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
The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 will be played in Pakistan and a neutral venue. India-Pakistan matches at ICC events from 2024-2027 will be held at neutral venues. This decision was confirmed by the ICC Board on Thursday, December 19. The Champions Trophy 2025, hosted by Pakistan, is scheduled for February and March 2025. The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, hosted by India, will also follow the neutral venue arrangement for India-Pakistan games. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, will follow the same arrangement. The PCB has secured hosting
Real Madrid triumphed in the Intercontinental Cup, beating C.F. Pachuca 3-0. Carlo Ancelotti became Real Madrid’s most successful manager, winning 15 trophies across European competitions. Los Blancos’ front three delivered with one goal each. The game started slowly for Madrid as they struggled to create chances in the final third. Pachuca’s first shot on target came in the 6th minute, but Courtois made a crucial save. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring in the 37th minute, assisted by Vini Jr. It was a stellar return for Mbappe, who had just recovered from an ankle injury. Madri