KHO KHO
KKFI unveils trophy, mascots for inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025
The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) marked on Friday unvieled the trophies for the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup, scheduled for January 13-19, 2025.
Under the aegis of the Sports Authority Of India (SAI), the tournament will showcase 21 men’s and 20 women’s teams from 24 countries across six continents at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
The World Cup will feature two trophies – a blue trophy for the men’s championship and a green trophy for the women’s event.
The Federation also introduced ‘Tejas’ and ‘Tara,’ a dynamic duo of gazelles serving as the official mascots for the tournament.
The tournament promises to be a landmark event in the history of this indigenous sport, bringing together global talent and showcasing India’s sporting heritage on the world stage.
ICE HOCKEY
Second edition of Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League to begin in Ladakh on January 4
The Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League (REIHL) returns to Ladakh for its second season, scheduled to take place from January 4 to January 13 at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium, Leh.
This year’s league aims to build on the momentum of its inaugural edition, which saw a total of 6000 spectators, once again bringing together local talent from across the region.
This edition will feature a total of 30 matches – 23 in the men’s category and seven in the women’s, over a span of 10 days. The men’s tournament is structured into two groups of five teams each, with the top two teams advancing to the semi-finals. The women’s tournament will also follow a two-group round-robin format, with three and two teams in each group, followed by semi-finals and then finals on January 12. The men’s championship final is set for January 13.
The League, set to take place following the Losar festivities, aims to provide a sense of community engagement while encouraging players to remain active during the winter months..
Teams
Men’s Teams:
• Changla Blasters
• Kangs Sing
• Zangskar Chadar Tamers
• Maryul Spawo
• Shakar Chiktan Royals
• Sham Wolves
• Purig Warriors
• Changthang Shans
• United Nubra
• Humas Warriors
Women’s Teams:
• Maryul Spamo
• Sham Eagles
• Changla Lamo
• Skara Chiktan Queens
• Humas Queens
GOLF
Indo-British Aaron Rai lies Tied-10th as Bhatia, Theegala trail
Indian Americans Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala had subdued starts at The Sentry but Indo-British Aaron Rai made a strong impression with a solid five-under 68, ending the first round tied for 10th at the PGA Tour season-opener.
Bhatia posted a two-under 71, placing him tied-30th, while Theegala struggled with a triple bogey and finished with a three-over 76, leaving him tied-56th at the Par-73 Plantation Course.
USA’s Tom Hoge opened the 2025 PGA TOUR season with a nine-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over compatriot Will Zalatoris and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.
-PTI
TENNIS
Somani-Suresh pair reaches doubles final of ITF Indore tournament
Parikshit Somani and Dhakshineswar Suresh beat Chirag Duhan and Dev Javia 6-3, 7-6(1) to reach the doubles final of the $30,000 ITF men’s tennis tournament at the Indore Tennis Club on Friday.
In the final, the Indian pair will play Mathys Erhard and Alastair Gray.
The results:
Singles (quarterfinals):
Alastair Gray (GBR) bt Mathys Erhard (Fra) 6-1, 2-1 (retired); Florent Bax (Fra) bt Egor Agafonov 6-3, 4-1 (retired); Oliver Crawford (GBR) bt Yurii Dzhavakian (Ukr) 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2; Samir Banejree (USA) bt Maxim Zhukov 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Doubles (semifinals):
Parikshit Somani & Dhakshineswar Suresh bt Chirag Duhan & Dev Javia 6-3, 7-6(1); Mathys Erhard (Fra) & Alastair Gray (GBR) bt Ishaque Eqbal & Aryan Shah 6-3, 6-4.
-Kamesh Srinivasan
Yamalapalli beats eighth-seeded Mateas to enter semifinal
Sahaja Yamalapalli sustained her strong game to get past eighth seed Maria Mateas of the USA 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the $60,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on Friday.
In the semifinals, Sahaja, who had earlier beaten the third seed, will play top seed Kathinka Von Deichmann of Liechtenstein.
The results:
$60,000 ITF women, Nonthaburi, Thailand Singles (quarterfinals):
Sahaja Yamalapalli bt Maria Mateas (USA) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
$30,000 ITF women, Nairobi, Kenya Doubles (quarterfinals):
Nagomi Higashitani (Jpn) & Angella Okutoyi (Ken) bt Ashmitha Easwaramurthi & Lexue Xiao (Chn) 6-0, 6-4.
-Kamesh Srinivasan
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