Category: Sports

Sports

Delhi Warriors Hold Nerve to Edge Maharashtra Tycoons in Low-Scoring Thriller

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes ||Team Allycaral 

Goa, January 30, 2026:
Match 8 of the World Legends Pro T20 League 2026 delivered a contest that rewarded patience and tactical awareness, as Delhi Warriors edged past Maharashtra Tycoons by three wickets in a tightly fought encounter.


Asked to bat first, Maharashtra Tycoons posted 161 for 5 on a surface that offered assistance to bowlers willing to maintain discipline. Openers Sir Alastair Cook and Chris Gayle began positively, with Cook striking early boundaries before falling for 10 off 11 balls.

Gayle then partnered Stuart Binny to steady the innings through the middle overs. While Gayle played a measured knock of 40 off 40 deliveries, Binny provided the impetus, scoring a fluent 63 off 31 balls to lift the Tycoons to a competitive total.

Defending 161, the Tycoons produced a probing bowling effort that placed Delhi under early pressure. Avaan Khan, Peter Siddle and Dale Steyn exploited the conditions effectively, with Steyn delivering an outstanding spell. The veteran pacer conceded just seven runs in his first three overs and claimed two wickets, leaving Delhi struggling at 41 for 3 at the end of the powerplay.

Delhi Warriors responded through a composed partnership between Sheldon Jackson and Irfan Pathan, who absorbed the pressure and rebuilt the innings. Sensing the shift in momentum, captain Carlos Brathwaite reintroduced Siddle, who struck immediately by clean-bowling Jackson, reducing Delhi to 107 for 5 in the 13th over. Brathwaite added another wicket soon after to keep the contest evenly poised.

With Pathan holding one end up and the required rate creeping higher, the Tycoons once again turned to Steyn for a breakthrough. Despite his continued economy, wickets proved hard to come by in the closing stages. Delhi kept their composure and crossed the line at 163 for 7 in 19.2 overs, sealing a narrow three-wicket victory and maintaining their unbeaten run in the tournament.

Sports

Urvi Emerges as Standout in Girls U-12 at Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2026

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes||Team Allycaral 

Panaji, January 2026:
Urvi showcased her skill and composure in the Girls Under-12 category at the ongoing Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2026, defeating Anindita in straight sets to secure her semifinal spot, 4-3(3); 4-0.


In other Girls Under-12 action, Gargi produced a commanding performance over Maahi to advance to the semifinals. In the Girls Under-16 segment, Gargi continued her impressive run, defeating Bhavya 4-1, 4-0 to book her place in the final.

The Boys Under-12 quarterfinals and semifinals were highly competitive. Kriyansh defeated Arsh 6-2 and Kiran 6-3, while Ethan won against Seth (6-0) and Ivan (6-3). Divyaraj overcame Devaansh 6-3 to secure his semifinal berth. In the Boys Under-16 draw, Shaurya maintained consistency with identical 6-2 wins over Vidaal at both the Miramar club and Panjim Gymkhana courts.

Doubles events also produced decisive outcomes. In the Ladies Doubles quarterfinals, Trisha/Anupama beat Anita/Natalia 6-0, Riya/Unnathi blanked Tomoyo/Aastha 6-0, and Tvisha/Bhavya advanced 6-2 over Nishi/Nidhi. Men’s Doubles quarterfinals saw Parth/Arnav secure a 6-1 victory over Rushil/Shaurya.

In Mixed Doubles, Trisha/Maaz edged Sonicka/Vishwambar 6-4, Riya/Fatha won 6-3 against Tomoyo/Arnav, Eshaan/Anupama prevailed 6-1 over Poojal/Pankaj, and Paul/Deeksha defeated Tvisha/Bhavya 6-4.

Earlier-round matches across age groups and venues highlighted competitive tennis, as participants pushed through tight schedules heading into the tournament’s final stages.

The Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2026 is jointly organised by Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias and the Gadre Group, in association with the Goa State Tennis Association (GSTA), and has received a record 555 entries across Masters and Open categories.

