City lad Amir Ali will lead the 18-member Indian junior men’s hockey team in the 12th edition of the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia. The team, announced on Sunday by Hockey India, also includes Shardanand Tiwari, a defender also from Lucknow.
The team, which will play under newly appointed head coach PR Sreejesh, will have Rohit as Amir’s deputy, said a Hockey India press release.
India will begin their campaign against Japan on Oct 19, followed by matches against Great Britain (Oct 20), hosts Malaysia (Oct 22), Australia (Oct 23), and New Zealand (Oct 25). The top two teams will advance to the final, scheduled for Oct 26.
Amir, son of a motorcycle mechanic Tasawar Ali, used to help at his father’s makeshift shop as a child. He began his hockey journey at the age of 10 at the KD Singh ‘Babu’ Society ground, where he was groomed by his coach, Rashid Aziz Khan. He was also guided by veteran players Syed Ali and Sujeet Kumar, who run the ‘Babu’ Society.
Talking about Amir, Rashid said, “Amir and his brother Shahrukh learned the basics of hockey from me. Amir is a very hardworking boy, and his growth is commendable.”
“After being announced as the Indian junior captain, Amir called me to share the news. I wish him and Shardanand Tiwari a fantastic career,” Rashid added.
Meanwhile, Amir’s brother Shahrukh was ecstatic over the news. “I am very happy that Amir will lead the country in the Sultan of Johor Cup,” he said, adding that he couldn’t talk to Amir as he was representing the Uttar Pradesh team in the All India KD Singh ‘Babu’ Tournament, but he will meet him soon.
“I must thank Rashid Aziz, Sujeet Kumar, and Syed Ali, and express my gratitude to the chief selector of Hockey India, RP Singh, for promoting hockey in Uttar Pradesh and supporting the players,” he said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> Sports News> Hockey News / by Fazal Khan, TNN (headline edited) / October 07th, 2024
Sarah Khan takes pole in Girls Apache RTR 200 class.
Abdul Basim took pole position in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category at MIC on 20 Oct 2023. Photo by Anand Philar
Chennai :
Two teenagers, Sarthak Chavan from Pune and Chennai collegian Abdul Basim put in sizzling laps to qualify for pole position in their respective categories as the fifth and final round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2023 got underway at the Madras International Circuit, here on Friday.
The 16-year-old Sarthak, who joined Petronas TVS Racing team this season, took pole position in the premier Pro-stock 301-400cc Open category with a best lap of one minute, 50.854 seconds.
Qualifying for P2 was championship leader, Chennai’s Rajiv Sethu (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) who clocked a best of 01:51.076 despite nursing a healing left shoulder that was dislocated following a crash in the previous round. Completing the front row was Hyderabad’s Rahil Pillarisetty (KTM Gusto Racing) with a hot lap of 01:51.823.
Later, 17-year-old Abdul Basim of Gulf Rockers Racing team, the younger brother of KY Ahamed who last month participated in the Moto3 class of Indian MotoGP, put in a lap of 02:07.685 for his maiden pole position in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category, ahead of Vadodara’s Adit Shah (Axor Sparks Racing, 02:08.260) and Bengaluru’s Manvith Reddy K (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate, 02:08.253).
In the other premier category, the Pro-Stock 165cc Open, KY Ahamed (01:56.224) of Petronas TVSRacing was the quickest in the practice session, followed by team-mates Sarthak Chavan (01:57.069) and Chiranth Vishwanath (01:57.540).
Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup: Championship leader in the NSF 250R category Chennai’s Kavin Quintal (01:52.262), who is gunning for his sixth win of the season, topped the timesheets in the official practice session. Another Chennai youngster Rakshith Dave was the second quickest in 01:53.367.
Petronas TVS One-Make Championship: Bengaluru teenager Chiranth Vishwanath, who has four wins from seven starts, expectedly qualified for pole position in the Open (RR 310) category, clocking a best lap of 01:54.621, followed by Coimbatore’s Senthilkumar C (01:54.848) and G Balaji (01:56.100) from Chennai.
