Category: Sports

Kush Maini has etched his name in motorsport history, becoming the first and only Indian to win an FIA Constructors’ World Championship in the world of Junior Formula racing. Driving for the Invicta Racing Team, Kush played a pivotal role in securing the coveted F2 Constructors’ Championship, a landmark achievement for Indian motorsport.

This triumph caps off an exceptional season for Maini, who had earlier made headlines as the first Indian to secure an F2 pole position. Overcoming the ups and downs of the championship, he contributed significantly to Invicta’s victory over Campos Racing, his former team, by a margin of 34.5 points.

Throughout the season, Maini delivered standout performances, including five podium finishes and a memorable race win in Hungary. Reflecting on the season, Maini expressed his gratitude and optimism for the future. “Not the year I wanted it to be given how we started, but still a lot of positives to take away, including a Constructors’ Championship,” he said. “Thank you to everyone at Invicta for a good run and wish them all the luck for the future. Looking forward to what’s next for me and raring to go for next year.”

Mumtaz Khan stole the show with a stunning four-goal performance, while Kanika Siwach and Deepika each netted hat-tricks to lead defending champions India to a dominant 13-1 victory over Bangladesh in their opening match of the Women’s Junior Asia Cup on Sunday.

Relentless Attack from the Start

India’s dominance was clear from the very beginning. Deepika opened the scoring with a penalty corner conversion in the 7th minute, giving India an early lead. Manisha and Kanika followed up with goals, pushing India to a 3-1 lead by the end of the first quarter. Bangladesh’s only response came from Orpita Pal, who scored in the 12th minute.

Unstoppable in the Middle Quarters

India kept up the pressure in the second and third quarters. Goals from Deepika, Mumtaz, Beauty Dung Dung, and Sakshi Rana extended the lead, leaving Bangladesh with little room to recover. India’s dominance was underscored by their 12 penalty corners compared to Bangladesh’s single attempt.

Final Quarter Fireworks

The final quarter saw a goal rush from India. Kanika completed her hat-trick with two quick goals, while Mumtaz and Deepika added to their personal tallies.

In a jaw-dropping display of talent and determination, Aarit Kapil, a 9-year-old chess prodigy from Delhi, has become the youngest Indian ever to defeat a Grandmaster. He achieved this incredible milestone by beating 66-year-old Raset Ziatdinov from the United States during the ninth round of the KIIT International Open Tournament.

At just 9 years, 2 months, and 18 days, Aarit now ranks as the third-youngest player in the world to conquer a Grandmaster under classical time control. The only players younger than him to achieve this feat are:

1. Ashwath Kaushik (8 years, 6 months) – An Indian-origin player representing Singapore.
2. Leonid Ivanovic (8 years, 11 months) – A young chess sensation from Serbia.

How Did Aarit Defeat a Grandmaster?

Taking on an experienced Grandmaster like Ziatdinov — known for his sharp strategy – would intimidate most players, but Aarit stayed focused and fearless. The game wasn’t easy. Ziatdinov had a stronger pawn structure, leaving Aarit in a slightly weaker position with his white pieces.

But Aarit didn’t back down. The 63-move match stretched into a nerve-wracking endgame. In a critical moment, Ziatdinov made a costly mistake, losing a knight.

The 2024 World Cadet Chess Championship ended with a thrilling finale, celebrating exceptional young talent from across the globe. Over €20,000 in prizes, including ChessBase 17 software and DGT Pegasus chess sets, were awarded at a grand closing ceremony.

The event also featured the first World Cadet Problem Solving Competition, with winners receiving trophies and chess books. Six new World Age Group Champions were crowned, marking a key moment in their chess journeys.

Tournament Director IO/GM Roberto Mogranzini thanked supporters, and FIDE Delegate Solakoglu, Ozgur officially closed the championship, marking the end of an inspiring event for chess enthusiasts worldwide.

India shone brightly as Divith Reddy claimed the Under-8 Open World Championship title, while Sattwik Swain secured second place in the same category, highlighting the nation’s growing chess prowess.

Lakshya Sen secured his first-ever Syed Modi International badminton title with a commanding win over Singapore’s Jia Teh, finishing 21-6, 21-7 in just 31 minutes.

Right from the start, Lakshya was in control. He stormed to an 8-0 lead, leaving Jia Teh struggling to catch up. With sharp attacks and consistent play, Lakshya made it tough for his opponent to find any rhythm.

By the break in the first game, Lakshya had a solid 11-4 lead and didn’t look back, wrapping it up 21-6 in just 12 minutes. The second game wasn’t much different. Lakshya took charge early, racing to an 11-1 lead. Though Jia Teh tried to put up some resistance, Lakshya stayed calm and finished the match 21-7 to claim the title.

After the match, Lakshya shared his thoughts on the win. “It felt great to step on the court today. My preparation was on point, and the crowd’s energy really pushed me forward,” he said.

He also made it clear that this is just the start, with big plans for next year’s tournaments.

