Mirabai Chanu’s unfinished business before the big switch She might be India’s greatest-ever weightlifter, but Mirabai Chanu doesn’t demand any special favours at the end of a morning training session at the Weightlifting Warriors gym in Modinagar, just outside New Delhi. Having hoisted hundreds of kilos of iron weights, several tonnes in total, during an hour-and-a-half session, overhead, the Olympic medallist now pulls the same weights off her barbell and back onto the racks.But where most of the other elite international weightlifters at this gym, operated by national coach Vijay Sharma, stop at this point, Mirabai isn’t done after the last plate is put away. She takes a cloth and wipes off the barbell, removing the white chalk deposited from her palms over the course of dozens of lifts in the training session.She doesn’t think much of it.“I’ve always done this,” she tells Sportstar later. “I consider the barbell nothing less than the weapon a soldier carries into battle. Just like he keeps his weapon clean, I also have to maintain my equipment. I also have to be an example to younger weightlifters,” she says.Since beginning her international career in 2014, Mirabai has faced her share of challenges and built a record that will be hard to emulate.Having already won titles at the World Championships, medals at the Asian Championships, Commonwealth Games and, of course, an Olympic silver, Mirabai has shown few signs of slowing down. Last year, she won another world medal, a silver in the women’s 48kg category. Then, at the National Championships in February this year, she lifted a Personal Best of 89kg in the snatch. She followed that with a 116kg lift in the clean and jerk to total 205kg, equalling her Personal Best recorded at the 2021 Asian Championships in the 49kg category. Mirabai Chanu created history by winning India’s first-ever weightlifting silver medal in the Olympics, after lifting a total of 202 kg in the women’s 49 kg event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games | Photo Credit: Getty Images Mirabai Chanu created history by winning India’s first-ever weightlifting silver medal in the Olympics, after lifting a total of 202 kg in the women’s 49 kg event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games | Photo Credit: Getty Images Tough phaseWhile she is in strong form, Mirabai knows this phase will be among her toughest. Last year, the International Weightlifting Federation announced that weight categories for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics were being rejigged. The lightest women’s category, 49kg, in which Mirabai has competed for most of the last decade and won silver at the Tokyo Olympics, was dropped from the Olympic programme.She will have no choice but to move up to the 53kg division. She plans to first compete in this higher category at the 2026 Asian Games in Tokyo. But she has unfinished business first. Mirabai will compete in the 48kg category at both the upcoming Asian Championships and Commonwealth Games. She has already won two gold medals in this category at the latter (2018, 2022) and wants to sign off with another.“The Commonwealth Games will be my last competition in the 48kg category. I want to leave this category by doing something special. I think I am in good shape for this. Last year, after the Olympic weight categories were changed, I had to move down to the 48kg class. In the new IWF categories, the 48kg class is the lightest, although it is not an Olympic category. But even after I started competing in this class, my performance is the same as in the 49kg category, and in some ways even better,” she says.“In my last competition, I want to do better than I’ve ever done at the Commonwealth Games. When I analyse my training, I think my performance is going really well. I already hold the Commonwealth record and will try to achieve even more.”She has a number in mind: a 90kg snatch and a 120kg clean and jerk.Increased confidence“I got a lot of confidence from the National Championships. I lifted 89kg in the snatch on my second attempt. Then I attempted 91kg in my third. I’ve never attempted anything above 90kg in training. So even though I didn’t complete the lift, it gives me confidence to simply attempt that weight in competition. It’s the same with the clean and jerk. I’ve never touched 120kg in training before attempting it in competition. Now I know what that weight feels like.“I keep a diary of my lifts where I write that I can cross 90kg in the snatch and 120kg in the clean and jerk. I know I am getting close,” she says.At the 2025 World Championships DPR Korea’s Kang Hyon-gyong had won gold with a combined lift of 214kg.Mirabai’s confidence, she says, comes not just from attempting the biggest weights of her career but also from staying injury-free for much of the past couple of years. Mirabai began her 2026 season at the National Weightlifting Championships in February and set three new national records in the women’s 48kg category. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP Mirabai began her 2026 season at the National Weightlifting Championships in February and set three new national records in the women’s 48kg category. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP “In my career, I’ve suffered a lot of injuries to my joints, wrists and shoulders. But I’ve been working on my technique, especially in the first and second pull of the snatch and how I receive the bar overhead. All this has helped me avoid injuries,” she says.Mirabai has another goal this year: a medal at the Asian Games. For all her accomplishments, she has never medalled at the continental event. Her closest finish was fourth at Hangzhou.“I’ve never won a medal at the Asian Games. I’ve done everything else. This is the one medal I don’t have. More than anything, that’s my target this year,” she says.While the Asian Games may be seen as a stepping stone to the 2028 Olympics, Mirabai isn’t looking that far ahead.“As of now, I’m focused on the Asian Games. Only after that will I think about the Olympic weight category. Of course, I want to go to the Olympics, but I will see how my body responds at the Asian Games. If it adapts well to the new category, I will have more confidence,” she says.Difficult shiftThe move to the 53kg division will be challenging. At 4’11, Mirabai will not find it easy to add the additional 5kg of muscle mass, more than 10 per cent of her body weight, that she will need.The level of competition will also be higher. At last year’s World Championships, the bronze-medal total was 200kg, compared to 198kg in the women’s 48kg category. The number could have been higher had China’s Du Meiyuan not withdrawn due to injury.Additionally, many of her competitors have already been preparing for the 53kg category, while Mirabai will only transition after the Commonwealth Games.Yet, she isn’t overly concerned. Lifting 205kg at her current body weight gives her confidence that she can lift more with additional muscle. At 31, Mirabai knows she is in the latter stages of her career, but she is determined to push as long as she can. “As long as I have that motivation, I’ll keep fighting,” she says. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP At 31, Mirabai knows she is in the latter stages of her career, but she is determined to push as long as she can. “As long as I have that motivation, I’ll keep fighting,” she says. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP She is, in fact, looking forward to one aspect of the transition.“I’ve been 48–49kg for many years. One of the hardest things was constantly controlling what I ate. It took a lot of motivation to remind myself why I was doing it.“After the Tokyo Olympics, Domino’s gave me a free pizza-for-life deal, but I never really used it because I couldn’t eat it! So one thing I’m looking forward to is eating a bit more,” she says.For now, she remains focused. At 31, she knows she is in the latter stages of her career, but she is determined to push as long as she can.“People say that in sport you start deteriorating with age. That may be true. But I believe motivation matters just as much. Every competition motivates me. It shows me the way forward and reminds me of the work I’ve put in over the years.“As long as I have that motivation, I’ll keep fighting,” she says.Published on Apr 13, 2026More stories from this issue #Mirabai #Chanus #unfinished #business #big #switch

