AITA elects new office bearers, results withheld on court's instructions
AITA was to hold elections at its Annual General Meeting (AGM), but voting was not required as the Returning Officer received only one nomination for each post.
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Saturday elected the new office bearers unopposed, but the result was not officially announced as per the directions of the Delhi High Court.
Hearing on the petition of violation of sports code by the federation is going on in the court. AITA was to hold elections at its Annual General Meeting (AGM), but voting was not required as the Returning Officer received only one nomination for each post.
Rohit Rajpal withdrew his candidature
In this election, apart from the new President, General Secretary and Treasurer, eight Vice Presidents, four Joint Secretaries and 10 members of the Executive Council have been elected. It was revealed that Rohit Rajpal and another candidate had filed their nominations for the post of president but Rajpal, a non-playing Indian Davis Cup captain, later withdrew his candidature.
Former Indian tennis players Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja had demanded a stay on the AITA elections, claiming that the federation was not following the sporting code and many candidates contesting the elections were not eligible.
New and old teams will jointly take care of the federation
The Court did not stay the elections but asked AITA and the Sports Ministry to file their response. "The Election shall remain subject to the outcome of the instant writ petition. Let the result of the Election be placed in a sealed cover by the Election Officer, meaning thereby, the result of the Election shall not be published," the Court said.
The next hearing of this case will be on October 14. Till the hearing of the case, the new and old teams of officials will jointly take care of the federation.
Watch how Indian athlete Jyothi Yarraji won gold in 100m hurdles in the Taiwan Athletics Open 2025 with a stunning final push.
The Indian star athlete clocked 12.99s to win the gold. Till the 7th hurdle, she was behind, but in the last 20m, she won the race with great acceleration.
The 25-year-old national record holder had won the Gold medal in the Asian Athletics Championship 2025, a few weeks ago.
Indian athletes claimed a total of four gold medals on the opening day of the Taiwan Open on Saturday. Pooja won the gold medal in Women's 1500m. Abdulla Aboobacker clinched the gold medal in menโs triple jump, with a leap of 16.21m.
Meanwhile, alongside Jyothi, Tejas Shirse also won the gold in Men's 100m hurdles to make it double glory for the Indian 100m hurdle team.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) lost to Royal Challengers Bangaluru (RCB) by 6 runs in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). With this, PBKS' dream of winning the first title remained unfulfilled. At the same time, PBKS' veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal once again failed to win the trophy.
So, let's know about those selected players who played 3 IPL finals and their team lost in all of them.
Players who lost all IPL finals
3. Mohit Sharma | 3 IPL Finals
Delhi Capitals' Mohit Sharma is another IPL star to have lost the final thrice. Mohit was part of CSK's squad from 2013-2015, where the five-time winners suffered defeats against Mumbai Indians in both the finals. It is worth noting that Sharma was part of both the finals.
Mohit's third try to win an IPL trophy was in 2023 with Gujarat Titans against his former team Chennai Super Kings, but suffered a heartbreaking defeat, as he also bowled the last over of the match and conceded 10 runs in the final two balls.
2. Rahul Tripathi | 3 IPL Finals
Rahul Tripathi is another star to have lost three finals with three different teams. Rahul has played for several IPL franchises in his career and played his first final in 2017 when he represented Rising Pune Supergiants. Tripathi got another shot at the trophy in 2021 with KKR, but lost to Chennai Super Kings.
The right-hand batter then moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad from KKR and reached the finals in 2024, but suffered a heartbreak against his former team Kolkata Knight Riders.
1. Yuzvendra Chahal | 3 IPL Finals
Yuzvendra Chahal is yet to win an IPL trophy and the right-arm leg-spinner came close thrice, but fell short on all three occasions. The first time Chahal played an IPL final was in 2016 with RCB, where the defending champions suffered a heartbreak against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Chahal's second exposure to IPL final was in 2022 when he moved to Rajasthan Royals and locked horns against Gujarat Titans. The fate didn't favour Chahal as Gujarat won the trophy in their maiden season.
The recently concluded IPL final between RCB and PBKS was the third time Chahal tried his luck to win an IPL trophy, but couldn't cross the line as his side fell short by six runs.
Who holds the record for the most runs in an over in tests? Prepare to be shocked as it's none other than India's pace sensation, Jasprit Bumrah, with a 35-run blitz! Join us to explore this historic feat and others who follow.
In test cricket, we often expect batters to dominate the scoring. But what if the biggest surprise came from a bowler? We're talking about the incredible feat of Jasprit Bumrah, who broke all the previous records for most runs in an over in tests.
Dive into this list of players who shaped this record for most runs in an over in tests.
1. Jasprit Bumrah (35 runs) | India
Jasprit Bumrah representing India in tests. Image | Mint
The over: 4, WD, 4, NB, 6, 4, 4, 4, 6, 1
Opposition: England
The current undisputed king of the "most runs in an over" record in test cricket is Jasprit Bumrah. He came out as an unlikely record-breaker and stunned everyone.
