NRAI name 36-member team for Junior World Cup in May
New Delhi, March 13: Paris Olympian Raiza Dhillon is part of a strong 36-member Indian junior squad announced by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for the upcoming ISSF Junior World Cup scheduled in Suhl, Germany, from May 19 to 27. The squad will participate in 15 events, including three mixed team events. Dhillon will be part of the 12-member shotgun squad, while two standout performers from the Junior World Championships in Peru, Mukesh Nelavali, who won five golds and two bronze medals, and Divanshi, who clinched a double gold including a victory in the women’s 25m pistol individual event, will return, aiming to replicate their success. India had topped the Junior World Championships in Peru in October, securing a whopping 13 gold and the selected 36 will also be looking to continue India’s dominance in the junior circuit on the world stage. (PTI)
Special Olympics World Winter Games: India win 5 medals on Day 2
New Delhi, March 13: India secured two gold, two silver, and one bronze medal across two sporting disciplines to extend their medal tally to nine on the second day of the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy. Snowboarding, which brought India four medals on the opening day of the tournament, added two more accolades to the tally on Wednesday. Bharti (division F25) clinched a gold medal in the Novice Slalom Final, while Harshita Thakur (division F26) secured a bronze in the same event. This marked Bharti’s second gold medal in the tournament, while Harshita had previously won a silver on the inaugural day. The Indian contingent also made its mark in Alpine Skiing, securing one gold and two silver medals in the discipline. Nirmala Devi (division F06) clinched gold, while Radha Devi (division F01) earned silver in the Intermediate Giant Slalom Final. Meanwhile, Abhishek Kumar, (division M02), claimed silver in the Novice Giant Slalom Final, further adding to India’s impressive tally. (PTI)
Pakistan Kabaddi Federation invites India for three-nation tournament
Karachi, March 13: The Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) on Thursday said it has invited its Indian counterparts to send their national team for a three-nation international tournament in the country in April. Chaudhary Shafay Hussain, the president of the PKF, said after a general council meeting that the tournament, named Guru Nanak Friendship Cup, would be held in Lahore next month. “We have also invited India to send its team to Pakistan for this event,” he said. Iran would be the third side in the tournament, he added. “We believe that sports can play a big role in improving relations between Pakistan and India,” Hussain said. (PTI)
Shelton becomes youngest American man since 2004 to reach Indian Wells QF
Indian Wells (USA), March 13: Ben Shelton became the youngest American man since Andy Roddick in 2004 to reach the quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open, beating Brandon Nakashima in straight sets Wednesday. The 22-year-old Shelton cruised in the second set of a 7-6 (6), 6-1 victory. After a 61-minute opening set, he took a 5-0 lead in just 20 minutes in the deciding set. The 11th-seeded Shelton hasn’t dropped a set in five career matches against Nakashima, a 23-year-old American. Second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz hasn’t dropped a set on his way to the quarterfinals. The four-time Grand Slam champion breezed to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over No. 14 seed Grigor Dimitrov. On the women’s side, No. 3 seed Coco Gauff was upset in the round of 16 by unseeded Belinda Bencic. The 28-year-old wild card from Switzerland rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory. Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Sonay Kartal, who was facing an opponent ranked in the top 10 for the first time. (AP)