Category: Sports

Vladimir Kramnik, a famous chess player, recently accused Magnus Carlsen of trying to bully the International Chess Federation (FIDE) into making a deal with a group called the Freestyle Chess Players Club (FCPC). Kramnik shared his thoughts on social media, asking FIDE why they agreed to host a private event, the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, and claimed Carlsen threatened to drop out of another tournament if they didn’t comply.

In a twist, Carlsen had earlier accused FIDE of threatening players who wanted to join the Freestyle Chess Tour. Recently, Carlsen was kicked out of a Rapid and Blitz Championship in New York for not following the dress code after being warned multiple times.

FIDE’s chief, Emil Sutovsky, responded to both Kramnik’s and Carlsen’s claims. He clarifies that Carlsen hasn’t been banned but can return on Saturday. Sutovsky said that FIDE never threatened players who wanted to join the Freestyle Tour and that they are open to working with different chess events. He emphasized that only FIDE should approve any tournament called a “World Championship.”

Sutovsky also mentioned he discussed this in an interview on an app called Take Take and invited fans to ask other players, like world champion D Gukesh, for the truth about what really happened.

The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour is set to start on January 4 and will include five events worldwide featuring famous players like Carlsen, Gukesh, and Viswanathan Anand. Kramnik also replied to a fan’s joke about trusting Carlsen or FIDE, saying, “Probably neither,” hinting he doesn’t fully back either side.

Sam Konstas is a fierce competitor, much like Virat Kohli, and they could be seen laughing about a recent shoulder bump incident after the Boxing Day Test, according to Stuart Clark, a former Australian fast bowler. Kohli bumped into Konstas during the fourth Test in Melbourne, which earned him a fine from the ICC and some boos from the Aussie fans. Clark believes these two tough athletes will eventually get along well. “Konstas is driven and wants to do well, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Kohli takes him under his wing,” Clark shared.

He went on to say there might be a photo of them smiling together after the match. Both players are competitive and won’t back down easily, which made the bump not a great moment. Clark, who has known Konstas since he was a teenager, noted that his first innings in Test cricket was not typical of his usual aggressive style. “I’m curious to see how he plays in his next innings. Will he play aggressively or use a more traditional approach?” he wondered.

Clark also talked about a run-out that was caused by a mix-up between Kohli and his teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 82 runs before getting out. “It was a genuine misunderstanding, and it’s not fair to blame Kohli for that,” he said. He also defended Rishabh Pant for a risky shot that led to his out, saying that players sometimes miss the mark with their big shots. “We shouldn’t be too harsh on him because he’s a world-class player. It was just the wrong moment for that shot,” he explained.

Finally, Clark feels that India can still save the Melbourne Test since the pitch is not very challenging for batsmen. He described the pitch as mostly flat and good for batting, saying it wouldn’t be surprising if the strong Indian team successfully plays through the day in their second innings.

India’s young athletes did an amazing job at the Asian youth and junior weightlifting championships held in Doha from December 19 to 25. They brought home a total of 33 medals! Now, they are setting their sights on qualifying for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2026. The national coach, Vijay Sharma, who also mentored Olympic champion Mirabai Chanu, thinks our future in weightlifting looks bright thanks to the strong performance in Doha.

The competition featured 40 different categories, with 20 for youth (ages 13-17) and 20 for juniors (ages 15-20). In the youth section, India’s lifters earned 21 medals, including 7 golds. The junior team added 12 more medals to the tally. A standout performer was 16-year-old Jyoshna Sabar from Uttar Pradesh, who set an Asian record in the women’s youth 40kg class by lifting a total of 135 kgs!

Khelo India has helped young athletes by spotting talent and training them to excel. Out of the 24 athletes from India, 22 were part of the Khelo India program. They trained at one of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centers located in Patiala, Imphal, and Aurangabad. Alakesh Baruah, who manages high performance in weightlifting at NIS Patiala, praised the youth athletes for their potential in future competitions.

Maibam Martina Devi, who won silver in the women’s Junior +87kg category at the 2024 Asian meet, talked about her plans. She said, “In 2025, we will start trials for the Commonwealth Games 2026.” This series of events will happen in Ahmedabad, and she will also take part in the National Games in Uttarakhand.

