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Antim Panghal, India's 53kg wrestling sensation, is set to make her long-awaited return to competition at the International Ranking Series in Budapest from June 6. The world championships bronze medalist has been absent from the mat since October 2022, raising questions about her form and fitness ahead of the Paris Olympics.With no national camp being held, Antim has been training at her base in Hisar. Her coach, Bhagat Singh, insists that she is fully fit and eager to prove herself in Budapest. However, her rivals have demanded selection trials to assess her readiness for the Olympics.The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has decided not to hold trials, instead sending quota winners directly to Paris. This decision has drawn criticism from some wrestlers and coaches, who believe that trials are essential to ensure the best possible team is selected.Antim's return to competition will be closely watched, as she aims to silence her critics and demonstrate her fitness for the Olympics. She will face stiff competition in Budapest, with several top wrestlers vying for ranking points.Meanwhile, other Indian wrestlers, including Ravi Dahiya, Sarita Mor, and Shivanee Pawar, have requested WFI to send their entries for the Budapest ranking series. These wrestlers, who had hoped to challenge the quota winners for an Olympic berth, are keen to prove their form in an international event.The Budapest ranking series will provide a crucial opportunity for Indian wrestlers to assess their progress and prepare for the Paris Olympics. Antim Panghal's performance will be particularly scrutinized, as she seeks to prove that she is ready to represent India on the world's biggest stage.

Ravi Dahiya, India's former 57kg wrestling champion, faces an uncertain future after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) decided against holding final selection trials for the Paris Olympics. The decision has left Dahiya, who has been struggling with a knee injury, without a chance to compete for a spot on the Olympic team.Dahiya's career has been on a downward spiral in recent years. After being the country's top wrestler in his weight class, he has lost consecutive domestic selection trials. The knee injury, which required surgery last year, has also taken a toll on his performance.Despite the setbacks, Dahiya remains optimistic. He has been working hard to regain his fitness and has been pleading with WFI officials to reconsider their decision. He has even met with the Director General of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and TOPS officials to state his case.However, WFI officials have indicated that the decision is unlikely to be reversed. They argue that there is not enough time left before the Budapest Ranking Series, which will serve as the final qualifying event for the Olympics.Dahiya's situation is a reminder of the challenges faced by athletes in India. Despite their sacrifices and hard work, they can be left at the mercy of bureaucratic decisions that can derail their dreams.Dahiya's story is also a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Despite the setbacks, he remains determined to fight for his Olympic dream. He knows that the odds are stacked against him, but he is not giving up hope.

Tejas Shirse, India's fastest male hurdler, has embarked on a remarkable journey from his humble beginnings in Maharashtra to breaking the national record in Finland. Despite facing challenges such as living out of a suitcase and overcoming loneliness, Shirse has grown both as an athlete and an individual.A key catalyst in his growth has been Finnish hurdler Elmo Lakka, who shared valuable insights with Shirse. Lakka's advice on taking off from a farther distance and snapping the lead leg with the hamstring has significantly improved Shirse's technique.Shirse has also made technical adjustments to his posture at the hurdles, standing taller and keeping his body forward to maintain momentum. Despite an injury to his left shin, he has managed to surpass his previous best time of 13.60s thrice in Europe.While his coach believes meeting the Paris qualification mark of 13.27s may be unrealistic at this stage, Shirse remains optimistic. He has set his sights on the Olympics, driven by his belief that anything is possible.

