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Indian boxers Aryan, Yashwardhan Singh, Priyanshu, and Sahil have stormed into the semifinals of the Asian U-22 & Youth Boxing Championships 2024 in Astana, Kazakhstan.Aryan kicked off India's campaign with a dominant 5-0 unanimous decision victory over Uzbekistan's Juraev Shakarboy in the 51kg category. Yashwardhan (63.5kg) displayed resilience, overcoming an early setback to secure a 4-1 win against Iran's Mirahmadi Babaheidari.Priyanshu (71kg) and Sahil (80kg) made light work of their opponents, securing referee stop the contest (RSC) victories against Chinese Taipei's Wu Yu En and Turkmenistan's Yklymov Abdyrahma, respectively.However, Jatin's journey in the 57kg category came to an end with a 1-4 loss to Uzbekistan's A Nodirbek.In the youth category, Aryan (92kg), Nisha (52kg), Akansha Phalaswal (70kg), and Rudrika (75kg) will compete in their respective quarterfinal bouts later today.On Tuesday, Jugnoo (86kg), Tammana (50kg), and Preeti (54kg) secured victories to advance to the U-22 semifinals.On Thursday, eight U-22 pugilists will take the ring for their quarterfinal bouts: M Jadumani Singh (51kg), Ashish (54kg), Nikhil (57kg), Ajay Kumar (63.5kg), Ankush (71kg), and Dhruv Singh (80kg) in the men's category, while Guddi (48kg) and Poonam (57kg) will represent India in the women's section.The finals for the youth and U-22 categories will be held on May 6 and 7, respectively.

In a historic triumph, the Indian men's recurve archery team stunned reigning Olympic champions South Korea 5-1 (57-57, 57-55, 55-53) to claim the gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Shanghai. This victory marks India's first World Cup men's team gold in 14 years and significantly boosts their chances of qualifying for the Paris Olympics.The Indian trio of Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, and Pravin Jadhav displayed remarkable resilience and precision against a formidable Korean team that included Tokyo Games gold medalists Kim Je-deok and Kim Woo-jin. Despite the absence of a coach due to a rule violation, the Indians remained composed and focused on their own performance.In the first set, both teams tied 1-1 with a score of 57. However, the Indians seized the momentum in the second set, delivering four 10s (three Xs) to Korea's two 8s, winning 57-55. They maintained their dominance in the third set, scoring 55-53, as the Koreans struggled to find a 10.Dhiraj Bommadevara, who has already secured an individual Paris Games quota, expressed his delight at the team's achievement. "This result gives us a big boost in the Olympic year," he said. "This medal feels good, especially with the amount of work we've been doing in the past couple of years, keeping just this Olympics in mind."The Indian men's team's victory is a testament to their hard work and determination. With two more spots available through world rankings and three more at the final qualification tournament, they are well-positioned to secure a quota for the Paris Olympics.Meanwhile, Deepika Kumari made a triumphant return to the World Cup stage after two years, winning the women's recurve silver medal. She defeated Korean archers Jeon Hunyoung and Nam Suhyeon before falling to Lim Si-hyeon in the final.

India's women's compound archery team made a triumphant start to the Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Shanghai, China, by capturing the gold medal on Saturday. The trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Aditi Swami, and Parneet Kaur showcased their precision and dominance throughout the competition.As the top-seeded team, India faced sixth-seeded Italy in the final. The Indian archers displayed remarkable consistency, hitting the perfect 10 on 20 out of 24 arrows. They maintained a comfortable lead throughout the match, dropping only four points.In the first three ends, Jyothi, Aditi, and Parneet established a commanding 178-171 advantage over their Italian counterparts, Marcella Tonioli, Irene Franchini, and Elisa Roner. The Indians' accuracy and composure were evident as they missed the perfect score just twice in the opening 18 arrows.The fourth and final end saw India drop two points, but it was inconsequential as they secured the gold medal with an impressive 11-point margin. The final score stood at 236-226 in favor of India.This victory marks India's first gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Shanghai. It is a testament to the team's hard work, dedication, and unwavering focus. The Indian archers have set a high standard for themselves and will look to continue their success throughout the season.

