Page 6 - Athletics

Javelin thrower Jena gets Hungarian visa, to compete at World Championships

Indian javelin thrower Kishore Jena on Friday received his visa to travel to Hungary, paving the way for him to compete at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest from August 19-27. Confirming the development, an Athletics Federation of India (AFI) source said that his visa has been cleared after his interview/appointment on Friday morning and he will get his travel documents later in the day. On Wednesday, Jena's visa application was cancelled by the Hungarian embassy in India. It led to Olympic gold-medallist javelin-thrower Neeraj Chopra coming out in support of him and requesting Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar to "find a solution". "Just heard that there are issues with Kishore Jena's VISA, preventing him from entering Hungary for the World C'ships. I hope the authorities are able to find a solution, as this is one of the biggest moments of his career. Let's do everything we can," he posted on X (formerly Twitter), tagging MEA and Jaishankar. Jena, who won gol

Sprinter, Asian Games medallist Dutee Chand faces four-year ban for doping

Dutee Chand was tested for selective androgen receptor modulators in December last year. Her ban period will be effective from January 3, 2023. This means she will be out of action till Jan 3, 2027

Athletics Federation of India chief Sumariwalla elected World Athletics VP

Adille Sumariwalla on Thursday became a member of the powerful World Athletics Executive Board after he was elected as one of the four vice presidents, the highest post occupied by an Indian in the global track and field governing body. The 65-year-old Sumariwalla, currently the president of Athletics Federation of India (AFI) since 2012, received the third highest number of votes cast during the WA elections held two days ahead of World Championships here. He will serve a four year term. The four candidates who get the highest number of votes out of the eight in fray for vice presidents' post get a seat in the WA Executive Board, the highest decision making body of the world body. The Executive Board consists of the president, four vice presidents, three appointed members and a chief executive officer (non voting). Sumariwalla, an Olympian 100m runner, has also been a member of the WA Council since 2015.

Lady coach who filed sexual harassment case against Sandeep Singh suspended

Due to the complaint of sexual harassment by a woman athletics coach, case was registered against former Indian men's hockey team captain Sandeep Singh who served as sports minister of Haryana

World Athletics Championships: Four Indian javelin throwers qualify

In a rare instance in Indian athletics, four men's javelin throwers from the country have qualified for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, later this month, but injury to one member of the quartet meant that all of them will not take part in the big-ticket event. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has already qualified for the August 19-27 showpiece as wild card by virtue of being the Diamond League champion and Kishore Jena also made the cut in the world ranking quota. Rohit Yadav and DP Manu also made it to the 36 javelin throwers' list to compete in the world championships. But Rohit had recently undergone a surgery on his throwing elbow and he will miss the World Championships. World Athletics (WA) on Wednesday updated its Road to Budapest list after the qualification period ended on July 30. Jena, who won gold in the Sri Lankan National Championships on July 30 with a personal best of 84.38m, took the 36th spot. A country can have three athletes in each event but the ..

Abha equals shot put NR while winning silver; Parul, Jyothi win 2nd medal

Unheralded Abha Khatua equalled the women's shot put national record of 18.06m while winning silver in a surprise performance, while Jyothi Yarraji and Parul Chaudhary clinched their second medals in the Asian Athletics Championships here on Sunday. The 28-year-old Khatua made a huge improvement of nearly a metre -- 93 cm -- from her earlier lifetime best of 17.13m as she sent the 4kg iron ball to a distance of 18.06m in her fourth throw to finish second behind Song Jiayuan (18.88m) of China. Her second-best throw of the day was 17.10m. Veteran Manpreet Kaur, whose national record Khatua equalled on Sunday, took the bronze with a first-round throw of 17m. Yarraji, who had become the first Indian to win a 100m hurdles gold in the Asian Championships on Thursday, added a 200m silver to her kitty with a time 23.13 seconds. Ace Indian long-distance runner Parul Chaudhary won her second medal of the championships with a silver in 5000m. Chaudhary, who had won gold in 3000m steeplechas

Sreeshankar wins silver at Asian Athletics C'ships, qualifies for Olympics

Murli Sreeshankar became the eighth Indian to directly qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics after winning silver in the Men's Long Jump at the Asian Athletics Championship 2023

AFI awarded best member federation by Asian Athletics Association

Athletics Federation of India (AFI) was on Monday conferred with the best member federation award by the Asian Athletics Association in Bangkok. AFI president Adille Sumariwalla received the award during the function hosted by Asian Athletics Association. "Great day for Indian athletics. AFI was awarded the best member federation award in Bangkok by Asian Athletics Association today. The award was received by AFI president Adille Sumariwalla," the AFI tweeted after receiving the award. Sumariwalla is in Bangkok to attend the Asian Athletics Council meeting. The Indian team left for the five-day Asian Athletics Championships on Saturday night from Delhi and Bengaluru. The championships will begin here on Wednesday.

Inter-State Athletics Championships: Tamil Nadu crowned overall champions

The 62nd Inter-state Athletics Championships drew to a close today with another display of India's finest athletes competing for supremacy at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar

Neeraj Chopra number one in World Athletics men's javelin ranking

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra became the world number one for the first time in his career in the latest men's javelin throw rankings issued by the World Athletics. Chopra topped the charts with 1455 points, 22 ahead of Grenada's reigning world champion Anderson Peters (1433). Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic was third with 1416 points. The 25-year-old Chopra rose to world number two on August 30 last year but was stuck behind Peters since then. In September last year, Neeraj Chopra won the Diamond League 2022 finals in Zurich, becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious trophy. He won the title at the season-opening Doha Diamond League on May 5 with a throw of 88.67m. He will next compete at the FBK Games on June 4 in the Netherlands, followed by the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, on June 13.

