Category: gaming

DPS RK Puram Prodigy Aryaveer Dewan Creates History in US Junior Open Squash Tournament

Delhi, 4 January 2024 — Aryaveer Dewan, a 14-year-old prodigy from Delhi Public School RK Puram, has etched his name in the annals of squash history by becoming the first Indian to triumph in the prestigious US Junior Open Squash Tournament in the Boys Under 15 category. Aryaveer’s remarkable journey to victory showcased not only his exceptional skill but also his unwavering determination and dominance on the court.

In a tournament featuring squash powerhouses from around the world, Aryaveer, seeded fourth, exhibited an extraordinary level of play, dropping just one game throughout the competition. His path to victory included defeating the top and second seeds, ultimately securing the title at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia. The magnitude of Aryaveer’s achievement reverberates through the squash community, capturing the attention of aficionados worldwide.

Already hailed as the ‘next-best-thing’ in Indian sports, Aryaveer, India’s Number One in his age category, is now officially ranked Number Two in Asia. His ascent to this ranking was punctuated by a remarkable victory over Asia Number One in the US Junior Open Squash Tournament, solidifying his status as a rising star in the sport.

A student of class 10 at DPS RK Puram, Aryaveer Dewan is not only a sporting sensation but also excels academically. Known for his diligence and commitment, Aryaveer is supported by his devoted parents and a dedicated team of trainers. His meteoric rise in the world of squash is a testament to his exceptional talent and hard work.

Aryaveer Dewan shares his excitement “Winning the US Junior Open Squash Tournament is a dream come true for me. This victory is not just mine but a testament to the unwavering support of my parents, coaches, and the entire DPS RK Puram community. I am committed to pushing my limits and making India proud on the international stage. This is just the beginning of my journey, and I am grateful for the opportunities that lie ahead.”

In addition to his historic US Open title, Aryaveer has left an indelible mark in other prestigious squash tournaments:

• Sub Junior National Championship Indore (October 2023): Second Position
• Indian Junior Open Mumbai (September 2023): First Position
• Asian Juniors Individual Championship Dalian, China (August 2023): Bronze Medalist

Aryaveer Dewan received heartfelt congratulations from Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur for his outstanding performance in the Asian Juniors Individual Championship.

As Aryaveer continues to make history and inspire aspiring athletes, DPS RK Puram proudly stands behind its prodigious talent, recognizing him as the future of Indian squash and sports.

New naming rights partnership agreed, The Cledara Abbey Stadium announced

People business backs a people business

London, 4th January, 2024: Cledara, a leading SaaS management platform, has entered into a five-year sponsorship agreement with Cambridge United which will see the football club’s Abbey Stadium renamed The Cledara Abbey Stadium.

The Stadium Naming Rights Partnership is effective from today, 3rd January, 2024 and runs to 2nd January, 2029.

The landmark deal will play a part in the next stage of the stadium’s redevelopment.

Cledara is a leading specialist SaaS subscription management company. Its platform allows a company to get visibility and control of all of its software, track usage, cut costs, and simplify the management of software.

Cristina Vila Vives, Cledara founder and CEO, said: “We are delighted to be able to help Cambridge United with its ambitions to grow the fanbase, engage younger fans, encourage families, build the visibility of the women’s team and support the Cambridge community. We are fully supportive of all these plans.

“We are a people business, as is Cambridge United. The club is a central part of the community and it’s great to be a part of that. And Cambridge itself is a leading tech hub and a hotbed for startups. This is a market which Cledara serves and we look forward to expanding our network throughout the city and surrounding areas.

“This agreement, which lasts for five years, reflects that we’re building for the future. Our customers trust us with their core software infrastructure and planning for the long term is important.

“There also is a personal connection for me, which means a lot, as I studied for my masters in Cambridge at the Anglia Ruskin University. It’s great to have a new connection both with the city and wider community.”

Cambridge United was founded in 1912 as Abbey United. It took the name Cambridge United in 1951.

Alex Tunbridge, Cambridge United CEO, added: “We are very pleased to be partnering with Cledara and to announce the renaming of the Abbey Stadium as The Cledara Abbey Stadium.

