In the Poonawalla Breeders’s Multi-Million (PBMM) on Sunday, all eyes will be on Buckingham (Holy Roman Emperor-Thanielle), the three-year-old colt trained by Karthik G. Undefeated in both starts, he’s shown that rare stamp of class — particularly in his latest victory, when D’Artagnan briefly put his nose ahead in the closing stages of the race, only for Buckingham to dig into his reserves and snatch the lead back with authority. However, Buckingham isn’t the only unbeaten talent in this field. The filly Blue Jet (Leitir Mor-Memory Bay), trained by Deepesh Narredu, has a flawless record too, having stormed home on debut in commanding fashion. Suraj Narredu, chasing his fourth straight PBMM triumph, takes the reins. If consistency counts for anything, Blue Jet could make changes to the script in the final yards of the race. Buckingham and Blue Jet Enrich is ready to impress Then there’s Enrich, a Ulysses-Aertex colt trained by Malesh Narredu and to be ridden by his son Yash. This debutant colt was thrown straight into the 1400m deep end just ten days ago, and came through with flying colours. Short on experience? Perhaps. But connections clearly believe he’s ready for the big stage. The two horses which may be neglected in the betting, but could impress on Sunday are Invictor (a Blue Point-Aqlaam colt) and Margaretta (a Belardo-Izba filly) who have one win each. David Allan will be an asset in the saddle of the former; and the latter cannot be dismissed lightly as she is the sole hope of champion trainer Pesi Shroff. Lady Scarlet, an enigma But the horse that stirs genuine interest is Lady Scarlet, full sister to Time And Tide (Dali-Starlet), currently the country’s top sprinter. The Adhirajsingh-trained filly won on its debut, then bolted like a scalded cat in her second outing, burning all her fuel early before Nebula (also lining up here) pounced late. A subsequent run, handled by P Trevor, however, showed maturity as she settled better, displayed tactical speed, and threw up a Dynamic Class Factor that actually puts her slightly ahead of Buckingham.
21 February,2026 10:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Prakash GosaviOutplayed at home, the Indian men's hockey team would be eager to bounce back and make a fresh start under new skipper Hardik Singh when it begins the FIH Pro League's overseas leg with a game against Spain here on Saturday. The Hobart leg of the series, which also features hosts Australia, will be held till February 25 at the Tasmania Hockey Centre. The recent Rourkela leg proved to be a painful learning curve for the Indians with losses to Argentina and Belgium. Regular skipper Harmanpreet Singh has taken a break to welcome his second child from the upcoming clutch of matches. The team views these fixtures as a vital opportunity to test combinations, refine structure, and build momentum ahead of the upcoming FIH World Cup and the subsequent Asian Games. After the campaign-opener against Spain, a high-octane clash against Australia is lined up for Sunday. They will face Spain again on February 24 before concluding the leg with a final match against the formidable Australian side on February 25. India and Spain have been evenly-matched in their last 10 encounters, claiming four regulation wins each, alongside two draws that India went on to win in shootouts. Against Australia, high-scoring drama has been a constant. The hosts hold the statistical edge in their last 10 meetings with six wins to India's two (and two draws). Two-time Olympic bronze medallist Hardik will lead the side that also features young players like Amandeep Lakra and Manmeet Singh, both of whom are looking to build on their recent senior debuts. "It is a tremendous honour to lead the national team in a prestigious tournament like the Pro League. While we will certainly miss Harmanpreet's presence on the pitch, his absence provides a valuable opportunity for the rest of the group to step up and take charge," said Hardik. "As a team, we have reviewed our recent matches, learned our lessons, and are entering Hobart with a highly positive and aggressive mindset," asserted the mid-field mainstay. Rising stars such as Angad Bir Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, and Aditya Arjun Lalage will also be eager to prove their mettle in the forward line. Sharing his thoughts on the young additions to the squad, Hardik said, "I am incredibly excited about the new faces joining us for this tour. Youngsters bring very fresh, fearless energy to our attacking lineup. "They have worked exceptionally hard to earn their spots, and playing against top-tier teams like Australia and Spain is the perfect platform for them to express themselves. "The entire group is motivated to support them, execute our plans, and play the brand of hockey India is known for." Match starts: 12 noon (IST). 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
21 February,2026 10:26 AM IST | Hobart | PTILess than three months ago, McLaren driver Lando Norris was seen celebrating his maiden F1 title by engaging in a passionate kiss with girlfriend Margarida ‘Magui’ Corceiro after he crossed the finish line in Abu Dhabi on December 7. However, it now appears that the pair have gone their separate ways. According to British tabloid The Sun, in a widely circulated TikTok video, Norris’s friend and fellow racing driver Carlos Sainz Jr can allegedly be heard asking him: “Are you and Magui good?” To which the 26-year-old Briton responds: “No,” before saying he is a “single man.” Norris and Corceiro began dating in 2023, but split up in 2024, before rekindling their romance last year. “They drifted apart after his win last season. Lando [recently] held a party to thank those who have been with him from the start and who he credits with helping him lift the title. The only one who wasn’t there was girlfriend Magui,” revealed a source. Corceiro had also previously dated former Chelsea football star Joao Felix.
