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I want to inspire girls to pursue combat sports: Sonia Bhardwaj
Currently ranked 69th in the world, Sonia Bhardwaj is one of India’s top talents in taekwondo. The 21 year old is currently a part of the Peace Taekwondo Academy and is fully focused on improving her rankings to qualify for the Olympics. In this exclusive interview, Sonia speaks about her journey in taekwondo, winning the gold medal at the India Open, overcoming challenges, the importance of mental strength, future goals and much more!
Q 1) When were you first introduced to taekwondo and what made you pursue it professionally?
I started Taekwondo in 2011 as I wanted to learn martial arts. The atmosphere in my house was a little conservative, my sister got married at the age of 21. When I started Taekwondo I had to listen to a lot of taunts and I was asked to concentrate on my studies. In my household it's not even like you can complete your studies to make your career. It's like you study till the 12th standard and then do the rest after marriage. I wasn't interested in getting married and I didn't want that life. My brother was my first coach and I trained with him for a year before getting a silver medal in the nationals. That silver medal gave me a lot of motivation and even my family was really happy with that. They were mainly impressed by the prize money which showed them that girls' income isn't dependent just on studies but they can earn via sports as well.
After that I kept on progressing and winning more medals. When you get a medal in nationals, the Haryana Government gives you a scholarship. That gave me a lot of support and motivation. Then I found out that taekwondo is played in the Olympics as well and that pushed me to work harder. From my background not a lot of girls play sports so that is a kind of responsibility on my shoulders. Everyone in my family and a lot of other people think that girls can only study and do nothing after that. I want to become an example and prove them wrong, so that more girls can start playing sports.
Q 2) You won the gold medal at the India Open in 2019. Was it the most special achievement in your career? If not, which are the other most memorable achievements?
I would say that the India Open is my biggest achievement. After that win my family seriously started supporting me. Before that it was just like I was getting medals and earning money but then they found out that I was making a name for myself. The event was broadcasted live on DD Sports and everyone in my neighborhood and family were watching it live and cheering for me. My father was also happy to see that I am doing really well because the Nationals didn't get telecasted live and I didn’t get any fame from it. I got a little famous after that and people got to know about me. That was the first time I got a compliment from my father which was a proud moment for me.
Q 3) What are some of the biggest challenges that you have faced in your taekwondo career? How did you overcome them?
Financially I faced a lot of problems because my parents weren't that stable but they did support me as much as they could. A lot of times I didn't have money to participate in championships. After the India Open, I was All India rank 1 but I still didn't have sponsors to participate in championships. That was the time when I was at the peak of my game and I would've won more medals had I got more support. After that I kept getting demotivated and then as I was searching for sponsors the whole world went into lockdown. I became very frustrated and didn't understand what to do while age was also catching up. People also started talking about how I wasn't winning medals anymore and it was sort of like I was getting the blame. After that I started getting injured as well which was very demotivating. Even paying the physiotherapist after an injury was getting very expensive.
Also read: Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee inspired me to take up martial arts: Radha Bhati
Q 4) How important is mental strength for a taekwondo athlete to become successful at the highest level?
In taekwondo, mental strength is the most important thing. If you're not mentally strong then it becomes difficult to strategize. As taekwondo athletes we have to do meditation to keep our mental side of the game active.
Q 5) Who are the taekwondo athletes that you look up to and why?
When I was kid I didn’t see many athletes, but you can say my brother used to show me taekwondo moves when I was young, I initially started taekwondo thinking it was karate. My brother used to show me a lot of taekwondo videos and there I used to follow a Chinese player called Wu Jin Yu. I still follow her moves as she was a former Olympic champion. She is an inspiration also as she won a World Championship medal at the age of 33 after giving birth.
Q 6) What are your future goals as a taekwondo athlete? How do you plan to achieve them?
Firstly, my main goal is to improve my ranking to qualify for the Olympics. I plan to achieve this by participating in small international tournaments by winning medals there. My current rank is 69 in the world and my Olympic rank is 120. If I come in the top 8 of the Olympic ranks, then I will get direct entry into the Olympics. Once I qualify for the Olympics then I plan to win a medal now that the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation is sponsoring me till the 2024 Olympics.
Carlos Sainz wins the British Grand Prix while Hamilton finishes third
(Motorsport) Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz won his first Formula 1 race of his career at an action packed British Grand Prix which saw as many as five cars out of the race before the chequered flag. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez finished in second place followed by Lewis Hamilton in third, Charles Leclerc, who was a victim of older hard compound tyres was unlucky to finish fourth while a struggling Max Verstappen finished a disappointing seventh.
The race couldn’t have begun on a worse note as a multi-car collision saw Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu flip upside down with the momentum taking him all the way to the tyre barrier. An immediate red flag followed. After a lengthy period in the pits, the race was resumed with the grid starting over irrespective of any overtakes at the beginning of the race. This meant that Carlos Sainz, who finished on pole in qualifying but conceded his place to Max Verstappen at the beginning of the race, started in first place again.
One of the biggest talking points of the race was Ferrari not getting Charles Leclerc in the pits after the safety car was introduced towards the end of the race. The Monegasque driver was on the hard compound tyres and in first place, which meant that with the cars behind him changing to softer tyres, Leclerc was at a clear disadvantage that eventually cost him a podium finish. Sainz however, who was in second place, was given the soft tyres and managed to hold onto his lead to secure his first Grand Prix win in his career.
Mercedes appeared to have turned a significant corner with regards to their car troubles and Hamilton looked like his old self once again, appearing to be the fastest racer on track. However, a pit stop blunder and being held up by Lando Norris at the beginning of the race followed by lengthy battles with Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc forced the seven time World Champion to settle for third place. Fernando Alonso finished fifth for Alpine ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris.
British GP Race Result: Top 10
1) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
2) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
3) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5) Fernando Alonso, Alpine
6) Lando Norris, McLaren
7) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
8) Mick Schumacher, Haas
9) Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
10) Kevin Magnussen, Haas
Also read: Carlos Sainz finishes fastest at Silverstone while Mercedes show promise
Anand Vardhan aims to elevate Indian football to international standards
With the interest in Indian football on the rise, more kids are considering the sport as a viable career option now than ever before. However, the Indian men’s national team continue to languish at 104th, behind the likes of New Zealand and Kenya. While the interest may be on an upward trajectory, the focus needs to shift on improving the basics of aspiring footballers at the grassroot level in order to develop talent that can compete against the best in the world.
In this exclusive interview, Anand Vardhan, Performance Analyst and Academy Coach at Sudeva Delhi FC speaks about his responsibilities, the development of football in India, overcoming challenges, the increase in popularity of the sport amongst the younger generation, getting the maximum performance from players and his future goals for the sport in India.
Q 1) Tell us about your role and responsibilities as performance analyst and academy coach at Sudeva Delhi FC?
The role of performance analysts revolves around but is not limited to pre-match analysis, post match analysis, data analysis, match coding, training analysis, scouting and most importantly opposition analysis. Analysts are often the first people the head coach wants to talk to before and after a game, decoding the opposition's gameplay and tactics is the primary task an analyst has in hand during the course of a season. As an academy coach, I often find myself assisting the head coaches in training for one of the U-13, U-15 or U-18 academy teams. Having completed my AIFF D coaching certificate, I'm slowly getting into the technical side of things on the pitch which has certainly made my understanding and my analysis better.
Q 2) As someone who works closely with the academy, what do you think needs to be done to raise the standard of football in India?
Since the inception of the ISL the standard of Indian football has no doubt gone up, with the influx of capital and infrastructure in the game we are definitely moving in the right direction. I remember the time when not so long ago we were languishing 173rd in the FIFA rankings which to be honest for a country as huge as ours is shambolic. Things are moving in the right direction but we still aren't anywhere as we are supposed to be. For the sport to grow, all the stakeholders i.e. the clubs, the federation, the players, the state FAs, the government and above all the fans have to come together and work towards a common goal. More grassroot programs, affiliation with schools and promotion of local tournaments is the only way forward.
Q 3) What are the biggest challenges Indian football is facing today? How can it be rectified?
I feel there are two major hurdles that we need to cross for us to become a superpower in the sport, first qualifying for the FIFA World Cup and second is to be able to create a sustainable business model for all the clubs. If you see the numbers, even the top ISL clubs don't make any profits throughout the season. There is definitely work going on in the background to rectify this and with promotion and relegation from ISL and I League to be installed from this season, we are giving a small town club from any city from the country a pathway of making it to the biggest stage. This is what football is all about in my opinion, everyone having a fair chance of competing for the top most league and not just some clubs who can afford to pay the franchise fee.
Q 4) Do you see an increase in popularity in domestic football with more youngsters wanting to enrol in the academy?
Yes of course, with the amazing work that Mr. Anuj Gupta and Mr. Vijay Hakari have been doing to promote the sport in the national capital we see there are a lot of young players not just from New Delhi but from across the country wanting to come in and join the academy. All players are selected on the basis of trials and the best ones are here on 100% scholarship. You guys at different forms of media have also helped tremendously in popularising the sport across the country among the youth. Fun fact: there are more Manchester United fans here in India than in the UK.
Q 5) What are the key factors that are responsible for getting maximum performance out of footballers?
I won't sugar coat it, being a professional footballer isn't easy in this day and age. Just by being the most skillful or the fittest or the most intelligent player on the pitch you are not going to make it. Today's top players have to be in the best physical shape, need to be technically very sound and most importantly need to understand how the coach wants them to play. Being able to follow instructions is one of the first qualities coaches look for in a player.
Q 6) What are your future goals and aspirations? How do you plan to achieve them?
I want to keep working towards closing the gap between India's top footballers and the rest of the world's top footballers. When Igor Stimac comes out and says that the national team's players haven't got their basics right he's got a point. We need to work towards an overall holistic development of a player from a young age, technically, physically and tactically. Hopefully not long from now we'll see one of our very own dominating the European leagues and battling it out with the best in the world on a weekly basis.
You can follow Anand's work at @vardhansanalysis on Instagram and connect with him on Linkedin.
Feel free to drop him an email at anandvardhan24@gmail.com
Indian runner Parul Chaudhary sets new 3000m national record in LA
New Delhi, Jul 3 (Sports News) Indian runner Parul Chaudhary smashed the national record at the Sound Running meet in Los Angeles as she became the first athlete from the country to clock a sub-nine minute time in the women's 3000m event.
The 27-year-old Chaudhary covered the distance in 8:57.19 to finish third on Saturday night.
With her latest effort, Chaudhary, who specialises in steeplechase, broke Suriya Loganathan's record of 9:04.5s, set six years ago in New Delhi.
Chaudhary was trailing at fifth spot in the the race, but the Indian gained momentum in last two laps to claim a podium finish.
The 3000m is a non-Olympic event in which the Indians don't often compete in.
Chaudhary is also in the Indian team for the World Championships in Oregon, USA, starting later this month. She will be competing in the women's 3000m steeplechase event.
She had won the gold in women's 3000m steeplechase at the nationals held last month in Chennai.
Also Read : Indian men win gold, women silver in the IAU 24H Asia and Oceania Championships
News Source : PTI
Indian men win gold, women silver in the IAU 24H Asia and Oceania Championships
Bangalore, Jul 3 (Sports News) Indian ultra runners stole the show in the IAU 24H Asia and Oceania Championships, winning the men's individual and team titles at the Kanteerava Stadium here.
Led by the formidable Amar Singh Devanda, the Indian men's team clocked a combined total of 739.959 km over the scheduled 24 hours, starting from 8 am on Saturday, to comfortably clinch the gold medal.
Amar Singh managed a personal best of 258.418 km, which was over 18 kilometres more than his previous most.
He was followed home by Saurav Kumar Ranjan (242.564) and Geeno Antony (238.977) to make it a clean sweep for India in the Individual Championships.
Australia (628.405) and Chinese Taipei (563.591) clinched the second and third positions.
On Sunday, the Indian women's team put up a strong performance to secure the second position. Together, they ran an impressive 570.70 km, threatening the eventual winners all through the day.
Australia, however, clinched the first position with 607.63 kms. Chinese Taipei took the third position with 529.082.
Taipei's Kuan Ju Lin (216.877 km) took the first position in the women's individual, while Australia's Cassie Cohen (214.990) and Allicia Heron (211.442) grabbed the other two places on the podium.
Also Read : Neeraj Chopra finishes 2nd in Stockholm Diamond League, misses 90m mark by a whisker
News Source : PTI
Never informed about dissolution of Maha wrestling association headed by me: Pawar
Mumbai, Jul 2 (Wrestling News) NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said he was never informed or intimated about the dissolution of the Maharashtra State Wrestling Association (MSWA) headed by him.
Pawar said he is concerned about the future of some wrestlers who have been receiving financial assistance from the MSWA. “I head the MSWA but I was never informed or intimated by the national body that it would dissolve the association. Now, I am concerned about the future of some wrestlers who are receiving financial assistance from the association for their training and treatment,” Pawar told reporters in Pune.
Pawar said when he came to know about that the National Wrestling Association's decision to dissolve the state body and enquired at the national level, he was told that there were some complaints against the MSWA.
“The state body's failure to conduct some tournaments in the state was cited as another reason to take such a strong step. I do not think there is any politics in it. I believe that sports should be kept out of politics,” he said.
Pawar said he will speak to MSWA deputy chairman and Wardha BJP MP Ramdas Tadas and they will raise the issue with the national body.
Also Read : Deepak Punia wins bronze at U23 Asian Wrestling Championships
News Source : PTI
S8UL nominated for the global “Esports Awards 2022”
(Esports news) Proving yet again its stance in the global esports landscape, S8UL became the first Indian Esports organisation to get a nomination for the prestigious global "Esports Awards" in the ‘Content Group of the Year’ category while its co-founder Naman Mathur aka Mortal has been nominated for ‘Esports Personality of the Year’. The country’s most popular Esports group will compete with top international esports organisations including 100 Thieves and Faze Clan; Naman Mathur aka mortal gets the nomination for ‘Esports Personality of the Year’
The esports awards are regarded as the most popular and significant annual awards in the Esports industry globally. It is the world’s top honour for the excellence and accomplishments of athletes and teams in the Esports industry worldwide. S8UL is the brainchild of the country's three veteran Esports players, Naman Mathur aka Mortal, Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug and Lokesh Jain aka Goldy, who created this organisation with an aim to shape the Indian gaming industry into a mix of professional gameplay and engaging content for the audiences.
“A nomination in the "Esports Awards" shows the strong position that S8UL has created in the global Esports circuit. It’s the result of the hard work that team S8UL has put in in the last two years. I am very confident that this nomination will be a motivation not just for us but for everyone in India who wants to contribute to the growth of Esports in the country. Mortal, as we call him the face of the Indian gaming and esports community, never misses any chance to make our country proud. I am very confident that both S8UL and Mortal are going to take a giant leap this year with these nominations and we are super excited to add more trophies at our S8UL Gaming House.” said Lokesh Jain aka Goldy.
In two years since its inception, S8UL has not only won major tournaments but has also emerged as a national sensation. With top creators and gamers on their roster, S8UL has been actively promoting the acceptance and appeal of gaming content in India through their online platforms like YouTube, Instagram, discord etc. S8UL is in contention for the award along with nine other top international organisations, such as 100 Thieves, FaZe Clan, One True King and Full Squad Gaming.
“It's our sheer dedication and hard work that our creators have become brands in themselves. We are building an esports community which has put India on the global map. The vision we started with was to compete globally in terms of both gameplay and esports content, and we truly see the vision coming to fruition now. This has been made possible by the trust placed on our creators, the community and the brands alike. Hoping for continued support, to bring the trophies home. This is a big motivation for us to keep entertaining with newer content everyday.” said Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug.
Mortal has been nominated alongside other top athletes like Faker and Goldenboy. He is also the only Indian Esports athlete to be nominated in the history of the global “Esports Awards”. Earlier, he was nominated for the Streamer of the Year in 2020 and 2021 and claimed second place on both occasions.
“Getting nominated in the prestigious ‘Esports Awards’ is in itself a moment of pride. It’s like the Oscars for Esports where winners get selected from the best in the world. It’s the biggest recognition for any Esports athlete or a team. Esports industry has grown rapidly in the recent past and so has the competition level. It’s a great moment for S8UL and for me personally as it’s my third successive nomination, fingers crossed, hope this year "It's Coming Home" said Naman Mathur aka Mortal.
Also read: GodLike Esports signs with eSports and gaming agency, Numen
Carlos Sainz finishes fastest at Silverstone while Mercedes show promise
(Motorsport) It was an extremely competitive Final Practice 2 at Silverstone with Carlos Sainz Jr. finishing fastest with a time of 1:28:942, followed closely behind by seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton who was just +0.163 behind the Spaniard. McLaren’s Lando Norris followed in third place while reigning champion Max Verstappen was fourth and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc fifth.
Following a rain disrupted session, FP2 was largely dry and windy as teams struggled to control their cars and keep them on track at Silverstone. Hamilton dropped to 15th place at one stage, complaining of excessive bouncing but managed to salvage his session by switching to the soft tyres. Mercedes had implemented a major upgrade to the W13 ahead of the British Grand Prix including a new floor and it paid dividends with Hamilton looking like his old self at his ‘home’ track.
Mercedes and Red Bull have shared victories in the nine Grand Prix’s so far but Mercedes seem to have finally found the answer to their problems ahead of both Hamilton and Russell’s home race. The team has suffered from excessive bouncing and a lack of pace so far and Mercedes are cautiously optimistic of their team’s chances this weekend.
Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin said “It seems like we have taken a step forward because we are not normally near the top on a Friday. Now, I expect there will be more to come from Ferrari and a bit more to come from Red Bull but the long run work was quite encouraging as well and those were overlaying quite nicely. There is certainly a lot to work on, there is some bouncing around and it is tricky at high speed at the moment but hopefully the updates pushed us in the right direction."
Also read: Alpine launch programme to help female drivers reach Formula 1
GodLike Esports signs with eSports and gaming agency, Numen
(Esports news) GodLike Esports, which is India’s top esports teams, has joined hands with Numen Esports and Gaming for eSports and gaming management services. The professional esports team, which has BGMI, Free Fire and CODR rosters, features the top gamers from India including Jonathan Amaral, Arshpreet “Gill'' Singh, Abhishek “ZGOD” Choudhary, Vivek “ClutchGod'' Aabhas and Suraj “Neyoo” Majumdar. Through this association, Numen Esports will be managing the team’s tournament development, investment and consulting services and merchandise.
Numen Esports & Gaming is a gaming and esports focused agency, with industry veterans such as Manoj George, Sachin Parkale and Kaustubh Purohit at the helm. They bring their expertise and industry and their technical know-how to the table to provide a wide array of services from talent management, large gaming IPs, short/long format content & brand partnerships. Numen also has a host of talent, including other top creators like, Gaming Guru, Mr. Spike, Lolzzz, Novaking and more. They rakedin a revenue of ₹136 billion last year, and projected to hit ₹290 crore by 2024-25 (as per a KPMG report), the gaming industry in India is scaling at a rapid pace and Numen Esports was founded to support this ecosystem by creating opportunities for talented gamers to pursue a viable career in it.
Talking about the partnership, Manoj George, Co-Founder & CEO, Numen Esports and Gaming, said, “GodLike is undoubtedly one of the most recognized names in the Indian esports industry and we are happy to partner with them to take the team and the brand to unparalleled heights. The gaming industry in India is at a very exciting stage, with huge developments and incredible opportunities for the esports athletes and brands. We are excited to be the bridge between them and create extraordinary content and experiences for fans.”
Kaustubh Purohit, Director, Numen, said, “Our focus at Numen Esports has been to contribute to the growing Indian esports and gaming ecosystem by scouting and representing gamers and teams. GodLike is a huge phenomenon in the Indian gaming space, with all that they’ve managed to achieve in a short span of time and we are going to work together to accelerate this growth even further.”
Sachin Parkale, Director, Numen, said, “Numen and GodLike have a common vision to make India a superpower in the global gaming and esports industry. With the rapid growth the industry has been seeing recently, we are confident we can make a significant impact together.”
Chetan ‘Kronten’ Chandgude, Founder, GodLike Esports, said, “We are ecstatic to partner with Numen Esports and are assured they will help us achieve great things. In the preliminary discussions itself, I saw the synergies and the shared passion to build something exceptional for GodLike and the Indian gaming industry and we’re looking forward to setting everything in motion.”
Also read: LOCO to be ESPL's Exclusive Digital Broadcast Partner for Season 2
Alpine launch programme to help female drivers reach Formula 1
(Motorsport) Alpine have launched a programme called Race(H)er to give female drivers the opportunity to race in Formula 1 for the first time in half a century. The racing development programme will take place over eight years and provide young girls with training and a structured pathway to make it to the top of the motorsport pyramid. Since the World Championship began in 1950, only two women have started a Formula 1 race with late Italian Lella Lombardi being the last one in 1976.
Alpine Chief Executive Laurent Rossi aims to transform the car manufacturer to a team that “debunks myths” and gives equal opportunities to women and men. He said “We want to make sure we give access to all of the jobs, all of the opportunities at Alpine, to women. By not having a more balanced representation of women in the workforce I basically deprive Alpine and myself of 50 per cent of the talents out there ... I see it as I'm missing half of my team.
“The intent is to debunk all of the myths that women can't, because they're not adapted, because they don't have role models, because the jobs we offer are not for women. We want to debunk all those myths one by one and make sure that for each opportunity offered at Alpine there's always an equal chance for women to get the job because they can." He continued “Fernando Alonso is 41 [in July] and he drives a Formula One car. I think Fernando Alonso at 41 is not as strong as a perfectly fit woman athlete at 30. You can drive a Formula One car with the right preparation and that's what we intend to do. We want to prepare women the same way that men are prepared."
Launched in 2019, the all-female W Series was meant to help women climb up the motorsport ladder but inaugural champion Jamie Chadwick has failed to make the step up but remains defiant about achieving her dream in Formula 1. Speaking to Sky Sports, Chadwick said “The ultimate goal is to be in those championships, ideally Formula Two and then Formula One.” When asked if she could cope with the physical demands, Chadwick said “I don't know what is actually possible.
“To get into Formula One you have to go through the feeder series - Formula Three and Formula Two - and it is extremely physical. Formula One is extremely physical, and we don't know exactly what women are capable of in the sport. If you are aged 15 or 16, and go into car racing, without power steering and driving big heavy cars, a lot of women do struggle, even though they have been successful in go-karting. We like to think that women can make it - and I am happy to be the guinea pig and will do my best to push and explore the options to Formula One - but we don't know.
"There hasn't been a woman in the recent era that has done it. I am trying to understand whether that is to do with the physical side. If it is physically possible, and women can compete against men, how do we make that happen? However, if it is physically too hard, but the sport wants women to compete, then we have got to bring it back and understand why."
Also read: Formula 1 to introduce synthetic and sustainable fuel by 2026
Neeraj Chopra finishes 2nd in Stockholm Diamond League, misses 90m mark by a whisker
Stockholm, Jun 30 (Sports News) Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra clinched his first top-3 finish at the prestigious Diamond League Meeting with a national record-shattering effort but missed the 90m mark by a whisker in a star-studded field here on Thursday.
The 24-year-old Chopra opened with a stunning throw of 89.94m, just 6cm shy of the 90m mark, the gold standard in the world of javelin throw and that effort eventually turned out to be his best as he finished second.
His other throws measured 84.37m, 87.46m, 84.77m, 86.67 and 86.84m. He bettered his earlier national record of 89.30m, which his spear had travelled while finishing second in the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, on June 14.
World champion and season leader Anderson Peters of Grenada won the competition with a best throw of 90.31m which he came up with in this third attempt.
"Today, I feel good and after first throw, I thought I could throw even over 90m today. But it is OK as I have more competitions coming this year," Chopra said after the event.
"I am close to 90m now and I can throw it this year. Despite the fact that I did not win tonight, I feel very good because I did my best." Peters has thrown 90m-plus twice this season -- 93.07m while winning the Doha leg of the Diamond League last month before 90.75m effort at Hengelo in the Netherlands.
Julian Weber of Germany was third with a fifth round throw of 89.08m while Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch (88.59m) of Czech Republic was fourth.
Another Czech athlete and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Vitezslav Vesely was seventh in the eight-man field with 82.57m.
Chopra has beaten Peters twice this month -- in Turku where the athlete from Grenada was third and in the Kuortane Games, also in Finalnd, where the Indian superstar had won gold with a best throw of 86.69m under wet and slippery conditions.
Chopra's first throw had raised hopes of him scripting history of becoming the first Indian to win a Diamond League event. Nonetheless, he became the second Indian to finish in top-three in a Diamond League competition after discus thrower Vikas Gowda.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Gowda, who retired in 2017, had finished in top-three in a Diamond League event four times in his career. He had finished second in 2012 (New York) and 2014 (Doha) and third in Shanghai and Eugene in 2015.
Chopra was making his first Diamond League appearance in four years after his fourth-place finish in Zurich in August 2018. He has taken part in seven Diamond League meets -- three in 2017 and four in 2018.
The prestigious one-day meet at the Swedish capital is Chopra's biggest event ahead of the World Championships in Eugene, USA, from July 15-24.
The next Diamond League Meeting where javelin throw is in the programme is in Monaco on August 10.
It could not be confirmed whether Chopra will take part in it as it will happen just a few days after the Birmingham CWG (July 28 to August 8) where he will be defending his title.
Germany's Johannes Vetter, who has the maximum number of 90-plus throws among the active throwers, continued to be on the sidelines. He is not fully fit and had also missed the German nationals.
Also Read : Neeraj Chopra to spearhead 22-member Indian athletics team in World Championships
News Source : PTI
Neeraj Chopra to spearhead 22-member Indian athletics team in World Championships
New Delhi, Jun 30 (Sports News) Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra will headline a 22-member Indian athletics team at the World Championships to be held in Eugene, USA from July 15 to 24.
The selected team includes 17 men and five women athletes.
Race walker Bhawana Jat and veteran discuss thrower Seema Punia has withdrawn from the elite championships. Just like Bhawana, Seema gave the event a miss as she too wanted to focus on the Commonwealth Games, an event where she bagged medals in the last four editions.
"She wants to concentrate on the Commonwealth Games, where she won four medals. She feels she has better chance there and we also feel the same," Athletics Federation of India (AFI) president Adilee Sumariwala said while announcing the team.
Besides Chopra and Rohit Yadav is the other javelin thrower in the team.
3000m steeplechaser Avinash Sable, shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, long jumpers Murali Sreeshankar and Muhammed Anees Yahiya, triple jump trio of Abdulla Aboobacker, Praveen Chithravel and Eldhose Paul, all of whom have qualified, Sandeep Kumar (20km Race Walking), MP Jabir (400m Hurdles), Noah Nirmal Tom, Muhammed Ajmal, Naganathan Pandi, Rajesh Ramesh and Muhammed Anas Yahiya (4x400m) have found a place in the team.
The squad also includes Amoj Jacob (4x400m) but his participation is subject to fitness. In case he is not fit, Arokia Rajiv will replace him in the relay squad.
Among women, S Dhanalakhsmi (200m), Aishwarya Kailash Mishra (400m), Parul Chaudhary (3000m Steeplechase), Annu Rani (Javelin Throw) and Priyanka Goswami (20km Walk) have made the cut.
The only surprises in the squad are the inclusion of Parul and Jabir.
Jeswin Aldrin, who had already qualified for the championships, however missed the cut.
Aishwarya Mishra, who evaded from dope testing agencies last month but was allowed by AFI to compete in National Inter-State Championships, has been selected with a rider.
"She will be subject to trails in 400m and if she qualifies she will go. She will undergo electronis timing as well NADA testing," Sumariwala said.
Asked if she was tested in the National Inter-State Championships, the AFI president said: "As far as I know she was tested." On what explanation Mishra gave after evading dope tests, Sumariwala said: "She went to visit her ailing grandmother and lost her phone. That was her explanation." Sumariwala said the team will head to Chula Vista, California for a short stint before heading to Eugene for the event.
"The team has been selected on the basis of world ranking and qualification standards laid down by the World Athletics," he said.
"The team will leave for Chula Vista soon where it will have a short stint before World Championships." The contingent will for the USA in three batches with the first group scheduled to leave on Saturday, followed by the next on Monday and the the third and final by July 5. The decision to send the team in batches was taken due to time taken for getting US visa.
Indian athletics chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair informed that 11 visas have already been granted and the next set of interviews are lined up for Friday.
Men: Avinash Sable (3000m Steeplechase), MP Jabir (400m Hurdles), M Sreeshankar and Muhammed Anees Yahiya (Long Jump), Abdulla Aboobacker, Praveen Chithravel and Eldhose Paul (Triple Jump), Tajinderpal Singh Toor (Shot Put), Neeraj Chopra and Rohit Yadav (Javelin Throw), Sandeep Kumar (20km Race Walking), Amoj Jacob*, Noah Nirmal Tom, Muhammed Ajmal, Naganathan Pandi, Rajesh Ramesh and Muhammed Anas Yahiya (4x400m).
Women: S Dhanalakhsmi (200m), Aishwarya Kailash Mishra (400m), Parul Chaudhary (3000m Steeplechase), Annu Rani (Javelin Throw) and Priyanka Goswami (20km Walk).
Also Read : Formula E enters India: Hyderabad to host race on February 11
News Source : PTI
Unfinished Business: Bumrah's India ready to face England 2.0
Birmingham, Jun 30 (Cricket News) Never before has he navigated the choppy waters of leadership but Jasprit Bumrah will certainly like to showcase his captaincy acumen while leading a slightly under-prepared India against a vastly improved England in the rescheduled fifth Test, starting here on Friday.
India were leading the five-match series 2-1 when multiple COVID-19 cases in their camp led to the postponement of the final game which was a part of the World Test Championship.
Nine months have passed since and a lot of water has flown through the Thames with the then captain Virat Kohli relinquishing Test captaincy. His successor, Rohit Sharma, is missing out on this game after testing positive for COVID-19.
Worse, Rohit's designated deputy KL Rahul is also out after having undergone a surgery for sports hernia.
In this backdrop of musical chair of Indian captaincy, the gauntlet has been thrown at Bumrah, arguably one of the finest fast bowlers in the history of Indian cricket and now set to be the 36th man to lead the national Test team.
He has been acknowledged widely as the undisputed leader of the fast bowling group but come Friday, the challenge against Ben Stokes' side will be very different when he walks out for the toss at the Edgbaston.
Fast bowlers in Indian context have never been considered worthy of leadership contention and Kapil Dev, the world class all-rounder, was more of a fast medium bowler in his prime and later a medium-fast as time progressed.
Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan, two fine exponents of fast bowling, were never even considered for vice-captaincy during their heydays. And hence,it took 35 years for India to have another pacer captain.
But leadership is an instinctive thing -- some are blessed with that sixth sense and intuition, some are born gamblers and some become better as they grow on the job.
While this arrangement is a stop-gap one, Indian cricket establishment might have an idea of what can be expected of Bumrah when the time comes for the next change in baton.
New England, new template ------------------------------- The 3-0 demolition of New Zealand with three tricky chases completed in style has shown that England, under new coach Brendon McCullum, have de-constructed their style-sheet as far as Test matches are concerned.
Their batters are plundering opposition attack while there are lesser number of five-wicket hauls from the pacers if one goes by the statistics of the New Zealand series. It was Jack Leach, who had two five-wicket hauls and neither James Anderson nor Stuart Broad got their names on the various 'Honours' Board'.
The pitches have become a tad flatter, which is helping the batters and thus Bumrah, along with Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj will have an onerous task of tackling a batting line-up bubbling with confidence.
Joe Root, after relinquishing captaincy, has found the touch that had deserted him and Jonny Bairstow, with the confidence of IPL, has scored nearly 400 runs at a strike-rate of 120 plus, unheard of in Test matches.
"England have done well as they won a couple of Test matches from positions where they could have potentially lost the games," Indian coach Rahul Dravid told the mediapersons on Wednesday.
"We will like to focus on what our strengths are rather than thinking about opposition's strength," the head coach said, reminding one and all that India are still third in World Test Championship table (58.33 percentage points) behind Australia (75 percentage points) and South Africa (71.43% pts).
Team combination a worry for India --------------------------------------- India will have to bat well and in absence of regular opening pair of Rohit and Rahul, who were fantastic during the four Tests played last year.
Coach Rahul Dravid expects a match-winning performance if not a hundred from Virat Kohli, who looked good in the practice game but the Test match will be a different beast altogether.
The practice game against Leicestershire was more of an extended net session and Indian teams, since Mahendra Singh Dhoni took over as captain, has hardly played official first-class games as a pre-cursor to the Test matches.
James Anderson might be a month short of his 40th birthday but those magical wrists can still make the ball dart around and it will be a different experience for Shubman Gill or Shreyas Iyer.
Cheteshwar Pujara has scored a bagful of county runs but that psychological disadvantage of facing the very first ball of an innings, if he is asked to open, could clutter his mind.
Hanuma Vihari is a solid player but would need support from the other end, considering he has a defensive game.
It remains to be seen who will be India's bowling all-rounder. Will it be Ravichandran Ashwin, who isn't an automatic choice in overseas conditions or Shardul Thakur, who hasn't done his chances any harm with some big-hearted efforts in SENA countries.
Edgbaston hasn't exactly been a happy hunting ground for India where they have lost most of their Test matches but as it often happens with new beginnings, a new captain can always try to buck the trend.
Teams India squad: Jasprit Bumrah (captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk, vice-captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Prasidh Krishna, Kona Srikar Bharat (wk), Mayank Agarwal, Umesh Yadav England XI: Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (captain), Sam Billings (wicketkeeper), Matthew Potts, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, James Anderson.
Match Starts: 3 pm IST.
Also Read : Want to set example where players can see me and get motivated to get fit: Harmanpreet
News Source : PTI
Want to set example where players can see me and get motivated to get fit: Harmanpreet
Pallekele, Jun 30 (Cricket News) Harmanpreet Kaur, who begins her reign as a full-time skipper of the Indian women's team with the ODI series against Sri Lanka, is seeking drastic improvement in fitness and fielding from her teammates. Kaur, who was already leading the Indian T20 side, was handed the ODI captaincy after veteran Mithali Raj retired from international cricket earlier this month.
The three-match series beginning here on Friday is her first assignment as ODI captain.
"I have set some goals for us. Fitness is very important for a player. Skills wise we have coaches but I want to set an example where the players can see me and get motivated to become fit," Kaur said on eve of the first ODI against Sri Lanka.
"Fitness and fielding are two things I want my team to improve. If these two aspects are covered then you are the best side," Harmanpreet, who is among the fitter players in the Indian team, said.
Having led India in T20s for a while, the 33-year-old said she is enjoying her captaincy stint and feels no additional pressure now that she has become a full-time skipper.
"When I'm leading, I feel I am more involved in the game. It always gives me a lot of confidence. Captaincy is something that comes naturally to me when I'm on the field.
"After leading for a few years, things become easier. Right now, I don't feel the extra pressure, if I enjoy as captain the rest can also enjoy. I am enjoying more now as I feel I'm free to do want I want to do." "When you give players freedom, you can improve more. That is my motive, to give the players freedom so they can express themselves." 'Hope we can have a sports psychologist travelling with us again' ======================================== The Indian team is without the services of team psychologist Mugdha Bavare, who had travelled with the side for the series against New Zealand and the World Cup earlier this year.
It was the first time the Indian women's team had a sports psychologist on tour.
"Mughda ma'am has done a lot for us. During the World Cup she helped me a lot, we need people like her in the team, sadly she is not travelling with us this time.
"In future we hope someone like her can always travel with us. We do have skill coaches but having someone you can talk to and share your thoughts, that is something you need in your life to clear those blocks." The team had benefitted immensely from the presence of a sports psychologist on the tour, said the skipper.
"Skill is not going anywhere but when you feel mentally free then you can improve your game and give 100 per cent.
"In the future also we will talk to our staff if we can bring her back and I hope she can travel with us." Kaur bats for more Test cricket for women ========================== ICC chairman Greg Barclay had recently stated raised doubts over the place of the Test format's future in women's cricket.
Asked about it, Kaur said players always want to play Test cricket.
"In my career, I have only played 2-3 Tests. If we get more games then only we can decide if it has a future or not. As a player, we want to play Test cricket because we have grown up watching that format.
"You can't compare all the formats together, but Test cricket is a different format and has its own level of excitement."
Also Read : Cherish my role in Indian test side, ready to create more impact: Shardul
News Source : PTI
Formula E enters India: Hyderabad to host race on February 11
New Delhi, Jun 30 (MotorSports News) Formula E will make its way to India for the first time ever with a race scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on February 11 next year, the organisers have confirmed.
The race in Hyderabad will be the first time a major international racing event is held in the country since the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix in October 2013 at the Buddh International Circuit, a development which was reported by PTI earlier this month.
Alongside India, Brazil will also welcome the E-Prix for the first time on March 25 as the Formula E and FIA released the provisional calendar for the upcoming ninth season (2022-23).
"Two major motorsport fanbases will welcome E-Prix for the first time. Round 4 of the championship will be held in Hyderabad, India, on 11 February, while fans in Brazil will see the Sao Paulo E-Prix on 25 March for Round 7," a media release stated.
Earlier this year, the Telangana government and Formula E officials had signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) in Hyderabad to host the race.
The Telangana government intends to make the state a hub for EV vehicles and the Formula E race will go a long way in helping it achieve that goal.
The race should also provide a big boost to Indian motorsports which has been in dire need of a high-profile event since Formula 1 was scrapped after three seasons.
Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer, Formula E said: “The Season 9 calendar of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is our most expansive and dynamic racing schedule yet and I cannot wait to get started.
"We will continue to push the international boundaries of all-electric street racing with E-Prix in Hyderabad and Sao Paulo, while maintaining the hugely-popular races in Diriyah, Mexico City, Berlin, Monaco, Rome and London with Jakarta and Seoul now established on the calendar.
"We are also working hard to include Cape Town and a race in the USA when the provisional calendar is updated later this year." Berlin remains the only city to host an E-Prix in all nine seasons of the championship, while Seoul and Jakarta will see Formula E return following inaugural races this season.
Jakarta will host an expanded double-header of races next season.
Diriyah in Saudi Arabia will host the popular double-header of night races on January 27 and 28. While Monaco, Rome and London complete the schedule of named races.
The FIA sanctioned world championship has grown rapidly over the years and has presence of the world's leading auto makers including Mercedes, Porsche, Nissan and India’s Mahindra Racing, which has been part of the all electric series since its inception back in 2014.
Karun Chandhok is the only Indian driver to have raced in the competition.
The race calendar mainly consists of makeshift street circuits which are public roads on other days.
Also Read : Formula 1 to introduce synthetic and sustainable fuel by 2026
News Source : PTI
Rahul undergoes successful surgery in Germany, could be out of action for couple of months
New Delhi, Jun 30 (Cricket News) Senior India opener and regular vice-captain KL Rahul has undergone a successful surgery for sports hernia in Germany and is expected to be out of competitive cricket for another couple of months.
Rahul, who was forced to opt out of the home T20I series against South Africa earlier this month, has over the years had recurrent lower abdominal related fitness issues, including groin strains and hamstring injuries.
"It's been a tough couple of weeks but the surgery was successful. I'm healing and recovering well. My road to recovery has begun. Thank you for your messages and prayers. See you soon," Rahul tweeted.
The 30-year-old has played 42 Tests, 42 ODIs and 56 T20Is for India in the last eight years.
Once he is back in India, his rehabilitation would be monitored by the NCA Sports Science team headed by Dr Nitin Patel.
Although it is difficult to put a timeline on his comeback, sources in the know of things believe that it could take another couple of months before Rahul dons the India 'Blues' again.
"He will be resting for a few days and then his physical rehabilitation will start at the NCA. That will take a few weeks before he starts with his regular net session and let's see if he can make a comeback in the Asia Cup. But that could be a touch and go," a BCCI source privy to developments told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Rahul has been one of India's prolific scorers in the shortest format and is expected to play a key role in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.
Also Read : I want match-winning contributions from Virat even if it's not three figure mark: Dravid
News Source : PTI
National Games will be held in Gujarat in Sept-Oct this year: IOA
New Delhi, Jun 29 (Sports News) Postponed several times due to different reasons, the National Games will be held in multiple cities in Gujarat in September-October this year, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Secretary General Rajiv Mehta told PTI on Wednesday.
The IOA took the decision after Gujarat Olympic Association and the state government jointly expressed their interest to host the Games.
"The Gujarat government wrote to us that it backs the expression of interest of the state Olympic Association to host the Games and we are happy to accept their proposal," Mehta told PTI.
"The Games will be held in five or six cities in Gujarat, including Ahmedabad in September-October. The exact dates will be announced after a few days. We are happy that the Games will be held after a lot of delay," he added.
Mehta said the IOA top brass took the decision in "quick time" because it wanted to stage the Games this year after multiple delays.
"The top brass has the power to take the decision and take approval of general house of the IOA later. In any case, we have taken approval of many NSFs and state bodies via email.
"We are also going to call a General Body Meeting to ratify some important decisions as well as the hosting of National Games. We are going to approach Delhi High Court and Supreme Court (where cases involving IOA are pending) to allow us to call a GBM," Mehta said. The last National Games were held in Kerala in 2015 and Goa was to host the 36th edition in November 2016. After two delays in 2018 and 2019 due to the state’s inability to create adequate infrastructure, the Games were further postponed to 2020.
COVID-19 then forced the postponement of the National Games and the Goa government was still not certain whether it will be able to host them this year.
"Goa has told IOA that they are not going to be able to host the National Games this year. So, let Gujarat hosts the Games, that is good for everybody. We feel Gujarat has the capability as the state government has backed the proposal.
"We can then host the National Games one after the other, like in Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya." He said Gujarat can provide the required infrastructure to host the National Games in such a short time as the state already has top facilities in various sports.
"Gujarat already has top facilities and we are certain that the state can host the Games. The strong backing by the state government clinched the issue. Of course, teams from IOA will inspect the facilities."
Also Read : Neeraj Chopra primed to win medal in Stockholm Diamond League
News Source : PTI
Neeraj Chopra primed to win medal in Stockholm Diamond League
Stockholm, Jun 29 (Sports News) Buoyed by a strong start to the season, Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is primed to clinch his maiden Diamond League medal in his first appearance in four years in the prestigious one-day meet here on Thursday.
The 24-year-old Chopra was second in the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku with a big national record throw of 89.30m before winning his event at Kuortane Games with a creditable 86.60m effort under treacherous conditions.
Both the events in Finland had strong fields, though the Turku line-up had more stars than at Kuortane, where Chopra slipped after an awkward release of his spear in his third attempt under slippery conditions due to rains. Luckily, he was up on his feet immediately and won the event without any injury.
This will be Chopra's first competition in a Diamond League meet after his fourth-place finish in Zurich in August 2018 with an effort of 85.73m. He has taken part in seven Diamond League meets -- three in 2017 and four in 2018 -- but is yet to win a medal. He had two fourth-place finishes, the other one being in Doha in May 2018, where he had thrown 87.43m.
The prestigious one-day meet at the Swedish capital will be Chopra's biggest event ahead of the World Championships in Eugene, USA, next month. He will also be facing the toughest field of the season so far with all the three Tokyo Olympics medallists in fray.
Germany's Johannes Vetter, who has the maximum number of 90-plus throws among the active throwers, continues to be in the sidelines. He is not fully fit and also did not take part in the German nationals.
After winning gold at Kuortane where he was earlier based, Chopra has shifted to Uppsala, less than 100km from Stockholm, and will be not be taking part in any event after the Diamond League and before the July 15-24 World Championships. The Indian superstar has beaten reigning world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada twice this month. Peters has seen a dip in form after winning the Doha Diamond League meet with a season-leading throw of 93.07m.
After that, he had thrown 86.60m at Paavo Nurmi Games for a third place and 84.75m in Kuortane Games for another third position.
Peters' fitness could also be a concern as he did not complete all his throws in an event at Orimattila in Finland last week, recording a best throw of 71.94m.
Olympic silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic and compatriot Tokyo Games bronze winner Vitezslav Vesely will also be in action. This will be the first time all the Tokyo Olympics medal winners will be in action together this season.
Vadlejch, who was sixth at Paavo Nurmi Games with a best throw of 83.91m, returns after skipping the Kuortane Games.
The same is the case for Germany's Julian Weber, who returns after finishing fifth at Paavo Nurmi Games with 84.02m.
Finland's Oliver Helander, who surprisingly won gold at the Paavo Nurmi Games with a big throw of 89.83m, will also be seen in action after skipping the Kuortane Games.
Another Indian, Murali Sreeshankar was to compete in the meet in long jump, an event which is not included in the Diamond League programme. It is listed as an additional event. But he will not be able to make it to the Swedish capital as his passport is held up at the US Embassy in New Delhi for visa processing for next month's World Championships.
He was to compete with Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Tentoglou Miltiadis of Greece and World Indoor Championships silver winner Thobias Montler.
Also Read : Businessman Punit Balan and rapper Badshah buy 6th Ultimate Kho Kho team
News Source : PTI
Businessman Punit Balan and rapper Badshah buy 6th Ultimate Kho Kho team
(Sports news) Popular Bollywood singer Badshah and renowned film producer, developer and sports enthusiast, Punit Balan have purchased the Mumbai franchise of the Ultimate Kho Kho team. Speaking about his first sports venture, Badshah said “My mother used to play Kho-Kho during her college days and this ground-rooted game is very close to my heart. This nostalgic and personal connection triggered me to be part of Ultimate Kho Kho. It’s an adrenaline packed, fast-paced indoor sport with extremely agile players doing Sky-Dives in air. In general, the culture of Mumbai is fast and efficient and that’s what we want this team to be. My vision would be to nurture the best players out of this league, and we want to ensure the best environment, infrastructure, training and nutrition for the players.”
Heading the Balan Group, a company valued at 3.500 crores, Punit Balan owns teams in various sporting leagues like badminton, tennis, table tennis and the handball league. Speaking about his Mumbai franchise, Punit Balan said “It’s very important to adopt the right approach if you want to grow something. I have been involved in developing sports through leagues in the past and now alongside Ultimate Kho Kho, I want to play a part in Kho-Kho’s journey to success.”
Ultimate Kho Kho CEO, Tenzing Niyogi said “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Badshah and Punit as co-owners of the sixth franchise. We already have on-boarded big corporates as well as the Government of Odisha and now these two popular names from the entertainment sector reflect the positioning and calibre of the league. Kho-Kho has deep roots in Maharashtra and a team representing the state’s capital will surely help us bolster the popularity of the game.
Also read: I will compete with myself at CWG and strive to better my world record: Mirabai
Manchester United reach agreement with Feyenoord for Tyrell Malacia
(Football news) Manchester United have hijacked a deal for Tyrell Malacia after reaching an agreement with Feyenoord for the 22 year old left back. The Dutch player was on the verge of signing for Olympique Lyonnais but Manchester United offered more money for his services. Feyenoord director Frank Arnesen confirmed the agreement by saying The agreement with Man United is there. We are now waiting for Tyrell. If Malacia says yes, then a transfer to Manchester United is imminent".
During his time at Ajax, Erik ten Hag had heavily scouted Malacia and appreciates the players positional awareness, interception rate and his attacking prowess. Ironically, Malacia shares the same agency - HCM Sports Management as Frenkie De Jong, who has been heavily linked with Manchester United and is their prime transfer target for this summer. The Red Devils have Luke Shaw and Alex Telles in the left back position, which is why it’s surprising to see the club prioritize a position they have adequate cover in, rather than a striker or defensive midfielder.
According to a number of sources, Manchester United have put Alex Telles on the transfer market alongside Eric Bailly, Aaron Wan Bissaka, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe. Despite missing out on the last two months of the 2021/22 season, Luke Shaw is expected to retain his place in the squad and was a part of Erik ten Hag’s first training session at Carrington. Shaw is expected to remain the first choice left-back while Malacia acclimatizes to the Premier League and the 22 year old is expected to feature in the cup competitions in his inaugural season.
Also read: What are the biggest challenges Ten Hag faces at Manchester United
Would like to see Siraj, Thakur as third and fourth pacers for England Test: Agarkar
Mumbai, Jun 28 (Cricket News) Former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar said he would prefer Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur as the team’s third and the fourth pacers respectively when India take on England in the rescheduled fifth and final Test beginning in Edgbaston on Friday.
With Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami a certainty in the playing XI, India has other pace options in Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur and Umesh Yadav to choose form.
“Siraj had a really good series last year when India played those four Tests (against England) and he is one of most improved bowlers around at the moment. So I don’t see any reason why Siraj would miss out,” Agarkar said during an interaction, organised by Sony Sports, the official broadcaster of the rescheduled test match.
Agarkar felt that Shardul’s ability with the bat could give him an edge in earning a place in the final eleven.
“Shardul offers a bit more with the bat at number eight and if there is likely help for the seamers, then he becomes even more effective. There is some swing and seam on offer," Agarkar said.
“So, I would think that's the way they go. Otherwise, the tail becomes too long, if at eight, you look at someone like Umesh (Yadav) or even Prasidh Krisna is part of the squad. But I think, Shardul will probably make (the cut) if they go with four seamers,” added the 44-year-old, who represented India in 26 Tests.
Agarkar also backed Siraj in saying that while the latter did have a forgettable performance in the IPL, that, however, would not affect his chances of being a part of the Indian side.
“I don't think Siraj necessarily bowled badly and I don't think you need to equate IPL to test cricket in England. So, you just see his form in test cricket in the last 12 months. Even when India played New Zealand at home, he (Siraj) was really good.
“And he can do the tough work for you. When the ball is little bit older can bowl long spells and bowl quick. I would be very surprised if he (Siraj) is not the third seamer,” reasoned Agarkar. The fifth and final Test is from last year's incomplete series against England which got rescheduled due to outbreak of COVID-19 in the Indian camp.
Agarkar also praised the veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara hit four centuries, including two double centuries for Sussex in Division Two County Championships to make a comeback in the Indian team. He reckoned that Pujara's current form would be an advantage for India in the final test.
Pujara, who was left out of India's home Test series against Sri Lanka earlier this year, amassed 720 runs in just 5 matches with an outstanding average of 120 for Sussex.
“It is a good thing for the Indian team that he (Pujara) was there and playing in those conditions. Also, he has the experience, 90-odd tests. No doubt it has come at the right time, also because it is one-off test and not many other Indian batters are playing in these conditions, so certainly it (Pujara played county) will be an advantage,” said Agarkar.
Also Read : Kapp and Cross star to keep game in balance on day one at Taunton
News Source : PTI
Was extremely keen to go up against Tentoglou in Diamond League: M Sreeshankar
New Delhi, Jun 28 (Sports News) India's premier long jumper M Sreeshankar on Tuesday rued his withdrawal from the upcoming Diamond League owing to visa-related issues, saying he was "extremely keen" to go up against Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou in Stockholm.
Sreeshankar was forced to pull out of the prestigious tournament, starting June 30 in Sweden, as his passport was held up at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi for visa processing for next month's World Championship at Oregon.
The national record holder has said that while participation in the Diamond League would have allowed him to fine-tune his preparations for the World Championships, not being there wouldn't necessarily affect him, since the Worlds is his first priority.
"Unfortunately, the visa situation meant that I had to withdraw from the upcoming Diamond League in Stockholm. I was extremely keen on taking part in that event, especially against the current Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou," Sreeshankar said during a video interaction.
Interestingly, both Sreeshankar and Tentoglou achieved a jump of 8.36m this year.
"Participation in the Diamond League would have definitely placed me in a better position before the World Championships in July. That said, on the flip side, I am now going to get more time for preparing myself for the World Championships which has always been my first priority and also the Commonwealth Games," he added.
The 23-year-old Kerala athlete had won a gold medal earlier this month with a sensational jump of 7.95m at Venizeleia-Chania 2022 Athletics Meet in Greece. He said that the focus right now is to better his personal record and give his absolute best at the World Championship.
"Despite the fact that I had to withdraw from the Diamond League, I have been working hard and I am extremely confident of bettering my own personal record at the World Championship. The event will have several high-profile athletes but I am ready to give my best," Sreeshankar said.
The 18th edition of the World Championship is scheduled to be held from July 15-24.
Reflecting on his recent performances, Sreeshankar said that Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has taught him a great deal on how hard work shapes an athlete.
"I am quite sure that my recent performances will make me a better athlete in the future but it is Neeraj Chopra's relentless hard work that has taught me a great deal. He makes every event his own and never succumbs under pressure. His gold-winning feat has had a huge impact on Indian athletes, including me," Sreeshankar stated.
"After my performance at the Tokyo Olympic Games, my confidence level sunk to an all-time low. But it was Neeraj Chopra's historic feat that helped me realise that I can also my make country proud in a similar way," he said.
Also Read : All India Snooker: Rayaan, Sourav start campaign on winning note
News Source : PTI
Manchester United on the verge of agreeing deal for Frenkie de Jong
(Football news) According to Sky Sports, Manchester United have reached a “broad agreement” with FC Barcelona for the transfer of Frenkie de Jong with the fee believed to be €65m (£56m) plus performance related add-ons. The finer details of the deal still need to be ironed out but both the parties are confident of reaching an agreement while personal terms are not expected to be an issue.
Frenkie de Jong has four years remaining on his current contract and made 46 appearances for FC Barcelona last season. He played under current Man United boss Erik ten Hag at Ajax in the side that won the double (Eredivisie and KNVB Cup double) in the 2018/19 season as well as reached the Champions League semi-finals. The Dutchman has been Ten Hag’s priority target this summer and will prove to be a valuable addition to the Manchester United midfield as the club have already lost Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard.
Ten Hag has previously stated that he wants Manchester United to play a “dominant” and “dictating” brand of football and De Jong could be integral to adopt that playing style. The Dutchman is excellent in keeping possession with a 91% passing rate and has better statistics than both Fred and McTominay in terms of successful dribbles, touch quality and being dispossessed. However, De Jong’s transfer is not the solution to Manchester United’s problems and the club still needs a defensive midfielder, striker and a pair of full backs.
Also read: What are the biggest challenges Ten Hag faces at Manchester United
NBA: John Wall is set to join the Los Angeles Clippers
(Basketball news) John Wall's strange tenure at the Houston Rockets finally comes to an end. The Rockets have agreed to buyout John Wall out of his massive contract, paving the way for the five-time All-Star to resurrect his career and go compete for the NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Clippers. Wall’s agent Rich Paul who’s the CEO of Klutch Sports, is meeting with Rockets general manager Rafael Stone on Tuesday to finalize the terms. It is expected Wall will have to give back approximately $7 million in salary to hit the open market, and pick up his $47.4 million player option before the buyout is confirmed.
Now John Wall will subsequently become one of the top free agents in the 2022 class, but according to Adrian Wojnarowski, John Wall intends to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers upon clearing waivers.The Rockets paid a healthy amount of compensation as Wall got $44.3 million to just sit on the bench for the entire 2021-22 season. Wall has played less than half a season since the 2018 calendar year and clearly looks out of his usual best. Wall, who is a former No. 1 overall draft pick of the Washington Wizards, has a career 43.1% shooting and 32.3% from 3-point range. Over 613 regular NBA season games in his career, he has averaged 19.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game.
John Wall’s buyout is going to cost the Houston Rockets around $128 million, and will end his Rockets tenure having played only 1,288 minutes for the team. So, that’s roughly $100,000 per minute of basketball played for Houston. If you see the deal closely it might stand as an all-time record. John Wall is now expected to join one of the most stacked rosters in the NBA league, as he will join the likes of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers also have a lot of wing players as they look to win their first championship in franchise history. One position they somewhat lacked was a playmaking point guard, which they somewhat solved by signing the 31-year-old. It will be an interesting watch as to how Ty Lue incorporates Wall into his system as Kawhi Leonard looks to be back from his injury next season.
