Tuesday, July 07
Uzbekistan and Jordan secured historic first-time FIFA World Cup qualifications, joining South Korea in the upcoming tournament. Uzbekistan's draw with the UAE and Jordan's victory over Oman sealed their spots. The final group matches will determine final standings, with Australia and Saudi Arabia battling for another spot.
Magnus Carlsen leads D Gukesh by a narrow margin heading into the final round of Norway Chess 2025, fueled by victories over Fabiano Caruana and Wei Yi respectively. Hikaru Nakamura remains in contention after an armageddon win. In the Women's section, Anna Muzychuk surged to the lead, capitalizing on Koneru Humpy's blunder against Lei Tingjie.
Reigning World Champion Gukesh is challenging World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen at the Norway Chess tournament. Carlsen, with 15 points, is closely trailed by Gukesh at 14.5. Following a loss to Gukesh, a frustrated Carlsen expressed his disillusionment with classical chess, even hinting at quitting. Despite a win against Caruana, Carlsen admits the tournament's enjoyment diminished after the Gukesh game.
KL Rahul showcased his batting prowess on Day 1 of the 2nd Unofficial Test against England Lions, scoring a century off 151 balls at the County Ground in Northampton. The experienced right-hander's innings included 13 boundaries and a six. With 58 Test appearances for India, Rahul is a key player in English conditions, having previously scored two centuries in England.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke speculates that Virat Kohli might reconsider his Test retirement if India faces a significant defeat in the upcoming England series. Clarke believes that strong fan and team management support could entice Kohli, who deeply values Test cricket, to return. He also noted Rohit Sharma's Test retirement, highlighting the tactical loss for the team.
Reigning World Champion Gukesh is challenging World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen at the Norway Chess tournament. Carlsen, with 15 points, is closely trailed by Gukesh at 14.5. Following a loss to Gukesh, a frustrated Carlsen expressed his disillusionment with classical chess, even hinting at quitting. Despite a win against Caruana, Carlsen admits the tournament's enjoyment diminished after the Gukesh game.
Deepika Kumari, India's celebrated archer, secured her 18th World Cup medal, fueled by her Olympic aspirations. Despite past heartbreaks, she remains determined, focusing on rebuilding her fundamentals with a new coach and support. Kumari acknowledges the challenges in Indian archery, including high expectations and equipment costs, while looking forward to the LA 2028 Olympics and the inclusion of compound archery.
