Indian sports wrap, August 31: India loses to Lebanon in FIBA U-16 Asia Cup campaign opener

BASKETBALL

India begins FIBA U-16 Asia Cup campaign with loss

The Indian men’s national team opened its FIBA Under-16 Asia Cup campaign with a defeat, suffering a 75-93 loss against Lebanon in Mongolia.

India will next play Australia in its second Group A fixture. Bahrain is the other team in this group.

Only the four group winners will directly qualify for the quarterfinals, while the second and third-placed teams will participate in the playoffs.

The top four teams in the competition will qualify for the FIBA U-17 World Cup.

– Team Sportstar

BADMINTON

Kazuma clinches double crown at India Junior International Grand Prix

Indian pair of Aanya Bisht and Angel Punera produced a spirited performance to clinch the girls’ doubles title with an upset win over fifth-seeded Japanese duo Aoi Banno and Yuzu Ueno at the Yonex Sunrise India Junior International Grand Prix Badminton Tournament on Sunday.

The unseeded pair rallied from a game down to beat the Japanese duo 21-23, 21-12, 21-17.

There was further joy for the hosts in the mixed doubles, where Vansh Dev and Shravani Walekar outplayed C Lalramsanga and Taarini Suri 21-12, 21-13 to lift the crown.

In other results, Japan’s Kazuma Kawano secured a memorable double, bagging both the boys’ singles and doubles titles.

In the boys’ singles final, ninth seed Kawano stunned second seed Hyuga Takano 23-21, 18-21, 25-23 in a marathon contest that lasted one hour and nine minutes.

The girls’ singles title also went Japan’s way with Yuzuno Watanabe overcoming 10th seed Yurika Nagafuchi 16-21, 21-13, 21-17 in an all-Japanese summit clash.

In the boys doubles, Kazuma Kawano teamed up with Shuji Sawada to get past another Japanese pair of Shunsei Nemoto and Nagi Yoshitsugu 21-15, 21-18.

-PTI

MORE SPORTS

GoSports strikes partnership to guide Arunachal talent

The GoSports Foundation has partnered with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh towards guiding 30 athletes from the State to global standards.

Serving as the knowledge partner for the Chief Minister’s Athlete Coaching and Empowerment Scheme (CM ACES), GoSports will execute the scheme in providing holistic support to 25 athletes and five para athletes.

As part of the plan, athletes will get world-class training, coaching, competition exposure, sports science support, apart from a top-class nutrition program, ensuring their comprehensive development to represent Arunachal at the national and international levels.

– Team Sportstar

INDIAN FOOTBALL

India suffered their only defeat in their last match of SAFF U17 Women’s Championship 2025, losing 3-4 to Bangladesh at Changlimithang Stadium, Bhutan, on Sunday, August 31. Despite the defeat, the Young Tigresses were crowned champions, having earned an unassailable lead in the points table with a game in hand.

The Young Tigresses concluded the SAFF U17 Women’s Championship with five wins and one loss.

Published on Aug 31, 2025