Page 6 - Sports

Here what Olympians should take note from Mike Conley's 1988 Olympics race

Mike Conley spent most of the 1980s ranked among the top triple jumpers in the world. So, heading into the U.S. Olympic trials in '88, there was very little thought given to the idea he wouldn't finish in the top three and make the trip to Seoul. In a sport embedded inside an Olympic world where gold medals can be won and careers can be made by the most minuscule of fractions of seconds or inches or centimeters what toppled Conley's hopes had nothing to do with a measuring tape. It was a pair of baggy shorts, the likes of which he had never worn in a track meet before, that did him in. Conley recalls video replays that showed the breeze that was kicked up by the vented flaps on the sides of his shorts created a barely perceptible mark in the sand nearly a foot behind where he landed. Officials measured Conley's jump from the mark the shorts made. It cost him precious centimeters and he finished fourth, one spot out of the Olympics. Devastating, the now-61-year-old dad of ...

Co-founder Shuvro Ghoshal Steps Down From The Bridge After Six Years

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India aiming for best-ever performance at Paralympics, says Jhajharia

Indian para athletes are not only aiming to better the country's best ever show but are also aiming to surpass the 25-medal mark at the upcoming Paris Paralympics, said PCI President Devendra Jhajharia on Friday. The Indian athletes had scripted history at the delayed Tokyo Paralympics, winning as many as 19 medals, including a whopping five gold. "This time our slogan is 'Abki Baar 25 Paar.' We have a target of winning more than 25 medals this time. The preparation is going well. I am in touch with the athletes," Jhajharia said during a panel discussion on India's preparations for the Paris Olympics. Jhajharia, a three-time Paralympic medallist, was part of the best-ever performance by Indian para athletes at Tokyo in 2021 clinching the silver in the F46 javelin throw adding to his gold at the 2004 Athens and 2016 Rio editions. The 43-year-old asserted that the para athletes are physically and mentally ready for the Paris Games and will continue the trend of doing well at marquee

Plans to make India global sporting superpower in place since Covid: Govt

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday asserted that India will be among the world's top-five sporting nations by 2047, revealing that the roadmap to achieve this was worked out amid the upheaval caused by COVID-19 three years ago. Mandaviya said sports is a focus area in the government's ambitious plan to turn India into a superpower by 2047. "When the country was under COVID-19 lockdown, the government was brainstorming for 2047, making a roadmap for 2047. One of the components of that roadmap is sports," Mandaviya said during a panel discussion on India's preparations for Paris Olympics. The discussion was organised by the Delhi Sports Journalists Association in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India. "Our government has set a target that in 2047, when we are a developed country, we also need to be among the top five in sports. If we don't have a pathway, we will not know whether we can achieve the target or not. "During the COVID crisis, I have been witness to a

Sports Ministry's TOPS to finance Prannoy's trainer during Paris Olympics

The Sports Ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has approved Olympic-bound shuttler HS Prannoy's proposal for financial assistance towards his trainer Rohan George Mathews during his stay at Paris. The ministry's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) will finance Mathews' airfare, boarding and lodging, daily fees, visa fee, expenditure for miscellaneous expenses such as local transportation and medical expenditure and will also provide him an OPA for the duration. Prannoy are Lakshya Sen are only the two shuttlers to represent India in men's singles badminton event at the Paris Games. Besides Prannoy, the MOC also approved proposals of athletes Vikash Singh, Suraj Panwar, Ankita Dhyani, Sarvesh Kushare and shooter Anantjeet Singh Naruka for assistance towards various equipment for training and competition. The MOC also approved the proposal of Indian rifle shooter Rudrankksh Patil for financial assistance towards training in Serbia for 50m 3P event for a period of 20 days. Rudrankk

Messi asked to apologise for Argentina players' racist chant post win

Lionel Messi faced calls to apologize for racist chants made by Argentina's players after they won the Copa America. An Argentinean government official said Messi, who is the team captain, and the president of the country's soccer federation, Claudio Tapia, should apologize after a video was shared on social media showing members of Argentina's triumphant squad singing a racist chant about French players with African heritage. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez said he was truly sorry for the incident and his Premier League club Chelsea said it had begun disciplinary action, describing discriminatory behavior as completely unacceptable. It is unclear from the video if Messi widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time participated in the chant. But Argentina's sports sub-secretary, Julio Garro, said he should say sorry. The national team captain must also come out to apologize for this case. The same AFA (Argentina Football Association) president," Garro said in radio

Team Mongolia's uniforms for 2024 Paris Olympics has netizens in chokehold

Team Mongolia's stunning uniforms in Paris Olympics parade 2024 designed by local label 'Michel & Amazonka' is grabbing headlines. The progressive fashion brands are run by two sisters

