HOCKEY<\/h4>\n
Indian sub-junior hockey teams eye World Cup berths at inaugural Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship<\/b><\/p>\n
The Indian sub-junior men\u2019s and women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The six-day tournament will serve as the Asian qualifier for the inaugural FIH U-18 Youth Hockey5s World Cup.<\/p>\n
The Indian sub-junior men\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The squad comprises players from the gold medal-winning campaign and has been placed alongside hosts Oman, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the Elite Pool.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d Singh said in a release.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Indian sub-junior women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
India\u2019s campaign begins on Monday, with the women\u2019s team taking on Kazakhstan before the men\u2019s team faces Bangladesh later in the evening.<\/p>\n
The men\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe team gained valuable experience at the U-18 Asia Cup, and we have worked hard to adapt to the fast-paced Hockey5s format,\u201d Rani said.<\/p>\n
– PTI<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nCRICKET<\/h4>\n
Denish Das tops marquee player buys at Assam Premier League Player Auction<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
-Team Sportstar<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
2026 Pondy Premier League: Aditya Singh stars in Karaikal win<\/b><\/p>\n
Medium-pacer Aditya Singh Chauhan grabbed 4-31 to derail Genid Yanam Royals\u2019 chase and fashion Indisign Karaikal Kniights\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
-Team Sportstar<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nTABLE TENNIS<\/h4>\n
UTT Juniors: Top pick Ahona, Somdev lead U Mumba to maiden title<\/b><\/p>\n
UTT Juniors\u2019 top overall draft pick, Ahona Ray, and one of India\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The triumph came a year after U Mumba had finished runner-up in the inaugural edition.<\/p>\n
![\"Ajay](\"https:\/\/ss-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/jq2ph9\/article71241367.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/WhatsApp%20Image%202026-07-19%20at%2017.40.09.jpeg\" "\\"Ajay")
<\/p>\n Ajay R. Gaude, Executive Director, Sports Authority of Goa, presents the UTT Juniors Season 2 Champions Trophy to U Mumba\u2019s Somdev Sengupta and Ahona Ray, alongside the team owner Suhail Chandhok, in the presence of Neel Shah, CEO, Dream Sports Foundation.
\n | Photo Credit:
\n UTT\n <\/p>\n
![\"lightbox-info\"\/](\"https:\/\/assetsss.thehindu.com\/theme\/images\/SSRX\/lightbox-info.svg\")
<\/figcaption><\/div>\n
\n
Ajay R. Gaude, Executive Director, Sports Authority of Goa, presents the UTT Juniors Season 2 Champions Trophy to U Mumba\u2019s Somdev Sengupta and Ahona Ray, alongside the team owner Suhail Chandhok, in the presence of Neel Shah, CEO, Dream Sports Foundation.
\n | Photo Credit:
\n UTT\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Ahona arrived in Goa fresh from adding another international title to her growing resume, having won the Under-15 Girls\u2019 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\u2019 Singles match.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
– Team Sportstar<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nGOLF<\/h4>\n
Theegala shoots 68 to move up at the Open, Burns in sole lead at Birkdale<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The other two Indian origin players, Aaron Rai and Akshay Bhatia had earlier missed the halfway cut.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
American Ryan Gerard, who is competing in his Open debut, is at seven under alongside Herbert of Australia, with Ludvig \u00c5berg, Tommy Fleetwood, Bryson DeChambeau and defending champion Scottie Scheffler among 18 players within six shots of the lead.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
-PTI<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nCOMBAT SPORTS<\/h4>\n
MMA fighter Sangram knocks Pakistan\u2019s Ali out in 80 seconds to win STRIKE Asia C\u2019ship title<\/b><\/p>\n
Indian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Sangram Singh scripted history as he defeated Pakistan\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
With this victory, Sangram extended his unbeaten professional MMA record and added another historic milestone to his illustrious sporting career.<\/p>\n
– PTI<\/i><\/p>\n
Published on Jul 19, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n