Ahmedabad: Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja hit a six and four in the last two balls as Chennai Super Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets (via DLS method) in the rain-affected rescheduled final of the 2023 season to clinch a record-equalling fifth Indian Premier League title at the Narendra Modi Stadium, here on Monday night.
With this thrilling win, the M.S. Dhoni-led CSK now have five trophies -- same as Mumbai Indians.
A sensational quick-fire fifty from Sai Sudharsan (96 off 41) along with Wriddhiman Saha's vital half-century (54 off 39) powered Gujarat Titans to 214/4 in 20 overs.
Sudharsan looked flawless throughout his innings and played some breathtaking shots against an undisciplined bowling line-up. Apart from Sudharsan and Saha, the likes of Shubman Gill (39 off 20) and Hardik Pandya (21 off 12) also made vital contributions with the bat.
Chasing a mammoth target, CSK scored four runs in the first three balls of the innings with openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway at the crease before rain intervened and stopped the play.
When the play resumed at 12:10 IST (night) after a long delay due to a wet outfield, the revised target for CSK was to chase 171 runs in 15 overs.
Both Conway and Gaikwad came with an attacking mindset and gave CSK a flying start. They played some beautiful shots and hammered Md Shami, Hardik Pandya and even Rashid Khan and took CSK to 52/0 in the revised four-over Power-play.
Gujarat Titans badly needed a wicket and left-armer spinner Noor Ahmed gave them the crucial breakthrough by removing Gaikwad (26 off 16). Not only Gaikwad, but the young Afghan spinner also got rid of dangerous-looking Conway to put CSK on the back foot.
Two new batters Impact Substitute Shivam Dube and Ajinkya Rahane were at the crease and had a massive task ahead of them. As has been the case with Rahane this season, he once again showed his class and played some exquisite strokes to give the much-needed impetus to CSK innings.
Though Dube was struggling to get his timing right, Rahane was in fine touch and took CSK to 112 for 2 in 10 overs. From there on, the match saw many ups and downs and eventually CSK needed 13 to win off the last over.
Mohit Sharma bowled excellent yorkers and gave just three runs in the first four balls. But Jadeja had other plans and he hit a six and four in the last two balls to give CSK a thrilling win and record fifth title.
Brief scores: Gujarat Titans 214/4 in 20 overs (Sai Sudharsan 96, Wriddhiman Saha 54; Matheesha Pathirana 2-44) Chennai Super Kings 171/5 in 15 overs (revised target) (Devon Conway 47, Ajinkya Rahane 27, Shivam Dube 32 not out, Ravindra Jadeja 15 not out; Mohit Sharma 3-36, Noor Ahmad 2-17) by five wickets.
—IANS

Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja hit a six and four in the last two balls as Chennai Super Kings beat Gujarat Titans 

Jadeja's Last Ball Four Helps CSK Beat Gujarat Titans By 5 Wickets, Clinch Record-Equalling 5th IPL Title

New Delhi: The first edition of Global Chess League is on the horizon with the first-ever league-styled chess tournament set to take place between June 21 to July 2 2023. Among the chess stars who will be competing in the tournament is Grandmaster Koneru Humpy, who is the youngest female chess player to become a Grandmaster.
A 2003 Arjuna Awardee, winner of the Padma Shri, Humpy is best known for her win at the 2019 FIDE Rapid Chess Championship and will be looking to make a mark once again by playing in the GCL.
"It's quite an interesting one to have a league with mixed teams of men, women and junior players. Apart from that, having a corporate like Tech Mahindra will definitely have a bigger impact in the chess world. This is one of the bigger reasons for us to take part in this event. This league will be an inspiration for organisers all over the world," Humpy said.
A joint venture between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, the GCL will witness six teams competing in a minimum of 10 matches each in a double round-robin format competing in the rapid chess format. "This is the first time an Indian corporate is coming forward to organising a Chess league. Chess is changing now, and the organisers are trying to make it more spectacular to attract more audience. We also enjoy shorter time formats in a fun way, which will be more entertaining for the audience."
Humpy, who won the World Rapid Chess Championship in 2020 started her career when she was just six years old after being introduced to the sport by her father. The 36-year-old won her first medal, becoming the national chess champion in the Under-10 category in 1997. The two-time Asian Games Gold-medallist stunned the world when she earned the Grandmaster title at the age of 15 years in 2002, becoming the then-youngest player to achieve the title. With a current world ranking of 204 and a Classical Elo rating of 2586, the Andhra Pradesh star is regarded as one of the top players from India.
"I started when I was six years old. As a player, I can testify that Chess is constantly being evolved in India. We have plenty of Grandmasters now from the country and we are the fastest-growing country in chess at the time," Humpy said.
Giving a brief insight into what it takes to succeed in chess, Humpy added: "Chess requires lot of practice and physical fitness. You need stamina to be at your best to perform. It takes a lot of time. It also requires a lot of material to read that we have to go through. Training for chess is a never ending story."
Koneru Humpy is also a mother of a five-year-old and when not competing in tournaments, she spends her time with her family watching movies, and going out for dinner on weekends. "I have a lot of things to do at home. I have a five-year-old daughter who keeps me busy. I also love watching movies. I enjoy watching comedy films and our regional movie Sitaram has been one of my recent favourites. I also like to go to restaurants with friends and family over the weekend. Usually, I don't travel apart from tournaments because my schedule is quite hectic," she said.
Humpy believes that with the current rise in women's sports across the world, there is a lot of scope for female athletes to continue pursuing their sport even after attaining motherhood. "There are a lot of mothers who are being successful in their sporting careers now. I am proud to see that I have been able to manage both," she said.—IANS

The first edition of Global Chess League is on the horizon with the first-ever league-styled chess tournament 

Grandmaster Koneru Humpy Highlights How Global Chess League Can Fill Existing Gaps In Chess Ecosystem

