FOOTBALL
India U23 announces 29-member probable squad for exposure friendly matches in Tajikistan
On Wednesday, India U23 men’s national team head coach Naushad Moosa named a 29-member probable squad for the exposure friendly matches in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, next month.
India U23s will face the Tajikistan U23 and Kyrgyz Republic U23 teams in two matches on June 18, and June 21, respectively, as part of the federation’s long-term plans to smoothen a pathway to the senior national team.
The team will set camp in Kolkata on June 1, where they will train before setting off for Dushanbe, on June 16.
India U-23 Men’s National Team Probables list
Goalkeepers: Sahil, Priyansh Dubey, Md Arbaz.
Defenders: Nikhil Barla, Dippendu Biswas, Bikash Yumnam, Pramveer, Clarence Fernandes, Sajad Hussain Parray, Muhammed Saheef, Subham Bhattacharya, Suman Dey.
Midfielders: Vibin Mohanan, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Vinith Venkatesh, Harsh Patre, Rahul Raju, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Macarton Louis Nickson, Manglenthang Kipgen, Chingangbam Shivaldo Singh, Mohammed Aimen, Huidrom Thoi Singh.
Forwards: Parthib Sundar Gogoi, Md Suhail, Korou Singh Thingujam, Mohammed Sanan K, Alan Shaji, Joseph Sunny.
-Team Sportstar
BOXING
BFI Names 19-member India squad for Thailand Open
The squad—comprising 10 men and 9 women—has been selected from the ongoing elite national camp at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala.
| Photo Credit:
BFI Media
The squad—comprising 10 men and 9 women—has been selected from the ongoing elite national camp at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala.
| Photo Credit:
BFI Media
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has announced a 19-member squad for the fourth Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament 2025, scheduled in Bangkok from May 24 to June 1.
The squad—comprising 10 men and 9 women—has been selected from the ongoing elite national camp at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala, which is underway as the season builds toward key tournaments.
India squad for Thailand Open:
India’s men’s squad:
Naothoi Singh Kongkham (47–50kg), Pawan Bartwal (50–55kg), Nikhil (55–60kg), Amit Kumar (60–65kg), Hemant Yadav (65–70kg), Deepak (70–75kg), Dhruv Singh (75–80kg), Jugnoo (80–85kg), Naman Tanwar (85–90kg), and Anshul Gill (90kg+)
India women’s squad:
Yasika Rai (45–48kg), Tamanna (48–51kg), Abha Singh (51–54kg), Priya (54–57kg), Sanju (57–60kg), Saneh (65–70kg), Anjali (70–75kg), Lalfakmawii Ralte (75–80kg), and Kiran (80kg+). No boxer has been named in the women’s 60–65kg category for this edition.
-Team Sportstar
MOTORSPORT
Harith Noah Withdraws from W2RC’s South African Safari Rally after unfortunate injury
Harith Noah in action during the South African Safari Rally in Sun City.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Harith Noah in action during the South African Safari Rally in Sun City.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Indian rally-raid rider Harith Noah was forced to withdraw from the South African Safari Rally, the Round 3 of 2025 FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), following a crash at the beginning of Stage 1 in Sun City.
Harith encountered a jackal that jumped in front of his bike and while attempting to brake and maneuver around the animal, he crashed, resulting in significant swelling in his right hand. He got up and showed resilience, riding 20km more before withdrawing due to loss of grip strength and pain from the fall.
Harith had made a good start to the rally, finishing fifth in Prologue Stage of Rally 2 with a timing of 7:44.1s, marking his return to rally-raid after he had an injury-led exit at the Dakar Rally, earlier in January which required surgery to his wrist.
“Fortunately, it’s not the wrist that got injured this time. There was a lot of swelling in my right hand, and I just didn’t have the strength to hold the bike and ride, which forced me to stop,” said Harith from South Africa. “We don’t exactly know what the issue is yet, but nothing appears to be broken, which is a good sign. I’ll be getting an MRI today to check for any further damage”
Noah, who rides for the Sherco TVS Rally Factory team, is hopeful for a swift recovery and aims to return in time for the Baja España Aragón 2025 in Spain, scheduled from 25 to 27 July.
“The important thing is that we are safe. Even though it was just two days of riding, I learned a lot and feel like I have gained valuable experience. I definitely know what can be done and I know I will be back. Hopefully, this is just one step backward to take a bigger step forward,” said Harith.
The 2025 W2RC season features five rounds across three continents, pushing riders through a wide spectrum of terrains and conditions. The year kicked off with the legendary Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, followed by the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Now, the championship heads into uncharted territory with the debut of the South African Safari Rally. The final two rounds will take riders to Portugal for the BP Ultimate Rally Raid in September, before culminating with the iconic Rallye du Maroc in October. –
-Team Sportstar
SQUASH
HCL Doubles Squash Championship: Joshna Chinappa secures spots in women’s and mixed doubles finals
Velavan Senthilkumar (second from right) and Joshna Chinappa (second from left) during the mixed doubles semifinals at the National Doubles Squash Championship in Chennai on Thursday.
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R RAGU/THE HINDU
Velavan Senthilkumar (second from right) and Joshna Chinappa (second from left) during the mixed doubles semifinals at the National Doubles Squash Championship in Chennai on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
R RAGU/THE HINDU
Joshna Chinappa, the 19-time senior National women’s champion, is going strong at 38 years. The way she has been playing at the ongoing National doubles championships proves that she has another year or two of squash left in her.
On Thursday, the multiple Commonwealth and Asian Games medallist reached the National doubles finals in women’s doubles, along with Anahat Singh (as the top seed), and mixed doubles with Velavan Senthilkumar (as the second seed).
“Velavan is really solid. So, it makes my job easier. And Anahat, on the forehand, is equally strong. That is a huge difference,” said Joshna, at 106, the third-highest ranked Indian after Anahat (57) and Akanksha Salunkhe (71).
When asked whether she is looking forward to playing her fifth Asian Games in Japan next year, Joshna refused to be categorical. “I’ll take it month by month based on what tournaments are coming up. My targets are the Nationals because that’s, of course, the selection criteria for the Asian Games. Playing in the Asian Games is definitely a possibility.” she said.
RESULTS (Semifinals)
Men: Abhay Singh & Velavan Senthilkumar bt Rahul Baitha & Suraj Chand 11-4, 11-3.
Guhan Senthilkumar & Ravi Dixit bt Abhay S Vasudev & L. Meyyappan 11-2 11-4.
Women: Anahat Singh & Joshna Chinappa bt Nirupama Dubey & Shameena Riaz 11-10, 11-3; Pooja Arthi & S. Rathika bt Ananya Narayan & Anjali Semwal 11-6, 11-6.
Mixed: Abhay Singh & Anahat Singh bt Ravi Dixit & Janet Vidhi 11-6, 11-6.
Velavan Senthilkumar & Joshna Chinappa bt Sandhesh P.R and Shameena Riaz 11-4, 11-4.
-K. Keerthivasan
SHOOTING
Shotgun national selection trials: Bhavtegh takes lead, world record holder Angad second
World University skeet champion Bhavtegh Singh Gill shot 73 out of 75 to take the lead ahead of World Cup gold medallist Mairaj Ahmad Khan (72) and world record holder Angad Vir Singh Bajwa (71) in the second Shotgun National selection trials at the Dr. Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad, on Thursday.
Bhavtegh shot 24, 24 and 25 in the three rounds. Two more rounds will be shot on Friday, and the top six will compete in the final.
Rituraj Bundela and Smit Singh were also on 71, while Asian Games silver medallist Anantjeet Singh Naruka had shot 70, following rounds of 23, 25 and 22.
In women’s skeet, Maheshwari Chauhan led with 69, one point ahead of World Cup medallist Ganemat Sekhon. Parinaaz Dhaliwal (67) and Darshna Rathore (66) were close on heel behind the leaders.
-Kamesh Srinivasan
ISFF Junior World Cup: Raiza wins women’s skeet silver
Olympian Raiza Dhillon won the women’s skeet silver as she was beaten 53-51 by Phoebe Bodley-Scott of Britain
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Getty Images
Olympian Raiza Dhillon won the women’s skeet silver as she was beaten 53-51 by Phoebe Bodley-Scott of Britain
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Olympian Raiza Dhillon won the women’s skeet silver as she was beaten 53-51 by Phoebe Bodley-Scott of Britain in the Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany, on Thursday.
It was a commendable fare from Raiza as she fought hard for the gold till the end, after having conceded a three-point lead to the Briton after 40 of the 60 birds in the final. Raiza missed only one of the last 20 birds, but the Briton nosed ahead.
India stayed on top of the table with a gold and two silver medals.
India was unlucky not to win another medal in mixed air pistol, as Urva Chaudhary and Chirag Sharma lost out on the chance to fight for the gold or any medal, after being tied with three other teams, Ukraine, Chinese Taipei and Italy on 576 in the second place.
India eventually placed fifth owing to its inferior score of 14 inner-10s, while the other teams qualified to play for the medals with 15x and 16x.
The results:
10m mixed air pistol: 1. China (Jin Bohan, Zhang Yingtao) 16 (579); 2. Ukraine (Yulia Isachenko, Maksym HImon) 14 (576); 3. Italy (Alessandra Fait, Francesco Rutigliani) 16 (576); 4. Chinese Taipei (Yen-Ching Cheng, Hsiang-Chen Hsieh) 10 (576); 5. India (Urva Chaudhary, Chirag Sharma) 576; India-2 (Sanskriti Bana, Pushpender Singh) 560.
