Indian sports wrap, September 25: BFI names 23-member team for Asian Youth Games

BOXING

BFI names 23-member team for Asian Youth Games

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has announced a 23-member squad for the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 in Bahrain, with training camp now underway at NS NIS Patiala until October 20.

The team was selected based on performances at the 6th U-17 Junior Boys and Girls National Boxing Championship 2025, where gold medallists earned direct entry into the squad, and silver medallists were named as reserves in their respective categories.

Among the selected athletes are standout performers from the Asian U-17 Championships held in July 2025, where India clinched 43 medals and finished second overall.

“In the past few months, our young boxers have shown they can stand toe-to-toe with the best in Asia, bringing home strong results at continental and national levels.

“This camp is about building on that momentum, sharpening their skills, and preparing them to be serious medal contenders in Bahrain, while underlining the rising strength of Indian boxing,” said Ajay Singh, President, BFI.

The 14-member squad, comprising seven boys and seven girls, is backed by six coaches, two physiotherapists, and one doctor, ensuring a strong support structure for the athletes.

Among them are gold medallists Dhruv Kharb, Udham Singh Raghav, Khushi Chand, Ahaana Sharma, and Chandrika Bhoreshi Pujari, who are now sharpening their skills under head coaches Vinod Kumar (Boys U-17) and Jitender Raj Singh (Girls U-17).

-PTI

TENNIS

ITF 60k Templeton: Sahaja through to second round

Sahaja Yamalapalli beat Brandy Walker 6-1, 6-1 in the first round of the $60,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament in Templeton, USA.

The Indian challenge in the $160,000 WTA event in JIngshan, China, ended as qualifier Riya Bhatia was beaten 6-4, 6-0 in the pre-quarterfinals by Jia-Jing Lu of China. Riya collected 22 WTA points and $2,695. Riya bowed out in doubles with Lian Tran in the quarterfinals, and so did the duo of Rutuja Bhosale and Ankita Raina as they lost 5-10 in the super tie-break to the second seeds.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

ITF 15k Gurugram: Desai, Nitture keep Indian challenge alive in singles

Zeel Desai and Akanksha Nitture, the top two seeds, were the only Indians who progressed to the singles quarterfinals of the USD 15,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at the Tennis Project, Baliawas, on Thursday.

Both Zeel and Akanksha cruised past compatriots Sonal Patil and Mahika Khanna, dropping four and two games respectively.

Zeel and Akanksha will have better challenge as they meet Jiho Shin of Korea and Vlada Mincheva, respectively in the quarterfinals.

Jiho Shin outplayed Sahira Singh for the loss of two games. After the strong performance against the sixth seed Paola Lopez of USA in the first round, Sahira was unable to get into her rhythm against the Korean left-hander.

Mincheva also proved too hot for qualifier Laxmisiri Dandu, as she raced away, dropping a token game in each set. In the last tournament at the same venue, Mincheva had been stopped by Shruti Ahlawat, and the former world No. 16 junior would be motivated to assert her fluent game.

Prathyusha Rachapudi and Paavanii Paathak did put up a good fight against Eva Desvignes and Sofiia Suslova, respectively but went down in straight sets.

Three Indian teams made it to the doubles semifinals.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

BADMINTON

Tanvi Patri, Bornil Changmai to lead 36-member Indian squad in Badminton Asia U-17 & U-15 C’ships

Asian U-15 champion Tanvi Patri and former title winner Bornil Changmai will spearhead a 36-member Indian squad at the Badminton Asia U-17 & U-15 Championships, scheduled in Chengdu, China from October 21 to 26.

Both Tanvi and Changmai will step up to the U-17 category this time as India looks to extend its strong run in the continental age-group event.

The country has enjoyed back-to-back successful campaigns in Chengdu, bagging a gold and a bronze in 2024, and finishing with one gold, one silver and a bronze in the 2023 edition.

The Indian team was selected based on the players’ performance in the just-concluded Yonex-Sunrise Ashwani Gupta Memorial All India Sub Junior (U-15 & U-17) Ranking Badminton Tournament 2025, held at Panchkula, Haryana, from September 13 to 21, 2025.

