loss to Fulham and has endured a testing first season at United, whose only remaining hope of silverware is in the Europa League. He scored for the first time in Europe this term, unleashing a sharp low drive from 20 yards after being teed up by Alejandro Garnacho's inviting pass. But Ruben Amorim's side could not hold on to their advantage as Fernandes handled at a corner, with Oyarzabal confidently converting his spot-kick. Andre Onana made two excellent saves to keep United level as Real Sociedad pressed for a winner, leaving the tie evenly poised ahead of next week's second leg. "I felt until the penalty we had control of the game and then I think the penalty changed a little bit the momentum," Amorim told TNT Sports. "I felt our team in the last 30 minutes were really, really tired," he added. "We take this stage to Old Trafford... it's going to be a different game, the pressure is going to be on us in that stadium and we have to be ready." Elsewhere, Lucas Bergvall's first-half own goal condemned Spurs to defeat in the Netherlands, and it could have been worse for Ange Postecoglou's side were it not for three fine stops from Guglielmo Vicario. "We were nowhere near the level we needed to be and that's the thing we need to address," said Postecoglou, as Spurs registered just a single shot on target. To compound Tottenham's misery, striker Dominic Solanke hobbled off after 20 minutes as he made his return from seven weeks out with a knee injury. 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.

Europa League: Manchester United held in Spain, Spurs beaten by AZ Alkmaar

Neymar was on Thursday recalled by coach Dorival Junior to the Brazil team after almost a year and a half out injured for upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.
<h2>Neymar returns for Brazil</h2>
Neymar started Brazil's first four qualifying games but went off injured in a defeat to Uruguay in October 2023, his last appearance for the five-time world champions.
Brazil have struggled in South American World Cup qualifying.&nbsp;
After 12 of the 18 rounds, they are fifth in the 10-nation group. But the top six are guaranteed places in the World Cup and Brazil are five points ahead of Bolivia in seventh.
Neymar returns for qualifiers against Colombia on March 21 and world champions Argentina five days later.
Brazil's top scorer with 79 goals said last month next year's World Cup is going to be his last.
He will be 34 by the time the competition in the USA, Canada and Mexico, kicks off.
Neymar scored for the first time in over 14 months last Sunday with his first goal for Santos since his return to his boyhood club at the start of the month.
The 33-year-old helped Santos beat fourth division Agua Santa 3-1 in a Sao Paulo state championship match.&nbsp;
Neymar, who failed to score in his first three games with Santos, stepped up to slot home a penalty in the 14th minute.&nbsp;
It was his 137th goal in 229 appearances for the club he has returned to after leaving them in 2013 for Barcelona.&nbsp;
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/indias-best-batter-virat-kohli-is-englands-third-highest-odi-run-scorer-heres-how-8827734" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India&rsquo;s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how</a>
It was also his first goal for anyone since October 3, 2023 when he was playing for Al Hilal against Nassaji Mazandaran in the Asian Champions League.&nbsp;
He terminated his contract with the Saudi club at the end of January to return home.
Neymar spent 18 months with Al Hilal after joining from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023 on a deal that enriched him by a reported 100 million euros ($103m) a season.
Neymar played five games for them before suffering the serious knee injury playing for Brazil against Uruguay.
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: Neymar started Brazil's first four qualifying games but went off injured in a defeat to Uruguay in October 2023, his last appearance for the former champions.

Neymar was on Thursday recalled by coach Dorival Junior to the Brazil team after almost a year and a half out injured for upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina. Neymar returns for Brazil Neymar started Brazil's first four qualifying games but went off injured in a defeat to Uruguay in October 2023, his last appearance for the five-time world champions. Brazil have struggled in South American World Cup qualifying. After 12 of the 18 rounds, they are fifth in the 10-nation group. But the top six are guaranteed places in the World Cup and Brazil are five points ahead of Bolivia in seventh. Neymar returns for qualifiers against Colombia on March 21 and world champions Argentina five days later. Brazil's top scorer with 79 goals said last month next year's World Cup is going to be his last. He will be 34 by the time the competition in the USA, Canada and Mexico, kicks off. Neymar scored for the first time in over 14 months last Sunday with his first goal for Santos since his return to his boyhood club at the start of the month. The 33-year-old helped Santos beat fourth division Agua Santa 3-1 in a Sao Paulo state championship match. Neymar, who failed to score in his first three games with Santos, stepped up to slot home a penalty in the 14th minute. It was his 137th goal in 229 appearances for the club he has returned to after leaving them in 2013 for Barcelona. ALSO READ | India’s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how It was also his first goal for anyone since October 3, 2023 when he was playing for Al Hilal against Nassaji Mazandaran in the Asian Champions League. He terminated his contract with the Saudi club at the end of January to return home. Neymar spent 18 months with Al Hilal after joining from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023 on a deal that enriched him by a reported 100 million euros ($103m) a season. Neymar played five games for them before suffering the serious knee injury playing for Brazil against Uruguay. 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.

