Indian sports wrap, November 1: Rathika reaches semifinals of North Coast Open squash
SQUASH
Rathika Seelan qualifies for North Coast squash semifinals
Rathika Suthanthira Seelan moved into the women’s semifinals of the North Coast Open squash, a USD 6000 PSA Challenger event in Coffs Harbour (Australia), with a 3-1 win over third seed Bobo Lam of Hong Kong.
The seventh seed from Tamil Nadu rallied to beat higher ranked Lam 11-13, 11-4, 14-12, 12-10 in the quarterfinals on Friday, and will next meet Egyptian second seed Lojayn Gohary.
-Team Sportstar
CRICKET
Former Tripura Ranji Trophy player dies in road accident
Former Tripura all-rounder Rajesh Banik, who represented India in the Under-19 World Cup, died in a road accident at Anandanagar in west Tripura, an official said on Saturday.
He was 40 and is survived by his father, mother, and brother.
Banik, who made his Ranji Trophy debut for Tripura in the 2002-03 season, was among the state’s leading cricketers of his time and later served as a selector for the Under-16 state team.
His untimely death on Friday has shocked the cricket fraternity in the state.
The Tripura Cricket Association (TCA) paid tribute to the former cricketer at its headquarters on Saturday.
“This is very unfortunate that we have lost a talented cricketer and selector of the Under-16 cricket team. We are shocked. May his soul rest in peace,” TCA secretary Subarata Dey told reporters.
Anirban Deb, secretary of the Tripura Sports Journalists’ Club, said Banik’s contribution went beyond his playing career.
“He was one of the finest all-rounders the state has produced, but not many knew about his ability to identify young talent. That’s why he was made one of the selectors of the Under-16 state team,” Deb said.
-PTI
GOLF
Anirban lies T18, McKibbin stays in front at Link Hong Kong Open
Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri produced a steady three-under 70 to lie T18 after the third round of the Link Hong Kong Open on Saturday.
While Lahiri reached a total of 12-under, compatriot S.S.P. Chawrasia posted a one-under to move to eight-under overall for tied 46th, and Ajeetesh Sandhu matched that score to finish the day at seven-under for tied 55th going into the final round at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
Overnight leader Tom McKibbin kept his hopes of a wire-to-wire victory alive, but the Northern Irishman is being pushed all the way with the American duo of MJ Maguire and Peter Uihlein breathing down his neck at the top of a busy leaderboard.
McKibbin had started the day with a two-shot lead over Uihlein after following up his course-record 60 with a five-under 65, his second consecutive bogey-free round.
A second round of 65 on the spin kept the Legion XIII man in front on 20-under, after Maguire had roared into life with a nine-under 61 to move to 19-under.
Two late bogeys from playing partner Uihlein (65) left the Range Goats GC man a shot further behind on 18-under.
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat (66), starting in the final group with McKibbin and Uihlein, is three behind in T4 alongside Scott Hend after the veteran Australian – a champion here in 2014 – rolled back the years with a six-under 64.
The Link Hong Kong Open is the seventh of nine elevated tournaments on the Asian Tour that offer a pathway to the LIV Golf League through the season-long Rankings race.
-PTI
Published on Nov 01, 2025