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Vinesh Phogat, India's star wrestler, has secured her place in the Paris Olympics Qualification tournament in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, after winning the 50kg weight category at the selection trials. However, her participation in the trials was marked by controversy as she demanded a written assurance from the authorities that a final trial will be held in the 53kg weight class before the Olympics.Phogat, who won the gold medal in the 50kg category at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, initially refused to compete in the 50kg trials, citing her desire to participate in both the 50kg and 53kg categories. This led to a delay in the start of the trials, as officials discussed her request.Eventually, the ad-hoc committee for wrestling agreed to Phogat's demand, allowing her to compete in both weight categories on Monday. Phogat defeated Shivani 11-6 in the 50kg category, but lost to Anju by technical superiority 0-10 in the 53kg bout.Phogat's demand for a written assurance stems from her previous allegations of sexual harassment against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. She fears that if the WFI regains control, the federation may change the selection policy and prevent her from competing in the 53kg category at the Olympics.The IOA ad-hoc panel has already announced that a final trial will be held to pick India's representative in the 53kg category. The best four wrestlers in the weight class will compete in trials near the Games, and the winner will face Antim Panghal, who has already earned an Olympic quota in that category. The winner of that bout will represent India at the Olympics.Phogat's participation in the trials and her demand for a written assurance highlight the ongoing power struggle within the WFI. The federation has been embroiled in controversy since Phogat's allegations against Singh, and the ad-hoc committee was appointed to oversee the sport until the matter is resolved.

The New York Islanders extended their winning streak to six games with a dominant 6-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night, solidifying their playoff position.Kyle Palmieri opened the scoring for the Islanders just 7:28 into the game, marking his 20th goal of the season and his sixth time reaching that milestone in his career. The Islanders continued their offensive onslaught in the first period, with Casey Cizikas and Brock Nelson adding goals to give New York a commanding 3-0 lead.The Islanders' top line of Horvat, Nelson, and Mathew Barzal played a pivotal role in the victory, combining for six points. Horvat extended his goal streak to three games, while Nelson scored his team-leading 29th goal of the season. Barzal contributed two assists, showcasing the Islanders' depth and offensive firepower.Pierre Engvall and Cal Clutterbuck also found the net for New York, while Semyon Varlamov made 22 saves to earn his first win since December 13th. The Islanders have now outscored their opponents 11-0 in the first 20 minutes during their winning streak.For the Ducks, Alex Killorn extended his goal streak to four games, but it was not enough to prevent their third loss in four games. Lukas Dostal made 13 saves for Anaheim, who have been outscored 12-3 in their last two outings.The Islanders' victory moves them into the Eastern Conference's second and final wild card spot, just two weeks after being seven points back. The Islanders and Detroit Red Wings are now tied with 74 points, but the Islanders have one game in hand."We were ready for them. We played a good game and jumped on them early," said Islanders coach Patrick Roy. "All four lines are playing well. The defensemen are moving the puck fast, and it's what's making us successful."The Islanders will remain in Southern California to face the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, while the Ducks will open a four-game road trip against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

In a thrilling encounter at the Crypto.com Arena, the Milwaukee Bucks emerged victorious over the Los Angeles Clippers, 124-117, snapping their two-game losing streak. Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo led the charge for the Bucks, combining for 69 points and 17 assists.Lillard exploded in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 of his 35 points, including three crucial 3-pointers. Antetokounmpo, the reigning NBA MVP, contributed 34 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds, showcasing his all-around brilliance.The Bucks' dynamic duo became only the second pair of teammates since 1980 to record at least 30 points and 10 assists each in the same game. Their seamless connection and ability to create for each other proved unstoppable for the Clippers."It's how we work in practice," said Antetokounmpo. "We got a lot of good shots down the stretch. Tonight it worked, and it's something we're going to have to do moving forward."Malik Beasley added 17 points for the Bucks, who overcame the absence of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for the Clippers. James Harden, playing without his own star teammates, struggled with his shot, finishing with 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting.Norman Powell led the Clippers with 26 points, while Russell Westbrook remained sidelined due to injury. Despite missing over 57 points per game from their lineup, the Clippers put up a valiant fight, keeping the game close until the final minutes."Those two guys, they're great players, and we understand that," said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue of Lillard and Antetokounmpo. "They had a good game. I thought Dame set the tone early and then took over the game late. Once he got going, it was hard to stop him."The Bucks' victory marked their first on their California road trip and snapped the Clippers' three-game winning streak. Both teams will face off again on Tuesday night, with the Clippers hosting Minnesota and the Bucks traveling to Sacramento.

