KABADDI
Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship: India beats Iran 32-25 in final, clinches fifth title
India won its fifth title at the Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship on Saturday.
The Indian team beat Iran 32-25 in the summit clash in Tehran to successfully defend its crown.
– Team Sportstar
GOLF
Sharma lies third; Ahlawat makes cut with brilliant 63 in Joburg Open
Shubhankar Sharma stayed in contention at the Joburg Open with a superb 6-under 65 in the second round, following his opening 66 to reach 9-under and sit tied third at the halfway stage at Houghton Golf Club in Johannesburg.
Shaun Norris (66-63) leads the field at 11-under despite battling an ear infection, with Frenchman Adrien Saddier (65-65) one shot behind in second. Sharma shares third place with Connor Syme (66-65).
There was further good news for India, as Veer Ahlawat, who got to the DP World Tour by topping the PGTI Order of Merit, shot 7-under 63, the day’s equal best to make the cut.
He jumped from tied-127th after first round to tied-30th.
Sharma, the 2017 Joburg Open winner, fondly remembered his win.
“Coming back to South Africa is always special, and the Joburg Open was my first win and which got me onto the DP World Tour. It was life changing,” he said.
Ahlawat was thrilled with the 7-under 63, which is his best on the DP World Tour.
“My game was feeling solid since the start of the week even in the practice round. I was hitting the ball really well. So I knew the game was pretty good. But in the last few tournaments I was struggling with my short game a little bit,” said Ahlawat.
“This week, even the short game was feeling solid. Yet during the first round, I didn’t hole a lot of putts. I was struggling to read the real lines well.
“But today (in the second round), I did strike the ball really well and I hit the shots to within a 10 feet circle a lot of times. The good thing was I was able to hole putts so that’s what helped me go low.
“I knew I needed a low round to make the cut. In my mind the cut was going at three-under par so I knew I would need to shoot at least a six-under par round to have a chance to make the cut. I’m feeling confident about the game. Ball striking is good and I’m giving myself a lot of birdie chances so that’s good,” he added.
Norris produced a strong 63 on Friday to lead on 11 under par overall, with Frenchman Adrien Saddier his nearest challenger on 10 under after a 65 in which he dropped at the last to sacrifice a share of the lead.
Norris has played sublime golf over the past two days despite the fact that he has been in pain with an ear infection that refuses to clear, and which has even made it difficult for him to sleep.
Norris heads into the weekend hunting his third DP World Tour title, and his second in just under three months after winning December’s Alfred Dunhill Championship.
– PTI
Teen star Guntas Sandhu top Indian at WAAP Championship in Vietnam
Teenage Chandigarh golfer Guntas Kaur Sandhu carded a second straight even-par round of 71 to move up four places to tied-35th in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in Da Nang, Vietnam on Saturday.
She is now the top Indian player with one more round to go. Guntas (73-71-71) was placed tied-39th overnight.
Mannat Brar (67-76-73), who was tied-ninth after the first day before slipping to tied-30th after the second, slid further to T-39th alongside Saanvi Somu (72-74-70). Saanvi was the only Indian to card under-par on the third day. After making the cut on the line, she has now improved from tied-50th to tied-39th.
Malaysian-born Jeneath Wong, 20, who shifted to Melbourne when she was 10 and is now in college in California, compiled a stunning 7-under 64 with eight birdies against one bogey to open a three-shot lead.
Wong leads Korea’s overnight leader Sumin Hong (69) and China’s Soomin Oh (66). Both Soomin and Sumin had an eagle each. Soomin landed her eagle on the 10th and Sumin got hers on the 18th to get to tied-second.
On a day when the conditions were benign as compared to the first two days at the Hoiana Shores Golf Club, Guntas, starting from the back nine, picked three birdies against one bogey to turn in 2-under. However, the front side of the course did not yield any birdies for the young star, who also dropped shots on the fourth and ninth.
Guntas felt she could have played better but has been thrilled with the experience of getting to play the elite-level event.
Wong moved from tied-second at the halfway stage to sole lead after the third and is poised to become the first Malaysian to win the prestigious WAAP title, which opens a lot of doors for the winner.
The winner here will be invited to compete in three of this year’s major championships – the AIG Women’s Open, Amundi Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship – as well as the Hana Financial Group Championship, ISPS Handa Australian Open, the 122nd Women’s Amateur Championship and, by tradition, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
– PTI
CRICKET
On Women’s Day, Rajasthan Royals launches ‘Pink Promise’ jersey for Mumbai Indians clash
Rajasthan Royals marked International Women’s Day by unveiling an all-pink jersey for its much anticipated ‘Pink Promise’ match against Mumbai Indians slated on May 1 in Jaipur during the upcoming Indian Premier League.
The Royal Rajasthan Foundation, the CSR arm of Rajasthan Royals, launched a campaign film, titled Aurat Hai Toh Bharat Hai (If there’s women, there’s India) to promote women-led initiatives.
The Royals will also contribute Rs 100 for every ticket purchased for the RR vs MI match toward women-led rural transformation in Rajasthan.
Additionally, all proceeds from the sale of the special all-pink Royals’ jersey will go directly to RRF to support its social impact initiatives.
Furthermore, for every six hit in the match by either team, Rajasthan Royals and RRF will commit to lighting up six homes in the Sambhar region with solar power.
– PTI
Indian team wins title in T20I Tri-series for Deaf
India beat Australia by seven wickets in the final to clinch the T20I Tri-series for the Deaf at the Karnail Singh Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday.
South Africa was the other team in the tournament hosted by the Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA).
Kuldeep Singh of India was adjudged man of the match in the final for his five-wicket haul. He was also named the best bowler of series as well as player of the series. Abhishek Singh, also of India, was named best batter of the series.
The Indian deaf cricket team for the tournament was led by Virender Singh.
– PTI