Mexican referee seeks Messi's autograph; disciplined!
Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava found out the hard way that there are consequences for seeking an autograph from eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and World Cup winner Lionel Messi -- he was hit with a CONCACAF disciplinary sanction.
EPL: Brentford blaze to big win over leaky Leicester
Brentford's Bryan Mbuemo scored one goal and made another in a 4-0 win over Leicester City on Friday as a dismal display of defending saw the relegation-threatened Foxes slump to their sixth home defeat in a row in the Premier League.
PIX: Rublev, Draper to clash in Qatar Open final
Andrey Rublev reached the final of the Qatar Open on Friday with a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5) win over Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, and will meet Jack Draper in the decider after the Briton beat Czech Jiri Lehecka.
Europa draw: Man Utd v Real Sociedad; Spurs v Alkmaar
Manchester United were handed a tricky Europa League last 16 tie against Real Sociedad while Tottenham Hotspur will play Dutch side AZ Alkmaar after the draw was held on Friday, but both managers are more concerned about their Premier League form.
Andreeva upsets Rybakina, meets Tauson in Dubai final
Russian teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva continued her giant-slaying exploits at the Dubai Tennis Championships by upsetting Kazakhstani sixth seed Elena Rybakina 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in the semi-finals on Friday.
Andreeva, 17, youngest to reach WTA 1000 Final
Russian teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva continued her giant-slaying exploits at the Dubai Tennis Championships by upsetting Kazakhstani sixth seed Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals.
TOPS shake-up: Neeraj retained but big names axed
Double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra is among only three track and field athletes retained in the sports ministry's revamped TOPS core group.
Schopman wins battle of coaches as Germany women sink India
BHUBANESWAR: Like the city has tended to do over the last few days, the blazing afternoon sun had given way to threatening storm clouds on Friday evening. Just when the respective India-Germany women's teams lined up for the anthems, some of the scribes sought the comfort of the media centre as droplets of water began falling on the media tribune, a place inside the ground where journalists sit and file in real-time. There were similar scenes elsewhere across the four stands of the Kalinga Stadium. Fans made their way to the quickest exit. On the blue turf, though, it was very much business as usual for the sides. Even if the Pro League has a tangible reward for the team finishing first at the end of the season a World Cup spot sides have been taking it easy, playing in second and third gear rather than chasing after lost causes and putting bodies on the line. It's how competitions at the beginning of a new Olympic cycle tend to be; the older players have either left or are being phased out, youth is the buzzword and a loss is more palatable because sides can dress it up as growing pains, lessons for the future. Saying all that, the India vs Germany encounter had some promise because of the rich narratives in play. One of the last times these two sides faced each other (an Olympic qualifier at Ranchi early last year), Germany dumped India in a penalty shoot-out in the semifinal. Subsequently, India failed to win the third-place match. A month later, Janneke Schopman, then India coach, resigned. These days, Schopman is in charge of the German women's team. Actually, both sides have new coaches, a common theme at the beginning of a new Olympic cycle. Coaches Schopman and Harendra Singh with plenty to prove. For the former, another chance to show her coaching acumen in India after leading the Odisha Warriors to the title in the inaugural Women's Hockey India League. She doesn't want to spend too much time on her experience with the women's time (the Dutchwoman had accused her former employers of discrimination before resigning). That is a closed chapter, the stint with the German team is about embracing new challenges. For Singh, too, the Indian stint is a new challenge. On the evidence of the 60 minutes in the driving rain, Singh's challenge is far greater. They weren't at the races as the visitors were all over them like a rash from pushback. From an Indian perspective, this was like watching a bad movie, the relief apparent only after the end, with the electronic scoreboard saying India 0-4 Germany. After the match, the Indian coach claimed his side were the fitter outfit but the visitors were quicker to snuff out danger, reacted better to chances and scored several eye-catching goals in the process. The second one, by Sophia Schwabe who dribbled past several defenders before finding the board, was a case in point. At half-time, Singh, in a short pitchside interview, had said his team was giving Germany way too much respect. He touched on it after the match. Too much respect for the opponents, he said in the mixed zone. So much discussion about the match in the dressing room and meeting room... show the character. We have to show grit and determination. If we show too much respect, we are going to pay the price. Show the character, show determination, show that you are hungry... in the third quarter, we were all over them but small mistakes and we went back to our shell. This is what we have to learn, the entire team has to work but someone has to step up and take the lead and start because there's no communication, no coaching on the pitch, everyone just running here and there in the first quarter wasting their gas. By the time the final hooter had cut through the evening air, the rain had dissipated and the soundtrack of the crowd's familiar roar every time an Indian player drove forward with the ball was back. However, it was few and far in between. Friday's scores: Women: Netherlands 5-1 England, Germany 4-0 India. Men: India 3-1 Ireland.
Hockey: Germany women hand India a thrashing
Germany clinched their first win of the season as they stormed to a 4-0 win against India in the women's FIH Hockey Pro League.
