Indian sports wrap, June 8: Akshat wins in Senior Max category of Meco Meritus Cup, Kochhar finishes ninth at IGPL Bharath Classic

MOTORSPORT

Meco Meritus Cup: Akshat Misra, Shiv Tummala, Aarav Sureka emerge champions

Bengaluru’s Akshat Misra (Peregrine Racing), with a win and another podium finish, picked up sufficient points to emerge champion in the Senior Max class as the third and final round of the Meco Meritus Cup karting concluded at the CoASTT Kartomania circuit in Coimbatore on Sunday.

Misra was placed third in Sprint Race-1, but he recovered well to win Sprint Race-2 and finished the three-round Meritus Cup, a forerunner to the Rotax Max Class National Championship, with 85 points, ahead of Chennai’s Shivaan Karthik (MSPORT) and Kiaan Shah (Rayo Racing) from Mumbai.

Hyderabad’s Shiv Tummala (Peregrine Racing), among the most consistent of drivers, retained the crown after winning both the sprint races in the Mini Max class.

Rayo Racing’s Aarav Sureka from Mumbai, who finished second and fifth in the two points-scoring outings, won the championship in the Micro Max category. Aarav ended up six points ahead of Bengaluru’s Zidaan Arshaan Anees (Peregrine Racing), winner of both the sprint races, on the leaderboard.

Rivaan Dev Preetham bags IKA Trophy

Meanwhile, in the Indian Karting Academy Trophy, running concurrently, Chennai’s Rivaan Dev Preetham (MSPORT) expectedly emerged champion in the OK-Junior class, though he finished second in the Super Heat and Final race won by teammate Rishik Rohit Reddy from Bengaluru and Rehan Khan Rasheed (Momentum Motorsports), also from Chennai, respectively.

The OKJ Junior class provides the Indian junior drivers an opportunity to experience the FIA OK-J engine, which is a replica of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy that runs with the FIA homologated OK-J engines and the FIA homologated OTK chassis.

-Team Sportstar

CRICKET

Bengal T20 League: Shahbaz’s all-round show helps Shrachi Rarh Tigers beat Sobisco Smashers Malda

Skipper Shahbaz Ahmed’s excellent all-round performance helped Shrachi Rarh Tigers record a convincing five-wicket win over Sobisco Smashers Malda in the Bengal T20 League at the Eden Gardens here on Monday.

Electing to field, Shahbaz claimed four wickets as Tigers bundled out Malda for 117. Later, he scored an 18-ball 31, studded with three fours and two sixes, and saw his team cruise to victory with four overs to spare.

Following Sukhmeet Singh’s expensive first over, costing 18 runs, Tigers bowlers dominated the proceedings to reduce Malda to 35 for five in the PowerPlay.

Shahbaz stood out with his accuracy as he trapped three of his four wickets, including two in the sixth over, lbw.

Impact player Vikas Singh saved Malda some blushes by hitting a 22-ball 33, containing one four and three lovely sixes between extra-cover and long-on.

During the chase, Shahbaz, coming out at 70 for three after 11 overs, clubbed Suraj Jaiswal for a six over deep midwicket and two fours on the offside in the 14th over before taking his side closer to victory.

Priyanka Prasad struck an unbeaten 89 and Sreyoshi Aich scalped five wickets as Adamas Howrah Warriors outplayed Servotech Siliguri Strikers by 84 runs in a women’s match.

– Team Sportstar

T20 Mumbai: Suryakumar finally comes to the party for Triumph Knights Mumbai North East

Sylvester Dsouza’s five-wicket haul laid the foundation before captain Suryakumar Yadav rolled back the years with a typically inventive knock as Triumph Knights Mumbai North East finally opened its account in T20 Mumbai Season 4 with a commanding six-wicket victory against defending champion MSC Maratha Royals at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

Having entered the contest with three defeats in as many matches, Triumph Knights had an opportunity to play spoilers. Suryakumar and Co. grabbed it with both hands, leaving the Siddhesh Lad-led Royals with plenty to ponder in its title defence.

Dsouza, the pacer, set the tone early and finished even stronger. Utilising pace effectively during both the Powerplay and death overs, Dsouza returned the best bowling figures of the season. His effort was aided by a curious tactical call from the Royals camp when Chinmay Sutar, after scoring 32 (26b, 2×4), was retired out at the conclusion of the 17th over.

