Manipur’s Athoiba, Goa’s Purvi clinch 200M freestyle gold
Bengaluru, Aug 4: Manipur’s Koijam Athoiba Singh and Goa’s Purvi Ritesh Nayak were the star attractions on the opening day of the 51st Junior National Aquatic Championship, winning the boys’ and girls’ 200m freestyle events here on Monday. In the boys’ 200m freestyle, Athobia pull ahead and clinch the first place with a time of 2:09.63. Amith H Pavan from Karnataka pulled in second clocking 2:10.92 while Krishiv Doshi, from Madhya Pradesh came third, clocking 2:13.44. The corresponding girls’ section, saw a dogfight between Serena Saroha, Stuti Singh, Nyra Bopanna and Annika Goplani. Serena led till the halfway point but Goa’s Purvi surged ahead in the final stretch to clinch the top spot with a time of 2:18.35, followed by Karnataka’s Stuti with a time of 2:20.30 and Nyra in third place with 2:20.43. In the boys’ 200m individual medley, Hemanshu Nahakpam from Manipur pulled miles ahead of his competitors, clocking 2:23.80 to clinch the top spot. Statemate Athoiba followed him in second place with a time of 2:28.74. A P Arya Sathar from Tamil Nadu with a time of 2:31.21 clinched the third spot. It was a tight battle between Maharashtra’s Heeva Bhavesh Patel and Annika Goplani in the girls’ 200m individual medley with the former holding a slight lead in the last lap to finish first with a time of 2:40.81. Annika finished second with 2:41.55, and she was joined on the podium by Haryana’s Serena after clocking 2:43.74. (PTI)
U-22 Asian Boxing C’ships: Indian boxers assure six more medals
Bangkok, Aug 4: Two women boxers and four male pugilists progressed to the semifinals to assure India of six more medals at the U22 Asian Boxing Championships here on Monday. Priya (women’s 60kg), Paranjal Yadav (women’s 70kg), Harsh (men’s 60kg), Neeraj (men’s 75kg), Rockey Chaudhary (men’s 85kg) and Ishan Kataria (men’s 90+kg) are the six boxers who sealed their semifinals berth with comfortable victories. India were already assured of two medals in the U-22 category on Sunday with Bhawna Sharma (women’s 48kg) and Yatri Patel (women’s 57kg) reaching the semifinals. The U-19 and U-22 championships, which are being held simultaneously, provides India’s rising stars a platform to showcase their skills. (PTI)
Tauson upsets Wimbledon champ Swiatek to reach Montreal quarters
Montreal, Aug 4: Clara Tauson of Denmark upset second-seeded Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek of Poland 7-6 (1), 6-3 to reach the National Bank Open quarterfinals. The 6-foot Tauson, seeded 16th in the hard-court event that ends Thursday, avenged a loss to Swiatek at Wimbledon to set up a match Tuesday with sixth-seeded Australian Open winner Madison Keys of the United States. Keys outlasted 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova of Czechia 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the windy afternoon session. Japan’s Naomi Osaka also advanced in the afternoon, routing Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 6-1, 6-0 in 49 minutes – the second-fastest victory of her career. On Tuesday, she will face 10th-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, a 6-4, 6-1 winner over fifth-seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States. (AP)