“We are embarking on an exciting journey to develop the stadium and welcoming organisations such as Cledara is an important part of that.

“We are very grateful to have their support as we start out on the redevelopment project and I would like to thank them for ensuring that the Abbey Stadium remains a part of the stadium’s new name.

“We are ambitious for the Club. We want to modernise, progress and take advantage of new potential opportunities as the professional football club based in the world leading city of Cambridge, home to the rules of the game.

“At the same time, we want to do this with appropriate acknowledgment of the DNA of our Club. Keeping ‘The Abbey’ as a central part of the new name was important both for us and Cledara.”

Cledara is based in London, with offices in Barcelona and New York.

National Lacrosse League: Ten Things to Know for Week 5

Seven Games Across Three Days has 14 of 15 Teams in Action; Seven Local Broadcasts Plus N.Y.-Toronto NLL Game of the Week on TSN, ESPNU

PHILADELPHIA, December 29, 2023 – The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, features seven games, a season high to date, this New Year’s weekend over three days, highlighted by the New York Riptide vs. Toronto Rock (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET) matinee serving as the NLL Game of the Week on TSN and on ESPNU in the U.S. Seven local market outlets will broadcast games that include the NLL Saturday Showcase featuring the Vancouver Warriors at Colorado Mammoth (Saturday, 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. MT, ESPN+, TSN+, Altitude Sports) and the NLL New Year’s Eve Special when the undefeated Albany FireWolves visit the Saskatchewan Rush (Sunday, 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT, ESPN+, TSN+, My4 Albany).

Here are 10 things to know about the NLL entering Week 5:

Resetarits Ranks: Philadelphia Wings forward Joe Resetarits remains one of the all-time great U.S.-born NLL players. He now needs six points to pass Casey Powell (674 points) to be the top scoring American in League history. Read more on his pursuit in this NLL.com feature by Adam Levi.

Post Exclusive: The N.Y. Post’s Dexter Henry had this exclusive interview with New York Riptide standout and former #1 NLL Draft pick Jeff Teat (Brampton, Ont.) this week, where he discussed the expectations of that lofty selection, his record-setting rookie season, his 2024 MVP goals, team goals, and more.

Hasen Century: Rochester’s thrilling 13-11 victory over Vancouver pushed the Knighthawks to 3-0 for the second straight season, and also marked the 100th victory behind the bench for Mike Hasen, who becomes the sixth coach in league history to reach the century mark. The win occurred nearly 13 years after Hasen’s first win as head coach in January 2011. Hasen now trails Tony Cordingley (107), with active coaches Ed Comeau of Georgia (124, second) and Paul Day of Philadelphia (113, fourth) also among the leaders.

Mammoth Save Makes ESPN Top 10: This series of saves by Colorado’s Brett Dobson (Oshawa, Ont.) garnered the No. 9 spot on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays on Saturday.

Auld Lang Sask: The Albany FireWolves and Saskatchewan Rush get New Year’s Eve to themselves on the NLL schedule, and the SaskTel Centre will be the place to be on Sunday night to ring in 2024. The Rush celebrate with the Fan Experience Zone from noon until 5 p.m., followed by the pre-game show live from the concourse, halftime performance by the KC Aerials Group and more. Fans outside the Saskatoon area can tune into the game on TSN+, ESPN+ as well as over the air on My4 in Albany.

Here Comes the Metric System: LAXMetrics, powered by the NLL, is an innovative data approach to better understand the League. This week, NLL.com’s Cooper Perkins looks at the prospect of an MVP run by Toronto Rock forward Mark Matthews.

Go Local: Seven local outlets will have live coverage of six of the NLL’s games this weekend: Albany at Philadelphia (Friday, 6:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. AT, NBC Sports Philadelphia); Georgia at Buffalo (Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, Peachtree Sports Network, CW23); Rochester at San Diego (Friday, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, Fox 5); Las Vegas at Calgary (Saturday, 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. MT, Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network (SSSEN)); Vancouver at Colorado (Saturday, 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. MT, Altitude Sports); and Albany at Saskatchewan (Sunday, 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT, My4)

Power Up: NLL.com’s Adam Levi checks in with his weekly Power Rankings, keeping the Bandits at No. 1 and the Halifax Thunderbirds (2-0) at No. 2. Toronto’s (2-0) win at Panther City vaults the Rock to No. 3, ahead of Albany (3-0), which puts its unbeaten mark on the line at Saskatchewan on New Year’s Eve.

