HOCKEY
India junior men’s hockey team leaves for 4 Nations Tournament in Germany
The Indian junior men’s hockey team left for Berlin on Wednesday morning to take part in the upcoming 4 Nations Tournament that is scheduled to be held between June 21-25.
Led by Araijeet Singh Hundal, the team will play its first pool stage match against the host Germany on June 21, followed by matches against Australia on June 22 and Spain on June 24. The top two teams in the pool stage will then compete for the top spot, while the bottom two teams will play for third and fourth rankings on June 25. All matches will be held at TC 1899 Blau Weiß, Berlin.
Before the side’s departure, Araijeet said, “This tournament is crucial for us ahead of the FIH Junior World Cup 2025. With just a few months to go, it’s the perfect opportunity for us to assess our strengths, try out new combinations, and identify areas for improvement. We’ll be facing some of the best hockey teams, which will allow us to test our strength and try different strategies.”
The FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup 2025 will take place in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10. With less than six months left for the global hockey event, the 4 Nations Tournament will serve as a vital preparatory platform for the Indian colts.
-Team Sportstar
Hockey Masters League: Karnatake, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu secure wins on opening day
The inaugural Hockey Masters League got underway in Chennai on Wednesday.
On the opening day, Hockey Karnataka and Hockey Maharashtra had a successful outing in the women’s category. In the men’s category, Hockey Punjab and Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu secured wins in their respective matches.
In the first match played today, Hockey Karnataka defeated Kerala Hockey 7-0 in the women’s category. Sneha C (15’, 17’, 50’) scored the first-ever hat-trick of the tournament for her side, taking a strong lead in the match. Captain KK Krithika (42’, 55’) also scored a brace, whereas Usha Vinaykumar (22’) and Josephine Lore Sequeira (50’) also scored one goal each to secure the first victory in the tournament.
In the other match, Hockey Punjab defeated Le Puducherry Hockey 3-2 in the men’s category. Pavninder Singh (15’), Dharam Pal Singh (36’) and Captain Ripudaman Kumar (42’) scored for Hockey Punjab. On the other side, Ganesh (21’) and N Kamala Kannan (47’) scored one goal each for Le Puducherry Hockey.
In the last match of the day, the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu defeated Kerala Hockey 8-0. Ramadoss V (14’, 44’) stood out to be the top goal scorer as he scored a brace. Sudharsan S (28’), Thamaraikannan (32’), Captain Adam Antony Sinclair (34’), Vinoth Kumar AP (35’), Cedric Marcellin D Cruz (40’) and Sathish Kumar (43’) also scored one goal each for Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu.
Also, the other match between Hockey Himachal and Hockey Maharashtra in the women’s category was officially forfeited 5-0 in favour of Hockey Maharashtra.
-Team Sportstar
ESPORTS/CHESS
NODWIN Gaming joins hands with Chess.com, ChessBase India
NODWIN Gaming, a leader in South Asia’s esports and gaming ecosystem, on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership with the world’s largest chess platform, Chess.com, and India’s leading chess media and grassroots organisation, ChessBase India.
The collaboration aims to create a unified ecosystem that nurtures talent, expands reach, and builds India’s presence on the global chess esports stage. Together, they plan to fuel the co-creation and scaling of original IPs, deliver premium competitive formats, spark deeper engagement across both player and creator communities, and deliver great opportunities for brands to partner in the rapidly growing chess ecosystem.
Speaking on the announcement, Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming, said, “Chess is undergoing a cultural renaissance, from park benches and schoolrooms to sold-out esports arenas and creator streams. Chess has now become the fourth most-watched sport in the country after cricket, kabaddi, and BGMI tournaments. With this partnership, we’re not just supporting a heritage game; we’re aiding in its natural course of progression.”
The partnership also aligns with the rise of chess as a recognised esports discipline. At the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, chess will make its debut with a prize pool of $1.5 million. Leading Indian esports organization S8UL is set to represent India in competitive chess at the Esports World Cup with its powerhouse roster of Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram, marking the first-ever representation of an Indian esports team in competitive chess on a global stage.
-Team Sportstar
ATHLETICS
Kangana Ranaut named brand ambassador of World Para Athletics Championships
BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
Actor-cum-politician Kangana Ranaut was on Wednesday named brand ambassador of the World Para Athletics Championships to be held in New Delhi between September 26 and October 5.
The 39-year-old Ranaut, who garnered acclaim for her performances in films like Fashion and Queen, represents Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi constituency in the current Lok Sabha.
