PUNE: The ABC Basketball League organized by the ABC Sports & Fitness Academy is now entering its third season with more enthusiasm and a new format. Under 14 and 16 categories will feature 18 teams for both boys and girls in this year’s league following a similar format of IPL.

The season commenced on July 13, 2024, with a players’ auction in which teams competed for budding young talent across the country. This event is intended to provide a platform for young athletes to showcase their abilities and potential to become future stars of Indian basketball. Prize money will be one lakh for each category.

The league matches are scheduled from August 17 to August 23, 2024, at the Kharadi Stadium in Pune. The tournament will include 60 games, concluding with the finals on August 23, 2024. The league, known as India’s only professional basketball tournament for youngsters,  strives to promote basketball as a professional sport while also providing young players with opportunities to develop their skills and aspire to international representation.

Speaking at the press conference Anirudh Pole, Founder of ABC Sports & Fitness Academy said, “The ABC Basketball League is dedicated to establishing basketball and giving opportunities for young athletes to succeed. We aim to nurture talent from a young age and provide them the opportunity they deserve. Our objective is to incorporate sports into children’s lives and turn playtime into structured sports time. There will be 240 players from Maharashtra, including those from Pune, Nashik, Mumbai, and Kolhapur, who will compete this season. Excitement for the event is increased by the planned attendance of notable figures like Nitin Kamath and Ranvijay Singh.“

The matches will be held in an indoor venue, assuring a high level of competition. Over 1,000 spectators are anticipated to watch the action live at the stadium. Entry is free, and the matches will be live-streamed on the SportVot app.

Highest Bid Player and Team:

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Football fans can watch all the action on FanCode’s mobile app (Android, iOS), TV app available on Android TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Jio STB, Samsung TV, and on partner platforms Airtel XStream, OTT Play, Jio TV, Jio TV+, Vodafone Idea, Prime Video Channels, and www.fancode.com.

Booking their place with a convincing 3-1 victory over West Brom, Southampton will be relying on striker Adam Armstrong to once again fire on all cylinders. With a late brace in the return fixture putting the Saints within touching distance of a return back to the Premier League, all eyes will be on the English talisman to once again deliver the goods on the big stage.

Meanwhile, Leeds United will be aiming to replicate the success of Luton Town; Winners of last year’s dramatic playoff final. No strangers to the EFL Championship Playoffs & the Premier League, Leeds will look towards the attacking prowess of their front four marksmen, who made light work of Norwich City in their 4-0 victory at Elland Road.

Both sides will also be eyeing immediate promotion to the Premier League. Leicester City and Ipswich Town have already secured promotion by finishing in the top 2 positions respectively.

A winner-takes-all clash in every sense of the word, the nail-biting affair promises high-octane football action, dreams of Premier League participation, and a place to witness history in the making for football enthusiasts across the globe. 

What time would the promotions play-off final be broadcast in India?  

The EFL Championship final will kick off at 7:30 PM IST on May 26.

How to watch the promotions play-off final in India? 

Football fans can watch all the action on FanCode’s mobile app (Android, iOS), TV app available

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The West Coast Derby has often produced fireworks, but FC Goa has not won against Mumbai City FC in the ISL in over four years. They entered this clash chasing their first win in front of the Islanders in nine ISL fixtures between the two teams, and they were dealt an early challenge for the same as Iker Guarrotxena tested Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem early on with a powerful, curling free-kick that the goalkeeper managed to palm away to keep the scores level.

The Spaniard seemed driven to make a difference against his former team, earning that free-kick with a piercing run drilling through the FC Goa defense right from the center, before being fouled just outside the box.

Similarly, former Mumbai City FC midfielder Rowllin Borges, who had scored the decisive penalty to take the Islanders to the final of the 2020-21 season of the competition by beating FC Goa in the semi-final, came touchingly close to breaking the deadlock with a headed effort in the 24th minute of the game. Borges’ shot deflected off the crossbar, and the two teams couldn’t get a goal to their name even until the half-time break.

