Indian sports wrap, August 27: Team India Jersey for World Para Athletics Championships unveiled in New Delhi

PARA-ATHLETICS

Team India jersey for World Para Athletics Championships unveiled in New Delhi

With one month to go for the World Para Athletics Championships, the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) unveiled the official Team India jersey at a ceremony held at The Lalit, New Delhi, on Wednesday.

The announcement also highlighted the 73-strong Indian contingent preparing to compete on home soil from September 27 to October 5.

The launch event was attended by PCI’s brand ambassador, actor and MP Kangana Ranaut; alongside PCI President Devendra Jhajharia; Paul Fitzgerald, Head of World Para Athletics, and India’s top para athletes like Preeti Pal, Simran, Rinku, Dharambir, Devender Kumar, Amisha Rawat, Shreyansh Trivedi, Varun Singh Bhati, and Pranav Soorma.

Dharambir and Preeti, India’s flag bearers for the event, had exceptional performances at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Dharambir won the gold medal in the men’s Club Throw F51 event, while Preeti Pal secured two bronze medals.

Ranaut, MP and Brand Ambassador Of World Para Athletics Championships ‘25, said, “Being part of this moment is truly special. Our para athletes are real heroes who inspire millions through their dedication and strength. The Team India announcement alongside this jersey launch symbolises their hard work, unity, and passion. I am certain they will make the tricolour shine brightly on the global stage.”

PCI President Jhajharia remarked, “Today’s jersey launch and the announcement of our strong Team India contingent is more than just unveiling a uniform; it is a celebration of courage, determination, and the spirit of our para athletes. Each athlete represents India’s resilience and pride, and we are confident that this team will deliver outstanding performances at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi.”

Dharambir said, “Carrying the Indian flag at this championship is a tremendous honour. After the experience in Paris, I am more motivated than ever to give my best and make the entire nation proud. This new jersey will be a symbol of our unity and fighting spirit.”

Preeti added, “Winning medals at the Paralympics showed me the power of perseverance and belief. Wearing the Team India jersey is a proud moment, and I am excited to compete on home ground and inspire the next generation of para athletes across the country.”

– Team Sportstar

GOLF

Shubhankar Sharma joins global star cast at DP World India Championship

Two-time DP World Tour winner Shubhankar Sharma will lead the home charge when he joins global stars Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood at the USD 4 million DP World India Championship in New Delhi from October 16-19.

Sharma, who enjoyed a recent career highlight by representing the country at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, became the youngest Indian player to win on the DP World Tour when he claimed the Joburg Open title in December 2017, aged just 21.

He lifted a second trophy two months later after carding a sublime final round of 62 to win the Maybank Championship, and capped off the season by claiming the 2018 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award and topping the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

The 29-year-old has also recorded six wins on the Professional Golf Tour of India, and boasts a Major Championship top 10, following his impressive tied 8th finish in The Open at Royal Liverpool in 2023.

Sharma joins reigning Masters champion and career grand slam winner McIlroy and his Europe Ryder Cup team mate Fleetwood, who is also a seven-time DP World Tour winner, Olympic silver medallist and newly- crowned FedExCup champion, in the inaugural DP World India Championship at the Delhi Golf Club.

Global smart logistics provider DP World and the DP World Tour launched the DP World India Championship this season.

Co-sanctioned with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the tournament features the largest prize fund ever offered for a DP World Tour event in India, with an exciting field set to join Sharma, Fleetwood and McIlroy.

Sharma said: “We’re all very excited about the DP World India Championship. I can’t wait to get back to Delhi Golf Club. It’s a historic course – I played there a lot as a junior and have very fond memories. It’s a tough course, it’s iconic, and I’m sure the DP World Tour players who have played there will remember it well.

“Having players like Rory McIlroy as the reigning Masters champion and the FedExCup champion Tommy Fleetwood coming to the event, things like this can change golf in India.

“I remember Tiger Woods playing an exhibition match many years ago and the impact walking with him had on me, so to have such an incredible field coming to the country will make this event really special.” The upcoming tournament underscores India’s growing influence as a destination for elite golf and as a strategic market for DP World. The new tournament follows the success of the 2025 Hero Indian Open, won by Eugenio Chacarra, and further boosts the Tour’s momentum in the region.

The tournament will be the eighth of nine events in the ‘Back 9’ phase of the 2025 Race to Dubai, building towards the season-ending DP World Tour play-offs and culminating in the DP World Tour Championship in November at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.

– PTI

Amateur Mannat Brar takes first-round lead in 12th leg of WPGT

Amateur Mannat Brar struck a purple patch in the middle of the opening round with four birdies in a row and grabbed the first round lead in the 12th leg of Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour in Hosur on Wednesday.

Playing in the Rs. 15 lakh prize money event, Mannat shot 2-under 70 for the only under par round of the day at the Clover Greens.

Mannat, who was tied eighth last week in the 11th leg at Prestige Golfshire, was two shots clear of the trio comprising Kriti Chowhan, Jasmine Shekar and Ananya Garg, all of whom shot even par 72.

Mannat opened with a birdie and then dropped shots on the fourth and the sixth to go to 1-over. She then produced four birdies in a row from the ninth to 12th. The birdie run stopped as she had five pars in a row, but unfortunately closed with a bogey at the tricky Par-3 18th.

Kriti, looking for her maiden win on the WPG Tour, birdied the second and the third, but gave back both those shots on the seventh and the eighth. She parred her last 10 holes for her 72.

Jasmine, a multiple winner on the Tour, had an early birdie on the fifth, and then three in a row from the 11th to the 13th. She bogeyed the eighth, ninth, 14th and the 16th for a par score.

Ananya, also in the hunt for her first pro title, had three birdies against three bogeys.

Another amateur Aaradhya Shetty and pro Rhea Jha carded 1-over 73 each to occupy the fifth place.

Last week’s runner-up amateur Lavanya Gupta, who is due to attend college in the US soon, and four others — amateur Diya C Patil, Karishma Govind, Ravjot K Dosanjh and Ananya Datar — were tied for seventh place with scores of 2-over 74 each.

Lavanya had a good start with birdies on the second and the third but was unable to keep the momentum going. Overall, she had three birdies against five bogeys.

Among the well-known names having a tough time on the first day were Ladies European Tour players Amandeep Drall (75) and Seher Atwal (75) at tied -12th, Sneha Singh (76) at 18th, Ridhima Dilawari (77) at T-19, and Rhea Purvi Saravanan (79) at T-23.

The 12th leg is one of the last few events ahead of the Women’s Indian Open in October. It will also decide which players make the grade for the international event.

– PTI

Published on Aug 27, 2025