KIPG 2025: Paralympian Akash wins shooting thriller; Haryana leads medal tally with TN, UP in pursuit

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) In a thrilling battle between Paralympians at the Dr. Karni Shooting Range, Uttar Pradesh’s Akash won the gold medal in the mixed 50m pistol SH1 category ahead of Paris 2024 Paralympian Rudransh Khandelwal of Rajasthan at the Khelo India Para Games 2025 here on Tuesday.

The Khelo India Para Games (KIPG) shooting competition came to an end with Rajasthan topping the medal tally with nine medals that included four gold medals and two silver. Uttar Pradesh (four medals with two gold) and Maharashtra (three medals with two gold) finished second and third in the shooting standings.

With two days of competition left in this edition of the Khelo India Para Games, a total of 166 gold medals have been decided by the end of Day 6 on Tuesday. Haryana (95 medals with 30 gold) has a healthy lead over No. 2 Tamil Nadu (67 with 25 gold) and Uttar Pradesh (54 medals with 22 gold). Rajasthan has 60 medals, with 22 gold medals, but has two fewer silver medals than UP, who have 18.

Khandelwal, who had earlier claimed the gold medal in the men’s 10m air pistol SH1, suffered a loss on Tuesday after his pistol malfunctioned at a critical juncture of the final. It gave 2020 Tokyo Paralympian Akash a clear advantage, and the Uttar Pradesh shooter pipped Tamil Nadu’s Sanjeev Kumar for the gold. Akash maintained his cool and scored 15.7 in his final two shots to maintain a lead of 0.2 to take the top spot.

Speaking after the win, Akash, who hails from Khedki village in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, said that he was focused on his own game and was elated to win the gold medal. “I am happy to win the Gold medal here at the Khelo India Para Games. This is the first major step for me as I begin my journey towards Paralympics 2028 in Los Angeles, and winning gold here will boost my confidence,” he said.

The 34-year-old Akash, who has had polio since the age of two, further equated Khelo India Para Games with ‘sanjeevani’, the mythical herb from ‘Ramayana’. “Khelo India Para Games has given us a new lease of life like ‘sanjeevani booti’. We are getting motivated and have a chance to develop. People are also recognising us as it is being broadcast live.”

Meanwhile, Khandelwal, who settled for a bronze, expressed satisfaction with his overall performance. “I am very proud of my performance at the second edition of the Khelo India Para Games. There was a malfunction in my weapon today while I was loading it. This incident was not intentional, and such malfunctions can sometimes occur. The matches were tough, but I played well and in accordance with my skillset. So, I am happy with the overall result.”

The day also saw powerlifters in action at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium complex. Five more categories were concluded, and Tamil Nadu’s Kasthuri Rajamani, who won gold in the last edition of the Khelo India Para Games in December 2023, clinched her second KIPG gold by emerging winner in the women’s 67kg category on Tuesday.

Another former Khelo India Para Games gold medallist, Sumit Kumar, also defended his title in the men’s 97 kg weight category.

Table tennis action got underway at the Indira Gandhi Stadium complex. The seven-time national champion Shubham Wadhwa from Punjab advanced to the next round after beating Karnataka’s Jaganath HM in straight sets.

–IANS

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WTT Star Contender Chennai: Sharath Kamal show continues, four Indians reach Round of 16

Chennai, March 28 (IANS) Five-time Olympian Achanta Sharath Kamal rolled back the years with a straight games win over tenth seed Nicholas Lum at the WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025 on Friday. Sharath led three more Indians into the Round of 16 after Manav Thakkar and Snehit Suravajjula progressed in Men’s Singles while Krittwika Roy advanced from Women’s Singles.

The WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025 boasts 600 ranking points for winners and a USD 275,000 prize purse, with top global paddlers in action.

Playing an opponent 23 years younger in Men’s Singles, Sharath displayed unmatched wit and vision by using Lum’s agility and momentum against him, eventually taking the first two games by identical 11-8 scorelines. Unleashing devastating finishers on both his forehand and backhand, Sharath opened a five-point lead in the third game, before finishing Lum off with a scintillating down-the-line backhand smash.

The 42-year-old will play his usual Men’s Doubles partner Snehit in the Round of 16 on Saturday after the youngster came from two games down to stage a remarkable comeback win against seventh seed Yukiya Uda of Japan.

