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Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, the Arjuna awardee and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Uttar Pradesh, is eagerly preparing for his second Olympic Games appearance in Paris this year. The 30-year-old forward for the India men's national field hockey team is determined to make a mark on the world stage once again.Upadhyay's journey to the Olympics has been filled with challenges and triumphs. Hailing from Varanasi, he faced financial constraints that often hindered his pursuit of hockey. However, his passion for the sport and unwavering determination propelled him forward.In 2020, Upadhyay played a pivotal role in India's historic bronze medal victory at the Tokyo Olympics. The achievement brought immense pride and recognition to the team and motivated them to strive for even greater success in Paris.Upadhyay's contributions to Indian hockey extend beyond the Olympics. He was instrumental in securing gold at the 2022 Asian Games in China and medals at the Commonwealth Games and the Men's FIH Hockey World Cup.As the team prepares for the Paris Games, Upadhyay emphasizes the importance of sustaining their efforts and bringing home a gold medal for India. He believes that hockey, being the national game, holds a special place in the hearts of Indians, and the team is committed to delivering their best.Upadhyay's personal life has also seen a significant milestone this year, as he tied the knot with hockey player Diksha Tiwari in April. The couple shares a passion for the sport and supports each other's aspirations.Before heading to Paris, the Indian team will participate in practice matches in Holland. Upadhyay recognizes the significance of this opportunity, as it will provide them with valuable experience and help them fine-tune their strategies.Upadhyay's journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds. He encourages parents to support their children's sporting endeavors and urges the youth to embrace sports with passion and determination.

Breaking: A Dance of Originality and ImprovisationBreaking, an electrifying dance form rooted in the Bronx and hip-hop culture, is set to make its Olympic debut this year. In Bengaluru, a Red Bull-hosted Cypher offered a glimpse into the captivating world of this unique sport.Arif Chaudhury, known as B-Boy Flying Machine, is one of India's top breakers. He credits his latest move to a vivid dream. "I dreamt I was in a tunnel and suddenly there was a wall in front of me. I told myself 'Damn, I need to break this'. I punched the wall and got out. Based on that visual, I created a move."Breaking is a fusion of hip-hop, acrobatics, and flow art. Inspiration can come from anywhere, even cartoon characters. "When you dance, you're often playing a character," says Arif. "In breaking, there's so much room to imagine, create, and just make something look magical."In competitions, breakers battle one-on-one in a circle. The music is controlled by a DJ, and breakers must improvise their moves to the beat. Judges evaluate their musicality, execution, technique, and originality."How much you're in sync with the music with your freestyle, how clean your execution is, how sound your technique is, and how original you are, is what is looked at by judges," explains Arif. "Most of us have signature moves that we use in each round."Improvisation is crucial. Breakers must be able to adapt to sudden changes in tempo and outmaneuver their opponents. "There's some amount of showmanship and undermining your opponent involved," says Arif.At the Bengaluru Cypher, Arif emerged victorious in the 16-man field, while B-Girl Glib (Simran Ranga) won the women's category. They will represent India at the Red Bull BC One World Finals in Rio de Janeiro.Despite the absence of Indian breakers at the Paris Olympics, Arif remains optimistic. "It's tough and depressing, but we're going to take some time to get there," he says. "It's great that breaking will be on a huge stage like the Olympics. It will hopefully bring more attention, awareness, and sponsors."Arif is working to establish an academy in Bhopal to promote breaking at the grassroots level. "We're trying to create a curriculum and take it to other states too," he says. "In India, the breaking scene is still very underground. Maybe when more people see it on TV, they'll want to dive in."

The ninth meet of the 2024 Diamond League, held at the Stade Louis II in Fontvieille, Monaco, served as a thrilling prelude to the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. With several Paris 2024-bound athletes competing in 14 Diamond disciplines, the event showcased some of the world's top track and field stars.The highlight of the meet was the men's 400-meter hurdles event, which featured a clash of the titans. World record holder Karsten Warholm (Norway), 2022 Diamond League champion Alison dos Santos (Brazil), and 2023 Diamond League champion Rai Benjamin (United States) battled it out in an eight-man field. The three athletes have clocked the 15 fastest times in the discipline's history and met for the first time since the 2023 Diamond League final, where Benjamin emerged victorious.Other notable performances included Tokyo 2020 men's 1500-meter gold medalist Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway), who competed in the 800-meter event. Tokyo 2020 men's 110-meter hurdles gold medalist Hansle Parchment (Jamaica) also took part in the 110-meter hurdles. In the women's events, 2019 Diamond League women's 100-meter winner Dina Asher-Smith (Great Britain) competed in the 200-meter race.The Diamond League 2024 featured a wide range of disciplines, including high jump, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, javelin throw, pole vault, triple jump, 100m, 400m, 2000m, and 5000m.The event was a testament to the high level of competition and excitement that fans can expect at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. With just a few days to go before the mega event, the Diamond League provided a glimpse of the thrilling performances that are in store.

