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Gautam Gambhir Extends Birthday Wishes to Bollywood Icon Shah Rukh KhanFormer Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has extended heartfelt birthday wishes to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on his 59th birthday. Gambhir, who was the mentor of the Shah Rukh Khan-owned IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, took to social media to express his admiration for the actor."Here's to the man who keeps turning 25! Your energy, charisma, and charm get more youthful every year! May you keep spreading love forever!" Gambhir wrote on Twitter, accompanied by a photo of himself with Khan in the KKR jersey.Shah Rukh Khan's charismatic personality has garnered him a massive fan following, earning him the title of "King of Bollywood." His ascent to fame began in New Delhi with the TV series 'Fauji' in 1989. His film career skyrocketed with hits like 'Deewana,' 'Darr,' and 'Baazigar,' but it was 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' that truly cemented his status as a superstar.After a brief hiatus, Khan made a powerful comeback in 2023 with blockbusters like 'Pathaan,' 'Jawan,' and 'Dunki,' reaffirming his title as the King of Bollywood. In a recent conversation with Giona A Nazzaro, the artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival, Khan discussed his career and achievements.He opened up about his preparation for his upcoming film 'King' and his collaboration with filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh. "There are certain kinds of films that I want to do, maybe it's more age-centric, and I want to try something for 6-7 years. I've been thinking about it and mentioned it to Sujoy Ghosh one day while we were sitting," Khan said.Khan also spoke about losing weight for his role in 'King.' "The next film I am doing, 'King,' I have to start working on it, have to lose some weight a little, do some stretching," he added. An official announcement regarding the film is yet to be made.

Oscar Piastri, the McLaren driver, secured pole position for the sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Friday. Despite his desire to win, Piastri acknowledged that his teammate Lando Norris has a greater need for points in the drivers' standings.The McLaren duo, aided by an updated rear wing, dominated the front row of the grid, raising the possibility of team orders to assist Norris's title bid. Piastri expressed his willingness to relinquish a victory if necessary, recognizing Norris's higher priority in the championship race.However, Piastri emphasized his determination to win the sprint race, stating that anything could happen. He acknowledged that McLaren's performance boost from the new rear wing had given them an advantage.The newly resurfaced track at Interlagos proved to be challenging for the drivers due to its bumpy surface. Piastri described it as "hard enough to see where you're going, let alone try to do a fast lap."Norris expressed surprise at the speed of his car, admitting that he had made mistakes on his final lap. He declined to discuss his prospects of closing in on Max Verstappen in the title race, stating that he was focused on his own performance.Verstappen, who will face a five-place grid penalty in Sunday's Grand Prix for taking a new engine, qualified fourth behind the McLaren duo and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. He attributed his performance to the car's difficulty on the bumpy track.Alex Albon finished ninth for Williams, while Oliver Bearman impressed in place of Kevin Magnussen for Haas.

At the tender age of three years, eight months, and 19 days, Anish Sarkar from Kolkata has etched his name in chess history as the youngest rated player ever. His remarkable journey began with a fascination for chess pieces at just three years old.Anish's debut in competitive chess came at the West Bengal state Under-9 Open, where he impressed with 5.5 points out of 8 and defeated two rated players. His skills were further tested at the West Bengal state Under-13 Open, where he faced older and more experienced opponents. Despite the challenge, he met the requirement of facing five rated players, earning him an initial FIDE rating of 1555.Anish's emergence coincides with an exciting era in Indian chess, marked by the rise of young prodigies like Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and D Gukesh. Their success has inspired a nationwide interest in nurturing young talents like Anish.Born into a lower-middle-class family, Anish's journey began when he was drawn to chess videos on YouTube. His parents, with no prior knowledge of chess, introduced him to the game, and he quickly developed a passion for it.Anish's focus and dedication are remarkable. He trains for seven to eight hours a day and is known for his unwavering concentration at the chessboard. His idol is none other than world champion Magnus Carlsen, and he enjoys watching GothamChess on YouTube.Anish's coach, Dibyendu Barua, sees potential in the young prodigy but emphasizes the long journey ahead. He compares Anish to Mitrabha Guha, who became a Grandmaster at 20 years old.Anish's mother, who prefers to remain anonymous, supports her son's passion quietly. She believes in his abilities and wants him to enjoy the game without pressure.As Anish continues his chess journey, he is expected to participate in the upcoming Tata Steel Kolkata Chess, where he may have the opportunity to meet his idol, Magnus Carlsen.

