Page 3 - Olympic Games

CAPF & special forces canine squad in France for Olympics venue security

Ten specially-trained Indian CAPF and special commando force dogs are in France to provide a counter-terrorist and anti-sabotage security cover to various venues of the Paris Olympics slated to open next week, official sources said on Wednesday. The ten Indian K9 (canine) teams will undertake sniffing and patrolling duties at various venues that will hold events for the Paris Olympics. They have been given a special 10-week training for this first-ever kind of collaboration of canine squads between the Indian and the French government, a security officer told PTI. The teams along with their handlers are drawn from the central armed police forces (CAPFs) like the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force apart from the elite federal contingency commando force National Security Guard (NSG) and the Assam Rifles. The dogs are from the sturdy Belgian Malinois breed which undertake infantry patrol and anti-sabotage sniffer task

Paris 2024: Can Indian wrestlers deliver or medal winning legacy under risk

Indian wrestlers have delivered a medal every single time at the Olympics since the 2008 Beijing edition. Success in four consecutive editions has enhanced the status of wrestling as a prime Olympic sport in the country. There was success at junior level too. The sport also produced U23 world champions. It raised hopes of big success in Paris. It was Sushil Kumar who changed the way wrestling was perceived in the country by winning a bronze in 2008. He bettered his medal four years later in the London Games, where he fetched a silver. While Yogeshwar Dutt also won a bronze in the British capital. Sakshi Malik carried forward the trend by bagging a bronze in Rio in 2016 and Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia made it a double delight in the delayed Tokyo Games (2021). However, the sport which was soaring high and was expected to reach even greater heights, was brought down to earth by the prolonged protests against then Wrestling Federation of India chief by the country's elite ...

Tennis players return to the red clay of Paris after Wimbledon's grass

The competition surface doesn't change for most Olympic sports. A pool's a pool. A track's a track. A wrestling mat's a mat. And so on. Tennis? That's a whole other story, with tournaments contested on clay, hard or grass courts and now there's a shift for the Paris Games. For the first time in more than 30 years, the tennis competition at an Olympics will be held on red clay, which means players who recently made the adjustment from the dirt at the French Open in early June to grass at Wimbledon in early July will need to reverse course again in short order. The terre battue at Roland Garros used for the French Open hosts Olympic matches starting on July 27 two weeks after Wimbledon wrapped up with singles titles for Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and the transition back to that site is more concerning to some athletes than others. That'll definitely be interesting. But everyone's kind of doing it. We'll all be in the same boat, said Jessica

Shooter Moudgil secures Olympic birth by overcoming last year's negativity

Overcoming mental demons after being left out of the Indian team from last year's Asian Games and the World Championships was key to shooter Anjum Moudgil securing a Paris Olympic berth. Former world no.1 Moudgil, a world championships and Commonwealth Games medallist, competed in two events during the last edition in Tokyo. She finished 15th in the 50m rifle 3 position and 18th in the 10m air rifle, but in Paris, she will be featuring in only women's 50m 3 position. By her own admission, the ouster from the Indian team for Worlds and Asian Games due to inconsistent form was an eye opener for her as the 30-year-old worked on bettering her mental toughness besides focussing entirely on her training. "Three years after Tokyo was a roller-coaster ride for me. I have seen tough times but I wanted to comeback stronger. The experiences of Tokyo will surely be of helpful (in Paris)," Moudgil said in a virtual media interaction. "I really took advantage of quotas and trials, the federation

China tries to clean sweep with 8-for-8 in diving gold at Paris Olympics

Chinese divers won seven of eight gold medals at the last Olympics in Tokyo, termed one of the greatest performances in Olympic history. Even more is expected this time in Paris. China has ruled diving for decades. But it's never pulled off the elusive gold sweep at the Games. The People's Daily the official newspaper of the Communist Party termed this lapse regrettable in a recent article. How's that for pressure? I hope that all of us can stand on the top of the podium, Tokyo gold medalist Quan Hongchan said in an interview on state-run television. They might, and the record is already staggering. Starting with the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics where China claimed its first diving gold, it has won 47 of 64 gold medals. Add to that 23 silver and 10 bronze. If you start counting from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Chinese have won 27 of 32 gold. That's almost perfection, but someone always spoils the party like American David Boudia, Australian Matthew Mitcham, Briton Tom Daley or Ru

Nishant Dev wants to change colour of Indian boxing medal at Olympics

A confident Nishant Dev has set his sights on bettering the shade of India's boxing medals from bronze to gold at this month's Paris Olympics. Three Indian boxers -- Vijender Singh (2008), MC Mary Kom (2012) and Lovlina Borgohain (2021) -- have stood on the podium at the Olympics, all winning bronze medals. But Dev is confident he has the skillset to not only reach the the light middle-weight (71kg) final but win the elusive gold medal. "My target is to change the colour of the medal in boxing. Our country's boxers have won bronze medals but not gold or silver till now," Dev said during an interaction facilitated by JSW Sports. "I want to convert that bronze to not silver but gold. I have the confidence that I can achieve this. I have trained well. But at the end of the day, it is up to God," Dev added. The 23-year-old burst onto the scene in 2021 when he reached the quarterfinal in his maiden world championship appearance. Two years later, he fetched a bronze medal at the world

