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The 2024-2025 FIDE Women's Grand Prix Series is set to witness an exciting battle of wits as India's top female grandmasters Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and R Vaishali join a star-studded field. The trio has earned their spots through impressive performances, fulfilling the qualifying conditions.The series has undergone significant enhancements, with the number of tournaments increasing from four to six and the number of participants expanding from 16 to 20. This expansion provides more opportunities for women chess players to showcase their skills and compete for a larger prize pool.Among the notable participants are three reigning women's world champions in classical time control: Tan Zhongyi, Alexandra Kosteniuk, and Mariya Muzychuk. Former rapid world champions Humpy, Kateryna Lagno, and Anna Muzychuk will also grace the event.The absence of reigning champion Ju Wenjun has opened the door for Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, the vice champion of both the Women's World Rapid and Women's World Blitz Championships 2018. Khademalsharieh qualified by rating according to the April 2024 FIDE Rating List.FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky emphasized the importance of the Women's Grand Prix for promoting women's chess. "We want more women to play, and we want them to have more events, better events, and better conditions," he said. "The Women's Grand Prix is one of the most important events for us in promoting women's chess."Humpy's impressive second-place finish in the women's section of the FIDE Candidates tournament in Toronto and Vaishali's fourth-place finish highlight the strength of the Indian contingent. The trio will be eager to make a mark on the international stage and challenge for the coveted title.

In a thrilling 11-inning battle at American Family Field, the Milwaukee Brewers emerged victorious over the New York Yankees, 7-6. Joey Ortiz played a pivotal role, driving in the winning run with a single in the 11th inning and finishing with a homer and four RBIs.The Yankees drew first blood in the opening inning when Juan Soto launched a solo homer off Colin Rea. Alex Verdugo extended their lead with a solo shot in the second. However, Ortiz responded with a two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game.Blake Perkins gave the Brewers a 4-2 lead in the third with a two-run homer. Trent Grisham put the Yankees back in front with a three-run homer in the fourth.The Brewers chipped away at the deficit in the sixth when Gary Sánchez doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ortiz. In the 10th inning, Giancarlo Stanton tied the game with a double.In the 11th, Owen Miller advanced to third on a fly ball, setting the stage for Ortiz's game-winning single. Jared Koenig earned the win with two innings of relief, while Michael Tonkin took the loss.

India's women's compound archery team made a triumphant start to the Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Shanghai, China, by capturing the gold medal on Saturday. The trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Aditi Swami, and Parneet Kaur showcased their precision and dominance throughout the competition.As the top-seeded team, India faced sixth-seeded Italy in the final. The Indian archers displayed remarkable consistency, hitting the perfect 10 on 20 out of 24 arrows. They maintained a comfortable lead throughout the match, dropping only four points.In the first three ends, Jyothi, Aditi, and Parneet established a commanding 178-171 advantage over their Italian counterparts, Marcella Tonioli, Irene Franchini, and Elisa Roner. The Indians' accuracy and composure were evident as they missed the perfect score just twice in the opening 18 arrows.The fourth and final end saw India drop two points, but it was inconsequential as they secured the gold medal with an impressive 11-point margin. The final score stood at 236-226 in favor of India.This victory marks India's first gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Shanghai. It is a testament to the team's hard work, dedication, and unwavering focus. The Indian archers have set a high standard for themselves and will look to continue their success throughout the season.

