Mannat is attempting to become only the second Indian woman golfer to win a mixed gender pro event. | Photo Credit: Instagram/@_mannatbrar_

GOLF

Tushar, Mannat share lead at AM Green IGPL Invitational Congo

Young golfers Tushar Pannu and Mannat Brar turned in a matching six-under 67 to share the lead after the opening day of the AM Green IGPL Invitational Congo in Lubumbashi.

Pannu, 21, who turned pro last year and came through the Qualifying School, had five birdies, an eagle, and one bogey in his superb round, while Brar, 19, the newly minted Women’s Golf Association pro, was bogey free for the day.

The AM green IGPL Invitational Congo is the fourth leg of the Tour and this week is the third event in African Swing.

After the opening leg in Chandigarh, the AM Green IGPL travelled to Mauritius and Joburg, South Africa.

As Pannu and Mannat shared the top spot, rookie pro, Sukhman Singh, son of former top amateur Simarjeet Singh, shot 5-under 68, to lie sole third at the Par-73 Golf Club Lubumbashi.

Aman Raj, a multiple AM Green IGPL winner in 2025, shared the fourth place with Harendra Gupta, as they all shot 4-under 69.

Hot on their heels was last week’s winner, Udayan Mane, the in-form Indo-American Manav Shah and Syed Saqib Ahmed -- all of who shot 3-under 70 and were tied-sixth.

Seven players, including Saarthak Chhibber, Sunhit Bishnoi, rookie pros Danish Verma and Kanav Chauhan, Digraj Singh Gill, IL Aalaap and Aryan Roopa Anand were all tied for the ninth place with scores of 2-under 71 each.

Mannat is attempting to become only the second Indian woman golfer to win a mixed gender pro event. Last year Pranavi Urs became the first one to do so at AM Green IGPL Mumbai.

In the team competition, Atri Mumbai, who did well last week, were once again in great form as Pannu (67) and Aman Raj (69) carried them to the first day’s lead at 10-under and two ahead of Leander Paes’ team, Flying Man Kolkata, for whom the stars were Sukhman Singh (68) and Syed Saqib Ahmed (70).

Green Fuels Vizag powered by Manav Shah (70), who was third last week, and young Danish Verma (71) were third at 5-under.

- PTI

Harman, Jamal share lead at DP World Players Championship

Harman Sachdeva and Jamal Hossain carded matching scores of five-under 67 to share a one-shot lead after the opening round of the DP World Players Championship being played at the Classic Golf & Country Club in Nuh, Haryana.

Sachdeva, playing his first full season on the PGTI Tour, produced a round highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 14th, along with six birdies and three bogeys. The 18-year-old finished strongly with a birdie on the par-5 ninth.

41-year-old Hossain, a six-time winner on the tour, returned an error-free 67 featuring five birdies to set the early pace before being joined by the teenager.

Four players – Japan’s Taiga Tanaka, S. Chikkarangappa, Rohit Narwal and Abhinav Lohan – were tied third at four-under 68, one shot off the lead.

- Team Sportstar

SWIMMING

Supriyo Sinha clinches two medals at World Masters Finswimming Championship 2026

Indian swimmer Supriyo Sinha won a gold and a silver at the World Masters Finswimming Championship in Thailand on Sunday.

Supriyo, who had bagged silver at the National Finswimming Championship last year, continued to shine, making a mark on the global stage, in Sriracha, Pattaya.

MORE SPORTS

TSI Racing returns to WRC stage; Mascarenhas, Karumbaiah to debut in WRC3

TSI Racing will return to the global stage with Dean Mascarenhas and co-driver Gagan Karumbaiah set to make their FIA World Rally Championship debut in the WRC3 class at Rally Islas Canarias, beginning on Thursday.

The 50th edition of the rally, based in Gran Canaria, will feature 18 special stages covering 301.30km, run entirely on asphalt.

Driving a Ford Fiesta Rally3, the Indian duo will compete in a strong WRC3 field across the fast and technical tarmac stages over four days.

- PTI

INDIAN FOOTBALL

The Indian Under-17 men’s team lost 1-5 to United Arab Emirates in the second of two closed-door friendlies at the Windmill Football Club in Samut Prakan, Thailand.

United Arab Emirates scored in the third, sixth, 13th, 22nd and 52nd minute, before Dallalmuon Gangte scored for India in the 89th.

India had won the first friendly 1-0 last Friday.

The friendlies were part of India and UAE’s preparations for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2026. The Blue Colts will play two more friendlies before the Asian Cup against Qatar on April 25 and 28 in Doha.

- Team Sportstar

BEACH GAMES

31-member Indian team to compete in Asian Beach Games in China

A 31-member Indian team will compete in the 6th Asian Beach Games to be held in Sanya, China, from April 22 to 30.

The Games will have medal events across 15 disciplines, with a total of 62 gold up for grabs.

India will compete in 3x3 basketball, beach kabaddi, sailing and beach wrestling.

India had sent a big contingent of more than 200 in the last edition in Vietnam in 2016, and had won 24 medals (two gold, four silver, 18 bronze).

Organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) since 2008, the Asian Beach Games is a multi-sport event focused on beach and coastal disciplines.

The Asian Beach Games were last held in 2016 in Da Nang, Vietnam. After that, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a prolonged delay, with the event now resuming after a decade.

- PTI

RUGBY

Haryana crowned champion

Haryana was crowned the men’s champion at the 13th Senior National Rugby Sevens Championship after registering a hard-fought 17-12 victory over Maharashtra in the final in Rajgir.

Haryana held its nerve in key moments to edge past Maharashtra, reclaiming the national title after finishing runner-up last year.

Earlier in the day, West Bengal secured the bronze medal with a 26-5 win over Rajasthan in the 3rd place playoff, delivering a composed performance to finish on the podium once again.

- PTI

Published on Apr 21, 2026