Another three members of the Iran’s women’s soccer team who accepted refugee visas to stay in Australia have decided to return to their homeland, an Australian government minister said on Sunday.

The departure leaves three of an initial seven squad members in Australia.

“Overnight, three members of the Iranian Women’s Football Team made the decision to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran,” Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement.

“After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options,” Burke added.

Iran’s team arrived in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup last month, before the war in the Middle East began on Feb. 28.

Initially, six players and a support staff member from a squad list of 26 players accepted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia before the rest of the Iranian contingent flew from Sydney to Malaysia on March 9.

Another later changed her mind and left Australia. Three left Sydney for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday night, a government official said. The rest of the team has remained in Kuala Lumpur since they left Australia.

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency said the latest three to leave Australia were two players and the support staff member. The three were “returning to the warm embrace of their family and homeland,” the news outlet said in a statement.

Concerns about the team’s safety in Iran heightened when the players didn’t sing the Iranian national anthem before their first match.

The Australian government was urged to help the woman by Iranian groups in Australia and by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Iranian news agency described the women’s return to the team as the “disgraceful failure of the American-Australian project and another failure for Trump.

Max Dowman, a 16-year-old Arsenal winger, became the Premier League’s youngest ever scorer with a remarkable stoppage-time goal in his team’s 2-0 win over Everton.

Dowman collected the ball midway in his own half, dribbled around two Everton players and raced clear unchallenged from the halfway line to tap into an empty net, with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford stranded upfield having gone forward for a corner.

An English soccer prodigy, Dowman – at 16 years, 73 days – was playing just his third Premier League match after two previous substitute appearances at the start of the season.

“He doesn’t seem to be fazed by the occasion or the moment or the context or the opponent, he just plays so naturally,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “He makes decisions to make things happen, and what he delivered was incredible.” 
Asked what he said to Dowman after deciding to bring him on, Arteta replied: “Go and do your thing and win us the game.” 
Dowman broke the record of former Everton player James Vaughan, who was 16 years, 270 days when he scored against Crystal Palace in 2005.

In November, Dowman became the youngest player in Champions League history at 15 years, 308 days when he entered as a second-half substitute against Slavia Prague. 

Dowman is still in school. He was 14 when he was asked by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to train with the senior team in December last year and he starred on the club’s preseason tour of Asia in matches against AC Milan and Newcastle.

To abide by Premier League regulations for players under 18, Dowman has to change into his Arsenal kit for training sessions and matches in a separate locker room than his senior teammates.

List of Premier League’s youngest scorers 
1. Max Dowman: 16 years, 73 days (for Arsenal against Everton on 2026) 
2. James Vaughan: 16 years, 270 days (for Everton against Crystal Palace in 2005) 
3. James Milner: 16 years, 356 days (for Leeds against Sunderland in 2002) 
4. Wayne Rooney: 16 years, 360 days (for Everton against Arsenal in 2002)

Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh, and R Praggnanandhaa with sister R Vaishali (Photos by Andrei Anosov and Michal Walusza/FIDE)