TOPS Core group slashed to 42 from 120; 52 para-athletes included
CHENNAI: Finally, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) list in both Core and Development groups have undergone a much-needed overhaul. Some disciplines have seen a considerable number of omissions while sports like shooting and badminton have not seen much change. The Core group has been slashed to 42 from 120 during the Olympics in 2024. Some sports like equestrian, fencing, golf, sailing and tennis have been dropped altogether, at least for the time being. TOPS, sports ministrys flagship programme for elite and up-and-coming top athletes in select Olympic disciplines, needed an overhaul after the Paris Olympics last year. However, TOPS Chief Executive Officer was appointed only in December and the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) was also reconstituted and held its first meeting in early January. This meeting served more like an induction/orientation programme. A decisive step needed to be taken as early as possible because we are already into the sixth month into the LA2028 Olympic cycle. The first serious MOC meeting was held on February 11 under sports secretary Sujata Chaturvedi in the chair. As highlighted by this newspaper, TOPS needed to make some hard decisions regarding the list of athletes and going by the numbers in Core 42 it seems to have shown some intent. The list just before the Olympic Games in Paris rose to 120 athletes. It is understood that addition can be done on the basis of exceptional results by athletes. The objective of the TOPS is to provide assistance to athletes without any hindrance that includes foreign training, international competition, equipment and coaching camp. The athletes get a stipend of Rs 50,000 in Core and Rs 25000 in development. Pruning TOPS list, incentives to Indian coaches core issues at MOC meet In athletics the numbers have come down from 32 to just three. The 4x400m relay teams have been shifted to development group and only three athletes figure on the Core list double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra, Avinash Sable, who has made a considerable improvement in his 3000m steeplechase timing and won medals at Commonwealth and Asian Games and long jumper Murali Sreeshankar have been retained. The development group has about 13 individual athletes like Shaili Singh, Jyothi Yarraji and two six-member 4x400m mens and womens teams. The Athletics Federation of India right now is in the rebuilding process of the relay teams, women in particular. Similarly, in boxing only two boxers have been included Tokyo Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and multiple world championships medallist Nikhat Zareen. Rowing has been shifted to the development group where three rowers have been added. Former world No 1 badminton player Kidambi Srikanth who has been struggling for form over the last couple of years has been dropped from the list along with Ashwini Ponappa and her partner Tanisha Crasto has been shifted to the development group. Since squash has been included in the LA2028 Olympics, five players including Anahat Singh, Tanvi Khanna, Velavan Senthilkumar, Abhay Singh and Ramit Tandon have been part of the development group. Interestingly, only Dhinidhi Desingu is the only swimmer in the development group. Srihari Natarj was part of the Core programme earlier. There are 52 para-athletes in Core group. Earlier there were 59. Though the Wrestling Federation of India is not recognized by the sports ministry despite its affiliation with the United World Wrestling (UWW), there are six grapplers in the Core group. Paris Olympic medallist Aman Sehrawat, Antim Panghal, Reetika Hooda, Nisha Dahiya Deepak Punia and Chirag are in Core, while there are 26 players in development the highest in any sport. As reported by this newsapaper, another interesting move by the TOPS has been the six-monthly evaluation of athletes. There are a few parameters they have identified that included both physical and mental/psychological besides their projected results. However, the weeding out will be done yearly. To monitor hiring of coaches by respective athletes, the TOPS has initiated a move to have more accountability among all stakeholders the athlete, SAI and the National Sports Federations (NSFs). TOPS Core Group: Archery: Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhagat, Dhiraj Bommadevara; Athletics: Avinash Sable, Neeraj Chopra, M Sreeshankar; Badminton: PV SIndhu, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand, HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty; Boxing: Nikhat Zareen, Lovlina Borgohain; Shooting: Manu Bhaker, Palak, Esha Singh, Sarbjot Singh, Shiva Narwal, Mehuli Ghosh, Ramita, Nancy, Elavanil Valarivan, Rudrankksh B Patil, Arjun Babuta, Divyansh Singh Pawar, Sift Kaur Samra, Swapnil Kusale, Akhil Seoran, Aishwary Pratap Singh, Maheshwari Chauhan, Anant Jeet Singh Naruka; Table Tennis: Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula; Weightlifting: Mirabai Chanu; Wrestling: Antim Panghal, Nisha Dahiya, Reetika Hooda, Aman Sehrawat, Chirag and Deepak Punia. Development group: Archery (11), athletics (25), badminton (14), boxing (10), shooting (19), squash (5), rowing (3), swimming (1), Table Tennis (7), wrestling (26).
New Bushnell rangefinder offers world-class accuracy and affordability for the average golfer
The A1 Slope claims to deliver tour-level accuracy in an ultra compact package and has a series of features that will excite every golfer. The post New Bushnell rangefinder offers world-class accuracy and affordability for the average golfer appeared first on Golf365 .
Manu Bhaker selected for World Cups in Argentina and Peru
Champions League: Real Madrid draw Atletico
Real Madrid will play local rivals Atletico Madrid while Bayern Munich were drawn against Bundesliga title challengers Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.
Sicyon, Mahler, Mandarino, Rodney and Vibrant Bliss shine
What's Trump Doing With Tiger Woods?
On February 20, 2025, President Donald Trump hosted a reception at the White House to honor Black History Month.
Alcaraz rues lapse that let Lehecka off the hook
World number three Carlos Alcaraz was left ruing a mistake that let Jiri Lehecka off the hook in the third set and allowed the Czech to fight back and claim a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory in the Qatar Open quarter-finals on Thursday.
Jiri Lehecka shocks Carlos Alcaraz in Doha
Lehecka struck eight aces and converted four of eight break chances to secure the first Top 3 win of his career.
Europa: Dybala sends Roma through; Galatasaray exit
AS Roma secured their place in the Europa League last 16 with a 3-2 home win over 10-man Porto on Thursday thanks to a Paulo Dybala double, advancing 4-3 on aggregate.
The golf ball market is poised for notable growth over the next decade, with increased participation in the sport a driving factor. The post The dizzy expansion of the golf ball industry: dazzling new technology, star players and big opportunities appeared first on Golf365 .
ISL: Jamshedpur FC crush Mohammedan SC
Jamshedpur FC dominated Mohammedan SC in their Indian Super League match, securing a 2-0 victory.
