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Here are the key updates from January 16, Tuesday:
PKL: Tamil Thalaivas thrash Patna Pirates
Tamil Thalaivas rose one spot to 10th in the PKL standings with a resounding 41-25 win over Patna Pirates in Jaipur on Tuesday. It was a team effort, but Ajinkya Pawar was the standout player for the Thalaivas, registering a Super 10.
M Sudhakar scored 8 points for Patna, and was their best player on show.
If you are wondering who Sudhakar is, then we've got you covered. Our correspondent Shyam Vasudevan profiles a player who could be Patna Pirates's next Pardeep Narwal.
India beat Italy 5-1 to qualify for semis in Women's Hockey Olympic qualifer
India will face Germany in the semifinal on Thursday, after beating Italy 5-1, thanks to two goals from Udita Duhan, and further strikes from Deepika, Salima Tete and Navneet Kaur.
You can follow the match, as it happened, here.
What happens if India don't beat Germany in the semifinal? We've got you covered, right here.
India Open: Gayatri-Treesa suffer loss
Gayatri-Treesa stared their 2024 season with a match they will look back on mixed feelings with -- squandering a game advantage and a lead in the decider to lose to fourth seeds Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida of Japan.
The Indian pair, who missed a significant part of last season with injury, had a rough draw in the first round but started the match on the front foot, playing quick and strong with a suportive home crowd backing them.
An animated Treesa's powerful shots forced errors through the Japanese pair's defence. They had 11-8 lead in the first game at the interval and held on to it to win the first game 21-18. But the change of ends changed their fortune as the fourth seeds bounced back to force a decider.
The Indian had the early 4-1 lead in the decider but saw it disappear after a few error-prone shots against the solid Japanese pair. They however fought back and pulled it level 13-13 before a few nervy moments saw them lose 4 straight points and then the match.
The duo were understandably subdued after the loss but spoke about being more alert about their errors as they prepare for the season ahead.
WFI to seek suspension revocation from sports ministry through dialogue
Here's an update on the ongoing tussle between Sports Ministry and Wrestling Federation of India
A day after going against the Sports Ministry's directive and conducting the Executive Committee meeting, WFI has decided that it will seek a dialogue for revocation of its suspension, saying it does not want a clash with the government and the legal options will be explored only if talks fail.
"We do not want a clash with the government. We are not moving court as of today. We will seek time from the ministry and a delegation will try and speak with the government," Sanjay Singh told PTI after the meeting.
Asked if he won't get time from the ministry, he said, "First we have to try. We want to know what we need to do to get the suspension lifted. Like UWW had set certain conditions when it had suspended. The ground was not holding elections. The government has suspended us but there is no clarity how it will be lifted.
"Earlier also we had written to the ministry but we did not get a reply. We will approach ministry in 2-3 days. A delegation will be formed for the dialogue and I am hopeful that suspension will be lifted before the Nationals in Pune."
Sumit Nagal, back in the big time, gets his game on point for biggest career win
The last time, before Tuesday, that Sumit Nagal played the main draw of a Grand Slam was at the Australian Open back in 2021. He had received a wild card then but lost in the first round... and then he didn't get a chance to play another Major in the next three years, a combination of qualifying losses and injury-induced absences.
Cut to 2024 and he's back in the main draw, this time via the hard grind of three qualifying matches.
Sumit Nagal after stunning Australia Open first round win: 'Emotional, very proud of myself'
After the win, Nagal spoke to the reporters at the press conference. He said he's still processing the big win, but he's proud of the achievement. He also wants to eat a burger before calling it a night.
You can read the excerpts here.
India Open badminton: Priyanshu beats Lakshya; will face Prannoy in round 2
Here's Zenia d'Cunha reporting live from the sidelines in New Delhi, with details on the third game after Lakshya and Priyanshu shared the spoils in the first two:
Priyanshu starts the decider with an emphatic lead, pulling up to 9-1 before Lakshya stops the flow. With free flowing shots, winners and mid-court smashes, he puts himself in charge of the points. Lakshya's unforced errors don't help his case. Lakshya made a small comeback, with a terrific scramble of a point that ended very close to the net for 5-9.
