FOOTBALL

India U-17 males beat Atletico Madrileno U-16s in observe recreation

The India U-17 males’s group registered a 2-1 victory over Atletico de Madrileno U-16s in a observe recreation on the Alcala de Henares, in Madrid.

Advertising

Advertising

The India U-17s are presently enjoying a collection of observe matches as a part of their preparation for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023, which is able to happen in Thailand in June.

Thanglalsoun Gangte and Lalpekhlua scored early within the second half for India, earlier than Tallon pulled one again for the native group on Thursday.

The hosts started the match on the entrance foot, as India dug deep within the opening exchanges to maintain the scores stage.

However, India have been able to shift gears on the counter, and received an opportunity within the third minute itself, after they broke off a Faizan Waheed clearance and Gogocha proceeded up the pitch to feed a cross to Gangte, who shot huge.

Gangte was within the thick of issues once more, this time on the different finish of the pitch, within the twenty third minute, when he cleared an Atletico nook.

The two groups saved going back and forth at one another, earlier than Omang received a possibility to place his facet ahead with a bit over 5 minutes of regulation time left within the first half. However, his shot was saved by Atletico keeper Dani.

India keeper Julfikar Gazi was additionally known as into motion late within the first half, as he saved the scores at 0-0 earlier than the breather. The Spanish facet started on the entrance foot within the second half as effectively, and Gazi needed to make an acrobatic save early on to maintain them out within the 53rd minute.

As it occurs in a coaching recreation, India head coach Bibiano Fernandes introduced in a bunch of modifications a few minutes later, as Danny Meitei, Gurnaj Grewal, Vanlalpeka Guite, Korou Singh, Lalpekhlua, Thokchom, and Ricky Meetei changed Prachit, Rohen, Omang, Lemment, Gogocha, Faizan Waheed, and Dhanajit, respectively.

Interestingly, the modifications turned the sport round for the Blue Colts, and India took the lead as Korou handed it for Gangte, who took his probability with aplomb. Having taken the lead, the Korou-Gangte duo labored their magic as soon as once more, simply 4 minutes later.

Korou despatched in a cross for Gangte, and this time, the latter, as an alternative of going for the objective himself, left it for Lalpekhlua, to make it 2-0.

Atletico pulled one again by substitute Tallon within the 78th minute, however India held on to register their second win within the three observe matches they’ve performed up to now in Spain.

-PTI

GOLF

Chouhan birdies final gap to card even par at Abu Dhabi Challenge

India’s Om Prakash Chouhan, enjoying a European Challenge Tour occasion in overseas soil for the primary time, picked a birdie on the final gap to card a good par 71 within the opening spherical of the Abu Dhabi Challenge.

Winner of the Duncan Taylor Black Bull Challenge final month on European Challenge Tour, Chouhan is slated to play back-to-back occasions in Abu Dhabi as he seeks to consolidate his place on the Order of Merit, from the place the highest 20 will go on to earn a card into the DP World Tour.

Chouhan is presently ninth within the standings.

Chouhan had two birdies in opposition to two bogeys and was mendacity tied 61st which was simply contained in the cutline.

Starting from the primary 9, he bogeyed the sixth, however made amends on the eighth. He once more dropped a shot on tenth however completed the spherical with a birdie on Par-5 18th.

England’s Tom Lewis posted an eight underneath par spherical of 64 to take a one shot lead after the opening day.

Lewis birdied two of his remaining three holes to take the outright lead, one forward of Dubai resident Joshua Grenville-Wood and Frenchman Julien Sale, who each carded seven underneath par rounds of 65.

Spaniard Ivan Cantero Gutierrez posted a six underneath par spherical of 66 to maneuver into fourth place on six underneath par.

The Road to Mallorca Order of Merit Number One Ugo Coussaud continued his robust begin to the season as he posted a 5 underneath par spherical of 67 to maneuver right into a share of fifth place alongside Swedish duo Joel Sjoholm and Niklas Lemke, Italian Andrea Pavan and South African Brandon Stone.

The back-to-back occasions in Abu Dhabi have come about following a long-term partnership between the European Tour group and the Emirates Golf Federation.

-PTI

Modest begin for Arjun Atwal in Mexico

Continuing to divide his time between the PGA TOUR and the PGA Champions Tour, India’s Arjun Atwal opened his marketing campaign with a one-under 70 to lie tied sixty fifth on the Mexico Open.

Atwal, who turned 50 final month to turn into eligible for the PGA Champions Tour, had two birdies, one in every of them on his closing 18th gap in opposition to one birdie.

Atwal, who not too long ago completed T-11 on his Seniors debut, is enjoying his seventh occasion of the season, the place he’ll full 20 years subsequent season.

American Indian Akshay Bhatia (68) was T-Thirty first, whereas Aaron Rai was T-81 with a rating of 71.

Two Koreans — Sung Kang and S H Kim — have been the most effective Asians alongside China’s Carl Yuan and Marty Dou Cheng. All of them carded 2-under 69 every and have been Tied-Fiftieth.

Austin Smotherman, who gained the Mexico Open in 2018, when it was a part of the PGA TOUR Latinoamerica schedule, completed with 4 straight birdies for an 8-under 63 and a one-shot lead over Erik van Rooyen and Tano Goya. Smotherman performed bogey-free at Vidanta Vallarta.

Van Rooyen performed his remaining 5 holes in four-under and it included an eagle on the par-4 fifteenth when he holed out from 141 yards.

Masters champion Jon Rahm, who gained the Mexico Open at Vidanta in 2022, had 5 birdies on his final 11 holes to beat a sluggish begin for a 67. Tony Finau was amongst 5 gamers at 65.

The Mexico Open, which began in 1944, has had previous winners just like the legendary Ben Crenshaw, Billy Casper, Lee Trevino, Bobby Locke and Roberto De Vicenzo.

-PTI