Sathiyan and Manika Batra Lose in World Mixed Doubles Olympic Qualification
The Indian pair of G Sathiyan and Manika Batra went down to Malaysia's Choong Javen and Lyne Karen in the quarterfinals of the World mixed doubles Olympic qualification table tennis tournament (stage 2) in Havirov, Czech Republic.
The Malaysian won 4-1 (11-9 11-9 11-9 7-11 11-8) over their opponents from India, who needed to win three matches to qualify for the Paris Games in this category having got a bye in the first round.
Asian Championships: Indian Wrestlers Draw a Blank on Concluding Day
Indian wrestlers drew a blank on the concluding day of the men's freestyle competition at the Asian Championships after Akash Dahiya and Anirudh Kumar lost their bronze-medal bouts and three others fizzled out before the medal round in their respective categories.
Competing in the non-Olympic 61kg category, Akash began with a close 10-8 win over Sardor Ruzimov from Uzbekistan and followed it up with a comfortable 7-3 victory over Korea's Sanghyeon Son in the quarterfinal.
However, Kazakhstan's Assyl Aitakyn proved too strong for the Indian in the semifinal and could not score a single point, losing his bout by technical superiority.
In the bronze play-off, he put up a gritty fight but eventually lost to Mongolia's Enkhbold Enkhbat by technical superiority.
Apr 13, 2024
Mary Kom Steps Down as India's Chef de Mission for Paris Olympics
Citing 'problems' that have 'partly crippled' her, Mary Kom resigned as the Chef de Mission of India's contingent. Her decision came weeks after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chose the boxing legend for the post.
Mary's decision leaves the IOA in a precarious position. While a majority of countries named their contingent leaders well in advance, India – in the absence of a formal appointment – has been represented in the Chef de Mission meetings by individuals with no prior Olympic experience.
Now, with a little more than 100 days left for the Opening Ceremony, the IOA will have to restart the whole process.
Indian Men's Hockey Team Loses 1-3 to Australia
India continued their dismal show in the crucial tour Down Under, losing 1-3 against Australia to suffer their fourth consecutive defeat in the five-match men's hockey Test series, here on Friday. Contrary to the final result, it was a much-improved performance from the Indians but the Kookaburras were simply too strong.
India's 1-3 defeat against Australia on Friday certainly had some positive takeaways. But ultimately, it's a fourth straight defeat and an upward trending performance graph shouldn't take the focus away from the inability to win – or even manage a draw – against the Kookaburras.
One of those positives is that for the third time in four matches, India had a lead to protect. Captain Harmanpreet Singh powered home a thundering drag flick in the 12th minute, the ball thudded on the board to send out a ringing noise around the venue.
Apr 12, 2024
Asian Wrestling Championship: Udit Bags Silver, Abhimanyu and Vicky Claim Bronze Each
India's 19-year-old Udit won the silver medal in the men's 57kg category at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2024 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Abhimanyou (men's 70kg) and Vicky (men's 97kg) also won the bronze medals in their respective weight divisions to take India's tally to three medals after the opening day of the competition.
A total of five Indian wrestlers, all in the men's freestyle division, were in action. Rohit (67kg) and Parvinder Singh (79kg) also competed but could not finish on the podium.
Udit, the U20 Asian champion, defeated Ebrahim Mahdi Khari of Iran 10-8 in the qualification round, Kyrgyzstan's Almaz Smanbekov 6-4 in the quarter-finals and the Democratic Republic of Korea's Kim Kum Hyok 4-3 in the semi-finals to enter the gold medal bout against Japan's Kento Yumiya. However, Yumiya eked out a narrow 5-4 win in the final, and Udit had to settle for the silver medal. This was the first time since 2019 that India did not win the gold medal in the category.
Inaugural National Women's Hockey League: Raising the Bar for Women's Sports in India
The Indian hockey landscape is set to witness a groundbreaking event with the inaugural season of the National Women's Hockey League 2024 – 2025. Scheduled to be held in Ranchi from April 30 to May 9, this league promises to be a thrilling showcase of the country's top women's hockey talent.
The league is structured in two phases, with all matches to be played at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi. This venue has recently hosted prestigious events like the FIH Olympic Qualifiers and the Women's Asian Champions Trophy, further emphasizing the significance of this league.
The league will witness the participation of the top eight teams from the Senior Women's National Championships – Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Bengal, Mizoram, Manipur, and Odisha. These teams have proven their mettle at the national level and are set to battle it out for the inaugural title.
The National Women's Hockey League is more than just a competition; it is a platform to inspire young girls across India to pursue their passion for hockey. As Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh eloquently stated, This league will not only provide a platform for elite competition but also inspire young girls to pursue their passion for hockey.
Apr 11, 2024
FIDE Candidates Round 6: Praggnanandhaa Beats Nijat Abasov; Koenru Humpy, R. Vaishali Lose Out
It was a day of mixed fortunes for India as both Koenru Humpy and R. Vaishali lost to Lei Tingjie and Kateryna Lagno respectively in the Women's section in the 6th round of the FIDE Candidates Chess tournament.
it turned out to be a day of recovery for Vidit Gujrathi and R. Praggnanandhaa, with both Indians finishing with wins which formed the only decisive encounters in the Open section in Round 6.