Monaco: Dutch driver Max Verstappen kept Red Bull's 2023 winning record intact by finishing ahead of Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin and Esteban Ocon of Alpine in a chaotic finish caused by rain shower in the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday.
Defending Drivers' champion Verstappen made a clean getaway when the race began to maintain his pole position advantage over Alonso into the first corner on the street circuit.
But as the race developed and the planned one-and-only stops approached, a rain shower hit the track to turn the encounter on its head, causing a flurry of off-track excursions, brushes with the barriers and pit lane activity.
Alonso pitted while only a portion of the track was damp and initially took on mediums, but intensifying rainfall meant he was forced back in for intermediates, which the rest of the field clambered for as well.
Verstappen then survived a contact with the wall before pitting, got back into a rhythm in the mixed conditions and controlled proceedings to the chequered flag.
Despite that extra stop, Alonso had enough in hand to retain second position and score Aston Martin's best result of the season so far, with Ocon converting his eye-catching qualifying performance into the final podium spot.
Mercedes' updated W14s racked up a solid haul of points as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell took fourth and fifth positions, respectively, the latter's five-second time penalty for clashing with Sergio Perez when he rejoined the track from an off in the slippery conditions not affecting his finishing position.
Home favourite Charles Leclerc crossed the line where he started in sixth, having been given a three-place grid penalty for impeding Lando Norris in qualifying, followed by the other Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz.
Just as the dust was settling on a frenetic qualifying hour around Monaco's tight and twisty streets, the stewards dropped a communication that would see Leclerc fall from third on the grid to sixth position for his home race, having impeded Norris in the Q3 phase. Ocon, his teammate Sainz and Hamilton all gladly accepted a gained grid spot at a venue where track position is vital.
But all eyes were on the front row of the grid and whether Verstappen or Alonso would make the better start.
As the lights went out, pole-sitter Verstappen put his softer tyres to good use by charging away from his grid spot and maintaining his advantage over Alonso into the first corner, with Ocon holding third from Sainz, Hamilton, Leclerc, Gasly, Russell, Tsunoda and Norris. There was a series of incidents which resulted in the Stewards handing Hulkenberg a five-second time penalty.
Up front, Verstappen got into a rhythm and edged away from Alonso, bringing his lead just over the two-second mark as Lap 10 of 78 approached, with Ocon some 10 seconds adrift, followed by Sainz, Hamilton and Leclerc - all circulating nose to tail.
A series of incidents, pit stops and tactical moves later, Verstappen extended his advantage over Alonso to almost 10 seconds by Lap 40, with Leclerc, Gasly and Russell also stretching out their first stints as more radio messages pointed to approaching rain.
Rain showers arrived soon and added further drama to the already incident-filled race.
A flurry of pit lane activity followed as most drivers went for a change of tyres, opting for intermediates. After the stops, Verstappen led Alonso by more than 15 seconds, with Ocon sitting third ahead of the Mercedes pair of Hamilton and Russell, Leclerc in sixth, Gasly seventh, Sainz eighth, Tsunoda ninth and Norris rounding out the top 10 positions.
Amid all the tyre changes, Russell was given a five-second penalty for rejoining the track in an unsafe manner while Hulkenberg was hit with a 10-second time penalty due to his initial five-second sanction not being served correctly.
As the conditions stabilised, Verstappen continued to pull clear of Alonso, building up his margin to almost 30 seconds by the chequered flag.
It was a statement win from the championship leader, who is now 39 points clear of Perez in the drivers' standings, his teammate unable to climb higher than 16th after starting from the back as a result of his costly qualifying shunt.—IANS

Dutch driver Max Verstappen kept Red Bull's 2023 winning record intact by finishing ahead of Fernando Alonso 

Formula 1: Verstappen Beats Alonso To Win Monaco GP Despite Late Drama Caused By Rain

Paris: Unseeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic caused the first upset in the women's singles draw by beating eighth-seeded Maria Sakkari of Greece in the first round even as top contenders Aryna Sabalenka and Stefanos Tsitsipas negotiated their first round challenges in contrasting styles at the French Open on Sunday.
While Muchova got the better of Sakkari, women's No.2 seed Sabalenka got her Roland Garros campaign off to a winning start, coming from an early break down to defeat Marta Kostyuk 6-3, 6-2 in 1 hour and 11 minutes. In the men's singles first round, Sakkari's compatriot Tsitsipas passed a stern first-round test on Sunday at Roland Garros, where the fifth seed overcame Jiri Vesely 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(7) at the clay-court major.
Sakkari was the first seed to fall by the wayside in singles, losing to Muchova in a rematch of las' year's second-round battle -- one of the most anticipated clashes on the opening day in Paris.
Sakkari herself had promoted the tussle on Saturday by calling the crafty 26-year-old "probably the toughest unseeded player that anyone could have in the first round".
In the end, it was d?j? vu for Muchova, who edged past the No.8 seed for a 7-6(5), 7-5 victory on a sunny afternoon in Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
Things were easier for Australian Open champion Sabalenka, who has the opportunity to capture the World No.1 ranking for the first time by winning the title this fortnight. Roland Garros is the only major at which the 25-year-old has yet to go past the third round, but she bolstered her clay-court credentials with a second Madrid title three weeks ago.
This result extends Sabalenka's 2023 record to 30-5. She has reached at least the quarterfinals at seven of the eight tournaments she has contested before Roland Garros, and the final at five of them.
Sabalenka will next face qualifier Iryna Shymanovich, who celebrated her Grand Slam main-draw debut with a 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1 win over Panna Udvardy.
In other women's singles matches, Camila Giorgi of Italy made a winning start, beating Aliz? Cornet of France 6-3, 6-4; Clara Tauson of Denmark defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-3, 6-0; Anastasia Potapova beat Taylor Townsend of the United States 6-1, 6-2, China's Qinwen Zheng beat Tamara Zidan?ek of Slovenia 6-3, 6-1 while Leylah Annie Fernandez got the better of Magda Linette 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.
Tsitsipas is also eying the World No.1 ranking on the men's side but had to pass a stern test against Czech Republic's Vesely, who took him to four sets and held four set points in the fourth.
Tsitsipas, hoping to improve on his appearance in the final two years ago, arrived at Roland-Garros without a clay-court trophy this year. Despite reaching his second major final at the Australian Open in January, two-time Monte-Carlo Masters champion Tsitsipas arrived here with his standout result on the red dirt in recent years being a runner-up showing to Carlos Alcaraz in Barcelona.
Vesely was in control of the opening set when he served for it at 5-4 only to turn in his first rusty game of the match. It ended up costing him the set and before he knew it, Tsitsipas had opened up a two-set advantage on an ace.
Vesely landed his first break since the opening set at the most opportune of moments, breaking to take the third set and threatening to take the contest into the deciding fifth set when he held four set points in the ensuing tiebreak.
The Greek star held his ground and closed out the three-hour, 16-minute encounter with a forehand winner in the tie-break.
In other first-round matches in men's singles, 24th seed Sebastian Korda of the United States defeated compatriot Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 7-5, 6-4; Nuno Borges of Portugal ousted American big-server John Isner 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(9) in a five-set thriller; Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis beat Dan Evans of Great Britain in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 while 11th seed Karen Khachanov came back from two sets down to overcame Constant Lestienne of France, 3-6, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3.—IANS

Unseeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic caused the first upset in the women's singles draw by beating eighth-seeded Maria Sakkari 

French Open: Muchova Knocks Out Sakkari; Easy Start For Sabalenka; Tough Test For Tsitsipas

