Cincinnati, June 26 (IANS) Borussia Dortmund topped their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group F with a narrow 1-0 win over already-out Ulsan HD on Thursday. They will face the runner up from Group E in Atlanta on July 1.
Daniel Svenssen put the German side ahead in the 36th minute of a first half which was completely dominated by the German side in front of the virtually deserted stands of the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.Borussia had 20 shots in the first half, with eight of those on target, but they were frustrated time after time by Ulsan’s South Korean international goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-Woo.The opening goal finally arrived after a mistake in playing the ball out from defense which allowed the impressive Jobe Bellingham to win possession and set up Svenssen to finally score with a left-foot shot.It should have been 2-0 soon afterwards but Jo made a stunning save to deny Serhou Guirassy’s header.Ulsan looked to press higher up the field in the second half and Borussia goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was called into action for the first time in the game, although he wasn’t forced to make a difficult save.Yan Couto had a great chance to double Borussia’s lead in the 82nd minute, but once again Jo produced a flying save to deny his bouncing left-foot shot.Carney Chukwuemeka also went close to a second for Borussia in the closing minutes but while his effort was blocked his team never faced serious pressure in the final moment.We wanted to get through the group stage, we wanted to reach the Round of 16. We’ve achieved that. We’ve finished first and we’re happy about it. Of course, we’re already looking at the possible next opponent. We were looking even before. It’s not like we’re unprepared. Now, because we finished first, we don’t play until July 1, so we have enough time to prepare for the opponent,” said Niko Kovac, Borussia Dortmund coach.–IANSbc/

Chennai, June 26 (IANS) In a bid to promote sports at the grassroots level and enhance revenue generation, the Tamil Nadu Sports Department will set up futsal and box cricket turfs in all 38 districts of the state.The project will see the establishment of turfs at the headquarters of 37 districts, while in Chennai, the facility will be located at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Each turf will cost Rs 60 lakh and will feature markings for both futsal and cricket, covered end-to-end nets, specialised futsal nets, and centralised lighting systems.These facilities will also include adequate parking and will remain open until 1 a.m. to accommodate late-night players. Meghanath Reddy, Member-Secretary of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), said the department will manage the turfs directly.“We will roll out an app for bookings, modelled after private platforms. The hourly booking rates will range from Rs 800 to Rs 1,000, significantly lower than the Rs 1,500 charged by private operators,” he said.Reddy pointed out that group bookings — common among youngsters — will make the cost more affordable.“This initiative will make modern sports infrastructure, currently limited to cities, accessible to people in smaller towns and rural areas,” he added.A standard box cricket turf will measure between 100 and 120 feet in length, and 50 to 70 feet in width, with a netted height of 20 feet. Each turf will be equipped with high-quality lighting to support night-time play.The decision follows the success of a similar project in Chennai. The turf at Chepauk, managed by a private firm called Turf Town, generates a monthly revenue of around Rs 3 lakh.“They handle operations through their own app and share profits with SDAT,” Reddy said.In the second phase of the project, such turfs will also be established in village panchayats under the Chief Minister’s Mini Stadia Scheme, further expanding access to modern sporting facilities.–IANSaal/dpb

