Sports news
#Indian #sports #wrap #April #Indias #leading #junior #track #field #athletes #test #skills #national #meet">Indian sports wrap, April 23: India’s leading junior track and field athletes to test their skills in national meet ATHLETICS
The country’s emerging track and field talents will be put to the test when the three-day National Junior (Under-20) Athletics Federation competition gets underway at the Mahatma Gandhi Stadium in Tumkur, Karnataka, on Friday, with many eyes on a future in India colours.
With an eye on next month’s Asian U-20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, the competition is expected to be intense, especially after the Athletics Federation of India announced stringent qualification standards for the continental meet, raising the stakes for young athletes eager to prove their credentials on the national stage.
The first medal events on day one will be the 5,000m races in both the men’s and women’s sections, but the spotlight will firmly be on the 100m sprint, where promising Jharkhand sprinter Parth Singh will test his mettle against Odisha’s Pratik Maharana, among others.
Parth enjoyed an impressive season last year and will be keen to stamp his authority on the event, which has drawn a staggering 79 entries, while the men’s 200m has attracted an equally crowded field of 93 competitors.
The meet will also serve as an ideal platform for Odisha’s international 400m runner Bapi Hansda, who is making a comeback after a lengthy injury layoff sustained during the 2025 National Games in Uttarakhand.
Kerala’s rising quarter-miler Mohammed Ashfaq has also confirmed his entry and will be eager to cement his place in the national team for the Hong Kong meet, with as many as 89 athletes in the fray.
The opening day will also crown the fastest female athlete, with the women’s 100m drawing 37 entries.
Medals will also be decided in the women’s pole vault and discus throw. In all, 1,059 competitors, including 709 men, have confirmed their participation in the meet, which concludes on Sunday.
-PTI
TABLE TENNIS
Priyanuj, Ritvik emerge U-19 and U-17 national champions
Assam’s Priyanuj Bhattacharya staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Tamil Nadu’s P. B. Abhinand in the Under-19 Boys’ Singles final, denying his opponent a third gold at the Junior and Youth National Table Tennis Championships here on Thursday.
In a gripping summit clash that lived up to expectations, Abhinand surged to a commanding 2-0 lead, appearing firmly on course for the title.
However, Bhattacharya responded with grit and composure, turning the match around with four consecutive games. The Assam paddler shut the door on any comeback, sealing a 4-2 victory to finally claim a long-awaited national crown — a fitting reward for his persistence.
The Tamil Nadu pair of P.B. Abhinand and M.R. Balamurugan capped off a dominant run by clinching the title with a commanding 3-1 victory over compatriots S.K. Mehan and Umesh Kumar in the final.
In a gripping Under-17 Boys Singles final that swung back and forth with momentum shifts, Ritvik Gupta of J&K edged past Odisha’s Sarthak Arya in a hard-fought seven-game battle, winning 4-3.
Sahil Rawat and Dhairya Rawat of PSPBA emerged champions after a hard-fought five-game victory over fellow PSPBA duo Trishal Raj Kumar and Rushikesh Jagtap. The final ebbed and flowed, with both pairs trading momentum, but Sahil and Dhairya held their nerve in the decider to close out the match 11-7 and lift the title.
-PTI
GOLF
DP World Players Championship: Dhruv Sheoran opens three-shot lead
Dhruv Sheoran fired a six-under 66 to open up a three-shot lead at 15-under 201 after round three of the DP World Players Championship at the Classic Golf & Country Club in Nuh, Haryana.
The 31-year-old delivered his second consecutive 66 to take control heading into the final day. His error-free third round (69-66-66) was built on a blistering start, as he reeled off four consecutive birdies from the second to the fifth to seize early momentum. Dhruv maintained that control through the round, adding two more birdies on the 10th and 11th to stay ahead of the chasing pack.
Sunit Chowrasia (70-66-68), who returned from a long injury lay-off earlier this year, climbed into the second spot at 12-under 204 after a steady four-under 68 that featured five birdies and a lone bogey.
Akshay Sharma (70-65-70) and Jamal Hossain (67-70-68) are tied third at 11-under 205. The former followed up his tournament-low 65 in round two with a composed two-under 70, while the latter returned a 68 to remain in contention.
Mani Ram (69-68-70) occupies the fifth place at nine-under 207 after a round of 70 that included an eagle on the par-5 14th along with two birdies and two bogeys.
