Guwahati, May 14 (IANS) Four first half goals ensured Punjab FC (PFC) ease past Jamshedpur FC 4-1 to clinch the AIFF U-17 Elite Youth League 2024-25 title in the final played here at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium. Goals from Karish Soram, Ashish Lohar, Vikash Kisku and Usham Thoungamba Singh within a space of 11 minutes ensured they secured the title.Punjab FC won two out of their three final round playoff matches to qualify for the knockouts of the league. They were dominant in their 5-0 and 6-0 victories over Sudeva Delhi and FC Goa to book their place in the quarterfinals. The only loss was a 4-5, nine goal thriller against AIFF FIFA Talent Academy.In the quarterfinals, they comprehensively beat Bengal Football Academy 6-2 and in the semi-finals, the youngsters edged past FC Madras 3-2 to qualify for the finals.The Ramesh Gangaram Bista coached side qualified for the final round of the tournament after finishing on top of the Zonal Round qualifiers, with seven wins, two draws and just one loss. They played Delhi FC, Sudeva Delhi FC, Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools, Minerva Academy FC and Sri Dashmesh Martial Sports Academy in the zonal qualifiers.Jamshedpur U17 on the other hand carved their path to the finals, having registered a 4-0 win over Mumbai City and a 2-2 draw against Football 4 Change Academy in the play-offs. In the Final Round, A 2-2 draw against Classic FC, a 1-0 win against Corbett FC and a 0-1 loss vs Muthoot Football Academy was enough to seal their spot in the quarter-final against NorthEast United, whom they managed to squeeze past with a 2-1 victory. A 5-0 thrashing of AIFF FIFA Talent Academy in the semi-finals had set the ultimate clash on Wednesday.–IANSaaa/
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New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) India’s star athlete Neeraj Chopra has been conferred with the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Defence in the Gazette of India, a weekly authorised journal of the Government of India, on Wednesday.Chopra became India’s most successful individual Olympian after he claimed a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the javelin throw, marking his second medal at the Games after his historic gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.Chopra became the first Indian track and field athlete to win a gold medal in Tokyo. He ended his 2024 season with a second-place finish in the prestigious Diamond League Final in Brussels.”No 3 (E) dated 9 May 2025 in exercise of the powers conferred by Para 31 of the Territorial Army Regulations, 1948, the president is pleased to confer Honorary Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Territorial Army on Ex-Sub Maj Neeraj Chopra, PVSM, Padma Shri, VSM, Village & Post Office Khandra, Panipat, Haryana with effect from 16 April, 2025,” the Gazette of India read.Neeraj was earlier enrolled as a Junior Commissioned Officer in the rank of Naib Subedar in the Indian Army on August 26, 2016, before being promoted to Subedar in 2021 after his heroics in Tokyo.Like the gold medallist, there are a few more individual medallists at the quadrennial Games who hold ranks in the Indian Army. Abhinav Bindra, who made history in the Beijing 2008 Olympics by becoming the first Indian to win an individual gold medal, was also conferred with the honour of being a Lt. Colonel, and shooter Vijay Kumar was made an honorary Captain after winning a silver medal in 2012.One of the most famous athletes to receive the honour has been Mahendra Singh Dhoni. After guiding India to major tournament victories, including the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup, he was awarded the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army in 2011.–IANSaaa/bsk/
Manchester, May 14 (IANS) Manchester United’s latest training session took place in front of cameras at the Carrington Training Ground…
New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) Ireland have announced their squads for the upcoming white-ball home series against West Indies, with…
New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) Around 6 pm Australia time on Wednesday, Jake Fraser-McGurk’s manager told Delhi Capitals (DC) that the young right-handed opener will not be coming back to India for the franchise’s remaining games in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, restarting on May 17.Subsequently, DC have now roped in Bangladesh’s left-arm fast-bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who on his day can bamboozle batters with his cutters and slower balls. IANS understands that a majority of overseas cricketers from Australia, especially in DC and Punjab Kings (PBKS) set-ups, had been gripped by fear and tension for their lives after the game was called off in Dharamshala last week.“Jake was shaken more than most overseas players in Dharamshala at that time. It’s not surprising (his decision to pull out of IPL 2025), given that he is the youngest of the overseas players in the DC setup. Moreover, he was quite uneasy the day before the game happened in Dharamshala, and then obviously after we were evacuated, we made the subsequent trip back to Delhi with others.”