Indian Sports Wrap, November 3: Assam teen Samuel selected as ball kid for Australian Open 2027

Here are India’s major updates, scores, and results from the world of sports on Tuesday, November 3.

Updated : Nov 03, 2026 17:12 IST , CHENNAI - 3 MINS READ

Samuel Doley with Rohan Bopanna. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

TENNIS

Bopanna hails Bhoomi programme as trainee Samuel Doley earns Australian Open ball kid selection

Thirteen-year-old Samuel Doley, a trainee at the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy (RBTA) in Bengaluru, has been selected as one of four Indian ball kids for the 2027 Australian Open in Melbourne.

Hailing from Majauli in Assam, Samuel is a beneficiary of RBTA’s Bhoomi programme, which provides children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds with access to tennis coaching and education.

Former Australian Open men’s doubles champion Rohan Bopanna said Samuel’s selection reflected the programme’s objective of creating opportunities beyond competitive success.

“This is exactly why we started the Bhoomi programme - to give children opportunities they may never have imagined possible, regardless of their background,” Bopanna said.

“For me, success is not just about producing tennis champions, but about changing lives through tennis,” he added.

Samuel will serve as a ball kid at the season’s first Grand Slam in January, a role that requires concentration, agility, fitness and teamwork. The experience will also give him an opportunity to observe professional tennis at the highest level.

The Bhoomi initiative, run by the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Development Foundation (RBTDF), has brought 37 children from Assam and Jammu to Bengaluru through grassroots selection trials.

With support from RBTDF and the Kamal India Foundation, the children receive residential accommodation, meals, formal schooling and professional tennis coaching, all free of cost.

The programme also provides fitness training, nutritional guidance, psychological support and regular assessments as part of its approach to player development.

The initiative has set a long-term target of supporting at least 100 children, combining sporting opportunities with education and personal development.

Samuel’s selection marks an early milestone for the programme as it looks to make tennis more accessible to children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Esports

Riot Games, JioBLAST announce VCT 2027 South Asia Open Qualifiers

Riot Games has partnered with JioBLAST to organise the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2027 Kickoff Open Qualifiers in South Asia, with two teams set to earn places at Kickoff APAC.

The competition will take place from November 17 to 29, with registrations open until midnight on November 13.

The Open Qualifiers will be held from November 17 to 20 in a Swiss-stage format, with the top eight teams progressing to the Playoffs.

The Playoffs, scheduled from November 23 to 29, will follow a double-elimination format to determine the two teams advancing to Kickoff APAC.

The tournament is aimed at providing emerging and established teams from South Asia with an opportunity to compete at a higher level.

Charlie Cowdrey, CEO of JioBLAST, said the partnership would help create opportunities for players in the region to progress to international competitions.

Anushka Bhatnagar, Publishing Lead for Riot Games India and South Asia, said the new VCT format would make competitive VALORANT more accessible to aspiring players.

All participants must hold a minimum current rank of Ascendant 1 and meet the tournament’s age, residency and other eligibility requirements.