Category: sports

sports

Tight National Lacrosse League Playoff Race Heightens ‘The NLL March to May’ in Season’s Final Weeks

Feb 28, 2024 by Sujata Muguda 0 Comments #Kurt Hunzeker, #NLL, #North America, #PHILADELPHIA

PHILADELPHIA, February 28, 2024 – With its regular season bounding past the midway mark, the National Lacrosse League (NLL), North America’s largest professional lacrosse league, and its teams prepare for “The NLL March to May,” the annual push towards the eight-team NLL Playoffs under the League’s new unified, single-table format.

Every game down the stretch will have a playoff atmosphere and implications as teams vie for the NLL Championship. The unified standings now guarantees that the best eight teams at the end of the regular season have an opportunity to win the NLL Cup, regardless of geography. The playoffs begin the weekend of April 26-28.

nll championship march to may

“The NLL March to May” begins with a supersized nine-game schedule on March 1-3, with every team competing and three teams playing twice over three days of coast-to-coast action across the U.S. and Canada. TSN kicks it off with a Friday doubleheader when the Swarm visit the Thunderbirds at 7p.m. ET followed by the defending champion Bandits taking on the Warriors at 10 p.m. ET. In the U.S., ESPNU has the Rock at the Desert Dogs at 10 p.m. ET. With 12 teams currently within three games of the top spot, all eight playoff berths and first-round home dates are all in play.

The league implemented “The NLL March to May” playoff push branding in 2022-23 to wide acclaim from fans, partners, and teams.

“The success of ‘The NLL March to May’ last year was just the start as this time frame is synonymous with the run up to the NLL Playoffs,” said Kurt Hunzeker, NLL Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations. “The new unified standings and playoff formats have only enhanced how every game will have so much impact on which teams qualify and which amazing matchups we’ll see in the postseason.”

The revamped NLL playoff format will feature the regular season #1 seed vs. #8; #2 vs. #7; #3 vs. #6; and #4 vs. #5 in the quarterfinals, with a “bracket” style advance through to the NLL Finals. The quarterfinal round will be single elimination. The semi-finals and NLL Finals will continue to be best-of-three series.

The complete TSN and ESPN broadcast schedules for the NLL Playoffs will be announced at a later date.

sports

Luciaja Begic from Croatia surged into the top 40 after winning the Miss World Sports Challenge

Feb 26, 2024 by Mansi Praharaj 0 Comments

Luciaja Begic from Croatia surged into the top 40 after winning the Miss World Sports ChallengeNew Delhi, 26th February 2024:  As a part of the 71st Miss World Pageant, the sports challenge for the Miss World Sports/Miss World Sportswoman title was held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on 24th February. During this challenge, the delegates were tested on their fitness, good health, sports skills, and positive mindset.

The top 32 delegates were announced to compete in the sports finals and Luciaja Begic from Croatia claimed the first spot. The Sports Challenge involved competitions in cricket, football shootout, shuttle run, hockey shootout, and 400mtr race. Hockey India, India’s national hockey federation, supported the event by providing local women players and coaches to showcase hockey skills and #indiakagame. The All India Football Federation, India’s national football body, sent a selected team including coaches to engage with the delegates and represent Indian women in football. Delhi Capitals’ academy coaches and women cricket players conducted a clinic and gave guidance on cricket.

As the winner of the Sports Challenge was announced, the Chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organization, Ms Julia Morley CBE, shared, “We are thrilled to announce that Luciaja Begic from Croatia has won the coveted Miss World Sports Challenge this year. She embodies the spirit of fitness, health and positivity that this competition seeks to highlight. Her dedication and excellence left no doubt that she deserves this honour. Winners like her exemplify why the Miss World Organization remains committed to testing delegates on more than just their outward beauty. We want to celebrate women who are actively bettering themselves in body, mind and spirit. Congratulations again to our new Miss World Sports Challenge winner!”

The Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, named after India’s legendary hockey player, provided the perfect setting for competitive sporting events. As the only international pageant with a dedicated sports challenge, Miss World continues to test delegates on more than just their outward beauty by celebrating fitness, health and an active lifestyle.

sports

Saudi Arabia bow out of 2024 WAFF Women’s Championship with Guam defeat

Feb 26, 2024 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments

Saudi Arabia Women's National Team

The Saudi Arabia women’s national team ended its 2024 West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Women’s Championship campaign with a 2-0 defeat against Guam on Friday night.

With qualification out of reach for both teams following previous results against Jordan and Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Guam went head-to-head with a third-place finish in Group A up for grabs.

While Saudi Arabia played well and went close on numerous occasions, Guam took all three points.

Despite being unable to register a victory in its first-ever appearance in the competition, progression has been clear for all to see under new head coach Lluís Cortés as the team gave a solid account of themselves against strong opposition.

For the women’s national team, attentions now turn to the future. The players will return to their club teams where they will resume playing in the second season of the Women’s Premier League until April.

Taking place in Jeddah until February 29, the 2024 WAFF Women’s Championship is the first official 11-a-side women’s tournament ever held in Saudi Arabia.

sports

Sennheiser joins AVPL initiative to play cricket and bring the entire industry together on a sporting platform

Feb 24, 2024 by Sujata Muguda 0 Comments

Sennheiser Logo

Bengaluru, 24 Feb 2024: Sennheiser, a premier provider of advanced professional audio solutions, took part in the AVPL league (Audio Visual Premier League) held on February 17th and 18th. The event stands as a unique and collaborative initiative within the Indian AV Industry. Through interactive activities, it fosters networking, and team cohesion, and promotes health and wellness among AV professionals, integrators, OEMs, consultants, and distributors nationwide. The events aim to cultivate a strong sense of camaraderie and community within the AV industry.

The cricket tournament featured 120 + players (10 teams + 22 sponsors) competing in a round-robin format cricket tournament, with matches taking place at an after-party. Sennheiser, a leading professional audio brand also owned the team called Strikers where Naveen Sridhara, Director of Sales and Business Communication at Sennheiser India, was part of the organizing committee. He spearheaded the tournament and ensured that everyone had a great experience and an enjoyable time, including the families who came to watch the game.

The other players that participated from the renowned brand teams are as follows:

  •  Q-SYS
  •  AVI SPL
  •  Sigma AVIT
  •  Unilumin
  •  Wesco Anixter
  •  Epson
  •  Crestron

“We’re delighted to be a part of the AVPL tournament as it provides an opportunity to connect with top players in the AV industry,” stated Naveen Sridhara, Director of Sales and Business Communication at Sennheiser India. “This event offers sports enthusiasts within the AV sector a fantastic chance to unite and relish high-level competition.”

The AVPL is dedicated to promoting and growing the competitive sports scene by providing a platform for players to showcase their skills and connect with others who share their passion for sports.

sports

Saudi Arabia denied by Lebanon in spirited performance at 2024 WAFF Women’s Championship

Feb 23, 2024 by Sujata Muguda 0 Comments #Championship, #FIFA Club, #Lebanon, #Saudi Arabia, #WAFF

regional training

Saudi Arabia’s women’s national team lost 2-3 to Lebanon in their second group stage match at the 2024 West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Women’s Championship on Wednesday night – effectively ending the women’s national team’s hopes of a semi-final berth this time around.

Another spirited performance where improvements under new head coach Lluís Cortés were again apparent, Lana Abdulrazak and Seba Tawfiq showcased their talent by scoring goals for Saudi Arabia but despite their efforts, Lebanon emerged victorious with goals from Christy Maalouf and Syntia Salha, securing a spot in the semi-finals and effectively ending Saudi goals from Christy Maalouf and Syntia Salha were enough for Lebanon to seal victory and send them through to the semi-finals.

While qualification from Group A is out of Saudi Arabia’s reach in the team’s first-ever appearance in the competition, they have another opportunity to showcase their talent against Guam on Friday night in the third and final group stage fixture.

Taking place in Jeddah until February 29, the 2024 WAFF Women’s Championship is the first official 11-a-side women’s tournament ever held in Saudi Arabia.

This year’s eighth edition is the latest international football tournament making its way to Jeddah, where both the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup and 2022 WAFF Futsal Championship have been held.