The Indian women’s hockey team, after an unbeaten run in phase 1 of the Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026, will kick-start their campaign in the second phase against world No. 1 and Pool A winners of phase 1, the Netherlands, at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands, on Friday, August 21.

The Indian team will carry forward one point from phase 1 under the new format as they played a 2-2 draw against their fellow qualified team from Pool D, China. On the other hand, the Netherlands will have three carryover points after securing a win against their fellow Pool A qualified team, Australia.

With all teams playing just two games in phase 2, India will need to upset the defending world champions on their home ground if they wish to keep their semifinals hopes up and running.

A stern test of India’s growing confidence

India have made a promising start to their World Cup campaign and will now face their toughest challenge yet. They opened with a 2-2 draw against China before producing a commanding 6-1 victory over South Africa. A goalless draw against England in their final pool match then secured their place in Pool E.

India have therefore shown both attacking quality and defensive resilience, two traits they will need against the Netherlands. Deepika has emerged as an important attacking threat, while Savita Punia provides experience and stability in goal. India will also need to handle the Dutch press far better than most teams have managed.

World champions remain the team to beat

The Netherlands arrive as the undisputed benchmark of women’s hockey. They have won the last three editions of the World Cup and have continued their dominance across major international competitions.

Playing at home in Amstelveen gives them another advantage, with the familiar Wagener Stadium expected to provide a strong atmosphere for the defending champions. The Dutch possess quality throughout their squad, but their biggest weapon is the relentless pressure they apply through their high press and quick movement.

They can turn possession into repeated circle entries and penalty corners, forcing opponents to defend for long periods. Their depth also allows them to maintain intensity throughout a match. India will therefore need to avoid getting trapped inside their own half and must be clinical when opportunities arise. The Dutch will also remember their 2025 Pro League defeat to India and are unlikely to underestimate their opponents this time.

India vs Netherlands Women’s Hockey World Cup Phase 2: Live telecast and streaming

When will India vs Netherlands women’s match in phase 2 of Women’s Hockey World Cup be played?

The India vs Netherlands FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup phase 2 match will be played on Friday, August 21, 2026.

Where will India vs Netherlands women’s match in phase 2 of Women’s Hockey World Cup be played?

The match will take place at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands.

What time does India vs Netherlands women’s hockey match in phase 2 of Women’s Hockey World Cup start?

The India vs Netherlands FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup phase 2 match is scheduled to begin at 9:30 pm IST.

Where can I watch India vs Netherlands women’s hockey match in phase 2 of Women’s Hockey World Cup live on TV?

The FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup is being broadcast live on the Star Sports network in India.

Where can I watch India vs Netherlands women’s hockey match in phase 2 of Women’s Hockey World Cup live online?

The India vs Netherlands FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup phase 2 match will be available for live streaming on JioHotstar through its app and website.

The 2026 NFL season is rapidly approaching as the second week of the NFL preseason began on Thursday. That means Fantasy football draft season is officially here as well. Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson and Ja’Marr Chase are the first players off the board, according to the latest Fantasy football ADP, while players like Stefon Diggs (ADP of 120), Sam Darnold (142) and Jordan Love (148) are some of the Fantasy football picks going off the board late. 

Whether you’re hunting for a 2026 Fantasy football top 150 you can trust, potential 2026 Fantasy football breakouts, sleepers, and busts, or position-specific 2026 Fantasy football rankings, be sure to see what the 2026 Fantasy football draft bible at SportsLine has to say.

Prepared by Fantasy experts R.J. White and Josh Nagel, the Fantasy draft bible is a must-have for any serious Fantasy football player. White is SportsLine’s No. 1 NFL expert since 2017 who got his start in the Fantasy industry, with his work appearing at AOL Fanhouse, Fantasy Café and other sites prior to joining CBS Sports, where he is the current managing editor of Fantasy and betting content. Nagel is the longtime assistant managing editor at SportsLine and a Fantasy Football veteran. This team brings extensive Fantasy experience and can give you a huge edge in your league.