NLL Players reaching milestones last week included:

Colorado forward Eli McLaughlin (Surrey, B.C.) now has 500 points after a goal and assist vs. Georgia

Panther City forward Will Malcom (New Westminster, B.C.) now has 201 points after a two-goal, three-assist effort vs. Toronto

Vancouver goaltender Aaron Bold (Victoria, B.C.) became the eighth goaltender in league history to play 9000 minutes (now 9058)

Player achievements within reach this week are:

Buffalo forward Chase Fraser (Vancouver, B.C.) needs four goals to reach 100

Buffalo forward Tehoka Nanticoke (Six Nations, Ont.) needs four points to reach 100

Buffalo defenseman Steve Priolo (St. Catharines, Ont.) needs one point to reach 200

Buffalo forward Dhane Smith (Kitchener, Ont.) needs six assists to pass Gavin Prout for 10th on the all-time list with 622

Calgary goaltender Christian Del Bianco (Coquitlam, B.C.) needs 65 minutes played to become the 20th goaltender all-time with 5000

Calgary forward Thomas Hoggarth (Lakefield, Ont.) needs four goals to reach 100

Calgary forward Tyler Pace (Coquitlam, B.C.) needs six goals to reach 100

Colorado forward Zed Williams (Silver Creek, N.Y.) needs two assists to reach 100

Georgia forward Brendan Bomberry (Six Nations, Ont.) needs five assists to reach 100

Georgia forward Andrew Kew (Oakville, Ont.) needs six goals to reach 100

Halifax forward Ryan Benesch (Elmira, Ont.) needs 12 goals to pass Colin Doyle (depending on Dane Dobbie, see below) for fifth on the all-time goals list with 528

Halifax defenseman Graeme Hossack (Port Perry, Ont.) needs four points to reach 100

Halifax forward Randy Staats (Six Nations, Ont.) needs seven goals to reach 200

Las Vegas forward Casey Jackson (Victoria, B.C.) needs one goal to reach 100

Las Vegas forward Zack Greer (Whitby, Ont.) needs nine points to reach 600

New York forward Connor Kearnan (Courtice, Ont.) needs seven assists to reach 100

New York forward Jeff Teat (Brampton, Ont.) needs five goals to reach 100

Philadelphia forward Joe Resetarits (Hamburg, N.Y.) needs 10 assists to reach 400 (in addition to the American-born scoring record, noted above)

Saskatchewan forward Patrick Dodds (Victoria, B.C.) needs five assists to reach 100

San Diego forward Wesley Berg (Coquitlam, B.C.) needs five goals to reach 200; four assists to reach 300; and nine points to reach 500

San Diego forward Dane Dobbie (Elora, Ont.) needs 10 goals (depending on Ryan Benesch, see above) to pass Colin Doyle for fifth place on the all-time goals list with 528

Toronto forward Dan Lintner (Courtice, Ont.) needs one game to reach 100

Toronto forward Challen Rogers (Coquitlam, B.C.) needs four points to reach 200

Vancouver goaltender Aaron Bold (Victoria, B.C.) needs one win to become the seventh goaltender all-time to win 90 games

Schedule – Week 5 (All Times Eastern)

Friday

Philadelphia Wings (1-2) at Halifax Thunderbirds (2-0), 6:30 p.m., ESPN+, TSN+, NBC Sports Philadelphia (broadcast team: Dalladay, Gregoire, M. Jenner)

Georgia Swarm (2-1) at Buffalo Bandits (1-1), 7:30 p.m., ESPN+, TSN+, Peachtree Sports, CW23 (Gurtler, Bermel, Buchanan)

Rochester Knighthawks (3-0) at San Diego Seals (1-1), 10 p.m., ESPN+, TSN+, Fox5 (Perkins, Ossello, Michaels)