Also read: Magic pick Pablo Banchero as the no 1 pick in the NBA Draft 2022
Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee inspired me to take up martial arts: Radha Bhati
At just 25 years of age, Radha Bhati has become an accomplished taekwondo athlete, winning laurels domestically and around the world. She is now setting her sights on the upcoming 2022 Asian Games and the World Championships in 2023 with the ultimate goal of not just representing India but winning medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In this exclusive interview, Radha Bhati speaks about her journey in the sport, representing India internationally, overcoming challenges, importance of mental health, special achievements, future goals and more!
Q 1) Tell us about your taekwondo journey, how were you introduced to the sport and what made you pursue it professionally?
My taekwondo journey started in 2011 when I went to the stadium just to have a look around. It was during my summer holidays so I wanted to join a sport. I saw martial arts classes at one corner and it grabbed my interest. I used to watch Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee movies, so I really loved to watch the fight. I then joined martial arts and started training which was a lot of fun, my interest started to increase with every day I trained.
Q 2) You represented India in the Under 46 kg category at the China Open where you won your first international medal. Tell us about your experience at that tournament and how did the success propel you to greater achievements?
That was actually my second medal but the first one on foreign soil. I was a little nervous but there was a lot of excitement as well because I was getting a chance to play outside India. The quarter final match was really interesting as it was decided by a golden point. The points were tied after three rounds and there were only 0.6 seconds left when I got the golden point. The feeling of winning an international medal outside India was amazing.
Q 3) What are some of the biggest challenges that you have faced in your career? How did you overcome them?
I think the biggest challenge was travelling because I used to travel from Faridabad to Chhatarpur. By metro it used to take around 3 hours one way and I would often reach home at 12 am which was pretty difficult. My parents would get worried because I’m a girl and they would often ask me to quit which was another challenge I had to deal with.
Also read: 'My ultimate goal is to win gold at the Paralympics'- Mohit Singh
Q 4) How important is mental health in becoming a successful taekwondo athlete and why?
To become a successful taekwondo athlete, mental health becomes an integral part. Even if you have the physical aspect of the game, an athlete needs to have the mental aspect as well. If you are mentally strong you tend to have the capability of achieving a lot of things in taekwondo.
Q 5) What would you say is your most special achievement in your career and why?
The most special achievement in my career was my first international medal at the India Open. This medal helped my confidence a lot and in turn helped in my performance as well.
Q 6) What are your future goals? How do you plan to achieve them?
If we talk about short term goals, then I want to prepare well for the upcoming international tournaments especially the Asian Games this year and the World Championship next year as I hope to win a medal there. The long term goal is to represent India at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Eoin Morgan set to announce international retirement on Tuesday
London, Jun 27 (Cricket News) England's World Cup winning skipper Eoin Morgan is set to announce his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday after a career spanning 16 years during which he amassed over 10,000 runs across ODIs and T20Is.
According to a report in Sky Sports, the 35-year-old Dublin-born Morgan wanted to lead England at this year's T20 World Cup in Australia but he had a change of heart after struggling with his form and fitness in the last 18 months.
Morgan captained England in the first two ODI games against the Netherlands this month but failed to open his account on both the occasion. He subsequently missed the third game due to a groin niggle.
Vice-captain Jos Buttler is likely to replace him as England skipper and the upcoming white-ball series against India could be his first assignment.
Morgan made his debut for Ireland in 2006 but then after three years he switched his alliance to England in 2009.
The elegant left-handed batter, who played in the middle-order, has so far scored 7,701 runs from 248 ODIs, after making his debut against Scotland.
He also featured in 115 T20 matches, amassing 2,458 runs, after making his debut in the format for England against the Netherlands in 2009.
The soft-spoken Morgan also featured in 16 Tests but managed to score only 700 runs and played his last Test in 2012 against Pakistan.
However, Morgan's legacy will be defined by his seven and a half year rein as England's limited over captain during which the team rose to the number one position in the world rankings in both ODI and T20 cricket.
He had taken over the reins of ODI captaincy from Sir Alastair Cook before the 2015 ODI World Cup in Australia-New Zealand and played a key part in revolutionizing the team's cricket after their shock group stage exit in the quadrennial event.
Morgan along with then coach Trevor Bayliss breathed a fresh air into the English side, which encouraged the players to play a fearless brand of cricket, which eventually led them to win the World Cup in 2019 in their own back-yard.
His other achievements include leading his side to the final of the T20 2016 World Cup the semi-finals of the 2021 edition of the tournament.
Also Read : England slight favourites against India, feels Graeme Swann
News Source : PTI
All India Snooker: Rayaan, Sourav start campaign on winning note
Mumbai , Jun 27 (Sports News) Rayaan Razmi and Sourav Kothari won their respective group matches by identical 4-0 margins on the opening day of the NSCI All India Snooker Open ‘Baulkline’ 2022 being played here.
In their Group D match, Maharashtra's Rayaan, who is a double junior national champion, after taking the first frame, hit breaks of 33, 45 and 37 in the next three frames to complete a 4-0 (70-30, 85-12, 79-41, and 81-8) victory against state-mate Vishal Gehani.
In a Group E match, the 37-year-old Sourav gave a superb demonstration of excellent shot selection, accurate potting, and shrewd tactical play against 19-year-old Digvijay Kadian of Haryana to seal a 4-0 (65-58, 75-31, 61-58, and 125-0) win.
Also Read : Sekar Dhanalakshmi becomes 3rd fastest Indian woman in 200m
News Source : PTI
England slight favourites against India, feels Graeme Swann
Mumbai, Jun 27 (Cricket News) England will be playing India on the back of the three-Test series against New Zealand and former off-spinner Graeme Swann believes it would make the hosts slight favourites going into the rescheduled fifth Test starting in Birmingham on Friday.
England on Monday completed a 3-0 series whitewash against New Zealand after wining the third and final Test by seven wickets.
"England are in a very good position and I would say they are slight favourites because of that series (against New Zealand)," Swann said in a virtual interaction, facilitated by Sony Sports, official broadcasters of India-England series.
"And the fact that India just had one (warm-up) game in England, so they are coming in cold (for) the Test match, which is a bit of disadvantage. They (England) have got the three Test matches under their belt, so that makes them pre-game favourites." Swann hailed the aggressive brand of cricket played by England under new captain Ben Stokes and new head coach Brandon McCullum and said this was a "bad time" to face England.
"It is a real bad time to play England because they just played these three games against New Zealand.
"You are going to face an England team where Joe Root is back to his absolute best, where Olive Pope is playing his best-ever for England. Ben Stokes has amalgamated the team and got playing in an ultra-positive and rock and roll fashion.
"There are chinks in the armour - the opening batting slot is still very weak. But nearly all the other spots had excellent (returns). Even the spinner Jack Leach, who is under a lot of pressure, has got 10 wickets in a match," explained Swann.
The fifth Test is from last year's incomplete series against England which got rescheduled due to outbreak of COVID-19 in the Indian camp.
Swann picks Root, Stokes as key players for England -------------------------------------------------------- The 43-year-old, who has taken 255 wickets in 60 Tests, picked Root and Stokes as key players for England.
"It is quite simple for England, it will be Joe Root and Ben Stokes, if they continue their form, their sort of ethos, England will do well. Stokes is leading from the front and he is a natural leader. Joe Root is thriving and batting at his absolute best," he said.
Talking about India, he said: "I think Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli (key players). If Kohli plays with the same freedom that Joe Root is playing now, we are all in for a treat.
"Virat is a wonderful player and if Jasprit get his line and length with that Dukes ball, he is unplayable," he added.
Pujara's county experience will benefit him: Swann ------------------------------------------------------ Cheteshwar Pujara hit four centuries, including two double centuries for Sussex in Division Two County Championships to force his way back in the Indian team and Swann felt that it would hold him in good stead in the one-off Test.
"He (Pujara) was phenomenal for Sussex, so that is massive bonus for India. Having a player who is in England at the start of the season, when the ball swings around, scoring so heavily, that gives him leg up the ladder, when he goes into the Test match," he said.
Pujara, who was left out of India's home Test series against Sri Lanka earlier this year, amassed 720 runs in just 5 matches with an outstanding average of 120 for Sussex.
Also Read : Didn't want to risk playing Gaikwad as he had a calf niggle: Pandya
News Source : PTI
LOCO to be ESPL's Exclusive Digital Broadcast Partner for Season 2
(Esports news) Esports Premier League (ESPL) has roped in India’s leading gaming streaming platform, LOCO as its exclusive digital broadcast partner for the second season of the event which is fast gaining popularity. The franchise-based league will have its first-ever, offline Grand Finals via a LAN event. All matches of the second season will be live-streamed exclusively on Loco’s app and website (loco.gg).
Loco is a virtual world of gaming communities that provides exclusive space to gaming creators and viewers. In the last few years, Loco has witnessed exponential growth. Daily active viewers have scaled by 15 x whereas monthly active viewers have seen 8x growth. Monthly active streamers have grown 5x times and live watch hours have scaled 78x times since January, 2021. The Grand Finals of the league will be hosted via LAN event, making it the league’s first-ever offline Grand Finals.
Esports Premier League has already roped in global premium smartphone brand, TECNO Mobile as its presenting sponsor for the second edition of the country’s first franchise-based esports league. TECNO Mobile plans to promote its upcoming smartphone phone, TECNO Pova 3 through this league. The poised to launch smartphone will give a class-apart gaming experience to the users. It not only offers a super-fast processing speed but also comes with a massive battery.
This year’s league is set to engage esports athletes across the country in a high-voltage action of the most popular battle royale game, ‘BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI)’ and carries a massive prize pool of Rs. 1 crore.
Talking about the announcement of the league’s association with Loco, ESPL Director Vishwalok Nath said: “With shared values and a compelling gaming proposition, we are super excited to team up with India’s leading gaming streaming platform Loco.”
“We are pleased to be working together with the team to create interesting and engaging content for the esports fans and the community out there. We are always keen to associate with brands that share the same passion for esports as us and are looking forward to a fruitful association.”
According to a recent FICCI-EY media and entertainment report 2022, content creation and concurrent viewership around gaming saw a massive surge in India and there is also a meteoric rise in esports viewership, from 600,000 hours in 2020 to 2 million hours in 2021.
Commenting on the partnership, Ashwin Suresh, Founder, Loco, said, “Loco will play a pivotal role in growing the fanbase for ESPL and providing yet another entertaining experience for the Indian gaming community. As the exclusive broadcast partner for the league, we will provide fans with tons of exclusive content and a chance to interact with their favorite streamers. We’re excited to partner with the India Today Group on this landmark esports league as we continue to actively support the growth of the esports ecosystem in India.”
Highly active users spend over one hour daily on Loco, making it the gaming community’s platform of choice for a seamless streaming and highly engaging fan experience.
The league will be played in two separate stages in the initial phase, online qualifiers and invitational qualifiers, to shortlist the top 16 teams. The first 12 teams, top-2 teams from the open qualifiers and top-10 teams from the invitational qualifiers, will progress directly into the finals.
The teams ranked from 3 to 10 (7 teams) in the online qualifiers and teams ranked from 11 to 18 from invitational qualifiers will compete for the other two spots available in the finals. The upcoming edition of India’s premier esports league, ESPL has already kick-started their online qualifiers.
Also read: Chemin Esports to take part in the historic BGMI Master Series
Formula 1 to introduce synthetic and sustainable fuel by 2026
(Motorsport) As part of the goal to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2030, Formula 1 has developed synthetic and sustainable fuel which will be introduced in 2026. The fuel can be used in standard internal combustion engines and will be used in the new generation of hybrid engines.
A statement released by the F1 earlier said “At the top of our priorities for both sustainability and our sport is building a roadmap for the internal combustion engine that addresses the environmental goals of our automotive partners and society. Although cars account for a very small percentage of our carbon footprint as a sport (0.7%), it is important that the most visual part of our sport is sustainable and can have real-world benefits. We also believe there is not a single solution to the engine technologies of the future but a sustainably fuel hybrid engine will be a significant moment for the sport and the automotive sector."
Formula 1 also revealed that the fuel was already in production with the support from the governing body, the FIA, and F1's fuel partner and engine manufacturers. It’s designed as a ‘drop-in’ fuel and can be used in place of a standard fossil fuel in any internal combustion engine (ICE). The only way synthetic fuels can be fully net-zero is if the energy used to create them is carbon free and it’s being designed to not just be adopted in Formula 1 but for normal cars around the world to reduce carbon emissions.
Formula 1 has claimed that it has taken a number of steps to move towards its net-zero goal, such as:
1) Introduced remote broadcast operations to reduce freight
2) Redesigned freight containers so more efficient aircraft can be used
3) Transitioned to 100% renewable energy in its offices
4) Delivered a first carbon-neutral broadcast production at the 2021 British Grand Prix and aim to achieve the same at Silverstone again this weekend
Also read: Mercedes plan major upgrades before ‘home race’ at Silverstone
Options in drag-flick hands India advantage over others in world hockey: Sandeep
New Delhi, Jun 27 (Hockey News) The emergence of a number of penalty corner specialists in the national team gives India an edge over the other sides, according to former hockey captain Sandeep Singh, who knows the "difficult art" of drag-flicking like the back of his hands.
The Birmingham Commonwealth Games-bound Indian team has as many as three specialist drag-flickers in Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar and Amit Rohidas.
And with junior players like Sanjay, Araijeet Singh Hundal and Sudeep Chirmako waiting in the wings, India are well placed as far as the penalty corner department is concerned.
“Drag-flick is a difficult art which takes years of practice to master. It is a very technical thing, where besides brute power, you need fast hands and quick bodyweight transfer,” said Sandeep.
“Having options in drag-flick gives any team an advantage and we are lucky that we have many penalty corner specialists in the team now. It adds variety. Harmanpreet is a world-class flicker,” added Sandeep, who is nicknamed ‘Flicker Singh’ for his exploits with the goal-scoring technique during his playing days.
Sandeep, a fiery drag-flicker in his heydays, said the current national team under Manpreet Singh has the wherewithal to break its gold medal jinx at the Birmingham Games, starting next month.
Since hockey’s introduction in the CWG schedule in 1998 Kuala Lumpur edition, Australia has swept all the six gold medals. India’s best results are two silver medals in the 2010 edition at home and 2014 Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
“Indian hockey has made tremendous progress. The bronze medal in Tokyo was just the fillip the game needed to revive its past glory,” Sandeep told PTI in an exclusive interaction from the Indian Sports Fan Award 2022, where newly-elected Rajya Sabha member and veteran sports promoter Kartikeya Sharma was honoured with the recognition.
“If you ask me I firmly believe we can win a gold in this Commonwealth Games.
“In today’s hockey there is hardly any gap between the top 5 world teams. If we play to our potential and plan, we can stop Australia’s dominance in the CWG this time,” added the player-turned-politician, who was part of the 2010 CWG silver medal-winning squad.
Sandeep said the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics after four decades and continuous upward movement in world hockey after that under chief coach Graham Reid has instilled self-belief and confidence among the Indian players.
He said the foundation of the game is strong in the country now.
“The medal at Tokyo is just what Indian hockey needed. Look at our bench strength now, we have a main team, an A team and junior side. So, there is no dearth of quality players,” said Sandeep, who is the Haryana Sports Minister.
Also Read : Indian junior women's hockey team loses 1-4 to Netherlands in U-23 5 Nations tournament final
News Source : PTI
Rohit Sharma can be relieved as captain from T20s: Sehwag
New Delhi, Jun 27 (Cricket News) Former India opener Virender Sehwag feels current skipper Rohit Sharma could be relieved from captaincy duties from T20s so that the 35-year-old can manage his workload better.
Rohit has not been able to feature in all of India's matches since taking over as captain due to injuries and workload management. “If the Indian team management has someone else in mind as captain in the T20 format, then I think, Rohit (Sharma) could be relieved and the following can be taken into consideration going forward,” Sehwag told PTI in an interview.
“One, that would allow Rohit to manage his workload and mental fatigue, given his age.
"Two, once someone new is appointed as captain in T20s, it would also allow Rohit to take breaks and rejuvenate himself to lead India in both Tests and ODIs,” he said in an interaction arranged by Sony Sports, the official broadcaster of the India-England series.
However, Sehwag maintained that if the team management sticks with its current policy of having one captain to lead India across the three formats, then Sharma is still an ideal choice.
“If the Indian think-tank still wants to pursue with the same policy, which is, to let one man leading India in all the three formats, then I still believe, Rohit Sharma is the best man for it.” While a lot of permutation and combination have been at play currently ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year, the former Indian swashbuckling opener asserted his top three choices among the batters for the tournament would be Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and KL Rahul.
Star batter Virat Kohli is India's designated number three batter at the moment.
“India has options aplenty when it comes to hard hitters in T20s. However, I would personally vouch for Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and KL Rahul as the top three batters for the World Cup in Australia,” Sehwag said.
“The right-hand and left-hand combination of Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, or for that matter, Ishan and KL Rahul could be quite interesting for the World T20,” he added.
Sehwag, who was known to take many fearsome pacers to the cleaners in his heyday, was all praise for young pacer Umran Malik, and believes, that the 22-year-old should feature in the World Cup alongside the likes of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah as one of India’s bowling mainstays.
“If there is one pacer who has thoroughly impressed me, of late, it is none other than Umran Malik. He should definitely be part of India’s plans as one of the key bowlers alongside the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami,” Sehwag stated.
“This IPL has given us many promising young bowlers, but Umran’s skills and talent will definitely earn him a place in the Indian across all three formats in the long run,” he remarked.
Also Read : Mayank Agarwal to join Indian Test squad in England as cover for Rohit Sharma
News Source : PTI
'My ultimate goal is to win gold at the Paralympics'- Mohit Singh
Hailing from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, 22 year old Para Taekwondo athlete Mohit Singh has been training at the Peace Taekwondo Academy since the last three and a half years. He has already represented India at the Asian Championship in 2019 and played at the 9th World Para Taekwondo Championship in 2021. The player has now set his sights on the 2022 Asian Para Games later this year.
In this exclusive interview, Mohit Singh speaks about his taekwondo journey, experiences, memorable achievements, expectations from the Para Asian Games, overcoming challenges and future goals.
Q 1) How did your journey in taekwondo begin? When were you introduced to the sport and what made you pursue it professionally?
I started taekwondo in 2018. It all began because the taekwondo classes were held at the same time as the morning assembly in school and in order to avoid it I joined the sport. Since I’m a para athlete with a hand problem, learning to defend myself was very important for me. I always enjoyed watching martial arts and that’s what motivated me to take up taekwondo. I didn’t have much knowledge about it at the beginning and it started off as a hobby but slowly evolved into a career path.
Q 2) You have been at Peace Taekwondo for three and a half years. How has your experience been so far?
Despite starting taekwondo in 2018 I felt no changes in my body and mind even after practicing it for a year. That’s when I joined Peace Taekwondo and since then, my confidence has risen and the experience has been amazing! I received a lot of support from the senior players and the coaches which motivated me so it has been great.
Q 3) What is the most special memory from your taekwondo career so far and why?
Being selected for the Asian Para Games was the most memorable for me so far. Despite starting taekwondo in 2018, I haven’t won any medals despite putting in the effort to succeed. My family were also very happy for my selection at the Asian Para Games. I have also received support from the Peace Taekwondo Academy and I’m glad that someone from the academy is being represented at the Asian Para Games.
Also read: My dream is to represent India at the Olympics: Afreen Hyder
Q 4) You have been selected for the 2022 Asian Para Games, what are your expectations from it?
My expectations at the Asian Para Games are that I don’t want to just go there and represent my country, I want to go and win a medal. To win a medal I have to work and train even harder than before.
Q5) What are some of the biggest challenges that you have faced in your career? How did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge I feel is that even after giving your 100% it still feels less, especially when you're away from family. I feel I have let my coach and my parents down by not training hard but then again in taekwondo, losing is a part and parcel of the game. For me the more I lose, the more motivated I become to perform better in the next tournament.
Q6) What are your future goals and how do you plan to achieve them?
My ultimate goal in the future is to win the Paralympics gold medal. In order to achieve that I need to train even harder and try to achieve the best possible outcome.
Sekar Dhanalakshmi becomes 3rd fastest Indian woman in 200m
Almaty (Kazakhstan), Jun 26 (Sports News) Ace sprinter Sekar Dhanalakshmi ran her personal best time to win 200m gold at the Qosanov Memorial Athletics Meet while the likes of shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor and javelin thrower Rohit Yadav returned to India without competing in the event here on Sunday.
Dhanalakshmi ran a creditable sub-23 second, clocking 22.89s to better her earlier personal best of 23.14s she had come up last year. She had won a 200m gold in the national Inter-Sate Championships in Chennai earlier this month with a time of 23.27s.
She missed the automatic qualification mark of 22.80s for World Championships (July 15 to 24) in Oregon, USA, but will have to see if she can make it to the showpiece through world ranking quota. The World Championships qualification deadline ends on Sunday midnight.
Dhanalakshmi is only the third Indian woman to run sub-23s after national record holder Saraswati Saha (22.82s) and Hima Das (22.88s). Another Indian Dutee Chand was third with a time of 23.60s.
Toor and Rohit, however, did not take part in the meet and they are reaching India on Monday as they have to complete formalities for USA visa for the World Championships.
"Toor's interview for USA visa is on Monday and he will have to take a 9.30pm local time flight from Almaty. If he takes part in his competition, he will miss the flight. So, he skipped the event," a source said on conditions of anonymity.
However, Toor's selection in the Commonwealth team has been "subject to performance in Kazakhstan". The Asian record holder, just missed the CWG qualifying standard of 20.50m during his gold winning throw of 20.34m in the National Inter-State Championships in Chennai earlier this month.
He has already qualified for World Championship with his 21.10m throw in June last year. "Rohit's case is also the same as Toor and AFI is hoping that he will qualify for the World Championships through world ranking quota. So, he also has to do his US visa formalities," the source said.
The World Championships automatic qualification mark for men's javelin throw is 85m and Rohit had his personal best of 82.54m while winning silver at the National Inter-State Championships.
Rohit and DP Manu, who had won gold in National Inter-State Championships with a throw of 84.35m, have been named in the CWG team along with Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra. In other events, Sarita Singh, who was named in the 36-member Indian team for the upcoming Commonwealth Championships "subject to guidelines achieved in Kazakhstan" won the gold. But her best effort of 62.48m was below the CWG qualifying guidelines of 64m, set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
India swept the women's javelin throw medals with Annu Rani taking the gold with a performance of 62.29m. Annu, who had won gold in the National Inter-State Championships, with a throw of 60.97m, has been included in the CWG team.
Shipa Rani and Sanjana Choudhary took the silver and bronze with a disappointing 56.16m and 55.12m efforts respectively.
Shilpa, who was named in the CWG team "subject to accreditation is received", had won silver in the National Inter-State Championships with 59.01m.
Ancy Sojan won the women's long jump gold with a performance of 6.44m. Sojan, who is in the CWG team, had won silver in the National Inter-State Championships with 6.49m.
On Saturday night, Vithya Ramraj had become the fourth fastest Indian woman in 400m hurdles as she clocked 56.87s to win gold in the event.
Also Read : I will compete with myself at CWG and strive to better my world record: Mirabai Chanu
News Source : PTI
I will compete with myself at CWG and strive to better my world record: Mirabai Chanu
Patiala, Jun 26 (Sports News) It won't be surprising if diminutive Mirabai Chanu stands atop the podium, flashing her radiant smile, after winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games on July 30.
After all, she will enter Birmingham, as title favourite.
Chanu's personal best is 207kg (88kg+119kg) which is far better than the best effort of Nigeria's Stella Kingsley, who will be her nearest rival and has managed only 168kg (72kg+96kg) till date.
Chanu's legend has only grown since the last edition of the CWG. She has added an Olympic silver, an Asian Championship bronze and a world record to her kitty.
It is not baffling when she avowed that she herself will be her real competition in Birmingham and not her rivals.
"CWG will be easy for me. I will be fighting with myself," Chanu, who already has a silver (2014) and a gold (2018) at CWG, asserts politely.
"There is not much competition in CWG, but that doesn't man there is no competition. I have to give my best performance keeping in mind the future tournaments," she said during a candid chat at Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NIS).
Since there won't be competition, Chanu has bigger targets in mind.
She is eager to rewrite her own clean and jerk world record of 119kg.
"I am thinking of attempting 120kg in the CWG." The former world champion also wants to breach the much-anticipated 90kg mark in the snatch section, which she confesses has become somewhat of a mental block.
"Yes (it has become a mental block). We have planned to lift 91kg or 92kg at the CWG. Hopefully, it will happen." But lifting close to twice your body weight is easier said than done specially when Chanu still struggles with a shoulder imbalance.
Earlier this month, she failed to improve her snatch lift, unable to hoist 89kg twice at a domestic event due to her back.
"My back became stiff (tight) 2-3 days before going. The journey to Nagrota was also five hours. We went form Patiala to Chandigarh a day before the tournament, then took a flight from Chandigarh, which was also late. So the back became more tight." Aware of her weakness in snatch, Chanu has worked on tweaking her technique.
"I haven’t gone above 88kg. That is the weight I have set. But training wise right now I am better placed than I was at the Olympics.
"To lift 90kg in a competition, we set the weight between 80-90kg which we lift consistently everyday. It's not like we lift 90kg everyday," she explains.
Her personal best of 88kg is 8kg less than Tokyo gold medallist China's Hou Zhihui's world record lift of 96kg.
"I have changed my snatch technique. In snatch, while rising, the toes, back and shoulder should be in a line. Back and shoulders are very important they need to move fast. Earlier my movement was not synchronised. Now I have changed it." Chanu conceded that she feels compelled to compensate her frailty in snatch by lifting more in clean and jerk.
"Yes, I feel if not one, then in the other I have to improve. To reach 96kg, it will take some time and it will be a little difficult for me.
"93kg-94kg I can reach. If I perform well in clean and jerk I can get the same total (as the Chinese) or even more." Will wear my Olympic earrings at CWG ======================== Chanu, who will be vying for her third CWG medal, will once again be wearing her gold earrings shaped like Olympic rings, which had stolen the show at the Tokyo Games.
The earring were a gift from her mother, who had sold her own jewellery ahead of the Rio Games, in hope that it would bring her daughter luck. And luck it brought.
"I will wear those earrings at the Commonwealth Games. They brought me luck in Tokyo," Chanu said with an ear to ear grin.
Up and downs in Life ============= After she won the silver at Tokyo Games, in a heart-warming gesture Chanu felicitated the truck drivers who used to give her free rides till her training academy in Imphal, which was about 30km away from her village.
"I found all the truck drivers and because of Corona they were all sitting at home," Chanu reminisced.
"They were really happy. I saw them and I thought of those days when they used to keep blowing their truck horns and I would run to get a lift. When I reflect, I remember all the difficulties I had to go through to reach here. But what to do, life is a cycle, kabhi upar kabhi neeche." Eagerly waiting for Asian Games ==================== The Asian Games now remains the only big ticket-event where Chanu is yet stamp her authority.
Chanu had missed the last edition due to a back injury. And the wait for a medal at the continental event has increased as this year's Asiad has been postponed indefinitely.
"Asian Games is the only medal left. Now I want that." "On the one hand, it's good that it has been postponed. On the other hand it will now be held closer to the Olympics. I have got time for training. But now it will be held alongside other Olympic qualifiers which means I will have to be in competition through out that period."
Also Read : Maha cyclist finishes on podium in 'world's toughest' cycle race
News Source : PTI
Maha cyclist finishes on podium in 'world's toughest' cycle race
Mumbai, Jun 26 (Sports News) Ultra-cyclist Kabir Rachure from Maharashtra achieved a podium finish in his category at the Race Across America (RAAM) on Sunday, making it a first for an Indian in what is billed as the world's toughest cycle race.
Rachure, an advocate hailing from Marathwada who practices at the Bombay High Court, came third in the solo male under-50 years category, finishing the 3,038 mile competition in 11 days, 11 hours and 25 minutes, as per the official leaderboard.
The clock is ticking continuously at the race and participants are required to pedal from the west coast of the USA to the east coast in under 12 days, managing their sleep, eating and all other errands within the given time, which makes it a tough endurance race that tests the mettle.
Racers are accompanied by a support crew in vehicles, which takes care of all the requirements on the go and trails the cyclist post-sunset for safety reasons.
Indians started participating in the race about a decade ago and have got accolades including a win in the two-men category. This is the second finish at the coveted event for Rachure himself.
There were two other Indians racing in the solo category at this year's event, but could not finish the race.
The overall winner in the solo category was Australian Allan Jefferson in the 50-59 years sub-group, who finished the race in just over 10 days, and was followed by Czech Svata Bozak three hours later, while Swiss girl Nicole Reist came third overall by finishing it four hours later.
The solo men under-50 years category was won by Bozak, while American Phil Fox finished six hours before Rachure, as per the leaderboard.
Also Read : Chennai Open chess: Indian International Master Nitin Senthilvel remains on top
News Source : PTI
Broadcast coverage of the Ireland v India men's T20I series
(Cricket news) Cricket Ireland has today confirmed the broadcast coverage of the ‘LevelUp11 India Tour of Ireland T20 Series 2022’ - the two-match T20 International series between Ireland Men and India Men to be played at Malahide Cricket Club on 26 and 28 June 2022.
The match times are:
26 June 2022: Ireland Men v India Men – 1st T20I (Malahide, 9pm start)
28 June 2022: Ireland Men v India Men – 2nd T20I (Malahide, 9pm start)
TELEVISION / STREAMING COVERAGE
The matches will be broadcast and available in Ireland and the UK on BT Sport, however, fans should note the following:For the rest of the world, the broadcast details are:
India: Sony Sports network
Sub Saharan Africa: SuperSport
Caribbean: Flow Sports
MENA: Etisalat
South East Asia: Eleven
US: Willow
The squads are:
Ireland squad: Andrew Balbirnie (Captain), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Conor Olphert, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.
India squad: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.
Also read: Ireland Men’s principal jersey sponsor revealed to be Exchange22
Chennai Open chess: Indian International Master Nitin Senthilvel remains on top
Chennai, Jun 25 (Chess News) Indian International Master Nitin Senthilvel settled for a draw with compatriot and fellow IM Ravichandran Siddharth in the ninth round lead to stay on top of the standings with 8 points in the 13th Chennai Open International Grandmaster Chess Tournament 2022 here on Saturday.
The draw in the top board saw Nitin's lead being cut to half a point as GM Boris Savchenko (Russia), Alexei Federov (Belarus), Aronyak Ghosh, Him all Gusain (both India) moved to 7.5 points.
On Friday, tournament leader Nitin missed a win against top seed Grandmaster Savchenko and today he held the upper hand against Siddharth who just hung on to snatch a draw. The final round is scheduled for Sunday.
Results: Round 9 (Indians unless specified) : Nitin S (8) drew with Ravichandran Siddharth (7), S Prasannaa (6.5) lost to Boris Savchenko (Russia) 7.5, P Konguvel (6.5) lost to Alexei Fedorov (7).Aronyak Ghosh (7.5) beat Baghdasaryan Vahe (Armenia) 6.5, Him all Gusain (7.5) beat Daakshin Arun (6.5), Kunal M (6.5) drew with Deepan Chakkravarthy J (6.5), Aaryan Varshney (6.5) drew with Kiril Stupak Kirill (6.5), Ajay Karthikeyan (6.5) drew with Saravana Krishnan P (6.5), Priyanka K (6) lost to Srihari L R (7),R R Laxman (6.5) drew with Jubin Jimmy (6.5), Nguyen Van Huy (Vietnam) 7 beat Hirthickkesh P R (6), Rajesh V A V (7) beat Pranav K P (6), Samriddha Ghosh (5.5) lost to Hari Madhavan N B (6.5).
Also Read : Besides Tejaswin, AFI names heptathlete Barman, two marathoners, one relay runner in additional five for CWG
News Source : PTI
Ireland Men’s principal jersey sponsor revealed to be Exchange22
(Cricket news) Cricket Ireland has today revealed Exchange22 as the Principal Sponsor for the Ireland Men’s cricket team for 2022. EXCHANGE22 is an Indian-based, first of its kind sports fantasy App – a virtual sports stock exchange. Founded in 2019, the app’s unique concept is one in which players' shares are traded virtually. The shares can be bought/sold/held as per the wish of the user. On their platform, the user can trade in single or multiple shares and receive returns easily.
The partnership, brokered by Cricket Ireland’s main sponsor ITW Consulting, was unveiled along with the new Ireland Men’s T20I playing kit. The Exchange22 logo will feature on the front of the Ireland Men’s T20I playing shirt, while another new sponsor – ABD Sterling Reserve – will feature on the leading arm and the back of the T20 shirt. Sterling Reserve is an Indian-based packaged drinking water brand, produced by ABD. ABD, a multi-product company, is in the business of packaged drinking water with Sterling Reserve. A premium brand, Sterling Reserve consistently delivers the finest quality to consumers.
In further sponsor news, Mr Akhil Sarin, Head of Acquisition from Stake.com , the “Presenting Ground Sponsor”, will be presenting the winner’s trophy. Bodhishatta Karfa, Director & Co-Founder of EXCHANGE22, said “The whole team at EXCHANGE22 feels highly honoured to be the jersey sponsor for Ireland Men during a busy 2022. This is our second association with the squad, having supported the team at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2021.
“Irish cricket is certainly a sport on the rise, and similarly EXCHANGE22 is also breaking through barriers and delivering on our ‘field of play’. Also, our sincere gratitude to team ITW for putting their efforts into making this collaboration successful. We believe in uplifting the spirit of the game and look forward to many more collaborations of this kind in the near future. We wish the Irish team the best of luck for the rest of 2022 and hope to see some awesome cricket moments from them.”
Shekhar Ramamurthy, Executive Deputy Chairman, ABD said "We at ABD and Sterling Reserve are very happy to be associated with Cricket Ireland for the India matches and all their games with New Zealand, South Africa and Afghanistan leading to the ICCT20 World Cup. Sterling Reserve, from ABD, is about making moments ‘Come Alive’. We believe that Team Ireland has the capability to do that against the best”.
Akhil Sarin, Head of Acquisition for Stake.com, said “As the presenting ground sponsor for the Ireland v India T20I series, 2022, we are looking forward to the cricketing action featuring an exciting Irish team and one of the top sides in the world - India. We look forward to a highly competitive series between two exciting teams – it is set to be a great spectacle for global cricket fans.”
Warren Deutrom, Chief Executive of Cricket Ireland, said “A sincere thanks to the teams at EXCHANGE22 and ITW Consulting for bringing this partnership together. We’ve already shown through a previous collaboration that the value of partnerships like this one goes far beyond just the immediate support for the team – it supports the grassroots and performance structures that are the foundations of the sport in Ireland. We also welcome Sterling Reserve – together we provide a solid foundation for our players to perform on what has become a truly global stage.”
Also read: 39 years since India's trend setting Cricket World Cup win at Lords
England women score five past Netherlands at Elland Road
(Football news) England sent out a clear warning to all their opponents ahead of the Euro 2022 after defeating the Netherlands 5-1 at Elland Road in front of 19,000 supporters. The Lionesses found themselves in unfamiliar territory after being a goal down with Lieke Martens finding the back of the net for the Netherlands from a corner. However, England scored the equaliser through Lucy Bronze in the 34th minute to ensure both the sides remained on level terms at the start of the second half.
It was a dramatic start to the second period of the match as within the space of a minute, Sherida Spitse missed a penalty when Alex Greenwood was brought down by substitute Danielle van de Donk while Beth Mead found the back of the net with Lauren Hemp giving the assist. Ella Toone scored England’s third with a fantastic curling effort and Lauren Hemp scored the fourth from inside the box. Beth Mead capitalised on some questionable defending by the Netherlands side to score England’s fifth in a memorable win at Leeds’ stadium.
In the post match interview, England manager Sarina Wiegman said “We've spoken about that, there are many favourites - we are one of them. We know where we want to go. We stick to strategy or plans, whether we lose or win. If we would have lost today, we know where we could improve in our style of play. The expectation will go higher but now is a moment. We had the Arnold Clark Cup which was close too. We have to improve a couple of bits.
“I don't think we are there because some things didn't go well and we have to improve that too, so we will start working on that on Monday. It was a good learning moment that we came from behind and conceded a goal. We haven't done that since September, since I came in. It's good to see the reaction from the team and bring the game to the level we should be able to play. It's not frustrating, it gave me the question of what was going on. The Netherlands gave us a hard time too. Tactically we needed to do something a little different, in possession and out of possession, we are good at high ball tempo and playing runs behind. We didn't do that, it was too low and we did that a lot better the second half."
Netherlands manager Mark Parsons said “England will be favourites in the Euros. Where they are, the quality of players, the home crowd, the resources the WSL has been putting in, the work the clubs have been doing - it all comes together and it's very hard to see they're not favourites. They're very, very good. I think opponents watching the last 30 minutes will be worried. You have a top, top coach that's been there and won it. Arjan [Veurink] and Sarina are doing some strong work.
"Eleven years ago, I left England and at that point, it felt like giving women's football what it deserved is a responsibility and now people are looking at it as an opportunity to develop world-class players and make money. It's an investment, the Women's Super League has led the way. Sky Sports are putting big investment by showing women's football - which is what this is about. The [Dutch] Eredivisie's doing good work but between the Euros and the pound, the investment is big. It's paying off for the national team. They're a fun team, a great team and we're going to be much more prepared the next time we face them."
Also read: Manchester City agree deal to sign Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United
Besides Tejaswin, AFI names heptathlete Barman, two marathoners, one relay runner in additional five for CWG
New Delhi, Jun 24 (Sports News) High jumper Tejaswin Shankar's writ petition in the Delhi High Court has led to four more athletes being named by the national federation, though their participation depends on the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) agreeing to increase the allotted quota.
During a hearing on a plea by Shankar, a national record holder, challenging his exclusion from the upcoming Birmingham Commonwealth Games (July 28 to August 8) squad, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) informed the court that its selection committee has added five more athletes, subject to IOA agreeing to increase the quota from the current 36.
Besides Shankar, the other four athletes are Asian Games gold medallist heptathlete Swapna Barman, marathon runners Srinu Bugatha and Anish Thapa, and Jilna MV for 4x100m relay event.
Jilna was originally named in the 37-member team announced on June 16 as a 4x100m relay runner but her name was later withdrawn to stick to the allotted quota of 36.
It remains to be seen what the IOA tells the High Court on July 4 regarding AFI's request for increase in quota of the athletics team. It could be a tricky situation for the IOA to increase the quota of athletics team with just little over a month to go for the CWG, as it must have already sorted out the number of Indian participants in each sport.
The deadline for the IOA to submit the Indian team to the CWG organisers is June 30. In this scenario, the IOA may have to make a last-minute request to the Birmingham CWG organisers to increase India's quota if the additional athletes are to be accommodated.
"Fingers crossed, we will have to wait and watch what the IOA tells the court in next hearing," one official said.
The High Court on Friday expressed hope that the IOA would increase the athletics team quota in the Indian contingent for the Birmingham CWG. But at the same time, the court also made it clear that if the quota is not increased, it cannot direct the IOA to increase it.
Advocate Parth Goswami, who represented the AFI, said if the IOA agrees to increase the quota from the existing 36 athletes, the additional five would also be included in the contingent. He said in case the quota is not increased, the list of previously selected 36 athletes will be final.
Shankar has sought to direct the AFI not to disqualify him from participating at the CWG 2022 based on non-attendance at the Interstate Senior Athletics Championships, and be allowed to compete for meeting the qualifying standard at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships in the USA.
He had won gold in the NCAA Championships with an effort of 2.27m on June 10, which is the exact qualifying standard prescribed by the AFI.
Barman, Bugatha and Thapa have also crossed the CWG qualifying standards of the AFI. Barman did not take part in the National Inter-State Championships but had collected 5800 total points in the seven events while winning gold at the Federation Cup in April. The CWG qualifying standard is 5650 points.
Bugatha clocked 2:16:26 during the Dhaka Marathon in January while Thapa ran 2:16.41 while finishing second in New Delhi Marathon in March. The AFI qualifying standard for CWG marathon event is 2:18:40. Nitender Singh Rawat, who won the New Delhi Marathon, was already named in the athletics team last week.
Jilna was part of the Kerala quartet that finished third in the women's 4x100m relay. She ran 11.90s to finish fourth in one of the semifinal heats in 100m dash and could not make it to the final.
Shankar's name was in the long list submitted by the AFI to the IOA a few months back. But Barman, Thapa and Jilna were not included in the long list. The AFI had asked the state units to send names and details of their respective athletes to be included in the list, which is required for accreditation purposes.
Also Read : Government of Odisha to own 5th franchise in Ultimate Kho Kho
News Source : PTI
Mercedes plan major upgrades before ‘home race’ at Silverstone
(Motorsport) Mercedes will be looking for an improvement in the W13’s performance ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The Silver Arrows may have got the grip on the ‘porpoising’ issue but the car has been struggling for pace against the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari. However, expectations are at an all time high for the Brackley based outfit after Lewis Hamilton finished third in the Canadian Grand Prix while George Russell was fourth.
In the post-Canada debrief, Mercedes technical director Mike Elliott confirmed that upgrades will be implemented into the W13 ahead of the British Grand Prix. He said “We will be bringing new bits to Silverstone. We will be trying to push the car forward, trying to get some pace from the package we've got as well as the new bits we are going to add to it. I think at the same time, though, we have to be honest with ourselves and say at the moment we are just a bit behind those frontrunners in Ferrari and Red Bull. And in a normal race I think it is going to be tough."
Having had their last major upgrade ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, the team has been struggling with the porpoising issue since then but are hoping for the situation to be more in control going forwards. "I think Silverstone will be a circuit that suits us a little bit better, like Barcelona did, but maybe it will be just a little bit difficult," added Elliott. “Whatever happens we will push as hard as we can. Our drivers will push as hard as we can because we want to get back to winning."
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff stated: "Silverstone was good to us in the past and the circuit is smoother than the last three ones. But it's not Barcelona. Now we should manage our own expectations, and just really grind away, look at the data and come up with some sensible solutions. Not only for Silverstone, but going forward as well." As per former Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, Mercedes stand no chance of catching up to Red Bull and Ferrari this weekend. In an interview with Any Driven Monday, Rosberg said “No they can't win, no way! They're still too far away from the performance of Ferrari and Red Bull. They're still miles away."
Also read: Lewis Hamilton urges Mercedes to reduce experiments on race weekends
Government of Odisha to own 5th franchise in Ultimate Kho Kho
(Sports news) In what can be termed as a massive boost to the Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK), the Odisha government has taken ownership of a team in the soon-to-be-launched professional league. It will be the second direct sports venture for the Odisha government, which also owned a team—Kalinga Lancers—in the Hockey India League in 2013. The announcement comes days after Odisha won silver medals in both boys and girls categories in Kho Kho during Khelo India Youth Games 2022. The Odisha Sports Development and Promotion Company (OSDPC)-owned team will be the fifth franchise in the league.
“Kho Kho is very popular in many parts of Odisha. In the recent Khelo India Youth Games, our boys and girls played well and won the silver medals. Since it’s a traditional game, we have huge scope to develop it further in the state. Therefore, we have decided to participate in the Kho Kho league. This is part of our Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik’s vision for sports in Odisha,” said Minister for Sports and Youth Services, Shri Tusharkanti Behera. In the last decade, the Naveen Patnaik-led government has not only hosted some of the major sports events in the country but also developed world-class multi-sport infrastructure.
OSDPC is collaborating with leading steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited (AM/NS India) and will be working closely in Ultimate Kho Kho. “Sports Odisha has been one of the key factors in the sporting revolution of India. Their focussed approach in developing a sport has been impressive. They have created an environment that has encouraged many corporate investments to create access for grassroots development and future champions. And now their association with Ultimate Kho Kho, is a great sign for the development of the sport,” said Ultimate Kho Kho CEO Mr. Tenzing Niyogi.
Ultimate Kho Kho had earlier announced four franchises. Corporate giants ADANI Group and GMR Group bagged Gujarat and Telangana franchises while Capri Global and KLO Sports are the owners of Rajasthan and Chennai teams respectively. Ultimate Kho Kho has roped in Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) as its broadcast partner with an exclusive multi-year contract. The action from the league will be broadcast across Sony’s sports channels and also on the OTT platform SonyLIV in English as well as other regional languages.
Also read: Indian freestyle wrestlers claim Asian team title in U-17 category
CPL and Cricket West Indies launch a new 60 ball format
(Cricket news) Cricket West Indies and the Caribbean Premier League have launched a new 60-ball format which is set for August 24th to 28th. The new format is meant to attract the younger generation of sports enthusiasts and fans will be able to vote for the timing of the free hits and early sixes as well as unlock an additional powerplay over. As things stand, six men’s CPL teams and three women's teams will be taking part.
As per the new format, each team will have six wickets and 60 balls per innings, with a team bowling too slowly risking the loss of a fielder. There will be 30 balls from one end and the remaining 30 balls from the other end and hitting two sixes from the first 12 balls would result in an additional powerplay over. Fans will also be able to vote for an additional mystery free hit. The timing of the event is set to clash with the second half of The Hundred, which could result in a loss in viewers for the ECB.
Ricky Skerritt, Cricket West Indies president, said: "The 6ixty has come about because of a close collaboration between CPL and CWI which is the way forward. I am really excited about the innovation, excitement and entertainment that it is going to bring to the fans."
Pete Russell, CPL CEO, said: "This is a hugely exciting moment for both CPL and Cricket West Indies as we create a tournament that will see cricket fans brought closer to the game. There will be world-class men's and women's cricketers taking part in a fantastic event for the Caribbean and this combined with cutting-edge innovations, signals a great moment for all fans of West Indian cricket."
Also read: We have not made any offer to Wriddhiman Saha, say GCA and BCA
Ronaldo clinches silver in sprint event for his 3rd medal, India finish fifth in medals tally
New Delhi, Jun 22 (Sports News) Top Indian cyclist Ronaldo Singh dished out the best performance of his career as he clinched a silver medal in the sprint event of the senior category on the concluding day of the Asian Track Championship here on Wednesday.
This was his third medal of the championships. He had earlier won bronze medals in 1km time trial and team sprint events.
On Wednesday, he gave a tough fight to Japan's experienced rider Kento Yamasaki but finished with a silver.
Yamasaki defeated Ronaldo in back-to-back races to finish at the top of the podium. Kazakhstan's Andrey Chugay won the bronze in the event.
In the morning, Ronaldo defeated Kazakhstan's Andrey Chugay in the semifinal. The Indian lost the first race but bounced back to win the next two to storm into the final.
"Gold was in my mind but I'm also happy with the first-ever silver. This is the best ever performance of my career. In every tournament I improved my technique, this is most important," Ronaldo said.
On Tuesday, world junior champion and Asian record holder Ronaldo created a national record in 200m flying time trial by breaching the 10 seconds barrier on way to the semifinals of men's Elite sprint race event.
The home team won one silver and two bronze medals on the final day.
Indian junior cyclist Birjit Yumnam won a bronze in 15km Points Race with 23 points. Korea's Sungyeon Lee won the silver with 24 points while Farrukh Bobosherov of Uzbekistan grabbed the gold.
The big surprise of the day was 19-year-old Chayanika Gogoi, who opened the Indian tally with a bronze over Kazakhstan's medal favourite Rinata Sultanova in 10km Women Scratch Race finals. Youri Kim won the gold while Kie Furuyama of Japan clinched the silver.
The Asian Junior and Para championships were also being held simultaneously at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium veledrome.
There were a handful of crashes on the final day which saw 10 finals.
Japan topped the combined medal tally with 18 gold, seven silver and two bronze.
In the world class field, the Indian cycling team finished fifth with 23 medals (2 Gold, 6 Silver, 15 Bronze).
Korea finished second with 12 gold, 14 silver and three bronze medals while Kazakhstan secured third place with four gold, four silver and three bronze.
Also Read : Chennai Open chess: Indian IM Nitin, Baghdasaryan in joint lead
News Source : PTI
Chennai Open chess: Indian IM Nitin, Baghdasaryan in joint lead
Chennai, Jun 22 (Chess News) International Master Nitin Senthilvel of India is in joint lead with Armenian GM Vahe Baghdasaryan with five points after the fifth round of the 13th Chennai Open International Grandmaster Chess Tournament 2022 here on Wednesday.
Half a point behind the leaders with 4.5 points are GMs Boris Savchenko (Russia), the top-seed, Tran Tuan Minh (Vietnam), Alexei Federov and Kirill Stupak (both Belarus) apart from IM Srijit Paul (India), IM Abdyjapar Asyl (Kyrgyzstan) and B Vignesh.
Chennai lad Vignesh continued his fine run with a win over Grandmaster R R Laxman in the fifth round today. With his third successive GM opponent Vignesh has logged in 2.5/3 having defeated GM Nguyen Van Huy (Vietnam) and drawn with GM Fedorov Alexei (Belarus) in the previous two rounds.
The field for the 275-player 10-round Swiss tournament includes 11 Grandmasters and 14 International Masters among 36 titled players. The tournament carries a total prize money of Rs 15 lakh.
Results: Round 5 (Indians unless specified) : Srijit Paul (4.5) drew with Boris Savchenko (Russia) 4.5, Kirill Stupak (Belarus) 4.5 drew with Abdyjapar Asyl (Kyrgyzstan) 4.5, Nitin S (5) beat Jubin Jimmy (4), Baghdasaryan Vahe (Armenia) 5 beat L R Srihari (4), Alexei Federov (4.5) beat Ravichandran Siddharth (3.5), Aaryan Varshney (3.5) lost to Tran Tuan Minh (Vietnam) 4.5, Murali Krishnan B T (4.0) drew with Deepan Chakkravarthy J (4), Harshit Pawar (4) drew with Ajay Karthikeyan (4), Rajesh V A V (4.0) drew with P Saravana Krishnan (4), R R Laxman 3 lost to B Vignesh (4.5), Nguyen Duc Hoa (Vietnam) 4 beat Jani Kushal R 3.
Also Read : 'Khelo Chess' programme could revolutionise the game in India: AICF secretary
News Source : PTI
Chemin Esports to take part in the historic BGMI Master Series
(Esports news) Chemin Esports, a leading Esports and talent Incubator that supports budding esports athletes and aspiring content creators in the field of gaming, has been invited to take part in the BGMI Master Series scheduled to begin on 24th June 2022. With a pool prize of 1.5 Cr, this is the first time an Esports tournament is going to be aired LIVE on Star Sports 2.
The BGMI Master Series will be aired in English, Hindi, and Tamil language. The Master Series will go live between 8.00 PM to 11.30 PM IST daily. It’s a 24 days long event and 24 teams will be participating in this tournament.
Speaking on this development, Chemin’s Founder and Director, Ishan Verma, said, “We are very happy and it is like a dream coming true for the Esports industry. As the industry manages to attract big brands to invest in the segment, they are also putting all the efforts to formalise Esports in the country. While Esports have become immensely popular among Indian audiences, going LIVE on Star Sports will help the Esports segment to take a leap forward in the sports category”.
Speaking on this, Chemin BGMI Player Ammar “Destro” Khan said, “We are excited for this event. It’s a dream come true for me and my family to play live on television. When I took up this career, I never thought I would get a chance to play on National Television. I will give my best for the team and hope to get the trophy home.”
As per the news in media, Star Sports in collaboration with NODWIN Gaming will be airing the BGMI Masters Series tournament LIVE from NODWIN Studio and together they aim to create awareness on Esports among the youth and the general audience, and highlight the immense opportunities that are evolving among the Esports industry.
Also read: ESFI’s National qualifiers to select Indian contingent for 14th WEC
'Khelo Chess' programme could revolutionise the game in India: AICF secretary
New Delhi, Jun 22 (Chess News) The Khelo Chess initiative on the lines of Khelo India programme could revolutionise the sport in the country, said All India Chess Federation (AICF) secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan.
The AICF top official said this after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his intention to start the Khelo Chess programme during the first-ever torch relay of the Chess Olympiad at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on June 19.
"India has a lot of chess potential and AICF has been rigorously working on developing young talents. However, a programme like Khelo India for chess could revolutionise the sport in the country.
"It will bolster our mission of making India a chess powerhouse. The nation-wide event of that stature will not only inspire and encourage young Indians to take up the sport but will also bring out the best of the talents from across the country," Chauhan said in a statement.
With veterans like Viswanathan Anand and Koneru Humpy alongside young promising talents such as R Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh D consistently performing on the global stage, India has emerged as one of the top chess playing nations in the world in recent years.
The country has also won three medals at the world's biggest chess event -- the Olympiad -- since 2014. Two of the medals, gold and bronze, came in virtual editions, held in the last two years.
"Indian players have proved their abilities with some brilliant performances at the global stage. There has also been the emergence of some talented youngsters who are the future of Indian chess.
"Developing and nurturing young talent is very important and I believe, the Khelo Chess programme could provide an ideal platform," Chauhan added.
The Khelo India programme was launched in 2018 with an aim to develop a sports culture at the grass-root level.
For a game like chess, which is not part of Khelo India yet, such an initiative could be a game-changer.
India is all set to add a golden chapter in its chess history by hosting the Chess Olympiad for the first time.
The 44th edition of the Chess Olympiad will take place in Mahabalipuram near Chennai from July 28 to August 10.
Also Read : Asian Track Cycling: Ronaldo in men's sprint semifinals but India draw a blank on day 4
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Asian Track Cycling: Ronaldo in men's sprint semifinals but India draw a blank on day 4
New Delhi, Jun 21 (Sports News) World junior champion and Asian record holder Ronaldo Singh progressed to the semifinals of men's sprint event but India drew a blank in six finals on the fourth day of the Asian Track Cycling Championship here on Tuesday.
Ronaldo, who had bagged the country's first-ever international medal in the 1km time trial event by claiming a bronze on Monday, advanced to the semifinals of the men's sprint event where he will challenge Andrey Chugay of Kazakhstan.
Ronaldo clocked 10.394s (69.27km/hr) and 10.234s (70.353 km/hr) respectively to defeat Jee One Park of Korea in continuous two sprints.
"Tomorrow is a big day for me as I will perform in one of my favourite events, I'm ready to give my personal best to earn the medal for India. This will also show me my preparedness for upcoming Commonwealth Games," said Ronaldo.
However, none of the Indian cyclists could reach the podium in the six finals on day four of the competition.
Indian rider Esow once again failed to win his quarterfinal event of men's sprint, losing to Andrey Chugay of Kazakhstan to finish empty-handed in this tournament.
Harashveer Singh Sekhon gave a good fight to Korean opponent Euro Kim and Japan's Naoki Kojima in 30,000m points race before finishing fourth with 43 points.
Hammadi Al Mirza secured gold in this event with 69 points, followed by Korea (61 points) and Japan (60 points) riders in this power event, where peddlers have to go for sprints after every 10 laps of 120 laps race.
The day did not start on a good note for the Indian team.
Junior cyclist Himanshi Singh earned second place in the 7.5km scratch race but was later disqualified on grounds of dangerous driving. She was blocked behind the Malaysian rider and in an attempt to go ahead of the Malaysian and Japanese rider, she made a technical fault and was disqualified by the Commissionaire.
The gold was won by Ci Hui Nyo of Malaysia ahead of Japan's Mizuki Ikeda and Sofiya Karimova of Uzbekistan.
Overall, India is at 5th place with two gold, five silver and 13 bronze medals. Japan leads the medal tally with 11 golds, six silver and two bronze, while the Koreans are in second position with 10 gold, nine silver, two bronze ahead of Kazakhstan, who have four gold, three silver and a bronze in their kitty.
Also Read : Chennai Open chess: Indian IMs Srihari, Nitin among leaders
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Chennai Open chess: Indian IMs Srihari, Nitin among leaders
Chennai, Jun 21 (Chess News) Little-known Indian players L R Srihari, S Nitin and Srijit Paul hogged the limelight with wins to be among the leaders with four points after four rounds in the 13th Chennai Open International Grandmaster chess tournament 2022 here on Tuesday.
International Masters Srihari, Nitin and Srijit Paul defeated Arjun Tiwari (India), Luong Phuong Hanh and Nguyen Thanh THuy Tien, both of Vietnam, respectively in round four to join top-seed Boris Savchenko and Belarus' Kirill Stupak on four points.