Chopra happy with his adductor, to address recurring issue post Olympics

Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has opened up about his adductor niggle which has affected his season, saying he will consult "different doctors" after the Paris Olympics to address the nagging issue. Chopra returned to competitions after a month-long break to fetch his maiden gold medal at the Paavo Nurmi Games here on Tuesday with an effort of 85.97m, which came in his third attempt. The 26-year-old, who created history by becoming the first Indian to win a track and field medal at the Tokyo Olympics, had withdrawn from last month's Ostrava Golden Spike as a precautionary measure after he felt something in his adductor (group of muscles located on inner thighs). "The weather was good today, a little bit cold with the wind. But I am happy with my adductor now because I could do all 6 throws," Chopra said after the win. "Every year I have some problems with my adductor, maybe after the Olympics I am going to talk to different doctors." Chopra, however, expressed the desire to

Neeraj Chopra to compete before Indian fans for first time in 3 years

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra's presence will turn the National Federation Cup, starting Sunday, into a high-profile domestic competition though several top athletes have decided to skip the four-day Senior Championships. The 26-year-old Chopra will be competing in a domestic event for the first time in three years, after featuring in the 2021 edition of the same event. It will also be the first time that Chopra will compete in India after winning a historic gold in Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Chopra last took part in a domestic competition at the same Federation Cup in March 2021, when he won a gold with a throw of 87.80m. Since then, he has mostly been training and competing abroad, accumulating silverwares and titles. He became a world champion, won three individual Diamond League titles, one DL champion's trophy and defended his Asian Games gold in China. The superstar Indian, who is hoping to defend his Olympic gold during the Paris Games, is heading to India from Doha where he

Gymnast Simone Biles wants to turn her post-Olympic tour into celebration

Simone Biles is bringing back her Gold Over America Tour this fall, with a twist. This time, the guys are invited too. The decision to include the men on the 30-city tour that starts in Southern California on Sept. 17 and ends in Detroit on Nov. 3 was intentional. Biles, who will try to build on her haul of seven Olympic medals this summer in Paris, wanted to broaden the show. I think the first time we were very driven on female-forward cast and having the beauty in that and knowing that we can put on a show without the guys and just having the girls being in their feminine power and being beautiful and being the stars, Biles said ahead of the tour's announcement on Thursday. But this time around we're like OK, that worked but let's do it a little bit differently, let's invite the men.' That includes Fred Richard, 20, who became the first American man to medal in the all-around at the world championships since 2010 when he earned bronze in Belgium last fall. Richard, who is eyeing

Olympic torch arrives in France's Marseille amid fanfare, high security

Excitement is building in the southern French city of Marseille, where a majestic three-mast ship carrying the Olympic torch arrived from Greece ahead of a welcoming ceremony at sunset Wednesday. Paris Games organizers have promised fantastic" celebrations in the city, where the Old Port has been placed under high security. The torch was lit in Greece last month before it was officially handed to France. It left Athens aboard a ship named Belem, which was first used in 1896, and spent twelve days at sea. More than a thousand boats will accompany the Belem's parade around the Bay of Marseille. The ship will dock on a pontoon that looks like an athletics track in the Old Port. The welcoming ceremony at dusk on Wednesday will include a demonstration by the jets of the Patrouille de France, the acrobatic team of the French air force. "The return of the Games to our country will be a fantastic celebration," said Paris 2024 Olympics Organizing Committee President Tony Estanguet. As a f

NADA suspends Bajrang Punia indefinitely for not giving dope sample

Punia failed to provide his urine sample for the selection trials at Sonepat on March 10, prompting NADA to issue the order suspending him from participation in any future events

A city scarred by terrorism prepares an Olympic opening without walls

Since the 2015 deadly Islamist attacks, France has become sadly accustomed to terrorist threats and to soldiers patrolling its crowded squares and train stations

Paris will become no-fly zone to safeguard 2024 Olympic opening ceremony

Skies over the Paris region will be closed for six hours as part of the massive security operation for the July 26 opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, the Paris airports operator said Wednesday. Augustin de Romanet, chairman of Aroports de Paris, said airlines are being warned in advance about the closure and told they will have to fly around the restricted airspace. For six hours, there won't be any aircraft over the Paris region," he said on France Info radio. The no-fly zone will extend for a radius of 150 kilometers (93 miles) around Paris, the civil aviation authority and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin have said. The unprecedented waterborne ceremony on the River Seine running through the French capital is the stiffest single security challenge for Paris Games organizers, with crowds of more than 320,000 people expected to line the waterway. At least one French military AWACS surveillance aircraft will police the skies during the Olympics, using its powerful radar to wa

