Here at the ESPN daily blog, we bring you all the news from the dynamic world of Indian sports, from the wide variety of Olympic sports to franchise leagues.
March has plenty of sporting action taking place - which you can find listed out in ESPN India's sporting calendar.
Here are the key events from Friday, March 8:
ISL update: Jamshedpur could face 0-3 defeat despite draw vs Mumbai City
Jamshedpur FC could face sanctions after breaching regulations during their match against Mumbai City FC on Friday. The match had ended in a 1-1 draw but the result can be changed to 3-0 loss for Jamshedpur. Read more:
Explained: Why Jamshedpur FC could face 0-3 defeat after rule breach vs Mumbai City
French Open update: Lakshya, Satwik-Chirag reach semis, Sindhu loses thriller
It was a good day for Indian badminton overall at the French Open Super 750 - which is seen as a test event for the Paris Olympics - as Lakshya Sen and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty reached the semifinals while PV Sindhu went down in a thriller that had plenty of positives for her.
The highlight of the day from an Indian perspective was Lakshya's runs to semis, beating former world champion Loh Kean Yew 19-21 21-15 21-13 in a 78-minute clash. This was the Indian's third straight match from a game down in Paris. More importantly, this was his first semifinal in his last 13 tournament, overturning a poor run of form since last August.
Lakshya, who notched a morale-boosting win against All England champion Li Shi Fen yesterday, once again showed his full range of speed, court coverage and defensive nous to outgun Loh in the last two games. He was suffering from a hand injury, bleeding from his finger and needing to be taped up multiple times but he held on to his advantage and kept finding his shots. It was an important win for him, continuing his impressive week with childhood coach Vimal Kumar and mentor Prakash Padukone on the bench.
He will next face reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn, seeded eighth, in the semifinal.
In the doubles, top seeds Satwik and Chirag lived up to their billing with a strong 21-19 21-13 victory over Thailand's world No. 32 Supak Jomkoh and Kittinupong Kedren. The duo were tested in the first game but pulled through with all their experience and then raced away to a straight games win.
They have a grudge match coming up next, against world champions and third seeds Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae, who had beaten the Indian duo at the India Open final in January this year.
Earlier, in a close battle which lasted 92 minutes, Chinese Olympic champion Chen Yufei beat PV Sindhu 22-24, 21-17 21-18. All three games were very tight, but in the second and third, Chen produced crucial runs of points in the middle to put herself just out of Sindhu's reach.
Encouragingly for the Indian though, in just her second tournament since her comeback from injury, she looked close to her best. Her shot-making was excellent, with some delightful drop shots and powerful smashes throughout the course of the game.
Here's ESPN India's detailed analysis of Sindhu's BWF comeback and what it means on the path to Paris.
PVL: Chennai blitz past Bengaluru; Ahmedabad go down to Calicut
Chennai Blitz kept alive their chances of qualifying for the Super 5s of the Prime Volleyball League 2024 with a commanding straight sets win over the Bengaluru Torpedoes at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai on Friday.
Calicut Heroes also secured an important win against table-toppers Ahmedabad Defenders. With only three games left in the league phase, this weekend will see some critical games being played in the race to make the Super 5s, which happen next week.
ISL: Jamshedpur hold Mumbai City to 1-1 draw
Mumbai City FC suffered a blow in their pursuit for the ISL league shield, after managing only a 1-1 draw away to Jamshedpur FC.
The hosts had to play the last eight minutes plus stoppage time with ten men after Daniel Chima Chukwu was sent off, but managed to hold on for a point, which doesn't really do them any favours in their bid to finish in the top six. Javier Siverio had, in fact, given Jamshedpur the lead in the 60th minute, only for them to be pegged back by Lallianzuala Chhangte's 74th-minute equaliser.
Jamshedpur did move up to sixth, but they're level on points with Bengaluru FC, despite having played a game more than the Blues. Mumbai City are, at least temporarily, the table toppers, but they're just three points ahead of Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who have two games in hand.
