MOTORSPORT
Mahindra Racing on Wednesday announced that Indian driver Kush Maini will rejoin the team to take part in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s rookie free practice session in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Maini’s running will take place on February 13, with a dedicated 40-minute session for each team to run one rookie on the abridged, 1.86-mile layout of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit used by Formula E.
The 24-year-old served as the team’s official reserve driver during Season 10, making his first appearance in the FIA’s all-electric series in May at the annual Berlin rookie test.
-Team Sportstar
GOLF
Anirban Lahiri, Bryson DeChambeau headline International Series at DLF Golf Club
Photo of, Anirban Lahiri, flanked by Paul Casey (left) and John Catlin, addresses the media on the eve of the $2 million International Series golf championship at the DLF in Gurugram on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
Kamesh Srinivasan
Photo of, Anirban Lahiri, flanked by Paul Casey (left) and John Catlin, addresses the media on the eve of the $2 million International Series golf championship at the DLF in Gurugram on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
Kamesh Srinivasan
It is an emotional home coming for Anirban Lahiri, even as he tries hard to focus on tuning his game for the $2 million International Series golf championship to be played at the DLF Golf and Country Club from Thursday.
Despite being a great host, winning admiration from the golfing fraternity for his strong character, Anirban stayed grounded and expressed his happiness about the buzz around the event with the presence of the reigning Major champion, Bryson DeChambeau along with a host of champions of the game from around the world.’
“The last time I felt this kind of buzz was when Tiger Woods visited DGC. This is a similar vibe, and it is fantastic to be part of it,” said Anirban, as he addressed the media along with the seasoned Paul Casey and John Catlin.
“I continue to grow as a player and as a person. It is amazing to be here, bringing excitement to Indian golf,” said Anirban, thanking all the stars for accepting his invitation to visit India.
“Hats off to DLF. They have gone the extra mile to elevate everything.
I hope we reach the 8,000 plus spectators per day mark for the week-end as it would be a landmark achievement for golf in India,” Anirban said.
It is the collaboration of LIV Golf with International Series and Asian Tour that has brought the galaxy of stars.
Paul Casey, conceding that he was “the definition of rusty” following a srugery, said that he was happy to visit a new country after being on the professional tour for 25 years.
“The shorter schedule at LIV Golf, with its 54-hole format, there is no place to hide, you must perform immediately. I am really excited to be here. I am working my way back into form, and the best way to regain shape is to play”, said Casey.
“I love the challenge of this course. It forces you to hit good shots.
If you don’t, you get exposed quickly”, said Catlin.
“It is a dream come true for us that the International Series is here at the DLF. Our aim is to grow the game. We have brought the most iconic players to take on the challenge of the course, in front of global television”, said Rahul Singh, the Head of International Series.
Over the next four days, between the best of international superstars and the best of Indian golfers, who understand the topography of the course, its behaviour, and have won laurels on it, there will be an exciting fare for sure, from Bryson DeChambeau, Anirban Lahiri, SSP Chawrasia and company.
That will infuse a lot of life into Indian golf.
-Kamesh Srinivasan
National Para Athletics Championship 2025
Official logo and mascot for 23rd National Para Athletics Championship unveiled
The official logo and mascot for the 23rd National Para Athletics Championship 2025 were unveiled here on Wednesday.
Scheduled to take place from February 17-20, the championship will bring together over 1,700 para athletes from across the country, according to a release.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by distinguished dignitaries, including Atulya Misra, Jayawant Gundu, Secretary of the Paralympic Committee of India, Arjuna Awardee and Indian para-badminton player Thulasimathi Murugesan amomg others.
The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) has played a pivotal role in making this championship a reality, offering its full support in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Para Sports Association.
-PTI
SHOOTING
Digvijay Singh shotgun championship: Prithviraj, Rajeshwari reach trap finals
Suleman Elahi, Fahd Sultan and Olympian Prithviraj Tondaiman shot 121 in topping the men’s trap qualification in the third Digvijay Singh shotgun championship at the Madhya Pradesh Academy on Wednesday.
Arjun, Lakshay Sheoran and Arshad Khan shot 120 and won the shoot off to make the final, ahead of Akash Saharan who also shot 120.
The seasoned Zoravar Singh Sandhu shot 119 and missed the final by one point. And so did seven others with the same score, in a strong field of 108 shooters.
Preeti Rajak of the Army topped the women’s trap qualification with 119. She was followed by Pragati Dubey (118), Neeru (117), Kirti Gupta (115), Sabeera Haris and Olympian Rajeshwari Kumari with 114, into the final.
Manisha Keer missed out by one point, while the reigning national champion Bhavya Tripathi shot 111, following a below par fifth round of 19.
The finals will be held on Thursday, along with the finals for the juniors.
-Kamesh Srinivasan
TENNIS
Third-seeded Udvardy ousts India’s Bhamidipaty in Pune ITF tournament
Third seed Panna Udvardy of Hungary beat Shrivalli Bhamidipaty 7-6(2), 6-2 in the pre-quarterfinals of the NECC $60,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at the Deccan Gymkhana on Wednesday.
