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Delhi SG Pipers Acquire Olympic Medalist Lily Owsley for Women's Hockey India LeagueDelhi SG Pipers have made a significant move by signing England's star hockey midfielder Lily Owsley for the inaugural season of the Women's Hockey India League (HIL). The 29-year-old two-time Olympic medalist will replace Dutch midfielder Xan de Waard, who withdrew from the tournament due to personal reasons.Owsley is a highly decorated player with an impressive resume. She was part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the bronze medal-winning team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Additionally, she has won gold and silver medals at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022 and Glasgow 2014, respectively. Her trophy cabinet also includes two European Championship medals: gold in London 2015 and bronze in Amstelveen 2017.Delhi SG Pipers women's team coach Dave Smolenaars expressed his delight at acquiring Owsley's services. "Losing Xan de Waard is a setback, but being able to replace her with a 2-time Olympic medal winner like Lily Owsley is a big relief," Smolenaars said. "She will bring in her experience, leadership, and high-speed play to help the team reach its potential."The Women's HIL, scheduled to commence on December 28, will feature four teams: Delhi SG Pipers, Odisha Warriors, Rarh Bengal Tigers, and Soorma Hockey Club. The tournament final will be held in Ranchi on February 1, 2023.Owsley's addition to the Delhi SG Pipers squad is expected to bolster their chances of success in the inaugural edition of the Women's HIL. Her experience, skill, and leadership will be invaluable assets to the team as they aim to make a mark in the tournament.

The ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi has been marred by the absence of three top British shotgun shooters, including Olympic trap gold medalist Nathan Hales. The shooters were denied visas due to "confusion" over paperwork, leaving the prestigious event without some of its most elite competitors.The World Cup Final commenced at the Karni Singh Ranges with elite shooters from around the globe participating in training sessions on Monday. Competitions will begin on Tuesday.Former shooter Peter Wilson, Hales' personal coach during the Paris Games, expressed disappointment over the visa issue. "It's a massive shame that they're not competing," Wilson said. "There were three shooters: Hales and Matt Coward-Holley in men's trap, and Ben Llewellin in men's skeet."Wilson explained that Llewellin initially received a tourist visa but was later advised to apply for a business visa. However, his application was incorrect, and he was denied a visa. The other two shooters were also affected by the visa confusion.NRAI president Kalikesh Singh Deo acknowledged the issue, stating, "I think there was some confusion with the way they applied."The absence of the British shooters is a significant setback for the event. Hales, in particular, was expected to be a strong contender for the trap title after his triumph in Paris.Despite the visa issue, the World Cup Final will feature a star-studded field, including Olympic and world championship medalists. India's Paris Games squad will also be present, with the exception of double bronze medalist Manu Bhaker, who is taking a break.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha has expressed deep concern over the Executive Committee's (EC) failure to honor Olympic medalists and the Finance Committee's blockage of funds intended for athletes' preparation for the Paris Games.Usha lamented that despite India's historic medal haul of six, including two bronze by Manu Bhaker, the EC has not organized a formal felicitation ceremony. She emphasized the importance of celebrating athletes' achievements and expressed disappointment that the EC "does not want to celebrate their success."The IOA President also revealed that a proposal for a preparatory grant of Rs 2 lakh for each Olympic-bound athlete and Rs 1 lakh for each coach had been blocked by the Finance Committee, particularly by IOA Treasurer Sahdev Yadav. Usha believes this grant would have provided crucial support to athletes in the lead-up to the Games.Usha highlighted the contrast with previous leadership, which organized a successful felicitation ceremony for the Tokyo 2021 medalists despite the COVID-19 pandemic. She questioned the commitment of some EC members, especially former athletes, to recognizing the hard work and sacrifices of athletes.The IOA had planned to award each individual medalist between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore, with coaches receiving Rs 15 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Usha urged the EC to take immediate action and ensure that athletes receive the honors they deserve.She reaffirmed her commitment to stand by the athletes, stating, "Our athletes are the heart and soul of Indian sport. I will not rest until they are given the due respect, support, and acknowledgment they have earned."Usha's concerns come amidst allegations of "autocratic" leadership and a demand by 12 EC members to remove IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer. Usha has dismissed these accusations as "malicious and false," asserting that they aim to undermine her leadership and efforts to improve Indian sports.

Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif returned to a hero's welcome in Algeria on Monday, alongside fellow medalists Kaylia Nemour and Djamel Sedjati. Khelif, who faced a gender controversy during the Olympics, expressed her triumph as a victory for Algerian women.Khelif's journey to the women's 66kg title was marked by controversy. The International Boxing Association (IBA), led by Umar Kremlev, had previously disqualified Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting from its world championships, claiming tests showed "these are men." However, the IBA had allowed both boxers to compete in Tokyo three years ago.Addressing the "relentless campaign" against her, Khelif thanked the Algerian people for their support. "I wanted to show the strength of performance and the presence of women in general, and Algerian women in particular," she said.Khelif's victory is seen as a symbol of resilience and a testament to the strength of Algerian women. "Algerian women are an example and a model for the whole world," she declared. "Thanks to God, we have restored Algeria's honor and flown the Algerian flag in Paris, which is the most important thing."The International Olympic Committee (IOC) took over the boxing competition in Paris after losing patience with the IBA. The IBA's actions have raised concerns about the organization's commitment to fairness and equality in boxing.Khelif's triumph and the controversy surrounding it have sparked a wider discussion about gender equality in sports. Her victory serves as an inspiration to women and girls around the world, demonstrating that they can overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.

India's Olympic contingent for the Paris Games is their second-largest ever, with 117 athletes representing the nation across 16 disciplines. This includes 29 athletes in athletics and 21 in shooting, the largest contingents in those sports for India at the Olympics.Among the 117 athletes, 72 are making their Olympic debut, while veterans like Sharath Kamal (table tennis), Rohan Bopanna (tennis), PV Sindhu (badminton), and Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting) will be competing in their third or more Olympics.India's medal hopes rest on the shoulders of several athletes, including Neeraj Chopra (javelin), Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (men's doubles badminton), PV Sindhu (women's singles badminton), the Indian women's archery team, the Indian men's archery team, the Indian men's hockey team, Sift Kaur Samra (shooting), Manu Bhaker (shooting), Nikhat Zareen (boxing), and Antim Panghal (wrestling).India has won 35 Olympic medals in total, with 12 coming from team sports and 134 athletes winning individual or team medals. Only three Indians have won multiple Olympic medals: Norman Pritchard, Sushil Kumar, and PV Sindhu.The Paris Olympics will be a crucial test for India's athletes, who will be aiming to surpass their best-ever medal haul of seven from the Tokyo Games. With a strong contingent and high expectations, India will be hoping to make history in Paris.

The recent turmoil in Indian wrestling has had a significant impact on the sport's growth and development, according to Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt. The sustained protests by top grapplers, including Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat, against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh led to a halt in wrestling activities for nearly a year and a half.This disruption had a cascading effect, with national camps and competitions being postponed. It adversely affected preparations for Olympic qualification events and, in turn, preparations for the Paris Games. Dutt expressed his disappointment with the situation, stating that it has severely affected the sport's growth and negatively impacted its followers.The turmoil also resulted in fewer Indian male wrestlers qualifying for the Games. In previous Olympics, three to five male wrestlers had qualified, but for Paris, only Aman Sehrawat has secured a spot. However, Dutt praised the women wrestlers for securing five spots, which he believes is a positive development.Dutt declined to comment on Vinesh's prospects at the Games, as she has moved up to the 50kg category. He expressed hope that the women wrestlers can win one or two medals, highlighting the experience of Antim Panghal and others.Dutt also emphasized the importance of continuing the tradition of Indian wrestlers winning medals at the Olympics. He expressed confidence that the six wrestlers representing India in Paris, including five women, can maintain this legacy.

The Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, renowned for producing Olympic medalists in wrestling, has been marred by a recent incident of violence. A coach was allegedly assaulted by a wrestler in the hostel, leaving him with severe injuries. The incident has raised concerns about the deteriorating discipline and safety at the center.Despite its past glory, Chhatrasal has faced challenges in recent years. The murder of wrestler Sagar Dhankar in 2019, involving Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar, cast a shadow over the stadium's reputation. The latest attack has revived memories of that tragedy.Coaches and trainees at Chhatrasal have expressed fear and concern, with some claiming that the incident was not an isolated case. They point to issues of indiscipline, disobedience, and power struggles within the center. The lack of experienced coaches and frequent administrative changes have also contributed to the decline.Former Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt has criticized the lack of discipline at Chhatrasal, contrasting it with the strict environment he experienced during his training. He believes that the center has lost its authority and that trainees are now allowed to behave as they please.Insiders have also raised concerns about the misuse of hostel facilities by former trainees who continue to occupy rooms despite getting jobs. Senior wrestlers are also accused of influencing juniors and engaging in power politics. The lack of a proper admission process and the absence of a designated administrator have further exacerbated the situation.The Delhi government has issued a directive on discipline and accountability in response to the incident. Trainees have been asked to vacate the hostel, and only U-14, U-17, and U19 competitors, along with current internationals, are being recalled. The government is also looking to hire more coaches.Despite the challenges, Chhatrasal remains a breeding ground for talented wrestlers. The recent Paris Olympics quota winner, Aman Sehrawat, is a testament to the center's potential. However, for the wrestlers to truly thrive, the issues of discipline, safety, and administration need to be addressed.