The Islanders drew the first blood soon in the second half though, with a newly rejuvenated Vikram Pratap Singh putting the home team ahead by tapping in a cross by Bipin Singh in the 46th minute. Bipin had made an instant impact by bagging a brace after coming off the bench away from home against Chennaiyin FC, and he was influential tonight too, with his cross outmaneuvering the entire FC Goa defense to land at Vikram’s feet on the far post on the left side. The attacker hammered the ball in, but his counterpart Mohammad Yasir ensured that the Gaurs didn’t succumb to their fourth straight loss in a row.

Fifteen minutes later, the Spanish striker laid the ball in the path of Yasir on the inside channel of the left flank, and the attacking midfielder, who joined the team in January from Hyderabad FC, demonstrated tremendous confidence to take on Rahul Bheke and drill the ball into the back of the net from distance with his left foot. Bheke, making his 50th start for the Islanders, had no answers to a highly upbeat Yasir, who netted in his second consecutive game to pull the visitors back in the game.

Substitute Borja Herrera produced a similarly impeccable outside-of-the-box effort late in the added time of the second half, but a fully outstretched Phurba Lachenpa dived into action to prevent the midfielder from notching a dramatic late winner.

Key Performer of the Match

Mohammed Yasir (FC Goa)

Yasir completed 20 out of his 24 passes, intercepted once, and created a couple of goal-scoring opportunities, in addition to pulling off the breath-taking goal as he quickly grows to become an integral member of the FC Goa unit under Manolo Marquez.

What’s next for both teams?

Mumbai City FC will play their next match against Punjab FC on March 2, whereas FC Goa will clash with East Bengal FC for their forthcoming fixture on March 6.

Brief Scores

Mumbai City FC 1 (Vikram Pratap Singh 46’) – 1 FC Goa (Mohammad Yasir 61’)

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INDIA: Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI), the pioneer organisation of Differently Abled Cricket in India and Svayam, India’s leading accessibility organization, join hands to host the country’s first ever International Physically Disabled T20 Cricket Series. The series is set to take place as a 5-part T20 match series in Ahmedabad and marks the inaugural visit of the official physically challenged cricket team from England.

The International Physically Disabled T20 Cricket Series marks a significant milestone for differently abled cricket in India, providing a stage for talented para cricketers to showcase their skills and compete at an international level. Svayam rooted in their intention to make India inclusive and safe for people with reduced mobility, take the commitment a step further by joining in as an ‘Associate Partner’ of this historic T20 International series.

As a part of this, Svayam will be sponsoring the match fees of Indian Para players, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder their participation. Additionally, is set to institute prestigious awards, including “Man of the Match,” “Best Bowler,” and “Batsman of the Series,” recognizing outstanding performances and contributions to the game.

Sharing her thoughts on the partnership, Sminu Jindal, Founder – Chairperson of Svayam said, “We are honored to be part of this historic T20 series that not only promotes sportsmanship but also breaks barriers by providing a platform for differently-abled cricketers to shine. Through our partnership with DCCI, we aim to encourage and celebrate excellence in para cricket in India.”

Ravi Kant Chauhan, Secretary General of the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) said, “The continuous support from Svayam not only motivates us but also aids us in elevating differently-abled cricket to new heights. The hosting of the International Physically Disabled T20 Cricket Series marks a significant milestone for differently-abled cricket in India. We firmly believe in the inclusive nature of cricket as a sport, and our goal is to endorse Svayam’s cause of promoting accessibility for all. I am convinced that with enhanced accessibility, our players can achieve greater success. This initiative also opens doors for increased participation from players in rural India.”

The 5 matches in the T20 series will take place in the esteemed Ahmedabad stadium, hosted by the Gujarat Cricket Association, under the patronage of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It will feature intense matchups between the Indian and English physically challenged cricket teams and promise to be a display of skill, determination, and sportsmanship.

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UAE: MI Emirates claimed victory in an exciting match against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. The players of MI Emirates showcased outstanding skill and determination, achieving a memorable win by 8 wickets in a thrilling contest.

After winning the toss, MI Emirates chose to field first, wherein Fazalhaq Farooqui led the charge with an outstanding bowling display registering 3/35 in 4 overs. Trent Boult and Akeal Hosein restricting the flow of runs duly assisted him. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders set the target of 188 runs for MI Emirates; wherein Joe Clarke scored a quick hand 21 runs off 13 balls, who was assisted by the hero of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ last victory against Desert Vipers – Alishan Sharafu.

