Indian tennis legend Leander Paes on Saturday said he has been entrusted with responsibilities related to India’s bid for the 2036 Olympic Games, describing it as a key to his new role in public life.

The seven-time Olympian said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given him the task of working on youth development and sports while helping the country pursue its ambition of hosting the Olympics in 2036.

In his first media interaction in Kolkata after joining the BJP, Paes said, “Modi ji gave me a clear vision — to work for the youth and sports. He has given me the responsibility of the 2036 Olympics. I have to work hard with a team to bring the Olympics to this country.” 
He also said that he would contribute towards hosting the Commonwealth Games in Gujarat.

The tennis legend said hosting the Olympics could help transform India’s sporting ecosystem and strengthen its global standing.

Drawing parallels between sporting success and economic strength, he noted that the top medal-winning nations at the 2024 Summer Olympics, including the US, China, Japan, Australia and Great Britain, are also among the world’s leading economies.

Paes said India should aim to achieve similar success by building a strong sporting culture and investing in infrastructure and grassroots talent development.

“In sports and sports education lies the ability to build a superpower,” he said, adding that developing young athletes would be key to India’s Olympic ambitions.

Paes also stressed the need to improve sports infrastructure in states such as West Bengal, noting that the state still lacks an indoor tennis stadium and often relies on temporary wooden courts for international events such as the Davis Cup.

Paes said his broader mission is to impact the lives of 250 million children over the next two decades through sports and education, adding that India’s youth would play a decisive role in the country’s Olympic aspirations and global rise.

Calling his transition from sport to public life a “new game”, Paes said he would approach the responsibility with the same passion and commitment that defined his tennis career.

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, and the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium will take centre stage as the 6th Sportsville Special Recognition Award holds in Lagos.

Elder Paul Bassey is a Nigerian sports journalist and administrator, the 2nd Vice-President of the African Club Association, and a CAF/FIFA match commissioner. He has dedicated decades to sports journalism and administration, earning him the nickname “Paul Sports Bassey.”

Bassey, who has spent just one year in office as Commissioner for Sports, has overseen a strong rise in Akwa Ibom’s performances at national sporting events. He has consistently credited these achievements to the support and vision of the state government led by Pastor Umo Eno.

The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo will also be honoured with the Best Facilities Award in the government category. The stadium remains the top sporting venue in the country, meeting international standards set by FIFA and CAF, thanks to consistent maintenance by the Akwa Ibom state government.

The facility is the home of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and has also served as a venue for several teams in CAF club competitions.

The ceremony, scheduled to take place at the Lagos Country Club, will also recognise 20 Nigerians across seven categories.

In the Icon category, Kwame Arthur and Chuka Momah will be honoured. Itiako Ikpokpo and Wahid Oshodi will receive the Sports Personalities of the Year award.

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, will be decorated with the Sports Transformative Impact Award.

Other recipients include Femi Bankole Alibay and Bambo Akani in the Creative and Innovative category, while Amadin Desmond Enabulele will be recognised for Visionary Leadership.

In the Achievers category, Christian Emeruwa and Felix Akiga will be honoured.

The Special Recognition category will feature Isaac Danladi, Akin Afolarin, Fred Newton Erhunwunse, Toyin Aluko, Fausat Dehinde Yekini, and Toyosi Oyetunji.

The Sportsville Award, now in its sixth edition, continues to celebrate excellence and contributions to sports development in Nigeria.

Six games without a win or clean sheet and four games without a goal, it’s been a tough time for Northern Ireland women at both ends of the pitch.

Simultaneously, there looks to be obvious fixes for new boss Michael McArdle to transform their recent fortunes and get this team in transition back on track as they look to secure a play-off for the 2027 World Cup.

They clearly have work to do, particularly when it comes to scoring goals.

Under interim boss Kris Lindsay, Northern Ireland were fairly solid in defeats against Switzerland and Turkey, with an individual error against the latter from Lauren Perry gifting the visitors a victory.

There seems to be a solid base to build on in that regard, but at the other end of the pitch it is a different story.

They had just one shot on target against the Swiss and two at home against Turkey.

With captain and star striker Simone Magill absent from this World Cup qualifying campaign as she is expecting her first child, McArdle must find others to shoulder the goalscoring burden.

