JUDO
Fourth edition of IIS Sangai Cup to be held in Imphal from October 16–18
The fourth edition of the IIS Sangai Cup, jointly organised by the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) and the Manipur Judo Association (MJA), will be held from October 16 to 18 at the Sports Authority of India New Multipurpose Hall, Takyelpat, Imphal.
The three-day tournament will also serve as the state selection trials for the Manipur judo team ahead of the upcoming National Judo Championships across the Sub-Junior, Cadet, Junior and Senior categories.
The previous edition of the tournament witnessed participation from over 500 judokas across various age categories, highlighting the growing interest in the sport and the depth of emerging talent in the region.
Over the years, the IIS Sangai Cup has developed into an important competitive platform for young judokas in Manipur, offering them an opportunity to test themselves against their peers and earn a place in the state team. The tournament also reflects the continued efforts of IIS and MJA to strengthen the grassroots judo ecosystem in the state.
The tournament will conclude on October 18 with the senior men’s and women’s competitions, followed by the medal presentation and closing ceremony.
-Team Sportstar
CRICKET
Soni Yadav to captain Delhi in Senior Women’s T20 Trophy
Soni Yadav was on Thursday named Delhi captain for the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy beginning on October 26.
“The team was finalised by the Senior Women’s Selection Committee at a meeting held on October 14, 2026, at the DDCA. Soni Yadav has been named captain, while Shweta Sehrawat will serve as vice-captain and wicketkeeper,” said the DDCA in a statement.
All the players reported to the team manager at the Guru Gobind Singh College ground on Thursday.
Squad: Soni Yadav (captain), Shweta Sehrawat (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Priya Punia, Tanisha Singh, Pragya Rawat (wicketkeeper), Nazma, Bharti Rawal, Vanshika Lila, Priya Mishra, Nidhi Mahto, Disha Nagar, Shivi Sharma, Sumiti Soni, Medhavi Bidhuri, Goyinka Sharma and Akshita Jain.
-PTI
GOLF
Phoenix Hyderabad Firebirds GC brings golf to government school students through Golf on Wheels
The Indian Golf Premier League and Phoenix Hyderabad Firebirds GC, the league’s Hyderabad franchise, introduced more than 70 students from Government High School, Ziaguda, to golf through an interactive Golf on Wheels session at the Hyderabad Golf Association.
Golf on Wheels takes the game to children who would otherwise rarely get near a course, with one aim: making golf accessible to all.
The Firebirds squad included Sachin Baisoya; Raghav Chugh, a former India No. 1 junior golfer; Ranjit Singh, a seasoned professional and former Royal Calcutta Golf Club captain who turned professional in 2007; and three-time Junior World Golf Champion Arjun Bhati. Students watched the action on the leaderboard before meeting the players for photographs, autographed caps and a chat about life as a professional golfer. The golfers also spoke about how they started out and what it takes to compete at the top level.
Anup Singh, an NGAI ‘A’ certified coach, content creator, multiple Guinness World Record holder and trick-shot artist, led the session. Using live demonstrations and a few crowd-pleasing trick shots, he took the students through grip, stance and swing, shared simple tips, and explained how the game is played and scored.
For most of the students, it was their first time on a golf course. Dressed in their school house colours and Firebirds caps, they moved from watching to trying, and a sport often seen as out of reach became something they could pick up, swing and enjoy.
-Team Sportstar
SQUASH
Top Seed Aarav Challani Knocked Out as Ribhav Saroha Eyes Double Crown at Fenesta Open
Boys U-14 top seed Aarav Challani was knocked out of the 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship at the DLTA Complex in New Delhi on Thursday, losing to S. Chintagunta 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.
Chintagunta fought back after losing the opening set to secure his place in the semifinals.
“First, it was a very exhausting match. We played for three hours. I am very happy to play with him. It was a good experience,” Chintagunta said after the win. Reflecting on the match, he added, “In the second set, I was fully exhausted. I didn’t know what to do. He started giving nice high balls. I found it very difficult. In the third set, I fought myself. I tried my best.”
