FIFA: Torres’ extra-time heroics fire Spain to World Cup glory

FIFA: Torres’ extra-time heroics fire Spain to World Cup glory

New York, (IANS) Substitute Ferran Torres emerged as Spain’s hero, scoring the decisive goal in extra time as La Roja edged defending champions Argentina 1-0 to lift the FIFA World Cup 2026 title at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

After a tense and fiercely contested 90 minutes ended goalless, Torres finally broke the deadlock in the 106th minute. The forward latched onto Nico Williams’ headed knockdown before unleashing a powerful left-footed strike beyond Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to seal Spain’s second FIFA World Cup triumph, their first since winning the title in South Africa in 2010.

Spain dominated possession for long spells and carved out the better chances throughout the final but found Martinez in inspired form as the Argentine goalkeeper repeatedly denied the European side. Argentina, meanwhile, struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, with captain Lionel Messi largely contained by Spain’s disciplined defence.

The defending champions suffered a major setback deep into stoppage time of normal time when midfielder Enzo Fernandez was shown a second yellow card, reducing Argentina to 10 men for extra time.

Spain continued to pile on the pressure and thought they had doubled their lead in extra time, only for the effort to be ruled out for a foul in the build-up. However, Luis de la Fuente’s men remained composed and comfortably saw out the closing stages to bring Argentina’s reign as world champions to an end.

The triumph capped a remarkable tournament for Spain, who went unbeaten throughout the competition and added a second World Cup crown to their historic 2010 success. Argentina, champions in Qatar four years ago, fell agonisingly short in their bid to retain football’s biggest prize. FIFA: Torres’ extra-time heroics fire Spain to World Cup glory | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → July 20, 2026

Spain blank France 2-0 to reach FIFA World Cup final

Credit: @SEFutbol/X

Arlington, July 15 (IANS) Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro earned Spain a deserved 2-0 win over France at Dallas Stadium in their FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final here at the Dallas Stadium on Wednesday.

This was France's fourth defeat in the semi-finals of the World Cup (1958, 1982, 1986, 2026) in eight appearances. Moreover, this was the third consecutive elimination against Spain in the semi-finals of a competition after Euro 2024 (2-1) and the Nations League 2025 (5-4).

France lost their first knockout match in the World Cup since the 2014 quarter-final against Germany (0-1). That makes 11 matches (10 wins, 1 draw).

Spain will now face the England-Argentina victors at New Jersey Stadium in the final. They emerged triumphant in their only previous appearance in the fixture, Andres Iniesta sinking the Netherlands at Soccer City in 2010.

France started as the slight favourites and, though Kylian Mbappe threatened on the break, Lamine Yamal gave Luis de la Fuente’s side the game’s first big chance. The winger, a day after his 19th birthday, got to the ball before Lucas Digne and was clipped inside the box. Oyarzabal struck the resulting penalty past spot-kick-saving specialist Mike Maignan.

The advantage was amplified when Porro played a palatial one-two with Dani Olmo, taking the return impeccably and burying the ball in the bottom corner.

France, with Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki on, pushed to get back into a game, but goalkeeper Unai Simon acted astutely as a sweeper-keeper and Marc Cucurella made an excellent challenge on Mbappe.

The final whistle sparked ecstasy for the Spaniards and agony for the French. Didier Deschamps’ team will have a shot at bronze on Saturday, when Mbappe could boost his hopes for another Golden Boot.Spain kept their sixth clean sheet in seven matches at this tournament. They have conceded just two goals in North America. The record for a triumphant team in a World Cup is two shared by France in 1998, Italy in 2006 and Spain themselves in 2010. Spain blank France 2-0 to reach FIFA World Cup final | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → July 15, 2026

Wimbledon: Jannik Sinner beats Zverev to claim back-to-back titles

Credit: Wimbledon

London, July 13 (IANS) Defending champion Jannik Sinner successfully kept his Wimbledon title, defeating French Open champion Alexander Zverev 6-7(7), 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a high-quality final at the centre court on Sunday.

This victory marks his second consecutive title at the All England Club and the fifth Grand Slam trophy of his career. The 24-year-old continued his impressive dominance over the German, achieving a 10th straight win against Zverev. However, his streak of 14 consecutive sets won against him ended when he dropped the opening-set tiebreak.

Zverev, 29, was hoping to claim a second straight major title but was once again stopped by the world's top-ranked player. He now has an 0-7 record against No. 1-ranked players at Grand Slams. Sinner clinched the victory in style, hitting a stunning crosscourt backhand winner off a Zverev drop shot to earn championship point. He then finished the match with a powerful forehand winner up the line. After winning, the Italian collapsed onto the grass in celebration and embraced Zverev at the net.

After narrowly losing a fiercely contested opening-set tie-break, the Italian responded with remarkable composure to edge the second set in another tie-break before taking complete control of the contest. Sinner’s relentless baseline hitting, superior returning and calm temperament proved decisive as he sealed the biggest title of his career.

Although Zverev fired 17 aces and landed 80 percent of his first serves, Sinner was more clinical in the crucial moments. The Italian won 80 per cent of points on his first serve, claimed 68 percent on his second serve, converted two of his five break-point opportunities, and dominated from the baseline by winning 43 receiving points compared to Zverev’s 34.

Sinner finished the match with 145 points to Zverev’s 130 and won 25 games overall, underlining his consistency across the three-hour-plus contest.

The victory marks Sinner’s second Wimbledon crown and further cements his status as one of the sport’s leading stars, while Zverev’s wait for a maiden Grand Slam title continues despite another valiant effort on one of tennis’ biggest stages.

Brief score:

Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final: Jannik Sinner (Italy) bt Alexander Zverev (Germany) 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4.

Every Grand Slam is different, but this one means a lot: Sinner on Wimbledon glory

After winning his Grand Slam major, Jannik Sinner emphasised the meaning of his latest major win and said every major is different, but the taste of this Wimbledon triumph has all its own flavour.

Maybe there’s something about a traumatic reverse at Roland-Garros that instils in Sinner a particular hunger for Wimbledon. Last year he arrived here after losing to Carlos Alcaraz from three Championship points up in the Paris final and won his first Wimbledon.

This time he played the final here 45 days after Juan Manuel Cerundolo overturned Sinner’s two-set lead in the second round at Roland-Garros… and won his second Wimbledon crown.

The Italian repelled the three-hour, 46-minute all-out attack from Alexander Zverev to win 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4.