-Team Sportstar
Published on Apr 23, 2026
ATHLETICSThe country’s emerging track and field talents will be put to the test when the…
Sports news
#Indian #sports #wrap #April #Tamil #Nadu #wins #UTT #junior #youth #Cship">Indian sports wrap, April 22: Tamil Nadu wins UTT junior & youth C’ship
UTT Junior & Youth C’ship: Abhinand anchors TN’s title win against Maharashtra
Top seed Tamil Nadu stamped its authority with a 3-1 win over Maharashtra to clinch the Under-19 boys’ team title at the UTT Inter-State Junior and Youth National Table Tennis Championships on Wednesday.
Tamil Nadu’s charge was led by the rock-solid P B Abhinand, who delivered commanding wins over Neil Mulye and Kushal Chopda, sealing the title in style in the reverse singles.
Maharashtra leaned heavily on Chopda — a tactic that carried it to the final but exposed its lack of depth. Mulye showed fight, but the duo couldn’t match Tamil Nadu’s balance when it mattered.
The difference was Tamil Nadu’s all-round strength, highlighted by SK Mehan’s straight-game win over Ishan Khandekar, which firmly tilted the tie in their favour.
Earlier, Tamil Nadu beat Assam in the semifinals, while Maharashtra got past West Bengal.
Results:
Under-19 Boys (Final): Tamil Nadu bt Maharashtra 3-1 (M.R.Balamurugan lost to Kushal Chopda 11-9, 13-11, 8-11, 6-11, 9-11, P.B. Abhinand bt Neil Mulye 11-5, 11-3, 7-11, 11-6, S.K. Mehan bt Ishan Khandekar 11-4, 12-10, 11-7, Abhinand bt Kushal 11-6, 11-6, 11-8).
Semifinals: Tamil Nadu bt Assam 3-2 (Abhinand bt Divyaj Rajkhowa Roy 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5, Balamurugan lost to Priyanuj Bhattacharyya 12-14, 6-11, 9-11, Mehan bt Swapnanil Dutta 11-4, 11-7, 11-7, Abhinand lost to Priyanuj 6-11, 11-5, 11-13, 11-7, 6-11, Balamurugan bt Divyaj 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 5-11, 11-8).
Maharashtra bt West Bengal 3-1 (Neil bt Punit Biswas 11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, Kushal bt Oishik Ghosh 11-6, 11-9, 11-8, Ishan lost to Rupam Sardar 9-11, 10-12, 11-7, 8-11, Kushal bt Punit 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8).
– PTI
GOLF
Leading Indians in fray at Singapore Open golf
As many as 11 Indians, including Karandeep Kochhar, Gaganjeet Bhullar, SSP Chawrasia, and Jeev Milkha Singh, will tee off at the Singapore Open on Thursday, aiming to secure spots in the 154th edition of The Open Championship, golf’s oldest Major, later this year.
The 57th edition of the tournament is part of the International Series and offers a prize purse of USD 2 million, with the top two players — if not already exempt — earning spots in The Open Championship, scheduled for July.
Kochhar, in sublime form in recent months, will be one to watch. He is joined by 11-time Asian Tour winner Gaganjeet Bhullar, six-time winner SSP Chawrasia, and two-time Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Jeev Milkha Singh.
Also in the fray are three-time Asian Tour winner Shiv Kapur, former champions Ajeetesh Sandhu and Rashid Khan, along with a promising young contingent featuring Pukhraj Singh Gill, Sachin Baisoya, Shaurya Bhattacharya, and Shubham Jaglan.
The Singapore Open was last played at Sentosa Golf Club in 2022, when Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana beat Tom Kim of Korea.
Kochhar, who has been in close contention twice already this year, finishing fourth at the Philippine Golf Championship and fifth at International Series Japan, will look to capitalise on his rich vein of form.
“This is one tournament I look forward to, especially just in terms of the golf course. I think it’s an amazing golf course and I love playing here. Hopefully I can play well,” said Kochhar.
“I think it’s a great track. It’s a long golf course. It’s on the longer side for sure. But the conditions are great. I think it’s going to be a hot, hot week,” he added.
– PTI
Published on Apr 22, 2026
Results:
Under-19 Boys (Final): Tamil Nadu bt Maharashtra 3-1 (M.R.Balamurugan lost to Kushal Chopda 11-9, 13-11, 8-11, 6-11, 9-11, P.B. Abhinand bt Neil Mulye 11-5, 11-3, 7-11, 11-6, S.K. Mehan bt Ishan Khandekar 11-4, 12-10, 11-7, Abhinand bt Kushal 11-6, 11-6, 11-8).
