Category: Sports

In a breathtaking display of skill, 14-year-old Ira Jadhav hit an unbeaten 346 off 157 balls to lead Mumbai to a massive 563 for 3 over Meghalaya in the Women’s Under-19 One Day Trophy at Alur.

Jadhav’s blazing innings included 42 boundaries and 16 sixes, resulting in an incredible strike rate of 220.38. Her outstanding effort laid the groundwork for a devastating 544-run victory when Meghalaya slumped to 19 all out, with six players removed for ducks.

Jadhav’s innings included a 274-run partnership with skipper Hurley Gala, who contributed 116 off 79 balls, while Jadhav scored 149 off 71 balls in the stand. She followed up with a 186-run partnership with Diksha Pawar, hitting 137 off just 50 balls. The onslaught resulted in three Meghalaya bowlers allowing more than 100 runs each.

In 2010, Lizelle Lee of South Africa scored 427 not out in a women’s U-19 match, but Jadhav’s inning is currently the most by an Indian. She’s on India’s U-19 T20 World Cup standby list for Malaysia after failing to sell in the WPL 2025 auction.

In the year’s first Grand Slam, defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic are drawn opposite one another, preventing a rematch of their thrilling semifinal match from 2024. 

Sinner begins his title defence against Nicolas Jarry after startling Djokovic in the semifinals of the previous year and defeating Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling five-set final to win his first Grand Slam championship. While Fritz faces fellow countryman Jenson Brooksby in his opening match, his area of the draw features strong opponents including Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Medvedev.

Djokovic is up against a tough draw as he attempts to win his record-tying 11th Australian Open title. He might play Alexander Zverev in the semifinals after facing third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. Djokovic will make his tournament debut alongside his new coach, Andy Murray, at the event, which begins Sunday morning in Melbourne.

In the women’s draw, former U.S. Open winner Sloane Stephens will face two-time reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka, who is hoping to win Melbourne Park for a record-breaking third consecutive year. 

Vietnam claimed a thrilling 5-3 aggregate victory to lift the trophy for the third time, following their previous triumphs in 2008 and 2018. In the first leg, they secured a narrow 2-1 win, setting the stage for a tense second leg at Rajamangala Stadium against defending champions Thailand.

The match started with a bang as Pham Tuan Hai gave Vietnam an early lead in the eighth minute, igniting hopes of a decisive victory. However, Thailand responded in the 28th minute when Ben Davis equalized, keeping the contest alive. The second half saw Thailand’s Supachok Sarachat put his team ahead in the 64th minute, raising the stakes for Vietnam.

The game took a dramatic turn in the 74th minute when Weerathep Pomphan received a red card, leaving Thailand with ten men. Vietnam capitalized on this advantage when Pansa Hemviboon scored an own goal in the 82nd minute, putting Vietnam back in control. Nguyen Hai Long then delivered the final blow, scoring deep into injury time to secure Vietnam’s victory.

This hard-fought win not only earned Vietnam their third championship title but also showcased their resilience and ability to perform under pressure.

Poland advanced to the United Cup semi-finals for the third consecutive year after securing two singles victories over Britain on Thursday. The wins in Sydney gave Poland an unassailable 2-0 lead in the mixed team tournament.

Iga Swiatek delivered a gritty performance, defeating Katie Boulter 6-7(4) 6-1 6-4 in a near three-hour match at Ken Rosewall Arena. This victory ensured Poland a last-four clash against Kazakhstan ahead of the Australian Open starting on Jan. 12.

“I’m just exhausted,” Swiatek admitted after the marathon match. “I’m happy I won, so I don’t need to play mixed doubles. The match was crazy, with so many momentum shifts.”

Swiatek initially led 4-1 in the first set but lost it in 74 minutes after Boulter’s comeback. Determined to recover, she dominated the second set and overcame a right leg issue in the decider. “I got tight in the first set but didn’t repeat the mistake in the third. I took four painkillers,” Swiatek shared, joking about needing a nap or rest.

Earlier, Hubert Hurkacz put Poland ahead 1-0. He edged Billy Harris in a tight match, winning 7-6(3) 7-5, much to the fans’ delight.

Kazakhstan ended Germany’s title defense at the United Cup on Wednesday, advancing to the semifinals.

Elena Rybakina secured a 6-3, 6-1 win over Laura Siegemund, giving Kazakhstan an early lead. Germany faced a setback when world number two Alexander Zverev withdrew due to a bicep strain.

His replacement, Daniel Masur, started strong but ultimately lost to Alexander Shevchenko 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2. Shevchenko overcame heat challenges during the match, stating, “I was struggling in this heat, it was so rough.”

In another quarterfinal, the United States defeated China to reach the semifinals.Coco Gauffuai 7-6(4), 6-2, while Taylor Fritz beat Zhang Zhizhen 6-4, 6-4.

Gauff noted Zhang’s aggressive play, saying, “I felt like I couldn’t get her on defense.” Poland also advanced, with Iga Swiatek leading the team to a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic.

Swiatek won her singles match against Karolina Muchova and then partnered with Hubert Hurkacz to clinch the deciding mixed doubles.

Swiatek became the first player to secure 10 singles victories at the United Cup. Additionally, Britain secured a quarterfinal spot after Katie Boulter’s 6-2, 6-1 win over Australia.

