Top Indian rifle and pistol shooters set for National Selection Trials 3
NEW DELHI, March 5: Following a dominant performance at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026 on home soil, where India topped the medal tally with an impressive 76 medals including 39 gold, 18 silver and 19 bronze, top Indian rifle and pistol shooters, will now turn their attention to the National Selection Trials 3 (Group A), scheduled at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting range in Delhi between March 06-10, 2026, ahead of a packed international and domestic calendar beginning next month. Almost all of India’s top guns will be competing in 10 events, which include all the eight Olympic events plus the rifle prone competitions for men and women. Athletes in will be aiming to secure scores to make their case for selection in the national squad for international competitions in the second half of the year.Rifle/Pistol Selection Trials 3 and 4 for Group B athletes will also commence tomorrow which will be conducted at the M.P. State Shooting Academy in Bhopal from March 6 to 22. After the completion of the selection trials, the national squad athletes will start their coaching camp in New Delhi from March 10 to 21.The National squad camp for shotgun athletes also commenced today in New Delhi with the skeet shooters reporting first. The Trap shooters will report for the national camp on the March 8.The national squad camp will be followed by the pre-event camp prior to the ISSF World Cup Shotgun, the first World Cup of the calendar year, which will be held in Tangier, Morocco from March 21-April 3. (IANS)
India’s Anirban Lahiri tied 16th
HONG KONG, March 5: India’s Anirban Lahiri closed with a birdie-birdie finish to end at 4-under and tied for 16th in the LIV Golf Hong Kong, where soft conditions led to low scores at the par-70 layout here on Thursday.Torque GC’s Carlos Ortiz ended the round on top after firing a 10-under 60. The Mexican made nine birdies, one eagle and one bogey on the way to the lowest round on LIV Golf.Close on Ortiz’s heels is Dean Burmester, who finished runner-up last year in Hong Kong to Sergio Garcia. The Southern Guards GC star shot an 8-under 62, making only one bogey on the day.Garcia is also off to a strong start in his bid to win the tournament in back-to-back seasons. The Fireballs GC captain shot a stress-free and bogey-free 63, hitting every green in regulation in the process.Garcia has now completed 63 consecutive holes at Fanling without making a bogey.Garcia is currently in a tie for third alongside Smash GC captain Talor Gooch, Korean Golf Club’s Younghan Song and wildcard player Scott Vincent. (PTI)
Windies quick Jayden Seales replaces Neser at Hampshire
HAMPSHIRE, March 5: West Indian pace bowler Jayden Seales has signed for Hampshire for the opening block of the 2026 County Championship. The 24-year-old fast bowler replaced Michael Neser, who was recalled by Cricket Australia earlier this month. He will join the likes of Malcolm Marshall, Gordon Greenidge, Fidel Edwards, and other West Indian legends to play for Hampshire.Seales has previous experience in the County Championship, having played ten matches for Sussex. For the Martlets, he has claimed 39 wickets and helped the club get promoted to Division One in 2024. He has taken his County Championship wickets at an average of 28.46 with best figures of 5-29 coming against Derbyshire in 2024.The pacer made his international debut in 2021, having only played one First-Class match before his debut, and has shone for the West Indies since then. His first international five-for came against Pakistan in Jamaica, where he earned Player of the Match.He has represented his nation 64 times across all three formats. (IANS)
