Indian sports wrap, March 1

Here are all the updates, results and developments from the world of Indian sports on March 1.

India celebrates after scoring a goal against Bhutan | Photo Credit: AIFF Media

FOOTBALL

SAFF U16: Anushka Kumari nets hat-trick in India’s commanding win over Bhutan 

Anushka Kumari’s hat-trick headlined India’s commanding 7-0 win over Bhutan in the SAFF U16 Women’s Championship here at the ANFA Complex on Friday.

Anushka, the 13-year-old from Hazaribagh who scored 22 goals in the sub-junior tier 1, tore into the Bhutan defence with Pearl Fernandes (two goals), Shveta Rani and substitute Anwita Raghuraman being the other goal-scorers for India.

India was on the rampage from the start as its midfielders and forwards moved almost unchallenged in the Bhutan area.

Skipper and winger Shveta opened the Indian account with a right-footer off a combined move.

The floodgate opened thereafter. Between the 13th and 27th minutes, India netted four more goals, with the fourth one by Fernandes being the best of the day.

The Goa girl unleashed a long ranger that curled into the corner of the net, leaving Bhutan goalkeeper Kelzang Wangmo baffled.

The four-team tournament also features hosts Nepal and Bangladesh, and the two top teams will play the final on March 10.

- Team Sportstar

SHOOTING

Sarabjot Singh topped air pistol in the fourth National shooting selection trials

 Kunal Rana, Sarabjot Singh and Gurpreet Singh, the air pistol toppers in the National shooting trials in Bhopal on Friday | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

World Cup gold medallist and Olympic quota winner Sarabjot Singh topped air pistol with 244.8 points in the fourth National shooting selection trials at the Madhya Pradesh Academy on Friday.

Sarabjot beat qualification topper Kunal Rana (585) by 0.9 point. Olympian Gurpreet Singh once again asserted his efficiency with air pistol by placing third ahead of Naveen, Aditya Malra, Arpit Tomar, Aakash Bhardwaj and Inderpal Singh. The rapid fire pistol expert, Gurpreet had placed third in the earlier trial also.

In women’s air pistol, Suruchi topped by beating Surbhi Rao by 2.5 points. Qualification topper, Asian Games gold medallist Palak Gulia (585) placed third.

Sainyam, TS Divya, Anjali Shekhawat, Urva Chaudhary and Mamta Kedia were the others to make the final, and placed fourth to eighth in that order.

The results:

10m air pistol: Men: 1. Sarabjot Singh 244.8 (583); 2. Kunal Rana 243.9 (585); 3. Gurpreet Singh 222.6 (583).

Women: 1. Suruchi 242.8 (575); 2. Surbhi Rao 240.3 (580); 3. Palak Gulia 218.7 (585).

- Kamesh Srinivasan

TENNIS

Yuki Bhambri and Robin Haase bow out in semifinals of $3,113,270 ATP tennis tournament

Yuki Bhambri and Robin Haase were beaten 6-3, 7-6(2) by the second seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek in the doubles semifinals of the $3,113,270 ATP tennis tournament in Dubai on Friday.

The Indo-Dutch team which had won two rounds in the qualifying event, collected $48,760 and 180 ATP points.

The results:

$3,113,270 ATP, Dubai, UAE Doubles (quarterfinals): Ivan Dodig (Cro) & Austin Krajicek (USA) bt Yuki Bhambri & Robin Haase (Ned) 6-3, 7-6(2).

$15,000 ITF women, Ipoh Perak, Malaysia

Singles (first round): Haruna Arakawa (Jpn) bt Ashmitha Easwaramurthi= 6-2, 4-6, 6-1.

Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Hayu Kinoshita & Mio Mushika (Jpn) bt Yui Chikaraishi (Jpn) & Ashmitha Easwaramurthi 6-4, 6-0.