The New York Rangers are on the cusp of advancing to the second round of the playoffs after a dominant 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of their first-round series. The Rangers now hold a commanding 3-0 lead and can clinch the series with a win in Game 4 on Sunday night.Vincent Trocheck played a pivotal role in the Rangers' victory, scoring a power-play goal and assisting on a short-handed tally. Igor Shesterkin was equally impressive in net, making 27 saves and continuing his stellar postseason performance.The Rangers showcased their special teams prowess, scoring goals at even strength, on the power play, and while short-handed. Trocheck set up Barclay Goodrow for a short-handed goal and later scored on the power play, while Chris Kreider tipped in a puck for his franchise-best 42nd career playoff goal.At the other end of the ice, Shesterkin was a brick wall, denying Max Pacioretty and Alex Ovechkin, who remains without a point in the series. Shesterkin's performance was particularly impressive after allowing an early goal to John Carlson.The Rangers' ability to control the game and limit the Capitals' chances was a major factor in their victory. They only trailed for 34 seconds in the game, with Kreider tying it up shortly after Carlson's goal. Goodrow's goal put them ahead just two minutes later, and they maintained the lead throughout the rest of the game.The Rangers' success in this series has been built on their ability to capitalize on special teams opportunities. Nearly a third of the game was played on special teams, which favored the Rangers' potent power play and penalty kill.The Capitals, on the other hand, have struggled to keep up with the Rangers' pace and execution. Injuries have also played a role, with Washington missing two of their top four defensemen in Nick Jensen and Rasmus Sandin. Trevor van Riemsdyk also left the game in the first period after a high hit by Rangers rookie Matt Rempe.

Detroit Tigers' hopes of snapping their losing streak were dashed on Friday as they fell 8-0 to the Kansas City Royals. Seth Lugo, the Royals' starting pitcher, delivered a dominant performance, pitching seven scoreless innings while striking out nine batters.The Tigers' offense struggled to generate any momentum against Lugo, managing only three singles off the right-hander. Reese Olson, Detroit's starter, also pitched well, allowing just one run on three hits and three walks in seven innings. However, the Royals' offense exploded in the ninth inning, scoring seven runs to secure the victory.With one out in the third inning, Adam Frazier and Kyle Isbel singled to put runners on first and second. Maikel Garcia then walked to load the bases, setting the stage for Bobby Witt Jr.'s sacrifice fly to center field, giving the Royals a 1-0 lead.In the bottom of the third, the Tigers thought they had taken the lead when Parker Meadows hit a deep drive to right field. However, Frazier made a spectacular over-the-fence catch to rob Meadows of a home run and double Javier Báez off first base.The Royals continued to threaten in the eighth inning, loading the bases with two outs against former teammate John Schreiber. However, Schreiber struck out Spencer Torkelson to end the inning.In the ninth inning, the Royals' offense finally broke through. With one out, Frazier and Isbel singled off Tyler Holton. Garcia then walked to load the bases, and Holton hit Frazier and Isbel with consecutive pitches to make it 3-0. Will Vest replaced Holton on the mound, but he was greeted by a two-run single from Garcia. Witt followed with a triple, and Vinnie Pasquantino's sacrifice fly capped the scoring at 8-0.The Royals' victory extended their winning streak to four games, while the Tigers' losing streak reached five. The two teams will face off again on Saturday evening, with Casey Mize scheduled to start for Detroit and Brady Singer taking the mound for Kansas City.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) faces the threat of another suspension from the United World Wrestling (UWW) due to ongoing government interference. Ten days after the sports ministry informed the Delhi High Court that it would not recognize or support WFI, UWW has issued a stern warning.In a letter signed by UWW president Nenad Lalovic, the global governing body expressed its determination to uphold WFI's independence and autonomy. UWW stated that if the government imposes an ad hoc committee to oversee WFI's affairs, it would have no choice but to re-impose a temporary suspension on the federation. This suspension could extend to Indian wrestlers, potentially affecting their participation in the final Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament in May.The UWW ban would also draw the attention of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which may consider further action. This comes after WFI appointed an Athletes Commission in accordance with UWW's demand, with former Commonwealth Games gold medalist Narsingh Yadav elected as chairman.UWW had previously suspended WFI in August 2023 due to delays in holding elections. The ban was lifted in February, and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) reinstated WFI. However, the sports ministry has maintained its suspension since December 2023.In an affidavit filed with the Delhi High Court, the ministry stated that it would review the suspension only after visible improvement in WFI's governance. The ministry also declared that any national championships or competitions organized by WFI would be considered unsanctioned and unrecognised.WFI officials have expressed concern over the government's interference, emphasizing the need for autonomy. They have pointed out that UWW's potential ban on wrestlers would be unprecedented in Indian history.Meanwhile, Indian wrestlers' performance has been a cause for concern. At the recent Asian Olympic Qualifiers, only three female wrestlers secured quotas, while the male wrestlers failed to qualify.

