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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pakistan airline PIA unveils new crew uniforms, faces online criticism

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

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

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

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

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

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

French Open: PV Sindhu storms into final with win over Hina Akechi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How smart robots and AI assemble vehicles in 20 hours

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

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

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

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

Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, United States to meet in Abu Dhabi: Zelensky

Farooq Abdullah says Pakistan’s raising of Kashmir issue keeps pressure on Delhi

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

Australia cricket team could be handed a major blow in their preparations for the Champions Trophy 2025 as skipper Pat Cummins could be unfit due to an ankle injury. Speaking on Wednesday (Feb 5), head coach Andrew McDonald insisted that Cummins is &ldquo;heavily unlikely to feature for Australia having missed the Sri Lanka tour as well. According to McDonald, Steve Smith and Travis Head are the leading contenders to lead the Aussies in absence of Cummins as they try to win their second CT title. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Cummins unlikely for Champions Trophy<o:p></o:p></h2>
"Pat Cummins hasn't been able to resume any type of bowling so he's heavily unlikely, so that would mean that we do need a captain," McDonald told SEN. "Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we've been having conversations with while we've been building out that Champions Trophy team along with Pat back home. They'll be the two that we look at for that leadership post.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p>
Having skipped the Sri Lanka tour due to paternity leave and an ankle issue, Cummins could now miss the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The Aussie skipper has been in brilliant form in recent weeks having led his nation to a Test series win over India and helping reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final. While he is yet to be officially ruled out, Cricket Australia (CA) is already looking at a captaincy alternative.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/english-batters-will-fare-better-against-in-50-over-format-kevin-pietersen-8690821" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">English batters will fare better against... in 50-over format: Kevin Pietersen</a> 
Mitchell Marsh&rsquo;s poor run of form has seen him drop out of the team while Travis Head and Steve Smith emerge as potential options. Smith had previously served as Australia&rsquo;s full-time captain before the 2018 sandpaper gate scandal saw him vacate the post. However, despite this, Smith has led Australia in Cummins&rsquo; absence. <o:p></o:p>
Head on the other hand remains a clear favourite to take the captaincy role having thrived in recent months. He played a key role in Australia&rsquo;s 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) and ODI World Cup wins, scoring hundreds in both finals.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Cricket: Australia cricket team could be handed a major blow in their preparations for the Champions Trophy 2025 as Pat Cummins could be unfit due to an ankle injury

Australia cricket team could be handed a major blow in their preparations for the Champions Trophy 2025 as skipper Pat Cummins could be unfit due to an ankle injury. Speaking on Wednesday (Feb 5), head coach Andrew McDonald insisted that Cummins is “heavily unlikely to feature for Australia having missed the Sri Lanka tour as well. According to McDonald, Steve Smith and Travis Head are the leading contenders to lead the Aussies in absence of Cummins as they try to win their second CT title. Cummins unlikely for Champions Trophy "Pat Cummins hasn't been able to resume any type of bowling so he's heavily unlikely, so that would mean that we do need a captain," McDonald told SEN. "Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we've been having conversations with while we've been building out that Champions Trophy team along with Pat back home. They'll be the two that we look at for that leadership post.” Having skipped the Sri Lanka tour due to paternity leave and an ankle issue, Cummins could now miss the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The Aussie skipper has been in brilliant form in recent weeks having led his nation to a Test series win over India and helping reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final. While he is yet to be officially ruled out, Cricket Australia (CA) is already looking at a captaincy alternative. ALSO READ | English batters will fare better against... in 50-over format: Kevin Pietersen Mitchell Marsh’s poor run of form has seen him drop out of the team while Travis Head and Steve Smith emerge as potential options. Smith had previously served as Australia’s full-time captain before the 2018 sandpaper gate scandal saw him vacate the post. However, despite this, Smith has led Australia in Cummins’ absence. Head on the other hand remains a clear favourite to take the captaincy role having thrived in recent months. He played a key role in Australia’s 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) and ODI World Cup wins, scoring hundreds in both finals.

Champions Trophy 2025: Pat Cummins 'heavily unlikely' to feature; Travis Head, Steve Smith in captaincy race

Giuliano Simeone struck twice as Atletico Madrid thrashed Getafe 5-0 on Tuesday to power into the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
The son of Atletico coach Diego Simeone has become vital for the Rojilblancos in recent months and his brace got his side off to the perfect start in a one-sided last eight clash.
Samuel Lino, Angel Correa and Alexander Sorloth were also on the scoresheet as the hosts ran out convincing winners.
<h2>Atletico Madrid in semis</h2>
"I'm very happy to have a night like that in the stadium, it was crazy, but first of all I have to thank the whole team because we made a huge effort," man of the match Simeone told TVE.
"I am happy, I am thinking a lot about the things that I have to improve, I'm working on improving day to day... and I have to keep growing."
Atletico, who last won the Spanish cup in 2013, came flying out of the blocks at their Metropolitano stadium.
Simeone nodded them ahead after just eight minutes, with Getafe goalkeeper Jiri Letacek wavering on his initial decision to come out for Javi Galan's cross and getting caught in no man's land.
Rodrigo De Paul teed up the 22-year-old forward for his second goal in the 17th minute, as Getafe's defence was cracked open too easily.
Julian Alvarez should have tucked home the third but fired wide after Antoine Griezmann fed him unselfishly.
Lino grabbed it before half-time, producing a clever turn to leave defender Juan Iglesias sliding in the wrong direction before finishing clinically.
Simeone tapped home early in the second half for what would have been his hat-trick, but the goal was disallowed for offside against Galan in the build-up.
Getafe steadied the ship for a while, giving up fewer chances to an Atletico side seemingly content with their advantage.
Atletico substitute Correa eventually drilled home the fourth from outside the area with a low effort after 78 minutes.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/english-batters-will-fare-better-against-in-50-over-format-kevin-pietersen-8690821" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">English batters will fare better against... in 50-over format: Kevin Pietersen</a>
The fifth followed with another substitute Sorloth firing past Letacek after Correa laid the ball off to him.
"The team started very well, playing at such a high speed... we took control early on," said Diego Simeone, who added that his son had to continue his rich vein of form.
"He's in a very good moment, the fans recognise it, they will demand a lot more from him and he has to maintain this level," noted the Atletico coach.
On Wednesday Real Madrid cross town to face Leganes, with Real Sociedad hosting Osasuna and record 31-time winners Barcelona at Valencia on Thursday in the other quarter-finals.
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: Giuliano Simeone struck twice as Atletico Madrid thrashed Getafe 5-0 on Tuesday to power into the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

Giuliano Simeone struck twice as Atletico Madrid thrashed Getafe 5-0 on Tuesday to power into the Copa del Rey semi-finals. The son of Atletico coach Diego Simeone has become vital for the Rojilblancos in recent months and his brace got his side off to the perfect start in a one-sided last eight clash. Samuel Lino, Angel Correa and Alexander Sorloth were also on the scoresheet as the hosts ran out convincing winners. Atletico Madrid in semis "I'm very happy to have a night like that in the stadium, it was crazy, but first of all I have to thank the whole team because we made a huge effort," man of the match Simeone told TVE. "I am happy, I am thinking a lot about the things that I have to improve, I'm working on improving day to day... and I have to keep growing." Atletico, who last won the Spanish cup in 2013, came flying out of the blocks at their Metropolitano stadium. Simeone nodded them ahead after just eight minutes, with Getafe goalkeeper Jiri Letacek wavering on his initial decision to come out for Javi Galan's cross and getting caught in no man's land. Rodrigo De Paul teed up the 22-year-old forward for his second goal in the 17th minute, as Getafe's defence was cracked open too easily. Julian Alvarez should have tucked home the third but fired wide after Antoine Griezmann fed him unselfishly. Lino grabbed it before half-time, producing a clever turn to leave defender Juan Iglesias sliding in the wrong direction before finishing clinically. Simeone tapped home early in the second half for what would have been his hat-trick, but the goal was disallowed for offside against Galan in the build-up. Getafe steadied the ship for a while, giving up fewer chances to an Atletico side seemingly content with their advantage. Atletico substitute Correa eventually drilled home the fourth from outside the area with a low effort after 78 minutes. ALSO READ | English batters will fare better against... in 50-over format: Kevin Pietersen The fifth followed with another substitute Sorloth firing past Letacek after Correa laid the ball off to him. "The team started very well, playing at such a high speed... we took control early on," said Diego Simeone, who added that his son had to continue his rich vein of form. "He's in a very good moment, the fans recognise it, they will demand a lot more from him and he has to maintain this level," noted the Atletico coach. On Wednesday Real Madrid cross town to face Leganes, with Real Sociedad hosting Osasuna and record 31-time winners Barcelona at Valencia on Thursday in the other quarter-finals. 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.

Copa del Rey: Giuliano Simeone brace helps Atletico Madrid thrash Getafe to reach semis

Former tennis world number one Simona Halep announced her retirement on Tuesday after her first-round defeat at the WTA Cluj-Napoca tournament in her native Romania.
The 33-year-old lost 6-1, 6-1 to 72nd-ranked Italian Lucia Bronzetti.
<h2>Halep announces retirement</h2>
"I don't know if it is with joy or sadness that I speak to you but I made this decision in my soul and conscience, I have always been lucid. My body no longer follows, but today I wanted to play and say my goodbyes on the court," Halep told the Romanian crowd.
The two-time Grand Slam champion, who had been working to re-establish herself after a doping ban, pulled out of Australian Open qualifying last month citing pain in her knee and shoulder.
Halep returned to tennis in March last year after her career had been on hold since October 7, 2022, after testing positive for roxadustat at the US Open.
The winner of the 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon singles titles was then caught up in a second affair, over "irregularities" in the data of her biological passport.
She was handed a four-year ban by the ITIA, but successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing her positive test for roxadustat -- used to treat anaemia and banned as a blood doping agent -- was the result of a tainted supplement.
She denied knowingly doping and her ban was reduced from four years to nine months.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/english-batters-will-fare-better-against-in-50-over-format-kevin-pietersen-8690821" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">English batters will fare better against... in 50-over format: Kevin Pietersen</a>
But she never managed to regain the level that allowed her to rise to the top of the world rankings in October 2017, a position she occupied for a total of 64 weeks in her career.&nbsp;
Halep won 24 WTA titles over her 19-year career including the French Open in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019.&nbsp;
She also played in three other Grand Slam finals -- the French Open in 2014 and 2017 and the Australian Open in 2018.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Tennis: Former tennis world number one Simona Halep announced her retirement after her first-round defeat at the WTA Cluj-Napoca tournament in her native Romania.

Former tennis world number one Simona Halep announced her retirement on Tuesday after her first-round defeat at the WTA Cluj-Napoca tournament in her native Romania. The 33-year-old lost 6-1, 6-1 to 72nd-ranked Italian Lucia Bronzetti. Halep announces retirement "I don't know if it is with joy or sadness that I speak to you but I made this decision in my soul and conscience, I have always been lucid. My body no longer follows, but today I wanted to play and say my goodbyes on the court," Halep told the Romanian crowd. The two-time Grand Slam champion, who had been working to re-establish herself after a doping ban, pulled out of Australian Open qualifying last month citing pain in her knee and shoulder. Halep returned to tennis in March last year after her career had been on hold since October 7, 2022, after testing positive for roxadustat at the US Open. The winner of the 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon singles titles was then caught up in a second affair, over "irregularities" in the data of her biological passport. She was handed a four-year ban by the ITIA, but successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing her positive test for roxadustat -- used to treat anaemia and banned as a blood doping agent -- was the result of a tainted supplement. She denied knowingly doping and her ban was reduced from four years to nine months. ALSO READ | English batters will fare better against... in 50-over format: Kevin Pietersen But she never managed to regain the level that allowed her to rise to the top of the world rankings in October 2017, a position she occupied for a total of 64 weeks in her career. Halep won 24 WTA titles over her 19-year career including the French Open in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019. She also played in three other Grand Slam finals -- the French Open in 2014 and 2017 and the Australian Open in 2018. 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.

