Indian sports wrap, June 7: Kochhar slips to tied-10th at IGPL Bharath Classic amid windy conditions

GOLF

Kochhar stays in Top-10 at AM Green IGPL Bharath Classic

Karandeep Kochhar remained the best Indian at the $500,000 AM Green IGPL Bharath Classic on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Chandigarh golfer shot 2-under 70 as he moved to a 7-under total but slipped from tied-fifth overnight to tied-10th as the wind continued to challenge the golfers.

The leader is Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech, who carded 68 and moved to 13-under and three ahead of his nearest rivals, compatriot and overnight joint leader, Runchanapong Youprayong (71), and Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (67).

For Kochhar it was a day of missed opportunities as he failed to convert the chances he created, especially towards the finish.

Kochhar, who has already logged two Top-5 results on the Asian Tour this season and is searching for his maiden Asian Tour win, played in the group with fellow Indian Kartik Singh. Kochhar birdied the third and the sixth and parred the remaining ten in his first 12 holes. A bogey on the 13th and a birdie on the 16th completed his day with a 70.

Despite a modest 70, which could have been at least two or three better, Kochhar said, “Still, a good day. I guess I just hung in there all day. I think I didn’t have my best but scrambled around. I didn’t give myself enough opportunities for birdies but did make a few good birdies. I think coming in I had really some really good putts on 15, 17, and 18; I just got unlucky with those birdie putts. On the 16th, I made a birdie, but it was nothing on 15, 17, or 18. The putts were good and close and just burnt the edges, but that’s okay. I need to push more to finish a little higher tomorrow and end the week on a good note.”

Making upward moves were Gaganjeet Singh Bhullar and Pukhraj Singh Gill, both AM Green IGPL winners, who shot 69 each and moved to T-36, up from over -49. Starting on the 10th, Bhullar had four birdies, which included three in a row on his second nine from the third to the fifth, against one bogey (13th), while Gill, who also started on the tenth, had an eagle on the 18th, his ninth hole, four birdies and three bogeys.

Kartik Singh, who was T-5 overnight, slipped to T-36 with a round of 3-over 75.

Tied at 36th place were Yashas Chandra (71), Raghav Chugh (70) and Rashid Khan (69).

Shaurya Bhattacharya had an eagle in his round of 72 that also included two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey. He was T-49.

The tournament forms part of the Asian Tour’s three-week run in Morocco, which began with the AM Green IGPL Morocco Rising Stars last week and is now continuing with the AM Green IGPL Bharath Classic. It will conclude with the International Series Morocco for the US$2 million event in Rabat.

-Team Sportstar

Nayanika Sanga lead Indian golfer in Arkea Ladies Open

Nayanika Sanga played her second successive even-par round to be the lead Indian golfer after the second of the Arkéa Montauban Ladies Open on the LET Access Series.

Starting the day on T-21 at Golf de Montauban, Nayanika played herself into the top 20 with one round left to play. She is now T-18 with an even-par score.

Saanvi Somu (72-73) is the other Indian player in the field. She carded a 1-over 73 to drop six places and find herself in T-27.

Saanvi has a total score of 1-over par after two rounds. She made two bogeys and one birdie in her second round.

Genevieve Ling, Sarah Skovgaard Bils, Marine Griffaut and Lucie Malchirand shared the lead heading into the final round with a score of 6-under par.

Nayanika had an early bogey on her second round on the second hole before she recovered the shot with a birdie on the seventh hole.

On the back nine she had an early birdie on the 12th hole followed by a bogey on the 13th hole. Despite a bogey on the 16th hole, she ended her day with an even par card with the help of a late birdie on the 18th hole.

-PTI

Veer Ahlawat struggles in third round of Swiss Challenge

After setting a course record in the second round, Veer Ahlawat could not sustain the momentum, dropping 12 positions to tied 13th after the third round at the Swiss Challenge at Golf Sempach in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Ahlawat carded 3-over 74 to be 9-under par after three rounds.

He was six shots behind the leader, George Bloor (67), who was heading into the final round with a total score of 15-under par.

Ahlawat began his third round with early birdies on the first and fourth holes before dropping a shot on the fifth.

He would pick up the stroke on the sixth before dropping two shots on the seventh with his first double bogey of the day. He followed it with his second bogey on the eighth hole.

On the back nine, Ahlawat dropped a second double on the 15th before picking up one shot on the 17th hole, only to give it back with a bogey on the 18th.

Ahlawat, who has yet to win a title on the Hotel Planner Tour, will need to find the magic from his second round once more if he hopes to challenge for the title this week.

-PTI

CRICKET

T20 Mumbai: Tigers keep qualification hopes alive with thrilling win over ARCS Andheri

It was billed as a family affair, with Sarfaraz Khan leading Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs against younger brother Musheer Khan’s ARCS Andheri. While neither brother managed to leave a significant mark with the bat, left-arm pacer Ankur Singh ensured the spotlight eventually belonged elsewhere as Tigers kept its qualification hopes alive with a thrilling seven-run victory in T20 Mumbai on Sunday.

For long periods of the chase, ARCS Andheri appeared firmly in control. Powered by Prasad Pawar’s composed half-century (54, 39b, 3×4, 2×6), the Andheri outfit looked set to chase down 172 comfortably. With Pawar and captain Shivam Dube at the crease, Andheri required 47 runs from the last five overs and seemed to have momentum firmly on its side.