Mumbai’s Sarah Khan, with a hot lap of 02:13.553, qualified for the pole position in the Girls (Apache RTR 200) category, ahead of Chennai’s Nadine Faith Balaji (02:14.714) and Pune’s Saimah Ajaz Baig (02:16.499).
Bengaluru riders Alimon Saidalavi and Hemanth Muddappa scored dominating wins in their respective superbike categories in the third round of the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship 2022 at the Madras International Circuit, here on Thursday.
Alimon continued his win-spree in the Unrestricted category as he took the honours on a Kawasaki Ninja H2, in a record time of 07.556 seconds over 302 metres to repeat his Round-2 victory yesterday, as he finished ahead of Hemanth Muddappa (Mantra Racing) and Attaulla Baig, also from Bengaluru.
Alimon, thus, set the fastest time at the MIC, bettering the previous best of 07.749 by Muddappa. The victory also gave Alimon an unassailable 32-point lead over Baig in the championship standings with a round to spare.
Earlier, Muddappa, the multiple National champion, was in his elements in the 1051-1650cc category astride a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, with a winning time of 07.910 seconds while Mujahid Pasha (Bengaluru) and yesterday’s Round-2 winner Md Riyaz (Hyderabad) came in second and third, respectively. After three rounds, Muddappa leads Riyaz by 20 points in the championship stakes.
Another Bengaluru rider, Anish Damodara Shetty (PRN Motorsports) notched a splendid win in the 361-550cc class on a KTM RC-390 bike while Mumbai’s Sarah Khan (Axor Sparks Racing) topped in the Girls category (Stock 165cc), riding a Yamaha R15. The fourth and concluding round of the 2022 Championship will be run at the same venue on Friday.
source: http://www.afternoonnews.in / Afternoon News / Home / December 30th, 2022
A series of Special articles and profiles of promising riders and drivers will be published for all fmsci National championship till the season begins. Here is the first…
Bengaluru :
Sarah Khan began the 2023 season with a podium in the TVS One-Make Championship (OMC) ladies class at the Rolon Round, the first round of the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship for two-wheelers 2023 which concluded at the Kari Motor Speedway in June first week.
Rookie Sarah Khan, who gave a tough fight to celebrated champions in the very first year of her participation in the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship 2022, finally ended up third in the Championship due to lack of exposure and experience, but the determined lady rider worked hard and won many hearts with her perseverance. Amidst all the competition, one rider who silently improved every round as she notched up a podium every time she took part in a race is Sarah Khan. She began with a third place in the first round itself and went on to become the 2nd runner up National Championship and bagged a total of 11 podiums overall in her rookie season itself.
Sarah Khan is a modest, soft-spoken girl in early twenties. She is born on February 19, in the last year of the last millennium, in a traditional Muslim family. Behind the tall athlete’s humble appearance, lies a strong will to achieve and the reason is her passion for speed. A dedicated and hardworking biker, she worked hard to save every penny after acquiring a Bachelor of Business Management degree in Mumbai’s MMK College of Commerce and Economics. Without a single penny in her pocket, she started to fund her motorsports activities on her own by trading stocks, working hard to save every rupee. Striving to be a high-performance motorsports athlete, competing with men on equal footing, she overcame many hardships both at home at the tracks to pursue a career that is not easy for girls.
“The spark for me is the feeling of thrill and speed. And the adrenaline rush that pumps up my blood. Racing gives me a sense of being alive, a genuine happiness. Despite the struggles and hurdles, I cannot quit racing or do something else. I feel like it’s in my blood… intricately woven into my soul. All I think about is racing all day, everyday… That’s just how my brain is wired,” says Sarah, the eternal optimist.
The struggles she went through to make her childhood dream a reality did not deter her. Her perseverance conquered and she finally made her racing debut in 2022, at the Mecca of Racing in India, the Madras International Circuit. Despite coming from a non-motorsport background and having no support, she opted for racing and made it on her own, traditionally considered a man’s world and she is breaking all stereotypes, which the MIC is known for, promoting many a woman from traditional communities.
