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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.

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.