#India #tour #Russia #part #U17 #Womens #Asian #Cup #preparations #Full #schedule #squad">India to tour Russia as part of U-17 Women’s Asian Cup preparations — Full schedule, squad
The India under-17 women’s football team will play three friendlies against Russia in Sochi, as part of its preparations for the upcoming AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup, under head coach Pamela Conti.
The Young Tigresses have already completed a tour to Myanmar, where it played two friendlies against the host, winning both (2-0 and 3-2). Since then, Conti’s side has continued its training in Bengaluru.
At the Asian Cup in Suzhou, India will take on Australia (May 2), Japan (May 5) and Lebanon (May 8) in Group B.
#Deadspin #Duke #early #title #favorite #Final #Detroit">Deadspin | Duke early title favorite at 2027 Final Four in Detroit
Duke and head coach Jon Scheyer are the favorites to win it all in 2027. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
INDIANAPOLIS — A national championship game and Final Four replete with transfer and freshman-filled rosters opens the door for plenty of surprises before the 2027 Final Four tips off in Detroit next April.
Michigan restocked on the fly with transfers Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB), Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina), Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois) and Aday Mara (UCLA) driving the Wolverines to an eighth national championship game appearance. Michigan also lured transfers in Nimari Burnett (Alabama, Texas Tech), Roddy Gayle Jr. (Ohio State) who played significant roles for the 2025-26 Wolverines.
Most Wolverines teammates thought he was crazy when Will Tschetter sent a group chat to tell teammates he had arranged to shoot at Michigan Stadium to prepare for the infamous cavernous backdrops at the Final Four. If Michigan can book a return trip to the 2027 Final Four, they might also be able to get a couple shots 42 minutes down the road in Detroit beforehand.
As the 2026 edition wraps, Michigan (+800) follows only Duke — +700 at FanDuel — in oddsmakers early projections for the next Final Four.
Lendeborg is a graduate student but the Wolverines are proven capable of competing at the championship level and head coach Dusty May has now been to a Final Four with two programs (FAU).
Free agency — well, the transfer portal — in college basketball isn’t going away, which means programs’ expectations and bookmaker projections carry a higher level of volatility.
Duke is expected to lose National Player of the Year Cam Boozer to the draft but has another stellar incoming recruiting class one year after on-and-done Cooper Flagg took the Blue Devils to the Final Four.
Arizona’s top freshmen, Koa Peat and Brayden Burries, are not locks to return and Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley is not easy to replace. But the Wildcats are third on the 2027 national title board at +1200 followed by 2025 national champion Florida (+1300) and 2025 runner-up Houston (+1400).
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo expects the core of his roster to remain intact. That has the Spartans at +1500 narrowly ahead of UConn and Kansas (+1600).
Maybe you aren’t quite ready to embrace the turnstile nature of roster-building in college basketball, but Michigan embraced the name tags required approach and put together an almost unbeatable team.
“The way we choose to look at it, we’re going to bring in really, really good guys that are high achievers, that want to do it the way we want to do it,” May said.
“And when the Oklahoma City Thunder won the championship last year and I’m friends with Coach (Mark) Daigneault and a lot of people in that organization. I wasn’t judging them because Shai Alexander was drafted by the Clippers or because they signed Isaiah Hartenstein as a free agent. I thought, “Wow, those guys played beautiful basketball, that’s a great team, that’s a real model for young players to watch, a group that obviously cared about each other, that played the game the right way, that represented their organization, their city, their families, their last name.’
“Whatever the rules are, we’re going to go at it, but our job is to put a competitive roster/team on the floor that represents Michigan the way we think they deserve to be represented.”
#Deadspin #Stan #Wawrinka #bows #farewell #Monte #Carlo">Deadspin | Stan Wawrinka bows out and says farewell to Monte Carlo
Jan 24, 2026; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland in action against Taylor Fritz of United States in the third round of the menís singles at the Australian Open at John Cain Arena in Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
At 41 years old, three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka is not interested in going on a ceremonial farewell tour.
As he demonstrated at the 2026 Australian Open, when he became the oldest man since 1978 to reach the third round, the second-ranked Swiss player of all-time is going to fight until the last point is won or lost.
