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Enes Kanter Freedom ejected from WNBA game after altercation with Sky’s Cloud

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CHICAGO — Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom was ejected from Sunday night’s Indiana-Chicago WNBA game after he was confronted by Sky guard Natasha Cloud late in the third quarter.

Kanter Freedom was sitting along the baseline. He had on a black shirt that read “WOMAN noun. adult human female.”

The Fever called for a timeout after Cloud scored inside with 1:22 left in the third. Cloud then did a chest bump with teammate Aicha Coulibaly before turning around and walking in Kanter Freedom’s direction.

Cloud, 34, started yelling and pointing at Kanter Freedom, 34, as she approached him. A standing Kanter Freedom held his arms out and took one step on the court as security and a handful of Sky players moved in between the two.

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“There was just a fan incident and the security handled it, and we’re just going to focus on the game,” Chicago forward Azura Stevens said after the Sky’s 113-90 loss.

Chicago coach Tyler Marsh said Cloud was concerned about being a distraction for the team.

“I told her she wasn’t,” Marsh said. “I told her that we all embrace her as someone that protects our team and protects people that need to be protected and so Tash is always going to stand on that, and we stand for Tash.”

Kanter Freedom stopped near the basket to plead his case to security as he was escorted from the court area. He spun around while holding his shirt out and encouraged the crowd to respond as he walked toward the front lobby.

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He had a conversation with a group of police officers before departing Wintrust Arena.

“I didn’t see it, we were talking about the next play in our huddle,” Indiana star Caitlin Clark said, “so I think that’s probably a question for Chicago.”

Cloud met with team and league security after the game. She did not speak with the media.

The WNBA has been the subject of recent debates on whether transgender women — people assigned male at birth who transition to align with their gender identity — should be allowed to participate in the league. There has never been such a player in the WNBA.

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Although the league’s collective bargaining agreement says the WNBA is restricted to women, it contains no more specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth.

Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said in an ESPN profile published last month that she was opposed to transgender girls and women competing in girls’ and women’s sports. Kanter Freedom and Royce White, another former NBA player, have declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women.

Kanter Freedom joined a small rally in support of Cunningham outside the arena before the game.

Asked if he had a message for Kanter Freedom, Marsh praised the league and its players.

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“If you come to a game you should probably come to enjoy the basketball,” he said, “and that seems pretty simple to me. I think these players deserve that and have earned that. Being a former basketball player, you should probably understand and feel that too.”

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LIV Golf: Bryson DeChambeau proud of what LIV has achieved amid uncertain future

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Bryson DeChambeau says he is “proud” of what LIV Golf has achieved as the breakaway league faces questions about its future following the final event of the season in Indianapolis.

The league, which launched in 2022 as an alternative to the PGA Tour, has faced an uncertain future since Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) withdrew its financial backing in April.

Last week, its season-ending Team Championships in Michigan was cancelled, meaning the event in Indianapolis concluded the 2026 campaign.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil has said new investors have been secured for next season but has been tight-lipped on the league’s future plans and structure.

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American DeChambeau, who led a selection of star players in joining LIV Golf four years ago, said although the breakaway league has not been perfect, it has “a lot of potential moving forward”.

“It has been an interesting ride, that’s for sure, everything we’ve gone through, and the tough moments we’ve had. It’s made us stronger,” said DeChambeau.

“As much as we are transitioning from LIV 1.0 to LIV 2.0, I have great thoughts about what could happen next year. I wish I could be more upfront about it.

“Ultimately I’m proud of the fact of what we’ve done, the good and some of the bad that we’ve unfortunately had, things that have occurred, I’m going to be real with it, not everything was perfect.

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“But for the most part we’ve done a solid job and if there’s one thing I could say, we did something different in the game of golf and I’m proud of that.”

At the end of the interview, DeChambeau added: “I think there’s something fun coming.”

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India vs Sri Lanka LIVE Score, 2nd Test Day 2: Dhruv Jurel Eyes Century As Play Resumes After Rain Delay vs SL

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India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando have been fined 25 per cent of their match over their fiery altercation on the opening day of the 2nd Test in Colombo. 

Both players were found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match).”

