Malaysia Masters 2025 — A shot at redemption for Sindhu and Prannoy
P. V. Sindhu and H. S. Prannoy will look to script a turnaround in fortunes when they lead the country's campaign at the USD 475,000 Malaysia Masters Super 500 tournament beginning here on Tuesday.
Both Sindhu and Prannoy have endured a tough phase of late, struggling with form and fitness. The duo lost their respective matches against Indonesia and Denmark in the Sudirman Cup last month — their last competitive outing.
With a two-week break under their belt, the two veterans will now be eager to rediscover their rhythm at the Axiata Arena.
Two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu, currently ranked World No. 16, will open her campaign against Japan's Natsuki Nidaira, ranked 20th in the world.
Prannoy, who has slipped to World No. 35, faces a tough opener against fifth seed Kenta Nishimoto of Japan.
In women's singles, 2024 Hylo Open runner-up Malvika Bansod will take on Chiu Pin-Chian of Chinese Taipei, while Unnati Hooda — a semifinalist at the Taipei Open Super 300 — will face compatriot Lin Hsiang Ti.
ALSO READ | Thailand Open 2025: India's campaign ends as Unnati, Malvika, Aakarshi exit
Aakarshi Kashyap has drawn eighth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia.
In men's singles, Sathish Karunakaran, champion at the 2023 Odisha Masters and 2024 Guwahati Masters, will take on top seed Anders Antonsen of Denmark.
World junior championships bronze medallist Ayush Shetty, who reached the Taipei Open semifinals, will face Canada's Brian Yang, while Priyanshu Rajawat opens against Singapore's Jia Heng Jason Teh.
In mixed doubles, world number 19 Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto will face a qualifier. Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Gadde will begin against fourth-seeded Chinese pair Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui, while Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh meet top seeds Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin.
Sathish will also pair up with Aadya Variyath in mixed doubles to face Malaysia's Roy King Yap and Valeree Siow.
In men's doubles, the pair of Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi will be in action.
Women's doubles will see Indian participation from Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi, Vaishnavi Khadkekar and Alisha Khan, as well as Prerana Alvekar and Mrunmayee Deshpande.
In the qualifiers, Kidambi Srikanth, S Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian, and Tharun Mannepalli will vie for spots in the men's singles main draw, while Anmol Kharb and Tasnim Mir will aim to qualify in the women's section.
Other Indians featuring in the qualification rounds include Mohit Jaglan and Lakshita Jaglan, and the pair of Shivam Sharma and Poorvisha S. Ram.
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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Olympian Simone Biles slams anti-trans activist Riley Gaines: Here's why they are clashing over transwomen in sports
The Minnesota State High School Softball Championship became a national flashpoint when Marissa Rothenberger, a transgender girl and star pitcher for Champlin Park High School, led her team to a dominant 6–0 win in the Class 4A title game. Her standout performance, which included seven shutout innings and two doubles, reignited the national debate surrounding transgender participation in women's sports. Minnesota's 2015 policy allowing transgender athletes to play in alignment with their gender identity has long been controversial. But Rothenberger's success in a high-profile championship, just months after a federal executive order sought to ban transgender girls from girls' and women's sports, brought the issue to national attention. The victory set off a social media firestorm, culminating in a bitter and highly public feud between former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles . Minnesota's policy: Transgender's participation under fire Marissa Rothenberger began transitioning at age nine and was cleared to play under the Minnesota State High School League's guidelines. These rules allow transgender athletes to compete according to their gender identity after undergoing a review process. Her teammates and coaches praised her performance and resilience, but her participation quickly became a focal point for critics of transgender inclusion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo A lawsuit filed in May 2025 by the advocacy group Female Athletes United argues that Rothenberger's inclusion violates Title IX, which bars sex-based discrimination in federally funded education. Plaintiffs in the case allege that cisgender female athletes lost opportunities due to Rothenberger's presence, including one who reportedly missed a chance to advance to the state tournament and another who suffered an injury from a fast pitch. Riley Gaines responds: 'When your star player is a boy' you win Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer who has become one of the most vocal critics of transgender participation in women's sports, responded swiftly to Champlin Park High School's state championship win. She framed the outcome as yet another example of biological males dominating girls' sports, arguing that the inclusion of Marissa Rothenberger compromised the fairness of the competition. Gaines also took aim at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for supporting the state's transgender inclusion policy, accusing him of failing to protect the rights and opportunities of cisgender female athletes. She further criticized the team for turning off public comments on their championship post, implying it was an attempt to silence backlash over Rothenberger's gender identity. In a widely circulated comment, Gaines remarked, 'Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy,' underscoring her stance that allowing transgender athletes in girls' sports undermines integrity and transparency. Her activism is deeply rooted in her personal experience at the 2022 NCAA Championships, where she tied with Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle. While both finished with identical times, Thomas was awarded the fifth-place trophy, a decision Gaines has since cited as symbolic of what she sees as the disadvantages faced by female athletes in the current landscape. Simone Biles defends