Sports

Mysuru, June 25 (IANS) Gulbarga Mystics returned to winning ways with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Hubli Tigers in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 Tournament on Thursday, climbing to third place in the standings as the Mysuru leg of the tournament came to an end.

In a low-scoring contest, Hubli Tigers struggled for momentum throughout their innings, losing wickets at regular intervals before finishing on 119 for nine in 20 overs.

The Tigers’ highest partnership came from the final wicket, with Shikhar Shetty (27 not out off 17 balls; 2 fours, 2 sixes) and Vaibhav Sharma (4 not out) adding 31 runs, highlighting the batting side’s overall struggles. Shetty’s late flourish, which included 17 runs in the final over, helped the Hubli Tigers avoid being bowled out for under 100.

Mayank Agarwal (16) and Abhinav Manohar (21) failed to convert their starts, while medium pacer Kranthi Kumar starred with the ball, returning impressive figures of 3 for 17 from three overs, including nine dot balls.

Chasing 120, the Gulbarga Mystics lost two early wickets before Thippa Reddy (34 not out off 24 balls; 4 fours) and Macneil Noronha (42 not out off 29 balls; 3 fours, 3 sixes) steadied the innings with an unbeaten partnership to guide their side home in just 13.2 overs with seven wickets in hand.

With the Mysore leg of the tournament concluding, Bengaluru Blasters lead the table with six points from three wins, while Coastal Kings Mangaluru are second with five points from two wins and one washed-out match.

The Gulbarga Mystics moved up to third with four points from four matches following their second win of the campaign, while Hubli Tigers slipped to fifth after suffering consecutive defeats.

Coastal Kings Mangaluru win

Earlier, Karun Nair and Shreyas Gopal complemented each other to steer Coastal Kings Mangaluru to a six-wicket victory over Mysore Warriors on Thursday.

The Coastal Kings were back in action less than 24 hours after losing to Bangalore Blasters by 20 runs on Wednesday. But they made light work of the fatigue factor with Nair and Gopal successfully chasing a 192-run target with a stunning and decisive 60-ball 123 run partnership for the fourth wicket.

The veteran duo, who have featured in many epic battles both for Karnataka and many franchises down the years, turned the tables after the Coastal Kings were reduced to 42-3 by the fifth over.

Nair, the top pick at Rs18-lakh in this year’s auction, was at his flamboyant best making a 32-ball 61 (6 fours, three sixes) before he got out going for another big hit.

The tournament now shifts to Hubballi, with play resuming on Saturday.

Brief scores:

Hubli Tigers 119/9 in 20 overs (Shikhar Shetty 27 not out; Kranthi Kumar 3/17) lost to Gulbarga Mystics 120/3 in 13.2 overs (Thippa Reddy 34 not out, Macneil Noronha 42 not out; Shikhar Shetty 2/26) by seven wickets

--IANS

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Hyderabad, June 25 (IANS) Palamuru Strikers registered their first win of the season, producing a disciplined all-round performance to seal a five-wicket victory over Medak Falcons in the second match of the day in Season 1 of the Hyderabad Cricket Association's TG20 on Thursday.

Rishab Baslas (2/33) and Ravi Kiran (2/34) were the pick of the bowlers for the Strikers as they restricted their opponents to 164/9. Vignesh Reddy’s quickfire 39 off 22 set the platform, while Rohit Rayudu’s unbeaten 54 off 42 balls anchored the run chase for Strikers, guiding them home with 13 balls to spare.

From the outset, the Strikers' bowlers kept the Falcons' batters under constant pressure. Ravi Kiran struck in the very first over, dismissing Purnanand Rao (1 off 2), before returning in the fourth to remove Naman Agarwal (21 off 13) and further slow the Falcons' scoring rate.

After Ahwinan Ram (12 off 10) retired out, captain Ravi Teja and Shrunjith Reddy (19 off 19) looked to rebuild. However, the Strikers continued to tighten their grip, with Rathan Teja clean bowling Shrunjith before Rohit Rayudu had Ravi Teja edging behind to wicketkeeper Pragnay Reddy after a brisk 13 off seven deliveries.

