Illinois looks like No. 1 in men’s college basketball preseason rankings after retaining top players The Illinois Fighting Illini reached the Final Four of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005. Illinois ended up losing a tight game to the UConn Huskies before Michigan cut down the nets in the national championship game. Most programs as successful as Illinois was this past season are scrambling right now to replace the loss of key players to the NBA Draft or the transfer portal. The Illini are the exception, and it’s setting them up for another big year next season.Andrej Stojakovic announced he was returning to Illinois for his senior season on Friday afternoon. Stojakovic’s announcement follows commitments to return earlier this week from teammates David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis. The Illini will lose Keaton Wagler to the 2026 NBA Draft, where he’s expected to be a top-7 pick, but they’re bringing back almost everyone else.Wagler is a significant loss, but Illinois found what feels like a perfect replacement for him in Providence guard Stefan Vaaks in the transfer portal. Like Wagler, Vaaks is a tall (6’7), skinny guard who is at his best shooting threes off the dribble. Vaaks made 35 percent of his threes on 91-of-260 shooting from behind the arc last year as a freshman. More than 35 percent of those shots were unassisted.Illinois found a winning formula this past season by launching threes at will and hitting the offensive glass hard. The Illini took 49.7 percent of their field goal attempts from three-point range, which ranked No. 15 in DI. They grabbed 39.2 percent of their misses, which ranked No. 3 overall in offensive rebound rate. The offense ended the year at No. 2 in efficiency by scoring an incredible 131.2 points per 100 possessions.This type of roster retention for an elite team is incredibly rare in the transfer portal era. Last year’s average was 31 percent roster retention, according to Evan Miyakawa. The Illini are bringing back five players who played at least 42 percent of the available minutes last year. Most college teams need to build continuity early in the season. The Illini will already have it.Illinois could be No. 1 team in college basketball’s preseason poll for 2026-27I don’t see a team that deserves to be ranked ahead of Illinois right now for the 2026-27 season. I’ll predict the Illini will rank No. 1 in the AP Poll preseason poll when it’s released closer to the season.Losing Wagler to the NBA and Kylan Boswell to graduation is a big deal, but it shouldn’t matter. Illinois is keeping its ridiculously talented front court in place that features two 7’1 guys who can shoot it and protect the rim in the Ivisic twins, plus a 6’9 brawler in Mirkovic who cleans the glass, stretches the floor, and can even run a little bit of offense with the ball in his hands. Davis is a veteran wing who hits 40 percent of his threes and doesn’t turn the ball over. Stojakovic is a deadly slasher and stout perimeter defender with a big body for a wing.Add in Vaaks’ pull-up shooting and the addition of incoming freshmen Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo, and this Illinois team should be really, really good.Vaaks will need to take a playmaking leap. Coleman is a four-star recruit with a skinny frame and shooting ability, and it will be interesting to see if Brad Underwood can develop him in a similar way to Wagler. Morillo is a 6’7 wing with a mean streak defensively who can also run some offense with the ball in his hands. The Illini are still in the mix for Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, who we ranked as a top-5 portal player available, and if they get him that would be an embarrassment of riches.Illinois will have competition for No. 1 in the polls. Florida is bringing back Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon as two players who would have been drafted in June if they turned pro. UConn is also crushing the portal by landing Najai Hines and retaining guard Silas Demary. Michigan is expected to lose Aday Mara and Morez Johnson to the NBA, but if they somehow brought both back, the Wolverines would have to be No. 1 in the polls. Louisville deserves consideration after bringing in Flory Bidunga and two other stud transfers.Most of the traditional powerhouses have work to do. Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, and North Carolina have all had a quiet offseason. The balance of power might be shifting in men’s college basketball. At least going into next season, the Illini are as good as anyone. #Illinois #mens #college #basketball #preseason #rankings #retaining #top #players

