Sports Highlights, April 22: Burnley, Leeds Promoted To Premier League; Wisden Named Bumrah, Mandhana Leading Cricketers In The World

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill blazed a 55-ball 90, and fellow opener Sai Sudharsan chipped in with a half-century, scoring 52. Together, they helped GT post 198/3. In response, Kolkata Knight Riders were restricted to 159/8, despite Ajinkya Rahane's fighting 50. Rashid Khan was instrumental in KKR's downfall, claiming 2 wickets for 25 runs, while other bowlers chipped in to seal a 39-run victory for Gujarat Titans at Eden Gardens.

Josh Brownhill's first-half brace sealed a 2-1 win for Burnley over Sheffield United, securing the Clarets' immediate return to the Premier League. The victory ensures Burnley and Leeds United, who thrashed Stoke City 6-0 earlier, will be promoted to the top flight, both teams now eight points clear of Sheffield United with two matches left.

Top Indian athletes, including Olympians Jyothi Yarraji, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, and Kishore Jena, will compete in the National Federation Senior Athletics Competition 2025, also known as the Federation Cup, from April 21 to 24 in Kochi, Kerala. This premier domestic athletics event features 38 medal events across track and field, bringing together India's elite athletes. Other notable participants include Tejaswin Shankar in men's decathlon, Jeswin Aldrin in men's long jump, and Vithya Ramraj in women's 400m hurdles. The competition serves as a qualifying event for the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 in Gumi, Republic of Korea.

Simone Biles and Mondo Duplantis were named sportswoman and sportsman of the year at the Laureus world sports awards in Madrid on Monday (April 21, 2025). The American gymnast won three gold medals and a silver at the Paris Olympics, while the Swedish pole vaulter won a second Olympic gold medal and raised his own world record two times. Real Madrid, the Champions League and La Liga winners last season, were the world team of the year, while young Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal won the world breakthrough player award.

Michael van Gerwen claimed his first ranking title of 2025 at the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich, beating fellow Dutchman Gian van Veen 8-5 in the final. Van Gerwen's victory was marked by a stunning nine-dart finish in his Last 16 tie against Ryan Searle, where he averaged 104 en route to a 6-1 demolition. Van Veen had earlier delivered an impressive display, averaging 110.81 in his semi-final win over world champion Luke Littler. However, he couldn't replicate the same form in the final, as Van Gerwen broke early and sealed the victory, winning three legs in a row. This triumph marks Van Gerwen's 38th European Tour title and his fourth German Grand Prix title, showcasing his dominance in the sport.

The Italian football league has postponed its matches out of respect following the death of Pope Francis, a lifelong football enthusiast, at the age of 88. The affected Serie A games were Torino vs. Udinese, Cagliari vs. Fiorentina, Genoa vs. Lazio, and Parma vs. Juventus. A rescheduled date for the matches has yet to be announced.

Paula Radcliffe, a four-time British Olympian, has earned the prestigious Six Star Medal after completing the Boston Marathon. The 51-year-old finished the race in 2:53:44, ranking 117th among 12,447 female participants. The Six Star Medal is awarded to runners who complete all six World Marathon Majors: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. Radcliffe, who retired from competitive running in 2015, had recently restarted her running career, completing her first marathon in a decade at the Tokyo Marathon in March.

The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Denver Nuggets 105-102 in a close thriller at the Ball Arena in Denver in Game 2 of the Playoffs Round 1 of the NBA 2024-25. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray contributed with 26 and 23 points respectively for the Nuggets, but that went in vain as the Nuggets lost the match in the last minute. Kawhi Leonard scored 39 points for the Clippers and proved to be a match-winner for them.

Nottingham Forest bounced back from two consecutive defeats with a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood scored in the first half, giving Forest a comfortable lead. Despite Tottenham's strong second-half performance, Richarlison's late goal wasn't enough to salvage a draw, leaving Spurs with their fourth defeat in five league games. The win propels Forest up the table, boosting their Champions League hopes, while Tottenham remains in 16th place.

Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana have been named the Leading Men's and Women's Cricketers in the World, respectively, in the 2025 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Bumrah's impressive performances earned him the top spot, while Mandhana's record-breaking 1,659 runs across formats in 2024, including four ODI hundreds and a Test century, secured her place as the best women's cricketer.

Railways' Pranav Pramod pulled off a stunning upset at the National Federation Senior Athletics Competition in Kochi, claiming the men's 100m dash gold with a time of 10.27 seconds. The 23-year-old's surprise victory saw him outpace pre-race favourites, shining on the event's opening day. Pranav had previously won a silver medal at the Uttarakhand National Games in February.

New Zealand rugby star Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is reversing her retirement, setting her sights on the 2025 World Cup. The 33-year-old winger had initially retired after winning Olympic gold in rugby sevens at the 2024 Paris Games. However, her successful stint with Blues Women in Sky Super Rugby Aupiki, where she helped the team win the title, has prompted her comeback, with Woodman-Wickliffe signing an eight-month contract.

Rajasthan Royals have struggled in the IPL 2025, losing two consecutive run chases, including a recent two-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants at home without injured captain Sanju Samson. Following this, the team has faced severe allegations, with Jaideep Bihani, convenor of the Rajasthan Cricket Association's ad hoc committee, accusing them of match-fixing.

Simone Biles experienced the "twisties," a condition that disrupts gymnasts' aerial orientation, years before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. According to her longtime coach Aimee Boorman's new book, The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles, Biles struggled with the twisties in the lead-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she ultimately won four gold medals. The condition would later resurface in Tokyo, contributing to Biles' withdrawal from competition due to mental health concerns, with her only medal being a bronze on the beam.

Real Betis scored three first-half goals to beat Girona 3-1, keeping their European hopes alive. Johnny Cardoso, Anthony, and Isco scored with headers or volleys, showcasing Betis's aerial threat. The win puts Betis just one point behind Villarreal in sixth place, with the top five spots securing Champions League qualification and sixth place earning a Europa League spot. Girona, meanwhile, remains winless in 10 league matches, sitting 16th, three points above the relegation zone.

John Korir and his older brother Wesley have become the only siblings to win the Boston Marathon. John claimed the title on Monday with a blistering time of 2:04:45, the second-fastest winning time in the race's history. Meanwhile, Sharon Lokedi shattered the course record in the women's division with a 2:17:22 finish, edging out Hellen Obiri. Lokedi's record-breaking time was joined by the other two podium finishers, who also surpassed the previous record of 2:19:59. After John's win, his brother Wesley, who won the title in 2012, celebrated with a warm hug at the finish line.

That's all for today. Thank you for joining us. Goodbye and take care!