The move backfired immediately. From there, Royals lost its remaining four wickets for only 15 runs, with Dsouza striking three times in his final two overs to derail the innings.

Chasing the target, Suryakumar walked in at No. 4 and quickly ensured there would be no complications. The India batter remained unbeaten on 72 (36b, 13×4, 1×6), stitching together a match-defining 103-run partnership with Nutan Goel, who contributed 56 (42b, 4×4, 3×6).

While Goel largely relied on conventional strokeplay, Suryakumar showcased his entire repertoire. At his inventive best, he repeatedly employed reverse paddles against both left-arm spinners, manipulating angles and field placements with ease while bringing out the trademark 360-degree batting that has defined his career.

In a sporting gesture after the game, Suryakumar shared the Player of the Match award with Dsouza, acknowledging the pacer’s decisive contribution with the ball.

– Amol Karhadkar

TENNIS

ATP 250 ‘S-Hertogenbosch: Sriram Balaji-Rajeev Ram pairing stuns fourth seeds

India’s Sriram Balaji kicked off his grass court season in memorable fashion. Paired alongside USA doubles veteran Rajeev Ram, Balaji beat the fourth-seeded pairing of Sweden’s Andre Goransson and USA’s Evan King 7-6 (3), 4-6, [10-7] in the round of 16 at ATP 250 ‘S-Hertogenbosch.

The pair was trailing 4-7 in the deciding tie-break before reeling in six points in a row to seal a place in the quarterfinal.

Yuki Bhambri and his partner Michael Venus from New Zealand fell short against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz and Canada’s Gabriel Diallo 6-3, 4-6, [12-14].

– Team Sportstar

GOLF

PGTI announces event in memory of late golf champion Vijay Kumar

The DP World Professional Golf Tour of India on Monday announced the launch of the inaugural NexGen Vijay Kumar Memorial, a special event dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary legacy of legendary, late Indian golfer Vijay Kumar.

The inaugural edition, the fifth event of the 2026 NexGen season, will be held at Lucknow Golf Club, Vijay’s home course, from June 9 to 11.

The tournament, featuring 72 golfers, is envisioned as an annual event. A total prize purse of ₹25 lakh will be on offer this year. The event will be contested over three rounds (54 holes), with the cut applied after two rounds (36 holes). The top 36 players and ties will advance to the third and final round.

“The inaugural edition is a heartfelt tribute to a legendary golfer whose contribution to Indian golf will always be remembered with great respect and admiration. Vijay Kumar was not just a champion golfer but a true ambassador for Indian golf. He inspired countless golfers through his passion for the game and his remarkable journey that began at Lucknow Golf Club,” said Amandeep Johl, CEO, DP World PGTI.

The leading players in this year’s field include Bipin Mukhiya, the current leader of the 2026 Order of Merit, along with Rajesh Kumar Gautam, Abhishek Kumar, Vinay Kumar Yadav, and Sunit Chowrasia, all of whom have registered victories on the NexGen Tour this season.

– Team Sportstar

IGPL Bharath Classic: Bogey-free Kochhar bags third Top-10 of the year; Sweden’s Lindh takes title

Karandeep Kochhar fired a bogey-free 4-under 68 on the final day to register yet another top-10 finish this season at the $500,000 IGPL Bharath Classic in Morocco. The lanky Chandigarh golfer finished T-9, his third top-10 of the year, which carried him up to 12th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Kochhar, who had rounds of 66-73-70-68, totalled 11-under, as Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (69-70-67-64) totalled 18-under for a comprehensive win. Lindh was second in his last outing at the Kolon Korea Open, and this week he produced a very consistent performance that saw him rise to third on the Order of Merit. Lindh closed his win in a commanding manner, landing an eagle on the 18th for a four-shot win.

The tournament was co-sanctioned by the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) and the Asian Tour.

Among other Indian IGPL players, Gaganjeet Bhullar (75-70-69-68) and Yashas Chandra (75-68-71-68) at 6-under were the next best at T-27. Bhullar had five birdies against one bogey, while Yashas was bogey-free in his 68.

Rashid Khan, with a final round of 71 and a total of 3-under, was T-41, as were Kartik Singh (71) and Sachin Baisoya (67), whose final round had two eagles on the Par-5 third and Par-5 seventh. Kartik had an action-packed round with seven birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys.