“India’s consistent success in the continental championships over the years reflects the strength of our junior development program. This squad has several promising players with the potential to bring home medals, which highlights the depth and talent within the team,” said Badminton Association of India (BAI) Secretary General, Sanjay Mishra in a release.

Sharayu Ranjane will feature in all three categories of U-15, teaming up with Soyara Shelar in girls’ doubles and Hemanth Sri Sammetla in mixed doubles.

Punith S and Deepak Raj Aditi, who will partner each other in the U-17 mixed doubles, will also be in action in boys and girls doubles respectively.

-PTI

CYCLING

Rajasthan to host inaugural Tour de Thar

Rajasthan will host the inaugural Tour de Thar, an international-level endurance cycling event, on November 23 featuring three categories of 300km Relay, 200km, and 100km races with over 2500 national and international participants, the sports ministry has announced.

The event will be flagged off at Norangdesar village in Bikaner.

“Spanning the smooth, expansive stretches of the Amritsar-Jamnagar Expressway, the race through the sands of endurance will present Thar desert as a stage for showcasing courage and determination,” the ministry stated.

The curtain raiser of the event was organised in Delhi in the presence of Union Minister for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.

“With Tour de Thar, Rajasthan is set to host an international-level endurance cycling event that blends sports, culture, and the unique spirit of the desert,” the ministry said.

“The event features three demanding categories — 300 km Relay, 200 km, and 100 km — designed to test every cyclist’s stamina, strength, and mental fortitude,” it added.

Over 2500 participants, including professional riders from India and abroad, will compete.

Rajasthan’s cultural heritage and tourism potential will also be promoted through this event.

“Along the route, spectators can look forward to local music performances, traditional dances, and handicraft exhibitions, creating an immersive desert festival that celebrates the state’s identity alongside the thrill of competition.”

-PTI

GOLF

Lavanya Jadon grabs maiden win in a play-off in the 13th Leg of Hero WPGT

Lavanya Jadon on Thursday became the latest first-time winner on the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour, claiming the title at the 13th Leg of the Tour at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram.

Lavanya won on the second play-off hole after she was tied at 3-over 219 with amateur Zara Anand. Lavanya shot 74 in the final round and Zara carded 75.

Lavanya, needing nothing less than a birdie on the 18th to force a play-off, did just that and then won on the second play-off hole. She became the eighth different winner in 13 Hero WPG Tour events.

Vani Kapoor (69) and Amandeep Drall (73) were tied third. They missed getting into a play-off by one shot after finishing at four-over 220.

Lavanya, who held the first-round lead and then dropped down after the second, overcame a rough front nine, which included three bogeys in a row from the fourth to the sixth. With two birdies and one more bogey she played the front nine in 2-over 38.

Playing alongside Lavanya was the overnight leader, amateur Zara Anand, who with one birdie and one bogey was even par for the first nine hole. When the players turned for the home stretch, Zara was three shots ahead.

On the tenth, Lavanya bogeyed again and the deficit was now four. Then it was Zara’s turn to drop shots as she bogeyed 11th, 12th and the 14th, while Lavanya dropped one more shot on the 14th.

With four more holes left, Zara was still two shots ahead. Lavanya picked a birdie on the 15th as Zara exchanged one birdie on the 16th with a bogey on the 17th. With just one hole left, Lavanya still trailed by one.

Lavanya, who turns 19 next month, holed a clutch birdie on the 18th as Zara managed only a par, taking the contest into the play-off. Twice they played on the 18th, and they had a par each the first time before Lavanya won in the second play-off with a par, while Zara bogeyed.

Astha Madan (73) was sole fifth at 222, while amateurs Lavanya Gupta (71) and Ananyaa Sood (73) shared the sixth spot at 223.

Yet another amateur Mahreen Bhatia (70) was eighth at 224, while Kriti Chowhan (77) was ninth at 227.

Sneha Singh (71), Ananya Garg (75) and Gaurika Bishnoi (76) were Tied 10th at 228.

-PTI

Published on Sep 25, 2025