Sports Ministry announces two National Centre of Excellence for women
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has announced the establishment of two National Centres of Excellence (NCOE), exclusively for women on the occasion of International Women's Day.
The NCOE cover 23 focused and priority disciplines where Indian athletes have a chance to win medals in global competitions like the Asian Games and the Olympics.
Badminton: French Open schedule
In case you were keen on catching the four quarterfinals Indians are involved in at the French Open, here are approximate timings, with coverage available on JioCinema and the BWF YouTube channel:
PV Sindhu vs Chen Yu Fei - 3:20 pm estimate (Court 2, Match 2)
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty vs Supak Jomkoh . Kittunupong Kedren - 5:50 pm estimate (Court 2, Match 5)
Lakshya Sen vs Loh Kean Yew - 9:30 pm estimate (Court 1, Match 6)
Chen Qing Chen / Jia Yi Fan vs Treesa Jolly / Gayatri Gopichand - 11:10 pm estimate (Court 2, Match 8)
Sumit Nagal the unlucky loser after first round exit at Indian Wells
Sumit Nagal's time as Rafael Nadal's replacement at Indian Wells came to an early end as the Indian was thoroughly outclassed by Milos Raonic in straight sets, losing by a 3-6, 3-6 scoreline in the first round.
Milos moves on ��
A clean opener for @milosraonic as he defeats Nagal in straight sets to set up a R2 affair against Holger Rune!#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/904PLdA0Lj
- Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 8, 2024
ICYMI: Lakshya Sen, Satwik-Chirag progress in French Open
Lakshya Sen produced quite the comeback to defeat third seed Li Shi Feng of China, after having lost the first game before eventually triumphing by a 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 scoreline. After suffering multiple early exits, Lakshya has reached the quarterfinals for the first time since July - ' a desire he described to BWF as "as much as a small kid who has his candy taken away, like a kid who wants his candy all the time".
The Indian faces former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in the quarterfinal today, in a draw that has opened up after the shock exit of world no. 1 Viktor Axelsen. Meanwhile, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty's consistent run deep into tournaments continued, beating Kai Wun Tee and Wei Chong Man of Malaysia in straight games (21-13, 21-12) and setting up a quarterfinal clash against Thai pair Kittinupong Kedren and Supak Jomkoh today.
Boxing Olympic Qualifiers
Another win for Nishant Dev.
The Indian boxer has made it to the pre quarterfinals of the World Boxing Olympic Qualifiers in men's 71kg after beating Georgia's Eskerkhan Madviev 5-0.
Two more wins and he's through to the Paris Olympics.
It's International Women's Day
Here's ESPN's Zenia D'Cunha writing on inherent gender bias in Indian sports.
Women's Day wish: To be seen, heard, accepted as equals in the world of Indian sport
This invisible bias comes in many forms in a male-dominated sector like sports; the feeling of being treated as inferior, of not being heard or valued because of gender even after climbing to the top of the pole, of fielding inappropriate questions, personal and professional, of having to continuously convince people of your merit or choices. Gaslighting, ghosting, invisibilising - women in sport are given the full treatment.
Read the full essay here.
What's on today?
Badminton: The 2024 French Open continues with Sindhu, Treesa-Gayatri will be in action in the quarterfinals, as will Lakshya Sen and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy - Chirag Shetty.
Tennis: Sumit Nagal plays an ATP Masters 1000 for the first time, taking on Milos Raonic in the first round.
ISL: Jamshedpur FC take on Mumbai City FC.
Boxing: Indian boxers are in action at the Olympic qualifiers.
What happened yesterday?
Badminton: Sindhu, Treesa-Gayatri reach French Open Super 750 quarterfinals, Srikanth out.
Football: Punjab beat NEUFC 1-0 in ISL.
Wrestling: Trials for Asian Championships, Olympic qualifiers remain on Mar 10, 11; WFI to withdraw circular on conducting trials.
Tennis: Lucky loser Sumit Nagal replaces Nadal at Indian Wells.
Boxing: Another day, another Indian exit at the Olympic Qualifiers
You can find more details of yesterday's events, here.