Indian sports wrap, October 10: Ajith sets news marks at National weightlifting championships

WEIGHTLIFTING

Ajith sets news National Records at National weightlifting championships

N. Ajith created new National records in clean and jerk and total as he won the men’s 73kg title in the National weightlifting championships in Nagrota Bagwan, Himachal Pradesh, on Thursday.

Ajith bettered his own previous clean and jerk mark of 174kg twice (175kg and 178kg) and Achinta Sheuli’s total record of 316kg to emerge as the winner with an aggregate of 318kg.

G. Varshitha, Reena, Nirupama Devi and Ditimoni Sonowal won 64kg event in the youth girls category, Junior Women, Senior Women, Inter-State Senior Women categories, respectively.

– Team Sportstar

GOLF

Diksha Dagar leads home challenge in women’s Indian Open

With two weeks to go for tee-off, the $400,000 Hero Women’s Indian Open has already confirmed a strong field headed by the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit leader, Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland.

Quite significantly nine of the top-10 finishers of the last edition are scheduled to return to the DLF Golf and Country Club, which will have the first round on October 24. With Diksha Dagar and Gaurika Bishnoi, apart from professional debutant Avani Prashanth, expected to offer the home challenge, three former champions Christine Wolf, Camille Chevalier and Caroline Hedwall lend charisma to the field.

The Indian trio had finished in the top-10 last year, and will be keen to build on the performance.

Trichat Cheenglab of Thailand and Lee Anne Pace of South Africa will be some of the other prominent players, who have already distinguished themselves in the circuit with their achievements, especially in topping the Order of Merit.

The champions of the current season, Alice Hewson and Amy Taylor of England, Perrine Delacour of France, Manon De Roey of Belgium and Shannon Tan of Singapore are expected to make it a lively competition.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

J&K Open to return to Jammu for third year in a row

The fourth edition of the J&K Open will be held at the pristine Jammu Tawi Golf Course from October 23–26, the PGTI announced on Thursday.

The tournament is supported by J&K Tourism. It’s a part of J&K Tourism’s initiative of promoting golf tourism in the region.

The top Indian professionals participating in the event include Angad Cheema, Shaurya Binu, Yashas Chandra, Abhinav Lohan, Olympian Udayan Mane and Saarthak Chhibber.

The foreign challenge will be led by Czech Republic’s Stepan Danek and American Dominic Piccirillo.

“It’s a great initiative to have foreign golfers compete in the domestic Indian event. The prize money is great and it’s a win win situation for all,” PGTI CEO Uttam Mundi said.

Vivekanand Rai, Director Tourism – Jammu, said there are no security concerns for the players and officials and the apprehension are just a perception associated with the name Jammu and Kashmir.

“It’s absolutely safe and sound. The tournament is now an essential on J and K’s tourism calender,” he said.

Abhinav Lohan said the sport of golf needs more eyeballs and support.

“We need more awareness. It’s no more an elite’s sport. It needs more support from the corporate world and media. India is cricket centric and and other sports get overshadowed,” said Lohan who is at number eight in the PGTI order of merit.

– PTI

FOOTBALL

Chennaiyin FC to play Norwich City Mina Cup UK, drawn with European giants Liverpool and Inter Milan

Chennaiyin FC’s Under-12 side is geared up to represent India on an international stage at the prestigious Norwich City Mina Cup UK. The tournament, taking place on October 12 and 13 at Norwich City FC’s state-of-the-art training facility in England, will feature top youth talent from around the globe.

Chennaiyin’s involvement in the tournament not only underscores the club’s dedication to fostering grassroots football but also reflects the strong partnership with Norwich City FC. This long-term collaboration is focused on creating avenues for growth and development, with both clubs working together to elevate each other both on and off the field.

Chennaiyin FC will be the only Indian club to participate in the prestigious tournament which will feature 16 teams, including some of the world’s biggest football clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Inter Milan, SL Benfica, Leeds United, Feyenoord Rotterdam and Borussia Dortmund.

A 15-member Chennaiyin team flew out to England late on Wednesday along with the coaching staff.

“The Norwich City Mina Cup UK offers an outstanding platform for young footballers to showcase their talent, and we are excited to send this promising Chennaiyin FC team to compete against some of the world’s top clubs. We are grateful to Norwich City FC for this opportunity and are eager to continue strengthening our partnership in all areas moving forward,” club vice president Ekansh Gupta commented.

The nine-a-side tournament will also be the only qualifying event in the UK for the 2025 Mina Cup, considered among the world’s leading youth competitions.

The Marina Machans have been drawn in Group 4 alongside top clubs Liverpool (England), Inter Milan (Italy) and Empire Football Club (UAE) as 16 teams are divided into four groups.

Each team will play three matches in the initial group stage, with the top two advancing to the Gold Cup and the bottom two to the Silver Cup. Both Cup phases include another group stage with three additional games. Teams will then compete in two placement matches based on their standings, ensuring eight games and concrete development for all participants.

Chennaiyin FC match highlights will be available on JioCinema.

Squad: (Goalkeepers) Seram Ronaldo Meitei and Mohamed Nabil; (Defenders) Rohit Tenshubam, Ningthoujam Thouba Singh, Abheer Hemant Jadhav, J Ryan Fabio, Ishan and Hitaansh Dipesh; (Midfielders) Punshiba Ningombam, Meet Yogesh Satpute, Prakhar Dhar Khatri, Yaikhomba Oinam, W Lydian Mardona; (Attackers) Nepolian Laikhuram and Uziyan Susai.