21 February,2026 10:19 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentNew Bombay City School (Panvel) produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Carmel of St Joseph (Malad) 4–0 and clinch the girls U-14 Fr Donelly Challenge Cup in the Dream Sports Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) inter-school hockey tournament final at Don Bosco High School (Matunga) recently. Kritika Singh scored the opener for New Bombay City in the second minute, with a quick finish into the bottom left corner. The triumphant Don Bosco boys Khushi Mandlik doubled their lead (9th min) with a smart strike from close range, before Sonakshi Nandikole added the third goal (13th min) after capitalising on a defensive lapse. Renuka Jagtap then added a fourth (19th min) as the Panvel school sealed an emphatic victory. Meanwhile, Don Bosco High School (Matunga) clinched the boys U-14 St Andrew’s League Cup, beating St Stanislaus High School (Bandra) 1–0 in the final recently. The match was a closely contested affair, with chances few and far between as tackles were firm and passing lanes tightly marked. In the final minute of the match (40th), Don Bosco were awarded a penalty stroke, and Clyde Mendonca gleefully converted from the spot to help the Matunga school emerge victorious.
21 February,2026 08:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Rufus VedanayagamOn January 13, boxing superstar Tyson Fury announced that he would be returning to the ring in 2026, a year after retiring from the sport. The news was greeted with much fanfare among his supporters. However, his wife Paris’s reaction was different. Fury, 37, who is set to face Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11, told British tabloid The Daily Mail that his partner refused to speak to him after he announced he was coming out of retirement for the fifth time. “My dad stopped speaking to me for a while. My brothers stopped speaking to me, even Paris. Everybody cut me off. Nobody wanted me to return and they made that clear. But, it’s my decision and my life. It’s probably a bit selfish, [but] it’s just… I’m at my happiest when I’m in that ring entertaining people and I have no plans to stop any time soon. I’ll probably keep fighting till I’m 50,” said Fury, who has won 34 of his 37 bouts. Fury and Paris 20 years ago, while in their teens and got married in 2008.
20 February,2026 09:49 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentUS ski star Mikaela Shiffrin ended her Olympic medal drought in style with gold in the slalom on Wednesday as snowboarder Su Yiming won China's first title of the Milan-Cortina Games. Shiffrin is one of skiing's all-time greats, but she has had to wait eight years since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games for the third gold of her glittering career. In the final alpine skiing event in Italy, her emotional victory brought some solace to a US ski team still reeling from Lindsey Vonn's horrific crash in the downhill. The 30-year-old led after the first run in glorious conditions in Cortina d'Ampezzo and cruised to victory in a combined time of 1min 39.10sec, an impressive 1.5sec ahead of Switzerland's world champion Camille Rast. Sweden's Anna Swenn Larsson rounded out the podium to claim the first Olympic medal of her career. Shiffrin shed a tear after a victory that will help banish the bitter memories of both her last Olympics in Beijing -- where she failed to pick up a single medal from six races -- and her disappointing displays in the team combined and giant slalom in northern Italy. "I wanted to be free, I wanted to unleash," said the American. "It's not easy to do that, but I've been so focused every single day. "Through a lot of discussions with my psychologist and my mum and my team, everything we said was that, despite pressure or nerves, I want to feel this skiing. "In the end, today, showing up -- that was the thing I wanted most. More than the medal. Now, to also get to have a medal is unbelievable." China's gold at last Team China amassed nine gold medals on home soil at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, but until Wednesday they were yet to win a single title at the Milan-Cortina Games. Su changed that, winning the snowboard slopestyle gold after losing his big air crown earlier in these Games -- and for good measure, it came on his 22nd birthday and as China celebrates Lunar New Year. He scored 82.41 points on his first run of three at a sun-soaked Livigno Snow Park and was never caught, upgrading the silver he won four years ago. Japan's Taiga Hasegawa took silver and Jake Canter of the USA won bronze. "There's no better way, you know, this is like the best ever," said Su. "I was actually thinking there's no better gift for myself for my 22nd birthday, so I really appreciate it." Two hours later, China had another gold as freestyle skier Xu Mengtao won the women's aerials final. The USA and pre-tournament favourites Canada stayed on track to meet in the Olympic men's ice hockey final as they reached the semi-finals, although both needed overtime to do it. Mitch Marner scored the crucial overtime goal as Canada saw off the Czech Republic 4-3 in their quarter-final. The Americans were also made to fight till the end against Sweden before Quinn Hughes netted 3min 27 sec into overtime for a 2-1 victory in front of thousands of US supporters in Milan's Santagiulia Arena. Canada go on to face reigning champions Finland and the USA will play Slovakia, with both semi-finals on Friday. Klaebo in class of own Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Klaebo won the 10th Olympic gold medal of his career, extending the all-time record he set earlier in the Games. The only athlete in Winter or Summer Games history with more Olympic titles is American swimmer Michael Phelps, who won 23 golds. Klaebo and his Norwegian teammate Einar Hedegart comfortably won the team sprint free event, with Klaebo slowing before the finish line to soak up the applause of the crowd. It was 29-year-old Klaebo's fifth gold medal of these Games alone, meaning he has won every event he has entered -- and he has one more to go. Norway have a huge lead atop of the medals table with 15 golds and 33 overall. Hosts Italy are in second spot with nine golds and a total of 26 medals while the USA are third with seven golds and 24 medals. 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.