Mansi Ahlawat's bronze medal in the women's 59kg category at the World Championships has extended India's medal-winning streak at the prestigious event. However, the men's freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers failed to secure any medals, returning empty-handed.Ahlawat, who trains at Sir Chhotu Ram Akhada under coach Mandeep, defeated Canada's Laurence Beauregard 5-0 in the bronze medal bout. She had earlier lost her semifinal 1-4 to Mongolia's Sukhee Tserenchimed after winning three consecutive bouts on Wednesday.Manisha Bhanwala (65kg) also came close to a podium finish but lost her bronze play-off 2-8 to Japan's Miwa Morikawa. Bhanwala had bounced back in contention after winning her repechage round 7-2 against Mongolia's Enkhjin Tuvshinjargal.Kirti (55kg) and Bipasha (72kg) could not reach the medal round.In men's freestyle, Sandeep Mann (92kg) made the repechage round but lost the bout by technical superiority to Slovakia's Btyrbek Tsakuklov. Udit (61kg), Manish Goswami (70kg), and Parvinder Singh (79kg) could not make the medal round.India's Greco-Roman wrestlers, as usual, struggled as Sanjeev (55kg), Chetan (63kg), Ankit Gulia (72kg), and Rohit Dahiya (82kg) faded early in the competition.Despite the men's wrestlers' disappointing performance, Ahlawat's bronze medal has given India something to cheer about at the World Championships. The 23-year-old wrestler has shown great promise and will be one to watch in the future.

Salima Tete has been appointed as the captain of the 18-member Indian women's hockey team for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held from November 11 to 20 at the newly-developed Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar. Navneet Kaur will serve as Tete's deputy.India enters the competition as the defending champions, having clinched the title at last year's edition in Ranchi. The team will face stiff competition from five other nations, including reigning Olympic silver-medallists China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, in the battle for continental supremacy.Tete, a dynamic mid-fielder, expressed her excitement and determination to lead the team to another successful campaign. "It's an incredible feeling to lead the team into another major tournament, especially as defending champions," she said. "We have trained rigorously and have a strong unit with both experienced players and young talent. Our goal is to defend our title and play with the same passion and determination we showed last year."The goalkeeping duties will be shared between the experienced Savita and rising talent Bichu Devi Kharibam. The defence will be anchored by a solid line-up, featuring Udita, Jyoti, Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, and Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke.In the mid-field, captain Tete will be supported by Neha, Sharmila Devi, Manisha Chauhan, Sunelita Toppo, and Lalremsiami, all known for their dynamic play. The forward line-up boasts firepower with Navneet Kaur, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, Preeti Dubey, and Beauty Dungdung leading the charge.Notably, Sushila and Beauty Dungdung make their return to the team after successfully completing their rehabilitation. "We are confident in our preparation and the chemistry we've built within the team," said vice-captain Navneet. "Playing in front of our home crowd is a huge boost, and we are ready to face tough competition from the best teams in Asia."India will open their campaign against Malaysia on November 11. The team is determined to defend their title and continue their dominance in Asian hockey.

India's Chirag Chikkara has etched his name in wrestling history by becoming only the third Indian to claim the Under-23 World Championship title. The 21-year-old triumphed in the men's freestyle 57kg category, defeating Abdymalik Karachov of Kyrgyzstan in a thrilling 4-3 victory.Chikkara's triumph marks a significant milestone for Indian wrestling, as he joins Paris Olympics bronze medalist Aman Sehrawat and Reetika Hooda as the only Indians to have won gold at the U23 Championships. Sehrawat achieved the feat in the same category in 2022, while Hooda became the first Indian woman to win gold in 2021.Chikkara's path to the final was marked by a series of dominant performances. He defeated Gaukoto Ozawa, Iunus Iavbatirov, and Allan Oralbek with ease, showcasing his technical prowess and determination.India's medal haul in the men's freestyle category was further bolstered by two bronze medals from Vicky and Sujeet Kalkal. Vicky secured bronze in the 97kg event, while Kalkal bounced back from an early deficit to win bronze in the 70kg category.The Indian women's wrestling team also made their mark, claiming one silver and three bronze medals. Anjli won silver in the 59kg category, while Neha Sharma, Shiksha, and Monika each secured bronze in their respective weight classes.Vishvajit More added to India's medal tally with a bronze in the men's 55kg Greco-Roman category, bringing India's total medal count to nine. This impressive performance placed India fourth in the team standings, behind Iran, Japan, and Azerbaijan.Chikkara's victory and India's overall success at the U23 World Championships is a testament to the growing strength of Indian wrestling. The young wrestlers have demonstrated their talent and potential, and they are poised to make a significant impact on the international stage in the years to come.

