New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) Luka Modric will join Italian giants AC Milan after the FIFA Club World Cup. The Croatian midfielder had earlier confirmed he will leave Real Madrid after the tournament, which is underway in the United States of America.AC Milan Sporting Director Igli Tare has revealed that both parties have verbally agreed to a deal which will see the midfield maestro don the famous black and red of the club.”I spoke to him in person and saw a guy who is really eager to be competitive. His arrival is crucial for a group that needs players like him and leadership.”The first question Luka asked me was: ‘Will we be a team built to win the championship? He has won six Champions Leagues and wants to be a star player from the start.”He is important for what he will convey in terms of mentality, leadership, and professionalism. The fact that he is an AC Milan fan makes this story even more exciting, and it would be great for him to have a stellar season, as at the end of the season is the World Cup,” Tare told Gazzetta dello Sport.Arriving from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, Modric overcame a difficult start to etch his name into Real Madrid folklore. With nearly 600 appearances and almost 30 major trophies—including a record six UEFA Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns—Modric’s impact has been nothing short of legendary.His 2018 Ballon d’Or win, breaking the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly, symbolised his quiet dominance on the global stage. Known for his vision, control, and elegance on the ball, Modric has been the soul of Madrid’s midfield, orchestrating countless victories with grace and determination.Real Madrid have currently won and drawn a game each in their two Group H fixtures at the FIFA Club World Cup. They will face Austrian Bundesliga side RB Salzburg in the final group fixture on Friday (IST) in an attempt to qualify for the knockout rounds.–IANSaaa/bsk/

Vung Tau, June 25 (IANS) Continuing the stellar performance of Indian wrestlers on the international stage, the Indian Under-17 Women’s Wrestling Team has emerged as the Champion Team at the Under-17 Asian Wrestling Championships held in Vung Tau, Vietnam, from June 18 to 26, 2025.Following the triumph of the Under-23 Women’s Wrestling Team at the Under-23 Senior Asian Wrestling Championship in Vietnam, the Under-17 women wrestlers showcased exceptional grit, determination, and skill to carry forward India’s winning momentum.The Indian Women’s Team dominated across weight categories, winning a total of 10 medals – 5 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze, thus securing the Champion Trophy with 215 points. China stood second with 151 points, while Japan secured third position with 149 points.Rachna, competing in the 43 kg category, delivered a dominant performance by defeating a strong Japanese opponent with a decisive 9-0 victory to clinch the Gold Medal.In the 46 kg category, Rutuja had an impressive run, starting with a win over a Japanese wrestler in the qualification round. She carried the momentum into the final, where she overwhelmed her Uzbek opponent with a 10-0 score to secure the Gold Medal.Moni, wrestling in the 57 kg division, showcased resilience and skill. She overpowered a Japanese wrestler 10-2 in the semifinal and edged out a Kazakh opponent in the final with a 1-1 score, winning on criteria to earn the gold medal.Tina Punia, competing in the 61 kg category, displayed technical brilliance by defeating a Japanese opponent 10-0 in the quarterfinal. In the final, she faced a tough challenge from a Kazakh wrestler and, despite a strong effort, lost 3-3 on criteria, settling for the silver medal.In the 65 kg category, Ashwani Vishnoi put up a solid performance, defeating a Chinese wrestler 2-0 in the final to secure the gold medal for India.Manisha, wrestling in the 69 kg category, delivered a commanding performance in the final, winning by fall against her Chinese opponent and claiming another gold medal for India.The Indian team’s resounding success reflects the depth of talent and preparation among the upcoming generation of women wrestlers.In addition to the women’s success, Hardeep (110 kg) in the Greco-Roman Style added to India’s medal tally by clinching a gold medal, showcasing India’s strength across wrestling disciplines.”The Wrestling Federation of India congratulates all athletes, coaches, and support staff for their commendable efforts and historic performance at the championship. The President also appreciated the commendable support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Authority of India, due to which the Indian Wrestlers are shining abroad,” read the statement by Sanjay Kumar Singh, WFI President.Women’s WrestlingGold MedalsRachna – 43 Kg.Rutuja – 46 Kg.Moni – 57 Kg.Ashvini Vishnoi – 65 Kg.Manisha – 69 Kg.Silver MedalsChesta – 40 Kg.Tina Punia – 61 kg.Kajal – 73 Kg.Bronze MedalsAnjali – 49 Kg.Saarika – 53 Kg.Greco-Roman StyleGold Medal – Hardeep – 100 Kg.Silver Medal – Aditya Dileep Jadhav -48 Kg.Bronze Medal – Ritesh – 60 Kg.Bronze Medal – Sachin Kumar – 80 Kg.Bronze Medal – Nitin Kumar – 92 Kg.–IANSaaa/