Illinois looks like No. 1 in men’s college basketball preseason rankings after retaining top players
The Illinois Fighting Illini reached the Final Four of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005. Illinois ended up losing a tight game to the UConn Huskies before Michigan cut down the nets in the national championship game. Most programs as successful as Illinois was this past season are scrambling right now to replace the loss of key players to the NBA Draft or the transfer portal. The Illini are the exception, and it’s setting them up for another big year next season.
Andrej Stojakovic announced he was returning to Illinois for his senior season on Friday afternoon. Stojakovic’s announcement follows commitments to return earlier this week from teammates David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis. The Illini will lose Keaton Wagler to the 2026 NBA Draft, where he’s expected to be a top-7 pick, but they’re bringing back almost everyone else.
Wagler is a significant loss, but Illinois found what feels like a perfect replacement for him in Providence guard Stefan Vaaks in the transfer portal. Like Wagler, Vaaks is a tall (6’7), skinny guard who is at his best shooting threes off the dribble. Vaaks made 35 percent of his threes on 91-of-260 shooting from behind the arc last year as a freshman. More than 35 percent of those shots were unassisted.
Illinois found a winning formula this past season by launching threes at will and hitting the offensive glass hard. The Illini took 49.7 percent of their field goal attempts from three-point range, which ranked No. 15 in DI. They grabbed 39.2 percent of their misses, which ranked No. 3 overall in offensive rebound rate. The offense ended the year at No. 2 in efficiency by scoring an incredible 131.2 points per 100 possessions.
This type of roster retention for an elite team is incredibly rare in the transfer portal era. Last year’s average was 31 percent roster retention, according to Evan Miyakawa. The Illini are bringing back five players who played at least 42 percent of the available minutes last year. Most college teams need to build continuity early in the season. The Illini will already have it.
Illinois could be No. 1 team in college basketball’s preseason poll for 2026-27
I don’t see a team that deserves to be ranked ahead of Illinois right now for the 2026-27 season. I’ll predict the Illini will rank No. 1 in the AP Poll preseason poll when it’s released closer to the season.
Losing Wagler to the NBA and Kylan Boswell to graduation is a big deal, but it shouldn’t matter. Illinois is keeping its ridiculously talented front court in place that features two 7’1 guys who can shoot it and protect the rim in the Ivisic twins, plus a 6’9 brawler in Mirkovic who cleans the glass, stretches the floor, and can even run a little bit of offense with the ball in his hands. Davis is a veteran wing who hits 40 percent of his threes and doesn’t turn the ball over. Stojakovic is a deadly slasher and stout perimeter defender with a big body for a wing.
Add in Vaaks’ pull-up shooting and the addition of incoming freshmen Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo, and this Illinois team should be really, really good.
Vaaks will need to take a playmaking leap. Coleman is a four-star recruit with a skinny frame and shooting ability, and it will be interesting to see if Brad Underwood can develop him in a similar way to Wagler. Morillo is a 6’7 wing with a mean streak defensively who can also run some offense with the ball in his hands. The Illini are still in the mix for Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, who we ranked as a top-5 portal player available, and if they get him that would be an embarrassment of riches.
Illinois will have competition for No. 1 in the polls. Florida is bringing back Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon as two players who would have been drafted in June if they turned pro. UConn is also crushing the portal by landing Najai Hines and retaining guard Silas Demary. Michigan is expected to lose Aday Mara and Morez Johnson to the NBA, but if they somehow brought both back, the Wolverines would have to be No. 1 in the polls. Louisville deserves consideration after bringing in Flory Bidunga and two other stud transfers.
Most of the traditional powerhouses have work to do. Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, and North Carolina have all had a quiet offseason. The balance of power might be shifting in men’s college basketball. At least going into next season, the Illini are as good as anyone.
#Illinois #mens #college #basketball #preseason #rankings #retaining #top #players

Sports news Men's College Basketball April 17, 2026

The Illinois Fighting Illini reached the Final Four of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005. Illinois ended up losing a tight game to the UConn Huskies before Michigan cut down the nets in the national championship game. Most programs as successful as Illinois was this past season are scrambling right now to replace the loss of key players to the NBA Draft or the transfer portal. The Illini are the exception, and it’s setting them up for another big year next season.

Andrej Stojakovic announced he was returning to Illinois for his senior season on Friday afternoon. Stojakovic’s announcement follows commitments to return earlier this week from teammates David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis. The Illini will lose Keaton Wagler to the 2026 NBA Draft, where he’s expected to be a top-7 pick, but they’re bringing back almost everyone else.

