India’s 2-2 draw against world No. 4 China in their Hockey World Cup opener was a major positive, especially with 11 players making their tournament debuts, head coach Sjoerd Marijne said on Sunday.India took the lead twice, but China, the 2024 Olympic silver medallists, fought back to earn a point. Marijne was pleased with the performance but felt India could have won if they had earned a late penalty corner.“With 11 debutants in the team, a draw against the world No. number four is very good for the future,” Marijne said after the match.

India Show Resilience Against China

India had already used their video referral when they appealed for a penalty corner late in the game, leaving them unable to review the decision.“We had a clear PC but the referee was at an angle where she couldn’t see it and you really can’t blame her. We really need to learn about the video referrals,” Marijne said.India struggled in the third quarter but responded strongly in the final period.“The third quarter was not that good but then we came back. The resilience of the team was good and I am happy with that. We did much better in the last quarter,” he said.The draw also eased the pressure ahead of India’s remaining Pool D matches.“It is a very important draw. If we had lost this one, the next two would have been must-win matches. Now we don’t have to do much calculations about who is winning against whom and we can focus on our own game,” he said.

Navneet Shines as India Look Ahead

Marijne praised Navneet Kaur, saying her performances showed India have attacking options beyond star drag-flicker Deepika.“Everyone was talking about Deepika during the Nations Cup but Navneet scored equally well and in the World Cup qualifiers too. So it’s not only about Deepika,” Marijne said.Navneet said India had ignored China’s reputation and focused on their own game.“It was a tough match but we did exceptionally well. We were leading twice and we have to do better in maintaining the lead,” she said.India next face South Africa, with captain Salima Tete stressing that the team must maintain its intensity.“We are happy with the one point but we will have to fight in every match and we are geared up for that,” Salima said.

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final takes place tonight in Rabat, with Malawi facing Cameroon in a historic showdown. Speaking to FRANCE 24, sports journalist Charlotte Richardson discussed the growing popularity of women’s sport, but also the persistent gaps in media coverage, funding and infrastructure compared with men’s competitions. She also highlighted the WAFCON’s last-minute postponement earlier this year, saying such a decision would be unthinkable in men’s football.

East Bengal vs Indian Army Live Streaming Durand Cup Quarterfinal Live Telecast: When And Where To Watch© X (Twitter)

Manchester United are on the hunt for a new left-back this summer as they look to strengthen an area which will concern Michael Carrick

Club Brugge manager Ivan Leko has admitted it will be “hard to reject” the right offer for Manchester United-linked Joaquin Seys. The Reds are looking to sign a new left-back this summer, with Luke Shaw having less than a year left on his current contract.

Patrick Dorgu, meanwhile, has looked more comfortable on the left wing, while two other options in that position, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazzrorui, are more right-backs. Harry Amass is another possibility for Michael Carrick, but is untested at the highest level.

Newcastle star Lewis Hall has been heavily linked with a summer switch to Old Trafford in United’s search for left-back reinforcements. The 21-year-old is seen as the perfect age and already has good Premier League experience.

But a move to M16 is unlikely for now after the Magpies sold several key players this summer, including Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali. It means the Reds will have to explore other options with just over two weeks left before the transfer window slams shut.

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One name being mentioned is Seys. The Sun have recently claimed that United, Arsenal. Aston Villa and Newcastle are keen on signing the Belgian international this summer. It is said that the Reds also face competition from Portuguese giants Benfica and Porto, should they move to sign the £30million rated full-back.

And Leko has now opened up on the young star’s future in an interview ahead of Brugge’s 3-0 win over Oud-Heverlee Leuven on Saturday.

He said: “I’m proud that my guys are being linked to those clubs. We chat about it every now and then.

“How much of those rumours is true? I don’t know. But we all have eyes in our heads: their potential is incredible.

“On the other hand, they remain consummate professionals and are happy here. The focus is entirely on OHL.”

Leko previously claimed Seys was destined to play at the top of the Premier League and believes there is a chance he will move on before deadline day. The defender has three years remaining on his current contract.

Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry retains her Grand Prix Freestyle title in Aachen, Germany – becoming the first rider in the history of the FEI World Championships to win both individual dressage titles back-to-back.

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Abbie Donnelly hailed an ‘out-of-body experience’ after becoming the first British woman to win a European Championship marathon medal – six weeks before her PhD is due for completion.

Donnelly mastered the undulating eight-lap route around Birmingham city centre to land a breakthrough bronze in 2:27.33.

Britain have not troubled the individual marathon podium at this competition since Ian Thompson won men’s gold in 1974 while Donnelly’s performance also helped the host nation win team gold.

“I can’t believe it,” Donnelly said. “It was such an exciting race, it was just about managing the pace, being cautious in the early surges and just staying strong.

“Even in the last lap then I wasn’t sure (about a medal), it was probably only on the last 200 metres. I thought ‘it could happen’, I still wasn’t certain though.

“It was an optimistic goal coming in. I had a bit of hamstring trouble in April so my block has been a bit different to normal, which probably wasn’t a bad thing. It’s easy to be a bit overcooked so if anything I maybe timed it just right.”

The 29-year-old, who hails from Lincoln, is a five-time medallist at the European Cross Country Championships and helped Britain’s women win half marathon team gold at this event in Rome two years ago.

Her morning build-up here was not ideal as she realised on her to the start line that she was wearing shoes of two different sizes, requiring a hurried change prior to the race getting underway.

But performing in front of a home crowd in the second city proved crucial to helping Donnelly find the required power in her legs to navigate the relentless ups and downs of the course.

“It was a lot better than I was expecting because there was a lot going on in terms of race tactics, so it was quite nice knowing what was coming,” she said.

“It got tough with about three laps to go because you know the hills by that point so you know exactly where the hard points are. It was a proper rollercoaster.

“They (the crowd) got me to the end. I had a bit of an out-of-body experience and was just being screamed at, which I love. They definitely got me through to the finish.”

There is no rest for the wicked and Donnelly will now throw herself straight back into her studies as another finish line looms into view.

The Loughborough University history graduate is researching a PhD entitled ‘Popular Imperialism in the Provinces, 1851-1914’ across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire.

“It’s due in six weeks, so this event did not come at a well-timed place in the year,” she joked.

“I might give myself tomorrow, then I have a lot of writing to do. If my supervisor is reading this, then I’m sorry – I will finish it!”

Natasha Wilson finished fifth, with Rose Harvey 14th, to secure the team gold, awarded based on each nation’s best three finishers.

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