Indian sports wrap, March 15: Saurav Ghosal pulls out of the HCL Challenger Tour squash tournament

SQUASH

India’s Saurav Ghosal has pulled out of the HCL Challenger Tour squash tournament scheduled in Chennai from March 17 to 21 due to an issue with his hip.

In a message to The Hindu on Saturday, the former World’s top 10 player said: “I am withdrawing from the tournament as something is going on with my right hip. I don’t know exactly what it is. I am in touch with a specialist and will try to figure it out.”

-Team Sportstar

SHOOTING

Indian shooters begin national camp ahead of World Cups in South America

The Indian shooters picked for the World Cup stages in Argentina and Peru have joined the national camp at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges in New Delhi, beginning their final phase of preparations for the season ahead from Saturday.

Barring a few exceptions, most of the shooters in the 35-member squad reported to the camp on Friday and have started working with their respective coaches.

The first batch of shooters will leave for the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, the venue of the year’s first International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun (April 1-11) stage, on March 26.

The South American leg continues thereafter in Lima, Peru, where the second ISSF combined World Cup stage will be hosted from April 13-22.

As reported earlier, double Olympic bronze medallist Manu Bhaker will be the only Indian shooter to start in two individual events, the women’s 10m air pistol and the women’s 25m pistol.

Indian shooters will compete in 15 events across the disciplines of rifle, pistol and shotgun, including 12 individual and three mixed team events.

-PTI

GOLF

Rookie Avani and Pranavi make cut at Australian Women’s Classic

Rookie Avani Prashanth and Pranavi Urs made the cut at the weather-hit Australian Women’s Classic while the more experienced Diksha Dagar fell short.

Avani, playing her maiden season added even par 70 to her first round of 72 and was 2-over for 36 holes, lying Tied-40th.

Pranavi Urs (73-71) made the cut on the line as Top-60 and ties will play the final round. Pranavi is Tied-60th. Diksha Dagar, a two-time LET winner, carded 74-73 and missed the cut which fell at 4-over.

Sarah Kemp, who injured herself seriously in a freak golf cart accident and broke her tibia and fibula eight months ago, made a sensational comeback with a 62 (-8) and moved into a 2-shot lead with one round to go.

Avani bogeyed twice on the front nine on the third and the ninth but staged a good comeback on the back nine with birdies on the 11th and 17th.

Pranavi, winner of her home Tour’s Hero Order of Merit, had three birdies against four bogeys.

-PTI

ATHLETICS

Indian athletes continue to shine in Special Olympics Winter Games

India’s impressive run at the Special Olympics Winter Games continued with the athletes adding as many as 15 more medals to the country’s tally in Turin, Italy.

India’s total medal count has now risen to 24, building on the nine medals secured in the earlier events.

In alpine skiing, Deepak Thakur and Giridhar displayed exceptional skills to clinch gold medals in the Intermediate Super G M04 and M05 categories respectively, while Abhishek Kumar secured a silver in the Novice Super G M01 category.

Radha Devi also delivered a stellar performance, earning a silver medal in the Intermediate Super G F03 event.

Adding to India’s success on the ice, Ziara Porter showcased impressive speed and determination to claim silver medals in 111M F1 event and 222M F2 event of short track speed skating, while Tanshu won a bronze in the 777M M2 category and a silver in 500M M3 category.

India’s presence in cross country skiing was also felt as Akriti put in a commendable effort to secure a bronze medal in the 50M Classical Technique Final F03.

India’s snowshoeing athletes also delivered some stellar performances, further boosting the medal count.

Vasu Tiwari secured a gold medal in the 50M Race M03 event, while Jahangir and Tanya won silver medals in the 50M Race M04 and F02 categories respectively.

Shalini Chauhan added to the tally with a bronze in the 50M Race F03 category. In the 200M Race, Anil Kumar emerged victorious with a gold medal in the MP 12 division, while Harleen Kaur clinched silver in the F12 division.

-PTI