Saturday

New York Riptide (0-2) at Toronto Rock (2-0), 4 p.m., TSN1, ESPNU (NLL Game of the Week on TSN) (Abbott, Gregoire, Docking)

Las Vegas Desert Dogs (1-2) at Calgary Roughnecks (0-2), 9 p.m., ESPN+, TSN+, SSSEN (Farhall, Ballantine, McDonald)

Vancouver Warriors (1-2) at Colorado Mammoth (0-2), 9 p.m., ESPN+, TSN+, Altitude Sports (NLL Saturday Showcase) (Lindahl, Shewchuk, Gallant)

Sunday

Albany FireWolves (3-0) at Saskatchewan Rush (1-2), 8 p.m., ESPN+, TSN+, My4 (NLL New Year’s Eve Special) (Janzen, Fraser, Ahmad)

National Lacrosse League: Ten Things to Know For Week 4

Revamped Warriors Face Unbeaten Knighthawks in NLL Saturday Showcase; Abbreviated Three-Game Holiday Slate Features Three Local Market Broadcasts

PHILADELPHIA, December 22, 2023 – The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, features three games on this holiday weekend, including two on Friday and one on Saturday. This week’s NLL Saturday Showcase brings the new-look Vancouver Warriors, who earned their first win under new Head Coach Curt Malawsky last week, visiting the unbeaten Rochester Knighthawks (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+, TSN+).

Here are 10 things to know about the NLL entering Week 4:

A Banner Night: Picking up where they left off last year, when the KeyBank Center burst at the seams with a record-setting NLL Finals crowd, Buffalo Bandits fans came to party as the team hoisted the 2023 NLL Championship banner in front of 17,200. They were treated to a 12-9 win over San Diego, Head Coach John Tavares’s 50th career win and another classic performance in net by the venerable Matt Vinc (St. Catharines, Ont.).

Ready to Mingle: The Colorado Mammoth weren’t in action on the floor last weekend, but they continued to solidify their connection with Centennial State fans with “Mingle with the Mammoth” on Saturday in advance of their home opener on Friday vs. Georgia (9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. MT, ESPN+, TSN+, Peachtree Sports, Altitude Sports). Players greeted fans, signed autographs, and posted for photos at the Sheraton Downtown.

Giving Back on the Strip...: The Las Vegas Desert Dogs are giving back to those affected by the recent tragedy at UNLV. The team recently donated 500 tickets to all students, faculty & staff of UNLV for Friday’s game against Saskatchewan. The Desert Dogs also donated $5.00 of every $15.00 ticket purchased to the UNLV Emergency Support Fund, established by the UNLV Foundation.

…and in the Flower City…: The Rochester Knighthawks visited children from Golisano Children’s Hospital and Rochester General Hospital on Tuesday, playing Bingo and other games with the kids and bringing them gifts.

Burn This: The NLL this week noted its continued partnership with Warrior (@warriorlax), the premier equipment provider for the sport of lacrosse and Official Partner and supplier of the NLL’s equipment pool for players. The league provides an important showcase for the Warrior Burn line, now in its fourth iteration.

MD Mitch: NLL.com’s Jon Rapoport put together this fine feature on Toronto Rock defender Mitch de Snoo (Oshawan, Ont.), currently in the fifth year of an eight-year MD/PhD program at the University of Toronto. “The goal is to become a clinician scientist, who is able to see and treat patients and conduct a research program. I want to be the person looking into and understanding cures for diseases,” he told NLL.com.

Go Local: Just three games on the NLL schedule in Week 4 with the holidays upon us, but three local market broadcasters will carry the games: Bally Sports Southwest Extra gets Friday’s Toronto Rock vs. Panther City Lacrosse Club tilt (8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT), while the new Peachtree Sports Network and Altitude Sports Network both grab Friday night’s Georgia Swarm vs. Colorado Mammoth matchup (9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. MT). As always, ESPN+ and TSN+ cover the rest of North America with live coverage.

