Dempo force East Bengal to split points with a 2-2 draw
Dempo SC, exhibiting a spirited show, scored a late equalizer to snatch points from fancied East Bengal with a 2-2 draw in the opening match of the Super Cup at the GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim on Saturday. Dempo drew first blood in the 27th minute. The goal came from a set-piece. A ball was floated inside the box, and Debjit Majumder came off his line to punch the ball away. However, he misjudged the flight of the ball and could not make contact with it. Mohamed Ali got the ball and made no mistake in slotting it inside the net from close distance. The Golden Eagles held on to their slender lead till the half-time whistle. East Bengal, after the break, pressed their opposition and found an equalizer within 33 seconds of the starting whistle. A shot came in from the left side of the box, and Dempo keeper Ashish Sibi could only parry the ball away to Mahesh Naorem Singh, who lashed the ball inside the net with a grounded effort. Oscar Bruzon’s men took the lead in the 57th minute and in style. Miguel Ferreira scored a potential goal-of-the-tournament, unleashing an accurate left-footer on the bounce from a tight angle on the left. The ball flashed past Sibi and rattled the net as the East Bengal players broke into jubilation. This was the Brazilian striker’s first goal with the Red-and-Gold brigade. But like the first half, the Kolkata giant failed to capitalize on its dominance. Mahesh came close to scoring when his curling effort hit the crossbar and came back into play, but apart from that, East Bengal failed to create any clear-cut scoring chances. In the 89th minute, Laximanrao Rane punished East Bengal with a well-placed shot from the edge of the box to gift a point to the Golden Eagles.
Pep Guardiola to part ways with his wife Cristina after 30 years of marriage!
Manchester City’s legendary coach Pep Guardiola’s divorce from his wife, Christina Serra, is imminent! He has bought a sleek new apartment in Barcelona as he and his wife of 30 years sever ties. The divorce creates a new chapter in the break of a couple once seen as one of the most stable in the football world! Pep’s new property is said to be in the same leafy upmarket neighbourhood of Pedralbes where the soccer boss bought his first cul-de-sac home jointly with his estranged wife in February 2021. The property has been described locally as a “refuge” where he can “disconnect from football and enjoy moments of peace and introspection.” A well-placed source said, “It is a spacious home, with spectacular views of the city and high-end finishes that reflect Pep’s refined taste. “It has good connections with more central areas of Barcelona, with its hustle and bustle of shops and bars and restaurants. “But at the same time, it has the calmness that comes with the upper part of the city, so Pep can recharge his batteries after his long work days.” The two Spanish showbiz reporters who in February revealed the football manager and his wife had started divorce proceedings but were using the same lawyer, say he had been keen not to stray too far from his old neighbourhood. Laura Fa, one of the duos who call themselves the Mamarazzis, said: “The fact that the house is located near Pep’s old family pad shows he did not want to disconnect from the neighbourhood he has always considered his home.”
India Clinch 14 Medals on The First day of SAAF
India clinched five golds on opening day of South Asian Athletics Championship, 2025. The host bagged five golds, six silvers, and three bronzes across nine categories on the opening day. Birsa Munda Football Stadium in Ranchi saw the event unfold. In the men’s 5000m race, India’s Prince Kumar stormed to victory, clocking 14:22.17 to claim the first gold medal of the championship. He finished ahead of Sri Lanka’s Vakshan Vicknaraj, who settled for silver. In the women’s 5000m event, Sanjana Singh secured gold, while compatriot Seema took silver — delivering a 1-2 finish for India in the race. In the men’s shot put event, Samardeep Singh Gill clinched the gold medal. He threw an impressive 19.59 metres. Ravi Kumar added to India’s tally with a silver, while Sri Lanka’s Mithunraj took bronze. In the women’s shot put, Yogita secured gold and Shiksha claimed silver, ensuring another strong finish for India. Poorva Sawant added a silver in the women’s triple jump, while India’s sprinters dominated the 4x400m mixed relay, capturing yet another gold medal. As the second day unfolds, athletes will compete for 36 medals in 12 various events.
