Indian sports wrap, March 6: Shubhankar to lead India’s challenge at Indian Open

GOLF

Indian Open: Shubhankar to lead India’s challenge

The champions of the last two years Keita Nakajima of Japan and Marcel Siem of Germany will be in action, among a number of stars, in the USD 2.25 million Hero Indian Open Golf championship to be played at the DLF Golf and Country Club from March 27 to 30.

The 24-year-old Nakajima won the last edition, an effort that catapulted him to global fame. Marcel Siem had ended a 10-year hunt for titles by winning the event in 2023.

Jacques Kruyswijk, Johannes Veerman, Julien Guerrier, Angel Hidalgo, Frederic Lacroix, David Ravetto, Ewen Ferguson and Guido Migliozzi will be some of the other prominent players in action.

The Indian challenge will be spearheaded by Veer Ahlawat, the runner-up of the last edition, who went on to top the Indian Order of Merit and is competing on the DP World Tour.

Apart from Veer, Shubhankar Sharma, a two-time winner on the DP World Tour, will shoulder the Indian challenge along with Manu Gandas.

The teen prodigy Kartik Singh will have another chance to rub shoulders with the best in the business, as he keeps getting better, having finished top-10 in his last three international amateur events in South Africa and Australia.

“This event is a testament to our leadership in promoting Indian golf on the global stage. We are proud to extend our two-decade long partnership with India’s national open and continue building on our rich history of showcasing the world’s best golfers on Indian soil. Hero MotoCorp remains dedicated to enhancing its legacy of supporting and advancing sports in India and globally.

“Our vision is to inspire the next generation and create opportunities for youth across the world,” said the vice president of Hero MotoCorp, Sanjay Bhan, as he addressed the media on Thursday.

“The DLF Golf and Country Club is delighted to be the venue for the sixth edition in a row. The course is in immaculate playing condition and the golfers will definitely enjoy the challenge,” said the vice president of DLF Golf and Country Club, Tusch Daroga.

– Kamesh Srinivasan

Ahmedabad Open: Sri Lanka’s Thangaraja takes five-shot lead after third round

Sri Lankan N Thangaraja shot a three-under 69, to gain a five-shot lead at the top, in the third round of the IndusInd Bank Rs.1 crore Ahmedabad Open at the Kensville Golf and Country Club on Thursday.

The 43-year-old Thangaraja, the first-round leader, had slipped to the second place following a round of 75. He made four birdies and dropped a bogey on the 10th this day, for an overall total of nine-under 207 in three rounds.

“I made 16 greens in regulation today. I am glad that I was able to regain my putting form just before the final round. My ability to play the low shot well helped me a lot in the windy conditions. The low shot always gives an advantage of about five to six yards when playing in windy conditions,” said Thangaraja.

– Team Sportstar

Women’s Asia-Pacific golf: Mannat Brar shoots superb 67 to move in Top-10 

Mannat Brar, making her fourth appearance at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Golf (WAAP) Championships, equalled the best round by an Indian with a four-under 67 here on Thursday.

Mannat was the best of the six Indians in the fray and was lying tied ninth after the first day at the picturesque Par-71 Hoiana Shores course, which is hosting its first big event.

Mannat was four shots behind Seo-Jin Park (64) with four others at 6-under 65. Mannat was tied ninth with An Le Chuc of Vietnam, Eunseo Choi of New Zealand, and Jie-En Lin of Chinese Taipei.

Saanvi Somu at 1-over 72 was the second best Indian in T-42 and debutant Guntas Kaur Sandhu (73) at 2-over was T-48. Heena Kang and debutant Zara Anand, with 76 each, were T-76 and another debutant Kashika Misra (78) was T-83rd.

The top 50 and ties will make the cut after the second round. The favourite and World No. 4 Rianne Malixi withdrew after five holes because of a back strain.

Mannat’s four-under 67 was the best score by an Indian at any WAAP and in relation to par, it equalled Anika Varma’s 68 (-4) in round two at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, UAE in 2021. Anika went on to finish T-9, the best by an Indian.

In 2024, Avani Prashanth also shot 68 (-4) in the first round at Siam Country Club and finished T-10, only the second Top-10 by an Indian.