Also on four points and in joint lead are: Vahe Baghdasaryan (Armenia), Jubin Jimmy (India) and Asyl Abdyjapar (Kyrgyzstan).
In the upset of the day, Chennai lad B Vignesh got the better of Grandmaster Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam. In a quiet middle game the Vietnamese GM overlooked an intervening check when his position collapsed in 33 moves. He had in the earlier round, held experienced Grandmaster Fedorov Alexei (Belarus) to a draw in a Guicco Piano game that lasted 50 moves.
Earlier, highly rated IM Aronyak Ghosh (Elo 2494) went down to Vietnamese Woman International Master Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien (Elo 1996) in the third round.
As many as 11 Grandmasters and 14 International Masters are taking part in the 275-player 10-round Swiss tournament which carries a total prize money of Rs 15 lakh.
Results: Round 4 (Indians unless specified): Boris Savchenko (4 points) beat P R Hirthickkesh (3 points), Raset Ziatdinov (USA) 3 lost to Kirill Stupak 4, Ajay Karthikeyan 3.5 drew with B T Murali Krishnan 3.5, Luong Phuong Hanh (Vietnam) 3 lost to S Nitin 4, L R Srihari 4 beat Arjun Tiwari 3, Srijit Paul 4 beat Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien (Vietnam) 3, Ravichandran Siddharth 3.5 drew with Harshit Pawar 3.5, Asyl Abdyjapar (Kyrgyzstan) 4 beat Daksh Goyal 3, M Vijay Anand 3 lost to Vahe Baghdasaryan (Armenia) 4, Jubin Jimmy 4 beat Shrayan Majumder 3, B Vignesh 3.5 beat Nguye Van Huy (Vietnam) 2.5.
Round 3: S S Manigandan 2 lost to Savchenko Boris 3, Fedorov 2.5 drew with B Vignesh 2.5, Aronyak Ghosh 2 lost to Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien 3, S Prasannaa 2.5 drew with Deepan Chakkravarthy J 2.5, Stupak 3 beat Daakshin Arun 2, S Rohit 2 lost to Ajay Karthikeyan 3, Nitin 3 beat Arpith S Bijoy 2, Dinesh Kumar 2 lost to L R Srihari 3, Priyankara Chamil (Sri Lanka) 2 lost to Srijit Paul 3, Harshit Pawar 3 beat Hari Madhavan NB 2, Krishna Raaju J 2 lost to Abdyjapar 3.
Also Read : Neeraj Chopra wins the gold medal at the Kuortane Games in Finland
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Vijender set for August return at first pro boxing event in Raipur
Raipur, Jun 21 (Boxing News) Trailblazer Indian boxer Vijender Singh will be back in action during his sixth professional bout in the country when he takes to the ring in the 'Rumble in the Jungle' event here in August.
The 36-year-old, who is the first Indian to bag an Olympic medal in boxing with a bronze in 2008, has a record of 12-1 with eight knockouts after turning professional in 2015.
His unbeaten streak of 12 was unfortunately broken during his last bout in Goa.
Organised in association with the state government of Chhattisgharh, this will be the first professional boxing event in Raipur.
"It’s a great opportunity to introduce the sport to the people of the state and hopefully, this can inspire a new generation of boxers," Vijender Singh said in a statement.
"I am currently training in Manchester and look forward to starting my unbeaten streak again this August," he added.
Excited to witness the first professional boxing in the state, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said: "Promoting sports for the current and next-generation is extremely important for the state of Chhattisgarh.
"Having someone of the stature of Vijender Singh who has made the country proud at the Olympics will inspire young athletes throughout the state," Baghel said.
The event, which will also have other undercard bouts besides the pro event of Vijender, will be held at Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium.
Also Read : Indian boxer NT Lalbiakkima loses WBC Asian title fight
News Source : PTI
Women’s international rugby league bans transgender athletes
(Sports news) The rugby league’s governing body has banned transgender players from women’s internationals while it does further research on it’s inclusion policy. The move comes after Fina banned transgender women from competing in women’s elite races if they have gone through male puberty. Moreover, World Athletics president Lord Coe has also hinted that they could also follow suit and adopt a new eligibility policy to ensure that every athlete is competing in a level playing field.
The International Rugby League said that “recent developments in world sport” has led to their conclusion to ban "male-to-female (transwomen) players" until a final inclusion policy is framed after due research. A statement released by the organisation said “It is the IRL's responsibility to balance the individual's right to participate - a long-standing principle of rugby league and at its heart from the day it was established - against perceived risk to other participants, and to ensure all are given a fair hearing. The IRL will continue to work towards developing a set of criteria, based on best possible evidence, which fairly balances the individual's right to play with the safety of all participants.”
Anna Brown, CEO of Equality Australia criticised the move by saying “Blanket bans on women who are trans playing against other women risks violating international human rights principles of non-discrimination, which require such policies to start from a place of inclusion. Fina (swimming's world governing body) failed to meet that standard, and the rugby league's ban also fails to do so, despite it being temporary." Many sports have begun reconsidering their inclusion policies after the International Olympic Committee said that participation policies governing transgender athletes should be determined by each sport - depending on its particular characteristics.
Also read: Fina bans transgender athletes from competing in women’s events
Lewis Hamilton urges Mercedes to reduce experiments on race weekends
(Motorsport) Seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton had contrasting fortunes at the Canadian Grand Prix. From publicly saying that his Mercedes W13 was “undrivable” and a “disaster” in friday’s Final Practice session, the 37 year old went on to secure his second podium finish of the season, finishing behind reigning World Champion Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. Hamilton secured his 184th podium finish in a season that has been disappointing to say the least and the British racing driver is hoping for more consistency for the remainder of the season.
In an interview before the British Grand Prix, Hamilton said “We're just trying to work… we're just trying to progress as a team. Moving forward, I think we'll be a little bit more cautious on doing too many experiments as it really does hinder you through the weekend, especially if you only have practice one and two in the dry and don't get a FP3, for example. I think there are lots of learnings from this weekend and improvements that we can make moving forwards. I really hope, moving to Silverstone… it's such an important race for us and for me and so I just want to be in a battle with these guys. I think we're better in medium and high-speed corners probably, than we are in the low-speed corners but we have bouncing, so I don't know how it's going to be through Copse and all those places."
Meanwhile, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff remains cautiously optimistic about his team’s chances despite seeing significant improvement in Montreal. Wolff said “You can see at the hairpin they put in new asphalt so we suffer less from the stiffness of the car, which is the main problem, but before the Safety Car came out at the end we were actually quicker than Carlos Sainz and Verstappen but you're picking out a few laps and saying 'yeah, we are back' but I don't think that's the case here. We just need to keep working.
“We just need to develop the car in a different window that we had. We had it really low on the ground but clearly that doesn't function so I think we have a development direction. We didn't get it right in many areas, but we own the problem and we need to fix it.” Looking ahead to Silverstone, Wolff added: "If we are able to run the car low then we can be competitive but after Barcelona we've been cheering 'we're back in the championship fight', so let's see."
Also read: Red Bull team principal Christian Horner slams FIA for ‘unfair’ rule change
Prominent player Karman Kaur Thandi to train at RoundGlass Tennis Academy
(Tennis news) RoundGlass Tennis Academy is delighted to announce that noted tennis star Karman Kaur Thandi will officially be training at the Academy in Chandigarh under its Technical Director, Aditya Sachdeva. Karman, 23, was most recently featured at the ITF Women’s tournament in Thailand.
Sharing her thoughts on this collaboration, Karman said, “I am delighted to train at the RoundGlass Tennis Academy. Aditya sir has over the years played a key role in shaping me as a player and I hope to continue developing my game under his guidance with the help of the world-class facilities at the Academy.”
Sachdeva added, “Everyone at the RoundGlass Tennis Academy is excited to have Karman on board with us. She is one of the brightest talents in Indian tennis and we are looking forward to helping her reach the next level. Her presence will be a huge source of inspiration for the young athletes training with us.”
About RoundGlass Sports
RoundGlass Sports is creating opportunities for children and youth to take up and excel in sports such as football, hockey, and tennis in India, underpinned by the principles of Holistic Wellbeing. Our aim is to channelize their energy and help develop and unlock their full potential. To this end, we’re transforming sports in Punjab and the rest of India by building infrastructure, providing high-quality coaching and training, and cultivating a culture of sports participation through its Academy and Grassroots programs.
Also read: Naomi Osaka withdraws from Wimbledon due to achilles injury
Neeraj Chopra wins the gold medal at the Kuortane Games in Finland
(Sports news) Neeraj Chopra wins the gold medal at Kuortane Games but a nasty fall in third attempt gives him cause for concern going forward. Neeraj Chopra’s attempt of 86.69m in his first throw was enough to make him win the gold medal. The Indian athlete suffered an awkward fall during his third attempt. He made his return to competitive action with a national record at the Paavo Nurmi athletics meet last week as the Tokyo Olympics champion Neeraj Chopra put on another impressive display to win the one more men’s javelin gold at the Kuortane Games 2022 in Finland on Saturday.
In slippery conditions after some rain ahead of the event, Neeraj Chopra’s first throw measured 86.69m was enough for him to clinch the top podium. His winning throw was well short of the 89.30m personal best that he achieved during the Paavo Nurmi Games. London 2012 gold medallist Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago won the silver with a throw of 86.64m while current world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada settled for bronze with a throw of 84.75m. Like he always does, Neeraj Chopra set the pace of the competition early, taking the lead after the first round throws with an 86.69m attempt which was subsequently 0.05m more than Walcott.
The 24-year-old Chopra failed to register a legitimate attempt with his next two throws and ultimately suffered a nasty fall during his third attempt. The Indian was in a lot of pain right after the fall and didn’t try more attempts after that. Sandeep Chaudhary, a Paralympian, finished eighth with a throw of 60.35m. Oliver Helander, who beat Neeraj Chopra in the last competition to win gold at the Paavo Nurmi Games as he even didn’t start the event. Neeraj Chopra is now scheduled to travel to Sweden for the Stockholm leg of the Diamond League before next month's World Athletics Championships in the USA and the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham.
Also read: Neeraj Chopra marks his return with a national record throw
Extreme E to broadcast in Ukraine and Eurasian territories with Setanta
(Motorsports news) Fully electric off-road electric racing series Extreme E has today confirmed a broadcast extension with Setanta Sports in Ukraine. An additional agreement between the parties also includes broadcast coverage in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
As part of the series’ growing expansion in these territories, Setanta Sports will air Extreme E’s full debut season, including the live race feed, preview and magazine shows on its Setanta Sports branded channels, as well on-demand on its digital outlet: setantasports.com.
With its population in this part of the world becoming increasingly aware of the negative impact of air pollution caused by fossil fuel, the electric car market has shown significant growth in recent years – particulary in Latvia and Estonia which have both see three-figure growth in EV registrations in the past two years.
Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, said: “We are delighted to be announcing our broadcast extension with Setanta in these vital territories. As a sport for purpose championship which is committed to amplifying the benefits of electrification, it is important to further the exposure of Extreme E in a market where EV sales are continiuing to increase.
“There is an even greater purpose to our championship than the radical racing on show, with the need to reduce carbon emissions and combat the climate crisis something which these territories have clearly recognised. As we expand our coverage by extending our partnership with Setanta, I am confident that there will be continued interest in the action-packed wheel-to-wheel racing delivered by Extreme E, as well as the wider storytelling around electrification, the environment and the series’ gender equal platform.”
Dwyer McCaughley of Setanta Sports said: “Setanta Sports is excited to add Extreme E to is growing portfolio of motorsports broadcast rights. Extreme E will sit aslongside Formula 1, NASCAR and Formula E offering race fans in Eurasia and Ukraine world class motorsport content. This is in addition to the best European football from the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga & Ligue 1 and top North American sports such as NHL, NBA & UFC.”
Since its inception in 2021, Extreme E has already attracted some of the biggest names in motorsport including Formula One World Champions Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button, all of whom have founded teams in the series. Motorsport giants, McLaren have also joined this year with American Tanner Foust and New Zealander Emma Gilmour at the wheel of their papaya orange and blue Odyssey 21 fully electric SUV. The gender equal format is a stipulation of the championship in a bid to encourage gender equality and a level playing field - a world-first in motorsport.
The locations that the Extreme E visits are all, in some way, affected by environmental issues such as desertification, deforestation, melting ice caps, plastic pollution, and rising carbon emissions. By holding races in areas that are suffering at the hands of the environmental crisis, the aim is to raise viewers' awareness and interest in environmental issues.
Also read: Max Verstappen secures maiden Canadian Grand Prix victory
Jehan Daruvala to test F1 car for first time with McLaren
New Delhi, Jun 20 (MotorSports News) Young Indian racer Jehan Daruvala on Monday took a substantial step towards realising his Formula 1 dream by securing a two-day test with eight-time constructors' winner McLaren.
The 23-year-old, who is currently in his third season in Formula 2, will be clocking valuable miles in a Formula 1 car for the very first time. He will be driving McLaren MCL35, which competed in the 2021 F1 Championship, on June 21 and 22 at Silverstone in the UK.
The test, which is part of McLaren's Testing Previous Car (TPC) programme, will give Jehan a much needed experience in a highly complex Formula 1 car.
The track time will also help him earn enough points to apply for a Super Licence, which is needed to compete in Formula 1.
Though Jehan is part of the Red Bull Junior Programme, he has got the required go ahead from the Milton Keynes outfit to test with a rival F1 team.
He has already said the current Formula 2 season is a make-or-break one for him as far his Formula 1 dream is concerned. He is currently in the middle of his best season with five podiums in six rounds, pushing him to third place in the standings.
Speaking to mediapersons from UK, the Mumbai-based driver sounded ecstatic about getting the opportunity but said it doesn't guarantee anything for 2023.
"This is nothing related to me getting a drive next year in Formula 1. There are not many seats opening up in F1 but I have got this opportunity to be in a F1 car and do well and if I do get the opportunity I want to be ready," he said.
"I have never driven a Formula 1 car before. This test is for me to learn the car and its characteristics and find its limits. "My aim is to win the F2 Championships and hopefully I do enough and my name is out there (to be noticed)." He will be doing rounds of the Silverstone track with speeds in excess of 300kmph, pushing his body to the limit, especially the neck with G forces involved.
Fresh from the F2 round in Baku, Jehan said he is ready to take the big step.
"Apart from my neck, I have not done too much extra. I have been busy with my racing (F2). I am generally very fit and don't struggle that much. I will come to know at the end of the week but I have prepared my body as much as I can for the test." Jehan is aiming to become the third Indian to race in Formula 1 after Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.
Also Read : Red Bull team principal Christian Horner slams FIA for ‘unfair’ rule change
News Source : PTI
Fina bans transgender athletes from competing in women’s events
(Sports news) Swimming world governing body Fina has voted to stop transgender athletes who have undergone male puberty to compete in women’s elite races. They have also decided to introduce an ‘open’ category for swimmers whose gender identity is different from that with which they were born in. The new policy received 71% votes from 152 Fina members and was described as "only a first step towards full inclusion" for transgender athletes.
According to a 34 page policy document, it says that male-to-female transgender athletes could compete in the women's category - but only "provided they have not experienced any part of male puberty beyond Tanner Stage 2 [which marks the start of physical development], or before age 12, whichever is later". The decision was made in an extraordinary general congress at the ongoing World Championships in Budapest. This means that transgender athlete Lia Thomas will not be allowed to compete in the female category at the Paris Olympics.
In an interview, Brent Nowicki, the governing body's executive director said “Fina's approach in drafting this policy was comprehensive, science-based and inclusive, and, importantly, Fina's approach emphasised competitive fairness.” Fina president Husain Al-Musallam said the organisation was trying to "protect the rights of our athletes to compete" but also "protect competitive fairness".
He said: "Fina will always welcome every athlete. The creation of an open category will mean that everybody has the opportunity to compete at an elite level. This has not been done before, so Fina will need to lead the way. I want all athletes to feel included in being able to develop ideas during this process."
Speaking to BBC Sport, former Great Britain swimmer Sharron Davies said “Four years ago, along with 60 other Olympic medallists, I wrote to the IOC and said 'Please just do the science first' and no governing body has done the science until now. That is what Fina has done. They've done the science, they've got the right people on board, they've spoken to the athletes, and coaches. Swimming is a very inclusive sport, we love everyone to come and swim and be involved. But the cornerstone of sport is that it has to be fair and it has to be fair for both sexes.
“Sport by definition is exclusionary - we don't have 15-year-old boys racing in the under-12s, we don't have heavyweight boxers in with the bantamweights, the whole reason we have lots of different classes in the Paralympics is so that we can create fair opportunities for everybody," she said. “So that is the whole point of having classifications in sports and the only people who were going to be losing out were females - they were losing their right to fair sport."
In contrast, an LGBTQ advocacy group called 'Athlete Ally' called the policy “discriminatory, harmful, unscientific and not in line with the 2021 IOC principles". Anne Lieberman, the group's director of policy and programmes said “The eligibility criteria for the women's category as it is laid out in the policy polices the bodies of all women, and will not be enforceable without seriously violating the privacy and human rights of any athlete looking to compete in the women's category.”
Also read: Neeraj Chopra marks his return with a national record throw
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner slams FIA for ‘unfair’ rule change
(Motorsport) Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has accused the FIA’s technical directive after stricter guidelines were introduced with driver safety at the forefront due to porpoising. The new rules will mean that teams suffering from the issue will now be forced to limit the level of “vertical oscillations” in order to protect the drivers while the FIA will also have “closer scrutiny of the planks and skids, both in terms of their design and the observed wear”.
The reception to the rule change has been mixed as both Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc have criticised the decision while both the Mercedes drivers have welcomed the move. In an interview with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, the 48 year old said “The FIA, you can understand safety being their main concern, but to drop a technical directive like that just as we’re coming into a weekend, without any consultation, it just feels the wrong way to be going about thing I think there needs to be proper consultation with the experts.
“A solution can be found. It’s a very dangerous thing to be giving the FIA the right to set up your rear ride height and your set-up going into a race. What happens if the wind changes during the race? What happens if the porpoising gets worse for whatever reason, based on the baseline they give? So it’s the metric with, how could they measure it? To apply this regulation – that’s what needs to be discussed. The intent is all well and good but it’s not been introduced in the right way.”
Horner has said that the FIA’s directive is too complicated and there is a simpler method of dealing with the issue. “There’s so many things they could do that would just be easier,” Horner explained.“ Stick a bigger plank on it, for example, that would get the cars off the ground. Trying to mitigate, judge between one car and another… maybe we’ll benefit from it, maybe we won’t, I’ve got no idea. It seems a very complicated way to go about solving an issue. It’s not an issue which affects all of the teams. I think the inference should be on the teams to get it sorted. There’s a set of regulations that are consistent for everybody there.”
Also read: F1 changes regulations to combat porpoising, Mercedes welcome the move
Max Verstappen secures maiden Canadian Grand Prix victory
(Motorsport) Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen secured his first victory at the Canadian Grand Prix after holding off Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in Montreal. The Dutchman held off his Spanish opponent despite having older tyres than Sainz’s Ferrari to extend his lead in the Drivers Championship to 46 points. In what was a pleasantly surprising result in third place, seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who publicly announced that his Mercedes W13 was “undrivable” on Friday managed to get his first podium finish since the opening race of the season.
Mercedes’ George Russell finished in fourth place while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who began the race in 19 place due to the grid penalty after replacing a power unit, ended up in an impressive fifth place. As for Sergio Perez, the Mexican was forced to retire after his Red Bull faced an early gearbox failure, summing up his miserable weekend after crashing out during qualifying. Speaking after the race, Max Verstappen said “"It was really exciting at the end. I was giving it everything I had and, of course, Carlos was doing the same. I could see he was pushing and charging, but when you're on the DRS it's a lot easier to charge. The last few laps were a lot of fun."
Verstappen looks in pole position to defend his title, having won six out of the nine races this season. The 24 year old experienced reliability issues in two races which now seem like a problem Red Bull have overcome and the team are now 76 points ahead of Ferrari in the Constructors Standings. Fernando Alonso, who finished 2nd in qualifying was relegated to 7th place at the end of the race behind team-mate Esteban Ocon, largely due to Alpine’s strategy. The Spaniard was also awarded a five second penalty by the stewards due to an infringement involving Valtteri Bottas which subsequently led to the Finnish driver ending up in 9th place.
Canadian GP: Race Result
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
3) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
4) George Russell, Mercedes
5) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
6) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
7) Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
8) Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo
9) Fernando Alonso, Alpine*
10) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
* Demoted from seventh after being given a five-second time penalty.
Also read: F1 changes regulations to combat porpoising, Mercedes welcome the move
Six captains in eight months wasn't planned but we have created more leaders: Dravid
Bengaluru, Jun 19 (Cricket News) Six captains leading Indian teams across formats in a span of eight months isn't something that head coach Rahul Dravid had planned but he isn't complaining as it provides an opportunity to create more leaders within the group.
Since Dravid took over in November after the T20 World Cup, India have had Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya (set to lead in Ireland) as national captains due to the COVID-19 related bubble breaks, simultaneous series held in countries, and injury-induced breaks.
"It's been challenging as well, we have got six captains in the last eight months, which actually wasn't the plan when I started, but it's the nature of the number of games we are playing," Dravid told Star Sports before the start of the fifth match.
The 'Wall' accepted that that the times are such that one has to accept the situation.
"It's the nature of COVID, so I have had to work with quite a few people. It has been great fun. A lot of other guys have got an opportunity to lead, we have got opportunities to create more leaders in the group," he looked at the positive side of the things.
The endeavour has been to get better in every aspect although losing the Test and ODI series in South Africa was disappointing.
"We have constantly strived to get better, we have tried a lot of different people. In the last eight months, touring South Africa was a bit of a disappointment in terms of Test cricket," he said.
Dravid is happy with the bowling talent that has emerged thanks to the IPL.
"Our white ball cricket has been good though, shows the character of the team. It was incredible to see the fast bowling talent we have (during the IPL), especially with few of the bowlers clocking such speed.
"A lot of youngsters got an opportunity to showcase their skills, and a lot of them came good, those are really good signs for Indian cricket, exciting times ahead," he sounded confident.
Also Read : South Africa opt to field against India in series decider
India's Anahat Singh wins Asian Junior Squash title in U-15 category
New Delhi, Jun 19 (Sports News) Promising Indian player Anahat Singh won the gold medal in the girls Under-15 category at the Asian Juniors Squash Championships in Pattaya, Thailand.
The tournament, which started in the picturesque beach town on Wednesday, concluded on Sunday.
The 14-year-old Anahat defeated Kwong Ena of Hong Kong 3-0 in the final to claim the top prize.
She reached the finals without dropping a single game in the tournament.
Anahat had defeated Malaysian top seed Whitney Isabelle Wilson 3-0 in the semi-finals.
So far, Anahat has won 46 national circuit titles, two national championships and eight international titles.
She is the only Indian girl to win the US Junior Open in any category and the British Junior Open.
At 14, Anahat will be the youngest player to represent India at the World Juniors Squash Championships in Nancy, France later this year.
Also Read : India has talent to win more Olympic medals in athletics: Anju Bobby George
News Source : PTI
India has talent to win more Olympic medals in athletics: Anju Bobby George
New Delhi, Jun 18 (Sports News) Legendary long jumper Anju Bobby George on Saturday said India has the talent to win more Olympic medals in athletics after superstar javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra opened the country's account by winning a historic gold in the Tokyo Games.
Anju, the lone World Athletics Championships medallist Indian with her bronze in 2003, said the athletes need proper guidance to achieve success.
"Indian athletes are good in technical events in Olympics but are yet to reach that level to win medals in sprinting and long distance running," she said "We can win more Olympic medals in athletics. We need good coaches and facilities at grassroots. Through Khelo India Games, we are putting in effort but it will take time," Anju said at the TV9 'What India Thinks Today' Global Summit.
"Slowly, we will see the changes. Things are moving in a positive direction," she added.
Chief badminton coach of the Indian badminton team Pullela Gopichand said India can fight for gold medals in all categories in the coming 4-8 years.
"To achieve that strong planning and execution and a scientific approach are needed," he said.
"In the last eight years, Indian sports have grown a lot. Structures laid down by the government have started to show results. But still a long way to go.
"We have to identify talented players. Consistent scientific training with international exposure should be provided to them. The first step towards it is to identify players keeping in mind their physicality and talent," Gopichand said.
Former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia said the country should target individual sports like China has done to win more medals.
He said India realistically should target 14 medals in the 2024 Olympics but winning 50 should be a long-term plan.
"Shooting is the biggest medal prospect at the Olympics. Badminton, wrestling and archery are also huge prospects," he said.
On private investment in sports, Bhutia said academies set up by sportspersons is the way forward.
Also Read : Smooth conduct of Asian Track Cycling Championships at mercy of weather Gods
News Source : PTI
'Some stakeholders' had focussed on their projects rather than committing to national team: Stimac
New Delhi, Jun 18 (Football News) Indian football team head coach Igor Stimac on Saturday made a veiled attack on some powerful entities associated with the game in the country, saying "some stakeholders" had focussed on their projects rather than committing to help the national side rise in profile.
This was not the first time Stimac has talked about things beyond the field of play and relating to football administration. On Wednesday, a day after he guided India to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup by topping Group D in Kolkata, he had lashed out at the messy state of affairs grappling the national federation.
The AIFF is currently run by the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) after the Praful Patel-led dispensation was shown the door for violating the National Sports Code.
"When I was appointed as coach (in May 2019), I was quite sure that India will have future as a football nation but I knew it will be a difficult path," Stimac said at a virtual media interaction.
"I was expecting everyone to commit to help the national team rise. Some of the parties instead concentrated on their projects. That was surprising," the Croatian, whose current contract ends in September, said without taking any names.
Stimac has repeatedly put premium in the availability of players for national duty during international matches and he had shown his displeasure several times earlier on non release of players by the clubs. He had credited the impressive show of the team in the Asian Cup qualifiers to availability of the players for a long camp prior to the tournament.
"Only the national team's performance can take Indian football higher, not ISL." He said many things for the betterment of Indian football took a longer time to see the light of the day.
"The football season is to be longer, more games need to be played, the calendar should be sorted out. At least there should be 10 months of football, 50 games for each player.
"But many things should have happened earlier. Had expected more from the government. Not allowing PIO was a handicap, all the countries allowed it.
"I thought I would be given all the tools (to take the national team forward) but not to be." He said if the AIFF elections are not held soon, there could be problems for the national team in terms of planning for the year ahead which needs to be done sooner than later.
"Praful Patel was the AIFF president when I was employed. I want to thank him for trusting me. He has his own reasons why elections were not held.
"If these elections are not held soon, there can be problems in organising in what is needed for the national team. We are at the moment not preparing for upcoming matches." Stimac's contract ends in September but he is hoping to continue at the helm for another stint as he says his job was just half done.
Asked about the possibility of renewing his contract, he said, "According to the agreement, if we fulfil our goals, which we did (by qualifying for the Asian Cup).
"One council member perhaps said since my contract is till September, there is time left. But he should know how football calendar works.
"I am committed to AIFF. I love India and want to take these youngsters to Asian Cup (in 2023) and show to the world that India can do batter," he said.
"Even half of my job is not done, so I don't want to leave now. If the other side is going to be reasonable, I think it (renewal of contract) might happen soon say June or July so that things can start early for the national team." Stimac described talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri, who equalled legendary Hungarian Ferenc Puskas' goal scoring feat, as his assistant who is guiding the youngsters in the team.
"I consider Sunil as more of my assistant, my right hand man on the pitch. He will be 38 soon, but he is challenging himself, he wants to run with Udanta, he wants to push Suresh to his best. He wants to nurture youngsters." Talking about Indian Super League, Stimac said, "ISL should not be less than 18 clubs, there should be relegation and promotion, we have to do it quick.
"We have seen what is going on. We are late by 8-10 years in grassroots development, baby league etc than Iran or Saudi Arabia. We need coaches to teach Indian coaches. It will not happen on its own."
Also Read : Chennaiyin FC sign Sajid Dhot on fresh two-year deal
News Source : PTI
Smooth conduct of Asian Track Cycling Championships at mercy of weather Gods
New Delhi, Jun 18 (Sports News) The smooth conduct of the Asian Track Cycling Championships, which began here on Saturday, will be at the mercy of weather Gods as possible leakage from the roof of the velodrome at the IG Stadium, in case of rain, remains a huge issue.
Since it did not rain much on Saturday, the events were held without any problem though the wooden tracks of the velodrome had to be dried up by the stadium staff and some cyclists themselves after a brief spell of rain on Friday.
The velodrome, which is certified as top level by world cycling body (UCI), is hosting the Asian Track Cycling Championships -- both senior and junior -- and the Para track event from Saturday till next Wednesday.
This is not the first instance of such a leakage. Just 10 days before the start of Asian Track Cycling Championship in January 2017, the wooden tracks of the same velodrome were damaged due to leakage from the roof after heavy downpour lashed the national capital.
Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Saturday blamed Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for the rainwater leakage on Friday.
SAI Executive Director (Stadia) Shiv Sharma said that the government cannot spend money on this again as it is the responsibility of the CPWD to fix the problem as they have given a 15-year warranty.
"The CPWD has a 15-year warranty for the stadium as they were given the contracts to build the stadium during the 2010 Delhi CWG. Such leaks have happened in the past also and we have repeatedly written to them on this issue, the latest being this month," he said.
"But they have been saying that they have raised the issue with the contractor who built the roof of the velodrome and they are not responsible." The run-up to the championships was marred by a controversy when a junior woman cyclist had levelled allegations of "inappropriate behaviour" against chief coach RK Sharma during a foreign exposure tour of Slovenia.
The coach was sacked in a prompt action by the SAI but the incident left the sporting world shocked.
The limelight was back on the sport as a 36-member Indian Cycling team and eight para cyclists compete in the 41st Senior, 28th Junior Asian Track and 10th Para Track Cycling Championships -- which will be held simultaneously at the Indoor Cycling Velodrome here.
All eyes will be on Indian stars such as Esow, Ronaldo Singh, David Beckham, Vishwajeet Singh, Trishya Paul, Mayuri Lute and Meenakshi during the five-day event.
After the withdrawal of China, Nepal and Mongolia, there are 15 countries participating in the event including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkmenistan, UAE & Uzbekistan.
Korea, Malaysia, Japan and Kazakhstan have the best performing riders and it will be a tough competition where all the riders will try to earn maximum points to improve their ranking.
Also Read : Chess helped me become what I am, it's time for me to give back: Viswanathan Anand
News Source : PTI
ESFI’s National qualifiers to select Indian contingent for 14th WEC
(Esports news) The national qualification tournament -- National Esports Championships (NESC 2022) will select the Indian esports contingent for the 14th edition of the International Esports Federation’s (IESF) World Esports Championship to be held in Bali, Indonesia, will begin on Saturday. The qualification tournament will be conducted under the aegis of the Esports Federation of India (ESFI). The NESC are being conducted for CS:GO & Tekken7; Kashmir’s Tekken 7 athletes Wasfi Bilal, Shakir Khan and Arsalan Nabi Wani will compete to seal this year’s WEC berth
The NESC’22 will be conducted online with the top athletes from across the country competing and showcasing their skills and strategies. The qualifiers will be played in a double-elimination format and shall be concluded by June 20. This year’s World Esports Championship shall be held in Bali from November 27 to Dec 7 and will boast of massive prize pool of USD 500,000 (~Rs 4 crore). CS:GO will see participation of 16 teams competing with veteran team consist of Ritesh Sarda (Captain), Hrishikesh Shenoy, Anshul Ajay Adarkar, Shuvajyoti Chakraborty, Harsh Jain & Ninad Ramesh Sonare), which won the last NESC2022 for 13th WEC, Eilat.
On the other hand, single-player title Tekken7 will witness participation of total 37 players, including top stars Hitesh Khorwal, winner of last NESC2022 (for 13th WEC, Eilat) and Rohit Jain winner of NESC2022 (for WSL2021) and Abhinav Tejan, who is the veteran of Tekken India.
As Esports is getting popular across India, Wasfi Bilal, Shakir Khan and Arsalan Nabi Wani from Kashmir are also participating in the national qualifiers and Wasfi Bilal aka Yoshikiller719 is also amongst the top Tekken7 esports athletes of the country and will look to seal this year’s WEC berth.
“We will now proceed with the tournaments witnessing top esports athletes giving cut throat challenges in different categories to make it successfully to the WEC. It will be a gruelling event as the players will have to showcase their best strategy, skills and presence of mind, upon with the pressure to make the cut to be part of the Indian contingent for WEC’22. It will be an action-packed and edge-of-the-seat thrilling tournament for sure.” said Lokesh Suji, Director of Esports Federation of India and Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation.
The DOTA team, comprising of veteran athletes like Moin Ejaz (captain), Krish, Abhishek, Ketan and Darshan, which qualified for the 2022 Asian Games, will be part of Team India for the 14th World Esports Championships. With regards to PES2022, the recent update of PES/eFOOTBALL still does not have an option to hold online championship; given the situation, ESFI is evaluating to organise a physical event that may be held in Delhi/Mumbai. The dates and venue for the qualifiers will be announced soon.
The Indian contingent, selected based on their performances in the NESC2022, will take part in the World Esports Championships Regional Qualifiers, for which dates will be announced soon by the IESF. The Regional Qualifiers will be organised along with other continental federations. ESFI continued its partnership with Artsmith-Concepts & Visions which will extend its support as the communication partner. The National Esports Championships will be streamed live semifinal onwards on ESFI’s official YouTube channel as well as on the Facebook page.
Also read: Chemin Esports secures a Double Podium Finish
Chess helped me become what I am, it's time for me to give back: Viswanathan Anand
New Delhi, Jun 18 (Chess News) It's time to give back to the sport, says the legendary Viswanathan Anand, who is seeking to enter global chess administration with an aim to make it professionally more enticing for the youth.
Anand, whose moves on the board still leave opponents grasping at straws, wants to fully commit himself as "someone" who can work towards the betterment of the sport.
In an exclusive interview with PTI, the five-time world champion charted out his future plans, days after the All India Chess Federation (AICF) unanimously decided to endorse his candidature for the deputy president's post in the forthcoming FIDE election.
"Compared to three or four years back, I have cut down on my time as a active chess player. I have long aspired to come into the chess administration and this opportunity as the deputy president will be a huge learning curve for me," Anand remarked.
"The game of chess helped me become what I am today. It's time for me to give back. The idea is to encourage more youth to take up the sport seriously and make it a profession. I will communicate my ideas and vision once I am elected to the new panel," he added.
While Anand will be part of incumbent Arkady Dvorkovich's panel, among other candidates is the seasoned administrator and former deputy president of the international chess federation, Bachar Kouatly.
However, Anand believes the Dvorkovich administration will have a clear advantage over the others because of the work done by them to make the sport immensely popular, especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The current administration has done some outstanding work to give the game a facelift especially when every sport was sidelined because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, I readily agreed to be a part this panel when I was nominated for the position," Anand said, speaking about his decision to take part in the elections.
The year was 1987 when India got its first grandmaster in Anand. As many as 35 years down the line, India has 74 of them, with the latest being the 19-year-old Rahul Srivatshav Peddi from Hyderabad.
"I always had a firm belief that we deserve to have many grandmasters in Chess. During the first time ten years of my career, there were only Pravin Thipsey, Dibyendu Barua, and I. But the current figures make me immensely happy because of the fact that we have progressed so much in chess by leaps and bounds," Anand said.
It is unbeknownst to many that there is a serious cost factor involved when it comes to making a child an age-group world champions or a Grandmaster. Unlike other sports like cricket, football, badminton, or even hockey, where talented athletes are offered scholarships, chess doesn't seem to have many.
Anand, however, mentions that once he gets into administration, his prime focus would be to help those athletes who are talented enough to make the country proud.
"The (Viswanathan) Anand academy already nurtures many talented youngsters through the fellowship programmes who can make big in the coming years. Besides, the FIDE has many ongoing projects for such talented athletes, especially in a country like India, where there is no dearth of talent.
"If and when I involve myself as an administrator, my main focus would to guide the top talent who can make India immensely proud." Following his spectacular show at the recently-concluded Norway Chess event, where he beat his arch-rival and current world champion Magnus Carlsen, the 52-year-old Anand is back in the top 10 of the world chess rankings after a long hiatus of 32 months.
During the discussion, Anand also brushed aside retirement plans said that even if he makes a foray as an active administrator, he will not bid adieu to the sport as a player anytime soon.
"I will go on as long as I can. I have informed my team as well that I want to continue playing even if I win the FIDE elections. The goal is to not stop playing chess anytime soon," Anand signed off with his trademark smile.
Also Read : Immensely proud that we now have Chess Olympiad Torch Relay: Anand
News Source : PTI
Hamilton describes his Mercedes W13 undrivable ahead of Canadian GP
(Motorsport) Seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton described his 2022 Formula 1 car as “a disaster” and admitted that Mercedes are unlikely to improve the W13 for the remainder of the season. The British racing driver is 88 points behind Max Verstappen in the Drivers Championship and could only manage a disappointing 13th in the Final Practice ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday. Hamilton was heard describing his W13 “undrivable” and “so bad” on the team radio and was more than a second behind the grid leaders.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Lewis Hamilton said “Nothing we do to this car generally seems to work. We are trying different set-ups. Me and George went with many different set-ups in this P2 just to see if one way works and one way doesn't. I'll wait to hear how it felt for him, but for me it was a disaster. It's like the car is getting worse, it's getting more and more unhappy the more we do to it. We will keep working on it. It is what it is. I think this is the car for the year. We will have to tough it out and work hard on building a better car for next year."
Hamilton was seen struggling to get out of his W13 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after his car suffered from porpoising and the British racing driver complained about the pain he experienced while driving the car. When asked if he believed his car could compete against Red Bull and Ferrari in Canada, Hamilton replied “One touch of the kerb and the thing goes flying, it's so stiff. Here you need to be able to use the kerbs, so it's very tricky. It's not the Montreal that I know, am used to and have experienced through my career. It's the worst I've ever felt in a car here.
“I'm hoping overnight we can try and make some changes, but it's the fundamentals of the car. It is what it is and it's going to be a struggle. It's a monumental fight the whole time to keep it out of the wall. When it bounces, the car leaves the ground a lot, and when it lands it grips up and goes in different directions. You are just trying to catch a car that jumps, hops and grips. It's tough. It just keeps you on edge and there were some big hits today. We've raised the car and it doesn't make a difference. We have tried loads and loads of things and ticked them all off. Those ones don't work, so we have to go and find something else. We are way off, but it's to be expected with this car."
Also read: Max Verstappen excels in Final Practice ahead of Canadian Grand Prix
Pant falling into outside off-stump trap, not a good sign: Gavaskar
Rajkot, Jun 18 (Cricket News) Batting great Sunil Gavaskar has questioned Rishabh Pant's shot selection, saying it is "not a good sign" that the Indian stumper is repeatedly falling into the outside the off-stump trap in the ongoing T20I series against South Africa.
Pant, who has scored 740 runs in 47 T20Is at 23.12, has been getting out in almost identical fashion while going for the big shot wife outside the off-stump.
"He hasn't learned. He hasn't learned from his previous three dismissals, Gavaskar said while commentating on Star Sports.
"They throw wide, and he keeps going for it. He can't throw enough muscle on that. He has got to stop looking to go aerial that far outside the off-stump.
"There is no way he's going to get enough on it. It has gone to short-third! They all plan it, South African bowlers and Temba Bavuma… just bowl wide outside the off-stump and you will get him." Pant has scored 29, 5, 6 and 17 in the last four innings.
"10 times, he has been dismissed wide outside off-stump (in T20s in 2022). Some of them would have been called wide if he hadn't made contact with it. Because he's so far away, he has to reach out for it. He will never get enough power on it.
"To keep getting out in the same series in the same manner, for a captain of the Indian team, that's not a good sign," said Gavaskar.
While he hasn't fired with the bat, Pant marshalled his resources well to orchestrate India's revival in the five-match series with back-to-back wins to leave the series tied at 2-2.
After India crushed South Africa by 82 runs in the fourth game, Pant too admitted that there are "certain areas" in his batting which he needs to improve.
"As an individual, I can look to improve in certain areas. Not too concerned though. Looking to take the positives and looking to improve. Let's see what happens in Bangalore. Looking forward to giving our 100 per cent," said Pant in the post-match presentation on Friday night.
India will take on South Africa on Sunday in the fifth and final T20I.
Also Read : Pandya and Karthik fire as India level series with comfortable win
News Source : PTI
Max Verstappen excels in Final Practice ahead of Canadian Grand Prix
(Motorsport) Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen showed exactly why he’s leading the championship table after leading the final practice sessions from start to finish at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, recording a 1:14.127, almost a tenth ahead of second place Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver will incur a 10 place grid penalty in Sunday’s race due to the installation of new engine parts while his teammate Carlos Sainz was more than a tenth behind in third place. As for Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez, the Mexican had a disappointing practice session and was more than a second behind in 11th place and will look to improve before qualifying begins.
Seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton had a torrid time, describing his Mercedes as “undriveable”, finishing 13th on the grid while his teammate George Russell was 7th. Former World Champions Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso took advantage of Mercedes’ poor performance with Aston Martin in 4th place while the Alpine finished 5th. AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly was 6th and McLaren’s Lando Norris was 8th. Valtteri Bottas had a disappointing session as the Finnish racing driver had an electronic fault in his Alfa Romeo and struggled to set a lap time.
As things stand, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has a 10 place grid penalty but the team may opt to replace more parts which would mean that the Monegasque driver might be relegated to the back of the grid. The F1-75 has suffered reliability issues lately and the Italian manufacturer may opt for wholesale changes this weekend in order to ensure better results going forward at the expense of one race. For a team that looked like potential title challengers at the beginning of the season, the results have been extremely disappointing for Ferrari lately and they would need to turn things around quickly in order to keep their hopes alive for that elusive Championship title.
Also read: F1 changes regulations to combat porpoising, Mercedes welcome the move
Immensely proud that we now have Chess Olympiad Torch Relay: Anand
New Delhi, Jun 17 (Chess News) Legendary Viswanthan Anand is "immensely proud" of the fact that the 44th Chess Olympiad starting in Mahabalipuram from July 28, will have its own Torch Relay, which is in similar lines to the Olympics.
The first-ever and historic Chess Olympiad Torch Relay that will be flagged-off by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Sunday and the chess community including officials of parent body All India Chess Federation (AICF) termed the event "epoch making".
"An event like Olympic Torch Relay always fascinated me in my youth and now we also have a one in chess. The most amazing thing is, that the event is going to start from India. Nothing could be better than that and I feel immensely proud about this fact," Anand said on the eve of the torch relay.
The torch relay will be held across 75 Indian cities before reaching its destination - Mahabalipuram on July 27, a day before the start of the event. Notably, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Bhopal, Patna will be among the cities.
“For the first-time ever, a torch relay is being held for an event like Chess Olympiad. It’s a historic moment for not only those who are professionally associated with chess but for all sports lovers in this country. The following would not have happened without the help and support of the Government of India, especially, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji," said AICF Secretary and Chess Olympiad director Bharat Singh Chauhan.
It is also the first-time ever, a record number of 189 countries are going to participate at the Chess Olympiad 2022.
“Just like a cricket boom arrived in India after the national side's historic success after the 1983 Cricket World Cup, chess is going to witness something similar after one-of-a-kind torch relay. The amount of support that this government has given to us to host something like this, is unthinkable," remarked AICF President, Sanjay Kapoor.
Also Read : Sourav Kothari bags rare double in Pacific International Snooker
News Source : PTI
Sourav Kothari bags rare double in Pacific International Snooker
Melbourne, Jun 17 (Sports News) It was double delight for former world billiards champion Sourav Kothari, who clinched the Pacific International Billiards Championship title on Friday, just days after bagging the Snooker crown in the same event.
The 37-year-old Kothari edged past multiple-time English champion Rob Hall of England 1500-1321 in the finals of the Level 5 highest World Billiards ranking event to win the title.
The 2018 World Billiards champion thus became only the second cueist after Mathew Bolton of Australia to achieve a double title in the Pacific International.
In the thrilling final, Kothari displayed great mastery of cue ball control from the beginning. He notched up breaks of 161, 141, 135 and 117 to take a massive 600-point lead.
The Englishman could manage only a solitary century break of 177 during that session.
A couple of missed regulation drop cannons by Kothari in the next session saw Hall fight back with a magnificent break of 391 as he reduced the margin to 200 points before overtaking Kothari.
Kothari showed great calmness and composure under trying circumstances and sealed the issue with a century break of 111.
Earlier, Hall ousted World Billiards Champion Peter Gilchrist of Singapore by 1204-122 registering big breaks of 244 and 192.
Kothari scraped past compatriot Dhruv Sitwala in a nail-biting 1200-1131.
Also Read : Ultimate Kho Kho: Capri Global and KLO Sports become franchise owners
News Source : PTI
Chemin Esports secures a Double Podium Finish
(Esports news) Chemin Esports, a leading Esports and talent Incubator that supports budding esports athletes and aspiring content creators in the field of gaming, continued its winning streak with its BGMI team featuring amongst the top three at the TEC BGMI Invitational Season 4 and Upthrust Esports Pro Showdown Season 1. Chemin finished at the third and the second position in the Grand Finals of respective tournaments.
Chemin gave a brilliant performance in the Grand Finals of the Pro Showdown by accumulating a total of 414 points after playing 36 matches which included 6 chicken dinner games. Parth Garg (CES DeltaPG) finished at the tied 2nd Position in the MVP List with 60 Finishes.
This was followed by another impressive performance by the team in the TEC Invitational Season 4 where Chemin accumulated 109 points after playing 10 matches in the Grand Finals and securing back to back podium finishes in a day. Parth Garg (CES Deltapg) & Justin Nadar (CES Justin) finished at the tied 2nd Position in the MVP List with 17 Finishes each.
Speaking on his team’s win, Chemin’s Founder and Director, Ishan Varma, said, “Our focus and training is showing excellent results and I am happy that our team is continuing its winning run. For us, it’s important to stay on the top and be the best in the industry and it gives me great satisfaction that our team is consistently featuring right at the top. While Esports is gaining attention and getting more serious, I wish to see my team go live on mainstream sports television channels.”
TEC BGMI Invitational Season 4 was a 6 days tournament with a prize pool of INR 15 Lakhs. 32 teams were invited for this tournament. While Upthrust Esports Pro Showdown was a 13 days tournament with a prize pool of INR 10 Lakhs. 18 teams were invited for this tournament.
Also read: India book 2022 CEC berth in DOTA2 and Rocket League
Ultimate Kho Kho: Capri Global and KLO Sports become franchise owners
(Sports news) Capri Global and KLO Sports became franchise owners of Rajasthan and Chennai teams in the inaugural edition of Ultimate Kho Kho. The KLO Sports-owned team will be known as Chennai Quick Guns while Capri Global’s Rajasthan-based franchise is yet to be named. The league had earlier announced that corporate giants Adani Group and GMR Group are owners of Gujarat and Telangana franchises.
“We are thrilled to welcome KLO Sports and Capri Global to the league’s roster which already has eminent corporate names. With this league, we are committed to bringing in a modern-day professional structure in India that not only will take Kho Kho to the next level, but also create a spectacle for the fans,” said Ultimate Kho Kho CEO Mr. Tenzing Niyogi.
“Our goal is to help Kho Kho become a mainstream sport in India. We believe that the franchise has huge potential, and it can bring a rather forgotten sport back into every household. Apart from investing in the grassroots, KLO sports will also invest heavily in building a platform that will engage with fans and will become a role model for all sports franchises,” said Mr. Sanjay Jupudi Co-Owner, KLO Sports and founder of Qentelli.
Speaking about their association with Ultimate Kho Kho, Mr Rajesh Sharma, Managing Director of Capri Global said, "We want to be part of the overall sports eco-system that promotes homegrown sports and plays the role of an enabler in India's journey to become a leading sporting nation."
"Kho Kho is one of the most accessible sports in the country and is played by a large population at every skill level. Our goal amongst others is to facilitate training at the grassroots level. We are excited to associate with Ultimate Kho Kho from the very beginning. Personally, I am very passionate about sports and truly believe that India has humongous talent, they just need to be nurtured efficiently.” Mr. Sharma added.
Also read: Neeraj Chopra marks his return with a national record throw
F1 changes regulations to combat porpoising, Mercedes welcome the move
(Motorsport) The FIA has announced that new measures will be introduced to combat ‘porpoising’, keeping in mind the drivers safety with the severe bouncing becoming an increasingly problematic issue in every race. Such is the extent of the problem that seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton complained of severe pain during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and struggled to get out of his car due to the discomfort. The technical directive issued by the FIA comes before the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend but it remains to be seen if teams will now be able to change the setup of their cars with a limit on the level of "vertical oscillations" being introduced.
The FIA are yet to confirm if the new regulations will be implemented in Montreal with the announcement being made just 24 hours before the first Final Practice begins. A statement issued by the FIA said “Following the eighth round of this year's FIA Formula One World Championship, during which the phenomenon of aerodynamic oscillations ("porpoising") of the new generation of Formula 1 cars, and the effect of this during and after the race on the physical condition of the drivers was once again visible, the FIA, as the governing body of the sport, has decided that, in the interests of the safety, it is necessary to intervene to require that the teams make the necessary adjustments to reduce or to eliminate this phenomenon."
In addition, the FIA will also be investigating in consultation with the teams about how to reduce porpoising. Moreover, the change in regulations are a safety measure as porpoising could distract the drivers and lead to high speed collisions. The support for the change in regulations was unanimous on the paddock, especially after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with the likes of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Toto Wolff being particularly vocal about the issue. The porpoising complaints by the Silver Arrows has led to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner to doubt the authenticity of their claims, stating that Mercedes are demanding a change in regulations to get back into the title race after an extremely underwhelming season so far.
Mercedes driver George Russell welcomed the change in regulations by saying “I think this is something that everybody thinks Mercedes is sort of pushing for, but from a pure performance side of things... we don't really want change because if there's change, you never know if it's going in your favour or against you. I think it's something that we as drivers have spoken about globally, that we want change moving forward because what we went through last weekend just wasn't sustainable.
“It doesn't matter what boat you're in, you're either porpoising and you're hitting the ground, or you have no porpoising so you're running the car really close to the ground and you're bottoming, so either way you look at it, it's not great. I think it's promising to see that they've taken action on this straight away and it's not taken them weeks and months and political decisions to change something like this. When it comes to safety, things need to be resolved as soon as possible, so I'm not surprised to see it come in so quickly but I think it's good for everyone.”
Also read: Ferrari find temporary fix for hydraulics after reliability concerns
Neeraj to lead 37-member athletics team in CWG, participation of some subject to form and fitness
New Delhi, Jun 16 (Sports News) The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Thursday named a 37-member Indian athletics team, to be led by Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, with the selection committee picking the athletes on expected lines with no major surprises.
Out the of the 37 picked by the selection committee of the AFI, 18 are women, with the likes of star sprinters Hima Das and Dutee Chand getting their berths through the women's 4x100m relay team.
The selectors also named a men's 4x400m relay team.
AFI president Adille Sumariwalla said that the selected athletes, except for those who have been asked to prove form and fitness and who are competing abroad, will train in Chula Vista in USA ahead of the July 28 to August 8 CWG and their visas are awaited.
"Hopefully, we can win more medals than last edition," Sumariwalla said.
Indian track and field athletes had won one gold (Neeraj Chopra), one silver (Seema Punia) and one bronze (Navjeet Kaur Dhillon) in the 2018 Gold Coast CWG.
The Indian team will also have the likes of Avinash Sable, who broke his own 3000m steeplechase national record for the eighth time recently, as well as Jyothi Yarraji, who broke her own 100m hurdles NR twice last month.
It also has Aishwarya Babu, who smashed her own triple jump national record with a stunning 14.14m effort during the recent National Inter-State Championships in Chennai.
However, 200m national record holder Amlan Borgohain, who won a sprint double (100m and 200m), missed the bus as he could not reach the CWG qualifying standard set by the AFI.
Although selected, some of the athletes will have to prove their form and fitness before the Birmingham Games.
Veteran discus thrower Seema Punia has been given a chance to feature in her fifth CWG considering her past performances in the Games. Her participation, however, is subject to reaching the qualifying standard set by the AFI in a competition in USA.
Punia has won a medal in each of the four CWG she has taken part earlier.
"We have allowed her to train and compete in the USA considering her past results in CWG and Asian Games. Her participation in CWG will absolutely depend on her performance in USA," Sumariwalla said of Punia, who skipped the June 10-14 National Inter-State Championships.
"We are requesting Indian Olympic Association to increase our quota by one and to assist in securing accreditation for a couple of athletes." The AFI has been given a quota of 36 in India's contingent for the CWG.
The participation of women's hammer throw gold medallist at National Inter-State Manju Bala and javelin throw silver winner Shilpa Rani of Haryana were subject to the receipt of accreditation. Shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor will have to perform well in Kazakhstan while Amoj Jacob has been selected in the men's 4x400m relay team subject to his recovery and fitness level.
Jacob had pulled his hamstring while running the last leg of the India 'A' team during the Inter-State Championships.
"Discus throwers Navjeet Kaur Dhillon and Seema Punia, hammer thrower Sarita Singh will have to perform in Kazakhstan or California. Race walker Bhawna Jat will have to prove her fitness," the AFI president said.
National record holder high jumper Tejaswin Shankar, who won gold at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the US last week with a season-best 2.27m, was not picked as he did not take part in the National Inter-State and did not seek exemption.
"Only three -- Neeraj, Avinash and Seema -- had sought exemption from taking part in National Inter-State. Shankar did not come to take part in National Inter-State and did not seek exemption," Sumariwalla said.
He also said that Tamil Nadu long jumper Jeswin Aldrin, who won gold in the Federation Cup in April with a wind-assisted 8.37m, was not picked due to lack of consistency.
Sumariwalla also said that Sable may take part in both 3000m steeplechase and 5000m event -- in which he also holds the national record -- if the CWG programme permits.
Kerala's M V Jilna was included in the women's 4x100m relay team, as also N S Simi, who had finished sixth in 100m final with a timing of 11.88s.
Jilna was a member of India's 'B' team that finished third in the National Inter-State. She had finished second in 100m in the Federation Cup with a time of 11.63s while clocking 11.90s in the semifinal heats in the National Inter-State.
AFI Planning Commission chairman Lalit Bhanot said there was no deviation from the policy of not picking non-campers for the relay teams.
"Srabani Nanda was training in Jamaica with the permission of AFI, it's just like Dutee training with her coach N Ramesh in Odisha. They can now train together in the remaining one month before the CWG. They will join national camp, actually have already joined camp," Bhanot said.
"In order to ensure that nobody hides from various tests, they took permission from AFI and gave details where they were training." The Team: Men: Avinash Sable (3000m Steeplechase); Nitender Rawat (Marathon); M Sreeshankar and Muhammed Anees Yahiya (Long Jump); Abdulla Aboobacker, Praveen Chithravel and Eldhose Paul (Triple Jump); Tajinderpal Singh Toor (Shot Put); Neeraj Chopra, DP Manu and Rohit Yadav (Javelin Throw); Sandeep Kumar and Amit Khatri (Race Walking); Amoj Jacob, Noah Nirmal Tom, Arokia Rajiv, Muhammed Ajmal, Naganathan Pandi and Rajesh Ramesh (4x400m Relay).
Women: S Dhanalakshmi (100m and 4x100m relay); Jyothi Yarraji (100m Hurdles); Aishwarya B (Long Jump and Triple Jump) and Ancy Sojan (Long Jump); Manpreet Kaur (Shot Put); Navjeet Kaur Dhilllon and Seema Antil Punia (Discus Throw); Annu Rani and Shilpa Rani (Javelin Throw); Manju Bala Singh and Sarita Romit Singh (Hammer Throw); Bhawna Jat and Priyanka Goswami (Race Walking); Hima Das, Dutee Chand, Srabani Nanda, MV Jilna and NS Simi (4x100m relay).