Former Wimbledon champion Simona Halep announces retirement after first-round defeat at the WTA Cluj-Napoca

Australia women's football captain Sam Kerr is on trial for racially abusing a white police officer after getting into a dispute with a cab driver in London. Body cam footage was released of Kerr abusing the officer.

On camera: Australia women's football captain abuses police officer

Former Pakistan Cricketer Shoiab Akhtar backs Fakhar Zaman to do well in the upcoming Champions trophy. Shoiab Akhtar is currently in the UAE as a commentator for the third season of the IL T20. Watch in for more details!

Shoaib Akhtar backs Fakhar Zaman to shine in Champions Trophy

SL vs AUS, 2nd Test Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue:&nbsp;Australia will search for a clean sweep in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka as both teams meet on Thursday (Feb 6). After winning the opening contest one-sided, Australia will look to close the series on a high while hosts Sri Lanka will have a point to prove. Ahead of the second Test between hosts Sri Lanka and Australia, here are all the details, including live streaming, squads, and more.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">When is the Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match will start on Thursday (Feb 6).
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Which stadium will host the Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match?</h2>
The Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match will be played at the Galle International Stadium in Galle.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">What time will the Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match start?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match will start at 10:00 AM IST on Thursday (Feb 6) with the toss taking place at 9:30 AM IST.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Where to watch the Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match on TV?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network in India.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-spend-whopping-224mn-in-winter-transfer-window-despite-financial-charges-8688164" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Manchester City spend whopping $224mn in winter transfer window despite financial charges</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Where to watch the Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test Live Streaming online on OTT?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match will be live-streamed on the Sony Liv app and website in India.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Squads<o:p></o:p></h2>
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva(c), Kusal Mendis(w), Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nishan Peiris, Sonal Dinusha, Lahiru Udara, Milan Priyanath Rathnayake
Australia: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith(c), Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey(w), Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Cooper Connolly

Sports, Cricket: Australia will search for a clean sweep in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka as both teams meet on Thursday (Feb 6).

SL vs AUS, 2nd Test Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: Australia will search for a clean sweep in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka as both teams meet on Thursday (Feb 6). After winning the opening contest one-sided, Australia will look to close the series on a high while hosts Sri Lanka will have a point to prove. Ahead of the second Test between hosts Sri Lanka and Australia, here are all the details, including live streaming, squads, and more. When is the Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match? The Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match will start on Thursday (Feb 6). Which stadium will host the Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match? The Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match will be played at the Galle International Stadium in Galle. What time will the Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match start? The Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match will start at 10:00 AM IST on Thursday (Feb 6) with the toss taking place at 9:30 AM IST. Where to watch the Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match on TV? The Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network in India. ALSO READ | Manchester City spend whopping $224mn in winter transfer window despite financial charges Where to watch the Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test Live Streaming online on OTT? The Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test match will be live-streamed on the Sony Liv app and website in India. Squads Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva(c), Kusal Mendis(w), Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nishan Peiris, Sonal Dinusha, Lahiru Udara, Milan Priyanath Rathnayake Australia: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith(c), Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey(w), Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Cooper Connolly

SL vs AUS, 2nd Test live streaming: When & where to watch Sri Lanka vs Australia live

Legendary football striker Cristiano Ronaldo has made a massive claim ahead of his 40th birthday on Wednesday. Ronaldo, currently playing in the Saudi Pro League (SPL) for Al-Nassr, scored a brace on Monday and has claimed he is the &ldquo;most complete player ever&rdquo; to play the sport. Ronaldo also claimed that he has a special place in his heart for Real Madrid where he played for nine years between 2009 and 2018 while winning four Champions League titles.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Ronaldo makes massive claim<o:p></o:p></h2>
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m the most complete player ever. To say that Cristiano isn&rsquo;t complete is a lie. You may prefer Pele, Messi, Maradona, I understand and respect that,&rdquo; Ronaldo said while speaking to Edu Aguirre. <o:p></o:p>
&ldquo;I will always have Madrid in my heart, it was the team where I was happiest. I have done very important things there, very beautiful things and that is why people do not forget. When you leave a legacy and a mark, people do not forget&rdquo;.<o:p></o:p>
Now almost 40, the Portugal star is still doing well, currently playing in the SPL earning a whopping $3mn per week. In his illustrious career, he has won all major football honours at club level while also bagging five Ballon d&rsquo;Or trophies.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
The FIFA World Cup remains the only major honour missing from his trophy cabinet. He won the Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League for Portugal, leading them on both occasions.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-spend-whopping-224mn-in-winter-transfer-window-despite-financial-charges-8688164" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Manchester City spend whopping $224mn in winter transfer window despite financial charges</a> 
Ronaldo has scored more than 900 goals and could become the first player to reach 1,000 goals.
For now, the attention turns to the AFC Champions League for Ronaldo as he targets another continental success. Al-Nassr took a massive 4-0 lead in the first leg as the Portuguese scored a brace against Al Wasl in the AFC Champions League Elite match. Al-Nassr are also in the hunt for the SPL title and currently sit third in the table with 38 points from 18 matches.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Football: Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace in the AFC Champions League on Monday and claimed he is the “most complete player ever” to play the sport. 

Legendary football striker Cristiano Ronaldo has made a massive claim ahead of his 40th birthday on Wednesday. Ronaldo, currently playing in the Saudi Pro League (SPL) for Al-Nassr, scored a brace on Monday and has claimed he is the “most complete player ever” to play the sport. Ronaldo also claimed that he has a special place in his heart for Real Madrid where he played for nine years between 2009 and 2018 while winning four Champions League titles. Ronaldo makes massive claim “I’m the most complete player ever. To say that Cristiano isn’t complete is a lie. You may prefer Pele, Messi, Maradona, I understand and respect that,” Ronaldo said while speaking to Edu Aguirre. “I will always have Madrid in my heart, it was the team where I was happiest. I have done very important things there, very beautiful things and that is why people do not forget. When you leave a legacy and a mark, people do not forget”. Now almost 40, the Portugal star is still doing well, currently playing in the SPL earning a whopping $3mn per week. In his illustrious career, he has won all major football honours at club level while also bagging five Ballon d’Or trophies. The FIFA World Cup remains the only major honour missing from his trophy cabinet. He won the Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League for Portugal, leading them on both occasions. ALSO READ | Manchester City spend whopping $224mn in winter transfer window despite financial charges Ronaldo has scored more than 900 goals and could become the first player to reach 1,000 goals. For now, the attention turns to the AFC Champions League for Ronaldo as he targets another continental success. Al-Nassr took a massive 4-0 lead in the first leg as the Portuguese scored a brace against Al Wasl in the AFC Champions League Elite match. Al-Nassr are also in the hunt for the SPL title and currently sit third in the table with 38 points from 18 matches.

Ahead of 40th birthday, Cristiano Ronaldo claims he's the 'most complete player ever'

England head coach Brendon McCullum is in awe of Indian batter Abhishek Sharma after the youngster played a match-winning 135-run knock against the visitors on Sunday (Feb 2) in the final T20I. Abhishek, who has been a regular member of the Indian T20I side, completed his ton in just 37 balls as India registered a massive 150-run win over England. The innings was also the highest for any Indian batter in the format as the hosts pocketed the series 4-1. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">McCullum in awe of Abhishek<o:p></o:p></h2>
"First and foremost, the innings we saw from Abhishek is as good an innings as we've ever witnessed in T20 cricket. He's not just doing it against any attack, he's doing it against four guys who bowl 90mph and an absolute gun leg-spinner," McCullum said.<o:p></o:p>
In an explosive innings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Abhishek broke several records, including the most sixes and highest T20I individual score for India. His innings propelled India to 247/9 before bundling out England for 97, registering the biggest win for the hosts. <o:p></o:p>
Abhishek&rsquo;s ton was the second fastest for India in the T20I format, behind Rohit Sharma&rsquo;s record of 35-ball hundred.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-spend-whopping-224mn-in-winter-transfer-window-despite-financial-charges-8688164" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Manchester City spend whopping $224mn in winter transfer window despite financial charges</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Attention turns to the ODI series<o:p></o:p></h2>
Having won the T20I series 4-1, India will now look to replicate the same form in the ODI format as they take on England in a three-match series starting on Thursday (Feb 6). The Men in Blue will be led by Rohit Sharma as they look to build momentum for Champions Trophy 2025. The eight-nation tournament will start on Feb 19 while India begin their campaign on Feb 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
The England series will be a good warm-up for the Indian side as all eyes will be on Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami and skipper Rohit. Jasprit Bumrah will not play in the ODI series but is likely to be available for the Champions Trophy 2025.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Cricket: England head coach Brendon McCullum is in awe of Indian batter Abhishek Sharma after the youngster played a match-winning 135-run knock against the visitors.

England head coach Brendon McCullum is in awe of Indian batter Abhishek Sharma after the youngster played a match-winning 135-run knock against the visitors on Sunday (Feb 2) in the final T20I. Abhishek, who has been a regular member of the Indian T20I side, completed his ton in just 37 balls as India registered a massive 150-run win over England. The innings was also the highest for any Indian batter in the format as the hosts pocketed the series 4-1. McCullum in awe of Abhishek "First and foremost, the innings we saw from Abhishek is as good an innings as we've ever witnessed in T20 cricket. He's not just doing it against any attack, he's doing it against four guys who bowl 90mph and an absolute gun leg-spinner," McCullum said. In an explosive innings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Abhishek broke several records, including the most sixes and highest T20I individual score for India. His innings propelled India to 247/9 before bundling out England for 97, registering the biggest win for the hosts. Abhishek’s ton was the second fastest for India in the T20I format, behind Rohit Sharma’s record of 35-ball hundred. ALSO READ | Manchester City spend whopping $224mn in winter transfer window despite financial charges Attention turns to the ODI series Having won the T20I series 4-1, India will now look to replicate the same form in the ODI format as they take on England in a three-match series starting on Thursday (Feb 6). The Men in Blue will be led by Rohit Sharma as they look to build momentum for Champions Trophy 2025. The eight-nation tournament will start on Feb 19 while India begin their campaign on Feb 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai. The England series will be a good warm-up for the Indian side as all eyes will be on Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami and skipper Rohit. Jasprit Bumrah will not play in the ODI series but is likely to be available for the Champions Trophy 2025.

IND vs ENG: Brendon McCullum in awe of Abhishek Sharma after Mumbai heroics, says 'as good an innings as...'