Paris Olympics 2024: What to know, who to watch during judo competition

A roadmap to follow for the men's and women's judo tournaments at the Paris Olympics: Athletes to Watch: Teddy Riner, France: The world's most famous active judoka attempts to cap his incredible career with a record-tying third individual Olympic gold medal in front of his home fans. Now 35, Riner took a shocking quarterfinal loss in Tokyo, but the 11-time world champion heavyweight still won gold in the mixed team event. Uta Abe and Hifumi Abe, Japan: The siblings will attempt to win gold medals on the same day in the second consecutive Olympics. They accomplished the unprecedented feat three years ago in Tokyo, and both have won world championships in both of the two years since then. Clarisse Agbegnenou, France: The six-time world champion is the favorite to win her second straight Olympic gold. She's trying to do it at home and less than two years after giving birth to her daughter. Lukas Krpalek, Czech Republic: Riner could get beaten to history by Krpalek, the comparatively

'I am in pain': Kapil Dev appeals BCCI to help ailing Anshuman Gaekwad

Former cricketer and India coach Anshuman Gaekwad, aged 71, has been receiving treatment at King's College Hospital in London for the past year

Defending champion Alcaraz beats Medvedev; storms into Wimbledon final

Now the Spaniard is one victory away from joining Boris Becker and Bjorn Borg as only men in the Open era, which began in 1968, with multiple championships at All England Club before turning 22

Olympics Cell clears proposals for equipment of Paris-bound athletes

The Sports Ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) on Thursday approved multiple proposals for assistance towards equipment by athletes and para athletes in the build up to the Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games. At its weekly meeting, the MOC has approved a proposal of paralympic table tennis medallist Bhavina Patel for assistance to compete in ITTF Para Table Tennis Asia Training Camp 2024 in Thailand from July 16 to 20 along with her coach and escort. It also approved the request of para shooters -- Manish Narwal, Rudranksh Khandelwal, Rubina Francis and Sriharsha R Devareddy -- for various sport shooting related equipment. These include air rifle for Sriharsha and Morini pistol for Rubina and assistance towards procurement of two javelins (Valhalla 800g Medium NXB and Diana Carbon 600g) for para-athlete Sandeep Choudhary. The MOC also approved the request for financial assistance towards procurement of equipment for archers Ankita Bhakat, Deepika Kumari and para-archers Sheetal

Ukrainian high jumper keeps her eye on raised bar, but mind remains on war

Kateryna Tabashnyk's success depends upon utter concentration on the here and now, on the height of the bar in front of her and her body's ability to leap it. That focus and drive is a requirement for all high-level athletes. But the 30-year-old Ukrainian high jumper's mind wanders often to her bombarded native city of Kharkiv and the Russian missiles that have stolen so much: her mother, her apartment, a pain-free childhood for her nephew, even the fields where she trained. Part of her is always home, she said, and when your home has been destroyed, it feels like a large void. She, like most other Ukrainian athletes, carries the war with her everywhere: To Turkey, her first refuge after the full-scale invasion started in February 2022; to the European Indoor Championships in Turkey, where the 30-year-old took a bronze medal, and now to Monte Gordo in southern Portugal, where the ocean breeze drifts over the stadium that she shares with other Ukrainians training to qualify in the ..

World Sports Journalists Day 2024: History, significance, quotes, and more

World Sports Journalists Day is celebrated every year to honour and celebrate the work of sports journalists. The day also helps promote sports among the general public

Former Indian midfielder Bhupinder Singh Rawat passes away at 85: AIFF

Former India midfielder Bhupinder Singh Rawat, who played in the 1969 Merdeka Cup in Malaysia died after a brief illness, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) stated. He was 85 and is survived by his wife, one son and daughter. A darling of the crowd for his speed and ability to cut through the rival defence despite his diminutive figure, Rawat was nicknamed "Scooter" by the fans. "Bhupinder Singh Rawat was a classy winger and also a prolific scorer, who served the game with distinction," the AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey said in his condolence message. "I extend my sincerest condolences to his family in this hour of sorrow." A speedy winger of the 1960s and 1970s, Rawat was part of the Indian team that finished seventh in the Merdeka Cup with a win over Western Australia in a classification match. In domestic football, he played for top teams like Delhi Garrison, Gorkha Brigade and Mafatlal. He represented Services and Maharashtra in the National Football Championship for t