Mirabai Chanu’s unfinished business before the big switch
She might be India’s greatest-ever weightlifter, but Mirabai Chanu doesn’t demand any special favours at the end of a morning training session at the Weightlifting Warriors gym in Modinagar, just outside New Delhi. Having hoisted hundreds of kilos of iron weights, several tonnes in total, during an hour-and-a-half session, overhead, the Olympic medallist now pulls the same weights off her barbell and back onto the racks.
But where most of the other elite international weightlifters at this gym, operated by national coach Vijay Sharma, stop at this point, Mirabai isn’t done after the last plate is put away. She takes a cloth and wipes off the barbell, removing the white chalk deposited from her palms over the course of dozens of lifts in the training session.
She doesn’t think much of it.
“I’ve always done this,” she tells Sportstar later. “I consider the barbell nothing less than the weapon a soldier carries into battle. Just like he keeps his weapon clean, I also have to maintain my equipment. I also have to be an example to younger weightlifters,” she says.
Since beginning her international career in 2014, Mirabai has faced her share of challenges and built a record that will be hard to emulate.
Having already won titles at the World Championships, medals at the Asian Championships, Commonwealth Games and, of course, an Olympic silver, Mirabai has shown few signs of slowing down. Last year, she won another world medal, a silver in the women’s 48kg category. Then, at the National Championships in February this year, she lifted a Personal Best of 89kg in the snatch. She followed that with a 116kg lift in the clean and jerk to total 205kg, equalling her Personal Best recorded at the 2021 Asian Championships in the 49kg category.
Mirabai Chanu created history by winning India’s first-ever weightlifting silver medal in the Olympics, after lifting a total of 202 kg in the women’s 49 kg event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Mirabai Chanu created history by winning India’s first-ever weightlifting silver medal in the Olympics, after lifting a total of 202 kg in the women’s 49 kg event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Tough phase
While she is in strong form, Mirabai knows this phase will be among her toughest. Last year, the International Weightlifting Federation announced that weight categories for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics were being rejigged. The lightest women’s category, 49kg, in which Mirabai has competed for most of the last decade and won silver at the Tokyo Olympics, was dropped from the Olympic programme.
She will have no choice but to move up to the 53kg division. She plans to first compete in this higher category at the 2026 Asian Games in Tokyo. But she has unfinished business first. Mirabai will compete in the 48kg category at both the upcoming Asian Championships and Commonwealth Games. She has already won two gold medals in this category at the latter (2018, 2022) and wants to sign off with another.
“The Commonwealth Games will be my last competition in the 48kg category. I want to leave this category by doing something special. I think I am in good shape for this. Last year, after the Olympic weight categories were changed, I had to move down to the 48kg class. In the new IWF categories, the 48kg class is the lightest, although it is not an Olympic category. But even after I started competing in this class, my performance is the same as in the 49kg category, and in some ways even better,” she says.
“In my last competition, I want to do better than I’ve ever done at the Commonwealth Games. When I analyse my training, I think my performance is going really well. I already hold the Commonwealth record and will try to achieve even more.”
She has a number in mind: a 90kg snatch and a 120kg clean and jerk.
Increased confidence
“I got a lot of confidence from the National Championships. I lifted 89kg in the snatch on my second attempt. Then I attempted 91kg in my third. I’ve never attempted anything above 90kg in training. So even though I didn’t complete the lift, it gives me confidence to simply attempt that weight in competition. It’s the same with the clean and jerk. I’ve never touched 120kg in training before attempting it in competition. Now I know what that weight feels like.