In addition to this, one demerit point each has been added to the disciplinary records of Fernando and Jaiswal, both of whom did not have any previous offences in the preceding 24-month period.

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Billy Joe Saunders sums up Anthony Joshua’s chances of beating Tyson Fury

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Former two-weight world champion Billy Joe Saunders believes one heavyweight has the upper hand in a “battle of the old man” between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

The two Brits are set to collide later this year, yet it remains to be seen whether their long-awaited showdown lands on the proposed date of November 20.

Not only that, but it seems the venue is up in the air following several weeks of uncertainty over whether the fight takes place at Madison Square Garden, New York.

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According to promoter Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s contract states the event must be staged in the UK while Fury, it appears, did not outline any preference over the location in his original agreement.

The 38-year-old therefore insists that he has no issue with fighting at Madison Square Garden, where Netflix and event financiers Sela are hoping the contest can be held.

As for the fight itself, many have made Fury a clear favourite following his seventh-round stoppage of Mariusz Wach last month, while ‘AJ’ was twice dropped by Kristian Prenga – before scoring a second-round finish – in his particular warm-up bout that same weekend.

Speaking with talkSPORT, Saunders maintained his allegiance to ‘The Gypsy King’ while admitting that Joshua remains a dangerous puncher.

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“We all know it’s a bit late. Are we going to see who really is the true best in this fight? They didn’t fight eight-ten years ago, so what we’re going to see, now, is the battle of the old man.

“I don’t think it’s about who trains the hardest, who looks the fittest [or] who’s in brilliant shape; it’s gonna be about who uses their brain and just sails through.

“I’m backing Tyson. I know AJ didn’t look too good in his last fight, but he still got the knockout. And he showed he’s still got that finishing punch.”

Saunders went on to critique Fury’s performance against Wach, saying he was “open to the right hand”, but is ultimately backing his friend’s “boxing ability” against Joshua.

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Yashasvi Jaiswal, Asitha Fernando fined 25% match fee for Colombo Test altercation | Cricket News

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Yashasvi Jaiswal, Asitha Fernando fined 25% match fee for Colombo Test altercation
The ICC on Monday confirmed the sanctions for India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka fast bowler Asitha Fernando for their altercation (IANS Image)

India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando have each been fined 25 per cent of their match fees and handed one demerit point following their on-field altercation during the opening day of the second Test in Colombo. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the Level 1 sanctions on Monday, August 24, after both players admitted to breaching Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with inappropriate physical contact between players.

How the Jaiswal-Fernando clash unfolded

The incident occurred during the 17th over of India’s first innings after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal for 45. The Sri Lankan pacer gave the batter an animated send-off, prompting Jaiswal to turn back and exchange words with him. The confrontation quickly escalated as the two players came face-to-face. Fernando moved his head forward while Jaiswal leaned in, resulting in their helmets and heads making contact. Teammates and Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva intervened and separated the two players before the situation could escalate further.Jaiswal later addressed the incident on social media, urging critics not to pass judgment without knowing what had been said during the exchange.“If you don’t know what he said, then please don’t make your judgment. If anyone crosses the line, we need to let them know this: India will fight and reply,” Jaiswal posted before the start of play on Day 2.His comments appeared to be in response to a Cricbuzz video on Instagram in which commentator Harsha Bhogle suggested that Jaiswal should have simply walked away after his dismissal.

What India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had earlier acknowledged that the incident may have occurred in the “heat of the moment” but admitted that Jaiswal should not have made physical contact with Fernando.“I think they must have said something to him, and it might have happened in the heat of the moment. Obviously, Jaiswal, I don’t think he should have been so close (to Fernando), but that happens when you are in the heat of the moment,” Kotak said after the opening day’s play.

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Boniface makes strong debut Australian win in 2026 Premier’s Cup

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Boniface, ridden with the conviction of the race’s standout performer, finally rewarded the patience of punters with a victory in the Group 3 $250,000 Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The French import had experienced a series of unrewarding runs in his four previous starts in Australia, but star jockey Tommy Berry guided the gelding with confidence, proving too formidable for his rivals.

Berry eliminated any chance of misfortune by positioning Boniface directly behind So You Are, maintaining this order until well into the home straight.