Wagler is a significant loss, but Illinois found what feels like a perfect replacement for him in Providence guard Stefan Vaaks in the transfer portal. Like Wagler, Vaaks is a tall (6’7), skinny guard who is at his best shooting threes off the dribble. Vaaks made 35 percent of his threes on 91-of-260 shooting from behind the arc last year as a freshman. More than 35 percent of those shots were unassisted.

Illinois found a winning formula this past season by launching threes at will and hitting the offensive glass hard. The Illini took 49.7 percent of their field goal attempts from three-point range, which ranked No. 15 in DI. They grabbed 39.2 percent of their misses, which ranked No. 3 overall in offensive rebound rate. The offense ended the year at No. 2 in efficiency by scoring an incredible 131.2 points per 100 possessions.

This type of roster retention for an elite team is incredibly rare in the transfer portal era. Last year’s average was 31 percent roster retention, according to Evan Miyakawa. The Illini are bringing back five players who played at least 42 percent of the available minutes last year. Most college teams need to build continuity early in the season. The Illini will already have it.

Illinois could be No. 1 team in college basketball’s preseason poll for 2026-27

I don’t see a team that deserves to be ranked ahead of Illinois right now for the 2026-27 season. I’ll predict the Illini will rank No. 1 in the AP Poll preseason poll when it’s released closer to the season.

Losing Wagler to the NBA and Kylan Boswell to graduation is a big deal, but it shouldn’t matter. Illinois is keeping its ridiculously talented front court in place that features two 7’1 guys who can shoot it and protect the rim in the Ivisic twins, plus a 6’9 brawler in Mirkovic who cleans the glass, stretches the floor, and can even run a little bit of offense with the ball in his hands. Davis is a veteran wing who hits 40 percent of his threes and doesn’t turn the ball over. Stojakovic is a deadly slasher and stout perimeter defender with a big body for a wing.

Add in Vaaks’ pull-up shooting and the addition of incoming freshmen Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo, and this Illinois team should be really, really good.

Vaaks will need to take a playmaking leap. Coleman is a four-star recruit with a skinny frame and shooting ability, and it will be interesting to see if Brad Underwood can develop him in a similar way to Wagler. Morillo is a 6’7 wing with a mean streak defensively who can also run some offense with the ball in his hands. The Illini are still in the mix for Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, who we ranked as a top-5 portal player available, and if they get him that would be an embarrassment of riches.

Illinois will have competition for No. 1 in the polls. Florida is bringing back Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon as two players who would have been drafted in June if they turned pro. UConn is also crushing the portal by landing Najai Hines and retaining guard Silas Demary. Michigan is expected to lose Aday Mara and Morez Johnson to the NBA, but if they somehow brought both back, the Wolverines would have to be No. 1 in the polls. Louisville deserves consideration after bringing in Flory Bidunga and two other stud transfers.

Most of the traditional powerhouses have work to do. Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, and North Carolina have all had a quiet offseason. The balance of power might be shifting in men’s college basketball. At least going into next season, the Illini are as good as anyone.

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#Illinois #mens #college #basketball #preseason #rankings #retaining #top #players

