Indian Sports Highlights, January 3: Jaipur Pink Panthers and Puneri Paltan wins their matches at PKL

Pro Kabaddi League: Jaipur Pink Panthers and Puneri Paltan wins their respective matches

Jaipur Pink Panthers takes a big 45-34 win over Haryana Steelers whereas table toppers Puneri Paltan continues their good form and takes a 40-31 win over UP Yoddhas.

This was the fifth consecutive victory for Puneri Paltan which solidifies their top position in the league table and now having a seven point lead over the second placed Gujarat Giants with one match in hand.

Vandana Katariya ruled out of FIH Women's Olympic Hockey qualifiers

Experienced Indian forward and vice-captain of women's hockey team Vandana Katariya was ruled out of the FIH Women's Olympic qualifiers in Ranchi.

Vandana will be replaced by youngster Baljeet Kaur who has shown great promise in India’s recent outings, meanwhile, local star Nikki Pradhan has been named as the Vice Captain. Notably, Nikki was the first women's hockey player from Jharkhand to represent India at the Olympic Games in 2016.

“It’s unfortunate that Vandana won’t be part of the tournament. She sustained a fracture in her cheekbone during a training session, and she has been advised to rest. While we will miss the experience of Vandana, Baljeet Kaur who has been doing well for the team will step in for her senior compatriot, and Nikki, also a very experienced player for India will shoulder the responsibility of Vice Captain,” stated Chief Coach Janneke Schopman.

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Ad-hoc panel announces U-15, U-20 nationals after junior wrestlers protest

Taking cognizance of the protest by the junior wrestlers, the ad-hoc panel on Wednesday announced the organization of U-15 and U-20 National championships within six weeks.

More than 300 young wrestlers started a protest against the IOA-constituted committee at Jantar Mantar and asked for the restoration of the Sanjay Singh-led new Wrestling Federation of India body.

The panel "acknowledged the concerns" of the young wrestlers who have been hit hard by the year-long protests by top India grapplers. Wrestling activities in the country have been hit hard following protests by the country's top three grapplers -- Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat -- against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

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Jio Cinema will broadcast the Kalinga Super Cup matches from January 8-28

Indian club cup tournament, Kalinga Super cup will be broadcast on Jio Cinema from January 8-28, 2024, in Bhubaneswar. The 16 teams will take place in the tournament - 12 from ISL and 4 I-League clubs.

Host Odisha FC are the defending champion, wins the tournament last year beating Bengaluru FC in the final.

Three Wise Men dream of displaying the right intent in Doha

India are all set to participate in the AFC Asian Cup for the fifth time in history, once the ball gets rolling in Doha, Qatar, on January 13, the previous editions being in 1964, 1984, 2011, and 2019.

While the first edition remains India’s most successful stint at the Asian Cup after they finished runners-up behind Israel (it was a round-robin tournament), the Blue Tigers have never made it past the group stage after that.

“The experience of sharing the dressing room with the likes of Subrata Paul, Bhaichung Bhutia, Renedy Singh, and all these legends and seeing them at the height of their careers was an absolute joy. I used to enjoy myself in training a lot,” Gurpreet said to the-aiff.com.

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Antonio Habas returns to helm as Mohun Bagan SG's interim head coach, replacing Juan Ferrando

Mohun Bagan Super Giant has officially confirmed the departure of head coach Juan Ferrando, on Wednesday. The club has appointed seasoned tactician Antonio Habas to take charge of the team, marking a full-circle return for the coach.

Ferrando, who took the reins from Habas in 2021, guided Mohun Bagan SG to victory in the Durand Cup 2023-24 and the Indian Super League 2022-23. However, recent performances have raised concerns, with a notable decline in results since November. The team's early exit from the AFC Cup group stages and three consecutive losses in the ISL have prompted the management to make a swift decision.

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'My family is receiving threats'- Wrestler Sakshi Malik

Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of threatening her family on Wednesday.

"For past two-three days, the goons of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh are active. My mother is getting threats through phone call. People are calling and saying that case will be registered against someone in my family," said Sakshi in a press conference at her home in Delhi.

The 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medalist insisted that she has no issues with the newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India if Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh-loyalist Sanjay Singh is kept away from the body.

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NorthEast United FC extends the contract of head coach Juan Pedro Benali

NorthEast United FC on Wednesday announced the contract extension of Head Coach Juan Pedro Benali. The contract will run through the next season with an option of extending it by one more season.

Juan has demonstrated exceptional coaching acumen, steering NorthEast United FC through challenging times with grit and determination. He has shown his ability to mold and develop players to get the best out of them. He has encouraged and groomed young players by giving them opportunities to shine.

Under Juan, NorthEast United FC currently sit sixth with 12 points from 12 games in the 2023-24 Indian Super League. With half of the season yet to be played, the team has already surpassed its total points from the previous season by more than twice the amount.

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U23 World Champion Reetika Hooda joins protestors at the spot against the top wrestlers

India's first-ever U-23 female World Champion, Reetika Hooda also joins the protest at Jantar Mantar against Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia.

Reetika also hails from Sakshi Malik's Chhotu Ram Academy, the birthplace of India's 1st and only Olympic women wrestler when Sakshi Malik clinched bronze at Rio Olympics.

Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games preparations drive Indian Esports trends in 2024

With the meteoric rise of the Indian Esports industry last year, the sector is poised for rapid growth in 2024, acquiring a substantial player base and generating significant revenue.

Esports has been confirmed as a medal sport for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, prompting the country's video gaming community to begin preparations to seize the opportunity to represent their nation on the global stage.

Technological trends, including AI integration, and Metaverse gaming, alongside access to international resources and strategic brand collaborations, will empower a new generation of gaming creators.

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