Jammu, Nov 18: The Jammu Hill Sports Club Foundation successfully hosted the 5th Edition of the Jammu Duathlon 70.3, powered by MMM Medical Center, on the picturesque Ring Road of Jammu, concluding today. The event, which has been growing in stature since its inception in 2020, attracted athletes from across the country, making it one of the most anticipated fitness events in the region. Set against the scenic backdrop of Jammu, the route offered participants breathtaking views, well-placed hydration points, and full medical support, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience. Vehicular traffic was closed along the course for the duration of the event, further enhancing safety for all participants. The race was officially flagged off by distinguished guests, including Gaurav Gupta, Secretary of the Jammu Club and Ex-Secretary General of the CCI Jammu, and Ruchika Gupta, Joint Director of the MIER Group and Chairperson of the FICCI FLO Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh Chapter for 2024-25. Brigadier Harcharan Singh (Retd.), Director of the War Wounded Foundation (North), presented the winners with trophies and accolades, adding further prestige to the event. Brigadier Harcharan Singh (Retd.) expressed his appreciation, saying, “I commend all participants and organizers for channeling the energy of the youth in the right direction for nation-building. Let’s make this country healthier by providing valuable support to such causes.” Gaurav Gupta, Secretary of the Jammu Club, shared his excitement, stating, “I am thrilled to participate in this event. It’s inspiring to witness the energy of athletes from across India. Jammu and Kashmir is not behind in any way and will take the lead in fitness as well.” Emcee Ambica kept the energy high throughout the day, motivating participants and adding to the event’s vibrant atmosphere. The competition featured several categories:

• Duathlon 70.3: This premier event included a 1.9 km run, 90 km cycling, and a 21.1 km run.
• Olympic Distance: Comprising a 1.5 km run, 40 km cycling, and a 10 km run.
• Sprint Distance: Aimed at younger participants, this event featured a 1.5 km run, 20 km cycling, and a 3 km run.

The event also saw a strong relay participation, with teams competing in both the Relay Olympic Distance and Relay Duathlon 70.3 categories.

Top Performers:

Duathlon 70.3 Results:

• Male (18 to under 40): 1st – Manav Radha, 2nd – Kuldeep Kumar, 3rd – Irfan Ahmed Mir
• Male (40 to under 60): 1st – Sajad Yousuf, 2nd – Col. Ankush Sharma, 3rd – Shashi Dhar KC
• Female (40 to under 60): 1st – Shweta Mittal

Olympic Distance Results:

• Male (18 to under 40): 1st – Sawan Nagpal, 2nd – Dr. Sajad Ahmed Mir, 3rd – Sanjay Singh
• Female (18 to under 40): 1st – Tanu Bhargava, 2nd – Rashi Razdan, 3rd – Shubhangi Dhar

Sprint Distance Results:

• Male (8 to 12): 1st – Pratyaksh Sharma, 2nd – Suhaan Gupta, 3rd – Panshul Raina
• Female (12 to 16): 1st – Palakshi Raina, 2nd – Arunima Sharma

Relay Results:

• Relay Olympic Distance (Open): 1st – Vikram & Shafat-ul-Bashir, 2nd – Rakesh & Varinder, 3rd – Sazad & Sindhu
• Relay Duathlon 70.3 (Open): 1st – Hila Ahmed & Yashir Yousuf, 2nd – Prerna Sharma & Navjot Nayar, 3rd – Mudasir & Mohit

Support and Partnerships:

The event was made possible through the support of several partners, including PMARK (Nutrition Partner), Electro Plus (Energy Partner), Swasthua Shastra (Fitness Partner), Clarks Inn Express (Hospitality Partner), Fitness Studio (Zumba Partner), Pradhan Snacks (Snacks Partner), D.K. Raina Cycling Works (Cycling Partner), Pulmocare (Support Partner), NHAI (Route Partner),

Shenzhen (China), Nov 18: India’s premier men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will make their highly-anticipated return to action at the China Masters Super 750 badminton tournament, which kicks off here on Tuesday. The duo is returning to competition after a disappointing Paris Olympics campaign.

The former world number one pair had been sidelined from competitive action following Satwik’s shoulder injury after the Olympics, leading them to miss several high-profile tournaments, including the Arctic Open, Denmark Open, and China Open. With Satwik recovering from his injury, the pair will now aim to regain their momentum. However, they have faced a setback as they have been without a coach since Mathias Boe’s departure in August.

Satwik and Chirag, who were runners-up in the previous editions of the China Masters, will begin their campaign against Chinese Taipei’s Yang Po-Hsuan and Lee Jhe-Huei in the opening round.

