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Harmanpreet Singh praises Virat Kohli's discipline

India men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh shared his admiration for Indian cricket stalwart Virat Kohli after the two recently met, highlighting the similarities in mindset across different sports. Taking to Instagram, Harmanpreet expressed his respect for Kohli's dedication and work ethic, emphasising how elite athletes across disciplines share a common approach to excellence.           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Harmanpreet Singh (@harmanpreet_13) "Really nice catching up with Virat Kohli paji. Always respect the way he carries himself and the effort he puts into his game every single day," he wrote. Despite belonging to different sporting arenas, Harmanpreet noted that the core principles of success remain the same. "Different sports, but the mindset is the same, stay disciplined, keep improving, and give your best for India. Good conversation, good vibes," he added. IPL 2026 is set to begin on March 28, with franchises gearing up for another highly competitive edition of the league. On March 11, BCCI announced the schedule for the first phase of the 2026 IPL edition, which is to be played from March 28 to April 12. The 19th edition of the biggest T20 league on the globe will commence when defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) host Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. A total of 20 matches will be played across 10 venues: Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. Following the opening encounter on Saturday, the Mumbai Indians will take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. The first double-header of the season will take place on April 4, 2026, when Delhi Capitals face Mumbai Indians in the afternoon match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, followed by Gujarat Titans taking on Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Rajasthan Royals will begin their home campaign in Guwahati, where they will host Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Punjab Kings (PBKS), meanwhile, will play their early home fixtures at the PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh. During the season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play five home matches in Bengaluru and two in Raipur. Punjab Kings will play four home matches in New Chandigarh and three in Dharamshala, while Rajasthan Royals will play three home matches in Guwahati and four in Jaipur. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

26 March,2026 08:57 AM IST | Bengaluru (Karnataka) | ANI
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Indian archers claim two bronze, reach four finals

Indian archers bagged two bronze medals and also stormed into the finals of the men's recurve and women's compound team events on the second day of the Asia Cup World Ranking Tournament Stage 1 here on Wednesday. India also confirmed three medals in the individual section, but it came with the embarrassment for the recurve men, where none of the four archers could reach the medal rounds in a sharp fall from the previous edition's top-two finish by Vishnu Choudhary and Rahul. The women's compound team improved on its bronze from the previous edition by reaching the final. The trio of Chikitha Taniparthi, Raj Kaur and Tejal Salve edged past local favourites Kanyavee Maneesombatkul, Kanoknapus Kaewchomphu and Chaniddapa Thanaratpitinan 229-226 in a closely-fought semifinal to set up a summit clash against third-seeded Kazakhstan. However, there was some disappointment in the men's compound section, where India fielded one of their most experienced combinations. Despite topping the qualification round with Indian archers sweeping the top four spots, the team failed to defend its title and had to settle for a bronze. The trio of Rajat Chauhan, Rishabh Yadav and Uday Kamboj squandered a strong five-point lead to lose 233-234 to Vietnam in the semifinals. India began with a perfect opening end but faltered in the second, managing 57 while Vietnam's Cong Duc Dang, Ngoc Tu Pham and Xuan Huong Tran shot a perfect 60 to cut the deficit. The Vietnamese continued their surge with another perfect 60 in the third end to overturn the deficit and take a one-point lead.Both teams shot 59 in the final end, sealing India's narrow defeat. The Indians, however, bounced back to beat Bhutan 234-232 in the bronze medal match. In the recurve section, India entered the men's team final with a 5-1 win over Malaysia. The top-seeded trio of Devaang Gupta, Sukhchain Singh and Juyel Sarkar won comfortably without dropping a set. India took the opening set 53-50 and edged the second 53-52 in a low-scoring contest. Both teams improved in the third set, with India shooting four 10s, but it ended in a 56-all tie which was just enough to send India into the final, where they will meet third-seeded Kazakhstan. The women's recurve team also signed off with a bronze medal, beating Malaysia 5-1, having missing out on a podium finish in the previous edition at the same venue. The trio of Ruma Biswas, Kirti and Ridhi Phor delivered a dominant performance and dropped just one point in the opening set to win 59-56, before extending their lead with a 53-50 win in the second. The third set ended 52-52, confirming the bronze. Compound dominance, recurve men flop show Later in the afternoon session that catered to individual rounds, India had mixed outing. In men's compound, Chauhan, Jawkar and Kamboj overcame the disappointment of team showing by progressing to the medal matches and kept alive hopes of a clean sweep. Jawkar edged past Chauhan 149-148 in a tight semifinal, while Kamboj defeated local favourite Peerawat Rattanapongkiat 147-145. Jawkar and Kamboj will now clash for gold, with Chauhan set to compete for bronze. Ridhi kept India's campaign alive in women's recurve, storming into the final to stay in contention for her maiden international individual gold. The 24-year-old beat Malaysia's Xing Lei Joey Tan in straight sets, dropping just one point in the opening set (29-26) before taking control with a 27-23 second set. She wrapped up the contest comfortably in the third. The Haryana archer will face Mongolia's Oyun-Erdene Baasandorj in the final. In sharp contrast, the men's recurve campaign ended in disappointment. Eighth seed Sukhchain Singh lost in straight sets to neutral athlete and Russian born Kirill Batuev, who shot six 10s from nine arrows to win 29-28, 29-28, 28-26. Devaang Gupta put up a fight before going down 4-6 to Malaysia's Chong Evan Rich in a closely fought five-setter. In women's compound, Tejal Salve remained the lone Indian in contention for a medal, entering the bronze playoff after losing her semifinal 144-147 to top seed Arina Cherkezova, a neutral athlete originally from Russia. The other Indians -- Chikitha Raj Kaur and Swati Dudhwal -- exited in the pre-quarterfinals. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