-Team Sportstar

Coach Anthony Andrews leaves Gokulam Kerala Women’s team

Head coach Anthony Andrews parted ways with the Gokulam Kerala women’s team on Wednesday after serving a two-year period at the club.

“Thank you, Coach Anthony Samson Andrews, for being the driving force behind our 2 IWL Championships and AFC journey. Wishing you all the best ahead!” the club posted on its X account to confirm the coach’s departure.

At the helm of the side, Andrews led Gokulam two Indian Women’s League titles and also coached the side in the 2023 edition of the AFC Women’s Club Championship, where the Indian side finished second in Group A with a draw and a win.

– Team Sportstar

CYCLING

2nd edition of IndianOil Race Across India 2024 flagged off

IOCL Head divisional office JnK and Ladakh Anjani Kumar flagging off the 2024 edition of Race Across India.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The second edition of the IndianOil Race Across India, was flagged off from Srinagar on Thursday.

Nine international participants are the attraction of the India’s and Asia’s longest cycling race, which will conclude at Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu, covering a distance of 3758 kms and traversing through 12 states.

The race is recognized by the World Ultracycling Association (WUCA) and serves as a Race Across America (RAAM) Qualifier Event (RQ).

All finishers will automatically qualify to participate in the Race Across America.

-Team Sportstar

EQUESTRIAN

International Equestrian event returns to India, after 14 years with Asian Equestrian Federation Cup-Youth

Asian Equestrian Federation Cup- Youth (AEF Cup- CSIY-B), an FEI approved Asian level Showjumping event for youth riders will mark the return of international equestrian to India after a gap of 14 years.

The competition will see a total of 11 countries, including hosts India competing at Surge Stable in Bengaluru with state-of-the-art facilities from October 11-13.

The format of the competition is of borrowed horses with an age limit of 16-21 years for the riders having a 115 cm maximum jump level. 

India will have two participants – E Suryaa Aaditya and Avik Bhatia, as they topped the selection trials held at Surge Stable in Bengaluru on Thursday, which was attended by 11 riders. 

Rest of the 10 participating countries will be showcasing one rider each from Kuwait, Malaysia, Pakistan, Iran, Hong Kong, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan will be seen in action. 

Both Surya and Avik have risen through the EFI junior ranks competitions. Surya was a silver medallist at JNEC in both Dressage and Jumping events in 2022. He also won a silver medal at the Grade III NEC event last year. 

Avik was adjudged the best junior rider (2023) and the best young rider this year at the Delhi Horse show. He is also a medal winner at the junior and senior Nationals.

-Team Sportstar

TENNIS

Aahan stars in U-14, U-16 categories at National Sub-Juniors

Aahan was in impressive form as she stormed into the semifinals of both the under-16 and under-14 girls events in the Fenesta National sub-junior tennis championship at the DLTA Complex on Thursday.

The Odisha girl, Aahan has been remarkably fluent, as she won her quarterfinals matches, dropping two games each to Parthsarthi Mundhe and Aaradhya Meena.

In fact, Aahan has dropped only 12 games in four matches in the under-16 event, and six games in three matches after a bye in the under-14 event.

Aahan, the semifinalist of both the under-16 and under-14
events in the National sub-junior tennis championship in Delhi on
Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
Kamesh Srinivisan

Aahan will play Angel Patel in the under-16 semifinals, and Avipsha Dehury in the under-14 event.

Yashika Shokeen and Aishwarya will contest the other semifinal in the under-16 event, while Parthsarthi Mundhe stayed afloat to tackle Deepshika Vinayagamurthy in the under-14 section.

Top seed Prateek Sheoran perspired in a tough three-setter against Sumukh Marya to set up a semifinal against Samarth Sahita in the under-16 boys event. Karan Thapa and Aashravya Mehra will contest the other semifinal.

In the under-14 boys section, Aaradhya Mhasde , Fazal Ali Meer, Vivaan Bidasaria and Raghav Sarode made the semifinals.

– Kamesh Srinivasan

ATHLETICS

Janice brushes away runway worries, leaps to gold at Kerala State Junior Athletics Championships

Janice Treesa Regi who won the under-20 women’s long jump gold.
| Photo Credit:
K. Ragesh

Janice Treesa Regi had many things to worry about during the under-20 women’s long jump event in the 68th Kerala State Junior Athletics championships on Thursday.

With the centre of the runway badly damaged in many places at the Calicut University Stadium here, the 18-year-old from Ernakulam had to virtually watch her step during her jumps. And after the halfway stage, she also had to think about Thrissur’s C.S. Krishnapriya who had grabbed the lead from her with an impressive 5.85m.

But Janice handled everything well and leapt to a personal best 5.85m (previous best 5.75) in the final round to take the gold on a countback.

“Since the problem was with the centre of the runway, I managed to use the sides,” Janice, who is coached by M.A. George – former coach of Commonwealth Games silver medallist M.A. Prajusha – at Kothamangalam’s Mar Athanasius College, told The Hindu.

“I had two fouls but I had some good jumps too.”

There were only five events on the opening day and no records were set.

-Stan Rayan