GOLF
S.S.P Chawrasia Invitational: Manu Gandas emerges sole leader after second round
Manu Gandas of Gurugram assumed the lead with a fine six-under 66 in the second round to tally a creditable nine-under 135 in the inaugural S.S.P. Chawrasia Invitational, at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club on Thursday.
Indian star Anirban Lahiri fired the day’s best score of 65 to be placed second at eight-under 136 while another golfer from Gurugram, Veer Ahlawat struck a 67 to be in third place at six-under 138.
As it happened in the second day’s action, the top three players on the leaderboard - Manu, Anirban and Veer - played together in the same group in the first two rounds. There was only one bogey among the three players in the second round and this set up an interesting contest ahead of the third round when they return together as the leader group.
The PGTI rankings leader Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (70) of Chandigarh was tied ninth at four-under 140 while the tournament host S.S.P. Chawrasia (70) was tied 11th at three-under 141 to be the highest-placed among the Kolkata-based professionals. Ajeetesh Sandhu (70) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (72) were also tied 11th along with Chawrasia. The first round leader Karandeep Kochhar (77) of Chandigarh slipped to tied 20th place and was placed at one-under 143.
- Amitabha Das Sharma
TENNIS
ITF $25k women’s tennis tournament: Shrivalli, Ankita reach quarterfinals in Solapur
Shrivalli Bhamidipaty sustained her good game to get past Sowjanya Bavisetti into the quarterfinals of the Balaji Amines $25,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at the District Sports Complex in Solapur on Thursday.
Shrivalli led 6-3, 3-0 when Sowjanya retired. In the quarterfinals, Shrivalli will play Priska Nugroho of Indonesia.
Top seed Ankita Raina was the only other Indian player to reach the quarterfinals, as she beat compatriot Zeel Desai in three sets. She will face Ekaterina Yashina who fought her way past Sahaja Yamalapalli 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4.
In doubles, the No.1 seeds Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare will meet Shrivalli and Vaidehi Chaudhari in the semifinals.
- Kamesh Srinivasan
FOOTBALL
I-League: NEROCA holds Gokulam FC to a goalless draw
Gokulam striker Shijin (right) and NEROCA captain David Simbo engage in a mid-air tussle. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
NEROCA snapped Gokulam Kerala FC’s winning streak at home by holding it to a goalless draw at the Payyanad stadium here on Thursday.
It was a disappointing performance from Gokulam FC, which needed a win to top the table. The home side was outplayed by its spirited rivals and should thank its goalkeeper Shibinraj for salvaging a draw.
The visiting Manipur side wrested control of the midfield early in the first half to put pressure on the Gokulam defence. However, NEROCA strikers weren’t sharp enough to convert the chances that came their way. Gokulam goalkeeper Shibinraj brought out a nice save to deny Lunminlen Haokip in the 26th minute. Gokulam nearly scored against the run of play in the 30th minute when Shijin found space inside the rival box only to see his shot rebound off the far post. Towards the end of the first half, Gokulam’s Cameroon striker Augustine Jr, who was unmarked, blasted out from close.
Gokulam showed more attacking intent in the second half and was able to keep the NEROCA defence on its toes. But Shijin and Bouba Aminou messed up the chances they got inside the box. At the other end, Shibinraj was alert to parry away shots from Lunminlen Halkip and Tangva Ragui as the match drifted to a draw. Gokulam with the draw slipped to third spot with 15 points while NEROCA moved up to the 10th spot with seven points.
- M.R. Praveen Chandran
TENNIS
$15k ITF men’s tennis tournament: Sasikumar Mukund reaches quarters in Sharm El Sheikh
Top seed Sasikumar Mukund sailed past Marat Sharipov 6-1, 6-2 in the pre-quarterfinals of the $15,000 ITF men’s tennis tournament in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Thursday.
In the quarterfinals, Mukund will play Grigoriy Lomakin of Kazakhstan.
- Kamesh Srinivasan
SQUASH
Northern India squash championship
Second seed Aryan Pratap Singh battled past Lakshya Gwala 3-11, 13-11, 11-9, 12-10 to set up a title clash against top seed Aarav Gill in the under-19 boys section of the IndusInd Bank Northern India squash championship at the Delhi Gymkhana Club courts on Thursday.
- Kamesh Srinivasan
HOCKEY
Beighton Cup
Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Indian Oil recorded wins in the 124th Beighton Cup hockey tournament at the SAI astro-turf ground here on Thursday.
The results: PNB bt Odisha XI 4-2; Indian Oil bt CAG 3-1.
- Y.B. Sarangi
ATHLETICS
Tata Steel Kolkata 25k: Kiplangat feels ‘world record’ possible
Birmingham Commonwealth Games marathon champion Victor Kiplangat feels that a world record is possible in the Tata Steel Kolkata 25k race in Kolkata on Sunday.
Kiplangat, who won the World mountain running championship in 2017, looked forward to a fine performance. “Birmingham was a bit hilly, which was good for me as I am a mountain runner. I am going to give my best for this 25k run on a flat surface. I am prepared and I am strong. I am hoping for a world record,” said Ugandan Kiplangat at a press conference on Thursday.
Female runner Ashete Bekere, who won the Berlin Marathon and Rotterdam Marathon in 2019 and Valencia Marathon in 2018, also looked forward to setting a world record.
“There are several marathons that I have run and I am prepared for Sunday’s 25k as my injuries are okay. After the Tokyo marathon and London marathon (in 2022), I am well prepared and hoping for a world record,” said Ethiopian Ashete.
Several top international athletes will vie for the winner’s purse of $7500 and the course record bonus of $3000.
- Y.B. Sarangi
POWERLIFTING
Dubai Para Powerlifting WC: Parmjeet, Khatun open India’s account
Paramjeet Kumar and Shakina Khatun claimed a silver and a bronze respectively to open India’s account at the 12th Fazza Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai on Thursday.
Kumar, a Commonwealth Games and World Championships bronze medallist, settled for the second spot after a successful lift of 165kg in the men’s up to 49 kg.
He finished behind Paralympic champion Omar Qarada of Jordan, who had a best lift of 176kg.
“It was a good performance. I am happy with my lift of 165kg which I have targeted coming to the competition in Dubai. There’s work needed to be done on my technique and to do even better at the Asian Para Games,” Kumar said.
Khatun settled for the bronze medal with her only successful lift of 90kg in the women’s up to 50kg weight category.
She finished behind Brazil’s Maria Rizonaide da Silva (95kg) and Italy’s Emanuela Ita Romano (92kg).
Around 200 powerlifters from 40 nations are competing in the final World Para Powerlifting World Cup of the season.
- PTI