26 March,2026 08:46 AM IST | Bangkok | PTI
Representational image. Pic/iStock

Ramchandra Memorial badminton tournament from March 26 to 29

The Yonex Sunrise Manoj Ramchandra Memorial state open badminton tournament will be organised by the North Indian Association and the Padukone Shuttlers’ Academy from March 26 to 29. The tournament for men, women, boys and girls U-11 and U-15 categories will be played at the North Indian Association and Matunga Gymkhana courts. The men’s and women’s titles carry a cash award of Rs 41,000 each, while the runner-up will receive Rs 31,000 each. For details, call Jitesh Padukone on 9821051790.

26 March,2026 08:36 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
Baranica Elangovan. Pic/Baranica's Instagram account

Baranica Elangovan breaks national record with 4.22m in pole vault

Tamil Nadu's 29-year-old international pole vaulter Baranica Elangovan was the cynosure of all eyes on the opening day of the first edition of the National Indoor Athletics Championships at Indoor Stadium on Tuesday. Baranica raised the bar to 4.22m to set a national record in the women's pole vault, according to a release. The previous national record of 4.21m was set by Rosy Meena Paulraj in 2022 in Bengaluru. "It's good day for me to enter my name in the record books. I've been trying hard to cross 4.20m in the past but Tuesday turned out to be a lucky day for me," Baranica said in post-competition interaction. She attempted to further raise the bat to 4.25m but wasn't successful in clearing the height. Away from the pole vault arena, there was an exciting duel in men's long jump between Praveen Chithravel of Tamil Nadu representing JSW and Odisha's Sarun Payasingh. But it was 25-year-old Payasingh who clinched the gold medal in the men's long jump with a distance of 7.80m, a personal best. Odisha's newly crowned champion was excited to have won gold in front of the home crowd. "My main focus here at the National Indoor competition was to improve my personal best. I'm happy to have successfully achieved my goal," the football turned long jumper said in the post-competition interaction. Payasingh started with no mark but sailed to 7.80m in the second attempt, which earned him gold. The eventual winner had no marks on his third and fourth attempts. His fifth jump was 7.69m, and his last jump was 7.79m. Payasingh said he recently changed his jumping technique, which paid dividends. "I'm on the right track," Payasingh said. Payasingh's previous best of 7.78m was recorded recently at Indian Open Jumps Competition in Bengaluru. The main focus in the men's long jump was on Tamil Nadu's international athlete Praveen Chithravel. The national record holder in the triple jump was competing here in the long jump to gain valuable indoor experience. "It was a good experience for me here in Bhubaneswar," Chithravel added. Chithravel's opening jump was 7.32m. He recorded 7.78m in his second jump, and his third jump was 7.55m. Chithravel's main goal is the upcoming 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi, scheduled to be held between May 22 and 25. The competition in Ranchi assumes significance as its qualification event for the July 23 to August 2 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Earlier, Odisha's Sports and Youth Services Minister Suraj Suryabanshi inaugurated the competition, saying the first National Indoor Athletics Championships here at Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium was a historic chapter in Indian athletics. "Hosting the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Bhubaneswar will further reaffirm Odisha as the Sports Capital of India," he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

