TENNIS
Wild cards for teenager Dhamne, Ramkumar, Prajwal Dev in Bengaluru Open
India’s 17-year-old prodigy Manas Dhamne and seasoned campaigners Ramkumar Ramanathan and SD Prajwal Dev have been handed wild card entries for the singles main draw of the Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger 125 tournament, starting on February 24.
Kriish Tyagi and Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha will compete in the qualifying rounds as wild cards, looking to secure a spot in the main draw.
Dhamne, one of India’s most promising young talents, has been active on the circuit for two years and recently captured his first significant title at the M15 Monastir in Tunisia.
The teenager has already etched his name in history, becoming the youngest player to win a first-round match at the junior Australian Open and the youngest to play a main draw ATP Tour match in 2023.
Prajwal Dev and Ramanathan, meanwhile, bring decades of experience to the tournament.
“Manas Dhamne’s rapid progress is exciting for Indian tennis, while Ramkumar and Prajwal Dev bring valuable experience to the field. We look forward to seeing how all our wild card entrants perform in the competition,” tournament director Sunil Yajman said.
Meanwhile, the doubles event will feature 16 teams, split between 10 direct entries, four on-site acceptances, and two wild cards.
India’s Anirudh Chandrasekar and Chinese Taipei’s Ray Ho enter as the highest-ranked duo in the main draw, while Blake Bayldon and Matthew Christopher Romios form the second-highest-ranked team.
Fresh from their Delhi Open final appearance, Niki Poonacha and Courtney John Lock are also expected to contend strongly.
Among other notable doubles entries, top singles seed Vit Kopriva will partner Marek Gengel in doubles, while former world No. 17 Bernard Tomic teams up with Colombia’s Nicolás Mejía.
India’s Siddhant Banthia and Parikshit Somani are also among the direct entrants, strengthening home representation.
-PTI
Jaya Kapoor beat Jasmine Rawat AITA ranking tennis tournament
Qualifier Jaya Kapoor beat Jasmine Rawat in straight sets to set up the women’s title clash against fourth seed Vidula Amar in the HPCL-Mittal Rs.200,000 AITA ranking tennis tournament at the CLTA Complex on Thursday.
The men’s final will be between Vatsal Mannikantan and former national champion Dalwinder Singh.
– Kamesh Srinivasan
Pune Metropolitan Challenger: Ugo Blanchet defeats Kyrian Jacquet
Photo of, Ugo Blanchet beat the champion of the last two tournaments Kyrian Jacquet in the pre-quarterfinals of the Challenger tennis tournament in Pune on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Photo of, Ugo Blanchet beat the champion of the last two tournaments Kyrian Jacquet in the pre-quarterfinals of the Challenger tennis tournament in Pune on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Ugo Blanchet of France overcame a slow start to beat the champion of the last two tournaments, compatriot Kyrian Jacquet 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the pre-quarterfinals of the Pune Metropolitan $160,000 Maha Open Challenger tennis tournament at the Balewadi Stadium on Thursday.
It was the third victory in six meetings for Blanchet over Jaquet, who had won the last two Challengers in Chennai and Delhi, dropping one set in ten matches over a fortnight.
The 26-year-old Blanchet, who has also won a Challenger this season in Koblenz, Germany, will next play Khumoyun Sultanov of Uzbekistan. The Uzbek knocked out third seed Tristan Schoolkate of Australia in three sets. In doubles, top seeds Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Vijay Sundar Prashanth eked out a thrilling 12-10 victory in the super tie-break against Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan in the quarterfinals.
They will be challenged by Niki Poonacha and Courtney Lock in the semifinals.
Niki and his Zimbabwean partner had made the final last week in Delhi, and had to be quite sharp in winning 10-8 in the super tie-break against fourth seeds Blake Ellis and Tristan Schoolkate.
