Indian sports wrap, October 3: IGPL announces Rs. 1 crore for reward for Asian Games gold medallist Pranavi Urs

Pranavi Urs won a historic gold in golf, in both the women’s individual event and silver medal in team competition at the Asian Games 2026. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

GOLF

IGPL announces ₹1 crore for Pranavi Urs after her Asian Games gold

The Indian Golf Premier League will award Pranavi Urs Rs. 1 crore for winning the women’s individual golf gold at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Saturday. She is the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold in golf.

In addition, the league will award Rs. 25 lakh individually to the Indian women’s team of Pranavi, Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar for winning silver in the team event.

Anurag Singh Thakur, a five-term Member of Parliament from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel, and former Cabinet Minister, Government of India, formally made the announcement on stage on behalf of the IGPL, its franchisees and partner organisations at Qutab Golf Course in New Delhi.

Leander Paes and Anurag Singh Thakur | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“India waited 24 years for a golf gold at the Asian Games, and Pranavi got it for us today. The way she won it says a lot about her. She lost her lead on one hole in the final round and still came back to win, when most players would have folded. Aditi, Diksha and Pranavi also brought home a team silver, so this is a big day for Indian women’s golf. I am glad AM Green IGPL has come forward straight away to reward them. Every young golfer watching should know that when you do well for India, people will back you,” said Thakur.

Pranavi, 23, from Mysuru, finished on 15-under 265 at the Kasugai Country Club East Course. Singapore’s Shannon Xuan Yin Tan and China’s Yin Ruoning tied for second, one shot back on 14-under 266. Pranavi started the last round three shots clear, but a triple bogey on the par-four third hole wiped out her lead. She birdied the sixth and played the rest of the round steadily to sign for an even-par 70. India had not won a golf gold at the Asian Games since Shiv Kapur took the men’s individual title in 2002.

“To produce more golfers like Pranavi, we need to address the gap that emerges after school. When players move to colleges, universities or professional courses, many shift their focus towards building careers.”

Leander Paes, Olympic bronze medallist and 18-time Grand Slam champion, who hosted the AM Green IGPL Invitational in Mauritius earlier this year, said, “I have stood on a podium for India, and there is no feeling like it. What I liked most about Pranavi was her final round. A triple bogey that early on the last day of an Asian Games can finish you off, but she stayed patient and played her way back. You don’t learn that overnight. It comes from years of work that nobody sees.”

Pranavi’s Asiad gold shows growing strength of women’s golf in India: PGTI chief

Professional Golf Tour of India president Kapil Dev on Saturday said Pranavi Urs’ historic gold in the women’s individual event and silver medal in team competition at the Asian Games is a testament to the “growing strength” of women’s golf in the country.

The 23-year-old Pranavi claimed the individual gold and played a leading role in securing the team silver alongside Aditi Ashok and Diskha Dagar, rounding off the best ever women’s golf performance at the Asiad in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

“Pranavi Urs’ historic gold medal in the women’s individual event and the silver medal won by our women’s team at the Asian Games are moments of immense pride for India and Indian golf. These medals are a reflection of the talent, determination and hard work of our players, and of the growing strength of women’s golf in our country,” Kapil said.

“Pranavi showed nerves of steel and tremendous belief to win the gold medal for India, while Aditi, Diksha and Pranavi combined well as a team to deliver the silver medal for India.”

The former India World Cup-winning cricket captain said women golfers have made the country proud at the Asian Games.

“On behalf of the DP World PGTI and the entire Indian golfing fraternity, I congratulate all of them. They have done India proud and shown what is possible when you believe in yourself, stay disciplined, and compete fearlessly on the biggest stage,” Kapil said.

PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl also lauded Pranavi’s historic achievement, saying her triumph shows the depth in the women’s game in the country.

“Pranavi Urs has delivered a remarkable performance at the Asian Games, and her historic gold medal is a proud moment for Indian golf. Her composure, consistency and belief throughout the competition have been truly impressive,” Johl, a former golfer himself, said in a statement.

“Equally, the women’s team silver medal is a testament to the depth and growing strength of women’s golf in India. We are delighted to see Pranavi, Aditi and Diksha perform on such a prestigious stage and put Indian golf firmly in the spotlight,” he added.

Among the silver-winning team this time, Aditi had also won an individual silver in the previous edition of the Games in Hangzhou.

-PTI

SWIMMING

Asian Masters Swimming C’ships to be held in Bengaluru from October 4-10

More than 1,500 swimmers are set to take part in the second edition of the Asian Masters Swimming Championships to be held here from Sunday.

The inaugural edition of the Asian Masters Swimming Championship was held in Japan in 2016.

The Swimming Federation of India (SFI) will host the second edition under the aegis of Asia Aquatics, with the Karnataka Swimming Association (KSA) serving as the local organising partner.

The championship will have participants from India, Sri Lanka, Iran, Thailand, Japan, China, Oman, Malaysia, and South Korea.

“The championship will bring together swimmers across Masters age categories,” the organisers said in a release.

Monal Choksi, secretary general of SFI said, “The participation of over 1,500 people, including more than 1,000 Indian swimmers, underlines the growing popularity of Masters swimming and the enthusiasm for the sport across Asia.”

-PTI

BASKETBALL

Sub-junior basketball nationals: UP beats Maharashtra to make final

Defending champion Uttar Pradesh will face Rajasthan in the boys’ final at the 51st Sub-Junior National Basketball Championship being held at the Maris Stella College Indoor Stadium in Vijaywada.. UP defeated Maharashtra 63-55 in the semifinals while Rajasthan got past Haryana in the final clash on Saturday.

On the girls’ side, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu booked their place in the title clash, the former getting the better of Karnataka 71-60 while the latter beat UP 73-41 in their respective semifinals.

The scores: Boys: Uttar Pradesh 63 (Sahil Kumar 15, Vanish Tomar 12) bt Maharashtra 55 (Mayank Sharma 16), Rajasthan 82 (Harsh Vardhan 34, Robin Dhnaka 13) bt Haryana 47 (Kesav Kaushik 11);

Girls: Maharashtra 71 (Netra Damke 17, Anika Naik 10) bt Karnataka 60 (Aarushi Ananth 22, Kushi Kushi 10), Tamil Nadu 73 (Leo Jafflin 17, V. Anshika 11, M. Dhanya 10 ) bt Uttar Pradesh 41 (Tejaswi Khana 10).