Indian sports activities news wrap, February 9

TENNIS

Former World No 25 Vasek Pospisil enters Bengaluru Open as wild card

Bengaluru Open on Friday introduced the wild card entry for former top-30 Canadian tennis star Vasek Pospisil within the singles principal draw.

The 2014 Wimbledon Champion in doubles and 2015 Wimbledon quarterfinalist in singles, Pospisil was ranked as excessive as 25 in singles in 2014 and fourth within the ATP doubles chart the next yr. He additionally has a victory over the then World primary, Andy Murray in 2017.

In 2020, the Canadian Davis Cupper was awarded Comeback participant of the Year when he made the US Open fourth spherical and likewise reached the ultimate of Sofia Open the identical yr.

The 33-year-old has competed on Indian soil 3 times when the nation hosted an ATP 250 event.

“I’m really excited to be in India again, and I’m very grateful to the event organisers for giving me the opportunity. I love the energy of this country and the people here so I’m hoping to have a great week,” mentioned Pospisil, who’s making a comeback and is now ranked 816.

Pospisil has needed to cope with a couple of accidents in his profession that pegged him again. He needed to battle a again harm in 2019 for which he needed to endure surgical procedure, after which confronted an elbow challenge in 2022 however is decided to bounce again.

“I’m looking forward to stepping on court and competing in front of the fans here in Bangalore,” he additional added.

Sunil Yajaman, Tournament Director mentioned, “Vasek Pospisil has always been one of the finest players on the tour. He is an inspiration and its nice he has chosen to be in Bengaluru, his life story and achievements speak for themselves. His presence adds strength to the field and makes the event more competitive. I am sure the Sporting fans of Bengaluru would enjoy watching Vasek and all the budding players of the city would look forward interacting with him and get motivated.”

Bengaluru Open is being organised by Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA). The ATP Challenger occasion will start on February 12 and conclude on February 18.

-Team Sportstar

Rohan Bopanna felicitated by Cricket Club of India

The world No.1 doubles star and Australian Open Grand Slam champion Rohan Bopanna was felicitated immediately by the Cricket Club of India (CCI) with the presentation of honorary membership on Friday.

After the primary match of the continued WTA tennis occasion on the CCI, the organisers organized for a fast felicitation of Bopanna who shall be turning 44 subsequent month.

Bopanna recalled the ATP Tour occasion on the identical venue in 2006 when the organisers had labored wonders in dealing with rain and guaranteeing play, although the finals needed to be pushed to Monday.

Bopanna praised the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) for working in the direction of the promotion of the sport in the absolute best means. Appreciating the work of his State, Karnataka, Bopanna hoped that the opposite States would additionally take part strengthening the sport within the nation.

Surrounded a bunch of children, Bopanna hoped that children coaching on the centre would someday attain Grand Slam excellence.

The organisers additionally made it some extent to felicitate Rutuja Bhosale who had received the Asian Games blended doubles gold with Bopanna in Hangzhou, China, final yr.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

AITA rating tennis: Coach Paramveer Bajwa beats his trainee Arjun Rathi

Coach Paramveer Bajwa beat his trainee from the Roundglass Academy, Arjun Rathi, 6-3, 6-3 within the last of the Rs.200,000 AITA rating tennis event on the CLTA Complex on Friday.

It was the primary event after practically 5 years for the 26-year-old Paramveer who had performed the worldwide circuit.

Paramveer had received the doubles title within the firm of one other of his wards, Aditya Mor.

Arjun Rathi’s sister and the highest seed within the ladies’s occasion, Anjali Rathi outplayed Ishwari Matere 6-0, 6-3 within the last.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

Dallas Open: Anirudh, Vijay overwhelmed within the doubles quarterfinals

Anirudh Chandrasekar and Vijay Sundar Prashanth have been overwhelmed within the doubles quarterfinals 7-6(5), 4-6, [12-10] by Emilio Nava and Ben Shelton within the $841,590 ATP tennis event in Dallas, USA.

In the ATP occasion in Marseille, Yuki Bhambri in partnership with Robin Haase was additionally overwhelmed 12-10 within the tremendous tie-break of the doubles pre-quarterfinals by Vasil Kirkov and Sebastian Korda.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

GOLF

Sneha holds off Hitaashee to attain 2nd win of 2024 at 4th Leg of Hero WPGT

Sneha Singh picked up her second win in three begins regardless of two bogeys within the final three holes on the fourth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour on the East Point Golf Club.