Mannat, 18, the reigning all India Amateur champion, and keen to make up for the past three missed cuts, started on the 10th and made the best of the back nine, which afforded more birdie chances. She had five birdies against one bogey to turn in 4-under.

On the second nine, the front side of the course, Mannat went into a ravine on the very tough Par-5 third hole. She took two shots to come out and dropped a shot. However, she got the shot back on the Par-4 sixth and closed with three birdies for a four-under 67.

– PTI

Amandeep joins Vani in lead in 5th leg of WPGT

Amandeep Drall joined Vani Kapoor in a tie at the top after two rounds in the fifth leg of the Women’s Pro Golf Tour in Gurugram on Thursday.

On yet another tough scoring day, Amandeep, whose last win on the WPGT came here last year, gave away two late bogeys on the 15th and 16th to shoot 2-over 74 and get to 1-over 145 for 36 holes.

Vani, the first-round leader, added 3-over 75 to be tied with Amandeep at the Classic Golf & Country Club.

The lead pair was one shot clear of sole third Rhea Jha, who had two birdies to close the front nine and two bogeys on the back nine in her card of even-par 72.

Amandeep, whose last win came at the Golden Greens in Gurugram last year, had one birdie on the 14th against three bogeys, while playing partner Vani had a birdie to start with but then had four bogeys.

Neha Tripathi had an action-filled round with an eagle, four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey in her 72. She was tied fourth with amateur Ceerat Kang (72) and Gauri Karhade (71) at 4-over 148.

Gauri (71), who won her maiden title in 2019, shot one of the only two under-par rounds of the day, the other coming from Durga Nittur (71), who was sole ninth.

Yaalisai Verma (72) and Ridhima Dilawari (73) were tied for eighth.

Lavanya Jadon (72) landed one of the two eagles of the day and was 10th, one place ahead of Sneha Singh (75), the current Hero Order of Merit leader.

The cut fell at 159 and 24 players, including three amateurs, made the final round.

– PTI

IGU president: My job is to promote golf and not think about litigation

Indian Golf Union president Brijender Singh is not bothered about the litigation filed in the Delhi High Court by rival faction led by Harish Shetty, saying his group enjoys the support of the Sports Ministry and the international body, and his job is to promote the sport.

Due to infighting and fallout between Singh and former secretary-general Shetty, the IGU had two separate elections in December. While the ministry and the International Golf Federation gave recognition to the Singh faction, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) backed Shetty’s group.

The IOA was also rapped by the ministry and IGF for interfering in the IGU elections.

Unhappy with the decision, the Shetty group then filed a litigation against the other group in the Delhi High Court. The first hearing of the case took place in March 3 with the next hearing scheduled for March 27.

“If I start wondering and working towards what is happening it doesn’t help because ultimately the court is going to give the order. As of now, the court is telling us ‘you are the right people, go ahead and do your job’ and so we are doing our job.

“If tomorrow court tells me ‘you are not the right people, somebody else is’, I will step aside,” said Singh during an event to share details on the Hero Indian Open, schedule to commence on March 27.

“My responsibility as the president of the incumbent council is to do an honest job and promote the game, and I am doing that. I am fulfilling all my responsibilities as a president because that is the mandate I have got from the ministry, International Golf Federation and even the court. So I am not too worried.” Meanwhile, the IGU, in collaboration with golf management firm K&A Golf, will host Super 6, a new initiative to promote the game at the grassroots level, on March 24 at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram.

“It’s a new concept to promote golf at the grassroots. The event will be held for Under-13 golf aspirants at the Arnold Palmer course at the DLF Golf & Country Club,” Singh informed.

Singh also said that IGU is planning to take golf to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities of the country by setting up excellence centres, holding coaching camps and events.

Elaborating further on the Super 6 event, IGU secretary SK Sharma said: “It is a demonstrative event, smaller version of 6-hole and then every hole. It is for beginners. 36 children from six states will be selected and divided among six teams. The event will finish in three hours and promote golf.

“If it becomes successful we will take it to other places in the country.”

– PTI

HOCKEY

Senior Women’s National Championships: Jharkhand, Telangana and Bengal win

Jharkhand, Telangana and Bengal won their respective matches in the women’s national hockey championship in Panchkula on Thursday.

