ATHLETICS
Federation Cup in Ranchi to serve as selection trial for Asian U23 C’ship
The Federation Cup National Senior Athletics Competition, to be held from May 22 to 25 in Ranchi, will also serve as the selection trial for the upcoming inaugural edition of the Asian U23 Athletics Championships.
Athletes between the age of 20 to 22 as on December 31, 2026 are eligible for selection as per Asian Athletics Association guidelines, the national federation said.
The continental meet will be held in Ordos, China from July 9 to 12.
The Ranchi event is also important as it will be the last domestic track and field meet for the athletes to book tickets for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, to he held from July 23 to August 2.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has announced the qualification standard for the the Asian U23 Athletics Championships.
Most of the qualifying marks of the different events have been kept below the junior national records.
Qualifying standards set by AFI
Men: 100m: 10.52 secs, 200m: 21.30 secs, 400m: 47.20 secs, 800m: 1:49.00 secs, 1500m: 3:49.00 secs, 5,000m: 14:22.00 secs, 10,000m: 30:00.00, 3000m steeplechase: 8:58.00, 110mh: 13.84 secs, 400m hurdle: 50.29 secs, high jump: 2.12m, pole vault: 5.20m, long jump: 7.90m, triple jump: 16.00m, shot put: 17.67m. discus throw: 54.00m, hammer throw: 60.00m, javelin throw: 74.00m, decathlon: 6905 points.
Women: 100m: 11.75 secs, 200m: 23.84 secs, 400m: 53.62 secs, 800m: 2:11.00 secs, 1500m: 4:20.00 secs, 5,000m: 16:20.00 secs, 10,000m: 35:00.00 secs, 3000m steeplechase: 10:20.00 secs, 100m hurdles: 13.73 secs, 400m hurdles: 59.50 secs, high jump: 1.75m, pole vault: 4.00m, long jump: 6.30m, triple jump: 13.00m, shot put: 14.50m, discus throw: 50.73m, hammer throw: 55.00m, javelin throw: 50.00m, heptathlon: 5208 points.
– PTI
INDIAN FOOTBALL
Delhi FC crowned champions of I-League 2, gain promotion to IFL along with FC Bengaluru United
Delhi FC was crowned I-League 2 2025-26 champion and secured promotion to the Indian Football League 2026-27 after playing out a 1-1 draw against United SC at the Kalyani Stadium in Kalyani.
In another crucial fixture at the Neville D’Souza Ground in Mumbai, FC Bengaluru United and GMSC also played out a 1-1 draw, a result that confirmed promotion for the Bengaluru side and helped GMSC avoid relegation.
GMSC, which began the day in the relegation spot with four points, earned the vital point needed to move level with NEROCA FC on five. However, a superior head-to-head record ensured the Mumbai side stayed up in I-League 2.
FC Bengaluru United and United SC both finished the season on 15 points, but the Bengaluru outfit secured promotion on goal difference, while United SC’s wait for a return to the second tier extended to 12 years.
At the Kalyani Stadium, United SC started on the front foot, attacking the Delhi FC goal with intent through M. Sreenath, M. Arunlal, Sumay Shome and Md. Amil Naim, while Bickey Thapa and Prasanta Das controlled the midfield.
The first attempt on target came from Amil, whose long-range effort was comfortably stopped by Delhi goalkeeper Lalmuansanga.
United looked fluid whenever it moved forward, with its attacking players troubling the Delhi defence through pace and movement. Amil again found space down the left and combined well with Sumay, but the striker’s effort was saved by Lalmuansanga.
The goalkeeper was called into action again moments later to deny Sumay after the forward was set up at the end of a fine driving run through midfield by Prasanta.
Both sides had promising moments in attack but went into half-time goalless.
United took the lead eight minutes after the restart from a corner. Susovan Ghosh, who had hit the crossbar minutes earlier, made no mistake this time, planting a powerful header past the goalkeeper.
Delhi responded in the 66th minute with a well-worked move. Akash Tirkey threaded a through ball into space for Samson Keishing, who squared it for the unmarked Himanshu Jangra. The league’s top scorer tapped into an empty net to bring his side level.
Needing a win to secure promotion, United pushed forward in search of a decisive goal, but could not find a breakthrough. Delhi held on to seal the title and promotion, leaving United’s long wait unresolved.
– Team Sportstar
SHOOTING
Sonam strikes gold in 10m Air Rifle at 24th Kumar Surendra Memorial Shooting Championship
Railways’ Sonam Uttam Maskar clinched the gold medal in the 10m air rifle women’s event at the 24th Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championship at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy in Bhopal.
Sonam secured gold with a score of 252.1 in the final. Gujarat’s Elavenil Valarivan won silver with 251.7, while Maharashtra’s Arya Borse claimed bronze with 230.4. Maharashtra’s Shraddha Divate finished fourth with 209.7.
In qualification, Maharashtra’s Shambhavi Shravan Kshirsagar topped the standings with a score of 633.9, followed by Elavenil with 632.8 and Arya with 631.4. Kerala’s Vidarsa K. Vinod also shot 631.4 to qualify for the final in fourth place.
10m air rifle junior women
West Bengal’s Tilottama Sen clinched the junior women’s title with a score of 253.4 in the final. Shambhavi finished second with 253.3, while Anvii Vikram Rathod won bronze with 230.1. Maharashtra’s Arikta Singh finished fourth with 208.8.