“I think every Grand Slam is different,” Sinner said in his post-match press conference after his win. “Different story, different environment, different feelings before the tournament. For me this one means a lot because it was a tough one after Paris again. Last year was also tough."

"But coming here, I tried to put myself in the best possible position to be as competitive as possible. Definitely sacrificing a lot of my time and everything to be in this position. Having this achievement, it means a lot to me. It was an amazing day today," he added.

Sinner entered Sunday’s title showdown on a nine-match winning streak against Zverev in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Yet the second-seeded German, riding high after winning his first major crown at Roland Garros last month, threatened to snap that run by bringing some of his best tennis to their latest encounter, particularly up to the second-set tie-break.

"Big, big respect to Sascha, because he's doing something amazing," Sinner said. "His game is growing and growing. In the same time, that's exactly what's good, because you have always someone who is pushing you to the limit.

"We hope that Carlos Alcaraz is coming back, as well, because tennis needs him. Having Novak Djokovic still around, having all the young players coming, it's really, really nice. At the same time, you always need to work hard and have moments like this," he said.

With his second grass court major win, Sinner extended his lead over Alcaraz in their Big Titles battle. This was his 17th ‘Big Title’ – a combination of Grand Slam championships, trophies at the ATP Finals and ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, and Olympic singles gold medals. Alcaraz owns 15 big titles.Sinner earned his first Grand Slam crown since Wimbledon one year ago and his fifth major title overall. The Italian has lifted all of his Slam trophies since the start of the 2024 season. Wimbledon: Jannik Sinner beats Zverev to claim back-to-back titles | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → July 13, 2026

FIFA WC: Epic comeback sees Argentina beat Egypt 3-2, reach quarters

Photo credit: FIFA.com

Atlanta, (IANS) Lionel Messi assisted and scored a goal while Enzo Fernández struck the winner in stoppage time as defending champions Argentina produced a comeback for the ages for a sensational 3-2 win over Egypt and sealed a place in the quarterfinals in the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Atlanta on Tuesday.

Argentina fought back from 0-2 down in the round of 16 match after Yasser Ibrahim (15th min) and Mostafa Zico (62nd min) had scored for Egypt and created the possibility of the defending champions ending their campaign early, joining the five-time winner Brazil and Germany on the scrap heap.

But Messi weaved his magic, first launching the attack and providing the assist to Cristian Romero's goal in the 79th minute and then getting onto the scoresheet himself in the 83rd minute as Lautaro hooked a deep ball into the area, which dropped favourably for the Argentine captain, who laced it towards goal. Goalkeeper Shobeir gets a hand on it, but it hits the bar and goes in to make it 2-2.

Enzo Fernandez then sealed victory for Argentina by scoring an incredible goal in the third minute of stoppage time, making it 3-2 for Argentina. Lautaro swung a deep cross to the back post, and Enzo Fernandez met it and sent the ball back from where it came and into the far corner.

Earlier, Argentina conceded a goal in the first half of a World Cup match for the first time since their 2018 Round of 16 tie against France. They had not conceded in the first half in their last 11 matches before this match.

Yasser Ibrahim headed Egypt into a shock lead, before Mostafa Shoubir protected it magnificently. The goalkeeper dived south-west to save a Messi penalty, which Nicolas Tagliafico had craftily earned, and made superb stops from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez.

Egypt thought they had made it two just before the hour. Haissem Hassan made an imperial dash down the right and fed Salah, who enabled Zico to ripple the net. The goal was, however, ruled out for a foul in the build-up. It merely delayed the Al Ahly man doubling the lead, though, as he finished off a rapid counter-attack involving Salah and Hassan.

It left Egypt on the cusp of victory, but Argentina were not done yet. They missed many chances but did not lose patience as they attacked repeatedly and created opportunities, and scripted a great comeback.Christian Romero pulled one back, Messi’s brilliant finish equalised, and Fernandez completed an epic survival story. FIFA WC: Epic comeback sees Argentina beat Egypt 3-2, reach quarters | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → July 09, 2026

World Cup 2026 prize money, fees to be increased for all teams: FIFA

Lionel Messi’s Argentina are the defending champions of the FIFA World Cup after winning the tournament in Qatar in 2022

FIFA says it is ‌‌in discussions with national football associations to increase prize money for all 48 teams participating in the World Cup.

In response to requests by ‌‌European teams to increase prize money and to assist with costs associated with their participation this summer in the World Cup, the world governing body is set to fulfil those wishes, it said on Sunday.

The proposal must be approved at Tuesday’s FIFA Council meeting, being held before the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada.

FIFA announced in December a record World Cup prize fund of $ 727 million, with the winning team taking home $ 50 million and each team receiving at least $ 10.5 million. Since that December announcement, FIFA and national associations have engaged in talks and aim to resolve the issue.

UEFA, European football’s governing body, contacted FIFA after ‌‌hearing from several of its member associations regarding the costs of participating in the World Cup, including travel, operations and taxes, particularly in the United States. Canada and Mexico are the other host countries.

FIFA said the prize money on offer is set to increase, with the world governing body projected to surpass $ 11 billion in revenue in the current ‌‌four-year cycle of 2023 to 2026.

The World Cup will run from 11 June to 19 July. World Cup 2026 prize money, fees to be increased for all teams: FIFA | Daily FT

Read More........ → June 19, 2026

Boxing World Cup: Minakshi advances to quarters in China

(Photo: BFI)

Guiyang, June 18 (IANS) Indian boxer Minakshi secured a win on the fourth day of the Boxing World Cup (Stage 2) in China, moving on to the quarterfinals in her weight class.

Minakshi, the reigning 48kg World Champion and current World No. 1, now competing in the women's 51kg category, secured a decisive 5-0 unanimous decision victory over Poland's Natalia Kuczewska, advancing in the competition.

On day four, Abhinash Jamwal (65kg) was eliminated after losing 0-5 to Kyrgyzstan's Mirzokhid Imamnazarov.

So far in the tournament, five Indian boxers have reached the quarterfinals: Nikhil (55kg), Deepak (70kg), Minakshi (51kg), Prachi (57kg), and Saneh (65kg). Additionally, Jyoti (48kg) and Jugnoo (85kg) have secured medals by advancing to the semi-finals.

Jyoti was a late addition to India’s squad as the BFI expanded the 18-member squad to 20, adding Aakash alongside in the 75kg category as India’s contingent saw 10 male and 10 female boxers represent the nation.