In his first squad he has turned to uncapped 22-year-old striker Cora Chambers alongside Glentoran teenager Kascie Weir.

The Linfield forward formed a deadly partnership with Eve Reilly for the Blues in the Women’s Premiership last season, registering 20 goals and McArdle was keen to reward her consistent form since moving to the club in 2024 with her goal tally standing at 39 in just 47 appearances.

“Excitement, I think that’s the certainly in immediate observation [of Cora],” the new boss told BBC Sport NI.

“Looking ahead to Malta, there’s a focus on the front end of the pitch. Cora is definitely a player that over the last two years in the league has shown real strength in her outcomes and consistent performances and it’s one of those ones that it’s easy to reward that.

“Really excited by Cora and I think that the energy that she can add is slightly different to what we already have and certainly it’s a reward for her hard work over the last couple of seasons at club.”

Hills has done it before when she guided Tottenham to the WSL for the first time in their history in 2019, alongside coach Juan Carlos Amoros.

Former defender Hills’ Charlton side have been built on strong foundations, consistency and a formidable defensive record.

They have conceded the league’s fewest goals (17), kept the most clean sheets (eight) and had a 27-game unbeaten run, which ended in March.

With two automatic promotion spots up for grabs, and third place banking a play-off against the WSL’s bottom club, Charlton are in a good place.

“We haven’t looked too far ahead but I’m ambitious, the players are ambitious and the club is ambitious,” said Hills.

“Outside noise talks about [promotion], family and friends talk about it, so players probably feel it. There is a lot on social media and outsiders influence that.

“All of a sudden you start believing in it. It’s about making sure that we don’t get too high or too low, and just concentrate on the next game.

“We know it’s a big challenge. The money that’s in the WSL 2 is frightening and every single team now is fully professional. For me, it’s been the best season.”

Six teams can still earn promotion to the WSL with less than a month to go before the season concludes.

Charlton once had a nine-point lead but losses last month were costly. They were overtaken at the top by Birmingham and have work to do.

“There’s always highs and lows within every season. We’ve had some unbelievable moments and going 27 games unbeaten is a milestone that any team would be happy with and proud of,” said Hills, reflecting on the campaign so far.

“We’ve now got to a point in the season where it’s the business end and every team can beat anyone on any given day. Everyone’s fighting for everything.

“We are certainly fighting as well. It’s just an incredible league, right? I think it will be very unpredictable right until the last game.”

Derek Chisora takes on Deontay Wilder on Saturday, and two-division world champion and former Chisora rival David Haye has laid out his prediction for the O2 Arena scrap.

Chisora has become a fan-favourite with the British public over the years, famed for his love of violence, unique personality and determined mindset. Although, at the age of 43 years old, ‘Del Boy’ is set to call time on a long career, even if successful against Wilder.

For Wilder, the contest represents a major opportunity to announce his return to the big time, with Chisora’s favourable ranking with the sanctioning bodies offering ‘The Bronze Bomber’ a route back to the peak of the division.

However, Haye, who defeated Chisora at Upton Park back in 2012, told The Sun Sport that he believes his countryman will end his career with a victory, when sharing his forecast for the fight.

“Derek Chisora on points but also a potential late stoppage. Once Wilder runs out of steam, he sort of [flops around]. He doesn’t have very big legs, his foundations are quite slim.

“Once he loses that [foundation], like we saw against [Zhilei] Zhang, very quickly he started falling all over the place, he was spinning around and he wasn’t together like he once was.

“I think that there is an opportunity for Derek, not early, I don’t think it will happen early but I think Derek will drag him into a very uncomfortable situation where it is very close and they are pushing and pulling. That is what Derek needs, that is what Derek wants.

“In the first three rounds, Wilder is dangerous against anybody, for sure, he can nail you. But going past the midway stage, I don’t think that he is going to be able to keep Derek off of him, and if he does, he will be losing the rounds conclusively.”

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Wilder-Chisora will take place on Saturday, with the likes of Viddal Riley and Denzel Bentley featuring on the undercard.

April is here, meaning it’s draft month for the Minnesota Vikings, and we’re bringing the first batch of rumors for the month.

Three new Vikings rumors spotlight Greenard, Turner, and Minnesota’s search for help at center.

Each weekend, we publish two rounds of the hottest Vikings rumors, with never a dull moment in the purple orbit.

