No Khel Ratna for 2025; Tejaswin, Divya among Arjuna awardees

The sports ministry finally published the list of the recipients of the Arjuna award 237 days after the recommendations were sent for the final approval.

The committee, led by Justice (Retd) Arun Kumar Mishra, had sent a list of 24 names for the award, even as it failed to arrive at a consensus for the biggest sporting honour — the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna. orlando-books.blog

The selection committee had discussed the names of hockey players Hardik Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad, hurdler Jyothi Yarraji and archer V Jyoti Surekha but none got the final seal of approval. This would be only the third time in recent history — after 2008 and 2014 — that the committee did not recommend any name for the award.

The Arjuna award list, published on Tuesday, has been pruned down to 17. As per the sports scheme, the independent committee recommends names based on performance points and criteria but the sports minister has the discretionary power to add or remove names from the final list.

The list includes decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, and chess Grandmasters Divya Deshmukh and Vidit Gujarathi. Deshmukh became the first Indian woman to win the World Cup in 2025. Rifle shooter Akhil Sheoran and badminton players Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand are also part of the list.

Surprisingly, Yogasana’s Aarti, who was to become the first award winner from the indigenous sport, has been dropped from the list. Polo athlete Padmanabh Singh, kho kho player Nirmala Bhati, gymnast Pranati Nayak, shooter Mehuli Ghosh, table tennis player Sutirtha Mukherjee and wrestler Sonam Malik also missed out.

For the Dronacharya award, athletics coach Parveer Singh, boxing coach Chhote Lal Yadav and shooting coach Neha Nandkumar Chavan have been given the nod. Boxing coach Dharmendra Singh Yadav and wrestling coach Virender Kumar have been awarded the Dronacharya in the lifetime category. Abhilasha (archery), Shiva Megan (basketball) and Avantika Deka (badminton) have been left out.

The Army Paralympic Node of Pune has been awarded the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar for sports promotion and development.

Praggnanandhaa produced a big win against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the 8th round of the Sinquefield Cup, playing with the black pieces. The game started with a Ruy Lopez, where both the players developed their pieces normally before taking a more aggressive approach.

Maxime tried to put pressure on Pragg by pushing his kingside pawns. He later sacrificed a knight, but Pragg accepted it and remained calm under pressure.
Pragg gradually took control of the game as his pieces became more active. Maxime tried to create some chances, but Pragg defended well and kept the position under control.

Maxime, eventually, had no way to continue and resigned after 27 moves, giving Pragg a well-fought victory.
He is currently ranked second in the Sinquefield Cup Standings with Wesley So securing the first place. Javokhir Sindarov and Vincent Keymer are currently on 4.5 points, making the final round of the tournament interesting where Wesley will face Sindarov, while Pragg will take on Anish Giri.

This victory over Maxime also helped Pragg become the No. 1 ranked Indian player in the live ratings and World No. 8.

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Former Australia opener David Warner has been convicted in the drink-driving case in a Sydney court and will need an interlock device to drive a vehicle.

The 39-year-old was also fined AUD 1500 for mid-range drink-driving after he tried to switch seats with a passenger when approaching a random breath-testing site on Easter Sunday.

The former Test opener was charged with mid-range drink driving after blowing more than twice the legal limit in a random breath test after he stopped short of a roadside test in Sydney's east on April 5.

Last month, Warner pleaded guilty to a drink-driving charge in a Sydney court. The incident unfolded when on April 5, also Easter Sunday, Warner, behind the wheel of a van, drew attention after stopping short of a random breath-testing site.

The court had scheduled August 18 for handing down the final sentence in the matter, where Warner faced penalties under local traffic laws for the mid-range drink-driving infraction

Warner's lawyer Awais Ahmad argued he should be spared conviction for the offence because he had suffered extra punishment as a result of media coverage, cricket.com.au reports.

Awais told the Waverley Local Court his client's indiscretion had been covered in global outlets, including ESPN, Al Jazeera and others. Countries including India and Bangladesh, where Warner might be seeking to play in T20 franchise leagues, have an acceptance of a "non-drinking culture."

"The consequences of his offending are profound. Commercial opportunities (are) being affected," he said,

His conviction for the offence – when he blew more than twice the legal limit – has cast doubt over his status as captain of Thunder for the upcoming BBL season.

Warner was arrested while he was on an Easter trip home from Pakistan, where he captained the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League. However, the former returned to Pakistan after being charged to resume his PSL campaign.

Awais also questioned the decision of NSW Police to issue a press release about Warner's arrest given the unremarkable nature of the offence.

"The media onslaught thereafter has been quite profound," the lawyer said.

Judge Clare Farnan said there was evidence of cruel social media commentary directed at Warner and his wife Candice Warner. But said the need to deter the public from drink-driving was paramount in her decision to convict him, and the offence was aggravated because children were in the car at the time.