Power Up: NLL.com’s Adam Levi checks in with his weekly Power Rankings, boosting up the Bandits two slots to No. 1 after the aforementioned resounding home opening win, and vaulting the Halifax Thunderbirds (2-0) two spots to No. 2. Surprising unbeaten Albany (3-0), which has already matched its win total from last year, bolts to No. 3, with the Rock’s (1-0) off week pushing them to No. 4.

NLL Players reaching milestones last week included:

Albany F Ethan Walker (Peterborough, Ont.) now has 106 points after notching three goals and five assists vs. Philadelphia

Buffalo coach John Taveras now has 50 career victories after defeating San Diego

Buffalo goaltender Matt Vinc (St. Catharines, Ont.) passed Shawn Evans for fifth on the all-time list with 271 games dressed

Halifax F Ryan Benesch (Elmira, Ont.) now has 710 assists, passing Shawn Williams for eighth on the all-time list after dishing two vs. New York

Halifax forward Randy Staats (OLA Six Nations) now has 505 points ater a three-goal, three assist effort at New York

New York defenseman John LaFontaine (Whitby, Ont.) now has 100 points after an assist vs. Halifax

Vancouver defenseman Brett Mydske (New Westminster, B.C.) now as 100 points after tossing an assist vs. Georgia

Player achievements within reach this week are:

Colorado forward Eli McLaughlin (Surrey, B.C.) needs three points to reach 500

Colorado forward Zed Williams (Silver Creek, N.Y.) needs two assists to reach 100

Georgia forward Brendan Bomberry (Six Nations, Ont.) needs five assists to reach 100

Georgia forward Andrew Kew (Oakville, Ont.) needs seven goals to reach 100

Las Vegas forward Casey Jackson (Victoria, B.C.) needs one goal to reach 100

Las Vegas forward Zack Greer (Whitby, Ont.) needs nine points to reach 600

Saskatchewan forward Patrick Dodds (Victoria, B.C.) needs five assists to reach 100

Vancouver goaltender Aaron Bold (Victoria, B.C.) needs one minute played to become the eighth goaltender in league history to play 9000 minutes; and one win to become the seventh goaltender all-time to win 90 games

Schedule – Week 4 (All Times Eastern)

Friday

Saskatchewan Rush (0-2) at Las Vegas Desert Dogs (1-1), 8 p.m., ESPN+, TSN+, Bally Sports SW

Georgia Swarm (1-1) at Colorado Mammoth (0-1), 9 p.m., ESPN+, TSN+, Peachtree Sports, Altitude Sports

Saturday

Vancouver Warriors (1-1) at Rochester Knighthawks (2-0), 7 p.m., ESPN+, TSN+ (NLL Saturday Showcase)

About the National Lacrosse League

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s premier professional lacrosse league, welcoming a record 1,165,528 fans attending games in 2022-23. Founded in 1986, the NLL is comprised of 15 franchises across the United States and Canada, and recently unveiled its largest brand campaign ever, “Welcome to The Next Major League™” and introduced its comprehensive grassroots initiative, NLL UnBOXed™, that will expand the League’s footprint to more than 60 communities across North America by 2027.

For the latest scores and developments in the National Lacrosse League, please visit: NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok.

The 5th MP Golf Cup 2023, hosted by Delhi Golf Club and supported by Just In Time Sports Foundation held on December 16, 2023

New Delhi, December 18th, 2023: The 5th MP Golf Cup 2023, an eminent tournament backed by the distinguished Just In Time Sports Foundation, was organized with great enthusiasm by Delhi Golf Club (DGC). This golfing spectacle was inaugurated by Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, MOS External Affairs and Culture, on the verdant greens of the Delhi Golf Club on the 16th of December 2023 at 6:30 a.m.

This year’s event was hosted by Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs, and participants included diplomats, high court judges, bureaucrats, and members of Delhi Golf Club competing with each other in various golfing categories.

Honorable MOS External Affairs and Culture, Smt Meenakshi Lekhi said,” This event is all about the thrive India has made in the past 9 plus years something which people around the globe are normally asking questions about. We have come across the one way to address all the questions that would be at the golf course itself. The basic idea was to showcase all the past 9 years that are making us proud.”