“I keep a diary of my lifts where I write that I can cross 90kg in the snatch and 120kg in the clean and jerk. I know I am getting close,” she says.
At the 2025 World Championships DPR Korea’s Kang Hyon-gyong had won gold with a combined lift of 214kg.
Mirabai’s confidence, she says, comes not just from attempting the biggest weights of her career but also from staying injury-free for much of the past couple of years.
Mirabai began her 2026 season at the National Weightlifting Championships in February and set three new national records in the women’s 48kg category. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
Mirabai began her 2026 season at the National Weightlifting Championships in February and set three new national records in the women’s 48kg category. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
“In my career, I’ve suffered a lot of injuries to my joints, wrists and shoulders. But I’ve been working on my technique, especially in the first and second pull of the snatch and how I receive the bar overhead. All this has helped me avoid injuries,” she says.
Mirabai has another goal this year: a medal at the Asian Games. For all her accomplishments, she has never medalled at the continental event. Her closest finish was fourth at Hangzhou.
“I’ve never won a medal at the Asian Games. I’ve done everything else. This is the one medal I don’t have. More than anything, that’s my target this year,” she says.
While the Asian Games may be seen as a stepping stone to the 2028 Olympics, Mirabai isn’t looking that far ahead.
“As of now, I’m focused on the Asian Games. Only after that will I think about the Olympic weight category. Of course, I want to go to the Olympics, but I will see how my body responds at the Asian Games. If it adapts well to the new category, I will have more confidence,” she says.
Difficult shift
The move to the 53kg division will be challenging. At 4’11, Mirabai will not find it easy to add the additional 5kg of muscle mass, more than 10 per cent of her body weight, that she will need.
The level of competition will also be higher. At last year’s World Championships, the bronze-medal total was 200kg, compared to 198kg in the women’s 48kg category. The number could have been higher had China’s Du Meiyuan not withdrawn due to injury.
Additionally, many of her competitors have already been preparing for the 53kg category, while Mirabai will only transition after the Commonwealth Games.
Yet, she isn’t overly concerned. Lifting 205kg at her current body weight gives her confidence that she can lift more with additional muscle.
At 31, Mirabai knows she is in the latter stages of her career, but she is determined to push as long as she can. “As long as I have that motivation, I’ll keep fighting,” she says. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
At 31, Mirabai knows she is in the latter stages of her career, but she is determined to push as long as she can. “As long as I have that motivation, I’ll keep fighting,” she says. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
She is, in fact, looking forward to one aspect of the transition.
“I’ve been 48–49kg for many years. One of the hardest things was constantly controlling what I ate. It took a lot of motivation to remind myself why I was doing it.
“After the Tokyo Olympics, Domino’s gave me a free pizza-for-life deal, but I never really used it because I couldn’t eat it! So one thing I’m looking forward to is eating a bit more,” she says.
For now, she remains focused. At 31, she knows she is in the latter stages of her career, but she is determined to push as long as she can.
“People say that in sport you start deteriorating with age. That may be true. But I believe motivation matters just as much. Every competition motivates me. It shows me the way forward and reminds me of the work I’ve put in over the years.
“As long as I have that motivation, I’ll keep fighting,” she says.
Published on Apr 13, 2026
More stories from this issue
#Mirabai #Chanus #unfinished #business #big #switch

