Palaash Mapara emerges as sole leader in All India Chess
MUMBAI, April 1: Palaash Mapara scored his fifth consecutive victory to emerge as the sole leader after five rounds in the third season the All India Chess Masters here on Wednesday.Playing with black pieces, Mapara (5 points) got the better of Punit Dodiya (4) to emerge as the sole leader.He is trailed by five other players in Shriram Mhasane, Pratik Yadnik, Yashraj Rathi, AGM Rajveer Nahar, and Shreyansh Somaiya who are each on 4.5 points.Somaiya defeated Ahaan Kataruka (3.5) while Nahar beat Shrirang Agharkar (3.5) in other matches.Results (top 10): Punit Dodiya (4) lost to Palaash Mapara (5); Yashraj Rathi (4.5) drew with Pratik Yadnik (4.5); Ahaan Kataruka (3.5) lost to Shreyansh Somaiya (4.5); AFM Sohum Pawar (4) drew with AIM Akashkumar Yadav (4); Shrirang Agharkar (3.5) lost to AGM Rajveer Nahar (4.5); Shriram Mhasane (4.5) beat Anay Banka (3.5); Pankaj Borse (4) drew with Anand Iyer (4); Prisha Margaj (4) beat AFM Omkar Gaikwad (3.5). (PTI)
Gaganjeet Bhullar leads strong India line-up in Japan
CHIBA (Japan), April 1: Seasoned golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar will lead a strong Indian challenge at the 2026 International Series beginning here on April 2.Bhullar, who has been dominant in India on the IGPL Tour, with three wins in 2025 and the opening leg of 2026, will be joined by Karandeep Kochhar, who won an Asian Development Tour event in Egypt, legends Jeev Milkha Singh, SSP Chawrasia and Jyoti Randhawa.Also in the fray is Shaurya Bhattacharya, who had a fine domestic season on the PGTI in India. Ajeetesh Sandhu is a second reserve.No Indian has won on the International Series and Bhullar, who turns 38 later this month, last won in Indonesia in late 2023.Bhullar and Kochhar were not in the field for their home event, the Hero Indian Open last month. Neither were Jeev, three-time winner Randhawa and two-time winner Chawrasia. Sharuya did play but missed the cut. (PTI)
Sony Sports Network launches Kannada sports channel
MUMBAI, April 1: Sony Sports Network (SSN) on Wednesday announced the launch of its Kannada channel, expanding its regional network.Sony’s Tamil and Telugu sports channels are already operational.With the launch of Sony Sports Ten 4 (Kannada), Sony Sports Network now operates 11 sports channels across five languages, including English and Hindi.The channel will cover the India’s white-ball tour of England in June-July, along with the team’s tours of Sri Lanka and of New Zealand later this year.The Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan featuring 41 disciplines will also be telecast on the network.“The South market is one of the most significant, accounting for about a third of the overall television viewership and Karnataka is among one of the most dynamic and high-potential sports markets in the country,” said Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer and Business Head (Sports and International), Sony Pictures Networks. (PTI)
MMA: Puja Tomar eyes crucial win at UFC Macau
NEW DELHI, April 1: India’s rising Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Puja Tomar is set to return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on May 29, where she will face China’s Shi Ming in a Strawweight bout at Galaxy Arena in Macau.This will be Tomar’s third appearance in the UFC and an important contest as she looks to strengthen her position in the strawweight division while continuing to represent India on the global stage.A five-time national Wushu champion and former Matrix Fight Night titleholder, she made history in 2024 by becoming the first Indian woman to win a UFC bout.Ahead of the fight, Tomar said that she is practising hard and ready to tackle any challenge posed by her Chinese counterpart in the match.Her opponent, Shi Ming, comes into the bout with strong form, having won the Road to UFC Season 3 women’s strawweight tournament, and will also have regional support in Macau. Tomar is known for her aggressive style and endurance, and will look to secure another key win (IANS)
