Kochi’s Kalina Rangers comprises a tight-knit group of friends represented by Craig Dsouza, Scott Moraes, Tyson, Clinton Dsouza and Faheez Mohammed. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

FOOTBALL

Kalina Rangers reign supreme in 4v4 national football championship

Team Kalina Rangers from Kochi scripted history as it clinched the maiden Red Bull Four 2 Score National Championship in Coimbatore on Saturday.

Kalina Rangers, which beat crowd favourite MRFC A via a sudden-death goal by Tyson Patel in the final, now has a chance to represent India at the World Finals in Canada later this year.

The team comprises a tight-knit group of friends represented by Craig Dsouza, Scott Moraes, Tyson, Clinton Dsouza and Faheez Mohammed.

“We are ecstatic about the win at the Red Bull Four 2 Score India Finals, after putting in the hard work and beating the top teams in the country. But now, the focus shifts to the World Finals in Canada. We are going there to win and not just to participate,” Moraes said.

“I used to play a lot of futsal at the start of my footballing career. There is more quickness involved in this game. Red Bull Four 2 Score gives a great platform to young grassroots stars to showcase their talent. I congratulate Kalinga Rangers on winning their maiden Red Bull Four 2 Score tournament,” Indian footballer Vikram Partap Singh, who was present on the occasion, said.

Red Bull Four 2 Score is played in the 4v4 format over 10 minutes, with no breaks and goalkeepers. Moreover, goals scored in the first and last minutes of the contest count as double. Tiebreakers are settled with one player from each team going head-to-head, trying to outsmart the other to score the winning goal.

-Team Sportstar

TENNIS

Puneeth M shines at ITF Asia U-14 Championships

Puneeth M capped off a remarkable campaign at the ITF Asia 14 & Under Development Championship Finals in Colombo by winning the singles championship in the first week of the tournament before finishing as the doubles runner-up in the following week.

As a consequence, Puneeth has qualified for the 14 & Under Wimbledon tournament and has earned a spot on the ITF Asian 14 & Under Touring Team, which will compete across Europe later this year.

In the singles final, Puneeth defeated Hong Kong’s Him Wong to clinch the title, a win that helped India finish on top of the overall standings. Puneeth, a Roundglass Tennis Academy athlete, currently holds the All-India No. 1 rank in the AITA Boys Under-14 standings.

-Team Sportstar

Sumit Nagal crashes out of BMW Open

Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal, on Monday, crashed out in the first round of the ATP 500 BMW Open being held in Munich.

He lost 2-6, 2-6 against world no. 19 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina.

-Team Sportstar

PICKLEBALL

Dhiren Patel, Arjun Singh secure golds for India at the US Open Pickleball Championship 2026

Arjun Singh added another gold to his kitty, winning the men’s singles 5.0 at the US Open, beating Ashton Patterson in straight sets 13-11, 11-6.

Seasoned stalwart Dhiren Patel added another US Open gold medal to his tally, also adding to India’s total in the 40+ Pro Men’s Singles category.

This brings India’s total medal tally to three gold medals at the tournament held in Naples, Florida.

Dhiren was stretched to the absolute limit by Juan Arraya in the finals, with the gold medal decided by the barest of margins. He won 11-9, 3-11,11-9 to finally take home the coveted 40+ Pro men’s singles championship.

-Team Sportstar

Published on Apr 13, 2026