The turnaround began when Dube attempted to take on Ankur. After being struck for a four and a six in the 16th over, the left-arm pacer had the last laugh, forcing Dube to top-edge towards third man where Akash Anand completed a running catch. Even then, Andheri remained favourites.

Requiring 16 runs from the final two overs with four wickets intact, the equation still favoured the chasing side. But left-arm spinner Vinayak Bhoir swung momentum decisively when he removed the well-set Pawar, whose attempted reverse sweep proved costly.

That left Ankur with 10 runs to defend in the final over. The pacer held his nerve brilliantly, dismissing two lower-order batters while refusing to concede a boundary before the last batter was run out off the final delivery to seal a dramatic win for Tigers.

While the men’s competition delivered late drama, the morning fixture in the T20 Women’s League proved a lop-sided affair as SoBo Mumbai Falcons maintained their unbeaten start with a comfortable 39-run victory against Aakash Tigers.

– Amol Karhadkar

Agniswar, Gani Star as Wizards Beat Warriors via DLS

Eighteen-year-old Agniswar Das struck a fine half-century as Rashmi Nes Medinipur Wizards defeated Adamas Howrah Warriors by 14 runs through DLS method in a rain-marred Bengal T20 League match at the Eden Gardens here on Sunday.

Warriors relied on its captain Shakir Habib Gandhi’s brilliant half-century (86, 47b, 7×4, 4×6) to post 187 for six.

In reply, Wizards were at 106 for two in the 12th over when rain intervened and Wizards emerged as the winner.

Skipper Aamir Gani, who mixed his deliveries well to capture three wickets, led the Wizards bowlers well to reduce Warriors to 71 for five in 11 overs.

However, Gandhi, who showed patience initially, displayed his excellent placement skills on either side and accelerated from 14th over onwards.

Gandhi and Sachin Yadav (42 n.o., 23b, 2×4, 3×6), who executed spectacular pulled sixes, put up a crucial 105-run partnership. Agniswar (52 n.o., 34b, 5×4, 2×6) played some impressive shots, primarily on the leg-side, in the PowerPlay. He added 50 runs with Priyanshu Srivastava (29, 14b, 5×4, 1×6) before batting responsibly.

On Saturday night, Servotech Siliguri Strikers rode on Vishal Bhati’s quick-fire knock (86, 46b, 5×4, 6×6) and Mohammed Shami’s four-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, to beat Shrachi Rarh Tigers by 24 runs.

TENNIS

Srishti Kiran finishes runner-up at ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors J100 Guatemala

Thirteen-year-old Bengaluru tennis prodigy Srishti Kiran finished runner-up at the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors J100 tournament in Guatemala City on Saturday.

Srishti’s impressive run came to an end in the final, where she lost to top seed Ellery Mendell of the USA 4-6, 3-6. Battling cramps and physical discomfort during the latter stages of the match, the young Indian displayed tremendous grit against her higher-ranked opponent.

Despite the loss, the tournament marked another significant milestone for Srishti, who arrived in Guatemala on the back of an extraordinary run of five consecutive ITF junior titles.

“It has been a very special tournament for me. Reaching the final and competing against some very strong players has given me a lot of confidence. Of course, I am disappointed not to win the title, but there are many positives that I will take from this week,” said Srishti.

– Team Sportstar

CRICKET

Priyank Panchal-led Sportsversity launches India’s maiden athlete-first sports education platform

Former India A skipper Priyank Panchal has helmed the launch of a unique initiative Sportsversity, an athlete-first sports education platform with focus on careers beyond the playing field.

Panchal, the Strategic Advisor of Sportsversity, had a distinguished career in First-Class cricket for Gujarat, scoring 8856 runs from 127 matches at an average of 45.18 with 29 hundreds and 34 fifties.

The platform launches with five specialised programmes covering Athlete Wellness & Performance Science, Sports Media, Content & Commentary, Sports Business & Entrepreneurship, Athlete Branding, Career & Finance, and The Sports Family – Parenting & Finance.

– PTI

Heena Rajgor shines as India’s lead World Yogasana Championships with 40 gold medals

Gujarat’s Heena Rajgor led India’s gold medal rush as the hosts extended their lead on the table on the penultimate day of the inaugural World Yogasana Championships here on Sunday.

India stood at the top of the medals tally with 50 medals, including 40 gold, eight silver and two bronze.

Japan added two gold to go up to three and 10 overall and they are second on the table, while Singapore are third with six medals, including a couple of gold medals.

Rajgor, who hails from Bhuj in Gujarat, dominated the Forward Bend competition in Senior B Female category to clinch the gold medal with 43.50 points.

Oman’s Preeti Jaimani won the silver with 38.15 points, while Svetlana Lukashova of Russia and Maya Al Alostath of Jordan shared the bronze.

“It is always special to win a gold medal on my home turf. When I took up Yogasana competitively after Covid, I had struggled to perform in competitions.

“But then I worked on my mental focus and the results are definitely coming,” said Rajgor.

While the Indians expectedly dominated the gold medal race, Japan added two gold while Russia and Uzbekistan grabbed a gold each.

Hisashi Watanabe (Supine Individual Senior B Male) and Tomoka Shimizu (Leg Balance Individual Senior C Female) bagged the gold medals for Japan, while Svetlana Lukashova won the senior B female category in Supine Individual for Russia.

Kamolatdin Rakhmanov clinched Uzbekistan’s first gold medal of the Championships in Leg Balance Individual Senior C Male category.