PT Usha alleges illegal encroachment at her athletics school in Kerala

'It is a growing institution, so many athletes are being trained there and this is not the first time such an incident has taken place'

Afghan women, girls athletes barred from play, fear Taliban threats

Noura's determination to play sports was so great that she defied her family's opposition for years. Beatings from her mother and jeers from her neighbours never stopped her from the sports she loved. But the 20-year-old Afghan woman could not defy her country's Taliban rulers. They have not just banned all sports for women and girls, they have actively intimidated and harassed those who once played, often scaring them from even practising in private, Noura and other women say. Noura has been left shattered. I'm not the same person anymore, she said. Since the Taliban came, I feel like I'm dead. A number of girls and women who once played a variety of sports told The Associated Press they have been intimidated by the Taliban with visits and phone calls warning them not to engage in their sports. The women and girls spoke on condition of anonymity for fear they will face further threats. They posed for an AP photographer for portraits with the equipment of the sports they loved. The

Hope to breach 90-metre mark in javelin this year: Neeraj Chopra

His athleticism has left even the iconic Michael Johnson in awe recently and India's Neeraj Chopra has now set himself a target in the new year: breach the 90-metre mark with his javelin. After the historic gold in Tokyo, the 24-year-old Olympic champion javelin thrower has continued to raise expectations with a silver at the World Championships, before adding another feather in his cap by winning the Diamond League Finals gold. However, despite his superlative shows, the magical 90m mark continues to elude him. "In this new year, I hope I will put an end to this question," Chopra told reporters in a video interaction from England where he's doing off-season training. He came agonisingly close with his 89.94m throw when he finished second in the Stockholm leg of the prestigious Diamond League. In hindsight, Chopra thinks he could have achieved the mark in Stockholm. "I could have done that if I landed my foot a few centimetres ahead." "Yes, it's just a matter of six centimeters

1960 Olympic 5,000-meter champion Murray Halberg passes away at 89

Murray Halberg, who overcame serious injury to win the 5,000-meter gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics and later devoted his life to charity work, has died. He was 89. His death was confirmed by Athletics New Zealand which did not specify a cause. Athletics New Zealand described Halberg as one of the most iconic names in New Zealand sport. Halberg also won gold medals in the three-mile race at the 1958 and 1962 Commonwealth Games and was the first New Zealanders to run a sub-four minute mile. He achieved all of those successes though his left arm had withered after he was injured playing rugby as a teenager. He later became best known in New Zealand for his work with the Halberg Trust which helped disabled children play sport. The organization is now known as the Halberg Disability Sports Foundation. The Halberg Award is presented annually to New Zealand's Sportsperson of the Year and the Halberg Games are staged over three days each year for athletes aged eight to 21 with a phys

Ironman 70.3: Young and old flock to Goan beach for gruelling test

Local participation has improved, developing more such events for India, says event organiser

Tanya, Mansi shift focus on U20 athletes with record breaking performances

Tanya Chaudhary from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand's Mansi Negi produced national record breaking performances in the women's hammer throw and 10000m race walk in the 37th AFI National Junior Athletics Championships here on Sunday. On the first two days, athletes from the younger age groups were the ones who broke national records. Tanya improved her own U20 National records from 57.04, set in Nadiad earlier this year to 58.30m. She first broke the meet mark of 50.74m, set by Anisha Dahiya in Mangalagiri in 2019 on her second visit to the circle with a 52.21m effort. She followed that up with her maiden throw past the 58m mark. In the women's U20 10000m race walk, Mansi clocked 47 minutes 30.94 seconds to take ownership of the U20 National and Meet records. Munita Prajapati had pegged both records at 47:53.58 at the Sarusajai Stadium here last year. In fact, Haryana's Rachana (49:14.88) and Maharashtra's Sejal Anil Singh (49:29.31) also went past the earlier mark.

Reliance Retail rolls out athleisure brand Xlerate on AJIO Business

The brand caters to requirements of sports and fitness enthusiasts

Gujarat gears up for 36th National Games with 36 sporting events

Beginning on Sept 27, the 14-day event will see over 7,000 sportspersons

World record holder Jacob Kiplimo to run in Delhi Half Marathon on Oct 16

Uganda's world half marathon record holder Jacob Kiplimo will feature in the Delhi Half Marathon on October 16, the organisers announced on Thursday. The 21-year-old Kiplimo is the reigning world half marathon champion after winning the title in 2020. Last year, he ran a phenomenal world record time of 57:31 in Lisbon. The young Ugandan star has already had an outstanding season, winning both the RAK Half Marathon in the UAE in February in a world leading time of 57:56 and then the Great North Run half marathon last Sunday. Kiplimo had also won a 10,000m bronze in the World Athletics Championships in USA and a memorable 5000m/10,000m double at the Commonwealth Games last month. Ethiopia's Amdework Walelegn improved the Delhi course record to 58:53 in 2020, but Kiplimo believes he can run the fastest half marathon ever seen on Indian soil during his first visit to the country next month. I have been told that the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon course is a quick one and the record sugg

How technology played a part in India scripting triple jump history

Separated by visa issues, coach, athletes turned to WhatsApp; came home with gold & silver