Others

The Women's Indian Open 2024, scheduled for October 24-27 at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram, promises an exciting showdown between the world's top female golfers and a formidable Indian contingent.Leading the charge is Chiara Tamburlini, the current Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit leader. The Swiss golfer has made a remarkable impact in her rookie year, claiming two victories and guiding her team to victory at the Aramco Team Series Shenzhen.Tamburlini will face stiff competition from a field that includes nine players who finished in the Top 10 of the 2023 edition. Among them are former champions Christine Wolf (2019), Camille Chevalier (2017), and Caroline Hedwall (2011).The international field will also feature Trichat Cheenglab of Thailand, the 2023 LET Order of Merit winner, and Lee Anne Pace of South Africa, the 2010 LET top spot holder.India's hopes will rest on Diksha Dagar, who secured third place last year, and Gaurika Bishnoi, who finished eighth. Amateur Avani Prashanth, who tied for fifth place in 2023, will make her professional debut at the event.Other notable players in the field include Alice Hewson (VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open winner), Amy Taylor (Ladies Italian Open victor), Perrine Delacour (Dormy Open Helsingborg champion), Manon De Roey (Investec SA Women's Open champion), and Shannon Tan (Magical Kenya Ladies Open champion).Caroline Hedwall, a seven-time LET winner, is one of the most prominent returnees. The Swedish golfer won the event in her rookie year in 2011 and has since finished runner-up three times.The Women's Indian Open, established in 2007, has become a prestigious event on the LET calendar. The 2024 edition promises to be another thrilling chapter in the tournament's history, with a strong field and a passionate Indian crowd cheering on their homegrown stars.

The Asian Tour is poised to make a grand return to India in 2025, bringing one of its prestigious International Series (IS) events to the country. This exciting development was hinted at during the International Series England at Foxhills Golf Club, where Asian Tour officials expressed their enthusiasm for a return to the Indian market.Rahul Singh, Head of International Series, confirmed that advanced talks are underway with a golf course and a sponsor. He emphasized that the Tour is committed to bringing an IS tournament to India next year, but stressed the importance of securing all necessary contracts before making an official announcement.India remains a crucial market for the Asian Tour, with a significant number of Indian professionals holding Tour memberships. However, the formation of an association between the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and the DP World Tour has reduced the number of Asian Tour events in India.Despite these challenges, the Asian Tour is determined to return to India in a sustainable and commercially viable manner. Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner of the Asian Tour, stated that the Tour is not interested in funding tournaments on its own. Instead, it seeks partnerships with local sponsors and venues to ensure the long-term success of IS events in India.The proposed LIV Golf schedule for 2025 will also play a role in the Asian Tour's plans. The Tour has strategically scheduled IS events close to LIV tournaments and in nearby countries to attract top players from the Saudi Arabia-backed league.Singh acknowledged the importance of LIV Golf to the Asian Tour's strategy. He emphasized that the partnership provides playing opportunities for LIV members and contributes to the growth of the IS.The remaining six IS events will form an exciting conclusion to the Asian Tour season, culminating in the $5 million PIF Saudi International. This tournament will crown both the International Series Ranking winner and the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.

Aditi Ashok's Olympic journey in Paris ended with a respectable tied-29th finish, a far cry from her impressive fourth-place performance in Tokyo three years ago. However, the 26-year-old Indian golfer showcased her resilience on the final day, firing seven birdies to card a 4-under 68 at the challenging Le Golf National course.Despite her strong finish, Aditi's overall score of 2-over 290 fell short of the 15-under she achieved in Tokyo. Her compatriot, Diksha Dagar, also struggled, finishing with a total of 13-over 301 after a disappointing 78 in the final round.New Zealand's Lydia Ko emerged as the undisputed champion, claiming the gold medal with a steady performance under pressure. Ko, who has an impressive 20 LPGA wins to her name, produced a 71 in the final round to finish two shots ahead of Germany's Esther Henseleit and three shots ahead of China's Xiyu Lin, who won the silver and bronze medals, respectively.Ko's victory marked a historic milestone, making her the first golfer in the modern era to win three Olympic medals. The gold also secured her entry into the LPGA's prestigious Hall of Fame.Reflecting on her performance, Aditi acknowledged that her final day was her best, with both her approach shots and putting working effectively. She attributed her seven birdies to these factors and the improved weather conditions.Despite her overall disappointment, Aditi expressed optimism about her future Olympic prospects. She aims to return in 2028 for the Los Angeles Games and challenge for a medal.

