World champ Gukesh to run into Nakamura in Norway Chess 2025

IANS | January 21, 2025 5:42 PM

Stavanger (Norway), Jan 21 (IANS) Norway Chess, which has already got confirmation from five of the top-10 in FIDE Rankings, on Tuesday announced that world-renowned American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, currently ranked World No. 3, will compete in Norway Chess 2025. This will be Nakamura’s seventh time at Norway Chess, where his exciting games and competitive spirit have made him a favourite among fans.

Aus Open: Sabalenka digs deep to make 10th major semifinal

IANS | January 21, 2025 5:10 PM

Melbourne, Jan 21 (IANS) Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka survived a stern challenge from No. 27 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to reach her third consecutive Australian Open semifinal. Top seed Sabalenka twice came from a breakdown in the decider to advance 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in 1 hour and 53 minutes at Rod Laver Arena. The middle set was the first Sabalenka had dropped in Melbourne since the 2023 final.

ILT20 Season 3: Dubai Capitals snap Desert Vipers' winning streak with six-wicket victory

IANS | January 21, 2025 12:33 AM

Dubai, Jan 21 (IANS) The Desert Vipers' undefeated streak finally met its match on Monday, as the Dubai Capitals delivered a stunning six-wicket victory in the ITT20 Season 3 at the Dubai International Stadium. A dominant bowling performance, spearheaded by Dushmantha Chameera and Zahir Khan's three-wicket hauls, restricted the Vipers to 139. Gulbadin Naib then led the chase with a fiery 78-run innings off 51 balls, ensuring the Capitals broke a three-match losing streak.

Flame for 9th Asian Winter Games lit in Harbin

IANS | January 20, 2025 11:55 PM

Harbin (China), Jan 20 (IANS) The flame for the Harbin 2025 Asian Winter Games was lit at the Sun Island Scenic Area here on Monday, with 18 days to go before the opening of the Games. The flame was lit after a brief ceremony opened by a choir of 90 children.

Stuttgart eyeing Champions League progress ahead of crucial Bratislava showdown

IANS | January 20, 2025 11:42 PM

Berlin (Germany), Jan 20 (IANS) Riding high in the national league, last season's Bundesliga runner-up VfB Stuttgart now face a decisive clash against Slovan Bratislava in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. With hopes of advancing to the tournament's playoff round hanging in the balance, sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth emphasised the pressure on the team.

Kohli confirms he will play Delhi's next Ranji match vs Railways: Sources

IANS | January 20, 2025 11:25 PM

New Delhi, Jan 20 (IANS) Former India captain Virat Kohli has confirmed his availability for Delhi's next Ranji Trophy match and will play against Railways in the clash that will be played from January 30 to February 2 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here. Kohli himself has been very keen to play this match, which he communicated to the DDCA on Monday evening, sources told IANS.

HIL 2024-25: Soorma Club defeat Bengal Tigers 2-1 in a close clash

IANS | January 20, 2025 10:54 PM

Rourkela, Jan 20 (IANS) JSW Soorma Hockey Club beat Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers 2-1 in a high-voltage match here in the men's section of Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 held at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Monday. Goals were scored by Prabhjot Singh (21'), and Maninder Singh (28') while Jugraj Singh (39') scored the lone goal for the Tigers.

McCullum wants to declutter England's approach in white-ball cricket too

IANS | January 20, 2025 10:37 PM

Kolkata, Jan 20 (IANS) Having transformed England's approach to Test cricket with his concept of an all-out aggressive approach to batting, Brendon McCullum takes his coaching concepts to the slam-bang T20 cricket when he takes over as coach for a five-match T20I series against World Champions India starting at the Eden Gardens here on Wednesday.

It is ‘far too early’ to be calling Liverpool the best in the world, says Slot

IANS | January 20, 2025 10:14 PM

Liverpool, Jan 20 (IANS) After a 2-0 win against Brentford on Saturday, courtesy of an injury-time brace by substitute Darwin Nunez, head coach Thomas Frank labelled Liverpool as the best team in the world at the moment. Arne Slot on the other hand believes it is ‘far too early’ in the season to be calling his team the best in the world.