ESPN India’s daily live blog is your handy guide for everything to do with the wide world of Indian sport. We have the latest updates and analysis from the entire bouquet of Olympic and franchise sports with an Indian bent. The blog is updated throughout the day, so keep checking back to catch up on news you may have missed.
Here are all the key updates from December 23, Saturday:
Jaipur Pink Panthers, Gujarat Giants register PKL wins
Jaipur Pink Panthers and Gujarat Giants went up to second and third respectively in the PKL standings with wins on Day 2 of the Chennai leg today. Jaipur produced a sensation comeback, having trailed Tamil Thalaivas by eight points at one stage, but they then came back to win by a point, 25-24.
In the other game, Rakesh HS and Fazel Atrachali were in superb form as Gujarat eased past UP Yoddhas by a 38-30 scoreline.
ISL: Noah brace helps Goa ease past Bagan
In a game that ended with the Mohun Bagan fans making their displeasure known to one and all at the Salt Lake Stadium, the hosts went down 1-4 to ISL league leaders FC Goa, who continued their sensational form to go four points clear at the top of the ISL.
Mohun Bagan vs FC Goa Report And As It Happened
Indian Davis Cup team will have to travel to Pakistan
Here’s an update on India vs Pakistan in Davis Cup. The International Tennis Federation tribunal has rejected AITA’s contention that India’s Davis Cup team could face security concerns during the World Group I Play-off tie in Islamabad. This means India will have to travel Pakistan to play their match else the tie will be awarded to the host nation.
All India Tennis Association Secretary General Anil Dhupar confirmed to PTI that ITF has rejected their appeal and that they will approach Sports Ministry to seek guidance on the issue. AITA’s request for a neutral venue was rejected by the 15-member Davis Cup Committee (DCC) and later the national federation approached the ITF Tribunal. AITA’s contention was that India should not be treated like other countries since the bilateral relations are tense between the two nations. They also said that Pakistan will have their general election on February 8, so the Indian team should not travel.
India were drawn to meet Pakistan in Pakistan in 2019 as well but the ITF had then moved the tie to Kazakshtan on AITA’s request. Pakistan’s top players had then pulled out of the tie in protest and the younger players were comfortably beaten.
Saurabh Chaudhary back in winner’s circle, nationally
Remember Saurabh Chaudhary? The former world No 1 and Asian Games champion won the men’s 10m air pistol T1 national selection trials, posting a score of 244.5. Saurabh, one of India’s most decorated pistol shooters, finished ahead of Army’s qualification topper Ravinder Singh by a margin of 0.1 in the eight-man final to be back in the winner’s circle after a while. In the women’s air pistol T1, Suruchi led a Haryana clean sweep, finishing ahead of two Olympians, Yashaswini Deswal and Manu Bhaker respectively.
Virender Singh Yadav returns Padma Shri in solidarity with Bajrang Punia
Deaflympics gold medallist Virender Singh Yadav, better known as Goonga Pehlwan, has decided to return his Padma Shri to the government, showing solidarity with the country’s top wrestlers who have objected to election of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh loyalist Sanjay Singh as WFI president.
Throwing his weight behind Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik, who announced her retirement from the sport soon after Sanjay Singh’s victory in the recent WFI polls, Virender said he would return the honour as a mark of protest against the election of Brij Bhushan’s close aide.
Bajrang Punia, one of the prominent faces of the protest against the former WFI chief, had returned his Padma Shri on Friday.
“I will also return the Padma Shri for my sister and the country’s daughter. Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, I am proud of your daughter and my sister Sakshi Malikkh,” Virender wrote on X.
He also urged the country’s iconic sports personalities such as Sachin Tendulkar and Neeraj Chopra to give their opinion on the issue. “I would also request the top players of the country to also give their decision,” Virender, said in his post, tagging cricket legend Tendulkar and Olympic champion javelin thrower Chopra.
Virender had received the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth highest civilian award, in 2021. Before that, he was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2015.
What’s on today?
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In ISL, Mohun Bagan Super Giant will be eager to get back to winning ways as they host FC Goa at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
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In PKL, Tamil Thalaivas take on Jaipur Pink Panthers while Gujarat Giants will be up against UP Yoddhas.
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The women’s National Boxing Championships continue in Greater Noida.
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The badminton National Championships are ongoing in Guwahati.
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More updates from Indian wrestling after Bajrang Punia decided to return his Padma Shri in protest as the new president takes charge of the federation.
What happened yesterday?
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ISL: East Bengal and Odisha play out goalless draw
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Bajrang Punia returns Padma Shri
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In PKL, Patna Pirates defeated Tamil Thalaivas and Telugu Titans secured a victory over the Haryana Steelers
You can check all the details of yesterday’s news events here.