Sports news asian games, commonwealth games, mirabai chanu, national weightlifting championships, olympics games, tokyo games, tokyo mirabai chanu, world weightlifting championships April 13, 2026

She might be India’s greatest-ever weightlifter, but Mirabai Chanu doesn’t demand any special favours at the end of a morning training session at the Weightlifting Warriors gym in Modinagar, just outside New Delhi. Having hoisted hundreds of kilos of iron weights, several tonnes in total, during an hour-and-a-half session, overhead, the Olympic medallist now pulls the same weights off her barbell and back onto the racks.

But where most of the other elite international weightlifters at this gym, operated by national coach Vijay Sharma, stop at this point, Mirabai isn’t done after the last plate is put away. She takes a cloth and wipes off the barbell, removing the white chalk deposited from her palms over the course of dozens of lifts in the training session.

She doesn’t think much of it.

“I’ve always done this,” she tells Sportstar later. “I consider the barbell nothing less than the weapon a soldier carries into battle. Just like he keeps his weapon clean, I also have to maintain my equipment. I also have to be an example to younger weightlifters,” she says.

Since beginning her international career in 2014, Mirabai has faced her share of challenges and built a record that will be hard to emulate.

Having already won titles at the World Championships, medals at the Asian Championships, Commonwealth Games and, of course, an Olympic silver, Mirabai has shown few signs of slowing down. Last year, she won another world medal, a silver in the women’s 48kg category. Then, at the National Championships in February this year, she lifted a Personal Best of 89kg in the snatch. She followed that with a 116kg lift in the clean and jerk to total 205kg, equalling her Personal Best recorded at the 2021 Asian Championships in the 49kg category.

Mirabai Chanu created history by winning India’s first-ever weightlifting silver medal in the Olympics, after lifting a total of 202 kg in the women’s 49 kg event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images

lightbox-info

Tough phase

While she is in strong form, Mirabai knows this phase will be among her toughest. Last year, the International Weightlifting Federation announced that weight categories for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics were being rejigged. The lightest women’s category, 49kg, in which Mirabai has competed for most of the last decade and won silver at the Tokyo Olympics, was dropped from the Olympic programme.

She will have no choice but to move up to the 53kg division. She plans to first compete in this higher category at the 2026 Asian Games in Tokyo. But she has unfinished business first. Mirabai will compete in the 48kg category at both the upcoming Asian Championships and Commonwealth Games. She has already won two gold medals in this category at the latter (2018, 2022) and wants to sign off with another.

“The Commonwealth Games will be my last competition in the 48kg category. I want to leave this category by doing something special. I think I am in good shape for this. Last year, after the Olympic weight categories were changed, I had to move down to the 48kg class. In the new IWF categories, the 48kg class is the lightest, although it is not an Olympic category. But even after I started competing in this class, my performance is the same as in the 49kg category, and in some ways even better,” she says.

“In my last competition, I want to do better than I’ve ever done at the Commonwealth Games. When I analyse my training, I think my performance is going really well. I already hold the Commonwealth record and will try to achieve even more.”

She has a number in mind: a 90kg snatch and a 120kg clean and jerk.

Increased confidence

“I got a lot of confidence from the National Championships. I lifted 89kg in the snatch on my second attempt. Then I attempted 91kg in my third. I’ve never attempted anything above 90kg in training. So even though I didn’t complete the lift, it gives me confidence to simply attempt that weight in competition. It’s the same with the clean and jerk. I’ve never touched 120kg in training before attempting it in competition. Now I know what that weight feels like.

“I keep a diary of my lifts where I write that I can cross 90kg in the snatch and 120kg in the clean and jerk. I know I am getting close,” she says.

At the 2025 World Championships DPR Korea’s Kang Hyon-gyong had won gold with a combined lift of 214kg.

Mirabai’s confidence, she says, comes not just from attempting the biggest weights of her career but also from staying injury-free for much of the past couple of years.

Mirabai began her 2026 season at the National Weightlifting Championships in February and set three new national records in the women’s 48kg category.
| Photo Credit:
SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

lightbox-info

Mirabai began her 2026 season at the National Weightlifting Championships in February and set three new national records in the women’s 48kg category.
| Photo Credit:
SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

“In my career, I’ve suffered a lot of injuries to my joints, wrists and shoulders. But I’ve been working on my technique, especially in the first and second pull of the snatch and how I receive the bar overhead. All this has helped me avoid injuries,” she says.

