Lakshya loses in semis, settles for bronze medal
MARKHAM, CANADA: India’s Lakshya Sen settled for bronze medal at the World Junior Badminton Championship after losing to top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the men’s singles semi-finals here. Lakshya, who had won the Asian Junior Championship this year, played his heart out before going down 22-20, 16-21, 13-21 to Vitidsarn in a game that lasted for an hour and 11 minutes on Saturday. “I could not get into my usual rhythm, though I managed to win the first game,” said Lakshya, who was the last Indian hope in the showpiece event. “But he (Kunlavut) was too strong in the second. I could not play to my strong points and my opponent had all answers to my strokes.”
The 17-year-old from Almora began well but in what was touch-and-go opening game; Lakshya seized the opportunity and went 1-0 up. But Vitidsarn came back strongly in the second game to keep his chances alive.
The Indian was unable to gather himself in the decider as the Thai took a good lead and maintained it to secure a place in the final. Prior to this loss, Lakshya had only dropped one game throughout the tournament – to Chinese Taipei’s Shiau Cheng Chen – but couldn’t continue his winning run.
Saina Nehwal is the only Indian to have won gold in the tournament during the 2008 Pune edition. Saurabh Verma had won bronze in 2011.
ANKITA-KARMAN WIN MAIDEN WTA TITLE
Pune:ankita Raina and Karman Kaur Thandi — India’s top two singles players — combined well to win their maiden title on the WTA Tour, grabbing the doubles trophy at the $125,000 Taipei Open, on Sunday.
Playing first time together on the pro circuit, the Indian duo clinched the title when Russia’s Olga Doroshina and Natela Dzalamidze opted out of edge-ofseat contest due to latter’s injury. The match was on even keel with both the pairs splitting the first two sets.
The Indians had won the first set 6-4 but lost the second 5-7. The super tie breaker was tied 12-12 when Natela fell and suffered a hamstring injury. She struggled to even walk and they were forced to retire. “I was wishing to won a WTA title this year and I had even told my coach about it and here it is. It’s my first WTA title and that too with a compatriot. It makes a difference when you play with a fellow Indian,” said Ankita.
Karman added: “It’s special to win a WTA title, even if it’s doubles. Ankita and I combine well as a team. We fought for every point. Most importantly our communication was good. We just enjoyed the moment.”
SHARMA BAGS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR HONOUR
DUBAI: India’s Shubhankar Sharma became the first Indian to emerge as the Rookie of the Year on the European Tour despite a disappointing final round of 80 at the World Tour Championships on Sunday.
No Indian has won the Rookie of the Year award in European Tour, though three Indians — Arjun Atwal (1995), Shiv Kapur (2005) and C Muniyappa (2009) emerged as Rookie of the Year on the Asian Tour.
The 22-year-old Sharma is the third Asian in the last four years to win this European Tour accolade.
ANJUM CLINCHES SHOOTING GOLD
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:INDIA’S No 1 women’s 50m rifle 3 positions shooter Anjum Moudgil defended her crown in the event at the 62nd National Shooting Championship here on Sunday.
Punjab’s Anjum shot 458.6 in the finals to finish ahead of Tejaswini Sawant of Maharashtra, who managed 457.7. Sunidhi Chauhan of Madhya Pradesh won the bronze medal with a score of 443.0.
Moudgil, who had won five gold in the last nationals and recently won a Tokyo 2020 Olympic quota place, had earlier shot 1,168 in the qualification to top the field. Tejaswini had finished second in qualification with a score of 1163.
BENGALURU EASE PAST JAIPUR PINK PANTHERS
AHMEDABAD: Pawan Sehrawat produced a terrific raiding performance to lead Bengaluru Bulls to a 45-32 win over Jaipur Pink Panthers in an Inter Zone Challenge Week match of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 6 here on Sunday.
Sehrawat scored 19 points and two super raids by Rohit Kumar and Kashiling Adake laid the foundations for Bengaluru’s victory. Jaipur Pink Panthers fizzled after a strong start with Deepak Niwas Hooda getting a super 10.