Australia batter Usman Khawaja has defended the actions of commentator Peter Lalor after he was sacked during the opening Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle for posts over the Israel-Hamas war. The reaction came on Khawaja&rsquo;s Instagram story where he backed the fired journalist who had reposted stories about Israeli attacks in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. The incident has been met with mixed reactions as the Aussies now prepare for the second Test match.<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Khawaja defends sacked commentator<o:p></o:p></h2>
"Standing up for the people of Gaza is not anti-Semitic nor does it have anything to do with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia but everything to do with the Israeli government and their deplorable actions. It has everything to do with justice and human rights. Unfortunately, hatred towards the Jewish and Muslim community will always exist. Pete is good guy with a good heart. He deserves better," said Khawaja on his Instagram story.<o:p></o:p>
In the middle of the opening Test against Sri Lanka, controversy erupted as Lalor was asked by Craig Hutchison, station in charge of SEN Radio to step down from his role with immediate effect. Lalor also revealed that he received two calls from senior management before being sacked. <o:p></o:p>
&ldquo;I was told in one call there were serious organisations making complaints; in another I was told that this was not the case,&rdquo; Lalor wrote in his statement.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-spend-whopping-224mn-in-winter-transfer-window-despite-financial-charges-8688164" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Manchester City spend whopping $224mn in winter transfer window despite financial charges</a> 
&ldquo;Perhaps I misunderstood. I was told there were accusations I was antisemitic which I strongly objected to. I was told my retweeting was not balanced, and insensitive to one side and that many people had complained.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p>
This is not the first time Khawaja has spoken up for the people of Gaza, having previously shown support for the war-prone region after Israel&rsquo;s attack in retaliation.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
For now, the focus is on the second Test between Sri Lanka and Australia as the visitors look to close the World Test Championship (WTC) round-robin campaign on a high before facing South Africa in the final in June.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Cricket, World: Usman Khawaja has defended the actions of commentator Peter Lalor after he was sacked during the opening Test for posts over the Israel-Hamas war.

Australia batter Usman Khawaja has defended the actions of commentator Peter Lalor after he was sacked during the opening Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle for posts over the Israel-Hamas war. The reaction came on Khawaja’s Instagram story where he backed the fired journalist who had reposted stories about Israeli attacks in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. The incident has been met with mixed reactions as the Aussies now prepare for the second Test match. Khawaja defends sacked commentator "Standing up for the people of Gaza is not anti-Semitic nor does it have anything to do with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia but everything to do with the Israeli government and their deplorable actions. It has everything to do with justice and human rights. Unfortunately, hatred towards the Jewish and Muslim community will always exist. Pete is good guy with a good heart. He deserves better," said Khawaja on his Instagram story. In the middle of the opening Test against Sri Lanka, controversy erupted as Lalor was asked by Craig Hutchison, station in charge of SEN Radio to step down from his role with immediate effect. Lalor also revealed that he received two calls from senior management before being sacked. “I was told in one call there were serious organisations making complaints; in another I was told that this was not the case,” Lalor wrote in his statement. ALSO READ | Manchester City spend whopping $224mn in winter transfer window despite financial charges “Perhaps I misunderstood. I was told there were accusations I was antisemitic which I strongly objected to. I was told my retweeting was not balanced, and insensitive to one side and that many people had complained.” This is not the first time Khawaja has spoken up for the people of Gaza, having previously shown support for the war-prone region after Israel’s attack in retaliation. For now, the focus is on the second Test between Sri Lanka and Australia as the visitors look to close the World Test Championship (WTC) round-robin campaign on a high before facing South Africa in the final in June.

Australia batter Usman Khawaja backs fired commentator Peter Lalor over Palestine post

The winter transfer window for the 2024-25 season officially closed on Monday (Feb 3) as Premier League teams bolstered their sides ahead of a key run in the second half. While Aston Villa made smart business with the acquisition of key figures like Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford, Manchester City grabbed eyeballs with a whopping $224 million spent. The splurge comes despite Man City facing 115 charges of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) sanctions.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Man City spend big in transfer market<o:p></o:p></h2>
Having struggled on the field, Man City outwitted their Premier League rivals with impressive signings as they look to target runs for silverware. City signed Nico Gonzalez from Porto ($62mn), Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt($73mn), Abdukodir Khusanov ($42mn) from Lens and Vitor Reis from Palmeiras ($36mn). The spending has seen City make a statement in the transfer window as they look to rebuild ahead of a crucial run. <o:p></o:p>
Having lost 1-5 against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, there were key areas that needed to be addressed by the defending champions. City are unlikely to win the Premier League title this season as they languish fifth in the table and 15 points behind leaders Liverpool. <o:p></o:p>
To tackle the drop in form, Pep Guardiola&rsquo;s side did not hold back despite PSR charges and spent a huge amount. The Premier League champions are currently in court fighting PSR charges for overspending and could face relegation and points deduction if found guilty.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/2025-champions-trophy-india-vs-pakistan-tickets-for-feb-23-in-dubai-already-sold-out-8687700" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">2025 Champions Trophy: India vs Pakistan tickets for Feb 23 in Dubai already sold out</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Aston Villa, Spurs also go big<o:p></o:p></h2>
On the other hand, Aston Villa made key signings for the side as they hunt for Champions League glory. Marco Asensio joined from Paris Saint-Germain while Marcus Rashford swapped Manchester United for the Birmingham outfit. Axel Disasi also moved from Chelsea to Aston Villa on loan with no obligation to buy.<o:p></o:p>
Spurs on deadline day completed the loan signing of Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich with an obligation to buy in the summer. The London side also secured the services of Kevin Danso from Lens after facing a defensive crisis. Earlier, Spurs signed Czech Republic international goalkeeper Anton&iacute;n Kinsk&yacute; from Slavia Prague in January.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Football: The winter transfer window for the 2024-25 season officially closed on Monday as Premier League teams bolstered their sides ahead of a key run in the second half.

The winter transfer window for the 2024-25 season officially closed on Monday (Feb 3) as Premier League teams bolstered their sides ahead of a key run in the second half. While Aston Villa made smart business with the acquisition of key figures like Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford, Manchester City grabbed eyeballs with a whopping $224 million spent. The splurge comes despite Man City facing 115 charges of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) sanctions. Man City spend big in transfer market Having struggled on the field, Man City outwitted their Premier League rivals with impressive signings as they look to target runs for silverware. City signed Nico Gonzalez from Porto ($62mn), Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt($73mn), Abdukodir Khusanov ($42mn) from Lens and Vitor Reis from Palmeiras ($36mn). The spending has seen City make a statement in the transfer window as they look to rebuild ahead of a crucial run. Having lost 1-5 against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, there were key areas that needed to be addressed by the defending champions. City are unlikely to win the Premier League title this season as they languish fifth in the table and 15 points behind leaders Liverpool. To tackle the drop in form, Pep Guardiola’s side did not hold back despite PSR charges and spent a huge amount. The Premier League champions are currently in court fighting PSR charges for overspending and could face relegation and points deduction if found guilty. ALSO READ | 2025 Champions Trophy: India vs Pakistan tickets for Feb 23 in Dubai already sold out Aston Villa, Spurs also go big On the other hand, Aston Villa made key signings for the side as they hunt for Champions League glory. Marco Asensio joined from Paris Saint-Germain while Marcus Rashford swapped Manchester United for the Birmingham outfit. Axel Disasi also moved from Chelsea to Aston Villa on loan with no obligation to buy. Spurs on deadline day completed the loan signing of Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich with an obligation to buy in the summer. The London side also secured the services of Kevin Danso from Lens after facing a defensive crisis. Earlier, Spurs signed Czech Republic international goalkeeper Antonín Kinský from Slavia Prague in January.

Manchester City spend whopping $224mn in winter transfer window despite financial charges

Enzo Maresca hailed Chelsea's mental strength as they came from behind to beat West Ham 2-1 and move into fourth place in the Premier League on Monday.
Maresca's side trailed to Jarrod Bowen's strike late in the first half at Stamford Bridge, sparking jeers from frustrated fans after a lethargic start.
But Maresca's decision to send on Pedro Neto in the second half proved decisive as the Portugal forward bagged Chelsea's equaliser.
As he has been so often over the last two seasons, Cole Palmer was the catalyst for the Blues' 74th-minute winner when his cross deflected in off West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
After a disappointing run of one win in seven league games, Maresca was relieved to see Chelsea get back on track in spirited fashion.
"It is huge. Today was a tough game, especially mentally. When West Ham come here and sit back with 10 players behind the ball, it's not easy. You have to be mentally strong and you need to be patient," he said.
"We had more than 10 shots in the first half. We had clear chances in the first half but unfortunately, we missed the target.
"With some changes the game changed. Overall we completely deserved to win."
Maresca has been concerned that his players were distracted by speculation over potential transfers in and out of Stamford Bridge leading up to Monday's deadline day.
Relieved that the window would be closed after 2300 GMT, the Italian can focus on leading Chelsea's fight to qualify for next season's Champions League via a top-four finish.
"It was a good weekend for us in terms of results and we knew today was even better," he said.
"We are there and hopefully we can be there until the end. Playing this kind of game in February, where we are still there, is an important statement."
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/2025-champions-trophy-india-vs-pakistan-tickets-for-feb-23-in-dubai-already-sold-out-8687700" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">2025 Champions Trophy: India vs Pakistan tickets for Feb 23 in Dubai already sold out</a>
<h2>Turning point</h2>
Maresca had dropped Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez after his latest costly error in the defeat at Manchester City.
Sanchez's replacement Filip Jorgensen delivered a solid display and Maresca said: "In this moment, Robert needs rest and Filip was very good."
It was a frustrating return to the Bridge for West Ham manager Graham Potter, who was sacked in 2023 after less than seven months in charge of the Blues.
Almost two years after his ruthless dismissal, Potter returned to management with the Hammers last month, but he has mustered just one win from his first five games in all competitions.
"We gave everything. It was relatively even in terms of chances. We come away with nothing in terms of the result but there was lots to be positive about," Potter said.
"You look at the second half. The first goal was a bit of a turning point and we felt it was a foul, you need those things to go your way. We were doing well but we couldn't quite hang on."
Potter was frustrated that a potential Levi Colwill foul on Bowen was not given in the build-up to Chelsea's equaliser.
But with West Ham sitting 10 points clear of the relegation zone, the former Brighton boss has breathing space to reshape the team in his style.
"The shape of the team was really good. You need a bit of luck. We felt unfortunate with the lead-up to the first goal but it wasn't to be," he said.
"The understanding of what we want to do is there, so we have to build on that."
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: Enzo Maresca's side trailed to Jarrod Bowen's strike late in the first half at Stamford Bridge, sparking jeers from frustrated fans after a lethargic start.

