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Indian sports wrap, June 8: Akshat wins in Senior Max category of Meco Meritus Cup, Kochhar finishes ninth at IGPL Bharath Classic MOTORSPORTMeco Meritus Cup: Akshat Misra, Shiv Tummala, Aarav Sureka emerge championsBengaluru’s Akshat Misra (Peregrine Racing), with a win and another podium finish, picked up sufficient points to emerge champion in the Senior Max class as the third and final round of the Meco Meritus Cup karting concluded at the CoASTT Kartomania circuit in Coimbatore on Sunday.Misra was placed third in Sprint Race-1, but he recovered well to win Sprint Race-2 and finished the three-round Meritus Cup, a forerunner to the Rotax Max Class National Championship, with 85 points, ahead of Chennai’s Shivaan Karthik (MSPORT) and Kiaan Shah (Rayo Racing) from Mumbai.Hyderabad’s Shiv Tummala (Peregrine Racing), among the most consistent of drivers, retained the crown after winning both the sprint races in the Mini Max class.Rayo Racing’s Aarav Sureka from Mumbai, who finished second and fifth in the two points-scoring outings, won the championship in the Micro Max category. Aarav ended up six points ahead of Bengaluru’s Zidaan Arshaan Anees (Peregrine Racing), winner of both the sprint races, on the leaderboard.Rivaan Dev Preetham bags IKA TrophyMeanwhile, in the Indian Karting Academy Trophy, running concurrently, Chennai’s Rivaan Dev Preetham (MSPORT) expectedly emerged champion in the OK-Junior class, though he finished second in the Super Heat and Final race won by teammate Rishik Rohit Reddy from Bengaluru and Rehan Khan Rasheed (Momentum Motorsports), also from Chennai, respectively.The OKJ Junior class provides the Indian junior drivers an opportunity to experience the FIA OK-J engine, which is a replica of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy that runs with the FIA homologated OK-J engines and the FIA homologated OTK chassis. RESULTS Meco Meritus Cup:Senior Max – Sprint Race-1 (14 laps): 1. Ishaan Madesh (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (10mins, 45.043secs); 2. Eshanth Vengatesan (Chennai, MSPORT) (10:47.663); 3. Akshat Misra (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (10:48.674).  Sprint Race-2 (15 laps): 1. Akshat Misra (11:35.198); 2. Kiaan Shah (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (11:37.053); 3. Shatveer Shetty (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (11:40.549). Champion driver: Akshat Misra (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing), 85 points. Mini Max – Sprint Race-1 (10 laps): 1. Shiv Tummala (Hyderabad, Peregrine Racing) (07:52.372); 2. Micah Hayden Andrews (Tirunelveli, Peregrine Racing) (07:54.865); 3. Jishnu Seralathan (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (07:59.218).  Sprint Race-2 (12 laps): 1. Shiv Tummala (09:25.332); 2. Jishnu Seralathan (09:27.317); 3. Micah Hayden Andrews (09:28.268). Champion driver: Shiv Tummala (Hyderabad, Peregrine Racing), 96 points. Micro Max – Sprint Race-1 (10 laps): 1. Zidaan Arshaan Anees (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (08: 14.876); 2. Aarav Sureka (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (08:15.862); 3. Ayansh Patil (Kolhapur, MSPORT) (08:19.450).  Sprint Race-2 (12 laps): 1. Zidaan Arshaan Anees (09:51.846); 2. Yeshwin Vinay Kishore (Chennai, Peregrine Racing) (09:57.498); 3. Shriyan Rao Thakkallapelly (Hyderabad, Peregrine Racing) (09:58.018). Champion driver: Aarav Sureka (Mumbai, Rayo Racing), 78 points. India Karting Academy Trophy (OK Junior):Super Heat (11 laps): 1. Rishik Rohit Reddy (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (08:25.138); 2. Rivaan Dev Preetham (Chennai, MSPORT) (08:26.751); 3. Rehan Khan Rasheed (Chennai, Momentum Motorsports) (08:26.977).  Final Race (14 laps): 1. Rehan Khan Rasheed (10:42.327); 2. Rivaan Dev Preetham (10:48.417); 3. Syed Luqman (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (10:51.930). Champion driver: Rivaan Dev Preetham (Chennai, MSPORT), 99 points. -Team SportstarGOLFIGPL Bharath Classic: Bogey-free Kochhar bags third Top-10 of the year; Sweden’s Lindh takes title Sweden’s Charlie Lindh poses with the IGPL Bharath Classic trophy in El Jadida, Morocco. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Sweden’s Charlie Lindh poses with the IGPL Bharath Classic trophy in El Jadida, Morocco. