Indian Sports Wrap, October 26: India records best ever show at Junior Badminton Championships

BADMINTON

Badminton Asia C’ships: Shaina and Diksha win gold as India finish with best ever medal

India registered its best ever performance at the Badminton Asia Under-17 & Under-15 Championships as Shaina Manimuthu and Diksha Sudhakar clinched gold medals in their respective categories on Sunday.

In the U-15 girls’ singles final, Shaina defeated Japan’s Chiharu Tomita 21-14, 22-20, while Diksha beat compatriot Lakshya Rajesh 21-16, 21-9 to take the U-17 girls’ singles crown.

With Sunday’s victories, the Indian contingent ended the continental event with two gold, one silver and two bronze medals – its best ever victory at the championships. The last time India won two gold medals was in 2013 when Siril Verma won the U-15 boys’ singles title and Chirag Shetty and MR Arjun claimed the U-17 boys’ doubles title.

On Sunday, Shaina became the fourth Indian girls’ singles player to capture the U-15 crown when she dominated Tomita in the opening match and then staved off a late challenge in the second match to wrap up the match in 44 minutes.

Later, Diksha became the first Indian girls singles player to win the U-17 title, dominating the 27-minute all-Indian final.

Jagsher Singh Khanggura and the mixed doubles combination of Jangjeet Singh Kajla and Jananika Ramesh had bagged bronze on Saturday.

– PTI

SQUASH

Anahat Singh is making progress in the Canadian Open squash

Reigning national women’s champion Anahat Singh advanced to the round of 16 of the Canadian Women’s Open squash, a $96,250 PSA Silver event in Toronto.

The Delhi teenager, ranked 43 in the world, defeated Switzerland’s Cindy Merlo 11-3, 11-3, 11-4 in 17 minutes in the opening round and will next meet world number 20 and sixth seed Melissa Alves (French Guiana).

– Team Sportstar

RUGBY

India in semi-finals of Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy

The Indian men’s rugby team has reached the semi-finals of the Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy after an impressive opening day of the tournament.

After a fighting 14-10 win over Lebanon in the opener, India maintained the momentum with a 26-5 win against Afghanistan and then recorded an impressive 21-7 victory over Iran in the quarter-final.

With three wins from three matches, India will face Saudi Arabia in the semi-finals on Monday.

A win will not only send the team to the finals, but also seal a historic promotion to Division 1 – the Asia Rugby Sevens Series – for the first time ever.

– PTI

FOOTBALL

Punjab FC ropes in local goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh ahead of the Super Cup

Punjab FC strengthened its goalkeeping department with the signing of veteran Indian custodian Arshdeep Singh on a one-year contract ahead of the 2025-26 AIFF Super Cup opener against Gokulam Kerala FC on Monday.

The 28-year-old from Mahilpur joins the club from Hyderabad FC (now Sporting Delhi), marking a homecoming for the former Minerva Punjab player who was part of the historic I-League-winning side in the 2017-18 season.

A product of the AIFF Elite Academy, Arshdeep made his professional debut with Minerva Punjab before moving to the Indian Super League in 2019, where he played for Odisha FC, FC Goa and Hyderabad for consecutive seasons. He has made more than 50 ISL appearances so far.

Punjab FC technical director Nikolaos Topoliatis said the signing underlined the club’s commitment to local talent.

“Punjab FC is extremely proud to have signed Arshdeep, who will not only strengthen our goalkeeping unit but also bring an important piece of homegrown talent into the system,” he stated in a press release.

-PTI

GOLF

Bhullar records the first Top 10 of the year in Manila

Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar produced a steady three-under 69 on the final day to record a Top-10 finish at the $2 million International Series Philippines here on Sunday.

Bhullar (67-69-67-69), who remained in the Top 10 all week, carded all four rounds under 70 for a total of 16-under. He finished tied for seventh for his first Top-10 at the International Series in 2025. It was also his first top-10 outside India this year.

Among other Indians in contention was Karandeep Kochhar (72) with nine under T-36, and Ajeetesh Sandhu (69) was eight under T-40e this week.

SSP Chawrasia and Rayhan Thomas had missed the cut.

Miguel Tabuena, who was one of the three co-leaders after the third round, put together a fine seven-under 65 to break away from the leading group, which also featured Sarit Suwannarut and Sampson Zheng.

Local hero Tabuena had an eagle and six birdies against a single bogey as he held off Japan’s Kazuki Higa, who also had a 65, including four closing birdies.

Tabuena won comfortably by three shots, while maintaining the momentum with four birdies on the back nine.

Higa was in second place with compatriot Yosuke Asaji at (67) and 21 under. Sarit (69) and Zheng (69) were tied for fourth at 20 under, while Marc Leishman (65) was sixth at 19 under.

Bhullar was tied for seventh with Caleb Surrat (67) at 16 under.

Bhullar picked up two birdies on the front nine at the third and eighth holes and added a third at the 10th before dropping his first shot at the 11th. A late birdie on the 15th and three closing pars left him with a 69.

In six International Series starts this season, Bhullar made the cut in all six events.

-PTI

TENNIS

Karnataka’s Srishti Kiran takes first international title at ITF J30 in Cabarete

Karnataka’s 13-year-old prodigy Srishti Kiran secured her maiden international junior title by winning the ITF J30 at Cabarete in the Dominican Republic on Saturday.

Srishti put in an impressive performance to defeat the top seed, Stephanie Pumar of Venezuela, by a score of 6-2, 6-2, securing the championship in straight sets.

The victory capped an impressive campaign in which she had earlier defeated second seed Arina Vansovich of Russia 6-2, 6-3 in the pre-quarter-finals and progressed through the next two rounds in similar fashion.

Reflecting on the tournament in which she did not concede a single set, Srishti said: «Winning my first international title in Cabarete feels really special. The decision to play was taken by my academy, RPS Academy, in Florida. The field was strong, with highly ranked others who had competed in major junior events, so every match was a challenge.»

She added: “I am proud that I kept calm and enjoyed my tennis, which made the difference in the crucial moments, especially the setback against the second seed and of course the final.

“Adapting to the clay was not easy, but I quickly got used to it and gained a lot of confidence throughout the week. I am grateful to the RPS Academy, Florida and KSLTA for their continued support. This win is an important step and I am motivated to continue improving, climbing the rankings and working towards my dream of competing in the junior Grand Slams.”

Srishti’s victory in Cabarete, Dominican Republic, is a major milestone for Indian junior tennis. She will now continue her campaign in the Dominican Republic and compete in another ITF J30 event next week as she looks to build on this momentum.

-Team Sportstar

POLO

India beats Argentina in the International Polo Cup

Hosts India defeated Argentina 10-9 in the KogniVera International Polo Cup at the iconic Jaipur Polo Ground here on Sunday.

India was led by Sawai Padmanabh Singh from Jaipur.

From precision strikes to strategic plays, the match embodied the essence of international polo with passion, power and partnership.

«Winning against Argentina is an incredible moment for all of us. Every player gave their best and the energy from the stands took us even further. It’s a proud day for Indian polo,» said India captain Simran Singh Shergill.

-PTI

Published on October 26, 2025