Broken chairs strewn amid chaos during an event of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi as part of his ‘G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025’, at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), in Kolkata. (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra)

Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwari launched a scathing attack on the organisers and authorities after chaos marred Lionel Messi’s much-hyped appearance at Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday, saying a global icon like the Argentine superstar “deserved better”.“I am speechless of what happened today in my city! This is shambolic! Me, being an international sportsperson can feel how embarrassing it was for Messi today. We all love him and the craze was well anticipated! Organizer Satadru has already been arrested and I thank the police department for the prompt action. The way Satadru played with the hard-earned money and emotion of the football-loving people of Bengal today at the Salt Lake Stadium, deserves an alarming punishment... Another case of False promise and complete mismanagement by Satadru! Thankfully I was not present today… I always had doubt if he had the credibility of pulling off an event like this in Kolkata. A legend like Leo Messi deserved better. I am sure the Government will take strict action against Satadru and management.. Kolkata didn’t deserve this!” Tiwari wrote on X.

Messi’s much-anticipated visit lasted just 22 minutes, enough to turn what was billed as a historic celebration into a spectacle of mismanagement. More than 50,000 fans, many of whom paid between Rs 4,000 and Rs 12,000, and even higher in the black market, were left frustrated after failing to get a clear glimpse of the World Cup winner. The situation deteriorated rapidly as Messi was surrounded by politicians, VVIPs and security personnel, effectively blocking the view of the paying public. Despite repeated appeals from promoter Satadru Dutta over the public address system to clear the ground, the crowding worsened, forcing Messi’s early exit.Angry fans reacted by throwing bottles and chairs, vandalising canopies and damaging stadium property, prompting police intervention. The unrest lasted over an hour, though police largely showed restraint to prevent a stampede.Messi’s second visit to Kolkata, part of his India tour, was meant to inspire football lovers. Instead, it exposed glaring gaps in planning and crowd control, leaving behind disappointment, damage and serious questions about governance and accountability.

Lionel Messi (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia criticised VIP culture at Lionel Messi‘s Kolkata event, where genuine fans were unable to see the football star due to unwanted VIP presence. The GOAT Tour’s Kolkata leg on Saturday turned chaotic at Salt Lake Stadium when fans who purchased expensive tickets began throwing bottles and trying to break gates after Messi departed early. Fans expressed anger through vandalism, blaming poor event management and VIPs for monopolising Messi’s time.

“I think it’s very unfortunate. I think the organisers did their best, but sometimes it gets out of control, especially VIP culture – it becomes very difficult even to the organisers to stop a lot of VIPs who are not supposed to be there as well, I think they entered and crowded. The genuine fans did not really get to see Messi. So, I think that was where the fans were very upset,” Bhaichung Bhutia told ANI.Bhutia emphasised Messi’s massive following in Kolkata and across India, suggesting the need to prevent unwanted VIP presence at such events.“Hopefully, I think these kinds of mistakes don’t happen…I heard 80,000 people came in to see Messi. Knowing that Messi is worshipped in Kolkata and in India, when they get disappointed paying such a high-price and coming from such faraway places, I think it’s very disappointing. I think the Govt has taken some steps and action…My only suggestion is that I think in future this has to be really well-organised and at the same time, lot of unwanted VIPs surrounding should be avoided,” Bhutia added.West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas announced a government investigation into the incident.Governor Ananda Bose confirmed the event organiser’s arrest, stating, “The organiser has been arrested, and an investigation has been done…”Additional Director General Law and Order Jawed Shamim assured that the situation was under control.“There is normalcy now. The second part is the investigation; the FIR has been lodged, and the chief organiser has been arrested… I’m telling you, they (organisers) are promising that they will return (ticket fee to fans). We will see how it can be done,” Jawed Shamim told reporters.

GCL set to kick off in Mumbai on Sunday

NEW DELHI: The Global Chess League (GCL) launched its Season 3 with an opening ceremony in Mumbai’s Royal Opera House on Saturday. The event showcased the championship trophy for this year’s competition, which will feature six teams competing across 34 matches starting December 14th.“The Global Chess League has firmly established itself as one of the premier destinations for chess, bringing elite competition to a global audience in a fresh, modern, and exciting format. The GCL has an important role in FIDE’s strategic effort to popularise the sport and make it more attractive to the broader audience. I am certain that Season 3 will continue this evolution, showcasing the world’s best players and reinforcing FIDE’s commitment to making top-level chess more engaging, inclusive, and globally accessible,” said Arkady Dvorkovich, President, FIDE.

