KOCHI: Star shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa, who won the women’s doubles gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, says she is not a fan of badminton’s new 15×3 scoring system, arguing that the diet version strips the sport of the drama and intensity that have made it so riveting. The All India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament, which began at Kochi’s Regional Sports Centre on Tuesday, is the first tournament at the domestic circuit to introduce this format to ensure seamless transition for Indian shuttlers. The Badminton World Federation plans a global roll out of the 15×3 scoring system from Jan 2027.In this format, all matches will be played as best-of-three games under rally-point scoring system in which each game will be played till 15 points instead of 21. The traditional mid-game interval will now be taken when the leading player or pair reaches eight points.“The beauty of the 21-point system lies in its ebbs and flows. It allows momentum shifts, creates drama, and allows comebacks,” Ponnappa told TOI at the Regional Sports Centre, after she and Satish Karunakaran won their opening mixed doubles match 15-8,15-10 against Farhan Muhammad and Meera Nair.“Some of the greatest matches in badminton have lasted for at least 90 minutes, with the longest stretching to over 160 minutes. Those are contests people remember,” Ponnappa elaborated.The BWF plans to introduce this diet version to reduce match durations, limit player fatigue, make it less physical, and create faster-paced games to suit the ethos of modern broadcasting. Ponnappa, 36, reckoned that the sport’s governing body missed a trick by failing to innovate, choosing instead to tinker with a tested format.“If you feel that the sport is becoming too physical, then add another break,” the Coorgi explained. Ponnappa said the authorities should have retained the 21-point format at Tour 1000 events and conducted a trial run of the 15-point system at some of the lower-ranked events.“It’s harder to build rallies. Who wants to see a badminton game getting over in 20 minutes?” Ponnappa argued. Ponnappa acknowledged that players have little choice but to be adaptable and embrace the new normal.“It is what it is. The sooner players adapt to the new scoring system, the better it is for them,” she added.

Ever finish a round of golf and feel like nothing went right? It’s a frustrating feeling, but simply saying, “I played badly,” won’t help you improve. To get better, you need to understand the types of mistakes you’re making. Once you can identify your errors, you can focus on the right things in practice and on the course.

I typically break down the mistakes golfers make into three categories.

1. Execution errors

These are the most obvious errors and the ones most golfers think of first. They are the dreaded mishits — chunks, tops, slices and hooks. They happen when your swing doesn’t quite match your intention, leading to a poor result.

While some execution errors are unavoidable, you can minimize them through consistent practice and lessons. But remember, no matter how much you practice, execution errors will happen. Even the best players in the world don’t hit every shot perfect.

2. Strategic errors

Strategic errors are more common than many golfers realize. They happen when you make a poor decision before you even hit the ball. This could be because you didn’t properly assess the conditions, such as a strong headwind, a wet lie, or the speed of the greens.

For example, imagine you have a 140-yard shot over water. You normally hit your 8-iron 140 yards, so you pull that club without thinking twice. However, you fail to notice a strong wind blowing directly into your face. The ball comes up short and lands in the water. Your swing wasn’t the problem. The mistake happened before you ever addressed the ball.

Other strategic errors include attempting shots you haven’t practiced enough or misjudging the risk versus the reward. Often, choosing the smarter, safer play leads to a better score than attempting a low-percentage shot. These are mistakes that are much easier to limit, because they boil down to making smarter decisions.

3. Mental errors

Mental errors are all about mindset, focus and concentration. Unlike a poor swing, these are mistakes that are entirely within your control. They include rushing your shot, skipping your pre-shot routine, or allowing one bad shot to affect the rest of your round.

Elite players understand that mental mistakes are often the easiest to eliminate and can have the greatest impact on scoring. If you can cut down — or even eliminate — mental errors, you can save several strokes per round.

How to avoid these mistakes

During your round, take a moment after every bad shot to determine what type of mistake occurred. Was it an execution error, such as a mishit? A strategic error, like choosing the wrong club? Or was it a mental error, such as rushing your routine? Simply identifying the cause helps you stay present and learn from each shot instead of reacting emotionally.

It can also be helpful to keep a simple record of your mistakes. Create a system using “E” for execution errors, “S” for strategic errors, and “M” for mental errors and mark them down on your scorecard. At the end of your round, tally each category. The results will quickly show you where your biggest opportunities for improvement lie and help guide your practice.

