PICKLEBALL
Indian Open 2024 successfully wraps up second edition
The recently concluded Indian Open 2024, an international pickleball tournament organized by Global Sports, witnessed the participation of over 700 athletes from across 12 countries, predominantly from America, Europe, and Kenya in what was deemed the biggest Pickleball event in India.
A PWR 700 event, the Indian Open 2024 with a total prize pool of $100,000 was held from the 8th of February till the 11th of February at NSCI, Mumbai.
The high level of competition that was on display for the three days was also witnessed and commended by Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna, who were special guests at the event.
“I think sport in India is something that needs all our support and any sport that is new needs our support and I am always there for the push.” Said Sania Mirza, an India Tennis Legend at the event.
“First of all, it is wonderful to be at the Indian Open 2024 and I see such an amazing response to the sport of Pickleball. This is the first time I’ve been in a Pickleball court and I am excited to be here, it is truly an amazing sport in the country and definitely needs all our support. It has the potential to be a big sport in India and I look forward to that.” Said, Rohan Bopanna, World No. 1, ATP, Men’s Doubles.
The Indian Open 2024 had a total of 39 categories and a total of over 2200 games were played before the champions emerged in each category.
-Team Sportstar
GOLF
Arjun Prasad stretches lead to three shots in round two
Delhi’s Arjun Prasad kept up the intensity with a five-under 65 in round two to stretch his lead to three shots at a total of 13-under 127 at the Rs 1 crore TATA Steel PGTI Players Championship here on Wednesday.
Rahil Gangjee (65), rookie Stepan Danek (66) of Czech Republic and defending champion Sachin Baisoya (67), were tied in second place at 10-under 130.
The cut was applied at two-under 138. Fifty-six professionals made the cut.
Arjun Prasad (62-65) battled it out on the back-nine with a birdie and a bogey each as the conditions were not as suitable for scoring early in the morning.
Prasad, who turned 25 a couple of days back, then reeled off a string of five birdies on the front-nine to consolidate his position at the top of the leaderboard.
On the front-nine, Arjun’s birdies featured two 10-feet conversions and his second chip-in of the tournament which came on the fourth.
Arjun said, “Teeing off in the first group of the morning session, the conditions I encountered today were quite different from round one. It was playing very heavy and the ball was not travelling as much for me as it did on Tuesday.
“On the back-nine, I kept myself in play and hung in there. I then got my game going on the front-nine.
“I’ve had a good feel around the greens so far and have been able to get my wedges close. I’m quite confident with my wedges at the moment and that reflects in my score.” Reigning champion Sachin Baisoya’s round of 67 included four birdies and a bogey.
Rahil Gangjee went error-free as he sank an eagle and three birdies in his second straight round of 65.
-PTI
TENNIS
Nibras Hussain knocks out sixth seed Satya Chintagunta
Nibras Hussain of Assam knocked out the sixth seed Satya Chintagunta of Telangana 6-2, 6-1 in the boys pre-quarterfinals of the Ramesh Desai memorial National under-12 tennis championship on Wednesday.
The results (pre-quarterfinals):
Under-12 boys: Yuvaan Garg bt Yashvantraje Pawar 6-4, 6-0; Vir Chattur bt Nirvaan Margana 6-4, 7-5; Yashvardhan Singh bt Sujai Pothula 6-1, 6-2; Aarav Chhallani bt Swayam Rath 6-2, 7-6(3); M Puneet bt Ronak Haryani 6-3, 7-5; Nibras Hussain bt Satya Chirtangunla 6-2, 6-1; Taanish Nanda bt Bhavesh Choudhary 6-0, 6-0; Ronnie Vijay Kumar bt Sparsh Patil 6-1, 6-0.
Under-12 girls: Srishti Kiran bt Sanrachana Das 6-0, 6-0; Padma Rameshkumar bt Shazfa SK 6-3, 6-3; Eshitha Sriyala bt Zoha Qureshi 6-4, 6-0; Tamanna Nair bt Aaradhana Tehlan 6-3, 6-3; Parinitha Vattaprambil bt Sara Fengse 6-1, 6-1; Khushi Kadian bt Maahira Bhatia 6-0, 6-4; Srushti Suryavanshi bt Sahej Lakhat 6-4, 6-4.
-Kamesh Srinivasan
SHOOTING
Granada World Cup: Devanshi wins air pistol gold in junior women category
Devanshi Dhama shot 240.0 and beat compatriot Lakshita by two points to win the air pistol gold for junior women in the World Cup in Granada, Spain, on Wednesday.
The medals took India further up on top of the medals table, with four gold, three silver and two bronze. Georgia was second with a gold, a silver and two bronze. Kyrgyzstan was the other country to win a gold.
In junior men’s air pistol, the only Indian in the fray, Paras Khola shot 561 for the 15th spot.
The results
-Kamesh Srinivasan
ATHLETICS
Bengaluru marathon to be flagged off at the Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Parade Ground
The TCS World 10K Bengaluru run has found a new home. The 16th edition of the World Athletics Gold Label road race will be flagged off at the Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Parade Ground, it was announced here on Wednesday.
Previous editions were flagged off at the Sree Kanteereava Stadium.
The race will be held here on April 28.
The event offers a total prize money of $210,000. Registrations for all race categories will commence on Thursday.
A limited number of spots have been set aside for women who do not possess a timing certificate.
-Ashwin Achal
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