Salalah: Angad Bir Singh scored four goals as India came up with a scintillating performance to thrash minnows Thailand 17-0 in a Pool A fixture in the Men's Junior Asia Cup 2023, making it to the semifinals with an unbeaten record.
With this victory on Sunday, the Indian junior men's hockey team recovered from the 1-1 draw with Pakistan and finished the group stage of the Men's Junior Asia Cup 2023 unbeaten.
The scorers for India were Angad Bir Singh (13', 33', 47', 55'), Yogember Rawat (17'), Captain Uttam Singh (24', 31'), Amandeep Lakra (26', 29'), Araijeet Singh Hundal (36'), Vishnukant Singh (38'), Bobby Singh Dhami (45'), Sharda Nand Tiwari (46'), Amandeep (47'), Rohit (49'), Sunit Lakra (54') and Rajinder Singh (56').
The Indian junior men's team began the contest on the front foot, attacking Thailand with regularity, but were unable to break through in the early exchanges. Thailand not only absorbed the pressure but also looked to attack India, who however edged ahead just before the end of the first quarter when Angad Bir Singh (13') found the back of the net.
Early in the second quarter, India captain Uttam Singh eased through the Thailand defense on the right before Yogember Rawat (17') doubled the advantage.
The Indians were starting to take control of the contest, and before the half ended, captain Uttam Singh (24') also got on the scoresheet, scoring from close range.
A couple of minutes later, Amandeep Lakra (26') smashed home his shot from a Penalty Corner, as the Indian Colts led 4-0, and were showing no signs of slowing down. Soon after Amandeep Lakra (29') scored his second from a Penalty Corner and at halftime the Indian team led 5-0.
Captain Uttam Singh (31') made it 6-0 in the first minute of the third quarter, rifling it into the top corner from the right, and moments later Angad Bir Singh (33') too got his second for the night.
The Indians were dominating proceedings and added another goal soon after when Araijeet Singh Hundal (36') got on the scoresheet courtesy of a powerful hit from the right. India continued to attack, pushing Thailand deep into their half, and the pressure resulted in another goal, as Vishnukant Singh (38') got his name on the scoresheet, making it 9-0. Just before the final break, Bobby Singh Dhami (45') made it 10-0 when he converted a Penalty Corner.
The final quarter wore a similar look to the previous ones, with the Indian team attacking with great gusto as Sharda Nand Tiwari (46'), Amandeep (47') and Angad Bir Singh (47'), all struck in quick succession to make it 13-0. A comeback seemed highly unlikely as the Indians continued to rule. Rohit (49') got into the act as well, making it 14-0 for India.
There would be more to come as India were playing free-flowing hockey, and it was Sunit Lakra (54'), Angad Bir Singh (55'), and Rajinder Singh (56') who added three more goals, making it 17-0. India eventually did not add to that scoreline and came away with an emphatic win, finishing the night on top of the standings in Pool A.—IANS

Angad Bir Singh scored four goals as India came up with a scintillating performance to thrash minnows Thailand 17-0 

Men’s Jr Asia Cup Hockey: India Thrash Thailand 17-0, Progress To Semifinals

New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday announced a breakthrough in resolving the months-long impasse at the Handball Association of India (HAL) by bringing the two factions together to work in cohesion towards the betterment of the sport and its athletes.
The amicable resolution, achieved through active participation by IOA leadership, President Dr P.T Usha and its Joint Secretary &amp; Acting CEO Kalyan Chaubey, assumes importance as India prepares for the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games.
In a letter addressed to Usha, the Executive Committee of HAI on Monday conveyed the unanimous election of Digvijay Chautala as its President, Jagan Mohan Rao as Secretary General and Tejraj Singh as Treasurer. Dr. Usha expressed her satisfaction over the resolution, saying "HAI has set an example for all sports federations that a solution to an issue can be arrived at through dialogues. I'm happy that IOA was able to bring both parties across the table to work for the common goals towards the sport and its athletes."
Kalyan Chaubey, who was instrumental in bringing the two factions together, said "From IOA's point of view, it was imperative to see both parties come together and solve their differences amicably. It took us time, but our continuous dialogue helped us in achieving the desired results. We would never want to see our time, money or energy spent into any litigation, rather all our efforts should be focused on the development of players and the sports."
Both, Digvijay Chautala and Jagan Mohan Rao have expressed their satisfaction over the end of the impasse and vowed to work in unison for handball in India.
"I'm thankful to IOA for their guidance in resolving the governance issue. We can now move ahead and work together for the sport in the country," Digvijay Chautala was quoted as saying in a release by IOA.
Jagan Mohan Rao welcomed the vision of IOA in resolving every dispute mutually and said, "I will do my best to serve Handball in India and for the development of our athletes."—IANS

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday announced a breakthrough in resolving the months-long impasse

IOA Brings Together Both Factions To Resolve Impasse In Handball Association

Ahmedabad: Amid the uncertainty over the venue, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has expressed interest to host the Asia Cup 2023 and said it is prepared to host the championship if Asian Cricket Council (ACC) decide to allot the tournament to the island nation.
The development comes just days ahead of the ACC meeting, which will decide the fate of the six-nation tournament. "The SLC is prepared to host the Asia Cup at short notice. The decision now is up to the ACC," a top SLC official said on Monday.
According to a Cricbuzz report, BCCI is firm on its stance and continues to oppose the hybrid model proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wherein the matches are hosted in Pakistan and UAE.
It has been learnt that informal deliberations over the contentious event between the chiefs of different boards have led to a consensus that there should be only one venue for the event. "Colombo or nothing," was how a BCCI source reacted to the talks and cited logistical inconvenience as the reason for its opposition. "We will go with the BCCI," added the SLC official. As of now, it's clear that there are no takers for PCB's proposal of a hybrid model and they are getting clearly isolated in the ACC. The SLC, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), the heads of which are in India for the IPL 2023 final, are siding with the BCCI, the report further said. Apart from all three are Test playing members -- SLC, BCB, ACB -- of the ACC, the non-test members like Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) also have their presence in Ahmedabad where informal discussions have taken place in the last few days.
It will be interesting to see the position of the PCB and its head Najam Sethi, who had earlier said that Pakistan would not take part in the Asia Cup if it is not allowed to host a few games in his country.—IANS

 Amid the uncertainty over the venue, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has expressed interest to host the Asia Cup 2023

SL Cricket Expresses Interest In Hosting Asia Cup 2023: Report

New Delhi: Lemmet Tangvah scored a brace as the India U-17 men's national football team scored a comprehensive 4-0 win against TSV Schwaben Augsburg in their last practice game tour of Germany at the Paul Renz Akademie, in Augsburg.
Lemmet Tangvah scored twice in the first half, while Rohen Singh and Thanglalsoun Gangte added two more goals, to make it an easy 4-0 victory for India in their last practice game in Germany.
Gearing up for the AFC U-17 Asia Cup in Thailand, the India U-17 men's team toured Spain and Germany with mixed results. But more importantly, the boys gained a lot of experience playing in foreign conditions and against some strong opponents.
On Monday, the Blue Colts were off to a flying start, and after a shot by Akash Tirkey was saved by TSV Schwaben keeper Niklas Frank in the opening exchanges, Lemmet Tangvah put India in the lead in the 16th minute off a corner by Gogocha Chungkham.
Six minutes later, Tangvah turned provider, when his cross from the right found Rohen Singh, who made the most of his opportunity to double India's lead.
Fullback Balkaran Singh also got in on the action with eight minutes of regulation time left in the first half, as his cross was turned in by Tangvah.
With a commanding 3-0 lead in their favour, the India U-17 boys headed into the dressing room, as head coach Bibiano Fernandes made a couple of changes before the start of the second half. Goalkeeper Pranav was replaced by Julfikar Gazi, while forward Shashwat was replaced by Thanglalsoun Gangte.
TSV Schwaben did come out with a greater purpose in the second session, but Gazi was up to the task, as he thwarted efforts by Mustafa Yalcin and Burak Uludag. India soon struck their fourth goal, 10 minutes after the restart, when Gogocha found Gangte with an inch-perfect pass, as the latter got his name on the scoresheet.
Tangvah was on the lookout for his hat trick and almost came close to netting his third of the game in the 64th minute when he latched on to a Gogocha cross, but Schwaben defender Hazem Ibrahim made a last-ditch block to thwart the effort. That was the last chance Tangvah had as he was soon replaced by defender Gurnaj Singh Grewal. Gogocha had another chance to make it five in the closing exchanges, as he hit the woodwork, but the scoreline remained 4-0 in India's favour.
The India U-17s will now train in Augsburg for one more day, before travelling to Thailand on June 1 for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup. The team will train in Thailand for two weeks, before they face Vietnam (June 17), Uzbekistan (June 20), and Japan (June 23) in Group D of the tournament.—IANS

