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Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra made a triumphant return to Indian soil, claiming the gold medal in the men's javelin throw event at the Federation Cup in Patiala. Despite a slow start, Chopra's spear soared through the evening sky, securing him victory in his first competitive outing in India in three years.The 26-year-old superstar initially struggled to find his rhythm, trailing in second place after the first three rounds. However, in the fourth round, he unleashed a mighty throw of 82.27m, taking the lead. With DP Manu, his closest rival, having completed his final throw, Chopra opted to skip the final round, confident in his lead.Chopra's last domestic competition was at the same event in 2021, where he won gold with a throw of 87.80m. Since then, he has achieved remarkable success on the international stage, including a historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the Diamond League title in 2022, and the world championship in 2023. He also successfully defended his Asian Games gold in China.Despite his impressive achievements, Chopra is yet to surpass the 90m mark. His personal best and national record stands at 89.94m. However, his performance at the Federation Cup demonstrates his continued dominance in the sport and his unwavering determination to reach even greater heights.

In a thrilling 10-inning battle at Minute Maid Park, the Houston Astros emerged victorious over the Oakland Athletics, claiming a 2-1 victory. The game took an unexpected turn when Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco was ejected in the fourth inning following a foreign substance check.Despite the early setback, the Astros managed to take an early lead in the second inning when Alex Bregman launched a solo home run off Athletics starter JP Sears. Bregman continued his impressive performance, becoming the first player in franchise history to record an extra-base hit in five consecutive at-bats.The Athletics rallied in the eighth inning, tying the game at 1-1 on a single by Brent Rooker. However, the Astros regained the lead in the 10th inning when Victor Caratini drove in the winning run with an RBI single.Josh Hader earned the win for the Astros, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 10th inning. The veteran closer struck out pinch-hitter Esteury Ruiz and induced a groundout from Rooker to end the threat.Blanco's ejection for using a foreign substance is likely to result in a 10-game suspension. The right-hander, who threw a no-hitter in his season debut, has a 2.09 ERA this season.In other news, Oakland reinstated second baseman Zack Gelof from the injured list, while the Astros sent outfielder Chas McCormick on a rehabilitation assignment.

Indian athletes faced a disappointing day at the ongoing Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, with long jumper Jeswin Aldrin and shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor failing to meet the Paris Olympics qualification mark.Aldrin, who holds the national record of 8.42m, managed a best effort of 7.99m, falling short of the Olympic entry standard of 8.27m. Despite his below-par performance, Aldrin remains in contention for Paris by virtue of his rankings. He is currently placed 26th in the Road to Paris rankings and needs to stay within the top-32 by June 30 to secure his berth.Asian record holder Toor also had a disappointing outing, with his best throw of 20.38m falling well short of the automatic qualification mark of 21.50m for the Paris Games. Toor's personal best of 21.77m came outside the qualification window last June.With the June 30 deadline for direct entry looming, Toor will have to make the most of the remaining domestic events to improve his performance. He is scheduled to compete in the Indian GP 2 in Chennai on May 30, Indian GP 3 in Bengaluru on June 12, and National Inter State Championships in Panchkula from June 27-30.In the men's 3000m steeplechase, Madhya Pradesh's Sumit Kumar took the top spot with a time of 8:39.67m. Reigning Asian Games champion Avinash Sable is the only Indian male steeplechaser to have booked the Paris ticket by meeting the entry standard of 8:15.00.The last day of the competition will witness the return of Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra. Chopra, who won the historic gold medal in Tokyo, will compete in India for the first time since his triumph. He will be joined by Asian Games silver medallist Kishore Jena and Asian Championships silver medallist DP Manu, who will chase a direct ticket to Paris.

