Gill, Gautam emerge joint leaders after round two of Phillaur Open
Phillaur (Punjab), March 4: Sukhraj Singh Gill and Rajesh Kumar Gautam held the joint lead with a total of five-under 137 after round two of the DP World PGTI Phillaur Open, here Wednesday. Gill (70-67) and Gautam (70-67), who were both overnight tied ninth, followed up their first-round scores of one-under 70 with scores of four-under 67 in round two, to move into the joint lead. Aditya Raj Singh Chahal, Pankaj Maandiya, Shaurya Sharma and Md Muaj, were all placed tied third at totals of four-under 138. The cut went at three-over 145. The top 42 professionals made the cut for the third and final round. Teenager Sukhraj Singh Gill, who hails from Canada, made an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys during round two while Lucknow-based Gautam, a winner on the NexGen last year, made an eagle, three birdies and a bogey on Wednesday. “My hitting was exceptional today. I landed three shots within three feet of the pin that all produced birdies. I also holed an eagle from the bunker on the 10th. However, the focus in the final round will be on my putting as I missed a lot of putts today especially on the front-nine. I don’t want to repeat that come the last round,” Gautam said, Phillaur-based professional Swatanter Kumar made the cut as he tottaled three-over 145 after two rounds. (PTI)
MCA unveils honours board for sports journalists at Wankhede
Mumbai, March 4: The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Wednesday unveiled a special Honours Board dedicated to Mumbai’s sports journalists at the Balasaheb Thackeray Press Box inside the iconic Wankhede Stadium. The initiative is aimed at acknowledging the significant role played by the city’s sports journalists in documenting, promoting and preserving Mumbai’s rich cricketing heritage over several decades. The Honours Board has been instituted as a mark of respect for media professionals who have consistently covered the game and contributed to shaping its narrative. The ceremony was attended by members of the cricketing and media fraternity. MCA President Ajinkya Naik, Secretary Prof. Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar and Joint Secretary Nilesh Bhosle, along with members of the Apex Council, were present at the unveiling. Speaking on the occasion, MCA President Naik emphasised the role of journalists in strengthening Mumbai cricket’s bond with its followers. The Sports journalists’ honours board will remain permanently displayed at the Balasaheb Thackeray Press Box as a tribute to the journalists who have played a key role in chronicling Mumbai’s cricketing journey. (IANS)
Canara Bank beat Reliance to reach DY Patil T20 Cup semis
Navi Mumbai, March 4: Atharva Taide and Luvnith Sisodia shared a 122-run opening stand as Canara Bank beat Reliance by six wickets to reach the semi-finals of the 20th DY Patil T20 Cup on Wednesday. Reliance, put in to bat at the DY Patil Stadium, made 151/9 with Mayank Rawat top-scoring via 54 off 41 balls, laced with five fours and two sixes. He also got decent support from seam-bowling all-rounder Raj Angad Bawa, who made 30 not out. In the chase, Vidarbha batter Taide replied with a blistering 76 off 37 deliveries, with 12 boundaries and two sixes, while Karnataka wicketkeeper-batter Sisodia finished unbeaten on 53 off 41 balls, laced with eight boundaries. Skipper KV Siddharth added 21 not out to see Canara Bank home after a brief wobble happened post the Taide-Sisodia stand. Rawat also impressed with the ball, taking 4-23, though it ended in vain. Meanwhile, at the DY Patil University Ground, Rugved More struck 64 off 35 balls, laced with seven fours and three sixes, as Mumbai Customs defeated Jain Irrigation by six wickets. Jain Irrigation posted 181/8 in their 20 overs, as Jay Bista top-scored with 38, but Customs chased down the target in 18.4 overs. (IANS)
Ankita Raina, Zeel Desai enter 2nd round of ITF W35 Kalaburagi
Kalaburagi, March 4: Indian stars Ankita Raina and Zeel Desai advanced to the second round of the ITF W35 Kalaburagi on Wednesday with confident opening-round victories, while Karnataka’s Soha Sadiq showed early promise before bowing out after a dramatic shift in momentum at the Chandrashekhar Patil Stadium in Kalaburagi. Eighth seed Ankita Raina produced a composed performance to defeat fellow Indian Sonal Patil 6-1, 6-3. Patil began by holding serve in the opening game, but Raina quickly took control, winning the next six games to seal the first set in commanding fashion. The second set followed a similar pattern early on, with Raina racing to a 3-0 lead. Patil responded with determination, holding serve twice in succession to stay within striking distance. Even after Raina moved to 5-2 and looked set to close out the match comfortably, Patil battled back to make it 5-3. Raina, however, maintained her composure in the following game, finishing the match with authority to book her place in the next round. Fifth seed Zeel Desai also progressed after a strong showing against fellow Indian Jennifer Luikham. Desai claimed the opening set 6-2 with steady baseline play and continued to dictate the rallies in the second set. Mixing delicate drop shots with powerful groundstrokes, she took a 2-1 lead before eventually closing out the match to secure her place in the second round. (IANS)
Karnataka trio in Indian squad for ITF Asia U-14 DEvp C’ship Finals
Bengaluru, March 4: Three rising stars from Karnataka will represent India at the upcoming ITF Asia 14 & Under Development Championship 2026 Finals, set to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from March 29 to April 10. The continental tournament is regarded as the highest level of competition in the Asian junior circuit for the Under-14 category and brings together some of the region’s most promising young talents. In a significant boost for Karnataka tennis, three of the four places in the Indian squad have gone to players from the state. Srishti Kiran and Padmapriya Ramesh Kumar have been selected in the girls’ category, while Puneeth Manohar will feature in the boys’ line-up. Punjab’s Taanish Nanda completes the four-member Indian contingent for the prestigious event. The selections underline Karnataka’s growing stature as a stronghold of junior tennis development in the country. Over the past few years, the state has invested heavily in grassroots programmes and competitive exposure, helping young players transition smoothly to the national stage. (IANS)
