Indian sports wrap, June 22: Shahbaz and Chauhan power Shrachi Rarh Tigers to Bengal T20 League title

CRICKET

Shahbaz and Chauhan power Shrachi Rarh Tigers to Bengal T20 League title

Shrachi Rarh Tigers rode on skipper Shahbaz’s explosive unbeaten half-century to beat Sobisco Smashers Malda via DLS method in the rain-affected men’s final and emerge as the champion in the Bengal T20 League at the Eden Gardens on Sunday night.

Asked to bat, Rarh Tigers posted a formidable 165 for four in the reduced quota of 15 overs. In its rain-interrupted innings, Malda scored 97 for five in nine overs to fall short of the revised target by nine runs.

Rarh Tigers lost three wickets for 10 runs before Shahbaz (88 n.o., 46b, 7×4, 6×6) and Gaurav Chauhan (55, 30b, 1×4, 5×6) put up the highest partnership of the league by adding 144 runs.

Shahbaz ruled the leg-side, while Chauhan played some handsome shots on both sides. Rarh Tigers collected 58 runs in the last three overs.

In reply, Malda, in its start-stop innings, gathered runs briskly with opener Abhimanyu Easwaran (38, 22b, 2×4, 2×6) emerging as the side’s top-scorer.

Pacer Sukhmeet Singh removed Kaif Ahmed and Abhimanyu to deal a double blow in the ninth over and give Rarh Tigers a decisive advantage.

— Team Sportstar

Andhra Premier League: Vijayawada Sunrisers beat Kakinada Kings

The Kadapa leg of Andhra Premier League wrapped up sensationally, as blistering centuries by openers M. Abhinav and K. Ashwin Hebbar helped Vijayawada Sunshiners register a thumping 110-run win against Kakinada Kings at the Y.S. Raja Reddy Stadium on Sunday.

Opting to bat first, Abhinav and Ashwin plundered runs with ease, adding 69 runs in the PowerPlay. The latter brought up his half-century in 23 balls, while the former took 36 balls to get to the mark.

Sunshiners took the Kings’ bowlers to the cleaners, breaching the 100-run mark in 9.1 overs. Ashwin got to a century with a maximum over long on, while Abhinav got to triple digits with a maximum at deep midiwicket.

Ashwin holed out to G. Manish at extra cover in the final over, but the damage was already done.

The daunting 291-run chase began with Kings losing G. Sai Venkata Sumanth in the opening over. From there on, Sunshiners took wickets at regular intervals and snuffed out any chance of an unlikely comeback.

APL next moves to Mangalagiri for the final leg of the tournament.

The scores: Vijayawada Sunshiners 290/1 in 20 overs (M. Abhinav 130 n.o., K. Ashwin Hebbar 130) bt Kakinada Kings 180/9 in 20 overs (B. Pranav Reddy 3/26).

-Team Sportstar

FENCING

Korea, Japan win gold in men’s sabre, women’s foil; Indian teams end at 10th

Fancied South Korea and Japan won gold medals in the men’s sabre and women’s foil team events respectively on the fourth day of the Asian Senior Fencing Championships here on Monday.

Fencing powerhouses South Korea and Japan continued their fierce battle for continental supremacy, delivering an intense display of tactical depth and explosive speed on the piste.

In the men’s sabre team event, South Korea — led by individual gold medallist Oh Sang-uk and defending champion Do Gyeong-dong — put on a masterclass to defeat Japan in a thrilling final.

Japan dominated the women’s foil team event, where individual champion Yuka Ueno led her team to gold medal, defeating South Korea after a display of flawless blade work.

Playing on home pistes, the Indian teams showcased remarkable grit and resilience against their fancied rivals to secure a hard-fought 10th-place finish overall.

The Indian men’s sabre team comprising Vishal Thapar, Karan Singh, Gisho Nidhi Kumaresan Padma and Lakshay Badser fought aggressively in the initial rounds, riding high on the momentum of placing three fencers in the top 32 earlier in the week.

