ESPORTS
Inaugural Esports Nations Cup to be held in Riyadh in November 2026
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) on Friday announced start dates and prize model for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC). The competition, set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, runs from November 2 to 29.
The ENC complements the club-based Esports World Cup by giving players a chance to represent their country. The tournament is backed by a three-part funding commitment totalling $45 million (approximately INR 414 crore), structured to support the esports ecosystem through player and coach prizing, club release incentives, and national team development.
ENC 2026 includes $20 million (approx. INR 184 crore) in prize money paid directly to players and coaches across 16 titles.
A first-place finish awards $50,000 (approx. INR 46 lakh) per player, whether competing in a solo title or as part of a team. Second-place awards $30,000 (approx. INR 28 lakh) per player, and third-place awards $15,000 (approx. INR 14 lakh) per player.
“National teams bring a powerful new layer to esports, one that is accessible, intuitive, and rooted in identity and pride,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the EWCF.
He added: “Clubs are the cultural backbone of esports. Nation-based competition expands the stage, creates new rivalries, and gives more fans a reason to care from day one. Our prize model is designed to keep competition fair and sustainable, rewarding performance while supporting the long-term development of players, clubs, and national programs.”
At the ENC Finals, team competitions will include 24 to 48 national teams per title, while solo competitions will feature 32 to 128 players. Each nation will be represented by one official national team per title and up to two players per title.
After Riyadh 2026, the competition will move to a rotating host-city model. The event will be held every two years to provide a dependable structure that supports long-term planning for players, partners, and national programmes.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Trackmania, and Dota 2 have already been confirmed for ENC 2026, with additional titles to be announced in the coming days.
-Team Sportstar
SQUASH
Chotrani, Anahat in Washington quarters
Veer Chotrani stunned French World no. 19 Baptiste Masotti in a five-game thriller in the round of 16 at the Squash on Fire Open in Washington. Meanwhile, compatriot Velavan Senthilkumar went down to Mexican World no. 11 and second seed Leonel Cardenas in five games.
Chotrani beat the fourth seed 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-1, 11-9, and will meet sixth seed Declan James of England in the quarterfinals of the PSA Bronze-level event.
In the women’s section, seventh seed Anahat Singh beat South African Hayley Ward 11-5, 11-8, 12-14, 11-5 in the second round. The 17-year-old will take on Egyptian second seed Sana Ibrahim in the quarterfinals.
-Team Sportstar
RUGBY
Two-day ASMITA Rugby League-National for women in Bhubaneswar starts Saturday
The ASMITA League-National for women will feature the top eight State teams, which have qualified through Rugby India’s Senior, Junior (U18), and Sub-Junior (U15) National Rugby Sevens Championships (2025-26).
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RUGBY INDIA
The ASMITA League-National for women will feature the top eight State teams, which have qualified through Rugby India’s Senior, Junior (U18), and Sub-Junior (U15) National Rugby Sevens Championships (2025-26).
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RUGBY INDIA
Over 300 players from 24 teams will be in action at the inaugural edition of the two-day ASMITA Rugby League-National for women starting on Saturday at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
The tournament is being held under the Sports Authority of India’s ASMITA initiative, a flagship programme under the Khelo India scheme for women’s sports. The Indian Rugby Football Union is organising it with the support of the Department of Sports and Youth Services (DSYS), Government of Odisha, and the Odisha Rugby Football Association.
The league marks the culmination of a six-month-long, multi-tiered competitive structure aimed at strengthening women’s rugby pathways across the country.
The league will feature the top eight State teams, which have qualified through Rugby India’s Senior, Junior (U18), and Sub-Junior (U15) National Rugby Sevens Championships (2025-26).
In total, 24 teams comprising 336 players and team officials will participate, making it one of the largest women’s rugby events conducted in the country, the SAI said in a statement.
In the current season, 49 city-level ASMITA leagues and two zonal leagues have been conducted across the country, with participation from over 8,771 athletes across 858 teams.
“ASMITA has emerged as one of the most impactful women’s sports initiatives in the country. The scale of participation we’ve seen this year—from city leagues to zonal competitions—shows how deeply the programme is resonating on the ground,” Rahul Bose, president of the Indian Rugby Football Union, said.
-Team Sportstar
KABADDI
Haryana bags gold at 72nd Women’s Senior National Kabaddi Championship
Haryana beat defending champion Indian Railways 39-37 to clinch the top prize at the 72nd Women’s Senior National Kabaddi Championship.
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Special Arrangement
Haryana beat defending champion Indian Railways 39-37 to clinch the top prize at the 72nd Women’s Senior National Kabaddi Championship.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Haryana bagged the gold medal at the 72nd Women’s Senior National Kabaddi Championship, beating defending champion Indian Railways 39-37 in a closely fought final at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad on Friday.
Nikita was the standout performer for Haryana, leading the scoring with 17 points through a combination of touch and bonus points. Ruchi provided strong support and bagged nine points, while Raj Rani contributed across raids to keep Haryana in control during key phases of the match.
For Indian Railways, Pooja was the top scorer with 11 points, while strong all-round contributions came from Pooja and Sonali Shingate, who added six points each. Despite a disciplined defensive effort and a late push, Railways fell just short in a final decided by fine margins.
Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the two losing semifinalists, took home the bronze medals.