Sports

Chirag Gandhi Stars as Gurugram Thunders Secure First Win in World Legends Pro T20 League 

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes | Team Allycaral 

Gurugram Thunders registered their first win of the World Legends Pro T20 League with a composed three-ball victory over Maharashtra Tycoons in the sixth match of the tournament, played in Goa on January 29.


Chasing a challenging target of 200, the Thunders were anchored by Chirag Gandhi, who produced a calm and decisive unbeaten knock of 74 off 43 deliveries. His innings ensured Gurugram stayed in control during the crucial middle and death overs, eventually sealing the chase at 200 for 5 in 19.3 overs.

Earlier, Maharashtra Tycoons had a shaky start after opting to bat first, losing early wickets in the powerplay. Sreesanth struck in his opening over by dismissing Alastair Cook, setting the tone for Gurugram’s early dominance. Despite regular setbacks, Shaun Marsh and Asghar Afghan steadied the innings with a rebuilding partnership, though Maharashtra slipped to 90 for 5.

The innings was revived by Sarul Kanwar, who played a commanding knock of 83 off just 36 balls. His aggressive strokeplay through the middle overs lifted Maharashtra to a competitive 199 for 7, giving their bowlers something to defend under lights.

In reply, Gurugram Thunders got off to a solid start with Cheteshwar Pujara and Jermaine Blackwood adding 53 runs for the opening wicket. As the required run rate climbed, Chirag Gandhi took charge, rotating the strike efficiently and finding boundaries when needed. He received timely support from Thisara Perera, and together they ensured Gurugram crossed the line with three balls to spare.

Speaking after the match, Mauvin Godinho, Minister for Industries, Transport and Panchayat, Government of Goa, highlighted the importance of cricket in uniting the country and praised the development of infrastructure like the 1919 ground, noting its potential to nurture future cricketing talent.

Earlier in the day, Rajasthan Lions defeated Dubai Royals by 16 runs in the other fixture. After recovering from early setbacks, Rajasthan posted 170 for 9, led by Naman Ojha’s fluent 66. Despite a hat-trick from Piyush Chawla, Rajasthan’s bowlers held firm, bowling Dubai Royals out for 154 in 19.1 overs.

Brief Scores:
Maharashtra Tycoons: 199/7 (20 overs)
Sarul Kanwar 83*, Shaun Marsh 52
Saurin Thakar 2/27, Rayad Emrit 2/44

Gurugram Thunders: 200/5 (19.3 overs)
Chirag Gandhi 74*, Jermaine Blackwood 43
Carlos Brathwaite 2/22, Peter Siddle 1/36

Sports

Late Surge and Disciplined Bowling Power Rajasthan Lions Past Dubai Royals

Swara Bodke

Written by Intern Swara Bodke || Team Allycaral

Goa | January 29, 2026
Rajasthan Lions produced a strong all-round performance, combining a crucial late batting surge with disciplined bowling, to defeat Dubai Royals by 16 runs in Match 6 of the World Legends Pro T20 League in Goa on Thursday.
Asked to bat first, the Lions were rocked early as Eoin Morgan and Callum Ferguson were dismissed cheaply, leaving the side struggling at 23/2 inside the first four overs. The early setbacks, however, were steadied by a composed partnership between Naman Ojha and Suresh Raina.
Ojha played the aggressor’s role, counter-attacking with a fluent half-century off around 30 balls, while Raina anchored the innings from the other end. At the halfway mark, Rajasthan were 79/2, well-placed but yet to fully capitalise on the platform.
Raina briefly increased the tempo before departing for 30, triggering a middle-order wobble. JP Duminy was dismissed for a golden duck, as Rishi Dhawan struck twice in two deliveries to reduce Rajasthan to 95/4.
Dubai Royals then threatened to seize complete control through Piyush Chawla, who produced a sensational spell that included the first hat-trick of the World Legends Pro T20 League. His burst ripped through the Rajasthan middle order and put the Lions under significant pressure.
Despite the collapse, Rajasthan recovered through a late flourish from Jesal Karia and Bipul Sharma. Karia struck a brisk 31 off 18 balls, while Sharma added a valuable 22 off 13 deliveries, helping the Lions post a competitive total of 170/9.
Defending the target, Rajasthan Lions delivered a commanding bowling performance, led by Karia and Sharma, who shared five wickets between them. The duo ensured that Dubai Royals were never able to build sustained partnerships during the chase.
Kirk Edwards top-scored for the Royals with 46, while Samit Patel chipped in with a quick 30, but regular wickets stalled their progress. Dubai Royals were eventually bowled out for 154 in 19.1 overs, falling 16 runs short of the target.
Match Result:
Rajasthan Lions won by 16 runs

