Updated: Dec 13, 2025, 12:21 IST

Updated: Dec 13, 2025, 12:21 IST

Shah Rukh Khan, son AbRam greet Lionel Messi (Image credit: Agencies) NEW DELHI: Football icon Lionel Messi virtually unveiled his 70-foot statue at the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, Kolkata, on Saturday as part of his GOAT India Tour 2025. The event was attended by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Uruguayan footballer…

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Lionel Messi GOAT Tour of India Live Updates: Messi arrives; thousands brave winter chill to welcome Argentine legend

Lionel Messi GOAT Tour of India Live Updates: Messi arrives; thousands brave winter chill to welcome Argentine legend

Lionel Messi GOAT Tour of India Live Updates: Thousands braved the December chill and stayed up well past midnight to give Argentine football icon Lionel Messi a thunderous welcome as he arrived in Kolkata for his whirlwind three-day, four-city GOAT India Tour 2025. The Barcelona legend touched down at 2.26 am on Saturday, triggering scenes…

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Dec 13, 2025, 08:42 IST

Dec 13, 2025, 08:42 IST

Quinton de Kock during the second T20I cricket match between India and South Africa. (Image: PTI) NEW CHANDIGARH: Quinton de Kock has always been a care free batter. The hundred in the third ODI in Vizag last week and the 46-ball 90 in the second ODI on Thursday night was routine by his standards, but…

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Dec 13, 2025, 09:09 IST

Dec 13, 2025, 09:09 IST

The visit marks Lionel Messi’s return to the country after more than a decade and comes at a time when his legacy has reached new heights following Argentina’s FIFA World Cup triumph and his record eighth Ballon d’Or. (Image credit: Agencies) Lionel Messi’s arrival in India sparked scenes of extraordinary excitement as thousands of fans…

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Dec 13, 2025, 08:55 IST

Dec 13, 2025, 08:55 IST

Barricades, police deployment and non-stop cheering turned the city into a cauldron of what many called pure “Messi mania”. (Image credit:Agencies) Thousands braved the December chill and stayed up well past midnight to give Argentine football icon Lionel Messi a thunderous welcome as he arrived in Kolkata for his whirlwind three-day, four-city GOAT India Tour…

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Dec 13, 2025, 05:00 IST

Dec 13, 2025, 05:00 IST

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 171 off 95 balls to set up India’s 234-run win over hosts UAE in the opening match of the U19 Asia Cup on Friday.The 14-year-old from Samastipur, Bihar, hit 14 sixes, the highest by any batter in a single U19 innings. India also benefited from half-centuries by Vihaan Malhotra (69) and Aaron…

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Updated: Dec 12, 2025, 21:49 IST

Updated: Dec 12, 2025, 21:49 IST

Hikaru Nakamura (GCL Photo) The Global Chess League’s third season is set to begin at Mumbai’s Royal Opera House, with American Gambits making their second tournament appearance.The team has announced World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura’s participation as their Icon player, arriving Sunday morning. The squad includes Bibisara Assaubayeva, Richard Rapport, Vladislav Artemiev, Teodora Injac, and…

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Dec 12, 2025, 22:31 IST

Dec 12, 2025, 22:31 IST

Three-year-old Sarvagya Singh Kushwaha (File Photo) A complaint has been lodged against Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha, who recently made headlines as the youngest-ever FIDE-rated chess player. According to a report from The Indian Express, the complaint questions the legitimacy of his achievement, suggesting unfair means were used to obtain the rating.The complaint specifically alleges that his…

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Dec 12, 2025, 22:03 IST

Dec 12, 2025, 22:03 IST

R Praggnanandhaa (PTI Photo) Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa believes the traditional world championship will remain dominant despite the upcoming Total Chess World Championship Tour, which will begin its pilot phase next year.The Total Chess World Championship Tour will become an annual event from 2027, featuring competitions in Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz chess formats, while…

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Updated: Dec 12, 2025, 20:38 IST

