Others

Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is set to make his competitive return at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, on Tuesday, June 14. The 26-year-old Indian superstar will be up against a stellar field, including German sensation Max Dehning, who is the youngest member of the coveted 90m club.Chopra, who is aiming to enter the 90m club himself, will also face competition from local favorite Oliver Helander, who defeated him in the 2022 edition of the Paavo Nurmi Games. Two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago will also be in the fray.Chopra was forced to withdraw from last month's Ostrava Golden Spike as a precautionary measure due to a niggle in his adductor muscles. He began his season at the Doha Diamond League in May, where he finished second with a throw of 88.36m.Despite the setback, Chopra remains confident in his preparations for the Paris Olympics in 2024. He has opted out of the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Panchkula to avoid a hectic schedule ahead of the Games."Further competition schedule will be decided later according to situation and my body. Otherwise, I will go to Paris from there (after competing in Turku)," Chopra said after the Federation Cup.Chopra's return to competitive action at the Paavo Nurmi Games will be a crucial test of his fitness and form as he builds up to the Paris Olympics. The Indian star will be hoping to continue his impressive run of success and cement his status as one of the world's best javelin throwers.

Indian distance runner Gulveer Singh has etched his name in the history books by shattering the men's 5,000m national record at the Portland Track Festival High Performance Meet. The 26-year-old clocked an impressive 13:18.92 in the Paul Banta Memorial race, eclipsing the previous mark of 13:19.30 set by Avinash Sable in 2022.Singh, who hails from western Uttar Pradesh, now holds the national record in both the 10,000m and 5,000m events. He had previously won the 10,000m bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year with a time of 28:17.21 seconds.In the Portland race, American distance runner Dylan Jacobs, a three-time NCAA champion, emerged victorious with a time of 13:18.18. India's Kartik Kumar finished 17th with a timing of 13:41.07, while Sable, who has a season's best of 13:20.37, unfortunately did not complete the race.In the men's 5,000m high performance event, Abhishek Pal set a personal best of 13:41.57 to secure third place.The Portland Track Festival is a prestigious track meet in the United States, attracting Olympic champions, world record holders, and countless Olympians over the years. Singh's record-breaking performance at this event is a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication.

As the scorching heatwave grips India, athletes across the country are facing extreme conditions that hinder their training and performance. Recent incidents, such as an athlete collapsing on a burning track in Delhi and javelin throwers struggling in the stifling heat of Bhubaneswar, highlight the challenges posed by the rising temperatures.With the national capital breaching the 50°C barrier and northern and central India experiencing a punishing heatwave, outdoor training has become an ordeal for athletes. Distance running coach Amrish Kumar suggests that athletes train at high altitude to build lung capacity and endurance while avoiding the heat.However, not all athletes can afford to relocate or change their training schedules. To cope with the extreme conditions, some coaches have adjusted their session timings to beat the heat. Gaurav Tyagi, who coaches steeplechaser Parul Chaudhary, has shifted his morning sessions to 4:30 am and evening sessions to 5:30 pm.Another solution is to build indoor facilities that protect athletes from the sun and heat. India currently has one such facility in Bhubaneswar, which can accommodate 120 residential trainees and host various track and field events. Experts believe that India needs more such stadiums to provide athletes with year-round training opportunities.Triple jumper Poorva Sawant suggests having one indoor facility in each metro city as a starting point. This would address the challenges of training in Delhi, where extreme weather conditions and pollution make it difficult for athletes to perform at their best.Para high jumper Sharad Kumar emphasizes the need for basic facilities at stadiums, such as water coolers, clean grounds, and covered areas for rest. Javelin coach Vipin Kasana laments the lack of such facilities at the JLN Stadium in Delhi.In coastal cities, athletes face the additional challenge of humidity, which can be equally debilitating. Indoor facilities would provide a much-needed respite from both heat and humidity.As India aims to host the Summer Olympics in 2036, it is crucial to invest in infrastructure that supports the development of world-class athletes. Indoor facilities would allow athletes to train consistently throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions.

