Defending champions India drawn with Maldives, Pakistan in SAFF Champ…

New Delhi [India], August 2 (ANI): The Indian men’s national team have been drawn with Maldives and Pakistan in Group B of the SAFF Championship 2026, following the draw conducted in Thimphu, Bhutan, on Saturday.

The 15th edition of the sub-continental tournament will be hosted in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from November 4 to 17, according to the All India Football Federation (AIFF). sport-tr.bet

Defending champions India, chasing a record-extending 10th SAFF Championship title, will begin their campaign against Maldives on November 5 before taking on Pakistan on November 11.

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Hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan are placed in Group A. If FIFA lifts its suspension of the All Nepal Football Association by September 1, Nepal will be included in Group A. Should the suspension remain in place, the SAFF Championship 2026 will proceed with six teams.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, with Group A winners meeting Group B runners-up and vice versa. The semi-finals will take place on November 14, and the final will be on November 17.

India have a splendid head-to-head record against both their group stage opponents. The Blue Tigers have won 16 of the 25 meetings against Pakistan, drawing seven and losing only two. Their last face-off was in the SAFF Championship 2023, with India securing a dominant 4-0 win.

Against Maldives, India have a record of 13 wins, two draws and three losses in 18 encounters. The last meeting was in a friendly in March 2025 when the hosts clinched a 3-0 win in Shillong.

India have won the SAFF Championship on nine occasions — 1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2021, and the last in 2023, when the Blue Tigers defeated guest side Kuwait in a memorable final in Bengaluru.

SAFF Championship 2026 Draw Results

Group A: Bangladesh (hosts), Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal (if FIFA suspension is lifted)

Group B: India, Maldives, Pakistan

India’s fixtures in the SAFF Championship 2026

November 5: Pakistan vs India

November 11: India vs Maldives

November 14: Semi-finals

November 17: Final

Venue: Dhaka, Bangladesh. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], August 2 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Indian boxers Narender Berwal and Ankush Panghal for their medal-winning performances at the Commonwealth Games 2026.

In a post on X, PM Modi congratulated Narender Berwal for winning the silver medal in the men’s 90+kg boxing event and praised his courage and determination throughout the competition.

“Very happy that Narender Berwal has won a Silver in the Men’s 90+ kg Boxing event at the Commonwealth Games. Congratulations to him for displaying immense courage and determination throughout the competition. May the future bring him several more accomplishments," PM Modi wrote.

The Prime Minister also congratulated Ankush Panghal on winning the gold medal in the men’s 80kg boxing category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“Proud of Ankush Panghal for winning the Gold Medal in the Men’s 80 kg Boxing category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. His strength and skill were truly commendable during the games. Best wishes for his upcoming endeavours. May this feat inspire many more young boxers to pursue excellence," Modi wrote in another post on X.

India concluded its historic boxing campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a record-breaking haul of seven gold medals after Narender Berwal secured silver in the men’s 90+kg category on Saturday.

The remarkable performance saw India finish atop the boxing medal standings with seven gold and three silver medals, marking its best-ever outing at the Commonwealth Games.

In the men’s 90+kg final, Narender was beaten by England’s Damar Thomas, losing 0-5 in a unanimous decision to settle for the silver medal. Despite the defeat, his podium finish capped a memorable campaign for the Indian boxing contingent.

Panghal delivered India’s seventh gold medal in boxing, defeating England’s Dimeji Shittu 4-1 in a split decision in the men’s 80kg final.

India will enter the final day of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 with an impressive haul of 39 medals, comprising 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze, despite the reduced sports programme. (ANI)

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London [UK], August 2 (ANI): England Test captain Joe Root said the appointment of Stephen Fleming as head coach was a major factor behind his decision to take up the leadership role again, adding that he is excited about building something special with the experienced coach.

According to Cricinfo, Root spoke with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and said Fleming’s vision for the team and his understanding of the areas that need improvement impressed him.

The ECB had earlier confirmed the appointments of Fleming as head coach and Root as Test captain, with the duo taking over from Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.

“If I’m being brutally honest, it [Fleming’s appointment] was a big reason why I wanted to do it. I’m very excited by the way he sees the game, where he sees us sit as a team, and the work that we have to do to get to where we want to get to. All of that got me very excited about taking this role on," Root said.

Root said he was looking forward to working with Fleming, who has extensive experience as both a player and coach.

“I’m very much looking forward to working with him. He’s obviously got a wealth of experience and done some amazing things within the game as a player and as a coach, and I’m very much looking forward to the next little while, and us trying to build something pretty special together," he said.

Reflecting on the last four years of his career, Root said the period had been the most enjoyable of his professional cricket journey and credited the team’s approach for helping him develop his understanding of the game.

“The last four years have been the most fun I’ve had in professional cricket, and a big part of that was down to the way that they got me to see the game, how I fit into that side, and the experiences that we managed to create on and off the field," Root said, according to Cricinfo.

The England Test skipper acknowledged that recent results may dominate discussions but said the team had achieved several positive things over the four-year period, which he intends to draw upon in his leadership.

“Clearly, the last little while is probably what’s fresh in everyone’s mind, but you’re looking at a four-year period where we did a lot of amazing things. I’ve taken a lot from that, and I feel it will be a big part of how I want to approach things moving forward as a leader of this team," he said.

“The thing that stands out the most for me is the shift in mindset that was created around how we want to play the game: trying to strip the fear away from things, make sure guys feel that they can really just allow their talent to come out as frequently as possible, and in big moments in games. The more that can happen, the better," he added.

Root also stressed the importance of balancing an aggressive approach with the ability to adapt to different match situations.

“If we can do that alongside recognising when the right time is to put pressure back on teams, or when the right time is to soak it up and to maybe play situations slightly differently, become a little bit smarter in certain areas, then I think we’ll be a very formidable team, and a very difficult team to break down and to beat," he said.

Meanwhile, England are expected to announce their squad for the three-Test series against Pakistan next week, with most players currently featuring in The Hundred. The team will have just two full training days ahead of the opening Test at Headingley on August 19, with Marcus Trescothick set to serve as interim head coach as Fleming will be in New Zealand due to family commitments. (ANI)

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