Tag: Sports News

Sports

Goa Clinches CM’s Trophy at Odisha National Wheelchair Cricket Championship 2025

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Goa’s wheelchair cricket team has marked a historic milestone by winning the CM’s Trophy at the Odisha National Wheelchair Cricket Championship 2025, a celebrated tournament that took place from 29th November to 3rd December.

The championship featured six teams representing Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra, showcasing the growing strength and visibility of wheelchair cricket across India. In a highly anticipated final clash against Chhattisgarh, Goa delivered a remarkable performance that kept spectators on edge until the very end.

The highlight of the match was an extraordinary innings by Niklesh Pednekar, who scored an unbeaten 65 runs. His confident stroke play and composure under pressure powered Goa to a memorable victory and secured their place at the top of the tournament.

This triumph stands as a proud moment not only for Goa but for the broader landscape of inclusive sports. Wheelchair cricket in India continues to gain momentum, inspiring athletes and communities alike.

Goa’s win and Pednekar’s standout performance reinforce the immense talent and dedication within the sport, proving once again that determination and teamwork can break barriers and create history.

Sports

Mohit Sharma Announces Retirement from All Forms of Cricket

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Fast bowler Mohit Sharma, known for his sharp variations and death-over mastery, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Wednesday, 3 December. The 37-year-old, who last appeared in the Indian Premier League 2025 season for Delhi Capitals, shared the news through an emotional Instagram post, closing a chapter that spanned more than a decade of professional cricket.

Mohit represented India in 26 ODIs and 8 T20Is between 2013 and 2015, forming a reliable seam option during his peak years. He earned widespread recognition for his ability to deliver under pressure, particularly in the death overs — a skill that defined the latter part of his T20 career.

“Today, with a full heart, I announce my retirement from all formats of cricket,” Mohit wrote. “From representing Haryana to wearing the India jersey and playing in the IPL, this journey has been nothing short of a blessing.”

Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction scheduled for December 15 in Abu Dhabi, Delhi Capitals released the seasoned pacer. In the previous season, Mohit featured in eight games, picking up two wickets at an economy rate of 10.28 — an uncharacteristic dip in form in an otherwise impressive late-career flourish.

Mohit’s journey included standout years with Chennai Super Kings, where he emerged as a consistent wicket-taker and grew into a dependable T20 bowler. His story remains one of grit, reinvention and resilience — a cricketer who made the most of every opportunity and left a notable imprint on India’s limited-overs cricket.

Sports

Lalit Yadav’s Fighting 85 Not Enough as Hyderabad Crush Goa by 7 Wickets

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Goa suffered their second defeat in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Cricket Tournament as Hyderabad outplayed them with a commanding seven-wicket victory at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. After losing the toss, Goa were put in to bat and struggled early when openers Arjun Tendulkar and Ishan Gadekar fell cheaply.

Abhinav Tejarana brought some momentum with a fluent 21 off 14 balls, followed by a steady 23 from Deepraj Gaonkar. The innings revived when Lalit Yadav once again stepped up under pressure, producing a stunning unbeaten 85 off 48 balls that featured 10 fours and 3 sixes. He lifted Goa from a shaky 67 for 4 to a competitive total of 160 with the help of Darshan Misal, who contributed 18 in their 93-run partnership. Hyderabad’s bowling was led by Tanay Thyagarajan, who returned impressive figures of 2 for 20.

Hyderabad’s chase began with clear intent as they attacked from the start and never allowed Goa to settle. Captain Pragyan Reddy spearheaded the pursuit with a match-winning unbeaten 67 off just 34 balls, an innings studded with powerful strokes including 4 fours and 5 sixes. Aman Rao supported him well with a solid 40 as Hyderabad raced to 166 for 3 in only 14 overs. Goa bowlers Deepraj Gaonkar, Darshan Misal and Vikas Singh picked up a wicket each but were unable to stem the flow of runs.

With this loss, Goa remain on 4 points in the Elite B group. The team will look to bounce back in their next fixture against Madhya Pradesh on December 2 as they continue their campaign in the tournament.

Sports

Goa Clinch 14-Run Victory Over Jammu & Kashmir in U-23 Women’s T20 Elite Clash

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Goa claimed a commendable 14-run victory over Jammu & Kashmir in the Under-23 Women’s T20 Elite Cricket Tournament held at the Lady Amritabai Daga College Ground in Nagpur. Opting to bat first, Goa built a steady total of 124 for 5, anchored by Athashree Shivrakar, who played a composed and unbeaten knock of 32 off 28 balls, including four boundaries. Openers Harshita Yadav and wicketkeeper-batter Tanisha Gaikwad laid the foundation with 20 runs each, while Usma Khan and captain Tanaya Naik added 19 apiece to help the team post a competitive total. For Jammu & Kashmir, Mariya Nuren and Ananya Sharma bowled effectively, picking up two wickets each, while Ridhima Rajput chipped in with one.

Chasing 125, Jammu & Kashmir struggled to build momentum and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Their only significant contribution came from Shambhavi Rajput, who stood firm with a fighting 38, but the remainder of the batting lineup could not keep up with the required rate. They eventually finished at 110 for 9, falling short by 14 runs. Goa’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance throughout the innings, with Usma Khan leading the attack by claiming 2 for 19. Captain Tanaya Naik supported with 2 for 29, while Harshita Yadav bowled economically, conceding only eight runs. Metali Gavandar added to the pressure with figures of 1 for 10, and Pooja Kalel contributed with 1 for 19.

With this important win, Goa now have two victories and two losses in their campaign and currently sit fourth in the Elite Group D standings. The team will look to finish the group stage on a strong note as they gear up to face Hyderabad on December 1.

Sports

Nikhat Zareen Returns to Gold Medal Glory With Dominant 5–0 Win Over Guo Yi Xuan

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Former World Champion Nikhat Zareen produced a stellar performance as she defeated Worlds quarterfinalist Guo Yi Xuan with a resounding 5–0 victory, reaffirming her position as one of India’s top boxing talents.

The bout, featuring two strong counter-punchers, saw Nikhat take strategic control early on. She maintained long-range dominance, using her superior reach, timing, and footwork to neutralize the Chinese boxer throughout the match. Her precision striking and ring intelligence ensured Guo had little room to build momentum.

Speaking after her win, Nikhat expressed deep emotion about performing in front of Indian fans once again.
“I am delighted to win in front of the home crowd after two years,” she said. The victory marks her first gold medal since the Elorda Cup in May 2023, making the moment even more significant for the Indian boxing star.

The win boosts India’s medal tally and reinforces Nikhat’s comeback to top form as she continues her quest for more international success.