Indian sports wrap, November 28: India U-20 women’s football team to play two friendlies against Uzbekistan in Mahabalipuram

FOOTBALL

The Indian Under-20 women’s football team will play two friendly matches against Uzbekistan on November 29 and December 2, 2025, at the FC Madras Academy in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.

Both matches, being held during the FIFA Women’s International Match Window, will be played behind closed doors.

Head coach Joakim Alexandersson named a 24-member squad for these games, which will form part of India’s preparations for the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026.

The Young Tigresses have been drawn with Japan, Australia and Chinese Taipei in Group C of the Asian Cup. Uzbekistan has also qualified for the same and has been placed in Group B with DPR Korea, Korea Republic and Jordan.

India has been camping at the FC Madras Academy since November 11. Last month, the Young Tigresses played two friendly matches against Kazakhstan U-19 in Shymkent, winning 3-2 and drawing 1-1.

-Team Sportstar

GOLF

It was a mixed opening day for India as Aditi Ashok, a multiple winner on the Ladies European Tour, shot 3-under 69 to be tied 10th after the first day at the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de Espana in Malaga.

She was three shots behind Denmark’s Smilla Tarning Soenderby and Thailand’s Trichat Cheenglab who shared the lead at six-under-par.

Aditi began on the first and bogeyed the third but made up on the fourth.

She turned in even par. She began the back nine with an eagle on Par-5 10th but gave away a shot on Par-5 12th. She landed two birdies on the 16th and the 17th for a 69.

Rookie Avani Prashanth (71) was the next best Indian at T-27th, while Hitaashee Bakshi, who made the season-ending event on the strength of her third place finish at Hero Women’s Indian Open last month, carded 73 and was T-45.

Pranavi Urs, who recently won a title playing in a field that included men in a home event on the new IGPL Tour, shot 2-over 74, as did Diksha Dagar. Both were T-49.

-PTI

CYCLING

The inaugural edition of the Pune Grand Tour, the country’s first-ever Union Cycliste Internationale 2.2 category Road Race, will be held from January 19 to 23.

Hosts India will field two teams for which the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) will hold the National Championship cum selection trials from December 2 to 6 at Sambalpur, Odisha. The shortlisted athletes will further be evaluated through a National Road Race in Pune on December 28.

The presence of two Indian teams – ‘India A’ and ‘India B’- is set to provide a broader platform for emerging and seasoned cyclists alike to demonstrate their prowess on a national and international stage.

The Tour will feature four-stages 437-km challenging routes that will wind through the landscapes of Pune district

-PTI

MOTORSPORT

Indian racing sensation Atiqa Mir outpaced a battery of world-class male drivers to qualify fourth in the COTFA international karting series, the highest finish for a female in the championship’s history.

With the series supported by Formula 1 Academy, it was the perfect stage for Atiqa to showcase her rare talent, and the 11-year-old did that with an unprecedented fourth place in qualifying of the mini category before finishing in the same position in the final on Day 1.

The Formula 1 Academy and Akcel GP-backed driver missed the podium spot by just 0.07 seconds, a testament to the highly competitive nature of the grid.

In the final on Day 2, Atiqa came up with another impressive effort in qualifying, setting the fifth fastest time.

She was in podium contention for the majority of the race. A daring overtake on the last lap put her in fourth place, and with a podium at stake, Atiqa understandably pushed herself to the limit, leading to a loss of three places. She still managed to finish a creditable seventh out of 28 drivers.

-PTI

Published on Nov 28, 2025