Indian sports wrap, November 11: Historic pole and podium for Atiqa Mir in F1 Academy-backed COTFA series
MOTORSPORT
Indian racing prodigy Atiqa Mir stormed to a historic pole position before finishing third on the podium in the opening round of the Formula 1 Academy-backed COTFA UAE karting series in Abu Dhabi.
The 10-year-old is the first Indian to be supported by Formula 1. Already part of the Champions of the Future Academy (COTFA) international series, Atiqa, last month, was picked by Formula 1 Academy for the two-round COTFA UAE championship.
With more eyeballs on this championship, there was additional pressure to deliver and Atiqa did not disappoint.
She clinched the pole position, becoming the first-ever female in the world to achieve this feat in the COTFA mini class before adding a heat win to a successful weekend.
She capped off a memorable week by finishing third in the final.
Atiqa was coming into the weekend after a stellar October when she secured multiple podiums across championships including a race win at the RMC Championship.
“It was a great weekend for me speed-wise, I got pole in qualifying. I wanted the win in the final but came away with 3rd, I will learn from this weekend and try and improve,” said the fast learning racer from Jammu and Kashmir.
The COTFA series is run on equal equipment and engines to ensure a level playing field for all drivers, empowering the real talent to shine through.
-PTI
BADMINTON
Teenage Indian shuttler Naishaa Kaur Bhatoye failed to qualify for the main draw of the Kumamoto Masters Japan after suffering a straight-game loss to New Zealand’s Shaunna LI in the qualifiers on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old Indian went down 17-21, 18-21 to her higher-ranked opponent in 32 minutes in the women’s singles qualification round of the Super 500 tournament.
India will thus have no representation in the women’s singles event, while Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy will begin their men’s singles campaign in the USD 475,000 event on Wednesday.
-PTI
Published on Nov 11, 2025