Sports Medals

The match was level till four games (2-2) when Damani, who is employed with IndianOil, accelerated and won the next two frames to lead 4-2. Although Sitwala took the next game, Damani played all across the table to dominate in the 8th game and won the title 5-3, according to information reaching here on Tuesday.

The influence and impact of the Hero Santosh Trophy, however, hasn't remained restricted to India it has travelled beyond its boundaries from its very inception. So much so, when the newly-born nation Pakistan played their first official international tie  a friendly match against Iran the team was led by the redoubtable Osman Jan, the celebrated custodian, who was actually known for his fabulous exploits in the Santosh Trophy.

Sharath Kamal, who won three gold medals and a silver at the Commonwealth Games 2022 earlier this year, has been conferred with India's highest sporting honour, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award. Apart from Sharath, 25 sportspersons were presented with the Arjuna Award, given out for consistent performance over a period of four years.

Following a promising performance in the Dessert Classic championship in the last month, her record was set and officially approved by the Olympic Oval recently. On this momentous occasion, holder of multiple national records, Shruti Kotwal commented, "I am extremely thrilled by the results we were able to achieve in the last two championships.

The Indian pair, 7th in the BWF Rankings, went down 16-21, 19-21 in the 41-minute encounter. Satwik and Chirag trail 6-0 on head-to-head going into the match but could not score their first victory against the Malaysian pair ranked 4trh in the world. In a match in which the two teams figured in 77 rallies of which the Malaysian pair, which won the men's doubles title in the World Championships in Tokyo, won 42 while the Indians claimed 35.

Not too surprisingly, she did not have any company for nearly two-thirds of the race in and outside the IIT Gandhinagar campus on her way to the gold. Even a howling wind during the cycling leg or oppressive humidity during her run could not shake her off her mission. Almost looking possessed, Pragnya Mohan crossed the finish line triumphantly, much to the delight of a big crowd that came to cheer her.

Advani maneuvered his cue like a magician's wand as he entertained the spectators, who showed up in large numbers to witness history being made at the High-End Snooker Club venue. Advani made his intentions clear from the first frame itself that he wants to win the title as the event is being held after a two-year gap due to the Covid-19 pandemic.