TENNIS
Bhambri-Goransson pair reaches Auckland Open semifinals
Prime seeds Yuki Bhambri and Andre Goransson superior to the boys’s doubles semifinals at Auckland Open, an ATP 250 occasion, with an exhilarating win on Wednesday.
Bhambri and Goransson defeated the all-Czech pair of Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl 6-3, 6-7(3), [10-6] within the quarterfinals.
Earlier, the Indo-Swedish duo took down wildcards Ajeet Rai (New Zealand) and Jean-Julien Rojer (Netherlands) 6-3, 6-2 within the first spherical.
-Group Sportstar
READ | Klaasen: Yuki Bhambri in place to hold India’s doubles legacy
SQUASH
Senthilkumar, Tandon make profitable begin in Detroit
Reigning males’s nationwide champion Velavan Senthilkumar and Ramit Tandon started the brand new PSA season on a profitable be aware on the DR 21Motor Metropolis Open, a silver-level occasion in Detroit.
Senthilkumar, ranked forty sixth on the earth, eased previous England’s Samuel Osborne-Wylde 11-9, 11-5, 11-6, whereas world No. 41 Tandon beat Tom Walsh of England 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4 within the opening spherical matches.
In the meantime, in Cleveland, world No. 52 Veer Chotrani defeated native challenger Ignatius Lahorra 11-3, 11-3, 11-4 within the opening spherical of the Squash within the Land 2026, a silver-level event.
-PTI
GOLF
Shubhankar, Yuvraj get invites to Hero Dubai Desert Basic
Indian golfers Shubhankar Sharma and Yuvraj Sandhu have acquired invites to compete on the Hero Dubai Desert Basic from January 22, giving each gamers a helpful early-season alternative on the star-studded DP World Tour.
The highest Indian duo will compete in opposition to a number of the world’s finest at an occasion backed by the Hero Group and with a prize pool of USD 9 million Rolex Collection occasion.
Sharma, a two-time DP Phrase Tour winner, will tee off for the eighth time in succession on the marquee occasion.
Sandhu, winner of seven titles within the home PGTI Tour, will make his debut in Dubai and the invites got here by way of Hero MotoCorp Chairman Pawan Munjal.
In 2025, Veer Ahlawat was given an invite, whereas Sharma obtained an entry on his the idea of his standing on the DP World Tour.
For him, the invite marks one other alternative to re-establish himself after regaining his card on the Qualifying College late final 12 months.
The 28-year-old has loved notable ends in Abu Dhabi and Dubai prior to now and likes the layouts Dubai.
He misplaced his DP World Tour card late final 12 months, however completed second on the Qualifying College to regain the standing.
Within the 2026 DP World Tour season, which obtained underway with occasions in Australia, South Africa and Mauritius late in 2025, Sharma performed twice in Australia and within the AfrAsia Financial institution Mauritius Open, the place he was Tied-Thirty second.
“The week in Mauritius gave me a variety of confidence about my sport,” stated Sharma, who added that some modifications in his gear have additionally put him in a great house.
Sharma is taking a look at Dubai desert Basic for a great begin which can get him extra begins within the season.
“I’m wanting ahead to a great 2026. The intention is to get into the Majors and do effectively there,” stated Sharma, who has additionally completed in Prime-10 of the Open in 2023.
Sandhu, who can also be Chandigarh-based like Sharma, loved an outstanding season on the home PGTI season, the place he captured seven titles in 2025 and set a report for season’s earnings.
The event in Dubai might be performed on the Emirates Golf Membership’s Majlis Course and historically encompasses a sturdy worldwide discipline, together with Main champions and Ryder Cup stars.
Those confirmed for 2026 embody the Masters champion Rory McIlroy and the DP World India Champion, Tommy Fleetwood, each of whom got here to India in 2025.
They are going to be joined by defending champion Tyrrell Hatton and former Masters champion, Patrick Reed and Hero Indian Open winner, Eugenio Chacarra of Spain.
-PTI
Jasmine extends lead in Ladies’s Professional Golf Tour 2026
Jasmine Shekar turned in a gentle even par spherical of 70 to increase her lead by two pictures within the opening leg of the Hero Ladies’s Professional Golf Tour 2026.
The prize purse for this week is Rs. 17 lakh.
Jasmine, a winner within the 2025 season, had a bogey-free first 12 holes, which additionally included birdies on the fifth and the eleventh holes. She then stuttered a bit with bogeys on the thirteenth and the 14th to complete at even par 70.
Ridhima Dilawari shot the day’s finest card of 3-under 67, which had two birdies in opposition to one bogey within the entrance half and three birdies in opposition to one bogey on the return. Beginning 5 pictures behind Jasmine, she made up a variety of floor and is now solely trailing by two pictures.
Lavanya Jadon dropped to 3rd with a 72, which included two bogeys and no birdies, however at three behind she is inside shut distance of the chief.
Of the three beneath par rounds, amateurs accounted for 2 of them. Zara Anand was one with 69 and Kashika Misra the opposite, additionally with 69. Zara was sole fourth at 2-over 142.
A complete of 27 gamers made the lower, which fell at 156.
-PTI
VOLLEYBALL
Kerala ladies exceeded expectations to win nationwide title
Defending a title is rarely straightforward, particularly when a crew is in transition after the retirement of skilled stars.
Kerala ladies’s volleyball crew exceeded expectations on the 72nd Nationwide championships in Varanasi by retaining the title after beating Railways 22-25, 25-20, 25-15, 22-25, 15-10 within the last.
Within the last, Kerala fell behind after shedding the opening set, however the crew regrouped and staged a tremendous rally to beat the favorite Railways.
| Picture Credit score:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Within the last, Kerala fell behind after shedding the opening set, however the crew regrouped and staged a tremendous rally to beat the favorite Railways.
| Picture Credit score:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Kerala topped Group A after beating Himachal Pradesh (25-15, 25-10, 25-18), Haryana (25-17, 25-14, 25-19) and Rajasthan (25-11, 15-12, 25-13) in straight units to enter the quarterfinals.
The champion aspect made quick work of Uttar Pradesh 25-10, 25-20, 25-18 within the quarterfinals and overcame Haryana 25-19, 25-21, 35-33 within the semifinal.
Within the last, Kerala fell behind after shedding the opening set however the crew regrouped and staged a tremendous rally to beat the favorite Railways.
A.R. Bhoomika’s stellar present as a central blocker and Ok.P. Anusree’s inspirational play had been central to Kerala’s success.
The coach, Dr. C.S. Sadanandan, attributed the title to arduous work and execution of technique.
“It’s an enormous achievement for this younger aspect. We anticipated to succeed in solely the semifinals, however the women confirmed willpower and resilience to beat a powerful Railways aspect within the last. We had a 21-day teaching camp and within the teaching camp ,we focused on our defence, and it paid off.
“It was tough to switch stalwarts like Ok.S. Jini, S Surya, Anjali Babu and Aswathi Raveendran, who all retired after the final nationals. However we clicked collectively as a crew. Captain Anusree lifted her sport within the last and was inspirational. V. Nanadana and Sivapriya Govind got here good as setter and libero, respectively. Bhoomika performed an enormous function in rendering the Railways’ main spikers, Shalinee and Ezhilmathi, ineffective within the last. Ann V. Jacob excelled as a common participant. Maybe we might have served a bit of higher as we gave some straightforward factors within the last. Our backcourt protection was additionally good. Anyway, it was a win in opposition to all odds and I’m pleased with the women,” stated the coach.
-M.R. Praveen Chandran
Printed on Jan 14, 2026