The Triveni Continental Kings, led by Alireza Firouzja, Vidit Gujrathi, and Zhu Jiner, return as two-time champions seeking their third consecutive title.“India is the biggest country in chess right now. Playing here is very exciting, and I am looking forward to it,” said Firouzja at the pre-tournament press conference.The tournament features elite players including Alireza Firouzja, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Wesley So, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Hou Yifan, Zhu Jiner, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Alexandra Kosteniuk, and India’s Vishwanathan Anand.This season introduces a two-second increment after the 40th move.“I love having two seconds, even if it is after move forty. I grew up without increments, but it’s nice to have them anyway. Last year I played without increments and lost out on time!” noted Ganges Grandmasters’ Anand.“Increments are good because they add more good qualities to the game,” added Volodar Murzin of American Gambits.India’s chess prominence is highlighted by World Champion Gukesh D, alongside Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and Vidit Gujrathi.“I am happy that the Global Chess League is happening in India. It’s a great opportunity for all the Indian chess fans to come and watch the top players in the world. I am quite excited, looking forward to it,” said Erigaisi, who teams up with Gukesh for Alaskan Knights.The venue offers enhanced spectator experience with real-time commentary through headphones, AI-powered evaluation displays, and visual breakdowns.“World Rapid and Blitz (Championships) are for everyone. It’s a difficult year in GCL with many big games. We have the champion of the Grand Swiss, the World Cup. Having a shorter-format event before the championship is definitely good for our preparations,” said SG Pipers’ Praggnanandhaa.The tournament follows a double round-robin format over 10 days, with teams playing 10 group-stage matches before the Third-Place Playoff and Grand Finale on December 23.“Very excited to be here and to play in Mumbai. It’s a great feeling to see the league come to this city, and I hope fans come out to watch, feel the atmosphere, and experience the excitement up close,” said Mumba Masters’ Dronavalli.The season begins with an opening match between Triveni Continental Kings and Alpine SG Pipers.

Anahat Singh. (Photo credit:X/@IIS_Vijayanagar)

CHENNAI “Egypt are Egypt for a reason,” India men’s No. 1 Abhay Singh had said ahead of the Squash World Cup semifinal. On Saturday, the defending champions, who opted to send a lower-string team, stretched India for a major part of the tie but the hosts did enough to seal a 3-0 win and a place in the title decider.In the summit clash on Sunday, India will face top seeds Hong Kong, who eked out a victory on game difference following a 2-2 draw with Japan in the other semifinal. At a packed Express Avenue Mall, the weekend crowd was enthralled by top-quality action, loud roars, slippery falls and chest-thumping celebrations during the India-Egypt tie. Velavan Senthilkumar started off without fuss and sealed a straight-game win (7-1, 7-3, 7-6) over Ibrahim Elkabbani.India women’s No. 1 Anahat Singh and Egyptian youngster Nour Heikal then served up a high-octane encounter, with the former eventually emerging victorious 3-2 (6-7, 7-5, 7-3, 3-7, 7-3). Anahat began by dropping a game for the first time in the World Cup, courtesy Nour’s punishing strokes. But the Indian teenager quickly got back into the groove as she generated pace and precision in her shots to keep her opponent on the back foot. She went on to win the next two games and lead 2-1, only for the energetic Nour to mount a superb fightback and level the match. In a tense fifth game, Anahat injured her left hand but showed her mettle by battling through the fiercely aggressive contest and earned a rapturous applause from the crowd. In the third match between Abhay Singh and Adam Hawal, the players were locked in a gruelling, near-hour-long battle, with the Indian winning it 3-1 (7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 7-6). Adam slipped occasionally and took an injury timeout, but the rallies remained long, and the players stood toe-to-toe. With the score level at 6-6 in the fourth game, Abhay produced a stunning backhand drop to seal the victory. The Chennai lad let out an exultant cry as he tossed his racquet and the squash ball into the crowd in celebration. Results: Semifinals: India bt Egypt 3-0; Hong Kong drew with Japan 2-2 (Hong Kong won on game difference).