Reduced to 77/5, the Falcons turned to Varun Yerram (36 off 23) and Vikram Naik (36 off 33), who stitched together a vital partnership to steady the innings. While the pair rotated the strike effectively, the Strikers' disciplined bowling made boundaries difficult to come by, with the Falcons reaching the 100-run mark only in the 13th over.

Varun and Vikram gradually found their rhythm, adding a valuable 64-run stand to revive the innings. However, Rishab Baslas swung the momentum firmly back in the Strikers' favour, breaking the partnership by dismissing Varun before removing Ishan Sharma (6 off 2) in the same over.

Baslas' double strike all but ended the Falcons' resistance. Vikram Naik, who had battled hard throughout the innings, was dismissed in the final over as the Falcons were restricted to 164/9 from their 20 overs.

In response, the Falcons made the perfect start with the ball as Varun Yerram struck in the opening over, inducing Karan Yadav (0 off 1) to hole out to Naman Agarwal. Yerram struck again soon after, dismissing Pragnay Reddy (15 off 10), to leave the Palamuru Strikers under early pressure.

Vignesh then joined Rohit at the crease, and the pair steadied the innings with a composed partnership. Rotating the strike efficiently while capitalising on loose deliveries, the duo added 59 runs off just 36 balls to wrest back the momentum. Just as the partnership began to flourish, Syed Ghazi Abbas provided the Falcons with a crucial breakthrough by dismissing the dangerous Vignesh.

Shrunjith Reddy further raised the Falcons' hopes by clean bowling Shadab Ahmed (3 off 3), but Rohit continued to anchor the chase with a measured knock. He found able support from Rathan Teja (23 off 20), who chipped in before being bowled by Ravi Teja.

Rohit brought up his maiden half-century of the season in style, launching Shrunjith Reddy for a six in the 18th over. With victory within touching distance, Pratheek Pawar finished the chase emphatically with a couple of boundaries as the Strikers sealed the win with 13 balls to spare.

Brief scores:

Medak Falcons 164/9 in 20 overs (Vikram Naik 36, Varun Yerram 36, Rishab Baslas 2/33, Ravi Kiran 2/34) lost to Palamuru Strikers 165/5 in 17.5 overs (Rohit Rayudu 54*, Vignesh Reddy 39, Varun Yerram 2/20) by five wickets

--IANS

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Manchester, June 25 (IANS) Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana felt her side left at least 15 to 20 runs on the field and failed to capitalise on crucial chances during India's chase as Bangladesh suffered a five-wicket defeat in their ICC Women's T20 World Cup clash at Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday.

After posting 136/8 in 20 overs, Bangladesh managed to create a few opportunities during India's chase but were unable to convert them into wickets, allowing the hosts to comfortably reach the target with 19 balls to spare.

Reflecting on the defeat, Nigar pointed to missed opportunities in the field as one of the biggest reasons behind the result.

"See, we have created a lot of chances in the middle, especially in the bowling, so we couldn't grab them. So they take this game away from us. And I think the way we actually bowled in the last game, we couldn't bowl," Nigar said after the match.

Bangladesh's total was built around contributions from Nigar herself and opener Juairiya Ferdous. After losing Dilara Akter early, Ferdous struck 33 while Sobhana Mostary added 22 during a 51-run partnership for the second wicket. Nigar then provided momentum in the middle overs with an attacking 32 off 24 balls that included four boundaries.

However, the captain felt her side failed to maximise a promising position and ultimately finished below a competitive total.

"We were short of 15 to 20 runs. And we had a good start in the power play, but we couldn't carry on in the middle and the last few overs of the innings. I think what we should accelerate at that time, so we couldn't capitalise ourselves," she said.

Bangladesh appeared to be in the contest when India lost a few wickets in the middle overs. Shafali Verma had already done most of the damage with a 34-ball 53, but Bangladesh bowlers managed to remove Yastika Bhatia, Richa Ghosh, and later Jemimah Rodrigues.

Nigar revealed that the team's message during that phase was to remain calm and believe the game could still turn in their favour.

"We are talking about anything can happen anytime. So just be positive and try to bowl in the right areas, and try to be calm. If it is the opportunity to come, you have to grab it. So somehow I think we lost the momentum and they played really well," she said.

