Indian sports wrap, August 23: Mayank ends Jaiveer’s run in Asian Junior Open Classical Chess; BRICS sports ministers adopt joint declaration in Visakhapatnam

CHESS

Asian Junior Open Classical Chess Championship: Pratitee, Leyla stay ahead

The dream run of Jaiveer Mahendru came to a halt as top-seeded GM-elect Mayank Chakraborty outclassed him in a Ruy Lopez battle in the fifth round of the Asian Junior Open Classical Chess Championship in Mumbai.

Mayank’s victory took him to 4.5/5 and into joint lead with IM Artem Pingin of Russia and FM Sharnarthi Viresh. Pingin defeated FM Amanmuhammet Hommadov of Turkmenistan, while Viresh scored an impressive victory over IM Aaditya Dhingra.

Jaiveer, who had entered the round as the sole leader with a perfect 4/4, has now slipped to the chasing group on four points. He is joined by Hommadov, IM Vignesh Advaith Vemula, FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma, and FM Nandish V S. Vignesh, Madhvendra, and Nandish, all of whom registered victories in the fifth round.

In the Girls Championship, the much-awaited clash between the two overnight leaders, WCM Shohradova Leyla of Turkmenistan and top seed WFM Pratitee Bordoloi of India, ended in a draw. The result enabled both players to retain their joint lead with 4.5/5.

WFM Mariya Kholyavko of Kazakhstan and FM Prishita Gupta also drew their encounter to move to 4/5. Shivamshika G and WCM Shanmathi Sree S scored important victories to join the chasing pack, while WCM Aadya Gowda caused a notable upset by defeating the higher-rated WCM Kirthika B.

With four rounds remaining, the championship is poised for an exciting finish as the battle for the Asian Junior titles intensifies. The championship is being organised by the Maharashtra Chess Association at the ITC Maratha Sheraton, Mumbai.

– Team Sportstar

GOLF

Indian pro golfer Arjun Prasad joins IGPL

Promising golfer Arjun Prasad has joined the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) ahead of the four-week second half of the season scheduled to tee off in late September.

Prasad was formally welcomed by the League’s CEO, Uttam Singh Mundy, as the 27-year-old joined close contemporaries and fellow tour standouts, including Aman Raj, Karandeep Kochhar, and Pukhraj Singh Gill, on the league’s roster.

Prasad’s induction comes on the back of an exceptional run of form. After knocking on the door with multiple podium finishes over recent years, he registered his breakthrough professional title at the Tamil Nadu Open in Coimbatore in late 2025. That victory anchored a career-best campaign featuring two runner-up finishes and nine top-10 results, seeing him finish fourth on the domestic Order of Merit.

“There are a lot of things the IGPL is doing that make tremendous sense for players. The vision for growing the sport professionally and at the grassroots level is clear, and the tour ensures players are well supported,” Prasad said.

“The pathway into the Asian Tour is a massive incentive; it gives us a structured route to perform, earn our cards, and advance to higher international tours.”

-PTI

Sharma slips in third round at Nexo Championship

Shubhankar Sharma slipped down the leaderboard in the third round of the Nexo Championship after carding a three-over 75 that left him tied 41st heading into the final round.

Sharma, who had ended a run of four consecutive missed cuts by making the weekend in Scotland, endured a disappointing outing on Saturday. He managed just two birdies against five bogeys to drop down the standings after beginning the day in contention for a higher finish.

Earlier the other Indian in the field, Yuvraj Sandhu had missed the cut.

At the top, South Africa’s Shaun Norris moved into a commanding position to claim his third DP World Tour title after equalling the course record with a nine-under 66.

– PTI

CRICKET

Kerala Cricket League: Mohammed Enaan’s cameo helps Thrissur Titans beat Kochi Blue Tigers

Thrissur Titans batter Mohammed Enaan celebrates after winning his side’s Kerala Cricket League match against Kochi Blue Tigers.
| Photo Credit:
NIRMAL HARINDRAN

Under-19 World Cupper Mohammed Enaan’s cameo (18 not out, 7b, 1×4, 2×6) snatched a comeback four-wicket win for Thrissur Titans against title holder Kochi Blue Tigers in a rain-truncated match of the KCL 2026 at the Sports Hub Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.

