Indian sports wrap, September 22: Usain Bolt to visit India for exhibition football game in October

ATHLETICS

Bolt to visit India for exhibition football game on October 1

Sprint legend Usain Bolt will trade his running spikes for football boots as he is set to visit India for a unique exhibition match here on October 1.

Bolt, one of the greatest athletes of all time with eight Olympic gold medals to his credit, will light up the pitch in an exclusive football showcase alongside footballers, Bollywood personalities and other prominent figures.

Bolt will represent both Bengaluru FC and Mumbai City FC, playing one half each bringing fans from both camps together in PUMA’s two-day celebration, starting September 30.

This exhibition match will be a ticketed event.

“We believe sport has the power to inspire and unite communities. Football is one of the most popular sports among the youth of India, and bringing Usain Bolt to play here is our way of celebrating that momentum,” PUMA India MD Karthik Balagopalan said.

Beyond the track, Bolt has always carried a deep passion for football.

Growing up, he often played the sport and dreamt of showcasing his speed and skills on the pitch. After retiring from athletics, he actively pursued this love, training, playing trial matches, and even scoring goals along the way.

– Team Sportstar

HOCKEY

Vedanta Kalinga Lancers appoints Pascal Kina as Technical and Strategy Coach

Vedanta Kalinga Lancers announced the appointment of Belgian coach Pascal Kina as Technical & Strategy Coach ahead of the new Hero Hockey India League season. He will join the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers’ revamped coaching staff, which includes Australian legend Jay Stacy as the team’s new Head Coach.

The 57-year-old, father of Tokyo 2020 Olympics and 2018 World Champion Antoine Kina, brings over two decades of coaching experience. Kina served as Assistant Coach of the Belgium men’s team from 1998 to 2007, before taking charge as the Head Coach of the Belgium women’s team till 2015.

He later coached Canada’s women’s team and went on to serve as Assistant Coach of the South Africa women’s team during the Paris 2024 Olympics.

– Team Sportstar

Naval Tata Academy seals semis berth in Punjab hockey league

Naval Tata Academy, Jamshedpur, assured itself of a semifinal berth despite losing 4-5 in the shoot-out against SGPC Academy, Amritsar, after the teams were locked 5-5 at the end of the regulation period in the Punjab hockey league at the Surjit Singh Stadium on Monday.

The Jamshedpur team took its tally to 24 points to secure its place in the knock-out stage behind SAI, Sonipat and Roundglass Academy.

Roundglass beat SDAT Academy, Tamil Nadu, 5-2 to take its tally to 32 points, the second best behind SAI (36)

SGPC Academy stayed in contention for the knock-out phase with 16 points including two from the match against Naval Tata Academy.

– Team Sportstar

VOLLEYBALL

KL Rahul becomes co-owner of Goa Guardians in PVL

Indian cricketer KL Rahul has joined the ownership group of the Goa Guardians ahead of season four of the Prime Volleyball League, marking a new chapter for Indian volleyball.

Now, for the first time as co-owner of a professional sports team, Rahul wants to give volleyball the recognition it deserves. “This feels like a full circle moment for me. PVL is a turning point for the sport in India. The bigger picture is to give volleyball the spotlight and screen time so that more people can watch it and love this sport. I’m thrilled to join the Goa Guardians not just as a supporter, but as a co-owner. Volleyball has always been a sport I enjoyed, and I’m excited to lend my voice and play my part in growing the sport in our country” he said.

The Goa Guardians will debut in season four this October. Rahul believes Goa’s vibrant sporting culture makes it the perfect base to inspire new talent.

GOLF

Telangana Golconda Masters to feature 123 players

Top Indian golfers including Arjun Prasad, Udayan Mane, and Angad Chema will compete in the Rs one crore Telangana Golconda Masters, which tees off on Tuesday at the Hyderabad Golf Association.

The prominent foreign players in the field are Czech Republic’s Stepan Danek, Sri Lankans N Thangaraja and K Prabagaran, Bangladeshis Jamal Hossain and Badal Hossain, Italy’s Federico Zucchetti, Nepal’s Subash Tamang and Uganda’s Joshua Seale, according to PGTI.

The local challenge will be led by Hyderabad-based golfers, with professionals Mohd Azhar, Vishesh Sharma, Rupinder Singh Gill and Rahul Malik joined by amateurs Tarun Ajay, T Rishab Singh and Saatvic Kumar Singh.

The tournament will see a field of 123 golfers in action.

“It is a proud moment for us to welcome some of the country’s finest golfing talent to our course. This tournament is a great opportunity for our members to witness top-tier competition and it also showcases our magnificent golf course to a global audience through the Live Telecast. We look forward to an exciting week of world-class golf,” HGA president BVK Raju said.

The tournament is promoted by the Telangana Tourism Development Corporation.

– PTI

Amandeep, Vani, Sneha among front runners for 13th Leg of WPGT

The cream of Indian women’s golf will come together for the 13th Leg of the Women’s Pro Golf Tour 2025 this week.

Amandeep Drall, a former runner-up at the Hero Women’s Indian Open in 2022, Vani Kapoor, Sneha Singh, Seher Atwal, Gaurika Bishnoi and Heena Kang are among those using the event as a final tune-up before the Ladies European Tour event.

