Indian sports activities wrap, January 26: Bhambri’s exit brings curtains down on India’s problem at Australian Open

TENNIS

India’s problem on the Australian Open got here to an finish on Sunday after Yuki Bhambri and his Swedish accomplice Andre Goransson bowed out within the third spherical of the lads’s doubles, right here.

Bhambri and Goransson went down 6-7(7), 3-6 to Brazil’s unseeded pairing of Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos in a carefully contested match that lasted simply over an hour.

The Indo-Swedish mixture fought onerous within the opening set however did not capitalise within the tie-break, and the Brazilians maintained their composure to seal the second set with out a lot hassle.

With Bhambri’s exit, India’s marketing campaign on the season’s first Grand Slam has concluded.

Bhambri had already made an earlier exit from the combined doubles, whereas N Sriram Balaji had bowed out beforehand from the lads’s doubles.

Maaya Rajeshwaran and Arnav Paparkar exited the junior Australian Open on Saturday with first spherical exits.

-PTI

FOOTBALL

Chennaiyin indicators skilled Indian attacker Imran Khan

Chennaiyin FC have accomplished the signing of skilled Indian attacker Imran Khan till the top of the season.

Khan, 30, arrives with a wealth of expertise, having revamped 130 appearances throughout all ranges of Indian soccer since making his skilled debut in 2013.

Imran Khan will be a part of the squad instantly and hyperlink up together with his new teammates as Chennaiyin gear up for the upcoming marketing campaign.

– Staff Sportstar

DOMESTIC CRICKET

Bihar crushes Manipur by 568 runs in Ranji Trophy Plate remaining, returns to Elite group

Bihar capitalised on opener Piyush Singh’s magnificent second-innings double century and incisive bowling spells from Suraj Kashyap and Himanshu Singh to hammer Manipur by a large 568 runs within the Plate remaining, sealing a triumphant return to the Ranji Trophy Elite Group on Monday.

Bihar, whose Ranji Trophy journey has been marked by turbulence, had briefly damaged into the Elite Group within the 2022-23 season earlier than slipping again to the Plate Group in 2024-25.

Now restored to the highest tier, it’s urgent forward with a rebuilding part underneath skipper Sakibul Gani, anchored by the promise of teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

On Monday, Bihar set Manipur an inconceivable goal of 764 after Raghuvendra Pratap Singh fell agonisingly wanting a century, dismissed for his in a single day rating of 90, prompting the declaration of the second innings at 505 for six.

Bihar, which had scored 522 within the first innings after which dismissed Manipur for 264, removed its opponents for 195 within the second essay, with spinners Suraj Kumar Kashyap (3/32) and Himanshu Singh (3/49) taking three wickets every on the fifth and remaining day.

The architects of the emphatic victory had been skipper Gani (108) and Bipin Saurabh (143), who struck high quality centuries within the first innings, and Piyush Singh, who adopted it up with an unbeaten 216 off 322 balls within the second innings as Bihar piled on the runs towards a hapless Manipur.

Bihar declared after simply 9 balls on the ultimate day, with Raghuvendra unable so as to add to the crew’s in a single day complete of 505, prompting Gani to name an early declaration and provides his facet a full day to dismantle Manipur.

Bihar’s bowlers left Manipur in serious trouble at 50 for 5 inside 14 overs, a collapse that worsened to 70 for seven by the twenty third, earlier than a rearguard 102-ball 74 from teenager Pheiroijam Jotin briefly annoyed the assault and delayed the inevitable.

The 19-year-old Jotin then added 83 runs for the eighth wicket with L. Kishan Singha, who made 30 off 76 balls, because the pair briefly appeared decided to disclaim Bihar an outright victory.

As soon as the partnership was damaged within the forty fourth over, with pacer Akash Raj accounting for Kishan Singha, the outright win grew to become a foregone conclusion. Jotin fell a number of overs later, extinguishing the final semblance of resistance in Manipur’s batting.

Earlier this month, Bihar had additionally secured promotion to the Elite League within the Vijay Hazare Trophy, defeating Manipur by six wickets within the remaining.

GOLF

PGTI’s 72 The League expands with Rajasthan-based franchise

The Skilled Golf Tour of India’s (PGTI) on Monday introduced a brand new Rajasthan-based franchise for its flagship ‘72 The League’, which is scheduled to start on February 21.

The inaugural version of the League, collectively launched by PGTI and Recreation of Life Sports activities (GOLS), can be held throughout three of Delhi-NCR’s most prestigious golf venues — Traditional Golf & Nation Membership, Jaypee Greens, and Qutab Golf Course.

The league will function city-based franchises, every comprising 10 skilled gamers, chosen by way of a clear participant public sale.

Main golfers from the PGTI circuit will take part, creating one of many largest aggressive platforms Indian skilled golf has ever seen.

-PTI

TABLE TENNIS

Indian paddlers shine in Doha WTT Youth Contender and Feeder occasions

Indian paddlers loved a wealthy haul of 10 medals, together with 4 gold, on the 2026 WTT Star Youth Contender and Feeder occasions in Doha, highlighted by Ahona Ray’s top-podium end within the fiercely contested Beneath-15 ladies’ class.

India loved a sweep of the rostrum within the Beneath-15 ladies’ class, with Ahona, Ankolika Chakraborty and Naisha Rewaskar ending within the prime three positions.

Ankolika and Naisha additionally teamed as much as safe a silver medal within the Beneath-15 ladies’ doubles within the age group on the event held from January 23 to 25.

India’s gold rush continued within the doubles and combined occasions. Aakash Rajavelu and Rishaan Chattopadhyay bagged the U15 boys’ doubles gold, whereas the duo of Divyanshi Bhowmick and P B Abhinand gained the Beneath-19 combined doubles gold.

One other top-podium end got here by way of Ankolika and Aditya Das, who secured gold within the Beneath-15 combined doubles.

Within the singles occasions, Abhinand earned silver within the Beneath-19 boys, Divyanshi claimed bronze within the Beneath-19 ladies, and Aditya added bronze within the Beneath-15 boys, rounding off a profitable marketing campaign.

Moreover the 4 gold, India additionally gained three silver, and three bronze.

-PTI

FUTSAL

India thrashes Pakistan to safe silver at SAFF Futsal Championship 2026

India gained silver on the  SAFF Futsal Championship 2026.
| Picture Credit score:
AIFF Media

India thrashed Pakistan 4-1 to seal the second place within the SAFF Futsal Championship 2026 on the Hua Mak Indoor Stadium in Bangkok, on Monday, January 26. Lalsawmpuia scored a brace, whereas Vincent Laltluangzela and Nikhil Mali netted a aim every for India.

The Futsal Tigers, which is 133rd within the FIFA Males’s Futsal Rankings, completed the championship with 11 factors from six matches, seven behind Maldives (ranked 109th). Nepal, ranked 114th, additionally completed with 11 factors, however solely managed bronze attributable to an inferior aim distinction.

-Staff Sportstar

Printed on Jan 26, 2026