On Monday, he lost a 7-5, 7-5 decision to Argentine Sebastian Baez in the Monte Carlo Masters and bid farewell to Monaco. He will retire at the end of the 2026 ATP season.
Wawrinka won his only ATP 1000 title over countryman Roger Federer on the clay in Monaco a dozen years ago.
“Of course these days and weeks are really, really difficult, but in the end it’s worth it,” Wawrinka said after the setback. “I’m passionate about the sport. I love what I do. I know it’s my last year trying to do the best I can. Hopefully I can win a few matches this year to enjoy that feeling of winning.
“I managed at one point in my career to really reach the maximum I could by winning for four years, winning Grand Slams, winning Masters 1000s, winning other tournaments. But in the end, for me, it’s the love of the game and the passion that allowed me to do that every day consistently and have a goal.”
Wawrinka got out to a 4-1 first-set lead, but dropped two of his next three service games and the opening set. He fell behind 5-1 in the second set, but, in typical fashion, did not give up, breaking Baez twice to even the proceedings. But the Argentine countered with a break and wrapped up the match on his serve.
Four of the five seeded players in action on Monday advanced to the second round. Only 12th-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov fell, dropping a 7-5, 6-2 decision to France’s Arthur Rinderknech.
Tenth-seeded Flavio Cobolli of Italy outlasted Argentine Francisco Comesana, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3; No. 11 Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic got past Emilio Nava, 7-6 (1), 6-7 (8), 6-2; No. 13 Russian Andrey Rublev edged Portugal’s Nuno Borges, 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 and 16th-seeded Argentine Francisco Cerundolo knocked off Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, 7-5, 6-4.
In other first round matches, Belgium’s Zizou Bergs defeated France’s Adrian Mannarino, 6-4, 6-3; Chile’s Cristian Garin overwhelmed Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi, 6-2, 6-4; Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic prevailed over Germany’s Daniel Altmaier, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, qualifier Alexander Blockx of Belgium upset Canada’s Denis Shapavalov, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; Brazilian phenom Joao Fonseca dismissed Canada’s Gabriel Diallo, 6-2, 6-3 and Poland’s Valentin Vacherot rallied past Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.
The Nuggets’ lead was fleeting, as Deni Avdija answered with a basket in the paint on the other end to force overtime. But in the extra frame, Gordon set the tone with another crucial jumper, knocking down his fourth made three-pointer of the night as the Nuggets opened OT on a 10-3 run. Nikola Jokic had his 33rd triple-double of the season with 35 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists.
Knicks 108, Hawks 105
Jalen Brunson hit the tiebreaking basket with 29.8 seconds remaining and prevented CJ McCollum from getting off a tying three-point attempt at the buzzer as visiting New York Knicks outlasted Atlanta Hawks in a possible playoff preview.
Brunson scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth and had 14 of the Knicks’ final 16 points. After Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed a three-point try with 55.1 seconds left, Brunson attempted to get by McCollum, went to his right and saw a 19-footer bounce twice before going in.
OG Anunoby had 22 points while Karl-Anthony Towns collected 21 and 12 rebounds and helped the Knicks (51-28) overcome a 10-point deficit in the third. Alexander-Walker led the Hawks (45-34) with 36 points and hit seven 3s, including a corner three that gave the Hawks a 100-95 lead with 3:15 left. Jalen Johnson added 21 and 11 boards as the Hawks lost for just the fourth time in 23 games since the All-Star break.
Cavaliers 142, Grizzlies 126
Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat host Memphis Grizzlies and secure the 14th 50-win season in franchise history — despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA record for most made three-pointers in a game.
Evan Mobley led the Cavs (50-29) with 24 points while Dennis Schroder added 22 points and 11 assists, and Sam Merrill scored 21. Keon Ellis contributed 19 points and eight assists, and Jarrett Allen had 13 points and nine boards for the Cavaliers, who won for the ninth time in 11 games.
Plagued by injuries throughout the season, the Grizzlies (25-54) lost their fifth straight match and fell for the 18th time in 20 games. Nonetheless, the club tied the three-point mark when Adama Bal’s three-pointer with 1:41 remaining in the game gave the Grizzlies their 29th trey, tying Boston (2024) and Milwaukee (2020) for the record. The Grizzlies finished 29 of 59 (49.2 per cent) from long range.
