Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy on Sunday decided to withdraw from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, citing concerns over her personal safety despite assurances from the organisers in the wake of the ongoing West Asia conflict. The Candidates, which will decide the challengers for the world championship crowns currently held by D Gukesh (men) and Ju Wenjun (women), is scheduled to begin in Paphos, Cyprus on March 28. The former world champion said the decision, though difficult, was necessary given the prevailing circumstances.

“After deep reflection, I have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament,” Humpy said in a statement on ‘X’.

After deep reflection, I have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.

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No event, no matter how important, can come before personal safety and well-being. Despite the assurances provided, I do not feel fully secure under the current…

— Koneru Humpy (@humpy_koneru) March 22, 2026

“No event, no matter how important, can come before personal safety and well-being. Despite the assurances provided, I do not feel fully secure under the current circumstances.

“This is a painful but necessary decision, and I stand by it.” Humpy’s withdrawal comes as a setback for India, as she was among the leading contenders in the tournament that determines the challenger for the women’s world championship title.

Earlier this week, Humpy had said that she was hesitant to travel and was considering withdrawing from the tournament.

This came after a British air base in Cyprus endured a drone attack earlier this month, raising fears that the conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran, could seriously affect the security at the island as well.

Cyprus, which is the third largest island on the Mediterranean sea, is situated south of Turkey and is a member of the European Union.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

La Liga heads into the March international break with a blockbuster clash on the horizon, as Real Madrid welcome Atlético Madrid for a high-stakes derby on Sunday night.

Real Madrid appear to have rediscovered their rhythm at the perfect time, riding high after an impressive Champions League triumph over Manchester City. A dominant first-leg display followed by a composed away win has reignited belief within the squad.

Atlético Madrid, however, arrive with equal confidence after cruising past Tottenham Hotspur in Europe. Diego Simeone’s side now turn their focus to domestic action, aiming to continue their strong run and extend their recent dominance in this fierce rivalry.

With both teams in top form and crucial points at stake, the latest Madrid derby promises to be a gripping encounter that could have major implications in the title race.

Real Madrid team news

Thibaut Courtois has become the latest player sidelined for Real Madrid, adding to an already growing injury list that includes Ferland Mendy, Dani Ceballos and Rodrygo ahead of the derby.

There is, however, some positive news for Los Blancos, with Álvaro Carreras, Éder Militão and Raúl Asencio expected to return to contention. The biggest potential boost could come from Jude Bellingham, who might make his first appearance since February 1, although a place in the starting XI seems unlikely.

Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé has already made his comeback with a brief cameo earlier in the week and is now set to return to the starting lineup as he looks to continue his impressive goal-scoring form.

Atletico team news

Diego Simeone could be forced into a midfield reshuffle for Atlético Madrid, with injuries to Pablo Barrios and Rodrigo Mendoza. As a result, the adaptable Marcos Llorente is expected to slot into a deeper role alongside Johnny Cardoso in the midfield pivot.

This adjustment should allow Nahuel Molina to retain his place at right-back, especially after scoring a stunning goal in the previous match. Like their city rivals, Atlético could also be without their first-choice goalkeeper, as Jan Oblak faces a late fitness check after sitting out the last two games.

If Oblak is not risked, Juan Musso, who has impressed during the Copa del Rey campaign, may continue between the posts.

In attack, Antoine Griezmann has returned to top form and is likely to start, potentially ahead of Alexander Sørloth, alongside the in-form Julián Álvarez.

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid probable starting eleven:

Real Madrid starting 11: Lunin; Alexander-Arnlold, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Pitarch, Tchouaméni, Güler; Mbappé, Vinicius Jr.

Atletico starting 11: Musso; Molina, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Llorente, Cardoso, Lookman; Griezmann, Alvarez.

La Liga: Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid Live Telecast and Streaming Details

When will the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid be played?

The La Liga match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid will be played on March 23 (according to IST).

What time will the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid begin on March 23?

The La Liga match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid will start at 1:30 AM IST.

What will be the venue for the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid?

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium will host the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.

Where will the live telecast of the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid be available in India?

The live telecast of the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid will not be available in India.

Where will the live streaming of the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid be available in India?

The live streaming of the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid will be available on the FanCode app and website in India.