The Paris Olympics shooting selection trials witnessed a fierce battle for spots, with nine out of 16 quotas in rifle and pistol events changing hands. The onus was on quota winners to defend their places, but even world championship medallists like Rudrankksh Patil, Mehuli Ghosh, and Akhil Sheoran were swept aside.Rhythm Sangwan and Esha Singh swapped places in the 10m pistol and 25m pistol events, respectively. However, the biggest casualty was Rudrankksh, the 2022 world champion and only the second Indian air rifle shooter after Abhinav Bindra to win a world title. Mehuli and Sheoran, who had secured Olympic quotas with bronze medals at the world championships, also lost their places.The selection trials were held over four rounds in Delhi and Bhopal, with the shooters' three best scores considered. The bonus points for quota winners were reduced to level the playing field.The new policy was introduced after the debacle in Tokyo, where shooters who had performed well in the qualification cycle failed to deliver at the Olympics. The trials were designed to select the team based on current form.In men's 10m air rifle, Sandeep Singh emerged as the surprise topper, ahead of quota winner Arjun Babuta and Rudrankksh. In women's 10m air rifle, Tokyo Olympian Elavenil came to the fore, while Asian Games medallist Ramita Jindal grabbed the second place. In men's rifle 3P, Aishwary Pratap Tomar topped and sealed his place, beside Swapnil Kusale.The final call to pick the team remains with the NRAI selection committee, but it will be difficult to make any changes considering that the team has been selected through a policy. Paris will put the new policy to test, and India will hope that the Worlds medallists are not missed too much.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has announced that no selection trials will be held for the Paris Olympics, and the six wrestlers who have secured quotas for the country will represent India in Paris. This decision has come as a surprise to many wrestlers, including Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Ravi Dahiya, who were preparing for the trials.The five women wrestlers who have earned Olympic berths are Vinesh Phogat (50kg), Antim Panghal (53kg), Reetika Hooda (76kg), Nisha Dahiya (68kg), and Anshu Malik (57kg). Aman Sehrawat (57kg) is the only male wrestler to have secured a quota.WFI president Sanjay Singh stated that the seven-member selection committee unanimously decided to exempt quota-earning wrestlers from trials for the Paris Olympics, citing "a one-time exception in the current peculiar circumstances." The committee members, including chief coaches Jagmander Singh (men) and Virender Singh (women), believed that conducting trials at this short notice could impact the wrestlers' performance at the Olympics and increase the risk of injuries."Five wrestlers had written to us to not hold trials as it will affect their preparation. They will have to reduce weight and it will shift their focus on trials. Since there is little time left for the Paris Olympics, the selection committee has decided to not hold trials and select the quota winners for the Olympics team, as WFI has been doing previously," said Singh.The decision has disappointed Ravi Dahiya, who was hoping to challenge Aman in the selection trials. Dahiya, who is recovering from an ACL surgery, had lost to Aman in the selection trials in March for the two qualification competitions for Paris Olympics."I was preparing for the trials because we were told that the Paris Olympics team will be selected through trials. Now suddenly they are saying that there will be no trials. I don't know what to say," Dahiya told Hindustan Times."I was injured for a long time and it has taken time to recover. Since then I have been focusing on my training. The Paris Olympics is all I have been preparing for.. aur kya hai batao aap (What else is there for me?) It is very disappointing. I am trying to reach out to WFI. I will decide on my next step tomorrow," said Dahiya.The decision has also affected other wrestlers, including Sarita Mor, who was preparing to challenge Anshu Malik for a Paris berth. "We just came back today from a training stint in the US," said her husband and coach Rahul Mor. "Now they are saying that there is little time for Paris, but the trials were to take place only after all the qualifiers were over. So why this change of decision?"Vinesh Phogat, on the other hand, felt that the WFI's decision vindicated her call to compete in two weight classes for the Olympic qualification trials in Patiala. "A lot of people criticized me when I trialled in two weight categories (50kg and 53kg) in March but I knew WFI will be up to some mischief later," said Vinesh. "That's why I participated in two weight divisions in Patiala. All this while, we were told there will be a trial but suddenly they announce there won't be any trial. Is it fair to the wrestlers who appeared in the 53kg trials?"The WFI's decision has raised questions about the fairness of the selection process and the impact it will have on the wrestlers' morale. It remains to be seen if any wrestler will challenge the decision in court.

The Tokyo Olympics left a lasting impact on the Indian shooting contingent, with many shooters still carrying the scars of a disappointing performance. Deepali Deshpande, the former national coach, described the environment as "depressing," while Anjum Moudgil called it a "controversial end."Only four rifle and pistol shooters from the 14 who competed in Tokyo have a chance to redeem themselves in Paris: Anjum Moudgil, Manu Bhaker, Elavenil Valarivan, and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar. Each of these shooters has taken different paths since Tokyo, with Manu reuniting with her personal coach, Anjum experimenting with training coach-less, and Elavenil sticking with the same coaching setup.Anjum has identified two key lessons from Tokyo: to focus solely on herself and to cut the chaos. She has worked on creating a small but positive support group and will approach Paris with a more focused mindset. Elavenil, on the other hand, is feeling the pressure of the nation's expectations but is determined not to let it affect her preparation.Manu, who was a teenager during Tokyo, wants to embrace the chaos and chatter this time around. She plans to continue being herself and doing the things she loves, including playing the violin. She also hopes to play table tennis at the Games Village, something she was unable to do in Tokyo due to the pandemic.The build-up to Paris has a different look, with the shooting events taking place in Chateauroux, where the Indian team had a training camp last year. The absence of the pressure and unusual circumstances that plagued Tokyo is expected to create a more relaxed and enjoyable environment for the shooters."I'm hoping that Paris has a lot to give, and I have a lot to give to Paris as well," said Elavenil.

