Sports
Champions Trophy: Virat Kohli Expresses Satisfaction with His Performance in Crucial Match

Following his impressive 51st ODI century in India’s commanding six-wicket victory over Pakistan, the iconic Virat Kohli expressed his satisfaction with delivering a solid performance in such a significant match, particularly emphasizing his responsibility to navigate the middle overs against the spinners.
Kohli entered the crease after captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed within the first ten overs, forming vital partnerships of 69 and 114 runs with Shubman Gill (46) and Shreyas Iyer (56), respectively, while finishing his innings with an unbeaten century off 111 balls, featuring seven boundaries. Throughout this innings, Kohli also made history by becoming the fastest player to reach 14,000 ODI runs.
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“It feels great to bat in that way during an important match, especially with a semifinal spot at stake, after Rohit got out. My objective was straightforward – to manage the middle overs, avoid risks against spinners, and target the pacers. I was pleased with my approach; it’s how I prefer to play in ODIs,” Kohli remarked.
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“I have a good understanding of my game. It’s about tuning out external distractions and managing my energy and mindset. It’s easy to get caught up in anticipation and excitement during matches like this,” Kohli stated while receiving the Player of the Match award.
During this match, he also surpassed Mohammed Azharuddin to become India’s leading fielder in ODIs. “I kept reminding myself to give my all in the field. I take pride in that. When you focus and put in the effort, things tend to fall into place, and eventually, you are rewarded. Clarity is crucial; when the ball comes at pace, you have to capitalize on scoring opportunities,” he added.
At 36 years old, Kohli praised Gill and Iyer for their performances in chasing down 242 runs with 45 balls remaining. “Shubman performed exceptionally well against Shaheen, and there’s a reason he’s ranked as the world’s number one batter. We needed to secure 60-70 runs during the powerplay; otherwise, we would have been on the back foot throughout the match.”
“Shreyas is also finding his rhythm at number four. He did well in India, and now he’s excelling here too. Everyone has contributed solid innings in these challenging conditions, which bodes well for our upcoming matches,” he added.
With a week off before facing New Zealand on March 2, Kohli concluded by expressing his gratitude for the break. “At my age, a week off is a welcome relief. It takes a lot out of me to exert such effort,” he said.
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Sports
India Secures 43 Medals at Asian U-15 and U-17 Boxing Championships

Team India has secured a total of 43 medals at the inaugural Asian U-15 & U-17 boxing championships, organized by the newly recognized Asian Boxing body under World Boxing. On Day 7, four additional pugilists advanced to the semifinals, ensuring India will take home at least 25 medals in the U-15 category and 18 in the U-17 category, as all semifinalists automatically receive bronze.
Aman Siwach (63kg) and Devansh (80kg) made significant strides in the U-17 boys’ segment, both claiming Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) victories over opponents from the Philippines and Jordan, respectively, during the final quarterfinals.
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In the girls’ division, Simranjeet Kaur (60kg) achieved a dominant 5-0 victory over Jordan’s Aya Alhasanat, while Himanshi (70kg) earned an RSC win against Palestine’s Farah Abou Layla in the very first round, advancing to the semifinals alongside her teammates.
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Results:
Men’s U-17 – Quarterfinals
60 kg: Sahil Duhan (IND) lost to Amirali Mehrabi (IRI) – WP 2:3
63 kg: Aman Siwach (IND) def. Ziadrach James Cabrera (PHI) – RSC R2
66 kg: Anant Gaurishankar Deshmukh (IND) lost to Daniyal Shalkarbay (KAZ) – WP 0:5
75 kg: Priyansh Sehrawat (IND) lost to Khurshidbek Juraev (UZB) – WP 0:5
80 kg: Devansh (IND) def. Abdallah Aldabbas (JOR) – RSC R3
80+ kg: Loven Gulia (IND) lost to Farhoud Ghorbani (IRI) – WP 0:5
Women’s U-17 – Quarterfinals
60 kg: Simranjeet Kaur (IND) def. Aya Alhasanat (JOR) – WP 5:0
70 kg: Himanshi (IND) def. Farah Abou Layla (PLE) – RSC R1
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Sports
Fleming Acknowledges Auction Errors as CSK’s Playoff Chances Diminish

