Sports

Indore, June 5 (IANS) Chambal Ghariyals continued their winning run in the women’s competition of the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup 2026 after defeating Royal Nimar Eagles by 9 wickets in a rain-curtailed fixture, which was reduced to seven-overs-per-side at the Daly College in Indore.

After winning the toss, Chambal Ghariyals opted to bowl first and made an early impact, reducing the Eagles to 26/2 within the first three overs. With the team under pressure, Kalyani Jadhav and Soniya Singh steadied the innings and accelerated at the right time. The duo added a valuable 26-run partnership in just three overs, helping Royal Nimar Eagles regain momentum.

Kalyani played a brisk knock of 23 off 15 balls before being caught by Pooja Vastrakar, who has played for India at the international level, off the bowling of Vaishnavi Singh. Soniya remained unbeaten at 14 off 11 deliveries as the Eagles finished with a competitive total of 62/3 in their allotted seven overs. Anamika Raghuvanshi was the pick of the bowlers who scalped one wicket for 11 runs in two overs.

Later, Chambal Ghariyals got off to a flying start after Kanishka Thakur collected 16 runs in the very first over. However, they suffered a setback when Jincy George was stumped off Vaishnavi Sharma after scoring just 2 off 2 balls.

The wicket did little to slow down the Ghariyals’ momentum as Kanishka continued her aggressive approach, taking on the bowlers and finding boundaries with ease. The left-handed batter looked in complete control throughout the chase and remained unbeaten on 46, continuing her excellent form in the tournament.

Captain Pooja Vastrakar provided valuable support at the other end with an unbeaten 15 off 14 balls as the Ghariyals comfortably chased down the target in 5.4 overs.

Bhopal Wolves lose to Gwalior Shernis

Gwalior Shernis clinched a much-needed win by two runs against Bhopal Wolves in a match that went down to the wire at Daly College, Indore. Gwalior Shernis produced a strong batting performance, led by captain Nuzhat Parween and Sonam Yadav, to post a competitive 134/3 in 20 overs.

Parween and Aashna Patidar gave the team a steady start, adding 31 runs for the opening wicket before Aashna was dismissed for a brisk 18 off 13 balls.

The Shernis then took control through a superb partnership between Parween and Sonam Yadav. The duo dominated the bowlers and stitched together a crucial 70-run stand, putting the innings firmly in Gwalior’s favour.

Parween anchored the innings beautifully, scoring 50 in 48 deliveries, while Sonam played an equally impressive knock, narrowly missing out on a fifty by just one run. Soumya Tiwari provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 12 off 10 balls as the Shernis finished strongly.

Later, the Gwalior bowling attack kept the pressure on throughout the innings and never allowed Bhopal to gain control of the chase, striking at regular intervals to push them onto the back foot.

Opener Aayushi Shukla tried to anchor the innings and keep the fight alive, but her resistance ended when she was dismissed for 29 off 29 balls. Rishita Parihar then provided some late fireworks with a quick 25 off just 9 deliveries, but her entertaining cameo was cut short when she was stumped by captain Nuzhat Parween off the bowling of Jiya Jethwa.

The tide turned dramatically in the final moments of the match when Bhopal Wolves needed 7 runs from the last over. However, a brilliant piece of wicketkeeping from captain Nuzhat Parween proved decisive as she effected the stumping of Reena Yadav, leaving the Wolves needing 6 runs with just one wicket in hand.

Riya Yadav delivered the finishing blow by dismissing Priyanka Koushal, bowling Bhopal Wolves out for 132 and sealing a thrilling victory for Gwalior Shernis.

Riya picked up four wickets for 19 runs in 3.4 overs, while Khushi Yadav scalped three for 18 in four overs.

–IANS

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Indore, June 5 (IANS) The Rajat Patidar-led Gwalior Cheetahs bounced back in style in the Aditya Birla Group Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup 2026, registering a 12-run victory over Bhopal Leopards at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.

Batting first, the Cheetahs piled up a mammoth 220/8 in 18 overs in a match that was reduced to 18 overs per side following a delayed start caused by wet outfield. It was a batting masterclass from Gwalior Cheetahs opener Parth Chaudhary, who smashed the first century of the season against Bhopal Leopards in Indore.

Chaudhary came out all guns blazing and, along with Kartik Parihar, gave the Cheetahs a flying start. The opening pair added a stunning 90 runs in just 7.1 overs, putting the Leopards under pressure right from the outset.

Parihar played an attacking knock of 35 off 22 balls before departing, but Chaudhary showed no signs of slowing down. Although the Cheetahs lost Kuldeep Gehi soon after, captain Rajat Patidar joined the opener and kept the momentum going.

The duo took complete control of the innings, attacking the bowlers from the start and finding boundaries with ease. Chaudhary reached a magnificent century and eventually scored a breathtaking 107 off just 51 deliveries, smashing 7 maximums and nine fours while Patidar chipped in with a quick 29 off 15 balls during their 79-run partnership.