Abha Khatua, a renowned shot putter from Maharashtra, has shattered the national record in women's shot put with an impressive throw of 18.41m at the National Federation Cup Athletics competition in Bhubaneswar. This remarkable achievement surpasses the previous record of 18.06m set by Manpreet Kaur in 2022.Khatua's triumph marks a significant milestone in her career, as she had previously equaled the national mark at the Asian Championships in Bangkok last year. This was her third competition of the year, following throws of 16.59m at the Indian Grand Prix in Bengaluru and 17.56m at the Indian Open Throws meet.Kiran Baliyan of Uttar Pradesh secured the second position with a throw of 16.54m, while Nayana James of Kerala emerged victorious in the women's long jump with a fifth attempt of 6.53m. James's impressive performance continues her strong season, although she remains some distance from the Paris Olympics qualification standard of 6.86m.In the men's long jump qualification, Jeswin Aldrin finished fifth with a jump of 7.63m, while Aditya Kumar Singh of Madhya Pradesh topped the qualification with a jump of 7.73m. Animesh Kujur of Odisha narrowly missed the national record in the men's 200m final, clocking 20.62 seconds.The final day of competitions promises to be a highlight, with Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra set to compete in the men's javelin. Chopra, who recently finished second at the Doha Diamond League with a throw of 88.36m, will be joined by India No.2 Kishore Jena in the final.

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic and world champion javelin thrower, displayed his resilience and determination at the season-opening Doha Diamond League. Despite facing challenging conditions, Chopra overcame a slow start to secure a second-place finish with a best throw of 88.36m.Chopra's first two attempts were underwhelming, but he gradually improved his performance. In his third attempt, he launched the javelin 86.24m, moving into second place. However, Czech thrower Jakub Vadlejch had set a high bar with his 88.38m effort in the third round.Undeterred, Chopra continued to push himself. In his fifth attempt, he came close to Vadlejch's mark with a throw of 86.18m. With one final attempt remaining, Chopra summoned his reserves of strength and unleashed a mighty throw that landed just two centimeters short of Vadlejch's winning distance.Despite the narrow margin, Chopra was satisfied with his performance. He acknowledged the challenging conditions and expressed his gratitude for the support of his team. Chopra's second-place finish is a testament to his mental fortitude and his ability to perform under pressure.The Doha Diamond League marked Chopra's first competition of the 2024 season. He will now return to India for a brief visit before competing at the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar next week. Chopra's next major international competition will be the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland next month, where he is expected to face a stronger field.

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, India's golden boy in javelin throw, has acknowledged the challenges of balancing his stardom with his training and competition schedule. The 26-year-old superstar, who is also the reigning world and Asian Games champion, is set to kick off his season with the first leg of the Diamond League on Friday.Chopra, who has spent the majority of the past few months training abroad in South Africa, Turkey, and Switzerland, expressed his desire to prioritize his sport over social obligations. "For me, my sport is more important," he said. "It's good for my profile if I play in India, but there are too many functions and marriage functions. I also want to join my family and friends, but more than that, I want to train in an Olympic year."Chopra's stardom has undoubtedly elevated the stature of athletics in India. "It's not like cricketers, like Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni, but a lot of people know me," he said. "I go to India sometimes, people know me, which is good for athletics. People know about athletics and follow athletics because of the Olympic gold."Despite the recognition, Chopra remains focused on his ultimate goal: breaking the elusive 90m mark. "About 90m, last year I said I will throw 90 and threw 88. This year, I don't want to say, I want to show," he said. "People have been asking me this question since 2018, when I threw 88.06 at the Asian Games. But, a lot of things happened, my elbow injury, the surgery, and now I have been stuck between 88 and 90m."Chopra is aware of the expectations that come with his status as an Olympic champion, but he tries to focus on his technique. "Obviously, it is the Olympics year and India is a big country and everyone expects gold," he said. "But, it's really hard in Olympics because the best from the world are competing with you.""My focus is to just stay healthy and concentrate on my technique. And yes, if I stay healthy everything will be good."

