Indian sports wrap, July 7: India picks six Asian Championship medallists for U17 World Championships selection trials

WRESTLING

Six Asian Championship medallists win selection trials for U17 World Championships

The Indian team picked for the Under-17 World Championship did not have many surprises, with as many as six medal winners from the recent Asian Championships acing the selection trials to make the national team on Monday.

The Wresting Federation of India (WFI) had restricted the trials to medal winners at the recent U17 National Championship, thus only the best wrestlers in each of the 10 categories competed, limiting the number of bouts.

Haryana’s Rachna Parmar (43kg), Delhi’s Moni (57kg), Rajasthan’s Ashvini Vaishno (65kg), and Haryana’s Manisha (69kg), who won gold medals at the Asian Championships in Vietnam, emerged winners in their respective categories.

Rachna got the better of Cheshta 3-0 in the final.

After losing a point on passivity, Cheshta tried the ‘dhobi pachad’ at least twice but lost a point on counterattack as Rachna managed to take her down on one of the moves to come out a clean winner.

Cheshta had also won a medal at the Asian Championship—a silver in 40 kg—but she chose to compete in 43kg on Monday.

The 65kg and 69kg weight class featured only two wrestlers each.

Ashvini beating Haryana’s Taniya 2-0 in 65kg and Manisha pinning Delhi Bharti after taking a comfortable 4-0 lead.

Anshika Yadav from UP missed out on competing in 69kg after the officials stopped her weigh-in because her passport is expiring in December this year, and a six-month validity is a must for visa application.

“Even if she had won, she would not have travelled, so what’s the point in her competing? It’s unfortunate that she could not compete,” said an official.

“Today is the last day to send entries through UWW’s software and we couldn’t have sent her name even if she got her passport renewed through Tatkal.” Uttar Pradesh’s Preeti (40kg), Kasish (46kg), Komal (49kg), Yashita (61 kg), and Kajal (73kg) were the other trial winners.

Komal defeated Asia Championship bronze winner Anjali after erasing a 0-2 deficit.

Anjali went up 2-0 with a takedown and maintained the lead till the break. In the second period, Komal was put on the clock, and she responded with a quick two-point move. She effected another takedowntowards the end to earn her spot on the Indian team.

Incidentally, Kajal was the lone wrestler in the 73kg weight class.

-Press Trust of India

FOOTBALL

Kerala Blasters announces new signing

Indian Super League team Kerala Blasters on Monday announced the signing of young defender Brahmacharimayum Sumit Sharma. The 18-year-old joins the club on a three-year contract, with an option to extend for a further two years.

A product of Classic Football Academy in Manipur, Sumit has represented the India U-17, U-19, and U-20 teams. Recently, he was a member of the India U-19 team that clinched the SAFF U-19 Championship title earlier this year.

“I feel very excited and proud to join a big club like Kerala Blasters FC. It is a great honour for me. I have so much to learn here, and I believe this is the right place for my growth. I want to thank the club management for giving me this opportunity,” said Sumit.

-Team Sportstar

Durand Cup returns to Jamshedpur for second consecutive year with trophy showcase

Durand Cup trophies are presented in Jamshedpur ahead of the 134th edition of Asia’s oldest football tournament.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Jamshedpur welcomed back the 134th edition of Durand Cup as the city gets ready to host Asia’s oldest football tournament for the second consecutive year.

The three trophies of the Durand Cup were showcased here at the XLRI Auditorium in the presence of Shri. Santosh Gangwar, Governor of Jharkhand who was the chief guest of the event.

The three glittering pieces of silverware, the Durand Cup, the original prize and the rolling Shimla Trophy (presented by residents of Shimla in 1904), as well as the President’s Cup which the winners keep permanently, will be then taken on a roadshow later in the day covering prominent city landmarks generating immense enthusiasm in the football loving city.

The three trophies will travel through key city landmarks, including Mango Bus Stand, Sakchi Circle, and JUSCO Circle, before being displayed at the JRD TATA Sports Complex, which will be hosting the matches. Later, the trophies will also be showcased at Bistupur Square.

Jamshedpur will host four teams with hosts Jamshedpur FC, 1 Ladakh FC which is making its debut in Durand Cup, Indian Army FT and a Foreign Services Team adding international flavour to the tournament. A total of seven matches, including one quarterfinal will be played at the JRD Tata Sports Complex with the first match scheduled on 24th July with the other group stage matches. The quarterfinals will be played on 17th August. 

– Team Sportstar

East Bengal FC extends Vishu PV’s contract until 2028

Vishnu was East Bengal’s joint-leading scorer in Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 with four goals
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Special Arrangement

East Bengal FC on Monday announced that attacker Vishnu PV has signed a two-year contract extension, securing his future with the club until the end of the 2027-28 season.

Vishnu was East Bengal’s joint-leading scorer in Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 with four goals

The 23-year0old has emerged as a key talent for the Red & Gold Brigade, showcasing his steady improvement over the past two seasons. The Kerala-born forward joined East Bengal in mid-2023 on a three-year contract, and has so far represented the team in 55 top-flight matches.

– Team Sportstar

GOLF

Diksha finishes 63rd as amateur Lottie Woad wins Irish Open

Indian golfer Diksha Dagar, who made her 11th cut in succession on the line, finished 63rd with a double bogey in a card of 4-over 77 in the final round of the 2025 KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House here.

She had rounds of 75-73-73-77 for a 6-over total.

