‘Training is going well, we’ll give our best,’ says Navdeep Singh ahead of World Para-Athlete Championships

Gleneagles (Scotland), July 25 (IANS) Jeev Milkha Singh, who was tied 12th after the first round, made the cut at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open after seeming to be in danger at times. Jeev shot 8-over 78 in tough conditions at the Gleneagles Hotel after being bogey free 67 in the first round.

At 5-over, he was tied at 69th as the Top-70 and ties made the weekend rounds. Also making the cut was Jyoti Randhawa, who, after a 72, added 73 to be 5-over in the same T-69th place.

It was a day when nobody went bogey-free, with wind adding to the firm and fast conditions; the King’s Course was a much tougher proposition than it had been on Thursday.

Cameron Percy will take a three-shot lead into the weekend of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open after a brilliant back nine of 33 in challenging weather conditions. The Australian entered day two with a one-shot lead and extended that advantage with a two-under 68 to get to nine under par, three ahead of American Jerry Kelly.

Kelly matched Percy’s lowest round of the day with a 68 to sit at six under, two shots clear of a pair of Open Champions in Ernie Els and Henrik Stenson and Austria’s Markus Brier.

Percy looked like he too could fall victim to the layout with bogeys on the fifth and eighth before a birdie on the ninth steadied the ship. A chip-in on the 13th then sparked an excellent closing run and further gains on the 14th and last saw the 52-year-old regain his position at the top of the leaderboard.

Percy has yet to claim a senior win since turning 50 in May 2024, but he has made all 81 of his cuts on the Champions Tour and in 2025 finished in the top ten at this event, the Senior PGA Championship and the U.S. Senior Open.

Frenchman Lionel Alexandre and American Matt Gogel were at three under, one ahead of 2023 Senior Open champion Alex Cejka, 1993 Ryder Cupper Peter Baker, South Africa’s Darren Fichardt, Australian Michael Wright and American duo Taggart Ridings and Tom Penrice Jr, with just 16 players under par.

–IANS

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Chennai, Sep 27 (IANS) Defending champion Hemanth Muddappa underlined his dominance once again, starting the new season with three wins from four starts in the opening round of the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship, powered by Vamcy Merla Sports Foundation, at the Madras International Circuit here on Saturday.

The Bengaluru ace picked up victories in the Super Sport 4-stroke 551–850cc, 851–1050cc, and 1051–1650cc categories, extending his supremacy in the classes where he already holds National titles.

The day also belonged to a set of fresh and hungry challengers. Mumbai businessman Hanuman Pawshe made an instant impact by winning the premier Unrestricted Super Sport category on debut, clocking a blistering 8.055 seconds. The 38-year-old, who turns a year older on Monday, called the victory “the perfect early birthday gift.” Beating former champion and teammate Alimon Saidalvi in a nail-biting contest, Pawshe was also crowned the Fastest Rider of Round 1.

“It was my first outing in the drag nationals, and to walk away with the win against such strong names is a dream,” Pawshe said.

There was plenty of joy for Mumbai as well, with Shahrukh Khan of Mantra Racing bagging a double by clinching both the 361–550cc single and twin-cylinder classes in the Indian bike segment. His consistent pace earned him the award for the Fastest Rider of the Day among Indian machines.

Bengaluru’s Syed Imran, representing Fast Track Racing India, was another standout. The youngster picked up two victories in the 2-stroke categories (up to 130cc and 131–165cc). The performance also helped his team bag honours, with Syed Mateen being adjudged the Best Tuner of the opening round.

Among the women, debutant MS Lapis Lazuli from Nagercoil made a strong start by winning the girls’ Super Stock (65cc) race ahead of Hyderabad’s Shanti Chandra.

Round 2 of the championship is scheduled for Sunday at the same venue.

Round results (Provisional – all 4-Stroke unless mentioned):

Unrestricted (Super Sport): 1. Hanuman Pawshe (Mumbai, Fast Track Racing India) (08.055 secs); 2. Alimon (Bengaluru, Fast Track Racing) (08.232s); 3. Niranjan R Kumar (Bengaluru, pvt) (08.235s).