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IFL 2025-26: Chanmari thrashes Namdhari to keep top-six hopes alive <div id="content-body-70875272" itemprop="articleBody">Chanmari FC completed a dominant performance with a 4-1 win against Namdhari FC, to keep its hopes alive for a top six spot in the Indian Football League 2025-26 at the Namdhari Football Stadium in Sri Bhaini Sahib on Friday.Chanmari took the lead in the fourth minute through Pepe, who was making his first start of the season, and then doubled its advantage in the second half through Christopher Kamei. Lalruatsanga scored the third in the 58th minute before Adersh Mattummal pulled one back three minutes later. Lalthangliana added the fourth for the visitor to seal the match.Chanmari FC has moved temporarily to fifth in the table with 11 points and a goal difference of -1, and will rely on the results of other matches to confirm its place in the top six. Meanwhile, Namdhari, in ninth place with seven points, has confirmed their place in the relegation zone.Chanmari stunned Namdhari with an early breakthrough in just the fourth minute. Marlon Rangel launched a simple long ball from defence into space, picking out the run of Pepe. The midfielder outpaced two defenders, controlled the ball well, and calmly slotted it through the legs of the onrushing goalkeeper.The Brazilian was once again at the heart of the action moments later and could have doubled Chanmari’s lead. Jota made a fine run down the left, but his cross initially failed to find a teammate inside the box. The ball was recycled by Lalthangliana, who delivered a low cross into the path of Pepe, but his effort curled just over the crossbar.ALSO READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/cfc-vs-scd-score-results-chennaiyin-v-sporting-club-delhi-isl-2025-26-goals-farukh-choudhary-indian-football/article70874164.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chennaiyin FC battles past Sporting Club Delhi for first home win of season</a>Chanmari looked lively whenever they went forward, with wingers Jota and Lalthangliana troubling the opposition defence with their pace. The latter missed a good opportunity midway through the half, heading over the bar after Marlon Rangel’s initial effort had been saved by goalkeeper Niraj Kumar.Namdhari, on the other hand, relied on long-range efforts as they struggled to break down Chanmari’s defence. Najib Ibrahim came close with one such attempt, and around the half-hour mark, Manvir Singh, who has already scored twice from the centre circle this season, tried another audacious effort from midfield, which sailed just over the crossbar, leaving Zothanmawia scrambling in goal.The visitor controlled the midfield, with Namdhari showing little urgency to win back possession as Chanmari carried its one-goal lead into the break.The visitor doubled its advantage in the fourth minute of the restart. Christopher Kamei received the ball on the right wing, and his attempted cross looped over the goalkeeper’s head, struck the post, and nestled in the back of the net.ALSO READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/odisha-vs-mohammedan-score-result-isl-2025-26-goals-standings-points-table-football-news/article70875146.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mohammedan SC secures first point of season after holding Odisha FC to 1-1 draw</a>The side from Aizawl then scored its third goal with a well-taken finish just before the hour mark. Left-back Malsawmtluanga played a well-timed pass into the path of Lalruatsanga, who had made a clever run behind the defence. The striker, from an acute angle, beat the goalkeeper with a wonderful side-footed finish.Moments later, the home side could have halved the deficit after Seilenthang Lotjem missed from point blank range after being setup by a low cross by Bhupinder Singh.Three minutes later, Namdhari FC pulled a goal back through a long-range effort from Adersh Mattummal. The midfielder controlled the ball between two defenders and, with a precise low shot, found the bottom corner past the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper.Chanmari put the match to bed nine minutes from time with another well-taken goal, this time by substitute Lalthangliana. Fellow substitute KC Malsawmsanga rolled a pass across the edge of the box to the forward, who took a touch and struck a powerful shot into the bottom right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.Chanmari saw off the remainder of the match with ease, confirming Namdhari’s position in the relegation zone and keeping its hopes alive for a place in the top six of the table.Published on Apr 17, 2026</div> #IFL #Chanmari #thrashes #Namdhari #topsix #hopes #alive

Deadspin | Montreal opens new chapter against visiting Red Bulls Mar 8, 2026; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; Red Bull New York midfielder Adri Mehmeti (15) tries to gain control of the ball against CF Montréal midfielder Olger Escobar (29) and forward Noah Streit (23) during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images CF Montreal will be under new leadership against the visiting New York Red Bulls on Saturday afternoon. Montreal (1-6-0, 3 points) parted ways with head coach Marco Donadel after dropping its home opener 2-1 to the Philadelphia Union last weekend. After just over a year in charge, Donadel boasted the worst win percentage of any of the 11 managers in the club’s history. Philippe Eullaffroy, who directed Montreal’s academy from 2014-20 and rejoined the team this year as an assistant coach, will take the helm as caretaker manager. “I’m not gonna reinvent the wheel,” Eullaffroy said when asked about his tactical philosophy at his first press conference. “What I want is a very dynamic team playing with a lot of boldness and respect of the game plan.” He has the unenviable task of rescuing the team from the bottom of the MLS table. Montreal hopes to earn its first home win in considerably speedier fashion than last season, when it was winless at Stade Saputo until June. The only team Montreal has bested this year in league play are these same New York Red Bulls (3-2-2, 11 points), winning 3-0 on March 8. That defeat dealt a blow to New York’s early season momentum. After winning their first two matches, the Red Bulls have since won just one of four in MLS play. Their most recent outing was a 3-1 win Wednesday over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. Head coach Michael Bradley singled out the efforts of academy product Julian Hall, who scored his second brace of the season. “It’s not just the goals,” noted Bradley, who secured his first win in the competition. “(It was) his ability to lead our press, to set the tone for everybody in terms of how aggressive we can be to step up and go after the other team.” The 18-year-old has seven goal contributions (five goals, two assists) through seven MLS matches. Montreal might be without defender Brayan Vera, who did not train on Tuesday, and former Red Bulls midfielder Wiki Carmona, who scored a brace against his old team in their March meeting. Midfielder Hennadii Synchuk has also picked up an apparent injury. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Montreal #opens #chapter #visiting #Red #Bulls

