Indian sports wrap, January 28: Sahaja Yamalapalli awarded wildcard for WTA Mumbai Open

TENNIS

Sahaja awarded wildcard for WTA Mumbai Open

India’s No. 1 women’s singles player, Sahaja Yamalapalli, was on Wednesday awarded a wildcard entry into the main draw of the Mumbai Open—a WTA 125k series event, starting on February 2.

Sahaja played a key role in India’s second-place finish in the Asia-Oceania Group 1 stage of the Billie Jean King Cup in Pune and was also part of the team during the play-offs held in Bengaluru.

“I am extremely grateful to MSLTA for giving me the wildcard. Playing a WTA event at home is always truly special, and it means a lot to me. I am going to try and play my heart out in every match and give my 100 per cent,” said Sahaja.

“The aim is to go deep in the tournament, but the most important thing for me is to show growth as a player and take confidence into the season.”

She had exited in the Round of 32 after a 3-6, 6-4, 1-6 defeat to Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee in the previous edition.

Reflecting on her performance last year, she said, “I’ve made a few changes to my game since the last edition, especially in my serve, and I’ve seen a massive improvement as a result. I’ve also worked on being tactically disciplined, being consistent under pressure and deciding when to play aggressively. I am really looking forward to showcasing this growth in the upcoming edition of the L&T Mumbai Open.

“The L&T Mumbai Open is extremely important for us since it gives us rare and valuable exposure to top-level competition without the challenges of constant travel and expenses. It is also an inspiration to many young players to see that our country is doing a lot for us players and this pushes us to give our best.”

-PTI

SHOOTING

ISSF ‘B’ course concludes, 55 coaches graduate

As many as 55 coaches were on Wednesday awarded diplomas at the conclusion of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) ‘B’ Coaches Course, an initiative aimed at strengthening India’s coaching ecosystem in the sport of shooting.

Led by Vesa Nissinen, Director, ISSF Academy and President of the Finnish Shooting Federation, the course brought together a diverse faculty of international and Indian experts, offering multi-disciplinary learning experience.

“The programme focused on advancing professional coaching practices, extending well beyond technical instruction to include athlete management, physical preparation, and long-term performance development,” said the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), which conducted the five-day course under its education programme.

The instructional team featured, among others, two-time Olympian rifle shooter Sanjeev Rajput, who led sessions on rifle shooting techniques.

Italy’s Davide Secondi, the serving national coach of Saudi Arabia, delivered instruction in shotgun shooting techniques.

“With 55 newly-certified coaches, we are adding quality and depth to the system, which will directly impact athlete development in the years to come,” said NRAI Secretary General Pawankumar Singh.

-PTI

CRICKET

Mumbai lifts Vijay Merchant Trophy after draw with Maharashtra

Mumbai lifted the Vijay Merchant (U-16 boys) Trophy by outclassing arch-rival Maharashtra on the basis of the first innings
lead in the four-day final that concluded at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday.

Riding on a 143-run partnership for the fifth wicket between captain Aayush Shete (95) and Arjun Gadoya (105), Mumbai overhauled a challenging total of 381 set by Maharashtra. The tail then prolonged the innings to leave no time for Maharashtra to set a target.

While Gadoya was adjudged the player of the match, Mumbai new-ball bowler Karthik Kumar was presented the player of the series trophy.

Brief scores:

JUDO

Punjab wins team title

Punjab judokas secured four gold medals to help their State take the team title in the recently concluded National junior judo championships at the Dumurjala Indoor Stadium, Howrah.

Chandigarh finished second, with three gold medals. Arjuna Awardees Thombi Devi and Angom Anita Chanu conducted talent scouting during the event.

-Team Sportstar

Published on Jan 28, 2026