Skeet: Junior women: 1. Phoebe Bodley-Scott (GBR) 53 (116); 2. Raiza Dhillon 51 (116); 3. Annabella Hettmer (Ger) 38 (116); 15. Vanshika Tiwari 109; 19. Yashasvi Rathore 106; 28. Mohika Sisodiya 100.
-Kamesh Srinivasan
TENNIS
Junior Davis Cup: India beats Indonesia 2-0
India beat Indonesia 2-0 in the positional play-off for the 9th to 16th place in the Asia-Oceania Junior Davis Cup under-16 boys tennis tournament in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, on Thursday.
India will next play New Zealand in the play off for the 9th to 12th places.
Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea and China won their quarterfinals against Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong and Australia, respectively to book their place in the World Group stage to be held later in Europe.
The results (9th place positional play-off)
India bt Indonesia 2-0 (Prateek Sheoran bt Rafa Manguinsong 6-2, 1-6, [10-6]; Tavish Pahwa bt Joachim Gunawan 6-3, 6-3).
-Kamesh Srinivasan
Men’s ITF tournament: Aryan Shah beats Argentina’s Cigarran in pre-quarterfinals
Aryan Shah outplayed Thiago Cigarran of Argentina 6-1, 6-2 in the pre-quarterfinals of the $30,000 ITF men’s tennis tournament in Coquimbo, Chile.
In the €91,250 Challenger in Skopje, North Macedonia, Rithvik Bollipalli and Vijay Sundar Prashanth scored a thrilling 6-7(4), 7-5, [10-8] victory over Neil Oberleitner and David Pichler in the doubles quarterfinals. Sriram Balaji also made the doubles semifinals with MIguel Reyes-Varela.
Results
€91,250 Challenger, Skopje, North Macedonia Doubles (quarterfinals): Sriram Balaji & Miguel Reyes-Varela (Mex) bt Alexander Donski (Bul) 7 Sergio Gornes (Esp) 7-6(9), 7-5; Rithvik Bollipalli & Vijay Sundar Prashanth bt Neil Oberleitner & David Pichler (Aut) 6-7(4), 7-5, [10-8].
$60,000 Challenger, Tbilisi, Georgia Doubles (quarterfinals): Siddhant Banthia & Ramkumar Ramanathan bt Aleksandre Bakshi & Sergey Betov (Geo) 6-2, 3-6, [10-6].
$30,000 ITF men, Coquimbo, Chile Singles (pre-quarterfinals): Aryan Shah bt Thiago Cigarran (Arg) 6-1, 6-2.
$15,000 ITF men, Tashkent, Uzbekistan Singles (pre-quarterfinals): Karan Singh bt Damir Abdusamadov (Uzb) 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-2; Kriish Tyagi bt Aristarkh Safonov 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Aleksandr Lobanov bt Atharva Sharma 6-2, 6-1; First round: Karan bt Amir Milushev (Uzb) 7-6(3), 7-5; Kriish bt Adam Farag-Cao (Can) 7-6(5), 6-4.
Doubles (quarterfinal): Ishaque Eqbal & Nitin Kumar Sinha bt Alexey Aleshchev & Ivan Zaytsev 6-1, 7-5; Aleksandr Lobanov & Karan Singh bt Maan Kesharwani & Atharva Sharma 5-7, 6-3, [10-7].
$30,000 ITF women, Andong, Korea Singles (pre-quarterfinals): Janice Tjen (Ina) bt Vaidehi Chaudhari 6-2, 6-0.
Doubles (quarterfinals): BoYoung Jeong (Kor) & Janice Tjen (Ina) bt Rutuja Bhosale & Sohyun Park (Kor) 7-6(3), 7-5.
$30,000 ITF women, Orlando, USA Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Riya Bhatia & Elena-Teodora Cadar (Rou) bt Claire An & Monika Ekstrand (USA) 6-4, 6-4.
$30,000 ITF women, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Singles (second round): Ana Grubor (Can) bt Prathyusha Rachapudi 6-1, 6-4; Sara Dols (Esp) bt Ashmitha Easwaramurthi 6-0, 6-1.
Doubles (pre-quarterfinal): Haruna Arakawa (Jpn) & Mary Lewis (USA) bt Saumya Vig & Camilla Zanolini (Ita) 6-0, 6-3.
$15,000 ITF women, Tsaghkadzor, Armenia Doubles (quarterfinals): Aliine Yuneva & Valeriya Yushchenko bt Akanksha Nitture & Soha Sadiq 6-2, 6-4.
-Kamesh Srinivasan