#Deadspin #Montreal #opens #chapter #visiting #Red #Bulls">

mwasimuddin125 0

Mar 8, 2026; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; Red Bull New York midfielder Adri Mehmeti (15) tries to gain control of the ball against CF Montréal midfielder Olger Escobar (29) and forward Noah Streit (23) during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

CF Montreal will be under new leadership against the visiting New York Red Bulls on Saturday afternoon.

Montreal (1-6-0, 3 points) parted ways with head coach Marco Donadel after dropping its home opener 2-1 to the Philadelphia Union last weekend. After just over a year in charge, Donadel boasted the worst win percentage of any of the 11 managers in the club’s history.

Philippe Eullaffroy, who directed Montreal’s academy from 2014-20 and rejoined the team this year as an assistant coach, will take the helm as caretaker manager.

“I’m not gonna reinvent the wheel,” Eullaffroy said when asked about his tactical philosophy at his first press conference. “What I want is a very dynamic team playing with a lot of boldness and respect of the game plan.”

He has the unenviable task of rescuing the team from the bottom of the MLS table. Montreal hopes to earn its first home win in considerably speedier fashion than last season, when it was winless at Stade Saputo until June.

The only team Montreal has bested this year in league play are these same New York Red Bulls (3-2-2, 11 points), winning 3-0 on March 8.

That defeat dealt a blow to New York’s early season momentum. After winning their first two matches, the Red Bulls have since won just one of four in MLS play.

Their most recent outing was a 3-1 win Wednesday over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. Head coach Michael Bradley singled out the efforts of academy product Julian Hall, who scored his second brace of the season.

“It’s not just the goals,” noted Bradley, who secured his first win in the competition. “(It was) his ability to lead our press, to set the tone for everybody in terms of how aggressive we can be to step up and go after the other team.”

The 18-year-old has seven goal contributions (five goals, two assists) through seven MLS matches.

Montreal might be without defender Brayan Vera, who did not train on Tuesday, and former Red Bulls midfielder Wiki Carmona, who scored a brace against his old team in their March meeting. Midfielder Hennadii Synchuk has also picked up an apparent injury.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Montreal #opens #chapter #visiting #Red #Bulls">Deadspin | Montreal opens new chapter against visiting Red Bulls

Mar 8, 2026; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; Red Bull New York midfielder Adri Mehmeti (15) tries to gain control of the ball against CF Montréal midfielder Olger Escobar (29) and forward Noah Streit (23) during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

CF Montreal will be under new leadership against the visiting New York Red Bulls on Saturday afternoon.

Montreal (1-6-0, 3 points) parted ways with head coach Marco Donadel after dropping its home opener 2-1 to the Philadelphia Union last weekend. After just over a year in charge, Donadel boasted the worst win percentage of any of the 11 managers in the club’s history.

Philippe Eullaffroy, who directed Montreal’s academy from 2014-20 and rejoined the team this year as an assistant coach, will take the helm as caretaker manager.

“I’m not gonna reinvent the wheel,” Eullaffroy said when asked about his tactical philosophy at his first press conference. “What I want is a very dynamic team playing with a lot of boldness and respect of the game plan.”

He has the unenviable task of rescuing the team from the bottom of the MLS table. Montreal hopes to earn its first home win in considerably speedier fashion than last season, when it was winless at Stade Saputo until June.

The only team Montreal has bested this year in league play are these same New York Red Bulls (3-2-2, 11 points), winning 3-0 on March 8.

That defeat dealt a blow to New York’s early season momentum. After winning their first two matches, the Red Bulls have since won just one of four in MLS play.

Their most recent outing was a 3-1 win Wednesday over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. Head coach Michael Bradley singled out the efforts of academy product Julian Hall, who scored his second brace of the season.

