Paddlers Ayhika Mukherjee, Sreeja Akula stun world No. 1 and 2

Busan

Ayhika Mukherjee and Sreeja Akula stunned the world’s top two players, Sun Yingsha and Wang Yidi, in their respective singles matches to rattle the mighty China before the Indian women’s table tennis team narrowly fell short in the World Team Championships here today. Ranked a lowly 155, Mukherjee won 12-10 2-11 13-11 11-6 over world No. 1 Sun in the opening singles of the group stage contest. Sreeja blanked world No. 2 Yidi 11-7 11-9 13-11 in the third singles.

Cairo

Dipa, Pranati Nayak qualify for vault final in Cairo WC

Indian gymnasts Dipa Karmakar and Pranati Nayak qualified for the vault final of the FIG Apparatus World Cup, a Paris Olympics qualifying event, here today. Dipa aggregated 13.449 points in the qualification round to seal her spot in the final. Pranati finished seventh with 13.166 points.

Fort Lauderdale (US)

Messi and Inter Miami close pre-season with draw

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami closed out their tumultuous Major League Soccer pre-season with a 1-1 draw against Messi’s boyhood club, Newell’s Old Boys.

Perth

Australia’s Sutherland smashes fastest double ton

Australia’s Annabel Sutherland today smashed the fastest double hundred in women’s Test history, achieving the feat in 248 balls on the second day of the one-off match against South Africa here. The 22-year-old Sutherland was dismissed for 210 off 256 balls, helping Australia post a massive 575/9 decl in their first innings, the highest total in women’s Test cricket. South Africa, who were shot out for 76 in their first innings, were 67/3 in their second essay at stumps.

New Delhi

Manu Bhaker wins bronze in 10m air pistol event

Ace Indian shooter Manu Bhaker bagged a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event in the ISSF World Cup 10m in Grenada, Spain. Bhaker shot a total of 215.1 to finish third in the women’s 10m air pistol final.

Paris

Enrique won’t comment on news of Mbappe leaving PSG

Paris St Germain manager Luis Enrique declined to comment on the news that Kylian Mbappe will leave the club at the end of this season when he spoke to reporters today. A source at the club said that Mbappe would leave at the end of his current contract but terms of the agreement have not yet been decided and it could be months before an official announcement.

Buenos Aires

Alcaraz comes from behind to reach quarterfinals

Defending champion and top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the quarterfinals of the Argentina Open by beating Camilo Carabelli 6-2 7-5 in his first claycourt match of the season. The 20-year-old Alcaraz came from 2-0 down in the second set against his Argentine opponent. — Agencies