Mirabai has another goal this year: a medal at the Asian Games. For all her accomplishments, she has never medalled at the continental event. Her closest finish was fourth at Hangzhou.

“I’ve never won a medal at the Asian Games. I’ve done everything else. This is the one medal I don’t have. More than anything, that’s my target this year,” she says.

While the Asian Games may be seen as a stepping stone to the 2028 Olympics, Mirabai isn’t looking that far ahead.

“As of now, I’m focused on the Asian Games. Only after that will I think about the Olympic weight category. Of course, I want to go to the Olympics, but I will see how my body responds at the Asian Games. If it adapts well to the new category, I will have more confidence,” she says.

Difficult shift

The move to the 53kg division will be challenging. At 4’11, Mirabai will not find it easy to add the additional 5kg of muscle mass, more than 10 per cent of her body weight, that she will need.

The level of competition will also be higher. At last year’s World Championships, the bronze-medal total was 200kg, compared to 198kg in the women’s 48kg category. The number could have been higher had China’s Du Meiyuan not withdrawn due to injury.

Additionally, many of her competitors have already been preparing for the 53kg category, while Mirabai will only transition after the Commonwealth Games.

Yet, she isn’t overly concerned. Lifting 205kg at her current body weight gives her confidence that she can lift more with additional muscle.

At 31, Mirabai knows she is in the latter stages of her career, but she is determined to push as long as she can. “As long as I have that motivation, I’ll keep fighting,” she says.
| Photo Credit:
SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

lightbox-info

She is, in fact, looking forward to one aspect of the transition.

“I’ve been 48–49kg for many years. One of the hardest things was constantly controlling what I ate. It took a lot of motivation to remind myself why I was doing it.

“After the Tokyo Olympics, Domino’s gave me a free pizza-for-life deal, but I never really used it because I couldn’t eat it! So one thing I’m looking forward to is eating a bit more,” she says.

For now, she remains focused. At 31, she knows she is in the latter stages of her career, but she is determined to push as long as she can.

“People say that in sport you start deteriorating with age. That may be true. But I believe motivation matters just as much. Every competition motivates me. It shows me the way forward and reminds me of the work I’ve put in over the years.

“As long as I have that motivation, I’ll keep fighting,” she says.

Published on Apr 13, 2026

Apr 9, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) celebrates after recording a strike out during the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Baseball’s best team will encounter one of the game’s hottest young pitchers when the Los Angeles Dodgers face a test from New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean on Tuesday.

In 11 career starts going back to last season, McLean has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 10 of them, including all three outings this season. His next challenge will come against the two-time defending champions, who are an MLB-best 12-4 to start the season.

The Dodgers turned a three-run homer from Andy Pages and eight scoreless innings from left-hander Justin Wrobleski into a 4-0 series-opening victory Monday.

On Thursday, McLean (1-1, 2.70 ERA) gave up two runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings with two walks and eight strikeouts but ended up with the loss against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. It was just the second loss in McLean’s young career.

McLean was able to keep the runs to a minimum despite some inefficiency. Two of the three hits he allowed were singles, but he threw a career-high 100 pitches in the outing.

“Curveball has been feeling good,” McLean said. “It definitely felt good (Thursday), landing it for strikes rather than just a chase pitch for me. So I was excited to see that.”

In his Mets debut on Monday, outfielder Tommy Pham went 0-for-3. Pham was signed to a minor league deal late in the spring and played in five games at Single-A St. Lucie before getting the call to begin his 13th major league season. He also played 79 games with the Mets in 2023.

“I know how to play the game. I love the game,” Pham said Monday. “That’s what you get. One thing I told myself this year, I’m going to go harder. I was thinking I want to leave everything on the table. So that’s what I got for you.”

The Dodgers will counter Tuesday with right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 2.50), who gave up one run on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts over six innings in a road win over the Toronto Blue Jays on April 7.

The outing was an improvement on what Yamamoto felt had been a slow start to his season.

“I started feeling even better and I was able to carry that into (the) game,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter. “So that’s why I was able to control my pitches, both fastball and then also offspeed. I think I was able to efficiently mix in my pitches.”

Yamamoto’s dominance over the Blue Jays continued after he was the winning pitcher in Games 6 and 7 of last year’s World Series.