Messi and Argentina cancel Kerala Trip Finally
Argentina’s national football team and the star Lionel Messi are not coming to Kerala for the friendly match. The prior excitement has turned in vain as the sponsors and the Argentina Football Association officially announced their only schedule for Angola, next month. However, following rumours, the match might be rescheduled to March. The Argentine media reported about Kerala’s “lack of readiness” and delays in wrapping up logistical preparations within the scheduled timeline, citing these reasons for their cancellation. While the organisers proposed rescheduling the visit in March, it converged with Kerala’s Assembly polls scheduled for April or May of next year. The official cancellation stirred the political controversy, drawing criticism from Congress leaders. They accused the state government of prematurely announcing the event without AFA’s formal confirmation. The episode reflects the complexities faced by India in managing international sports logistics. The transparency among stakeholders is often the key differentiator between success and setback. The cancellation has come as a major disappointment to Indian football fans—most notably in Kerala, where Argentina and Messi command a passionate fan base. Messi stepped onto indian soil in 2011. He led Argentina for the first time against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
A Man Allegedly Molests Australian Players; Raise Security Concerns
Women cricketers’ participation in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in Indore turned into a horror. The two Australian cricketers were allegedly stalked, and one of them was molested by a man on a motorcycle near Khajrana Road on Thursday morning. This incident occurred when the players were walking down to a cafe near their hotel. A man on a bike stalked them and fled after inappropriately touching one of the players. The man, Akil Khan, was arrested. The players urgently reported to the team security officer, Danny Simmons, who got the local security liaison officers involved and coordinated a vehicle for assistance. Assistant Commissioner of Police Himani Mishra has visited the players and taken their statements to go on with their procedure. The MIG police have registered an FIR under Sections 74 and 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on charges of using criminal force to outrage a woman’s modesty and stalking. Akil Khan, the suspect, was arrested the following day, with the assistance of a local who noted the motorcycle number. “Khan has prior criminal cases registered against him, and an investigation is on in the case,” said Sub-Inspector Nidhi Raghuvanshi. The investigation is further continued by the police, as the situation occurred during the ongoing Women’s Cricket World Cup tournament.
Services bowlers create history in Ranji trophy: make two hat-tricks in the same innings as Assam face a tough outing!
The Tinsukia District Sports Association Ground hosted its first Ranji Trophy match in 24 years, witnessing both a remarkable performance and history as Services bowlers made history on the first day of the second round of the Ranji Trophy, achieving two hat-tricks. Assam were reduced to 45 for the loss of five wickets in a flash. Captain Riyan Parag was the first victim of Services left-arm spinner Arjun Sharma before he proceeded to take out wicket-keeper Sumit Ghadigaonkar and Sibsankar Roy and record the first Ranji Trophy hat-trick of the season. Assam’s decision to bat first after winning the toss grew murkier after lunch in the North-Eastern town when Arjun’s teammate and left-arm pacer Mohit Jangra bagged the second hat-trick of the innings. Jangra cleaned up opener Pradyun Saikia, who waged a lone battle with his quick-fire 52 off 42 laced with two fours and six sixes, off the final delivery of the 15th over. He returned to dismiss Assam No. 9 Mukhtar Hussain and No. 10 Bhargab Lakhar to claim his maiden First-Class hat-trick before Arjun returned to claim his five-wicket haul (5/46). It is the first instance in Ranji Trophy history where two bowlers have bagged hat-tricks in the same innings of a match. Previously, Joginder Singh Rao, a former player for Services nearly five decades ago, had recorded two hat-tricks in the same innings of a match. Rao remains the only Indian to have bagged multiple hat-tricks in the same First-Class innings, having achieved the feat in a game against Northern Punjab in Amritsar in 1963. Assam were finally folded for only 103 in 17.3 overs before skipper Parag opened the bowling and racked up two wickets in the first over.