In the men’s category, Sairaj Pardeshi broke a national record with an overall lift of 310 kgs in the 81kg youth category. Sairaj, who joined NIS Patiala after training in Maharashtra, expressed gratitude for the support from SAI centers, saying they greatly helped him with discipline, diet, and coaching.

Overall, India’s young weightlifters show great promise for the future!

Nitish Kumar Reddy reached his first Test century in an exciting way! He hit a ball from Scott Boland over mid-on for a boundary just as he was about to lose his chance. Before this, he had seen his teammate Jasprit Bumrah get out, leaving him with only Mohammed Siraj as the last batsman. Reddy was nervously waiting on 99 not out, and when he finally got his century, he couldn’t hold back his tears, knowing his dad was cheering for him in the stands.

At that moment, the light was fading quickly, and everyone was looking at the umpires, hoping they wouldn’t stop the game. Reddy’s century was a big relief for the Indian team, helping them avoid a tough situation and giving the bowlers some rest.

The 21-year-old was a surprise choice for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy team. Many thought he was selected for his skills in T20 and IPL, but Reddy has shown he is one of the best players on this tour. In the first four innings of the series, he scored the most runs in three of them, finally getting his well-deserved century in the Boxing Day Test.

Who is Nitish Kumar Reddy?

Nitish Reddy is a top-order batsman and a genuine medium-fast bowler. This is quite rare in Indian cricket. Many believe he could become India’s next great all-rounder in all formats. Reddy was born in Visakhapatnam and began playing cricket at just five years old, showing talent as both a batter and a bowler. He caught the eye of former Indian selector MSK Prasad during state-level tournaments.

His big moment came in the 2016-17 Vijay Merchant Trophy when he scored 441 runs against Nagaland and took 26 wickets, winning the ‘Best Cricketer’ award for U16 players.

Reddy got his big break in the IPL when Sunrisers Hyderabad picked him in 2023. He played in only two games in his first season, but in 2024, he stood out with two fifties and took three wickets. His great performance helped him join the T20I squad, where he scored 74 runs in his debut series against Bangladesh, proving he can handle spin bowling well.

In an exciting match against Australia, India’s young player, Nitish Kumar Reddy, made a fantastic debut. After India’s batting struggled and they lost 5 wickets on the first day of the Boxing Day Test, Reddy stepped up like a true hero. He scored a beautiful century, which is certain to be remembered for a long time. India managed to restrict the Australian team to 474 runs in their first innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal gave India a strong start, but then things took a turn. Amid the pressure, Reddy kept his cool and hit 100 runs off just XX balls. He partnered well with Washington Sundar, putting together a strong partnership of over 100 runs. Reddy’s performance brought hope and joy to millions of Indian fans watching.

Greg Gumbel, a famous CBS sportscaster, has died from cancer. His family announced the sad news on Friday. Greg worked in sports broadcasting for over 50 years and inspired many with his passionate voice. He is remembered by his wife Marcy and daughter Michelle for his dedication and love.

In March, Greg missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997 due to family health concerns. He had been a CBS host since 1998 and signed a contract extension last year to keep hosting college basketball. Greg was a trailblazer, becoming the first Black announcer to call a major sports championship when he announced Super Bowl 35 in 2001.

David Berson, president of CBS Sports, praised Greg for breaking barriers and being a voice for sports fans, especially during NFL games and March Madness. Greg had two periods with CBS, first leaving for NBC and returning when CBS got football back in 1998. He hosted CBS’ coverage of the Winter Olympics and called baseball games during that time.

Greg hosted NFL Today from 1990 to 1993 and again from 2004 to 2005. Earlier this year, he remembered how it felt to take over from legendary broadcaster Brent Musburger in 1990.

Clark Kellogg, a CBS Sports analyst, expressed his sadness and gratitude for knowing Greg, saying he was a wonderful person. Greg was the older brother of Bryant Gumbel, the host of NBC’s Today show.

Born and raised in Chicago, Greg graduated from Loras College in Iowa in 1967. He initially wanted to be a teacher, but followed his brother into sports broadcasting. He started at WMAQ-TV in Chicago in 1973 and worked hard to become a well-known face on screen.

James Brown, who hosts NFL Today, called Greg “Mr. Versatility” and a great friend. Greg earned many local Emmy Awards and won the Pat Summerall Award for his excellence in sports broadcasting.

Beyond his career, Greg supported the March of Dimes and served on boards for children’s causes for many years