Indian sports wrap, August 20: Punjab FC announces signing of Argentine midfielder Ezequiel Vidal

Here are all the major updates, scores, and results of Indians in the world of sports on August 19.

Norberto Ezequiel Vidal. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

FOOTBALL

Punjab FC signs Argentine midfielder Ezequiel Vidal

Punjab FC has announced the signing of Argentine midfielder Norberto Ezequiel Vidal as its fifth foreign player for the 2024–25 season. The 29-year-old last played for Indonesian top-flight club Persita Tangerang.

Vidal began his professional career in 2011 with Club Olimpo, where he spent eight years. In 2019, he joined Argentine Primera B side San Martin SJ, followed by a move to Atletico Alvarado in 2020, where he scored five goals in 37 appearances. After a brief stint with Independiente Rivadavia, Vidal signed with Persita Tangerang in 2022, where he netted 17 goals in 60 appearances over two seasons.

Speaking about the signing, technical director of Punjab FC, Nikolaos Topoliatis, said, “We are excited to have Vidal in our ranks for the upcoming season. He is an exciting player who will add more speed and creativity to our midfield. I wish him the best for a successful season with us.”

-Team Sportstar

Sri Lanka and Minerva Public School win big on Day 2 of the 63 ^rd Subroto Cup Sub-Junior Boys

Sri Lanka Schools Football Association and Minerva Public School, Mohali registered resounding victories, scoring double digit goals on Day 2 of the 63 ^rd Subroto Cup Sub-Junior Boys Inter School Football Tournament being played in Bengaluru at various venues.

Aston Haken’s hattrick led the Sri Lankan side to a 10-0 victory over Gyanmata High School, DD & DNH in a Group B fixture played at Air Force School, Jalahalli. Umar, Areeb Pakeer and Vishan Anjelo scored a brace each while Mursheed scored also got onto the scoresheet.

In a Group E fixture at the Air Force HQ Training Ground, defending champion Minerva Public School, Mohali thumped SFS Higher Secondary School, Nagaland 11-0 for its first win of the tournament. Lhungdim scored a hat-trick while Demami scored a brace and Tony, Yohenba, Rimosen, Azam and Rahup scored a goal each.

In other big victories of the day, Infocus India Public School, West Bengal beat Indira Modern High School, Haryana 7-0, Govt.Chawngfinga Middle School, Mizoram thumped Ebenezer High School, Tripura 6-0 and Perpetual Succour Convent High School, Goa overcame The Air Force School, New Delhi 5-0.

RESULTS

GROUP A

NNMHSS, Chelembra, Kerala drew Army Boys Sports Company, Bengaluru – 1-1

01 Goa Battalion, NCC bt Maharana Pratap Sports College, Uttarakhand – 3-0

GROUP B

Sri Lanka Schools Football Association bt Gyanmata High School, D&D and D&NH – 10-0

GROUP C

Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan bt The Army Public School, New Delhi – 4-0

GROUP D

Mother’s Pride Public School, Himachal Pradesh bt GSSS Mazara Dingrian, Punjab – 3-1

GROUP E

Major Dhyanchand Sports College, Uttar Pradesh drew Ramkrishna Mission Vivekanand Vidyapeeth, Chhattisgarh – 1-1

Minerva Public School, Mohali (CISCE) bt SFS Higher Secondary School, Nagaland – 11- 0

GROUP F

Govt. Boys Senior Secondary School, Tamil Nadu bt Sainik School, Kunjpura – 2-0

GROUP G

Perpetual Succour Convent High School, Goa bt The Air Force School, New Delhi – 5-0

St. Stephen’s School, Chandigarh bt St. Xavier’s High School, Jharkhand – 2-0

GROUP H

Infocus India Public School, West Bengal (CBSE) bt Indira Modern High School, Haryana – 7-0

Govt. Chawngfinga Middle School, Mizoram bt Ebenezer High School, Tripura – 6-0

-Team Sportstar

MOTORSPORT

Dhruv Chavan crowned Polo Cup champion

Mumbai’s Dhruv Chavan edged out Aditya Patnaik to emerge champion in the Polo Cup India 2024 racing event on Tuesday.

Dhruv (183 points) pipped Aditya (170 points) to the post to take the title by a mere four points. Ojas Surve settled for the third position with 159 points.

Aditya jumped into the lead, winning Race 1 at the Madras International Circuit.

But Dhruv took the next race to catch up with him. In round 2, Aditya made a strong statement by winning the first race.

However, Dhruv was more consistent, securing crucial points in rest of the races in the round to bag the title.

Romir Arya was crowned the Best Rookie of the season while Munjal Savla won the Master Championship.

-PTI

GOLF

Manu Gandas soars to top with record three eagles

Manu Gandas of Gurugram soared to the top of the leaderboard with a record three eagles in his first round of five-under 67 at the inaugural Chennai Pro Championship in the city on Tuesday.

Mysuru’s Yashas Chandra M S and Bengaluru’s Syed Saqib Ahmed also fired rounds of 67 to join Gandas in the lead at the TNGF Cosmo Golf Course.

Among the six players tied for fourth with scores of 68 at the INR 50 lakh event, were Olympian Udayan Mane and Chennai-based professional S Prasanth, who is playing at his home course.

Gandas, the 2022 PGTI Order of Merit champion, made a terrific start with birdie-eagle-birdie on the first three holes with his eagle being an 18-feet conversion.

Manu then had a flurry of six bogeys between the fourth and the 15th, a stretch where he only picked up three birdies in exchange. His dropped shots were a result of inaccurate tee shots that led to many missed fairways and greens.

Gandas, a winner earlier this season, finally came roaring back with two more eagles on the 16th and 18th where he sank another 18-footer and also had a tap-in. He thus became only the fourth player in PGTI history to make three eagles in a round.

Gandas, a winner at the TNGF Cosmo Golf Course in 2022, said, “Wherever I was good off the tee today, I created chances for myself. But some poor shots off the tee got me in trouble. It was a rollercoaster round.

-PTI