“I have genuine love for racing. And I could not keep quiet. I did fight hard to get out of the house to race. It made me stronger. And I will continue to race, even when I turn old, as long as I am physically fit. Later, too, I plan on train young riders with a similar dream, who aspire to be great one day. I just want to race at the highest platform possible on earth,” she says. What she does not say is, she threatened her family that she will leave the house, if anyone tries to come in her way of becoming a racing athlete. A reluctant loving mother had no choice but to agree.
Thus began a career, which broke all the stereotypes.“Being stubborn towards my dream was the only way to make it happen,” says Sarah. The struggle behind her journey is one of the reasons for her determination to win.
source: http://www.indiainf1.com / INDIA IN F1 / Home> Non-F1> Domestic> Drag Racing / by IndiainF1 News Desk / January 02nd, 2024
Sarah Khan wins maiden race in Apache RTR 200 class.
KY Ahamed (33) edging out Jagan Kumar to win the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race on 15 June 2024. Photo by Anand Philar
Chennai :
Two sets of siblings from Chennai hogged the limelight by winning four of the nine races on Saturday at the Madras International Circuit to light up the first round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024.
The 15-year-old Dave twins, Rakshith and Rakshitha took the honours in the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R) and the National Championship Girls (Stock 165cc) races. It was a maiden win for both of them, in their respective categories.
Two other siblings, 28-year-old KY Ahamed (Pro-Stock 165cc Open) and his 17-year-old brother Abdul Basim (Novice 165cc), also won a race apiece to set off celebrations in both families.
Elsewhere, Sarthak Chavan, the 17-year-old from Pune, led a 1-2 finish for TVS Racing along with Bengaluru’s Chiranth Vishwanath, also 17, in the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc category. The race was cut to four laps from scheduled six after a red flag stoppage following a Turn-3 crash (riders ok) and Sarthak, starting from pole, virtually destroyed the field on restart. Chiranth came in second, ahead of Hyderabad’s Sairahil Pillarisetty (Gusto Racing).
Sarthak, however, had a disastrous outing in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race as he crashed when in the lead. On his exit, Sathak’s two TVS Racing team-mates, KY Ahamed and multiple National champion Jagan Kumar, were involved in a tight finish. Ahamed pipped his mentor Jagan in a photo-finish with another TVS Racing ace, Deepak Ravikumar, who had started the race from the pit lane, completing the podium. Chiranth, who was running second, also crashed, but resumed to finish fourth.
Also finishing on top step of the podium was Chennai’s Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) who won as he pleased in the Novice 301-400cc class that gained National championship status from this season.
Earlier, pole-sitter Abdul Basim, held off a strong challenge from Mysuru’s Tasmai Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing) who led briefly in the penultimate lap but conceded the advantage. Basim went on to win with Tasmai and Coimbatore’s Abhinav G (Chandra LGE Racing) finishing second and third, respectively.
Rakshitha Dave, starting from P2, moved in front by Turn-2, deftly avoiding any jostling that was happening behind her, and enjoyed a trouble-free run for a commanding win. Another Chennai rider, Jagathishee Kumaresan (One Racing) and Ryhana Bee (Motul Sparks Racing) settled for second and third spots, respectively, while pole-sitter Ann Jennifer (Alpha Racing) came in a disappointing fourth.
“I am very happy to score my first-ever win in the National championship. I had a good start today and a trouble-free run after going into the lead early in the first lap. The bike too performed very well,” said a delighted Rakshitha.
Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup: Rakshith Dave reigned supreme in the NSF 250R race after initial battle with the more experienced Mohsin Paramban (Mallapuram) with Bengaluru’s AS James finishing third. It was Rakshith’s first-ever win in this class. Incidentally, Rakshith’s twin sister, Rakshitha made her debut in this class and finished 13th.
TVS One-Make Championship: Coimbatore’s Senthilkumar C took the honours in the truncated Open (Apache RR 310) race that was reduced to three laps from six due to a red flag stoppage following an on-track incident. Jayanth Pratipathi (Chennai) came in second, ahead of Nagercoil’s Ajai Xavier M.
