Indian Sports Wrap, August 11: Ritika clinches heavyweight gold at Asian U-22 Boxing Championships

BOXING

Ritika Clinches Heavyweight Gold as India End Asian U22 Boxing Championships with 13 Medals; Finish 2nd Overall in U19, 4th in U22

Ritika’s gold in the women’s 80+kg category capped off India’s campaign at the Asian U-19 & U-22 Boxing Championships 2025 in Bangkok, where the team collected a total of 27 medals across both age groups. The dual championships, spread over 10 days, brought together the continent’s best young talent in a competitive test for the next generation of boxers, where India finished second overall in the U19 standings and fourth in U22.

The U19 group will return home with a total of 14 medals, including three gold, seven silver and four bronze medals, scoring the most in terms of absolute medal count and were second behind Uzbekistan (7) in golds. The U22 contingent also bagged four silver medals to conclude their campaign with a total of 13.

India had fielded a strong contingent of 40 boxers — 20 in each age group — with a perfect mix of proven champions and potential talents who have impressed in the domestic circuit. The players underlined India’s growing stature as a Boxing powerhouse in Asia.

The day’s sole gold came through Ritika in the women’s 80+kg final, where she kept her composure under pressure to beat Kazakhstan’s Assel Toktassyn. Facing a strong boxer, Ritika mixed caution with aggression to land some telling blows, bagging India’s fourth gold of the U-19 and U-22 Asian Boxing Championships, which were held simultaneously over the last 10 days.

In the morning session, Yatri Patel settled for a silver after losing to Khumorabonu Mamajonova of Uzbekistan in women’s 57kg, while Priya’s spirited fight against Yu Tian of China in the 60kg final ended in a narrow 2:3 loss. Later in the day, Neeraj went down against Shavkatjon Boltaev of Uzbekistan in the men’s 75kg final. At the same time, Ishan Kataria lost to Khalimjon Mamasoliev of Uzbekistan in the 90+kg gold medal clash–both securing a silver.

India’s overall medal haul across both age groups and genders underlined the strength and depth of its youth boxing programme. Earlier this year, the U-15 and U-17 squads had combined for 43 medals at the Asian Championships, with the U-15 contingent delivering the highest number of golds in the competition — 11 in total — led by the girls’ team, who swept 10 of the 15 available gold medals and won every final they contested on the penultimate day.

-Team Sportstar

GOLF

Ahlawat shoots under par to finish Tied-25th in Scotland

Veer Ahlawat shot one-under 71 in the final round of the Nexo Championship and ended with a total of 3-over for four days to finish tied 25th at Trump International Golf Links here.

Ahlawat, playing on the DP World Tour by virtue of topping the PGTI Order of Merit last year, had three birdies against two bogeys, all on the front nine. He parred all nine holes on the back nine.

It was only the third Top-25 finish for Ahlawat, who also finished T-17 at Hero Indian Open and T-13 at Austrian Alpine Open.

-PTI

Bhatia hangs on for sixth, moves into Top-30 at FedEx Cup

Akshay Bhatia hung in for a tied-sixth place with a modest 1-under 69 in the final round as Justin Rose rallied over the last five holes to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

Bhatia rode the week on his first round 8-under 62 and followed up with 69-70-69 to total 10-under and finish six shots behind Rose (67) and JJ Spaun (65) who tied at the top and then went into a play-off which was won by Rose.

Bhatia moved up 16 places from his 45th at the start of the week and it was the biggest upward move other than Rose, whose win moved him 21 places from 25th to fourth.

Bhatia began in style with birdies on the second and the third and then managed only one more on the ninth. He also dropped shots on the seventh and the 17th.

But the sixth place finish by Bhatia confirmed him for the second of the three play-offs. By being in top-50 he is also assured of starts at all USD 20 million Signature events in 2026.

He now needs to stay on in Top-30 to play the Tour Championship for the second straight year.

Aaron Rai, the Indo-British player, who was also in the Play-offs shot 67 and finished tied 22nd, but it did not move him from 55th to inside 50th. He was stranded 53rd and it ended his season.

-PTI

Diksha Dagar finishes in Top-20 in PIF London Championship

Diksha Dagar endured contrasting fortunes on the front and back nines of the final round to finish tied 19th at the PIF London Championship at Centurion Club.

Diksha seemed to be going great with three birdies on the front nine, but she gave away all those gains on the back nine a matter of four holes between the 11th and the 14th.

After rounds of 70-73-73 at the Par-73 Centurion Club, Diksha was 3-under 216 for three rounds and finished Tied-19th. Diksha, is still 12th on the Order of Merit of the Ladies European Tour.

Two other Indians, who made the cut, Aditi Ashok (72) and Pranavi Urs (75) were further down the leaderboard. Aditi (73-74-72) was even par for three rounds and Tied-34th while Pranavi (75-71-75) was 2-over and T-44th.

Avani Prashanth had missed the cut.

-PTI

Saptak Talwar logs first top-15 finish on HotelPlanner Tour

India’s Saptak Talwar landed his first top-15 finish on the HotelPlanner Tour with a final round of one-under 71 at the Irish Challenge at Killeen Castle.

Talwar, who has been playing on the HotelPlanner Tour this season, shot rounds of 75-70-70-71 to finish one-under for the week at the par-72 Killeen Castle course. It was his best round of the season on the Tour.

-PTI

IGU sends four-member team to compete in APGC Mid-Amateur Championship

The Indian Golf Union (IGU) has sent a four-member team to Indonesia to compete in the first-ever Mid-Amateur Championship organised by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation in association with the Indonesia Golf Association.

Led by current IGU All-India Mid-Amateur champion Ranjit Singh, the Indian team comprising Arjun Singh, Simarjeet Singh and Col. Varoon Parmar will participate in the prestigious event at the Gading Raya Golf Club here from August 12-14.

A total of 80 golfers from 20 countries will be battling it out for the coveted trophy.

-PTI