Indian sports wrap, January 24: Yuki Bhambri advances in men’s doubles at Australian Open
TENNIS
Bhambri advances, Balaji ousted from Australian Open
India’s Yuki Bhazmbri advanced to the third round of the men’s doubles at the Australian Open, while compatriot N. Sriram Balaji bowed out, marking a mixed day for the Indian contingent at the season’s first Grand Slam.
Bhambri and his 10th-seeded Swedish partner Andre Goransson overcame the unseeded pairing of Santiago Gonzalez and David Pel 4-6, 7-6[5], 6-3 in a second-round contest that was interrupted by the tournament’s extreme heat policy.
The match, which lasted two hours and six minutes in total, had been suspended on Thursday with Bhambri and Goransson trailing 4-6, 2-2 before resuming later as per Australian Open regulations.
Showing composure after the restart, the Indo-Swedish pair lifted its level in a tense second-set tie-break before asserting control in the decider to seal its place in the last 16.
Earlier, Balaji, partnering Austria’s Neil Oberleitner, exited the tournament after a straight-sets loss to fourth seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic. The alternate pair went down 5-7, 1-6 in its second-round encounter.
Bhambri’s progress keeps Indian interest alive in the men’s doubles draw as the tournament moves into its decisive stages.
– PTI
MOTORSPORT
Indian racing sensation Atiqa Mir secures drive with world karting champion Modena for WSK 2026
Indian racing prodigy Atiqa Mir, 11, has secured a coveted drive for reigning world champions Modena Racing Team for the 2026 season of the prestigious WSK championship, considered as the ‘Formula 1’ of karting. Atiqa has taken the tougher route to the top by opting to race in the highly competitive junior category (age 12-14) this season.
On the back of her impressive performances in the mini category (age 8-12) last year, the Formula 1 Academy supported driver was signed for the entire season and will drive in the WSK Super Master Series, WSK Euro Series, WSK Final Cup amongst other championships.
In the process, Atiqa will become the first Indian female ever to drive in OKNJ category in WSK and remarkably will be the only female on the entire grid of 37 world class drivers.
The WSK series is the highest level of karting which attracts the best driving talent from around the world besides leading kart and engine manufacturers.
Formula 1 world champions including Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel have raced in WSK in their formative years.
– PTI
SQUASH
Anahat Singh advances in New York
India’s top women’s player Anahat Singh moved into the second round of the Sprott Tournament of Champions, a PSA Platinum event in New York, while Abhay Singh lost a close five-game contest in his opener.
World No. 31 Anahat beat England’s Lucy Turmel 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11, and will meet Japanese sixth seed Satomi Watanabe next.
Meanwhile, men’s World No. 29 Abhay went down to Spain’s Iker Pajares 4-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-3, 3-11.
– Team Sportstar
Published on Jan 24, 2026