1051cc – 1650cc (Super Sport): 1. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) (08.202s); 2. Mujahid Pasha (Bengaluru, Fast Track Racing) (08.275s); 3. HV Sumanth (Bengaluru, Pvt) (09.061s).

851cc – 1050cc (SS): 1. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) (08.173s); 2. Niranjan R Kumar (Bengaluru, pvt) (08.267s); 3. Hanuman Pawshe (Mumbai, Fast Track Racing India) (08.447s).

551cc – 850cc (SS): 1. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) (08.471s); 2. Adithya Acharya (Bengaluru, pvt.) (09.356).

Girls (Super Stock Up to 165cc): 1. MS Lapis Lazuli (Nagarcoil, Team C2 Racing) (16.629s); 2. Shanti Chandra (Hyderabad, Team C2 Racing) (17.122s).

361cc – 550cc Single Cylinder (SS Indian): 1. Shahrukh Khan (Mumbai, Mantra Racing) (12.672s); 2. Abhishekk Shinde (Bengaluru, Fast Track Racing India) (12.846s); 3. Mujahid Pasha (Bengaluru, Fast Track Racing India) (12.944s).

361cc – 550cc Twin Cylinder (SS Indian): 1. Shahrukh Khan (Mumbai, Mantra Racing) (11.821s); 2. Jason D’Souza (Mumbai, Mantra Racing) (12.052s); 3. Abhishek Shinde (Bengaluru, Fast Track Racing India) (12.976s).

166cc – 225cc (SS): 1. Ali Hussain (Mumbai, pvt) (13.656s); 2. Govardhan R (Chennai, Team 99 Racing) (13.983s); 3. Prasanth K (Chennai, Team 99 Racing) (14.063).

Up to 165cc (SS Indian): 1. Abdul Shaikh (Mumbai, pvt) (14.332s); 2. Madhan Kumar R (Chennai, ACCSYS India Rockers Racing team) (14.345s); 3. Prasanth K (Chennai, Team 99 Racing) (14.483s).

2-Stroke 131cc – 165cc (SS): 1. Syed Imran (Bengaluru, Fast Track Racing) (13.130s); 2. Farvez Ali (Bengaluru, Pvt) (13.381s); 3. Mohammed Touheed (Bengaluru, pvt) (13.448s).

2S Up to 130cc (SS): 1. Syed Imran (Bengaluru, Fast Track Racing India) (13.543s); 2. Shahrukh Khan (Mumbai, Pvt) (13.708s); 3. Balasubramanian (Chrompet, Chennai, pvt) (14.072s).

–IANS

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London, July 29 (IANS) India head coach Gautam Gambhir found himself at the centre of an unexpected controversy on Tuesday after a verbal altercation with The Oval’s pitch curator, Lee Fortis, during India’s optional training session ahead of the fifth and final Test against England.

According to reports, the confrontation occurred in the nets when Indian bowlers were marking their run-up areas. Gambhir, known for his intense on-field persona, was seen shouting at Fortis in full public view.

The exact cause of the dispute remains unclear. The exchange quickly escalated before India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak intervened. Kotak stepped in to pull Fortis away, while Gambhir, visibly agitated, continued the argument from a distance.

The tension comes just two days before the series decider, with India trailing England 1-2. The team had arrived in London on Monday after a spirited draw in Manchester and had attended a reception hosted by the Indian High Commission.

Despite the confrontation at the nets, Gambhir remained focused on the task ahead. Speaking at the event, he acknowledged the high stakes of the final Test: “Both teams have thrown a lot of punches and have fought for every inch. We have got one more week to go, one final push to make and one more opportunity to make our country and people out here proud.”

Tensions have simmered throughout the series, spilling over on multiple occasions. It began at Lord’s, where Shubman Gill visibly expressed his displeasure at England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett arriving nearly 90 seconds late for their second innings.

The drama peaked in Manchester, where England, sensing an inevitable draw, offered to end play early. However, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar declined, both approaching personal milestones. Their decision didn’t sit well with Ben Stokes and his teammates, triggering a verbal spat on the field.

–IANS

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