While Bangladesh were unable to register a victory, the skipper took pride in the progress her side has shown during its first major tour of England. Several young players have impressed during the campaign, something Nigar believes is a positive sign for the future.

"See, it's not about success every time. I think the way this whole unit is actually growing day by day, and a lot of young players come up each and every game individually. So it is a kind of success for me, but still, we are here to win. And we had a massive opportunity to do well here, but I think I'm really proud of the way we actually played," she said.

Earlier, Bangladesh posted 136/8 with Juairiya Ferdous scoring 33 and Nigar contributing 32. Radha Yadav led India's bowling effort with figures of 3/28, while Shree Charani claimed two wickets and became the first Indian woman to take 12 wickets in a single Women's T20 World Cup edition.

India then raced towards the target thanks to Shafali's explosive half-century and useful contributions from Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues.

Despite the defeat, Bangladesh still have one more opportunity to end their campaign on a high when they take the field at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground. Nigar admitted that the prospect of playing at one of cricket's most famous venues is a special occasion for the entire squad.

"I guess this is a good opportunity for us because being there is good for the team. We really wanted to create some good memories there, and we are looking for the last game," she said.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, June 25 (IANS) The 10th day of the Rugby Premier League Season 2 witnessed Delhi Redz secure a comfortable 40-28 victory over the Kolkata Banga Tigers, ending their semifinal hopes in the process, at the Ganti Mohana Chandra Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Gachibowli, Hyderabad on Thursday.

Delhi Redz made a commanding start, patiently building their attacks before Nygel Amaitsa broke through to open the scoring. Samuel Asati and Josep Serres quickly added further tries, while Hitesh Dagar extended the advantage as the Redz dominated possession and territory.

With their semifinal hopes hanging in the balance, Kolkata Banga Tigers finally found a response through Vuiviwa Naduvalo before half-time. Serres struck again after the break, but Naduvalo almost single-handedly dragged the Tigers back into the contest with two brilliant individual tries late in the third quarter.

Jon Okeyo restored Delhi's breathing space in the final period, while Naduvalo produced another moment of magic, though the Redz maintained their composure and controlled the closing stages to secure an important win.

Later in the day, Hyderabad Heroes are set to take on the Mumbai Dreamers, while Chennai Bulls will face the Bengaluru Bravehearts in the last match of the day.

On Wednesday, Bengaluru Bravehearts defeated Kolkata Banga Tigers 26-21 in a league match and qualified for the semifinals on the ninth day of the competition.

Before that, Bengaluru Bravehearts dominated from the outset as Zain Davids and Akuila Rokolisoa gave them an early lead in the men's section. Shilton van Wyk, Ngarohi McGarvey, Ganesh Majhi, and Magomederassul Magomedov added further tries, while Ben Lasike and Guillaume Bouche replied for Mumbai Dreamers in a comfortable Bravehearts victory.

The Rugby Premier League is conceptualised by Rugby India and introduced in 2025 as the world's first franchise-based league for Rugby Union.

Rugby India is the official national sports body for Rugby Union in India. It is affiliated to World Rugby, Asia Rugby, IOA, and is recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport (MYAS). It is responsible for the growth and development of the sport across India.

--IANS

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Manchester, June 25 (IANS) India opener Shafali Verma said she was pleased with the way she batted against Bangladesh but admitted she would have been happier had she remained unbeaten after producing a match-winning knock in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup clash at Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday.

Shafali was named Player of the Match after smashing 53 off 34 balls, an innings studded with eight boundaries and a six, as India chased down 137 in just 16.5 overs to secure a comfortable five-wicket victory.

The aggressive opener gave India a flying start and helped the side record its highest-ever Powerplay score in Women's T20 World Cup history. Her half-century came off just 29 balls and laid the foundation for an easy chase.

Reflecting on her innings after receiving the Player of the Match award, Shafali expressed satisfaction with her form while also regretting the manner of her dismissal.

"Very happy the way I batted today. But if I am out there, that will make me so happy. But yeah, good confidence today and so happy I can grab some runs," Shafali said after the match.