However, Boniface seized control of the race and secured a commanding win, signalling his potential for the upcoming spring carnival.

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“We got the first half too easy and Rachel’s (King, rider of So You Are) has got a beautiful knack of getting horses into a lovely rhythm, slipping you down the side and you can’t get her back,” Berry said. “So, I just had to make sure I was close enough without trying to get to the front too early on my bloke.

“When they haven’t won for a while, they lack a little bit of confidence and he needed that today, so I’m sure he’ll go on with it now.”

Berry, taking over as Boniface’s rider, made a point of acknowledging the crucial role played by the gelding’s previous jockey, Tyler Schiller, in the Premier’s Cup triumph.

“I’ve got to say, full credit to Tyler, who’s ridden him at his last couple,” Berry stated. “He obviously didn’t get the ride today, but he came around and saw me and told me everything I needed to know about the horse. That just shows what a top bloke he is, and he’ll obviously get his turn.”

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Boniface ($2.45 favourite), prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior, overcame the early leader So You Are ($3.60) by a half-length, with Matusalem ($8) finishing with determination for third place, a short head behind the runner-up.

Ben Elam, the Sydney stable representative for Price and Kent, declared that Boniface’s strong performance was a clear demonstration of his developing talent.

“We had to feel our way with him trying to get into this race,” Elam said. “It’s a race that always has some nice horses in it but it doesn’t get a massive field every year so we thought he was a chance of getting a run.

“We got the run on Monday with nominations being a little bit skinny. He’s trained on really well, we haven’t done a lot with him as he’s a highly strung horse, albeit he is relaxed.

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“He puts a lot into his work so we don’t do much galloping with him. He’s a French import that we have had to ‘unwind’ a little bit.

“So, it was really good to see him relax outside the leader. I would like to see him with a bum in front of him so he can follow and be dragged into the race.

“He did a pretty good job and hit the line strongly so we are very pleased.”

Elam added that there was significant merit in Boniface’s win, noting the gelding is “definitely a better chaser, for sure.”

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“But I said to Tommy I don’t care where you land just get him to relax,” Elam continued. “If he finds a rhythm he will give you that sharp turn of foot he has got and he can sustain the gallop.

“I know he didn’t win by a big margin but I think you can say this horse has won by a margin that was respective of the run he had in transit.”

Elam indicated that Boniface is likely to be aimed at the Group 2 $300,000 Kingston Town Stakes at Royal Randwick on September 12, followed by the Group 2 $2 million Hill Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on October 10.

Punters checking the racing betting markets will find Boniface a strong contender for future events.

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Sleeper pitchers Week 23: Rankings, sleepers and start/sit

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Streaming pitchers isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you find yourself without enough reliable options in a given scoring period, it may be what you need to stay afloat. Scott White has 10 recommendations for the upcoming scoring period, all rostered in no more than 80 percent of CBS Sports leagues. Generally, only the top two or three are full-throated endorsements, while the rest are more about making the best of a bad situation.

All information is up to date as of late Sunday.

Sleeper pitchers for Week 23 (Aug. 24-30)

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Fantasy baseball Week 23 hitters: Sleepers, waiver targets and best matchups

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Whether you’re in need of an injury fill-in or just a hot-hand play, Scott White has you covered with 10 sleeper hitters for the upcoming scoring period, all rostered in less than 80 percent of CBS Sports leagues. They’re not must-starts by any estimation, but they’re often the best you’ll find off the waiver wire.

All information is up to date as of late Sunday.

Sleeper hitters for Week 23 (Aug. 24-30)

Best hitter matchups for Week 23

1. Nationals COL4, MIA3
2. Orioles @STL3, @ATH3
3. Athletics MIN3, BAL3
4. Giants CIN3, ARI4
5. Yankees HOU3, BOS4

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Worst hitter matchups for Week 23

1. Angels CLE3, PHI3
2. Tigers TB3, LAD3
3. Rangers @CHW3, @MIL3
4. Mariners PHI3, @TOR3
5. Padres PIT3, @TB3

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Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark spark Fever past Sky

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Aug 23, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA;  Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives towards the basket against Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot (22) during the first half at Wintrust Arena.  Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn ImagesAug 23, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives towards the basket against Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot (22) during the first half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark combined forces to shoot 7-for-9 from 3-point range in a third-quarter run that opened up a decisive lead in the Indiana Fever’s 113-90 win over the host Chicago Sky on Sunday night.

