Sports
Varun Chakaravarthy Stands Out, Poses Exciting Selection Dilemma: Rohit Sharma

Following India’s 44-run victory over New Zealand, which secured their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Champions Trophy against Australia, captain Rohit Sharma expressed that the decision to include Varun Chakaravarthy, who claimed 5 wickets for 42 runs, was aimed at evaluating what the wrist-spinner could contribute to the team.
On Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium, Chakaravarthy, in just his second ODI appearance, spearheaded India’s bowling attack on a sluggish black soil pitch, delivering an impressive 5-42. This marked the best bowling figures recorded in the ongoing tournament, successfully bundling out New Zealand for 205 runs in 45.3 overs and allowing India to finish at the top of Group A.
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“Varun brings something unique to the squad. I wanted to see what he could offer us. We will need to consider our options for the next game; it’s a good dilemma to have regarding his selection. If he’s on point, he can be quite challenging to read,” Rohit remarked during the post-match presentation.
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In addition to Chakaravarthy’s outstanding performance, Shreyas Iyer also played a pivotal role, scoring 79 runs and forming a crucial 98-run partnership with Axar Patel, who contributed 42 runs. Rohit emphasized the importance of finishing strong, noting, “New Zealand is a good team and has performed well recently. The partnership between Axar and Shreyas was vital after we lost wickets early on. They helped us reach a competitive total, which our bowlers were confident in defending. Momentum is key in such short matches, and we aimed to get everything right.”
In the first semi-final in Dubai, India will face Australia, marking a rematch of the 2023 ODI World Cup final which India lost in Ahmedabad. Rohit believes their encounter with the team led by Steve Smith promises to be an exciting match.
“Mistakes can happen but it’s crucial to correct them. I expect a great game. Australia has a strong history in ICC tournaments, and it’s essential for us to focus on our game plan and execution. We’re excited for this challenge and hope to perform well,” he added.
Chakaravarthy, who earned the Player of the Match title, admitted to feeling nervous at the start but became more comfortable as the game progressed, thanks to encouragement from his teammates.
“I was indeed nervous at first, having not played many ODIs for India. As the game went on, I felt more at ease. Virat, Rohit, Shreyas, and Hardik all spoke to me and reassured me. I found out the night before that I would be playing and looked forward to it, but anxiety lingered. The pitch wasn’t overly favorable for turn, but bowling in the right areas paid off. The performance by Kuldeep, Jadeja, Axar, and the fast bowlers showcased a complete team effort,” he explained.
On the other hand, New Zealand will face South Africa in the second semi-final at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, with both teams traveling together to Lahore on Monday. Skipper Mitchell Santner reflected on the match, stating that the pitch turned out to be slower than they anticipated during their chase.
“It was slower than what we’ve encountered before. India controlled the middle overs well. Shreyas batted excellently and Hardik finished strong. The spin exceeded our expectations compared to previous matches here,” Santner noted.
“Having four quality spinners made things challenging for us. Our priority was to secure early wickets in the powerplay. Kane’s form is beneficial for us, and South Africa is a formidable side with their pace and bounce in conditions like these,” he added.
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Sports
KIYG 2025: Kadir Khan from UP Shatters 400m Record; Tushar Chaudhary Sets Weightlifting Snatch Record on Day 10

Kadir Khan from Uttar Pradesh set a new 400m meet record twice within 24 hours at the Khelo India Youth Games 2025, showcasing impressive performances at the Patliputra Sports Complex on Tuesday.
Aditya Pisal emerged as the fastest boy in the Games, contributing to Maharashtra’s lead in the medal tally.
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In his first Khelo India Youth Games, Kadir Khan initially broke the 400m Games record on Monday and then bettered his time from 47.67 seconds to 47.34 seconds in the final, securing gold ahead of Bihar’s Piyush Raj, who finished with a silver at 47.43 seconds. Karnataka’s Sayed Sabeer captured bronze with a time of 47.50 seconds, both improving upon the previous meet record.
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In an interview with SAI Media, Khan expressed, “I didn’t anticipate running this well in my first Khelo India Youth Games. My goal is to improve my record in the next edition, and I’m thrilled to have achieved my personal best in Patna.”
On another hot day, Pisal clocked a remarkable 10.62 seconds, breaking the previous record of 10.63 seconds set by Sadanand Kumar in Panchkula in 2022. Bihar added a silver with Prince Kumar finishing just behind Pisal at 10.64 seconds. Pisal’s teammate, Rudra Sachin Shini, secured bronze with a time of 10.78 seconds. Bihar also captured a bronze in the boys’ 1500 meters, with Vijay Kumar clocking 3:57.12 seconds, while UP’s Bablu Kumar claimed gold in 3:56.36 seconds.
Day 4 of the competitions mirrored the previous three days in weightlifting, with Uttar Pradesh’s Tushar Chaudhary standing out by breaking both the clean & jerk and total lift records set by Goldi Khan of Himachal Pradesh at the Indian Weightlifting Federation’s National Championships in January 2023.
Faced with strong competition from Tamil Nadu’s R Kishore, who twice improved the snatch record and once for the overall lift, Chaudhary delivered an exceptional performance, lifting 126kg in snatch and 163kg in clean & jerk, surpassing Goldi Khan’s previous overall total by 7kg.
On the hockey field in Rajgir, Odisha triumphed over Jharkhand 3-1 in a shootout to clinch the girls’ gold after ending regulation time tied at 1-1. Madhya Pradesh claimed the bronze. In the men’s final, Haryana defeated Uttar Pradesh 1-0 to secure the boys’ gold, with Punjab taking home the bronze.
Rajasthan made significant strides up the medal standings on Tuesday, primarily due to the success of their cyclists. They won five out of six medals in the 30km boys and 20km girls Time Trials on the scenic Marine Drive along the River Ganga in Patna.
Ramavatar Chhimpa, the son of a sweet shop owner from Nokha in Bikaner, and Manju Choudhary, a farmer’s daughter from Barmer, bagged the boys’ and girls’ gold medals, respectively.
The wrestling medal rounds commenced in Patna, while in Bhagalpur, Uttarakhand’s Anish Negi clinched the boys’ singles gold in badminton after a tightly contested match against teammate Nishcal Chandan that concluded 21-10, 17-21, 21-16. Tanoo Chandra from Chhattisgarh secured the girls’ singles gold by defeating Delhi’s Rishika Nandi 21-17, 21-9. The boys’ doubles gold went to Andhra Pradesh’s Charan Ram Tippanna and Hari Krishan, while Uttarakhand’s Gayatri and Mansa Rawat took the girls’ doubles title.
Haryana dominated the wrestling events in both U-17 boys and girls categories, winning four of the seven gold medals on offer. The standout moment was Naina defending her 49 kg Khelo India Youth Games title, while her fellow wrestlers Rovind (65 kg Greco Roman), Harsh (51 kg), and Arjun Ruhil (92 kg) also claimed gold.
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Sports
SAFF U19 Championship: India Claims Top Spot in Group B with 4-0 Victory Over Nepal

