Chacarra wins DP World India title, Lahiri best India at tied 23rd
New Delhi, Oct 18: Spanish golfer Eugenio Chacarra clinched the DP World India Championship title by two shots while Anirban Lahiri finished as the best Indian at tied 23rd place here on Sunday. Chacarra completed a marathon day at the Delhi Golf Club, playing 25 holes after rain disrupted the tournament schedule, to win his third DP World Tour title of the season and move to the top of the Race to Dubai rankings. He finished at 21-under 267 following a closing round of two-under 70. New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier took the second spot at 19-under after mounting a late challenge that cut Chacarra’s lead from six shots to two. Chacarra held his nerve under pressure to seal his fourth DP World Tour title overall. The victory also saw Chacarra overtake American Patrick Reed at the top of the season-long Race to Dubai standings, strengthening his bid for the season-ending crown. Meanwhile, Lahiri admitted that a lack of competitive golf caught up with him despite a strong finish to the tournament here on Sunday. Lahiri carded a four-under 68 in the final round to finish at eight-under 280, while Yuvraj Sandhu was the next best Indian at tied 34th with a total of five-under. He also carded 68 in the final round. (PTI)
Lokesh Subramani wins U-17 crown in Malaysia Junior squash
Kuala Lumpur, Oct 18: India’s Lokesh Subramani won the boys’ U-17 title at the Malaysia Squash Junior Open, beating local challenger Muhammad Ifwat Zulkifli in straight games in the final here on Sunday. Lokesh, seeded second, defeated his opponent 11-6, 11-2, 11-8. India’s Aadya Budhia and Aryaman Singh reached the semifinals in the U-17 girls’ and boys’ categories, respectively, while Divyanshi Jain (U-13 girls), Avisha Agarwal (U-11 girls) and Shravin Jain (U-19 boys) made it to the quarterfinals. (PTI)
AITA’s free coaching course for women draws 48 entries
New Delhi, Oct 18: The All India Tennis Association (AITA) is organising an all-women coaching course, free of cost, from October 24 to 30 in New Delhi to create a structured pathway for women to enter and progress in tennis coaching. The initiative has drawn 48 entries. The state associations were also invited to nominate one female coach each for the course to be held at the DLTA Tennis Stadium. The initiative is open to AITA-registered women coaches with Level-I certification and above, as well as fresh candidates with valid AITA coaches’ registration. The course is being conducted with support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA). Coach Ashutosh Singh, who will be one of tutors of the course, said the initiative was an important step towards building a stronger and more inclusive coaching ecosystem in Indian tennis. (PTI)
Rizwan allowed to play domestic cricket amid ongoing inquiry
Lahore, Oct 18: Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan has received his first reprieve in the ongoing inquiry into allegations of online betting, gambling and the leaking of dressing-room information, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) allowing him to resume playing domestic cricket. Former Pakistan captain Muhammad Hafeez, who is now the director and head coach of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), confirmed that he had received an email from the PCB’s domestic department permitting Rizwan to play in the ongoing Presidents Cup first-class tournament from October 19. The fifth round of the tournament began on Monday, with Rizwan set to lead the SNGPL team, Hafeez said. Rizwan and his Pakistan teammate Imam-ul-Haq were barred from playing domestic cricket after being called back from England following the second Test in August and asked to face an inquiry by the National Cyber Crime Cell (NCCA) over alleged leaks of dressing-room information and issues related to online betting and gambling. Rizwan has appeared before the NCCA twice for questioning, but the precise nature of the complaints being investigated by the government agency remains unclear. The phones of Rizwan and Imam were also seized by security personnel accompanying the Pakistan team during the second Test at Lord’s and are currently with the NCCA for forensic examination. While Imam has largely stayed out of the public eye, Rizwan has remained in the headlines over his response to the inquiry. (PTI)
Bengal climbers make history
New Delhi, Oct 18: A mountaineering team from West Bengal has recorded three first ascents and climbed Chang Chenmo Kangri via a new route in eastern Ladakh, with the expedition also proposing to name the newly scaled peaks after legendary mountaineers Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, and freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Led by veteran mountaineer Rudra Prasad Halder and Guinness World Record holder Satyarup Siddhanta, the Sonarpur Arohi team completed the four ascents during its Chang Chenmo Expedition 2026, which began on August 25. The team climbed the 6,536-metre Chang Chenmo Kangri on September 11 via a new route and made first ascents of three previously unclimbed peaks, measuring approximately 6,400 metres, 6,420 metres and 6,274 metres, on September 9, 16 and 20, respectively. The expedition was undertaken without fixed ropes, Sherpa support or high-altitude porter assistance, with the climbers relying on their technical skills, planning and teamwork to negotiate the challenging terrain. The club has proposed naming the three newly climbed peaks Mount Edmund Hillary, Mount Tenzing Norgay and Netaji Subhas Parvat. (PTI)