India-Pak clash at Legends Championship called off after Indian players withdraw
https://x.com/WclLeague/status/1946703611553259643
In its statement WCL said that It had announced the India-Pak fixture after a recent volleyball match between the two countries to create happy memories for fans. The tournament says that this may have ended up hurting the feelings of many and caused discomfort to the Indian legends.
In the wake of this a decision to call off the fixture was taken. WCL further apologised for hurting sentiments.
Earlier, several Indian players like Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan also informed the media that they would not be playing the India-Pakistan game. Sources also say some other players in the India line-up have also taken a similar stance.
https://x.com/SDhawan25/status/1946652292813554132
In a post on X, Dhawan shared an email written to the tournament orgainsers where he said that the decision to not play Pakistan had been communicated to the organisers on May 11. The email said that the decision to not play Pakistan was taken in consideration of the current geo-political situation.
In his post Dhawan said, 'Jo kadam 11 May ko liya, uspe aaj bhi waise hi khada hoon. Mera desh mere liye sab kuch hai, aur desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota. (I standby the decision I took on May 11. My country is everything for me and nothing is bigger than the country)'
One of the tournament sponsors, Travel-tech Portal EaseMyTrip also released an official statement regarding its sponsorship of the WCL. The company clarified its stance, stating that despite entering into a 5-year sponsorship agreement with WCL two years ago, it will not associate with or participate in any match involving Pakistan.
The travel tech platform emphasised that its position has always been clear. EaseMyTrip supports the India Champions and stands firmly by the team. However, the company maintains that it does not support or promote any match that includes Pakistan.
EaseMyTrip reaffirmed its commitment to Team India, expressing its desire to see the cup brought home.
On Sunday, in a post on X, EaseMyTrip wrote, 'Despite entering into a 5-year sponsorship agreement with the World Championship of Legends (WCL) two years ago, our stance has always been clear--EaseMyTrip will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan. We proudly continue to support the India Champions and stand firmly by our team. However, as a matter of principle, we do not support or promote any match that includes Pakistan. This position was communicated unambiguously to the WCL team from the beginning. EaseMyTrip supports Team India, but will not engage in any match featuring Pakistan. Let's bring the cup home. Bharat First. Always.'
Scheduled to be held from July 18 to August 2 across Birmingham, Northampton, Leicester, and Leeds, WCL 2025 brings together the heroes of yesteryears in a summer spectacle sanctioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Shooting-New league aims to lift Indian shooters out of cricket's shadow
FILE PHOTO: Paris 2024 Olympics - Shooting - 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Bronze Medal - Chateauroux Shooting Centre, Deols, France - July 30, 2024. Manu Bhaker of India (L) and Sarabjot Singh of India celebrate their win REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File Photo NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Indian shooters, like most Olympic athletes in the country, are accustomed to being the poor cousins of their cricket counterparts but a new franchise-based league wants to change that. The Shooting League of India (SLI) will start on the outskirts of Delhi in November with six to eight teams, each an eclectic mix of the sport's global stars and local talents. "Despite our consistent performance in the Olympics and other events, shooting does not have the kind of visibility it should have here," National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Kalikesh Singh Deo told Reuters. "The league will, hopefully, give some visibility to our shooters, popularise shooting overall and increase our mass appeal." Each franchise will have a 12-member squad -- six men and six women -- with up to four foreigners in their ranks. More than 70 shooters from 25 countries have registered for next month's auction, Deo said without disclosing any names. "This is a first of its kind league in shooting and we'll ensure that the best shooters come here and put up a great show," he said. Similarities with the Indian Premier League (IPL) are uncanny and Deo acknowledged the influence of cricket's most lucrative T20 competition. "Of course, IPL is a major, successful league for any sport and we've borrowed certain elements from it. But we understand that shooting is different from cricket," Deo said. "We are not competing with cricket, but we believe that shooting needs to be recognised for being one of the most successful sports in the country. "It's a long-term venture and it's going to be fast, fun, and exciting. We'll make sure our franchises and our sponsors get a bang for their buck." MINOR FORCE India remains a minor force at the Olympic Games but shooters have enjoyed consistent success, winning three of the country's six medals in Paris last year. The league, which requires franchises to include at least two shooters aged under 21, should go a long way to establishing India as a shooting powerhouse, Deo said. "We have identified the youngsters, who will potentially compete in the 2032 and 2036 Olympics," he said. "This league will give the opportunity to all those shooters, who may not be part of the current national squad, to compete with the best and learn from them." The NRAI will announce the league's franchises and broadcast partners in due course. The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has thrown its support behind the league. "Innovative formats like this have the potential to bring Olympic shooting to new audiences, offer more competitive opportunities for athletes, and enhance the visibility of our sport on a national and international level," ISSF secretary general Alessandro Nicotra di San Giacomo told Reuters. "We commend NRAI for taking this initiative and wish the league every success in its inaugural season." (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Ed Osmond)
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
British F-35 fighter jet stranded in India for over a month takes off after inspiring memes
