Indian Sports wrap, October 23: JSW Indian Open returns to Mumbai in February 2027

File Image: The JSW Indian Open returns in February 2027, with the women’s event upgraded to PSA Silver. | Photo Credit: ANI

JSW Indian Open 2027 to feature India’s first women’s PSA Silver-level squash tournament

The JSW Indian Open will return for its third edition from February 9 to 13, 2027, in Mumbai, with the women’s competition upgraded to Silver level on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour for the first time.

The upgrade will make it India’s first women’s Silver-level tournament on the PSA Tour, while the men’s competition will continue at Copper level.

The five-day tournament will bring together leading Indian and international players, providing home-grown talent an opportunity to compete against higher-ranked opponents on home soil.

The announcement comes after India’s encouraging performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, where the country secured five squash medals, comprising two silver and three bronze.

Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh won silver medals in the women’s and men’s singles events, respectively, while India also claimed bronze medals in the men’s and women’s team competitions and mixed doubles.

Apart from Anahat and Abhay, players such as Ramit Tandon, Veer Chotrani and Velavan Senthilkumar have made progress on the international circuit.

Divyanshu Singh, CEO of JSW Sports, said the upgraded women’s tournament represented an important step towards providing stronger competitive opportunities for Indian players.

The competition also assumes significance ahead of squash’s Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, offering players international exposure and an opportunity to prepare for higher levels of competition.

The organisers are yet to announce the participating players, tournament draw and ticketing details for the 2027 edition.

Neeraj Chopra to bring UBS Athletics Kids Cup to Haryana, over 350 children to compete in Sonipat

Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra will attend the UBS Athletics Kids Cup City Final at the Sports University of Haryana in Rai, Sonipat, on Saturday, as the grassroots athletics initiative expands to his home state.

More than 350 children, who qualified through school-level competitions across the region, will participate in the event on October 24. Chopra will interact with the participants and present awards to the winners.

The expansion will also see Haryana and Delhi NCR become permanent additions to the programme, which was launched in Mumbai in 2023.

Chopra, who served as an ambassador for the initiative for two years, became a co-owner of SD Sports India, the company behind the programme, earlier this year.

“Haryana will always be special to me because this is where my journey in sport began,” Chopra said, emphasising the importance of providing children with opportunities to participate in athletics.

The UBS Athletics Kids Cup aims to introduce children to athletics through organised competitions and encourage greater participation in sport at the grassroots level.

Now in its third season, the initiative has attracted 250,000 children across its participating cities.

Delhi to host 70th National School Games in three phases, over 14,000 participants expected

Delhi will host the 70th National School Games in three phases, with more than 14,000 players and officials expected to participate in 14 sports disciplines, Education and Sports Minister Ashish Sood said on Friday.

Sood inaugurated the games at Thyagaraj Stadium here. Organised under the aegis of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), the event will bring together participants from states, Union Territories and other participating units across the country, according to a statement.

The first phase of the games is being held from October 23 to October 28, while the second phase will take place from October 30 to November 5. The third phase is scheduled from January 28 to February 3, 2027, it stated.

Inaugural National Tennis Mixed Doubles Championship to begin in Hyderabad

The inaugural National Tennis Mixed Doubles Championship, organised by the All India Tennis Association (AITA), will be held at the Jubilee Hills International Centre in Hyderabad from October 24 to 30.

Hosted by the Telangana State Tennis Association (TSTA), the tournament will feature a 32-position main draw and a total prize purse of Rs. 10 lakh.

Soha Sadiq and Adil Kalyanpur, with a combined ranking of 28, are among the leading pairs in the draw, alongside Vishnu Vardhan and Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi, who have a combined ranking of 45.

Other participating pairs include Sai Karteek Reddy Ganta and Laxmi Siri Dandu, and Jagmeet Singh and Jennifer Luikham.

Qualifying rounds will begin on October 24, with matches scheduled on outdoor hard courts.

AITA secretary general Sunder Iyer said the championship would provide Indian players with opportunities to develop partnerships and gain competitive experience in mixed doubles, a format contested at the Asian Games and Olympics.

The TSTA has been chosen to host the championship for the next three years.

Karan, Digvijay qualify for semifinals of Mumbai Open ITF

India’s third seed Karan Singh and fourth seed Digvijay Pratap Singh advanced to the singles semifinals of the Mumbai Open ITF Men’s M25 Tennis Championship here on Friday.

Karan progressed to the final four after seventh seed Sidharth Rawat retired, with the former leading 4-3.

Digvijay defeated Japan’s Ryuki Matsuda 6-2, 6-2 to make the semifinals while Chirag Duhan also progressed after Maharashtra’s Arnav Paparkar retired with the score at 2-2.

In an all-American encounter, second seed Garrett Johns advanced to the semifinals after sixth seed Samir Banerjee retired while trailing 7-6(7), 3-1.

In the doubles competition, India’s top-seeded pair SD Prajwal Dev and Nitin Kumar Sinha made the final with a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory over Thailand’s Thanapet Chanta and Pawit Sornlaksup.

Third seeds Adil Kalyanpur and Sasikumar Mukund of India also secured their place in the doubles final, defeating compatriots Digvijay and Jagmeet Singh 6-2, 6-3.