25 March,2026 09:04 AM IST | Bhubaneswar (Odisha) | ANI
Rohan Bopanna. Pic/AFP

Bopanna: Happy to see strides taken by Dhakshineswar, Vaishnavi

Veteran star Rohan Bopanna was delighted to see the emergence of Dhakshineswar Suresh and Vaishnavi Adkar but underlined the need to develop the tennis landscape in India in a more structured manner. Both Dhakshineswar and Vaishnavi have been impressive in recent tournaments, with the latter becoming the first Indian woman after Sania Mirza to reach the final of a W100 event. "Really happy for them. I think once he's done with college, he's to come there and see the challenges in the challenger circuit. That is where the real journey begins. And yes, of course, he has a massive game," Bopanna told PTI during an interaction facilitated by ASICS India. "Having a serve like that, especially in men's tennis, makes a huge difference. I think he's got great potential. Just having the right team around him, I think, could change so many wonderful aspects of his game and get him on the right path," he added. Bopanna also lauded Vaishnavi for making rapid progress in the circuit. "Vaishnavi has already shown tremendous progress. I really want to see if we can build a structure around them. We don't have a structure, whether it is singles, doubles, anything. "Whoever has come up in this country has done it on their own pathway, and we haven't really built a structure there. And that is what is going to make a difference is to create a journey for youngsters to even have a roadmap to get there and play at the highest level," he noted. The two-time Grand Slam champion in doubles said he would like to mentor these upcoming players at his academy - the RBTA. "I think the biggest thing is to tying up with the right partners. I think that is the key, not only to help athletes, but to really build an ecosystem. And that is where I feel I can bring in all my experience of being on the tour for such a long period of time."I have access to all the top coaches across the world, which gives me a great edge to guide these players and help them in that journey," he said. Exciting to see squash in LA Games Veteran squash player Joshna Chinnappa, however, is nourishing a different dream at 39 - the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 where the sport will make its debut."It's very exciting that squash is finally in the Olympics. It should have been there a long time ago. But having said that, it's just raised the profile of the sport so much. There's a lot more support coming in as well for all the squash players. "And yeah, I definitely think we have a winning prospect. As far as me wanting to go for the 2028, let's see. I'm taking one month at a time right now based on my body and my health," she said. Chinnappa was also elated to see the talent rush in Indian squash. "It's grown leaps and bounds. Before it was just Saurav, Dipika and me for many years.  And now you have obviously Annie (Anahat), Abhay, Veer, Ramit, there's me, there's Tanvi. So it's almost like eight of us now who are really solid on the ground. "That is just a testament to how much effort has been put in from the federation, from the governments, the state government and also our own efforts to try and make a mark on the world map. And that's what we're seeing right now," she said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

25 March,2026 09:00 AM IST | Bengaluru | PTI
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India top six events in Asia Cup Stage 1 qualifiers as Compound men dominate

India's young recurve archers rose to the occasion while the seasoned compound men stamped their authority, as the country topped qualification in six events at the Asia Cup World Ranking Tournament Stage 1, here on Tuesday. Fielding a second-string side in the absence of several top names, India made a strong start to the new international season by finishing on top in men's compound individual and team events, men's recurve team, women's compound team, and both recurve and compound mixed team events. The recurve men's trio of Devaang Gupta, Sukhchain Singh and Juyel Sarkar led the charge, powering India to the top seeding in the team event and a direct entry into the quarterfinals, where they will face the winners of the tie between Bhutan (No. 9) and Mongolia (No. 8). China and Kazakhstan finished second and third respectively. Devaang, one of India's brightest young prospects who recently won gold at the Khelo India University Games and a silver at the 2024 Pan American Championships, was the best-placed Indian in the individual rankings at third with 663 points, just four behind top-ranked neutral archer Kirill Batuev. China's Jiabing Yang (664) took the second spot. Sukhchain Singh, making a comeback after five years, was placed eighth with 657, while the 20-year-old Juyel Sarkar, a consistent performer in Asia Cup team events, finished 11th with 654. In women's recurve, Ruma Biswas produced an impressive show to finish second with 650 points, just three behind Singapore's Tabitha Ern Lin Yeo. Kirti (638, 10th) and Ridhi Phor (627, 17th), who is returning after a three-year gap, were the other notable Indian performers as the team secured third place behind Malaysia and Vietnam. Compound quartet shines The experienced compound men completely dominated proceedings, occupying the top four spots in the individual qualification. Veteran Rajat Chauhan led the field with a stellar 712 out of a possible 720, followed by world No. 4 Rishabh Yadav (708), Asian Games gold medallist Prathamesh Jawkar (706) and Uday Kamboj (703). The trio, which is among the strongest in the field and will be aiming to defend their title, also ensured India a direct quarterfinal berth in the team event, where they will take on the winners of Chinese Taipei (No. 8) and Singapore (No. 9). India had entered the tournament as firm favourites in the compound section, even in the absence of some big names, with the core group boasting significant international success, including a World Championships team gold last year. In the women's compound section, 20-year-old Chikitha Taniparthi led the Indian challenge with a fourth-place finish (697), continuing her steady rise after a team bronze at this venue last year. She was followed by experienced archer Raj Kaur (5th), while Tejal Salve, a gold medallist from last year's Asia Cup leg in Singapore, finished 13th with 658. The trio combined to give India the top seeding in the team event. India also topped the standings in both recurve and compound mixed team events, underlining their all-round depth despite fielding a relatively inexperienced squad. The tournament marks the start of a long international season, with the Indian think-tank opting to rest established names such as Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Abhishek Verma to test bench strength ahead of the Asian Games later this year. Despite the absence of these marquee archers, India the defending overall champions will be aiming to continue their dominance on the Asia Cup circuit, having topped the medal tally with eight medals, including five gold, in last year's opening leg. With 194 archers from 19 countries competing, the event offers crucial world ranking points and serves as an early-season testing ground.  This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