Manu Bhaker, a rising star in women's pistol shooting, is making waves in the sport. Born in Jhajjar, Haryana, Bhaker's passion for sports began early, with her participating in tennis, skating, boxing, and thang ta. However, it was at the age of 14 that she discovered her true calling in shooting.Within a week of trying the sport, Bhaker asked her father to purchase her a sports shooting pistol. Her determination and talent quickly became evident, and in 2017, she made headlines by defeating Olympian Heena Sidhu at the national shooting championships. Bhaker's record-breaking score of 242.3 in the 10m Air Pistol final set the stage for her meteoric rise.Bhaker's international debut came in 2018 at the Asian Games, where she set a game's record score of 593 in the qualification round of the 25m Air pistol event. Despite her impressive performance, she narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing 6th in the final.Undeterred, Bhaker went on to secure the top position in the women's 10m air pistol event at the 2018 Youth Olympics. At the age of 16, she became the first Indian shooter and the first female athlete from India to win a gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games.Bhaker's success continued in 2021, when she qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. She finished 12th in the women's 10m air pistol event, but her performance showcased her potential and determination.Now, Bhaker is setting her sights on the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she will compete in the women's 25m pistol event. Coached by pistol shooter Jaspal Rana, Bhaker is confident in her abilities and is working hard to achieve her Olympic dream.

The modern Olympic Games, a revival of the ancient Greek tradition, were born on April 6, 1896, in Athens. Baron Pierre de Coubertin's vision of international sporting competition came to fruition with the first Games in 1896, featuring 13 participating countries.The upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games, scheduled for July 26 to August 11, and the Paralympic Games, from August 28 to September 8, promise an unforgettable experience.Venues:Paris will host the majority of events, including fencing and taekwondo at the Grand Palais, beach volleyball and blind football at the Stade Eiffel, and swimming, triathlon, and cycling at the Pont Alexandre III. Historic stadiums like Parc des Princes, Stade de France, and Stade Roland Garros will also host events.Outside Paris, football matches will be played in Bordeaux, Nantes, Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Nice, and Marseille. Handball matches will take place at the Pierre de Mauroy stadium in Lille, while sailing events will be held at the Marina of Marseille. The exceptional Teahupo'o wave in Tahiti will host the surfing competition.Tickets:Tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games are available for purchase at paris24tickets.com and through the 'Paris 2024 Tickets' app. Resale of tickets is only permitted through the official Paris 2024 resale platform.Transportation:During the Games, several metro stations and roads will be closed. The blue and red perimeters will be accessible to pedestrians, cyclists, and skateboard and scooter users. Vélib' self-service bicycles will remain available, and cargo bikes may access the red perimeter after inspection.Accommodation:Book your accommodation early to secure a place near the Games. Airbnb, the worldwide partner of Paris 2024, offers options in the heart of the action. ALL, the Premium Partner, provides access to world-renowned hotel brands at guaranteed best prices.Free Events:Experience the excitement of the triathlon, marathon, and road cycling events for free. The triathlon events will take place in central Paris, while the marathon and marathon swimming events will cover routes between Paris and Versailles.Fan Zones:Paris City Hall will set up 25 fan zones where Olympic events will be broadcast on giant screens. These zones will also feature activities, refreshments, and awareness-raising spaces. Champions Park at Trocadéro will be open daily for fans to celebrate medal winners.Opening and Closing Ceremonies:The opening ceremony will take place on July 26, with the national delegations traveling along the Seine River in small boats. The closing ceremony will be held on August 11.New Disciplines:Paris 2024 will introduce four new sports: breaking (breakdancing), sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing. Breaking will feature one-on-one battles between 16 participants, with judges awarding artistic scores.

Kenya's Faith Kipyegon has solidified her status as a formidable contender for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris by shattering her own world record in the women's 1500m at the Paris Diamond League meet.On Sunday, Kipyegon, guided by two pacemakers, surged to the front and crossed the finish line in an astonishing 3min 49.04sec at Stade Charlety. This remarkable performance eclipsed her previous world record of 3min 49.11sec, set in Florence in June 2023, by a narrow margin of 0.07sec.Kipyegon, now 30 years old, will return to Paris for the Summer Games as one of the top favorites. Her impressive track record includes two Olympic 1500m gold medals and three world titles. In addition to her dominance in the 1500m, Kipyegon also showcased her versatility by claiming the 5,000m title at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.Kipyegon's world record-breaking performance serves as a testament to her exceptional talent and unwavering determination. It sends a clear message to her rivals that she is in peak form and ready to defend her Olympic crown in Paris.