Renowned for his explosive batting, Andre Russell delivered a formidable conclusion to the innings. In a rapid and impressive showcase of skill, Russell amassed 46 runs in just 17 deliveries. His assertive and dynamic playing style contributed crucial runs to the team’s total, infusing energy and momentum as the innings came to an end.

Batting second, MI Emirates’ openers Kusal Perera and Muhammad Waseem set the stage chasing 189 runs in 20 overs. Kusal Perera scored 54 runs off 26 balls and Muhammad Waseem contributed 89 runs off 62 balls. Skipper Nicholas Pooran finished the chase with a remarkable 33 runs off just 19 deliveries, chasing 189 runs successfully, with an over to spare.

DP World ILT20, the world’s second most-watched T20 event is telecasted LIVE on ZEE’s 10 most widely distributed and viewed linear TV channels, including &Pictures, &Pictures HD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol Cinema, Zee Zest, Zee Ganga, Zee Cinemalu HD, &Flix, &Flix HD, and Zee Zest HD. Additionally, the event will be available on one of India’s leading OTT platforms, ZEE5.

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The Uruguayan international was constantly teasing the East Bengal backline, finding opportunities that could help him create a chance out of nowhere. One such chance emerged in the 32nd minute, as Luna spotted a disoriented opposition defense and carved it open with a crafty pass for fellow teammate Daisuke Sakai.

The 26-year-old immediately rushed into the box, tricked Mohamad Rakip with quick footwork, and shot the ball past Prabhsukhan Singh Gill to hand his side the lead. Sakai thus became only the fourth Japanese player to score a goal in ISL history, after Cy Goddard, Katsumi Yusa, and Rei Tachikawa.

If Luna has been Kerala’s star in attack, young goalkeeper Sachin Suresh has come up as a surprise package at the back. His distribution has been commendable, recording a 57% passing success rate in six appearances so far. However, it is his shot-stopping that has made heads turn, as he saved a penalty in his second successive game tonight. Brazilian striker Cleiton Silva had a brilliant opportunity to draw scores level in the 85th minute, but Sachin dived to his right and saved the shot amidst joyous celebration from his teammates, becoming the first goalkeeper in ISL history to save penalties in consecutive matches.

East Bengal was shaken for a bit after that event, and the Blasters immediately capitalized as Sandeep Singh’s delivery to Dimitrios Diamantakos met little resistance with the effort eventually being converted into a goal in the 88th minute. The Greek striker was shown his second yellow card soon afterward though, thus getting sent off in the 89th minute. That one-man advantage led to the home side earning a spot-kick in the ninth minute of added time, and Silva did convert the penalty this time around. Only, there weren’t enough minutes left for them to salvage an equalizer eventually.

Key Performer of the Match

Sachin Suresh (Kerala Blasters FC)

The 22-year-old became the eighth youngest goalkeeper in ISL history to save a spot-kick, and his ability to elevate his game at crucial junctures has helped the Blasters secure important points in two straight games now. There are a lot more impressive performances to come from this talented custodian in the coming matches of this campaign.

What’s next for both teams?

Both teams will now play in the league in a doubleheader on November 25. East Bengal FC will take on Chennaiyin FC on the home turf of the latter, whereas the Kerala Blasters FC will host Hyderabad FC.

Brief Scores

Kerala Blasters FC 2 (Daisuke Sakai 32’, Dimitrios Diamantakos 88’) – 1 (Cleiton Silva 99’) East Bengal FC

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HYDERABAD: The power-packed and exciting encounter between Hyderabad FC and Bengaluru FC ended in a 1-1 draw as Mohammad Yasir (35’) and Ryan Williams (58’) scored on either side of the break at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Gachibowli on Saturday.

The Nawabs started the game well and put pressure on the BFC backline before finally breaking through with Mohammad Yasir’s emphatic finish. It was a sumptuous ball over the top from Oswaldo Alanis that created the chance as Hyderabad went into the break a goal up.