Elsewhere, P V Sindhu and Lakshya Sen will look to overcome their recent struggles and aim for improved performances as they continue their quest for consistency. Both players, who took a long break after their campaigns at the Paris Games, have struggled to regain their best form since the Olympics.

Since his semifinal loss in Paris, Lakshya has faced early exits at the Arctic Open Super 500 and Denmark Open, and the trend continued last week when the young shuttler suffered another first-round exit at the Kumamoto Masters Japan. He will face seventh-seeded Malaysian Lee Zii Jia in his opening match.

The 23-year-old Lakshya has the potential to beat any opponent, but his mental toughness has come under scrutiny after his heartbreaking near-miss at the Tokyo Olympics, where he slipped from a medal position in a dramatic loss.

Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu also faced challenges, initially recovering from a shock opening-round loss to Canada’s Michelle Li in Finland, before reaching the quarterfinals in Odense. However, Li continued to be a hurdle, defeating Sindhu in the round of 16 last week. The unseeded Indian will begin her campaign against Thailand’s Supanida Katethong, whom she leads 5-4 in their head-to-head record.

In the women’s singles event, promising young talents Aakarshi Kashyap and Malvika Bansod will also compete. Aakarshi will face Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan in her opening match, while Malvika will take on Line Højmark Kjaersfeldt in the first round.

In women’s doubles, the team of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who suffered a first-round exit from the Kumamoto Masters Japan, will be in action. The Indian duo will face the second-seeded Chinese combination of Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning.

B Sumeeth Reddy will also partner Sikki Reddy in the mixed doubles event, continuing India’s strong presence at the tournament.

The China Masters Super 750 is an important event for these players as they aim to regain their form and prepare for upcoming challenges in the international badminton circuit.

India registered a resounding 135-run victory over South Africa in the fourth and final T20 International to clinch the series 3-1. Batting first, India posted a mammoth 283/1, powered by centuries from Tilak Varma (120 not out off 47 balls) and Sanju Samson (109 not out off 56 balls). In reply, South Africa was bowled out for just 148 in 18.2 overs, as India’s bowlers delivered clinical performances across the board.

Record-Breaking Batting Display by Samson and Varma
This match saw two Indian batters score centuries in the same T20I innings for the first time ever. Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma made the Proteas bowlers toil as they dominated the South African attack. This partnership of 210 runs for the second wicket was also the highest-ever T20I partnership for India. Samson, who had already scored a century in the first game of the series, followed it up with another stunning knock, smashing 9 sixes in the process. Varma, who has been in sensational form, hit 10 sixes, completing his century in just 41 balls, 10 balls faster than Samson.

The Indian duo took full advantage of a true batting track with a bounce that allowed them to clear the boundary with ease. India’s total of 283/1 is not only their highest in T20Is but also the highest-ever T20I total on South African soil. The Indian batters hit 23 sixes in total, including 10 from Varma and 9 from Samson, as they toyed with the South African bowlers.

A Brutal Assault on the South African Bowlers
The South African bowlers had no answer to the onslaught. While Gerald Coetzee, South Africa’s best pacer, seemed to be carrying a niggle, Andile Simelane (0/47 in 3 overs) and Lutho Sipamla (1/58 in 4 overs) were hit for 10 sixes alone. The Indians took full advantage, smashing the medium pacers all over the ground. Even Keshav Maharaj and Tristan Stubbs were not spared as Varma and Samson punished every loose delivery.

South Africa’s bowling attack lacked variety and pace variations, and they bowled 17 wides in an attempt to stem the run flow. Samson and Varma’s aggression, combined with the South African bowlers’ inability to adjust, resulted in a brutal batting display.

South Africa’s Struggle in Response
In response, South Africa’s chase never really got going. Tristan Stubbs top-scored for the Proteas with 46 runs, while David Miller contributed 36. However, India’s bowlers, led by Arshdeep Singh, who claimed 3 wickets for 20 runs, ensured that South Africa was never in contention. Varun Chakravarthy (2/42) and Axar Patel (2/6) also played key roles with the ball, while Hardik Pandya, Ramandeep Singh, and Ravi Bishnoi picked up a wicket each.

India’s Clinical Bowling Performance
India’s bowlers, led by Arshdeep Singh‘s brilliant spell, bowled with precision and discipline, restricting South Africa to 148 all out in just 18.2 overs. The South African chase was stifled early, and despite some resistance from Stubbs and Miller, India was always in control of the game.

Brief Scores:

• India: 283/1 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 109* off 56 balls, Tilak Varma 120* off 47 balls; Lutho Sipamla 1/58)
• South Africa: 148 all out in 18.2 overs (Tristan Stubbs 46, David Miller 36; Arshdeep Singh 3/20)