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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.

India to Defend Women's Asian Champions Trophy Title in BiharTwo-time champions India will embark on their title defense in the Women's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament, scheduled to commence on November 11 in Bihar. The tournament will witness the participation of six teams, including hosts India, China, three-time winners Korea, two-time champions Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand.The tournament, to be held in Rajgir, will conclude on November 20, as per the official schedule announced by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF). India emerged victorious in the 2016 edition in Singapore and reclaimed the title in Ranchi last year.India's opening match will be against Malaysia on November 11, followed by a clash with Korea on November 12. They will then face Thailand (November 14), China (November 16), and Japan (November 17).The top four teams after the round-robin format will advance to the semifinals on November 19, with the summit clash scheduled for November 20.AHF president Dato Fumio Ogura expressed his confidence in the Rajgir Hockey Stadium, stating, "The Rajgir Hockey Stadium stands as a symbol of the region's commitment to fostering world-class sports, and we are confident that it will provide an exceptional experience for players and fans."Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey highlighted the significance of the event for Bihar, saying, "The newly constructed Rajgir Hockey Stadium will serve as the perfect stage for this prestigious tournament, and we are excited to see India defend their title against some of the best teams in Asia."The tournament promises to showcase high-level hockey action, with India aiming to retain their title and other teams eager to challenge their dominance.

India is set to host the prestigious World Pickleball Championship (WPC) Series for the first time, marking a significant milestone for the sport in the country. The event, scheduled to take place in Mumbai from November 12th to 17th, 2024, will bring together the world's top pickleball players following the successful legs of the championship in Vietnam and Bali, where Indian teams secured multiple medals.Powered by the World Pickleball League (WPBL), the WPC Series in India is expected to attract approximately 650 players from around the globe, including countries like Australia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Poland, and Singapore. The championship will feature competitions in various categories, showcasing the diverse talents of international teams and drawing attention from pickleball enthusiasts worldwide.Arvind Prabhoo, President of the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA), expressed his pride in hosting the WPC Series in India. He emphasized the opportunity to promote the growth of pickleball at all levels and inspire people to embrace the sport both competitively and recreationally. AIPA, along with its stakeholders, is committed to ensuring the success of the championship in India.Jan Papi, Founder of Pickleball Global and WPC Series, shared his enthusiasm for the event. He recognized India's potential for pickleball and expressed eagerness to collaborate with AIPA to elevate the sport's profile both domestically and internationally. Papi anticipates the energy and passion that India will bring to the championship.Pickleball, a blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has gained immense popularity globally, and India has witnessed a growing number of enthusiasts. The WPC Series promises to be a turning point for the development of the sport in the country and beyond.AIPA, as the governing body of pickleball in India, aims to popularize the sport and ensure its grassroots development. The association has initiated programs to identify talented players and provide them with comprehensive training under the guidance of experts. AIPA is also working towards gaining recognition from the Government and the Sports Authority of India.The WPC Series in India is expected to generate significant interest and excitement among pickleball enthusiasts and the general public. The event will provide a platform for Indian players to showcase their skills and compete against the world's best, while also promoting the sport and inspiring future generations of pickleball players.

Indian pistol shooter Divanshi has once again proven her dominance in the women's 25m standard pistol event, securing her second individual gold medal at the ISSF Junior World Championship in Lima, Peru. This remarkable achievement was accompanied by a clean sweep of the event, with teammates Parisha Gupta and Manvi Jain claiming silver and bronze, respectively.Divanshi's victory was a testament to her exceptional precision and focus, as she outshot her rivals with a score of 564 out of 600. Gupta, with a score of 559, and Jain, with 557, also showcased their impressive skills, marking India's first-ever clean sweep in this competition.In the corresponding junior men's event, Suraj Sharma emerged victorious with a score of 571, narrowly defeating Poland's Ivan Rakistski, who shot 568 for silver. Mukesh Nelavalli, who has already accumulated four gold medals in the championship, settled for bronze after a countback, despite shooting the same score as Rakistski.Other notable performances from the Indian contingent included Harsimar Singh Rattha, Raajwardan Singh Patil, and Pradhyumn Singh, who finished seventh, eighth, and ninth, respectively, in the junior men's event.In the junior women's 50m rifle prone event, Melvina Joel Gladson was the highest-ranked Indian finisher, placing 14th with a score of 617.5. Prachi Gaikwad, Khushi, Aadhya Agrawal, and Anoushka Thokur also competed, finishing in the top 35.In the team competition, Melvina, Prachi, and Anoushka's combined score of 1846.1 secured a sixth-place finish for India in the prone event.India's young shooters have been in impressive form throughout the championship, amassing a total of 21 medals, including 13 gold, two silver, and six bronze. This tally places India firmly at the top of the standings, with Norway and China trailing behind.

India's dominance at the ongoing ISSF Junior World Championship continued as the trio of Mukesh Nelavalli, Raajwardan Patil, and Harsimar Singh Rattha clinched the gold medal in the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol team competition. This triumph marked India's 11th gold medal at the championship, further solidifying their position at the top of the medal tally.Mukesh Nelavalli, who had already secured an individual gold in the 25m pistol event, added another gold to his tally with this team victory. India's medal count now stands at 16, including one silver and four bronze medals. China trails in second place with three gold and one silver medal.In the individual finals, both Mukesh and Raajwardan advanced to the next round. However, Raajwardan finished fourth with 17 hits in the first six series, while Mukesh exited earlier, finishing fifth with 10 hits out of 25 targets.In the junior men's 50m rifle prone event, Parikshit Singh Brar emerged as the top Indian finisher, scoring 623.0 over 60 shots. Shivendra Bahadur Singh placed 14th with 618.4, while Vedant Nitin Waghmare came in 24th with a score of 613.2.India's impressive performance at the ISSF Junior World Championship is a testament to the country's growing strength in shooting sports. The young shooters have showcased their talent and determination, bringing glory to India on the international stage.