The Delhi Summer Athletic meet at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium concluded on Sunday with a significant number of athletes withdrawing from participation due to the presence of National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) officials.On Friday, the first day of the meet, several athletes either "Did Not Start" or "Did Not Finish" in various events, particularly in throwing events. NADA officials had arrived to collect samples, prompting many athletes to stay away.On Sunday, the exodus continued as more athletes pulled out across events. The women's steeplechase, women's hammer throw, and men's pole vault could not be conducted due to a lack of participants. In the men's hammer, only one athlete competed, while the lone participant in the women's hammer did not report.The men's triple jump saw no medallists as two jumpers withdrew and three registered 'no mark'. In discus, only half of the eight entrants took part. In men's 800m, six out of 19 participants did not start.The most significant withdrawals occurred in the men's 5,000m and boys U-18 1,000m. In 5,000m, only six of the 20 athletes competed, while the 1,000m race saw 14 DNS and three DNF in a field of 25. In women's 5,000m, five of the nine athletes pulled out.The Delhi Athletics Association (DAA), the organizers of the meet, stated that the results may be updated after receiving reports from NADA and the age verification committee. The result of the U18 shot put bronze medallist who evaded the testers has been withheld, and the boys' discus result has also been "withheld" due to complaints of overage.The meet was intended to select the Delhi team for the National Youth Athletics Championships in Chhattisgarh from June 15. The DAA had obtained undertakings from all participants with the names of their coaches, following the Athletics Federation of India's (AFI) announcement that coaches would also be punished if an athlete is suspended for doping.India has recorded the highest number of doping offenders in the world in 2022, according to a recent World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) report. India tested 3,865 samples that year, and 125 returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF). India is also the second worst country in doping cases among minors, as per a 10-year study conducted by WADA, behind Russia.

Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra's participation in the Ostrava Golden Spike 2024 athletics meet in the Czech Republic on May 28 has been canceled due to a muscle injury sustained in training two weeks ago. The organizers confirmed the news, stating that Chopra will attend the event as a guest.Chopra, the reigning Olympic and world champion, began his 2024 season with a silver medal at the Doha Diamond League on May 10, throwing an impressive 88.36 meters. He then returned to domestic competition after almost three years, winning gold in the Federation Cup on May 15 with a throw of 82.27m.Chopra's injury is a setback in his preparations for the Paris Olympic Games, where he aims to defend his gold medal. The organizers expressed their disappointment but noted that they had received a message from Chopra informing them of his withdrawal.European champion Julian Weber from Germany will replace Chopra in the competition. Weber threw 88.37 meters on Friday, the third-best performance of the year. The organizers believe this will provide a significant challenge for Jakub Vadlejch before the European Championships in Rome.Chopra's absence from the Ostrava Golden Spike is a reminder of the challenges athletes face in maintaining peak performance. Despite this setback, he remains one of India's brightest medal hopes for the Paris Olympics.

India's mixed 4x400 relay team made history at the inaugural Asian Relay Championships, setting a new national record of 3 minutes 14.12 seconds to claim the gold medal. The quartet of Muhammed Ajmal, Jyothika Sri Dandi, Amoj Jacob, and Subha Venkatesan dominated the race, leading in all four legs. Sri Lanka and Vietnam finished second and third, respectively.While the victory was a significant achievement, the team narrowly missed their target of qualifying for the Paris Olympics. Only sixteen teams will compete in the mixed 4x400m relay event in Paris, and India currently sits in 21st place in the Road to Paris list of World Athletics.To qualify, India needed to finish in the top 16 by June 30th. Fourteen teams have already secured their spots through the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas, leaving only two spots available based on best timings. Czech Republic and Italy currently occupy the 15th and 16th positions, with India trailing behind.Despite the setback, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) remains optimistic. They may consider sending the mixed 4x400m relay team to international competitions before the June 30th deadline to improve their ranking.India will also compete in the men's and women's 4x400m relay races on Day 2 of the Asian Relay Championships. In the Bahamas, the Indian mixed 4x400m relay team failed to make the Paris cut in the heat race of first-round qualifiers. However, both the men's and women's 4x400m relay teams later qualified for Paris during the second-round qualification heat race.