The 2026 NCAA Tournament continues with a must-see second-round contest on Sunday night, as the No. 1 seed Arizona Wildcats face the No. 9 Utah State Aggies in the West Region. After winning the Big 12 Tournament, the Wildcats easily handled LIU in the first round of March Madness by a score of 92-58. USU claimed the Mountain West Tournament and then defeated No. 8 seed Villanova by 10 points in the NCAA Tournament to reach the second round. Utah State owns the 3-1 edge in the all-time matchups between the programs. The Aggies are seeking their first Sweet 16 appearance since 1970.

Tipoff from the Viejas Arena in San Diego is at 7:50 p.m. ET. Arizona won the last meeting in 2005. The Wildcats are 11.5-point favorites in the latest Arizona vs. Utah State odds, while the over/under is 153.5, a 2-point drop from opening at 155.5. Zona is at -714 on the money line (risk $714 to win $100). Before making any Utah State vs. Arizona picks, check out the Arizona vs. Utah State predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered the 2026 NCAA Tournament on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 28-22 run on top-rated CBB side picks. 

Now, the model has simulated Utah State vs. Arizona 10,000 times and just revealed its college basketball picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several college basketball odds and college basketball lines for Arizona vs. Utah State:

Top Arizona vs. Utah State predictions

After 10,000 simulations of Utah State vs. Arizona, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (153.5 points). Both squads have seen the Over hit more often than the Under this season, with the two seeing the Over go a combined 38-31. The total has been eclipsed in 60% of Utah State road/neutral-site contests, while the Over is 5-1 for Arizona when facing a team that allows between 67 and 72 ppg, as the Aggies do.

Additionally, the Over has hit in each of the last three Arizona games, while it is 6-3 over Utah State’s last nine games overall. A total of nine players are forecasted to score more than 9 points, with three of them surpassing 15 points, as the teams combine for 157 points per 10,000 simulations. That allows the Over to hit 55.1% of the time. You can get the spread pick at SportsLine.

How to make Utah State vs. Arizona picks

Now, the model simulated every possession of Arizona vs. Utah State 10,000 times and says one side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Utah State vs. Arizona, and which side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Arizona vs. Utah State spread to back, all from the advanced model that just simulated this game 10,000 times, and find out.

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reckons that senior Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Suryakumar Yadav might be slightly disappointed at not having been appointed captain of the franchise for IPL 2026. According to Ashwin, India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain would definitely be harboring hope of leading a franchise in the IPL.

Five-time champions MI appointed all-rounder Hardik Pandya as captain for the IPL 2024 season, replacing Rohit Sharma. Under him, Mumbai reached the playoffs last year, but went down to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 2. MI have retained Pandya as captain for the upcoming IPL season, even though they were mixed views among experts over his leadership.

During a discussion on his YouTube show Ash ki baat, Ashwin made a big claim and stated that Suryakumar would have been keen on leading MI. He commented:

“If you individualistically look at this, Surya will be saying, ‘I should also be the captain of an IPL franchise’. I think Surya will be thinking like that. It’s only human to think like that because he has just won a World Cup as a captain. But, for Surya the batter, it is just let loose and enjoy. Last year also he had a pretty decent time.”

Sharing his personal views on MI’s captaincy, Ashwin opined that Suryakumar should have been handed over the reins of the franchise. He commented:

“In my view, Suryakumar Yadav being the captain of Mumbai Indians is a no-brainer. He should be given the captaincy. And the fact that that is not happening, I am sure, is a bit of a concern.”

Suryakumar impressed as captain as India won T20 World Cup 2026, losing only one game. The 35-year-old, however, disappointed with the bat, scoring 242 runs in nine innings at an average of 30.25 and a strike rate of 136.72.

“A lot of things can go through his mind” – R Ashwin on challenge for Hardik Pandya as MI captain

Sharing his thoughts on Pandya as captain, Ashwin opined that he has the credentials to be a good leader. He pointed out to the all-rounder’s impressive record as Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper. The former cricketer, however, added that Pandya has had to face multiple challenges since taking over as MI captain, which have made things tough for him. He elaborated:

“If we look at Hardik Pandya, as the Gujarat Titans’ captain, had a title in his first season and was a runner-up in the second season. When he came to Mumbai, the expectation was that he will be the captain and continue the trend. But it took him a year to handle Rohit Sharma and all those sagas.

“Now, he is having to compete with this lot of people telling him that Suryakumar Yadav is the incumbent Indian team captain, but Hardik is the captain of Mumbai. It is a very challenging thing. A lot of things can go through his mind.” Ashwin concluded.

MI will begin their IPL 2026 campaign with a match against three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, March 29.