Now comes his second career regular-season start against the Mets after he allowed four runs (three earned) over six innings of a no-decision in April 2024.

Wrobleski gave up a pair of singles in his eight innings Monday, while New York finished with three singles in the game. Pages’ home run was his fifth of the season. He leads the major leagues with a .417 batting average and 20 RBIs. He is third with a 1.186 OPS.

“It’s just more staying in the zone and hitting pitches that are in the zone, as opposed to expanding my zone,” Pages said through an interpreter about his early-season success following some October struggles when he was benched during the World Series.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Mets #standout #Nolan #McLean #takes #leaguebest #Dodgers">Deadspin | Mets standout Nolan McLean takes on league-best Dodgers

Deadspin | Mets standout Nolan McLean takes on league-best Dodgers Apr 9, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) celebrates after recording a strike out during the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Baseball’s best team will encounter one of the game’s hottest young pitchers when the Los Angeles Dodgers face a test from New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean on Tuesday. In 11 career starts going back to last season, McLean has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 10 of them, including all three outings this season. His next challenge will come against the two-time defending champions, who are an MLB-best 12-4 to start the season. The Dodgers turned a three-run homer from Andy Pages and eight scoreless innings from left-hander Justin Wrobleski into a 4-0 series-opening victory Monday. On Thursday, McLean (1-1, 2.70 ERA) gave up two runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings with two walks and eight strikeouts but ended up with the loss against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. It was just the second loss in McLean’s young career. McLean was able to keep the runs to a minimum despite some inefficiency. Two of the three hits he allowed were singles, but he threw a career-high 100 pitches in the outing. “Curveball has been feeling good,” McLean said. “It definitely felt good (Thursday), landing it for strikes rather than just a chase pitch for me. So I was excited to see that.” In his Mets debut on Monday, outfielder Tommy Pham went 0-for-3. Pham was signed to a minor league deal late in the spring and played in five games at Single-A St. Lucie before getting the call to begin his 13th major league season. He also played 79 games with the Mets in 2023. “I know how to play the game. I love the game,” Pham said Monday. “That’s what you get. One thing I told myself this year, I’m going to go harder. I was thinking I want to leave everything on the table. So that’s what I got for you.” The Dodgers will counter Tuesday with right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 2.50), who gave up one run on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts over six innings in a road win over the Toronto Blue Jays on April 7. The outing was an improvement on what Yamamoto felt had been a slow start to his season. “I started feeling even better and I was able to carry that into (the) game,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter. “So that’s why I was able to control my pitches, both fastball and then also offspeed. I think I was able to efficiently mix in my pitches.” Yamamoto’s dominance over the Blue Jays continued after he was the winning pitcher in Games 6 and 7 of last year’s World Series. Now comes his second career regular-season start against the Mets after he allowed four runs (three earned) over six innings of a no-decision in April 2024. Wrobleski gave up a pair of singles in his eight innings Monday, while New York finished with three singles in the game. Pages’ home run was his fifth of the season. He leads the major leagues with a .417 batting average and 20 RBIs. He is third with a 1.186 OPS. “It’s just more staying in the zone and hitting pitches that are in the zone, as opposed to expanding my zone,” Pages said through an interpreter about his early-season success following some October struggles when he was benched during the World Series. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mets #standout #Nolan #McLean #takes #leaguebest #Dodgers

Apr 9, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) celebrates after recording a strike out during the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Baseball’s best team will encounter one of the game’s hottest young pitchers when the Los Angeles Dodgers face a test from New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean on Tuesday.

In 11 career starts going back to last season, McLean has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 10 of them, including all three outings this season. His next challenge will come against the two-time defending champions, who are an MLB-best 12-4 to start the season.

The Dodgers turned a three-run homer from Andy Pages and eight scoreless innings from left-hander Justin Wrobleski into a 4-0 series-opening victory Monday.

On Thursday, McLean (1-1, 2.70 ERA) gave up two runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings with two walks and eight strikeouts but ended up with the loss against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. It was just the second loss in McLean’s young career.

McLean was able to keep the runs to a minimum despite some inefficiency. Two of the three hits he allowed were singles, but he threw a career-high 100 pitches in the outing.

“Curveball has been feeling good,” McLean said. “It definitely felt good (Thursday), landing it for strikes rather than just a chase pitch for me. So I was excited to see that.”

In his Mets debut on Monday, outfielder Tommy Pham went 0-for-3. Pham was signed to a minor league deal late in the spring and played in five games at Single-A St. Lucie before getting the call to begin his 13th major league season. He also played 79 games with the Mets in 2023.