Jyothi Yarraji, India's first female Olympic qualifier in the 100m hurdles, has embarked on an extraordinary journey under the guidance of British coach James Hillier. Hillier, impressed by Jyothi's raw speed, recognized her potential and has since honed her technique, explosive power, and agility.Jyothi's unwavering determination has led to a remarkable 11 national record-breaking performances. Her speed and precision have enabled her to overcome the challenges of 10 hurdles over 100m. Despite a hip flexor injury that sidelined her for a month, Jyothi's resilience and Hillier's positive outlook have fueled her recovery.Hillier believes that Jyothi's near-miss in Finland, where she clocked 12.78secs, just 0.01secs shy of the Olympic qualification mark, has instilled confidence in her abilities. "She knows now that she can do it again at that pace," Hillier said.Jyothi's first Olympic appearance will be a testament to her hard work and dedication. Hillier's realistic goal is for her to achieve a personal best, while an ambitious target is to qualify for the final. Jyothi's performance at the World Championships and Asian Games has demonstrated her potential, and with continued training and recovery, she is poised to make a mark on the Olympic stage.

Indian athletes Avinash Sable and Kishore Jena are set to participate in the Paris leg of the Diamond League on Sunday, aiming to refine their preparations for the upcoming Paris Olympics.Sable, a renowned 3000m steeplechaser, has had a modest season thus far, competing in only two events. However, he is determined to rectify past errors and deliver a strong performance at the Olympics. He will face stiff competition from Kenyan Abraham Kibiwot, the reigning World Championships bronze medalist.Jena, a javelin thrower, has also endured a challenging season, but he is eager to improve upon his recent performances. He will compete against a formidable field that includes Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Jakub Vadlejch and reigning Commonwealth Games medalist Arshad Nadeem.Despite their recent struggles, both Sable and Jena are confident in their abilities and are eager to acclimatize to the conditions in Paris, the host city of the Olympics. Athletics competitions at the Games commence on August 1st.Sable, who has a personal best of 8:11.20 in the 3000m steeplechase, is determined to make amends for his past disappointments. He believes that a different approach will lead to a memorable performance at the Olympics.Jena, with a personal best of 87.54m in the javelin throw, is also optimistic about his chances. He has been managing a minor ankle injury but is confident that it will not hinder his performance.The Paris Diamond League will provide Sable and Jena with a valuable opportunity to test their skills against world-class competition and gain valuable experience ahead of the Olympics.

India's Olympic journey has been a rollercoaster ride, marked by both triumphs and setbacks. Since gaining independence in 1947, India has participated in every edition of the Summer Olympics, showcasing its prowess in various sports.Early Dominance in Hockey:India's golden era in hockey began in 1928, when the team won its first Olympic gold medal. They went on to dominate the sport, winning six consecutive golds from 1928 to 1960. The team's success was largely attributed to legendary players like Dhyan Chand and Kishan Lal.Challenges and Setbacks:However, India's dominance in hockey faced challenges in the 1960s. In 1960, Pakistan defeated India for the first time in Olympic history, ending their golden run. The 1976 Montreal Olympics marked a turning point, as India failed to win a medal in hockey for the first time since 1928.Individual Successes:Despite the setbacks in hockey, India has produced several individual medalists in other sports. Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav won the first individual medal for independent India in wrestling at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Milkha Singh narrowly missed out on a bronze in the 400m at the 1960 Rome Olympics.Women's Hockey and Other Sports:Women's hockey made its Olympic debut in 1980, and India's women's team has since made significant progress. They finished fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, their best performance to date. India has also seen success in other sports, including weightlifting (Karnam Malleswari), shooting (Abhinav Bindra), and wrestling (Sushil Kumar).Recent Successes:The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was a historic one for India, as the country won a record seven medals. Neeraj Chopra became India's first Olympic gold medalist in athletics since 1900, while the men's hockey team won bronze, their first medal in the sport since 1980. PV Sindhu became a double Olympic medalist in badminton, and Lovlina Borgohain won bronze in boxing.Conclusion:India's Olympic journey has been a testament to the country's sporting prowess and resilience. From the golden era of hockey to the recent successes in various sports, India has consistently showcased its ability to compete at the highest level. As the country prepares for the 2024 Paris Olympics, it will be hoping to continue its Olympic legacy and bring home more medals.