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
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 doub
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 semifina
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 beg
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. Previou
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.
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 Pe
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. Smrit
India defeated Bangladesh by 41 runs in the final to win the first-ever Women’s U-19 Asia Cup. The match took place on Sunday at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur. India’s Batting Performance After losing the toss, India was sent in to bat. Despite a shaky start, Gongadi Trisha delivered a standout performance. Opening the innings, she scored a vital 52 off 47 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes. Other contributions came from Mithila Vinod, who added momentum with a quick 12-ball 17. However, most Indian batters struggled, and the team posted 117/7 in 20 overs. For Banglad
India recently claimed a T20I series win against the visiting West Indies, showcasing their improving form. Smriti Mandhana's solid half-century and Richa Ghosh's record-equalling fastest fifty powered India to their highest-ever T20I total of 217 in the decider. The team dominated, sealing the series in style. In Women's ODIs, India holds a strong advantage over West Indies, winning 21 of their 26 clashes. The last meeting in the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup saw India crush West Indies by 155 runs in Hamilton. India also started their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a convincing