India to compete in five events in World Relays in Botswana
New Delhi, April 18: A 21-member Indian team, led by star sprinter Animesh Kujur, will compete in five events in the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, on May 2-3. There are eight women in the Indian team. AFI spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla said that India qualified in all the six relay events but has decided not to send the women’s 4x400m team. The five events in which India will compete are the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m, the women’s 4x100m, and the mixed 4x100m and 4x400m. (PTI)
Holders Abhishek, Sanjivani to headline Bengaluru 10K run
Bengaluru, April 18: The 18th edition of TCS World 10K Bengaluru is set to welcome a record 35,000-plus participants across on-ground and virtual races here on April 26. With a total prize purse of USD 210,000, the World Athletics Gold Label Race will feature a fast elite field, including Uganda’s Harbert Kibet and defending champion Sarah Chelangat, alongside defending champion and event record holder Abhishek Pal of India and Sanjivani Jadhav. Joining them at the flag-off on Cubbon Road will be world champion and Olympic medallist Blanka Vlasic as the International Event Ambassador. (PTI)
Suraj Chand, lone Indian in semis of HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour
Chennai, April 18: Suraj Kumar Chand was the lone Indian to advance to the semifinals of the HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour at the Indian Squash Academy here on Saturday. Second seed Chand will meet Hong Kong’s Wailok To in the last-four stage after easing past compatriot Om Semwal in straight games in the quarterfinals. (PTI)
Chotrani goes down to world No 19 Masotti in Hamburg thriller
Hamburg, April 18: India’s Veer Chotrani went down to French fourth seed Baptiste Masotti in a five-game thriller in the men’s quarterfinals of the Hamburg Open, a PSA Bronze-level event here. Chotrani, ranked world No 47, recovered twice to take the contest down to the wire before the French world No 19 clinched the decider for a 12-10, 9-11, 14-12, 9-11, 11-6 victory in 69 minutes. Other Indians – fifth seed Abhay Singh, seventh seed Ramit Tandon, and former women’s world No. 10 Joshna Chinappa – bowed out of the competition on Thursday night. (PTI)
BAI launches first-ever nationwide mascot contest for World C’ships
New Delhi, April 18: The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has announced a nationwide mascot design contest for the upcoming BWF World Championships 2026, inviting fans, artists, and creators to play a role in shaping the identity of one of badminton’s most prestigious global events. Conceived to deepen fan engagement and celebrate India’s rich cultural diversity alongside its growing badminton legacy, the initiative marks a first-of-its-kind effort by BAI to bring the community closer to the sport. With the BWF World Championships returning to India after 17 years, the initiative underscores both the scale of the event and the country’s rise as a badminton powerhouse, highlighted by 15 world championships medals in the past decade, including PV Sindhu’s historic gold in 2019 and Satwik-Chirag’s bronze last year. Open to participants of all ages, the contest runs from April 18 to May 10, with the winner set to receive Rs 25,000 along with VIP tickets to the semi-finals or finals. (PTI)
