From football dream to hockey hero: Bichu Devi’s journey to India’s N…

Yibbi Jansen. The name itself is enough to send shivers down the spine of opponents. The daughter of Ronald Jansen, the legendary Dutch goalkeeper, she has carved a niche for herself in the hockey arena, having scored 117 goals in just 116 appearances. She is also the top scorer at the 2026 World Cup, with seven goals.

However, in the recently concluded Netherlands-India game, she converted only one of her penalty corners. And that goal came in the early stages of the match. In some ways, it encapsulated the gritty display put on by India’s goalkeepers and first-line rushers. Experienced goalkeeper Savita Punia blocked as many as six goal attempts, including a running save against Jansen. Although the Netherlands got one past Bichu Devi in the first quarter, she too made a fine save.

Basically, India’s defence was mostly on the money. But alongside the positives, there were flaws too. The Netherlands certainly enjoyed dominant territorial control, while India frequently lost possession in transition. Sunelita Toppo, Navneet Kaur and Deepika Sehrawat came close to finding the back of the net, but they could not produce the elusive goal. The passing was not good enough on the day. In this context, the Netherlands deserve credit for playing organised and structured hockey.

Apart from the Netherlands winning 2-0, there was one other talking point: the Indian players sporting saffron jerseys while the Dutch women wore blue.

Next up for India are Australia, a must-win game for the Asian side. Earlier this year, India drew 2-2 with Australia in a four-match series. The Hockeyroos are not the force they once were and are currently ranked eighth in the world. Australia, though, still have some quality players in their ranks, including Kaitlin Nobbs, Tatum Stewart, Stephanie Kershaw and Mariah Williams. Put your neutral hat on and it could be a close contest, with Australia starting as marginal favourites.

Meanwhile, the Indian men’s team are set to take on the Netherlands in a crucial second-round match on Saturday. Other than the usual jersey talk, all eyes could be on India’s experienced midfield, comprising Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh and Co. The Netherlands are renowned for controlling games through possession and territorial dominance. India, who looked short of their best against England and Pakistan in the group phase, will have to raise their game considerably to break down the Netherlands’ structured hockey.

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The upcoming ISL season, scheduled to begin in mid-October, will be played without relegation. The league will feature 13 clubs instead of 14, with IFL champions Diamond Harbour considered withdrawn from the competition after failing to pay the second instalment of their participation fee within the stipulated deadline.

Diamond Harbour’s first instalment was adjusted against their prize money from the IFL. However, after the club missed the deadline for the remaining payment, they were ruled out of the upcoming ISL campaign.

While the 13-club league will operate under a club-led model with commercial rights handed over to the teams, its governance remains with the AIFF. Under the AIFF constitution adopted in accordance with the Supreme Court-mandated framework, the top-tier league falls strictly under the federation’s jurisdiction.

The clubs have formally written to the AIFF seeking clarity on the structure and asking how existing rules will apply with 13 teams.

According to sources close to the AIFF, the regulations are straightforward: if one of the 14 clubs fails to participate, that club is automatically considered relegated and will play in the IFL the following season. Consequently, there will be no additional relegation from the ISL this year.

This procedure follows standard competition regulations, and the AIFF is expected to uphold the rule as established.

The 2025–26 campaign marked the first time since the inception of the ISL that a team was relegated, with Mohammedan SC dropping down to the IFL.

After a truncated campaign last season, the ISL will return to a full-fledged schedule running from October through April or May next year. However, with the reduction in participating clubs from 14 to 13, the league will once again operate as a closed competition without relegation.

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The post ISL Set for 13-Club Season Without Relegation After Diamond Harbour’s Withdrawal appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.

India’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the Hockey World Cup took a major blow as they went down 2-0 to hosts and defending champions Netherlands in the Championship Round at the Wagener Hockey Stadium on Friday.

Playing against one of the strongest sides in world hockey and in front of around 7,000 home supporters, India were made to defend for long periods. The Dutch had close to 60 per cent possession by half-time and entered the Indian circle 18 times in the opening 30 minutes. Yet, India remained in the contest for much of the game.

Netherlands needed just two penalty corners to establish their advantage.

Yibbi Jansen opened the scoring in the second minute with a powerful drag-flick that flew past Bichu Devi and into the bottom corner. India struggled to keep possession in the opening quarter, but Bichu kept them within touching distance with a couple of important saves, including one from another Jansen drag-flick.

India had opportunities of their own. Lalremsiami won a penalty corner early in the second quarter, but Deepika’s drag-flick was blocked. Navneet Kaur also found space at the top of the circle, although her effort went wide.

Savita came on at the start of the second quarter and was soon called into action. She made a crucial save to deny Felice Albers after the Dutch forward was released on the left.

The Indian goalkeeper then produced one of the saves of the match shortly before half-time, rushing out to make herself big and keep a close-range effort out. India went into the interval only one goal behind.

The second half began with India looking for a way back into the contest. A promising counter-attack presented Sunelita Toppo with an opportunity, but her effort was comfortably dealt with by the Dutch goalkeeper.

Netherlands restored their pressure and doubled the lead in the 38th minute. Frederique Matla’s drag-flick took a slight deflection off Ishika Chaudhary’s foot and found the net.

India tried to respond but struggled to create enough in the final third. Navneet had a chance after bringing down a long ball near the circle, while another promising move ended without a meaningful shot on goal.

The Dutch continued to control the game and came close to adding a third when a deflected effort struck the post. Xan de Waard also missed a good opportunity after being found with a cut-back.

India showed greater urgency in the final quarter but could not find the breakthrough. Their effort and defensive discipline kept the scoreline respectable against a Netherlands side that has dominated women’s hockey for years.

The defeat leaves India third in Pool E, while Netherlands lead with six points and China have two after their 1-1 draw against Australia.

India’s equation is now simple. They must beat Australia in their final match and hope Netherlands defeat China. Only then will Salima Tete and her teammates have a chance of finishing in the top two and reaching the semi-finals.

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The post India’s Fighting Effort Falls Short Against Netherlands, Australia Now a Must-Win appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.

Mackay [Australia], August 22 (ANI): After a painful loss to Bangladesh at Darwin in the first Test, Aussie left-arm pace veteran Mitchell Starc struck with a vengeance, getting a five-wicket haul within the first seven overs of the Mackay Test, that took his past South African legend Dale Steyn among Test wicket-takers.

After a historic first-ever Test win on Australian shores at Darwin, the Bangladeshi batters had to bear the wrath of Starc as he started off the innings with a wicket of Shadman Islam on the first ball. The Darwin centurion Tanzid Hasan and skipper Najmul Shanto were not safe from the assault as they were both sent for a duck. At the end of the first session, Bangladesh was 35/6.

Starc’s fifer was a brutal one, as none of the batters could touch double figures, and four of them, Shadman, Tanzid, Shanto and a returning Litton Das, could not even open their account.

The left-armer has now overtaken Steyn (439) to enter the top ten wicket-takers in Test cricket with 440 wickets in 107 matches at an average of 26.33, with 19 five-fors and three ten-fors and best figures of 7/58.

With 761 international wickets, he has tied with Sri Lankan legend Chaminda Vaas as the 12th joint-most wicket-taker.

Coming to the match, Australia won the toss and opted to field.

Australia (Playing XI): Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das(w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam. (ANI)

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