Indian sports wrap, October 16: Harbhajan Singh to play for Aspin Stallions in Abu Dhabi T10 League
CRICKET
Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh is set to feature in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, joining the first-ever Emirati-owned franchise, Aspin Stallions, ahead of the upcoming season.
The Aspin Stallions, launched by AMH Sports, is owned by Ahmad Khoori, Member of the UAE Federal National Council and former Senior Vice President of Emirates Airlines.
“We welcome Aspin Stallions as the first Emirati-owned franchise in the league. This is a proud moment not just for Abu Dhabi T10 but for the UAE’s sporting ecosystem,” said Shaji Ul Mulk, founder and chairman of the league.
The ninth edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 will run from November 18 to 30 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium
-Team Sportstar
ATHLETICS
Second edition of Aizwal International Half Marathon to be held on February 14, 2026
The serene hills of Mizoram are preparing to welcome athletes from across the globe once again, as the second edition of the Aizawl International Half Marathon (AIHM) is officially set to take place on February 14, 2026 in Aizawl. The upcoming edition of the race was launched by the Government of Mizoram in collaboration with Innovations India at a press conference held at Mizoram House, New Delhi.
The event is expected to draw over 5,000 participants, including national and international runners, elite athletes, amateur fitness lovers, and citizens from diverse backgrounds. Race categories will include half Marathon (21.1 km), 10 km Competitive Run, and 5 km Fun Run for juniors and seniors.
Lalnghinglova Hmar, Minister for State for Sports and Tourism, said, “AIHM is an expression of Mizoram’s identity, our commitment to sports and youth development, and our aspirations to welcome the world to our hills. We are excited to welcome participants from both India and across the globe with open arms and proud hearts. AIHM is Mizoram’s message to the world is that we are proud of our culture, committed to youth, and ready to host global sporting excellence.”
-Team Sportstar
AFI names several junior athletes for South Asian Senior Athletics Championships
Haryana’s teenage middle distance runner Sanjana Singh was on Thursday named along with several junior athletes for the upcoming South Asian Senior Athletics Championships to be held in Ranchi from October 24 to 26.
Sanjana will compete in the women’s 1500m and 5,000m.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) selection panel announced the Indian team for the regional event.
Apart from India, other participating nations include Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The event is being held under the aegis of South Asian Athletics Federation.
Indian squad for
Men: 100m: Pranav Gurav, Harsh Raut; 200m: Sandeep Singh; 400m: Rashid, Mohammed Ashfaq; 800m: Prakash Gadade, Mogali Venkatram; 1500m: Sunil Dawar, Arjun Waskale; 5,000m: Prince Kumar, Mohit Chaudhary; 10,000m: Prince Kumar, Abhishek; 110m hurdles: Manav R, Krishik M; 400m hurdles: Ruchit Mori, Karna Bag; High jump: Rohit, Aadarsh Ram; Long jump: Mohd Sazid, Sarun Payasingh; Triple jump: Dinesh V, Sebastian VS; Shot put: Samardeep Gill, Ravi Kumar; Discus throw: Kirpal Singh, Nirbhay Singh; Javelin throw: Rishabh Nehra, Uttam Patil; Hammer throw: Damneet Singh, Ashish Jakhar; 4x100m relay: Pranav Gurav, Harsh Raut, Tamil Arasu S, Prathik Maharana, Jasjit Singh Dhillon, Arnav Takalkar; 4x400m relay: Rashid, Mohd Ashfaq, Sharan M, Tarandeep Singh, Rohit Chaydhary, Edwin Mathew.
Women: 100m: Sudeshna Shivankar, Jilna MV; 200m: Sakshi Chavan, Neeru Pathak; 400m: Neeru Pathak, Olimba Steffi; 800m: Lili Das, Amandeep Kaur; 1500m: Sanjana Singh, Kajal Kanwade; 5000m: Seema, Sanjana Singh; 10,000m: Ravina Gayakwad, Basanti Kumari; 100m hurdles: Nandhini K, Moumita Mondal; 400m hurdles: Olimba Steffi, Neha Dhabale; High jump: Gobika K, Supriya B; Long jump: Mubassina Mohammed, Bhavani Yadav; Triple jump: Bhairabi Roy, Poorva Sawant; Shot put: Yogita, Shiksha; Discus throw: Seema, Nidhi; Javelin throw: Deepika, Karishma Sanil; 4x100m relay: Sudeshna Shivankar, Jilna MV, Tamanna, Sakshi Chavan, Subha Darshini S, Kajal Vaja; 4x400m relay: Neeru Pathak, Olimba Steffi, Priya Mohan, Poovamma MR, Anankha BA, Manisha Kumari, Rashdeep Kaur.
-PTI
SHOOTING
Zoravar fires two clean rounds to rise to second on leaderboard
Indian trap shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu fired two perfect rounds of 25 each to rise to second on the men’s trap shooting qualification leaderboard at the ISSF World Championship Shotgun 2025, here Thursday.
Zoravar’s four-round (24, 25, 25, 25) tally of 99, has placed him between the two Glasnovic brothers from Croatia, Anton and Josip.
Anton, the elder of the two and a former world championship silver medalist, leads the standings, having not yet missed a target while the latter, a former Olympic champion, is on the same score as Zoravar, but behind on countback.
In a top field comprising all the Paris Olympic medallists and several former Olympic and World champions, Zoravar held his own to execute two perfect rounds in his unique quick style, which has now made him favourite to make the top-six finals cut.
The Indian missed one target in his first round on Wednesday and since then has had three perfect rounds to put himself in a favourable position.
At one stage, the Indian troika of Zoravar, Bhowneesh Mendiratta and Vivaan Kapoor, had together hit 127 targets without a miss, before Bhowneesh broke that sequence.
Both Vivaan (23, 25, 22, 24) and Bhowneesh (22, 25, 25, 22) finished the day on identical scores of 94 for 38th and 40th positions provisionally and have only a mathematical chance of going through.
Other scores and positions on the day:
Trap Women: Neeru – 44th, 86 (23,19,23,21); Aashima Ahlawat – 48th, 84 (20,19,22,23); Kirti Gupta – 58th, 82 (20,22,21,19).
-PTI
Published on Oct 16, 2025