Neymar back for Brazil after 16-month absence for World Cup qualifiers

India senior men's national team head coach Manolo Marquez on Thursday announced his 26-member squad, including the legendary Sunil Chhetri, for the March FIFA International Window. The fourth-highest international goalscorer of all-time with 94 strikes to his credit, Chhetri had announced his retirement from the national team in June last year but is now set to make a return in India's blue later this month.
<h2>Chhetri returns for India</h2>
The Blue Tigers will play a friendly match against Maldives on March 19 in preparation for the opening match of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round against Bangladesh on March 25, the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) informed in a release on Thursday. Shillong's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host the Indian senior men&rsquo;s team's two matches that they will play during the FIFA international window in March.
Marquez said, "The qualification for the Asian Cup is very crucial for us. Given the importance of the tournament and the matches ahead, I discussed with Sunil Chhetri about making a comeback to strengthen the National Team. He agreed, and so we have included him in the squad."
In the first match, India will play against Maldives on March 19 in an international friendly as part of preparations for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round campaign. The second match will be against Bangladesh on March 25, India's first game of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round, the AIFF informed.
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<h2>India's 26-member squad for the March 2025 FIFA International Window:</h2>
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders: Asish Rai, Boris Singh Thangjam, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Hmingthanmawia, Mehtab Singh, Rahul Bheke, Roshan Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhasish Bose.
Midfielders: Ashique Kuruniyan, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Brandon Fernandes, Brison Fernandes, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Lalengmawia, Liston Colaco, Mahesh Singh Naorem, and Suresh Singh Wangjam.
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Farukh Choudhary, Irfan Yadwad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh.
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: India senior men's national team head coach Manolo Marquez on Thursday announced his 26-member squad, including the legendary Sunil Chhetri.

India senior men's national team head coach Manolo Marquez on Thursday announced his 26-member squad, including the legendary Sunil Chhetri, for the March FIFA International Window. The fourth-highest international goalscorer of all-time with 94 strikes to his credit, Chhetri had announced his retirement from the national team in June last year but is now set to make a return in India's blue later this month. Chhetri returns for India The Blue Tigers will play a friendly match against Maldives on March 19 in preparation for the opening match of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round against Bangladesh on March 25, the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) informed in a release on Thursday. Shillong's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host the Indian senior men’s team's two matches that they will play during the FIFA international window in March. Marquez said, "The qualification for the Asian Cup is very crucial for us. Given the importance of the tournament and the matches ahead, I discussed with Sunil Chhetri about making a comeback to strengthen the National Team. He agreed, and so we have included him in the squad." In the first match, India will play against Maldives on March 19 in an international friendly as part of preparations for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round campaign. The second match will be against Bangladesh on March 25, India's first game of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round, the AIFF informed. ALSO READ | India’s best batter Virat Kohli is third-highest ODI run scorer for 'England'. Know how India's 26-member squad for the March 2025 FIFA International Window: Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Vishal Kaith. Defenders: Asish Rai, Boris Singh Thangjam, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Hmingthanmawia, Mehtab Singh, Rahul Bheke, Roshan Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhasish Bose. Midfielders: Ashique Kuruniyan, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Brandon Fernandes, Brison Fernandes, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Lalengmawia, Liston Colaco, Mahesh Singh Naorem, and Suresh Singh Wangjam. Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Farukh Choudhary, Irfan Yadwad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh. 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.

Sunil Chhetri revokes retirement decision, named in Manolo Marquez's 26-man India squad for international break

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