Diksha Dagar, Pranavi Urs and Tvesa Malik are among those who will skip the event as they play in the Ladies European Tour at the same time. Hitaashee Bakshi and Ridhima Dilawari are also missing the event.

– PTI

MOTORSPORT

30-member strong Indian contingent set for FIA Asia-Pacific Motorsports Championship in Sri Lanka

A 30-strong Indian contingent departs for Sri Lanka later this week to participate in the FIA Asia Pacific Motorsports Championship 2025 be held in Bandaragama, from September 26 to 28.

The other participating nations include Australia, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong – China, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Philippines, Maldives, Singapore, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan and Brunei.

– Team Sportstar

MORE SPORTS

Nike Grind onboards Gallant Sports as India’s first licensee

Nike Grind, a global sustainability initiative by Nike, has onboarded Gallant Sports as India’s first licensee. As part of this initiative, Gallant Sports has launched GallantBounce, India’s first-ever sustainable turf infill made with a minimum 20 per cent of Nike Grind rubber.

“GallantBounce is more than a product; it’s a statement. A statement that India is ready to rise sustainably, one field at a time. With Nike Grind’s world-class materials and our on-ground expertise, we’re setting the stage for a new era of green play. This is our 6 a.m. sunrise moment for sports in India,” said Nasir Ali, Founder & CEO, Gallant Sports & Infra.

Matt Curtis, Director, Nike Grind, said: “We’re excited to welcome Gallant Sports as a licensed partner in India. Their commitment to sustainability and innovation aligns with the purpose of Nike Grind. Together, we’re not just building better sports surfaces, we’re creating a better future through circular design.”

– Team Sportstar

CRICKET

Dr (Capt.) K. Thimmappiah Memorial tournament: MP holds advantage of Himachal; Goa well-placed against KSCA Secretary’s XI

Madhya Pradesh maintained its advantage over Himachal Pradesh in the semifinals of the Dr (Capt.) K. Thimmappiah Memorial tournament, reducing the latter to 106 for six at stumps in reply to its 425-run first innings total, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Monday.

From an overnight 262 for two, MP added 163 more runs, with Himanshu Mantri going on to complete his century and eventually end with 131 (276b, 11×4, 2×6). Then, left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya dismissed three batters from Himachal’s top-five (9-4-23-3) to give his side the upper hand.

In the other last-four clash, KSCA Secretary’s XI found the going tough, reduced as it was to 245 for eight in reply to Goa’s first-innings total of 338.

There were no big contributions outside of opener Lochan S. Gowda (88, 155b, 9×4, 1×6) and No. 7 batter Kruthik Krishna (89 batting, 180b, 12×4, 1×6) which means Secretary’s XI trails by 93 runs with just two wickets and two days left.

-Team Sportstar

Atray Memorial Tournament: JKCA beats PCA, Railways victorious against Shastri Club

Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) defeated Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) by three runs in the 30th All India JP Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament on Monday.

In another match, Indian Railways beat Shastri Club, Delhi, by 281 runs.

-Team Sportstar

SHOOTING

Aishwary trumps Swapnil 50m rifle 3-position event

Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar beat Olympic medalist Swapnil Kusale by 1.3 point to top the 50-metre rifle 3-position event in the National shooting selection trials at the Madhya Pradesh Academy on Monday.

Swapnil had led by 0.5 point before the last two shots when Aishwary rose to the challenge and nailed victory with shots of 10.6 and 10.5.

World Cup gold medalist in air rifle, Rudrankksh Patil took the third place after having top scored in qualification with 592 along with Akhil Sheoran.

Niraj Kumar, Akash Patidar, Sidharth Gaur and Babu Singh Panwar were the others to make the final.

Rhythm Sangwan beat Shweta Singh by 0.5 for the top spot in women’s air pistol, after having top scored in qualification with a modest 578. Sakshi Suryavanshi was third ahead of Anjali Choudhary, Muskan, Rahi Sarnobat, Yuvika Tomar and Neha.

Parmod beat qualification topper Sharvan Kumar (589) by 3.9 points for the top spot in men’s air pistol. The seasoned Varun Tomar placed third, as he missed the chance for a better spot by 0.3 point.

-Team Sportstar

TENNIS

Zeel Desai, Shruti Ahlawat in action again in $15,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament

It will be another bright chance for top seed Zeel Desai and the likes of Shruti Ahlawat and Akanksha Nitture to gain more matches in the $15,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament to be played at the Tennis Project, Baliawas, on Tuesday.

Despite the presence of Russians and other players from Denmark, USA, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and New Caledonia, the Indian players had done well to figure in the finals of singles and doubles last week at the same venue.

With a slight change in the field and the arrival of fourth seed Arina Arifullina, it will yet again be a test of fitness and fighting spirit of the players in the heat and humidity.

Both Zeel and Akanksha, the top two seeds will have qualifiers to tackle in the first round, which is not an easy proposition. Shruti who has returned strongly after injury and long spell of training, and had narrowly missed the title last week, will open against Carolann Delaunay.

It should be another week of fruitful tennis for the Indian players, in a season in which the international tournaments at home have dried up, perhaps because of the national federation being caught in a legal tangle.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

Published on Sep 22, 2025