The fireworks continued in the closing stages as Vikas Sharma and Arpit Patel entertained the crowd with some powerful hitting. Their late flourish helped Gwalior Cheetahs post a massive total.

Later, it was the Gwalior Cheetahs bowlers who took control of the contest with a disciplined and aggressive display. Tanishq Yadav and Rahul Chandrol gave Bhopal Leopards a steady start, adding 46 runs for the opening wicket, but the innings quickly unravelled after the breakthrough.

The Leopards lost momentum dramatically, slipping from a promising position to 66/5 in just 6.1 overs after losing five wickets in the space of three overs.

Pawan Nirwani and Pranjul Puri then staged a fightback, putting together a valuable 92-run partnership to keep Bhopal’s hopes alive. The stand was finally broken by Ishan Afridi, who dismissed Pranjul for a well-made 38 off 21 balls.

Nirwani continued to battle on and brought up an impressive half-century, but despite his efforts, the Leopards fell short of the target and were eventually restricted to 208/7 in 18 overs, handing Gwalior Cheetahs a victory.

–IANS

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New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) While the second session of the first day in the India-Afghanistan one-off Test match is underway in New Chandigarh, all eyes will be on Mumbai when the Ajit Agarkar‑led senior national selection committee will meet at the BCCI headquarters on Saturday to finalise India’s squads for the upcoming T20I tours of Ireland and England.

Following the meeting, Agarkar and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia are scheduled to address a press conference at 1 pm on the fourth floor of the board’s headquarters. India will play two T20Is in Ireland on June 26 and 28, followed by five matches in England from July 1 to 11.

The Agarkar-led panel will also pick India’s ‘A’ squad for the red-ball series against Sri Lanka, to be played from June 25 to July 5, as well as release a shortlist of players for the Men’s T20 event at the Asian Games, to be played in Nagoya, Japan.

The biggest talking point, though, will be the future of T20I captaincy, which is all set to dominate discussions in the selection meeting. Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to a historic defence of the Men’s T20 World Cup title in March, has been in a prolonged lean patch.

He managed only 270 runs in 13 innings for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at an average of 20.76 and a strike rate of 147.54. Even in the World Cup, Suryakumar wasn’t at his prolific best — scoring 242 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 136.72. With Suryakumar turning 36 in September, it will be interesting to see if he will retain his captaincy or lose both the leadership armband and his place in the side.

Amongst the frontrunners to succeed Suryakumar, Shreyas Iyer has been the standout candidate. An in-form Iyer led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL crown in 2024 and guided Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings to finals in 2020 and 2025, respectively. He also captained Mumbai to win the 2024/25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

If named as India’s 15th men’s T20I captain, it will cap off an extraordinary turn of events for Iyer, the current vice-captain in ODIs. Iyer wasn’t in the T20I set-up for the previous World Cup cycle, though he was in the squad for the series win over New Zealand earlier this year as a replacement for injured Tilak Varma.

Other leadership options include Hardik Pandya, who is currently working on his fitness at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru after back spasms hurt him in IPL 2026 and led India in 16 T20Is before. Other candidates for the leadership role include Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, and Sanju Samson. If not for the leadership role, the trio could be in the mix for the vice-captain’s role, too.

Deliberations will be there on including teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and two-time IPL-winning captain Rajat Patidar in the T20I team after the duo had a stellar time in IPL 2026 with the bat. But how the duo will be accommodated in the line-up, already having Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan in the top order, remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, with India’s Test team set to play a crucial two-game series in Sri Lanka in August, the selectors may also send senior red‑ball players to feature in the shadow ‘A’ tour for early acclimatisation of batting in spin-friendly conditions and bowling with the red Kookaburra ball.

With India chasing crucial World Test Championship points in a bid to enter the final in 2027, the likes of KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, B Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja could be included in the ‘A’ team squad, especially with the games set to happen in Galle, a regular Test venue in Sri Lanka.

Fast bowling all-rounder Auqib Nabi, who picked 60 wickets in Jammu and Kashmir, winning the Ranji Trophy earlier this year, could be included in the India ‘A’ squad after missing out on a spot in the squad for the Afghanistan Test. In all, Saturday promises to give answers to a lot of high-stakes questions, while setting the tone for a crucial few months for Indian cricket in both the shortest and longest formats.

–IANS

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Indore, June 5 (IANS) Chambal Ghariyals continued their winning run in the women’s competition of the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup 2026 after defeating Royal Nimar Eagles by 9 wickets in a rain-curtailed fixture.

The contest was reduced to seven overs per side at Daly College, Indore.

After winning the toss, Chambal Ghariyals opted to bowl first and made an early impact, reducing the Eagles to 26/2 within the first three overs.

With the team under pressure, Kalyani Jadhav and Soniya Singh steadied the innings and accelerated at the right time. The duo added a valuable 26-run partnership in just three overs, helping Royal Nimar Eagles regain momentum.