“It’s not just the goals,” noted Bradley, who secured his first win in the competition. “(It was) his ability to lead our press, to set the tone for everybody in terms of how aggressive we can be to step up and go after the other team.”

The 18-year-old has seven goal contributions (five goals, two assists) through seven MLS matches.

Montreal might be without defender Brayan Vera, who did not train on Tuesday, and former Red Bulls midfielder Wiki Carmona, who scored a brace against his old team in their March meeting. Midfielder Hennadii Synchuk has also picked up an apparent injury.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Montreal #opens #chapter #visiting #Red #Bulls

An oft agonising eight-year wait for a title ended for Shubhankar Sharma after a commanding victory at the Boulders Classic. As the winning putt settled the contest, he allowed himself a pause before being engulfed by celebrations, with friends rushing onto the course to soak in a cherished triumph.

It was a finish that felt both cathartic and familiar in equal measure, but one that carried the weight of years spent chasing a return to the top. Reflecting on his dominant week, Shubhankar said his favourite moment came right at the end.

“It was nice to walk down the 18th knowing that I had done it after hitting my tee shot. There were many great shots that I hit, but my favorite moment was on the 18th, because that hadn’t happened in a long time,” he told Sportstar.

The 29-year-old, who has battled form and equipment challenges in recent times, said winning on home soil made the moment even more meaningful.

“Winning is always hard in golf. I’ve come very close over the years. This is special because all my friends are here. They were all there to pour beer on me; it was quite a moment on the 18th hole. It’s probably tough to recreate this if I were playing in Europe,” he said.

“This has been the best week I’ve had probably in the last four or five years. I’ve had good events abroad as well, but the amount of fun I’ve had here has been incredible.”

Shubhankar also pointed to the steady improvement in Indian golf infrastructure, while acknowledging there is still progress to be made. “We’re getting better, but there’s still a long way to go. Obviously, that requires a lot of investment, and more and more people will get into golf.”

He also reflected on the broader growth of the sport in India since the start of his career.

“The skill level here has gone so far up. Also, the PGTI prize money fund is a lot more than it used to be. Thirty lakhs was the smallest amount back when I used to play here. Now, it’s one crore — almost 2.5 times! That is a big jump. It’s an Olympic sport, and the government is also taking some interest. There are only good things for this sport in the future.”

After lifting the winner’s trophy, he also encouraged young Indian golfers to aim higher and test themselves on bigger stages.

“I would just request all the players to push themselves as much as possible. Don’t settle for average. Don’t settle for just winning a tournament. Set higher bars for yourself. We have so many international players who play here now, but there’s a lot of depth outside,” he said.

“Push yourself, invest in yourself, and go abroad to play qualifiers. Don’t get comfortable here. Use the platform PGTI provides to get on the main European tour. Go abroad during the summer holidays when there are no tournaments here. Don’t save money and sit at home.”

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#Boulders #Classic #Shubhankar #Sharma #savours #longawaited #title #triumph">