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Karandeep Kochhar fired a bogey-free 4-under 68 on the final day to register yet another top-10 finish this season at the 0,000 IGPL Bharath Classic in Morocco. The lanky Chandigarh golfer finished T-9, his third top-10 of the year, which carried him up to 12th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.Kochhar, who had rounds of 66-73-70-68, totalled 11-under, as Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (69-70-67-64) totalled 18-under for a comprehensive win. Lindh was second in his last outing at the Kolon Korea Open, and this week he produced a very consistent performance that saw him rise to third on the Order of Merit. Lindh closed his win in a commanding manner, landing an eagle on the 18th for a four-shot win.The tournament was co-sanctioned by the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) and the Asian Tour.Among other Indian IGPL players, Gaganjeet Bhullar (75-70-69-68) and Yashas Chandra (75-68-71-68) at 6-under were the next best at T-27. Bhullar had five birdies against one bogey, while Yashas was bogey-free in his 68.Rashid Khan, with a final round of 71 and a total of 3-under, was T-41, as were Kartik Singh (71) and Sachin Baisoya (67), whose final round had two eagles on the Par-5 third and Par-5 seventh. Kartik had an action-packed round with seven birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys.Shaurya Bhattacharya, after a good start, finished close with 71 with three birdies and a double bogey and was T-52, while Aman Raj (70) was T-56, Pukhraj Singh Gill (75) was T-59, and Raghav Chugh (77) was T-64, as was Udayan Mane (73). Amateur Jai Bahl (74) finished T-67.Winner of IGPL Dubai, Kochhar had an outstanding week in terms of hitting, as he found a lot of fairways and greens in regulation. However, the putter could have been better, as he needed 28 or more putts on each of the four days, including 34 on the second day when he shot 73.Kochhar, who was T-5 at the International Series Japan, is now looking forward to the M International Series Morocco as he continues his search for a maiden Asian Tour win after having had a maiden win in Egypt on the Asian Development Tour, which had led to him gaining an Asian Tour card.Kochhar birdied the third, 10th, 11th and the 14th, as he had 16 birdies during the week and left many more on the course.The 28-year-old Lindh started the day three behind the overnight leader, Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech, but his eight-under par 64 was also the best round of the tournament.Lindh, who had his childhood friend Isaac Bondesson on his bag, reached the edge of the green on the 18th in two shots and then putted from the fringe from 20 feet for the eagle.Lindh said, “It feels good…feels really good. Feels like I’m still focused, but when everything settles a little bit, I will realise what I have done today. I have been playing well coming into this week, and I have been very, very excited to play golf the last couple of months because the game has been feeling better. And thankfully, I got some good results today.”Lindh now goes to next week’s M International Series Morocco with a lot of confidence.The Asian Tour will now move to the capital, Rabat, for the M International Series Morocco.-Team SportstarESPORTSS8UL’s Apex Legends team qualifies for Esports World Cup 2026S8UL Esports of India has qualified for the Apex Legends tournament at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 following a standout performance in the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) 2026: Split 1 Pro League – APAC South.The qualification makes Apex Legends the fourth title in which the organisation has officially secured a spot at the world’s biggest esports event, after making the cut in Honor of Kings, chess, and Fortnite.The ALGS 2026 Split 1 Pro League – APAC South brought together 30 of the region’s top teams.S8UL’s all-Australian roster of Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko), and Tom Canty (Legacy), under the guidance of head coach Harrison Rogers (Rogers), delivered a consistent performance throughout the season, earning 21 additional Pro League Points to secure second place in the overall regular season standings with a total of 127 Pro League Points.The result secured qualification for the global event while also earning the team USD 15,000 (approximately INR 14.2 lakh) in prize money and 1,350 Championship Points towards the ALGS 2025-26 rankings.This marks the second consecutive year that S8UL will compete in Apex Legends at the EWC.Scheduled to take place in Paris, France, from July 6 to August 23, EWC 2026 will bring together more than 2,000 players representing 200 clubs from over 100 countries competing for a record-breaking prize pool of USD 75 million (~INR 714 crore).-Team SportstarPublished on Jun 08, 2026 #Indian #sports #wrap #June #Akshat #wins #Senior #Max #category #Meco #Meritus #Cup #Kochhar #finishes #ninth #IGPL #Bharath #Classic