Olympic champ Herah to miss chance at 3rd straight title in 100, 200 meters

Elaine Thompson-Herah, the two-time reigning Olympic champion at 100 and 200 meters, will miss the Paris Games because of what she said is a small tear in her Achilles tendon. Thompson-Herah went down at the New York Grand Prix this month and had to be carried off the track. She had been signed up to run in the 100 meters this week at Jamaican national championships, but posted on social media Thursday that she withdrew. Funny enough, I got back home with a strong mindset to keep pushing and prepare, she said. But the leg wouldn't allow me to. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who won the Olympic 100 in 2008 and 2012, ran 10.98 seconds on Thursday in the opening round and Shericka Jackson ran 10.99. Thompson-Herah had not been signed up for the 200. Her absence leaves America's Sha'Carri Richardson, Fraser-Pryce and Jackson as the top three medal contenders in the shorter sprint in Paris. Thompson-Herah, who turns 32 on Saturday, said she plans on returning. It's a long road but I am will

US Open: Rajawat, Malvika into quarters; Gayatri-Treesa too advance

India's Priyanshu Rajawat has stormed into the men's singles quarterfinals with a straight-game win over Chinese Taipei's Huang Yu Kai in the US Open Super 300 badminton tournament here. Eighth seed Rajawat, who had won the Orleans Masters in 2023, notched up a 21-18 21-16 win over Huang to set up a clash with fourth seed Lei Lan Xi of China. Commonwealth Games bronze medallists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also advanced to the women's doubles quarterfinals with a 16-21 21-11 21-19 win over Chinese Taipei's Hsieh Pei Shan and Hung En-Tzu in the second round. The second seeded Indian pair, who received a bye in the opening round, will next face sixth seeded Japanese Rui Hirokami and Yuna Kato. Also making it to the last eight is Malvika Bansod, seeded seventh. She beat Czech Republic's Tereza Svabikova 15-21 21-19 21-14 in a women's singles match. Malvika will face a tough test against third seed Kristy Gilmour of Scotland.

Delhi's Tulika Maan secures Paris Olympics quota for India in Judo

Commonwealth Games silver medallist Tulika Maan on Tuesday secured a Paris Olympics quota for India in judo, according to the international body's list. International Judo Federation (IJF) on Tuesday published a list of judokas who have qualified for the Paris Games and 25-year-old Tulika's name featured in the +78 kg category. The Delhi girl was ranked 36th with 1345 points. The qualification period was between June 22, 2022 and June 23, 2024. "The next step will take place on July 2 when the NOCs (National Olympic Committees) will have to nominate which athletes will represent them, knowing that only one judoka per NOC can participate in the Games in each weight category," the IJF said on its website. "In other words, if a country has several judoka qualified in a given weight category, only one can be chosen to participate this summer." A country can enter a maximum of 14 judokas, seven each for both men and women per bodyweight category. France, as host country, received a sp

Euro 2024: Denmark advances to last 16 after 0-0 draw with Serbia

Denmark advanced to the last 16 at the European Championship after a 0-0 draw with Serbia on Tuesday. The Danes finished Group C with three points, the same as Slovenia, but ended up in second place because of a better qualifying ranking. Slovenia, which drew 0-0 with group-winner England, also advanced to the knockout stage. Denmark had most of the chances even though Serbia needed a victory to reach the next round. And almost all of those Danish opportunities came through Christian Eriksen, who was making a record 133rd appearance for his country. Denmark and Slovenia finished even on points, goal difference, goals scored and disciplinary points.

BCCI officials, state association reps convene ahead of domestic season

The BCCI office bearers including secretary Jay Shah and representatives of the state associations met here on Monday for an informal meeting to "exchange ideas" and discuss the revamped domestic cricket structure. India's domestic season 2024-25 will begin with the Duleep Trophy on September 5 followed by the Irani Cup and then the Ranji Trophy, which has been split into two halves for the first time. This has been done to counter inclement weather during winter season in the north and give players more time for rest and recovery between matches. In the meeting held here at the BCCI headquarters at the Wankhede Stadium, the board also sought feedback from the state associations on the new format. The new format has been implemented on the recommendations of National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman, India head coach Rahul Dravid, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and skipper Rohit Sharma. The BCCI aims to review the same after one year. "The meeting highlighted the commenda

Mirlind Daku banned by Uefa for 2 Euro 2024 games after nationalist chants

Albania player Mirlind Daku was banned on Sunday for two games after leading fans in nationalist chants at the European Championship, that UEFA said brought soccer into disrepute. Daku took a megaphone after Albania's 2-2 draw with Croatia on Wednesday in Hamburg and joined in chanting slogans against Serbia and North Macedonia. The incidents and fallout from the game in Hamburg have been the most serious involving Balkan politics at a Euros with the most-ever teams from the region playing and offering a stage for some fans to air its issues. It also has highlighted rifts in soccer between Albania and Serbia at a time when their soccer federations have tried to heal them by teaming up, despite opposition from many fans, in a bid to co-host the Under-21 Euros in 2027. On Sunday, UEFA said its disciplinary judges found Daku guilty of failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sports events for manifestations o