Formula E's return to India remains uncertain, with CEO Jeff Dodds expressing doubts about a race in 2025. Despite the cancellation of the 2024 Hyderabad E-Prix, Dodds acknowledged India's importance as a core market for the electric car racing series.However, Dodds emphasized the challenges of finding a suitable location and securing a circuit in time for next year's season. He stated that while it's not impossible, it's unlikely that Formula E will return to India in 2025.Formula E's debut in India in 2023 was marred by construction delays and complaints from drivers. Despite these issues, the series initially planned to hold a second race in Hyderabad in 2024. However, the race was canceled due to alleged contract breaches by the Telangana government.Dodds confirmed that Formula E is in discussions with other Indian cities, including the possibility of racing on a purpose-built circuit. He highlighted the significant Indian involvement in the championship, with Mahindra as the only Indian manufacturer and Jaguar Racing having ties to Tata Motors.Despite the setbacks, Dodds expressed optimism about Formula E's future in India. He emphasized the series' commitment to exploring locations and returning to the country in the future.

German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner's plans to host the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in India have been put on hold due to a lack of local support. Buettner, who co-founded the tour with world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, had intended to visit India last week to secure sponsors and finalize a venue for the November event. However, he was met with limited interest from potential investors."The only ones interested (in India) were those who wanted me to invest a couple of hundred thousand into their hotel," Buettner told HT. "It's good as part of the plan. But if it's only that, then I'd rather host the next event again, in my resort (Weisenhaus, Germany)."Buettner emphasized that he is only willing to host events outside of Germany if there is significant financial support from local investors. "I'm not going to go to another country and spend millions of dollars just to do an on-site event there," he said. "I have invested $2 million into this already, and I'm willing to keep investing but only if it makes sense."The inaugural edition of the Freestyle Chess GOAT challenge, held in Weisenhaus in February, was a success, with Carlsen emerging victorious. The tournament featured a unique format known as chess960 (Fischer Random), where the starting position of the pieces is randomized. Carlsen has expressed a strong preference for this format and skipped the Tata Steel event in Wijk Aan Zee to participate in Weisenhaus.Buettner is now exploring alternative locations for the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, including New York and Cape Town. He is also in discussions with Netflix for a series on freestyle chess. "We are having lots of talks with people in America and Africa," he said. "If we get funding we'll go ahead with an event this year. Maybe it will take a bit more time to have it in India. It might be good for next year."Buettner stressed that the success of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour depends on securing investors who are willing to share the financial burden. "I started this together with Magnus and we said we'd do this one event and see how it goes," he said. "Wesisenhaus went extremely well and then we got all excited and said we'll do it again and it seemed like there was a lot of interest from other countries. But I kind of misunderstood it perhaps. The interest was from other parties for me spending my money over there. That's not my interest."

Esports in India: A Rapidly Growing Industry with Government SupportEsports, a competitive form of video gaming, has witnessed a meteoric rise in India, garnering recognition as a legitimate sport. In a groundbreaking move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently convened a roundtable discussion with prominent gaming personalities to discuss the industry's growth and potential.Animesh Aggarwal, founder and CEO of 8Bit Creatives and co-founder of S8UL, expressed his honor at discussing the industry's rapid ascent with the Prime Minister. He emphasized the need for support rather than regulation from the government to foster its growth.Naman Mathur (Mortal), co-founder and CMO of 8Bit Creatives, described the interaction as "surreal." He highlighted the Prime Minister's understanding of the industry's nuances and his vision for game development centered around Indian culture and environmental issues.Payal Dhare (PayalGaming) shared her insights on the prospects for female gamers in India. She noted the Prime Minister's keen listening skills and his ability to differentiate between esports and gaming content creation.Lokesh 'Goldy' Jain, co-founder of 8Bit Creatives, expressed his pride in the industry's recognition. He emphasized his alignment with the Prime Minister's vision and his commitment to working towards its realization.The discussion covered various aspects of gaming, including esports, game development, its impact on youth, and India's global presence in the industry. The gamers shared their personal journeys, challenges, and triumphs.Esports in India has evolved from a pastime to a multi-sport event, officially recognized by the government. The FICCI-EY report estimates that participation in esports tournaments surged to 1.8 million in 2023, with an expected increase to 2.5 million in 2024. Game streamers have also witnessed a significant rise in viewership, particularly in Tier-II cities.The government's support for esports is a testament to its recognition as a legitimate sport and its potential to contribute to the nation's economic and social development. With continued support and collaboration between the government and the industry, esports in India is poised for even greater growth and success.

