‘This could be my last World Cup’: Son Heung-min eyes one final dream run with South Korea

Kolkata, May 20 (IANS) Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) produced a clinical bowling performance led by the early strikes of Cameron Green and Saurabh Dubey before the spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy tightened the screws to leave Mumbai Indians (MI) struggling at 147/8 in 20 overs in Match 65 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Asked to bat first, the Mumbai Indians could not recover from a terrible start on a challenging two-paced pitch. Ryan Rickelton (6), after surviving the opening overs, edged Anukul Roy’s delivery to point, where Manish Pandey made a fantastic, swirling catch.

Green took control of the game with a powerful spell of seam bowling. The Australian dismissed Naman Dhir for a three-ball duck with a classic outswinger that caught the edge after repeatedly beating the batter outside off stump. Mumbai fell to 17/2 in three overs.

The pressure increased when Rohit Sharma (15) misplayed a slot ball from Saurabh Dubey towards deep midwicket. Green ran 33 meters from mid-on and completed a stunning over-the-shoulder catch while avoiding a collision with Rovman Powell, leaving MI at 24/3 in four overs.

Dubey continued to trouble Mumbai’s batters, although Suryakumar Yadav (15) briefly fought back with a trademark pickup six. The left-arm pacer then adjusted his angle and induced a thick inside edge from Suryakumar, who got out as Mumbai finished the powerplay at 46/4. Dubey’s opening figures were 3-0-22-2.

Then, a sudden rain interruption stopped play with Mumbai at 57/4 after eight overs. However, KKR’s spinners maintained their grip after the game resumed.

Sunil Narine, using a sharp turn and grip from the pitch, completely restricted the middle order. Tilak Varma struggled against the veteran spinner, who operated with a slip and short leg for Hardik Pandya, benefiting from significant pitch assistance. Narine allowed only six runs in his first two overs, leaving MI at a slow 64/4 after 10 overs.

Varun Chakravarthy, despite dealing with a small hairline fracture on his foot, also bowled effectively, conceding just four runs in his first over after the break. The mystery spinner finished with figures of 4-0-28-0 before Finn Allen took over as the Impact Player.

Tilak faced a scare when Varun dropped a high catch after almost colliding with substitute wicketkeeper Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who hurt his hand and had to leave the field. However, KKR quickly regained the upper hand as Kartik Tyagi dismissed Tilak, who managed only 20 runs off 32 balls, despite the short boundary on the leg side.

Hardik Pandya tried to rebuild alongside Will Jacks but never seemed comfortable against Narine’s variations. The off-spinner eventually broke through Hardik’s defence with a sharp offbreak at 94kph, getting the MI captain out for 26 off 27 balls. Narine finished with excellent figures of 4-1-13-1.

Will Jacks’ run-out for 13 added to Mumbai’s woes, as Corbin Bosch sent him back while trying for a risky second run. Bosch and Deepak Chahar then collected nine runs in Tyagi’s second last and 13 of Saurabh’s last, courtesy of back-to-back boundaries from Chahar.

Bosch then delivered back-to-back maximum’s of Tyagi’s last, followed by a boundary as visitors grabbed 52 runs of the last four overs, only to reach 147/8 in 20 overs.

Brief scores:

Mumbai Indians 147/8 in 20 overs (Corbin Bosch 32 not out, Hardik Pandya 26; Cameron Green 2-23, Saurabh Debey 2-34) against Kolkata Knight Riders.

–IANS

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Ahmedabad, March 12 (IANS) Rashid Khan shot a six-under 66 to take the first-round lead at the US$300,000 (INR 2.7 crore) Indorama Ventures Golf Championship 2026 being played at the Kalhaar Blues & Greens Golf Club in Ahmedabad.

Delhi-based Rashid, a winner of 14 titles including two on the international stage, put together seven birdies and a bogey on Thursday to enjoy the sole lead.

American Jhared Hack, winner of the season’s first event, was placed second after he carded a five-under 67 in round one.

