The SG Pipers women’s squad hit the training ground as preparations intensified ahead of their opening match in the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) 2025-26 tomorrow. The women’s side finished bottom in last year’s inaugural season of the Women’s HIL and will look for an improved campaign this season, starting with a clash against Ranchi Royals. Alongside them, the SG Pipers men’s team were also in training as they geared up for the Men’s HIL, scheduled to begin on January 3.
In an event billed as tennis’s latest 'Battle of the Sexes', Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 1-ranked women’s tennis player in the world, will take on Nick Kyrgios, who’s currently ranked No. 673 on the men’s tour, on Sunday (December 28, 2025) in Dubai. “This is about respect, rivalry and reimagining what equality in sport can look like,” said Stuart Duguid, who, along with tennis great Naomi Osaka, co-founded Evolve, the sports agency putting on the event. “I’ll try my best to kick his ass,” Sabalenka said during a September 2025 press conference. “She’s not going to beat me,” Kyrgios responded. “Do you really think I have to try 100%?” Evolve has promoted the Dubai event as a sequel to the iconic 1973 “Battle of the Sexes,” in which Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs.
England pulled off a morale-boosting four-wicket win over Australia in the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG, chasing down 175 on Day 2 to avoid a series whitewash. The match raced to a finish after relentless bowling dominated proceedings, with Josh Tongue leading England’s charge by claiming a crucial five-wicket haul as Australia were dismissed for 152 and 132 across their two innings. England’s own batting faltered early when they were bowled out for 110, but the hosts’ second-innings collapse opened the door. Calm contributions from Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Jacob Bethell guided England to 178/6, sealing their first Test win in Australia since 2011. The victory ended an 18-match drought Down Under, even as Australia retained a 3-1 series lead.
Find today's news in pics from India and around the world for December 27, 2025
Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a first-ball duck, but the Shardul Thakur-led Mumbai had enough juice in their bowling tank to overpower Uttarakhand by 51 runs in the second-round Group C match of Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 in Jaipur on Friday (December 26). Batting first, Mumbai scored a daunting 331 for seven with useful contributions from wicketkeeper-batter Hardik Tamore (93 not out off 82 balls), Sarfaraz Khan (55 off 49 balls) and Musheer Khan (55 off 56 balls). Later, Musheer (2/57) also did his bit with the ball, scalping a couple of wickets as Uttarakhand managed 280 for 9 in the end, largely due to left-handed opener Yuvraj Choudhary's run-a-ball 96.
Indian cricket bulwarks Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant scored crucial half-centuries, while Gujarat lost their last five wickets for merely 34 runs as Delhi eked out a thrilling seven-run win in their second-round Elite Group D match of Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 in Bengaluru on Friday (December 26). Player of the Match Kohli (77 off 61 balls) and Pant (70 off 79) powered Delhi to a modest 254 for 9 in 50 overs. But despite looking solid in pockets, Gujarat folded for a 247-run total in 47.4 overs.
Nikola Jokic recorded a 56-point triple-double and set an NBA record with 18 points in overtime, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 142-138 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday (December 26, 2025). Jokic broke Stephen Curry’s record of 17 overtime points from 2016, making it the highest by any player in regular season or NBA playoffs. Jokic added 16 rebounds and 15 assists and Jamal Murray scored 35 points as the Nuggets improved to 3-0 this season against the Wolves, who got 44 points from Anthony Edwards, only to see him get ejected in the extra period for arguing foul calls.
De'Aaron Fox scored 29 points, and the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-102 on Friday (December 26, 2025) for their third win over the defending NBA champs in the past two weeks. The Spurs also defeated the Thunder in an NBA Cup semifinal on December 13 and in San Antonio on Wednesday. The teams meet again on January 13 in Oklahoma City. Victor Wembanyama had 19 points and 11 rebounds and Stephon Castle had 19 points and seven assists for the Spurs (23-7). It was San Antonio's eighth straight win and Oklahoma City's first home loss of the season.
Mohamed Salah scored again on Friday as Egypt’s 10 men held on to beat South Africa 1-0 to reach the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations. Salah, who secured the Pharaohs’ opening win with a stoppage-time strike against Zimbabwe on Monday, did it again in Agadir and his penalty before the break secured progression from Group B. But South Africa should arguably have been given a penalty in stoppage time when Yasser Ibrahim blocked a shot with his arm. After a long delay, the referee decided against awarding the spot kick after consulting video replays and Ibrahim sank to the ground in relief.
Shafali Verma sparkled with a whirlwind unbeaten fifty to power India to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third Women's T20 International and help the hosts take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday (December 26, 2025). Opting to bowl, pacer Renuka Singh returned with a four-wicket haul on comeback, helping India restrict Sri Lanka to a modest 112 for seven. Shafali then stole the limelight with her power-hitting, remaining unbeaten on 79 off 42 balls to take India to the series win.
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