“In all, he wasn’t feeling things in a good way, and I am very thankful I was there to help guide him through all of that. I mean, it was hard enough for a 50-year-old, well-travelled man like me, let alone a young kid. I was there in a support role of a player who is more like a son to me than a cricketer,” Shannon Young, Fraser-McGurk’s childhood coach, who was in Dharamshala at that time, told IANS on Wednesday.This agency also understands that internally, a few of the overseas players from both teams, especially from Australia, had expressed concerns over playing in Dharamshala on May 8, as cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan intensified, but they were somehow convinced by the tournament authorities to take the field.But as drones and air strikes from Pakistan led to blackouts in Jammu, Udhampur, and Pathankot, all located less than 250 km away from Dharamshala, the match was called off after just 10.1 overs of play, and that led to players going back to their hotels under tight security.Arrangements were made to evacuate everyone related to IPL to New Delhi via buses, taking them to Jalandhar, where a special ‘Vande Bharat’ train brought them to India’s national capital on Friday night. Melbourne-based Young, who also coaches Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards, offered further explanation on why there’s still great fear and reluctance amongst overseas players and coaches to be back in India so soon for the remainder of IPL 2025.“The entire Delhi Capitals management and staff showed incredible care and concern for our safety immediately following the developments in Dharamshala. They were truly amazing during those uncertain and concerning times.”“But I must tell you that open warfare around 80 km away from where we were in Dharamshala is just such a foreign concept to overseas people, including the Australians. I know for some Indians 60-80 kms is a long way away, but in Australia, we travel 60 kms in 45 minutes, so it’s way too close for comfort.”IANS also understands that Anton Roux, DC’s fielding coach, was also unsure about coming back to India if the league were to begin again. But as per his Instagram account on Wednesday, Roux posted that he was on his way back to India to rejoin DC, who are amongst the seven teams in the race for IPL 2025 playoffs.IPL sources have also told IANS that left-arm fast-bowler Mitchell Starc is also uncertain to come back for DC’s remaining games, while the status of Faf du Plessis and Tristan Stubbs rejoining the franchise is also 50-50 in nature. In terms of PBKS, who have been given a new home base in Jaipur, there’s no word yet on who amongst their overseas players will be back for IPL 2025.–IANSnr/bsk/
Begusarai, May 14 (IANS) Football ke rang, Begusarai ke sangh. It’s more than just a tagline pasted on the pillars of an under-construction flyover leading into this town. It’s a quiet revolution that began with broken legs and bruised pride in a forgotten corner of Bihar.
Tucked away from the din of Patna’s bustle, in a humble locality of Barauni in Begusarai district, football did not just arrive, it fought its way in. This ground, a patch of land that carries the legacy of a freedom fighter Yamuna Bhagat, became football’s unlikely home nearly 80 years ago.But the spark that truly lit its modern-day fire came in 1990, when a hastily assembled team of local girls, untrained and unsure, were battered by a seasoned Muzaffarpur team in an exhibition match, meant to mark the ground’s 50th anniversary.Some hobbled away, some were stretchered and all had wounds that cut deeper than skin. But instead of shame, it birthed a movement. “We were humiliated. But we turned that pain into purpose,” recalls Chandra Shekhar, a retired schoolteacher and former footballer, whose words carry the weight of generations.“The story of the ground dates back to pre-Independence era, when freedom fighter Yamuna Bhagat started with a library to educate youngsters from the oppressed communities upon his released from jail. The real transformation took place in 1990 when we planned to celebrate 50 years of the ground,” narrated Chandra while reflecting on the struggles and sacrifices, the village made to turn it into a nursery for young female footballers.“We had invited two teams for an exhibition match, and only one of the two reached here. As organisers, we were left red-faced, and all of a sudden we decided to form a team with young girls who had never played the sport,” he recalled.“Unfortunately, some of our girls fractured their legs, and most of them ended up with some wound during the loss. That loss somewhere hurt us from within. The whole village united and decided to form a team, we hired a few coaches, with whatever funds we could gather to pay them,” Chandra Shekhar said.A year later, armed with courage and fuelled by community spirit, Begusarai’s girls returned to the field, not to survive, but to compete. They beat Ara 1-0, a side that had former India striker Poonam in its ranks, in what would be remembered not for the result, but for the resolve.That one goal was a clarion call: We belong here.Over the next three decades, Barauni turned into a cradle of footballing dreams, led by unsung heroes like Chandra Shekhar, and former Mohun Bagan goalkeeper-turned-mentor Sanjeev Kumar Singh, who chose turf over a steady Army career, love for the game over comfort.Together, they nurtured talent, mentored generations and preserved a ground that once broke them and later, built them. Sanjeev candidly admitted that his dedication for football has come at the cost of ignoring the interests and needs of his family but pointed out that someone had to shoulder the responsibility.