25 March,2026 08:59 AM IST | Bangkok | PTI
Serena Williams

Former tennis star Serena Williams gives skiing a shot

Tennis icon Serena Williams may have stepped away from the court, but her desire to chase that adrenaline rush has not deserted her. In her recent Instagram post, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion is seen trying her hand at skiing. “Spring break time and I’m trying something new,” she captioned the post. US ski champ Lindsey Vonn replied: “Love this! Need to get you some better gear, then you’ll be cruising!”           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)

25 March,2026 08:51 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
Lakshya Sen. Pic/AFP

Lakshya Sen to lead Team India’s Thomas Cup challenge

Lakshya Sen, fresh from his All England runner-up finish, will spearhead India's challenge in the Thomas Cup, while former world champion PV Sindhu and rising star Unnati Hooda will lead the women's team in the Uber Cup next month. The Badminton Association of India has largely retained the core of the side that scripted a historic triumph at the Thomas Cup in 2022, naming Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, H.S. Prannoy and the men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty for the upcoming edition in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 to May 3. Young shuttler Ayush Shetty has earned a maiden call-up after consistent performances on the senior circuit. The men's squad also sees the return of M. R. Arjun, a member of the 2022 title-winning team, who has fought back from injury to bolster the doubles lineup, alongside new entrant Hariharan Amsakarunan. Dhruv Kapila, part of the 2022 doubles squad, will add experience to the doubles lineup, while Kiran George will bring added depth to the singles. In the Uber Cup, 2019 world champion Sindhu will spearhead India's challenge alongside the top doubles pair of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, as the team looks to better its previous semifinal finishes. Unnati Hooda is joined by a group of in-form youngsters, including Devika Sihag, Isharani Baruah, and teenager Tanvi Sharma. "The selections were based on BWF rankings as of March 10, with the top five singles players and top two doubles pairs making the cut. Additional inclusions were made keeping team combinations in mind, with players like Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto earning spots due to their experience across doubles formats," said BAI in a release. "We have a good mix of youth and experience in both teams. The senior players bring stability, and the youngsters are in great form. They've shown they can deliver at this level, which gives us confidence going into the tournament," said Sanjay Mishra, BAI General Secretary. "In the women's team, Devika Sihag's selection follows her title-winning run at the Thailand Masters earlier this year, while Isharani Baruah comes in on the back of a semifinal finish at the Orleans Masters. Tanvi Sharma continues to build her reputation as one of the sport's brightest prospects, while Unnati Hooda's rapid rise has already brought her three senior titles," said the BAI release. Kavipriya Selvam, a finalist at the Uganda International Challenge 2026, is set to make her debut in the doubles lineup, partnering Simran Singhi, with Tanisha Crasto completing the unit. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

25 March,2026 08:48 AM IST | New Delhi | PTI
Representation pic/iStock

Asian Team Squash Championship to be held in Islamabad postponed

The Asian Team Squash Championship scheduled in Islamabad next month has been postponed due to the ongoing conflict in the Gulf region. The event was scheduled to be held from April 14 to 18. "The Asian Squash Federation has informed us that it is not feasible to hold the event at this time because of the conflict and the resulting situation in the region," said an official. He said that if the situation improves, the Pakistan Squash Federation will look at a window sometime in September. Asked if the Indian squash federation had agreed to send its team for the event, the official said that the confirmation of teams participating in the championship is being handled by the continental body. He said the PSF when given the hosting rights, had guaranteed safety and security of all participating teams. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

24 March,2026 09:08 AM IST | Karachi | PTI
Kim Kardashian. Pic/Kim’s Instagram; (right) Lewis Hamilton. Pic/Lewis’s Instagram

Lewis Hamilton and Kim Kardashian spotted in Tokyo

Seven-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton seems to be making the most of the two-week break between races. The Briton was recently seen in Tokyo while roaming hand in hand with partner Kim Kardashian. According to British tabloid The Sun, Hamilton put his hand up to passerbys, as if to stop them from snapping a picture of the couple, while Kardashian — an American TV star and model — waved to fans while donning a grey dress. The couple reportedly began dating earlier this year, but are yet to publicly comment about their relationship. Hamilton will next be seen in action for Ferrari at the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29.