Enzo Maresca hailed Chelsea's mental strength as they came from behind to beat West Ham 2-1 and move into fourth place in the Premier League on Monday. Maresca's side trailed to Jarrod Bowen's strike late in the first half at Stamford Bridge, sparking jeers from frustrated fans after a lethargic start. But Maresca's decision to send on Pedro Neto in the second half proved decisive as the Portugal forward bagged Chelsea's equaliser. As he has been so often over the last two seasons, Cole Palmer was the catalyst for the Blues' 74th-minute winner when his cross deflected in off West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka. After a disappointing run of one win in seven league games, Maresca was relieved to see Chelsea get back on track in spirited fashion. "It is huge. Today was a tough game, especially mentally. When West Ham come here and sit back with 10 players behind the ball, it's not easy. You have to be mentally strong and you need to be patient," he said. "We had more than 10 shots in the first half. We had clear chances in the first half but unfortunately, we missed the target. "With some changes the game changed. Overall we completely deserved to win." Maresca has been concerned that his players were distracted by speculation over potential transfers in and out of Stamford Bridge leading up to Monday's deadline day. Relieved that the window would be closed after 2300 GMT, the Italian can focus on leading Chelsea's fight to qualify for next season's Champions League via a top-four finish. "It was a good weekend for us in terms of results and we knew today was even better," he said. "We are there and hopefully we can be there until the end. Playing this kind of game in February, where we are still there, is an important statement." ALSO READ | 2025 Champions Trophy: India vs Pakistan tickets for Feb 23 in Dubai already sold out Turning point Maresca had dropped Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez after his latest costly error in the defeat at Manchester City. Sanchez's replacement Filip Jorgensen delivered a solid display and Maresca said: "In this moment, Robert needs rest and Filip was very good." It was a frustrating return to the Bridge for West Ham manager Graham Potter, who was sacked in 2023 after less than seven months in charge of the Blues. Almost two years after his ruthless dismissal, Potter returned to management with the Hammers last month, but he has mustered just one win from his first five games in all competitions. "We gave everything. It was relatively even in terms of chances. We come away with nothing in terms of the result but there was lots to be positive about," Potter said. "You look at the second half. The first goal was a bit of a turning point and we felt it was a foul, you need those things to go your way. We were doing well but we couldn't quite hang on." Potter was frustrated that a potential Levi Colwill foul on Bowen was not given in the build-up to Chelsea's equaliser. But with West Ham sitting 10 points clear of the relegation zone, the former Brighton boss has breathing space to reshape the team in his style. "The shape of the team was really good. You need a bit of luck. We felt unfortunate with the lead-up to the first goal but it wasn't to be," he said. "The understanding of what we want to do is there, so we have to build on that." 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: Chelsea impress in comeback win over London rivals West Ham

Manchester City signed Nico Gonzalez from Porto in the biggest move from Premier League clubs on Monday's transfer deadline day, while Bayern Munich's Mathys Tel headed to Tottenham on loan.
City's midfield frailties without Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who is out for the season due to a serious knee injury, were exposed in a 5-1 thrashing at Arsenal on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola's men find themselves in a battle just to qualify for next season's Champions League, with the defending champions sitting fifth in the Premier League, 15 points behind leaders Liverpool.
City were also in need of reinforcements for a blockbuster Champions League play-off round tie against holders Real Madrid later this month.
Former Barcelona midfielder Gonzalez, 23, arrives for a reported fee of 60 million euros (&pound;50 million, $62 million).
"This is the perfect opportunity for me at this stage of my career," said Gonzalez.
"I know the reputation Pep has and I cannot wait to work with him. In fact, I am honoured he wants me to play in his team."
City have already splashed out more than &pound;120 million in January on Egypt forward Omar Marmoush and young defenders Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/2025-champions-trophy-india-vs-pakistan-tickets-for-feb-23-in-dubai-already-sold-out-8687700" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">2025 Champions Trophy: India vs Pakistan tickets for Feb 23 in Dubai already sold out</a>
<h2>Tel's U-turn</h2>
Tottenham were busy in the final hours of the window as they bolstered Ange Postecoglou's injury-ravaged squad.
Tel reportedly turned down the opportunity to join Spurs earlier in the window after a &pound;50 million deal was agreed with the German giants.
But the French under-21 international has now moved to north London until the end of the season with an option to make the move permanent in the summer.
Spurs, though, were frustrated in their bid to add more defensive recruits on deadline day.
The BBC reported Crystal Palace rejected a &pound;70 million bid for captain Marc Guehi, who has just 18 months left to run of his contract at Selhurst Park.
Chelsea's Axel Disasi had been linked with a move across London, but is instead set to join Aston Villa, who also added more firepower with the signing of Marco Asensio on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
The Spaniard, who won three Champions League titles with Real Madrid, joins Marcus Rashford as new options for Unai Emery's forward line after the departure of Jhon Duran to Saudi side Al Nassr.
However, there were no deadline day deals for Premier League title contenders Liverpool and Arsenal or struggling Manchester United.
Arsenal's bid to strengthen their forward line appears to have been frustrated after Villa rebuffed an offer for England international Ollie Watkins last week.
United boss Ruben Amorim said the club were "trying everything to improve the team without doing mistakes of the past" following Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
The Red Devils are wary of breaching profit and sustainability rules and were reportedly put off a move for Tel due to Bayern's demand for a loan fee.
West Ham completed the loan signing of Brighton striker Evan Ferguson, who is reunited with his former manager Graham Potter.
The Seagulls replaced Ferguson with highly-rated Greek forward Stefanos Tzimas, who had been linked with Liverpool, but will remain at Bundesliga 2 side FC Nuremberg for the remainder of the season.
Former England left-back Ben Chilwell joined Crystal Palace on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season.
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: Man City's midfield frailties without Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, out for the season due to a serious knee injury, were exposed in a 5-1 thrashing at Arsenal.

Manchester City signed Nico Gonzalez from Porto in the biggest move from Premier League clubs on Monday's transfer deadline day, while Bayern Munich's Mathys Tel headed to Tottenham on loan. City's midfield frailties without Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who is out for the season due to a serious knee injury, were exposed in a 5-1 thrashing at Arsenal on Sunday. Pep Guardiola's men find themselves in a battle just to qualify for next season's Champions League, with the defending champions sitting fifth in the Premier League, 15 points behind leaders Liverpool. City were also in need of reinforcements for a blockbuster Champions League play-off round tie against holders Real Madrid later this month. Former Barcelona midfielder Gonzalez, 23, arrives for a reported fee of 60 million euros (£50 million, $62 million). "This is the perfect opportunity for me at this stage of my career," said Gonzalez. "I know the reputation Pep has and I cannot wait to work with him. In fact, I am honoured he wants me to play in his team." City have already splashed out more than £120 million in January on Egypt forward Omar Marmoush and young defenders Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov. ALSO READ | 2025 Champions Trophy: India vs Pakistan tickets for Feb 23 in Dubai already sold out Tel's U-turn Tottenham were busy in the final hours of the window as they bolstered Ange Postecoglou's injury-ravaged squad. Tel reportedly turned down the opportunity to join Spurs earlier in the window after a £50 million deal was agreed with the German giants. But the French under-21 international has now moved to north London until the end of the season with an option to make the move permanent in the summer. Spurs, though, were frustrated in their bid to add more defensive recruits on deadline day. The BBC reported Crystal Palace rejected a £70 million bid for captain Marc Guehi, who has just 18 months left to run of his contract at Selhurst Park. Chelsea's Axel Disasi had been linked with a move across London, but is instead set to join Aston Villa, who also added more firepower with the signing of Marco Asensio on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. The Spaniard, who won three Champions League titles with Real Madrid, joins Marcus Rashford as new options for Unai Emery's forward line after the departure of Jhon Duran to Saudi side Al Nassr. However, there were no deadline day deals for Premier League title contenders Liverpool and Arsenal or struggling Manchester United. Arsenal's bid to strengthen their forward line appears to have been frustrated after Villa rebuffed an offer for England international Ollie Watkins last week. United boss Ruben Amorim said the club were "trying everything to improve the team without doing mistakes of the past" following Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. The Red Devils are wary of breaching profit and sustainability rules and were reportedly put off a move for Tel due to Bayern's demand for a loan fee. West Ham completed the loan signing of Brighton striker Evan Ferguson, who is reunited with his former manager Graham Potter. The Seagulls replaced Ferguson with highly-rated Greek forward Stefanos Tzimas, who had been linked with Liverpool, but will remain at Bundesliga 2 side FC Nuremberg for the remainder of the season. Former England left-back Ben Chilwell joined Crystal Palace on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season. 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.

Man City move for Nico Gonzalez, Mathys Tel joins Spurs on transfer deadline day

Travis Head received the prestigious Allan Border Medal for Australia's top male cricketer, while Annabel Sutherland was honoured with the Belinda Clark Medal.

Travis head wins prestigious Allan Border medal

Spanish footballer Jennifer Hermoso has told a court that former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales' kiss ruined the World Cup win in 2023. Rubiales is on trial for sexual assault. WION's Rahesha Sehgal gets you the details.

Luis Rubiales sexual assault trial begins in Spain

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has been actively involved in ILT20 Season 3 as a brand ambassador and commentator. He has praised the competitive nature of the tournament, highlighting standout performances from both international stars and emerging talents. Don't miss this exclusive conversation!

Harbhajan Singh speaks to WION, highlights top performers in ILT20 Season 3

Australian legend Greg Norman believes India is a sleeping giant in golf and it would require more competitions in the country to help its players realise their true potential.
The 69-year-old former world number one, who has 88 professional titles under his belt, was hopeful of India's growth in the sport.
"One of my initial focus points was to invest into the sleeping giant, which was the Asian tour. India is a sleeping giant when it comes to Golf. I mean you just look what's happening in India with the game of golf, it has only just started, right?" Norman told select media on the sidelines of the Asian Tour event here on Sunday (Feb 3).
"For the next 25 years, which is a generation, India is right in the middle of them," he said.
Norman was the CEO of LIV, a breakaway league founded in 2022 and financed by Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;It has introduced some fresh rules like three-day 54-hole tournaments, instead of the traditional 72-hole four-day events. The LIV tournaments have also done away with the concept of weekend cut and all those who start to get to play the entire tournament besides being entitled to prize money.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/this-former-indian-cricketer-takes-cheeky-dig-at-england-with-smog-remark-after-indias-t20i-series-win-8685520">This former Indian cricketer takes cheeky dig at England with 'smog' remark after India's T20I series win</a> The International Series is a partnership between the Asian Tour and LIV but it adheres to the traditional 72-hole concept with a cut at the end of two rounds to ensure that players are entitled to points under the world golf ranking system, which has refused to recognise the 54-hole LIV events.
The LIV events have also faced significant resistance from the existing PGA Tour (USA)and the European Tour, which claim that the parallel tour "disrupts" the sport by offering players higher prize money and a seemingly more relaxed rules structure.
Norman believes LIV can have a great role in helping Indian golf, which was on a high when the likes of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jeev-milkha-singh">Jeev Milkha Singh</a>, Shiv Kapur, SSP Chawrasia, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jyoti-randhawa">Jyoti Randhawa</a> and Arjun Atwal regularly won tournaments on all three tours till about a decade back.
However, the momentum has been somewhat lost in the past five years.
"I love LIV to come to India because to me, it's significant, right? Everything takes baby steps. And obviously, the international place to enter the league is important to do that," he pointed out.
"LIV created a new dynamic for the game of golf because it gave an opportunity in the competitive golfing world for a new business model...Different formats have come out and enticed millions and millions of people to come into the game of golf," he asserted.
"I truly believe LIV will be the true global golf platform for golf. We want to be in all the continents of the world...We bring a product that's a plug-and-play that's never been done before. We bring franchise models. We're bringing the youth side of it," he explained.
Norman lauds <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/anirban-lahiri">Anirban Lahiri</a>--Lahiri has joined ranks with LIV along with some other prominent names like Bryson DeChambeau, two-time Major winner Dustin Johnson, and Lee Westwood, a former world number one.
"He's not just a great golfer, but he's a great person. He's a great spokesperson. He's a great representative of your country. So, all those ingredients allowed me to go, let's go do it," Norman said of the Indian, who has seven Asian and two European titles to his credit.
The Australian great was also full of praise for 15-year-old rising Indian golfer Kartik Singh, who cut the International Series here.
"He's captured it. He cut. I think it's pretty impressive. I haven't seen his swing at golf club...I look forward to seeing his swing at golf club."
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Olympics: The 69-year-old former world number one, who has 88 professional titles under his belt, was hopeful of India's growth in the sport

