Indian Sports Highlights, December 17: Dhruv/Tanisha wins mixed doubles gold at Odisha Masters

Indian team for the Davis Cup World Group 1 play-off tie against Pakistan was announced on Saturday.

The team includes Ramkumar Ramanathan, N Sriram Balaji, Yuki Bhambri, Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha, Saketh Myneni, and Digvijay Pratap Singh, who is a reserve player in the squad.

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Mohammedan FC continues their unbeaten run with another point in their tenth match of the season to maintain their top position in the league table.

They played a goalless draw with Churchill Brothers in an away game to increase their lead to 4 points with the second place Sreenidi Deccan.

After the matchweek 11, all teams now has played ten matches each with the fight for top position going on between Mohammedan, Sreenidi and Real Kashmir whereas two Manipur clubs, Neroca and TRAU looking themselves at relegation positions.

Tanisha Crasto could not make the double Gold at Odisha Masters 2023 as she lost her women's doubles final with her partner Ashwini Ponnappa in straight set (14-21, 17-21) to Indonesian pair of Puspitasari & and Rachel Rose.

This was the third final for Indian pair in three weeks with a gold medal at Guwahati Masters last week.

Namdhari FC takes a 2-1 win over TRAU FC to broke their six matches winless run at Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata. They now have 8 points out of 10 matches.

TRAU FC could not maintain their momentum from last match where they gets their first win of the season. They are still struggling on the bottom of the table with 4 points out of 10 matches.

Mumbai Khiladis on Sunday announced Mumbai boy, Aniket Pote, as the captain for second edition of the Ultimate Kho Kho, scheduled to be played from December 24 to January 14, 2024, in Cuttack, Odisha.

The 26-year-old all-rounder/attacker is one of the most decorated players in Kho Kho circuit having won gold medals for India including his stellar performance at the Asian Championship earlier this year. Pote’s performance in Season 1 has also ensured him a place in the Ultimate Kho Kho Dream Team.

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Sathish Kumar Karunakaran got better of youngster Ayush Shetty in an all-Indian final at the Odisha Masters in cuttack, Odisha.

This is first ever S100 title for the higher ranked Sathish, who takes the title after a three-setter win.

Final Score: Sathish - 21-18, 19-21, 21-14 - Ayush

Dhruv Kapila & Tanisha Crasto wins their title clash against the top seeded Singapore pair of Hee Y and Tan W in a close three setter match which goes beyond deuce in the decider set at the Odisha Masters in Cuttack, Odisha.

This is the first ever S100 title for this Indian pair also the first win for them against their finals' opponent in the third meeting. 

Final Score: Dhruv/ Tanisha - 17-21, 21-19, 23-21 - Hee/Tan

Indian Women’s Hockey Team lost to Belgium by 1-2 on Saturday in the 5 Nations Tournament Valencia 2023. Belgium won the match, riding on goals from Ambre Ballenghien (22’) and Louise Versavel (37’). Meanwhile, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke (56’) scored the only goal for India.

The match was intense from the first whistle, with both teams looking to breach the defence of the other, but a goal was not forthcoming. The teams ended the first quarter on level terms.

"The breakthrough finally came in the second quarter as Ambre Ballenghien scored, giving Belgium the lead going into the halftime break.

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Odisha Masters 2023 finals will see four out of five finals having Indian presence, starting from 1:00 PM IST at Cuttack, Odisha. 

Women's doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto are going to their third consecutive final in 3 weeks. 

The Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) men and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) women registered easy 3-0 wins over respective opponents to enter the pre-quarterfinals of the Senior Nationals and Inter-State Table Tennis Championships here on Saturday.

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