Ankita, Rashmika to lead home challenge in ITF W50 event
New Delhi, Jan 12: Top Indian singles players Ankita Raina and Rashmika Shrivalli Bhamidipaty will spearhead the home challenge, while Karman Kaur Thandi will return to competitive tennis after a year’s break in the ITF W50 tournament beginning here on Monday. Raina, ranked 286 in the world, had modest success last year and would aim to start 2025 on a winning note. She has done well on the ITF circuit, making four semifinals and several quarterfinals. Rashmika, India’s No.3 singles player, will also aim for a good start after ending the previous year with two ITF finals at the fag end. Thandi has been handed a wild card along with former national champion Riya Bhatiya. Thandi skipped the entire 2024 season after getting married to Indian hockey player Gurjant Singh. She would need to shake off the rust to go deep in the draw, while Riya too has a good opportunity to make an impression after being given the wild card. (PTI)
14-year-old Ira smashes 346, sets record for highest U-19 score
Alur (Bengaluru), Jan 12: Fourteen-year-old Mumbai opener Ira Jadhav became the first Indian to score a triple hundred in Under-19 cricket, when she made a 346 against Meghalaya in the U19 Women’s One Day Trophy here on Sunday. Ira, a student of the Sharadashram Vidyamandir, the alma mater of Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli and Ajit Agarkar made her runs in 157 balls with 42 fours and 16 sixes. This is also the highest score in Youth List A matches by an Indian but the world record in the segment stands in the name of Lizelle Lee of South Africa, who made 427 in 2010 in a domestic match. Jadhav, who went unsold in the previous Women’s Premier League auction, however has been named among the standbys for India’s U19 T20 World Cup squad for the tournament to be held in Malaysia. An admirer of India batter Jemimah Rodrigues, Jahdhav’s triple hundred and her 274-run stand for the second wicket with skipper Hurley Gala (116, 79 balls) powered Mumbai to a mammoth 563 for three. Meghalaya were bowled out for a mere 19, an inning that contained six ducks, as Mumbai recorded a massive 544-run victory. (PTI)
Joburg Super Kings prevail over MI Cape Town in rain-hit clash
Johannesburg, Jan 12: Joburg Super Kings beat MI Cape Town by six runs via the Duckworth Lewis and Stern method in a rain- affected SA20 clash here. With thundershowers prevalent all day on the Highveld, the match was interrupted at various stages on Saturday. A lengthy stoppage after the dinner interval caused JSK’s chase to be reduced to 19 overs with the initial target of 141 revised to 136. The players were then forced to leave the field again with the Super Kings on 82/3 after 11.3 overs – six runs ahead on DLS – at that stage. A persistent downpour prevented the players from returning to field allowing the Super Kings to claim the four match points. Leus du Plooy (23) and Wihan Lubbe (1) were the JSK batters at the crease. (PTI)
Kho Kho WC set to begin today
New Delhi, Jan 12: Teams competing in the Kho Kho World Cup, beginning here on Monday, are thrilled to be a part of the action with competitors saying the event will bring out the best in them not just in terms effort but strategic thinking as well. A total of 23 teams in men’s and women’s section will compete in the tournament with the final to be held on January 19. On Sunday, the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the venue of the competition came alive with the participating teams receiving a taste of India’s hospitality. “Kho Kho is a very beautiful yet taxing sport, where you get to run around freely while still engaging your mind,” said Konrad, a member of the Polish men’s team. “There’s a wonderful balance between physical activity and strategic thinking,” he added. His counterpart in the women’s section, Karolina, said the Polish players will make up for their relative inexperience by playing energetically. Australian women’s team member Bridgette said strategic thinking made the sport really engaging. India will play their opening match against Nepal on Monday. (PTI)