“India’s para athletes are rewriting what is possible every single day. I am deeply honoured to support them and help raise awareness about their incredible achievements. Para sport is not just about competition—it is about courage, and I am proud to stand behind our champions,” Ranaut said in a press release issued by the Paralympic Committee of India.
PCI president and BJP leader Devendra Jhajharia, who is also a two-time Paralympic gold medal-winning javelin thrower, added: “Her passion, influence, and commitment to India’s athletes make her a perfect ambassador for the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships.”
The marquee event will feature athletes from more than 100 countries.
-PTI
CHESS
Top GMs show their class
Top seeded Grandmasters lived upto their billing, recording dominant victories across the top boards in round 2 of the the Aurionpro Mumbai International Grandmaster Chess Tournament at the World Trade Centre.
Top seed GM Levan Pantsulaia showcased his class by defeating Bhaavan Kolla in 33 moves with the French variation of the Sicilian Defence. GM Petrosyan Manuel employed the London System and brilliantly converted an exchange sacrifice into a full point, while GM Paichadze Luka played a sharp and aggressive Caro-Kann to dismantle his opponent.
Top seed GM Levan Pantsulaia in action at the Aurionpro International Grandmaster Chess Tournament and Junior International Chess Tournament.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Top seed GM Levan Pantsulaia in action at the Aurionpro International Grandmaster Chess Tournament and Junior International Chess Tournament.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Despite the dominance at the top, the round wasn’t without its surprises. Hemal Varshan held Manas Gaikwad (ELO 2232) to a draw, while several 1800-rated players impressed by drawing against opponents rated 2100 and above, adding intrigue to the mid-field battles.
Key Results of Round 2:
Kolla Bhavan 0 lost to GM Pantsulaia Levan 1
GM Petrosyan Manuel 1 beat FM Prakash Ram 0
Rachit Gurnani 0 lost to GM Paichadze Luka 1
GM Nikitenko Mihail 1 beat Devesh Naik 0
CM Vyom Malhotra 0 lost to GM Lalit Babu MR
GM Gharibyan Mamikon 1 beat Nisha Jawalkar
AFM Arhan Jain 0 lost to GM Savchenko Boris 1
FM Vedant Panesar 1 beat CM Vedant Varasada 0
Jagreet Misra 0 lost to GM Sanikidze Tornike 1
GM Deepan Chakravarthy beat Medhvansh Madeti
– Team Sportstar
TENNIS
Billie Jean King Cup play-off draw set for Thursday in London
The draw for the Billie Jean King Cup World Group play-off women’s tennis event is scheduled to be made in London on Thursday.
Unlike the last time when India played Latvia in the play-off in April 2021 that saw Jelena Ostapenko lead her team to a 3-1 victory, it will be a three-nation competition this time, spread over seven groups. Seven nations, Canada, Poland, Slovakia, Czechia, Australia, Germany and Netherlands have been seeded.
The next bunch will have Romania, Switzerland, Belgium, Slovenia, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia. India and New Zealand which qualified from the Asia-Oceania zone will be along with Argentina, Turkey, Denmark, Croatia and Portugal.
Each of the seven pool of three teams will have one country drawn from each of the three groups. The host will also be decided by the ITF. The three teams in each group will compete on a league basis. The topper of each of the seven groups will make it to the World Group qualifier. The rest will return to group-1 in their zones.
– Kamesh Srinivasan
AITA Championship series juniors: Tnaya beats Ekam in U-16 quarterfinals
Tanya Bhatnagar beat third seed Ekam Shergill 6-3, 6-3 in the under-16 girls quarterfinals of the AITA Championship series junior tennis tournament at the CLTA Complex on Wednesday.
Tanya also made the under-12 semifinals as the No.1 seed, by beating Sharvi Jafrain for the loss of two games.
The results (quarterfinals):
Under-16 boys: Harman Singh bt Yatharth Wadhera 6-4, 6-0; Sangram Bhadury bt Vrishin Awasthi 6-3, 6-3; Japnit Charaya bt Arjun Sharma 6-2, 4-6, 6-3; Ayaan Chandel bt Pranay Sharma 6-4, 6-2.
Under-16 girls: Avni Uttam bt Yuvika Gorshi 6-3, 6-4; japleen Kaur bt Avika Sheoran 3-6, 6-2, 7-5; Tanya Bhatnagar bt Ekam Shergill 6-3, 6-3; Priyanshi Katial bt Jiana Chawla 6-0, 6-0.
