INDIAN FOOTBALL<\/h4>\n
Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, Punjab FC set for Japan tour<\/b><\/p>\n
The top three teams from the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL), India\u2019s premier Under-21 youth football competition, will go on an international exposure tour to Japan.<\/p>\n
The U-21 teams from Bengaluru FC, FC Goa and Punjab FC have earned the opportunity to compete against top Japanese opposition as part of the Foundation\u2019s continued investment in youth development.<\/p>\n
The tour, taking place from July 11\u201323 July in Fukuoka, will see the three Indian clubs compete against leading Japanese youth sides Avispa Fukuoka U-18, Sagan Tosu U-18, Giravanz Kitakyushu U-18 and FC Baleine Shimonoseki U-21.<\/p>\n
Recognising that player development goes hand in hand with coach development, the programme also includes a dedicated three-day coach education module for six coaches from the participating clubs at Avispa Fukuoka. The curriculum will include sessions on Individual Development Plans, player progression and high-performance environments, alongside interactions with the Football Director of FC Machida Zelvia, whose club has risen from the J2 League to the AFC Champions League Elite Final in just three years.<\/p>\n
Beyond football, the delegation will participate in cultural visits to the Nagasaki Peace Stadium, Atomic Bomb Museum and Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, reflecting Reliance Foundation\u2019s holistic approach to player and coach development.<\/p>\n
– Team Sportstar<\/i><\/p>\n
Oriental Cup 2026 begins tomorrow with defending champion DPS RK Puram taking on Government Girls Senior Secondary School<\/b><\/p>\n \n The fourth edition will bring together more than 48 teams from schools across Delhi-NCR in the boys\u2019 Under-17 and girls\u2019 Under-19 categories. The Oriental Cup 2026 is set to kick off at the Dr. Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, with defending champion DPS RK Puram and Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Faridabad headlining the opening-day action as it begins its title defence.<\/p>\n The fourth edition will bring together more than 48 teams from schools across Delhi-NCR in the boys\u2019 Under-17 and girls\u2019 Under-19 categories. In a change from the previous edition, the tournament will be played entirely in a knockout format, with matches in the initial stages comprising two 15-minute halves.<\/p>\n Defending boys\u2019 champions DPS RK Puram will begin their campaign in the opening match of the tournament against Vasant Valley School. DPS RK Puram lifted the 2025 title after edging past The Mother\u2019s International School 5-4 in a penalty shootout in the final and will return to the competition aiming to become the first boys\u2019 team to successfully defend the Oriental Cup title.<\/p>\n Karnataka\u2019s Puneeth and Shrishti set for historic Wimbledon debut<\/b><\/p>\n Puneeth Manohar enters the tournament as Asia\u2019s No.1 ranked player in the Under-14 division \n Puneeth Manohar enters the tournament as Asia\u2019s No.1 ranked player in the Under-14 division Karnataka\u2019s Puneeth Manohar and Srishti Kiran, are set to make their grass-court debuts at the Under-14 Junior Championships at Wimbledon.<\/p>\n The tournament will take place at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in London from Thursday, July 9, to Sunday, July 12. Incidentally, Puneet and Srishti are the only Indians representing the country in the U-14 category.<\/p>\n Both the 14-year-old Bengaluru athletes earned their exclusive qualification spots following successful campaigns at the ITF Asia Under-14 Development Championships Finals held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where they secured their places on the elite ITF Grand Slam Player Development Programme (GSPDP) touring team.<\/p>\n Puneeth enters the tournament as Asia\u2019s No.1 ranked player in the Under-14 division, a milestone he secured after clinching the Week 1 singles title in Colombo.<\/p>\n -Team Sportstar<\/i><\/p>\n Amarya Bajaj clinches Dutch Junior Open U-13 Title<\/b><\/p>\n India\u2019s rising squash player Amarya Bajaj delivered a sensational performance to capture the Dutch Junior Open 2026 Under-13 Boys\u2019 title, overcoming a series of world-class opponents, including Daniel Stevenson of England, 3-1 in the final.<\/p>\n Amarya\u2019s toughest challenge came in the semifinals, where he blanked the European No. 1 Alex Kosztyu from Hungary in a high-quality contest to book his place in the final.\u00a0 \n Amarya\u2019s toughest challenge came in the semifinals, where he blanked the European No. 1 Alex Kosztyu from Hungary in a high-quality contest to book his place in the final.