Doping Crackdown: AFI Punishes Coaches of Sanctioned AthletesIn a bid to curb the rising cases of doping in Indian athletics, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has implemented a stringent policy that holds coaches accountable for the actions of their athletes.Under the new policy, athletes will be required to disclose the names of their coaches, who must also register with the AFI. If an athlete is caught and punished for doping, the coach will face similar sanctions from the federation.AFI President Adille Sumariwalla emphasized the severity of the doping issue and the need for decisive action. He stated that the federation will recommend government departments to take action against coaches involved in doping."We will ban the coach and inform the Army, Navy, Air Force, and SAI. We will not let such coaches enter the stadium or accompany any team," Sumariwalla said.The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code provides for sanctions against individuals who assist or cover up doping violations. The AFI's policy aligns with this code, recognizing the role of coaches in preventing and combating doping.However, some coaches have expressed concerns about the policy. Amrish Kumar, who trains India's top steeplechaser Avinash Sable, believes that coaches should only be punished if it can be proven that they assisted in doping."You cannot just suspend a coach because the athlete has been caught and punished for doping," Kumar said. "The athletes are smart today and have nutritionists, physios, and so many people around them."Despite these concerns, Delhi's chief coach Dinesh Rawat supports the policy. He believes that firm steps are necessary to curb doping and that coaches have a responsibility to monitor their athletes' performance.In addition to the coaching crackdown, the AFI is also decentralizing training camps and introducing a new kitting partner, PUMA. The federation aims to create a more robust and transparent system to support Indian athletes and combat the scourge of doping.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has forged a multi-year partnership with sports apparel giant Puma, marking a significant milestone for Indian athletics. This collaboration will provide approximately 400 Indian athletes with cutting-edge apparel, footwear, and accessories for both domestic and international competitions.As the official kit sponsor, Puma's gear will be adorned by India's top athletes, including Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra, long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, and steeplechaser Parul Chaudhary. Chopra, who has been training for over a decade, emphasized the importance of high-quality gear for optimal performance. He expressed his belief that this partnership will empower Indian athletes at all levels with world-class training equipment.This partnership marks a groundbreaking moment for Indian athletics, as it grants athletes access to world-class speed suits that Puma supplies to athletes globally. These suits are meticulously designed to enhance freedom of movement, aerodynamics, and speed, allowing athletes to focus solely on their performance and maximize efficiency.Karthik Balagopalan, Managing Director of Puma India, expressed the company's commitment to supporting athletes and helping them reach their full potential. He stated that Puma is thrilled to partner with the AFI and assist Indian athletes in achieving excellence in various sporting disciplines worldwide.AFI President Adille Sumariwalla hailed the partnership as a significant milestone for Indian athletes. He emphasized that Puma's high-quality gear will not only enhance performance but also foster a culture of excellence within the country's sporting community. Sumariwalla expressed confidence that this collaboration will propel Indian athletics to new heights on the global stage.

Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra has set his sights firmly on the Paris Olympic Games, scheduled to commence on July 26 in France. Competing in his first domestic competition since his historic gold medal triumph at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Chopra showcased his dominance by securing the gold medal with a throw of 82.27m."Winning an Olympic gold medal is far more glorious than breaking the 90m barrier," Chopra asserted. "I will undoubtedly break that barrier, but my primary focus right now is to make a significant impact at the Paris Games."Chopra acknowledged that he had anticipated a strong challenge from Manu DP, but DP's rhythm faltered, preventing him from surpassing the 85m mark. Manu DP of Karnataka finished second, while Uttam Patil of Maharashtra claimed third place with a throw of 78.39m.Asian Games medalist Kishore Kumar Jena finished fifth with a throw of 75.49m, while Shivpal Singh, another prominent thrower, was eliminated in the preliminary round. Only the top eight athletes advanced to the medal round.Chopra commenced his 2024 season with a second-place finish (88.36m) at the Doha Diamond League. Following his domestic competition in Bhubaneswar, he plans to compete in Europe as part of his preparations for the Paris Olympic Games.He has meticulously planned his Olympic preparations, including competitions in Ostrava (Czech Republic) on May 28 and Turku (Finland) in June. After these events, he will evaluate his fitness and make further decisions. "I will assess how my body and mind respond to these high-quality competitions and then make a call," he explained.Chopra's personal best and national record of 89.94m was set in 2022. The champion thrower expressed his confidence in breaking the 90m barrier on a good day. "I prefer to prioritize winning over distance," he emphasized.As the "golden boy" of Indian track and field, Chopra was thrilled to witness the enthusiasm of young fans at Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium. "I'm excited to see so many supporters at the stadium," he remarked.