NEW DELHI: Even as Koneru Humpy’s potential withdrawal from the Candidates tournament in Cyprus over the Iran war raised concerns, India’s next-gen trio of Divya Deshmukh, R Vaishali and R Praggnanandhaa are set to compete in the prestigious tournament later this month.Concerns of a wider pullout have been put to rest, as TimesofIndia.com can confirm that all three are proceeding with their preparations despite the geopolitical tensions in the region.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Divya, 20, qualified for Women’s Candidates by clinching the FIDE Women’s World Cup in 2025 in Batumi, defeating Koneru Humpy in a thrilling tiebreak to become the first Indian woman to win the title. The victory also earned her the GM title as she became the fourth female Grandmaster from India. Will Divya Deshmukh, Vaishali, and Praggnanandhaa also skip?Despite the whispers of withdrawal, a source close to Deshmukh told TimesofIndia.com: “As of now, we have decided that Divya will go and play. As these things develop, we will monitor the situation and decide afterwards. But at this moment, she will play.”It is also understood that Deshmukh’s camp is busy planning her travel and stay. Similarly, R Vaishali and R Praggnanandhaa are proceeding with their plans to participate in the Candidates.“Have they told publicly that they are not playing? Since Koneru Humpy is potentially not playing, it doesn’t mean that Pragg and Vaishali are not playing. It means only Koneru Humpy is not playing,” RB Ramesh, long-time mentor to both Vaishali and Praggnanandhaa, told this website.“My position is not to judge anyone’s decision. Everyone is free to make their own decision, and that should be respected. If Humpy’s position is not to play, it is fine.”Koneru Humpy unsure of ParticipationOn Monday, Indian Grandmaster (GM) Humpy had revealed she could potentially skip the Candidates tournament, starting March 28. In an interview with the Hindustan Times, she had said, “It just does not make any sense. It is dangerous to travel anywhere near West Asia at this point when there is so much tension and uncertainty. The war started around a fortnight ago, it is still ongoing, and the tournament is less than two weeks away.”A drone strike on a British air base in Cyprus on March 1 also raised worries about security. With European warships and Turkish fighter jets guarding the island, questions have emerged about whether Cyprus is the right place to host such an important chess event.“Our plans haven’t changed. We are in the final stages of preparing the Candidates’ Tournament. Of course, we are monitoring the situation. Cyprus isn’t too far from, let us say, the war zone or conflict zone, but at the same time, it’s not involved in any way and isn’t in a state of war,” Emil Sutovsky, CEO of FIDE, told ChessBase India.“There is no emergency or anything like that. Of course, about 10 days ago, there was some worrying news, but since then, the situation has appeared quite calm.”The road to Candidates 2026 for Praggnanandhaa-Vishali While Praggnanandhaa qualified for the open section of the Candidates after winning the 2025 FIDE Circuit, his elder sister Vaishali secured her spot by winning the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss last year.After a disastrous run at the Chennai Grand Masters Challengers, where she suffered seven straight losses and managed just two draws, Vaishali nearly pulled out of Grand Swiss.“It might sound funny, but after Chennai, I decided not to play Grand Swiss,” the 24-year-old told ChessBase later in an interview. “I felt so bad. Losing seven games in a row was hard to recover from.”Encouraged by coach RB Ramesh, mentor Karthikeyan Murali, and her brother Praggnanandhaa, she eventually competed in Samarkand, where she defended her Women’s Grand Swiss title to qualify.Reigning world champion D Gukesh recently admitted he would like to have an all-Indian showdown at the World Championship later this year. “Personally, I would like to face Pragg. It would be an Indian clash, and it would be great for the Indian fans,” Gukesh recently told ChessBase India.With the Candidates being the only gateway to the World Championship, skipping the event is a risk these young stars appear unwilling to take.

Bengaluru FC held league leaders Mohun Bagan Super Giant to a goalless draw in an Indian Super League match here on Saturday.

Despite Mohun Bagan enjoying the majority of possession and creating numerous chances, Bengaluru FC produced a resolute defensive performance to become the first team this season to take points off the Mariners.

Mohun Bagan remain at the top of the table with 13 points, while Bengaluru FC move to sixth with eight points. Dimitri Petratos was adjudged the Player of the Match.

The contest began at a lively tempo with the Blues applying early pressure.

Ryan Williams tested Vishal Kaith in just the second minute, forcing the Mohun Bagan goalkeeper into a low save after being set up by right-back Roshan Singh.

Mohun Bagan responded soon after. Maclaren’s effort from the left side of the box was well saved by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in the eighth minute, while midfielder Dimitri Petratos fired narrowly wide from distance a minute later.

The Mariners gradually settled into the game and began to dominate possession.

Petratos saw another effort blocked in the 14th minute, while the Blues’ right winger Ashique Kuruniyan tried his luck from long range for Bengaluru but failed to hit the target.

Despite both teams creating opportunities, neither side was able to find the finishing touch as the first half ended goalless.

Bengaluru resumed the second half with renewed intent.

Midfielder Sirojiddin Kuziev tested Kaith with a long-range effort in the 48th minute, while Bagan responded through centre-back Alberto Rodriguez whose close-range effort was saved by Gurpreet just after the hour mark. 

The hosts came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 63rd minute when Chhetri found space inside the box, but his attempt was blocked by Anirudh Thapa before captain Subhasish Bose made another crucial interception to deny the follow-up effort.

Bengaluru continued to threaten from distance, with Roshan and Kuziev both forcing the Mariners defence into action within minutes.

At the other end, Maclaren nearly found the breakthrough in the 71st minute but was denied by a timely block from Roshan.

Both coaches introduced changes in search of a late winner.

Substitute Monirul Molla tried his luck from distance in the 81st minute but sent his effort wide. Gurpreet then produced another outstanding save two minutes later to deny Rodriguez’s header from close range.

Despite a combined 23 shots in the match, neither side could find the decisive goal.