Indian sports wrap, June 8: Akshat wins in Senior Max category of Meco Meritus Cup, Kochhar finishes ninth at IGPL Bharath Classic

MOTORSPORT

Meco Meritus Cup: Akshat Misra, Shiv Tummala, Aarav Sureka emerge champions

Bengaluru’s Akshat Misra (Peregrine Racing), with a win and another podium finish, picked up sufficient points to emerge champion in the Senior Max class as the third and final round of the Meco Meritus Cup karting concluded at the CoASTT Kartomania circuit in Coimbatore on Sunday.

Misra was placed third in Sprint Race-1, but he recovered well to win Sprint Race-2 and finished the three-round Meritus Cup, a forerunner to the Rotax Max Class National Championship, with 85 points, ahead of Chennai’s Shivaan Karthik (MSPORT) and Kiaan Shah (Rayo Racing) from Mumbai.

Hyderabad’s Shiv Tummala (Peregrine Racing), among the most consistent of drivers, retained the crown after winning both the sprint races in the Mini Max class.

Rayo Racing’s Aarav Sureka from Mumbai, who finished second and fifth in the two points-scoring outings, won the championship in the Micro Max category. Aarav ended up six points ahead of Bengaluru’s Zidaan Arshaan Anees (Peregrine Racing), winner of both the sprint races, on the leaderboard.

Rivaan Dev Preetham bags IKA Trophy

Meanwhile, in the Indian Karting Academy Trophy, running concurrently, Chennai’s Rivaan Dev Preetham (MSPORT) expectedly emerged champion in the OK-Junior class, though he finished second in the Super Heat and Final race won by teammate Rishik Rohit Reddy from Bengaluru and Rehan Khan Rasheed (Momentum Motorsports), also from Chennai, respectively.

The OKJ Junior class provides the Indian junior drivers an opportunity to experience the FIA OK-J engine, which is a replica of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy that runs with the FIA homologated OK-J engines and the FIA homologated OTK chassis.

RESULTS

Meco Meritus Cup:

Senior Max – Sprint Race-1 (14 laps): 1. Ishaan Madesh (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (10mins, 45.043secs); 2. Eshanth Vengatesan (Chennai, MSPORT) (10:47.663); 3. Akshat Misra (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (10:48.674).  Sprint Race-2 (15 laps): 1. Akshat Misra (11:35.198); 2. Kiaan Shah (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (11:37.053); 3. Shatveer Shetty (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (11:40.549).

Champion driver: Akshat Misra (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing), 85 points.

Mini Max – Sprint Race-1 (10 laps): 1. Shiv Tummala (Hyderabad, Peregrine Racing) (07:52.372); 2. Micah Hayden Andrews (Tirunelveli, Peregrine Racing) (07:54.865); 3. Jishnu Seralathan (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (07:59.218).  Sprint Race-2 (12 laps): 1. Shiv Tummala (09:25.332); 2. Jishnu Seralathan (09:27.317); 3. Micah Hayden Andrews (09:28.268).

Champion driver: Shiv Tummala (Hyderabad, Peregrine Racing), 96 points.

Micro Max – Sprint Race-1 (10 laps): 1. Zidaan Arshaan Anees (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (08: 14.876); 2. Aarav Sureka (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (08:15.862); 3. Ayansh Patil (Kolhapur, MSPORT) (08:19.450).  Sprint Race-2 (12 laps): 1. Zidaan Arshaan Anees (09:51.846); 2. Yeshwin Vinay Kishore (Chennai, Peregrine Racing) (09:57.498); 3. Shriyan Rao Thakkallapelly (Hyderabad, Peregrine Racing) (09:58.018).

Champion driver: Aarav Sureka (Mumbai, Rayo Racing), 78 points.

India Karting Academy Trophy (OK Junior):

Super Heat (11 laps): 1. Rishik Rohit Reddy (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (08:25.138); 2. Rivaan Dev Preetham (Chennai, MSPORT) (08:26.751); 3. Rehan Khan Rasheed (Chennai, Momentum Motorsports) (08:26.977).  Final Race (14 laps): 1. Rehan Khan Rasheed (10:42.327); 2. Rivaan Dev Preetham (10:48.417); 3. Syed Luqman (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (10:51.930).

Champion driver: Rivaan Dev Preetham (Chennai, MSPORT), 99 points.

-Team Sportstar

GOLF

IGPL Bharath Classic: Bogey-free Kochhar bags third Top-10 of the year; Sweden’s Lindh takes title