India entered the chase needing 137 for victory after Bangladesh posted 136/8, and Shafali revealed that the batting group kept its plans simple during the pursuit.

"Nothing much, just backing our batting. Just whatever loose ball will come, we'll just go for the four or maybe six, or otherwise we'll go for one run. So it's just a normal talk, not a different thing," she said.

The opener looked in complete control throughout her stay at the crease, repeatedly finding gaps and punishing loose deliveries. Asked about any specific adjustments she had made to her batting, Shafali said her focus was on keeping things simple and trusting her instincts.

"Well, just try to choose the right ball. Whatever comes in my zone, just go for that. Otherwise, take a single. It's just a very simple thing, but sometimes it's complicated a lot. But I just talked to myself a lot this time, and yeah, it's going good and so happy for that," she explained.

Despite her crucial contribution, Shafali admitted she was disappointed by the way her innings ended. The opener was stumped in the ninth over after briefly losing awareness of her position outside the crease.

"Of course, sad. The way I got out, as I said earlier, if I am not out, that will be happier for me," she said.

Apart from her batting exploits, Shafali has also been used as a bowling option during the tournament. Speaking about the additional responsibility, she credited captain Harmanpreet Kaur for backing her whenever she is handed the ball.

"Well, of course, in the nets, I used to bowl with the new ball and with the old ball. Sometimes I laugh a lot, but in the end, whatever team needs, I'm there for that. And thanks to Harman, she always gives me a lot of confidence when I bowl, and gives me a very good field set. So just thanks to her," Shafali said.

Earlier in the match, India produced a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Bangladesh to 136/8. Captain Nigar Sultana top-scored with 32 while opener Juairiya Ferdous made 33. Radha Yadav led the bowling effort with figures of 3/28, while Shree Charani picked up two wickets and became the first Indian woman to take 12 wickets in a single edition of the Women's T20 World Cup.

India then made light work of the chase, thanks largely to Shafali's explosive innings, with useful contributions from Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues helping the team cross the finish line comfortably.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) Representing India on the international stage, the Velammal International School basketball team embraced a valuable learning experience at the prestigious NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore on Thursday.

In a challenging match against Jubilee High School, the Indian squad demonstrated immense spirit, providing a hopeful glimpse into the future of basketball in the nation.

While the final score was 95-61 in favour of Jubilee High School, the true story for the Indian team was the invaluable exposure to a higher level of global competition. This sentiment was perfectly captured by team member Kushal Manjunatha Singh, whose words reflect maturity and ambition that go beyond a single game.

“Back in India, we are number one. We can beat any team in our age group. But here, the competition is different. We are here to know where and what we need to improve on,” said Kushal Manjunatha Singh.

This powerful statement highlights the team's mission of growing, learning, and elevating Indian youth basketball. This experience is a crucial investment in developing athletes who can compete with the world's best.

The Velammal International School's presence at the NBA Rising Stars Invitational is a testament to the rising talent in India. Their journey in Singapore is a stepping stone, providing them with the necessary insights and experience to aim for greater heights in future international competitions.

This year's NBA Rising Stars Invitational is currently taking place in Singapore, running from Tuesday (June 23) to Sunday (June 29) at the OCBC Arena, Singapore.

Held in collaboration with Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), this year's high-school basketball tournament is showcasing 12 boys’ and 12 girls’ teams of talented athletes aged 18 and under from across the Asia-Pacific region.

This year's event is being headlined by an incredible lineup of basketball stars, including NBA champions Jeremy Lin and Mitch Richmond, Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, and WNBA champion Lauren Jackson.

--IANS

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Manchester, June 25 (IANS) Opener Shafali Verma struck a scintillating half-century as India chased down a target of 137 with 19 balls to spare and defeated Bangladesh by five wickets in Match 23 of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday.

Chasing a modest target, India came out with aggressive intent and never allowed Bangladesh's bowlers to settle down. Shafali led the charge from the very first over, smashing two boundaries off Marufa Akter to collect 11 runs and provide India with the ideal start.

The opener continued her assault in the next over, launching a massive six before adding another boundary as India's scoring rate climbed rapidly. At the other end, Smriti Mandhana also looked to attack and struck consecutive boundaries against Marufa. However, her brief stay ended when she attempted another big shot and was caught by Rabeya Khan at cover for eight off six balls.

