Muddappa blazes to double at Indian Drag Nationals
Chennai, Dec 27: Bengaluru’s Hemanth Muddappa strengthened his grip on the title race with two victories and a podium finish in the third and penultimate round of the MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship here on Saturday. Riding for Mantra Racing, Muddappa stormed to victory in the Unrestricted Super Sport 4-stroke class with 8.269 seconds, edging out Hanuman Pawshe of Fast Track Racing India, who clocked 8.301s. Muddappa also closed the gap with Pawshe as they both are now on 55 championship points each while Alimon Sai Dalvi is on 53. Muddappa won in the 1051-1650cc category with a timing of 8.542s, ahead of Mujahid Pasha (8.629s) and Alimon Sai Dalvi (8.694s). Muddappa now has one hand on the trophy as he leads the standings on 75 points ahead of Pasha on 54 and Dalvi on 38 points. In the 851-1050cc class, Mumbai’s Pawshe clocked 8.338s to chalk out a narrow win, piping Muddappa (8.367s). But the 15-time National Drag Champion still leads the title hunt with 68 points, while Pawshe has only 53. (PTI)
Tenth-ranked Draper not ready to return for Australian Open
London, Dec 27: Jack Draper, who has played just one tennis match since Wimbledon because of injury, will not be fit for next month’s Australian Open. The 10th-ranked Draper’s 2025 season was prematurely curtailed by bone bruising in his left arm. “Unfortunately, me and my team have decided not to head out to Australia this year,” the 24-year-old British player said in a video on X on Friday. “It’s a really, really tough decision. Obviously Australia being a Grand Slam, it’s one of the biggest tournaments in our sport. The Australian Open in Melbourne starts on January 18. (AP)