Kalyani played a brisk knock of 23 off 15 balls before being caught by Pooja Vastrakar, who has played for India at the international level off the bowling of Vaishnavi Singh. Soniya remained unbeaten at 14 off 11 deliveries as the Eagles finished with a competitive total of 62/3 in their allotted seven overs.

Anamika Raghuvanshi was the pick of the bowlers who scalped one wicket for 11 runs in two overs.

Later, Chambal Ghariyals got off to a flying start after Kanishka Thakur, collected 16 runs in the very first over. However, they suffered a setback when Jincy George was stumped off Vaishnavi Sharma after scoring just 2 off 2 balls.

The wicket did little to slow down the Ghariyals’ momentum as Kanishka continued her aggressive approach, taking on the bowlers and finding boundaries with ease. The left-handed batter looked in complete control throughout the chase and remained unbeaten on 46, continuing her excellent form in the tournament.

Captain Pooja Vastrakar provided valuable support at the other end with an unbeaten 15 off 14 balls as the

Ghariyals comfortably chased down the target in 5.4 overs.

Bhopal Wolves vs Gwalior Shernis:

Gwalior Shernis clinched a much-needed win by 2 runs against Bhopal Wolves in a match that went down the wire at Daly College, Indore. Gwalior Shernis produced a strong batting performance, led by captain Nuzhat Parween and Sonam Yadav, to post a competitive 134/3 in 20 overs.

Parween and Aashna Patidar gave the team a steady start, adding 31 runs for the opening wicket before Aashna was dismissed for a brisk 18 off 13 balls.

The Shernis then took control through a superb partnership between Parween and Sonam Yadav. The duo dominated the bowlers and stitched together a crucial 70-run stand, putting the innings firmly in Gwalior’s favour.

Parween anchored the innings beautifully, scoring 50 in 48 deliveries, while Sonam played an equally impressive knock, narrowly missing out on a fifty by just one run.

Soumya Tiwari provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 12 off 10 balls as the Shernis finished strongly.

Later, the Gwalior bowling attack kept the pressure on throughout the innings and never allowed Bhopal to gain control of the chase, striking at regular intervals to push them onto the back foot.

Opener Aayushi Shukla tried to anchor the innings and keep the fight alive, but her resistance ended when she was dismissed for 29 off 29 balls.

Rishita Parihar then provided some late fireworks with a quick 25 off just 9 deliveries, but her entertaining cameo was cut short when she was stumped by captain Nuzhat Parween off the bowling of Jiya Jethwa.

The tide turned dramatically in the final moments of the match when Bhopal Wolves needed 7 runs from the last over. However, a brilliant piece of wicketkeeping from captain Nuzhat Parween proved decisive as she effected the stumping of Reena Yadav, leaving the Wolves needing 6 runs with just one wicket in hand.

Riya Yadav delivered the finishing blow by dismissing Priyanka Koushal, bowling Bhopal Wolves out for 132 and sealing a thrilling victory for Gwalior Shernis.

Riya picked up four wickets for 19 runs in 3.4 overs while Khushi Yadav scalped three for 18 in four overs.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, June 5 (IANS) The two new franchises in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, Coastal Kings Mangaluru and Shivamogga Yodhas, made a splash at the season 5 player auction, securing the two biggest buys of the day in Karun Nair and Smaran R. Coastal Kings Mangaluru landed Karun for a tournament-high INR 18 lakh, while Shivamogga Yodhas snapped up Smaran for 15.75 lakh.

Hubli Tigers also made a major statement at the auction, acquiring Abhinav Manohar for 13.50 lakh, while Gulbarga Mystics strengthened their resources with the acquisitions of Manish Pandey for 12.75 lakh and explosive all-rounder Macneil Noronha for 12.25 lakh.

Mysore Warriors invested heavily in Chethan LR, acquiring the batter for 11.50 lakh, while Hubli Tigers matched that outlay to secure Mayank Agarawal. Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters landed all-rounder Shubhang Hegde for 11 lakh, while Coastal Kings Mangaluru secured Shreyas Gopal for 10.25 lakh.

Mysore Warriors also brought in all-rounder Manoj Bhandage for 10 lakh, and Coastal Kings Mangaluru rounded off their marquee acquisitions with the signing of experienced all-rounder Koushik V for 8 lakh.

Coastal Kings Mangaluru complemented their headline signings with the acquisitions of Suraj Ahuja for 6 lakh, Venkatesh M for 3.40 lakh, and Nikin Jose for 2.40 lakh. The franchise also brought in Dheeraj Gowda for 2 lakh and Anvay Dravid for 0.90 lakh.

Gulbarga Mystics went on to make the acquisitions of Melu Kranthi Kumar for 8.75 lakh, Sharath BR for 5.75 lakh, and Dhruv Prabhakar for 4.25 lakh. Paras Gurbax Arya (3.60 lakh), Thippa Reddy (2.40 lakh), Prakhar Chaturvedi (1.90 lakh), and Ronit More (1.40 lakh) also joined the franchise.