“For my family, I’m useless, but I can’t help it. I try to support them but football remains my first love. Everyone is busy with their jobs, so someone had to take responsibility. It’s a sacrifice born of love, not obligation. A choice that helped this venue host Santosh Trophy matches in 2018, and now, India’s flagship youth sporting event,” said an emotional Sanjeev.Today, Begusarai has emerged 12-time state champion, supplies 70 percent of Bihar’s squad, and a football culture rooted deep in community pride, Barauni finally finds itself on the national map, hosting the Khelo India Youth Games 2025.It’s the applause for three decades of quiet toil, village-wide sacrifice, and football played with heart, not boots. The scouts from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) are in town, identifying prospects and predictably, many have roots in this very village.For many, KIYG is a platform. For Barauni, it’s validation, a celebration of a village that turned heartbreak into heritage.–IANSaaa/
New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) As the Indian men’s cricket team braces for a period of hard transition following the…
New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) Australia has maintained its top position in the ICC Women’s ODI team rankings, whose annual…
New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) Delhi Capitals have signed Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman as a replacement for Australian sensation Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.The 29-year-old Mustafizur, a seasoned campaigner with 106 T20 Internationals to his name, marks a familiar return to the Delhi franchise.Rahman, who made his IPL debut in 2016, previously represented the Delhi Capitals during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In 2022, he picked up eight wickets in eight matches with an economy of 7.62 and in the following season, he played two matches for Delhi Capitals.While the loss of Jake Fraser-McGurk — one of the most explosive openers of last season — is a significant blow, Mustafizur’s inclusion is a strategic pivot that strengthens Delhi’s bowling depth. Fraser-McGurk, who lit up IPL 2024 with a flurry of blazing half-centuries and a record-setting 15-ball fifty earlier in the season, had quickly become a fan favourite. However, his early departure due to personal reasons has opened the door for Delhi to reinforce their attack instead.“Delhi Capitals (DC) have signed Mustafizur Rahman as Jake Fraser-McGurk has opted to leave from the remainder of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 due to personal reasons,” the IPL statement reads.Mustafizur’s best season for Delhi came in 2022, when he claimed eight wickets in as many matches at an economy rate of 7.62. Though limited to just two games in 2023, his experience in bowling across phases — including the powerplay and death overs — remains invaluable.Across his IPL career, the Bangladesh pacer has featured in 57 matches, picking up as many 61 wickets at an economy of 8.14. He has previously represented franchises like Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals, and now rejoins Delhi at a time when their campaign teeters on the edge of a playoff push.Internationally, Mustafizur is among Bangladesh’s most successful T20 bowlers, with 132 wickets. His global T20 tally stands at 351 wickets from 281 matches.–IANShs/
London, May 14 (IANS) The English Football Association (FA) have appointed Dan Ashworth as their chief football officer, becoming the first person to assume the role, and is being brought in to lead the high-performance strategy and new-look St. George’s Park.
Ashworth was previously the FA’s director of elite development and then technical director for a six-year tenure between 2013 and 2019. More recently he spent five months as Manchester United sporting director before his abrupt departure in September.After holding key positions at three Premier League clubs, he returns to a newly created role with the FA, with strategic oversight across England men’s and women’s teams.He will also oversee the regeneration of St. George’s Park, which will undergo a significant upgrade to its world-class performance facilities and pitches as England prepares to co-host UEFA Euro 2028.Reporting into FA CEO Mark Bullingham, Ashworth will work closely with men’s technical director John McDermott and Kay Cossington’s successor in the women’s technical directorate.He will focus primarily on optimising the potential of the national football centre and building the long-term systems that underpin the FA’s performance ambitions, from winning England teams to developing more homegrown coaches.”Dan is a hugely influential and respected figure in the game, who has a long-standing commitment to England Football. We are very happy to welcome him back in this new role,” said Bullingham.Ashworth’s removal as sporting director had come as a huge shock after Manchester United had put in a lot of effort to snatch him from the hands of Newcastle United.Ashworth was involved in an extravagant spending spree at Old Trafford during the summer that cost approximately 200 million Pounds (280 million USD) and brought in Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Joshua Zirkzee.–IANSaaa/bc