Also Read : New national record eludes Chanu despite gold at Khelo India Women Weightlifting League event
News Source : PTI
Hockey 5s can be game-changer, but won't let it take over 11-a-side: FIH
New Delhi, Jun 16 (Hockey News) Amidst apprehension that Hockey 5s will slowly replace the 11-a-side format and make the latter obsolete, the world body (FIH) has assured that it won't let the shortest version take precedence over the traditional style, saying the new version is a "brilliant tale of evolution".
The Indian hockey fraternity also appears excited to see the new 'avtar' of the game, which, it feels, would attract the youth towards the sport.
Following India's success in Lausanne, where the team won a Hockey5s event earlier this month, the murmurs began over the future of traditional format.
But FIH CEO Thierry Weil made it clear that Hockey 5s is just an addition to the traditional format to make the game more popular.
"Hockey 5s is definitely a welcome addition to the traditional version of the game. All we need right now is a much-needed boost that the game of hockey deserves and Hockey 5s is there to provide it," Weil told PTI in an exclusive interview.
"We are extremely hopeful that the steady emergence of Hockey5s will immensely benefit hockey in the years to come. That said, we will never let Hockey 5s take precedence over the traditional version of the game. We will never let that happen.
"Rather, Hockey 5s will be a gateway to the age-old format. The shortest format, once implemented regularly, will bring in a massive change to the game of hockey. We have understood that and that is reason, we are eagerly promoting Hockey 5s," the FIH CEO insisted.
Weil believes both the formats can co-exist, which will definitely be a boon for the game.
"The birth of Hockey 5s is a brilliant tale of evolution that hockey as a sport has witnessed over the last few years. This can be a game-changer in the coming days.
If one closely tracks the evolution of hockey, it is difficult to find any radical change. The Synthetic Revolution happened at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games and it is now mandatory to use artificial turf in almost all major international tournaments.
"The FIH has already planned to host the inaugural edition of the Hockey 5s World Cup in Oman in January 2024. The overall aim of this new version is to make hockey more popular than before," said Weil.
Hockey 5s, the sport's shortest version which made its senior debut very recently in Lausanne, is all about fast-paced and short matches, lesser number of players involved, and most importantly, the overall vibe, which many believe will largely attract a newer pool of audience -- the youth.
Hockey 5s requires the teams to field five players including the goalkeeper. A match has two halves of 10 minutes each and each team can make four substitutions. Interestingly, there is no semicircular area or 'D' around the goal. This is significant, as in this particular format, a player can score from anywhere in the field. However, in the traditional version of the game, it is mandatory to go inside the 'D' area and score a goal.
Among other features, there are no penalty corners in Hockey 5s. In case of a foul, a one-on-one shootout takes place between the attacker and opposition goalkeeper.
Weil said change is the need of the hour for the survival of any sports and hockey is no exception.
"We want every country, including India, to recognise the Hockey 5s as it is done for the greater good for the game to let it survive in the long run.
"We understand the concerns raised by many players, fans, but, given many other sports in the world that have already undergone massive changes, I don't find any reason why the same should not happen in case of hockey as well," he said.
Is hockey going the T20 cricket's way? ******************************* Former India captain Dilip Tirkey doesn't mind if hockey follows the path of cricket, saying the introduction of Hockey 5s is a significant step towards taking the game to the masses.
"Even if hockey follows the T20 model of cricket, what's harm in that? I have personally liked the shortest version and the overall vibe it brings. What's more interesting is the pace of the game which will definitely make it more engrossing.
"Hockey5s, therefore, is a significant step in making the game more popular in the coming days," Tirkey said.
Another former India skipper and member of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal-winning side, Zafar Iqbal too is an advocate of Hockey 5s.
"Talking from an India's perspective, Hockey 5s is not something alien to our country. In fact, India has already hosted quite a few national-level Hockey 5 tournaments in the past and it has already gained quite popularity.
"Given the fact that the format attracts youth, Hockey5 is a brilliant thing for the future. The format has every ingredient to make the game immensely popular in the coming days," said Iqbal.
Hockey 5s was first introduced in the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics and since then the format is a regular feature in the Games.
While India didn't send its team for the 2014 Games, the country won silver medal in both boys and girls' events at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.
Also Read : FIH Pro League: Hendrickx strikes twice as Belgium beat India 3-2
News Source : PTI
New national record eludes Chanu despite gold at Khelo India Women Weightlifting League event
Nagrota Bagwan (HP), Jun 16 (Sports News) Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu won the gold medal comfortably but could not better her national record in snatch at the inaugural Khelo India Women Weightlifting League tournament here on Thursday.
The Tokyo Olympics silver medallist lifted a total of 191kg (86kg+105kg) to stand atop the podium in the ranking event for women in the senior, junior and youth categories.
Gyaneshwari Yadav 170kg (78kg+92) and former 45kg Asian Weightlifting Championship gold medallist Jhilli Dalabehra 166kg (75kg+91kg) finished second and third respectively.
After starting off with a successful 86kg lift, the 27-year-old Chanu failed to hoist 89kg in her second and third snatch attempts.
The national record and her personal best in the section stands at 88kg, which Chanu had lifted during the National Championships in 2020.
Chanu has been working on tweaking her snatch technique, once considered her weakness. She has been consulting Dr. Aaron Horschig, a former weightlifter-turned-physical therapist and strength and conditioning coach in the USA for the same.
The former world champion, who will be vying for a third Commonwealth Games medal in the quadrennial event next month, has been targeting the 90kg mark for a couple of years.
In the clean and jerk, she hoisted 105 kg in her first attempt, a far cry from her world-record lift of 119kg. She did not attempt a second or third lift in the section.
The gulf between Chanu and the other Indian lifters in the category was on full display as the second placed-lifter Gyaneshwari lifted a whopping 21kg less than the Manipuri while the gap 25kg for Jhilli.
The tournament will help the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) maintain a robust national ranking system while also providing additional competition to the lifters of the country.
In the 49kg Youth event, Maharashtra's Aarti Tatgunti emerged champion with a lift of 148kg (65kg+83kg), while Panchami Sonowal of Assam lifted 143 kg (63kg+80) to secure the second spot. Haryana's Himanshee lifted 132 kg (63kg+69kg) to get herself the third position.
Gyaneshwari also claimed the top spot in the junior 49kg event with a 170kg (78kg+92kg) lift while Sanju Devi, who lifted 154kg (70kg+84kg) and V.Rithika, who hoisted 153kg (67kg+86kg), were second and third respectively.
Also Read : Neeraj Chopra marks his return with a national record throw
News Source : PTI
Formula 1 to race in Melbourne until 2035 after new contract extension
(Motorsports news) The Australian Grand Prix will remain on the F1 Calendar until 2035, following a deal to extend its agreement beyond 2025 by a further 10 years. In addition, Formula 2 and Formula 3 will also join the race weekend schedule for the first time in 2023. This year more than 419,000 fans visited Albert Park for the 2022 Australian Grand Prix in April, making it the largest ever crowd for a weekend sporting event in Australian sporting history .
Albert Park has hosted F1 races since 1996, as significant investments were made over the past two years in order to improve the track for faster racing, fan experience and facilities while further improvements, including a revised paddock and pit lane, are planned in the future in order to continue the circuit’s modernisation. The date of next year’s Australian Grand Prix will be decided later on but in most likelihood it will be back as the first race of the season. It will be under the subject to World MotorSport Council’s approval. As part of the deal for the revamped Albert Park circuit, they have a contract that will open the Formula 1 season a minimum of five times. The Australian Grand Prix will be the season-opener in 2024 and 2025 and then another three are yet-to-be-determined.
The 2023 Grand Prix date is yet to be finalised, however this announcement is a clear indication that the first round will be in Melbourn, if not the first race then they have a slot inside the first three races likely each year of the new agreement. Australia has long been a tradition in F1 to start the season, however this year, due to pandemic-induced absence, it was pushed back to the third round. But it had little effect on crowds with near-record numbers filing through the Albert Parks over the four days of a marvellous spectale.In this year's Australian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc won the race and capped off a memorable weekend for the Ferrari team as home favourite Daniel Riccardo finished 8th as it was one of the two races where he has got points for the team.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “I am delighted to confirm that Melbourne and the Albert Park circuit will continue to be on the Formula 1 calendar until 2035. The race has always been a favourite for the fans, drivers and the teams and Melbourne is an incredible and vibrant international city that is a perfect match for our sport.
“This year we saw huge crowds and passionate fans at the Grand Prix, and we are very excited by the future in Australia as our sport continues to grow. I want to thank the Victorian Government, Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria and Martin Pakula, Minister for Tourism, Sport & Major Events for their tireless support for the event in Melbourne, as well as Andrew Westacott and Paul Little from the AGPC for making this already long-term partnership secure for the future. We are all looking forward to being back in Melbourne next season with all our fans.”
Martin Pakula, Minister for Tourism, Sport & Major Events, Victorian Government, said: “The Australian Grand Prix has never been bigger, with more than 419,000 people flocking to Albert Park for this year’s race. We know how important this event is to our economy and that’s why we’ve delivered the longest extension for the race since it has been held in Melbourne.”
Andrew Westacott, CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, said: “This is a sensational announcement that is simply great for Melbourne and Victoria. It builds on our rich motor sport history as well as Melbourne’s love of big sporting events and provides aspiration to the next generation of Aussie racing stars. We’re proud of our strong relationship with Formula 1 and together we will grow the sport in Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Everyone at the Australian Grand Prix Corporation looks forward to taking the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix to new levels over the course of the next 13 years.”
Also read: Ferrari find temporary fix for hydraulics after reliability concern
Florentino Perez says "This Mbappé is not my Mbappé"
(Football news) In an exclusive interview with "El Chiringuito” sports outlet, Florentino Perez opens up about the failed transfer of Kylian Mbappe. The young French forward recently snubbed the Champions League winners for PSG as he signed a bumper three deal with the capital side. A lot of talks were surrounding Mbappe’s future and for the most part of it, it looked like he was heading to the 14 time UCL winners but a change of heart in a span of 15 days made him settle in Paris. Perez also talks about the recent contract extension they have signed with Vinicus Junior and he highlighted the continuing intention to form the Super League.
On Kylian Mbappé's failed signing the Real Madrid president in an interview with "El Chiringuito" said, "His dream was to play at Real Madrid, we wanted to do it last August and they didn't let him leave, he kept saying he wanted to play at Madrid and like 15 days before he changed the situation,"
"This is not the Mbappé I wanted to bring, he is another one, who must have changed his dream. He changes, he is offered other things, he is pressured and he is already another footballer. There is no one at Real Madrid above the club. He is a great player, he can win more than others, but it is a collective sport and we have values and principles that we cannot change", he added.
"The Mbappé who was going to come here is not this one. If it is, I prefer him to stay at PSG. I want the one with the dream. Impossible in three years? In three years' time we'll all be bald? This Mbappé is not my Mbappé, who refuses to do a publicity stunt with his national team... I don't want that. It could have been a slip of the tongue, but I think he was mistaken. "Macron called Mbappé, it makes no sense. PSG offered him to be the leader of the project; it changed everything. I didn't see the same Kylian Mbappé that we wanted. Here, no one is bigger than Real Madrid. It won't change".
In addition, Florentino Pérez touched on several controversial issues, one of them being the formation of the Super League and he said "Of course it is still alive, right now there is a question in the Court of Luxembourg, there will be a hearing shortly and it will rule on the issues we have raised. We believe that we have the right, within the European Community, to organize competitions among ourselves, with UEFA. We understand that UEFA is a monopoly and in this Europe of 27, one pillar is that of competition".
Florentino Pérez said: "We've no problem with Vinicius' contract extension. We're on it, no issues. He received some proposals but he always said: He only wants to stay at Real Madrid. I'm 100% sure that Vinicius will be Ballon d'Or one day".
Florentino Perez also went on to touch upon the fact why they didn’t go after Erling Haaland as he believes that Karim Benzema will be the man leading the club in the future. He went on to add that they will be active this transfer market and we can expect a few more incomings at the Santiago Bernabeu. With Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger already signed and delivered, we can expect at least two or more signings for Real Mardid. They are in the market for a right winger and a right back as Serge Gnabry and Recce James are names linked to them.
Perez went on to refer to Karim Benzema as the reason the team did not sign Erling Haaland. "We have the best 9 in the world and we weren't going to bring in Haaland to have him on the bench, right? Clause in two years? I don't know. We have no interest now other than to build the new team with the youngsters we have and some reinforcement."
Perez also spoke about the violence at the UCL finals, "That spectacle can never happen in life, we ask UEFA what criteria are taken into account for the change of venue and the French government why they have unprotected us all. The fans suffered robberies and violence. Why was this site chosen if everybody knew that either you have big measures or there are problems? Some people had to spend the night in the hospital. Let them tell us why they chose Paris. They say that since we played a game against PSG and lost 1-0 and between that game and the return leg is when the change of venue happens, there are people who think that those who win there said they were going to win at the Bernabeu and see if they made it to the final."
Perez on more incomings said that "There will be no more signings, as of now. But then let's see what is gonna happen, summer is very long. "Lewandowski to Barça? I'd be happy for them, it would be a great signing for sure".
Also read: How will Aurélien Tchouaméni fit in Real Madrid's midfield?
India book 2022 CEC berth in DOTA2 and Rocket League
(Esports news) The Indian esports teams secured their berths in the inaugural edition of the 2022 Commonwealth Esports Championships, Birmingham (1st – 7th August) for DOTA2 and Rocket League following impressive performances in the South Asian regional qualifiers. Led by Hargun Singh (Hargun <2), the Indian team registered emerged victorious in all their three matches to finish atop the points table in the Rocket League title while DOTA2 team, comprising captain Moin Ejaz, Ketan Goyal, Abhishek Yadav, Shubham Goli, Vishal Vernekar, claimed four wins from six matches in the regional qualifiers to secure the Commonwealth Esports Championships spot with the second-place finish.
Apart from skipper Hargun 'Hargun <2' Singh (Captain), Nirjhar 'josce.' Mehta and Rushil 'Rushil_Y' Reddy Yarram were also part of the Indian team in the Rocket League title. They started their campaign with a thrilling 3-2 win against Pakistan and then clinched 3-1 and 3-0 victories against the Maldives and Sri Lanka Respectively in their next two games.
“My experience in the whole regional qualifiers so far has been an eye-opener with regards to how esports is expanding so quickly in regions like South Asia, especially in rocket league. Considering how much potential there is, this regional event will help motivate the rocket league community to participate in every competition and keep them motivated to improve in this game, seeking more opportunities to pursue esports events in general. We would like to thank the federation [ESFI], who has been very supportive & helped us to sail through the regional qualifiers smoothly. We will perform at our level best in the main championship and try to put a podium finish at the event” said elated Hargun Singh, Captain of the Indian Rocket League team.
The Indian rocket league team is a combination of two teams which have participated in over 30 Rocket League events in the past 3 years. These individuals hold the Grand Champion Rank in Rocket League and lived up to the expectations by defeating all other countries in the South Asian Regional qualifiers for CEC-2022.
On the other hand, the Indian team, competing in DOTA2, defeated Sri Lanka in both the rounds while managed to win in one round each against Pakistan and Bangladesh to finish second after Pakistan.
“We are happy and a bit disappointed as well for our run in the regional qualifiers as we were expecting a clean sweep. We will continue our grind and have to study good teams in our Esports title and learn better strategies, skills, coordination and teamwork. We are very excited to face good teams around the world at the main event” said Moin Ejaz, Captain of the Indian DOTA2 team.
This is the same team identified and selected to represent Indian on DOTA2 at Asian Games 2022 and this will surely give them good exposure and practice with the International teams and help in their preparations for the upcoming Asian Games 22.
"Growth and potential of esports is overwhelming and you will have to get involved, sooner the better. Just like Olympics, “esports” is one of the recommendations outlined in the new Commonwealth Sport 2026/30 Strategic Roadmap. Commonwealth Games is another big sporting event in line with Asian Games, it’s reassuring to see that Commonwealth has also openly decided to engage with esports (with this side event) and soon esports will be a medal sport in CW games too. I congratulate our Indian contingent as they displayed their top gameplay, skills and strategy to secure their maiden Commonwealth Esports Championships berth. I believe each of them will make the most of this opportunity and make India proud by bringing laurels to the country” said Mr. Lokesh Suji, Director ESFI & VP- Asian Esports Federation.
With the participation of top international esports teams, the upcoming Commonwealth Esports Championships will provide great exposure and much-needed game time for the Indian players ahead of the 2022 Asian Games, where esports will be making its debut as a medal sport. Alongside DOTA2 and Rocket League, PES2022 will also be part of the Inaugural edition of the Commonwealth Esports Championship.
Also read: Team Soul crowned Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series 2022 champions
Neeraj Chopra marks his return with a national record throw
(Sports news) This was Neeraj Chopra’s first competitive event after just over 10 months and was nothing short of extraordinary as he nearly touched the 90m mark. India’s first athletic gold medalist in the Olympics Neeraj Chopra made a spectacular return to competition after his gold at Tokyo with a stunning throw of 89.30m shattering his personal best as well as the national record and helped him finish in him second place in a star-studded field at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, on Tuesday.
Chopra’s earlier personal best was 88.07m which he had set in Patiala last year. He had won the Tokyo Olympics gold medal with a throw of 87.58m and his first throw was an impressive 86.92m before sending the javelin to 89.30m. His next three attempts were fouls while his last throw was a 85.85m in his sixth throw. Finland’s 25-year-old Oliver Helander, whose personal best was 88.02m and season’s best of 80.36m, surprised the gold winner with a throw of 89.83m which he produced in his second attempt. Chopra’s 89.30m took him to fifth spot in the world season leaders’ list in men's Javelin throw. Reigning world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada was the pre-tournament favourite as he held the current world lead with a monster throw of 93.07m while also winning gold in the Doha Diamond League last month, he subsequently finished third with a best effort of 86.60m. This was Peters’ first defeat after seven tournament wins on-the-trot this season.
The javelin thrower isn't at it current best as he sat out most of the 2021 season but he's not the one to rest on his laurels. Although he is slowly but steadily inching towards his goal of breaching the 90m mark, Neeraj knows himself that there is a lot of work and practice left to be done. Neeraj has a busy schedule coming up in the next two months as he prepares to get in shape for the major tournaments. He will now compete at the Kuortane Games in Finland before playing in the Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden on June 30. He will also have two major championships up his sleeve as the World Athletics Championships in Eugene and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham are coming up.
“Going forward, I am looking to work on my technique, throw, and overall performance. I am in a happy place at the moment and I just want to do well in the upcoming events."
"This was my first competition since the Tokyo Olympics and it went really well as in the first competition itself, I hit my personal best throw and also won the silver medal. Now I am aiming for the next few events which would be bigger than this and of course the Commonwealth Games, where I will face a lot of competition." Neeraj said
Also read: Since you are born, you will have to achieve something: Aishwarya Babu
SAI to release Rs 6.52 crore as out of pocket allowance for 2189 Khelo India athletes
New Delhi, Jun 15 (Sports News) The Sports Authority of India has sanctioned a total of Rs 6.52 crore as out of pocket allowance (OPA) for 2,189 Khelo India athletes across 21 disciplines, including para, for the April-June period.
"A financial assistance of Rs 6.28 lakhs is allocated for each residential athlete training at the accredited academies as per the annual Khelo India scholarship scheme. That includes an out of pocket allowance of Rs 1.20 lakh," a SAI release stated.
The OPA (Rs 1.20 lakh annually) is transferred directly to the athlete's bank account, while the rest of the amount is spent on the athlete's training, fooding, lodging and education at the Khelo India Academy where the athlete trains. "It also includes expenses towards travel to hometown, diet charges while at home and other miscellaneous expenses incurred by the athletes. The funding has been done as per the Khelo India Talent Development (KITD) Scheme," the release added.
Also Read : Neeraj Chopra shatters own national record in first competition after Tokyo Olympics gold
News Source : PTI
Ferrari find temporary fix for hydraulics after reliability concerns
(Motorsport) Ferrari have managed to get a short-term fix to their hydraulics issue which plagued Carlos Sainz at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix ahead of the team’s visit to Canada. Both the Ferrari’s were forced to retire in Baku with Leclerc’s F1-75 suffering a second power unit failure in three races. The result means that the Italian manufacturer are now 80 points behind Red Bull in the Constructors Standings after eight races with Leclerc dropping down to third, 34 points behind leader and reigning champion Max Verstappen.
In a statement released by Ferrari on Twitter, they said “A challenging weekend for the team, but one that we'll look to learn and build from. Charles' engine arrives at the factory tomorrow, an initial assessment should be completed by the evening. Hydraulic components from Carlos' car have already been examined. A short-term fix is in place for Canada, while work is on-going on mid/long-term solutions. We continue to be fully motivated. Our ambitions are still high, our aim hasn't changed. These moments shape us, as individuals and as a group."
Such is Ferrari’s history that Sunday’s race in Canada is named after late Ferrari great Gilles Villeneuve. The season began on a high for the most successful team in Formula 1 history but a combination of poor team strategy, Carlos Sainz’s inability to be a reliable second driver and reliability concerns have now placed the team firmly out of the title race. For Leclerc, the Monegasque has proved he has the calibre of becoming a potential World Champion, but has been let down by his team. His Baku DNF was his second retirement from a leading position in three races and he has urged his team to make no more mistakes for the remainder of the season.
Having conceded his second place to Sergio Perez, a disappointed Charles Leclerc said “It hurts. We really need to look into that for it not to happen again. I can't really find the right words to describe this. It's very, very disappointing. I don't know, we really need to look into it." As for Carlos Sainz, the Spaniard has had a very disappointing start to the season but is optimistic that there are “better days to come”.
In an interview, Sainz said “That's the main objective and the team knows this, that we need to improve on this side, but we have been pretty good on reliability on my side but we have just been a bit unlucky the whole season and it has been quite difficult to get any momentum going this season. I cannot do two consecutive races without anything happening and the DNF in lap 9, you need laps and I need laps and to complete races to keep understanding the car. It is a shame but we are a team and we are going to stay united and stay positive because I am sure better days will come."
Also read: Max Verstappen wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Ferrari disaster
Neeraj Chopra shatters own national record in first competition after Tokyo Olympics gold
New Delhi, Jun 14 (Sports News) India's superstar javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra made a spectacular return to competition after his historic gold in the Tokyo Olympics, a stunning throw of 89.30m shattering his national record and placing him second in a star-studded field at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old Chopra's first competitive event after just over 10 months was nothing short of extraordinary as he nearly touched the coveted 90m mark, considered the gold standard in the world of javelin throw.
Chopra's earlier national record was 88.07m which he had set in Patiala in March last year. He had won the Tokyo Olympics gold with a throw of 87.58m on August 7, 2021.
He opened with an impressive 86.92m before sending the spear to 89.30m. His next three attempts were fouls while he came up with 85.85m in his sixth and final throw.
Finland's 25-year-old Oliver Helander, who has a personal best of 88.02m and season's best of 80.36m, was the surprise gold winner with a best throw of 89.83m which he produced in his second attempt.
Chopra's 89.30m effort will take him to fifth spot in the world season leaders' list.
Reigning world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, the pre-event favourite with his world leading monster throw of 93.07m while winning gold in the Doha Diamond League last month, was third with a best effort of 86.60m. This was Peters' first defeat after seven wins on the trot this season.
2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago was fourth with a best throw of 84.02m, followed by Germany's Julian Weber (84.02m) and Czech Republic's Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch (83.91m), who had won silver in Doha with a throw of 90.88m.
Chopra's rival and friend Johannes Vetter of Germany, who has a maximum number of 90m-plus throws among the active javelin throwers, was set to take part in the Paavo Nurmi Games but had withdrawn.
Chopra had said in recent media interactions that he would not put himself under pressure with the thought of throwing beyond 90m and would look to build up gradually to peak during the July 15-24 World Championships in Eugene, USA.
The Paavo Nurmi Games are named after the legendary Finnish middle and long distance runner. It is a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series event, one of the most prestigious competitions outside the Diamond League Meetings.
The competition organisers have provided an extra incentive for the javelin throwers: anyone who throws beyond the Finnish record of 93.09m will win a Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV. Nobody won it on Tuesday though Peters said in a lighter vein on Monday that he would be going for it.
More than 10,000 people turned up to watch the events.
Chopra will next take part in the Kourtane Games in Finland on Saturday where he is currently based. He will feature in the Stockholm leg of the Diamond League on June 30. He had earlier trained in the USA and Turkey before shifting base to Finland last month.
Also Read : Since you are born, you will have to achieve something: Aishwarya Babu
News Source : PTI
Since you are born, you will have to achieve something: Aishwarya Babu
Chennai, Jun 14 (Sports News) "Since you are born, you will have to achieve something," says Aishwarya Babu matter-of-factly.
Living by that maxim, she smashed the triple jump national record with a stunning effort of 14.14m at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships here on Monday, reflecting her determination to reach the top.
This, after trying her luck in 100m and 200m sprints and overcoming an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, a dreaded word in sporting circles.
The 24-year-old Aishwarya bettered Mayookha Johny's national record of 14.11m set in 2011.
A day earlier, Aishwarya became the second best Indian woman long jumper after the legendary Anju Bobby George, with an effort of 6.73m. Anju Bobby George holds the national long jump record of 6.83m.
She started with 100m and 200m sprints before switching to long jump and triple jump, which is her main event.
"I started at the age of eight and I was initially doing 100m and 200m. But later, switched to jumps. I was interested in sports and my uncle was a decathlete," she said.
Asked why she took up sports, she said, "I need to achieve. Since you are born, you will have to achieve something." Aishwarya's 14.14m effort in the 'hope, step and jump' event has put her in joint 14th in the season's top list in the world and third among long jumpers from Commonwealth countries.
"I was expecting to break the national record (in triple jump). I had prepared very well for that, with a lot of hard work," said Aishwarya whose husband works at the Governor's office in Bengaluru.
"In September last year, I did 13.55m (while winning gold) in the National Open Championships. I have improved nearly 60cm since then. My target is 14.35m." Daughter of a government employee father and homemaker mother, Aishwarya's USP is her speed.
She was spotted by 2010 Asian Games heptathlon bronze medallist Pramila Aiyappa, who is currently a state sports officer.
"Pramila spotted her, she (Pramila) is a sports officer and in charge of South West Railways. So she took Aishwarya to a Railways trial. Then she started training her, it was before the COVID-19 pandemic," said BP Aiyappa, the current coach of Aishwarya and husband of Pramila.
"When Aishwarya came to me, she was having ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear and you can imagine an athlete who had ACL tear and now breaking triple jump national record." Aiyappa said Aishwarya also has an "unbelievable explosiveness", which makes her stand out.
"For her short stature, her speed and explosiveness is unbelievable, world class. I will not be surprised if she touches 7m in long jump." "All this strength comes from curd rice (laughs). Wherever she goes and sits in a restaurant, she will always order curd rice," added Aiyappa, who is with Aishwarya for two and half years.
Aiyappa said his focus is to build Aishwarya's strength.
"I am focussed on her strength building. I am more of a believer in building strength. The Europeans, Jamaicans and Americans are really strong and it's difficult to compare with them in strength, so I want to build strength. That is my mantra." Aiyappa said Ashwarya is a bit weak in 'step' part of the triple jump and her performance can be further be improved if she gets better in that.
"You need to be perfect in all the three parts -- hope, step and jump. She is a bit weak in 'step'. We can improve on that." Even the COVID-19 pandemic did not stop the coach-ward duo from continuing with training. The Kanteerava Stadium, where they were based, was shut down and they had to travel outside Bangalore for training.
"We had struggled a lot, going to Vidyanagar everyday except for Saturday, it is nearly 35km from Bangalore. It was tough. We had to take special passes but the state government, JSW, AFI and SAI had supported us a lot."
Also Read : Long jump sensation Jeswin Aldrin aims to become the best in the world
News Source : PTI
I want to represent India and lift the World Cup - Jasmer Dhankhar
Representing Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy and Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League, 23 year old Jasmer Dhankhar is aiming high and working even harder to achieve his dreams. In this exclusive interview, the cricketer speaks about his journey so far, the toughest batter in the LSG team, experiences so far, preparations for the Ranji Trophy, cricketing idols and his future goals.
Q1) When did your journey with cricket start and how has it been so far?
I used to play cricket ever since I was a little kid on the road with my friends and my brothers. I was interested in cricket from my childhood and when I realised that I play better than most kids I decided to try and pursue it professionally. I wouldn't say that the journey was easy but I feel blessed at the position I am playing the Ranji trophy and being a part of the IPL.
Q2) Who is the toughest batter to bowl to in the Lucknow Super Giants nets and why?
I think the toughest to bowl to was Evin Lewis because he is a left hander and has a lot of power. He has the gift of timing as well but these are the kind of challenges I enjoy. I love to bowl against difficult batters and I always want to get them out. My mindset is always positive in such things.
Q3) How was your experience with LSG? Which player have you learned the most from?
Usually when you go into a new dressing room there is a feeling of awkwardness but with LSG I never felt that. I got to learn a lot of things from KL Rahul, Krunal Pandya, Evin Lewis, Marcus Stoinis and our bowling coach Narendra Hirwani.
Also read: Long jump sensation Jeswin Aldrin aims to become the best in the world
Q4) How are preparations going for the Ranji trophy semi finals and what are your expectations from the game?
Our preparations have been going well as the team is young but we are hungry to train even harder, putting in the effort and we are all showing character. We proved to the world that we belong on this stage and showed them that we can dominate in all formats. Since the start of the season we had all the focus on our team and most importantly we backed our own strengths which has been the main focus mostly.
Q5) Who was your cricketing idol growing up and what did you like about him?
Since I am a leg spinner, I used to idolise Shane Warne growing up. I was a big fan of his leg spin and I used to watch all his videos and try to implement the variations he used to use. Mostly I used to notice his leadership skills and his attitude on the pitch.
Q6) What are your future goals and ambitions? How do you plan to achieve them?
My future plan is to represent India and establish myself as a regular player in the Indian squad and then help my country lift the World Cup. I feel as a player you have to keep growing and adapting, that has always been my focus. For me, I should be able to give my 100% in every practice session and with my commitment I will hopefully progress forward.
Karnataka's Aishwarya Babu smashes triple jump NR with stunning performance
Chennai, Jun 13 (Sports News) Wonder woman Aishwarya Babu of Karnataka smashed the triple jump national record with a stunning effort of 14.14m to emerge the undisputed star of the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships here on Monday.
The 24-year-old from Bengaluru bettered Mayookha Johny's earlier national record of 14.11m set in 2011. She touched the national mark in her third attempt on the penultimate day of the championships. She had a foul in her fourth attempt and then did not take the final two jumps.
Renu of Haryana was a distant second with an effort of 13.43m, while Karthika Gothandapani was third with 13.25m.
On Sunday only, Aishwarya had become the Indian woman to have the second longest personal best jump with an effort of 6.73m. The legendary Anju Bobby George holds the national long jump record of 6.83m. Anju had jumped better than 6.73m on three other occasions also.
Aishwarya will compete in the long jump final on Tuesday.
"I was confident that I would break the national triple jump record. I had prepared for it. I hope to break the long jump record tomorrow also," she said after the stunning win.
"Triple jump is my main event and I don't train much for long jump. But I can compete in both long jump and triple jump in the Commonwealth Games. Hopefully, I do well and win medals in the CWG," she added.
The triple jump gold winner in the 2018 CWG had produced 14.64m, while the silver and bronze medallists had efforts of 14.52m and 13.92m respectively.
In long jump, the gold winner in the 2018 CWG had produced 6.84m, while the silver and bronze medallists had efforts of 6.77m and 6.75m respectively.
Daughter of a government employee father and homemaker mother, Aishwarya said her USP is the speed and explosive ability and she also revealed that she is fond of curd rice.
Her coach Aiyappa BP, who is the husband of 2010 Asian Games heptathlon bronze medallist Pramila Aiyappa, said she would always look for curd rice wherever she went.
"Considering her height and built, she has so much of explosive power and speed and that makes her stand out. All these, due to curd rice (laughs). She would look for curd rice wherever she goes," said Aiyappa who has been with Aishwarya for two and half years.
"She was not spotted by me, she was spotted by my wife during a Railways event. When she came to me, she was having ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear and you can imagine an athlete who had ACL tear and now breaking triple jump national record." Aishwarya said she and her coach had to travel to Vidyanagar, some 40km from Bangalore, during the COVID-19 pandemic as Kanteerava Stadium, where she used to train, was closed.
"We had struggled a lot, going to Vidyanagar everyday. We had to take special passes but the state government and SAI had supported us a lot." In other events, India A team's Amoj Jacob pulled his hamstring while running the last leg of the mixed 4x400m relay. He pulled up near the top of the final 100m stretch. The mixed 4x400m relay will be held in the Birmingham CWG (July 28 to August 8) for the first time.
In men's discus throw, Kirpal Singh of Punjab clinched the gold with a meet record performance of 60.31m, while the corresponding women's event was won by Navjeet Kaur Dhillon with a distance of 55.67m.
Gracena Merly of Tamil Nadu won the women's high jump with an effort of 1.82m.
In men's 800m, Krishan Kumar of Haryana took the gold with a time of 1:48.79, while the women's corresponding event was won by Chanda of Delhi (2:01.67).
The India B team, comprising Mohammed Ajmal, Rupal Chaudhary, Rajesh Ramesh and Dandi Jyothika Sri, won the 4x400m mixed relay in 3:18.84 after India A's anchor Jacob hobbled off the track after gaining the lead for his team with about 110m left in the race.
The other members of the India A team were Noah Nirmal Tom, Kiran Pahal and Aishwarya Mishra.
Also Read : World billiards champion Sourav Kothari becomes 2022 Pacific International snooker champ
News Source : PTI
World billiards champion Sourav Kothari becomes 2022 Pacific International snooker champ
Melbourne, Jun 13 (Sports News) World billiards champion Sourav Kothari on Monday won the 2022 Lance Pannell-Pacific International Snooker Championship.
In the final, Kothari thrashed top-ranked Australian cueist Johl Younger 4-0 in the best of seven frames, with a high break of 93 in the third frame.
After topping his league, Kothari defeated Australian Cale Barrett 3-1 in the quarters and the talented Charlie Chafe 3-1 in the semifinals respectively.
He last had won the title in 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
Kothari will now be participating in the 2022 Pacific International Billiards beginning here on Tuesday.
Also Read : Weightlifter Gurunaidu Sanapathi becomes IWF Youth World Champion
News Source : PTI
Team Soul crowned Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series 2022 champions
(Esports news) Team Soul won the inaugural edition of the Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series after producing a dominant show during the four day Grand Finals. The team secured the title with 335 points, 85 more than second placed OR Esports who managed to get 250 points from 24 matches. The result means that Team Soul have won INR 75 lakhs from a prize pool of INR 2 crore. Team Soul was led by Sahil Jhakar (Soul Omega) and composed of Sohail Shaikh (Soul Hector), assaulters Akshat Goel (Soul Akshat) and Harsh Paudwal (Soul Goblin). The team was coached by Amit Dubey (Soul Amit) and Aman Jain (Soul Aman).
“This moment gives me a sense of accomplishment and honour that our team’s diligence and commitment finally paid off. BMPS is a marquee event in the BGMI scenario, since it showcases all the titans of the Indian mobile battle royale community. This tournament was our dream. It was a tough grind and finally winning it is a momentous achievement for all our team members.
“It’s the whole team’s love and dedication toward the sport and sheer hard work which resulted in us achieving the top spot in the Grand Finals. This is special, given the level of competition that we had to play to emerge as the champions. Team Soul is here now, the comeback is strong, and we can assure you it’s just the beginning,” said an elated Team Soul’s captain Sahil Jhakar aka Soul Omega after winning the BMPS title.
Naman Mathur aka Mortal, owner of Team Soul added: “It was intense. Competing against seasoned esports players definitely made it more compulsive and our win more worthwhile. The team was well synced and we were determined to top the charts. Winning the inaugural edition of India’s biggest esports event, BMPS, makes me feel proud of the team and I look forward to endeavouring more success. BGMI is our playground where we have invested a lot of time and energy with the sole aim to win.
“I believe with this title, we have taken a giant leap in reinstating Team Soul's place among the mobile gaming teams in India. As a mentor to the team, and someone who has seen their journey, from spirits breaking during practice, to failing but rising to grind together, I would say the team deserves the victory. The whole S8UL family is proud of the team, and we all rejoice today. We are positive that all our teams as part of S8UL will delight the fans in the coming days with their performance! But today, let's celebrate Team Soul.”
All individual awards won by Team Soul in BMPS:
1. Most Valuable Player - Harsh Paudwal aka Soul Goblin – Rs 2.5 lakhs
2. Most Finishes – Team Soul – Rs 2 lakh
3. Lone Survivors - Akshat Goel aka Soul Akshat – Rs 1 lakh
4. Rampage Freak - Harsh Paudwal aka Soul Goblin – Rs 1 lakh
Also read: Team Soul reaches final of Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series
Weightlifter Gurunaidu Sanapathi becomes IWF Youth World Champion
New Delhi, Jun 13 (Sports News) Gurunaidu Sanapathi has become India's first weightlifter to win a gold at the IWF Youth World Championships in Leon, Mexico.
The 16-year-old claimed the yellow metal with a total effort of 230kg (104kg+126kg) in the boy's 55kg event late on Sunday night.
While Sanapathi, the 2020 Asian Youth Weightlifitng Championships bronze medallist, stood on top of the podium, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Ali Majeed 229kg (105kg+124kg) came in second and Yerassyl Umrov of Kazakhstan 224kg (100kg+124kg) third.
Besides Sanapathi, compatriot Soumya S. Dalvi bagged the bronze in her event on the second day of competitions.
Maharashtra's Dalvi, a two-time Khelo India Youth gold medallist, heaved 148kg (65kg+83kg) to claim the third spot in the 45kg girl's event behind Rose J Ramos of Philipines 155kg (70kg+85kg) and Venezuela Kerlys M. Montilla 153kg (71kg+82kg).
The other Indian in the fray, R Bhavani finished eighth with a best effort of 132kg(57kg+75kg).
India's tally at the word event now stands at four medals.
On the opening day of competition, Akansha Kishor Vyavhare and Vijay Prajapati had won silver medals in their respective events.
India had not participated in the previous edition of the tournament which was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last year.
Also Read : USA's Devon Allen produces third quickest 110m hurdles in history
News Source : PTI
Toyota secure a one-two finish at the 24 hour Le Mans
(Motorsport) Toyota secured their fifth Le Mans 24 hour victory after finishing first and second in the famous Paris race. Former Formula 1 driver Brendon Hartley secured the win in the number 8 car while Argentina's Jose Maria Lopez came in second, two minutes behind his Kiwi colleague. British team Jota won the second tier LMP2 class with former F1 driver Will Stevens at the wheel while Glickenhaus finished third and fourth.
The 709 Glickenhaus, driven by USA's Ryan Briscoe, Britain's Richard Westbrook and France's Franck Mailleux ended up third ahead of France's Romain Dumas and Olivier Pla, and Luis Felipe Derani of Brazil. As for Alpine, they finished 23rd due to technical difficulties and will look to improve on their performance next time. Driven by Mexico’s Roberto Gonzalez and Portugal's Antonio Felix da Costa, Jota’s 38 car finished fifth overall despite being fourth for the majority of the race.
The second Jota came in seventh place with Oliver Rasmussen at the wheel, separated from the team’s other car by the Prema driven by Robert Kubica of Poland. The number eight Toyota, driven by Switzerland's Sebastien Buemi and Japan's Rio Hirakawa swapped places with the number seven car driven by Britain's Mike Conway and Japan's Kamui Kobayashi throughout the 24 hours of the race. The Circuit de la Sarthe was largely dominated by the Japanese manufacturer as expected.
Driving a Porsche 911, Michael Fassbender of Ireland finished 51st overall and 16th in the GTE AM amateur class. The 45 year old movie star crashed heavily during practice and had a few spins in the race. With the next iteration of the 24 hour Le Mans being its 100th year, more manufacturers will be returning for its hypercar class such as Peugeot and the legendary Italian team Ferrari for the first time since the 1970’s.
Also read: Max Verstappen wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Ferrari disaster
Jehan Daruvala finishes 2nd and 4th at the Baku Grand Prix in F2
(Motorsports news) Jehan Daruvala continued his good form by taking another podium as he finished 2nd in the Sprint Race in Baku. Frederik Vesti took his first F2 victory at the Baku Grand Prix in the sprint race, as he snatched the lead from Jehan Daruvala after the second safety car restart. It marked the Mercedes junior's first win of the season, and this was subsequently the first victory since the F3 feature race in Austria last year. Daruvala finished a good second position and attained some good points in the F2 World Championship. In the end he held off a charging Liam Lawson, who took the final podium place for Carlin.
Frank Vesti briefly took the lead from polesitter Jake Hughes at the start, but a lack of drive out of Turn 1 allowed Daruvala to pass him into the lead, dropping him to third. Vesti made a good move past Van Amersfoort Racing’s Hughes for second on lap six. From there, Vesti played the waiting game as he was unable to make it past Daruvala on the first restart after a safety car was produced by Dennis Hauger when he took a trip into the wall. Almost immediately from there the Mercedes junior was able to take advantage of a lock-up from the Prema driver to move into first.
Racing resumed on lap 17, with Daruvala holding on to the lead for a while before the safety car was deployed again after Enzo Fittipaldi and Vips made contact at Turn 2. Once again, the pack was bunched up and then released on lap 19 but this time Daruvala locked up on the restart and allowed Vesti to go past him and take the lead up the inside of Turn 1. The action came down to a final lap shootout, as Vesti held a firm lead, with Daruvala struggling with his tyres, Lawson closed on him and was embroiled in a battle for second behind him, the Prema driver defended well and came second .
Dennis Hauger snatched the 2 feature race victory in Baku after a heartbreaking crash with just for Juri Vips.The Hitech driver was in a commanding lead from the start, starting on pole and he held onto the position despite three safety cars in the race but his race ended with just five minutes left on the clock, after he found the wall in the castle section and allowed Hauger into the lead. The race ended under the safety car with Prema and the Red Bull rookie claiming his first feature race win after taking his first sprint victory in Monaco last time out. The crash allowed Logan Sargeant into second, with championship leader Felipe Drugovich taking the final podium spot, despite starting from eighth. Daruvala took fourth place, marking another strong points haul for Prema. With this result Felipe Drugovich extends his lead to 132 points with Theo Pourchaire in second with 83 points but Daruvala closed up to second with 73 points
Jehan said, “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed but I’m still happy with the race I did. I had a great start, had everything under control and felt I deserved the win. It’s a shame to miss out by such a narrow margin but we’ll take the positives from this and now focus on Sunday’s feature race."
Also read: Max Verstappen wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Ferrari disaster
USA's Devon Allen produces third quickest 110m hurdles in history
(Sports news) The New York Grand Prix saw Devon Allen produce the third quickest 110m hurdle in the sport’s history on Sunday. The 27 year old won in 12.84 seconds, behind Aries Merritt (12.80) and world champion Grant Holloway (12.81). Allen will be playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL after getting a contract from the team in April. The two time Olympian will be hoping to compete at next month's World Championships in Eugene, Oregon before joining the Eagles.
Speaking after the New York Grand Prix, Allen said “I thought I was going to break the world record today so we'll have to wait for another race.” The 27 year old finished fifth in the 2016 Olympics and fourth at last year’s Tokyo Olympics. This summer, the Eagles invited Allen to visit their training facilities after which he signed a three year contract as an undrafted rookie with the NFL team. He was expected to join the Eagles earlier but tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in his participation at the New York Grand Prix.
In other results, Christian Coleman went under 10 seconds, running 9.92secs in the men's 100 metres, beating Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake (9.95) in the men's 100 metres while American Marvin Bracy was third (10.03). In other events, US 100m champion Sha'Carri Richardson was beaten in the 100m event, finishing second behind Aleia Hobbs who got the time of 10.83secs while Richardson was just behind at 10.85 while Olympic finalist Teahna Daniels was third in 10.99. However, Richardson bounced back to win the 200m in 22.38secs ahead of Tamara Clark (22.62) and the Bahamas' Tynia Gaither (22.66).
Also read: Long jumper B Aishwarya leaps to a stunning 6.73m, all time 2nd best by an Indian woman
Max Verstappen wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Ferrari disaster
(Motorsport) It was a disastrous day for Ferrari as both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz’s F1-75 suffered engine failure and were forced to retire, resulting in Verstappen and Perez finishing in first and second place respectively at the Baku City Circuit. The victory for the reigning champion means that Verstappen is 21 points ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez, but the Mexican did manage to get a point for the fastest lap. As for Leclerc, the Monegasque is 13 points behind while the situation looks bleak for Ferrari in the Constructors Standings as they are 80 points behind Red Bull.
Mercedes’ George Russell had another impressive race, having secured a top 5 position at every Grand Prix in his debut season for the Silver Arrows so far. The 24 year old finished in third place while Lewis Hamilton endured a painful race due to porpoising but managed to finish fourth. AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly finished fifth while Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel was sixth. Both the Alpine drivers also managed to secure points with Fernando Alonso in seventh place and Esteban Ocon tenth. Daniel Ricciardo managed to get a much needed positive result as he finished above his teammate Lando Norris in eighth place.
To add to Ferrari’s misery, Kevin Magnussen’s Haas and Zhou Gunayu’s Alfa Romeo also encountered engine-related issues and it was no coincidence that both the car engines were also supplied by the Italian manufacturer. It seems like a theme of this season where Charles Leclerc finishes on pole position during qualifying but fails to translate that performance into the race itself, either due to technical problems, strategy or plain bad luck. The Monegasque has gone five races without a win now, despite having arguably the fastest car. A title challenge at this rate would be impossible and Ferrari may have to be content with finishing second in the Constructors Standings and Leclerc finishing third in the Driver’s Championship.
Azerbaijan GP: Race Result
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2) Sergio Perez, Red Bull (fastest lap)
3) George Russell, Mercedes
4) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
5) Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
6) Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
7) Fernando Alonso, Alpine
8) Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
9) Lando Norris, McLaren
10) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
Also read: Red Bull team principal Christian Horner refutes Jos Verstappen criticism
Long jumper B Aishwarya leaps to a stunning 6.73m, all time 2nd best by an Indian woman
Chennai, Jun 12 (Sports News) Karnataka's B Aishwarya produced the second best ever long jump effort by any Indian woman as she cleared a stunning 6.73m in the qualification round on the third day of the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships here on Sunday.
The 24-year-old improved 21cm over her earlier personal best of 6.52m which she had cleared while winning the gold in the National Open Championships in September last year.
Her effort is second only to legendary World Championships bronze winner Anju Bobby George's national record of 6.83m.
Aishwarya bettered the Commonwealth Games qualifying standard of 6.50m set by Athletics Federation of India (AFI). She also bettered the meet record of 6.63m set by Mayookha Johny in 2011. However, there was no wind speed reading during the qualification round.
In another shock result, national record holder Jyothi Yarraji fell to finish the race in the women's 100m hurdles final as she clipped the last hurdle and fell on the track. C Kanimozhi of Tamil Nadu won the race in 13.62 seconds well outside AFI's CWG qualifying standard of 13.11s.
Jyothi had clocked 13.04s last month in a race in the Netherlands, which was the second time she bettered her own national record.
The men's 110m hurdles was won by national record holder Siddhant Thingalaya with a time of 13.93s.
Asian record holder Tajinderpal Singh Toor of Punjab expectedly took the gold in men's shot put with an effort of 20.34m in his final round throw which was 16cm short of the CWG qualifying distance of 20.50m set by the AFI.
National record holder Annu Rani of Uttar Pradesh easily won the women's javelin throw event by clearing 60.97m, which was above the CWG standard of 59.50m.
The high jump gold went to Sarvesh Anil Kushare of Maharashtra as he cleared 2.24m, three centimeter short of the CWG qualifying mark.
Parul Chaudhary beat veteran Sudha Singh, her Uttar Pradesh team-mate, for gold with a time of 9:42.16 in women's 3000m steeplechase while Balkishan of Haryana won the men's event with a time of 8:42.34.
Also Read : Two silver for Indian lifters in Youth World Championships
News Source : PTI
Two silver for Indian lifters in Youth World Championships
New Delhi, Jun 12 (Sports News) India's Akansha Kishor Vyavhare won the silver medal in 40kg category while Vijay Prajapati finished second in 49kg in 2022 IWF Youth World Weightlifting Championships for men and women in Leon, Mexico.
The two silver medals were won on Saturday, the opening day of the event.
Akansha lifted a total of 127kg (59kg + 68kg), while Vijay managed to lift 175kg (78kg + 97kg).
Akansha is a trainee of SAI National Centre of Excellence, Aurangabad and Vijay is a trainee of NCOE Patiala.
"I would like to congratulate all the weightlifters for putting a good show during 2022 IWF Youth World Weightlifting Championships at Leon and laud the efforts of Indian coaches who have trained the athletes in short span of time in the national camps," said Sahdev Yadav, president of Indian Weightlifting Federation.
Also Read : Running individual 400m is not yet over for Hima, hints at doing that again in postponed Asian Games
News Source : PTI
Running individual 400m is not yet over for Hima, hints at doing that again in postponed Asian Games
Chennai, Jun 12 (Sports News) Star sprinter Hima Das is not ruling out a return to 400m, an event which shot her to fame in 2018, and is hoping to make a comeback to the quartermile in the now-postponed Asian Games, which is likely to be held next year.
The 22-year-old 'Dhing Express' last ran a major 400m race during the Asian Championships in Doha in April 2019. She pulled out of that race midway due to a lower back injury.
She later ran two 400m races in low-grade events in Czech Republic in 2019, but since then, has not featured in the one-lap race. She also missed the World Championships in the later part of 2019 due to the back injury.
Hima, who became the first Indian to win a global track event title by clinching gold in the World Junior Championships in 2018, first suffered the injury during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta where she won an individual 400m silver and gold medals in the 4x400m and mixed 4x400m relays.
After returning from the injury lay-off, Hima has been running 100m and 200m. She holds the national record of 50.79 seconds in 400m.
"I have not cut (off) running the 400m. It (recovery from injury) is a long process. During my injury time, I was not being able to run 400m because a lot of pressure developed on the right side of my back," Hima said after winning the 100m gold in the National Inter-Sate Championships here with her personal best time of 10.43s.
"My L4 and L5 (two lowest vertebrae in the lumbar spine) were broken and was in a different position. Whenever I run it affects me. Then I did my physiotherapy and ran 30m, 40m, 50m, 100m and then 200m gradually. Till 300m, I am fine. I ran 300m in Europe sometime earlier.
"You need to pick up speed in the last 100m (of 400m) and when I did that once I had to be taken to the hospital (during a training stint in Poland in 2019)," said the sprinter from Assam.
Asked when she can start running 400m, she said, "Not at this point in time, but will surely do it (in near future).
"It may happen at the end of this year, otherwise I may prepare 400m for the postponed Asian Games because I will get time to prepare (for Asian Games)." Hima had also suffered a hamstring injury during the National Inter-State Championships last year in Patiala. She was forced to pull out of the 100m and 4x100m relay finals due to the injury. She ran in the 200m final but finished fifth to miss out on the Tokyo Olympics.
The Asian Games, earlier scheduled to be held in September this year, have been postponed due to an upsurge in COVID-19 cases in host country China. The Games are likely to be held next year.
When asked if 400m coach Galina Bukharina will recommend her to run it, Hima said, "Galina madam and the federation will take the decision what is to be done for me. I will do whatever the AFI says.
"Galina madam is not only my coach but she is also like my mother. I even told my mother at home in Assam not to get tense thinking about me because I have a mother there (national camp) also." Hima was earlier training at the NIS Patiala before shifting base temporarily to Thiruvananthapuram. She was part of the Indian team that underwent a training-cum-competition tour in Turkey. The team returned home earlier this month.
Asked about the experience of running 100m in the last few years, Hima said, "When I started athletics, I was doing 100m and long jump. It was not going together, so I ran 100m and 200m.
"After I was called for national camp (in 2017 after winning 200m gold in National Open in Chennai), I was doing 200m and 400m. Now again, I am doing 100m and 200m. This is a process.
"You need to be strong to be a sprinter and I had coped with injury since 2018 (Asian Games). It was tough to get over my injury and come back to track. But I learnt a lot during this period. Now it is the best point in my life.
"Sachin (Tendular) sir said that a sportsperson and injury are like friends. How to face that (injury) and move ahead and give result is the challenge you have to overcome. His words inspire me." Hima suffered COVID-19 infection in October last year. Asked about it, she said, "I was about to do die (laughs). It was a severe and dangerous COVID infection."
Also Read : Anahat Singh seals berth for World Junior Squash C'ship after topping selection trials
News Source : PTI
Anahat Singh seals berth for World Junior Squash C'ship after topping selection trials
New Delhi, Jun 11 (Sports News) Delhi girl Anahat Singh has sealed her spot in the World Junior Squash Championship in August after topping the selection trials in Chennai.
The world event will be played in Nancy, France.
Anahat beat Aishwariya Khubchandani of Maharashtra 3-0 in the finals of the selection trials held at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai earlier this week.
The top ranked player in the U15 category in India and Asia, Anahat had won the US Junior Squash Open in December last year.
She has also won multiple international medals for India including the gold at British Junior Squash Open 2019, followed by a silver in 2020.
The two-time national champion is now preparing to play the Asian Junior Squash Championship at Pattaya from June 15-19.
Also Read : Rahul Srivatshav P of Telangana becomes India's 74th Grandmaster
News Source : PTI
Rahul Srivatshav P of Telangana becomes India's 74th Grandmaster
Chennai, Jun 11 (Chess News) Rahul Srivatshav P of Telangana has become India's 74th Grandmaster, achieving the title after breaking the 2500 (Elo points) barrier in live FIDE ratings during the 9th Cattolica Chess Festival 2022 in Italy.
The 19-year old player reached the 2500 Elo live rating mark after drawing his 8th round game against Grandmaster Levan Pantsulaia in the Cattolica event.
His current Elo rating is 2468.
Srivatshav had already secured five GM norms and achieved the title when he crossed the rating threshold of 2500 on Friday.
To become a GM, a player has to secure three GM norms and cross the live rating of 2500 Elo points.
"India one more step closer to getting 100 Grandmasters! Meet our newest addition to the elite club, 19-year-old Rahul Srivatshav from Telangana, India's 74th Grandmaster! A big congratulations to Rahul, his coach and family!," All India Chess Federation president Sanjay Kapoor tweeted on Saturday.
Bharath Subramaniyam had become the country's 73rd GM in January. The legendary Viswanathan Anand is India's first GM, which he became way back in 1988.
Also Read : My CWG hopes are dwindling, I'm sinking into depression: Gymnast Ashish Kumar
News Source : PTI
My CWG hopes are dwindling, I'm sinking into depression: Gymnast Ashish Kumar
New Delhi, Jun 11 (Sports News) India's most decorated male gymnast Ashish Kumar is sinking into depression as his hopes of making the Commonwealth Games squad continue to dwindle a month after alleging partiality in selection trials.
Kumar, who won medals at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in 2010, wrote to the Gymnastic Federation of India and Sports Authority of India, alleging that he "faced injustice" at the selection trials for the upcoming Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
The trials were held on May 11 and 12.
He also requested to review the video footage of the performance of the top eight gymnasts during the trials by international judges.
The SAI, accordingly, had asked the GFI to submit a report regarding the same and said it can set up a committee, if required, to probe the matter.
However, the 32-year-old Kumar said he is yet to hear anything either from the GFI or SAI, and that his "hopes are dying with each passing day".
"I am feeling depressed by this whole episode. I don't know why I am training. When you don't even know if you would be able to compete at the Commonwealth games, it is difficult to continue in such uncertainty.