India secured the top spot in Group B of the SAFF U19 Championship with a dominant 4-0 victory over Nepal at the Golden Jubilee Stadium on Tuesday. The team netted two goals in each half.
Rohen Singh Chaphamayum scored twice (28’, 76’), while local talent Omang Dodum (29’) and Danny Meitei (84’) contributed one goal each. With this win, India finished Group B with a flawless six points from two matches, featuring an impressive goal difference of 12. Nepal ended in second place with three points from their two games.
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The hosts will face Maldives, the runners-up of Group A, on Friday, May 16, while Group A winners Bangladesh will go up against Nepal at 3:30 PM IST in the semi-finals that same day.
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Although both teams had already assured their place in the semi-finals, the match began with high intensity. Neither side seemed willing to give an inch in the fight for group supremacy. However, once India opened the scoring, they took firm control of the game.
A cross from Malemngamba Singh on the left found Rohen after deflecting off a couple of heads, allowing him to slide it past Nepal’s goalkeeper Bhakta Bahadur Pariyar in the 28th minute.
Just a minute later, Omang extended the lead, expertly finishing after being set up by Danny with a deft touch into the top corner.
With a comfortable two-goal cushion, India grew in confidence and began to dominate the match against Nepal.
After the break, the Indian side maintained the pressure, with Omang, Danny, and Prashan combining to challenge the Nepal defense.
They scored a third goal with less than 15 minutes remaining when Prashan Jajo delivered a low cut-back to Danny. Although his shot was saved by Pariyar, Rohen was quick to volley in the rebound.
Finally, Danny, who had been instrumental throughout the match, found the net when India captain Singamayum Shami’s long-range shot was parried by Pariyar, allowing Danny to cleverly tap in the rebound.
India U19 lineup: Aheibam Suraj Singh (GK), Jodric Abranches, Sumit Sharma Brahmacharimayum, Singamayum Shami (C), Omang Dodum (Hemneichung Lunkim 67’), Md Arbash (Rishi Singh 67’), Chaphamayum Rohen Singh, Malemngamba Singh Thokchom (Roshan Singh Thangjam 46’), Danny Meitei Laishram (Ningthoukhongjam Rishi Singh 59’), Sohum Utreja, Prashan Jajo (Yohaan Benjamin 81’).
As a result of this match, Maldives finished second behind Bangladesh with two points from their two games.
In an earlier match, Bhutan’s Lham Tenzin (44′) opened the scoring, but Aidh Mohamed Jaweez (75′) equalized. Ashham Ibrahim Mohamed (90+3′) then scored an injury-time goal to give Maldives the lead, but Chogyel S. Sherab equalized for Bhutan in the closing minutes. This last-minute goal did not benefit Bhutan, as Maldives advanced to the semi-finals.
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Sports
Goodison Park to Serve as Permanent Home for Everton Women Starting in the 2025-26 Season

Everton Football Club is excited to share that Goodison Park will officially become the home of Everton Women, transforming the first purpose-built stadium in English football into a landmark venue for the Women’s Super League.
This decision comes after a thorough evaluation of the Goodison Legacy project by The Friedkin Group (TFG), initiated following their takeover in December. Launched in 2020, the Goodison Legacy project aims to shape the future of the stadium. The Friedkin Group concluded that football remains at the core of the Everton community.
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“This move reflects the current momentum of the women’s game and highlights its promising future. Goodison is a remarkable stadium steeped in history and closely linked to the local community,” said Megan Finnigan, captain of Everton Women.
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“Leading the team out for our first home match next season will be a career highlight. The potential for Everton Women with such a prestigious venue is incredibly exciting,” Finnigan added.
As the Men’s Senior Team transitions to the new stadium, Everton Women will move to Goodison for the 2025/26 season. This relocation addresses the growing need for a more suitable venue than Walton Hall Park.
Improvements will be made over time to ensure Goodison is adequately equipped before the season begins. The move will also create economic opportunities for local businesses through increased matchday attendance.
Goodison will continue to be a key part of Liverpool’s sporting and cultural landscape. Besides hosting Everton Women, it will accommodate selected Academy matches and expand the Everton in the Community L4 campus.
The former stadium, Walton Hall Park, will remain dedicated to grassroots, community, and development programs for women’s and girls’ football.
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