Indian sports news wrap, October 17

Here are all the major updates and results from Indian sports on October 17.

FILE PHOTO: Suraj Prabodh in action during the men’s quarterfinals in the National grass court tennis championship in 2016. | Photo Credit: The Hindu

TENNIS

Dharwad ITF: Suraj, Madhwin score upset wins to enter main round

Karnataka’s Suraj Prabodh and Gujarat’s Madhwin Kamath scored upset victories to make it to the main draw after knocking out fancied players in the ITF Dharwad Men’s World Tennis Tour 2023 at the Dharwad District Lawn Tennis Association courts here on Tuesday. The main draw of the US $ 25,000 began today.

While Madhwin staged a superb comeback win against former Indian Davis Cupper and Asian Games medalist Vishnu Vardhan 5-7, 6-3, 10-5, Suraj sidelined 14 ^th seed Yash Yadav in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.

In only two singles matches played on the opening day of the main rounds, third seed Digvijay Pratap Singh overcame a fighting Siddhanth Bhatia 6-2, 7-6 (7) while Nitin Kumar Sinha sent wild card entrant Rishi Reddy home with a facile 6-2, 6-2 victory. In the doubles matches, the Indian pair of Sai Karteek Reddy Ganta and Manish Sureshkumar upset second seeds Bogdan Bobrov and Nick Chappell of the USA 6-3, 3-6, 10-5.

After bad light and mild rain had stopped the match between Madhwin and Vishnu with the scores tied at 4-4 in the first set yesterday, Vishnu, capitalising on an error-prone Madhwin won the first set 7-5 today. However, the 21-year-old from Gujarat staged a superb comeback winning the second set with breaks in the 4 ^th and 6 ^th games and took the match into the decider. Vishnu faltered with his serve and returns alike and conceded the advantage after leading 4-2 and finally succumbed to the youngster.

Earlier in the day, an elaborate inauguration ceremony was organised which was graced by the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including former India cricket captain, Mohd. Azharuddin, and Hon’ble Minister for Labour and District-in-charge, Santosh Lad, who jointly inaugurated the tournament. To mark the occasion, Azharuddin and the minister engaged in a thrilling display of tennis skills, playing a few exhilarating rallies.

Results (All Indians Except Mentioned In Brackets; Seedings In Pre-Fix)

Men’s Singles Round of 32

3-Digvijay Pratap Singh bt Siddhant Banthia 6-2, 7-6 (7); Nitin Kumar Sinha bt WC-Rishi Reddy 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles Round of 16

Manish Ganesh/Suraj R Prabodh bt Deepak Anantharamu/Rashein Samuel 7-6 (3), 6-3; Rishab Agarwal/Florent Bax (FRA) bt Adil Kalyanpur/Ryotaro Matsumura (JPN) 6-4, 5-7, 10-4; Ishaque Eqbal/ Faisal Qamar bt Chirag Duhan/Dev Javia 6-3, 6-7 (4), 10-4; Jake Bhangdia (USA) /Raghav Jaisinghani bt Tushar Madan/ Jagmeet Singh 6-3, 6-4; 4-Siddhant Banthia /Vishnu Vardhan bt Thijmen Loof (NED)/Stijn Pel (NED) 6-4, 6-1; 3-SD Prajwal Dev/Nitin Kumar Sinha bt Yash Chaurasia/Atharva Sharma 6-1, 6-2; Sai Karteek Reddy Ganta/ Manish Sureshkumar bt 2-Bogdan Bobrov/Nick Chappell (USA) 6-3, 3-6, 10-5; 1-Purav Raja/Ramkumar Ramanathan Vs. Digvijay Pratap Singh/Karan Singh 6-7 (7) (postponed due to bad light).

Final Qualifying Round

11-Madhwin Kamath bt 1-Vishnu Vardhan 5-7, 6-3, 10-5; Suraj R Prabodh bt 14-Yash Yadav 6-4, 6-1; Abhinav Sanjeev Shanmugam bt Tushar Madan 6-3, 6-3; 5-Ranjeet Virali-Murugesan bt 10-Kabir Hans 4-6, 6-3, 10-6.

- Team Sportstar

Sandeepti Singh, Vaishnavi Adkar among the Indian contingent fielded for BRICS Games

India has fielded a strong women’s team for the BRICS Games tennis event to be staged at the Westridge Park Tennis Stadium in Durban, South Africa, from October 18 to 21.

Sandeepti Singh Rao, Vaishnavi Adkar and Kashish Bhatia are accompanied by coach Namita Bal. Tanisha Kashyap was also part of the under-21 squad, but has been held back owing to visa issues.

The men’s team has Dhruv Hirpara, Ajay Malik, Ajay Kundu and Ritabrata Sarkar, with former national champion Ashutosh Singh as the coach.

Chirag Duhan was selected originally to be part of the team, but withdrew owing to his commitment to compete in the ITF men’s circuit being played in the country.

The Indian team is also accompanied by physios Anand Dubey and Dravya Shringi, apart from two technical officials Lavleen Raizada and Bhupinder Solanki. Gurucharan Singh Hora is the manager of the tennis team. Brazil, Russia, China and host South Africa will be the other teams. All the five teams will compete on a round-robin basis separately in the men’s and women’s events. Each tie will feature two singles and a doubles.