They eventually lost to China in the quarterfinals. Notably, Karan Singh showed incredible promise by stringing together quick touches using his trademark explosive off-the-line speed.

The young Indian women’s foil team featuring Kanupriya Chawla, Joys Ashitha Stalinraj, Naorem Mina Devi and Sonia Devi Waikhom also demonstrated immense fighting spirit and used the high-stakes environment to absorb critical international experience.

They narrowly missed a quarterfinal berth, but they showed great adaptability by executing sharp tactical adjustments from the coach’s side on the fly.

While the relentless pressing of the tier-one Asian nations proved difficult for the Indians in the demanding 45-point team format, the fierce determination and developmental strides shown by both the home teams highlight a bright future for the country.

-PTI

GOLF

Talwar records best result of 2026 outside India, finishes T-12 in English Open

Indian golfer Saptak Talwar registered his strongest result outside India, finishing a creditable T-12 at the English Open here.

Talwar was unlucky to miss out on a top 10 result as he finished with a score of 10-under par for the week, one shot behind the group in T-7 at The Vale Golf Club on Sunday.

Talwar, who had birdied every alternate hole on the back nine, needed one more on the 18th to force his way into the Top-10, but he managed only a par for 4-under 68.

Talwar’s best this season was T-2 at the DP World PGTI Open in India in March this year.

American John Catlin (67) won the title through a play-off against Kristian Krogh Johannessen (66) of Norway. Both Johannessen and Catlin finished the week at 18-under par, five shots clear of their closest rivals.

Talwar started hot this week with a round of 3-under 69 before his game cooled off and he recorded rounds of 1-under 71 and 2-under 70. Heading into the final day, Talwar was in T-24 with a score of 6-under par.

The 27-year-old put together his strongest round of the week as he charged through the field with a card of 4-under 68 and nearly put himself into the top 10. He made five birdies and one bogey in his final round to finish T-12.

The round started with an early birdie on the second hole before a bogey on the ninth hole put the score at even par at the turn.

On the back nine things clicked as Talwar picked up shots on the 11th, 13th, 15th and 17th holes to gain four shots in the last eight holes and record his strongest performance outside India and his second best result overall for the season.

The English Open, supported by Hotel Planner, returned to the golfing calendar for first time in 24 years this week, with Catlin joining a storied list of previous winners including Colin Montgomerie, Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam and Darren Clarke.

—PTI

Three Indians finish in Top-5 of Dutch Ladies Open

Indian women golfers enjoyed one of their strongest weeks on the Ladies European Tour as Diksha Dagar, Avani Prashanth and Pranavi Urs finished inside the top-five at the Dutch Ladies Open here.

Diksha and Avani shared the third place at eight-under 208 at the par 72 course, while Pranavi finished tied fifth at seven-under.

It marked Diksha’s fourth top-10 finish of the season, Avani’s second consecutive top-five result and Pranavi’s first top-five finish of the year. Avani came agonisingly close to forcing her way into the playoff.

She stood at nine-under through 17 holes after Aunchsia Utama had set the clubhouse target.

However, a bogey on the closing hole dropped her back to eight-under, leaving her just one stroke short of the winning total. Aunchsia Utama was joined by Norway’s Dorthea Forbrigd at nine-under.

Diksha, after a birdie on the 17th, reached eight-under and could have joined the play-off with a birdie but managed only a par and tied for third with Avani.

Despite the disappointment, the 19-year-old Avani produced one of the best rounds of the day with a five-under 67 featuring six birdies.

Reflecting on her performance, Avani said she was pleased with the overall quality of her golf despite the late setback.

“I’m obviously very happy with how the day went, but the last hole I guess that’s just sport. I played solid out there start to finish. Every part of my game really did well, so I’m happy,” she said.

She added that regaining full fitness after back problems had helped her rediscover her form, while consecutive top-five finishes had given her plenty of confidence going into the coming weeks.

Diksha signed for rounds of 68, 70 and 69 to continue her impressive consistency on the LET. The left-hander has quietly built momentum throughout the season, and another podium finish further strengthens her position among the leading performers on the tour.