"There has been no response from SAI or GFI despite my repeated mails. We play a difficult sport which needs a lot of mental strength. If you are not mentally okay, you might injure yourself," Kumar told PTI.
GFI president Suddir Mittal said that it has already submitted the report and the ball is in SAI's court.
"We have submitted the report immediately after we were asked for it by SAI. It is up to them to take a decision on it," Mittal said.
On June 2, Kumar wrote another letter to SAI and GFI, seeking clarity.
"I am writing this mail again to request you to please look into the complaint I have raised on the unfair selection and judgement for the core probables and World Challenge Cup selection trials dated 11-05-2022," he wrote.
Kumar had 5th highest score in All Around but he said he is still "nowhere in the World Challenge Cup teams nor in the list of abroad camp" while "other gymnasts who are in 7th and 8th are being selected for World Challenge Cups and foreign exposure".
An eight-member Indian team, including four men and four women, on Wednesday left for FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup, which began on Thursday in Croatia.
The same team will also compete at Asian Championship.
"If the teams are departing for World Challenge Cup on 8th June followed by Asian Championship and foreign exposure camp in France, then it's very clear that there is no possibility of CWG trials," Kumar lamented.
Kumar also said the scores of a couple of Indian gymnasts competing at the ongoing World Challenge Cup proved his allegation of bias.
"If you look at the scores of qualification at Croatia, you will clearly understand the difference of the judgements made at trials and by the international officials.
"In gymnastics, 0.1 to 0.5 point difference is okay but anything above it is a huge difference. Just look up at the scores of Yogeshwar who was 7th in trial but was still sent to Croatia. The other person is Abhijeet (2nd in trial), who is from Navy." Yogeshwar Singh scored 12.60 in floor at the trials but he produced 12.000 on Friday at the world challenge. In horizontal bar and vault, Yogeshwar scored 12.90 and 14.35 in trials compared to 10.800 and 13.375 in Croatia.
Abhijeet Kumar, on the other hand, had exactly similar score in trials and the world challenge, scoring 11.65 in pommel Horse.
However, his performance slipped in horizontal bar as he scored 11.250 at Croatia compared to 12.85 in the selection trials.
"Their scores are so vastly different at the world challenge then it was in the trials which clearly show the bias.
"But I am still training with this slim hope of competing at open trials because I know I can win a CWG medal," Kumar signed off.
Also Read : Indian GM Praggnanandhaa wins title in Norway chess open
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner refutes Jos Verstappen criticism
(Motorsport) Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, has dismissed criticism from Jos Verstappen about the events of Monaco Grand Prix where the team were blamed for prioritising Sergio Perez instead of the current World Champion Max Verstappen. Speaking to Sky Sports between FP1 and FP2 ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Christian Horner stood by the team’s decisions which led to the Mexican driver winning the race and reiterated his belief that both the drivers are equally important for the team.
Christian Horner said “Dads and fathers are never totally objective. What wasn't apparent was all of the information that we have during a race. If Max had pitted, then he would have come out behind I think George at the time. Jos is his own person and personality. He's got opinions and that's absolutely fine, that's his opinion. The reality for us was obviously slightly different… it's no issue." Perez’s victory in Monaco meant that only 15 points separate the two drivers, which means that the Mexican can be considered as a genuine title contender for the team.
Horner insisted that if Perez manages to outqualify Verstappen at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he will get the first call on strategy during the race. He said “The No 1 driver is the driver that's ahead, it's as simple as that. That's why Checo got the call on the pit stop, Max wouldn't even have had track position for example on that lap. But, our fight isn't between the two drivers, we've got a very competitive Ferrari with two fast drivers in it. Collectively as a team, we've got to take the fight and take the challenge to Ferrari, who are looking very quick this year."
If that wasn’t all, Sergio Perez on Friday reiterated that his contract doesn’t specify that he is the ‘second driver’ for the Red Bull team. The Mexican said “We didn't discuss that. There's nothing in my contract that says that I need to finish second or something like that. It was not a topic at all. I feel like I've got a good opportunity (to win the World Championship). Obviously the season is still very young, so anything can happen from now on. I certainly feel like as a driver you want certainty and you want to get that stress out of the way. So the earlier the better. It takes so much energy and so much focus to be 100 percent weekend by weekend, so you don't need that thinking. So it was good that we agreed so early with the contract."
The contract extension to Sergio Perez has meant that AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly, who previously raced for Red Bull in 2019 could decide to leave his parent team’s stable after his contract expires in 2023. Speaking about Gasly, Horner said “We're in the fortunate position through the ownership of Red Bull effectively having two Grand Prix teams, that we've been able to invest in young talent and bring it up.
“It was obviously a no-brainer for us, and totally deserving for Checo, to retain that seat. For Pierre, obviously he remains under contract to Red Bull and there's another year to run on that contract, but the timing wasn't right to bring him back into Red Bull Racing. For Yuki, it's still very early in his career so it was never even a discussion. If shows that we're not afraid to step out of the scheme, if a driver within the scheme we don't feel that there's one ready for Red Bull Racing. The pairing that we have, we're very happy with."
Also read: Pierre Gasly considers leaving Red Bull after Perez gets new contract
Charles Leclerc tops the speed chart ahead of Azerbaijan Grand Prix
(Motorsport) After a massively disappointing Monaco Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc showed some incredible pace at the Baku City Circuit as his Ferrari was faster than both the Red Bull cars in Final Practice 2 on Friday. In Practice One, Leclerc trailed Perez by a quarter of a second while Verstappen was a further tenth back in challenging and breezy conditions. Fernando Alonso capitalised on Carlos Sainz’s failure to complete his two final flying laps, coming fourth while the Ferrari driver finished fifth ahead of AlphaTauri’s Pierra Gasly.
Mercedes driver George Russell finished seventh while seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton was a disappointing 12th, with the Silver Arrows appearing to struggle more than most on the track due to the porpoising issue. There were concerns about Verstappen’s rear wing which appeared to flex excessively in the opening hour of the practice session. Red Bull ultimately decided to mirror Verstappen’s car setup to Sergio Perez’s, which was not encountering the same issue.
While the Dutch racing driver’s car was being worked on, Leclerc had already posted the fastest lap on the time chart, possibly aided by the slipstream he received from Nicholas Latifi during his lap. The Monegasque driver will be looking to get his first win in four races this time around and Ferrari will hope to have their strategy in place to avoid encountering similar issues to the Monaco Grand Prix.
Also read: The story behind Ferrari's re emergence as Formula 1 title contenders
Indian GM Praggnanandhaa wins title in Norway chess open
Stavanger (Norway), Jun 11 (Chess News) Young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa emerged winner in the Norway Chess Group A open chess tournament here with 7.5 points from nine rounds.
The 16-year old GM, the top-seed, was in fine form and remained unbeaten through the nine rounds. He finished the tournament with a win over fellow Indian V Praneeth, an International Master, late on Friday.
Praggnanandhaa (Elo 2642) finished a full point ahead of second-placed IM Marsel Efroimski (Israel) and IM Jung Min Seo (Sweden).
Praneeth with six points was joint third but was placed sixth due to an inferior tie-break score.
Apart from beating Praneeth, Praggnanandhaa posted wins over Victor Mikhalevski (in round 8), Vitaly Kunin (round 6), Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov (round 4), Semen Mutusov (round 2) and Mathias Unneland (round 1). He drew his other three games.
The Indian teenaged star has been putting in impressive performances in recent times and had beaten world number one Magnus Carlsen for a second time in the Chessable Master online event and lost a close final to China's Ding Liren.
The GM will be part of the India B team in the open event of the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai next month.
Praggnanandhaa's coach R B Ramesh congratulated him after the win and said it will help boost his confidence.
"Congratulations to him for the victory. He was the top seed, so it is not a surprise that he won the tournament. He played well in general, drew three games with black pieces and won the remaining games. It will help boost his confidence," Ramesh said.
Also Read : Norway Chess: Anand beats Tari in final round; settles for third place
News Source : PTI
Norway Chess: Anand beats Tari in final round; settles for third place
Stavanger (Norway), Jun 11 (Chess News) Former world champion Viswanathan Anand scored a win over Aryan Tari in the ninth and final round to finish third in the Norway Chess tournament which was won by world number one Magnus Carlsen.
The 52-year-old Indian chess legend won the Armageddon encounter against Tari after the classical match finished in a 22-move draw.
Anand was made to work hard by Tari in the sudden death tie-break as he needed 87 moves to secure the victory early on Saturday.
He finished with 14.5 points to sign off at the third place behind Carlsen (16.5 points) and Azerbaijan's Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (15.5).
The Indian GM started superbly, scoring victories in his first three matches (against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Veselin Topalov and Wang Hao) and then pulled off an impressive win over Carlsen.
He led the points table after the fifth round but appeared to lose steam in the second half of the tournament.
A defeat at the hands of Mamedyarov in the Classical in round eight hurt his chances to a large extent.
Anand scored over long-time rival Carlsen in the Blitz event before prevailing over him again in the Classical tournament.
Carlsen was able to finish on top despite not being at his best and suffering defeats to So, compatriot Tari and Anand.
After all classical games on the final day ended in draws, there were wins for Vachier-Lagrave over Anish Giri (the Netherlands) and Anand.
Carlsen had to settle for a draw in the Armageddon against Topalov, while Mamedyarov was held by Radjabov and Wang Hao shared the honours with So.
Final standings: 1. Magnus Carlsen (Norway) 16.5 points, 2. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) 15.5, 3. Viswanathan Anand (India) 14.5, 4. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (14), 5. Wesley So (USA) 12.5, 6. Anish Giri (12), 7. Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) and Aryan Tari (Norway) 9.5, 9. Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) 8, 10. Wang Hao (China) 7.5.
Also Read :International Open Rapid Chess tournament on June 19 to mark Olympiad torch relay
News Source : PTI
Samrul Zubar snatches pole position in novice category
Coimbatore, Jun 10 (Motor sports) Hyderabad's Md Samrul Zubair (Race'ists Motorcycle Club) snatched the pole position in the novice (Stock 165cc) category as the Rolon Round of the Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2022 thatcommenced at the Kari Motor Speedway here on Friday.
Zubair, a 22-year-old business management student, came up with a best lap of one minute 25.963 seconds to qualify for pole position for Saturday's race. After finishing third in the morning free practice session, Zubair gave an improved performance in the evening's qualifying session.
“This is my third season in the national championship. I had been finishing in the top-10 earlier and had a podium in the final round last year. I am happy with my performance today, but hope to do better in the race tomorrow,” Zubair said.
Filling the front row are second-placed Varun Nanjundegowda (Axor Sparks Racing, 01:26.078) from Mysuru and Hyderabad's Vignesh Goud (Race'ists Motorcycle Club, 01:26.080).
Earlier in the day, Petronas TVS Racing team had plenty to cheer about as their riders, Thailand's guest rider Voropong Malahuan (Pro-stock 301-400cc Open) and reigning national champion Jagan Kumar (Pro-stock 165cc Open) topped the time-sheets in their respective categories during the free practice sessions. Malahuan clocked the best lap of one minute 13.873 seconds while Jagan timed 01:17.933 during his flying lap around the 2.3-km long circuit.
Malahuan led a 1-2 for Petronas TVS Racing as he outpaced team-mate K Y Ahamed (01:14.150) while veteran Rajini Krishnan (RACR Castrol Power), the defending champion in this category astride a Yamaha R3, was third quickest in 01:14.201.
Jagan edged out his arch-rival Rajiv Sethu (01:18.246) of the Idemitsu Honda SK69 Racing with KY Ahamed (01:18.365), also of Petronas TVS Racing, third fastest.
Lani Zena Fernandez (RACR Castrol Power) topped the free practice session in the girls (stock 165cc) category clocking 01:28.322, ahead of Apex Racing's Aditi Krishnan (01:29.304) and Jagathishree Kumaresan (01:30.454) of Pacer Yamaha.
The results – qualifying (best laps): national championship – novice (stock 165cc): 1. Md Samiul Zubair (Team Race'ists Motorcycle Club, Hyderabad) (01min, 25.963secs); 2. Varun Nanjundegowda (Axor Sparks Racing, Mysuru) (01:26.078); 3. Vignesh Goud (Team Race'ists Motorcycle Club, Hyderabad) (01:26.080).
Petronas TVS One-Make Championship – Apache 310 RR (Open): 1. Navaneeth Kumar (Puducherry) (01:17.788); 2. Jagadeesh N (Bengaluru) (01:17.865); 3. Alwin Sundar (Chennai) (01:17.885).
Girls (Apache RTR 200): 1. Aditi Krishnan (Bengaluru) (01:28.787); 2. Renuka Gajendran (Bengaluru) (01:30.226); 3. Riya Rohatgi (Pune) (01:32.377).
Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup – CBR 150: 1. Siddesh Sawant (Kolhapur) (01:28.854); 2. Shyam Babu (Chennai) (01:30.061); 3. Harshith V Bogar (Bengaluru) (01:31.175).
Also Read : The story behind Ferrari's re emergence as Formula 1 title contenders
News Source : PTI
IPL Media Rights: Amazon pulls out; Star, Viacom18, Sony, Zee in 4-way race
New Delhi, Jun 10 (Cricket News) The much-anticipated duel between Jeff Bezos and Mukesh Ambani for acquisition of one of world's costliest sporting properties won't materialise now as OTT giants Amazon on Friday pulled out of IPL media rights bidding, scheduled to start on Sunday.
Reliance Industries Limited owned Viacom18 is considered to be one of the strongest contenders both in TV and digital space.
Bezos-funded Amazon was expected to be one of the biggest bidders in digital space but pulled out of the race without revealing the reason.
"Yes, Amazon is out of the race. They didn't join the technical bidding process today. As far as Google (YouTube) is concerned, they had picked up the bid document but didn't submit it. As of now, 10 companies (TV and streaming) are in fray," a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
A four-way battle -------------------- There are four specific packages in which e-auction will be conducted for 74 games per season for a five-year period from 2023-2027 with a provision of increasing the number of matches to 94 in the final two years.
The Package A has Indian sub-continent exclusive TV (broadcast) rights while Package B covers digital rights for Indian sub-continent.
The Package C is for 18 selected games in each season for digital space while Package D (all games) will be for combined TV and digital rights for overseas markets.
"Let's make it clear, the Viacom 18 JV (Joint Venture), current rights holder Walt Disney (Star), Zee and Sony are the four contenders for the packages with solid footprints in both TV and digital market," the official said.
Some of the other contenders, primarily for digital space are: Times Internet, FunAsia, Dream11, FanCode while Sky Sports (UK) and Supersport (South Africa) will be vying for overseas TV and digital rights.
The last time, Star India bought rights for both TV and digital with a composite bid of Rs 16,347.50 crore but this time the composite base price is more than Rs 32,000 crore.
All bidders will have to make separate bids for each package, this time.
As of Friday, some of the big players who are involved with the bidding process, feel that Rs 45,000 crore (USD 5.8 billion approx) is the amount that BCCI could expect which will be a two-and-a-half times increase in valuation.
PTI has prepared 'Ready Reckoner' for IPL Media Rights ------------------------------------------------------------- Q: What are the dates of media rights auction? A: It is expected to be for two days -- June 12 and 13.
Q: What is the period of IPL Media Rights? A: The period is for five years from 2023-2027.
Q: Number of matches per season? A: It is 74 with provision of going up to 94 in last 2 seasons.
Q: What is current valuation of IPL Media Rights? A: Rs 16,347.50 crore for both TV and Digital with Star India.
Q: What are the packages on offer? A: A: TV Rights for Indian sub-continent at Rs 49 crore per game.
B: Digital Rights for Indian sub-continent at Rs 33 cr per game.
C: 18-match, non-exclusive digital package at Rs 11 crore per game.
D: Overseas TV and Digital Rights at Rs 3 cr per game.
Q: What is composite base price for all packages? A: Total composite base price for all four packages is Rs 32,440 cr.
Break-up: Package A is Rs 18,130 cr (74x49x5) Package B is Rs 12,210 cr (74x33x5) Package C is Rs 990cr (18x11x5) Package D is Rs 1110cr (74x3x5) Q: Which are major companies bidding? A: There are 10 companies in fray: Viacom18 JV (Joint Venture) with Lupa Systems (Uday Shankar and James Murdoch), Walt Disney (Star), Zee, Sony (both India media and digital rights).
Times Internet, Fan Code, FunAsia, Dream11 (only digital rights).
Supersport (South Africa) and Sky Sports (UK) vying for Overseas TV and Digital rights. Q: Can one entity make a composite bid like Star did last time? A: No. Every package will be awarded to highest bidder.
For example, Facebook had presented highest digital bid for Rs 3900 crore in 2017 but Star grabbed the rights with a huge composite bid despite lower digital bid.
Q: Can one entity get two packages? A: Yes, that is possible.
Suppose, if Star has the highest bid for India TV rights (Package A) for an 'x' amount and Sony places the highest bid for India digital rights for 'y' amount, both the companies can challenge each other in a tie-breaker.
Q: Which package could see a close fight? A: Package C, which has non-exclusive rights for 18 games that include opening game, final, three play-offs and a few weekend double headers.
All major players (Viacom, Zee, Sony, Star) would like to own this digital package. If a company wins India digital rights and loses out on non-exclusive rights, then it loses out on massive revenue (advertisement plus subscriptions) for those 18 games which can be accessed at any other platforms. Companies would like to buy it to kill competition.
Q: What is the type of auction that is being held? A: Just like last time, it will be e-auction where companies can raise their bid by 50 crore at one go. E-auction is transparent but time- consuming.
Q: What is kind of money expected by the BCCI? A: The BCCI is expecting that over and above their Rs 32,440 crore composite base price, it could earn another 12,000 to 12,500 crore which may take the valuation up to Rs 45,000 crore.
Also Read : Sri Lanka fined 40 percent of match fee for slow-over rate in second T20 against Australia
News Source : PTI
International Open Rapid Chess tournament on June 19 to mark Olympiad torch relay
New Delhi, Jun 10 (Chess News) The All India Chess Federation (AICF) will conduct an International Open Rapid Chess tournament in New Delhi on June 19 ahead of an Olympic-style torch relay that will be organised in build up to the Chess Olympiad. The one-day event will offer a prize pool of Rs 10 lakh.
The winner will take home a cash award of Rs 1 lakh while the second and third-placed players will win Rs 60,000 and Rs 40,000 respectively. The tournament will also have 20 cash prizes in five rating categories.
Earlier this week, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) introduced a torch relay ahead of the Chess Olympiad, scheduled in Mahabalipuram from July 28 to August 10.
"It's time for celebration of this huge honour (torch relay) and it can't be done in a better way than inviting players across all age groups and the chess community together at one platform.
"We look forward to a great response from players for this tournament," said AICF Secretary and Olympiad Director Chauhan.
Coming as a huge pride for the country, FIDE also named India, a land the sport originated from, as the starting flame point for the Torch Relay in every Olympiad.
Also Read : NADA to collect dope samples from all medals winners at athletics Nationals
News Source : PTI
NADA to collect dope samples from all medals winners at athletics Nationals
Chennai, Jun 10 (Sports News) The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) will collect samples from all medal winners at the ongoing National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships and will not take random samples for testing.
There are 43 medal events in the championships but there might be athletes who win more than one medal.
"We will take samples of gold, silver and bronze winners in each event, both men and women. We are not collecting random samples," a member of the dope testing team told PTI.
A NADA dope testing team from Bengaluru arrived on Thursday, a day before the start of the event, which will serve as a selection trial for the July 28 to Aug 8 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Last month, Maharashtra quarter-miler Aishwarya Mishra evaded dope testing agencies as she "disappeared" after winning gold in the Federation Cup in April with the third fastest Indian time (51.18 seconds) ever.
She, however, false-started in the women's 400m heats in the morning session on Friday and was disqualified.
Reduced to tears, Mishra was guided by officials out of the running arena. She will now compete in the 200m race.
Also Read : Norway Chess: Anand loses to Mamedyarov; Carlsen surges ahead
News Source : PTI
Pierre Gasly considers leaving Red Bull after Perez gets new contract
(Motorsport) AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly will consider leaving the Red Bull stable after his contract expires in 2023. The French driver’s aspiration of racing for Red Bull was dealt with a major blow when Sergio Perez was offered a two year contract extension earlier this week. The 26 year old has raced alongside Max Verstappen in the past but was dropped midway through the 2019 season after a series of inconsistent results.
Gasly is expected to hold talks with team advisor Helmut Marko and it would make sense for the driver to leave the Red Bull stable as it will give him the freedom to choose the team he wants to race with next. Ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Gasly said “At the moment, for sure, beyond 2023, I consider all options, as I don't have anything beyond that. So for now, we'll see. These are things we need to discuss with Helmut. Obviously they want to keep me, and they want to keep me in the programme. But as I say, we need to see how to make this work, and just normal conversations are ongoing."
Speaking about the extension of Sergio Perez’s deal, Gasly said “To me, it's logical, it's not like it was a surprise because I'm a very objective person. And based on what they expect from the second driver, Perez ticks all the boxes. He is having an amazing season. He's performing very well this season. He's fast, some backing financially, good experience, and he's a good fit for the team. So it's not like it was a surprise at all for me. But obviously, on the other side, the impact it has on my career and with the ambitions that I have is obviously affected. So that's what we're discussing at the moment with Helmut, to obviously find what's best for all of us, and how do we go forward from there."
The Mexican driver won his first Grand Prix this season in Monaco, reducing the gap to his teammate Max Verstappen to 15 points in the Drivers Standings. Perez has proven to be a reliable second driver for the team, more so than both Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon. Considering Ferrari and Charles Leclerc’s poor results recently, it would be no surprise if the title race is between the two Red Bull cars who also have the opportunity to win the Constructors Championship quite comfortably this season.
Also read: The story behind Ferrari's re-emergence as Formula 1 title contenders
Top Indian athletes to jostle for CWG berths during Inter-State Athletics C'ships
Chennai, Jun 9 (Sports News) Some of them are already on a record-breaking spree but those who are struggling will strive to rediscover form and stake claim in Indian team for the Commonwealth Games as the National Inter-State Senior Championships are set to kick off, here Friday.
Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra will not be there and the 3000m steeplechase 'record man' Avinash Sable is also unlikely to compete though his name figures in the list of participants.
Sources close to Sable would skip the five-day event. The Maharashtra unit, his home state, was also unable to confirm whether he will fly down to India from his training base at Colorado Springs in USA or not.
Sable on Sunday had finished a creditable fifth with a time of 8:12.48, breaking his own national record for the eighth time during the Diamond League Meeting in Morocco.
The Sports Ministry had recently sanctioned the extension of his training stint there till July 24.
Besides being the last major event before the AFI picks the squad for the July 28 to August 8 CWG in Birmingham, athletes can also make a last-ditch effort to touch the qualifying standards for the July 15-24 World Championships in Eugene, USA.
More than 600 athletes from 23 states and Union Territories will vie for top honours. Sri Lanka has also sent an 11-member team.
Except for Chopra and possibly Sable and those recuperating from injuries, the cream of Indian athletics will be there.
The likes of seasoned campaigners Hima Das, Dutee Chand, Seema Punia, Annu Rani, Jyothi Yarraji among women and M Sreeshankar, Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Muhammed Anas Yahiya from among men are all taking part in the event.
Chopra, who had become the first Indian track and field athlete to win an Olympic gold, is currently training in Europe and has a big-ticket contest on June 14 in Finland where he will be up against some of the best in the world.
Jyothi Yarraji likely to aim for sub 13 sec in 100m hurdles =================================== Andhra athlete Jyothi broke the 100m hurdles national record three times last month during her training-cum-competition tour of Europe. She will be under spotlight as she pushes for a sub-13 sec time. Her latest national record stands at 13.04.
Her coach James Hillier has said that World Championships qualifying mark -- 12.80s -- would not be easy but would be under her radar.
Another ward of Hillier, Amlan Borgohain of Assam would also be looking to book his place in CWG team after creating a 200m national record (20.52s) at the Federation Cup in April. However, he was not at his best during the recent European stint.
Long jump pit to see battle among three members of 8m club ===================================== The long jump pit will be one of the centres of attraction with three members of the 8m club set to renew their rivalry.
National record holder Murali Sreeshankar (NR 8.36m) has left behind his Olympics debacle and would be the favourite after his European stint during which he managed 8.31m in Greece.
But, he will be fiercely challenged by Jeswin Aldrin (8.20m PB) and Mohammed Anees (8.15m PB).
Hima, Dutee, Dhanalakhsmi to fight it out in shorter sprints ==================================== Fresh from their nearly two-month long training-cum-competition stint in Turkey, the likes of Hima and S Dhanalakshmi would look to claim a slot in the CWG team as well as have a crack at the World Championships qualification. The duel between Hima and Dutee Chand in 100m will be one of the most anticipated showdowns in the championships while veteran Srabani Nanda is also in the mix.
Dhanalakshmi, who had beaten Hima in a race in Europe a few days back, has not entered her name in the 100m dash.
But Dhanalakshmi will again be up against Hima in the 200m while Dutee does not feature in that distance though she is an Asian Games silver medallist.
Aishwarya in list, Priya, Rupal to watch out for in 400m ================================== Up and coming Priya Mohan, Rupal Choudhary and Kiran Pahal will be challenging the established ones like MR Poovamma, Jisna Mathew, Vismaya VK.
Aishwarya Mishra, who surprised many by running 51.18s at the Federation Cup in April and dodged the dope testers, has also entered her name (according to AFI list) from Maharahstra in 200m and 400m.
Toor, Seema and other old warhorses look to prove a point ==================================== Asian record holder Tajinderpal Singh Toor would be among those who would be keen to hit the straps straightaway after an injury layoff.
The 38-year-old discus thrower Seema Punia, the most decorated Indian athletes in the CWG with four medals -- three silver and one bronze -- would aim to qualify for the Birmingham Games and finish on the podium for the fifth time.
Veteran Sudha Singh, 35, who was awarded the coveted Padma Shri last year, will also be in action in women's 3000m steeplechase.
Dope testers from NADA have arrived ======================= With the meet assuming significance in view of the upcoming World Championships and CWG, dope testers from the National Anti-Doping Agency have arrived in Chennai a day in advance, according to local organisers -- Tamil Nadu Athletics Association.
Also Read : Grapplers shine to hand Haryana Khelo India Youth Games overall title
News Source : PTI
National motorcycle racing championship set to kick off in Coimbatore
Coimbatore, Jun 9 (MotorSports News) Top riders from across the country will be seen in action in the MRF-MMSC-FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship which will return to the refurbished Kari Motor Speedway here after a three-year gap for the Rolon round beginning on Friday.
Among those in the fray are Rajini Krishnan and Jagan Kumar, both multiple national title winners.
The five-round 2022 championship will see teams including TVS, Honda, KTM and Yamaha vie for honours, with the number of entries crossing the 200-mark, a press release said.
The weekend card includes the National Championship comprising four categories – Pro-Stock 301-400cc and 165cc, Novice (Stock 165cc) and Girls (Stock 165cc) – while Petronas TVS One-Make Championship (301-400cc Open, Rookie, Girls and media) and Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R, CBR 150 and Hornet 2.0) are also part of the programme. A new addition is the Stock 301-400cc category which will be run as a support race.
"It is great to be back at the Kari Motor Speedway after a three-year break due to the pandemic. We are overwhelmed by the tremendous response for the Rolon Round this weekend that should dish out high quality and exciting races," Madras Motor Sports Club president Ajit Thomas said in the release.
The two Pro-Stock categories will headline the weekend card as they boast of riders with proven credentials and international experience. Topping the line-ups are Rajini Krishnan (301-400cc, RACR Castrol Power) and Jagan Kumar (165cc, Petronas TVS Racing). Both notched their 10th National titles last season.
Similarly, Ryhana Bee, who has moved to the Pacer Yamaha team, would be the rider to beat in the girls section. She clinched the title last year, winning all five rounds.
The Novice category (under-23) boasts of a grid of 32 riders selected from 35 entrants and is expected to throw up keen competition.
While Friday is set aside for free practice and a few qualifying sessions, 20 races will be gone through over the next two days
Also Read : The story behind Ferrari's re emergence as Formula 1 title contenders
News Source : PTI
No regrets if I don't win another individual title, I've Thomas Cup gold: Prannoy
New Delhi, Jun 9 (Badminton News) Hoping to break his individual title drought that has stretched to five years, HS Prannoy says he will have no regrets even if it doesn't come his way since he has a Thomas Cup gold in his trophy cabinet now.
The giant-killer's tag has stayed for far too long for Prannoy, who scripted some of the most headline-grabbing victories over top stars such as Lee Chong Wei, Lin Dan, Chen Long and Viktor Axelsen.
However, he could not weave the big wins together in a week's time and even though he rose to a career-best ranking of world number 8 in 2018, the Indian's last individual title win came way back in 2017, at the US Open Grand Prix Gold.
"See there will be some extraordinary players, who go on to win continuously. But there are others who have the potential and have big wins against big players but never been able to win something really big. I come in that category," Prannoy told PTI during an interview.
"I know I haven't won something really big, may be something is on the cards, it will come when it has to but even if it doesn't, it's okay because you know you are putting in the effort. I think I have been blessed to be in that Thomas Cup squad." The Kerala shuttler had come close to winning a title after reaching the Swiss Open Super 300 final in March this year.
Though Prannoy, currently ranked 23, couldn't go the distance, his performance earned him a place in the Thomas Cup squad and he went on to play a pivotal role in India's epic triumph by winning the decisive third singles against Malaysia and Denmark in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively.
It was his win over Jun Hao Leung which helped India stun Malaysia, a five-time champions, and secure a first-ever medal in the Thomas Cup in 43 years.
"Being part of this squad, I could be part of that moment, could be part of that podium. I am lucky enough to get that feeling which no one else in the world can feel." While injuries are part of an athlete's life, the 29-year-old's progress in international badminton has also been affected by severe health issues.
When things were looking up on court in 2018, Prannoy was diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease during the World Championships, which affected his training and performance.
Once he recovered from it, he tested positive for COVID-19 in November 2020, the after-affects of which forced him to seek alternative treatment.
"Last few years I have learnt that things will be tough for you as a sportsperson. At times, in these years, I was comparing myself to others but then I realised that we need to acknowledge the times when you have done something good," he said.
"I have been introspecting on all that and it really helped me to achieve that happiness. There are a lot of things which go behind the things we do. I have been able to do that process happily in the last 3-4 years." Prannoy was also part of the Indian team that claimed its maiden gold in mixed event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
"CWG was different because we knew it will start really from the semifinals. We knew there would be two big matches. Malaysia was looking strong, so we had to really focus on that match. So when we reached the semifinal we knew the world was watching," he said.
"In Thomas Cup, nobody really kept us on the sidelines that these guys could also go on to win. The entire badminton world would have thought that they can create a few upsets but can never win the gold.
"So this win is important for the ecosystem of the sport. It is for the next generation of players to believe that it is possible. We need such big wins in constant gaps." Prannoy is not part of the 10-member Commonwealth Games squad with Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth making the cut due to their higher world ranking.
Asked if the Thomas Cup win will rub on to the players as they gear up for the Birmingham event, he replied in the positive.
"Yeah, from now on people will feel that we have a chance. In CWG, we are the defending champions and this time all are saying we are the favourites. But unless we go on to win it we won't get the respect," he signed off.
Also Read : Sindhu, Sen enter second round of Indonesia Masters Super 500
News Source : PTI
Hardik's intent and positive captaincy proved that he can lead India in future: Harbhajan
New Delhi, Jun 9 (Cricket News) A penchant for leading by example mingles with intent and positivity to make IPL title-winning skipper Hardik Pandya a strong contender for Indian captaincy in near future, reckons spin great Harbhajan Singh.
The 28-year-old all-rounder is being tipped as a future India captain after leading unfancied Gujarat Titans to victory in their maiden season in the world's most lucrative T20 league.
"One of the biggest revelations in this year's IPL was the advent of Hardik Pandya as the skipper of the Gujarat Titans and the way he led the team from the front to win the coveted title is definitely praiseworthy.
"His intent and positive captaincy are signs that he can lead Team India in the future," Harbhajan told PTI in an interview.
It was the culmination of an extraordinary season that began with experts refusing to put their money on the franchise after questioning its purchases in the player auction.
Their flamboyant skipper, however, had other ideas as, after having surprised everyone with his precise decision-making and field placements, took three wickets and scored 34 runs against Rajasthan Royals in the final, which was attended by a crowd of over one lakh in the world's biggest cricket stadium in Motera.
As the discussion turned to Virat Kohli, the former spinner with 417 Test and 269 ODI wickets said that his slump is temporary and the batting maestro would make a resounding comeback very soon.
"Kohli is a kind of cricketer who always gives his best when he is out there in the middle. Given the quality of cricket he has delivered to us over the years, I am extremely confident that he would make a comeback soon. He has always been an achiever," stated the legendary spinner.
For the five-match T20I series against South Africa, the Indian team management is relying on a number of youngsters who have performed brilliantly in this year's IPL.
Harbhajan said this is a great opportunity for the likes of Rututaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh to impress in the international arena ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Australia in October-November.
"It's a golden opportunity for these youngsters to do something special ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup later this year. The team management has injected the young blood into the squad against South Africa this time, and they have every potential to make it big before the flagship event," he said.
Harbhajan, who became the first Indian to take a hat-trick in Tests against Australia in 2001, said he is keenly looking forward to Yuzvendra Chahal's performance against the South Africans in the T20 series.
Chahal's excellent outing in IPL-15 earned him the Purple Cap -- reserved for the tournament's highest wicket-taker.
"Yuzvendra Chahal is currently in the form of his life, thanks to his amazing show in the IPL, that earned him 27 wickets, the most by any bowler this season.
"What sets Chahal apart from the rest is how he has evolved as a top-notch spinner over the years and never compromised on the line and length, which is very important for a spinner.
"Therefore, he will definitely play a pivotal role in this T20 series against South Africa," Harbhajan said during the interview which was facilitated by Fanatic Sports, one of leading sports travel and hospitality firms.
Asked about Dinesh Karthik's incredible resurgence, Harbhajan hailed the 37-year-old veteran as a fighter, whose never-say-die-attitude has led to his comeback to the Indian side.
"Dinesh Karthik, the kind of cricketer he is, and at this stage of his career, he is just trying to prove to himself that he is still good enough to represent the Indian colours.
"His determination, attitude, and most importantly, the fact that he believes, he has still got a lot to give to the Indian cricket team, are definitely laudable and he has definitely set a precedent by doing that," Harbhajan remarked.
Also Read : India eye world record in 1st T20I against South Africa
News Source : PTI
Nine Bengal batters score 50-plus in Ranji match, break 129-year-old record
Bengaluru, Jun 8 (Cricket News) The Bengal Ranji cricket team on Thursday created a global first-class record when all nine batters, who took guard, scored half-centuries in a mammoth first innings score of 773 for eight against a hapless Jharkhand on the third day of the quarter-final, here.
At stumps, Jharkhand were 139 for 5 in their first innings and it is virtually impossible to stop Bengal from entering the semi-final as the opposition now trail by 634 runs.
The match will be remembered for a record that stood test of time since 1893 when the touring Australian team, in a first-class game against combined universities (Oxford and Cambridge), had eight of their batters scoring fifty or more.
For Bengal, skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran (65) started the march towards milestone along with fellow opener Abhishek Raman (61).
This was followed by impressive knocks from Sudip Gharami (186) and senior-most batter Anushtup Majumdar (117). They added 243 runs for the second wicket.
Bengal's junior sports minister Manoj Tiwary (73) also added his name to the list along with Abhishek Porel (68), who has not let Bengal miss Wriddhiman Saha for once.
RCB all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed (78) and Sayan Sekhar Mondal (53) also made half-centuries to complete an Indian cricket but when Akash Deep came and smashed 8 sixes in 18-ball-53, the global first-class record was broken after 129 years.
Also Read : Will lead India with my chin up: Newly appointed captain Rishabh Pant
News Source : PTI
Grapplers shine to hand Haryana Khelo India Youth Games overall title
Panchkula, Jun 8 (Sports News) Haryana wrestlers clinched four out five gold medals on offer to wrest back their state's lead on the final day of the Khelo India Youth Games here on Wednesday.
The hosts collected two more yellow metals in track and field events to take their overall tally to 30 gold, 23 silver and 33 bronze medals and surge past Maharashtra (26G, 25S, 22B), who could only manage a solitary gold on the concluding day.
Elsewhere, in the swimming competition in Ambala, Karnataka began with a splash, creating three new marks while winning four gold. That took their gold tally to six, following two in track and field.
On the wrestling mat, promising Antim, who was seconds away from beating 2018 Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat during the Commonwealth Games trials, dominated the girls 53kg category to clinch her second Khelo India yellow metal in three years.
The Hisar girl proved too strong for her opponents, winning three bouts by technical superiority and one by fall. In the final, she did face resistance from a determined Kalyani Gadekar of Maharashtra but emerged winner riding on her tactical acumen.
The other three gold for Haryana were bagged by Pulkit (girls 65kg), Sahil (boys greco roman 92kg) and Sagar Jaglan (boys freestyle 80 kg), taking their wrestling tally to 16 gold, 10 silver and nine bronze medals.
Maharashtra were a distant second with three gold, with Vaibhav Patil adding the boys freestyle 55kg crown to his state's tally. Madhya Pradesh and Chandigarh wrestlers won one gold each.
In the day's other events, Haryana weightlifter Jyoti Yadav clinched the gold medal in the girl's 76kg with a total lift of 178kg.
Assam's Suditya Baruah (boys 89kg) and Punjab's Dilbag Singh (boys 96kg) bagged the other gold medals on offer from the weightlifting arena.
In track and field, Kiran of Rajasthan threw the discus almost three metres further than her nearest competitor to clinch her state's second gold medal in athletics.
Unnathi Aiyappa, daughter of former international heptathlete Pramila Aiyappa, clinched the girl's 100m hurdles gold medal with a timing of 14.00 seconds, while Haryana's Mohit pipped Rajasthan's Madhvendra Shekhawat with a timing of 13.62s to win the boy's 110m hurdles.
West Bengal's Srinjoy Datta bagged the gold medal in 10m air rifle event, beating statemate Abhinav Shaw in the gold medal match 16-14. Keval Prajapati of Gujarat clinched the bronze.
Also Read : Norway chess: Anand beats Radjabov, Carlsen loses to Tari
News Source : PTI
Team Soul reaches final of Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series
(Esports news) Team Soul have made their way into the grand finals in the inaugural edition of the Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series (BMIPS). Team Soul, champions of PUBG Mobile India Series 2019, qualified for the finals after finishing second in the high-voltage league stage with 519 points (finishes – 274 and position points - 245), including nine chicken dinners.
A prominent team, comprising of country’s popular BGMI athletes—gaming leader Sahil Jhakar (Soul Omega), supporter Sohail Shaikh (Soul Hector), assaulters Akshat Goel (Soul Akshat) and Harsh Paudwal (Soul Goblin) pulled off brilliant gameplay in the league stage and will now aim for the top finish in the finals. The team has been coached by Amit Dubey (Soul Amit) and Aman Jain (Soul Aman).
Team Soul’s assaulter Harsh Paudwal aka Soul Goblin was the most impressive athlete in the league stage as he put up an exceptional performance to claim the highest 120 kills in the tournament. He was also the fastest player to score 100 kills in the league stage.
The team also has veteran BGMI athletes Naman Mathur aka Mortal and Yash Soni aka Viper as substitute players who featured in the last four games of the league stage. Mortal won a chicken dinner in the first game itself while, on the other hand, Viper also played a crucial role to help the team become one of the hot favourites to win the championship.
“We are really happy that we made it out of a really competitive league stage for the finals of the BMPS series. We didn’t start as the favourites of winning the championship but the sheer dedication and hard work of every team member resulted in getting the spot in the Finals of the tournament. The Finals will be a portentous evaluation of our team’s skill but I have a firm belief in the team’s zeal and hard work. It is a challenge which was awaited by us and we feel more than ready to take it. The right mentality and proper grind towards the game make everything possible and a sure-shot path to success,” an elated Naman Mathur aka Mortal said after qualifying for the finals.
Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series is the country’s biggest BGMI tournament and features a prize pool of Rs 2 crore in the ongoing Season 1 wherein 16 teams will fight for the prestigious crown in the grand finals, scheduled from June 9 to 12. The champion team will take home Rs 75 lakh while the second and third-placed teams will bag Rs 35 lakh and Rs 20 lakh respectively. With 16 teams in action, 24 matches will be played over a period of four days in the BMIPS Season 1 finals. A team securing the highest cumulative score, in the end, will be crowned champions of Battleground Mobile India Pro Series Season 1/
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The story behind Ferrari's re emergence as Formula 1 title contenders
(Motorsport) The fact that Formula 1’s most successful team has not won a Drivers or Constructors Championship since over a decade has always been a head scratching statistic. Ferrari have had the drivers, resources and the fan following throughout the ‘lean’ years, yet the Italian team simply trailed behind both Mercedes and Red Bull throughout the hybrid era. Sure, there was the occasional podium finish and glimpses of their past glory, however, it's clear as day that the team were a shadow of their former selves and seemed to have no idea how to get out of the rut.
Fast forward to this season and it’s a completely different story. Ferrari have arguably been the fastest car on the grid, only to be let down by poor strategy, individual mistakes and bad luck. By all intents and purposes, it’s a genuine wonder why they aren't at the top of both the Drivers and Constructors Championships. Charles Leclerc has consistently outperformed world champion Max Verstappen in qualifying in most of the races so far, but circumstances have resulted in Red Bull having the last laugh in the race itself. One thing cannot be ignored is that Ferrari are now closer to being genuine title contenders than ever before (at least in the last decade) and there are plenty of underlying reasons for it.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Mattia Binotto, Principal of Scuderia Ferrari was asked for the reason behind Ferrari’s performance this season. The 52 year old said “It's an interesting question but also a difficult one. The right reasons do not come [down] to the technical aspect, that we changed the [engine] combustion, [and] we improved our aerodynamics. That's [only] the consequence. It is about building a team. The effort put in since 2017 has been step by step to build the right team. And with the right team, you can achieve the goals and targets. It's all about the team."
The situation Ferrari find themselves in is eerily similar to five years ago when the Italian manufacturer was considered title contenders as well. Just like this time, Formula 1 was entering into a new era of regulations and Ferrari’s technical team developed a car that could seriously rival Mercedes in the title race. Four time World Champion Sebastian Vettel dominated two thirds of the season, only to be outperformed by Lewis Hamilton in the final few races. The pattern continued the following year, resulting in the then team boss Maurizio Arrivabene being replaced by Mattia Binotto.
Reflecting on Ferrari’s past mistakes, Binotto said “As a team, we had already proved we had a good level of creativity and were capable of interpreting new rules and the car we made was a good one - the baseline, in terms of concept and idea. As a matter of fact, in the following years, the other teams copied our solutions. When I jumped into the role of team principal, I said it was a very young team. It was not that we were young in terms of age - I was 50 at the time.
“But we were young in our roles. We needed to build the experience. What we lacked in 2017, 2018 and 2019 [was that] we were not capable of developing the car. In 2017, we had reliability issues. We had our drivers crashing into each other, but we also had a team not strong enough in terms of culture and mentality. And on top of that, we didn't have the right tools simply because we brought in developments that were not working as expected. We were good in terms of potential but green in terms of experience and tools."
It was clear as day that the issue was not just with the drivers but also the facilities at Maranello. The end of the 2018 season saw Kimi Raikkonen depart after five underwhelming seasons and Ferrari gambled on young Charles Leclerc, who only had one season under his belt in Formula 1 after racing for Sauber. The faith in Leclerc was shown largely by Ferrari's former chairman and chief executive Sergio Marchionne who was unconvinced by Sebastian Vettel and wanted a driver who, while inexperienced, had the raw talent which could be harnessed to develop a future world champion.
The gamble paid off and Leclerc began outperforming Vettel, finishing on pole in Bahrain in only his second race for Ferrari but lost out on the race due to an engine problem in his car. Eventually, Ferrari and Leclerc proved to be a formidable partnership, with the pair taking seven pole positions and drawing the attention of their rivals. What followed was an enquiry by the FIA at Red Bull’s request about the fuel flow and the two parties reached a “private settlement” after which Ferrari’s performances dipped significantly. Speaking about the controversy, Binotto said “That's in the past; I prefer not to talk about it any more. However, what we were doing at the time was pushing the line of interpretations. As a matter of fact, it wasn't illegal, or we would have been disqualified."
What followed was Ferrari’s worst season in 40 years and with the COVID-19 pandemic, the opportunity to develop the car further was virtually impossible. Such was the disappointment at Ferrari that it led to a huge cultural change. Binotto said “At the time our CEO was Louis Camilleri and he had the vision to understand that what was most important was to give stability to the team. He understood that we had already started a process of building. We worked a lot on that (the culture . It is taking the error more as an opportunity to learn a lesson, rather than blaming and pointing fingers. It is all about being brave enough to hear, to listen and to do something which is really open-minded. It is about working as a team, a single individual understanding the common responsibility."
One of the biggest reasons for Ferrari’s success in the 2022 season has been the delay in the implementation of the new aerodynamic rules, which was originally supposed to be for the 2021 season. Binotto said that the delay “gave us more time to prepare ourselves, less distraction from the priority". One of their strongest features in the F1-75 has been the power unit and Binotto gave credit to the team for its development. Moreover, Leclerc has finally reached a stage of maturity where he can truly capitalise on the car’s power and take the fight to Red Bull this time around.
"We knew Charles had very high potential," Binotto says. "When we put him in our car in 2019, he proved in the first season to be very strong and talented. The way he was attacking, defending and driving proved what he could do. We knew he had to improve in terms of maturity, leadership and tyre management, and I think, as the seasons passed, it gave us the confidence he could do that and would become a fantastic driver. We had the confidence he could be a driver who can win world championships and become a very strong leader for the team."
The biggest challenge for Ferrari now would be maintaining their title charge. With the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the horizon, it’s imperative that Ferrari make up for the lost ground as Leclerc, who had a 46 point lead, is now 9 points behind Max Verstappen in the Drivers Standings. Speaking about the objectives of the 2022 season, Binotto said “We set our objectives to be back competitive in 2022. So our objective is to be competitive, not to win the championship, and it would be completely wrong to turn that into: 'Let's try to win the championship because we are so competitive.'
"Being competitive is one fact; becoming world champion is another level of task. [Saying] that is maybe to take off some pressure from the team, but also I think it would be wrong as management to change objectives from the ones we gave them. No doubt what we intend to do is to try to open a cycle - become world champion, and not only once; try to stay there. But I think it will take time. Our internal mindset is still that we need to improve as a team to be capable of winning a championship. It doesn't mean we will not do it.
“Maybe we will do it as soon as possible, but we are conscious of the fact that it is more than only being competitive. The ambition is there. Each single person working for Ferrari has the ambition. I don't think I need to remind them. More important is to let them focus on our process of continuous improvement, so each race is an opportunity for lesson-learned review and to build to do something better. And it is important to stay focused on each single race. We are not looking at the classifications."
Also read: Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari fear penalties after exceeding budget cap
Indian men's and women's hockey teams depart for FIH Pro League matches against Belgium
Bengaluru, Jun 8 (Hockey News) The Indian men's and women's hockey teams on Wednesday left for Brussels ahead of the upcoming FIH Hockey Pro League scheduled to be held on June 11 and 12.
Both the Indian teams will take on hosts Belgium in double-headers on June 11 and 12.
"Obviously, we are excited for this trip as we have been given a great opportunity in the form of FIH Hockey Pro League games to play against some of the top teams in Europe," India women's team captain Savita said prior to the team's departure.
Indian women's team is currently occupying the third spot in the FIH Pro League table with 22 points in eight games.
They are only behind table leaders Argentina (38 points) and the Netherlands (second position- 26 points).
However, the Indian team played fewer games than Argentina and the Netherlands and have an opportunity to move up the ranks if they win all their remaining fixtures.
The Indian men's squad is currently placed at the second spot in the FIH Pro League table. They are just three points behind the top-placed Netherlands.
"We are delighted to play against some of the top teams in the world on their home soil," India men's team captain Amit Rohidas said in a Hockey India release.
Also Read : Have full trust in HI but every federation has to abide by sports code: FIH
News Source : PTI
Norway chess: Anand beats Radjabov, Carlsen loses to Tari
Stavanger (Norway), Jun 8 (Chess News) Indian maestro Viswanathan Anand defeated Azerbaijan's Teimour Radjabov in the Armageddon in the seventh round of the Norway Chess tournament to remain in the second spot behind world number one Magnus Carlsen.
The 52-year old Indian grandmaster has 13 points after the seventh round, half a point behind Carlsen, who was shocked by Norwegian compatriot Aryan Tari in the sudden death tie-break.
Anand and Radjabov drew their Classical match in 42 moves in a Guicco Pianissimo game.
In the subsequent sudden death tie-break (Armageddon), the former world champion needed only 25 moves to beat the Azerbaijan player to secure a win early on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Carlsen went down to his countryman in 37 moves after the classical match had ended in a stalemate.
Azerbaijan star Shakhriyar Mamedyarov scored over Anish Giri to move to third spot with 11.5 points along with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who defeated Wesley So. Both scored wins in the classical for full three points.
In the other match of the day, China's Hao Wang edged veteran Veselin Topalov in the Armageddon.
In the ongoing tournament, the players take part in an Armageddon (sudden death) in case of a draw in the classical game.
Also Read : Maha Open chess: Aleksandrov beats Sengupta, enjoys joint lead with Amonatov
News Source : PTI
Avani Lekhara wins gold with world record in Para World Cup
New Delhi, Jun 7 (Shooting News) Tokyo Paralympics champion Avani Lekhara won gold at the Para Shooting World Cup with a world record score of 250.6 in women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 in Chateauroux, France on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old shooter broke her own world record of 249.6 to secure her a spot at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Poland's Emilia Babska bagged the silver medal with a total of 247.6, while the bronze went to Anna Normann of Sweden after she shot 225.6.
SH1 category is for athletes with lower limb impairment for competition in rifle events.
Lekhara bagged the top prize three days after being on the verge of missing the tournament as her coach and escort were initially denied visas.
However, the issue was resolved after intervention of the Sports Authority of India and Sports Ministry.
"Proud to bring home the gold in the R2 10M Air Rifle SH1 event with a WR score & India's 1st Paris2024 Quota, at the Chateauroux2022. My 1st Int. event since the @paralympics. A big thank you to everyone who has supported me!" she tweeted.
"Avani Lekhara, the new WorldRecord holder in the R2 - women's 10m air rifle standing SH1. The Indian shooter just crushed the former record (249.6) by scoring 250.6 in the Chateauroux2022 World Cup, in France!" Shooting Para Sport wrote on its Twitter handle.
In August last year, Lekhara bagged a gold in the 10m air rifle standing event in the SH1 category at the Tokyo Paralympics. She followed it up with a bronze in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 event, making her the first Indian woman to win multiple medals at the Paralympics.
Also Read : Swapnil-Ashi win 50m rifle 3P mixed gold, India end Baku WC on 2nd spot
News Source : PTI
Maha Open chess: Aleksandrov beats Sengupta, enjoys joint lead with Amonatov
Pune, Jun 7 (Chess News) Grandmaster Aleksej Aleksandrov outlasted Indian GM Deep Sengupta to join top-seed Farrukh Amonatov of Tajikistan in the lead of the first Maharashtra International Open Grandmaster chess tournament here on Tuesday.
While Aleksandrov put it across Sengupta in 54 moves, GM Amonatov was held to a draw on the top board by Indian GM Arjun Kalyan in a 31-move game.
Aleksandrov and Amonatov share the lead with eight points each after the 10th round.
Kalyan is close on the heels of the leaders with 7.5 points following the draw against the Tajik player in the penultimate round.
Four players -- Boris Savchenko, Luka Paichadze, Sengupta and Aditya Mittal -- occupy the third spot with seven points each.
Grandmaster Savchenko and Paichadze drew their matches against Kirill Stupak and Mihail Nikitenko, while Mittal split points with L R Srihari.
M R Lalith Babu, the highest-rated Indian player in the field, could not break through the defences of Neelesh Saha and had to settle for a draw.
The final round of the event will be played on Wednesday.
Important results (10th round): Farrukh Amonatov (8) drew Arjun Kalyan (7.5), Aleksej Aleksandrov (8) beat Deep Sengupta (7), Luka Paichadze (7) drew Kirill Stupak (5), Boris Savchenko (7) beat Mihail Nikitenko (6), L R Srihari (5) drew against Aditya Mittal (7), M R Lalith Babu (6.5) drew with Neelesh Saha (5), Alexei Fedorov (6) beat Audi Ameya (3), M R Venkatesh (6.5) drew with Bhakti Kulkarni (2), A Shrivatri (4.5) beat Karthik Venkataraman (6).
Also Read : Norway chess: Anand, Giri share honours in round six; Carlsen moves into lead
News Source : PTI
Have full trust in HI but every federation has to abide by sports code: FIH
Lausanne, Jun 7 (Hockey News) The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Tuesday said it continues to have "full trust" in Hockey India but expects its member associations to abide by the sports code of their respective countries.
The Delhi High Court last month placed HI under a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) following its observation that the federation has violated the National Sports Code.
The court ruling came on a petition filed by former India player Aslam Sher Khan, who had challenged Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Batra's appointment as life member of HI.
"It's 100% clear that every National Association (NA) has to make sure that its Statutes are compliant with the sports code of the local authorities. Therefore, if this is not the case for Hockey India at the moment, then this has to happen," said FIH's chief executive officer Thierry Weil.
"However, this situation does not affect FIH's full trust in Hockey India." The FIH CEO said HI will continue to play a pivotal role in the development of the game.
"Indeed, Hockey India has been and continues to be a key actor of the development of our sport, not only in the country, but also for the world, as an outstanding organiser of numerous FIH events," Weil said.
In its judgement, the Delhi HC held that the appointment of Batra as HI's life member and Elena Norman as CEO were illegal and thus the administrative setup of the national body was erroneous or illegal.
The HC constituted a committee headed by former Supreme Court judge AR Dave and has former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi and ex-Indian hockey team captain Zafar Iqbal as members.
The committee has been entrusted with making appropriate arrangements for the governance of HI until fresh elections are held.
Talking about the inaugural Hockey 5s held here last weekend, Weil said the FIH is all for its growth alongside the traditional format and would be hosting the first Hockey 5s World Cup in 2024.
"Hockey5s is a great lever to boost the growth of hockey at the global level. Thanks to its less restrictive infrastructure - smaller field - but also to the required number of players, the practice of Hockey5s can be a real development asset for many nations in the world," he said.
"Developing the sport is the number 1 mission of any international federation. The same goes for FIH. This is why, among other things, the FIH has decided to create a Hockey5s World Cup (first edition in 2024).
"In addition, the size of the field also makes it possible to anchor the Hockey5s in the heart of cities, giving it an urban dimension that is very fashionable and attractive, especially among young people.
"Finally, Hockey5s is an excellent springboard, a 'gateway', to 11-a-side hockey," Weil added.
The Indian men's hockey team won the inaugural FIH Hockey 5s, while Uruguay won the crown in the women's section.
Also Read : FIH Hockey 5s: Indian men's team emerges champions, beats Poland 6-4 in final
News Source : PTI
TT player Diya Chitale, who moved court over her exclusion, included in CWG squad
New Delhi, Jun 7 (Table Tennis News) Young Indian table tennis player Diya Chitale, who had approached the Delhi High Court over her exclusion from the women's CWG squad, was on Tuesday included in the side for the July-August event at the expense of Archana Kamath. However, Manush Shah, who had also filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court against his non-selection, remains a reserve player with no changes made in the men's squad, which will be led by Sharath Kamal.
The Committee of Administrators (CoA) running the suspended Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) had last week announced a provisional women's team comprising Manika Batra, Kamath, Sreeja Akula and Reeth Rishya in the team with 19-year-old Chitale as the standby.
The team was subject to clearance from Sports Authority of India (SAI) but on Monday the Sports Ministry threw the ball back in CoA's court, saying squad selection was the responsibility of the national sports federation.