Semifinals: Tamil Nadu bt Assam 3-2 (Abhinand bt Divyaj Rajkhowa Roy 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5, Balamurugan lost to Priyanuj Bhattacharyya 12-14, 6-11, 9-11, Mehan bt Swapnanil Dutta 11-4, 11-7, 11-7, Abhinand lost to Priyanuj 6-11, 11-5, 11-13, 11-7, 6-11, Balamurugan bt Divyaj 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 5-11, 11-8).
Maharashtra bt West Bengal 3-1 (Neil bt Punit Biswas 11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, Kushal bt Oishik Ghosh 11-6, 11-9, 11-8, Ishan lost to Rupam Sardar 9-11, 10-12, 11-7, 8-11, Kushal bt Punit 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8).
UTT Junior & Youth C’ship: Abhinand anchors TN’s title win against Maharashtra
Top seed Tamil Nadu stamped its authority with a 3-1 win over Maharashtra to clinch the Under-19 boys’ team title at the UTT Inter-State Junior and Youth National Table Tennis Championships on Wednesday.
Tamil Nadu’s charge was led by the rock-solid P B Abhinand, who delivered commanding wins over Neil Mulye and Kushal Chopda, sealing the title in style in the reverse singles.
Maharashtra leaned heavily on Chopda — a tactic that carried it to the final but exposed its lack of depth. Mulye showed fight, but the duo couldn’t match Tamil Nadu’s balance when it mattered.
The difference was Tamil Nadu’s all-round strength, highlighted by SK Mehan’s straight-game win over Ishan Khandekar, which firmly tilted the tie in their favour.
Earlier, Tamil Nadu beat Assam in the semifinals, while Maharashtra got past West Bengal.
Results:
Under-19 Boys (Final): Tamil Nadu bt Maharashtra 3-1 (M.R.Balamurugan lost to Kushal Chopda 11-9, 13-11, 8-11, 6-11, 9-11, P.B. Abhinand bt Neil Mulye 11-5, 11-3, 7-11, 11-6, S.K. Mehan bt Ishan Khandekar 11-4, 12-10, 11-7, Abhinand bt Kushal 11-6, 11-6, 11-8).
Semifinals: Tamil Nadu bt Assam 3-2 (Abhinand bt Divyaj Rajkhowa Roy 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5, Balamurugan lost to Priyanuj Bhattacharyya 12-14, 6-11, 9-11, Mehan bt Swapnanil Dutta 11-4, 11-7, 11-7, Abhinand lost to Priyanuj 6-11, 11-5, 11-13, 11-7, 6-11, Balamurugan bt Divyaj 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 5-11, 11-8).
Maharashtra bt West Bengal 3-1 (Neil bt Punit Biswas 11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, Kushal bt Oishik Ghosh 11-6, 11-9, 11-8, Ishan lost to Rupam Sardar 9-11, 10-12, 11-7, 8-11, Kushal bt Punit 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8).
– PTI
GOLF
Leading Indians in fray at Singapore Open golf
As many as 11 Indians, including Karandeep Kochhar, Gaganjeet Bhullar, SSP Chawrasia, and Jeev Milkha Singh, will tee off at the Singapore Open on Thursday, aiming to secure spots in the 154th edition of The Open Championship, golf’s oldest Major, later this year.
The 57th edition of the tournament is part of the International Series and offers a prize purse of USD 2 million, with the top two players — if not already exempt — earning spots in The Open Championship, scheduled for July.
Kochhar, in sublime form in recent months, will be one to watch. He is joined by 11-time Asian Tour winner Gaganjeet Bhullar, six-time winner SSP Chawrasia, and two-time Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Jeev Milkha Singh.
Also in the fray are three-time Asian Tour winner Shiv Kapur, former champions Ajeetesh Sandhu and Rashid Khan, along with a promising young contingent featuring Pukhraj Singh Gill, Sachin Baisoya, Shaurya Bhattacharya, and Shubham Jaglan.
The Singapore Open was last played at Sentosa Golf Club in 2022, when Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana beat Tom Kim of Korea.
Kochhar, who has been in close contention twice already this year, finishing fourth at the Philippine Golf Championship and fifth at International Series Japan, will look to capitalise on his rich vein of form.
“This is one tournament I look forward to, especially just in terms of the golf course. I think it’s an amazing golf course and I love playing here. Hopefully I can play well,” said Kochhar.
“I think it’s a great track. It’s a long golf course. It’s on the longer side for sure. But the conditions are great. I think it’s going to be a hot, hot week,” he added.
– PTI
Published on Apr 22, 2026
UTT Junior & Youth C’ship: Abhinand anchors TN’s title win against MaharashtraTop seed Tamil Nadu…