Connor McDavid's brilliance and Darnell Nurse's third-period heroics propelled the Edmonton Oilers to a resounding 4-0 victory over the struggling Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.McDavid, the reigning NHL MVP, opened the scoring just over a minute into the game, capitalizing on a poor pass by Penguins defenseman Kris Letang. Mattias Ekholm extended Edmonton's lead later in the first period with a one-timer that deflected off Pittsburgh's John Ludvig.Despite the early deficit, the Penguins failed to generate any sustained pressure on Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard. Jarry, who has historically struggled against Edmonton, kept Pittsburgh in the game with several key saves.However, the Oilers' defense proved impenetrable, limiting the Penguins to low-quality scoring chances. Nurse put the game out of reach in the third period with two goals, securing Edmonton's sixth consecutive victory over Pittsburgh.The Penguins' loss marked their sixth in their last seven games, continuing their alarming slide out of playoff contention. The once-dominant franchise is now in danger of missing the postseason for a second straight year after a remarkable run of 16 consecutive playoff appearances.McDavid's performance was particularly impressive, as he extended his streak of games with three or more points to 118, the third-highest total in Edmonton history behind Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri. Pickard's shutout was his second of the season, further solidifying his status as a reliable backup to starter Stuart Skinner.The Oilers will now embark on a four-game homestand, beginning with a matchup against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. The Penguins, meanwhile, will travel to Ottawa on Tuesday in search of a much-needed victory.

France's dominant forward pack propelled them to a resounding 45-24 victory over Wales in the Six Nations on Sunday, keeping their hopes of a runners-up finish alive.Fly-half Thomas Ramos contributed 20 points through his boot, while scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec impressed with his performance. France's five tries to Wales' three saw them move into third place in the tournament standings, level on points with Scotland.The French bench played a crucial role in securing the victory, showcasing their depth and strength against a young and developing Wales team. Wales coach Warren Gatland acknowledged the impact of France's replacements, stating that they "had a significant impact."France captain Gregory Alldritt praised his team's forwards, emphasizing their physicality and impact in the collisions. He expressed confidence in their ability to challenge England in their upcoming match, which will determine the runners-up position behind Ireland.France coach Fabien Galthie echoed Alldritt's sentiments, highlighting the significance of the France-England rivalry and the importance of maintaining their intensity and tempo.Despite their disappointing draw with Italy, Alldritt emphasized that the team responded well against Wales. He attributed their victory to their hard work and determination to make France proud.Gatland remained optimistic despite Wales' winless record in the tournament, emphasizing the importance of embracing the challenge and giving a strong performance at home against Italy. He acknowledged the pressure and expectation surrounding the match but expressed confidence in his young players' ability to learn and improve.Italy's victory over Scotland has set up a thrilling finish to the Six Nations, with Wales facing a must-win game against the Azzurri to avoid finishing bottom. Gatland stressed the need for his team to step up and learn from their mistakes.

Madhya Pradesh's Ekta Pradeep Dey shattered the women's national U-20 record in the 3,000m steeplechase, clocking an impressive 10:10.08secs at the 22nd National Junior U-20 Federation Athletics Championships. This remarkable feat surpassed the previous record of 10:29.50 secs and met the Asian U-20 qualification time of 11:30.00.Odisha's Dondapati Mrutyumjaya also made headlines, winning the 200m in a blistering 21.59 secs. This time not only secured him the title but also surpassed the Asian U20 qualification time of 21.60secs. Mrutyumjaya had previously won the 100m on Saturday, clocking 10.67 secs, narrowly missing the qualification mark by 0.17secs.Uttar Pradesh's javelin throwers dominated the competition, with Dipanshu Sharma claiming the title with a throw of 68.89m. Rohan Yadav secured silver with a throw of 68.29m, while Uttarakhand's Ajeet Kumar Yadav took bronze with 66.94m. All three throwers surpassed the qualification mark of 65.49m.Gujarat's Laxita Vinod Sandilea completed a double, adding the 800m title to her 1500m victory on Sunday.Junior national chief coach Nagapuri Ramesh expressed confidence in India's performance at the upcoming Junior Asian Athletics Championships in Dubai and the junior worlds in Lima, Peru. He attributed the recent success of Indian athletes to the inspiration provided by Neeraj Chopra's Olympic and World Championships gold medals in javelin.

