Winning start for Sumit Nagal at Australian Open wild card play-off
Chengdu (CHINA), Nov 25: India’s top singles player Sumit Nagal advanced to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off after recovering from a first-set lapse against China’s Minghui Zhang here Tuesday. Nagal, seeded sixth, recovered from a slow start – having lost the opening set – to dominate the next two and secure a 2-6, 6-0, 6-2 win. The Chengdu event, which runs from November 24-29 at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre, offers the men’s and women’s singles winners wild card entry into the main draw of the 2026 Australian Open. The Indian’s path had been clouded earlier by visa uncertainty; his initial application to enter China was rejected, prompting Nagal to publicly appeal to Chinese officials. The issue was later resolved, and he was cleared to travel. Nagal now awaits the winner of the match between top-seeded Bu Yunchaokete and Zijiang Yang in the quarter-finals. (PTI)
Indian pair of Puligilla and Sherif to feature in WRC Saudi Arabia
Jeddah, Nov 25: Ace Indian driver Naveen Puligilla and his co-driver Musa Sherif are set to carry the country’s flag onto the world stage as the World Rally Championship (WRC) makes its historic debut in Saudi Arabia. The duo will compete in WRC3 class, in the final round of the championship here from November 25 to 29. Hyderabad’s Puligilla, one of India’s promising rally talents, secured a podium finish at the Tanzania Rally, which also marked co-driver Sherif’s 100th international outing. Puligilla recently clinched victory in the 3T category at the Robusta Rally, a round of the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) in Kodagu. Sherif, from Kasargod, brings unmatched experience to the cockpit. With 343 rallies and 101 international events, the reigning Indian National co-driver champion enters his 17th rally of the 2025 season, including 14 international appearances in a chequered career of 33 years. The WRC Saudi Rally 2025 will feature 17 special stages, covering 319km of competitive distance and 1,221km in total. Earlier, Indian rally legends such as Gaurav Gill and Naren Kumar competed in the World Rally Championship, but with international co-drivers. (PTI)
KIUG: Cyclist Meenakshi Rohilla clinches first gold of 2025 Games
Jaipur, Nov 25: Guru Nanak Dev University cyclist Meenakshi Rohilla grabbed the first gold medal of the 2025 Khelo India University Games in the women’s individual time trial here on Tuesday. Kajol Sargar of Shivaji University clinched the weightlifting gold in women’s 48kg and Lovely Professional University’s Sakshi Padekar won the women’s 10m air rifle gold as sports action began across multiple venues in the state. With cycling making its debut in the KIUG program, it was only befitting that the first gold medal went to a player who was also returning to road events after a long time. Meenakshi, a 2022 Asian Championships bronze medallist in Team Pursuit, proved that she was a force even in road racing as she bagged the gold medal here with a well-calculated race strategy. The 23-year-old was trailing local favourite Pooja Bishnoi of Maharaja Ganga Singh University for the first lap of 10 kms but gathered pace thereafter to finish the 30km Individual Time Trial with a timing of 00:45:31.907. Bishnoi took home the silver medal while Savitribai Phule Pune University’s Apurva Gore won the bronze medal with a time of 00:47:24.933. (PTI)
