Indian Sports Report, November 11: Historic pole and podium for Atiqa Mir in F1 Academy-backed COTFA series

MOTOR SPORTS

Indian racing prodigy Atiqa Mir stormed to a historic pole position before finishing third on the podium in the opening round of the Formula 1 Academy-backed COTFA UAE karting series in Abu Dhabi.

The 10-year-old is the first Indian to be endorsed by Formula 1. Already part of the Champions of the Future Academy (COTFA) international series, Atiqa was picked by the Formula 1 Academy for the two-round COTFA UAE Championship last month.

With more attention focused on this championship, there was extra pressure to achieve results and Atiqa did not disappoint.

She took pole position and became the first ever woman in the world to achieve the feat in the COTFA mini class before adding a heat win to a successful weekend.

She capped off a memorable week by finishing third in the final.

Atiqa entered the weekend on the back of a great October, when she achieved multiple podium finishes in championships, including a race win at the RMC Championship.

«It was a great weekend for me in terms of speed, I got pole in qualifying. I wanted the win in the final but came third. I will learn from this weekend and try to improve,» said the fast-learning racer from Jammu and Kashmir.

The COTFA series is run on equal equipment and engines to ensure a level playing field for all drivers, allowing real talent to shine through.

-PTI

BADMINTON

Teenage shuttler Naishaa loses in the qualifying matches of the Kumamoto Masters Japan

Indian teenage shuttler Naishaa Kaur Bhatoye failed to qualify for the main draw of the Kumamoto Masters Japan after suffering a back-to-back defeat to New Zealand’s Shaunna LI in the qualifiers on Tuesday.

The 17-year-old Indian lost 17-21, 18-21 to her higher-ranked opponent in 32 minutes in the qualifying round for the women’s singles of the Super 500 tournament.

So, India will not be represented in the women’s singles, while Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy will start their men’s singles campaign at the $475,000 event on Wednesday.

-PTI

FOOTBALL

Indian midfielder Rivka Ramji has joined Singaporean side Lion City Sailors

Indian midfielder Rivka Ramji has signed a contract with Lion City Sailors, the top player from Singapore, the club announced on Tuesday.

The teenager was part of the India Under-19 team that won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-19 Women’s Championship last February, and played with Sethu FC in the Indian Women’s League in the 2024-2025 season.

Rivka is one of four foreign signings for the Sailors as they prepare for their first AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) group stage campaign in Vietnam.

The three-time Women’s Premier League (Singapore) champions will play Australia’s Melbourne City on November 13, before taking on Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC on November 16 and Philippine side Stallion Laguna on November 19.

-Team Sportstar

Published on November 11, 2025