Indian sports wrap, June 8: Akshat wins in Senior Max category of Meco Meritus Cup, Kochhar finishes ninth at IGPL Bharath Classic MOTORSPORTMeco Meritus Cup: Akshat Misra, Shiv Tummala, Aarav Sureka emerge championsBengaluru’s Akshat Misra (Peregrine Racing), with a win and another podium finish, picked up sufficient points to emerge champion in the Senior Max class as the third and final round of the Meco Meritus Cup karting concluded at the CoASTT Kartomania circuit in Coimbatore on Sunday.Misra was placed third in Sprint Race-1, but he recovered well to win Sprint Race-2 and finished the three-round Meritus Cup, a forerunner to the Rotax Max Class National Championship, with 85 points, ahead of Chennai’s Shivaan Karthik (MSPORT) and Kiaan Shah (Rayo Racing) from Mumbai.Hyderabad’s Shiv Tummala (Peregrine Racing), among the most consistent of drivers, retained the crown after winning both the sprint races in the Mini Max class.Rayo Racing’s Aarav Sureka from Mumbai, who finished second and fifth in the two points-scoring outings, won the championship in the Micro Max category. Aarav ended up six points ahead of Bengaluru’s Zidaan Arshaan Anees (Peregrine Racing), winner of both the sprint races, on the leaderboard.Rivaan Dev Preetham bags IKA TrophyMeanwhile, in the Indian Karting Academy Trophy, running concurrently, Chennai’s Rivaan Dev Preetham (MSPORT) expectedly emerged champion in the OK-Junior class, though he finished second in the Super Heat and Final race won by teammate Rishik Rohit Reddy from Bengaluru and Rehan Khan Rasheed (Momentum Motorsports), also from Chennai, respectively.The OKJ Junior class provides the Indian junior drivers an opportunity to experience the FIA OK-J engine, which is a replica of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy that runs with the FIA homologated OK-J engines and the FIA homologated OTK chassis. RESULTS Meco Meritus Cup:Senior Max – Sprint Race-1 (14 laps): 1. Ishaan Madesh (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (10mins, 45.043secs); 2. Eshanth Vengatesan (Chennai, MSPORT) (10:47.663); 3. Akshat Misra (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (10:48.674).  Sprint Race-2 (15 laps): 1. Akshat Misra (11:35.198); 2. Kiaan Shah (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (11:37.053); 3. Shatveer Shetty (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (11:40.549). Champion driver: Akshat Misra (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing), 85 points. Mini Max – Sprint Race-1 (10 laps): 1. Shiv Tummala (Hyderabad, Peregrine Racing) (07:52.372); 2. Micah Hayden Andrews (Tirunelveli, Peregrine Racing) (07:54.865); 3. Jishnu Seralathan (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (07:59.218).  Sprint Race-2 (12 laps): 1. Shiv Tummala (09:25.332); 2. Jishnu Seralathan (09:27.317); 3. Micah Hayden Andrews (09:28.268). Champion driver: Shiv Tummala (Hyderabad, Peregrine Racing), 96 points. Micro Max – Sprint Race-1 (10 laps): 1. Zidaan Arshaan Anees (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (08: 14.876); 2. Aarav Sureka (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (08:15.862); 3. Ayansh Patil (Kolhapur, MSPORT) (08:19.450).  Sprint Race-2 (12 laps): 1. Zidaan Arshaan Anees (09:51.846); 2. Yeshwin Vinay Kishore (Chennai, Peregrine Racing) (09:57.498); 3. Shriyan Rao Thakkallapelly (Hyderabad, Peregrine Racing) (09:58.018). Champion driver: Aarav Sureka (Mumbai, Rayo Racing), 78 points. India Karting Academy Trophy (OK Junior):Super Heat (11 laps): 1. Rishik Rohit Reddy (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (08:25.138); 2. Rivaan Dev Preetham (Chennai, MSPORT) (08:26.751); 3. Rehan Khan Rasheed (Chennai, Momentum Motorsports) (08:26.977).  Final Race (14 laps): 1. Rehan Khan Rasheed (10:42.327); 2. Rivaan Dev Preetham (10:48.417); 3. Syed Luqman (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (10:51.930). Champion driver: Rivaan Dev Preetham (Chennai, MSPORT), 99 points. -Team SportstarGOLFIGPL Bharath Classic: Bogey-free Kochhar bags third Top-10 of the year; Sweden’s Lindh takes title Sweden’s Charlie Lindh poses with the IGPL Bharath Classic trophy in El Jadida, Morocco. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Sweden’s Charlie Lindh poses with the IGPL Bharath Classic trophy in El Jadida, Morocco. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Karandeep Kochhar fired a bogey-free 4-under 68 on the final day to register yet another top-10 finish this season at the 0,000 IGPL Bharath Classic in Morocco. The lanky Chandigarh golfer finished T-9, his third top-10 of the year, which carried him up to 12th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.Kochhar, who had rounds of 66-73-70-68, totalled 11-under, as Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (69-70-67-64) totalled 18-under for a comprehensive win. Lindh was second in his last outing at the Kolon Korea Open, and this week he produced a very consistent performance that saw him rise to third on the Order of Merit. Lindh closed his win in a commanding manner, landing an eagle on the 18th for a four-shot win.The tournament was co-sanctioned by the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) and the Asian Tour.Among other Indian IGPL players, Gaganjeet Bhullar (75-70-69-68) and Yashas Chandra (75-68-71-68) at 6-under were the next best at T-27. Bhullar had five birdies against one bogey, while Yashas was bogey-free in his 68.Rashid Khan, with a final round of 71 and a total of 3-under, was T-41, as were Kartik Singh (71) and Sachin Baisoya (67), whose final round had two eagles on the Par-5 third and Par-5 seventh. Kartik had an action-packed round with seven birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys.Shaurya Bhattacharya, after a good start, finished close with 71 with three birdies and a double bogey and was T-52, while Aman Raj (70) was T-56, Pukhraj Singh Gill (75) was T-59, and Raghav Chugh (77) was T-64, as was Udayan Mane (73). Amateur Jai Bahl (74) finished T-67.Winner of IGPL Dubai, Kochhar had an outstanding week in terms of hitting, as he found a lot of fairways and greens in regulation. However, the putter could have been better, as he needed 28 or more putts on each of the four days, including 34 on the second day when he shot 73.Kochhar, who was T-5 at the International Series Japan, is now looking forward to the M International Series Morocco as he continues his search for a maiden Asian Tour win after having had a maiden win in Egypt on the Asian Development Tour, which had led to him gaining an Asian Tour card.Kochhar birdied the third, 10th, 11th and the 14th, as he had 16 birdies during the week and left many more on the course.The 28-year-old Lindh started the day three behind the overnight leader, Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech, but his eight-under par 64 was also the best round of the tournament.Lindh, who had his childhood friend Isaac Bondesson on his bag, reached the edge of the green on the 18th in two shots and then putted from the fringe from 20 feet for the eagle.Lindh said, “It feels good…feels really good. Feels like I’m still focused, but when everything settles a little bit, I will realise what I have done today. I have been playing well coming into this week, and I have been very, very excited to play golf the last couple of months because the game has been feeling better. And thankfully, I got some good results today.”Lindh now goes to next week’s M International Series Morocco with a lot of confidence.The Asian Tour will now move to the capital, Rabat, for the M International Series Morocco.-Team SportstarESPORTSS8UL’s Apex Legends team qualifies for Esports World Cup 2026S8UL Esports of India has qualified for the Apex Legends tournament at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 following a standout performance in the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) 2026: Split 1 Pro League – APAC South.The qualification makes Apex Legends the fourth title in which the organisation has officially secured a spot at the world’s biggest esports event, after making the cut in Honor of Kings, chess, and Fortnite.The ALGS 2026 Split 1 Pro League – APAC South brought together 30 of the region’s top teams.S8UL’s all-Australian roster of Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko), and Tom Canty (Legacy), under the guidance of head coach Harrison Rogers (Rogers), delivered a consistent performance throughout the season, earning 21 additional Pro League Points to secure second place in the overall regular season standings with a total of 127 Pro League Points.The result secured qualification for the global event while also earning the team USD 15,000 (approximately INR 14.2 lakh) in prize money and 1,350 Championship Points towards the ALGS 2025-26 rankings.This marks the second consecutive year that S8UL will compete in Apex Legends at the EWC.Scheduled to take place in Paris, France, from July 6 to August 23, EWC 2026 will bring together more than 2,000 players representing 200 clubs from over 100 countries competing for a record-breaking prize pool of USD 75 million (~INR 714 crore).-Team SportstarPublished on Jun 08, 2026 #Indian #sports #wrap #June #Akshat #wins #Senior #Max #category #Meco #Meritus #Cup #Kochhar #finishes #ninth #IGPL #Bharath #Classic

