Indian Sports News Wrap: March 3

Here are all the major updates and results from Indian sports on Sunday, March 3.

TENNIS

Ishaque and Adil lose final

Second seeds Ishaque Eqbal and Adil Kalyanpur were beaten 5-7, 6-4, [10-6] in the doubles final by Matyas Fuele and Gergely Madarasz of Hungary in the $15,000 ITF men’s tennis tournament in Kish Island, Iran, on Sunday.

– Kamesh Srinivasan

ATHLETICS

Triple jumper Chitravel takes 11th spot at World Indoor Championships

Asian Games bronze medallist Praveen Chitravel was far from his personal best, leaping 16.45m to finish 11th in the men’s triple jump event of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow.

The 22-year-old, who has a national record of 17.37m, jumped 15.76m in the first attempt and gradually improved it to 16.29m and then 16.45m in his third attempt at the Emirates Arena here on Saturday.

Incidentally, it was the season’s best effort for Chitravel who won bronze at Hangzhou last year with a jump of 16.68m.

Burkinabe athlete Hugues Fabrice Zango (17.53m), Yasser Mohammed Triki of Algeria (17.35m) and Tiago Pereira of Portugal (17.08m) took the top three places on the podium.

– PTI

Six veteran athletes from HP to participate in World Masters Athletics C’ships

Six veteran athletes from Himachal Pradesh, including long distance runner Surinder Singh Dehal of Hamirpur, will participate in the World Masters Athletics Championships to be held in Gothenburg, Sweden from August 13 to 25.

The World Masters Athletics Championships are the biennial championships for masters athletics events held under the auspices of World Masters Athletics for athletes who are 35 years of age or older.

“It is a matter of joy for the state. Athletes from HP had performed well and won eight medals in the 44th National Master Athletics Competition held in Pune from February 13 to 17,” Masters Athletics Federation Himachal Pradesh President Ripudaman Kaushik said on Sunday.

Dehal (10,000m) and Ashwini Kumar Sharma (1500m and 2000m steeplechase, 800m) will compete in the above 65 years age category.

While Harish Kumar (triple jump), Dwarika Thakur (1500 meters and 5000 meters), Brijlal Thakur (100m and 300m hurdles) have been selected in the 60 above age group.

Bhishan Singh Chauhan, who will take part in the discus throw, javelin throw and shot put events, will compete in the above 55 years age group.

– PTI

GOLF

Aditi finishes 21st in Singapore, Australia’s Green wins Women’s World Championship title

Indian golfer Aditi Ashok finished 21st at the women’s World Championship with a final card of 2-under 70 here on Sunday after being in top-10 in the first two days.

Aditi had an early bogey, but recovered well with three birdies on the Par-5s on the fifth, eighth and 13th and another one on Par-4 ninth.

She dropped a bogey on the closing 18th. Aditi, who was making her debut in the event, shot 72-69-73 in her earlier rounds.

A week ago Aditi was T-31 at the Honda LPGA. Aditi, a five-time Ladies European Tour winner, is already certain to play her third Olympic Games in Paris this year.

– PTI

Vani to play Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open

Vani Kapoor will be in world-class company when she tees off at the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open starting from March 7.

It will be the first time the 30-year-old plays in an event co-sanction with the Korean LPGA.

A multiple winner on the Indian domestic Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour, Vani also plays on the Ladies European Tour, where she has notched up numerous Top-10 finishes.

Vani, who was T-36 at the Magical Kenya Ladies in her only appearance this season so far, will be the only Indian to tee off at the tournament.

The event carries a massive purse of 1 million Singapore dollars and a win earns the player a card into the highly lucrative Korean LPGA Tour and also the Ladies Asian Tour Series.

Excited about the opportunity to compete alongside major winner Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand and top KLPGA stars, Vani believes that a strong performance will bolster her confidence for the remainder of the LET season.

“To be able to play an event like the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open is a great opportunity because it is going to feature a lot of world-class players, and a good showing will set me for the rest of the season,” she said.

“Indian women’s golf has been on an upswing with some great performances all around, and having a good local Tour has been helpful for us.”

After her T-36 start in Kenya, Vani is seeking to put behind her struggles towards the end of last year, where she missed the cut in four out of her last six appearances.

“I started my season in Kenya, where I played alright and it was the first event of the year. My main season starts after Singapore, so I am really looking forward to it, and I also love Singapore.”

Vani is also looking forward to tackling the challenging Tampines Course of TMCC. She’ll be relying on tips from a local friend to assist her in navigating the course effectively.

“As for the course, it is a great one. I have a friend in Singapore who knows the course well, so I am hoping to get some good advice on it,” she added.

– PTI

Lahiri finishes T-6 in Jeddah

India’s Anirban Lahiri finished tied-sixth in the third event of the LIV Golf League with a final round of 5-under 65 at the Par-70 Royal Greens in Jeddah.

After rounds of 68-67, the 36-year-old Lahiri shot 65 in the third round to total 10-under.

It was his best finish on the LIV Series, having signed off at T-44 and T-21 in the first two events.

Joaquin Niemann, winner of the first event this season, also won the third as he shot 63-64-66 to total 17-under.

Veteran South African Louis Oosthuizen (64-66-67) was tied second with compatriot Charl Schwartzel (63-66-68) at 13-under.

Bryson De Chambeau (62) was fourth at 12-under, while Jon Rahm (68) was fifth at 11-under.

Lahiri was tied sixth with five others including Phil Mickelson, Charles Howell III, Talor Gooch, Adrian Meronk and Jason Kokrak.

– PTI

POLO

Chris Mackenzie scored four goals in helping Rajnigandha Achievers to a 7-5 victory over Mayfair Polo in the final of the Radha Mohan Rajinder Mohan Gold Vase polo tournament at the Jaipur Polo ground on Sunday.

Mare Jha, ridden by Anay Shah, was adjudged the ‘best polo pony’. Vishwarupe Bajaj was declared the ‘most valuable player’.

– Kamesh Srinivasan