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The International Boxing Association (IBA) has disqualified Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting from the 2023 World Championships after a sex chromosome test ruled them ineligible to compete in women's boxing. The decision has sparked controversy and raised questions about gender eligibility in sports.The controversy erupted during the Paris Olympics qualifiers when Khelif's Italian opponent, Irma Testa, withdrew from their bout after less than a minute, citing concerns about Khelif's physical appearance. The incident ignited a debate about the fairness of allowing athletes with certain physical characteristics to compete in women's sports.The IBA, which is currently suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), conducted gender eligibility tests on Khelif and Lin. The results of the tests, which were not disclosed, led to their disqualification from the World Championships.IBA chief executive Chris Roberts stated that the results of the tests "demonstrated both boxers were ineligible." However, the IOC has criticized the IBA's handling of the situation, claiming that the tests were ordered on arbitrary grounds.IOC President Thomas Bach emphasized that Khelif and Lin "were born as women, raised as women, who have passports as women and who have competed for many years as women." He questioned the need for the tests and expressed confidence in their eligibility to compete in the Olympics.The controversy has sparked widespread debate on social media, with prominent figures such as J. K. Rowling and Elon Musk expressing their opposition to the disqualification of Khelif and Lin. Khelif's father defended his daughter, stating that she had brought honor to their family and that the attacks against her were "immoral."The IBA's decision has raised concerns about the future of gender eligibility in sports. The IOC has stated that it will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that all athletes are treated fairly and with respect.

The 2024 Paris Olympics witnessed an unprecedented setback for the United States in women's gymnastics, as neither Simone Biles nor Suni Lee managed to secure a podium finish on the balance beam. This marked the first time since the 2000 Sydney Olympics that the US failed to medal in the event.Biles, a three-time Olympian, had hoped to redeem herself on the beam after winning bronze in both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. However, she suffered a major setback when she fell during her acrobatic series, ending her streak of consecutive Olympic medals in the event.Lee, who had won bronze on the uneven bars earlier in the competition, also faced disappointment on the beam. She stumbled and fell during a flip, landing awkwardly and eventually falling off the beam. Despite completing her routine, she was visibly upset with her performance.Italy's Alice D'Amato emerged as the surprise gold medalist with a score of 14.366, marking her country's first beam gold and her first individual Olympic medal. China's Yaqin Zhou earned silver, while Italy's Manila Esposito took bronze.D'Amato's clean routine stood out among the finalists, four of whom, including Biles and Lee, fell during their performances. Lee expressed her disappointment but remained optimistic, stating, "I just need to go and do the work and put all the effort in and maybe one day you'll have it."The absence of Biles and Lee on the balance beam podium was a significant upset, highlighting the challenges and pressure faced by elite athletes at the highest level of competition. Despite their setbacks, both athletes demonstrated resilience and determination, vowing to return stronger in future competitions.

Simone Biles, the legendary gymnast, is poised to add two more Olympic gold medals to her illustrious career at the Paris Games. After claiming her third gold in the vault, Biles is now targeting victories in the balance beam and floor exercises. Her remarkable achievements come after overcoming the mental health challenges that plagued her in Tokyo.Biles's dominance in gymnastics is undeniable. She has won seven Olympic golds, making her the most decorated American gymnast in history. Her resilience and determination have inspired countless athletes and fans worldwide.Another star to watch is Armand Duplantis, the Swedish pole vault king. Duplantis has set eight world records and is aiming for another in Paris. His dominance in the event has been unparalleled for the past five years.The Paris Games also feature Sifan Hassan, the Dutch runner who is chasing a golden treble in the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon. Hassan is a formidable competitor and will face stiff competition from Kenya's Faith Kipyegon.Track cycling makes its debut at the National Velodrome, with the first gold medal up for grabs in the women's team sprint. Britain, a powerhouse in cycling, will be looking to continue its dominance despite the absence of retired stars Laura and Jason Kenny.The badminton competition concludes with the finals of the men's and women's singles. China's He Bingjiao will face South Korea's An Se-young for women's gold, while defending men's champion Viktor Alexsen of Denmark will take on Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn.In football, the semi-finals will see Morocco face Spain and France take on Egypt. The mixed relay in the triathlon will also take place, after pollution levels in the River Seine were deemed acceptable for the swimming leg.

