Sports

Mumbai Open: Indian Pair Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Riya Bhatia Advance to Quarterfinals

Published

1 year ago

February 6, 2025

Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Riya Bhatia, Prarthana Thombare, and Rutuja Bhosale have all advanced to the quarterfinals of the Mumbai Open 2025, marking a successful day for India’s doubles teams.

Shrivalli and Riya triumphed over Japan’s Mai Hontama and Kyoka Okamura, while Prarthana paired with Dutch player Arianne Hartono also secured a victory in their match.

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In a stunning upset, Thailand’s Luksika Tararudee defeated Slovakia’s third-seeded Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in straight sets, 7-6, 6-4. At just 20 years old, Tararudee showcased impressive maturity, effectively outmaneuvering her 30-year-old opponent with precise shot placements and strong net play.

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The first set was fiercely contested, with both players holding serve until Tararudee took a 5-4 lead. After a brief slip that allowed Schmiedlova to equalize, Tararudee’s composed baseline rallies and aggressive serves led her to clinch the tiebreaker. Despite Schmiedlova’s renowned resilience, she often found herself outplayed by Tararudee’s strategic shot selections. The second set remained tight, as Schmiedlova fought back with powerful forehands, but Tararudee’s consistent service games and well-timed strategies ultimately earned her a remarkable victory.

In another thrilling singles match, Japan’s Mai Hontama faced the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala in an intense showdown. Hontama won in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2, demonstrating her ability to stay calm under pressure. The first set featured relentless baseline rallies, leading to a tiebreaker that Hontama seized by maintaining her composure. The second set was fiercely competitive; however, Eala’s crucial errors allowed Hontama to secure the win.

In doubles, the Dutch-Indian partnership of Arianne Hartono and Prarthana Thombare delivered an impressive performance, defeating Thailand’s Peangtarn Plipuech and Japan’s Naho Sato in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. Their strong coordination and strategic volley placements were instrumental in their success, with Hartono’s aggressive returns complementing Thombare’s agile net play.

Meanwhile, Swiss fifth seed Jil Teichmann overcame a tough challenge from the Netherlands’ Arianne Hartono in a gripping match, recovering after losing the first set to win 6-7, 6-3, 6-3. Teichmann showcased her mental resilience and superior fitness, which proved decisive in the final set. Hartono’s aggressive style kept the pressure on, but Teichmann relied on her powerful backhand to pull through.

In a dramatic doubles match, India’s Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Riya Bhatia achieved a thrilling victory against Japan’s Mai Hontama and Kyoka Okamura, finishing with a tense score of 5-7, 6-2, 10-7 in the super tiebreaker. The Indian duo displayed remarkable resilience after dropping the first set, turning the match around with their aggressive net play and precise shot placements.

Great Britain’s Eden Silva and Russia’s Anastasia Tikhonova also put on a commanding show, securing a swift 6-2, 6-3 win. Silva’s sharp volleys, paired with Tikhonova’s baseline dominance, left their opponents struggling.

Japan’s Nao Hibino and Georgia’s Oksana Kalashnikova, the top seeds in the doubles event, secured a solid 7-6, 6-2 victory, thanks to their impressive chemistry and tactical gameplay. Hibino’s precise volleys, combined with Kalashnikova’s powerful serves, made them a formidable duo on the court.

In another doubles face-off, Russia’s second-seeded team of Anastasia Anshba and Ekaterina Pridankina showcased their dominance with a convincing 6-4, 6-4 win over the Philippines’ Alex Eala and Chia Yi Tsao. The Russian pair’s powerful baseline play and strategic shot placements were key to their well-earned victory.

Great Britain’s Alicia Barnett and India’s Rutuja Bhosale advanced to the next round after receiving a walkover against Zarina Diyas and Ekaterina Yashina.

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Sports

Spain Beat France 2-0 to Reach FIFA World Cup 2026 Final

Published

4 days ago

July 15, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Spain defeated France 2-0 in the first semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 to book their place in the final. The defeat ended France’s title hopes under captain Kylian Mbappe.