Harshith V Bogar from Bengaluru notched a dominating win in the Rookie category with second-placed Saranjith KM (Thrissur) finishing some 10 seconds behind. Vijayawada’s Akarsh Jangam was a distant third.
Mumbai’s Sarah Khan won the Girls (RTR 200) race untroubled from Pune’s Saimah Ajaz Baig and Aisvarya V (Coimbatore).
The results (Provisional, all 6 laps unless mentioned):
Novice (Stock 301-400cc) Race-1: 1. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power 1 Ultimate) (12:17.257); 2. Lokesh V (Bengaluru, Pvt.) (12:23.458); 3. Varun Nanjundegowda (Mysuru, Gusto Racing India) (12:27.927).
Idemitsu Honda India Cup (NSF 250R) Race-1: 1. Rakshith S Dave (Chennai) (11:12.157); 2. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (11:16.226); 3. AS James (Bengaluru) (11:16.669)
Winners will benefit from tailored development programmes and mentoring from experienced motorsport professionals at Iron Dames.
Mir will compete in the Iron Dames Young Talents selection round in Italy on July 29-30
Nine-year-old Atiqa Mir, from Kashmir, has been shortlisted for the Iron Dames Young Talents programme. The new initiative has been launched by the same squad that made history last year as the first all-female team to win a race in the World Endurance Championship (at the 2023 8 Hours of Bahrain).
Mir is the only racer from Asia to be shortlisted for the first selection round that will be held at Italy’s Franciacorta karting track on July 29-30.
First selection round in Italy on July 29-30
Mir has top three results in the DAMC and UAE IAME Series
Iron Dames Young Talents programme
Iron Dames says the main goal of its new Young Talents initiative is to “identify and develop young kart racers between the ages of eight and 13”. A total of 20 young female racers have qualified for the selection round at Franciacorta, where they’ll compete in a series of scouting events.
Junior racing giant Prema Racing will help assess the candidates based on their driving skills, work ethic and “ability to embody the spirit and attitude of the Iron Dames”. Those who impress will earn the chance to join the Iron Dames stable and benefit from tailored development programmes, mentoring from experienced motorsport professionals and access to world-class training facilities.
Besides being the only Asian, Mir is also the youngest racer shortlisted in the Mini Category. “I’m truly honoured to be shortlisted for the Iron Dames Young Talent selection process. It motivates me further to perform and improve my skills as a driver. I will work hard and prepare myself better than ever to come out on top in the selections and make India proud,” she said.
Atiqa Mir: Climbing up the karting ladder
Mir has already built an impressive racing resume with outings in India, the UAE and Europe. She started karting at the age of six and made her competitive debut in 2021. Since then, she’s gone on to finish third overall in the 2023-24 DAMC (Dubai Autodrome Motorsports Club) Cup and second overall in the 2023-24 UAE IAME Series Rookie Championship.
Of course, racing runs in Mir’s blood. Her father, Asif Nazir Mir, was India’s first National Karting Champion and also raced in Formula Asia. “[My motorsport journey] started when I was three-four years old, watching my dad race at the Dubai Kartdrome,” Mir told Autocar India. “He gives me a lot of tips on the track, and we practice everything on our home simulator, which I drive on every day.”
Mir had competed in the Indian National Karting Championship in 2022. And she’s back this year, competing in all five rounds in the Micro Max category this time, racing for team MSport. And she’s already made a podium appearance, having finished third in Round 1.
This year, she also had her first taste of racing in Europe as part of the CEK (Campeonato de España de Karting) series. “The drivers are really competitive there,” she shared. “But the tracks there are like my style. That’s why I’m getting better and progressing.”
We’ve seen growing female participation in motorsport recently, further propelled by the new F1 Academy and even the success of Iron Dames. But there’s still a long way to go. “There are only three-four girls [competing in Europe with me], so not many, but they’re more than in Dubai. But that motivates me a lot,” added Mir.