The 2026 guide not only ranks the top 150 players in non-, half- and full-PPR leagues, it reveals must-see sleepers, breakouts and busts, highlights key draft tips and strategies at each position and draft slot, and gives you more analysis that can guide your selections. The Fantasy football draft bible also offers detailed strategy tips for whichever league you play in: snake drafts, salary cap drafts and more. Head to SportsLine now to see the 2026 Fantasy football draft bible.

Top 2026 Fantasy football picks, advice 

The Fantasy football draft bible features 2026 Fantasy football sleepers from White, including:

Ravens TE Mark Andrews 

“He could benefit from Isaiah Likely leaving town, as the Ravens also have a lack of target locks behind Zay Flowers at receiver,” White said. “Andrews ranks higher than Likely because he’s a little bit cheaper and because I don’t see much competition at the tight end position for targets between the team’s two rookies and Durham Smythe, who has 136 receptions and just three touchdowns in 129 career games.”

Chargers WR Quentin Johnston

“Johnston has to be a top-21 receiver to justify making him a sleeper, and he was almost that last season while ranking 24th in points per game. His per-game production has been remarkably similar the last two years, so even if he doesn’t get into the top 20, there’s a good chance he’ll still provide value for Fantasy managers who draft him. And the potential is there to take a leap if Mike McDaniel can even further unlock his potential.” Get the full Fantasy football draft guide over at SportsLine.

How to find proven 2026 Fantasy football rankings

SportsLine’s Fantasy football 2026 draft guide has also identified other potential busts to avoid in the first round. These players have massively inflated Fantasy football ADPs and have the potential to completely sink your playoff hopes if over-drafted. You can only see who it is here.

So what is the value of every single player in the 2026 Fantasy football rankings and which huge busts could sink your season? Visit SportsLine now to see the complete 2026 Fantasy football draft bible, all from a team of proven Fantasy analysts who can give you a huge edge in your league. 

Strong Group-Pilipinas’ Boban Marjanovic during a game vs Jordan in the 2026 William Jones Cup. –SGA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Strong Group-Pilipinas salvaged fifth place in the 2026 William Jones Cup after beating Jordan, 96-91, in the classification game Friday night in Taiwan.

NBA veteran Boban Marjanovic spearheaded the charge for the Philippine-based team in their final game with 21 points, missing just four of his 13 shots from the field. He also had eight rebounds and three assists.

In the end, the  Strong Group-Pilipinas finished the tournament with six wins, including a 5-1 card for second place in the group phase.

Despite that record, the tournament’s new format denied the Philippines a semifinal spot as the host teams in both groups were given direct berths to the next phase.

Since losing their tournament opener at the hands of South Korea’s Wonju DB Promy, Strong Group-Pilipinas never dropped a game the rest of the way.

Coach Charles Tiu and company vented their ire on the semifinals-bound Chinese Taipei-Blue—which had a 1-5 record—with a 43-point beatdown, 117-74.

Tajuan Agee helped Marjanović in the classification game with 17 points, four rebounds and three steals, while Ian Miller and Matthew Wright added 15 points each for Strong Group-Pilipinas.

Hadi Alshami led Jordan with 21 points, while Abdullah Olajuwon, son of NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon, had 18 points, three assists and a block. Saif Saleh added 12 in the loss.

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has announced he is pulling out of the upcoming U.S. Open due to a knee injury.

Sinner, last year’s U.S. Open runner-up and 2024 champion, said in a social media post that over the past few days he’s been doing on-court work, but that he needs more recovery time.

“Even though I have been working hard with my team and my medical staff, we have now had to make the difficult decision that I will not be able to compete at the US Open this year. We have been back on court in Monte Carlo over the last couple of days and have realized that I still need more time to recover from my right knee issue.

“I’m obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart. I was very much looking forward to coming back and playing in the electric atmosphere in front of the great fans there.”

The 25-year-old Sinner has been out of action since winning Wimbledon last month.

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Sinner’s withdrawal comes one day after Carlos Alcaraz, who beat the Italian in last year’s U.S. Open final, announced he was returning following a four-month absence due to a wrist injury.

While Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are still playing at 39 and 41 respectively, most football fans thought Ronaldinho belonged to another footballing era.