Brief Scores:

Rajasthan Lions – 170/9

Naman Ojha 66 (43)

Jesal Karia 31 (18)

Piyush Chawla 3/29 (4 overs)

Samit Patel 2/33 (4 overs)

Dubai Royals – 154/10 (19.1 overs)

Kirk Edwards 46 (38)

Samit Patel 30 (17)

Jesal Karia 3/21 (3.1 overs)

Bipul Sharma 3/28 (4 overs)

Sports

QF, SF Line-ups Take Shape Across Categories at Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2026

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Written by Alisha Fernandes || Allycaral

Panaji, January 2026: Higher-round action gathered momentum at the Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2026 on Thursday, with several quarter-final and semi-final line-ups taking shape across multiple categories at the Panjim Gymkhana and Gaspar Dias courts.

In the men’s singles quarter-finals, Ashwin Narsinghani produced a composed performance to defeat Prathamesh Patil 4–0, 4–2, while Parth Deorukhakar overcame Maaz Khan 4–2, 4–2 to book his spot in the semi-finals. Eshaan Khadeer also advanced after getting the better of Nishad Shevde.

Men’s doubles action saw Maaz Khan and Arnav Bansode progress with a win over Praneeth V and Suraj, while Paul Singh and Nilesh defeated Atharv Paranjpe and Sonu Todu to move into the next round. At the Gymkhana courts, the pairing of Ashwin Narsinghani and Prathamesh Patil stormed into the semi-finals with a dominant 6–0 victory over Vihaan and Devaansh.

In the ladies’ singles category, Nidi secured her place in the final after defeating Trisha in the semi-final encounter.

Earlier-round men’s singles matches witnessed Maaz Khan beating Paul Singh 6–2, while Eshaan Khadeer registered a 6–2 win over Harren A.

The under-16 boys’ category produced a flurry of action-packed encounters. Priyank defeated Aymer 6–1, Fatha Ali beat Arsh 6–2 and later overcame Arhan 6–1, Arjun defeated Ivan 6–2, and Ethan edged past Priyank 6–4. Arav registered back-to-back wins against Alec (6–1) and Adianta (6–0), while Adianta earlier defeated Arjun 6–1. At the Gymkhana courts, Ayush beat Satya 6–3, Rihan defeated Vihaan 6–1, Shaurya blanked Aayush 6–0, and Athrva edged past Devaash 7–5.

In the girls’ under-16 category, Mikayla defeated Kiara 6–1, Urvi beat Devyani 6–2, Ammiel overcame Chantelle 6–2, Gargi blanked Mikayla 6–0, Bhavya defeated Urvi 6–1, Anindita beat Eaka 6–0, Kimberly defeated Anindita 6–1, and Tvisha registered a commanding 6–0 win over Ammiel.

Mixed doubles matches saw Nishi and Dhruv beat Archana and Debayan 6–0, Unnathi and Rushikesh defeat Atika and Prajat 6–2, Poojal and Pankaj blank Anita and Shivam 6–0, Deeksha and Paul defeat Aastha and Nitye 6–0, Tomoyo and Arnav edge past Bhargavi and Sonu 6–3, and Raisa and Neale beat Natalia and Suraj 6–0.

In the ladies’ doubles category, Tomoyo and Aastha defeated Renee and Devyani 6–1, Sonicka and Nidi blanked Vlada and Yuliia 6–0, Tatiana and Patricia edged past Tejjus and Sofia 7–5, while Tvisha and Bhavya beat Poojal and Raisa 6–4.

Jointly organised by Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias and the Gadre Group, in association with the Goa State Tennis Association (GSTA), the tournament has recorded a massive participation of 555 entries across the Masters and Open segments, making it one of the largest tennis events in the state.