Under-12 boys: Sukhleen Sharma bt Adhyyan Soni 6-0, 6-0; Manav Gill bt Aarav Sabarwal 6-1, 3-6, 6-0; Pawan Teku bt Atharv Abhiraj 2-6, 6-1, 6-0; Nikunj Arora bt Kabir Mahendra 6-2, 6-1.
Under-12 girls: Tanya Bhatnagar bt Sharvi Jafrain 6-1, 6-1; Nivedita bt Sharee Khera 7-6(4), 6-0; Divnoor Kaur bt Ibadat Sandhu 6-2, 6-1; Aaraina Vishal bt Anaira Agarwal 6-2, 6-0.
– Kamesh Srinivasan
Sumit Nagal loses in pre-quarterfinals of Poznan challenger tournament
Top seed Cristian Garin of Chile edged out Sumit Nagal 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the pre-quarterfinals of the €145,250 Challenger tennis tournament in Poznan, Poland, on Wednesday.
Sumit won seven ATP points and €2,450.
In the $30,000 ITF women’s event in Tauste, Spain, Ankita Raina reached the quarterfinals with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Maria Vaquero.
€145,250 Challenger, Poznan, Poland
Singles (pre-quarterfinals): Cristian Garin (Chi) bt Sumit Nagal 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
€54,000 Challenger, Royan, France
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Adil Kalyanpur & Parikshit Somani bt Simone Agostini (Ita) Mario Mansilla Diez (Esp) 0-6, 6-3, [10-5].
$30,000 ITF men, Luzhou, China
Singles (first round): Yuki Mochizuki (Jpn) bt S Mukund 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
$30,000 ITF men, Monastir, Tunisia
Singles (first round): Pavlos Tsitsipas (Gre) bt Karan Singh 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Olaf Pieczkowski (Pol) & Karan Singh bt Fabrizio Andaloro & Leonardo Rossi (Ita) 6-3, 6-3.
$15,000 ITF men, Nyiregyhaza, Hungary
Singles (first round): Gabriele Noce (Ita) bt Rethin Pranav 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
$15,000 ITF men, Monastir, Tunisia
Singles (first round): Dev Javia bt Liam Delicata (Mlt) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3; Luca Pow (GBR) bt Prajwal Dev 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Prajwal Dev & Nitin Kumar Sinha bt Liam Delicata (Mlt) & Breno Urvaneja (Bra) 6-1, 7-6(2).
$30,000 ITF women, Tauste, Spain
Singles (pre-quarterfinals): Ankita Raina bt Maria Vaquero (Esp) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3; First round: Vaishnavi Adkar bt Arina Arifullina 6-2, 6-3.
$30,000 ITF women, Chinese Taipei
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Vaidehi Chaudhari & Natsumi Kawaguchi (Jpn) bt Yuka Hosoki & Junri Namigata (Jpn) 6-4, 2-6, [16-14].
$30,000 ITF women, Wichita, USA
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Martina Okalova (Svk) & Sahaja Yamalapalli bt Taylor Gruber & Hibah Shaikh (USA) 6-1, 6-1.
$15,000 ITF women, Monastir, Tunisia
Singles (first round): Zeel Desai Joody Elkady (Egy) 6-3, 7-5.
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Manal Ennaciri (Mar) & Gloriana Nahum (Ben) bt Diva Bhatia & Snehal Mane 6-2, 6-4.
-Kamesh Srinivasan
CHESS
Sanikidze beats Ziatdinov in the third round
Grandmaster Tornike Sanikidze beat Grandmaster Raset Ziatdinov in 42 moves in the third round of the Aurionpro Grandmaster chess tournament at the World Trade Centre on Wednesday.
Ziatdinov opted to exchange his queen for a couple of minor pieces and pawns, but it did not work to his advantage. Sanikidze made a second queen and ripped through the defence.
Except for two boards, the rest of the top players won their third round. There were as many as 24 players with three points, including International Master Soumya Swaminathan.
