Tag: england

International

Princess Leonor Poised to Make History as Spain’s First Queen in 150 Years

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Spain is poised to witness a historic transition as Princess Leonor, the 20-year-old daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, prepares to become the country’s first Queen Regnant in 150 years. Her ascension will mark a significant milestone for the Spanish monarchy, with the last reigning queen being Isabella II, whose rule ended in 1868.

The Spanish crown has been held by the Bourbon dynasty since the early 18th century, following their victory in the War of the Spanish Succession. After decades under General Francisco Franco’s dictatorship, the monarchy was restored in 1975 with King Juan Carlos I, who played a central role in Spain’s transition to democracy. He abdicated in 2014 in favour of his son, King Felipe VI, placing Princess Leonor next in line to the throne.

King Felipe married Queen Letizia, a former journalist, in 2004. She became queen at the age of 42 when Felipe ascended the throne. The royal couple has two daughters — Princess Leonor, born in 2005 and heir to the throne, and Infanta Sofia, born in 2007.

As part of her preparation for future leadership, Spanish law requires the heir to the throne to undergo comprehensive military training across the Army, Navy and Air Force. Princess Leonor completed her International Baccalaureate at UWC Atlantic College in Wales before beginning her military journey in August 2023 with Army training in Zaragoza, joining a cohort of over 500 cadets.

In 2024, she transitioned to naval training in Galicia and embarked on a 140-day, 17,000-mile voyage aboard the historic training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano. Serving as part of the crew, she sailed across the Atlantic, around South America and onward to New York, later spending time aboard the warship Blas de Lezo before returning to Cadiz in July.

Her training continued with the Air Force, where in December 2025 she completed her first solo flight in a Pilatus PC-21 aircraft, becoming the first female member of the Spanish royal family to achieve this milestone. During her time at the Air and Space Academy in San Javier, Murcia, she received a warm reception and is now set to be honoured with the Gold Medal of the Region of Murcia, the region’s highest civilian award.

Fluent in several languages, including Spanish, Catalan, English, French, Arabic and Mandarin, Princess Leonor represents a modern, globally aware monarchy. Her journey reflects a careful balance between tradition and transformation, positioning her as a symbol of continuity and change as Spain prepares to welcome its first reigning queen in over a century and a half.

Sports

MCC Thunder Storm into MCL 11 T20 Final After Gritty Win Over MCC Knights

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

MCC Thunder booked their place in the final of the MCL 11 T20 cricket tournament with a hard-fought 14-run victory over MCC Knights in the second qualifier, played at the MCC Ground in Margao. The win sets up an exciting title clash against MCC Tigers, scheduled for Sunday, and capped off a closely contested encounter that kept spectators engaged till the final over.

Batting first, MCC Thunder put up a competitive total of 169 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. Om Fadte anchored the innings with a composed knock of 38, while Dr. Rohan Badve contributed a vital 37 and Roshan Naik added a quick 28 to bolster the middle order. The Thunder batters showed intent and resilience, ensuring a challenging target despite disciplined bowling from MCC Knights, with Siddharth Ghanekar emerging as the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2 for 25.

In response, MCC Knights mounted a spirited chase and remained in contention for much of the innings, eventually finishing on 155 for 7 in 20 overs. Sairaj Dhond top-scored with 27, while Smit Dalvi’s 26 and Pranav Biche’s 21 kept the scoreboard ticking. However, MCC Thunder’s bowlers maintained pressure at crucial moments, preventing the Knights from gaining momentum in the final overs.

Dr. Rohan Badve delivered an outstanding all-round performance, following up his batting effort with impressive bowling figures of 2 for 21. He received excellent support from Sudhir Shet, who claimed 2 for 15, and Sudesh Rane with 2 for 25, as Thunder’s disciplined attack restricted the scoring and sealed the victory. Paul Fernandes also chipped in with a wicket, conceding 27 runs.

For his impactful contributions with both bat and ball, Dr. Rohan Badve was adjudged Man of the Match, with the award presented by Mandar Parodkar. With this win, MCC Thunder advance confidently into the final of the MCL 11 T20 tournament, promising an exciting showdown against MCC Tigers as the competition reaches its climax.

Sports

Lalit Yadav’s Century, Deepraj Gaonkar’s All-Round Show Power Goa Past Himachal

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Goa registered their second consecutive victory in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite tournament with a hard-fought 8-run win over Himachal Pradesh at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground in Jaipur. The match showcased a fine blend of composure and aggression, highlighted by Lalit Yadav’s century and captain Deepraj Gaonkar’s impactful all-round display.

Batting first after Himachal Pradesh opted to bowl, Goa found themselves in early trouble as their top order collapsed to 33 for 3 within the first ten overs. Lalit Yadav and Suyash Prabhudesai then steadied the innings with a vital 90-run partnership, bringing calm to the Goa dressing room. Suyash played a responsible knock of 51 off 63 balls, striking five boundaries before falling at a crucial stage.

Goa slipped again after the quick dismissal of Darshan Misal, but skipper Deepraj Gaonkar turned the momentum with a counter-attacking innings. Batting at number seven, he smashed 71 runs off just 48 balls, finding the boundary regularly and lifting the run rate in the latter half of the innings. At the other end, Lalit Yadav anchored the innings with a composed century, scoring 104 off 126 deliveries. A late cameo from Rajashekhar Harikant helped Goa reach a competitive total of 285 for 9.