But the visitors made three changes at the break, and got back into the game, pushing for an equalizer before finally beating Gurmeet Singh with a superb move from back to front.

Halicharan Narzary popped up with the assist but it was Gurpreet Singh and Gurmeet Singh that kept the game to a 1-1.

The former pulled out excellent saves to deny Jonathan Moya, Joao Victor, Felipe Amorim, and Yasir while Gurmeet denied Chhetri twice and was a rock at the back, keeping his side in the game right till the end.

Sahil Tavora, Mark Zothanpuia, Nikhil Poojary, Chinglensana Konsham, and Nim Dorjee Tamang did their job but it ended all square after ninety exciting minutes here at the Maidaan in front of over 7,200 fans.

HFC moved a place above Punjab FC into 11^th, with two points from their first five games. Bengaluru moved to 8^th in the table, with five points from six games.

The Nawabs are back in action when they take on Punjab FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi in an 8:00 pm kick-off on Tuesday, November 7 

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Here are five reasons why you simply can’t miss this weekend’s duel between Girona FC and Los Blancos:

1. Real Madrid’s bogey team: Girona FC has been a thorn in Real Madrid‘s side, with the Madrid-based side failing to win any of their last three games against them. In fact, Girona FC has won two of the last three duels between the two teams, including a huge 4-2 victory on home soil last April.
2. A battle between prodigious Brazilian attackers: Some of the most talented Brazilian forwards in European football are expected to take to the pitch on Saturday. Savio Moreira de Oliveira, also known as Savinho, has taken the league by storm this season, scoring two goals and recording four assists in Girona FC’s first seven games. Aged 19, he is considered one of the league’s top dribblers along with his compatriot Vinicius, whom he will face this weekend.
3. A Girona FC squad full of youth and talent: Girona FC boasts one of the youngest squads in the league with an average age of 26.3. Their boss, Michel, is currently the fifth-youngest coach in LALIGA EA SPORTS, making Los Blanquivermells one of the most exciting projects in the league.
4. The need to build momentum ahead of ElClasico: Real Madrid is aware that they are heading into what is expected to be a demanding October due to the busy calendar, one which will culminate with ElClasico against FC Barcelona at the Estadio Olimpico in Montjuic on October 28th.
5. An abundance of scoring sources: Girona FC has been hailed for the spectacle they have offered so far this season, going unbeaten in their first seven matches and winning all their three home duels in style. What makes their achievement even more impressive is that they don’t just count on one player to carry the team on his shoulders. In fact, as many as 11 different players have managed to get their names on the scoresheet at least once in Los Blanquivermells’ first seven games.

The Girona FC vs. Real Madrid fixture promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the most entertaining teams in Spain. With the top spot in the league at stake, this is a game that you simply can’t afford to miss.

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PUNE: Every 1 in 9 Indians are likely to develop and get diagnosed with cancer, especially youngsters. There is a constant conflict as to how they would get married or lead a normal life. That is when a website like Ātman Matrimonial initiates to help people suffering from medical conditions like Cancer, HIV, Thalassemia, Diabetes, and Physical Disabilities to find their life partners. This was announced by Supriya and Rahul Shinde during a Press Conference held at CC & Co, Prabhat Road today.

Rahul Shinde and his wife Supriya Shinde; Founders of Ātman Matrimonial support people through counseling and looking for desirable companions for them. This idea is developed from their own experiences when Rahul was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML); a type of blood cancer just 15 days after their marriage. Over the course of time, Supriya started interacting with other cancer patients and their families about her experiences and how they deal with her husband’s medical condition. She also interacted with various specialists to understand the different types of blood cancer and their treatments, leading to her counseling sessions at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Center.

After elaborate research and an urge to help the people, Rahul and Supriya couldn’t spot a platform even across the globe, that would support people with medical conditions to find a partner. Also, Supriya has always believed that instead of looking out for someone to do something for us, why not do it on our own? That’s how Atman’s website started with the understanding that there is a lack of awareness in society about such a concept of health problems and that people want to get married even after surviving or being in remission of their medical conditions.