Earlier in the day, Manav Thakkar kept his hopes of silverware alive with a confident win against eleventh seed Finn Luu in Men’s Singles. Thakkar and Luu exchanged games early, but the former gained the upper hand early in the third game and retained his lead until the end of a 3-1 win.

In Women’s Singles, Indian wildcard Krittwika pulled off a thrilling victory over tenth seed Sreeja Akula in the Round of 32, emerging triumphant in a five-game battle 3-2 to book her spot in the next round.

Elsewhere, the top two seeds in men’s and women’s singles, Tomokazu Harimoto, Hugo Calderano, Hina Hayata, and Miwa Harimoto, all advanced to the Round of 16. Harimoto overcame Maharu Yoshimura in a hard-fought encounter, while Calderano battled back to beat Ho Kwan Kit 3-1. Hina Hayata dispatched Li Yu-Jhun 3-0, and Miwa Harimoto earned a straightforward win over Yeh Yi-Tian.

The Men’s Doubles semifinals at WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025 saw top seeds Tomokazu Harimoto and Sora Matsushima edge past Wong Chun Ting and Chan Baldwin in a five-game thriller, winning 3-2.

Meanwhile, Korea Republic’s Lim Jong-hoon and An Jae-hyun defeated India’s Wildcard duo of Sharath and Snehit 3-1. In Women’s Doubles, Miwa Harimoto and Miyuu Kihara ousted top seeds Satsuki Odo and Sakura Yokoi 3-0, while Korea Republic’s Shin Yu-bin and Ryu Hanna advanced with a 3-0 win over Joo Cheonhui and Miyu Nagasaki.

WTT Star Contender 2025 Presented By IndianOil will continue with the Main Draw on Saturday across all five categories, with Finals scheduled for Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles. Meanwhile, all the action from Table 1 will be streamed live on SonyLiv and Tables 2, 3, and 4 on WTT’s official YouTube channel.

Full Results (Main Draw, Day 2)

Men’s Singles (Round of 32): Manav Thakkar (IND) Vs. Finn Luu (AUS) [11] 3-1: 11-4, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8; Achanta Sharath Kamal (IND) Vs. Nicholas Lum (AUS) [10] 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-9; Omar Assar (EGY) [5] Vs. Kwan Man Ho (HKG) [Q] 3-1: 4-11, 11-7, 11-3, 12-10; Andre Bertelsmeier (GER) Vs. An Jae-hyun (KOR) [6] 3-1: 13-11, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10; Flavien Coton (FRA) Vs. Alvaro Robles (ESP) [9] 3-1: 11-1, 11-3, 6-11, 13-11; Tomislav Pucar (CRO) [15] Vs. Yuta Tanaka (JPN) 3-1: 11-8, 12-10, 10-12, 11-8; Sora Matsushima (JPN) [8] Vs. Payas Jain (IND) [Q] 3-1: 11-5, 11-1, 10-12, 11-7; Feng Yi-Hsin (TPE) Vs. Quadri Aruna (NIG) [4] 3-0: 13-11, 11-8, 11-8; Jonathan Groth (DEN) [3] Vs. Harmeet Desai (IND) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 12-10; Thibault Poret (FRA) Vs. Hwan Bae (AUS) [14] 3-0: 18-16, 11-7, 11-7; Snehit Suravajjula (IND) [WC] Vs. Yukiya Uda (JPN) [7] 8-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-7, 12-10; Lim Jong-hoon (KOR) [16] Vs. Manush Shah (IND) [WC] 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-7; Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN) [1] Vs. Maharu Yoshimura (JPN) 3-2: 11-3, 11-3, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9; Liao Cheng-Ting (TPE) Vs. Won Chin Ting (HKG) [13] 3-2: 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 5-11, 11-8′ Oh Junsung (KOR) [12] Vs. Chan Baldwin (HKG) 3-1: 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 14-12; Hugo Calderano (BRA) [2] Vs. Ho Kwan Kit [Q] 3-1: 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9

