Indian sports news wrap, November 1: Avani Prashanth to lead India at Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Golf Championship

Here are all the major developments from Indian sports on November 1, 2022.

‘Sixteen-year-old golfer Avani Prashanth will be among six young Indians who will tee off at the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship here from Thursday. (FILE PHOTO) | Photo Credit: DAVID CANNON

GOLF

Avani Prashanth to lead six Indians at Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Golf Championship

‘Sixteen-year-old golfer Avani Prashanth will be among six young Indians who will tee off at the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship here from Thursday.

Four Indians out of the six, including Avani, played at the 2021 WAAP. Avani finished T-16 and the others were Sifat Sagoo (T-25), Kriti Chowhan (T-34) and Nishna Patel (Missed cut).

Mannat Brar and Ceerat Kang are playing the WAAP for the first time.

Last year’s participation in this championship in Abu Dhabi was Avani’s first major international exposure.

Of Avani’s 11 international appearances since the 2021 WAAP, 10 have been outside India and she has played at famous courses like the Augusta National, Carnoustie and the Le Golf National.

The Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific is run by the R&A and this week’s winner has a wealth of big ticket starts awaiting them. The winner gets to tee off at two Majors, The Women’s Open and the Evian Championships, besides getting into the coveted Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Hana Championship in Korea.

In one year, Avani has risen from 157 to 115 and notched up her first Top-12 in a pro international event at the Hero Women’s Indian Open.

She has played at the famed Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA), played at the R&A Women’s Amateur, the Queen Sirikit Cup, the World Amateurs Team event and booked a place in the Indian team for the Asian Games, originally slated for 2022 but which will now take place in 2023.

“I have learnt a lot from travelling and playing in different courses, different countries and in different conditions. I am looking forward to this week.”

PTI

TENNIS

Sasikumar Mukund through to pre-quarters in Sydney

Sasikumar Mukund defeated second seed James Duckworth of Australia 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) in the first round of the $53,120 Challenger tennis tournament in Sydney.

In the pre-quarterfinals, Mukund will play qualifier Mark Whitehouse of Britain. Prajnesh Gunneswaran was beaten 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(3) by eighth seed Max Purcell in the first round.

In the Challenger in Yokohama, Japan, Ramkumar Ramanathan was beaten 6-4, 7-6(3) by top seed Christopher O’Connell in the first round.

Results

$53,120 Challenger, Sydney, Australia Singles (first round): Max Purcell (Aus) bt Prajnesh Gunneswaran 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(3); Sasikumar Mukund bt James Duckworth (Aus) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5).

$53,120 Challenger, Yokohama, Japan Singles (first round): Christopher O’Connell (Aus) bt Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-4, 7-6(3).

$15,000 ITF men, Al Zahra, Kuwait Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Palaphoom Kovapitukted (Tha) & Rishi Reddy bt Hussen Alshati & Yaqoub Mohammed (Kuw) 6-0, 6-1; Bekkhan Atlangeriev & Ivan Denisov bt Patrik Oplustil (Cze) & BR Nikshep 6-1, 6-3; Pruchya Isaro (Tha) & Lohithaksha Bathrinath bt Miguel Garcia (Esp) & Edouard Villoslada (Fra) 6-1, 6-0.

$15,000 ITF women, Monastir, Tunisia Singles (first round): Amelia Waligora (Bel) bt Tanisha Kashyap 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-1; Gina Feistel (Pol) bt Shreya Tatavarthy 6-7(4), 6-0, 6-0.

$15,000 ITF women, Heraklion, Greece Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Natalia Fehr (Sui) & Annika Kannan bt Elena Bocchi & Francesca Milani (Ita) 6-2, 6-3.

$15,000 ITF women, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Lanlana Tararudee (Tha) & Shrivalli Bhamidipaty bt Hala Fouad (Egy) & Shi Han (Chn) 6-4, 6-2; I-Hsuan Cho & Yi Tsen Cho (Tpe) bt Klaudija Bubelyte (Ltu) & Ashmitha Easwaramurthi 6-3, 6-4.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

India loses to Czech Republic in Junior Davis Cup

NEW DELHI

Czech Republic proved strong for India as it scored a 3-0 victory in a group-B league match of the Junior Davis Cup World Group under-16 tennis tournament in Antalya, Turkey, on Tuesday.

Coach cum captain of the team Sajid Lodi observed that Rushil had chances to win his singles match, and that Kriish Tyagi was nervous and made errors at crucial stages.

With fourth seed Italy and Britain in the group, Lodi felt that the boys need to raise their game to have better results in the matches ahead.

The results (league): Czech Republic bt India 3-0 (Petr Brunclik bt Kriish Tyagi 6-1, 6-4; Maxim Mrva bt Rushil Khosla 6-4, 6-4; Filip Hanzelin & Maxim Mrva bt Rushil & Kriish 7-6(2), 6-4).

-Kamesh Srinivasan

WEIGHTLIFTING

Komal Wakale wins 87kg crown at Khelo India National weightlifting tournament

Komal Wakale lifted a total of 211kg to win the 87kg crown in the Khelo India National Ranking women’s weightlifting tournament at Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday.

Yogita Khedkar achieved 78kg in snatch, 105kg in clean and jerk and 183kg in aggregate to set three new records and win the junior title.

The results (seniors only): 87kg: 1. Komal Wakale snatch 96kg, clean and jerk 115kg, total 211kg; 2. Modhusmrita Baruah 89kg, 108kg, 197kg; 3. T. Satya Jyothi 89kg, 107kg, 196kg.

-Y. B. Sarangi