Seven Indians progress to next round at Junior World Squash
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE (Canada), July 21: India have kickstarted their campaign at the World Squash Junior Championships strongly with women’s top seed Anahat Singh, who is hoping to become India’s first-ever junior world champion, advancing into the next round after a straight-game 11-2, 11-1, 11-3 against Australia’s Lilly Wilson.Amidst the excitement of the opening day, India’s Saanvi Kalanki was able to impress and book her place into the next round after enduring a five-game battle against the Netherlands’ seed, Elcke Mols, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6.Kalanki, who took the lead in the opener, 11-9, was forced into a back-and-forth battle, with Mols levelling the scoreline twice to force a fifth game. However, it proved that the Dutch player’s efforts were for nothing, as Kalanki was able to claim the fifth 11-6.Meanwhile, Anika Dubey registered a straight-game 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 victory over Anna Kuwahara of Japan and Rudra Singh received walkover by Khadija Abdulraheem of Nigeria.In the men’s section, the trio of Aryaveer Dewan, Yusha Nafees and Gurveer Singh, who received the first-round bye, advanced to the men’s singles third roundAryaveer registered a 12-10, 11-6, 11-9 win over Levi Visser of Germany. Yusha secured a convincing 11-1, 11-1, 11-1 victory over Brazil’s Matheus Frabetti while, Gurveer beat Christian Dromgoole of Ireland 11-3, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6. However, Purav Rambhia lost to England’s Ronnie Hickling. Defending men’s champion and No.1 seed Mohamad Zakaria started his run with a straight-game victory over Macau, China’s Wu Cheok Io, as he aims to become the first men’s player to win the title three times.At World Squash Junior Championships 2026, the individual competition from July 20 to 25 will be followed by the men’s and women’s team events from July 26 to 31 at the same venue. India’s men’s team heads into the competition after winning bronze in Cairo last year, ending a 13-year medal drought at the championships. (IANS)
Devika, Prannoy lose on day 1 of China Masters
CHANGZHOU, July 21: Devika Sihag put up a spirited fight before going down in three games, while HS Prannoy bowed out after a straight-game defeat as India endured a disappointing opening day at the USD 2,000,000 China Masters here on Tuesday.Devika, the Thailand Open Super 300 champion, rallied after dropping the opening game but could not sustain the momentum, losing 19-21, 21-19, 13-21 to World No. 20 Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the women’s singles opening round.Prannoy, a 2023 World Championships bronze medallist, also lost in the men’s opening round after suffering a 10-21, 14-21 defeat to Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao.Newly-crowned Japan Open winner PV Sindhu will begin her campaign, taking on compatriot Unnati Hooda on Wednesday. Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty too will in action. (PTI)
Kohlapur to get an international cricket stadium
MUMBAI, July 21: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Kolhapur District Cricket Association (KDCA) for setting up an international-standard cricket stadium in Kolhapur, envisaged as a multi-sports hub with world-class facilities.The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister and Sports Minister Sunetra Pawar at the Mantralaya here.Under the agreement, the government has transferred 12.76 hectares (31.90 acres) of land at Vikaswadi in Karveer taluka to the KDCA on lease for the project.According to the government, the stadium will have a seating capacity of around 35,000 and will be built in accordance with the norms of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and International Cricket Council (ICC) norms.The project will include a modern pavilion, practice grounds, an indoor training centre, a sports science centre, a clubhouse, floodlights, a cricket museum, parking facilities, internal roads, drainage infrastructure, a solar power project and advanced security systems. The government said the complex would be developed as a multi-sports hub and will also provide facilities for boxing, judo, archery, wrestling, swimming, table tennis and fencing. (PTI)