The selection committee, chaired by CoA member S D Mudgil, met again on Monday after SAI's response and finalised the team. Kamath, who was supposed to play doubles alongside Manika, has been excluded from the squad all together and Swastika Ghosh has been put on standby.
"There is only one change. Diya comes in as the fourth player in place of Archana. Archana did not meet the criteria but we thought she is also a good medal prospect (as she is world number 4 alongside Manika). But we were in a dilemma and that is why we went to the SAI and sought its guidance. "The selectors in the end took the call to include Diya who has also done well domestically and as well as in international events. She would be playing the doubles alongside Manika," Mudgil told PTI.
The team selection factors in performances in domestic (50 percent) and international tournaments (30 percent) while the remaining 20 percent is left for the selectors' discretion.
However, the CoA has decided to change the ratio to 40-40-20 from the next season.
The CoA also finalised former players S Raman and Anindita Chakraborty as the coaches for the men's and women's teams for the Games in Birmingham.
Raman happens to the personal coach of leading India player G Sathiyan and also runs a private academy but the CoA said it will be taking an undertaking from him to ensure there is no conflict of interest.
Squads: Men: Sharath Kamal, G Sathiyan, Harmeet Desai, Sanil Shetty, Manush Shah (standby).
Women: Manika Batra, Diya Chitale, Reeth Rishya, Sreeja Akula, Swastika Ghosh (standby).
Also Read : India's table tennis squad for CWG announced, women's team will need SAI's clearance
News Source : PTI
Norway chess: Anand, Giri share honours in round six; Carlsen moves into lead
Stavanger (Norway), Jun 7 (Chess News) Indian maestro Viswanathan Anand drew his sixth round contest against Anish Giri of the Netherlands in the Classical section of the Norway Chess tournament.
The classical match ended in a draw after which the Armageddon ended in stalemate early on Tuesday to leave Anand on 11.5 points and in second place. World champion Magnus Carlsen roared to the top spot with a victory over Azerbaijan's Shakhriyar Mamedyarov to take his tally to 12.5 points after six rounds.
The classical match between Anand, playing black, and Giri saw the two players shaking hands for a draw after 35 moves in an English Variation game.
In the ensuing Armageddon (sudden death tie-break), the duo battled for 45 moves before it ended in a draw. As per Armageddon rules, the player playing black is deemed to have won the game if it ends in a draw.
The 52-year old Indian superstar, who had shocked Carlsen in the previous round, takes on Teimour Radjabov in round eight.
Barring the Carlsen-Mamedyarov clash, all the other matches ended in draws in the round. The Norwegian world No.1 defeated his Azerbaijan opponent in 56 moves.
In other matches on the day, France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave beat China's Hao Wang via the sudden death tie-break while Wesley So (USA) got the better of Norwegian Aryan Tari. Veselin Topalov drew with Radjabov in the Armageddon to share honours.
In the ongoing Norway Chess tournament, the players take part in an Armageddon (sudden death) in case of a draw in the classical game.
Also Read : Arjun Erigaisi upbeat about India's chances in chess Olympiad
News Source : PTI
Arjun Erigaisi upbeat about India's chances in chess Olympiad
Chennai, Jun 6 (Chess News) Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi, who has seen his stock rise in the past few months, is upbeat about India's chances in the upcoming chess Olympiad.
The 18-year-old chess player from Telangana has won a handful of tournaments so far this year and has become the highest-rated Indian in the world blitz rankings at 13th.
The young GM, who aims to break the 2700 (Elo) barrier soon, believes the Indian teams are strong and could do well in the 44th Olympiad later this year. His current FIDE rating is 2681 in the Classical category and 2745 (in Blitz).
Having won the Challengers section in the prestigious Tata Steel chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee (the Netherlands) earlier this year and earning the opportunity to compete in the Masters section in 2023, he has been getting better over time.
Erigaisi, however, feels he has not done anything specific, saying "I don't think anything specific has changed in matches since 2021. I have been working the same way, and just that I am putting in more effort." "I think I have been playing a lot of tournaments and that is helping me improve my game also and the opening...earlier they used to be kind of a weakness but now that is an area where I do better," Erigaisi, who also won the Delhi Open and the national championship earlier this year, told PTI in an interaction.
He is expected to be one of the key members of the Indian team in the Olympiad, to be held at Mahabalipuram from July 28 to August 10.
"I think we have pretty strong teams - both 'A' and 'B.' At the moment USA is the favourite with a rating average of 2756. We certainly have good chances to beat them. We just have to perform well and how we play during the tournament matters the most," Erigaisi, who will be part of the India 'A' squad in the Open event, said.
The Indian teams had a preparatory camp recently in the lead-up to the Olympiad under the watchful eyes of the legendary Viswanathan Anand and former world championship finalist Boris Gelfand, which Erigaisi said was very good and helped in team bonding.
"Yes, the first camp was very intensive. We learnt a lot and we built a bond sitting there. It was good and we had a lot of fun. The second camp will be held separately for members of the 'A' and 'B' teams," he added.
"They (Anand and Gelfand) taught us how to conquer from better positions and offer more resistance and other stuff. And also not just the chess part but also they did mention a lot about psychology." Specifically, he said Gelfand had touched upon how to convert better positions and offer more resistance.
The Telangana player, whose immediate aim is to break the 2700 (Elo) barrier, said he wants to keep improving and "ultimately become the world champion." Indian players like R Praggnanandhaa, who has beaten world No.1 Magnus Carlsen twice this year, D Gukesh and himself have been doing well this year and Erigaisi said they need to keep improving constantly to challenge the best in the game.
"Since 2021, Gukesh and myself have improved a lot. So we need to continue the same so that we will be able to challenge the best," he added.
On the areas in which there was room for improvement for him, he said, "I think at the moment I am more of a complete player and I don't have any specific weakness. But I should get my game higher just as a player in general with all the aspects of the game."
Also Read : Maharashtra Open chess: Top-seed Amonatov jumps into lead
News Source : PTI
Maharashtra Open chess: Top-seed Amonatov jumps into lead
Pune, Jun 6 (Chess News) Top-seed Farrukh Amonatov of Tajikistan posted a 43-move win over Russian Boris Savchenko to take his tally to 7.5 points and shoot into the lead after the ninth round of the inaugural Maharashtra International Open Grandmaster chess tournament here on Monday.
In the top board clash, GM Amonatov (Elo 2622), who is unbeaten so far, got the better of fellow GM Savchenko to take sole lead.
Three players -- Arjun Kalyan, Deep Sengupta and Aleksej Aleksandrov, all Grandmasters trail the leader by half a point.
Kalyan, Sengupta and Aleksandrov registered wins over GMs Karthik Venkatarman, Mihail Nikitenko and Duc Hoa Nguyen of Vietnam in their respective ninth round games.
Luka Paichadze, who held the lead till round five, made short work of Indian Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh to take his score to 6.5 points, a point behind the leader.
Two more rounds remain to be played in the tournament.
Important results (9th round): Farrukh Amonatov (7.5) beat Boris Savchenko (6.5), Deep Sengupta (7) beat Mihail Nikitenko (5.5), Arjun Kalyan (7) beat Karthik Venkataraman (6), Aleksej Aleksandrov (7) beat D H Nguyen (4), Aditya Mittal (6.5) drew with Neelesh Saha (4.5), Luka Paichade (6.5) beat Divya Deshmukh (1.5).
M R Lalith Babu (6) drew with C K Mohan, A Shrivatri (1.5) drew M R Venkatesh (5), Kirill Stupak (4.5) beat Vikramaditya Kulkarni (1.5), L R Srihari (4) beat Vishnu Prasanna (4).
Also Read : The Maha Mumbai Kabaddi League is providing a platform for next-gen talent
News Source : PTI
The Maha Mumbai Kabaddi League is providing a platform for next-gen talent
(Sports news) The Maha Mumbai Kabaddi League is commencing soon and the trials for the league have already started on the 26th of May 2022 and will continue till the 4th of June 2022, followed by the second phase of trials which will be announced soon. More than 1600 players have registered themselves for the MMKL Trials, which are being held at the Sports Authority of India Ground, Kandivali, and the Indira Gandhi College Park Site, Vikhroli.
The Maha Mumbai Kabaddi League has become the talk of the town and has created a stir
among the entire Kabaddi community of Mumbai. The entire process, from the registration of the players to the payment of trial fees, has been completely digitised. The trials are being streamed LIVE on the SportVot app, and every single data point of the athletes in the trials is being tracked digitally. The MMKL trials have witnessed an overwhelming response from the kabaddi community.
The league is structured in a unique pattern. The players are divided into teams on the basis of age categories, viz., seniors, juniors, and sub-juniors, and the trials are conducted accordingly. This is the first time that a franchise in a league will have three teams in three different categories, giving men and women and players of all ages an opportunity to shine. At the end of the trials round, more than 500 kabaddi athletes will be selected for the final round of selection, which is going to be like an auction round. The process of selection for the second round is through the combination of on-ground ratings from the selectors and the digital data and videos captured during the trials.
Sidhhant Agarwal, Founder & CEO of SportVot, shared with us, "The vision behind the Maha Mumbai Kabaddi League has always been very clear in our minds. We want to create a mega platform for the kabaddi talent in Mumbai and, along with that, we also want to make the most use of the technology that we have developed to spread, celebrate and modernise the game across the globe! The participation that we have received for the Trials round and the general buzz around the tournament has assured us that the community was indeed ready, in fact, eagerly waiting for such developments. We are really looking forward to the next phase of player selections and the season ahead! "
While one of the players from the trials expressed, "This is the first time we have experienced such a professional approach and particularity in the arrangements, the digital process was also extremely easy, and frankly, it was really exciting to register online and also understand the whole player tracking and profiling process. And personally, the fact that the trial matches were streamed LIVE really boosted our spirits and made us realise the magnitude at which we are playing!"
The Maha Mumbai Kabaddi League will have its auctions round by the first week of July and the live action will begin towards the end of July. More exciting details will be coming out about the tournament in the coming week.
Also read: Corporate giants Adani Group and GMR buy teams in Ultimate Kho Kho
“Partnering with seasoned professionals was critical”- Dhruv Kapila
(Badminton news) Dhruv Kapila, the young badminton prodigy & a member of the Indian Team that won their first ever Thomas Cup in May 2022, has decided to partner with leading sports management firm, IOS Sports & Entertainment, to manage his commercial interests with brands in his run up to key tournaments this year and years ahead. Alongwith Dhruv Kapila, IOS Sports & Entertainment have also onboarded Ishaan Bhatnagar into their athlete roster.
The young badminton star, Dhruv along with his doubles partner M.R. Arjun, played an important role in helping earn their first ever Thomas Cup winner’s trophy. “It was an absolute honour to represent India at the Thomas Cup and to win it as well was a dream come true. The celebrations from this win are already over and our preparation for the next championships have begun, and keeping the schedule ahead in mind it was very important for me to partner with seasoned professionals to take care of my commercial interests, that would play a critical role in fueling my uninterrupted training. That’s where IOS came into the picture and I can confidently say that to have such professionals by my side who understand Olympic sports better than most, I can comfortably concentrate on my training for the Commonwealth Games and my other tournaments,” said Dhruv while announcing his alignment with IOS Sports & Entertainment.
22-year-old Dhruv Kapila,who is currently training at the camp for the 2022 Commonwealth Games hogged the limelight after his stellar performance at the 2019 South Asian Games by bagging 3 gold medals in Men’s double, Mixed Double and Men’s team. Dhruv who now is managed by IOS Sports, talked about the importance of being managed by a reputed firm in order to maintain the growing momentum for his future. He said, “IOS Sports have a wide range of athletes on board with them amongst which a few of them are top level Olympians along with Gold medalist Badminton Paralympians. There is still a lot for me to learn and being able to reach my senior in sports for guidance is something I am looking forward to in this journey with IOS. I am happy to have IOS by my side and I am sure they will do their best to help me grow further.” he said.
Alongside Dhruv, IOS also onboarded Ishaan Bhatnagar who made news by securing the gold in the Mixed doubles event with his partner Tanisha at the Syed Modi International 2022 Super 300 Event. Ishaan, who looks to build the winning momentum in 2022 expressed joy over his association with IOS Sports and said, “For me as an aspiring athlete, my primary focus remains on my training and my game. But it’s also important to have a management team who would look after the backend requirements which allows me to put in my 100% in my game. And I am sure that IOS Sports will help me achieve that.”
Both Dhruv and Ishaan are keen to make a mark as they aim to represent the tricolour at the world’s biggest game stage, the Olympics one day.
Mr. Rahul Trehan, COO, IOS Sports and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd on the occasion of onboarding for the young badminton duo said, “It is always a delight to see young talents do so well on international stages. Dhruv has already achieved such great victories at such a young age while Ishaan consistently proves himself that hard work pays off. We at IOS sports are excited to help them build as a brand with our guidance and hopefully with the right support both athletes can continue to bring the best version of themselves and win many more titles for our country.”
IOS Sports and Entertainment has an ample number of top-class athletes under their belt which include Olympic medalists likeMC Mary Kom (Boxing), Vijender Singh (Boxing). Manpreet Singh (Hockey), SaikhomMirabaiChanu (Weightlifting), LovlinaBorgohain (Boxing), and Paralympic medalists like Nishad Kumar (High Jump), Manoj Sarkar (Badminton)to name a few.IOS Sports & Entertainment also manages the elite talents which have made our country proud at international level which includes Hima Das (Athletics), Rani Rampal (Hockey) etc.
Also read: Top shuttlers in attendance as Grand Prix Badminton League launched in Bengaluru
Corporate giants Adani Group and GMR buy teams in Ultimate Kho Kho
(Sports news) The Adani Group and GMR have acquired the Gujarat and Telangana franchises in Ultimate Kho Kho. The league is expected to launch in 2022 with the aim of promoting homegrown talent and it’s being promoted by Mr. Amit Burman, Chairman of Dabur Group, in collaboration with Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI). The aim is to revolutionise the indigineous sport by adopting a modern-day professional structure.
Welcoming the two team owners, Mr. Tenzing Niyogi, CEO, Ultimate Kho Kho said, “I am delighted to welcome the Adani Group & GMR on-board on our Ultimate Kho Kho journey. We are committed to bring this sporting spectacle to the masses of India and it’s of great pride to collaborate with corporates as stakeholders. This is certainly a strong foot forward for Ultimate Kho Kho becoming a sports movement”
“At Adani Sportsline, we are delighted to be in a position to promote yet another exciting homegrown sport,” said Mr. Pranav Adani, Director – Adani Enterprises. “We have always believed that the best way to promote homegrown sports and build engagement across the national audience is to adopt a professional, structured approach. Our experience with the Kabaddi and Boxing League gives us confidence that the Ultimate Kho Kho League will do wonders for this much-loved traditional sport. Our decision to partner with this league is an extension of our aim to build a world-class ecosystem that nurtures sporting talent, accelerates the sports economy and plays the role of an enabler in India’s journey to become a leading sporting nation.”
GMR Sports, which is a part of the GMR Group, has already been involved in sports such as cricket and kabaddi and has created robust grassroots level sports development initiatives in the national capital and NCR region. “At GMR Sports’ our aim is to promote sports amongst youth, connect with the community at large and build a supporting ecosystem. Since its inception, over 15 years ago, the company has done pioneering work in growing popular sports such as Cricket and other indigenous sports like Kabaddi and Wrestling across India and overseas. With a vision to nurture talent at the grass root level, it has invested in providing access to professional sports by setting up Sports Training Academies across India,” said Mr Kiran Kumar Grandhi, Corporate Chairman, GMR Group.
Ultimate Kho Kho has already signed a deal with Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) as its official broadcasting partner in a multi-year deal. The games will be broadcasted on SPNI’s platforms and their dedicated OTT platform SonyLIV.
Also read: Long jump sensation Jeswin Aldrin aims to become the best in the world
UAE's ILT20 to be held from Jan 6 to Feb 12, 2023; Reliance, KKR, GMR, Adani own 4 out of 6 teams
Dubai, Jun 6 (Cricket News) The Emirates Cricket Board will conduct the inaugural International League T20 from January 6 to February 12, 2023, with three IPL franchises owning outfits in the six-team league.
Out of the six franchises, five are Indian companies including Reliance Industries which owns Mumbai Indians, Shah Rukh Khan's Knight Riders Group, Delhi Capitals co-owners GMR, Adani Sportsline and Capri Global apart from Lancer Capitals, a company belonging to Manchester United owners Glazer family.
Emirates Cricket Board chairman Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan said: "Emirates Cricket Board is delighted to welcome Reliance Industries, Kolkata Knight Riders, Capri Global, GMR, Lancer Capital, Adani Sportsline, broadcaster ZEE and all other stake-holders to the newly established T20 League of UAE.
"Such illustrious, experienced names and entities as partners bodes well for the UAE T20 League. Through the commitment of these partners they have demonstrated confidence in the Emirates Cricket Board as we take the game into the future," the ECB chairman added.
The tournament will also provide a valuable platform for Emirates Cricket to take their local talent to a higher level.
Also Read : England start new era with a 5 wicket win over New Zealand at Lords
News Source : PTI
Norway Chess: Anand claims another win over world champion Carlsen; leads standings
Stavanger (Norway), Jun 6 (Chess News) Indian ace Viswanathan Anand returned to winning ways, upstaging world No.1 Magnus Carlsen in the fifth round of the Classical section early on Monday in the Norway Chess tournament to climb to the top spot.
After defeating the Norwegian superstar in the Blitz event that preceded the Classical section, Anand claimed the victory in a thrilling Armageddon (sudden death game) after the regular match ended in a 40-move draw.
In the Armageddon, the 52-year old Anand recreated magic of old when he stunned Carlsen to post a win in 50 moves.
With 10 points in his kitty, the Indian GM leads the field with four more rounds to go in the prestigious tournament which features some of the best players in the sport.
Anand had started the Classical section with three straight wins, beating Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France), Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) and Hao Wang (China) before American Wesley So ended his streak in the fourth round.
Carlsen lies in second spot with 9.5 points despite the loss to his long-time rival.
So, who won the Blitz section earlier, shares third place with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) on 8.5 points.
In the fifth round, So went down to Mamedyarov via Armageddon.
There were wins for Anish Giri (the Netherlands) and Norway's Aryan Tari over Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) and Hao Wang respectively in the fifth round.
Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave won the sudden death game against veteran Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) in the other match to improve his score to 7 points.
In the ongoing Norway Chess tournament, the players take part in an Armageddon (sudden death) in case of a draw in the classical game.
Also Read : Khelo India Youth Games: Maharashtra in lead with nine gold, Haryana right behind
News Source : PTI
Khelo India Youth Games: Maharashtra in lead with nine gold, Haryana right behind
Panchkula, Jun 5 (Sports News) Weightlifter Kajol Sargar, who is the daughter of a tea vendor, became the first gold medallist at the Khelo India Youth Games as defending champions Maharashtra surged into the lead in the medal table here on Sunday.
The 16-year-old from Sangli lifted a total of 113 kg (50kg in snatch + 63kg in clean & jerk) in the women's 40kg category to kick off Maharashtra’s march towards the top of the medal’s tally.
She had won a bronze medal in the Youth Nationals in 2021.
Maharashtra scooped nine gold medals early in the morning but by late evening, hosts Haryana clawed their way back into the race, picking up six gold to take the second position.
Haryana garnered the most number of medals, though, capturing 23 (5 gold, 6 silver, 12 bronze) to Maharashtra's 17 (9 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze).
On a day full of exciting twists and turns, two new youth national records were also created in weightlifting.
Maharashtra expectedly bagged three out of four gold on offer in weightlifting, and also three yellow metals in yoga and one in cycling.
Haryana underlined their dominance on the wrestling mat, gobbling up all five gold up for grabs, and one yellow metal in cycling.
Manipur shot into the third place in the medals tally, capturing four gold in Thang-ta, an indigenous sport added to the Khelo India programme for the first time.
Maharashtra lifter Harshada Garud rewrote the youth national record in the women's 45kg category as she overcame a stiff challenge from Uttar Pradesh’s Anjali Patel.
L Dhanush of Tamil Nadu bagged the boys 49kg gold medal with a snatch record of 88kg and an overall lift of 190kg.
Haryana began their medal charge at the cycling velodrome in Delhi as Vrinda Yadav bagged the gold in the girls 7.5 kg scratch race.
Haryana were banking on making a clean sweep of gold medals on the wrestling mat and Ronit Sharma did not disappoint, opening account in the boys greco-roman 51 kg category when he defeated state-mate Rahul.
Sahil Jaglan scored a convincing 10-0 win over Robinpreet Singh of Punjab to clinch freestyle 92kg gold. Jyoti completed the clean sweep by defeating Maharashtra's Pragati Gaikwad by technical superiority in the girls' 57kg weight category.
Also Read : Maharashtra Open Chess: Amonatov, Savchenko in joint lead
News Source : PTI
Maharashtra Open Chess: Amonatov, Savchenko in joint lead
Pune, Jun 5 (Chess News) Top-seed Farrukh Amonatov of Tajikistan and Boris Savchenko of Russia moved into the joint lead with 6.5 points each at the end of the eighth round of the first Maharashtra International Open Grandmaster chess tournament here on Sunday.
Amonatov drew his eighth round game against Mihail Nikitenko of Belarus in just 14 moves while Savchenko scored a win over Kirill Stupak in 53 moves.
Four Indian players -- Arjun Kalyan, Deep Sengupta, Karthik Venkataraman and Aditya Mittal -- and Aleksej Aleksandrov of Belarus are close on the heels of the leaders with six points each.
Grandmasters Kalyan and Sengupta drew their game in 31 moves while GM Venkataraman beat Sharan Rao and Mittal signed peace with Duc Hoa Nguyen of Vietnam.
Three more rounds remain to be played in the tournament.
Important Results (8th round): Farrukh Amonatov (6.5) drew with Mihail Nikitenko (5.5); Arjun Kalyan (6) drew with Deep Sengupta (6); Boris Savchenko (6) beat Kirill Stupak (3.5); Aditya Mittal (6) drew with Duc Hoa Nguyen (4); Luka Paichadze (5.5) drew with Anuj Shrivatri (2); M R Lalith Babu (5.5) drew with L R Srihari (3), Karthik Venkataraman (6) beat Sharan Rao (2.5).
Also Read : Norway Chess: Anand's winning run ends, but still in joint lead with Carlsen
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Ranji Trophy QF: Saha-less Bengal hold pole position against Jharkhand
Bengaluru, Jun 5 (Cricket News) Their most decorated player, Wriddhiman Saha, may have left the team in the lurch owing to his personal grudge against the establishment, but the Abhimanyu Easwaran-led Bengal will still start as favourites against Jharkhand with their pace troika ready to let it rip in their Ranji Trophy quarter-final, starting from Monday.
The trio of Mukesh Kumar (15 wickets), Ishan Porel (14 wickets) and Akash Deep (10 wickets) has been the most prolific pace attack in the country and with a cumulative count of 39 wickets among the 58 that Bengal got this season, they will come all guns blazing at the Jharkhand line-up, which has shown firepower during the league stages.
However, the likes of Kumar Deobrat, Kumar Kushagra, Virat Singh will like to forget their overwhelming near 900-run innings score against Nagaland, which was their pre-quarter-final at the Eden Gardens.
It will be a very different fight against one of the best domestic bowling attacks in the country along with the gutsy spin-bowling all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed (8 wickets) for company.
When a senior player puts self above team ---------------------------------------------- Out of the Indian Test team as the new management doesn't want a 37-year-old second keeper, an upset Wriddhiman had cited "personal reasons" for not playing in the league stages, where the team found a new star in 19-year-old Abhishek Porel.
However, after doing a star turn for Gujarat Titans in the IPL, the India discard demanded a public apology from state body office-bearer Debabrata Das for allegedly insulting him.
Subsequently, he decided to not play one of the most important matches of the season for the state team, which made him the cricketer that he is today.
In this backdrop, the Bengal side, without arguably its No. 1 player with 40-Test experience, is sure to feel let down but will be determined to prove a point that it has long back adapted to life without an India "star".
"We would have liked him as he is a big player but if someone is so unwilling to play, his wish should be respected. If someone isn't interested, then forcing that person to play is often detrimental to a side's interest," a member of the team management told PTI ahead of the match.
Bengal fretting about No. 3 and No. 8 positions --------------------------------------------------- With the Just Cricket Academy ground producing a proper "five-day" wicket, Bengal coach Saurasish Lahiri pointed out that a couple of slots are up for grabs.
For the No. 3 spot, it will be a toss-up between two stodgy left-handers with good defensive game -- the diminutive Abhishek Raman and the lanky Sudip Chatterjee.
"It's a tough call as both are quality players," Lahiri said.
The other position up for grab is the all-rounder's slot where Sayan Sekhar Mondal, with his hard-hitting batting and good seam-up stuff at close to 130 clicks, is considered a better bet than Writtick Chatterjee, who bowls off-spin and also have a double hundred in first-class cricket.
What will be a slight worry for Bengal is the fact that none of their batters have accumulated 250 runs in the three league games, with only one hundred (114 by Easwaran) in six completed innings.
The top-run getter in the league stages is veteran Anushtup Majumdar (242 runs), who is at the fag end of his career.
However, it is Porel, who has turned out to be an exciting prospect and in his debut, he scored a fine half-century in a 350-run fourth innings chase against Baroda after the team was bowled out for less than 100 in the first innings.
For Bengal, the key will be to counter the two left-arm spinners Shahbaz Nadeem and Anukul Roy, who are seasoned performers. The pace duo of Rahul Shukla and Varun Aaron might not be a big threat, especially with the latter not having played any red-ball games in recent times.
Karnataka find their match in UP ----------------------------------- A star-studded Karnataka batting line-up comprising Devdutt Padikkal, Karun Nair, Manish Pandey and till recently India's opener Mayank Agarwal gives the team a menacing look but they will be up against a quality seam attack from Uttar Pradesh that has stars Mohsin Khan and Yash Dayal in its ranks.
If Karnataka's batting has a scary look, the bowling is a bit thin on quality compared to the days when R Vinay Kumar, Srinath Aravind and Abhimanyu Mithun would run through opposition sides.
Often the reserve pacer in that line-up, Ronit More is now the leader of the attack and it will be interesting as to how he counters the likes of Rinku Singh, Akshdeep Nath and Priyam Garg.
The match will be played at Alur (1) ground.
Matches to start at 9:30 am.
Karnataka vs UP (Alur 1) Star Sports 1 Live Bengal vs Jharkhand (Just Cricket Ground) Live Streaming on Hotstar.
Also Read : Mumbai favourites against Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh take on Punjab
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Cricket Ireland appoint new Head of Facilities and Operations
(Cricket news) Cricket Ireland has today announced that Richard Fahey will join the organisation as its Head of Facilities and Operations, a role that will oversee the development and implementation of a new National Facilities Strategy and oversee the day-to-day operations of current facilities and facility partnerships.
Richard has held senior management roles within the Irish sports industry over the last 20 years, including CEO of Tennis Ireland, Director of Club Licensing and Facility Development at The Football Association of Ireland, and has most recently been the interim CEO of Hockey Ireland.
This new role will primarily serve to deliver the high-level objectives outlined in the Cricket Ireland Strategic Plan 2021-2023 which include delivering high-quality playing and practice facilities in each of the major provincial unions, high-quality indoor facilities in each provincial union, ensuring contracted players have regular access to high quality grass facilities, completion of the High Performance Centre indoor and outdoor infrastructure, securing planning permission and funding for the National Sports Campus Stadium Project, procuring an improved range of facilities at international and regional grounds to support our needs (playing and non-playing), securing an increase in cricket clubs accessing grant schemes for capital investment in facilities, and overseeing the provision of high quality community facilities for cricket clubs by local councils.
Warren Deutrom, Chief Executive of Cricket Ireland, said: “This is a relatively unique role with a national governing body in Ireland, so we are delighted to have attracted a candidate of the calibre of Richard. His experience and skills in facilities development are exactly what we need as we enter a new era in Irish cricket and will help drive forward numerous programmes outlined as priority deliverables in our Strategic Plan 2021-2023.
“Richard’s appointment is yet another sign of our determination to follow through on the Portas Review recommendations around ensuring the fitness for purpose of our facilities at all levels. In this role he will seek to put in place high-quality playing and practice facilities in each of the major provincial unions, and also progress the National Sports Campus Stadium Project. We have furthermore asked Richard to look at the needs of the regional grounds and support local clubs with their efforts to attract grants and capital investment.
“Given Richard’s background, I don’t think there are many better qualified to deliver on our ambitious programme for growth and upgrade of cricket facilities across Ireland, and we very much look forward to welcoming him aboard.”
Richard Fahey said: “I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into this role. There is a good foundation in place from which we can, with the support of the cricket community and government agencies at local and national level, develop the necessary infrastructure to grow the game and support our high performance players.”
Richard will start the new role on 7 June 2022.
Also read: ICC chair warns of reduction in volume of Test cricket in future
Paralympic medallist Singharaj, 5 others denied visas; will miss Para Shooting WC in France
New Delhi, Jun 4 (Shooting News) Six members of the Indian para shooting contingent, including double Paralympic medallist Singharaj Adhana, on Saturday failed to travel to Chateauroux, France for the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup after they were denied visas, despite the intervention of the Indian government.
The matter came to light after Tokyo Paralympic Games gold medallist shooter Avani Lekhara took to twitter, seeking help following denial of visa to her escort and mother Shewata Jewaria and coach Rakesh Manpat.
But talking to PTI from the airport, chief national coach and chairman of Indian Para Shooting Jai Prakash Nautiyal said Lekhara and her coach Manpat's visas were cleared.
"Avani and her coach's visas were granted but her escort, who is also her mother didn't get her visa," Nautiyal said.
"Besides, three para shooters -- Singharaj, Rahul Jhakhar and Deepinder Singh (all para pistol shooters) and two coaches Subhas Rana (national coach) and Vivek Saini (assistant coach) did not get their visas.
"The French embassy didn't mention any reason, simply said there is a huge surge for visas. We applied for our visas on April 23 and were sure of getting all cleared. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also intervened and were helping us but despite that visas of six members were rejected," he added.
The event to be held from Jun 4 to 13 is of significance for Indian para shooters as Paris Paralympics quota places were on offer there.
"We are now going with a 22-member contingent, which includes 14 shooters. We were quite confident of getting visas of all members cleared since Paris will be the host for the next Paralympics and there are 18 2024 Paralympics quota places on offer in the tournament," Nautiyal said.
Replying to Avani's tweet, the Sports Authority of India termed the incident as unfortunate.
"It is unfortunate that all the visas of the Indian Para Shooting Contingent going to France have not been approved. All efforts were made by MYAS and MEA to secure all visas but unfortunately this time the efforts did not materialise," SAI tweeted.
Also Read : Anjum clinches silver, India move up to third spot in Baku Shooting World Cup
News Source : PTI
Norway Chess: Anand's winning run ends, but still in joint lead with Carlsen
Stavanger (Norway), Jun 4 (Chess News) India legend Viswanathan Anand's winning run in the Classical event of the Norway Chess tournament came to an end after suffering a loss against American Wesley So in the fourth round here on Saturday.
The 52-year-old former world champion now shares the lead with Magnus Carlsen on 8.5 points each.
The regular Classical game between Anand and So ended in a draw in 28 moves. The American then beat the Indian GM in 46 moves via the Armageddon (sudden death) game.
The Indian ace had posted wins over France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Vaselin Topalov of Bulgaria and China's Hao Wang in the first three rounds.
Meanwhile, Carlsen defeated Dutchman Anish Giri in the Classical game to pick up three points and join Anand in the lead.
In another decisive game in round four, Azerbaijan's Shakhriyar Mamedyarov defeated Hao Wang, while Teimour Radjavov and the experienced Topalov won via the Armageddon against Vachier-Lagrave and Aryan Tari (Norway) respectively.
In the ongoing Norway Chess tournament, the players take part in a Armageddon (sudden death) in case of a draw in the classical game.
So had won the Blitz event ahead of the Classical event.
Also Read : Rupal stuns Priya Mohan in tight finish to headline clutch of qualifiers for World U-20
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Rupal stuns Priya Mohan in tight finish to headline clutch of qualifiers for World U-20
Nadiad (Gujarat), Jun 3 (Sports News) Uttar Pradesh's 17-year-old Rupal stunned pre-race favourite Priya Mohan of Karnataka to clinch the gold medal in the women's 400m at the National U-20 Federation Cup Athletics Championships here on Friday.
Her win headlined a day on which 14 athletes secured World U-20 Championships qualification marks.
Rupal clocked 52.48, one-hundredth of a second faster than Priya (52.49) in a tight finish as both qualified for the World U-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, from August 1-6.
Rupal caught the eye when she clocked 53.73 seconds in winning the U-18 final in the National 400m Championships in New Delhi in October last.
In the three earlier head-to-head 400m races, she had finished second best to Priya, who had finished fourth the World U-20 Championships in Kenya last year.
The array of qualification for the World U-20 Championships began with the men’s 10000m race where all three podium finishers Rohit Kumar Yadav (Gujarat), Babubhai Bariod (Gujarat) and Sachin Singh Bohra (Uttarakhand) each met the qualifying mark.
The others who achieved qualifying standards for World U-20 Championships were Aman Khokhar (men's 100m), Madhavendra Shekhawat, M Krishik and A Graceson Jeeva (men’s 110m hurdles), Chandrashekar (men’s long jump), Sanyam and Sawan (men’s shot put), Vivek (men’s javelin throw) and Agasara Nandini (women’s 100m hurdles).
Also Read : Thakur launches nationwide programme on World Bicycle Day
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Top badminton stars set to launch Grand Prix Badminton League
Bengaluru, Jun 3 (Badminton News) A plethora of Indian badminton stars including P V Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, Sai Praneeth, Jwala Gutta, Ashwini Ponappa and Chirag Shetty will take part in the launch of the Grand Prix Badminton League, Karnataka's own version of Premier Badminton League, here on Saturday.
The mega event has the blessings of the Karnataka Badminton Association, a statement said on Friday.
The league will see eight teams battle for supremacy and it is scheduled to be held from July 1 to 10.
The eight teams are -- Bengaluru Lions, Mangalore Sharks, Mandya Bulls, Mysore Panthers, Malnad Falcons, Bandipur Tuskers, KGF Wolves and Kodagu Tigers -- with each team comprising 10 players including a minimum of five Karnataka players, two foreign players and three female shuttlers.
The tournament boasts of a prize money of Rs 60 lakh with the winners pocketing Rs 24 lakh while the runner-up team will be richer by Rs 12 lakh.
The team jerseys and the trophy will also be unveiled during the launch.
As many as 400 players have signed up for the league while the auction is slated for next week, it was stated.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Badminton Association will be felicitating Sindhu, Srikanth, Sen and coach U Vimal Kumar here on Saturday.
On the occasion, the association will confer its honorary life membership on them, it said.
Also Read : IOS Sports shuttles in Badminton prodigies Dhruv and Ishaan
News Source : PTI
Thakur launches nationwide programme on World Bicycle Day
New Delhi, Jun 3 (Sports News) Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday launched a nationwide 'Fit India Freedom Rider Cycle Rally' as he peddled a distance of 7.5 km along with 750 young cyclists to mark the World Bicycle Day here.
"Cycling can play the biggest role in the Fit India campaign. On World Bicycle Day, we are giving a clear message that everyone should make cycling a part of their daily life. Cycling will keep you healthy and help build a clean India," Thakur said in a release.
Thakur flagged off the programme from Major Dhyan Chand Stadium here in the presence of Law minister Kiren Rijiju, Health and Family Welfare minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi.
Cycle rallies at more than 100 locations across the country, including at 75 iconic places, were organised on Friday and Thakur also joined the 1500-plus people who participated in the 7.5 km rally.
The aim of this programme is to motivate people to take up cycling in their daily lives for physical fitness.
Also Read : CWG-bound lifters to reach Birmingham one month in advance
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CWG-bound lifters to reach Birmingham one month in advance
New Delhi, Jun 3 (Sports News) India's Commonwealth Games-bound weightlifting team, including Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu, will reach the host city Birmingham one month in advance to acclimatise with the conditions and undergo a preparatory camp ahead of the quadrennial event.
The CWG are scheduled to take place from July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham, UK.
The Indian lifters are awaiting visas and are set to fly to the UK on June 20 or 21.
"The government has approved the preparatory camp. All the bookings are done. We are just waiting for the visas," Indian Weightlifting Federation president Sahdev Yadav told PTI.
"The lifters will travel one month in advance. The exact date will be finalised after their visas arrive. The tentative travel dates are June 20 or 21," he added.
Chanu, a two-time medallist at the CWG, having won a silver in the Glasgow edition in 2014 before clinching the gold four years later at the 2018 Gold Coast Games, has already begun her preparation for the big-ticket event.
The 27-year-old had completed a month-long training stint in the US last month.
However, others, including Youth Olympics champion Jeremy Lalrinnunga, were unable to travel to the US due to visa issues.
India are the powerhouse at the Commonwealth level. At the 2018 CWG, the Indians had returned with a haul of nine medals -- five golds, two silver and two bronze.
Chanu to headline inaugural Khelo India National weightlifting ranking c'ships ================================================ Before travelling to Birmingham, Chanu will headline the inaugural edition of the Khelo India Youth, Junior and Senior National ranking women weightlifting championships to be held at Nagrota Bagwan, Himachal Pradesh from June 14 to 22.
The tournament will help the IWLF maintain a robust national ranking system while also providing additional competition to the lifters of the country.
The event will also help the federation select lifters for the national camps and international events.
"This competition falls under the Khelo India scheme. It will be organised four times a year," Yadav told PTI.
"Based on the results, we will prepare the ranking list up to top 15 lifters in each weight category, which will be uploaded on our website.
"Anyone will be able to access the rankings and it will give clarity on the selection process. The children will also get competition," he added.
Apart from Chanu, reigning junior world champion Harshada Garud and the Commonwealth Games-bound lifters, including Asian champion Jhilli Dalabehera, will compete at the event.
As an additional incentive, the federation has also announced cash rewards for the top eight lifters, starting Rs 20,000.
Indian Team for Commonwealth Games ======================== Women: Mirabai Chanu (49kg), Bindyarani Devi (55kg), Popy Hazarika (59kg), Harjinder Kaur (71kg), Punam Yadav (76kg), Usha Kumari (87kg) and Purnima Pandey (+87kg).
Men: Sanket Sagar (55kg), Gururaja Poojary (61kg), Jeremy Lalrinnunga (67kg), Achinta Sehuli (73kg), Ajay Singh (81kg), Vikas Thakur (96kg), Lovepreet Singh (109kg) and Gurdeep Singh (+109kg).
Also Read : Maharashtra Open chess: Indian GMs Arjun Kalyan, Sengupta join Paichadze at top after round 5
News Source : PTI
Maharashtra Open chess: Indian GMs Arjun Kalyan, Sengupta join Paichadze at top after round 5
Pune, Jun 3 (Chess News) Indian Grandmasters Arjun Kalyan and Deep Sengupta posted victories in the fifth round to join Georgian GM Luka Paichadze at the top with 4.5 points in the 1st Maharashtra International Open GM chess tournament here on Friday.
While Paichadze, who had an all-win record after four rounds, was held by Indian GM M R Lalith Babu, Kalyan and Sengupta registered wins over Aditya S Samant and Anup Deshmukh respectively to take their tally to 4.5 points and share the lead.
Top-seed Farrukh Amonatov of Tajikistan beat Bangladesh GM Enamul Hossain in 33 moves after draws in round three and four against lower-rated Indians to climb to 4 points.
Four players - Amonatov, Boris Savchenko, Lalith Babu and Aditya Mittal are in joint second spot with four points each.
The game between Paichadze and Lalith Babu on the top board saw the two agree for a draw after 36 moves.
Sengupta was an impressive winner in the fifth round, outlasting Samant in 53 moves, while Kalyan humbled Deshmukh in 37 moves.
Important Results: Fifth round: Luka Paichadze (4.5) drew M R Lalith Babu (4); Deep Sengupta (4.5) beat Anup S Samant (1.5); Vishnu Prasanna (2.5) beat Boris Savchenko (4); Aleksej Aleksandrov (3.5) lost to L R Srihari (2); Karthik Venkataraman (3.5) lost to D H Nguyen (2.5); Arjun Kalyan (4.5) beat Anup Deshmukh (1.5).
Farrukh Amonatov (4) beat Enamul Hossain (0); Aditya Mittal (4) beat V A D'Cunha (0); Audi Ameya (2) beat M R Venkatesh (3); Jubin Jimmy (1) beat Alexei Fedorov (2.5).
Also Read : Norway chess: No stopping Anand, remains on top after third straight win
News Source : PTI
Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari fear penalties after exceeding budget cap
(Motorsport) Formula 1 teams Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari could be at risk of incurring penalties after exceeding the budget cap for this season. Every F1 team on the grid has a budget cap of $140m (£119m) for the 2022 season to ensure a more competitive season and a level playing field, however, with the rise in inflation and freight costs, the budget has come under considerable strain with the three biggest teams of the sport insisting that the cap be increased due to the circumstances.
In an interview, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner said “At the time we all agreed to those reductions, nobody could have predicted what was going on in the world and how that is driving inflation in every household globally. We're seeing it in Formula 1, we're seeing it with logistics, we're seeing it with energy costs. That to me is something the FIA needs to take into account. They have the ability through force majeure to apply an inflationary effect because we don't have enough levers to get down to the cap. I think that's the same for probably seven of the teams in Formula 1. "We've still got six months left this year, inflation still looks like it's rising rather than diminishing, and hopefully the FIA will act shortly."
Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto agreed with Horner and said “I think that there will be no way for us to stay below. So, I'm pretty sure that at some stage we will go over. In the regulations, there is a threshold, which is 5 percent. If you do not exceed the 5 per cent, on the top of what's the budget cap threshold, it will be considered a minor breach. And what's a minor breach in case of force majeure? What will the stewards and the FIA decide on that, in terms of penalties? No idea - but I don't think there is any way for us - and for many teams - simply to stay within, and even laying-off people, I don't think that's a good and right choice."
Mercedes’ Toto Wolff also echoed Ferrari and Red Bull’s sentiments by saying “The cost cap was introduced for specific purposes, to allow the small teams to spend the same amount as the big ones. There shouldn't be bargaining every year to lift the cost cap up. But I think we're facing an exceptional situation in that we have real inflation that is north of 7 per cent at the moment. Our energy prices in Brackley have tripled, our freight costs have tripled.
“I think that is something that needs to be considered because we want to avoid any circumstance, reorganization and restructuring the big teams again in a way that would be really damaging for us as a team and as an industry. This is a force majeure situation, having a raging war in the Ukraine and the consequences that it had on energy prices is not something anybody could have foreseen. There needs to be some sort of compromise for the teams that are against an inflationary adjustment and the teams that are for it."
However, not all teams on the grid are unanimous in agreement with Alpine and Alfa Romeo against the adjustment of the budget cap. Alfa Romeo's Fred Vasseur said “We are in this situation and sooner or later we will have to stop the development of the car because we will be at the limit of our budget. And I think everybody can do the same. It's absolutely not a case of force majeure, because inflation is not a case of force majeure.” Alpine’s Otmar Szafnauer said “Most teams do their budgets in November, December timeframe, for the following year and we are no different and at that time, inflation was already at 7+ per cent. RPI in England was 7.1, 7.2 per cent. We took that into consideration when we did our budgets and laid out all the development work that we were going to do. And we're still within it. Where there's a will there's a way and we set a budget cap and we should stick to it."
Also read: Formula 1: Red Bull extend Sergio Perez’s contract until 2024
Norway chess: No stopping Anand, remains on top after third straight win
Stavanger (Norway), Jun 3 (Chess News) Indian legend Viswanathan Anand continued his winning run in the Classical section of the Norway Chess tournament here as he defeated China's Wang Hao in the third round to remain on top of the standings.
The 52-year-old Anand won the Armageddon (sudden death game) early on Friday after the regular classical match was drawn after 39 moves.
The Armageddon saw the former world champion pip Hao in 44 moves to take his points tally to 7.5. He is followed by American Wesley So, who is on 6 points, and world No.1 Magnus Carlsen (5.5).
This is the Indian ace's third straight win in the Classical section after having beaten Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) in the first two rounds.
Carlsen bounced back to win against Teimour Radjabov after having lost in the second round to So via the Armageddon.
In the other matches of the day, Vachier-Lagrave defeated Norwegian Aryan Tari and Anish Giri shared points with So, drawing the classical and Armageddon games while Shakhriyar Mamedyarov topped Topalov in the sudden death.
In the ongoing Norway Chess tournament, the players take part in a Armageddon (sudden death) in case of a draw in the classical game.
American star So had won the Blitz event which preceded the Classical section.
Also Read : Sports Ministry provides financial assistance to athletes, including Manika Batra, for future competitions
News Source : PTI
Sports Ministry provides financial assistance to athletes, including Manika Batra, for future competitions
New Delhi, Jun 2 (Sports News) The Sports Ministry on Thursday granted financial assistance to several athletes across the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) core and development groups, including Tokyo Paralympics silver medallist Nishad Kumar and ace woman table tennis player Manika Batra, to support them in their preparations for upcoming competitions.
Nishad, who created an Asian record of 2.06m in the T-47 men's high jump, has been given a financial assistance of Rs 18.9 lakh towards training at the Olympic Training Centre in Chula Vista, United States. He has already left for the 73-day training camp, which started on Thursday and will continue till August 12, along with his physiotherapist Aalaap Jawadekar.
Nishad, who will be in action during the Asian Para Games next year, will be training in Chula Vista under Jeremy Fischer, who is the lead coach and director of the centre.
Paddlers Batra and Sreeja Akula have also been extended support. While the former has been provided financial support to have her personal coach Chris Pfeiffer for the WTT Contender Zagreb (June 13-19), Sreeja has been provided financial assistance towards participation in WTT Feeder Otocec, Slovenia (June 20-26).
3000m steeplechase runner Avinash Sable, who competed at the Tokyo Olympics, has been granted financial assistance to travel to Colorado Springs. He will compete at the Diamond League in Rabat, Morocco, on June 5.
Sable, who is a part of the TOPS core team, will also be assisted with a masseur as well as a Garmin GPS watch. The total financial assistance provided to him is Rs 3.52 lakh.
Tokyo Olympian Annu Rani has also been assisted financially for the procurement of Nemeth and Nordic Valhalla javelins, which will cost Rs 4.15 lakh.
Swimmer Aneesh Gowda has been provided financial assistance towards participation in Singapore National Swimming Championships (June 23-26), while men's sabre fencer Karan Singh has been extended support for a training camp at the Bauer Fencing Academy Orleans, France, from June 1 to July 31. Karan, who will train under the watchful eyes of Christian Bauer, will compete in the Asian Fencing Championship in Seoul from June 10-15 as well as in the Senior World Fencing Championship in Cairo from July 15-23. The only other fencer from India who is training under Bauer is Olympian Bhavani Devi.
Also Read : Nearly 4,700 athletes set to vie for honours in Khelo India Youth Games
News Source : PTI
Nearly 4,700 athletes set to vie for honours in Khelo India Youth Games
Panchkula, Jun 2 (Sports News) Nearly 4,700 athletes, including 2,262 girls, will participate in the Khelo India Youth Games which begins here on Saturday.
The Tau Devi Lal Complex here has been decked up for the grand opening ceremony.
It will also be the hub of action, with several of the 25 disciplines being held at the newly constructed multipurpose halls.
Among the popular games being held here are athletics, football, badminton, table tennis, kabaddi, handball, wrestling, volleyball, boxing and the five indigenous sports.
Four other cities -- Ambala (gymnastics, swimming), Shahabad (hockey), Chandigarh (archery and football) and New Delhi (cycling and shooting) -- will also play hosts to some disciplines.
For the first time, all the 36 states and Union Territories are taking part in this edition of the Khelo India Youth Games, with hosts Haryana fielding the largest contingent of 398 athletes.
Defending champions Maharashtra are fielding the second-largest contingent with 357 athletes while Delhi will have 339. Andaman & Nicobar is sending the smallest squad of six, all cyclists, while Ladakh will boast of seven.
The glamour discipline of athletics will see the maximum participation with 392 entries in various events.
Also Read : Maharashtra Open chess: Paichadze beats Venkatesh to jump to top spot
News Source : PTI
Maharashtra Open chess: Paichadze beats Venkatesh to jump to top spot
Pune, Jun 2 (Chess News) Georgian Grandmaster Luka Paichadze defeated Indian GM MR Venkatesh to jump to the top spot with four points after the fourth round of the first Maharashtra International Open GM chess tournament here on Thursday.
The 43-move win for the second seed Paichadze put him half a point ahead of the field.
GM Boris Savchenko and eight Indians, including No.3 seed MR Lalith Babu are among the 11 players trailing the Georgian on 3 points each.
Top seed Farrukh Amonatov of Tajikistan, who began with two wins, has been pegged back after draws against lower-rated Indians Samant Aditya and Anup Deshmukh in subsequent rounds to move to three points.
Lalith Babu was made to work hard for a win in 60 moves by compatriot Himal Gusain in a Caro-Kann Exchange Variation game. He faces Paichadze in the fifth round on Friday.
Important Results: Fourth round: Luka Paichadze (4) beat M R Venkatesh (3); M R Lalith Babu (3.5) beat Himal Gusain (2.5); Boris Savchenko (3.5) drew with Arjun Kalyan (3.5); Karthik Venkataraman (3.5) drew Aleksej Aleksandrov (3.5); Anup Deshmukh (3.5) drew with Farrukh Amonatov (3); Deep Sengupta (3.5 beat V S Raahul (2.5); Aditya Mittal (3) drew with Audi Ameya (3).
Also Read : Norway chess: Anand posts second straight win in Classical event, takes lead
News Source : PTI
IOS Sports shuttles in Badminton prodigies Dhruv and Ishaan
(Sports news) IOS Sports and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. - one of India’s leading sports management organizations, have announced the on-boarding of the young talented badminton players Dhruv Kapila and Ishaan Bhatnagar into their strong sporting profile.
22-year-old Dhruv Kapila, came into the limelight after his stellar performance at the 2019 South Asian Games by bagging 3 gold medals in Men’s double, Mixed Double and Men’s team. Dhruv spoke about his association with IOS Sports. “IOS Sports have a wide range of athletes on board with them amongst which a few of them are top level Olympians along with Gold medalist Badminton Paralympians. I am sure they will do their best to help me grow further.” he said.
The young badminton star, Dhruv was recently a part of the Indian squad that wrote history by winning the first ever Thomas Cup for India. He is currently training at the camp for the 2022 CommonWealth Games.
Alongside Dhruv, IOS also onboarded Ishaan Bhatnagar who made news by securing the gold in the Mixed doubles event with his partner Tanisha at the Syed Modi International 2022 Super 300 Event. Ishaan, who looks to build the winning momentum in 2022 expressed joy over his association with IOS Sports and said, “For me as an aspiring athlete, my primary focus remains on my training and my game. But it’s also important to have a management team who would look after the backend requirements which allows me to put in my 100% in my game. And I am sure that IOS Sports will help me achieve that.”
Both Dhruv and Ishaan are keen to make a mark as they aim to represent the tricolor at the world’s biggest game stage, the Olympics one day.
Mr. Rahul Trehan, COO, IOS Sports and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd on the occasion of onboarding for the young badminton trio said, “It is always a delight to see young talents do so well on international stages. Dhruv has already achieved such great victories at such a young age while Ishaan consistently proves himself that hard work pays off. We at IOS sports are excited to help them build as a brand with our guidance and hopefully with the right support both athletes can continue to bring the best version of themselves and win many more titles for our country.”
IOS Sports and Entertainment has an ample number of top-class athletes under their belt which include Olympic medalists like MC Mary Kom (Boxing), Vijender Singh (Boxing). Manpreet Singh (Hockey), Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting), Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing), and Paralympic medalists like Nishad Kumar (High Jump), Manoj Sarkar (Badminton) to name a few. IOS Sports & Entertainment also manages the elite talents which have made our country proud at international level which includes Hima Das (Athletics), Rani Rampal (Hockey) etc.
Also read: India handed easy draw in Commonwealth Games mixed team event
Amit Panghal, Shiva Thapa secure place in Indian team for Commonwealth Games
Patiala, Jun 2 (Boxing News) World championship medallists Amit Panghal and Shiva Thapa on claimed berths in the Indian boxing team for the upcoming Commonwealth Games after emerging victorious in the trials, held here on Thursday.
While Panghal, the 2019 world championship silver medallist, secured his place in the 51kg division, Thapa clinched the 63.5kg spot in the trials held at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports.
The other six boxers who made their way into the Indian team include 2018 bronze medallist Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg), Rohit Tokas (67kg), reigning national champion Sumit (75kg), Ashish Kumar (80kg), Sanjeet (92kg) and Sagar (92kg+) The CWG is set to be held in Birmingham from July 28 to August 8.
Panghal defeated fellow Services boxer Deepak 4-1 via a split decision. He will be aiming to improve upon his performance from the last edition in Gold Coast, where he won a silver medal.
The 2015 world championship bronze medallist Thapa, who was last week elected as a member of the IBA Athletes Committee, on the other hand, out-punched 2018 CWG silver medallist Manish Kaushik 5-0 to seal his spot at the quadrennial event.
In the 57kg category, Hussamuddin prevailed over 2019 Asian Championship silver medallist Kavinder Singh Bisht 4-1, while Railways' Rohit eked out a close 3-2 win over Aditya Pratap Yadav of UP in the welterweight division.
Sumit, Ashish, Sanjeet and Sagar all dominated their bouts as they won by an identical 5-0 margin.
India had finished second in the 2018 edition of the Games, returning with a haul of nine medals, including three golds and as many silvers and bronze.
The women's trials for the Games will be held next week.
Men's Team: Amit Panghal (51kg), Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg), Shiva Thapa (63.5kg) Rohit Tokas (67kg), reigning national champion Sumit (75kg), Ashish Kumar (80kg), Sanjeet (92kg) and Sagar (92kg+).
Also Read : Indian boxer Sabari Jaishankar wins WBC Australasia Pro title
News Source : PTI
American investment firm RedBird Capital bought AC Milan for £1bn
(Football news) American investment group RedBird Capital reached an agreement to buy AC Milan from Elliott Advisors. The deal massively helps AC Milan, who were recently crowned Serie A champions for the first time in 11 years. The American investment firm will pay around 1.2bn euros (£1bn) to complete the takeover. RedBird Capital also owns a stake in Fenway Sports Group, who are the owners of Liverpool, baseball team the Boston Red Sox and 15% stake in Rajasthan Royals. Elliott, who took over the club from businessman Li Yonghong when the club was at its lowest and with his vision he helped bring the glory days back to Milan. He will still retain a minority stake and seats on the board of directors.
Milan claim that the transition to new ownership will take place over the summer and that the deal will be completed in September, which means that Elliott and co. will still be in charge of the players coming in this summer. Elliott took over the historic club four years ago when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong failed to meet some obligations on and off the pitch as he had a financial package ready for the purchase of the club from Silvio Berlusconi in 2017. Then U.S.- based hedge firm Elliott came into ownership of Milan in 2018 after the club’s Chinese owner failed to repay part of a loan. Before that, former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi was in charge of the Rossenari for more than 30 years before selling the club to the Chinese group in 2017.
Milan after the takeover had finished sixth a couple of months before Elliott took over. The club during that period was also embroiled in a case with UEFA over financial fair play breaches that saw them withdraw from the 2019-2020 Europa League to avoid any further penalties. Elliott, who's going to retain a minority stake in the club, was hell bent on selling Milan to a private equity firm based in Bahrain but the exclusive negotiations ended after it failed to come to a commercial agreement with Investcorp. This opportunity paved the way for RedBird to enter and their founder Cardinale was pictured celebrating Milan’s title triumph in front of the city’s iconic cathedral in Piazza Duomo with thousands of Milan fans
"We are honoured to be a part of AC Milan's illustrious history and are excited to play a role in the club's next chapter as it returns to its rightful place at the very top of Italian, European and world football," RedBird founder Gerry Cardinale said.