Hubli Tigers backed their all-round strength by bringing in Hardik Raj and Manvanth Kumar for 7.50 lakh each, alongside Shikhar Shetty for 4 lakh. Mohammed Taha and Aneeshwar Gautam fetched 3.20 lakh each, while Rakshith S (1.90 lakh), Vaibhav Sharma (1.20 lakh), Shreesha S Achar (1 lakh), and Kumar LR (0.95 lakh) completed their notable additions.

Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters signed Pravin Dubey for 9.50 lakh, KL Shrijith for 9 lakh, Rohan Patil for 5.75 lakh, and Vidwath Kaverappa for 5 lakh. Shivraj S joined the franchise for 1.80 lakh, while Rohan Naveen and Samit Dravid were secured for 1.70 lakh and 1.50 lakh respectively.

Mysore Warriors further reinforced their squad with the acquisitions of Vyshak Vijaykumar for 8.25 lakh, while Karnataka stars Devdutt Padikkal and Prasidh Krishna (subject to their availability) were secured for 2.60 lakh each. Karthikeya KP (5 lakh), Madhav Prakash Bajaj (3.20 lakh), Karthik SU (3 lakh), Lavish Kaushal (3 lakh), Monish Reddy (2.40 lakh), and Ritesh Bhatkal (1.90 lakh) were part of the haul as well.

Shivamogga Yodhas supplemented their headline signing of Smaran R by acquiring Luvnith Sisodia for 7.75 lakh, Yashraj Punja for 5 lakh, Naveen MG for 4.75 lakh, and Yashovardhan Parantap for 3.40 lakh. Mohsin Khan (2 lakh), Aadarsh Prajwal (1.90 lakh), Tushar Singh (1.80 lakh), and Aneesh KV (1.80 lakh) also found new homes with the franchise.

The fifth edition of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 will be played from June 20 to July 12 across Mysuru, Hubballi, and Bengaluru, featuring Coastal Kings Mangaluru, Gulbarga Mystics, Hubli Tigers, Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters, Mysore Warriors, and Shivamogga Yodhas.

Full squads:

Coastal Kings Mangaluru Squad: Karun Nair (18.00 lakh), Shreyas Gopal (10.25 lakh), Koushik V (8.00 lakh), Suraj Ahuja (6.00 lakh), Venkatesh M (3.40 lakh), Nikin Jose SJ (2.40 lakh), Dheeraj Gowda (2.00 lakh), Santokh Singh (1.20 lakh), Kushaal M Wadhwani (1.00 lakh), Aadharsh SJ (0.95 lakh), Anvay Dravid (0.90 lakh), Karthik CA (0.75 lakh), Rajvir Wadhwa (0.65 lakh), Sidharth Akhil (0.50 lakh), Rathan BR (0.30 lakh), Prithviraj Shekhawat (0.30 lakh), Arya J Gowda (0.30 lakh), Aaron Cyril Christie (0.30 lakh).

Gulbarga Mystics Squad: Manish Pandey (12.75 lakh), Macneil Noronha (12.25 lakh), Melu Kranthi Kumar (8.75 lakh), Sharath BR (5.75 lakh), Dhruv Prabhakar (4.25 lakh), Paras Gurbax Arya (3.60 lakh), Thippa Reddy (2.40 lakh), Lochan S Gowda (2.20 lakh), Prakhar Chaturvedi (1.90 lakh), Ronit More (1.40 lakh), Aaditya Nair (1.20 lakh), Gautam Mishra (1.00 lakh), Shaun Tristan Joseph (0.50 lakh), Aarav Mahesh (0.50 lakh), Nathan D’Mello (0.50 lakh), Suhas Purushotham (0.30 lakh), Aashish Mahesh (0.30 lakh), Kush Marathe (0.30 lakh).

Hubli Tigers Squad: Abhinav Manohar (13.50 lakh), Mayank Agarawal (11.50 lakh), Hardik Raj (7.50 lakh), Manvanth Kumar L (7.50 lakh), Shikhar Shetty (4.00 lakh), Mohammed Taha (3.20 lakh), Aneeshwar Gautam (3.20 lakh), Rakshith S (1.90 lakh), Vaibhav Sharma (1.20 lakh), Kruthik Krishna (1.00 lakh), Kumar LR (0.95 lakh), Aditya Goyal (0.75 lakh), Abhishek Ahlawat (0.50 lakh), Tanish Mahesh (0.50 lakh), Preetesh Ingale (0.30 lakh), Vikas Gowda (0.30 lakh), Ronak Yelwal (0.30 lakh), Vinayak Holla K (0.30 lakh).

Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters Squad: Shubhang Hegde (11.00 lakh), Pravin Dubey (9.50 lakh), KL Shrijith (9.00 lakh), A Rohan Patil (5.75 lakh), Vidwath Kaverappa (5.00 lakh), Wahid Faizan Khan (3.80 lakh), Shreevatsa Acharya (2.60 lakh), Shivaraj S (1.80 lakh), Rohan Naveen (1.70 lakh), Samit Dravid (1.50 lakh), Shashikumar K (1.30 lakh), Ishaan S (0.50 lakh), Nischith N Rao (0.50 lakh), Vijayaraj B (0.50 lakh), Manikanth Shivanand (0.50 lakh), Bhuvan Mohan Raju (0.30 lakh), Naman GD (0.30 lakh), Darshan MB (0.30 lakh).

Mysore Warriors Squad: Chethan LR (11.50 lakh), Manoj Bhandage (10.00 lakh), Vyshak V (8.25 lakh), Karthikeya KP (5.00 lakh), Madhav Prakash Bajaj (3.20 lakh), Karthik S U (3.00 lakh), Lavish Kaushal (3.00 lakh), Prasidh Krishna (2.60 lakh), Devdutt Padikkal (2.60 lakh), Monish Reddy (2.40 lakh), Abhishek Prabhakar (2.00 lakh), Ritesh Bhatkal (1.90 lakh), Sanjay Ashwin C (0.50 lakh), Agastya S (0.50 lakh), Yuvraj Arora (0.50 lakh), Likhit M Bannur (0.50 lakh), Deepak Devadiga (0.30 lakh), Jasper EJ (0.30 lakh).

Shivamogga Yodhas Squad: Smaran R (15.75 lakh), Luvnith Sisodia (7.75 lakh), Abhilash Shetty (5.75 lakh), Yash Raj Punja (5.00 lakh), Naveen MG (4.75 lakh), Harshil Dharmani (4.00 lakh), Yashovardhan Parantap (3.40 lakh), Mohsin Khan (2.00 lakh), Aadarsh Prajwal (1.90 lakh), Tushar Singh (1.80 lakh), Aneesh KV (1.80 lakh), Shreesha S Achar (1.00 lakh), Dhanush Gowda R (0.50 lakh), Vaasav Venkatesh (0.50 lakh), Bheema Rao Navle (0.30 lakh), Shreyank Sagar (0.30 lakh), Yadugiri Yadav S (0.30 lakh), Chiranth Shivarudra (0.30 lakh).

–IANS

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Dublin (USA), June 5 (IANS) Indian-origin golfers, Aaron Rai, Akshay Bhatia and Sudarshan Yellamaraju, remained within striking distance after a demanding opening round at the Memorial Tournament, one of the PGA Tour’s premier Signature Events, while fellow Indian-American Sahith Theegala also stayed in contention despite a difficult start.

The challenging conditions at Muirfield Village Golf Club ensured that low scores were scarce, with only 22 players breaking par. Against that backdrop, Rai, Bhatia, and Yellamaraju all posted identical rounds of 1-over 73 to share 33rd place, while Theegala opened with a 2-over 74 and was tied for 44th.

At the top of the leaderboard, Tommy Fleetwood, Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun, and Ryan Gerard set the early pace with rounds of 5-under 67.

Much of the attention among Indian golf followers centred on Aaron Rai, who was making his first appearance since his landmark triumph at the PGA Championship. The Englishman of Indian heritage returned to competition looking to build on the biggest victory of his career and produced a steady if unspectacular round.

Starting on the front nine, Rai birdied the fourth and seventh holes but gave both shots back with successive bogeys on the eighth and ninth. He briefly moved under par again with a birdie at the 11th, but dropped strokes on the 12th and 17th holes to finish at 73.

Akshay Bhatia’s opening round followed a similar pattern of promise and frustration. The Indian-American left-hander appeared poised to join the small group of players under par before a costly mistake at the final hole undid much of his good work.

Bhatia picked up early bogeys at the fourth and eighth holes and turned in 2-over par. However, he responded strongly on the back nine with consecutive birdies at the 11th and 12th before adding another at the 14th to move into red figures for the day.

The momentum disappeared at the closing hole. After finding trouble off the tee, Bhatia ran up a double bogey and slipped back to 1-over, leaving him tied alongside Rai and several high-profile names, including World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

One of the pleasant surprises of the opening day came from Indo-Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju. Having begun the week uncertain of a place in the field and only gaining entry after withdrawals, he took full advantage of the opportunity.

Yellamaraju endured a shaky beginning with bogeys on two of his first three holes. He recovered with a birdie but reached the turn at 2-over after another dropped shot on the eighth. The back nine told a different story as birdies at the 11th and 12th brought him back into contention. A lone bogey on the 15th prevented an even better score, but his 73 represented a solid start in elite company.

Theegala, another player with Indian roots and a Hero-supported golfer, faced a tougher day. His card featured plenty of drama, including an eagle and two birdies, but six bogeys proved costly as he settled for a 2-over 74. Despite the uneven round, he remains well within reach heading into the second day.

The demanding nature of Jack Nicklaus’ renowned layout was reflected across the leaderboard. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, seeking a third consecutive Memorial title, could manage only a 73 after mixing three birdies with two bogeys and a double bogey.

