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Sourav Kothari beats Pankaj Advani to clinch IBSF World Billiards title
Ace Indian cueist Sourav Kothari clinched the 2025 IBSF World Billiards title after an emphatic victory over multiple-time winner Pankaj Advani in the final in Carlow, Ireland. The cue sports world witnessed an unforgettable clash between two of India’s finest — Kothari and Advani — for the coveted title at the Snooker and Billiards Ireland (SBI) Academy on Wednesday. Also Read: Ancelotti unsure of Real Madrid future The 40-year-old Kothari emerged champion, scoring 725 points to Advani’s 480. His brilliant break of 325 was the standout moment of the match and it was one of the finest efforts in recent championship history. Kothari also notched up breaks of 119 and 112, showcasing exceptional composure, focus and cue control. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 April,2025 08:13 AM IST | New Delhi | PTI
WATCH: Neeraj Chopra registers 84.52m in first throw of 2025 in Potchefstroom
Two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra began his 2025 athletics season on a winning note, clinching gold at the Potch Invitational Meet held in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Competing at the historic McArthur Stadium, where he had qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Neeraj secured the top spot with a best throw of 84.52 meters, according to Olympics.com. Though short of his personal best and Indian national record of 89.94 meters set at the 2022 Stockholm Diamond League, Neeraj’s throw was enough to outclass the field. South Africa’s Douw Smit finished second with a respectable 82.44m effort, while Duncan Robertson rounded off the podium. In a six-man contest, only Neeraj and Smit managed to breach the 80m mark. Season opener 84.52 m @Neeraj_chopra1 good start!!! pic.twitter.com/yWmbyXdGMU — TZA Throwing Zone Athletics (@MichaelMMG71) April 16, 2025 This performance marked a deviation from Neeraj's typical season-opening appearances at the Doha Diamond League, where he had kicked off his 2023 and 2024 campaigns. Interestingly, he is also listed to compete at the Doha meet this year on May 16, alongside another major javelin competition on home soil—a World Athletics Continental Tour event scheduled for later in May. The South African meet also held deeper significance as it marked Neeraj’s competitive debut under the guidance of legendary Czech javelin thrower Jan Zelezny. A three-time Olympic gold medalist and world champion, Zelezny is widely regarded as one of the greatest in the sport, and his collaboration with Neeraj has sparked excitement among fans and experts alike. This was Neeraj’s first competitive appearance since finishing second at the 2024 Diamond League final last September. The 2025 season is poised to be crucial for the Indian ace as he aims to defend his World Championships gold later this year. The marquee event will take place at Tokyo’s National Stadium—the same venue where Neeraj scripted history by winning Olympic gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Neeraj’s path to defending his world crown won’t be easy, as Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, his long-standing rival, will also be in the fray. Nadeem edged out Neeraj for Olympic gold at Paris 2024 with a record-breaking throw and will be aiming to reclaim the world title after settling for silver behind Neeraj at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
17 April,2025 05:50 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
China’s Siqi, India’s Diya highest valued players
Chennai Lions splurged 19.7 lakh tokens on China’s Fan Siqi while Dabang Delhi TTC roped in India’s Diya Chitale for 14.1 lakh tokens, making them the highest valued players in the auction for Ultimate Table Tennis’ sixth season here on Tuesday. Dabang Delhi TTC used their right to match (RTM) card after an intense bidding war to bring Chitale on their roster, while retaining G Sathiyan (10 lakh tokens). Also Read: Suruchi wins second gold, silver for Manu Harmeet Desai rejoined the reigning champions Goa Challengers through RTM with 14 lakh tokens, which was twice of his base price. Sreeja Akula returned to Jaipur Patriots for 11 lakh tokens (RTM), while Ahmedabad SG Pipers bid 12 lakh tokens for Manika Batra. All teams began with a purse of 50 lakh tokens. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 April,2025 08:09 AM IST | Mumbai | PTI
Silver for Nitin Gupta in 5000m race walk
India’s Nitin Gupta won the silver medal in the 5000m race walk competition of the sixth Asian Under-18 Athletics Championship in Dammam, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Gupta clocked 20:21.51sec to finish second on the podium. The gold was claimed by China’s Zhu Ninghao with a timing of 20:21.50sec. Also Read: Suruchi wins second gold, silver for Manu Chinese Taipei’s Sheng Qin Lo won the bronze with 21:37.88sec. The 17-year-old Gupta had broken his own national record last month during the National Youth Athletics Championship in Patna by clocking a personal best of 19:24.48 sec. Later in the day, Indian athletes will also be seen in action in other events such as discus throw, long jump, 100m and 400m sprints for both boys and girls. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 April,2025 08:07 AM IST | New Delhi | PTI
Suruchi wins second gold, silver for Manu
Teenaged shooter Suruchi Inder Singh produced yet another sterling performance in the 10m air pistol event here to clinch her second consecutive ISSF World Cup gold, while Paris Olympics medallist Manu Bhaker bagged the silver to ensure India’s domination in the competition. The Jhajjar-based Suruchi, 18, who had won her maiden World Cup gold in the season’s inaugural global event recently, tallied 243.6 in the 24-shot final, to leave Manu 1.3 points behind her. China’s Yao Qianxun took the bronze. Also Read: We thought the tie was over: PSG’s Dembel Suruchi and Manu’s podium finish meant that India collected one medal of each colour on the day, with men’s 10m air pistol marksman Saurabh Chaudhary earlier winning a bronze. India’s exploits in the women’s 10m air pistol competition in the Peruvian capital has taken the country to the top of the standings with three medals, followed by China, which has won the men’s air pistol gold. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 April,2025 08:05 AM IST | Lima (Peru) | PTI
Advani reaches World Billiards final
India’s ace cueist Pankaj Advani has reached the finals of the IBSF World Billiards Championship beating compatriot Dhurv Sitwala here. Also Read: Palekar, Patwardhan enter doubles final He defeated Sitwala 1070-300 in a two-and-a-half hour semifinal. Sitwala took the initial lead with a break of 63 but from then on it was Advani show. Firing in back-to-back breaks of 173 and 205, the multiple world champion created a staggering 400-point lead. The other semifinal will be between India’s Sourav Kothari and England’s David Causier. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 April,2025 08:02 AM IST | Carlow (Ireland) | PTI
Palekar, Patwardhan enter doubles final
Top seeds Mangirish Palekar and Vikrant Patwardhan overcame a tough challenge in the first game before running away in the second to end up 22-20, 21-11 winners over Mitesh Arora and Vikas Shetty and enter the men’s doubles 45 final in the GD Birla Memorial Masters inter-club badminton tournament at Bombay Gymkhana on Saturday. Also Read: Swayam slams brace as CTC rout Companeroes In the final, they will take on Gautam Laud and Sandeep Mohan, who upset the second seeds Ayaz Bilawala and Shailesh Daga 21-17, 21-17. Palekar also reached the 85-plus doubles final, keeping himself in line for a double.