“Our foremost responsibility is towards the athletes. International competitions play a vital role in a boxer's development, and every deserving athlete should have the opportunity to test themselves against the best in the world. Jyoti and Aakash have worked hard to earn this chance, and it is important that they are able to compete, gain valuable exposure against top international opponents and further their development at the highest level,” Ajay Singh, President of the Boxing Federation of India, had said.

On Day 5, four Indian boxers will compete in their quarterfinal matches. In the women's category, Minakshi (51kg) will face Kazakhstan's Alua Balkibekova, Saneh (65kg) will face Poland's Kinga Krowka, and Prachi (57kg) will face Shih Yi Wu of Chinese Taipei. In the men's division, Nikhil (55kg) will go up against Azerbaijan's Amin Mammadzada.

Results (India):

Won:

Minakshi (51kg-W) bt Natalia Kuczewska (Poland) 5-0

Lost:

Abhinash Jamwal (65kg) lost to Mirzokhid Imamnazarov (Kyrgyzstan) 0-5

Indian Boxers in Quarterfinals:

Nikhil (55kg)

Deepak (70kg)

Minakshi (51kg-W)

Prachi (57kg-W)

Saneh (65kg-W)

Indian Boxers in Semi-finals:

Jyoti (48kg-W)

Jugnoo (85kg)

Day 5 Schedule (India):

Minakshi (51kg-W) vs Alua Balkibekova (Kazakhstan)

Saneh (65kg-W) vs Kinga Krowka (Poland)

Nikhil (55kg) vs Amin Mammadzada (Azerbaijan)

Prachi (57kg-W) vs Chengyu Yang (Chinese Taipei)Deepak Poonia (70KG) vs Nabi Isgandarov (Azerbaijan) Boxing World Cup: Minakshi advances to quarters in China | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → June 19, 2026

FIFA WC 2026: Amad's late winner steers Ivory coast to thrilling 1-0 win over Ecuador

Credit: FIFA

Philadelphia, (IANS) Manchester United winger Amad Diallo's 90th-minute winner helped Ivory Coast edge Ecuador 1-0 in a breathless FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E contest here at the Philadelphia Stadium on Monday (IST).

The match seemed to be heading for a goalless draw before substitute Amad caressed a shot into the bottom corner to secure his team's first World Cup match since 2014. The win saw Ivory Coast move into second place in Group E behind Germany, who hammered Curacao 7-1 on Sunday.

The first half of the match was wildly exciting. Ecuador almost scored twice, but both shots hit the frame of the goal. First, John Yeboah’s powerful shot from outside the box smashed against the crossbar. Shortly after, Alan Minda got a great pass from Pedro Vite, but his curling shot also hit the bar with the goalkeeper completely beaten.

However, Ivory Coast fought back. Yan Diomande played brilliantly on the right side, constantly making dangerous runs, while Bazoumana Toure hit a low shot that forced a close fingertip save from Ecuador's goalkeeper, Hernan Galindez.

Notably, at 19 years and 212 days, Yan Diomande became the first teenager to make an appearance in a FIFA World Cup match for Ivory Coast.

Chances continued to flow early in the second half, with Enner Valencia smashing a shot off the post from a tight angle. It was then Ecuador's turn to hit the bar. Elye Wahi made a solid connection with his first-time strike but couldn’t keep it down, and it cannoned off the bar.The Ivory Coast began to seize control of the match, enjoying most of the possession as Ecuador retreated. They got their reward for their enterprising play late in the piece when Amad slotted in to send them top of Group E. FIFA WC 2026: Amad's late winner steers Ivory coast to thrilling 1-0 win over Ecuador | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → June 16, 2026

FIFA WC 2026: McGinn's first-half goal sets up Scotland's first win since 1990

Credit: FIFA/Instagram

Boston (US), June 14 (IANS) A first-half goal from John McGinn proved the difference as Scotland secured a first first World Cup win in 36 years (since 1990), beating Haiti 1-0 in the Group C match here at the Boston Stadium on Sunday.

Notably, this is Scotland's first victory in a World Cup opener since their 5-2 win over New Zealand at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. Moreover, this was Scotland’s first appearance at a men’s World Cup since 1998.

The match started with both teams trading attacks as they tried to settle into the game under the noise of a loud crowd. Scotland soon began to take control, with Scott McTominay heading the ball over the crossbar seven minutes in and hitting the post shortly after.

But, Haiti kept putting pressure on Scotland. However, in the 29th minute, the Scots took the lead. Forward Che Adams controlled a long ball and passed it to Ben Gannon-Doak, who crossed it toward the near post. A Haiti defender blocked the cross, but McGinn was waiting at the edge of the box and pounced on a rebound, firing a shot that took a slight deflection and beat Haiti goalkeeper Johnny Placide.

After the hydration break Haiti found a bit more space creating several half chances. Ruben Providence came closest for the Concacaf nation, cutting in from the wing and whipping a low shot which Angus Gunn couldn't hold on to leading to a frenetic penalty-box scramble.

The second half was just as energetic, but neither team created many good scoring chances. John McGinn had a chance to score his second goal of the match when he found himself open in Haiti's penalty area. However, under pressure from defender Ricardo Ade, the Aston Villa midfielder kicked the ball wide of the net.

Moments later Providence almost created a goal from nothing for Haiti. The winger sent a low cross through the penalty area but Wilson Isidor was unable to connect at the far post.

Haiti had one more chance to level the score late in the game. Frantdzy Pierrot rose above the Scottish defenders to attack a cross whipped in from the right wing. Pierrot, who had been a handful for the Scots all game, made excellent contact but the ball went just wide of the far post.While Scotland go to bed as leaders of Group C, Haiti will look to bounce back in their two remaining matches against Morocco and Brazil. FIFA WC 2026: McGinn's first-half goal sets up Scotland's first win since 1990 | MorungExpres

Read More........ → June 14, 2026

French Open: Sabalenka beats Osaka to reach 14th consecutive major QF

Credit: Roland-Garros

Paris, (IANS) Aryna Sabalenka defeated Naomi Osaka in a thrilling fourth-round match at Roland Garros, securing a 7-5, 6-3 victory to advance to her 14th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Sabalenka is the only player left in the women's draw who's played in a major final. She will face No. 25 seed Diana Shnaider next, who booked her first career Grand Slam quarterfinal with a three-set win over No. 19 seed Madison Keys.