Lemmet Tangvah scored a brace as the India U-17 men's national football team scored a comprehensive 4-0 win

India U-17s Beat TSV Schwaben Augsburg 4-0 In Last Training Game In Germany

New Delhi: Shardul Vihan, the only trap shooter from Uttar Pradesh, is ready to enhance the glory of the Khelo India University Games for the third time. In the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, Shardul made history by winning a silver medal in the double trap event, becoming the youngest athlete to win a medal for India in the Asian Games. Now, Shardul is geared up for the Khelo India University Games and aims to win a gold medal, adding to his achievements.
Hailing from Meerut, Shardul, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) at Shobhit University, clinched a gold medal in the junior trap team event at the Valerj Championship held in the city of Osijek, Croatia.
Shardul stated that his goal is to change the color of his medals at the Khelo India University Games. He has previously participated in shooting events in Bhubaneswar and Bangalore, where he won bronze medals on both occasions.
His father is involved in the real estate business, and Shardul himself started shooting at the age of 12. He practices shooting in Delhi and used to travel from Meerut to Delhi every day for practice. Despite the challenges, his passion to bring medals for the country remained strong, and the distance seemed shorter due to his dedication. Shardul believes that the competition level in shotgun shooting at the Khelo India University Games is high because players have to demonstrate their skills in a structured manner to progress further. He compared it to his experience of playing pre-state matches before participating in zonal competitions and then moving on to nationals.
Participating universities from all over India make it a national-level competition, which is well-organized and provides an international feel for new players.
Like other athletes, Shardul's ultimate goal is to win a medal for India in the Olympics. Currently practicing at the Karni Singh Shooting Range in Delhi, Shardul emphasised that an Olympic gold medal is the pinnacle for any sportsperson. He aspires to bring a gold medal in shooting to his country, state, and family.
To keep himself mentally fit, Shardul practices yoga and pranayama. For physical fitness, he plays badminton, which he believes is good for hand-eye coordination, an essential aspect of shooting.
Asked about the message he would like to convey to aspiring shooters, Shardul said that he focuses on his game and encourages others to keep their focus clear in any sport they pursue. "It is important to understand one's role, maintain dedication and hard work, as we all know that hard work never goes in vain. Giving 100 per cent to sports is crucial, as only then will sports give us something in return," he said.—IANS

Shardul Vihan, the only trap shooter from Uttar Pradesh, is ready to enhance the glory of the Khelo India University Games

UP’s Shardul Vihan Ready To Feature At Khelo India University Games For 3rd Time

London: Three teams are playing to avoid two relegation spots in what promises to be a nerve-wracking end to the Premier League season on Sunday.  Manchester City sealed the title last weekend, while Newcastle United's draw at home to Leicester City last Monday, and Manchester United's 4-0 thumping of Chelsea on Thursday night confirmed their places in next season's Champions League, while Brighton also ensured they will finish sixth, reports Xinhua.  A home win for Aston Villa against Brighton on Sunday would see Unai Emery's men cap a magnificent second half to the season by confirming their place in the UEFA Conference League, but apart from that, the drama is centered around the relegation zone.  The way things stand, if Everton win their home game against Bournemouth, then Leeds United and Leicester City will be relegated to the Championship.  However, it is not that easy, given that Everton have not won at home since March 11 and have already lost twice to Bournemouth this season. Coach Sean Dyche will be without striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and is unlikely to have any full-backs available against a team that won't have forgotten that it was defeat to Everton that saw them relegated two years ago.  If Everton fail to win, then Leicester City will have a chance of survival if they beat West Ham United.  West Ham travel to Leicester with other things on their mind as they prepare for next week's Conference League final, and the chance of European glory will probably mean David Moyes fields a much-changed side at the King Power Stadium.  Leicester drew 0-0 with a five-man defense at Newcastle on Monday, but the need for a win means Dean Smith is likely to recall Harvey Barnes and James Maddison to his starting 11.  Leeds United need to beat Tottenham - who still have a chance of finishing seventh - at home and hope that Leicester and Everton lose. Leeds could still stay up if Everton draw with Bournemouth, but their inferior goal difference means they would need to win by three goals, which seems unlikely without injured strikers Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo Moreno.  The only other game that could have relevance is Brentford's home tie against Manchester City, as a win could see Brentford leapfrog Tottenham and Aston Villa into seventh and earn them an unlikely place in Europe.  Elsewhere, Manchester United prepare for the FA Cup final at home to Fulham, while Arsenal can expect a good send-off after their excellent season when they entertain Wolves.  Chelsea's disastrous campaign ends at Stamford Bridge at home to Newcastle, and perhaps Chelsea owner Todd Boehly can take note from Newcastle, whose fans will be in party mode, on how to invest wisely in new signings.  Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest have nothing to play for, while Southampton say goodbye to the Premier League after 11 years with a home game against Liverpool. —IANS

Three teams are playing to avoid two relegation spots in what promises to be a nerve-wracking end to the Premier League season 

Relegation in the spotlight on dramatic final day in Premier League

New Delhi: India U-17 men's team bagged another training game victory in Germany, beating FC Augsburg U-17 3-1 at Paul Renz Akademie in Augsburg on Friday.  It was India U-17s' third training game and second win in Germany. The Blue Colts had gone down 1-3 to a U-16/19 mixed side of VfB Stuttgart before winning 6-1 over SSV Reutlingen U-16.  The team, coached by Bibiano Fernandes, arrived in Germany earlier this month after having played a series of preparatory matches in Spain.  The Blue Colts took charge right from the first whistle as Korou Singh Thingujam went close with back-to-back efforts in the first five minutes. It wouldn't take India too long to open the scoring as Laishram Danny Meitei converted a brilliant cross from Lalpekhlua to make it 1-0 in the 13th minute.  However, the hosts also got into gear with time and levelled the scores through Fynn Heinze's penalty at the half-hour mark after skipper Ricky Meetei Haobam conceded a foul in the box.  India then began the second half in similar fashion to the first one, with wave after wave of attacks. Danny turned provider in the 54th minute, laying the ball off for Vanlalpeka Guite, who made no mistake and regained the Blue Colt's lead. Just a couple of minutes later, Lalpekhlua picked out Danny with a quick free-kick. The 15-year-old then registered his second assist, passing the ball for Korou to make it 3-1 with ease.  Korou went close to doubling his tally in the 83rd minute but missed the target narrowly. Substitute Omang also almost got in the act, but saw his decent effort blocked by Augsburg's Niklas Hummel.  The Blue Colts are preparing for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup final rounds to be played in Thailand next month. Placed in Group D, they will play Vietnam (June 17), Uzbekistan (June 20), and Japan (June 23) in Pathum Thani and Bangkok. —IANS