Colombo, June 25 (IANS) Sri Lanka’s bowlers ensured the home side remained in firm control on Day 1 of the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, despite a slew of missed chances in the field.After winning the toss and electing to bat first on what was expected to be a batter-friendly surface, Bangladesh found themselves reeling at 220 for 8 at stumps, their innings dented by tight, disciplined bowling and some reckless shot selection.The day’s play, which was affected by rain, particularly during the second session, saw Sri Lanka drop as many as five catches and miss a run-out opportunity, but their control with the ball never really loosened. Wickets were shared among five of the six bowlers used, with Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, and debutant Sonal Dinusha picking up two wickets each, while Dhananjaya de Silva and Tharindu Rathnayake chipped in with one apiece.The highlight of the day was Dinusha, the 24-year-old left-arm spinner, who made a dream debut. He claimed the key scalps of Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das in a tidy opening spell, becoming just the fourth bowler since ball-by-ball data began to start his Test career with three maiden overs and a wicket.Earlier, Bangladesh struggled to build partnerships, despite several batters getting starts. Six batters crossed 20, but none converted it into anything more substantial. Their most promising stand came between Mushfiqur and Litton, who added 67 runs at a brisk pace in the second session. But both batters fell playing rash strokes — Mushfiqur holing out at deep midwicket off Dinusha, and Litton edging behind attempting a cut shot too close to his body.Fielding errors plagued Sri Lanka throughout. Prabath Jayasuriya dropped Litton at deep midwicket, and Lahiru Udara spilled Mushfiqur in a similar fashion. Kusal Mendis, too, missed a late stumping chance. But for every lapse, Sri Lanka found a way to bounce back. Asitha Fernando’s dismissal of Nayeem Hasan late in the day — a beautiful delivery that clipped the off-stump — was a prime example of Sri Lanka’s persistence paying off.Bangladesh’s inability to rotate strike — paired with Sri Lanka’s consistent lengths — meant pressure was constantly building. Even as the visitors saw off long stretches without losing wickets, they failed to seize control. Mominul Haque fell cheaply, chipping a harmless delivery to cover, while Shadman Islam, who top-scored with 46, edged a wide delivery to slip.At the close of play, Taijul Islam and Ebadot Hossain were at the crease, hoping to extend Bangladesh’s total beyond 250 — a figure that’s still below par given the pitch conditions and Sri Lanka’s strong batting unit.With the SSC surface likely to ease up on Day 2, Bangladesh may come to regret their lack of application and missed opportunity to post a strong first-innings total. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will be buoyed by a clinical all-round bowling effort and the promise shown by their new faces, particularly Dinusha, as they look to take early command of the series decider.Brief scores:Bangladesh 220/8 in 71 overs (Shadman Islam 46, Mushfiqur Rahim 35; Sonal Dinusha 2/22, Vishwa Fernando 2/35) against Sri Lanka–IANShs/bsk/

Chennai, June 25 (IANS) The Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu vs Hockey Maharashtra in the…