Founders of Just in Time Sports Foundation Mrs. and Mr. Dhawan say, “Overwhelmed with the conclusion of the 5th MP Golf Cup 2023. This is the straight 5th year of organizing The MP Golf Cup. We are elated to welcome MOS for External Affairs and Culture, she has been a huge support to make this tournament successful and we are highly thankful to the members of Delhi Golf Club and the participants for being a part of this initiative of offering gratitude to sports.”

Liverpool FC welcomes Orion Innovation as its official digital transformation partner

Chennai, December 13, 2023: Liverpool Football Club, (‘LFC’) has signed a multi-year deal with Orion Innovation (‘Orion’), to become the club’s official digital transformation partner.

Through this exclusive deal, Orion will partner with LFC as it continues to innovate digitally and further connect its global fanbase to the club.

LFC will leverage Orion’s two decades of deep experience transforming the business operations of some of the biggest sports leagues and teams across the UK, Europe, the US and Asia Pacific.

Speaking about the new partnership, Liverpool Football Club senior vice president for digital, Drew Crisp, said, “We’re super excited to be working together with Orion in the digital space, which is so important to us and our supporters. As a club, we have an aggressive plan to continue on our digital transformation journey to elevate our fan experience. Orion will be a great long-term partner in our ever evolving and progressing digital journey.”

Billy Hogan, CEO Liverpool FC, added: “It’s fantastic to welcome Orion to the LFC partner family. We see strong synergies and cultural fit between our two brands, with similar core values, ambition, and the desire to be the best in class digitally.”
Through its Sports Innovation Lab, Orion has developed leading solutions for the sports industry, including a platform for sports operations, enhanced fan experience, and gameday management.

Raj Patil, CEO of Orion, said, “We’re thrilled to join the Liverpool Football Club family and drive digital innovation for one of the world’s most popular sports teams. We are confident that our collaboration will elevate the club’s fan experience and operations to even greater heights. This is because we pride ourselves on inspiring and accelerating digital innovation through long-term trusted partnerships with our clients. We’re also very excited about the impact LFC’s global platform will have on our brand.”

Satish Kumar, Global Head of Sports & Entertainment for Orion, added, “We welcome LFC to Orion’s Sports Innovation Lab and look forward to this partnership fuelling innovation for the sports industry. As a leader in stadium technology, we are thrilled to bring our expertise to Liverpool Football Club, one of the most iconic football clubs in the world.”

IIT Gandhinagar set to host Inter IIT Sports Meets 2023

Gandhinagar: With the spirit of competition and sportsmanship in the air, the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) is all set to host Inter IIT Sports Meets 2023 from December 14, 2023. The 56th Inter IIT Sports Meet for students, jointly hosted by IIT Gandhinagar and IIT Bombay, will be organised at IITGN from December 14 to 22, 2023, and the 28th Inter IIT Staff Meet, entirely hosted by IITGN, will be held from December 24 to 29, 2023.

It is for the first time that any second-generation IIT has become the primary host of the massive Inter IIT Sports Meets, a highly-coveted annual sports tournament between sporting talents of all IITs. Collectively, more than 3000 students and staff members from all 23 IITs across the country are going to showcase their athletic prowess in a plethora of sports events to be held at the state-of-the-art Sports Complex at IITGN over the next fortnight.

Around 1528 students, including 75 students from IITGN, are going to compete in six genres of sporting events, i.e. Athletics (such as Running, Hammer Throw, Javelin Throw, Shot Put, Long Jump, etc.), Football, Cricket, Squash, Chess, and Tennis, during the 56th Inter IIT Sports Meet for students at IITGN. In the second leg of the event, around 1500 staff members, including 65 staff members from IITGN, will face each other in nine types of sporting events, i.e. Athletics (such as Running, Discus Throw, Javelin Throw, Long Jump, Shot Put, Triple Jump, etc.), Football, Cricket, Squash, Basketball, Tennis, Volleyball, Badminton, and Table Tennis, during the 28th Inter IIT Staff Meet at the Institute. The sports extravaganza will witness a Javelin Throw event for women for the first time during athletic events.