India U-17 men's team bagged another training game victory in Germany, beating FC Augsburg U-17 3-1 at Paul Renz Akademie

India U-17s men's football team beats FC Augsburg U-17 in Germany

Ahmedabad: Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher threw all of his weight behind skipper Rohit Sharma in terms of his lean batting form in IPL 2023, saying the right-handed opener was leading the initiative of batting in the ultra-attacking way they wished for in the competition.  Rohit made only 332 runs in 16 innings of IPL 2023 with just two fifties at a strike rate of 132.80. On Friday, in the Qualifier 2 clash against Gujarat Titans, he could make only eight runs as Mumbai, despite Tilak Varma's attacking 14-ball 43 and Suryakumar Yadav's quick 61, were bowled out for 171 in 18.2 overs, crashing out of the competition.  "Rohit is a quality player. What I do think is that he led from the front in regards to driving toward the sort of way we wanted to play. Our batting this season was fantastic. We went out at the beginning of the season and we looked at our stats and thought we could improve in certain phases of the game. And the captain is the best person to go out there and drive that vision as well."  "So if you look at how we did in the powerplays compared to last season, from 7 to 10, you know we really upped the scoring rates and we played a good positive brand of cricket, which will stand us in good stead because the guys will gain a lot of confidence from that. Unfortunately, T20 game is tough at times and we were outplayed. Gill played a fantastic innings, and unfortunately, we couldn't execute through the night, which happens in T20 cricket," said Boucher in the post-match press conference.  Boucher also expressed happiness with impressive form of young batters like Varma and Nehal Wadhera in the tournament. "With the batting, Nehal been a great find, Tilak's been a great find. They've had some influential innings through the season. On paper and form-wise, our batting looks really strong. The guys are beginning to understand their roles within the team, so I'm very happy with the batting."  Boucher also offered an explanation over why Dewald Brevis didn't get an opportunity to feature for Mumbai in the entire season, after having impressed the onlookers in a few matches last year.  "We want continuity in the team. I feel for Dewald. He hasn't played a game, but there are a lot of other international cricketers who have been sitting on the sidelines as well. Dewald is young. He's going to have plenty of opportunities. We went with continuity within the side. There was no reason to try and change a team that has just won two back-to-back games under pressure. So no, I don't think it was the right call to make."  Boucher also pointed out about the challenges Mumbai's bowlers had to face in the absence of star pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Jofra Archer and Jhye Richardson. "About our bowlers, I think you need to look at it from a different perspective and I think if you have a look at the totals that were scored at Wankhede and chased down."  "Sometimes you can look at the figures and you can say our bowlers were going for a lot of runs and yes, there were certain departments or certain games where we could have bowled a little bit better. We have got quite an inexperienced bowling line-up."  "But we had some good chats and I think we improved as the competition went along, but to look at it because we went for over 200, we also chased a lot of scores over 200. But anyways, anyone who comes to Wankhede will know it is very much a batting-friendly pitch and ground."  "I feel sorry for the bowlers at times. You know, going for scores over 200 can dent your confidence a bit, which probably did to a couple of our bowlers. But yeah, we were chasing scores down of 200+ so you just have to look at it in a different context," he concluded. —IANS

Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher threw all of his weight behind skipper Rohit Sharma 

IPL 2023: Rohit led from the front in terms of driving the way we wanted to play, says Mark Boucher

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya said Shubman Gill hitting centuries consistently in IPL 2023 is making the art of reaching three-figure mark look as easy as having breakfast regularly.  Gill slammed a majestic 129 with the help of ten sixes and seven fours while taking Mumbai's bowlers to cleaners all over the park as Gujarat posted 223/3, which is also his third century of the ongoing season, thus leading the side's 62-run win over Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 and set up a meeting with Chennai Super Kings in Sunday's final.  "He's making a habit of scoring 100s and he's making it look like it's just breakfast for him. I have been fortunate to see a lot of T20 100s. But what I saw (in this match), was one of the finest I have ever seen. Every time we saw him play those 55 (60) balls, we were like that's a hell of a shot. Very, very, very proud of him," said Pandya during the post-match interaction with Gill in a video posted on IPL's Twitter account.  Pandya also predicted that Gill, currently the leading run-getter in IPL 2023, will soon become one of the biggest superstars of the game.  "Sometimes we have to stop this person because he does a lot of batting. I get scared seeing him bat that much. He deserves every success. This man's gonna be an amazing cricketer, not just in franchise cricket but for India as well. He's already one but he's gonna be the biggest superstar," the GT skipper said.  Talking about his stunning turnaround in form, Gill said getting first IPL century against Sunrisers Hyderabad was a turning point. Since then, Gill scored three centuries in his last four innings of IPL 2023.  "In the first half of the IPL, I was getting those starts. But I wasn't able to convert them so I knew it was all about getting that one hundred and I knew when I'll get that one hundred it's all about mental switch and then you start thinking and playing differently, and that's what worked for me," he said.  Gill also shared about how he manages to stick to his basics of batting amidst a hectic IPL schedule.  "I feel when you play a lot of matches, some things change. You don't realise it because you are trying to do certain things while you are playing and if you don't keep working on your basics when you are playing a lot, we all know how cruel this game is, three odd matches where you don't score and you feel like shit, where are you in this game," the Titans opener said.  "I keep trying to work on my basics, keep trying to go back. My hands, my back lift, my feet, my head position so that there's always a habit of me being in a good base and position and not getting carried away with bad habits that you pick," he added.  The 23-old batter also revealed what Pandya told him after he joined the franchise last year.  "Last year, before starting the IPL, he (Hardik) was the first person who came to me and said, 'you play how you want to play' and I feel before getting a chance to play for GT, sometimes I felt I was trying to play as someone that I wasn't and he gave me that confidence be able to play how I wanted to play. It felt great," said Gill. —IANS

 Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya said Shubman Gill hitting centuries consistently in IPL 2023 is making the art of reaching

IPL 2023: 'Look like it's just breakfast for him', says Hardik on Gill making habit of scoring 100s

Kuala Lumpur: Chinese shuttlers won three quarterfinal matches on day 4 of the Malaysia Masters.  In the men's singles, China's Weng Hongyang kept his winning streak, beating Angus Ng Ka Long 23-21, 14-21, 21-14 to enter the semifinals, reports Xinhua.  In the women's singles, China's Han Yue outclassed Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan 22-20, 21-9, but her compatriots Wang Zhiyi and Zhang Yiman were eliminated.  India's Gregoria Mariska Tunjung upset Wang 21-11, 21-14, and PV Sindhu, also from India, edged Zhang 21-16, 13-21, 22-20.  In the mixed doubles, China's Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping overcame Japan's Yamashita Kyohei and Shinoya Naru 22-20, 11-21, 21-17.  Yet, it wasn't a clean sweep for Chinese shuttlers, as Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai overpowered Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin 21-8, 21-17.  The Malaysia Masters runs from May 23 to 28 at the Axiata Arena. —IANS

Chinese shuttlers won three quarterfinal matches on day 4 of the Malaysia Masters.

Chinese shuttlers secure 3 semifinal berths at Malaysia Masters

Chinese shuttlers won three quarterfinal matches on day 4 of the Malaysia Masters.