Osaka won the first two games of the match as Sabalenka struggled to get going. Five unforced errors -- including a double fault on break point -- handed Osaka the early advantage.

The top seed quickly shook that off. Two clean forehand winners helped pocket a break back, and she cruised on serve for the rest of the match. Not only did she not face a break point for the rest of the match, she was barely pushed past deuce, WTA reports.

The only game that went to deuce on Sabalenka's serve was the sixth game of set two, with Osaka ahead 3-2. A tight tussle in a six-minute game, which immediately followed a 2-2 hold by Osaka where Sabalenka failed to convert break point, sparked a four-game run for Sabalenka that ended the match.

After falling just short of her first French Open title 12 months ago, Sabalenka is fully focused on finishing the job this year.

"I'm not really overthinking, I was able to kind of, like, separate myself from what's going on this year at the Roland Garros," she said. "I have been around. Anything can happen. That's tennis. That's sport, you know?“I'm just trying, once again, you know, to be focused on myself and make sure that when I'm there competing, I'm bringing my best level that I have, and I'm there, I'm fighting, and you know, I'm doing everything I can to get this trophy.” French Open: Sabalenka beats Osaka to reach 14th consecutive major QF | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → June 02, 2026

Asian Boxing C’ships: Vishvanath Suresh stuns World No. 1; Ankushita, Narender advance to semis

Photo credit: Asian Boxing

Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), (IANS) Havaldar Vishvanath Suresh delivered a remarkable performance in Indian boxing, defeating the reigning World Champion and World No. 1 Sanzhar Tashkenbay (KAZ) with a decisive 5-0 win. This victory propelled him into the semifinals of the Asian Boxing Championships 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Vishvanath (Men’s 50 kg – Flyweight) has swiftly established himself as one of India’s most promising boxing talents, effortlessly progressing from a strong youth career to the top echelons of the senior ranks. Originating from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, his ascent signifies a notable milestone for boxing talent emerging from the region.

Heading into 2026, Vishvanath remains the reigning national champion after winning gold at the Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships 2026. In the final, he decisively defeated Rishi Singh with a unanimous 5-0 decision, cementing his status as India’s top boxer in the 50 kg category.

His rise has been supported by an outstanding youth career. Vishvanath initially gained international recognition with a gold medal at the IBA Youth Men's World Boxing Championships 2022, and then secured another gold at the ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Championships 2022, demonstrating his dominance on both world and continental stages.

As he advanced in his career, Vishvanath consistently impressed against tougher and more seasoned opponents. He earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Asian U-22 Boxing Championships and later won another gold medal at the BFI Federation Cup 2025 in Chennai.

Vishwanath is technically sharp and tactically astute, renowned for his speed, agility, and ring intelligence. His skill in controlling distance, along with his quick, precise combinations, establishes him as a formidable figure in the fast-paced flyweight division.

After his national victory, he was selected to compete at the 2026 Asian Boxing Championships and played a vital role in India’s efforts. During the tournament in Ulaanbaatar, he caused a significant upset by defeating the reigning world champion and World No. 1, securing his place in the semifinals.

Vishvanath is developing into a strong international medal contender, thanks to training at the Army Sports Institute, with support from the Boxing Federation of India.

Vishvanath Suresh, who began as a decorated youth champion and rose to India’s top-ranked flyweight, demonstrates a trajectory of consistent growth, rapid advancement, and the potential for continued international success.

In the women’s 65kg category, Ankushita Boro secured a decisive 4-1 victory against Laura Yessenkeldi (KAZ), demonstrating poise and dominance to reach the semifinals. She will now compete against Chinese Taipei's Nien-Chin Chen, the 2025 World Boxing Finals gold medalist and Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, in an important semifinal match.

In the men’s division, Narender maintained his momentum with a 5-0 win against Orkhan Aghayev (UAE), moving into the semifinals. He will next face China’s Bayikewuzi Danabieke, a bronze medalist at both the 2022 Asian Games and the 2025 World Championships.

Meanwhile, in the men’s 65kg category, Aditya was eliminated following a 0-5 defeat to Uzbekistan’s Abdulloh Madaminov in the quarterfinals.India’s campaign at the Asian Boxing Championships 2026 continues to gain momentum in Ulaanbaatar, with standout performances and several semifinal appearances. Asian Boxing C’ships: Vishvanath Suresh stuns World No. 1; Ankushita, Narender advance to semis | MorungExpress | morungexpress.comt

Read More........ → April 10, 2026

Champions League: Real Madrid, PSG cruise into QF, Arsenal, Sporting CP stage stunning comeback

Credit: UEFA

New Delhi, (IANS) Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain comfortably saw off English opponents Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal battled past Leverkusen and Sporting CP mounted a memorable comeback against Bodo/Glimt as the first four teams through to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals are confirmed.

Real Madrid knocked Manchester City out of the competition for the third campaign running following Vinicius Junior's double.

Man City, 3-0 down from the first leg, came racing out of the blocks looking for the goal that could possibly spark a memorable come back.

But a combination of keeper Thibaut Courtois and several near misses kept the score goalless until a penalty that resulted in Bernardo’s dismissal - and a goal for Madrid on 20 minutes - made an arduous task near impossible.

But City never gave up hope, and deservedly levelled the scores on 41 minutes through Erling Haaland and saw Jeremy Doku and Ryan Ait-Nouri have goals disallowed after the break.

It was always going to be a big ask, but the Blues couldn’t have tried much harder and Vinicius Jr scoring with the last kick to give the Spaniard’s a 2-1 victory felt incredibly harsh.

Meanwhile, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola and Senny Mayulu struck as PSG cruised past Chelsea with 8-2 aggregate victory in London.

Kvaratskhelia, whose late double sealed a 5-2 first-leg win, held off Mamadou Sarr to fire in from inside the box after six minutes. Barcola had scored the opening goal of the tie six days earlier, and the winger added to his tally by curling in clinically to complete a rapid break by the visitors in the 15th minute.

Half-time substitute Mayulu followed suit 17 minutes after the restart with a superb finish for the holders, who will meet Liverpool or Galatasaray in the quarter-finals, UEFA reports.

Elsewhere, a thunderous effort from Eberechi Eze was the catalyst as Arsenal claimed a quarter-final spot at Leverkusen's expense with a 3-1 aggregate win.

Mikel Arteta's side dominated much of the first half and the visitors relied on their goalkeeper Janis Blaswich to make a series of good saves from the likes of Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard.