The Nuggets’ lead was fleeting, as Deni Avdija answered with a basket in the paint on the other end to force overtime. But in the extra frame, Gordon set the tone with another crucial jumper, knocking down his fourth made three-pointer of the night as the Nuggets opened OT on a 10-3 run. Nikola Jokic had his 33rd triple-double of the season with 35 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists.
Knicks 108, Hawks 105
Jalen Brunson hit the tiebreaking basket with 29.8 seconds remaining and prevented CJ McCollum from getting off a tying three-point attempt at the buzzer as visiting New York Knicks outlasted Atlanta Hawks in a possible playoff preview.
Brunson scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth and had 14 of the Knicks’ final 16 points. After Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed a three-point try with 55.1 seconds left, Brunson attempted to get by McCollum, went to his right and saw a 19-footer bounce twice before going in.
OG Anunoby had 22 points while Karl-Anthony Towns collected 21 and 12 rebounds and helped the Knicks (51-28) overcome a 10-point deficit in the third. Alexander-Walker led the Hawks (45-34) with 36 points and hit seven 3s, including a corner three that gave the Hawks a 100-95 lead with 3:15 left. Jalen Johnson added 21 and 11 boards as the Hawks lost for just the fourth time in 23 games since the All-Star break.
Cavaliers 142, Grizzlies 126
Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat host Memphis Grizzlies and secure the 14th 50-win season in franchise history — despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA record for most made three-pointers in a game.
Evan Mobley led the Cavs (50-29) with 24 points while Dennis Schroder added 22 points and 11 assists, and Sam Merrill scored 21. Keon Ellis contributed 19 points and eight assists, and Jarrett Allen had 13 points and nine boards for the Cavaliers, who won for the ninth time in 11 games.
Plagued by injuries throughout the season, the Grizzlies (25-54) lost their fifth straight match and fell for the 18th time in 20 games. Nonetheless, the club tied the three-point mark when Adama Bal’s three-pointer with 1:41 remaining in the game gave the Grizzlies their 29th trey, tying Boston (2024) and Milwaukee (2020) for the record. The Grizzlies finished 29 of 59 (49.2 per cent) from long range.
Published on Apr 07, 2026
#Wembanyama #problem #Spurs #beat #76ers #NBA #Jokic #shines #Nuggets #win">No Wembanyama, no problem — Spurs beat 76ers in NBA; Jokic shines in Nuggets’ win
Stephon Castle produced his fifth career triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds to lead a balanced San Antonio Spurs attack as his side defeated the 76ers 115-102 on Monday.
The Spurs played the second half without star centre Victor Wembanyama, who sat out with a left rib contusion suffered in a second-quarter collision with the 76ers’ Paul George. He scored 17 before leaving.
The Spurs (60-19) are still alive for the top seed in the West and in the league, but would have to win their remaining three games (all at home) and have top-ranked Oklahoma City lose three of its final four contests to attain that goal.
Joel Embiid’s 34 points and 12 rebounds paced the 76ers (43-36).
Magic 123, Pistons 107
Paolo Banchero scored 31 points, and Desmond Bane added 25 as the Orlando Magic withstood a fourth-quarter rally and closed on a 14-2 run to beat the visiting Detroit Pistons.
Anthony Black contributed 14 points off the bench for the Magic, who won for the fourth time in the past five games. Wendell Carter Jr., Jalen Suggs and Tristan da Silva each scored 12 points, and Suggs added a career-high 12 assists. The Magic (43-36), Charlotte Hornets (43-36) and Philadelphia 76ers (43-36) are tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind the Toronto Raptors (43-35).
Jalen Duren and Daniss Jenkins led Detroit (57-22) with 18 points apiece. The Pistons clinched the top seed in the East for the first time since 2006-07 with a 116-93 win at Philadelphia on Saturday.
Kevin Huerter and Javonte Green scored 17 points apiece for the Pistons, who trailed by as many as 26 in the third quarter before opening the fourth on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 12 before ultimately getting as close as 109-105.
Nuggets 137, Trail Blazers 132 (OT)
Aaron Gordon’s clutch outside shooting helped Denver Nuggets rally from being down by as many as 18 points to top visiting Portland Trail Blazers.
