GOLF
Diksha off to solid start with 4-under 67 in Australia
Undeterred by the missed cut last week, Indian golfer Diksha Dagar, a two-time Ladies European Tour winner, shot a fine 4-under 67 to be placed tied fourth after the first round of the Ford Women’s NSW Open in Wollongong on Thursday.
Starting from the ninth, which is the first hole on the back nine of the Wollongong Golf Club, Diksha opened with a bogey, but then had seven birdies in the next 10 holes.
Her fortunes reversed as she dropped three shots in four holes — the third, fifth and the sixth — before picking up a last birdie on the seventh.
Her 67 put her tied fourth, as Spain’s Nuria Iturrioz and home favourite Kirsten Rudgeley became the 18 hole leaders as both opened with rounds of 65 (-6).
Diksha, who was runner-up in the season-opener in Morocco at Lalla Meryem Cup, had eight birdies but four bogeys, three towards the end of her round which saw her card only 67.
Among other Indians, Pranavi Urs shot even par 71 and was T-37, while rookie Avani Prashanth, who had a Top-15 finish last week, was T-54 with 1-over 72.
Pranavi had two birdies against two bogeys, while Avani had two birdies against three bogeys.
Four-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner Iturrioz got the ball rolling in Australia, carding seven birdies in the morning to set the target. This was despite carding an early bogey at the par-4 hole.
As the wind picked up in the afternoon, Rudgeley made the element her friend as she got off to a hot start birdying the par-51st. Three more birdies followed at the 4th, 5th and 8th with the Aussie only dropping shots coming at the sixth as she went out in 32.
Battling the wind, a relishing Rudgeley carded three more birdies at the 11th, 13th and 14th to match Iturrioz’s tally before a steady finish secured her the 65 (-6).
One adrift from the pair is Anna Magnusson, who carded eight birdies on Thursday morning thanks to some great putting.
Seven players share the fourth spot on four-under par — India’s Diksha, Finland’s Ursula Wikstrom, Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova, New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey, Denmark’s Cecilie Finne-Ipsen, Thailand’s Aunchisa Utama and Switzerland’s Kim Metraux.
This is a 72-hole stroke play event with a 132 player field.
– PTI
Shubhankar, Veer forced to wait in Singapore
Shubhankar Sharma and Veer Ahlawat will have to wait for another full day to their first shot in, as persistent inclement weather forced the cancellation of play on the first day of the Porsche Singapore Classic.
Sharma was to tee off with Louise Albertse of South Africa and Shinichi Mizuno of Japan from the tenth in the afternoon, as was Veer, who was to play with Spaniard Ivan Cantero and German Marcel Schneider.
Play will now commence only on Friday with tee times remaining as originally published. Round two will take place on Saturday.
EQUESTRIAN
Stasya, Jahnvi and Dsouza Qualify for The National Equestrian Championships
FILE PHOTO: Stasya Pandey in action.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
FILE PHOTO: Stasya Pandey in action.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Mumbai-based Stasya Pandey, Jahnvi Raheja and Jaden Dsouza from Amateur Riders’ Club (ARC) qualify for the National Equestrian Championships (NEC) held at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Mumbai. The qualifiers were judged by the respected Col. Sunil Shivdas and Col. HR Sunil.
The tournament is being organized by the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI), with athletes competing in Show Jumping and Dressage category.
In Children 1 Show Jumping, Stasya astride ‘Cougar De Fees’ completed her round in 75 sec. In Junior Show Jumping riders who qualified further were Dsouza astride ‘Whispering Silver’ who completed her round in 74 sec and Jahnvi astride ‘‘Cougar De Fees’, in 84 sec.
-Team Sportstar
HOCKEY
P. K. Anil Kumar honoured to receive HI recognition
Tamil Nadu’s P.K. Anil Kumar, who was awarded the Hockey India’s Technical Official for the year 2024 in New Delhi recently, said he was honoured to receive it and that it was a recognition for officials who had put in long years of service for the sport.
Anil Kumar receiving the citation from Dilip Tirkey, president of Hockey India in the Hockey India’s awards function in New Delhi on March 15.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Anil Kumar receiving the citation from Dilip Tirkey, president of Hockey India in the Hockey India’s awards function in New Delhi on March 15.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Speaking to Sportstar in Chennai on Thursday, Kumar said, “It is a recognition for the people who have been working for long in the field of hockey. I have been working as an umpire, a Technical Official and then a Technical Director for 25 years. It’s a great feeling to receive the award from an illustrious group people including several Olympians and officials,” said the 52-year-old, a Physical Director of Agarwal Vidyalaya and Junior College, who received a cash prize of Rs. 2,50,000 and a citation.
Kumar has officiated in MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup, National sub-junior championships, South Zone junior championships and Senior National women’s championship, 2024 Goa National Games and the Hockey India League in Rourkela for the year 2024-25. Kumar was promoted as Technical Delegate by Hockey India in 2023.
– Team Sportstar
