Pole vaulter Kuldeep Kumar smashes record in Indian Indoor Open
Bhubaneswar, May 2: Madhya Pradesh pole vaulter Kuldeep Kumar smashed the national record by clearing cleared 5.41m as he stunned his more fancied rivals for the title on the opening day of the inaugural Indian Indoor Open Combined Events and Pole Vault Competition here on Saturday. The 21-year-old Kumar, who was competing in his first indoor event, got the winning jump in his first attempt to better the national record of 5.40m set last year by another Madhya Pradesh athlete Dev Kumar Meena, who himself ended at the third spot with an effort of 5.20m at the Kalinga Stadium indoor facility. Kumar also improved the national indoor record of 5.30m set in March by Reegan G of Tamil Nadu at the same venue during the inaugural National Indoor Championships. Reegan settled for silver with 5.25m on Saturday. The new national record holder went for 5.46m but failed all his three attempts at that height. (PTI)
Manas Dhamne makes maiden ATP Challenger final
New Delhi, May 2: India’s rising tennis talent Manas Dhamne scripted a breakthrough run by storming into his maiden ATP Challenger final with a straight-sets win over France’s Antoine Ghibaudo in Shymkent, Kazakhstan on Saturday. The 18-year-old Indian produced a composed and aggressive display to pip Ghibaudo 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals of the clay court tournament. After edging a tight opening set with a late break, he raised his level in the second, dictating rallies from the baseline and closing out the contest without much trouble. The victory marks a significant milestone in Dhamne’s young career, making him one of the few Indian teenagers to reach an ATP Challenger final. He is likely to break into the top-400 on Monday. (PTI)
ISSF Shotgun WC: Anantjeet, Raiza, Mairaj head Indian squad
Almaty, May 2: India will be represented by Olympians Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Raiza Dhillon, and Mairaj Ahmad Khan at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup 2026 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, which gets underway on Sunday. The Indian contingent heads into the competition looking to bounce back after a medal-less outing in the opening leg held in Tangier, Morocco. The Almaty leg marks the second of four Shotgun World Cups scheduled this year and features 284 shooters from 42 National Olympic Committees. A 20-member squad has been named for Almaty, including eight shooters who will compete for Ranking Points Only (RPO). The lineup sees a few changes from the team that travelled to Morocco. (IANS)
Yellamaraju in Top-20 as Bhatia and Theegala slip on second day
Doral (US), May 2: Akshay Bhatia dropped a double bogey on his closing hole and slipped to tied 26th at the Cadillac Championship after two rounds, while Sudarshan Yellamaraju (66) was tied 16th after looking good for a top-5 placement. Yellamaraju was 9-under through 16 holes and dropped three shots, including a double bogey on the 17th. Sahith Theegala also dropped a double on the eighth and bogeys on the third, ninth and the 18th for a 76 and was T-48th. It was a day when the closing holes were tough, particularly the 18th. Overall Theegala had just one birdie against three bogeys and a double bogey. Bhatia, who like Theegala is supported by Hero, had a roller coaster of a round with six birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey in his even par 72. (PTI)
Yuvraj Sandhu in Top-10 in Turkey, Sharma also makes cut
Belek (Turkiye), May 2: India’s Yuvraj Sandhu played a steady round of 1-under 71 and was inside Top-10 at the halfway stage of the Turkish Airlines Open on DP World Tour title here. Also making the cut was Shubhankar Sharma, despite a nightmarish finish as he dropped five shots in a span of five holes between the 13th and the 17th with three bogeys and a double bogey. He shot 3-over 75 and was now 1-over and Tied-57th. He had four birdies and two bogeys before that and he is now tied 57th, after sneaking inside the cut line, which fell at exactly 1-over.
Sandhu, playing his first season on the DP World Tour, birdied the fourth, eighth, 11th and the 14th while dropping shots on the seventh, 13th and 17th. (PTI)
TTSL Maharashtra 2026: Century Warriors dominate Jolly Friends
Mumbai, May 2: Century Warriors delivered a commanding performance to defeat Jolly Friends Sporting Club 18-9, while defending champions Phantom Stars registered their second consecutive victory, overcoming NPV Smashers on Day 2 of the Butterfly Table Tennis Super League (TTSL) Maharashtra 2026. In another tie on Saturday, Mumbai Mozartt returned to winning ways with a 17-10 win over NPV Smashers. TTSL is an initiative by Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) to strengthen grassroots talent development and elevate state-level competition nationwide. Butterfly TTSL Maharashtra will see eight teams battle for the title, with each tie featuring nine matches—six singles, two mixed doubles, and one men’s doubles match. Each match has three games; each game a player wins adds a point to their team’s tally. (IANS)