Saurabh returns as NRAI names squad for two World Cups
CHENNAI: After being in the background for some time, shooter Saurabh Chaudhary is back in the national squad. The pistol shooter's name was included in the shooting team by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on Thursday, the governing body of the sport in the country, for the upcoming ISSF World Cups in Argentina and Peru. The World Cups (rifle, pistol and shotgun) are scheduled to be held in April. His inclusion is far from a surprise as he had raised his standards in the last few months most notably the national championships and the recently-held national trials (1 & 2). Having missed the Paris Games, Saurabh is seeking a fresh start and he'll be determined to make his chance count. The former Asian Games medallist will be taking part in his pet category men's 10m air pistol. He'll also be taking part in the air pistol mixed team event, according to NRAI's release on Thursday. Shooter Saurabh back in national reckoning Paris Olympics medallist, Manu Bhaker, is also part of the team and she'll be competing in three disciplines women's 10m air pistol and 25m pistol and air pistol mixed team events. Arjun Babuta, who finished fourth during the Paris Games, is part of the squad as well. There are fairly new faces in the women's 10m air rifle with Arya Rajesh Borse, R Narmada Nithin and Sonam Uttam Maskar in the squad. Olympian Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar is part of the 50m rifle 3 positions batch but Paris Games Swapnil Kusale, who was ranked fourth after aforementioned trials, has not been included. Instead, veteran Chain Singh made the cut. In the women's 50m rifle 3 positions, Sift Kaur Samra was named alongside Ashi Chouksey and Shriyanka Sadangi. The list also comprises shooters from the shotgun disciplines. Prithviraj Tondaiman (trap men), Zoravar Singh Sandhu (trap), Ganemat Sekhon (skeet women), Anantjeet Singh Naruka (skeet men), to name a few, are some of the well-known figures in the squad.
HIL to go four venues in 2026, says HI president Tirkey
BHUBANESWAR: There was a time in the recent past when hockey within the Indian context meant Bhubaneswar. These days, Hockey India (HI) are putting in place an elaborate plan to take the sport to multiple centres across different states. A sport not bound by borders, if you will. The next 12 months will re-emphasise this feeling as the sport in different avatars (the franchise based Hockey India League as well as international hockey to be held in India) will crisscross the length and breadth of the country. Here's a sample of what's to come. The men's Asia Cup will be held in Rajgir in Bihar (the winners will qualify for the World Cup) in August. Following that, the junior World Cup will be held in two cities in Tamil Nadu (Madurai and Chennai in November and December). The season will close with the resurrected Hockey India League in four Indian cities (the just-concluded season was in Ranchi and Rourkela). After the HIL (finished), HI president, Dilip Tirkey said on Thursday, we got a feeling that it might be a good idea to spread the league to other centres. The quality of hockey was very nice, so this will be a nice way to spread the sport. Also, if the players move around, there will be less chance of boredom setting in by staying at just one place for a prolonged period. So, it is possible that the next edition will be held in four venues. It's understood that Chennai and Lucknow may be among the four cities to be in the running to host some league matches in the second year. One of the other proposed big changes pertain to the league window. The men's HIL began just after Christmas and ran till the first week of February. It saw some foreign stars pull out of the competition as they wanted to spend New Year's at home. To make it more foolproof, the league is contemplating a start date in the first week of January to allow foreign players the option of spending time with their families before linking up with the teams. At the auction, 96 international players were signed but over 25% of the players had pulled out of the league because of the timing. There are also plans to cut the flab apropos the length of the league. While HI haven't received any feedback, this will be music to the ears of national coach, Craig Fulton, who had voiced his concerns after India's 1-4 loss to Germany on Tuesday. With India missing Harmanpreet Singh and Hardik Singh to niggles and Sumit a long-term absentee, the South African had said that the league 'had taken its toll' on the players without elaborating. These plans are, however, yet to be rubber-stamped and will need the approval of all stakeholders including the team owners and broadcasters (there is a meeting coming up between the different interested parties to discuss these things). Signs of improvement for India women despite mixed results HI are also drawing up some plans to fast-track the growth of Indian coaches. This has remained a genuine gripe and the issue was front and centre as most of the HIL teams had foreign chief coaches in the dugout. One thing we noticed is that all teams had a foreigner as the chief coach, Tirkey, who's up for re-election as HI president next year, said. So we have to do something about it by helping our Indian coaches reach a level that they are considered for roles like these. We will support them in all ways possible, including identifying places elsewhere in the world where coaching programmes are good and send a few of them to learn from them. Its in the pipeline, but something we want to do. On the subject of the age-group World Cup later this year, HI had no choice but to hold it in two cities because of the absence of multiple pitches at the same venue in Chennai. With it being a 24-team edition, Madurai was considered. It's not yet known who will play where. Staying on the subject, Tirkey assured that PR Sreejesh will get to coach the side at the event. The 2021 batch didn't get that as then senior coach, Graham Reid, was asked to take charge of the team at the event. Friday's matches Women: England vs Netherlands, India vs Germany Men: India vs Ireland Matches begin from 3.00 PM
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Advani's 14th Asian gold: Is he the greatest ever?
Indian cue sports maestro Pankaj Advani has won an unprecedented 14th gold medal at the Asian Snooker Championship in Doha, Qatar.
El Greco, Victoriaraya, Dream Seller and El Rey impress
Pankaj Advani clinches 14th Asian Snooker Championship title
DOHA: Indian cue sports maestro Pankaj Advani has once again showcased his brilliance on the international stage, capturing an unprecedented 14th gold medal at the Asian Snooker Championship here. The triumph comes just days after he won the National Snooker Championship in Indore, proving yet again why he remains the country's most celebrated cueist. Advani's victory in Doha adds to an already staggering list of accolades. He now holds five Asian snooker titles (across 15-red, 6-reds, and team formats) alongside nine Asian billiards titles, and his two Asian Games gold medals (2006, 2010) further highlight his dominance. With this latest win, he inches closer to an unprecedented achievement -- winning the National, Asian, and World Snooker Championships in a single calendar year. Having already accomplished this feat in billiards, completing it in snooker would make him the only player in history to do so in both disciplines. The final against Iran's Amir Sarkhosh was a battle of champions. Sarkhosh, a former Asian and world IBSF 6-red snooker champion, struck first, seizing an early lead. But Advani, known for his composure under pressure, responded in style. With breaks of 93 and 66, he took control of the match and never looked back, outclassing his opponent with his signature precision and tactical brilliance. Reflecting on his victory, Advani said, Winning my 14th Asian title is incredibly special, especially in snooker. It has been a tough tournament, and I'm thrilled to add another gold to my collection. I hope to carry this momentum forward and keep making India proud. The triumph also further solidifies his place in cue sports history. As he sets his sights on the World Snooker Championship later in the year, everyone is eagerly watching to see if he can achieve yet another landmark in a glorious career.