\u00a0 Amarya began his campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over an Egyptian opponent in the opening round before overcoming a strong challenge from England\u2019s Arlo Smith (3-0) in the second round. In the pre-quarterfinals, he stunned the No. 1 Kaelen Low of Singapore 3-0, followed by another impressive win over an Egyptian Badr Hassan, 3-1 in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n His toughest challenge came in the semifinals, where he blanked the European No. 1 Alex Kosztyu from Hungary in a high-quality contest to book his place in the final. There, Amarya produced another exceptional performance to defeat the top-seeded English player, sealing the prestigious Dutch Junior Open title.<\/p>\n – Team Sportstar<\/i><\/p>\n Benjamin Bok beats Vidit Gujrathi at \u2018India Rising: Road to EWC\u2019, secures World Cup 2026 spot<\/b><\/p>\n Dutch Grandmaster Benjamin Bok secured qualification for the Esports World Cup 2026 Chess competition after defeating Indian GM Vidit Gujrathi 2-1 in sets at the India Rising: Road to EWC, held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.<\/p>\n The event is a first-of-its-kind gaming and youth culture festival launched by JioBLAST and the Esports Foundation (EF), where, alongside the competitive action, outstanding achievements across the Indian gaming ecosystem were recognised through the inaugural Gaming Honours, celebrating creators, players and organisations shaping the industry\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n \nContent Group of the Year: S8UL<\/p>\n PC Creator of the Year: GamerFleet<\/p>\n Male Creator of the Year: JokerKiHaveli<\/p>\n Regional Creator of the Year: Shreeman Legend<\/p>\n Female Creator of the Year: Xyaa<\/p>\n Esports Player of the Year: Jonathan Gaming<\/p>\n Outstanding Contribution to Indian Esports: Mortal & 8Bit Thug\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n James Cunningham, head of strategy, Esports Foundation, said: “India has established itself as one of the world\u2019s most exciting gaming markets, and India Rising: Road to EWC demonstrated both the scale of its community and the quality of its competitive talent. Together with JioBLAST, we\u2019re proud to have created a meaningful qualification pathway that connects Indian audiences and players with the global Esports World Cup ecosystem.”<\/p>\n Commenting on the successful conclusion of India\u2019s biggest gaming festival, Charlie Cowdrey, CEO, JioBLAST, said, \u201cIndia Rising: Road to EWC reflects our long-term commitment to building India\u2019s gaming ecosystem by creating a platform where competition, creators, fans, and industry can come together. The enthusiasm we\u2019ve witnessed throughout the festival reinforces India\u2019s emergence as one of the world\u2019s most exciting gaming markets. This is only the first chapter, and we look forward to expanding the platform in the years ahead while creating more pathways for Indian talent to connect with the global stage.\u201d<\/p>\n -Team Sportstar<\/i><\/p>\n Aditi records third-place finish; Diksha tied 7th at Hulencourt Women’s Open<\/b><\/p>\n Indian golfer Aditi Ashok finished a creditable third, while Diksha Dagar signed off tied seventh at the Hulencourt Women\u2019s Open.<\/p>\n Aditi carded a two-under 70 in the final round on Sunday to finish at nine-under 279, three shots behind Spain\u2019s Carolina Lopez Chacarra, who closed with a four-under 68 to claim the title at 12-under 276.<\/p>\n Overnight leader Kelsey Bennett of Australia faltered with a one-over 73 to finish runner-up at nine-under.<\/p>\n Aditi and Diksha had begun the final round tied for third at five-under, five shots behind Bennett.<\/p>\n Diksha, however, struggled to a three-over 75 and slipped into a share of seventh at two-under 286 alongside Finland\u2019s Noora Komulainen (70), USA\u2019s Brianna Navarrosa (69), Australia\u2019s Kirsten Rudgeley (69) and South Africa\u2019s Nadia van der Westhuizen (69).<\/p>\n Pranavi Urs produced one of the rounds of the day, firing a six-under 66 to climb into a tie for 18th at even-par 288.<\/p>\n Youngster Avani Prashanth signed off with a one-under 71 to finish tied 42nd at six-over 294.<\/p>\n -PTI<\/i><\/p>\n Hockey India names players for sub-junior men\u2019s national camp ahead of Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship 2026<\/b><\/p>\n Hockey India has announced names of the 15 players who will be part of the sub-junior men\u2019s national camp in preparation for the inaugural Men\u2019s Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship 2026, set to take place in Muscat, Oman, from July 20 to 25.