But it was the younger man who has the 11-5 lead going into the interval. Lakshya tried to defend, but his dive doesn't make it in time and he flings his racquet in frustration. The final phase of the match is more about controlling nerves as Priyanshu makes a couple of errors to reduce the gap to 9-11. Priyanshu rebuilds his lead to 15-10, well placed shots and pushing Lakshya's defence.
There was a controversial moment as a Lakshya put away at the net was called a fault, he tried arguing but it didn't help his cause. Priyanshu on the other hand held his nerves when it came to it in the decider, unlike in the first. Getting to 8 match points with a winner smack on the corner that Lakshya left. He gets the win and a hug from Lakshya at the net, along with a second-round match with Prannoy.
Australian Open: Sumit Nagal stuns Alexander 'Sasha' Bublik
After his heroics in qualifying to the main draw, Sumit Nagal (ranked world no. 137) continued his magic against world no. 27 (and 31st seed) Alexander 'Sasha' Bublik of Kazakhstan in their first round encounter at the 2024 Australian Open, defeating him in three sets 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).
To put his feat in context:
Nagal became the first Indian man since Ramesh Krishnan at the 1989 Australian Open (defeating top-seed Mats Wilander) to beat a seeded player at a Grand Slam.
Nagal became the third Indian since 2000 to win a match at the Australian Open after Leander Paes and Somdev Devvarman.
The last man representing India to win a match at a major was Sumit Nagal at the 2020 US Open. The last woman was Sania Mirza at the 2011 French Open.
13 male and three female players representing India have won a match at any grand slam event.
That's a big win for @nagalsumit ����
He takes out No. 31 seed Bublik 6-4 6-2 7-6(5).#AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/ldM9VE4X0M
- #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2024
Nagal will next take on 18-year-old Chinese rising player Shang Juncheng, who's ranked 140. He defeated USA's Mackenzie McDonald in a match lasting lasting five sets -- 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 2-6.
Here's how it unfolded:
Nagal raced to a 4-1 lead in the first set, and despite Bublik coming back to 4-3, the Indian went on to take set by a 6-4 margin, profiting of his higher-ranked opponent's error-strewn performance.
Nagal was handling the windy conditions with ease, but Bublik continued to double-fault and find the net multiple times, trailing 4-1 in the second set and breaking his racquet in frustration. The Indian then went on to take a 5-2 lead and Bublik saved three set points, before Nagal closed it out to win 6-2.
Bublik started well after the break, holding serve in two consecutive games for the first time in the match to lead 2-1. The Kazakh player had a chance to break Nagal while leading 3-2 but the Indian held him off to level things at 3-3. Nagal earned the decisive break in the next game, leading 4-3 and holding serve in the next to open up a two-game lead. Bublik, however, wasn't making things easy and won the next game to claw it back to 4-5. With Nagal serving for the match, Bublik profited off a couple of errors to lead 30-15, before a superb backhand winner down the line made it 40-15 in his favour, and then broke him with some stellar strokeplay, making it 5-5.
Nagal had to dig deep as Bublik won the next game, forced a tie-break by holding serve. Nagal start off well in the tie-break as Bublik served, sending a clever angled backhand winner and then taking a 3-0 lead. Nagal produced a stunning return to make it 4-1 soon after, but found the net with his forehand in the next point to make it 4-2. Bublik went long with a return to the backcourt to trail 2-5, before another error saw him gift three match points to Nagal at 6-3.
Naga went wide with an attempted forehand winner to make it 6-4, and went wide again after a long rally in the next point. The crowd was chanting Bublik's name, but the Kazakh player made it an anti-climax with a double-fault to ensure Nagal won the game 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).
