Sports

8th All Goa State Wushu Championship 2026 Held in Anjuna


The 8th All Goa State Wushu Championship 2026 along with the 2nd Inter-College Wushu Competition 2026 was successfully organised by the Association of Goa Wushu, in association with the Village Panchayat of Anjuna Caisua, Chivar, Chapora, on January 29 and 30, 2026, at the Anjuna–Caisua Panchayat Hall, Chivar, Chapora, Goa.

The championship was inaugurated by Mr. Surendra Sazu Govekar, Sarpanch of Anjuna Caisua Village Panchayat, in the presence of Panchayat members Mr. Dinesh Patil and Mr. Sudesh Parsekar, along with Mr. Paulo Killman Fernandes, Secretary of the Association of Goa Wushu, and other dignitaries.

The Village Panchayat of Anjuna Caisua supported the sport of Wushu by extending full cooperation and encouragement for the successful conduct of the championship, reflecting its commitment towards promoting martial arts and grassroots sports development.

The winners were felicitated with medals and trophies by Mrs. Delilah Lobo, MLA of the Siolim Constituency, and Mrs. Niyati Chimulkar, Vice President of the Association of Goa Wushu, along with the Sarpanch and Panchayat members of Anjuna Caisua. The event was officiated by Mr. Ashok Mokashi and Mr. Sangamesh Layadagundi, National Judges (WAI) from the Karnataka Wushu Association, who were invited for the competition.

The championship witnessed enthusiastic participation from players across Goa in the Sub-Junior, Junior and Senior categories for both boys and girls. Competitions were held in Taolu and Sanda disciplines across respective weight categories. The Inter-College Wushu events were conducted separately, showcasing emerging talent from various colleges.

All participating players were awarded participation certificates, while winners received medals and certificates. Mementoes were also presented to coaches and physical education teachers, and trophies were awarded to the overall champion teams, marking the successful conclusion of the two-day sporting event.

Sports

Delhi Beat Goa by 49 Runs in Senior Women’s One-Day Opener


Riding on a commanding batting performance by Priya Punia, Shweta Sehrawat, and Pragya Rawat, Delhi began their Senior Women’s One-Day Cricket Tournament campaign on a winning note, registering a 49-run victory over Goa at the JSCA Oval Ground in Ranchi.

After winning the toss, Delhi opted to bat first and posted an imposing 283 for 3 in 50 overs. Openers Pragya Rawat and Priya Punia laid a strong foundation with a superb 152-run opening partnership. Punia played a composed yet authoritative innings, bringing up her century off 110 deliveries with 10 boundaries, while Rawat supported her well with a fluent 70.

Following Rawat’s dismissal, Shweta Sehrawat accelerated the innings with an aggressive knock, remaining unbeaten on 76 off just 66 balls, which included seven fours and three sixes. Tanisha Singh chipped in with a quick 27, while Nazma stayed not out on 3 as Delhi finished strongly. For Goa, Poorva Bhaidkar, Harshita Yadav, and Tejashwini Duragad picked up one wicket each.

Chasing a stiff target, Goa responded with intent but lost wickets at regular intervals. Opener Purvaja Verlekar stood out with a fighting 86 off 81 balls, striking 12 fours and three sixes. Shreya Parab contributed 36, while Tanisha Gaikwad added 28, but the rest of the batting line-up failed to convert their starts. Goa were eventually bowled out for 234 in 44 overs.

Delhi’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, with Ayushi Soni and Priya Mishra claiming two wickets each, while Bharti Rawal bowled economically and also picked up two crucial wickets to seal a comfortable victory for Delhi.

Brief Scores:
Delhi Women 283/3 in 50 overs (Pragya Rawat 70, Priya Punia 102, Shweta Sehrawat* 76, Tanisha Singh 27, Nazma* 3; Poorva Bhaidkar 1/37, Harshita Yadav 1/36, Tejashwini Duragad 1/59)
Goa Women 234 all out in 44 overs (Purvaja Verlekar 86, Shreya Parab 36, Tanisha Gaikwad 28; Ayushi Soni 2/28, Priya Mishra 2/48, Bharti Rawal 2/24)

Sports

Asian Legend Cup 2026: India Clinch Title with Five-Wicket Win Over Bangladesh


India Legends capped off a dominant campaign by lifting the Asian Legend Cup 2026 after registering a convincing five-wicket victory over Bangladesh Legends in the final at the BCA Ground in Thailand.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Bangladesh Legends struggled to gain momentum against disciplined Indian bowling and were restricted to 123 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. Najmuj Sadat top-scored with a measured 22, while Sadiqur Rahman chipped in with 21. Intyiaj Hossain’s brief knock of 21 showed promise, but regular wickets prevented Bangladesh from building any substantial partnerships.