Gwalior (M.P.), June 25 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh League 2025 came to a dramatic close on Tuesday night as Bhopal Leopards, led by a composed Arshad Khan, held their nerve in a last-ball thriller to beat Chambal Ghariyals by three runs and lift their maiden MPL title at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Stadium.The final was a game worthy of the occasion, full of twists, comebacks, heartbreaks, and heroics, with Bhopal ultimately defending a modest 156 against a team that looked set to pull off a stunning chase.Asked to bat first, Bhopal Leopards posted 156 in 19.2 overs, a total that looked below par considering how the pitch had played throughout the tournament, consistently producing 200+ scores.Their top order faltered early, but the side found stability in a gritty stand between Gautam Raghuwanshi (48 off 28) and Aniket Verma (40 off 24). Kamal Tripathi once again chipped in with a vital cameo of 24 off 16, but Bhopal Leopards couldn’t quite capitalise on the death overs and were bowled out with 4 balls to spare.For Chambal Ghariyals, the wickets were well-distributed, with Aman Bhadoriya, Tripuresh Singh, and Nayanraj Mewada picking up two each to keep Bhopal in check.In reply, Chambal’s chase got off to a disastrous start as Bhopal Leopards’ bowlers came out with purpose and intensity, reducing them to 22/4 within the powerplay. It looked like the match might fizzle out early, but skipper Shubham Sharma and Tripuresh Singh had other ideas.With calm heads and a sharp understanding of the match situation, the pair stitched a remarkable 72-run partnership. Tripuresh was the aggressor, blazing his way to 53 off 28, while Shubham anchored with a patient and timely 51 off 45.With 21 required off the last 12 balls and both set batters at the crease, the title looked like Chambal’s to lose.Bhopal skipper Arshad Khan took it upon himself to bowl the 19th over. The first ball was dispatched for a six by Shubham, who reached his fifty and brought the equation down to 15 off 11. But then came the turning point.The moment of magic came when Aniket Verma pulled off a stunning relay catch at the boundary to dismiss Shubham. The over ended with just 8 runs conceded and a key wicket, leaving Roshan Kewat to defend 13 in the final over.Despite the pressure, Roshan stayed ice-calm. After a four by Tripuresh and a boundary from Aman Bhadoriya made it 4 needed off 2, Tripuresh was run out on the penultimate ball. With 4 needed off the last delivery, Roshan Kewat conceded only a single, sealing a three-run win for Bhopal Leopards.Arshad, who led the team with both ball and brain, spoke about the emotional significance of the win, “Last year, we let it slip at the end. This time, we were defending 156 when the average was 200+, but we accepted that challenge. What mattered was how the players stepped up, from the very first ball to the last. That catch from Aniket, Roshan’s calm final over, these moments define champions.”On his crucial 19th over, he said, “I tried a yorker first ball and missed. After that, I decided, no more pace. I trusted my cutters and focused only on execution. That relay catch from Aniket made it all possible.”He also spoke on how his IPL experience shaped his ability to handle pressure, “IPL is another level, yes. But pressure is pressure, whether in the IPL or here in back-to-back knockout games. You need discipline and control to win, and the team showed it.”Roshan Kewat, the quiet finisher of the game, kept his cool under intense pressure. Speaking post-match, he said, “Arshad bhai just told me to stay calm. Ball by ball, he guided me on what to do. That gave me confidence.”Bhopal Leopards’ owner Abhishek Gupta expressed his emotions after lifting the trophy, saying, “This win means everything to us. After coming so close last season, the entire team, from players to support staff, had only one goal this year: to go one step further and win the title. The way the boys held their nerve under pressure, especially in the final few overs, shows the character we’ve built as a unit. This victory is a result of months of hard work and belief, and I couldn’t be prouder.”It was a second heartbreak in a span of a few hours for Chambal Ghariyals, whose women’s team had also finished runner-up in the MP Women’s League final. Despite the loss, their campaign, especially in their first-ever MPL season, was filled with promise, fight, and memorable performances.Owner of Chambal Ghariyals and Director of Devraj Hospital, Divyaraj Singh Kirar, also expressed his pride in the team’s effort, “While the loss hurts, I can only feel proud of what Chambal Ghariyals has achieved in our very first MPL season. Reaching both the men’s and women’s finals speaks volumes about the systems and culture we’ve tried to build from day one. The fight we showed in the final is what this team is all about. We’ll come back stronger, and this is just the beginning for us.”For Bhopal Leopards, this victory was not just about one final, but about righting the wrongs of last season, where they came close but finished second.–IANSbsk/

