Chiang Mai, June 23 (IANS) India began their AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers with…

New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan heaped high praise on opener KL Rahul and said he is the link between recently-retired players and the youngsters in the team. Pathan’s remarks came shortly after the right-handed batter completed his half-century during India’s second innings on Monday. Rahul missed the opportunity to hit the half-century in the first essay and departed for 42.However, the opener looked in great touch and rhythm in the second innings and went on to hit his 18th Test fifty off 87 balls on Day Four at Headingley. With the retirements of senior duo Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Rahul is one of the most senior batters in the current Indian touring party with over 50 Test caps to his name.Highlighting Rahul’s experience and maturity, Pathan feels that the 33-year-old is a key member of the Indian Test team and will excel in his new role.”K.L. Rahul is the link between seniors who have retired and youngsters who are in the team. He is the main man now in Test cricket who will excel in this responsibility. Brilliant batting so far. Need to make it big,” Pathan wrote on X.Coming to the match, captain Shubman Gill struck a career-best score of 147 while Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) and Rishabh Pant (134) also struck centuries to take India’s first-innings total to 471.In reply, Jasprit Bumrah bagged a five-wicket haul to reduce England to 465 in their first innings.On Day 4, India lost Gill (8) early in the first session as Brydon Carse delivered the first breakthrough of the day for England. The Indian captain just added two runs to his overnight score. Currently, Rahul and Rishabh Pant have the task of taking India’s lead further to pose a threat to the hosts.Rahul has helped India to a good position with 153/3, with Rahul batting on 72.–IANSab/bsk/

New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) Hockey India and its member units celebrated the 77th Olympic Day by hosting various sporting events and activities across the country. The events included friendly tournaments, exhibition matches, fitness and training sessions, poster-making and quiz competitions, as well as plantation drives to promote the Olympic values of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
Through these activities, Hockey India aims to bring together people from diverse backgrounds and provide a platform to highlight the significance of fitness and sports – encouraging individuals to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives, regardless of age, gender, background, or community.Several member units, including Assam Hockey, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey, Hockey Arunachal, Hockey Mizoram, Chhattisgarh Hockey, and Hockey Jharkhand organised exhibition matches, while Goans Hockey and the Hockey Association of Odisha held hockey tournaments.Assam Hockey, the Hockey Association of Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Hockey also hosted poster-making and essay-writing competitions, while Hockey Mizoram organised a tree plantation drive. Odisha’s Naval Tata Hockey Academy hosted a special lunch with Olympians and conducted quiz competitions as part of the Olympic Day celebrations.Olympic Day is celebrated annually on June 23, commemorating the birth of the modern Olympic Games, which began on June 23, 1894 in Paris. The primary objective of Olympic Day is to encourage global participation in sports, regardless of age, gender, or athletic ability. Since 2023, Olympic Day celebrations have aligned with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Let’s Move initiative, which aims to promote physical activity and encourage people to move more every day.Speaking about the significance of Olympic Day and the positive message it spreads, Hockey India President Dr Dilip Tirkey said, “Every year on 23 June, our member units come together to show their remarkable dedication to the global Olympic movement and their love for hockey. Through these wide-ranging activities, they not only promote fitness and unity but also reflect the true spirit of Olympic Day, which champions inclusivity across all ages, genders, and abilities.”–IANSab/

Kuala Lumpur, June 23 (IANS) The road to the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 will be revealed on June 26, when the official Qualifiers draw ceremony takes place at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.A total of 31 teams have confirmed their participation in the 11th Qualifiers, which will take place between September 20 to 24. The draw will divide them into eight groups – seven groups of four and one group of three – with each to be played in a centralised league format.India, ranked 135, will be in Pot 4 alongside Hong Kong, China (118), Brunei Darussalam (119), Palestine (121), Cambodia (125), Bangladesh (unranked) and Pakistan (unranked).Staging the Continental showpiece for a second time following their first in 2002, Indonesia have qualified automatically and will be joined by 15 sides – the eight group winners and the seven best-ranked runners-up from the Qualifiers – at the 18th edition of the Finals, which is scheduled to commence next January.Bangladesh and Pakistan are set to make their Qualifiers debuts while the quartet of Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Thailand, and Uzbekistan will aim to maintain their record of appearing at every edition to date.For the first time, the seeding for the draw will be based on the latest FIFA Futsal Men’s World Ranking. The cast will be split into four pots, along with an additional Hosts Pot. The pot allocations, based on the FIFA rankings as of April 4 indicated in brackets, are as follows: Pot 1: Islamic Republic of Iran (5), Thailand (11), Japan (13), Uzbekistan (23), Vietnam (31), Afghanistan (33), Kuwait (40), Iraq (41)Pot 2: Tajikistan (44), Kyrgyz Republic (48), Saudi Arabia (50), Australia (52), Lebanon (53), Myanmar (56), Korea Republic (70), Malaysia (76)Pot 3: China PR (79), Chinese Taipei (82), Bahrain (83), United Arab Emirates (97), Maldives (106), Timor-Leste (109), Mongolia (112), Macau (115)Pot 4: Hong Kong, China (118), Brunei Darussalam (119), Palestine (121), Cambodia (125), India (135), Bangladesh (unranked), Pakistan (unranked)Hosts Pot: Thailand (11; Seeding: 1), Kuwait (40; 1), Tajikistan (44; 2), Kyrgyz Republic (48; 2), Saudi Arabia (50; 2), Myanmar (56; 2), Malaysia (76; 2), China PR (79; 3)–IANSaaa/ab