NEW DELHI: A British F-35B fighter jet stranded at an Indian airport for more than a month, sparking memes and cartoons on social media, took off Tuesday (July 22) after being repaired by a team of UK engineers, an Indian official said. The stealth fighter, one of the world's most advanced and costing around US$115 million, was grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in the southern state of Kerala due to technical snags. The aircraft had hydraulic issues and problems with its auxiliary power unit that have been fixed, said the Thiruvananthapuram official, who wasn't authorised to speak with the media and requested anonymity. The aircraft will fly to a British aircraft carrier in Darwin, Australia, the official said. The British High Commission and UK's Ministry of Defence did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The jet was on a regular sortie in the Arabian Sea in June when it ran into bad weather and couldn't return to the Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier, the HMS Prince of Wales. The aircraft diverted to Thiruvananthapuram and landed safely June 14. The stranded military aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, triggered AI-generated memes in India. A Kerala tourism department social media post showed the plane on the tarmac surrounded by coconut trees with a fictitious five-star review: "Kerala is such an amazing place, I don't want to leave. Definitely recommend." The top official at the tourism department, K. Biju, said the post was in "good humour.' "It was our way to appreciate and thank the Brits who are the biggest inbound visitors to Kerala for tourism,' Biju said. Another cartoon posted on X showed the plane enjoying snacks with a group of locals against a scenic background. There was speculation in India that the aircraft could be partially dismantled and transported in a cargo plane if repairs were unsuccesful. The UK Ministry of Defence dismissed the speculation in a statement. - AP
The Star
14 hours ago
- The Star
Mud, milk and might
CROWDS cheer as muscular men in tight loincloths slap sacred scented soil on their bulging thighs and arms for a mud wrestling bout in India. 'When we fight, we sweat,' said 33-year-old Mauli Jamdade, a wrestling star in Maharashtra state, rubbing red-brown earth onto his body for each clash. 'The mud gives us grip and helps us grapple better.' Unlike conventional wrestling matches played on mats with regulated draws, India's mud wrestling is more raw, but has been the training ground for Olympic success. This style of wrestling, known as 'kushti' or 'dangal', has millennia-old roots but emerged during the period of India's Mughal rulers in the 16th century, blending traditional hand-to-hand combat with Persian martial arts. There are no blows or kicking, but plenty of throws to the ground, and it remains hugely popular. It took Jamdade over 15 minutes to defeat his rival, starting with a slow circling dance and then twisting, turning and locking arms, before he pinned him down. The bout ends when one wrestler pins his opponent's back to the mud, irrespective of how long it takes. Both men and women Indian wrestlers have won medals at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games in the more regulated form of the sport. A wrestler showering himself with mud from the wrestling pit after training at the Shree Shahu Vijayi Gangavesh Talim, a residential gymnasium in Kolhapur, Maharashtra state. — AFP But it is the mud, not mat, version that is popular in swathes of rural areas – with supporters saying it is not just a spectacle but a tradition that many want to uphold. Bank cashier Anil Harale ended his wrestling career after injuring his leg, but after work, he still slips out of his office clothes for a dirty wrestle. 'I miss it,' said the 46-year-old, who hopes his 'unfulfilled dream' will be realised by his teenage son, an aspiring wrestler. Wrestler KD Jadhav, who took bronze at the 1952 Olympics – the first Indian to win an individual Olympic medal – began his sporting career as a mud wrestler in Kolhapur, a city in Maharashtra. 'It is from mud that wrestlers reach the Olympics,' said excited fan Sachin Mote, who was among hundreds cheering the wrestlers at a bout. Kolhapur is a core base of the sport with its centuries-old residential gymnasiums known as talims. Jamdade joined the Gangavesh talim aged 14. A picture of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman – a deity worshipped by wrestlers for his strength and devotion – gazes over waist-deep pits where the soil is dug. The earth is mixed with turmeric, yoghurt and milk, as well as neem tree leaves and oil, before it is ploughed and smoothened across the ring. For the wrestlers, the soil is sacred. 'It is everything,' said Jamdade. 'There is nothing without it.' More than a hundred wrestlers – some as young as 10 – train at the talim. It is an austere life. The rigorous training includes waking up before dawn, running, hundreds of push-ups, rope climbing and grappling. Tobacco and alcohol are strictly prohibited, phone usage is restricted and pre-marital relationships are considered a distraction. Spectators watching a bout of wrestling during a competition in Shirwal in the Satara district of Maharashtra state. This style of wrestling, known as 'kushti' or 'dangal', has millenia-old roots, but it emerged during the period of India's Mughal rulers in the 16th century, blending traditional hand-to-hand combat with Persian martial arts. — AFP For Jamdade, the first year at the talim was all about gaining weight – and that is an expensive affair. 'There are people who weigh 125kg to 130kg,' he said. 'To fight with them and match their strength, I need to be at least 120kg.' So when he is not in the ring or training, Jamdade focuses on eating. That includes at least 5kg of goat meat each week, some 70 egg whites, 24 apples, leafy vegetables and dry fruits. He washes that down with at least 21 litres of milk, 14 litres of sweet lemon juice and a protein shake made with almonds, cashews, honey, cardamom seeds, honey and milk. His monthly food bill totals US$350 (RM1,470) but the prize money he has won helps his family, who are from a poor farming background. Winnings range from a few hundred dollars to US$1,700 (RM7,130) – more than the annual average income of an agricultural household in India. While the popularity of more organised wrestling on mats has grown, Jamdade believes mud bouts have a safe future as a core part of village fairs. 'Fairs will always continue,' he said. 'Mud wrestling will never end.' — AFP