The process of Ātman starts by registering at the matrimony, followed by a counseling session with both individuals and creating matchmaking if any. It then leads to the couple’s meeting, later involving their families. Eventually, if the couple decides to get married, the last and compulsory step at Ātman Matrimonial is to set up a doctor’s meeting. In this step, the girl’s family meets the boy’s doctor and vice versa.

One such success story at Ātman Matrimonial involves a 35-year-old cancer survivor and a 29-year-old in cancer remission, who have been married for 5 months now. The couple Reha and Indranil (Name changed) got in touch with Supriya through counseling sessions during their treatments and ultimately, they registered themselves at Ātman Matrimonial.

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As such, there are several vitally important fixtures on Matchday 29, starting with Rayo Vallecano vs CA Osasuna on Friday. The visitors are just one point ahead of the team from Vallecas and both sides still have an outside chance of reaching the European qualification spots, so this should be a closely contested match between these two well-drilled sides, just as it was earlier in the season when a stoppage-time goal from Rubén García earned CA Osasuna a 2-1 win.

On Saturday, there are four more fixtures and the first takes place at Villarreal CF’s Estadio de la Cerámica, where Real Valladolid is the guest. El Submarino Amarillo is in excellent form right now, fresh off an impressive win at the Bernabéu, and they’re closing in on the final Champions League spot, so they’ll want what would be a fourth win in a row.

The second Basque Derby of the season follows, at 16:15 CEST, as Athletic Club takes on Real Sociedad in Bilbao. This is always an important fixture, but this Saturday’s game is even more significant than usual because these two teams are fighting to qualify for European football next season. Real Sociedad is trying to hold on to fourth place, while Athletic Club want to take the final European berth and also earn some revenge for the 3-1 loss they suffered in San Sebastián in January.

Then, for the second week in a row, Real Betis are at home to a relegation-threatened side, this time RCD Espanyol. Los Verdiblancos will hope this weekend’s game at the Estadio Benito Villamarín goes better than that of last matchday when they went down to nine men and lost to Cádiz CF. For Borja Iglesias, this is a meeting with his former club and he’ll be hoping to get on the scoresheet.

The LaLiga Santander action stays in Andalusia on Saturday night, as Cádiz CF host Real Madrid looking to build on their impressive victory over Real Betis from last weekend. It won’t be an easy game for the reigning champions, as Cádiz CF has a good record against Los Blancos since returning to LaLiga Santander in 2020, having won one, drawn two, and lost two of the five meetings since then.

Sunday brings up four more fixtures, starting with Girona FC vs Elche CF. The Catalan outfit just earned an impressive point against FC Barcelona and still has an outside chance of qualifying for Europe for the first time, so coach Míchel will demand a three-point haul when the bottom-placed side comes to town.

Meanwhile, FC Barcelona will be looking to bounce back from that draw last matchday when they visit Getafe CF on Sunday afternoon. However, the Blaugrana haven’t won at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez since 2019, so Xavi Hernández knows this won’t be an easy task against a well-organized Geta side.

On the opposite side of Spain’s capital, Atlético de Madrid faces UD Almería in the next fixture and Diego Simeone’s squad will be seeking a sixth win in a row. Given that the Andalusians have taken just four points on the road all season, Antoine Griezmann and co. will be confident in doing so.

Then, at 21:00 CEST on Sunday night, there is a huge Valencia CF vs Sevilla FC clashes at Mestalla. Normally, these two clubs would be battling for European qualification, but this time around they’re fighting to avoid relegation. Los Che enters Matchday 29 currently inside the bottom three, while Sevilla FC is only five points above the drop zone, so this should be a thrilling and tense duel between two of Spain’s most historic clubs. Valencia CF has won two and drawn one of their three home matches so far under new coach Rubén Baraja, so they’ll hope the fans can roar them to another point or three.

On Monday night, RCD Mallorca makes their longest away trip of the season as they fly to Vigo to take on RC Celta. The islanders’ away form of late hadn’t been very good, but a stoppage-time Vedat Muriqi penalty earned them a point at Real Valladolid last weekend. Now, they’ll hope for another positive result but will know that RC Celta is in good form and unbeaten in seven. That promises to be an interesting duel to conclude the matchday.   

Watch LaLiga Santander live this weekend on JioCinema, Sports18, and VOOT SELECT.

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