The Nuggets (51-28) trailed for nearly all of regulation before taking a 125-123 lead with 27 seconds remaining when Gordon connected on a deep two-point jumper in the right corner. Less than a minute earlier, Gordon sank a game-tying three-pointer on the opposite side of the floor, part of his 2three-point performance.
The Nuggets’ lead was fleeting, as Deni Avdija answered with a basket in the paint on the other end to force overtime. But in the extra frame, Gordon set the tone with another crucial jumper, knocking down his fourth made three-pointer of the night as the Nuggets opened OT on a 10-3 run. Nikola Jokic had his 33rd triple-double of the season with 35 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists.
Knicks 108, Hawks 105
Jalen Brunson hit the tiebreaking basket with 29.8 seconds remaining and prevented CJ McCollum from getting off a tying three-point attempt at the buzzer as visiting New York Knicks outlasted Atlanta Hawks in a possible playoff preview.
Brunson scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth and had 14 of the Knicks’ final 16 points. After Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed a three-point try with 55.1 seconds left, Brunson attempted to get by McCollum, went to his right and saw a 19-footer bounce twice before going in.
OG Anunoby had 22 points while Karl-Anthony Towns collected 21 and 12 rebounds and helped the Knicks (51-28) overcome a 10-point deficit in the third. Alexander-Walker led the Hawks (45-34) with 36 points and hit seven 3s, including a corner three that gave the Hawks a 100-95 lead with 3:15 left. Jalen Johnson added 21 and 11 boards as the Hawks lost for just the fourth time in 23 games since the All-Star break.
Cavaliers 142, Grizzlies 126
Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat host Memphis Grizzlies and secure the 14th 50-win season in franchise history — despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA record for most made three-pointers in a game.
Evan Mobley led the Cavs (50-29) with 24 points while Dennis Schroder added 22 points and 11 assists, and Sam Merrill scored 21. Keon Ellis contributed 19 points and eight assists, and Jarrett Allen had 13 points and nine boards for the Cavaliers, who won for the ninth time in 11 games.
Plagued by injuries throughout the season, the Grizzlies (25-54) lost their fifth straight match and fell for the 18th time in 20 games. Nonetheless, the club tied the three-point mark when Adama Bal’s three-pointer with 1:41 remaining in the game gave the Grizzlies their 29th trey, tying Boston (2024) and Milwaukee (2020) for the record. The Grizzlies finished 29 of 59 (49.2 per cent) from long range.
#Deadspin #Patrick #Reed #Traditional #golf #key #PGA #Tour #return">Deadspin | Patrick Reed: ‘Traditional way of golf’ key in PGA Tour return
Apr 13, 2025; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Patrick Reed plays a shot from a bunker on the second hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
AUGUSTA, Ga. — For someone who has long backed up his goal of being known as a worldwide player, including a three-plus-year stint with LIV Golf, it took standing on a practice range in Dubai for Patrick Reed to feel the draw back to tradition.
Reed held a four-stroke lead entering the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic, but had to withstand an early birdie binge from playing parter and fellow LIV player David Puig before going on to claim his first stroke play victory since a win on the Asia Tour 2024.
Despite having a contract offer to re-sign with LIV, Reed announced three days later that he would be returning to the PGA Tour.
“I definitely happened quickly,” Reed acknowledged of the decision. “I really just kind of was sitting back and realizing that I wanted to get back and not only join — have an opportunity back on the PGA Tour, but to get back to the traditional way of golf and playing.
“When I stood there in Dubai, that Saturday the entire range is full, and then guys just start disappearing, and you’re the last man on that tee box. Then you’re walking to the tee, you’re the last name announced, and you’ve lost the lead because someone is 5-under through 8 (holes). All those rushes and those scenarios — kind of going back into playing golf that way, where you’re going out there and you’re having the battles between not just yourself, but the other guys on the leaderboard.
“For me, I wanted that back, I wanted that adrenaline back, and those feelings.”
Reed made it clear that he holds no ill will towards LIV Golf, and that he had a great experience with the Saudi-backed league. But after competing in 27 countries since 2022 alone, it was the pull back to the PGA Tour and to a more traditional golf schedule that proved the deciding factor for the 35-year-old.