In July 2022, facing Stuart Board in England, Bumrah, who was captaining the side, smashed 35 runs in a single over.
The over included fours, a massive six off a no-ball, a wide, and even boundary off a bye, totalling 35 runs. Of these, 29 runs came off his bat directly.
Brian Lara representing West Indies in tests. Image | TOI
The over: 4, 6, 6, 4, 4, 4
Opposition: South Africa
The West Indies batting legend, Brian Lara, was the first to achieve this milestone of scoring 28 runs in a single over, which is the second-highest score.
In December 2003, facing South African left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, he showcased his destructive power with a combination of fours and sixes.
Lara's ability to dominate even the best bowlers was a hallmark of his career.
3. George Bailey (28 runs) | Australia
George Bailey representing Australia in tests. Image | TOI
The over: 4, 6, 2, 4, 6, 6
Opposition: England
A decade later, in December 2013, Australia's George Bailey equaled Lara's record during an Ashes Test against England in Perth.
Bailey hit 3 sixes and 2 boundaries, along with a quick two runs, to score 28 runs in an over facing England's pacer, James Anderson.
Keshav Maharaj representing South Africa in tests. Image | Facebook
The over: 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, b4
Opposition: England
Adding to the list is another surprising knock of South Africa's left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who joined the list for most runs in an over in tests by scoring 28 runs off an over.
In January 2020, he took on England captain and part-time spinner Joe Root, in a match played in Port Elizabeth.
Till now, along with the hosts USA, Mexico and Canada, seven other teams have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026. For the first time, 48 teams will participate in the World Cup.
Korea Republic celebrate qualifying for their 11th straight FIFA World Cup. Image | FIFA
The participating teams' line-up for the FIFA World Cup 2026 has started taking shape, as Iran and Argentina have booked their place from the qualification round into the finals of the tournament.
In 2022, the FIFA World Cupprovided an unforgettable experience for over 1 billion viewers who tuned in. LionelMessi-led Argentina to victory, giving the nation moments of joy and a fitting tribute to the late Diego Maradona while solidifying his place among players who have won every major trophy.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his team in their bid to improve the quality of the World Cup and promote inclusivity increased the number of teams that will participate in the World Cup from an initial 32 teams to 48 teams.
The teams will be split into 12 groups of 4 teams, with the top 2 of each group and the 8 best third-placed teams progressing to a new Round of 32,
The tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by 16 cities in three North American countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The tournament will be the first hosted by three nations and the first North American World Cup since 1994 and will be the first World Cup since 2002 to be hosted by more than one nation.
Qualification for the World Cup is done based on the regions of the World. Each regional Confederation is responsible for its qualification tournament, which will consist of at least one round of competition using the following formats
Confederations can use a League format in which each team in a group plays all other teams in their group twice โ once at home and once away.
A single round-robin format in which each team in a group plays all other teams in their group once, with the venues either drawn at random or assigned by the confederation with the agreement of the playing association
A Knockout format in which each team in a round plays one other team over two legs once at home and once away.
With FIFA's permission, a tournament is held in one of the participating nations or neutral territory.
With FIFA's permission, a single-leg knockout format.
Europe has 16 slots, Asia has 8 slots with one extra from playoffs making it 9, Africa has 9 slots with one extra coming from playoffs,South America has 6 with one extra coming from playoffs making a total of 7, North America has 6 slots with 3 already taken due to the host nations.
Teams That Have Qualified
With qualifications still ongoing the only nations that have qualified are the host nations namely the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada qualification process for the World Cup will be ongoing till the end of November 2025, and till then teams will be struggling to qualify.
1. The USA
Despite not predominantly being a football nation, the United States Menโs National Team (USMNT) has managed to establish a formidable team with the likes of Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun.
The appointment of Argentinian Mauricio Pochettino as their head coach shows some sign of intent that the country intends to go as far as possible in the World Cup.
Mexico has qualified for every World Cup in the past decade, but playing on home soil will give them the advantage of fan support. While they may be without their veteran goalkeeper Ochoa, who has been crucial in past tournaments, they remain a team not to be underestimated.
Canada had a memorable 2022 World Cup in Qatar, highlighted by their surprising win against Belgium. However, they lost their remaining group games to Morocco and Croatia, leading to their early exit from the tournament.
Known for their attacking football, Canada relies on pace in midfield and attack, with Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies being key to their World Cup ambitions.
Teams from the Qualifier Rounds
4. Japan
Japan has become the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup from the qualification round. On March 20, Thursday, Hajime Moriyasu's side beat Bahrain 2-0 in Group C of the AFC World Cup qualifiers.
Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo scored in the second half to inspire the Samurai Blue to ensure their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, guaranteeing a top-two finish in the qualifiers standings.
New Zealand has qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the third time with a 3-0 home win over New Caledonia in the OFC Qualifiers Final on Monday, March 24.
Three second-half goals from Michael Boxall, Kosta Barbarouses, and Elijah led New Zealand to a comfortable 3-0 win at Eden Park in Auckland. This win marks the All Whites' return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010 when they registered three draws against Slovakia, Italy, and Paraguay in South Africa.