That all changed in June, when Italian Serie C club, Ravenna, announced that the former Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan forward would play for them in the upcoming season.

On a rainy Thursday in northeastern Italy, the former Ballon d’Or winner was unveiled with a quick press conference and a sense of excitement gripping the city.

“I’m very happy to be here with friends, we have a team that can do something good,” said Ronaldinho.

“I just arrived, but I have a great desire to live this experience with the whole city.”

Pure PR?

The 46-year-old last played for Fluminense in his homeland in 2015 and will become a shareholder in Ravenna, owned by Ignazio Cipriani, an Italian-American businessman who has owned the club since 2024.

Despite holding up the shirt and signing a piece of paper for the cameras, the suspicion remains that this is little more than a PR stunt for an ambitious lower league club. Ronaldinho himself didn’t actually dispel those rumors.

“Will you see me play? I don’t know, only the coach knows that,” he said. “Coming back to Italy is wonderful, I’m here to help my teammates win.”

Both the Brazilian and Cipriani used the same language to describe one of Ronaldinho’s motivations: “Friendship and passion,” they both said. Both men also referred to Ronaldinho’s quest to score a 300th professional goal.

“His objective is romantic, to try to score his last goal,” Cipriani said.

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“His involvement is not a token gesture or a marketing stunt to get people talking about us.”

How an 81-year-old sprinter chases a world record

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The way in which that figure has been reached is slightly unclear, with many widely used resources saying Ronaldinho has scored far fewer than 299 goals in his career. He has, however, won the Ballon d’Or in 2005, the 2002 World Cup and topflight titles in Spain and Italy.

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Ronaldinho some way off Japan’s Miura

Whether he ends up playing or not, Ronaldinho’s presence in the northeastern city of about 160,000 inhabitants has sparked plenty of anticipation and ticket sales. Reports suggest the club has sold 2,700 season tickets, largely off the back of the Brazilian’s arrival.

Even if he does get onto the pitch at 46, Ronaldinho will be far from the oldest footballer around. That title has long belonged to Japan’s Kazuyoshi Miura, 59.

The former Japan international, who also played in Italy, scored two penalties in the country’s Emperor’s Cup competition this week, further extending his record as the world’s oldest player.

Edited by: Chuck Penfold

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A 42-year-old star has opened up about his WWE release. This year, the Stamford-based promotion cut a number of superstars from its roster following WrestleMania 42.

While a number of names were let go in a single swoop, the situation was a little different for Santos Escobar.

Escobar had been with the promotion since 2019, and there were rumors of him leaving the company in October 2025. However, he reportedly re-signed and began competing in AAA, owned by WWE.

After suffering a triceps injury in March, he underwent surgery before requiring a second procedure on his ulnar nerve in April. His release came just days after the second surgery.

In a recent interview with TMZ’s Inside The Ring, he opened up on his exit. He said the situation was hard for him because he was injured.

“In all honesty, it was hard; it was difficult. It was difficult mostly because of the injuries, not so much for the release itself, which, you know, the optics always matter, but that’s something that’s out of my reach. I don’t really know what’s behind it,” he said.

Escobar described the situation as heartbreaking, saying he wasn’t ready for it.

“Again, it was a very heartbreaking situation for me personally because I was injured, and I think it was maybe six or seven days after my second surgery. So it was even more heartbreaking, disappointing, if you can imagine my mental state at that point. I don’t want to say I was ready because I wasn’t. I don’t think anyone is ready for that,” he said.

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Santos Escobar reveals conversation with Nick Khan leading to WWE return

Amid his prolonged absence from WWE last year, it was rumored that Santos Escobar had left the company. But in October, he reportedly re-signed a deal to continue his tenure.

During the conversation on Inside The Ring, Escobar revealed that he let his contract expire and was ready to look at other options. However, he received a call from WWE President Nick Khan, who apologized for how his character was treated.

Escobar said that Khan told him that they would give him everything he needs to thrive, and that’s the reason he re-signed with them.

If you use quotes from this article, please credit TMZ’s Inside The Ring podcast and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.