Indian sailors Vishnu Saravanan and Nethra Kumanan faced challenges in their quest for qualification at the ongoing Paris Olympics. On day four of the men's and women's dinghy competitions, Saravanan finished 24th with 24 race points, while Kumanan placed 31st with 31 race points after eight races.Saravanan's campaign started promisingly, with a 10th-place finish in race one. However, he slipped to 34th place after race two. Despite a seventh-place finish in race seven, he dropped to 24th after race eight.Kumanan, who secured India's second Olympic quota in sailing, also faced setbacks. After a sixth-place finish in race one, she struggled in subsequent races, dropping to 28th place after race four. She managed to improve to 21st place after race seven but slipped to 31st after race eight.To qualify for the medal race, boats must finish between 1st and 10th place after race 10. With only two races remaining, Saravanan and Kumanan face an uphill battle to secure a spot in the medal race.Saravanan, who won a bronze medal at the Asian Games last year, secured India's first sailing quota for the 2024 Olympics in January. Kumanan earned her quota in April at the Last Chance Regatta in France.Despite the challenges, both sailors remain determined to give their best in the remaining races. They will be hoping to improve their positions and secure a place in the medal race, where they can compete for a podium finish.

In a thrilling quarter-final clash at the Paris Olympics, India's men's hockey team overcame adversity to defeat England 1-1 (5-4) in a penalty shootout. Despite being reduced to 10 men after a red card in the second quarter, India displayed remarkable resilience and determination to secure a semi-final berth.Harmanpreet Singh emerged as the hero for India, scoring the equalizer in regulation time and the decisive penalty in the shootout. His passionate celebration in front of England goalkeeper Ollie Payne reflected the intensity and emotion of the match.Coach Craig Fulton praised his team's unwavering spirit, saying, "When st happens, get together." India's defense, led by goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, stood firm against England's relentless attacks, saving 21 shots on goal, including 10 penalty corners.Captain Manpreet Singh, who was forced into a defensive role after the red card, acknowledged the significance of the victory. "From one man down, yes, it was the greatest win," he said.Fulton emphasized the importance of teamwork and love for one another in overcoming the challenge. "When you talk about defense, it's also about showing your love for the teammate, by covering him, by helping him," he said.The victory was a testament to India's ability to adapt and respond to adversity. Despite the setback of the red card, they remained focused and executed their defensive tactics with precision.

Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting has secured a medal at the Paris Olympics after defeating Bulgaria's Svetlana Staneva in the women's 57kg quarter-final. Lin's victory comes amidst a gender eligibility controversy that has also affected Algerian boxer Imane Khelif.Lin, 28, won by unanimous points decision, guaranteeing herself a medal as losing semi-finalists in boxing receive bronze. Her opponent, 34-year-old Staneva, expressed her frustration after the fight, making an X sign with her fingers and declining to speak to reporters. Her coach, Borislav Georgiev, held up a sign that read: "I'm XX. Save woman sport."Khelif, who competes in the women's 66kg division, is also guaranteed at least bronze after winning her quarter-final on Saturday. Both Khelif and Lin were disqualified from last year's world championships due to failing gender eligibility tests but were cleared to compete in Paris.The controversy stems from the fact that males typically have both an X and Y chromosome, while females have two X chromosomes. The International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified Khelif and Lin from the world championships, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed them to compete in Paris.IOC President Thomas Bach has defended the boxers, stating that they were born and raised as women and have passports that reflect that. The IOC has taken over the organization of boxing in Paris due to governance, financial, and ethical issues at the IBA.Lin expressed her appreciation for the support she has received from Taiwan, where she has the backing of the government and fans. "I just know that everyone is cheering for me and I know that all the people in Taiwan are behind me and support me," she said.The gender eligibility controversy has sparked debate about the fairness of allowing athletes who were assigned male at birth to compete in women's sports. The IOC has stated that it is committed to ensuring a level playing field for all athletes, but the issue is likely to continue to be a topic of discussion in the future.

