Indian Sports news wrap, 18 December | Popgen Tech

GULF

Sneha Singh tops eight Indians in final stage of LET Qualifying School

Sneha Singh emerged as the top Indian at the same 14th place after the first round of Final Qualifiers at LET Q-School.

Of the eight Indians in the field of 146, Sneha, who was playing the Par-73 South Course, shot a 2-under 71.

Sneha is five shots behind the leader, 18-year-old Danish amateur Amalie Leth-Nissen, who shot a bogey-free opening round of 64 (-7).

Of the other Indians, Seher Atwal 70 was tied for 30th, while Sharmila Nicollet (73 (Even)) and Neha Tripathi 71 (Even) were tied for 42nd as players aspire to earn a full card at the Ladies European Tour.

Hitaashee Bakshi 72 (+1) and Ridhima Dilawari 74 (+1) tied for 65th and Tvesa Malik 78 (+5) and Asmitha Sathish 76 (+5) tied for 126th.

Sneha had four birdies against two bogeys, while Seher had four birdies against three bogeys.

Tvesa, who had a rough 2022, once again had a disappointing start with five bogeys and a double against two birdies for a 5-over 78 on the Par-73 South Course.

Qualifying is a 90-hole stroke-play competition with a cut after 72 holes for the top 60 and a tie. For the first four rounds, competitors will alternate between the North (Par 71) and South (Par 73) courses. The fifth round will be played on the South Course.

The top 20 and equal will get a Category 12 card and players between 21-50 and equal will get Category 16 status. The rest will be eligible for Category 19 status.

Leth-Nissen was exempted for the last stage as she was in the first 25 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. She got off to a good start on the North Course rolling in a birdie on 11 before making three in a row on holes 14 through 16.

The teenager chipped in three more birdies on her back nine, which was the front nine, to put herself at the top of the leaderboard on seven under par at La Manga Club.

Two players sit in second place two shots behind the leader with Norway’s Dorthea Forbrigd 68 (-5) in South Course and Germany’s Sophie Hausmann 66 (-5) in Norway.

A shot further back are Australian Gabriela Ruffels and England’s Lauren Horsford as they are tied for fourth place at four under par.

– PTI

HOCKEY

Indian Navy pipped Punjab National Bank (PNB) on penalties in the final to emerge as the champion in the 124th Beighton Cup hockey tournament at the SAI astro-turf ground here on Sunday.

The result (final): Indian Navy 2 (Aaqib Rahim 25, Ajinkya Jadav 36) vs PNB 2 (Gursimran Singh 12, Gurjinder Singh 24), penalty shootout: Indian Navy 3 (Kuldeep, Nitesh, Sunny Malik) bt PNB 2 ( Gurjinder) Singh, Vishal Antil).

-Y. B Sarangi

TENNIS

$25,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament

Eighth seed Priska Nugroho of Indonesia defeated third seed Anastasia Kulikova of Finland 6-4, 6-2 in the final of the $25,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at the Balaji Amines Sports Complex District on Sunday.

It was the fifth singles title of the season for 19-year-old Priska who also won ten doubles titles on the professional circuit.

The results (final): Priska Nugroho (Ina) bt Anastasia Kulikova (Fin) 6-4, 6-2.\

-Kamesh Srinivasan

$15,000 ITF men’s tennis tournament: Sasikumar Mukund loses in final

Martyn Pawelski of Poland defeated top seed Sasikumar Mukund 6-2, 6-4 in the final of the $15,000 ITF men’s tennis tournament in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on No one.

Unseeded Martyn served better and converted four of six break points he forced. He dropped serve only once in the match that lasted one hour and 18 minutes.

It was the maiden professional title for 18-year-old Martyn, ranked 1139 in the world.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

Tavish Pahwa makes the Orange Bowl semifinals

Third seed Tavish Pahwa defeated Advay Singh 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the semifinals of the under-12 event of the Orange Bowl tennis tournament in Florida.

Tavish had won his first four rounds in straight sets against Patrick Breen, Geoff Kosseifi, Leonardo Cicchinelli and Rafa Cordisa.

In the semifinals, Tavish was scheduled to meet second seed Tabb Tuck.

Tavish had done well earlier in the Eddie Herr tournament when he reached the quarter-finals and lost to eventual champion Michael Antonius.

The results:

Under-12s (quarter-finals): Tavish Pahwa bt Advay Singh 2-6, 6-3, 6-2;

Before the quarter-finals: bt Patrick Breen 6-0, 6-2; Third round: bt Geoff Kosseifi 6-3, 6-3; Second round: bt Leonardo Cicchinelli 6-1, 6-4;

First round: beat Rafa Cordisa 6-1, 6-0.

-Kamesh Srinivasan