Indian sports wrap, December 6: India’s blind cricket star Simu Das to get cash award, govt. job from Assam CM

CRICKET

India’s Blind Cricket star Simu Das to get cash award, govt. job from Assam CM

India’s blind cricket star Simu Das has been honoured by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam, Shri. Himanta Biswa Sarma awarded her with ₹10 lakh in financial assistance and a promise of a government job.

Simu, a B1 (totally blind) category cricketer, was part of the Indian blind women’s cricket team that made the nation proud by winning the first-ever Blind Women’s T20 World Cup.

Simu was born completely blind and grew up in extreme hardship. With no permanent home and constant financial instability, Simu also carries the responsibility of a brother who is both blind and deaf.

Through sheer determination, Simu continued her education and found hope through cricket. Identified and trained by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, she honed her skills and earned a spot on the Indian Blind Women’s Cricket Team, transforming her life story into one of strength, discipline and national pride.

Speaking on the recognition, Simu Das said, “Today is the most emotional day of my life. I come from a family that has struggled for everything. There were times when I felt my dreams were too big for someone like me. But the announcement of a government job and this honour from our Hon’ble Chief Minister have given me a new life and a new identity.

-Team Sportstar

WRESTLING

PWL to begin January 15; over 300 players register for auction

The Pro Wrestling League (PWL) will return in a new avatar on January 15, 2026. It will be held at the Noida Indoor Stadium, Sector-21, until February 1.

According to a Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) release, over 300 wrestlers—including Olympic and World Championship medallists from more than 20 countries—have registered for the auction.

The WFI claimed that some major corporate houses have shown their interest in acquiring franchises.

-Team Sportstar

MOTORSPORT

Rivaan Dev Preetham impresses with two top-10 finishes at Rotax Max Challenge

India’s Rivaan Dev Preetham delivered two top-10 performances in the highly competitive Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals (RMCGF), which concluded at the Bahrain International Circuit on Saturday.

Rivaan, the 12-year-old from Chennai who recently completed a hat-trick of National Championship titles, came up with a solid drive in the Pre-Final to finish a creditable sixth after starting from P12. In the Final, Rivaan managed to finish ninth in a field of 72 drivers.

Meanwhile, two other Indian entries, Bengaluru’s Ishaan Madesh in the Senior category and Eshanth Vengatesan from Chennai in the Junior class came away wiser for the experience, with neither qualifying for the Finals.

The RMCGF is widely regarded as one of the fairest and most international events in global karting competition. For the Bahrain event, 394 drivers qualified from 60 countries.

-Team Sportstar.

Gujarat Trailblazers lead after second round in ISRL season 2

BB Racing’s Anthony Bourdon won the 450cc international class while France’s Calvin Fonvieille clinched victory in the 250 cc international class, as Gujarat Trailblazers won the overall second round of Indian Supercross Racing League in Hyderabad.

Bourdon recorded his win riding a Honda CRF 450 R while Fonvieille claimed his win riding a Yamaha YZ 250, but in the 250cc India-Asia mix category, Nakami Makarim from Bigrock (Indonesia) powered through on a Kawasaki KX 250.

The event was officially flagged off by Telangana state Chief Minister Shri Revanth Reddy.

The participants included those from Australia, France, USA, Germany, Thailand, South Africa and more, competing alongside India’s Rugved Barguje and Ikshan Shanbhag.

The final of the ISRL will now be held in Kozhikode on December 21.

-PTI

PICKLEBALL

Hyderabad stuns Chennai as Mumbai Smashers scripts fairytale run to the final

Hyderabad Royals staged a stunning comeback to topple Chennai Super Warriors 4–2 in Qualifier 1, while Mumbai Smashers’ fairytale surge continued as they swept past Lucknow Leopards in the Eliminator and stunned Chennai in Qualifier 2—both 4–2—to book their place alongside Hyderabad in the Grand Finale of the Indian Pickleball League—launched by The Times Group and recognised as India’s only official pickleball league sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.

Hyderabad will meet Mumbai at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall on Sunday to decide the winner of the inaugural IPBL season.

A three-way tie for fourth meant a Play-In preceded the knockouts. With Grand Rallies played to 25, Mumbai Smashers edged Capital Warriors Gurgaon 25–24 in a breathless opener, then backed it up with a composed 25–22 win over Bengaluru Blasters to secure fourth place and seal their spot in the playoffs.

In the placement rally, Bengaluru defeated Gurgaon 25–21 to finish fifth.

In Qualifier 1, Chennai Super Warriors faced Hyderabad Royals for a direct ticket to the Grand Finale.

Mitch Hargreaves gave Chennai the ideal launch, winning the men’s singles 15–11 before teaming with Harsh Mehta to repeat the scoreline in a patient men’s doubles display for a 2–0 lead. The women’s singles delivered the headline clash: unbeaten Roos van Reek versus Megan Fudge.

Fudge came out on top, dominating the kitchen line to script a stunning 15–13 upset—van Reek’s only singles loss of the league.

Hyderabad carried that momentum into the women’s doubles, where Fudge and Shreya Chakraborty held off a late Chennai push to win 15–13 and level the tie.

Hyderabad rose to the moment in the Grand Rally, overturning a brief Chennai lead to prevail 21–17 and book their place in the final, sending Chennai to Qualifier 2. Fudge and Newell were named Players of the Tie.

Later, Mumbai Smashers and Lucknow Leopards met in a high-stakes Eliminator.

DUPR World No. 3 Quang Duong came out firing, beating Ryler DeHeart 15–8 before returning with Ammol Ramchandani to edge a tense 15–14 men’s doubles win for a 2–0 lead. Lucknow fought back through Mihika Yadav’s 15–10 women’s singles win and then levelled the tie as Bates and Naomi Amalsadiwala took the women’s doubles 15–11.

The Grand Rally produced a point-for-point thriller, with Mumbai holding firm for a 21–18 finish, while Duong and Yadav took Player of the Tie honours.

Catching form at the right time, Mumbai then proceeded to face Chennai in Qualifier 2.

Duong got things going again with a 15–7 triumph over Hargreaves—his seventh straight singles win—before partnering Ramchandani to a composed 15–10 victory that pushed Mumbai 2–0 up. Chennai battled back through van Reek and Aaliya Ebrahim, who dominated the women’s doubles 15–7, but Mumbai pulled clear in the Grand Rally, sealing a 21–15 win to reach the final.

Duong and Pearl took home the Player of the Tie awards.

Published on Dec 06, 2025