The Fever set a franchise mark for the game with 18 3-pointers made, shooting 54.5% (18-for-33) from long distance.

Indiana (25-14) topped 100 points for the 18th time this season, extending a league record, while Clark set a career best with eight 3-pointers, which she made in just a dozen attempts.

Clark finished with 37 points (on 13-for-24 overall shooting) and 10 assists. Those totals mark Clark’s fifth career WNBA game with 30-plus points and 10-plus assists, which extends her own league record as no other players have had multiple 30/10 games.

Mitchell added 30 points, 23 of which came in the second half, as she shot 6-for-9 from 3-point range. Lexie Hull added 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and Makayla Timpson notched 12 points and nine rebounds.

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Indiana forward Aliyah Boston was ruled out of Sunday’s game due to a right lower leg injury.

Chicago (15-23) saw its three-game winning streak ended despite Natasha Cloud’s 16 points (on 7-for-9 shooting) and seven assists. Azura Stevens added 14 points and eight boards for the Sky. Kamilla Cardoso battled foul trouble and finished with 11 points on 2-for-9 shooting with six rebounds.

Chicago shot just 4-for-21 (19.0%) from 3-point range. The defeat eliminated the Sky from the WNBA playoff race.

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The teams were competitive in the first half, with Chicago leading by a point at halftime before Mitchell and Clark combined for 25 third-quarter points, mostly from long-range, to pull Indiana away. The Fever outscored the Sky 33-26 in the quarter.

The Sky had pulled even at 58-all on a Sydney Taylor lay-in with 7:15 left in the quarter, but Clark drained a 3-pointer and Mitchell connected on a pair of long-range bombs in the game’s pivotal run. Chicago never pulled closer than six points over the remainder of the game. Indiana’s lead grew as large as 25 points as it outscored Chicago 30-13.

–Field Level Media

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Hockey World Cup 2026: India’s men’s team semifinal qualification scenario | Other Sports News

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Harmanpreet Singh-led India’s men’s hockey team will take on Argentina in a crucial Phase 2 encounter at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen on Monday, with their hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the 2026 Hockey World Cup hanging by a thread. India’s 1-3 defeat to the Netherlands in their opening Pool E match left them with no room for another slip-up.

 


Argentina’s 3-1 win over England on Saturday, however, has kept India’s qualification hopes alive. The result ensured that the second semi-final spot remains up for grabs, giving India an outside chance of progressing to the last four if they can produce a convincing performance against Argentina.

 
 

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But what does India’s qualification scenario ahead of the Argentina game look like? Take a look.


Pool E situation at the moment


India qualified for Pool E for the second phase alongside England, Netherlands and Argentina, with England and Netherlands carrying over their three points from Phase 1 wins over fellow qualifiers from their respective pools, i.e., India and Argentina.

 


On the first match day of Pool E on Saturday, Netherlands beat India 3-1 and almost put an end to their hopes of finishing in the top four before Argentina’s 3-1 win over England put them back in the race with a tough but possible chance.

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At the moment, Netherlands, with six points, are leading the Pool E standings, while England and Argentina are second and third with three points each. India currently sit at the bottom of the table with zero points and a -4 goal difference, thanks to their two-goal losses against both England and Netherlands in Phases 1 and 2. 

 


Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026: Pool E points table

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Team

MP

Pts

W

L

D

GF

GA

GD

Netherlands

2

6

2

0

0

6

2

4

England

2

3

1

1

0

5

5

0

Argentina

2

3

1

1

0

4

4

0

India

2

0

0

2

0

3

7

-4


India’s qualification scenarios


Win vs Argentina

 


If India want to book their place in the semi-finals, they will have to win their final game against Argentina at any cost. And not just a win — they will have to win their game by at least a three-goal margin.