โ New Zealand Football ๐ณ๐ฟ (@NZ_Football) March 24, 2025
For the first time, the All Whites qualified directly for a World Cup, as Oceania received an automatic spot in next yearโs 48-team tournament, rather than having to go through an intercontinental play-off as they did in the past.
6. Iran
(Image Credit | AFP)
Iran have become the second Asian side to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals following a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan on March 25 in the third round of the AFC World Cup Qualifiers Group A.
Mehdi Taremi's brace secured a point for Iran to stay atop the Group A table with 20 points in 8 matches, securing the guaranteed top two finish in the group stage. On the other hand, Uzbekistan is just one victory away from their inaugural World Cup appearance.
Tino pai to our fantastic national football team๐ Mean as! Iran has secured its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the third team to qualify after Japan and @NZ_Football Ka mau te wehi ๐ฎ๐ท This marks our fourth consecutive appearance after 2014,2018,and2022!#FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/2RjE9j2gpa
โ The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran (@iranembassy_nz) March 25, 2025
Despite the qualification format being made easier for Asia due to the expanded 48-team World Cup, Iran has sealed the passage to their fourth World Cup finals in a row, and seventh in their history.
In the AFC Qualifiers, the top two teams qualify directly for the World Cup, while the teams finishing third and fourth in the three Asian groups will enter an additional qualifying round.
7. Argentina
(Image Credit | EPA)
The reigning World Champions have stormed into the FIFA World Cup 2026 following a 4-1 crushing over eternal rivals Brazil in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers on March 26.
La Albiceleste currently top the table with 31 points in 14 matches, 16 points clear of seventh-placed Venezuela, with the required seven points at this point.
8. Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 as the 8th team to qualify till now. They have qualified in virtue of finishing in the top two in Group A of the AFC's third-round of qualifiers.
This is the first time they have qualified for the FIFA World Cup. Not only that, they are the first Central Asia country to qualify for the grandest stage of football.
South Korea qualified for their 11th straight FIFA World Cup after finishing in the top two of the AFC third round qualifiers. Tottenham's Son Heung-min, Wolves' Hwang Hee-chan, Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae and Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in all will be ready to star for South Korea in the upcoming World Cup.
Ali Olwan scored a hat-trick against Oman to take Jordan to their maiden FIFA World Cup
While South Korea sealed their spot at the FIFA World Cup with that 2-0 victory over Iraq, their win also ensured that Jordan will be playing at their first-ever FIFA World Cup next year.
Ali Olwan's hat-trick has given them a big 3-0 win over Oman, and after South Korea's win, they will now create history at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
In Group B of the AFC Third round qualifiers, Jordan lost only one match and finished in the top two of the group, below South Korea.
As Portugal and Spain are set to battle for their 2nd Nations League title in 2024-25 season, let's see how previous victories of this tournament unfolded. Here's the UEFA Nations League past winners list for you to explore.
The UEFA Nations League, officially commenced in September 2018, has quickly established itself as a significant title in European Football. It succeeded in igniting competitive fire in international friendlies with its innovative tournament structure.
As we are about to witness another thrilling final with Portugal and Spain aiming for their second title, it is now time to check out the UEFA Nations League past winners list.
1. Portugal | 2018-19 UEFA Nations League
Cristiano Ronaldo carrying the UEFA Nations League Trophy after their victory against Netherlands. Image | BBC
Host: Portugal
Winner: Portugal
Runners-up: Netherlands
Score: 1-0
Portugal won the inaugural season of UEFA Nations League (2018-19) on home soil, with spectacularly dominating throughout. Cristiano Ronaldo was the top-scorer and star performer for the team, who scored a hat-trickagainst England in semifinal clash, to secure their final berth.
They defeated Netherlands (1-0) in the Finals, which was decided by a single goal from Goncalo Guedes in the 60th minute of the game.
France lifting their first Nations League Title in 2020-21 season. Image | Instagram
Host: Italy
Winner: France
Runners-up: Spain
Score: 2-1
France emerged as the new champion in the second season of UEFA Nations League (2020-2021). After topping the group stage that included teams like Portugal, Croatia and Sweden, they took the winning streak to the next level.
In the Final, Spain took lead with a goal from Mikel Oyarzabal in the 64th minute. However, France responded swiftly with Karim Benzema's goal in the next 2 minutes (66') and finally, Kylian Mbappรฉ secured the victory with another in the 80th minute of the game.
Spain celebrating their first Nations League title in 2022-23 season of the tournament. Image | Instagram
Host: Netherlands
Winners: Spain
Runners-up: Croatia
Score: 0-0 (5-4 penalties)
In the 2022-23 season of UEFA Nations League, Spain clinched their first title and became the second national team, following France, to win three major titles (World Cup, European Championship, Nations League).
They faced Croatia in the finals, and neither side could score in the 120 minutes, leading to penalty shootout. Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon made crucial saves in the penalties, and Dani Carvajal calmly converted the decisive goal, securing a 5-4 victory.