Alexander Zverev secured a solid 6-4, 6-4 win against Thiago Monteiro on Sunday, giving Germany a strong start in their United Cup title defense. The Czech Republic, U.S., and Italy also opened with victories.

Zverev, 27, returned to his career-high world number two ranking after winning the Paris Masters last month. He had previously spent a long time sidelined due to ankle ligament damage at the 2022 French Open.

In the mixed team tournament, Zverev’s powerful baseline shots helped him break Monteiro’s serve in the first game. He clinched the opening set with a massive ace. He began the second set with a stunning backhand winner, earning another break. Zverev closed out the match comfortably, securing Germany an unbeatable 2-0 lead before the mixed doubles match.

“I’m very happy to be back and playing for Team Germany,” Zverev said. “Perth is one of my favorite cities in Australia, and I enjoy my time here.”

He added, “I didn’t play much tennis in the off-season. I was focused on the gym, and it seems the hard work paid off.”

Koneru Humpy, aged 37 has made a stunning comeback by winning the Rapid crown on Saturday. She scored 8.5 points in 11 rounds, narrowly avoiding an eight-player tie at the top. With this win, she became the second woman, after China’s Ju Wenjun, to win the title twice.

Reflecting on her journey, Humpy told Chessbase India, “I was playing badly and losing badly, which made me question myself. I was feeling low but decided to give this tournament a try. I’m happy it worked out.”

Koneru Humpy arrived at the Women’s World Rapid Chess in New York and made a strong comeback. Previously, she secured a bronze at the 2022 Olympiad with the top-seeded Indian team, and finished in the latter part of the Norway Classical event in June and the Tata Rapid meet in November. However, Humpy’s resilience was clear to win the Gold. Her journey shows the determination to bounce back stronger and achieve even greater success.

Humpy emphasized the mental challenge of bouncing back. “It’s not easy to fight back psychologically after so many losses, but I had the determination to prove myself,” she said. Her victory reinforces the belief that class and maturity matter more than age in women’s chess.

Kaamya Karthikeyan, a Class 12 student from Navy Children School, Mumbai, has made history. At just 17, she became the youngest female to scale the highest peaks on all seven continents.

Her journey includes summiting Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mt Elbrus in Europe, and Mt Kosciuszko in Australia. She also conquered Mt Aconcagua in South America, Mt Denali in North America, and Mt Everest in Asia.

Kaamya completed the Seven Summits Challenge by scaling Mt Vinson in Antarctica on December 24. She reached the summit with her father, Commander S Karthikeyan, at 5:20 PM Chilean Standard Time.

The Indian Navy celebrated this remarkable achievement. On X (formerly Twitter), the official spokesperson shared, “Kaamya Karthikeyan, Class XII student at @IN_NCS Mumbai, scripts history by becoming the youngest female in the world to scale seven highest peaks across seven continents.”

The Navy also congratulated Kaamya and her father for accomplishing this incredible milestone.

Konstas became Australia’s fourth youngest Test debutant on Thursday, receiving his baggy green cap from former skipper Mark Taylor. At just 19 years and 85 days old, he marked a significant milestone in Australian cricket.

Ian Craig remains the youngest, debuting in 1953 at 17 years and 239 days. Skipper Pat Cummins ranks second, making his debut at 18 years and 193 days in 2011. Tom Garrett is third, while Clem Hill takes fifth place on the list.

Konstas first caught attention with a century for the Prime Minister’s XI in a two-day match against the visiting Indian side after the Perth Test. His performance solidified his reputation as a rising star.

In 11 first-class matches, Konstas has scored 718 runs at an impressive average of 42.2. His record includes two centuries and three half-centuries. He also played a crucial role in Australia’s ICC U19 World Cup 2024 victory, scoring 191 runs in seven innings at an average of 27.28, with one century.

Ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Konstas featured in a two-match series between Australia A and India A. He scored 92 runs in four innings, including a match-winning 73, further showcasing his potential.

Team India’s star batter Smriti Mandhana showcased her brilliance yet again with a stunning 91-run knock against West Indies in the first ODI at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara. Her remarkable innings not only anchored India’s performance but also secured her a spot in a prestigious record tally.

A Historic Achievement

Mandhana’s 91-run effort took her 2024 ODI run tally to an impressive 1602 runs, making her the player with the most international runs in a calendar year in women’s cricket. She surpassed South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, who scored 1593 runs in the same year.

Smriti Mandhana’s Stellar Form in 2024

The left-handed opener has been unstoppable this year, amassing five centuries and 10 fifties in ODIs alone. With two more ODIs left in the series, she has the opportunity to extend her lead further.

Top Players with Most International Runs in a Year (Women’s Cricket)

1. Smriti Mandhana (2024) – 1602 runs
2. Laura Wolvaardt (2024) – 1593 runs
3. Nat Sciver-Brunt (2022) – 1346 runs
4. Smriti Mandhana (2018) – 1291 runs
5. Smriti Mandhana (2022) – 1290 runs

Consistency Against West Indies

Mandhana has been in phenomenal form against West Indies, recently scoring three consecutive half-centuries in India’s 2-1 T20I series victory in Navi Mumbai.

Smriti Mandhana continues to set benchmarks in women’s cricket, demonstrating unmatched skill and consistency on the international stage.