Indian sports wrap, July 11: Doordarshan willing to share telecast revenue with sports federations

HANDBALL

DD signs MoU with handball association

National broadcaster Doordarshan is willing to share the revenue generated through the telecast of sporting events with sports federations after deducting the production cost, said Prasar Bharati chairman Navneet Kumar Sehgal on Friday.

Generating revenue is one of the most difficult tasks for National Sports Federations (NSFs) of lesser-known sports in India, and Prasar Bharati’s initiative to telecast their events and share the proceeds could help the federations become self-sufficient to an extent.

“Our revenue model is like, whatever we earn out of showing these sports activities, we will first deduct our production cost. And then (we will) share the revenue with the sports association.

“In this case, we will share the extra revenue with the Handball Association of India,” said Sehgal after signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Handball Association of India (HAI) to telecast their events on Doordarshan.

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“So, this way the sports association also get some revenue. Otherwise, normally, what used to happen was that, except for a few sports, others used to be ignored. But now (we) have a commitment that whatever we earn out of that (telecast), we will first deduct our production cost and the remaining we will share with them (NSFs).”

“But the thing is, the visibility of these (lesser-known) sports is not there in the rural areas, particularly rural and semi-urban areas. And Doordarshan has a very big presence in these areas.

“And to make these sports (popular), we have already signed an agreement with Hockey India and we are covering their national championships… and their (Hockey India) League also,” added Sehgal.

He added that Prasar Bharati is also in talks with the Badminton Association of India (BAI) and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) to telecast their events.

– PTI

Motorsport

National Rotax Max karting set to kick off

The first round of the MECO – FMSCI National karting championship for the Rotax Max classes will begin at the CoASTT circuit in Coimbatore on Saturday.

The championship comprises six rounds with the grand finale slated for November 8 and 9. The four National champions in the Senior Max, Junior Max, Mini Max and Micro Max categories at the end of the championship will represent India in the Rotax Max Challenge grand finals in Bahrain from November 29 to December 6.

The current season will witness the introduction of the Mini Max category, for racers under 11 years of age. The Senior Max has attracted 34 entries, and Bengaluru boys Rishon Rajeev (Birtel Art India) and brothers from Peregrine Racing Rohaan Madesh and Ishaan Madesh, are expected to dominate.

ALL SET TO GO: Karting stars from across the country ready to race in the National Rotax Max karting at the CoASTT circuit in Coimbatore this weekend.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The Junior Max class will be headlined by last year’s champion Pune’s Arafath Sheikh (Crest Motorsport) and Chennai’s Eshanth Vengatesan (MSport).

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Close competition is expected in the Mini Max class which has a bunch of racers who have moved up from Micro Max. Rivaan Dev Preetham (MSport), along with Hamza Balasinorwala (Crest Motorsports), Rehan Khan Rasheed (MSport)), Yatharth Gaur (Leapfrog Racing) and Danish Dalmiya (Rayo Racing), who were consistently claiming podiums in the Micro Max class last year, have all moved to the new Mini category.

The departure of the top five leaves the Micro Max field open. The official practice, qualifying rounds and Heats will be held ons Saturday followed by the pre-final and final on Sunday.

SIDVIN Energy Engineering is the Presenting sponsor and MRF Tyres, the partner sponsor.

– Rayan Rozario

Levitas Cup cars to roar in JK Tyre National racing

After the late legendary S. Karivardhan’s introduction of FISSME (Formula India Single Seater Maruti Engine) and B. Vijayakumar’s FLGB 1300, Coimbatore has produced another winning combination of ‘Arrive and Drive’ Levitas Cup cars.

The Levitas Cup is an innovative one-make racing series founded and run by Shravanthika Lakshmi, a 21-year-old racing driver from Coimbatore. The series will be part of the broader JK Tyre National Racing Championship ecosystem, representing a fresh approach to touring racing car in India with focus on developing new talent and promoting inclusive motorsport.

Shravanthika, a keen student of music who later changed gears to motorsport, is keen on doing something special. “This indeed is a great opportunity for me to take off,” said the young girl who represented India at the World Motorsports Games in Rome, Italy, in 2019.

Levitas Cup is an innovative one-make racing series founded and run by Shravanthika Lakshmi (in pic).
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Her idea is to uplift grassroot motorsports. “We have 16 cars of which we initially planned for eight rookies and eight professionals. Now with the rookies more interested in getting in, we thought of doing the adjustment by increasing the number to 10,” she said.