India to Host Inaugural Kho Kho World Cup in 2023The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) has announced that the first edition of the Kho Kho World Cup will be held in India next year. The tournament will feature 16 men's and women's teams from 24 countries across six continents.Kho Kho, a traditional Indian sport, has gained significant popularity globally in recent years. It is now played in 54 countries worldwide. The KKFI aims to further promote the sport and secure its recognition as an Olympic discipline by 2032."Kho Kho has its roots in India, and this World Cup will showcase the sport's rich cultural heritage and competitive spirit," said KKFI president Sudhanshu Mittal. "Our ultimate goal is to see Kho Kho recognized as an Olympic sport, and this World Cup is a crucial step towards that dream."The tournament will provide a platform for the world's best Kho Kho players to compete and showcase their skills. It is expected to attract a large audience and generate significant interest in the sport.The KKFI is working closely with the International Kho Kho Federation (IKKF) to ensure the success of the World Cup. The tournament will be held in accordance with international standards and will feature state-of-the-art facilities.The announcement of the Kho Kho World Cup has been met with enthusiasm by the Indian sporting community. It is seen as a major milestone in the development of the sport and a testament to India's growing stature in the global sporting arena.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed India's historic triumph at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where both the men's and women's teams clinched their maiden gold medals.India's men's team, comprising D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanandhaa, defeated Slovenia in the final round, while the women's team, led by R Vaishali, D Harika, and Tania Sachdev, triumphed over Azerbaijan.Gukesh, the star of the tournament, won 10 out of 11 rounds in the Open category, playing a pivotal role in India's victory. Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa also secured decisive wins in the final round.The women's team secured their gold by defeating Azerbaijan. Vaishali, Harika, and Sachdev displayed exceptional skills and determination throughout the tournament.In a video shared on social media, Modi interacted with the chess champions, who presented him with a chessboard. Praggnanandhaa and Erigaisi played a quick game of chess, leaving Modi spellbound.The Indian men's team finished with an impressive 21 out of 22 possible points, conceding only one draw against Uzbekistan. The women's team also performed remarkably, securing 18.5 points out of 22.India's historic achievement at the Chess Olympiad is a testament to the growing popularity and talent in the sport. The gold medals are a source of pride for the nation and will inspire future generations of chess players.

The Indian men's hockey team, fresh off their historic bronze medal performance at the Tokyo Olympics, will face off against hockey powerhouse Germany in a two-match bilateral series at the iconic Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on October 23 and 24.The last time these two hockey giants clashed was in the semi-finals of the Paris Olympics, where Germany emerged victorious with a narrow 3-2 margin. India, however, went on to secure the bronze medal by defeating Spain in the third-place play-offs.Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey expressed his excitement for the upcoming series, stating, "This bilateral series against Germany will be a remarkable showcase of world-class hockey. Both India and Germany have a rich history in the sport, and this series will give fans an opportunity to witness an intense competition between two of the most formidable teams in the world.""We are honored to host this event, which will not only promote the spirit of hockey but also strengthen the bond between the two nations," added Tirkey, a former India captain.Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh echoed Tirkey's sentiments, saying, "The India-Germany hockey rivalry has always been a thrilling contest. Our players are eager to compete against such a good side, and I believe this series will offer both teams a chance to fine-tune their skills and strategies ahead of future international tournaments.""We are proud to be part of this Indo-German collaboration, which brings together not just business and diplomacy but also the love of sport," Singh added.German Hockey Federation President Henning Fastrich expressed the national team's anticipation for the challenge. "India has always been a special place for hockey, and our team is excited to play in front of passionate Indian hockey fans. This series will be a fantastic opportunity to strengthen the sporting ties between Germany and India while offering both teams a competitive platform to prepare for upcoming global events.""We look forward to the challenge and the experience of playing at the historic Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium," Fastrich concluded.The India-Germany bilateral series promises to be an exciting spectacle for hockey enthusiasts, showcasing the skills and strategies of two of the world's top hockey nations.

India's dominance in the Asian Champions Trophy continued as they clinched their fifth title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over hosts China in the final. The defending champions showcased their resilience and determination throughout the tournament, winning all their matches.The match started with India as the favorites, having defeated China 3-0 in the opening league game. However, the final proved to be a close affair. China defended resolutely and troubled India with quick counterattacks.Despite India's dominance in possession, they struggled to break through the Chinese defense in the first three quarters. Raj Kumar Pal and Nilakanta Sharma had early chances, but Chinese goalkeeper Wang Weihao denied them.The deadlock was finally broken in the 51st minute by defender Jugraj Singh. India captain Harmanpreet Singh made a brilliant run into the Chinese circle and passed the ball to Jugraj, who slotted it past the goalkeeper.China fought back with renewed vigor, earning penalty corners in the 38th and 40th minutes. However, India goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak stood firm.With four minutes remaining, China withdrew their goalkeeper for an extra field player. But India held on to their lead, defending in numbers and securing their fifth Asian Champions Trophy title.India's victory was a testament to their team spirit and tactical discipline. They controlled the game for long periods and never panicked under pressure. China, despite being in only their second international tournament final, showed great resilience and determination.