Indian sports wrap, January 24: Indian GM Iniyan wins title in Malaysia

CHESS

GM Iniyan wins Johor International Open Chess title in Malaysia

Indian Grandmaster Iniyan Panneerselvam clinched the 9th Johor International Open chess tournament title in Malaysia with a dominating performance.

The 22-year-old from Erode in Tamil Nadu accumulated 8.5 points in nine games. He finished 1.5 points ahead of his nearest rival, winning against four International Masters and one Grandmaster.

The nine-round tournament, which ended on Thursday, had 84 participants from eight countries, out of which 24 were titled players.

In fact, at the end of the penultimate round where he beat Indonesian IM Nayaka Budhidharma, Iniyan had already secured the title as he was 1.5 points ahead in the points table.

Iniyan beat Vietnamese GM Nguyen Van Huy in the final round in an impressive performance.

Indian IM VS Raahul and Chinese IM Li Bo finished second and third respectively.

Iniyan, who had won the Chennai Open earlier in January, secured 15 rating points from the title win.

– PTI

SQUASH

Ghoshal, Shameena emerge WSC Open champs

Saurav Ghoshal and Shameena Riaz, both representing Tamil Nadu, emerged the men’s and women’s champions, respectively, in the four-star Willingdon Sports Club Squash Classic Open 2025, which concluded at the WSC Squash courts.

Ghoshal, the 39-year-old former Indian squash star, retired from international tournaments, dispatched off the top seed Suraj Chand of the Jindal Squash Academy, Vashind 11-3, 11-2, 11-2.

The younger and, probably fitter Chand was never a given a chance by Ghoshal to engage in long rallies as the former ace kept finding the corners with incredible accuracy to close points and finish off the match in short time.

The women’s final, though a bit longer and with its moments, was still a one sided affair between the two unseeded players, with Shamima getting the better of Maharashtra’s Akanksha Gupta 11-7, 11-8, 11-4.

Tamil Nadu players had further success, with Sandesh P R and Shiven Agarwal winning the Boys U-19 and U-17 titles respectively. While Sandesh P R rallied after a shaky start to get the better of UP’s Karan Yadav 5-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-9, Shiven Agarwal was given a fight for his money by Maharashtra’s Jigar Rambhia. Rambhia, who trains and plays at the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana went toe to toe with Agarwal, before losing steam in the decider to go down 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7.

Results (all finals):

Men: Saurav Ghoshal (TN) bt Suraj Chand (Mah) (1) 11-3, 11-2, 11-2

Women: Shamima Riaz (TN) bt Akanksha Gupta (Mah) 11-7, 11-8, 11-4.

Boys U-19: Sandesh P R (TN) bt Karan Yadav (UP) 5-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-9.

Boys U-17 final: Shiven Agarwal (TN) bt Purav Rambhia (Mah) 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7.

-Team Sportstar

FOOTBALL

Chennaiyin FC signs Maheson Singh Tongbram

Maheson Singh Tongbram signs for Chennaiyin FC.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

ISL club Chennaiyin FC confirmed the signing of Maheson Singh Tongbram on Friday.

Maheson, a talented defensive midfielder from Manipur, has been a standout in India’s age-group teams, playing a key role in the U-15 squad’s 2019 SAFF U-15 Championship triumph and later contributing to the U-20 team’s 2022 SAFF U-20 Championship victory. 

– Team Sportstar

India loses to Syria in Mandiri U20 Challenge Series opener

The India U20 men’s team lost 1-6 to Syria in the first match of the Mandiri U20 Challenge Series at the Gelora Delta Stadium in Sidoarjo, Indonesia, on Friday, January 24, 2025.

Hosts Indonesia and Jordan, who will meet later on Friday, are the other teams in the four-nation friendly tournament. India will face Jordan in their second match on January 27.

Lining up with nine under-17 players, India struggled to match the speed and physicality of the more experienced Syrian side, who had 2005-born players on the pitch and are preparing for the AFC U20 Asian Cup at full swing. For Biby Thomas’ side, Manbhakupar Malngiang scored the lone consolation goal in the 64th minute, a well-crafted goal that the Blue Colts can take heart from.

Anas Hussam Dahhan opened the scoring in the fourth minute by drilling a right-footed shot into the bottom corner. Majd Manaf Ramadan made it two in the 15th minute as he twisted and turned in the box before unleashing a fierce strike straight into the top corner.

