Yuki Bhambri and Robert Galloway go down fighting in final
The champion team won 250 ATP points and €31,530. The Indo-American pair which did not drop a set in three matches before the final, got 150 points and €16,940.
In the ITF men's event in Monastir, Tunisia, Nitin Kumar Sinha won his ninth doubles title, in partnership with Alejandro Pertusa of Spain.
The results: €596,035 ATP, Mallorca, Spain: Doubles (final): Santiago Gonzalez (Mex) & Austin Krajicek (USA) bt Yuki Bhambri & Robert Galloway (USA) 6-1, 1-6, [15-13].
$15,000 ITF men, Monastir, Tunisia: Doubles (final): Alejandro Pertusa (Esp) & Nitin Kumar Sinha bt Grigoriy Lomakin (Kaz) & Luca Pow (GBR) 7-6(11), 6-3.
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Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
How NFL male cheerleaders redefine athleticism in football culture
When you think of the NFL, the images that pop into your head are pretty predictable: massive linemen slamming helmets, quarterbacks launching bombs, or maybe the iconic halftime show with pop stars stealing the stage. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But look a little closer to the sidelines, and you'll see a quieter revolution happening — one that doesn't involve touchdowns or tackles. We're talking about male NFL cheerleaders. Yes, they're here, they're athletic, and they're starting to chip away at one of the most rigid ideas in American sports: what athleticism looks like and who gets to own it. For decades, the NFL's version of cheerleading has been a hyper-feminine space — pom-poms, high kicks, and a heavy dose of glamour. Men, if they were present at all, existed in the shadows as stunt lifters or mascots, not as the stars. That changed in 2018 when Quinton Peron and Napoleon Jinnies joined the Los Angeles Rams as the league's first male dancers. Other teams, like the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks, quickly followed suit. Vikings' male cheerleaders spark fresh debate on masculinity in NFL (Image via Getty) But here's the thing: being a male NFL cheerleader isn't just about showing up on the sidelines. It's a test of athletic versatility. These guys combine strength, agility, and stamina in ways that rival what's happening on the field. Think flips, tosses, breakneck choreography, and the stamina to perform under the same bright lights and brutal scrutiny as the players. Athleticism here isn't about crushing an opponent — it's about lifting teammates into the air while keeping rhythm to a pounding bassline. Shaking up football culture Football culture in North America has always leaned heavy on tradition: toughness, grit, and the image of the stoic warrior. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Cheerleaders, traditionally female, were slotted into the background, meant to amplify the spectacle rather than redefine it. Male cheerleaders disrupt that script. Their presence says that the sidelines are not just about beauty, but about skill. About performance. About athleticism that doesn't look like a linebacker's, but still demands extraordinary training and discipline. And let's be real: that disruption rattles some fans. When Peron and Jinnies debuted, Twitter lit up with equal parts applause and vitriol. Critics said male cheerleaders didn't 'belong' in football. Supporters fired back that athleticism comes in many forms — and maybe it's about time football culture caught up. For LGBTQ+ athletes especially, the presence of male cheerleaders in the NFL is no small deal. The league has long battled criticism for being slow to embrace inclusivity. Male cheerleaders offer visibility, showing younger athletes that there's room for them — not just as players, but as performers in the broader sports ecosystem. And it's not only about representation in sexuality or gender. It's also about broadening the definition of masculinity in football. Why should athleticism only be measured by bench press records or tackling power? Strength, coordination, and artistry are just as vital. The business of breaking stereotypes Here's where it gets even more interesting: sponsors and brands have started to notice. Male cheerleaders change the visual landscape of NFL sidelines. They add variety, they spark conversation, and they signal to fans that the NFL — often criticized for being stuck in the past — is at least trying to evolve. From a business perspective, it's smart. Inclusivity attracts younger audiences who want their sports to reflect their values. Diversity sells, especially in an era when fans are as likely to follow athletes for their TikTok dance routines as for their highlight reels. Why it matters beyond the NFL The ripple effect is already spreading. Colleges and high schools in the US are reporting more boys signing up for cheerleading squads, inspired by the visibility on NFL sidelines. Across the UK and Canada, where cheerleading is still carving out its space, the idea of men on the squad is suddenly less radical. By redefining athleticism in the NFL, male cheerleaders are also reshaping how sports culture is imagined for the next