GOLF
Diksha Dagar Narrowly Misses Third Ladies European Tour Title
India’s Diksha Dagar came agonizingly close to winning her third Ladies European Tour (LET) title at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Rabat, only to fall short in a playoff against England’s Cara Gainer.
Starting the final round in tied-14th place at 3-under, the 24-year-old produced a stunning 6-under 67, setting the clubhouse target at 9-under. However, Gainer later matched that score, forcing a playoff. Despite a strong effort, Diksha couldn’t clinch the title but delivered a promising start to the season.
Diksha, who registered seven birdies in her final round, will now head to Saudi Arabia for the PIF Saudi Ladies International. Meanwhile, fellow Indian Avani Prashanth, who finished T-16th, continued her steady rise, while Tvesa Malik missed the cut.
Aditi Ashok Moves to Tied-44th on LPGA Tour
Indian golfer Aditi Ashok climbed to Tied-44th at the Founders Cup on the LPGA Tour after a 2-under 69 in the third round. The round saw challenging wind conditions, but Aditi’s performance showed signs of improvement.
At the top of the leaderboard, Yealimi Noh surged ahead with an 8-under 63, leading by one stroke over three-time champion Jin Young Ko.
Rayhan Thomas Slips to 15th in Korn Ferry Tour Event
India’s Rayhan Thomas, who had earlier shared the lead at the Astara Golf Championship, dropped to Tied-15th after a disappointing finish. A triple bogey on the 18th hole and earlier mistakes on the 8th and 14th led to a 1-over 72, causing him to slip down the leaderboard at 10-under total.
Meanwhile, Kyle Westmoreland set a new course record, shooting a 10-under 61 to take the third-round lead.
Jeev Milkha Singh Hits Hole-in-One, Finishes Tied-28 in PGA Champions Tour
Veteran Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh made headlines at the PGA TOUR Champions season-opener by scoring a hole-in-one on the Par-3 14th hole. Despite a round of 75, he finished Tied-28th in the tournament.
The event saw Miguel Angel Jimenez secure victory, marking his 14th career win on the PGA Champions Tour.
Anirban Lahiri Finishes Tied-12th in LIV Riyadh
Anirban Lahiri recorded a bogey-free 3-under 69, finishing Tied-12th at the LIV Golf Series season opener in Riyadh. Lahiri, who had rounds of 69-67-69, ended the tournament at 11-under.
The event was won by Adrian Meronk, who fended off a strong challenge from Jon Rahm to secure his first individual LIV Golf title. Meronk shot 17-under, while Rahm finished two shots behind at 15-under.
HOCKEY
Kolkata’s Salt Lake Hockey Stadium Earns FIH Category 2 Certification
Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangana (Salt Lake Stadium) has officially been granted FIH Category 2 certification by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
🏑 This certification allows the stadium to host:
✔️ National-level hockey tournaments
✔️ International matches
Hockey India celebrated the achievement, posting:
🗣️ “Congrats to Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangana, Salt Lake, Kolkata for earning the FIH Category 2 Certificate! A big step forward for hockey excellence.”
This development places Kolkata among India’s top hockey venues, joining cities like Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Ranchi, Chennai, and New Delhi, which already have FIH-approved fields.
The FIH certification remains valid until December 2027, further strengthening Kolkata’s position as a rising hub for hockey in India.
Final Thoughts
From Diksha Dagar’s near-triumph to Jeev Milkha Singh’s hole-in-one and Kolkata’s latest milestone in hockey, Indian sports continue to make significant strides. With key tournaments ahead, including the Saudi Ladies International in golf and international hockey events in Kolkata, Indian athletes are set for an exciting season. 🎯🏌️♂️🏑