Australian legend Greg Norman believes India is a sleeping giant in golf and it would require more competitions in the country to help its players realise their true potential. The 69-year-old former world number one, who has 88 professional titles under his belt, was hopeful of India's growth in the sport. "One of my initial focus points was to invest into the sleeping giant, which was the Asian tour. India is a sleeping giant when it comes to Golf. I mean you just look what's happening in India with the game of golf, it has only just started, right?" Norman told select media on the sidelines of the Asian Tour event here on Sunday (Feb 3). "For the next 25 years, which is a generation, India is right in the middle of them," he said. Norman was the CEO of LIV, a breakaway league founded in 2022 and financed by Saudi Arabia. It has introduced some fresh rules like three-day 54-hole tournaments, instead of the traditional 72-hole four-day events. The LIV tournaments have also done away with the concept of weekend cut and all those who start to get to play the entire tournament besides being entitled to prize money. Also Read: This former Indian cricketer takes cheeky dig at England with 'smog' remark after India's T20I series win The International Series is a partnership between the Asian Tour and LIV but it adheres to the traditional 72-hole concept with a cut at the end of two rounds to ensure that players are entitled to points under the world golf ranking system, which has refused to recognise the 54-hole LIV events. The LIV events have also faced significant resistance from the existing PGA Tour (USA)and the European Tour, which claim that the parallel tour "disrupts" the sport by offering players higher prize money and a seemingly more relaxed rules structure. Norman believes LIV can have a great role in helping Indian golf, which was on a high when the likes of Jeev Milkha Singh, Shiv Kapur, SSP Chawrasia, Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal regularly won tournaments on all three tours till about a decade back. However, the momentum has been somewhat lost in the past five years. "I love LIV to come to India because to me, it's significant, right? Everything takes baby steps. And obviously, the international place to enter the league is important to do that," he pointed out. "LIV created a new dynamic for the game of golf because it gave an opportunity in the competitive golfing world for a new business model...Different formats have come out and enticed millions and millions of people to come into the game of golf," he asserted. "I truly believe LIV will be the true global golf platform for golf. We want to be in all the continents of the world...We bring a product that's a plug-and-play that's never been done before. We bring franchise models. We're bringing the youth side of it," he explained. Norman lauds Anirban Lahiri--Lahiri has joined ranks with LIV along with some other prominent names like Bryson DeChambeau, two-time Major winner Dustin Johnson, and Lee Westwood, a former world number one. "He's not just a great golfer, but he's a great person. He's a great spokesperson. He's a great representative of your country. So, all those ingredients allowed me to go, let's go do it," Norman said of the Indian, who has seven Asian and two European titles to his credit. The Australian great was also full of praise for 15-year-old rising Indian golfer Kartik Singh, who cut the International Series here. "He's captured it. He cut. I think it's pretty impressive. I haven't seen his swing at golf club...I look forward to seeing his swing at golf club." (With inputs from agencies)

'India is a sleeping giant in...', says ex Australian professional golfer Greg Norman

Manchester United slumped to another meek home defeat as Crystal Palace won 2-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, while Tottenham eased the pressure on Ange Postecoglou by beating Brentford 2-0.<o:p></o:p>
Jean Philippe-Mateta was Palace's hero with both goals in the second half as United suffered a fifth defeat in their last six home league games.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-united-complete-patrick-dorgus-signing-first-under-coach-ruben-amorim-8684199" rel="dofollow">Manchester United complete Patrick Dorgu's signing, first under Amorim</a> 
Victory takes the Eagles above the Red Devils in the table as Oliver Glasner's side climb to 12th.<o:p></o:p>
Three consecutive wins for United had lifted the mood around Old Trafford but it was back to square one for Ruben Amorim after another home display lacking in creativity and riddled with defensive lapses.<o:p></o:p>
Amorim's decision to start without a natural striker backfired with both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee left on the bench.<o:p></o:p>
Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo started in a centre-forward role after scoring in a 2-0 victory over Romanian side FCSB in midweek.<o:p></o:p>
The England international's scuffed strike came back off the post in United's best effort of a bright opening before their attacking threat fizzled out.<o:p></o:p>
Palace have lost just one of their last seven league games to recover from a miserable start to the season.<o:p></o:p>
The visitors missed the creative spark offered by Eberechi Eze for the first hour as an injury meant he was only fit enough for a cameo appearance off the bench.<o:p></o:p>
But Eze made an instant impact as from his free-kick Maxence Lacroix's header came back off the bar and into Mateta's path to fire home.<o:p></o:p>
Worse was to follow for United as Lisandro Martinez had to be stretchered off with what appeared a serious knee injury.<o:p></o:p>
Palace showed no mercy to secure the three points when Daniel Munoz charged through the middle of the home side's defence and unselfishly squared for Mateta to knock in his sixth goal in five games.<o:p></o:p>
<h2>Spurs ease relegation fears<o:p></o:p></h2>
Spurs eased fears they could be dragged into a relegation battle as Postecoglou's injury-ravaged side kept a rare clean sheet to see off Brentford.<o:p></o:p>
The Bees were left to rue a number of missed chances against Tottenham's makeshift defence with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero again absent.<o:p></o:p>
Brentford also lent the visitors a helping hand with the opening goal.<o:p></o:p>
Hakon Valdimarsson flapped at Son Heung-min's corner and Vitaly Janelt headed into his own net on 29 minutes.<o:p></o:p>
Yoane Wissa's header came off the bar as Brentford pushed for an equaliser.<o:p></o:p>
But Spurs picked them off on the counter-attack when Pape Sarr prodded through Valdimarsson's legs from Son's pass.<o:p></o:p>
Victory lifts Tottenham to 14th and 10 points clear of the relegation zone.<o:p></o:p>
Second-placed Arsenal start the day nine points adrift of league leaders Liverpool ahead of their blockbuster clash against defending champions Manchester City at the Emirates in the 1630GMT kick-off.<o:p></o:p>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Football: Jean Philippe-Mateta was Palace's hero with both goals in the second half as United suffered a fifth defeat in their last six home league games.

Manchester United slumped to another meek home defeat as Crystal Palace won 2-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, while Tottenham eased the pressure on Ange Postecoglou by beating Brentford 2-0. Jean Philippe-Mateta was Palace's hero with both goals in the second half as United suffered a fifth defeat in their last six home league games. Also read | Manchester United complete Patrick Dorgu's signing, first under Amorim Victory takes the Eagles above the Red Devils in the table as Oliver Glasner's side climb to 12th. Three consecutive wins for United had lifted the mood around Old Trafford but it was back to square one for Ruben Amorim after another home display lacking in creativity and riddled with defensive lapses. Amorim's decision to start without a natural striker backfired with both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee left on the bench. Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo started in a centre-forward role after scoring in a 2-0 victory over Romanian side FCSB in midweek. The England international's scuffed strike came back off the post in United's best effort of a bright opening before their attacking threat fizzled out. Palace have lost just one of their last seven league games to recover from a miserable start to the season. The visitors missed the creative spark offered by Eberechi Eze for the first hour as an injury meant he was only fit enough for a cameo appearance off the bench. But Eze made an instant impact as from his free-kick Maxence Lacroix's header came back off the bar and into Mateta's path to fire home. Worse was to follow for United as Lisandro Martinez had to be stretchered off with what appeared a serious knee injury. Palace showed no mercy to secure the three points when Daniel Munoz charged through the middle of the home side's defence and unselfishly squared for Mateta to knock in his sixth goal in five games. Spurs ease relegation fears Spurs eased fears they could be dragged into a relegation battle as Postecoglou's injury-ravaged side kept a rare clean sheet to see off Brentford. The Bees were left to rue a number of missed chances against Tottenham's makeshift defence with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero again absent. Brentford also lent the visitors a helping hand with the opening goal. Hakon Valdimarsson flapped at Son Heung-min's corner and Vitaly Janelt headed into his own net on 29 minutes. Yoane Wissa's header came off the bar as Brentford pushed for an equaliser. But Spurs picked them off on the counter-attack when Pape Sarr prodded through Valdimarsson's legs from Son's pass. Victory lifts Tottenham to 14th and 10 points clear of the relegation zone. Second-placed Arsenal start the day nine points adrift of league leaders Liverpool ahead of their blockbuster clash against defending champions Manchester City at the Emirates in the 1630GMT kick-off. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

PL: Manchester United lose at Palace; Spurs ease relegation fears with win against Brentford

Robert Lewandowski's second-half strike helped Barcelona beat Alaves 1-0 on Sunday to cut the gap on La Liga leaders Real Madrid down to four points.<o:p></o:p>
The Catalans, third, capitalised with a narrow victory after the champions slipped up across town at Espanyol on Saturday.<o:p></o:p>
Barcelona trail second place Atletico by three points before the Rojiblancos face Real Madrid in a tasty derby clash next weekend, which could allow Hansi Flick's side to make up more ground.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-united-complete-patrick-dorgus-signing-first-under-coach-ruben-amorim-8684199" rel="dofollow">Manchester United complete Patrick Dorgu's signing, first under Amorim</a> 
Lewandowski netted from a Lamine Yamal cross to settle a hard-fought match in which Alaves largely frustrated the hosts.<o:p></o:p>
Flick's team struggled to get going in the early afternoon sunlight at the Olympic stadium.<o:p></o:p>
The Catalans created barely anything of note in the first half as Alaves resisted stubbornly.<o:p></o:p>
One mazy Lamine Yamal dribble got home fans excited but there was little else to raise the pulse.<o:p></o:p>
Gavi and Tomas Conechny were both taken off after an ugly collision of heads.<o:p></o:p>
Lewandowski scuffed a shot narrowly wide and a low Pedri effort was comfortably fielded by Alaves goalkeeper Jesus Owono.<o:p></o:p>
Flick brought on Frenkie de Jong and Eric Garcia at half-time to try and speed up Barcelona's game in possession and the team looked sharper as a result.<o:p></o:p>
Lewandowski sent a glancing header agonisingly wide of the far post soon before he broke the deadlock.<o:p></o:p>
The veteran polish forward produced a poacher's finish from close range after Yamal sent a cross-shot spinning towards him at the back post after 61 minutes.<o:p></o:p>
It was Lewandowski's 18th goal of the league campaign, stretching his lead on Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe as the division's top scorer to three.<o:p></o:p>
Barca substitute Ferran Torres's curling effort was pushed away by Owono at full stretch as the Catalans tried to make the game safe.<o:p></o:p>
Flick's team could not produce a second but Alaves, who barely threatened Wojciech Szczesny's goal throughout, were not able to mount a comeback.<o:p></o:p>
Later Sunday fourth-place Athletic Bilbao visit Real Betis among other matches.<o:p></o:p>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Football: Hansi Flick's Barcelona, third on the Liga table, capitalised with a narrow victory after the champions slipped up across town at Espanyol on Saturday.