Durban: Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha retained their mixed doubles title, while China has confirmed the men's singles title at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships (WTTC) Finals following Friday's action.  In a repeat of the tournament's mixed doubles final in Houston two years ago, the top-ranked Chinese pair overwhelmed world No. 2 Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata of Japan 11-6, 11-2, 11-7, reports Xinhua.  "We had encountered some challenges in previous matches here, but today we encouraged each other on the court to win," commented Sun.  It will be an all-Chinese affair in deciding the men's singles winner after four paddlers swept semifinal berths in the event.  Liang Jingkun scored an emphatic 4-2 victory over fourth seed Harimoto. After two players shared the spoils in the first four games, Liang won 11-9 in both of the following two to advance.  "It was not an easy win. I was more composed and put on an all-around performance on the court. This win can boost my confidence," said Liang, who regarded Harimoto as the strongest opponent to the Chinese team whether in terms of his young age or techniques.  Liang will lock horns with top seed Fan Zhendong, who accounted for Omar Assar of Egypt, the second African player to reach the World Championships quarterfinals, in straight games.  Second-seeded Wang Chuqin ended Danish underdog Anders Lind's campaign in Durban with a 4-1 win over the world No. 180.  Wang will next take on Ma Long after the reigning Olympic champion dispatched teammate Lin Gaoyuan 4-1.  In the women's singles quarterfinals, Wang Yidi suffered a heartbroken loss to Japan's Hayata in full games.  Trailing two games to three, and 5-8 in the sixth game, Wang snatched six straight points to force a decider. In a nerve-wracking deciding game, which witnessed exchanges of match points between the two paddlers, Hayata managed to come out on top 21-19.  "A tough seventh game. I led many times, but I failed to win it. I was not quite determined at that time with a bit fluke. The more crucial time it was, the more mistakes I made," Wang admitted.  Top seed Sun Yingsha outplayed German defender Han Ying 4-0 and will meet Hayata in the semifinals.  In the bottom half, Chen Xingtong continued her favorable momentum built on a full-game thrilling win against Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei in the previous round, posting a 4-0 victory over defending champion Wang Manyu.  "I just played what I wanted to play without any burden against my teammate," commented Chen.  Chen's semifinal opponent will be Olympic champion Chen Meng, who got past Mima Ito of Japan 4-0.  "Mima is a strong opponent and brings some changes every time when we compete. I executed my tactics more resolutely, and didn't give my opponent many chances today," Chen Meng explained.  In the women's doubles semifinals, Chen Meng and Wang Yidi emerged victorious 3-1 against Japan's Miyuu Kihara and Miyu Nagasaki, but two-time winners Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu fell 3-0 to South Korean duo Jeon Ji-hee and Shin Yu-bin.  Also on Friday, Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin got past Cho Dae-seong and Lee Sang-su 3-1, setting up a men's doubles final showdown with another South Korean pair Jang Woo-jin and Lim Jong-hoon. —IANS

 Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha retained their mixed doubles title, while China has confirmed the men's singles title

Wang/Sun retain mixed doubles title, China confirms men's singles crown at Durban table tennis worlds

Ahmedabad: After rain delayed the start of Qualifier 2 by 30 minutes, Shubman Gill smashed a majestic 129 off 60 balls and veteran pacer Mohit Sharma took an impressive fifer (5/10), helping Gujarat Titans thrash Mumbai Indians by 62 runs in Qualifier 2 and reach the final of the IPL 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, here on Friday.  The win also meant that Gujarat entered the IPL final for the second successive time and will meet Chennai Super Kings in Sunday's title clash at the same venue, ?with a chance of defending their trophy. Co-incidentally, the first match of IPL 2023 was between Gujarat and Chennai at the very same venue on March 31.  Gill's third century of IPL 2023, an exhibition of timing and placement of the highest class and it propelled Gujarat Titans to a mammoth 233/3, the highest score in the history of playoffs. Chasing 234 was always going to be an uphill task for Mumbai after losing Ishan Kishan to concussion and they eventually folded up for 171 in 18.2, with Mohit taking a sensational 5/10 after being introduced in the bowling attack from 15th over.  The Gujarat opener put on a six-hitting exhibition in Ahmedabad -- his timing and stroke play was silky smooth while hitting ten sixes and seven fours in taking Mumbai's bowlers to cleaners all over the park, apart from running hard between the wickets and becoming leading run-getter of IPL 2023.  On his way of leaving scores of fans in awe of his belligerent form by picking gaps and finding elevation beautifully, Gill also became the leading run-getter of the competition in a season which will always be remembered for him.  His first 30 balls saw him make 48 runs, before switching gears in thrilling fashion to slam 79 runs in his next 30 balls. Gill also had luck on his side -- being dropped on 30 by Tim David, which proved to be a very costly drop as he made 99 runs off 40 balls post that.  Pushed into batting first, Gill got going by flicking off Cameron Green for four, followed by Wriddhiman Saha using the same shot off Jason Behrendorff for a boundary. After being hit on the helmet by a skiddy bouncer from Akash Madhwal, Saha danced down the pitch to slash the pacer over point for four.  Post the duo taking a leg-side boundary each off Behrendorff, Gill welcomed Chris Jordan in the last over of power-play with a well-timed pull over deep square leg for six, followed by a ferocious cut through cover for four. He also got a life in the same over on 30 when Tim David shelled a tough diving catch at mid-on.  Gujarat lost their first wicket when Piyush Chawla had Saha stumped down leg. After surviving a stumping scare on 36, Gill danced down the pitch to loft Chawla down the ground for six. From the other end, Sai Sudharsan flicked off him for four, followed by cover-driving and lofting off Green and Jordan for four and six respectively.  After Gill reached his fifty in 32 balls, he picked length early in sweeping Kartikeya for six. He welcomed a returning Madhwal by picking up a flick beautifully and muscled a pull for back-to-back sixes, and followed it up with a flick off the wrists to collect third six of 21-run 12th over.  When Chawla came back, Gill was quick to dance down the pitch and loft beautifully over bowler's head for six, followed by picking a four off a paddle-sweep. Gill again danced down the pitch to smack Chawla over wide long-on for another six as 20 runs came off the 13th over.  After Gill reached his century in 49 balls, he launched Green for a massive six down the ground and pulled twice to pick four and six (via a stunning forehand jab) through the leg-side. Gill opened bat-face late to square-drive Jordan for four, followed by Sudharsan hitting back-to-back boundaries to take 17 runs off 16th over.  Gill carted Madhwal over extra cover for four, but holed out to David at deep mid-wicket in the 17th over. Sudharsan and Hardik Pandya hit three boundaries between themselves before the former was retired out ahead of the final over. Hardik and Rashid Khan hit a four each in the final over, before the former slammed Jordan for six on the last ball to take Gujarat above 230.  In Mumbai's chase, Mohammed Shami struck in his very first over when makeshift opener Nehal Wadhera went for a pull, only to edge behind. Cameron Green got going with a first-ball four, but retired hurt in second over after being hit on left forearm while trying to fend off Hardik.  Shami struck again as Rohit Sharma top-edged a pull to fine leg. Tilak Varma got going by flicking and pulling for two sixes in his first four balls. The left-handed batter smashed Shami for four consecutive boundaries -- via late cut, pull and driving twice, before pulling him for six to take 24 runs off the fifth over as Mumbai raced to 65/2.  Rashid brought an end to Varma's cameo as the youngster missed a straighter delivery on sweep and was castled. Green returned to resume his innings and along with Suryakumar Yadav, the duo hit four boundaries and two sixes collectively against Rashid and Noor Ahmad.  Their partnership came to an end when Green was castled in 12th over while trying to pull off Josh Little. Suryakumar hit fours off Noor and Little, before reaching his fifty in 33 balls with a scooped six off the latter, followed by welcoming Mohit with a pulled maximum. ?  But the pacer bounced back immediately as Suryakumar went for another scoop, and saw his leg-stump castled. Concussion substitute Vishnu Vinod also fell to Mohit after spooning a catch to cover, followed by Tim David trapped lbw by Rashid. Mohit took the remaining three wickets to clinch a five-wicket haul in just 14 balls, thus sealing Gujarat's place in the final.  Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans 233/3 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 129, B Sai Sudharsan 43; Piyush Chawla 1/45) beat Mumbai Indians 171 in 18.2 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 61, Tilak Varma 43; Mohit Sharma 5/10, Rashid Khan 2/33) by 62 runs. —IANS

