‘No advantage’ in playing Champions Trophy matches in Dubai, says Indian batting coach

MUMBAI: Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri will return to the national team aged 40 in an unexpected reversal of his decision to hang up his boots last year.
The former captain, the fourth-highest men’s international goalscorer of all time, played his last match for India in June 2024 in a World Cup qualifier.
Chhetri said last year that “instinct” told him the match against Kuwait should be his last and he bowed out in front of nearly 59,000 fans in Kolkata.
But on Thursday, India head coach Manolo Marquez announced the return of India’s most-capped player for the March international window.
India are out of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and are now targeting the Asian Cup in 2027.
“The qualification for the Asian Cup is very crucial for us. Given the importance of the tournament and the matches ahead, I discussed with Sunil Chhetri about making a comeback to strengthen the national team,” Marquez said in a statement from the All India Football Federation.
“He agreed, and so we have included him in the squad.”
India play a friendly against Maldives on March 19, in preparation for an Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on March 25.
Football has struggled to find its feet among the 1.4 billion people of India, where the sport is dwarfed by the nation’s longstanding cricket obsession.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter once called India a “sleeping giant” of football.
Chhetri is a sporting icon in cricket-mad India.
The diminutive striker, who is 1.7 meters (5ft 7in) tall, made his debut against fierce rivals Pakistan in 2005 and scored India’s only goal.
Chhetri had two brief but unsuccessful spells in Portugal and the United States, but has spent most of his career in India.
In 2009 he was offered a contract by London club Queens Park Rangers, in England’s second tier, but he could not get a work permit.

RIYADH: Modhi Alkanhal, who recently won the Best Female Player of the Year prize, presented by Hilton, at the annual Saudi Esports Federation Awards, believes gaming and esports is helping to empower women across the Kingdom.

Alkanhal — whose triumph was her third SEF Award in succession — is one of a growing number of Saudi Arabian women who have been able to pursue professional esports careers.

Playing under the gamertag Madv, Alkanhal is an in-game leader for the elite Saudi Arabian side Team Falcons Vega, where she stars in Valorant.

Figures issued by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology show that 48 percent of the Kingdom’s gamers are women.

With the number of gamers in Saudi Arabia totaling some 23.5 million, nearly 70 percent of the country’s population, the potential for women in the sector is huge.

Research from consultants Redseer indicates that 69 percent of online women in the Kingdom are gamers — 1 percent more than their male counterparts.

“I am so proud to witness how much the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is supporting women empowerment in esports,” said Alkanhal, who is celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8 and her 22nd birthday on March 10.

“I feel like Saudi has already achieved that level where it is a global nation in the gaming and esports landscape. Having so many women involved in gaming and esports is a huge part of that.

“Women are being empowered through gaming. I am proud to be part of such a development, and hopefully I get the chance to proceed with it. Also, I hope women across Saudi continue to get the chance to further their own passions, interests and success stories in esports.”

She says a large part of that empowerment stems from the work of the Saudi Esports Federation, the regulatory body in charge of nurturing elite gaming athletes and developing the community and industry.

Through initiatives such as Girls in Esports, the Women’s League, and the establishment of all-female esports teams, the SEF has played a key role in creating opportunities for women in competitive gaming.

The organization provides training, mentorship and platforms for female gamers to compete at national and international levels, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment.

The federation’s activities are categorized into two streams. The first works to develop all levels of competitive gamers, starting with the grassroots community level and moving up to professional esports athletes that can achieve global excellence.

The second sets out to develop the entire gaming and esports ecosystem and enable talent. Through its programs, the federation ensures that women are supported in their journey to becoming professional gamers and industry leaders.

“The work the Saudi Esports Federation has done has changed the landscape for gamers in Saudi,” said Alkanhal. “I thank them for everything that they have done.”

Alkanhal, who started playing at 10, “relishes being at the forefront of elite Saudi women’s esports.

“I am proud of the achievements I’ve done so far; it’s an indescribable feeling,” she said. “It pushes me and gives me the motivation to self-improve for the upcoming years.

“I know that there are very talented female players in this country. That means more hard work and long, tiresome feelings, but more capabilities.

“I am proud to be playing fulltime and I’d like to thank everyone who supports me. All your positive support reaches me, and I hope I will be able to continue at the same level of quality.”