The early wicket did little to slow India down. Shafali continued to find the boundary regularly while Yastika Bhatia settled in quickly and rotated the strike well.

The pair dominated the Powerplay, punishing anything loose and keeping Bangladesh under constant pressure. India raced to 63/1 after six overs, their highest-ever Powerplay score in Women's T20 World Cup history. The previous record was 59, set earlier in the tournament against the Netherlands.

Shafali brought up her half-century in just 29 deliveries during the seventh over. It was the second-fastest fifty by an Indian batter in Women's T20 World Cup history and another reminder of the destructive form she has shown throughout the tournament.

Just when she looked set for an even bigger score, her innings ended unusually in the ninth over. After missing a delivery, Shafali stepped out of her crease and was stumped by the wicketkeeper. She walked back after a brilliant 53 off 34 balls that included eight fours and a six.

By the time of her dismissal, India had already taken firm control of the chase.

Yastika and Richa Ghosh then focused on maintaining the momentum. Richa attacked with two boundaries in the 11th over as India looked to finish the game quickly and improve their net run rate.

Bangladesh found some success through their spinners. Yastika, after making a useful 23 off 18 balls with three boundaries, was dismissed in the 12th over. Rabeya Khan struck again in the following over when she trapped Richa Ghosh leg-before wicket for 10.

The wickets briefly slowed India's progress. Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur took some time to settle as Bangladesh attempted to create pressure with a few tight overs.

Jemimah eventually broke free in the 16th over with a six before collecting more runs to bring India within touching distance of victory. She followed it up with back-to-back boundaries in the next over and almost finished the chase herself before being dismissed for 26 off 15 deliveries. Her entertaining knock included three fours and a six.

With only a handful of runs needed, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma completed the formalities as India reached the target in 16.5 overs to secure a comfortable five-wicket victory.

Earlier, Bangladesh posted 136/8 after being asked to set the tone with the bat. Their innings was built around useful contributions from opener Juairiya Ferdous and captain Nigar Sultana.

After losing Dilara Akter for four in the second over to Renuka Singh Thakur, Bangladesh recovered through a 51-run partnership between Ferdous and Sobhana Mostary. Ferdous played the more attacking role and struck five boundaries during her 33-run knock, while Mostary added 22 off 26 deliveries.

India's fielders put down several chances during the innings, allowing Bangladesh to build partnerships and maintain a steady scoring rate.

Following Ferdous' dismissal, Nigar Sultana anchored the innings and later accelerated brilliantly. The Bangladesh captain struck four boundaries in a single over off Nandini Sharma and finished with 32 off 24 balls. Her dismissal in the 17th over, however, proved a turning point as Bangladesh lost momentum during the closing stages.

Radha Yadav was India's most successful bowler, claiming 3/28 and breaking crucial partnerships throughout the innings. Renuka Singh Thakur and Nandini Sharma picked up one wicket each.

Shree Charani once again impressed in the death overs, claiming two wickets in the final over to finish with 2/24. The wickets took her tally to 12 in the tournament, making her the first Indian woman to take 12 wickets in a single edition of the Women's T20 World Cup and surpassing Poonam Yadav's previous national record of 10 wickets.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh 136/8 in 20 overs (Juairiya Ferdous 33, Nigar Sultana 32; Radha Yadav 3-28, Shree Charani 2-21) lost to India 139/5 in 16.5 overs (Shafali Verma 53, Jemimah Rodrigues 26, Yastika Bhatia 23; Ritu Moni 2-29, Rabeya Khan 1-19) by 5 wickets

--IANS

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Panaji, Goa, June 25 (IANS) Host nation India has advanced three teams into the semifinals of the 5th Asia Cup Bridge Championships, following the conclusion of the round-robin stages at the Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon on Thursday.

India A (Men), India A (Women), and India B (Seniors) all qualified for the knockout rounds under the tournament’s 1 versus 4 and 2 versus 3 format. The Indian contingent features several accomplished bridge players, including Hemant K. Jalan, Sukamal Das, Rajesh Dalal, Jitendra Solani, Anil Padhye, and Raju Tolani, as Team India B of the Seniors squad enters the knockout stage as the top-ranked team in the division after finishing first in the Swiss league standings.

