Champion Viraj Madappa (third from right) receives his trophy from H Shankar, MD, CPCL (third from left), Kannan, Director, Operations, CPCL (second from left), Venkatesh, Director, Technical, CPCL (extreme left), Adi Saravanan, Honorary Associate Secretary, TNGF (second from right) and Vikas Singh, Chief Business Officer, DP World PGTI (extreme right) | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

GOLF

Madappa overcomes three-shot deficit to win the Chennai Open golf

Viraj Madappa overturned a three-shot deficit with a bogey-free eight-under 64 to win the Rs. 1 crore Chennai Open golf tournament by one stroke at the TNGF Cosmo Golf Course.

The 28-year-old Kolkata golfer (72-67-63-64), who began the final round three shots behind overnight leader Ajeetesh Sandhu, made eight birdies to finish at 22-under 266 and secure his fourth professional title.

Madappa, who became the youngest Indian to win on the Asian Tour in 2018, collected Rs 15 lakh.

The victory lifted him from 44th to 22nd on the 2026 DP World PGTI Order of Merit, taking his season earnings to Rs 23,90,042 and securing his place in the DP World India Championship.

Chandigarh’s Sandhu (65-66-68-68), a five-time DP World PGTI winner, closed with a four-under 68 comprising five birdies and a bogey.

- PTI

CRICKET

DDCA awards Rs. 1.43 crore prize money to players, clubs

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) awarded Rs. 1.43 crore to clubs and players at its annual prize distribution ceremony.

In a release, the DDCA said it increased prize money by 10 per cent across categories for the 2025-26 season.

In a major boost for women’s cricket, the association also introduced prize money for all clubs participating in the Women’s T20 League.

Each of the 10 groups in the Women’s T20 League received a prize fund of Rs. 2 lakh for the winner and Rs. 1.75 lakh for the runner-up.

The ceremony recognised the champions, runners-up and top performers across the DDCA League 40 Overs Tournament, Men’s T20 League and Hot Weather Tournament, while also highlighting the performances of players who stood out during the 2025-26 season.

- PTI

ACA inaugurates one of India’s largest indoor cricket facilities

One of India’s largest indoor cricket facilities was inaugurated at the ACA Cricket Academy in North Guwahati on Friday, strengthening Assam’s cricketing infrastructure.

Spread across approximately 17,000 sq ft, the facility features nine cricket wickets — four spin and five seam — with imported Uniturf playing surfaces to allow players to train under varied conditions.

It also houses separate men’s and women’s changing rooms, each equipped with ice baths, a 1,500 sq ft gymnasium, sauna and steam room, as well as a dedicated physiotherapy facility for rehabilitation, injury management and recovery.

“The development of modern cricket infrastructure is essential for creating the right environment for players to learn, train and progress,” said BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia while inaugurating the facility.

- PTI

HOCKEY

Semifinalists decided at 6th Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship 2026

The knockout stages of the 6th Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship 2026 got underway with all four quarterfinals completed, headlined by a dramatic shootout finish between All India Police Sports Control Board and Food Corporation of India.

In quarterfinal 1, Petroleum Sports Promotion Board edged past Sports Authority of India 3-2. Gurjot Singh, Manpreet and Varun Kumar were on target for PSPB, while Sachin Dungdung struck twice for SAI in a losing cause.

Quarterfinal 2 saw Railway Sports Promotion Board keep a clean sheet to beat Central Board of Direct Taxes 2-0, with Singh Gursahibjit and Simranjot Singh finding the net either side of half-time.

In Quarterfinal 3, Comptroller & Auditor General of India came through a seven-goal contest against Punjab National Bank, winning 4-3. Skipper Parmod, Majji Ganesh, Deepak and Angad Bir Singh all found the target for CAG, while Panchal Prikshit, Abhimanyu and Neeraj replied for Punjab National Bank.

The day’s standout tie was Quarterfinal 4, where All India Police Sports Control Board and Food Corporation of India could not be separated after regulation, finishing 2-2. Mohammad Haris and Shamsher Singh scored for AIPSCB, while Navraj Singh struck twice for FCI to force a shootout. AIPSCB held its nerve from the spot, with Shamsher Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Vijay Kumar Gond and Mohammed Haris all finding the target, while goalkeeper Malhotra Paras produced the key saves to seal a 4-3 shootout win and send his side through.

- Team Sportstar

MOTORSPORTS

Rahil Pillarisetty sizzles for pole position

Showing impressive pace, Hyderabad’s Rahil Pillarisetty (RACR Castrol Power1) qualified for pole position in the premier Super Sport 301-400cc Open class as the second round of the MRF Indian National Racing Challenge 2W – 2026 commenced at the Madras International Circuit.

The 28-year-old Rahil put in a hot lap of one minute, 48.806 seconds for pole position ahead of Chennai teenager Rakshith Dave (Petronas TVS Racing) and Bengaluru’s Savion Sabu (Mad Rabbit Racing).