The state-of-the-art Sports Complex at IITGN is equipped with multiple world-class facilities for various indoor and outdoor sports/activities, including Athletic Track, Badminton Courts, Squash Courts, Table Tennis Court, Volleyball Court, Basketball Court, Climbing Wall, Football Ground, Cricket Ground, an Olympic Size Swimming Pool, Yoga Hall, Gym, and so on. Adding to this top-notch sports infrastructure at the Institute, a brand new Lawn Tennis Court has also been installed for the first time for Inter IIT Sports Meets 2023.

Giving a message to all the participants, Prof Rajat Moona, Director of IITGN and Chairperson of the Inter IIT Sports Board, said, “It has been proven time and again that sports are not just an extra-curricular activity but also an important source of invaluable life lessons. It teaches us the importance of practice, perseverance, and building mental and physical strength and encourages us to give our best shot, strive for teamwork, celebrate triumphs, deal with failures, rebuild confidence, and come back stronger. No matter whether you win or lose in the sport of your choice, continue to strive for better, and you will succeed in the future. May the best talents win. I wish you all the best for the much-awaited Inter-IIT Sports Meets 2023.”

Prof Abhijit Mishra, Head of Sports at IITGN and Convener of the Inter IIT Sports Meet 2023, said, “We are thrilled to be hosting this event and have put in our best efforts to ensure high-class facilities and an ideal environment for participants to showcase their talents. We are looking forward to an extremely competitive Inter IIT Sports Meet with a spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship.”

The event’s Mascot “Neelswara” (a nilgai/blue bull, which is a frequently sighted in Gandhinagar), was unveiled in August, 2023, at IITGN. Notably, IITGN has already successfully hosted the 37th Inter IIT Aquatics Meet in October this year and emerged as the highest medal winner in the competition.

Lluís Cortés unveiled as new Saudi Arabia women’s national team head coach

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 12 December 2023: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has announced the appointment of Lluís Cortés as the new women’s national team head coach. The Spaniard succeeds Rosa Lappi-Seppälä on a four-year contract until 2027 and was unveiled at an official ceremony in Riyadh this afternoon.

“Lluís was the outstanding candidate to lead our women’s national team in this exciting new era and we are thrilled to have finalized this important appointment,” said Yasser Al Misehal, President of the SAFF.

“We believe Lluís’s coaching capabilities, knowledge of the game, and extensive experience will play a huge role as we look to maintain our sustained and steady progress in the years ahead. He is a deep thinker and is looking to develop the long-term strategy so I’ve no doubt he will make an important impact upon Saudi women’s football on and off the pitch. We’re really looking forward to working with him.”

The most impressive achievement of Cortés’s career to date came in the 2020/21 season as head coach of Barcelona Femeni. Widely regarded as one of the greatest campaigns in women’s club football history, he led the side to a continental treble by winning the Primera Division, Copa de la Reina, and UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Following his two years in charge at Barcelona Femeni, where he also won another Primera Division title, one Supercopa de Espana, and the UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year award, he managed the Ukraine women’s national team from 2021-2023.

“Being confirmed as Saudi Arabia’s new women’s national team head coach is a real privilege,” said Cortés. “I want to thank the Saudi Arabian Football Federation for this wonderful opportunity to work in a country that loves the game so much and is really growing football for all. The prospect of working with such an ambitious and energetic group of young players is really exciting and I will look to incorporate my philosophy of attractive and attacking football on our journey together.”

“The team’s progress in such a short space of time can only be described as incredible,” he continued. “Already there is much to be proud of and a lot achieve. The grassroots are flourishing, a new Under 20 national women’s team announced and the Women’s Professional League is developing fast. So, I am confident the future is even brighter as we have all the ingredients to climb up the FIFA rankings.”

“The aim is to keep working, keep improving, and take further steps toward our aim of competing at the highest level internationally. This is why I’m here and I can’t wait to meet the players and get started.”

Sightsavers India congratulates the winners of the 12th National Para and Judo Championship

New Delhi, 11th December 2023: Sightsavers India, a development organisation dedicated to transforming lives through inclusive initiatives, proudly announces the winners’ victory supported by our Social Inclusion Programme in the Para Judo Championship. A group of over 60 girls who received training under the Programme’s initiative of empowering girls with visual impairment through Judo classes participated in the 12th National Para and Judo Championship in Amritsar, Punjab, showcasing their athletic prowess and dedication to breaking barriers.