“I know how to play the game. I love the game,” Pham said Monday. “That’s what you get. One thing I told myself this year, I’m going to go harder. I was thinking I want to leave everything on the table. So that’s what I got for you.”

The Dodgers will counter Tuesday with right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 2.50), who gave up one run on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts over six innings in a road win over the Toronto Blue Jays on April 7.

The outing was an improvement on what Yamamoto felt had been a slow start to his season.

“I started feeling even better and I was able to carry that into (the) game,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter. “So that’s why I was able to control my pitches, both fastball and then also offspeed. I think I was able to efficiently mix in my pitches.”

Yamamoto’s dominance over the Blue Jays continued after he was the winning pitcher in Games 6 and 7 of last year’s World Series.

Now comes his second career regular-season start against the Mets after he allowed four runs (three earned) over six innings of a no-decision in April 2024.

Wrobleski gave up a pair of singles in his eight innings Monday, while New York finished with three singles in the game. Pages’ home run was his fifth of the season. He leads the major leagues with a .417 batting average and 20 RBIs. He is third with a 1.186 OPS.

“It’s just more staying in the zone and hitting pitches that are in the zone, as opposed to expanding my zone,” Pages said through an interpreter about his early-season success following some October struggles when he was benched during the World Series.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Mets #standout #Nolan #McLean #takes #leaguebest #Dodgers

R Vaishali will aim for a victory against Chinese GM Tan Zhongyi on Tuesday. She was defeated by Zhu Jiner in Round 12, and both players currently share the top spot with 7 points heading into the final rounds of the competition.

R Vaishali vs Tan Zhongyi board updates

Where to watch FIDE Candidates 2026?

The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 will be streamed live on the FIDE YouTube channel.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#Vaishali #Tan #Zhongyi #LIVE #FIDE #Candidates #tournament #updates">

R Vaishali vs Tan Zhongyi LIVE: FIDE Candidates tournament 2026 Round 13 updates R Vaishali will aim for a victory against Chinese GM Tan Zhongyi on Tuesday. She was defeated by Zhu Jiner in Round 12, and both players currently share the top spot with 7 points heading into the final rounds of the competition.R Vaishali vs Tan Zhongyi board updatesWhere to watch FIDE Candidates 2026?The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 will be streamed live on the FIDE YouTube channel.Published on Apr 15, 2026 #Vaishali #Tan #Zhongyi #LIVE #FIDE #Candidates #tournament #updates

mwasimuddin125 0

R Vaishali will aim for a victory against Chinese GM Tan Zhongyi on Tuesday. She was defeated by Zhu Jiner in Round 12, and both players currently share the top spot with 7 points heading into the final rounds of the competition.
R Vaishali vs Tan Zhongyi board updates
Where to watch FIDE Candidates 2026?
The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 will be streamed live on the FIDE YouTube channel.
Published on Apr 15, 2026

#Vaishali #Tan #Zhongyi #LIVE #FIDE #Candidates #tournament #updates">R Vaishali vs Tan Zhongyi LIVE: FIDE Candidates tournament 2026 Round 13 updates

R Vaishali vs Tan Zhongyi board updates

Where to watch FIDE Candidates 2026?

The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 will be streamed live on the FIDE YouTube channel.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#Vaishali #Tan #Zhongyi #LIVE #FIDE #Candidates #tournament #updates

Apr 12, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) covers Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) in the final minute during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins are locked into second place in the Metropolitan Division and know who they’ll play in the first round of the playoffs.

That said, they still have some areas to clean up heading into their regular-season finale on Tuesday night against the host St. Louis Blues.

The Penguins will host their in-state rival, the Philadelphia Flyers, in the first round beginning later this week, but they don’t plan to stroll through their matchup against St. Louis.

“It’s going to be important to finish off the regular season the right way,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. “I’d love to do that with a win.”

The Penguins (41-24-16, 98 points) lost their past two games, a home-and-home series against the Washington Capitals.

Pittsburgh got shut out 3-0 in Washington on Sunday, but Muse thought his team played better in the second game after losing 6-3 at home on Saturday.

“Opportunities for rebounds were there,” Muse said. “We were able to generate some good looks, too. Their guy played well, so that’s part of the game as well. It was better than (Saturday), but still some things we’ve got to take away and make sure that we’re cleaning up.”

Muse definitely would like to see some pucks go in the net before the playoffs begin.

