Sports - The Purbottar

15 Nov

Esha Singh wins her first medal in an individual world championship

Banasree SarkarSports

Esha Singh, a former Asian, Mixed Team, and Junior World champion, added another feather to her crown when she won bronze in the women's 25-meter pistol Olympic event at the Olympic Shooting Range in Cairo, Egypt, earning her first individual world championship medal. With a final score of 30, the Indian behind both Korea's current Olympic champion Yang Jiin (gold, score: 40) and in-form Chinese Yao Qianxun (silver, score: 38). At the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championship Rifle/Pistol, Cairo 2025, Esha's effort coincided with India's historic collection of one gold, three silver, and three bronze medals from their…

28 Oct

Ranji Trophy 2025–26: Meghalaya takes charge with a commanding lead over Sikkim in the first innings

Banasree SarkarSikkim, Sports

Meghalaya secured a vital first-innings lead on the third day at the MCA Ground, giving them the advantage in their Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Plate Group match against Sikkim. Meghalaya outscored Sikkim by 59 runs to 405 all out thanks to a patient batting display. Despite wickets falling often at the other end, their middle-order batter's double century served as the innings' fulcrum. Sikkim led by 37 runs after starting their second innings carefully and reaching 96 for 2 by stumps. Unless Meghalaya's bowlers can score early and often on the last morning, the match looks to be destined for a…

11 Oct

Not Just Muscle: The Smart Power of Richa Ghosh’s World Cup Surge

editorSports

During a Senior Women’s T20 Trophy match in October 2019, Bengal found themselves at 35/2 after 10.3 overs when 16-year-old Richa Ghosh came out to bat. At the Saurashtra Cricket Stadium in Rajkot, she would go on to score 67 runs off 36 balls, hitting two sixes and nine fours, which helped Bengal reach a total of 136/7 – with over 100 runs being made after the 10-over mark. Bengal's victory over Delhi by 60 runs that day was more than sufficient. Richa believes that the knock was instrumental in her receiving a call-up to the Indian squad at the…

10 Oct

After wrist surgery, Maxwell hopes to return for the latter stages of the India T20s

Banasree SarkarSports

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has provided an update following surgery on his fractured wrist, stating that he hopes to make a comeback starting on October 29 during the latter stages of the T20I series against India. At Tauranga's Bay Oval, Maxwell lost the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy T20I series last month after breaking his wrist bowling in the nets to fellow all-rounder Mitchell Owen. Last week, in an attempt to hasten his recuperation, he had surgery to repair his shattered right wrist. However, Maxwell was left off of Australia's roster for the first two Twenty20 Internationals against India, but they were able…

24 Sep

Team India Weighs Pace-Spin Balance with Bumrah Back and Suthar Rising

editorSports

Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian pace bowler, has notified the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his availability for selection for the two-Test series against the West Indies in Ahmedabad and Delhi beginning on October 2. On Wednesday afternoon, the senior selection committee will convene online to choose a 15-member squad for India. At present, Bumrah is playing in the T20 Asia Cup held in the UAE. If India reaches the final, there will be only a three-day interval before the first Test in Ahmedabad. It will be intriguing to see whether Bumrah is selected for the Test…

15 Sep

Suryakumar’s Silent Statement: Tradition Broken as India Opts Out of Handshake

editorSports

India vs Pakistan Handshake Row: Suryakumar had made up his mind on the morning of the game and signaled to the squad that he would not oblige the handshake. Frosty emotions between both sides due to recent tensions at the border. Both captains, India's Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha, were greeted with the traditional roars as they entered the half-filled Dubai International Stadium. However, Surya and Agha did not exchange traditional handshakes during the Asia Cup's final match. Both captains handed over their team lists to the umpire, paused for the traditional talk with the commentator (Ravi Shastri…

12 Sep

Gukesh’s Title Defense in Trouble After Third Consecutive Defeat; Redemption Ride Starts vs Divya

editorSports

Gukesh has been held to a draw at Grand Swiss by 14-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, defeated by 16-year-old American GM Abhimanyu Mishra, and now lost to Ediz Gurel, another 16-year-old from Turkey. In chess circles, there's an informal club whose membership grows somewhat each year. The Mikhail Chigorin Club is named after the Soviet Union player who competed in two World Championship matches against Wilhelm Steinitz but lost both times. To acquire membership in the Mikhail Chigorin Club, defeat a reigning world champion in a classical chess game. Three players have already joined the club in the FIDE Grand Swiss…

08 Sep

Asia Cup hockey: How Harmanpreet Singh’s team conquered disarray and took charge to win the Asian championship again and earn a spot in the 2026 World Cup

editorSports

"Perfect hockey" doesn't exist, according to coach Craig Fulton. But since India won the Asia Cup back, this will be as close to ideal as they can get.In the context of Indian hockey, the following words are rarely used combined in a same sentence: a brutal, unafraid effort in a major championship game. We haven't seen Craig Fulton's side avatar in a long time. It may have been a few years since the Asian Games final when they last delivered this type of faultless performance, or wire-to-wire dominance, as Formula 1 refers to it.India, which stumbled to open their Asia…

05 Sep

India qualified to the third-place playoffs for the CAFA Nations Cup following a goalless draw with Afghanistan

editorSports

India's final CAFA Nations Cup group stage match ended in a goalless draw, continuing their three-year losing streak against Afghanistan. Khalid Jamil's team managed to secure second place in their group with four points thanks to the draw. Tajikistan, who had previously lost 1-2 to India, lost the head-to-head record but joined India on four points after drawing Iran 2-2. India will make a spectacular start for their new coach on September 8 when they play in the third-place playoff, defying the pre-tournament predictions of a group-stage exit.Before the game began, Jamil only addressed the cameras, "We are prepared for…

13 Aug

Mahesh Bhupathi says padel is one of the sports in India with the quickest rate of growth

Banasree SarkarSports

Indian tennis success has long been associated with Mahesh Bhupathi, solidifying the country's place on the world tennis scene. The 12-time Grand Slam doubles winner is now sharing his knowledge and insights with padel, another rapidly growing racket sport. Bhupathi thinks that the sport is about to make a big leap forward with the World Padel League (WPL). One of the sports with the quickest rate of growth in the nation is padel. Many tennis players have adopted it as a backup alternative, and its rise has been exponential over the past few years. However, he said, "I think we're…