inclusivity Simone Biles responded strongly to Gaines's remarks, condemning her for using past trauma for political arguments. Biles accused Gaines of being a sore loser and suggested that her campaign against transgender athletes was rooted more in personal resentment than genuine concern. Biles called for more inclusive solutions, such as developing new categories or structures that could allow transgender athletes to compete fairly and safely. Biles emphasized that the well-being and mental health of all athletes should be prioritized and argued that inclusivity and fairness do not need to be mutually exclusive. Her stance, shaped by her own experience of abuse and advocacy for athlete protection, emphasized creating safe and respectful environments for everyone in sports. The Nassar Controversy The controversy escalated when Gaines drew a comparison between transgender inclusion and the sexual abuse scandal involving former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. She referenced Simone Biles's advocacy for inclusion and contrasted it with Biles's history as a survivor of Nassar's abuse. Gaines suggested that Biles's support for policies allowing transgender women in locker rooms conflicted with her previous efforts to speak out against sexual exploitation in sports. Riley Gaines shared a video of Simone Biles testifying about surviving Larry Nassar's sexual abuse alongside Biles' recent tweet criticizing Gaines, with the text "Simone Biles when she had to endure a predatory man Vs Simone Biles when other girls have to endure predatory men," suggesting inconsistency in Biles' stance on athlete safety regarding transgender inclusion. The post, with over 1 million views, drew mixed reactions, with critics like @NebsGoodTakes calling it "evil" for exploiting Biles' trauma, while supporters like @ValentinaForUSA found Biles' support for transgender inclusion "astonishing" given her Nassar experience. Gaines clarified her position, hoping Nassar "rots in prison" and arguing both Nassar's abuse and transgender inclusion threaten female athletes, but the post's sensitivity has intensified the debate over fairness and inclusivity in sports. The reference to Nassar hit a nerve because it reopened wounds from one of the most horrifying abuse scandals in sports history. Larry Nassar, the longtime team doctor for USA Gymnastics and a physician at Michigan State University, sexually abused more than 300 girls and young women under the guise of medical treatment. Despite multiple reports over decades, institutions failed to act, allowing the abuse to continue unchecked. The scandal came to light in 2016, and in the years that followed, top athletes like Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and Jamie Dantzscher gave powerful testimony about how a culture of silence and institutional protection enabled Nassar's crimes. His case exposed how sports organizations had prioritized medals and reputation over athlete safety. Legal and social ramifications The ongoing lawsuit in Minnesota could become a pivotal legal case as it challenges the long-standing policy of transgender inclusion at the state level. Female Athletes United is demanding changes that would prohibit transgender girls from participating in girls' sports and retroactively adjust records where they believe competitive integrity was compromised. On social media, reactions have been highly polarized. Supporters of Gaines continue to argue that allowing transgender athletes creates an unfair advantage and diminishes opportunities for cisgender girls. Others, like supporters of Biles, stress the need to support transgender youth and argue that inclusion can be achieved while still respecting the integrity of competition. The Minnesota softball championship has become a defining moment in the escalating debate over gender identity and fairness in school sports. At the core of the controversy is a growing concern among female athletes and advocates like Riley Gaines, who argue that the integrity of girls' sports is being compromised. For them, allowing biologically male athletes to compete in female categories threatens the level playing field Title IX was meant to protect. Gaines and others are calling for clear boundaries to ensure that cisgender girls retain equal opportunities, scholarships, and safety in competition. As Marissa Rothenberger's dominant performance reignites national attention, many believe it is time to prioritize fairness over ideology and protect the spaces originally created for women and girls.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Jonathan Owens' wife Simone Biles and Riley Gaines engage in fierce debate over transgender athletes
Simone Biles and Riley Gaines go head-to-head online over transgender rights in female athletics (Getty Images) Gymnastics legend Simone Biles publicly criticized former NCAA swimmer and conservative commentator Riley Gaines for her relentless campaign against transgender inclusion in women's sports. The Olympic champion took to social media Friday after Gaines targeted a Minnesota high school softball team that recently secured a state championship, led by a transgender pitcher, Marissa Rothenberger. Heated war of words erupts between Simone Biles and Riley Gaines over transgender athletes in women's sports Riley Gaines, who has built a controversial media presence since tying for fifth place with trans swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA Championships, quote-tweeted a celebratory post from the Minnesota State High School League. The league had shared a photo of Champlin Park High School's victorious softball team on X (formerly Twitter), but comments had been disabled. Gaines sarcastically remarked, 'Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy.' That jab didn't sit well with Biles. The seven-time Olympic medalist and longtime advocate for athlete mental health and safety didn't mince words. 