SQUASH
Anahat enters World Junior squash semis
Indian top seed Anahat Singh moved into the women’s semifinals of the World Squash Junior Individual Championships in Ontario, Canada, on Thursday.
Women’s world No 20 Anahat defeated Egyptian 5/8 seed Habiba Rizk 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 in the quarterfinals.
The Delhi girl, bronze medal-winning semifinalist last year, is the first Indian to reach back-to-back semis in the world juniors and firm favourite to win the title.
She will meet Egyptian 3/4 seed Barb Sameh in the last-four stage.
– Team Sportstar
Om Semwal, Sandhesh Ravikumar and Rathika Seelan move into Singapore squash quarters
Om Semwal, Sandhesh Ravikumar and Rathika Seelan advanced to the quarterfinals of the ongoing PSA Singapore Challenger Squash.
In the men’s second round, Ravikumar beat Japanese seventh seed Shota Yasunsri 12-10, 11-5, 3-11, 11-7, while fourth seed Semwal edged out local challenger Aaron Liang 11-9, 4-11, 4-11, 12-10, 11-8.
Meanwhile, in women’s second round, third seed Rathika overcame local challenger Wai Lynn Au Yeong 8-11, 11-9, 11-2, 7-11, 12-10.
– Team Sportstar
GOLF
Diksha makes a great recovery to card 74, lies T-33rd in Scottish Open
India’s Diksha Dagar staged a superb recovery over the back nine as she rallied from being six-over through 10 holes to fire four birdies in the last eight holes to be placed Tied-33 at the ISPS Handa Scottish Open here.
She finally carded 2-over 74 at the end of the first round on a windy first day at Dundonald Links.
Her round of 74 on a course that gave away just 13 under par scores gave Diksha a fine chance to make the cut, which will fall after the second round. At the end of the first day, there were just seven even par rounds apart from 13-under par scores.
Avani Prashanth struggled to 8-over 80 and was T-116 alongside Hero Indian Open winner Shannon Tan, while Pranavi Urs (84) shot one of the highest ever rounds on the Ladies European Tour and was T-138.
– PTI
Bogey free Jeev is tied-12th after first day at Senior Open
Jeev Milkha Singh produced a superb bogey free 3-under 67 to make a great start at the ISPS Handa Senior Open here.
The Indian legend is lying at tied-12th with a host of other big names.
The other Indian in the field Jyoti Randhawa shot 2-over 84 and was lying T-84 after the first day.
Australian Cameron Percy produced a brilliant birdie blitz around the turn to take a one-shot lead after day one.
– PTI
OTHER SPORTS
SAI, Nagaland sign MoU to upgrade Dimapur centre into NCOE
The Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) Training Centre in Dimapur will be upgraded into a National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in phases following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nagaland government on Friday.
Under the agreement, the 62 residential athletes in boxing, football and sepaktakraw currently training at the SAI Training Centre (STC) in Half Nagarjan, Dimapur, will be shifted to the refurbished Multi-Disciplinary Sports Complex (MDSC), paving the way for the development of a high-performance centre.
The 64-acre MDSC will be developed in phases into an NCOE, with the Nagaland government providing a 24-room hostel-cum-wrestling akhara, a pre-fabricated multipurpose hall and a football ground on a shared-use basis.
Subject to approvals and infrastructure readiness, future expansion may include athletics, wrestling, shooting, archery, hockey, wushu, judo and pencak silat.
“Today’s event is more than just a signing. It marks the realization of a long-held dream of the people of Nagaland and the beginning of a new chapter in our state’s sporting history,” Chief Minister, Shri Neiphiu Rio said in a release.
“The vision of establishing the Multi-Disciplinary Sports Complex was conceived over two decades ago as a Centre of Excellence for Sports. I convey my sincere appreciation to the Sports Authority of India for trusting us and partnering with the government of Nagaland.
“The government of Nagaland remains fully committed to this shared vision and shall continue to extend our fullest cooperation and support. Let us continue to work together in the true spirit of cooperative federalism to create a sports system that identifies talent, nurtures excellence and creates opportunities for our youth.” Rio directed the concerned departments, including the Public Works Department (PWD), to complete the pending civil, electrical, sanitation and finishing works, besides restoration of the boundary wall and campus security arrangements at the MDSC within a month. Rio has directed the concerned departments, including PWD, to complete within one month the pending civil, electrical, sanitation, finishing works, boundary wall restoration and campus security arrangements of MDSC.
Following completion of the state government’s preparatory works, SAI NERC, Imphal will take up shifting of athletes, coaches, sports equipment and will instal CCTV, fire safety systems, power backup and other essential operational requirements.
The MoU signing ceremony was held in the presence of Shri Rio, ministers, senior officials from the Nagaland Olympic Association, Department of Youth Resources & Sports, senior officers of the Government of Nagaland, Deputy Director General (Operations), SAI Headquarters, and officers of SAI NERC, Imphal.
-PTI
Published on Jul 24, 2026