India created a few half chances of their own, mainly from set pieces. The first of those came in the 19th minute when Ahongshangbam Samson headed Md Arbash’s free-kick on target but it was blocked by the Syrian defence. Indian centre-back Mukul Panwar then saw two of his headers go wide from two free-kick deliveries by Arbash and Levis Zangminlun.

Syria then added two more goals in the latter stages of the first half.

In the 37th minute, Hassan Abdulaziz Al Mahmoud slotted in a cutback from the left by Mahmoud Hasan Al Omar. Then at the stroke of half-time, Syria made it 4-0 on the counter as Homam Mahmoud raced towards goal before laying the ball for Dahhan, who passed it into the net from two yards out.

The West Asians started the second half in blistering fashion again, with Homam Mahmoud beating goalkeeper Aheibam Suraj Singh from eight yards out in the 49th minute before getting another in the 63rd with a powerful strike onto the roof of the net.

Less than a minute later, India’s only goal of the match arrived via the right boot of Manbhakupar Malngiang as a result of a combined effort from the front three. It all started near the left touchline as Samson released striker Bharat Lairenjam, who had drifted wide towards the flank. He meticulously hooked a ball across the face of the goal for Malngiang, who side-footed a first-time shot into the net to ensure India didn’t come out empty-handed.

There could’ve been another a few minutes later when substitute Laishram Danny Meitei’s curling free-kick was headed towards the far post by Bharat, but Amr Mohamad Tahseen Sweidan dished out a solid save at full stretch to deny the India striker.

-Team Sportstar

TENNIS

NECC $75,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament to start from Jan 26

Darja Semenistaja of Latvia will be the top seed in the NECC $75,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament to be played at the Deccan Gymkhana courts from January 26 to February 1.

The tournament has grown from a $5000 event in 2001 to the current stature in its 24th edition, backed by the same sponsor, National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), all along.

“Next year, we plan to celebrate the silver jubilee of the tournament by upgrading it to a $100,000 event,” said the secretary of the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA), Sunder Iyer.

“The event enjoys the distinction of being one of the longest-running international tournaments in the world with the same sponsor NECC, after the initiative by Mrs. Anurdha Desai 24 years ago,” said the Tournament Director, Vikrant Sane.

Emma Raducanu, Aryna Sabalenka, Bojana Jovanovski, Magda Linette, Kateryna Bondarenko, Moyuka Uchijima are some of the champions of this tournament who had gone on to become Grand Slam champions or make it to the top 50 of the world.

Sara Bejlek, Panna Udvardy, Kathinka von Deichmann, Arianne Harotono, Laura Pigossi and Lanlana Tararudee will be the other players in the seedings list in the current edition.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

ITF junior tennis: Arjun beats Damir in semis to keep Indian hopes alive

Arjun Rathi kept the Indian hopes alive by beating Damir Zhalgasbay of Kazakhstan 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals of the ITF junior tennis tournament at the Bengal Tennis Association Complex on Friday.

In the final, Arjun will play Jan Chlodnicki of Poland. The girls final will be between Victoria Milovanova and Polina Kuharenko.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

ITF Men’s Tennis: Qualifier Manas loses against Italy’s Tabacco in pre-quarters

Qualifier Manas Dhamne was beaten 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 by Fausto Tabacco of Italy in the pre-quarterfinals of the $15,000 ITF men’s tennis tournament in Manacor, Spain.

Manas also made the doubles semifinals with Rocco Piatti.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

SHOOTING

Digvijay Singh shotgun championship: Rituraj wins gold

Rituraj Singh Bundela beat Gurjoat Khangura 19-18 in the shoot-off for the gold after the two were tied on 55 in the men’s skeet final of the third Digvijay Singh shotgun championship at the Madhya Pradesh Academy on Friday.

It was a commendable fare from Rituraj, who had qualified in sixth place with 118, after winning the shoot-off against world record holder Angad Vir Singh Bajwa.

Asian Games silver medallist, Olympian Anantjeet Singh Naruka won the bronze ahead of qualification topper Mairaj Ahmad Khan (123), Harmehar Singh Lally and Abhay Singh Sekhon.

World University championship gold medallist and the reigning national champion Bhavtegh Singh Gill shot 116 and missed the final by two points.