Pranavi Urs also finished the week on a high after closing with a five-under 67. After an opening 73, she bounced back superbly with weekend rounds of 69 and 67 to claim a share of fifth place, providing India with three players inside the top five of a highly competitive LET event.

The tour now moves to Czechia for the Czech Ladies Open, where the Indian contingent will look to build on an outstanding week that showcased India’s growing presence on the Ladies European Tour.

—PTI

Three golfers of Indian origin secure top-20 finish at US Open

Sahith Theegala produced his best-ever finish at the US Open as three golfers of Indian origin ended inside the top-20 at Shinnecock Hills.

Wyndham Clark held off a relentless final-round challenge to capture his second U.S. Open title.

Theegala, and Akshay Bhatia had a memorable week. Theegala finished tied-11th at two-over-par after a closing 73, while Bhatia capped another impressive major performance with a final-round 70 to finish tied-17th. Aaron Rai, the reigning PGA Championship winner, shared the 11th place, rallying after a slow start to the week.

This marked the first time three players of Indian origin have finished inside the top-20 at the U.S. Open.

At the top, Clark completed a remarkable wire-to-wire victory despite seeing his six-shot overnight lead shrink to a single stroke early in the final round.

— PTI

MOTORSPORT

Emmanuel Brothers Shine: Johann scores EuroSBK points, Geoffrey nets Thailand podium

The Emmanuel brothers from Chennai, Johann and Geoffrey, came up with stunning displays over the weekend in the Yahama R7 Cup run along with European Superbike Championship (ESBK) and the BRICS Championship, respectively.

Johann Emmanuel, astride the Yamaha R7, and nursing a fractured wrist he had suffered during training, became the first Indian to score points with a seventh-place finish in the European Superbike Championship (ESBK) at Estoril, Portugal, marking a significant milestone for Indian motorcycle racing.

The teenager, who won the 2025 Qatar Championship and was crowned the 2025 KTM Cup Season 3 Pro Champion in India, is competing in the Yamaha R7 Cup, a one-make series that runs alongside the ESBK.

After a promising opening round in which he was running in podium positions before crashes ended both races, Johann returned in stronger form at the Circuito do Estoril in Portugal.

Starting 10th on the grid for Race 2, he steadily worked his way through the field, clocking fast and consistent lap times throughout the race. His efforts were rewarded with a seventh-place finish, securing his first points in European competition and making him the first Indian rider to score points in the European Superbike Championship.

Emmanuel also demonstrated impressive pace by setting the third-fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:49.875. His lap was quicker than the fastest lap recorded by race winner Daniel Ocete of Spain, who posted a 1:49.910.

Meanwhile, in Buriram, Thailand, 21-year-old Geoffrey Emmanuel secured a spectacular second-place finish for Gusto Racing at the Chang International Circuit during the latest round of the BRIC (Buriram United International Circuit) Championship last weekend.

Facing down a highly competitive grid on a brand-new track, Emmanuel delivered a fierce, edge-of-your-seat battle for the victory, ultimately crossing the line to claim a hard-fought second-place podium finish.

With this podium under his belt, Geoffrey continues to solidify his reputation as one of the most exciting young talents coming out of India. The focus now shifts to the next rounds of the championship, with Gusto Racing looking to carry this upward trajectory into the rest of the season.

—Team Sportstar

Hero MotoSports marks 10 years, launches India’s next Dakar Hero Programme

Hero MotoCorp marked the 10th anniversary of its MotoSports Team Rally here on Monday celebrating a decade of achievements that have placed India firmly on the global rallyraid map while unveiling a roadmap for the future through the launch of the India’s Next Dakar Hero programme.

The milestone event at the company’s Centre for Innovation and Technology brought together the team’s international stars including 2024 FIM World RallyRaid Championship winner Ross Branch, Nacho Cornejo and Michael Docherty alongside emerging Indian rider Shlok Ghorpade and pioneering woman biker Somyya Moksha Chaudhary.