Eze's explosive strike on the turn shortly before the break after a smart one-touch passing move finally put the hosts in front, however, and England midfielder Rice stroked in a smooth second to give the Premier League club a deserved 3-1 aggregate success.

Scintillating Sporting CP became just the fifth team in Champions League history to overcome a first-leg deficit of three goals or more as they struck twice in extra time to complete a memorable comeback against Bodo/Glimt.

Trailing 3-0 after last week's first leg in Norway, the hosts made the breakthrough when Goncalo Inácio rose to head in a corner. They kept the pressure on in the second half and got their reward when Pedro Gonçalves finished off a brilliant team move before Luis Suárez converted a penalty with 12 minutes remaining.In extra time Maximiliano Araújo quickly fired in to spark delirium and Rafael Nel slammed in a late fifth as Sporting reached the quarter-finals for the first time since the 1982/83 European Cup. Champions League: Real Madrid, PSG cruise into QF, Arsenal, Sporting CP stage stunning comeback | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → March 18, 2026

Valverde hat-trick powers Real Madrid to Champions League win over Manchester City

Credit: Real Madrid

Madrid, (IANS) Fede Valverde scored a first-half hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Manchester City 3-0 at home in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Valverde opened the scoring at the Santiago Bernabeu in the 22nd minute when he controlled a long ball from Thibaut Courtois, slipped past Nico O'Reilly and beat Gianluigi Donnarumma, who appeared as though he could have done better.

His second goal came five minutes later when a deflected pass fell to him on the left side of the Manchester City penalty area, and he took one touch before firing a left-foot shot across Donnarumma, reports Xinhua.

The Uruguayan completed his hat-trick in the 42nd minute after a pass from Brahim Diaz allowed him to flick the ball over Marc Guehi and smash home from close range to stun the visitors.

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola fielded an attack-minded side in Madrid, with Rodri Hernandez as his only holding midfielder and Bernardo Silva in a more advanced role, while Jeremy Doku, Antoine Semenyo and Savinho formed a line behind Erling Haaland.

Manchester City had looked the more likely side to score in the opening 20 minutes, with Doku causing problems down the left and flashing two balls across the face of goal, while O'Reilly had a chance and Silva volleyed just wide.

Valverde's first goal changed the game completely, and Guardiola brought on Tijjani Reijnders for the second half in place of Savinho, while Fran Garcia replaced Ferland Mendy at left back for Real Madrid after Mendy suffered a physical problem.

Brahim drew a good save from Donnarumma early in the second half, while Semenyo saw a shot blocked by Courtois before Vinicius Jr wasted a fine chance to make it 4-0.

The Brazilian got in behind a defense pushed beyond the halfway line, raced into the area and went down under a challenge from Donnarumma, only to hit a tame shot that the goalkeeper saved.

At the other end, Antonio Rudiger got a vital touch when Haaland looked set to score, while Courtois stuck out a saving foot to deny O'Reilly, who had dispossessed Real Madrid youngster Thiago Pitarch.Real Madrid was content to contain its rival in the closing minutes, knowing it had built a cushion for the return leg that few would have expected. Valverde hat-trick powers Real Madrid to Champions League win over Manchester City | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → March 12, 2026

Champions League: Vinicius scores winner as Real Madrid reaches last 16, Atalanta eliminate Dortmund

Credit: Real Madrid CF

Madrid, (IANS) Real Madrid advanced to the Champions League last 16 with a 2-1 home win over Benfica, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Vinicius Jr. scored the decisive goal in the 80th minute to settle an anxious night at the Santiago Bernabeu, where the tie was level on the evening and the hosts struggled for long spells.

Benfica, missing suspended coach Jose Mourinho, began with urgency and drew level on aggregate when Rafa Silva finished from close range after a sharp move down the right. Real responded almost immediately as Federico Valverde pulled the ball back for Aurelien Tchouameni, who curled in the equalizer.

The game remained open. Arda Guler had a goal ruled out for offside midway through the first half, and the second period was played at a high tempo but with little precision as Madrid mislaid simple passes and the crowd grew restless.

Real was without Kylian Mbappe because of a knee injury. Benfica also missed forward Gianluca Prestianni, who was provisionally suspended following an alleged racist insult aimed at Vinicius in last week's first leg.

Madrid suffered a scare in the 77th minute when Raul Asencio was carried off after a heavy fall. As Benfica pushed forward in search of a goal, Valverde released Vinicius down the inside-left channel, and the Brazilian angled his finish past goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to secure qualification.

Real Madrid will face either Manchester City or Sporting CP in the round of 16.

Elsewhere, Atalanta eliminate Borussia Dortmund with 4-3 aggregate win.

Lazar Samardzic sealed Atalanta's progress with the last kick of the game on a remarkable evening in Bergamo. La Dea wiped out a 2-0 first-leg deficit before the break, Gianluca Scamacca tapping in the fifth-minute opener before Davide Zappacosta's deflected shot wrong-footed Gregor Kobel late in the half.

It got even better for the hosts when Mario Pašalić met Marten de Roon's cross but Dortmund replied through substitute Karim Adeyemi's sublime curler on 75 minutes.Extra time loomed until Atalanta won a penalty deep in added time, an incident that brought red cards for Ramy Bensebaini, Nico Schlotterbeck and Giorgio Scalvini. Samardžić made no mistake from the spot. Champions League: Vinicius scores winner as Real Madrid reaches last 16, Atalanta eliminate Dortmund | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → February 26, 2026

Neymar to retire from football by the end of 2026

(Photo:Suman Chattopadhyay/IANS)

New Delhi, IANS) Following his clear and understandable statements regarding his next journey, Neymar has made an announcement about the potential to conclude his successful football career in 2026.

The 34-year-old, who renewed his contract with his boyhood club Santos last month, said he is taking things year by year and did not rule out retirement at the end of the calendar year. Neymar returned to Santos in January 2025 and played a key role in helping the team stay in Brazil’s top flight. He scored five goals in the last five matches of the season, which helped the club avoid relegation.

Yet, despite rediscovering form at home, the forward remains uncertain about what lies ahead.

“I don't know what will happen from now on, I don't know about next year,” Neymar told Brazilian online channel Caze on Friday. “It may be that when December comes, I'll want to retire. I'm living year to year now.”

His candid remarks come at a crucial juncture. “This year is a very important year, not only for Santos, but also for the Brazilian national team, as it's a World Cup year, and for me too,” Neymar said, underlining the significance of the months ahead.

