Dhyan Chand lifetime award to be replaced by Arjuna lifetime
NEW DELHI, Oct 24: The sports ministry on Thursday announced the discontinuation of the Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievement from this year onwards and the introduction of the Arjuna Award Lifetime in its place in a bid to “rationalise” the various sporting honours of the country.Instituted in 2002, the Dhyan Chand Lifetime Award, named after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand, is given to individuals in disciplines that are part of the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, among others.In 2023, the award was given to former shuttler Manjusha Kanwar, ex-hockey exponent Vineet Kumar and kabaddi player Kavitha Selvaraj.“The various schemes for sports awards have been rationalised wherein Arjuna Award (Lifetime) has been introduced in place of Dhyan Chand Award. To recognise the efforts of coaches at grassroots/development level, they are now eligible for the Dronacharya Award,” said a ministry statement.The last date for applying for the national sports awards for 2024 is November 14. (PTI)
Zverev beats Giron to advance to Vienna quarterfinals
VIENNA, Oct 24: Alexander Zverev reached the quarterfinals at the Erste Bank Open by beating Marcos Giron 6-2, 7-5 for the German’s personal best 61st win of the year.The third-ranked Zverev, who is the top seed at the indoor hard-court tournament in the Austrian capital, will next face Lorenzo Musetti, who advanced when Gael Monfils withdrew from their second-round match because of an illness.Zverev’s prior season high for wins was 60 in 2018.Grigor Dimitrov beat Zhang Zhizhen 6-4, 7-5 and the third-seeded Bulgarian will face Tomas Machac on Thursday for a spot in the last eight.Brandon Nakashima and Karen Khachanov also advanced on Wednesday.
Wawrinka outlasts Mannarino at Swiss Indoors and Rublev advances
BASEL, Oct 24: Stan Wawrinka became the oldest match-winner in the Swiss Indoors tournament history when he outlasted Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.Playing in front of a home crowd, the 39-year-old Wawrinka earned his first win over Mannarino after having lost to the Frenchman three times.Wawrinka will next face 22-year-old Ben Shelton for a spot in the quarterfinals.Also Wednesday, top-seeded Andrey Rublev beat Alejandro Tabilo 7-6 (3), 6-1 to reach his 13th quarterfinal of the season.Roberto Bautista Agut beat second-seeded Casper Ruud 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.Two-time defending champion Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Sebastian Baez 7-5, 6-1.David Goffin and Pedro Martinez also advanced. (PTI)
Indian golfers struggle on opening day of Women’s Indian Open
GURUGRAM, Oct 24: Indian golfers Ridhima Dilawari, Pranavi Urs and Diksha Dagar struggled on the home course, dishing out bogeys by the bagful even as Sara Kouskova of Czech Republic stroked her way to the top with a 3-under-par 69 on a testing opening day at the USD 400,000 Hero Women’s Indian Open here on Thursday.At the DLF Golf and Country Club, Kouskova led the field by a stroke as Ridhima and Pranavi found themselves tied for 17th place with 2-over-par 74s with a large group.Olympian and pro-am winner Diksha struggled through the day to 6 over 78 that contained five bogeys and a double-bogey on the par-5 eighth hole. The two-time LET winner needed a closing birdie to salvage her round.Tvesa Malik was a shot ahead of Diksha on 5 over 77 along with Khushi Khanijau in tied 56th place. Promising amateur Zara Anand was three-over for a share of the 34th place, while fellow amateurs Mannat Brar and Janneya Dasanniee were a further stroke behind at tied 41st position. (PTI)