Sweden’s Charlie Lindh poses with the IGPL Bharath Classic trophy in El Jadida, Morocco. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

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Sweden’s Charlie Lindh poses with the IGPL Bharath Classic trophy in El Jadida, Morocco. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Karandeep Kochhar fired a bogey-free 4-under 68 on the final day to register yet another top-10 finish this season at the $500,000 IGPL Bharath Classic in Morocco. The lanky Chandigarh golfer finished T-9, his third top-10 of the year, which carried him up to 12th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Kochhar, who had rounds of 66-73-70-68, totalled 11-under, as Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (69-70-67-64) totalled 18-under for a comprehensive win. Lindh was second in his last outing at the Kolon Korea Open, and this week he produced a very consistent performance that saw him rise to third on the Order of Merit. Lindh closed his win in a commanding manner, landing an eagle on the 18th for a four-shot win.

The tournament was co-sanctioned by the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) and the Asian Tour.

Among other Indian IGPL players, Gaganjeet Bhullar (75-70-69-68) and Yashas Chandra (75-68-71-68) at 6-under were the next best at T-27. Bhullar had five birdies against one bogey, while Yashas was bogey-free in his 68.

Rashid Khan, with a final round of 71 and a total of 3-under, was T-41, as were Kartik Singh (71) and Sachin Baisoya (67), whose final round had two eagles on the Par-5 third and Par-5 seventh. Kartik had an action-packed round with seven birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys.