 

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At the moment, India have 0 points with a -4 goal difference, while Argentina, with three points, have a goal difference of 0. For India to level Argentina on points and edge past them on goal difference, they will have to win the game by at least a three-goal margin. That will take India’s goal difference to -1 and Argentina’s to -3, which will keep them in semi-final contention.

 


A win vs Argentina with a goal difference of less than three will eliminate India on the spot.

 

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Moreover, India will need to better their winning margin to four goals if they wish to ease some pressure from Netherlands, as England also have a goal difference of 0. For India to edge past them, they will need to beat Argentina by four goals to keep themselves a little ahead in the race.

 


Loss or draw vs Argentina

 

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If India fail to beat Argentina in their final Pool E game on Monday, they will be eliminated even before Netherlands and England take the field for their match later on the day.

 


A loss will leave India with 0 points, while a draw will take them to one point, with all the other teams already having more points than that to their account.

 

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India will need favour from Netherlands

 


If India manage to win their game against Argentina by a goal margin of three or more, that will still not put them into the semi-finals directly, as they will need help from Netherlands to qualify.

 

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A win vs Argentina with a three-goal margin will put India at three points with a goal difference of -1. India will then hope that Netherlands beat England by at least two goals so that England will finish their second phase with three points and a -2 goal difference.

 


If India beat Argentina by four goals, they will stand at three points and a 0 goal difference, in which case Harmanpreet and Co. will be through to the next round with just a Netherlands win, irrespective of goal difference.

 

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A draw or win for England over Netherlands will also knock India out of the race.

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‘Nerves Got The Better Of Us’: India Coach On Women’s Hockey World Cup Elimination

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India women’s hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne admitted nerves got the better of his side in its goalless draw against Australia, adding that reaching the fifth-sixth place playoff at the World Cup is still a significant achievement. India succumbed to the pressure of a must-win match and were knocked out of semifinal contention after being held to a goalless draw by Australia on Sunday.

“It looked like there were nerves. We didn’t play the game we wanted to play. It was not fluent, there was no rhythm in the passing and receiving and there were a lot of unforced errors,” Marijne told PTI after the draw.

“It’s not that we can’t do it, but I don’t know why we couldn’t do it. We know we can do much better than this. Everyone is very disappointed.” India will now play the fifth-sixth place classification match, a position Marijne believes the team can take pride in reaching after making significant progress in recent months.

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“But if you had said five or six months ago that we were going to play the fifth-sixth position match, nobody would believe us. I also told the girls that we really need to learn from this,” he said.

The Dutchman said India’s inability to convert their opportunities proved costly in a game where only a win would have kept their semifinal hopes alive.

“This was our first setback. We didn’t lose and holding Australia to a draw is also a positive, although we needed to win this. In these kinds of matches you have to be there and avail the chances you get.

“You need to score goals to win matches, which didn’t happen against Australia,” he said.

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Marijne identified penalty-corner conversion and composure in front of goal as the key areas India need to improve.

“Defensively, we were very well structured and organised. The team was very disciplined and stayed on task. The major takeaway from the tournament is converting PCs and the opportunities we get. We need to be a little more calm in scoring positions around the goalkeeper,” he said.

India’s best performance at the Women’s World Cup remains their fourth-place finish in 1974, when the Ajinder Kaur-led side narrowly missed out on a medal in France.

Marijne said the team’s latest achievement should be viewed in that context.

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“I told the girls that we are all disappointed, but we are going to play the fifth-sixth position match, which is also historical. We have reached this position after many decades. We also need to find out why we couldn’t do it today.” The coach also drew parallels with India’s experience after their quarterfinal defeat to Ireland at the 2018 World Cup, saying lessons from difficult matches can prove valuable at major tournaments.

“I remember that we lost the quarterfinal in 2018 against Ireland in London, but we learnt a lot from that match. In Tokyo 2021, we played against them and won. So the learnings will be useful for the future.

“We can’t change the result, but I am still very proud of the girls. We win together, we lose together and we draw together. Everyone gave their best. I am always proud of them,” said Marijne.

India now have three days to regroup before their classification match, with Marijne planning to use the break to analyse their performance against Australia.

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“We played a lot of matches this week. We will see the match and analyse where we can do better. That’s the way we will go into the next match,” he said.

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


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