Mumbai, June 26 (IANS) The Bengaluru Bravehearts became the third team to progress to the semi-final of Season 1 of the Rugby Premier League. The Bravehearts achieved this after they defeated the Kalinga Black Tigers by a margin of 34-26. In the second game of the day, the Delhi Redz and the Mumbai Dreamers played out a thrilling draw at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex, here on WednesdayWith qualification on the line for the Bengaluru Bravehearts, the Kalinga Black Tigers were looking to create hurdles. And on cue, the Tigers took the lead when Ethan Turner bagged a try and Maurice Longbottom converted with ease. The Tigers further extended their lead with Lucas Lacamp’s try and Turner’s conversion.However, before the end of the first half, the Bravehearts started to mount a comeback with Philip Wokorach and Arpan Chhetri’s tries. At the break, the Tigers led by 4 points. After that, the Bravehearts’ Liam Poulton turned up the ante with a couple of tries to give his side the lead.The game was well contested, and the Tigers responded well and almost immediately with Ethan Turner’s try. And going into the last phase, the Bravehearts led by 1 point.The Bravehearts put the foot on the pedal in the final quarter with Philip Wokorach adding a try and converting, along with Iowane Teba’s try and conversion, which gave them some breathing space. The Tigers, though, were not giving up, and Perry Baker added five more to the cause, whilst Maurice Longbottom also scored his conversion kick. But it was too little, too late.In the second game of the day, the Mumbai Dreamers came from behind to salvage a draw against the Delhi Redz. Both teams were locked at 19-19 at the final whistle.James Turner put the Dreamers in the lead before Patrick Okongo and Alejandro Laforga combined to add 7 points for the Redz. From then on in, the Delhi Redz were dominant, with Laforga and Deepak Punia scoring tries, and the latter converting his kick too.The Redz looked set for the win; however, the Dreamers fought back in the final quarter with James Turner scoring a try and converting his kick. Vuiviwa Naduvalo rounded off the evening with his game-changing try, which helped the Dreamers rescue a draw with the scores reading 19-19.–IANSbsk/

Mallorca (Spain), June 25 (IANS) American youngster Learner Tien earned his third Top 10 win on Wednesday, beating countryman and top seed Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-6(2) to reach the quarterfinals of the Mallorca Championships.The 19-year-old committed 16 fewer unforced errors than Shelton (22-38) and rallied from 1-4 in the second set to eventually triumph after one hour and 41 minutes in the pair’s first ATP head-to-head meeting.”I thought I returned really well today,” Tien said. “I felt it was tough to serve today with the wind. I felt my toss moved around a lot, but I thought I returned really, really well and gave myself a lot of looks on return games.” Tien, who defeated Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev earlier this year, is the youngest player to defeat a Top-10 star on grass since Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Queen’s Club in 2019. Into his third tour-level quarterfinal, Tien will next meet Corentin Moutet of France in the ATP 250 grass-court event.Moutet, who upset Taylor Fritz at the Queen’s Club in London last week, made good use of the underhand serve, sending down as many as six in his second-round win against Daniel Altmaier of Germany on Wednesday.The 26-year-old from Paris won three points on the underarm service as he defeated Altmaier 7-6(3), 7-6(3) in two hours and 14 minutes and secured a place in the quarterfinals, his first of 2025.In another action, Alex Michelsen defeated Brandon Holt 6-4, 6-4. Michelsen, who fell to his good friend Tien in the semifinals at the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals, takes on Roberto Bautista Agut in the last eight in Mallorca. The Spaniard, a semi-finalist at The Queen’s Club last week, defeated Bernard Tomic 6-3, 6-3.The No. 83 player in the ATP Rankings, Moutet owns a 6-2 Mallorca record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, having reached the quarterfinals in 2023.–IANSbsk/