Warner will be able to drive after he applies for an interlock licence and has the device fitted to his car. The interlock will prevent the car from starting if it detects alcohol in his system.

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London [UK], August 19 (ANI): As Arsenal eyes a successful Premier League title defence, the team’s chief executive Richard Garlick said the club wants to sign players who would “change the dial" and help the club compete at the top level.

Arsenal, after their FA Community Shield win over Manchester City, will start their Premier League title defence against Coventry FC on August 22 at home. During the pre-season transfer window, the Gunners missed out on star Brazil and Real Madrid footballer Vinicius Junior as he signed a new deal with Spanish giants, and are also expressing interest in Atletico Madrid and Argentina striker Julian Alvarez.

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On being questioned about the club being linked with elite players, Garlick said, as quoted by Sky Sports, “It is players that are going to take Arsenal forward."

“In the past we have looked at players that maybe helped build out the squad or get us to a certain level, but now we are competing right at the top level, and we do need to bring in players that are going to change the dial," he said.

He said that if they can combine some of the best young talent in the world along with the homegrown academy products, they have got every chance to maintain their success over the last two-three years and “go beyond what they have achieved".

Arsenal have so far spent 143.5 million pounds on signings, including defender Piero Hincapie, Christian Tzolis and Bruno Guimaraes.

On whether there is still money to be spent going ahead, Garlick said that the team is not going to “pat themselves in the back and say, well done, job done" and the club is open to looking at more players in the coming months. He also said that the team is fishing in a “small pool of elite players" who are going to drive the club forward, and it would be a tricky task.

“We want to move forward – the best clubs are always moving forward. You can see we have already invested in the squad this season, and if the right opportunity arises, then we will look to strengthen in all areas. The window’s open for the next couple of weeks, and if there are players that are going to come in and move Arsenal forward, then we will look at that," he said.

“The standard now is high, though – the bar has been set winning the Premier League title and getting to the Champions League final. We’re probably fishing in a smaller pool of quality players, and that means that it is tricky to land those players that are going to drive Arsenal forward."

“But if the right opportunity presents itself, we’ll certainly be exploring it," he signed off. (ANI)

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Dar es Salaam [Tanzania], August 19 (ANI): Italy have finished top of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Challenge League Group B thanks to a calm eight-wicket win over Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.

The side had fate in their own hands to claim league honours come the last day of their 15-match campaign across three legs, and closed out the tournament with a four-point gap over Uganda after the Cricket Cranes fell to a final-over defeat to Bahrain, as per ICC.

It was a double success for the Italians, who alongside Uganda move forward on the road to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. The pair enter the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off later this year, an eight-team tournament which will also include the top two teams from the Challenge League A group, and the bottom four finishers from Cricket World Cup League 2, the competition above Challenge League on the 50-over pyramid.

Having toured Hong Kong and Uganda as part of the cycle, the Italians travelled to Tanzania behind Uganda with five matchdays remaining in the competition.

A victory for the Italians over Uganda early in the final leg opened the door for the Azzurri to make a late charge, with Uganda’s defeat to Hong Kong swinging momentum further.

The Italians pounced on the opportunity, and closed out the tour undefeated, underlined with a dominant performance against the Tanzanians.

Again losing the toss like they did in their victory over Hong Kong on Monday, The Italians at one point were behind in the match after Tanzania galloped to 87/1 inside 15 overs, only for the hosts to fall to 142 all out.

It was the spin trio of Rakibul Hasan, Akash Waduwalage and Crishan Kalugamage to do the damage for Italy, taking all ten wickets for just 87 runs between them.

Waduwalage (5/21) claimed the key wicket of Dhrumit Mehta (39), and was joined by T20 World Cup hero Crishan Kalugamage (3/28) in ripping through Tanzania’s middle order.

The Italians were ruthless in reply, with brothers Justin and AJ Mosca both raising the bat for half-centuries in a partnership of 121.

Justin fell for 52, though AJ powered on to finish on 75 not out from just 71 balls, joined by skipped Harry Manenti (8 not out) to reach the target inside 26 overs.

It is now a waiting game for Italy and Uganda as they learn of their opponents in the Qualifier Play-off.

As it stands, Jersey and Kuwait hold top two spots over in the other Challenge League group with one leg to play, while in League 2, Namibia, Canada, Nepal and United Arab Emirates sit in the bottom four, with Oman (fourth) the only team that could mathematically be overtaken by the chasing pack.

Up in League 2, Scotland, USA and Netherlands are guaranteed a top four finish and will progress to the Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

The Qualifier Play-off will determine the final four spots of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier, and carries One Day International status, meaning the pair will play their first official ODIs. (ANI)

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