Will Lewis Hamilton Retire If He Wins 8th Title With Ferrari? No 'Stopping' Says F1 Great
Lewis Hamilton is already one of Formula 1s most successful racers, enjoying an illustrious with Mercedes in the last two decades
Hamilton: 'Exactly where I'm supposed to be' after emotional day driving Ferrari's new F1 car
Lewis Hamilton says he is exactly where Im supposed to be after an emotional first day on track in Ferraris new car. After the previous nightsglitzy Formula 1 season launchin London, Hamilton got behind the wheel of the new Ferrari SF-25 on Wednesday for the first time at the teams Fiorano test track. Thousands of fans most clad in Ferrari red had gathered outside the fences surrounding the track to get a glimpse of their new hero. Some even cut down a tree for a better view. Asked to pick a word to describe the days sensations, Hamilton struggled initially but he insisted he wanted to do better than the suggestion of very good, before settling on emotional. Of course Ive seen from the outside Ferrari over the years, the drivers over the years and how theyve been received by their fans, the tifosi, Hamilton said. But I think when youre in it, its something even more special than you can imagine. You cant know that until you get in there and experience it. And thats been really beautiful to see. The 40-year-old Hamilton shocked the motorsports world last year when he announced he was leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari. The British driver had been at Mercedes for 11 years and won six of his seven titles with the Silver Arrows. We know we have a huge amount of work to do, I know that I have a huge amount of work to do. Im still acclimatizing Ive only been here just over a month, Hamilton said. So Im still acclimatizing to a completely new car, completely new way of working. But everyone has bent over backwards in this team to make me feel welcome. And I really feel at home. I know Im exactly where Im supposed to be. It feels natural. It feels right. Hamilton will line up alongside Charles Leclerc, who has been at Ferrari since 2019. The 27-year-old Leclerc said it was already the best team mentality he has felt in his time at the Italian Scuderia. I worked with two world championship-winning teams before, Hamilton said. I know what a winning team looks and feels like. The passion here is like nothing youve ever seen. Theyve got absolutely every ingredient they need to win a world championship. And its just about putting all the pieces together. However, Ferrari has not won a drivers title since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007. Leclerc finished runner-up in 2022 and was third last year after ending the season with three podiums in the last four races as Ferrari began to show signs of being able to contend with Red Bull. Hamilton knows that expectations of him are sky high. This step is huge, it couldnt be any bigger, he said. You dont want to let people down, you want to be able to deliver on your word. So how I decided to come into this year, my resolution, my mentality is that I need to elevate in absolutely every area on my side. Its not just this who I am and just got to gel in, Ive got to elevate in every single thing: my fitness, my time management, how I engage with my engineers, how much time I spend in the factory, all these different things. And Ive definitely done that and Im doing that. And Ill continue to do that in this strive for perfection and to achieve the success that Im aiming to achieve. Hamiltons last championship was in 2020 and he was enroute to a record-breaking eighth title in the 2021 season finale until a controversial finish gave the title to Max Verstappen, who has since gone on to win four straight titles with Red Bull. If Hamilton does win that elusive eighth championship this season, he will become the third-oldest F1 champion. If I was fortunate enough to win another title, which is obviously what were setting out to do, I dont see myself stopping, Hamilton said.
Alcaraz drops set to Italian qualifier Nardi in Doha
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz withstood a charge from qualifier Luca Nardi for a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 victory in the second round of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha on Wednesday.
Champions Cup: Messi takes Inter Miami past Sporting KC
Lionel Messi's 56th minute goal earned Inter Miami a 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City on a bitterly cold night in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup's first round on Wednesday.
F1: Lewis Hamilton Confident Of Ferrari Glory, Says 'Know What A Winning Team Looks And Feels Like'
Lewis Hamilton took the new SF-25 car through its paces at Ferrari's own track in Fiorano Modenese.
'Mbappe can reach Cristiano Ronaldo's level'
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti heaped praise on his striker Kylian Mbappe after he scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Manchester City on Wednesday that took the Champions League holders into the last 16.
EPL: Liverpool held by Villa but go eight points clear
Premier League leaders Liverpool needed Trent Alexander-Arnold's second-half equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on Wednesday that lifted them eight points clear at the top.
PIX: Mbappe 'trick' sinks Man City; Real Madrid through
A summary of Wednesday's action in the UEFA Champions League Knock-out phase play-offs.
PIX: Mbappe 'trick' sinks Man City; Real Madrid thru
A summary of Wednesday's action in the UEFA Champions League Knock-out phase play-offs.
Its probably illegal now! Rory McIlroy makes stunning reveal about his favourite ever driver
Rory McIlroy has been one of the faces of TaylorMade since 2017 but which of their drivers does he 'still stare at' in his garage? The post Its probably illegal now! Rory McIlroy makes stunning reveal about his favourite ever driver appeared first on Golf365 .