NEW DELHI: What was meant to be a historic celebration of football greatness in Kolkata spiralled into chaos on Saturday, December 13, forcing Lionel Messi to cut short his much-anticipated appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium. Overcrowding, poor crowd control and security lapses turned the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan into a flashpoint, leaving fans angry, organisers embarrassed and the global icon whisked away sooner than planned.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a formal apology to Messi and the fans after scenes of vandalism and unrest broke out. Disappointed spectators booed, threw bottles and damaged hoardings after realising that Messi’s lap of honour would be curtailed. Many fans, including those who had paid premium prices, complained they neither saw Messi up close nor on the giant screens despite waiting for hours.“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium,” Banerjee said, adding that an enquiry committee headed by retired Justice Ashim Kumar Ray has been formed to fix responsibility and prevent a repeat of such incidents.Messi’s Kolkata stop was part of his GOAT India Tour, a multi-city schedule designed to celebrate the Argentine legend’s legacy and connect him with Indian fans. The superstar arrived in the city in the early hours of December 13 and participated in a meet-and-greet, a virtual statue inauguration and a brief stadium interaction before security concerns forced an early exit.With Kolkata behind him, attention now shifts to the remaining stops on Messi’s tightly packed itinerary. The next destination is Hyderabad, where Messi is scheduled to feature in an exhibition match at Uppal Stadium later on December 13, followed by a musical concert and a meeting with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.On December 14, the World Cup winner heads to Mumbai for appearances at the Padel Cup at the Cricket Club of India, a celebrity football match, and an event at Wankhede Stadium that also includes a charity fashion show.The tour concludes in New Delhi on December 15, where Messi is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attend a felicitation event at Arun Jaitley Stadium with Minerva Academy players.

Once an 11-year-old Virat Kohli fan dreaming out loud, Aryan Sharma has turned promise into reality and now 18, he’s been named in Australia’s U19 World Cup squad. (Special Arrangement)

NEW DELHI: Raman Sharma vividly remembers Christmas of 2018, when his 11-year-old son Aryan spent the entire day making a placard for his idol, Virat Kohli, ahead of the Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).The placard read: “Virat, you’re my inspiration. Watch me play for Australia in 2025.”

Aryan Sharma manifested it, and now, seven years later, he is among the 15 players named in Australia’s squad for the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup, to be held in Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 15 to February 6. Australia are placed in Group A alongside Ireland, Japan, and Sri Lanka.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“He loves Virat Kohli. He adores Virat. Like millions of kids, Virat has inspired Aryan as well,” Raman Sharma tells TimesofIndia.com from Melbourne.

Aryan Sharma once held a placard saying, ‘Watch me play for Australia in 2025,’ has turned his childhood promise into reality.

“I have the placard on my work desk. After he got picked for Australia U-19 against India recently, where Vaibhav (Sooryavanshi) and Ayush (Mhatre) were also playing, I told Ari, ‘You predicted that you would play for Australia in 2025 and here you are,'” says an emotional father.“You (can) call it manifestation or his bold prediction. But we were super thrilled. The coincidence was so lovely.”The icing on the cake for the Sharma family was that the Kohli-led India won the MCG Test by 137 runs, and Aryan got to see his inspiration in full flow during his 82 in the first innings, while putting together a 170-run stand with centurion Cheteshwar Pujara.

Aryan Sharma named in Australia’s squad for the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup, to be held in Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 15 to February 6

“We managed to get the autographs of Jasprit Bumrah, who was sensational throughout the Test, and Mohammed Shami,” recollects Sharma Sr..There’s another coincidence in Aryan’s life. The 2005-born teenager fell in love with cricket in 2011, the year MS Dhoni-led India lifted the ODI World Cup.“I never played any professional cricket. Yes, I did play when I was young like any Indian teenager. Aryan developed his love when he was six. I still remember gifting him his first cricket bat,” says Raman.Aryan never looked back.“When he was 8, he was playing in the U11s. At 10, he was playing U14. He always played with kids older than his age. It helped his cricket as well,” says Raman.With Aryan taking giant strides in cricket, the Sharma family — Raman and his wife Shruti — had their own fair share of challenges to cope with.Raman, who hails from Garhshankar in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, moved to Australia in 2005. Moving to an alien country was not easy for Raman, who is a migration consultant and runs his own firm. “It was challenging. I was the first one to come to Australia from my family. So you’ve got to adapt quickly. Life itself is challenging,” says Raman. He adds, “I got married in 2007. We have three beautiful children. Like any family, we also went through our own ups and downs.“

Aryan Sharma in action

“It’s the journey of an entire family. I remember Aryan having lunch and dinner in the car. We had to go to the country town where he used to train, then to school, and again back to training. He used to change clothes in the car.“In all this my partner also stood firm. We have two daughters, both younger than Aryan. My wife was looking after them. I was doing my meetings in my car,” shares Raman.“It was quite challenging. Sometimes you get fined when you park your car beyond the parking limit. Our life revolved around his cricket,” he adds.Amidst all this, the one thing Raman misses the most is not being able to go to India regularly.“I did not travel to India for years. In Australia, the competitive cricket starts in January during the holidays. We were unable to travel to India since Ari was playing cricket. I didn’t go back for seven years,” he says.But in April 2024, it was cricket that brought Raman back to his homeland. Aryan’s childhood coach, Bagheshwar Bist, who has played Ranji Trophy for Haryana and is now settled in Melbourne, decided to take Aryan and a couple of other youngsters to India.

