GOLF
Manu Gandas misses cut at Open de France
Manu Gandas had another rough day at the Cazoo Open de France, missing the halfway cut following a second round of 76 after a 75 on the opening day.
Gandas has been having mixed luck as he tries to gain experience in as many events in Europe as possible in his rookie year on the DP World Tour.
On both days, Gandas had just one birdie. He had five bogeys on the first day and six on the second.
- PTI
Bhullar fires 5-under 67, stays in close title race behind Poom
Ace Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar stayed in contention for his 11th Asian Tour win, adding a wonderful bogey-free 5-under 67 to get to 16-under here at the Yeangder TPC on Saturday.
Bhullar, whose 10 title wins on the Asian Tour are the most by an Indian, is two shots behind Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, who sensationally holed his third shot from 112 yards on the par-five 18th for an eagle.
Saksansin’s eight-under-par 64 took his total to 18-under which opened up a lead over defending champion Travis Smyth (68) from Australia, Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po (66), the runner-up last year, and Bhullar (67), the 2012 winner here.
Another Indian making waves on the third day was Rashid Khan (66) as he moved to tied sixth alongside Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat (67) and Phachara Khongwatmai (68) and American Micah Lauren Shin (67).
Among other Indians, Karandeep Kochhar (67-71-68) at 206 was tied 15, Veer Ahlawat (68-70-70) at 208 was tied 27, S Chikkarangappa (68-71-70) at 209 was tied 30 and Khalin Joshi (69-70-71) was at tied 38.
Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (69-71-71) and Ajeetesh Sandhu (70-71-70) at 211 are tied 46 and Viraj Madappa (74-66-72) at 212 is tied 53.
Overall, nine Indians made the cut, while five others, Honey Baisoya, Kartik Sharma, Jeev Milkha Singh, SSP Chawrasia and Rahil Gangjee missed the cut.
Bhullar made five birdies and was bogey free. He is looking for his first win since last year’s Mandiri Indonesia Open - which was his 10th Asian Tour title.
“Today I had a little shaky start. I thought I hit the ball well but just missed fairways. Three straight pars but then birdie on four gave me some momentum.
“After that I made some more good birdies and kept attacking the flags. My swing feels great and the goal is to try and keep the ball in play. I know this course demands you to hit the ball straight,” said Bhullar.
Bhullar has been showing decent putting form with no three-putts so far and his rounds of 66-67-67 show a level of consistency that could fetch him a 11tth Asian Tour title.
- PTI
Arjun Atwal shares first round lead with 4-under 68
Arjun Atwal, a qualifier into the main event of the PGA Tour Champions, shared the first-round honours with eight others, all shooting 4-under 68 at the Pebble Links here on Saturday.
Other leaders include Vijay Singh, YE Yang of Korea, Americans Jerry Kelly, Dicky Pride and Brian Gay, Richard Green of Australia, Steve Alker of New Zealand, Mike Weir of Canada.
Atwal, the lone Indian to have won on the main PGA Tour, posted a 4-under 68 in Tuesday’s open qualifier to earn a spot into the field.
Since turning 50 in March, Atwal has made four PGA TOUR Champions starts before this week, with a tied 11 at the Insperity Celebrity Classic his best finish.
This marks his first 18-hole lead/co-lead on PGA TOUR Champions.
Atwal is hoping to wrap up his card for 2024 without going to the Qualifying School.
Atwal, whose lone PGA Tour win also came when he made the main field after coming through the Monday qualifier, said, “Old habits die hard.” “I can’t go to Q-School this year because of family issues. My parents passed away last year. My mom’s one-year death anniversary is coming up and there’s no way I’m going (to the Q-School).
“So, hopefully I can get everything done before, get in the Playoffs somehow if I play really well. That’s the plan,” he said.
Atwal was happy with his hitting.
“I didn’t hit it all that great, but it’s Pebble. I’m glad that it’s one of those golf courses where I didn’t have to learn on this tour. I know a lot of the breaks on these greens and it helped, I putted really well today,” he added.
About being on the Champions TOUR, Atwal said, “I came from the regular Tour after so many years and I just love it out here.
“Hopefully, I get in (a few more events). I’m going to try and -- if I don’t get a spot at Furyk’s, I’m going to try on Monday or Tuesday to qualify for that as well.”
- PTI
CRICKET
B. Sai Sudharsan won the men’s cricketer of the year award at the TNCA 91st annual day function at the M.A. Chidambaram stadium here on Saturday.
His father R. Bharadwaj received the award on his behalf from the guest of honour, former India captain and BCCI chairman of selectors K. Srikkanth.
S. Anusha bagged the women’s cricketer of the year award.
Speaking on the occasion, former ICC chairman and BCCI and TNCA president N. Srinivasan who was the chief guest of the occasion hoped for Tamil Nadu to win the upcoming Ranji Trophy.
“One item missing is the Ranji Trophy. I start every year with the hope that they’ll win this year. Anyway, I’m hoping again that this year we will get the coveted trophy and meet here and have a celebration. It will happen this year! If Vidarbha can win it, why can’t we?”