Chasing 286, Himachal Pradesh began steadily with a 58-run opening stand, but Goa struck back quickly to reduce them to 60 for 3. The dismissal of captain Mridul Suroch soon after left Himachal struggling. Pukhraj Mann then mounted a remarkable fightback, playing a lone hand of 126 off 119 balls, keeping the chase alive with controlled aggression.

Just as Himachal threatened to snatch the game, Deepraj Gaonkar delivered with the ball, dismissing Mann in the 46th over to complete a five-wicket haul. Despite some resistance from the lower order, Himachal Pradesh were bowled out for 277 in 49.3 overs, falling agonisingly short.

The victory underlined Goa’s growing confidence in the tournament, with contributions coming from key players at crucial moments. Goa will next face Sikkim on December 29, aiming to extend their winning streak.

Sports

MCC Thunder Edge Avengers in Thrilling Finish to Go Top of the Table

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

MCC Thunder moved to the top of the MCL 11 table after pulling off a tense 2-wicket win over MCC Avengers in a gripping T20 contest at the MCC Ground in Margao. The match went down to the very last over, with Thunder successfully chasing the target of 166 in 19.5 overs. The win, which takes their tally to 8 points, showcased disciplined bowling, calm batting under pressure and a standout all-round performance from Ved Mahambrey, who was adjudged Man of the Match.

MCC Avengers, batting first, posted 165/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Their innings was built on steady contributions from Venkatesh Nevagi, who struck 24, followed by a valuable 35 from Amod Borkar and a well-compiled 40 from Vedant Naik. However, the Thunder bowlers maintained pressure throughout the innings. Sudhir Shet delivered an impressive spell with figures of 2/22, while Sudesh Rane picked up 2/44. Ved Mahambrey chipped in with 1/17, and the experienced Dr. Rohan Badve bowled economically for his 1/14. Om Fadte also contributed with the ball, returning figures of 1/27.

Chasing 166, MCC Thunder began steadily but faced resistance from the Avengers’ bowlers. The innings gained momentum through a composed 36 from Om Fadte, followed by a crucial 39 from Roshan Naik, who kept the scoreboard ticking at a vital phase. The chase was anchored beautifully by Ved Mahambrey, whose 38 proved to be the defining knock in the pressure-filled chase. With wickets falling around him, Mahambre’s calm presence ensured Thunder stayed on course.

The Avengers bowlers fought back valiantly. Amod Borkar picked up 2/32, while Siddhant Amonkar claimed 1/30. Venkatesh Nevagi showed his all-round ability with 1/25, and Gopal Gawas chipped in with 1/17. Despite their efforts, the total proved just short as Thunder held their nerve to cross the finish line with one ball remaining.

The thrilling victory reflected Thunder’s resilience and teamwork, taking them to the top of the standings and further intensifying the race in MCL 11.

Sports

MCL 11: MCC Avengers and MCC Thunder Seal Dominant 6-Wicket Wins in Margao

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

The MCL 11 T20 cricket tournament continued to deliver exciting cricketing action at the MCC Ground in Margao, where MCC Avengers and MCC Thunder secured convincing victories in their respective matches. In the morning encounter, MCC Stallions posted 142 for 9 in 20 overs with contributions from Rueben Karekar, who scored 25, and Dr. Ankush Patil, who remained unbeaten on 35. The Avengers’ bowling attack was spearheaded by Amod Borkar with an impressive 3 for 20, while Venkatesh Nevagi matched the effort with 3 for 24.

Gopal Gawas and Siddhant Amonkar added crucial breakthroughs as well. Chasing the target, MCC Avengers displayed excellent control and aggression. Venkatesh Nevagi continued his all-round brilliance with a solid 36-run knock, supported by Amod Borkar who added 39 and Vedant Naik who contributed 37. The Avengers reached 143 for 4 in just 15.2 overs, sealing a comfortable 6-wicket win. Nevagi’s impactful performance with both bat and ball earned him the Man of the Match award.

The afternoon match witnessed MCC Tigers setting a target of 141 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. Key contributions came from Shailu with 29, Vaibhav Naik with 35, and Ketan Kunde with 27. MCC Thunder’s disciplined bowling effort was highlighted by Sudesh Rane’s excellent 3 for 19, while Nikhil Bhoomkar and Roshan Naik chipped in with economical spells.

In response, MCC Thunder executed a composed chase, finishing at 143 for 4 in 18.1 overs. Sahil Adwalpalkar made 29, while Roshan Naik played a crucial innings of 39 runs. Ved Mahambre anchored the chase with an unbeaten 31. The Tigers’ bowlers, including Balkrishna Hodarkar, Jamir, Mrunmay Das and Sanat Kamat, picked up a wicket each but couldn’t prevent the inevitable. Roshan Naik’s valuable all-round contribution earned him the Man of the Match title.

The day closed with both MCC Avengers and MCC Thunder strengthening their campaign with authoritative wins, showcasing depth, discipline and strong individual performances in the ongoing MCL 11 tournament.