Robert Lewandowski's second-half strike helped Barcelona beat Alaves 1-0 on Sunday to cut the gap on La Liga leaders Real Madrid down to four points. The Catalans, third, capitalised with a narrow victory after the champions slipped up across town at Espanyol on Saturday. Barcelona trail second place Atletico by three points before the Rojiblancos face Real Madrid in a tasty derby clash next weekend, which could allow Hansi Flick's side to make up more ground. Also read | Manchester United complete Patrick Dorgu's signing, first under Amorim Lewandowski netted from a Lamine Yamal cross to settle a hard-fought match in which Alaves largely frustrated the hosts. Flick's team struggled to get going in the early afternoon sunlight at the Olympic stadium. The Catalans created barely anything of note in the first half as Alaves resisted stubbornly. One mazy Lamine Yamal dribble got home fans excited but there was little else to raise the pulse. Gavi and Tomas Conechny were both taken off after an ugly collision of heads. Lewandowski scuffed a shot narrowly wide and a low Pedri effort was comfortably fielded by Alaves goalkeeper Jesus Owono. Flick brought on Frenkie de Jong and Eric Garcia at half-time to try and speed up Barcelona's game in possession and the team looked sharper as a result. Lewandowski sent a glancing header agonisingly wide of the far post soon before he broke the deadlock. The veteran polish forward produced a poacher's finish from close range after Yamal sent a cross-shot spinning towards him at the back post after 61 minutes. It was Lewandowski's 18th goal of the league campaign, stretching his lead on Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe as the division's top scorer to three. Barca substitute Ferran Torres's curling effort was pushed away by Owono at full stretch as the Catalans tried to make the game safe. Flick's team could not produce a second but Alaves, who barely threatened Wojciech Szczesny's goal throughout, were not able to mount a comeback. Later Sunday fourth-place Athletic Bilbao visit Real Betis among other matches. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Lewandowski’s second-half strike helps Barcelona beat Alaves to keep Liga hope alive

Manchester United completed the signing of Danish defender Patrick Dorgu from Lecce on Sunday for a reported initial fee of &pound;25 million ($37 million). The 20-year-old has impressed in Serie A over the past two seasons, scoring five goals in 53 appearances in the Italian top flight, and has four caps for his country.<o:p></o:p>
Dorgu is United's first signing of the Ruben Amorim era and should solve a lack of options down the left side for the Portuguese coach.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/manchester-uniteds-marcus-rashford-close-to-loan-move-to-aston-villa-reports-8683649" rel="dofollow">Manchester United's Marcus Rashford close to loan move to Aston Villa: Reports</a> 
"I am incredibly proud to be able to call myself a Manchester United player; this is a very special day for my whole family," Dorgu said in a club statement. &ldquo;I cannot wait to work with Ruben Amorim; his vision for this team and the future of the club is incredibly exciting.<o:p></o:p>
"There is a clear plan set out for my development, and I feel that Manchester United is the perfect place to fulfil my potential and complete my huge ambitions."<o:p></o:p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m6nnqc89-pdjkthq7-q1jt9jj5">
Patrick Dorgu. His future is United ❤️&zwj;🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MUFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MUFC</a> <a href="https://t.co/TICrd0mdnB">pic.twitter.com/TICrd0mdnB</a>
&mdash; Manchester United (@ManUtd) <a href="https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/1886017974974169215?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
United's ability to back Amorim has been hampered by a need to meet profit and sustainability rules.<o:p></o:p>
But the club's technical director Jason Wilcox is confident Dorgu is perfectly suited for Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 formation.<o:p></o:p>
"Patrick is a really exciting talent; his strong defensive and attacking attributes, adaptability and work-rate will make him a key part of Ruben Amorim&rsquo;s squad," said Wilcox. "At the age of just 20, we know he will continue to develop under the guidance of our excellent coaching team."<o:p></o:p>
United are hopeful of raising funds in the final hours of the transfer window, which shuts on Monday.<o:p></o:p>
Marcus Rashford is reportedly on the verge of a loan move to Aston Villa, which will free up the majority of his reported &pound;300,000-a-week wages.<o:p></o:p>
Alejandro Garnacho has also been linked with Napoli but is unlikely to leave before Monday.<o:p></o:p>
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.
&nbsp;

Sports, Football: Patrick Dorgu is United's first signing of the Ruben Amorim era and should solve a lack of options down the left side for the Portuguese coach.

Manchester United completed the signing of Danish defender Patrick Dorgu from Lecce on Sunday for a reported initial fee of £25 million ($37 million). The 20-year-old has impressed in Serie A over the past two seasons, scoring five goals in 53 appearances in the Italian top flight, and has four caps for his country. Dorgu is United's first signing of the Ruben Amorim era and should solve a lack of options down the left side for the Portuguese coach. Also read | Manchester United's Marcus Rashford close to loan move to Aston Villa: Reports "I am incredibly proud to be able to call myself a Manchester United player; this is a very special day for my whole family," Dorgu said in a club statement. “I cannot wait to work with Ruben Amorim; his vision for this team and the future of the club is incredibly exciting. "There is a clear plan set out for my development, and I feel that Manchester United is the perfect place to fulfil my potential and complete my huge ambitions." Patrick Dorgu. His future is United ❤️‍🔥#MUFC pic.twitter.com/TICrd0mdnB — Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 2, 2025 United's ability to back Amorim has been hampered by a need to meet profit and sustainability rules. But the club's technical director Jason Wilcox is confident Dorgu is perfectly suited for Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 formation. "Patrick is a really exciting talent; his strong defensive and attacking attributes, adaptability and work-rate will make him a key part of Ruben Amorim’s squad," said Wilcox. "At the age of just 20, we know he will continue to develop under the guidance of our excellent coaching team." United are hopeful of raising funds in the final hours of the transfer window, which shuts on Monday. Marcus Rashford is reportedly on the verge of a loan move to Aston Villa, which will free up the majority of his reported £300,000-a-week wages. Alejandro Garnacho has also been linked with Napoli but is unlikely to leave before Monday. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Manchester United complete Patrick Dorgu's signing, first under Amorim

Mohamed Salah's controversial penalty put Liverpool on course for a 2-0 win at Bournemouth as the Premier League leaders moved nine points clear on Saturday.
Arne Slot's side took the lead in the first half when Salah netted with a penalty awarded after Cody Gakpo appeared to trip over his own feet rather than go down from Lewis Cook's challenge.
Bournemouth were left outraged after referee Darren England's on-field decision was upheld by VAR.
"The referee's call of penalty was checked and confirmed by VAR &ndash; with the challenge deemed to have been a trip by Cook on Gakpo. The VAR also confirmed Gakpo was onside in the build-up," the Premier League said in a statement.
Salah added insult to injury for Bournemouth when he struck again late in the second half to extend Liverpool's lead over second-placed Arsenal.
The Egypt forward has 21 goals from 23 league games this season, reaching the 20-mark for the fifth time in his English top-flight career.
Salah has 178 career Premier League goals, moving him one ahead of Frank Lampard into sixth place in the competition's all-time scoring chart.
Liverpool are unbeaten in 19 league games, winning 17 of their 23 top-flight matches in a remarkable run since Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp in the close-season.
Persuing an English record-equalling 20th title and their first in the competition since 2020, Liverpool can sit back and wait to see if old rivals Manchester City can do them a favour when they face Arsenal on Sunday.
On Thursday, quadruple-chasing Liverpool will try to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit against Tottenham in the League Cup semi-final at Anfield.
Slot's only concern was an injury that forced off England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold in the second half.
Bournemouth had enjoyed home wins over Manchester City and Arsenal this season, while third-placed Nottingham Forest were thrashed 5-0 on the south-coast last week.
But their 11-match unbeaten run in the league came to an end against a relentless Liverpool side that look destined to end the season with the Premier League crown in the Anfield trophy cabinet.
<h2>Dubious opener</h2>
Bournemouth nearly made the perfect start after just 12 seconds when Trent Alexander-Arnold lost possession to Antoine Semenyo, whose strike forced a good save from Alisson Becker.
Not for the first time in his career, Alexander-Arnold's defensive deficiencies were on display as his poor clearance let in Justin Kluivert before Alisson's save spared his team-mate's blushes.
Semenyo turned away from two Liverpool defender before rattling the woodwork with a stinging drive.
But Liverpool were capable of carving through the Bournemouth defence at will, with Kepa Arrizabalaga keeping out Dominik Szoboszlai's effort.
The Reds were too precise and electric in attack for Bournemouth to hold them at bay and the opener finally arrived in dubious fashion in the 30th minute.
Cook was trailing behind Gakpo as the Dutchman ran through on goal, but he made no contact before the penalty was awarded.
Salah ignored the fuss as he stepped up to smash the spot-kick into the corner.
Rubbing salt into Bournemouth's wounds, David Brooks had an instant equaliser ruled out for offside by VAR.
Liverpool had to ride their luck at times and Alisson denied Semenyo, alertly racing off his line to save at the Ghana winger's feet.
Alexander-Arnold escaped a VAR check for handball, while Alexis Mac Allister avoided a second yellow card following his foul on Brooks.
When Marcus Tavernier's long-range curler cannoned back off the post, Kluivert looked certain to score but he blazed the rebound wide.
Salah made Bournemouth pay for their profligacy in the 75th minute.
Curtis Jones' pass sent Salah racing the area and he guided a fine finish past Kepa in typically predatory style.
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: Mohamed Salah's controversial penalty put Liverpool on course for a 2-0 win at Bournemouth as the Premier League leaders moved nine points clear on Saturday.

Mohamed Salah's controversial penalty put Liverpool on course for a 2-0 win at Bournemouth as the Premier League leaders moved nine points clear on Saturday. Arne Slot's side took the lead in the first half when Salah netted with a penalty awarded after Cody Gakpo appeared to trip over his own feet rather than go down from Lewis Cook's challenge. Bournemouth were left outraged after referee Darren England's on-field decision was upheld by VAR. "The referee's call of penalty was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the challenge deemed to have been a trip by Cook on Gakpo. The VAR also confirmed Gakpo was onside in the build-up," the Premier League said in a statement. Salah added insult to injury for Bournemouth when he struck again late in the second half to extend Liverpool's lead over second-placed Arsenal. The Egypt forward has 21 goals from 23 league games this season, reaching the 20-mark for the fifth time in his English top-flight career. Salah has 178 career Premier League goals, moving him one ahead of Frank Lampard into sixth place in the competition's all-time scoring chart. Liverpool are unbeaten in 19 league games, winning 17 of their 23 top-flight matches in a remarkable run since Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp in the close-season. Persuing an English record-equalling 20th title and their first in the competition since 2020, Liverpool can sit back and wait to see if old rivals Manchester City can do them a favour when they face Arsenal on Sunday. On Thursday, quadruple-chasing Liverpool will try to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit against Tottenham in the League Cup semi-final at Anfield. Slot's only concern was an injury that forced off England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold in the second half. Bournemouth had enjoyed home wins over Manchester City and Arsenal this season, while third-placed Nottingham Forest were thrashed 5-0 on the south-coast last week. But their 11-match unbeaten run in the league came to an end against a relentless Liverpool side that look destined to end the season with the Premier League crown in the Anfield trophy cabinet. Dubious opener Bournemouth nearly made the perfect start after just 12 seconds when Trent Alexander-Arnold lost possession to Antoine Semenyo, whose strike forced a good save from Alisson Becker. Not for the first time in his career, Alexander-Arnold's defensive deficiencies were on display as his poor clearance let in Justin Kluivert before Alisson's save spared his team-mate's blushes. Semenyo turned away from two Liverpool defender before rattling the woodwork with a stinging drive. But Liverpool were capable of carving through the Bournemouth defence at will, with Kepa Arrizabalaga keeping out Dominik Szoboszlai's effort. The Reds were too precise and electric in attack for Bournemouth to hold them at bay and the opener finally arrived in dubious fashion in the 30th minute. Cook was trailing behind Gakpo as the Dutchman ran through on goal, but he made no contact before the penalty was awarded. Salah ignored the fuss as he stepped up to smash the spot-kick into the corner. Rubbing salt into Bournemouth's wounds, David Brooks had an instant equaliser ruled out for offside by VAR. Liverpool had to ride their luck at times and Alisson denied Semenyo, alertly racing off his line to save at the Ghana winger's feet. Alexander-Arnold escaped a VAR check for handball, while Alexis Mac Allister avoided a second yellow card following his foul on Brooks. When Marcus Tavernier's long-range curler cannoned back off the post, Kluivert looked certain to score but he blazed the rebound wide. Salah made Bournemouth pay for their profligacy in the 75th minute. Curtis Jones' pass sent Salah racing the area and he guided a fine finish past Kepa in typically predatory style. 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: Mohamed Salah's controversial penalty fires Liverpool nine points clear

IND vs ENG, 5th T20I Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue:&nbsp;Team India will look to end the five-match T20I series with a win as they take on England in Mumbai on Sunday (Feb 2). Suryakumar Yadav's side has been near-perfect in the series having lost only once. England will look to end the series on a high before turning attention to the ODI series and the Champions Trophy 2025. Ahead of the final T20I between hosts India and England, here are all the details, including live streaming, squads, and more.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">When is the India vs England 5th T20I match?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The India vs England 5th T20I match will be played on Sunday (Feb 2).
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Which stadium will host the India vs England 5th T20I match?</h2>
The India vs England 5th T20I match will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">What time will the India vs England 5th T20I match start?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The India vs England 5th T20I match will start at 7:00 PM local time on Sunday (Feb 2) with the toss taking place at 6:30 PM local time.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Where to watch the India vs England 5th T20I match on TV?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The India vs England 5th T20I match will be telecast on the Sports 18 and Star Sports Network in India.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohlis-craze-hits-ranji-trophy-as-fans-breach-security-to-touch-his-feet-watch-8680817" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kohli-mania hits Ranji Trophy as fans breach security to touch his feet &ndash; Watch</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Where to watch the India vs England 5th T20I Live Streaming online on OTT?<o:p></o:p></h2>
The India vs England 5th T20I match will be live-streamed on the Disney+Hotstar app and website in India.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Squads<o:p></o:p></h2>
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy, Mohd Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harisht Rana, Dhruv Jurel, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakrabarthy and Washington Sundar.
England: Jos Buttler (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood

Sports, Cricket: Team India will look to end the five-match T20I series with a win as they take on England in Mumbai on Sunday at the Wankhede Stadium. 