After letting Ian Nepomniachtchi escape with a draw despite his stellar preparation in Round 5, Praggnanandhaa found a win against the lowest seed in the tournament, Nijat Abasov. The endgame turned out to be action-packed as Abasov tried to stave off a second successive loss.
Indian-American Akshay Bhatia Triumphs in Texas Open Playoff Drama
Indian American golfer Akshay Bhatia clinched the Valero Texas Open title, after a gripping playoff against Denny McCarthy. This victory not only marked his first major tournament qualification but also secured him a coveted spot in for the Augusta Masters in May 2024.
Akshay Bhatia's victory at the Texas Open earned him over $1.6 million in prize money and 500 FedEx points. Additionally, his second PGA Tour win ensured qualification for the US Open and propelled him to the 34th position in the world rankings. Despite battling shoulder problems during the playoff, Bhatia displayed remarkable composure and skill to emerge victorious.
UEFA Champions League: Raphinha Scores Brace as Barcelona Beat PSG 3-2 in Quarter-final First Leg
Barcelona have taken a 3-2 lead against PSG heading into the quarter-final second leg of the UEFA Champions League.
Raphinha opened the scoring in the 37th and Ousmane Dembélé equalized in the 48th against his former club. Three minutes later, midfielder Vitinha put PSG ahead from Fabián Ruiz's pass in a pulsating match where Dembélé hit the left post moments before Christensen's goal.
Raphinha scored twice and substitute Andreas Christensen headed the winner as Barcelona won 3-2 at Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. Raphinha was the pick of Barcelona's players on the night, and the Brazil forward had scored twice before Christensen's 77th-minute goal.
Sarita to Lead India at Asian Championships
With India's star wrestlers not in contention, the country's up-and-coming grapplers will look to prove themselves on the big stage with Sarita Mor leading the Indian challenge at the Asian Championships.
It was decided during the March trials that winners in 17 Olympics weight categories will attempt to qualify for the Paris Games during the Asian qualifiers in Bishkek from April 19, while the runners-up in these categories will be given the opportunity to compete in the Asian Championships.
Since Olympics quota winner Anitm Panghal, who was given a direct entry, has pulled out of the event, Anju will represent India in the women's 53kg class.
Umesh Yadav Becomes Fifth Indian Pacer to Take 200 or more T20 Wickets
Gujarat Titans (GT) bowler Umesh Yadav entered the record books with the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal during the Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Rajasthan Royals (RR). Umesh is now the fifth Indian pacer to take 200 or more wickets in all T20s. He has played for multiple IPL franchises during his career apart from playing for India national team and Vidarbha in domestic circuit.
Yadav now has exact 200 wickets in 191 matches and ahead of him are Harshal Patel with 215 wickets, Jaydev Unadkat with 221 wickets, Jasprit Bumrah with 265 wickets, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar with 291 wickets in all T20s. Umesh has taken these wickets at a strike rate of 19.7 and an economy of 8.32. His best is 5/18 in all T20s and has taken five-wicket haul two times.
Apr 10, 2024
Sri Lankan Star Kamindu Mendis and England's Maia Bouchier Crowned ICC Players of the Month
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named Sri Lankan cricketer Kamindu Mendis as the ICC Men's Player of the Month for March 2024. Mendis' historic batting performances in the first Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet were instrumental in Sri Lanka's comfortable victory.
Mendis, who had a quiet start to the tour in the T20I series, soon found his groove in the Test match. Facing a challenging situation with Sri Lanka at 57 for 5, Mendis rescued the innings with a brilliant century, scoring 102 runs. His heroics continued in the second innings, where he scored a remarkable 164 runs, becoming the first player batting at number seven or lower to hit two centuries in a single Test match.
On the women's side, England's Maia Bouchier has been awarded the ICC Women's Player of the Month for March 2024. Bouchier's exceptional performances in the T20I series against New Zealand were crucial in securing a 4-1 series victory for the visitors.
Bouchier's consistent batting displays were a highlight of the series, as she amassed 223 runs at an average of 55.75 across five matches. Her standout performance came in the decisive fourth match, where she blasted 91 runs off just 56 balls, including 12 fours and two sixes, to guide England to a 47-run victory and secure the series win.
Aishwarya Mishra's 400m Bronze at 2023 Asian Championships to be Upgraded to Silver
Top Indian athlete Aishwarya Mishra's 400m bronze medal at 2023 Asian Championships will be upgraded to silver as original second-place finisher Farida Soliyeva of Uzbekistan failed a dope test.
Soliyeva's urine sample collected on July 13, during the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok last year, contained prohibited substance Meldonium and the Athletics Integrity Unit, the international federation's body for combating doping, disqualified all her results from that date.
Soliyeva had finished second with a time of 52.95 seconds while Mishra was third in 53.07 seconds.
Nadeesha Ramanayake of Sri Lanka had won gold with a time of 52.61 seconds.