Cory Sandhagen has spent years hovering around the UFC bantamweight title picture without quite breaking through. He’s challenged for championship gold twice, fallen short both times, and now finds himself back in familiar territory – needing another statement win in one of the promotion’s deepest divisions.His assignment at International Fight Week is a familiar face. Seven years after submitting Mario Bautista in Bautista’s third UFC appearance, Sandhagen meets him again in a fight that carries far greater consequences than their first meeting ever did.The matchup comes with contrasting narratives. Bautista has framed it as a wrestling advantage and vowed to chase a finish. Sandhagen isn’t buying that assessment.In an exclusive conversation with Timesofindia.com, Sandhagen discusses how Bautista has evolved since their first meeting, why he dismisses the wrestling narrative, the lessons from his latest title defeat, and why he believes a showdown with Sean O’Malley makes the most sense if he gets past Bautista.Excerpts: This is a rematch with Mario after seven years. How different is he now compared to the debutant you faced in 2019?I think he’s a much better fighter now. I think we both are. He’s come a long way, and I think it’s going to be a challenging fight.Mario says he’s hunting for the finish and sees this as a wrestling mismatch. How do you react to that kind of public assessment of the fight?I think Mario has shown almost no great offensive wrestling that I’ve seen. He got out-grappled by Umar by a much bigger margin. He was held down, whereas I got taken down a bunch of times but got back up right away every time. So I don’t know what he’s talking about.What do you see as Mario’s single biggest strength, and how do you plan to neutralize it?I think Mario’s biggest strength is that he’s a really hardworking guy. He has a lot of self-belief, and he doesn’t quit. I plan on countering that by being the same, while also being more technical, more skilled, and more hardworking than him.You’ve had spectacular finishes against guys like Edgar and Moraes, as well as tactical wins over opponents like Font. How do you decide, fight by fight, whether to go for fireworks or settle for a controlled win?You always try to win with fireworks, but sometimes the other guy does really good stuff and you’re not able to get him out of there. That’s just how it goes.

Cory Sandhagen against Merab Dvalishvili (AP Photo)

After UFC 320 [Merab Dvalishvili], you said the fight was absolutely winnable. What specifically went wrong, and how have you addressed it in preparation for Mario?I think if I had a better second round, I would have done well. There were also some technical mistakes that I made that are pretty easy to fix, and I think they would have changed the outcome of the fight. So it really came down to those technical mistakes and not getting hurt as badly in the second round.You’ve been one of the top bantamweights for years. How much of this fight is about proving to yourself that you can still handle the new wave of fighters like Mario, not just the older contenders?I think I only have a few more fights than Mario, so I don’t really see him as an up-and-coming guy. I think he’s been in the UFC for quite some time now. Maybe I’ve only been in the UFC a year or two longer than him.

Mario Bautista (Special Arrangements)

So I don’t really see him as an up-and-coming fighter. I just see him as someone who hasn’t been in as many big fights as I have and hasn’t fought for titles yet. I think I’m simply more experienced, but I don’t see him as a newcomer to the UFC.Finally, if you win this fight, what do you think the UFC should book next? O’Malley, Merab again, or someone else?I think, realistically, I still have one more fight before I can fight for the title again. But the only fight the fans really want to see is me against O’Malley.Hopefully, it’ll be that. If it’s not O’Malley, then I’m open to anyone or any idea because I know I probably still have one more fight left. But if I beat Mario really decisively and do something crazy to win, that could change too. Realistically, though, I think I have one more fight, and I think it should be against O’Malley. I don’t really know who else there would be.(Watch UFC 329 – McGregor vs Holloway 2 on July 12, 2026, from 6:30 AM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD (Tamil, Telugu & Kannada) and Sony LIV)

FILE–Evan Nelle shoots during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals against Barangay Ginebra.–PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—In his first move since being appointed as the new coach of NLEX, Jimmy Alapag brought in Evan Nelle to boost the Road Warriors’ backcourt ahead of the upcoming PBA Governors’ Cup.

Nelle and Alapag are no strangers to each other.

Two years ago, Nelle went to California to hone his skills under the guidance of Alapag, who was then the developmental coach of the Sacramento Kings in the NBA.

READ: After US coaching journey, Alapag gets his big break in PBA

NLEX acquired Nelle from Phoenix in exchange for forward Sidney Onwubere in a straight swap.

“Welcome to NLEX, Evan Nelle! A floor general who thrives under pressure, sees every play before it unfolds,” the team wrote in a post on social media on Tuesday.

“The journey starts now and we’re coming full speed.”

Nelle was a vital piece for the Fuel Masters in the Commissioner’s Cup, where they reached the quarterfinals with a 6-6 record before getting eliminated by eventual champions Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.