India B will face Japan in the semifinals on Table 31, while Australia meets Bangladesh on Table 32. A victory in the semifinals will take India B into the championship final, keeping the team firmly in contention for the title. India Seniors A, meanwhile, finished sixth with 142.70 VPs after a challenging final day.

In the Men’s Division, China led the standings with 218.31 VPs, followed by Hong Kong China A (196.72). India A secured third place with 186.47 VPs, setting up a semifinal clash against Hong Kong-China A on Table 2. Bangladesh B (173.66) narrowly edged India B (172.03) to claim the fourth qualifying spot. India now looks forward to a crucial semifinal against the strong and consistent Hong Kong China A side, with a place in the final at stake.

In the Women’s Division, defending champions China finished first with 124.66 VPs, followed by Indonesia (108.23). India A placed third with 105.39 VPs, while Japan qualified fourth with 89.14. The semifinals pair China against Japan on Table 11 and Indonesia against India A on Table 12, with the Indian women aiming to continue their impressive campaign.

In the Mixed Division, China A (169.23) and China B (163.02) secured the top two positions, with Hong Kong China A (155.43) and Australia A (141.14) completing the semifinal lineup. India B finished fifth with 135.90 VPs, missing qualification by a narrow margin despite registering a strong victory in the final segment. India A finished eleventh.

With three Indian squads in contention across the Men’s, Women’s, and Seniors events, the host nation remains strongly represented as the championship enters the knockout stage. All semifinal sessions across the four divisions will be played on Friday, in three sessions (09:30–11:45, 12:45–15:00, and 15:20–17:35), with the Grand Finals scheduled for Saturday.

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, June 25 (IANS) Karnataka’s aspiring pole vaulter Sindhushree G. was among several athletes who successfully achieved the qualification standards in their respective events in the upcoming Asian Games 2026 at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on the second day of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

Sindhushree, 26, fulfilled the mark in style on a day when as many as seventeen athletes booked their berths for the Asian Games starting September 19 by achieving the qualification criteria set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

On her way to winning the gold medal, she improved the national record to 4.25m, which was better than the Asian Games qualification mark of 4.10m. The previous record of 4.23m was set recently by Baranica, who settled for silver with a height of 4.20m.

Sindhushree also bettered the meet record of 4.10m set by Pavithra Venkatesh in 2023. Jubilant Sindhushree said she was mentally prepared to book an Asian Games berth. “I had trained hard, but the national record was a bonus,” says Sindhushree.

Nitika Akare of Madhya Pradesh won the bronze medal (4.10m) and was the third pole vaulter to achieve the Asian Games qualification mark of 4.10m.

The women’s 200m and 800m were two track events of the day in which the top three finishers bettered the Asian Games qualification mark. All three medal winners in women’s shot put also achieved the Asian Games qualification mark.

Odisha’s star sprinter Animesh Kujur was the only athlete in the men’s 200m to achieve the Asian Games mark of 20.88 seconds. His gold medal-winning time was 20.74 seconds.

In the highly competitive men’s two-lap race, Mohammed Afsal of Kerala (1:48.57 secs) and Krishan Kumar from Haryana (1:48.82 secs) finished first and second, respectively. Both athletes bettered the Asian Games qualification time of 1:48.80 seconds. “My goal is to improve my fitness to clock below 1:45 for the 800m in the near future,” says Mohammed Afsal.

Results (Day 2):

Men:

200m (AG Q Time 20.88 seconds): Animesh Kujur (Odisha) 20.74 seconds, Dondapathi Mruthy Jayaram (Odisha) 20.97 secs, Jishnu Prasad PK (Kerala) 21.18 secs.

800m (AG Q Time 1:48.80 seconds): Mohammed Afsal P (Kerala) 1:48.57 secs, Krishan Kumar (Haryana) 1:48.82 secs, Prathamesh Deore (Maharashtra) 1:48.89 secs.

Discus throw (AG Q Mark 60.13m): Kirpal Singh (Chandigarh) 57.37m, Nirbhay Singh (Haryana) 55.26m, Arjun (Delhi) 54.90m.