-Team Sportstar

Mukund bows out in first round

Qualifier Mukund Sasikumar was beaten 7-5, 7-6(3) by Altug Celikbilek of Turkey in the first round of the €36,000 Challenger tennis tournament in Hamburg, Germany, on Tuesday.

Mukund collected three ATP for qualification and €360.

Meanwhile, the successful duo of Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden pulled out of the ATP tournament in Tokyo, Japan, citing fatigue.

The results:

€36,000 Challenger, Hambug, Germany

Singles (first round): Altug Celikbilek (Tur) bt Mukund Sasikumar 7-5, 7-6(3).

$259,303 WTA, Nanchang, China

Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Laura Siegemund (Ger) & Vera Zvonareva bt Jessy Rompies (Ina) & Prarthana Thombare 6-3, 7-5.

$259,303 WTA, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Singles (first round): Jodie Burrage (GBR) bt Ankita Raina 6-0, 6-2.

$15,000 ITF women, Monastir, Tunisia

Singles (first round): Anastasia Sukhotiina bt Teja Tirunelveli 6-1, 6-2; Hina Inoue (USA) bt Shivaani Ganesh 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Zeel Desai & Anastasia Ssukhotina bt Nina Danisova (Svk) & Kristina Milenkovic (Sui) 6-0, 6-4; Helena Sstevic & Louna Zoppas (Fra) bt Jennifer Lluikham 7 Hanna Vinahradava 1-6, 6-3, [10-8].

$15,000 ITF women, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Alisa Kummel & Ekaterina Makarova bt Snehal Mane & Akanksha Nitture 6-3, 6-2.

$15,000 ITF women, Hua Hin, Thailand

Singles (first round): Sun Yifan (Chn) bt Soha Sadiq 6-3, 6-1; Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Shrivalli Bhamidipaty & Salakthip Ounmuang (Tha) bt Pawinee Ruamrak & Tanuchaporn Yongmod (Tha) 6-2, 6-1; Anchisa Chanta (Tha) & Ayumi Koshiishi (Jpn) bt Soha Sadiq & Ella Simmons (Aus) 7-5, 6-2; Kang Na Hyun (Kor) & Watsachol Sawatdee (Tha) bt Saumya Vig & Xue Xiaoyan (Chn) 6-1, 6-3; Valery Gynina & Milana Maslenkova (Uzb) bt Laura Cilekova (Svk) & Ashmitha Easwaramurthi 6-1, 7-5; Sun Yifan & Zhang Jin (Chn) & Park Eunyeong (Kor) & Surabhi Srinivas 6-1, 6-2.

-Team Sportstar

HOCKEY

Nehru sub-junior tournament results

Samuel, Gurjot Singh and Harshjot Singh scored four goals each to guide Round Glass Academy, Punjjab, to a 19-0 victory over Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, Bankner, Delhi, in a league match of the Steelbird 40th Nehru sub-junior hockey tournament at the Shivaji Stadium on Tuesday.

The team qualified for the third stage, to be played from Wednesday, featuring three teams each in four groups.

The results (league):

Round Glass Academy, Punjab, 19 (Samuel 4, Gurjot Singh 4, Harshjot Singh 4, Arshdeep Singh 2, Varinder Singh 2, Manish Kumar, Deepakpreet Singh, Jobanpreet Singh) bt Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, Bankner, Delhi. Young Pioneer English School, Imphal, 9 (Vishal Waribam 2, Suraj Ssingh 2, N Mahesh 2, Saikhom Singh, Anish Ahongsangbom, Th Taiphaba) bt Moti Lal Nehru School of Sports, Rai, 2 (Varun, Naman).

Directorate General, NCC, Jalandhar, 9 (Sukhraj Singh 3, Kiratpreet Singh 2, Pawan Kumar 2, Mohit, Vimlesh) bt St. Agnes Inter College, Dehradun, 1 (Shammi Raja).

Major Dhyan Chand Sports College, Saifia, 20 (Sunil Pal 4, Pradeep Yadav, Nitish Yadav, Abhishek Pal, Akash Vishwakarma 2, Romit Pal, Yash Panchal, Ram Hansh Singh, Kislay) bt Government HSS, Nirwa, Hanumangarh.

- Kamesh Srinivasan

ATHLETICS

Kerala State Schools Athletics: Quartermiler Abiram breaks 18-year-old meet record

The last few weeks have been hectic ones for quartermiler P. Abiram. The 17-year-old from Mathur Village in Palakkad had run in the State senior and junior championships, winning a bunch of golds in both, apart from the district championships earlier. And a few days ago, he was in action at the National Open in Bengaluru in the 400m and the relays.

P. Abiram who broke the 18-year-old meet record in the senior boys 400m at the 65th Kerala State schools athletics championships in Kunnamkulam on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: NAJEEB KK

But despite the busy schedule, Abiram managed to better his personal best by nearly a second from last year’s 48.56s to 47.59s as he entered the men’s semifinal at the National Open. With all these achievements to power him, Abiram broke the 18-year-old meet record of former international V.B. Bineesh while winning the under-19 boys 400m gold comfortably in the 65 ^th Kerala State schools athletics championships at the Government VHSS Ground here on Tuesday.