Goa Aces JA Racing’s Luviwe Sambudla dominates F4 Indian Championship Round 3

The Madras International Circuit in Chennai witnessed thrilling wheel-to-wheel battles, dramatic recoveries and a historic breakthrough as Round 3 of the F4 Indian Championship, part of the Indian Racing Festival 2026, delivered three action-packed races on October 22 and 23. Goa Aces JA Racing’s Luviwe Sambudla emerged as the weekend’s standout performer, claiming two victories and a third-place finish to take the championship lead, while 15-year-old Aaron Mehta of Kolkata Royal Tigers made history by becoming the youngest race winner in the championship’s history.

Sambudla turned a five-point deficit into a 21-point championship advantage, moving to 138 points ahead of Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru’s Aris Kyriakou on 117. Across the 3.717-kilometre circuit, Sambudla showcased exceptional pace and racecraft, winning the opening two races from sixth on the grid before completing his weekend on the podium. Speed Demons Delhi’s Ntiyiso Mabunda was equally impressive, finishing second in all three races, while Mehta delivered a composed performance under pressure to secure his maiden victory in the final race.

Reliance Foundation kicks off India’s biggest youth football season

Reliance Foundation has announced the start of its 2026–27 football season, bringing together the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL), the under-21 club competition, and Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS), a grassroots football platform for boys and girls. RFDL kicks off in Mumbai on October 24, followed by RFYS in Shillong on October 28.

With 54 RFDL teams and more than 500 RFYS teams beginning their campaigns this October, the season will feature over 5,500 matches, creating competitive opportunities for young footballers across the country. The leagues will form a clear pathway: players begin in the U8–U12 league, lead on to the U14-U18 league, and finally advance to the U21 development league, which will be the main bridge to senior national team and club football.

Sandesh Jhingan, Team India Player, said, “Competitions like the Reliance Foundation Development League and Reliance Foundation Youth Sports play an important role in the development of young footballers. They provide players with valuable game time, the opportunity to compete against different teams and experience a professional environment at a young age. These experiences help bridge the gap between youth and senior football and prepare players for the next level. Strong grassroots programmes are essential to building a consistent pipeline of talented players for Indian football. My best wishes to all the players participating in these competitions — enjoy the game, keep learning, stay humble and always give your best on the pitch.”

Bengaluru FC celebrate winning the Reliance Foundation Development League 2025-26. Reliance Foundation has expanded the youth football pathway for the 2026-27 season | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Now in its sixth season, RFDL provides a competitive platform for under-21 players aspiring to progress to senior club and national-team football. A total of 54 youth teams, including Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, Punjab FC and Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC), will compete through nine regional qualifiers, followed by the zonal and national stages, culminating in an expanded National Championship. The league kicks off in Mumbai, with matches rolling out across regions in phases.

More than 250 players who have featured in RFDL have gone on to compete in the ISL, IFL, I-League 2 and I-League 3. In September 2026, India qualified for the AFC U20 Asian Cup for the first time in 20 years, with 22 members of the 23-player squad having featured in RFDL.

Entering its ninth season, RFYS provides structured football competitions for young players, with opportunities for both boys and girls across age groups. More than 500 teams will compete across 11 centres in six categories: Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18 for boys and girls. More than 2,220 matches are planned for the season, which begins in Shillong, with other centres launching in phases through November and December.

The RFYS U8–U12 league extends the pathway to younger children, introducing them to organised football and competitive play at an early age. The league spans 13 centres, with nine already active and more than 1,490 matches played since its launch in late August 2026.

WTT Youth Contender Chennai 2026: Divyanshi Bhowmick, Nikkhil Mannath make winning starts

India’s Divyanshi Bhowmick and USA’s Satya Aspathi began their U17 girls’ singles campaigns with victories, while Nikkhil Mannath and Trishal Surapureddy remained unbeaten in the U17 boys’ singles on the opening day of the WTT Youth Contender Chennai 2026 on Friday.

The four-day tournament, being held at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University, features 12 categories from U11 to U19.

Divyanshi, ranked World No. 22 in the U17 category, defeated Ishita Colaso 11-4, 11-8, 11-9, while Aspathi overcame Preetika Prabu 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-4.

Divyanshi Bhowmick defeated Ishita Colaso in the opening round on Friday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Unranked Avisha Karmakar produced a major upset, defeating Shreya Limaye 11-5, 11-6, 11-2. Anvi Gupte also registered two straight-game victories.

In the boys’ U17 competition, Mannath defeated Somdev Sengupta and Rudra Jana, while Surapureddy topped Group 16 with three wins.

Ritvik Gupta also registered two victories, while Vivaan Dave came through consecutive five-game contests against Dhairya Rawat and Sounav Barman.

In the U13 boys’ singles, USA’s Akhil Ramakrishnan won both his matches, while Qatar’s Rabeah Al-Kuwari defeated Sidharth Vijaykumar.

Divija Paul and Harshitha Nurani also recorded victories in the U13 girls’ singles.

Ojaswini Saraswat becomes youngest golfer to make cut at Hero Women’s Indian Open

Ojaswini Saraswat has etched her name into the history books by becoming the youngest golfer to make the cut at the highly prestigious Hero Women’s Indian Open.

Competing as an amateur invitee on the challenging layout of the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram, Saraswat safely navigated the opening 36 holes to comfortably secure her passage into the weekend rounds.

This milestone comes right on the heels of her recent victory at the IGU Rotary Southern India Amateur Golf Championship in Bengaluru.