21km race walk (AG Q Time 1:25:37.00): Sevin Sebastian (Tamil Nadu) 1:31:49.00, Sachin Bohra (Uttarakhand) 1:32:10.00, Ningthoukhongja (Manipur) 1:32:24.00.

Decathlon (AG Q Mark 7250 points): Thowfeeq N (Kerala) 7276 points, Kushal Mohite (Maharashtra) 7251 points, Jasbir Nayak (Odisha) 7131 points.

Women:

200m (AG Q Time 23.70 seconds): Harita Bhadra (Maharashtra) 23.14 seconds, Unnathi Bollanda (Karnataka) 23.40 seconds, Prakruthi Poopa Rao (Karnataka) 23.58 seconds.

800m (AG Q Time 2:05.21 seconds): Gowthami Jayaraman (Tamil Nadu) 2:04.17, Pooja (Haryana) 2:04.37 secs, Lili Das (Uttarakhand) 2:04.59 secs.

Shot put (AG Q Mark 16.25m): Manpreet Kaur (Haryana) 17.75m, Krishna Jayashankar (Tamil Nadu) 16.69m, Srishti Vig (Delhi) 16.96m.

Pole vault (AG Q Mark 4.10m): Sindhushree G (Karnataka) 4.25m (NR previous national record 4.23m set by Baranica), Baranica Elangovan (Tamil Nadu) 4.20m, Nitika Akare (Madhya Pradesh) 4.10m.

--IANS

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Manchester, June 25 (IANS) India's rising left-arm spinner N. Shree Charani continued her dream run in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, rewriting the record books on Thursday by becoming the highest wicket-taker for India in a single edition of the tournament during the clash against Bangladesh at Old Trafford.

The 21-year-old achieved the milestone in the 20th over of Bangladesh's innings when she dismissed Shorna Akter to claim her 11th wicket of the tournament, surpassing Poonam Yadav's previous Indian record of 10 wickets set during the 2020 edition.

The landmark wicket came in the fourth ball of the final over. Shorna advanced down the track looking for a big hit but failed to get the desired elevation, mistiming the ball straight to Renuka Singh at cover-point. The dismissal took Charani past Poonam and made her the most successful Indian bowler in a single Women's T20 World Cup campaign.

Charani was not done yet. One delivery later, she struck again to claim her 12th wicket of the tournament, extending her record and helping India restrict Bangladesh to 136/8.

The latest achievement adds another chapter to what has been a remarkable World Cup campaign for the young spinner. Earlier this week, Charani climbed to the No.1 position in the ICC Women's T20I Bowling Rankings for the first time in her career, becoming the highest-ranked bowler in women's T20I cricket.

Her rise to the top of the rankings has been fuelled by a string of match-winning performances in England. Charani entered the Bangladesh match as the tournament's leading wicket-taker after producing a four-wicket haul against the Netherlands in Leeds and following it up with a three-wicket spell against South Africa in Manchester.

Against Bangladesh, Charani once again delivered when it mattered. After Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana and opener Juairiya Ferdous helped their side recover from an early setback, the left-arm spinner returned in the death overs to halt the scoring rate and finish with two crucial wickets.

Her record-breaking tally now stands at 12 wickets from just four matches, eclipsing the previous Indian benchmarks set by some of the country's finest spinners. Before Charani's feat, Poonam Yadav held the national record with 10 wickets in the 2020 tournament, while Diana David had taken nine wickets in the inaugural 2010 edition. Poonam also claimed eight wickets in both the 2014 and 2018 tournaments, with Radha Yadav matching that tally in 2018.

Charani's exploits have also placed her among the most successful bowlers in the history of the Women's T20 World Cup. Her tally of 12 wickets is already the joint fourth-highest in a single edition of the tournament.

With India still having matches remaining in the competition, Charani is now within touching distance of the all-time tournament record of 15 wickets held by New Zealand's Amelia Kerr. Given her current form, the young left-armer has a realistic opportunity not only to extend her Indian record but also to challenge the highest wicket tally ever recorded in a Women's T20 World Cup campaign.

--IANS

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