The other Indian in the second round, Sahaja Yamalapalli was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by the top seed Leolia Jeanjean of France.
Incidentally, Panna had made the final of the $40,000 event a fortnight earlier in Delhi, and had missed six match points for the title. Leolia had made the final of the $100,000 event last week in Bengaluru, when she was beaten in three sets by Tatjana Maria of Germany.
In doubles, Rurutja Bhosale made the semifinals in partnership with Alice Barnett of Britain.
RESULTS
Singles (pre-quarterfinals): Leolia Jeanjean (Fra) bt Sahaja Yamalapalli 6-4, 6-3; Laura Pigossi (Bra) bt Tina Smith (Aus) 6-2,
6-7(4), 6-4; Panna Udvardy (Hun) bt Shrivalli Bhamidipaty 7-6(2), 6-2; Yuriko Miyazaki (GBR) bt Anastasia Tikhonova 2-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(0); Tatiana Prozorova bt Emina Bektas (USA) 6-2, 6-3; Kathinka Von Deichmann (Lie) bt Tian Fangran (Chn) 6-3, 6-2; Elena Pridankina bt Lina Glushko 9Isr) 6-4, 6-4; Iryna Shymanovich bt Camilla Rosatello (Ita) 6-4, 0-6, 6-4.
Doubles (quarterfinals): Eden Silva (GBR) & Anastasia Tikhonova bt Lina Glushko (Isr) & Aleksandra Krunic (Srb) 3-6, 6-2, [10-8]; Alevtina Ibragimova & Elena pridankina bt Diana Macinkevica (Lat) & Naho Sato (Jpn) 6-1, 6-2; Alicia Barnett (GBR) & Rutuja Bhosale bt Yuriko Miyazaki (GBR) & Kathinka Von Deichmann (Lie) 6-2, 6-3; Maria Kozyreva & Iryna Shymanovich bt Alice Robbe (Fra) & Tina Smith (Aus) 3-6, 6-3, [10-7].
-Team Sportstar
Jaya Kapoor reaches last eight in Junior ITF tournament in Indore
Jaya Kapoor beat fourth seed Saiyette Varadkar 7-5, 6-2 in the girls pre-quarterfinals of the ITF junior tennis tournament at the Indore Tennis Club on Wednesday.
In the boys section, seventh seed Dev Patel overcame stiff resistance from qualifier Yashwin Dahiya 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals.
RESULTS
Under-18 boys: Samarth Sahita bt Saurish Modi 6-2, 6-3; Vishal Vasudev bt Kanishk Khathuria 7-5, 6-4; Shivtej Shirfule bt Shaurya Swarup 6-1, 6-2; Aditya Mor bt Aum Thakkar 6-3, 6-3; Dev Patel bt Yashwin Dahiya 4-6, 6-3, 6-2; Aashravya Mehra bt Vivaan Bidasaria 6-4, 6-2; Daksh Kukreti bt Adhiraj Thakkar 6-3, 6-3; Praneel Sharma bt Tanussh Ghildyal 7-5, 6-3.
Under-18 girls: Diya Ramesh bt Aahan 6-2, 6-4; Pehal Kharadkar bt Anvi Punaganti 6-4, 7-6(5); Saina Vaidya bt Aahida Singh 7-6(3), 6-4; Parthsarthi Mundhe bt Nandini Kansal 6-1, 6-0; Prachi Malik bt Sejal Bhutada 6-4, 6-3; Jaya Kapoor bt Saiyette Varadkar 7-5, 6-2; Aakruti Sonkusare bt Aanya Choubey 6-2, 6-2; Harshini Nagaraj bt Deepshika Vinayagamurthy 6-3, 6-3.
-Team Sportstar
CARROM
Delhi State carrom championship: Rashmi Kumari, Mohd. Naved win titles
Delhi State carrom champions Rashmi Kumari (left) and Mohd.
Naved with the secretary general of All India Carrom Federation ,
Bharti Narayan, in Delhi on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Delhi State carrom champions Rashmi Kumari (left) and Mohd.
Naved with the secretary general of All India Carrom Federation ,
Bharti Narayan, in Delhi on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Rashmi Kumari and Mohd. Naved emerged as the women’s and men’s champions in the Delhi State carrom championship at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex on Wednesday.
The secretary general of the All India Carrom Federation (AICF), Bharti Narayan, presented the trophies.
The results:
Men (final): Mohd. Naved bt Adil 24-10, 25-11; Third place: Mohd.
Sumer bt Mohd. Abrar 25-0, 25-0.
Semifinals: Mohd. Naved bt Mohd. Abrar 14-20, 11-6, 24-12; Adil bt Mohd. Sumer 17-12, 25-11.
Women (final): Rashmi Kumari bt Debajani Tamuly 25-2, 12-8; Third place: Pratibha Shukla bt Jyoti 21-13, 21-7.
Semiifnals: Rashmi Kumari bt Jyoti 25-0, 25-1; Debajani Tamuly bt Pratibha Shukla 25-7, 25-5.
-Team Sportstar