IND vs ENG, 5th T20I Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: Team India will look to end the five-match T20I series with a win as they take on England in Mumbai on Sunday (Feb 2). Suryakumar Yadav's side has been near-perfect in the series having lost only once. England will look to end the series on a high before turning attention to the ODI series and the Champions Trophy 2025. Ahead of the final T20I between hosts India and England, here are all the details, including live streaming, squads, and more. When is the India vs England 5th T20I match? The India vs England 5th T20I match will be played on Sunday (Feb 2). Which stadium will host the India vs England 5th T20I match? The India vs England 5th T20I match will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. What time will the India vs England 5th T20I match start? The India vs England 5th T20I match will start at 7:00 PM local time on Sunday (Feb 2) with the toss taking place at 6:30 PM local time. Where to watch the India vs England 5th T20I match on TV? The India vs England 5th T20I match will be telecast on the Sports 18 and Star Sports Network in India. ALSO READ | Kohli-mania hits Ranji Trophy as fans breach security to touch his feet – Watch Where to watch the India vs England 5th T20I Live Streaming online on OTT? The India vs England 5th T20I match will be live-streamed on the Disney+Hotstar app and website in India. Squads India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy, Mohd Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harisht Rana, Dhruv Jurel, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakrabarthy and Washington Sundar. England: Jos Buttler (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood

IND vs ENG, 5th T20I live streaming: When and where to watch India vs England live on laptop, TV

Legendary India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was conferred with the C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday (Feb 1). Having served Indian cricket for over two decades, Tendulkar received the honour in a special ceremony held in Mumbai. The occasion also saw Ravichandran Ashwin being honoured with BCCI&rsquo;s Special Award having called time on his illustrious career in December 2024 during the Australia tour.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Tendulkar conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award</h2>
In a special programme, the BCCI honoured its top athletes, including former cricketers who had served the nation. During his illustrious career, Tendulkar scored over 33,000 runs in 664 matches and won several honours, including the ODI World Cup in 2011.
&ldquo;Thank you all for coming. I cannot thank BCCI enough. They have always been supportive. Truly humbled to have my name in the list of awardees.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Ashwin called me Mr. Tendulkar. Thanks Ash for making me realise my age.&rdquo;
&ldquo;In 1989, I was late for the bus a couple of times. Kapil Paaji asked me, is it right time, or are you late? Since then, I have kept my watch 7-8 minutes ahead of time.&rdquo;
&ldquo;When I went to Pakistan, I learnt of lot of language (laughs). Then I went to Australia, the language was different, but the intensity was the same,&rdquo; Tendulkar said in his speech.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohlis-craze-hits-ranji-trophy-as-fans-breach-security-to-touch-his-feet-watch-8680817" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kohli-mania hits Ranji Trophy as fans breach security to touch his feet &ndash; Watch</a>
Tendulkar made his debut for India in 1989 against Pakistan and was dismissed for a duck. However, he did not hold back and went on to become the greatest player of his generation. While he lost the 2003 ODI World Cup final to Australia, eight years later he would help India win the same tournament in his own backyard.
On the other hand, Ashwin was also honoured for his illustrious career, who like Sachin was part of the 2011 ODI World Cup winning squad. After Anil Kumble he was India&rsquo;s best Test bowler with 537 wickets in 106 matches.

Sports, Cricket: Legendary India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was conferred with the C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by the BCCI on Saturday (Feb 1). 

Legendary India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was conferred with the C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday (Feb 1). Having served Indian cricket for over two decades, Tendulkar received the honour in a special ceremony held in Mumbai. The occasion also saw Ravichandran Ashwin being honoured with BCCI’s Special Award having called time on his illustrious career in December 2024 during the Australia tour. Tendulkar conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award In a special programme, the BCCI honoured its top athletes, including former cricketers who had served the nation. During his illustrious career, Tendulkar scored over 33,000 runs in 664 matches and won several honours, including the ODI World Cup in 2011. “Thank you all for coming. I cannot thank BCCI enough. They have always been supportive. Truly humbled to have my name in the list of awardees.” “Ashwin called me Mr. Tendulkar. Thanks Ash for making me realise my age.” “In 1989, I was late for the bus a couple of times. Kapil Paaji asked me, is it right time, or are you late? Since then, I have kept my watch 7-8 minutes ahead of time.” “When I went to Pakistan, I learnt of lot of language (laughs). Then I went to Australia, the language was different, but the intensity was the same,” Tendulkar said in his speech. ALSO READ | Kohli-mania hits Ranji Trophy as fans breach security to touch his feet – Watch Tendulkar made his debut for India in 1989 against Pakistan and was dismissed for a duck. However, he did not hold back and went on to become the greatest player of his generation. While he lost the 2003 ODI World Cup final to Australia, eight years later he would help India win the same tournament in his own backyard. On the other hand, Ashwin was also honoured for his illustrious career, who like Sachin was part of the 2011 ODI World Cup winning squad. After Anil Kumble he was India’s best Test bowler with 537 wickets in 106 matches.

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar conferred with C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award

Reema Malhotra, former Indian cricketer, shares her insights on the ongoing ILT20 tournament in an exclusive conversation with WION, discussing team performances, key players, and the league’s impact on global T20 cricket.

Former Indian cricketer Reema Malhotra speaks to WION

Sri Lanka suffered their heaviest defeat in Test cricket history on Saturday as Australia flexed their muscles to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series with a crushing victory by an innings and 242 runs.&nbsp;
The contest was wrapped up before tea on day four, with rookie left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann's match-winning spell delivering him career-best figures of 9-149 over both innings.&nbsp;
"We were put under pressure," Sri Lanka skipper Dhananjaya de Silva said afterwards. "The batters should have put up a better show."
Kuhnemann underwent surgery only two weeks ago on a broken right thumb after an injury sustained during the Big Bash League and battled through the match in pain, requiring constant medical attention.
He was well-supported by the ever-dependable Nathan Lyon, who spun a web around the Sri Lankan batters to finish with seven wickets.
Sri Lanka's heaviest defeat before Saturday was in Nagpur in 2017, when India hammered them by an innings and 239 runs.
Sri Lanka resumed on 136 for five overnight, but their first innings folded for 165, losing their last five wickets for a mere nine runs.&nbsp;
Put straight back in to bat chasing 489, they lost three wickets before lunch and then capitulated in the second session to a humiliating finish for a team once renowned for its prowess on turning tracks.
Dinesh Chandimal had waged a lonely battle in the first innings by top-scoring with 72 and, with Angelo Mathews, stitched together one of the only two 50-plus partnerships in the second.&nbsp;
However, he was sent back for 31 on the last ball before lunch when he gloved Lyon to Travis Head at short leg.
Oshada Fernando failed to make an impact on his return to the side, and was undone by a sharp inswinger from Mitchell Starc that trapped him plumb in front for six after scoring just seven in the first innings.
Former skipper Dimuth Karunaratne's horror run with the bat continued after an avoidable dismissal for nought by Todd Murphy.&nbsp;
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohlis-craze-hits-ranji-trophy-as-fans-breach-security-to-touch-his-feet-watch-8680817" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kohli-mania hits Ranji Trophy as fans breach security to touch his feet &ndash; Watch</a>
<h2>Tough place to play</h2>
Rain forced an early lunch on day three before washing out the final two sessions.&nbsp;
Australia declared on 654-6 late on the second day after opener Usman Khawaja's career-best 232.
"Galle is a tough place to play cricket and we are very happy with this win," Khawaja said.&nbsp;
"I've played a lot of cricket in Sri Lanka, this being my fifth tour. I've made lot of mistakes before. I guess all that experience came in handy in this game."
Stand-in skipper Steve Smith also had a game to remember, becoming only the fourth Australian to breach the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket on the first ball he faced.&nbsp;
He finished his innings with a masterful 141, while wicketkeeper Josh Inglis hit a century on debut.
Galle will host the second and final match of the series next week before a two-match ODI series in Colombo.&nbsp;
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, Cricket: Sri Lanka's heaviest defeat before Saturday was in Nagpur in 2017, when India hammered them by an innings and 239 as they stumble to new low. 

Sri Lanka suffered their heaviest defeat in Test cricket history on Saturday as Australia flexed their muscles to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series with a crushing victory by an innings and 242 runs. The contest was wrapped up before tea on day four, with rookie left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann's match-winning spell delivering him career-best figures of 9-149 over both innings. "We were put under pressure," Sri Lanka skipper Dhananjaya de Silva said afterwards. "The batters should have put up a better show." Kuhnemann underwent surgery only two weeks ago on a broken right thumb after an injury sustained during the Big Bash League and battled through the match in pain, requiring constant medical attention. He was well-supported by the ever-dependable Nathan Lyon, who spun a web around the Sri Lankan batters to finish with seven wickets. Sri Lanka's heaviest defeat before Saturday was in Nagpur in 2017, when India hammered them by an innings and 239 runs. Sri Lanka resumed on 136 for five overnight, but their first innings folded for 165, losing their last five wickets for a mere nine runs. Put straight back in to bat chasing 489, they lost three wickets before lunch and then capitulated in the second session to a humiliating finish for a team once renowned for its prowess on turning tracks. Dinesh Chandimal had waged a lonely battle in the first innings by top-scoring with 72 and, with Angelo Mathews, stitched together one of the only two 50-plus partnerships in the second. However, he was sent back for 31 on the last ball before lunch when he gloved Lyon to Travis Head at short leg. Oshada Fernando failed to make an impact on his return to the side, and was undone by a sharp inswinger from Mitchell Starc that trapped him plumb in front for six after scoring just seven in the first innings. Former skipper Dimuth Karunaratne's horror run with the bat continued after an avoidable dismissal for nought by Todd Murphy. ALSO READ | Kohli-mania hits Ranji Trophy as fans breach security to touch his feet – Watch Tough place to play Rain forced an early lunch on day three before washing out the final two sessions. Australia declared on 654-6 late on the second day after opener Usman Khawaja's career-best 232. "Galle is a tough place to play cricket and we are very happy with this win," Khawaja said. "I've played a lot of cricket in Sri Lanka, this being my fifth tour. I've made lot of mistakes before. I guess all that experience came in handy in this game." Stand-in skipper Steve Smith also had a game to remember, becoming only the fourth Australian to breach the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket on the first ball he faced. He finished his innings with a masterful 141, while wicketkeeper Josh Inglis hit a century on debut. Galle will host the second and final match of the series next week before a two-match ODI series in Colombo. 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.

