Indian Sports Wrap, June 20: National Tennis Championship begins on September 30

TENNIS

New Delhi will host the National Championship from September 30

The Fenesta National Tennis Championship will be held here from September 30 to October 5 at the DLTA Complex. The men’s, women’s and under-18 events for boys and girls will be held in the first week.

The following week the under 16 and under 14 events for boys and girls will take place, as has been customary over the years.

However, apart from the ITF junior events, the Indian tennis calendar does not include international events for men and women.

All India Tennis Association (AITA) general secretary Anil Dhupar had hinted that the next set of international events for men and women would take place from September.

Until March, Indian tennis had a number of Challengers, a WTA event and a series of ITF events for men and women.

Thereafter, the top echelon of Indian tennis has kept busy by competing around the world, trying to build on the achievements of the international events hosted at home.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

GOLF

Anvitha takes the title during her second professional start in the 8th stage of WPGT

Anvitha Narender, who held at least a share of the lead from the opening round, secured a comprehensive seven-shot victory in the eighth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Bangalore Golf Club on Thursday.

In only her second professional tournament, the New Jersey-born golfer, who was T-8 in her debut a week earlier, shot three nice rounds in the 60s for 69-65-68 for a total of 8-under 210 and defeated amateur Lavanya Jadon. , who had a rough start but held on for a round of 73 to finish second at 1-under 209.

Vidhatri Urs, who like Anvitha is playing only her second professional event, shot the day’s highest total of 68, despite finishing with a double bogey and a bogey at the end.

Vidhatri, who was T-3 last week, finished third on par 210 with cards of 72-70-68.

Anvitha, who started the day with a two-shot lead, was five ahead after the first three holes despite making just three pars. Her playing partner Lavanya, who was two behind at the start, made a double bogey on the second and a bogey on the third. The third player in the leading group, Seher Atwal, parried the first six holes.

Anvitha dropped a shot on the Par-5 fourth, where Lavanya birdied for a two-shot swing. However, Anvitha fought back with birdies at the sixth and eighth and seemingly ran away with more birdies at the 12th and 13th.

As the players found it difficult in the closing stages, Anvitha was able to afford bogeys at the 14th and 17th, although she had a birdie at the 16th in between.

A final round of 68 saw her cruise to a comfortable seven-shot victory as Lavanya had three bogeys and two birdies on the back nine.

After a bogey start, Vidhatri made an attack with five birdies in the next eight holes, including three in a row from the eighth to the 10th.

Five pars and a birdie on the 16th put her second behind Anvitha, but a double bogey and bogey on the final two holes dropped her to third as Lavanya eventually finished second with three pars.

Seher had a rough nine with four bogeys on a tough scoring day.

Another amateur, Saanvi Somu from Bengaluru, shot 1-over 71 to finish fourth with experienced Seher Atwal, who dropped four bogeys in her last seven holes in a card of 3-over 73 and a total of 2-over -212.

2023 Hero Order of Merit winner Sneha Singh, who held a share of the lead after the first day, started in disastrous fashion with four bogeys in her first seven holes. She had one birdie and another bogey in a round of 74 to finish sixth at 6-over 216.

Last week’s winner Gaurika Bishnoi also dropped shots on the tricky closing holes as she finished a bogey-bogey of 70 to tie for 7th with Snigdha Goswami (74), who had four bogeys and no birdies.

Four players, Amandeep Drall (69), Jahaanvie Walia (70), Agrima Manral (71) and Rhea Jha (74), one of the co-leaders after Day 1, finished in a tie for ninth place.

Leader Hitaashee Bakshi, who finished 14th, continued to lead the Hero Order of Merit.

– PTI