Four Indian wrestlers who have secured quota berths for the Paris Olympics have appealed to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to exempt them from selection trials, citing the proximity of the Games and the potential impact on their preparation.Aman Sehrawat (57kg), Reetika Hooda (76kg), Nisha Dahiya (68kg), and Anshu Malik (57kg) have individually written to the WFI, requesting their selection without trials. They argue that with only 10 weeks remaining before the Olympics, every day of training is crucial and that preparing for additional competitions would disrupt their plans."It leaves us with just 10 weeks of preparation time before the event, which is already less considering the timelines. Every single day of training is very important for me. Around this crucial time, preparing for another competition again affects my training plan, my diet, weight maintenance, and I will lose out on a lot of practice sessions because of this," one wrestler wrote in their letter.The wrestlers also expressed concerns about the risk of injuries at this stage. "It is too close to the Paris Olympics. If trials are held, all our focus will be on that instead of preparation towards Paris," said one wrestler.The WFI has scheduled a selection committee meeting on Tuesday to discuss the wrestlers' request. A member of the committee acknowledged the wrestlers' concerns and stated that all aspects would be considered."There is no doubt the Paris Olympics are very close and you want the wrestlers to completely focus on preparation at this point. The selection committee will look into every aspect," said the member.If the trials are not held, Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Ravi Dahiya will not have a second chance to qualify in the 57kg category.India has a strong tradition in wrestling, having won at least one medal in the last four Olympics. The country's wrestlers have won a total of seven medals in the sport.

Bhavani Devi, India's pioneering sabre fencer, faces a bittersweet reality as the 2024 Paris Olympics approach. Despite her relentless training and recent achievements, she will not be competing in the Games.After her historic Olympic debut in Tokyo, Bhavani relocated to Orleans, France, to train under renowned coach Christian Bauer. The move has transformed her understanding of the sport, leading to a career-high ranking of world No. 32. She became the first Indian fencer to win an Asian Championship medal in 2023, defeating reigning world champion Misaki Emura.However, her Olympic hopes were dashed at the Asia Oceania Zonal qualifiers in April. The disappointment has been profound, leaving Bhavani struggling to cope. "It's really painful," she confides. "I'm trying to let it pass."Bhavani's training regimen is grueling, with 35 hours of intense practice each week. On weekends, her body aches from the constant lunging, thrusting, and parrying. Yet, she finds solace in the physical exertion, using it to process her lost opportunity.Despite the setback, Bhavani remains determined. She believes that her improved skills and the support of her training partners, including her former Tokyo Olympics opponent Manon Brunet, will propel her forward."I've learnt so much," she says. "I'm learning to weave in more techniques, provocation, and working off my opponent's repertoire."Bhavani's absence from the Paris Olympics is a blow to Indian fencing. However, she remains hopeful for the future. At 30 years old, she knows that time is on her side. Five of the top 10 female sabre fencers are aged 30 or above, including 38-year-old Sofya Velikaya, who has medalled at the last three Games.Bhavani's journey is a testament to the resilience and determination of Indian athletes. While the pain of missing out on the Olympics lingers, she is committed to continuing her pursuit of excellence and inspiring future generations of fencers.

India's table tennis contingent for the upcoming Paris Olympics has been finalized, with veteran Sharath Kamal and world no. 24 Manika Batra leading the men's and women's squads respectively. The six-member teams (three in each section) were selected by the senior selection committee of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) based on the latest world rankings.Sharath, Harmeet Desai, and Manav Thakkar will form the men's team, while Manika, Sreeja Akula, and Archana Kamath will represent India in the women's category. G. Sathiyan and Ayhika Mukherjee will serve as alternate players in each section.In the men's singles, Sharath and Harmeet will compete, while Manika and Sreeja will represent India in the women's event. The selection was made as per the Olympics norms and the TTFI's pre-established criteria.Sharath, 41, will be making his fifth and final Olympic appearance in Paris. He made his Games debut in 2004 and has been a consistent performer for India over the years.The selection of the women's team sparked some debate, with Archana Kamath edging out Ayhika Mukherjee for the third spot. Kamath's higher world ranking (103) and consistent performances gave her the edge over Mukherjee (133).In the men's team, Sharath's top ranking (No. 40) ensured his selection, while Harmeet (No. 63) and Manav (No. 62) were separated by one slot in the world rankings. Harmeet's superior international and national performances earned him the nod over Manav.Massimo Costantini, a special invitee at the selection meeting, provided valuable inputs that aided in the team selection. Costantini will take charge of the Indian team for a third time next week.Alternate players Sathiyan and Ayhika will travel with the team to Paris but will not stay in the official Games Village. They will be available in case of an injury to any of the main players.