Sneha, who held a five-shot lead, carded a good par 72 for a complete of 5-under 211.

Hitaashee Bakshi did make a cost with a bogey-free 69 on the ultimate day, nevertheless it was not sufficient to overturn the five-shot deficit she began with.

Hitaashee aggregated 3-under 213 for one more second place and younger newbie Zara Anand put collectively a effective 69 to seize the third place at 1-under 215.

Sneha bogeyed early however a birdie on the seventh meant she turned in even par. While she birdied the Par-5 14th, bogeys on the sixteenth and 18th indicated some nerves however she additionally had a comforting birdie on the seventeenth.

Hitaashee, who received the third leg, birdied 3 times with no bogey, however even that fell in need of Sneha’s whole of 5-under.

Sneha has received twice and was the joint runner-up with Hitaashee within the opening leg. She was the one participant this week to have carded all three rounds at par or higher. This can also be the second yr operating she has received greater than as soon as and turns into the primary a number of winner in 2024.

Hitaashee now has three runner-up finishes within the first, second and fourth legs and a win within the third.

Zara, who’s seen as a really promising expertise, shot a effective 69 after rounds of 74-72 on the primary two days. She has been attracting loads of consideration along with her silver medal on the National Games and the runner-up end on the All-India amateurs run by the Indian Golf Union.

The spherical of the week got here from Ridhima Dilawari, whose 6-under 66 included an excellent run of 5 birdies from the eleventh to fifteenth. It was additionally a course file for Ladies on the East Point Golf Club.

Overall, Ridhima had seven birdies towards one bogey on the Par-5 tenth. She completed the birdie-filled spherical with three pars and completed fourth at even par 216.

Khushi Khanijau (76) was fifth, whereas Jasmine Shekar (77), runner-up within the third leg at Kolkata, was sixth. Rhea Jha (76) was seventh and Shweta Mansingh (74) ended eighth.

Seher Atwal (78), Snigdha Goswami (76) and Disha Kavery (78) have been tied for ninth place.

Sneha additionally sneaked forward of Hitaashee to get to the highest of the Hero Order of Merit. Sneha in 4 begins has received Rs. 4,59,500 whereas Hitaashee has earned Rs. 4,59,000.

Khushi is third with Jasmine and Ridhima occupying the subsequent two locations.

-PTI

Indian-American Theegala tops leaderboard on rain-hit day at WM Phoenix Open

Indian American golfer Sahith Theegala, who got here near profitable the WM Phoenix Open in 2022, obtained off to a flying begin with a scorching six-under 65 on the TPC Scottsdale to take lead on a rain-hit opening day right here.

Theegala, who since his 2022 runner-up end received the Fortinet Championships, his solely win on the PGA TOUR, is an enormous crowd favorite at this occasion.

Despite a delayed begin on account of climate, Theegala, who warmed up by sitting in his automobile, opened on the tenth gap and obtained going with a birdie. He had six extra birdies and only one bogey.

He leads Andrew Novak by one, however Novak has performed simply 9 holes.

Shane Lowry and SH Kim shot 67 every and Jordan Spieth had a 68, whereas Nick Taylor and Cameron Young have been at 3-under, however they’d performed simply six and 5 holes respectively.

Five days after climate shortened the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am to 54 holes, storms have arrived on the PGA TOUR because it moved to the desert.

Only about half the sphere was capable of end and the remainder will return subsequent morning to renew their first rounds.

SH Kim eagled the par-5 thirteenth and obtained to 6-under with consecutive birdies beginning on No. 5, however closed with two bogeys to shoot 67, matching Shane Lowry. Jordan Spieth shot 68.

Two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler was 1-over via six holes in his bid to grow to be the primary PGA TOUR participant to win the identical event three straight instances since Steve Stricker on the John Deere Classic from 2009-11.

Theegala broke via along with his first PGA TOUR win final fall on the Fortinet Championship, incomes a spot in The Sentry to open the 2024 season. Theegala completed second in Maui, a shot behind Chris Kirk, and tied for twentieth at Pebble Beach final week. Theegala was third on the 2022 WM Phoenix Open.

-PTI

FOOTBALL

SAT boys beautiful present might not shake up Kerala’s Santosh Trophy workforce in any means

The Sports Academy Tirur boys might have shocked the mighty Kerala Police within the Kerala Premier League semifinal right here on Thursday evening however that isn’t more likely to shake up the Kerala soccer workforce for the Santosh Trophy’s last part in any means.

