U-19 Asian Boxing Championships: Indian pugilists make flying start
Jakarta, July 5: India opened its campaign at the U-19 Asian Boxing Championships in emphatic fashion with Chandrika Pujari and Joyshree Devi registering dominant victories here on Sunday. Competing in the preliminary rounds, World Boxing Futures Cup gold medallist Chandrika outboxed Mongolia’s Lakham Tsendbaatar to secure a unanimous 5-0 victory in the girls’ 51kg category. Joyshree, a silver medallist at the World Boxing Futures Cup, followed with an equally commanding display, forcing a second-round Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Ning Hong in the girls’ 54kg division. India’s campaign continues on Monday with a quartet of U-23 men’s boxers set to enter the ring. Asian champion Vishwanath Suresh (50kg) opens proceedings against Uzbekistan’s Amirbek Ismoilov, before Ganga (55kg) faces Mongolia’s Amgalanbaatar Bulgankhuu. Sagar Jakhar (60kg) then takes on Japan’s Koichi Nakayama, while Hitesh (70kg) rounds off the day’s action against Chinese Taipei’s Jun-Zhanglin. (PTI)
Indian junior men’s hockey team departs for Belgium exposure tour
Bengaluru, July 5: A 24-member Indian junior men’s hockey team under new coach Frederic Soyez has left for Belgium for its exposure tour scheduled from July 7 to 17. The team departed from the Kempegowda International Airport here on Saturday night. The team will play six matches against Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands as part of its preparations for key upcoming international competitions, including the Junior Asia Cup. India will play two matches each against Austria and Belgium, along with one match each against Germany and the Netherlands. Five matches will be played at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, while the final fixture against the Netherlands will be held at the Hockey Centre of Excellence in Antwerp. (PTI)
Kush Maini secures maiden feature race podium at Silverstone
Silverstone (ENGLAND), July 5: Indian racer Kush Maini earned his first feature race podium of the 2026 Formula 2 season by finishing third here on Sunday. Maini, in his fourth season, had qualified third for the feature race. He finished fourth in the preceding sprint race, pushing him to sixth in the drivers’ standing with 63 points. The 25-year-old from Bengaluru has won three sprint races in F2, a feeder series to Formula 1, but is yet to win a feature race. Starting from third on the grid, Maini produced a blistering launch off the line, seizing the lead before the first turn had been cleared. For a significant stretch of the race, it was Maini at the front of the field. Following his pit stop, Maini engaged in an intense battle with the Formula 2 Championship leader Nikola Tsolov before crossing the line in third place. (PTI)
Real Madrid sign Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan to boost defence
Madrid, July 5: Real Madrid boosted its defense by signing Dutch international Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan. Madrid made the announcement on Sunday, less than a week after Dumfries and the Netherlands were eliminated by Morocco in the round of 32 of the World Cup. Madrid did not provide financial details about the transfer agreement with Inter. Dumfries’ contract with Madrid is valid for four seasons. The right back will compete for playing time at Madrid with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was signed last year. Veteran right back Dani Carvajal left the club after 13 seasons. Madrid, which will begin the season with Jose Mourinho back as its coach, has been revamping some of its squad. Other signings made by the club include French international Ibrahima Konate, Spain international Marc Cucurella and Portugal international Bernardo Silva. (AP)