In the first match of the day, Telangana proved to be the better side as it defeated Bihar 5-2. While Komal Gurjar (12’, 50’, 55’) scored a hat-trick for Telangana, Pooja Rathod (13’) and Mundari Sumi (43’) also scored a goal each.

On the other hand, Ebha Kerketta (21’) and Nutan Topno (36’) scored one goal each for Bihar.

In the next game, Bengal beat Madhya Pradesh 2-1.

In a Division ‘A’ match, Jharkhand got the better of Mizoram 3-1. Sanjna Horo (21’), captain Albera Rani Toppo (36’) and Nirali Kujur (48’) scored one goal apiece for Jharkhand.

Maharashtra will face Manipur and Haryana will compete against Odisha in Division ‘A’ later on Thursday.

– PTI

TENNIS

ITF Gurugram: Zeel Desai outlasts Ankita Raina to reach quarterfinals

Wild card entrant Zeel Desai continued to assert her strong game and growing confidence as she beat seventh seed Ankita Raina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a three-hour battle of wits in the pre-quarterfinals of the USD 30,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at the Tennis Project, Baliyawas, on Thursday.

On a day when Vaidehi Chaudhari played solid to accelerate past Sahaja Yamalapalli for the loss of six games, and later partnered Shrivalli Bhamidipaty to reach the doubles semifinals, the 26-year-old Zeel stole the thunder with her maiden win over Ankita.

Zeel’s coach Alexander Waske of Germany, who has been guiding a number of Indian players over the years, was at the venue watching the proceedings and felt proud about the fighting game of his ward.

“Zeelilito, as we call her, fought very well. She attacked well and found solutions in the tough moments. It was a match with lots of long rallies and I am proud of her mental game today. Hope to see more of this tomorrow,” said Alexander Waske, who has a tie-up with Altevol Academy in Ahmedabad.

Zeel’s ability will be put under further scrutiny when she takes on second seed Ekaterina Makarova who had to fight her way past qualifier Rinon Okuwaki of Japan in three sets.

Vaidehi who served and stroked with composure, and conviction in her ability, will challenge fifth seed Kristina Dmitruk in the quarterfinals.

Fourth seed Haruka Kaji beat the champion of the last tournament Sohyun Park of Korea for the loss of six games, and will play fellow Japanese, qualifier Ikumi Yamazaki who beat sixth seed Amandine Hesse in straight sets.

Polina Iatcenko was in top form as she outplayed third seed Mei Yamaguchi of Japan. She will play German, Antonia Schmidt next.

In the doubles semifinals, Shrivalli and Vaidehi will play the second seeds Ekaterina Makarova and Ekaterina Reyngold.

– Kamesh Srinivasan

Banthia reaches doubles semifinals at Kigali Challenger

Siddhant Banthia in partnership with Alexander Donski beat Scott Duncan and Kelsey Stevenson 6-1, 6-7(6), [10-6] in the doubles quarterfinals of the $160,000 Challenger tennis tournament in Kigali, Rwanda.

– Team Sportstar

POLO

Rajnigandha Achievers reaches RMRM Gold Vase Polo Tournament semifinals

Rajnigandha Achievers Polo Team defeated Jaipur Delta 6-4 at the RMRM Gold Vase Polo Tournament 2025 in New Delhi. It will play the semifinals on March 8. The finals will be on March 9.

– Team Sportstar

CUE SPORT

Ishpreet Chadha, Faisal Khan reach quarterfinals of CCI Snooker Classic

Former national snooker champion Ishpreet Singh Chadha and Faisal Khan recorded wins in their respective contests to reach the quarterfinals of the CCI Snooker Classic all-India tournament in Mumbai on Thursday.

Chadha beat Rayaan Razmi 4-1 in an all-Mumbai round of 16 contest. He had one sizeable break of 91 in the second frame which could have been a bigger effort but after potting the last red, Chadha missed a regulation blue in the centre pocket.

Chadha, nevertheless, registered a 72-26, 91-11, 7-66, 58-17,67-42 win.

Railways’ Faisal got the better of the former national champion and India No. 3 Aditya Mehta of PSPB, scripting a 4-1 (89-32, (84-35, 67-39, 48-62, 66-53) victory.

