NEW DELHI: With a full domestic calendar in place, Indian football has recorded a historic 138 percent surge in registration of women players for the last two years, indicating a healthy growth in the popularity of the sport as well as an increase in young female athletes opting for football, professionally.

MADRID (SPAIN): FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has reversed his decision to step down as first-team coach at the end of the current season and will now see out his contract until the end of June 2025. Barcelona vice-president Rafa Yuste confirmed the news late on Wednesday night outside the home of the club's president Joan Laporta following a meeting with Xavi.

BRIGHTON: Phil Foden scored twice as Manchester City leapfrogged Liverpool and kept pressure on leaders Arsenal with a superb 4-0 win away to Brighton & Hove Albion.

QUITO: Real Madrid-bound forward Endrick was on target as Palmeiras recovered from two goals down to clinch a 3-2 away victory over Independiente del Valle in their Copa Libertadores group match on Wednesday.

LIMA: Peru will finalize their preparations for this year's Copa America in the United States with a friendly against El Salvador, the South American nation's football federation said on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: The journey of any footballer is strewn with struggles aplenty. Many have to grind it out in the academies and lower leagues before they get their due opportunities at the professional level. Inter Kashi’s Gyamar Nikum, however, has had a meteoric rise through the ranks in the last three years. The 19-year-old has improved to the point that he was named the Best Emerging Player of the season, after his performance in the I-League.

CHENNAI: The All India Chess Federation (AICF) will soon roll out its action plan spreading the game further with focus on the entire ecosystem, said a top official.

NARAINPUR (CHATTISGARH): Telangana and Sikkim extended their winning runs with convincing victories over (Andaman & Nicobar 3-0) and (Bihar 3-1) in Group H of the Swami Vivekananda U-20 Men’s National Football Championship at the Ramakrishna Ashrama Ground on Wednesday.

GOA: Mumbai City FC inspired a sensational late resurgence to come back from 2-0 down to win the first leg of their semi-final fixture against FC Goa by 3-2 at the Fatorda Stadium in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 on Wednesday.

LONDON: Liverpool's title hopes in the Premier League suffered a massive blow on Wednesday night as they were beaten 2-0 away to Everton at Goodison Park.