Badminton: Women open with 5-0 win over Myanmar
QINGDAO (China), Feb 4: Defending champions Indian women’s team started its campaign at the Badminton Asia Team Championships on a resounding note, blanking Myanmar 5-0 in their opening Group Y tie here on Wednesday.Taking the court first, Tanvi Sharma took just 32 minutes to beat Thet Htar Thuzar 21-13 21-16 before Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj defeated Eaint Chit Phoo 21-12 21-6 in the second singles to take a 2-0 lead.Malvika Bansod then sealed the tie for India as she got the better of Lin Lin Htet 21-19 21-12 in the third singles.The Indians continued their domination in doubles as well winning both the matches in straight games.The pair of Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra defeated Su Latt and Thet Htar Thuzar 21-15 21-16 before Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand hardly broke a sweat to get past the combination of Htet and Phoo 21-8 21-6.India will play last edition’s runner-up side Thailand in their second group match on Thursday. (PTI)
Aizawl marathon on Feb 14
AIZAWL, Feb 4: The second edition of the Aizawl International Half Marathon (AIHM) will be held on February 14, Mizoram Sports Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar said.He said this year’s event promises a larger scale, a deeper talent pool, and a significant boost to the state’s burgeoning sports tourism sector.The race will begin and end at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, he said.The first edition of the half-marathon was held in April last year and drew 1,500 participants from across the country.The AIHM serves as a vital platform for promoting public health and showcasing the cultural heritage of Mizoram.He said professional athletes from some foreign countries are also likely to take part in the event, which has a total prize pool of more than Rs 15 lakh. (PTI)
BOXAM Elite 2026: Hitesh, Preeti power India’s good start
LA NUCIA (Spain), Feb 4: Hitesh Gulia (70kg) and Preeti (54kg) registered commanding wins as India opened its campaign in emphatic fashion at the BOXAM Elite International 2026, delivering a string of dominant performances on the first day of the tournament here.The tournament has drawn 214 boxers from 21 nations.Headlining the Indian charge were World Boxing Cup Finals champions Gulia and Preeti, both cruising to the next round as the country’s pugilists notched wins across multiple weight categories.Hitesh was in complete control in the elite men’s 70kg bout, dispatching the Netherlands’ Finn Bos with a comprehensive 5:0 verdict. Calm, measured and incisive, the Indian showcased his trademark ring intelligence and timing to dictate proceedings from start to finish.Earlier, Preeti set the tone in the elite women’s 54kg division with a clinical 5:0 win over Kazakhstan’s Aliaskar Symbat, combining sharp combinations with disciplined defence to shut out her opponent completely.India’s women continued their strong run with Prachi (57kg), Priya (60kg) and Kajal (65kg) all advancing in style.Prachi and Priya posted identical 5:0 victories over Spain’s Vanesa Morell Ramirez and Canada’s Alessia Mansuetto, respectively, while Kajal overcame Kazakhstan’s Assem Tanatar 4:1 in a competitive contest.In the men’s draw, India piled on the pressure with a series of assured performances. Sachin (60kg) dominated Spain’s Brandon Alejandro 5:0, while Mohammed Hussam Uddin (60kg) edged past Denmark’s Matias Mehmet Buyukdemir 4:1.Abhinash Jamwal (65kg) impressed with a clean 5:0 win over Qalid Osman of Denmark, and Deepak (70kg) followed with a solid 4:1 victory against Belgium’s Hornel Ayitevi.Akash (75kg) and Ankush (80kg) also progressed with 4:1 wins, though Aditya Pratap Yadav (65kg) bowed out after a tough bout against England’s Joe Turner. (PTI)