24 March,2026 08:53 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
Koneru Humpy. Pic/X

Koneru Humpy explains decision to pull out from Candidates tournament

Koneru Humpy stood firm on her decision to pull out of the Candidates tournament in Cyprus later this month, saying one cannot be "surrounded by warships" and still play peacefully, while asserting she is "not scared" of penalties and is not playing for monetary benefits. Humpy, the two-time World Rapid champion and one of four Indians set to compete in the Candidates in Cyprus from March 28, pulled out of the prestigious event citing safety concerns amid the ongoing Gulf conflict, given the island's proximity to the volatile region. Earlier this month, a drone strike on a UK base heightened fears in the region, prompting Humpy to pull out. She has since been replaced by Ukrainian Grandmaster Anna Muzychuk. "You can't play surrounded by warships, which is guarding the island (Cyprus). If a foreigner like me and being a woman, if I have to travel and that too for such an important tournament, how can I play peacefully?" Humpy told PTI on Monday. With her late withdrawal, Humpy is the only one among the 16 contestants -- eight in the Open and eight in the women's section -- to pull out, and while there could be a hefty financial penalty, she said she is not scared. "See, that's the point. That is why they (international chess federation FIDE) keep these things (penalties) so that players will not speak out the facts. No, I'm not scared about it. I'm not playing just for money or monetary benefits. I just enjoy the sport," Humpy said, adding that she had put in three months of strenuous preparation for the event, even being unable to spend quality time with her daughter. "The past three months, I have been only working for this tournament. I haven't spent quality time with my daughter also. So, if a player like me is skipping the tournament, it's not fun for me to skip such an important tournament. I'm losing a lot of things." She said the event could have been postponed by a month or moved to another location without making a significant difference. "They could host the tournament anywhere in the world. Or, if they were particular about holding it in Cyprus, they could have waited for the situation to settle down. "They could wait for another month or so. The tensions would ease and there wouldn't be any hazards," said the stalwart, who qualified for the Candidates after finishing runner-up at the Women's World Cup last year. On whether she spoke to Viswanathan Anand, vice-president of FIDE, in this regard, Humpy said a conversation did take place but did not disclose the details. "Of course, some things happened, but I don't want to speak about anybody else." Humpy said she had the full support of her family in her decision. "Lebanon and Israel are very close to the island -- it's hardly a 20-minute flight from Lebanon. There was even confirmation of a drone coming down on a UK base. The Cyprus president himself, in a recent discussion with the European Union, expressed concerns about the UK base on the island. "So, if the president himself is voicing concern at the European Union, what is wrong for a player like me, from a foreign land and a woman, to be apprehensive about travelling to the island?" Humpy said that just because 15 players are competing and she alone has pulled out does not mean the organisers are right in going ahead with the event. "Of course, people can question. Like 15 players are ready to play, only you are pointing out. But it doesn't mean that if everyone is playing, what they (organisers) are doing is right. The event might even go without any hurdles. Nobody knows. But the point is, it wasn't necessary in such circumstances... like it's clear that US and UK have issued a level 3 (advisory). "...'Jammu (& Kashmir) is also level 3. They could also host (the event) in Jammu. What's wrong in that? You are saying we had a beautiful resort, like best of the place. Of course, in India, we have several places like that (Cyprus). But that itself isn't sufficient to play this tournament. You should have a pleasant atmosphere." Humpy said she had not spoken to fellow Indians R Praggnanandhaa in the Open section and R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh in the women's section. "I don't want to talk about anybody else. It's their wish. Everybody has their own interests and concerns. So, I don't want to talk about anybody else. It's my choice and it's my opinion. And I feel absolutely right. "It's like if I'm going and playing there, it's basically like I'm encouraging an organiser to keep a tournament in such a surrounding. They did not take any advice. When this war has taken place, when these incidents happened, they could have openly asked all the 16 participants about their willingness," she said. "No need to divide and rule without knowing each other's intention. Whoever independently asked (the organisers), (they said) 'we were answering them. We are monitoring on a day-to-day basis'." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

24 March,2026 08:49 AM IST | New Delhi | PTI
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