Boulders Classic 2026: Shubhankar Sharma savours long-awaited title triumph An oft agonising eight-year wait for a title ended for Shubhankar Sharma after a commanding victory at the Boulders Classic. As the winning putt settled the contest, he allowed himself a pause before being engulfed by celebrations, with friends rushing onto the course to soak in a cherished triumph.It was a finish that felt both cathartic and familiar in equal measure, but one that carried the weight of years spent chasing a return to the top. Reflecting on his dominant week, Shubhankar said his favourite moment came right at the end.“It was nice to walk down the 18th knowing that I had done it after hitting my tee shot. There were many great shots that I hit, but my favorite moment was on the 18th, because that hadn’t happened in a long time,” he told Sportstar.The 29-year-old, who has battled form and equipment challenges in recent times, said winning on home soil made the moment even more meaningful.“Winning is always hard in golf. I’ve come very close over the years. This is special because all my friends are here. They were all there to pour beer on me; it was quite a moment on the 18th hole. It’s probably tough to recreate this if I were playing in Europe,” he said.“This has been the best week I’ve had probably in the last four or five years. I’ve had good events abroad as well, but the amount of fun I’ve had here has been incredible.”Shubhankar also pointed to the steady improvement in Indian golf infrastructure, while acknowledging there is still progress to be made. “We’re getting better, but there’s still a long way to go. Obviously, that requires a lot of investment, and more and more people will get into golf.”RELATED | Shubhankar Sharma wins inaugural edition of Boulders Classic after creating PGTI historyHe also reflected on the broader growth of the sport in India since the start of his career.“The skill level here has gone so far up. Also, the PGTI prize money fund is a lot more than it used to be. Thirty lakhs was the smallest amount back when I used to play here. Now, it’s one crore — almost 2.5 times! That is a big jump. It’s an Olympic sport, and the government is also taking some interest. There are only good things for this sport in the future.”After lifting the winner’s trophy, he also encouraged young Indian golfers to aim higher and test themselves on bigger stages.“I would just request all the players to push themselves as much as possible. Don’t settle for average. Don’t settle for just winning a tournament. Set higher bars for yourself. We have so many international players who play here now, but there’s a lot of depth outside,” he said.“Push yourself, invest in yourself, and go abroad to play qualifiers. Don’t get comfortable here. Use the platform PGTI provides to get on the main European tour. Go abroad during the summer holidays when there are no tournaments here. Don’t save money and sit at home.”Published on Apr 17, 2026 #Boulders #Classic #Shubhankar #Sharma #savours #longawaited #title #triumph

mwasimuddin125 0

An oft agonising eight-year wait for a title ended for Shubhankar Sharma after a commanding victory at the Boulders Classic. As the winning putt settled the contest, he allowed himself a pause before being engulfed by celebrations, with friends rushing onto the course to soak in a cherished triumph.
It was a finish that felt both cathartic and familiar in equal measure, but one that carried the weight of years spent chasing a return to the top. Reflecting on his dominant week, Shubhankar said his favourite moment came right at the end.
“It was nice to walk down the 18th knowing that I had done it after hitting my tee shot. There were many great shots that I hit, but my favorite moment was on the 18th, because that hadn’t happened in a long time,” he told Sportstar.
The 29-year-old, who has battled form and equipment challenges in recent times, said winning on home soil made the moment even more meaningful.
“Winning is always hard in golf. I’ve come very close over the years. This is special because all my friends are here. They were all there to pour beer on me; it was quite a moment on the 18th hole. It’s probably tough to recreate this if I were playing in Europe,” he said.
“This has been the best week I’ve had probably in the last four or five years. I’ve had good events abroad as well, but the amount of fun I’ve had here has been incredible.”
Shubhankar also pointed to the steady improvement in Indian golf infrastructure, while acknowledging there is still progress to be made. “We’re getting better, but there’s still a long way to go. Obviously, that requires a lot of investment, and more and more people will get into golf.”
RELATED | Shubhankar Sharma wins inaugural edition of Boulders Classic after creating PGTI history
He also reflected on the broader growth of the sport in India since the start of his career.
“The skill level here has gone so far up. Also, the PGTI prize money fund is a lot more than it used to be. Thirty lakhs was the smallest amount back when I used to play here. Now, it’s one crore — almost 2.5 times! That is a big jump. It’s an Olympic sport, and the government is also taking some interest. There are only good things for this sport in the future.”
After lifting the winner’s trophy, he also encouraged young Indian golfers to aim higher and test themselves on bigger stages.
“I would just request all the players to push themselves as much as possible. Don’t settle for average. Don’t settle for just winning a tournament. Set higher bars for yourself. We have so many international players who play here now, but there’s a lot of depth outside,” he said.
“Push yourself, invest in yourself, and go abroad to play qualifiers. Don’t get comfortable here. Use the platform PGTI provides to get on the main European tour. Go abroad during the summer holidays when there are no tournaments here. Don’t save money and sit at home.”
Published on Apr 17, 2026

#Boulders #Classic #Shubhankar #Sharma #savours #longawaited #title #triumph">Boulders Classic 2026: Shubhankar Sharma savours long-awaited title triumph

The 29-year-old, who has battled form and equipment challenges in recent times, said winning on home soil made the moment even more meaningful.

“This has been the best week I’ve had probably in the last four or five years. I’ve had good events abroad as well, but the amount of fun I’ve had here has been incredible.”

He also reflected on the broader growth of the sport in India since the start of his career.