As part of the celebrations Hero MotoCorp announced a five year extension of its partnership with Amaury Sport Organization ASO the organisers of the Dakar Rally and the FIM World RallyRaid Championship.

The company also launched the India’s Next Dakar Hero INDH initiative a first of its kind talent development platform aimed at identifying nurturing and preparing the next generation of Indian rallyraid riders for international competition including the Dakar Rally.

Marking the occasion Executive Chairman Pawan Munjal said the programme reflects Hero’s commitment to creating a sustainable pathway for Indian motorsport talent and inspiring young riders to dream bigger on the world stage.

In another key announcement Hero MotoSports inducted 18-year-old off-road racer Shlok Ghorpade into the team underlining its focus on building future champions.

The event also featured a showcase of the team’s Dakar machines and an off-road riding demonstration by its riders offering guests a glimpse of the endurance skill and determination that have defined Hero MotoSports over the past decade.

Hosted at its state-of-the-art research and development facility in Jaipur the celebration was attended by team leaders partners dealers and members of the motorsport fraternity while highlighting India’s growing presence in rallying.

—PTI

ESPORTS

Team India finishes second among 11 Asian nations at AESF Pokemon UNITE Event

India delivered a standout performance at the AESF-sanctioned Pokemon UNITE Asia International Tournament, finishing runners-up after an impressive campaign in a competition featuring 11 national teams from across Asia.

The closed international tournament, sanctioned by the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF), featured national teams from Hong Kong, Japan, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Nepal.

The participating teams first competed in the online qualification stage on June 14. Delivering an impressive performance, Team India topped its group to secure qualification for the Grand Finals, which were held in Bangkok, Thailand, on Sunday.

Team India showcased resilience, strategic depth and composure throughout the tournament to secure a place in the Grand Finals and finish second overall.

Led by captain Adnan Mohammed Badshah, alongside Sai Krishna Nalluri, Dipjyoti Laxman Nath, Rudra Narayan Nayak, Reuben Godfrey Fernandes and Deepkumar Vipulbhai Patel, under the guidance of coach Zeren Wang, the Indian side opened its campaign with a 2-1 victory over Singapore in Round 1.

India then faced Japan in the upper-bracket semifinals but fell short against the eventual tournament leaders, dropping into the lower bracket. The team responded strongly by defeating Singapore once again to secure a place in the Grand Finals and set up a rematch against Japan.

Facing Japan for a second time in the tournament, India pushed the eventual champions in a hard-fought three-game Grand Finals series before ultimately settling for a runner-up finish.

—PTI

INDIAN FOOTBALL

AIFF condoles the death of former NEROCA head coach Gift Raikhan

The All India Football Federation condoled the untimely demise of Gift Raikhan, former head coach of NEROCA FC, who passed away at the age of 45.

Gift Raikhan was one of the most influential coaches to emerge from Manipur and made a lasting contribution to Indian football through his work at both club and state levels.

His coaching journey was most closely associated with NEROCA FC, where he served across multiple spells between 2015 and 2026. Under his guidance, the Imphal-based club won the I-League 2nd Division title in the 2016-17 season, earning promotion to the top flight for the first time in history. In its debut I-League campaign in 2017-18, NEROCA finished runner-up. Raikhan’s outstanding work that season earned him the Syed Abdul Rahim Award for the Best Coach in the I-League.

He later coached Aizawl FC during the 2018-19 I-League season before returning to NEROCA for subsequent spells. Most recently, he led the Orange Brigade during the 2025-26 I-League 2 season. At the state level, he also served as the head coach of Manipur in the Santosh Trophy during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. He was also the Technical Director of Gokulam Kerala FC in 2021.

Before embarking on his coaching career, Gift Raikhan enjoyed a professional playing career as a left-back. He represented Bengal Mumbai FC, Churchill Brothers, HAL, Indian Bank, Vasco SC, BEML and Pune FC. During his time with Churchill Brothers, he was part of the side that finished runner-up in the National Football League in the 2001-02 season.