Indian Sports Wrap, March 25: Indian archers claim two bronze, reach two finals in Asia Cup-Stage 1

ARCHERY

Indian archers claim two bronze, reach two finals in Asia Cup Stage-1

Indian archers bagged two bronze medals and also stormed into the finals of the men’s recurve and women’s compound team events on the second day of the Asia Cup World Ranking Tournament Stage 1 in Bangkok on Wednesday.

The women’s compound team improved on its bronze from the previous edition by reaching the final.

The trio of Chikitha Taniparthi, Raj Kaur and Tejal Salve edged past local favourites Kanyavee Maneesombatkul, Kanoknapus Kaewchomphu and Chaniddapa Thanaratpitinan 229-226 in a closely-fought semifinal to set up a summit clash against third-seeded Kazakhstan.

However, there was some disappointment in the men’s compound section, where India fielded one of its most experienced combinations.

Despite topping the qualification round, with Indian archers sweeping the top four spots, the team failed to defend its title and had to settle for a bronze.

The trio of Rajat Chauhan, Rishabh Yadav and Uday Kamboj squandered a strong five-point lead to lose 233-234 to Vietnam in the semifinals.

India began with a perfect opening end but faltered in the second, managing 57, while Vietnam’s Cong Duc Dang, Ngoc Tu Pham and Xuan Huong Tran shot a perfect 60 to cut the deficit.

The Vietnamese continued their surge with another perfect 60 in the third end to overturn the deficit and take a one-point lead.

Both teams shot 59 in the final end, sealing India’s narrow defeat.

The Indians, however, bounced back to beat Bhutan 234-232 in the bronze medal match.

In the recurve section, India entered the men’s team final with a 5-1 win over Malaysia. The top-seeded trio of Devaang Gupta, Sukhchain Singh and Juyel Sarkar won comfortably without dropping a set.

India took the opening set 53-50 and edged the second 53-52 in a low-scoring contest.

Both teams improved in the third set, with India shooting four 10s, but it ended in a 56-all tie, which was just enough to send India into the final, where it will meet third-seeded Kazakhstan.

The women’s recurve team also signed off with a bronze medal, beating Malaysia 5-1, having missed out on a podium finish in the previous edition at the same venue.

The trio of Ruma Biswas, Kirti and Ridhi Phor delivered a dominant performance and dropped just one point in the opening set to win 59-56, before extending its lead with a 53-50 win in the second.

The third set ended 52-52, confirming the bronze.

-PTI

CRICKET

Madhya Pradesh League adds new team — Malwa Stallions

The Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) added a new franchise, Malwa Stallions — from the Malwa region — on Wednesday.

The franchise is backed by entrepreneur Megha Rajak and led by Managing Director Suraj Rajak.

Apart from Malwa, two more teams from Nimar and Ujjain region will be introduced in the upcoming season.

– Team Sportstar

HOCKEY

Chidambaranar beats Mumbai in 47th all-India Major Ports championship

V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Thoothukudi, defeated Mumbai Port 4-2, while Chennai Port outsmarted Visakhapatnam Port 7-1 in the 47th all-India Major Ports hockey championship at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) astro-turf ground here on Wednesday. Later, Mumbai Port bounced back to beat Paradip Port 6-2.

– Team Sportstar

BASKETBALL

Delhi, Ludhiana schools emerge victorious in NBA 3v3 national finals

Nehru World School, Delhi and Sacred Heart Sr. Sec. School from Ludhiana emerged victorious in the 2025-26 ACG Jr. NBA 3v3 National Tournament.

For their outstanding performances, Jiya Sodhi, Sacred Heart School (U-14 Girls) and Jatin Sharma, Nehru World School (U-14 Boys) were honored with the ‘Skechers Most Valuable Player’ award.

In the ACG Jr. NBA 3v3 All-Star Championship, the Bengaluru All-Star Team secured the girls’ title, while Delhi All-Star Team took home the boys’ crown.

In the ‘ACG Most Improved Team’ category, The Shishukunj International School, Indore (U-14 Girls) and SK School, Udaipur (U-14 Boys) were recognised for their exceptional growth and development throughout the tournament.

Among individual highlights, Dhruvi Pisal from the Mumbai All-Star team (U-14 Girls) emerged as the top scorer with 71 points, while P. Antara Rao from Ma Shardha Public School recorded the most 3-pointers (21). In the U-14 Boys category, Mohd. Sameer from Maharana Partap Inter College, Prayagraj dominated with 97 points and 28 three-pointers.

– Team Sportstar

GOLF

Shubhankar, Thomas, Sandhu hope to end long wait at Indian Open

The last time an Indian won the Indian Open was in 2017, when the event was first held at this Gary Player-designed course. The winner was S. S. P. Chawrasia, and no Indian has managed to reclaim the national open title since.

Shubhankar Sharma, Rayhan Thomas and Yuvraj Sandhu, the three leading Indian contenders this week, could not help but steal glances at the trophy placed right next to them as they fielded questions.

Shubhankar, the only Indian in the field with a DP World Tour title, cut a confident figure despite not having won on the circuit since early 2018.

Heading into the Indian Open, which holds special significance for the home players, Sharma addressed the media alongside event brand ambassador Rayhan Thomas, who competes on the Korn Ferry Tour, and Yuvraj Sandhu, who recently graduated to the DP World Tour after topping the Order of Merit on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).

The other leading Indians in the field will be Veer Ahlawat, Om Prakash Chouhan and Manu Gandas.

Ahlawat played on the DPWT in 2025, Om Prakash played on the DPWT in 2024 and Manu Gandas played on the DPWT in 2023. They all made it to the DPWT after winning the Indian PGTI Order of Merit in the previous season. Sandhu emerged as No. 1 on the PGTI Tour in 2025.

Shubhankar, 29, said, “I am really looking forward to it. It’s a very special event. It’s one of those events we look forward to from the start of the year. I think this DLF course has over the years become very popular amongst all the players on the Tour.

“We play on enough courses on Tour and this is one course where you’ve got to put your best foot forward throughout the week. I am really pleased with the setup this week and I’m sure it’ll be a great week.” Sandhu, who played a lot of his junior golf with Shubhankar, said, “I think it’s fun, because he and I we’re from the same (Army) background. We’ve played junior golf together. So we’ve had a lot of junior golf banter together.

“Now we are in the same tour, the DP World Tour. And we’ve played practice rounds together. On practice round days, it is a lot of fun. And I get to learn from him a lot, to be very honest, because he’s played courses throughout the year for about seven years straight now. So, I keep picking his brains and ask him what has to be done.” Thomas has played the Indian Open in the past. He is feeling very confident.

“I’ve played this course a few times before and last year it was a reminder that this course is really hard. This year, I think, it will be just about the same. I think the course will get tougher as the week progresses but I love coming back and playing this tournament.” On his experience on the Korn Ferry Tour, Thomas, who hopes to move to the PGA Tour soon, added, “I’d say the Korn Ferry (Tour) teaches you a lot. Last year was the first full season and I think there are a lot of lessons in there just having your rookie year and playing through that.

“I feel like I’ve gotten better than what I was last year, so there’s some confidence to be seen in that. And just being able to compete week in, week out, and have a job is awesome.”

-PTI

Published on Mar 25, 2026