The Gujarat Giants, led by captain Neeraj Kumar and coached by Ram Mehar Singh, are determined to turn their fortunes around in the ongoing Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11. After a promising start with a victory over the Bengaluru Bulls, the Giants suffered a narrow defeat to U Mumba.Coach Ram Mehar Singh acknowledged the team's defensive lapses, stating, "Our defence has made a few mistakes here and there in the last game, which has affected the result. But we are confident that our raiding department, and even our defence, is quite strong."Singh emphasized the importance of teamwork and minimizing errors, saying, "All the teams in PKL Season 11 are very good. It is about winning the key moments and working hard on the mat, and avoiding mistakes. All the teams are equal and it is about the team getting set properly on the day, during the game and working together in defence and raiding."Captain Neeraj Kumar echoed his coach's sentiments, highlighting the need for a cohesive unit. "For a team to win, it is absolutely essential that our attackers and defenders have to work well," he said.The Giants will face a tough test on Monday, October 28, when they take on the Dabang Delhi K.C. side. The Haryana Steelers, who lost their opening game but bounced back with a win, will also be in action against Dabang Delhi K.C.In the second game of the day, the Telugu Titans, led by star raider Pawan Sehrawat, will face the Patna Pirates. The Titans have struggled for consistency, while the Pirates have shown promise with young Devank emerging as a key performer.

PKL Stars Inspire Young Kabaddi Players in HyderabadThe Hyderabad leg of the Sports For All (SFA) championships 2024-25 witnessed a special appearance by Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) stars, igniting excitement and inspiration among aspiring kabaddi players. Tamil Thalaivas' raiding duo of Narender Kandola and Sachin Tanwar, along with Bengaluru Bulls' Ajinkya Pawar, graced the Shri Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy Stadium to witness the Under-14 boys and girls' finals on Saturday.Their presence underscored the growing significance of grassroots development in kabaddi. Reflecting on the sport's evolution, Sachin Tanwar remarked, "This is a significant movement from the beginning. When I was in school, we used to play in such tournaments too. Initially, only 200-250 people would come to watch, but now the popularity of kabaddi has grown tremendously, encouraging more participation. The scope of the game has expanded significantly, and this is evident now."Ajinkya Pawar emphasized the importance of balancing academics with sports. "The most important thing is that these young players need to maintain a balance - they should focus on both their studies and sports. Education remains equally important as sports," he advised the aspiring athletes.Drawing from personal experience, Narender Kandola highlighted the crucial role of school-level competitions. "Kabaddi's growth starts from the grassroots level, and school games play a crucial role in developing the sport. My own journey is testament to this - I started with casual games in my village, moved on to school competitions, and eventually made my way to the world stage. This is where it all begins," he said, hoping to inspire the kabaddi winners of the ongoing SFA Championships.The PKL stars' visit not only motivated the young players but also emphasized the importance of grassroots development in kabaddi. Their presence served as a reminder that the future of the sport lies in nurturing young talent and providing them with opportunities to showcase their skills.

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, fierce championship rivals, are poised for another thrilling duel in Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix after qualifying second and third, respectively.Verstappen, the three-time champion and series leader, expressed satisfaction with his starting position despite having his first fastest lap in Q3 deleted for exceeding track limits. "I wasn't sure it would be possible to be on the front row," he said. "So, to do it makes me very happy!"Norris, trailing Verstappen by 57 points with five races remaining, was penalized five seconds for running off-track during last Sunday's United States Grand Prix. He remains determined to find a way to overcome Verstappen and claim the title. "Honestly, I'm pretty happy with third," he said. "I feel like I got to the limit of the car quite quickly."Both drivers acknowledged the challenges of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit. "This is probably one of the hardest tracks to get right," said Verstappen. "Low downforce, easy to lock-up and to slide ... it's one of the trickiest ones on the calendar."Norris added, "No one has done long runs on the tires we will be on tomorrow so there are question marks for us all."Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. secured pole position, while Sergio Perez and Oscar Piastri, the second drivers for Red Bull and McLaren, respectively, failed to qualify in the top half of the grid.Norris hinted at potential changes in his approach to passing Verstappen on track. "I might be more aggressive or I might be less aggressive," he said. "It depends ... Let's see what happens."The Mexico City Grand Prix promises to be a captivating battle between Verstappen and Norris, with both drivers eager to gain an advantage in the championship race.