In the women’s section, Ganemat Sekhon beat qualification topper Raiza Dhillon (118) 56-53 for the gold. Darshna Rathore won the bronze ahead of Karttiki Singh Shaktawat, Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Mansi Raghuwanshi.

Olympian Maheshwari Chauhan was not in her best form, and shot 105 for the 11th place.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

MORE SPORTS

Telangana’s Nayana completes hat-trick of golds at Khelo India Winter Games

At just 15, Nayana Sri Talluri of Telangana made history by winning a hat-trick of gold medals in speed skating at the Khelo India Winter Games after securing the first yellow metal of this edition on day 2 of the competition here on Friday.

Nayana, who clinched the same medal in the under-17 category last year, dominated the women’s 500m short track event, clocking 1:01.35 seconds. She left competitors from Karnataka and Maharashtra behind, continuing her winning streak from KIWG 2023 in Gulmarg.

“It’s been a hat-trick of golds for me since I won in Gulmarg in 2023. I feel super great about it,” Nayana told SAI Media.

Nayana’s success is a result of building on her growing experience. She had bagged two golds in KIWG 2024, which featured both under-17 and 17-plus categories, and went on to win a 3000m women’s relay gold at the 2024 Asian Open Short Track Speed Skating Championship in Jakarta.

“(In Jakarta), there were participants from different countries, which is great, but playing in our own country feels entirely different. This year, I’m back on the ice for the first time, and it’s a nostalgic feeling to be back in Ladakh,” she said.

Tamil Nadu’s Guru Harshan H, 14, had a strong debut in his first long track KIWG race, finishing second.

Harshan trailed Karnataka’s Harshith K, who clinched the second gold of the day at Gupuks Pond, with Haryana’s Sachin Singh taking the third place.

Though Harshan had a solid showing, Ladakh’s thin air affected his performance.

“I could not give my best,” Harshan said, adding that the Gupuk surface was also tough to manage, as he is accustomed to skating on artificial ice.

In 2019, Harshan bagged a bronze in the under-10 category Open event organised by the Ice Skating Association of India.

Harshan also participated in the third Khelo India Winter Games at Gulmarg in short-track speed skating in 2023.

The ice-hockey competition is also turning out to be a learning curve for teams like Haryana, Maharashtra, Chandigarh and Rajasthan.

The top teams like Army, ITBP and Ladakh have so far had a smooth sailing in the competition.

-PTI

SWIMMING

Den Den Sea Swimming Championship 2025: Over 200 swimmers set to participate in Mangalore

Over 200 swimmers are set to participate in the second edition of the Den Den Sea Swimming Championship on January 26, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Over 200 swimmers are set to participate in the second edition of the Den Den Sea Swimming Championship at the Mangalore Surf Club Beach on Sunday, January 26.

The event, which promises to be bigger than last year, will feature five categories ranging from 250 meters to 6 km, attracting participants from a wide range of age groups and skill levels. The championship will be organised by Mangalore Surf Club.

The event’s unique charm lies in the race around the sunken Den Den vessel, which has become an iconic landmark since it sank in 2007.

This year’s championship has drawn an impressive field of 214 swimmers, double the number of last year’s participants, hailing from across the country.

– Team Sportstar

PICKLEBALL

Fourth Pickleball Nationals: Ruhela to meet Mehta in men’s singles final

op seed Aditya Ruhela crushed fourth-seed Ritesh Jaiswal 15-0 while Harsh Mehta trounced Nishaan Singh 15-2 to set up a title clash in the singles final of the Open Men’s category at the fourth IPA National Pickleball Championship here on Friday.

Ruhela, who had come into the semis with an 11-3 win over fifth-seed Ravi Ranjan, faced fourth-seed Jaiswal in the race to the top two and didn’t give his opponent any space and won without conceding a point.

Mehta, on the other hand, stunned second-seeded Anahat Mudgil 11-6 in the quarters and then went on to beat 18th-seeded Nishaan in a one-sided contest.

Jaiswal then pipped Nishaan in a close 15-14 encounter to finish third in the category.

In the PRO Open women’s singles, third-seeded Rakshikha Ravi put up a dominating performance against fourth-seed Himaanshika Singh, and went on to beat her 15-6 to book a berth in the final.

In the other semifinal, fifth seed Amrita Mukherjee beat sixth-seeded Punji Rawal by the same margin to ensure a summit showdown against Ravi. Rawal then beat Himaanshika 15-10 to finish third in the category.

– PTI