The results:
Singles (pre-quarterfinals): Billy Harris (GBR) bt Hiroki Moriya (Jpn) 7-5, 6-3; Brandon Holt (USA) bt Sascha Wayenburg (Fra) 6-4, 6-4; Ugo Blanchet (Fra) bt Kyrian Jacquet (Fra) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1; Khumoyun Sultanov (Uzb) bt Bernard Tomic (Aus) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Doubles (quarterfinals): Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan & Vijay Sundar Prashanth bt Saketh Myneni & Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-3, 2-6, [12-10; Niki Poonacha & Courtney Lock (Zim) bt Blake Ellis & Tristan Schoolkate (Aus) 7-6(4), 6-7(4), [10-8]; Jay Clarke (GBR) & Jurij Rodionov (Aut) bt Petr Biryukov & Ilia Simakin 7-6(5), 6-3; Blake Bayldon & Matthew Romios (Aus) bt Enrico Dalla Valle (Ita) & Khumoyun Sultanov (Uzb) 6-3, 4-6, [12-10].
The results:
Men (semifinals): Vatsal Manikantan bt Moksh Puri 6-4, 6-4; Dalwinder Singh bt Yash Yadav 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles (final): Jatin Nain & Mayank Sharma bt Vatsal Manikantan &Tanishq Jadhav 6-2, 6-1.
Women (semifinals): Jaya Kapoor bt Jasmine Rawat 6-2, 5-3 (retired); Vidula Amar bt Rutuparna Choudhary 6-4, 6-0.
Doubles (final): Ruma Gaikaiwari & Saily Thakkar bt Bhumika Dahiya & Ayushi Tanwar 6-3, 7-5.
– Kamesh Srinivasan
Qatar Open 2025: Yuki and Dodig in semifinals
Yuki Bhambri in partnership with Ivan Dodig knocked out the top seeds Marcelo Arevalo & Mate Pavic 2-6, 6-3, [10-8] in the doubles quarterfinals of the $3,035,960 ATP tennis tournament in Doha,, Qatar, on Thursday.
The Indo-Croatian pair will play Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool in the semifinals. The British duo beat Rohan Bopanna and Nuno Borges 10-7 in the super tie-break.
The Result:
Doubles (quarterfinals): Yuki Bhambri & Ivan Dodig (Cro) bt Marcelo Arevalo (Esa) & Mate Pavic (Cro) 2-6, 6-3, [10-8]; Julian Cash & Lloyd Glasspoool (GBR) bt Rohan Bopanna & Nuno Borges (Por) 6-4, 6-7(5), [10-7].
– Team Sportstar
Asian under-14 championship: Naman Borah beat top seed Smit Undre
Naman Borah beat top seed Smit Undre 6-3, 6-2 to set up a title clash against Heet Kandoriya in the Asian under-14 tennis tournament at the Gujarat University Tennis Centre on Thursday.
The girls final will be between Khushi Kadian and Sarena Gahlot.
The results (semifinals):
Under-14 boys: Naman Borah bt Smit Undre 6-3, 6-2; Heet Kandoriya bt Kabir Parmar 6-1, 7-5.
Under-14 girls: Khushi Kadian bt Srushti Suryavanshi 6-1, 6-2; Sarena Gahlot bt Janaki Diya Ravikumar 6-4, 6-2.
– Team Sportstar
MORE SPORTS
49-member contingent to represent India at Special Olympics World Winter Games
India will be represented by a 49-member contingent at the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025, to be held in Turin, Italy from March 8 to 15.
The contingent includes 30 athletes and 19 support staff, who will be participating across six disciplines — alpine skiing, cross country skiing, floorball, short-track speed skating, snowboarding and snowshoeing.
The 12th edition of the Special Olympics World Winter Games will feature eight disciplines and are expected to draw over 1,500 athletes, 621 coaches and 1,00,000 spectators from 102 countries.
Additional special programs, including the Special Olympics Global Youth Leadership Summit, Healthy Athletes Screenings, and the Motor Activity Training Program will also be organised for athletes, families and spectators during the event.