After rain delayed the start of Qualifier 2 by 30 minutes, Shubman Gill smashed a majestic 129 off 60 balls

IPL 2023: Gill's majestic 129, Mohit's 5/10 help Gujarat Titans reach final with win over Mumbai Indians 

Ahmedabad: After rain delayed the start of Qualifier 2 by 30 minutes, Shubman Gill smashed a majestic 129 off 60 balls and veteran pacer Mohit Sharma took an impressive fifer (5/10), helping Gujarat Titans thrash Mumbai Indians by 62 runs in Qualifier 2 and reach the final of the IPL 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, here on Friday.
The win also meant that Gujarat entered the IPL final for the second successive time and will meet Chennai Super Kings in Sunday's title clash at the same venue, with a chance of defending their trophy. Co-incidentally, the first match of IPL 2023 was between Gujarat and Chennai at the very same venue on March 31.
Gill's third century of IPL 2023, an exhibition of timing and placement of the highest class and it propelled Gujarat Titans to a mammoth 233/3, the highest score in the history of playoffs. Chasing 234 was always going to be an uphill task for Mumbai after losing Ishan Kishan to concussion and they eventually folded up for 171 in 18.2, with Mohit taking a sensational 5/10 after being introduced in the bowling attack from 15th over.
The Gujarat opener put on a six-hitting exhibition in Ahmedabad -- his timing and stroke play was silky smooth while hitting ten sixes and seven fours in taking Mumbai's bowlers to cleaners all over the park, apart from running hard between the wickets and becoming leading run-getter of IPL 2023.
On his way of leaving scores of fans in awe of his belligerent form by picking gaps and finding elevation beautifully, Gill also became the leading run-getter of the competition in a season which will always be remembered for him.
His first 30 balls saw him make 48 runs, before switching gears in thrilling fashion to slam 79 runs in his next 30 balls. Gill also had luck on his side -- being dropped on 30 by Tim David, which proved to be a very costly drop as he made 99 runs off 40 balls post that.
Pushed into batting first, Gill got going by flicking off Cameron Green for four, followed by Wriddhiman Saha using the same shot off Jason Behrendorff for a boundary. After being hit on the helmet by a skiddy bouncer from Akash Madhwal, Saha danced down the pitch to slash the pacer over point for four.
Post the duo taking a leg-side boundary each off Behrendorff, Gill welcomed Chris Jordan in the last over of power-play with a well-timed pull over deep square leg for six, followed by a ferocious cut through cover for four. He also got a life in the same over on 30 when Tim David shelled a tough diving catch at mid-on.
Gujarat lost their first wicket when Piyush Chawla had Saha stumped down leg. After surviving a stumping scare on 36, Gill danced down the pitch to loft Chawla down the ground for six. From the other end, Sai Sudharsan flicked off him for four, followed by cover-driving and lofting off Green and Jordan for four and six respectively.
After Gill reached his fifty in 32 balls, he picked length early in sweeping Kartikeya for six. He welcomed a returning Madhwal by picking up a flick beautifully and muscled a pull for back-to-back sixes, and followed it up with a flick off the wrists to collect third six of 21-run 12th over.
When Chawla came back, Gill was quick to dance down the pitch and loft beautifully over bowler's head for six, followed by picking a four off a paddle-sweep. Gill again danced down the pitch to smack Chawla over wide long-on for another six as 20 runs came off the 13th over.
After Gill reached his century in 49 balls, he launched Green for a massive six down the ground and pulled twice to pick four and six (via a stunning forehand jab) through the leg-side. Gill opened bat-face late to square-drive Jordan for four, followed by Sudharsan hitting back-to-back boundaries to take 17 runs off 16th over.
Gill carted Madhwal over extra cover for four, but holed out to David at deep mid-wicket in the 17th over. Sudharsan and Hardik Pandya hit three boundaries between themselves before the former was retired out ahead of the final over. Hardik and Rashid Khan hit a four each in the final over, before the former slammed Jordan for six on the last ball to take Gujarat above 230.
In Mumbai's chase, Mohammed Shami struck in his very first over when makeshift opener Nehal Wadhera went for a pull, only to edge behind. Cameron Green got going with a first-ball four, but retired hurt in second over after being hit on left forearm while trying to fend off Hardik.
Shami struck again as Rohit Sharma top-edged a pull to fine leg. Tilak Varma got going by flicking and pulling for two sixes in his first four balls. The left-handed batter smashed Shami for four consecutive boundaries -- via late cut, pull and driving twice, before pulling him for six to take 24 runs off the fifth over as Mumbai raced to 65/2.
Rashid brought an end to Varma's cameo as the youngster missed a straighter delivery on sweep and was castled. Green returned to resume his innings and along with Suryakumar Yadav, the duo hit four boundaries and two sixes collectively against Rashid and Noor Ahmad.
Their partnership came to an end when Green was castled in 12th over while trying to pull off Josh Little. Suryakumar hit fours off Noor and Little, before reaching his fifty in 33 balls with a scooped six off the latter, followed by welcoming Mohit with a pulled maximum.&nbsp;
But the pacer bounced back immediately as Suryakumar went for another scoop, and saw his leg-stump castled. Concussion substitute Vishnu Vinod also fell to Mohit after spooning a catch to cover, followed by Tim David trapped lbw by Rashid. Mohit took the remaining three wickets to clinch a five-wicket haul in just 14 balls, thus sealing Gujarat's place in the final.
Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans 233/3 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 129, B Sai Sudharsan 43; Piyush Chawla 1/45) beat Mumbai Indians 171 in 18.2 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 61, Tilak Varma 43; Mohit Sharma 5/10, Rashid Khan 2/33) by 62 runs.
—IANS

After rain delayed the start of Qualifier 2 by 30 minutes, Shubman Gill smashed a majestic 129 off 60 balls and veteran pacer Mohit Sharma 

IPL 2023: Gill's majestic 129, Mohit's 5/10 help Gujarat Titans reach final with win over Mumbai Indians

New Delhi (The Hawk): Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister of State for Communications &amp; Member of Parliament from Kheda, Shri Devusinh Chauhan presented awards and prizes to sports persons at the finale of the MP Sports Competition 2023 today at the District Sports Complex in Nadiad, Gujarat. Both the dignitaries exhorted the youth to play constructive role in Nation building.

