ESPN India's daily live blog is your handy guide for everything to do with the wide world of Indian sport. We have the latest updates and analysis from the entire bouquet of Olympic and franchise sports with an Indian bent. The blog is updated throughout the day, so keep checking back to catch up on news you may have missed.
Here are all the key updates from December 24, Sunday:
ISL: Kerala Blasters beat Mumbai City
And what a comprehensive 2-0 win it was. Goals from the strike duo of Diamantakos and Peprah (well taken, well created - one assisting the other for each), saw the Blasters give Kochi a Christmas Eve party to remember. At the other end, they were barely troubled - Mumbai City may have been reeling under the weight of their many suspensions (four from the last game alone) but they had enough quality on the pitch to trouble any side: but it never clicked against a Blasters side that never stopped gegenpressing from minute one. The Blasters have now tied Goa on points atop the league (though they have played two games more), while defending league stage champions Mumbai remain fourth, four points behind the duo.
PKL: U Mumba beat Bengal Warriors, Bengaluru Bulls pip Telugu Titans
A late flurry from U Mumba's Amirmohammad Zafardanesh helped them to a 39-37 win over over Maninder Singh's Bengal Warriors. Maninder top scored in the match with 11 points (8 raid, 3 bonus), but U Mumba's all-round game came in clutch towards the end to help them to their fourth win in six. Bengal's solitary point (because the loss was by less than a seven point margin), though keeps them a place above U Mumba.
The second match of the night was a close affair too, and was once again won by the team that put in a team effort, distributing points across multiple players. Surjeet Singh had 7, Bharat had 6, while Vikash Khandola and Neeraj Narwal had five each. On the other hand, Pawan Sehrawat did the bulk of the scoring for Titans (with 13!) but the next highest was Ajit Pawar. The Bulls move to sixth in the table while the Titans remain rooted at the bottom of the table. They remain the only team that is yet to reach double digit points.
ISL: Bengaluru come from behind to draw NorthEast
A stunning late header from Sivasakthi Narayanan helped Bengaluru FC hold NorthEast United to a draw at the Kanteerava. A dull first half gave way to an exciting second half - a period where both teams rued good chances. Parthab Gogoi missed a one-on-one vs Gurpreet Singh Sandhu while at the other end Keziah Veendorp and Ryan Williams spurned superb chances. The opening goal finally came when Roshan Singh left a leg out to catch Gogoi in the box, Nestor Albiach converting the penalty in the 86th minute. There was a big chunk of time added on, and it was in the 95th minute that Sivasakthi rose highest to thunder home a header from past the penalty spot.
The Kerala Blasters, meanwhile, are leading Mumbai City 2-0 at halftime.
Sports Ministry requests IOA to constitute ad-hoc committee to manage WFI affairs
Here's the latest development in the WFI suspension case:
The Ministry has now written to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to constitute an ad-hoc body to control and manage the affairs of WFI.
"... Taking note of the compelling current situation arising out of the influence and control of the WFI's former office bearers, serious concerns have arisen about the governance and integrity of the WFI," said the letter signed by Tarun Pareek, under secretary to the Government of India.
"This requires for immediate and stringent corrective measures to uphold the principles of good governance in sports organizations, and thus, now it becomes incumbent on part of the IOA to to make suitable arrangements for the interim for managing the affairs of WFI so that sportspersons of wrestling discipline do not suffer in any manner and the principle of good governance in the sports body do not get jeopradised," he said in the letter addressed to IOA President PT Usha.
Brij Bhushan and Vinesh Phogat react
Former federation boss Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh spoke after the suspension of WFI. Once again, it's the former chief that's explaining the rationale of the decisions taken by the newly elected president and committee
#WATCH | After the Union Sports Ministry suspends the newly elected body of the Wrestling Federation of India, former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh says, "...Sanjay Singh is not my relative...The announcement to hold U-15 and U-20 nationals in Nandini Nagar was to ensure... pic.twitter.com/wE5dW76KO7
- ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2023
Meanwhile, here's what Vinesh posted;
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- Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) December 24, 2023
Sports Ministry suspends newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India
Big breaking news coming in from Indian wrestling as the Sports Ministry has suspended the Wrestling Federation of India, which was elected just three days back.
The reason is the hasty announcement of the U-15 and U-20 nationals in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, which goes against the established norms. Gonda is the stronghold of outgoing chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by India's leading wrestlers.
The decisions made by the newly elected executive body of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) demonstrate a blatant disregard for the established legal and procedural norms, violating both the WFI's constitutional provisions and the National Sports Development Code,' the Sports Ministry said in its letter of suspension.
The WFI elections, much delayed after a string on controversies, saw Sanjay Singh, a loyalist of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh elected by a vast majority, who was seen prominently post the elections. In protest, Olympic medal winner Sakshi Malik announced her retirement and Bajrang Punia returned his Padma Shri award.
What happened yesterday?
ISL: FC Goa handed Mohun Bagan a 4-1 thrashing as Manolo Marquez's side remained unbeaten and top of the table, although saw their record run of clean sheets come to an end.
Virender Singh (Goonga Pehlwan) returned his Padma Shri in solidarity with wrestlers protesting the WFI election results.
In PKL, Jaipur Pink Panthers produced a comeback to defeat home side Tamil Thalaivas 25-24, while Gujarat Giants had a far more comfortable win over UP Yoddhas.(38-30)
India's Davis Cup team will have to travel to Pakistan.
Saurabh Chaudhary was back in the winner's circle with a win in the men's 10m air pistol T1 national selection trials.
You can check all the details of yesterday's news events here.