WRESTLING
Antim qualifies for semifinals; Jyoti, Radhika eliminated
Antim Panghal effected a decisive take-down move in the dying moments against China’s Jin Zhang to progress to the women’s 53kg semifinals, keeping India’s medal hopes alive but Radhika and Jyoti Beriwal were eliminated on day five World Wrestling Championships, here on Wednesday.
Young Antim, targeting her second World Championship medal, had an easy start to her campaign when she knocked out Spaniard Carla Jaume Soner in mere 23 seconds but found a tough rival in Zhang, who she edged past 9-8.
Antim got on board with a two-pointer when she off-balanced Zhang for a double-leg take-down. The Indian doubled her lead with a head-lock move which she converted into a take-down even as Zhang resisted with all her might.
Another two-pointer on the edge of the circle from a body-lock position put Antim ahead 6-0. Zhang reduced the margin to 2-6 with her first scoring move and could have caused more damage but the Chinese could not get a proper grip to employ leg lace.
In the second period, Zhang kept Antim in check with head lock. She further reduced the margin with a right leg move and equalled the score when she rolled Antim.
Zhang attempted a pin but Antim wriggled out, yet the Chinse earned two more points for her effort, moving ahead 8-6. Antim pushed out Zhang to add one more point to her tally.
With less than 20 seconds to go, Antim needed one good move and she got it with just three seconds left in the bout.
Antim is now up against Paris Olympics silver medallist Lucia Yepez Guzman of Ecuador.
Manisha Bhanwala was outplayed 0-8 by North Korea’s Ok ju Kim in the quarterfinals. If Kim makes the final, Manisha will get a repechage round.
Radhika (68kg) and Jyoti (72kg), however, didn’t progress.
-PTI
GOLF
Hovland, Lowry to headline DP World India Championship in Delhi
Ryder Cup stars Viktor Hovland and Shane Lowry will feature in the USD 4 million DP World India Championship, scheduled to be held at the Delhi Golf Club from October 16 to 19.
They will join a strong field that includes world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and home favourite Shubhankar Sharma. The tournament carries the largest prize purse for a DP World Tour event in India.
Major winner Lowry, who lifted the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush in 2019, will be returning to Delhi for the first time since the 2010 Avantha Masters.
Lowry will make his third consecutive Ryder Cup appearance next week, as Team Europe aim to defend the trophy they won in Rome two years ago.
Hovland, who was the first player from Norway to win on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, tasted further success this season when he claimed his 11th worldwide title at the Valspar Championship in Florida.
“I’ve heard a lot about Delhi as a city and I’m excited to tee it up in India for the first time at such a historic golf course,” said the 27-year-old, who will join Lowry in making a third appearance for Team Europe at this year’s Ryder Cup.
“It’s shaping up to be a great event, and I’m looking forward to everything about the experience.” The DP World India Championship, co-sanctioned with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), marks a new chapter for professional golf in India.
Yuvraj Narayan, Group Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer at DP World, said: “We see huge potential for golf in the region, and this tournament is a key step in our long-term vision to support and grow the game.
“We’re proud to be welcoming more top talent to an already world-class line-up at the iconic Delhi Golf Club, for what promises to be a fantastic weekend of golf.”
-PTI
TENNIS
Zeel Desai finds form to defeat Sahira Singh
Top seed Zeel Desai overcame a sluggish start to beat the talented Sahira Singh 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the $15,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at the Tennis Project, Baliawas, on Wednesday.
Having negotiated two strong players in the qualifying event in Sohini Mohanty and Aahan, the 18-year-old Sahira could get into her rhythm and play her fluent athletic game.
In contrast, Zeel has been traveling in the international circuit and handling different conditions and varied opponents around the world. She had to regroup her game amidst the gloom of the rain bearing clouds to edge past Sahira in the entertaining contest.
Zeel Desai overcame a slow start to defeat Sahira Singh.
| Photo Credit:
Kamesh Srinivasan
Zeel Desai overcame a slow start to defeat Sahira Singh.
| Photo Credit:
Kamesh Srinivasan
Zeel will play Anna Sedysheva in the pre-quarterfinals.
Akanksha NItture, Shruti Ahlawat and Pooja Ingale were the other Indians to progress into the second round. Pooja had to play with patience to tame qualifier Mirudhula Palanivel in three sets.
Sandeepti Singh Rao was as gutsy as always in putting up a strong fight against Maria Mikhailova, but the Russian handled the match with considerable craft and sound temperament to pull through in straight sets.
The results
Singles (first round): Zeel Desai bt. Sahira Singh 5-7, 6-3, 6-4; Anna Sedysheva bt. Apurva Vemuri 6-3, 6-3; Eva Marie Desvignes (Sgp) bt. Mahika Khanna 6-1, 7-5; Akanksha Nitture bt. Prathyusha Rachapudi
7-6(2), 6-3; Maria Mikhailova bt. Sandeepti Singh Rao 7-5, 6-3; Carolann Delaunay (Cal) bt. Aditi Rawat 6-3, 6-4; Vlada Mincheva bt. Laalitya Klaluri 6-3, 6-2; Jiho Shin (Kor) bt. Janani Ramesh 7-6(6), 1-6, 6-1; Shruti Ahlawat bt. Diva Bhatia 6-1, 6-1; Sofia Suslova bt. Elena Jamshidi (Den) 7-6(5) (retired); Paola Lopez (USA) bt. Jeetesh Kumari 6-4, 6-2; Pooja Ingale bt Mirudhula Palanivel 6-2, 1-6, 6-2.
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Akanksha Nitture & Soha Sadiq bt. Eva Marie Desvignes (Sgp) & Elsa Wan (Mas) 7-5, 7-5; Anna Sedysheva & Sofia Suslova bt. Ishwari Matere & Yashaswini Panwar 6-2, 4-6, [10-3];
Sravya Shivani & Pranjala Yadlapalli bt. Shihomi Leong (Mas) & Jiho Shin (Kor) 6-4, 5-7, [10-7]; Jennifer Luikham & Bela Tamhankar bt. Paavanii Paathak & Sonal Patil 6-2, 6-4.
-Kamesh Srinivasan
Published on Sep 17, 2025
