File photo: Despite the defeat, it has been a breakthrough week for Dhamne, who is set to break into the top-400 for the first time. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

TENNIS

India’s teenage sensation Manas Dhamne fell short of a title finish in his maiden ATP Challenger singles final, going down to Belgium’s Buvaysar Gadamauri in a closely-fought summit clash in Shymkent, Kazakhstan on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Dhamne put up a spirited fight before losing 6-7(8), 4-6 in a contest that lasted over two hours and hinged on fine margins.

Dhamne showed nerves of steel in the opening set, stretching his more experienced opponent to a tie-break and even holding set points before Gadamauri edged ahead 10-8.

The narrow loss appeared to take some wind out of the Indian’s sails as the Belgian capitalised with a decisive break in the second set to seal the title.

Despite the defeat, it has been a breakthrough week for Dhamne, who is set to break into the top-400 for the first time, most likely achieving a career-high mark of 384 when the new rankings are issued on Monday.

-PTI

GOLF

Diksha Dagar in contention in Mauritius as Hitaashee, Tvesa also make cut

Indian golfer Diksha Dagar played a solid bogey-free 3-under 69 to move into title contention at the MCB Ladies Classic - Mauritius on the Ladies European Tour.

The two-time winner on the LET, Diksha, shot 68 in the first round and moved to 7-under for two rounds. She is Tied-fourth and just two behind the co-leaders, Denmark’s Smilla Tarning Soenderby, Germany’s Celina Sattelkau and South Africa’s Casandra Alexander. They were all at a total of nine-under-par.

Three of the four Indians in the field this week made the cut. Joining Diksha for the final round were Hitaashee Bakshi (71-69) and Tvesa Malik (70-71). Hitaashee was T-19 and Tvesa was T-26. Vani Kapoor (78-77) missed the cut.

Diksha, who was T-37 in the Women’s South African Open last week, is looking to peak in time for her Hero Women’s Indian Open. She birdied the sixth, 10th and 12th and dropped no bogeys.

Hitaashee had five birdies, including three in a row from the third, but also dropped shots on the 12th and the 13th.

Tvesa Malik, playing through her membership on Sunshine Ladies Tour, had three birdies against two bogeys.

-PTI

Published on May 03, 2026