HOCKEY
Indian sub-junior hockey teams eye World Cup berths at inaugural Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship
The Indian sub-junior men’s and women’s teams will begin their campaign in the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat on Monday, aiming to secure berths in the maiden FIH Under-18 Youth Hockey5s World Cup.
The six-day tournament will serve as the Asian qualifier for the inaugural FIH U-18 Youth Hockey5s World Cup.
The Indian sub-junior men’s team, coached by Sardar Singh, heads into the tournament with confidence after clinching the U-18 Asia Cup title, defeating host Japan 4-1 in the final.
The squad comprises players from the gold medal-winning campaign and has been placed alongside hosts Oman, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the Elite Pool.
“The players have earned this opportunity with their outstanding performance at the U-18 Asia Cup, and the confidence from winning the title will certainly help us. However, Hockey5s is a unique format that demands quick decision-making, high intensity and adaptability,” Singh said in a release.
“The boys have prepared well for these challenges, and our focus will be on executing our plans, maintaining consistency and securing qualification for the inaugural FIH U-18 Youth Hockey5s World Cup.”
The Indian sub-junior women’s team, coached by Rani Rampal, features players who secured the bronze medal at the U-18 Asia Cup. The team has been drawn in the Elite Pool with China, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The Elite Pool follows a double round-robin format, with each team playing against the other twice. The top two teams at the end of the league stage will advance directly to the gold medal match, while the third-placed team will qualify directly for the bronze medal match.
The fourth-placed team will face the top-ranked Challenger Pool team in a qualification match, with the winner progressing to the bronze medal match.
India’s campaign begins on Monday, with the women’s team taking on Kazakhstan before the men’s team faces Bangladesh later in the evening.
The men’s side will then play Oman and Pakistan on Tuesday before meeting the same opponents in the return fixtures on July 23 and 24 July as part of the double round-robin Elite Pool format.
The women’s team, meanwhile, will face China and Uzbekistan on Tuesday before taking on Kazakhstan again on July 23, followed by return fixtures against China and Uzbekistan on July 24. The classification matches are scheduled for July 25.
“The team gained valuable experience at the U-18 Asia Cup, and we have worked hard to adapt to the fast-paced Hockey5s format,” Rani said.
– PTI
CRICKET
Denish Das tops marquee player buys at Assam Premier League Player Auction
Denish Das emerged as the most expensive buy during the marquee player round of the Assam Premier League (APL) Player Auction, with Barpeta Braves securing his services for Rs. 12.60 lakh in Guwahati on Sunday.
Sumit Ghadigaonkar was the second-highest buy among the marquee players, joining Charaideo Sunrisers for Rs. 12.20 lakh, while experienced Assam batter Sibsankar Roy was acquired by Barak Legends for Rs. 12 lakh. Ayushman Malakar and Swarupam Purkayastha completed the top five marquee buys, with Tezpur Titans and Jorhat Stallions securing them respectively for Rs. 11.80 lakh each.
Among the other notable acquisitions from the marquee player pool, Barak Legends added Abdul Ajij Kuraishi for Rs. 8.40 lakh and Bhargab Lakhar for Rs. 5.20 lakh. Barpeta Braves secured Saurav Dihingia for Rs. 7.80 lakh, while Dibrugarh Warriors added Saahil Jain for Rs. 7.20 lakh and Jitumoni Kalita for Rs. 6.20 lakh.
-Team Sportstar
2026 Pondy Premier League: Aditya Singh stars in Karaikal win
Medium-pacer Aditya Singh Chauhan grabbed 4-31 to derail Genid Yanam Royals’ chase and fashion Indisign Karaikal Kniights’ 30-run win on Sunday for their fourth victory in eight matches to stay in contention for a playoff spot in the 3rd Pondicherry Premier League.
Brief scores: Indisign Karaikal Kniights 172/7 in 20 overs (Amrithesh Kumar 34, Gautam Shastry 44, Aman F Khan 37, Pranay Singh 2-30, Pradeep Jakhar 2-30, Satish Jangir 3-26) bt Genid Yanam Royals 142/9 in 20 overs (Aditya Garhwal 31, Pavan Shankar 2-34, Aditya Singh Chauhan 4-31).
2026 PPL: White Town Legends record first win
Ruby White Town Legends beat Ossudu Accord Warriors by 20 runs on Sunday to record their first victory in eight outings in the 3rd Pondicherry Premier League.
Brief scores: Ruby White Town Legends 182/4 in 20 overs (Ayudh Sharma 77, Dharshan Rajagopal 50, Shiva Subash 33 n,o., Sidak Singh 2-23) bt Ossudu Accord Warriors 162/8 in 20 overs (Sagar Trivedi 67 n.o., Adil Ayub Tunda 3-21, Anish Gautam 3-21).
-Team Sportstar
TABLE TENNIS
UTT Juniors: Top pick Ahona, Somdev lead U Mumba to maiden title
UTT Juniors’ top overall draft pick, Ahona Ray, and one of India’s brightest young talents, Somdev Sengupta, starred as U Mumba TT defeated Dabang Delhi TTC 5-2 to lift its maiden Dream UTT Juniors title at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium.