Elliott's Gordon Singer added: "When Elliott acquired AC Milan in 2018, we inherited a club with a tremendous history, but with serious financial problems and a mediocre sporting performance.
"Our plan was simple: to create financial stability, and to return AC Milan to where it belongs in European football. Today, I believe we have accomplished both. As we make this remarkable transition to AC Milan’s next chapter, I want to express our deepest sense of humility, pride and above all gratitude for the experiences we have shared with each member of the AC Milan family.”
“I want to thank Gordon Singer and the entire Elliott team for the tremendous work they have done over the last four years in rebuilding Milan and returning it to its rightful place at the top of Serie A,” Cardinale said.
Cardinale added “RedBird’s investment philosophy and track record in team ownership has shown that football clubs can be successful on the pitch and sustainable off it.”
Also read: Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard leave Manchester United
India to play 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is vs West Indies between July 22-August 7; two games in Florida
New Delhi, Jun 1 (Cricket News) The Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the BCCI on Wednesday announced India's tour of the West Indies where the 'Men in Blue' will play three ODIs and five T20Is between July 22 and August 7.
India will finish its white-ball leg of UK tour on July 17 and those selected would directly leave for the West Indies from England.
The ODI series and three T20Is will be hosted across Trinidad and Tobago and St Kitts & Nevis, with the final two T20Is scheduled to be held in Fort Lauderhill, Florida in the USA.
The three ODIs will be played on July 22, 24 and 27 respectively at Port of Spain's (Trinidad & Tobago) iconic Queen's Park Oval and will be followed by five T20Is, two of which will be played at Florida's Fort Lauderhill.
The first T20I will be held at Brian Lara Stadium (Port of Spain) on July 29 and followed by two games at St Kitt's Warner Park on August 1 and 2 respectively.
The final two games, in order to cater to the Indian diaspora in the United States, will be held at the Broward County Stadium in Florida on August 6 and 7.
The entire series will be live-streamed exclusively on FanCode.
West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran said on the upcoming series, "We have a young team that is eager to restore the brand of cricket the West Indies team is known for playing.
"As I take charge of this team, our ambition is to always be competitive, as we look to use this series to fine tune our preparations for the upcoming T20 and 50 Over World Cups." Talking about this, Johnny Grave, CEO of Cricket West Indies said: "Our four-year deal with FanCode has brought Indian cricket fans closer to CWI's live properties across multiple formats that has featured the top cricketing nations like South Africa, Pakistan, Australia and England.
"FanCode has become the go-to platform for Indian fans to consume cricket in a digital-first manner which has redefined the sports viewing experience." Itinerary ODIs 1st ODI: July 22 (Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain) 2nd ODI: July 24 (Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain) 3rd ODI: July 27 (Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain) All ODI matches live from 7 pm IST T20Is 1st T20I: July 29: (Brian Lara Stadium, Port of Spain) 2nd T20I: Aug 1 (Warner Park, St Kitts & Nevis) 3rd T20I: Aug 2 (Warner Park, St Kitts & Nevis) 4th T20I: Aug 6 (Broward County Ground, Florida, USA) 5th T20I: Aug 7 (Broward County Ground, Florida, USA) All T20I matches live from 8 pm IST.
Also Read : Cricketers should be proud of representing their district: Dhoni
News Source : PTI
Norway chess: Anand posts second straight win in Classical event, takes lead
Stavanger (Norway), Jun 2 (Chess News) Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand posted his second win on the trot, defeating Bulgarian Veselin Topalov in the Classical section to take the lead at the Norway Chess tournament here.
The 52-year-old Anand trumped his opponent in 36 moves in the battle of the veterans to make it two out of two after the second round late on Wednesday.
The five-time world champion now leads with six points.
He had started the Classical event with a win over France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave following a fourth place finish in the Blitz event.
American Wesley So, who won the Blitz event ahead of the classical section, outwitted world No.1 Magnus Carlsen in the Armageddon (Sudden death game) to lie in second spot behind Anand after their regular game ended in a 38-move draw.
Anand, who had defeated Carlsen in the blitz event earlier, continued the good run. With the victory over his long-time rival, the Indian ace climbed to the 9th spot in the world live rating list.
In the other games in the second round of the 10-player competition, Vachier-Lagrave beat Shakhriyar Mamedyarov via Armageddon and Teimur Radjabov got the better of Norwegian GM Aryan Tari.
Dutch GM Anish Giri and Wang Hao drew their Armageddon game after the regular match ended in a stalemate.
In the classical event, players play an Armaggedon (sudden death) game in case of a draw.
Also Read : Anand beats Vachier-Lagrave in Norway Chess tourney
News Source : PTI
Cricketers should be proud of representing their district: Dhoni
Chennai, June 1 (Cricket News) Former India captain and Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday said cricketers should be proud of representing their district as it is the stepping stone to the higher level.
"It is the first time I am part of a celebration where we are celebrating the success of a district association. I would also like to thank my district cricket association back home (Ranchi). Cricketers should be proud of representing their district. I am proud of the fact that I got the chance to represent my country, but it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't played for my district or school," Dhoni said.
He was speaking at a ceremony to mark the silver jubilee of the Thiruvallur District Cricket Association (TDCA) in which he participated as the chief guest alongside former ICC Chairman and former BCCI president N Srinivasan.
Dhoni also lauded Thiruvallar District Cricket Association for completing 25 years. "Congratulations to the Thiruvallur District Cricket Association for completing 25 years. It's more than 25 years, but we are celebrating it today. I have known (RN) Baba (TDCA secretary) for a very long time. A big congrats to not only him but also others in the association,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Srinivasan said, "For any association to last long is not easy. The love for the game makes him (Baba) work for cricket. He has developed grounds, cricketers, and outstanding sportspersons." "And, the association has taught everyone the value of sportsmanship. I wish them (the TDCA) more laurels and further greatness," he added.
The TDCA, in association with the Tamil Nadu Sports Journalists’ Association (TNSJA), gave away scholarships to the tune of Rs 3 lakh to ten sportspersons from different disciplines in the State of Tamil Nadu with Dhoni handing over the cheques.
India Cements Wholetime Director Rupa Gurunath, CSK CEO KS Viswanathan, and Tamil Nadu Cricket Association office-bearers also attended the function.
A host of male and female cricketers, including India internationals Ravichandran Ashwin, Dinesh Karthik, and MD Thirushkamini, congratulated the TDCA via video messages.
TDCA secretary Dr R N Baba, who was the media manager of the Indian cricket team between 2012 and 2015 including the 2013 Champions Trophy and 2015 World Cup, proposed a vote of thanks.
Also Read : This IPL was bit of downer for me but I am going to make strong comeback in England: Siraj
News Source : PTI
Neeraj Pandey's unveils series ‘Bandon Mein Tha Dum’ on India’s win against Australia
Mumbai, Jun 1 (Fandom News) Filmmaker Neeraj Pandey and Voot Select on Wednesday announced web series "Bandon Mein Tha Dum", which will chronicle India cricket team's historic test series win against Australia in 2021.
The non-fiction docu-based show will shed light on the trials and tribulations that the Indian cricket team had to navigate ahead of their victory against Australia at their home ground of Gabba.
With their win at Gabba cricket ground in Brisbane, the Indian team had clinched the test 2-1 and retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
Pandey, best known for thriller movies like “A Wednesday”, “Baby”, “Naam Shabana” and sports biopic “M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story”, has directed the series.
The show will feature behind-the-scenes footage, candid narratives from cricketers Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara, Mohammad Siraj, Rishabh Pant and Hanuma Vihari, the coaches and journalists, who covered the India-Australia series.
Pandey said the Indian team's victory brought tremendous joy to the cricketing and wider sporting community, at a time when people were grappling and coming to terms with the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The human stories in this cricketing fairy tale elevated the series beyond a cricketing audience and created huge euphoria across all segments of the Indian society. The nation was gripped and it was therefore befitting for us to bring the story to the people of India of one of the greatest comebacks in the history of sports and cricket,” Pandey said in a statement.
"Nothing excited me more than retelling this story which went beyond high-quality cricket, hard work, perseverance, determination , commitment, sportsmanship and decoding the x-factor through the mind of the players which repeated the David Vs.Goliath story," he added.
Gourav Rakshit, Chief Operating Officer, Viacom18 Digital Ventures, said the company's strategy is to entertain viewers with high quality and binge worthy content.
"Our robustly curated content mix and our success with digital-first is a testament to our commitment to provide viewers with game-changing experiences. 'Bandon Mein Tha Dum' is the first of the many such narratives and we will continue to explore new genres and avenues that are in sync with our audience's core values,” Rakshit said.
"Bandon Mein Tha Dum" will premiere soon exclusively on Voot Select.
Also Read : Revisiting Eric Cantona's illustrious legacy on his birthday
News Source : PTI
ONE Esports named Media Partner for League of Legends Champions Korea
(Esports news) ONE Esports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship™ (ONE), has been named Official Media Partner for League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK). The League of Legends tournament is organised by League of Legends Champions Korea Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Riot Games Korea Limited.
The LCK Summer Split 2022 will take place from 15 June to August 2022 in South Korea. The tournament will see 10 of the best League of Legends teams from Korea compete for a US $370,000 prize pool.
The 10 teams will first compete in a best-of-3, double round robin format at the Group Stage, and the top six teams will qualify for the Playoffs. The Playoffs will be played in a best-of-5 single elimination format, and the top two teams will qualify for the Semi-Finals. Subsequently, the winning team of the LCK Summer Split 2022 will qualify for Worlds 2022, the annual professional League of Legends world championship tournament hosted by Riot Games. Worlds 2022 will run across the North American continent in Mexico, New York City, Toronto, and San Francisco, in the Fall later this year.
Through this appointment, ONE Esports will manage the production of localized content related to the LCK Summer Split 2022, including short-form videos and written coverage. All video content, including tournament highlights, player interviews, fan interactions, and more, will be distributed across ONE Esports’ digital channels. ONE Esports will also publish a series of articles covering the LCK in localized languages to be distributed exclusively on the ONE Esports website, oneesports.gg.
“It is motivating to work with the dedicated team at League of Legends Champions Korea Limited who are committed to delivering high quality events and telling remarkable stories. The popularity of League of Legends Champions Korea, coupled with ONE Esports’ passionate fanbase and extensive reach, will take the tournament’s phenomenal success to the global stage,” said Carlos Alimurung, CEO, ONE Esports.
“We are excited to welcome ONE Esports as our newest partner for League of Legends Champions Korea," said Aiden Lee, the Secretary-General, League of Legends Champions Korea Limited. “Storytelling is such an important aspect in esports because it allows our audience to engage with our brand and talents in deep and meaningful ways. We are thrilled that with ONE Esports’ expertise and presence in esports, we will be able to bring LCK closer to fans around the world.”
Also read: Chemin Esports finish third in 8BIT Thug Invitational Season 5
Formula 1: Red Bull extend Sergio Perez’s contract until 2024
(Motorsport) Sergio Perez has signed a two year contract extension with Red Bull Racing which will keep the Mexican at the team till 2024. The 32 year old has proved to be a reliable number 2 for Red Bull, currently occupying the third place in Drivers Standings and winning the Monaco Grand Prix last weekend. His partnership with reigning champion Max Verstappen has also meant that Red Bull are currently first in the Constructors Standings.
Perez joined Red Bull Racing at the end of 2020 and finished in fourth position at the end of 2021 in the Drivers Standings. Speaking to the media, the Mexican said “For me, this has been an incredible week, winning the Monaco Grand Prix is a dream for any driver and then to follow that with announcing I will continue with the team until 2024 just makes me extremely happy. I am so proud to be a member of this team and I feel completely at home here now. We are working very well together and my relationship with Max, on and off the track, is definitely helping drive us forward even more."
Christian Horner, Team Principal of Red Bull said “Time and again he has proved himself to not only be a magnificent team player but as his level of comfort has grown he has become a real force to be reckoned with at the sharp end of the grid. This year he has taken another step and the gap to world champion Max has closed significantly, evidenced by his superb pole position in Jeddah earlier this year and by his wonderful win in Monaco just last weekend. For us, holding onto his pace, race craft and experience was a no-brainer and we are delighted that Checo will continue to race for the team until 2024. In partnership with Max we believe we have a driver pairing that can bring us the biggest prizes in F1."
Also read: Red Bull’s Sergio Perez secures Monaco GP win in chaotic conditions
Anand beats Vachier-Lagrave in Norway Chess tourney
Stavenger (Norway), June 1 (Chess News) Indian chess ace Viswanathan Anand defeated Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in 40 moves in the first round of the classical section of the Norway Chess tournament here.
The win over the French player late on Tuesday enabled the Indian GM to gain 3 points.
American Wesley So beat Teimur Rajdabov in the first round to be level with Anand, while Magnus Carlsen had to settle for a draw with China's Wang Had.
In the blitz event played prior to the Classical, Anand had shocked world champion Carlsen in round seven on the way to a fourth-place finish.
The former world champion, however, suffered defeats to Anish Giri (the Netherlands) and Vachier-Lagrave in the fourth and ninth round respectively to finish with 5 points in the 10-player blitz event.
So finished on top of the Blitz standings with 6.5 points, one clear of Carlsen while Giri took the third spot. He thus earned the right to pick his starting number for the classical event.
In the classical event, the players would play an Armeggedon (sudden death) game in case of a draw.
Also Read : Maharashtra Open chess: Smooth start for Amonatov, Lalith Babu
News Source : PTI
More than 100 speed skaters took part in XVII National Speed Skating Championship
Gurugram, May 31 (Sports News) More than 100 speed skaters from across the country displayed their skills in the XVII National Speed Skating Championship that concluded this morning at ISKATE, an all weather indoor ice skating arena located at Ambience Mall here.
The speed skaters were divided in the age categories -- Novice (below 10 years), Junior D (10-13 years), Junior C (13-15 years), Junior B (15-17 years), Junior A (17-19 years) and Senior (above 19 years).
During the national speed skating camp, athletes were trained by expert national coaches AvduthTawade, SubodhPatil, Ravi Dhillon, Rahul Pandekar, Gitesh Vaidya and Md Abbas.
Speaking at the event, J S Sahney, secretary general, Ice Skating Association of India said, "I am elated to see such talented kids perform in the championship. Our country is making progress in ice skating, speed skating and figure skating because of ISKATE, the only ice skating rink in India that is functional throughout the year." The winner in every category was awarded a cash prize of Rs 20,000, and the first and second runner-ups were awarded with Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.
The National Speed Skating Championship is being conducted after a gap of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The National Speed Skating Camp was organised from May 27 to May 29 followed by two days of National Speed Skating Championship on May 30 and 31.
Also Read : Maharashtra Open chess: Smooth start for Amonatov, Lalith Babu
News Source : PTI
India's table tennis squad for CWG announced, women's team will need SAI's clearance
Bengaluru, May 31 (Table Tennis News) The selectors of the Indian table tennis team on Tuesday named a four-member women's squad for the Commonwealth Games, subject to clearance from the Sports Authority of India, after Archana Kamath was included in the side despite not meeting the existing criteria.
Kamath is the second highest-ranked Indian player at 66 after Manika Batra (39) but she was not among the top four players going by the existing selection criteria which also factors in domestic performance.
The Committee of Administrators (CoA) plans to tweak the selection guidelines in the future.
The chosen players are Manika, Archana, Sreeja Akula (rank 66), Reeth Rishya (100), with Diya Chitale (129) as the standby.
Experienced players like Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee were ignored.
Explaining the reasons behind awaiting concurrence from SAI, S D Mudgil, CoA representative and chairperson of the selection committee said, "Under the existing selection criteria, one of the members (Archana) falls outside the top four.
"The selection committee is convinced that the existing guidelines are "flawed" and has moved to make necessary course-correction, with new guidelines effective from October 1.
"However, in this transitionary phase, with an eye on a rich medal haul in Birmingham, we have included the said player in the team. She (Archana Kamath) is one half of the doubles pair (Manika the other) that is ranked No. 4 in the world and which will be the top seeds at the Commonwealth Games.
"Therefore, the selection committee feels that this is a case worthy of consideration by SAI." The men's team which has been picked is a more straightforward one, consisting of the great Sharath Kamal, G Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai. Manush Shah will be the standby.
Mudgil also made it clear that all the 15 players (eight men and seven women) at the camp will be fielded at the ensuing World Table Tennis Tour events in Zagreb (Croatia), Ototec (Slovakia) and Budapest (Hungary) in June-July as part of an ongoing process to bolster the strength of Indian table tennis.
The CWG-bound paddlers will also be provided with an acclimatisation camp in partnership with a leading European team.
'Aim is to have 10 Indians in world's top-100' ------------------------------------------------- The CoA led by Justice (retd) Gita Mittal was appointed by the Delhi High Court in February this year to "clean up the TTFI".
Unveiling an ambitious five-year plan that envisages setting up a national academy along the lines of the National Cricket Academy, with regional academies in four other cities, she said, "The aim is to have at least 10 Indians in the top-100 in the world in both the senior and the junior categories among men and women.
"For that, we need cooperation from all quarters, not criticism just for the sake of it." Justice Mittal insisted that the CoA would like to carry out its responsibilities and exit as quickly as possible.
"We want to put structures in place and ensure a smooth transition. For us, all players are equally important. Also, the player is the most important stake-holder and it is in their best interest that we will function," she added.
The squads were picked after a week-long national camp at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bangalore.
Also Read : TTFI to offer equal prize money from new table tennis season
News Source : PTI
Maharashtra Open chess: Smooth start for Amonatov, Lalith Babu
Pune, May 31 (Chess News) Grandmaster Farrukh Amonatov of Tajikistan started his campaign in the inaugural Maharashtra International Open GM chess tournament with a confident win over India's Anish Gandhi here on Tuesday.
Fresh from a victory in the KIIT GM Open, the Tajik GM, the top seed, showed his class playing with white pieces in a Sicilian game against Gandhi.
He won in 35 moves in a Sicilian Variation game.
Second-seeded M R Lalith Babu, the highest rated Indian in the fray, encountered stiff resistance from Joshua A P in a Queen's Gambit Declined game before winning in 44 moves, while the fourth seed Alexei Federov got the better of Tejaswani Sagar after 43 moves.
Fifth seed Deep Sengupta of India posted a win over Atul Dahale in 38 moves.
Important results: Round 1: GM Farrukh Amonatov (1) beat Anish Gandhi (0); WIM Tejaswini Sagar (0) lost to GM Alexei Federov (1); GM Deep Sengupta (1) beat Atul Dahale (0); Aanjaneya Phatak (0) lost to GM V Karthik (1); GM Mikhail Nikitenko (1) beat C M Manisha Kadam (0); GM M R Lalith Baby (1) beat Joshua AP (0).
Also Read : Anand beats Carlsen in blitz event of Norway Chess, finishes fourth
News Source : PTI
Tim Cahill's XE Sports Group enters Extreme E
(Motorsports news) XE Sports Group has today announced it will enter Season 3 of Extreme E, the sport for purpose electric off-road series which uses motorsport to promote sustainability and diversity.
Extreme E marks a major milestone in global reach with XE Sports Group becoming the first Asian Pacific Team headquartered in Australia to compete in the series.
The team will officially sign its contract in Monaco later today on board the St Helena, the series’ floating centrepiece, which transports the Extreme E cars, freight and logistics around the world.
Luke Todd, Director of the XE Sports Group, commented: “Since its inception, Extreme E has demonstrated to be a major drawcard for both extreme racing and climate awareness plus diversity, which aligns perfectly with the XE Sports Group’s focus of raising awareness of global climate and social challenges with the ability to make a real impact at the ground, local level.”
XE Sports Group is the impact sports division of EVDirect.com, the distributors of BYD Passenger Vehicles within Australia and New Zealand and their investment and participation in Extreme E will enable them to showcase BYD’s high quality, affordable luxury vehicles and raise awareness within Australia and wider Asia Pacific Region of the benefits of electric vehicle technology.
Sporting executive and former international professional football star Tim Cahill will also be a member of the group from its inception. Cahill said that he was looking forward to connecting the world of professional football with Extreme E, commenting: “I’m really excited to be a part of this team. The combination of thrilling, competitive racing and leaving a lasting, positive impact makes the sport totally unique. We look to bringing a significant new audience to Extreme E from within the millions of football fans across the world.”
Todd added: “XE Sports Group will be bringing our own climate science and legacy program to Extreme E to complement the existing Extreme E programme with XE Sports Group to roll out an Asia Pacific Foundation with the mission to reduce poverty and increase living standards through the adaption of technology such as 2nd life lithium battery deployment combined with solar capture in remote or impoverished locations.
“Competitively, we are joining Extreme E to race and win. We will be delivering a world-class racing package and eagerly await to line up against the likes of the X44, Rosberg X Racing, and JBXE teams as well as the rest of the top-class field. Australians are renowned for overachieving in the sports arena, and we aim for nothing less in Extreme E. We will be racing for the planet and racing to win.”
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We extend a huge, warm welcome to Luke and the XE Group to Extreme E, and we can’t wait to see how the team performs in its racing debut. Not only that but it is a great to see the goals of the team so closely reflecting our own in terms of climate and community impact, and we are very excited about the possibilities we have together in these shared purposes.
“The grid is really filling up now and it’s great to have our first Asian Pacific team involved. This championship is growing and the countdown to Season 3 starts now!”
Extreme E aims to minimise environmental impact but maximise awareness, racing in places that have already been damaged or affected by climate change, taking fans deep into the heart of the most pressing environmental issues facing the planet. At the same time, the series has built-in equality and diversity, with each team fielding one male and one female driver.
In parallel, Extreme E is helping the car industry to develop future-facing technology using racing as a platform for mobility innovation, which motorsport has long been associated with as an accelerator of research and development.
The current Extreme E line-up includes teams run by legendary motorsport names including McLaren, Lewis Hamilton (X44), Nico Rosberg (Rosberg X Racing) Jenson Button (JBXE), and Carlos Sainz (ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team).
Season 3 of Extreme E will get underway in early 2023, with dates and a full racing calendar to be confirmed in the coming months.
Also read: Daruvala finishes second in the Monaco GP sprint race
Manchester United appoint Andy O’Boyle as Deputy Football Director
(Football news) Manchester United have appointed Andy O’Boyle as the Deputy Football Director. He will be leaving his post as Head of Elite Performance at the Premier League to join the club and will support John Murtough, Football Director in order to drive the club’s strategy across the first team, Academy and women’s team. O’Boyle will be returning to Manchester United after 16 years, having previously worked in the Academy, working with players like Marcus Rashford.
Speaking about the appointment, Football Director John Murtough said “We are delighted to welcome Andy back to Manchester United to take up this important role in the club’s leadership. Andy has experience across all technical areas of football, from fitness and sports science to scouting and recruitment. This will make him a valuable addition to my team at Carrington as we continue to strengthen leadership and strategic planning across all our football activities.”
O’Boyle said “I am thrilled to be rejoining Manchester United at such an exciting time for the club, as the first team prepares for a fresh start under Erik ten Hag, and the Academy and women’s teams go from strength to strength. Whilst it has been a privilege to serve the Premier League for the past five years, I can’t wait to get started at United and play my part in creating the right environment for football success.” O’Boyle is set to complete his UEFA Pro Licence this summer and is also working on his doctorate in Sports Science.
His role in the Premier League involved advising clubs on talent identification and recruitment, performance analysis, sports science and medicine, psychology, and loan management. O’Boyle was also responsible for the league’s response on COVID-19, coordinating with the government and clubs on the protocols. He has played for Manchester United Centre of Excellence in Northern Ireland before switching to coaching and sports science and is a lifelong fan of the club. He has also held roles at Liverpool, England Under-21s, Coventry City and Wrexham FC.
Also read: Robert Lewandowski announces his decision to leave Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski announces his decision to leave Bayern Munich
(Football news) Polish striker Robert Lewandowski has publicly declared his desire to leave Bayern Munich this summer in order to seek a new challenge elsewhere. The 33 year old has been linked to FC Barcelona and currently has a year left on his contract and has scored 50 goals in 46 games for the German club and a total of 344 goals in 375 games during his 8 year spell at Bayern Munich, second only to the legendary Gerd Muller.
Speaking on international duty with Poland, Lewandowski said “One thing is certain today, my story with Bayern is over. After everything that has happened in recent months, I cannot imagine further good cooperation. I realise a transfer will be the best solution for both sides. I trust that Bayern won't stop me, just because they can" According to various reports, Barcelona have made an offer of 32 million euros ($34.5 million) to sign the striker and Lewandowski has reportedly agreed to take a massive salary cut in order to join the Catalan club, who have still not recovered from their financial crisis.
Earlier this month, Robert Lewandowski’s agent Pini Zahavi said while speaking to German newspaper BILD that despite the one year remaining on the striker’s contract, he will advise the club against holding onto the player for the remaining tenure. Club CEO Oliver Kahn and Director of Sports Hasan Salihamidzic had previously said that they will not be selling Lewandowski this summer and he will be forced to honour his agreement. In response to those statements, Zahavi said “He has felt disrespected by those in charge (at Bayern) for months, that's the truth. FC Bayern has not lost Lewandowski the player, but Robert the person."
Lewandowski has enjoyed an illustrious career at the German champions, winning back-to-back FIFA's best male player awards, securing every title there is to win with eight Bundesliga trophies and the Champions League in 2020. He has also been the top scorer in the league for five consecutive years and scored a staggering 41 goals in the 2021 season.
Also read: Eden Hazard makes a special promise to Real Madrid fans
Anand beats Carlsen in blitz event of Norway Chess, finishes fourth
Stavenger (Norway), May 31 (Chess News) Indian chess ace Viswanathan Anand defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen in round seven of the blitz event of the Norway Chess on way to a fourth-place finish.
The former world champion, however, suffered defeats to Anish Giri (the Netherlands) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) in the fourth and ninth round respectively to finish with 5 points in the 10-player blitz event early on Tuesday.
The Indian GM started with a win over Aryan Tari (Norway) in the blitz before drawing with So in round two. He posted a victory over veteran Veselin Topalov in the third round before sharing the point with Teimur Radjabov.
After a loss to Giri and a draw with Hao Wang (China), Anand scored over Carlsen. However, the draw against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov followed by the loss to Vachier-Lagrave put paid to his chances of a high finish after having started with 2.5 points from the first three rounds.
Anand's win over Carlsen comes close on the heels of compatriot and teen sensation R Praggnandhaa defeating the Norwegian world champion in an online blitz tournament recently.
American Wesley So finished on top of the Blitz standings with 6.5 points, one clear of Carlsen while Giri took the third spot. He thus earned the right to pick his starting number for the classical event.
The 10 players will play a classical event beginning later on Tuesday.
Anand begins his campaign in the Classical event with a game against Vachier-Lagrave.
Also Read : Maha International Open GM chess: Focus on Tajik GM Amonatov, India's Lalith Babu
News Source : PTI
Need to give football players the right exposure: Baichung Bhutia
Shillong, May 30 (Football News) Former India captain Baichung Bhutia on Monday said the football scenario in the country is changing quite a lot and the players need to be given the right exposure.
He said the north east region has a lot of sports talent.
“The football scenario in India is changing quite a lot and the opportunities are much more. We need to make sure that the players are given the right exposure,” Bhutia told PTI at the sidelines of the inauguration of the Baichung Bhutia Football School (BBFS) here at the Assam Riffles Public School.
He said the aim of starting the BBFS was to ensure that the young talents get the right exposure to football at the right age.
Excited for the official exchange of MoU for running a professional football school at the Assam Riffles Public School here, Bhutia said the north east region has a lot of sports talent.
“For us the NE region is where the talent is. It is important to start a centre here. We are looking at promoting and supporting a lot of players,” he said.
The aim of the BBFS is to provide support and guidance to a lot of players with the support of the Government of India through its Khelo India Programme.
Recalling that during his teen days there were no formal training and exposure, Bhutia said he was lucky to be spotted during a match and taken by SAI. He urged the authorities to give their best to ensure that the right exposure is given to the right talents.
Under the BBFS football programme, seven boys from the ARPS are playing for India in the different categories regularly, he said, adding that about 30 students are enjoying 100 per cent scholarship of the BBFS.
At the BBFS/APRS, four boys from Meghalaya including one from Tura and two girls from Shillong are part of the BBFS scholarship programme.
Bhutia said "we need to make sure that the players are given the right exposure. At BBFS, we are doing our best. My own son is enrolled as a boarder at the BBFS-Gurgaon. He is 12. I am giving him the exposure since he wanted to play football." Assam Rifles Director General Lt Gen Pradeep Chandran Nair in his address at the formal exchange of an MoU between the AR and the BBFS said, “North East India is a true powerhouse of sports and has produced notable sportsman including Olympic medalists. The talent of the local youths towards football is the way forward for the future of the Indian Football.” Over 100 footballers from North East region, primarily from Manipur and Mizoram are playing at the top football league in India at the moment and no club is complete without a player from the region, he said.
Established in 1980, the Assam Rifles Public School is run by the Assam Rifles Welfare Education Society. In 2021 the school was converted into a Sports School with an aim to harness the rich sports potential of the youth of the North East.
Also Read : Is it possible for Karim Benzema to not win the Ballon d'or this season?
News Source : PTI
Gavaskar feels Hardik has emerged as contender for India captaincy
Ahmedabad, May 30 (Cricket News) Impressed by Hardik Pandya's "leadership qualities" in IPL-15, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar feels the star all-rounder has emerged as a strong contender to lead the Indian team in near future.
Making a comeback after a subdued outing in the T20 World Cup last year, Hardik captained Gujarat Titans to a memorable title triumph in a dream maiden IPL season, forcing those who gave the first-timers no chance before the tournament to eat humble pie.
"Yes definitely. Not just my estimation, but everybody's estimation (Hardik's reputation as a leader has gone up). This was an aspect of his game which nobody had too much information about," Gavaskar told Star Sports.
"When you have leadership qualities, it automatically opens the door for honours at the national level to be able to captain the Indian national team in the near future.
"So that's exciting, there are 3-4 other names in the ring. I am not saying he is the next in line. But for the selection committee to have that option is fantastic," the added.
In a low-scoring final, Hardik starred with both the bat and ball (3/17 and 30-ball 34) to lead GT to a seven-wicket win over former champions Rajasthan Royals.
Overall, he finished the campaign in IPL-15 with 487 runs and eight wickets.
"We all knew what he could do with the bat, what he could do with the ball, but there was just a little bit of a concern before the start of the season about whether he would be able to bowl his full quota of four overs. He has done that, he has shown that. That all-rounder aspect is done, and everybody is happy.
"The way he has led the team, the way he has got them together, the way he has got them to gel together means he has got leadership qualities," he added.
A winner of four IPL titles with Mumbai Indians, this was Hardik's first trophy as captain.
Hardik has also made an India comeback riding on his IPL show this season, and will be seen in the upcoming five-match T20I home series against South Africa under skipper KL Rahul.
Also Read : If India need a captain in a couple of years I wouldn't look past Hardik: Vaughan
News Source : PTI
Maha International Open GM chess: Focus on Tajik GM Amonatov, India's Lalith Babu
Pune, May 30 (Chess News) Tajikistan Grandmaster Farukh Amonatov will headline a 140-player field that includes 17 GMs in the inaugural Maharashtra International Open Grandmaster Chess tournament beginning here on Tuesday.
The tourney for players rated above Elo 2000 will see 17 GMs, 29 International Masters, a handful of WGMs and 140 players from 24 countries vie for top honours, according to a press release.
GM Amonatov, with an Elo rating of 2622, is the top-seed and starts favourite while GM Lalith Babu (2563) who has won as many as 20 gold medals in international events will spearhead the Indian challenge as the highest host player in the fray.
Former world champion Ruslan Ponomariov of Ukraine, who was expected to participate in the event, could not make it as his visa application was rejected by the authorities, reasons for which were not clear.
"He (Ponomariov) is not coming...His visa did not come through. Yet, the field is strong, there are good players," the organisers told PTI.
The event to be played till June 8 will be a 11-round Swiss League and has attracted players from Tajikistan, Belarus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, USA, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh apart from top Indian players.
Among the Indian women, International Masters Bhakti Kulkarni and Soumya Swaminathan, WGMs Mary Ann Gomes, Divya Deshmukh and Priyanka Nutakki are expected to perform well during the event.
The tournament, which offers a total prize money of Rs. 20 lakh, is organized by the Maharashtra Chess Association under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation.
Meanwhile, over 455 players from seven countries including India have confirmed their participation for the 1st Pune Open Chess Tournament (for players rated below Elo 2000) which will be held here simultaneously.
The open event will offer a total prize money Rs 10 lakh and will be on a 10-round Swiss League basis, organisers said in the release.
Also Read : No taking pressure: Chopra wants to repeat Tokyo Olympics approach in World C'ships
News Source : PTI
Daruvala finishes second in the Monaco GP sprint race
(Motorsports news) A straightforward sprint race saw the Indian driver close the gap to the championship-leader Felipe Drugovich’s points advantage. Saturday couldn’t have gone any more perfect for Prema Racing, as they took a 1-2 finish with Jehan Daruvala finishing a strong second and his teammate from the fellow Red Bull junior driver program, Dennis Hauger, took his maiden win in F2.
Daruvala started third on the grid for the 30-lap race and the Indian driver took full advantage of polesitter Jake Hughes’ car stalling on the grid and instantly moved up to second place. Daruvala did his best to get that elusive victory this season by trying to maintain pressure on his teammate Hauger early on, but with the tight nature of the Monaco street circuit and making a move on this circuit is very difficult, ultimately settled for a good second place and a chunk of points. In the end, the Indian driver had to settle for second position at the chequered flag and with the championship-leader Felipe Drugovich’s DNF from the sprint race, the result allowed Jehan Daruvala to close the gap up a little bit in the drivers standings for the time being as Drugovich maintained a healthy advantage. The Indian driver didn’t have a promising qualifying session as he started eighth for the feature race..
In the feature race, Pole-sitter Felipe Drugovich made no mistake and made it three wins in four races to extend his lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship in Formula 2. After a disappointing retirement in the Sprint Race, the MP Motorsport driver turned around his fortunes and brilliantly held off Theo Pourchaire for 22 laps on the supersoft tyres around the challenging Monte Carlo streets. A late gasp move from Juri Vips wasn’t enough to bring him into the contention to fight for the win as the Hitech Grand Prix driver settled for third. Jack Doohan finished in fourth, ahead of Enzo Fittipaldi and Marcus Armstrong.
Sprint Race winner Dennis Hauger finished seventh and Jehan Daruvala was eighth taking home 4 points along with a point for the fastest lap also, as Logan Sargeant recovered into the points Another dominant performance by Drugovich saw the Brazilian driver to increase his lead in Drivers’ Championship to 113 points, 32 points clear of his nearest rival Theo Pourchaire whose in second followed by Jehan Daruvala who remained in third with 53 points ahead of Marcus Armstrong and Juri Vips who climbed up two places to fifth.
Also read: Red Bull’s Sergio Perez secures Monaco GP win in chaotic conditions
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez secures Monaco GP win in chaotic conditions
(Motorsport) It was pouring cats and dogs in Monaco as Sergio Perez secured an unlikely victory as Red Bull outsmarted Ferrari who had some drama in the pit-stop. The Italian manufacturer had a sub-standard strategy, asking Leclerc to pit too late and then changing their minds at the end moment, resulting in the Monegasque driver being relegated to fourth place on the grid. The race eventually concluded 12 laps earlier due to the rain delay and the Mexican held his lead despite Carlos Sainz’s efforts to get his first win. The result meant that Verstappen extended his Championship lead to 9 points.
As for Mercedes, George Russell finished in fifth place while Lewis Hamilton was eighth. The seven time World Champion was left frustrated by Esteban Ocon’s Alpine. There was controversy at the race as well with Ferrari complaining to the stewards for Red Bull’s pit infringements but the protests were dismissed with Perez and Verstappen being cleared of any possible penalties. There was also a red flag towards the end of the race as Mick Schumacher had a scary crash with his Haas car being split in two. Thankfully, the German emerged unharmed and unscathed.
Understandably, Charles Leclerc was furious with Ferrari’s strategy, which resulted in the Monegasque driver going from first to fourth place in his home country. On the team radio, Leclerc said “****! ****! Why? Why? What are you doing?!” In the post race interview, Leclerc said “The season is long, but we cannot do that. Sometimes mistakes can happen but there has been too many mistakes today. Obviously in those conditions, you rely a little bit on what the team can see because you don't see what the others are doing with intermediates, with dry tyres. I have been asked questions about whether I wanted to go from the intermediates to the slicks and I said yes but not now, it will be a bit later on in the race.
"But I don't understand what made us change our mind and go on these intermediates, I got undercut and then got stuck behind Carlos. There have been a lot of mistakes and we can't afford to do that. It is hard, as it has been the other years here so I am getting used to getting back home disappointed but we cannot do that, especially in the moment we are in now. We are extremely strong, our pace is strong, we need to take those opportunities and we cannot lose so many points like this. It is not even from first to second it is first to fourth because after the first mistake we have done another one.
“I love my team and I am sure I will come back stronger but it hurts a lot. I think the first one was a very clear decision and a very wrong one and from that moment on the mess started. I don't know if it is panic, I obviously don't hear all the background radio that there is in the team but yeah, this is not up to me to judge. Obviously, the message that I had wasn't clear, the last wasn't clear because I was told to come in but then to stay out but I was already in the pit lane and that is where I basically let it all out on the radio and screamed because I knew I just couldn't do anything and I was done."
Monaco GP: Race Result
1) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
2) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
3) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5) George Russell, Mercedes
6) Lando Norris, McLaren (fastest lap)
7) Fernando Alonso, Alpine
8) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
9) Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
10) Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
Also read: Formula 1 could end the Monaco GP for more lucrative venues
AIFF's new elected body should be in position by September end, will submit modified constitution by July 15: Quraishi
New Delhi, May 29 (Football News) A newly elected body of the All India Football Federation should be in place by September end and a modified constitution will be submitted to the Supreme Court by July 15, Committee of Administrators (CoA) member S. Y. Quraishi said on Sunday.
The Supreme Court had on May 18 appointed a three-member CoA headed by former top court judge AR Dave to manage the affairs of the AIFF and form its constitution in line with the National Sports Code and model guidelines.
Former Chief Election Commissioner Quraishi and ex-Indian football team captain Bhaskar Ganguly are the other members of the CoA.
"The election process will take six to eight weeks to complete. Then by the end of September, a newly elected body should be in position," said Qureshi.
"The CoA, led by myself, has submitted a draft constitution after long deliberation to the Supreme Court which was not accessible to the public for a long time.
"However, now that the SC has asked the draft constitution to be made public, we are also looking for suggestions and feedback on the same. Taking these into consideration, we expect to submit a modified version of the Constitution by July 15." Quraishi and Ganguly were made administrators by the SC in 2017 to formulate the constitution of the AIFF in consonance with the National Sports Code. They had submitted a draft constitution to the SC in a sealed cover in January 2020.
"Hopefully, by July 21, we will have an approved constitution as there are various notices and clarifications on the electoral role.
"After that, we will convene the election as quickly as possible. The election process will take six to eight weeks to complete. Once the newly elected body is in place, our work is done and the CoA goes home. Our task is to finish it as quickly as possible," Quraishi said.
A joint team from FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is set to visit India to "understand the current situation" in the aftermath of the SC order.
Quraishi said the meeting will be held on June 11 and the CoA wants to meet the representatives of the two bodies to discuss the new constitution of the AIFF and to assure them that the committee is in place to help fast-track the election process.
"Although we have constantly been in touch, we have planned our first formal meet at the Football House in New Delhi on June 8. We have also invited a delegation from the FIFA and the AFC, who we will meet on June 11," Quraishi said.
"In our meeting with the FIFA and AFC delegates, we want to dispel any misconception they might have about this process. There are good people at work here and there's no personal agenda at play." Quraishi said that none of the "good work" that has been planned by the federation should be stopped because of the change in it's constitution.
"There's a lot of good things that have happened in the past, and a lot of good things that are planned as well – training camps, tournaments, matches, and so on. All of the good work needs to go on, and there should not be even a single day's delay in anything," he said.
"Of course our instruction to the AIFF has been that while nothing should stop, if anybody suspects that there is anything suspicious in terms of financial dealings, they should flag it to the CoA immediately."
Also Read : India lose to Jordan 0-2 in international football friendly
News Source : PTI
India lose to Jordan 0-2 in international football friendly
Doha, May 28 (Football News) India suffered a 0-2 defeat to Jordan in an international football friendly here on Saturday as the return of talisman Sunil Chhetri did not prove to be enough for the Blue Tigers.
The 91st-ranked West Asian side left it late as Monther Abu Amara (75th minute) and Abu Zraiq (90+4) found the net while India, placed at 106th in the FIFA rankings, barely managed a shot on target at the Qatar Sports Club.
India, who are preparing for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup final round qualifiers, will take on Cambodia on June 8 in Kolkata in a Group D match.
The match was India's last preparatory outing ahead of the Asian Cup Qualifiers.
Having gone into the breather goal-less, substitute Monther Abu Amara put Jordan in front when he found the top corner of the net with a first time shot from the edge of the 18-yard-box.
Abu Amara then turned provider as he received the ball from Mohammad Abu Zraiq and then pushed it back to the latter, whose attempt went past Indian custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who was left with barely any support at the back.
The higher ranked team in the match, Jordan looked marginally better than the Indian side going forward with Sandhu called into action late in the half to thwart a delivery that bounced just in front of him.
To start with, Jordan created the first two chances of the game -- a free-kick and a shot -- but both went wide.
Even as Jordan looked to score, the Indian defence stood firm. Jordan came closest to scoring in the first half when forward Mahmoud Almardi's volley landed on top of the net.
But in the end, India suffered yet another defeat in the international area.
The 37-year-old Chhetri last played for India during their 3-0 win over Nepal in the SAFF Championships final in October 2021.
Also Read : Ivan Perisic is close to joining Tottenham Hotspur
News Source : PTI
No taking pressure: Chopra wants to repeat Tokyo Olympics approach in World C'ships
New Delhi, May 28 (Sports News) A World Championships medal is definitely in his mind, but star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Saturday said he will go into the showpiece in July without taking too much pressure, which did the trick for him during the Tokyo Olympics.
The 24-year-old Chopra said thinking too much about a World Championships medal could be counterproductive though such a feat is within his reach if he gives his best on the day of competition.
"During Olympics last year, I did not take any pressure, was not thinking that I shall have to win a gold. With that, I did well and won gold. My approach has been to do my best on the day according to the situation. I am satisfied if I do my best and learn and improve for the future," Chopra told PTI in an interview from his training base in Finland.
"I will do the same during the World Championships and see whatever is the result, whether I win a medal. It's not like I won gold in Olympics last year, so I have to win a medal in World Championships this year. I will see what improvement I can make in future," said Chopra.
He recently launched a contest on YouTube Shorts to promote javelin throw among youngsters.
"A little bit of pressure is there, it is natural, but I always try to be relaxed, not to think about result too much, and stay as normal as possible while going into a big event." Age is on his side. Chopra, however, would look to make amends for his 2017 London World Championships disappointing show, where he failed to qualify for the final round. He did not take part in the 2019 World Championships in Doha as he was recuperating from an elbow surgery.
"I was not in the best of my fitness in London World Championships and I have played many competitions by then that season. I could not do well," said Chopra who created history by winning the javelin gold in Tokyo with a throw of 87.58m.
Chopra is currently training at Kuortane Olympic Training Centre in Finland, where he reached on Thursday after shifting base from Turkey. He will train at Kuortane till June 22 as part of preparations for the Worlds (July 14-25) in Eugene, USA, and Commonwealth Games (July 28 to August 8) in Birmingham.
His first competition will be at Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku in Finland on June 14. The likes of Johannes Vetter of Germany, who has thrown 90m-plus the most among active athletes, as well as reigning world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, who has begun the season with a massive 93.07m effort at the Doha Diamond League on May 1, will feature in the event.
"My main targets this year are World Championships, CWG and Diamond League Finals and I will try to give my best. I will enter the season gradually and whatever result... hopefully I will do well as I am preparing well.
"Remaining things will depend on the conditions of the day and how my body will respond. I will not take any competition pressure." In Turkey, Chopra had not done much of throwing practice but was doing other things, like lifting of weight, running, strength building, etc. But now the focus will be more on throwing.
"There will be all other things also but there will be more focus on throw, on technical things and on distance-wise. I have to set my run-up, how many metres it will be and where to start and cross it and where to stop, etc.
"We have started on all these things. There is less than three weeks but all these things are going on well." Like many of the Indian athletes training abroad, Chopra also cooked food and washed his clothes. He said he enjoyed doing those things as he had learnt them in childhood.
"In many training centres, there are no washing machines, we have to wash our clothes. Many a times, we felt we should have Indian food cooked by ourselves. So we go to the supermarket and buy food stuffs, vegetables and others.
"So we have to do those things, the simple way of living. When I stared playing sport, for 4-5 years, I washed my own clothes and cooked my own food. These days also, if we get a chance or we are under compulsion or under pressure to do all these things, I do them with pleasure," the champion athlete said.
Chopra recently launched an exciting challenge exclusively on YouTube Shorts. Fans can join him by doing the #JavRun and replicating his distinctive run-up before he throws the javelin.
Modelled on Chopra's medal-winning throwing technique, fans can create a 15-second YouTube Short from the YouTube mobile app and add their own touch of creativity to the challenge.
"Most of the people use YouTube and I thought my training videos can be reached by them through YouTube. When I started the sport in my childhood, I also used to watch a lot of videos of top throwers available on YouTube on how to throw the javelin.
"If children watch my training videos and if they like the videos, they can learn javelin. I want to inspire the kids and youngsters.
"After the Olympics, a lot of children want to start javelin throw but they don't know how training is done. Now, on my YouTube channel, people will know how javelin training is done, what exercises are done, etc.
"Mostly, I will upload my training-related, sports-related videos as of now. Going ahead, I can upload other things, like if I go abroad for training in a new city, I can add the videos also. The response (from the public) has been good so far."
Also Read : Tamil Nadu, Karnataka dominate Day 2 of Indian Open Surfing
News Source : PTI
Brett Lee says Virat Kohli can take a break from cricket
Mumbai, May 28 (Cricket News) Virat Kohli can consider taking a break, freshen up his mind and work on a few things, feels former Australian speedster Brett Lee, a year after struggling to look beyond the Indian when it came to the best batter in recent years.
Kohli's mediocre campaign in the IPL-15 ended after Royal Challengers Bangalore's seven-wicket defeat by Rajasthan Royals in the second qualifier in Ahmedabad on Friday.
"Do I say it is a concern, I do. I would like him (Kohli) to be scoring more runs of course," Lee told PTI on Saturday when asked about Kohli's prolonged lean patch.
Kohli, who hasn't scored an international hundred for nearly three years, is battling his career's worst slump, having managed 341 runs in 16 IPL games at a below-par average of 22.73. In the ongoing IPL, he opened the RCB innings in most games.
In the second qualifier, Kohli chased a fast, rising delivery from pacer Prasidh Krishna, which was wide outside the off-stump, to give a simple catch to Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson behind the stumps.
"The hardest thing is when Virat Kohli doesn't score runs, generally the team doesn't do well. When we see Kohli had that purple patch, when he got 800-900 runs in that season (IPL 2016) his team (Royal Challengers Bangalore) fared pretty well. We want more from Kohli.
"A strong Kohli is a strong team. Unfortunately he missed out in the semis; he could not get his team to cross the line of his own bat, getting less than 10 runs.
"Maybe (it is) a chance for Kohli to go back and try work on a few things and maybe just have a rest from cricket. Just get away and just freshen up the mind," added Lee, who is the brand ambassador of 'Sportsbet.io'.
Around this time last year, Lee had picked Kohli and Australia seamer Pat Cummins as the best batsman and bowler of the world.
"When you look at the recent greats, it is hard to look past Virat Kohli," Lee had said when asked who his favourite Test batter is in an interview with ICC.
Impressed with fast-bowling talent in India ============================= This Indian Premier League has seen the emergence of young pacers like Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Kamran Malik, Mukesh Choudhary, Arshdeep Singh and the 45-year-old Lee, who has 310 Test wickets, believed this could come in handy when the country plays in the T20 World Cup in Australia.
"The two Khan boys (Mohsin and Avesh) have got real talent. The one thing that Indian cricket is producing is a nice catalogue of fast bowlers. I like that.
"They have got good spin options as well but certainly if you are looking forward to the T20 World Cup in Australia, you want guys that can bowl fast on the fast bouncy wickets," said Lee.
Pace sensation Umran Malik must play longer format ================================ One of the biggest finds of the IPL has been Malik, who consistently bowled over 150 kmph and ended with 22 wickets for the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
"Look he has been fantastic, what Umran Malik delivers is pure pace. I wish him well and I am hoping that he gets the opportunity to play the longer format of the game as well," Lee said.
Also Read : Watch Gavaskar's videos to learn how to counter fearsome pacers despite short height: Miandad
News Source : PTI
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka dominate Day 2 of Indian Open Surfing
Mangalore, May 28 (Sports News) Karnataka's Ishita Malviya (6.17) and Sinchana Gowda (7.30), along with Goa's Sugar Banarse (11.27) and Tamil Nadu's Srishthi Selvam (10.37), advanced to the finals of the women's competition in the Indian Open of Surfing here on Saturday.
Banarse will also compete in the finals of the groms (16 & under) girls surf category on Sunday.
Banarse, 16 impressed all the judges with her surfing, gathering the highest points among the women who made it to the finals at the Panambur beach.
The three-day competition is the official national championship of the Surfing Federation of India, – the country's governing body for the sport of surfing and stand-up paddling.
In the Groms Boys (U16) surf category semifinals it was a clean sweep by Tamil Nadu surfers, with Kishore Kumar leading the race by a huge margin.
Kishore emerged with the highest marks in the competition. His 15.50 points from the judges was a testimony to his impressive surfing and maneuvers that also included a reverse flip, helping him comfortably secure a spot in the finals.
The others who have made it to the finals are Tayin Arun (11.10), Naveenkumar R (10.17) and Jeevan S (6.46).
Also Read : 44th Chess Olympiad: 189 teams register in Open section, 154 in women's category
News Source : PTI
44th Chess Olympiad: 189 teams register in Open section, 154 in women's category
Chennai, May 28 (Chess News) A record number of 343 teams from 187 countries will take part in the 44th Chess Olympiad to be held here from July 28 to August 10.
The Olympiad, the biggest ever global chess meet hosted by India has two specific categories -- Open Section and women's section.
According to All India Chess Federation (AICF) secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan, the Event Director,"We have a record-breaking 187 countries registered with 189 teams in the open section and 154 in the women's section." Previously, the Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia, held in 2018, had set a record with 184 and 150 teams in the open and women’s sections respectively from 179 countries.
World champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway, the highest ever rated player on the planet, will be the star attraction after he confirmed his participation in the mega event.
India, as the host country, is eligible to field an extra team in both sections and has an opportunity to field a third team in case of odd number of entries, the release said.
It has already announced two teams each in the Open and women's sections with the likes of Vidit Gujrathi, Nihal Sarin, P Harikrishna, teenaged sensations R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh along with women stars Koneru Humpy, D Harika and R Vaishali being included in the squads.
Former World Champion Viswanathan Anand will be the mentor for the Indian squads. A preparatory camp was held for the players in Chennai recently under the guidance of Anand and coach GM Boris Gelfand.
Meanwhile AICF president Sanjay Kapoor said,"Right from the time the Olympiad was awarded to us, we have been relentlessly working with a single-minded focus, keeping the Olympic motto 'faster, higher, stronger’ in mind with regards to organisational aspects also."
Also Read : It's about staying grounded for Indian teen chess sensation Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa
News Source : PTI
IPL Final: 'Titans' of Gujarat brace up for 'Royal' fight from Rajasthan's rockstars
Ahmedabad, May 28 (Cricket News) Two leaders, who are minefields of talent in their own right, one team that has made a mockery of all betting odds and the other trying to complete a cycle that started 15 summers back, IPL final between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals is about this and much more.
When IPL started over two months back, nobody would have believed that two captains walking out for toss in the title clash will be Hardik Pandya and Sanju Samson.
'Remember the Titans', a 2000 Hollywood film headlined by Denzel Washington is considered one of the best sports films on the proverbial underdog story, which always has a capital.
It is not known if Titans skipper Hardik has watched it but for him and head coach Ashish Nehra, this journey of two months has been nothing short of spectacular. They have made a lot of people eat a humble pie because many, including experts, termed them a team of no-hopers post auction. A team that looked like a rag-tag outfit with only a few good players like David Miller, considered past their sell by date, or one-match wonders like Rahul Tewatia, it didn't really look good on paper.
But then you wouldn't call cricket a "game of glorious uncertainties" if everything would be decided on paper.
A fit-again Hardik took to leadership like fish takes to water and showed the way with his performances and the reason why he will always be an asset for Indian cricket.
Miller, who played his best cricket at least five years back, showed his 2.0 version that stunned one and all. Tewatia showed that those five sixes in Sharjah wasn't a mere flash in the pan.
Rashid Khan knew that he would be read well, so he became all the more parsimonious. Wriddhiman Saha after Rahul Dravid's hard-talk had reached a dead-end in his career but got a new lease of life and at least one more season to look forward to.
Gujarat as a state has not been known for its sporting exploits.
It produced players like Parthiv Patel or one of India's greatest ever pacers in Jasprit Bumrah but just like Tamil Nadu never had an emotional connect with a team before CSK appeared in the horizon, same is the case with Gujarat.
Come Sunday, expect a partisan and vociferous crowd to chant "Aava De" and that's the impact that Titans have had on their fans.
History will always throw examples that sporting teams bind a community and perhaps Titans can strike that chord with the Gujaratis.
For Titans, if this is about carving a niche in-front of home crowd, Rajasthan would like to do it for someone, who would be watching up from the stars.
Shane Warne -- Rajasthan's forever first Royal had used the IPL stage in its inception year to show Australian cricket establishment what Ian Chappell had always maintained : "Shane Warne was the best captain Australia never had".
With the Ravindra Jadejas, Dinesh Salunkhes, Swapnil Asnodkars and Niraj Patels, Warne had guided tournament's then cheapest team to victory.
Thirteen summers have gone but there is no Warne in flesh and blood to watch his beloved team complete a cycle of life and sport.
Sanju is perhaps one of those rare Indian cricketers, who has a massive fan following despite not having played even 20 international matches for the country.
In terms of talent quotient, there is little to choose between Sanju and Hardik.
Sanju's batting like a pendulum swinging between heroism and insanity.
One ball, he can audaciously flick Kagiso Rabada or a Josh hazlewood for a six and the next delivery could be an atrocious shot that would make his biggest supporter tear his hair in frustration.
But captaincy has made him explore a different aspect -- the skills of a manager.
It is not easy to lead a pack that has bonafide stars like Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jos Buttler, Trent Boult along with young guns Yashasvi Jaiswal or Prasidh Krishna but Sanju has handled it well.
It will be one hell of a battle where Buttler with 800-plus runs will not only fight a Lockie Ferguson or a Yash Dayal but also withstand crowd pressure: about 1,11,000 fans would be cheering for the hosts.
Similarly, Shubman Gill would like to own the big stage and show what he can do when the canvas is as large as the IPL final.
Prasidh Krishna is a handful when his team bowls first but how will he react against a rampaging Miller if he has to defend in a tense situation? What will be Hardik's tactic against a wily Chahal and an experimental Ashwin during the middle overs? Or will Buttler take risks against a Rashid Khan? We will get all those answers in the next 24 hours.
There will be heroes, there will be heartbreaks but above everything, perhaps a contest that everyone will remember for ages.
Squads: Gujarat Titans: Hardik Pandya (c), Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Gurkeerat Singh, B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Matthew Wade, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Wriddhiman Saha, Alzarri Joseph, Darshan Nalkande, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, Pradeep Sangwan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Varun Aaron, Yash Dayal.
Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (c), Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent NSE 1.86 % Boult, Shimron Hetmyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Riyan Parag, KC Cariappa, Navdeep Saini, Obed McCoy, Anunay Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel, Tejas Baroka, Kuldip Yadav, Shubham Garhwal, James Neesham, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Rassie van der Dussen, Daryl Mitchell, Corbin Bosch.
Match starts at 8:00 pm.
Also Read : I am trying to hold one end up and let bowler from other end attack: Rashid Khan
News Source : PTI
Chemin Esports finish third in 8BIT Thug Invitational Season 5
(Esports news) Chemin Esports finished third in the Grand Finals of 8BIT Thug Invitational Season 5, tied on points with the second placed Enigma Gaming (260 Points) while Global Esports stood in first position with a total of 290 points. Parth Garg aka CesDeltaPG from Chemin Esports secured his position as one of the top 5 FRAGGERS with his tally of 39 Finishes just behind the Frag Leader who had 44 Finishes.
Speaking on his team’s win, Chemin’s Founder and Director, Ishan Varma, said, “I am happy with the way our team is performing, and the consistency to lead the league this year. This year, we are growing steadily and we plan to add Pokémon in our Esports line-up. We foresee ourselves to lead the Esport industry in the coming years.”
Sixteen teams qualified for the Grand Finals from the group of thirty-two teams that were part of the BGMI’s League Stage of Thug Invitational Season 5. Chemin Esports qualified for the Grand Finals in style, finishing on top of the table with 173 Points, and Justin Nadar aka CesJUSTIN topped the FRAGGER list during the league stage with 33 Finishes.
The league stage was scheduled between 9th to 17th May 22, and the Grand Finals were from 18th to 25th May. Sixteen teams played twenty-four matches in four days. Brands like Monster Energy, LOCO, AORUS, Intel, and Villager Esports were associated with the BGMI’s 8BIT Thug Invitational Season 5.
Also read: Rooter signs deal with Godlike Esports for exclusive streaming rights
Formula 1: Ferrari and Leclerc dominate at the Monaco Grand Prix
(Motorsport) For a driver of Charles Leclerc’s calibre, it's astounding that he has never finished a race in his home country. This time around, things are looking bright for both the 24 year old and Scuderia Ferrari as they led the pace in both sessions alongside Carlos Sainz. Both the drivers were more than 0.3 seconds faster than Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen while George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were 0.7 seconds slower. However, as we have seen quite often this season, the pace must translate into results and a first-second finish for both the drivers will be crucial to keep their title hopes alive.
Speaking after the final practice, Leclerc said “For now we are competitive, so I'm happy. The car looks strong. Also at the race pace we look good. The initial feeling is good so hopefully we can do the step we want for tomorrow and have a great weekend after that. But I really think we need to do another step for tomorrow because everyone has quite a bit of a margin on Friday so it is a bit of an unknown." Meanwhile, reigning champion Max Verstappen said “We have been trying a few things around here to see how the car was behaving. I was a little bit happier in P1 than P2. Of course if you have a little bit of a better balance you can attack a bit more and then the lap time comes out a bit better. But clearly compared to Ferrari we have to find a little bit more and now it is all about trying to fine-tune my balance as well."
As for Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton had a difficult Final Practice session after finishing 12th while his teammate George Russell was 6th. The seven time World Champion said “There are, like, 100 bumps on just one straight. I don't know whether the others are experiencing the same as us. But it's the bumpiest roller-coaster ride. It's the bumpiest the track's ever been. It's probably the bumpiest track I've ever driven. That makes it difficult but in general our car bounces a lot. It's different bouncing to what we've experienced in the past because it's in the low speed [corners] also, but it's not aero. The bumps are making it worse. Putting a lap together is, wow, whole new ground. I don't remember experiencing that before. The grip doesn't feel terrible but it's just eyeballs coming out of the sockets. As anticipated, I didn't think we would be as quick as the Ferraris and Red Bulls. Our battle is to try and stay ahead of the McLarens."
George Russell said “The car is constantly smashing against the floor. We have experienced a lot of that this year but this is a very different philosophy and reasoning for bouncing. There are sections where both tyres are off the ground - in Turn Five, the front right in the air, and it's so stiff the front left is popping up as well. You're almost doing a wheelie. We're doing everything we can to make it easier for us. It was a relatively good day but we are not where we want to be. We want to be the best of the rest. That is a fair result this weekend behind Ferrari and Red Bull but we want to make sure we don't have cheeky little Lando popping it in there too."
Daniel Ricciardo continued to struggle in his McLaren as he endured a heavy crash, clipping his left rear tyre and smashing into the barrier while his teammate Lando Norris finished fifth. The Australian said “I think we just pushed a few things with set-up a little too far. Tried my best to save it. We missed all the sessions but we'll be ready to go tomorrow. Morning was good, we can use that and Lando had a pretty good P2 so we can bounce back." Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel avoided an almost identical crash moments before. The German driver said “There was a mistake in the first place. I shouldn't be sideways at that point but I guess I was also a bit lucky. It was a good save but definitely my heart rate was going up."
Also read: Formula 1: Daniel Ricciardo struggling to meet McLaren’s expectations
It's about staying grounded for Indian teen chess sensation Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa
Chennai, May 27 (Chess News) Indian teen chess sensation Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa might have achieved some of his best results in the recent past, including upsetting world champion Magnus Carlsen twice, but the 16-year-old believes in keeping his feet firmly grounded.
Three months after stunning Carlsen and Levon Aronian in the Airthings Masters tournament, the Indian chess prodigy had come up with another impressive performance by finishing second at the Chessable Masters earlier this week.
In the semi-finals, he defeated world No. 9 Anish Giri of the Netherlands before going down to Chinese world number two Ding Liren to finish runner-up in the USD 150,000 event.
"I don't try to celebrate at all. It's nothing compared to what they all have achieved. It's definitely a big thing, but not like it's not something that they have all achieved," the youngster from Chennai said in a virtual media interaction.
"All the three players are tough to beat. It's not easy to beat them. They all are very strong. It's always fun to play all three of them, I really enjoy playing top players. It's fun." His semifinal match against Giri went up to 2am and a few hours later, he had to be at his school to take his 11th-class board examination.
And he returned after the examination on the same day to face the Chinese player Liren.
The teenager initially thought managing both -- studies during day time and playing chess in evening -- but ultimately realised it's too draining on his body.
"I didn't expect that managing both would be tougher, I wanted to play at night and study in the morning. But I realised studying also makes you tired. You just get double tired.
"The whole week I didn't get enough sleep, still actually tired. But it should not be a problem.
"I definitely take time to sleep. It's kind of hard to manage these things, but normal in a chess player's life." He disclosed that he started studying for his 11th class board examination only 10 days before.
"I was fully focusing on chess. I did not have much time to study earlier. I did not expect I would go to the final. So far I've written pretty okay. I think I've managed it quite well." Not thinking much on Olympiad ==================== His focus would next be in the Chess Olympiad at his hometown here from July 28 to August 10 but Praggnanandhaa said he just wanted to take it easy.
"There will be some pressure for sure, but I'm just looking forward to playing my first Olympiad. I'm pretty sure it would be enjoyable for everyone, the spectators. There is going to be a camp for the B team. I'm looking forward to it," he said.
"There's a lot of expectations. But I'm trying to not really think about it and play my best chess." Being the hosts, India would field its largest-ever contingent of 20 players split into four teams. They will have an 11-day camp from May 7 in Chennai ahead of the prestigious event.
The camp will have both Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand to guide the Indian squad.
Praggnanandhaa will be part of the talented young Indian B squad which also has Nihal Sarin, Gukesh D, Adhiban and Raunak Sadhwani.
Russia, Belarus not allowed to compete ======================== AICF secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan said the tournament will have a record participation till date but Russia and Belarus have not been allowed to take part.
"FIDE is the custodian of the Chess Olympiad and at the moment Russia and Belarus are not allowed (in the tournament), that's the status." He rated the young Indian B team highly and said the players are capable of winning a medal.
"Spirit is very high and I am confident that they will win the medal. But I don't want to put extra pressure on them. We expect them to do well and give their best as we don't know when it will happen in India again," he said.
Also Read : Chessable Masters final: Indian GM Praggnanandhaa loses to Ding Liren in tie-break
News Source : PTI
Sub-Junior National Boxing C'ships: Haryana, SSCB crowned champions
Bellary (Karnataka), May 27 (Boxing News) Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) and Haryana pugilists stamped their authority by clinching the team championship titles in the boys' and girls' categories respectively at the 2022 Sub-Junior National Boxing Championships here.
The reigning national elite men's champions, SSCB pulled off a sensational show on the final day of the competition as all of their nine boxers emerged victorious by unanimous decisions to take home the boys' team championship trophy.
SSCB finished with 73 points, finishing atop of the table with 10 medals.
Aakash Badhwar was the most impressive among the SSCB boxers. He thrashed Haryana's Vinit Kumar in the boys 40kg final to win the gold medal. He was adjudged 'Best Boxer' of the championship.
Haryana and UP claimed second and third position with 58 and 24 points respectively in the boys' section.
Haryana's Mahesh (46kg) was declared the 'Most Promising Boxer' while Jharkhand's Anish Kumar Sinha received 'Best Challenger Award'.
In the girls' section, led by Payal's (46kg) 5-0 win against Tamil Nadu boxer Gunasri and Lakshu's (63kg) dominating RSC win against Nabam Ania of Arunachal Pradesh, seven Haryana boxers won the finals and helped the team finish on the top position with 60 points, winning 10 medals.
Pune's Aarya was awarded with the Most Promising Boxer Award and Manipur's Joyshree Devi was adjudged the Best Boxer Award, while Goa’s Chandirika Pujari was named as the Best Challenger Boxer.
The championship witnessed participation of 621 boxers, including 348 in the boys’ section, from 31 teams across the country where each bout was played with three rounds of two minutes each and a minute's break between each round.
Also Read : Boxing champ Parveen Hooda focused on the 2022 Commonwealth Games
News Source : PTI
If Pant plays 100 Tests, his name would be etched in record books forever: Sehwag
Mumbai, May 27 (Cricket News) If Rishabh Pant wants to get his name etched in record books forever, he should strive to play 100 Test matches for the country, one of India's greatest long format match-winners Virender Sehwag said on Friday.
Sehwag, the country's only cricketer to have struck two triple hundreds in Test cricket, is among the 11 Indians to have played 100 plus Tests and scored over 8500 runs.
Pant, who has an enviable record being the only Indian keeper to have scored Test hundreds in Australia, England and South Africa, has played 30 Tests and scored 1920 runs so far at an average of 40.85.
"If he (Pant) goes on to play 100+ Tests, his name would be etched in the history books forever. Only 11 Indian cricketers have achieved this feat, and everyone can recall those 11 names," Sehwag said on 'Sports18' while making it clear that white-ball exploits are not for posterity.
The instant gratification of matches won in T20Is and ODIs are fine but in the long run, people only remember what you have done in a white jersey, said the 'Nawab of Najafgarh'.
"Why does Virat Kohli emphasise so much on playing Tests? He knows that if he plays 100-150 or even 200 Tests, he will be immortalised in the record books," Sehwag said.
Also Read : Babar can become the first batter to be ranked No.1 batter in all formats: Karthik
News Source : PTI
All-India basketball tournament in city from May 29
Coimbatore, May 27 (Basketball News) Leading teams from across the country including the Railways and Air Force will be vying for honours in the All India Basketball Tournament for men and women beginning here on May 29.
Nine teams would be taking part in the 55th edition of the Nachimuthu Gounder Cup for men with a strong Indian Railways outfit expected to be the team to beat.
Giving details at a press meet here, the organisers said apart from the Railways, the other teams in the fray in the men's event are: Indian Air Force (New Delhi), Indian Navy, Lonavala, Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and Kerala Police (both Thiruvananthapuram), Bank of Baroda, Bengaluru Sports Hostel of Excellence and TNBA TRW (both Chennai) and Coimbatore District Basketball Association (CDBA).
In the women's tournament for the 19th CRI Pumps Trophy, the following eight teams would be participating: Eastern Railways, Kolkata, South Western Railway-Hubli, South Central Railways, Secunderabad, Central Railways, Mumbai, Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and Kerala Police (both Thiruvananthapuram), Rising Star, Chennai and Coimbatore District Basketball Association (CDBA).
According to the organisers, the tournament will be held on a league-cum-knockout basis with the finals scheduled for June 3.
Also Read : NBA: Mavericks force game 5 as Celtic drew the series level
News Source : PTI
Formula 1 could end the Monaco GP for more lucrative venues
(Motorsport) Formula 1 owner Liberty Media is reconsidering the presence of the historically significant Monaco and Belgium Grand Prix’s on the calendar. With the weekend’s racing action fast approaching in one of the most iconic tracks, the 68,000 capacity venue is already sold out but one of the biggest issues the owners have with the venue is that it attracts the smallest fee amongst all the races while other venues can accommodate crowds upto 400,000. With the interest in the sport bigger than ever before, the demand for Formula 1 to expand into new countries is unprecedented and Liberty Media are aiming to increase the number of venues without adding additional races in the calendar.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who has lived in Monaco all his life, said this about the issue: “It would be a bad move for both parties. I have never known Monaco without F1 apart from Covid reasons in 2020 and F1 without Monaco for me is not F1. F1 has some historic tracks like Silverstone and Monza - and Monaco, too and they should stay on the calendar. Monaco is one of the best tracks out there, in terms of qualifying there are no places I enjoy as much here, and where the driver can make as much difference.
“The races are so close. The danger, you can still feel it because you really have the sensation of speed and in terms of qualifying it is probably the most exciting of the year. I agree in the races there are maybe some things we could change here and there to help overtaking. But in terms of challenge for the drivers it is one of the toughest challenges of the year."
The 24 year old has been extremely unlucky in Monaco, having never finished a race on his home track in his career. However, with Ferrari looking dominant and Leclerc racing in front of his home fans, a win might be on the cards in order to get back in the title race. Speaking about his performances in Monaco, Leclerc said “I don't think about it. It's not been the luckiest track for me overall, but it's life. It happens. It's part of motorsports, and sometimes things just don't go your way, and hopefully this year will.
"I'll just take the same approach as I've done in the first few races of 2022. Because it's been successful until now, and hopefully it will be successful here at home. I honestly don't feel the pressure, I'm just very happy to be here to be back on this amazing track. I love it here and it's a very special event for me having grown up here. And these roads I've known so well since being born. There is no added pressure. I know the performance is in the car for us to do a good result this weekend. And I just have to get in the car and do the job and hopefully the results will be there at the end of the weekend."
Also read: Monaco GP Preview: Title race intensifies between Red Bull and Ferrari
Boxing champ Parveen Hooda focused on the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Hailing from Haryana, Parveen Hooda is an accomplished boxer who has won the gold medal at the 2020 Khelo India Youth Games, the gold medal at the 2019 Asian Games, a silver medal at the 2019 International President Cup, a silver medal at the 2019 Ahmet Comert Tournament and a gold medal at the 2017 Youth Championships. Competing in the 60 kg category, she is now setting her sights on the upcoming Commonwealth Games and the Paris Olympics.
In this exclusive interview, Parveen speaks about her boxing journey and the influence of her first coach Sudhir Hooda, overcoming pre-fight anxieties, memorable accomplishments, overcoming challenges, receiving support from the Haryana Boxing Federation and her future goals.
Q 1) How did your boxing journey begin? How much influence did your first coach Sudhir Hooda have on your career?
I started boxing at the age of 11. I was studious but would get into regular fights with boys in my school and lose as they overpowered me. I began to visit a stadium nearby to watch boxing training with the aim to learn the sport and beat the boys at their own game. Sudhir Hooda, my coach and the village sarpanch who started a boxing academy in the village, played a major role in influencing my family to allow me to take up boxing. I began my coaching under his guidance.
Q 2) Tell us about the pre-fight anxieties that you usually face? How do you deal with them?
I was sharp and smart as a kid. Even today, I maintain that sharpness because I follow a disciplined routine. I do meditation in the morning. It helps me remain focused in the boxing ring and overcome the mental pressure of big games and opponents. I analyse my opponent’s match to plan my game accordingly.
Q 3) You have won a number of accolades in your career, which one do you believe is the most special for you and why?
The IBA Women’s World Boxing Championship is the most special one because it was my debut on the world stage where I won Bronze for my country.
Also read: My dream is to represent India at the Olympics: Afreen Hyder
Q 4) What are some of the challenges that you have faced as a professional boxer? How did you overcome them?
The major challenge was my studies. I could not focus because of rigorous training. I used to fall asleep in class and get scolded by teachers. A major setback was weight management. In 2018, I missed out on the Youth World Championship and Asian Championship. However, with the support from Adani Sportsline under its GarvHai programme, I am able to manage my training schedule and fitness regime.
Q 5) Has the Haryana Boxing Federation been supportive in your journey so far? If yes, how?
The Haryana Boxing Federation is very supportive, and they properly guide me whenever required.
Q 6) What are your future goals and aspirations? How do you plan to achieve them?
My focus is now on the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2022 whose trials are scheduled in the coming month and the 2024 Paris Olympics. I plan to work on my strength, improve my skills and focus on weight management.
Chessable Masters final: Indian GM Praggnanandhaa loses to Ding Liren in tie-break
Chennai, May 27 (Chess News) Young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa went down fighting to world No.2 Ding Liren in the tie-break of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Chessable Masters 2022 online tournament final early on Friday.
The 16-year-old from Chennai fought back to win the second set after having lost the opener. But then lost the two-game blitz tie-breaker.
The Indian GM, who had lost the first set 1.5-2.5, hit back to win the second 2.5-1.5 and force the blitz tie-break.
The 29-year old Liren used his experience to trump Praggnanandhaa in the second of the tie-break games. After the first blitz game ended in stalemate, the Chinese player won the next in 49 moves to dash the Indian teenager's hopes.
Earlier in the second set which he needed to win to force a tie-break, Praggnanandhaa got the all-important victory in the second game in 79 moves.
The next game saw the two dish out a 106-move draw before another stalemate meant the title would be decided by the tie-breaker.
After the final, the Indian prodigy's coach R B Ramesh praised his ward's efforts and wrote on Twitter: "Congratulations Ding for beating both Pragg AND the mosquitoes! Proud of you @rpragchess, showed good nerves and character overall in tough situations." The Indian GM had defeated the highly-rated Dutchman Anish Giri in the semifinal to become the first Indian player to reach the final of a Meltwater Champions Chess Tour event. He had beaten world No.1 Magnus Carlsen for a second time during the preliminary phase in which he finished fourth and got past Wei Yi of China in the quarterfinals.
Also Read : Jyothi Yarraji smashes NR for third time in 2 weeks in women's 100m hurdles
News Source : PTI
Jyothi Yarraji smashes NR for third time in 2 weeks in women's 100m hurdles
New Delhi, May 26 (Sports News) Jyothi Yarraji smashed the women's 100m hurdle national record for the third time in two weeks at the De Harry Schulting Games 2022 in Vught, the Netherlands.
The 22-year-old Jyothi clocked 13.04 seconds under a headwind speed of +1.4m/s in the heats to better her own earlier national record of 13.11 that she had clocked while winning the event at the Loughborough International Athletics Meet in the UK on Sunday.
The Andhra athlete, who trains under James Hillier at Reliance Foundation Odisha Athletics High Performance Centre in Bhubaneswar, had bettered Anuradha Biswal’s national mark of 13.38 which had stood since 2002.
That happened a month after her national record effort was not counted due to wind assistance beyond legal limit. She had clocked 13.09 seconds during the Federation Cup in Kozhikode last month but it was not counted as national record as the wind speed was +2.1 m/s, more than the permissible +2.0 m/s.
In 2020 also, Jyothi had run below Biswal’s national record time as she clocked 13.03 seconds at the All India Inter-University Athletics Championships in Moodbidri, Karnataka.
But it was also not counted as NR as National Anti-Doping Agency did not test her at the meet and there was no technical delegate from the Athletics Federation of India.
In other results, national record holder Siddhant Thingalaya finished third in the men's 110m hurdles with a timing of 14.42 seconds.
Also Read : State-run sports facilities in Delhi to stay open till 10 pm: Kejriwal
News Source : PTI
State-run sports facilities in Delhi to stay open till 10 pm: Kejriwal
New Delhi, May 26 (Sports News) The Delhi government has directed all state-run sports facilities in the city to stay open for sportspersons till 10 pm, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday.
"It has come to my notice that sportspersons are facing problems because of the heat and the stadiums get closed by 6 or 7 pm. We are issuing instructions that all sports facilities should remain open till 10 pm so that sportspersons can use them," he told reporters here.
The direction comes following a media report that the Thyagraj Stadium was being closed for sports activities earlier than usual so that an IAS officer could walk his dog at the facility.
Earlier, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said Kejriwal had directed all state-run sports facilities in the city to stay open for sportspersons till 10 pm.
Tagging the media report, Sisodia said in a tweet: "News reports have brought to our notice that certain sports facilities are being closed early causing inconvenience to sportsmen who wish to play till late nite (night). CM @ArvindKejriwal has directed that all Delhi Govt sports facilities to stay open for sportsmen till 10pm." During a media interaction, newly appointed Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena was asked about the matter, but he did not comment anything on the issue.
Also Read : India's Murali Sreeshankar claims long jump gold in Greece
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Sen to train with Axelson in Dubai, Sindhu gets approval to take fitness trainer on tour under TOPS
New Delhi, May 26 (Badminton News) World Championship bronze medallist Lakshya Sen is all set to train with World No. 1 Victor Axelson in Dubai from Sunday with the Sports Ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) approving his request, keeping in mind the upcoming Birmingham Commonwealth Games. The MOC also cleared two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu's request for her fitness trainer M Srikanth Madapalli to accompany her abroad under Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
Sen, the 20-year-old from Almora, was part of the Indian men's team that won the prestigious Thomas Cup this month and is a big gold medal prospect at the Birmingham event to be held from July 28 to August 8.
"Lakshay is set to train With Axelson in Dubai from May 29th till 5th June (8 days) and then head out to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on June 19th to train at the Malaysian Training Centre from 19th till 26th June (8 days)," the ministry said.
"Both the training proposals were approved by MOC in preparation for the Commonwealth Games.
"The sanctioned amount will cover the cost of his and his physio's air travel, boarding and lodging, and out-of-pocket allowance among other expenses." The ministry also approved Sindhu's proposal for financial assistance towards her fitness trainer's travel along with her.
"Srikanth is set to accompany Sindhu during Indonesia Masters (7-12th June), Indonesia Open (14-19th June), Malaysia Masters (28 June to 3 July), and Malaysia Open (5-10th July), and Singapore Open (12-17th July)," it said.
Sindhu, a former world champion, won two Super 300 tournaments this year at Syed Modi International in Lucknow and Swiss Open in Basel earlier this year.
Also Read : BAI awards cash prizes to Thomas Cup-winning contingent
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Norman can continue as an HI employee, says HC-appointed CoA
New Delhi, May 26 (Hockey News) The Committee of Administrators (CoA), appointed to run Hockey India, on Thursday said it won't object if Elena Norman continues to work for the federation but she must relinquish her positions in the managing committee and executive board of the sports body.
The CoA also said that it will soon find an appropriate candidate to manage the day-to-day affairs of Hockey India.
Being the CEO of the organisation, Norman was a part of the Hockey India's Executive Board and several Committees but did not have voting right.
A Delhi High Court ruling on Wednesday removed the position of CEO and 'Life Member' from Hockey India.
The Court also constituted a three-member committee, to be headed by former Supreme Court judge AR Dave, for managing the affairs of the federation.
Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi and ex-Indian hockey team captain Zafar Iqbal are the other members of the Committee .
Quraishi said Norman can continue but not with present powers.
"As far as CEO Elena Norman is concerned she is just an employee of Hockey India. She can't have the powers to be in the executive board and managing committees of Hockey India, which is totally against the Sports Code," Quraishi told PTI.
"Her employment is not at risk if she performs her duty just as a professional." Quraishi also said that they will soon appoint a professional to run HI just like it was done for All India Football Federation (AIFF).
"We will be appointing an official with knowledge of the sport and integrity to run the day to day functioning of HI," he said.
"Our first and foremost priority is to correct the HI constitution and put it in line with the Sports Code. And then our goal is to conduct a fresh and fair elections and hand over the reigns of the federation to the newly elected, democratic body," he said.
Asked whether the outside interference could lead to a ban on the federation by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), Quraishi said: "I don't think so. We are not here to stay for ages. We are here to just put the house in order. The international body wants a democratically elected body and we are here just to do that." Quraishi, who is currently out of the country, said the CoA will have a virtual meeting soon to discuss future course of action.
"I am currently out of India on a personal visit but I have decided to cut short my visit and would be returning to India by June 7. Before that we will try to have virtual meetings on HI matter," he said.
Former India captain and a member of the 1980 Olympics gold medal-winning side, Zafar Iqbal said it is an opportunity for him to give back to the game.
"It is a big responsibility entrusted on my shoulders. I haven't read the court orders yet but whatever I have been asked to do will try to do the best of my abilities," he said.
"Whatever has happened, the game of hockey and the players shouldn't suffer a bit." The HC has granted the CoA 20 weeks time to put HI's house in order and conduct fresh elections.
Also Read : India eye big win against Indonesia, favourable result in Pak vs JPN match
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Formula 1: Daniel Ricciardo struggling to meet McLaren’s expectations
(Motorsport) It’s no secret that McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo are having an underwhelming season. The team are currently fourth in the Constructors Standings with just 50 points while Ricciardo is 12th in the Drivers Standings, four places behind teammate Lando Norris despite racing in the same car. The Australian joined McLaren in 2021 from Renault and expectations were high with the team expecting him to build on his performance with Red Bull, where he recorded seven race wins. However, he simply hasn’t managed to settle in the team and has been consistently outperformed by the younger Lando Norris so far.
Speaking on the matter, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said “Lando definitely has an edge. We would obviously like to see Daniel much closer to Lando and have a good inter-team battle. Daniel is just not comfortable yet with the car, we're trying everything we can. Again it was a disappointing weekend. Short of [Ricciardo's win at] Monza and a few races, it's generally not kind of met his or our expectations, as far as what we were expecting.
“I think all you can do is keep working hard as a team, keep communications going, keep pushing and hope that whatever is not kind of clicking at the moment clicks shortly. I think it also points to how good Lando is. When you look at the gap between Charles [Leclerc] and Carlos [Sainz], the gap between Max [Verstappen] and Sergio [Perez], there are gaps between team-mates. And I think Lando is one of the best drivers in the world at the moment and it also is kind of a compliment to how good Lando is when you see the gap that exists."
Meanwhile, Mercedes have played down their expectations from the Monaco Grand Prix, despite seeing significant improvement in the W13 during the Spanish Grand Prix. The Silver Arrows finished third (George Russell) and fifth (Lewis Hamilton) respectively but face a greater challenge in Monaco, a track they have traditionally struggled in. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff said “We've seen another big step, probably we've halved the advantage to the front-runners. But still there's lots of way to go in order to be in the fight. Monaco in the past wasn't our most happy place, maybe because the car was the size of an elephant! I will be curious to see where we are this weekend. My expectations are lower than any other circuit... it's going to be a learning point at least, to bring us back into the game."
Ferrari have downplayed Mercedes’ claims that they are back in the title race with Mattia Binotto, Principal of the Scuderia Ferrari saying “Congrats to them, they recovered and they improved the speed of their car. On Saturday [in Spain] they were six, seven tenths on a quali lap which is still a short circuit. On Sunday they finished 30 seconds to a Red Bull, and it would have been maybe 40 seconds to Charles [Leclerc, who retired]. That's six, seven tenths a lap and that's still significant, it's like Ferrari last year."
Also read: Monaco GP Preview: Title race intensifies between Red Bull and Ferrari
India's Murali Sreeshankar claims long jump gold in Greece
New Delhi, May 26 (Sports News) India's premier long jumper Murali Sreeshankar won the gold medal at the 12th International Jumping Meeting in Kallithea, Greece with an effort of 8.31m.
The Tokyo Olympian is the current national record holder with a jump of 8.36m, which he had achieved last month.
Sreeshankar was followed by Swede Thobias Montler, who claimed silver with an 8.27m jump, and Jules Pommery of France, who bagged bronze with an 8.17m effort in the 10-man field.
Only the top three jumpers crossed the 8m-mark.
Jeswin Aldrin, meanwhile, finished fifth after he hit the 7.69m mark at the 17th Iberoamerican Meeting in Huelva, Spain.
Filip Pravdiva of Croatia (7.91m), Uruguay's Emiliano Lasa (7.82m) and Peruvian José Luis Mandros (7.77m) completed the top three of the seven-man field.
"Sreeshankar consistently jumping far. In 12th International Jumps Meeting , Kallithea, Greece, event part of World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze. Performance 8.31 meters," Athletics Federation of India tweeted.
Competing in his first outdoor international meet since the Olympics campaign, Sreeshankar warmed up on Wednesday evening with jumps of 7.88 and 7.71 metres before leaping 8.31 metres.
Sreeshankar came into the competition on back of his excellent domestic form where he repeatedly breached the 8m mark. The Kerala athlete logged 8.14m and 8.17m at the season-opening Indian Open Jumps Competitions in Thiruvanthapuram before breaking his own national record at the Federation Cup in Kozhikode after a close battle with Tamil Nadu's Jeswin Aldrin.
Indian athletes have been training and competing in Europe over the last few weeks.
Also Read : Neeraj to train in Finland ahead of Diamond League: SAI
News Source : PTI
Neeraj to train in Finland ahead of Diamond League: SAI
New Delhi, May 25 (Sports News) Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is set to switch his training base from Turkey to Finland which will host the Paavo Nurmi Games, where he will square off against Johannes Vetter on June 14.
The 24-year-old Indian, who is currently training at Turkey's Gloria Sports Arena, is scheduled to fly out on Thursday to train in Finland's Kuortane Olympic Training Centre till June 22.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) said the "four-week training camp has been sanctioned by the government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and would cost the sport ministry Rs 9.8 lakhs approximately." "From Kuortane, Neeraj will then head out to Turku to participate in the Paavo Nurmi Games, followed by Kuortane Games and then Diamond League in Stockholm," SAI said in a release.
"The finance would be used towards expenditure for Neeraj and his coach Klaus Bartonietz's travel, accommodation, training, local travel, and daily out-of-pocket allowance among other expenditures." Neeraj, who has a personal best of 88.07m and won gold in Tokyo Olympics with a throw of 87.58m, will be taking the field for the first time in 10 months when he competes at the Paavo Nurmi Games, which the one of the biggest track and field events outside the Diamond League.
His next event will be on June 18 at Kuortane Games in Finland where he had finished third last year.
He is planning to feature in the top-flight Diamond League Meeting in Stockholm on June 30 before heading for the July 15-24 World Championships in Eugene, USA.
Also Read : Chessable Masters final: Ding Liren seizes advantage against Indian GM Praggnanandhaa
News Source : PTI
Chessable Masters final: Ding Liren seizes advantage against Indian GM Praggnanandhaa
Chennai, May 26 (Chess News) Chinese world No.2 Ding Liren seized the advantage against India's teenaged Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa in the final of Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Chessable Masters online tournament, taking a 2.5-1.5 lead after the opening day of the match early on Thursday.
The 16-year old Praggnanandhaa, who lost the opening game of the all-Asian final, bounced back strongly to level the first match when he won game two.
Liren then showed why he is rated so highly by taking the lead, outwitting his young Indian opponent, who had on Wednesday appeared for his standard XI examination, in the third game.
The fourth game saw the two players sign peace in 39 moves as Liren took a one- point advantage into day two of the summit clash.
The second day of the final will also feature four games and the tie-break if required.
Praggnanandhaa has been in good form during the tournament and had created a flutter in the preliminary phase by beating world No.1 Magnus Carlsen in the sixth round. He had finished fourth in the preliminaries behind Anish Giri, Carlsen and Liren.
Also Read : Chessable Masters: Indian GM Praggnanandhaa shocks Anish Giri, meets Ding Liren in final
News Source : PTI
BFI and SAI felicitate 12th World Championships medallists
(Boxing news) The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Tuesday felicitated all three medal winners of the 12th IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. The event was attended by the Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, BFI President Ajay Singh and DG SAI Sandeep Pradhan among other officials.
With one gold and two bronze medals from the prestigious tournament, the Indian team secured the third position in the team rankings with 23 points after Turkey (48 points) and Ireland (23 points) who finished first and second respectively. While speaking at the felicitation ceremony, the Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur congratulated the medal winners and said that we must celebrate current achievements but always keep aiming for the next championship.
“Our betis (daughters) have made us proud. There was a time when Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi used to speak about Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and now it’s bearing fruit. Nikhat said she doesn't want to stop; she wants to win more medals. We need this passion and dedication from you all. We have to keep going forward. You are the inspiration for grassroots athletes. The TOPS scheme has ensured everyone gets the facilities. We must celebrate what we have achieved today but always aim for the next big Championships. Let's bring more medals for India in 2024,” the Minister said.
BFI President Ajay Singh, Secretary General Hemanta Kalita, Treasurer Digvijay Singh, Vice President Debojo Maharshi and Sandeep Pradhan, DG SAI were also present on the occasion as they interacted with the boxers and congratulated them on medal-winning feats.
“It’s really great that you’ve done so well at the World Championships but this is not where we have to stop. This entire exercise we have is about the Olympics which are just two years away. A huge vote of thanks to the Ministry of Sports and Sports Authority of India for all their support,” BFI President Ajay Singh said.
Clinching their maiden medals at the world’s biggest boxing tournament, Nikhat Zareen (52kg) became the country’s only fifth woman to win gold while Manisha (57kg) and Parveen (63kg) bagged bronze medals at the event, which concluded in Istanbul last week.
“I thank everyone for facilitating and encouraging us today. I promise, I will keep working hard and make my country proud in future also. Have become world champion now and with God's grace I hope I will stand in front of you as Olympic champion,” Nikhat said.
Only Mary Kom (2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2018)—the six-time champion, Sarita Devi (2006), Jenny RL (2006) and Lekha KC (2006) had won World Championships titles for India before Nikhat. In what was celebrated as the 20th anniversary of the Women’s World Championships, the Indian team added three medals in Istanbul to take its overall tally to 39—the third-highest after Russia’s 60 and China’s 50 medals.
Also read: Learnt important lessons from World C'ship loss, says Olympic medallist Lovlin
Rooter signs deal with Godlike Esports for exclusive streaming rights
(Esports news) Rooter has signed a deal with Godlike for the exclusive streaming rights for GodLike’s BGMI, Free Fire, CODM, and new forms of live gaming content with the partnership being stated to be the biggest eSports deal in India’s history. The deal is not just limited to game streaming as Rooter will also sponsor Godlike in all the upcoming tournaments and events. The team currently comprises ‘Jonathan’ Amaral, Abhijeet ‘Ghatak’ Andhare, Abhishek ‘ZGOD’ Choudhary, Vivek ‘ClutchGod’ Horo, Suraj ‘Neyoo’ Majumdar, and Ashpreet ‘Gill’ Singh. All these streamers will now exclusively be seen streaming live streams on Rooter, as a part of this collaboration.
Dipesh Agarwal, Co-Founder & COO, Rooter shared his excitement around the partnership stating, “GodLike is one of the most popular teams in the Indian eSports ecosystem and we foresee building a long-term relationship with them. Having their roster of professional gamers as part of our massive community will give the fans tons of exclusive content and a chance to interact with their favourite streamers. This is the biggest deal ever signed in India’s esports ecosystem, and by joining forces with GodLike, we look forward to building an enormous and competitive community of streamers and influencers on our platform.”
Amar Sanjay Chandgude, Director, Godlike esports said, “We are thrilled to partner with the country’s most popular game streaming platform. The speed of innovation and the incredible gaming experience Rooter offers reaffirms its commitment to scale eSports in India. GODLIKE ESPORTS is known for exploring and nurturing gaming talent across India. They have created India's leading teams in BGMI, FREE FIRE AND CODM. The team is on a mission to build the most successful eSports ecosystem the world has ever witnessed.”
Despite esports being at a nascent stage in India, the industry has quickly scaled to INR 3 billion in FY2021 and estimates pointing towards 11 billion by FY2025. Moreover, esports could generate an economic value of INR 100 billion between now and FY2025.
Also read: Himanshu Chandnani: New Marketing/ Talent Consultant of Chemin Esports
Monaco GP Preview: Title race intensifies between Red Bull and Ferrari
(Motorsport) Formula 1 returns to Monaco, the most glamorous destination in the calendar year as reigning champion Max Verstappen leads the title race with a six point advantage over Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc after the events of the Spanish Grand Prix. Leclerc will be hoping to finish first in Monaco, as he will be racing on his home track and Ferrari definitely have the performance to match and even surpass Red Bull at the iconic track. If that’s not all, Mercedes look fast once again and could be in contention for a podium finish.
The Silver Arrows looked like their old selves in Barcelona with the upgrade package unlocking the pace and stability in the W13. There will be renewed belief in the Mercedes camp despite George Russell being 36 points off Max Verstappen while the Silver Arrows are 75 points behind Red Bull in the Constructors Standings. The Monaco Grand Prix is an iconic race in the Formula 1 calendar, arguably the most famous street race in the world. The track is the narrowest with overtaking notoriously difficult, which means qualifying would be of utmost importance, a factor that Ferrari must capitalise on if they hope to win the race.
The venue has been hosting Grand Prix’s since 1929 and was part of the inaugural Formula 1 calendar in 1950. Even though the contract for the venue is due to expire at the end of this season, there is no doubt that it will be renewed and is expected to be a part of the F1 calendar in the future. Speaking about the Monaco Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton said “It's one of the crown jewels of our sport. So I'm not really sure it would be great to lose it. I guess that the difficult part is that the racing itself is not that spectacular. But everyone that goes enjoys it. It is a prime location. It is just that icon status it has, the history that it has that is so appealing to drivers, but also I think to those that are watching."
McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo said “Monaco is just special. For sure the race, it's one of the most tricky circuits to overtake but the weekend experience and just everything that is Monaco is special and unique. I think going there as an F1 driver and having that and experiencing all the emotions that go with competing in Monaco, it's unique. And I'm very, very happy to have that, and have experienced that in my career." Three time Formula 1 World Champion Nelson Piquet once described the Monaco track by saying “It's like riding a bicycle around your living room."
Also read: Max Verstappen wins Spanish Grand Prix after Leclerc retires from the race
Chessable Masters: Indian GM Praggnanandhaa shocks Anish Giri, meets Ding Liren in final
Chennai, May 25 (Chess News) Young Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian player to reach the final of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Chessable Masters tournament after he held his nerve to outwit Dutch GM Anish Giri 3.5-2.5 on Wednesday.
The Indian chess star defeated the highly-rated Giri, pipping the Dutchman in the tiebreak after the four-game rapid online semifinal match ended in a 2-2 stalemate.
For the top prize, Praggnanadhaa will take on world No.2 Ding Liren of China, who shocked world No.1 Magnus Carlsen 2.5-1.5 in the other semifinal clash.
The opening game of the semifinal ended in a tame draw before the 16-year-old Praggnanandhaa pulled off a win in the second to hand Giri his first defeat of the tournament.
In the third game, the experienced Dutch player looked to have seized the upper-hand but Praggnanandhaa, as he is known in chess circles, fought hard to force a draw to go 2-1 up.
Staring defeat in the face, Giri hit back to win the fourth game to send the semifinal clash into the tie-break.
The Dutchman faltered in the first blitz game and surrendered it in 33 moves in an Italian Opening encounter.
In the second tie-break game, Giri managed to gain an advantage but the Indian held firm and a draw ensued sending the teenage ace into the summit clash.
The match ended late at night after which Praggnandhaa said, "I have to be at school around 8.45 AM, and now it is 2 AM!" Meanwhile, his coach R B Ramesh, a GM himself, said "Congratulations @rpragchess for the victory over Anish in the semifinal of #ChessableMasters ! The ability to beat strong players despite having a bad score in the past is amazing. Proud of you kutti." Praggnanandhaa has been in splendid touch in the tournament. He had defeated Carlsen in the preliminary phase in which he finished fourth.
Also Read : 44th Chess Olympiad: AICF ropes in Indorama as co-sponsor of India
News Source : PTI
World C'ships target achieved, Nikhat Zareen now eyes Olympic glory
New Delhi, May 24 (Boxing News) Fresh from her exploits at the World Boxing Championship, Nikhat Zareen has now firmly set her sights on being the first among equals at the Paris Olympics with a top podium finish during the 2024 edition of the quadrennial extravaganza.
Zareen clinched the coveted gold in the flyweight (52kg) division with a facile 5-0 win over Thailand's Jitpong Jutamas in the final of the Women's World Championship in Istanbul on May 19, thus becoming only the fifth Indian boxer to be crowned world champion.
"I am happy that I have won a gold in the World Championships for the country and in future too I would like to put in more hardwork and keep on winning medals for India," Zareen, also a 2019 Asian Championship bronze medallist, said during a felicitation function organised jointly by the Sports Authority of India and national federation (BFI) here on Tuesday.
"Olympics is my ultimate goal but to achieve success there I will have to put in lot of hardwork because I know how big a competition Olympics is? I have to give double the effort I have done till now.
"Now there is more responsibility on me." Since winning a gold medal in flyweight division at the Women's Junior and Youth World Boxing Championship in Turkey in 2011, it has been a difficult journey for Zareen.
In the 2019 edition of the senior World Championships, Mary Kom was preferred over Zareen because of her consistent performances despite the latter asking for a fair trial from the BFI. Mark Kom went on to claim her eighth world medal, a bronze. "The journey has been pretty good. It was not easy as I have witnessed many ups and downs but that motivated me to stand where I am today," an emotional Zareen said.
During the event, BFI president Ajay Singh reminded Zareen of her future targets. "I want special commitment from Nikhat (Zareen). Today, she is standing here as world champion but next time she should stand here as Olympic champion," he said.
The event was also attended by Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, who lauded the Indian boxers stupendous show, SAI Director General Sandip Pradhan among others.
Also Read : Learnt important lessons from World C'ship loss, says Olympic medallist Lovlina
News Source : PTI
44th Chess Olympiad: AICF ropes in Indorama as co-sponsor of India
(Chess news) All India Chess Federation (AICF) has joined hands with one of Asia’s leading chemical holding companies Indorama as co-sponsor of the Indian team for the upcoming 44th Chess Olympiad, scheduled in Chennai from July 28 to August 10. Tamil Nadu Government becomes the title sponsor and the State Bank of India will support the team India as their Co-sponsors
This is also for the first time that the Indian team is striking it rich with the Tamil Nadu government providing a Rs 1 crore sponsorship for the squad while co-sponsors State Bank of India and Indorama, Asia’s leading chemical holding company have pledged Rs 50 lakhs each to the squad.
“We are delighted to welcome Indorama as the Indian team’s co-sponsor. Hosting the Chess Olympiad is a dream comes true moment for us and getting support from the sponsors will help us make it a memorable event. It’s great to see chess getting corporate support which will encourage and bolster the growth of the sport in India,” said AICF Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan.
With social responsibility, service and safety being an integral part of its purpose, Singapore-based Indorama Corporation was established in 1975 and currently employs over 19,000 people across the world. The company intends to associate with Indian chess in various ways and contribute to the development of chess in the country.
“We have been supporting chess in the United Kingdom but we are Indians and want to support and promote chess in our home country. We, at Indorama, are super excited to be part of the journey of the Indian teams for the Chess Olympiad as co-sponsors. I am keen that young players benefit monetarily by playing chess as this is very essential to enhance the status of chess in India We believe this is a first step towards building a long and fruitful relationship,” said Aarti Lohia, spokesperson of Indorama.
Dr. Sanjay Kapoor, President of AICF announced that about 75 percent of the sponsored amount will go to the players while the remaining will be utilized on conducting coaching camps and Kits for the players. AICF announced a 20-member Indian squad to take part in the prestigious event, which is scheduled to take place in India for the first-time ever. India will field two teams each in the open and women’s sections. Recently, the players took part in the first coaching camp in Chennai under mentor Viswanathan Anand and coach Boris Gelfand.
Also read: Superbet Poland chess: Indian GM Anand finishes overall joint second
Superbet Poland chess: Indian GM Anand finishes overall joint second
Warsaw, May 23 (Chess News) Former world champion Viswanathan Anand had a moderate run on the second day of the Blitz section to finish overall joint second in the Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland chess tournament here on Monday.
He posted three wins on Monday over Radoslaw Wojtaszek (Poland) in the 27th and final round, Richard Rapport (Hungary) and Kirill Shevchenko (Ukraine) to go with three draws but as many defeats hurt his chances of winning the overall title.
Polish star Jan-Kryzstof Duda emerged overall winner with 24 points while Anand and Levon Aronian finished equal second with 23.5 points followed by Fabiano Caruana (USA) on 23 points.
Duda scored a dramatic win from a losing position against Kirill Shevchenko to take the top prize.
The Indian ace had earlier on Saturday won the Rapid section comfortably with a round to spare. The veteran Indian GM, who won three matches, drew four and lost two on day one of the Blitz competition, had a bad start on Monday, losing to Duda in round 19. He had beaten the Pole when the duo had met on Sunday.
He lost in the next round to Anton Korobov in 26 moves in a Sicillian variation game before drawing with David Gavrilescu in round 21.
A win over Kirill Shevchenko in the 22nd round was followed by a defeat at the hands of Aronian.
In round 24, he held Wesley So, another American to a draw in a 26-move affair. In the subsequent round, he managed a draw against the highly-rated Caruana before scoring an win over an inconsistent Richard Rapport in the 26th and penultimate round.
Also Read : Indian GM Praggnanandhaa secures quarterfinal spot in Chessable Masters
News Source : PTI
Gokulam Kerala need a win and favour from ATKMB to advance to AFC Cup knock-outs
Kolkata, May 23 (Football News) ATK Mohun Bagan have the momentum but Gokulam Kerala can bounce back from their last match defeat and qualify for the AFC Cup knock-out stage in their maiden appearance when the two Indian clubs face their respective opponents here on Tuesday.
All the four teams in Group D -- ATKMB, Gokulam, Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh and Maziya Sports & Recreation of Maldives -- are currently on three points each after a win and a loss apiece.
I-League champions Gokulam play Bashundhara in the first match (4:30pm) on Tuesday, while Indian Super League side ATKMB will face Maziya in the second game (8:30pm), both at Salt Lake Stadium.
One of the two winning teams from Tuesday's two matches will qualify for the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals from South Asia Zone. ATKMB lost 2-4 to Gokulam in their opening match but bounced back with a 4-0 thrashing of Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh. Gokulam, on the other hand, suffered a 0-1 defeat to Maziya in their second match on Saturday after their win over ATKMB in the opening game.
It's a complex permutation and combination but a win for Gokulam over Bashundhara will send ATKMB out of reckoning even if they beat Maziya later in the day.
According to Tournament rules, if teams are on same points then head-to-head results will come into play to decide who advances from group stage and Gokulam had beaten ATKMB.
ATKMB's fortunes depend on the first match on Tuesday and they have the luxury to know what they have to do as they play later on the day.
If Gokulam manages a draw or lose against Basundhara, ATKMB will qualify for the knock-out round with a win over Maziya.
Gokulam will need a favour from ATKMB even if they beat Basundhara because the Kerala-based side can only advance if the Kolkata side win or draw against Maziya. If the Maldives side beat ATKMB, they will make it to the next round.
In any case, there will be no room for error for all the four sides in the race to advance to the Inter-Zone Semi-finals, with only the top team to advance from Group D.
Gokulam head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese is not taking anything for granted, having seen his team fall to their first defeat against Maziya after opening their campaign with a 4-2 victory over ATK Mohun Bagan.
“Facing Bashundhara Kings will be totally different as the emotional factor for this game will be important. A lot of my players are finishing their contract terms so we are extremely motivated to give our all in the final group game," said Annese.
“Bashundhara have been champions many times in Bangladesh and if you see in the last game the team had quality players in each position. They are physically stronger than Maziya and have many national team players. It’s a huge advantage for them." Annese also pointed out that Gokulam must be more proactive in attack.
“We were fatigued against ATK and Maziya and in this next game we need to start with a different approach seeing that we have enough rest. Our mentality must be attacking from the start and we need to create space and play the ball forward.
"We have played seven matches in 21 days. To keep our players free from injury and to get enough rest has been difficult. But we have give our all tomorrow.
"The expectation, the energy, the emotion, fighting for each ball, we have to perform at a 100 percent. What the heart wants is to win the match tomorrow.” ATK Mohun Bagan head coach Juan Ferrando urged his players to keep their focus on Maziya alone.
"It is a big opportunity for us to enter the next round, the players are very tired, but our target remains to get three points,” said Ferrando.
"Every game is different, for us we need to concentrate on the new plan for Maziya. Our target remains to register a win against Maziya, we don't want to concentrate on the result of the first game of the day. We are professionals." The 41-year-old Spaniard, however, is wary of Maziya’s prowess, as seen in their 1-0 win over Gokulam two days ago.
"The Maziya team come from an incredible league, they always perform very well. The plan is to intercept the transition between the wings. They are very compact. And it's difficult to find spaces. After their win against GKFC, they are surely very motivated." Tuesday's match will be the sixth clash between the two teams, with each side recording two wins apiece.
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News Source : PTI
Indian GM Praggnanandhaa secures quarterfinal spot in Chessable Masters
Chennai, May 23 (Chess News) Young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa defeated compatriot and GM Vidit Gujrathi to book a spot in the quarterfinals of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Chessable Masters 2022 online tournament.
The win in the 15th and final round of the preliminaries late on Sunday saw the teenaged GM knock Gujrathi out of contention.
The 16-year old Praggnanandhaa will take on Wei Yi of China in the quarterfinals.
Praggnanandhaa, who created a stir by beating world No.1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway earlier in the sixth round, scored 25 points to finish fourth behind Anish Giri (the Netherlands, 29 points), Carlsen (28 points) and Ding Liren (China, 25 points).
He had beaten the Norwegian in an online tournament a few months ago for the first time.
The two other Indian players, P Harikrishna and Gujrathi in the 16-player field, finished outside the top 8 and failed to make the cut for the knockout bracket.
While the experienced Harikrishna took the ninth place with 18 points, Gujrathi (17 points) ended up 11th.
Praggnanandhaa scored an impressive win over American Abhimanyu Mishra, the world's youngest Grandmaster, in 41 moves before settling for a draw against another US player Sam Shankland in round 13 and 14 respectively.
In the game against Gujrathi, the teenaged GM capitalised on an error on the 35th move to force a win.
Fast-improving Dutch GM Jorden Van Foreest and Eric Hansen were among Praggnanandhaa's other scalps in the preliminary rounds. He finished with eight wins, four defeats and three draws.
Also Read : Jyothi Yarraji smashes own 100m hurdles national record in UK
News Source : PTi
Max Verstappen wins Spanish Grand Prix after Leclerc retires from the race
(Motorsport) A costly engine failure by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc gifted reigning champion Max Verstappen the Spanish Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver had a comfortable lead until lap 27 when he was forced to retire due to car issues, effectively ending his race. However, it wasn’t smooth sailing for Verstappen despite Leclerc’s DNF as the Dutchman had to make up places after spinning early in the race and losing places on the grid. One of the biggest talking points of the race was a disgruntled Sergio Perez who was unhappy with the Red Bull race strategy, which gave priority to Verstappen.
The Spanish GP also saw George Russell on the podium, the British driver finished third while Lewis Hamilton finished fifth, a monumental achievement after a collision and puncture in his opening lap. The Silver Arrows can be quite happy with the W13’s improvements this weekend and will look to build on this performance to salvage their Formula 1 season. As for Verstappen, he has his first title lead this season with the Dutchman currently six points ahead of second place Leclerc in the Drivers Standings. Moreover, Red Bull Racing have also overtaken Ferrari in the Constructors Standings after the Italian manufacturer had a poor showing in Barcelona.
Spanish GP: Top 10
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
3) George Russell, Mercedes
4) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
5) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
6) Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
7) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
8) Lando Norris, McLaren
9) Fernando Alonso, Alpine
10) Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
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Jyothi Yarraji smashes own 100m hurdles national record in UK
New Delhi, May 23 (Sports News) Jyothi Yarraji smashed the women's 100m hurdle national record for the second time in less than two weeks while winning the event at the Loughborough International Athletics Meet in the UK.
The 22-year-old from Andhra Pradesh on Sunday clocked 13.11 seconds under permissible wind speed of +0.3m/s to better her own earlier national record of 13.23 that she had clocked on May 10 during the Cyprus International Meet in Limassol.
Jyothi, who trains under Joseph Hillier at Reliance Foundation Odisha Athletics High Performance Centre in Bhubaneswar, had bettered Anuradha Biswal's national mark of 13.38 which had stood since 2002.
That happened a month after her national record effort was not counted due to wind assistance beyond legal limit. She had clocked 13.09 seconds during the Federation Cup in Kozhikode last month but it was not counted as national record as the wind speed was +2.1 m/s, more than the permissible +2.0 m/s.
In 2020 also, Jyothi had run below Biswal's national record time as she clocked 13.03 seconds at the All India Inter-University Athletics Championships in Moodbidri, Karnataka.
But it was also not counted as NR as National Anti-Doping Agency did not test her at the meet and there was no technical delegate from the Athletics Federation of India.
Jyothi comes from a humble background as her father Suryanarayana is working as a private security guard and her mother Kumari is a domestic help.
Another Reliance Foundation Odisha Athletics HPC trainee Amlan Borgohain, who smashed the national record during the Kozhikode Federation Cup, finished fifth in 200m race with a time of 21.27 seconds.
The 24-year-old from Assam had clocked 20.52s in Kozhikode.
In other results, national record holder Siddhant Thingalaya finished second in 110m hurdles with a time of 13.97.
Graceson Amaldas, national swimmer-turned-hurdler from Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu won junior men's 110m hurdles guest race in 13.91 seconds.
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News Source : PTi
Going home after Olympic selection trial healed me, worked hard on my weaknesses after that: Nikhat
New Delhi, May 22 (Boxing News) Whatever happens, happens for a good reason.
Those were the words Nikhat Zareen kept telling herself after she lost the trials for the Tokyo Olympic Games qualifiers three years ago, following which she went home to "heal." Zareen had famously written to then Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju demanding a fair selection trial after the Boxing Federation of India decided to send the legendary MC Mary Kom directly for the Tokyo Olympic Games qualifiers in 2019.
"After the trial, I went home to relax my mind. Then (COVID-19) lockdown also happened, so I got to spend the whole of 2020 with my family," the newly-crowned world champion told PTI.
"I was able to heal myself during that lockdown and get out of that zone. I enjoyed spending time with my niece, eating food made by my mom. I kept believing whatever happens, happens for a good reason." The trial had turned into a messy affair with a furious Mary Kom asking “Who Nikhat Zareen?” Zareen eventually lost 1-9 to the veteran boxer during the trial, who refused to even shake hands with her young opponent.
“When things opened up, I went back to the camp, started training, beat the world champion which gave me confidence,” she added.
Turns out a little time away from the camp to be with her family was all Zareen needed to reignite her passion to win medals for the country.
Post the lockdown, Zareen has enjoyed a purple patch.
She defeated world champions Paltceva Ekaterina of Russia and Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan to bag a bronze at the Bosphorus boxing tournament in Istanbul last March, which was followed by gold medals at the Nationals, the prestigious Strandja Memorial and the World Championships, where she beat Thailand’s Jitpong Jutamas in the flyweight (52kg) summit clash on Thursday.
The 25-year-old is reaping the benefits of the hard work she has put in the past couple of years.
"New Nikhat has a lot of maturity and confidence and the hunger to win medals and fulfil her dream of winning medal at the Olympics.
“In the past couple of years, I have worked on my fitness. On my combination of punches. How to punch from a distance, attack, defend and re-attack.” And it was a mix of some beautiful combination of punches that helped her outcla