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The following are the top/expected stories at 1800 hours.

EXPECTED STORIES *I-League report: East Bengal vs Neroca FC in Kolkata.

*ISL report: NorthEast United vs Delhi Dynamos in Guwahati.

STORIES ON THE WIRE:

SPO-IND-PREVIEW India aim for strong comeback after Wellington hiding

Auckland, Feb 7 (PTI) A strong comeback will be expected from India after the hammering from New Zealand in the series-opener when the two teams square-up in the second T20 International at Eden Park here on Friday.

SPO-IND-WOM-PREVIEW 2nd Women's T20I: Mithali question looms large as under-pressure India look to save series

Auckland, Feb 7 (PTI) Mithali Raj's inclusion could be the bone of contention for Indian women, who will be eyeing a much improved showing with the bat when they face an upbeat New Zealand in a must-win second T20 International here on Friday.

SPO-RANJI-FINAL Vidarbha champions again; Saurashtra end second best for 3rd time

By Amanpreet Singh Nagpur, Feb 7 (PTI) Vidarbha lifted their second successive Ranji Trophy title with a comfortable 78-run win over Saurashtra in the final, proving that their maiden triumph last year was no "fluke".

SPO-LIFT-LD CHANU

Returning from Injury, Mirabai Chanu wins gold in first competitive meet (Eds: Updating with Mirabai Chanu's quotes)

New Delhi, Feb 7 (PTI) World champion Indian weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu Thursday notched up a gold medal at the EGAT Cup in Thailand, making a strong comeback from the lower back injury that kept her out of action for more than half of 2018.

SPO-RANJI-COMMENTS Character of this side came to fore in this final: Pandit

By Amanpreet Singh Nagpur, Feb 7 (PTI) A strict disciplinarian by his own admission, Chandrakant Pandit is immensely proud that Vidarbha players have made a seamless transition from handling pressure to putting opposition under the pump, during their second successive Ranji Trophy triumph.

SPO-FOOT-RANKING

FIFA rankings: India slips out of top 100 in latest charts New Delhi, Feb 7 (PTI) The Indian football team Thursday slipped out of the top 100 in the latest FIFA rankings following their back to back group league defeats during the AFC Asian Cup in the UAE.

SPO-GYM-COACH

Dipa likely to start training for Produnova after Doha World Cup: Coach By Amit Kumar Das

New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) Ace Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar is likely to restart her training for the gravity-defying Produnova vault after next month's Doha World Cup, her mentor and coach Bisheshwar Nandi said.

SPO-BOX-MANOJ-SAI Manoj fires fresh salvo at SAI; Body details assistance provided so far

New Delhi, Feb 7 (PTI) Seasoned boxer Manoj Kumar has intensified his war with the Sports Authority of India by accusing the body of trying to hurt his career but the SAI continued to assert that the three-time Commonwealth Games medallist has been provided assistance throughout.