Jannik Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells final 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4), winning seven straight points to rally from a 4-0 deficit in the second-set tiebreak and claim the title without dropping a single set.

The No. 2-ranked Italian beat Medvedev for the ninth time in their last 10 matches to claim his first title at the California desert tournament. Medvedev handed top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz his first loss of the year in the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open.

Sinner congratulated fellow Italian Kimi Antonelli, who won Formula One’s Chinese Grand Prix earlier Sunday.

“It hasn’t anything to do with tennis, but it has been a special day for Italy,” Sinner said. “Because I’m a huge Formula One fan and having a very, very young Italian, Kimi, bringing Italy back home at the top, it’s amazing. So, thanks, Kimi, thanks Formula One, and see you next year.” 
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka beat Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) in the women’s final Sunday for her first Indian Wells title. Sabalenka, a runner-up in 2023 and ’25, finished off the win with a big serve that Rybakina hit long.

It was a sweltering afternoon on the court as the temperatures soared into the 90s. The 27-year-old Sabalenka had a chance to close out the third set but was broken at 5-4. Rybakina found herself with a championship point in the tiebreaker, only to have Sabalenka hit a backhand winner.

“I think the whole idea going into this match was to be mentally strong, to stay strong, no matter what, to show with the body language that I’m here, I’m fighting,” Sabalenka said in a post-match interview on the Tennis Channel. “You have to get a win with incredible tennis and that was the whole idea going into this one. I’m happy that it really worked.” 
It’s been quite a stretch for Sabalenka. First, a puppy and then an engagement ring from Brazilian businessman Georgios Frangulis. 

Now, a title in the desert.

“I’ll remember it for the rest of my life,” she said.

This marked the 16th time the two players have met, with Sabalenka now holding a 9-7 advantage. Rybakina of Kazakhstan beat Sabalenka at the 2025 WTA Finals championship and the Australian Open two months ago. She also edged Sabalenka in the finals at Indian Wells in 2023.

“It was a very difficult match,” Rybakina said after the match as she congratulated Sabalenka.

There’s not much time to celebrate for Sabalenka, who was set to leave Sunday night for the Miami Open, where she’s the defending champion.

“Probably will have a couple drinks on the plane and that’s it,” Sabalenka said. “I’m defending champion there, so I have to bring my best tennis there. But with these vibes that I’m taking from here, I think I’ll be able to be there and to fight and to do my very best to defend that beautiful trophy.

Entry into a revered trainers’ group beckons for Danny O’Brien as Closer To Free tackles Saturday’s Golden Slipper.

Winning the $5 million Group 1 Rosehill feature would let the Melbourne mentor fulfil the Australian racing Grand Slam.

No other trainer in Australia matches Chris Waller’s haul of the Golden Slipper, Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate.

David Hayes, now Hong Kong-based, is the lone other active completer.

Lee Freedman joins deceased legends Bart Cummings, Tommy Smith, Colin Hayes, Jack Denham and Maurice McCarten as the others.

The eight achievers all grace the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, fuelling O’Brien’s anticipation for his top tilt at the richest two-year-old race worldwide.

“You don’t get many opportunities in a Slipper, because you’ve got to have the right horse,” O’Brien said.

“We haven’t had that many of them, so it’d be fantastic if we could tick that last box.”

Post his 2019 Melbourne Cup with Vow And Declare that sealed Melbourne’s Slam segment, O’Brien skipped Golden Slipper fields.

Master O’Reilly delivered his 2007 Caulfield Cup, Shamus Award the 2013 Cox Plate.

O’Brien’s single prior Golden Slipper brush was Running Tall’s 11th at $41 behind Sepoy in 2011.

Through the season’s opening stretch, O’Brien expected 2026 sidelines, until Closer To Free joined early February.

Bought for $60,000 at last Inglis Classic Sale, the Street Boss colt debuted for Wangaratta’s Adrian Corboy, transferring post Sean Buckley’s buy after January 29 Caulfield trial.

Late $150,000 fee on Monday earned his Golden Slipper spot despite missing early entries.

Other late entries: Magic Night Stakes winner Pembrey and Black Opal champ Music Time.

Qualification stemmed from Group 1 Blue Diamond runner-up finish after Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude debut success.

Since February 21 Blue Diamond, he’s Sydney-based from month’s start, excelling in March 10’s 1030m Rosehill trial.

Saturday’s rider Jamie Melham trialled him, impressing O’Brien with the colt’s unflappable Sydney transition.