16 April,2025 08:01 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
Swayam slams brace as CTC rout Companeroes
Champions Training Centre (CTC) beat Companeroes 4-0 in a league match of the BK Mohite Memorial hockey tournament at the Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd Ground in Churchgate recently. Suhaan Pawle opened the scoring for CTC with a field goal in the 16th minute after which Aditya Walmiki doubled the lead seven minutes later. A brace thereafter by Swayam Gangurde (36th and 38th min) completed the rout for CTC. Also Read: Will struggling Verstappen quit Red Bull? In another match, United Bandra Sports Club (UBSC) beat Savio Hockey Foundation (SHF) 2-0. Conroy Consessio and skipper Royston Lobo were the scorers for SHF. In the third match of the day, Fr Agnel’s Gymkhana and Jeevan Jyoti Sports Club (JJSC) settled for a 1-1 draw. Sumit Dung Dung opened the scoring for JJSC after which Deepesh G netted the equaliser for Fr Agnel’s. The tournament, being organised by the Republicans Sports Club, is a 12-team round robin affair with matches played only on weekends.
16 April,2025 07:59 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
Will struggling Verstappen quit Red Bull?
A disastrous Bahrain GP has raised concerns that Max Verstappen could part ways with the Red Bull F1 team. Also Read: Sindhu, Sen to speahead India’s challenge at Sudirman Cup Following the race, Verstappen talked of a “catastrophe,” reeling of the problems that plagued him. He had to cope with tyres overheating, brake problems and two different pit stop delays, as he fought hard for a P6 finish. Red Bull’s motorsport adviser Helmut Marko has previously indicated there’s a performance-related clause in the Dutchman’s contract, “if we don’t deliver for Max.” Asked by Sky Sport Germany after the Sunday’s race if he was concerned Verstappen may reconsider his future, Marko said: “The [concern] is great ... improvements need to come in the near future so that he once again has a car that he can win with.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 April,2025 07:57 AM IST | Bahrain | AP | PTI
Sindhu, Sen to speahead India’s challenge at Sudirman Cup
P V Sindhu and Lakshya Sen will spearhead a strong Indian singles challenge at the Sudirman Cup Finals to be held in Xiamen, China from April 27 to May 4. The tournament will see the return of the India’s formidable men’s doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty after the latter had suffered a back injury at the All England Open Championships last month. Also Read: Coach Thipsay confident ahead of Asian C’ship However, the women’s doubles pair of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly will miss out due to shoulder niggles for both. India are placed in Group D alongside former champions Indonesia, two-time runners-up Denmark, and a strong England team. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 April,2025 07:55 AM IST | New Delhi | PTI
Coach Thipsay confident ahead of Asian C’ship
Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay will be the Head of Delegation (HOD) and coach of the Indian chess team that will take part in the Asian Individual (men and women) Chess Championship to be held at Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from May 6 to May 16. The selected players are Karthik Venkataraman, Surya Shekhar Ganguly and Neelash Saha in the Open category and Nandhidhaa PV, Priyanka K and Padmini Rout in the women’s category. “The Asian Individual Chess Championship is one of the FIDE events for a few seats for the World Cup Championships. The World Cup and a few other tournaments then decide the eligibility of the players for the Candidates Tourney,” Thipsay told mid-day. Also Read: We know what we need to do: Inter Milan coach Inzaghi Speaking of the team’s challenges ahead, the Indian Grandmaster added: “I think all our players are very strong. Surya Shekhar Ganguly has won medals in the past. The other players are much younger, but just as gifted as Ganguly. We can look forward to more than one medal. I am equally optimistic about the women’s section. They need to be guided better about the styles of their opponents on a daily basis. Selecting opening variations and individual game strategy will be key.” When asked about the formidable field, Thipsay replied, “China could field a strong team in the men’s section. In the women’s category, as most of the top Chinese players are seeded for the World Cup, they may not play here. I expect the Indian women to dominate the Championship.”
16 April,2025 07:53 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent