Indian Sports Wrap, June 26: Roundglass Hockey Academy en...

HOCKEY

Roundglass Hockey Academy Storms Into International Youth Hockey Cup Final in Sydney

Roundglass Hockey Academy advanced to the final of the International Youth Hockey Cup 2026 (U-18) in Sydney, Australia, after an unbeaten group-stage run.

Led by coach Vikas Pal and team manager Sanjeev Kumar, the academy side won all five matches, combining attacking fluency with defensive control against international opposition.

Roundglass opened its campaign with an 8-0 win over New South Wales Lions before beating Team Majulah Singapore 5-0. It then defeated NSW Singhs 5-2 in a tighter contest.

The side continued its strong run with a 6-1 win over Bobby Academy before rounding off the group stage with a 7-1 victory against Shepparton Hockey Academy.

Roundglass finished the group stage on top with a perfect record, scoring 31 goals and conceding just four. NSW Singhs finished second with 10 points after winning three of its five matches, drawing one and losing one. Bobby Academy took third place with nine points.

Roundglass will face NSW Singhs in the final on Saturday in Sydney.

The academy is now one win away from another international title, having won the Sikh Union Club Nairobi Centenary Celebrations Hockey Tournament in Kenya earlier this year.

CRICKET

Sandeep guides Vijaywada Sunshiners to five-wicket win

Vijayawada Sunshiners registered a five-wicket victory over Amaravathi Royals in an Andhra Premier League clash at the ACA International Stadium here on Friday.

After losing M. Toshit Yadav early, Sunshiners recovered well to add 59 runs to the scoreboard by the end of the PowerPlay. M. Harshit Yadav and K. Ashwin Hebbar then stitched together a crucial 74-run partnership to put the innings back on track.

Hebbar’s knock ended when he holed out to T. Varun Sattwik at long-on off Toshit. The Royals then struck at regular intervals, preventing Sunshiners from building on the platform. The innings eventually ended at 170.

In reply, Royals skipper Yarra Sandeep anchored the chase with a composed, unbeaten 93 off 61 balls (4×4, 6×6). Despite wickets falling at the other end, he paced the innings expertly to guide his side home with six balls to spare.

On Thursday, Tungabhadra Warriors prevailed in a low-scoring contest against Kakinada Kings, securing a four-wicket victory. Warriors were bowled out for 158, but Kings, led by Abhishek M. Reddy’s half-century, chased down the target with an over remaining.

Meanwhile, a blistering 65-ball 143-run partnership between Gaurav Reddy and P. Nitish Reddy powered Nalgonda Knights to a commanding 91-run win over Warangal Warriors in the TG20 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday.

The duo laid the foundation for the Knights’ joint-highest total of the tournament – 259 for five – before a disciplined bowling display bundled out the Warriors in just 14 overs.

Asked to bat, Knights suffered an early setback when Md. Abdul Malik dismissed Pranav Suryadevara in the opening over. Gaurav and Nitish responded emphatically, taking the attack to the bowlers with boundaries at will as the Knights raced to 83 in the PowerPlay. Gaurav brought up his fifty in just 19 balls, while Nitish reached the milestone off 27 deliveries.

Although Mudassar Hussain ended Gaurav’s stay, Warriors found little respite as Nitish and Rahul Buddhi stitched together a brisk 44-run stand off 21 balls. Late fireworks from Arfaz Ahmed and Divesh Singh, who added 49 in just 18 deliveries, gave Knights a strong finish.

Warriors began their chase aggressively through Harshit Choudhary and Aman Rao, before Nishanth Saranu struck twice in successive deliveries to remove Harshit and Rishiket Sisodia.

Aman continued to counterattack, smashing 46 off just 15 balls – all of them in fours and sixes – before Arfaz dismissed him in the fifth over. Murugan Abhishek kept the chase alive with a rapid 44 off 19 balls, aided by useful cameos from Bhavesh Seth and Mani Kiran, but Varun Goud and Aniketh Reddy cleaned up the lower order as the Warriors were bowled out with ease.