Srikkanth hailed Srinivasan as “one of the greatest cricket administrators,” and said that Srinivasan “has taken TNCA to a great level.”
He added: “No one can replicate what N. Srinivasan sir has done to TNCA.”
- Prasanna Venkatesan
TENNIS
Dhatri Dave wins AITA girls title
Dhatri Dave beat Rubani Kaur Sidhu 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 to win the girls title in the AITA National series junior tennis tournament at the CLTA Complex on Saturday.
In the boys final, Shankar Heisnam beat top seed Rian Sharma 6-3, 6-2.
THE RESULTS (FINALS)
- Kamesh Srinivasan
Anirudh and Vijay lose ATP quarterfinals
Anirudh Chandrasekar and Vijay Sundar Prashanth were beaten 6-4, 7-6(4) in the doubles quarterfinals by third seeds Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow in the $1,057,295 ATP tennis tournament in Zhuhai, China, on Saturday.
The Indian pair collected 45 ATP points and $9,100.
THE RESULTS
$1,057,295 ATP, Zhuhai, China
$15,000 ITF men, Monastir, Tunisia
$15,000 ITF women, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
$15,000 ITF women, Monastir, Tunisia
- Kamesh Srinivasan
AITA tournament: Priyanshi Bhandari beats top seed Divya
Fifth seed Priyanshi Bhandari beat top seed Divya Bhardwaj 6-4, 6-2 in the final of the Rs.100,000 AITA women’s tennis tournament at the Ace Academy, Palodia.
After an indifferent start when she trailed 0-4, Priyanshi bounced back to win the next eight games and cruised to the title.
In the doubles final, Divya in partnership with Vidhi Jani beat Pavithra Reddy and Thaniya Sarai 7-5, 6-1.
THE RESULTS
SINGLES (FINAL)
DOUBLES (FINAL)
- Team Sportstar
GENERAL
Kolkata 25K run to be held on December 17
Former Indian woman pacer Jhulan Goswami will be the face of the eighth edition of the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K run scheduled here on December 17.
Touted as the only World Athletics accredited 25K, the USD 100,000 prize money race will witness some of the best athletes from across the world competing alongside India’s elite and amateur runners, the organisers stated.
Besides the 25K race, the event will have the open 10K, the Ananda (fun) run of 4.5 km, the Silvers run for champions with disability (2.3 km).
To encourage women’s participation, there are a limited number of spots reserved for women, in both the 25K and open 10K distances.
“Throughout my entire life, running has been an essential part of my routine. It has provided me with life lessons, beyond just mental and physical fitness,” Goswami said.
“I urge each one of you to take that first step towards health and fitness with Tata Steel Kolkata 25K,” she added.
Registration across all five race categories has commenced for the event at tatasteelkolkata25k.procam.in/ and will stay open until November 24 or till running places are filled, whichever is earlier, organisers Procam International stated.
- PTI
MOTORSPORT
MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Car Racing Championship 2023 Round-2
Chennai’s Sandeep Kumar, snatched a close win in the premier MRF Formula 2000 race while another local ace Angad Matharoo scripted his fourth win in a row in the MRF Saloon Cars category in the second round.
While Sandeep, starting from P3, had to work hard for his success, holding off Bengaluru’s Anand Swaminathan and pole-sitter Arya Singh (Kolkata), the experienced Matharoo scored a lights-to-flag win from pole position.
Another Bengalurean, Chetan Surineni topped in the MRF Formula 1600 category almost unchallenged.
Among the other big winners of the day was Mumbai’s Biren Pithawalla (Team N1 Racing). Pithawalla gained a spot after race winner Ritesh Rai slipped to second as he was docked 15-second penalty following an incident involving Gurunath Meiyappan (Race Concepts) who came in third in the Indian Touring Cars category
Balu decided to pack up for the weekend, skipping the remaining two races. Later, Meiyappan scored a facile win, his second of the season, in Race-2 ahead of Ritesh Rai and Biren Pithawalla to move to the top of the points table in the ITC category.
Akkineni Anand Prasad (Team Performance Racing) from Chennai and Thrissur’s Diljith TS (DTS Racing) notched a double apiece in the Indian Junior Touring Cars and Super Stock categories, respectively. While Prasad moved to the top of the championship table, Diljith remains unbeaten in all five starts over two rounds so far.
Meanwhile, Nellore’s Viswas Vijayaraj (DTS Racing) and team-mate, veteran Diljith TS won a race each in the Formula LGB 1300 category. Viswas took Race-1 easily from pole position start while Diljith surged to victory in the next race from the reverse grid.
- Team Sportstar
Kashmir’s first auto-cross motorsport event being held in Srinagar
A three-day auto-cross motorsports event is being held in the Kashmir valley from Friday, which aims to provide a platform for both established and aspiring racers.
The motorsport event, from September 22-24, is through collaboration between the J&K Motorsport Federation (JKMSF) and the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (FMSCI).
