Asia Cup likely to be staged in September 2025
NEW DELHI, Feb 27: Asia Cup, which will serve as a preparatory event for the 2026 T20 World Cup, is likely to be held in September this year at a neutral venue though the hosting rights are with India.The last Asia Cup was held in the ODI format ahead of the 2023 50-over World Cup in India.“The tournament will be held in September. India has the hosting rights but it will be played in UAE or Sri Lanka,” said a source in the Asian Cricket Council.The highlight of the event will be the India-Pakistan contest and if they reach the final, both teams could play each other as many as three times.India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman and Hong Kong will be the eight participating teams.Though BCCI has the hosting rights, it could go for a neutral venue with Pakistan unlikely to travel to India given what transpired in the ongoing Champions Trophy.India are playing all their Champions Trophy games in Dubai thought the hosts are Pakistan, where Rohit Sharma’s team has not travelled due to security concerns.The next T20 World Cup is in India and Sri Lanka with the arch-rivals expected to play the marquee game in the island nation. (PTI)
Banthia-Somani storm into Bengaluru Open doubles semis
BENGALURU, Feb 27: India’s Siddhant Banthia and Parikshit Somani secured a straight-set win over Nicolas Mejia and Bernard Tomic to reach the doubles semifinals at the Bengaluru Open, an ATP Challenger 125 tournament, here on Thursday.The unseeded Indian duo dismantled Nicolas and Bernard 7-5, 6-0 to set up a fight with Australia’s Blake Bayldon and Mattew Christopher Romios for a place in the title clash.Earlier, Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni took a step closer to a successful title defence with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Hynek Barton and Eric Vanshelboim.After an even first set both Banthia-Somani and Mejia-Tomic went toe-to-toe for the upper hand, which the latter nearly seized in game seven.However, after saving a crucial break point, the Indian pair swept through games nine and 11 on their serve, before breaking in game 12 for the lead.Carrying the momentum with them into the second set, Banthia and Somani then wrapped up matters in just 20 minutes.Earlier, Ramkumar and Saketh broke their opponents early in the first set before smoothly sailing into a lead. They then achieved crucial breaks in games five and nine of the second set for the win.The most successful doubles players in the tournament, Ramkumar and Myneni will square up against the winner of the tie between Anirudh Chandrasekar/Ray Ho and SD Prajwal Dev/Aryan Shah for a spot in the final.Joining the two Indian pairs in the semi-finals were second-seeded Bayldon and Romios, who defeated India’s Adil Kalyanpur and Karan Singh. In the singles event, Hynek Barton continued his dream run, registering a 7-6(5), 6-3 victory over Denmark’s August Holmgren to reach the quarterfinals.Third seed Brandon Holt came from a set down to overcome former World No. 17 Bernard Tomic in a hard-fought 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 battle, booking his place in the last eight.The third singles match of the day saw seventh seed Shintaro Mochizuki defeat Jay Clarke 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. (PTI)
Punit, Divyanshi emerge winners in WTT Contender
VADODARA, Feb 27: Punit Biswas defeated Sahil Rawat 3-2 to claim the U17 boys’ title, while Divyanshi Bhowmick overcame a shaky start to beat Jennifer Varghese 3-1 and secure victory in the girls’ section at the WTT Youth Contender Vadodara on Thursday In the girls’ U13 category, Tanishka Kalbhairav defeated higher-ranked Aradhya Dhingra 3-0, while Prateek Talsani had a flawless run to the title against Rishaan Chattopadhyay (3-0).Earlier in the day, the U19 mixed doubles events began with Taneesha Kotecha and Preyesh Suresh stunning favourites Ankur Bhattacharya and Pritha Vartikar in the semifinal. They will take on the pair of Jennifer Varghese and Balamurugan Rajakesaran in the final.
Results (Finals):
U17 Boys: Punit Biswas bt Sahil Rawat 3-2 (11-9, 8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6); U17 Girls: Divyanshi Bhowmick bt Jennifer Varghese 3-1 (11-7, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7).
U13 Boys: Prateek Talsani bt Rishaan Chattopadhyay 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-9); U13 Girls: Tanishka Kalbhairav bt Aradhya Dhingra 3-0. (PTI)