Fleetwood’s round stood out among the leaders. The Englishman was the only player in the leading quartet to remain bogey-free, compiling five birdies in a flawless 67. Clark combined an eagle with five birdies, Spaun recorded seven birdies during his round, while Gerard produced one of the most colourful cards of the day, featuring eight birdies and an eagle.

Six-time major champion Rory McIlroy was among the select group to break par, carding a 1-under 71 despite an early double bogey. He finished tied 13th, five shots behind the leaders.

With the leaderboard tightly packed and scoring difficult, the Indian-origin contingent remains firmly in the hunt as the Memorial Tournament moves into the second round.

–IANS

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Dublin (USA), June 5 (IANS) Indian-origin golfers, Aaron Rai, Akshay Bhatia and Sudarshan Yellamaraju, remained within striking distance after a demanding opening round at the Memorial Tournament, one of the PGA Tour’s premier Signature Events, while fellow Indian-American Sahith Theegala also stayed in contention despite a difficult start.

The challenging conditions at Muirfield Village Golf Club ensured that low scores were scarce, with only 22 players breaking par. Against that backdrop, Rai, Bhatia, and Yellamaraju all posted identical rounds of 1-over 73 to share 33rd place, while Theegala opened with a 2-over 74 and was tied for 44th.

At the top of the leaderboard, Tommy Fleetwood, Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun, and Ryan Gerard set the early pace with rounds of 5-under 67.

Much of the attention among Indian golf followers centred on Aaron Rai, who was making his first appearance since his landmark triumph at the PGA Championship. The Englishman of Indian heritage returned to competition looking to build on the biggest victory of his career and produced a steady if unspectacular round.

Starting on the front nine, Rai birdied the fourth and seventh holes but gave both shots back with successive bogeys on the eighth and ninth. He briefly moved under par again with a birdie at the 11th, but dropped strokes on the 12th and 17th holes to finish at 73.

Akshay Bhatia’s opening round followed a similar pattern of promise and frustration. The Indian-American left-hander appeared poised to join the small group of players under par before a costly mistake at the final hole undid much of his good work.

Bhatia picked up early bogeys at the fourth and eighth holes and turned in 2-over par. However, he responded strongly on the back nine with consecutive birdies at the 11th and 12th before adding another at the 14th to move into red figures for the day.

The momentum disappeared at the closing hole. After finding trouble off the tee, Bhatia ran up a double bogey and slipped back to 1-over, leaving him tied alongside Rai and several high-profile names, including World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

One of the pleasant surprises of the opening day came from Indo-Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju. Having begun the week uncertain of a place in the field and only gaining entry after withdrawals, he took full advantage of the opportunity.

Yellamaraju endured a shaky beginning with bogeys on two of his first three holes. He recovered with a birdie but reached the turn at 2-over after another dropped shot on the eighth. The back nine told a different story as birdies at the 11th and 12th brought him back into contention. A lone bogey on the 15th prevented an even better score, but his 73 represented a solid start in elite company.

Theegala, another player with Indian roots and a Hero-supported golfer, faced a tougher day. His card featured plenty of drama, including an eagle and two birdies, but six bogeys proved costly as he settled for a 2-over 74. Despite the uneven round, he remains well within reach heading into the second day.

The demanding nature of Jack Nicklaus’ renowned layout was reflected across the leaderboard. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, seeking a third consecutive Memorial title, could manage only a 73 after mixing three birdies with two bogeys and a double bogey.

Fleetwood’s round stood out among the leaders. The Englishman was the only player in the leading quartet to remain bogey-free, compiling five birdies in a flawless 67. Clark combined an eagle with five birdies, Spaun recorded seven birdies during his round, while Gerard produced one of the most colourful cards of the day, featuring eight birdies and an eagle.

Six-time major champion Rory McIlroy was among the select group to break par, carding a 1-under 71 despite an early double bogey. He finished tied 13th, five shots behind the leaders.

With the leaderboard tightly packed and scoring difficult, the Indian-origin contingent remains firmly in the hunt as the Memorial Tournament moves into the second round.

–IANS

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Southampton, June 5 (IANS) English football club Southampton have completed the permanent signing of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz from Bayern Munich, with the Israel international putting pen to paper on a four-year contract after an impressive loan spell with the team.

The 25-year-old joined Southampton on loan from Bayern in January and quickly established himself as a key figure in the team. Peretz played every minute of the club’s 21-match unbeaten run in the Sky Bet Championship as Saints dramatically improved their defensive record and pushed for promotion under manager Tonda Eckert.

During that run, the goalkeeper kept eight clean sheets and delivered several standout performances, including against Premier League sides Fulham, Arsenal and Manchester City during Southampton’s run to the FA Cup semi-finals

Peretz made 26 appearances across all competitions following his mid-season arrival and ended the campaign having been on the losing side only twice.

Speaking after completing the move, Peretz said he was delighted to make Southampton his permanent home.