Sightsavers India’s Social Inclusion Programme equips people with disabilities with the skills (daily living, vocational training, etc.), tools and assistance they need to earn a living and lead an independent life. With a comprehensive approach to gender, we also provide adolescent girls with self-defence training and health and hygiene sessions.

Participants from Katni, Hoshangabad, and Jabalpur districts have excelled in the National Para Judo Championship since 2017. In 2022, the team received the prestigious Best Women Team Award at the National Judo Championship, a testament to their dedication and hard work.

In 2023, 11 girls supported under the Social Inclusion Programme of Sightsavers India qualified for the 12th National Judo Championship. Pooja Choure, with consecutive silver medals in 2021 and 2022, followed by a bronze in 2023, exemplifies the program’s commitment to nurturing talent.

Anjali Yadav, another rising star, secured gold in 2020 and maintained her stellar performance with silver medals in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Anjali’s achievement extends beyond national borders as she qualified for the International Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, 2022.

Janki Bai, representing Jabalpur OPD, achieved gold in 2022 and continued her success with a silver medal in 2023 on the international stage. Poonam Kewat and Jyoti Chore added to the laurels with silver and bronze medals at Amritsar’s 12th National Para and Judo Championship.

RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers India, “Many of the girls that have undergone self-defence training have become coaches, passing on their skills to other girls with visual impairment, creating a ripple effect of empowerment within the community. The programme, designed to enhance physical strength, agility, and self-confidence, has successfully trained over 300 girls across Sightsavers India’s intervention states.

More than 4000 people participated in the 10th Edition of Thump Celebration Bengaluru 1/2 Marathon and 10K Powered by NoBrokerHood

Bangalore, December 8, 2023: More than 4000+ people across various categories participated in the hugely successful 10th Edition of the Thump! Celebration Bangalore Half Marathon and 10K, which was flagged off during the early hours of Sunday, 3rd December 2023. The Half Marathon, 10 km, and 5km Celebration Runs organized by “Life is Calling Sports” was flagged off amidst high energy and entertainment at the NICE Toll Plaza, adjacent to PESIT College, Nayandahalli Junction, Ring Road, Mysore Road.

The event supported the cause of Each1Educate1 foundation from Sathya Sai Grama which works towards providing education to the underprivileged. 100+ participants from the Each1Educate1 foundation participated with their donors who also volunteered with the foundation and participated enthusiastically. The team also announced that the Each1Educate1 foundation from Sathya Sai Grama was the world’s first institution to provide free medical education.

50 visually impaired participants also ran the 5K Relay run and 10K Run with guide runners. They enjoyed the inclusive run and the relay team stood 1st runners up. The visually impaired runners expressed happiness to be part of such a big event.

The first race of the morning, the Thump! The Half Marathon was flagged off by Mr. Ravi, ADGP – Principal Secretary Home at 5:45 in the morning.

The second race of the morning was the 10 km run which was flagged off by Filmmaker Mr. Amoghavarsha at 6.15 am.

The other races of the day included the 5km Celebration run participated by over 1500+ enthusiastic people including children and the elderly. There was also a senior citizen 5km walk, which received the maximum cheering from the crowd.

All the races were conducted with the RFID timing technology, which was used to record time for both the 10km and the Half Marathon. Timing chips were provided to Half Marathon and 10K participants to monitor their time.

Commenting on the event Mr. Sunil P.V, Race Director, Life is Calling Sports shared “We are really happy to see 4000+ people participating and supporting the cause. The event supported education for underprivileged and also inclusion by having visually impaired runners participate. We have received a lot of appreciation for the quality of the marathon conducted and hope to continue the same standards in the future.”

There were music bands, interesting dance performances performed at the Start / Finish line. There was also entertainment and performances happening along the running route to inspire the runners and keep the audiences and supporters cheering.

The other partners associated with the event included: Tour de Malnad Cycling, Brooks, Decathlon, Radio Indigo, and Hatti Kaapi amongst others.