Focussing on grassroots to further Olympic glory: PCI chief Jhajharia
CHENNAI: The sun was beating down on the blue track relentlessly. If not for occasional spurts of cool breeze across the JN Stadium in Chennai, the temperature would have reached summer heights. Some of the para-athletes were warming up outside while a bunch of them were competing at the National para-athletics meet here on Wednesday. They were oblivious about their afflictions and were lost in their own world of sport. For some this acts as a balm while for others it's an outlet of their emotions. There were a bunch of Paris Paralympic medallists like Navdeep Singh, Hokato Sema lighting up the show. On the sidelines of the event was a sprinkling of guests. Devendra Jhajharia, president of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), was one among them. Since he took over from Deepa Malik last year, the Indian para-athletes have been performing well, reaching their zenith during the Paris Paralympics last year. India came back with a record medal haul of 29 medals seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze. This was better than Tokyo where they managed 19. If the Rio Paralympics was considered a watershed moment, then Paris was a culmination of years of toil and hardwork, ably supported by the sports ministry. If the Olympics was not up to the mark, then Paralympics at least led to some success. Incidentally, it was Rio where Jhajharia clinched his second javelin gold and went on to become one of the most decorated Paralympians when he won silver in Tokyo. Jhajharia too is aware of what they had achieved in Paris. The Rio Olympics was a big moment but when one considers the historic Paris medal haul, it was a moment for the world because the entire world never believed that we would win 29 medals. If Rio was the moment for India, Paris was the moment for the world, he said, adding, this was possible because of the government support. If earlier, paralympians were struggling for money, things have changed considerably. The introduction of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme gave them some sort of financial security as well. Around 80 per cent of our para-athletes come from the rural areas. They are not from an economically sound background. The TOPS is a scheme that is helping the athletes not just with their training needs but the stipend of `50,000 is also helping them to take care of the family, he said, adding, Now the para-athletes can choose where they want to train whether in India or abroad. The PCI chief also feels that taking care of the grassroots is critical and right now their focus is to facilitate training for the youngsters. It is not easy because parents usually are not confident to leave their children alone with coaches even when they are 14-15 years of age. We have to take training to the grassroots because sometimes parents are not confident to leave their children alone, he said. There are programmes to address this as well. We are providing facilities there so that by 2028, 2032, 2036 and beyond we will be able to win more medals for the country. We have to concentrate on 15-16 year old players so that they give us results in the next 10-15 years. But we have to work now. Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) President Devendra Jhajharia at the JN Stadium in Chennai Motivating parents is not easy but Jhajharia felt that if results come then it gets easier. We tell the parents that results are coming and the player will do well and eventually will get a job or can earn some money. We have to tell them they can play for India. Parents usually agree after that, he said. One issue most para-athletes face is that stadiums are not built for them. In some there are issues ranging from accessibility to lack of PWD-friendly toilets. The PCI chief acknowledged that this is an issue and they had been discussing with various stakeholders but in the last five years or so there have been some changes. In the last five years things have changed and there is an effort to make every ground para-friendly (both indoor and outdoor), he said. All stakeholders need to know what kind of facilities para-athletes require in a stadium and we have to work more on this especially in state and local level grounds. If we manage this, then para-players in small places can go and train at any ground. The challenges in PCI are many because there are different classifications for athletes. Sometimes there are complaints and we need to resolve them; categories are also important but we have to make the environment conducive for athletes, he said. For now India would be looking to host some world class events in the next few months. Results (winners only): Men: Shot put: F53: Sumit (Har) 6.89m; F55: Muthuraja Karaiyalan (TN) 10.67m; javelin throw: F53: Sumit (Har) 17.15m. Shot put: F57: Soman Rana (Bhr) 14.42m; long jump: T37: Ramsungi Thakor (Guj) 5.15m. Women: 400m: T13: Geeta Mahto (Del) 1:11.89s; T37: Harshita Tater (Kar) 1:36.09; T20: Deepthi Jeevangji (TS) 57.85s. Discus: F37: Priyanka (Raj) 20.63m; F40: Akutai Sitaram Ulbhagat (Mah) 15.63; F57: Suman Bala (Har) 19.76m. Shot put: F40: Akutai Sitaram Ulbhagat (Mah) 5.85m.
Women's Hockey: Spain sink India with late goal
The Indian women's hockey team lost 0-1 to Spain in the return leg match of the FIH Pro League.
ISL: Wasteful Mumbai City held in Hyderabad
Aiming at the top left corner, Mumbai City FC goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa produced a timely save to keep scores level.
Signs of improvement for India women despite mixed results
BHUBANESWAR: A year ago, the Indian women's hockey side wasn't in a very good place. They had just failed to qualify for the Olympics, three years after agonisingly missing out on an Olympic medal. Their coach, Janneke Schopman, in a very revealing mixed zone interaction to two scribes, had poured her heart over the challenges of working in India. Rani Rampal, one of the finest players this country has seen, was left out in the wilderness. Savita Punia, a goalkeeper of some repute, was thinking about retirement. Suffice to say the team needed a pick me up. A year after Schopman's resignation, team have taken several toddler steps towards addressing their long-term goal of qualifying for the 2028 Olympics. Harendra Singh, who had earlier coached the side in 2018, came back. Savita was encouraged to stay back. A women's Hockey India League, a first-of-its-kind league in the country, was created. A new captain (Salima Tete) was appointed. The side went on a week-long, first ever training-um-bonding camo at the Indian Naval Academy at Kannur last July. This transformative camp, a Hockey India press release had noted at the time, conducted in the disciplined environment of the INA, aimed to enhance the team's skills and foster a spirit of unity and resilience. One of the focuses of the camp was to instil in players a sense of mental toughness, discipline and leadership. Months into Singh's new job, there was the buy-in all coaches crave for when they walk into a new gig. A shiny title as they beat China at home to win the women's Asian Champions Trophy in November. In terms of roster changes, there hasn't been churn. The players who featured at the Pro League one year ago are, by and large, part of Harendra's plans. There's a new energy in the contingent as they work towards the goal of qualifying for next year's World Cup as well as the Olympics in 2028. The drag-flickers have also had the chance to work with bio-mechanics experts... you get the drift, they are putting in place the foundations ahead of a big 2026. It's been a mixed bag at the Kalinga Stadium over the last five days. A win and a draw against England followed by two tight losses to Spain, with the second coming under the lights on Wednesday. In four matches they have played in this season's edition so far, the work-rate and off-the-ball movements have been evident. That there is some sense of cohesion in the team structure is visible... These are the sort of things