Shaurya Bhattacharya, after a good start, finished close with 71 with three birdies and a double bogey and was T-52, while Aman Raj (70) was T-56, Pukhraj Singh Gill (75) was T-59, and Raghav Chugh (77) was T-64, as was Udayan Mane (73). Amateur Jai Bahl (74) finished T-67.

Winner of IGPL Dubai, Kochhar had an outstanding week in terms of hitting, as he found a lot of fairways and greens in regulation. However, the putter could have been better, as he needed 28 or more putts on each of the four days, including 34 on the second day when he shot 73.

Kochhar, who was T-5 at the International Series Japan, is now looking forward to the $2M International Series Morocco as he continues his search for a maiden Asian Tour win after having had a maiden win in Egypt on the Asian Development Tour, which had led to him gaining an Asian Tour card.

Kochhar birdied the third, 10th, 11th and the 14th, as he had 16 birdies during the week and left many more on the course.

The 28-year-old Lindh started the day three behind the overnight leader, Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech, but his eight-under par 64 was also the best round of the tournament.

Lindh, who had his childhood friend Isaac Bondesson on his bag, reached the edge of the green on the 18th in two shots and then putted from the fringe from 20 feet for the eagle.

Lindh said, “It feels good…feels really good. Feels like I’m still focused, but when everything settles a little bit, I will realise what I have done today. I have been playing well coming into this week, and I have been very, very excited to play golf the last couple of months because the game has been feeling better. And thankfully, I got some good results today.”

Lindh now goes to next week’s $2M International Series Morocco with a lot of confidence.

The Asian Tour will now move to the capital, Rabat, for the $2M International Series Morocco.

-Team Sportstar

ESPORTS

S8UL’s Apex Legends team qualifies for Esports World Cup 2026

S8UL Esports of India has qualified for the Apex Legends tournament at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 following a standout performance in the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) 2026: Split 1 Pro League – APAC South.

The qualification makes Apex Legends the fourth title in which the organisation has officially secured a spot at the world’s biggest esports event, after making the cut in Honor of Kings, chess, and Fortnite.

The ALGS 2026 Split 1 Pro League – APAC South brought together 30 of the region’s top teams.

S8UL’s all-Australian roster of Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko), and Tom Canty (Legacy), under the guidance of head coach Harrison Rogers (Rogers), delivered a consistent performance throughout the season, earning 21 additional Pro League Points to secure second place in the overall regular season standings with a total of 127 Pro League Points.

The result secured qualification for the global event while also earning the team USD 15,000 (approximately INR 14.2 lakh) in prize money and 1,350 Championship Points towards the ALGS 2025-26 rankings.

This marks the second consecutive year that S8UL will compete in Apex Legends at the EWC.

Scheduled to take place in Paris, France, from July 6 to August 23, EWC 2026 will bring together more than 2,000 players representing 200 clubs from over 100 countries competing for a record-breaking prize pool of USD 75 million (~INR 714 crore).

-Team Sportstar

Published on Jun 08, 2026

#Indian #sports #wrap #June #Akshat #wins #Senior #Max #category #Meco #Meritus #Cup #Kochhar #finishes #ninth #IGPL #Bharath #Classic

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MOTORSPORT

Meco Meritus Cup: Akshat Misra, Shiv Tummala, Aarav Sureka emerge champions

Bengaluru’s Akshat Misra (Peregrine Racing), with a win and another podium finish, picked up sufficient points to emerge champion in the Senior Max class as the third and final round of the Meco Meritus Cup karting concluded at the CoASTT Kartomania circuit in Coimbatore on Sunday.

Misra was placed third in Sprint Race-1, but he recovered well to win Sprint Race-2 and finished the three-round Meritus Cup, a forerunner to the Rotax Max Class National Championship, with 85 points, ahead of Chennai’s Shivaan Karthik (MSPORT) and Kiaan Shah (Rayo Racing) from Mumbai.

Hyderabad’s Shiv Tummala (Peregrine Racing), among the most consistent of drivers, retained the crown after winning both the sprint races in the Mini Max class.

Rayo Racing’s Aarav Sureka from Mumbai, who finished second and fifth in the two points-scoring outings, won the championship in the Micro Max category. Aarav ended up six points ahead of Bengaluru’s Zidaan Arshaan Anees (Peregrine Racing), winner of both the sprint races, on the leaderboard.

Rivaan Dev Preetham bags IKA Trophy

Meanwhile, in the Indian Karting Academy Trophy, running concurrently, Chennai’s Rivaan Dev Preetham (MSPORT) expectedly emerged champion in the OK-Junior class, though he finished second in the Super Heat and Final race won by teammate Rishik Rohit Reddy from Bengaluru and Rehan Khan Rasheed (Momentum Motorsports), also from Chennai, respectively.