Chasing 173 for a win, Titans had progressed to 48 for two in 5.2 overs when rain stopped play for an hour. The target was revised to 83 from nine overs. But when play resumed, K.R. Rohit, who hit Basil Thampi for consecutive boundaries to keep Titans ahead of the VJD par score, was dismissed off the first ball. K.A. Arjun departed for a golden duck to give Tigers fresh hope. Two wickets fell in the seventh over bowled by K.M. Asif as Titans slumped to 58 for six.

However, Enaan slammed Basil Thampi for two sixes and a four in the eighth over to swing the match in favour of Titans. Captain M.S. Akhil (16 not out) dispatched a full toss from K.M. Asif over fine leg for a six to complete the win with four balls to spare.

Earlier, the Tigers were given a good start by openers Jobin Joby (33) and Vinoop Manoharan (33). But Titans’ spinners M.S.Akhil (two for 18) and Biju Narayanan (two for 32) took crucial wickets in the middle overs and stifled the scoring rate. Tigers lost four wickets for 39 runs in 7.1 overs as it slumped to 122 for six at the start of the 16th over. A late flourish from Alfi Francis (27 not out, 14b, 2×4, 2×6) and Sachin Suresh (23 not out, 23b, 1×6) helped Tigers post a respectable total.

– M.R. Praveen Chandran

MOTORSPORT

MRF Indian National Racing Challenge 4W: Saishiva unbeaten in F2000; Bonu excels

MRF F2000 race winner Saishiva Sankaran (centre) flanked by Aditya Patnaik (left, second) and Swarnav Das (third).
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A clutch of teenagers lit up the first round of the MRF Indian National Racing Challenge 4W, which concluded at the Madras International Circuit on Sunday.

Eighteen-year-old Saishiva Sankaran from Pune completed a hat-trick of wins in the MRF Formula 2000, while Visakhapatnam’s Bhuvan Bonu, only 16, won both the races today in the MRF Formula 1600. Kaveen Diyyan Rajapaksa from Sri Lanka, also 16, achieved a triple crown in the Junior category of the Formula LGB 1300 class.

At the other end of the spectrum, a trio of seasoned campaigners, Ritesh Rai (Indian Super Touring Cars), Diljith TS (Super Stock), and Pratik Sonawane (Polo Cup), remained unbeaten in their respective races.

Saishiva showcased his grit and pace while winning all the three races in the 2000 class. In each of the races, he had a poor start but made ground to win from seemingly hopeless positions. Coincidentally, he conceded but regained the lead from Aditya Patnaik on all three occasions.

Bonu displayed exemplary composure to survive some tough moments while winning both MRF F1600 races today.

Ritesh, though, was a trifle lucky as his archrival Arjun Narendran retired while in the lead during the first race and could not start Race 2 as the necessary repairs to his car could not be completed on time.

Pratik fought off young Neel Shah, who botched lead positions in both races and yielded ground.

Not to be outdone, Viswas Vijayaraj won both races in the Formula LGB 1300 class (Open) today to add to his win in Race 1 on Saturday for a triple crown.

Viswas started Race 2 today in P8 on the reverse grid but then moved to the front to notch a win. Later, in Race 3, he scored a lights-to-flag win after starting from pole.

Kaveen also enjoyed a fruitful weekend by winning all three races in the Junior category of the Formula LGB 1300. “I loved every moment here. Back in Sri Lanka, we do not get such big grids. So, it was fun to be competing with so many drivers,” he said.

-Team Sportstar

HOCKEY

Indian junior hockey team to train in Dalian in China ahead of Junior Asia Cup

The Indian junior men’s hockey team will play three practice matches in Dalian, China, against the counterparts of the host country as part of preparations for the upcoming Junior Asia Cup next month.

