TENNIS

Hyderabad to host inaugural National Tennis Mixed Doubles Championship from October 24 to 30

The All India Tennis Association (AITA) is set to introduce the National Tennis Mixed Doubles Championship 2026, with the inaugural edition carrying a prize money of INR 10 lakh.

The Telangana State Tennis Association has initiated the championship, which will be held on outdoor hard courts at the Jubilee Hills International Centre (JHIC), Hyderabad, from October 24 to 30, 2026.

The tournament will feature a 32-team main draw, with qualifying scheduled to begin on October 24.

“The introduction of the National Tennis Mixed Doubles Championship is an important step in Indian tennis, as we are creating a dedicated national platform for mixed doubles for the first time in the country,” said Sunder Iyer, AITA secretary.

“It brings together our men and women players in a national championship environment and provides them with an opportunity to develop partnerships and compete in a format that is important at the international level,” he added.

– Team Sportstar

MOTORSPORT

Rivaan Dev Preetham finishes fourth in Asia-Pacific Karting Championship

Indian karting talent Rivaan Dev Preetham delivered a strong performance at the FIA Karting Arrive and Drive Asia Pacific Championship 2026, held at the legendary Circuit of Macau Coloane in Macau on September 11-13.

Starting P5 on the grid, Rivaan made up ground to finish fourth in the Junior category. He set the official event record for the fastest lap at 47.375 seconds.

Rivaan, last year’s Indian champion in the Mini class, carried momentum into qualifying sprint heats, finishing second in Sprint 1 (from P5) and third in Sprint 2 (from a reverse-grid P6).

– Team Sportstar

Gagan, Dean finish South American WRC3 challenge on positive note

SI Racing’s Dean Mascarenhas and co-driver Gagan Karumbaiah ended their South American World Rally Championship with a top-eight finish in Chile and a stage win in Paraguay.

Driving a Ford Fiesta Rally3 prepared by PH Sport, the reigning Indian National rally champions finished eighth in the WRC3 class in Rally Chile Biobio, a track featuring twisty gravel stages and forest tracks.

A fortnight earlier, the pair was in contention for a podium in Rally del Paraguay but an accident forced them into DNF with one stage remaining. They had, however, won a stage in the Paraguay Rally.

“The experience we gained from this rally is huge. Completing one of the toughest rallies I have ever driven gives me immense pleasure. Gagan was spot on with his notes throughout,” said Dean.

-PTI

JUDO

Two SAI judo coaches asked to attend counselling sessions over workplace conduct

Sports Authority of India’s central regional centre in Bhopal has directed two judo coaches at its National Centre of Excellence in New Delhi to attend counselling sessions with the centre’s sports psychologist over concerns related to their professional conduct and workplace discipline.

Senior coach Ruchi Audichya and assistant coach Gitanjali Pawar have been asked to attend the sessions “till further order”, according to an official communication issued by the Assistant Director of SAI NCOE, Bhopal.

The communication said the coaches’ “conduct, attitude, coordination, team spirit and interaction” with peers and athletes had not been found to be in accordance with the expected standards of professional conduct, workplace decorum and institutional protocol.

– PTI

Published on Sep 15, 2026