The triumph came a year after U Mumba had finished runner-up in the inaugural edition.
Ajay R. Gaude, Executive Director, Sports Authority of Goa, presents the UTT Juniors Season 2 Champions Trophy to U Mumba’s Somdev Sengupta and Ahona Ray, alongside the team owner Suhail Chandhok, in the presence of Neel Shah, CEO, Dream Sports Foundation.
| Photo Credit:
UTT
Ajay R. Gaude, Executive Director, Sports Authority of Goa, presents the UTT Juniors Season 2 Champions Trophy to U Mumba’s Somdev Sengupta and Ahona Ray, alongside the team owner Suhail Chandhok, in the presence of Neel Shah, CEO, Dream Sports Foundation.
| Photo Credit:
UTT
Ahona arrived in Goa fresh from adding another international title to her growing resume, having won the Under-15 Girls’ Singles crown at the WTT Youth Star Contender 2026 in Doha. She capped another memorable week by sealing the UTT Juniors title for U Mumba with a commanding 11-4 victory over Sreejani Chakraborty in the deciding Girls’ Singles match.
Earlier, Somdev had laid the platform with an impressive 2-1 win over Himon Mondal, before combining with Ahona to clinch the mixed doubles in another three-game battle. Their victories gave U Mumba a significant advantage before Ahona completed the job in emphatic fashion.
– Team Sportstar
The newly ratified constitution establishes formal, statutory internal mechanisms within the NRAI structure. These include designated committees for athlete welfare, a strict code of ethics, and streamlined internal dispute resolution systems to protect the interests of all members.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The newly ratified constitution establishes formal, statutory internal mechanisms within the NRAI structure. These include designated committees for athlete welfare, a strict code of ethics, and streamlined internal dispute resolution systems to protect the interests of all members.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
SHOOTING
NRAI unanimously approves constitutional amendments to align with National Sports Governance Act
In a significant move toward structural modernisation and enhanced transparency in sports administration, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has officially amended its Constitution. The landmark changes were approved unanimously by the General Body during a Special General Body Meeting convened on July 18, 2026, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
The approved amendments align the shooting federation’s governing framework with the statutory provisions of the landmark National Sports Governance Act (NSGA), 2025. With this transition, the NRAI becomes one of the pioneering national sports federations in India to successfully adopt the legislative reforms, setting a clear governance benchmark for the domestic sporting ecosystem.
Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, President, NRAI, said, “Embracing the regulatory standards of the NSGA 2025 is a progressive step toward building a more robust, accountable, and athlete-centric ecosystem. The unanimous backing from our General Body reflects our collective determination to modernise our administration. These constitutional reforms ensure that the NRAI remains fully compliant with updated national laws while maintaining our strong international standing.”
The newly ratified constitution establishes formal, statutory internal mechanisms within the NRAI structure. These include designated committees for athlete welfare, a strict code of ethics, and streamlined internal dispute resolution systems to protect the interests of all members.
-Team Sportstar
GOLF
Theegala shoots 68 to move up at the Open, Burns in sole lead at Birkdale
Sahith Theegala played his best round of the week, a two-under 68 to rise to T-52 after the third round of 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.
The Indian American golfer, who had missed the last three cuts at the Open, birdied second and the seventh and turned in 2-under before he bogeyed the 10th. Two more birdies on the 14th and the 16th saw him get to 3-under and a Top-25 position before a closing bogey and pushed him down.
The other two Indian origin players, Aaron Rai and Akshay Bhatia had earlier missed the halfway cut.
Meanwhile, Sam Burns moved into pole position to win his first Major Championship after emerging from the chasing pack to take a two-shot lead into the final round. The American entered the third round three shots adrift of 36-hole leader Lucas Herbert but produced an assured 65 to reach ten under at Royal Birkdale.
Ryan Fox earlier surged into contention with the third 62 in two days – a feat achieved by Herbert and Burns on Friday – to get to eight under, where he was joined by Si Woo Kim after a 67 by the South Korean.
American Ryan Gerard, who is competing in his Open debut, is at seven under alongside Herbert of Australia, with Ludvig Åberg, Tommy Fleetwood, Bryson DeChambeau and defending champion Scottie Scheffler among 18 players within six shots of the lead.
Bryson DeChambeau, who was assessed a two-shot penalty on Friday, is the only player in the top ten on the leaderboard to have won a Major and the two-time U.S. Open champion is four back after a 69, with Scheffler at four under after a 70.
-PTI
COMBAT SPORTS
MMA fighter Sangram knocks Pakistan’s Ali out in 80 seconds to win STRIKE Asia C’ship title
Indian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Sangram Singh scripted history as he defeated Pakistan’s Mohammed Abid Ali via a stunning knockout in just one minute and 20 seconds to clinch the prestigious STRIKE Asia Championship title in Kuala Lumpur.
The highly anticipated India-Pakistan showdown lived up to its billing, but only briefly, as Sangram dominated the contest from the opening bell. Displaying exceptional power, precision, and composure, Sangram finished the fight in emphatic fashion.
With this victory, Sangram extended his unbeaten professional MMA record and added another historic milestone to his illustrious sporting career.
– PTI
Published on Jul 19, 2026
