GOLF
Top English golfer Fleetwood to compete in DP World India Championship
Olympic silver medallist Tommy Fleetwood of Britain confirmed his entry for the $4 million DP World India Championship to be played at the Delhi Golf Course from October 16 to 19. He joins the career Grand Slam champion Rory MicIlroy in the star cast.
Seven time winner on the DP World Tour, the 34-year-old Fleetwood, expressed his eagerness to return to Delhi and entertain the Indian fans.
“I can’t wait to get back to Delhi. It is such an amazing place _ the people, the food. I am aiming to play some good golf and entertain the Indian fans. I remember the Delhi Golf Club as a tight, challenging, strategic golf course. Players with al styles of play can contend, so it should help make for a very exciting week,” said Fleetwood.
The Chief Financial Officer at DP World, Yuvraj Narayan, was delighted with the increasing star power of the event in Delhi.
“India is a key part of our global business and hosting a tournament of this scale reflects our long-term commitment to the country. With Rory McIlroy already confirmed, we are pleased to have Tommy Fleetwood joining the field, adding to a world class line-up,” said Narayan.
The organisers also announced the tickets going on sale from Thursday, August 7, online, on bookmyshow.
-Team Sportstar
Amardeep takes sole lead at Coal India Open
Photo of, Amardeep Malik, the leader after two rounds of the Coal India Open golf championship in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Photo of, Amardeep Malik, the leader after two rounds of the Coal India Open golf championship in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Amardeep Malik jumped into the sole lead with a sparkling 7-under 65 in the second round, as he put together a 10-under 134, in the Coal India Open championship offering Rs.1 crore prize money, at the Kensville Golf and Country Club on Wednesday.
The effort gave a two-stroke lead for the Noida-based Amardeep who came up with a sizzling fare, putting eight birdies, ranging from 15 to 50 feet, apart from enduring the lone bogey on the fifth.
“I tried to hit the safest shot and found most fairways and greens. I also got lucky on the tough greens as I converted a lot of long putts,” said Amardeep who did not prepare much for the resumption of the circuit, as he recently became a father.
Angad Cheema was two-stroke behind Amardeep, while the other overnight leaders Karandeep Kochhar and Anshul Kabthiyal slipped to the tied fourth and tied sixth spots respectively.
The cut was applied at five-over 149, leading to 53 professionals and one amateur making it to the third round.
SCORES (after second round)
1. Amardeep Malik (69, 65) 134; 2. Angad Cheema (69, 67) 136; 3. Shaurya Bhattacharya (71, 66) 137; 4. Karandeep Kochhar (69, 70) 139; 5. Yuvraj Sandhu (70, 70) 140; 6T. Khalin Joshi (71, 70); Arjun Prasad (71, 70), Manoj s (70, 71) 141; 9T. Jamal Hossain (75, 67), Anshul Kabthiyal (69, 73); Mohd. Azhar (73, 69) 142; 12T. Rakshit Dahiya (72, 71), Ravi Kumar (70, 73), Abhinav Lohan (71, 72) 143.
-PTI
HOCKEY
Punjab, Jharkhand enter final of sub junior hockey nationals
Punjab and Jharkhand registered victories in their respective matches on Wednesday to set up the summit clash at the 15th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship in Chennai.
In the first semifinal of the day, Punjab defeated Uttar Pradesh 4-3. Sukhdev Singh (51st, 52nd) shone with a late brace, after Mandeep Singh (19th) and Varinder Singh (28th) scored in the first half.
Harsh Pratap Singh (9th), Ali Shahrukh (21st) and captain Ketan Kushwaha (28th) were the scorers for Uttar Pradesh.
In the other semifinal, Jharkhand defeated Madhya Pradesh 3-1. Though Love (21st) gave Madhya Pradesh the lead, Jharkhand bounced back with goals from Soreng Sumray (29th), Ashish Tani Purti (44th) and Jaysan Kandulna (56th) to move into the final.
Losing semifinalists Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh will face each other in the third-place fixture on Thursday.