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is set to kick off his season at the prestigious Diamond League meet in Doha on Friday, facing a formidable field that includes former world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and Olympic and world-medallist Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic.Chopra, who is also the reigning world and Asian Games champion, will be aiming to set the tone for his Paris Games preparations in Doha. The 26-year-old Indian javelin superstar has a personal best of 89.94m, which is also the national record.Joining Chopra in the fray will be his compatriot Kishore Jena, who will be making his Diamond League debut. Jena has a personal best of 87.54m.The 10-man field also includes European champion Julian Weber of Germany, who finished fourth in the Olympic Games and World Championships.Chopra is the defending champion in Doha, having won the event in 2022 ahead of Vadlejch and Peters. He has also won three individual legs of the Diamond League and lifted the champion's trophy in 2022.After Doha, Chopra will compete at home for the first time in three years at the National Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar from May 12 to 15. He will then compete in the prestigious Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland on June 18.Chopra's goal for this season is to defend his Olympic title and to break the elusive 90m barrier. He has been training overseas at different international centers in Finland, South Africa, UK, and Turkey to prepare for the upcoming season.The Indian government has spent close to Rs four crore to assist Chopra's training, equipment, coach's salary, and out-of-pocket allowances in the current Paris Olympics cycle.Chopra attributes his preparedness to the training he has undergone overseas and the support he has received from the government. He has also emphasized the importance of staying injury-free and adjusting to a proper diet.

Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is set to make his long-awaited return to domestic competition after confirming his participation in the National Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar from May 12 to 15. The 26-year-old superstar will be competing at home for the first time in three years, having last participated in a domestic event in March 2021.Chopra's participation in the Federation Cup is a significant development as it will provide him with an opportunity to test his form and fitness ahead of the upcoming season. The Indian javelin star is expected to travel to India from Doha after opening his season in the first leg of the prestigious Diamond League series on May 10.Chopra's coach, Klaus Bartonietz, has confirmed that his ward is taking part in the Bhubaneswar event. As per the schedule released by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), the men's javelin qualifying round will be held on May 14, with the final scheduled for May 15.Chopra's return to domestic competition is eagerly anticipated by Indian athletics fans. Since his last domestic appearance in 2021, Chopra has achieved remarkable success on the international stage. He won a historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, became Diamond League champion in 2022, and claimed the world championship title in 2023. He also successfully defended his Asian Games gold medal in China.Despite his impressive achievements, Chopra is yet to cross the 90-meter mark. His personal best and national record stand at 89.94m. The Federation Cup will provide him with an opportunity to fine-tune his technique and push for the elusive 90m throw.Chopra's participation in the Federation Cup is also a boost for the event itself. The tournament will feature some of India's top athletes, including 28-year-old Kishore Jena, who won a silver medal in the Hangzhou Asian Games where Chopra won gold. Jena will also be competing in the Doha Diamond League on May 10.The Federation Cup is an important event in the Indian athletics calendar, and Chopra's presence will undoubtedly add to its prestige and excitement. Indian athletics fans will be eagerly watching to see how the Olympic and world champion performs on home soil after a long absence.

Jyothika Sri Dandi, the Indian sprinter who produced the fastest leg for India in the women's 4x400m second Olympic qualifying round at the World Relays Bahamas, overcame a knee injury and personal setbacks to achieve her Olympic dream. Despite missing the Asian Games last year due to the injury, Jyothika's determination to qualify for the Olympics fueled her recovery and return to the national camp.On Sunday, in the final qualifying event in Nassau, Jyothika and the Indian women's 400m quartet secured their spot in the Paris Olympics. The team, which includes Rupal Chaudhary, Machettira Raju Poovamma, and Subha Venkatesan, finished second in their heat with a timing of 3:29.35. Jyothika's blistering second leg propelled them from last to second place."It was do or die for us," said Jyothika. "After I lost out on the Asian Games last year, I had to qualify for this. I'm happy and relieved that we made it, and so is my father."The Indian men's 4x400m team, which broke the Asian record at the Tokyo Games and continued to excel at the Worlds and Asian Games, also secured their Olympic berth. Despite a nightmarish first attempt that ended with a runner down and none at the finish line, the team regrouped and delivered a composed performance in their second heat.Muhammad Anas, Muhammad Ajmal, Rajiv Arokia, and Amoj Jacob clocked 3:03.23 to finish behind the United States. Jacob's quality anchor leg proved crucial in securing the second spot and the direct Paris berth.Both the men's and women's teams faced challenges and strokes of luck on the day, but their determination and resilience ultimately prevailed. They will now represent India at the Paris Olympics, where they will aim to build on their recent successes and make their mark on the global stage.