generation. They're showing that you can be powerful without tackling someone to the ground. That grace can be as demanding as grit. And that masculinity — in sports and beyond — doesn't have to fit into one narrow box. So, do male NFL cheerleaders redefine athleticism in football culture? Absolutely. Not because they out-lift or out-run the players, but because they prove athleticism is about more than brute force. It's about strength married to coordination, endurance blended with artistry, and courage displayed in a space that wasn't designed for them. They're not just cheerleaders. They're cultural disruptors, performance athletes, and a reminder that football's future might look a little different — and a lot more inclusive — than its past. And if that shakes up the old guard of football culture? Well, maybe that's exactly the point.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Sinquefield Cup 2025: Praggnanandhaa downs Gukesh in opening round; Aronian beats Abdusattorov
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa beat world champion and compatriot D Gukesh in the opening round of the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis, Missouri on Tuesday. Playing with white pieces, Praggnanandhaa held the upper hand against an off-colour Gukesh throughout their encounter. With his chances fast dimming, Gukesh resigned ahead of his 36th move. 'I don't know what happened. Just felt like he [Gukesh] was off today. I got a really good position out of the opening. I've been having some tough results lately against him. 'Last year, I messed up three winning positions. Over the last two years, I haven't scored a single win against him. Even in Rapid it has been bad. So, it's good to finally get a win,' said Praggnanandhaa. The win also lifted Praggnanandhaa to third in the world rankings, as he leapfrogged American GM Fabiano Caruana in the live ratings. The only other decisive result on the opening day saw the USA's Levon Aronian defeat Uzbek GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov with the black pieces. In the second round, Gukesh will face Abdusattorov, while Praggnanandhaa will take on Caruana — both Indian players starting with the white pieces. The Sinquefield Cup 2025 is part of the Grand Chess Tour. It is the final classical leg before the GCT 2025 finals.
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
Sinquefield Cup: R Praggnanandhaa Outplays D Gukesh
Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa outplayed World Champion D Gukesh in the opening round of the Sinquefield Cup Chess tournament to rise to the third position in live world rankings. He now shares the lead with the unstoppable Levon Aronian of United States, who outsmarted Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan after the opening round on Monday. In other games of the first round Fabiano Caruana of USA played out a draw with Duda Jan-Kryzstof of Poland while wild card Samuel Savian split the point with American country-mate Wesley So while Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France also drew with another Frenchman Alireza Firouzja. With eight rounds still to come in the USD 350,000 prize money tournament, as many as six players share the third spot behind Praggnanandhaa and Aronian while Gukesh and Abdusattorov are at the bottom of the heap hoping to open their respective accounts in the next round. Praggananandhaa faced the Queen's gambit accepted by Gukesh who played with black pieces. The solid approach was under the scrutiny early as Gukesh spent a lot of time in a known position and went for a dubious set-up that involved early exchange of queens. Praggnanandhaa had the Bishop pair as playing with white pieces gave him a distinct advantage. Making things worse for himself, Gukesh also fell short of time and had to find some really difficult moves to stay in the game. Relentless, as he is, Praggnanandhaa did not let the position slip out of hand as he won a pawn by force and the rest was easy. The game lasted just 36 moves. "I don't really know what happened today. I think he was a bit off," said Praggnanandhaa after the game. Incidentally with this victory, Praggnanandhaa also restored parity with Gukesh in classical format in which both have three wins each. "Last year, I messed up some good positions against him, I think I did not beat him (in classical) for almost two years now, so finally it's good to get a win," noted Praggnanandhaa. Aronian was quick to find counter play once Nodirbek ran out of steam after a long time trying to attack the black King. The Uzbek Grandmaster had the white pieces and a slightly favourable position but the American stayed put with some good resources. The game should have been a draw but Abdusattorov bungled and lost badly. Results round 1: R Praggnanandhaa (Ind) beat D Gukesh (Ind); Fabiano Caruana (Usa) drew with Duda Jan Kryzstof (Pol); Samuel Savian (Usa) drew with Wesley So (Usa); Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb) lost to Levon Aronian (Usa); Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra) drew with Alireza Firouzja (Fra).