However, Shravanthika wants more drivers from Coimbatore to take part. “That’s my concern but I firmly believe in a turnaround.”

Multiple national racing champion Arjun Narendran who did the initial testing was pleased with the performance. “For a newcomer it is really good and a well-balanced car. I was surprised because it was very consistent throughout testing.”

“This is the first time a Touring Car is coming from Coimbatore after a very long time. Also, it’s a brilliant category because there’s no Arrive and Drive programme now.” he added.

The Levitas Cup, which features 16 equally-matched cars ensuring close, competitive racing, will be part of the three rounds of the JK National Racing Championship and there will be eight races in total.

– Rayan Rozario

HOCKEY

Semifinalists decided for Hockey India Sub Junior Women National Championship 2025

The quarterfinals of the 15th Hockey India Sub Junior Women National Championship 2025 at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi saw Haryana, Odisha, Mizoram, and Jharkhand secure their spots in the final four.

Haryana will take on Odisha, while Mizoram will lock horns with Jharkhand in the semifinals.

– Team Sportstar

ARCHERY

Jyothi, Parneet in semis; compound mixed team to fight for bronze in Archery World Cup Stage 4

Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Parneet Kaur stormed into their respective semifinals, while the mixed team stayed in contention for a bronze medal as India’s compound archers kept their campaign alive at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid.

Reigning Asian Games champion Jyothi, the top seed, defeated Hazal Burun of Turkey 147-144, while seventh seed Parneet edged past Oznur Cure Girdi, also of Turkey, 142-141 to make the last four. Both will face different opponents in the semifinals, giving India a chance to secure a double podium finish in the women’s individual compound event.

However, the men’s compound archers disappointed in the individual category. Top seed Rishabh Yadav exited in the second round, losing 141-143 to Italy’s Michea Godano. Aman Saini and Priyansh also bowed out early.

In the mixed team event, the top-seeded Indian pair of Jyothi and Yadav, who had shattered the qualifying world record with a total of 1431 points on the opening day, fell short of expectations, losing to 12th-seeded Netherlands 152-155 in the semifinals.

They will now face El Salvador for the bronze medal on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the recurve archers continued to disappoint. The mixed team pair of Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara crashed out after a 1-5 lose to Switzerland in the opening round, producing a dismal show with just two 10s from 12 arrows.

– PTI

GOLF

Solid start for Aditi Ashok in France, lies T-7 after first round

Indian golfer Aditi Ashok got off to one of her finest starts in a Major, carding a 4-under 67 in the opening round of the Amundi Evian Championship.

Playing her 35th Major — the most by any Indian golfer, male or female — Aditi was just two shots off the lead at T-7th She birdied the first, seventh and the ninth to turn in 3-under and then added a fourth birdie on the 11th. She had one more birdie on the 14th but before that dropped her lone bogey of the day on the 13th.

Aditi had recorded her best-ever finish in a Major at Evian-les-Bains last year, finishing tied-17th. With a strong opening round, she has put herself in contention for an even better result this time.

Diksha Dagar just missed making the draw but will play at the AIG Women’s Open later this month.

– PTI

TENNIS

Sumit Nagal enters qualifier of Trieste Challenger tournament

Qualifier Sumit Nagal sustained his strong game to get past fellow qualifier Maxim Mrva of the Czech Republic 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 in the quarterfinals of the €145,250 Challenger tennis tournament in Trieste, Italy, on Friday.

Sumit, who had beaten the top seed in the first round, had sailed past wild card and former world No.16 Marco Cecchinato in straight sets in the second round.

– Kamesh Srinivasan

SHOOTING

Shotgun World Cup: Zoravar Singh Sandhu eyes spot in final

The experienced Zoravar Singh Sandhu asserted his expertise by shooting a series of 24, 25, 24 for the third-best score of 73 after three rounds of trap in the Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy, on Friday.

With two more rounds of qualification on Saturday, Zoravar could aspire for a final berth with a strong performance, in a highly competitive field of 183 shooters. In comparison, Lakshay Sheoran (70) and Jaswinder Singh (69) may find it hard to make the cut.

Competing in the RPO section, national champion Shardul Vihan shot 72 out of 75.

In the women’s section, Aashima Ahlawat shot 68 out of 74, but it was in the RPO section. Preeti Rajak (66), Neeru (66) and Pragati Dubey (57) were far from the leading pack in a field of 101 shooters.

– Kamesh Srinivasan