Neymar recently had successful knee surgery as he continues to deal with recurring injuries that have affected the later stages of his career. As Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 international goals, he has not played for the national team since October 2023. This raises questions about his participation in the upcoming global tournament.Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has repeatedly stated over the past year that only fully fit players will be considered for selection for the 2026 World Cup, which is set to take place from June 11 to July 19 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Neymar to retire from football by the end of 2026 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → February 23, 2026

Indonesia Masters 2026: Sindhu, Lakshya advance; Srikanth goes down in pre-quarters

Photo credit: Badminton Photos/BWF

Jakarta, (IANS) Two-time Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu progressed to the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters 2026, where she will face top seed Chen Yu Fei inJakarta on Friday, as men's singles star Lakshya Sen and women's singles player Anmol Kharb also advanced to the next stage.

Former World Championship silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth, and men's doubles pair Hariharan Amsakarunan/M.R Arjun, too exited the BWF World Tour event.

With Chen leading their head-to-head 7–6, the quarterfinals against Sindhu on Friday promise to be closely fought. Sindhu booked her spot with a 21-19, 21-18 win over Denmark’s Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt in 43 minutes.

Seventh seed Lakshya Sen also advanced and will take on Thailand’s Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul after a dominant 21-10, 21-11 victory over Hong Kong's Jason Gunawan in another 43-minute battle.

Anmol Kharb challenged former world No.1 and Olympic bronze medallist Nozomi Okuhara by winning the first game 21-16 before bowing out. Men's singles contingent Kidambi Srikanth and men's doubles Hariharan Amsakarunan/M R Arjun exited the tournament.

Earlier, Sindhu faced a tough first-round match but ultimately secured a straight-games victory over Japan's Manami Suizu in the opening round of the Indonesia Masters here on Wednesday. Sindhu had a surprising start in the first game, trailing 2-11 at the mid-game break. She had to defend four game points but managed to win the game 22-20, scoring six consecutive points. In the second game, she led throughout but couldn't establish a comfortable lead over Suizu until she ultimately won 21-18.

Meanwhile, former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth, who made it to the finals of the Malaysia Masters and Syed Modi International last year, faced Japan's Koki Watanabe in an exciting first-round match and edged out his Japanese opponent with a 21-15, 21-23, 24-22 victory.

After a strong start with aggressive shot-making in the opening game, Srikanth's game faltered in the second as he made errors, giving Watanabe a chance to catch up. In the third, he led 7-4 but made several errors and couldn't fully dominate Watanabe. Ultimately, in key moments, Srikanth's aggressive strokeplay helped him secure the win, keeping Watanabe at bay.

Last week, Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, and H.S Prannoy made early exits from last week's India Open 2026, a HSBC BWF World Super 750 event. Lakshya Sen reached the furthest before ending his campaign in the quarterfinals. He kept pace with Lin Chun-Yi till the very end but fell short in the final exchanges as he went down in three games to end the host’s challenge.Sen won the opening game against Lin but then struggled from the faster side of the court to go down 17-21, 21-13, 21-18 in the men’s singles quarterfinals. Indonesia Masters 2026: Sindhu, Lakshya advance; Srikanth goes down in pre-quarters | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → January 23, 2026

Manu Bhaker, Simranpreet Kaur Brar strike gold in women’s 25m sports pistol in National Shooting C'ship

Photo credit: NRAI

New Delhi, (IANS) Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and ISSF World Cup Final 2025 gold medallist Simranpreet Kaur Brar delivered top-class performances to win gold medals in the senior and junior women’s 25m sports pistol events, respectively, of the 68th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in Tughlakabad near New Delhi on Monday.

Manu shot 36 in the final to secure the gold, finishing four hits clear of Divya T.S. of Karnataka, who bagged silver with 32. Anjali Choudhary claimed the bronze medal after hitting 28 targets. Rhythm Sangwan (22) finished fourth, followed by Arshdeep Kaur (18), Annu Raj Singh (14), and Anuja Verma (11) in fifth, sixth, and seventh positions, respectively, while Parisha Gupta did not start in the final.

Earlier, Divya T.S. topped the qualification round with a score of 587-22x, ahead of Anjali Choudhary (582- 19x). Annu Raj Singh finished third with 582-16x, while Manu qualified fourth with 581-19x. Parisha Gupta placed fifth with 581-14x, followed by Rhythm Sangwan (579-17x), with Arshdeep Kaur and Anuja Verma completing the top eight with 578-19x.

In the Junior Women’s 25m Sports Pistol final, Simranpreet Kaur Brar continued her impressive run, shooting 39 to claim the gold medal. Dwaram Pranavi won silver, while Palak of Haryana picked up bronze with 20. Tanu Shree Tomar (19) finished fourth after bowing out in the shoot-off, followed by Sejal Raju Kamble (14), Megana Sadula (11), and Lavanya Kanwar (7). Parisha did not start in the final.

The junior qualification round was topped by Parisha Gupta, with Simranpreet Kaur Brar qualifying second with 578-13x. Palak (575-14x) finished third, followed by Sejal Raju Kamble (575-12x), Tanu Shree Tomar (573-11x), Lavanya Kanwar (572-17x), Megana Sadula (572-13x) and Dwaram Pranavi (572-11x).

In the Women’s Team 25m Sports Pistol event, Maharashtra clinched the gold medal with a combined score of 1726-40x, through Shital Preetam Desai (577-12x), Abhidnya Ashok Patil (575-13x) and Rahi Sarnobat (574-15x). The Army Marksmanship Unit (Anuja Verma, Sejal Raju Kamble, and Anjali Bhagwat) finished second with 1722-44x, while Haryana (Rhythm Sangwan, Vibhuti Bhatia, and Tejaswani) secured the bronze medal with 1718- 43x.

In the Junior Women’s Team event, the Army Marksmanship Unit (Sejal Raju Kamble, Jiya Jakhar, and Anjali Bhagwat) claimed gold with 1714-38x, while Delhi (Parisha Gupta, Kamakshi Kumar, and Naamya Kapoor) secured silver with 1714-36x. Punjab (Simrampreet Kaur Brar, Agam Grewal, and Jasman Kelley) won the bronze medal with 1709-40x.

The championship action continues on Tuesday (December 16, 2025) with the Men’s Skeet finals scheduled in New Delhi, while the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women’s finals will take place at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy in Bhopal.

