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Jemimah Rodrigues eyes 2027 Champions Trophy success following India's WC win
Indian star Jemimah Rodrigues stated that the team's victory in the 2025 ICC Women's World Cup has fuelled their ambition as they look forward to the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy in 2027. She described the upcoming event as a major milestone for the women's team as they look to add more international success.
Speaking on JioHotstar's 'Follow the Blues', Rodrigues explained how lifting the 2025 World Cup trophy sharpened India's commitment to maintaining their status at the top of international cricket ahead of the February 2027 tournament.
"We've tasted success once, and we know what it feels like to be at the top. The more you taste it, the more you want to be there. So, I think our team is working towards that, and yes, the Champions Trophy is going to be very special. It's happening for the first time ever in women's cricket, and I'll be a part of it for the first time as well, so it'll be pretty special, and I'm really looking forward to it. I think mindset-wise, nothing changes. At the end of the day, it's about the team and how to make the team win, and that always stays," she said. truewildslot.com
Jemimah previews the South Africa tour
Before turning their attention to the Champions Trophy, India will embark on a seven-match multi-format tour of South Africa in December. The schedule features a single Test in Gqeberha starting December 9, followed by a three-match ODI series from December 16, and three T20Is beginning December 26.
Rodrigues believes the upcoming series will be a test for the team, highlighting the competitive history between the two sides.
"It's going to be a really exciting series for sure. Both teams have been doing really well. We've had a lot of rivalry lately and played a lot of matches against South Africa. I think it's going to be great, with two of the top teams in the world facing each other in South Africa. It's going to be a great challenge, and we're really looking forward to it," she concluded.
Rodrigues recently returned from the UK, where a hamstring injury ended her run with the Southern Brave in The Hundred 2026.
Cucurella backs Real Madrid to have a great season under returning Mourinho
Madrid [Spain], August 11 (ANI): Spain and Real Madrid defender Marc Cucurella has backed his team to have a great year under manager Jose Mourinho, who made a return to the club for a second stint after his first stint from 2010-13.
The Spanish international and FIFA World Cup winner has already been impressed by the impact Mourinho has had on the team during their initial pre-season training sessions. Speaking on Real Madrid TV after his first day at training with the team, Cucurella was very positive about his impression of the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss.
On what he had brought to the training ahead of the season since his arrival, Cucurella said about Mourinho, as quoted by Goal.com, “A lot of confidence and naturalness. We have to do what we know out on the field, and above all, enjoy ourselves. I think what we all want is to win and to have a great year."
Despite being a part of FC Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy growing up, Cucurella admitted that a deal with the 15-time UEFA Champions League winners was too strong to ignore and described the club as the sport’s pinnacle. The chance to join a Mourinho-led side and play for what he considers “Europe’s biggest club" was crucial in his return to Spain after a four-year Premier League stint with Brighton and Chelsea.
“As a kid starting out playing football, then having the opportunity to play for a club like this, it is very hard to turn down," Cucurella said. “When the opportunity came, I did not hesitate for a second. As a spectator, I have seen all those magical nights, those comebacks at the Bernabeu, all the Champions League titles the have lifted. Having the chance to experience it first-hand and be a part of it is a huge responsibility, but also a very beautiful and important challenge," he added.
The 28-year-old was associated with Chelsea from 2022-26 and played a crucial role in them winning the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. He made 163 appearances for The Blues. He is now a part of the star-studded line-up of signings that Real Madrid has made after yet another trophyless season, under the presidency of Florentino Perez, with Mourinho making a comeback to Spain and signing top-class names like Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, and Denzel Dumfries.
Cucurella is aware of the standards that await him at the club and views this move as a validation of his hard work over the years, including at Getafe and Eibar before he moved to England.
“It is an honour. Not many people can say they have worn this jersey. We have seen great legends here, it is a club with a lot of history, the biggest in Europe. Being here today is a privilege, an honour, and above all, a reward for all the effort I have put into my career," he added.’
Madrid is set to face Deportivo de A Coruna and Schalke in pre-season friendlies before competitive action begins with the La Liga clash against Espanyol away from home on August 22. (ANI)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
Capri Sports launches Nova Sports, a girls-only football pathway to redefine the future of women’s football in India
A new chapter for girls’ football in India began today as Capri Sports officially launched Nova Sports, its girls-only football development initiative, designed to create a structured pathway from grassroots participation to elite football. The initiative aims to provide girls aged 8–18 with a structured pathway that combines quality coaching, meaningful competition and long-term player development through an integrated football ecosystem.
The initiative will begin with the SuperNova Football Championship, a 7-a-side schools tournament across the U13, U15 and U17 age groups, to be held on September 5 and 6 at Depot18, Bengaluru. Bringing together almost 50 teams from across the city, the Championship has been designed as more than just a football tournament – it is a celebration of the sport, offering a professional matchday experience for players, schools, families and coaches. From competitive football and engagement zones to recognition awards, interactive brand experiences and shareable content moments, the Championship aims to create a memorable platform that inspires greater participation in girls’ football. Students will also have the opportunity to register for the Nova Football Academy, a grassroots football programme, creating a structured system to identify, nurture and develop young footballers through consistent coaching and competitive opportunities.
Built around the philosophy of “Girls first. Always.”, Nova Sports has been designed exclusively for girls and not adapted from an existing boys’ programme. Every aspect of the initiative, from its internationally benchmarked coaching methodologies and girl-centred curriculum to its safeguarding standards, technology platform and competitive structure, has been intentionally created around the needs and aspirations of Indian girls. By bringing together school football, academy training and structured competition, Nova Sports seeks to bridge the gap between grassroots participation and elite performance, creating a clear pathway for girls from their first experience of the game to the highest levels of the sport.
To deliver and scale the initiative, Capri Sports has partnered with India On Track (IOT) as the execution partner for Nova Sports. One of India’s leading grassroots sports development organisations, IOT has extensive experience in designing and delivering grassroots initiatives, having worked with prominent Global & Indian rights holders & Brands like the NBA, Premier League, LaLiga, MLB, Gujarat Titans, Apollo Tyres, Coke & Heineken to name a few.
Over the next decade, Capri Sports envisions scaling the initiative from a single city to a national footprint, with the goal of reaching more than 1.5 million girls through this initiative. This vision will be driven by two interconnected pathways – a full development pipeline and a structured competitive pathway. While the development pipeline will focus on grassroots academies, coach education and internationally benchmarked training standards, the competitive pathway will provide regular match exposure ensuring every girl has a clear pathway to progress in the sport.
Speaking on the launch, Jinisha Sharma, Director & Promoter, Capri Sports, said, “Building the future of Indian sport starts with investing in strong grassroots ecosystems and creating opportunities early. At Capri Sports, we’ve chosen to focus much of that investment on women’s sport because we believe it represents one of India’s greatest opportunities for growth. Nova Sports is another step in that journey, helping more girls access the coaching, competition and support they need to fulfil their potential.”
Apurv Gupta, Director, Contact Sports, Capri Sports, added, “Our vision is to build a cohesive and interconnected football pathway for girls at every stage of their journey. Guided by our principle, ‘Girls First. Always.’, every decision we make is viewed through the lens of what will best support their development, ambitions and wellbeing. By creating a system that combines structured development, sustained support and a high-performance environment, we want every girl – regardless of her previous experience – to have the opportunity to play, progress and realise her potential. Ultimately, we hope the impact of Nova Sports extends far beyond the football field, shaping confidence, resilience and opportunity for every athlete who joins us.”
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