-Team Sportstar
POLO
HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh anchors Jaipur Polo Team’s 9.5–5 win over Chandna Polo
Players in action at the Kognivera Cup.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Players in action at the Kognivera Cup.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Continuing its strong momentum in the Kognivera Cup, the Jaipur Polo Team registered a comprehensive 9.5–5 victory over Chandna Polo, displaying attacking cohesion, disciplined structure, and composure across all four chukkers.
Jaipur had a steady start, edging the opening chukker 1.5–1 as both teams settled into rhythm. The second chukker saw Jaipur raise the tempo significantly and take firm control of proceedings. With fluid ball movement and sharp finishing, Jaipur stretched its lead to 5.5–2 at halftime. Bhawani Singh Kalvi and Lance Watson made important contributions during this phase, complementing HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh’s influence.
Chandna Polo showed resilience in the third chukker, with Alejo continuing to push forward. Jaipur, however, remained composed, responding with disciplined play and effective counterattacks to extend its advantage to 6.5–4 heading into the final chukker.
In the closing chukker, Jaipur managed the game with maturity, adding three more goals to seal the contest at 9.5–5.
-Team Sportstar
SHOOTING
Parampal Singh Guron and Ganemat Sekhon win Skeet Trial 1 Finals
Parampal Singh Guron held his nerve in the shootout to edge past Olympian Anantjeet Singh Naruka to secure the top spot in Skeet Trial 1 of the National Selection Trials 1&2 (Group A) while Ganemat Sekhon finished on top in the Women’s event at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range.
Zorawar Singh Bedi and Sanyogita Shekhawat took top honours in the Junior Men’s and Women’s category respectively.
Parampal Singh Guron scored 34 hits out of 36 in the new format of Skeet finals, same as Anantjeet who was leading until the final series where he missed one target. Parampal hit all four targets while Anantjeet missed one in the shoot off to ensure top place for the experienced shooter. Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan secured third spot with a score of 29.
In the new ISSF format where eight shooters qualify for the finals, Man Singh topped qualification with a score of 123 while Anantjeet scored 120. Parampal, Mairaj and national champion Gurjoat Singh scored 118 each and Mohammed Sheeraz Sheikh and Munek Battula scored 116 each to complete the top eight.
In the women’s final’s Ganemat Sekhon who squeezed into the finals as the eighth qualifier, shot consistently to secure top spot with a score of 33 out of 36 edging past Parinaaz Dhaliwal who finished on 32. Darshna Rathore took the third spot with a score of 24.
Earlier in qualification, Parinaaz qualified on top with 117 above Vanshika Tiwari who scored 115 followed by Darshna Rathore and Raiza Dhillon who scored 114. Maheshwari Chauhan and Yashasvi Rathore scored 113 and Mansi Raghuvanshi completed the top eight with 112.
In the men’s junior finals, Zorawar Singh Bedi shot 35 out of 36 in the finals after qualifying on top spot with 117 in qualification. Yuvek Battula secured second spot in the finals with 34 hits after qualifying with a score of 109 while Gurfateh Singh Sandhu finished in third with 28 hits, qualifying for the finals with a score of 110.
Ishaan Singh Libra and Yashvardhan Singh Rajawat scored 114 each in qualification followed by Yuvaan who scored 113. Navneet Singh Bhadouriya (111) and Harviraj Singh (108) completed the top eight.
In the junior women’s finals, Sanyogita Shekhawat finished on top with a score of 28 after qualifying in seventh place with a score of 101. Kajal Singh Baghel who qualified in eighth place with a score of 100, secured second spot with a score of 27. Risham Kaur Guron who topped qualification with a score of 110, took the third spot with a score of 23.
Agrima Kanwar and Venkat Lakshmi Lakku finished second and third in qualification with scores of 109 respectively followed by Kamna Udawat and Parmeet Kaur who hit 104 each. Oshmi Shrivas who scored 102 completed the top eight.
– Team Sportstar
TABLE TENNIS
Dream Sports U-15 tournament to begin on January 31
Following the success of its inaugural edition, Dream Sports Foundation announced the second edition of the Dream Sports Championship Table Tennis (DSC TT).
Supported by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and held under the mentorship of Indian table tennis legend Sharath Kamal, the U-15 tournament will take place from January 31 to February 5 at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education Sports University, Chennai.
The tournament will be conducted across multiple stages, including group matches, Super League, quarterfinal, semifinal and final. Each group will include international players, further enhancing the competitive experience for Indian players.
Some of the top players include Rajavelu Akash, Prateek Tulsani, Ray Ahona and Sreejani Chakraborty. All matches of DSC TT will be live-streamed on FanCode.
– K. Keerthivasan
BADMINTON
Thailand Masters: India’s Devika beats top seed Katethong
Devika Sihag defeated top seed and home favourite Supanida Katethong at the Thailand Masters 2026.
This marks young Indian Shuttlers first top-20 player upset in BWF circuit as she defeated World No.16, booking her maiden semifinal appearance at a BWF Super 300 event.
The Indian shuttler delivered a dominant performance overcoming the World No.16, 21-19, 21-18 in straight games in a 40-minute encounter.
Devika will next face fifth seed Huang Yu-Hsun of Chinese Taipei in the semifinals.
-Team Sportstar
Published on Jan 30, 2026
Nguồn: thehindu