Other Results (25m SPW)

Youth Women

Sejal Raju Kamble (Army) - Gold (575-12x)

Lavanya Kanwar (Rajasthan) - Silver (572-17x)

Manvi Jain (Madhya Pradesh) - Bronze (570-14x)

Civilian Championship Women (Individual)

Jaspreet Kaur (Punjab) - Gold (575-17x)

Yashika Goel (Uttar Pradesh) - Silver (573-19x)

Tanisha Dabodia (Delhi) - Bronze (573-15x)

Civilian Championship Women (Team)

Delhi A (Ekta Malik, Kamakshi Kumar, Nayasha Rana) - Gold (1706-40x)

Delhi B (Tanisha Dabodia, Riya Duggal, Khushi Kapoort) - Silver (1703-44x)

Punjab (Jaspreet Kaur, Ishneet Aulakh, Ariha Aggarwal) - Bronze (1693-38x)

Civilian Championship Women (Junior Individual)

Tanu Shree Tomar (Uttar Pradesh) - Gold (573-11x)

Lavanya Kanwar (Rajasthan) - Silver (572-17x)

Dwaram Pranavi (Andhra Pradesh) - Bronze (572-11x)

Civilian Championship Women (Junior Team)

Delhi (Kamakshi Kumar, Nayasha Rana, Khushi Kapoor) - Gold (1695-37x)

Madhya Pradesh (Nancy Solanki, Aaradhya Mishra, Anchal Singh) - Silver (1686-32x)

Tamil Nadu (Vaishnavi Ramdas, Nithila Ivy Darling, Anya Padma Viji) - Bronze (1685-26x)

Senior Master Women

Sheila Kanungo (Maharashtra) - Gold

Pushpa Meghwal (Rajasthan) - Silver

Kunti Malik (Uttar Pradesh) - Bronze

Master Women

Anisa Sayyed (Haryana) - Gold

P. Sofia Lawren (Tamil Nadu) - Silver

Divya Nagar (Uttar Pradesh) - Bronze

Super Master Women

Pushpa Meghwal (Rajasthan) - GoldAbha Dhillan (Uttar Pradesh) - Silver Manu Bhaker, Simranpreet Kaur Brar strike gold in women’s 25m sports pistol in National Shooting C'ship | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → December 19, 2025

Ahmedabad named host of Centenary Commonwealth Games 2030

Ahmedabad named host of Centenary Commonwealth Games 2030. Photo credit: IOA

Glasgow (Scotland), (IANS) Ahmedabad, India, has officially been confirmed as the host city for the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, marking a historic milestone for the Commonwealth Sport Movement. This will be the second time that India will host the Commonwealth Games after New Delhi in 2010.

The decision confirms that the world’s most populous nation will host the landmark edition of the Games after delegates from 74 Commonwealth member nations and territories approved India’s bid at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on Wednesday.

India put forward a strong vision for the 2030 Games, with Ahmedabad, Gujarat, as the main host city. This plan builds on the groundwork laid by Glasgow 2026 and allows India to celebrate its centenary in a memorable way.

Moments after Amdavad was chosen to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, 20 Garba dancers and 30 Indian dhol drummers spontaneously performed in the General Assembly Hall. Their vibrant cultural display surprised delegates and offered a glimpse of the heritage and pride that athletes and fans can anticipate from a Games held in Gujarat, India.

Garba is Gujarat’s traditional folk dance. The performance included members of Glasgow’s Indian community and individuals from other parts of the Commonwealth. It showcased both diversity and unity as part of the Movement, marking the journey from the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games to its Centenary edition.

The inaugural Commonwealth Games took place in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada. At the latest Games in Birmingham, England, in 2022, Australia led the medal tally. The top five nations also included England, Canada, India, and New Zealand.

Donald Rukare, President of Commonwealth Sport, said, “This is the start of a new golden era for Commonwealth Sport. After a 'Games reset', we head to Glasgow 2026 in fantastic shape to welcome the 74 teams of the Commonwealth before setting our sights on Amdavad 2030 for a special Centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games.

“India brings scale, youth, ambition, rich culture, enormous sporting passion, and relevance, and I'm delighted to report strong interest from a range of nations to host the 2034 Games and beyond. We start our next century for the Commonwealth Games in good health.”

PT Usha, President of the Commonwealth Games Association of India, said, “We are deeply honoured by the trust shown by Commonwealth Sport. The 2030 Games will not only celebrate a hundred years of the Commonwealth Movement but also lay the foundation for the next century. It will bring together Athletes, communities, and cultures from across the Commonwealth in a spirit of friendship and progress.”

Aside from confirming the hosts for 2030, Commonwealth Sport also announced that 15 to 17 sports will be included at Amdavad 2030.

The Amdavad 2030 team will collaborate with Commonwealth Sport and the International Federation community to develop a vibrant and engaging sports programme that resonates locally while appealing globally.

This will follow Commonwealth Sport’s recent Sport Programme Review, which outlines the sports included in the Commonwealth Games: Athletics and Para Athletics, Swimming and Para Swimming, Table Tennis and Para Table Tennis, Bowls and Para Bowls, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Artistic Gymnastics, Netball, and Boxing.

The process to finalise the remaining sports in the programme will begin next month, with the complete line-up for the Centenary Games being announced next year.

The sports being considered include: Archery, Badminton, 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Cricket T20, Cycling, Diving, Hockey, Judo, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Rugby Sevens, Shooting, Squash, Triathlon, Para Triathlon, and Wrestling. The host may also suggest up to two new or existing sports.

Duncan Scott, multiple Commonwealth champion swimmer, said, “The Commonwealth Games are a special part of my career. Taking part in the home Games is incredible, so I’m excited for Indian Athletes who’ll get to do that in 2030. And for everyone else, we’ve got an opportunity to expand our horizons and experience the ambition and colour of Amdavad and India. I loved the chance to compete in the Gold Coast in Australia as part of a travelling Team Scotland.

“We look forward to handing over the Games to Amdavad in great shape after welcoming all to Glasgow next year.”

Jaismine Lamboria, World Champion Boxer from India, said, “It truly is a proud moment to see India become the host of the Centenary Commonwealth Games. Amdavad will give Athletes and fans a very warm and vibrant welcome, and having the opportunity to compete on home soil in 2030 will be a huge motivation for me and for many others. I’m excited for the next decade for Indian sport.”