The Dallas Stars extended their winning streak to a season-high five games with a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night. Radek Faksa and Jason Robertson scored 18 seconds apart in the second period to give the Stars a 2-1 lead, and Joe Pavelski added a goal and an assist. Wyatt Johnston sealed the win with a power-play goal in the third period.The Stars' victory keeps them atop the Central Division with 89 points, four ahead of Winnipeg and Colorado. The Kings, meanwhile, remain tied for third in the Pacific Division with Vegas at 75 points.The Kings got off to a fast start when Kevin Fiala scored just 26 seconds into the game, but the Stars quickly responded. Faksa tied the game at 1-1 with a snap shot from high in the slot at 10:34, and Robertson put the Stars ahead 2-1 just 18 seconds later.The Stars continued to control the game in the second period, outshooting the Kings 15-7. Pavelski extended the Stars' lead to 3-1 with a goal at 17:29, and Johnston added an insurance goal on the power play at 6:57 of the third period.Scott Wedgewood made 26 saves in his first game since Feb. 26 to earn the win for the Stars. Cam Talbot made 31 saves for the Kings.The Stars will host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, while the Kings will host the New York Islanders on Monday night.

The NHL witnessed a thrilling weekend of action, with several teams making significant strides in the playoff race.In Buffalo, the Sabres overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in a shootout. Alex Tuch scored the decisive goal, while Jacob Bryson tied the game late in the third period. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 32 saves for Buffalo.The Florida Panthers continued their dominance, defeating the Calgary Flames 5-1. Vladimir Tarasenko, acquired from Ottawa, scored his first two goals as a Panther. Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, and Kevin Stenlund also found the net for Florida, who now have won 17 of their last 20 games.The Boston Bruins extended their winning streak to four games with a 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. David Pastrnak reached 40 goals for the third consecutive season, while Pavel Zacha had two goals and an assist. Linus Ullmark made 38 saves for Boston.The New York Rangers shut out the St. Louis Blues 4-0, with Igor Shesterkin making 26 saves for his 13th career shutout. Vincent Trocheck and Jimmy Vesey scored in the first period, while Chris Kreider and Kaapo Kakko added goals later.The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-2, with Jesperi Kotkaniemi scoring the game-winning goal in the third period. Pyotr Kochetkov made 24 saves for Carolina, who have now won eight of their last 11 games.The Toronto Maple Leafs edged out the Montreal Canadiens 3-2, with John Tavares scoring the game-winning goal in the third period. Max Domi and Bobby McMann also scored for Toronto, while Ilya Samsonov made 29 saves.The Nashville Predators extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Luke Evangelista scored the game-winning goal in the third period, while Kevin Lankinen made 32 saves.The Tampa Bay Lightning routed the Philadelphia Flyers 7-0, with defenseman Darren Raddysh recording five assists. Victor Hedman scored twice and added an assist, while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves for his second shutout of the season.The Washington Capitals defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1, with Tom Wilson scoring for the second consecutive game. Charlie Lindgren made 29 saves for Washington, who are now within striking distance of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.The San Jose Sharks snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Thomas Bordeleau scored two power-play goals, while Magnus Chrona made 31 saves for his first NHL win.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts is transitioning smoothly to shortstop, showcasing his defensive prowess in a 7-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. Despite a minor interference error, Betts handled his grounder cleanly and went 1 for 3 at the plate. The move to shortstop was prompted by Gavin Lux's throwing struggles.Meanwhile, reliever Blake Treinen's outing was cut short after a line drive struck him in the ribs. Treinen exited the game in pain but walked off the field without assistance. X-rays will determine the extent of his injury.The Oakland Athletics, preparing for their move to Las Vegas in 2028, concluded their exhibition series against Milwaukee with a 4-2 victory. The games were played at Las Vegas Ballpark, the future home of Oakland's Triple-A affiliate. The A's are exploring stadium options for the 2025-27 period, including an extension in Oakland or relocation to Salt Lake City or Sacramento.New York Yankees catcher Jose Trevino is set to make his spring debut after recovering from a calf injury. However, infielder Oswald Peraza will miss six to eight weeks due to a right shoulder strain. Peraza expressed disappointment but vowed to fight his way back.Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara has begun throwing for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery five months ago. The 28-year-old is progressing well and could be ahead of schedule in his recovery.The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to terms with several pre-arbitration players, including Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh, and Cristopher Sánchez. Stott and Marsh are key contributors to the team's offense, while Sánchez is a promising young pitcher.The Texas Rangers have claimed José Barrero off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds. Barrero, who was the Reds' opening-day shortstop in 2023, will provide depth to the Rangers' infield.