The results (third round):
Levan Pantsulaia 3 bt Shrayan Majumder 2; aksh Goyal lost to Manuel Petrosyan 3; Luka Paichadze 3 bt Rupesh Jaiswal 2; Arnav Agrawal 2 lost to Mihail Nikitenko 3; Lalit Babu 3 bt Prakhar Bajaj 2; Arshpreet Sigh 2 lost to Mamikon Gharibyan 3; Boris Savchenko 3 bt Alluri Reddy 2; Aamuktha Guntaka 2 lost to Vedant Panesar 3; Tornike Sanikidze 3 bt Raset Ziatdinov 2; Guru Prakash 2.5 drew with Deepan Chakkravarthy 2.5; Arsen Davtyan 3 bt Yohan Boricha 2; Sri Sandipagu 2 lost to Duc Hoa Nguyen 3; Alexander Slizhevsky 3 bt Om Nagnath 2; M Mridav 2 lost to Aleksej Aleksandrov 3; Alexei Fedorov 3 bt Akila Kavinda 2; Ram Parab 2 lost to Nayaka Budhidharma 3; Neelotpal Das 3 bt Samuel Noble 2; Dinesh Jaganathan 2 lost to Nithin Babu 3; Van Huy Nguyen 3 bt Adhiraj Mitra 2; Vinayak Kulkarni 2.5 drew with Semetei Tegin 2.5; David Gochelashvili 3 bt Ashish Chaudhari 2; Siddhant Salunke 2 lost to Soumya Swaminathan 3.
Under-13: Mysha Perwez 2 lost to Aansh Nerurkar 3; Madhesh Kumar 3 bt Advik Reddy 2; Shitiz Prasad 2 lost to Madhvendra Sharma 3; Samuel Noble 3 bt Rishen Jilowa 2; Hriday Maniar 2 lost to Shaunak Badole 3; Adhiraj Mitra 3 bt Aarav Dhayagude 2; Taseen Tadavi 2 lost to Vyom Malhotra 3; Jai Vanum 2 lost to R Nijesh 3; Sameer Shergill 2 lost to Andalamala Varshan 3; Ramesh Goutham 3 bt Johny Arixander 2; Shaashvat Gupta 2 lost to Mahir Tanaja 3; Sahejveer Singh 2.5 drew with Aradhy Roy 2.5; Amber Gangwal 2 lost to Shaurya Singh 3; V tripurambika 1.5 lost to Amit Agrawal 2.5; Avirat Chauhan 2 drew with Pratyush Kumar 2; HP Angada 1.5 lost to Aadik Lenin 2.5.
-Team Sportstar
RUGBY
Chennai Bulls Continue Unbeaten Run; Delhi Redz Register First Win of RPL
The Chennai Bulls continued their unbeaten run at Season 1 of the GMR RPL, here in Mumbai, at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex after holding the Kalinga Black Tigers to a 26-26 thriller. The Delhi Redz also picked up their first win of the competition (20-7) against the Mumbai Dreamers , who are yet to win a game.
It was the Kalinga Black Tigers, who were out of the blocks the fastest, going through the gears before half-time to earn a seven-point lead. Just as the Kalinga Black Tigers looked set for their first win of the season, Vaafauese Maliko scored a try and Joaquin Pellandini converted his kick from the wing, to ensure the Bulls would not lose the game.
In the second game of the day, it was the Dreamers who began strongly, maintaining the lead till half-time. The Redz stormed back into the contest with Alejandro Laforga and Jordan Conroy scoring to register a comprehensive win on the night.
– Team Sportstar
SQUASH
Senthilkumar enters quarters to keep India’s hopes alive in Asian squash
India’s Velavan Senthilkumar kept the country’s hopes alive at the Asian Squash Championships 2025 after entering the quarterfinals here on Wednesday.
Senthilkumar, ranked 45th in the men’s singles chart, beat Japan’s Tomotaka Endo 3-0 (11-3 11-1 11-4) in his round of 16 match.
Senthilkumar is the lone surviving Indian in the tournament. He had defeated China’s Li Haizhen 3-0 (11-1 11-6 11-1) in the previous round on Tuesday.
World No. 153 Suraj Chand, who beat Athbi Hamad of the United Arab Emirates 3-0 (11-6 11-9 11-7) in the previous round, exited in the pre-quarterfinals after losing to world No. 86 Ameeshenraj Chandaran of Malaysia 1-3 (11-5 3-11 4-11 3-11).
Among other Indians in fray, Pooja Arthi Raghu lost 0-3 (7-11 9-11 2-11) against Singapore’s Au Yeong Wai Yhann in the second round of women’s singles event.
Compatriots Akanksha Salunkhe and Shameena Riaz also exited in the second round after receiving first-round byes.
Salunkhe was stunned by Malaysia’s Whitney Isabelle Wilson, 222nd in the women’s singles squash rankings, while Riaz was shown the door 1-3 (11-5 8-11 7-11 9-11) by Akari Midorikawa of Japan.
-PTI
