HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour: Suraj Chand bags crown

Suraj Kumar Chand defeated South Korean Jeongmin Ryu in straight games in the men’s final of the HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai on Monday.

The Indian second seed, ranked 134 in the world, beat his eighth seed opponent 11-5, 11-9, 11-3 for his fourth PSA Tour title.

Egyptian seventh seed Rouqaia Othman defeated Malaysian second seed Harleein Tan 12-10, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7 in the women’s final.

– Team Sportstar

HOCKEY

Hockey India announces Sub Junior Men and Women members for U-18 National Coaching Camp in Bhopal

Hockey India on Monday announced a list of 84 players (42 men and 42 women) for the upcoming U-18 National Coaching Camp, began at SAI Bhopal on April 19, 2026. The players have been selected based on the recently concluded 16th Hockey India Sub Junior National Championships.

The initial 42-member groups will be pruned down to 24 players after one week of evaluation, and they will be part of an intensive training block that is part of the final preparations for the Men’s and Women’s U18 Asia Cup Kakamigahara 2026, which will take place in Japan from May 29 to June 6.

A major highlight of the camp will be the exposure series at SAI Bhopal, where the Indian men’s and women’s U-18 sides will play practice matches against Australia’s U-18 teams from May 11 to 21. This camp serves as the final selection ground for the squads that will represent India at the U18 Asia Cup.

Rani Rampal has been named as coach for the Women’s team, while Sardar Singh and Rajnish Mishra will be in charge of the Men’s camp.

Commenting on the camp, men’s coach Singh said, “This camp is a fantastic initiative by Hockey India to nurture the next generation of talent. Our primary focus will be on strengthening their foundational basics while introducing them to the tactical demands of modern hockey. I see immense potential in this group. We may see several of these players representing India at the senior level for the next 10 to 15 years. The upcoming series against Australia will provide these young boys with a vital taste of international pressure.”

Women’s coach Rampal said, “Our focus in Bhopal will be on refining individual skills and team structure. The exposure matches against Australia are a fantastic opportunity for the girls to test themselves against a world-class side. It is the best way to prepare them for the demands of the Asia Cup and beyond. Moreover, these young athletes are the future of the sport, and we want to ensure they develop the temperament required to dominate at the highest level for years to come.”

The 42-member men’s squad features a strong contingent from Uttar Pradesh (7), followed by Madhya Pradesh (6), and Punjab (4). Additionally, there are three players each from Odisha, Jharkhand, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (DDD), while two players each have been included in the camp from Bihar, Haryana, and Chandigarh. Also, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand and Rajasthan contribute one player each to the camp.

The 42-member women’s squad is led by eight players from Jharkhand, while Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Odisha contribute five players each. Uttar Pradesh has four representatives, with Haryana, Bihar, and Mizoram contributing three players each. Manipur is represented by two players, followed by Maharashtra, Telangana, Jammu & Kashmir, and Tamil Nadu with one player each.

– Team Sportstar

GOLF

DP World Players Championship tees off in Nuh with strong field

As many as 130 professionals, including leading domestic names such as Veer Ahlawat, Om Prakash Chouhan and Manu Gandas, will vie for top honours when the Rs 1 crore DP World Players Championship tees off at the Classic Golf & Country Club in Nuh on Monday.

The tournament will have a strong field with Saptak Talwar (2026 DP World PGTI Order of Merit leader), Khalin Joshi and Honey Baisoya (both winners on the DP World PGTI this season) and Angad Cheema (two-time winner on the DP World PGTI last year) also competing.

Sri Lanka’s N Thangaraja, a three-time winner on the DP World PGTI last year, will be the leading foreign contingent in the field.

The host region of Gurugram and Nuh will be represented by prominent names such as Dhruv Sheoran and Tapendra Ghai — both winners on the DP World PGTI — as well as Manish Thakran and Shivendra Singh Sisodia, winners on the DP World PGTI NexGen, and Kushal Singh, Manav Bais and Saurav Rathi.

– PTI

Published on Apr 20, 2026