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged that their player selections during the IPL 2025 mega auction might not have been ideal, following the team’s seventh defeat in nine matches. They lost by five wickets to Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk.
This loss marked their fourth consecutive defeat, contributing to CSK’s worst-ever home performance in the league, significantly diminishing their chances of playoff qualification.
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“It’s difficult to say we got everything right given our recent performances,” Fleming remarked after another disappointing batting display at home. “We’ve been reviewing our style of play and how the game is evolving.”
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“It’s a challenge, and that’s why we take pride in our past achievements. Consistency over the years is commendable, but it doesn’t take much for things to shift. Other teams have improved, which is the objective of the auction, but we have struggled to adapt,” he elaborated.
The former New Zealand captain emphasized the need for greater understanding and effort from the players. “Responsibility must be taken from the top down, and we must demand more from the players. We need to reflect on the auction outcomes; they didn’t meet our expectations.”
Describing the auction, Fleming referred to it as a “very fluid beast,” expressing confidence in the squad while noting the impact of injuries and unformed players.
“It’s not an exact science. The auction involves intense decision-making, which can be both mentally and physically draining. I still believe we have a good squad, and we’re close. Injuries and form issues have hindered us, and we’ve struggled to establish a consistent game plan,” he stated. “There’s a lot of responsibility and introspection, and I take that responsibility fully.”
In terms of team changes, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni showed reluctance towards frequent adjustments but may be compelled to make significant changes due to current player performances. After Sunrisers Hyderabad’s victory on Friday, which marked their first win at Chepauk, a visibly disappointed Dhoni reflected on the challenges when several key players underperform.
“In a tournament like this, if you can address one or two issues, it’s manageable. But when most players struggle, adjustments become necessary. You typically stick with performing players for a few games, but if several fail simultaneously, changes must be made to improve run production,” Dhoni noted.
Next, CSK will face the Punjab Kings on April 30 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
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Sports
Shambhavi Clinches Double Gold at the 23rd KSSM Championship

Shambhavi Kshirsagar from Maharashtra bested world championship medalists, Olympic finalists, and national champions to clinch the women’s 10m air rifle title at the 23rd Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championship (23rd KSSM) held at Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in Faridabad.
The 16-year-old, who placed fifth at the junior worlds in Lima last year, excelled in the qualifications with an impressive score of 633.5. She concluded the final with a remarkable 10.8 in her last shot out of 24, surpassing Haryana’s Ramita, an Olympic finalist. West Bengal’s Mehuli Ghosh, a bronze medalist at the world championship, secured the third position.
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Shambhavi truly shined on Saturday at the Karni Singh range, later winning a silver in the junior women’s event and securing another gold in the youth women’s competition.
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The senior women’s crown was particularly noteworthy, as Shambhavi competed alongside notable athletes like Mehuli, Ramita, Ananya Naidu (recently crowned national champion), and junior world championship medalist Shreya Agrawal.
As they approached the final two shots of the 24-shot final, Ramita held a narrow lead of 0.1. Both competitors recorded identical scores of 10.2 on their 23rd shots, but Shambhavi’s final shot landed her a score of 252.9, outpacing Ramita’s total of 252.1. Mehuli had exited after the 22nd shot with 231.0.
Ramita, however, avenged her earlier defeat by claiming victory over Shambhavi in the subsequent junior women’s final with a margin of 1.5. Manya Mittal from Uttar Pradesh secured third place.
Despite this setback, Shambhavi remained undeterred and showcased her resilience by winning the youth women’s title, finishing with a score of 253.6, ahead of Karnataka’s Nidhi Mittal by 1.8 points. Madhya Pradesh’s Gautami Bhanot claimed third place.
The senior qualification round attracted a diverse field of 411 shooters.
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