Shaurya Bhattacharya, after a good start, finished close with 71 with three birdies and a double bogey and was T-52, while Aman Raj (70) was T-56, Pukhraj Singh Gill (75) was T-59, and Raghav Chugh (77) was T-64, as was Udayan Mane (73). Amateur Jai Bahl (74) finished T-67.

Winner of IGPL Dubai, Kochhar had an outstanding week in terms of hitting, as he found a lot of fairways and greens in regulation. However, the putter could have been better, as he needed 28 or more putts on each of the four days, including 34 on the second day when he shot 73.

Kochhar, who was T-5 at the International Series Japan, is now looking forward to the $2M International Series Morocco as he continues his search for a maiden Asian Tour win after having had a maiden win in Egypt on the Asian Development Tour, which had led to him gaining an Asian Tour card.

Kochhar birdied the third, 10th, 11th and the 14th, as he had 16 birdies during the week and left many more on the course.

The 28-year-old Lindh started the day three behind the overnight leader, Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech, but his eight-under par 64 was also the best round of the tournament.

Lindh, who had his childhood friend Isaac Bondesson on his bag, reached the edge of the green on the 18th in two shots and then putted from the fringe from 20 feet for the eagle.

Lindh said, “It feels good…feels really good. Feels like I’m still focused, but when everything settles a little bit, I will realise what I have done today. I have been playing well coming into this week, and I have been very, very excited to play golf the last couple of months because the game has been feeling better. And thankfully, I got some good results today.”

Lindh now goes to next week’s $2M International Series Morocco with a lot of confidence.

The Asian Tour will now move to the capital, Rabat, for the $2M International Series Morocco.

-Team Sportstar

Veer Ahlawat signs off tied 9th on Hotel Planner Tour’s Swiss Challenge

Veer Ahlawat finished the Swiss Challenge on the Hotel Planner Tour with a bogey-free round of four-under 67 to end tied 9th here.

Ahlawat, topper of the DP World PGTI Order of Merit in 2024, played on the main tour in 2025 but was unable to retain his full card.

This week’s show is Ahlawat’s first top 10 finish on the Hotel Planner Tour in the ongoing season. Ahlawat currently plays on the DP World Tour, Hotel Planner Tour and PGTI.

He finished the week with a total score of 13-under par (69-61-74-67) at Golf Sempach.

The highlight was a bogey-free round of 10-under par in the second round, which was a new course record.

Mathew Southgate secured the title after carding a round of nine-under 62 on the final day to move up to 23-under par (66-64-69-62).

-PTI

ESPORTS

S8UL’s Apex Legends team qualifies for Esports World Cup 2026

S8UL Esports of India has qualified for the Apex Legends tournament at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 following a standout performance in the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) 2026: Split 1 Pro League – APAC South.

The qualification makes Apex Legends the fourth title in which the organisation has officially secured a spot at the world’s biggest esports event, after making the cut in Honor of Kings, chess, and Fortnite.

The ALGS 2026 Split 1 Pro League – APAC South brought together 30 of the region’s top teams.

S8UL’s all-Australian roster of Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko), and Tom Canty (Legacy), under the guidance of head coach Harrison Rogers (Rogers), delivered a consistent performance throughout the season, earning 21 additional Pro League Points to secure second place in the overall regular season standings with a total of 127 Pro League Points.

The result secured qualification for the global event while also earning the team USD 15,000 (approximately INR 14.2 lakh) in prize money and 1,350 Championship Points towards the ALGS 2025-26 rankings.

This marks the second consecutive year that S8UL will compete in Apex Legends at the EWC.

Scheduled to take place in Paris, France, from July 6 to August 23, EWC 2026 will bring together more than 2,000 players representing 200 clubs from over 100 countries competing for a record-breaking prize pool of USD 75 million (~INR 714 crore).

-Team Sportstar

MORE SPORTS

World Yogasana Championships 2026: India completes a century of gold medals

Hosts Indian signed off the inaugural World Yogasana Championships campaign with 114 medals that included a century of gold (102) to underline its domination at the EKA Arena on Ahmedabad Monday.

Japan was a distant second with three gold, three silver and five bronze with Argentina taking the third spot thanks to their lone athlete, Nabila Barraza’s exploit of two gold and three silver.

– Team Sportstar

Published on Jun 08, 2026