Indian sports wrap, October 29: Aman Raj continues strong form at IGPL Kolkata
GOLF
Aman Raj takes lead in IGPL Kolkata by four shots
Aman Raj continued from where he had let off last week with another 9-under 61 to open a big four-shot lead over Aalaap IL (65) at the end of the first round of the IGPL Invitational Kolkata hosted by SSP Chawrasia at the Tollygunge Golf Club.
On an overcast day during which play was suspended for just under an hour due to the threat of lightning, the players handled the stoppage and wet conditions well. As many as 26 players shot par or better.
Pleased with his show, Aman said, “It is very satisfying to be able to come up with a string of low scores. The confidence and the game have slowly been coming back.”
Mysuru-based Aalaap was second at 5-under 65, while four players including the Bengaluru boy, Syed Saqib Ahmed, Olympian Udayan Mane, playing only his second IGPL event, left-hander Kartik Sharma and Aditya Raj Kumar Chauhan were tied for the third place at 4-under 66.
The top woman star was Rhea Purvi, just outside the Top 10 at two-under 68 and tied-11th with six others.
Two seasoned stars, Chiragh Kumar, a former Asian Tour winner and Asian Games team medallist, Harendra Gupta, a multiple winner on the domestic front, Samarth Dwivedi and amateur Aryav Shah were tied seventh as they shot 3-under 67 each.
Kapil Kumar, winner of the IGPL Pune was among the seven players in Tied-11th place at 2-under. Others at 2-under were Purvi, Pukhraj Singh Gill, Yashas Chandra, Aryan Roopa Anand, Raghav Chugh and Sydney Chugh.
-Team Sportstar
TABLE TENNIS
Sudhanshu Maini rises to career-high 22 in U-17 world rankings
Delhi-based table tennis player Sudhanshu Maini has catapulted to a career high 22 in the U-17 world rankings following a stellar run that culminated with three gold medals.
Maini has risen in the rankings following title wins in the WTT Youth Contender Caracas, WTT Youth Contender Caracas II and WTT Youth Contender in Cuenca.
Maini is also ranked 47th in the U-19 world rankings, following two bronze medals at the WTT Youth Contenders in Perth and Venezuela held consecutively this month.
Adding to his success, the rising player also brought home a silver medal in the mixed doubles category at the Perth Youth Contender, partnering with fellow Indian Jennifer Varghese.
-PTI
TENNIS
Tennis Premier League announces TPL Race to Gold Masters Tournaments 2025
The Tennis Premier League (TPL), on Wednesday, announced the return of the TPL Race to Gold Masters Tournaments 2025.
The TPL Race to Gold Masters Tournaments 2025 is a premier competition that will be played in three different phases in India. It will commence with the North Zone in New Delhi on November 15 and 16, 2025, at the DLTA Stadium, followed by the Gujarat leg in Ahmedabad on November 22 and 23 at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium.
The final pit stop will be the Maharashtra leg in Mumbai on November 29 and 30 at the MSLTA Stadium.
The event is set to provide a platform for emerging tennis players, allowing them to showcase their skills and earn recognition at the national level using TPL’s 25-point format.
Top-ranked players across Under-10 boys and girls, U-12 boys and girls, U-14 boys and girls, and men’s and women’s open categories will receive scholarships worth Rs. 75,000.
The champions will also be felicitated live on television during the upcoming seventh season of the TPL, set to be held in Ahmedabad from December 9 to 14.
-Team Sportstar
MOTORSPORT
Raghunathan finishes P1 in Pro-Am class at season-ending Monza race
Mahaveer Raghunathan, India’s only driver in the Italian GT Sprint Championship, ended his 2025 season on a high with a Pro-Am class victory in Race 2 at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
Teaming up with Lorenzo Ferrari in the AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3, the pair took P1 in Pro-Am and P6 overall, closing out a competitive season with a strong result.
Across the 2025 Italian GT Sprint Championship, he recorded three wins in total: an overall win at Vallelunga, and Pro-Am victories at Imola and Monza.
“It feels great to end the season with a win at Monza. Race 1 was disappointing with the penalty without which we would have won the championship, but we came back strong in Race 2. Overall, it’s been a strong and consistent season with AF Corse,” Raghunathan said.
– Team Sportstar
EQUESTRIAN
Tamil Nadu riders crowned champions at interstate equestrian competition
Tamil Nadu’s Dressage riders excelled at the first interstate equestrian competition held amongst six states and a total of 129 entries. The competition was conducted in Bangalore by the Karnataka Riders Association under the aegis of the Equestrian Federation of India.
Tamil Nadu riders Kevin Gabriel (13 years), Tasha Neethirajan (16 years) and Isabelle Futnani won the gold medals in the three different categories of the competition. Samana Everaa and Shubh Chowdhari secured a silver medal each, and Hashini B, Pranav Deepak and Isabelle Futnani won bronze medals.
This display ensured that Tamil Nadu won the overall dressage championship.
In the jumping competition, the Tamil Nadu Riders were not so fortunate and had to settle for one silver and three bronze medals.
-Team Sportstar
Published on Oct 29, 2025