Indian sports wrap, March 19: Odisha, Manipur and Haryana secure wins in National Women’s Hockey League 2024-25

Indian sports wrap, March 19: Odisha, Manipur and Haryana secure wins in National Women’s Hockey League 2024-25

On Day 2 of the final phase of the National Women’s Hockey League 2024-2025, Hockey Association of Odisha, Manipur Hockey and Hockey Haryana secured wins in the respective games.

In the first match, Odisha defeated Maharashtra 1-0 in Pool A. Dipika Barwa (57’) scored again in the second consecutive game for Odisha to take the game away from Maharashtra.

In the next game, Manipur defeated Madhya Pradesh 2-0 in Pool A. Puja Ramchhuria (41’) and Babyarani Devi Sandam (56’) scored one goal each for Manipur to secure its first win in the tournament.

In the third match of the day, Haryana defeated Mizoram 2-1 in Pool A. Saavi (44’) and Shashi Khasa (59’) scored for Haryana. In response, Vanlalrinhlui (57’) scored the consolation goal for Mizoram. This is Hockey Haryana’s second win in the tournament out of the two matches it has played.

-Team Sportstar

Svayam has joined forces with the Sports Authority of India as the Accessibility partner for the Khelo India Para Games.

The Founder Chair-person of Svayam, Sminu Jindal, launched the official logo of the Khelo India Para Games along with the President of PCI, Devendra Jhajaria, in the presence of the Union Sports Ministers Dr Mansukh Mandaviya and Raksha Khadse in the Capital.

“True inclusion happens when accessibility becomes standard practice, not an added feature. Our continued association with Khelo India Para Games reinforces our dedication to creating spaces where para-athletes can focus on excellence without unnecessary struggles. Thoughtful mobility solutions, trained personnel and well-equipped venues contribute to an environment where every player can compete without constraints,” said Sminu.

With the collaboration, Svayam hosted sensitisation workshops, training about 500 volunteers and event personnel to provide the best support for participants. The training was aimed at equipping the personnel with the skills and awareness necessary to foster a respectful, inclusive environment for the athletes, with a focus on educating them about accessibility needs, communication practices and dealing with the requirements of athletes during competition.

“I applaud Svayam for the continuous support to Khelo India Para Games. They have taken great care to ensure that technical inputs are included at Games venues to make them totally accessible for our athletes,” said Sports Minister Mandaviya.

Svayam will operate a fleet of specially designed buses and mini-vans to ensure smooth and dignified travel for about 1200 athletes, coaches and officials during the Para Games, apart from providing wheelchairs for the 10-day event.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

Qualifier Bharath Kumaran beat Chirag Duhan 7-6(5), 6-2 in the first round of the $15,000 ITF men’s tennis tournament at the Gujarat University Tennis Academy on Wednesday.

In the pre-quarterfinals, Bharath will challenge the eighth seed Sidharth Rawat.

– Kamesh Srinivasan

Jaya Kapoor knocked out the top seed and the champion of the last tournament Aishwarya Jadhav 7-5, 6-2 in the girls pre-quarterfinals of the ITF junior tennis tournament at the Shanti Academy on Wednesday.

In the quarterfinals, Jaya will play seventh seed Parthsarthi Mundhe who beat Samira Khazieva of Uzbekistan in three sets.

In the boys section, fifth seed Vishal Vasudev overcame a tough start to beat qualifier Kanvar Singh of Australia 5-7, 7-5, 6-3.

– Kamesh Srinivasan

Wild card Pablo Llamas Ruiz of Spain beat fifth seed Sumit Nagal 6-4, 6-1 in the first round of the €91,250 Challenger tennis tournament in Murcia, Spain, on Wednesday.

– Kamesh Srinivasan

The Telangana Football Association has announced it will be conducting the Telangana Women’s League 2025 in Nizamabad in the last week of April.

All participating clubs are expected to complete the mandatory formalities at the earliest.

-Anirudh Velamuri

Punjab, boosted by the inclusion of Amman Sandhu, who currently plays in the USA with Division 1 NCAA team Manhattan Jaspers, and top scorer Karandeep Singh, recorded a comprehensive 87-25 win over Himachal Pradesh in a men’s Group-B match of the National under-23 basketball championships at the Sarusajai Stadium, Guwahati, on Wednesday.

Tamil Nadu men and women and Assam men won their second consecutive matches to confirm berths in pre-quarterfinals.

-Y. B. Sarangi