Record prize fund of Rs 82 crore announced for Women’s T20 WC
DUBAI, April 13: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced a record prize pool of Rs 82 crore for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, set to be held in England and Wales in two months’ time.The total purse has been increased by 10 per cent from the previous edition.The tournament will feature 12 teams — up from 10 in 2024 — and will be played from June 12 to July 5 across seven venues, with the final scheduled at Lord’s Cricket Ground.While the total prize fund for the previous edition in the UAE stood at USD 7,958,077 (approximately Rs 74 crore), it has now risen to USD 8,764,615 (around Rs 82 crore), marking a 10 per cent increase over the 2024 edition.The winners will take home USD 2,340,000 (Rs 21.8 crore approx), while the runners-up will receive USD 1,170,000 (Rs 10 crore approx). The losing semi-finalists will earn USD 675,000 (Rs 6.29 crore), while every group match win will earn teams USD 31,154 (Rs 29 lakh).“All 12 participating teams will earn an assured minimum prize pot of USD 247,500 (Rs 2.06 crore approx),” said ICC in a release.The tournament will get underway with hosts England taking on Sri Lanka at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on June 12.The other teams in the fray are Australia, Bangladesh, India, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa and the West Indies, with the 33-match event set to be played over 24 days. (PTI)
Lt Col Kumar becomes first Indian World Boxing Technical Delegate
NEW DELHI, April 13: Lieutenant Colonel Manoj Kumar has become the first Indian official to qualify as a Continental Technical Delegate of World Boxing, the sport’s international governing body.The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) confirmed the development and also announced that Rajendran Ravindran has cleared the Continental ITO World Boxing examination.“Indian boxing making waves, inside and outside the ring. Congratulations to both Col. Manoj Kumar and Rajendran Ravindran on their recent appointments and achievements with World Boxing,” BFI wrote on its social media accounts.The Indian boxing contingent returned with 16 medals, including five gold, from the recently-concluded Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (PTI)
Indians win two more gold medals in US Pickleball Championship
NEW DELHI, April 13: Arjun Singh and Dhiren Patel clinched a gold medal each in their respective singles events in the US Open Pickleball Championship in Naples, Florida.Arjun won the men’s singles 5.0 after beating Ashton Patterson in straight sets (13-11, 11-6). Dhiren was stretched to the limit by Juan Arraya in the 40+ Pro men’s singles category but eventually won 11-9, 3-11, 11-9.Having won the US Open before in the same category, Dhiren’s experience was the key factor in getting him across the line in the closely contested final.India’s tally in the tournament now stands at three gold medals.“One of the tougher matches so far but I was able to execute my plans and bring home the gold. Winning this category more than once is very special,” said Dhiren. (PTI)
IMSA expresses interest in hosting World Mind Games in India
NEW DELHI, April 13: The International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) has invited bids from India and the world to host the next edition of the World Mind Games, to be held later this year or in early 2027.With Chess as the most played game in the world of mind sports, the IMSA think tank has followed on with the success of Indian players in the global circuit.While it was always Viswanathan Anand for almost three decades, the advent of Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa and, D Gukesh has given the game a boost in the last few years.“We are looking for partnership especially in Chess and other mind sports,” said Sandeep Singh, the chief marketing officer of IMSA.“We are hoping to partner with the best in the corporate sector to make chess the most popular sport besides working on the e-sports and other mind games popular in India. The market here is huge with around 300 million dollars already invested into e-sports and thanks to our young guns, chess is doing great too and has finally invited corporate interest,” he added.\A former chess-player-turned-entrepreneur Sandeep has been in the thick of things and is sure about increasing the volumes in the chess circles as well as other mind sports like Poker, Go, Draught, Bridge and E-sports. (PTI)