Meanwhile, Railways’ Kamal Chawla won three frames in succession to get the better of PSPB’s Laxman Rawat 4-2 in a round of 32 encounter. Trailing 1-2, Chawla staged a remarkable fight back to roll in a 101 break and seal a 4-2 (57-61, 82-13, 24-64, 77-25, 71-37, 101-0) victory.

Qualifier Sachdev beat Uttar Pradesh’s India No. 6 Paras Gupta 4-3 (6-115), 59-29, 69-30, 56-43, 16-85, 65-57, and 75-15) and progressed to the final 16.

– PTI

TABLE TENNIS

Inter-college women’s tournament: Kirori Mal beats SRCC 3-2 in final

Kavya Yadav won two singles matches and Shreya won one to help Kirori Mal College to a 3-2 victory over Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in the final of the Inter-college women’s table tennis tournament at the DU Multi-purpose hall.

In the match for the third place, Aayushi won two and Mannat won one rubber to help Lady Shriram College to a 3-2 victory over Hansraj College.

– Team Sportstar

SAILING

At 13th, Vishnu Saravanan becomes highest-ranked Indian sailor in world

India’s Vishnu Saravanan added another first to his name as he became the highest-ranked sailor from the country in the latest World Sailing rankings released recently.

Saravanan, 26, winner of the bronze medal in the men’s dinghy ILCA7 event at the Hangzhou Asian Games, reached a career-best ranking of 13th with 776 points, the highest by an Indian sailor.

“Vishnu Saravanan achieved a career high ranking of world No. 13 in Men’s ILCA7 category, becoming the first Indian sailor to reach this milestone. Keep making waves, Vishnu,” said Sports Authority of India (SAI) in a social media post.

Saravanan, the Army man who hails from Vellore in Tamil Nadu, obtained India’s first quota in sailing for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Competing in the one-person dinghy event at the Adelaide Sailing Club, Saravanan had finished 26th on the overall leader board but was fifth among sailors eligible to secure quotas for Paris in the Olympic qualifying event.

In Paris, he claimed the 18th place with a net score of 114.

Saravanan had also won a bronze medal in the men’s dinghy event at the Asian Open Championships 2024 sailing competition in Haikou, China in December.

Hermann Tomasgaard of Norway leads the rankings in the event with 948 points.

– PTI

KABADDI

Yuva All Star Championships: Kurukshetra Warriors defeats Yuva Yoddhas, UP Falcons and Junior Steelers play a thrilling draw

The Yuva All Stars Championship kicked off at the Vandana Kataria Indoor Stadium in Haridwar, featuring four closely contested matches on the opening day on Thursday. 

In the first match, Kurukshetra Warriors defeated Yuva Yoddhas 37-33. Milan Dahiya led the Warriors with 11 raid points and one tackle point, while Rohit Narwal and Anurag Omvir secured High 5s. For the Yoddhas, Sushant Singh and Anil Gurjar scored seven raid points each, while Ravi contributed four tackle points.

The second match saw the first tie of the championship, as UP Falcons and Junior Steelers played out an intense 37-37 draw. The Steelers dominated the first half, but the Falcons mounted a strong comeback, leading by four points heading into the final minute. However, a last-raid tackle on Arjun Sirohi by Jasbir Dahiya resulted in an all-out, securing a tie for the Steelers. Kunal Bhati starred for the Falcons with 13 raid points, while Mayank Saini delivered a standout performance for the Steelers with 17 raid points.

In the third match, Warriorz K.C edged out Sonipat Spartans 39-37 in a nail-biting contest. The Spartans had the advantage at halftime, but the Warriorz turned the tide in the final 10 minutes to seal a two-point win. Rachit Yadav shone for the Warriorz with 11 raid points and two tackle points, while substitute Ronak Nain added four tackle points. Ankit Kumar Rana led the Spartans with eight raid points.

The final match of the day saw Division 1 champions Palani Tuskers overpower Division 3 champions Vasco Vipers 43-28. Rajapal J made a strong impact off the bench, scoring nine raid points and one tackle point. Defensively, Sakthivel Thangavelu and Abikumar M Suresh Kumar picked up four tackle points each for the Tuskers. Bhargav was the standout performer for the Vipers with eight raid points but lacked defensive support.

– Team Sportstar