The Olympic Games hold a special allure for athletes, even those who have achieved immense success in their respective sports. From the tears of joy shed by Scottie Scheffler and Novak Djokovic to the stirring comeback of the French football team, the Tokyo Olympics showcased the enduring power of the Games.For some, the Olympics represent the pinnacle of their careers. Badminton star Viktor Axelsen, a two-time defending champion, declared that the Olympics are the "grandest stage of them all." Similarly, for Noah Lyles, Neeraj Chopra, Simone Biles, and countless others, the Games provide an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their talents and compete against the world's best.However, for athletes in certain sports, the Olympics may not hold the same level of significance. Men's football, golf, tennis, and basketball players often earn substantial salaries at their clubs and may prioritize those commitments over the Olympics.Despite this, many top athletes in these sports have chosen to participate in the Olympics, recognizing the unique experience and honor it represents. For example, Sergio Camello celebrated Spain's football victory by taking off his shirt, while Fermin Lopez described the summer as "unbeatable."In golf, Scottie Scheffler's tears of joy after winning the gold medal demonstrated the emotional significance of the Olympics, despite his substantial earnings on the PGA Tour. Rory McIlroy, who has won millions of dollars in prize money, explained that the Olympics has the potential to rival the Ryder Cup as one of the most prestigious events in the sport.In tennis, Novak Djokovic's victory at Roland Garros was particularly meaningful as it marked his first Olympic gold medal and placed him among an elite group of players who have won all four Grand Slams and the Olympics. Carlos Alcaraz, despite his disappointment in losing the final, expressed the honor he felt in representing Spain.Basketball legend Steph Curry also showed his commitment to the Olympics, scoring 36 points in the semi-final against Serbia to keep the United States' hopes of a fifth consecutive gold medal alive.The Olympics provide a unique platform for athletes to represent their countries and compete for the ultimate prize. While some may prioritize financial rewards, for many, the Olympic rings hold an unparalleled allure, symbolizing the pursuit of excellence and the spirit of sportsmanship.

France, led by the towering Victor Wembanyama, are aiming to dethrone the mighty USA in the Olympic basketball final on Saturday as track and field wraps up in Paris. The women's golf tournament comes to a close, with two-time medallist Lydia Ko and Switzerland's Morgane Metraux in pole position, while the US take on Marta's Brazil in the women's football final.The star-studded US basketball team, led by LeBron James and Stephen Curry, were made to sweat by Serbia in Thursday's semi-final before an exhilarating fourth-quarter comeback, with Curry scoring 36 points. The four-time defending champions will be favourites to beat France in a repeat of the gold medal match at the Tokyo Games in 2021.But James, going for his third Olympic gold, knows it is unlikely to get any easier against the host nation, who can boast NBA Rookie of the Year Wembanyama. "Super competitive. Obviously, this is Wemby's (Wembanyama's) first Olympics, but that team has been playing together for quite a while," he said. "They've been feeding off the crowd, so we look forward to that match-up."Eight golds are on offer on the final night of track and field action at the Stade de France, while the men's marathon winds its way through the streets of Paris. Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi shared high jump gold in one of the most memorable moments of the Tokyo Games. But this time both come into the competition with questions over their fitness.Tamberi was pictured in hospital this week having cited a high temperature and kidney pain, while Barshim appeared to injure his left calf during qualifying. Reigning world champion Tamberi, who has jumped a highest of 2.37 metres in 2024, wants his rival alongside him. "I hope he will be fine by Saturday," said the Italian. "I need him on the field. I have to be fit myself but I want him to be there in the competition."The Stade de France will also witness the men's 800m and 5,000m finals and the women's 100m hurdles and 1,500m finals, with the 4x400m relays closing the show. Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge is aiming to become the first athlete to win three back-to-back Olympic marathon titles but faces stiff competition, including from compatriot Benson Kipruto and Uganda's world champion Victor Kiplangat.The US football team won four of the first five Olympic women's titles after the competition was introduced in 1996 but have not taken gold since the London 2012 Games. The team are resurgent under new coach Emma Hayes, the English coach who won a stack of medals during her time as Chelsea boss. They have been inspired on their way to the final by the exciting attacking trio of Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman.The Brazilians will be attempting to make it third time lucky after losing to the same opponents in the Athens final in 2004 and in Beijing in 2008. Brazil great Marta, 38, appearing at her sixth and likely last Olympics, is hoping to sign off with gold to go with her two silver medals. "Marta has changed the game of soccer around the world," said US star Rodman of Marta, who has spent much of her club career in the United States. "She is such a talented soccer player but also a great human. I have always looked up to her. She has a legacy forever, but we want that gold."At Le Golf National, New Zealand's Ko is on nine under par with one round to go, level with 137th-ranked Metraux, who finished her round in dramatic fashion with an eagle at the 18th. China are chasing one more diving gold to complete a clean sweep of eight, with the men's 10m platform rounding off the competition.