Joe Root surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s fourth-innings tally of 1625 runs by scoring an unbeaten 23 off 15 balls during England’s victory over New Zealand in the first Test in Christchurch on Sunday.

England’s star batter Joe Root set a new milestone on Sunday, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most fourth-innings runs in Test cricket. Root’s unbeaten 23 during England’s chase against New Zealand in Christchurch took his fourth-innings total to 1630 runs, overtaking Tendulkar’s 1625.

Root achieved the feat in just 49 innings, compared to Tendulkar’s 60. Alastair Cook (1611 in 53 innings), Graeme Smith (1611 in 41 innings), and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (1580 in 49 innings) follow him on the list.

Playing his 150th Test, the 33-year-old now has 12,777 Test runs, ranking fifth on the all-time list led by Tendulkar with 15,921 runs. Though Root was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, joining Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh in an unwanted milestone, his adaptability in high-pressure situations continues to define his legacy.

Indian challenger D. Gukesh and defending champion Ding Liren of China settled for a draw in Game 6 on Sunday. This marks their third consecutive draw, keeping the score tied at 3-3.

The closely contested match continues as both players fight to gain an edge in the championship.

D. Gukesh doesn’t believe in numerology—he trusts making the right moves. On Sunday, he rejected a draw through a threefold repetition on move 26, sparking concerns about taking unnecessary risks. However, 20 moves later, he secured a draw, silencing critics.

Some may credit the thread on his wrist for his success, but Gukesh’s calm reaction showed he never lost control of the position. Even engines and experts couldn’t prove otherwise.

The 18-year-old Indian challenger is locked 3-3 in his 14-game World Chess Championship match against China’s Ding Liren, ranked world No. 23. Game six ended in a hard-fought draw after 46 moves and four hours of play.

World No. 5 Gukesh now has the white pieces for Tuesday’s seventh game, following a rest day on Monday.

England kicked off their three-match Test series in New Zealand with a commanding eight-wicket victory in Christchurch on Sunday, setting multiple records along the way.

Chasing 104, England achieved the fastest 100-plus run chase in Test history, reaching the target in just 12.4 overs at an incredible run rate of 8.21. This broke New Zealand’s 2017 record of chasing 109 in 18.4 overs against Pakistan at the same venue. England also surpassed the West Indies’ record of a 6.82 run rate during a similar chase against India in 1983.

Earlier, New Zealand, starting day four at 155/6, were bowled out for 254 after Daryl Mitchell’s gritty 84 and a 45-run last-wicket stand with Will O’Rourke. Brydon Carse starred with the ball, taking 6-42 to complete his maiden 10-wicket Test haul.

England’s chase began explosively but saw early setbacks as Zak Crawley fell for one, and Ben Duckett smashed 27 off 18 before his dismissal. Debutant Jacob Bethell, however, stole the show with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls, including eight boundaries and a six. Joe Root supported him with an unbeaten 23 off 15, sealing the win midway through the afternoon session.

With this victory, England lead the series 1-0, with the second Test starting Friday in Wellington.

Eleven cyclists from Venugram Cycling Club achieved an extraordinary record of a staggering 1500 km in just 10 days starting from November 15.  They embarked on an epic journey, pedaling from the streets of Belagavi, stretching all their way to the Rann of Kutch. Cyclist Ramesh Govekar achieved this milestone on a single-gear cycle. The names of other cyclist who achieved this record are as follows:  Jasminder Singh Khurana, Chanakya G, Abhinandan Hanji, Raj Chavan, Rohan Hargude, Dhiraj Bhate, Manoj Gaonkar, Raju Nayak, Mahesh Chougule, and Sachin Astekar.

All the participants proved that when passion meets endurance and resilience, nothing seems impossible.

The journey wasn’t just about physical endurance; it also raised awareness about fitness, eco-friendly transport, and setting goals.

By cycling long distances, the group showed the power of perseverance and the benefits of adopting cycling regularly.

They were welcomed with applause and admiration by locals and cycling enthusiasts upon reaching their destination.

Their achievement has inspired many in Belagavi and beyond to take up cycling and embrace a healthier, sustainable lifestyle.

In November 2022, FIFA announced the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Legacy Fund. Now, FIFA is taking it further by investing USD 50 million in social programs. This initiative is in collaboration with Qatar, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

The fund aims to create positive social and developmental impacts worldwide. FIFA is working with these global organizations to make a difference beyond football.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino explained the plan during an online meeting. The meeting also included WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, and SC Secretary General H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi.

On this, the FIFA President Gianni Infantino says – “The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Legacy Fund is a landmark project that builds on the unprecedented impact of the tournament from a sustainability point of view.”

Continuing further, he says “FIFA is taking the concept of a legacy fund to the next level in terms of reach and impact by tackling key priorities such as refugees, occupational health, education, and football development. I would like to thank the UN Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization for their commitment to, and cooperation on, this historic initiative.”