After lifting the winner’s trophy, he also encouraged young Indian golfers to aim higher and test themselves on bigger stages.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#Boulders #Classic #Shubhankar #Sharma #savours #longawaited #title #triumph

Deadspin | ATP roundup: Semifinals set at Barcelona and Munich Jan 18, 2023; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Alex Molcan during his second round match against Felix Auger-Aliassime on day three of the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Unseeded Slovakian qualifier Alex Molcan continued his strong run in Munich on Friday and joined three top seeds in the semifinals at the BMW Open. Molcan defeated Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-4 in 78 minutes in the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 clay-court tournament. Up next is No. 2 seed Ben Shelton, who outlasted Brazil’s Joao Fonseca 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Saturday’s other semifinal pits No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany and No. 4 Flavio Cobolli of Italy. Zverev rallied for a 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 win against No. 5 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, while Cobolli cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Vit Kopriva of the Czech Republic. Barcelona Open Spanish wild card Rafael Jodar roared into the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-2 victory against No. 7 seed Cameron Norrie of Great Britain in just 69 minutes. Jodar advanced to face ninth-seeded Frenchman Arthur Fils, who earned a 6-3, 6-4 upset of No. 2 seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 clay-court event. No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev and Serbian qualifier Hamad Medjedovic will meet in the other semifinal. Rublev rolled to a 6-4, 6-3 win against Czech Tomas Machac and Medjedovic took care of Portugal’s Nuno Borges, 7-6 (6), 6-2. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #ATP #roundup #Semifinals #set #Barcelona #Munich

#Deadspin #ATP #roundup #Semifinals #set #Barcelona #Munich">

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Jan 18, 2023; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Alex Molcan during his second round match against Felix Auger-Aliassime on day three of the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Unseeded Slovakian qualifier Alex Molcan continued his strong run in Munich on Friday and joined three top seeds in the semifinals at the BMW Open.

Molcan defeated Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-4 in 78 minutes in the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 clay-court tournament. Up next is No. 2 seed Ben Shelton, who outlasted Brazil’s Joao Fonseca 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Saturday’s other semifinal pits No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany and No. 4 Flavio Cobolli of Italy. Zverev rallied for a 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 win against No. 5 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, while Cobolli cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Vit Kopriva of the Czech Republic.

Barcelona Open

Spanish wild card Rafael Jodar roared into the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-2 victory against No. 7 seed Cameron Norrie of Great Britain in just 69 minutes.

Jodar advanced to face ninth-seeded Frenchman Arthur Fils, who earned a 6-3, 6-4 upset of No. 2 seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 clay-court event.

No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev and Serbian qualifier Hamad Medjedovic will meet in the other semifinal. Rublev rolled to a 6-4, 6-3 win against Czech Tomas Machac and Medjedovic took care of Portugal’s Nuno Borges, 7-6 (6), 6-2.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #ATP #roundup #Semifinals #set #Barcelona #Munich">Deadspin | ATP roundup: Semifinals set at Barcelona and Munich

Jan 18, 2023; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Alex Molcan during his second round match against Felix Auger-Aliassime on day three of the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Unseeded Slovakian qualifier Alex Molcan continued his strong run in Munich on Friday and joined three top seeds in the semifinals at the BMW Open.

Molcan defeated Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-4 in 78 minutes in the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 clay-court tournament. Up next is No. 2 seed Ben Shelton, who outlasted Brazil’s Joao Fonseca 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Saturday’s other semifinal pits No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany and No. 4 Flavio Cobolli of Italy. Zverev rallied for a 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 win against No. 5 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, while Cobolli cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Vit Kopriva of the Czech Republic.

Barcelona Open

Spanish wild card Rafael Jodar roared into the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-2 victory against No. 7 seed Cameron Norrie of Great Britain in just 69 minutes.

Jodar advanced to face ninth-seeded Frenchman Arthur Fils, who earned a 6-3, 6-4 upset of No. 2 seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 clay-court event.

No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev and Serbian qualifier Hamad Medjedovic will meet in the other semifinal. Rublev rolled to a 6-4, 6-3 win against Czech Tomas Machac and Medjedovic took care of Portugal’s Nuno Borges, 7-6 (6), 6-2.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #ATP #roundup #Semifinals #set #Barcelona #Munich

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