Latest Chatter Reveals Key Questions for Minnesota’s Roster

The Purple Rumor Mill for April 4th.

Rumor: Jonathan Greenard could be shipped to the Indianapolis Colts during the draft.

Bleacher Report‘s Brent Sobleski published his five “most plausible” NFL trade ideas for the draft, and Minnesota got the call with Greenard.

He noted about the Colts as the trade partner, “The Colts already lack a first-round pick thanks to last year’s trade deadline acquisition of cornerback Sauce Gardner. However, the market for an edge-defender isn’t nearly as robust when discussing anyone other than Crosby.”

“Jonathan Greenard is the logical target. The Vikings were looking to create salary-cap space earlier this offseason and did so by restructuring running back Aaron Jones’ contract and releasing defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Still, the Vikings are only $5.5 million under the salary cap before signing the incoming rookie class. In order to create some more flexibility, Greenard can be moved, with the team saving $12.3 million via trade.”

Greenard has also pranced around the Philadelphia Eagles’ rumor mill.

Sobleski continued, “Even after re-signing wide receiver Alec Pierce and quarterback Daniel Jones, the Colts massaged the numbers to where they still have over $27 million in available cap space. They can easily take on Greenard’s remaining base salary and address a significant need, with an end who generated 12 or more sacks in two of the last three seasons.”

“Indianapolis may not have a first-round pick, but the Colts could easily flip a third- or fourth-round selection — the Dallas Cowboys traded a fourth for Rashan Gary — and possibly quarterback Anthony Richardson to get a deal done.”

The Colts’ main EDGE defenders are Laia Latutu and Arden Key. If Greenard is for sale, Indianapolis makes a lot of sense. That franchise is “all in” to win a Super Bowl, and most teams with that mindset stock up on pass rushers.

Rumor: The Vikings aren’t incredibly high on Dallas Turner as a starter.

Most Vikings fans have assumed Turner is possibly on track for a Pro Bowl jump in 2026 after closing 2025 strong. KSTP’s Darren Wolfson pushed back on that outlook this week.

He said on SKOR North airwaves, ‘I don’t think the Vikings are ready for Dallas Turner — even though you look at the last half of last year, I know there’s a sense that Dallas Turner is ready to ascend even more — but I’m not sure, internally, they are ready for Dallas Turner to play 55 to 62-ish snaps in a game. And who else do they have? Now, I suppose if you trade Greenard, okay, Dallas ascends up, he’ll play that much more.”

“You can go sign a street free agent — there’s still some guys available — or use a draft pick on somebody that can rush the quarterback from the edge. But I just don’t think they’re ready for Dallas to have like a significantly bigger role. I’m getting into semantics, right? Because is he going to have a bigger role in 26? Yes. I’m not suggesting otherwise, but a much bigger role? I’m not sure they’re ready for that.”

The context helps explain why Greenard remains in place; if the Vikings aren’t fully sold on Turner, moving Greenard for top value carries real risk.

Minnesota has three years left of team control with Turner; he’ll need to break out sooner rather than later, mainly because the trade to get him in 2024 was so expensive.

Rumor: Minnesota should explore free-agent center Graham Glasgow.

BR’s Gary Davenport analyzed each NFL team with free agency largely in the rearview, finding one player per squad before the draft. Glasgow was connected to Minnesota.

He explained, “There’s no shortage of drama under center in the Twin Cities this year, where the acquisition of Kyler Murray sets up a summer-long battle with J.J. McCarthy for the right to be Minnesota’s starting quarterback in 2026.”

“But after veteran Ryan Kelly retired, the spot in front of the quarterback is a question mark as well—the team’s top center as things stand now (Blake Brandel) hasn’t played 400 snaps at center over a five-year career. Graham Glasgow played almost 900 snaps at center for the Detroit Lions last year alone.”

The Vikings may also draft a center in 19 days.

Davenport added, “In a decade-long career spent in Detroit and Denver, Glasgow has played extensively at all three positions on the interior of the offensive line. At 33, Glasgow’s best football is probably behind him.”

“But he was a capable starter last year in Detroit, giving up just a single sack and committing two penalties across 873 snaps per Pro Football Focus.”

Glasgow produced a 56.2 PFF grade last year. The Vikings might be better off with Brandel and a rookie.