Formula E's return to India remains uncertain, with CEO Jeff Dodds expressing doubts about a race in 2025. Despite the cancellation of the 2024 Hyderabad E-Prix, Dodds acknowledged India's importance as a core market for the electric car racing series.However, Dodds emphasized the challenges of finding a suitable location and securing a circuit in time for next year's season. He stated that while it's not impossible, it's unlikely that Formula E will return to India in 2025.Formula E's debut in India in 2023 was marred by construction delays and complaints from drivers. Despite these issues, the series initially planned to hold a second race in Hyderabad in 2024. However, the race was canceled due to alleged contract breaches by the Telangana government.Dodds confirmed that Formula E is in discussions with other Indian cities, including the possibility of racing on a purpose-built circuit. He highlighted the significant Indian involvement in the championship, with Mahindra as the only Indian manufacturer and Jaguar Racing having ties to Tata Motors.Despite the setbacks, Dodds expressed optimism about Formula E's future in India. He emphasized the series' commitment to exploring locations and returning to the country in the future.

Hockey Olympians Rupinderpal Singh and Adrian D'Souza Share Insights at Coaching CampFormer Indian hockey goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza and penalty corner specialist Rupinderpal Singh recently conducted a coaching camp in Chennai, organized by Hockey India. The camp aimed to identify and groom promising young players under the age of 19.D'Souza, who represented India at the 2004 Athens Olympics, emphasized the importance of proper technique and strategy in penalty corner defense. He shared his expertise with the young goalkeepers, guiding them on how to effectively guard the goal and anticipate shots.Rupinderpal Singh, a key member of the Indian team that won the bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, focused on the nuances of drag flicks. He demonstrated the technique and provided valuable tips to the players on how to generate power and accuracy in their shots.The Olympians also discussed the challenges faced by the Indian men's hockey team in recent international matches, particularly the 0-5 whitewash in the Test series against Australia. They highlighted the need for improved penalty corner defense and a greater emphasis on scoring field goals.D'Souza expressed concern about India's performance in Perth, Australia, where the team has historically struggled. He emphasized the importance of finding new rushers to complement the likes of Manpreet Singh and Amit Rohidas.Rupinderpal Singh stressed the importance of team effort and camaraderie in hockey. He believes that if these aspects are present, any team can overcome adversity. He also pointed out that the team has ample time to prepare for the Paris Olympics, unlike the Tokyo Games where practice matches were limited due to COVID-19 restrictions.Adrian D'Souza cautioned against underestimating Australia's counter-attacking abilities. He believes that the Australian team can quickly convert defensive opportunities into goalscoring chances. He also emphasized the need for India to convert the limited penalty corners they get in international matches.Both Olympians expressed optimism about India's chances of winning a medal at the Paris Olympics. They believe that the team has the potential to succeed if they remain consistent and play as a unit.

Garry Kasparov, the youngest-ever world champion at 22, could see his record being smashed later this year. Indian prodigy Gukesh D, just 17 years old, has already broken Kasparov's youngest-ever Candidates winner record.Kasparov himself acknowledged Gukesh's remarkable achievement, writing on social media: "The Indian earthquake in Toronto is the culmination of the shifting tectonic plates in the chess world as the 17-year-old Gukesh D will face the Chinese champion Ding Liren for the highest title. The 'children' of Vishy Anand are on the loose!"Gukesh's victory in the Candidates Tournament has sent shockwaves through the chess world. He is the youngest player to ever qualify for the Candidates, and his performance has been nothing short of sensational. In the tournament, he defeated some of the world's top players, including former world champion Fabiano Caruana and current world number two Ian Nepomniachtchi.Gukesh's success is a testament to the rising tide of young talent in chess. In recent years, we have seen a number of teenagers emerge as serious contenders for the world championship. This is due in part to the increasing popularity of chess online, which has allowed young players to gain experience and compete against top players from around the world.If Gukesh can continue his meteoric rise, he could become the youngest-ever world champion. He is already one of the most talented players in the world, and he has the potential to achieve great things.