Mary Kom steps down as Chef-de-Mission for upcoming Paris Olympics

Six-time world champion boxer M C Mary Kom on Friday stepped down as India's chef-de-mission for the upcoming Paris Olympics, saying she is "left with no choice" due to some personal reasons. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha announced that Mary Kom had asked to be relieved from her position in a letter addressed to her. "I consider it an honour to serve my country in every way possible, and I was mentally prepared for it. However, I regret that I will not be able to uphold the prestigious responsibility and would like to resign, owing to personal reasons," the 41-year-old stated in a letter to Usha. "It is embarrassing to retreat from a commitment, which I seldom do, but I am left with no choice. I am there to cheer on my country and the athletes competing in this Olympic Games, with great expectations," she added. The IOA had announced her appointment on March 21. The celebrated boxer, who is also a bronze-medallist from the 2012 London Olympics, was to be the .

Nike pins hopes on Olympic Games in Paris to win back market share

Nike spotlighted its 'Air' cushioning technology, used in everything from marathon shoes to sneakers, and its knit materials that make shoes lighter

YES Bank partners with Indian Olympic Association for Paris Olympics 2024

The bank also unveiled the 'YES Glory' savings account proposition, extending benefits to athletes and their immediate family members

Paris Olympics: India placed in tough Pool B in men's hockey competition

Asian Games champions and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists India are place in a tough Pool B in the men's hockey competition at this year's Paris Games. Eight-time champions India, who clinched a historic bronze medal in Tokyo after a hiatus of 41 years, have been clubbed with reigning Olympic champions and world no.2 Belgium, mighty Australia, Rio Games gold medallist Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland. The Indians are currently ranked third in the world, behind Belgium and the Netherlands, and they had found it tough to beat Tokyo silver medallist Australia and Argentina in the past. Pool A, meanwhile, consists of Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, France and South Africa. The International Hockey Federation announced the pools of both men's and women's hockey competition after the completion of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers on Sunday. In the women's competition in Paris, there will be no representation from India, who finished a creditable fourth in Tokyo, as they

Govt working to host 2036 Olympic Games: PM Modi at Khelo India Youth Games

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the government is striving to host the 2036 Olympic Games, provide international exposure to sports persons and making India the hub of global sports ecosystem. Inaugurating the Khelo India Youth Games 2023, Modi said in the last 10 years, his government has ended the 'games in sports' alluding to allegations of corruption and irregularities related to sports, during the UPA regime. Many were surprised about had happened after 2014 and Indian athletes have improved their performance. India achieved its best performance in Tokyo and paralympics, created history in Asian games and Asian para games. In the last 10 years, the "government brought reforms, sportspersons performed and the entire sports scene transformed," he said. Never was there any shortage in sporting talent and passion but in the last 10 years they have got new self-confidence, government support in every step, he added. So many sportspersons from Tamil Nadu are 'doing won

WFI to seek suspension revocation from sports ministry through dialogue

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Tuesday decided that it will seek a dialogue with the Sports Ministry for revocation of its suspension, saying it does not want a clash with the government and the legal options will be explored only if talks fail. The WFI had earlier said it will knock the doors of judiciary to get the suspension revoked but had a change of mind at its Executive Council (EC) meeting, which was chaired by President Sanjay Singh and attended by 12 other elected members. Secretary General Prem Chand Lochab and Senior Vice President Devender Kadian skipped the meet. "We do not want a clash with the government. We are not moving court as of today. We will seek time from the ministry and a delegation will try and speak with the government," Sanjay Singh told PTI after the meeting. Asked if he won't get time from the ministry, he said, "First we have to try. We want to know what we need to do to get the suspension lifted. Like UWW had set certain conditions when

Nancy, Elavenil win air rifle gold, silver at Asia Olympic qualifiers

Budding shooter Nancy and Olympian Elavenil Valarivan came up with a grand performance in women's 10m air rifle, clinching gold and silver respectively at the Asia Olympic Qualifiers here on Wednesday. Teenager Nancy, the junior world team champion, shot a superb 252.8 in the final field of eight to clinch the top spot. Compatriot Elavenil was unlucky to miss the gold by a fraction of a point, aggregating 252.7. India narrowly missed a clean sweep in the women's 10m air rifle final after Mehuli Ghosh finished fourth with 210 points behind China's Shen Yufan. India's world champion marksman Rudrankksh Patil settled for a bronze medal in men's 10m air rifle shooting 228.7 in the final, which was won by Ma Sihan of China (251.4), while Korea's Daehan Choe bagged silver. Another Indian to make the final, Arjun Babuta, finished sixth. Rudrankksh had qualified for the eight-shooter final placed third with a score of 630.4, while Babuta (629.6) was fourth going into the medal round. Na