In reality, the kids’ spectacular efficiency might have come a bit late to assist their trigger. After shedding the primary three matches of the super-six part, SAT received the subsequent two and made it to the semifinal the place it got here up with a magical second half.

“That was a big upset, especially after the Police had won so many matches. The SAT players, they are young blood, they played with spirit, their speed and counter-attacking were very good but they don’t have players who are of extraordinary quality,” mentioned Satheevan Balan, the top coach of Kerala’s Santosh Trophy workforce, in a chat with The Hindu on the Jawahar Municipal Stadium right here on Friday.

“This (Kerala squad) is a team that has already been selected. We need to make changes only if somebody is performing better than the players in the team. But to motivate youngsters, if there a player who is really good then we will give him a chance.”

Satheevan identified that he would have had an even bigger pool of gamers to select from if the Kerala Premier League had concluded earlier.

“If the KPL had been held earlier, we could have done better scouting from this event, we have many talented players here but it is a little late to select them. It would have been ideal if they had finished the KPL by at least January 25, before our camp started.”

The Santosh Trophy’s last part begins in Arunachal Pradesh on February 21, the Kerala camp moved from Kothamangalam in Ernakulam to Kannur three days in the past and the workforce is more likely to be introduced on February 14 however Satheevan continues to be ready for a lot of of his main gamers to hitch the camp. The KPL last, between defending champion Kerala United and SAT, shall be held right here on February 11.

“Our players are now inside the KPL. Even though the Police team has lost here, we will get its players only after two days. There are four Kerala United players, who are in the Santosh Trophy team, playing the KPL final. Only after they arrive can the team be set but they will come only on February 13. We will get all the players by February 13 and they will declare the team a day or two after that. So, we will not get much time with the full team to work out combinations and other things,” mentioned Satheevan who had coached Kerala to Santosh Trophy triumph in 2018.”

– Stan Rayan

I-League 2023-24: Rajasthan United debutant Mudrazija’s late strike upsets Real Kashmir

An injury-time purpose by debutant Marin Mudrazija gave Rajasthan United a surprising win over Real Kashmir within the I-League on Friday.

The win took Rajasthan United to ninth spot on the desk, eight factors away from the relegation zone, albeit having performed a sport extra.

The win took Rajasthan to relative security and put a niche between them away from the underside two, whereas dealing an enormous blow to Real Kashmir’s not too long ago ignited title hopes.

– PTI

Gokulam Kerala experience on Ikwaput’s brace to go high of IWL

en’s League title race on its head with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Odisha FC on the EMS Stadium right here on Friday.

Despite making a dream begin on the dwelling of the defending champions with a purpose inside 23 seconds, Odisha FC have been unable to cope with the firepower of Fazila Ikwaput, who netted a first-half brace to take the Malabarians to the highest of the desk for the primary time this season.

With this win, their fourth in a row, Gokulam now have 20 factors in 9 video games.

Although the destiny of the title nonetheless rests within the Kalinga Warriors’ palms as they’ve a match in hand, they may really feel the primary lack of the season like an enormous missed alternative to get one step nearer to the trophy.

Skipper Indumathi Kathiresan’s 23-second strike, which topped Aruna Bag’s purpose for Kickstart towards East Bengal on Monday because the quickest purpose of the season, was the one optimistic from the competition for Crispin Chettri’s facet.

From outdoors the field, the previous Gokulam midfielder launched an correct left-footed effort into the underside nook past the attain of goalkeeper Sowmiya Narayanasamy.

But with Ugandan striker Ikwaput spearheading the assault, Gokulam’s response was swift. She equalised within the fifteenth minute after receiving a go from Soumya Guguloth within the field.

After fluffing a first-time effort along with her proper foot, Ikwaput managed to drill it in along with her left to equalise for the hosts.

For the rest of the primary half, it was all Gokulam Kerala in assault and Odisha’s Shreya Hooda was saved busy between the sticks, saving a bunch of photographs from her worldwide teammates like Anju Tamang, Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi and Sandhiya Ranganathan.

But Hooda might do nothing about Ikwaput’s second strike on the stroke of half-time.

It was a purpose created by basic route-one soccer as Tamang obtained on the tip of defender Phoeby Okech Owiti’s lengthy ball earlier than racing into the field from the left.

With a sq. go into the six-yard field, she arrange Ikwaput who solely needed to faucet it into the empty internet.

– PTI