HOCKEY
Deepika’s field goal against Netherlands nominated for Poligras Magic Skill Award
Indian Women’s Hockey Team forward Deepika has been nominated for the Poligras Magic Skill Award for her incredible solo field goal against World No.1, the Netherlands, during the 2024-25 FIH Hockey Pro League season.
Deepika’s iconic moment took place in February 2025 during the Bhubaneswar leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League when the Indian Team defeated the Netherlands in shootout after a 2-2 draw at the Kalinga Stadium.
In the 35th minute, Deepika dribbled down the left flank brilliantly as she went around the Netherlands’ backline, kissed the baseline, dinked the ball over a defender’s stick and finished the move with a wonderful strike past the keeper and into the net.
“That goal against the Netherlands is one of the most special moments of my career. Everything just clicked and it helped us equalise and win the game in shootout,” the 21-year-old attacker said.
The winner of the Poligras Magic Skill Award is decided by hockey fans across the world through an online vote.
– Team Sportstar
SQUASH
Rathika Seelan finishes runner-up at Women’s City of Greater Shepparton International 2025
Rathika Seelan, seeded 8th, achieved her best result on foreign soil by finishing runner-up at the Women’s City of Greater Shepparton International 2025, held at the Goulburn Valley Squash Centre, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia.
In the semi-final, Rathika battled past her opponent in a five-game thriller to win 11–6, 7–11, 4–11, 11–9, 11–9 in 47 minutes.
She went down in the final to the defending champion Gigi Yeung, losing 5–11, 2–11, 5–11.
This performance follows her title win at the HCL Indian Tour in May last year.
– Team Sportstar
GOLF
Diksha moves up three spots in Irish Open
Diksha Dagar closed her third round with a birdie to gain three places to move to Tied 53rd at the 2025 KPMG Women’s Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour.
Diksha with cards of 75-73-73 is 2-over. She moved three places up from her previous T-56th when she made the cut on the line.
English amateur Lottie Woad continued her excellent form, firing a bogey-free 67 (-6) to hold a seven-shot lead heading into the final day.
– PTI
Bhullar moves up to Tied-24th in Morocco
Gaganjeet Bhullar leapt a dozen places upwards in the third round as he added a round of 2-under 71 to move to T-24th place in the International Series Morocco.
Bhullar, a 11-time winner on the Asian Tour, had four birdies against two bogeys to move from T36. His best finish this season in an International Series event has been T-24.
The other Indian in the field to make the cut, Ajeetesh Sandhu (75) was T-65.
Scott Vincent was rewarded for a late birdie on the 17th hole that edged him ahead by one shot at the end of the third round in the USD 2 million International Series Morocco.
Vincent’s round was one of only two bogey-free rounds of the day.
– PTI
