Author: WebDesk

18th September 2025: 48 archers were divided among six franchises today as the Archery Association of India officially launched the inaugural edition of the Archery Premier league at a grand event in New Delhi. 36 Indians and 12 foreign archers were picked in the draft as all teams formed competitive squads for the first season. The franchises – Prithviraj Yodhas (New Delhi), Mighty Marathas (Maharashtra), Kakatiya Knights (Telangana), Rajputana Royals (Rajasthan), Chero Archers (Jharkhand), and Chola Chiefs (Tamil Nadu) – stacked up their squads for the upcoming season with stellar line-ups in a thrilling draft that saw several twists and…

FC Goa fought hard, but ultimately suffered a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Iraq’s Al Zawraa SC in their AFC Champions League Two 2025-26 Group D tie at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa, on Wednesday, September 18, 2025. The entertaining encounter at PJN Stadium saw plenty of goalmouth action but, in the end, strikes from Reziq Banihani and Nizar Alrashdan saw Al Zawraa take the points on the road. A lapse in concentration early on nearly cost FC Goa as Mahdi Humaidan intercepted a back pass and surged into the box before crossing for Mohammed Qasim, who…

East Bengal FC have bolstered their attack with the signing of Japanese striker Hiroshi Ibusuki, who joins the Red and Gold Brigade on a contract running until the end of the 2025-26 season. The 33-year-old forward arrives from Australian A-League side Western United FC, bringing with him a wealth of experience and more than 120 career goals. Announcing the signing, Thangboi Singto, Head of Football at East Bengal, said: “Hiroshi’s proven goal-scoring record in top-tier leagues, combined with his professionalism and hunger for success, aligns perfectly with our vision of building a dynamic, competitive squad.” Standing at 6’5”, Ibusuki is…

FC Goa return to Asia’s elite stage this week as the Gaurs face Iraqi giants Al Zawraa in their AFC Champions League Two group opener. It is FC Goa’s second continental campaign after their 2020/21 adventure—played behind closed doors—and a first opportunity for fans to witness the club on Asia’s big night. Manolo Marquez, now in his third season at the helm, brings a side forged in resilience. Goa earned their place the hard way, edging Al Seeb 2–1 in last month’s preliminary round in Goa. They enter a formidable Group that also features Saudi heavyweights Al Nassr and Tajik…

Pakistan has landed in yet another controversy, this time off the football pitch, after Japanese authorities deported a group of 22 individuals who had entered the country posing as professional football players. According to Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the men travelled from Sialkot airport under the guise of a football club but were found carrying forged documents. Japanese officials quickly identified the irregularities and sent the entire group back, raising suspicions of a human trafficking operation. Investigators have named Malik Waqas as the alleged mastermind of the racket. Waqas reportedly registered a sham club called Golden Football Trial to…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Mumbai That Pragyan Ojha is in the running to become a national selector has been widely reported. Now, according to reports, Rudra Pratap (RP) Singh could be the other new selector, as a couple of positions in the BCCI men’s senior selection committee are set to fall vacant. Subroto Banerjee (Central Zone) and S Sharath (South Zone), are likely to be replaced by RP and Ojha respectively, the two former India cricketers. It appears that RP has staved off competition from Praveen Kumar and Ashish Winston Zaidi, who also applied from the Central Zone. The former left-arm…

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has weighed in on the ‘no-handshake’ stance taken by the Indian team after their seven-wicket win against Pakistan in Dubai in the Asia Cup. Following the game, Suryakumar Yadav and his players did not shake hands with the Pakistan cricketers, with the captain also dedicating the victory to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack in April where 26 lives were lost. Asked about the decision during an event on September 15, Ganguly distanced himself from the matter. “You need to ask the captain what he did and why he did it. I am too…

Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav led from the front as India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in Dubai in the Asia Cup. More than his batting, it was Surya’s heartfelt words after the match that will remain with fans, as he dedicated the win to the Pahalgam terror attack victims. Many had opposed India’s participation in this fixture due to the incident where 26 innocent lives were lost in Pahalgam earlier in April. There were calls for a boycott, and questions were raised about the players’ integrity and patriotism. However, India’s actions on the field sent a message that while…

Despite battling an elbow injury that had restricted his participation through most of the season, Ryan Crouser – three-time Olympic gold medallist – added a third World Championships gold to his collection in Tokyo. Having thrown just once to qualify for the final, Crouser launched the put 22.34m to climb the top step of the podium. In Saturday’s other finals, Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet outran Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay in the women’s 10,000m, while the USA took gold in the 4x400m mixed relay. Mexico’s Uziel Munoz was a shock silver medallist in the shot put behind Crouser, with Italy’s Leonardi Fabbri taking…

Olympian and reigning mixed team pistol world champion Esha Singh, ended India’s medal drought at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Rifle/Pistol in Ningbo, China, in style, bagging gold in the women’s 10m air pistol, leaving home favourite and in-form Yao Qianxun 0.1 behind in the final at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Centre on Saturday (Sep 13, 2025) morning. Reigning Olympic champion in the event, Oh Yejin of Korea, had to settle for bronze. Thrilled with winning a first-ever world cup gold in the event, Esha said after the final, “I am very happy as air is the…