Indian sports wrap, October 14: Manipur, Bengal make it to Rajmata Jijabai Trophy final
FOOTBALL
Manipur, Bengal to face off in Rajmata Jijabai Trophy final
The 30th Senior Women’s National Football Championship for the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy 2025–26 is set for an electrifying finale as Manipur and Bengal booked their spots in the final after commanding wins in their respective semifinal clashes at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh on Monday.
Manipur powered past Tamil Nadu with a resounding 4–0 triumph, while Bengal edged past Uttar Pradesh 2–1, despite being reduced to ten players for over 25 minutes.
The final showdown will take place on Wednesday at the same venue.
-Team Sportstar
NorthEast United FC signs a landmark MoU with Meghalaya Government
NorthEast United FC has signed a landmark three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Meghalaya to accelerate football development in the region and position Shillong as the Football Capital of India.
The partnership, effective from 2025 to 2028, brings together NorthEast United FC, Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya, and the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya, in a unified effort to promote football culture, drive youth participation, and strengthen Meghalaya’s standing as one of India’s leading tourism destinations.
Under the MoU, the parties will collaborate on a range of initiatives, including football camps, coach education programmes, fan parks, and youth-oriented awareness drives aimed at nurturing grassroots talent and enhancing fan engagement.
-Team Sportstar
PARA SPORTS
India’s Joby Mathew wins bronze in Para Powerlifting World Championships
India’s veteran para powerlifter Joby Mathew clinched a bronze medal at the Para Powerlifting World Championships in Cairo, Egypt.
Mathew won bronze in Legend (Masters) category on Monday.
After his opening lift of 147kg was declared invalid, he took it as a personal challenge, increasing the weight to 148kg on his second attempt and executing it flawlessly.
Building on that momentum, he raised the bar further to 152kg, successfully completing the lift to surpass his previous personal best of 150kg achieved two months ago in the Beijing World Cup.
The gold was won by Thailand’s Phongsakon Chumchai who lifted 162kg, followed by Peru’s Neil Gracia who lifted 161kg.
This was Mathew’s second World Championship medal, following his bronze in Dubai 2023, where he competed in the 59kg weight category.
– PTI
ATHLETICS
Tamil Nadu wins National Junior Championships
Haryana’s Prince clocked 2:25.11 to rewrite the men’s Under-18 1000m National record on the concluding day of the National junior athletics championships at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
Overall winner Tamil Nadu receiving the trophy at the National junior athletics championships in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Overall winner Tamil Nadu receiving the trophy at the National junior athletics championships in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Dhanya S. leaped to 4.23m to take the women’s U-16 long jump crown. The top-four, including Dixsha (4.11m), Anamika Ajesh (4.08m) and Kinjalben Thakor (4.07m), performed better than the previous National record (4.05m).
Tamil Nadu (289 points) pipped Haryana (287) for the overall trophy.
The results: Finals (winners only):
U-20:
Men: 3000m steeplechase: Bhim Maan (Har) 8:58.17; 4x400m relay: Tamil Nadu 3:10.64 (NMR, Old 3:11.03, Haryana, 2017); Javelin: Aditya (Har) 76.50; Women: 3000m steeplechase: Manju Choudhuri (Raj) 10:56.98; 4x400m relay: Tamil Nadu 3:43.87 (NMR, Old 3:45.87, Kerala, 2012).
U-18:
Men: 1000m: Prince (Har) 2:25.11 (NR, Old 2:26.04, Suraj Singh, 2025); High jump: Zubin Gohain (Asm) 2.01m; Women: 1000m: Heena (Har) 2:50.69; Discus: Amanat Kamboj (Pun) 49.01m.
U-16:
Boys: 600m: Mohammed Sameer Khan (UP) 1:18.48 (NR, Old 1:21.22, Suraj Singh, 2024); Long jump: Abhinanth A.B. (TN) 4.94m (NR, Old 4.71m, Amrit Pal Singh, 2024); Girls: 600m: Sehnoor Bawa (Pun) 1:31.83 (NR, Old 1:33.26, Edwina Jason, 2024); Long jump: Dhanya S. (TN) 4.23m (NR, Old 4.05m, Annya S., 2024).
Best athletes:
U-20: Men: Parth Singh (Jha, long jump); Women: Neeru Pathak (UP, 400m); U-18: Men: Nishchay (Har, discus); Women: Shourya Ambure (Mah, 100m hurdles); U-16: Boys: Abhinanth A.B. (TN, 60m); Girls: Jilsha Jinli (Ker, 60m); U-14: Girls: Aaradhya Singh (Har, kids javelin).
– Team Sportstar
Published on Oct 14, 2025