-PTI
KABADDI
PKL team Gujarat Giants and Indian Men’s Hockey Team come together for special crossover in Bengaluru
The Indian men’s hockey team and the Gujarat Giants PKL franchise had a special interaction at the SAI centre in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Indian men’s hockey team and the Gujarat Giants PKL franchise had a special interaction at the SAI centre in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
As part of their pre-season preparations for Pro Kabaddi League Season 12, Gujarat Giants had a special interaction with the Indian Men’s Hockey Team at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru.
Gujarat Giants players, Himanshu Jaglan, Rakesh, Parteek Dahiya, Nitin Panwar and V Ajith Kumar, along with the Head Coach Jaivir Sharma, Assistant Coach Varinder Singh Sandhu and Fitness Trainer Abhishek Parihar, drew inspiration from the Indian Team Hockey team and even tried their hand at hockey, while the hockey players experienced kabaddi drills in return.
Both teams are currently preparing for their upcoming challenges: the Indian Men’s Hockey Team for its Australia tour and the Asia Cup, and the Gujarat Giants for the new PKL season.
– Team Sportstar
TENNIS
Mahika Khanna books semifinals spot in Delhi AITA tournament
Top seed Mahika Khanna recovered from a hesitant start to outplay Jennifer Luikham 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the Rs.100,000 AITA women’s tennis tournament at the DLTA Complex on Wednesday.
In the semifinals, Mahika will play Riya Sachdeva. The other semifinal will be between second seed Samriti Punyani and Jeetesh Kumari, who came through contrasting matches in the quarterfinals against Suryanshi Shekhawat and Shagun Kumari, respectively.
RESULTS
Mahika Khanna bt Jennifer Luikham 4-6, 6-0, 6-2; Riya Sachdeva bt Aditi Tyagi 6-1, 6-2; Jeetesh Kumari bt Shagun Kumari 6-0, 6-3; Samriti Punyani bt Suryanshi Shekhawat 6-1, 3-6, 4-3 (retired).
-Team Sportstar
Riya Bhatia wins first round match at ITF tournament in Austria
Qualifier Riya Bhatia beat Arabella Koller 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the $60,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament in Amstetten, Austria.
It was a double delight for Riya, as she made the doubles quarterfinals in partnership with Michaela Bayerlova of Czech Republic with a 12-10 victory in the super tie-break.
RESULTS
€91,250 Challenger, Cordenons, Italy
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Zdenek Kolar (Cze) & Nino Serdarusic (Cro) bt Siddhant Banthia & Alexander Donski (Bul) 6-4, 3-6, [11-9].
€91,250 Challenger, Bonn, Germany
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Dmitry Popko & Denis Yevseyev (Kaz) bt Johannes Ingildsen (Den) & Vijay Sundar Prashanth 6-4, 6-4.
$30,000 ITF men, Bali, Indonesia
Singles (first round): Karan Singh bt Lucky Kurniawan (Ina) 6-4, 6-2; Ajay Malik bt Tomas Perez (Esp) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4; S Mukund bt Kabir Hans 6-3, 7-5.
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Francis Alcantara (Phi) & Christopher Rungkat (Ina) bt Kabir Hans & Maan Kesharwani 7-6(2), 6-4.
$30,000 ITF men, Monastir, Tunisia
Singles (first round): Manas Dhamne bt Roan Jones (GBR) 6-4, 6-0.
$30,000 ITF men, Brazzaville, Congo
Singles (first round): Digvijay Pratap Singh bt Constantin Kouzmine (Fra) 6-4, 7-6(4); Seydina Andre (Sen) bt Aditya Balsekar 6-1, 6-4.
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Chinmaya Dev Chauhan & Nishith Naveen bt Alexey Dubinin & Zachary Mintz (USA) 6-4, 6-2; Prakaash Sarran & Matas Vasiliauskas (Ltu) bt Isaac Bokungu & Guelord Kayombo (Cod) 6-1, 6-3; Kacper Szymkowiak & Jan Wygona (Pol) bt Matteo Covato (Ita) & Digvijay Pratap Singh 6-2, 7-6(4); Aditya Balsekar & Stephane Kamendje (Can) bt Moye Koffi (CIV) & Christopher Koummba (Gab) 6-0, 6-1.