India's hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, faced a disappointing 5-0 defeat against Australia in the fifth and final match of their bilateral test series at the Perth Hockey Stadium. Despite taking an early lead through their captain, India succumbed to a fifth consecutive loss, extending Australia's dominance over them.The Kookaburras, known for their aggressive style of play, imposed a high press on India, forcing them into errors and earning numerous penalty corners. Jeremy Hayward, Ky Willott, and Tim Brand scored for Australia, while Boby Singh Dhami netted India's only other goal.India's defense, which had been a concern throughout the series, struggled to contain Australia's relentless attacks. Former India skipper Viren Rasquinha pointed out that the team's deep defensive line allowed Australia to earn more penalty corners.Despite the disappointing result, India's goalkeepers, PR Sreejesh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak, displayed impressive form, thwarting several Aussie attacks. Drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh also delivered, scoring three goals in the series.However, India's strikers failed to exert sufficient pressure while in possession, allowing Australia to regain the ball and launch rapid counterattacks. The team's lack of experience and frequent changes in combination due to a large squad also contributed to the poor results.The 0-5 rout raises questions about India's mental resilience ahead of their crucial match against Australia at the Paris Olympics on August 2. However, former Belgium coach Shane McLeod believes that India can overcome this setback if they secure a victory over Australia at the Olympics.

The Indian men's hockey team displayed resilience in the fifth and final Test match against Australia in Perth, but ultimately fell short in a 2-3 defeat, resulting in a series whitewash.India started the match with determination, maintaining possession and earning penalty corners. Captain Harmanpreet Singh converted one of these opportunities in the fourth minute, giving India an early lead. The visitors continued to press, but Australia equalized through Jeremy Hayward in the 20th minute.In the second half, India's Abhishek missed a golden chance to extend their lead, while Australia capitalized on counterattacks. Ky Willott and Tim Brand scored in quick succession, giving the hosts a 3-1 advantage.Undeterred, India fought back in the final quarter. Boby Singh Dhami scored his first international goal in the 53rd minute, reducing the deficit to 3-2. However, despite their efforts, India could not find an equalizer, and Australia secured the victory.Despite the loss, India showed signs of improvement compared to the previous matches. They maintained possession better, created scoring opportunities, and defended with more determination. The team will look to build on these positives in future matches.

Equestrianism, the only Olympic event involving animals, has a rich history in India. In ancient times, chariot races and horse racing were integral parts of the Games. Today, horses continue to captivate audiences, and at the upcoming Paris Olympics, India will make its debut in the dressage event.Anush Agarwalla, a 24-year-old equestrian, will represent India in Paris, carrying the hopes of a nation. His journey to the Olympics has been marked by sacrifices and unwavering determination. Born into a business family with no sporting background, Agarwalla left home at 17 to train in Germany.Agarwalla's success is attributed to his strong bond with his horse, Sir Caramello. He emphasizes the importance of trust and understanding between rider and animal. "The trust level with your horse has to be immaculate," he says. "Bonding is key."Agarwalla's path to the Olympics was paved by his coach, Hubertus Schmidt, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist. Schmidt's patience and guidance have been instrumental in Agarwalla's transformation from a novice to an elite equestrian.In addition to his Olympic aspirations, Agarwalla is also an advocate for wellness. He believes that bonding with horses can have therapeutic benefits. "Horses can sense your emotions," he says. "They can help you relax and de-stress."Agarwalla's story is an inspiration to aspiring athletes and horse enthusiasts alike. It demonstrates the power of perseverance, dedication, and the unbreakable bond between humans and animals.