Athletics campaign begins with high hopes

India’s athletics challenge officially begins on Monday, with several top names entering the fray.

Sprint specialist Gurindervir Singh will be the first Indian track athlete in action in the men’s 100m heats, while Murali Sreeshankar and Lokesh Satyanathan will compete in the men’s long jump qualification.

Attention will then shift to Tejas Shirse, who begins his campaign in the men’s 110m hurdles heats. Should he qualify, he will return later in the night for the medal race.

The marquee athletics event for India, however, will be the men’s high jump final, where Tejaswin Shankar, Sarvesh Anil Kushare, and J Aadarsh Ram will all be aiming for podium finishes.

Weightlifting looks to continue medal surge

Weightlifting has already delivered two medals for India, and Monday presents three more opportunities to add to that tally.

Gyaneshwari Yadav opens India’s challenge in the women’s 53kg final before experienced lifter Bindyarani Devi competes in the women’s 58kg category.

The day’s weightlifting action concludes with V Ajaya Babu in the men’s 79kg final, where another podium finish will be on India’s radar.

Protistha Samanta targets gymnastics medal

One of India’s brightest gymnastics prospects, Protistha Samanta, will compete in the women’s vault final after an impressive qualification campaign.

Samanta had finished among the leading qualifiers after producing strong vaults despite competing with a heavily strapped leg. She will now look to convert that form into a Commonwealth Games medal.

Busy day in the boxing ring

India’s boxing squad will have four representatives in action.

Sachin Siwach continues his campaign in the men’s 60kg category after winning his opening bout, while Ankush, Sakshi Choudhary and Sumit Kundu begin their respective Commonwealth Games campaigns in the Round of 16.

Swimming and bowls continue

Veteran swimmer Sajan Prakash begins his campaign in the men’s 200m butterfly heats. If he advances, he will return later in the night for the final.

In lawn bowls, Putul Sonowal resumes his men’s singles sectional campaign against Kenya’s Anwar Hamada, knowing every match is crucial in the race for qualification.

Para athletics and wheelchair basketball also in focus

India will also compete in two para athletics medal events.

Sharmila Dhankar and Shilpa K Shyla will feature in the women’s shot put F57 final, while Rakeshbhai Bhatt and Shreyansh Trivedi contest the men’s 100m T38 final.

At just 21 years old, and only 24 days as a professional golfer, Jackson Koivun can call himself a PGA Tour winner.

And he held off Scottie Scheffler, the world No.1 golfer, to do it at the 3M Open on TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota on Sunday.

Koivun shot 5-under in his final round to shoot 25-under to win the tournament, while Scheffler’s 8-under final round wasn’t enough as he finished three strokes behind a golfer that could become a household name quite soon.

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Jackson Koivun of the United States plays a shot from the second tee during the final round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 26, 2026, in Blaine, Minn. (Getty Images)

Koivun propelled himself into prime position to win the tournament when he posted a 10-under 61 on Saturday in Round 3 to move to 20-under for the tournament. It was a tournament record during the round, too, as his 28 on the back-nine was the best score ever posted in those holes.

It was clear he was focused on winning it all during his final round, especially after going 3-under through his first six holes on the day.

MICHAEL KIM NAILS DRAMATIC BIRDIE ON THE 18TH TO MAKE PGA TOUR SCORING HISTORY AT 3M OPEN

Koivun would post two birdies on the back-nine, and finish with a bogey-free final round to put the icing on his breakout tournament of his very early PGA Tour career.

Now, after becoming a pro earlier this month, Koivun just cashed a $1.584 million check for winning what he hopes will be the first of many PGA Tour events.

Jackson Koivun of the United States walks to the 18th green during the final round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn., on July 26, 2026. (Getty Images)

“All throughout the crowd, I kept hearing, ‘Scottie’s coming, Scottie’s coming,’” Koivun admitted after his victory on the CBS broadcast. “I just tried to tone that out and keep playing the golf I knew I could.”

It’s hard to block out when Scheffler’s climbing a leaderboard because it usually ends in his favor. After going 3-under on the front nine, Scheffler turned his putter into final-round gold on the turn, draining birdie putts on the first three holes of the back-nine. He cooled off, if you wish to call it that, before birdying two of his final three holes to give himself a chance.

Koivun didn’t blink, scoring par on his final two holes including the Hole 18 par-5, where he understandably pumped his fist after draining a final par putt to seal victory.

Jackson Koivun of the United States acknowledges the crowd after making birdie on the fourth green during the final round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 26, 2026, in Blaine, Minn. (Getty Images)

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Winning isn’t anything new for the now-former top amateur in the world, but it’s a different feeling when it’s on the PGA Tour for the first time.

