SQUASH
Aryaveer, Anahat lead positive start to World Junior squash
Aryaveer Dewan, seeded 5/8, Yusha Nafees and Gurveer Singh advanced to the men’s third round as Indians put up a solid show on the opening day of the World Squash Junior Individual Championships in Ontario, Canada, on Monday.
Meanwhile, Purav Rambhia took Ronnie Hickling the distance before the English 9/12 seed prevailed in a thrilling five-game second round clash.
In women’s first round, Indian top seed Anahat Singh eased past Kiwi qualifier Lilly Wilson, Anika Dubey beat Japan’s Anna Kuwahara in straight games and Saanvi Kalanki edged out the Netherlands’ 25/32 seed Elcke Mols in a five-game battle.
Results
Men:
2nd round: 5/8-Aryaveer Dewan bt Levi Visser (Ger) 12-10, 11-6, 11-9; Yusha Nafees bt Matheus Frabetti (Bra) 11-1, 11-1, 11-1; 9/12-Ronnie Hickling (Eng) bt Purav Rambhia 11-6, 11-2, 8-11, 5-11, 13-11; Gurveer Singh bt Christian Dromgoole (Irl) 11-3, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6.
1st round: Nafees bt Owen Hecker (Ger) 11-8, 11-7, 11-4; Rambhia bt Cailean McAlpine (Sco) 11-2, 11-1, 11-7; Gurveer bt Quinten Van Es (Ned) 11-4, 11-1, 11-7.
Women:
1st round: Saanvi Kalanki bt Elcke Mols (Ned) 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6; Anika Dubey bt Anna Kuwahara (Jpn) 11-7, 11-3, 11-5; 1-Anahat Singh bt Q-Lilly Wilson (NZ) 11-2, 11-1, 11-3.
– Team Sportstar
ATHLETICS
Indian athletes to undertake training camp in Bhubneswar ahead of Asian Games 2026
In the run-up to the Asian Games 2026, a training camp for the Indian athletics squad will be held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar from August 18 to September 8. The camp will host approximately 60 athletes, coaches and support staff as part of the final preparation for the Asiad. Besides, the Indian Open World Athletics Silver Level Continental Tour event will be held at the same venue on August 22.
– Y. B. Sarangi
CRICKET
Pondicherry Premier League: Unbeaten Villianur tops table
Defending champion Villianur Mohit Kings thumped Ossudu Accord Warriors by 63 runs on Tuesday to complete its 10-match league engagements undefeated in the Pondicherry Premier League and qualify for the playoff as the top team.
Brief scores:
Villianur Mohit Kings 234/4 in 20 overs (Mukul Ragav 59, Aman H Khan 53, Prithvi R Khanna 40 n.o.) bt Ossudu Accord Warriors 171/6 in 20 overs (Akash Kargave 55, Krishna Pandey 51, Alim Shaikh 2-19, Aman Khan 2-15).
GYMNASTICS
South Korean coach Kim Jaechul likely to be appointed as India’s artistic gymnastics head coach
Renowned South Korean coach Kim Jaechul is likely to be appointed as India’s artistic gymnastics head coach with its national federation GFI awaiting clearance from the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
Jaechul, who has played a key role in developing several generations of South Korean gymnasts, has been identified by the Gymnastics Federations of India (GFI) to oversee the training of India’s junior and senior artistic gymnasts.
“We had written to SAI seeking to appoint him from November this year on a six months to one-year contract, but we are yet to receive a response,” GFI treasurer Kaushik Bidiwala told PTI.
A SAI source, however, indicated that the federation’s proposal is likely to receive the nod after Jaechul impressed during a trial stint in Bhubaneswar.
“We had invited him for a trial in Bhubaneswar and the feedback has been very positive. In all likelihood, we will appoint him,” the source said.
Jaechul has served as men’s national artistic gymnastics coach and manager back home in South Korea, besides working with the country’s reserve squads. He has also been associated with the organisation of major international events, including the Asian Gymnastics Championships.
India’s artistic gymnastics squad recently completed a three-week SAI-funded training camp in London ahead of the Commonwealth Games and is currently in Glasgow for the multi-sporting event. The camp concluded on July 20.
If appointed, Jaechul is expected to take charge after the Asian Games, to be held in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.
“If he is appointed, he will oversee the training of both junior and senior gymnasts after a proper selection process. Only the best performers, both men and women, will be selected for the national camp,” Bidiwala said.
India had previously appointed Russian coach Vladimir Chertkov ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Under his guidance, Ashish Kumar became the country’s first gymnast to win medals at both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
– PTI
Published on Jul 21, 2026