Hockey India has lodged a formal complaint regarding the officiating and decision-making during the India vs Great Britain men's hockey quarter-final at the Paris Olympics. The complaint highlights several inconsistencies that potentially influenced the outcome of the match.One major issue raised is the inconsistent use of video umpire reviews. In particular, the red card decision against Indian defender Amit Rohidas has raised concerns. The video umpire deemed the incident as "intentional," but many believe a yellow card would have been sufficient. This inconsistency has eroded trust in the video review system.Another incident occurred during the penalty shoot-out. India's Sukhjeet Singh was preparing to take a penalty stroke when the British goalkeeper was seen using a tablet. The on-field umpires had to stop proceedings, further undermining confidence in the officiating process.Hockey India has called for a thorough review of these matters to ensure fair play and uphold the integrity of the sport. The complaint also highlights the coaching of a goalkeeper from behind the goalpost during the shoot-out, which is against the rules.India's star defender Amit Rohidas was given a red card in the 17th minute for hitting an opposition player with his stick. The video umpire deemed it as "intentional," which many believe was a harsh decision. Reduced to 10 men, India faced an uphill battle.Despite the adversity, India managed to escape without conceding a goal. Goalkeeper Sreejesh played a crucial role, blocking two penalty strokes. India eventually won the match 4-2 in the shoot-out.Captain Harmanpreet Singh praised his team's resilience and communication. He emphasized the importance of forgetting the red card and moving forward. India will now face Australia in the semi-finals.

Indian shooters Maheshwari Chauhan and Raiza Dhillon faced disappointment at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, failing to qualify for the final of the women's skeet competition. Chauhan finished in 14th place with a score of 118, while Dhillon placed 23rd with 113.Chauhan started the competition strongly, shooting 23, 24, and 24 in the first three series on Saturday. However, her performance dipped slightly in the final two series, with scores of 25 and 22. Dhillon, on the other hand, struggled to find consistency throughout the qualification round, recording scores of 21, 22, 23, 23, and 24.Only the top six shooters in the qualification round advanced to the final. Italy's Diana Bacosi, the 2016 Rio Olympic gold medalist, also failed to qualify, finishing just below Chauhan in 15th place with a score of 117.On the first day of qualifications, Chauhan had been in contention for a top-six finish, sitting in eighth place with an aggregate of 71. However, her performance on Sunday was not enough to secure a spot in the final. Dhillon, who was placed 25th after the first day, also failed to improve her position significantly.Meanwhile, Indian shooters Vijayveer Sidhu and Anish Bhanwala are currently competing in the 25m rapid fire pistol men's qualifications.

In a thrilling quarterfinal match at the Paris Olympics, veteran Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh played a pivotal role in his team's 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Great Britain. The match ended 1-1 in regulation time, with Sreejesh making several crucial saves to keep India in the game.Sreejesh, who is playing in his last international tournament, was the star of the show. He denied Great Britain numerous scoring opportunities, including a penalty stroke in the second half. In the penalty shootout, he saved two shots to help India secure the win."It's a daily job of a goalie," Sreejesh said after the match. "Some days it's a different effort, but today is our day. Even in the shootout, the guys who took shots didn't disappoint."India played with great determination and unity, forcing the match into a penalty shootout. Sreejesh said it was a "do-or-die" situation for him, and he was ready to give it his all."When I stepped on this field today, there were two options for me," he said. "This can be my last match, or I got an opportunity for two more matches, and I think, yeah, I got two more matches now."Sreejesh said India will focus on their own game in the semifinals. "Whoever comes in the semis, we (will) just play our game," he said. "That's it, that's important, because now it's a different game, because we are one man down and we need to focus on that now."India will wait for the FIH's decision on the red card shown to Amit Rohidas with more than 40 minutes left in the game. "I don't know how it's going to be," Sreejesh said. "They must take a decision on that. We are just waiting for that, but still, we need to play our best game in the semifinals."