The Junior Asia Cup will be held in Moqi, China from September 4 to 13.

The Indian team left for Dalian in Liaoning province in China on Sunday. The team will arrive in Dalian on Monday and undergo a series of training sessions before playing practice matches against the China junior men’s team, a release from Hockey India said.

The Indian side is scheduled to play its first practice game on August 28, followed by matches on August 30 and 31.

Following the completion of the Dalian leg of training, the team will depart for Moqi on September 1, and will continue its final preparations for the Junior Asia Cup.

India has been placed in Pool A of the Junior Asia Cup alongside Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia.

India will play its opening match against Indonesia on September 5, followed by matches against Japan on September 6, Korea on September 8 and Chinese Taipei on September 9.

– PTI

Haryana wins Junior Women National Championship

Haryana was crowned champion at the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship, defeating Jharkhand 2-1 in Pune on Sunday. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh secured a 3-1 victory over Chhattisgarh in the third-place match.

The final saw both teams battle intensely for the coveted title, with Jharkhand taking the lead in the 19th minute through Mundri Saroj.

Haryana responded strongly with Bhavya restoring parity in the 23rd minute before Khushi completed the turnaround in the 42nd minute.

Jharkhand pushed forward in search of an equaliser in the closing stages, but Haryana’s defence held firm to secure the championship title.

In the third-place playoff, Kajal opened the scoring for MP in the 35th minute and doubled the advantage just two minutes later.

Tanvi then extended the lead in the 42nd minute to put her side firmly in control.

Chhattisgarh pulled one back through Yadav Sheetal in the 54th minute. However, MP maintained its advantage until the final whistle.

-PTI

MISCELLANEOUS

BRICS sports ministers adopt joint declaration in Visakhapatnam meeting

BRICS sports ministers on Sunday adopted the Sports Joint Declaration in their meeting held in Visakhapatnam, reaffirming the commitment of the Member States to “strengthen cooperation in sport through dialogue, mutual respect, and inclusiveness.”

The meeting was held under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026 and was attended by ministers and senior sports representatives from the BRICS Member States to discuss cooperation priorities and sports development, a release said.

The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, in his opening statement called for building a BRICS sporting partnership.

“We should build a BRICS sporting partnership that moves beyond declarations and creates real platforms for sports collaborations, whether it is athlete and coach exchanges, joint competitions, or sports science knowledge sharing,” he said, adding that India is transforming its sporting ecosystem.

“We invite global manufacturers, technology companies, and investors to Make in India, Play in India, and Grow with India,” Mandaviya added.

The sports minister also underlined India’s commitment to making sports more inclusive through parasport promotion activities and new pathways for having more women participating.

There were three key initiatives advanced to deepen cooperation in sports, which include the BRICS Working Group on Sports Technology, BRICS Sports Manufacturing Conclave, and BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026.

Udaipur received support to be the host city of the inaugural edition of the BRICS Sports Manufacturing Conclave.

“The conclave will focus on the exchange of best practices, technology and innovation, quality standards, intra-BRICS trade, and resilient supply chains while bringing together manufacturers, exporters, investors, technology providers, SMEs, start-ups, and research institutions,” the release said.

The BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026 were proposed to be hosted in Ahmedabad on October 12-13.

“Conceived as a non-competitive and culturally focused initiative, the Games will promote cultural exchange, people-to-people ties, and mutual understanding,” the release said.

The participants also joined the BRICS Friendship Cycling Event, organised as part of the 87th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle.

-PTI

FOOTBALL

India U-20 men defeat Yemen in second friendly

The India Under-20 men’s team defeated Yemen 1-0 in the second closed-door friendly match at the Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru on Sunday. Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam (89’) scored the winner.

Both sides had played a goalless draw in the first friendly on Thursday.

The Blue Colts are preparing for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers, which will be held in Uzbekistan from August 31 to September 6. They will depart for Tashkent on August 26.

-PTI

Published on Aug 23, 2026