--IANSvi/bsk/ Ahmedabad named host of Centenary Commonwealth Games 2030 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → December 02, 2025

World Boxing Cup Finals: Minakshi, Preeti, Arundhati, Nupur win gold as Indian women shine bright on historic final day

IANS Photo

Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh), (IANS): Minakshi (48kg), Preeti (54kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), and Nupur (80+kg) powered to gold medals as India’s women boxers delivered riches on a landmark day for the nation at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 in front of a packed house at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex.

Their triumphs came in several key divisions that will feature at the 2028 Olympic Games—where boxing moves to full gender parity—highlighting India’s growing competitive strength on the road to Los Angeles.

Their dominant performances capped a remarkable campaign for the host nation, which also saw Jadumani Singh, Pawan Bartwal, Abhinash Jamwal, and Ankush Phangal finish with well-earned silver medals, underlining India’s rising stature across both men’s and women’s Olympic-class weight categories.. Seven more Indians will be fighting for gold in Session 7, including reigning World Champion Jaismine Lamboira, two-time former World Champion Nikhat Zareen, and dual World Boxing Cup medalist Hitesh Gulia.

Minakshi set the tone for the day with a near-flawless 5:0 win over reigning Asian Champion Farzona Fozilova, unleashing her trademark aggression from the opening bell. The World Champion combined speed with razor-sharp accuracy, cracking open the bout with a blistering left–right combination in Round 1 and maintaining complete control through assertive jabs, clean counters, and airtight defence.

Preeti followed with another dominant 5:0 performance, overpowering Italy’s World Championship medallist Sirine Charrabi with relentless pressure. She repeatedly drove Charrabi into the corner, landing crisp face punches and dictating the tempo through superior footwork and sustained attacking bursts.

Arundhati Choudhary—former Youth World Champion—delivered one of the day’s most complete performances, dismantling Uzbekistan’s Aziza Zokirova with a commanding 5:0 win. Returning after 18 months, she blended sharp offence with disciplined defence, scoring heavily with decisive jabs and maintaining total tactical control across all three rounds. The gold surge continued as Nupur edged Uzbekistan’s Sotimboeva Oltinoy 3:2 in a tense, tactical showdown.In the men’s finals, India picked four silver medals. Jadumani Singh (50kg) fought with heart but fell 1:4 to Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Jalilov, while Pawan Bartwal (55kg), who had produced one of the tournament’s biggest upsets earlier in the week, went down to Samandar Olimov. Abhinash Jamwal (65kg) lost a spirited contest 1:4 to Japan’s seasoned Shion Nishiyama, and Ankush Phangal (80kg) was bested by England’s defending World Cup champion Shittu Oladimeji. World Boxing Cup Finals: Minakshi, Preeti, Arundhati, Nupur win gold as Indian women shine bright on historic final day | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → November 24, 2025

Messi mess continues: Indian fans left waiting as Argentina cancels November visit to Kerala

IANS Photo

Thiruvananthapuram, (IANS) The Messi conundrum surrounding Argentina’s much-hyped visit to India has taken a fresh twist, with sponsors confirming that ace footballer Lionel Messi and his team will not be coming to Kerala in November. The clarification came soon after the Argentina Football Association (AFA) announced that the national team would play only in Angola next month.

The confirmation has poured cold water on weeks of excitement in India with fans eagerly awaiting the football G.O.A.T's arrival in the country and both the Kerala government and private sponsors announcing a high-profile friendly match in Kochi on November 17.

According to reports in the Argentine media, AFA officials attributed the cancellation to Kerala’s “lack of readiness” and delays in completing logistical arrangements within the agreed timeline.

While organisers have now suggested that the visit may be rescheduled to March 2026, the latest development has once again raised questions about planning, coordination and communication between the stakeholders.

A political controversy has also erupted, with the Congress leadership accusing the state government of prematurely announcing the event without formal confirmation from the AFA.

The episode underscores a recurring challenge in international sports engagements — balancing political optics with procedural clarity.

For Indian fans, the setback is particularly disappointing, given the massive local fan base for Argentina and Messi in Kerala and in the country.

This would have been Messi’s first match in India since 2011, when he captained Argentina against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, a landmark game that marked his debut as national captain.

For now, the wait for Messi continues and with it, Kerala’s hopes of scripting a historic football moment remain in suspense.With the next likely date of March 2026 now surfacing, it remains to be seen if that is going to be feasible as during that time Kerala and the entire political leadership will be busy with the Assembly polls which in most likelihood will happen in April or latest by May. Messi mess continues: Indian fans left waiting as Argentina cancels November visit to Kerala | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → October 31, 2025

True display of belief and passion: Kohli lauds Women in Blue's heroics in WC semifinal

Navi Mumbai: India team celebrate after defeating Australia to qualify for the finals of the ICC Women’s World Cup ODI at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, October 30, 2025. (Photo: IANS)

New Delhi, (IANS) Indian batting stalwart and former skipper Virat Kohli hailed the Women in Blue for their stunning victory over seven-time champions Australia in the ODI World Cup semifinal, calling it a “true display of resilience, belief, and passion.”

India produced a remarkable performance to defeat Australia by five wickets at the DY Patil Stadium on Thursday, punching their ticket to their third ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Final after 2005 and 2017, when they finished as the runners-up behind Australia and England, respectively.

Reacting to the triumph, Kohli took to social media platform X to applaud the team’s efforts. “What a victory by our team over a mighty opponent like Australia. A great chase by the girls and a standout performance by Jemimah in a big game. A true display of resilience, belief, and passion. Well done, Team India!” he wrote.

Jemimah Rodrigues starred in the chase with a stunning knock under pressure, scoring 127 off 134 deliveries as India chased down a record total of 339 in Women's ODI history.

India's 341/5 in the semifinal is also the second-highest score in a Women's ODI run-chase, after their own 369 all-out against the same team in New Delhi last month.

This is the first time a 300-plus total was gunned down in an ODI World Cup knockout - Men's or Women's. The previous highest had come in the Men's CWC 2015 semifinal: 298 by New Zealand vs South Africa in Auckland.

India will now look to carry the same momentum into the final as they chase their maiden Women’s World Cup title.The tournament hosts India will take on South Africa, featured in a Women's World Cup Final for the first time, on Sunday, meaning a team will claim the coveted trophy for the very first time. True display of belief and passion: Kohli lauds Women in Blue's heroics in WC semifinal | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → October 31, 2025