Sharath, Sathiyan star attractions in WTT qualifiers
Mapusa (Goa), Jan 12: Achanta Sharath Kamal and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, alongside 35 other paddlers from the country, are set to compete in the singles qualifiers as the upcoming WTT Star Contender gears up to achieve the highest-ever Indian participation. The second edition of the tournament will be played at the Peddem Indoor Stadium here from January 23 to 28. Nine Indians, including the highest world-ranked Indian paddler Manika Batra and Harmeet Desai, secured direct entry into the main draw. The inclusion of 32 new names in the qualifying list brings India’s total participation to 41 across categories. This surpasses the previous highest of 40 participants in the inaugural edition of the tournament. (PTI)
Bopanna-Ebden in men’s double final of Adelaide International
Adelaide, Jan 12: Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden advanced to the final of the Adelaide International tournament in their first outing of the season here on Friday. Seeded second in the ATP tournament, Bopanna-Ebden duo beat the pair of Gonzalo Escobar (Ecuador) and Aleksandr Nedovyesov (Ukraine) 6-4 6-4 in the semifinal match that lasted one hour 12 minutes. The Indo-Australian duo will face the third-seeded pair of American Rajeev Ram and Englishman Joe Salisbury in the final. The 43-year-old Bopanna and Ebden first teamed up at the start of 2023 season and enjoyed an impressive year together, winning tour-level trophies in Doha and Indian Wells. (PTI)
Avani cards 3-under 70 to finish second in Melbourne Amateurs
Melbourne, Jan 12: Avani Prashanth carded a fine 3-under 70 in the fourth and final round but still ended up second to Rianne Mikhaela Malixi of the Philippines by one shot in the Australian Master of Amateurs Championships here Friday. The Indian was in fine fettle and her 70 on the day saw her finishing the 72-hole event with a total of 6-under, even as the 16-year-old Malixi, who was tied with the Indian in the second place after three rounds, shot 4-under 69 to grab the title. Avani had rounds of 71-68-77-70 for a 6-under 286 while Malixi with 70-72-74-69 carded 7-under 285. Japan’s Nika Ito, who led after the first two rounds, finished third at 5-under 287. (PTI)