India has bagged 167 medals over the years in these Games, including 73 gold, 49 silver and 45 bronze medals across various disciplines.
-PTI
GOLF
Vani sizzles with 66 to take 5-shot lead in the third leg of Hero WPGT
Vani Kapoor played one of her best rounds while carding a bogey free 5-under 66 to open a five-shot lead in the third leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour in Pune on Thursday.
With three birdies on the front nine and two more on the back stretch, Vani added 66 to her first round 70 to get to six-under 136 for 36 holes at the Poona Club Golf Course.
Vani, who has the most titles among all the active players on the Tour, is five ahead of Sneha Singh, winner of the second leg.
Sneha, who opened bogey-bogey shot even par 71 and is 1-under 141.
Amandeep Drall (70) and Hitaashee Bakshi (71), playing her first Tour event of 2025, are tied third at even par 142.
Vani birdied the second, sixth and ninth to turn in 3-under and added further gains on the tenth and the 14th for a great card of 5-under 66.
Vani’s last win came at the 12th Leg at her home course, the DLF Golf & Country Club, Gurugram in September last year.
Sneha opened bogey-bogey but picked birdies on the ninth and 14th to finish even par.
Amandeep had an action-packed day with five birdies against four bogeys.
Hitaashee Bakshi had birdies on the second and the fifth and dropped bogeys on the sixth and the 16th for an even par 71.
Kriti Chowhan was 1-over 72 for the second day running and is sole fifth, while three players, Vidhatri Urs (73), Neha Tripathi (74) and the first-round leader Shweta Mansingh (76) are tied sixth.
Lavanya Jadon (71), winner of the opening leg Rhea Purvi Sarvanan (73) and Seher Atwal (74) are tied 10th.
The top amateur was Mannat Brar (76-74) at T-14, while Saanvi Somu (73-78) was 16th.
The cut fell at 13-over 155 and 24 players made the grade for the final round.
-PTI
POLO
Gen. Sparrow Cup Polo Tournament
Venkatesh Jindal scored five goals to power Jindal Polo Estate to a 12-5 victory over Cavalry Black in a league match of the Gen. Sparrow Cup polo tournament at the Army Equestrian Centre, Delhi Cantonment, on Thursday.
The results:
Jindal Panther 11 (Simran Shergill 3, Krishna Inkia 3, Akshai Malik 3, Mahesh Sharma 2) bt Cavalry Red 4 (MS Chouhan 2, handicap 2).
Jindal Polo Estate 12 (Venkatesh Jindal 5, Pranav Kapur 3, Salim Azmi 2, Siddhant Sharma 2) bt Cavalry Black 5 (Vijay Pratap Singh, handicap 4).
-Kamesh Srinivasan
ARCHERY
Indian men’s compound team creates new U-21 World record
The Indian men’s compound team, comprising Kushal Dalal, Manav Ganeshrao Jadhao and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru, has set a new under-21 world record by aggregating 2129 points in the qualification round of the Asia Cup World ranking tournament, Stage-1, in Bangkok. The team surpassed the previous record of 2111 for 216 arrows over 50 meters.
– Team Sportstar
BASKETBALL
INBL Pro league: Gujarat Stallions pips Mumbai Titans
Jock Perry top scored with 25 points to power Gujarat Stallions to a 83-72 victory over Mumbai Titans after the teams were locked 41-41 at half time in the INBL Pro basketball league at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium on Thursday.
It was the fifth victory in nine matches for the Gujarat team, which pulled ahead in the third quarter, to eventually prevail strongly over the Mumbai team. Thus, the team shot to the top of the table in the six-team competition from which four teams will make the semifinals.
The results:
Gujarat Stallions 83 (Jock Perry 25, Joshua Duach 17, Tushal Singh 12, Nate Roberts 11, Amarendra Nayak 11) bt Mumbai Titans 72 (Dalph Panopio 14, Elijah Puna 13, Durrell McDonald 13).
-Kamesh Srinivasan
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com