“I just love this game. I love golf, it’s everything I do. I have a tough time getting away from it,” he explained. “…It’s been love at first sight.”

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New Delhi : For five years, the World Junior Squash Championship remained the one mountain Anahat Singh chipped away at. The heartbreaks of quarterfinals and semifinals finishes became familiar scripts. But on her final appearance as a junior at the Niagara-on-the-Lake (Canada) event on Saturday, the fearless Delhi girl finally rewrote the ending, becoming the first Indian to be crowned world junior champion.More than a historic title, it was a statement from the country’s brightest squash talent as India can now begin dreaming of a medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, where the sport will make its Olympic debut.The 18-year-old top seed at the junior worlds and world No. 20 on the senior PSA Tour, ended Egypt’s 13time stranglehold on the girls’ title with a commanding 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 victory over second seed Ruqayya Salem in the final. Anahat also became the first nonEgyptian champion since Amanda Sobhy in 2010, while also going over Joshna Chinappa’s runner-up finish in 2005 to record India’s bestever result at the event.Her path to the title was anything but easy. After cruising through the early rounds, Anahat had to overcome three Egyptians in succession — Habiba Rizk in quarters, Barb Sameh in the semis and Salem in the title clash. Beating three Egyptians back-to-back underlined just how much the Delhi youngster has grown.The final showcased her maturity. She raced through the opening two games before Salem threatened a comeback by taking an 8-6 lead in the third. Undeterred, Anahat trusted her attacking instincts, fought back point by point and wrapped up the match in straight games.“I still feel like I’m dreaming,” Anahat said after the victory. “This tournament had almost become a curse for me. I’ve been losing in the semis and quarters over the last four years. This was my last year as a junior and my only chance to win it. It means the world.”That sense of relief was evident. Had she missed out this year, there would have been no second chance. She now moves full-time into the senior circuit as a world top-20 player carrying the confidence of a junior world champion. “I knew if I got stressed, I wouldn’t play well. I just focused on hitting my lines and enjoying every moment of playing a world championship final.”Coached by former world champion Gregory Gaultier, Anahat has evolved into one of the most exciting players on the circuit.Reflecting on her progress, Anahat said consistency has been the biggest change. “Earlier, I could raise my level for one big match but found it difficult to maintain that intensity throughout a tournament. Now I’ve learnt how to back up one tough match with another. Training harder, understanding the pace of the game and becoming more consistent have made all the difference,” she said.

The Galmont Hotel & The Galway Bay Hotel Novice Hurdle at 5.10pm is the first of seven races on the opening evening card.

Trainer Willie Mullins has taken this race three times in the past five years, with Farout (2021), Mystical Power in 2023, and Davy Crockett last year.

The Closutton handler, and his main jockey Paul Townend, will be represented by the French-bred Witches Familiar, who won a fillies’ maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe on her last racecourse appearance in May.

The highest-rated runner in the field, at 123, is the Gordon Elliott handled Mino Des Mottes, winner of a Bellewstown Novice Hurdle last time under Josh Williamson.

Three in-a-row for O’Brien & Lordan?

In the seven furlong Eventus Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden at 6.10pm, Aidan O’Brien will be represented by Fairyhouse fifth placer City Of Gold, the mount of Wayne Lordan.

The son of Wootton Bassett will try to emulate his half-brother Constitution River in breaking his maiden at Ballybrit, with the  latter subsequently going on to win the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly.

O’Brien, who is bidding to win the race for the third year in-a-row, may find his son Joseph’s American-bred One Number as his main challenger, having finished third in the Irish EBF Pat Smullen Stakes at Naas at the start of June.

Recent Mullins domination of Monday feature

The opening night feature race, the Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap over 2 miles and 179 yards has 23 runners declared. This race has been won by a Mullins-trained horse eight of the past nine years – Willie 5 times, Emmet twice and Tony once.

Willie Mullins will be represented by Sirius – a 50/1 winner of the race in 2024 – Too Bossy For Us and Tounsivator this year, while Emmet will has Filey Bay and Teed Up. Only three favourites have won this race in the past 12 years.

Power Of Knowledge to debut

Power Of Knowledge, Annie Power’s third foal, will make his racecourse debut in the Ray Dooley Monami Construction Flat Race at 8.20pm – the final race on Monday’s card.

Carrying the colours of J.P. McManus, the Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old son of Camelot is still a colt, and will be the mount of the handler’s son, Patrick, who won this bumper in 2024 aboard My Great Mate.

The son of Nathaniel, Primer Contender, has changed trainer since his Dromahane Point-to-Point victory in April. Prepared on that occasion by Seán Doyle, the gelding is now handled by Gordon Elliott.

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