coaches tend to look at in a competition like the Pro League, especially at the start of a new Olympic cycle. They did have opportunities either side of Spain's solitary goal but the finish let them down on multiple occasions. I'm really pleased with the fitness the players have shown, even at the end, you saw how they were fighting, coach Singh said after the match. They are right up there, fitness wise. They can match the levels of all the teams. But we still need to work on a few of the things. We have to improve our decision-making process, we have closed the gap (to the top sides) but we need to start scoring goals. Men's team enjoy good evening With Harmanpreet Singh and Hardik Singh restored to the starting line-up after missing Tuesday's match with niggles, the Men In Blue were good value for their 1-0 win over Germany in Wednesday's evening match. Gurjant Singh scored a field goal in the first quarter. With the hosts retaining structure and defensive discipline, the visitors found it hard to fashion shooting chances from open play. However, they did have a string of penalty corners at the end but failed to convert from any of them. Wednesday's results: Men: Spain 4-1 England, India 1-0 Germany; Women: India 0-1 Spain
Setting sails, seeing success: Story of sailor Shreya
CHENNAI: Just as Shreya Krishna Lakshminarayanan was returning from Langkawi, along with her Indian sailing teammates, midway through the air, the cabin crew made an announcement. They congratulated the entire team for their success at the Langkawi International Regatta and read out the names of every sailor, including that of Shreya with the entire flight full of passengers applauding. The teenager, however, missed it completely as she was fast asleep in her seat. Oh that was super nice, laughs Shreya. Honestly I kind of missed that because I was fast asleep on the flight because I was jet lagged but thankfully everyone took a video so I could hear it and listen to it once I was awake. The fact that our own country looks at us and actually identifies our achievements, it was very touching, she adds. Shreya came first among the girls and fourth overall at the event earlier this week. In fact, it was her ninth international podium since October 2023. It has been that kind of a year for Shreya. She started her 2024 with a girls silver at Sail India in Mumbai before winning gold in Malaysia. Even during the summer holidays she went to Europe to train with the much-revered coach Simone Ricci. The conditions were super tough, it was super challenging. He just taught me new techniques of the way the Europeans sail and that's the way I gained more experience, she recalls. The learnings came in handy when she returned to India. Multiple podium finishes followed in Hyderabad before Shreya won overall and girls gold at the Junior Nationals in Mysore. She went on to win girls gold Mussanah Racing Week, Mussanah, Oman, Australia Junior Nationals and silver in Qatar International Optimist Regatta before the Langkawi event. In what has been a whirlwind of a year, what has helped Shreya thrive is the support system she has. Whether it is her parents - G Lakshminarayanan and Sharon Krishna - or coaches Simone or Chitresh Tatha, they have all played a part. There were times I would get frustrated. I'd tell my coach I don't want to do this anymore. I would just have a mental break because not only do I have to do sailing, I have to study, I have to make sure my nutrition is up to date and my fitness is also going great at the same time right and sometimes your mental health also has to be fantastic where you can continue, Shreya explains. I was like I started professional sailing too late so it was pretty hard for me to get in on my goals that I wanted in a very very short time but Chitresh really changed my entire mindset and way of thinking. I started thinking of more positives and things that are really possible rather than things that I cannot get a hand of, she adds. For Chitresh, who does kite surfing himself and is training for the Olympics, it started as a part-time training with Shreya mid 2024. Shreya had lots of information and knowledge in her head. But she was not able to transfer it into practical performance on water. She needed some more time on water and somebody to guide her to make the theoretical part into practical experience. So that was something that we worked on the most, Chitresh says. Meanwhile, Suheim Sheikh, Telangana Sailing Association, who too has played a part in Shreya's journey, feels that the teenager is highly coachable. She is very, very smart, and highly determined and motivated. Without determination and motivation self, that would never, this kind of performance would never happen. The other thing is the amazing parental support. The father has found out who the best coaches in the world are, taken her to various countries, and consulted the father himself as a good mentor. He makes sure that she gets the finest South Indian food and knows exactly what she requires. All that matters a lot, says Sheik. Ashok Thakkar, vice-president of Tamil Nadu Sailing Association, who saw Shreya at a summer camp years ago is thrilled to see her journey so far. Any small improvement she showed was appreciated by her parents and that motivated her more. When you start winning your confidence goes up, once you get it right, winning becomes easy. I think Shreya trained her mind to work for the entire race period, said Thakkar. As Shreya is coming up the ranks, several of her travels to the events are still self-funded with Sheik, among others, playing their part. For now, Shreya is taking small steps forward with her focus on the Worlds in Slovenia. I want to do really well in the Worlds in Slovenia and the Asian Championship in Oman and then to try and hopefully try and get an invite to the IOC Regatta, she signs off.
India avenge loss to stun world champs Germany!
But India were resolute in defence to thwart Germany's offensive forays.
How Sam Ward retrained his brain to become England & GB's record goalscorer
BHUBANESWAR: When Sam Ward doubled England's advantage in the third quarter against Spain in their Pro League encounter on Tuesday, one of his best mates, Ashley Jackson, grabbed his phone to send his younger compatriot a 'well done' message. That strike from the penalty corner was Ward's 138th for England or Great Britain according to the FIH website, overhauling Jackson who had 137 to his name. It has been some international journey for Ward, who had scored his first international goal at the same Kalinga Stadium in 2014. Over the last decade, Ward, now 34, has overcome a lot of hurdles, including fighting past 'one of the worst sports injuries in recent times'. During an Olympic qualifier in 2019, Ward caught a stray ball. It resulted in permanent loss of vision in his left eye as it tore his retina (he wears a custom-made white mask when he's playing). After England's encounter against Spain on Wednesday, Ward, leading the scoring charts in this season of the Pro League so far (nine, one ahead of Belgium's Tom Boon), got intimate with the kind of training he has had to do compensate for the 'more than 70% loss of vision in my left eye'. There's nothing I could do to get back my vision, he says. He had two choices. Either wear my big boy pants or give up but I have never been the sort of person to give up. It's what it is. I worked hard. Depth perception is massive with two eyes. You have got to kind of retrain your brain and the eye that works well to kind of retrain that depth perception. I tracked a lot of hockey balls and caught a lot of tennis balls... it helped me get back. It was 'repetitive' spending training sessions tracking something white, round and travelling at pace but he knew he didn't have a choice but to do this for a long time if he hoped to get back to doing what he loved. Playing hockey. It was the only way to retrain my brain. Now, he's one of the side's elder statesmen but his work ethic has meant he's one of the first names on the team sheet.