Aryan Sharma is an all-rounder

“We went to Chandigarh. We played at the iconic Sector 16 Stadium. We went to Zirakpur to play matches,” reminisces Raman.However, the hot North India weather in April took a toll on Aryan and his friends, and Raman thought they had made a big mistake. “It was so hot that I thought, ‘what have I done?’ But kudos to these boys, they never gave up. They made the most of the experience and returned better cricketers,” he says.Raman has nothing but gratitude for Cricket Victoria, Bagheshwar Bist, and all the coaches who have worked with Aryan so far.

“I want to thank Cricket Victoria, who identified his talent. I want to thank Mr. Bist, who worked tirelessly with his son. They made our life so easy. They have been so supportive,” says Raman.Raman, who knows a thing or two about life and the challenges it throws, has just one piece of advice for his son: “Keep your head down. Make sure you say hello to everyone. Stay humble.”

The visit marks Lionel Messi’s return to the country after more than a decade and comes at a time when his legacy has reached new heights following Argentina’s FIFA World Cup triumph and his record eighth Ballon d’Or. (Image credit: Agencies)

Lionel Messi’s arrival in India sparked scenes of extraordinary excitement as thousands of fans braved the winter chill and stayed up well past midnight to welcome the Argentine football icon on his much-anticipated GOAT India Tour 2025. Messi touched down in the early hours of Saturday, setting off a wave of celebrations, chants and flag-waving as supporters gathered at the airport and later outside his hotel, hoping for even a fleeting glimpse of the World Cup-winning captain.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!From flashing phone cameras to deafening chants of his name, the atmosphere reflected the stature Messi commands across generations. Children sat on shoulders, drums rolled through the night and Argentina jerseys dotted the crowd as security personnel worked to manage the unprecedented turnout. Messi arrived with long-time strike partner Luis Suárez and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul, adding to the buzz surrounding the tour.

Despite heavy security arrangements that meant many fans could not see him up close, the mood remained festive, with supporters calling the moment a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hotels, streets and public spaces near his route quickly turned into hubs of celebration, underlining Messi’s immense popularity in India.The visit marks Messi’s return to the country after more than a decade and comes at a time when his legacy has reached new heights following Argentina’s FIFA World Cup triumph and his record eighth Ballon d’Or. Over the next 72 hours, the global superstar is scheduled to travel across four cities, combining fan engagements, football events and high-profile meetings.Messi begins his India tour in Kolkata with a sponsors’ meet-and-greet, followed by a grand tribute programme at the Salt Lake Stadium. The event will feature music, dance and an exhibition match, along with a special “Master Class” session for young footballers. He is also set to take a lap of honour and virtually unveil a 70-foot statue dedicated to him.From Kolkata, Messi will fly to Hyderabad for an evening programme at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, which includes a short exhibition match and football clinic. The tour then moves to Mumbai, where Messi will attend an event at the Wankhede Stadium and participate in a philanthropic fashion showcase alongside Suárez and De Paul. The final leg of the tour takes him to Delhi, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bringing an end to a visit that has already left Indian fans spellbound.

Lionel Messi India tour 2025: The Itinerary

Kolkata (Saturday)Sponsors’ meet-and-greetTribute programme at Salt Lake StadiumExhibition match: Mohun Bagan ‘Messi’ All Stars vs Diamond Harbour ‘Messi’ All Stars“Master Class with Messi” for childrenLap of honour and virtual unveiling of 70-foot statue at Lake TownHyderabadEvening event at Rajiv Gandhi StadiumShort exhibition matchFootball clinic and felicitationMumbaiEvent at Wankhede Stadium45-minute philanthropic fashion eventPadel Cup at CCIDelhiMeeting with Prime Minister Narendra ModiFelicitation of Minerva Academy’s youth teamsNine-a-side celebrity match