Asked if he felt pressure playing against the tournament’s top seed, Chintagunta said, “I decided that I am going to win. Last time I played, I won. This time, I was sure that I am going to win.”
Meanwhile, Chandigarh’s Ribhav Saroha continued his bid for a double crown, advancing to the boys U-16 semifinals with a 6-2, 6-2 win over P. Nallagundla in a rain-interrupted quarterfinal. Having won the boys U-18 singles title last week, Saroha is now two wins away from completing a double triumph at the tournament. In the other boys U-16 semifinal, No. 8 seed Vivaan Mirdha will face Yashwin Dahiya after both players recorded straight-sets quarterfinal victories.
“It was 1-1 in the first set, 15-0 on my serve. And then we had the rain delay for I think 4 or 5 hours maybe,” Saroha said about dealing with the lengthy rain break. “I slept during that break and I was able to regain the focus and energy. Then I was doing deep breathing exercises before the match so that I could just get back straight into the rhythm. I came back and I was playing really good today. My strategy was to be more patient on the court and make him move and not make mistakes before him. And whenever I have a chance, to just commit fully and come in on the volley.”
Second seed Siddhi Pandey advanced to the girls U-14 semifinals with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Saatvi Mardaniya. No. 10 seed Aaradhana Tehlan also reached the last four, rallying to beat No. 8 seed Purvi Patwa 1-6, 6-3, 6-0.
“I was playing against the sixth seed. She played excellent,” Pandey said after her win. “She recently won an ITF title. I was nervous going into the match, but I managed to pull it off. Nothing changed in the second set. I was able to use my brain more and I’m happy to be in the semis. I just want to go with the flow and am looking forward to my next matches.”
In the boys U-14 event, second seed Puneeth Manohar and No. 9 seed Sujai Pothula also advanced to the semifinals. Manohar defeated eighth seed Adeshbir Ghuman 6-3, 6-1, while Pothula beat third seed Nibras Hussain 6-3, 6-4.
“I’m pretty pumped about it, I’m happy with the way I was able to play,” Manohar said after his win. “It was a dominant win for me. I was able to come out of it comfortably. My opponent did give a good fight but he had some problems which helped me.”
In the girls U-16 event, No. 14 seed Khushi Kadian produced one of the day’s standout performances, beating Aahida Singh 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-2) in a marathon to reach the semifinals. Kadian was also scheduled to play her girls U-14 quarterfinal later Thursday.
Kadian was joined in the girls U-16 semifinals by third seed Aaradhya Meena, fifth seed Akshita Antil and seventh seed Ranjhana Sangram.
The scores:
Boys U-16 singles quarterfinals: Ribhav Saroha (1) def. P.Nallagundla 6-2, 6-2; Yashwin Dahiya def. Yaj Malik (6) 6-3, 6-1; Vivaan Mirdha (8) def. Harsh Marwaha 6-4, 6-4; Kushagra Arora def. Monodip Dey (12) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1.
Girls U-16 singles quarterfinals: Aaradhya Meena (3) def. Shravee Deore 3-6, 6-4, 6-3; Akshita Antill (5) def. Pooja Nagaraj 6-4, 1-0 (retd.); Ranjhana Sangram (7) def. Rishita Yadav 7-5, 6-3; Khushi Kadian (14) def. Aahida Singh 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-2).
Boys U-14 singles quarterfinals: S. Chintagunta def. Aarav Challani (1) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1; Puneeth Manohar (2) def. Adeshbir Ghuman (8) 6-3, 6-1; Sujai Pothula (9) def. Nibras Hussain (3) 6-3, 6-4; Sparsh Patil (4) vs. Taanish Nanda (10).
Girls U-14 singles quarterfinals: Siddhi Pandey (2) def. Saatvi Mardaniya (6) 6-4, 6-1; Aaradhana Tehlan (10) def. Purvi Patwa (8) 1-6, 6-3, 6-0.
-Team Sportstar
Published on Oct 15, 2026