Diksha’s teammates Avani Prashanth, Tvesa Malik and Hitaashee Bakshi missed the cut.

– Press Trust of India

Samte signs new long-term deal with NorthEast United FC

NorthEast United FC on Monday announced that defender Buanthanglun Samte has signed a new three-year contract, extending his stay at the club until the end of the 2027-28 season.

The 25-year-old left-back has been a key figure under head coach Juan Pedro Benali since arriving at the club at the start of the 2023-24 season, making 40 appearances for the Highlanders.

– Team Sportstar

HOCKEY

Sub Junior Women Nationals: Mizoram, Odisha, MP, Manipur, and Jharkhand secure crucial victories on day 5

Odisha beat Punjab in a Group A fixture
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Special Arrangement

The fifth day of the 15th Hockey India Sub Junior Women National Championship 2025 at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Stadium saw Mizoram, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand secure victories in their Division ‘A’ fixtures, while Manipur emerged victorious in Division ‘B’ fixtures.

In the first Division ‘A’ clash of the day, Mizoram defeated Bihar, 11-0. Leading Mizoram, Vanlalrinhlui (9’, 24’, 25’, 29’, 33’, 37’) was unstoppable as she accounted for six goals, including the opener. Esther Lalremruati (35’, 58’, 60’) also netted a second-half hat-trick after C. Lalruatsiami (11’) and K Vanlalpeki (15’) chipped in with first quarter goals to set the tone for a comprehensive victory.

Another Division ‘A’ clash saw Odisha defeat Punjab, 3-1. Sweety Kujur (15’, 30’, 59’) scored three goals to give Odisha the victory. Meanwhile, Navjot Kaur (54’) gave Punjab brief hope with a late goal, but it was in vain.

MP defeated Chandigarh, 12-0, in an afternoon Division ‘A’ clash. Nausheen Naz (8’, 9’, 17’, 44’, 44’, 53’, 58’) was the star for Madhya Pradesh with a tally of seven goals. Sajeda Begum (11’) and Hirva Purohit (14’) also registered early goals before contributions from Sudipta Kindo (26’), Keshar Bhabar (48’), and Aqsa Khan (57’) completed a comfortable victory.

The last Division ‘A’ encounter of the day saw Jharkhand defeat Andhra Pradesh 4-0. Sewani Kerketta’s (18’, 28‘) brace put Jharkhand in a strong position before halftime. Sugan Sanga (44’) then added a third goal, followed by a late goal from Pushpa Manjhi (53’) to wrap up the win.

In Division ‘B’, Tamil Nadu and Bengal shared points following a goalless draw.

Manipur defeated Uttarakhand 4-2. Jerina Chongtham (8’) gave Manipur the lead, followed by a brace from Huidrom Bidyaluxmi Devi (37’, 57’) and a late goal from Charoibam Juli Devi (60’). For Hockey Uttarakhand, Captain Mansi Katariya continued her form with a consolation brace (31’, 49’).

-Team Sportstar

SHOOTING

Shotgun World Cup: Ganemat third-best after four rounds of Skeet

Ganemat Sekhon put herself close to the top with the third-best score of 96 after four rounds of women’s skeet in the Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy, on Monday.

Maheshwari Chauhan and Raiza Dhillon had identical scores of 93 and found themselves in the 30th and 31st spots, respectively.

In men’s skeet, World University champion Bhavtegh Singh Gill had shot 98 following rounds of 23, 25, 25, and 25. Asian Games silver medallist Anantjeet Singh Naruka had 95. Mairaj Ahmad Khan had completed three rounds with 73 out of 75.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

CHESS

Vantika, Nandhidhaa and Padmini sail through, Priyanka makes it to tiebreaker

India’s best bet, Grandmaster Vantika Agrawal defeated Lela Shohradeva of Turkmenistan in the return game of the first round to progress to the round of 64 of FIDE World Women’s Chess Cup here on Monday.

Vantika had earlier drawn her first game against Shohradeva on Sunday.

As was expected, Padmini Rout and P V Nandhidhaa also made it to the round of 64 by winning their respective games against Zhang Lilin of China and Ortiz Verdezoto Anahi of Ecuador respectively.

However, from the Indian perspective the day belonged to K Priyanka who overcame a one point deficit over Zsoka Gall of Hungary to tie the match in the tiebreak game.

The other Indian in fray, Kiran Manisha Mohanty was the first Indian to bow out of the competition as she drew with Yuxin Song of China, giving her a 1-5-0.5-victory following a first-round loss.

Much was expected of Vantika and she did not disappoint in the return game where she had white pieces.

The Noida-based player was in her elements and despite early exchange of queens in the Queen’s gambit, she declined the opening and kept her hopes in top gear. As things unfolded Shohradeva simply ended up blundering and the game was over in just 27 moves.

Priyanka faced the French defense for almost 300 rated above opponent in Zsoka Gaal of Hungary. She didn’t fear and outclassed her opponent in a win on demand situation.

The middle game was vital where Priyanka got some initiative, a timely queen exchange led her to a better endgame that she converted effortlessly.

For Padmini Rout and Nandhidhaa it was a usual day in the office as the duo climbed up the charts to be the best 64 in this World Cup.

As many as four Indians, Koneru Humpy, D Harika, R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh are directly granted an entry in to the second round by virtue of their ratings and now they join the round of 64 post the tiebreaker day.

The total prize pool of the event is USD 691250 and the bigger stake is to qualify for the Candidates.

-PTI