Madrid, June 25 (IANS) Spanish football giant FC Barcelona on Wednesday confirmed the club will end its two-year exile and return to its old base, Camp Nou Stadium, on August 10. The official Barcelona website announced the club will play its traditional Joan Gamper pre-season opener on the ground, which has been undergoing extensive renovation works over the past two years, as reported by Xinhua.Barca have been forced to spend that time in the former Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium on the top of Montjuic, although the venue hasn’t been popular with supporters, who, despite large numbers of tourists among their number, have rarely been able to fill the ground, which has a capacity of just below 57,000.The club returns to its traditional home with building work still going on, with Barcelona confirming that; among the parts still needing to be finished, are the construction of the new third stand, the double VIP ring, the installation of the roof, and the preparation of some interior spaces and the remodeling of the area around the ground.”To celebrate this moment, FC Barcelona has launched an epic and emotional campaign under the slogan ‘Tornem a casa, vibrem’. The campaign includes a wide range of actions and activations across the city and digital platforms, aimed at reinforcing the connection between the Club, its fans, and the city of Barcelona, as well as with culers around the world. Some campaign elements have already been released, with more initiatives to follow and details to be shared through the Club’s official channels,” read the statement by the club.The ongoing work means the capacity on August 10 will be around 60,000, which is well below the final capacity of 99,354, but considerably more than the 25,000 initially expected for the Joan Gamper game.”With this return, FC Barcelona takes a symbolic and emotional step into the future, reclaiming its home in a new era that will culminate with the complete inauguration of the new stadium. It’s a chance to feel again, to vibrate together again, and to continue building the Barça of tomorrow,” the statement further added.–IANSaaa/bsk/

Mumbai, June 25 (IANS) Grandmaster Lalit Babu and Candidate Master Madhesh Kumar made it an Indian sweep as they emerged champions in contrasting fashion in the Rs 40 lakh prize money Mumbai International Grandmaster and Junior Chess Tournament, which concluded at the World Trade Centre, here on Wednesday.
While Lalit Babu won his ninth and final round encounter against top-seeded Georgian GM Lavin Pantsulaia to tally 8 points, he had to spend anxious moments as Armenian GM Mamikon Gharibyan also tallied 8 points, winning his final match against Indian GM Neeloptal Das.However, Lalit Babu’s higher tie-break score of 54.5, as compared to Gharibyan’s 54, ensured that he laid his hands on the glittering trophy and took home the winner’s purse of Rs 4 lakhs. Gharibyan’s second-place finish was worth Rs 3 lakhs. Another Indian, Deepan Chakravarthy, finished in fifth place, winning Rs 1.25 lakh.In comparison, teen prodigy Madhesh, who impressed with calm and focused play, won the title outright, with eight points, scoring a last-round win over Vyom Malhotra.Madhesh earned Rs 2 lakh for his fine performance, while Advik Agrawal finished runner–up and earned Rs 1.5 lakhs. Top seed Aansh Nerurkar had to settle for third place and Rs 1 lakh. The fourth and fifth places were secured by CM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma (Rs 75,000) and Jagreet Mishra (Rs 50,000), respectively.Sannidhi Bhat was adjudged the Best Female Player and won Rs 45,000 plus a trophy, while Rachit Gurnani and Mysha Perwez emerged the best among the Mumbai Boys and Girls, respectively, winning Rs 30,000 each and a trophy.The Results:Grandmasters section:Levan Pantsulaia 6.5 lost to Lalit Babu 8; Mamikon Gharibyan 8 bt Neelotpal Das 7; Van Huy Nguyen 7 drew with Manuel Petrosyan 7Juniors section:Madhesh Kumar 8 bt Vyom Malhotra 6.5; Advik Agrawal 7.5 bt Aansh Nerurkar 7–IANSbsk/

Berlin, June 25 (IANS) The Indian junior men’s hockey team defeated Australia 2-1 in the battle for third place at the ongoing 4 Nations Tournament here on Wednesday. Rohit (45’) provided the equaliser for India before Ajeet Yadav’s (52’) fourth-quarter goal sealed the win. Earlier, captain Toby Mallon had given Australia the lead in the second half.Both teams were locked in a tense battle through the first half, with neither side managing to find the back of the net in the opening two quarters. Strong defensive structures and disciplined play from both ends ensured that goal-scoring opportunities were not converted, keeping the scores level heading into the third quarter.Australia eventually struck in the third quarter when Toby Mallon scored a field goal to put them ahead 1-0 in the 40th minute. India responded swiftly, finding the equaliser just five minutes later. It was Rohit who scored following a penalty corner to restore parity.With the momentum on their side, India rallied to find the winner in the final quarter. In the 52nd minute, Ajeet Yadav found the back of the net in open play to give India the lead and secure the victory.Earlier, on Tuesday, the Indian junior men’s hockey team suffered a 1-5 defeat at the hands of Spain in their third and final pool stage match. Spain started the encounter on the front foot, striking twice in quick succession in the opening minutes. Pere Amat opened the scoring in the 2nd minute by converting a penalty corner while Santi Martin followed it up with a field goal in the 3rd minute, giving Spain an early 2-0 lead.Both teams engaged in end-to-end hockey in the second quarter, with India pushing for a breakthrough and Spain looking to extend their lead. However, neither side was able to convert their chances, and the scoreline remained 2-0 in favour of Spain at halftime.The win marks the end of India’s campaign in the 4 Nations Tournament. In the pool stage, India began with a 1-7 loss to hosts Germany, bounced back with an assertive 3-1 victory against Australia, and then endured a 1-5 defeat against Spain.–IANShs/bsk/