$15,000 ITF men, Singapore
Singles (first round): Ali Habib (GBR) bt Abhinav Sanjeev Shanmugam 6-4, 7-6(7).
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Shaheed Alam & Bill Chan (Sgp) bt Parth Aggarwal & Felix Mischker (GBR) 6-4, 5-7, [10-8]; Abhinav Shanmugam & Manish Sureshkumar bt Ilya Ignatov (Uzb) & Markos Kalovelonis (Gre) 7-5, 6-3.
60,000 ITF women, Amstetten, Austria
Singles (first round): Riya Bhatia bt Arabella Koller (Aut) 6-4, 6-2.
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Michaela Bayerlova (Cze) & Riya Bhatia bt Liel Rothensteiner & Ava Schueller (Aut) 6-7(5), 6-3, [12-10].
$30,000 ITF women, Roehampton, Britain
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Yeonwoo Ku (Kor) & Ankita Raina bt Erica Brennan & Lydia Brennan (Irl) 6-1, 6-1; Naiktha Bains (GBR) & Rutuja Bhosale bt Lucia Casidy & Marelie Raath (GBR) 6-3, 6-2.
$15,000 ITF women, Singapore
Singles (first round): Darja Suvirdjonkova (Srb) bt Smriti Bhasin 6-3, 6-1.
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Smriti Bhasin & Sravya Shivani bt Tanisha Kantam & Emma Maan (Sgp) 6-0, 6-1.
$15,000 ITF women, Astana, Kazakhstan
Singles (first round): Anjali Rathi bt Anna Sedysheva 7-6(5), 6-1.
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Aglaya Fedorova & Daria Khomutsianskaya (Blr) bt Prathyusha Rachapudi & Anjali Rathi 6-4, 6-3.
-Team Sportstar
SQUASH
Tanvi Khanna lone Indian in semifinals at HCL India Tour PSA Challenger
Fifth seed Tanvi Khanna knocked out the second seed Menna Walid of Egypt 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6 in the women’s quarterfinals of the HCL India Tour PSA Challenger squash tournament at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium on Wednesday.
Tanvi, who won the battle of wits in 54 minutes, was the lone Indian to progress into the semifinals, and will play Goh Zhi Xuan of Malaysia.
RESULTS
Men: Yasin Shohdy (Egy) bt Naoki Hayashi (Jpn) 11-2, 11-6, 11-5; Seif Refaay (Egy) bt Darren Pragasam (Mas) 11-3, 5-11, 11-13, 11-2, 11-3; Ravindu Laksiri (Sri) bt Karim Aguib (Can) 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5; Mohamed Gohar (Egy) bt Lap Man Au (Hkg) 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6.
Women: Nour Khafagy (Egy) bt Pooja Arthi 11-3, 11-3, 11-5; Akari Midorikawa (Jpn) bt Shameena Riaz 13-11, 11-6, 11-5; Goh Zhi Xuan (Mas) bt Anjali Semwal 11-3, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5; Tanvi Khanna bt Menna Walid (Egy) 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6.
-Team Sportstar
BOXING
Four boxers enter U22 Asian Boxing Championships finals
Neeraj, Ishan Kataria, Yatri Patel and Priya reached the finals at the U22 Asian Boxing Championships here on Wednesday.
Neeraj relied on his speed and counter-attacking skills to defeat Kyeongho Bang of South Korea 5:0 in the men’s 75kg category to book a place in the title showdown, while Ishan Kataria, in men’s 90+kg, dominated Chen Chen of China with his big punches as the referee had to stop the contest in the third round.
Yatri Patel in women’s 57kg then reached the final by using a combination of left-right punches to dominate Vietnam’s Thi Nhung Quand and win by a unanimous 5:0 verdict. Priya (women’s 60kg) also came up with a dominating performance to overpower Uzbekistan’s Odinakhon Ismoilova to reach the final.
The U19 and U22 Asian Boxing Championships, which are being held simultaneously, gives India’s rising stars a platform to showcase their skills against some of Asia’s toughest opponents.
-PTI