Harare, June 25 (IANS) The Zimbabwe women’s team is set to make its long-awaited debut in the ICC Women’s Championship, marking the beginning of their quest to qualify for the Women’s ODI World Cup for the first time in their history.Their campaign will begin with a white-ball tour of New Zealand in February-March 2026, which includes both the ODI and T20I series.The tour will feature three ODIs — scheduled for March 5, 8, and 11 in Dunedin — which will officially mark Zimbabwe’s entry into the ICC Women’s Championship. These fixtures will not only be Zimbabwe’s first-ever Women’s ODIs against New Zealand but also their first appearance in the expanded 2025-29 Championship cycle, now featuring 11 teams instead of 10.The fourth edition of the Championship will serve as the qualification pathway to the 2029 Women’s ODI World Cup.Ahead of the ODIs, Zimbabwe will also contest a three-match T20I series in Hamilton on February 25, 27, and March 1, marking their debut against New Zealand in Women’s T20Is.Zimbabwe’s inclusion in the ICC Women’s Championship is a massive leap forward for the country’s women’s programme.Speaking on the occasion, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) Managing Director Givemore Makoni hailed the development as a historic milestone.“It is a proud and exciting moment for us as Zimbabwe Women prepare to compete at the highest level of the global game,” Makoni said. “This is not only a testament to how far our women’s cricket has come, but also a strong endorsement of our vision and investment in developing the women’s game.”As part of the Championship cycle, Zimbabwe will host four three-match ODI series at home — against South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Ireland — and travel away to face India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and now New Zealand. It’s a schedule that promises both exposure and challenge, as the team aims to establish itself among the top-tier nations in women’s cricket.So far, Zimbabwe Women have played ODIs against only six teams, with Full Member fixtures limited to matches against Bangladesh, Ireland, and Pakistan. The tour of New Zealand will open a new chapter in their international journey.With Zimbabwe’s entry, 11 of the 12 Full Members of the ICC are now part of the Women’s Championship. Afghanistan remains the sole exception, as its women’s cricket program came to a halt following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 and subsequent restrictions on women’s sports in the country.–IANShs/bsk/

Manchester, June 25 (IANS) Victor Lindelof has revealed that he will always be a Manchester United fan, despite departing as a player this summer. Following a 2-0 win against Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season, United announced that Lindelof, along with Christian Eriksen and Jonny Evans, were not renewing their contracts.Having spent so long at the club, the Swede feels he got the farewell he wanted in that final outing against the Villans.”A perfect ending. Clean sheet and a win, so it was a great ending. To spend it with my family here [on the pitch afterwards], as well, was special. So, yeah, I couldn’t have asked for a better ending,” Lindelof told MUTV.In a stint spanning eight years, the Sweden international turned out a remarkable 284 times for the Reds, picking up silverware in the Carabao Cup and the Emirates FA Cup in 2023 and 2024, respectively.But, despite that fitting conclusion, he recognises there have been moments of difficulty too.”Yeah, I am proud of myself. It’s been a lot of ups and downs. But I mean, for me to be able to represent this club for eight years, it’s been an honour and a privilege, and a dream come true,” Lindelof added.When asked to pick his favourite moments in A Man Utd shirt, Lindelof referred to the sweet 2-1 win over Manchester City at Wembley in 2023/24.”I think the FA Cup was great. Obviously, such a historic cup and to be able to win it was amazing,” he said.The 30-year-old is now readying his next steps and reiterated that he will always be a Man Utd fan.”I’m leaving as a player, but I will always be a fan. I wish nothing but the best for the guys and everyone around the club. Yeah, hopefully, next season will be a little better than this one. I’m very sure it’s going to be,” he concluded.–IANSaaa/bsk/

Leeds, June 25 (IANS) Seam-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana has been released from India’s squad ahead of the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, for which the team has travelled to Birmingham. Sources have told IANS that Rana is now on his way back to India from Leeds itself.Rana was previously added to India’s squad for the first Test in Leeds, which England won by five wickets by chasing 371 on a thrilling final day at Headingley.“Actually, one of the pacers in the main Test team had a niggle. If the team think-tank wished to have someone as a back-up bowler who could execute a bouncer-led strategy, it was Rana who fit the bill and thus was held back.”“But as things stand, everything is fine now. As a result, Rana has now been released from the squad, and that’s why he was not spotted with the team on their travel to Birmingham,” the sources further told IANS.Rana made his Test debut during last year’s tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, where he managed to pick just four wickets at an average of 50.75, with his best figures being 3-48 in Perth. In England, Rana got his chance to play in the first game for India ‘A’ against England Lions at Canterbury, where he returned with figures of 1-99 and scored 16 runs.Meanwhile, Wednesday was a travel day for the Shubman Gill-led Indian team. The players will have a day off on Thursday and are likely to begin their training sessions on Friday in preparation for the second Test starting on July 2 at Edgbaston.With England now 1-0 up in the five-match series, India have a task at their hands to bounce back, especially after suffering a stinging defeat in Leeds, despite having five centuries and a five-wicket haul in their kitty.India are in England for a five-match Test series, their first outing in the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.–IANSnr/bsk/

