Shrachi Rarh Tigers set a strong total of 165/4 in 15 overs. Malda, in a rain-shortened innings, managed 97/5in nine overs, falling short by nine runs. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

CRICKET

Shahbaz and Chauhan power Shrachi Rarh Tigers to Bengal T20 League title

Shrachi Rarh Tigers rode on skipper Shahbaz’s explosive unbeaten half-century to beat Sobisco Smashers Malda via DLS method in the rain-affected men’s final and emerge as the champion in the Bengal T20 League at the Eden Gardens on Sunday night.

Asked to bat, Rarh Tigers posted a formidable 165 for four in the reduced quota of 15 overs. In its rain-interrupted innings, Malda scored 97 for five in nine overs to fall short of the revised target by nine runs.

Rarh Tigers lost three wickets for 10 runs before Shahbaz (88 n.o., 46b, 7x4, 6x6) and Gaurav Chauhan (55, 30b, 1x4, 5x6) put up the highest partnership of the league by adding 144 runs.

Shahbaz ruled the leg-side, while Chauhan played some handsome shots on both sides. Rarh Tigers collected 58 runs in the last three overs.

In reply, Malda, in its start-stop innings, gathered runs briskly with opener Abhimanyu Easwaran (38, 22b, 2x4, 2x6) emerging as the side’s top-scorer.

Pacer Sukhmeet Singh removed Kaif Ahmed and Abhimanyu to deal a double blow in the ninth over and give Rarh Tigers a decisive advantage.

— Team Sportstar

GOLF

Talwar records best result of 2026 outside India, finishes T-12 in English Open

Indian golfer Saptak Talwar registered his strongest result outside India, finishing a creditable T-12 at the English Open here.

Talwar was unlucky to miss out on a top 10 result as he finished with a score of 10-under par for the week, one shot behind the group in T-7 at The Vale Golf Club on Sunday.

Talwar, who had birdied every alternate hole on the back nine, needed one more on the 18th to force his way into the Top-10, but he managed only a par for 4-under 68.

Talwar’s best this season was T-2 at the DP World PGTI Open in India in March this year.

American John Catlin (67) won the title through a play-off against Kristian Krogh Johannessen (66) of Norway. Both Johannessen and Catlin finished the week at 18-under par, five shots clear of their closest rivals.

Talwar started hot this week with a round of 3-under 69 before his game cooled off and he recorded rounds of 1-under 71 and 2-under 70. Heading into the final day, Talwar was in T-24 with a score of 6-under par.

The 27-year-old put together his strongest round of the week as he charged through the field with a card of 4-under 68 and nearly put himself into the top 10. He made five birdies and one bogey in his final round to finish T-12.

The round started with an early birdie on the second hole before a bogey on the ninth hole put the score at even par at the turn.

On the back nine things clicked as Talwar picked up shots on the 11th, 13th, 15th and 17th holes to gain four shots in the last eight holes and record his strongest performance outside India and his second best result overall for the season.

The English Open, supported by Hotel Planner, returned to the golfing calendar for first time in 24 years this week, with Catlin joining a storied list of previous winners including Colin Montgomerie, Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam and Darren Clarke.

— PTI

Three Indians finish in Top-5 of Dutch Ladies Open

Indian women golfers enjoyed one of their strongest weeks on the Ladies European Tour as Diksha Dagar, Avani Prashanth and Pranavi Urs finished inside the top-five at the Dutch Ladies Open here.

Diksha and Avani shared the third place at eight-under 208 at the par 72 course, while Pranavi finished tied fifth at seven-under.

It marked Diksha’s fourth top-10 finish of the season, Avani’s second consecutive top-five result and Pranavi’s first top-five finish of the year. Avani came agonisingly close to forcing her way into the playoff.

She stood at nine-under through 17 holes after Aunchsia Utama had set the clubhouse target.

However, a bogey on the closing hole dropped her back to eight-under, leaving her just one stroke short of the winning total. Aunchsia Utama was joined by Norway’s Dorthea Forbrigd at nine-under.

Diksha, after a birdie on the 17th, reached eight-under and could have joined the play-off with a birdie but managed only a par and tied for third with Avani.

