A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Monday
Rising shooter Anish Bhanwala secured India a third individual gold medal at the ISSF Junior World Cup when the 15-year-old finished atop the podium in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol in Sydney on Monday.
Having qualified for the final with the highest score, Bhanwala prevailed over compatriots -- Anhad Jawanda and Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu -- and three Chinese participants in the medal round.
India are now placed second in the overall standings with 15 medals -- comprising six gold, three silver and six bronze -- behind China and ahead of top shooting nations such as Italy and hosts Australia.
China secured the gold medal and set a new junior world record with 1733 points, while India's Bhanwala, Jawanda and Adarsh Singh took silver. The bronze medal was awarded to another Indian team comprising Sandhu, Japtyesh Singh Jaspal and Mandeep Singh.
Anish, who was placed seventh in this event at the ISSF World Cup Stage 1 in Guadalajara, Mexico earlier this month, led the match since its very first stage, as he was the only shooter able to nail a perfect 5-hit series during the whole final.
After recording the highest qualification score with 585 points, Anish concluded with 29 total hits, pocketing the first international gold medal of his career in this event.
Two Chinese shooters placed alongside him on the rapid fire pistol podium -- 19-year-old Cheng Zhipeng took silver with 27 hits, adding it to the bronze he won at last year's ISSF Junior World Championship in Suhl, Germany, while Zhang Jueming (20) finished with 23 and claimed bronze in his first Junior World Cup start ever.
Appearing in his second final at the ISSF Junior World Cup, Jawanda finished just outside the medal positions, finishing fourth with 17 hits and improving from the seventh position he obtained two days ago in the air pistol event.
Jawanda was followed by the third Chinese final participant — 19-year-old Pan Junchen — who scored 12 hits and took the fifth place in his first Junior World Cup start ever.
Eliminated after four series, India's 15-year-old Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu signed off with 7 and was placed sixth in the first international appearance of his career.
Aditi earns Major berth with T-14th finish at Kia Classic
Indian golfer Aditi Ashok turned in a brilliant seven-under 65 to sign off tied 14th at the Kia Classic, earning herself a spot in the season's first Major for women -- the ANA Inspiration this week.
Overnight tied 20th, Aditi, who carded 70-72-71 on the first three days, saved her best for the last at the Aviara Golf Club, sending down eight birdies against a bogey in the final round. That took her to 10-under 278 and she ended six spots behind the winner, Eun-Hee Ji of Korea (67).
It was also an early birthday present for Aditi, who turns 20 on March 29, when the ANA Inspiration tees off.
Eun-Hee Ji won with an ace on Sunday's closing stretch to capture her fourth career win on the LPGA Tour at the Kia Classic. She aced the 166-yard par-three, 14th hole and got a brand new 2019 Kia Sorrento. Ji carded a final round five-under 67 to win by two strokes ahead of Cristie Kerr and Lizette Salas.
Aditi opened with a birdie and then dropped a shot on the sixth. But birdies on seventh and ninth saw her turn in two-under. Still there was no indication of the birdie spree that came on the back nine. She birdied 11th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th to gain five strokes in last eight holes.
The result also helped her move from 87th to 63rd as the Top-80 on the Money list qualified for the first Major at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage.
"My game is in a really good place heading into the ANA," Aditi told LPGA.com.
"It's unfortunate that I wasn't already in the field (for the ANA Inspiration) before this week. I missed out via the money list from last year by just a few spots.
"Now that I'm there, I'm sure my game is ready and I'm really looking forward to it. It will be amazing to be at ANA during my birthday week."
Last week Aditi closed with a 68 at Bank of Founders Cup in Phoenix.
In her rookie season in 2017, Aditi began solidly with rounds of 72 and 69 but finally finished T-42.
Aditi is a three-time winner on the Ladies European Tour.