New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) Danish Manzoor, renowned international taekwondo athlete and Fit India Ambassador, had the honour of meeting Om Birla, Speaker of Lok Sabha, at his residence in New Delhi. The meeting was a memorable experience for Danish, who expressed admiration for Birla’s kind gesture, empathy, and respectful interaction.Danish, a decorated athlete with numerous international accolades, is gearing up for upcoming competitions, including the World Taekwondo Presidents Cup-Oceania G3 Olympic ranking event and Australia Open 2025, to be held in Gold Coast, Australia, in August. He recently participated in an international training camp with Uzbekistan National Taekwondo Athletes.The meeting with Om Birla has inspired Danish, and he looks forward to continuing his pursuit of excellence in taekwondo, promoting fitness, and inspiring others through his achievements.The 26-year-old Danish Manzoor is from the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. He is one of the first few athletes from the state to perform at the international level.He represented Team India in the Men’s 58 weight category at the 2022 Israel Open G2 Olympic Ranking Taekwondo Championship from August 11 to August 14, 2022, in Ramla, Israel.Danish, who took up the sport at the age of 13, has a strong foundation in Taekwondo and has the privilege of representing India at various international Olympic ranking events. Coming from the land of mountains, Baramulla, Kashmir, his dedication and hard work have led him to achieve remarkable feats both nationally and internationally.In 2023, Danish made his mark on the international stage by competing in the World Taekwondo Presidents Cup-Asia Region, where he secured a sixth rank. This achievement not only highlights his skill and dedication but also sets a strong precedent as he prepares for the upcoming championship in Indonesia.Danish has been training under Master Atul Pangotra (Chief Coach, J&K) and Aasif Ahmed Shah (NIS, S&C). He expressed his gratitude to the Secretary Sports Council, Nuzhat Gul, for her support throughout the training camp.Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that is becoming very popular in India.–IANSbsk/

Mumbai, June 25 (IANS) Bengaluru Bravehearts put on a superb display of rugby in their game against the Kalinga Black Tigers, winning 34-26 in Season 1 of the Rugby Premier League (RPL) at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex here on Wednesday.With qualification on the line for the Bengaluru Bravehearts, the Kalinga Black Tigers were looking to create hurdles. And on cue, the Tigers took the lead when Ethan Turner bagged a try and Maurice Longbottom converted with ease. The Tigers further extended their lead with Lucas Lacamp’s try and Turner’s conversion.However, before the end of the first half, the Bravehearts started to mount a comeback with Philip Wokorach and Arpan Chhetri’s tries. At the break, the Tigers led by 4 points. After that, the Bravehearts’ Liam Poulton turned up the ante with a couple of tries to give his side the lead.The game was well contested, and the Tigers responded well and almost immediately with Ethan Turner’s try. And going into the last phase, the Bravehearts led by 1 point.The Bravehearts put the foot on the pedal in the final quarter with Philip Wokorach adding a try and converting, along with Iowane Teba’s try and conversion, which gave them some breathing space. The Tigers, though, were not giving up, and Perry Baker added five more to the cause, whilst Maurice Longbottom also scored his conversion kick. But it was too little, too late.The Bengaluru Bravehearts have already clinched their spot in the playoffs of RPL Season 1.On Tuesday, Bengaluru Bravehearts brought the Hyderabad Heroes’ winning streak to a halt, defeating them 26-21. The Bengaluru Bravehearts hit the ground running, and how. International stars Akuila Rokolisoa and Philip Wokorach were combining well together. While Rokolisoa added a try and a conversion, Wokorach scored a try, giving the Bravehearts a 12-0 lead. For the Heroes, Wolfram Hacker responded with a try, and Manuel Moreno also converted his kick.–IANSbsk/