“I’m super excited. For the last few months this was my home, and we had so many good times, and also some tense times, but even in the last few weeks with how we stayed together you could really feel this home environment,” he said in a statement released by the club on X.

“That was, for me, the dealbreaker. Yes, it is my dream to play in the Premier League and on the highest stages in the world, but a bigger dream for me is to be there with Southampton. I really believe that we can be there and achieve that,” he added.

Peretz began his career at Maccabi Tel Aviv, making more than 100 appearances for the Israeli club before earning a move to Bayern Munich. While in Germany, he made seven senior appearances and gained valuable experience training alongside legendary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, whom he has described as his childhood hero.

Southampton Group Technical Director Johannes Spors welcomed the completion of the deal, praising both the goalkeeper’s quality and commitment to the club.

“We knew about Daniel’s qualities when we signed him on loan in January, and his impact on the team was clear for everybody to see. He has a confidence in his own ability that transmits to the players in front of him,” Spors said.

“I had several conversations with Daniel after our season came to an end. It was clear throughout these discussions that he remained committed to us, even with other options on the table. We are delighted to welcome him back to Southampton on a long-term contract and determined to build on the successes we experienced together last season,” he added.

The permanent acquisition of Peretz is expected to be a major boost for Southampton as they prepare for the new Championship campaign with ambitions of securing a return to the Premier League.

–IANS

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Mumbai, June 5 (IANS) Star India all-rounder Shivam Dube inspired ARCS Andheri with a superb bowling effort before opener Divyaansh Sksena lit up the chase with a whirlwind unbeaten 88 off mere 39 balls as the side climbed to the summit of the T20 Mumbai League 2026 standings with a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Eagle Thane Strikers at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday.

Shardul Thakur’s decision to bat first after winning the toss proved costly as Eagle Thane Strikers were bowled out for a modest 129. Apart from Sairaj Patil (34) and wicketkeeper Eknath Kerkar (27), none of the Strikers’ batters managed to make an impact against a disciplined ARCS Andheri attack.

Off-spinner Prasoon Singh starred with three wickets, while Ajay Mishra (2-13) and captain Dube (2-19) chipped in with crucial breakthroughs as the Strikers struggled to recover after early setbacks. Sairaj and Eknath briefly steadied the innings with a 41-run partnership after the side limped to 34/2 inside the Powerplay.

But once the pair was dismissed, the innings unravelled quickly, with the Andheri bowlers maintaining relentless pressure and conceding just 26 runs in the last four overs while claiming five wickets.

In reply, ARCS Andheri rode on opener Divyaansh’s scintillating unbeaten 88 off just 39 balls, studded with 12 boundaries and four sixes, to seal a comfortable victory with 50 deliveries remaining. Divyaansh dominated the Strikers’ bowling from the outset, bringing up a blistering half-century in only 17 balls for the joint-fastest fifty of the tournament, and ensuring the chase never drifted off course.

At the other end, Ayush Jethwa (25) played the ideal supporting role, rotating strike smartly and allowing Divyaansh to dictate terms. The pair left the Strikers’ bowlers searching for answers as they steadily marched towards the target. By the time Ayush was dismissed by Siddhant Singh, the result was virtually sealed, with Divyaansh finishing off the chase in emphatic fashion.

On Thursday night, Bandra Blasters eventually notched up their first victory of the season by beating Suryakumar Yadav’s Triumph Knights Mumbai North East by four wickets. Put in to bat, the Knights overcame a middle order wobble to post 178/8, courtesy of Nutan Goel’s 40, and a late flourish from Parikshit Valsangkar (36 not out) and Jayesh Pokhare (31 not out).

In response, captain Suved Parkar continued his glorious form to lead the Blasters from the front with his second half-century of the season, while Jay Jain’s unbeaten 49 guided them home comfortably with three balls to spare.

Later tonight, Ajinkya Rahane’s North Mumbai Panthers will look for a third straight win when they take on Sarfaraz Khan-led Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburb at the same venue.

Brief scores:

Eagle Thane Strikers 129 all out in 20 overs (Sairaj Patil 34, Eknath Kerkar 27; Prasoon Singh 3/22, Ajay Mishra 2/13, Shivam Dube 2/19) lost to ARCS Andheri 130/1 in 11.4 overs (Divyaansh Sksena 88 not out, Ayush Jethwa 25) by nine wickets.

–IANS

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Kakamigahara (Japan), June 5 (IANS) The Indian U18 Men’s Hockey Team showed incredible character to defeat arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 in a high-voltage semi-final match of the U18 Men’s Asia Cup 2026 on Friday. Trailing 2-3 until the final quarter, India produced an outstanding attacking display in the final minutes to secure their place in the summit clash.

The match began with a quiet and tense opening, as both teams fought hard for control in the midfield. India found their rhythm in the 12th minute when a brilliant run from their own half forced a defensive error from Pakistan, earning India a penalty stroke. Forward Ashish Tani Purti (12’) stepped up and calmly converted it to give India an early 1-0 lead, which they maintained until the end of the first quarter.

