Shuttler Malvika loses in semifinals of US Open
Fort Worth (US), June 30: India’s Malvika Bansod failed to manage the key moments, going down in straight games to Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira in the women’s singles semifinals of the US Open Super 300 badminton tournament here. The 22-year-old from Nagpur, ranked 49th, lost 16-21, 13-21 to Natsuki, seeded sixth in a 43-minute clash. Malvika had won the Azerbaijan International challenge this year. (PTI)
BAJC: India lose 1-4 to Indonesia, face Malaysia in quarters
Yogyakarta (Indonesia), June 30: India went down 1-4 to Indonesia here on Sunday to finish second in Group C and will now face Malaysia in the quarterfinals of the Badminton Asia Junior Mixed Team Championship. Having already qualified for the knockout stage, India changed their entire line-up for the last group match against Indonesia as they rested Tanvi Sharma in girls’ singles and played fresh mixed and men’s doubles pairs. Dhruv Negi was given the responsibility to play the boy’s singles rubber. Navya Kanderi, who played the girls singles instead of Tanvi, was the only player to earn a point as India went down 1-4 despite running the hosts close in all the matches. The mixed doubles combination of Vansh Dev and Shravani Walekar lost the opening match against Taufik Aderya and Clairine Mulia 14-21, 16-21 before Negi’s over an hour fight against Bueno Oktora ended with a 14-21, 21-11, 11-21 scoreline. The fate of the tie was decided once Bhargav Ram Arigela and Vishwa Tej Gobburu lost the boys’ doubles 17-21, 15-21 against Anselmus Prasetya and Pulung Ramadhan. Navya then put India on the scoreboard with a 21-19, 21-19 win over Mutiara Puspitasari. (PTI)
Mercedes’ Russell wins Austrian GP after Verstappen, Norris clash
Spielberg (Austria), June 30: George Russell clinched Mercedes’ first win of the season at Formula 1’s Austrian GP after taking advantage of a late clash between McLaren driver Lando Norris and championship leader Max Verstappen in a Red Bull on Sunday. It was Russell’s second GP win. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was second, ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. Norris was trying to take the lead from Verstappen on Lap 64. The incident left Norris’ car unable to continue, and Verstappen was given a 10-second time penalty. Verstappen had dominated the weekend, following up his victory in the sprint race with another dominant performance in qualifying to take pole position. (AP)
Hemanth Muddappa wins triple in National Drag Racing
Chennai, June 30: Fastest rider in India, Hemanth Muddappa won a fine triple in the second round of the MMSC-FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship at the Irungattukottai, near here on Sunday. The 12-time National champion, Muddappa, appearing for Mantra Racing, began with a third place in the 4-stroke 551 to 850cc Super Sport class astride a Ninja 6R behind Mohammed Riyaz and Altaf Khan. However, Muddappa fought back with well-deserved victories in the remaining three classes. In the 851 to 1050cc Super Sport final run, he clocked a blistering 07.915 to leave behind Niranjan R Kumar (08.831) and Khaja Awais (08.950). Then he clinched the 4-stroke 1051 to 1650cc Super Sport class, logging a stunning 07.697seconds to take his second victory of the day. He beat Bengaluru’s Mujahid Pasha (7.962) Attaulla Baig (8.052). Muddappa, the defending champion in the Unrestricted Super Sport class, clocked 7.739 seconds to make it a grand triple, beating Pasha and Baig. (PTI)
Rajpal, Narang in race to replace Mary Kom as India’s CDM in Paris
New Delhi, June 30: Olympic medallist shooter Gagan Narang and Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal have emerged as strong contenders to become Indian contingent’s chef de mission in Paris Games, a position which fell vacant after MC Mary Kom withdrew due to personal reasons, IOA sources said on Sunday. Six-time world champion Mary Kom had resigned from the position in April, saying she was left with no choice but to step down owing to compelling person reasons. She was named CDM by the Indian Olympic Association in March this year. “Most likely it will be Gagan or Rohit for the role of chef de mission. It’s a huge responsibility and they are capable of managing it. Having said that, weightlifting federation’s Sahdev Yadav’s name was also being considered,” an IOA source said on the sidelines of the send-off ceremony for India’s Olympic contingent here. It has been learnt that badminton legend Prakash Padukone was also offered the position but the former All England Champion refused to take up the role. (PTI)
Paris Olympics: PM Modi highlights several firsts of athletes
New Delhi, June 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Paris Olympic-bound athletes have prepared with “life and soul” for the upcoming Games by participating in nearly 900 international competitions collectively as he launched a campaign to generate online support for the travelling contingent. India won a best ever haul of seven medals three years ago in the Tokyo Olympics with javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra becoming the first athlete from the country to win a gold in track and field. The Prime Minister made the remarks in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address, the first after the general elections. The radio broadcast had taken a break in February ahead of the general elections. “Our athletes’ performance in Tokyo won the hearts of every Indian. Since the Tokyo Olympics, our athletes have been preparing with all their life and soul. Combined, they have participated in around 900 international competitions,” Modi said. After drawing a blank in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, all eyes would be on the shooters with a record 21-member Paris-bound squad this time. Maheshwari Chauhan had secured India’s 21st shooting quota and will be seen in women’s skeet event at the shotgun Olympic competitions. Modi also highlighted that the Paris Olympics will feature several firsts for Indian sports including in dressage in equestrian and women’s 76kg wrestling. The Paris Olympics is slated from July 26-August 11 and more than a 100 Indian athletes have so far qualified for quadrennial showpiece. (PTI)