Indian sports report, February 22: Vandewinkel denies Vaishnavi a fairytale ending in ITF Bengaluru Open

TENNIS

ITF Women’s Bengaluru Open: Vandewinkel denies Vaishnavi a fairytale ending, wins title in less than an hour

Vaishnavi Adkar was denied a fairytale ending at the $100,000 ITF Women’s Bengaluru Open event when she fell to third seed Hanne Vandewinkel in straight sets in the final on Sunday.

Vaishnavi, the 21-year-old wildcard currently ranked 690th in the world, lost 6-0, 6-1 in 56 minutes to Belgian number 124 Vandewinkel at the SM Krishna Stadium.

Nevertheless, the Indian, who had previously won a $15,000 event in Ahmedabad in 2024, had a career-changing week. After beating 19-year-old compatriot Shruti Ahlawat in the opening round, she stunned Japan’s Mai Hontama (world number 220), Australia’s Taylah Preston (world number 148) and Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee (world number 126) to book her place in the final.

As a result of her run in Bengaluru, World University Games bronze medalist Vaishnavi has gained 65 ranking points and risen to 466 in the live WTA rankings, making her India No. 2 behind Sahaja Yamalapalli (world No. 397).

– Team Sports Star

Sakellaridis comes back from the brink to win Delhi Open

Greek player Stefanos Sakellaridis claimed his first singles title on the ATP Challenger circuit with a grueling three-set victory over fifth-seeded Briton Oliver Crawford at the Delhi Open on Sunday.

The 21-year-old secured a hard-fought 7-5, 5-6, 7-6(6) victory in the final that lasted three hours and nine minutes.

There were five service breaks in the opening set that put Sakellaridis ahead. The Greek carried the momentum into the second set, breaking early to take a 2-0 lead.

However, Crawford responded strongly and drew on his experience to turn the set around and level the match.

Sakellaridis broke in the opening game of the deciding set, but could not consolidate. Crawford then won six of the next seven matches to take the lead 5-2.

Just when the match seemed to be going away, the Greek made a remarkable comeback, winning three straight games to level the set at 5-5.

The match was ultimately decided in an exciting tie-break in the final set, in which Sakellaridis won 8-6 on his second match point to seal the title.

– PTI

FOOTBALL

India U20 women beat Swedish club Täby FK in a friendly match

The Indian U20 women’s team registered a 4-0 victory over the senior side of Swedish club Täby FK in a friendly match at the Bosön National Sports Center in Lidingö, Sweden on Sunday.

It was the Young Tigresses’ first victory during their tour of Sweden, after suffering a defeat against Hammarby IF in the first meeting three days ago.

Head coach Joakim Alexandersson made nine changes to the starting line-up. India scored twice in each half with Babita Kumari (10′) and Lhingdeikim (20′) scoring early in the first period before Babita struck again in the 63rd minute and Neha rounded off the scoring in the 80th.

The Young Tigresses will play two more friendly matches in the coming days – against Enskede IK Dam on February 25 and Karlbergs BK on February 28 – as part of their preparations for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup in Thailand in April.

– Team Sports Star

ATHLETICS

Punjab’s Sahil upsets more avid race walkers by winning gold in the men’s 21 km event

Punjab athlete Sahil upset his more fancied rivals by clinching the gold in the men’s half marathon on the final day of the Indian Open Race Walk Competition here on Sunday.

In a thrilling finish on the picturesque Sukhna Lake course, 24-year-old Sahil had enough in the tank to hold off the challenge of experienced Serbian Sebastian from Tamil Nadu over a distance of 21 km and emerge as the winner with a time of 1 hour 25 minutes 48 seconds.

Sebastian settled for silver with a time of 1:25:50.00, while the bronze went to Haryana’s Hardeep who clocked 1:26:03.00.

Paris Olympian Paramjeet Singh Bisht, representing Uttarakhand, finished fourth (1:26:07.00).

Olympic and national record holder for 20 km race walking, Akshdeep Singh of Punjab, finished seventh with a time of 1:27:37.00.

Another prominent athlete, Vikash Singh from Delhi, finished 10th. He clocked 1:30:41.00. Suraj Panwar from Uttarakhand did not finish the race.

The women’s 21 km title went to Haryana’s experienced race walker Ravina.

The 29-year-old defeated her two younger rivals – 24-year-old Munita Prajapati from Uttar Pradesh and 23-year-old Manis Negi from Uttarakhand to take home the gold medal with a time of 1:39:15.00.

Prajapati took silver with a time of 1:39:26.00. The bronze went to Mansi Negi who clocked a time of 1:42:58.00.

-PTI

TO SHOOT

Maskar secures the Lakshya Cup title by a razor-thin margin

Maharashtra’s Sonam Maskar clinched the Lakshya Cup 2025 title with a final score of 251.5, beating defending champion Kiran Jadhav by a razor-thin margin of 0.1. Isha Taksale from Maharashtra secured the third position with 230.0.

In the Junior category, Viddhi Godhani from Gujarat claimed the top position with a score of 250.1, ahead of Parigha Bele from Maharashtra and Manyata Singh from Orissa.

– Team Sports Star

Published on February 22, 2026