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.

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.

On Saturday, Yang Hansen, a teenage center from China, publicly declared his intention to enter the 2025 NBA Draft.

“This is the most significant decision of my life. I aspire to showcase my skills on a larger platform,” the 19-year-old shared in a recent interview with Xinhua.

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Reflecting on his journey, Yang noted, “Two years ago, I faced some of the top players in my age group globally at the FIBA U19 Men’s Basketball World Cup. That experience bolstered my confidence and ignited my ambition to reach greater heights.”

“Last year, I also participated in the NBA Summer League with our national team, which was an essential opportunity for me to gain valuable experience.”

During the ongoing Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) playoffs, Yang showcased his talent by leading the Qingdao Eagles to the quarterfinals, despite a close 3-2 defeat to the top-seeded Zhejiang Lions in the best-of-five series.

“I believe it’s time for me to evolve and learn at a higher level. I want to thank my club and our fans for their steadfast support,” emphasized the 2.18-meter center.

In January, Yang’s domestic agency announced his signing with Klutch Sports Group, a prominent agency founded by Rich Paul, known for representing NBA stars such as LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and De’Aaron Fox.

“Klutch Sports Group has connected me with experienced coaches who will come to China to offer guidance in basketball skills, tactics, and lifestyle habits. There are additional training programs planned in the United States,” Yang explained. “I feel fully prepared, both mentally and physically.”

In the 2024-2025 CBA regular season, Yang averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, three assists, and one steal per game, with an impressive average of 2.6 blocks, making him the league leader in that category. He earned a spot in the CBA All-Star starting lineup and was named to the All-CBA Chinese Player First Team.

In February 2024, during the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, Yang made a significant impact in his senior national team debut, scoring 13 points and providing four assists in just 19 minutes, contributing to China’s commanding 80-49 victory over Mongolia.

Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, the referee for the upcoming Copa del Rey final between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, became emotional on Friday while discussing the immense pressure he’s under prior to the match.

In response to questions about a video released by Real Madrid’s Club TV (RMTV), which points out alleged mistakes he made in previous encounters, de Burgos Bengoetxea opened up about the emotional toll. This tactic is often used by RMTV to sway referees ahead of important games.

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When addressing the recent video, he struggled to hold back tears, sharing how it affects both him and his family, as reported by Xinhua.

“It’s tough when your son comes home from school and tells you that his friends call his father a thief. It’s unfair, and it goes beyond just professionals—many families are impacted, and everyone should take a moment to think about their actions,” he said.

Pablo Gonzalez Fuentes, the VAR official for Saturday’s match, also criticized RMTV’s strategy, emphasizing the negative consequences of such videos. “They need to acknowledge the aftermath of these actions,” he remarked, noting that they often lead to online harassment of officials.

“We see community managers on official social media instigating attacks for likes. Footballers’ actions often imply that we’re dishonest. When journalists use terms like ‘theft,’ that frustration spills over onto the kids of referees,” he added. “We must confront these issues to restore a healthier and cleaner football environment.”

On the other hand, Real Madrid is preparing for the match amid serious injury concerns.

French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga will miss the rest of the season after suffering a significant groin injury during Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Getafe.

Camavinga came on for David Alaba at halftime, but had to leave the field in the 87th minute due to his injury, despite Madrid having used all their substitutions.

After the match, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti indicated that both Alaba and Camavinga might not be ready for Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against FC Barcelona. However, tests conducted Thursday revealed that Camavinga’s injury is more severe than initially believed.