Karnal, June 23 (IANS) On the occasion of International Olympic Day, a special event was organised in Karnal where Meenu Beniwal, President of the Haryana Olympic Association, was present. Speaking at the event, Beniwal expressed confidence that India would win their highest-ever medal tally at the 2036 Olympics.He added that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who confirmed India wants to host the 2036 edition of the Games, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini have endorsed this vision. “We aim for 36 medals in the 2036 Olympics—and we will work hard to win even more than that,” Meniwal told IANS.He further mentioned that a new Olympic association has been recently formed, and its early progress looks promising.“After many years, the Olympic Day is being celebrated. This is a new start for the whole of Haryana, and I hope it creates a nice environment. This is the beginning of our attempts to create and nurture more athletes. We are creating more excellent centres at different locations in all sports. We will announce the details soon. “International Olympic Day is celebrated on Monday, and there was palpable enthusiasm among athletes. India’s performance in the Olympics has significantly improved over time, and Haryana has played a vital role in this growth. Athletes from Haryana have consistently delivered strong performances.“After many years, Olympic Day is being celebrated properly, and it’s sending out a very positive message. Continuous efforts are being made to increase Haryana’s medal tally. We’re building more training centres for various sports and working on improving facilities for athletes. Today, programmes are being held in Hisar, Jind, and other regions as well,” he added.When asked about political interference in sports, Beniwal said, “Many athletes don’t want to go through trials and prefer direct selection, but that will no longer be allowed. Transparency will be ensured in the selection process. We will keep politics out of sports. Haryana has the highest availability of raw sports talent in India—around 55% of children ready to compete are from our villages. We’re working to provide them all with the necessary support and facilities.”In Karnal, the Olympic Day was celebrated with participation from rowing athletes across Haryana. Karnal remains the only hub in the state where athletes gather for focused rowing practice. These athletes showcased their strength and preparedness for national and international competitions. Rowing features both team and solo events, and several athletes have shown the potential to win medals on their own.“This was a fantastic event, probably the largest programme ever held for International Olympic Day. It will give a great boost and support to both junior and senior athletes. Our sport will receive much-needed encouragement. Water sports, especially rowing, offer massive medal opportunities—up to 15 Olympic medals are available in rowing. The training atmosphere in Karnal is excellent, though athletes still need to travel far to get quality practice,” Ravindra, a rowing athlete, told IANS.–IANSaaa/bsk/

Mahe (Seychelles), June 23 (IANS) Showcasing the growing depth and quality of India’s boxing pipeline, all seven Indian boxers who participated in the Seychelles National Day Boxing Tournament, held at the Paradise Arena in Mahe, returned with medals. Comprising medal-winners from recent Elite Nationals and National Combined Championships, the Indian contingent secured three gold, three silver, and one bronze, topping the charts with one more gold than Mauritius.In the gold medal bouts, Himanshu Sharma (50kg) was awarded a walkover while Ashish Mudshaniya (55kg) claimed a well-earned 4:1 split decision. Gaurav Chauhan (90+kg) edged past his opponent in a tense final, sealing gold with a hard-earned 3:2 verdict.The silver medallists – Anmol (60kg), Aditya Yadav (65kg), and Neeraj (75kg) – all fought their finals valiantly before going down by identical 2:3 split decisions, underlining the competitive quality of their performances. Kartik Dalal (70kg) added to India’s tally with a bronze.This campaign is part of a broader shift in India’s boxing ecosystem, where international exposure is being extended beyond the top tier. Under the leadership of the BFI President–Chairman, Interim Committee, Ajay Singh, such invitational opportunities are being facilitated to ensure that even second and third-line boxers gain valuable global experience.This success follows India’s recent medal-winning performances at the Thailand Open and the World Boxing Cup in Brazil, highlighting the expanding talent pool across weight categories.Ealier this month, Indian pugilists bagged two gold medals as part of an impressive eight-medal haul at the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament. Competing against tough international opponents, and despite limited exposure or experience, the Indian boxers delivered a standout week of performances.Deepak clinched the men’s 75kg gold with a 5:0 win over Abdurakhimov Javokhir of Uzbekistan while Naman Tanwar got the better of China’s Han Xuezhen 4:1 in the 90kg final.In April, Indian boxers won six medals, including one gold, in the World Boxing Cup in Brazil.–IANSbc/ab