She already has her sights on F1 and highlights Max Verstappen as a racer she looks up to. “I want to race in F1 because it’s the top 20 best drivers of the world, so it’s really rare to compete with them. I want to be the first girl driving in F1, and I want to do what’s never been done before.”
Mysuru’s Tasmai Cariappa, winner of the Novice (Stock 165cc) race on 7Sept 2024. Photo by Anand Philar
Chennai :
Chennai’s Ryhana Bee, seeking to regain the National title in the Girls category (Stock 165cc) after three years, scored a lights-to-flag win after topping the practice and qualifying sessions with her new team, Rockers Racing.
Meanwhile, teenagers and TVS Racing team-mates Sarthak Chavan (Pune) and Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru) split the day’s honours with a victory apiece in the two premier Pro-Stock categories on a day of stirring action in the fourth and penultimate round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 – Powered by STORM at the Madras International Circuit, here on Saturday.
Sarthak overcame a poor start to post his sixth win in the Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open category ahead of Chiranth and veteran Rajini Krishnan (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate).
National Championship Girls (Stock 165cc) race winner Ryhana Bee (centre) flanked by second-placed Jagathee Kumaresan (left) and third-placed Rakshitha Dave at the Madras International Circuit on 7 Sept 2024 / Photos by Anand Philar
The result in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open class race was the reverse with the Chiranth coming through an up-and-down six laps, the last of which saw him and Sarthak coming together, but staying in the saddle to complete the race with KY Ahamed, recovering from a viral fever, made it a 1-2-3 for TVS Racing.
Mysuru’s 22-year-old Tasmai Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing) kept his nerves in a tense finish to score his maiden win the Novice (Stock 165cc) race while Pradeep C, a private entrant from Bengaluru, wrote his own script in winning the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) race after starting from P4.
TVS India One-Make Championship
Sarthak Chavan celebrating his win in the Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open race (Sept 07)
Coimbatore’s Raj Kumar C upstaged favourites to record his first win of the season in the Open (Apache RR 310) category as he finished well ahead of Manoj Yesuadian (Chennai) and championship leader Senthilkumar C (Coimbatore).
CS Kedarnath from Tirupati held off Bengaluru’s Harshith Bogar and Akarsh Jangam (Hyderabad) in a tight finish as the trio finished the Rookie (Apache RTR 200) race in close formation that also included Tejash BA (Tumakuru) in P4. Less than a second separated the quartet. It was Kedarnath’s second win of the season.
Later, SP Shuria from Trichy won a battle royal against Pune’s Saimah Ajaz Baig with a last lap overtaking to win the Girls (Apache RTR 200) race that was briefly interrupted by a red flag stoppage due to an on-track incident. Finishing third was Aisvariya of Coimbatore, ahead of Bengaluru’s Poojita Anil Kumar.
Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup
Mohsin Paramban from Malappuram extended his hold on the NSF 250R class with fourth win of the season that took him further away from the pack in the championship standings.
Completing the podium were Kolhapur’s Siddesh Sawant and Prakash Kamat (Bengaluru). The outcome of the six-lap race was in suspense until the top three crossed the finish line within a second of each other.
The results (Provisional, all 6 laps unless mentioned):
Following a remarkable performance of 2 minutes and 59.05 seconds at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Saturday night,…
Following a remarkable performance of 2 minutes and 59.05 seconds at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Saturday night, the Indian 4×400 meter relay team consisting of Muhammed Anas, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi, and Rajesh Ramesh gained widespread recognition.
This lesser-known relay group not only shattered the Asian record but also accomplished a historic feat by becoming the first Indian team to qualify for a World Championship final.
Muhammed Ajmal, a 24-year-old Indian track and field athlete, specializes in 400m sprints. His motto is straightforward: “Hear the bang and just run.” Gradually making his mark in the national scene, he aspires to progress further and achieve significant success in the international arena.
More about Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi:
Born on June 1, 1998, in Palakkad, Kerala, Muhammed Ajmal initially embarked on his sports journey as a soccer player while growing up in Palakkad. He participated at the U-19 state level in football until his coach, Nandakumar sir, recommended that he shift his focus to running. This marked the beginning of Ajmal’s transition from a 100m sprinter to his current role as a 400m sprinter.
