Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

FIFA WC Qualifiers: Poor refereeing robs India of a chance to script history

Eid Al-Rashidi scored the winner for Kuwait in the 81st minute, allowing Qatar and Kuwait to progress to the second round of the Qualifiers.

FIFA WC Qualifiers: Poor refereeing robs India of a chance to script history

Poor refereeing cost India a historic entry into the third round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers as Qatar emerged 2-1 winners on Tuesday.

India initially led through Lallianzuala Chhangte's 37th-minute goal, but the game changed when the referee allowed Yousef Aymen's 73rd-minute equaliser despite the ball appearing to go out of play.


Qatar then secured victory with Ahmed Al-Rawi's 85th-minute goal.

India's hopes were high after leading 1-0 at halftime, with Kuwait and Afghanistan goalless in the other match. However, the controversial decision and Al-Rawi's subsequent strike shattered the Indian dream in minutes.

Eid Al-Rashidi scored the winner for Kuwait in the 81st minute, allowing Qatar and Kuwait to progress to the second round.

Playing soon after the international retirement of Sunil Chhetri, India, ranked 121, was not expected to perform well. However, Igor Stimac's team surprised many with Chhangte's goal. Chhangte, a 27-year-old winger from Mizoram, scored after receiving a pass from Brandon Fernandes, marking his eighth goal as India's highest-scoring active player.

Indian supporters were present in large numbers and often outcheered the home crowd.

Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made crucial saves early on, and Mehtab Singh blocked a goal-line shot by Ahmed Alrawi, keeping India competitive.

India's forwards and midfielders pressed Qatar's defence effectively, creating several scoring opportunities.

In the 25th minute, Jeakson Singh played Rahim Ali through behind Qatar's defence, but his cross missed Chhangte and Manvir Singh.

Manvir's 31st-minute effort was also saved. Chhangte intercepted a pass, played a one-two with Brandon, and passed to Rahim, who was just short. Chhangte eventually scored after a through pass from Brandon.

In the second half, India shifted to a mid-block defence, allowing Qatar to exploit half-space channels.

Despite substitutions and counterattacks, Qatar equalised through Ayman, despite Indian protests about the ball being out of play.

Jay Gupta and Liston Colaco had chances, but Alrawi's goal in the 85th minute sealed the match for Qatar.

(PTI)

More For You

Playwright Farrah Chaudhry's 'Community' is a love letter to brown lives in Birmingham

Farrah Chaudhry

Playwright Farrah Chaudhry's 'Community' is a love letter to brown lives in Birmingham

IN A world where the media often focuses on differences, a British Asian playwright has shone the spotlight on the shared humanity within brown and Muslim communities.

Birmingham-based Farrah Chaudhry said her latest comedy-drama, Community, challenges stereotypes, offering a narrative that celebrates everyday lives, connections, and healing.

Keep ReadingShow less
England rejects calls to boycott Afghanistan match

ECB chairman Richard Thompson. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

England rejects calls to boycott Afghanistan match

ENGLAND will play their Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan later this month, England's cricket board (ECB) said, despite calls to boycott the game in response to the Taliban government's crackdown on women's rights.

Last month, a group of British lawmakers urged England to boycott the Champions Trophy group stage match against Afghanistan which will be held in Lahore on February 26.

Keep ReadingShow less
Naga Chaitanya reacts to a fan saying he can’t act – Here’s what he had to say!

Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi share a fun moment during their Thandel promotions, leaving fans entertained with their candid interactions

Instagram/chayakkineni

Naga Chaitanya reacts to a fan saying he can’t act – Here’s what he had to say!

Naga Chaitanya, known for his charm and candidness, recently found himself in the spotlight during a fun Q&A session with his Thandel co-star Sai Pallavi. The actor, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film, faced a cheeky question from a fan that left everyone laughing.

When Sai Pallavi read out a fan’s question, “Acting epudu nerchukuntav? (When will you learn acting?)” Chaitanya appeared stunned for a brief moment, staring blankly at the camera as if processing the unexpected question. He then responded with a mix of surprise and humour, Epudu nerchukuntav enti? (What do you mean, when will I learn?)”


Instead of getting defensive, the Thandelstar took it in stride and responded with a smile: "Honestly, acting is a continuous process. You never fully learn it; you keep growing with every project. If you think you’ve mastered it, that’s when you stop progressing. So, I’m still learning every single day."

While some appreciated his humility, others found the moment hilarious. Social media was soon buzzing with reactions, with many praising Chaitanya for handling the question with grace rather than taking offence. Some fans even tagged the person who originally asked the question, letting them know their comment had made its way to the actor.

This isn’t the first time Chaitanya has addressed criticism. In a recent interview, he opened up about dealing with trolls, admitting that while it bothered him early in his career, he has learnt to ignore the noise. “Clarifying things only leads to more drama. It’s a vicious cycle,” he said, adding that he now focuses on his work rather than responding to negativity.

Chaitanya’s upcoming film, Thandel, marks his third collaboration with director Chandoo Mondeti and his second pairing with Sai Pallavi after their hit film Love story. The survival drama, set to release on February 7, has already generated buzz, with fans eagerly waiting to see the duo’s chemistry on screen once again.

Having faced a mixed bag of box office results in recent years, Thandel is a crucial release for Chaitanya. Fans are eager to see if this film will mark a new chapter in his career and whether his continuous learning process pays off on the big screen.

BT-Getty

A view of the British Telecom (BT) headquarters in central London. (Photo: Getty Images)

BT to remove diversity targets from manager bonuses

BT will remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) targets from its manager bonus scheme, replacing them with a measure of overall employee engagement.

The change, set to take effect in April, follows consultation with major investors and has received “strong support,” according to the company, The Telegraph reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Grenfell Tower to be demolished after seven years

The Grenfell Tower fire, which engulfed the 24-storey social housing block in west London, killed 72 people. (Photo: Reuters)

Grenfell Tower to be demolished after seven years

LONDON's Grenfell Tower -- scene of Britain's worst residential fire since World War II -- is set to be demolished seven years after 72 people died in a blaze there, survivors and families of victims said.

Housing secretary and deputy prime minister Angela Rayner "announced her decision about Grenfell Tower to a room full of survivors and next of kin", Grenfell Next of Kin, which represents some families, said in a statement on X.

Keep ReadingShow less