This year, the competition witnessed an exceptional turnout of approximately 9,500 participants from across Kheda Lok Sabha Constituency, making it one of the largest sporting events of its kind in India. Athletes participated in a wide variety of sports, including volleyball, kabaddi, road pulling, lemon spoon, kothra, running, and karate skating.

During this grand event, winning players were awarded medals and given words of encouragement by esteemed guests including MLAs of all legislative assemblies of Kheda Lok Sabha and other dignitaries.

In line with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to foster an environment that draws the younger generation away from screens and towards the sports field, the MP Sports Competition, sponsored by Shri Devusinh Chauhan, has seen successfully conducted for the last two years in Kheda.

Furthermore, in a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Central India's Pledge Letter was recited at the venue, eliciting a widespread positive response. This effort to instill a sense of nationalism among players and spectators alike was appreciated by competition coordinators Shri Manojbhai Trivedi and Shri Priteshbhai Patel.

The Minister extend his heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Minister, all the participants, coordinators, and spectators for their valuable contributions in making the sporting event a remarkable success.

Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister of State for Communications & Member of Parliament from Kheda

Bhupendra Patel and MoS Communications Shri Devusinh Chauhan award prizes to sportspersons in MP Sports Competition

Lucknow: Delhi University's girls became the first outfit to ensure themselves a quarterfinal berth in table tennis event at the Khelo India University Games 2022 at the BBD Badminton Hall, here on Wednesday.
Though the DU girls had an easy outing against Jadavpur University, winning the match 3-0, they got stretched by SRM University, Chennai.
DU girls won 3-1, but not before V. Kowshika took Trisha Gogoi the distance and then Tisha Kohli tripped to put the burden back on Vanshika Bhargava, who won both her singles to see their team through.
Vanshika beat Kavyashree Baskar, a national-level player, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 to provide a lead in their second-round match. Trisha Gogoi struggled before defeating a tenacious V. Kowshika 11-8, 14-12, 4-11, 6-11, 11-2. But Tisha Kohli lost in a tough battle 6-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-2, 8-11. Vanshika, yet again, was up to the task and beat a resistant Kowshika 11-3, 4-11, 13-11, 7-11, 11-9.
In a second-round match, Anannya Arup Basak led the charge against the University of Madras and helped Chitkara University win 3-2. Anannya won both her singles, first against Shruthi Ramkumar 3-1 and then beating Nithyashree Mani 3-2 (7-11, 8-11. 16-14, 11-3, 11-8). The third game turned the results in favour of Anannya. Lakshita Narang won the last rubber, beating Shruti 10-12, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6.
In other matches, Jadavpur University beat Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji University 3-2 and Chandigarh University triumphed over Savitribai Phule University 3-1 to strengthen their case in respective groups.
The men's team have played a round each, while the girls, who have played two rounds on Wednesday, have one more round on Thursday before the quarter-final draw takes place.
Results (Rounds 1):
Men:
Group A: Chitkara University bt Adamas University 3-1; SRM University bt Savtribai Phule University 3-0.
Group B: VELS University w/o from Mizoram University 3-0; Chandigarh University bt SAGE University 3-0.
Group C: Punjabi University bt University of Madras 3-2; University of Mumbai bt University of North Bengal 3-1.
Group D: Gujarat University bt University of Delhi 3-0; Lalit Narayan Mithila University bt Osmania University 3-1.
Women: (Rounds 1):
Group A: University of Madras bt University of Rajasthan 3-0; Chitkara University bt Lalit Narayan Mithila University 3-1.
Group B: SRM University bt Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji University 3-0; University of Delhi bt Jadavpur University 3-0.
Group C: Savitribai Phule University bt Osmania University 3-1; Chandigarh University bt University of Calcutta 3-2. Group D: Panjab University bt Nathibai Damodar University 3-1; Adamas University bt Jain University 3-1.—IANS

 Delhi University's girls became the first outfit to ensure themselves a quarterfinal berth in table tennis event

KIUG 2022, Table Tennis: Delhi University Girls Secure Quarterfinal Berth

Salalah: India kicked off their campaign in the Men's Junior Asia Cup hockey tournament here with a solid 18-0 win against Chinese Taipei in their first Pool A match.
Araijeet Singh Hundal (19', 19', 30', 59) starred in the match for India, scoring four goals on Wednesday evening, while Amandeep (37', 38', 41') netted a hat-trick. Captain Uttam Singh (10', 59'), Boby Singh Dhami (11', 46') and Chandura boby Poovanna ('9', 54') scored a brace while Aditya Arjun Lalage (37'), Sharda Nand Tiwari (11'), Angad Bir Singh (37'), Amir Ali (51'), and Rawat Yogember (60') also scored a goal each, Hockey India informed in a release.
India pressed early on in the match, earning themselves a crucial penalty corner. But Sharda Nand Tiwari's flick was defended by Chinese Taipei. Captain Uttam Singh (10') broke the opposition's resistance and scored the first goal for India, and a few seconds later, Boby Singh Dhami (11') doubled India's lead with a powerful strike. Sharda Nand Tiwari (11') added in the third goal for India from a penalty corner as India finished the first quarter with a 3-0 lead.
India continued their dominance in possession in the second half and managed to earn another penalty corner. But this time, the shot from Rohit was stopped in its track. A minute later, Araijeet Singh Hundal (19', 19') scored twice in a row to further extend India's lead and increase pressure on the opposition. At the stroke of halftime, Araijeet (30') struck a powerful shot towards the bottom right corner of the nets to complete his hat-trick and extend India's lead to 6-0.
Trailing by six goals, Chinese Taipei started showing urgency at the start of the third quarter. But India quickly regained possession and Boby Singh Dhami penetrated inside the circle to create another opportunity, which Angad Bir Singh (37') converted into another goal.
A few seconds later, Aditya Arjun Lalage (37') tapped the ball into the nets after receiving a sublime pass from Angad. With Amandeep (38') scoring another goal in the next minute, India extended their lead to 9-0. India added in three more goals before the end of the quarter to take their lead to 12-0.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, India continued to push forward and Boby Singh Dhami (46') found the back of the net once again. Chinese Taipei started defending in numbers in hopes of preventing more goals. But relentless attacks from the Indian troops kept up the pressure.
Amir Al's (51') powerful flick from a penalty corner increased India's lead to 14-0. Chandura boby Poovanna (54') added the 15th goal, while skipper Uttam Singh (59'), Araijeet (59') and Rawat Yogember (60') added three more goals in the final minute as India picked up a comfortable 18-0 win.
The Indian men's hockey team will face Japan in their next outing on May 25. The Uttam Singh-led team will then lock horns with Pakistan on May 27 before playing against Thailand in their last pool game on May 28.—IANS

India kicked off their campaign in the Men's Junior Asia Cup hockey tournament here with a solid 18-0 win against Chinese Taipei

Men’s Jr Asia Cup: Indian Hockey Team Starts Campaign With Massive Win

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