New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) In an epoch-making stride for Bharatiya chess, the All India Chess Federation (AICF) today announced the launch of the Top National Players Stipend Scheme (TNPSS), a groundbreaking financial support initiative set to revolutionise the landscape of chess talent development in the nation.This dream project, passionately championed by AICF President Nitin Narang, marks an unprecedented commitment to nurturing the burgeoning chess prodigies of Bharat from the grassroots up.”This is more than just a scheme. It shows how deeply we believe in the promise of every young chess player in Bharat.”For the first time in our history, we are directly investing in the future of our ‘golden girls and boys’, providing them with the sustained financial bedrock they need to transform their talent into triumph. This is more than a token; it’s a demonstration of our profound support and a catalyst for their dreams,” said NarangIn a move echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of empowering athletes at grassroots level, TNPSS immediately dispatched its first quarterly stipends, ranging from a substantial Rs 60,000 to an impressive Rs 1,50,000, directly into the accounts of top young chess talents of Bharat. “One of the key objectives is to increase the importance of national tournaments, as they are the foundation for building a strong chess ecosystem in Bharat. It is at the nationals where we can identify and nurture talent”, Narang explained. A total of Rs 42,30,000 has been disbursed for the months of April to June of the current financial year, reaching deserving players across the Under 7 to Under 19 categories, both open and girls, based on their stellar performances in last year’s nationals.President Narang explained the idea behind TNPSS, “For too long, financial constraints have cast a shadow over the aspirations of our chess players. The demands of travel, training, and international competition often forces players to abandon their passion which is a profound loss for our nation. TNPSS is our definitive answer to these challenges, a bold stride towards a player-centric policy that empowers our youth to focus solely on honing their skills and conquering the chessboard.”This pioneering initiative is designed to provide robust financial assistance to promising top players from nationals for a critical period of two years. This invaluable support will significantly alleviate the burden of training and global competition expenses, allowing young players to immerse themselves fully in their game and pursue excellence on the world stage without economic hardship.A total of 42 top-ranked players based on their last year performances at national level are the first beneficiaries of this visionary scheme, representing the pinnacle of talent across the U7, U9, U11, U13, U15, U17, and U19 age categories.The quarterly stipends are structured to reflect their age and potential, ranging from Rs 60,000 for Under 7 to a significant Rs 1,50,000 for Under 19, underscoring the AICF’s comprehensive commitment.The TNPSS boasts an ambitious budgetary outlay of Rs 6,15,60,000, a clear signal of the AICF’s long-term strategic investment in the future of Indian chess.The inaugural beneficiaries of the Top National Players Stipend Scheme include:Under 7:Open: Devanarayanan Kalliyath, Prayank Gaonkar, Aaradhyo GuinGirls: Aaranya R, Arpitangshi Bhattacharya, Saiaastha SinghUnder 9:Open: Nidhish Shyamal, Aarit Kapil, Divith Reddy AdullaGirls: Kiyanna Parihaar, Divi Bijesh, Vanshika RawatUnder 11:Open: Madhvendra Pratap Sharma, Advik Amit Agrawal, Aarav AGirls: Pratitee Bordoloi, Aadya Gowda, Divi BijeshUnder 13:Open: Reyan Md, Sherla Prathamesh, Pranav Sai Ram R SGirls: Saranya Devi Narahari, Nivedita V C, Nihira KoulUnder 15:Open: Ilamparthi A R, Vaz Ethan, Sherla PrathameshGirls: Prishita Gupta, Jain Ashita, Saparya GhoshUnder 17:Open: Sriram Adarsh Uppala, Arpith S Bijoy, Jaiveer MahendruGirls: Tejaswini G, Kirthika B, Anupam M SreekumarUnder 19:Open: Adireddy Arjun, Sourath Biswas, Jaiveer MahendruGirls: Mrittika Mallick, Velpula Sarayu, Sneha Halder–IANShs/