Pakistan came out playing aggressively in the second quarter and won their first penalty corner in the 16th minute. Indian goalkeeper Ayush Rajak and defender Ansh Bahutra combined perfectly to save a powerful dragflick from Ahmad Uzair. Pakistan kept pressing and found their equaliser in the 27th minute when Adeel intercepted a pass, broke through the defence, and scored a field goal to make it 1-1 at halftime.

The third quarter saw intense action from both sides. India reclaimed the lead in the 35th minute when Shahrukh Ali (35’) capitalised on quick passing and smashed the ball into the net. However, the joy was short-lived as Pakistan responded just two minutes later through a field goal by Muhammad Farhan Aslam in the 37th minute. Pakistan then took the lead for the first time in the 42nd minute when Uzair Ahmad Qureshi converted a penalty corner with a precise dragflick, leaving India trailing 2-3 at the end of the third quarter.

With their tournament life on the line, India launched a furious attack in the final quarter. The pressure forced a green card for Pakistan’s Muzammil Saeed in the 46th minute, and India immediately won consecutive penalty corners. Ashish Tani Purti (49’) fired home a superb dragflick from the second penalty corner to level the score at 3-3.

India completely dominated the following minutes, earning a series of penalty corners. Though Pakistan’s defence blocked a few attempts, they could not stop the Indian frontline for long. In the 53rd minute, Ashish scored another brilliant penalty corner to complete his hat-trick and put India ahead 4-3.

With just four minutes left on the clock, India won another penalty corner, and Ashish (56’) hit the back of the net once again to score his fourth goal of the match, extending the lead to 5-3. The Indian boys held their composure in the dying minutes of the game to defend their lead successfully and book their place in the final.

India will take on hosts Japan in the final of the U18 Men’s Asia Cup on Saturday.

–IANS

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Dehradun, June 5 (IANS) The country’s top shooters will be in action when the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) conducts the Selection Trials 4 for Group ‘A’ shooters in rifle and pistol events, starting Saturday (June 6) through June 10 in the Trishul Shooting Range at Maharana Pratap Sports College in Dehradun.

It is an important event in the season as the squad for the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China, scheduled for next month, and the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, scheduled for September, will be decided after the trials conclude, in line with NRAI’s selection policy.

With the total number of participants capped at 30 across all three disciplines (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun) for the Asian Games, multiple shooters must excel in multiple events to make the squad, giving these selection trials greater importance.

The first event scheduled in the competition is Stage 1 of the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men. The finals for that event and the finals for both 10m Rifle men and women will be conducted on Monday.

Teenager Suraj Sharma, who recently made his senior World Cup debut in Munich, currently tops the ranking in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event, followed by Olympians Anish Bhanwala and Vijayveer Sidhu in second and third place, respectively. Bhavesh Shekhawat, Omkar Singh, and Udhayveer Sidhu follow in fourth, fifth, and sixth places.

Schedule of Selection Trials 4:

June 6 – 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Stage 1

June 7 – 10m Air Rifle Men Final

10m Air Rifle Women Final

25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Final

25m Pistol Women Precision Stage

June 8 – 25m Pistol Women Rapid Stage and Final

June 9 – 10m Air Pistol Men Final

10m Air Pistol Women Final

50m Rifle 3 Positions Women Final

50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Final

June 10 – 50m Rifle Prone Men & Women

–IANS

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Berlin, June 5 (IANS) Former world No. 1 Serena Williams has added the Berlin Tennis Open to her comeback schedule as the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion prepares to return to professional tennis after nearly four years away from the sport

The 44-year-old will begin her comeback at the Queen’s Club Championship in London next week, where she is set to compete in the doubles event alongside rising Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko. The pair have received a wildcard entry into the 16-team doubles draw.

While Berlin Tennis Open tournament organisers have now confirmed that Williams will also play doubles at the prestigious competition, which begins on June 15. Her partner for the WTA 500 event is yet to be announced.

“Every tournament I add to my schedule right now feels special, and Berlin is no exception. I’m excited to compete in front of the German fans and continue building momentum throughout the grass-court season,” Williams said on the official Berlin Open website.

Williams has not played a professional match since the 2022 US Open, where she made what was then considered her farewell appearance. Her return has generated significant excitement across the tennis world as fans prepare to see one of the sport’s greatest players back in action.

The Queen’s Club event will also mark Williams’ first appearance at the historic London venue. Women were unable to compete at Queen’s Club between 1973 and 2024, making this year’s tournament the first opportunity for her to play there

One of the most successful players in tennis history, Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 73 WTA singles trophies during her illustrious career. She also spent 186 consecutive weeks as world No. 1 and finished five seasons as the year-end top-ranked player.

In doubles, Williams enjoyed remarkable success alongside her sister Venus Williams, winning 22 titles, including 14 Grand Slam crowns without losing a final, and four Olympic gold medals.

–IANS

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