Indian Sports and Entertainment Industry

[Amber G.]

Game 1 of the Final between Divya Deshmukh and Humpy Koneru ends in a draw.

[Tanaji]

Amazing fight back from India in saving the 4th Test after 0/2.

However, Gautam G needs to answer for dubious tactics and team selection…

[Najunamar]

Divya wins the Women’s WC and becomes a GM direct route! The crown princess of Indian chess, beating the World Rapid Champion in the shorter time control is no joke.

[chetak]

Divya wins the Women’s WC and becomes a GM direct route! The crown princess of Indian chess, beating the World Rapid Champion in the shorter time control is no joke.

Najunamar ji,


per reports, both played for a draw and both won.

That's how the game is played

[Najunamar]

Chetakji, I did not understand- the first Tiebreak game ended in a draw but the second was won by Divya after a blunder by Humpy. There were some mistakes from Divya also en route to the win (she said in the interview she has to bolster her end games! Kudos for being aware of the weaknesses).

[chetak]

Chetakji, I did not understand- the first Tiebreak game ended in a draw but the second was won by Divya after a blunder by Humpy. There were some mistakes from Divya also en route to the win (she said in the interview she has to bolster her end games! Kudos for being aware of the weaknesses).

Sorry, Najunamar ji.

My bad.

I was going by the first report without updating myself on the second game.

[Amber G.]

A historic final featuring two outstanding Indian chess players!

Proud of the young Divya Deshmukh on becoming FIDE Women's World Chess Champion 2025. Congratulations to her for this remarkable feat, which will inspire several youngsters.

Koneru Humpy has also displayed immense prowess throughout the championship.

Best wishes to both players for their future endeavours.

-Prime Minister of India.

[Cyrano]

Congrats to Divya and Humpy. Incredible prep, resourcefulness and fighting spirit shown by young Divya.

Great times for Indian Chess.

[chetak]

VI@WA

ChatGPT when asked to describe yesterday’s match in the style of PG Wodehouse had this to say -

The Curious Case of Ben Stokes and the Unshakable Indians*

(A narrative in which Old Trafford resembles the Drones Club on a Saturday afternoon)

The thing about India and Test cricket is that they have a tendency, much like an absent‑minded uncle who suddenly remembers he has a moustache, to surprise you at the most inconvenient moments. Old Trafford, Manchester, was no exception.

England, bless their cotton socks, strutted out with the air of a chap who has just hoisted an absurdly large salmon onto the bank. Six hundred and sixty‑nine runs, Stokesy and chums informing anyone within a mile radius that India had about as much chance as a blancmange in a fencing match. A mere formality, said the pundits, dusting their jackets and adjusting their monocles.

India, however, had clearly not read the script. Two wickets down for the price of a half‑eaten sandwich, yes, but then appeared Gill and Rahul, all poise and sang‑froid, as if they were sauntering into the Long Room to borrow the sugar tongs. Gill, who seems incapable of batting badly this series, whistled up another century, while Rahul produced ninety of the classiest runs ever seen outside a Savile Row fitting room.

The plot thickened when Jadeja and Washington Sundar walked in. One expects chaps in such situations to look like condemned prisoners approaching the scaffold. Instead, they exuded the calm confidence of men about to order pudding. And order it they did—hundreds for both, the English fielders looking like people who had just been told the pub was closed early.

Enter Ben Stokes, England’s captain, eyes aglow with what one assumes he thought was statesmanship, offering the Indian duo a handshake to call it quits. Rather like a chap in a losing poker hand suggesting everyone simply “call it even.” Jadeja, twirling his imaginary moustache, politely declined, while Sundar—busy crafting his maiden Test ton—merely smiled the beatific smile of one who has seen the menu and intends to have dessert.

And thus, India batted on, unmoved, unbowed, and possibly wondering if they might fit in a quick game of carrom between overs. England huffed, puffed, and went home with a draw which, from their perspective, felt suspiciously like a loss.

Moral of the story: If you plan to extend the olive branch, best not to do it when the other chap is still chopping wood.

[Vayutuvan]

That is fantastic. Now that I read all Wooster and Jeeves PGWodehouse novels a few times, I am raring to see new PGW pastiche writers to appear. Sadly I am still waiting. Looks chatgpt will feed my PGW addiction.

[Cyrano]

An hour long interview with our latest chess world cup winner Divya Deshmukh. It's amazing to see how sorted, grounded and smart a young person can be, while facing fierce competition, success and media+public adulation. Watch it and share with youngsters.

Fantastic to see India's bright youth this way, serene and composed, at the same time having fun and success, while a lot of youngsters the world over are struggling with SM, anxiety and mental health issues.

Parenting and family unity and support are so so important to enable children to actualise their potential and stay balanced.

[Tanaji]

Hats off to Siraj, what a lion hearted bowler! Bowled continuously in all 5 tests, over 180 overs bowled. And a final match winning performance! What a bowler…

[Amber G.]

Rohith Krishna S is India's 89th Grandmaster!

[chetak]

Government makes amendment in the national sports governance bill to keep BCCI out of RTI act.

[Amber G.]

^^^ Chetakji - what does this mean ? .. Thanks in advance.

[Vayutuvan]

@Chetak gaaru, something stinks. What does BCCI have in their past that they should be exempt from RTI requests? I am miffed.

[Tanaji]

The BCCI is a golden goose that has a budget in thousands of crores. Historically, whoever is in Centre controls the BCCI as well for obvious reasons. The BCCI does not want people prying into its affairs - again due to the deep political connections and money related matters, especially since it deals with foreign exchange on a regular basis. Additionally the state cricketing associations are a den of political activity as well.

Having said that, it is largely professionally run and one of the most competent sports bodies in India, and I would submit in the world as well. It has done a lot for cricket at grass roots level and at elite level- the number of academies are a witness to that. There are umpteen number of jholawalas and assorted people who would want to pull it down to the level of boxing and wrestling federations and get the moolah…RTI is a way for them to create controversy.

[chetak]

The BCCI is a golden goose that has a budget in thousands of crores. Historically, whoever is in Centre controls the BCCI as well for obvious reasons. The BCCI does not want people prying into its affairs - again due to the deep political connections and money related matters, especially since it deals with foreign exchange on a regular basis. Additionally the state cricketing associations are a den of political activity as well.

Having said that, it is largely professionally run and one of the most competent sports bodies in India, and I would submit in the world as well. It has done a lot for cricket at grass roots level and at elite level- the number of academies are a witness to that. There are umpteen number of jholawalas and assorted people who would want to pull it down to the level of boxing and wrestling federations and get the moolah…RTI is a way for them to create controversy.

Tanaji saar,

especially when such money acquires different colors (and extreme flexibility) depending on the source and destination

[chetak]

^^^ Chetakji - what does this mean ? .. Thanks in advance.

Amber ji,

It is an open display of a very rare and the full spectrum political unity and deeply shared interests that has created this loophole, even with a powerful govt like the one we currently have

personal interest always trumps national interest

[Vayutuvan]

personal interest always trumps national interest

In the US, Trump's interest trumps national interest.