Riya Shirish Thatte wins maiden national shooting title
NEW DELHI, Dec 16: Aurangabad teenager Riya Shirish Thatte stunned a star-studded field to win the women’s 25m pistol event at the 67th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) here on Monday.Riya got the better of Punjab’s Simranpreet Kaur Brar 7-2 in a shoot-off for gold, after both had tied at 31-hits in the 8-series of five-shot decider. Olympian and former Asian Games champion Rahi Sarnobat was third with 25 hits.Simranpreet rounded off a great year to win the junior women’s title on the day to add to her senior silver, this time winning the gold via shoot-off 5-2 over Haryana’s Payal, after both had tied on 34-hits-a-piece. Riya won bronze in this category with 30-hits.The senior finals field, besides Simranpreet and Rahi, also had top former internationals like Heena Sidhu and Annu Raj Singh.Earlier, Simranpreet topped both the qualification stages with identical scores of 584. Riya, while qualifying second in the juniors, managed to make the final, clinching the eighth and last qualifying spot with 576. (PTI)
World Squash C’ships: Indian men finish fifth, women seventh
HONG KONG, Dec 16: Indian men secured an impressive fifth-place finish, while the women ended in a commendable seventh position at the World Team Squash Championship here.The Indian men upset fifth seeds Malaysia, while the women defeated nine-time champions Australia on their way to the quarterfinals.In the last-eight stage, the Indian men’s team, comprising Abhay Singh and Veer Chotrani, lost to France 0-2, while the women’s team went down against the USA by the same scoreline.The women’s team, led by national champion Anahat Singh, reached the quarterfinals of the world event after a 12-year gap.The Anahat-led unit was recognized as the most improved women’s team in the mega event. (PTI)
Team Asia’s Ma Long, Manika Batra win Waldner Cup
OSLO, Dec 16: India’s table tennis star Manika Batra was part of a star-studded Team Asia that beat Team World in the inaugural Waldner Cup here.Team Asia comprised table tennis legend Ma Long of China, Olympic gold medallist Chen Meng, Shin Yubin of South Korea and Kirill Gerassimenko of Kazakhstan, besides Manika.Team Asia defeated Team World 14-0 on Sunday. Team World had the likes of Truls Moregardh, Dimitrij Ovtcharov, Hugo Calderano, Adriana Diaz and Bernadette Szocs.Manika had lost her match to Adriana on Sunday.Swedish great Jan-Ove Waldner has established the tournament with an aim to make table tennis the number one global sport.Waldner Cup was an invitational event organised by the Norwegian Table Tennis Association. (PTI)
Union Minister unveils National Games logo, mascot
DEHRADUN, Dec 16: Union Minister Raksha Khadse unveiled the logo and the mascot for the 38th National Games set to be held in Uttarakhand from January 28 to February 25.The mascot, ‘Mouli’, inspired by Uttarakhand’s state bird the Monal was revealed along with the official logo, jersy, torch, anthem and the tagline “Sankalp Se Shikhar Tak” (From Resolution to Zenith) on Sunday.“These Games symbolise the spirit of sportsmanship, unity, and excellence. The vibrant logo and dynamic mascot reflect the rich culture and natural beauty of the state,” Khadse, the Union Minster of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, said.Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Indian Olympic Association President P T Usha were present at the event organised in Dehradun.Usha announced the inclusion of traditional sports like yoga and mallakhamb in the Games.Addressing the event, Khadse said the addition of traditional sports in the National Games would provide the youth an opportunity to pursue their aspirations. (PTI)
Archery National: Verma, Parneet top qualification round
JAMSHEDPUR, Dec 16: Veteran Abhishek Verma and upcoming archer Parneet Kaur topped the qualification round in the compound section of the Senior National here on Monday.The 19-year-old Parneet representing Punjab shot 707 for a two-way tie for the lead with Madhura Dhamangoankar of Maharashtra. But the Punjab girl was given the top rank based on her higher X scores of 29, against Madhura’s 24.Jasveer Kaur of Railways came third with a qualification round score of 703.Parneet also helped her team Punjab to top the team qualification ahead of Mahrashtra and Railways.Multiple World Cup medalist Verma topped the ranking round in the men’s compound section with 714 points, ahead of Services Kunderu Venkatadri and Prathamesh Fuge of Maharashtra who shot 710 and 707 respectively. (PTI)
UP pacer Ankit Rajpoot announces retirement at 31
NEW DELHI, Dec 16: Uttar Pradesh pacer Ankit Rajpoot on Monday announced his retirement from Indian cricket at 31 years of age, opening the prospect of a career in overseas T20 leagues.Rajpoot, who represented Uttar Pradesh in the latest Ranji trophy season, made the announcement on social media.“Today, with immense gratitude & humility, I announce my retirement from Indian cricket. My journey from 2009-2024 has been the most wonderful period of my life,” he wrote on social media.“I am grateful for the opportunities given to me by the Board of Control for India, Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, Kanpur Cricket Association…” Rajpoot also thanked the five IPL teams — Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants — he was part of.Former India pacer Siddharth Kaul had also said goodbye to domestic cricket last month.Like him, Rajpoot would be exploring opportunities in T20 leagues around the world.An active BCCI cricketer is not allowed to take part in overseas leagues. Rajpoot featured in 80 First Class games, 50 in List A and 87 in T20s, taking 248, 71 and 105 wickets respectively. (PTI)