Latest news with #clinching
NDTV
a day ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Divya Deshmukh Beats Koneru Humpy To Win FIDE Women's Chess World Cup
Teenaged Indian chess player Divya Deshmukh earned the biggest success of her career by clinching the FIDE Women's World Cup with a tie-break win over compatriot and more experienced Koneru Humpy here on Monday. The victory not just earned the 19-year-old the prestigious title, but also made her a Grandmaster, something which looked improbable when she started the tournament. She is only the fourth woman from India to become a Grandmaster, and the 88th overall. The victory for the Nagpur player came after the two classical games played on Saturday and Sunday ended in draws. In the time-controlled tie-breaker on Monday, Divya, playing with white, was again held to a draw. But in the reverse game, where she had black pieces, she managed to overcome the two-time world rapid champion 2.5-1.5. The victory has come at a time when India is riding a wave of success in men's chess, with the likes of world champion D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi producing good results consistently. Deshmukh joins Humpy, Dronavalli Harika and R Vaishali in the list of women who became Grandmasters in the country. By virtue of making it to the Women's World Cup final, Deshmukh also secured a spot in next year's Candidates tournament, which will decide who will take on world champion Ju Wenjun of China in the Women's World Championship. An emotional Deshmukh couldn't hold back her tears following the victory against an opponent twice her age, who fought till the last before losing to the determined youngster. "I need time to process it (win). I think it was fate, me getting the Grandmaster title this way because before this (tournament) I didn't even have one (GM) norm, and now I am the Grandmaster," said Divya. PTI AM PM AM PM PM
News18
a day ago
- Sport
- News18
Divya Deshmukh beats Humpy in Womens World Cup final, becomes GM
Last Updated: Batumi (Georgia), Jul 28 (PTI) Teenaged Indian chess player Divya Deshmukh earned the biggest success of her career by clinching the FIDE Women's World Cup with a tie-break win over compatriot and more experienced Koneru Humpy here on Monday. The victory not just earned the 19-year-old the prestigious title, but also made her a Grandmaster, something which looked improbable when she started the tournament. She is only the fourth woman from India to become a Grandmaster, and the 88th overall. The victory for the Nagpur player came after the two classical games played on Saturday and Sunday ended in draws. In the time-controlled tie-breaker on Monday, Divya, playing with white, was again held to a draw. But in the reverse game, where she had black pieces, she managed to overcome the two-time world rapid champion 2.5-1.5. PTI AM PM AM PM PM Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Why Arshad Nadeem will not compete against Neeraj Chopra at Diamond League in Poland
The much-anticipated duel between double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra and reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem at the Diamond League in Poland is unlikely after the Pakistani javelin thrower underwent a surgery on his calf muscle in England recently. According to a report in Dawn, Nadeem could miss two upcoming Diamond League meets next month so as to focus on the World Championships in Tokyo. At the Silesia Diamond League meet in Poland, Chopra and Nadeem were scheduled to face each other for the first time since their men's javelin competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the Pakistani came out on top, beating his Indian counterpart for the gold medal with a stunning 92.97m throw. The 27-year-old Chopra, who had won gold in Tokyo Olympics in 2021, finished second in Paris with a best throw of 89.45m behind Nadeem's Olympic-record effort of 92.97m Nadeem's coach Salman Butt, who is with him in England, informed that the reigning Olympic champion is unsure for both the events as he was more focussed on making his comeback at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. 'He (Nadeem) is more focussed on preparing for the World Championships in Tokyo in September which is why he decided to have the surgery on his calf muscle which had been bothering for a while now,' Butt said, according to PTI. 'I don't think they will compete against each other until the World event.' Dr Ali Bajwa performed an interventional procedure on Nadeem's calf muscle at the Spire Hospital in Cambridge. Nadeem is now undergoing rehabilitation in London and Butt said if the doctor gives clearance, he might compete in one event before the World Championships in Tokyo. 'The World Championships are very important for Arshad (Nadeem) as he finished with a silver behind Neeraj (Chopra) in Budapest in 2023,' the coach said. Nadeem has won gold medals at the Paris Olympics, 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and recently the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea earlier this year. 'We are now doing rehab work with a physiotherapist in London,' Butt was quoted as saying by Dawn. 'This is a two-week plan before we test ourselves for going back to regular workouts. We are trying to achieve good form for the World Championship in Tokyo and maybe compete in one competition before Tokyo if Arshad regains good form by then.' The Gumi event is Nadeem's first and only competitive appearance so far in 2025 where he threw 86.34m in the qualification round, before clinching the Asian title in the final with a throw of 86.40. Neeraj hadn't entered the Asian Athletics Championships. The Indian, however, has been quite active on the athletics circuit. After a warm-up event in South Africa, Neeraj started the year in sensational style at Doha Diamond League with a career-best throw of 90.23m, crossing 90m barrier for the first time and entering the elite club. He has since competed at Janusz Kusocinski Memorial, Paris Diamond League, Ostrava Golden Spike and Neeraj Chopra Classic. 'The Indian-Pakistani battle awaiting the Polish fans will be the first opportunity for revenge after the Paris Olympics,' the tournament's website had stated while announcing the participation of key global stars. 'The Pakistani's form remains something of a mystery, as he rarely appears on the European circuit. The exception he will make on August 16th results from his desire to face Chopra. The latter became the 26th thrower in history to surpass 90 metres this spring. And he is certainly yearning for more.' (With PTI inputs)
India Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Vetri Maaran's Bad Girl teaser removed from YouTube over minor portrayal problem