“He travelled up well, he’s settled well, he trialled well and he’s a very straight-forward colt,” he said.

“Nothing seems to bother him. Everything he does, he just takes in his stride. He’s got a great attitude.

“Jamie Melham jumped on him for the first time the other morning and she was very impressed with him.

“We just need, hopefully, a nice enough barrier and we’ll see what the weather does, but there’s not too many boxes left to tick with him. He’s ready to go.”

Barrier draw Tuesday morning sets the Golden Slipper field, Closer To Free at $11 all-in.

Discover competitive racing betting markets ahead of the Golden Slipper showdown.

MIAMI — The Venezuela offense was held at bay for six innings, but then the big rally happened in the seventh and for the first time in the history of the event, Venezuela is going to the finals of the World Baseball Classic. It won on the strength of a three-run seventh inning by the final score of 4-2 over the Cinderella story that was Italy.

Here’s what to know about the Monday night semifinal as we also look ahead to Tuesday’s championship game pitting Venezuela against Team USA. 

Italy’s duo of starters worked for six innings

Italy decided to go with Aaron Nola as the starter in this one and then use its No. 2 starter, Michael Lorenzen, in relief. This meant that if Italy was able to win, it would be using a bullpen game in the finals against USA, a pretty dicey proposition. It almost worked. Through six innings, the only run for Venezuela came on a solo homer from Eugenio Suárez and, well, he does that. The philosophy for Italy manager Francisco Cervelli was clearly that you have to get to the finals first before figuring out how to pitch in the finals. Things worked out well for most of the game and just fell off the rails late …

That seventh inning rally

The leadoff walk to Gleyber Torres was innocent enough, especially given that Lorenzen struck out the next two batters. Then a hit-and-run worked perfectly as Jackson Chourio singled up the middle. That put runners at first and third for Ronald Acuña Jr. He hit a grounder in the hole to the right of shortstop Sam Antonacci, who couldn’t make the play. That gave Acuña an infield single along with the game-tying RBI. Maikel Garcia followed with a single to take the lead and then Luis Arraez singled home another run. Just like that, Venezuela had a 4-2 lead.

Venezuela’s bullpen was huge

The two runs Italy scored in the third inning were due mostly to three straight walks from Venezuela starting pitcher Keider Montero. Once Montero was removed from the game, the Venezuelan bullpen completely dominated the Italian offense — which had been among the most powerful offenses in the WBC prior to Monday. A tip of the cap to Ricardo Sánchez, Luinder Avila, Angel Zerpa, Eduard Bazardo, Andrés Machado and Daniel Palencia for their stellar work. They combined for 7 ⅔ innings of scoreless ball, only allowing three hits. 

USA sends Nolan McLean to mound

The Venezuela lineup isn’t quite as scary looking as the Dominican Republic lineup on paper, but it’s pretty stout. Acuña, Garcia and Arraez start things off before Suárez in the cleanup spot. The lineup is so loaded that William Contreras hits eighth, Chourio hits ninth and Willson Contreras is a bench player. Salvador Perez wasn’t in the lineup Monday either. 

McLean has only made eight career MLB starts, but he was dominant in those starts. It’s bound to be a very fun matchup of power vs. power. 

Venezuela to start Eduardo Rodríguez

The USA offense is loaded with power. Bobby Witt Jr. will hit leadoff before Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber. Cal Raleigh, who hit 60 homers last season, has batted either sixth or seventh when he’s in the lineup. Pete Crow-Armstrong, who was a 30-30 guy last year, hits ninth. The bench is loaded, too. 

Rodríguez is a capable MLB pitcher who once finished sixth in Cy Young voting. He has posted an ERA north of 5.00 each of the last two seasons, however. He was last a good starting pitcher in a full season in 2023. 

Then again, the USA lineup has been shut down by some pitchers in the WBC that one wouldn’t think would shut them down, such as Lorenzen in the Italy game in pool play. It’s just one game. Anything can happen and Rodríguez has talent and MLB pedigree. He also has World Series experience (2018 with the Red Sox), so the gigantic stage shouldn’t be an issue.

The bullpen issue for Venezuela

Thanks to tournament rules, Team USA, having played Sunday and getting the day off Monday, has a pitching advantage. Every USA pitcher is technically eligible to pitch. Venezuela, meanwhile, will be limited by back-to-back rules.

It doesn’t quite seem fair to have a setup like this, but those are the rules and that’s how everything shook out. Advantage USA on this one.