SL vs AUS, Galle Test: Sri Lanka crash to worst defeat as Australia build for WTC final

India made a strong start to their Davis Cup 2025 campaign on Saturday, taking a 2-0 lead over Togo on the opening day of the World Group I Playoffs at the DLTA Complex. Mukund Sasikumar and Ramkumar Ramanathan put in commanding performances to win their respective singles ties, bringing Team India to the cusp of a victory.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">India make flying start</h2>
Mukund secured a decisive victory over Liova Ajavon in the opening match, setting the tone for India's campaign with a 1-0 lead before Ramkumar doubled India&rsquo;s advantage with a dominant win over Thomas Setodji, much to the delight of the Indian fans at the DLTA Complex, who waved the tricolour and roared their support for every point won, and created an electric atmosphere that fuelled the Indian players' performances.
Playing in front of a home crowd, the opening set began on a positive note for Mukund, who claimed the first game with confidence, before Ajavon responded by levelling the score, creating a tense contest. The momentum shifted in Mukund's favour during the third game when he successfully defended a crucial potential break before decisively breaking Ajavon&rsquo;s serve. Despite Ajavon's fierce attempts to regain control in game five, Mukund maintained his composure, eventually winning the set 6-2.
The second set proved to be more straightforward for Mukund, who dominated from the outset. He stormed to a commanding 4-0 lead, displaying clinical precision in both his serves and returns. Mukund secured the set 6-1 and, consequently, the match.
A short break later, Ramkumar Ramanathan and Thomas Setodji took to the courts, with the former taking no time to establish a commanding lead. Ramkumar's powerful forehands and aggressive baseline play left Setodji struggling to find his rhythm. Dominating every aspect of the game, Ramkumar cruised through the first set with a flawless 6-0 scoreline.
Setodji regrouped in the second set, showing signs of resilience to claim two games. Despite the brief momentum shift, amkumar remained unshaken, continuing to dictate play with precise serves and relentless groundstrokes. His composure and consistency paid off as he sealed a commanding 6-0, 6-2 victory, further bolstering India's lead in the tie to end day one&rsquo;s play.
Speaking on his team&rsquo;s day one performance, India&rsquo;s non-playing captain Rohit Rajpal said, &ldquo;Both the boys played fantastic today. I am very happy that they both stuck to the plan and played some fantastic tennis. But I&rsquo;d say it&rsquo;s not over till it&rsquo;s over, so let&rsquo;s stay focused and get it done tomorrow.&rdquo;
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohlis-craze-hits-ranji-trophy-as-fans-breach-security-to-touch-his-feet-watch-8680817" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kohli-mania hits Ranji Trophy as fans breach security to touch his feet &ndash; Watch</a>
&ldquo;We discussed our plans quite a bit. It looked easy because these guys played very well. They didn&rsquo;t give a chance to the other guys to get into their rhythm. Whatever we planned, the boys executed it beautifully. It looked easier than it was, but that was because they stuck to the plan,&rdquo; Rajpal added.
With India only needing one win to seal the tie, day two will begin with N Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Bollipalli facing off against Setodji and Padio Isak in the doubles match. Mukund and Ramkumar will then return to the court to contest the remaining two singles matches, with the former facing Setodji and the latter Ajavon.
The Davis Cup 2025 World Group I Playoffs tie is being broadcast live on Doordarshan Sports. Fans can also witness the matches live at the DLTA Complex with free entry.

Sports, Tennis: Mukund Sasikumar and Ramkumar Ramanathan put in commanding performances to win their respective singles ties, bringing Team India to the cusp of a victory.

India made a strong start to their Davis Cup 2025 campaign on Saturday, taking a 2-0 lead over Togo on the opening day of the World Group I Playoffs at the DLTA Complex. Mukund Sasikumar and Ramkumar Ramanathan put in commanding performances to win their respective singles ties, bringing Team India to the cusp of a victory. India make flying start Mukund secured a decisive victory over Liova Ajavon in the opening match, setting the tone for India's campaign with a 1-0 lead before Ramkumar doubled India’s advantage with a dominant win over Thomas Setodji, much to the delight of the Indian fans at the DLTA Complex, who waved the tricolour and roared their support for every point won, and created an electric atmosphere that fuelled the Indian players' performances. Playing in front of a home crowd, the opening set began on a positive note for Mukund, who claimed the first game with confidence, before Ajavon responded by levelling the score, creating a tense contest. The momentum shifted in Mukund's favour during the third game when he successfully defended a crucial potential break before decisively breaking Ajavon’s serve. Despite Ajavon's fierce attempts to regain control in game five, Mukund maintained his composure, eventually winning the set 6-2. The second set proved to be more straightforward for Mukund, who dominated from the outset. He stormed to a commanding 4-0 lead, displaying clinical precision in both his serves and returns. Mukund secured the set 6-1 and, consequently, the match. A short break later, Ramkumar Ramanathan and Thomas Setodji took to the courts, with the former taking no time to establish a commanding lead. Ramkumar's powerful forehands and aggressive baseline play left Setodji struggling to find his rhythm. Dominating every aspect of the game, Ramkumar cruised through the first set with a flawless 6-0 scoreline. Setodji regrouped in the second set, showing signs of resilience to claim two games. Despite the brief momentum shift, amkumar remained unshaken, continuing to dictate play with precise serves and relentless groundstrokes. His composure and consistency paid off as he sealed a commanding 6-0, 6-2 victory, further bolstering India's lead in the tie to end day one’s play. Speaking on his team’s day one performance, India’s non-playing captain Rohit Rajpal said, “Both the boys played fantastic today. I am very happy that they both stuck to the plan and played some fantastic tennis. But I’d say it’s not over till it’s over, so let’s stay focused and get it done tomorrow.” ALSO READ | Kohli-mania hits Ranji Trophy as fans breach security to touch his feet – Watch “We discussed our plans quite a bit. It looked easy because these guys played very well. They didn’t give a chance to the other guys to get into their rhythm. Whatever we planned, the boys executed it beautifully. It looked easier than it was, but that was because they stuck to the plan,” Rajpal added. With India only needing one win to seal the tie, day two will begin with N Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Bollipalli facing off against Setodji and Padio Isak in the doubles match. Mukund and Ramkumar will then return to the court to contest the remaining two singles matches, with the former facing Setodji and the latter Ajavon. The Davis Cup 2025 World Group I Playoffs tie is being broadcast live on Doordarshan Sports. Fans can also witness the matches live at the DLTA Complex with free entry.

Davis Cup 2025: Advantage India as Sasikumar Mukund, Ramkumar Ramanathan win singles

India&rsquo;s Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday (Feb 1) presented the budget for the financial year 2025-26 as the nation gears up to put its footprint on the global stage. Sports has been a key contributor to India&rsquo;s global image, and the sector was certainly not disappointed after funds were increased to INR 10 billion ($115 million) for 2025-26, up from INR 8 billion ($92 million) in 2024-25. Speaking exclusively to WION&rsquo;s Aditya Pimpale, Sports for All founder, Rishikesh Joshi, reckoned the funds are promising for grassroots athletes.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Expert thoughts on sports budget<o:p></o:p></h2>
India had a successful Paris Olympics in 2024, where they won six medals, including a silver. Indian athletes have made the nation proud in several national and international tournaments. Saturday&rsquo;s budget comes as a welcome addition to India&rsquo;s growing sports power as the nation tried to challenge several global powers.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
&ldquo;The sports budget has seen an overall 10% increase. The standout for me is that Khelo India continues to be a cornerstone for developing grassroots sports across India. The INR 10 billion ($115 million) allocated this year, marking an 11% increase, is certainly promising for grassroots athletes and is already yielding results, as seen in India&rsquo;s recent clean sweep at the Kho-Kho World Cup. This highlights the tangible impact of increased funding at the grassroots level,&rdquo; Joshi said in the exclusive conversation.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
&ldquo;Given India&rsquo;s performance, it&rsquo;s essential to also consider boosting funding for elite athletes and national-level competitions. Strengthening the budget for these events would help sustain and enhance India&rsquo;s performance on the global stage,&rdquo; added Joshi.<o:p></o:p>
WION also spoke to Sreekar Channapragada, co-founder of MGD1, as he reckons the current budget needs to be boosted by 10 times if India are to win more medals and be competitive against global powers.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohlis-craze-hits-ranji-trophy-as-fans-breach-security-to-touch-his-feet-watch-8680817" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kohli-mania hits Ranji Trophy as fans breach security to touch his feet &ndash; Watch</a> 
&ldquo;Sports budget is in the right direction, but a lot more is needed. If we&rsquo;re looking to win international medals and strive for excellence, then the budgets need to be more than 10 times what it is now. Sports not only bring laurels to the nation and bring in a culture of fitness, but they also generate employment for the youth. We need to use the budgets to create excellence centres where potentials are worked with to create world-class athletes,&rdquo; said Channapragada.

Sports: Sports has been a key contributor to India’s global image, and the sector was certainly not disappointed after funds were increased to INR 10 billion ($115 million) for 2025-26.

India’s Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday (Feb 1) presented the budget for the financial year 2025-26 as the nation gears up to put its footprint on the global stage. Sports has been a key contributor to India’s global image, and the sector was certainly not disappointed after funds were increased to INR 10 billion ($115 million) for 2025-26, up from INR 8 billion ($92 million) in 2024-25. Speaking exclusively to WION’s Aditya Pimpale, Sports for All founder, Rishikesh Joshi, reckoned the funds are promising for grassroots athletes. Expert thoughts on sports budget India had a successful Paris Olympics in 2024, where they won six medals, including a silver. Indian athletes have made the nation proud in several national and international tournaments. Saturday’s budget comes as a welcome addition to India’s growing sports power as the nation tried to challenge several global powers. “The sports budget has seen an overall 10% increase. The standout for me is that Khelo India continues to be a cornerstone for developing grassroots sports across India. The INR 10 billion ($115 million) allocated this year, marking an 11% increase, is certainly promising for grassroots athletes and is already yielding results, as seen in India’s recent clean sweep at the Kho-Kho World Cup. This highlights the tangible impact of increased funding at the grassroots level,” Joshi said in the exclusive conversation. “Given India’s performance, it’s essential to also consider boosting funding for elite athletes and national-level competitions. Strengthening the budget for these events would help sustain and enhance India’s performance on the global stage,” added Joshi. WION also spoke to Sreekar Channapragada, co-founder of MGD1, as he reckons the current budget needs to be boosted by 10 times if India are to win more medals and be competitive against global powers. ALSO READ | Kohli-mania hits Ranji Trophy as fans breach security to touch his feet – Watch “Sports budget is in the right direction, but a lot more is needed. If we’re looking to win international medals and strive for excellence, then the budgets need to be more than 10 times what it is now. Sports not only bring laurels to the nation and bring in a culture of fitness, but they also generate employment for the youth. We need to use the budgets to create excellence centres where potentials are worked with to create world-class athletes,” said Channapragada.

Exclusive: 'Sports budget is promising for grassroots athletes,' says Sports For All founder Rishikesh Joshi

sports

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