'You're truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race,' Biles wrote in a direct quote tweet aimed at Gaines. 'Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive or creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Instead… you bully them. One thing's for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!' Biles' message struck a chord with many, reinforcing the stark contrast between the two athletes—not just in terms of achievements but also in how they choose to use their platforms. While Gaines has positioned herself as a central figure in the conservative battle against transgender inclusion, Biles has spent years advocating for safer and more supportive environments in sports, especially for women and marginalized groups. Gaines didn't back down. She fired back, calling Biles a 'male-apologist at the expense of young girls' dreams,' and went on to suggest that the gymnastics icon should compete in men's events if she supports transgender athletes. 'Maybe she could compete in pommel horse and rings in 2028,' Gaines quipped. In another post, Biles added, "bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male." "This is actually so disappointing. It's not my job or the job of any woman to figure out how to include men in our spaces. You can uplift men stealing championships in women's sports with YOUR platform. Men don't belong in women's sports and I say that with my full chest," Gaines responded. Gaines' transformation from a competitive swimmer to a full-time activist has been marked by a steady rise in right-wing media circles. Despite achieving only modest success as an athlete, she has testified before Congress, aligned with political figures like Donald Trump, and founded an advocacy center that claims to fight for fairness in women's sports. Her rhetoric, however, increasingly targets not just elite trans athletes but also children and teens who participate in girls' sports. To many observers, this shift has taken her beyond advocacy and into the realm of bullying—a point Biles made loud and clear. Simone Biles, meanwhile, continues to exemplify what it means to use fame responsibly. Following her headline-making withdrawal from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics due to 'The Twisties,' Biles brought much-needed attention to mental health in elite athletics. Her voice carries weight, especially as a survivor of the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal involving Larry Nassar—a trauma she's used to push for systemic change and accountability. The clash between Biles and Gaines underscores a larger cultural battle within sports today: one between inclusion and exclusion, between empathy and hostility. Where Gaines seeks to build walls, Biles continues to champion bridges, insisting on compassion and fairness for all athletes, regardless of gender identity. Meanwhile, Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens have officially moved into their stunning $3 million custom-built lakefront mansion in Spring, Texas—a dream home they began building together in early 2023. Also Read: Is Xavier Legette's steamy kiss with GloRilla a PR stunt or a real love story in the making?
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Simone Biles vs Riley Gaines: Trans debate sparks heated clash on social media
The Musk vs Trump row waves haven't died down yet, and X (formerly, Twitter) has platformed yet another, what netizens are now calling, 'cat-fight'. This time, the participants are Simone Biles and Riley Gaines. What's happening? Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines have found themselves embroiled in a public dispute over the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports. The controversy ignited after Gaines criticized a Minnesota high school softball team's state championship victory, led by transgender pitcher Marissa Rothenberger. Gaines referred to Rothenberger as 'a boy,' sparking backlash from Biles and others. — Simone_Biles (@Simone_Biles) What triggered the fight? Champlin Park High School's softball team won the Minnesota state title with Rothenberger, a transgender athlete, leading them to victory. Gaines, quite well-known for her opposition to transgender women competing in women's sports, took to social media to express her disapproval, labeling Rothenberger's participation as unfair. She also disabled comments on her post, which led to further criticism. What followed? Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in Olympic history and a vocal advocate for inclusivity in sports, used her platform to confront Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer known for campaigning against transgender athletes in women's sports, responded to Gaines' comments calling her 'truly sick' and accusing her of being a 'sore loser,' who bullies transgender athletes rather than seeking inclusion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Biles suggested that instead of attacking transgender athletes, Gaines should work towards creating inclusive spaces or separate categories for them in sports. She also labeled Gaines as a 'bully' for her stance. Simone's X post read, 'You're truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL SPORTS!! But instead … You bully them … One thing's for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!' Biles concluded with a final jab, 'Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.' Gaines, of course, fired back at Biles, saying, 'This is actually so disappointing. It's not my job or the job of any woman to figure out how to include men in our spaces. You can uplift men stealing championships in women's sports with YOUR platform. Men don't belong in women's sports and I say that with my full chest.' She also hit back against Biles' suggestion of a transgender category and rejected accusations of body-shaming. The bigger debate: The heated sparring between Biles and Gaines highlights the ongoing debate in sports regarding fairness and inclusion. Gaines argues that allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports undermines fairness due to perceived physical advantages. She has been vocal in advocating for policies that restrict transgender athletes' participation in women's categories. On the other hand, Biles and other advocates for transgender rights emphasize the importance of inclusivity and the need to create environments where all athletes, regardless of gender identity, feel welcome and supported. Studies show that nearly 80% of people support keeping biological males out of girls' and women's sports, but Biles challenges the sports community to find solutions that balance fairness and inclusion with suggesting the possibility of establishing separate categories for transgender athletes to balance fairness and inclusion. Namie sake is making a miracle comeback in Japan's Fukushima