New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) The Poornima University and the Rajasthan University will jointly host the Khelo India University Games 2025 in Jaipur in November, it was announced on Wednesday. This will be the fifth iteration of the Khelo India University Games that began in February 2020.The multi-sport Games, where more than 4,000 athletes are expected from more than 200 Universities. Like previous editions, there will be at least 20 disciplines on the KIUG 2025 programme. Chandigarh University won the team championships at KIUG 2024, co-hosted by Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura.“I am extremely happy to announce that the Khelo India Youth Games will take place in Rajasthan in November 2025. These Games are for under-25 athletes and will be coming after the under-18 Khelo India Youth Games that took place in Bihar in May this year. These Games offer a great opportunity for athletes who seek a national platform to impress our numerous scouts eyeing the best talents in the country,” said Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.Eight Khelo India University Games records were created in athletics in KIUG 2024. Five of them were created by men. “Worldwide, university students dominate multi-sport events. In Rajasthan, we hope to see some quality performances as we expect the athletes will be at their peak,” added Mandaviya.A total of 770 medals – 240 gold, 240 silver, and 290 bronze – were on offer at the 11-day KIUG 2024 held in Northeast India for the first time. Over 200 universities competed for the KIUG 2024 title, with around 4,500 athletes taking part in 20 sports.Swimmer Pratyasa Ray of Utkal University, with four gold, one silver, and one bronze, was the most successful female athlete. The honour of the most successful male athlete went to Jain University’s Xavier Michael Dsouza, who won four gold medals.Lovely Professional University came second at KIUG 2024 with 20 gold, 14 silver, and eight bronze for a total of 42 medals, while Amritsar’s Guru Nanak Dev University were third with 12 gold, 20 silver, and 19 bronze for a tally of 51.–IANSaaa/

New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) On this day, exactly 42 years ago, Kapil Dev led India to its maiden World Cup title after beating two-time champions West Indies, a victory that marked a defining moment in Indian cricket history and images of the team holding the trophy became inspirational for the entire nation.On the 42nd anniversary of India’s first-ever cricket World Cup triumph, India batting great Sachin Tendulkar recalled the moment when that remarkable feat sparked a dream that became his journey.”I was just 10 when India won the World Cup on this day in 1983. That moment sparked a dream, and that dream became my journey,” Tendulkar posted on X with a 1983 World Cup team photo.In the final at Lord’s, India were put in to bat and managed 183 runs in 54.4 overs. Kris Srikkanth top-scored with 38, while Mohinder Amarnath added 26. For the West Indies, Andy Roberts was the standout bowler with figures of 10-3-32-3.In response, the West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals. The turning point came when Kapil Dev took a spectacular running catch to dismiss the dangerous Viv Richards, shifting momentum in India’s favour.The West Indies were eventually bowled out for 140 in 52 overs, handing India a 43-run victory and their first World Cup triumph. Mohinder Amarnath delivered a match-winning all-round performance, returning with figures of 7-0-12-3, and was named Man of the Match.Tendulkar, who marked his international debut in 1989, made his maiden appearance in the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1992 against England. He then went on to represent India in every ODI World Cup till 2011, when he finally lifted the coveted trophy after 22 years of pursuit.India overcame Sri Lanka in the 2011 final to emerge as the first nation to win the ICC Cricket World Cup on its home soil.–IANSbc/bsk/