“I’ve been running one meet after another, almost without a break, I came from Bengaluru (National Open) only day before yesterday. I could not get enough rest, my recovery has not been proper,” said Abiram, a member of the gold-winning Indian medley relay team at last year under-18 Asian Championships in Kuwait, after his victory.

However, he was thrilled that he would be running in the National Games in Goa later this month.

Abiram, from Mathur’s CFD VHSS who is coached by K. Surendran for the last four years, is entered to run the 100 and 200m also here.

Meanwhile Palakkad’s M. Jyothika, who sparkled in the junior category last year, made a winning debut as a senior by taking the women’s 400m in a personal best 55.89s.

Two meet records fell on the opening day, with K.C. Servan breaking the other in the senior boys discus throw.

The results (gold medallists only):

Boys: Seniors (under-19): 400m: P. Abiram (Pkd) 48.06s MR, OR V.B. Bineesh, 48.23s, 2005. 3000m: J. Bejoy (Pkd) 8:55.80s. Long jump: Mohammed Muhassin (Mlp) 7.08m. Discus throw: K.C. Servan (Ksd) 57.51m MR, OR K.C. Sidharth, 53.34, 2018.

Juniors (under-17): 400m: Muhammed Swalih (Ktm) 50.53s. 3000M: Muhammed Ameen (Mlp) 9:13.32s. Shot put: Munavar Nifal (Pkd) 13.12m.

Sub-juniors (under-14): 400m: Arshad Ali (Pkd) 54.84. Discus throw: C. Shahabas (Mlp) 32.41m.

Girls: Seniors (under-19): 400m: M. Jyothika (Pkd) 55.89s. 3000M: C.R. Nithya (Ekm) 10:27.69s. Long jump: D. Sheeba (Tvm) 5.63m. Pole vault: Grace Alia Varghese (Ekm) 3.00m. Discus throw: Akhila Raju (Ksd) 41.71m.

Discus throw: Akhila Raju (Ksd) 41.71m.

Juniors (under-17): 400m: Kasturba Prasad (Klm) 58.96s. 3000M: Gopika Gopi (Knr) 11:01.81s. High jump: C.P. Ashmika (Mlp) 1.56m

Sub-juniors (under-14): 400m: P. Nithika (Pkd) 1:02.52s. Long jump: M. Sivaranjini (Pkd) 4.79m.

-Stan Rayan

NATIONAL GAMES

TNOA organises a ceremonial send-off to TN’s athletes for National Games 2023

Tamil Nadu State Olympic Association (TNOA) conducted the ceremonial send-off and kits distribution for all its sportspersons (numbering 446 in total) who are travelling to Goa for the 37th National Games at a grand function here on Tuesday. The National Games will be held from October 26 to November 9, though events like badminton, basketball and netball will begin on October 19. 

The Tamil Nadu contingent with TNOA office-bearers. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Speaking at the function, Aadhav Arjuna, secretary of TNOA wished the State athletes the best and hoped that they will be at the top in the number of medals tally in Goa. “TNOA will do everything under its command to support the athletes,” he said. He also revealed TNOA’s plans to conduct a ‘mini olympics’ after the Khelo India Games in Tamil Nadu scheduled early next year. 

Ishari K Ganesh, president of TNOA, said TN should aim to finish in the podium in Goa. He also hinted of TN hosting the National Games next time. C. Latha, TNOA’s Associate vice-president and Balaji Maradapa, Joint Secretary and TN’s chef de mission to Goa, spoke. TN’s Deputy chef de mission J. M. Fernando and EC members, Hiten Joshi and T. Chandrasekaran were also present.

-Keerthivasan K

GOLF

Shiva rallies to stun Golf Code

The gallant members of Team Shiva bounced back from a 0-3 deficit and left Golf Code stranded by winning the last four matches for a memorable 9.5-7 victory in the Delhi Golf Club League at the DGC course here on Tuesday.

The results (playoffs):

Shiva bt Golf Code 9.5-7 (Rama Khanna and S. Mitra lost to Aditya Vikram Suneja and Shivinder Singh (2.5); Chaman Lal Jain and Jai Bhatia lost to Amit Luthra and Prakash Brahma (2.5); Deepak Bedi and Madhav Dalvi (0.5) lost to Anthony Peter Malik and Sadeesh Premanath (2); Pawan Singh and Pranav Sahai (2) bt Barun Aggarwal and AS Hundal; Greesh Bindra and Shon Kipgen (2.5) bt Mala Bawa and Kabir Advani; Vishal Chawla and Atul Kashyap (2.5) bt Neel Tandon and Kalyana Rama; Shiv Nath and Neelam Sihota (2.5) bt Manish Sanwalka and Manvinder Singh).

Birdie Machine bt Christie’s Golf 9-7; Bharat Strikers bt Sterling Swingers 9-7; Royal Ranthambore Athletic Drive bt Deutsche Motoren 10-6.

-Team Sportstar