Women’s Singles (Round of 32): Miyuu Kihara (IND) [7] Vs. Kavya Bhatt (IND) [Q] 3-0: 11-3, 11-9, 11-5; Lee Eun-hye (KOR) [16] Vs. Debora Vivarelli (ITA) 3-2: 12-10, 5-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9; Huang Yu-Jie (TPE) Vs. Manika Batra (IND) [9] 3-1: 11-7, 12-10, 7-11, 11-9; Joo Cheonhui (KOR) [11] Vs. Ayhika Mukherjee (IND) 3-0: 16-14, 11-4, 11-5; Satsuki Odo (JPN) [3] Vs. Zeng Jian (SGP) 3-2: 11-3, 4-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9; Kim Na-yeong (KOR) Vs. Doo Hoi Kem (HKG) [15] 3-2: 10-12, 11-7, 11-5, 3-11, 11-6; Shin Yu-bin (KOR) [4] Vs. Divyanshi Bhowmick (IND) [Q] 3-1: 11-13, 11-4, 11-7, 12-10; Adriana Diaz (PUR) [6] Vs. Syndrela Das (IND) [Q] 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-6; Yuan Wan (GER) Vs. Cheng I-Ching (TPE) [5] 3-2: 11-8, 12-14, 6-11, 11-5, 12-10; Huang Yi-Hua (TPE) [12] Vs. Jee Minhyung (AUS) 3-0: 12-10, 11-2, 11-8; Krittwika Roy [WC] Vs. Sreeja Akula (IND) [10] 3-2: 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 4-11, 11-7; Miwa Harimoto (JPN) [2] Vs. Yeh Yi-Tian (TPE) 3-0: 11-9, 12-10, 11-8; Miyu Nagasaki (JPN) [8] Vs. Zhu Chengzhu (HKG) 3-1: 12-10, 11-3, 9-11, 11-3; Honoka Hashimoto (JPN) [13] Vs. Jieni Shao (POR) 3-0: 11-0, 11-3, 11-6; Sakura Yokoi (JPN) [14] Vs. Diya Chitale (IND) [WC] 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-6; Hina Hayata (JPN) [1] Vs. Li Yu-Jhun (TPE) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 11-6

Men’s Doubles (Quarterfinals): Wong Chun Ting (HKG)/Chan Baldwin (HKG) Vs. Yiu Kwan To (HKG)/Ho Kwan Kit (HKG) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5; Achanta Sharath Kamal (IND)/Snehit Suravajjula (IND) [WC] Vs. Manush Shah (IND)/Manav Thakkar (IND) [2] 3-2: 11-9, 9-11, 6-11, 11-8, 14-12; Lim Jong-hoon (KOR)/An Jae-hyun (KOR) [3] Vs. Esteban Dorr (FRA)/Thibault Poret (FRA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-2; Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN)/Sora Matsushima (JPN) [1] Vs. Hwan Bae (AUS)/Flavien Coton (FRA) [Q] 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-8

Semifinals: Lim Jong-hoon (KOR)/An Jae-hyun (KOR) [3] Vs. Achanta Sharath Kamal (IND)/Snehit Suravajjula (IND) [WC] 3-1: 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6; Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN)/Sora Matsushima (JPN) [1] Vs. Wong Chun Ting (HKG)/Chan Baldwin (HKG) 3-2: 11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 11-7;

Women’s Doubles (Quarterfinals): Miwa Harimoto (JPN)/Miyuu Kihara (JPN) [3] Vs. Diya Chitale (IND)/Yashaswini Ghorpade (IND) 3-0: 11-2, 11-3, 11-2; Satsuki Odo (JPN)/Sakura Yokoi (JPN) [1] Vs. Sreeja Akula (IND)/Swastika Ghosh (IND) [WC] 3-0: 11-3, 12-10, 11-8; Shin Yu-bin (KOR)/Rya Hanna (KOR) [Q] Vs. Zhu Chengzhu (HKG)/NG Wing Lam (HKG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-3; Joo Cheonhui (KOR)/Miyu Nagasaki (JPN) [4] Vs. Barbora Balazova (SVK)/Jee Minhyung (AUS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-9

Semifinals: Shin Yu-bin (KOR)/Ryu Hanna (KOR) [Q] Vs. Joo Cheonhui (KOR)/Miyu Nagasaki (JPN) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 13-11; Miwa Harimoto (JPN)/Miyuu Kihara (JPN) [3] Vs. Satsuki Odo (JPN)/Sakura Yokoi (JPN) [1] 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 11-8;