Updated: Dec 12, 2025, 20:38 IST

Vaibhav Suryavanshi of India (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showcased an extraordinary performance in the U-19 Asia Cup match against UAE in Dubai on Wednesday, scoring 171 runs off just 95 balls. His remarkable innings helped India post a massive total of 433/6 in their allocated 50 overs.The 14-year-old left-handed batsman from Bihar…

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Dec 12, 2025, 19:36 IST

Dec 12, 2025, 19:36 IST

Artist Swapan Kumar Das draws a portrait of Argentine footballer and 2022 FIFA World Cup winning captain Lionel Messi ahead of his visit, in Kolkata, West Bengal. (PTI Photo) Lionel Messi is returning to India after his first visit in 2011, but this trip will not involve any competitive football. His 2011 appearance at the…

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Updated: Dec 12, 2025, 18:59 IST

Updated: Dec 12, 2025, 18:59 IST

Free chess reaches rural India (Special arrangements) NEW DELHI: The queen was not always the strongest piece in chess. From the inception of “Chaturanga” in India in the 6th century, and through its long journey across the Middle East before reaching Europe in the 15th century, the piece we now call the queen served only…

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Dec 12, 2025, 18:55 IST

Dec 12, 2025, 18:55 IST

South Africa’s players celebrate the wicket of India’s Shubman Gill during the second T20 International cricket match of series between India and South Africa, at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, in New Chandigarh. (PTI Photo) Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan said Shubman Gill is under pressure because of his recent poor form in T20Is….

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Dec 12, 2025, 18:39 IST

Dec 12, 2025, 18:39 IST

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s catch (screengrabs) NEW DELHI: India’s opening match of the U19 Asia Cup 2025 turned into a showcase of dominance, power-hitting, and athletic brilliance, capped by a flying catch from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi that matched the authority of his record-shattering 171 on Friday. The moment arrived in the 38th over of UAE’s chase, when Prithvi…

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Updated: Dec 12, 2025, 17:47 IST

Updated: Dec 12, 2025, 17:47 IST

Free chess reaches rural India (Special arrangements) NEW DELHI: The queen was not always the strongest piece in chess. From the inception of “Chaturanga” in India in the 6th century, and through its long journey across the Middle East before reaching Europe in the 15th century, the piece we now call the queen served only…

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Dec 12, 2025, 15:39 IST

Dec 12, 2025, 15:39 IST

Cuttack: India’s Shubman Gill ahead of the first T20I cricket match between India and South Africa at Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)(PTI12_09_2025_000347B) Ever since returning to the T20I set-up as vice-captain, Shubman Gill has blown hot and cold with the bat. The opener has had a few starts but lacked consistency that he…

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Dec 12, 2025, 13:06 IST

Dec 12, 2025, 13:06 IST

Vinesh Phogat (Getty Images) NEW DELHI: India’s trailblazing wrestler Vinesh Phogat has officially reignited her Olympic journey. On Friday, the 31-year-old announced her return to competitive wrestling — ending her 18-month retirement with a powerful declaration that her “fire never left,” and that she is ready to chase her dream of stepping onto the Olympic…

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Dec 12, 2025, 12:16 IST

Dec 12, 2025, 12:16 IST

Devon Conway (L) and Kane Williamson of New Zealand on day three of the second Test match against West Indies. (Image: Hagen Hopkins/Getty) New Zealand secured a commanding nine-wicket victory against the West Indies in the second Test at Wellington’s Basin Reserve on Friday, strengthening their position for a potential second ICC World Test Championship…

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Dec 12, 2025, 08:31 IST

Dec 12, 2025, 08:31 IST

2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. (Image: File) MUMBAI: In good news for fans, the ticket prices of the much-awaited 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup clash between India and Pakistan on Feb 15 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will start as low as Rs 438 (Rs 1500 Sri Lankan rupees). This is perhaps…

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Dec 12, 2025, 08:16 IST

Dec 12, 2025, 08:16 IST

Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav during the second T20I in New Chandigarh. (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: India captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted that his side was “far from good enough” after a crushing 51-run defeat to South Africa in the second T20I in Mullanpur on Thursday, repeatedly stressing that “we learn, we try” in an attempt…

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