Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prithvi Shaw in Maha squad for Buchi Babu tourney
Pune, Aug 14: India batters Ruturaj Gaikwad and Prithvi Shaw were on Thursday named in Maharashtra’s 17-member squad for the All India Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament to be played in Chennai from August 18 to September 9. Ankit Bawane has been named captain of the Maharashtra squad. It will be the first assignment for top-order batter Shaw who had left Mumbai before the start of the season and joined Maharashtra. The 25-year-old will be eager to make a fresh start after a torrid run last season with Mumbai, being dropped on the grounds of fitness and discipline by the domestic giants. Gaikwad, who featured in the warm-up matches between India A and India ahead of the national team’s Test series in England, will also be keen to make his mark. However both Gaikwad and keeper Saurabh Nawale are expected to leave after playing one game as they would need to link up with the West Zone squad in Bengaluru for the Duleep Trophy. West Zone have received direct entry into the semi-finals and will play their first game on September 4. (PTI)
Mysuru Open golf: Sandhu dominates round three
Mysuru, Aug 14: Yuvraj Sandhu dominated the proceedings on the third day with a phenomenal eight-under 62, highlighted by two eagles, to extend his lead to three shots at the Rs 1 crore Mysuru Open 2025, a major event in the second half of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) season. A confident-looking Sandhu, the leader from Round One onwards, moved his total to an imposing 22-under 188. Chandigarh-based Sandhu (61-65-62), the current PGTI Order of Merit leader, is now staring at his third PGTI title of the season. Jamal Hossain (62-65-64) of Bangladesh posted a 64 despite missing some crucial putts to continue in second place for the third straight day as his total read 19-under 191. Delhi golfer Arjun Prasad also carded a 64 to move into sole third place at a total of 18-under 192 on another overcast day. (IANS)
Indian Racing Festival to flag in Coimbatore on August 16
Coimbatore, Aug 14: The Indian Racing Festival (IRF), the country’s premier motorsport championships, will kick off its new season at the Kari Motor Speedway here on Saturday. The two-day season opener will feature the franchise-based Indian Racing League (IRL), the FIA-certified Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4 Indian) and the 28th JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship’s FLGB4 category. The five-weekend calendar will span multiple cities and select street circuits, aiming to bring top-tier racing closer to fans. “Coimbatore has always been a key pillar of Indian motorsport. The Drivers Draft this year has raised the competitive bar, bringing in a mix of proven international names and promising Indian racers who will push each other every lap,” said Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd in a release. (PTI)
Khelo India Water Sports Festival mascot released
Srinagar, Aug 14: The mascot for the first ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF), which will be held at the iconic Dal Lake from August 21 to 23 featuring more than 400 athletes from all over the country, was unveiled here on Thursday. The Himalayan Kingfisher will be the mascot for the festival which is a part of the Khelo India calendar. Before this, the inaugural Khelo India Beach Games were held in Diu in May this year. “The Himalayan Kingfisher…embodies the spirit of adventure, nature, and competition in the Games. With its bold orange and blue, it represents energy, tranquillity, and the beauty of Kashmir,” stated a press release from the Sports Authority of India.The festival will be hosted by the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Sports Authority of India. (PTI)
Kho Kho WC winners to attend I-Day celebrations at Red Fort
New Delhi, Aug 14: In a historic first for the indigenous sport, players from the Indian men’s and women’s Kho Kho World Cup-winning teams have been invited as special guests to the 79th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort. The invitation marks the first time Kho Kho players will be part of India’s Independence Day ceremony. Earlier this year, both Indian teams made history by clinching the men’s and women’s titles at the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup, held at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium from January 13 to 19, 2025. The tournament saw participation from 39 teams (20 men’s and 19 women’s) representing 23 countries across six continents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in the Independence Day address from the iconic Red Fort on August 15. This year’s celebration will host around 5,000 special guests from diverse fields, including sportspersons, innovators, and community leaders. (IANS)
ATP men’s tennis tour adding $18 million in prizes for 2024
London, Aug 14: An extra $18.3 million in prize money will be paid by the ATP men’s tennis tour to players based on their performances at last year’s nine Masters 1000 tournaments under a profit-sharing plan introduced in 2022. The ATP said Thursday that amount is an increase from the $6.6 million profit-sharing bonus from Masters events in 2023. By adding in the profit-sharing amount, overall compensation for ATP players in 2024 rises to a record $261 million, the ATP said. The expanded Masters tour stops – with men and women playing at the same event, larger draws and lengthier tournament schedules – have drawn criticism from players for being too long. The backdrop to all of this is demands from some athletes for more money and more say in the sport. The Professional Tennis Players’ Association, a group co-founded by Novak Djokovic, filed a class-action antitrust suit in March against the ATP, the WTA women’s tour, the International Tennis Federation and the International Tennis Integrity Agency, calling them a “cartel.” (AP)