Spain took the lead in the 20th minute. Young star Lamine Yamal was fouled by France’s Lucas Digne inside the penalty area. Spain was awarded a penalty, and Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted the spot kick to make it 1-0.

The goal was Oyarzabal’s fifth of the tournament. He equalled David Villa’s record for the most goals scored by a Spanish player in a single FIFA World Cup.

Spain doubled its lead in the 58th minute. Right-back Pedro Porro scored after receiving a fine pass from Dani Olmo. The goal gave Spain complete control of the match.

France suffered an early setback when central defender William Saliba left the field with an injury in the first half. Despite having stars like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, France failed to score. It was the team’s first match of the tournament without a goal.

Spain also created history in the World Cup semi-finals. It became the first team to start two teenagers, 19-year-olds Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, in a World Cup semi-final.

The victory sent Spain into the FIFA World Cup final for the second time and for the first time since 2010.

Spain will face the winner of the second semi-final between England and Argentina in Sunday’s final.

France, meanwhile, missed the chance to reach a third straight World Cup final. The defeat also marked the end of coach Didier Deschamps’ long and successful journey with the national team.

Sports

Passenger Turns Flight into FIFA Watch Party during Match

Published

7 days ago

July 12, 2026

Namma Kudla

FIFA World cup: A football fan turned a regular flight into a memorable FIFA World Cup watch party by streaming the Argentina vs Egypt match for fellow passengers.

The fan paid for the airplane’s WiFi and stood at the front of the cabin with his laptop. He streamed the live match so that everyone on board could watch it.

The flight had 187 passengers. Many leaned into the aisle, while some stood up to get a better view of the screen. The passengers watched the exciting match together and cheered for the teams.

Argentina made a stunning comeback after trailing 2-0. Led by Lionel Messi, the team fought back to defeat Egypt 3-2 in a thrilling contest.

A video of the moment was shared on X and quickly went viral. Social media users praised the fan for bringing strangers together and creating a special experience during the flight.

The match also ended with a controversial VAR decision. Egypt believed they had scored a second goal after taking a 1-0 lead. However, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review.

Match officials ruled that an Egyptian player had fouled Argentina defender Lisandro Martínez before the goal was scored. As a result, the goal was cancelled, leaving Egypt’s players and many fans disappointed.

Sports

Yuvraj Singh Set to Begin Coaching Career with Delhi Capitals

Published

4 weeks ago

June 20, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Former India all-rounder and cricket legend Yuvraj Singh is set to begin his coaching career in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from the 2027 season, according to reports.

Sources say that Yuvraj Singh is likely to join the Delhi Capitals coaching staff for the 20th edition of the IPL. He is expected to take up the role of batting coach for the franchise.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is also expected to return to the Delhi Capitals setup. Reports suggest that Ganguly wants Yuvraj Singh to be part of the team’s support staff.

The Delhi Capitals franchise is jointly owned by GMR Group and JSW Group. The two groups manage the team on a rotational basis for two-year periods. GMR Group was in charge during the 2025 and 2026 seasons. From 2027, JSW Group will take control of the franchise for the next two years.

Reports indicate that major changes are being planned within the team. Yuvraj Singh’s appointment is believed to be one of those changes.

During the previous JSW management period, Sourav Ganguly served as the Director of Cricket for Delhi Capitals. Recently, under Ganguly’s guidance, the Pretoria Capitals reached the final of the SA20 league. This success has increased the possibility of his return to a key role with Delhi Capitals.

Delhi Capitals had disappointing campaigns in IPL 2025 and IPL 2026. Despite having several star players, the team failed to qualify for the playoffs in both seasons under captain Axar Patel.

Hemang Badani is currently the head coach of the team. However, reports suggest that his position could be under pressure after two unsuccessful seasons.

Fans are now eager to see whether the experience of Sourav Ganguly and the aggressive cricketing approach of Yuvraj Singh can help Delhi Capitals achieve better results in IPL 2027.