India Open: Prannoy beats Chou Tien Chen
Here's Zenia d'Cunha reporting live from the sidelines in New Delhi (latest updates first):
- 21-6, 21-19, Prannoy progresses into second round
HS Prannoy started India's campaign at the India Open with a very commanding win against familiar foe Chou Tien Chen, giving home fans a treat right at the beginning. After the match, Prannoy said he was happy to win on the day and in 2 games, conserving energy for a deep run in the tournament. The Indian also noted that he was not close to a 100%, still at 70-75% as he recovered from a flu from last week.
- With HSP trailing after the interval in the second game, CTC increased his lead to 14-6, before HSP staged a comeback by looking to attack and take more charge of the points. Trailing 11-16, the Indian rattled off five straight points , moving CTC all over the court and wrong-footing him with deft touches. Prannoy used soft, slow shots from the mid-court and changed angles to force errors, but CTC, now more vocal, employed long rallies to take it to 19-19. HSP remained patient with his returns to force an error to win the next point, before closing the game, and match with his attack leaving CTC winded on the floor as the Indian raised his arms in triumph.
- 21-6, 7-11
The change of ends seems to have galvanised CTC, who has stepped up in the second game The start was close at 4-4 with more court play and points being longer than the first. CTC planned his shots in a way to induce errors and push Prannoy all over. Prannoy realised that his opponent is getting better, brought out the first pumps and cheers to psych himself up. The crowd also did their bit with cheers
But at 7-7, CTC pulled ahead and then two close net cords gave him a lead heading into the interval.
- 21-6, Prannoy leads 1-0
Not many would have seen such a dominant start coming in a Prannoy vs CTC match but the Indian has used a lovely mix of touch shots and variations to attack and outfox CTC. He's kept points short, not getting into long rallies and letting the match get too physical.
Meanwhile, the sizeable Indian fans in the stands have some recognisable faces - Satwik, Srikanth, Kashyap all out to watch Prannoy.
- Make that 11-2. A sensational start from Prannoy and the small but loud crowd is loving it as cries of "HSP! HSP!" ring out. Kidambi Srikanth in the stands, watching Prannoy. His campaign begins tomorrow.
- A very good 6-1 start for Prannoy. Any battle against CTC can be grueling but the Indian is doing well by keeping points short. He's looking good in touch too.
- There's big cheer from a small Indian fans as Prannoy walks in, they are waving the Indian flag and calling out to him. For a match that is early (11 M) in a still foggy Delhi, it's heartening to see Indian support in the stands.
What's in store today?
The India Open Super 750 begins in New Delhi, with HS Prannoy set to kick things off for the Indian contingent, facing Chou Tien Chen in his opening round - 10:30 AM (estimated)
Tennis: Sumit Nagal takes on world no. 31 Alexander 'Sasha' Bublik in the Australian Open first round - 9:00 AM
The Indian women's hockey team plays their third match of the Olympic Qualifiers against Italy in Ranchi, with this being crucial to their chances of making the Olympics - 7:30 PM
Super Cup: Chennaiyin FC face Gokulam Kerala at 2:00 PM followed by Mumbai City taking on Punjab FC at 7:30 PM.
PKL: The 1002nd game in league history take place in Jaipur, with Patna Pirates facing Tamil Thalaivas - 8:00 PM
The Indian Women's League resumes, with Sports Odisha hosting HOPS FC - 3:00 PM
Olympic qualifiers in shooting (shotgun)
WTT Contender in Doha, Qatar
What happened yesterday?
PKL: Bengal Warriors beat Bengaluru Bulls 35-29 in the 1000th game of the league while Jaipur Pink Panthers began the new era with a 31-29 win over U Mumba.
WFI continued to defy the Sports Ministry, with their AGM decisions to be ratified at an EC meeting.
Super Cup: NorthEast United defeated Shillong Lajong by a 2-1 scoreline, after which Kerala Blasters lost a thrilling battle against Jamshedpur FC 2-3.
You can check all the details of yesterday's news events, here.