The OKJ Junior class provides the Indian junior drivers an opportunity to experience the FIA OK-J engine, which is a replica of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy that runs with the FIA homologated OK-J engines and the FIA homologated OTK chassis.

RESULTS

Meco Meritus Cup:

Senior Max – Sprint Race-1 (14 laps): 1. Ishaan Madesh (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (10mins, 45.043secs); 2. Eshanth Vengatesan (Chennai, MSPORT) (10:47.663); 3. Akshat Misra (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (10:48.674).  Sprint Race-2 (15 laps): 1. Akshat Misra (11:35.198); 2. Kiaan Shah (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (11:37.053); 3. Shatveer Shetty (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (11:40.549).

Champion driver: Akshat Misra (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing), 85 points.

Mini Max – Sprint Race-1 (10 laps): 1. Shiv Tummala (Hyderabad, Peregrine Racing) (07:52.372); 2. Micah Hayden Andrews (Tirunelveli, Peregrine Racing) (07:54.865); 3. Jishnu Seralathan (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (07:59.218).  Sprint Race-2 (12 laps): 1. Shiv Tummala (09:25.332); 2. Jishnu Seralathan (09:27.317); 3. Micah Hayden Andrews (09:28.268).

Champion driver: Shiv Tummala (Hyderabad, Peregrine Racing), 96 points.

Micro Max – Sprint Race-1 (10 laps): 1. Zidaan Arshaan Anees (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (08: 14.876); 2. Aarav Sureka (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (08:15.862); 3. Ayansh Patil (Kolhapur, MSPORT) (08:19.450).  Sprint Race-2 (12 laps): 1. Zidaan Arshaan Anees (09:51.846); 2. Yeshwin Vinay Kishore (Chennai, Peregrine Racing) (09:57.498); 3. Shriyan Rao Thakkallapelly (Hyderabad, Peregrine Racing) (09:58.018).

Champion driver: Aarav Sureka (Mumbai, Rayo Racing), 78 points.

India Karting Academy Trophy (OK Junior):

Super Heat (11 laps): 1. Rishik Rohit Reddy (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (08:25.138); 2. Rivaan Dev Preetham (Chennai, MSPORT) (08:26.751); 3. Rehan Khan Rasheed (Chennai, Momentum Motorsports) (08:26.977).  Final Race (14 laps): 1. Rehan Khan Rasheed (10:42.327); 2. Rivaan Dev Preetham (10:48.417); 3. Syed Luqman (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (10:51.930).

Champion driver: Rivaan Dev Preetham (Chennai, MSPORT), 99 points.

-Team Sportstar

GOLF

IGPL Bharath Classic: Bogey-free Kochhar bags third Top-10 of the year; Sweden’s Lindh takes title

Sweden’s Charlie Lindh poses with the IGPL Bharath Classic trophy in El Jadida, Morocco.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

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Sweden’s Charlie Lindh poses with the IGPL Bharath Classic trophy in El Jadida, Morocco.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Karandeep Kochhar fired a bogey-free 4-under 68 on the final day to register yet another top-10 finish this season at the $500,000 IGPL Bharath Classic in Morocco. The lanky Chandigarh golfer finished T-9, his third top-10 of the year, which carried him up to 12th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Kochhar, who had rounds of 66-73-70-68, totalled 11-under, as Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (69-70-67-64) totalled 18-under for a comprehensive win. Lindh was second in his last outing at the Kolon Korea Open, and this week he produced a very consistent performance that saw him rise to third on the Order of Merit. Lindh closed his win in a commanding manner, landing an eagle on the 18th for a four-shot win.

The tournament was co-sanctioned by the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) and the Asian Tour.

Among other Indian IGPL players, Gaganjeet Bhullar (75-70-69-68) and Yashas Chandra (75-68-71-68) at 6-under were the next best at T-27. Bhullar had five birdies against one bogey, while Yashas was bogey-free in his 68.

Rashid Khan, with a final round of 71 and a total of 3-under, was T-41, as were Kartik Singh (71) and Sachin Baisoya (67), whose final round had two eagles on the Par-5 third and Par-5 seventh. Kartik had an action-packed round with seven birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys.

Shaurya Bhattacharya, after a good start, finished close with 71 with three birdies and a double bogey and was T-52, while Aman Raj (70) was T-56, Pukhraj Singh Gill (75) was T-59, and Raghav Chugh (77) was T-64, as was Udayan Mane (73). Amateur Jai Bahl (74) finished T-67.

Winner of IGPL Dubai, Kochhar had an outstanding week in terms of hitting, as he found a lot of fairways and greens in regulation. However, the putter could have been better, as he needed 28 or more putts on each of the four days, including 34 on the second day when he shot 73.