<\/p>\n All 15 players in the group were also part of the Indian squad that featured in the recently-concluded Under-18 Men\u2019s Asia Cup 2026 where the team clinched the gold medal after defeating host Japan 4-1 in the final. \n All 15 players in the group were also part of the Indian squad that featured in the recently-concluded Under-18 Men\u2019s Asia Cup 2026 where the team clinched the gold medal after defeating host Japan 4-1 in the final. The camp is being conducted from July 7 to 18 at Panjab University, Sector 14, Chandigarh, where the country\u2019s promising young players will train under the guidance of coach and former India captain Sardar Singh.<\/p>\n All 15 players in the group were also part of the Indian squad that featured in the recently-concluded Under-18 Men\u2019s Asia Cup 2026 where the team clinched the gold medal after defeating host Japan 4-1 in the final.<\/p>\n \nKaran Gautam, Arman Soreng, Sawan Kumar, Ansh Bahutra, Arshdeep Singh, Ketan Kushwaha, Shahrukh Ali, Rahul Yadav, Romit Pal, Ashish Tani Purti, Akashdeep, Avi Manikpuri, Siddharth Ben, Prahalad Rajbhar, Ayush Rajak\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n – Team Sportstar<\/i><\/p>\n TG20: Khammam Aces make inaugural playoffs<\/b><\/p>\n There was pressure. There were expectations. And then there was K. Himateja. The southpaw stood tallest when it mattered most, hammering an unbeaten century to seal Khammam Aces\u2019 spot in the inaugural TG20 playoffs with a 19-run victory over Medak Falcons at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Monday.<\/p>\n That this was Himateja\u2019s final appearance before departing for the Emerging Men\u2019s Tournament in Bengaluru made his knock all the more unforgettable.<\/p>\n Aces stumbled early as G. Sai Krishna Reddy and Wafi Kachchhi fell to T. Ravi Teja. Himateja, however, wrested back control, combining with Mickil Jaiswal to take the score to 57 for two in the PowerPlay before Arjun Gorrapalli broke the stand.<\/p>\n The breakthrough barely dented the momentum. Himateja and A. Prateek Reddy stitched together a commanding 99-run partnership, with Prateek playing the supporting role as Himateja raced to a 24-ball fifty.<\/p>\n A brief rain interruption failed to break his rhythm. After play resumed, Madhukar Manne dismissed Prateek, but Himateja marched on to his maiden TG20 hundred in just 55 balls, before an unbeaten 32-run stand (17 balls) with captain C.V. Milind to lift Aces to 190 for five.<\/p>\n Falcons came out firing, Shrunjith Reddy and Naman Agarwal plundering 57 runs in the first five overs. But Vidyananda Reddy swung the contest in the final over of the PowerPlay, dismissing Naman and Ravi Teja.<\/p>\n Shrunjith reached a 39-ball fifty, but once Wafi Kachchhi rattled his stumps, the chase unravelled. Ishan Sharma\u2019s cameo (15-ball 34) only delayed the inevitable, as Falcons ended the season rock bottom, while Aces climbed to the second spot.<\/p>\n – Team Sportstar<\/i><\/p>\n Published on Jul 06, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/ss-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/6szmh5\/article71189485.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/Image%202%20-%20Oriental%20Cup%2025.jpeg\" "\\"The")
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\n Special Arrangement\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\nTENNIS<\/h4>\n
![\"Puneeth](\"https:\/\/ss-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/cm9hcy\/article71189404.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/Puneet-2.JPG\" "\\"Puneeth")
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\n Special Arrangement\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\nSQUASH<\/h4>\n
![\"Amarya\u2019s](\"https:\/\/ss-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/v84np6\/article71189093.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/Amarya%20Bajaj%20Clinches%20Dutch%20Junior%20Open%20U-13%20Title.jpeg\" "\\"Amarya\u2019s")
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\n Special Arrangement\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\nESPORTS<\/h4>\n
\nGaming Honours 2026 Winners
\n<\/h5>\nGOLF<\/h4>\n
HOCKEY<\/h4>\n
![\"All](\"https:\/\/ss-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/b6syxd\/article71189268.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/WhatsApp%20Image%202026-07-06%20at%2016.38.26.jpeg\" "\\"All")
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\n Special Arrangement\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nNational Camp Players:
\n<\/h5>\nCRICKET<\/h4>\n
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