Leeds, June 23 (IANS) India’s fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah said his magnificent 5-83 against England in the ongoing first Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at Headingley was down to him focusing on what worked well for him after assessing conditions.
Bumrah was India’s standout bowler on day three’s play as his figures of 5-83 in 24.4 overs- his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests – ensured India got a narrow six-run lead after bowling out England for 465 in their first innings. Bumrah, who picked his third five-wicket haul in England, has also equalled the legendary Kapil Dev for the most fifers for India in away Tests (12).”I felt good in the first innings. Sometimes the downward slope helps and the wind was also decent, so that gives you a push. Sometimes when you see the dukes ball you can try to bowl banana swing and magic balls, but I was trying to focus on what worked for me,” said Bumrah on Sky Sports’ broadcast ahead of day four’s play on Monday.Asked to dissect his dismissal of Zak Crawley in the presence of former India head coach Ravi Shastri, Bumrah explained, “Pretty much, you want to hit the seam and you want to get some swing early on if you’re bowling with the new ball. So that is what I was looking to do. It was cloudy weather at that time.“Usually over here, the Duke ball sometimes never swings with the new ball. Slightly, when it gets a little older, it starts to do consistently. But the ball was swinging from the word go. So I was trying to bowl a nice length and tried to bring him forward, and it was a good execution on that day.”Further quizzed about the fingers he uses for making the ball swing and seam, Bumrah stated, “I’m slightly different – so I don’t use my index finger. I use the big figure all the time. So I try to flick the ball. When I want to bowl an outswing, I flick it this way. When I want to bowl the inswing, I flick it inside because I can’t usually change my arm path too much because of the way my bowling style is.”So I usually use my second finger for whichever swing I want to do because that’s how I’ve always bowled. I’ve learned this over the years as well that I can’t really change my arm path. Yes, I do change from where I want to bowl from the crease, but I try to flick it when I want to bowl it either way.”Bumrah signed off by saying he was pleased with the rhythm he had while picking the five-wicket haul at Headingley. “The rhythm felt really good even in Beckenham, where we were practicing. Since I’ve come here after the IPL, the rhythm felt very good. So I was just trying to be in that zone and trying to take it to the game that I am not trying too much or not to get too aggressive.”–IANSnr/bc

Leeds, June 23 (IANS) Ahead of a highly anticipated day four’s play in the first Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test set to begin at Headingley, former fast-bowler Stuart Broad believes that India has some degree of control over the proceedings as compared to England.
On Sunday, Jasprit Bumrah’s magnificent 5-83 gave India a slender six-run lead, despite Ollie Pope’s fine 106 and Harry Brook’s swashbuckling 99 taking England to 465. KL Rahul then mixed cautiousness with elegant cover drives to be not out on 47 and swell India’s lead to 96.”I don’t think, with two days left, that India can get into a position to completely bat England out of the game and give themselves enough time to take 10 wickets. England will go for the win even if that risks a loss – but India are in a bit of control at the moment as the surface is more cracked and worn than I expected from a day four-pitch.”India are in a strong position. If I was in India’s camp now, I would be saying ‘get me another 250’ so 350 runs on the board. Headingley gets better to bat historically, but we don’t see this heat and sunshine so often, and it has spun, so I don’t think it will be as easy as it has been in previous years,” said Broad on Sky Sports’ broadcast.Nasser Hussain, former England captain, said India would still feel slightly disappointed by the late batting collapse preventing them from having a bigger first innings total. “I think India will be a little disappointed. They had the collapse of 7-41 in their innings and the England score should then have been a lot less. That last little session last night was vital for them in that they didn’t let England back into the game even more.”With the match still on a knife’s edge, former Australia women’s cricketer Mel Jones believes everyone at the venue will be treated to two more thrilling days of Test match action.”Over the last three days, we have seen individual performances and how players go about things. The next two days I think we are going to learn about how collectively the teams want to go about this series. How do India want to push this game forward? Are England willing to risk losing in order to win? It will be a thrilling next few days,” she said.–IANSnr/bc

