GOLF
Solid start for Diksha and Avani in Lalla Meryem Cup
Indian golfer Diksha Dagar began the new season with a bogey but then turned things around with four birdies for a three-under 70 in the opening round of the Lalla Meryem Cup here.
Avani Prashanth, making her professional debut, also had a rough start from the 10th as she bogeyed twice in the first three holes.
She had six birdies from the 14th hole onwards but also dropped a double on par-four fourth. At two-under 71, she was tied 14th.
But it did not turn out well for Tvesa Malik, who shot six-over 77 and was tied 98. She needs a very low second round to make the cut which will see the top-60 and ties advance to the final two rounds.
– PTI
Sharma, Ahlawat struggle in Qatar Masters golf
The Indian duo of Shubhankar Sharma and Veer Ahlawat was off to a nightmarish start at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters as the two golfers returned over-par cards dotted with several bogeys.
The Indians struggled at the Doha Golf Club course as Sharma shot three-over 75 in the opening round and was way down at tied 104th, while Ahlawat, playing in his rookie season, carded eight-over 80 and was tied 137th.
They have a difficult task ahead of them to make the cut, which looks likely at even par.
– PTI
Jeev makes a modest start, lies tied-33rd in Morocco
Jeev Milkha Singh made a modest start with a round of 1-over 73, which included an eagle, to be tied 33rd in the Trophy Hassan II here.
The event is part of the Champions Tour PGA (for Seniors) and is being held alongside the Ladies European Tour’s Lalla Meryem Cup.
Jeev, who is playing the event on a sponsor’s exemption, had an eagle, three bogeys and no birdies.
– PTI
Slow start for Aditi Ashok at Founders Cup
Aditi Ashok made a slow start to her season as the Indian shot a disappointing 1-over 72 in the first round of Founders Cup, the opening event of the year on the LPGA Tour.
Aditi teed off from the tenth and was 1-under at the turn and added another birdie on the first to 2-under.
She hit a rough patch with a bogey-bogey-par-double bogey stretch. A birdie on the eighth, her 17th hole was a small compensation. She found 10 of the 14 fairways and 13 of the 18 greens in regulation, but her putting let her down with 30 putts needed for the round.
Aditi, who has been on the LPGA since 2017, is still waiting for her maiden win, though she has managed to retain her card continuously.
BOXING
Lovlina boxes her way to gold, Thapa signs off with silver at National Games
Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain clinched the women’s 75kg gold, while six-time Asian champion Shiva Thapa signed off with a silver medal in the men’s 63.5kg category at the National Games on Friday.
Playing her first tournament since the Paris Olympics, Assam’s Lovlina dominated her younger opponent Pranshu Rathore from Chandigarh across all three rounds to register a convincing 5-0 win.
In the men’s light welterweight (63.5kg) division, Thapa lost in a close bout to Services Sports Control Board boxer Vanshaj, with a 3-4 scoreline.
In other bouts of the day, Services’ Mandengbam Singh defeated Chandigarh’s Anshul Punia in the men’s flyweight (51kg) division by a 4-1 split decision.
Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Jaismine Lamboria of Services displayed her dominance with a convincing 5-0 win over World Championship bronze-winner Manisha Moun of Haryana in the women’s 60kg event.
Another gold medal for Services came from Sakshi, who outpunched Himachal Pradesh’s Vinakshi 5-0.
In the women’s bantamweight category, Madhya Pradesh’s Divya Panwar triumphed over Uttar Pradesh’s Sonia Lather with a 4-1 victory.
Local boxer Nivedita Karki showed precision and agility as she overpowered Haryana’s Kalpana to claim the top spot in the women’s flyweight (50kg) event.
Former youth world champion Assam’s Ankushita Boro reigned supreme in the women’s welterweight (66kg) event, outclassing Uttarakhand’s Kajal by a unanimous decision.
-PTI
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