The teaser of director Varsha Bharath's 'Bad Girl', produced by Vetri Maaran and presentedby Anurag Kashyap, has been removed from YouTube after the Madras High Court expressed problems with the portrayal of children and teens. Recentlt, the Madras High Court ordered the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) to remove the teaser of the Tamil film 'Bad Girl' from court expressed concerns that the content sexualises minors and could negatively influence teenage viewers. Justice P Dhanabal stated, "If the children see the said contents of the videos, certainly it will spoil the minds of the children."The film, directed by debutant Varsha Bharath, has faced backlash from right-wing groups for its depiction of a Brahmin schoolgirl who candidly discusses sex and relationships. Varsha remarked, "I just wanted to write a character that is very relatable," adding that "My film is not a self-help book." Despite the uproar, 'Bad Girl' has received international acclaim, clinching the NETPAC Award at the 2025 International Film Festival of Rotterdam for its portrayal of a young woman's coming of age. However, its bold themes have not sat well with conservative factions in film's teaser, released on January 26, 2025, drew severe criticism, prompting legal action from individuals like S Venkatesh, a lawyer. They argued that the teaser violated the POCSO Act and the Information Technology Pa Ranjith, who is not part of the production, faced online backlash for endorsing the film as "bold and refreshing." Conversely, director Mohan G criticised the film, stating, "Try with your own caste girls and showcase it to your own family first."The controversy surrounding 'Bad Girl' underscores the tension between artistic expression and cultural sensibilities in Tamil cinema. The film's production is backed by renowned filmmakers Vetrimaaran and Anurag Kashyap, further highlighting the high-profile nature of the controversy. Their involvement has brought additional attention to the ongoing debates over the film's 'Bad Girl' cleared censor hurdles and was issued a U/A certificate. It was slated for a release on September 5 alongside Sivakarthikeyan's 'Madhrasi'. With the new court order, it is unclear if 'Bad Girl' will witness a smooth theatrical release this September.- EndsMust Watch
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
LIV Golf's top earner on another planet compared to rivals after £2.9m bank boost
Countless players have switched to LIV Golf from the PGA Tour since its inception in 2021, with relaxed schedules and mega-money tournament purses turning the heads of players Talor Gooch has added a whopping £2.9 million to his bank balance after clinching the title at LIV Golf Andalucia earlier this month. The Oklahoma native showcased his skills on the greens and fairways of Real Club Valderrama, edging out Jon Rahm by a single stroke with an overall score of eight under par. His team, Smash GC, finished in a respectable T3 position alongside Dustin Johnson's 4Aces, with Gooch, Jason Kokrak, Graeme McDowell and team captain Brooks Koepka ending the three-day tournament at even par when combined. Rahm's Legion XIII topped the team standings at five under, closely followed by Sergio Garcia's Fireballs at three under. Despite the Smash players splitting £371,000 for their performance in Spain, it pales in comparison to the staggering £2.9m Gooch pocketed for winning the individual tournament. LIV Golf, known for its generous prize money and relaxed schedule compared to the PGA Tour, has allowed some of the world's top golfers to amass considerable wealth since its inception. In 2025, the LIV roster boasts big names such as Bryson DeChambeau, Ian Poulter, Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood, to name just a few. While each of these golfers has managed to carve out an impressive career under the Saudi-backed breakaway league, no one has been as handsomely rewarded as Gooch. To date, the 33-year-old has earned a staggering £47.8m, including an incredible £13.3m for finishing as LIV Golf's Individual Champion in 2023, reports the Mirror US. Gooch has participated in 45 LIV Golf events overall, winning four in total. His first victory came in April 2023, when he clinched the top spot at LIV Golf Adelaide with an impressive score of 19 under par, before doubling down just a week later at LIV Golf Singapore. His third win was at 2023's LIV Golf Andalucia in July, and his most recent win at the same event earlier this month takes his total to four. For context, before making the move to LIV, Gooch had only one win on the PGA Tour at the 2021 RSM Classic and a 2017 win on the Korn Ferry Tour's News Sentinel Open. His move to a different banner has evidently paid off. As for the next highest earner on the LIV roster, Johnson has reportedly made £43.6m from 45 events to date, also including his £13.3m award for winning as the 2022 Individual Champion. Elsewhere, Joaquin Niemann, Rahm and Cameron Smith round out the top five highest LIV earners with fortunes of £40m, £36.8m and £34.2m respectively. Despite a string of successes under the LIV banner, Gooch is yet to clinch his first major title, having not made it into the top 10 of the big four so far. His best shot was at the 2022 Masters, where he managed a T14 finish alongside golfing stars such as Min Woo Lee, Harry Higgs, Kevin Na and Tommy Fleetwood. LIV players do not earn Official World Golf Ranking points, which puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to qualifying for major tournaments compared to their PGA counterparts. As a result, Gooch missed out on the Open Championship last weekend. While several LIV stars did make it to the esteemed major held at Royal Portrush this year, only DeChambeau managed to break into the tournament's top 10 with an overall score of nine under. Tyrrell Hatton secured a T16 finish, Johnson had to settle for T23, and Rahm, Garcia and Westwood ended Sunday's play with totals of three under, finishing at T34. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler ultimately took the crown in Northern Ireland on 17 under, four strokes ahead of second-place Harris English. It marked the 29-year-old's second major of the year following his triumph at the PGA Championship back in May, and the fourth of his career overall. While he's in a strong position to secure the much-coveted Career Grand Slam at next year's US Open, he'll be keen to put his T7 finish at this year's event behind him - a tournament where many of his contemporaries also found the going tough due to the punishing conditions at Oakmont Country Club.