Perfect Blend and Cosette impress
Ranquelino, Desert Kingdom, Redefined, Inspire and Everyone Godfather catch the eye
Charlie Brown and Axlrod excel
Red carpet, fashion and music: F1 launches 75th anniversary season in Hollywood style
LONDON: Formula 1 kick-started its 75th anniversary season with music, glitz and glamor Tuesday as the race series aims to reach beyond a sports audience with a two-hour televised arena show. Lewis Hamilton arrived wearing a tie in Ferrari red for his biggest event yet since joining the Italian team, before the seven-time champion emerged to rousing cheers in a full race suit to present the team's livery alongside teammate Charles Leclerc. Asked to pick a word to describe his mood ahead of the new season, Hamilton picked invigorated, because I feel so full of life and so much energy, because everything's new. Just focused on what's up ahead. I'm so proud to be part of the team, something new and exciting for me. The F1 75 Live event at London's O2 arena was the first time the sport hosted its own large-scale launch event, rather than leaving it to the individual teams. Drivers arrived on the red carpet for a show unlike any other event in F1 history which ended with all 20 drivers on a stage transformed into a grid, standing alongside cars in each team's 2025 livery. Lavish team presentations included a James Bond parody for Aston Martin, a line of drummers with glowing sticks, cars sliding down the stage on motorized platforms, a parade of title-winning McLarens, and a comedy skit that played on Racing Bulls' sponsor-heavy full name. The live crowd of F1 fans brought some unpredictability, with some boos for a mention of the governing body, the FIA, which has been in dispute with drivers over how it enforces punishments for swearing, and for Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. There were also musical acts like country singer Kane Brown, who introduced Haas, British band Take That. American rapper and singer MGK, also known as Machine Gun Kelly, gave the show a high-energy, guitar-heavy intro. Teams presented their 2025 liveries, but didn't have to show off the actual cars they'll race this season. Teams are still allowed to hold their own launch events to present their 2025 cars, as McLaren and Williams did last week and Ferrari is expected to do Wednesday. It comes at a time when F1 is keen to expand beyond a sports audience, with races in cities like Miami and Las Vegas, a movie called F1 starring Brad Pitt releasing in June, and the ongoing popularity of the Drive To Survive series on Netflix. To have this many fans out shows that we bring the sport together away from the racetrack. There's a lot of excitement, McLaren chief executive Zak Brown said Tuesday. The Brad Pitt movie will no doubt create a huge amount of awareness for the sport. Netflix, I'm sure, knowing what happened last year, will be a drama-filled television show again, which has been great for all of us. So I think the sport's going from strength to strength. Drivers broadly welcomed the new launch show, though two-time champion Fernando Alonso warned it could be a little bit of distraction at a time when drivers and teams are fine-tuning their approach to the season. Asked if he thought the launch would become a regular event, Horner said: I'm sure if they think they can make some money out of it, we'll be doing this most years. F1's preparations for the new seasonwhich marks the series' 75th anniversarycontinue with preseason testing next week at the Bahrain International Circuit. The first race is the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16. Verstappen says Red Bull resilience key to bid for fifth straight F1 title
Spectator banned for 'fixated behaviour' on Raducanu
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) said it has banned a man who exhibited fixated behaviour towards Emma Raducanu after he was taken away by security personnel during the Briton's match at the Dubai Championship late on Tuesday.
Max Verstappen aims to win a fifth consecutive Formula One title in 2025, equaling Michael Schumacher's record.
Watch: Ferrari Reveals New Car Ahead Of 2025 Season With Fresh Livery
Ferrari has unveiled its new car for the upcoming F1 season alongside their two drivers - Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc - during the F1 75 Live launch event in London.
PIX: Hamilton steps out in red at 10-team F1 launch
Seven-times World champion Lewis Hamilton appeared in Ferrari red for the first time outside of Italy as Formula One put on an unprecedented and spectacular 10-team season launch in front of 15,000 fans on Tuesday.
Djokovic stunned by Berrettini in Qatar Open opener
Novak Djokovic was stunned 7-6(4), 6-2 by Matteo Berrettini in the Qatar Open first round on Tuesday as the Italian enjoyed his first win over the former world number one.
'Launch Night': Ferrari Build Up To SF-25 Unveil Ahead Of F175LIVE Launch Event
F1 side Ferrari took to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to share a picture with both their drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in a single frame ahead of the 2025 season launch event where they are set to unveil their new car.
F1: Drivers to face massive penalties for...
Hyundai's French rally driver Adrien Fourmaux was handed a 10,000 euro fine, with another 20,000 suspended, in Sweden on Sunday, however, for swearing in a live post-race broadcast interview.
Tim Coronel Pips Lando Norris To Dethrone Max Verstappen in 2025 F1 Season
Coronel was asked if any driver could dethrone Verstappen in 2025 and he immediately named Norris, who finished as the runner-up of the 2024 Formula One World Drivers Championship with McLaren.
Pro League: Germany hammer sorry India
Germany, however, regained their lead in the blink of an eye as the ball again got the better of Pathak after it came off Prinz's stick.