Indian athlete Muhammed Ajmal originally started as a 100m sprinter but eventually transitioned to the 400m category under the guidance of his coaches. In his very first 400m race, he achieved an impressive time of 46.91 seconds, securing the gold medal at the National Services Championships held in Bhubaneswar.
Muhammed Ajmal discussed his transition in an interview, saying, “In India, there’s a higher chance of competing in international events in the 400m. Otherwise, you need to be exceptional as a sprinter to make it in the 100m.”
His goal is to surpass the national record set by another athlete from Kerala, Mohammed Anas, who achieved a time of 45.21 seconds.
At the 7th International Sprint & Relay Cup held at Atatürk University Stadium in Turkey, Ajmal secured the third position with a timing of 46.04 seconds. In 2021, he clinched the gold medal at the Inter-Services Championship with a time of 46.91 seconds. He had a strong start in 2022 by winning gold at the Indian Grand Prix, finishing in 46.78 seconds.
He followed up his success by earning a silver medal at the National Inter State Senior Athletics Championship. There he improved his timing to 46.48 seconds. Ajmal is now dedicated to performing well at the upcoming Commonwealth and Asian Games later this year.
Muhammed Ajmal’s Athletic Accomplishments:
Muhammed Ajmal has emerged victorious at the National Athletics Championship on two occasions.
He secured a gold medal at the Indian Grand Prix in the year 2022.
In 2021, he earned a gold medal at the National Federation Cup.
Interesting Tidbits about Muhammed Ajmal:
His initial aspiration was to become a soccer player.
He shares a strong friendship with the national record holder, Mohammad Anas Yahiya.
Major Achievements:
1x In the Top 8 at World Championships
1x Asian Championships Silver medallist
Alongside, 1x In Top 8 at Commonwealth Games
1x In the Top 8 at Asian Championships
2 x National Champion
1 x Current Asian Record holder – 4x400m
source: http://www.thestatesman.com / The Statesman / Home> Who Is / by Statesman Web / August 28th, 2023
World Deaf Shooting Championship: Dhanush breaks world records as India sweeps men’s air rifle event (Photo: X) / (L to R) Shourya Saini, Dhanush Srikanth (Centre) and Mohammed Murtaza Vania
New Delhi :
India dominated the men’s 10m air rifle event on day two of the second World Deaf Shooting Championship in Hanover, Germany, with Dhanush Srikanth, Shourya Saini, and Mohammed Murtaza Vania making a clean sweep of the medals.
Dhanush set two world records in a single day, first by scoring 632.7 in the qualification round, followed by a stunning 251.7 in the final.
His performance left Shourya, who secured the silver with a score of 249.9, trailing by a significant margin.
Mohammed Murtaza Vania claimed the bronze with a score of 226.2.
In addition to their success in the men’s event, India also shone bright in the women’s category with Mahit Sandhu and Natasha Joshi winning silver and bronze respectively, adding to the country’s medals tally.
The Indian contingent had already secured four medals on the first day of the competition, including one gold, two silver and a bronze.
More than 800 sports enthusiasts took part in the 14th edition of Celebration Mysore Marathon, organised by Life is Calling in city this morning.
The marathon was flagged-off by Mountaineer Dr. Usha Hegde in front of Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple near the Balarama Gate of Mysore Palace at 6 am.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Usha Hegde said that taking part in sports event is important for people to stay fit and healthy. “Events like marathon should be organised more frequently to enhance the health conditions of those taking part,” she added.
The event comprised 30K Run, 21K Half Marathon, 10K Run and 5K Fun Run/ Walk. Organisers had made all necessary arrangements for the runners including drinking water at various points, medical team and ambulance on stand-by, and direction boards for the benefit of the participants.
Results
Open Male 10K Run
1. S.Y. Prajwal (36:35.7), 2. A. Abishek (36:35.9), 3. K. Kiran (37:00.00).
