Sports News

Mysuru: Mahabodhi School emerged as the overall champion of the Referee Cup, a two-day inter-school football tournament organised by the Mysuru District Football Referee’s Association at the University of Mysore Football Ground. The tournament provided school-level football players with an opportunity to compete against teams from different educational institutions in Mysuru. The competition featured separate Under-14 and Under-16 categories, with teams battling through the tournament for a place in the finals. In the U-14 final, Mahabodhi School produced a convincing performance and defeated NPS 3-0 to claim the championship. The school’s U-16 team also performed strongly and defeated HUDA Public School 2-0 in the U-16 final. Winning both age-group finals made the tournament particularly successful for Mahabodhi School and highlighted the strength of its school football programme. The matches also provided young players with valuable competitive experience and encouraged greater participation in football at the school level. The trophies for the winners and runners-up were distributed by former MUDA Chairman H.V. Rajeev. Officials and members of the Mysuru District Football Referee’s Association, senior football players and other sports personalities were present during the event. The Referee Cup is an important platform for encouraging school-level football in Mysuru and identifying young players who can potentially progress to higher levels of competition.

Mysuru: Four young Taekwondo practitioners from Mysuru Sai Taekwondo Academy participated in an official Guinness World Records attempt for the Largest Taekwondo Lesson in Hyderabad. The record attempt was held at Gachibowli Indoor Stadium on August 9, 2026, where a total of 533 Taekwondo practitioners came together for the event. The participation of the four young athletes from Mysuru added recognition to the city’s growing Taekwondo community. The Mysuru participants were Sameeksha, Khushali, Chayank and Advika. All four athletes are Black Belt holders and have been training under Master Sai Bee, a 5th Dan Black Belt and coach at Mysuru Sai Taekwondo Academy. Taking part in such a large-scale national event provided the young athletes with valuable exposure and an opportunity to train and perform alongside practitioners from different parts of the country. Their participation also highlights the growing popularity of martial arts among young people in Mysuru. The achievement is a source of encouragement for the academy, their coaches, parents and fellow students, while demonstrating the potential of Mysuru’s young sporting talent on a national platform.

Mysuru: Young tennis player Padmapriya Ramesh Kumar has brought pride to Mysuru by winning the Girls’ Singles title at the ATF 14&U Grade A Tournament (South East Asia) held at Epsom College in Malaysia. In the final, Padmapriya displayed strong determination and fighting spirit to defeat fellow Indian player Khushi Kadian in a closely contested match. She won the first set through a tie-break, lost the second set, and then produced a strong performance in the deciding set to secure the championship. Before reaching the final, Padmapriya defeated Chinese player Mengxiao Li in the semi-final in straight sets. Her impressive performance throughout the tournament demonstrated her ability to compete successfully against international-level junior players. Padmapriya also participated in the doubles competition, partnering with Thailand’s Ploypet Daungkhiaw. The pair reached the semi-finals before losing to the combination of Khushi Kadian and Parinitha Vattaparambil. Padmapriya is a Class 9 student at Excel Public School, Mysuru, and trains under coaches Raghuveer Ponnuswamy, Pawan and fitness coach Sagar. Her international victory marks an important milestone in her young tennis career and highlights the growing talent emerging from Mysuru.

Mysuru: Seventeen-year-old sprinter M. Rishitha from Mysuru is preparing to represent India at the 2026 Asian Deaf Games, scheduled to be held from October 3 to 10 in Penang, Malaysia. Despite being born with 80 percent hearing loss, Rishitha has established herself as a promising deaf athlete through her dedication, discipline and consistent training. A resident of J.P. Nagar in Mysuru, Rishitha is a student of Sri Jayachamarajendra PU College. Her sporting journey reflects her determination to overcome challenges and pursue excellence in athletics. Her selection for the Asian Deaf Games is a significant achievement not only for the young athlete but also for Mysuru’s sporting community. Competing at an international-level event will give her an opportunity to represent the country and compete against talented athletes from across Asia. Rishitha’s achievement has also become an inspiration for young people with disabilities and aspiring athletes. Her journey demonstrates how determination, regular training and support from family, coaches and educational institutions can help athletes achieve their goals. With the Asian Deaf Games approaching, Rishitha is focusing on her preparation and aiming to perform strongly on the international stage. Her selection has brought pride to Mysuru and Karnataka’s sporting community.

Mysuru: Hundreds of school students from different parts of Mysuru district participated enthusiastically in the Chamundi Run-2026, organised by Palace Sports Club as part of the 80th Independence Day celebrations. The running event was conducted to encourage school students to develop an interest in sports, physical fitness and healthy lifestyles. The event was flagged off at Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Circle in Ramakrishnanagar by Commonwealth Games-2026 bronze medallist K.S. Shilpa. Hunsur MLA G.D. Harish Gowda presided over the programme. Students participated in both 2K and 4K running events. The competition was conducted in four categories — Under-14 Boys, Under-14 Girls, Under-17 Boys and Under-17 Girls. Students from government and private schools across the district took part in the competition. In the U-14 Boys category, Harsha of GHPS Rangasamudra secured first place, while M. Adithya and U. Rishaan finished second and third respectively. In the U-14 Girls category, M.N. Prarthana of GHPS Rangasamudra emerged victorious. In the U-17 Boys category, S.M. Hemanth Nayaka of Sri Gurumalleshwara High School, Hosakote, Nanjangud, won the first position. In the U-17 Girls category, Inchara of Vidyodaya, T. Narasipur, secured first place. The organisers awarded cash prizes of ₹3,000, ₹2,000 and ₹1,000 to the first three winners in each category. The event brought together students, sports enthusiasts, school representatives and organisers and provided young athletes with an opportunity to showcase their talent.