19 February,2026 01:11 PM IST | Milan, Italy | AFPThe Poonawalla Breeders Multi-Million (PBMM), Gr 1, to be run this Sunday, turns 37 this year, and over the years, it has flourished given its popularity and glamour quotient. Back in 1990, the Poonawalla brothers, Cyrus and Zavaray, dreamed up this juvenile blockbuster, inspired by the flashy Cartier Million abroad. They promised the fattest purse ever for a three-year-old winner. The first edition saw Le Gris Cheval, ridden by Bajrang Singh and trained by Ivor Fernandes, flash home to win a million rupees. But prize money alone doesn’t make a race a household name. The real magic happened in 1993. The Poonawallas’s marketing team added a free contest — guess the first four finishers right, and drive home a new Maruti 800. A Mumbai housewife, a total racing newbie, entered because her five-year-old daughter fell in love with a horse named Red Buttons. “Mummy, keep Red Buttons, I like the name!” the kid insisted. Mum did, and Red Buttons, trained by Rehanullah Khan, caused a stunning upset. The lady won the contest and drove off in her new wheels, making front page news the next day. Overnight, the event became dinner-table talk across Mumbai. This year the car on offer is a Toyota Glanza. And if you’re dreaming of winning it, keep an eye on jockey Suraj Narredu. The man’s on a clean sweep — three straight PBMMs in the last three years. In the fray will also be Trevor Patel (also with three PBMM wins) and David Allan (two wins).
19 February,2026 10:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Prakash GosaviIndia’s ace pistol shooter Manu Bhaker thanked her 15 lakh Instagram followers for their wishes as she celebrated her 24th birthday on Wednesday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manu Bhaker (@bhakermanu) The two-time Olympic bronze medal winner, posted a slew of pictures dressed in a pretty pink salwar kameez, accompanied with the caption: “Thank you for all the warm wishes and blessings. Embracing the 24th season of my life. Maza aayega, hopefully.”
19 February,2026 09:46 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentManchester Commonwealth Games 2002 rifle shooting gold-medallist Suma Shirur engaged in a series of fun pictures for mid-day, mimicking a pistol with her fingers, at the Mumbai Press Club during the announcement of the 16th RR Lakshya Cup on Wednesday. Suma, who was the chief coach of the Indian air rifle team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has conceptualised the tournament, which will be held on February 21. For details, log on to lakshyashooting.com.
19 February,2026 09:44 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentPop icon Madonna surprised American figure skater Amber Glenn with a special message ahead of her individual event at the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina on Tuesday. Madonna, who is referred to as the ‘Queen of Pop,’ had seen Amber’s short program dance routine — the first of two segments in figure skating competitions, the other being free skating — which she performed on the 67-year-old singer’s hit single Like a Prayer. “I have to tell you, I was blown away by it,” Madonna was seen telling Glenn in a video message. “You are an incredible skater. So strong, so beautiful, so brave. I can’t imagine that you would not win. So I just want to say good luck. Go get that gold,” she added. Amber was in utter disbelief after receiving the message from the seven-time Grammy Award winner. “I’m in shock. I’m in complete shock. I’m legitimately shaking. Oh my God,” Amber said.
19 February,2026 09:41 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentTwo-time Olympic men's ice hockey champions Sweden will face the USA in the quarter-finals of the Milan-Cortina tournament after they beat Latvia 5-1 in a qualification playoff on Tuesday. Sweden finished in third place in group play, forcing them to come through the play-offs. But the Swedes, winners at the 1994 and 2006 Winter Games, had no trouble dismissing the Latvians at the Santagiulia Arena to move onto a meeting with the unbeaten Americans on Wednesday. The other three quarter-finals also take place in a bumper day of action on Wednesday. The Czech Republic will play Canada, the favourites for the title along with the USA, after defeating Denmark 3-2 in their qualification playoff. Switzerland progressed to play reigning Olympic champions Finland by beating Italy 3-0. Germany, led by 2020 National Hockey League (NHL) MVP Leon Draisaitl who opened the scoring, thrashed France 5-1 and will play Slovakia in the last eight. Both Canada and the USA have rosters full of players from the NHL, who are playing at an Olympics for the first time since 2014. 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.
18 February,2026 02:40 PM IST | Milan, Italy | AFPADVERTISEMENT