Mumbai, June 23 (IANS) The Rugby Premier League (RPL) has given Indian players their first taste of elite competition as they play the sport with and against stars at the pinnacle of the sport. It has also given international Olympians a close look at India’s future in rugby and they believe the nation will be a force to reckon with in the coming years.
Rugby sevens, the faster, sharper version of traditional Rugby 15s, has exploded in popularity globally, especially since its inclusion in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. With shorter matches, high-intensity action and the fast nature of the game, it’s a format that appeals to newer audiences and newer nations. While countries like Fiji, Kenya, and Australia have long embraced the sport, India is only just stepping into the arena with promising signs and a bright future ahead of it. Kevin Wekesa of Kenya, playing for Hyderabad Heroes, shared his insights on the impact of RPL in Indian Rugby. “I think leagues like the RPL are the future of sevens. I see rugby growing in India. From what I’ve witnessed, the Indian boys are really good and very soon we’ll see them play, probably in the Olympics, which is the greatest platform in sports.””Just from the stands, seeing the young boys and girls coming to watch rugby, getting free jerseys and balls, I know this is an inspiration to them and when they grow up they will definitely want to be on the field. India is on the right track and in 3-7 years, I think India will be a force to reckon with in the World Series,” he added.Uganda’s Philip Wokorach of Bengaluru Bravehearts also touched upon how it felt good to see children in the stands cheer for all the players. “What I love most about what RPL have done here is bringing school kids to watch the games. I think that is where the foundation starts, when the children watch the sport and take interest in it since they are our future.”Lucas Lacamp, the United States international, who has played rugby around the globe since a very young age and now features for Kalinga Black Tigers, spoke about the incredible growth he has seen in Indian players during his time here. “The local Indian players have definitely grown a lot. If they’ve improved so much in the span of a week, the growth is inevitable. Imagine how good they can be with each season. I think if they get the right infrastructure in place, the right money is put in the right places, there is no stopping India in the future.”Upon the areas Indian players need to improve upon, Henry Hutchison from Australia, playing for the Mumbai Dreamers, stated, “Rugby is the biggest game of consequence and one mistake can cost you a lot of points. And it’s just understanding that, which is where they’re lacking.””The physical side of sevens is difficult, but you train for that. However, the mental side is harder because you can’t train for that except for experiencing it. If Indians keep playing the sport at the highest level like this league, they will learn that naturally in no time,” he explained.–IANSbc/ab

Mumbai, June 23 (IANS) India opener Prithvi Shaw has sought a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) with a wish to leave Mumbai and play for another team in the upcoming 2025/26 domestic cricket season.”Yes it’s true that Prithvi Shaw has applied for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) & our Apex Council will take decision by today evening,” said Abhay Hadap, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) Secretary, to IANS on Monday afternoon.Shaw, who captained India to 2018 U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup win in New Zealand, was dropped from the Mumbai side during the first leg of last year’s Ranji Trophy in October because of form and fitness-related issues.He was then brought back into the team during their victorious 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) campaign, where he amassed 197 runs in nine games at a strike rate of 156.34. But after that, Shaw, 25, wasn’t included in Mumbai’s squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT).”At this juncture in my career, I have been presented with a promising opportunity to play professional cricket under another State Association, which I believe will further contribute to my growth and development as a cricketer. In light of this, I kindly request you to issue me a No Objection Certificate (NOC) that will enable me to officially represent the new State Association in the upcoming domestic season.”Please be assured that this decision has been made after careful consideration, and with utmost respect for the MCA. I remain ever grateful to the association for the guidance and platform provided over the years,” wrote Shaw in his NOC application to MCA.Shaw, who hit a century on his Test debut against the West Indies at Rajkot in 2018, was also dropped by his IPL side Delhi Capitals in the 2024 season before being released by them. He then went unsold in the mega auction for the 2025 edition and wasn’t even given a look-in by any of the ten contesting teams as a replacement player during the tournament.So far, Shaw has played five Tests, six ODIs, and one T20I for India, while he recently turned out for North Mumbai Panthers in the recently revived Mumbai T20 League. It’s yet to be confirmed which team Shaw will turn out for in the upcoming domestic season if his NOC request is accepted by the MCA.There was a speculation that Shaw could be headed to Maharashtra, but Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Honorary Secretary Advocate Kamlesh Pisal, denied it. “This is all speculation in regards to that player from Mumbai (Shaw), because there is no official information which I can endorse. But when things are in place, we will issue a statement in the coming days,” he said to IANS.–IANSnr/