Jhared’s round featured six birdies and a bogey.

Five golfers including Arjun Prasad, Brijesh Kumar, Saptak Talwar, Manav Bais and Kartik Singh occupied tied third place as they returned matching scores of four-under 68.

Rashid Khan made two birdies and a bogey on the back-nine. The 35-year-old looking to end his seven-year title drought, then produced five birdies on the front-nine to make his way to the top of the leaderboard.

Rashid said, “The course is playing great, different from last time and the pin positions were tricky. But I came up with some good shots and putts and created chances for myself by placing the ball in the right places. I don’t have any expectations and just want to give it my best from here on.”

Besides Jhared Hack, the other foreign players who enjoyed a good outing in round one were Frenchmen Clement Sordet and Pierre Pineau as well as Austrian Christoph Bleier, all of whom shot scores of three-under 69 to be tied eighth.

Among the Ahmedabad-based professionals, Aditya Raj Kumar Chauhan had the best opening round as he fired a 70 to be tied 15th.

Pre-tournament favourites Veer Ahlawat (71) and Yuvraj Sandhu (73) were placed tied 22nd and tied 41st respectively.

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Indian women’s hockey team captain Salima Tete, drag-flick specialist Deepika and midfielder Lalremsiami reflected on the power of women in sports, their personal journeys, and the significance of women’s empowerment in today’s world.

Their thoughts echo the resilience, determination, and grit that have not only defined their sporting careers but also contributed to the ongoing growth of women in sports across India.

Salima Tete has had a remarkable journey from a small village in Jharkhand to the international stage. Speaking on the empowerment of women, she said, “Coming from a humble background, I know what it means to push boundaries and fight against societal norms. I started playing with wooden sticks, but that never stopped me from dreaming big. Hockey gave me the confidence to face challenges head-on and believe in my abilities. Today, I feel proud to lead a team that inspires countless young girls to take up sports and pursue their dreams.”

She further added, “Women’s empowerment is about creating opportunities, and we as athletes are living proof that with determination, women can achieve anything, no matter where they come from.”

Deepika, who hails from Hisar, Haryana, also shared her story of perseverance and growth. “When I first picked up a hockey stick on my way to wrestling practice in 2012, I never imagined I’d be here today. My family, especially my father, supported me through thick and thin, even when people around us doubted my choice to pursue hockey,” she said.

Reflecting on women’s empowerment, Deepika remarked, “It’s crucial for women to believe in their own strength. We face many obstacles, but it’s our approach that defines our path. We have to remain focused, work hard, and never underestimate our power to break barriers. It may take time, but in the end, every goal is achievable with determination and motivation.”

Lalremsiami, the first female Olympian from Mizoram, shared her experiences of breaking through barriers and becoming a role model for girls in her state. “Coming from Mizoram and making it to the Olympics was a proud moment, not just for me, but for my community. It wasn’t an easy road – language barriers and adapting to new environments were challenging, but hockey was always the bridge that connected everything for me,” she shared.

In 2019, during the FIH Series Finals in Hiroshima, Japan, Lalremsiami faced an unimaginable personal tragedy when her father passed away just a day before India’s semifinal match.

Despite the heartbreaking news, Lalremsiami chose to stay with the team, putting her dedication to the sport and her teammates first. India went on to win the tournament, and her decision to remain with the team during such a difficult time showcased her unwavering commitment.

Reflecting on the moment, Lalremsiami said, “It was the hardest decision of my life, but I knew my father would have wanted me to stay and play for India. Hockey has taught me the importance of resilience and selflessness, and I hope my journey inspires other girls from Mizoram and across India to pursue their dreams, no matter the challenges they face.”

As the Indian women’s team continues to make strides on the global stage, Salima Tete, Deepika and Lalremsiami stand as shining examples of what women can achieve when given the right opportunities. Their personal journeys are reminder of the importance of nurturing talent, breaking down barriers, and empowering women not only in sports but in whatever career path they choose.

–IANS

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