Sensational Ludvig berg wins Genesis Invitational the all-new 2025 Pro V1x ball proves crucial
Ludvig berg has been raving about the new 2025 Pro V1x, the golf ball that helped him score a thrilling win at the Genesis Invitational. The post Sensational Ludvig berg wins Genesis Invitational the all-new 2025 Pro V1x ball proves crucial appeared first on Golf365 .
FIH Pro League: India women go down to Spain
There was a bit of drama in the end and both teams had lost their reviews.
The big bridge event: Playing their cards right with big picture in mind
CHENNAI: A deck of cards is neatly arranged at the centre of a red velvety table. A rectangular score box is placed beside the cards. Four participants occupy the table. As the 15-minute timer starts, cards are shuffled, moves are made, and players focus on their opponent's game, indulging in mind calculations. Every player makes prudent bids, trying to outwit their opponent while being on the same page with their partner. The gentle rustle of cards fills the atrium of Express Avenue Mall here and the score box starts to fill with numbers as the game progresses. This intense concentration and strategic thinking atmosphere unfolded during the maiden national-level ranking EA Bridge event. Conducted from February 9 to 16, the tournament was organised and sponsored by EA Bridge under the aegis of the Bridge Federation of India, in association with the Tamil Nadu Bridge Association. This initiative aims to elevate bridge on a national and global scale, fostering awareness and promoting this mind sport. Bridge and chess are the only two mind games that the Olympics recognises. Bridge is a game where you and your partner are cooperating, collaborating to try and defeat the opponent. And it takes about thirty hours of an introductory course to learn the game, said Sunil Verghese, vice president of Tamil Nadu Bridge Association (TNBA). While the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Ministry of Sports recognise bridge as a sport, the states also are accorded due recognition for the game in the early 2000s. Now the TNBA has acquired a 1,000 sq ft accommodation for the sport in the Nehru Indoor Stadium to conduct coaching sessions, seminars, and workshops. When governments step in and support the game, it will no longer be just a game for the elite. Once the government puts in money, people will start playing the sport and get benefited, added Sunil. Talking about the advantages of the game, the treasurer of Bridge Federation of India (BFI), Sathish Kumar said, It is a game of management involving communication, memory and critical thinking in individuals. Scientifically, it provokes the dorsolateral cortex in the brain and postpones Alzheimer's and Dementia. Moreover, bridge has also been a means of employment for individuals. Vidya Patel and Kalpana Gujral, who hail from Raibidpura village in Madhya Pradesh, are employees of the Income Tax department under sports quota. The duo was in the city and won the EA Bridge National Women Championship, which was held on February 10. To come out of my village was possible because of bridge. Since 2017, Kalpana and I, as a team, have represented India at various national and international competitions, revealed Vidya. Vidya also stressed on the importance of partnership. Partnership is important in the game not only because the game requires a partner, but also because it creates a bond. Kalpana and I have travelled to eight countries and we have become more than just game partners now. Kalpana being my partner also improves women's participation in the game. That is what we are representing here at the tournament and spreading the message Kavita ma'am dreams of. Kavita Singhania, managing director of Express Infrastructure Pvt Ltd and Express Avenue Mall, is the brain behind EA Bridge. She is keen to support, encourage, and create opportunities for women in open bridge games. She holds games for women every month and also sessions to teach them the game, said Kalpana. In the Vijya Jajoo Memorial National Mixed Championship, which was held on February 11 and 12, Sandeep N Karmarkar and Marianne Karmarkar finished atop standings. Arvind Vaidya and Shubham Acharya claimed the top prize in the Tolani Open National Master Pairs category, which was held on February 15 and 16. Sarla Fibers, meanwhile, claimed the Tolani Open National Masters. NR Kribakar Moorthy, World Bridge Federation Committee member, Sridhar A, TNBA president, Prasad Keni, president of Bridge Federation of India, distributed the awards. They also participated in various competitions.
African Gold, Touch Of Grey, Casteel, Once You Go Black, Sekhmet and Ziva catch the eye
Jaspal Rana will continue as my coach, says Manu Bhaker
Jaspal Rana had a very bitter and public fallout with Manu before the Tokyo Olympics but they reconciled before last year's Paris Games
Jan Zeleznys tweaks will take me to 90m mark soon: Neeraj Chopra
Neeraj Chopra has been trying hard to hit the 90m mark. His personal best stands at 89.94m which was achieved in 2022.
'Why am I misunderstood every time I raise my voice?'
The Indian Olympic Association's athletes commission chairperson and boxing legend M C Mary Kom on Tuesday denied reports that she has resigned from her position.
I have not resigned, will complete tenure: Mary Kom on reports of quitting IOA panel
New Delhi, Feb 28: The Indian Olympic Associations athletes commission chairperson and boxing legend M C Mary Kom on Tuesday denied reports that she has resigned from her position, insisting that she has been misunderstood and will complete her tenure in the panel. The 42-year-old Manipuri, who is also a 2012 Olympics bronze-winner, had travelled to Haldwani for the National Games closing ceremony last week where she expressed her displeasure over being lodged at an inferior hotel. Speaking to PTI, [] The post I have not resigned, will complete tenure: Mary Kom on reports of quitting IOA panel appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Alcaraz overpowers Cilic; on course for Djokovic clash
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz overcame Croatia's Marin Cilic to reach the round of 16 at the Qatar Open.
Chandrachud, Pilot At Manu's Birthday
Manu Bhaker, who turned 22 on Tuesday, cut a cake to celebrate her birthday during the BBC Indian Sports Woman of the Year 2024 Awards.
LaLiga PIX: Barcelona edge Rayo; jump to top
Striker Robert Lewandowski scored a first-half penalty to give Barcelona a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Rayo Vallecano.
Pariksha Pe Charcha: No success without failure, embrace hard work, say Mary Kom, Lekhara, Suhas
The three athletes gave advice on overcoming failure, staying focused, and embracing challenges during the special session conducted annually since 2018 for students preparing for board examinations
Circle Of Dreams and Zacharias catches the eye