Despite the disappointment, the 19-year-old Avani produced one of the best rounds of the day with a five-under 67 featuring six birdies.

Reflecting on her performance, Avani said she was pleased with the overall quality of her golf despite the late setback.

“I’m obviously very happy with how the day went, but the last hole I guess that’s just sport. I played solid out there start to finish. Every part of my game really did well, so I’m happy,” she said.

She added that regaining full fitness after back problems had helped her rediscover her form, while consecutive top-five finishes had given her plenty of confidence going into the coming weeks.

Diksha signed for rounds of 68, 70 and 69 to continue her impressive consistency on the LET. The left-hander has quietly built momentum throughout the season, and another podium finish further strengthens her position among the leading performers on the tour.

Pranavi Urs also finished the week on a high after closing with a five-under 67. After an opening 73, she bounced back superbly with weekend rounds of 69 and 67 to claim a share of fifth place, providing India with three players inside the top five of a highly competitive LET event.

The tour now moves to Czechia for the Czech Ladies Open, where the Indian contingent will look to build on an outstanding week that showcased India’s growing presence on the Ladies European Tour.

— PTI

Three golfers of Indian origin secure top-20 finish at US Open

Sahith Theegala produced his best-ever finish at the US Open as three golfers of Indian origin ended inside the top-20 at Shinnecock Hills.

Wyndham Clark held off a relentless final-round challenge to capture his second U.S. Open title.

Theegala, and Akshay Bhatia had a memorable week. Theegala finished tied-11th at two-over-par after a closing 73, while Bhatia capped another impressive major performance with a final-round 70 to finish tied-17th. Aaron Rai, the reigning PGA Championship winner, shared the 11th place, rallying after a slow start to the week.

This marked the first time three players of Indian origin have finished inside the top-20 at the U.S. Open.

At the top, Clark completed a remarkable wire-to-wire victory despite seeing his six-shot overnight lead shrink to a single stroke early in the final round.

— PTI

MOTORSPORT

Emmanuel Brothers Shine: Johann scores EuroSBK points, Geoffrey nets Thailand podium

The Emmanuel brothers from Chennai, Johann and Geoffrey, came up with stunning displays over the weekend in the Yahama R7 Cup run along with European Superbike Championship (ESBK) and the BRICS Championship, respectively.

Johann Emmanuel, astride the Yamaha R7, and nursing a fractured wrist he had suffered during training, became the first Indian to score points with a seventh-place finish in the European Superbike Championship (ESBK) at Estoril, Portugal, marking a significant milestone for Indian motorcycle racing.

The teenager, who won the 2025 Qatar Championship and was crowned the 2025 KTM Cup Season 3 Pro Champion in India, is competing in the Yamaha R7 Cup, a one-make series that runs alongside the ESBK.

After a promising opening round in which he was running in podium positions before crashes ended both races, Johann returned in stronger form at the Circuito do Estoril in Portugal.

Starting 10th on the grid for Race 2, he steadily worked his way through the field, clocking fast and consistent lap times throughout the race. His efforts were rewarded with a seventh-place finish, securing his first points in European competition and making him the first Indian rider to score points in the European Superbike Championship.

Emmanuel also demonstrated impressive pace by setting the third-fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:49.875. His lap was quicker than the fastest lap recorded by race winner Daniel Ocete of Spain, who posted a 1:49.910.

Meanwhile, in Buriram, Thailand, 21-year-old Geoffrey Emmanuel secured a spectacular second-place finish for Gusto Racing at the Chang International Circuit during the latest round of the BRIC (Buriram United International Circuit) Championship last weekend.

Facing down a highly competitive grid on a brand-new track, Emmanuel delivered a fierce, edge-of-your-seat battle for the victory, ultimately crossing the line to claim a hard-fought second-place podium finish.

With this podium under his belt, Geoffrey continues to solidify his reputation as one of the most exciting young talents coming out of India. The focus now shifts to the next rounds of the championship, with Gusto Racing looking to carry this upward trajectory into the rest of the season.

— Team Sportstar

Published on Jun 22, 2026