Mixed Doubles (Quarterfinals): Wong Chun Ting (HKG)/Doo Hoi Kem (HKG) [1] Vs. Hwan Bae (AUS)/Barbora Balazova (SVK) 3-0: 11-1, 11-7, 12-10; Maharu Yoshimura (JPN)/Satsuki Odo (JPN) [Q] Vs. Sora Matsushima (JPN)/Miwa Harimoto (JPN) 3-2: 2-11, 11-9, 11-4, 10-12, 11-5; Lim Jong-hoon (KOR)/Shin Yu-bin (KOR) [2] Vs. Chan Baldwin (HKG)/Zhu Chengzhu (HKG) [Q] 3-1: 12-10, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8; Manush Shah (IND)/Diya Chitale (IND) [4] Vs. Akash Pal (IND)/Poymantee Baisya (IND) [Q] 3-1: 13-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-5

Semifinals: Lim Jong-hoon (KOR)/Shin Yu-bin (KOR) [2] Vs. Manush Shah (IND)/Diya Chitale (IND) [4] 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-3; Maharu Yoshimura (JPN)/Satsuki Odo (JPN) [Q] Vs Wong Chun Ting (HKG)/Doo Hoi Kem (HKG) [1] 3-2: 11-4, 11-2, 6-11, 5-11, 11-7.

–IANS

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Tottenham set to sign striker Mathys Tel on loan from Bayern Munich: Report

London, Feb 3 (IANS) Striker Mathys Tel is a man in demand as Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly beaten fellow Premier League sides to his signature as he will join the North London club on a loan deal, with no option to buy.

According to a report by Sky Germany, Tel is currently on his way to London with his agent to finalise the deals and sign the agreement with Tottenham which will see him join Spurs till the end of the 2024-25 season. Tel’s agent has posted an image on Instagram of the Bayern Munich teenager aboard a private plane heading for London.

The 19-year-old came through the ranks at Rennes and was signed by German giants Bayern in 2022 for a reported 28.5 million Euros.

Tel scored in Bayern’s 5-0 win over Viktoria Koln to become the youngest goalscorer for the club in a competitive match, aged 17 years and 126 days. Since then he has appeared 83 times for Bayern, scoring 16 times and providing seven assists.

Tel has been heavily chased after through the course of the January transfer window. Reports had earlier suggested last week that Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy was in Munich to try and materialize a deal but were rejected by the young striker. However, it is said that after long conversations with head coach Ange Postecoglou, he was persuaded to make the move to Spurs.

Alongside Spurs, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were said to be in Tel’s pursuit. Arsenal, who are in the market in hopes of signing a striker in hopes to bolster their frontline were said to be interested in securing his signature but the Gunners did not want to add an obligation to buy him in the summer, which did not work for Bayern who look to cash in on the talented forward.

–IANS

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Legend 90 League to kick off from Feb 6 in Raipur

Raipur, Jan 18 (IANS) The much-awaited Legend 90 League, featuring cricket stalwarts such as former Indian cricketers Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, and former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor, will be played from February 6 to 18 in Raipur.

Former Australian captain Aaron Finch, former Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan and Martin Guptill are also some key players who will be featured in the League.

With dynamic franchises like Chhattisgarh Warriors, Haryana Gladiators, Dubai Giants, Gujarat Samp Army, Delhi Royals, Big Boys, Royal Kings Punjab and Rajasthan Kings, the stage is perfectly set for an unforgettable celebration of cricket. The league, featuring a dynamic 90-ball-per-side format, promises to be a game-changer in the cricketing landscape.

Speaking on the commencement of League, Shivain Sharma, Director of the Legend 90 League, said “We are thrilled to bring the Legend 90 League, showcasing some of the greatest cricketing legends in an exciting new format. With global icons participating and the innovative 90-ball format, we are confident this league will set a new benchmark in the world of cricket.”

The Chhattisgarh Warriors boast marquee players like Martin Guptill, Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu while Delhi Royals have Shikhar Dhawan alongside Ross Taylor. Haryana Gladiators will have Harbhajan Singh at the helm, and former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo will represent Rajasthan Kings. Also, former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan will play for Dubai Giants.

Dhawan, who will represent Delhi Royals in the Legend 90 League, is elated to be back on the field.

“I’m super excited to share some big news with you all. This season of Legend 90 League, I’ll be playing for the Delhi Royals. I’m all set to bring my legendary form to the field and make every moment count. Thank you to my fans for the continued support,” said Dhawan.

Adding to the star-studded lineup, the league will also feature Moeen Ali, ensuring fans witness a dazzling display of cricketing excellence. With its dynamic format and the participation of iconic players, the Legend 90 League is poised to deliver an extraordinary sporting spectacle.

–IANS

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