BOXING
Services claim boys’ and girls’ title in Junior (U-17) National Boxing C’ships
The Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) stamped its authority at the sixth Junior (U-17) boys and girls’ National Boxing Championships by emerging as the overall champion in both the categories.
Services reclaimed the team title in the boys division and pulled off a decisive victory in the girls division, toppling defending champions Haryana, who finished second across both categories.
SSCB wrapped up the week-long event at the National Boxing Academy in Rohtak with nine medals in each category.
Their boys squad secured six golds, two silvers, and a bronze medal, while the girls team delivered four golds, four silvers, and one bronze.
Maharashtra completed the podium in the boys championship, while Manipur finished third in the girls division.
On the girls’ side, several familiar names from India’s recent success at the Asian U-15 and U-17 Championships delivered once again.
Delhi’s Ahaana Sharma continued her blazing form in the 50kg final with a clean sweep. Khushi Chand of Uttarakhand clinched a narrow 3-2 win in the 46kg division, while Haryana’s Anshika reaffirmed her dominance in the 80+kg category.
Services’ dual team triumph was powered by a series of dominant final bouts across both divisions.
In the boys’ competition, Udham Singh Raghav, a recent medallist in the Asian U-17 Championships, won gold in the 54kg category, while Sahil Duhan (60kg), Priyansh Sehrawat (70kg), Jaideep Singh Hanjra (80kg), and Rahul (80+kg) also secured top-podium finishes.
SSCB’s girls team was bolstered by sharp wins from Naitik (52kg), Chandrika Pujari (54kg), Harsika (60kg), and Hamoor Kaur (66kg), the latter scoring a third-round stoppage.
Prachi Khatri’s powerful RSC victory in the 80kg class, along with title wins by Himanshi (70kg) and Jiya (48kg), further highlighted the depth of India’s emerging female talent.
Manipur’s Lanchenba Singh, who defeated Services’ Piyush 3-2 in the 50kg category, was adjudged the best boxer in the boys’ category, while Lucky Bagdwal (57kg) of Uttarakhand was named the most promising.
In the girls’ division, Haryana’s Divya (63kg) and Jammu & Kashmir’s Bareena (70kg) claimed the best and the most Promising awards, respectively.
-PTI
GOLF
Varun Chopra fires 8-under 64, leads after first round in Morocco
Indian American Varun Chopra shot a superb round of 8-under 64 to put himself in the lead at the Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech in the Asian Development Tour..
The tournament at the Al Maaden Golf club saw Chopra shoot five birdies on the front nine and four more on the second nine.
Chopra was one shot ahead of Mexican Santiago de la Fuente, who carded 7-under 65 that included two eagles.
The pick of the players playing under the Indian flag were Aman Raj and Khalin Joshi, both of whom shot a 4-under 64 to place themselves four shots behind the leader in tied 16th place on the standings when play was suspended due to poor light.
The other Indians in the field include Rahil Gangjee, Ajeetesh Sandhu, Pukhraj Singh Gill, Karandeep Kochhar, Chikkarangappa S and Arjun Sharma.
Gangjee, Ajeetesh and Pukhraj Singh Gill were placed in tied 24 with rounds of 3-under 69 each.
Kochhar, who was the runner up last week, also in Morocco, had a modest first day this week as he shot 1-under 71 to be placed tied 64 on a low scoring day. Arjun Sharma had a difficult start to his week and was placed at tied 92nd with 1-over while S Chikkarangappa (74) was T-104th.
-PTI
Bhatia shoots 68 in first round of Rocket Classic
Indian-American golfer Akshay Bhatia had a decent start of 4-under 68 but it was only good enough for a tied-44th place in the opening round of the Rocket Classic in Detroit.
The world No. 36, who reached the Tour Championship in 2024, had five birdies against one bogey and was six shots behind co-leaders, South African Aldrich Potgieter and American Kevin Roy, who shot 10-under 62 each.
The Rocket Classic field includes nine of the top-50 players in the world, led by fifth-ranked Collin Morikawa, who opened with a 69.
US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, who rose to No. 7 in the world after winning the Travelers Championship last week in Connecticut, shot a 68.
-PTI
Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge: Saptak Talwar falters on back nine, shoots 1-over
India’s Saptak Talwar endured a difficult first round at the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge, carding 1-over 73 to stay in tied 80th place in the standings.
Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist led by one stroke after shooting a round of 7-under 65.
The three players tied for second place were Clement Charmasson of France, Daniel Young of Scotland and James Allan of England. All three players played a round of 6-under 66 and were one stroke behind the leader.
-PTI
Rough start for Sharma, Ahlawat in Italian Open
Indian ace Shubhankar Sharma’s disappointing run continued on the DP World Tour as he started the Italian Open with a 5-over 75 in Argentario, putting him way down in 143rd place.
Sharma now looks certain to miss his sixth straight cut this season.
Veer Ahlawat, the other Indian in the field, who earned his card by topping the PGTI Tour back home, was placed tied 63rd with an even par 70 was in danger of missing the cut.
Dan Bradbury carded a bogey-free six under par round of 64 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round at Argentario Golf Club.
-PTI
Arjun Atwal lies tied-18th at US Senior Open
Arjun Atwal shot a solid even par round of 70 on the first day of the US Senior Open championship and was tied-18th, three shots behind the leaders Mark Hensby and Padraig Harrington.
The US-based Indian had two birdies and bogeys each after starting from the first with eight straight pars.
The even par round was impressive for Atwal considering only 17 players broke par on the day with the Indian competing in his first seniors event of the year, coming through a qualifier.
-PTI
MORE SPORTS
India to host 2029 World Police & Fire Games in Gujarat
India has won the hosting rights for the 2029 World Police & Fire Games (WPFG), and the event, featuring more than 10,000 athletes, will be held across three venues in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Ekta Nagar (Kevadia).
The athletes will represent police, fire, customs and correctional services departments from over 70 countries. India will thus become the first south Asian country to host the WPFG games since its inception in 1985.
The announcement came after India’s final representation to the California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF), which is the governing body of WPFG, last Sunday in Birmingham.
– PTI