“Going off of (Saturday), I felt like we weren’t in the offensive zone very much and it’s a credit to (the Capitals),” Muse said. “I thought we did a better job of getting and spending some more time there, I think. Even still, some opportunities to shoot more pucks, get pucks into the net front area.”

Pittsburgh will have home-ice advantage against the Flyers in the first-round series.

“We’ve got a work week now, too, where we’ll be able to get a couple good practice days before Game 1,” Muse said. “There will definitely be some areas we can continue to work on and just make sure we’re feeling good about all parts of our game.”

The Penguins played without forwards Noel Acciari (upper body), Anthony Mantha (lower body) and Ben Kindel (upper body) as well as defensemen Ryan Shea (upper body) and Connor Clifton (upper body). Each is day to day.

The Blues, who are coming off a 6-3 win at the Minnesota Wild on Monday, will conclude their disappointing season on Thursday at the Utah Mammoth.

St. Louis (35-33-12, 82 points) stayed in the Western Conference playoff race up until Saturday. Despite beating the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-3, the Blues were eliminated when the Los Angeles Kings recorded a 1-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

It’s the third time in the past four years that St. Louis will miss the playoffs.

The Blues have faced scoring issues most of the season, both at even strength and with the man-advantage.

They are averaging 2.73 goals per game, which ranks 28th in the league this season, Their 17.5% success rate on the power plays ranks 27th.

“It could be hard to come out in these games when you’re eliminated and they’re sitting nine regulars and it has that feel to it,” Blues forward Jake Neighbours said. “But, you’ve got to find a way as a player to come out with a little more energy and passion and play for the fans and play for the logo.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Penguins #prepare #playoffs #season #finale #Blues">

mwasimuddin125 0

Apr 12, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) covers Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) in the final minute during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins are locked into second place in the Metropolitan Division and know who they’ll play in the first round of the playoffs.

That said, they still have some areas to clean up heading into their regular-season finale on Tuesday night against the host St. Louis Blues.

The Penguins will host their in-state rival, the Philadelphia Flyers, in the first round beginning later this week, but they don’t plan to stroll through their matchup against St. Louis.

“It’s going to be important to finish off the regular season the right way,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. “I’d love to do that with a win.”

The Penguins (41-24-16, 98 points) lost their past two games, a home-and-home series against the Washington Capitals.

Pittsburgh got shut out 3-0 in Washington on Sunday, but Muse thought his team played better in the second game after losing 6-3 at home on Saturday.

“Opportunities for rebounds were there,” Muse said. “We were able to generate some good looks, too. Their guy played well, so that’s part of the game as well. It was better than (Saturday), but still some things we’ve got to take away and make sure that we’re cleaning up.”

Muse definitely would like to see some pucks go in the net before the playoffs begin.

“Going off of (Saturday), I felt like we weren’t in the offensive zone very much and it’s a credit to (the Capitals),” Muse said. “I thought we did a better job of getting and spending some more time there, I think. Even still, some opportunities to shoot more pucks, get pucks into the net front area.”

Pittsburgh will have home-ice advantage against the Flyers in the first-round series.

“We’ve got a work week now, too, where we’ll be able to get a couple good practice days before Game 1,” Muse said. “There will definitely be some areas we can continue to work on and just make sure we’re feeling good about all parts of our game.”

The Penguins played without forwards Noel Acciari (upper body), Anthony Mantha (lower body) and Ben Kindel (upper body) as well as defensemen Ryan Shea (upper body) and Connor Clifton (upper body). Each is day to day.

The Blues, who are coming off a 6-3 win at the Minnesota Wild on Monday, will conclude their disappointing season on Thursday at the Utah Mammoth.

St. Louis (35-33-12, 82 points) stayed in the Western Conference playoff race up until Saturday. Despite beating the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-3, the Blues were eliminated when the Los Angeles Kings recorded a 1-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

It’s the third time in the past four years that St. Louis will miss the playoffs.

The Blues have faced scoring issues most of the season, both at even strength and with the man-advantage.

They are averaging 2.73 goals per game, which ranks 28th in the league this season, Their 17.5% success rate on the power plays ranks 27th.

“It could be hard to come out in these games when you’re eliminated and they’re sitting nine regulars and it has that feel to it,” Blues forward Jake Neighbours said. “But, you’ve got to find a way as a player to come out with a little more energy and passion and play for the fans and play for the logo.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Penguins #prepare #playoffs #season #finale #Blues">Deadspin | Penguins prepare for playoffs with season finale vs. Blues