OTHER SPORTS
CM Sukhu announces Rs 1 cr each for Himachal’s three Asiad gold-winning kabaddi players
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday announced a cash award of Rs 1 crore each for three kabaddi players from the state who were part of the gold-winning women’s team at the just-concluded Asian Games in Japan – Pushpa Rana, Jyoti Thakur and Bhawna Thakur.
The chief minister also announced Rs 1 crore for Renuka Singh Thakur, a member of the women’s cricket team that won the gold at the Asian Games, beating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final.
The kabaddi trio called on Sukhu on Monday, who congratulated them on their outstanding achievement and honoured them with Himachali caps and shawls.
Led by Pushpa, the women’s kabaddi team defended their gold medal with an unbeaten run at Aichi-Nagoya, defeating Iran 37-34 in a thrilling final to lift the crown for a fourth time.
According to an official statement, Sukhu said the state government would soon organise a felicitation ceremony in the players’ honour, where they would be presented with Rs 1 crore each.
The three players would also be employed in government service, Sukhu said, adding that those who do not wish to join the police force would be offered appointments in the sports department, enabling them to continue pursuing their sporting careers while contributing to the promotion and development of sports in the state.
The state government has increased the prize money for gold-winning international athletes by revising its sports policy, with special emphasis on strengthening sports infrastructure across Himachal, Sukhu said.
-PTI
TENNIS
Bengaluru youngsters to get a shot at Australian Open Ball kids squad selection at KSLTA
Young tennis enthusiasts in Bengaluru will have a chance to get closer to Grand Slam tennis when the Australian Open Ball Kids selection trials are held at the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) on October 10 and 11.
The Kia India Ball Kids programme is open to children aged 12 to 15 years, with the Bengaluru trials forming part of a national selection process that will culminate in four youngsters being selected to represent India as official Ball Kids at the Australian Open 2027 in Melbourne.
Speaking about the initiative, Sunil Yajaman, Hon. Jt. Secy, AITA and Hon. Jt. Secy, KSLTA, said, “Junior tennis is all about creating opportunities. An experience like this can give youngsters exposure to a Grand Slam environment, build their confidence and inspire them to dream bigger. For many children, simply being around the world’s best players could be an experience they remember for the rest of their lives.”
He added, “We are thankful to Australian Open & Tennis Australia who have chosen Bengaluru to host this selection and give an opportunity to the desiring kids in Karnataka to try their hand in working at the prestigious Australian Open 2027, which is the first grand slam event of the year.”
The programme has an added resonance given that Roger Federer himself served as a ball boy at the Swiss Indoors in Basel in 1993-94, long before going on to become one of tennis’s greatest champions.
-Team Sportstar
Digvijay Pratap Singh overcomes emotional week to clinch ITF M15 title in Baku
Digvijay Pratap Singh clinched the men’s singles title at the ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour M15 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The second-seeded Indian (ATP 552) delivered a commanding performance against the tournament’s top seed, Great Britain’s Millen Hurrion (ATP 537), securing a 6-4, 6-4 straight-sets victory in the championship match on Sunday.
The triumph carried emotional significance for the RGTA athlete. Digivijay dedicated the win to his grandfather, who sadly passed away on October 1, right in the middle of the tournament week. Despite the profound personal loss, Singh showcased elite mental fortitude to navigate a highly competitive draw and finish the week as champion.
He opened his campaign on the hard courts by overcoming Russia’s Dmitry Bessonov 6-1, 6-4 in the first round, followed by a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6 victory over Great Britain’s Oscar Brown in the Round of 16. In the quarterfinals, he maintained his momentum to edge past Turkey’s Arda Azkara 7-5, 7-6.
His toughest test of the tournament came in the semi-finals against seventh seed Marcus Walters of Great Britain. In a grueling, back-and-forth three-set battle, Digvijay held his nerve during two crucial tie-breaks to eventually emerge victorious with a 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 win, booking his place in the grand finale.
-Team Sportstar
Fenesta Open announces Rs 11 lakh Player Development Scholarship
The Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship has introduced a Rs 11 lakh Player Development Scholarship to support the continued development of players across five singles categories, the organisers said on Monday.
The scholarship, announced by DCM Shriram Foundation, the CSR arm of DCM Shriram Ltd, will be awarded to winners and runners-up in the men’s, women’s, U-18, U-16 and U-14 singles categories at the 31st edition of the championship.
The Fenesta Open already offers a prize pool of over Rs 21.55 lakh.
The new scholarship represents an additional commitment towards supporting players beyond their performance at the Championship.
Under the new structure, winners in the men’s, women’s, boys U-18 and girls U-18 singles categories will receive a scholarship of Rs 1.05 lakh each, while runners-up will receive Rs 60,000 each. Winners in the boys and girls U-16 and U-14 singles categories will receive a scholarship of Rs 70,000 each, while runners-up will receive Rs 40,000 each.
-PTI
Published on Oct 05, 2026