Kochhar, who was T-5 at the International Series Japan, is now looking forward to the $2M International Series Morocco as he continues his search for a maiden Asian Tour win after having had a maiden win in Egypt on the Asian Development Tour, which had led to him gaining an Asian Tour card.

Kochhar birdied the third, 10th, 11th and the 14th, as he had 16 birdies during the week and left many more on the course.

The 28-year-old Lindh started the day three behind the overnight leader, Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech, but his eight-under par 64 was also the best round of the tournament.

Lindh, who had his childhood friend Isaac Bondesson on his bag, reached the edge of the green on the 18th in two shots and then putted from the fringe from 20 feet for the eagle.

Lindh said, “It feels good…feels really good. Feels like I’m still focused, but when everything settles a little bit, I will realise what I have done today. I have been playing well coming into this week, and I have been very, very excited to play golf the last couple of months because the game has been feeling better. And thankfully, I got some good results today.”

Lindh now goes to next week’s $2M International Series Morocco with a lot of confidence.

The Asian Tour will now move to the capital, Rabat, for the $2M International Series Morocco.

-Team Sportstar

ESPORTS

S8UL’s Apex Legends team qualifies for Esports World Cup 2026

S8UL Esports of India has qualified for the Apex Legends tournament at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 following a standout performance in the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) 2026: Split 1 Pro League – APAC South.

The qualification makes Apex Legends the fourth title in which the organisation has officially secured a spot at the world’s biggest esports event, after making the cut in Honor of Kings, chess, and Fortnite.

The ALGS 2026 Split 1 Pro League – APAC South brought together 30 of the region’s top teams.

S8UL’s all-Australian roster of Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko), and Tom Canty (Legacy), under the guidance of head coach Harrison Rogers (Rogers), delivered a consistent performance throughout the season, earning 21 additional Pro League Points to secure second place in the overall regular season standings with a total of 127 Pro League Points.

The result secured qualification for the global event while also earning the team USD 15,000 (approximately INR 14.2 lakh) in prize money and 1,350 Championship Points towards the ALGS 2025-26 rankings.

This marks the second consecutive year that S8UL will compete in Apex Legends at the EWC.

Scheduled to take place in Paris, France, from July 6 to August 23, EWC 2026 will bring together more than 2,000 players representing 200 clubs from over 100 countries competing for a record-breaking prize pool of USD 75 million (~INR 714 crore).

-Team Sportstar

Published on Jun 08, 2026

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Deadspin | Larry Fitzgerald thanks all of Arizona: ‘You gave me a home’ Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026. One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home. After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl. Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison. Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad: People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life. But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story. It’s a thank-you letter. I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today. The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes. I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention. You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word. For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it. Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from. It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry. You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain. On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way. When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough. Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for. Belonging. And that sense of belonging changed me. After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own. So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton. It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything. Thank you, Arizona. Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own. Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man. You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football. You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong. Most of all, you gave me a home. With love and gratitude, (signed) Larry Fitzgerald HOF 26 –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #homePro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026.

One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home.

After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl.

Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison.

Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad:

People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life.

But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story.

It’s a thank-you letter.

I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today.

The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes.

I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention.

You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word.

For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it.

Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from.

It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry.

You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain.

On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way.


When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough.

Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for.

Belonging.

And that sense of belonging changed me.

After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own.

So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton.

It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything.

Thank you, Arizona.

Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own.

Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man.

You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football.

You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong.

Most of all, you gave me a home.

With love and gratitude,

(signed)

Larry Fitzgerald

HOF 26

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #home">Deadspin | Larry Fitzgerald thanks all of Arizona: ‘You gave me a home’ Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026. One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home. After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl. Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison. Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad: People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life. But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story. It’s a thank-you letter. I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today. The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes. I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention. You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word. For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it. Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from. It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry. You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain. On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way. When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough. Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for. Belonging. And that sense of belonging changed me. After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own. So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton. It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything. Thank you, Arizona. Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own. Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man. You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football. You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong. Most of all, you gave me a home. With love and gratitude, (signed) Larry Fitzgerald HOF 26 –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #home

When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.

The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.

The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.

That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.

On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.

Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.

But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.

I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.

One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.

In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.

There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.

I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.

Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it.

#Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making">Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction is 25 years in the making When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it. #Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making

Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.

TOSS

Tiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.

PLAYING XIs

Nellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky Bhasker

Tiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T Natarajan

Published on Aug 09, 2026

#TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings">TNPL 2026 Live: All-round batting display propels Nellai Royal Kings to 206/8 Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.TOSSTiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.PLAYING XIsNellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky BhaskerTiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T NatarajanPublished on Aug 09, 2026 #TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings

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