Now, the 28-year-old point guard, who are among the few players to win titles in the UAAP and NCAA, bolsters an NLEX side, which had a promising yet disappointing campaign last conference, where they suffered a quarterfinal exit as the top seed.

Nelle joins a star-studded NLEX backcourt featuring MVP candidate Robert Bolick, Kevin Alas and young gun LJay Gonzales.

The Road Warriors will headline the Governors’ Cup opener on Friday, taking on guest team Macau Giant Pandas at Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead holds a strong hand in the €100,000 Kilmurray Group Midlands National at Kilbeggan Racecourse on Friday night.

De Bromhead will be represented by three horses in the 14-runner field over 3 miles and one furlong for Kilbeggan’s seasonal highlight, sponsored by Kilmurray’s Homevalue Hardware in Mullingar.

The 2025 winner of the Listed contest, Amirite, will carry top weight of 11-12 in a race that he was also runner-up in back in 2024. Five-pound claimer Paddy O’Brien will ride the 10-year-old on Friday evening.

Recent McHale Mayo National winner, Native Speaker, will have the assistance of de Bromhead’s stable jockey Darragh O’Keeffe as bids to add a second summer National to his resumé.

Raglan Road, a winner of two of his last three races, is the final Knockeen Stables’ inmate, and will have the assistance of J.P. McManus’ retained rider Harry Cobden in the saddle.

Mullins yet to win Midlands National

Champion jumps handler Willie Mullins will attempt to win the race for the first time since its inauguration back in 1997. The Closutton trainer will saddle both Uncle Tom, a Punchestown Festival winner, and Yoradreamer, runner-up in the three-horse Jim Ryan Memorial Novice Chase at Punchestown early last month. Paul Townend will take the mount on Uncle Tom, while Seán O’Keeffe will wear the Brookhouse colours aboard Yoradreamer.

Tipperary trainer John Ryan is responsible for four of the horses contesting the Midlands National, with seven-time winner and €5,000 purchase Drumgill likely to be his best chance of landing the €100,000 race. The Templemore handler has an impressive recent record at Kilbeggan, having had two winners and two seconds from just six runners at June’s meeting.

Enda Bolger’s runner Pride Of Place was successful in the Tote Killarney National on his penultimate outing, while Boston Rover, who hasn’t run since last October, may be the strongest of the Gordon Elliott trio to face the starter.

The first of seven races will start at 4.50pm. The Kilmurray Group Midlands National goes to post at 6.32pm

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General Salute presents with some of the most competitive recent form of any horse participating at Rosehill on Saturday, and jockey Tim Clark is optimistic that the gelding only needs to reproduce those performances to secure the feature sprint race.

The gelding secured the runner-up position behind the outstanding mare Autumn Glow in last year’s Theo Marks Stakes (1300m). He followed this achievement with two successive placings behind Group 1 performers Headley Grange and Transatlantic in the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) and the Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m), respectively.

“There are any of three or four runs in the spring which, if he replicated, he’d win the race on Saturday. Simple as that,” Clark commented.

Bookmakers and punters might express caution after General Salute faded to a midfield finish in the Civic Stakes (1400m) at his last start. This performance came after an unlucky second place to the quick Wanaruah in the Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) when resuming.

However, Clark feels the horse had justifiable excuses and predicts he will perform much better in the Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) this Saturday.

“He was going from 1100 to 1400 . . . and I ended up being a bit close to what turned out to be a really fast speed. It just gassed him a little bit late,” Clark elaborated. “Now he’s had that run over 1400 under his belt, he will be a lot better for it.”

“A bit of cut in the track won’t hurt, and he’s drawn one, so he’s going to have a much more economical run throughout.”

General Salute is set to benefit from a 3-1/2 kilo weight advantage over Midnight Dynamite. With the advantage of a recent 1400m run, Clark anticipates his mount will be significantly better prepared for what is expected to be another strongly run contest, due to the presence of Whinchat and Cool Jakey, who finished first and second in transit last start.

“The two horses who set the speed are there again, so they’re going to go quick,” Clark said. “But now he’s had that run under his belt over 1400, he’s going to be better for it and able to cope with that type of pressure. He did race a little bit keenly the other day, but it’s a far better set-up for him on Saturday.”

Considering General Salute for your bets? Explore the leading Australian betting sites to find competitive racing odds.

Jan 18, 2026; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Chris Gotterup holds the championship trophy after winning the Sony Open in Hawaii. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images

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