10m air rifle youth women
Karnataka’s Sanvi R.P. clinched the youth women’s title with a score of 251.2 in the final, while Punjab’s Ojasvi Thakur claimed silver with 251.1. Maharashtra’s Saniya Shaikh won bronze with 229.2.
Other Results
10m Rifle Women Team
1. Maharashtra (Shambhavi Kshirsagr, Arya Borse, Sakshi Padekar) – 1894.3
2. Railways (Sonam Uttam Maskar, Mehuli Ghosh, Ayonika Paul) – 1885.8
3. Uttar Pradesh (Sangeeta Singh, Sawini Mital, Khyati Chaudhary) – 1884.7
10m Rifle Sub Youth Women
1. Arikta Singh (Maharashtra) – 630.4
2. Sanvi R.P (Karnataka) – 629.1
3. Avantika Shelke (Maharashtra) – 628.5
10m Rifle Master Women
1. Tejaswani Sawant (Maharashtra) – 623.7
2. Anjali Bhagwat (Maharashtra) – 621.4
3. Archana Singh (West Bengal) – 602.0
10m Rifle Deaf Women
1. Mahit Sandhu (Chandigarh) – 625.6
2. Natasha Joshi (Maharashtra) – 623.8
3. Komal Waghmare (Maharashtra) – 614.4
– Team Sportstar
GOLF
Rayhan Thomas starts well on Korn Ferry Tour
Rayhan Thomas started the week at the Woodcreek Club with a round of 2-under 68 to be placed tied 35th on the leaderboard of the Colonial Life Charity Classic in Elgin, USA.
Bryce Lewis leads the field with an opening round of 8-under 62.
Thomas began his first round on the back nine with a birdie on the 10th hole before making bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes to enter the front nine with a score of 1-over par.
On the front nine, Thomas picked up three strokes in four holes with birdies on the first, third and fourth holes, along with another birdie on the eighth hole before dropping a stroke on the final hole of the round to end the day with a card of 2-under 68.
Bryce Lewis carded 8-under 62 with seven birdies and one eagle and only one bogey in his opening round.
-PTI
Ahlawat, Talwar struggle in Spain
Veer Ahlawat and Saptak Talwar had a tough opening round at the Challenge de Catalunya in Girona.
Ahlawat carded an opening round of 1-under 71 to be placed T-89 while Talwar carded 14-over 86 to be placed 155th on the leaderboard.
Ahlawat made six birdies in the round along with three bogeys and one double bogey to finish the day with a score of 1-under 71.
Talwar made only one birdie in his opening round, along with three bogeys, two double bogeys, one triple bogey and one quintuple bogey on the sixth hole.
Canon Claycomb led the field after carding a round of 9-under 63, which included one bogey, eight birdies and one eagle.
-PTI
Aditi has difficult opening round in Cincinnati
Aditi Ashok carded an opening round of 2-over 72 to find herself tied 72nd on the leaderboard at the end of the first round at the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati.
She is currently six shots behind the co-leaders, Rio Takeda, Ina Yoon and Chella Choi, who carded 4-under 66 to share the lead heading into the second day.
Aditi Ashok had a difficult start as she started her round with a bogey on the 10th hole. Aditi would go on the three more bogeys in her round on the 16th, sixth and ninth holes.
She made two birdies in her round as well on the 14th and 15th holes. Aditi only missed four fairways in her round and made 15 of the 18 greens in regulation.
-PTI
Poor start for Indian golfers in German Masters
Pranavi Urs emerged as the best-placed Indian after the opening round of the Amundi German Masters, carding a 3-over 76 to be tied 83rd on a challenging par-73 course.
Pranavi’s round featured two birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey as scoring proved difficult in tough conditions.
Among the other Indians in the fray, Avani Prashanth shot a 5-over 78 to be tied 105th, while Vani Kapoor struggled to a 10-over 83, leaving her in 131st place.
Leonie Harm set a new course record with a bogey-free 8-under 65, taking a one-shot lead after the opening round. The German leads the field, with compatriot Esther Henseleit close behind in second after a 7-under 66, while Denmark’s Sofie Kibsgaard is also in contention.
Avani mixed one birdie with two bogeys and two double bogeys in her opening round, while Vani endured a difficult day with five bogeys, one double bogey and a triple bogey.
With the projected cut line set at 1-under, the three Indian players will need strong second-round performances to stay in contention for the weekend.
-PTI
HOCKEY
India U-18 men draw 2-2 against Australia, women too fight valiantly
The India Under-18 men’s hockey team was held to a 2-2 draw by the Australia U-18 side at the SAI Central Regional Centre here on Friday.
Akash Deep (11th minute) and Deepak Prakash Toppo (45th) scored for the host. For Australia, Jett Johnstone (2nd) gave the visitor an early lead, while Franky Baker (60th) found the equaliser in the final minute of the game.
In the women’s opener, the Australia U-18 team clinched a 4-3 win.
Aurora Kovacevich (21st) gave the visitor the lead before Diya (22nd) quickly restored parity for India.
The host then surged to a two-goal advantage, with Kiran Ekka (42nd) and captain Sweety Kujur (48th) finding the back of the net.
However, late goals from Mia Klimpsch (54th) and Stella Bartholomeusz (54th, 55th) helped the visitor edge past India.
The women’s team will be in action for its second match of the series on Sunday, while the men will play their second match later in the evening.
-PTI
Published on May 15, 2026