Reed and his wife, Justine, have an 11-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son at home in Woodlands, Texas. He mentioned multiple times that he enjoys being a dad to his “kiddos,” and is coming off a month-long break since his most recent event on the DP World Tour in South Africa.
That said, Reed acknowledged that 2026 will “be an exception.” Since he is ineligible to compete on the PGA Tour until Aug. 25, Reed will compete full-time on the DP World Tour this season. He has already banked a pair of victories and currently leads the Race to Dubai standings.
That affords Reed more flexibility in planning his trips overseas while still maintaining a cushion toward regaining full PGA Tour membership for next season. It also allowed him an extended break before heading to Augusta, where Reed won the Masters Tournament in 2018.
This will be Reed’s 13th Masters, and he views Augusta National as a place where he needs to stay patient while being creative with his shots and getting “out of being that robot.” By that, he meant using every club in his bag, various shot shapes and relying on his well-regarded short game.
“There’s just something so special about this place,” he said. “I feel like it’s the best test of golf we play all year round. For a guy that’s played just about everywhere in the world, it’s one of those places that I say hands down it’s the best test of golf and best golf course I’ve ever played.”
Reed has four top-10 finishes at Augusta since that 2018 victory, including solo third place last year. In a tournament considered to be fairly wide open in 2026, might this be Reed’s year to claim a second Masters?
“That one jacket is getting a little lonely,” he said with a laugh. “Might need one more.”
#Indian #womens #hockey #team #set #tour #Argentina #fourmatch #series">Indian women’s hockey team set to tour Argentina for four-match series
The Indian senior women’s hockey team is set to tour Argentina for a four-match series at the CeNARD in Buenos Aires between April 13-17. The matches are all scheduled to start at 11 AM local time (6:30 PM IST).
India and Argentina have enjoyed competitive encounters in recent years, including a thrilling 2-2 draw decided by shootout in the FIH Pro League 2024–25 last June.
This upcoming tour will offer valuable match practice against quality international opposition. That may help the national team build momentum ahead of the FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands and the Asian Games later this year.
“We are travelling to Argentina with a squad of 24 players, and that is a very deliberate choice. This tour is about giving more players the chance to perform at the highest level. Argentina is one of the best teams in the world, and that environment will tell us a lot about where each player stands. We want to see who steps up when it matters,” chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said.
“To earn a place in this team, you need to show everyone that you are a team player first. Individual quality is important, but if you cannot connect with the group and work for each other, it will be very difficult to make this squad”, he added.
#Deadspin #Oilers #Leon #Draisaitl #ready #playoff #opener">Deadspin | Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl might not be ready for playoff opener
Mar 10, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Out with a lower-body injury since March 15, Edmonton Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl might miss the beginning of the Stanley Cup playoffs, coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters on Monday.
“Leon is going to be on the ice this week and I don’t anticipate him playing any games in the regular season, and in the playoffs, sometime in the first round if things go well,” Knoblauch said. “I’m not ruling that out (first game of the playoffs), but I would just anticipate sometime in the first (round). There’s a period of time we anticipated his return and we said it was going to be right around the end of the regular season, at the start of playoffs.”
Despite missing the last nine games, Draisaitl entered Monday as the NHL’s fifth-leading scorer this season, posting 97 points (35 goals, 62 assists) in 65 games.
With five games left in the regular season, the Oilers (39-29-9, 87 points) are tied atop the Pacific Division with the Anaheim Ducks entering the week, and begin a three-game road trip Tuesday in Utah against the Mammoth. Edmonton closes the regular season on April 16, two days before the start of the postseason.
A three-time All-Star, Draisaitl has been a beast in the past two postseasons, helping Edmonton advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025, losing to the Florida Panthers both times. In the 2025 playoffs, he compiled 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists), following a 31-point postseason (10 goals, 21 assists) the previous spring.
Fellow Oilers forward Zach Hyman, who is out with an undisclosed injury, will likely miss the road trip, which includes games at the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings. The 33-year-old has 51 points (31 goals, 20 assists) in 57 games this season.
“Hyman, I would think he’s going to play one if not two games before the end of this season,” Knoblauch said. “So, this week he’s out and not playing.”
Last season, Draisaitl missed the final seven games with an undisclosed injury, but returned for the opener of the postseason to help lead Edmonton back to the Cup Final.