India’s bowlers kept things tight from the outset. Kapil Rana and Kalim Khan were the standout performers, claiming two wickets each to dent Bangladesh’s top and middle order. Amardeep Sonkar impressed with an economical spell, conceding just six runs in three overs and picking up a wicket, while Goa’s Madar Basappa also chipped in with a crucial breakthrough. Sharp fielding further aided India’s cause, resulting in two run-outs.

Chasing a modest target of 124, India Legends endured an early wobble as Bhanu Seth, Narendra Meena and Kalim Khan departed cheaply. Former Bangladeshi international star Alok Kapali produced a spirited spell for Bangladesh, picking up four wickets and briefly tilting the contest in his side’s favour.

However, Deepak anchored the chase with a calm yet authoritative innings. Displaying excellent game awareness, he rotated the strike efficiently and punished loose deliveries, finishing unbeaten on 74. Skipper Jatin Saxena provided valuable support with an unflustered 21 not out, as the duo stitched together a decisive unbeaten partnership to steer India home in 18.4 overs.

Despite Bangladesh’s efforts with the ball, including Kapali’s four-wicket haul, the lack of runs on the board ultimately proved costly. India crossed the line comfortably, sparking celebrations in the camp and sealing the Asian Legend Cup 2026 title in style.

Sports

Lincoln Furtado, Borkar Couple Win Titles at BPS Open Pickleball Championship 2026


Written by Intern Rency Gomes ||Team Allycaral 

Margao, February 6, 2026:
Lincoln Furtado delivered an impressive performance to claim the Men’s Singles 60+ title, while defending champions Nihaal Borkar and Ruta Borkar retained the 35+ Mixed Doubles crown on the opening day of the BPS Open Pickleball Championship 2026 at the BPS Sports Club, Margao.



In the Men’s Singles 60+ final, Lincoln Furtado defeated James Anderson 11–4 to secure the title. Earlier, Anderson edged past Parag Joshi 15–12 in the semi-finals, while Lincoln overcame Savio Vales by an identical margin. The round-robin stage saw Anderson beat Capt. Ravi Peris 11–7 and Lincoln 11–8, Parag Joshi defeat Shailendra Singh 11–4, Savio Vales register wins over Parag Joshi (11–6) and Shailendra Singh (11–1), while Lincoln also defeated Capt. Ravi Peris 11–2.

In the 35+ Mixed Doubles final, Nihaal Borkar and Ruta Borkar showcased resilience to defeat Immanuel Rohan and Audrey Menezes 11–8, 10–12, 11–9 in a closely contested match. In the semi-finals, Immanuel Rohan and Audrey Menezes overcame James Anderson and Jen Noronha 11–7, while Nihaal and Ruta progressed after Nishant Verghese and Gitanjli Chauhan retired while trailing 12–5.

Earlier matches saw Nishant Verghese and Gitanjli Chauhan defeat Chirag Sukerkar and Karishma Verlekar 11–8, Immanuel Rohan and Audrey Menezes register an 11–8 win over Nihaal Borkar and Ruta Borkar, and Nishant and Gitanjli record a dominant 11–1 victory over James Anderson and Jen Noronha. James Anderson and Jen Noronha later edged past Chirag Sukerkar and Karishma Verlekar 12–10.

The three-day BPS Open Pickleball Championship 2026 is being held at the BPS Sports Club, Margao, in association with the Goa Pickleball Association, featuring multiple age-group and open-category events scheduled from February 6 to 8.

Sports

Manchester United Co-Owner Makes $1.8 Billion Bid for IPL Champions RCB


Mumbai, February 2026: In a surprising twist in the world of sports ownership, the Glazer family, co-owners of Manchester United, have placed a $1.8 billion bid for IPL champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The bid, submitted via their investment arm Lancer Capital, tops a list of nine non-binding offers for the franchise, whose men’s and women’s teams are valued at up to $2 billion following their 2025 triumphs.

The sale process was initiated by Diageo in November 2025 and aims to conclude by March 2026, just ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Other notable bidders include Dr. Ranjan Pai and Adar Poonawalla, highlighting the growing appeal of Indian Premier League franchises among high-profile global investors.

Manchester United fans have expressed frustration on social media, criticizing the Glazers for prioritizing cricket investments over the club’s needs. Meanwhile, RCB supporters are wary of a potential “Glazer curse,” fearing that the franchise’s on-field success could be affected under new ownership.

The shortlisted bids will move to a binding offer stage next week, with industry experts suggesting that the final deal could set a record for cricket franchise sales globally. Analysts point out that RCB’s consistent fanbase, strong brand value, and recent championship wins make it a highly sought-after investment opportunity in both Indian and global sports markets.

If successful, the acquisition would mark the Glazers’ entry into the Indian sports ecosystem, further blending cricket and football fandoms under a single investment umbrella.