The event is being held on a two-kilometre long close circuit track at Nowgam, in the outskirts of the city.
On specially designed circuits, head-to-head competitions are taking place that demand precision, agility, and split-second decision-making.
“We have brought professionals to make this track, FMSCI officials are here to regulate this event, we have taken care of all safety measures here like ambulances, fire tenders etc ,” Amrit Pal Singh Bali, an official with the JKMSF, told PTI.
Bali said the Kashmir valley is full of talent but lacks platforms to showcase skills.
“We want those youths who are wasting time and energy on roads, to come on these tracks and show their skills. We have talent here but we need platforms so they can showcase their skills,” he said.
“This is second day of event and more than 100 (have) participated till now. More entries (are) coming as people are unaware about the auto cross, (but) they came to know through social media etc,” Bali added.
Shiekh Yasir, one of the organisers of the event, said they had not expected such a response. “I was surprised to see people turn up. They are actually showing interest and coming all the way to this place to participate in it,” he said.
Yasir informed that they are planning motocross and other events for bikers.
“This for the first time this motorsports is happening here and especially for the first time in Srinagar. It will be helpful for us,” said a participant named Mehboob-ul-Hussain.
Another participant, Kaiser Ahmeda said, “We also request the government for support, to provide us proper space for practice etc.” “The youth should not do stunts on roads which (could be) fatal, they should participate in events like these and learn it in proper way. There is good scope in these sports if the government supports us,’ he said.
- PTI
FOOTBALL
KFA launches Kerala youth development project
With ambitious plans and plenty of hope, the Kerala Football Association launched its new Kerala Youth Development Project in Kochi on Saturday evening.
Five quality teams, in various age groups from under-13 to under-21, will figure in the league which will be held in the State’s 14 districts. Fifty players from each league will be picked and given quality training.
The KFA hopes the league will produce around 200 quality players who may go on to play for the Indian Super League, I-League and other leagues. This, the association hopes, will change their lives.
The youth league will also see the return of the Chakolas Gold Trophy after 40 years. The Chakolas Trophy was a prominent all-India men’s tournament which was last played in 1983.
The Asian Football Confederation general secretary Windsor John unveiled the league’s trophy while Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman launched the league’s logo. The All India Football Federation secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran, KFA president Navas Meeran and secretary P. Anilkumar were among those who spoke during the event.
- Stan Rayan
North-East teams dominate quarterfinals line-up at the Junior Girls Subroto Cup New Delhi
The 62nd Subroto Cup Junior Girls (U-17) Inter School International Football tournament has reached the quarterfinals stage, and four matches are on the cards tomorrow which will be played at the Dr. B.R Ambedkar Stadium in the national capital.
Five of the eight teams are from the North-Eastern part of the country, while one foreign team has also made it through to the knockouts from the group stages, which began on September 19, 2023.
In the first quarterfinal at 8 AM Indian Standard Time (IST), Ananda Purna School of Science, Thoubal, Manipur will face off against former champions Bangladesh Krida Shiksha Prothishthan (BKSP).
Former champions G.S.S.S Alakhpura, Bhiwani will face Lohit Dikrong H.S.S, Lakhimpur, Assam in the second quarterfinals at 10 AM IST.
Then at 2 PM IST, defending champions St. Patrick’s, Gumla, Jharkhand and Tripura Sports School, Badharghat, Tripura clash in the third quarterfinals and finally, in an all-North-East clash, Saiden Secondary School, Ri-Bhoi, Nongpoh, Meghalaya, takes on Home Mission School, Aizawl, Mizoram.
That game kicking-off at 4 PM IST Manipur was the winner of Group A while BKSP finished top off the standings in Group B. The team from Bangladesh has won the title three times in a row from 2017-2019.
It has scored 23 goals in its group games without conceding with Tanjila Afroz Hira, being the top scorer with six goals. Manipur on the other hand has scored 34 goals so far.
Former champions G.S.S.S Alakhpura, Bhiwani, winner back in 2015 and 2016, has had tighter victories in a much more competitive group, defeating two schools from West Bengal enroute to the knockouts. On the other end, its opponent from Assam is in top attacking form, having scored 25 goals thus far.
Junali Sen has scored ten goals while Doley Gogoi has seven to her name. The third quarterfinal between defending champions St. Patrick’s, Gumla, Jharkhand and Tripura Sports School, Badharghat, Tripura, also promises a lot of goal scoring action, given the former has the most goals scored so far among all teams in the group stages.
Tripura, who has also given a good account of themselves, winning against teams from Delhi, Mizoram and Uttarakhand to top Group E, will have its task cut out against the likes of Alpha Kandulna, who has ten goals for Jharkhand so far.
In Sunday’s final game, winners of Group G, Saiden Secondary School, RI-Bhoi, Nongpoh, Meghalaya face off against Home Mission School, Aizawl, Mizoram, the winners of Group H and who is also representing the National Cadet Corps (NCC). While the former has scored 17 group stage goals, the latter has pumped in 22 past their opponents.
- Team Sportstar
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