TENNIS
Japan Open: Bopanna-Yuzuki pair reaches semifinals
Rohan Bopanna, in partnership with Takeru Yuzuki of Japan, beat the third-seeded Argentine pair of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 7-6(5), 7-6(4) in the quarterfinals of the Japan Open in Tokyo on Friday.
Wildcards Bopanna and Yuzuki will be up against either the top-seeded American duo of Christian Harrison and Evan King or local wildcards Kaito Uesugi and Seita Watanabe in the semifinals.
-Team Sportstar
BADMINTON
India clinches Gold and three Silver medals at Special Olympics Asia Pacific Badminton in Malaysia
India emerged the top performer at the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Badminton Competition in Kuala Lumpur by clinching one gold and three silver medals in various events.
In the September 16 to 20 championship at Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara, Chanvi Sharma was the standout performer, winning gold in the women’s singles event and adding a silver in women’s doubles alongside partner Sujita Sukumaran, a press release from Special Olympics Bharat stated.
Ankit Dalal claimed silver in men’s singles and doubled his tally with another silver in the men’s doubles, partnering Amal Biju.
The High Commissioner of India to Malaysia, B N Reddy also met the athletes at the closing ceremony to congratulate them.
The competition brought together 80 players from 10 countries.
– Team Sportstar
HOCKEY
Indian junior women’s hockey team lose 2-3 to Australia U-21 in Australia tour opener
The Indian junior women’s hockey teamTeam suffered a narrow 2-3 loss in its first match of the Australia tour against its U-21 side at the National Hockey Centre in Canberra on Friday. Lalthantluangi (47’) and Sonam (54’) were the goalscorers for India while Bianca Zurrer (36’), Evie Sransby (45’) and Sammy Love (59’) scored goals for Australia.
The first half remained goalless as both sides couldn’t manage to break the deadlock in the tight contest. In the 36th minute, Australia found the opening goal through a successful penalty corner by Bianca Zurrer. Australia then extended its lead with another penalty corner goal, this time courtesy of Evie Sransby in the 45th minute.
India U-21 suffered a 3-2 defeat to Australia on Friday.
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement
India U-21 suffered a 3-2 defeat to Australia on Friday.
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement
In the fourth quarter, India bounced back in the contest with two crucial goals to equalise. First, in the 47th minute, Lalthantluangi converted a penalty corner to reduce the deficit followed by a Field Goal by Sonam in the 54th minute to level the game again. With just over a minute left on the clock, Australia’s Sammy Love scored through a penalty corner to edge out a slim win over India.
-Team Sportstar
MOTORSPORT
Indian drivers get a feel of tricky track conditions at FIA Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship
The Indian contingent got down to the business of acclimatization and adapting to unfamiliar conditions at the sprawling Bandaragama Sports Somplex as the FIA Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship 2025 got off to a wet start on Friday with the intermittent monsoon rains forcing delays and rescheduling of the practice sessions.
While Friday was set aside for documentation, driver briefing and practice sessions, the competitions in Karting (Sprint, Endurance and Slalom), E-Sport, Autocross and Asian Auto Gymkhana Championship (AGCC) series will get underway on Saturday and conclude on Sunday.
Though the Indian squad arrived at the APMC venue in pouring rain , it did not dampen the spirits nor deter the organisers, Ceylon Motor Sports Club whose officials worked hard to ensure that the drivers got a feel of the track.
The Karting Sprint event which has attracted over 40 entries across three classes (Cadet, Junior and Senior) representing seven countries, appears to be the most competitive discipline while Karting Endurance has 28 drivers in the fray from nine countries.
Practice sessions in the Karting Slalom and Endurance commenced after some delay though the circuit was dotted with puddles of water. With more rains forecast over the weekend, the going is bound to be tough.
Further down the road, the three Autocross entries, Philippos Mathai, Chetan Shivram, Tarushi Vikram and Pragathi Gowda did a track walk around the 550-metre track which is a mix of dirt and tarmac. But since the Crosscars, prepared to FIA specifications and fitted with 600cc Kawasaki engine putting out 140bhp, were to arrive at the venue only late afternoon, the scheduled practice session was postponed.
-Team Sportstar
Published on Sep 26, 2025
